bard & White ; he married Sarah Croome Cole-
man, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they now reside
in Brookline, Mass., the parents of two chil-
dren, Frances Everett and John Hauthaway,



SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS



893



DURFEE (Fall River family). The Dur-
fee family here in our coimtry is of long and
honorable standing, one of the ancient fami-
lies of southern Rhode Island, and while no
identity has been absolutely fixed between
Thomas Durfee, the immigrant ancestor of the
American family, and the Durfees across the
water, the genealogist of the American Durfees
thinks the conditions indicate a connection
with the Huguenot d'Urfe or Durfee family.
Some time before 1628 a French refugee
named d'Urfe fled from Rochelle, France, to
England, bringing with him a son. Thomas
Durfey (or d'Urfe), the English dramatist, was
born at Exeter, England, and it was from
Exeter, England, and its vicinity, that many
of the first settlers of Rhode Island came. The
dramatist spelled his name with the "d'," but
Huguenot writers at about 1680-90 spelled it
"Durfee."

It is only the purpose here, however, to
review briefly one branch of the old Tiverton
Durfee family — that of the family of the late
Hon. Nathaniel Briggs Durfee, legislator, sen-
ator and member of Congress, whose son, Capt.
George Nightingale Durfee, a gallant soldier
and officer of the Civil war, is now active and
prominent in the social and business life of Fall
River. This, chronologically arranged, fol-
lows:

(I) Thomas Durfee, the first of the name in
America of whom any record has been found,
came to Portsmouth in the Colony of Rhode
Island previous to 1664, in October of which
year he appeared at the session of the Colonial
General Assembly of Rhode Island. Se was
admitted a freeman of the town of Portsmouth,
May 6, 1673. He was chosen juryman in
1679, was appointed constable in 1690, was
•chosen an overseer of the poor in 1691, and on.
Dec. 29th of that same year was chosen deputy.
He was chosen a member of the town council
in 1692, and again in 1694, and was again
made deputy in 1694. For seven years after
1698 he and John Borden were engaged asi
managers on the Rhode Island side of the Bris-
tol ferry. The name of his first wife, the
mother of his sons, is unknown. He died in
July, 1712. His second wife, whom he mar-
ried at Portsmouth, R. I., was Deliverance
(Hall) Tripp, widow of Abiel Tripp. The two
children born to the latter marriage were Pa-
tience and Deliverance, and those of the first:
Robert, Richard, Thomas, William, Ann and
Benjamin.

(il) William Durfee, born about 1673, in
Portsmouth, R. I., married Ann, and they re-
sided in Tiverton, R. I., where lie died in



1727. Their children were: David, bom
March 1, 1700; Samuel, born March 1, 1702;
and Joseph, born about 1705, who died in Tiv-
erton, in 1733, unmarried. William Durfee
married a second wife, who was probably the
mother of his daughter Abigail.

(III) David Durfee, born March 1, 1700,
in Tiverton, R. I., married April 16, 1726,
Abigail Wing, of Dartmouth, Mass., born in
July, 1701, who died July 4, 1792. Mr. Dur-
fee died March 1, 1788. Children: David,
born April 9, 1739; William; Elizabeth, who
married George Westgate, Jr. ; Mary, who mar-
ried William Carder, of Warwick, R. I.; Wing;
Abigail; and Rebecca.

(IV) David Durfee (2), born April 9, 1739,
in Tiverton, R. I., married there Jan. 24, 1760,
Mary, born Oct. 21, 1740, in Portsmouth, R.
I., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Brayton)
Giflford. She died Nov. 19, 1815. He died
April 7, 1824, in Tiverton, R. I. Their chil-
dren were: William, born June 18, 1761;
Thomas, born Aug. 9, 1763; Ruth, born Oct.
23, 1765; Christiana, born Feb. 5, 1768; Abi-
gail, born Dec. 19, 1770; Elizabeth, born May
23, 1773; Joseph, born Jan. 13, 1776; Mary,
bom Oct. 11, 1778; David, born March 3,
1781 ; and Wanton H., born Oct. 23, 1783.

