Thurston Surname

Daniel Thurston was born circa 1631 in England. He died on February 19, 1692/3 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts ^5,17.

His origins within England are unknown but he is believed to have come to America sometime between 1635 and 1638 with an uncle of the same name. Daniel settled in Massachusetts and was possibly living in Ipswich, Mass., before settling in Newbury, Massachusetts prior to the 1650's.

They had the following children:

1	Daniel Thurston was born on July 2, 1657 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,24. He died on November 3, 1667 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,24.
2	Hannah Thurston was born on January 20, 1658/9 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17. She died on June 26, 1731 5. She married Benjamin Pearson on January 20, 1679/80 5. (He was born on February 1, 1658 5,17 and died on June 16, 1731 5.) They had the following children: Hannah Pearson (1681-1772) md. John Holmes Phebe Pearson (1682-1754) md. Thomas Colman Daniel Pearson (1684-1759) md. Mary Wood Ruth Pearson (1687-1736) md. Thomas Plumer Abigail Pearson (1689-1763) md. 1st. Joseph Brown md. 2nd. John Wheeler Benjamin Pearson (1690-1774) md. 1st. Judith Getchell md. 2nd. Jane Somerby Sarah Pearson (1691-1781) md. John Adams Jedediah Pearson (1694-1761) md. Sarah Wood Mehitable Pearson (1695-1774) md. William Tenney Bartholomew Pearson (1697-1766) md. 1st. Sarah Hovey md. 2nd. Love Hutcins md. 3rd. Lydia Randall Jonathan Pearson (1699-1767) md. Abigail Knight Joseph Pearson (1699-???) md. Sarah Hale David Pearson (1702-1778) md. Jane Noyes Oliver Pearson (1704-1720)
3	infant female Thurston was born on November 22, 1660 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,24. She died on December 16, 1660 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,24.
4	Daniel Thurston was born on December 18, 1661 5,24 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died on February 18, 1738 5. He married Mary Dresser (She was born on December 24, 1667 5 and died on December 7, 1735 5.) They had the following children: Daniel Thurston (1690-???) md. Lydia Leaver twins (boy and girl) Thurston (1691-1691) John Thurston (1692-???) md. Dorothy Woodman Mary Thurston (1694-???) md. James Chute Benjamin Thurston (1695-???) md. Mary Gage Hannah Thurston (1698-1770) md. Gersham Frazer Lydia Thurston (1698-1727) md. Robert Rogers Martha Thurston (1699-???) md. Ezekiel Jewett Jonathan Thurston (1701-???) md. Lydia Spofford Stephen Thurston (1704-1727) Sarah Thurston (1706-???) Richard Thurston (1710-???) md. Mehitable Jewett
5	Sarah Thurston was born on January 8, 1663/4 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. She married unknown.
6	Stephen Thurston was born on October 25, 1665 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. He died before 1672 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
7	Joseph Thurston was born on September 14, 1667 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. He died after 1699. He married first Mehitable Kimball in 1695 5. They had the following children: Mehitable Thurston (bef. 1699-???) md. Joseph Russell Joseph Thurston (bef. 1699-???) md. Mary Jane Finson Benjamin Thurston (bef. 1699-1699) Abigail Thurston (1700-???) Hannah Thurston (1703-???) Benjamin Thurston (1705-???) md. Elizabeth He married second Elizabeth Woodbury on August 25, 1707 5.
8	Ann Thurston was born on September 6, 1669 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. She died on September 27, 1669 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 24.
9	James Thurston
10	Stephen Thurston was born on October 25, 1672 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. He died before 1674 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
11	Stephen Thurston was born on February 5, 1674 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,24. He died in 1728 5. He married first Mary Knight. They had the following children: Moses Thurston (1707-???) md. Sarah John Thurston (1709-???) md. 1st. Phebe Wiggin md. 2nd. Elizabeth Rebecca Thurston (1711-???) Robert Thurston (1713-???) Daniel Thurston (1714-1737) Mary Thurston (1716-???) md. Jeremiah Searle Nathaniel Thurston (1718-???) md. Miner Chase Stephen Thurston (1720-???) md. Mary St. Clair Mehitable Thurston md. Jonathan Jewett Abigail Thurston (???-aft. 1748) Sarah Thurston (1722-??? He married second Sarah. (She died after 1732.) They had no children.
12	Abigail Thurston was born on March 17, 1677/8 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. She died after 1726 in Littleton, Massachusetts 5. She married Joseph Chase on November 26, 1699 5. (He was born on March 25, 1677 5 and died after 1726 in Littleton, Massachusetts 5.) They had the following children: Nathan Chase (1701-???) md. Ruth Peaslee George Chase (1703-???) md. 1st. Elizabeth md. 2nd. Lucy Wood Stephen Chase (1705-???) md. Jane Wingate Ann Thurston (1707-???) md. Joseph Webster Abigail Chase (1709-???) md. Simon Tuttle Hannah Chase (1711-???) Rebecca Chase (1714-???) md. Thomas Warren Benjamin Chase (1717-???) md. 1st. Rachel md. 2nd. Mary Dayton Joseph Chase (1719-???) md. Sarah Wood

James Thurston was born on September 24, 1670 in Newbury, Essex Co. Massachusetts ^5,17,24. He died probably in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

Father: Daniel Thurston
Mother: Ann Pell

We do not know much of the life of James Thurston. He was in Newbury, Massachusetts at least until 1702. It is probable that he moved with his family to Exeter, New Hampshire not long after this date. Since his daughters may have returned to Newbury to marry, he and his wife may have also returned there.

Father: Samuel Pearson
Mother: Mary Poore

1	Hannah Thurston was born on November 15, 1694 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. She was baptized on November 18, 1694 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts 28. She died on November 8, 1701 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,24.
2	Dorcas Thurston was born on October 20, 1696 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,17,24. She was baptized on December 27, 1696 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,28. She probably died in Hudson, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She married Henry Hills on November 11, 1736 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 14. They had at least one child: Benjamin Hills (1740-???)
3	Abner Thurston
4	Phebe Thurston was born on June 20, 1701 17 or June 20, 1702 5,24 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She probably died in Hudson, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She married Thomas Kenney on November 11, 1729 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts. They had the following children: Amos Kenney (1730-???) Thomas Kenney (1736-???) Phebe Kenney (1738-???) Sarah Kenney (1740-???) Stephen Kenney (1745-???)
5	Samuel Thurston was born before 1716, probably in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He was baptized on November 16, 1716 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 24. Samuel was probably born as early as about 1705, after his parents moved to Exeter. His parents waited to have their three youngest sons baptized until they came back to Newbury. Samuel was most likely married to Elizabeth Gilman, the sister of Shuah Gilman who married his brother Abner Thurston.
6	Daniel Thurston was born before 1716, probably in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He was baptized on November 16, 1716 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 24.
7	James Thurston was born before 1716, probably in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He was baptized on November 16, 1716 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 24.

Abner Thurston was born on February 28, 1698/9 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts ^5,17. He was baptized on April 30, 1699 in Rowley, Essex Co., Massachusetts ^5,28. He died after 1742 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

Father: James Thurston
Mother: Mary Pearson

There is not much known of the life of Abner Thurston. He was from the area of Newbury, Massachusetts and is said to have moved to Exeter, New Hampshire with his father ⁵. It appears that he probably moved with his family to Exeter sometime between 1701 to 1716. It was probably there that his marriage occurred in about 1720 (see below). He bought land in Exeter in 1728 and sold some land to Moses Thurston of Stratham in 1734 and 1735 ⁵. According to Thurston Genealogies on May 17, 1724, he was a corporal in Captain Daniel Ladd's 'march after the enemy toward's Winnipiseogee Pond.' This probably refers to an offensive involved in Dummer's War (or Lovewell's War) in which men marched to the White Mountains at the north side of Lake Winnipesaukee to fight the Abenaki Indians.

