History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix, Part 24

Author: Sumner, William H. (William Hyslop), 1780-1861. cn
Publication date: 1858
Publisher: Boston, J. E. Tilton
Number of Pages: 883


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 24
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 24


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" A writer, in narrating the joyous events of this barbecue, wishes for the ' pen of a Burke to describe the scene which State street exhibited on this occasion.' He says : 'While the streets, houses, yca, even the chimney-tops, were covered with male spectators, the balconies and middle stories of the houses exhibited bevies of our amiable and beautiful women, who, by their smiles and approbation, cast a pleasing lustre over the festive scenes.' The Columbian Centincl closes its account of the festival with these words: 'It


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generous and benevolent feelings which characterized him in his intercourse with other people.


Observing the promising talents of Samuel Sewall, who, on account of family misfortunes, was in needy circumstances, he started a subscription paper to raise money to carry bim through college, and, heading it with his own name, put it in circulation. By the assistance of money raised in this way, Mr. Sewall was enabled to obtain a liberal education, and in after-life showed that the sagacity, confidence, and generosity of Dr. Chauncy were not misplaced, and out of gratitude to his benefactor he named a son Charles Chauncy Sewall, afterward a clergyman in Medfield, Mass. Another trait in his character was industry ; and he never lost a moment in imparting instruc- tion, but took every occasion to convey some useful lesson to those about him, and especially to children. The writer well remembers once visiting at the house of his uncle Chauncy when a child, and, with others of his own age, was in the doc- tor's study. The doctor took some raisins in his hand, and showing them to the children, said, " Now, children, I am going to teach you a lesson of self-denial ; I will throw these raisins upon the floor, and you must not touch them until I give you .


must be added, to the credit of the citizens of this metropolis, that, though the utmost hilarity and frolic were exhibited, not one accident happened or an event intervened that could give pain to the heart of sensibility.'


" This celebration, like most others, had its ' shady side.' It was held the same week on which Louis the Sixteenth ascended the scaffold in Paris. A vessel from France soon brought news that the king had fallen a victim to the popular feeling. Such a use of the guillotine shocked the public mind, and the horns of the ox on the liberty pole in Boston were dressed in mourning."


The writer witnessed the enthusiastic celebration, and well remembers, that, although all political parties united in it, yet upon hearing of the execution of the king upon the scaffold, there was much regret that such a cele- bration had taken place. All the leading federalists had joined in the fes- tival, in the belief that the despotic king, in granting the people a parliament, had established principles of liberty which would be lasting. But when it was found that the revolutionists went to those extremes which led to the death of the same monarch who had conceded to the people those principles of liberty to which their desires were limited, the public sentiment was nearly as unani- mous in lamenting the celebration, as it had been, a short time previous, in extolling it.


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leave." He then scattered them upon the floor, and we all stood around looking wistfully at the forbidden fruit and sorely tempted to taste, until the doctor, having made us wait suffi- ciently long to test the truth of his lesson, told us to "scrabble for them," which we did with earnestness.


After the death of Dr. Mayhew, Dr. Chauncy followed him in opposing Episcopacy, and entered the lists against Dr. Chandler of New Jersey, and, in 1771, published his historical views on that subject, a work of learning and ability. In 1784, his book entitled the " Mystery hid for Ages, or the Salvation of all Men," was published. This called forth, in reply, the distinguished theologian and controversialist, Dr. Jonathan Ed- wards.


Dr. Chauncy was also greatly opposed to itinerant preaching, which, in his estimation, threatened as much danger to the Congregational worship established in New England, as the introduction of bishops from the mother country. He. classed the celebrated Whitefield among the itinerant ranters, and ren- dered himself very conspicuous in his opposition to him, and to the extraordinary religious excitement which prevailed throughout New England in 1743. His antipathy to Whitefield was very strong; and in public and private, and in letters to Whitefield himself, he showed his hostile feelings. In a letter to Rev. Nathaniel Chauncy, a kinsman, dated March 16th, 1742-3, he says :-


" Mr. Whitefield is strongly expected over this spring by his friends. I'm satisfied his vanity was never so well pleased as with the hosannas of ministers and parishioners in these parts of the earth ; and it would not be strange to me, if he should be inclined to have his vanity gratified again in the same way : Though if he comes with any such expectation, I hope he will meet with disappointment. I trust there are some who will think it proper, if he should again appear among us, to magnify themselves and their office. I hope the ministers in the coun- try (I can't be bound for the ministers in Boston, all of them) will let him know they look upon him but as a man, and a man of smaller talents than many among themselves ; and will properly testify against his itinerating practice, which, in my


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HISTORY.


opinion, is the source of all our disorder ; nor will they be satis- fied till this way of conduct has an end put to it."


