Cheshire. And here in America a branch of
the English family is one of some two hundred
and eighty and more years' standing, dating^
from the coming to the Virginian Colony in
1626 of Francis Gifford. Here in New
England, in this Commonwealth, the com-
ing of the progenitor of the special Fall
River family here treated is perhaps a
score of years later. Reference is here
made to the family of the late Gideon Gif-
ford of Fall River, one of whose sons is the
present Ferdinand H. Gifford, Esq., who has
for years been president of the Fall River
National Bank. From William Gifford, the
Sandwich settler. President Gifford's descent
is through Robert, Stephen, Benjamin, John,
Isaac and Gideon Gifford, which generations in
the order named and in detail follow.
(I) William Gifford, of record in 1647 at
Stamford, Conn., and William Gifford, of
Sandwich, Mass., and a member of the Grand
Inquest, Plymouth, in 1650, are believed by
the compiler of the "Gifford Gen." to be one
and the same person. He died in 1686-87, and
in his will probated March 2d of that year he
gives to his children John, Hannaniah, Wil-
liani, Christopher, Robert, Jonathan, James
and Mary; and to his grandchildren. Temper-
ance, John, Robert, Experience and Sarah
Kirby (children of Richard Kirby). He also-
gave five pounds "to the service and improve-
ment of my friends called Quakers." He seems
to have left a considerable property among his
children, including lands at Sacounessett or
Falmouth. He was committed by the court in
1658 for not taking the oath of allegiance;
again in 1659 for affronting the marshal, and
in 1660 for being at Quaker meetings.
cf
SOUTHEASTEKN MASSACHUSETTS
701
(II) Robert Gifford, son of William, mar-
ried Sarah, daughter of Stephen Wing, of
Sandwich,' who died the 20th of the 6th month,
1720. It seems he had married again previous
to making his will (in 1724), which docu-
ment was probated April 30, 1730, and in
which he gives to his children Jeremiah, Ben-
jamin, Stephen, Timothy and Simeon. Ste-
phen Wing, of Sandwich, in his will dated Dec.
2, 1700, and probated July 13, 1710, gave to
his daughter Sarah Gifford and grandson Jere-
miah Gifford.
(III) Stephen Gifford, son of Robert, mar-
ried Mary, and their children were : Ste])hen,
born Jan. 30, 1711-12 (died Feb. 25, 1711-
12); Patience, Dec. 16, 1712; Hannaniah,
Aug. 20, 1714; Susannah, May 24, 1716; Pris-
«illa, June 17, 1718; Keziah, Feb. 2, 1720;
Abigail, Nov. 4, 1721; Mary, Aug. 12, 1723;
Ruth, Oct. 5, 1725; and Benjamin, Feb. 2,
1727-28.
(IV) Benjamin Gifford, son of Stephen, was
born Feb. 2, 1727-28. (A Benjamin by will,
25th of 10th month, 1778, probated May 4,
1779, gives to sons Stephen, Chadwick, Benja-
min and to daughters Grace and Ruth. — See
â– "Leonard Papers," Xew Bedford Public Li-
brary.)
(V) John GifEord, son of Benjamin, born
Aug. 28, 1754, married Ruth Luther, born
Aug. 6, 1754. They lived in Westport, Mass.
Their children were : Warren, born July 29,
1775; Weston, Oct. 12, 1776; Luther, Aug.
17, 1778; Anna, April 3, 1780: Lydia, Oct. 24.
1781; Peleg, Sept. 17, 1783; Levi, June 15,
1785; Isaac, Jan. 15. 1787; Maria, Sept. 2,
1788; Mary, July 2, 1790; Lucretia, May 10,
1793; Benjamin, Dec. 3. 1795; Weston (2),
May 2, 1796; and one born dead, Jan. 19,
1792.
(VI) Isaac Gifford, son of John and Ruth,
â– was born Jan. 15,- 1787, was a farmer, and re-
sided in Westport, where he died. He was
buried on his farm, whence in 1908 the re-
mains were removed to Oak Grove cemetery.
