USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
Under some circumstances, there can be hardly a doubt, Mr. Oliver would have become conspicuous in a field far more exten- sive than the county of his birth. He was ready with tongue as well as pen ; not lacking in assurance, shrewd and discriminating, though perhaps a little too uncompromising as a partisan.
In person he possessed some noticeable features, was well-pro- portioned, and bore the marks of a firm and healthy constitution. His residence was for a long time on South Common street, the site being that afterwards occupied by the mansion of his son Stephen, and later still by St. Stephen's Memorial Church.
He was of Quaker parentage, but on his marriage, which was "out of the meeting," was disowned, though he continued to worship with the society. Six sons and one daughter, of his nine children, survived him.
PARKER, THOMAS - lineal ancestor of Rev. Theodore Parker. His autograph is among those appended to the Armitage Petition, page 106. He removed to Reading. See Annals, 1635.
PARSONS, Rev. OBADIAH. Mr. Parsons was minister of the First Parish some eight years, having been installed February 4, 1785. He preached in the house known as the Old Tunnel ; and it was during his pastorate that the parsonage was erected, though there were "parsonage lands," so called, before that period. The parsonage occupied the site now forming the south- east corner of South Common and Commercial streets, the last named street having been opened in 1832, at which time the house was removed to its present location, at the south-west corner of Commercial and Neptune streets.
Mr. Parsons was a man given to such irregularities and indul- gencies, as was charged, that the spiritual condition of the parish during his pastorate, was at a low ebb. Grave suspicions were
196
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Patch. Perkins. Perley.
afloat, touching his moral character, even before his settlement, and while here, some things occurred calculated rather to confirm than remove the suspicions. He was, at least, a man of such convivial habits as in our day would be likely to exclude one from the ministry ; but then it was a time when such habits were indulged in by preachers as well as people. And an apt illustration of the prevailing custom occurred at the time of the erection of the parsonage, just referred to, a work in which Mr. Parsons took a lively interest. The story is, that a number of the parishioners of small means were surprisingly liberal in the amounts they subscribed in furtherance of the good object, though it was understood that their offerings would be received in the form of labor upon the premises, at a fixed price per day. The work went bravely on. The contributors were highly applauded for their generosity, and the building committee praised for their liberality in arranging with a neighboring retailer for a supply of "refreshments," as they might be called for. Cheerily and rapidly the work progressed to completion. And then - when the accounts were brought together, the contracting parties were astonished to find that the retailer's score for rum alone exceeded in amount all that class of subscriptions ; to say nothing of the other " refreshments " in the shape of crackers and salt-fish. See Annals, 1792.
PATCH, CHARLES F. Mr. Patch died on the 24th of January, 1873, after a sickness of three days, aged 27 years, leaving a widow but no children. He was a son of Joshua Patch, who was long engaged in the lumber business here. The deceased was a young man of much promise, had been a member of the Common Council, and at the time of his death was on the second year of his service as City Treasurer. He was a freemason, and several lodges of the order attended his burial.
PERKINS, Dr. JOHN, of Lynnfield - an eminent physician and learned writer. He died in 1780, aged 85. See Annals, 1780.
PERLEY, Dr. DANIEL - a skillful physician and much esteemed citizen. He died at his residence on Breed street, January 31, 1881, aged 77. See Annals, 1881.
197
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Phillips. Pierson.
PHILLIPS, GEORGE W., of Saugus, a brother of the "silver tongued " orator, Wendell Phillips, and a lawyer of high standing. He died July 30, 1880, aged 70. See Annals, 1880.
