History, James WASON

In the tide of immigration that set into the colony of New Hampshire from
Ireland about two centuries ago, came the ancestor of the Wasons. Like the
great majority of settlers from that island, the immigrant

Wason came to the wilderness of a new country to bear the hardships and
privations and enjoy the freedom and advantages of a land in a state of almost
primitive nature. He proved his good qualities as a pioneer, was an
enterprising and respected citizen, and became the ancestor of men who today
are among the leading citizens of the state.

(I) James Wason, a native of the parish of Ballymena, county Antrim, Ireland,
was born in 1711. When a young man he removed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
and subsequently to Nottingham, now Hudson, where he lived until his death,
August 22, 1799, aged eighty-eight. He married at Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
November 30, 1736, Hannah Caldwell, also a native of Ballymena. She died April
6, 1786, at the age of eighty years.

(II) Lieutenant Thomas, son of James and Hannah (Caldwell) Wason, born in
Hudson, December 26, 1748, died November 18, 1832. He married at Londonderry,
December 1, 1772. Mary Boyd, born May 27, 1749, died October 20, 1832,
daughter of Robert Boyd, of Londonderry. She was a granddaughter of Robert
Boyd, Sr., who with his wife, whose maiden name was Morrison, emigrated from
Ireland to New England about the year 1720 and settled in Londonderry.

(III) Robert, son of Lieutenant Thomas and Mary (Boyd) Wason, was born in
Nottingham West, now. Hudson, June 14, 1781. He went to New Boston, April,
1803, to live with Robert Boyd, his uncle, who settled on lot No. 30, near Joe
English hill, “being advanced in years.” Robert Wason inherited his uncle’s
farm and resided upon it for the remainder of his life. He took an active part
in public affairs and served in various offices. He united with the
Presbyterian Church in 1815, and a few years afterwards was elected elder,
which office he held until his death. Deacon Wason was a man of great energy,
and entered with zeal upon every enterprise adopted to benefit the church or
the community, so that he was a “doer of the word” as well as a bearer, and
his death, August 7, 1844, aged sixty-three, was greatly lamented and the loss
of his influence seriously felt. He was married, December 2, 1808, by Rev. Mr.
Bruce, to Nancy, daughter of John Batchelder, of Mount Vernon. She was born
October 13, 1789, died July 28, 1863, aged seventy-four, having survived her
husband nineteen years. She was a faithful mother, and a woman of many
christian virtues. Children of Robert and Nancy Wason were:




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    1. Elbridge, see forward.
    2. Louisa.
    3. Hiram W., born December 18, 1814, graduated at Amherst, 1838, and
    later from Andover Theological Seminary. and then settled at Vevay,
    Indiana.
    4. Nancy.
    5. Mary.
    6. Robert Boyd, see forward.
    7. Adeline.
    8. Caroline.
    9. George Austin, see forward

(IV) Elbridge, eldest son of Deacon Robert and Nancy (Batchelder) Wason, was
born in New Boston, September 26, 1809, reared in that village and educated in
New Boston and at Pinkerton Academy, Derry, New Hampshire. He came to Boston,
Massachusetts, March 5, 1832, and entered the employ of Pierce & Gardner,
where he remained in the position of clerk until September 1, 1837, when he
formed a partnership with Henry Pierce, which continued uninterruptedly until
his death, August 19. 1887. a period of fifty years. He was one of the oldest
and best known business men of Boston. upright and honorable in all his
dealings, respected by all who knew him. He was a member of the Masons, in
which organization he held office at different times. He married (first), April
24, 1851, Mary Stickney, born June 30, 1809, died August 15,

1863. Married (second), May 17, 1865, Mary Isabella Chase, born March 30,
1835, daughter of the Hon. Leonard Chase, of Milford, New Hampshire. Two
children were born of this marriage: Mary Isabella, born January 11, 1867,
married, June 4, 1890, Jesse S. Wiley, of Brookline, Massachusetts. Leonard
Chase, born August 5, 1868, married, October 8, 1896, Harriet C. Willis, of
Boston.

(IV) Robert Boyd, sixth child and third son of Robert and Nancy (Batchelder)
Wason. was born in New Boston, New Hampshire, July 13, 1820. He was educated
in the common schools and fitted for college in the New Ipswich and Pembroke
academies, and taught school two winter terms, 1840 and 1841, in Amherst and
Merrimack, New Hampshire. In June, 1841, he went to Boston and entered the
employ of Wason, Pierce & Company, wholesale grocers and West India importers,
a firm of which his brother, Elbridge Wason. one of the partners, had organized
in September, 1837. After a term of service of about seven years as an
employee, Robert B. Wason was admitted as a member of the firm, which on the
death of Mr. Pierce became Wason & Company. The business has been prosperous,
and now Mr. Wason, at the age of eighty-seven, after sixty-six years of
mercantile life, fifty—nine of which he has been an active member of the firm,
finds himself senior member of the concern, and in the enjoyment of good
health. vigorous and vivacious for one of his age, and still able to look
after business affairs with an alertness not possessed by many of his juniors
by a quarter of a century. He is a Republican, and a member of the General
Theological Library for many years.

