1889 History - Biography - Samuel Huggins

The Huggins family is an early Anglo-Saxon one, coming down through centuries in England, and members are frequently mentioned in the history of the times in connection with civic honors and positions of responsibility. It is also an old American family. The first of the name to come to New England and the progenitor of the family in New Hampshire was John Huggins, who came to Hampton in company with Rev. Stephen Bachiler in 1640. His descendants were early located in Hampton and contiguous towns. — Editor.

Samuel Huggins was of English origin, one of the third generation in this country. His ancestors lived in Greenland, N. H., near what was called The Parade, and it is said that a lane still called Huggins' lane was a part of the original farm. His father, John Huggins, moved from Greenland to Wakefield and located near Huggins brook as early as 1790. In the latter town he made a home, having married Anna Mordough, of Wakefield. Specimens of his handiwork are still kept in the family as curiosities; the bureaus and stands were put together with wooden pins.

Samuel was a brave, persevering, and self-reliant youth. His leaving home in early manhood was the old story of an enterprising Yankee boy starting out with his earthly possessions put over his shoulder, taking the journey on foot. He went from Wakefield, N. H., to Wenham, Mass. Here for several years he superintended farmwork. In 1817 he married Sally L. Wyatt, of Wenham. She too was of English descent, her father coming from England in the latter part of the eighteenth century. After marriage they came to Wolfeborough and purchased what was known as the Deacon Wormwood farm, in the east part of the town. He paid down one thousand silver dollars that he had saved from his earnings for this purpose. On this homestead their ten children were born, and here the parents lived, died, and were buried, the father nearly reaching the age of ninety-two years.

Samuel Huggins was a man of good physique, more than six feet tall and well proportioned. He was of a somewhat slow, contemplative turn of mind; could frequently be seen walking with hands clasped behind him, absorbed in thought. He was conservative by nature; in politics he was in earlier life a Whig, voting that ticket in Wolfeborough when but nineteen Whig votes were cast in town. In later years he was a Republican. In religion he and his wife were Methodists, and his home was always open to the circuit-rider as on horseback he went through the towns of Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough. One of the strongest characteristics of Mr. Huggins was his tenderness of heart. Not only the children, but every animal on the farm, knew this; even the old gray horse took a peculiar, leisurely jog as he took the reins. Always careful and exact in his dealings, he was a thoroughly honest man.

Mrs. Huggins seemed in every way the counterpart of her husband; an energetic, breezy, thrifty farmer's wife. Up with the sun, she looked "well to the ways of her household," and under her guidance work was never allowed to lag. A home of perfect method and neatness was the result, in which there always seemed the leisure that comes from prompt accomplishment of one's work. A family of ten children, work-hands, spinning, weaving, and the many duties of farm life during those times of early settlement of the country never brought confusion into the home. While being thoroughly womanly, she had the most remarkable generalship; in its best sense she was a "Mother Superior." Three of their sons, Nathaniel, John P., and Samuel J., have been successful hotel-keepers. The Cosmopolitan Hotel in New York city is owned by them. John P. retired from active business some years ago. By a judicious investment of his funds he has become rich, notwithstanding his generosity. At one time, having been asked the secret of getting rich, he answered, "Close attention to details and never allowing one's expenses to equal the income; the tug comes in saving the first thousand.'' The accompanying engraving is a tribute from him to the memory of his father.

The two sons of Nathaniel Huggins were educated at Lafayette College.

Of the children of Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Samuel Huggins, but one survives, Miss Lydia F. Remick, a teacher of the Brewster Free Academy, at Wolfeborough. Everett Remick, the youngest son, was graduated at Bates College, class of 1883. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, the same year. He died of consumption July 30, 1885. He was a young man of great promise.

Of the grandchildren of Samuel Huggins only one other survives, Almon W. Eaton, of Wolfeborough.

There are only three great-grandchildren — Grace E. Douglass, of Amesbury, Mass., and the two children of George L. Huggins, of New York city.

Genealogy. — John Huggins, born May 19, 1753, at Greenland, N. H., died June 1, 1838, at Wolfeborough, N. H.: married (date not known) Anna Mordough, born in 1757 at Wakefield, N. H., died September 3, 1800, at Wakefield. Their son, Samuel Huggins, was born September 23, 1788, at Wakefield, and died July 21, 1880, at Wolfeborough. He married Sally L. Wyatt, at Wenham, Mass., July 3, 1817, where she was born May 8, 1795, and died December 11, 1871, at Wolfeborough. Their children were: 1. Elizabeth Gardner Huggins, born May 31, 1818, at Wolfeborough, N. H., died December 27, 1886, at Wolfeborough. She married, May 12, 1839, Charles Remick at Wolfeborough. 2. Nathaniel Huggins, born January 11, 1820, at Wolfeborough, married Ruth P. Nudd, June 12, 1849, at Wolfeborough. Their children were George L., born in Boston, Mass., and Everett N., born March 20, 1855, in New York city. 3. John Huggins, born July 2, 1823, at Wolfeborough: died August 25, 1825, at Wolfeborough. 4. John P. Huggins, born May 3, 1826, at Wolfeborough, married Lydia S. Moore, of Sanbornton, July 18, 1857, at New York city, who died there July 5, 1886. 5. Samuel J. Huggins, born June 2, 1828, at Wolfeborough. 6. Mehitable Huggins, born May 31, 1830, at Wolfeborough. 7. Sally Ann Huggins, born January 7, 1834, at Wolfeborough, married first Alvin S. Cotton, December 25, 1859, who died January 25, 1866. She married second Abiel C. Eaton, who also died. 8. Almon Wyatt Huggins, born January 16, 1837, at Wolfeborough, died May 6, 1837, at Wolfeborough. 9. Everett Newell Huggins, born January 16, 1837, at Wolfeborough, died August 10, 1847, at Wolfeborough (drowned in Lake Winnipiseogee). 10. Mary R. Huggins, born December 20, 1839, at Wolfeborough, married James H. Martin, January 1, 1867, at Wolfeborough.

Contributed 2022 Jul 09 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Carroll County, New Hampshire by Georgia Drew Merrill, published in 1889, pages 386-388.