Jabez Proctor and Betsey Parker

2. Jabez Proctor (1780–1839), son of Leonard Parker and Mary Keep

Jabez Proctor was born on 22 April 1780 in Westford. [1][2][3] He was baptized on 23 April 1789 in Westford. [4] He died, perhaps of consumption, on 22 November 1839 and is buried in the Old Cemetery in Proctorsville. [1,2] He married Betsey Parker on 26 November 1817. [3,5]

Jabez and Betsey’s gravestone says, “Jabez Proctor / born /April 22, 1780 / died / November 22, 1839 / Betsey Parker / wife of / Jabez Proctor / born / August 5, 1792 / died / Feb. 5, 1871” [2]

In 1820 Jabez headed a 12 person household made up of one male 26 to 44, seven males 16 to 25, one female 26 to 44, two females 16 to 25 and one female under ten. [6]

Vigorous, many-sided and versatile, he was for many years not only a farmer and a merchant, but also a manufacturer, and that on a large scale compared with the conditions and circumstances of the times. Politically he was affiliated with the Whig Party, and actively participated in public affairs. At different times he was a member of the Governor’s Council, and was also one of the Presidential electors in 1824 and 1836. [5]

On 6 May 1837, Jabez's daughter Harriet wrote in her journal, "Father most sick." On 13 May she wrote, "Father worse has spit more concluded to go to the salt water."

3. Betsey Parker (1792–1871), daughter of Jabez Parker and Bridget Fletcher

Betsey Parker was born on 5 August 1792 in Cavendish (the town in which Proctorsville is located). [2][7] She died of pneumonia on 6 February 1871, age 78, and is buried with her husband in the Old Cemetery in Proctorsville. [2][8] She married first Jabez Proctor. She married second [her daughter Harriet's husband's father] Nehemiah Colby on 26 June 1844 in Cavendish. [9]

Redfield Proctor of Rutland, Rutland County and Charles F. Barrett of Cavendish, Windsor County posted bond on the estate of Betsy Proctor, late of Cavendish, on 21 March 1871 in Windsor County. Her estate amounted to $4,807.70. [10]

Betsey’s son refers to his mother as Betsey Colby in his will of 8 October 1850, but her death record refers to her as Betsey Proctor. Strangely, Betsey does not appear in the 1850 or 1860 census records with Nehemiah. Both Nehemiah and Betsey are buried with their first spouses. Nehemiah's death record gives his first wife as his spouse.

Children of Jabez Proctor and Betsey Parker:

i. Harriet Elizabeth Proctor was born on 2 June 1819 in Cavendish. She died on 28 July 1852. She married Stoddard B. Colby.

ii. Arabella Proctor was born on 27 or 28 December 1820 in Cavendish. She died on 20 August 1822 in Cavendish and is buried in the Old Cemetery in Proctorsville. [11][12]

iii. Lucien Proctor was born on 28 October 1822 in Rockingham. [13] He died on 25 January 1851 near [the mining town) Morman Island, California, and was buried in the Old Cemetery in Proctorsville. [14]

On 28 October 1844, Lucien's sister Harriet wrote to him, "I am most sick to night & and hardly know whether to write, or to go to bed, but as it is your birthday I must improve it. Your 22d birthday. ... Our little sisters sickness & death and your birth are the first things I can remember." That same day his mother wrote to him, "Each and every day presents to my imagination my first-born son (who is said by some authors to be more dear to a mothers heart than any other child, patient and uncomplaining still toiling on in his own native village ... ." [15]

Lucien Proctor of Cavendish, Windsor County made his will on 8 October 1850 in Cavendish. He left his estate to his mother Betsey P. Colby; his sister Harriet E. Colby; his brother Redfield Proctor; his cousin Elizabeth M. Parker and his aunts Nancy Bates and Sally Parker. He refers to his deceased father Jabez Parker of Cavendish. He named [his uncle] Elijah F. Parker, Esq. his executor. On 5 April 1852 Elijah accepted this position and on 4 May 1852 Stoddard B. Colby and Zenas F. Hyde posted bond. [16]

Earl D. Berry, "Senator Redfield Proctor," New York Times Magazine, 3 April 1898, 30.

