d enterprises
became the special objects of their encouragement. Where avenues of
prosperity and success were lacking, they must be created; and in
recognition of this necessity this family took the lead in making the
seemingly inaccessible, accessible, and the far, near, by building a
railway across the Continent. In this barest and most meagre outline of
the history of a single family may be found in miniature an outline of
the history of the development of Massachusetts, of New England.

In the early part of the seventeenth century the Ames family became
prominently identified with the Puritan movement in England. William
Ames, the divine and author, was among those who for conscience's sake
forsook his home, finding refuge in Holland. He became known to fame not
only as an able writer, but as Professor in the Franeker University.
Richard Ames was a gentleman of Bruton, Somersetshire, England. Neither
of these cast in their fortunes with the first Puritan settlers of
Massachusetts; but it is doubtful if the sufferings for conscience's
sake of those who remained behind were after all less rigorous than were
the sufferings of those who, self-exiled, sought homes in New England.
The two branches of the family were united by marriage and from them
descended the Honorable Oliver Ames, Lieutenant Governor of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Ames family commence their genealogical tree with the first New
England ancestor, William Ames, son of Richard Ames of Bruton,
Somersetshire, who came to this country in 1635, and settled in
Braintree in 1638. A few years later he was joined by his brother, John
Ames, who settled in Bridgewater.

John Ames, only son of William Ames, was born in Braintree in 1651;
married Sarah Willis, daughter of John Willis; and in 1672 settled in
Bridgewater with his uncle, John Ames, who was childless, and whose heir
he became in 1697. He had five sons, one of whom was Nathaniel, the
grandfather of Fisher Ames. His estate was settled in 1723.

Thomas Ames, fourth, son of John and Sarah (Willis) Ames, was born in
Bridgewater in 1682: married in 1706 Mary Hayward, daughter of Joseph
Hay ward.

Thomas Ames, eldest son of Thomas and Mary (Hayward) Ames, was born in
Bridgewater in 1707; married in 1731 Keziah Howard, daughter of Jonathan
Howard; and died in 1774.

Captain John Ames, second son of Thomas and Keziah (Howard) Ames, was
born in Bridgewater in 1738: married in 1759 Susannah Howar