History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 150

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 150

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1726-27. George Leonard.

1728-31. Capt. Samuel Brintnell.

1732. George Leonard.

1733. Mr. Samuel Clapp.

1734. George Leonard. 1735. Capt. Ephraim Leonard.

1736. Ephraim Leonard.

1859. Daniel S. Cobb.

1861. Annis A. Lincoln, Jr.

1863-65. lIoratio Bates.

1868. Augustus Lane.

1851. Austin Messinger.

1854. Caleb S. Wetherell.&

625

NORTON.

1748 .- Capt. William Stone, Capt. Simeon Wetherell, Capt. William Dean.

1749 .- Capt. Simeon Wetherell, Capt. William Stone, Capt. William Dean.

1750,-Capt. William Stone, Capt. Simeon Wetherell, Capt. William Dean.

1751 .- George Leonard, Ephraim Leonard, Nathan Hodges.

1752 .- George Leonard, Esq., Nathan Hodges, Joseph Elliot.

1753 .- IIon. George Leonard, Esq., Ephraim Leonard, Esq., George Leonard, Jr.

1754 .- llon. George Leonard, Esq., Ephraim Leonard, Esq., George Leonard, Jr., Esq.

1755 .- Ephraim Leonard, Esq., Lieut. Thomas Morey, Thomas Shepard, Lieut. Benjamin Pratt, Lieut. Benjamin Cobb.

1756 .- Lieut. Thomas Morey, Lieut. Benjamin Cobb, Mr. Thomas Shep- ard, Mr. Isaac White, Mr. Nathan Williams.

1757 .- Thomas Morey, Benjamin Cobb, Ebenezer Burt.

1758 .- Lient. Thomas Morey, Lieut. Benjamin Cobb, Mr. Ebenezer Burt.

1759 .- Capt. Thomas Morey, Capt. Benjamin Cobb, Mr. Ebenezer Burt. 1760 .- Capt. Thomas Morey, Capt. Benjamin Cobb, Lieut, Benjamin Pratt.

1761 .- George Leonard, jun., Esq., Mr. Thomas Shepard, Mr. Isaac White.

1762 .- George Leonard, jun., Esq., Capt. William Dean, Capt. Jonathan Eddy.

1763 .- George Leonard, jun., Esq., Mr. Daniel Leonard, Mr. William Cobb, Ebenezer Burt (Ist), Dr. George Wheaton.

1764 .- Lieut. William Cobb, Dr. George Wheaton, George Leonard, jun., Esq.

1765 .- Mr. William Cobb, Dr. George Wheaton, Mr. Isaac Hodges. 1766 .- Lient. William Cobb, Dr. George Wheaton, Mr. Isaac Ilodges. 1767 .- Lieut. William Cobb, Dr. George Wheaton, Mr. Isaac Hodges. 1768 .- Lieut. William Cobb, Dr. George Wheaton, Mr. Isaac Hodges. 1769 .- Lieut. William Cobb, Dr. George Wheaton, Mr. Isaac Hodges. 1770 .- George Leonard, jun., Esq., Dr. George Wheaton, Mr. Nathan Babbit.

1771 .- Hon. George Leonard, jun., Esq., Mr. John Crane, Mr. Nathan Babbit.

1772 .- Hon. George Leonard, jun., Esq., Mr. Nathan Babbit, Mr. John Crane.

1773 .- Capt. William Homes, Capt. John Crane, Mr. Samuel Newcomb. 1774 .- William Homes, Samuel Newcomb, Isaac Hodges.