PIERSON, Rev. ABRAHAM- a profound scholar, and father of the first president of Yale College. By reference to our An- nals under date 1640, it will be seen that some doubt was enter- tained as to the place of residence of this individual. But it appears by both Savage and Sprague that he must have lived here; or at least that his son Abraham, the college president, was born here in 1641. The chair in which president Pierson was accustomed to sit is still preserved among the college treas- ures, and a picture of it may be seen in Harper's Magazine, volume 17, page 2. There is no doubt that the church composed of Long Island emigrants, was formed at Lynn, in November, 1640, and that Mr. Pierson, the elder, was at the same time installed as its minister, the celebrated Hugh Peters taking part in the exercises. He appears to have come from Yorkshire, to have graduated at the University of Cambridge, and to have preached for a time in England under Episcopal ordination. He graduated in 1632 and arrived in New England in 1639, and hence could have been here but a short time before leaving for Long Island. That he was rigidly set, like many others of the early New England clergy, in his views touching ecclesiastical authority, maintaining that none but church members should be allowed to vote or hold civil office, is quite apparent. And it is likewise apparent that he was regarded by his cotemporaries as a man of high character and great usefulness. Mather says, " wherever he came, he shone ;" adding that " he left behind the character of a pious and prudent man and a true child of Abraham now lodged in Abraham's bosom." No doubt his influence was large in establishing some of the stalwart principles that long prevailed in the eastern section of Long Island and the neighboring Connecticut colonies, and which were figured forth in that imaginary but hardly exaggerated code known as the Blue Laws. The orders against drunkenness, lying, and kindred vices went quite beyond the conceptions of the most zealous reformers of our day. And the higher offences - of which even a suspicion was not to escape - were so signally dealt with that
198 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Pitcher. Pranker. Pratt.
the severity of the punishment attached, sometimes operated as a virtual repeal ; for the magistrates could not always find it in their hearts to reject defences of a very doubtful nature, rather than impose the penalty that must follow conviction. For in- stance, one John Kelley, a carpenter, was complained of for endeavoring to enter into a supplementary matrimonial connec- tion, declaring his wife was dead. It appeared on the trial that she was not dead ; but he defended against the original charge in some befoging way, and against the additional one of lying, by main- taining that his meaning was that his wife was dead in trespasses and sin. It is not intended to connect Mr. Pierson with any absurd or farcical proceeding, but to present a sort of by-way illustration. See Annals, 1640.
PITCHER, MARY - better known as Moll Pitcher, the fortune- teller. Her residence was on Essex street, opposite Pearl, and she died April 9, 1813, aged 75 years. See Annals, 1813. A fac-simile of her signature is here given.
Maryfitcher
POMPEY - an African prince, stolen, brought hither and sold as a slave. See Annals, 1780.
POQUANUM - Indian sachem of Nahant. See 1865 edition of History of Lynn, page 40.
PRANKER, EDWARD, a woolen manufacturer, and proprietor of the mill bearing his name near the site of the ancient iron works, in Saugus. He died August 14, 1865, aged 73 years. See Annals, 1865.
PRATT, MICAJAH C. Mr. Pratt was for many years a prom- inent citizen, was a native of Lynn, and died on the 28th of Jan- uary, 1866, aged 74 years. For the whole of his business life, which commenced as early as 1812, he was a shoe-manufacturer, struggling along during the protracted period when trade was depressed, by industry and carefulness sustaining his position, and gathering the experience which when better times dawned
199
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Pratt.
led on to fortune. He continued in business forty years, manu- facturing the various kinds of shoes in demand for the southern and western markets, and at one period employing between four hundred and five hundred operatives, turning out some two hundred and forty thousand pairs a year, which was a very large business for a time before machinery had to much extent been introduced in the business.
Being a member of the society of Friends, he was but little in public life, though he held some positions of responsibility, where his integrity and business capacity appeared conspicuous. He was active in promoting the usefulness of the Institution for Savings, established in 1826 ; was president of the First National Bank of Lynn, and of the Lynn Fire and Marine Insurance Company. His manners were genial and his tendencies benev- olent and social.
On the 26th of November, 1812, he married Theodate B. Brown, and by her had six children. His second wife, whom he married late in life, was Abby Newhall, by whom he had no children. His residence was on the north side of Broad street, a little east of Silsbee.
PRATT, SIDNEY BOWNE. Among the liberal and unassuming sons of Lynn may surely be reckoned this one. He was a son of James Pratt, who died in 1832, and who was a prominent shoe-manufacturer. The subject of this notice was born on the 14th of May, 1814, and died on the 29th of January, 1869. About the time of the opening of the Eastern Rail-road, in 1839, he engaged in the express business, and by faithfulness and assiduity soon found himself on the high road of success, and continued on, till the time of his death, always possessing the confidence of the public. He was at the head of the well-known firm of Pratt and Babb. His manners were affable, and his disposition to accommodate unvarying. Indeed he seemed to possess just those elements of character which are best calculated to ensure success in any business ; and he was certainly successful in that which he chose. He was successful, too, in gaining an enduring name, by his liberal bequest to the Free Public Library, the first gift of the kind received by that institution, the amount being $10.000. His funeral took place from the Friends' meet-
200
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Purchis.
ing-house, on Silsbee street, and was attended by the Mayor and other members of the city government, and a large concourse of relatives and fellow-townsmen. He was never married. In the Public Library a very good likeness of him is preserved.
