USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 26
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 26
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1 The Williams journal mentions this incident in the following language : - " Saturday, 15th Feb. 1794. I forgot to mention yesterday that the assembly was honored by his Highness, Prince Edward, who danced with Mrs. Russell ; the room was much crowded to behold his honor ; his dress was very plain, and everybody was delighted with him."
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HISTORY.
ing to let the prince philosophize upon, and dilate the principle he advanced, at his leisure."
In April, 1797, Judge Sumner was elected governor of Mas- sachusetts. He had long been looked upon as the most promi- nent character to fill that high office, and, indeed, in 1796, be- fore he was a candidate, he received the spontaneous suffrages of a large portion of the people. The only objection was, that it would remove him from the supreme bench, where he had served the community with ability, fidelity, and usefulness. Out of about 25,000 votes, the whole number cast, he received nearly 15,000, and so acceptable was his administration, that in the succeeding year he received more than 17,000 out of 21,000 votes, many towns, and some of them very large ones, giving him their unanimous vote. A third time he was elected to the gubernatorial chair, and with an unanimity unparalleled in the· history of state elections. He had the unanimous votes of the citizens of 180 towns out of 393, the whole number in the State, while several large and influential towns, as New Bed- ford, Watertown, etc., gave him every vote but one ! and out of 33,013 votes, the whole number cast, he received 24,073. Dr. Hawks, the distinguished divine, of New York, in speaking of this election, remarked to the writer, that nearest to the unani- mous vote which was given to Washington was that of In- crease Sumner as governor of Massachusetts.
It was during his administration that the new State house was completed. On the 11th of January, 1798, the government moved in procession from the old to the new State house, and took formal possession of it. Upon the following day, the gov- ernor opened the session of the legislature with a speech, in which he used the following appropriate language : -
" We will, then, under the smiles of heaven, unite in dedicat- ing this house to the honor, freedom, independence, and security of our country. In this house may the true principles of the best system of civil government the world has ever seen, be uniformly supported. Here may every practice and principle be successfully opposed that tends to impair it. Here may every act of the legislature be the result of cool deliberation and sound judgment. And in this house, on all necessary occasions, may the supreme executive, agreeably to the laws of the land, in mercy cause judgment to be executed."
289
GOVERNOR SUMNER'S DEATH.
By his coolness and firmness, and his confidence in the gen- eral government, he did much to support it at a time when the elements of our political establishments were severely tested. With the illustrious John Adams, who was at that time presi- dent of the United States, he had long been associated; he loved him as a friend and kinsman, and respected him as a statesman.
His last election as governor was in April, 1799; but he was unable to enter upon the duties of his office. When the gen- eral court met in the May following, at the commencement of the political year, he was languishing on a bed of sickness ; but the legislature having some scruples about the right of the lieutenant-governor to act as chief-magistrate after the death of the governor, without his acceptance of the office, this cere- mony took place in the bedchamber of the dying governor, who was willing to yield his last breath in the performance of his duty. On the 7th of June, in the fifty-third year of his age, he closed his life, to the unspeakable grief of an affectionate family and a sympathizing community. " No death (says Mr. Knapp, in his biographical sketches), except Washington's, was ever more deeply deplored in Massachusetts." 1
Appropriate resolutions were passed by the legislature, and his remains were interred with military honors, at the public expense, in the Granary burying-ground, in the ancestral tomb of the Shrimpton family. The funeral, which took place on the 12th of June, was attended by the president of the United States, and was the most solemn and imposing that had ever been witnessed in the Commonwealth. All classes of people mingled their sympathies on this mournful occasion ; business was suspended; the shops were closed, and the expression of sorrow was everywhere visible. The officers of the militia dressed in uniform, with weeds, on the Sabbaths, and badges.
1 The Williams Journal, kept on Noddle's Island, of which Governor Sumner, in the right of his wife, owned one third, under date of the 7th of June, says, "At one o'clock, all the bells in Boston rung and tolled for the death of Gov- ernor Sumner, who died this morning, about 11. His death is greatly lamented by everybody ; three years last Monday since he was elected Governor; his. age 53."
