New England- 7 - Petts Family - (Cook-associated families)

 Petts Family of New England

The Petts name infrequently occurs in the records of New England. The number of settlers bearing this name was very limited. The name in Townsend [Massachusetts] records is sometimes written as “Patt” or “Patts”, but later the name is uniformly written Petts  - Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire

John Petts 

John Petts, my husband's 7th Great Grandfather. John Petts was one of the earliest settlers of Townsend, Massachusetts. 

He was born in1681 and he died December 13, 1762 in Townsend, MA. It is probable that his wife Abigail was the first female white resident of the town. It nearly certain that their son Jonathan Petts was the first white settler born there.

Their son: Jonathan Petts

Jonathan Petts was the son of John and Mary Petts and likely the first white settler infant born in Townsend, MA.  Jonathan was born on October 15, 1727 in Townsend, Massachusetts, where he was a farmer.  He died November 23, 1767 in Ashburnham, MA. 

He married Sarah Hosely  who was born in December 1732. Sarah was the daughter of James Hosely and Exercise (or Eunice) Jewett. Sarah died in 1788.

Their son: Jonathan (son of Jonathan) Petts

Jonathan Petts (Jr) was born to Jonathan Petts and Sarah Hosley in Townsend, MA. His family: Jonathan married in Townsend, MA in February 12, 1783 and moved to Stoddard, NH. 

Jonathan’s wife was Rebecca Towne. Rebecca Towne was born July 25, 1763 to Colonel Ezra Towne and Elizabeth Dorman of New Ipswich, NH.  Her father, Ezra Towne, was in the American Revolution as a captain for three years and later a colonel of a regiment.

   ~ Revolutionary War Soldier~

Jonathan Petts (Jr) was a solider in the Revolution. He served in the Lexington alarm on April 19, 1779 in Captain James Hosley’s company.  Jonathan was also in the siege of Boston in 1775 and at Bunker Hill in Captain Henry Farwell’s Company. 

[In the history of the town of Townsend his name is erroneously printed Nathan Patt].

Their son was David Petts                                                        David Petts was born in Stoddard, NH on February 7, 1788 and lived in Stoddard, Weston, VT and Nelson, NH where he died in February 16, 1867. His family: David Petts married Clarissa Parker who was born in Nelson, NH on July 14, 1793. 

Clarissa was the daughter of Josiah and Eunice Pierce. Clarissa died in Nelson, NH on August 8, 1871.

Three of their children died in infancy.  The ten children were: David Towne, Lyman Parker, Eunice Pierce, Lousia Malvina, Frederic Augustus, Lawrensa, Clarissa Sabrina, George Shepard, Albert Livingston, and Lucy Orinda.

Their son David Towne Petts

David Towne Petts was the oldest child of David Petts and Clarissa Parker.  He was born in Weston, Vermont on November 25, 1810 and died on December 3, 1856 at 46 years old. 

David Towne Petts farmed to some extent in Nelson, VT, where for 10 or 12 or twelve years he was a cattle drover.

He moved to Stoddard NH where he conducted a hotel for 6 years and then moved to Marlow, NH and carried on  a hotel there for about 1 ½ year before his death.

Marriage & Family - David Towne Petts married in Stoddard, NH Phebe (or Phoebe) Stevens who was born in Stoddard, NH on May 3, 1812.

Their children were Ferdinand, Lyman and George, Rosanna or Rosina, and two daughters who were both my husband’s ancestors, Myranda (1843-1917) and Christiana (1845-1871).

Myranda and Christiana Petts and their spouses were wed and had children. Those children married one another.

* Myranda (1843-1917) married John S Warner

 Christiana (1845-1871) Petts married John Levi Cook

 * Myranda & husband had daughter, Addie Warner,

* Christiana & husband had son Don F Cook.

Addie Christiane Warner & Don Ferdinand Cook

Addie Christiane Warner married her aunt’s son, Don Ferdinand Cook.

Yes, they were first cousins  (see post on "John S Warner M. Miranda Petts: A Story of Sisters, Cousins--and Spouses")

Addie Warner and Don Ferdinand Cook were my husband's great grandparents.

Their daughter Marion Lottie Cook was my husband's maternal grandmother.

Marion Lottie Cook (1905-1966). 

Marion Cook married Andrew Antilla. Marion Lottie Cook and Andrew had his mother and her siblings.

The names in blue are direct descendants of the Petts family:

New England - 8- Patriots: the Petts Family - (Cook-associated families)

PETTS

Petts –This name is of infrequent occurrence in the records of New England. The number of settlers bearing this name was very limited. The name in Townsend [Massachusetts] records is sometimes written as “Patt” or “Patts”, but later the name is uniformly written Petts  - Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire

 John Petts
John Petts, my husband's 7th Great Grandfather.  John Petts was one of the earliest settlers of Townsend, Massachusetts.
He was born in1681 and he died December 13, 1762 in Townsend, MA.
It is probable that his wife was the first female white resident of the town. It nearly certain that their son Jonathan Petts was the first white settler born there.
Their son: Jonathan Petts
My husband's 6th Great Grandfather- Jonathan Petts was the son of John and Mary Petts and likely the first white settler infant born in Townsend, MA.  
Jonathan was born on October 15, 1727 in Townsend, Massachusetts, where he was a farmer.
He died November 23, 1767 in Ashburnham, MA
He married Sarah Hosely  who was born in December 1732. Sarah was the daughter of James Hosely and Exercise (or Eunice) Jewett. Sarah died in 1788.

