AMASA SOUTHWORTH

(1807-1872)

Amasa Southworth (2) was born March 4, 1807, in Stoughton; had a meager, common-school education ; was early inured to labor, and for most of his life worked diligently with both head and hands. His youth was passed assisting his father in farming and in the mill. On becoming of age, in 1828, with his brother, Consider A., he formed the manufacturing partnership of C. A. & A. Southworth. Their mill was built on the site now occupied (1883) by the mill of Consider Southworth & Brother. About 1829 they added a mill on the site of the present mill of A. Southworth & Co., West Stoughton. In 1857, Amasa purchased the interest of his brother in this mill, and took as partners his son, Massena B., and son-in-law, Edwin S. Henry, forming the firm of A. Southworth & Co., under which name business is still conducted, and manufactures Sea Island and fancy cotton, harness twine, line twine, threads, etc. In 1859, Mr. Southworth sold his interest to his son, William S., who then became of age. Mr. Southworth married, March 4, 1829, Abigail, daughter of Asa and Polly (Kent) Sherman, of Marshfield. From Marcia A. Thomas' "Memorials of Marshfield," we copy this: "William Sherman had a garden place at Duxbury, 1637, and lands towards Green Harbor, 1640. He early settled on the north side of the highlands, called on early records, White's Hill, near Peregrine White's. He had John (born 1646), William, and perhaps others." From its location and the family name, this was written of Mrs. Southworth's ancestors, as this describes the old homestead of her birth. Her father, Asa Sherman, born April 12, 1773, was a farmer of Marshfield, and owned and commanded a coasting vessel. He was a militia captain, an active and energetic man, well acquainted with many people, and held in high repute by his townsmen. He married Polly Kent, and had Polly, born Sept. 15, 1799; Asa, born Feb. 28, 1801; Wealthy, born Feb. 22, 1803; Abigail, born Aug. 15, 1806; Alice W., born Feb. 24, 1810; and William, born May 25, 1813. Social, honest, patriotic, and upright, he died April 26, 1870, aged ninety-seven. His wife, born Dec. 28, 1775, died Jan. 10, 1878, aged one hundred and two years and thirteen days. She was a lady of the old school, of sweet disposition and courteous manners, and much beloved. The children, of Amasa and Abigail Southworth are A. Malvina, born Dec. 10, 1830, married E. S. Henry, has three living children; Walter E., born July 16, 1864; Alice S., born June 29, 1867 ; and Ella S., born Jan. 14,1871. Massena B., born Jan. 7, 1834, married Ellen E., daughter of Albert G. and Hannah Vose (Gay) Eaton, March 12, 1866. Their children are Grace E., born April 2, 1871; Fred. W., born Sept. 25, 1874; and Inez M., born Feb. 26, 1880. William L., born June 9, 1839, married Martha E., daughter of Orin and Polly (Hayden) Belcher, Jan. 6, 1861. Their children are Edith G., born Sept. 26, 1869, and William B., born Nov. 9, 1871. Amasa E., born March 9, 1844, married Abbie M., daughter of Charles and Lydia (Keene) Dorman, of Rockport, Mass., Dec. 25, 1866. Their children are Edwin W., born Sept. 22, 1867; Abbie D., born Feb. 10, 1877; and Chester Dean, born March 5, 1882. Amasa E. resides in East Somerville, and is a member of the firm of Hyde & Southworth, wholesale grocers, Boston, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Amasa Southworth commenced housekeeping in a small house near the present mill of A. Southworth & Co., and, after several removals, they finally occupied, in 1836, the house which was Mr. Southworth's home till death, and now the residence of his widow. This house was separated by a driveway from one built exactly like it by his brother, Consider A., which has been destroyed by fire.

Amasa Southworth was liberal in all things of a social nature, fond of home and domestic circle, of good judgment, strong character, firm principle, successful in business; in politics a Democrat, and in religion a Universalist. The life of a private business man, whose promises are kept and whose credit is good, is apt to be uneventful, as far as the purposes of a biographical sketch is concerned. Such a life is so because good credit accompanies or follows correct business habits, and such habits mean the smooth running of affairs, when each day, though it brings its work and obligations, leaves its obligations complied with and its labor performed. Such lives are the foundation and superstructure of society, and such a life was Amasa Southworth's. The famous and eventful lives may well be considered the architectural embellishments, but they must have the solid structure to form themselves upon. Life is not a dream is the assertion of more than one experience, and the lives of great events are rendered possible only by just such lives as the one in question. Mrs. Southworth, his companion of many years, with unusual activity of mind and body, surrounded by her children, is "only waiting" for the coming of the "twilight" to join her beloved husband.

Source: D. Hamilton Hurd, History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. (Philadelphia, Pa., J. W. Lewis & Co., 1884), pg. 421-422.