In 1750, 1751 and 1754, an Abner Thurston is a witness or surety to several probate records in Exeter, New Hampshire. It is unknown if this refers to him or his son of the same name. He probably died at Exeter, New Hampshire.

The below children are indicated as children of Abner in the Thurston Genealogies, yet given the recent identification of three more brothers, some of these children may have actually been his nieces or nephews.

There is no proof that Abner's wife was named Shuah Gilman, but the circumstantial evidence I feel is considerably sound. Moses Gilman of Exeter, New Hampshire names "Shuah Thustin" as a daughter in his will of 1741. Abner Thurston's oldest child is named Moses Thurston (probably in honor of the maternal grandfather). To add to this, three different granddaughters were named Shuah and a grandson was named Gilman. Abner Thurston moved to Exeter at the right time to marry Shuah Thurston, who was from that town. If she did not marry Abner Thurston, there is not many other possible Thurstons for her to have married, especially considering the recurring names in Abner's descendants.

Some researchers have listed this person as Shuah/Jerusha Gilman. That is simply not true. Nowhere is she listed with the name Jerusha. The name Shuah was an uncommon biblical name in itself and was NOT a derivative of Jerusha.

1	Moses Thurston
2	Susan Thurston was born circa 1723 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She "lived to be over 90" in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. She never married.
3	Elizabeth Thurston was born circa 1725 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She never married, died in Exeter 5.
4	Samuel Thurston
5	Abner Thurston was born in 1729 5, probably in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He probably died in service in the Revolutionary War, c. 1778 5. He married Martha Piper. (She was born in 1729 5 and died on November 4, 1825 in Candia, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.) They had the following children: Thomas Thurston (1752-???) md. Lucy Fenderson Shuah Thurston md. Aaron Brown David Thurston (1775-???) md. Sally Eaton daughter Thurston
6	Ichabod Thurston was born circa 1731 5, probably in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He died after 1760. He married Elizabeth Philbrick. (She was born circa 1725 5.) They had the following children: Betty Thurston Anna Thurston md. 1st. James Underwood md. 2nd. ??? Nutter Patty Thurston md. ??? Chase Dolly Thurston md. Edward Babcock Debby Thurston
7	James Thurston was born on September 8, 1733 5 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He died on July 13, 1808 5. He married first Mary Jones on August 26, 1756 5. (She was born on November 24, 1734 5 and died on October 29, 1787 5.) They had the following children: Mary Thurston (1757-1759) Mary Thurston (1759-???) md. Caleb Johnson Abigail Thurston (1761-1807) md. Jonathan Powers Joanna Thurston (1765-1840) md. Simon Wiggin James Thurston (1769-???) md. Elizabeth Peabody William Thurston (1772-???) md. Elizabeth Peck He married second Elizabeth widow of Thomas Peabody, in May 1789 5.
8	Caleb Thurston was born in 1737 5 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He died on January 4, 1799 5. He married Hannah Dudley on October 7, 1756 5. (She died on November 3, 18025.) They had the following children: Caleb Thurston md. 1st. Mary Gilman md. 2nd. Anne Wiggins Dudley Thurston md. Betsey Thurston Hannah Thurston (1765-1859) md. Samuel Hopkinson Sarah Thurston (1769-1814) md. Philip Bullen John Thurston (1772-???) md. Susan Durrell Daniel Thurston (1776-???) md. Deborah Folsom Trueworthy Thurston (1777-???) md. Priscilla Royal
9	Peter Thurston was born in 1739 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. He died on December 22, 1812 <5. He married Dorothy Gates on December 8, 1761 5. (She died on February 16, 1831 5.) They had the following children: Rebecca Thurston (1762-1827) md. Timothy Harrington Gates Thurston (1764-???) md. Elizabeth Pollard Dorothy Thurston (1766-1835) md. William Flagg Peter Thurston (1768-???) md. Sally Sweetser
10	Timothy Thurston was born in 1742 5 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He was supposedly married to Susan Wheeler. The Thurston Genealogies does not contain any more information on Timothy. More than likely, it confuses him with the JOHN Thurston (son of Benjamin and Elizabeth) who was married to SUSANNA Wheeler in 1765 in Grafton, Massachusetts.

Moses Thurston was born circa 1721 in Exeter, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire (see below). He died on April 6, 1800 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire 5,23. He is buried in the Central Hollis Burial Ground, Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. Father: Abner Thurston Mother: Shuah Gilman (WARNING: Please use caution when digesting information on this family. Most accepted information on this line comes directly from Brown Thurston's Thurston Genealogies, yet this volume is filled with errors. 1) Moses Thurston did not marry Hannah Sewall, her name was Hannah Johnson. 2) Son Peter Thurston could not have been born on Dec. 10, 1761, as he was baptized over a year before that date. 3) Daughter Mary did not marry a Mr. Spofford, but died as an infant. 4) Daughter Lydia also died as an infant and did not marry a Mr. Johnson. 5) Daughter Hannah born in 1744 did not marry John Wheeler, but died in her youth (it was a younger daughter named Hannah who married John Wheeler). 6) Daughter Shuah did not marry Benjamin Crocker, his name was ANDREW Crocker. 7) When son Peter went back east to visit relatives at some point after moving to Ohio in 1813, he could NOT have visited his brother Moses in Massachusetts (who had been dead since 1809). It is wise to assume that there are other errors in the book that have not yet been discovered.) The usually accepted birth information for Moses is that he was born in 1721 in Newbury, Massachusetts 5, yet I think the date was obviously an estimate and that he was really born in Exeter, New Hampshire. Either way, Moses appears to have spent at least part of his youth at Exeter. As a young adult, Moses moved to Andover, Massachusetts, where he married Hannah Johnson in 1744. (It is interesting to note that Hannah was about five months pregnant with their first child when they were married. Perhaps this was something of a "shotgun wedding.") They lived in Andover for a handful of years until about 1749-1750, when they moved to Hollis, New Hampshire. In Hollis, they lived on a farm in the south end of that town that was partially in the town of Pepperell, Massachusetts. Their house is said to have stood in the town of Pepperell 5. At this location, Moses and his family remained. Moses was a hatter by trade and was also a devout member of the Congregational Church in Hollis. They also made use of the church at Pepperell, Mass., where they had five children baptized between 1756-1765. In later years Moses became a deacon at the church in Hollis. Moses is supposed to have had service in the Revolutionary War, yet it is not entirely clear whether the service was for him or his son of the same name. Moses died on April 6, 1800 in Hollis, New Hampshire, of apoplexy (sudden death), while leading a prayer at a religious meeting. Moses married first Hannah Johnson on May 29, 1744 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts 16. She was born on March 31, 1724 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts 16. She died sometime between 1765-1777 in Hollis, New Hampshire or Pepperell, Massachusetts. Father: Zebediah Johnson Mother: Hannah Robbins Her name was not Hannah Sewall, as has been usually accepted. She was born and raised in the town of Andover, Massachusetts.

