Maine, have descended the Bickfords of that
region. His children were Joseph and Abigail,
and the former's, by his wife Mary (Averill),
were Eliakim, James, Thomas, Lucy, Abigail,
Joseph, Hannah, Mary, John, George, William
and Gideon.
Charles W. Bickford, father of the late
George Edward Bickford, was engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, and met with an accident
which resulted in his death when his son was
very young. He married Louise Theresa
Bickford, daughter of William and Mehitabel
(Hathorne) Bickford, of Dresden, Maine, and
after the death of Mr. Bickford she married
(second) Charles Doane; they later removed
to Brockton.
Of Mr. Bickford's maternal ancestors, Henry
Bickford married Abigail Tibbetts. Their eld-
est son, Paul, married Betsey Kendall, who
was from England, and their children were :
Paul, John, Abigail, Hulda, Henry, Geoj-ge
and William. Mrs. Betsey (Kendall) Bick-
ford was a member of a wealthy English fam-
iiy-
William Bickford, son of Paul, married
Mehitabel Hathorne, a native of Woolwich,
Maine, and their children were : Mary, Joseph,
Nathaniel, Louise Theresa (who married
Charles W. Bickford), Eliza, Williaiji and
Franklin.
George Edward Bickford, only child of
Charles W. and Louise Theresa (Bickford)
Bickford, was born in Dresden Mills, Maine,
and acquired but a meager educational training
in the district schools of his native town, at-
tending during the winter months, while his
summers were devoted to work. At the age of
but eleven years he was practically thrown upon
liis own resources, and went to live with the
family of Seth Houdlette, at Dresden, receiv-
ing his board and clothes for labor performed,
and remaining with him until he went to Bos-
ton. There he remained for a time, having
secured a position in a book store, though at
a very small salary, but he also acted as a
waiter in the "Quincy Hotel," for which service
he received his meals. Lewis A. Johnson, for-
merly of the dry goods house of Dole & John-
son, of Brockton, who was a native of Dres-
den, Maine, saw an opportunity for the young
man, and sent for him to take a position in
L. F. & A. C. Severance's meat market and
provision store in North Bridgewater, Mass.,
where Mr. Johnson was also employed. This
was in 1870, and the young man came, showed
his employers the application and faithfulness
that were always characteristic of him, and
was rapidly advanced to places of trust and im-
portance. He remained with this firm, in prac-
tically the same location where he was later
engaged in business on his own account, for
several years, when the firm became known as
Stoddard & Severance, and the business was
still later conducted by W. W. Stoddard, after
the death of his partner, A. C. Severance. Mr.
Bickford continued in the employ of Mr. Stod-
dard until May 1, 1880, when in company
with Henry Newton, under the firm name
of Bickford & Newton, he purchased the busi-
ness of Mr. Stoddard and the building in which
it was carried on, and this partnership con-
tinued for several years, when Mr. Bickford
purchased the interests of Mr. Newton in the
business. Thereafter until his death Mr.
Bickford successfully continued the establish-
ment, under the name of Bickford's Market.
All his energy and ability were devoted to it,
and he met with marked success. He was cap-
able, shrewd and a well informed buyer; in all
his dealings he was straightforward and hon-
orable, and he enjoyed the confidence of his
many patrons, as well as of all with whom he
had business dealings. Of an energetic and
industrious nature, he set an example for those
associated with him, either as employer or em-
ployee. His modest, unassuming manners, and
his upright, unassailable character, made and
held for him many warm friendships. His as-
sociations outside of business were happy ones,
as he enlarged his circle of friends only when
the inclination and disposition were mutual.
SOUTHEASTEEN MASSACHUSETTS
755
He was an active member of the Commercial
Club, of Brockton, and was also a member of
various fraternal organizations, belonging to
Paul Eevere Lodge, A. P. & A. M. ; Satucket
Chapter, R. A. M.; Brockton Council, R. &
S. M. ; Bay State Commandery, Knights Tem-
plar; Damocles Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and
Electric Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., all of Brockton. He
was not a man who devoted much time to the
secret orders, though attending meetings oc-
casionally and always keeping in touch with
them, but most of his energy and thought were
given to his private business affairs.
