[note from Byron: As usual, this material was kindly provided by Nancy Underwood]
JOHN INGERSOLL
OF
WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
1. JOHN INGERSOLL was born in England in 1615 and accompanied his brother
Richard to America in 1629. He lived for a time at Salem, Mass., then he
removed to Hartford, Conn., where in 1651 he married Dorothy Lord, daughter
of Thomas and Dorothy Lord. Thomas Lord was one of the first settlers. In
1655, John, with his family, removed to Northampton, Mass., where his wife
died in giving birth to her third daughter, Jan., 1656. Mrs. Ingersoll was
only twenty-six years of age.
On December 12, 1657. John married for his second wife, Abigail Bascom,
daughter of Thomas Bascom, one of the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., but
who resided later at Northampton.
In 1666 John removed with his family to Woronoco, which was the Indian
name by which Westfield, Mass., was then known. In April of the same year
and soon after his arrival at Woronoco his wife Abigail died, leaving four
more daughters for John to care for. During the following year he married
his third wife, Mary Hunt, a daughter of John Hunt and Mary Webster,
whose father, John Webster, was one of the first settlers of Hartford and
the fifth governor of the Colony of Connecticut chosen in 1656. He was from
County Warwick, Eng., and settled in Hartford with his wife Agnes and several
children in 1636. In 1659, Mr. Webster removed from Hartford to Hadley, Mass.,
and resided there until his death.
It is recorded in the town book of Westfield, that in the year 1666 land
was granted to John Ingersoll and others and that he settled there in that
year. In 1669 an additional grant was given to the first one of 20 acres. In
1679 he was one of the "Seven Pillars" or "Foundation Men" who united to form
the church at Westfield.
John Ingersoll died in Westfield, Sept. 3, 1684, in the seventieth year
of his age and his grave may be found in the old Westfield Cemetery.
His widow died August 18, 1690.
The land granted to John Ingersoll and on which he built his house has
remained in possession of the Ingersoll family, and has always been known to
the inhabitants of Westfield as "Ingersoll Place." (Westfield Records.
Ingersolls of Hampshire.)
Children of first wife:
i Hannah, b. 1652
ii Dorothy, b. 1654
iii Margery, b. Jan. 1656
Children of second wife:
iv Abigail, b. Jan. 11, 1659
v Sarah, b. Oct. 30, 1660, Northampton, Mass.; m. Barnes.
vi Abiah, b. Aug. 24, 1663
vii Hester, b. Sept. 9, 1665
Children of third wife:
viii THOMAS, b. March 28, 1668
ix John, b. Oct. 20, 1669
x Abel, b. Nov. 11, 1671; d. June 18, 1745; unmarried; dwelt years
in Northampton.
xi Ebenezer, b. Oct. 15, 1673; d. March 4, 1682
xii Joseph, b. Oct. 16, 1675; killed in Battle, Feb. 29, 1704, at
Deerfield, Mass. during Queen Anne's War. He was unmarried.
The following is an extract from the record found in the
townbbook of Hatfield:
"An account of the desolation of Deerfield, the last
day of Feb., 1704, Four Hundred of French and Indians, as
is thought assaulted the Fort, took it, and killed and
captured 162 of the inhabitants, and consumed most of their
estates into flames." Among those who were killed in de-
fending the fort was Jospeh Ingersoll, and such fact is
noted on the town record.
xiii Mary, b. Nov. 17, 1677; d. Westfield, Sept. 1, 1690
xiv Benjamin, b. Nov. 15, 1679; either killed in battle or died
in service about 1704 during Queen Anne's War. He was
not married.
xv Jonathan, b. May 10, 1681
Second Generation
THOMAS INGERSOLL, born March 28, 1668 at Westfield, Mass.; died Nov. 14,
1732; married, July 22, 1692, Sarah Ashley, born Sept. 19, 1673; died 1704;
daughter of David Ashley (son of Robert and Mary of Springfield) and Hannah
Glover. He married second, Jan. 21, 1708, Abigail, the widow of Hezekiah
Dickinson, of Springfield. She was the daughter of Samuel Blakeman of Stratford,
Conn., and granddaughter of the Rev. Adam Blakeman, the first minister
of that town and a graduate of the University of Oxford. She was born Nov.11,
1663.
"Abigail Ingersoll was sick and died March ye 30, 1719." No issue.
He married third, May 17, 1720, Ruth Child, widow of Joseph Child of
Watertown, Mass., born Jan 12, 1670. She died Jan. 10, 1746-47. No issue.
