DANIEL FRASER, a retired blacksmith
of New London, Conn., is a native of Scotland. He was born in Dunkeld,
Perthshire, June 23, 1824, and is descended from a line of men sturdy and
strong, his ancestors for twelve generations having been blacksmiths. His
parents were Alexander Fraser and Betsey Newton Langlands Fraser. The family
genealogy traces back to the Fraser who fought on the field of Bannockburn
in 1314.
Donald Fraser, great-grandfather of the subject
of this biographical sketch, took an active part in the rebellion of 1745,
and lost his life in the prime of manhood by being drowned in Loch Ness
in a gallant attempt to carry provisions to Prince Charles Stuart. Grandfather
Fraser was his son, Donald, Jr., a blacksmith, who had a family of seven
sons and four daughters. It is said that the Mayor of Perth caused the
bells of the city to be rung one evening in honor of Donald and his seven
stalwart sons, who were walking together after supper, all fine-looking
men — a sight worth seeing. Grandfather Fraser lived to be ninety-six years
old. His grave is in Perth, in Gray Friars' Churchyard. Alexander Fraser,
above named, one of his seven sons, died in 1845, at the age of fifty-two,
having contracted the cholera. His wife was the daughter of Andrew Langlands,
from the borders of England.
Daniel Fraser left school when only twelve
years old, and at that age began to learn his trade, serving a regular
apprenticeship of seven years in a large shop in Dundee, receiving the
first year sixty-two and one-half cents per week, and the last year two
dollars and fifty cents per week. In 1842, when but nineteen years old,
he married, his bride being but seventeen. In 1850 they came to America,
sailing on the ship "Hudson" from Glasgow to New York City, and being ten
weeks and two days on the passage. Mr. Fraser settled in East New London
on Winthrop Point, where he bought some land, on which he has now three
buildings. For thirty-two years he worked in one shop, for Albertson &
Douglass, and at one forge. Some ten years ago he built his shop on his
own land.
Mr. Fraser's wife was before marriage Isabella
Procter. Her parents were John Procter, a farmer of Dundee, Scotland, and
his wife, Mary Ann Baker. Peter Baker, Mrs. Fraser's maternal grandfather,
was an officer in the battle of Waterloo. Mr. Procter died at the age of
forty-eight, leaving his widow with three children — Mrs. Fraser and her
two brothers — James Procter living in New London, and Alexander in Peck
Street, Norwich. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Fraser are: Donald, a farmer
and blacksmith, and father of three children; Isabella, living near her
parents, widow of James Hutchinson and mother of one son and two daughters;
Jane, wife of Alexander Waite, of East New London; Alexander, a blacksmith
in this place, unmarried; Margaret, wife of Andrew McLaughlin, of this
city, and mother of four children; James, living at home, unmarried; Elizabeth,
now Mrs. William Geer, of New London, and mother of three children; and
Almira, living at home. Donald Fraser was a volunteer soldier in the late
war, enlisting for nine months and serving a year. He was wounded three
times at Port Hudson — in the mouth, losing eleven teeth and a part of
his jaw, and in the shoulder and knee. He is married to Almira Maynard,
and has three children now living, namely: Daniel; Ida, now Mrs. Havens,
of Niantic; and Almira, who is at home with her parents. Their daughter
Anna Isabel, wife of Elmer Beck-with, of Niantic, died at the age of twenty-nine,
leaving two children. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Fraser have fifteen grandchildren
and four great-grandchildren.
Fraternally, Mr. Fraser is a Master Mason.
He is an independent voter, and has been prominently connected with the
public affairs of the city. He was Alderman for eight years, Selectman
for four years, Common Councilman for two years, and Grand Juror three
terms. During the small-pox scare he was on the Board of Health, and took
active measures for the securing of proper sanitary conditions. In religious
belief Mr, Fraser is a Presbyterian, while his wife is an Episcopalian.
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 422 - 425
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/ text are copyrighted by
Elaine
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Anne
Taylor-Czaplewski
April
2002
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