Their son:
Jonathan (son of Jonathan and Sarah) Petts
My husband's 5th Great Grandfather. Jonathan Petts (Jr) was born to Jonathan Petts and Sarah Hosley in Townsend, MA.
    ~Family~
Jonathan married in Townsend, MA in February 12, 1783 and moved to Stoddard, NH.
Jonathan’s wife was Rebecca Towne.
Rebecca Towne was born July 25, 1763 to Colonel Ezra Towne and Elizabeth Dorman of New Ipswich, NH.
Her father, Ezra Towne, was in the American Revolution as a captain for three years and later a colonel of a regiment.
   ~ Revolutionary War Soldier~
Jonathan (Jr) was a solider in the Revolution.
He served in the Lexington alarm on April 19, 1779 in Captain James Hosley’s company.
Jonathan was also in the siege of Boston in 1775 and at Bunker Hill in Captain Henry Farwell’s Company.
[In the history of the town of Townsend his name is erroneously printed Nathan Patt].
 

Their son: David Petts
My husband's 4th Great Grandfather. David Petts was born in Stoddard, NH on February 7, 1788 and lived in Stoddard, Weston, VT and Nelson, NH where he died in February 16, 1867.
  ~ Family~
He married Clarissa Parker who was born in Nelson, NH on July 14, 1793.
Clarissa was the daughter of Josiah and Eunice Pierce. Clarissa died in Nelson, NH on August 8, 1871.
Three of their children died in infancy.
The ten children were: David Towne, Lyman Parker, Eunice Pierce, Lousia Malvina, Frederic Augustus, Lawrensa, Clarissa Sabrina, George Shepard, Albert Livingston, and Lucy Orinda.
 

Their son: David Towne Petts
My husband's 3rd Great Grandfather. David Towne Petts was the oldest child of David Petts and Clarissa Parker.
He was born in Weston, Vermont on November 25, 1810 and died on December 3, 1856 at 46 years old.
   ~ Work~
He farmed to some extent in Nelson, VT, where for 10 or 12 or twelve years he was a cattle drover.
He moved to Stoddard NH where he conducted a hotel for 6 years and then moved to Marlow, NH and carried on  a hotel there for about 1 ½ year before his death.
   ~ Family~
David Towne Petts married in Stoddard, NH Phebe (or Phoebe) Stevens who was born in Stoddard, NH on May 3, 1812.
Their children were Ferdinand, Lyman and George, Rosanna or Rosina, and two daughters who were both my husband’s ancestors, Myranda (1843-1917) and Christiana (1845-1871).

Their two daughters, Myranda and Christiana and  their Spouses--
~Two of My husband's 2nd Great Grandmothers~
* Myranda (1843-1917) and Christiana (1845-1871) Petts married John S Warner and John Levi Cook, respectively.
* Myranda & John S Warner had a daughter, Addie Warner,
* Christiana & John Levi Cook had a son, Don F Cook.

Marriage of  Addie Warner & Don Ferdinand Cook
Myranda’s daughter, Addie Christiane Warner married her Aunt Christiana’s son, Don Ferdinand Cook.
Yes, they were first cousins  (see 52 Ancestors # Post 6 - John S Warner M. Miranda Petts: A Story of Sisters, Cousins--and Spouses)
*Addie Warner was my husband's great grandmother, and *Don Ferdinand Cook was my husband's great grandfather.  

Their daughter was Marion Lottie Cook
who was my husband's grandmother.
Marion Lottie Cook (1905-1966). Marion Cook married Andrew Antilla.                                Marion Lottie Cook and Andrew had Ruth I Antilla and her siblings.
 

Sources:
1 Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire
2 Town Records of Massachusetts

New England - 9 - Where There’s a Will - David Petts leaves Widow in the Lurch - (Cook-associated families)

Widow Phoebe (Stevens) Petts was left a widow without a will 

and with little money. 

*Phoebe Stevens (my husband's 3rd gr grandmother)

Daughter of John Stevens (1779-1840) and Azubah Procter (1776-1840)

B 3 May 1812 Stoddard, New Hampshire

D 3 Apr 1902 Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire

Her siblings

~~John Stevens (1807–1865)

~~Henry Stevens (1808–?)

~~Azubah Stevens (1808–1852)

~~Ephraim Stevens (1814–1895)

Married *David Towne Petts (his 3rd gr grandfather)

B 25 Nov 1810, Weston, Windsor, VT

D 3 Dec 1856 in Marlow, Cheshire, New Hampshire

Their children:

~Ferdinand Petts (1834–1933)

~Rosina Petts (1835–1861)

~Lyman Gustavus Petts (1836–1927)

~George A Petts (1842–?)

~Myranda Anette Petts (1843–1917)

~*Christiane L Petts (1845–1871) (his 2nd gr grandmother)

Phoebe outlived her husband by 46 years, falling short of living to 90 years old by one month.

A wife in this period was not the automatic heir to her husband's property. The husband owned everything, including his debt.

David T. Petts died intestate (without a will). Consequently, there are a lot of records (from 1856 for at least 2 years) in New Hampshire.

Still, as the widow, Phoebe was entitled to a “dower”-the state gave widows that much. Typically, it was 1/3 of the entire value of the estate (it was handled by the probate judge). Phoebe got slightly-very slightly-more the 1/3.

Phoebe also asked to be  the administratrix—something she had to petition the court to be. Amos Fiske was ‘commissioned’ by the court to appraise and list all belongings of David T Petts.

To settle the estate, Phoebe (as administratrix—or as widow, depending on the document) had to fill out a court document and have it approved.

She got ‘reimbursed’ for travel, but it was out of the estate.