Fall River. Mr. Gifford was a member of the
First Christian Church at Head of Westport.
He married Edith Sherman, of Westport, who
survived him, and died at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. Charles Jenks, at Fall River.
To Isaac and Edith (Sherman) Gifford were
born children as follows: Hannah nuirried
Abner Read, a farmer, and resided in West-
port nearly all her life, but died in Fall River ;
Gideon is mentioned below; Ann married
Charles Jenks, a farmer, and lived in Fall
River; Weston married Rachel Thurston and
died in Westport (he was a farmer) ; Cynthia
married Rev. Benjamin S. Batchelor, an Ad-
ventist clergyman, and died in New Bedford;
Uriah died in young manhood; Ruth S. mar-
ried John Tripp, a farmer and mason, and
died in New Bedford; Emeline Jane married
Benjamin Carter, a cabinetmaker, and died in
Providence; William died in early manhood;
Sarah died young; Andrew A. went to Cali-
fornia during the gold excitement and was
drowned there while bathing; Betsey B., the
last surviving member of the family, is the
wife of Charles F. Lake, a painter and paper
hanger, and resides in Fall River ; George F.
died young. Of this family, Uriah, William,
Sarah and George F. died within a short time,
of fever.
(VII) GiDEOx Gifford, son of Isaac, was
born June 10, 1811, in Westport, and resided
there, engaged in farming, until his removal
to Fall River in 1844. Here he engaged in
teaming, following that occupation, which he
found very profitable, until about three years
previous to his death. He retired on account
of advancing age. and died Jan. 6, 1882; he
was buried in Oak Grove cemetery. Mr. Gif-
ford was a well known man in his line, and did
considerable teaming for the large mills of
the city. He had a high reputation for indus-
try, thrift and reliability, and was respected
by all who knew him for his quiet but useful
life. A stanch advocate of temperance, he
would never allow intoxicating liquors of any
kind, not even cider, on his wagons. He was
a member of the First Christian Church.
Mr. GifEord was twice married, his first wife,
Almeda W. Dennis, daughter of Robert Den-
nis, of Westport, being the mother of two chil-
dren, Ferdinand H. and Robert D. (born Dec.
28. 1849, died Dec. 6, 1851). Mrs. GifEord
was born Feb. 13, 1811, and died March 15,
1861. For his second wife Mr. Gifford mar-
ried Eliza Rhodes, who survived him and died
in Boston.
(VIII) FEiiDiNAXD H. GiFFOED, SOU of Gid-
eon, was born Dec. 13, 1838, in Westport, and
was but a child when his parents moved to
Fall River. He received his education in the
public schools of that city, and left school to
take a position which had been offered him,
ag clerk in the Metacomet National Bank. At
that time JefEerson Borden was president of
the institution and Azariah S. Tripp cashier.
He there remained as clerk until September.
1863, when he was offered the position of teller
in the Fall River National Bank, holding same
for almost ten years, until Feb. 1, 1873, when
he was promoted to cashier. After over twenty
years in that incumbency he became president,
702
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Sept. 30, 1895, succeeding Guilford H. Hatha-
way, and has been at the head of the bank
ever since. For many years Mr. Gifford has
been a trustee of the Eall River Savings Bank,
and he is president of the Fall River Clearing
House, in which position he succeeded the late
Charles J. Holmes. Mr. Gifford's business re-
lations show clearly his standing among finan-
ciers in the city. Up-to-date in everything
that pertains to the transaction and advance-
ment of his business, he is nevertheless care-
ful and conservative in the best sense, and has
been able to hold the confidence of his asso-
ciates and the public to an unusual degree.
Personally, though courteous and companion-
able, he is a man of the most quiet and modest
tastes, and belongs to no clubs or fraternities.
He is a Republican, but takes no part in poli-
tics beyond casting his vote. ,
Mr. Gifford was married in Fall River to
Eliza Nelson Buffinton, a native of Fall River,
born Aug. 26, 1847, daughter of Benjamin and
Eliza (Carr) Buffinton. Mrs. Gifford died
June 30, 1879.
