The family tradition of the Noble family herein traced is that they descend from Scotch ancestry, although the Massachusetts and Connecticut families are given as of English birth. The name is found in both countries and the early settlers were no doubt of both nationalities. The first record in this line was Moses Noble, born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. While the connection cannot be proved from the records published, yet there is strong proof that he was a descendant of Thomas Noble, born in England in or about 1632, died in Westfield, Massachusetts, January 20, 1704. He is mentioned in Boston histories as early as 1653, when he was admitted an inhabitant January 5 of that year. That same year he removed to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he opened an account at the store of John Pyncheon. He later removed to Westfield, Massachusetts, where lands were granted him July, 1666, but he did not settle there until 1669. He was chosen constable of Westfield and took the oath of office, April 7, 1674. He was granted permission to erect a sawmill in 1685, and also became a well-to-do farmer, leaving a considerable estate. He married, November 1, 1660, Hannah Warriner, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, August 17, 1643; she survived him and married (second) Deacon Medad Pomeroy, whom she also survived. Thomas and Hannah Noble had ten children, including six sons, all of whom married and had families. From one of these, Moses Noble, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, may have descended, as members of the family settled in that state and Kittery, Maine.
(I) Moses Noble was born October 25, 1731, died May 7, 1796. He resided in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he married, December 7, 1756, Hannah Simes, born August 14, 1732, died August 23, 1798. Children:
- Mark, born October 3, 1757, died unmarried.
- Mary, died unmarried.
- John, married Sarah Chadbourne.
- Joseph, born July 12, 1762.
- Robert, of further mention.
- Hannah, died unmarried at the age of thirty-three years.
- Dorothy, died unmarried at the age of fifty-eight years.
- Moses, born January 22, 1770, died at sea unmarried, at the age of twenty-three years.
- Betsey, died unmarried at the age of twenty-six years.
- Jeremiah, died at sea unmarried, at the age of twenty-six years.
- Ann, married and lived in Portsmouth.
(II) Robert, son of Moses and Hannah (Simes) Noble, was born June 10, 1764, died October 20, 1828. He was a resident of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where his children, Jerry, Moses and Mary, were born, although the name of his wife has not been preserved.
(III) Moses (2), son of Robert Noble, was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, June 17, 1787. He was a farmer of the town of Berwick, Maine, and later engaged in the manufacturing of cigars, known to the trade as "Long Nines" and "Short Sixes." He did an extensive business, and the fence inclosing his farm was built from cedar staves, taken from the hogsheads in which his leaf tobacco came packed. He lived to the good old age of eighty-six years, dying in Berwick, Maine. He married, in Portsmouth, October 7, 1810, Hannah Harvey, of Kittery, Maine, born August 11, 1790, descendant of the Massachusetts Harveys. She was killed accidentally at the Boston & Maine railroad crossing at Berwick, when well advanced in years. Moses and Hannah (Harvey) Noble were the parents of a very large family including Moses, the eldest son, of whom further mention is made; George, died in California; Mary, Samuel, Robert, Anna and Martha.
(IV) Moses (3), son of Moses (2) and Hannah (Harvey) Noble, was born in Berwick, Maine, about 1812, died in Windham, New Hampshire. He married Elizabeth Jenkins. Children:
- George, born at Great Falls, New Hampshire, now a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts, in the employ of Grattin & Knight, leather manufacturers; married Belle Holt and has living children: Elizabeth, Goldie, Frank and William.
- James Albert, of further mention.
- Mark William, of Windham, New Hampshire.
(V) James Albert, son of Moses (3) and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Noble, was born February 5, 1845, at Great Falls, New Hampshire, in the part lying across the river now called Berwick. He was educated in the public schools, afterward working in the mills. On November 2, 1861, being then in his seventeenth year, he enlisted in the Union service as a private of Company G, Thirtieth Massachusetts Volunteers. This regiment entered the service as the Second Eastern Bay State Regiment. His service extended over a period of four years, nine months, and eight days. He served in the Army of the Gulf under the immediate command of Generals Benjamin F. Butler and N. P. Banks; later under General Phil. Sheridan, with whom he campaigned after his second enlistment in 1864. He was with Sheridan in his Shenandoah Valley campaign, and was wounded at Winchester, though not seriously. He was engaged at the battles of Plain Store, siege of Port Hudson, Baton Rouge, Opquihanic Creek, and other minor engagements during his first enlistment, and was in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek under General Sheridan. Being so much under age, the records of the war department show him to have been two years older than he really was at date of enlistment. He was a good soldier and shirked no duty. After returning to civil life he engaged with his father at carpentry in Lawrence, Massachusetts, remaining with him two years. He then took up the business of a millwright, working in various positions. For twenty years he was employed in the mechanical department of the Russell Paper Company of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and was master mechanic of the Tillotson & Hollingsworth Paper Company at Groton, Massachusetts, then occupied the same position with the Hudson River Pulp & Paper Company at Palmer's Falls, New York, later returning to Lawrence, Massachusetts, with the Emerson Manufacturing Company. In 1894 he established in Hoosick Falls, New York, as the senior member of the firm of Noble & Foss, manufacturers of paper mill machinery. In 1895 the firm became Noble & Johnson, continuing the same line of manufacture until 1902, when their plant was destroyed by fire. The business was then incorporated as the Noble & Wood Machine Company, with James A. Noble as vice-president and general manager. The company manufacture all kinds of paper mill machinery, including several proprietary machines. In addition they manufacture a line of opera chairs and school desks, their jobbing houses handling their output in the latter line. The company is a prosperous one and owes much to the wise management and executive ability of Mr. Noble. Mr. Noble is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed through all the chairs of a subordinate lodge. He is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically he is a Republican, although never active in party work.
He married, June 7, 1867, Diana, daughter of William Preston, of Leeds, England. Children:
- Fred W., married Myrtle Gleason, and has a son Fred. He is employed with the Noble & Wood Machine Company.
- John E., married Minnie Richards, and resides in Lawrence, Massachusetts, being engaged in paper manufacturing.
- Arthur M., married Maud Van Buren; engaged with the Noble & Wood Machine Company.
- Clarence W., married Jennie Stewart, engaged with the Noble & Wood Machine Company.
- Herbert D., also employed with the Noble & Wood Machine Company.