Elizabeth (Sawyer) Pollard (1747 - 1831)

Born 12 Jun 1747 in Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Eliakim Atherton — married 13 May 1767 in Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Wife of Thaddeus Pollard — married 26 Dec 1790 in Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Jun 1831 at age 83 in Harvard, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

ELIZABETH SAWYER,^[1] b. at Bolton, 12 Jun 1747^[2] daughter of Thomas Sawyer and Elizabeth Osgood; d. at Harvard, 2 Jun 1831;^[3][4] m. 1st at Bolton, 13 May 1767,^[5] ELIAKIM ATHERTON, b. at Harvard, 15 Dec 1743 son of John and Phebe (Wright) Atherton;^[6] Eliakim d. at Bolton, 24 Dec 1786.^[7] Elizabeth m. 2nd at Bolton, 26 Dec 1790,^[8] THADDEUS POLLARD, b. at Billerica, 7 Aug 1746 son of John and Alice (Wilson) Pollard;^[9] Thaddeus d. at Harvard, 3 Sep 1803.^[10] Thaddeus was first married to Submit Maynard.

Elizabeth Sawyer and Eliakim Atherton

In July 1767 (recorded 9 January 1771), Thomas Sawyer of Bolton conveyed to his daughter Elizabeth Atherton, for the love and good will he bore his daughter, 20 acres of land in Bolton lying eastwardly of the property where Hooker Sawyer was living.^[11]

Eliakim Atherton was a blacksmith and farmer in Bolton. On 9 December 1771, for £100, he purchased from Thomas Sawyer, husbandman of Bolton, one-half of Thomas’s “old place” where he formerly lived, the other half now the place of the widow Relief Sawyer. This is the same property Thomas Sawyer received from his honored father Joseph Sawyer. Eliakim made other purchases in Bolton and Harvard: four acres in Bolton from Ichabod Smith on 14 September 1767, four acres in Harvard from Richard Townsend on 24 March 1772, and five acres in Bolton from Hooker Sawyer on 13 July 1768.^[12]

Eliakim Atherton of Bolton served as adjutant in Col. Asa Whitcomb’s regiment, enlisted on 19 April 1775 and credited with 17 days of service.^[13] On 23 May 1777, Eliakim Atherton with Joseph How purchased the services of a slave York Rugles to serve three years in the Continental army as part of Bolton’s quota. “Waltham, May 23rd 1777. Then Received of Joseph How and Eliakim Atherton the sum of Thirty pounds 1.m. for my Servant negro man named York Rugles who has inlisted and passed muster Before Coll. James Barrat of Concord for the tarm of three years in Cap Ashley’s Company of Coll. Badison’s [Patterson’s] Rigement in the Continental armey. I further Promis and Say that my Negro York I sett to the aforesaid How and Atherton to do a turn for Bolton in the Continental armey as witnis my hand. [Signature missing.]”^[14]

Eliakim Atherton’s estate entered probate 3 January 1787 administered by Silas Holman at the request of widow Elizabeth. At inventory on 18 April 1787, personal estate was valued at £301.12.7 and real estate at £420. Dower was set off to widow Elizabeth Atherton on 2 December 1790. The real estate was divided on 13 June 1797 and distributions were made to only son Ezra Atherton who received the double portion, Betsey Holman eldest daughter, Phebe Pollard second daughter, Achsah Atherton third daughter, and Asenath Atherton youngest daughter.^[15] On 16 November 1790, Silas Holman was named as guardian to minor children Achsa, Ezra, and Asenath under the age of fourteen. On 15 November 1796, Ezra Atherton, of his own election, selected Silas Holman as guardian. The real estate portions of Ezra Atherton and Asenath Atherton were sold in 1801 by Silas Holman with permission of the supreme judicial court.^[16]

Elizabeth Sawyer and Thaddeus Pollard

Four years after Eliakim’s death, Elizabeth married Thaddeus Pollard who was also widowed. Thaddeus Pollard was a blacksmith and farmer and the owner of a large estate known as Flintlock farm. He was builder in about 1782 of what is now known as the Pollard-Marshall house at 327 Still River Road in Harvard which is on the Local Register of Historic Places for Harvard.^[17] Thaddeus was a selectman in Harvard in 1782 and from 1792-1794.^[18]

