Generation VI - Caleb Morse Tilton: son of Ebenezer Tilton (5), born at Andover, New Hampshire, January 20. 1778, died at Haverhill, November 28, 1851. He married, August 26, 1801, Ruth T. Cooper, of Newbury, Massachusetts. She was born March 24, 1779, died in Haverhill, May 24. 1859. They had nine children: 1. Caleb, born July 25, 1802, died February 5. 1834; married. April 15, 1823, Eunice K. Kent, of Newbury; they left three sons and one daughter, all of whom married and have children. 2. Lucy, born June 10, 1805. died December 10, 1808. 3. Wilder, born March 6, 1807, died December 10, 1808. 4. Wilder, born May 13, 1809. died December 25, 1833. married, April 19, 1832, Minerva Crowell, and they left one daughter who married and left children. 5. Cephas, born at Newburyport, Massachusetts, February 5, 1811, died February 23, 1879; married Harriet Nichols: they left two daughters both of whom married and left children. 6. John, born December 5, 1814, died January 5, 1815. 7. John Cooper, born January 14, 1816, mentioned below. 8. Eben Gilman, born in Newbury, May 16, 1818, died February 12, 1893; married Ruth Bean Sleeper, of Alton, New Hampshire: he was an excellent and unassuming citizen of Haverhill, for many years a successful shoe manufacturer: they had six children, of whom one daughter and three sons married and had children. 9. Lucy, born and died September 8, 1822.

Generation VII - John Cooper Tilton: son of Caleb Morse Tilton (6), born at Newbury. Massachusetts, in that part now called West Newbury, January 14, 1816, died at Haverhill. September 27. 1897. He married, first, May 3, 1839, Lois Carleton. daughter of Ebenezer Carleton, of Haverhill. She was born February 2, 1822. died September 28, 1841. Married, second. May 2, 1842, Eliza Ann Brown, of Bradford, Massachusetts, daughter of Benjamin and Parthenia (Peabody) Brown, in that part of Bradford, now Groveland. She was born October 20, 1822. He was educated in the public school. He began his business career as a shoe manufacturer at Haverhill and conducted a general store at Tilton's Corner. Later he removed to the centre of Haverhill and continued his business, becoming one of the largest manufacturers of boots and shoes in Haverhill, having at one time Elias T. Ingalls and Jonathan Blanchard manufacturing for him. He retired from the manufacturing business and engaged in the retail coal business. In 1875-76 he built two schooners at Haverhill, thus reviving temporarily an ancient industry. He invested freely in real estate and built many houses and business buildings. He was always active in real estate operations and probably built more stores and dwelling houses and laid out more new residential streets than any other man in Haverhill. His reputation for probity and honor was of the highest and it was often said of him that "his word was as good as his bond." Although having but a common school education, his information on many subjects was accurate and full and his judgment excellent. In religion a Universalist during the latter part of his life he did not attend church. In politics he was a staunch Republican, a firm believer in the abolition of slavery, and for many years a subscriber to The Liberator. He was never an office seeker and rather shunned office-holding. He was, however, for a time an overseer of the poor and an engineer of the fire department. He was a trustee of the Haverhill Savings Bank, and director and president of the Essex National Bank. He built what is generally known as "Tilton's Tower," a prominent landmark of the city of Haverhill, from which an excellent view of the surrounding country may be obtained.

Mr. Tilton lived in Haverhill from the time when its population was about three thousand until it became a city of forty thousand inhabitants, and through all that period of growth and development he was one of its most useful and most enterprising citizens. He amassed a fortune, weathering every financial storm, and always paying a hundred cents on the dollar. Though engaged in extensive business affairs for more than fifty years, he was never known to oppress a debtor. He made it a point always to support and assist those in any way worthy of help and he was always ready to extend financial aid to those in need of it. In an unostentatious way his charity also was unbounded. He never had a bad habit, and though strict with himself was charitable toward the failings of other men. The esteem in which he was held by his townsmen is indicated by conversation overheard at the time of his funeral. A lady standing near the open grave, said to a gentleman who was with her: "I never saw such beautiful flowers before." The man offered simply this explanation: "He was the best man in Haverhill." Child of first wife: 1. Andrew Jackson, born August 19, 1840, mentioned below. Children of second wife: 2. John Wilson, mentioned below. 3. Lois Ann, born at Haverhill, May 14, 1846, died March 27, 1900. 4. George Oscar, born May 20, 1848, mentioned below. 5. Lucy Jane, born at Haverhill, May 12, 1850, died December 28, 1864. 6. Lucy May, born at Haverhill, May 1, 1869, died August 26, 1905: married Arthur St. Clair Woodman; six children survive her.