David Petts died in 1856—the estate got bogged down by people wanting their money--and then it seems that the court suspected the family was hiding property. It finally was settled in 1858.

Phoebe auctioned the estate (apart from the ‘dower’ which was hers) and then paid back her husband’s creditors

There are two sets of inventories. One looks like the final ‘official’ inventory (has a seal on it), the other is in long hand. The inventory in long hand lists the value of each item and next to each is also has a list of names. Perhaps the longhand sheet was the worksheet for the public auction.  Several of the bidders were related to her (sons).

No other records indicate that they ran a tavern/inn.

But when you see the inventory you realize they must have. The quantity of food and alcohol, along with bedding for that time period indicates an inn. The unofficial inventory is 9 pages long. The inventory is very large for the time. (If you read on, you’ll see verification.)

I don’t know anything about antebellum New Hampshire estates, but I am guessing Amos Fiske who was commissioned by the court, may have made a profit on reselling the articles he bought at auction.

Inventory:                                                                  - $642.98

S. for Wid. Allow.

[ie the widow’s dower, or 1/3 of David’s property)   $200

          ________

                                             $442.98   

Sold for                $360.08

                                            $82.98 L of S  

If David Towne Petts owed his creditors more than $443.06, then the creditors could not be repaid in full. When you adjust this for inflation, $443=$14,560.

I looked at his creditors (from those who came forward after notices were posted and published), you find he owed more than $2,240.

This, adjusted for inflation, is equivalent to $74,000--when he had the equivalent of $14,560.

Ooops!
His creditors had to accept what the court allowed.  If they were owed $5.24, they were allowed about .59 cents. Most of his creditors were “promissory notes” or IOUs.  But there were about 6 or 7  judgements on David Petts, and some of them very large. 

This tells me that he had borrowed money on time and had not fulfilled his obligation of repayment in a timely manner---and the creditor had to file a judgement in court against him.

 

David Towne Petts died intestate. His estate was INSOLVENT.

16 Dec 1856
(His widow) Phoebe Petts petitioned court to be the administratrix of her husband's estate.
16 Dec 1856
A bond for: Phebe Petts, Amos Pike, and Samuel Buss amount of $1200 to execute estate accdng to the laws of New Hampshire.
6 Jan 1857
Phebe Petts, of estate of David T Petts of Marlow deceased intestate, says she is unwilling to be charged with the goods and chattles belonging to the said estate as appraised. Wherefore she prays that she may have license to sell the same at public auction. "foregoing petition is decreed granted and the license is issued accordingly"
6 Jan 1857
The estate of David Petts was published for 3 consecutive weeks in the Cheshire Republican (newspaper) printed in Keene, Cheshire County (NH) with additional notifications at some publick house in each of the towns of Marlow and Stoddard (for at least 40 days). - Judge of Probate 6 Jan 1857
Jan 1857
Phebe Petts, widow and relict of David T Petts of Marlow. "Prays your honor to make her such an allowance out of the Personal Estate of said deceased, for her present support and comfort, as may be suitable to her condition and degree, and consistent with the situation of the Estate." "Phebe Petts" (response): “January 1857  Upon the above petition, it is...decreed that the said widow be allowed in such article as she may choose, out of the Inventory of the Personal Estate of said deceased, suitable to her condition, at their appraised value, the sum of two hundred dollars, for her present support and comfort. (Judge)
 Jan 1857
Several Pages of the Official Inventory & appraisal Jan 6 1857 done by 3 men
Jan 1857
New Hampshire, Cheshire County, the Judge of Probate for County; To Phebe Petts, Administratrix of the Estate of David T Petts late of Marlow in said county, deceased intestate: You are hereby licensed and ordered to sell at public auction, all the goods and chattels of said deceased, except such part thereof as has been ordered to you for your present support (see petition).
And you are directed to give notice of such sale by posting up advertisements thereof in two or more public places in said Marlow at least 10 days before said sale. If you comply with this order, and act with fidelity and impartiality in said sale, you will be credited with loss, or charged with the gain upon such sale. 6 January 1857 - Judge of Probate 

Jan 1857
Amount of Sales at Auction of the Estate of David T Petts Late of Marlow; Deceased; by Phebe Petts Adminstratrix - Jan 29 1857

 

Auction - inventory

  

Inventory (partial)

Inventory--more!

Appraisal less widow's dower

Sept 1857 Creditors & Heirs at Law of the Estate of David T Petts of Marlow in Cheshire County. ... 1st Tuesday of September [1857]...and ordered that Phebe Petts give notice causing the Citation to be published 3 weeks successively in the Cheshire Republican printed at Keene in said county.

Creditors

 

Judgments

 

Sept 1857 Amos Fiske of Marlow, the commissioner of the Estate of David Petts of Marlow was given a year from 1 Dec 1857, a list of all the claimes which have been received against David Petts' estate. (Signed by the judge on 1 Sept 1857) - fig 1 

Accounting: 1856 

Expense of Administration 

First, Cash paid Out Fees: 

Kimball for Advertising .75 

1857 L. Tenny for services at auction $4

Samul Bress for services as appraiser and clerk $4 

Elisha Bress for services as appraiser $2 

Amos Pike for services as appraiser $2 

1858 

AS Fiske Commissioner for services as a commissioner $8 Kimball for Advertising $4.75 

