The records of this family are very defective. What we give is gleaned from scattered items, and from a friend of the family. (Charles Hudson)
1 SAMUEL CRANSTON emigrated from England a young man, and settled probably in the western part of the Colony, where lie m. Elizabeth Brown. 1t is probable that lie and his wife, and at least three children, came to Marl. about 1728. He d. in Marl.
1 - 2 Elisha, moved to Ashfield,
where he m. and had issue.
1 - 3 Elizabeth, m. in 1738,
John Barnes, of Marl.
1 - 4 Hannah, m. Ist _____
Dunton, and 2d, Lucas Dunn.
1 - 5 Amasa, b. in Marl.
April 3, 1730; m. Mary Harthron.
1 - 6 Abner, b. Oct. 21,
1732; m. 1705, Mrs. Lydia Wilkins.
1 - 7 Patience, b. Nov.
1 t, 17-I2 ; m. Solomon Banister, of Broolifield.
1 - 5 AMASA CRANSTON m. Nov. 5, 1751, Mary Harthron. He d. April 26, 1808, aged 78; and she d. Oct. 26, 1821, aged 85. He was a soldier in the French and Indian wars, entering the service at the tender age of 16. The Revolutionary struggle found him ready for the field. On the "Lexington alarm," he repaired at once to the scene of action. I he was at that time Lieut. in Capt. Cypriam Howe's Company. He entered the regular service with the rank of Capt. and was promoted to a Major. He served through the greater part of the war, and was in several battles, as that of Bennington, White Plains, &c. After leaving the army, he filled several civil offices, as that of constable, selectman, &c.
5 - 8 Lydia, b. 1760 ; d.
in infancy.
5 - 9 Joel, b. Sept. 17,
1763 ; in. Sept. 27, 1784, Lucretia Eager.
5 - 10 Mary, b. March 22,
1766 ; m. Abner Phillips, of Ashfield, and d. 1846.
5 - 11 Moses, d. in childhood.
5 - 12 Lois, b. Dec. 19,
1771 ; m. John Ward.
5 - 13 Catherarine, b.Feb.
20, 1775; m. Stephen Nash.
1 - 6 ABNER CRANSTON m. Feb. 6, 1765, Mrs. Lydia (Smith) Wilkins, wid. of Edward Wilkins. He served in several campaigns in flee French war; he was also in the army of the Revolution, and d. in service in 1777. She d. in 1801 ; and in her will mentions Elizabeth Randall, Jonas, Edward, and Solomon Wilkins, children by her first husband.
5 - 9 JOEL CRANSTON m. Sept.
27, 1781, Lucretia Eager, dau. of Bayley and Catharine (Warren) Eager.
They had no children. He d. at Rock Bottom, Stow, Oct. 22, 1835, aged 72
years. She d. July 20, 1816, aged 80 years and 9 months. Joel Cranston
was well known
to the public. He filled
various offices, represented the town in the General Court, and the County
in the Senate of Mass., and was many years a Justice of the Peace. He was
a man of sagacity and enterprise. One who knew him well, says of him :
"He may truly I be said to be the founder of Feltonville. Before the commencement
of the present century, he opened a store there, kept a public house and
a few years later started quite a number of mechanical branches of industry,
viz. : cloth dressing, blacksmithing, tanning, carding of wool, &c.
He also erected a number of buildings. Afterwards he became a farmer and
manufacturer, and was the principal agent in
building up Rock Bottom."
Back to List