Eldridge, Erastus B (b. ABT 1840, d. ?)

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Harwich, Barnstable, MA

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Harwich, Barnstable, MA

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Harwich, Barnstable, MA

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Harwich, Barnstable, MA

Census: Date: 1860
Place: Harwich, Barnstable, MA

Note: Samuel Hall, the eldest son of Gershom Hall, came with his father and settled in what is now North Harwich, near Ryder's mill. He married Patience Ryder. He was a farmer and miller, and owned the first water mill erected on Herring river. Very many of the worn out fields now seen on the east side of the river were parts of his farm. He was known as one of the wealthiest men of his day in the old town. He died in the sixtieth year of his age, February 19, 1729, and was buried in the old yard at North Dennis, where a stone with inscription marks the spot. He left no children. Much of his property he gave his nephew, Dea. Edward Hall, who at the time of his death was a lad.

Note: Samuel Berry came from Yarmouth, and was the son of Richard Berry of that place. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Bell, and settled on the north side of the Herring river at North Harwich, near or upon the spot where the house of the late Ebenezer Kelly stood. He died in 1704, leaving a family, among whom were sons, John and Samuel. He has descendants in the male line in the state of New York.

Note: Ebenezar Broadbrooks, the son of Ebenezar and Lydia Broadbrooks, born in 1750, was a man of prominence. He was selectman of the town twenty years, representative six years, justice of peace twenty-five years, postmaster sixteen years, and parish clerk and treasurer many years. He married Tamesin Hall, daughter of Seth and Elizabeth Hall, February 2, 1775. He first resided on the south side of the road where his father died; but building a house on the opposite side of the road, upon the farm he purchased of Samuel Ellis in 1798, he there resided until his death, which took place February 4, 1828. His wife, Tamesin, died January 1, 1828. Mr. Broadbrooks and family took the name of Brooks by legislative enactment in 1806. He was the principal merchant in town for many years before 1800. His children by wife Tamesin, were: Naomi, who married Calvin Gifford; Ruth, who married John Hall; Obed; Roxana, who married Ebenezar Weekes, jr.; Asenath, who married Levi Snow; Tamesin, who died unmarried in 1807; Lucy, who married Enoch E. Harding; Ebenezar; Seth; and Sabra, who married Benjamin K. Hall.

Note: Ebenezar Broadbrooks, the son, born in 1717, married Lydia Smalley, daughter of Jonathan and Damaris Smalley, in 1747, and settled upon the spot where the house of the late Ezekiel Wentworth stands, where his father Beriah had resided. He removed in the latter years of his life to the house of his son, Ebenezar, standing a few rods eastward of the Brooks' mansion, on the south side of the road, where he died in the eight-sixth year of his age, April 20, 1802. His wife, Lydia, died March 3, 1802, in her sevety-eighth year. They were both members of the Congregational church, he uniting in 1766, the first year of Mr. Mill's pastorate. He had six children: Hannah, who married Daniel Chase; Ebenezar, born December 19, 1750; Eleanor, who married Benjamin Hall; Lydia, who married Nathaniel Robbins; Nathan; and Sylvia, who married first Nehemiah Nickerson, and 2d Benjamin Nickerson.

Note: Obed Brooks, son of Obed and Sally Brooks, whose engraved likeness appears on the opposite page, was born in Harwich, August 21, 1809. Deciding upon entering the mercantile business, he went to Boston in April, 1826, and entered as a clerk, the store of Thompson & Willey, No. 57 Long wharf. With them he remained until 1830, when he became a deputy wharfinger, on Long wharf, under Elijah Loring. Here he remained until 1831, when he entered business at No. 57 Long wharf, with Thomas Rand, under the firm of Rand & Brooks. They dissolved partnerships in 1833, when Mr. Brooks returned to his native village, and entered his father's store, and commenced business under the firm of Obed Brooks & Co. He relinquished the business in 1856, to become the cashier of the Bank of Cape Cod, just established, and also treasurer of the Cape Cod Five Cents Saving's Bank then going into operation. Mr. Brooks retired from his position in the former, which had now become the Cape Cod National Bank, in 1865, and from his position in the latter in 1880. He was appointed one of the commissioners to examine Cape Cod harbor in 1852, and the same year by Governor Boutwell, was appointed commissioner of the Mashpee Indians.

He was elected in 1852 town clerk and treasurer, but held the offices only one term. He was postmaster four years, succeeding his father in 1854. He held the offices of justice of the peace' and notary public many years. He was the efficient clerk and treasurer of the Congregational society for nearly a quarter of a century. In all the movements for public improvements in the town he took an active part. The erection of the church edifice in the village, in 1832, and its renovation in 1854, the establishment of the two banks in 1855, and the extension of the railroad from Yarmouth were largely due to his influence, and determined and persistent effort.

He married for his first wife Miss Clementine Guigon, daughter of Peter Guigon at Boston, January 22, 1836. She was a native of Montauban, France. She died at Harwich, June 14, 1847. For his second wife, he married Susan Dodge of Harwich, daughter of Dr. Franklin Dodge. His daughter, Mary Frances, born September 13, 1837, married Rev. James McLean in 1864, and died in the same house in which she was born, October 9, 1887, leaving five children: Helen C., James Walter, Henry B., Lewis G. and Ralph D. Mr. Brooks died November 18, 1882.