[NI3128]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 134
Lot W lived on King Oak Hill, North Weymouth, Massachusetts.
He was a carpenter and builder, a business he followed successfully during his long and active life.
Many of the finest residences were built by him, ahile his generous nature and business ability won him universal respect and friendship.
Previous to the Civil War he represented Weymouth in the Massachusetts Legislature.
[NI3136]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 135 and 136
Thomas was born and spent his life on the homestead of his father,
which came into his possession as owner and occupant in the
direct line of descent from John, and we have reason to believe
that it was the homestead of John. The property is situated on
Sea Street, near the corner of Bridge Street, and is described in
the inventory of the estate of Thomas, in 1837, as "the house,
barn and shop and eleven acres of land, valued in the sum of $1,543."
Mr. Thomas Bicknell built a new house on the estate,
but the old house still remains in its original timbers and boarding,
though it has been removed from the old foundations, and
now fronts on Sea Street, while its interior and exterior have
been changed to meet the conditions of a modern home.
Quincy Bicknell, our family historian, wrote as follows concerning
the John Bicknell homestead
"Without much stretch of the imagination we can consider
the old house, or a part of it at least, as the handiwork of John
Bicknell, as he was a carpenter, and the same skill that was
called into exercise to make the old meeting house at East
Weymouth `t-i-t-e,' may well and properly have been employed in
constructing his own habitation so thoroughly as to last through
the period of more than two centuries since his death. There is
a charm about these old homesteads and the old houses standing
on them - sentinels along the line of the almost buried
mementoes of the past that scarcely fail to arrest the attention of the
thoughtful. I never look upon them but that my imagination
re-peoples them with the members of the successive generations
as they came to occupy them, first as little children, playing amid
the stumps of the newly-cleared land and regaling themselves in
the young orchards that grew up so fast and wonderfully all over
the New England settlements, fruitage of a sentiment reaching
back to the old English home, the abandonment of which wrung
the heart strings of the earlier emigrants. The walls of these
humble dwellings are all aglow with pictures of heroes and
heroines to trial, patience, sacrifice and duty that the mind and fancy
readily fill, and witness results more ennobling than the groupings
of the artist's pencil or the sculptor's hand in the emblazoned
and armorial-bearing halls and stately palaces of the East. Let
us cherish these humble homes of the Pilgrim fathers and mothers,
the abodes of so much stern and rugged virtue, of Christian hope
and of daily self-sacrifice. May the skill of the descendants keep the
roof of the old Bicknell house 't-i-t-e' and the foundations strong,
that its history and the influences flowing therefrom shall be a
power for good through the coming century."
[NI3169]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 66
Benjamin moved from Weymouth and appears in Plainfield, Massachusetts, where Solomon Pratt sold him Twenty-Two acres of land, with buildings, for $425, March 22 1811.
[NI3172]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 138
Benjamin was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, where he lived until 1842, at which time he and his brother, Ira, went West and settled at Fulton, Ohio, which is now the eastern portion of Cincinnati, Ohio,
At this place he engaged in the Planing-mill business and became quite well to do, having patented several labor-saving woodworking machines.
[NI3183]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 260
Benjamin's lived in Cincinnati until time of death, which occured in a strange manner.
He was lying in bed asleep with his 3 months' old child, Alice, whenthe mosquito bar took fire from the lamp.
in his frantic effort to save the child he inhaled the flames, which caused his death.
[NI3187]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 388
William Newton was treasurer of The Higbee-Bicknell Company, treasurer of the Pleasant Ridge M.E. Church, treasurer of Cincinnati Castle No. 2 Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a member of the Supreme Lodge.
[NI3296]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 32
Estate of Ebenezer Bicknell, April 12, 1771
Sarah Bicknell, Widow, Administrator
Inventory:
12 acres of woodland at Caryvale Rocks £36
3 acres of woodland near John Tirrell's £11
1 acre of woodland near Jonathan Trufant's £1.16
2 1/2 acres salt marsh £33.15
Personal estate £144.18.2
Total £237.9.2
Witnesses, james Humphrey second, Jacob Turner and David Ford.
[NI3312]
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[NI3384]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 157
Lucius, graduated from
the Law Department of the University of Pennsylvania at the
same time his twin Dr, Rufus Bicknell, graduated in medicine.
He settled for the practice of law in Austin, Tex., where he died in 1838.
[NI3385]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 157
There were ten other children born to Rufus and Elizabeth,
all of whom had died prior to 1858.
Rufus Bicknell was educated for his life work in the Medical
Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with
the degree of M.D. in 1836. He married, in 1837, Miss Emily L.
Stockton, a granddaughter of Richard Stockton, a signer of the
Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. Frank Richard
Stockton, the author and story-teller for youth, was her brother;
born in 1834; died in 1902.
Dr. Bicknell took up his residence in West Philadelphia immediately
after his marriage and practiced medicine in that part of
the city until his death, Oct. 26, 1858. He is described as an
elegant-looking man, six feet in height, successful in his practice
and beloved by all who knew him.
The following obituary notice of Dr. Rufus Bicknell appeared
in a Philadelphia daily paper soon after his death:
"Rufus Bicknell, M.D., died at his residence in West Phila-
delphia on the night of Sunday, the 25th inst., in the sixty-first
year of his age. He was for many years one of the most influ-
ential citizens west of the Schuylkill. His identity with all the
business interests of that growing portion of our metropolis was
complete. As a man he possessed a high sense of honor, and his
integrity and affability were sure passports to the confidence of
his large circle of acquaintances and friends. As a practitioner
he had few equals. His success was not based upon a single
quality, but upon a combination of excellencies rarely blended in
the same individual. He possessed good judgment; was assid-
uous, consistent, strictly moral, careful and learned. For more
than a quarter of a century he ministered kindly to his numerous
patients, who ever welcomed his coming as that of an angel of
mercy. He leaves a widow and two children, both daughters. His
remains will be interred this afternoon in Woodlands Cemetery."