25
290
HISTORY.
of respect for the memory of the deceased were generally worn for forty days.1
Gov. Sumner, in his last sickness (the fatal termination of which occurred during the writer's last year at college, and pre- vented him from performing the part assigned to him at com- mencement), as he was lying upon his bed the third day after he was seized, anticipating that he should never rise from it, called his son to him and said, " William, I do not intend to make a will; and as I conceive that sons should bave some preference over daughters, I intend to give you an outright deed of the Morgan farm in Dorchester. He then asked for a pen, ink, and a blank deed. A blank not being readily found, he wrote with a trembling hand as he sat up in bed on paper placed upon a folio law-book which he called for, a deed to his son of the Morgan farm in Dorchester and the fresh meadow connected therewith, of a pew in the Dorchester meeting-house, and also of upland and marsh at Leeds's neck. This gift was not to be considered as an advancement out of his estate. Fearing the result of his sickness, he was anxious that the deed should be speedily executed, and requested his son to go for Justice Ruggles, that it might be at once acknowledged, which being done, he delivered it to his son for record.2
1 The Williams Journal, from which we have just quoted, says, under date of the 12th of June : " Papa, Mamma, Mrs. Huseton, Catherine Thomas, went over early, as Governor Sumner is to be buried this day. Papa attended his funeral from Roxbury ; it proceeded from his house at one o'clock, with mili- tary escort, to the new State house, where it was joined by a large number of people; the corpse was then carried to the Old South meeting-house, where an excellent sermon was delivered by Dr. Thacher, and thence to the place of in- terment, as they have a tomb at the Granary Burying-Ground; dined with Betsey S. ; from there to Mrs. Coffin's, to see the procession ; - the largest con- course of people ever known on such an occasion ; upwards of thirty thousand ; the bells all tolled from one till six o'clock."
2 Gov. Sumner gave a warranty deed of the Morgan farm to his son, sup- posing it to be free from all incumbrances; but when the writer went one day to look at the premises, he found that Benjamin Glover had erected a building upon one of the most valuable sites on the farm, and, when requested to move it, Mr. Glover said that the ancient proprietor had given to him a deed of a lot foriy feet square for the purpose of having a blacksmith's shop erected near him, and this title he had bought. The writer was obliged to purchase
SUMNER PEDIGREE.
ROGER SUMNER, =JOAN FRANKLIN.
of Bieester, in the Conuty of Oxford, England. Will dated 8 Dec. 1608; proved at Oxford, 22 Marcb, 1608-9. He was buried in St. Edburg cburobyard, at Bicester, 4 Dec. 1608.
Married at Bieester, 2 November, 1601. Her second hushand was Marens Brian, whom she married 10 Jau. 1611.
WILLIAM, = Mary West, married 22 Oct. 1625; died 7 June, 1676.
ouly son and beir; bap. in St. Edburg Church, at Bicester, 27 Jan. 1604-5; came to Dorchester, New England, with his wife and three sons, William, Roger, and Ceorg;, about 1636; died 9 Dec. 1688.
1
Roger,
CEORGE, = Mary, dan. of Edward bap. at Bicester, Baker, of Northamp- 1 Mareh, 1633-4; d. at Dorchester, Mass., 11 Dec. 1715.
ton, Mass .; married 7 November, 1602. She died 1 Dec. 1719, aged 77.
Samuel, born in Dorchester, Mass., 18 May, 1638; wife Rebecca; m. 7 March, 1658-9. They went to South Carolina.
born in Dorchester, 23 Feb. 1642; mar. Sarah Staples, 26 March, 1667, and went to South Caro- lina.
Joan, m. Aaron Way; had 22 children nud beirs.
Abigail, d. 19 Feb. 1657.
Mary, born 11 Feb. 1663-4; married Swinerton; had a child Ruth.