PURCHIS, OLIVER. The fame of Mr. Purchis extended far beyond our municipal limits. He was a man possessed of strong points of character, undoubted patriotism, and a pertinacity that sometimes might well be called obstinacy. During the Andros administration his energetic course in baffling the unwarrantable demands of the Governor and his unscrupulous Secretary, no doubt saved the town from loss and mortification, and received well-merited applause. His position as Town Clerk, at that trying period, afforded opportunities for the display of patriotic zeal and hatred of oppression well fitted to his temper. He came as early as 1635, and in his official capacity is named as a grantee in the Indian Deed of Lynn. For some ten years he was a Representative in the General Court ; was agent of the iron company, and somewhat of a military character, though he was not a particularly bright star in the latter sphere. But his long and useful life appears to have ended in poverty and distress. On the Council records, June 19, 1701, is found this entry : " A resolve was sent up from the Representatives in the words following, viz' : 'Whereas, M' Oliver Purchase, an ancient public servant in the government is fallen to decay and become very indigent and necessitous, not having whereof to subsist now in his age, and being rendered incapable of labour : Resolved, That in consideration of the good service done by sd Oliver Purchase, he be allowed the sum of Ten pounds out of the public Treasury of this province for his necessary support.'-Which resolve being read at the Board was concurred with and his Honour the Lieut. Gov. gave his consent unto and signed the same." But the poor man, "deceasing before he had received sd gratuity," it was resolved by the Council and House of Representatives, "That the aforesaid sum of ten pounds be paid out of the public treasury of this Province to M' William Wilson of Concord, to be by him delivered to Mrs Sarah Purchis, widow, relict of said Oliver Purchis." It was in 1691 that Mr. Purchis removed from Lynn to Concord, where he died in 1701, aged 88 years. See Annals
201
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Ramsdell. Rhodes.
of early dates for many facts concerning him. A fac-simile of his signature is here given.
Olarak Durchis
PURCHIS, THOMAS - a Maine fur trader. See Annals, 1678.
QUANOPKONAT - a prominent Indian resident of the territory of Lynn. See History of Lynn, 1865 edition, page 42.
RAMSDELL, ABEDNEGO. Mr. Ramsdell was one of the im- mortal four from Lynn, who fell at the battle of Lexington. It was said by an aged lady, that on the fatal day a woman in his neighborhood seeing him hastening along towards Lexington and being seized by an unaccountable presentiment of danger, called to him and warned him of her premonition. He bravely replied that he might be going to his death ; but it was a good cause, and he hoped by the aid of his musket to take a red-coat with him, if he fell. On he sped, and was killed immediately after reaching the battle ground. See Annals, 1775.
RAMSDELL, JOHN-one of the early settlers of Lynn. He was a witness in the famous case between the Town and Thomas Dexter, concerning the ownership of Nahant. Descendants of his are yet among us. His autograph is upon the Armitage Petition, page 106. See Annals, 1630.
RHODES, AMOS. Mr. Rhodes was born in Lynn, on the 24th of April, 1795, and died on the 15th of January, 1870. His father was Amos Rhodes, long a prominent business man, in the western section of the town, at that time the chief business part, his dwelling being the one still standing on the east side of Fed- eral street, next south of the mill brook, which house was built by him near the beginning of the present century ; and he was the same Amos Rhodes named in the correspondence of Ebenezer Breed, given in the 1865 edition of the History of Lynn, page 523 et seq. The mother of the subject of this notice was Eliza- beth, the eldest daughter of Rev. Obadiah Parsons.