1	Hannah Thurston was born on September 10, 1744 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,16,31. She died on September 5, 1758 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 22. She is buried in the Central Hollis Burial Ground, Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. Most researchers and the Thurston Genealogies claim that she married John Wheeler in 1788 and was the mother of their 7 children. THIS IS NOT TRUE. In addition to the fact that this Hannah actually died unmarried at the age of 14, the claim asserts that she married a man 24 years younger than her and that her children were born when she was between 45 and 66 years of age (a little bit of realism is necessary). In actuality, as suggested by The History of Littleton, New Hampshire, her parents had an eleventh (and youngest) child who they named after their oldest, deceased daughter. She was the one who married John Wheeler. See below. Hannah died from "fever" aged "about 11 years" 22.
2	Moses Thurston was born on July 7 16, 9 5 (listed as June 7, 1746 elsewhere in 5) or 11 31, 1746 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died on June 29, 1809 in Westminster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts 5. He married Esther Bigelow on April 28, 1768 in Westminster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts 5. (She was born on April 22, 1744 in Westminster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts 5 and died on October 24, 1831 in Westminster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts 5.) They had the following children: Lydia Thurston (1769-1832) md. Enoch Carleton Gilman Thurston (1771-1858) md. Azubah Gillett Sarah Thurston (1773-1862) md. John Parker Wiswall Mary Thurston (1775-1844) md. David Chadwick Hannah Thurston (1777-1857) md. Peter Chadwick Moses Thurston (1780-1845) md. Hannah Bolton Esther Thurston (1782-1860) md. 1st. Francis Weatherby md. 2nd. Rufus Thurston Lucy Thurston (1784-1870) md. Luther Weatherby Nancy Thurston (1787-1796) Catherine Thurston (1789-1868) md. James Tottingham When Moses filed for intentions to wed Esther Bigelow on November 9, 1767 in Westminster, Mass. 5, he was listed as "of Newbury, Mass." From my understanding, he and his family were still residents of Hollis, NH/Pepperell, MA at the time. Perhaps he was sent to go live with relatives at Newbury as a young man. The Thurston Genealogies does give a short story of him boarding in a house at some point in his youth. Moses settled with his wife in Westminster, Massachusetts and remained there. Like his father before him, Moses was also a hatter by trade and a deacon in his church at Westminster. Moses served in the Revolutionary War at Siege of Boston and also at Fort Ticonderoga in the 1770's.
3	Shuah Thurston was born on July 15, 1748 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5,16,31. She died on February 19, 1827 in Haverhill, Grafton Co., New Hampshire 37. She married Andrew Savage Crocker on September 10, 1769 in New Hampshire 34. (He was born on May 28, 1743 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 24 and died on July 17, 1821 in Haverhill, Grafton Co., New Hampshire 37.) They had at least the following children: Mary Crocker (1770-???) probably died young Edward Bass Crocker (1781-1829) md. Elizabeth Gibson The Thurston Genealogies indicates that she married Benjamin Crocker, but he was Andrew's brother. Shuah and her husband settled at Haverhill, New Hampshire. Although we do not know when, it was probably immediately or soon after their marriage.
4	Gilman Thurston was born on July 19, 1750 5,31 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. The Thurston Genealogies indicates that he is said to have lived in Cohoes, New York, yet I can find no records to corroborate that information. The whole family connection to Cohoes seems to have simply been misguided. Even Brown Thurston himself expressed doubts about this theory in the the publication of his book. Gilman probably died young, unmarried.
5	Mary Thurston was born on July 24, 1752 5 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She died on June 6, 1753 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She is buried in the Central Hollis Burial Ground, Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. The Thurston Genealogies indicates that she married to a Rev. Spofford, this is not true.
6	Lydia Thurston was born on July 6, 1756 5,25,31 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She was baptized on July 11, 1756 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 21,22. She died on October 28, 1757 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 22,25. She is buried in the Central Hollis Burial Ground, Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. The Thurston Genealogies indicates that she married to a Mr. Johnson, this is not true. Perhaps the surname Johnson was really being confused with her mother's maiden name.
7	Chloe Thurston was baptized on April 16, 1758 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 21,22. She died on December 13, 1807 in Topsham, Orange Co., Vermont 5. She married Stephen Runnels on December 7, 1780 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire 31. (He was born on July 3, 1754 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts 5 and died on July 22, 1798 in Vershire, Orange Co., Vermont 5.) They had the following children: Stephen Runnels (1783-1784) Mary Crocker Runnels (1784-1863) md. 1st. Moses Melvin md. 2nd. William Elmer Stephen Runnels (1785-1844) md. Jane Brown Chloe Runnels (1787-1804) Ebenezer Runnels (1787-???) md. Hannah Lane Hannah Runnels (1787-1787-1808) Moses Thurston Runnels (1790-1831) md. 1st. Adaline Willey md. 2nd. Caroline Stearns Sarah Runnels (1793-1880) md. William Cox Sewall Runnels (1797-aft. 1860) md. 1st. Malinda Willey md. 2nd. Viann Walker Sollis Runnels (1797-1877) md. Mary C. Parker Some online genealogies have indicated that she was born in 1748 and was the twin sister of Shuah. This is simply not true. Stephen was a Revolutionary War soldier. The family lived in Hollis, New Hampshire until 1789, when they moved to Vershire, Vermont. After her husband's death, Chloe moved to Fletcher, Vermont, where her brother Peter was living and then to Topsham, Vermont, where her husband had once owned land.
8	Lydia Thurston was born circa 1760 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire 11. She died on August 1, 1856 in Hardwick, Caledonia Co., Vermont 36. She married Abel Conant sometime between 1788-1791, probably in Hollis, New Hampshire. (He was born on October 3, 1755 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire 31 and died on May 2, 1844 in Hardwick, Caledonia Co., Vermont 31.) They had the following children: Susannah S. Conant (1791-???) Joseph Conant (1792-aft. 1870) md. Betsy C. Ames Daniel Conant (1794-1795) Lydia Conant (1796-???) Rebecca Conant (1798-aft. 1850) Moses Thurston Conant (1801-1862) md. Jerusha Barrett John Calvin Thurston (1803-aft. 1870) md. 1st. Isabel Holton md. 2nd. Amelia There is as yet no proof of who Lydia Thurston Conant's parents were. As far as I know, no other researcher or source has postulated that she was the daughter of Moses and Hannah Thurston. But, she was born at the right time to have been named after a deceased older sister, and also the fact that she lived in Hollis, married the step-son of Moses Thurston and named her child Moses Thurston Conant is too much to ignore. It is not clear though why her baptism was not recorded in Pepperell with her other Thurston siblings. It is probable that she was baptized in Hollis, of which I do not think there are surviving baptism/birth records for that time period. Lydia Thurston married her step-brother, Abel Conant, who had recently lost his first wife. They lived in Hollis until the year 1813, when they settled at Hardwick, Vermont. Lydia was still living there in 1850, when she was enumerated as being 90 years of age.
8	Peter Thurston
9	Joseph Thurston was baptized on June 2, 1763 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 21,22. He died in Colchester, Vermont 5. He is supposed to have married Polly Melvin and lived in Canada before settling at Colchester, Vermont 5. No further information.
10	Phebe Thurston was born on February 14, 1765 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 5. She was baptized on February 17, 1765 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 21,22. She died on October 29, 1856 in Vershire, Orange Co., Vermont 5. She married Stephen Fuller on October 7, 1788 in Newbury, Orange Co., Vermont 5. (He was born on December 3, 1756 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut 5 and died on April 12, 1816 in New Haven, Addison Co., Vermont 5.) They had the following children: Henry Fuller (1789-???) md. Maria Buffet Stephen Hopkins Fuller (1791-???) md. Susan Seymour Sewall Fuller (1793-???) md. Sophronia Jones Phebe Fuller (1794-1820) md. Silas McKeen Lucy Fuller (1797-1875) Lydia Fuller (1798-1821) Edwin Fuller (1800-???) md. Wealthy Clark Edward Crocker Fuller (1803-???) md. Rebecca Mathison David Thurston Fuller (1805-???) md. Catherine Shephard Joseph Fuller (1806-1866) Phebe and her husband settled at Vershire, Vermont soon after their marriage.
11	Hannah Thurston was born circa 1768, probably in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She died after 1820, probably in Licking Co., Ohio. She married John Wheeler not long after September 21, 1788 perhaps in Charlestown, Sullivan Co., New Hampshire 32 (He was born on October 31, 1768 in Charlestown, Sullivan Co., New Hampshire 32 and died on May 12, 1813 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 14. He is buried in the Old Colony Burial Ground, Granville, Licking Co., Ohio.) They had the following children: Laura Wheeler (1789-1856) md. Abner E. Bean Ralph Wheeler (1792-1866) md. Elizabeth Smith John Wheeler (c. 1794-1813) Wilder Wheeler (c. 1798-1874) md. Margaret Bruce Anna Wheeler (1801-???) Crowell S. Wheeler (1803-???) Royall Tyler Wheeler (1810-1864) md. Emily Walker It has usually been accepted that the Hannah Thurston who married John Wheeler was the daughter born in 1744 5. Yet that daughter died unmarried in 1758; not to mention that the age of the older Hannah would have made the scenario virtually impossible. This Hannah was probably the youngest child of her parents, named after her deceased older sister 32. Hannah Thurston and John Wheeler filed intentions to wed in 1788 in Charlestown, New Hampshire, and Hannah was listed as a resident of Haverhill, New Hampshire (where her sister Shuah was then living). It is not known where the marriage actually occurred. They moved soon after to Littleton, New Hampshire, where they remained until about 1800, when they moved to Fletcher, Vermont. Between 1803-1810, they had moved to nearby Fairfield, Vermont. In about 1813, they moved to Granville, Ohio, where her husband and son John died soon after. Hannah appears to have been living in the household of her son Wilder in 1820. It is not known what happened to her after this date, and she is not buried next to her husband in the Old Colony Burial Ground in Granville. Hannah and her family are also supposed to have lived at Lake Memphremagog (which is in southern Quebec and northern Vermont) before moving to Ohio 5, yet no other sources seem to corroborated that. If that is true, they only lived there for a brief period of time (this would have been in or near the town of Newport, in Orleans County, Vermont, unless of course they went to Canada.)