Ceorge, born 9 Feb. 1666; d. in 1733; m. Aun Tucker of Roxbury; bad 9 children. Rev. Joseph Sumner, D. D. of Shrewsbury was of this hraneh.
Samuel, born 19 Oct. 1669; supposed to have been lost in the expedition to Can- ada, in 1690.
William, born 7 April, 1671; supposed to have been lost in the Canada expedi- tion.
Ebenezer, born 9 Dec. 1073; wife Silence. They settled in Meudon, Mass.
EDWARD, = Elizabeth, dau. of born in Roxbury, 29 August, 1675; d. there iu 1763.
Elder Samnel and Hannab Clap, of Dorchester; mar. 25 Sept. 1701.
Josepb, born 26 Angust, 1077; wife Sa- rah: settled in Meudon.
Benjamin, born 15 Dee. 1083; m. Elizabeth Bad- eock, 8 May, 1706; lad eigbt children. He died in 1771.
Edward, Elizabeth, born born
16 .July, 30 April;
1702.
and died 19 June, 1704.
John, born 1 Aug. 1705; grad. Harv. Col. 1723; married Susannah Stevens, 20 Nov. 1729; mar. 2d, Jedidalı Smith. He wasa Justice of C. C. P. for Dukes Co., and resided at Edgartown, Mass. By his first wife he had two children, Susannah, and Deacou Samuel of Roxbury. Ile died in December, 1787.
Elizabetb, born 7 April, 1708; in. Benjamin Boyls- ton, 30 Nov. 1727. He was son of Peter B., whose daughter Susanna mar. John, the father of Presi- dent John Adams.
Samuel, botn 21 Oct. 1710; In. Abigail Mather, May, 1740; she died about 1766. His 2d wife was Mary Weld, mar. 11 May, 1767. He had 7 children, four of them by his first wife.
Brookline, and a mar. 1st, Rev. John consin of Susan- nah Boylston, the mother of Presi- dent John Adams. She was born 25 Aug. 1719; mar. 28 Oct. 1736; died 21 June, 1796.
Newinan, grad. H. C. 1740; ord. in Edgar- town in 1747; died in 1763. She m. 2d, Jonathan Metenlf, 27 Aug. 1766, and died about 1798.
1717; inar. Rev. Thos. Balch, of Dedham, 11 Oet. 1733.
Nathaniel, b. in 1718; H. C. 1739; died in Dedham, 23 Dec. 1802.
13 Nov. 1745.
Sarnh, = Ebenezer b. 8 Jun. 1737.
Davis, of Brookline; m. 19 Aug. 1756.
Susannah, b. 24 May, 1740; died 27 April, 1742.
Susannah, b. 22 May, 1742; died 3 .lune, 1742
Elizabeth, = Charles Cushing, b. 1+ June, 1743: died 31 May, 1817.
Susannalı, b. 21 May, d. 22 June, 1745.
born in Roxbury, 27 Nov. 1746; grad. H. C. 1767 ; Justice of S. J. Court from 1782 till 1797 ; Governor of Mass. from 1797 till his death in Roxbury, 7 June, 1799, æ. 53.
William and Me- hetable Hyslop, born 6 Aug. 1757 ; m. 30 Sept. 1779; d. 28 Dec. 1810, aged 63 years.
25 May, 1749; d. Aug. 1749.
Lucy, b. 29 June, 1751; died 12 Marcb, 1813.
William Bowman, born 8 Jan. 1744; grad. H. C. 1764; mar. 5 Junc, 1777; d. in Dorchester, 21 Mareh, 1818.
Sarah, m. Na- thaniel Win- ches- ter.
- Ebenezer, father ot Thomas Aspinwall Davis, who was mayor of Boston in 1845, and died the same year.
Increase.
Elizabeth. Mary. Charles. Sarah. Lucy. Harriet.
Jouathan.
William, Henry
a Capt. U. S. Army, 1814.
