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dleboro, Mass., and (third) Elizabeth, born Feb.
16, 1770, daughter of Hon. William Eichmond,
of Providence, E. I., and his wife Lois (Gray)
Eichmond, he a direct descendant of John Eichmond,
an early settler of Taunton, from whom
his lineage was through Edward, Silvester, William
and Barzillai Eichmond. We have the
names of seventeen of his children: Nancy;
William; Henry; Mary (all born to the first
wife); Eunice Carey; Mary (3); Isaac; Eliphalet
(all born to the second wife) ; George,
bom April 6, 1799; Elizabeth, born Dec. 17,
1800; Louisa, born Oct. 5, 1802; Albert Gray,
born April 14, 1804; Fanny, born Dec. 16,
1805; Charles Eichmond, born Nov. 21, 1807;
John Nicholas, born Oct. 3, 1809 ; Salmon,
born April 7, 1812; and Elizabeth N., bom
Dec. 14, 1814.
(VII) George Washburn, son of Isaac and
Elizabeth (Eichmond), born April 6, 1799,
married June 5, 1835, Diana Northam Mason,
of Swansea, Mass., a direct descendant of Samp-
Baptist Church in Massachusetts. The only
child of George and Diana Northam (Mason)
Washburn was George Albert, born Feb. 5,
1836.
SOUTHEASTEEN MASSACHUSETTS 595
(VIII) George Albert Washburn, son of
George and Diana Northam (Mason), was born
Feb. 5, 1836, in Swansea, Mass. He came
with his parents to Taunton, where he resided
for the remainder of his life, and where he acquired
a good public and private school education.
At the age of sixteen years be became a
clerk in the hardware, iron and steel store of
Mr. Albert G. Washburn, afterward entering
the employ of Wood & Washburn, who were engaged
in the same business. In 1857 he was admitted
as a partner in the firm, which was
known as Hunt, Harris & Co. He gained a
valuable experience in these capacities, and laid
the foundation for a successful and substantial
spected
career. His mercantile life, however, ended
on the breaking out of the Civil war, which at
families. His ice as treasurer
long and valuable serv-
and tax collector established
once aroused his patriotism and caused him
promptly to offer his services to the Union.
On April 16, 1861, young Washbum left
his business and responded to the first call for
troops, enlisting in Company C, 4th Mass. V.
I., which arrived at Fortress Monroe April
20th. This was the first company to leave
Taunton, and also the first company of the first
regiment to leave Massachusetts for the front.
By a singular coincidence his grandfather, Isaac
Washbum, a "minute-man," was in the first
company to leave Taunton in the Eevolutionary
war, departing April 20, 1775, just eighty-six
years before. Mr. Washburn went out as a sergeant,
served three months, or until the expiration
of his term of enlistment, and immediately
reentered the service as a first lieutenant in the
22d Mass. V. I., for three years. Col. Henry
Wilson commanding, attached to the 1st Di-
vision, 1st Brigade, 5th Army Corps, Army oi
the Potomac. He was wounded at the battle
of Gaines' Mill, Va., June 27, 1862, and taken
son Mason, who was a soldier in Cromwell's
army and who on the ascent of Charles II. to
the throne of England came to America, and as
early as 1649 is of record in New England. He
settled in Eehoboth, Mass., not far from 1657,
and became the progenitor of a numerous posterity.
He married Mary Butterworth, probably
daughter of John Butterworth, of prisoner, and for some time suffered the terrible
confinement of Libby prison. He was promoted
to captain to date from July 11, 1862, and was
mustered out of service to date from Jan. 5,
1863.
Captain Washburn received official notice of
honorable discharge March 8, 1863, and the next
day was elected treasurer and collector of taxes
of Taunton, which office he filled with great
Wey- credit and satisfaction for twenty-nine consecumouth,
and sister of John Butterworth, of tive years, resigning Dec. 24, 1891, at which
Swansea, Mass. For upward of one hundred time he was elected president of the Taunton
years the descendants of Mr. Mason were known National Bank. He was also clerk of the over-
as Mason elders, during, which period they
served continually in the pastorate of the first
seers of the poor from 1865 to 1882, inclusive,
a member of that body from 1883 to March,
1891, clerk of the board of assessors from 1869
to 1875, and member of the city council in
1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899
and 1900. He was secretary and treasurer of
the board of Sinking Fund Commissioners of
Taunton from 1878 to 1892, and secretary from
1892 to 1898, and in January, 1898, was elected
its chairman. He was also a trustee of the Morton
hospital and of the Taunton Savings Bank,
a member of the investment committee of the
last named institution, and a director of the
Taimton Street Eailway Company. Mr. Washburn
was an able business man, a public-spirited,
progressive citizen, and a worthy representative
of one of Taunton's oldest and most re-
his reputation for industry, honesty and faithfulness,
and won for htm a large circle of
friends. In every capacity he efficiently and
satisfactorily discharged his duties, and enjoyed
the confidence of the entire community.
Mr. Washburn married (first) Elizabeth