James Davenport of Dorchester MA Family Line

Revolutionary War See Davenport Family Papers Memorial for James Davenport is in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection at Williamsburg. It reads: In Memory of James Davenport of Dorchester who died July 15th 1824 aged 64 years and 9 months and Mrs. Esther Davenport his wife who died May 18th 1834 aged 68 and 8 months. Peace to Their Departed Spirits. It has a grave monument with urn and weeping willow over it with a women crying over the monument purchased in Boston in the 1930's by Rockefeller. The photo of the booties and epaulets, a silver spoon by a Boston silversmith and a Pine Tree Shilling framed dated 1779 that James had. The spoon has the initials ID - the I is the old form

James Davenport notes My Great Grandfather, Thomas Davenport lived in Quincy (Srgt. James, James, William, Thomas, Harold) James used to sit in the wing chair in front of his fireplace with the andirons and when they got hot spit on them so the spit sizzled - lots of hatred for the Hessians as well as the British soldiers. His brother Issac (also one of Washington's Lifeguards) was killed at the massacre at Tappan, NJ of Baylor's Dragoons (3rd Continental Dragoons) by General Grey's redcoats. Their Father was Issac and James had a son he named Issac.
An Historical Sketch of Union Lodge, from 1796 to 1876The history of Dorchester gives the names of the citizens of the town who served in the Revolutionary War and among them quite a number are identical with those which appear on the Lodge books The dates and the concurrent circumstances together with the fact that Masons have always been patriotic citizens render it more than probable that several of our ancient Brethren in Dorchester were soldiers in the Continental army in the days that tried men's souls The history mentioned informs us that James Davenport then the Senior Warden of the Lodge was presented with a sword by General Lafayette and our Senior Past Master has heard the second James Davenport speak of the sword as in possession of his father.

From History of Dorchester 
Three worthy townsmen James Davenport Stephen Badlam and Wm Badlam were in the army and that the former received the present of a sword from Lafayette Prince Darby was a slave and the name Cesar Thacher seems to denote that he was one also The former was purchased by Dea Edw Pierce and Samuel Howe and his freedom given to him on the condition that he would enlist for three years

James D. (1759-1824,  8th and 9th Mass Continentals and Lafayette's Light Infantry Brigade) and wife Esther Mellish. They had 11 children.  Dorchester

James D. (1796-1852, cabinet maker), wife Abigail Dean Lord (b.1801). Dorchester

William (1831-1902), wife Abigail Newcomb Billings (1834-1907). Quincy

Thomas Billings D. (1863-1945), wife Flora Arabella Lee. Quincy

Harold Lee D. (1887-1970's), wife Miriam Hopkins Cook. Longmeadow

Miriam Davenport  (1907-2001), husband James B. Richardson Jr (1907-1995). Longmeadow

James B. Richardson (1936-). Longmeadow and Pittsburgh.

Davenport Tileston House Dorchester, MA

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1929 Tileston House by Earl Taylor



The Tileston House at 13 River Street was built ca. 1770 and ranks among the oldest houses in the Lower Mills West area. Although altered by vinyl siding, this house's distinctive 5-bay, 2-pile, gambrel roof form provides clues to its early origins. During the 19th century, this building was owned and occupied by Charles Tileston whose stove, heating, and plumbing store was next door on the very busy corner of River and Washington Streets.

Reader's comment:

When we look at architectural features evident in the photo, the gambrel roof, single room depth, and 5 bay facade especially the early gambrel roof) all suggest ca. 1740-1780 18th century English Georgian Style features, compatible with the proposed circa 1770 first build date. The gambrel roof first made its appearance in Massachusetts in the early 18th century Georgian Style buildings [such as the Derby and Cabot houses here in Salem]--and then was later re-introduced most strongly in the Colonial Revival (also called Georgian Revival) period after the 1876 U.S. Centennial.

The 6/6 windows, and nice Federal Style fence were evidently installed later, in the ca. 1780-1830 period after America won the Revolutionary War, to give the Tileston House the more up-to-date Federal Style associations, which became the most preferred fashion once the United States achieved Independence. Charles Bulfinch in Boston and Samuel McIntire here in Salem were two of the most influential architects and designers who helped introduce and popularize the Federal Style after the Revolutionary War, although of course others like Asher Benjamin, Jabez Smith, Samuel Melcher III and Alexander Parris (who typically worked as housewrights and builders as well as architects and designers) were also influential. Jabez Smith is known mostly here in Salem, just as fellow Federal Style housewright and designer Samuel Melcher III who also helped spread the new fashion north of Boston is known now mostly in Mid-Coast Maine. Several of Asher Benjamin's pattern books have been reprinted and are easily consulted. For a nice web site devoted to interpreting Parris's work, see
--John Goff, September 2005

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 Marriage of James Davenport and Grace Tileston

Ebenezer Davenport and Sarah Cutting Dorchester

Found this ad taken out by Ebenezer Davenport but records show Sarah Cutting Davenport died in 1804 Also Ebenezer Davenport is listed as Ebenezer, JR yet his parents are recorded as Isaac and Mary. Any info please post.