WILLIAM HYSLOP, b. 4th July, 1780; grad. II. C. 1799. Married 1st, Mary Ann Perry, 4 Oct. 1826; she died 14 July, 1834; 16
Mehetable Stoddard, = Beujamin Welles, m. 1 Aug. 1815; born 1 Aug. 1784; died 31 Jan. 1826.
Eliza, = James W. Gerard, born 6 Oct. | of New York; m. 1790. 8 Oct. 1820.
=
2d, Maria F. Greenough, 18 Dec. 1836; she died 14 Nov. 1843; 3d, Mary D. Kemble, 18 April, 1848.
second wife Sasan Codman, by whom he had one dau. Susan, who m. Russell Sturgis, Jr., 14 Jan. 1856.
Elizabeth.
1 Ceorgiana.
Benjamin Samuel.
William Sumner. James Watson.
Elizabeth Sumner. Julietto Ano.
-
Hannab,
Mary,
Ebenezer, b. 10 June, 1722; died
Benjamin, b. 29 Dec. 1724.
- INCREASE, = Sarah, daughter of b. in Rox- bury, 9th June, 1713; d. there, 28 Nov. 1774.
Robert Sharp, of born 8 May, 1715; born 0 Oct.
INCREASE, = Elizabeth, dau. of
Edward, boru
born in 1734; H. C. 1755; mar. 26 Aug. 1768; died iu Boston, 7 Nov. 1810.
1
Increase,
William, born in England; married Elizabeth dnu. of Augus- tine Clement, of Dorehes- ter, Mass .; had 10 children. Ile is the supposed auces- tur of David H. Sumner, of Hartland, Vt.
bap. at Bicester, 8 Ang. 1632| m. Mary, dau. of Thomas and Rebec- ca Josselyu, of Hingbam, Miss .; had seven children. He is the supposed ancestor of Hon. Charles Sumner, and of Col. Edwin V. Sumner, of U. S. Army. Hetlied in Milton, Muss., 26 May, 1098.
291
GOVERNOR SUMNER'S CHARACTER.
In person, Governor Sumner was attractive and commanding. He was a portly man, erect in stature, five feet eleven inches in height, and weighed about two hundred and fifty pounds.1 His countenance was remarkable for composure, and was often lighted up with a smile of peculiar sweetness. This expression of countenance is well represented in the portrait which accom- panies this sketch. Many a young practitioner at the bar has borne testimony to the pleasure and relief he felt, when he was addressing the court in fear and trembling, in catching the kind looks of Judge Sumner, -looks of encouragement and protec-
the land, and the frame which had been erected upon it, which he subsequently finished as a dwelling-house. His first tenant was John Ward Gurley, who married the daughter of the wine-merchant, William Stackpole. Mr. Gurley was a man of elegant personal appearance, and was appointed, under Jefferson, the first district attorney of Louisiana after its purchase, and was killed in a duel in 1807. He left a beautiful daughter, who afterwards married Major Joseph Grafton, of the army.
1 He derived his fine physical development from his father, a respected cit- izen of Roxbury, who by his industry subdued his paternal acres, and left considerable property. Never was there a man better calculated for the sturdy labors of a yeoman than Increase Sumner, father of the governor. He had all double teeth, and possessed prodigious Inoneeye Summen strength of muscle, which was kept in tone by regularity and good habits. Many instances of his wonderful feats of strength were related by his contemporaries in his native place. Among the traditionary anecdotes, it is said that he was once driving a loaded ox-team from Roxbury to his Morgan farm in Dorchester, and when going up Clewley's hill (then a steep hill about half-way between his home and his Morgan farm, but now very much reduced in height), the bow of the " near ox" broke, and the load began to go backward. He quickly seized the end of the yoke from which the ox had escaped, and calling out lustily to the " off ox," " Go on ! go on !" they two drew the load up the hill.
