Record Of The Descendants Of William Sumner, Of Dorchester .

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RECORDOK THKDESCENDANTSOFWILLIAMSUMNER,OF DORCHESTER, MASS.,1636.BYWILLIAM SUMNER APPLETON.BOSTON:DAVID CI, APP Sc SON, PRINTERS.1 8 7 9.

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INTRODUCTION.In i854 was printed, for Gen. William H. Sumner of Roxbury,a "Memoir of Increase Sumner, Governor of Massachusetts," towhich was added a " Genealogy of the Sumner Family, by WilliamB. Trask." Some additions were printed in the N. E. Historical andGenealogical Register, for October, i855. Mr. Trask was entirelycompetent to have prepared a genealogy, which would have madethis present volume unnecessary ; but Gen. Sumner was willing onlyto have very limited researches made, concerning principally thebranches most nearly related to his own. The " Genealogy" thereforeis exceedingly imperfect, and so misleading as to cause one to suppose the family a very small one ; and it was in consequence of thismistake that the present writer undertook the work, which has grownin progress to an extent never dreamt of, or it would probably nothave been begun. Once under way, however, interest has kept pacewith material, and I feel no regret for the time given to the work, orthe trouble which has of necessity accompanied it.The family has been a fairly prominent one, though few of its members have gained any special fame. One can however be justly proudof Gov. Increase Sumner and of Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, to saynothing of Senator Charles Sumner, whose connection with the familyunfortunately was somewhat irregular. Perhaps the most remarkablefact in the family record is the number of Deacons and of Soldiers.Several took part in the disastrous expedition to Canada in i690, andthere is a long roll of Revolutionary heroes. Of those who fought forthe Union i86i--65, I have only noticed the dead and those living whoheld commissions, but there were many others.

ivINTRODUCTION.I began long ago to keep all items relating to the family, old andnew, and in i875 took up in earnest the work of perfecting the Genealogy. I sent circulars to all of the name whose addresses I obtained,and have since then sent many more. I have found the various members of the family generally ready and able to help, but am sorry to saythat from some I have in vain sought information. For aid on manypoints and for facts relating to many branches I am especially indebtedto Dr. Charles F. Sumner of Bolton, Conn., and Edward Sumner ofDedham, who have sent me numerous letters during the four years ofmy labors. Many others have aided me greatly in the record oftheir own lines, of whom I will only name Rev. John B. Sumner ofBinghamton, N. Y., John A. Sumner of Middletown, Conn., Norman Sumner of Atlanta, 1ll., Ebenezer Sumner of Upper Jay, N. Y.,John Sumner of Newburyport, Alfred H. Sumner of Boston, MissHarriet H. Sumner of Foxboro', Charles A. Sumner of Burlington,Vt., William P. Sumner of Calumet, Mich., Alonzo H. Sumner ofIlion, N. Y., Andrew J. Sumner of Milford, Earl W. Sumner ofDarien, N. Y., Austin Sumner of Boston, and Mansfield Sumner ofMiddlebury, Ohio. The portrait of Rev. Dr. Joseph Sumner is presented by a descendant, George Sumner of Worcester.But all the information given by others would not have gone far towards making the genealogy as full as it is (though even now by no meanswhat I would like), without the time and trouble which I have myselfgiven to the work, in travelling about New-England and examining theregular sources of genealogical knowledge, town-records, churchrecords, probate-records, graveyards, old newspapers, &c. I greatlyregret the long chapter of additions and corrections," but only blamemyself in respect of very few as responsible for their not being in theproper places. Most of them appear as they do, because my correspondents only waked up too late to the fact that they really had somethingto communicate to me, and often it was only on seeing the proof-sheetsthat a person appreciated that I was in earnest in the work, and hadbut an imperfect account of his particular branch. In this is foundthe explanation of differing dates of birth attached to one man, and itmay be taken as certain that the second represents later information,and is therefore more likely to be correct.

