Jonas Munroe

Notes:

Jonas was a lieutenant in the United States dragoons, he resigned his commission in 1807, but when the war of 1812 broke out, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the infantry. He was engaged in the recruiting service for a short time.

He was affectionately known to thousands as "Uncle Jonas". He kept the Monroe Tavern until the building of the railroad abolished stage-coaches and brought an end to the famous hostelries that had lined the coach routes. Because Lexington was on the main thoroughfares from New Hampshire to Boston, the Munroe Tavern was always crowded with guests, while its barn and the sheds that used to join it have often sheltered a hundred horses.

He drowned while bathing at Somerville, Massachusetts.

References:

(1) Clan Munro library - "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Massachusetts
Munroes", 2nd edition, by R. S. Munroe, (1986) -
13-34-5, 13-34-51

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Jonas married Abigail Cook Smith on 17 Mar 1814. Abigail was born on 29 Jun 1792; died on 4 Apr 1861 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William was born at the Monroe Tavern in Lexington, Massachusetts

William was educated in the public schools of Lexington and at the Academy. When he was quite a young man, he went out to that part of the "Western Reserve" now know as Ohio in the interest of his uncle, Edward Munroe, who had large enterprises there. He made the journey by canal boat, stage and on horseback.

For three or four years he was actively engaged in establishing mills, stores, etc., at Munroe Falls, near what is now Akron; but the great financial panic of 1837 put a stop to these enterprises and compelled his return.

Soon after returning from the west he established himself in partnership with his cousin William Muzzey, as agents in Philadelphia for the New England Glass Co., which was for many years the leading manufacturers of glass in the United States.

He remained in Philadelphia until after the Civil War, when he returned to Boston as treasurer of the New England Glass Co., taking up again his residence in the old tavern. Because of the dicovery of natural gas, the glass industry was removed to the region where this ideal fuel for glass making was found, and the stockholders of the company voted to dissolve the company. The work of closing up the affairs of the concern and of disposing of its properties fell entirely upon William and occupied him for several years. When this work was finished, he retired from business and devoted himself to the care of his place and to the entertainment of the hosts of pilgrims to Lexington, to whom he delighted to tell the story of the "Battle" and of the "Tavern."

Gradually under the weight of years, he grew weaker, but did not suffer from pain or disease. He died peacefully in the afternoon of 28 Aug 1902.

He was always proud of his native town and until feebleness prevented, he was faithful in his duties as a citizen and was a constent attendant at the First Parish Church. He was of the fifth generation of Munroes who were members of this church.
He served on the committee which planned the centennial celebration of 19Apr 1875. He also was instrumental in having tablets placed on the historic sites in Lexington and served on other committees having to do with the welfare of the town.

His funeral was held at two o'clock on 30 Aug 1902 at his home. The Rev. C. A. Staples officiated and read appropriate passages from the scriptures and referred with deep feeling to his many years of intimacy with the deceased. He spoke with eloquence of William's uprightness, kindness and unfailing courtesy, summing up his character as that of a Christian gentleman.

References:

(1) Clan Munro library - "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Massachusetts
Munroes", 2nd edition, by R. S. Munroe, (1986) -
13-34-5-1

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Ref: Lexington Munroes, 2nd ed. 13-34-52

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Ref: Lexington Munroes, 2nd ed. 13-34-53

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

James spent his entire life in the immediate neighborhood of his birthplace, owning and cultivating an extensive estate known as Munroe Meadows. At one time he was a member of the firm of Sewall and Munroe, hardware dealers in Dock Square, Boston, Massachusetts, and for the firm he undertook the management of a small paper mill, located on Vine Brook at Bedford, Massachusetts. From this experience, and after the mill burned, he started a larger plant at South Lawrence, Massachusetts, which developed into the Munroe Felt and Paper Company and of which he was the president for many years.

He was a genial, courteous man, proud of Lexington, interested in improving and beautifying it, and a delightful entertainer of friends and visitors. By his will, James bequeathed to the Lexington historical Society, on behalf of his brother William and himself, that part of his real estate known as "Munroe Tavern" and a parcel of land surrounding it, to be kept forever as a token of Colonial and Revolutionary Lexington. He was a trustee of the Lexington Savings Bank.

He married the daughter of Elias and Catherine (Bartlett) Phinney.