iv. Arabella Gertrude Proctor was born on 3 June 1825. She died on 6 September 1846 and is buried with her sister Arabella in the Old Cemetery in Proctorsville. [12][17]

On 3 June 1837, Arabella's sister Harriet wrote in her journal, "Arabella's birthday have written to her."

v. Redfield Proctor was born on 1 June 1831 [18][19], probably in Proctorsville. He died on 4 March 1908 in Washington, D.C. [19] He is buried in the South Street Cemetery in Proctor, Rutland, Vermont. [20] He married Emily J. Dutton. Emily was born in Cavendish. Emily was the daughter of Hon. Solomon F. Dutton. [21]

On 1 June 1837, Redfield's sister Harriet wrote in her journal, "My dear little Redfield is 6 years old today."

Redfield graduated from Dartmouth in 1851 and from Albany Law School in 1859. He practiced law in Boston with his cousin Isaac F. Redfield in 1860 and 1861. [22]

Redfield was a soldier in the Civil War. He enlisted as a first lieutenant from Vermont on 19 June 1861 in Company S, Vermont 3rd Infantry Regiment. He was mustered out and commissioned a major in Company S, Vermont 5th Infantry Regiment on 25 September 1861. He was promoted to colonel on 26 September 1862. He was commissioned an officer in Company S, Vermont 15th Infantry Regiment on 8 October 1862. He was mustered out on 5 August 1863 in Brattleboro, Vermont. [19]

After the war Redfield returned to practicing law. He became a member of the Vermont house of representatives in 1867 to 1868. He was a member and pro tempore member of the state sentate in 1874 and 1875. In 1876 he began a two-year term as lieutenant governor of Vermont. In 1878 he began a two year term as governor of the state of Vermont. [22]

In 1880 Redfield became president of the Vermont Marble Company. [22]

In 1884 Redfield was a delegate to the Republican national convention. In 1886 the new town of Protor, Vermont was named in his honor. In 1891 he was appointed to finish a term as U.S. Senator from Vermont and he was elected senator in 1892. [22]

He served as Secretary of War from 5 March 1889 until 5 November 1891. [19] Two of his sons and a grandson were governors of Vermont.

Endnotes

1. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, image. 1434

2. “Betsy ‘Parker’ Proctor,” Findagrave, 13898102.

3. William Lawrence Proctor and Mrs. W.L. Proctor, A. Genealogy of the Descendants of Robert Proctor of Concord and Chelmsford, Mass., with Notes on Some Connected Families (Ogdenburg, New York, Republican and Journal Print, 1898), 62.

4. Vital Records of Westford, 90, Jeabes, s. Leonard and Mary.

5. Biographical Encyclopedia of Vermont of the 19th Century (Boston: Metropolitan Publishing Co., 1885), 137, year of marriage, “wife Betsy, daughter of Isaac Parker of Westford.”

6. “U.S. Federal Census,” Ancestry > 1820 > Vermont > Windsor > Cavendish, image 4.

7. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Parker, Ai–Parker, C., image 3675.

8. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, image 1308.

9. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, image 1307.

10. “Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749–1999,” database with images, Ancestry > Windsor > Probate Files: Priest, James G. … Randall, Smith, images 152–62.

11. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, images 1282–3.

12. "Arabella Proctor," Findagrave, memorial 13898095.

13. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, image.

14. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, image.

15. Letters dated 28 October 1844 at Derby to Mr. Lucien Proctor, Proctorsville, in author's possession.

16. “Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749–1999,” Ancestry > Windsor > Probate Files: Priest, James G. … Randall, Smith, images 323–30.

17. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, image 1285. There is another record for an Arabella, daughter of Jabez and Betsey, who was born on 1 May 1831 in Cavendish, but this must be a transcription error.

18. “Vermont, Vital Records, 1720–1908,” Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Price–Purkins, image 1647.

19. Historical Data Systems, comp., "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861–1865," database, Ancestry, entry for Redfield Proctor.

20. "Redfield Proctor, Sr.," Findagrave, memorial 23048.

21. Biographical Encyclopedia of Vermont of the 19th Century, 142.

22. Earl D. Berry, "Senator Redfield Proctor," New York Times Magazine, 3 April 1898, 30.

Revised December 26, 2019