Catherine was married first to Josiah Conant of Hollis, NH, who died in 1756. She and Moses Thurston had no children together. But she brought to the marriage three step-children: Josiah, Abel and Catherine Conant. Catherine was a distant relative of the noted Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Peter Thurston was born in about November 1760 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire (see below). He was baptized on November 16, 1760 in Pepperell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts ^21,22. He died on August 29, 1827 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio ^13,14. He is buried in the Old Colony Burial Ground, Granville, Licking Co., Ohio.

Father: Moses Thurston
Mother: Hannah Johnson

Most researchers have accepted that Peter was born on December 10, 1761 in Hollis, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire ⁵. This is impossible though, since he was baptized on November 16, 1760 (see above). Because his only siblings with surviving record of both birth and baptism (Lydia and Phebe) were baptized at the age of 3 and 5 days respectively, it is safe to assume that Peter was born in November 1760, several days before the 16th of that month. If his surviving, but incorrect, birthday is based in truth, then perhaps he was actually born on November 10, 1760. It is also possible that Moses and Hannah Thurston had two sons named Peter Thurston and that this Peter was born in 1761 and was named after his older brother who died as an infant.

Peter was raised in Hollis, New Hampshire, where his parents lived on a farm that rested partially in the town of Pepperell, Massachusetts. Peter served in the Revolutionary War, but the details of his service are not completely known. He is said to have been at the Battle of Lexington in 1775 ⁵, when he only would have been 14. Peter was said to have been a "strong and robust man who was an Indian fighter" ⁵. At some point, I would guess in the early 1780's, he is said to have been captured by Indians with other Americans and taken to Montreal where they were held for about three weeks. Peter walked back from Canada and stopped on the way in Franklin County, Vermont. He began living in the town of Fairfax (or Fletcher), Vermont, but decided to return to his hometown to find a wife ⁵. On April 22, 1787 in Boxford, Massachusetts, Peter filed intentions to wed Eunice Chadwick. It is unknown when or where the actual marriage occurred. They probably moved to Fairfax, Vermont at that time. In 1789 or 1790, Peter and his family moved the short distance to Fletcher, Vermont, where they settled on a farm off of the Lamoille River. They lived in a part of town that was annexed to Cambridge, Lamoille County, Vermont in 1845. When the town of Fletcher was organized in 1790, Peter served as selectman and in 1792 was constable. At some point, Peter became a Deacon in his church, which probably occurred in Fletcher, Vermont. The Thurston Genealogies indicates that Peter was a deacon of the Baptist Church, but a history of the town of Fletcher indicates that he was one of the only Methodists in the area. We do know that in Ohio, the Thurstons identified with the Methodist church.

Peter and his first wife had three known sons, but it is likely that they had other children that either died before reaching adulthood or have been "lost to time." Surely, the 10-year gap between the births of their sons Rufus and Peter Jr. seems like a rather long span of time for no children to have been born. Early census records also support the theory that there were additional children. Based on the 1800 and 1810 censuses, I would posit that Peter and Eunice had three daughters that were born between 1790-1800. It would appear that one of these daughters died or was married before 1810 and the remaining two by 1820. Unfortunately the names or identities of any of these supposed Thurston women are unknown.

In about 1800, Peter's wife Eunice died, and he remarried, circa 1802, to a widow from the nearby town of Fairfax named Hannah Butler Wheeler, who had 6 children by a previous marriage. They lived in Fletcher, Vermont until the year 1813. In April of 1813, he left his land with his two oldest sons and with his family went out west probably to take advantage of pension lands. They passed through Buffalo, New York, which had been burned during the War of 1812. They settled in central Ohio, in or near Granville, in Licking County, Ohio.

Peter's life was definitely hard in the frontier land of Ohio. It said that years later when he went back east to visit relatives he advised them to not come west as long as they were comfortable where they were (the book indicates he visited his brother Moses in Massachusetts, yet he had been dead since 1809) ⁵.

They had the following children:

1	Edward Thurston was born on March 9, 1788 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5. He died on June 24, 1849 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., Maryland. He married Betsey Page circa 1811 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont. (She died on April 14, 1814 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont.) They had the following children: Eunice Thurston (c. 1811-???) md. ??? Gould Oron W. Thurston (c. 1812-1812) Clarissa P. Thurston (c. 1813-c. 1844) md. Josiah C. Robinson Phineas Page Thurston (c. 1814-aft. 1880) md. Elizabeth Ann Earle
2	Rufus Thurston was born on October 18, 1789 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5. He died on September 12, 1856 in Cambridge, Lamoille Co., Vermont. He married Esther Thurston, widow of Francis Weatherby sometime between 1816-1820 in Vermont. (She was born on August 17, 1782 in Westminster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts 11 and died in July 1860 in Cambridge, Lamoille Co., Vermont.) They had one child that survived infancy: Adelia Thurston (c. 1829-1889) md. 1st. Edwin Melvin md. 2nd. Ira Rickard
3	Peter Thurston was born circa 1799 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 14. He died on August 20, 1836 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 14. He is buried in the Old Colony Burial Ground, Granville, Licking Co., Ohio. He married Elizabeth Jackson in 1822. (She was born on March 27, 1801 in Oneida Co., New York and died after 1879.) They had the following children: Cordelia Thurston (c. 1823-1890) md. 1st. Augustus H. French md. 2nd. Benjamin C. Robinson Mary Thurston (1823-1846) md. William Z. Ross Rufus Thurston (1826-1895) md. Esther Bentley Sharratt Charlotte Rose Thurston (1827-1900) md. 1st. William Z. Ross md. 2nd. --- Bunner Sarah Thurston (c. 1831-1852) md. Nathan Carroll Charles Thurston (1833-1893) md. Joanna Dilley Elizabeth Thurston (c. 1836-1858) md. George Rice

