BY J. W. FELLOWS.
The ancestors of the Cumner family were of English origin. The name is first discovered in the period following the supremacy of the Norman rule,—the return from the dynasty of the Conqueror to the ascendency of the English-Saxon line. It was first spelled Comnor, and later Cumnor, meaning "hospitality to strangers," or a "place of hospitality," and comes through the Saxon branch. To this period may be referred the formation of many English family names,—often derived from some unimportant circumstance, or suggested by personal characteristics. These became marks of distinction, new titles to manhood, and were proudly bequeathed by father to son,—"inherited sur-names."
During the century following the loss of Normandy, the Anglo-Saxon, as a written language, having been banished from courts and superseded in all legal papers by the Latin, became dearer to the common people as a spoken language, preserving their cherished objects and transmitting leading sentiments. It increased its power and volume by building new terms and means of expression, and particularly by multiplying its patronymics. In a comparatively short space of time the language had become vernacular, and fairly entitled to be styled English, rich in the idioms and proper names of its own creation and outgrowth.
"The history of words," says Trench, "is the history of ideas," and he might have said of people and nations. They are not only the "vehicle of thought," but they tell anew the story of their times and enrich the great body of history with countless incidents of value and importance. In studying their genealogy, the English-speaking people find the starting-point of many an illustrious name in the peculiar circumstances of those mediæval times,—the natural product of the mingling of different tongues, and the constant struggle between feudalism and servitude.
The famous old manor-house, Cumnor Castle, so celebrated in romance, once enjoyed the rent-fee and service of a large body of retainers, and carried for many a year, by reason of its feudal allotments, a numerous vassalage. Its walls have long since fallen into shapeless ruins, but the lands of its tenantry now embrace the beautiful village of Cumnor. The families bearing this name have not been numerous in England, but have maintained their lineage with remarkable directness. The earliest trace of these people shows that they belonged to the industrial classes,—the guilds-people, who in the latter part of the seventeenth century had attained such prominence as to nearly control the business interests of the great metropolis, and to whom the Lord Mayor of London was pleased to say on a memorable occasion, "While our gracious nobility are the leaf and flower of the kingdom, ye are the sturdy trunk and branches."
The subject of this sketch belongs to the third generation in America. His grandfather Robert Francis Cumner came to this country when about fifteen years of age, under circumstances of a very interesting character. In June, 1774, while walking in the streets of London, he was seized by a "gang of pressmen" from the ship Somerset, sent out to recruit his Majesty's marine. He was carried directly on board, forced to become one of the crew, and do the duty of a common sailor. He was not allowed the privilege of communicating with his friends, and no tidings from him or knowledge of his situation were received during the long cruise of the Somerset in distant waters, until she appeared in Boston harbor and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. Her position and the service she rendered the British troops on that memorable day are well known in history. From her decks came the first fatal shot, and under the fire of her guns the broken and retreating ranks of royalists found protection.
The scenes of that bloody struggle made a deep impression upon the mind of young Cumner, and fixed his determination to take no part in the work of subjugation. Circumstances fortunately soon favored his settled purpose. The Somerset not long after the battle "got aground," probably somewhere in the lower part of Massachusetts bay. During their efforts to get afloat, some of the crew went ashore, among them the Cumner boy, who immediately availed himself of the opportunity to escape from his unwilling service. While following the highway into which he first came, near the shore where lay the stranded Somerset he was overtaken by a Quaker on horseback, who, learning his situation and purpose to obtain his freedom from the "British yoke," invited our young hero to "get up behind," and, throwing his gray cloak over the lad, soon carried him beyond the king's power.
He settled in Wareham, Mass., learned the tailor's trade and began the permanent business of his life. October 20, 1785, he married Miss Sylvia Sturtevant, whose family connections were very worthy and highly respected. Her father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and fell on the battle-field fighting for independence. The Sturtevant people have received honorable mention in the annals of history, and their name is written among those who deserve well of their country. Not long after his marriage he moved to Sandwich, Mass., from that place to Wayne, in the state of Maine, where he resided during the remainder of his life. He was successful in business and became a prominent and highly respected citizen. He was a man of modest and retiring habits and exemplary character, but of indomitable will and inflexible adherence to what he believed to be right. If his life were the subject of our sketch, we could fill it with incidents showing his remarkable tenacity of purpose. Robert Francis and Sylvia Cumner had two children,—John, born January 19, 1788, and Polly, a few years younger. He died February 5, 1825, and his wife, March 26, 1826, and their remains were interred in the Evergreen cemetery in Wayne.
John Cumner was but a few months old when the family moved from Sandwich, Mass., to Wayne. He was of a sanguine active nature and early evinced the character of a sincere and zealous worker in religious matters. He obtained a fair education, and although to a certain extent compelled to work on the farm and devote himself to that kind of employment, his thoughts ran upon matters more congenial to his nature. When about eighteen years of age he was employed by Gen. Landsell to take charge of his farm in Bridgewater, Mass., where he remained several summer seasons. During this time he became acquainted with Miss Hannah Thomas Bartlett, of Bridgewater, whom he married July 11, 1813. He settled in Wayne, upon the farm which became the homestead, and was so occupied by the family during his many years of labor and life in the ministry.
He was associated with the society of the Methodist Episcopal church, and interested in the affairs of that denomination, at the early age of nineteen years, and soon after appointed a class leader and licensed to preach. His labors were attended with marked success, and at the annual meeting of the general conference for Maine, in 1833, he was admitted to membership and received his first appointment. He continued in the active ministry until 1852, when failing health obliged him to cease labor; but his love for the church and his zeal in the cause of its established creeds continued unabated during his remaining years. He died February 5, 1861, closing a life of industry and devotion, in which he had accomplished more good than usually falls to the lot of man. His wife died December 5, 1852. She was very beautiful when young, and was much beloved and admired by her wide circle of friends. Possessed of an earnest and devotional nature, she entered with ardent sympathy into the plans and labors of her husband; faithfully bearing her share of life's varied duties,—firmly in the hour of trial, and with amiable companionship when prosperity filled the measure of their ambition. They had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. Three others have deceased,—Maryetta in 1871, and Francis and James in 1881. The remaining members of the family are Cathamander, William B., John T., Nathaniel W., Charles W., and Benjamin G. Cumner.