Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

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

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]


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



BLANCHARD

The word Blanchard was applied to an order of Friars who used to go about ordinarily clothed in white sheets (French word blanche, meaning white), but a wider application of the word followed, and any person affecting white raiment was called a blanchard. The surname was derived doubtless from the application of the name to distinguish the progenitor from others of the same personal name. The family in England is ancient but not extensive. The only coat-of-arms is borne by the family in Wiltshire and Somersetshire, and slightly varied by the family at Grimmsargh Hall, Lancaster, England.
Arms: Gules a chevron or in chief two bezants in base a griffin's head erased of the second.
Crest: On the point of a sword in pale a mullet.

(I) Thomas Blanchard, immigrant ancestor, said to have come from Hampshire, England, sailed from London in 1639, in the ship "Jonathan," with several children. There is good authority for the statement that he lived at Penton, Hampshire, during his youth. He settled first in Brintree, Mass., where he was living in 1646 to 1650. He bought of Rev. John Wilson and his son John Wilson Jr. two hundred acres of land with buildings on the south and west sides of the Mystic river, in February, 1651, and removed to Charlestown in 1651.
His first wife died in England. He married (second) in England, Agnes (Bent) Barnes, died in 1639, on the passage, sister of John Bent, who settled in Sudbury, Mass. He married (third) Mary ____, of Noddle's Island, in 1663. She died in Charlestown. During the religious controversy in Malden she sided with the orthodox Mr. Marmaduke Mathews.
The Blanchards lived at what is now Malden. He died May 21, 1654. His will, dated May 16, proved June 20, 1654, bequeathed to wife Mary and children George, Thomas, Samuel, Nathaniel; grandchild Joseph, and to the church at Malden, and provided that Benjamin Thompson should be fitted for the university (Harvard) if his parents should consent. His widow died in 1656 and her administration was appointed June 3, 1656.
Children:
1. Joseph, married Mary ____.
2. George, born 1622; married a Hills; (second) Mary ____; died at Medford, March 18, 1700 (gravestone), aged eitghty-four years.
3. Thomas Jr., born 1625; married Ann ____; died Feb., 1651, and his widow married Richard Gardner.
4. Samuel, mentioned below.
5. Nathaniel, born 1636; married Dec. 16, 1658, Susanna Bates; removed to Weymouth, Mass.
6. Mary, born 1639, mentioned in will.

(II) Samuel, son of Thomas Blanchard, was born in Hampshire, England, Aug. 6, 1629, and died in Charlestown, Mass., April 22, 1707. He came to New England at the age of ten, with his parents in the ship "Jonathan." He was a prominent citizen of Charlestown and Malden, and of Andover, Mass., whither he removed June 10, 1686. He was collector of taxes and constable of Andover, and owned large tracts of land.
He married, Jan. 3, 1654-55, Mary Sweetser, who died Feb. 20, 1668, daughter of Seth Sweetser, of Charlestown. He married (second) June 24, 1673, Hannah Doggett, who died July 10, 1725, daughter of Thomas Doggett, of Marshfield, Mass.
Children of 1st wife:
1. Jonathan, born May 25, 1764; resided in Andover; married May 26, 1685, Anna, dau. of John Lovejoy, of Andover; sons Jonathan, David, Jacob and Benjamin.
2. Joseph, resided in Andover.
Children of 2d wife:
3. Thomas (q.v.), born April 28, 1674.
4. John, mentioned below.
5. Hannah, married May 24, 1699, Stephen Osgood.

(III) John, son of Samuel Blanchard, was born in Andover, Mass., July 3, 1677, and died April 10, 1750. He resided in Andover, probably near the Dr. Noyes place. He married, Aug. 7, 1701, Mary, daughter of Simon Crosby. She died in 1748.
Children:
1. Mary, born Aug. 18, 1702.
2. Hannah, born Oct. 24, 1704.
3. Rachel, born Feb. 2, 1706-07.
4. Abigail, born Jan. 23, 1708-09.
5. Sarah, born June 5m 1711; died June 8, 1711.
6. Sarah, born May 23, 1712; died April 16, 1713.
7. John, born March 15, 1713-14, died March 18, 1713-14.
8. John, born Feb. 15, 1714-15; married Nov. 29, 1739, Elizabeth Richardson; died July 27, 1756.
9. Samuel, born Aug. 17, 1717, mentioned below.
10. David, born March 20, 1719-20.
11. Benjamin, born July 5, 1722.
12. Simon, born March 16, 1725-26.