Children born at Westfield:
i Thomas, b. Nov. 27, 1692
ii Moses, b. Feb. 10, 1694
iii Miriam, b. June 4, 1697
iv DAVID, b. Sept. 30, 1699
v Eleanor, b. March 12, 1704
DAVID INGERSOLL, was born Sept. 30, 1699 at Westfield; was one of the most
enterprising men of the parish in his earlier years, and who perhaps
exercised a wider influence than any other of its inhabitants.
The first mention we find of David is as a trader of Springfield in
1731. He resided for a time at Brookfield, and about 1735 at Great Barrington,
and from 1739 for the next 15 years his name is connected with most of its
business interests. He became owner of five rights (2000 acres) in the upper
as well as a large land-holder in the lower township. With an eye to business,
Mr. Ingersoll early in 1739, under a title of doubtful validity, obtained
possession of the water power now occupied by the Berkshire Woolen Co., where
he built a dam and erected a sawmill and gristmill, and also a forge and trip
hammer for the manufacture of bar iron. These works, which were on the east
bank of the river below the bridge, were soon completed and in 1740 he made
iron at his forge, from ore obtained from a bed in the neighborhood. This iron
works, though small and unimportant in itself, is of interest inasmuch as
this was one of the earliest attempts at manufacturing iron in western Mass.
A week's product of Ingersoll's forge in 1739, as appears from his account
book, was only 4 cwt. 2 qrs. 4 lbs; the cost of labor for making iron
was fifteen shillings per cwt.; the price paid for charcoal, forty shillings per
hundred bushels; and the price at which the iron was sold from seventy-five
to eighty shillings per cwt., all in Old Tenor currency. This forge was worked
as late as 1748, but had disappeared in 1755, when the gristmill and sawmill
were still standing. (Page 156, Hist. Gt. B.)
He also had a store and small stock of goods nearby and was for the time
quite extensively engaged in business.
Mr. Ingersoll built his house in 1739, a low, one and a half storey, with
a porch in front, formed by a long sloping roof. It was taken down about 1828
by the late Charles W. Hopkins, Esq., who built the present house, standing
nearly upon the site of the old one. Here Mr. Ingersoll resided for 10 years,
then sold to Dea. Timothy Hopkins and removed to another part of the town.
Mr. Ingersoll was the first clerk of the Upper Proprietary chosen in
1742, one of the committee for building the meeting-house and for providing
a minister, and is reported to have donated the land on which the meeting-
house was erected. The pews were sold to the proprietors to raise money to pay
the minister. David Ingersoll bid in the first pew west of the pulpit, for which
he paid 60 lb; also three others for which he paid 60 more. The 14 pews netted
707 lb in Old Tenor Currency which equals about $470.
He was the first magistrate residing within the bounds of the parish,
having been commissioned Justice of the Peace, Sept. 8, 1740, and office at
that time of honor and trust which conferred dignity and importance upon its
incumbent and entitled him to consideration and respect.
In his individual as well as official capacity, he was engaged in the
interest of some of the tenants of Livingstone Manor who were then presumed
to reside within the limits of Mass., in their quarrels with their landlord,
and incurred the displeasures of Mr. Livingstone who in a letter to Liet-
G Delancy, denounced him as "that wicked varlet, David Engersoll."
He was Captain of the Militia and also a selectman of the town of Sheffield.
Mr. Ingersoll was not permanently successful in his business enterprises
and in 1755 his mills and other property were taken on execution to satisfy
the demands of creditors. At about the same time, Aug. 15, 1755 - in conse-
quence of some irregularities in his official capacity as selectman of Shef-
field-tradition says in a matter of wolf scalps, David Ingersoll was by order
of the General Court removed from the offices of Justice of the Peace and
Capt. of Militia and thereafter disqualified from holding any office of honor
or profit under the government. From this time his influence waned and his
name seldom appears in parish or town history.
He afterward for a time resided on his farm, south of the village, which
he owned in connection with a large tract of land to the southward, the whole
embracing some 5000 acres, was commonly known as "Ingersoll's great farm."
David Ingersoll was married twice. His first wife was Lydia Child, of
Springfield, whom he married there March 13, 1720-1. She was born June 2, 1706,
daughter of Joseph and Ruth Child. Her mother married Thomas Ingersoll,as her
third husband-her first being John Maddock. She was born Jan. 12, 1670, daught-
er of Caleb and Joanna (Sprague) Church and granddaughter of Richard Church and
Elizabeth Warren, daughter of Richard Warren of the MAYFLOWER. Lydia Ingersoll
is supposed to have died before his removal to Great Barrington. His second wife
was Submit Horton, daughter of Thomas Horton of Springfield, whom he married
there July 9, 1739. She died Nov. 23, 1770. He died March 23, 1773, in the
seventy-fourth year of his age.