(V) David Durfee (3), born March 3, 1781,
in Tiverton, R. I., married there Oct. 1, 1807,
Mrs. Patience (Cook) Briggs, widow of Maj.
Nathaniel Briggs. of Tiverton, and daughter
of Col. John and Sarah (Gray) Cook, born
June 17, 1779, in Tiverton, and died there
Oct. 7, 1851. Mr. Durfee aL=;o died in Tiver-
ton, R. I., in September, 1876. Their chil-
dren were: Nathaniel Briggs, born Sept. 29,
1812 ; and five others, who died when young.

Mr. Durfee was a man of sterling worth and
unsullied reputation throughout a long event-
ful life of ninety-five years. A Whig in politics,
he was much in public life and represented the
town of Tiverton for many years in the Gren-
eral Assembly of Rhode Island, in both the
House and Senate. He was a member and at
one time president of the town council of Tiv-
erton.

(VI) Nathaniel Briggs Durfee, son of
David (3) and Patience (Cook-Briggs) Dur-
fee, bom Sept. 29, 1812, in Tiverton, R. I.,
married in Warwick, R. I., May 16, 1832, Har-
riet Maria Greene, born May 2, 1814, in War-
wick, R. I., daughter of Simon Ray Greene, of
Warwick Neck, and granddaughter of Col. Wil-
liam Greene, of Warwick Neck, the Colonel
being a direct descendant of John Greene, sur-
geon, who was the great-grandson of Robert
Greene, of Gillingham, County of Dorset, Eng-



894



SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS



land. Dr. John Greene came from Salisbury
to America and became one of the founders of
Providence plantations and Warwick, R. I.,
from whom Colonel Greene's descent is
through John Greene (2), Samuel Greene,
William Greene and Benjamin Greene.
Colonel Greene was commander of the Kentish
Guards, the independent company of volunteer
militia of East Greenwich, in which Gen.
Nathaniel Greene acquired the first elements
of his military knowledge.

Mr. Durfee was not engaged in active busi-
ness at any time of his life. He removed from
Warwick to Tiverton, R. I., in about 1850.
First a Whig and then a Republican, he was
always interested in public affairs and was
much honored by his fellow citizens, represent-
ing the town of Warwick, R. I., in the General
Assembly of Rhode Island and also his native
town. He w^as at one time speaker of the
House of Representatives of his State. He
represented his district in the XXXIVth and
XXXVth Congresses of the United States. At
the time of his death he held the office of town
clerk of Tiverton, which he had filled for about
six years. A man of strong forceful character,
he held the confidence of his fellow citizens,
and his death, which occurred Sept. 9, 1872,
in Tiver'ton, R. I., was keenly felt by all.

The children born to Nathaniel Briggs and
Harriet Maria (Greene) Durfee were: William
Ray, born March 15, 1833 ; Maria Macy, born
June 23, 1835 ; George Nightingale, born Dec.
16, 1843; and Edgar Greene, born Sept. 8,
1847.

(VII) Geoege Nightingale Durfee, son
of Hon. Nathaniel Briggs and Harriet Maria
(Greene) Durfee, was born Dec. 16, 1843, in
Tiverton, R. I. Mr. Durfee was sent first for
one year to the Friends' School at Providence
and then to Dr. Wheelwright's private school
in Taunton, Mass. Here he was accidentally
shot by Edward L. Keyes, son of General
Keyes, which took him from school for a while,
and during his illness and convalescence, and
before he was able to return to school. Dr.
Wheelwright was appointed United States la-
bor commissioner by N. P. Banks, then speaker
of the House, and had suspended school. Mr.
Durfee was then sent to the University Gram-
mar School of Providence and was a student
there for some time, preparing for college. At
the end of his period there he had a chance of
entering the Fall River Union Bank, as clerk,
and he remained there for two years. He en-
listed for service in 1862. He and two others
had organized a Zouave company, and as order-
ly sergeant of the company a great deal of the