INTRODUCTION.VThe plan of the work is so simple as hardly to demand explanation.I have used very few abbreviations,—b., m. and d., for born, marriedand died, being pearly or quite all. The figures at the right of lines,after names of sons, denote the numbers by which the sons are carriedon as heads of families in the next generation. I have no belief thatthe volume is free from mistakes, but think there is no line of descentto which any doubt can possibly be attached. I have no more additions, except that Edwin V. Sumner, 548, has been appointed andconfirmed Major Fifth Cavalry U. S. A., and Samuel S. Sumner,33S. viii., Major Eighth Cavalry U'. S. A.

GENEALOGY.The principal family of the name of Sumner in this country istraced back to Roger Sumner of Bicester, Oxfordshire, England,husbandman. He married at Bicester 2 November, 1601, JoaneFranklin, and died there 3 December, 1608 ; his widow married 10January, 1611, Marcus Brian of Merton, a neighboring parish, whodied in 1620. Roger Sumner had a brother William, who died atBicester in 1597. The only child of Roger and Joane Sumner wasWilliam, of whom as follows :2. II. William Sumner, born at Bicester in 1605, marriedthere 22 October, 1625, Mary West ; came to New England* in1636, and settled at Dorchester, Mass. He was made Freeman ofthe Colony 17 May, 1637, and at various times held many offices ofrespectable importance. He was a Selectman of Dorchester in1637, and more than twenty other years. From 1663 to 1680 hewas one of the Feoffees of the school land, and from 1663 to 1671he was one of the Commissioners to try and issue small causes ; in1663, he was also chosen clerk of the trained band. He was a Deputyfrom Dorchester to the General Court in 1658, 1666-70, '72, '78-81,'83-86 ; he does not, however, appear prominently on its records.His wife died at Dorchester 7 June, 1676, and he 9 December,1688. Children :i. William, b. at Bicester.3ii. Joane, b. at Bicester ; m. Aaron Way of Dorchester, afterwards ofBoston and Rumney Marsh; he died in 1695, and she went toSouth Carolina with two of her brothers in 1696.- iii. Roger, b. at Bicester in 1 632.4iv. George, b. at Bicester in 1634.5v. Samuel, b. at Dorchester 18 May, 1638.6vi. Increase, b. at Dorchester 23 February, 1643.7* William Sumner continued to own land at Bicester till 1650, as appears from a document in possession of one of the family.

2GENEALOGY OF THETHIRD GENERATION.3. III. William Sumner, b. at Bicester, England ; m. Elizabeth, daughter of Augustine Clement of Dorchester ; was a mariner ;moved to Boston, where he died in February, 1675 ; his widow diedbefore 1687. Children :i. Elizabeth, b. at Dorchester in 1652; m. in 1670, Joshua Henshawof Dorchester ; d. in 1728 ; he d. in 1719.ii. Mary, b. at Dorchester in 1654; m. 19 January, 1672, NicholasHowe of Roxbury, who d. before 1676, and she m. secondly JohnTrow; d. at Newport, R. I., 16 February, 1706.hi. "William, b. at Bostou 9 February, 1656.8iv. Hannah, b. at Boston 10 June, 1659; m. John Goffe of Boston;he d. 24 July, 1716.v. Sarah, b. at Boston 14 February, 1662; m.Turell, who d.before 1 695, and she m. secondly Joseph Weeks of Dorchester ;d. 12 February, 1736.vi. Experience, b. at Boston 22 September, 1664; m. Thomas Gouldof Boston.vii. Ebenezer, b. at Boston 30 October, 1666; was a soldier in theCanada expedition of 1690, and undoubtedly lost.viii. Deliverance, b. at Boston 18 March, 1669; m. in May, 1689,Ebenezer Weeks of Dorchester.ix. Clement, b. at Boston 6 September, 1671.9x. Mercy, b. at Boston in January, 1675 ; d. young.4. III. Soger Sumner, b. at Bicester, England, in 1632 ; m.Mary, daughter of Thomas Josselyn of Lancaster; was Freemanof the Colony of Massachusetts, 6 May, 1657 ; lived at Lancaster1660-75 ; moved to Milton where he was admitted to the Church,with his wife, 20 November, 1681, and ordained Deacon 20 August,1682 ; he died at Milton 26 May, 1698, and his widow 21 August,J711. Children:i. Abigail, b. at Dorchester 16 November, 1657 ; d. 19 February, 1658.ii. Samuel, b. at Dorchester 6 February, 1659.10iii. Waitstill, b. at Lancaster 20 December, 1661 ; m. 29 December,1679, Manasseh Tucker of Milton; d. 19 March, 1748; he d,8 April, 1743.iv. Mary, b. at Lancaster 5 August, 1665; ni. 10 June, 1688, IsraelNichols of Hingham.v. Jazaniah, b. at Lancaster 11 April, 1668; was a soldier in theCanada expedition of 1 690, and undoubtedly lost.vi. Rebecca, b. at Lancaster 9 October, 1671; m. 27 January, 1697,Aaron Hobart of Hingham, who was drowned in March, 1705,and she m. secondly Edward Derby of Weymouth.vii. William, b. at Lancaster 26 January, 1674.11- viii. Ebenezer, b. at Dorchester 28 May, 1678.12

