John Wiggin Colcord was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Oct. 13, 1818. He fitted for college at Hampton Falls Academy, and was graduated at Waterville (Maine) College (now Colby) in 1841. In the spring of 1842 he succeeded Rev. O. O. Stearns as principal of the Literary and Scientific Institution in Hancock, New Hampshire, which position he held five years. He resided in Hancock at a place marked "George N. Dodge." He was a member of the superintending school committee in 1846, and was also appointed to that office in 1847. In 1847 he removed to Portland, Maine, and became assistant in the boys' high school of that city. In 1850 he took charge of the Portland Academy. He was again connected with the boys' high school in 1853, and in 1855 he became principal of the high school in Peabody, Massachusetts, remaining there two years, after which he spent a year in Chicago, Illinois, as principal of a young ladies' school. Returning to Portland, he assumed the editorial charge of Zion's Advocate, the Baptist denominational paper of Maine, which position he held fifteen years with the exception of an interval of nine months. Since the close of his connection with the Advocate, he has been engaged in giving private lessons in English and classical studies, and in occasional editorial work in the city of Portland. Mr. Colcord married (1) in 1844, Martha Owen, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Griffith) Colcord, of Portland, who died in Portland in August 1847; married (2) in 1851, Emily, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Lincoln)* Radford, of Portland, who died in 1873; married (3) in 1875, Mercy A., daughter of Albert G. and Ruth (Sisson) Hussey, members of the Society of Friends in North Berwick, Maine.
Children:
1. Martha Owen, born in 1845 in Hancock.
2. Mary Ellen, born/died in 1847 in Portland.
3. Edward Radford, born in 1852 in Portland.
4. John Wiggin, born/died in 1854 in Portland.
5. George Waldron, born in 1855 in South Danvers (now Peabody), Massachusetts; died in 1872 in Portland.
6. Millie, author of a volume of poems, For Thy Name's Sake; died in 1878, at the age of 18.
7. Albert Gardner, born Feb. 1880, Portland.
8. Thomas Hardy, born Sept. 1881, Portland.
Source: The History of Hancock, New Hampshire 1764-1889 by William Willis Hayward published in 1889.
*Corrected.
Children:
1. Martha Owen, born in 1845 in Hancock.
2. Mary Ellen, born/died in 1847 in Portland.
3. Edward Radford, born in 1852 in Portland.
4. John Wiggin, born/died in 1854 in Portland.
5. George Waldron, born in 1855 in South Danvers (now Peabody), Massachusetts; died in 1872 in Portland.
6. Millie, author of a volume of poems, For Thy Name's Sake; died in 1878, at the age of 18.
7. Albert Gardner, born Feb. 1880, Portland.
8. Thomas Hardy, born Sept. 1881, Portland.
Source: The History of Hancock, New Hampshire 1764-1889 by William Willis Hayward published in 1889.
*Corrected.
John Wiggin Colcord was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Oct. 13, 1818. He fitted for college at Hampton Falls Academy, and was graduated at Waterville (Maine) College (now Colby) in 1841. In the spring of 1842 he succeeded Rev. O. O. Stearns as principal of the Literary and Scientific Institution in Hancock, New Hampshire, which position he held five years. He resided in Hancock at a place marked "George N. Dodge." He was a member of the superintending school committee in 1846, and was also appointed to that office in 1847. In 1847 he removed to Portland, Maine, and became assistant in the boys' high school of that city. In 1850 he took charge of the Portland Academy. He was again connected with the boys' high school in 1853, and in 1855 he became principal of the high school in Peabody, Massachusetts, remaining there two years, after which he spent a year in Chicago, Illinois, as principal of a young ladies' school. Returning to Portland, he assumed the editorial charge of Zion's Advocate, the Baptist denominational paper of Maine, which position he held fifteen years with the exception of an interval of nine months. Since the close of his connection with the Advocate, he has been engaged in giving private lessons in English and classical studies, and in occasional editorial work in the city of Portland. Mr. Colcord married (1) in 1844, Martha Owen, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Griffith) Colcord, of Portland, who died in Portland in August 1847; married (2) in 1851, Emily, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Lincoln)* Radford, of Portland, who died in 1873; married (3) in 1875, Mercy A., daughter of Albert G. and Ruth (Sisson) Hussey, members of the Society of Friends in North Berwick, Maine.
Children:
1. Martha Owen, born in 1845 in Hancock.
2. Mary Ellen, born/died in 1847 in Portland.
3. Edward Radford, born in 1852 in Portland.
4. John Wiggin, born/died in 1854 in Portland.
5. George Waldron, born in 1855 in South Danvers (now Peabody), Massachusetts; died in 1872 in Portland.
6. Millie, author of a volume of poems, For Thy Name's Sake; died in 1878, at the age of 18.
7. Albert Gardner, born Feb. 1880, Portland.
8. Thomas Hardy, born Sept. 1881, Portland.
Source: The History of Hancock, New Hampshire 1764-1889 by William Willis Hayward published in 1889.
*Corrected.
Children:
1. Martha Owen, born in 1845 in Hancock.
2. Mary Ellen, born/died in 1847 in Portland.
3. Edward Radford, born in 1852 in Portland.
4. John Wiggin, born/died in 1854 in Portland.
5. George Waldron, born in 1855 in South Danvers (now Peabody), Massachusetts; died in 1872 in Portland.
6. Millie, author of a volume of poems, For Thy Name's Sake; died in 1878, at the age of 18.
7. Albert Gardner, born Feb. 1880, Portland.
8. Thomas Hardy, born Sept. 1881, Portland.
Source: The History of Hancock, New Hampshire 1764-1889 by William Willis Hayward published in 1889.
*Corrected.
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