USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Groton historical series. A collection of papers relating to the history of the town of Groton, Massachusetts, Vol III > Part 5
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next spring, as a letter of dismissal was given to him by the church in Groton, on March 5, 1780.
He was given to hospitality, a man of wide influence, having the characteristics of the genuine Puritan stock from which he sprung. Eminent in his profession, he had an extensive practice, and in addition to that was largely engaged in farming. He built the house and owned the farm lately occupied by Isaac K. Davis, also lot No. 14, third range, and that part of lot No. 14, second range, lying southwest of Rocky River. It was owing more to his influence than to that of any other resident of Wilton that the Second Cong. Ch. was organized. ( History of Wilton, page 490.)
Dr. Rockwood died at Wilton, on February 10, 1830 ; and his widow, at the same place, on March 9, 18449. Among his children was Ebenezer, Jr., who graduated at Harvard College in the Class of 1802, a classmate and friend of the late Hon- orable Samuel Hoar, whose son, Ebenezer Rockwood Iloar, was named for him. Ebenezer, Jr., was born on June 2, 1781, and died on May 8, 1815.
DR. JACOB PATCH was a son of Jacob and Mary (Hazen) Patch, and born at Groton on November 22, 1772. Ile at- tended school at Groton Academy in the year 1794, under the preceptorship of Henry Moor, the first principal of the institution, and graduated at Dartmouth College in the Class of 1799. He studied medicine in his native town un- der the instruction of Dr. Oliver Prescott, Senior, and began the practice of his profession at Camden, Maine. On No- vember 12, 1806, he was married to Rebekah, daughter of Caleb and Betty (Cummings) Woods, who was born at Gro- ton, on March 29, 1781. The following sketch of Dr. Patch is found in John L. Locke's History of Camden (Hallowell, 1859) : -
Jacob Patch, M. D., was born in Groton, Mass., and graduated at Dartmouth college. Came to Camden about the year 1800. Nov. 12, 1866, he was married to Miss Rebekah Woods of Don- stable, Mass. The Doctor's forte was in teaching school, and not a few of those of our citizens who have attained eminence in their
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chosen pursuits, attribute their success, to the early training they received under the tuition of Dr. Patch. For a number of years, he was one of the superintending town school committee. As a medical practitioner, he never stood in the front rank, which he might have done, had his practical understanding and skill, corre- sponded with his deep reading and extensive theoretical knowledge. In case the utility of any of his prescriptions, or modes of treat- ment, were called in question, he was ever ready, from his abun- dant information, to quote any number of medical authorities in support of his procedure. The Doctor's individuality often ex- hibited itself through his eccentricities, which were the natural outgrowth of his peculiar temperament and disposition. Delight- ing in numismatics, he made an extensive collection of rare coins of every description, many of which are now in the cabinet of a somewhat enthusiastic antiquary. He had 150 gold coins, of as many different kinds.
Characteristic of the Doctor, is the following incident : - At one time, he was going to Boston in a vessel, but missing of his passage by her sailing before the hour, he at once started for his destina- tion on foot, and, though a very inert man, arrived there before the captain reached the harbor. In like manner he returned.
Ile died without issue, June 23, 1846, aged 73 years. Ilis relict deceased April 18, 1854, at the age of 73 years. (Pages 217, 218.)
DR. SAMUEL HEMENWAY was a son of Samuel and Sarah (Fitch) Hemenway, and born at Groton, on November 16, 1777. He attended school at Groton Academy in the year 1797, and afterward studied medicine under the tuition of Dr. Edward Holyoke, of Salem. He began the practice of his profession in that town, and was married on November 13, 1803, to Sally, daughter of Captain Jeduthun and Mary Up- ton, of Salem. Dr. Hemenway joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1808. About the year 1817 be removed to Boston, where he died on January 8, 1823. See " Groton Epitaphs" (page 151), for the inscription on his tombstone. Ile was the father of the late Augustus Hemenway, of Boston.