(IV) Samuel (2), son of John Blanchard, was born Aug. 17, 1717, and died March 26, 1807. He married, July 14, 1747, Mary, daughter of William Brown. She died March 5, 1811.
Children:
1. Mary, born Jan. 26, 1747-48.
2. Samuel, born March 6, 1748-49.
3. William, born March 21, 1750.
4. Sarah, born Jan. 31, 1754; married Benjamin Lewis.
5. Timothy, born Oct. 16, 1755; mentioned below.
6. Martha (record of baptism says Nathan), born Aug. 2, 1757; married Benjamin Blanchard, of Wilton.
7. Rhoda, born Nov. 17, 1762; married Jan. 26, 1786, Samuel Abbott.
8. Jeremiah, born July 10, 1764; married June 17, 1795, Mary Going; died May 22, 1819.
9. Ahimaaz, born April 26, 1767.
10. Jonathan, born Feb. 20, 1769.

(V) Timothy, son of Samuel (2) Blanchard, was born Oct. 16, 1755. He was a soldier in the revolution in Captain Jonathan Stickney's company, Colonel Ebenezer Bridge's regiment, and was wounded in the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775. Later in the same year he was in Captain John Harnden's company, Colonel Bridge's 27th regiment. In 1780 he enlisted in the Continental army, and gave his age as twenty-four years, light complexion, residence Billerica. He was assigned to Lieut. Taylor's company, Second Mass. Line, and was honorably discharge Dec. 11, 1780. He removed from Billerica to Litchfield, N. H., and from there to Wilton, Maine, where he died, and was buried at East Wilton.
He married Mercy Kidder.
Children:
1. Cyrus B., born in Billerica, mentioned below, and others.

(VI) Cyrus, son of Timothy Blanchard, was born in Billerica, Mass. April 29, 1783, and died July 4, 1847. He removed to Wilton, Maine, and bought what has since been known as the Blanchard farm, where he died.
He married (first) Chloe Fitch, of Wilton; (second) Elizabeth Floyd, of Augusta, Maine.
Children of 1st wife:
1. Rhoda, born June 8, 1812.
2. Cyrus, b. March 11, 1814.
Three children died young.
6. Child, died young.
7. Jesse, born April 12, 1819, mentioned below.
8. James, born Jan. 21, 1825.
9. John, born Aug. 1, 1826.

(VII) Jesse, son of Cyrus Blanchard, was born in Wilton, Maine, April 12, 1819, and died Aug. 25, 1894, on the farm where he was born and always lived. He was educated in the public schools. He was a man of strong character and great influence in the community. He was a Republican in politics, and an active and useful member of the Free Baptist Church of East Wilton.
He married, Nov. 17, 1853, Phebe Holt, born in Weld, Maine, Jan. 26, 1829, died May 7, 1896, daughter of Nathan ad Phoebe (Severy) Holt.
Children:
1. Twin child, born Dec. 20, 1856; died in infancy.
2. Luetta (twin with former), married C. R. Pease, dealer in house furnishings, Nashua, N. H.
3. Edgar F., born May 19, 1862; Congregational minister, settled at Hudson, N. H.; graduate of Bates College and Yale Divinity School.
4. Albert E., born Aug. 16, 1864; graduate of Bates College, now a professor at the National Collegve in Buenos Ayres, South America; married Mary L. Harding, of New Sharon; children: i. Euser E., b. July 4, 1893; ii. Everard E., b. Dec. 16, 1896, both born at Buenos Ayres.
5. Cyrus Nathan, mentioned below.