1857 Paper 2 - Funeral Charges of the deceased 

Dec 5 Paid Daniel Mack for coffin & box / recipt No 1 $8.00 

Dec 5 Paid John Mellen for digging grave & box recipt No 2 $4.00 

  $12.00

Phebe Petts, Administratrix

Second Personal Services of Administratrix

1856 [Date] For attending Probate Court expenses, to take letter      $3.50

     [Date] Expenses with appraisers                                        $2.00

1857 [Date] Attending probate court, expenses, to take license $3.50

     [Date]  Service at the sale                          $2.00

     [Date]Attending Probate Court and expenses                   $3.50

     [Date]Attending Probate Court and expenses                   $3.50

1858 [Date] Attending probate Court and expenses $3.50

     [Date] Attending probate Court and expenses      $3.50

     [Date]  Making administrative account                    .75

      --    Attending Probate Court and expenses          $3.50

1858 ?? attending count from New Ipswich to settlement  $3.50

                                                                                    ----

                                                                                    $61.25

                                                                                    Phebe Petts

Account Papers

Paper A

In trust on personal property

In trust on cash taken at sale

Collected of Amos Pike on note for property $3.64

                                    bought at sale

Collected of Ferdinand Petts on note for property bought at sale $21.52

Collected of Samuel Buss on note for property bought at sale $1.55

Collected of Elisha Buss on note for property bought at sale $1.16

                                                                                                __

                                                                                                $27.87

 

1 March 1858-Estate was discharged...and report made by the Commissioner is accepted. - Judge

 June 15 1858

Their eldest son (who was an adult), Ferdinand Petts, was summoned to appear in court to be examined regarding his father’s estate.

I cannot figure out what the larger point was but assume that the probate court was not satisfied that the discharging the amount owed by David Petts’ estate had been handled legally. 

A horse was quite valuable at that time and the court questioned Ferdinand Petts regarding his possessions in 1856. He was also asked about this stallion.  (Interestingly he brings up the name Amos Fiske, who is the same man who was commissioned by court to do the appraisal on the estate).

Ferdinand’s testimony includes this:

“In May 1856 my father was in need of a horse to use in connection with the tavern & informed me of it & wanted I should help him to one. ?? at the same time the said stallion was a pace horse & one he should like and I told him if he could buy it. So as I --- would? be sure to not lose by it he might buy him for me. He made the trade, took & kept him until Dec 1856. Q Did you experience the horse during the negotiation for the purchase, or have anything to say as to the price or qualities of the horse?”[etc].  

The testimony goes on on property and notes.

Ferdinand is questioned about a "tavern stand" which apparently he bought. The court wishes to know where he got the money from. At this point there is some involvement-or suspected involvement-of Fiske (Amos Fiske who was also the Commissioner for the estate). 

At one point in time, the deceased, David Petts, needed money and so borrowed it from his son. And so on.

There many questions, all about money and property which go on for pages, and some of which are hard to understand due to the handwriting of the note-taker. 

There are 35 questions, but many of them are compound questions, requiring more than one answer.

Ferdinand was finally done with his testimony on July 20, 1858. 

 

page 1 of Ferdinand's court testimony

 21 September 1858

Whereas the Commissioner presented all claims allowed the sum is $2539 dollars and 39 cents; and whereas the settlement of your account, except the widow's dower, having been sold and the proceeds accounted for. There appears to be a balance of $312.96.

The creditors were notified accordingly, and you are directed to distribute the balance of 312.96 to aforesaid creditors by paying to each of them the proportion to each of their claim respectively annexed. --Judge

 

New England -10- Unexpected Marriage Contract - Sarah Riddlesdale Heard - (Cook-associated families)

My husband's 9th great grandmother's unexpected marriage contract

Children are difficult to raise—especially when you’re trying to put food on the table. But when your husband dies, things go from hard to impossible. The colonial community hoped that the family has made provisions for the children, so they don’t become a public burden (or nuisance).
 
In colonial British America (here, New England), the force of the father’s will, the public need to have children brought up, and the mother’s own desires for her children, as well as her own property. And, generally, English Common Law would apply.

Sarah Riddlesdale Heard, (9th great grandmother) had to make a marriage contract upon her remarriage in order to secure her property (here, she owns land in England, she believes).
If she did not do so, her property would be possessed (or disposed of) by her new husband. Clearly a marriage contract  was a very smart thing for a woman to do.

About the family: Sarah Riddlesdale’s 1st husband was Luke Heard, a linen weaver, who died in Ipswich MA in 1647, and his short will (not shown here) stipulated the first couple of items in the contract regarding the sons’ inheritance. Sarah subsequently married Joseph Bixby and had my husband's 8th gr grandfather, Daniel Bixby, by him.

Her sons by her late husband were John and Edmund Heard. A grandfather is mentioned in her contract, "Wyatt"- apparently he was a John Wyatt and was Sarah Riddlesdale’s stepfather, whose name (presumptively) she took as a girl. [This, I read elsewhere, and presume accurate (though it could be Luke Heard’s mother’s father?)].
Her contract provides for
1) the raising of the sons in apprenticeships, and their schooling,
2) for dividing of money to them, and
3) for Sarah’s land in England--to remain hers.

The contract gave her enormous leverage in case her new husband Joseph Bixby, did not live up to the terms of the contract. Well done! 