. DR. JAMES PRESCOTT CHAPLIN was a son of the Rev- erend Daniel and Susanna ( Prescott) Chaplin, and bom at
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Groton, on March 27, 1782. His mother was a daughter of the Honorable James Prescott, and a niece of Colonel Wil- liam Prescott, the commander of the American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In the year 1794, he attended school at Groton Academy, then under the preceptorship of Henry Moor, the first principal of the institution. He studied medi- cine for two years with Dr. Calvin Thomas, of Tyngsborough, and for one year with Dr. John Warren, of Boston, graduating at the Harvard Medical School as the sole member of the Class of 1805. On December 10, 1807, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Richard and Hannah (Goldthwait) Gardner, of Cambridge, who died on May 21, 1838. Dr. Chaplin became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in the year 1808, and at the time of his death was one of the Councillors. During a long time he was at the head of a private establishment for the treatment of nervous dis- cases and the insane, - the earliest institution of its kind in New England. It was situated on spacious grounds, near the corner of Austin and Prospect Streets, Cambridgeport. He died on October 12, 1828, leaving four sons and three daughters. See Volume II. of this Historical Series (page 432), for an account of the Reverend Dr. Chaplin's family.
The following notice is found in the " Lancaster Gazette," October 21, 1828 :-
In Cambridge-port, Dr. James P'. Chaplin, aged 46. The pub- lick at large, as well as private friends, are summoned to feel a deep regret at this dispensation of Providence. Dr. Chaplin was in the height of his usefulness - in that mellow, productive season of life when virtue throws its deep richness into every act of benevo- lence, and religion grows more celestial as the passions and affec- tions withdraw from earth to rest on heaven.
DR. RUFUS LONGLEY was a son of Joshua and Bridget (Melvin) Longley, and born at Shirley, on September 2, 1788. Ile was a lineal descendant of William Longley, one of the first settlers of Groton, and received his early education at Groton Academy. He entered Harvard College in the sum- mer of 1804, but his class was the one principally concerned
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in the college rebellion, which broke out in the spring of 1807, when many of the members were expelled. Of this number were Rufus Longley, of Shirley, and John Shepley, of Groton, a brother of the late Honorable Ether Shepley, of Portland, Maine. After leaving Cambridge, young Long- ley began the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Oliver Prescott, Jr., of Groton, and subsequently took the degree of Bachelor of Medicine at the Dartmouth Medical School in the Class of ISI1. At that time Dartmouth Col- lege did not give the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Soon afterward he established himself in practice at Haverhill, where he passed the remainder of his life. On November 5, 1819, Dr. Longley was married to Margaret, daughter of Bailey and Margaret (White) Bartlett, of Haverhill ; and they had four children, of whom only one now survives. He be- came a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in the year 1824, and received an honorary degree of M. D. from Harvard College in 1850. His last professional visit was made only a few days before his death, which took place on March 12, 1855 ; and by a coincidence his first patient was also his last. Ilis widow died at Haverhill on January 6, 1880, aged 89 years, 4 months, and 8 days.
DR. THOMAS CHAMPNEY GARDNER was a son of Thomas and Abigail (Champney) Gardner, and born at Groton, on May 10, 1791. Hle fitted for college at Groton Academy, and graduated at Dartmouth College in the Class of 18II. He studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Amos Bancroft, of Groton, and on December 10, 1813, during the war with England, was commissioned as Surgeon's Mate in the United States Navy. Dr. Gardner was at once assigned to duty on board of the sloop-of-war " Ontario," where he remained, probably, until the time of his death, which took place in the city of New York during the year 1819. He was never married. The Class Report, published in the year 1850, says : " He was a person of respectable talents, and naturally a pleasant, amiable young man."
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DR. RALPH FARNSWORTH, a younger brother of Dr. Amos, who is mentioned on page 25, was the son of Major Amos and Elizabeth (Rockwood) Farnsworth, and born at Groton, on September 20, 1795. He fitted for college at Groton Academy, and graduated at Harvard College in the Class of 1821. Immediately after graduation he went to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he was engaged for some years in teaching school, and probably also in studying his profession. Ile graduated at the Dartmouth Medical School in the Class of 1826. After taking his medical degree, he went to Nor- wich, Connecticut, where he began the practice of his profes- sion. On November 25, 1828, he was married to Eunice Williams, daughter of Coddington and Eunice (Williams) Billings, of New London. A few years later he went to Buffalo, New York, where he was engaged in mercantile affairs for a while, but not liking the kind of business, he returned to Norwich, and resumed the practice of medicine. His death took place in that city on July 16, 1875.
