Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

QUIMBY This name is not numerously represented in New England or in any part of America, but the quality of its representatives will compare favorably with that of many families of much larger numbers. It has been identified with the development of Maine, and is entitled to honotable mention in connection therewith. It begins at an early period of American history, in settlement of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and is still continuing in a worthy way along the lines of civilization. (I) Robert Quimby is found of record in Amesbury, Mass., as a ship-carpenter, and was there married about 1657 to Elizabeth, daughter of William and Elizabeth Osgood of Salisbury. He purchased land in Amesbury the next year, and received grants in 1658-68. He is of record as a "townsman" in 1660 and holding a meeting-house seat in 1667. He died about 1677 and it is probable that his death occurred in the Indian massacre at Amesbury July 7 of that year. His wife was wounded in that massacre, but survived. She was appointed administratrix of his estate Oct. 9 of that year. The inventory was made Aug. 27. Their son Robert was appointed to administer the estates of both parents Sept. 26, 1694, and it was not divided until 1700. Children: Lydia, William, Robert, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Philip and Joseph. (II) John (1), third son of Robert and Elizabeth (Osgood) Quimby, was born Sept. 7, 1665, in Salisbury, where he resided, but little seems to be discoverable about his life and character. The baptismal name of his wife was Mary, but her family name is not of record. She died in Salisbury, Aug. 17, 1710. Children: John, Jeremiah, Eleazer, David, Sarah, Robert, Jonathan, Jacob, Jethro. There is some doubt about the last named, as the records show his birth to have occurred more than three months after the death of his mother. (III) Robert (2), fifth son of John (1) and Mary Quimby, was born Dec. 13, 1701, in Salisbury, and lived in Hampton Falls, N. H., where he died about 1747. He was a petitioner for a township at Amoskeag, now Manchester, New Hampshire. He was married Dec. 16, 1725, to Judith Sanborn, of Hampton Falls. She was a petitioner for a grant of land in Weare, N. H., in 1748, according to the New Hampshire state papers. She was a descendant of Rev. Stephen Bachilor. Their children included: Eleazer, Asahel and Jacob, all of whom were residents of Old Chester, including what is now Candia. (IV) Jacob, son of Robert (2) and Judith (Sanborn) Quimby, was born June 20, 1740, in Hampton Falls, and was baptized there two days later. In early manhood he settled in Chester and there married Anne, daughter of John Robie, and widow of Jonathan Towle. He died early in life, and administration was granted on his estate to Walter Robie, Feb. 28, 1778. His widow married (third) Joseph, son of Joseph Varnum. On August 20, 1788, Walter Robie was appointed guardian of three of Jacob Quimby's minor children: John, Sarah and Anne. This was probably caused by the proposition of one of the children to get married and a desirability of a division of the father's estate. The eldest son, Jonathan, recieved his portion in this division, and Anne Varnum, the widow, also received her share. Jacob Quimby served in the regiment raised about 1760 to invade Canada under Colonel John Goffe. (V) Jonathan, eldest son of Jacob and Anne (Robie) Quimby, was born Sept. 18, 1767, in Chester, settled in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and died Nov. 29, 1827, in Belfast, Maine. He was a blacksmith by occupation, and settled in Belfast about 1805. He was married in 1790 to Susan White, born in 1769, died in 1827. Children: William, Daniel, Sally, Betsy, Jonathan Towle, Phineas Parkhurst and Robert. (VI) William, eldest child of Jonathan and Susan (White) Quimby, was born April 30, 1792, in Lebanon, N. H., and died June 23, 1879, in Belfast, Maine. He was but twelve years of age when he removed to the latter place with his parents, and there he learned the jeweler's trade and later engaged in business on his own account. Through a weakness of the eyes he was obliged to give up this occupation and opened a general store in Belfast which he operated until 1864. Immediately following the death of his wife in that year, he went to New Jersey with his son; after remaining there a few years, he returned to Belfast, where his days were ended. He