1775 .- Capt. William Homes, Mr. Isaac Hodges, Mr. Eleazar Clap. 1776 .- William Homes, Mr. Isaac Hodges, Mr. Eleazar Clap. 1777 .- William Homes, Mr. Daniel Dean, Mr. Eleazar Clap. 1778 .- William Homes, Esq., Lieut. William Cobb, Mr. Daniel Dean. 1779 .- Lient. William Cobb, William Homes, Esq., Deacon Daniel Dean. 1780 .- Lieut. William Cobb, William Homes, Esq., Deacon Daniel Dean. 1781 .- William Homes, Esq., Lieut. William Cobb, Deacon Daniel Dean. 1782 .- Capt. Seth Smith, Capt. Israel Trow, Deacon Daniel Dean. 1783 .- Capt. Seth Smith, Capt. Israel Trow, Lieut. David Arnold. 1784 .- Capt. Israel Trow, Capt. Seth Smith, Lieut. David Arnold. 1785 .- Capt. Seth Smith, Capt. John Crane, Col. Silas Cobb. 1786 .- Capt. John Crane, Capt. Isaac Hodges, Lieut. David Arnold. 1787 .- Capt. John Crane, Capt. Isaac Hodges, Lieut. David Arnold. 1788 .- Capt. John Crane, Lieut. David Arnold, Lieut. Jacob Shepard. 1789 .- Capt. John Crane, Capt. Ephraim Lane, Lieut. Jacob Shepard. 1790 .- Capt. John Crane, Capt. Ephraim Lane, Jacob Shepard. 1791 .- Capt. Jolin Crane, Capt. Ephraim Lane, jun., Lieut. Jacob Shep- ard.

1792 .- Capt. John Crane, Capt. Ephraim Lane, jun., Capt. David Clap. 1793 .- Capt. Ephraim Lane, Capt, Israel Trow, Capt. David Clap. 1794 .- Capt. David Clap, Ephraim Lane, Capt. Tisdale Hodges. 1795 .- Capt. David Clap, Capt. Tisdale Hodges, Isaac Hodges, jun. 1796 .- Deacon Daniel Deau, Tisdale Hodges. Isaac Hodges, jun. 1797 .- Capt. Tisdale Hodges, Isaac Hodges, jun., Elisha Cobb. 1798 .- Isaac Hodges, jun., Elisha Cobb, David Lincoln, jun. 1799 .- Capt. Tisdale Ilodges, Isaac Hodges, jun., Lient. Elisha Cobb. 1800 .- Isaac Hodges, Jr., Lieut. John Hall, Capt. Tisdale Hodges. 1801 .- Isaac Hodges, Jr., Lieut. John Hall, William Burt. 1802 .- William Burt, Lieut. John Hodges, Maj. Brian lall. 1803 .- William Burt, Samuel Hunt, Jonathan Hodges. 1804 .- William Burt, Capt. Jonathan Hodges, Capt. Samnel Hunt. 1805 .- Capt. Samuel Ilunt, Capt. Jonathan Hodges, Maj. Brian Hall. 1806 .- Capt. Jonathan Hodges, Laban Wheaton, Esq., Capt. Samuel Hunt.

1807 .- Laban Wheaton, Esq., Capt. Samnel Hunt, Maj. Brian Hall.

ISOS .- Laban Wheaton, Brian Hall, Samuel Hunt.

1809 .- Isaac Hodges, Maj. Brian Hall, Capt. Samuel Hunt. 1810 .- Brian Hall, Isaac Ilodges, Samuel Hunt.

1811,-Isaac Hodges, Samuel Hunt, Samuel Copeland. 1812 .- Samuel Copeland, Isaac Hodges, Samnel Hunt. 1813 .- Isaac Hodges, Samuel Copeland, Samuel IFunt. 1814 .- Isaac Hodges, Seth Hodges, Jonathan Newland.

1815 .- Isaac Ilodges, Lysander Makepeace, Daniel Lane. 1816 .- Isaac Hodges, Lysander Makepeace, Seth Ilodges. 1817 .- Isaac Hodges, Sethi Hodges, Lysander Makepeace. 1818 .- Seth Hodges, Lysander Makepeace, Daniel Lane. 1819 .- Seth Hodges, Daniel Lane, Lemuel Arnold. 1820 .- Daniel Lane, Seth Hodges, Lemuel Arnold.

1821 .- Lemmel Arnold, Lemnel Perry, Jacob Shepard.

1822 .- Lemuel Arnold, Lemuel Perry, Jacob Shepard.