(VIII) Cyrus Nathan, son of Jesse Blanchard, was born in Wilton, Maine, Oct. 6, 1869. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, at the Farmington (Maine) Normal School, the North Anson Academy and Bates College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1892. He taught for two years in the Dexter (Maine) high school, and immediately thereafter began to read law with Hon. J. C. Holman, of Farmington, and after two years study was admitted to the bar, in Sept., 1896. He opened an office in Wilton in November following, and began to practice his profession. He has achieved a leading position in public life, as well as in his profession. He was elected representative to the state legislature for 1897-98, and was state senator in 1899-1900. From 1903 to 1907 inclusive he served on the Republican state committee. In 1906 and 1907 he was a member of the governor's council. He is at present county attorney. He has also held various town offices in Wilton. As a lawyer Mr. Blanchard has been entrusted with many important cases and he has shown signal ability as prosecuting attorney.
He is a member of Wilton Lodge of Free Masons; of St. John's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Jepheha Council, Royal and Select Masters, of Farmington; of Pilgrim Commandery, Knights Templar; and of Kora Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Lewiston, Maine. He is also a member of Franklin Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 94, of North Jay, and of Farmington Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
He is a member of the Congregational church. He married, Sept. 19, 1901, Florence E. Noyes, born Dec. 14, 1870, daughter of Philander and Elvira (Small) Noyes, of Wilton. They have no children.


BLANCHARD

(For preceding generations see Thomas Blanchard I.)

(III) Thomas (2), son of Samuel and Hannah (Doggett) Blanchard, was born April 28, 1674, in Charlestown, and lived in Andover, where he died March 17, 1759. His estate was inventoried at two hundred and ninety-nine pounds, fifteen shillings and two pence.
He married March 12, 1699, Rose Holmes, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Arnold) Holmes, of Marshfield. She died in Andover, Aug. 27, 1714, and he married (second) Sept. 21, 1715, Hannah Going, a widow, of Lynn, who died June 25, 1724. He married (third) Feb. 21, 1726, Judith (Buckman) Hills, widow of Zachary Hills, of Malden. He died Dec. 1, 1767.

(IV) Thomas (3), son of Thomas (2) and Rose (Holmes) Blanchard, was born Feb. 15, 1701, in Andover, and was a farmer in that town. He married, Oct. 7, 1731, Elizabeth Johnson, probably a daughter of Francis and Sarah (Hawks) Johnson. He died Nov. 25, 1779; she died April 22, 1783.

(V) Thomas (4), son of Thomas (3) and Elizabeth (Johnson) Blanchard, was probably born about 1770 in Andover, and died (according to a family letter) when eighty years of age. The name of his wife is not learned, and the only child mentioned in the family records available is Thomas Shute Blanchard, born in 1800, which is the only clue to the approximate birth date of the father.

(VI) Thomas Shute, son of Thomas (4) Blanchard, was born at Stockton (Prospect), Maine, August, 1800, and died Sept. 21, 1841. He was a merchant mariner of Stockton.
He married, Dec. 22, 1825, Harriet, daughter of James and Lydia (Parker) Treat, who was born at Prospect, June 28, 1807, died at St. Paul, Minnesota, Jan. 10, 1889. She was the great-great-great-granddaughter of Governor Robert Treat, of Connecticut. Her mother, the daughter of Oliver and Lydia (Bicknell) Parker, died at Searsport at the advanced age of ninety-six years. Her father was the son of Lieut. Joshua Treat, who moved from St. George to Prospect. He served as armourer 1759-74, and probably after the revolution, as he was so mentioned in important documents. He was the first permanant white settler on the Penobscot in 1759, paddling up the river in a canoe with Governor Pownall and acting as interpreter with Indians.
Children of Thomas S. & Harriet Blanchard:
1. Orella, born Dec. 8, 1826, died Feb. 3, 1852; married Rev. Jerome Harris.
2. Maria Treat, b. Dec. 22, 1828, married Nov. 5, 1855, Josiah French Hitchborn.
3. James Treat, b. Jan. 28, 1831, died July 18, 1857 at Havanna, Cuba; was a sea captain.
4. Lydia Levena, b. March 8, 1833, died Jan. 10, 1852.
5. Alvah Parker, mentioned below.
6. Susan J., b. July 23, 1837.
7. Sarah A., b. Oct. 23, 1839.

