USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 67
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county. He was elected treasurer of the coun- ty in 1793, and continued to fill the office until about 1813. when the treasurer of the com- monwealth was authorized to receive from him certain bills which had depreciated in value. He also served the home town in various capac- ities, and for many years was feoffee of the grammar school of Ipswich, established by the general court in 1787. A book of records now in possession of one of his descendants indi- cates that he served as one of the justices of the courts, and his will is also preserved by the same descendant. Stephen Choate mar- ried, November 23, 1751, Mary, daughter of David and Susanna Low, born April 24, 1726, in Ipswich, where she died August 22, 1769. Mr. Choate married (second) June 7, 1770, Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Choate) Martin, and probably the widow of Captain John Potter. She was born in 1739. and died April 29, 1814. Deacon Choate died October 19, 1815. Children: Stephen, Mar- garet, Elizabeth, Lydia (died young), Martha. Susanna, John, David, Miriam, Amos (died young). Isaac, Amos and Lydia.
(VI) Susanna, fifth daughter of Stephen and Mary (Low) Choate, was born September I, 1762, and married, January 1, 1789, George Choate, of Ipswich (see Choate VI below).
(IV) John, second son of Thomas (I) and Mary (Varney) Choate, was born July 25, 1697, in Chebacco, and took a highly distin- guished part in the conduct of public affairs in the colony. He was a man of much talent great sagacity, and rare executive ability. His public life covers some thirty years immediately preceding the revolution. He was actively engaged in the conduct of military, financial, civil, educational and ecclesiastical affairs. He was elected representative of Ipswich in the general court in 1731, was re-elected for the three succeeding years, and again from 1741 to 1749, in 1754, 1757 and 1760, serving fif- teen years in the house of representatives, and for five years he was a member of the council. The house appointed a committee June 10, 1735, to lay out a township granted to sixty men mostly from Ipswich, known as Ipswich Canada, now Winchendon, Massachusetts, and John Choate was a member of this committee. After a few years absence from the general court he again appeared in 1741, and at the opening of the second session, July 8, was chosen speaker of the house. This choice was disapproved by the governor, Jonathan Belcher, who dissolved the general court, and a new election was immediately held. With the ex-
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ception of fourteen, all of the one hundred and eleven members were re-elected, and met July 8, when John Hobson, of Rawley, was elected speaker. One of the charges made by Gov- ernor Belcher against the legislature was that its "Land Bank" scheme was fraudulous. The records show however that among the asso- ciates of John Choate in this movement were Samuel Adams and many other distinguished citizens of the time, and that they held an abundance of real estate as a basis of security for a redemption of the notes. Within three days after the disapproval of Colonel Choate's election as speaker he had the satisfaction of acting on a committee to congratulate William Shirley upon his appointment as the successor of Governor Belcher. Colonel Choate served on many important committees in the various sessions of the general court, including four different committees relative to the expedition against Louisburg, and it is probable that he was absent upon this service during a part of the year 1745, when the committees were soliciting help from Connecticut, New York. and the Jerseys. On February 27 that year he was made one of a committee to prepare an address to the King relative to the proposed expedition. He was commissioned June 1, 1745, as colonel of the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment, and was given leave of absence from the house to engage in recruiting the regi- ment and participating in the expedition. He was commissioned June 20 that year, judge ad- vocate of a court of admiralty at Louisburg, and arrived at Green Hill, July 5, 1745, with a company of men. He served as judge advo- cate until December 3, when he resigned and again took a seat in the house ten days later. On that day he was made one of a committee to draft a letter of congratulation to Lieuten- ant Gencral Pepperell on the occasion of the latter's being knighted. Colonel Choate served on most of the committees of negotiation be- tween the province and England regarding the payment of expenses of the Louisburg expedi- tion. In 1745 he was appointed on a committec "on encouraging manufactures and other indus- tries of the Province." Colonel Choate was appointed June 17, 1748, on a commission to effect an exchange of prisoners with the six nations of New York, and was paid fifty pounds towards expenses of a journey to Que- bec. He went as far as Albany only, how- ever, and the records show that he returned to the treasury thirty pounds. In the same year he was appointed by the general court as moderator of a town meeting to be called in
