Extracted from Historic Homes & Institutions and Personal Memoirs of Worcester, County, Massachusetts. Prepared under the Editorial Supervision of Ellery Bicknell Crane, and Published by the Lewis Publishing Company, 1907. Vol. # II, pages 84-86

Robert Cross (I), the immigrant ancestor of Dr. Louis Kent Cross, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, was born in England. He may have been the nephew and it is very probable that he was a near relative of John Cross, of Ipswich, who was born in England about 1580 and came to New England with his wife Anne in the ship "Elizabeth" of Ipswich, sailing April 30, 1634; he left only one child, a daughter Hannah, wife of Thomas Hammond. Robert Cross came to Ipswich about the same time as the older immigrant of this name. He was a proprietor as early as 1635 and served in the Pequot war. He had a case in the Ipswich court which was referred to the general court, December 1, 1640. The date of his death is not known, and until recently his records and those of his sons have been almost hopelessly confused. His son, Stephen Cross, deposed in 1663 that he was sixteen and a half years old; his son Robert at the same time testified that he was aged about twenty-one years. He deeded land probably on his death bed, February 13, 1674-75, to his son Stephen and his wife Elizabeth to be given them at his death. The name of his wife is not known. His children were: Robert, Jr., born 1644, married, 1664, Martha Tredwell and had children: Robert, born January 21, 1665; Timothy, born November 29, 1667; Martha, born March 15, 1670; Abel, born April 5, 1676; Stephen, born April 27, 1678; John, mentioned in will. Stephen, born 1647-48, settled in Jpswich. A daughter, who married William Nelson. Martha, married, 1664, William Dirkee. Peter, born 1653, died April 9, 1737, aged eighty-four years.
(II) Peter Cross, son of Robert Cross (e), was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1653. He was one of the pioneer settlers at Windham, Connecticut, and some of his children were born there. He died April 9, 1737, aged eighty-four years, at Mansfield, Connecticut. He married at Ipswich, Mary who died December 9, 1695. His two youngest children were by the second marriage. As given by Hinman, his children were: Mary, born April 20, 1679; Stephen, see forward; Elizabeth, born June 14, 1683; Peter, Jr., born November 8, 1685, married at Mansfield, Connecticut, March 30, 1719, Dorothea Royce; Daniel, born March 8, 1688, married at Mansfield, Connecticut, November 5, 1712, Desire ______; Experience, born December 1, 1691, Abigail, born June 23, 1694; Mary, born December 9, 1695, died same day. By the second wife Peter Cross had: Mary, born 1697; Wade, born December 15, 1699, settled in Willington, Connecticut; married Rebecca _______, and had children there: Rebecca, born 1733; Elenor, Mary, Peter.
(III) Stephen Cross, second child of Peter Cross (2), was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, May 15, 1681. He went with his father's family to Windham, Connecticut. He settled in that part later called Mansfield. He married at Mansfield, Mary ______November 30, 1703. Their children: Stephen, born October 20, 1704; Jonathan, born July 18, 1706, married Lydia Hale, January 30, 1730-31; Noah, born April 5, 1708, died December 1, 1713; Betty, born 1709-10; Ebenezer, born January 18, 1711-12; a son, born October 20, 1714, died November 20, 1714; Peter, see forward; Mary, born April 15, 1718; Noah, born April 17, 1720, married, January 10, 1737-38, Mary Chamberlain, daughter of Edmund Chamberlain; Mary, born August 17, 1722; Hannah, born July I, 1723; John, born July 10, 1726.
(IV) Peter Cross, seventh child of Stephen Cross (3), was born in Mansfield or Windham, Connecticut, April 16, 1716. He settled in Mansfield. He married there, June 23, 1736, Mary Fuller, daughter of Jonathan Fuller. She died January 8, 1739-40. He married again, according to the records, October 2, 1740, Mary Fuller, at Coventry, Connecticut, the adjoining town to Mansfield. His children: Daughter, born at Mansfield, April 10, 1737, died April 29, 1737; Elizabeth, born June 18, 1739, at Mansfield; Ellither, born March 27, 1742; Aaron, born September 6, 1743, at Coventry; Solomon, was in the same company with Stephen and may be his brother; Stephen, see forward; Peter, Jr., born at Windsor, December 17, 1756; Mary, born June 3, 1759, at Windsor, Connecticut. There were probably other children. According to the records both his wives were named Mary Fuller. Possibly the first was Mary _____ and the second only was Mary Fuller. The records may be correct, however.