Child of first wife:
i WILLIAM, b. April 1, 1724
Children of second wife:
ii Thomas Horton, b. June 30, 1740
iii David, b. Sept. 26, 1742
iv Deodat, b. April 18, 1744
v Stephen, b. Sept. 17, 1745; d. July 1, 1755
vi Sarah, b. Jan. 24, 1747; m. Dr. Barnard of Deerfield, Mass.
vii Lovice, b. Oct. 14, 1751; m. Sept. 24, 1774, William Schemershorn
viii Oliver, b. Dec. 10, 1752
ix Stephen, b. July 24, 1755
Fourth Generation
WILLIAM INGERSOLL was born at Springfield, April 1, 1724; married Dec. 11
1746, his cousin Lydia Ingersoll, born Oct. 1, 1727, daughter of Moses and
Catherine Ingersoll of Great Barrington. She died June 2, 1804.
William Ingersoll became a prominent citizen of Great Barrington. In
1769 he came up and settled in the Hopland district. His farm consisted of
1000 acres stretching along the Housatonic from the quarry to South Lee. He
seems to have been the most conspicuous citizen in the early history of the
town and was known as the Patroon of the Berkshires.
He was chosen chairman of the first board of selectmen, and of the
"Committee of Correspondence" during the Revolution, and his name stands
first in the list of members of the Cong. Church and is prominent in all the
earlier history of both church and town.
His house stood a little southeast of the present residence of E. M.
Langdon and his seven sons on coming to maturity settled around him on some
part of his ample domain.
Lee was incorporated in 1774, and the first town meeting was held Dec.
22,1777. William Ingersoll was elected moderator, selectman, highway surveyor
treasurer and chairman of Committee Correspondence. The duty of the Committee
of Correspondence was no light one, for they had to raise men for the militia
and pay them for their services and provide for their keeping. He was Repre-
sentative to the State Assmebly, 1781.
Hon. Wm. Hyde relates the following incident of Squire William Ingersoll,
the patriarch of the town, which both illustrates the zeal of the federalists
in "getting out votes" and the customs of the times:
"During the War of 1812, when the election of Governor was on the first
Monday of April, when the mud was deep and the snow banks prevented moving on
wheels, I saw coming down Hawk's Hill by my father's house, a venerable man
seated in an arm-chair in a large sleigh drawn by two horses. His hair was
white, he wore a cocked hat and gray overcoat, and leaned upon his staff for
support as the sleigh was drawn across the bridge and up to the front door
of the church where the town meetings were held. Two strong men, his grand-
sons, lifted his chair and its occupant from the sleigh and bore him up the
broad aisle to the deacon's seat, where he deposited his vote for Caleb
Strong for governor. Mr.Ingersoll was at that time 90 years old" (History of
Berkshire Co., Mass.).
Inscription on his gravestone at Lee:
Sacred to the memory of Wm. Ingersoll, Esq., who was one of the first
settlers of this town, and one of the few who in 1780 were formed into
a church in this place. Satisfied with living and rejoicing in hope and
glory, he died Aug. 10, 1815, aged 91 years and 4 months, leaving behind
him in this dying world 149 descendants."
The record of births of William Ingersoll's children was taken from an
old Bible in possession of Cyrus B. Ingersoll of West Olive, Michigan, inscrib-
ed with the name of "Lucinda Ingersoll, her book, by her father Nov. 11, 1794,
in the 30th year of her age."
William Ingersoll gave each of his children a large Bible. The one given
to David is in the possession of Mrs. Lillian Drake Avery, Pontiac, Michigan
(1925)
Children born at Lee:
i Moses, b. July 14, 1748
ii Aaron, b. Sept. 21, 1750
iii Lydia, b. Oct. 10, 1752; m. Jacob Remeles; had son John
iv Bathsheba, b. April 17, 1755; m. Isaac Davis; had son Calvin
v Jared. b. Oct. 1, 1757
vi DAVID, b. Dec. 1, 1759
vii William, b. Oct. 17, 1761
viii Lucinda, b. July 17, 1764; d. there Feb. 22, 1800; unmarried
ix Elijah, b. Aug. 16, 1766
x Calvin, b. June 17, 1768
xi Elizabeth, b. Oct. 4, 1771
Fifth Generation
DAVID INGERSOLL, born Dec. 1, 1759 at Great Barrington; married December 13,
1781, Sarah Parsons,daughter of Elihu and Sarah (Edwards) Parsons, born Sept. 8,
1760 at Stockbridge and died Aug. 30, 1837 at her home in Lee. She was a woman
of fine character and in every way worthy of her illustrious ancestry. Her
father was a descendant of Cornet Joseph Parsons, who was one of the founders of
Northampton and a man of wealth and unusual business qualifications. Her
mother was Sarah, the oldest daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Pierrepont)
Edwards, whose ancestry can be traced to Cedric and Charlemagne.