Mr. Bickford was identified with the Porter
Congregational Church, where he was a pew-
holder, and of which his wife has been an
active member. Both have been liberal con-
tributors to its support. In political matters
he was a stanch supporter of the principles of
the Republican party, and although he took an
active interest in the affairs of the city he
never aspired to public office and did not in-
terest himself in politics to any extent, other
than to always be in touch with affairs. How-
ever, he was one who always had an opinion
regarding them, and was ready to express it,
and his views always showed an accurate under-
standing of the situations.
On April 30, 1878, Mr. Bickford was united
in marriage to Mary Bertha Thompson, daugh-
ter of Capt. Seth (Jr.) and Angenette (Rey-
nolds) Thompson, of North Bridgewater, and
this happy union was blessed with one son,
Edward Burgess, who was born Dec. 3, 1895,
and died May 7, 1904.
Mr. Bickford had been in failing health for
some two years before his death, and on Jan.
17th preceding that event he was taken ill
with an attack of the grip, which proved se-
vere. After he was about again he had trouble
with his head as a result of his illness, and he
gradually failed until the final separation came
on the morning of April 29, 1903.
Mrs. George E. Bickford numbers among her
forbears many of the earliest and most promi-
nent families of this country, the ancestry of
her father's family being here given in chron-
ological order from the first American an-
cestor.
(I) John 1?homson was born in the north-
ern part of Wales, in the year 1616. He came
to this country in the third embarkation from
England, at the age of six years, and settled
in Plymouth, where he became prominent in
the affairs of that Colony. On Dec. 26, 1645,
he married Mary Cooke, who was born in 1626,
daughter of Francis Cooke, of the "Mayflower."
John Thomson died June 16, 1696, aged nearly
eighty years. His children were : Adam ; John ;
Mary; Esther; Elizabeth; Sarah; Lydia;
Jac'Sfe; Thomas; Peter; and Mercy.
(II) John Thomson (2), son of John, born
in 1648, married Mary Tinkham, daughter of
Ephraim Tinkham, the emigrant. He was a
carpenter, and died Xov. 25, 1725, in his sev-
enty-seventh year. His children were : John ;
Ephraim; Thomas; Shubael ; Mary ; Martha;
Francis; Sarah; Peter; Jacob'; "and Ebenezer
(III) Jacob Thomson, son of John (2), was
born in 1710, and married in 1735 Mary Hay-
ward, daughter of Nathaniel Ilayward. He
died Feb. 17, 1750, in his fortieth year. His
children were : Jacob ; Ebenezer : Nathaniel ;
Mary; Martha; Ephraim; and Daniel.
(IV) Ebenezer Thomson, son of Jacob, was
born Oct. 14, 1737, and married Elizabeth
Besse, of Wareham, Mass., and they lived to-
gether for sixty years. He served in both the
French and Revolutionary wars. He died May
10, 1832, in his ninety-fifth year. His chil-
dren were : Nathaniel ; Rebecca ; Aseneth ;
Elizabeth, and Charity.
(V) Nathaniel Thompson, son of Ebenezer,
was born May 11, 1761, and married (first)
in 1785 Sarah Thayer, daughter of David
Thayer, and (second) Mrs. Mary Foster,
daughter of Jabez Hall. Nathaniel Thompson
lived in Halifax, Mass., and held a commission
as major in the militia. He died Jan. 13,
1843. His children, all born to the first mar-
riage, were as follows : Polly ; Lucy ; Nathaniel ;
Seth ; Elizabeth ; Charity ; Ebenezer ; David ;
Sarah ; Welcome, and Almira.
(VI) Seth Thompson, son of Nathaniel, was
born Sept. 6, 1791, and married Jan. 1, 1815,
Bethiah Benson, daughter of David and Char-
ity Benson. They lived together in the mar-
riage relation for seventy-two years, nine
months. In 1840 they lived at Sandwich,
Mass. He died Nov. 20, 1888, in East Bridge-
water, and at the time of his death was be-
lieved to be the oldest man in the county. His
children were : David ; Martin Benson ; Na-
thaniel; Mercy W. ; Julia Ann; Seth, Jr.;
Martin Van Buren ; and Frances Maria, all of
whom are now deceased.
