Ezra and Elizabeth (Smith) Hanscom

compiled by Robert Hanscom

EZRA DAVIS HANSCOM was born in Buxton, Maine, 12 May 1788, the fifth child of John and Anna (Carle) Hanscom. He was named for his father's brother-in-law, Ezra Davis Jr. [husband of Susannah Hanscom], one of the earliest settlers of Limington, Maine.

In 1816, Ezra Hanscom left Buxton and settled in Chatham, New Hampshire. Chatham town records for that year list him as a "non-resident", but owner of lot number 16, Langdon Location, "consisting of 90 acres of wildland" [with a value of $270] and 10 acres of pastureland [with $50 value]. By 1817, town records list him as a resident.

Ezra Hanscom's homestead was located at the base of the road to Mountain Pond. The foundation, although now camouflaged by dense overgrowth, can still be located. Census records show that Ezra Hanscom was a resident of Chatham in 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850. However, during the 1840s, it is believed that Ezra and his family lived for a period of time in the city of Biddeford, Maine.

Ezra Davis Hanscom was married in Buxton, Maine, 10 January 1816, to ELIZABETH /"Betsey" SMITH, b. Buxton, 26 January 1793, daughter of John and Elizabeth (McLellan) Smith. She was the older sister of the well-known primitive artist, Royal Brewster Smith (1801-1855). She died in Chatham, NH, 19 March 1859, age 66, and was buried in Woodlawn cemetery in Biddeford, Maine.

Ezra Hanscom, a widower, was living in the home of his son Arthur in Dayton, Maine, 1860. On 9 June 1863, Ezra deeded his homestead and property in Chatham, NH to his son Alexander. This is the last known mention of the family patriarch. No deathdate, gravestone, or any subsequent reference to him has been found. It remains a possibility that he spent his last years in California, with his sons John, Henry, and William. But, at present, there is no proof of that.

Children of Ezra & Elizabeth (Smith) Hanscom:
1. John Smith Hanscom, b. Buxton, 10 April 1816; d. in California, 1879, age 63. In 1860, he was living in Tuolome Co., California, mining for gold. Unmarried.

2. Martha Ann Hanscom, b. Chatham, 17 Sept. 1817; living 1830.

3. Alexander Smith Hanscom, b. Chatham, 26 April 1819 [see below]

4. Dorcas L. Hanscom, b. Chatham, 6 September 1820; d. Biddeford, Maine, 8 June 1889. She m. in Saco, Maine, 14 June 1846, Jeremiah S. Sinnett, 2 children.

5. Ezra Davis Hanscom Jr., b. Chatham, 1 March 1822; d. Biddeford, 17 January 1876. He m. in Avon, Maine, 18 February 1847, Amanda P. Gould, 5 children.

6. Isaac Cox Hanscom, b. Chatham, 19 April 1823; d. Wood River, Nebraska, 28 February 1897. He m. in Lowell, Mass., 21 Sept. 1849, Ellen C. Smith, 5 children.

7. Arthur McLellan Hanscom, b. Chatham, 17 April 1825; d. Saco, Maine, 13 May 1888. He m. in Parsonsfield, Maine, 28 May 1848, Mary P. Benson, 3 children.

8. Emeline Smith Hanscom, b. Chatham, 24 June 1826; d. Somersworth, NH, 11 March 1890. She m. Henry D. Whitehouse, 4 children.

9. Henry Durgin Hanscom, b. Chatham, 20 March 1828; d. in Chico, California, 19 February 1904. He m. 1st, in Biddeford, 14 March 1858, Emma Downing Wakefield; 2nd, in Chico, California, 22 April 1885, Sarah Jane (Pickler) Young. 4 children by 1st wife, 3 more by 2nd wife.

10. Orren Hanscom, b. Chatham, 14 February 1830; d. in Brookfield, Missouri, 21 February 1899. He m. in Boxboro, Mass., 4 December 1856, Mary Elizabeth /"Lizzie" Tenney, 6 children.