Ebenezer Davenport born in Dorchester 29 Aug. 1769 and died there 7 April 1844. He was son of Isaac and Mary Winthrop (Pray) Davenport (she was the Gr granddaughter of John Winthrop) 
Ebenezer m. first, in Dorchester 25 Oct. 1801 Sarah Cutting and had one child Isaac Newcomb Davenport b. May 1802. Sarah (Cutting) Davenport d. in Dorchester 3 Sept. 1804, "fell from the garret to the lower floor and killed herself." Authorities: Dorchester B. M. D.; N. E. H. & G. Register XXXIII, 25, 34; Gravestone, Old North Burying Ground, Dorchester. He married 2nd in Dorchester 8 Dec. 1805 Susannah Capen born in Dorchester 24 June 1782 and d. there 24 Aug. 1855

 

From  Historical Brighton : an illustrated history of Brighton and its citizens Volume 2

From Dorchester Antiquarian - Marriages and Intentions

Bernard Capen House Photo from Dorchester Atheneum

H0PEST1LL CAPEN RESIDENCE AND SHOP Now Ye Old Oyster House 

Davenport Tomb From Boston Documents:
Harriett Davenport, 25 y. Daniel Pierce Tomb.
Dau. of Edward Holden, 6 y. Tomb. Child of Charles Lincoln. Tomb. Susannah Davenport, wife to Eben., 32 y. Eben B. Davenport Tomb Mrs. Elizabeth Evens. Edward Foster Tomb.
Jabez Capen, 35 y. Tomb. Ebenezer Davenport, '18 y. Eben . Davenport Tomb. Mrs. Mary Kilton, 40 y. Tomb. Widow Abigail Capen, 82 y. Tomb.

Rev Arthur Little

Arthur Little born in Webster, Merrimack County, N.H., May 24, 1837, son of Simeon Bartlett Little and Harriet (Boyd) Little. Died April 11, 1915 (From "Greenwood Memorial Church" (Methodist Episcopal) Dorchester, Massachusetts: Its Ancestry and Growth with the Neighborhood by Lawrence Frederick Berry)

Arthur grew up on the family farm in NH. He attended Kimball Union Academy and graduated 1856. He enrolled the following year at Dartmouth College and graduated in 1861. His twin brother Luther attended the same institution, entering college a year later, but died 19 July, 1858. After graduation Arthur attended Black River Academy and then following year Andover Theological Seminary and Princeton, N. J. all in completed in1862. He was ordained as a minister March 16 1863, in the Congregational meeting-house, Webster, NH.
His first position 1863--chaplain of the First Vermont heavy artillery.
On August 15, 1863 he married Laura Elizabeth Frost Born November 15, 1839 daughter of Benjamin Frost and Mary C Brandt.
Died on January 21, 1883
Children Mary Brandt Little born June 19 1867
Arthur received a Doctor of Divinity from Dartmouth College in 1880.
Married Second Elizabeth Ann Wales
Source: One hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Boscawen and Webster: Merrimack Co., N.H., August 16, 1883. Also births recorded on the town records from 1733 to 1850 Charles Carleton Coffin

From January 4 1908 Boston Journal

From Dorchester History: Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., became the fourth minister of Second Church in 1889. The Chinese Sunday School was established during his ministry of twenty-three years. Also, the Hook-Hastings Organ was given to the church by T. Beaumont Townsend in memory of his mother and father. This is the fourth organ in the history of Second Church and is still in use today. Dr. Little resigned in 1912 and was made Pastor Emeritus.
From Boston Journal March 18, 1912

From History of Chicago Volume 3   By Alfred Theodore Andreas
In December, 1877, a unanimous call was extended to Rev. Arthur Little D. D. Dr. Little accepted the call, and was publicly installed as pastor on June 18, 1878. His pastorate has been a successful one, marked by the steady growth of the society, over three hundred having been received by him into church fellowship. An indebtedness of $35,000, incurred through the fire, has been entirely removed, and the interior of the church has been improved by refitting and decorating at an expense of $1,500. The Sedgwick-street Mission has been organized 1882; with a regular pastor, the pastor's salary and all its other expenses being paid by the New England Church. The property on Sedgwick Street is valued at $14,000. The membership of the mission is about six hundred and fifty, including congregation and Sunday school. Picture from Dorchester Atheneum 