1823 .- Lemuel Perry, Jacob Shepard, Thomas Braman. 1824 .- Lemuel Perry, Lemuel Arnold, Jacob Shepard.

1825 .- Lemuel Perry, Jacob Shepard, Daniel Patten.

1826 .- Lemuel Perry, Jacob Shepard, Daniel Patten.

1827 .- Lemuel Perry, Daniel Patten, Oliver Hunt. 1828,-Oliver Ilunt, William Hodges, Calvin Lane. 1829 .- Sylvester Newcomb, Cromwell Leonard, Jacob Shepard. 1830 .- Sylvester Newcomb, Cromwell Leonard, Jacob Shepard.

1831 .- Cromwell Leonard, Sylvester Newcomb, William Lane, Jr.

1332 .- Cromwell Leonard, Sylvester Newcomb, William Lane, Jr

1833 .- Cromwell Leonard, Sylvester Newcomb, William Lane, Jr.

1834 .- Cromwell Leonard, Sylvester Newcomb, William Lane, Jr. 1835,-Cromwell Leonard, Simeon Blandin, Seth Hodges. 1836 .- Seth Hodges, Cromwell Leonard, Simeon Blandin. 1837 .- Cromwell Leonard, Simeon Blandin, Leonard Hodges, Jr.

1838 .- Leonard Ilodges, Jr., Ilennary Newcomb, Richard F. Sweet.

1839 .- Henry Newcomb, Daniel Briggs, Leonard Hodges, Jr. 1840 .- George C. Crane, Jacob Shepard, Earl Ilodges. 1841 .- George B. Crane, Jacob Shepard, Earl Hodges. 1842 .- George B. Crane, Jacob Shepard, Earl Hodges. 1843 .- George B. Crane, Jacob Shepard, Almond Tucker.

1844 .- Almond Tucker, Rodolphus H. Williams, Hiram J. Hunt.

1845 .- Iliram J. Hunt, Eddy Lincoln, Cyrus White. 1846 .- George B. Crane, Almond Tucker, Cyrus White. 1847 .- Seth Sumner, Jr., George B. Crane, Almond Tucker.

1848 .- George B. Crane, Seth Sumner, Jr., David Arnold. 1849 .- George B. Crane, Seth Sumner, Jr., David Arnold.

1850 .- George B. Crane, Seth Sumner, Jr, David Arnold. 1851 .- Daniel S. Cobb, Eli Wood, Benjamin S. Ilall.

1852 .- Daniel S. Cobb, Eli Wood, Benjamin S. Hall. 1853 .- Daniel S. Cobb, Charles HI. Briggs, John B. Newcomb. 1854 .- Earl C. White, Elkanah Wheeler, Augustus Lane.

1855 .- Ebenezer Tinkham, Royal P. Hodges, Iliram II. Wetherell.

1856 .- Augustus Lane, James O. Messinger, James Allen. 1857 .- Augustus Lane, James O. Messinger, James Allen. 1858-59 .- Augustus Lane, James O. Messinger, James Allen. 1860 .- Augustus Lane, James O. Messinger, William D. Wetherell. 1861-62 .- Augustus Lane, William D. Wetherell, Horatio Bates. 1863 .- William D. Wetherell, Horatio Bates, Benjamin E. Sweet. 1864-65, -- William D. Wetherell, Horatio Bates, Charles Spragne, Jr.

1866 .- William D. Wetherell, Horatio Bates, Henry Hunt. 1867 .- Leonard Ilodges, Augustus Lane, Alfred Barker.