Father: Thomas Butler
Mother: Jane White

1	Johnson Thurston was born on October 20, 1803 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5. He died on December 7, 1858 in Lebanon, St. Clair Co., Illinois 5. He is buried in the Robbins-Thurston Cemetery, Hilliar Twp., Knox Co., Ohio. He married Julia Everett on February 22, 1824 in Licking Co., Ohio 5. (She was born on July 15, 1808 in Connecticut 5 and died on March 29, 1888 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio 5. She is buried in the Robbins-Thurston Cemetery, Hilliar Twp., Knox Co., Ohio.) They had the following children: Elihu Thurston (1824-1891) md. Martha Cowgill Eunice Thurston (1826-1827) Eunice Healthy Thurston (1828-1909) md. Daniel Albert Webster (divorced) Lucy Thurston (1830-1832) Orlin Thurston (1834-1883) md. Mary R. Weaver Lucy Thurston (1841-1911) md. Edwin Buckingham Robbins Susan E. Thurston (1843-aft. 1900) md. Cary Cooper
2	George Washington Thurston was born on February 12, 1805 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5. He died on June 20, 1835 near New Haven, Huron Co., Ohio 5. He married Charlotte Jackson on May 20, 1832 5. (She was born circa 1812 in New York 11 and died after 1880, perhaps in Iowa or Minnesota.) They had the following children: Mary Elizabeth Thurston (1834-1869) md. 1st. John Tannahill Hanawalt md. 2nd. Selah R. Sammis Sarah Rosetta Thurston (1836-1915) md. 1st. Insley Campbell md. 2nd. Calvin Woods
3	Thomas Jefferson Thurston was born on February 12, 1805 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5. He died on May 3, 1885 in St. George, Washington Co., Utah 8. He is buried in the St. George Cemetery, St. George, Washington Co., Utah. He married first Rozetta Bull on March 28, 1828 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 8. (She was born on April 25, 1809 in Manchester, Bennington Co., Vermont 8 and died on July 29, 1881 in Pima, Graham Co., Arizona 8. She is buried in the Pima Cemetery, Pima, Graham Co., Arizona.) They had the following children: Harriet Elizabeth Thurston (1829-1872) md. 1st. William Washington Potter md. 2nd. Daniel Williams George Washington Thurston (1830-1902) md. Sarah Lucinda Snow Smith Butler Thurston (1833-1883) md. Mary Isom Sarah Ann Thurston (1835-1909) md. 1st. Jedediah Morgan Grant md. 2nd. George Davidson Grant md. 3rd. John Fredrick Snedaker Hannah Maria Thurston (1837-1838) Reuben Johnson Thurston (1839-1858) Julia Rosetta Thurston (1841-1916) md. 1st. Joseph Bates Noble md. 2nd. Jacob Arthurs md. 3rd. Samuel Cowan Caroline Rozalia Thurston (1843-1912) md. John James Fry Huldah Cordelia Thurston (1846-1939) md. Willard Gilbert Smith Thomas Jefferson Thurston (1847-1870) Peter Franklin Thurston (1851-1886) md. Mary Ann Spendlove He married second Elizabeth Smith on November 18, 1855 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah 8. (She was born on February 27, 1835 in Newton, Lancashire, England 8 and died on Janaury 18, 1895 in St. George, Washington Co., Utah 8. She is buried in the St. George Cemetery, St. George, Washington Co., Utah.) They had the following children: Rozetta Thurston (1856-1936) md. Arthur Bryan Elizabeth Thurston (1858-1907) md. Jedediah Grant Little John Thomas Thurston (1859-1921) md. Alice Josephine Little Clara Thurston (1861-1954) md. George Leonard Little Mary Thurston (1863-1946) md. Andrew Laden William Henry Thurston (1864-1918) md. Kate Elizabeth Kemp Frederick Thurston (1867-1945) md. Nora Hunter Jedediah Morgan Thurston (1869-1903) Edward Thurston (1871-1871) Leah Helen Thurston (1872-1880) Rebecca Thurston (1875-1961) md. Ephraim Ernest Whittir LeRoy Thurston (1877-1960) md. Ada May Johnson Harrison Thurston (1879-1955) md. Margaret May Peterson Jefferson Thurston (1881-???) He married third Helen Maria Davis on May 3, 1862 in Utah 8. (She was born on October 29, 1844 in Lowell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 8 and died on August 3, 1896 in Ogden, Weber Co., Utah 8.) They had no children.
4	Reuben Harris Thurston
5	Jane Thurston was born in August 1807 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5. She died in February 1809 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5.
6	Caroline Thurston was born in August 1807 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 5. She died circa 1840 in Ohio 5. She married Henry Charter "of Michigan" in 1839 5. They had one child, who probably died at or soon after birth. Caroline died "at the birth of her first child 5." It is assumed that the child also died. Nothing further is known of her widower.
7	Maria Thurston was born on April 15, 1809 5 or April 10, 1810 15 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont. She died on March 4, 1860 in English River Twp., Washington Co., Iowa 15. She is buried in the Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, Washington Co., Iowa. She married Orrin Chipman on November 2, 1828 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 5. (He was born on July 1, 1803 15 or October 4, 1803 5 in Vermont and died on March 4 5 or May 4 15, 1886 in Washington Co., Iowa. He is buried in the Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, Washington Co., Iowa.) They had the following children: Lucius Chipman (1828-1829) Virgil Chipman (1830-1917) md. 1st. Frances Malinda Moor md. 2nd. Deborah Hand Caroline Chipman (1832-1862) md. Eldridge Moor
8	Cordelia Thurston was born circa 1813 in Fletcher, Franklin Co., Vermont 11. She died in 1860 5 or on October 13, 1863 40 in Burlington Twp., Licking Co., Ohio. She is buried in the Homer Cemetery, Homer, Licking Co., Ohio. She married Calvin Woods in 1829 in Licking Co., Ohio 5. (He was born circa 1804 in Vermont 11 and died after 1870 in Marshall Co., Iowa.) They had the following children: Laura Ann Woods (c. 1833-1860) Sophina Mathilda Woods (1838-1925) md. Andrew Jackson Zumwalt Maria Woods (c. 1838-1858) Calvin Imri Woods (1842-1892) md. Mary Isabelle Harris Rosetta Woods (c. 1847-1862) Clerin Thurston Woods (1853-1920) md. Emma Haddock