Amos Upham and Abigal Humphreys Upham Dorchester, MA

Amos Upham with note b. March 11, 1789; m. Dec. 28, 1819; picture taken May 1858, and scan of framed image owned by the Dorchester Historical Society of Abigail Upham with note b. January 24, 1789; m. Dec. 28, 1819; picture taken May 1858, both by McElroy. Amos Upham came to Dorchester in 1817, purchased a tract of land and established a grocery store at the place now known as Upham’s Corner, which he carried on for the rest of his life. He was prominent citizen. He was married December 28, 1819, to Miss Abigail Humphreys, daughter of Deacon James Humphreys, of Dorchester. They were the parents of four children: James H.; Charles Amos, born March 10, 1822; Abigail, who died at the age five and half years; and Amos, Jr., who died in Philadelphia when about thirty-two years old. Amos Upham, the father, was an active member of the old fire department. He was a Free Mason and member of the First Church of Dorchester. His death took place January 25, 1872. His wife died December 19,1878.
 Dorchester Historical Society Collection  www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org

Landmark Housing A Personal Tale Alberetti Family South Boston

Story by Lauraine Alberetti Lombara submitted on August 2, 2013
Lauraine lives on the North Shore and enjoys reading, writing, and time with her family and friends. She is a member of a writers' group that meets at the Beverly Public Library. Her previous publications include an article about travel in National Geographic Travel Magazine.

My father and mother emigrated from Parma, Italy in 1923 and 1929. Their first home was a third-floor, cold-water flat with a shared bathroom in a cold hallway on Stillman Street in the North End. Looking at photos taken on the roof, I see a lovely al fresco dining and socializing spot with a great view, despite the hanging laundry, of Boston and the surrounding rooftops. Clearly, the market value of a rehabbed penthouse condo in the North End is sky-high and the cost, exorbitant!

The Alberetti Family with baby Joseph

Due to my older brothers' continuing respiratory and ear infections, the family doctor advised my parents to move. In 1938, they left friends who were like family -- many from the same province in Italy -- and moved to the newly built Old Harbor Village project in South Boston. My parents were doubly fortunate: first, to be accepted into this landmark housing development, and second, to score a single-family row house, complete with three floors, four rooms, a bathroom, a basement, a small garden in front with many trees, a quick walk to Columbia Park and -- joy of joys-- Carson Beach.

As I was the youngest child, this was my first home. We children grew up surrounded by good neighbors of all nationalities, sharing old-world cultures and values, and forming new, lifelong friendships.

Summers meant days at the Carson and L Street Beaches. My mother trekked across Columbia Park to bring us lunch in her wooden picnic basket, filled with freshly steamed hot dogs in warm rolls, ice-cold drinks and yummy treats baked that morning. Papa ate only day-old, crusty Italian bread with coppa or salami -- no "uncooked white bread" or frankfurters for him.

Winter brought ice skating on the frozen, flooded park, sledding on any available hill -- too often a street -- and listening to records on the Victrola in our toasty basement. Spring and fall were outdoor play times: we dabbled in hopscotch, tag, double-dutch jump rope, releevio, hide and seek, especially at the statues in Sterling Square, and all types of ball games.

The Old Harbor Village Project Middle Row (Lauraine) Back Row L-R Joseph Albertti, Robert Albertti - accomplished artist and Art Professor in W Conn. 

Living in South Boston made it possible for my father to walk to Andrew Square and travel by the Massachusetts Transit Authority to work. Papa was a salad chef at Warmuth's Restaurant, known for its Boston scrod, B-Deck salad bowl, and scrumptious prune muffins. My parents never owned nor learned to drive a car. This necessitated living close to public transportation, so when we moved next, it was to another South Boston location close to St. Augustine Church. My parents purchased the former home of family friends who had "moved up" -- and out -- to Arlington, Massachusetts. Now my parents became homeowners of a rambling, old, three-decker row house, larger by far than our previous home, and with a bigger back yard that we shared with close family friends to whom our house and lives were attached.

Boston Latin Academy-Girls

Our lives were changing: my older brothers finished high school and went on to apprenticeships and college. I continued to commute to Girls' Latin School in the Fenway, then to Codman Square in Dorchester for seventh through twelfth grade, and then to Boston College School of Nursing at Newbury Street and in Chestnut Hill.

Surely, this last home commands another sky-high price in today's gentrified South Boston. However, by young adulthood, we had moved on, leaving behind three family dwellings, all with unique histories, and bringing with us many sweet and priceless memories.

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