I868 .- Leonard Hodges, Alfred Barker, John W. Wetherell. 1869-70 .- Leonard Hodges, Enoch Tibbetts, Moses Lincoln. 1871 .- Leonard Ilodges, Enoch Tibbetts, Andrew II. Sweet. 1872-73 .- Andrew H. Sweet, John R. Rogerson, George H. Arnold. 1874 .- John R. Rogerson, George R. l'erry, Joseph Copeland. 1875,-George R. Perry, Joseph Copeland, George B. Crane. 1876-77 .- George R. Perry, John R. Rogerson, Isaac T. Braman. 1878 .- George R. Perry, Horatio Bates, O. E. Walker. 1879 .- George R. Perry, O. E. Walker, Alfred Barker. 1880 .- George R. Perry, Alfred Barker, William E. Payson. IS81 .- William A. Lane, Silas A. Stone, Oren E. Walker. 1882 .- William A. Lane, Silas A. Stone, William D. Wetherell.

TOWN CLERKS.

John Briggs, 1711; George Leonard, 1712-16, 1721-30, 1743-50; John Hodges, 1716-20, 1733; John Hodges (Ist), 1734-42; George Leon- ard, Jr., 1751; David Williams, 1752-72; John King, 1773-78; Capt. Silas Cobb, 1779-84; Seth Smith, Jr., 1785-93, 1795-98; Thomas Fobes, 1794; Joseph Hunt, 1799-1813; George Walker, 1814-20;

626

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Thomas Danforth (2d), 1821-27; John Crane, 1828-57; Rev. George F. Clark, 1858-60; Austin Messinger, 1861-83.

DEPUTY SHERIFFS .- Benjamin Williams was dep- uty sheriff in 1757. How long he held the office we know not. Ephraim Burr is believed to have been sheriff from some years previous to 1784 up to 1803; Isaac Morey, from 1791 to 1796 ; Thomas Fobes, from 1794 to 1796 ; William Verry, most of the time from 1800 to 1815; George Gilbert, from 1803 to 1805; Ebenezer Titus, from 1803 to 1808; Preston Hodges, from 1818 to 1821; Daniel Smith (2d), from 1822 to 1824; George Clapp, from 1822 to 1824; Daniel Morey, in 1825; Timothy Smith, from 1826 to 1834; Horace B. Wetherell, from 1835 to 1850; Austin Mes- singer, from 1851 to 1853, and again in 1856; Cyril S. Sweet was appointed in 1858; Artemas C. King and George H. Arnold, now in office.

STATE SENATORS .- Hon. Abraham White was chosen senator in 1787, and again in 1788. He is be- lieved to have been the son of Thomas White, of Taunton, and tradition says he was descended from Peregrine White, the first English child born at Ply- mouth. He was a somewhat eccentric man, and could not read or write, but was possessed of much native talent, practical good sense, and sound judg- ment. He was much employed in public life, where energy and decision of character were needed. Nu- merous anecdotes are related of him, all of which illustrate liis ready wit, keen satire, and ability to meet any emergency that arose. He lived at the easterly part of the town. He married first a daugh- ter of John Holmes, of Taunton, by whom he had a son, who, with his mother, died young. For second wife, Mr. White married Hannah, daughter of Ed- ward White, of Easton, and had by her eight chil- dren. IIe died Feb. 20, 1801, in his eighty-fifth year, so that he must have been born in 1717.

Hon. George Leonard was chosen senator in 1793, and served one year only.

Hon. Seth Smith, Jr., was chosen senator in 1797, and held the office but one year. He was the son of Deacon Seth Smith by his first wife, Sarah Cobb (2d), and was born Oct. 1, 1756. He married, March 16, 1780, Rachel Newcomb, and had three children. He was much employed in public business, was town clerk many years, also representative to the General Court. He kept a store in the centre of the town a few years. He left Norton about 1799, and went to New York city.

Hon. Cromwell Leonard was chosen senator for the year 1848, and rechosen for the year 1849. He is the son of Jonathan Leonard by his second wife, Rebecca Smithi (2d), and was born Dec. 1, 1788. He is the grandson of Jacob and Mary (Wild) Leonard, and is descended from the Taunton Leonards, who came from Pontypool, Wales. Mr. Leonard married, June 15, 1815, Miss Belinda Copeland, of Mansfield. They had four children. She died Ang. 25, 1848. He married for second wife, June 20, 1849, Miss

Harriet Morse, of East Cambridge, daughter of the late Dr. Caleb Morse, of Moultonborough, N. H. He served the town many years as moderator of town- meetings, selectman, assessor, representative to the General Court, and other positions of trust and re- spectability.