In another letter, after mentioning a report that Mr. White- field was soon to make another visit to this country, he says : -


" The news came so direct that I fear we shall again be thrown into disorder by the grand promoter of all the confusion that has been in the land."


Dr. Chauncy and Dr. Edwards, "the two great men among the clergy in New England at that time," differed in their esti- mate of the qualities of the revival in which Whitefield and Davenport were engaged, and in respect to the measures which they employed; and each had his adherents. 'Their course of life and all their associations had been entirely different, and they looked at the subject from different points of view.


An anecdote is recalled of Dr. Chauncy and Whitefield, which well illustrates their intercourse and laconic replies.


Soon after Whitefield landed in Boston, on his second visit to this country, he and Dr. Chauncy met in the street, and, touch- ing their hats with courteous dignity, bowed each to the other. " So you have returned, Dr. Whitefield, have you ?" He replied, " Yes, Reverend Sir, in the service of the Lord." " I am sorry to hear it," said Chauncy. "So is the Devil!" was the answer given, as the two divines, stepping aside at a distance from each other, touched their hats and passed on.1


In 1747, Dr. Chauncy preached the annual " election sermon" before the governor and legislature ; and in it he reproved very pointedly many of his hearers for legislating in such a manner as to injure the morals of the province. Some of the members were so piqued at the sermon, - as were those of the city gov- ernment in relation to the Rev. Mr. Alger's recent discourse, -


1 In an old newspaper, under the date of the 8th of October, 1770, is a just tribute to the memory of Whitefield; and an incident is related, which shows the estimation in which he was held by the people of Boston.


" Early on Monday Morning last a Number of Gentlemen set out from hence for Newbury Port, in order to convey the Corps of the Reverend Mr. White- field, to this Town, to be interred : But the people of Newbury Port would not allow it to be brought away they having prepared a Brick Tomb, under the Presbyterian Meeting House."


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that they hesitated, and debated in court whether they should, according to the ordinary custom, print it. Dr. Chauncy was informed of this fact. He sharply replied, " It shall be printed, whether the general court print it or not. And do you, sir," addressing his informant, "say from me, that if I wanted to initiate and instruct a person in all kinds of iniquity and double- dealing, I would send him to our general court!"


In this connection the writer can mention a traditionary anecdote of the husband of the first of the three aunts to whom Noddle's Island was devised, which, even if it has before been printed, will bear repetition. Dr. Cooper, pastor of Brattle Street church, was an ardent politician. He took a prominent part in the Revolutionary movements, and was so engaged in them that he found no time to write his weekly sermons. Con- sequently, he was in the habit of exchanging pulpits with any and every one he could secure, until he became quite notorious for this practice. He and Dr. Chauncy were associates, and were frequently at each other's houses, and thus became well known to the other inmates. Dr. Chauncy had a negro servant, a bright, active fellow, who one day came to him and said, in the genuine negro naïveté, showing his old coat with its rents and defacements, " Massa, I must have a new coat." " Why so ?" said the doctor. The negro, holding up his coat as be- fore, said, " Dis is too bad, massa; I'm quite ashamed on 't." " Well," said Dr. Chauncy, " if you are ashamed of it, go into my study, take one of my old coats, and put it on and wear it." " Dares n't do it, massa." " But why not ? give some reason why you will not do as I tell you ?" " If you must know the reason, massa, I'll tell you. "T is because, if Dr. Cooper sees me, I'm afraid he will ask me to change." It will not be out of place to say, that Dr. Cooper had such a remarkably pleasing manner of address that he was called " the silver tongued Cooper," and was honored with the classic compliment, under his printed portrait, " Cujus etiam a lingua melle dulcior flue- bat oratio."


Another anecdote has been told the writer, by a descendant of one of the parties, which still further illustrates the positive- ness of the character of Dr. Chauncy, if not of both the contro-


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versialists. The doctor's wife had a nephew, who was pastor of an Orthodox church in Newton, and as he was riding into town one day to call upon his aunt, he met his uncle Chauncy, who accosted him with, " What is the news in the country ?" Mr. Greenough answered, " I know of nothing, only it is very dry." " You lie ! Billy. It is not dry in the country." " I lie, sir! I know it to be true; I have just come from home, and know what I say." " I don't care what you say ; I was in my garden this morning, and it never looked better." " But, not- withstanding what you say about your garden in town, it is dry in the country, and what I know of my own knowledge I will assert, let who will contradict me." " Yes ; and if it be so, it only proves that you are a wicked people, and are under God's wrath and curse, and hence you suffer."