drill work devolved upon Mr. Durfee, who be-
came well informed in the manual of arms.
When he enlisted he was asked to go as lieu-
tenant of Company G, under Captain Rodman,
his brother-in-law, as he was able to drill the
company. When the companies were being
drilled preparatory to going to the front they
were reviewed by Governor Sprague, and when
commissions w'ere issued he received a commis-
sion as captain of Company K, 7th Rhode
Island Volunteer Infantry. The 7th formed
a part of the Army of the Potomac until after
the battle of Fredericksburg, in which it per-
formed valuable service. Captain Durfee re-
signed in the spring of 1863, and returning
home with an honorable war record entered
into manufacturing business with Captain
Rodman, at Rocky Brook, South Kingston, R.
I., remaining there for five or six years. In
1870 he came to Tiverton, R. I., and on the
death of his father, in 1872, he succeeded him
as town clerk and as member of the Legis-
lature. In 1881 he came to Fall River and
went into business with W. B. M. Chace, form-
ing the company of Durfee & Chace, the char-
acter of the business being real estate, insur-
ance and mortgage loans. In 1894 this busi-
ness partnership was dissolved, Mr. Durfee
buying out the insurance business from Mr.
Chace and continuing it in his owti name. He
has developed a very large private banking
business in the last few years and has become
one of the substantial citizens of Fall River.
Mr. Durfee has always declined political office,
but when the new charter of the city went into
operation he was appointed by Mayor Grime
chairman of the new fire commission, and he
served in this capacity for three years.

On April 18, 1866, Captain Durfee mar-
ried, at Wakefield, R. I., Julia W., daughter
of Carder Hazard, of South Kingston, R. I.,
and to them came children: George Nightin-
gale, Jr., born Nov. 12, 1867 ; Charles Hazard,
born Oct. 12, 1870; Nathaniel Briggs, born
April 5, 1874; Julian Huntington, born Aug.
16, 1878; and Edgar Greene, born April 1,
1884.

ALGER. The family bearing this name in
Taunton, the head of which is Hon. Arthur
Martineau Alger, is one of the ancient families
of this section of Massachusetts. The lineage
and family history of Mr. Alger, somewhat in
detail and chronologically arranged, follow.

(I) Thomas Alger, immigrant ancestor of
the Taunton-Bridgewater and vicinity Algers,
came to this country not far from 1665, in
wMch years he appears of record in Taunton,



SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS 895

on Jan. 9, 1664-65, having been granted land, (VI) Nahum Alger, son of James and Han-
near the Three-mile river. He was married nah (Bassett) Alger, born Feb. 27, 1794, mar-
Nov. 14, 1665, to Elizabeth Packard, of Bridge- ried Aug. 15, 1815, Catherine Sampson Rounse-
water, daughter of Samuel Packard, of Wy- ville, born April 5, 1799, daughter of Rev.
mondham, England, and Hingham and Bridge- William Rounseville, of Freetown, a Baptist'
water. New England. In after years he re- clergyman, locally noted for his eloquence,
moved within the limits of Bridgewater. who for ten consecutive years represented the

(II) Israel Alger, son of Thomas and Eliza- town in the General Court; and granddaugh-
beth (Packard) Alger, married Patience Hay- ter of Capt. Levi Rounseville, who commanded
ward, daughter of Nathaniel Hayward, and a company of minute men that marched from
granddaughter of Thomas Hayward, one of the Freetown to Lexington, April 19, 1775, and
original proprietors and first settlers of Bridge- subsequently was a captain in the 9th Regi-
water. He lived on the north side of the ment of the Continental army. Nahum Alger
Town river, in Bridgewater. He died in 1726, was the agent of Alger & Fobes Iron Foundry
leaving a large estate for that time. at Freetown. He died May 8, 1846. His wife

(III) Israel Alger (2), son of Israel and died Dec. 26, 1840, at the age of forty-one
Patience (Hayward) Alger, born Sept. 9, 1689, years.

married (second) Dec. 25, 1717, Susanna, (VII) Rev. William Rounseville Algek,

daughter of William Snow, Sr., one of the pro- son of Nahum and Catherine S. (Rounseville)

prietors and first settlers of Bridgewater. Alger, born Dec. 30, 1822, in Freetown, Mass.,

When twenty-one hi^ father gave him thirty married Sept. 21, 1847, Anne Langdon Lodge,

acres of land, "tutting on the north side of the daughter of Giles Lodge, of Boston, and hia

town river," upon which he built his house, wife Abigail Harris (Langdon) Lodge, par-

and there he died Nov. 13, 1762. ents of John Ellerton Lodge, father of .Hon.