Mr. Rhodes graduated at Harvard College with the 1816 class,
202
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Rhodes.
and for a few years engaged in teaching, spending a part of the time at the south. His absence, however, was of short duration. In 1817 he was preceptor of Lynn Academy. He never pre- pared himself for entering either of what are called the learned professions, choosing rather to pursue a more sequestered path of usefulness. On the organization of the Lynn Institution for Savings, he was elected treasurer, and filled the office for more than forty years. And to his careful management, scrupulous fidelity, and unwearied vigilance, that institution is indebted for much of its early success. He was also for many years secretary of the Lynn Mechanics Fire and Marine Insurance Company. In the reading of choice books, and in the conversation and society of the intellectual and cultivated, he took unflagging delight ; and ever seemed more desirous of doing what he could to promote the mental and moral elevation of those about him, than to aid in their struggles for the acquisition of mere wealth. For twenty years - 1830 to 1850- he acted as librarian of the old Social Library, and no doubt succeeded, during that long period, in forming in many a youthful mind an enduring taste for the better class of reading, as his judgment in the selection of books came to be much relied on. He was a fast friend of Mr. Lewis the poet and historian, and of Mr. Lummus the first Lynn newspaper publisher. He however exercised his pen but little save upon the books pertaining to his daily business ; though his good taste, judgment, and acquirements made him a useful member of the little coterie who wrought in the literary interests of the Mirror during its most successful days.
Mr. Rhodes was among the early members of the Unitarian society, and before the introduction of church organs in Lynn aided the choir by his flute and bass-viol. In the Sunday school, also, he took an active interest ; and having labored for the society through all its days of weakness, had the happiness to see it strong and prosperous. But he lamented as much as any the tendency towards extreme rationalistic views, which some years ago began to manifest itself in various sections of the denomination. We remember how grieved he was at some of the sentiments enunciated by Rev. Theodore Parker in his famous sermon preached at South Boston, in or about 1841, and how pleased he appeared when his own minister, the Rev. Mr.
203
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Rhodes. Richards.
Swett, after reading a few passages, from the pulpit, in his clear voice and with striking emphasis, added, " If that is Unitarian- ism I am not a Unitarian."
On the second of December, 1834, Mr. Rhodes married Lydia, a daughter of Winthrop Newhall, but had no children. She survived him. Funeral services over his remains were held in the church where he had so long loved to worship.
RHODES, HENRY, whose well-written autograph appears upon the Armitage Petition, page 106, was among the early comers, and descendants of his are still among us. Not much is known of him, though he seems to have been a man of good habits, industrious, and respected. See Annals, 1640.
RICHARDS, RICHARD. Mr. Richards was a descendant from one of the early settlers, and was born in Lynn, in 1796. He was, perhaps, the most inventive genius, in a mechanical way, ever born here; and though he never produced anything to establish a world-wide reputation, he yet originated some things that have proved of great usefulness, especially in the staple business of Lynn, and which furnished suggestions for still greater discoveries by other minds. He was a last-maker, by trade, and in pursuance of that occupation, contrived such im- provements and adaptations of machinery as greatly facilitated the work and added to the finish and beauty of the products of his shop. He constructed a sole-cutting machine, for which, in 1844, he obtained a patent, and which was superior to any thing in use before that time. He also designed a peg-cutting machine, which was extensively used. A rail-road turntable which he invented has continued to be used, in some of its essential features, to the present time. And a number of minor inventions and improvements in machinery originated with him. But the sole-cutting machine was the only one for which he received a patent.
As a citizen Mr. Richards was much esteemed ; and he held various offices under the old Town government. He was also a Representative in the General Court, but never seemed to covet official position, preferring rather to pursue the even tenor of his mechanical employments. The enormous shoe, capable of con-
204
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Richardson.
taining some twenty full-grown persons, which figured in proces- sions, and created so much observation during the memorable hard cider presidential campaign, in 1840, was a product of his genius and handiwork. He also constructed a miniature log cabin, which, mounted on wheels and dragged along the streets, excited much curiosity as a political adjunct in the same spirited campaign. He died on the 19th of December, 1851, aged 55.
RICHARDSON, JONATHAN. Mr. Richardson was a native of Lynn, and died here on the 28th of June, 1872, at the advanced age of 87 years. There was no particularly striking event in his life, for he was content to plod along, unambitious to rise from the operative's work-bench. He was a shoemaker of the old stamp, and quietly pursued his humble calling for full three quarters of a century. And his memory compassed a perfect history of the wonderful progress in our staple business. He was one of the early members of Mount Carmel lodge of freema- sons, and tyler for more than forty years. Through the disturb- ing reign of anti-masonry, when so many of his neighbors with- drew from the institution, he remained faithful ; and his burial, which took place from the First Methodist meeting-house, was attended by a large number of the brethren.
