If the oldest living great-grandson (by the name of Bicknell) of Nathaniel Bicknell and the oldest grandson of Col. Luke Bicknell (by the name of Bicknell) and the oldest son of William Bicknell entitle me Patriarch of this branch of the Bicknell family, then I accept the title, and when an invitation from you, to be present at a Bicknell meeting at Weymouth in September, my heart was filled with joy, for I had long seen, by a prophetic eye, that the Bicknell blood, coursing in the veins of live Bicknells, would have such a meeting. But the mature judgment of seventy-seven years, and the counsel of her, whom I have lived with in married life fifty-two years this month, said, "You must let well enough alone," eclipses all my long cherished anticipations of being present in body. If the mind be strong, it cannot carry the lame tenement to the long wished for Association. Shall I give a brief statement of my three named ancestors, including their wives?

Nathaniel died at Abington, Mass., at the age of seventy-nine, in 1804, the year I made my first appearance at Hanover street, Boston, in a select party consisting -of my mother and her assistants — mother at the age of twenty years. Luke died on the farm on which he was born in 1814, at — the age of sixty-five, while holding the office of clerk of Abington. I, a child of ten years, knew him but to love grandfather, one whom the town and church delighted to honor. William died at Turner, Me., 1841, aged sixty years, after filling offices of trust in Turner and Hartford. I stood, as a father, beside his death-bed, and heard him say, " William, I shall pass to that immortal shore where all is blessed, where all will sing redeemed by Love."

I knew my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Lincoln Bicknell; she died at Abington, 1822, aged ninety-four years: I was long acquainted with my grandmother, Olive Gurney Bicknell, "truly a mother in Israel." She died at Hartford, Me., a pensioner in 1845, at the age of ninety-five years. She and her husband, worthy members of Center Church, Abington, near where they reared a family of eight to manhood. My mother, Martha Bosson, married my father in 1808, at Boston, died at her youngest daughter’s, Mrs. Joseph F. Paul, Boston, February, 1879, at the age of ninety-five, expressing a desire to depart from earth-life to that immortal state where the goodbye is never known. I bid mother goodbye in 1878, believing we should never meet again in earth-life. I received a farewell blessing at the age of nearly seventy-six from a mother who was twenty years my senior in age.

From my residence in Hartford, Me., her remains, accompanied by my sister Mrs. Paul, her son George, at the age of twenty, an infant when his grandmother made his home her home, were interred at Turner, Me., beside my father, her first husband, after an address by Rev. Mr. French, of that town. I saw, on that day I left mother at J. F. Paul’s, at the same time, on a flight of stairs leading to the dining-room, four generations, mother, oldest son, grandson and great-grandchild,— a rare sight for a son to see at seventy five years. I was well acquainted with my father’s brothers and sisters, their wives and husbands and children. Captain Nathaniel, grandfather of Rev. G. W. Bicknell, died 1872, aged ninety-five years; married Elizabeth Ramsdell; of eight children, only one living. Noah died 1872, aged eighty-nine years; married Nancy Brown; of eight children, James, Alfred and Deborah, Mrs. H. W. Noyes, are living. Luke died 1870, aged eighty-three years; married Deborah Corbett; of five children I knew, Luke and Angeline are living. James died 1862; aged seventy-two years; married Rebecca Bates, Siesta Howard, Sophia Willey; of two sons by the first wife, Henry is living. Elizabeth died 1853, aged seventy-seven years; married Robert Bates of Weymouth; children are living — Capt. James H., aged eighty years, one of the best boot makers ever in Weymouth on face stitch work; Robert, aged seventy-eight years. Rebecca died 1847, aged fifty-five years; married Josiah Cushman; of four children William is living. Robert Bates, Henry Bicknell and William Cushman voted in the same ballot box on the 13th that my son Henry A. and I did.

I would not forget my family of five children, four are living. William E., our first born, must speak for himself. Julia C. married Melvander G. Forbes, died at Buckfield, Me., 1870, married 1854, leaving two daughters who were sophomores at Bates College, both teaching the second terms in Hartford this season, youngest will soon return to college. Henry Augustus married Miss Abbie M. Mason, of Buckfield, Me., whom we live with on the old homestead. Hattie Augusta, twin mate of Henry A., married William L. Morrill of Buckfield. Both were married 1874 by Rev. Mr. Munson. Rachel died 1853, aged seventy-three years; married Capt. John Noyes; of children, John, Luke, Nathaniel and Holland W. are living.

I received a card on the evening of the 15th from Hon. T. W. Bicknell, saying he would be pleased to receive a letter from me in prose or verse. I send an article, "What is Life?" If it is worthy of the occasion and not egotism in me I should like to have it read by my grandson, Edward Bicknell.

My limited time to comply with your request must be an excuse for errors.