NOBLE
The surname Noble is of great antiquity in England. It first appears in 1199 in the reign of Richard I, and the name has been common since. It is also found in Scotland, and several noted merchants of the name lived in Edinburgh. Families in England, Scotland and Ireland bore arms. The principal seats of the family were in Cornwall, Belson and Bishop's Tentor, county Devon, and Marming, near Maidstone, county Kent. This family bore these arms: Or two lions passant guard, in pale azure between as many flaunches of the last; over all of a fesse gules charged with three bezanta. Crest: A lion passant azure.
(I) Thomas Noble, immigrant, was born as early as 1632, died in Westfield, Mass., Jan. 20, 1704, aged at least seventy-two years. He was an early settler of Springfield, coming from Boston, where he was an inhabitant Jan. 6, 1663. He had an account at the store of John Pyncheon in Springfield, and this account book shows that he visited England soon after removing from Boston. In 1664 he with others was given leave to set up a sawmill on "a brook below Ensign Cooper's farme over Akawam River." He was an appraiser of the town. He had lands granted him in Westfield in July, 1666, on conditon of settlement, and the grant wasrenewed Jan. 9, 1668. He settled there as early as Jan. 21, 1669, and was on a committee to decide the boundary lines. His homestead was about two and a half miles from the present [1910] centre of the town. He served as constable and took the oath of allegiance Jan. 23, 1678. He joined the Westfield church, Feb. 20, 1681, and was admitted a freeman Oct. 12, 1681. He was fined five shillings at one time for traveling on a fast day. His home was exposed to Indian attacks during King Philip's war. Rev. Dr. Davis says: "One night during family prayers, Gray Lock (an old Indian) stepped up and pulled the string and let the door swing open and as soon as all was quiet he would pull the string again. Mr. Noble was persuaded by his friends to move into town. Gray Lock said he had several opportunities of killing most of his children at a shot, but did not want scalps as much as captives."
On March 2, 1696, Thomas Noble was chosen county surveyor. He was a tailor by trade. His will was dated May 11, 1697, proved Sept. 5, 1704.
He married, Nov. 1, 1660, Hannah, born in Springfield, Aug. 17, 1643, only daughter of William and Joanna (Scant) Warriner. She joined the Westfield church, Nov. 11, 1680. She married (second) Jan. 24, 1705, Deacon Medad Pomeroy, of Northampton.
Children:
1. John, born March 6, 1662; married (first) J. Sacket; (second) M. Goodman.
2. Hannah, Feb. 24, 1664; married (first) J. Goodman; (second) N. Edwards; (third) S. Partridge.
3. Thomas, Jan. 14, 1666; married Elizabeth Dewey.
4. Matthew, married Hannah Dewey.
5. Mark, married Mary Marshall.
6. Elizabeth, Feb 9, 1673; married (first) E. Church; (second) S. Loomis.
7. Luke, July 15, 1675.
8. James, Oct. 1, 1677, mentioned below.
9. Mary, June 29, 1680; married Ephraim Colton.
10. Rebecca, Jan. 4, 1683; married Samuel Loomis.
(II) James, son of Thomas Noble, was born Oct. 1, 1677, in Westfield, Mass., died there April 22, 1712. He "put himself under the watch of Westfield church, Feb. 25, 1701." He married (first) about 1698, Ruth _____, who died Aug. 24, 1702. He married (second) Feb. 14, 1704, Catharine, born Aug. 7, 1679, daughter of John and Hannah (Drake) Higley, of Windsor and Simsbury, Conn. She was the sister of Hannah Higley, mother of the fist Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecticut. She is supposed to have been the first woman teacher in Westfield. The town, on May 3, 1725, voted "to give the widow Catharine Noble 25 shillings a month for keeping school, as long as the Town sees cause to improve her in that service, and if she sees cause to attend it." She afterwards removed to Hebron, Conn., and was living there Feb. 28, 1740, with her son, David. She died either in Hebron or Pittsfield.
James Noble left an estate valued at two hundred and sixty-four pounds, ten shllings and four pence.
