History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 156

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

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The French war ends, and the whole domination of France is swept from this continent. The British colonies have now a little time to attend to their own concerns. Some few persons thought that the vigor exhibited by the colonies in the recent struggle showed that the child had attained adult age, and might set up for himself. It was not altogether the small stamp tax upon deeds and bills of exchange, nor three pence a pound duty on tea, that occasioned the discontent. There were deeper causes than these at work, although they furnished our orators with fine materials for agitation. A long list of grievances was embodied in the famous Suffolk Resolutions, adopted in a county convention holden at Milton, in the house of Daniel Vose, Sept. 9, 1774, said to have been drawn up by Dr. Joseph Warren.

Col. Vose had three brothers in the army. His younger brother, Elijah, attained the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel, and served during the war with credit. Moses and Bill were also employed in responsible sta- tions. These gentlemen were all known to the elder members of the present community.

The military spirit of Col. Vose has been revived | in the two succeeding generations of his family. Col. Josiah H. Vose, his youngest son, entered the United States army before the war of 1812, and after a credit- able military career of thirty-four years, died in com- mand of his regiment at New Orleans, in 1845, at the age of sixty-one years. Edwin Vose Sumner, son of Elisha and Nancy (Vose) Sumner, grandson of Col. Joseph Vose, was a major-general during the late rebellion ; was born in 1796, spent his early youth in Milton, entered the army in 1819. He rendered bril- liant service as a cavalry officer in Mexico, and was sent by government, in 1853-54, to visit all parts of Europe to collect military knowledge.

The affair of Lexington, in April, 1775, put an . Job Sumner, son of Seth Sumner, of Brush Hill, end to oratory, arguments, and resolutions. Action was an undergraduate of Harvard College in 1775. is the word, and men and money are called for. Men . When the operations of the university were disturbed

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by the presence of Washington's army at Cambridge, " he laid aside his books and procured a lieutenant's commission in Col. Bond's regiment, and remained in the army through the war. He had attained the rank of major at the peace, and continued in the mili- tary service of the general government until his death, in 1794, which took place on board a packet-ship from Charleston to New York, where he was buried with much ceremony by the Freemasons, of which fra- ternity he was a prominent member, and also of the Cincinnati Society. A fine marble monument to his memory may be seen in Trinity churchyard, Broadway, New York. He was grandfather of the late Senator Sumner.

and sometimes more.

Seventeen young men belonging to the town gradu- ated at Harvard College during the last fifty years of the eighteenth century. They all became respectable men, and some of them distinguished.

John Miller, son of Samuel Miller, Jr., and Rebecca (Minot) Miller, of Milton ; born at Milton in 1733; graduated at Harvard College in 1752; ordained Bridgewater, and continued his studies with Oakes minister of Brunswick, Me., 1762. He died on a Angier, then a distinguished practitioner. Ih 1779 visit to Boston, Jan. 25, 1789, traveling for his | he was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice health.

Benjamin Wadsworth, son of Deacon Benjamin Wadsworth, of Milton, was born in 1750. He gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1769, settled at Danvers in 1772, died in 1826, aged seventy-six ; was in the ministry fifty-four years. His only daughter married Hon. John Ruggles, of Milton.

William Sandford Hutchinson, son of Governor T. Hutchinson. was born at Milton, June 30, 1752. He graduated at Harvard College in 1770, and died at Brompton, in England, Feb. 26, 1780, aged twenty- seven and a half years.

Josiah Badcock, son of Nathan Badcock, was born at Milton in 1752; graduated at Harvard in 1772; settled at Andover, N. H. ; ordination in 1783; ser- mon by Rev. B. Wadsworth. Died in 1831. He re- tired from the desk twenty years before his death, and lived quietly on his farm.

of the Revolution, and filled the office of judge of probate for Hampshire County many years, until his death, in 1809. He was a member, from Milton, of the convention which formed the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1779 and 1780.