Hon. John Crane was chosen senator for the year 1852. He is the son of Terry and Rebecca (Harvey) Crane, grandson of John and Rachel (Terry) Crane, and was born Jan. 11, 1799. He married, March 28, 1825, Miss Sally Harvey, of Taunton, and had two children. He held the office of town clerk and treas- urer for thirty successive years. When chosen for the thirtieth time in 1857 he declined a re-election. He has represented the town in the General Court, wholly or in part, ten years.

COUNCILORS .- Hon. George Leonard was a royal councilor twenty-five successive years, commencing his term of service in 1741 and closing in 1766. He was the son of Maj. George and Anna (Tisdale) Leon- ard, and was the first male child born in the westerly part of Norton. His advent into the world took place March 4, 1698. He was the second justice of the peace in town, was town clerk many years, and also otherwise much employed in public affairs as select- man, assessor, moderator of town-meetings, represen- tative to the General Court, etc. He was also much engaged in the military affairs of this neighborhood, having risen from a subordinate officer to the com- mand of the regiment, and is generally known as Col. George Leonard. He was appointed judge of the court of Common Pleas in 1725, and held the office till 1730. He was reappointed to the same office in 1733, and held it till 1740, when he was dis- missed for having been connected with the Land Bank scheme. He was again appointed to the bench in 1746, and continued in office till about the com- mencement of the Revolution. A portion of the time he was on the bench he was chief justice of the court. He was appointed judge of probate for Bris- tol County Feb. 16, 1747, and held the office about thirty-one years.

Hon. George Leonard, Jr., was councilor from 1770 to 1775. He was the son of Col. Leonard just men- tioned.

Hon. Laban M. Wheaton held the office of coun- cilor two years, viz., 1857 and 1858. (See "Collegi- ate History.")

JUDGES OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS .- Hon. George Leonard was appointed to this office Dec. 10, 1715, and was on the bench only a few months, when he died.

Hon. George Leonard, son of the above, was judge most of the time from 1725 to 1775.

Hon. Ephraim Leonard was appointed judge in 1747, and was in office till about the commencement of the Revolution. He was a brother of George Leon- ard, last named, and was born Jan. 16, 1705-6. He settled in the North Precinct of Norton.

Laban Wheaten

627

Hon. George Leonard was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas July 1, 1785. In 1798 he was chief justice of the court, and was on the bench as late as 1804.

Hon. Laban Wheaton was appointed chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas May 18, 1810, but did not hold the office long.

JUDGES OF PROBATE .- Hon. George Leonard was commissioned judge of probate Feb. 16, 1747, and held the office till his death in 1778.

Hon. George Leonard, son of the above, was ap- pointed to this office June 7, 1784, and held it several years.

JUDGE OF COURT OF SESSIONS .- Hon. Laban Wheaton was appointed judge of this court May 25, 1819, but the following year the conrt was abolished.

REGISTER OF PROBATE .- Hon. George Leonard, Jr., was commissioned register April 18, 1749, and held the office till 1783.

REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS .- Hon. George Leonard was chosen in 1788 a member of the First Congress of the United States. He failed of an elec- tion to the Second, but was a member of the Third and Fourth Congresses.

Hon. Laban Wheaton was representative eight years, from March 4, 1809, to March 4, 1817.

Taxes .- The following shows the tax levied upou the town from 1715 to 1800 :

Years.

Town Charges.

Schools.

Represen- tatives.

High-

1715

£º

...

£8

1716 ..

...

1717

...

1718

...

615

1720

£30

1721

1722

...

1723

...

1724

1725

34 1

1726

1727

...

1728

1729

1730.

1731

1732

1733

302

1734

302

1735

302

1736

...

1738

1739

1740

1742

1743

150 3

1744

1223

1745

803

1746

1703

174S

300 3

1749.