David Ingersoll lived on a farm in Lee, where he raised his family of
thirteen children. There was a marble quarry on the farm from which was taken
the doorstep and mantels in the old home. He is desribed as a man of medium
height, fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. After his children came to
Michigan he felt anxious to see them before he died. The long-planned visit
was made about 1834 and he seemed much pleased with the new country. Such a
trip as this, from Massachusetts to Michigan in those days was quite an under-
taking for an old gentleman of 75.
"My grandfather, David Ingersoll of Lee, had a large orchard, made nice
cider which was pressed into large white marble troughs made from stone on
his farm. I remember riding on the mill beam. He found so many were getting
drunk from his cider, he cut down all the trees except those needed for the
family."(Harriet Ingersoll of Berea, 0.)
On the farm of David Ingersoll, where now is the quarry of Warren P.
Wilde, the stone lay in strata near the surface and there Mr. Ingersoll got
it out in considerable quantity, but mainly for hearth and step stones. The
older inhabitants remember the two large and beautiful specimens of marble
from the quarry which Mr. Ingersoll got out for the horseblock of the church
built in 1800.
Many of the step stones of the present residences of the town were
quarried by Mr. Ingersoll in the olden time and are fine specimens of marble.
(Page 302, Hist. of Lee.)
He was a deacon in the Congregational Church, chosen 1812, and three of
his sons were clergymen. He died in Lee, Jan. 26, 1839, aged 79.
David Ingersoll's service in the State Militia during the Revolution is
recorded in "Mass. Soldiers and Sailors" as follows:
Ingersoll, David, Private, Capt. Job. Woodbridge's Co., Col. Brown's
(Berkshire Co. Regt.), enlisted July 8, 1777, discharged July 26, 1777, ser-
vice 19 days, mileage home (100 miles) allowed, company formed part of de-
tachment under Maj. Col. Hyde which marched from Stockbridge at the evacuation
of Ticonderoga.
Ingersel, David, Private, Capt. Amos Porter's Co., Col David Rositer's
regt., enlisted Oct. 18, 1780, discharged Oct. 21, 1780, service four days,
on the alarm at Berkshire of Oct. 18, 1780.
Children born at Lee:
i Erastus, b. Nov. 9, 1782
ii Lucinda, b. June 2, 1784
iii Theodore Sedgwick, b. Apr. 26, 1786
iv Lucretia, b. Feb. 9, 1788
v MOSES, b. Feb. 15, 1790
vi Sophia, b. March 1, 1792
Twins vii David, b. March 3, 1795
viii Sally, b. March 3, 1795
ix Elizabeth, b. June 21, 1797
x Lucy, b. June 6, 1799
Twins xi William, b. December 22, 1801
xii Alvan Hyde, b. Dec. 22, 1801
xiii Elihu Parsons, b. Sept. 20, 1804
SIXTH GENERATION
MOSES INGERSOLL, musician and farmer, born Feb. 15, 1790, at Lee, Mass.;
died Sept. 1, 1855 at Augusta, Ill; married June 18, 1812, at Genoa, N. Y.,
Charissa Hooker, born April 7, 1790 at Poultney, Vt., died Nov. 9, 1851 at
Augusta, Ill., dau. of William Hooker.
They resided first in Ashtabula, Ohio, and later in Augusta, Ill. Moses
Ingersoll taught school a great deal and music much more. He was a very fine
singer, leading the choir many years, played the bass viol and taught the
drum. When the children were little many would come in the evening to learn
to beat, but the noise never disturbed the sleepers. Later on he bought a
farm where he lived the remainder of his life, and when he died it took all
of the family out of the choir so that they had to send to another town for
singers at the funeral.
One winter was spent with their relatives in Michigan and the musical
talent of the family was much enjoyed.
Moses Ingersoll, like his father and grandfather, was a Deacon in the
church for many years. He had often occasion to read the sermon and he was
such a fine reader many preferred him to the preacher.
