Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-03
For the Democrat.
ISRAEL WASHBURN, JR.
BY WM. d. LAPHAM.

Oxford County, and his childhood and
youth were there passed. 1t seems proper,
therefore, that q brief sketch Of his life
and character and of the stock from
which he sprung, should appear in the
OXFORD DEMOCRAT, paper printed long
before he reached his majority and which
has known of his distinguished public
career. The Washburn family Of Liver
more has, beyond doubt, been one of
the most talented families in the State,
and Of the several brothers Of which he
was the oldest, the subject Of this sketch
was the ablest. And in saying this, |
would not in the least detract from the
high character and reputation of the one
who so ably served his country as an off,
Ger in the Union army during the war Of
the rebellion, and afterwards as Governor
of powerful State nor Of him who
so honored the Republic by his judicious
career during the siege Of Paris, when he
represented us in France, and who has
filed so ably other high positions in
which he has been placed, either by the
suffrages of the people or by executive
appointment l would only say that in
his varied requirements, as a citizen, as
a politician and statesman, and as lit
erary man, Israel Washburn, jr. had few
superiors and not many equals either in
this State or anywhere else.
The Washburn family in New Eng
land sprung from Puritan stock. John
Washburn, the emigrant and its founder,
was among the early settlers of the an
Gent town Of Duxbury, Mass. Precisely
when he came, the records do not show.
He is said to have come from Eyesham,
in Worcestershire, Old England, aud
Mitchell says he was Secretary OF the
first Council of Plymouth in England,
and was succeeded in that Office by VIII
liam Burgess in 1923. 1t was probably
about this time that he came to this
country, and the records show conclu-
sively that he was in Duxbury IN 1858.
He owned a place near that of Miles
Standish called the " Eagles Nest,
which he bought of Edward Bonpasse
(Bumpus). He and his two sons John
and Phillip, were included among those
in Duxbury who were able to bear arms
in 1913. He and John, jr., were also
grantees of Bridgewater, and the latter
with his brother Phillip became carly
residents of South Bridgewater. The
father died in Bridgewater previous to
1870. The name of his wife has not
come down to US, and there is no evil
dence going to show that he had more
than the two children named above.
Phillip Washburn, the younger OF the
two sons, had farm in Duxbury given
him in 1866, which he sold thirteen
wears later to Samuel Seabury. There /:
no evidence that he was ever married.
John Washburn, jr. is therefore TIT
common ancestor of the New England
family of this name. He married IL
l645, Elizabeth, daughter Of Experience
Mitchell of Bridgewater. Her grand
nephew, Jacob Mitchell, was an earl.
settler in North Yarmouth. Maine, ant
founder of the Mitchell family there. b.
his wife Elizabeth, John Washburn, jr
had the following children
I. JOHN, married in 1879, Rebeckal
Lapham, daughter of the emigrant Thorn
as, and of Mary, daughter of Elder Nathan
lei Tilden, his wife.
III. THOMAS, married first Abigail Leon
ard. and second Deliverance Packard.
iii. JOSEPH, married Hannah Latham
Nv. SAMUEL, married Deborah Pack
ard.
". JONATHAN, married Mary Vaughan
vi. BENJAMIN, died in the expeditio
to Canada, 1890.
VII. JAMES, married Mary Bowden
1898.
!. It will be seen that six out of the seve
sons were married, and they had lart
families. In this sketch only the line
Israel Washburn will be farther traced
Samuel Washburn, who married Debors
Packard, ante, had the following chi
dren: Samuel, Noah, married Elizabet
Snow, Joseph, ISRAEL, married Wal
still Sumner, Nehemiah, married Jar
0 Howard, Capt. Benjamin, married 81
sauna circuit, and Hannah, married Jol
> Keith in I'LL.
ISRAEL WASHBURN, ante. by WI
Waitstill, had Sarah, married Ephral
j. Keith; Deborah, married John Ripley
jSeth, died unmarried; and lSRAF
married Sarah, daughter of Joshua Fob
, and moved to Raynham.
- ISRAEL, JR., by wife Sarah Fob'
- had, besides eight others, ISRAEL j.
born January 80, 1855, who MARI
Abiah King, and had:
1. ISRAEL, JR., b. Nov. IL, 1884,