4003

1750

40 +

1751

1752

1753

1754

1755

1756

1757

100

1758

110

1759

110

1760

110

1761

110

2 Including £81% of interest-money from bank.

2 Poor and schools.

3 Old tenor.

4 Lawful money.

Town Charges.

Schools.

Represen- tatives.

High- ways.

1762

£120

1763.

1764

1765

1766

120

1767

100

1768

130

1769

1770.

1771

1772

100

1773

1774.

1775

1776.

120

1777.

180

1778.

1400

1779.

1180

1780

6000

17S1

500 5

...

1782

100

...

1783

300

1784

150

1785.

250

1786

200

1787.

150

6£120

1788

150

1789

180

122

1790

120

122

1791.

195

1792

252

...

120

1794

300

120

1795.

300

100

1796

$1200

$1000

1797

1000

1200

1798.

800

1000

1799

1000

1800

1200

1000

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. LABAN WHEATON.

Hon. Laban Wheaton was born in Norton (in a part of the town which is now in Mansfield), March 13, 1754. His parents were Dr. George and Elizabeth (Morey) Wheaton. Rev. George Wheaton (H. U., 1769), minister of the Congregational Church in Claremont, N. H., and Daniel Wheaton, Esq. (H. U., 1791), lawyer and first postmaster of Norton, for the towns of Norton, Easton, and Mansfield, were his brothers.

He fitted for college at Wrentham Academy, entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen, and gradu- ated in 1774, at the age of twenty. After graduation he taught a grammar school in his native town, but soon relinquished teaching to study theology under the direction of Rev. Abiel Leonard, D.D., pastor of the Congregational Church in Woodstock, Conn. In May, 1775, Dr. Leonard was appointed chaplain in the army, where he received the special commenda- tion of Gens. Washington and Putnam for his great usefulness. In the summer following this appoint- ment of his teacher, Mr. Wheaton commenced to preach at Woodstock. After this he preached in Oxford, Walpole, Dedham, Portsmouth, N. H., and in Boston. He was invited to a pastorate in Framing- ham, at what was then deemed a very liberal sup- port, but on account of imperfect health he declined

5 Silver money.

6 This was the first rate for raising a highway tax that we find recorded.

...

120

1793

300

61/ /2

1719

...

1737

1741

...

....

...

Years.

...

122

120

ways.

NORTON.

628

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to settle, though, with some interruptions, he sup- plied the pulpit at Framingham about four years. On account of failing health he was medically ad- vised to travel and to relinquish preaching. Feeling the necessity from limited means to have some busi- ness to meet the expense of traveling, he entered into partnership with a classmate who was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Watertown, and in the interest of the firm took goods to Canada, and exchanged them with the Indians for furs. His partner becom- ing involved in financial trouble at Watertown, he withdrew from the firm at the end of four years with renewed health, but with loss of all pecuniary gains, and a debt of five hundred dollars.

At thirty-one years of age he entered the law-office of Squire Kent, of Watertown, to study law, paying board and tuition by writing and copying papers and documents for his teacher. He commenced the prac- tice of law at Milton, but in 1788 removed to his native town and established himself in his profession at the Centre village. With a very high order of in- tellectual strength, acnte legal knowledge, and un- tiring application to the duties of his profession, he attained eminence at the bar, and had extensive practice in the courts of Worcester, Norfolk, Suffolk, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties. Seven years he was sent by his townsmen a representative in the State Legislature, and was frequently elected to other offices. Eight years he represented the district in which he lived in the United States Congress. In 1810 he was appointed chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, in 1819 chief justice of the Court of Sessions, and he filled these offices with dignity and grace and to the honor of the bench.