married, Nov. 22, 1818, Apha, daughter of Simeon Watson. She died Feb. 14, 1864. Nine children, five of whom died young, the others were: Amelia Ann, born Nov. 11, 1819, died Oct. 23, 1847; married Nov. 11, 1842, Albert Merrill, of Frankfort, Maine. Julia Maria, born Aug. 21, 1821, died Jan. 4, 1892; married Daniel Haraden, of Belfast, Maine; children: John and Frederick William Edward, born Jan. 10, 1837, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dec. 3, 1869; married Rose A. Oakes; children: Charles Jameson and Edward Conner. Herbert C., see forward. (VII) Herbert C., son of William and Apha (Watson) Quimby, was born Nov. 26, 1840, in Belfast, and was educated in the local schools. Early in life he became a clerk and thus continued until Sept., 1864, when he removed to Bangor. He remained in this city less than one year, and removed to New York City in July, 1865, and engaged in the produce commission business. For the first six months he was engaged as bookkeeper and then became a partner in the business, continuing this association until July, 1869, returning then to his native state. He purchased a dry-goods store in Dexter, and removed the stock to Pittsfield, Maine, where he remained but a short time. He sold out in 1871 and again settled in Bangor, where he has since continued among the most active and enterprising business men of the city. He engaged in the shipping business, operating a line of steamers between Bangor and New York, and continued this until 1895, when he became secretary of the Bangor Loan & Building Association. Since that time he has given his entire attention to the duties of this position, and the success of the association is measurably attributed to his business ability an faithful devotion to its interests. He is a member of the Unitarian church and also of the insurance order known as the Royal Arcanum. He married, Oct. 14, 1866, Emma C., born Dec. 25, 1843, daughter of Frederick H. Dillingham, of Bangor, who died at the age of ninety-two. [This Section Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou] (For preceding generation see Robert Quimby I.) QUINBY (II) Robert (2), second son of Robert (I) and Elizabeth (Osgood) Quinby, was born in Amesbury, and resided in that town. He was given a seat in the meeting house in 1699, and was one of "the five late constables" who were prosecuted on October 18, 1708, for not making up their accounts according to law. His estate was administered June 6, 1715, and divided in December of the same year. He had three sons and three daughters: Joseph, John, Mary, Benjamin, Hannah and Anne. (Different branches of the family spell their name Quimby and Quinby.) (III) Joseph, eldest child of Robert (2) and Mary Quinby, resided in Amesbury and was known as "junior" until 1736, on account of an uncle who bore the same name. He married Lydia Hoyt, daughter of John (3) and Elizabeth (Challis) Hoyt, granddaughter of John (2) and great-granddaughter of John (1) Hoyt, of Amesbury. She was born June 15, 1686, in Amesbury, and was the executrix of her husband's estate, appointed September 30, 1745. The children of Joseph Quinby were: Joseph and Benjamin (twins). Ann Hannah Daniel (died young) Robert Daniel probably Mary. (IV) Joseph (2) eldest child of Joseph (1) Quinby, was born 1715, probably in Amesbury, and settled in 1740 at Falmouth, now Portland, Maine, where he was an industrious and successful citizen, acquiring considerable property and becoming prominent in the community. After the burning of Portland, he joined his twin brother Benjamin, who was a mill-owner in Saccarappa, Maine, and there passed the remainder of his life, and died April 14, 1776. He was married (intentions published September 28, 1740) to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Parsons) Haskell. She was born April 22, 1722, and died April 12, 1815. Their children were: Mary, Rebecca, Joseph, Sarah, Eunice, Thomas, Mary Captain John and Levi. (V) Captain John, third son of Joseph (2) and Mary (Haskell) Quinby, was born May 12, 1760, at Falmouth, and died September 27, 1806, at Stroudwater. His entire life was passed in that vicinity and he was a ship-owner. Two of his ships were captured by the French in 1799. He was married October 31, 1782, to Eunice, daughter of Joshua and Lois (Pearson) Freeman. She was born January 18, 1762, and died December 13, 1790. They were the parents of six children: 1. Eunice, born 1783, married Ezekiel Day. 2. Thomas, September 18, 1784, died October 22, 1802. 