DR. RICHARD WILLIAMS was a son of Jacob and Hannah (Sheple) Williams, and born at Groton, on January 12, 1803, -- a younger brother of Dr. Jacob Williams, who is mentioned on page 23. IIe received his early education at Groton Academy, and in the autumn of 1825 entered Amherst Col- lege, where he remained during the Freshman and Sophomore years. Soon afterward he began the study of medicine, and graduated at the Dartmouth Medical School in the Class of 1830. According to the Annual Catalogue of that institution for 1829, Dr. Nehemiah Cutter, of Pepperell, was his medical preceptor. He began the practice of his profession at Mil- ford, New Hampshire; and on April 25, 1832, he was married to Susanna, daughter of Noah and Anna (Sheple) Shattuck, of Groton, who was born on May 3, 1807. Dr. Williams died at Milford, on October 6, 1842 ; and his widow subsequently married, on March 21, 1844, Leonard Chase, a trader of Mil- ford, who was born at Millbury, Massachusetts, on August 4, ISto. Both Mr. Chase and his wife are now dead.
The Honorable Rodney Metcalf Stimson, of Marietta, Ohio,
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a native of Milford, has kindly given me his recollections of the man and physician, as follows : -
Dr. Richard Williams, from Groton, Mass., settled in Milford, N. H., about New Year's, 1831, to practise his profession. He "followed the King," as his predecessor was "young Dr. Spalding," so called, to distinguish him from his uncle, Dr. Matthias Spalding, of Amherst, the latter doubtless, at the time, the most distinguished physician and surgeon who had ever lived in Hillsborough County, the younger doctor being his apt pupil in an adjoining town, and exceedingly popular.
Dr. Williams, then about twenty-eight years of age, at once proved himself to be fully equal to all the duties he had under- taken. He had received a good education, was well read in his profession, had good practical sense, and a pleasant manner, and grew in the estimation of the people, till his death, in October, 1842. He had served an intelligent community to entire accept- ance for almost twelve years, and fell a victim to typhoid fever, at the age of thirty-nine.
In person, Dr. Williams was about five feet ten inches tall, weighed about one hundred and sixty-five pounds, was of clear complexion, neither very light nor dark, and was altogether a fine looking man. He was of decided convictions, expressed firmly but always kindly, a consistent member of the Congregational church, and well known as an anti-slavery man, when to be so was not so popular as it afterward became. A short time after going to Milford, he married Miss Susanna Shattuck, of Groton, who was a model wife, a nice looking woman, of a disposition always apparently unruffled, and under all circumstances a lady. Of their two children, one named George grew to manhood, but left Milford more than forty years ago. Mrs. Williams, after some years of widowhood, married Leonard Chase, a prominent citizen of Milford, but has now been dead for many years.
DR. GEORGE MANSFIELD was a son of Dr. Joseph and Abi (Hartwell) Mansfield, and born at Groton, on October 8, 1807. He began to attend school at Groton Academy in the year 1815, and graduated at the Harvard Medical School in the Class of 1832. He joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in the year 1832. (See page 15 of this number.)
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DR. FRANKLIN DODGE was a son of Samuel and Molly (Farnsworth) Dodge, and born at Groton, on September 9, 1809. His parents were married on September 16, 1790; his father, a native of Ipswich, died on September 4, 1838, and his mother, a native of Groton, on November 30, 1840. Dr. Dodge attended school at Groton Academy as early as the year 1822, when this institution was under the precep- torship of Eber Child. He graduated at Amherst College in the Class of 1834, and began the study of his profession at the Dartmouth Medical School, where he graduated in the Class of 1837. Ile practised for a short time in Boston, and then in 1838 went to Harwich. On December 6, 1839, he was married to Susan, daughter of John and Sukey (Parker) Fitch, of Groton. Dr. Dodge joined the Massa- chusetts Medical Society in 1841, and was one of the Coun- cillors. He had a successful practice at Harwich, which continued until it was interrupted by the early symptoms of consumption. He died on July 8, 1872 ; and in his death the poor lost a warm friend and a kind physician. (See page 337 of the second volume of this Historical Series.)
DR. WILLIAM RICHARDS LAWRENCE was the eldest son of Amos and Sarah ( Richards ) Lawrence, and born in Bos- ton, on May 3, 1812. After the death of his mother, which occurred on January 14, 1819, he came to Groton and lived in his grandfather Lawrence's family on Farmers' Row. He attended school at Groton Academy, where he remained for two years ; and subsequently he went to the Latin School in Boston for a year, thence to Dummer Academy for three years, and to a school in Gardiner, Maine, for another year. At the age of sixteen he went abroad, where he continued his studies, and returned home in July, 1832. He was mar- ried in Boston, on December 6, 1838, to Susan Coombs, daughter of the Reverend Samuel and Henrietta ( Bridge) Dana, of Marblehead. He graduated at the Harvard Medical School in the Class of 18.45, and became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 18446. He was connected with a children's hospital, and with several medical institu-
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tions for some years, when he retired from the profession. Dr. Lawrence died at Swampscott, on September 20, 1885.