(IV) (Lieut.) James Alger, son of Israel Henry Cabot Lodge, and of Dr. Giles Henry
(2) and Susanna (Snow) Alger, bom in 1729, Lodge (Harvard University, 1825), translator
married Martha, daughter of Jonathan and of Wincklemann's "History of Ancient Art
Mary (Keith) Kingman. Mr. Alger owned a Among the Greeks," and of an art novel from
large farm in West Bridgewater. Previous to the German of Baron von Sternberg, entitled
the war of the Revolution he held a lieuten- "The Breughel Brothers." Mrs. Abigail Harris
ant's commission in the local militia of Bridge- (Langdon) Lodge was a direct descendant of
•water. He was frequently chosen moderator John Langdon, of Boston, who died Dec. 6,
of the town meetings and was for some years 1732, through Nathaniel Langdon, of Boston,
a selectman of the town. He was the grand- and his wife Abigail (Harris), and through
father of Cyrus Alger, founder of the South Capt. John Langdon, who served in the Rev-
Boston Iron Works. His death occurred May olutionary war, and his wife Mary, daughter
20, 1810, in the eighty-first year of his age. of Maj. Gen. Thomas Walley, one of the weal-
His wife died Aug. 23, 1813, aged eighty-one. thiest merchants of Boston of his time, and a

(V). James Alger (2), son of James and judge of the Supreme court.
Martha (Kingman) Alger, born Oct. 22, 1770, Conditions threw Mr. Alger' early upon his
married April 19, 1791, Hannah, daughter of own resources. As a boy he worked five years
Lieut. Joseph and Phebe (Cushman) Bassett, in a cotton mill, and during this period read
a direct descendant on her father's side from and studied mornings, noons, and by the light
William Bassett, on her mother's from Rev. of a candle at night. He went through an
Robert Cushman, both of whom were among algebra and Davis's West Point Course of
the Plymouth Pilgrims. Mr. Alger owned and Mathematics to the eighth book of analytic
lived on a farm in that part of Bridgewater geometry, solving by his own efforts the prob-
called Scotland, and for a number of years lems, some of which he was weeks in work-
carried on, in partnership with Col. Salmon ing out. Later on he attended New Hamp-
Fobes, an iron furnace and store in Freetown, shire academies, where he was fitted for the
He was a deacon in the First Congregational Divinity school of Harvard University, from
Church in Bridgewater, and during his active which he was graduated in 1847. Subsequently
life influential in church and town affairs. He Harvard University conferred upon him the
was the father of Rev. Horatio Alger (Harvard honorary degree of master of arts. He was
University, 1825), and grandfather of Horatio ordained as a Unitarian clergyman over the
Alger, Jr., the well-known author of boys' Mount Pleasant Congregationalist Society of
books. He died Nov. 2, 1844, aged seventy- Roxbury, Mass., in 1847. His later pastor-
four. His wife died Jan. 16, 1845, aged ates were in Boston and New York City, and
seventy-three. ' he also preached in Chicago, Denver, and Port-