 Here is my transcribed version of the marriage contract between Sarah Heard (Riddlesdale) and Joseph Bixby:

 

 Marriage Contract
"The condition of this obligation is such, yt ye above bounden Joseph Bigsby and Sarah Hearde, (in case they proceed together in marriage intended,) if they or either of them shall doe or cause to bee done these things following:
1. That the two children of the said widow, wch were left unto her by her late husband, Luke Hearde, of Ipswich, Linnen weaver, be well brought up and due meanes be used to teach them to read and write well as soone as they are capable.
2. That at the age of thirteen years at the furthest, they be put forth to be apprentices in such trades as Mr. Nathaniel Rogers, their Grandfather Wyat, and Ensigne Howlet, in writing under their hand, or any two of them in like manner shall advise unto, and the children like of.
3. That unto the said children be paid, at the age of one and twenty years, fifteen pounds given them by will of their father, vis: ten pound to the older, at his time of one and twenty yeares, and five pounds to the younger when he shall bee at the like age: also that the bookes bequeathed them by their father be given them by equall division, according to his will.
4. That five pounds more be paid to the children of the said Sarah,(if living,) or either of them at her will and discretion, as she shall see cause to divide it in even or unequall portions to them, or to give the whole to the younger in case the elder be better provided for.
5. That the said Joseph and Sarah shall doe, or admit to bee done, any such further order as the Court of Ipswich shall see meet to require upon the motion of the said advisors, for the securing of the forementioned dues to the children, as well as for the freeing of the said Joseph and Sarah from any entanglements on the children's part, by reason of her exequetrixship, or otherwise from hence arising beside the direct and true meaning and intent of these conditions.
6. That whereas, there is a portion of land in Asington, in Suffolke, in England, wch shall bee the right of the said Sarah after the decease of her mother (the tenor whereof is not certainly known to us,) if the said lands bee not entailed, then the said Joseph shall not claim any title hereunto by virtue of marriage with the said Sarah, but the said Sarah shall have the whole and sole power to dispose of it, both the use and the gift of it, when and to whom she shall thinke meet. That this obligation shall bee void and of none effect, otherwise to stand and bee of force."
Signed Joseph Bigsby, the mark | of Sarah Heard Witnesses-Margaret Rogers, John Rogers 

 (This document is found in Essex County Court files at Salem, MA)

New England -11- The Towne, the Petts and the Stevens Family. The Stevens Family buries an unknown Confederate Soldier? - (Cook-associated families)

The Towne Family connects to the Petts sisters. The Petts sisters' children married one another, producing my husband's mother (a "Cook").  At the end of this post is a story--I don't know if it's true or not-of  the great grandmothers brings to this post a bizarre tale of a shocking mix-up to a mourning Union family.
*             *            *           *
Ezra Towne & Elizabeth's Daughter, Rebecca Towne
Rebecca Towne, daughter of Ezra Towne and Elizabeth (last name unknown) were my husband’s 6th gr grandparents.

Ezra Towne was born  April 30, 1736 in Topsfield, MA and died December 1795 in New Ipswich, NH.  Ezra Towne (there were two, this is the elder one, he had a son he named Ezra) was married 2 or 3 times.
I'm certain his daughter Rebecca’s mother (his wife’s) first name was Elizabeth but don't know her last name.
Why the doubt? The Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire  by E.S. Stearns tells me her name was Elizabeth Dutton.  But other sources claim Elizabeth Dutton was the 2nd wife.
And they say his first wife was also named Elizabeth but provide no maiden name for her.

I have to be satisfied with the information I have:
Children from a marriage with an Elizabeth (?)
1 Ezra B 1759, Topsfield, MA;  D 1831
2 Rebecca B July 25, 1763; D 1802 *husband's 5th gr grandmother
3 Elizabeth B 1765
4  Elijah B 1767 D 1828, Mason, NH

Ezra may have had other wives and children (I don't have space to include here)

5th Great Grandparents- Rebecca Towne (1763-1802) & Jonathan Petts Jr*
Rebecca Towne was the daughter of Ezra Towne & Elizabeth [unknown] was my husband’s 5th gr grandmother. She was born July 25, 1763 in New Ipswich, NH.
Somehow she met and married Jonathan Petts Jr (son of Jonathan Petts). Jonathan Petts Jr was born September 13, 1753 in Townsend, MA and died September 20, 1828 in Stoddard, NH.

Marriage - Rebecca and Jonathan Petts Jr were wed February 12, 1783 in Townsend, MA when Rebecca was 19. At some point this branch of the Petts family had moved to New Hamsphire from Massachusetts. Rebecca and her new husband Jonathan Petts Jr moved to Stoddard, NH.

Children of Rebecca Towne & Jonathan Petts Jr
I can’t verify all children as I have no access to good, verifiable records, but I am certain of:
David (1788-1867) *husband's 4th gr grandfather
Other children, possibly:
Kezia (unsure) (1792-1870)
Jonathan (1796-1864)

Death - Rebecca Towne died there in Stoddard, NH at 38 years old on either January 23 or 24 [certificate vs gravestone] in 1802 in Stoddard, NH. Her husband died 8 years later at 75 on September 20, 1828 in Stoddard, NH.

4th Gr Grandparents - *David Petts & Clarissa Parker*
David Petts (1788-1867) was the son of Jonathan Petts (Jr) & Rebecca Towne’s son.
He was born in 1788 in Stoddard, NH.

Marriage and Family - David Petts married Clarissa Parker.  Clarissa Parker was born July 14, 1793 in Nelson, NH.

Family
Their children were
1 David Towne (1810-1856) *my husband's 3rd gr grandfather
2 Lyman Parker (1813- 1879
3 Louisa Malvina (1818-1873)
4 Frederick Augustus (1821 -)
5 Lawrence C  (1825- ?)
6 Clarissa Sabrina (1830-?)
7 George Shepard (1831-1901)
8 Albert Livingstone  (1833- )
9 Lucy Orinda (1840-1868)

Death and Burial
David Petts died first in February 16, 1867 and Clarissa died four years later, August of 1871 in Nelson, NH.  Both David Petts & Clarissa Parker are buried in Munsonville, NH.