(VII) Capt. Seth Thompson (2), son of
Seth, was born Aug. 27, 1830, and married
Nov. 21, 1855, Angenette Eeynolde, daughter
of Azel, Jr., and Mary (Thayer) Reynolds.
Capt. Seth Thompson was for a number of
years engaged in whaling, being master of va-
rious vessels employed in that industry. He was
later engaged in business in Brockton as a
manufacturer of box toes, his factory being
located on High street. He died in Brockton,
756
SOUTHEASTEKN MASSACHUSETTS
Mass., March 8, 1901, hanng survived his
wife, who passed away June 26, 1883. To this
union were born two daughters, namely : Carrie
Alberta, who is the wife of Frank A. Keed. of
Brockton; and Mary Bertha, who is the widow
of George E. Bickford.
On her mother's side, Mrs. Bickford is a
direct descendant in the tenth generation from
(I) Robert Reynolds, who appears at Bos-
ton in about 1630, and is believed to have come
from England. He is mentioned Sept. 3, 1634,
as a shoemaker and freeman. The Christian
name of his wife was Mary, and they had chil-
dren as follows: Nathaniel, Ruth, Tabitha,
Sarah and Mary.
(II) Capt. Nathaniel Reynolds, son of Rob-
ert, was born about 1627, in England, and
came when a child to New England with his
parents. He married Sarah, daughter of John
Dwight, of Dedhara, and after her death mar-
ried (second) Priscilla Brackett, daughter of
Peter Brackett, a well-to-do tradesman of Bos-
ton. He had three children by his first wife,
and eight by his second, as follows : Sarah,
Mary, Nathaniel, John, Peter, Philip, Joseph,
Hannah, Mary (2), Benjamin, and Ruth.
(III) Nathaniel Reynolds (2), son of Na-
thaniel, was born March 3, 1662-63, and lived
in Boston. His wife's name was Ruth, and
he was the father of nine children, Sarah,
Ruth, Mary, Nathaniel, John, Ebenezer,
Philip, Ruth (2) and Naomi.
(IV) Nathaniel Reynolds (3), son of Na-
thaniel (2), was born Jan. 14, 1693-94, in
Boston, and was a shoemaker, as was his
father and grandfather. He married Mary
Snell, daughter of Thomas Snell, of Bridge-
water, and they had sons, Nathaniel and
Thomas. The father died Oct. 20, 1719, and
the mother removed to her native town with
her two sons.
(V) Thomas Reynolds, son of Nathanial
(3), was born Feb. 25, 1719, in Boston, on
Milk street, in the same house in which Ben-
jamin Franklin was born in 1706. He mar-
ried Elizabeth Turner, and their children
were: Amy, Joseph, Amy (a), Elizabeth,
Susanna, Martha, Thomas and Josiah.
(VI) Joseph Reynolds, son of Thomas,
was born June 21, 1751, and nuirried in 1772
Jemima Perkins, daughter of Luke Perkins.
Their children were: Ichabod, Joseph, Dan-
iel, Simeon, Azel, Thomas, Jemima, Olive,
Amy, Susanna and Vesta.
(VII) Azel Reynolds, son of Joseph, mar-
ried in 1812 Susanna Nasli. Children : Azel, Jr.,
Bardin Hiland, Martha and Silas Howard.
(VIII) Azel Reynolds, Jr., son of Azel,
married Sept. 28, 1834, Mary Thayer, daugh-
ter of Zenas Thayer, of North Bridgewater,
and to this union were born the following
cliildren: Angenette, born Dec. 24, 1837;
Davis Bernard, born March 30, 1841, who
served three years in the Civil war; Marcus
Henry, born Feb. 17, 1845; Mary Emma,
born Aug. 4, 1847, who died in infancy; Mary
Emma (2), born Aug. 21, 1849; and Rufus
Marion, born July 14, 1852, who died in in-
fancy.
(IX) Angenette Reynolds, daughter of
Azel and Mary (Thayer) Reynolds, born Dec.
24, 1837, married Capt. Seth Thompson.
CRANDALL (Attleboro family). The fam-
ily bearing this name in Attleboro, so lately
represented by George N. Crandall, who died
at his home in that city, Aug. 17, 1902, at
the advanced age of eighty-two years, nine
months, twenty days, is a branch of the
Charlestown, R. I., family of the name, the
birthplace of the deceased.