6th Generation: Reuben Harris Thurston was born on December 11, 1806 in Fletcher, Franklin County, Vermont 5,18. He died on April 13, 1880 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5,18. He is buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota. Father: Peter Thurston Mother: Hannah Butler In 1813, when Reuben was only 6 years old, he moved with his family across a great expanse of the American west at the time and settled with them at Granville, Licking County, Ohio 5. Reuben spent the remainder of his childhood and adolescence in Licking County, Ohio. On March 15, 1827 in Granville, Ohio, Reuben was married to Mary Brooks. After the marriage they settled on a farm just outside of Granville in McKean Township and started raising a family. Together they had nine children. Sometime between 1834-1840 (probably closer to the latter year) Reuben moved with his family to neighboring Delaware County, Ohio. They settled on a farm in Berlin Township, just outside of the city of Delaware. Reuben was a successful farmer and is said to have been "one of the most enterprising and thrifty farmers of the central portion of that State [Ohio] 18" Reuben had a family history grounded in Puritanism, but maintained rather liberal views. Reuben was apparently not a Christian of any specific denomination and is said to have "discredited the bible as a revelation" 5. (The religious views of the Thurstons were quite interesting. Although, his grandfather was a devout Congregationalist and his father was a devout Methodist, the religious views of Reuben and his family varied largely. His brother Thomas became a Mormon, another brother stayed with the Methodist Church and another seemed to espouse somewhat atheist-like views.) Also, while living in Ohio Reuben was a member of the Ohio Abolitionists 18, a group of intent on abolishing slavery in the United States. In the spring of 1856, Reuben moved with his family out west and they purchased a farm and settled near Garden City, in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Reuben lived on a farm of some 275 acres which ran along the Watonwan River. Their farm was just northeast of the village of Garden City and was partially in Garden City Township and partially in Rapidan Township. Reuben lived near Garden City for the remainder of his life. He is said to have been a very intelligent and logical man as well as refined and "morally without spot of blemish." Reuben died at his home outside of Garden City, Minnesota on April 13, 1880 at the age of 74. Reuben married Mary Morse Brooks on March 15, 1827 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 5.

1	Irvin Harris Thurston
2	Sarah Hannah Thurston was born on April 26, 1829 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 5. She died on July 29, 1914 in Albion, Marshall Co., Iowa 8. She married Henry Clinton Cowgill on April 25, 1847 in Delaware Co., Ohio 5. (He was born on March 27, 1823 in Albion, Ashland Co., Ohio and died on August 21, 1896 in Albion, Marshall Co., Iowa.) They had the following children: George Thurston Cowgill (1848-1933) md. Philena Post Henry Ernest Cowgill (1851-1874) Franklin Brooks Cowgill (1856-1933) md. Ida Lillian Hall Rosa Lucia Cowgill (1858-1933) md. Charles Wesley Post Nellie May Cowgill (1863-1923) md. Forrest Evans Smith
3	Mary Eliza Thurston was born on April 26, 1829 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 5. She died on February 3, 1909 in Alameda, Alameda Co., California 12. She married first George S. Eaton on January 17, 1850 in Delaware Co., Ohio 7. (He was born circa 1828 in New Hampshire 11 and died after 1862.) They divorced in 1862. They had the following children: Lillian Mary Eaton (1853-1916) md. William A. Kindred Rosa C. Eaton (c. 1855-1923) md. Robert C. Harrison Georgianna Eaton (c. 1857-1907) md. 1st. George H. Allen md. 2nd. Sylvester Percy Hirsch Stella M. Eaton (c. 1860-1937) md. 1st. Albert Valentine Travis md. 2nd. F. Shaffer She married second Florentine Everett Snow sometime between 1862-1865, probably in Minnesota. (He was born circa 1833 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts 11 and died on March 26, 1895 in St. Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota 35.) They had no children. Mary and her first husband moved from Ohio to Indiana sometime between 1850 and 1853, where they only lived for a short time. In about 1856, they moved to Iowa, and first settled in Salem in Henry County. In 1860, they were living in Butler County, Iowa. In 1862, Mary and George were divorced and she probably moved with her children to Minnesota at that time. In 1865, she was living with her second husband in St. Paul, Minnesota and in 1870 was living in Mankato, Minnesota. They were back in St. Paul, Minnesota by 1875, where they remained. Sometime between 1895 and 1909, Mary moved out west to live with her daughters in California.
4	Rose Lucia Thurston was born on April 29, 1831 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 5. She died on March 20, 1873 in Washington, DC 5. She married James Heaton Baker on September 25, 1851 in Delaware Co., Ohio 7. (He was born on May 6, 1829 in Monroe, Butler Co., Ohio 5 and died on May 25, 1913 in Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 8. He is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota.) They had the following children: Arthur Heaton Baker (1852-1896) md. Elizabeth Towles Harry Edgar Baker (1854-1920) md. 1st. Lillaeta Warner md. 2nd. Sarah Jane Mills md. 3rd. Charlotte Ann Mills md. 4th. Rebecca Gertrude Lorden
5	Cyrus Brooks Thurston was born on January 21, 1834 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 5. He died on February 27, 1915 in St. Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota 9. He married Mary A. Harrison on March 21, 1857 5 or March 16, 1858 in Franklin Co., Ohio 19,38. (She was born on December 7, 1836 in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio 5 and died on October 24, 1921 in St. Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota 9.) They had the following children: William Harris Thurston (1857-1932) md. Rachel Haynes Mary Lavina Thurston (1861-1932) md. Clarence Howard Johnston Helen Miller Thurston (1861-1922) md. William Ripley Dorr Cyrus Harrison Thurston (1868-1870) Harry Harrison Thurston (1873-1878) Click here to see a photo of his home in St. Paul which he had built in 1881.
6	Caroline Matilda Thurston was born on May 14, 1837 in Granville, Licking Co., Ohio 5. She died sometime between 1870-1880 in Minnesota. She married Sherman Edward Finch on May 19, 1856 in Henry Co., Iowa 39 or June 1856 in Iowa 5. (He was born on December 20, 1833 in Ohio 20 and died on August 20, 1912 in Gifford, Nez Perce Co., Idaho 20.) She had the following children: Mary Eva Finch (1857-1883) md. Burton Tyler Gertrude Ella Finch (1859-1940) md. Albert Lucien Town Sherman Edwin Finch (1861-1923) md. Jane Ann Hersey Frank Thurston Finch (1862-aft. 1910) md. Sarah Elizabeth Dillman Callie Maude Finch (1868-1944) md. Arthur Alfred Dobson Ada Snow Finch (1870-1937) md. 1st. John Ramsden Woodhead md. 2nd. Mr. Rowland
7	Otho H. Thurston was born on November 12, 1842 in Berlin Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio 5. He died on December 20, 1843 in Berlin Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio 10. He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, Delaware Co., Ohio.
8	Frank Thurston was born on September 22, 1844 in Berlin Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio 5. He died on November 16, 1928 in Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 9. He is buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota. He married Julia Marvin on January 11, 1865 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. (She was born on February 18, 1850 in St. Lawrence Co., New York and died on December 13, 1935 in Blue Earth Co., Minnesota. She is buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota.) They had the following children: Jessie I. Thurston (1867-1954) md. Charles H. John Jennie M. Thurston (1870-1880) Rose B. Thurston (1872-1872) Mary A. Thurston (1878-1968) Franc Thurston (1882-1949) md. Violet Gates
9	Charles Edgar Thurston was born on December 31, 1849 in Berlin Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio 5. He died on July 31, 1922 in Los Angeles Co., California 12. He married Ida Flora Barton on July 2, 1872 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. (She was born on June 23, 1854 in Chittenden Co., Vermont 5 and died on August 23, 1937 in Los Angeles Co., California 12.) They had the following children: Cyrus Arthur Thurston (1873-1941) md. 1st. Lillian Hammerton md. 2nd. Edith Charles Edgar Thurston (1877-1900's) Raymond Heaton Thurston (1879-1889) Louis Barton Thurston (1881-1932) md. Wilma M. Sander Royal M. Thurston (1889-1918) md. Violet L. Ingelheim They first lived in Garden City, Minnesota, where they were as late as 1881. In 1889, they were living in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1900, they were in Sharp Co., Arkansas. In 1910, they were back in St. Paul, Minnesota. They moved to Los Angeles, California, by 1912.

