[rosebig1.jpg] [whbig1.jpg]
Rosalie Abbott Bigelow William Henry Bigelow
What follows is obituary and more from Mark Bigelow:
Children of Josiah and Elizabeth (Burtt) Bigelow:
15591.311 Rosalie Abbott, b 18 May 1837 Waltham, MA at Mrs. Bruce's house; d 09 Mar 1850 of tuberculosis(see photo) .
15591.312 Eugene, b 28 Jan 1839 at No 3 Lower Place, Waltham, MA; d 02 March 1842 of scarlet fever at No 3 Lower Place; buried in Lot 138 Waltham burying grounds: age 3 yrs and 1 month.
15591.313 William Henry, b 10 Aug 1840 at No 4 Lower Place, Waltham, MA;(see whbig8.htm)(see photo) .
Sources:
Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol II, pg 116-117;
Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol I ;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America;
Addendum 2003; Loring Bigelow;
records of Bigelow Society genealogist.
Note:
Name: Mark Bigelow mark.bigelow@upm-kymmne.com
From: Wirral, England
Time: 1999-06-05 00:29:29
I have a great many facinating letters written mid to late 1800s
from my ancestors, William Henry and Josiah Bigelow of South Natick, U.S.A.,
plus a family history record and an early " Dagurreotype " photograph of
Rosalie Bigelow.
See Page 2..for scans of Family Record.
The following are photos from Mark Bigelow:
[rosebig1.jpg] [whbig1.jpg]
Rosalie Abbott Bigelow
William Henry Bigelow
What follows is obituary and more from Mark
Bigelow:
Mrs. Stow's Oldtown folks lent a special interest
to the village of South Natick, where some of the most remarkable personages
in her story resided. The hero of Oldtown was , under another name, Mrs.
Stows husband ,and one of the constant companions of his boyhood , was
his cousin ,who, on the 22nd ult. put of the cord of Earth to try the mysteries
of another world.
Josiah Bigelow was born in Oldtown, near the
close of the last century . He received such training as the district of
his time afforded . He had a taste for literary pursuits as well as for
hunting , fishing and the various sports of his day. He knew all the rivers,
brooks and ponds for miles around, and could tell you what kind of fish,
if any, they afforded. It was his delight to stroll, gun in hand, over
hills and through valleys, and he could minutely describe forests where
the woodman?s axe was seldom heard. Music, poetry and history were favourite
amusements. In his youthful days he wrote some pieces that would reflect
credit on a well trained composer. For the want, however, of industry,
method and order, he failed to accomplish what he might have done for himself
and society. Deeply interested in his native place, he failed to illustrate
its history except by the production of ephemeral newspaper articles and
some choice bits of poetry to which we shall refer. We last saw, ten days
ago, under the very oak where he breathed his last. He was discussing with
his venerable Uncle Col. Abraham Bigelow , aged nearly four score and ten
years, some points in the history of the place. The earnestness of the
conversation was interrupted only that they might survey with me the monuments
of their ancestors in the cemetery near by, and glance at the spot where
they thought soon to lie.
Another meeting with Mr. Bigelow more then
forty years ago, we delight to recall. He had on at the time which we refer,
his millers frock and was in our youthful age personification of manly
vigour. After our grist was in the hopper we expressed our appreciation
of his hymn called Fourth at the Dedication , of the church in that village.
This compliment came from a mere stripling, which amused and delighted
him. He drew from his pocket a paper and read to me a hymn which he was
then
preparing for the first ordination which was soon to occur in that
meeting house.
The first verse read thus :
? Here first,
O Lord, the red man woke
Their wild untutored
song to thee,
Their alter
was the forest oak,
Their temple,
heavens high canopy. ?
The word canopy which he explained and illustrated belonged from that date .....
This is the end of the newspaper column, unfortunately the rest of the text is not available.
On the next page is the transcript of a second newspaper cutting that we posses.
There occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday
the most painful incident that it has been the duty of your correspondent
to chronicle. Josiah Bigelow Esq., who has been for a few weeks afflicted
by a very painful and an entirely incurable internal disease
committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. The most
distressing thing in connection with the affair is that the
act was entirely premeditated and committed
with the utmost deliberation , and occurring as it did at midday and in
the public street it has created a sensation which has not yet subsided.
The deceased was in his seventy seventh
year and was in many ways a very remarkable man. He was thoroughly
independent in every respect, and entertained on many subjects, opinions
which were evidently formed after careful investigation
and experience of the world and having also the power of giving expression
to his ideas in a....... and clear language and his opinions were
generally unassailable. He evidenced a familiarity with almost
every subject, which was remarkable and though over seventy
six years old, his mental faculties were
apparently as vigorous as ever. Another noticeable quality
in the deceased was his strong will, and a idea once formed could, only
with the greatest difficulty be shaken. This last deed of his is
painful evidence of the quality and cool-...... with which.........
was planned will at once ......... all who knew him as being entirely characteristic.
It appears that several days previous, Mr. Bigelow spoke to Elijah
Perry Esq. in relation to his speedy death and requested him to attend
to the disposition of his property. This did not excite suspicion, as many
knew of the disease with which he was afflicted. Immediately
before the shooting he went to the barbers and was shaved, and in paying
the man, remarked that it was the " last debt he had contracted
", he then proceeded to the old oak, near the Unitarian Church, and on
the spot auspicious in the History of our village , which he had often
by his conversation and writing shed so much light, he applied the
muzzle of a double barrelled pistol to his head , discharged both barrels
simultaneously, and died instantly.
The following letter was found after his death.
South Natick, July 1873
To be
retained by Mr. Elijah Perry, and shown by him
to Rev. Mr. Wiggin
J.B.
To the coroner,
Dear Sir, you
need not hold an inquest on what remains of me. This was a premeditated
, determined act of mine.
Not on account of poverty or debt, or fear of any kind
Not wholly to avoid pain to myself, but rather to prevent trouble
to others and to leave what I posses to my beloved children.
To Elijah Perry
Esq.
Dear Sir, Please do as I have told you,
subject to my son, William Henry's consent.
JOSIAH BIGELOW
To the public,
God does
not look upon our actions as men look upon them, he sees every secret spring
and .......... agency,
every cause and every effect and He judges righteously
and mercifully . To him I appeal in full confidence, faith and love.
JOSIAH BIGELOW.
JULY 22 1873
PS. Love to my children and family , and forgiveness to my few enemies.
JB.
PS. God bless Mr. Robbins and his good wife.
JB.
The funeral took place on Thursday,
at 10 o? clock a.m. and was conducted by Rev. Mr. Wiggin, of Marlboro?
as was requested by the deceased.
< rodbigelow@netzero.net
> 
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