In 1902 Mr. Gifford published a "Genealogy
of Joseph Carr of Jamestown, Rhode Island,"
for private distribution. It pertains particu-
larly to the lineage of the mother of Mrs.
Ferdinand H. Gifford, whose maiden name was
Eliza Carr, and is one of the finest works of
the kind ever published, a veritable work of
art from the bookbinder's standpoint.
HON. ALBERT RICHMOND WADE. "To
live in the hearts of those we leave behind us
is not to die," and so the Hon. Albert Rich-
mond Wade, fifth mayor of Brockton, Mass.,
man of courage, of integrity, of upright living,
of high ideals, "is not dead — he is just away."
It has been given to but few to so live that it
could be truthfully said their passing into life
eternal was a shock and a grief to the entire
community, yet so it was with Mr. Wade, whose
entire life had been passed in Brockton, and
whose record was an open book, the pages of
which were without spot or blemish. Strong
in character, bluff and hearty in manner, warm
in heart, he was a most likeable man. He was
frank and outspoken of his convictions, yet
tolerant of the opinions of others; his judg-
ment was rarely at fault, and his reasoning,
so rapid that it seemed like intuition, was al-
ways logical. What he did he did thoroughly,
conscientiously. He loved the world and he
loved life, and his cheerful acceptance of life's
duties and responsibilities magnetized the con-
ditions about him and made him an inspiration
to those who came within his radiance.
Albert R. ^^"ade was bom at Brockton
Heights, in the town of North Bridgewater
(now Brockton), Oct. 26, 1844, son of Oren
and Jane (Richmond) Wade, the former for a
generation proprietor of a blacksmith shop on
North Pearl street. He is a descendant in the
seventh generation from Nicholas Wade, the
line being given herewith :
(I) Nicholas Wade, of Scituate, took the
oath of allegiance Feb. 1, 1638. His house
and homestead were on the west side of Brushy
hill. In 1657 he was licensed to keep an ordi-
nary or tavern. He married Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of Thomas Ensign, and his children were :
John, Thomas, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Joseph,.
Hannah, Nicholas and Jacob.
(II) Tliomas Wade, son of Nicholas, mar-
ried in 1672 Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas
Curtis. He settled in Bridgewater about 1680,
and there some of his children were born. In
1693 he purcliased a farm near Nippenieket
Pond. His will was dated in 1726. His chil-
dren were: Jacob, born in 1673; Joseph, born
in 1675; Sarah, born in 1678; Thomas, born
in 1680; Hannah, born in 1682; Ichabod, born
in 1685 ; Moses, born in 1689 ; Deborah, born in
1691 ; and Rachel, born in 1692.
(III) Thomas Wade (2), bora in 1680, mar-
ried in 1722 Rebecca, daughter of Joseph Snow,
and lived in what became West Bridgewater,
Mass. Their children were : Hopestill, born in
1725; Mary, born in 1727; Keziah, bom in
1729; David, born in 1732; Rebecca, bom in
1734.
(IV) David Wade, born in 1732, married in
1756 Maiy," daughter of Daniel Littlefield, and
.their children were: Rebecca, born in 1757;
Rhoda, born in 1759; Silence, born in 1762;
Thomas, born in 1764; David, bom in 1766;
Thomas, born in 1769; Keziah, born in 1772;
and Mary, born in 1775. This family removed
to the town of Easton. David Wade, the father,
was a member of Capt. Eliakim Howard's com-
pany. Col. Edward Mitchell's regiment, that
marched to Braintree during the Revolution.
(V) David Wade was born Sept. 20, 1766,
and died May 7, 1817, in Easton, Mass. He
was engaged in farming. His wife, Chloe, was
bom June 12, 1768, and, their children were
Eliza, born April 5, 1789; Patty, born Jan. 25
1791; David, born July 12, 1792; Ramath
born Nov. 15, 1793 ; Chloe, bom Feb. 23, 1797
Amold, born April 29, 1798; Ajahal, born
Aug. 20, 1799 ; Joseph D., born Dec. 8, 1800
Fidelia, born Nov. 27, 1802 ; Lorenzo, bom
Aug. 21, 1804; Oren, born Feb. 12, 1808
Mary, bom July 12, 1809 ; and Susannah, bom
June 1, 1811.