7th Generation: Irvin Harris Thurston was born on January 11, 1828 in Granville, Licking County, Ohio 5. He died on July 7, 1887 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5,6. He is buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota. Father: Reuben Harris Thurston Mother: Mary Morse Brooks Irvin spent the first part of his life on the family farm outside of Granville, Ohio. Sometime during the 1830's, when he was a child, he moved with his family to nearby Berlin Township, Delaware County, Ohio, just outside of the city of Delaware. Irvin was raised as a farmer and was married in Delaware, Ohio to Fredonia Case on February 11, 1849. They were happily married until December 1851, when Fredonia died along with their only child, an unnamed son. After the death of his wife and child, Irvin decided to become a doctor. He studied medicine in Delaware, Ohio, from 1852 to 1854, and also took a six months course of lectures at the Starling Medical College (now Starling-Ohio Medical College). After his education was over in 1854, Irvin spent a year traveling in different states doing some operative surgery and looking for a place to settle. In 1855, he moved to Salem, Henry County, Iowa. It was while living there that he met and became engaged to a young woman named Lydia Dunham. Irvin Thurston and Lydia Dunham were married on February 15, 1856 in Salem, Iowa. They did not remain in Iowa long and in the spring of 1857, Irvin and Lydia moved to Garden City, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, where the rest of his family had just recently located. There, they chose to purchase a farm and raise a family. Together they had five daughters. In Minnesota, Irvin worked primarily as a farmer. In 1862, Irvin enlisted in the Minnesota Infantry as a surgeon. He served for 3 years in the Civil War and before being discharged in 1865, was promoted to full surgeon. Sadly, Irvin's daughter Cora died in 1867 and his wife Lydia died in 1869, at the age of 33. This signaled a difficult time for Irvin and his family, when there would was fear his daughters would have to be separated because he could not care for them by himself. The fears were abated when on November 21, 1870 in Garden City, Minnesota, he was married to Mary Gerry. Irvin and Mary had three children together. Although he was educated as a doctor, Irvin spent most of the rest of his life working as a farmer, a vocation he knew since childhood. In the early 1880's, Irvin and his family moved to somewhere in the state of Florida. For unknown reasons, they moved back to Garden City, Minnesota in the winter of 1886-1887. Irvin's health never improved and he died at his home in Garden City, Minnesota, on July 6, 1887 at the age of 59. Irvin married first Fredonia Case on February 11, 1849 in Delaware Co., Ohio 5. She was born circa 1828 in Liberty Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio 11. She died on December 23, 1851 in Berlin Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio 10. She is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, Delaware Co., Ohio.

1	Infant Thurston was born circa 1851 in Berlin Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio. He died circa December 1851 in Berlin Twp., Delaware Co., Ohio. He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, Delaware Co., Ohio.

They had the following children:

1	Minnie Ellen Thurston was born on May 18, 1857 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. She died on April 30, 1913 in St. Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota 35. She married Edgar A. Hopkins on August 18, 1881 in Chariton Co., Missouri 7. (He was born circa 1853 in Ashippun, Dodge Co., Wisconsin 11 and died between 1897-1900 in Minnesota.) They had the following children: Harry Edgar Hopkins (1881-1944) md. Allie B. Irvin Harris Hopkins (1883-1920's) md. Albertina Carl Swazel Hopkins (c. 1885-1950) md. Margaret Raymond L. Hopkins (1885-aft. 1910) Hertha Hopkins (1887-1911) Edgar A. Hopkins (1889-1894) Myrtle Claire Hopkins (1891-aft. 1930) md. 1st. Arthur Mahlon Partridge md. 2nd. Emil Andrew Heimberger Elizabeth Hopkins (1894-aft. 1920) md. 1st. Mr. St. John md. 2nd. John May Frank Hopkins (1897-aft. 1910) Sometime between 1875-1880, Minnie moved by herself to Wisconsin where in 1880 she was living in Oconomowoc, boarding in a house and working as a servant. It must have been under this situation that she became pregnant (in about January 1881) by Edgar Hopkins, a traveling salesman from nearby Ashippun, Wisconsin. They moved to Chariton Co., Missouri (where her maternal relatives lived) and were married in August 1881, just two months before the birth of their first child. Considering his occupation as a traveling salesman, they moved around quite a bit. They were in Ohio in 1883, New York in 1884, Wisconsin in 1885 and in Minnesota in 1887 where they settled at Mankato. They remained there until about 1898, when they moved to St. James, Minnesota, where Edgar Hopkins probably died. Minnie was living there in 1910 and apparently moved to St. Paul with her children before she died in 1913.
2	Cora Baker Thurston was born on June 15, 1859 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. She died on March 2, 1867 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 8. She is buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Minnesota.
3	Nettie Thurston was born on April 3, 1861 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5,26. She died on March 22, 1939 in Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa 26. She is buried in the Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa. She married Edward Tyler Edgerley on February 5, 1891 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois 8. (He was born on January 15, 1864 in Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa 26 and died on November 13, 1931 in Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minnesota 9,26. He is buried in the Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa.) They had the following children: Adine Edgerly (1892-1892) John Thurston Edgerly (1893-1957) md. Helen Ann Oppermann Madeleine Edgerly (1896-1978) md. Nelson Gadd Rupp
4	Julia Marvin Thurston
5	Anabel Thurston was born on January 5, 1868 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. She died in February 1942 in Appleton, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin 8. She married Henry Spicer on October 1, 1888 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 8. (He was born on December 23, 1867 in Corfe Castle, Dorsetshire, England 8 and died on August 14, 1939 in Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 9.) They had the following children: Henry Spicer (1889-1962) md. Agnes J. Miller Cyril B. Spicer (1891-1971) md. Mabel A. Harold C. Spicer (1893-1980) md. Helen William James Spicer (1904-1984) md. Ruth Harriet Mott	Steve Spicer at is a researcher/descendant of this line. Here is his website.

Mary was the daughter of Edson and Sarah Gerry. In 1854, she moved with her family to Wisconsin and they moved on to Minnesota in 1856. Soon after the death of her husband (in about 1888) Mary moved with her two children to Whatcom County, Washington, where they lived near the small town of Lynden. Then in 1910 they moved to somewhere in Oregon where they remained until 1917. At that time, they moved back to Garden City, Minnesota where they remained.

1	Reuben Harris Thurston was born on May 7, 1872 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 9. He died on January 22, 1959 in Sibley Co., Minnesota 9. He never married or had any children.
2	Rose Effie Thurston was born on February 2, 1874 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. She died on October 10, 1937 in Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 9. She married Charles Edward Rector sometime between 1920-1930. (He was born circa 1866 in New York and died after 1930.) They had no children.
3	Winfred Otho Thurston was born on January 15, 1876 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. He died on March 22, 1876 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 5. He is buried in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota.