896 SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS

land, Maine. In the days of his activities ho register of Probate and Insolvency for Bristol
was famous as a pulpit orator, and in demand county since 1893. He has acted as master,
as a lecturer before lyceums in various parts auditor and referee in many cases, and has
of the country. In 1857 he delivered the been much consulted as counsel. He has con-
Fourth of July oration in Boston, in which he tributed articles to the "American Law Re-
took strong ground against slavery, and pro- view" and the "Harvard Law Review," and has
phesied secession and war unless the Republi- published "A Treatise on the Law in Relation
•can party triumphed. The city council refused to Promoters and the Promotion of Corpora-
to pass the customary vote of thanks until six tions," which has been favorably received by
years later, when he was thanked for his ora- the profession. He was one of the editors of
tion, which in the meantime had been printed "Contributions, Biographical, Historical, Gen-
in pamphlet form, and had gone through sev- ealogical," published by the New England His-
€ral editions. As chaplain of the Massachu- toric Genealogical Society. He is a director of
setts House of Representatives, his conduct ol tlie Taunton National Bank and of a number
devotional services attracted much favorable of business corporations, a trustee of the Taun-
attention, his prayers being taken down and ton Savings Bank and of the Morton Hospital,
published, and the speaker presenting him in and a director of the Old Colony Historical
the name of the House a gold watch with an Society. He married April 22, 1882, Lelia
appropriate inscription. He was the author of C, daughter of George B. and Elizabeth S.
a number of books which went through many Sanders, of Taunton, who died Oct. 24, 1895,
editions, the principal being "A Critical His- leaving two daughters : Mary Lodge, who mar-
tory of the Doctrine of a Future Life," which ried John B. Sullivan, Jr., a graduate of Har-
passed through fourteen editions, "The Genius vard University, and of the Harvard Law
of Solitude," "The Friendship of Women," School, a practicing lawyer in Boston; and
"The School of Life," and the "Poetry of the Anne Langdon, who is unmarried.
Orient." Many of his discourses and addresses

have also been published. He delivered the DAVIS (Somerset family). At what date
oration at the unveiling of the monument to (I) William Davis, the immigrant progenitor
the poet Poe at the Metropolitan Art Museum of this family, came to these shores is not
in New York. He served as a member of the known, but the records show that in 1(597 he
Boston school committee and as a trustee of was grand juryman in Freetown, and that
the Boston Public Library. He was in touch March 1, 1686, he married Mary, daughter of
with the scholars and thinkers of his day, and William and Ann (Johnson) Makepeace, of
in correspondence with Spencer, Martineau, Freetown, Mass. Ann Johnson was the grand-
Matthew Arnold, Emerson and many others, daughter of Thomas Makepeace, of Boston.
He died Feb. 7, 1905, and is buried at Mount They had twelve children, the fourth of whom
Auburn. Of the children of Mr. Alger, a son, was Jonathan.

Capt. Philip R. Alger, U. S. N., has been foi (II) Jonathan Davis married Sarah Terry,

some years professor of mathematics at the and had five children.

U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, and is one (III) Jonathan Davis (2), second in the

of the foremost experts of the country on ord- family of Jonathan and Sarah, was born May

nance, having published textbooks and various 26, 1736. He was twice married, first to

papers on the subject. A daughter, Abbie Margaret Baggs, of Freetown, March 20, 1757 ;

Langdon Alger, who died unmarried in 1905, second to Sarah Treadwell, of Freetown, Jan.

was a remarkable linguist, and translated and 16, 1772. He died Jan. 1, 1808. His chil-

published a number of books. dren by his first wife were: Margaret, who died

Arthur Martineau Alger, son of Rev young, and Jonathan.
William Rounseville and Anne Langdon (IV) Jonathan Davis (3), born Jan. 7,

(Lodge) Alger, was born in that part of Bos- 1770, married Chloe Simmons, daughter of

ton formerly Roxbury. Sept. 23, 1854. He Zephaniah and Abigail (Parker) Simmons,

was educated in the Boston Latin School and She was born June 29, 1779. Their children

privately, and was graduated from the law were : Jonathan, Nancy, Abby, Zephaniah S.,

school of Boston University in 1876. He was Eliphalet, Nathan, Louisa, Chloe, Bradley,

admitted to the bar in that year and at once Sarah, Harriet, Russel, Sarah (2), Sybil P.

located in Taunton. He served as alderman and Phebe A.

one year, city solicitor four years, mayor two (V) Capt. Nathan Davis, son of Jonathan

years, as clerk of the First District court of (3) and Chloe (Simmons) Davis, was born in

Bristol for a number of years, and has been Freetown, Mass., Jan. 17, 1803, and spent the