Generation VIII - Andrew Jackson Tilton: son of John Cooper Tilton (7), was born in Haverhill. August 19, 1840. He was educated in the public schools, and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, attaining a foremost position in this line of business and holding it for many years. Since his retirement from the shoe manufacturing business he has devoted his attention with the utmost success to real estate. Largely through his efforts and influence the centre of the shoe industry in the city has been shifted from Merrimack street to Washington street. He is one of the most highly respected business men of the city. He married, first, Jane A. Ordway, of Bradford, Massachusetts, and, second. Martha J. Doak, of Newton, New Hampshire. He has had no children.

Generation VIII - John Wilson Tilton: son of John Cooper Tilton (7), born in Haverhill, August 20, 1844, was educated there in the public schools and at Harvard College, from which he was graduated in 1868. For some years he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes in Haverhill, but in later years has devoted his entire time and attention to the care and development of his real estate. He is a shrewd and far-sighted investor, and has been active in real estate operations that have largely increased the assessed valuation of the city and proved of large public usefulness in other directions. Mr. Tilton is a Republican in politics, but consistently refuses to put party above his own convictions in cases of unsatisfactory candidates. He has never voted for an unfit man, knowingly, and his independdence has been a useful influence in keeping his party to a high standard, especially in municipal affairs. Mr. Tilton served the city in the common council in 1872-73, and was representative from his district to the general court in 1877-78. His chief interest in public affairs, however, has been in the school board, of which except for two years he has been a member continuously since 1876. During his long and faithful service in the school board he has suggested and supported many improvements now in vogue in the schools. He has= written several of the annual reports of the school board and served on committees that prepared others. He was the last secretary elected by the board, serving until the superintendent of schools assumed the duties of the position, ex officio.

Mr. Tilton was a Unitarian in early life, but since leaving college has attended no church, believing "not in theology but in morality." His family attend the Universalist church. He is a member of Saggahew Lodge, Free Masons, and has been junior warden of that body. He was formerly a member of Mutual Relief Lodge of Odd Fellows: of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and was at one time its exalted ruler. He was the first secretary and is now the vice-president of the Haverhill Historical Society, being a charter member. He is a member of the Pentucket Club and the Whittier Club. He was one of the founders and first secretary and treasurer of the Haverhill Co-operative Bank. Mr. Tilton has a penchant for books, pictures, antique furniture, silver and china, and has an extensive and very valuable collection. He is a well known connoisseur and his collection is at once the admiration and envy of other antiquarians. Mr. Tilton is deemed a radical from the fact that having positive ideas on all subjects within his knowledge and no hesitancy in expressing his views, he has never "trimmed his sails to catch the passing breeze" and is not concerned with the popular view. But his sterling common sense and force of character have tended often to make him a strong leader of public opinion and to bring his views to the general acceptance of his townsmen.

He married, October 27, 1869, at Trinity Church, Boston. Mary Ellen Hancock, born in Boston, daughter of James Scott and Ellen (Hatton) Hancock, of Boston. She was educated in the public schools of Boston. She and her sister are the last descendants of this distinguished Hancock family, bearing the name of Hancock, and she has in her possession the portraits painted by J. S. Copley of Thomas Hancock, the builder of the Hancock House, of Governor John Hancock, and of Lydia (Henchman) Hancock. James Scott Hancock was a gentleman of leisure all his life. Children: 1. John Hancock, born in Haverhill, September 16, 1870. married, April 23. 1900, Elizabeth Worthington Seeley, daughter of Raymond Seeley, D. D., and his wife, Frances Barton (Stites) Seeley; they have one daughter, Dorothy Hancock, born August 23, 1904; John Hancock Tilton is engaged in the real estate and insurance brokerage business, Haverhill. 2. Charles Lowell, born at Newton, Massachusetts, January 19, 1872. educated in the Haverhill schools and was treasurer of the Haverhill Safe Deposit & Trust Company; is now a trustee of that bank and a partner of his brother in the real estate and insurance business, Haverhill. 3. Louise Hancock, born at Haverhill, March 15, 1875. educated in the Haverhill schools and in Bradford Academy; resides with her parents.