(IV) George Austin Wason, youngest of the nine children of Deacon Robert and
Nancy (Batchelder) Wason, was born in New Boston, September 17, 1831. His
education was obtained in the common schools. He inherited the ancestral

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                             History, James WASON

estate which now contains four hundred and seventy five acres, and devoted his
life to the pursuit of agriculture. He was engaged in general farming, but
made a specialty of raising thoroughbred Devon cattle, in which he attained
gratifying success. He lived on the farm until 1885, when he removed to Nashua
and resided there until his death, June 21, 1906. aged seventy-one. He kept
the farm and managed it until 1903. He was a member of that class of New
England farmers who have elevated agriculture to the dignity of a science. His
interest in this industry was a more than ordinary depth, and his efiorts for
the improvement of stock resulted in much gain not only for himself but to
farmers all over New England. He was a member of all the leading agricultural
societies of his vicinity and of the state. He became interested in the grange
during the early years of the organization in this state, and was a charter
member of Joe English Grange of New Boston. and served for years as its
master. For four years he was master of the state grange, and at the time of
his death was the oldest living past master of that institution. To his work
the present standing of the order in this state is due to a considerable
extent. He filled the office of president of the Hillsborough Agricultural
Society, and president of the Piscataqua Valley Fair Association. For over
twenty years he was trustee of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts at Hanover and Durham, and served as president of the board for
over seven years, being forced to resign owing to ill health in 1904. He was
the first Republican moderator in the town of New Boston, in which town he
maintained his legal residence and voted up to the time of his death.

Few men were better known than he throughout the county and state. He was
county commissioner of Hillsborough-county six years, was representative from
New Boston in 1883-95, and state senator in 1891-93. He was instrumental in
securing the charter of the New Boston railroad, and was its first president,
serving until his death. He was a man of upright character, honest in all his
dealings, prompt to keep his word, kind and sympathetic by nature, a member of
the best class of manhood this or any other state may produce. His interest in
public affairs was such that he was many times placed by his fellow citizens
in positions of trust and honor, and always sustained with credit the duties
they entailed, however great their magnitude. George A. Wason married,
September 17, 1863, Clara Louisa Hills, born in New Boston, October 15, 1843,
daughter of Sidney and Louisa (Trull) Hills. Three children were born to them:
Edward Hills, see forward; George B. and Robert S., of Boston.

(V) Edward Hills, eldest son of George A. and Clara Louisa (Hills) Wason, was
born in New Boston, September 2, 1865. He acquired his education in the public
schools, at Francestown Academy, and at the New Hampshire College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, from which he was graduated with the degree of
Bachelor of Science in the class of 1886. He subsequently read law in the
office of George B. French, of Nashua, and while reading his course taught as
principal several terms in the Main street evening school. He attended
lectures at the Boston University School of Law, from which he graduated in
the class of 1890, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In March of the same
year he was admitted to the New Hampshire bar, and at once Opened an office in
Nashua and began a successful practice. Later he became associated
professionally with George F. Jackman under the firm name of Wason & Jackman.




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Mr. Wason has shown a decided aptitude for politics ever since he attained his
majority, and has,already filled various offices in the city of Nashua and in
the state. In 1887 he was elected sergeant at arms of the New Hampshire
senate, and in 1889 was re-elected to the same position. In 1891 he was chosen
assistant clerk of the senate and returned to the same position in 1893. Two
years later he was elected clerk of the same body, a high testimonial of his
fidelity and ability as a public officer. In 1891 he was elected a member of the
Nashua board of education, and in January. 1895. in recognition of his
services. his associates elected him president of that body. In 1894 he was
elected city solicitor, and re-elected the following year; in 1897 he was
elected to the common council, and served as president of that body two years;
in 1898 was member of the legislature: in 1902 member of constitutional
convention: in September, 1902. was elected county solicitor, and in 1904 was
re-nominated and re-elected. In 1906 he was elected president of the Citizens’
Institution for Savings. and trustee of the New Hampshire College of.
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He is an admirer of horses, and for some years
has been treasurer of the Nashua Driving Park Association. Mr. Wason is a
leading citizen and business man of Nashua, and has made an enviable record in
the discharge of the duties of the various positions he has filled. He is a
member of Rising Sun Lodge. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. of which he Is a
past master: Meridian Sun Royal Chapter; Israel Hunt Council; Saint George
Commandery;

iv—43

Knights Templar; Edward A. Raymond Consistory; Aleppo Temple of Boston; Nashua
Lodge ;. Knights of Pythias; Nashua Lodge, Benevolent and. Protective Order of
Elks, of which he was elected. exalted ruler in 1903.

(V) George Butler, son of George A. and Clara L. Wason, was born in New
Boston, April 20, 1869. After graduating from the Nashua high school, he went
to Boston, 1889, and entered the employ of the firm of Wason & Company, of
which his uncle, Robert B. Wason, is a senior member. After serving five years
as a clerk, he became a member of. the company 'in 1894. He is vice presideht
of the' Boston Wholesale Grocers’ Association, a director of the new England
Wholesale Grocers' Association, from 1903 to 1906 was a director of the Boston
Chamber of Commerce, is president of the Liberty Trust Company, of Boston, and
member of Mount Olivet Lodge of Free Masons. In politics he affiliates with the
Republicans. He married, April 20, 1895, Lillian Maude Fletcher, born in 1869,
daughter of Joseph and Bertha Fletcher, of South Orange, New Jersey. Their
children are: George Fletcher and Richard Austin.

(V) Robert S., son of George A. and Clara L. Wason, was born in New Boston,
December 10, 1871. He attended the Nashua high school. Berkley School of
Boston, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating from the latter
institution June 9, 1906. He began his business career as clerk in the firm of
Wason & Company, and continued in that capacity until admitted to membership
in 1898, the firm then consisting of Robert Boyd Wason, his uncle, George
Butler Wason, his brother, and himself. Mr. Wason is a Republican in politics,
member of various college fraternities, and was president of National
convention of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity held at Washington, D. C., 1895.



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He married, January 28, 1903, Estelle Sperling, daughter of Ellis Joseph, of
New York City.




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Transcribed from original documents by Brent R. Brian & Martha M. Brian.

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Brent R. Brian
Martha M. Brian
BrianMitchellGenealogy@gmail.com




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