Children of first wife, born in Westfield:
1. James, March 29, 1699, died Jan. 1, 1700.
2. Daniel, Nov. 25, 1700.
Children of second wife:
3. Lydia, Dec. 7, 1704.
4. James, Jan. 12, 1707.
5. David, mentioned below. [transcriber's note: someone wrote in pen," who Daniel? above". I looked and sure enough, Daniel is listed with the birthdate they attribute to David. Keep this in mind. It may be a discrepancy, a typing error, or something.]
(III) David, son of James Noble, was born Nov. 25, 1700, in Westfield, died there July 2, 1779. He was a shoemaker by trade. He joined the Westfield church, Nov. 26, 1732. He married (first) June 15, 1731, Rebecca, born June 29, 1701, died Jan. 16, 1760, daughter of Joseph Stebbins of Springfield, Mass. He married (second) June 4, 1761, Rebecca, born May 22, 1712, in Hadley, died in 1802, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Smith) Crow.
Children of first wife:
1. Ruth, March 6, 1732.
2. Daniel, March 5, 1734.
3. Ezekiel, Nov. 15, 1736.
4. Mary, Aug. 19, 1738.
5. James, mentioned below.
(IV) Captain James (2) son of David Noble, was born April 28, 1742, in Hebron, Conn., died in Orwell, Vermont, Feb. 23, 1817. He served under Captain Wells in an expedition against Crown Point, probably in 1756, when he was still living in Hebron. He was living there in 1762, when the church records show that his son John was baptized there. In 1769 he was in Pittsfield, and on May 14 of that year his daughter Catharine was born in the latter place. June 24, 1774, his name appears as a signer of a petition in the selectmen of Pittsfield to convene a town meeting for the purpose of taking action upon the circular eltter sent out by the selectmen of Boston and other towns, respecting the invaded liberties of the country. On May 10, 1775, Captain Noble marched to Canada, and continued in the service until December 30, 1775. During this time he was on July 15, 1775, a captain in the garrison at Ticonderoga. In 1776 he was on the Pittsfield committee of correspondence, inspection and safety. Oct. 17, 1776, he marched to Ticonderoga under Captain William Francis, and returned Nov. 16, 1776. He was enrolled for Bennington, Aug. 13, 1777, under Lieut. William Ford, and served until Aug. 20 of the same year. In May, 1777, he went under Captain John Strong in Kinderhook, New York, "after inimical persons" and was dismissed May 11, 1777, after one week's service. In 1779, with Colonel William Williams, he represented Pittsfield in the Massachusetts legislature. In 1785 he removed to Benson, Vermont, and three years later to Orwell.
He married (first) Nov. 29, 1758, Anna, born Nov. 23, 1738, in Westfield, died July 11, 1803, daughter of Abel and Anna (Dwight) Cadwell. He married (second) Mrs. Agnes Smith, of Benson. She died in Orwell. He married (third) Mrs. Eunice Crouch, daughter of John Corey and widow of John Crouch. He married (fourth) Mrs. Priscilla Branch, of Whiting, Vermont. She died in Orwell.
Children of first wife:
1. Catharine, born June 1, 1759, died July 21, 1764.
2. James, Jan. 24, 1761.
3. John, Oct. 25, 1762, mentioned below.
4. Oliver, Sept. 29, 1764.
5. Catharine, March 15, 1766, died May 23, 1766.
6. Anna, Aug. 20, 1767.
7. Catharine, May 14, 1769.
8. Electa, March 3, 1771.
9. Russel, April 18, 1773.
10. Dwight, July 23, 1775.
(V) John, son of Captain James (2) Noble, was born Oct. 25, 1762, in Hebron, died probably in Orwell, April 29, 1842. He was a "waiter" on his father in the revolution, and subsequently received a pension. He served also in the war of 1812.
He married (first) Jan. 16, 1789, Lydia, born Dec. 13, 1770, in Goshen, Conn., died Jan. 1, 1807, daughter of Elijah and Silence Wilcox. He married (second) Aug. 31, 1807, Mrs. Abigail Hibbard, daughter of Samuel Merriman. Her first husband was _____ Francis; her seond, whom she married June, 1789, Timothy Hibbard, died about 1805. She was living in June, 1852, aged eighty-three.