RICHARDSON, THOMAS P., was the fourth Mayor of Lynn. A biographical notice with a portrait may be found in the Centen- nial Memorial. He died very suddenly on the evening of Thanks- giving day, November 24, 1881, aged 65 years. The writer met him at the door of Mr. Harrison Newhall's residence, on Park square, at about seven o'clock. After a cordial greeting, he immediately said, " I'm sick," sat down on a sofa, and within an hour, breathed his last. The funeral services took place at the First Methodist meeting-house on the afternoon of Monday, November 28, the large audience room being completely filled with sympathising friends. The remains were thence conveyed to their last resting place in Pine Grove Cemetery. Few have passed out from the business ranks, from among the laborers for the moral elevation of the community, or from social life, more deservedly regretted than Mr. Richardson. He had but a few weeks before his decease taken up his residence in the fine
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Robbins. Robinson. Roby. 205
mansion which he had just erected on North Common street, opposite St. Stephen's Memorial Church. A fac-simile of his signature is here given.
J. P. Richardson
ROBBINS, Dr. PETER G., whose name appears in our Annals, under dates 1808 and 1810, was a conspicuous resident here, for many years. He came in 1805, and lived on Essex street, be- tween High and Pearl, in the same house previously occupied by Dr. Henry Burchstead, and subsequently by Dr. Hazeltine. Dr. Robbins was much interested in the political events of the pregnant period in which he came here. Party spirit then ran high, and on the fourth of July, 1806, he was selected as orator of the Democratic party, there being likewise a celebration by the Federalists, whose orator was Hosea Hildreth, then preceptor of the Academy. In 1810, however, the parties united in cele- brating the day, and Dr. Robbins was the orator. Rev. Chandler Robbins, D. D., for many years minister of the Second Church of Boston, (Unitarian,) and author of several erudite works, was a son of his, born in the house just designated, on the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1810, and graduated at Harvard in 1829. Rev. Samuel D. Robbins, settled over the Unitarian society of Lynn, in 1833, was also a son of his.
ROBINSON, Col. JAMES - a revolutionary soldier, and the first postmaster of Lynn. He died January 21, 1832, aged 75. His residence was on Boston street, corner of North Federal. See Annals, 1832.
ROBY, Rev. JOSEPH - minister of the third Parish (Saugus) for the long period of fifty-one years. He was a man of learning and held in high esteem as a preacher. Yet we find a flippant bit of doggerel, stated by Mr. Eaton, in his History of Reading, to have been written by a parishioner of the Rev. Mr. Hobby, therein named, which has been claimed to give the popular estimate of four neighboring divines. The allusion to Mr. Roby is certainly not over-complimentary :
206
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Sadler.
Good Mr. Emerson (of Malden), Proud Mr. Hobby (of Reading) Silly old Carnes (of Stoneham), And Coxcomb Roby (of Saugus).
" Proud Mr. Hobby" was the reverend gentleman referred to in our Annals, under date 1745, as having had the controversy with Mr. Henchman of Lynn, respecting the celebrated preacher Whitefield. Mr. Hobby went with the multitude to hear Mr. Whitefield when he preached on Reading Common, and was candid enough to afterwards say that he went to prick a hole in Whitefield's coat, but Whitefield had pricked a hole in his heart. He became a warm defender of the great preacher against the assaults of the alarmed clergy who with vigor and pertinacity opposed everything that did not accord with the old faith and their established usages. Mr. Roby died January 31, 1803, aged 79 years. See Annals, 1803.
SADLER, RICHARD. The lofty porphyry cliff near the junction of Walnut and Holyoke streets, from which some of our most extensive and charming views can be obtained, took its name of Sadler's Rock from this individual, who, at the land allotment in 1638, had two hundred acres assigned to him, and " the rock by his house." This enables us with certainty to determine in what neighborhood he settled. He was a prominent personage and well-known throughout the Colony ; and that his services at home were appreciated is indicated by the liberality of the grants to him. He was our first Clerk of the Writs, and a member of the Salem Court ; also one of the commissioners to run the bounds between Lynn and Boston, in 1639, Robert Keayne, the first captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery being a fellow-commissioner. He was a man of education, and it is presumed had remained a churchman, inasmuch as after his return to England, in 1647, he became a minister in the estab- lished church, though ecclesiastical matters were, about that period, so mixed up in England, that it was sometimes a problem with an individual where he should rank. He was here but about ten years ; and his return may have been hastened by want of sympathy with the rigid views and usages of this then puritanical community. A rude Memorial Stone was erected some years ago, by the writer, at the roadside near the foot
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.