Haverhill to adjust serious disturbances in that town. This was a remarkable proceeding, and has no parallel in the records of New England. The meeting was held in November, when Mr. Choate presided, and the same persons were for the third time chosen town officers. He subsequently served on various internal com- mittees looking to the improvement of affairs in the province. Among other duties on which he served was an inquiry into the condition of the Quakers and their sufferings on account of witchcraft. He assisted in negotiating a treaty with the Penobscot Indians at Falmouth, Maine, which was signed in October, 1649. For the following four years he was in the gen- eral court, and was probably employed in negotiations with New York and the Six Na- tions. He subsequently served on committees on Indian advances, including the one consider- ing an expedition against Crown Point, and was elected one of the three commissioners to visit Albany in consideration of the expedition. On November 6, 1755, this commission was empowered to raise and equip troops and pro- vide for their subsistence. The next year he was on a committee to reside at or near Albany and take care of the transportation of provisions and stores for the use of the army preparing to go against Crown Point. In this year he was appointed fifth judge of probate of Essex county, and continued to fill that position until his death which occurred December 17, 1765. In 1757-8, he was engaged in handling delicate matters involving quarrels between the British government and the province, and also religious controversies. He was a sturdy champion of orthodoxy, and adhered strictly to Puritan tenets. In 1760 a pamphlet of seventeen pages was printed showing the dissent of Colone! Choate from the judgment of a council respect- ing the doctrine of a Rev. Mr. Bacheller. In May. 1761, Colonel Choate was chosen a member of the council, and continued to fill this position until his retirement from public life. He served as treasurer of Essex county, and was one of a committee appointed to prepare an address to the King representing the great importance of retaining the conquests in Canada. He was chairman of the bridge committee and superin- tended the construction of the stone bridge at Ipswich in 1764, which is still standing, and doing service. It was at his suggestion that the town and county decided jointly to build this bridge, and several of his fellow towns- inen decried the action and accused him of spending the people's money on a foolish pro- ject. It was the first of such construction in
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the country, and was completed in 1764 at a cost of nine hundred ninety-six pounds, ten shillings, six pence, three farthings, and was named the Choate Bridge, in honor of the chairman of the building committee. The bridge was widened in 1836-7. Although Colo- nel Choate enjoyed few advantages in early life and was not greatly learned he made a strong impression upon the life of his times. He resided upon a farm which he bequeathed to his nephew, Stephen Choate, above men- tioned. On one occasion, having passed to the speaker's desk a report or other writing, the latter declared that he could not decipher it, and added that it did not contain a single word properly spelled; whereupon Colonel Choate arose and said: "Now the paper before you contains the word the, which I think is spelled quite right. If you cannot read it, pass it to me and I will read it myself." His apprecia- tion of learning and his interest in education is shown by his service on committees dealing with the affairs of Harvard College. His library included many of the most valuable works of his time. By his will Colonel Choate emancipated his slaves, Binah and Jane, and made provision for their support. He mar- ried, March 3, 1718, Miriam, daughter of John and Abigail (Ballard) Pool, born October 13, 1695, in Gloucester, died March 1, 1769. Chil- dren : Sarah (died young), Nehemiah, Sarah, John, Abigail and Mary ; all of whom died be- fore maturity.
(IV) Francis, third son of Thomas and Mary (Varney) Choate, was born September 13, 1701, in Chebacco, where he died October 15, 1777. He was by trade a blacksmith, a very industrious man, and prosperous in busi- ness. He made the iron work for three schooners which he built, and by the aid of his negro slave sawed out the planks used in their construction. He was not only an owner of vessels, but chartered others used in the fish- eries and coasting trade. He was prominent in town and church affairs, being a ruling elder, and actively identified with the "White- field Movement." He was the owner of slaves, and provided in his will for their freedom or maintenance and comfort in old age. About 1739 he bought a farm on the main land, but continued to retain his lands on the island. In his last years he lost his right hand by a cancer. He married, April 13, 1727, Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Pike) Perkins, born April 14, 1708, in Boston, died October 2, 1778. Chil- dren : Francis, died young; William, Abra- ham. Isaac. Jacob, John, Hannah and Francis.