Dr. Chauncy continued his labors as pastor of the First church in Boston, until his death, on the 10th of February, 1787, leaving to his survivors the recollections of a man emi- nent for his talents, learning, and love of civil and religious liberty.


His mother was Sarah, daughter of Judge Walley of the supreme court, and sister of the wife of Dr. Joseph Sewall, of Boston. His first wife was Elizabeth Hirst, daughter of Grove Hirst, Esq., of Boston, and Elizabeth his wife, who was the eldest sister of Dr. Sewall ; and sister of Mary Hirst, wife of Sir William Pepperell. His second wife was the daughter of Phillips. His third wife was MARY, eldest daughter of David Stoddard and Elizabeth (Richardson Shrimpton) Stod- dard (widow of Samuel Shrimpton, Jr.), and who became one of three joint owners of Noddle's Island). By his first wife he had three children, Charles, Elizabeth, and Sarah. Elizabeth married the Hon. Benjamin Greenleaf of Newbury, judge of probate for Essex county. By this marriage she had two sons and four daughters, the oldest of which, Elizabeth, born in 1761, and named for her mother, married Theophilus Par- sons, subsequently chief justice of Massachusetts.


It was in this way that Mrs. Chauncy's share of the Yea- mans family plate, being personal property, descended to the heirs of her husband and was distributed among them; and in


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this manner it is supposed a part of it came into the possession of Chief Justice Parsons, he having married the daughter of Judge Greenleaf, whose wife was Dr. Chauncy's daughter.


There is no particular account of the first and second wives of Dr. Chauncy ; but there is abundant evidence that Mrs. Mary Chauncy was a woman of exalted character, and was endeared by her good qualities to all who enjoyed the pleasure of her acquaintance. Dr. Clarke, in the funeral discourse, which he preached on the 21st of Dec., 1783, speaks of her in the highest terms as a woman and a Christian. Among many other remarks of a similar nature, he says : " I can bear witness to the most exalted purity and devotion, the most extensive benevo- lence, unaffected humility, forbearance, and condescension. In her I always discovered that meek and quiet spirit which is of such value in the sight of God. The dictates of the gospel were wrought into the frame of her soul, and she acquired such habits of gentleness, courtesy, and forbearance, as secured her the best treatment from all with whom she was connected." It is inferred that the sermon was never printed, for a manu- script copy of it, under black margin and cover, was given to her sister, Mrs. Hyslop; this is now in the possession of the writer.


DEACON THOMAS GREENOUGH, whose second wife was Sarah, daughter of David Stoddard, was born in Boston on the 6th of May, 1710. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Gross), and the grandson of Captain William Greenough, who, about the year 1650, emigrated to this country from the west of Eng- land, and died 6th August, 1693. His father and grandfather were ship-builders, having their ship-yard at the North End, in the vicinity of the present Winnisimet ferry. From this early connection and familiarity with matters pertaining to naviga- tion, the grandson was easily and naturally led to embrace the occupation of a mathematical instrument maker. This busi- ness he pursued with skill and success through his life.


Although of an active temperament and of a firm and de- cided character, the recorded events of his life are neither nu- merous or prominent. He managed his own property and the estates of others confided to his care with prudence and good


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HISTORY.


judgment. A good citizen and a devoted Christian, he gave his ready advice and hearty energies to the furtherance of the busy movements of his native city, both religious and political.


Related by birth, as well as connected by his two marriages, with many of the leading North End families, his associations, no less than his inclinations, led him to embrace the side of the people in the great struggle for liberty which began in Massa- chusetts. He was a member of various town committees raised before and during the occupation of Boston by British troops, and throughout the whole contest, of which he lived to witness the triumphant close, he adhered unflinchingly to the cause of his country.


His parents were members of the Second church, but he was one of the proprietors of the New Brick church, and one of its deacons from 1755 until its union with the Old North, or Sec- ond, church, in 1779. After the union, he continued to hold the same office till his death, 1st of May, 1785. There is evi- dence that he was one of the most useful and respected mem- bers of the church and society. During the years of his strength, says one competent to speak on this point, he served the church with great assiduity and constancy. His name occurs as fre- quently as any other in connection with all important measures. He was chosen on nearly all committees, and acted as treasurer for the New Brick church for several years.