11. Elizabeth Smith Hanscom, b. Chatham, 1831; d. Biddeford, Maine, 19 December 1898. She m. Charles B. Clark, 4 children.

12. Ivory Pike Hanscom, b. Chatham, Feb. 1833; d. Fall River, Mass., 14 August 1883, age 50. He m. 1st, in Baldwin, Maine, 11 March 1855, Mariah Decker (divorced); 2nd, in Lawrence, Mass., 21 January 1862, Mary M. Norton; 3rd, in Somersworth, NH, 30 Sept. 1867, Sarah E. Smith (annulled); 4th, in Dover, NH, 4 May 1868, Mary Jane /"Jennie" Elliott. 1 son by 1st wife; 2 more ch. by 2nd wife; and 6 more ch. by 4th wife.

13. William Smith Hanscom, b. Chatham, April 1835; d. Richmond, California, 1913. He m. 1st, in Lawrence, Mass., 5 Aug. 1867, Frances S. Goodwin; 2nd, Mrs. Clarabelle (Thomas) Pratt. 2 daughters by second wife.

14. Harriet Ellen Hanscom, b. Chatham, 13 June 1837; d. Auburn, Maine, 24 April 1884. She m. in Biddeford, Maine, 11 February 1859, Jesse Alonzo Gray, 5 children.


SIXTH GENERATION:
ALEXANDER SMITH HANSCOM was born in Chatham, NH, 26 April 1819, the son of Ezra D. and Elizabeth (Smith) Hanscom. He spent his youth in Chatham and in Biddeford. He was married in Biddeford, 19 June 1849, to CLARISSA E. NUTT, b. Albany, NH, 3 November 1826; d. Chatham, NH, 2 July 1903. She was the daughter of John James Nutt [later changed to "Nutter"] and his wife, Joanna (Wentworth).

By 1850, Alexander and Clarissa Hanscom were living back in Chatham. But, a short time later, c1851, they moved to Lynn, Massachusetts where Alexander was employed as a stonecutter. They remained in Lynn until 1854 when they returned to Chatham.

Alexander was a farmer and stonemason in Chatham over the next few years. In June 1863, his father deeded to him all of the Hanscom lands and buildings and apparently left the area.


Children of Alexander and Clarissa (Nutt) Hanscom:
1. Selden W. Hanscom, b. Chatham, 8 April 1850; d. North Fryeburg, Maine, 29 April 1931. He m. in Chatham, 21 Sept. 1880, Ellen Frances McKeen, 4 children.

2. Seth Eugene Hanscom, b. Lynn, Mass., 12 April 1852; d. Chatham, NH, 29 May 1935. He m. in Chatham, 24 Aug. 1873, Estella Cobb, 7 children.

3. James Augustus /"Gus" Hanscom, b. Chatham, 17 August 1854; d. Stow, Maine, 15 December 1930. He m. in Chatham, 2 May 1877, Clara Ella Harriman, 2 daughters.

4. Clarinda L. /"Clara" Hanscom, b. Chatham, 16 December 1856; d. Newburyport, Mass., 18 Feb. 1917. She m. in Bedford, Mass., 1 May 1875, Cyrus L. Gowdey, 5 children.

5. Franklin Hanscom, b. Chatham, 31 March 1859; d. Chatham, 1864.

6. Joanna Hanscom [twin], b. Chatham, 5 April 1861; d. Chatham, 30 April 1862.

7. Eliza Ann Hanscom [twin], b. Chatham, 5 April 1861; d. Chatham, 17 July 1862.

8. William Hanscom, b. Chatham, 8 September 1863; d. Chatham, 4 April 1907, age 43. He m. in Chatham, 14 July 1903, Mrs. Winnifred Scott (Hammond) Lebroke (1878-1962), dau. of Phineas and Emma (Yeaton) Hammond. One son.

9. Lillian Hanscom, b. Chatham, 1865; d. Chatham, May 1870.

10. Franklin Hanscom, b. Chatham, 1867; d. Chatham, June 1870.