SUMNER FAMILY.35. III. George Sumner, b. at Bicester, England, in 1634;Freeman of Massachusetts, 6 May, 1657 ; m. at Northampton 7November, 1662, Mary, daughter of Edward Baker of Northampton ; lived at Milton, where he was Lieutenant, Deputy to the General Court in 1693, 1703, 1708-09, and ordained Deacon 30 July,1699 ; he d. at Milton 11 December, 1715, and his widow 1 April,1719. Children:i. Mary, b. at Dorchester 11 February, 1664; m. Joseph Swinertonof Milton.ii. George, b. at Milton 9 February, 1666.13iii. Samuel, b. at Milton 19 October, 1668; was Sergeant in CaptainWithington's company in the Canada expedition of 1690, andundoubtedly lost.iv. William, b. at Milton 7 April, 1671 ; was a soldier in the Canadaexpedition of 1690, and undoubtedly lost.v. Ebenezer, b. at Milton 9 December, 1673.14vi. Edward, b. at Milton 29 August, 1676.15vii. Joseph, b. at Milton 25 January, 1678.16viii. Benjamin, b. at Milton 15 December, 1683.176. III. Samuel Sumner, b. at Dorchester, 18 May, 1638 ; m.at Dorchester 7 March, 1659, Eebecca, daughter of John Staplesof Weymouth; moved in 1696 to Dorchester, South Carolina, taking most of his children. Children, all born at Dorchester :i. Preserved, b. 14 May, 1660 ; d. 25 December, 1675.ii. Rebecca, b. 3 January, 1662; m. 10 May, 1681, Ephraim "Wilsonof Dedham.iii. Mary, b. 20 March, 1664; m. 31 May, 1683, Abraham Gorton.iv. Samuel, b. 5 March, 1666 ; d. 26 May, 1666.v. Mehitable, b. 21 June, 1668.vi. John, b. 1 April, 1670; d. 15 October, 1676.vii. Thankfull, b. 9 December, 1671.viii. Susanna, b.; d. 7 November, 1678.ix. Samuel, b. 8 March, 1 674.x. Elizabeth, b. 19 March, 1676.xi. Ann, b. 8 August, 1678.xii. Nathaniel, b. 9 November, 1680.xiii. Increase, b. 21 August, 1684; d. 3 September, 1684.7. III. Increase Sumner, b. at Dorchester 23 February,1643 ; m. at Dorchester 26 March, 1667, Sarah, daughter of JohnStaples of Weymouth ; Freeman in May, 1678 ; was a Selectmanof Dorchester in 1693 ; moved in 1696 to Dorchester, South Carolina, taking most of his children. Children :i. Increase, b. at Dorchester 15 January, 1668 ; d. 30 September, 1683.ii. Sarah, b. at Dorchester 12 May, 1669 ; d. young.iii. William, b. at Milton 9 July, 1670; was a soldier in the Canadaexpedition of 1 690, and undoubtedly lost.