3rd Gr Grandparents - *David Towne Petts & Phoebe Stevens*
David Towne Petts (1810-1856) , the son of David Petts and Clarissa Parker, was born on November 25, 1810 in Weston, Windsor, VT. He likely grew up in New Hampshire as his family lived there most of the time.

Marriage - David Towne Petts married Phoebe Stevens on October 22, 1833 in Stoddard, NH.
Phoebe Stevens was the daughter of John Stevens (1779-1840) and Azubah Proctor (1776-1840).

Stevens Family Buries a Confederate Soldier
While researching the Petts-Stevens family, I came across a strange story that happened to the Stevens family in Stoddard New Hampshire.  I'm not certain, but I don't believe it involved the immediate family of Phoebe Stevens & David Towne Petts, it could have been her cousin. Still, I'm sure it affected them all deeply.
Here is the story:
"They [the Stevens family] lived in Stoddard, New Hampshire.
During the Civil War, they were notified that their son had been killed.
His body was returned to them. They traveled to the Keene NH railroad freight station to retrieve the casket.
When the casket was opened, they found not their son, but the body of a Confederate Soldier.  
The son's body was returned later, but the War Department refused to take back the body of the Confederate Soldier.
The family decided to bury both boys in their family cemetery in Stoddard.
They owned their own cemetery because in earlier times, a member of the family had died of smallpox and someone who died of a disease like that could not be buried in the town cemetery.
This cemetery can still be seen in Stoddard.”

A more sanitized version can be found on the County of Cheshire website:

<< Stoddards Unknown Solider (Click to go to website https://hsccnh.org/education/resources/monadnock-moments/item/monadnock-moments-no-29-stoddards-unknown-soldier/ )
Stoddard’s Unknown Soldier
Although the Robb Cemetery in South Stoddard, New Hampshire is far from any Civil War battlefield, a young unknown victim of that war was buried there late in 1864. He is buried beside Henry Stevens, another young soldier. It is with Henry Stevens that the story of Stoddard’s unknown soldier begins.
Young Henry longed to join the Union Army from the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. It was not until 1864, however, that he could be spared from the family farm in South Stoddard. He enlisted in the 18th New Hampshire Regiment on September 13th of that year.
Henry never made it to the battlefield, however; three weeks later the Stevens family received word that he had died of typhoid fever at a military hospital in New York.
His body was sent home and prepared for burial. Soon after the arrival of the coffin, however, a messenger arrived with word that a second coffin, also marked “Private Henry Stevens, Co. A, 18th New Hampshire Volunteers,” had arrived at the depot.
The first coffin was found to contain the body of a young man unknown to the Stevens family. The second coffin contained the body of young Henry.
Military officials could not identify the stranger, and furthermore, they refused to take him back. Consequently, the Stevens family buried the young stranger in the family lot beside their own son and cared for the stranger’s grave as they did for Henry’s.” >>

So, though David Petts & Phoebe Stevens escaped direct involvement, I’m sure it still the events caused quite a stir. It's quite likely that this Stevens family is related to Phoebe.

Returning to the family of David Towne Petts & Phoebe Stevens of Stoddard, NH
Their children were:
1 Ferdinand (1834-1933)
2 Rosina  (1835-1861)
3 Lyman Gustavus (1836-1927)
4 Rosanna (1837-1838)
5 George A Petts (1842- ?)
6 * Myranda Petts (1843-1917) *my husband's 2nd gr grandmother
7 * Christiana L Petts (1845-1871) *also my husband's 2nd gr grandmother

* Myranda & Christiana’s children, first cousins, wed one another, and are twice-over great grandparents of my husband.*

David Towne Petts ' Work
David Towne Petts farmed to some extent in Nelson, VT, where for 10 or 12 or twelve years he was a cattle drover. Then they moved to Stoddard NH where he conducted a hotel for 6 years. Eventually he  moved to Marlow, NH and managed on a hotel there for about 1 ½ year before his death.

David Towne Petts & Phoebe Steves Death
David Towne Petts died in Marlow, NH on December 3, 1856 at 46 years of age. But his widow, Phoebe Stevens Petts, lived to be 89 and could be found in the Keene, NH City Directories of the late 1890s. Phoebe died in Keene, NH on April 3, 1902.

New England -12- John S Warner and Myranda Petts: the Civil War, sisters, cousins and spouses - (Cook-associated families)

  John S Warner & Miranda Petts

My husband’s mother’s maternal great great grandfather was John S. Warner [New Hampshire], her maternal great grandmother was Myranda (or Miranda) Anette Petts. Their daughter Addie married a descendant of John Levi Cook (post #1)

The vitals: Civil War service, etc.

 John S Warner

  B. November 1837 in NH

  D. Nov 24, 1911, Keene, NH

Married July 1859 in Marlow, NH

Miranda/Myranda Petts

 B 1843 in NH

 D Jul 29, 1917 in West Swanzey, NH

Children:

*1- Addie Christiane Warner 1871-1966

2- Effie L. Warner B. 1874

3- Lottie May Warner B. 1876

4- Lyman Ferdinand Warner B. 1879

5- George A Warner B. 1884

John was living in New Ipswich, NH when he married Myranda (also spelled Miranda) Petts of Marlow, NH. He was a mechanic when he wed Myranda. 

 

He was 21, she was 17. They were married by DH Call at the Methodist Church in Marlow, NH in July 1859. 

Note their firstborn child was not born until 10 years after their wedding. The Civil War erupted almost right after the marriage.

