History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

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History of Swansea
nine children attaining mature years,—Marcia W., Gardner, Nathan W.,
Mary A., Samuel, Aaron, Mason, Betsey (Mrs. Charles B. Winslow),
and Marcus A. All are now dead. Nathan, Gardner, and Samuel were
seafaring men. Gardner became captain, and died in Swansea, May, 1848.
The others were young men of promise, but died young. Mason was a
farmer and was a great reader. Of strong memory, he was well versed in
hsitoric and genealogic lore, and was held in high repute by the community.
He died Dec. 9, 1882. Mr. Wilham Brown held a high place in the esteem
of the community, although a plain, unostentatious man of strongly marked
honesty and fixed principles. He was a Whig, but never sought ofSce. In
religion he was independent, rather skeptical, but never argued with others,
and considered every other person entitled to freedom of behef and action.
He died April 8, 1840. Mrs Brown died Nov. 14, 1855. They, like their
American ancestors of each generation, are buried in the cemetery in North
Swansea.
Marcus A. Brown (eighth generation) stayed on the farm until he was
twenty-four, managing the farm after his father's death, having limited educational
advantages at the common schools in summer until nine years old
and in winter until fifteen, the last term being at Warren Academy. He then
learned the mason's trade and worked at that several years. He then purchased
a farm of forty acres in Somerset and lived there eight years, selling it
after six years, however. His whole residence in Somerset was seventeen
years, following his trade after giving up farming. He passed two years in
Maine, working as a mason. He married, Dec. 7, 1847, Maria Frances,
daughter of David and Sarah Wilbur. She was born in Warwick, R. I., July
10, 1828, Like her husband, Mrs. Brown was the youngest of ten children.
Her paternal grandparents were residents of that part of Swansea now
Somerset, and resided about one mile west of the village. Their children
were James, Ruth, Phebe, Peleg, Chloe, Patience, Polly, Thomas, and
David. David Wilbur was a machinist, married Sarah, daughter of Edward
and Elizabeth Gardner, and had ten children,—Sarah G, (Mrs. Charles F.
Brown), Harriet G., David G,, Thomas B., Peleg N., Caroline A., and
Maria F. Mr. Wilbur lived in Pawtuxet, R, I., and died in 1837, aged fiftythree.
His wife died in 1856, aged seventy-two. The children of this
marriage are Marion F, (born Sept. 14, 1848, married Daniel Wilbur, Jr.,
and has one child. Bertha F.); and Clarence A., born June 3, 1850. He
married Emma L, Frost, and has one child, Marcus R,
Mr, Brown removed to Fall River in 1866, and resided in the house he
then purchased. He worked steadily and faithfully at his trade until
compelled by failing health to relinquish it in 1873. He was an honest,
modest man; held the even tenor of an industrious, hard-working life, and
a law-abiding citizen, caring not for nor meddling with ofQcial honors,
supporting, however, the Whig and Repubhcan tickets. He had been
successful in business and enjoyed the esteem of his acquaintance, and was
ever a useful member of society. He died February 10, 1894.
Daniel Edson
The subject of this sketch was born in Rehoboth, Mass., Feb. 10, 1791.
He was the son of Ebenezer Edson, who served in the Revolution under
Gen. Washington.
He, Daniel, was a direct descendant, in the 6th generation, from
Samuel Edson. who was born in England 1612. He, Samuel came to Mass.
about 1638 or 1639 and settled in Bridgewater and built the first corn mill
in that town in 1662.
The mill was erected on Town River, in what is now West Bridgewater.