New England figures boldly in Mary Baker Eddy’s ancestry

I thought possibly that Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, might have been born an Eddy, and thus a cousin of mine as a descendant of William Eddye, an Anglican priest of Cranbrook, England.

It turns out she was an Eddy by marriage, as the wife of Asa Gilbert Eddy.

Mary was born Mary Morse Baker on July 16, 1821, in Bow, N.H. She was the youngest of six children of Mark Baker and Abigail Barnard (Ambrose) Baker.

She was married first to George Washington Glover in 1843. He died the next year, shortly before the birth of their son, George Glover. She next married Daniel Patterson in 1853. And finally, she married Asa Gilbert Eddy in 1877.

The Web site of the Mary Baker Eddy Library notes that during the Civil War, an influence on the development of her spiritual approach to health was Portland healer Phineas Quimby.

By the time of her death in 1910, she had written “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, and at age 87 started the Christian Scientist Monitor. All this she accomplished without ever being allowed to vote.

Mary’s paternal grandparents were Joseph Baker, son of Joseph and Hannah (Lovewell) Baker, and Marian Moore, daughter of John Moore and Margaret (Jack) Moore.

Her maternal grandparents were Nathaniel and Phebe Ambrose of Pembroke, N.H.

Mary’s third husband, Asa Gilbert Eddy, was a weaver from Londonderry, Vt., and one of her early students of Christian Science. He lived just five years after their marriage, but notably they had moved to Boston to further her work.

From the Rev. William Eddye and Mary (Fosten) of Cranbrook, England, Asa’s ancestry comes down through emigrant John Eddy and Amy (Doggett), Samuel Eddy and Sarah (Meade), Samuel Eddy and Elizabeth (Woodward), Ebenezer Eddy and Ruth (Ward), Abel Eddy and Abigail (Conant), and Asa Eddy and Betsey (Smith).

Asa Gilbert Eddy was a fourth cousin to my great-great-great grandfather, Silas Harris Cummings of Greenville. So, Asa would be my fourth cousin, five times removed – because I am five generations removed from that relationship.

The Orono Bicentennial will be held next year. Activities will include a founding day celebration, parades, home and garden tours, road and bicycle races, community picnics, class reunions, a postage stamp cancellation, golf tournament, craft show, yard sale, antiques show, concerts, dinner and an art show.

Members of the bicentennial committee also plan to offer a cookbook, a calendar with pictures of Orono’s historic buildings, an oral history project, commemorative plates, coins and pottery.

Items for sale on the Web site, www.orono2006.com, include Scott Peterson’s “Orono,” part of the Images of America photographic history series, and Sherman Hasbrouck’s map book of Orono, based on recent survey work by the Sewall Co. of Old Town. The maps include the lot boundaries and outlines of every building in Orono, with lots identified by street number. A copy may be viewed at the municipal building.

Co-chairmen of the bicentennial committee are Ginny Whitaker and John Hackney. The group is looking for volunteers.

3312. GRAY. Seeking death date for Caleb Atwater Gray, who was born March 6, 1829, in West Sedgwick. His death is known to have occurred between Nov. 29, 1869, and Aug. 27, 1875. Family tradition has it that he was dying of consumption (tuberculosis). He may have been a Methodist. Carle G. Gray, 1922 US Hwy 1, Sullivan, ME 04664.

3313. Paradise Dance Hall. Seeking picture of Paradise Dance Hall, which burned in 1933 in East Hampden. Richard Newcomb, 205 Western Ave., Hampden 04444; 862-3633.

3314. HART-PACKARD-PARKER. Looking for information on my great-grandparents, Silas Hart and Angeline (Packard). In 1856, Silas was married to Sarah Parker. In the 1860 census, he was with Angeline and three children in Addison. David was born 1863, either at Jonesport or Addison. M. Bass, 501 Union St. Lot 16, Bangor, ME 04401; Mackie1944@aol.com.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or send queries by e-mail, familyti@bangordailynews.net.