Children of first wife:
1. Aurelia, born July 15 or 18, 1790.
2. Lydia, Oct. 30, 1792.
3. John, April 21, 1794, died Dec. 19, 1796.
4. Lucretia, March 4, 1797.
5. Hiram Jefferson, Feb. 22, 1800, mentioned below.
6. John Dwight, Sept. 1, 1806, died Nov. 1806.
Children of second wife:
7. Harry Hibbard, Dec. 8, 1808.
8. Rollin Cadwell, Sept. 6, 1811.
(VI) Hiram Jefferson, son of John Noble, was born Feb. 22, 1800, in Orwell, died in Franklin, July 23, 1887. He received a common school education, and lived with an uncle, Dr. Levi Wilcox, in Ticonderoga for a time. He studied medicine but never practiced it. He camt to the town of Franklin, Franklin county, New York, about 1851-52, took up land and cleared it. He was one of the first settlers in the section, and was living there before the Hopkinton and Port Kent turnpike was built.
In politics he was a Whig and a Republican. He was justice of the peace for many years, and up to the time of his death held various town offices.
He married, July 21, 1832, Harriet, born April 14, 1810 (genealogy) or 1813, in New Haven, Vermont (genealogy) or in Clintonville, N.Y., and died June 16, 1844, daughter of Stephen Patterson.
Children:
1. Levi Wilcox, May 27, 1833, mentioned below.
2. Lucretia Mariah, March 18, 1835; living in Bloomingdale; widow of Bailey Flanders, who was a soldier in the civil war.
3. Amanda Mary, married Richard Norman, a farmer in Idaho.
(VII) Levi W., son of Hiram Jefferson Noble, was born in Franklin, Franklin county, New York, May 27, 1833, the first white child born in that town. He had a common school education. During his boyhood he worked on his father's farm. He learned the trade of blacksmith at Bloomingdale, N.Y., and for fifteen years was engaged in business as a blacksmith in that town. In 1871 he bought a farm of about three hundered acres in the town of Franklin, about a mile from Bloomingdale, and in addition to his farming carried on the blacksmith business in a shop he erected on his farm. He still lives on the farm [1910] and devotes his time exclusively to agricultureal matters in late years. He built the large and handsome dwelling house on the farm in 1885.
In politics he is a Republican. He has been justice of the peace for many years and collector of taxes and asssessor for several terms. He is a member of the Methodist church. He belongs to the St. Lawrence and Franklin granges, Patrons of Husbandry.
He married, in 1861, Sally M., born in Keene, Essex county, April 20, 1833, died in Franklin, 1903, daughter of Levi and Polly (Kent) Dudley.
Children:
1. Fortis Monroe, born Nov. 3, 1864, mentioned below.
2. Carrie Adele, April 9, 1866; married Dr. Church, formerly of Bloomingdale, N.Y., now of Millbury, Mass.; one chld, Mabel Church.
3. Harriet, May, 1868; married William Gillispie; killed at Bloomingdale in a mill accident; formerly a mercahtn at Au Sable Forks and Bloomingdale; children: Easton, Levi and Helen.
4. Freedom E., 1870, died 1898; a druggist with stores at Lake Placid and Bloomingdale; married Fannie Nash, of North Elba, N.Y.
(VIII) Fortis Monroe, son of Levi W. Noble, was born at Franklin, Franklin county, N.Y., Nov. 4, 1864. He was educated in the public schools of Bloomingdale, and at the State Normal school at Potsdam. He began the study of medicine at the University of Vermont at Burlington, graduating there in the class of 1890 with the degree of M.D. He began to practice as the physician and surgeon of the Chateaugay Iron Mountain Ore Company. After three years he came to Bloomingdale to locate and since 1894 has been practicing in that town with marked success.
In politics he is a Republican, and he has been coroner of the county. He is a member of White Face Mountain Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Saranac Lake. He built his present [1910] home in 1900.
He married, in 1893, Elizabeth M. O'Donnell of New York, daughter of Patrick O'Donnell. They have one son, Joseph Monroe, born at Bloomingdale, 1902.