**********
«i»The Monroe Tavern. -- Lexington Historical Society Will Open It to the Public. - From the Boston Transcript.

Pilgrims to historic Lexington are to have a new point of interest in that beautiful old town after Monday, May 14 «/i»[1911]«i», for on that date the famous Munroe Tavern bebomes a historical museum. the tavern has been closed to the public since 1856 but it is now to be open all through the summer and probably at intervals during the winter.

Under the will of James SMith Munroe, who died last December, the property was left to the Lexington Historical Society.«/i»

("The Munro Tavern" - newspaper article from an unknown newspaper from 1911)
**********

References:

(1) Clan Munro library - "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Massachusetts
Munroes", 2nd edition, by R. S. Munroe, (1986) -
13-34-54

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

James married Alice Bridge Phinney on 23 May 1854. Alice was born on 9 Nov 1826 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; died on 7 Aug 1888 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: Lexington Munroes, 2nd ed. 13-34-55

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-1 - p. 342

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Helen Hilger Gookin on 4 Jun 1885 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, USA. Helen was born on 24 Sep 1862 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John graduated from Harvard College in 1881 and from Harvard Medical School in 1885. He practiced in Boston as a surgeon, and was on the teaching staff at Harvard Medical School from 1889 to 1905. He taught first in the anatomy department and then lectured on surgery.

He was a professor at Tufts Dental School and a surgeon in Boston City Hospital from 1893 to 1903. He was also a consulting surgeon to a large number of suburban hospitals, and was a member of 18 medical, surgical and scientific societies.

His most notable work was at the Carney Hospital, where he was surgeon-in-chief from 1903 until his death, the first permanent surgical service ever established in any New England hospital. He contributed liberally to surgical literature, in which his opinions were highly respected. He was always an exemplary citizen, interested in civic and human welfare. His favorite pastime was music and he was a good violinist. He was a man of highest character and greatly admired by his friends and associates.

He lived in Brookline and Boston, Massachusetts.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-2 - p. 342-343

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

John married Mary King Squibb on 17 Nov 1887 in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, USA. Mary was born on 30 Jul 1865 in Ossining, Westchester Co., New York, USA; died on 3 Mar 1950; was buried in Mt. Auburn Cem., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

James was a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, S.B. 1882 and from 1882 to 1889 was secretary of the M.I.T. faculty. He was a life member of the American Unitarian Association. He held memberships in the following: Twentieth Century Club, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Boston City Club, American Economic Association, National Society for Promotion of Industrial Education, National Educational Association, Massachusetts Reform Club, Technology Club and he served as president of the Lexington Historical Society.

In 1907, he was apointed a member of the Massachusetts Commission for the blind and served as chairman. He was a trustee of the George O. Smith Fund and served two terms on the school committee.

In 1900, James wrote an eighty page book called, "A Sketch of the Munro Clan", also of William Munro who, deported from Scotland, settled in Lexington, Massachusetts, and some of his posterity. He also assisted Alexander Mackenzie in Mr. Mackenzie's book, "History of the Munros of Fowlis": his assistance to Mackenzie's book was supplying him with information about the Lexington, Massachusetts Munroes. Mackenzie's book deals in the most part with the Munros of Scotland.

In the preface of James Phinney's "Sketch of the Munro Clan," he says, "Learning that this (Mackenzie's) History of the Munros was in preparation, I entered into correspondence with Mr. Mackenzie, and was so far fortunate as to induce him to include in his genealogy as many of the American branches of the Munro Clan as the limited time before publication would permit us to follow up." Mackenzie's book was published in 1898 at Inverness, Scotland.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-3 - p. 343-344

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

James married Katherine Winhrop Langdon on 2 Jul 1885. Katherine was born about 1864; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-11 - p. 342

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-21 - p. 343

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
Margaret died young.

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-22 - p. 343

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Donald married Margaret Harbison on 1 May 1928. Margaret was born about 1891; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-23 - p. 343

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-31-54-24 - p. 343

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Ref: Clan Munro files - Moulton, Elizabeth - membership application

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Family/Spouse: Frederic Lansing Day. Frederic was born on 28 Sep 1890 in Prob., Boston, Massachusetts; died on 21 Nov 1981 in Princeton, Mercer Co., New Jersey, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
Alice died young.