Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

death. Nicholas Fessenden married Margaret
Cheney, who was born November
26, 1656, and died December 10, 1717,
daughter of Thomas and Jane (Atkinson)
Cheney, of Cambridge.
(II) William Fessenden, son of Nich-
olas and Margaret (Cheney) Fessenden,
was born in 1693, and lived in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, where he was a carpen-
ter. He died in that city, May 26, 1756.
On October 12, 1716, he married Martha
Wyeth, a daughter of William and Martha
(Brown) Wyeth.
(III) William (2) Fessenden, son of
William (1) and Martha (Wyeth) Fessenden,
was born December 7, 1718, and
died June 17, 1758. He graduated from
Harvard College in 1737, and for several
years taught school in Cambridge. He
married, March 31, 1740, Mary Palmer,
daughter of Stephen Palmer; she died
March 22, 1773.
(IV) Rev. William (3) Fessenden, son
of William (2) and Mary (Palmer) Fessenden,
was born November 3, 1747, and
died March 5, 1805. In 1768 he gradu-
ated from Harvard College. For a time
he taught school in Topsfield, and in
October, 1775, was ordained to the min-
istry in Fryeburg, Maine. Rev. Mr. Fes-
senden was the first minister of the first
church in Fryeburg. The writer, Souther,
said of Rev. William Fessenden
Dignified in bearing, gentle in spirit, hospitable
to a fault, fearless and uncompromising in main-
taining right, yet eminently courteous, he left his
heirs that good name much rather to be chosen
than riches.
Rev. Mr. Fessenden married for his
second wife, Sarah Clement, of Dunbarton,
New Hampshire.
(V) General Samuel Fessenden, son of
Rev. William (3) Fessenden, was born
in Fryeburg, Maine, July 16, 1784. From
his youth he was very studious ; he grad-
uated from Harvard College in due course
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
of time, and then read law in the office of
Judge Dana. In 1809 he was admitted
to the bar, and began the practice of his
profession in Gloucester, Maine. While
still a young man he connected himself
with the military activities of his State
and rose to the rank of major-general, and
for many years was in command of a di-
vision of citizen soldiery. From Gloucester
General Fessenden removed to Windham
and in 1822 was settled in Portland.
From 1814 to 1819 General Fessenden
was a representative to the General Court,
and in 1818 served as Senator. For a
half century he was engaged in the prac-
tice of his profession, and was among the
best known lawyers of his day. He was
a Federalist and later an Anti-Slavery
man ; in 1841 he joined the ranks of the
Abolitionists and adhered to their princi-
ples until the formation of the Republican
party. General Fessenden was active in
the organization of the latter and worked
hard in its interests. In 1813 he mar-
ried Deborah Chandler, of New Glou-
cester.
(VI) Rev. Samuel Clement Fessenden,
son of General Samuel and Deborah
(Chandler) Fessenden, was born May 7,
1815, and died April 18, 1882. He graduated
from Bowdoin College in 1834, and
three years later from the Bangor Theo-
logical Seminary. In 1838 he was ordained
to the ministry, and became pastor of the
first Congregational church in Thomaston,
Maine. For twenty years he labored in
the interests of his flock, and in 1858 took
up the study of law, subsequently being
admitted to the bar. Rev. Mr. Fessenden
took up the practice of his profession and
made a marked success. He was appointed
judge of the Municipal Court, and
was a member of the Board of Examiners
in the Patent Office in 1865. In 1861 Rev.
Mr. Fessenden was elected to the Thirty-
seventh Congress, which office he filled in