(V) Stephen Cross, son of Peter Cross (4), (no record of birth or baptism found) born in or near Windsor, Connecticut, April 15, 1755, died September 16, 1838. He enlisted, May 9, 1775, in the Third Connecticut Regiment in the revolutionary war with vtlunteers from the eastern towns of the colony. He was in the same company with Captain Roger Enos, of Windsor, and Captain Elijah Robinson, of Stafford. He was a farmer and a carpenter by trade. He settled after the revolution in Monson, Massachusetts. He was a Whig in politics in later life. He married, 1778, Sarah Vinton, born at Stoughton, Massachusetts, July 6, 1763, died July 11, 1847. She was the daughter of David and Ruth (Dorman) Vinton, who are mentioned below: Children of Stephen and Sarah Cross were: Hannah, born August 26, 1779; infant son, born March 10, 1782, died young; infant daughter, born March 7, 1783, died young; Polly, born February 26, 1784; Stephen, born June 26, 1787, died April 2, 1833; was soldier in the war of 1812; Amos, born October 29, 1789, died May, 1791; Sarah, born February 16, 1792; Lyman, born November 9, 1794, was soldier in the war of 1812; Cyrus, born April 16, 1797; Lucinda, born January 17, 1800, died February 28, 1875; Porter, born July 15, 1807, died 1894, see forward.
(VI) Porter Cross, youngest child of Stephen Cross (5), was born at Monson, Massachusetts, July 15, 1807. He received a common school education, and worked during his spare hours on his father's farm. He learned his father's trade and followed it as an occupation through his active life. In the forties he removed from Monson to Worcester, and was engaged there in the building moving business. He removed to Charlestown, Massachusetts, now Boston, and later was in the house moving business in Springfield, Massachusetts. He also was a resident of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, for several years, and was prominent in town affairs. He served on the Wilbraham board of selectmen for many years. He was a trustee of Wilbraham Academy (Wesleyan). He died in Springfield, 1894. He was a Republican in politics, and an active member and trustee of the Wilhraham Methodist church. He married (first), November 29, 1827, Sophia Amidon, born at Wilbraham, June 27, 1807, died August 23, 1846.. Her father was a soldier in the revolution. He married (second) Mary Babcock, of Tolland, Connecticut, February 2, 1847. She was born in Tolland, November 2, 1814. Children of Porter and Sophia Cross were: Eli Porter, born at Monson, November 5, 1828, died at Charlestown, Massachusetts, August 23, 1846; Hollis Gilbert, born at Manlius, New York, December 20, 1830; Ellen Mahalin, born at Monson, September 5, 1823, died at Wilhraham, March 2, 1837; Lauretta Jennette, born at Wilbraham, November 26, 1835, died at Springfield, Massachusetts, August 5, 1903 ; Ellen Cordelia, born at Wilbraham, November 14, 1837; Candace Cornelia, born at Monson, September 21, 1839; Cyrus Wesley, see forward; Lucius Harrison, born at Palmer, March 21, 1844. Children of Porter and Mary Cross were : Eugene Ferdinand, born in Charlestown, January 29, 1848; Jane Sophia, born at Wilbrabam, March 22, 1850, died April I, 1852; Endora Eliza, born at Wilbraham, December 1, 1851, Albert Orlando, born at Wilbraham, November 18, 1853. died September 24, 1861.
(VII) Dr. Cyrus Wesley Cross, seventh child of Porter Cross (6), was born in Monson, Massachusetts, April 10, 1842. At an early age he moved with his parents to Worcester and later to Charlestown, where he attended school until he was fifteen years old, when his parents settled at Wilbraham and he entered the Wesleyan Academy, where he graduated with high honors. When the civil war broke out he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, in July, 1862, under Colonel Oliver Edwards. He served through the war and was mustered out June 2, 1865. His regiment was in the Sixth Army Corps. Among the important battles and engagements in which he took part were: Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Chaucellorsville, April 27, to May 5, 1863 ; Gettysburg, July 1 to 3, 1863: Cold Harbor. May, 1864. His regiment was in the thickest of the fight at Bloody Angle and at Spottsylvauia in the same month. He was at Cedar Creek. October 10, 1864; at Petersburg and Richmond December 1864, and at the battle of the Wilderness. He was in the Appomattox campaign and at the surrender of Lee. Here his regiment was one of two left to keep order, the only two that entered the city. He returned to Wubraham after the war and cornmenced the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. Joseph Gould, of Palmer, and continued later with Dr. J. M. Gould, of East Douglass. After fitting himself for his profession, he opened an office in Palmer, where he practiced until his death, June 25, 1895. Dr. Cross was a member of the Second Congregational Church of Palmer. He was a Republican in politics. He was a member of Thomas Lodge, Free Masons, of Palmer, and its secretary for twelve years. Also a member of Hampden Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Washington Council, Royal and Select Masters of Palmer, and Springfield Commandery, Knights Templar. He was a member of the Connecticut Valley Dental Association, L. L. Merrick Post, Grand Army, of Palmer, and served as its commander, and the Cyrus W. Cross Camp, Sons of Veterans, was named after him. Dr. Cross married (first), i866, Anna Maria Cooley, of Springfield, who was born September 15, 1846, died January 9, 1873. He married (second), 1874, Charlotte Ellen Kent, of Wilbraham. She was the daughter of William and Laura (Smith) Kent. Her father was a carpenter and builder. Children of Dr. Cyrus Wesley and Anna Maria Cross were: Alice Sophia, born March 4, 1868, died March 30, 1874; Chester Winfield, born March 10, 1872, now at Springfield, Massachusetts. Children of Dr. Cyrus Wesley and Charlotte Ellen Cross were: Louis Kent, see forward; Bertha May, born October 31, 1880, resides with mother in Palmer; Laura Blanche, born April 12, 1884, resides with mother in Palmer.