Civil War Service

In 1860, they were living in Marlow, New Hampshire (23 years).  John enlisted in the Union army in Company A of 2nd New Hampshire Infantry in 1861.
He was wounded in 1862 at The Battle of Williamsburg, also known as the Battle of Fort Magruder, when the Union encountered the Confederate rearguard near Williamsburg.  The Union assaulted Fort Magruder on May 5, 1862. Fort Magruder was part of the Peninsula Campaign of the Civil War. John mustered out in 1862, due to wounds received in Williamsburg. 

Post-War

The family lived in 1865 in Winchendon, Mass (1865 Census), though her name is hard to read. It looks like they drifted back to NH after this. (New Hampshire is close to Winchendon).

Helps Their Baby Nephew?

In the meantime her sister Christiana, who was 2 years younger than she, died in 1871 (at 26 years old). She left an infant boy, Don Ferdinand Cook (who was only a few months old). At this time, her sister's family were close by in New Hampshire. I am only speculating but within 5 years the father was remarried and living in Maine. 

And because the widowed father was a Civil War vet taking care of an infant, (though I can't prove it) I am guessing that Miranda (Petts) and John S Warner took care of their nephew Don F Cook when he was very young.

Life In Keene NH

Then from 1880 (when he was 43) till his death John S Warner and family  lived in Keene, New Hampshire. He predeceased his wife while residing at 59 Douglas St, Keene, NH at age 74,“chronic nephritis” is listed as his cause of death.

As mentioned, John S Warner and Myranda Petts Warner had six children:
Addie Christiane (1871–1966), Effie L.  (1874–1950), Lottie May (1876–1950),  Lyman Ferdinand (1879–1952), George Albin (1884–?), and Marion (1886–?)

The Next Generation

I felt free to speculate on the closeness of the sisters due to the closeness of their children. Those early years for the young Don F Cook might have held some good memories because he married into his aunt's family. 

The firstborn Warner child, Addie, ended up marrying her late aunt's only son, Don Ferdinand Cook, the son of Christiana (Petts) & John Levi Cook.  This was a case of cousins marrying cousins. 

 Addie Christiane Warner and Don Ferdinand Cook are my husband's great-grandparents.

Finnish Immigration to New England (eventually marry a Cook)

 Finnish Immigrants to the USA

 

First Finns to Immigrate to New England –1- Heikki Anttila and Ida Paavola (connect to Cook family)

 Heikki Anttila and Ida Paavola of Finland

 My husband’s mother’s paternal grandparents (his great grandparents) were Henry Antilla and Ida Antilla from Finland. At the time Ida's immigration, Russia claimed possession of Finland.
VITALS:
Heikki Anttila (also spelleds: Henri, Henry Antilla)
   B. Sept 25 1856, Christened, Sep 28. 1856
   Location:
   Kankaan, Reisjärvi
   Oulun Laanista (Oulu area), Finland)
   D. Oct 5 1926, Buried  Oct 14 1926 in Troy, NH (70)
   
Naturalized as a US citizen:  26 July 26, 1904 in the County of St. Louis in Minnesota
 
Married: May 22, 1893 Fitchburg, Mass-marriage cert-by  Rev. George S Butters, Methodist Episcopal Church, 58 Oliver Street, Fitchburg, Mass.
 
Ida Maria Johanna [?] Paavola [also spelled Pavola, Poavola and Pavlova]
 B Sep 9 or Oct 10, 1875 in Hietala, Viipurin Msrk, Finland
 D. June 2, 1940 Troy, NH (65)
Children:
 1 - Johan  Aug 23, 1895- Aug 23, 1895, Fitchburg, MA
 2 - Väinö (Vaine) Oct 3, 1896-Feb 20, 1969 Fitchburg, MA
 3 - Jennie  1898 -?
 4 - Veino  1901 in Sparta, Minn-1973
 5 - * Antti (Andrew) Jul 11, 1903 in Sparta, Minn-Aug  25, 1949
 5 - Roy Benjamin Nov 24, 1908 in Troy, NH-Mar 20,1975
6 - Etheli 1911-1912
7  - Tauno Aug 27, 1913 Troy, NH- Nov 26, 1990 Peterborough, NH

* Antti ( or Andrew) Antilla married Marion Lottie Cook
Heikki and Ida were immigrants from different areas of Finland. Heikki changed his name to Henry and Anttila was anglicized to Antilla.  

When they married, Ida was a good deal younger: Ida gives her age as 18. Her father’s name as Andrew; her mother’s name was Eva.  At 35 Heikki was at least 17 years older than she (if you do the math, he would have been 37 that year). He gives his father’s name as John and his mother as Tinancy.

Heikki apparently immigrated with little or no English. If he was schooled, it wouldn't have mattered much. He worked for some years in Sparta, Minnesota in a granite mine. Records indicate that that granite mine was full of Finnish laborers.

They eventually moved back to New Hampshire. There was a small community of Finnish immigrants is southern New Hampshire and the Mass border.  The Finnish Lutheran churches (and other Finnish churches) were in existence to serve that group of people for a period of time. 

 

Heikki Anttila, Sparta, Minn

 

 

 

 

 

 

I haven’t found a draft record for Henry and, being a hard-drinking man-as many Finns where, he died on the young side. It seems life was hard on Heikki. According to the 1910 census, Ida and Henry had a total of 9 children born to them, you can see several children did not reach adulthood.

 

Ida (Paavola) Antilla & dog, Troy, NH

Ida, according to Ruth Antilla (a granddaughter), was extremely fond of animals. She was very good with birds at calling song birds to them. She seems to have had a way with animals—a trait that many in the family continued to have. The only photo I have of Ida, she’s with a dog. 

