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Anne Sargent Gage (1794-1876), nee Nancy Brown, was born out of wedlock, scandalizing late-eighteenth-century Boston society. Her parents, both from prominent Boston families, were Daniel Sargent (1764-1842), a wealthy merchant and insurance executive, and Hepzibah Atkins Brown Durfee ( -1800). Hepzibah was the daughter of Elizabeth Hayward Atkins (1728- ) and Henry Atkins (1723-1768), also a distinguished Boston merchant, and the widow of James Brown ( - ), whom she married in 1788, but who died shortly thereafter. She married, in 1796, James Durfee ( - ), with whom she had a daughter, Mary Durfee Walker (1799-1835).

For the first two years of her life, "Nancy" was raised by her mother. In 1796, her father placed her in the care of the family of a Mr. John Hall of Dorchester, Massachusetts. There she remained until 1808 when it was decided that she disappear from Boston society. She was sent to Waterford, Maine, to live with Rev. Lincoln Ripley (1761-1858) and Phebe Emerson Ripley (1772- ), sister of Rev. William Emerson (1769-1811) and aunt of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882). At that time, her name was changed to Anne Brewer. She had no further contact with her father, though he provided for her financially. Around the time of her marriage, Anne wrote to her father that she wished to be married as Anne Sargent. Her father never responded, either to agree or to disagree with her request.

On 7 October 1820, Anne went ahead and—using the name Anne Sargent—married Dr. Leander Gage (1792-1842), the son of Amos Gage (1758-1833) and Lois Hovey Gage (1759-1842) of Bethel, Maine. Dr. Gage was a physician and active community leader in Waterford, Maine. He and Anne had eight children: Phebe Hovey Gage (1821-1890); Frances Gage (1823-1904), who married Humphrey Cousens (1817- ); Irene Bliss Gage (1823-1873); Thomas Hovey Gage (1826-1909); Anne Louisa Gage (1828-1878), who married Calvin Foster ( -1898); Mary Sargent Gage (1830-1909); Lois Maria Gage (1832-1888); and George Manlius Gage (1834-1910), who married Elizabeth S. Webber ( - ). Anne Sargent Gage lived most of her life in Waterford, except for the sixteen years towards the end of her life, when she lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, with her son Thomas. She died on 21 July 1876 and was buried in Waterford next to her husband.

In addition to Leander, Amos and Lois Hovey Gage had three other children: Thomas Hovey Gage (1789-1823), who married Frances Angier Stockbridge ( -1882) and lived in Bath, Maine; William Gage (1795-1820); and Amos Gage (1797-1869). Thomas Hovey Gage's daughter, Lois Gage (1817-1876), married Joel Holkins (1812-1853).

Thomas Hovey Gage, fourth child and eldest son of Dr. Leander and Anne Sargent Gage, was a notable physician, surgeon, and community leader in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from the Harvard Medical School in 1852, and practiced in Sterling, Massachusetts, until 1857, when he removed to Worcester. He married, on 4 June 1860, Anna Maria Lane ( -1908). They had three children: Homer Gage (1861-1938); Thomas Hovey Gage (1865-1938); and Mabel Carleton Gage (1868-1952).

Homer Gage was a surgeon, industrialist, philanthropist, and civic leader in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1882 with the degree of A.B., followed by the degrees of A.M. and M.D. in 1887. For several years, he ran a general practice in Worcester, then dedicated himself entirely to surgery. Upon the unexpected death of his brother-in-law, Lucius J. Knowles ( -1920), then-president of Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Homer was elected president of that company. In 1923, he

Field of Interest

Letters and Diaries

Content Type

Letter

Duration

0 sec

Format

Text

Page Count

614

Publication Year

2011

Publisher

Alexander Street

Place Published / Released

Alexandria, VA

Subject

Letters and Diaries, History, Daily Life, Domestic life