(V) William, second son of Francis and Hannah (Perkins) Choate, was born Septem- ber 5, 1730, and died April 23, 1785. He fitted for college in Salem, and it was his father's wish that he enter the ministry, but his tastes inclined to other callings, and he pursued the study of navigation and was captain of a ship at the age of twenty-five years. He made voyages to southern shores in winter and con- tinued to work on the farm in summer. He was not only commander but owner of vessels. In early life he taught school on the island, and when not engaged as teacher in the public schools, he maintained an evening school and taught navigation to all of his sons, who spent more or less time upon the sea. William Choate is described as a very handsome man, having a tall figure, with black hair and dark complexion. He was collector and treasurer of the parish during the revolution. He is de- scribed as a serious and exemplary man, though not a member of the church. He mar- ried, January 16, 1756, Mary, daughter of Job and Margaret (Low) Giddings, born March 27. 1732, died November 1, 1810, in Chebacco. Children : William, died young, David, Will- iam, George, Margaret, Job, Mary, Hannah, Sarah, Lydia.
(VI) George, fourth son of William and Mary (Giddings) Choate, was born February 24, 1762, in Chebacco, and died February 8, 1826. He was a man of much ability and strength of character, and filled many local offices, being justice of the peace and repre- sentative of Ipswich in 1814-15-16-17, and of the town of Essex in 1819. A man of most amiable disposition, he made no enemies, and died much regretted. He married, January 1, 1789, Susanna, daughter of Stephen and Mary (Low) Choate, born January 1, 1762, died August 13, 1827. Their first child died at birth. The others were: William, John, George, Francis, Sarah.
(VII) George (2), third son of George (I) and Susanna (Choate) Choate, was born No- vember 7, 1796, in Chebacco, and died June 4. 1880, in Salem. He studied latin in the north- ern district school of Chebacco parish, Ips- wich, of which Rev. Dr. William Cogswell was master. He subsequently spent a year at Dum- mer Academy in Byfield, and a like period at Atkinson Academy, and entered Harvard Col- lege in 1814, graduating in 1818. Of his class numbering eighty-one men, up to that time the largest class, only eight survived him. For two years he was master of Feoffee's Latin School in Ipswich, and pursued the study of
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medicine during the same time. He then spent two years in the office of Dr. Thomas Man- ning, of Salem, and was subsequently in the office of Dr. George C. Shattuck, of Boston, and received his medical degree in 1822. He immediately began the practice of his pro- fession at Salem, where he became the be- loved physician of many families and was dis- tinguished among his contemporaries. He was president of the Essex Southern District Medi- cal Society, and of the Salem Athenaeum for many years; represented Salem in the state legislature ; was long chairman of its school committee ; and was a member of the board of aldermen. In 1825, he joined Essex Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and was its worshipful mas- ter in 1828 and 1829. He was also very much interested in the work of the church and the encouragement and progress of education. The large amount of labor which devolved upon him made inroads upon his health, and he re- tired in 1867 and removed to Cambridge, where the remainder of his years were passed in quiet and contentment. He married, Decem- ber 6, 1825, Margaret Manning, daughter of Gamaliel and Sarah (Williams) Hodges, born January 25, 1805, in Salem, died October 5, 1887. She was a woman of superior mind and character, a model mother, prudent and in- dustrious in the care of her household, and re- tained her faculties in a remarkable degree to the end of her life. When eighty years old she wrote many interesting letters, which are still preserved. All of her children have at- tained distinction in life, and have reflected credit upon themselves and their ancestry. I. George Cheyne Shattuck, was an able physi- cian and resided upon the paternal homestead in Salem. 2. Charles Francis, mentioned below. 3. Sarah Elizabeth, died unmarried. 4. Will- iam Gardner, A. M., LL. B .; began the prac- tice of law in North Danvers, Massachusetts, was subsequently in Salem, and removed to New York City. He was assistant attorney general while residing in Salem, and in 1878, was appointed United States district judge for southern district of New York, a position which he resigned in 1881, because his talents could command a much larger income than that afforded by the official position. 5. Jo- seph Hodges, is the present leader of the New York bar, being a member of the firm of Evarts, Southmayd and Choate. 6. Caroline, became wife of Dr. Bruno de Gersdorff, of German birth, and resided in Salem, both are. now deceased. .