Children:
i Mary Ann, b. May 20, 1813,Genoa, N. Y.
ii RACHEL, b. June 18, 1815, Genoa,, N. Y.,
iii Harriet Hooker, b. Feb. 16, 1817
iv Judson, b. Dec. 30, 1818, Ogden, N. Y.; d. 1822, Ogden.
v Lydia Talmadge, b. Dec. 14, 1821, Genoa, N.Y.
vi Josiah Curtis, b. Dec. 30, 1823
vii William, b. Nov. 10, 1826. Was a railroad man and had several
bad accidents before the last which proved fatal. He was
yard master at Fort Scott and was making up a train and in
stepping back his foot caught and he fell, the train running
over him cutting off both legs. He was found dead with his
watch in his hand was was carried home to his wife of only a few months.
viii Charles Yale, b. May 14, 1833, Ashtabula, Ohio.
SEVENTH GENERATION
RACHEL INGERSOLL, b. June 18, 1815 at Genoa, N.Y.; died June 1896 at Buda,
Ill., m. Sept. 20, 1834 at Kingsville, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Elihu Ward, Esq.
Children:
i Cordelia Harriet, b. Jan. 9, 1838; m. Oct. 25, 1859, John Patch
Children:
(a) Fred Herbert, b. Sept. 29, 1860; m. May 27, 1885,
Rushville, Ill., Lizzie Maria Knowles, b. July 23,
1865, eldest dau. of Rev. John and Cornelia Knowles.
Child:
1. Harold Knowles Patch, b. March or May 17,1886
(b) Mary Josephine, b. June 19, 1868, Augusta; m. Oct. 20,
1891,Buda, Ill., George S. Haley, b. Mar. 1, 1866,
Buda, Ill., son of Thomas J. and Betsey (Eastman)
Haley of Buda.
Child:
1. Harold Thomas, b. Aug. 7, 1896, Chicago
(c) Chellis Arthur - born October 1871 married Miss Schlawig
September 19/20 1899
ii Henry Marshall d. 1849 in infancy
iii MARY CHARISSA Born July 6, 1842 - died November 29, 1925.
Married Charles Robertson Watt August 30, 1866. He was born
January 18, 1841 in Dundee, Scotland and died July 6, 1891
in Thayer, Kansas. 6 children:
(a) Addie Louise - born Aug. 18, 1867 - died July 20, 1914.
Married Jan. 19, 1886 to Francis Marion Ferris (whose
name by birth was Edwards. He was born May 17, 1860
and died May 1945. He was the only child of Lucinda
and William Henry Edwards of Salem, Iowa, who died in
service with the U. S. Army at Savannah, Tenn., May 28,
1862. Francis Edwards' name was changed at age 5 through
legal adoption by George E. and Sarah C. Ferris of Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa. 6 children:
i. Lillian May - born Nov. 16, 1886 - died July 10, 1887
ii. Charles Francis - b. Nov. 27, 1887 - d. July 5, 1982.
m.ca 1910 Alpha Mildred Williams - d. May 20, 1978
iii. Marion Raymond - b. December 5, 1889 - d. March 9, 1964
m.ca 1910 Ethel Elizabeth Williams - d. 1952
iv. Francis Edwards - b. May 30, 1891 - d. Aug. 20, 1983
m. Grace Dropp in 1919.
v. Jessie Adelaide (name changed to Adelaide Louise)
b. Feb. 5, 1898 -d.Nov. 1. 1984. m. Aug. 7, 1920
Kendall Hooton - b. Oct. 5, 1895 - d. Mar. 30, 1964.
vi George Ward - b. December 5, 1899 - d. 1959. m.
Julia Snyder.
(b) Chauncey Ward - b. Jan. 1, 1872. Married 1899 Antoinette
Ricketts
(c) Elihu DeForest - b. June 7. 1874 - d. 1958. Married 1899
Florence Rockwell - d. 1954
(d) Jessie - b. June 30, 1878 - d. 1961. Married June 13, 1899
Ela Bliss Moyer - b. 1869 - d. 1954. Children:
i. John Watt - b. 1902-d. 1907
ii. Dorothy Louise - b. 1910 -.d. 19??.-m. John Ruch
(a) Lee b. 1946
(b) John b. 1949
iii. Barbara Helen - b. Aug. 28, 1912. m. James A. Kidston.
(a) James Stewart - b. 1951
(b) Nancy - b. 1953
iv Harley Curtis - b. 1850 - d. in infancy
v Florence - d. infancy
vi Kate Arloine - b. May 5. 1854 - d. 1941, m. Feb. 17, 1891
George Wolbridge b. 1859
vii Frank Curtis - b. March 15, 1860, m. 1883 Wynnie Davis
REFERENCE:
"Genealogy of Ingersoll Family in America" pp 127-133, 139-141, 153,154, 187-8,
256-7. Compiled by Lillian Drake Avery, 1925. Sutro Genealogical
Library, San Francisco.
Nancy L. Underwood 1989
[The following charts were also provided by Nancy]