^J.2^c^



SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS



897



larger part of his life on the water. His
father was engaged in the coasting trade, and
Nathan was early made acquainted with that
business. At the tender age of ten years he
commenced going on the Taunton river, and
after a service of seven years had grown so
familiar with the coasting business that he be-
came master of the sloop "Mary'' at seventeen
years of age, commanding her some five or six
years. Soon after he built the sloop "Eang-
er," in company with Capt. Joseph Simmons,
and ran her between Fall.Eiver and Taunton.
After a few years he built another sloop, which
he named "Temperance." He departed from
the time-honored custom of breaking a bottle
of rum over the bow at this launching and
ventured the experiment of breaking a bottle
of pure water ovfer the bow of his sloop. This
was probably the first sloop or vessel of any ,
kind built in this country dedicated to temper-
ance. Captain Davis was one of the pioneer
temperance men of this section and was ever
a consistent advocate of that cause. It is a
remarkable fact, well worthy of mention, that
he and five of his sons each commanded the
"Temperance," and she proved to be one of the
most profitable sloops that ever sailed. Cap-
tain Davis continued to follow the coasting
business until 1873, when he retired. From
1845 to 1855 he was engaged in the grocery
business in Somerset. In the prime -of life he
joined the First Baptist Church there and in
1838 was ordained deacon, and for many years
was trustee of that church. Politically he
was first a Whig, later a Republican. He
died at Fairhaven, Mass., Sept. 9, 1886, while
on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Chase, and was
buried at Somerset.

On Jan. 1, 1826, Captain Davis married
Clarissa, daughter of John Bowen, of Fall
River. She was born in 1811, and died
March 27, 1871, in her sixty-first year. Mrs.
Davis was one of the most capable women of
her day in the community. In cases of need
she was always ready to assist, and having
reared a large famfly herself she was particu-
larly skillful in caring for the sick. She was
one of the strongest temperance advocates in
the town, and much credit was due her for
the position the town took on that question dur-
ing her lifetime. She was a faithful wife
and a devoted mother, and the impress of her
Christian character may be seen to-day in her
descendants. The children of Capt. Nathan
and Clarissa (Bowen) Davis were: (1) Sarah
A., bom Dec. 7, 1826, married William P.
Hood, of Somerset, and died Nov. 4, 1905. (2)
Nathan S., bom Oct. 14, 1828, is mentioned

57



below. (3) William B., born Jan. 22, 1830,
died Aug. 7, 1831. (4) Elijah Gifford, born
March 1, 1832, is mentioned below. (5)
Mary E., born Sept. 7, 1833, married Thomas
S. Hart and (second) John A. Chase, of Fair-
haven, where they reside. (6) Amos N., born
June 14, 1835, is mentioned below. (7)
Joseph F., born June 30, 1837, died Oct. 6,

1838. (8) Joseph F. (2), bom March 8,

1839, is mentioned below. (9) Ellen M.,
born Feb. 3, 1841, died May 16, 1841. (10)
William H. H., bom May 21, 1842, died Aug.
5, 1843. (11) Jonathan B., born Nov. 6,
1843, died Sept. 25, 1845. (12) Clarissa E.,
born Dec. 18, 1845, married James F. Gardner,
of Somerset. (13) Cornelius A. is mentioned
below. (14) Keziah M., bom Dec. 3, 1849, is
the widow of Edward Mosher and resides at
Providence, R. I. She has one son, Clarence.

(VI) Nathan S. Davis, son of Capt.
Nathan and Clarissa (Bowen) Davis, was born
in Somerset, Mass., Oct. 14, 1828. For some
years he engaged in seafaring life. From
1860 for many years he was postmaster at
Somerset, and also ran a grocery store there.
His first wife was Keziah Mason Marvel, his
second Nancy B. Eddy. Having no children
he adopted Charlotte E. Dodge, who married
Thomas H. Deane and Mr. and Mrs. Deane'
and their family live with Mr. Davis in Som-
erset. Mr. Davis is a charter member and
past master of Pioneer Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

(VI) Capt. Elijah Giffoed Davis was
born March 1, 1832, in Somerset, where his
boyhood and school days were passed. He be-
gan his seafaring life early. At the age of six-
teen years he was captain of a small sloop run-
ning to New York. For a few years he clerked
in his father's store in Somerset. During