Edward Hutchinson Robbins, eldest son of Rev. Nathaniel Robbins, was born at Milton, Feb. 19, 1758, where he passed his childhood. He was bene- fited by the instructions of Dr. Jeremy Belknap, who taught school at Milton two years after leaving col- lege. He was partially fitted for college by Dr. Lem- uel Hayward, who also kept a grammar school some time at Milton. He entered college in 1771, in his fourteenth year, and finished his collegiate course re- spectably in 1775, occupying a room with his towns- man, Thomas Thatcher, afterwards minister of Ded-

The whole number of persons in the town subject to military duty was less than two hundred, but the full quota of men was furnished during the whole war, | ham, with whom he continued an intimacy until the

death of the latter in 1813. The last year of his college life was somewhat interrupted by the affairs at Lexington and Charlestown. After leaving col- lege he kept school at Dorchester for a year. In 1776 he entered the office of John Sprague, Esq., of Lan- caster, and commenced the study of the law. He re- mained a year at Lancaster, and in 1777 removed to

at Milton. He was the same year elected to repre- sent his native town in the convention which formed the Constitution of Massachusetts. He was the youngest member of this body, which contained nearly all the prominent men of the State, many of whom were his friends through much of his after- life. He continued the practice of law at Milton till | 1785, during four years of which time he represented the town in the Legislature. He enjoyed the confi- dence of the community, and his professional business increased so much that he removed his office to Bos- ton, where all the courts of law for this section-were then held. In November, 1785, he married Miss Elizabeth Murray, who had been a resident of Milton for some years previously, and purchased the Gooc estate at Milton Hill, where he resided nearly twenty years, till he removed to Brush Hill in 1805, which became his residence for the remainder of his life. His habits were active, and he began to weary of the confinement of professional life, and soon employed himself much with other pursuits. He was among the early purchasers of the commonwealth's lands in Maine, and was much occupied in settling and im-

Samuel Henshaw, son of Samuel, Jr., and Waitstill Henshaw, was born at Milton in 1754; graduated at Harvard College, 1773 ; married Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Swift, 1777. His wife died in 1781, and he subsequently married a daughter of the Rev. John Hunt, of the Old South Church. Mr. Henshaw , proving the lands, a subject of great interest to him studied for the ministry at first, but relinquished that all his life. In 1792 he was again chosen to rep- calling, and removed to Northampton about the close 'resent the town of Milton in the Legislature, and

