Genealogy: The MacLarens of Lyndonville, VT
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Most of the MacLaren information is from my mother's (Ruth Trask) "Up Till Now," a brief biography she wrote for school when she was 14 (1944).
John MacLaren
John MacLaren settled in Barnet, Vermont in 1751. He was mentioned in a Col. Harvey's journal as a "joiner" from Perth in 1774. He subscibed five pounds sterling, entitling him two shares in the land for the company. He worked as a carpenter and a farmer. He served 34 days in the Revolution, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He married Jane Waddell in 1790.
Jane Waddell was born in Erskine, Scotland. Her grandfather helped 75 persecuted persons to escape from the barred hold of a prison ship. He cut a hole in the side of the wooden vessel and the prisoners swam to shore. For this aid in the escape, he was constantly persued by Charles II's men and would have been shot if found.
On June 13, 1813, Mary Cross married Duncan McLaren (MacLaren?). They were Alice MacLaren Fisher's grandparents on her father's side.
Alice MacLaren
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| Alice MacLaren in the 1880s | Alice MacLaren Fisher with her Great-grandson Dana Cook, Late 1940s |
Here is the obituary of Alice MacLaren Fisher, my great grandmother. It appeared in a Vermont newspaper, probably the Caledonia Record.
Alice Carlotta MacLaren was born in December 3, 1866 at Johnson Vermont, the daughter of Carlos and Augusta (Bastin) MacLaren. The family home in her early youth was North Hyde Park, VT. She was graduated from Johnson Normal School in 1885, and taught in the public schools in Williamson and North Wolcott.
On June 14, 1892 at Johnson, she was united in marriage to George Edwin Fisher of Lyndonville. Two children were born to the union, a son Clayton and a daughter Marion, who became Mrs. Lewis D. Shonyo. Mrs. Shonyo died Mar. 17, 1939. After a long career as a train dispatcher, Mr. Fisher died at Lyndonville Jan. 11, 1941.
Mrs. Fisher was a most devoted wife and mother, whose tender care eased the declining years of her husband and a number of relatives. She was a life-long member of the Congregational Church and was long active in the Shakespeare Club, the Mothers' Club and the Lyndon Woman's Club. Amid exceptionally heavy home cares, she found time to be a loyal friend and neighbor to all who knew her. Her long and useful life came to a close after a brief illness at Brightlook Hospital on May 18, 1950. She will be deeply missed by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
Mrs. Fisher is survived by her son Clayton of New London, NH, two grandaughters, Ruth Ann Shonyo of Lyndonville and Mrs. Alice Fisher Cook of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and three great-grandchildren, Dana, Allison and Polly Cook.
The Funeral was held at Lyndonville Congregational Church, Sunday, May 21 at 2 o'clock with Rev. Hugh Thompson officiating. Bearers were Charles Leach, Edwin Daniels, Conrad Spencer and Francis Charron. The flowers were many and beautiful.