On the occasion of raising the bell to the belfry of the Roxbury meeting- house, near which it lay upon the ground, the workmen endeavored to lift it up, in order to put skids underneath. They found this difficult to do, when Mr. Sumner took hold of the bell with one hand and tipped it upon its side so that they could accomplish their object. At another time, in a trial of strength, he took hold of one side of a deer-skin, and three men of the other. He over- came their united efforts, and drew them toward himself.
Mr. Sumner died on the 28th of November, 1774.
Further information regarding the ancestry of Governor Sumner will be seen in the pedigree opposite.
292
HISTORY.
tion which never disappointed the young advocate. This characteristic of Mr. Sumner is alluded to in a beautiful letter from Daniel Davis, late solicitor-general, and which is inserted at length in the Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. VIII. p. 124. Says Mr. Davis, " I loved and venerated Gov- ernor Sumner as a father and friend. The recollections of his kindness and condescension to me while he was on the bench, and I a young man struggling for my bread, without money, patronage, or education, will never be effaced from a grateful heart." In his manners he was polite and unassuming .. He never compromised or lost his dignity in any place or circle, even in the moments of his greatest familiarity. His mind was naturally strong, and its various powers were well balanced. He was remarkably free from every thing which had the appear- ance of party spirit or rancor. His candor and moderation were known to all men. He possessed an unusual degree of self command. Divesting himself of prejudice and passion, he examined with deliberation and impartiality, and decided with rectitude and wisdom. His cool and dispassionate temper re- flects more honor on his memory, inasmuch as it was less the effect of a peculiarly happy temperament than of moral disci- pline and culture, and the benign influence of religious princi- ple. Humility without meanness, the incontestable proof of a superior mind, was a distinguishing trait in his character. Al- though raised to the highest dignity it was in the power of the citizens of the Commonwealth to bestow, he was never sus- pected of employing any unworthy arts to gain the popular favor, nor of obtruding himself on the public as a candidate for places of power and trust. Possessed of a considerable property, he was enabled to maintain a style of life in accord- ance with the generous and social qualities of his heart, and to support the dignity of his station as governor; and in the hospi- tality becoming a chief-magistrate, and the maintenance of the dignity of the government, he devoted much larger sums than his mere salary would have afforded. The comparatively quiet and sedentary labors of the chief-magistrate of the State, and the necessary routine of public ceremonies attendant upon that office, were in great contrast with the active exercise to which the governor had been accustomed in his position as judge.
293
GOVERNOR SUMNER'S RELIGIOUS BELIEF.
Aware that care was necessary to prevent the injurious effects which would naturally follow such a change in his manner of life, he intended to fit up a farm which he owned in Southboro' as a place of retirement, where, away from the business and cares of public life, he could enjoy the comforts of a quiet coun- try home. But his death prevented the accomplishment of this object.
He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and president, for many years, of the board of trustees of the Roxbury grammar-school, in which he had received his education.
In early life, and about the time he entered on the practice of the law, he made a public profession of Christianity, and became a member of the Congregational church and society of the Rev. Dr. Porter, in Roxbury. He was impressed with an habitual sense of the truths of religion, and of the importance of its institutions. The temptations of affluence and the blandish- ments of polished life did not, as too frequently happens, un- settle his principles and corrupt his morals, and thus make ship- wreck of faith and a good conscience; but he held fast his integrity to the end, and was justly esteemed an exemplary member of the church.
Dr. Porter, who visited him by his request at the time of his sickness, when he appeared to have the full exercise of his rea- son, and to be apprehensive that his departure was near, thus relates a part of his conversation in his excellent funeral dis- course : --
" A dying bed," he said, "is not the place for one to begin to attend to his religion and prepare for another world. I have not been unmindful of these concerns. I have thought much of them. The more I have reflected on the subject of religion, the more has my mind been settled and confirmed in its reality and importance. I am sensible that many infirmities and errors have attended me; but I trust I have the testimony of my con- science to the general rectitude of my views and conduct in life."
" At a subsequent period," says Dr. Porter, "on the conclu- sion of the office of devotion performed at his request, he said,
25*
294
HISTORY.
with a gesture and emphasis the impression and emphasis of which I shall not easily lose, ' I am resigned!'"