Julia Marvin Thurston was born on August 12, 1864 in Garden City, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota 1,2. She died on September 3, 1946 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon 2,3. She is buried in the Crescent Grove Cemetery, Tigard, Washington Co., Oregon. Father: Irvin Harris Thurston Mother: Lydia Ellen Dunham Julia was named after a 14-year old girl named Julia Marvin who five months later married her uncle Frank Thurston. Julia was raised in the vicinity of Garden City, Minnesota, where her family lived on a farm. In 1869, when Julia was only four years old, her mother died. For the next year after her mother's death, Julia and her family were in a difficult situation. Her father had four young daughters and felt he could not adequately care for them. There was a real fear that the family would have to be separated and Julia and her sisters would be sent to various relatives who could take them. Fortunately, Julia's maternal grandmother Vashti Dunham sent letters of support and gave her blessing for Irvin to remarry. In November 1870, when Julia was now six years old, her father remarried to Mary Francis Gerry, a young woman who lived nearby. Julia spent her entire youth in the vicinity of Garden City, Minnesota. In 1884 in Garden City, Julia married to a local young farmer named Henry Bixby. She was 20 years old, he was 26. They began farming in Garden City and eventually purchased a farm northeast of the village. Julia had five children: Vere, Irvin, Mary, Neil and Lawrence. In 1909, Julia's sister-in-law Evelyn Bixby died, which may have been an impetus for the family to move away. In that same year, Julia and her family (which included her husband, four sons, daughter-in-law and some in-laws) left Minnesota and moved to Oregon. The whole family moved to a rented farm outside of Salem, in Marion County, Oregon. In Marion County, the Bixbys made a living as fruit farmers. They rented land in both Aumsville Precinct and Brooks Precinct outside of Salem. During the 1910's and 1920's, all of their children moved out of the home and settled either in or near the city of Portland, Oregon. Sometime during the 1920's, Julia and Henry moved to Wilsonville, Clackamas County, Oregon, where they owned a small house in 1930. They were in a gardening business there. According to descendants, Julia and Henry were victims of the Great Depression and lost their farm (or house), perhaps at about that time. This would make sense because in about 1931, Julia and Henry moved to Portland, Oregon. They lived there until 1941, when Henry died. After this, Julia (who was now 77 years old and had become senile) went to Beaverton to live with her daughter Mary Nelson. She was cared for by her daughter until February 1946, when she went to live at a rest home in Portland. She died there seven months later, at the age of 82. Julia was remembered by her granddaughter Patricia Bixby Plymale as having a somewhat grumpy personality. Aside from this, Julia raised five successful, loving children and was married to her husband for 57 years. Julia had a personal affinity for gardening, which she has passed to many of her descendants. She was also remembered for having a pet goat in her old age which she doted upon.

For information on their children, see his page.

Possible Father: Abner Thurston
Possible Mother: Shuah Gilman

This line remains shrouded in mystery. Samuel and his immediate family (except for daughter Shuah, who is listed as one of the "unattached" Thurstons) are absent from the Thurston Genealogies. A gedcom file that has been posted online by Anson J. Thurston Jr. lists this family, and also indicates that this Samuel was the same Samuel Thurston who is listed in the Thurston Genealogies and who married Elizabeth Gilman and lived in Epping. In reality, they were two different Samuel Thurstons who just happened to live in the same town in the same time period. (The Thurston Genealogies also has been perpetuating a falsity concerning the Samuel Thurston who married Elizabeth Gilman. The book has Samuel Thurston and Elizabeth Gilman with a son named Samuel Thurston who married Elizabeth Brown. In actuality those Samuels were the same person! He was the son of Samuel and Mary Thurston of Exeter, and was born in 1751. His wife's name was Elizabeth Brown (The Elizabeth Gilman who married a Thurston was from an earlier generation).

This Samuel Thurston lived in Epping, where he married Sarah Chase. In 1749, he was involved in the administration of the estate of his wife's grandfather, Jonathan Chase of Stratham, New Hampshire. He was appointed guardian of Moses and Jonathan Chase, his wife's minor brothers. In these records he is listed as Samuel Thurston, of Epping, Cordwinder (Cordwainer).

They had the following children:

1	Shuah Thurston
2	Sarah Thurston was born on December 17, 1750 in Epping, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 29.
3	Jonathan Thurston was born on January 28, 1753 in Epping, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 29.

Shuah Thurston was born on February 8, 1747/8 in Epping, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire ^5,29. She died on February 20, 1827 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire ²⁷. She is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

Father: Samuel Thurston
Mother: Sarah Chase

Shuah is listed in the Thurston Genealogies as one of those Thurstons who they were not able to attach to any family, but believed to have been a descendant of Daniel Thurston of Newbury. The New Hampshire Birth Index ²⁹ indicates that Shuah was the daughter of Samuel Thurston and his wife Sarah (Chase) and that Samuel was in turn the son of Abner Thurston and his wife "Shure" (Gilman). This would make sense, since the given name Shuah was very uncommon even among early New Englanders. Shuah was probably named after her paternal grandmother, Shuah Gilman Thurston. She was raised in Epping, New Hampshire, where she married Andrew Freese in 1769. Soon after, they moved to Deerfield, New Hampshire, where they remained.

For a transcription of her obituary/death notice, please click here.

For information on their children, see his page.

1. List of births, Bixby family, written between 1922-1924
2. Death Certificate of Julia Bixby, 1946, Multnomah Co., OR
3. Death Notice of Julia Bixby, The Oregonian, September 5, 1946
4. Marriage records, Blue Earth Co., MN
5. Thurston, Brown. Thurston Genealogies, 1635-1892, Second Edition. Brown Thurston: Portland, ME, 1892.
6. Obituary of Irvin H. Thurston, Mankato Free Press, July 8, 1887
7. International Genealogical Index
8. Online gedcom family files
9. Minnesota Death Index, Minnesota Historical Society
10. Online cemetery index, Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, OH. (http://delawareohio.us/Cemetery/og/oak_grove_cem.html)
11. Assorted US Federal census records
12. California Death Index
13. Bushnell, Henry. The History of Granville, Licking County, Ohio.. Press of Hann & Adair: Columbus, OH, 1889.
14. Bryant, Charles W. Copies of Epitaphs of the Old Colony Burial Ground. Licking County Historical Society, 1886.
15. Online cemetery index, Richmond Cemetery, Richmond, IA
16. Vital records of Andover, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, MA, 1849.
17. Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. Boston, MA, 1860-1862.
18. Obituary of Reuben H. Thurston, Mankato Free Press, April 1880
19. Ohio Marriages, 1803-1900, Ancestry.com
20. Idaho Death Index
21. Pepperell, Massachusetts Vital Records, 1747-1861. (International Genealogical Index.)
22. Vital Records of Pepperell, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA.
23. Death Notice of Moses Thurston, New Hampshire Gazette, April 29, 1800.
24. Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849. The Essex Institute, Salem, MA, 1911.
25. Groton, Massachusetts Vital Records. Ancestry.com
26. Tombstone inscriptions, Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa, IA
27. Death notice of Shuah Freese, New Hampshire Patriot & State Gazette, Apr. 2, 1827
28. Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. The Essex Institute, Salem, 1928.
29. Index to Births, Early to 1900. New Hampshire Registrar of Vital Statistics. (International Genealogical Index).
30. Vital Records of Haverhill, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, MA, 1910.
31. Hollis, New Hampshire: Town History to 1879 (Ancestry.com)
32. Furber, George C. History of Littleton, New Hampshire. University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1905.
33. Vital Records of Reading, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1912.
34. Index to Marriages, Early to 1900. New Hampshire Vital Records. (International Genealogical Index).
35. Minnesota Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990. familysearch.org
36. Death card of Lydia Conant, 1856, Hardwick, VT, Familysearch.org.
37. Sons of the American Revolution application of Frederick Crocker Smith Jr, 1969, Ancestry.com.
38. Marriage register, Franklin Co., OH, Vol. 7, Pg. 79
39. Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992. familysearch.org
40. Tombstone inscriptions, Homer Cemetery, Homer, Licking Co., OH

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