(VII) Alvah Parker, second son of Thomas Shute and Harriet (Treat) Blanchard, was born in Stockton, Maine, April 12, 1835. He married Oct. 9, 1859, Elizabeth D., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Dickey) Griffin, who was born July 3, 1836. He was a sea captain and ship owenr. Was active in Republican politics, and served a term in the state legislature. He was one of the organizers of the Union League Club of Brooklyn, N. Y., and a member of the Grand Army, Grant Post, Brooklyn, an honorary membership.
Children:
1. James Alvah, born Nov. 13, 1862.
2. Mildred, born Sept. 14, 1866, married Feb. 5, 1896, John William Mitchell, of Port Washington, Long Island, of the Sir Humphrey Mitchell family of England, to whose descendants King George made a grant of lands on Long Island, the homestead being built about 1679.
3. Thomas, born July 24, 1870, died March 4, 1878.

(VIII) James Alvah, son of Capt. Alvah P. and Elizabeth D. (Griffin) Blanchard, was born in Stockton, Nov. 13, 1862. He was educated at the public schools and at times went to sea with his father. After removal to Brooklyn, N. Y., he attended the schools there and later was a student at Bryant and Stratton's Business College. He entered business life as a clerk in a ship broker's office. He was next employed by Legett & Brother, 301 Pearl street, New York, paint manufacturers, etc., where he established himself in business. In 1904 the business was incorporated under the name of "The James A. Blanchard Company, manufacturers of Insecticides, Drugs and Grocers' Specialties," at the Cortland Terminal building, 30 Church street, New York City.
Mr. Blanchard is active in Republican politics in Mount Vernon, where he resides, and has been a member of the city committee for twelve years. He has served as delegate to conventions and police commissions for two and a half years. He is also president of the Mount Vernon Public Park Association; vice-president of the East Side Improvement Association; chairman of the board of trustees of the Universalist church and of the building committee. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Maine Society, and with his father was one of the organizers of the Union League Club of Brooklyn.
Mr. Blanchard married, June 16, 1886, Mary E., daughter of Capt. Melbourne P. and Clara (Lambert) Smith, of Orrington, Maine, who was born Sept. 25, 1866.
Chidren living:
Maurice Alvah, born July 26, 1887.
Edna, born May 5, 1893.
a daughter Agnes, born Aug. 13, 1889 died Dec. 11, 1889.


BLANCHARD

(For first generations see Thomas Blanchard I)

(II) Nathaniel, son of Thomas and Mary Blanchard, was born in 1636, probably in Andover, England, and died before 1680, in Weymouth, Mass., where he resided most of his life.
He married, Dec. 16, 1658, Susanna Bates, who survived him. She married (second) in 1680, Thomas Bass.
Children of Nathaniel Blanchard:
John, Mary, Nathaniel, Edward, Mercy and Susanna.

(III) John, eldest child of Nathaniel and Susanna (Bates) Blanchard, was born March 27, 1660, in Weymouth, and is supposed to have passed his life in that town. He was married there in 1685. The baptismal name of his wife was Abigail, but further particulars concerning them are not ascertainable, beyond the fact that they were the parents of the next mentioned.

(IV) Nathaniel (2), son of John and Abigail Blanchard, was born May 19, 1701, in Weymouth, Mass., and removed to North Yarmouth, Maine, in 1743. In 1745 he was admitted by letter from the Weymouth church to that at North Yarmouth, and died in that town Aug. 15, 1773.
He was married to Hannah Shaw, who died about 1770.
Children:
Nathaniel, Mary, Josiah, Abigail, Ozias and others whose name are unknown.