(VIII) Charles Francis, second son of
George (2) and Margaret M. (Hodges) Choate, was born May 16, 1828, in Salem, and like his distinguished brothers has become a leader in his chosen callings. He not only achieved fame as a lawyer, but is universally known in connection with the management of large and important railroad and steamship properties. He began his education in the public schools of his native town, and was sub- sequently a student at the Salem Latin School, and graduated from Harvard College at the head of his class, in 1849. He subsequently pursued the course of Harvard Law School, from which he was graduated in 1852, being a tutor in mathematics from 1851 to 1854 in the college. In September, 1854, he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar, and immediately began a brilliant legal career in Boston, and in 1877 he was counsel for large corporations. among them the Boston & Maine railroad, and having invested of his means in the Old Colony railroad, he became one of its directors in 1872, having been its counsel since 1864, and in 1877 became its president, in which capacity he continued until 1907, when he resigned. He was president of the Old Colony Steamboat Company from 1877 to 1894, and during his administration was constructed the magnificent fleet of vessels which have made the Fall River line a famous means of transportation. This was leased on May 1, 1893, to the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Com- pany of which Mr. Choate was a director until 1907. He is a director and vice-president of the New England Trust Company, and his re- markable mathematical faculties were called into play as actuary of the Massachusetts Hos- pital Life Insurance Company, to which posi- tion he was elected June 15, 1893, and con- tinued until 1901, when he was elected its presi- dent and so continues. Mr. Choate resided nearly thirty years in Cambridge, and in 1863 he represented that city in the state legislature, and was a member of the city government in 1864 and 1865. In 1883 he took up his resi- dence in Southboro, and has a winter home in Boston. Despite his many years, Mr. Choate is still an active business man, and is widely esteemed for his ability and graces of char- acter. He is a member of the Union Club of Boston, and was for many years identified with the University and Algonguin clubs, and is still connected with the Union, Eastern Yacht and Commercial clubs, having served three years as president of the last. He is a mem- ber of St. Mark's (P. E.) Church, of South- boro. Though a staunch Republican, he was
Charles 8. Cleats.
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offered by President Cleveland the post of superintendent of the coast survey.
He married, November 7, 1855, Elizabeth W. Carlile, of Providence, Rhode Island, daughter of Edward and Hannah (Thomp- son) Carlile, born August 8, 1834, died Octo- ber 18, 1898. She was descended from a brother of Benjamin Franklin. Children: I. Edward C., died in 1904. 2. Sarah C., wife of Joshua Montgomery Sears, of Boston. 3. Margaret M., (Mrs. Nathaniel I. Bowditch), of Framingham, Massachusetts. 4. Helen T., deceased. 5. Charles F., a leading attorney of Boston, head of the firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart.
PAINE This surname has three forms of spelling now in common use, viz: Paine, Payne and Payn. While the first mentioned orthography prevails in New England and the northern states, Payne predominates in the south and in England, from which latter country the patronymic is immediately derived. Undoubtedly the name originated in the Latin word Paganus, the an- tecedent of which was Pagus, a village. The Payen, Payens, of Paiens of Normandy were a family of distinction, and carried the name to the other side of the channel, where it be- came anglicized. Those of the name men- tioned below represent one of the most promi- nent families of Massachusetts, which includes in addition to the patriot, Robert Treat Paine, others of the same christian name who have won distinction. William Paine, M. D., who studied medicine with General Joseph Warren, was father of John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home."
(I) Thomas Paine, an immigrant from England, arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. at an early date, eventually settled in Yar- mouth, was made a freeman there in 1639, and the same year was chosen the first deputy from that town to the general court at Plymouth. He was still residing at Yarmouth in 1650. (N. B .- In the "Paine Family Records," vol. i. it is stated that Thomas Paine may have reached Plymouth as early as 1621, but this fact has not as yet been verified.)
