Millicent Waite (1787-1838)
History of Millicent Waite Curtis
Compiled by Dora M. Curtis Taylor
Compiled into Curtis Family Book
By C. Fern Burrell
Millicent Waite Was born 20 Jan. 1787 in Athol, Worchester County, Mass., and Phineas
Waite, son of Susanna Bancroft and Joseph Waite.
She was the oldest child in a family of four children her brother Joseph was born
17 Jan. 1789 and Susanna born 15 Feb. 1791; Lydia born 1 Feb. 1793. Millicent’s
mother must have died shortly after Lydia’s birth as her father married Eunice Smith at
Barrie, Franklin, Mass. On 12 July 1795.
Millicent married Nahum Curtis 29 Oct. 1808 in the First Congregational Church
in New Salem, Franklin, Mass. Her wedding dress was changeable silk shading green
and lavender.
While living in New Salem, they had three children, Sophronia, Lyman and
Phineas. Phineas died as an infant.
The family then moved to Conneaut Ville, Erie (now Crawford) County,
Pennsylvania where a son Moses was born 8 May 1816. This place was first settled
sometime in 1815; so it appears that they were among the first settlers of this place.
Another son Joseph was born here and also a daughter Mary.
On 23 Oct. 1823 my grandfather George was born in Silver Lake, (near Pontiac)
in Oakland County, Michigan. Foster, Loren and Hyrum were also born here. Loren
died as an infant.
Great Grandmother Millicent lived a rugged pioneer life, but she was always
willing to do her part. She saw to it that her children had as good an education as it was
possible for them to have. Her oldest daughter, Sophronia became a school teacher and
the younger children attended her school. His mother was a very good and religious
woman and she had her grandson George read a chapter each Sunday from the Testament
when he was quite small. He also said that she was a very good cook and one who
worried about her family.
They soon left their home in Michigan and joined the Saints in Missouri. In 1836
they bought a farm from Mr. Fletcher which they farmed for two years. It lay seven
miles east of Far West at the mouth of Log Creek, where it emptied into Shoel Creek.
The Saints began to gather here from all over the states. Both they that were driven from
their homes and they that were not. By 1838 there were from four to five thousand
people gathered at this place.
The mobs again began to drive the Saints from their homes, burning their
buildings, stealing their cattle and other property. Millicent took sick at this time and
continued to get worse. The strain was too great on her and she died 3 September 1838
and was buried on the 5th. That same day her husband and three sons were called to stand
guard to keep the mob from stealing and burning the Saints property.
After Millicent’s death her beautiful wedding gown was cut up and divided
among her children for keepsakes.