He left by his two wives a large family of children. He mar- ried, for his first wife, Martha, daughter of the prominent and wealthy merchant, William Clarke. His second was SARAH, daughter of David Stoddard, who, jointly with her sisters, Mrs. Chauncy and Mrs. Hyslop, were the devisees of Shute Shrimp- ton Yeamans, and thus the owners of Noddle's Island, which was a part of his estate. Deacon Greenough was attorney, with Dr. Clarke, of S. S. Yeamans, and also had the management of several other estates in America.


A little anecdote, illustrative of Deacon Greenough's strict integrity, and of the scrupulous pertinacity of himself, and others with whom he was connected in the business affairs of the Yeamans estate, will perhaps be interesting to others, as well as to members of the family. The fact that there were differences on other subjects between Mr. Greenough and Mr. Hyslop gives point to the anecdote.


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REV. WILLIAM GREENOUGH.


In 1779, the Chelsea farm was leased to H. H. Williams, also the tenant of Noddle's Island, for £300 per annum. This rent, of course, was divided between Dr. Chauncy, Deacon Greenough, and Mr. Hyslop, the husbands of the three devisees. The au- thor has in his possession an envelope containing Mr. Hyslop's share of the rent of the Chelsea farm for 1779, in seven bills of credit, with the words, " This is Mr. Hyslop's money," on the outside, and in the inside the following statement of Deacon Greenough :-


" This hundred pounds is one third of the rent for Chelsea Farm. Dr. Chauncy and myself Lett the said Farm for the year 1779 to March 25 1780, to Mr. Williams for three hundred pounds, and I took the money and gave Mr. Williams a Receipt in full. I paid Dr. Chauncy his hundred pounds, and sent the inclosed hundred pounds to Brother Hyslope, and he sent it back to me, and sent word he would not receive it of me, but would receive it of Williams. I told Williams he must take the money back and pay it to Mr. Hyslope, but he said he would not, so I have kept it for whoever it belongs to.


THOS. GREENOUGH."


The seven bills mentioned are in the old tenor, and are of the nominal value of £334 ; but by depreciation it appears were, at the time of this statement, worth only £100.


The REV. WILLIAM GREENOUGH, son of Deacon Thomas Green- ough, just noticed, was born in Boston on the 29th of June, 1756.1 His early years were principally spent in his native town, and, after passing through the requisite courses of study, he graduated with high honors at Yale College in 1774, and remained at New Haven for the two or three succeeding years as a resident graduate. A few years later (1779) he was admit- ted a member of the Second church in Boston, under the Rev. Dr. John Lothrop. He chose the ministry as his profession, but it is not certainly known with whom he studied. The Rev. Dr. Jenks, a friend and contemporary, says he has ever thought that


1 This sketch is principally from the Biography of Rev. Mr. Greenough, in Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. II. p. 187, written by the Rev. Dr. William Jenks.


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he took the advice occasionally of his learned kinsman, Dr. Chauncy. The same gentleman also remarks, that he supposes . Mr. Greenough to have meditated the law as a profession, or, perhaps, mercantile business, from a remark made to him by Mr. Greenough concerning his (Mr. G.'s) eldest son, " If I thought he would suffer as much as I did in determining on the choice of a profession, I could hardly desire his life." His strong and well-balanced mind and his excellent reasoning powers would have made him eminent as a lawyer, or success- ful as a business man.


Newton, originally Newtown or Cambridge village, was first included in Cambridge, which bore itself the prior name of Newtown. After a twenty years' struggle, Newton was made a corporation, in 1678. But prior to this (July 20th, 1662), a church had been gathered, a pastor settled, and a parish formed. Of this church, John Eliot, Jr., the son of the " Apostle Eliot," was the first minister. In October, 1781, another church was formed, over which the Rev. William Greenough was ordained in the following November, on which occasion the Rev. Dr. Lothrop preached the sermon.