(II) Thomas (2), son of Thomas (I) Paine, accompanied his father from England at the age of ten years. He is said to have lost the sight of one eye, which was pierced by an arrow. He was admitted a freeman in 1658 at Eastham, Massachusetts, where he set- tled in or prior to 1655, and was a leading spirit in the settlement of that town. He was
not only well acquainted with mechanical pur- suits, being an excellent cooper as well as an able millwright, but possessed of a good edu- cation and was a splendid penman, a talent inherited by the majority of his descendants. He superintended the erection of the first meeting house, and built the first mill. For many years he acted as town treasurer; was also elected to other offices, including that of representative to the general court, and re- turned in 1697, after having served in a public capacity for nearly half a century. In 1695 he purchased a residence in the south end of Bos- ton, but shortly afterward returned to East- ham, where he died in 1706. He married, about 1650, Mary, daughter of Nicholas and Constance (Hopkins ) Snow ; Constance ( Hop- kins) Snow came to this country with her father, Stephen Hopkins, in the "Mayflower." Children of Mr. and Mrs. Paine: I. Mary, born probably about 1650; married (first) Jan- uary II, 1670, James Rogers ; he died in 1678, and she administered on his estate, her father giving bonds for her; she married (second) April 24, 1679, Israel Cole; he died in 1724, she having died at an earlier date; by both husbands she had five children. 2. Samuel, born about 1652; married, January 31, 1682, Patience, daughter of Major John and Mercy (Prence) Freeman ; he died October 13, 1712; he resided in Eastham; he had nine children, and his descendants are widely scattered; an- cestor of Josiah Paine, of Harwich; his wife died February 15, 1745. 3. Thomas, born 1657 ; married (first) August 5, 1678, Hannah, daughter of Jonathan and Phebe (Watson) Shaw ; she died July 24, 1713, aged fifty-one ; she was mother of his fourteen children; he married (second) March 8, 1714-15, Mrs. Elizabeth Eairs, of Boston; he was a promi- nent man ; he died June 23, 1721. 4. Eleazer, born March 10, 1658. 5. Elisha, married, January 20, 1685, Rebecca, daughter of John and Abigail Doane, of Eastham ; he resided at Eastham and Barnstable, Massachusetts, and at Canterbury, Connecticut; he was a very prominent man at the last named place; died there February 4, 1735; his wife died very aged, December 19, 1758; had ten children, three sons being "New-light" ministers; de- scendants scattered, Hon. Abraham Payne, of Providence, Rhode Island, being one of the number. 6. John, born March 14, 1660-61; married (first) March 14, 1689, Bennett, daughter of John and Mercy (Prence) Free- man; she died May 30, 1716; married (sec- ond) March 3, 1719-20, Alice, daughter of Na-
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thaniel and Hannah ( Prence) Mayo; he died at Eastham (now Orleans ), October 26, 1731, aged seventy ; she died October 12, 1748, aged sixty-two ; he had by both wives eighteen chil- dren ; John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home," was a great-grandson. 7. Nicholas, married Hannah, daughter of Jona- than and Elizabeth ( Rogers) Higgins ; settled in Eastham; he died in 1733; his wife died January 24, 1731-32; had seven children ; his only son died April 10, 1725, in his twenty- first year, unmarried. 8. James, born July 6, 1665, mentioned below. 9. Joseph, born about 1667 ; married Patience, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah ( Prence ) Sparrow, May 27, 1691 ; settled in Harwich, the part now Brew- ster ; one of the founders of the church in 1700; died of fever, October 1, 1712; his widow married (second) November 28, 1719, John Jenkins, of Barnstable ; she died October 28, 1745; Joseph Paine and wife had eleven children ; his descendents are widely scattered and many reside in Maine ; among his descend- ants is Professor J. K. Paine, of Harvard University. 10. Dorcas, married, about 1689, Benjamin Vickerie, of Hull; died at the birth of her seventh child, October 30, 1707.
(III) James, son of Thomas (2) Paine, was born at Eastham, July 6, 1665, died at Barnstable, November 12, 1728. He was a cooper and miller, also served as schoolmaster and town clerk. He resided at Barnstable, where he was admitted townsman May 29. 1689. He was admitted a freeman the first Tuesday of June, 1689, at the court of Ply- mouth. He was one of the principal men of Barnstable, of great influence and highly re- spected. He was a magistrate of some kind, probably a justice of the peace, and had occa- sion to administer justice and decide causes. He married, April 9, 1691, Bethia, daughter of Colonel John Thatcher, of Yarmouth. Children : 1. James, born March 24, 1692, died aged nineteen years. 2. Thomas, mentioned below. 3. Bethia, born February 22, 1696. died following year. 4. Bethia, born May 23, 1698. 5. Mary, born August 13, 1700. 6. Ex- perience, born March 17, 1703. 7. Rebecca, born April 8, 1705, died aged twenty-one years.
(IV) Thomas (3), son of James Paine, was born in Barnstable, April 9. 1694. His pre- liminary studies were directed by the Rev. Jonathan Russell, of Barnstable, who prepared him for Harvard College, and he was gradu- ated in 1717. As a student he made a specialty of mathematics and astronomy, pur-
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