SOUTHEASTEEX MASSACHUSETTS
703
(VI) Oren Wade, son of David, was born
Feb. 13, 1808, in Easton, Mass., and after at-
tending the district schools of his native town
went to Milton, Mass., where he learned the
trade of blacksmith. After acquiring a
thorough knowledge of his trade he, as a young
man, came to North Bridgewater (now Brock-
ton) and settled in that part of the town
known as Brockton Heights, where for many
years he conducted a blacksmith shop. In po-
litical faith Mr. Wade was originally an old-
line Whig, and after the formation of the Re-
publican party he became a stanch supporter of
the principles of that party, but although he
was always interested in public affairs he never
sought public office. In manner he was quiet
and unassuming, and devoted to his family.
Of a cordial and friendly disposition, he made
aud retained many friends. He inclined to the
Unitarian Church, and gave his support to the
same. On Aug. 24, 1834, Mr. Wade married
Sophia Churchill, daughter of Isaac Churchill,
of Plympton, Mass., and to them were bom
children as follows : Oren Allen, bom June 14,
1835, was a shoemaker by trade; he married
Sarah Smith, of Easton, Mass., where they
both died. Isaac Edmund, born x\ug. 12, 1839,
a shoemaker by trade, married Martha A.
Hunt, of Stoughton, Mass., and died in East
Bridgewater in 1909. The mother of the above
children died Nov. 29, 1839, and the father
married (second) May 18, 1842, Jane Rich-
mond, daughter of Apollos Richmond, of Mid-
dleboro, Mass., who passed away Sept. 16, 1870,
in Brockton, aged fifty-three years. To this
second marriage came one son, Albert Rich-
mond, mentioned below.
Mr. Wade's line of descent from (I) John
Richmond, of Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, Eng-
land, who came to this country and became an
original purchaser of Taunton in 1638, is
through (II) John Riclmiond (2), (III) Jo-
seph Richmond, (IV) Henry Richmond, (V)
Job Richmond and (VI) Apollos Richmond,
father of Mrs. Jane (Richmond) Wade.
(VII) Albert Richmond Wade was educated
in the public schools and also attended a private
school for some time. When his education was
completed,_as a boy his first work was in a ma-
chine shop) where he spent about one year. He
then entered his father's blacksmith shop, and
there served a regular apprenticeship, learning
blacksmithing, horseshoeing and carriage-mak-
ing, becoming so proficient that he had few
equals in this part of the State. This was the
trade he was following when elected mayor of
Brockton, and his smithy was the one his
father had established — for a long time the only
one in this locality. It was while performing
his duties as chief executive that he closed his
forge, and formed a partnership with Lowell E.
Smith for the manufacture of shoe findings,
later adding leather trimmings and similar
goods. The firm was known as Smith & Wade,
and about five years before the latter's death
erected the factory at No. 52 Haverhill street,
Mr. Smith retiring four years later. Mr. Wade
then conducted the business alone, assisted by
his daughter, Helen E., now Mrs. Hamilton.
He did much of the selling, and made many
trips through the South and other parts of the
country. On his return from these trips his
friends at the Commercial Club would gather
around him, delighting in the description^ of
people and things his keen observation and
kindly humor had preserved for them.
As a young man he took a great interest in
the public affairs of the town and in politics,
frequently differing with his father. He was
a Democrat, and in 1883 became a member of
the city government as councilman from Ward
Seven; he served with distinction, and in 1884,
1886 and 1887 served as alderman. In 1887 he
was chosen to head the administrative depart-
me«t of the city, and so satisfactory was his
conduct of official duties that he was reelected
for a second term without opposition, being
indorsed by both leading parties. His enforce-
ment of the no-license law brought him the
support of the best citizens of all parties. "His
administration of affairs was that of a clean,
capable man with ideas and a purpose. He
pounded away at what he conceived to be right
with the same ringing blows he had dealt his
anvil." As his predecessor in that office. Col.