(VIII) Louis Kent Cross, son of Dr. Cyrus Wesley Cross (7), was born at Palmer, Massachusetts, February 11, 1877. He attended the public schools of his native town until he was seveuteen years old, when he commenced the study of dentistry in his father's office. A year later be entered Boston University School of Medicine, graduating in 1899 with the degree of M. D. He subsequently entered the Massachusetts Hospital of Homeopathy, where he remained for a year. He then began practice in Winchendon, locating first in the Prescott block, and after two years removed to handsomely furnished and well equipped offices on Front street, where he is at present enjoying an extensive and lucrative practice. Dr. Cross is a member of the Second Congregational Church of Palmer. In politics he is a Republican. He is active and well known in Masonic circles; he was a member of Thomas Lodge, of Palmer, and was a charter member of the Cyrus W. Cross Camp, Sons of Veterans, of Palmer. He is now a member of Artisan Lodge, of Winchendon; North Star Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and has held a number of the highest offices. He is also a member of the Avon Club of Winchendon. He married at Winchendon, October 2, 1902, Grace Atherton Converse, daughter of Morton E. and Harriet (Atherton) Converse. Dr. and Mrs. Cross are the parents of one son, Kemp Converse, born September 20, 1904.
(I) John Vinton, one of the immigrant ancestors of Dr. Louis Kent Cross through the wife of his revolutionary ancestor, Stephen Cross, was born in England, is believed to have settled in 164.3 at Salem, was in Lynn 1648, probably removed to MaIden. Children of John and Ann Vinton, all born in Lynn, were: Eleanor, born May, 1648, married Isaac Ramsdell; John, see forward; William, born April, 1652; Blaise, born April 22, 1654; Ann, born April 4, 1656; Elizabeth, born January, 1657-58; Sarah, born September 16, 1662.
(II) John Vinton, son of John Vinton (I), ancestor of Dr. Cross, was born March 21, 1650; married, August 26, 1677, Hannah Green, born February 24, 1659-60, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Green, of Malden. Her father was son of Thomas Green, the immigrant. John Vinton was a forgeman, ironworker, and in his will, January 15, 1721-22, calls himself "Gentleman," implying his descent from gentle blood. He died November 13, 1727, aged seventy-seven years; his wife Hannah died 1741, aged eighty-two years. They lived in Mal den and Lynn. Their children: John, born 1680,; Hannah, born January 26, 1681-82; Rebecca, born March 26, 1683; Thomas, born January 31, 1686-87; Mary, born August 20, 1687, died young; Mary, born January 2, 1692-93; Samuel, born May 3, 1695; Abiathar, born May Jo, 1700, at Woburn.
(III) Captain Samuel Vinton, seventh child of John Vinton (2), ancestor of Dr. Cross, was born May 3, 1695, married, March 22, 1720-2I, Elizabeth French, of Braintree, born March 4, 1698-99, daughter of Dependence and Rebecca French. He was a bloomer or blacksmith in iron works. He had land from his father at Woburn in 1720; he bought a share in the iron works in Braintree in 1735-36. He lived in Woburn until 1729, when he removed to Braintree, now Stoneham, where he was highway surveyor in 1731; he was fined for declining the office of constable in 1734. He was captain of the militia. He died July 17, 1756, aged sixty- one years, and his wife died March 31, 1771, aged seventy-one years. Their children: Samuel, born 1721-22; Elizabeth, born December 8, 1723; David, see forward; Rebecca, born July 11, 1728, died young. The foregoing were born in Woburn, the following in Braintree: Rebecca, born August 15, 1729; Hannah, born June 12, 1732; John, born February 11, 1734-35; William, born 1737, died young; William, born January 22, 1738-39, died February 6, 1741 ; William, died February 7, 1747.
(IV) David Vinton, son of Captain Samuel Vinton (3), ancestor of Dr. Cross, was born at Woburn, March 17, 1725, married Ruth Dorman, November 19, 1747. She was born 1726, and was the daughter of Seth and Sarah (Thayer) Dorman. Her mother was the eldest child of Ephraim and Sarah Thayer, of Braintree, who with their fourteen married children joined at least on one occasion in communion, all the sons and daughters-in-law also being church members. They resided in Braintree in what is now Randolph until 1752, when they removed to Stoughton; in 1780 they removed to Willington, Connecticut, where David and his wife resided the remainder of their days and where his wife's brother, Micajah Dorman, also settled. Her sisters lived there and at Mansfield. He died 1791, aged sixty-five, and she died 1810, aged eighty-four. Their children: Mary, born October 27, 1748; Samuel, October 9, 1750; Elizabeth, February 27, 1752; Samuel, September 7, 1754; Seth, June 6, 1756; David, March i8, 1759; Ruth September 21, 1761; Sarah, see forward; Naomi, March 17, 1765; William, January 21, 1767; Asenath, April 1; 1769; Phebe, February 3, 1772.
(V) Sarah Vinton, daughter of David Vinton (4), was born in Stoughton and moved to Willington, Connecticut, where she married Stephen Cross, mentioned above.



Tolland County Records