The Charlestown Crandalls and those of
Westerly, of which town Charlestown at one
time formed a part, sprang from the New-
port family, the progenitor of which, John
Crandall, is said to have come to Boston in
1634 or 1635, but being persecuted on account
of his Baptist principles, removed to Provi-
dence and later to Newport. He was early
associated with the Baptists at the latter place,
subsequently becoming the first elder of that
denomination at Westerly. In 1660 he be-
came associated with others in the purchase
of the Misquamicutt tract of land on the Paw-
catuck river, now known as Westerly. With
other founders of Westerly Mr. Crandall set-
tled on the Misquamicutt land before 1665.
He was commissioner for a numlier of years,
served as deputy from both Newport and
Westerly, and in other capacities which evi-
dence that he was a man of importance.
Through the seven sons of Elder Crandall —
Jacob, James, Peter, Joseph, Samuel, Jere-
miah and Eber — the name became a common
one and the family numerous in Rhode Island.
The late George N. Crandall, alluded to in
the foregoing, was a son of George N. and
Thankful (Greene) Crandall, and as well
sprang from early Rhode Island families on
his mother's side, she being a direct descend-
ant of John Greene, of Kings Towne, R. I.,
who came to Narragansett about 1639, living
in the family of Richard Smith. From this
John Greene, the Christian name of whose
. ^ff 3*rrg A C^
r /^^•^ZSx-*-*-**^^^*'^^
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
757
■wife was Joan, the descent of Mrs. Crandall
was througli Benjamin Greene, of North
Kingstown and East Greenwich, E. I., and
his wife Humility, John Greene (2), of East
Greenwich, R. I.^ and his wife Mary (Ayles-
wortli), Amos Greene, of Charlestown, E. I.,
and his wife Amy (Knowles), and Henry
Greene, of Charlestown, Rhode Island.
The lineage of Mr. Crandall on his father's
side from the ancestor and settler, (I) John
Crandall, is through Jeremiah Crandall,
James, Oliver and George Nichols. These
generations in detail follow in regular order.
(II) Jeremiah Crandall, son of John the
settler, married Priscilla Warner, daughter of
Jolm and Ann (Gorton) Warner, and lived
at Newport and Westerly, R. I. They died,
he in 1718, and she in 1750. Their children
were: Jeremiah, born June 25, 1702; Ann;
John, born Oct. 4, 1704; Hannah; James,
born Sept. 4, 1706; Experience, born Dec.
28, 1709; Patience; Susanna, born March 11,
1715; and Marv, born Mav 13, 1717.
(III) James" Crandall, born Sept. 4, 1706,
married (probably) (first) Feb. 27, 1742, Dn-
marius Kenyon, of Charlestown. Their chil-
dren of Westerly town record, according to
Arnold, were: Eunice, born Jan. 24, 1743-
44; Ezekiel, Oct. 11, 1746; Damarius, Sept.
8, 1749; Enoch, Nov. 1, 1752; Christopher,
Sept. 11, 1755; Augustus, March 27, 1761;
Cynthia, Feb. 4, 1763; Charlotte, May 10,
1764; and James, July 16, 1766. It was prob-
ably the father of these who married (second)
at Westerly, R. I., June 26, 1768. he being
then referred to as of Charlestown, R. I., Mrs.
Elizabeth Saunders, born Dec. 15, 1736, of
Westerly, widow of Elisha Saunders, and
daughter of Oliver Chase and liis wife, Eliza-
beth (Cleveland), of Berkley, Mass., until
about 1740, when he removed to Westerly.
The children born to James and Elizabeth,
the eldest in Charlestown, R. I., and the others
likely in Westerly, where they are of town
record, were: Elizabeth, born Aug. 8, 1769;
Mary, Aug. 3. 1771: Oliver, Sept, 30, 1773;
Damarius, July 26 (?), 1776; Nancy, Sept.
4, 1778; and Fanny.
(IV) Oliver Crandall, son of James, born
Sept. 30, 1773, was a well-kno%vn member
of the Society of Friends.