3. Moses, April 19, 1786. 4. Levi, November 12, 1787, married Mary Titcomb. 5. George, May 22, 1789, died September 21, 1790. 6. Infant, born and died in 1790. (VI) Moses, son of Captain John and Eunice (Freeman) Quinby, was born April 19, 1786, at Stroudwater, Maine, prepared for college at Philips Exeter Academy and was one of the six constituting the first graduating class of Bowdoin College in 1804. He received his early legal training in the office of Stephen Longfellow, of Portland, Maine, and was an active and successful lawyer and the most prominent person in the community at Stroudwater, where he died May 6, 1857. He was married, December 31, 1809, to Anne Titcomb, who was born June 17, 1789, and died April 2, 1859, daughter of Andrew Philips and Mary (Dole) Titcomb. Their children were: Andrew T. (died young), Mary Anne, Andrew T., Eunice Day, John, Almira and Thomas. (VII) Thomas, second son of Moses and Ann (Titcomb) Quinby, was born December 15, 1813, in Stroudwater, and died there June 18, 1885. He was a civil engineer and became superintendent of the Portland and Rochester railroad and managing agent of the Saco Waterpower Company, which latter position he held to the end of his business career. He was married in 1835 to Jane Elizabeth Brewer, born March 22, 1819, in Dover, New Hampshire, and died March 3, 1903, in Portland, Maine. Their children were: Lucretia, Henry Brewer, Frederick and Thomas Freeman. (VIII) Henry Brewer, eldest son of Thomas and Jane E. (Brewer) Quinby was born June 10, 1846, in Beddeford, Maine, and began his education in the schools in his native town. He continued his preparation for college at the Nichols Latin School in Lewiston and graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of 1869, with the degree of A.B.; three years later his alma mater honored him with the degree of A.M. Shortly after graduation he became identified with the Cole Manufacturing Company, at Lakeport, New Hampshire, with which he has continued until the present time, having risen to the position of president and treasurer of the concern. He has taken the foremost place among the business men of Laconia, of which Lakeport is a suburb, and has filled with unfailing success numerous positions of trust. He is now president of the Laconia National Bank, one of the most successful financial institutions in that city. While he is actively engaged in business, Mr. Quinby has always had time for the encouragement of the leading and uplifting cities of the community in which he resides. He has taken an active part in political affairs, and though not a professional orator has contributed much by his addresses to the success of his party. At the age of twenty-six years Mr. Quinby was appointed colonel on the staff of Governor Straw and held this position two years. In 1887 he was elected representative to the general court, and served in the following session, and in 1889-90 was state senator from his district. In 1901-02 he was a member of the governor's council, and was chairman of the state prison committee of the council during this incumbency. He had long been a member of the board of trustees of the Asylum for the Insane, and these services made him familiar with the practical management of New Hampshire institutions. In 1892 the Republican party of the state chose him delegate-at-large to the National Convention at Minneapolis, and at the State Convention at Concord in 1896 he acted most acceptably as chairman. His frequent appointment on various conventions, on committees and on resolutions, offer a tribute to his literary ability. In recognition of his valuable public services he was selected as its candidate for the highest office in the state, that of governor, and in November, 1908, he was elected to that position. In religious matters Colonel Quinby is a Unitarian. He was married, June 22, 1870, to Octavia M. Cole, daughter of Hon. B. J. Cole, of Lakeport. They are the parents of a son and a daughter. The elder, Candace Ellen, is the wife of Hugh N. Camp Jr., residing in New York City, and has a son, Hugh N. Camp (3). (IX) Henry Cole, only son of Henry B. and Octavia M. (Cole) Quinby, was born at Lake Village, New Hampshire, July 9, 1872. Graduated from Harvard College in 1894 and from the Harvard law School two years later, and is now practicing law in New York City. He married Florence A., daughter of Charles W. and Amanda (Hoag) Cole.