The coat-of-arms of the Furness (Furnace or Furnese) family of England, is described: A talbot sejant sable. also: Argent a talbot sejant sable in chief three crescents gules. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet a lion's paw holding a lance all proper. The two are similar, indicating relationship in the various branches. The name is derived from the place-name, Firness, Lancashire, celebrated for its fine monastery. The place itself may have taken its name originally from the old location of an iron furance there.

David Furness, the first in this country, was born in England in 1667, died at Marblehead, Mass. Sept. 4, 1727. He married, at Marblehead, June 2, 1692, Sarah Brimblecorn, who died there Feb. 27, 1728, in her sixty-seventh year. His parents may have come to this country, but no trace of them has been found. Three sisters apparently came, however.
Christian Furness married at Marblehead, Nov. 26, 1702, John Merritt.
Sarah Furness, married there Jan. 21, 1702-03, John Foster.
Mary Furness married there, Oct. 19, 1704, Joseph Doliber.
Children of David Furness and Sarah Furness, baptized at Marblehead, Feb. 11, 1704-05:
1. David, settled at Marblehead.
2. Susanna.
3. Thomas, married Prudence ____, and had a family at Marblehead.
Jonathan and Benjamin Furness, of Boston, may also have been their children. The similarity of names in the two families and other evidence shows near relationship.
Jonathan Furness married at Boston, Sept. 16, 1731, Elizabeth Milliken, and he died there April, 1745, leaving one son, John, born Sept. 3, 1733, ancestor of H.H. Furness, and author, and other prominent Americans. Descendants lived at Medford and Greenwich, Mass.

(I) Benjamin Furness, brother of Jonathan Furness, and son or nephew of David Furness, of Marblehead, married at Boston, Nov. 9, 1745, sister of Elizabeth, who married Jonathan Furness. Their children are not recorded, but in 1790 we find Benjamin, with his son of the same name, living in Petersham, Worcester county, Mass. The federal census of that year shows that he had in his family two females.
Benjamin Furness was deputy quartermaster in the revolution from July 2, 1779 to Oct. 8, 1779, in the Penobscot Expedition, the roll of which was dated at Boston. (Vol. vi, p. 208, Mass. Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolution.)

(II) Benjamin (2), son of Benjamin (1) Furness, was born in Boston or vicinity, about 1760-65. He settled at Petersham about the close of the revolution.
He married Rosanna ____. In 1790 the census shows he had two males under sixteen and one female in his family.
Children, born at Petersham:
Orlando, born Jan. 9, 1788, see forward.
Artemas Rogers, Feb. 14, 1790.
George Augustus, Jan. 15, 1792.
Betsey, March 6, 1794.
Polly, May 8, 1796.
Charles Henry, Feb. 12, 1799.
Mehitable Harris, April 4, 1801.
Harmon Harris, Dec. 7, 1802.
James Eliot, Aug. 13, 1805.
Daniel Hubbard, Dec. 8, 1807.

(III) Orlando, son of Benjamin (2) Furness, was born at Petersham, Mass., Jan. 9, 1788. He and the remainder of the family left their native town and he was one of the early settlers at Malone, N.Y. He was for many years in the hotel business.
He married Polly (Mary) Goodnough.
Children:
Mary, married Philip B. Miller.
Sarah, married a Mr. Kidder.
Lydia, married John Hutton.
Helen, married Nathaniel Knapp.
John Warren, married Clara ____, a Flemish woman.
Henry, married Elmira Case.
Orlando, see forward.
George D., unmarried.

(IV) Orlando (2), son of Orlando (1) Furness, was born about 1810, in Malone, N.Y. He had a common and academic school education. From Malone he went to Mobile, Alabama, where he was a grocer and banker, and later to New Orleans, Mississippi, where he was engaged in the cotton business. He finally returned to Malone, however, and died there in 1857.
He married Virginia Magee, born in the south, daughter of William Magee.
Child: Henry, see forward.

(V) Dr. Henry Furness, son of Orando (2) Furness, was born in Bay St. Louis, Hancock county, Mississippi, Feb. 24, 1850. He was educated in the public schools of Malone and Franklin Academy, N.Y., the University of Alabama and subsequently in the Medical School of the University of New York, from which he received the degree of M.D. in 1875. He is self-educated, working his way through the university and medical college. He began to practice his profession at Windsor, Vermont, and for a time was physician to the state prison there. Since 1880 he has been located at Malone, N.Y., in general practice, in which he has been notably successful. While his practice has been general he has given much attention to surgery and for the past fifteen or twenty years has been using hypnotic suggestion for the cure and amelioration of disease, in which he has been signally successful.
He is a member of the Northern New York Medical Association; the Franklin County Medical Society and the New York State Medical Society.
In religion he is an Episcopalian; in politics an Independent.
He married, in 1883, Nellie M., born at Rouse's Point, daughter of Benjamin Webster, of Malone. She died in 1886. They had one child, William W., born May 30, 1884, died Feb. 11, 1895.

RETURN TO INDEX

Have these webpages helped you?
Please let us know in the Guestook.

[ Read / Sign my guestbook ]

Get a free Guestbook