(V) George Nichols Crandall, son of
Oliver, married Thankful Greene, and they
lived in Charlestown, R. I., where he was oc-
cupied in farming, being an extensive land
owner. Their children were : Patience, who
married Jonathan Tucker; Ruth Ann, who
married Angus Monroe ; Thankful, who mar-
ried Thomas Arnold Pierce; George Nichols,
mentioned below; William, who married Cath-
arine Babcock, of Charlestown, sister of the
first wife of George N. ; and Beriah — all of
whom are deceased.
(VI) George Nichols Crandall, son
of George Nichols and Thankful (Greene),
was born in the town of Charlestown Oct. 27,
1819, and for half a century was identified
with the business interests of Attleboro, Mass.
His boyhood days were spent on a farm, and
his education acquired in the local schools.
As a boy he became a clerk in a grocery
store in Westerly, and when of age he formed
a partnership with Mr. Seeger under the firm
name of Crandall & Seeger, and they carried
on a grocery in the town of Westerly, the
partnership lasting for six years, when Mr.
Crandall bought out Mr. Seeger's interest and
then for two years carried on the business
alone. At the end of that time he sold out
and moved to Natick, in the town of War-
wick, Kent Co., E. I., where he engaged in
the hotel business and was also the postmaster.
There he continued until 1855, when he sold
out and moved to Attleboro, and here em-
barked in the grocery business, having as a
partner George A. Whipple. Their business
was located on Park street, and the firm name
of Whipple & Crandall soon^ became well
known to the people of Attleboro and vicinity.
They remained together until 1866, when Mr.
Crandall bought out Mr. Whipple's interest,
and carried the business on by himself until
he sold it to Lucius Z. Carpenter. The re-
mainder of his life was then devoted to the
real estate which ho had acquired. He built
a fine home on North Main street, and there
his death occurred Aug. 17, 1902, after a
short illness. His remains rest in Woodlawn
cemetery, where a handsome monument marks
his last resting place.
Mr. Crandall was a stanch supporter of
Republican principles, and was a veteran mem-
ber of Company C Association, one of the
oldest Republican clubs in the State. In 1881
he represented the town of Attleboro in the
State Legislature, and was a man of influence
in that body. For three years he was select-
man of the town, and for a number of years
a member of the board of assessors, and several
years of the board of health. For eighteen
years he was special commissioner of Bristol
county, Mass., for fourteen years justice of
the peace. For fifteen years he was vice presi-
dent of the Attleboro Gas Light Company,
758
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
aud was also a director of the Attleboro Mu-
tual Fire Insurance Company, and one of the
assistant engineers of the Attleboro fire dis-
trict which was formed in 1851).
Mr. Crandall was a well-read man, and was
a deep student of law. With his knowledge
of public affairs generally through his long
service as an official he figured as an adviser
and assistant to the principal in many cases
before the United States and Bristol County
courts. He was a man of decided action, and
he meant what he said, and there was never
any mistaking his meaning. His tastes were
domestic, and in public and private life he
was a man of honor and integrity. His fra-
ternal connection was with Oriental Lodge of
Odd Fellows at Attleboro.
Mr. Crandall was twice married. In 1844
he wedded Maria S. Balx'ock, daughter of
Jesse Babcock, of Charlestown, R. I. She
died in Attleboro in 1856, leaving one son,
George H. Mr. Crandall married (second)
in Attleboro, May 19, 1858, Frances A. Mar-
tin, who was born in that town, daughter of
Dr. Alfred and Bebe (Dean) Martin, the for-
mer a well-known dentist and son of Hale
Martin. Mrs. Crandall still occupies the old
home and she is greatly beloved by all who
know her.
CHARLES AUGUSTUS ATWOOD, M. D.,
has been engaged in the practice of medicine
and surgery, with his residence on West Bri-
tannia street, Whittenton, since his location in
Bristol county in 1883, after his graduation
from medical school. He was bora in Taun-
ton June 12, 1861, son of Henry Dean and
Alice Brown (Williams) Atwood, and a repre-
sentative of the seventh generation of the fam-
ily in America.
(I) Joseph Atwood, of Taunton, married,
Jan. 1, 1680, Esther, daughter of James Walk-
er, and their children were : Joseph, born Aug.
4, 1681, became a citizen of Dighton, was third
town clerk of that town in 1718, and again
clerk in 1721, and in 1729 was a representa-
tive to the General Court ; John, born Feb. 28,
1683 ; Ephraim ; and perhaps Joanna.
