Sarah Abbott Holt (1786 - 1845)

Born 19 May 1786 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Died 23 Jun 1845 at age 59 in Phillipston, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Sarah was born in 1786. She was the daughter of Jacob Holt and Rhoda Abbott. She passed away in 1845.

SARAH ABBOTT HOLT, b. at Andover, 19 May 1786 daughter of Jacob and Rhoda (Abbott) Holt; d. at Phillipston, MA, 23 Jun 1845; m. Jun 1817, as his second wife, JOSEPH CHICKERING, b. at Dedham, 30 Apr 1780 son of Jabez and Hannah (Balch) Chickering; Joseph d. at Phillipston, 27 Jan 1844. Joseph Chickering was first married to Betsy White on 1 Sep 1805.

Rev. Joseph Chickering was son of Rev. Jabez Chickering of the South Parish at Dedham. He graduated from Harvard in 1799 and studied theology with Rev. David Tappan. He was ordained 28 March 1804 and was pastor at Woburn for seventeen years. He was minister at Phillipston from 1822 to 1835 before being dismissed for ill health.^{[1] [2]} The church at Woburn provided Joseph with a salary of $650 per year, 15 cords of good hard wood, and a settlement of $800 to be paid within one year of his hire.^[3]

In his will written 23 October 1833 (probate 14 March 1844), Joseph Chickering of Phillipston bequeathed to his faithful and beloved wife the use and improvement during the natural life the land and buildings which he purchased of Dr. James Stone. She is also to have, at her own disposal, the chaise, household furniture and goods except books, provisions, two cows, and the income during her life of ten shares of Amherst Bank. The books are to be divided in seven equal parts among his wife and six children: John W., Joseph, Betsey, Henry, Abbot, and Benjamin. Donations of one hundred dollars each were made to organizations: American Education Society, American Bible Society, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the American Home Missionary Society. The American Temperance Society and Prison Discipline Society received fifty dollars each. The remainder of the estate is to be divided among his six children. Oldest son John W. Chickering was named sole executor, and if he declines, then second son Joseph Chickering. In a codicil 26 April 1835, Joseph changed the bequest of his wife to ten shares of Dedham Bank and added two hundred dollars to the bequest. He also named Oliver Powers, Esq. as executor. At the time of probate of the estate, son Henry Chickering was named administrator. The inventory included real property of $2265, personal estate of $427.03, and 15 bank shares of $1500, and other notes and receipts totaling $1,446.68. John W. Chickering and James Chickering were children from Joseph’s first marriage to Betsy White.^[4]

On 3 August 1840, Sarah Chickering petitioned the court for appointment of guardian for her husband Joseph as “she has witnessed with painful emotions the decline of the intellectual facilities of her beloved husband for several years past, until he is reduced to that state of insanity that disqualifies him from taking care of himself, and renders it necessary (in the judgment of your petitioner) that a guardian be appointed for the said Rev. Joseph Chickering.” The selectmen of Phillipston signed a statement in support of the petition. Oliver Powers was named as guardian.^[5]

Sarah and Joseph were parents of four children. Joseph also had five children with his first wife Betsey White, three of whom died in childhood.

i BETSEY CHICKERING, b. at Woburn, 3 May 1818; d. at Pittsfield, MA, 16 Apr 1899. Betsey did not marry.

ii HENRY CHICKERING, b. at Woburn, 3 Sep 1819; d. at Pittsfield, MA, 5 Mar 1881; m. 1st at Phillipston, 22 Sep 1840, MARTHA NEWTON, b. at Phillipston, 13 Jul 1823 daughter of William W. and Lydia (Rich) Newton); Martha d. at Barre, MA, 10 Feb 1843. Henry m. 2nd at Barre, 20 Sep 1844, ELVIRA PERRY ALLEN, b. at Barre, 27 Jun 1811 daughter of John and Hannah (Robinson) Allen; Elvira d. at Pittsfield, 28 Apr 1893.

iii ABBOT CHICKERING, b. 6 Dec 1821; d. at Phillipston, 11 Jun 1842. “Abbot, June 11, 1842, a. 20 y. 6 m. Employed in a store between 4 & 5 years. Cause of death, enlargement of the heart, which weighed 3-1/16 lbs.”

iv BENJAMIN CHICKERING, b. at Phillipston, Nov 1824; d. at Pittsfield, 3 Aug 1889; m. 1st at Phillipston, 21 May 1846, DEBORAH LOUISA BALDWIN, b. at Phillipston, 11 Jul 1816 daughter of Tilly and Rebecca (Hoar) Baldwin; Deborah d. at Pittsfield, 1 Sep 1863. Benjamin m. 2nd at Reading, 5 Oct 1865, MARY SAFFORD SMITH, baptized at Reading, 14 Aug 1836 daughter of Cyrus and Cecilia (Popkin) Smith; Mary d. at Pittsfield, 24 Jun 1914.

Sources

1. ↑ Rev. Joseph Chickering; Boston Recorder (Boston, Mass.) Feb. 15, 1844
2. ↑ Barber, Massachusetts Historical Collections, p 598
3. ↑ Sewall, The History of Woburn, p 448 and p 461
4. ↑ Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Case 11593
5. ↑ Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Case 11593

• Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915, New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911.