Thaddeus Pollard served as private in the Minute Man company of Capt. Jonathan Davis in the regiment of Col. John Whitcomb that marched at the alarm on 19 April 1775 to Cambridge. He enlisted 26 April 1775 and served eight months during the siege at Boston. He had further service in the company of Capt. Hezekiah Whitney in the regiment of Col. Josiah Whitney that marched on an alarm at Rhode Island 22 July 1777.^[19] Thaddeus continued in service for four years of the war and was captain of the 7th company of Col. Josiah Whitney’s 2nd Worcester County Regiment on 1 July 1781.^[20]

In his will written 12 January 1803 (probate 5 October 1803), Thaddeus Pollard bequeathed to beloved wife Elizabeth all the goods and estate she brough to the marriage. Elizabeth is also to have a comfortable, decent, and respectable support from the estate during her natural life according to her rank and station. Eldest son Amory Pollard receives one hundred dollars. Second son Thaddeus Pollard receives an 18-acre tract of land in Bolton with buildings. Thaddeus also receives a second 30-acre tract on condition that he pay the executor $465 over a set schedule. Third son Luke Pollard receives sixty acres in Harvard with the buildings which Thaddeus received by deed from Israel and Abigail Whitney on 8 February 1792. Luke receives two other tracts totaling 37 acres with buildings and is to pay the executor $750. Fifth son Luther Pollard receive $750 to be paid by the executor. Sixth son Abel Pollard receive $700 to be paid by the executor. Youngest son Nathan Pollard receives $700 to be paid by the executor beginning after Nathan reaches age twenty-one. Eldest daughter Zilpha Atherton receives $150 to be for her own use and not intermingled with her husband’s and not subject to his debts. Second daughter Sally Haskell receives $150 for her sole use. Youngest daughter Milly Pollard receives $350 to be paid starting when she reaches age twenty-one. If she marries before age twenty-one, she is to receive $200 and the other $150 for her sole use. The residue of the estate goes to fourth son Abner Pollard who was also named executor.^[21]

Children of Elizabeth Sawyer and Eliakim Atherton

Elizabeth Sawyer and Eliakim Atherton were parents of eight children born at Bolton. Two of the daughters married their Pollard stepbrothers sons of Thaddeus Pollard and his first wife Submit Maynard.

i ELISABETH ATHERTON, b. 6 Mar 1768; d. of consumption, at Bolton, 11 Mar 1844; m. at Bolton, 6 Sep 1785, SILAS HOLMAN, b. at Bolton, 2 Aug 1760 son of Abraham and Abigail (Atherton) Holman; Silas d. at Bolton, 25 Mar 1846.

ii PHEBE ATHERTON, b. 8 Aug 1770; died young

iii ACHSAH ATHERTON, b. 21 Jul 1773; died young

iv PHEBE ATHERTON, b. 16 Nov 1775; d. at Bolton, 6 Mar 1799; m. at Harvard, 19 Feb 1795, her stepbrother, AMORY POLLARD, b. at Harvard, 8 Sep 1770 son of Thaddeus and Submit (Maynard0 Pollard; Amory d. at Bolton, 6 Sep 1844. Amory married second Lois Bruce on 16 Sep 1800.

v ACHSAH ATHERTON, b. 15 Aug 1778; d. at Bolton, 18 Feb 1826; m. at Harvard, 30 Nov 1797, her stepbrother, THADDEUS POLLARD, b. at Harvard, 3 Jun 1772 son of Thaddeus and Submit (Maynard) Pollard; Thaddeus d. at Worcester, 16 Oct 1830.

vi EZRA ATHERTON, b. 1781; d. likely at Pownal, VT where his younger children were born; m. at Bolton, 24 Apr 1804, JULIA PETERS,^[22] b. at Northborough, MA, 13 Apr 1779 daughter of Jethro and Rachel (Fairbanks) Peters; Julia d. at Northborough, 19 Dec 1867.