Thus ended the mortal career of an exemplary magistrate and citizen, whose conduct and example made an indelible im- pression upon the community, and whom his fellow-citizens delighted to honor while living, and sincerely mourned when dead.
It has been the writer's peculiar pleasure to receive many let- ters from contemporaneous friends and acquaintances of Gov. Sumner, to whom the memoir of his life was sent, containing most gratifying testimonials to his character, and interesting recollections of his private and public life. From these, two are selected for insertion here, which present beautiful pictures of Gov. Sumner's private life, and the love and respect which he uniformly secured from the youth, who were delighted by his attentions and won by his kindness.
Says Moses Williams, Esq., an honored citizen of West Rox- bury, in a letter to the author : " I received your kind note, and with it a beautifully engraved portrait and a memoir of the late Governor Sumner, also Reminiscences by yourself. I have read every word with real interest, and I would express to you my thanks for this token of remembrance and regard.
" The portrait was particularly interesting to me, because it brought fresh to my mind my early remembrance of your father. The first school I attended was Ma'am Johnson's. Her house was next to your father's, and as I passed his premises in going to school, I frequently saw him with his large cocked hat and blue cloak trimmed with scarlet velvet, walking for exercise in his beautiful front yard, always as neat as a good wife's parlor floor, and shaded by beautiful English walnut trees. One day, seeing your father thus walking, and noticing that a few ripe walnuts had fallen, I walked into the yard, and asked if he would give them to me. He did not know me ; but he gave his permission with so kind a reply, that, though nearly sixty years have passed and I then only five or six years old, I have never forgotten it. How strange that we should remember such little acts of kindness through our whole lives, when great favors are often soon forgotten.
295
REMINISCENCES OF GOVERNOR SUMNER.
" Your father had great dignity of manner and appearance, and perhaps the impression was stronger on this account; but I remember that his reply was as kind and gentle as that of a mother to her child."
The other letter referred to is from David C. Poignand, Esq., who says : " My infant recollections of your honored father have been called up by the perusal of ' A Memoir of his Excel- lency, Increase Sumner, late Governor of Massachusetts,' and I dwell with great satisfaction on my reminiscences of that good man.
" You will remember, that, during the period that your father filled the gubernatorial chair, our family occupied the house adjoining his mansion in Roxbury. My earliest recollections are of his family; of walks in the garden, around parterres bordered with box, clinging to his finger in aid of my tottering steps; of being carried by his black servant Cuff to 'the Gov- ernor ;' of the delight I always experienced on these occasions, and of the rebuke (the propriety of which I could not under- stand) that I received from my mother on my return for not first having my hair or apron arranged.
" That your father was a good man I want no other assur- ance than the impression he made on me; for I have observed through life, that children are admirable judges of the heart, and all the children around him gave him their affection and love.
" I was just turned of six when he sustained his last, linger- ing attack of illness. I listened to every report, and it has been a matter of surprise to myself since how minutely I have re- tained the impression of surrounding persons and objects during that agitating period. The grief that I felt when he died, when I was told that I should see him no more, is fresh in my mind. The funeral pomp interested me; but I stole away during its progress to indulge my thoughts in quiet.
" To my little eyes he appeared of colossal size, and his face always beamed with benignity as I peered into it. My father and mother, in my after-life, when reference was made to your parents, always expressed for them the highest respect and con- sideration.
" The century in which he passed his honorable and useful life closed with that year which records the mourning for his
296
HISTORY.
death and the death of the Father of his country. You and I have advanced deep into the succeeding century. We have witnessed marvels of progress in science and art ; intellect seems to have been stimulated to its utmost, but have the affections been kept as warm, as fresh ? has the heart been kept as holy as in the days of our youth and infancy ? I fear not; and I think I would now look around me in vain for an example of an illustrious citizen solacing his leisure with endearing atten- tions to children, not of his blood, as did your distinguished father."
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