Rev. JOSEPH SUMNER,[1] b. at Pomfret, 19 Jan 1739/40[2] son of Samuel Sumner and Elizabeth Griffin; Joseph d. at Shrewsbury, 9 Dec 1824;[3] m. 12 May 1763 by Rev. Josiah Whitney, LUCY WILLIAMS, b. at Pomfret, 5 Feb 1739[4] daughter of William and Sarah (Stevens) Williams; Lucy d. at Shrewsbury, MA, 13 Feb 1810.[5]
Rev. Joseph Sumner received the A.B. degree from Yale in 1759, the A.M. degree from Yale, and received an honorary S.T.D (Doctor of Sacred Theology) from Harvard in 1814.[6] He was ordained at Shrewsbury at the First Church of Christ on 23 June 1762. The ordination was conducted in the open air as it was felt the old meeting house was considered unsafe and too small. Rev. Sumner continued as pastor of the church until 20 September 1821, although on 18 January 1820 a colleague pastor was selected due to the advanced age of Rev. Sumner.[7]
In his will written 3 February 1819 (proved 1 February 1825), Joseph Sumner bequeathed to daughter Sarah Jeneson one dollar and to granddaughter Elizabeth Jeneson all the household furniture that was purchased of Samuel Sumner and William Jeneson. Son Samuel receives one dollar. Daughter Lucy Wheeler receives one dollar and granddaughter Dorothy Wheeler receives ten dollars. Daughters Joanna Sumner, Elisabeth Sumner and Dorothy Merriam receive the household furniture to divide, one-half to Elizabeth and one-quarter each to Joanna and Dorothy. Elisabeth also has use of part of the dwelling house. There are provisions for Elisabeth’s maintenance to be provided by the executor. Sons Joseph Sumner, Jr. and Erastus Sumner receive the lands with the division of the lands and buildings specified. The wearing apparel is to be divided between the two youngest sons. The library is to be divided among all the children except Samuel who has received a share. The remainder of the estate goes to Joseph, Jr. and Erastus who are named executors. In a codicil written 28 May 1824, he further clarified provisions for the support of daughter Elisabeth Sumner and involving the two children of son Joseph, Jr. having the income of the real estate if they survive their Aunt Elisabeth. In a statement accepting the duties of executor, Erastus Sumner expressed his opinion that his father was not of sound mind on 28 May 1824 (when the codicil was written).[8]
Lucy Williams and Joseph Sumner were parents of eight children born at Shrewsbury.[9]
SARAH SUMNER, b. 6 May 1764; d. at Swanton, VT, Feb 1832; m. at Shrewsbury, 30 Oct 1788, WILLIAM JENISON, b. at Worcester, 13 Apr 1758 son of Israel and Mary (Heywood) Jenison; William d. at Swanton, 19 Jul 1819.
Rev. SAMUEL SUMNER, b. 24 Sep 1765; d. at Troy, NY, 2 Nov 1836; m. ANNA TAYLOR, b. 10 Dec 1764 (on gravestone);[10] Anna d. at Troy, 31 Oct 1833. Samuel graduated from Dartmouth College in 1786 and was ordained at Southborough 1 June 1791.[11]
JOSEPH SUMNER, b. 31 Jul 1767; d. at Shrewsbury, 4 Oct 1825; m. at Salem, MA, 25 Oct 1797, REBECCA JEFFREY, perhaps the Rebecca baptized at Salem, 3 Apr 1768 daughter of Arthur and Rebecca (Gott) Jeffrey; Rebecca d. at Shrewsbury, 31 Mar 1824.
JOANNA SUMNER, b. 5 Sep 1769; d. at Roxbury, 10 Dec 1854; m. at Shrewsbury, 10 Jun 1806, EDWARD SUMNER, b. at Roxbury, 14 Jun 1746 son of Samuel and Abigail (Mather) Sumner; Edward d. at Roxbury, 28 Oct 1829.
LUCY SUMNER, b. 24 Dec 1771; d. at Dixfield, ME, 10 Apr 1863; m. at Shrewsbury, 13 Jan 1793, JOSEPH WHEELER, b. at Harvard, MA, 27 Aug 1766 son of Joseph and Mary (Greenleaf) Wheeler; Joseph d. at Dixfield, 2 Jan 1852.
ELIZABETH SUMNER, b. 15 Dec 1773; living in 1824. Elizabeth did not marry.
DOROTHY SUMNER, b. 31 Dec 1777; d. at Shrewsbury, 9 Mar 1841; m. at Shrewsbury, 20 Dec 1796, GEORGE MERRIAM, b. 8 Jul 1773 son of Ebenezer and Martha (Jefferson) Merriam; George d. at Worcester, 20 Aug 1802.
ERASTUS SUMNER, b. 10 Feb 1783; d. at Shrewsbury, 16 Sep 1858; m. at Marlborough, 12 Jun 1805, LAVINA BOYD, b. at Marlborough, 27 Aug 1780 daughter of William and Lydia (Morse) Boyd; Lavina d. at Shrewsbury, 5 Jan 1862.
Sources
↑ Family summary taken from Abbott, Patricia A., The Descendants of John and Elizabeth Stevens of Andover Through Six Generations, 2021, In Press
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHZR-GXP : 10 November 2020), Joseph Sumner, 9 Dec 1824; citing Death, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011135.
↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:78XK-WSPZ : 21 September 2019), Lucy Williams, ; citing Birth, , Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008100622.
↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHZR-G9X : 10 November 2020), Mrs. Lucy Sumner, 13 Feb 1810; citing Death, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011135.
↑ Harvard University. 1905. Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates of Harvard University. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. p 814
↑ Ward, Andrew Henshaw. 1847. History of the Town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, from its Settlement in 1717 to 1829. Boston, MA: Samuel G. Drake, publisher; J. Howe, printer. p 175, p 177, p 180, p 182, p 183
↑ Worcester County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1731-1881. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Case 57508
↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch
↑ Ward, Andrew Henshaw. 1847. History of the Town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, from its Settlement in 1717 to 1829. Boston, MA: Samuel G. Drake, publisher; J. Howe, printer. p 439
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