(V) Ozias, third son and ninth child of Nathaniel (2) and Hannah (Shaw) Blanchard, was born at Weymouth, Mass., July 31, 1742, He was a resident of North Yarmouth, Maine, and served as a soldier in the revolutionary army. He was a sergeant in Captain George Rogers' company, in the Second Cumberland Regiment, and served six days in November, 1775. This company was detached by order of Colonel Jonathan Mitchell to work on the fort at Falmouth. He was a second lieutenant in Captain John Winthrop's North Yarmouth company, of Colonel Fogg's Cumberland county regiment, as shown by the list of May 9, 1776. He was also a second lieutenant in Captain John Gray's company of North Yarmouth, commissioned Jan. 14, 1777. He again enlisted for service July 7, 1779, under Captain Gray and Colonel Jonathan Richards, and was discharged Sept. 12, 1779. He also served two months and six days in the expedition to the Penobscot.
He married, in 1769, Mercy Soule, born Nov. 27, 1749, in North Yarmouth, daughter of Barnabas and Jane (Bradbury) Soule.
Children:
Samuel, Jeremiah, David, Reuben, Daniel and Olive.
The descendants of Ozias Blanchard are entitled to membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants, and the Sons or Daughters of the Revolution, Mercy Soule, wife of Ozias Blanchard, being a direct descendant on the one side of George Soule and on the otehr side of John and Priscilla Alden, and the father and mother of the latter, Mr. and Mrs. Mullins, all of whom were "Mayflower" pilgrims. The line of descent is:
I. John Alden, of the Mayflower, b. in England, 1699, died at Duxbury, Mass. Sept. 12, 1687, married at Plymouth, probably in 1621, Priscilla Mullins, born in England. Their daughter Elizabeth (2), born 1623, died at Little Compton, R.I., May 31, 1717, married Dec. 26, 1644, William Peabodie, born 1620, died at Little Compton Dec. 13, 1707. Their daughter Mary (3), born Aug. 7, 1648, married Nov. 16, 1669, Edward Southworth. Their daughter Mercy (4), born 1670, died 1728, married about 1701, Moses Soule, who died 1751. Their son Barnabas (5), born 1705, died at North Yarmouth, Maine, April 8, 1780, married, 1737, Jane Bradbury, born 1718. Their daughter Mercy (6), born Nov. 27, 1749, died at North Yarmouth, Maine, married Ozias Blanchard.

(VI) Jeremiah, second son of Ozias and Mercy (Soule) Blanchard, was baptized May 16, 1771, in North Yarmouth, and was one of the original members of the Second Church of that town, now the Cumberland Church, of which he was the third deacon. He was a member of the Massachusetts legislature when the state was divided and Maine became an independent state, and worked and voted for that measure.
He married Dorcas Bucknam.
Children:
Dorcas, Ozias, William and Ann Aurora.

(VII) Ozias (2), son of Jeremiah and Dorcas (Bucknam) Blanchard, was born May 24, 1804, in North Yarmouth, Maine. He married Nov. 13, 1828, at Cumberland, Martha Sweetser, born Jan. 17, 1809, in Cumberland, dau. of Benjamin and Olive Sweetser.
Children:
Arabella J., Jeremiah, Henry C., Edwin B., Ann A., O. Alonzo, Martha A., William G., Mary E. and Howard W. After his marriage he moved to Blanchard, Maine, where he bought a farm, held many local offices, was a member of the house of representatives and the senate, where he was largely intrumental in the elction of Hon. Hannibal Hamlin to the United States senate. He was too old to enlist in the military service in the civil war, but of Feb. 28, 1864, on the recommendation of Vice-President Hamlin, was commissioned by President Lincoln captain and assistant quartermaster, U.S. Volunteers, and served until Aug. 10, 1865, when he returned to Maine and located in Dexter. He moved to Herndon, Virginia in 1870. In 1876 he was a delegate from that state to the Republican national convention, where he voted for the nomination of Hon. James G. Blaine for the presidency. A great admirer of Mr. Blaine, he was bitterly disappointed at the unlooked-for defeat of that eminent statesman.