During his Congressional career, which was marked by fidelity to the interests of his constituents and the welfare of the nation, an incident of debate occurred which is worthy of permanent record. It was at that period when the slave power held almost absolute supremacy, and the topic of slavery was tabooed in Congress. On one occasion, in the progress of a speech on vital issues, Mr. Wheaton referred to this topic with pertinent remark. He was instantly interrupted by a dozen men springing to their feet with loud, rapid, and imperative cries of " Order !" One of them, catching the eye of the Speaker, fiercely renewed the demand, saying, " The gentleman from Massachusetts would excite the slaves to cut their masters' throats !" Mr. Wheaton, still keeping the floor, calmly replied, " And why, Mr. Speaker, shouldn't the slaves cut their masters' throats ? We cut our masters' throats to secure our liberties, and why shouldn't they cut their masters' throats to gain their liberties? I put the question to the honorable gentleman who has so earn- estly called me to order. Will he have the goodness to answer it?" The boldness of this response and its apt home-thrust silenced his opponents, and he fin- ished his speech without further interruption. None would be slower than he to incite the slaves to blood,

yet in this prompt retort he poised himself on the right and vindicated it with manly honor when the just and necessary freedom of debate was domineer- ingly and intolerantly called in question. In that re- tort he not only reasserted, by a question full-fraught with the spirit of liberty, the inborn and inalienable right of the enslaved man to rise to the dignity of a freeman, but he rebuked by a sarcasm and argument, against the edge and point of which there was neither shield nor hope, the tyranny that brought its whip from the plantation to the Congress of a free repub- lic. Mr. Wheaton's speeches were trenchant and solid. In a certain weight and momentum of thought they have seldom been surpassed. The doctrines of personal and political liberty have seldom found in the United States Congress a more powerful champion.

In 1827, at the age of seventy-three, having acquired an ample fortune, he retired from the exacting duties of the legal profession to pass the decline of life in the care of his private affairs, in the comfort and peace of his home, and the circle of friends whom he loved. In 1794, at the age of forty, he was married to Fanny Morey, daughter of Samuel Morey, Esq., of Norton. With her he lived fifty-two years, she surviving him a few years. They had four children, but two of whom, a daughter and a son, lived to mature age. To these children he gave the most liberal and ample opportunity for a refining culture and thorough edu- cation. The daughter married Dr. Strong, of Boston, but not long after, in 1834, died childless, at the age of thirty-eight years.

The death of this only daughter was a sore bereave- ment. While grieving for the loved one gone, it was suggested to him to establish a female seminary in the village of her carly home, and thus contribute to make the daughters of others what she had been. The thought was in sweet harmony with his sorrow, and he gladly accepted it and immediately made ar- rangements to carry it into effect. Buildings were erected and put in charge of a board of trustees whom he wisely selected, who procured teachers and opened the school on the basis of making it first-class in every respect for a thorough education of young ladies, whose success and usefulness soon brought it to that rank which it has well sustained as among the best in New England. It was opened in 1835, and by the trustees very appropriately named " Wheaton Female Seminary," in a just recognition of him who had founded and endowed it with a portion of his prop- erty that would have been, liad she lived, the inheri- tance of his beloved daughter. To this memorial work the father and mother gave their tenderest in- terest, and to the close of their lives watched its growth and prosperity with satisfaction, and cherished it in a devoted love. On the 23d of March, 1846, at the advanced age of ninety-two years and ten days, he died. With fitting memorial services his remains were tenderly laid in the family burying-ground i beside those of his beloved daughter.

In n. I.E.t.

Nathe New comb

629

NORTON.

HON. LABAN MITCHEL WHEATON.

Hon. Laban M. Wheaton, son of Hon. Laban and Fanny (Morey) Wheaton, was born in Norton, Sept. 14, 1796. He pursued studies preparatory for college at Wrentham and Middleborough Academies, and immediately before entering college was for some time a pupil in the University Grammar School, Provi- dence, R. I., then under the tuition of Mr. Joel Hawes, who afterwards was a distinguished Congregational pastor in Hartford, Conn. He graduated at Brown University in 1817 at the age of twenty-one.

After leaving the university he studied law, and entered upon the practice of his profession in his native town. In a few years the care of his father's large estate requiring his assistance, he gave his at- tention chiefly to this until his father's death in 1846, whose estate he inherited. He was married June 25, 1829, to Eliza B. Chapin, of Uxbridge.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 150

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818