[NI3428]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 158
Dr Ashbel was in the seventh generation from Richard
Woodward, who sailed from Ipswich, England, April 10, 1634,
in the ship elizabeth, and on his arrival in New England
became one of the first proprietors of Watertown, MA. Ashbel
was the son of a farmer, and was born in Willington, Conn.,
June 26, 1804. He graduated from the Medical Department of
Bowdoin College in May, 1829, and within two months had
settled in Franklin, Conn., where he resided and practiced as a
physician until his death, Dec. 20, 1885.
Dr. Woodward was held in high esteem by his medical brethren,
and, from 1858 to 1861, was President of the Connecticut
Medical Society, and was an active member of the American
Medical Association from its formation and an honorary member
of several State societies.
In the early days of the Civil War, Dr. Woodward was appointed
by Governor Buckingham one of the board to examine
surgeons for the volunteey regiments of the State. Later his
interest in the issues of the struggle was so great he decided to
go to the front, and as surgeon of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut
Regiment shared in the siege and capture of Port Hudson, when
nearly sixty years of age.
He was fond of historic work, and in addition to professional
writings of value he prepared a biography of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon,
who early fell in the Union cause.
He had written a memoir of Col. Thomas Knowlton, a granduncle
of Gen. Lyon, who commanded the Continentals stationed
behind the rail fence at Bunker Hill, and who was killed in battle
at Harlem Heights Sept. 16, 1776.
He wrote a small volume on "Wampum," and on "The Early
Physicians of Norwich, Conn.," and a "History of the Town
and Congregational Church of Franklin, Conn."
Dr. Woodward was fond of genealogical as well as historical
studies, and his knowledge of the lineage of old New England
families was extensive and at command. He was a collector of
rare books, pamphlets, coins, Indian relics and autographs, and
made a specialty of town and county histories.
He was a member of the Congregational Church in Franklin,
and he officiated as deacon on the Sabbath before his death. He
ministered as a good physician to at least six successive
generations, and commanded the confidence and love of all his
long and varied clientage,
His biographer says of him: "Scrupulous in performing the
work of each day, thorough in all undertakings, intolerant of
sham and pretense, direct in aims and mcthods, he pursued
uncompromisingly the paths marked out by his conception of duty,"
[NI3437]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 160
Samuel Bicknell was a farmer and spent the larger part of
his life at the homestead, which had been occupied by three
generations of Bicknells. At one time he was Captain of a company
of cavalry of the State Militia. His great-grandfather was
Captain of the military company at Ashford.
By reason of advanced years and failing health he became
unable to care for the large farm, and so the old home
passed into the hands of strangers.
He later removed to West Woodstock, where he made his home
for a few years.
The first home of the Bicknells in Ashford was a half mile
east of the home of Samuel. Only a few stones from the
foundations are there to mark where the first house was built.
[NI3440]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 279
Samuel received his education in the public schools
and at several preparatory schools. He entered Yale College,
with the intention of entering the ministry, but was compelled
to abandon this plan on account of trouble with his eyes and
poor health.
After leaving college he taught school in West Hartford,
Yonkers, N. Y., and in Fairfax County, Va.
He was especially interested in the study of the languages.
The larger part of his life has been passed as a farmer in his
native town and in the public service. Mr. Whitman served as
Treasurer of the town of West Hartford for about eleven years.
He was also a member of the School Board, and for a time was
Acting School Visitor. He represented the town in the Legis-
lature of 1877. Shortly after 1890 Mr. Whitman's gradually
failing eye sight became total blindness.
[NI3460]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 69
Josiah furnished the town of Enfield, for bridges and other
public works , with lumber, at various times, about 1795-1800.
The town records also show a number of orders due him for
material or service.
Under date aug 1, 1791, Josiah was fined ten shillings for
breaking the Sabbath.
What part of the Sabbath he broke or how he broke it is not
stated. See published records of Enfield, Connecticut.
Josiah died suddenly may 17, 1824 aged 64.
A tombstone erected to the memory of "Submit, relict of
Josiah Bicknell, died Oct 1, 1839, age 69", is the only public
record that he had a second wife.
Sept 17, 1824, administration of Josiah Bicknell's estate was
granted to his son-in-law, Henry Parsons
[NI3463]
[Usa.ftw]
From T.W. Bicknell's 1913 genealogy book page 161
Ralph Bicknell7 moved from Norwich, Vt., to Parishville, N. Y.,
in 1828, and bought the Bicknell farm, now owned and occupied
by his granddaughter, Adah B. Bicknell (1912).
In September, 1829, Mr. Bicknell removed his family and goods,
six children riding in an ox wagon driven by Ralph A.8 then thirteen
years old, and the mother with three daughters in a buggy
drawn by the family horse. Only a small part of the farm was
cleared of the heavy timber, and the family occupied a log house
until they could cut the timber and build a frame house. Land
was cleared, grain planted and harvested without machinery, and
marketed by a long haul through the woods to Lake Champlain.
It was a life of hard toil and severe hardship, until relieved by
a home market for the sale of grain and cattle. The children of
Ralph had a common-school education, leaving home to marry
and make homes for themselves as they came of age.