DR. NOAH TORREY is a son of Noah and Sarah (Blan- chard) Torrey, and was born at Groton, on December 23, 1818. Ilis father was born at Abington, on December 19, 1772 ; and his mother at Weymouth, on June 13, 1781. He fitted for college at Groton Academy, and graduated at Dart- mouth College in the Class of 1844. He attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he took the degree of M. D. in March, 1847. Soon after graduation, Dr. Torrey began the practice of his profession at Braintree, where he has since lived. On November 16, 1851, he was married to Lucinda, daughter of Jonathan and Ruth ( Penni- man) Thayer, of Braintree ; and they have two sons and a daughter.
DR. CHARLES HARTWELL CRAGIN was a son of Deacon Isaiah and Hannah (Hildreth) Cragin, and born at Alstead, New Hampshire, on September 17, 1817. His father re- moved to Groton in the year 1830, and lived in the house at. the corner of Chicopee Row and Longley Street. The son began to attend school at Groton Academy during the same year, and graduated at Amherst College in the Class of 1837. For some years afterward he was engaged in teaching, and at the same time was studying his profession. Ile received the degree of M. D. from the National Medical College, Washington, D. C., in the Class of 1844; and after prac- tising his profession in Washington for a short period, he removed to the adjoining city of Georgetown, where he passed his life, with the exception of a year spent in Cali- fornia. IIe was for four years Police Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and for three years Postmaster of Georgetown; and he died in that city on April 1, 1887.
On October 2, 1845, Dr. Cragin was married, - first, to Mary, daughter of Samuel McKenney, of Georgetown, where she was born on February 11, 1820, and died on May 21, 1853 ; and on April 16, 1857, secondly, to her sister, Henrietta
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Foxall McKenny, who was born on November 11, 1825. They had six children, of whom three survived the father.
For another sketch of Dr. Cragin, see Volume II. (pages 336, 337) of this Historical Series, where his father's given name is incorrectly printed as Josiah. That account was taken from the "Obituary Record of the Graduates of Amherst College."
DR. GEORGE BROWN is a son of Ephraim and Sarah (King) Brown, and was born at Wilton, New Hampshire, on October 11, 1823. He fitted for college at Phillips Academy, An- dover, and in September, 1845, entered the University of Vermont, Burlington, where he remained during two years. Hle began the study of medicine under the instruction of his brother-in-law, Dr. Norman Smith, of Groton, and took his degree of M. D. in the Class of 1850, at the Medical Depart- ment of the University of the City of New York. On No- vember 1, 1850, he was married to Catharine, daughter of Artemas and Susan (Barber) Wood, of Groton ; and they have one son, George Artemas Brown, who is a physician, and an assistant to his father. About the time of his mar- riage Dr. Brown established himself at Barre, and took charge of an institution for feeble-minded youth, which has now grown to large proportions .. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1866, and is now one of the Councillors.
DR. ISAIAH HALL NUTTING was a son of Joseph Danforth and Lucinda (Keep) Nutting. He graduated at Williams College in the Class of 1846, and took his degree of M. D. in the year 1851, at the Berkshire Medical Institution, Pittsfield. The "Necrological Annals. 1865-6," of Williams College gives the following sketch of Dr. Nutting's life : -
ISAIAHI HALL, NUTTING was born at Groton, Mass., Dec. 14, 1824, and died at Elgin, Ill., of Typhoid Fever, Dec. 1, 1865, aged forty- one years.
Hle prepared for College at Lawrence Academy, and entered as Sophomore. He was distinguished among his classmates for high
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scholarship and general ability. After his graduation he engaged in teaching at different places - one year in Michigan, and for a time at Bennington and at Brattleboro', Vt. He also pursued the study of theology at East Windsor, and was graduated there in 1851. He studied medicine likewise, and received the degree of M. D. He practiced sometimes one and sometimes another of his profes- sions, but the principal part of his work was done in teaching, wherein he was enthusiastic and successful. He was preceptor of Mt. Hollis Seminary at Holliston for some years, and left it to take a post in Iowa College, when the breaking out of the war suddenly left that institution without students. He then removed to Dyers- ville, lowa, where he preached and practiced medicine for a time until his removal to Elgin, Ill., where he died.
