Jeremiah Willey
1804-1868
I was born in the town of Northfield in the County of Merrimac, New Hampshire on the 6th day of November 1804. I was the third son of Isaiah Willey and Sarah Daniels. The names of my grandparents on my father’s side are Ezekiel Willey and Mary Row. My mother's parents I have no history of. My father’s brothers are Ezekiel and John Willey. His sisters are Mary and Johannah. My father's family was as follows: John, Mary Sally, David, Olive, Ruth, Mark, Jeremiah, Eunice, and two others that died in infancy.
Following is the history of my father so far as I have any knowledge. In the year 1808, my father indentured me to Enoch Gernish, a wealthy farmer in the town of Cantabury, County of Merrimac, New Hampshire. This man had no children and being wealthy, my father let me go there hoping I should get a portion of his property when he should leave it.
Years flew away and this man's wife died and he, being anxious to increase his property, went to Canada and left me with David Noris, but his treatment to me being such I chose to take care of myself. My father had sold his farm and moved to Coos, Colebrook County, New Hampshire. There my mother died and as I did not live but a short time with my father I cannot give the dates of their births and deaths, or gain but little information of my parentage.
I spent my youthful days in the pursuit of pleasure and happiness until the 29th of November 1827, in the town of Concord, New Hampshire, I married Bashabe Stevens. We lived in Concord about one year when we moved to Dover. Here I hired out to drive a truck team for the Dover Manufacturing Company and we also kept a boarding house in the city of Dover in 1830. My wife’s father’s name is Jonathan Stevens and her mother’s is Betsy Elliot. While in Dover in the fall of 1830 I was taken sick with typhus fever and I thought I must died, which caused me to think of my situation, and here I promised the Lord if he would spare my life I would serve Him the rest of my days.
To get the complete history download below.
Following is the history of my father so far as I have any knowledge. In the year 1808, my father indentured me to Enoch Gernish, a wealthy farmer in the town of Cantabury, County of Merrimac, New Hampshire. This man had no children and being wealthy, my father let me go there hoping I should get a portion of his property when he should leave it.
Years flew away and this man's wife died and he, being anxious to increase his property, went to Canada and left me with David Noris, but his treatment to me being such I chose to take care of myself. My father had sold his farm and moved to Coos, Colebrook County, New Hampshire. There my mother died and as I did not live but a short time with my father I cannot give the dates of their births and deaths, or gain but little information of my parentage.
I spent my youthful days in the pursuit of pleasure and happiness until the 29th of November 1827, in the town of Concord, New Hampshire, I married Bashabe Stevens. We lived in Concord about one year when we moved to Dover. Here I hired out to drive a truck team for the Dover Manufacturing Company and we also kept a boarding house in the city of Dover in 1830. My wife’s father’s name is Jonathan Stevens and her mother’s is Betsy Elliot. While in Dover in the fall of 1830 I was taken sick with typhus fever and I thought I must died, which caused me to think of my situation, and here I promised the Lord if he would spare my life I would serve Him the rest of my days.
To get the complete history download below.
willey_jeremiah.pdf | |
File Size: | 582 kb |
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how_the_willey_cabin_was_found_and_restored.pdf | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
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jrw_letter.pdf | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
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