John J. Whipple, said at the time of Mr.
Wade's death : "He was a thorough Brocktonian,
deeply interested in the welfare of the city,
always championing any movement which he
believed was for the best interests of the city.
.... As a mayor his administration was
honest, upright and conscientious." After his
retirement as mayor he held no public office.
Mr. Wade was a veteran fireman of Brockton
Heights, a survivor of those old days when the
fire-fighting apparatus consisted of a hand
engine manned by volunteers. Seldom was he
absent from a meeting of the Hancock Veteran
Volunteer Firemen's Association, of which he
was the first president, and he made the first do-
nation toward their building fund. At the
time of his death he was custodian of the silver
trumpet, of such great interest in bygone days.
In fraternal societies he was well known. He
was a member and past grand of Massasoit
Lodge, I. 0. 0. F. ; a member of Banner Lodge,
704
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
N. E. 0. P., and twice grand warden of the
grand lodge of Massachusetts. He belonged to
the Commercial Club, the Brockton No-License
League, and the Mayors' Club of Massachusetts,
and was past president of the Wales Home. In
all of these orders and clubs he was an active
member. It was not in his nature to shift
to others the responsibility that he knew to
be his, and as he was a good citizen, alive to his
town's needs, so he was a good member of what-
ever organization he joined, ever willing and
ready to do his part well.
For twenty years Mr. Wade suffered with
heart trouble, and the last three months of his
life were months of enforced quiet. Just when
coijiparative recovery seemed his, death came
swiftly and suddenly, July 14, 1907, after a
happy drive to his old home in Brockton
Heights. The flag on the city hall and that
over Hancock hall floated at half-mast, and
the whole city mourned. At the funeral, held
at the family home, were representatives of
citizens in every walk of life — the city officials,
the officers and members of the lodges and of
the clubs, the Hancock Veteran Firemen — who
were there as a guard of honor, business asso-
ciates, men and women and children who knew
him and loved him. The casket was covered
with flowers and the room was filled with
these mute but eloquent tributes to his mem-
ory. The service itself was simple, as he would
have desired it. The music consisted of songs
he especially liked; one of them, "Here and
There," by Banks, had greatly impressed him
when sung at his daughters funeral several
years before. Rev. Dr. Albert Marion Hyde,
in the course of his eulogy paid this most beau-
tiful tribute — more beautiful, indeed, because
it was so very true : "He represented the best
in public and in private station. No taint of
corruption ever rested on his public fame ; no
taint of pollution ever was whispered of his
private life. AVith him religion, politics, busi-
ness and life were one, he could not separate
or distinguish them ; he did not have one set
of principles for private life and another for
public life ; to him Monday was as sacred as
Sunday; his feet trod always on holy ground.
.... As a child he went only to a country
school, and that was all. He never attended
the academies or colleges or universities, yet
his education was complete. Life itself to him
was but a school in which he was learning all
the time. He knew that a cap and gown, a
diploma and a degree, are not alone sufficient
to fit a man for living. He knew that life is
a school where all men study day by day, week
after week, year after year, in tears and toil
and trial, in patience and in humility, until at
last God Himself smiles down as He did on our
friend the other day and confers the one de-
gree in the whole universe that is worth hav-
ing. He was essentially a poet in feeling, in
sensitiveness and in sympathy. The lion and
the lamb lay down together in his heart. He
knew music, for it symbolized to him the har-
mony of the world. He knew art in the liigher
sense, the art that is the expression of a man's
joy in his work, and he lived the real artistic
life, a life of simplicity, a life of purity, a life
like that of the flowers, and the little chil-
dren whom he loved. It is a privilege at this
hour to recall the courteoiis grace which al-
ways marked him. His stately bearing, bis
dignity of character, made him distinguished
everywhere. There was a prevailing serious-
ness in his manner and in his speech which
was most impressive No one will ever
know all his beneficent deeds. There are wid-
ows who will miss him ; there are orphans who
will be heavy-hearted because he is gone; there
are young men in business who will find it
another world now he is here no more. His
biography was written long ago by the great
apostle of love in the thirteenth chapter of
First Corinthians: He suffered long and was
kind; he envied not, vaunted not himself, was
not puffed up, did not behave himself un-
seemly, sought not his own, rejoiced in the
truth and hoped all things."