Dr. Nutting was a man of original powers. One could not be long in his company without perceiving that he was in the habit of doing his own thinking. He was apt to leave the beaten track of thought, and mark out a path for himself. He meditated much upon the connection of mind with matter, and made some commu- nications on the subject to the Boston Medical Journal. He also wished to introduce some reforms in the teaching of English Gram- mar, and published the first of a series of text-books in that de- partment of study. His mind was active in a great variety of directions, seeking to understand and illustrate the wonderful works and word of God. He was a warm Christian, and car- nestly engaged in Christian work, ardently desiring to serve the Saviour, and to enjoy His presence forever. It is believed that more than a hundred souls owe their conversion under God to his instrumentality. A short time before his death he wrote to a friend : " We are passing on from one plan and field of studies to another, and happy he who early takes his place with the throng before the Lamb." His dying testimony was : " I cast my anchor when I was thirteen years old upon the Rock ; and it has never moved." " I have always preached the all-sufficiency of Christ to others, and I am not afraid to trust it now." When told that his end was near, he said, " I hail it with joy." ( Page 20.)
DR. ISAIAH HUTCHINS is a son of Thomas and Abigail (Spaulding ) Hutchins, and was born at Westford, on Septem- ber 23, 1829. His father lived for many years on the Gov- ernor Sullivan place in Groton, situated on the Lowell
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road, perhaps three-quarters of a mile from the First Parish Meeting-house. He attended school at Groton Academy, and graduated at the Worcester Medical Institution, on June 23, 1852. Dr. Hutchins began the practice of his profession at West Acton, where he still resides. On November 25, 1852, he was married to Sarah Augusta, daughter of Alden and Sarah (Faulkner) Fuller, of Acton, and they have, by adoption, one child, named George Young Hutchins. In the year 1864 he became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and in 1867 was one of its Councillors.
During the War of the Rebellion he served in the Sixth Regiment Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, in their nine months' campaign. He was a Corporal of Company E, and mustered in on August 31, 1862 ; and on March 4, 1863, was appointed Hospital Steward of the regiment, in which capacity he served until the regiment was mustered out, on June 3, 1863, after the expiration of their term of service. During the next year, when the same regiment went out for one hundred days, he was commissioned as Second Lieuten- ant, and served in Company E from July IS to October 27, 1864.
DR. SAMUEL ABBOTT GREEN is a son of Dr. Joshua and Eliza (Lawrence) Green, and was born at Groton, on March 16, 1830. Ile began to attend school at Groton Academy in the year 1838, and graduated at Harvard College in the Class of 1851, taking his degree of M. D. at the Harvard Medical School in 1854. During the war of the Rebellion he served in the army as Assistant Surgeon of the First Massachusetts Volunteers from May 25 to September 2, 1861, when he was commissioned as Surgeon of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, in which regiment he remained until November 3, 1864. He was also Acting Staff Surgeon, on duty in Rich- mond, Virginia, after that city surrendered, from April 9 to July 9, 1865. See " Harvard University in the War of 1861- 1865" (pages 51, 52), for other details of his military service. In the year 1866 he was chosen a Trustee of Lawrence Acad- emy, which position he still holds, and from 1884 to 1889 was
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the President of the Board. He is now a resident of Boston, where he has been a member of the School Committee, Super- intendent of the Boston Dispensary, City Physician, Mayor, etc. For a sketch of his life, see " Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography " (II. 746).
DR. JOSEPH RUTTER DRAPER. The sketch of this physi- cian, given below, is taken from the "Obituary Record of the Alumni of Williams College, 1885-6." Mrs. Draper came to Groton to live, about the year 1845, for the purpose of educating the son and a daughter ( Lydia Rutter Draper, now the wife of the Reverend Alfred Sereno Hudson), who both attended school at Lawrence Academy. She lived in a small house, then recently built, and afterward owned by Mr. Farley, on the south side of Pleasant Street, near the westerly end of Elm Street. The son was married on No- vember 22, 1855, to Mary Jane, daughter of Calvin and Abi- gail (Rutter) Fuller, of Dedham, who was born on September 2, 1824 ; and at that time he was a resident of Saxonville. He graduated at the Berkshire Medical Institution, Pittsfield, in the Class of 1863, and joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in the year 1865.
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