Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-03-19
,CoRDELIA RUGGLES PAGE.
Death Of Woman of Distinguished Ancestry and
Former Resident Of Bennington.


Two weeks ago the Banner and Re
former printed brief mention of the
death at Williamstown of the late
Cordelia Ruggles Page. The follow
ing extended obituary was contributed
by a member of the family;-
! Cordelia Ruggles Page, widow OF
the late Moses Page of Bennington,
died at her residence in Williamstown,
Mass, on March 3. Her death re-
moves one who was in every respect a
gentlewoman of the early New Eng
land type. From brave and dis
tinguished ancestry she inherited rare
qualities of mind and heart lntoler-
ant of ostentation, accomplishing,
patient and contented to a remarkable
degree, she evinced great courage and
tortitude in severe trials and always
charmed those whom she met by her
refinement and sweetness of temper
and manper.
Mrs Page was born in Barre, Mass,
May %, 1912, and was at her death
nearly 81 years of age. She was the
daughter of Major Gardner Ruggles,
who held many prominent positions in
Worcester county and rendered valu-
able services both civil and military
to Massachusetts, his native state
Her ancestors, both paternal and ma
ternal, we're noted for. their great
longevity, some of them having at
tanned to the age OF 50 and even 100
years.
This longevity doubtless made pos
sible the genealogy OF the Ruggles
family covering period of 500 years
and showing the generation TO which
Mrs Page belonged to be the twenty
seventh in direct descent from the
early Kings of France. The Ruggles
Coat-oi-Arms still extant, indicates
the achievements of Ruggles in the
4th Crusade, and also a Ruggles in
sympathy with the House of Lancas-
ter and doing valiant service in the
War OF the Roses:
Her maternal grandfather, Capt
Zenas Phinney, served for time as
soldier in the Revolutionary war un-
der the immediate command of Gener-
al Washington. Sickness, misfortune
and priyation we're his lot on land
and sea. He was twice shipwrecked
and twice taken prisoner OF war by
the British, who treated him with
great severity. Once he was put
ashore on the coast Of Spain, sick and
exhausted. These are only a few Of
the almost incredible hardships which
ne endured Later as commander of
his ship he made several successful
voyages to England, France, Spain,
Portugal and the West Indies. He
died in the Goth year of his age.
OF Mrs Pages three brothers, Gen'l
Daniel Ruggles, graduate at West
Point, and a veteran of three wars,
died in Virginia, greatly beloved,
about six years ago, aged SO years of
age. Another, Capt VIM p Ruggles
OF Wisconsin, lived to the age Of %.
The youngest brother, the last of
eight children still lives in Chicago in
his S0th year. The late Miss Lucy
S. Ruggles a prominent teacher at
the South for many years, before and
during the civil war, and two other
sisters of Mrs Page died at about the
age of so years.
Mrs Page was twice married Her
husbands we're half-brothers. The
first, DR. Asa Page, was physician
and druggist in Troy. The second
was a merchant in Troy and afterward
removed to Bennington, VT. There
his remains and hers now rest in the
family lot in the Bennington Center
cemetery. Mr. and Mrs Page we're
members of the Episcopal church, hav-
ing been baptized by the Rev DIR Man
ser, for many years the rector of st
Peters church, and confirmed by
Bishop Hopkins, The name of Mr.
Page, who died in 1872, appears on
the records as vestryman, warden,
collector and treasurer OF st Peters
parish for long time.
At the burial service on March 5,
the Rev J. Franklin Carter of Will
Jamestown, and the Rev Phillip Schuy-
Ter of Bennington ofiiciated. OF their
six children, three survive, a son, now
living in Marshall, Mimi, and two
daughters in Williamstown.