As James was a son of Jesse, the following would be his family, and if your great grandmother was married in 1888, and her husband was Edward or Edwin N. Gleason, b. in Marblehead, MA, then you should appreciate the following:
Edward Gleason of Marblehead MA in 1910, was married to Fannie E., b. Apr-1857, Can/Eng, her father b. Can/Eng, her her mother b. Scotland.
Edward N. Gleason, b. Nov-1850, MA, father and mother both b. US.
Edward N. Gleason m. in Marblehead, Essex Co, MA, to Fannie E. Franklin, he was 38, she was 30, on 10-Jan-1888. Edward was a shoemaker, b. Peabody, MA, s/o James and Mary Gleason. Fannie was an "operative", b. Nova Scotia, d/o John J. and Nancy Franklin. (Guessing John J. was John Jesse?). It was Fannie's first marriage and Edward's second.
They were married by John L. Egbert, clergyman.
Fannie E. Franklin was in Marblehead for 1880 US Census, listed as cousin of George W. Standley and his wife, Martha E. There was also a Phoebe Franklin, b. @1860, Canada in the same household, also a cousin.
On brother James A. Franklin's 1871 Digby Co marriage to Annie Thurber, his parents are listed as John J. and his wife Ann, Franklin.
Other brother, John Maynard Franklin, d. 23-Nov-1934, Acaciaville, Digby Co, NS. He was 82y 5m 15d of age. Had lived in Digby County his entire life. His parents are listed as John Jesse Franklin (bingo) and Nancy (?Ann?) Livermore? Larmose? He was buried in Acaciaville on 27-Nov-1934, son William was informant.
In 1881, at Marshalltown, Digby Co, NS:
John Franklin 65 b. NS, farmer
Nancy Franklin 63 b. NS (not Scotland in this record)
John Franklin 29 b. NS, farmer
Sarah Franklin 26 b. NS
From Digby Genweb, the 1871-1891 census records for Marshalltown:
FRANKLIN, John (Jessie) MT 56m 65m 75w farmer; f.b. Germany
Nancy 53m 63m - b. Ire.
James 27 *
Thomas 23 *
John 19 29 38m
Annie (dil) - - 25m
William (gs) - - 3/12
Sarah 16 26 - (married Harry F. Bell in 1885)
Fanny 14 - -
Phebe 12 - -
This one would indicate Nancy was born in Ireland vs. Scotland. As well as indicating John Jesse's father was born in Germany.
Below are similar entries for John's sons Thomas and James:
FRANKLIN, Thomas MT - 33m 42m
Annie - 27m 28m (Thomas married Annie Foster in 1871, at Digby Co)
Effie - 8 18
James - 6 15
John - 4 14
Annie Mabel - 2 11
Fred - - 6
FRANKLIN, James MT - 37m 47m
Annie - 29m -
Mary - - 46m
Bertha - 8 19
Harry - 6 16
Ada - 4 -
Pearl Fanny - 1 12
Willie - - 8
Miner (s) - - 6
Mary - - 6
Jesse and Nancy's daughter, Mary m. 1) a Mr. Bonnell. at age 43, as a widow, she married Alexander Dillon in Digby Co in 1889.
Their daughter, Caroline Drusilla Franklin, m. in 1868, in Digby Co, to William Hunt. at age 18.
If this appears to be the right family, I'll see what I can do to find out more about John Jesse Franklin and his wife Nancy, and THEIR ancestry.
Jared