The remains were laid to rest in Melrose
cemetery beneath the stone placed there some
two years before by Mr. Wade. This is a huge
boulder, and from it on the top is chiseled an
anvil — emblem of the work that engrossed his
earlier years.
On Oct. 31, 1865, Albert Richmond Wade
was united in marriage with Susan Howard,
daughter of the late Cyrus and Abi (Edson)
Howard, of North Bridgewater, and a descend-
ant of several of the leading families of North
Bridgewater (now Brockton), many of whom
were among the first settlers of the community,
where they were prominently identified with
the early government of the colony. Although
not a meml)er, Mr. Wade affiliated with the
Porter Congregational Church, to which he
gave his liberal support, and of which his
widow is an active member and worjver, she
being an influential member of the various
societies. To Mr. and Mrs. Wade were bom
two daughters: (1) Carrie Agnes, born May
!). 1869, married April 9, 1894, J. Willard
Clapp, of Avon, Mass., and died in Brockton
July 11, 1903. To this union was born a
daughter, Rita Pauline. Feb. 26, 1895. who
^oCl^/'<- -'0-;^:^c
^^-e
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
705
died July 7, 1896. (3) Helen Everet, born
Jan. 14, 1873, married Dec. 33, 1907, Ashton
Hamilton, formerly of Calais, Maine, now of
Brockton, where he is engaged in the shoe
findings business, formerly as a member of the
firm of Hamilton & Strong, and now of the
Wade Manufacturing Company. Mrs. Hamil-
ton, who for some years prior to her father's
death assisted him in his business, has since
his death continued the business with equal
success. She is a member of Deborah Samp-
son Chapter, D. A. R., of Brockton (which
she has served as treasurer), being eligible to
membership througli the service of her great-
great-grandfather, David Wade.
REV. OBADIAH CHACE, of Swansea,
Mass., for about fifty-si.x years a minister of
the Society of Friends, was born April 12,
1818, in Warren, R. I., son of Anthony and
Isabel (Buffinton) Chace, the latter of whom
lived to the age of ninety-three years. The
Eev. Mr. Chace was the last survivor of a fam-
ily of six children, two sons and four daugh-
ters, and he was in the eighth generation in
direct line from William Chace, who settled
in Yarmouth, Mass., in 1637, the line being as
follows: (I) William Chace and wife Mary;
(II) William Chace; (III) William Chace and
wife Hannah Sherman; (IV) Eber Chace and
wife Mary Knowles; (V) Eber Chace and wife
Sarah Baker; (VI) Obadiah Chace and wife
Eunice Anthony, who lived on Prudence
Island, engaged in the produce business, and
after the husband's death the wife carried on
the same business with great success; (VII)
Anthony Chace and wife Isabel Buffinton, who
moved to the old Gardner farm near Touis-
set. The maternal or Buffinton line is as fol-
lows: (I) Thomas Buffinton and wife Sarah
Southwick: (II) Benjamin Buffinton and wife
Hannah: (III) Benjamin Buffinton and wife
Isabel Chace; (IV) Moses Buffinton and wife
Isabel Baker; (V) Benjamin Buffinton and
wife Charity Robinson; (VI) Isabel Buffinton
and husband Anthony Chace.
The Rev. Mr. Chace was brought up a farm-
er, and followed that occupation successfully
until his retirement at the age of sixty-six
years. His education was received in a War-
ren district school and at the Friends' School,
Providence. At the age of thirty-four he was
approved a minister of the gospel, and served
the Somerset Meeting in that capacity for more
than half a , century, without salary, and at