Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Weed, Miss Frances M 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 1:07 am

Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co

MISS FRANCES M. WEED. The family of which Miss Weed is a member was founded in 
America by three brothers from England, who settled in Stamford, Conn. One of 
these was her grandfather, Jonas, who served as a member of Washington's body-
guard during the Revolutionary war, and was afterward accidentally killed in 
Connecticut. His son, Munson, a native of Stamford, was bound to a trade in 
youth, but being of an adventurous disposition the confinement of his work was 
irksome to him, and he ran away to sea, shipping on a whaler engaged in the 
whaling business on the Atlantic. Later he was in the trans-Atlantic and West 
India trade. After eleven years as a sailor he returned to his home. Later he 
settled in Danby, near Ithaca, N. Y., where he engaged in farming and died in 
1867. In religion he was a Baptist. He was a cousin of Thurlow Weed, whose 
father, Hezekiah, came from England with Jonas Weed. The mother of Munson Weed 
attained a great age, lacking only a few days of one hundred years at the time 
of her death. She was related to the Wisners, of Orange County, N. Y., one of 
whom served as a commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war and was killed 
in the battle of Minisink. Her brother, Usal Knapp, was the last survivor of 
the famous Washington life guards. When he was sixteen years of age he entered 
the service as water boy for General Washington, and blacked his boots, cared 
for his horses, etc. He served for seven years in the Revolutionary war.   

For forty years he was a member of the Presbyterian church, and attended 
services regularly, even when he had rounded a century of life. He was a man 
of hospitable nature, and those who stayed beneath his roof never forgot his 
large-hearted hospitality; his guests always found their boots blacked in the 
morning, and in many other ways he showed a thoughtful courtesy and kindness 
toward every visitor. He died at Little Britain, Orange County, when one 
hundred and four years of age. His was the largest funeral ever known in the 
county. He was buried with military honors, seven military companies being 
present, and thirteen cannon were fired over his grave. His body was interred 
at Washington's headquarters, and his resting place is marked by a monument, 
erected by the state, and bearing the inscription, "The last of the 
bodyguard." 

The marriage of Munson Weed united him with Miss Polly Bissell, who was born 
in Rutland, Vt., September 25, 1796, and settled at Danby in 1818. She was a 
daughter of Aaron and Mary Bissell, and a sister of Martin C. Bissell, whose 
sketch appears in this volume. Surviving her husband for many years, she 
passed away April 6, 1891, at the age of ninety-four years, six months and 
eleven days. She lived under the administration of every president of the 
United States up to her death. She distinctly remembered having heard the guns 
at the battle of Lake Champlain. Her memory remained unimpaired until death. 
Of her ten children six are living, namely: William, of West Danby, N. Y.; 
Harriet, Mrs. H. N. Bement, of Pennsylvania; Almira, who married Alfred Vose, 
of Spencer, N. Y.; Mary E., who married D. T. Fish, late of Newfield, N. Y.; 
Edwin, a contractor in Ithaca, N. Y.; and Frances M. Not a little of the 
success which the children have attained is due to the influence of their 
mother, who was a woman of remarkably strong character and intelligence.

In the public schools of Danby, N. Y., and the college at Naperville, Ill., 
Miss Weed received an excellent education, and after leaving college she was 
engaged in educational work in this county for a number of years. Of a 
benevolent disposition, she is identified with the Dorcas Society and devotes 
much of her time to relieving the wants of the worthy poor. In the Ladies 
Order of Maccabees she holds office as keeper of records. She is a believer in 
the teachings of the Swedenborgian Church, of which her uncle, M. C. Bissell, 
was one of the leading members, and to which he contributed much of his 
fortune. She maintains an intelligent interest in public affairs and upholds 
Republican principles. The management of her property interests requires much 
of her time and thought, and in it she has displayed business ability and good 
judgment. She is the owner of four acres comprising her homestead at No. 1502 
Cass street, and also owns two hundred and twenty acres near Chicago, on the 
Wabash Railroad, and within a few rods of the feeder for the canal.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present

Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900

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