Nancy Ruth was born in Stetson, ME on October 5, 1823 to Oliver Hartwell Jr. and Keisha (Matthews) (Chase) Hartwell. Her father had served during the Revolutionary War. Both of her parents had been married previously, and surprisingly she was not the youngest—she had a sister named Roxanna born in 1826. In 1840 Nancy married Robert Stetson. He died in 1850, and she married his younger brother Sherbourne in 1851. He died around 1861. She had six children, two with her first hu

Edwin was born in Dedham, MA on March 24, 1833 to Ezra W. and Linda D. (Guild) Taft. He was the second of their six children. Edwin attended Leicester Academy and graduated in the early 1850s. He married Sarah Frances Southwick on June 6, 1863 in Groton, MA where they were both living. They had at least two children: a daughter Fanny born around 1868 and a son Frank born in 1869. By trade Edwin was a watch maker and jeweler. He worked for the American Watch Company for most o