He was instrumental in preparing the measures which led to the formation of Park street church, being connected with some of the leading families in the Old South; but, after its estab- lishment, was, for some unknown reason, seldom seen in its pul- pit. He was also, by a liberal subscription, one of the founders of the " Society for promoting Christian Knowledge," a society whose specific object was to check the tendency to " Hopkinsi- anism," about the commencement of the present century. He delivered and published both his charges at the installations of Mr. Fay and Dr. Griffin; also a sermon before the society for foreign missions in 1814. He was twice married : first, to Abi- gail, daughter of the Rev. Stephen Badger of Natick, 1st June, 1785; and on the 22d May, 1799, to Lydia Haskins of Boston. There were children by both of these marriages. After a long and successful ministry, he died at Newton on the 7th of No- vember, 1831, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His last illness was severe and trying, but he bore it with the most ex- emplary submission.


He eminently deserved the title of "an Israelite indeed, in


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whom is no guile." This was his prominent characteristic, and that which distinguished him from ordinary good men and the generality of ministers. He once remarked to Dr. Jenks, in a case requiring no small degree of moral courage, " If ministers will not go forward, who will ?" This was the spirit of his life. He was possessed of tender sympathies, and was ever ready to serve a friend ; yet his manner was blunt (see anecdote on page 268), savoring somewhat of the " fine old Englishman gentle- man " or " country Esquire " of former days, rather than the meas- ured, guarded, and circumspect demeanor of the wary, discreet, and polished clergyman and scholar. Still, there was nothing of coarseness or ill-manner in his intercourse with others. His convictions were deep and thorough, and he had great reverence for God, the Bible, the sabbath, and Christian ordinances. He had a sincere hatred of sin, pointed and honest; his deport- ment was fearless, independent, and conscientious, and in the simplicity and integrity of his heart he wondered at the cun- ning, duplicity, and hypocrisy of others, and did not hesitate to reprove with humanity and Christian compassion, but with marked decision and abhorrence. In religious belief he was a Calvinist of the old school, and adhered to these principles with unyielding tenacity. His sermons were distinguished for sim- plicity, sound sense, and a clear exposition of his own well- defined views. In the various duties of man, minister, citizen, and father, he exercised an almost unerring judgment, and was observant of the proprieties of time and place. The sabbath he regarded as sacred ; it is recorded of him, that he once mar- ried a couple on the sabbath, but refused to take the customary fee, as he considered it wrong to take money upon the Lord's day. Accustomed to the use of money, of which he had a comfortable amount by inheritance, he was quick to notice a miserly disposition in others. Once, when on an exchange with a brother clergyman, he lost his horse and chaise by fire, and no offer was made to compensate him for his loss. This circumstance called forth the remark from Mr. Greenough, that, " If God in his providence took no better care of his ministers than the people do, their condition would be deplorable."


In his personal appearance he was tall, slim, and a little stooping, and was active in the study and upon his farm.


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HISTORY.


Through his whole life he exemplified those qualities which endeared him to his friends, and secured the confidence of all in him as a man, citizen, and pastor.


At one time the Rev. William Greenough was the owner of two sixths of Noddle's Island (one sixth from his mother and one sixth from Mrs. Chauncy), but subsequently sold all his interest to his brother, David S. Greenough.


WILLIAM HYSLOP, son of James Hyslop, came from Humly Parish, near Haddington Co., East Lowden, in Scotland. He was baptized on the 20th of September, 1714.


Imam Hyslop


In 1746 he was a merchant in Boston, and a wholesale im- porter of Scotch goods from Glasgow, particularly Bibles, of which he sold immense numbers. His store was on Codman's wharf, which was sold to the city for the Quincy Market House by the heirs of John Codman, to whom Mr. Hyslop had pre- viously conveyed his part of it, and it was burned down in the great fire in Boston in 1760. The site is now covered by the granite stores of South Market street. Mr. Hyslop had in- tended to give this store to the writer, his grandson, on account of the name, William Hyslop Sumner, and had mentioned his purpose to some members of the family. But Mr. Codman disappointed the expectations, for he went one day to Mr. Hyslop, and asked him how much he would take for the store ? " Not any thing," said he, " I do not wish to sell it." " But I will tempt you with such an offer that you cannot refuse ?" " I tell you I will not sell it; I have made another disposition of it." " I will give you double the amount you paid for it." This tempting offer, which yielded a profit very uncommon in those days, Mr. Hyslop could not resist, and, lest it should be withdrawn quickly, replied, " You shall have it;" and in this way the store passed out of the family. To relieve the disap- pointment, he gave to the writer £100 towards his collegiate education ; and this sum with the interest, amounting to $545.52, paid about two thirds of his college expenses.




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