(VIII) Howard W., tenth child and sixth son of Ozias (2) and Martha (Sweetser) Blanchard, was born Jan. 18, 1852, in Blanchard, Maine, where his boyhood was passed on a farm. He attended the public schools at Blanchard and Dexter, Maine, and Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, and graduated from George Washington University, District of Columbia with the degree of LL.B. in 1889. In the same year he was admitted to the bar in the Districk of Columbia, and also in Virginia.
He was twelve years old when he left the state of Maine for Kentucky, where his father was in the military service, and returned there in 1866, locating at Dexter, where he continued until 1869. In 1870 he located at Herndon, Virginia, and has ever since made his home in that town. He is a principal examiner in the U.S. pension office at Washington, and for four years, from 1896 to 1900, was detailed to assist the house committee on invalid pensions.
He is a member of the Congregational church, and a Republican in politics. He is a member of the District of Columbia Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Mr. Blanchard married Aug. 1, 1874, Susan Killam, daughter of Stephen and Jemima (Bovee) Killam, of Monroe county, New York.
Children:
1. Howard Ray, born July 2, 1876, died Jan. 4, 1902.
2. William St. John, born May 5, 1878.
3. Martha Louise, born May 18, 1880.
4. Marion Jamison, born April 3, 1885, died July 5, 1899.
5. Edwin C., born March 3, 1887.
6. Mabel Elizabeth, born Oct. 30, 1893.


BLANCHARD

The many branches of the Blanchard family in Maine trace their line by clear records or strong traditions to the sturdy Thomas Blanchard, who came to Charlestown, Mass., in 1639, "where he might have cleare views of ye pleasant piece of salt water." Wherever the Blanchards have settled they have have had the ancestor's longing for the ocean. The Blanchard farms, if removed from the coast line, have bordered on some pond or had a brook babbling across them, and the owners have made trips to the bays now and then, with the excuse, "I must get a taste of fish right from the water," but with the full purpose of seeing the waves toss and foam, and sailing out as far as possible from the shore. The love of the sea is just as strong in the descendants of the old family that remained in France. Francoise Blanchard, whose father thought he had trained the love of sailing out of him, made a balloon so he could navigate the air. The members of the Blanchard family could never have assisted in Dresden, Litchfield, Cumberland, Falmouth, Yarmouth, and a score of other places, if they had not loved the ocean and learned its great lessons of strength and victory.

(I) Captain Sylvanus Blanchard, born about 1782, died in Yarmouth, Maine, 1859. He followed the sea for many years, and was one of the most successful captains of the state of Maine. Subsequently, desiring to follow other pursuits, he turned his attention to the building of ships of the most seaworthy type, his place of business being in Yarmouth, Maine, and the firm of Blanchard Brothers, shipbuilders, continued until 1893, conducting a most successful business. He devoted his time and enery so thoroughly to this work that he saw many a noble ship launched from his yard, and with pleasure followed them in thought as they flitted to many far-away ports to return in safety with rich cargoes. Among the noted ships built and launched at their shipyard were: "Admiral," "Commodore," "S.C. Blanchard," "P.N. Blanchard," "Pacific," "Peru, "P.G. Blanchard," "Star," "Detroit" and the "Sylvanus Blanchard," the latter being lost. Captain Blanchard became one of the most prominent and respected citizens of the town of Yarmouth, and was an active member of the Congregational church, working for its benefit with all the zeal which characterized his fore-fathers.
He married Miss Dorcas J. Prince, a most estimable woman, a member of an old Portland family.
Children:
1. David P., born Jan. 8, 1806, died June 16, 1828, while at sea on his second voyage.
2. Paul G., born Oct. 24, 1808, died Nov., 1885, Thanksgiving day.
3. Sylvanus C., born Sept. 4, 1811, resided in Boston, Mass. many years, died in Richmond, Virginia in 1887.
4. Perez N., born May 6, 1815, see forward.
5. Samuel Woodbury, born April 15, 1818, died Dec. 23, 1857; he was a skilful physician.
6. Dorcas J., born Sept. 23, 1822, died March 7, 1862.
7. Oliver Elizabeth, born Aug. 22, 1826, died April 27, 1861. [trans note: maybe they mean 'Olive'??]