(II) Ephraim Atwood, son of Joseph and
Esther (Walker), was elected town clerk of
Dighton in 1724. His wife's name was Ruth
and they had a son Ephraim.
(III) Ephraim Atwood, son of Ephraim and
Ruth, married Abigail Bowers, of Somerset,
a niece of Jeremiah Bowers. The children
born of this union were: George, born 1765;
John, 1771 ; Ephraim, 1777; and Walter Haley,
1788.
(IV) George Atwood, son of Ephraim and
Abigail (Bowers), born in 1765, married Anna
Richmond, born March 24, 1767, daughter of
Perez (born Oct. 13, 1728) and Mercy
(Church) Richmond (born Sept. 18, 1734).
They had children as follows: George Bowers,
born Oct. G, 1792 ; Abigail, born Dec. 12, 1794,
died Dec. 16, 1810; Maiy, born March 18,
1797, died June 21, 1851; Ephraim, born
April 2, 1800, died Sept. 7, 1848; Charles
Richmond, born Jan. 20, 1804, died Dec. 18,
1877. George Atwood, the father, died Oct.
12, 1821, and his wife Anna Aug. 29, 1846.
To Perez and Mercy (Church) Richmond were
born the following children: Sarah, born Aug.
24, 1756; Ruth, Sept. 6, 1758; Elizabeth,
March 9, 1760; Mary, Sept. 29, 1761 ; Thomas,
March 5, 1764; Benjamin, July 11, 1765;
Anna, March 24, 1767; Charles, Sept. 28,
1768; Mary (2), April 5, 1770; Charles (2),
July 9, 1773; and Hannah, Dec. 17, 1775.
(V) Charles Richmond Atwood, son of
George and Anna (Richmond), bora in Digh-
ton Jan. 20, 1804, married, Sept. 24, 1832,
Susan Padelford Dean, daughter of Robert
and Sarah Susan Leavitt (Padelford) Dean.
She died April 3, 1850. Robert Dean died
May 24, 1822. To Charles E. Atwood and his
wife were born the following children : Charles
Augustus, born June 25, 1835, died Jan. 7,
1859; Robert Dean, born May 6, 1837, died
Aug. 19, 1838; and Henry Dean, born Jan. 29,
1839.
(VI) Henry Dean Atwood, son of Charles
R. and Susan, born Jan. 29, 1839, was edu-
cated in Bristol Academy under Prof. Nourse,
prepared for college under the late Hon. John
E. Sanford, and graduated from Harvard in
1800. He then studied law with Chester Isham
Reed in Taunton, and while pursuing his pro-
fessional studies went to the Dean Cotton &
Machine Company to learn bookkeeping. When
twenty-two years of age he was made pay-
master for all the mills, and also of the Phoe-
nix Cotton Mill run by his uncle Robert S.
Dean, and of the Phoenix Crucible Manufac-
turing Company, of which his father was agent
and treasurer. He did not complete his law
studies. The outbreak of the Civil w'ar made
it necessaiy for him to help his father with
whom he acted as clerk. After his father's
death he continued the same business, succeed-
ing him as agent. He also had charge of a
place in Jersey City which had been established
in 1865. He continued this work until he sold
out, finally retiring in 1902. He had taken an
active part in public affairs, served as a. member
of the school committee, and for one year on
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
759
the board of aldemien. In politics he wa? a
Eepiiblican. On April 17, 1860, Mr. Atwood
married Alice Brown Williams, daughter of
Benjamin P. and Martha (Brown) Williams.
Their children were : Charles Augustus, Carrie
Edchmond, Henry Church, Susan Padelford
and Anna Richmond.
(VII) Charles Augustus Atwood received
his early education in the public schools of
Taunton, graduating from the high school in
1880. He then entered the medical department
of Harvard University, and graduated in 1883.
When but twenty-two years of age he located
where he now is on West Britannia street,
Whittenton, and began the practice of his pro-
fession. He has made a special study of oper-
ative surgery, attending the clinics at the
Massachusetts General Hospital, and he is now
chiefly engaged with that branch of profes-
sional work. His practice is wide, and he has
been eminently successful in some of the most