vii ASENATH ATHERTON, b. about 1783; d. at Harvard, 3 May 1864; m. at Harvard, 8 Sep 1802, her stepbrother, ABNER POLLARD, b. at Harvard, 1 Jun 1776 son of Thaddeus and Submit (Maynard) Pollard; Abner d. at Harvard, 26 Mar 1858.

viii ELIAKIM ATHERTON, baptized 1 Apr 1787; died young

Child of Elizabeth Sawyer and Thaddeus Pollard

Elizabeth had one child with Thaddeus Pollard.

i NATHAN POLLARD, b. at Harvard, 19 Apr 1793. Nathan seems likely the Nathan Pollard who was a printer and newspaper publisher in Richmond, VA. He m. at Richmond, 29 Jan 1823, SARAH ROWLAND. Nathan d. at Richmond, VA, 14 Dec 1836.^[23][24]

Sources and Footnotes

1. ↑ Family summary taken from Abbott, Patricia A., The Descendants of John and Elizabeth Stevens of Andover Through Six Generations, © 2021, In Press
2. ↑ Sawyer, Elizabeth, d. Thomas and Elizabeth, June 12, 1747. Bolton Vital Records, volume 1, p 75
3. ↑ Pollard, Elizabeth, 2nd w. of Capt. Thaddeus, June 2, 1831, a. 84 y, G.R.1. Harvard Vital Records, volume 1, p 292
4. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 March 2018), memorial page for Elizabeth Sawyer Pollard (12 Jun 1747–2 Jun 1831), Find A Grave Memorial no. 77196544, citing Harvard Center Cemetery, Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Earl Munday (contributor 46874433)
5. ↑ Sawyer, Elizabeth and Eliakim Atharton, May 13, 1767. Bolton Vital Records, volume 1, p 168
6. ↑ Atherton, Eliakim, s. of John and Phebee, Dec. 15, 1743. Harvard Vital Records, volume 1, p 10
7. ↑ Atherton, Eliakim, Dec. 24, 1786, in 44th y. G.S.3. Bolton Vital Records, volume 1, p 193
8. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCQ2-RJT : 9 February 2018), Thaddeus Pollard and Elizabeth Atherton, 26 Dec 1790; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0928129 IT 9.
9. ↑ Pollard, Thaddeus, s. John and Allice, Aug. 7, 1746. Billerica Vital Records, volume 1, p 151
10. ↑ Pollard, Thaddeus, Capt., Sept. 3, 1803, a. 57 y. Revolutionary soldier. G.R.1. Harvard Vital Records, volume 1, p 293
11. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Worcester County, 67:367
12. ↑ Massachusetts Land Records, Worcester County, 66:362, 67:364, 67:366, 67:368
13. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, volume 1, p 325
14. ↑ Nourse, Henry Stedman. 1889. The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1740-1865. Lancaster, MA: W. J. Coulter, Printer, Clinton, Mass. p 151
15. ↑ Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Case 2002
16. ↑ Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Case 1985
17. ↑ “Pollard-Marshall House”, In Historic Harvard Town, https://historicharvard.wordpress.com/historic-places/highlight-our-historic-places/historic-place-of-the-month/pollard-marshall-house-327-still-river-road/
18. ↑ Nourse, Henry Stedman. 1894. History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts, 1732-1893. Harvard, MA: Printed for Warren Hapgood. p 422
19. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War, volume 12, pp 505-506
20. ↑ Nourse, Henry Stedman. 1894. History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts, 1732-1893. Harvard, MA: Printed for Warren Hapgood. p 157
21. ↑ Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Case 47250
22. ↑ This is a likely but not certain marriage for Ezra.
23. ↑ Clark, Patricia P., “Marriage Notices from the Family Visitor April 6, 1822-April 3, 1824”, in Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, Virginia Marriage Records from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler’s Quarterly, Baltimore, MD, 2000/2002, Reprinted for Clearfield Company by Genealogical Publishing, p 630
24. ↑ “Nathan Pollard”, Index to Virginia Printing, https://indexvirginiaprinting.org/bio/335/