(II) Perez Nathaniel, son of Capt. Sylvanus and Dorcas J. (Prince) Blanchard, was born in Yarmouth, Maine, May 6, 1815, died April 3, 1883. He received a thorough education in the common schools of his native town. He decided to follow agriculture as a means of livlihood, but the sea so strongly appealed to him, and his inherited tendencies being all in that direction, he abandoned his former project and embarked on a staunch ship carrying cotton from southern ports to Europe, and he continued thus until 1857, when he made his last voyage in the "Sylvanus Blanchard," taking his wife and son with him, aforementioned as the ship which was lost, he being the commander thereof. He then engaged in the shipbuilding business, under the firm name of Blanchard Brothers, referred to in the preceding paragraph.
He took an active part in political affairs, casting his vote for the candidates of the Democratic party, and served in the capacity of chairman of the board of selectmen of Yarmouth for a long term of years, and was a member of the state legislature twice, his last term being in the years 1875-76. He continued active in the ranks of his party until a short time prior to his death.
He was a very helpful member of the Congregational church, aiding all in his power to the advancement of its various interests.
He married Cynthia S. Blanchard, of Cumberland.
Children:
1. Frances E., born Nov. 26, 1849, married Frank E. Oakes; they now reside in Newton, Mass.
2. Cynthia E., twin of Frances E.
3. Nathaniel Willis, see forward.

(III) Nathaniel Willis, son of Perez National and Cynthia Stone (Blanchard) Blanchard, was born in Yarmouth, Maine, April 29, 1852. He graduated from North Yarmouth Academy. Early in life he shipped before the mast, and at the expiration of six months, an officer on the ship having died, and the great ability of young Blanchard being appeciated, he was appointed a third mate. On his second voyage he was appointed second mate, on his third voyage promoted to mate, and on his fourth voyage was promoted to the rank of master, receiving high praise from officers, ship owners and other interested parties. He carried a cargo of lumber to Europe, which realized a good profit, and then carried a cargo of coal to the ports of Peru, South America. In 1879 he conveyed a cargo of coal to China, around the Cape of Good Hope, and in 1886 carried a cargo of case oil to China and brought back a load of manilla. On his last voyage he sailed from New York City to China with a cargo of oil, bringing back from Hong Kong to Baltimore, Maryland, a fine supply of matting. Mr. Blanchard was accompanied on a number of voyages by his wife and children, and while in China they were bereaved of two of their children - Leila Willis and Perez Nathaniel - who died within a few days of one another from an epidenic.
Mr. Blanchard followed the sea in this successful manner from 1872 to 1900, a period of twenty-eight years. Being a man of fine executive ability and sterling integrity, he has taken a leading part in the affairs of Yarmouth, and is serving in the capacity of trustee of North Yarmouth Academy, and one of the overseers and treasurer of the Morrill Memorial Library of Yarmouth.
He is a Democrat in his political views, and was a candidate for representative to the Maine ligislature in 1905. He is an attendant of the Unitarian church, a member of the Blue Lodge and chapert of the Free Masons.
Mr. Blanchard married, in 1874, Grace S., born in Chicago, Illinois March 24, 1859, daughter of Henry C. Greenleaf, of Yarmouth, who resided in Chicago at the time of his daughter's birth, being commander of a tugboat on Lake Michigan; later they resided in Milwaukee, from whence they removed to Yarmouth.
Children:
1. Leila Willis, born July 30, 1886, died in Hong King, China, July 12, 1901, aged fifteen years.
2. Perez Nathaniel, born Jan. 14, 1890, died July 6, 1901, aged eleven years, at Hong Kong, China.
3. Reina May, born May 14, 1898, at Yarmouth.


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