 

Ida Anttila (widow)1927 Troy NH city directory

 

Antilla brothers in New Hampshire. Andrew Antilla is on the far right - 1950s
 

Aili Anttila - an "aunt" - photo from a relative in Finland

 

Finnish immigrant: Large Losses of Ida Paavola (Antilla) (connects to Cook family)

Large Losses

Nothing is worse than losing a child. In the not-so-distant past, my husband's gr-grandmother suffered the pain of her children's death.
Ida Paavola's Losses
Ida Maria Paavola, my husband’s mother’s paternal grandmother was a Finnish immigrant who married another Finnish. 

Several of her children died--and like many immigrants, she had no support other than her husband and her immigrant community. She didn't learn the language right away for she got married "off the boat." Only 4 children survived survived to adulthood.

Ida Maria Paavola was born in 1875 in Reisjärvi, Oulun Laani, Finland to Veino Maria Wilhelmina, age 20, and Andrew Paavola, age 25.
She was christened 19 Jul 1875
She took either her communion or communion or confirmation in 1880 in the parish of Sippolo, Viipurin (county: lääni), Finland
I found no school records.
She lived there until her departure for the USA about 1893.

Ida Paavola arrives Boston May 1893

  ** A UK Departure record has her leaving Liverpool for Boston on 5 May 1893**
I also found her arrival in Boston for later that month--as well as an arrival for Antilla.
Shortly after arriving in Boston, she got married.
On 22 May 1893 when she was 17  years old (though she says she was 18), she married Heikki (Henry) Anttila in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Their Children:
1 Her son Johan was born on August 23, 1895 and passed away that same day. Fitchburg, MA
2 Son Vaino Ilmair was born on October 3, 1896, in Fitchburg, MA (1896–1969)
3 Daughter Jennie was born in December 1898 in Massachusetts
4 Her daughter Veino - (later she went by "Vienna") was born on March 15, 1900 (1900–1973) in Minnesota.

In Minnesota they lived in Eveleth & Sparta Villages, St. Louis County.

5 - 1903 Her 5th recorded birth, was Andrew Robert was born on July 11, 1903, in Sparta, Minnesota. (1903–1949)  Sparta, Chippewa, Minnesota, United States

In 1905 they are in St. Louis, Minnesota, in June.

But by 1908, she had her 6th child back east:
6 - Roy Benjamin was born on November 24, 1908, in Troy, NH (1908-1975)

Then, at some point their child, Jennie who was 1 in Minnesota in 1900, (born 1898 in Mass) died before the 1910 Census.

Here is data from the 1910 Census:
They live in Troy, Cheshire Co, New Hampshire
By 1910 Ida was speaking English (the 1900 census said she did not, but Henry could).
In 1910, Ida was 34 and he was 51.
Their children appear in the 1910 Census:
~Vaini was 13 born in Mass.(boy)
~Veino or Vaino was 9 she was born in Minnesota.
~Andrew was 6 yrs, born in Minnesota.
~Roy was 1 year old, born in New Hampshire.

7 - In 1911 Ida was 35 when she had her 7th child.
Etheli Mirjami was born on December 16, 1911. She died on March 1, 1912, when she was less than a year old. (1911–1912)

8 - 1913 Her 8th child, son Tauno, was born on August 11, 1913, in Troy, New Hampshire. (1913–1990)
After 1910 it doesn't appear that they moved back to Minnesota. But lived either in Keene or in Troy New Hampshire.
1919 Keene, New Hampshire
1920 Troy, New Hampshire

Henry (Heikki's) Death: Her husband Heikki died in Troy, New Hampshire on October 5, 1926, at the age of 70. She was 51 years old and they had been married 33 years.

She stayed in Troy until we find her again in Keene, New Hampshire, in 1935.  (She always stayed with her children on West Hill Rd in Keene).

In the 1940 census, she was living in Troy NH in April.

Ida Paavola (Antilla) died 2 June 1940, in Troy, New Hampshire, when she was 64 years old.

Finland - 2-New England got some relatives in the Old Country

 Relatives in the "Old Country"

Nothing is more exciting than a DNA discovery--except for finding new relatives and them sharing photos. We live for this. The most recent discovery is one I'm still working on as I don't know all the naming traditions of Finland, nor their history. 

This most recent discovery has to do with my husband's mother's father's roots (his maternal grandfather). His mother's father Andrew Antilla was the son of Finnish immigrants: Henry or Heikki Antilla and his wife Ida Paavola.
 

The connection came through a Facebook Group: in the group ′Reisjärvi families'  the great grandfather Heikki Anttila Juho's son was born in Reisjärvi on 1856 and moved to USA on 1892. The Finnish relative wrote: "My grandfather Juho Juho's son Heikki Anttila (b. 1863) was the oldest brother."
He added, "I've been curious to read [the US cousin's] stories about the lives of American relatives.  It reminds me that my family [in Finland] was in correspondence with Heikki's son Tauno Anttila [my husband's great uncle] family in the early 1960's. "

He adds, "[But] for some reason we lost contact and America's relatives were forgotten. As best I can, I've tried to tell Rebecca about Heikki's birthplace and relatives here in Finland. Thanks for contacting me! This is a wonderful thing for all of us."

In the picture below is Heikki's brother Juho Anttila (1863-1942)

Juho Anttila (Uncle of Andrew Antilla, bro. Heikki Anttila) 1863-1942

Another another descendant wrote in this:
"Aili Anttila, (Juho and Heikki  sister) always got an American package with such nice clothes that you couldn't wear them here in the country.
She always liked to show them out (off) though. As I recall, the packages came from the American side of their husband's family."

Aili Anttila

References:
Living people shared the photos. I'm keeping them private for now.