Amy Hewins Comes Home

May 1, 2024  

I was contacted by the Photo Angel through Ancestry.com. If you’re not familiar with her, she reunites long lost photos with families. She found me on a family tree that I created to work on Medfield families, and inquired if I was a relative of Amy Hewins. I am not, but suggested that the Medfield Historical Society might be interested in the photo. She then informed me that she had found a relative who was interested in receiving the original photo but was happy to send me an image.

As you can see, the photo was taken at the Chamberlain, Vine Studio, Medfield, MA. which was located at the corner of Frairy Street and Vinald Road.

Handwritten on the back of the photo is the little girl’s name, age, the year the photo was taken, her married name and, I believe, her marriage date. I’m not sure this date is accurate since documents state she was married in 1934 and here it is written 1938.

Amy had a noteworthy family lineage. Her great grandfather, Dr. James Hewins (1782-1846), was the first of the Hewins family to live in Medfield. The doctor arrived in Medfield in 1807 from Sharon, Massachusetts. He purchased a portion of the Joshua Fisher twelve-acre estate on Main Street in 1811, which included 435 Main Street, the old Fisher House across from South Street, 421 and 423 Main Street which was just land but in the late 1800s twin houses were erected on these two plots.

In 1650 Joshua Fisher had his house built at 345 Main Street. He owned much land along Main Street, which stayed in Fisher Family until 1811 when Joshua’s grandson, John Fisher divided it and sold to Joseph Clark, Jr., David Fairbanks, James Hewins, Bela Cleveland and Daniel Adams.

Dr. James Hewins was a practicing physician in Medfield for roughly forty years. In 1804 he graduated from Harvard College and studied medicine under Dr Richardson of Medway and Dr. Jefferies of Boston. In 1814 he married Mary Peters (1794-1876). They had two sons, James M. and William P.

William Peters Hewins (1819-1896) married Laura Harmstad (1816-1855) in 1843. They had two children, James and Mary F., the last being born in 1848. Laura died of typhoid fever only seven years later at the age of 39. William married Margret Ellen Wight (1833–1916) in 1859. She was the daughter of Orin and Charlotte Adams Wight and descended from Thomas Wight, (d. 1674), one of Medfield’s original 13 settlers. Margaret was born in Medfield and was an active member of the Unitarian Church, taught Sunday school until she died and was prominent in all church activities. Being civic-minded, she was a member of the Medfield Historical Society, the Hannah Adams Club and an honorary member of the Moses Ellis Woman’s Relief Corps.

The 1850 U.S. Federal Census lists William as a farmer, his mother was living with him as was a physician, Lemuel Dickerman. William was living in his father’s home on Main Street and still had a physician working from the home. Was his first wife’s death related to living in a home with a doctor’s office? Typhoid was active at that time. In 1870 his mother and brother were living with him, but his profession changed to butcher; Edmond Bullard is also residing there and he, too, is a butcher. By 1890 he is a retired Provisions Dealer at the age of 60.

Amy was born on April 7,1880 in Medfield to James Hewins (1846–1906) and Jane Georgianna Stedman Hewins (1845–1954). Jane was socially active in Medfield as curator of the Medfield Historical Society, member of the Hannah Adams Woman’s Club and involved in activities at the First Parish Church. She was greatly devoted to her family and had a special fondness for her home at 393 Main Street. James purchased this very special home in 1888. He hired Allen E. Kingsbury to construct a home for his daughter, Amy Hewins, at 399 Main Street.

One can only imagine how Amy felt about a house being built for her. She was in her twenties, not married and apparently had no good prospects because she married Joseph Rowe in 1934 at the age of fifty-four. Rowe was a clerk at the National Bank. He also had never been married and was seven years older than she. They resided in Amy’s house on East Main Street and had no children. Both are buried at Vine Lake Cemetery.

James was the son of William Peters Hewins and Laura Harmstad Hewins. He started his educational journey in the Medfield and Walpole schools. He then went to Amherst College, Harvard Law School and studied law under Hon. Robert R. Bishop. The Suffolk Bar admitted him on February 26, 1868, he later became a member of the Norfolk County Bar Association and the Bar in Boston. He established himself as a well-known lawyer and went on to serve our town, county and state in many capacities.

He was elected to the State Legislature in 1884 where he served as a member of the committee on Probate. In 1897 he was County Commissioner for Norfolk County and was greatly involved in the construction of the current Registry of Deeds and Probate buildings in Dedham. He was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, elected director of the Mutual Insurance Company on January 20, 1903 and became Chairman in January 10, 1905.

In Medfield, he was a charter member of the Medfield Historical Society, member of School Board, Chairperson of the Unitarian Church and President of the Medfield Board of Trade. Those who knew him characterized him as having a genial disposition, being quick-minded, loyal and particularly generous to those less fortunate. James was profoundly impressed with the nobility of his ancestors, which he deeply desired to pass on to his children. He strove to attain that high ideal.

James married Jane in 1865, and they had six children, William P., Laura, Edith E., Mary A, James, Amy S. Amy being the last. The family had a summer home on Main Street, Nantucket, MA, and enjoyed many summers there. In July 1906, they were on the island as usual when James suddenly became ill. He died of a cerebral embolus and was buried at Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield. His widow was left with three surviving children. Their oldest three children had already passed, and Laura, the last, had died a year before.

Many twists and turns could be followed: the Chamberlain Studio, Bullard’s Market, Registry of Deeds and State Legislator. Possible stories for another day. This article is about Amy finding her way back to the Society and with her family. I checked the files at the Society and they do not have this image of Amy. She has come home!