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continued to be re-elected ten years in succession, in Rufus Badcock, son of George and Ruth Bad- cock, born at Milton in 1755 ; graduated at Harvard College in 1775. His death occurred in a Southern State, where he was employed in teaching, in 1793. nine of which he occupied the Speaker's chair. How well he performed the duties and sustained the honor of that station is too well known to need any mention. His extraordinary exercise of memory and promptness Thomas Thatcher, son of Oxenbridge Thatcher, was born at Milton in 1757, and graduated at Cam- bridge in 1775. He was settled at West Dedham, and died in 1813, aged fifty-six. He was an eccentric man, of studious habits, unmarried, lived a retired life within his own parish, and was somewhat occu- pied in teaching. He was a member of the State convention to discuss the United States Constitution. He and his colleague, Fisher Ames, represented Ded- ; ham. This instrument, now regarded as the sheet- anchor of our liberties, balanced in a state of uncer- tainty in the convention many weeks, and finally, in a House of three hundred and fifty-five, was adopted by the small majority of nineteen votes only. in recollecting the persons and character of the mem- bers in the duties of appointment, his knowledge of parliamentary rules, and the local interests of the commonwealth, became proverbial, and were a great facility to the public business. During this period much of his time was employed in other public duties. He was one of the commissioners for build- ing the State-House, also the State prison. In 1796 he was elected by the House to the United States Senate, but the county of Essex urged the necessity of a practical merchant for the place, and the Senate made choice of Mr. Goodhue, a merchant of Salem, whereupon Mr. Robbins at once withdrew his name. In 1802 he was induced to accept the nomination of Jesse Tucker, son of Jeremiah Tucker and his wife Lieutenant-Governor with Governor Strong, with | Mary (Wadsworth) Tucker, was born at Milton in 1758; graduated at Harvard College, 1778, and studied medicine with his kinsman, Dr. John War- He served with Capt. Manly as a surgeon in a public armed ship, was attacked by fever on the cruise, and put on shore at Newfoundland, where he died in December, 1779. whom he had been much acquainted before. He was elected, and continued to fill the duties of this office till 1807, when the Democratic party . ren. came into power. He was frequently employed in the service of the State in responsible places, such as member of the Board of War in 1812, commissioner for treating with the Eastern Indians, and for the Jeremiah S. Boies, son of Capt. James Boies, of Milton, born in 1762 ; graduated at Harvard College, 1783 ; was occupied in his father's business of paper- making ; married Miss Hannah Clark in 1785. His father died in 1798, aged ninety-six, and bequeathed a handsome estate to his son. Mr. Boies became one of the earliest cotton manufacturers of Massachusetts, having originated the company at Dorchester, which successfully conducted this business for more than forty years. Mr. Boies died at Boston in 1851, aged eighty-nine years. management of Eastern lands, and filled the place of judge of probate for Norfolk County some seventeen or eighteen years. He never sought public office, and never occupied any place of profit, but was often selected for places requiring judgment and integrity by the appointing power. He inherited a competent property, and faithfully executed many responsible trusts, but left no wealth behind. He belonged to the Federal school in politics, but was no zealous partisan ; firm in opinion, prudent in action, endowed with strong love of the human race, never weary of Nathaniel Johnson Robbins, second son of Rev. Nathaniel Robbins, was born at Milton in 1766, and graduated at Harvard College in 1784. He occupied his short life in commercial pursuits, traveling much abroad, and died at Milton in 1799, aged thirty-three, from the effects of a liver disease contracted in the serving others, and rather negligent of his own in-| terests. Greatly esteemed by a very wide circle of friends, his opinion was much sought for and valued, and was always at the command of every one. His fine colloquial powers and social disposition rendered his society very attractive. He was the zealous friend | British West Indies. He was an agreeable, social person, and left a lasting impression upon the memory of many of his contemporaries, some of whom sur- vived him forty or fifty years.

of religion and education, long a member of the Mil- ton Church and of various associations for the dif- fusion of gospel truths. To his personal efforts was mainly due the establishment of the academy in his native town. In his domestic relations the cheerful kindness of his nature was especially conspicuous. His death, which occurred Dec. 29, 1829, at the age of seventy-two, was greatly lamented by his friends and neighbors.

John Murray Forbes was the son of Rev. John Forbes, a Scotch clergyman, who was stationed at St. Augustine while the colony of Florida was in pos- session of the British government. Mr. Forbes, the father, was married at Milton in 1769, to Miss Dorothy Murray, the daughter of James Murray,

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Esq. J. Murray Forbes was born at St. Augustine, ' Her records are filled with the noble sentiments of her and came to Milton with his mother in 1773; was citizens, ever fired with the most patriotic ardor ; ever ready to show their faith by their works, and to let their light shine before men. They were pioneers in the cause of freedom. Other communities might hesi- tate, the men of Milton never ! fitted for college by Dr. Samuel Kendall, of Weston ; graduated in 1787 in the class with John Q. Adams and James Lloyd ; studied law with John Sprague, of Lancaster, and Pliny Merrick, of Brookfield, and began his professional career at Northfield in 1791. Turning to history's page, we find that upon Oct. 25, 1760, began the reign of George the Third. Afterwards he moved to Boston, and, associated with C. P. Phelps, practiced- law in 1794-95. He was " He was narrow-minded, self-willed, jealous of his royal prerogative, and envious of others' greatness, resenting all difference from his wishes on any public measure as a personal offense against the King." employed to go to France on business in 1796, and spent most of his life abroad ; received the appoint- ment of consul to Hamburg, 1801 ; chargé d'affaires at Copenhagen, 1810 ; minister to Buenos Ayres, June 9, 1756, war was declared against England by Louis XV. This war, called in European history 1820, and remained there till his death, in 1831. He died unmarried. He was a gentleman of fine quali- | the Seven Years' war, and known on this continent ties, and his protracted residence in foreign countries as the French and Indian war, ended Feb. 10, 1763. was held a great privation by numerous friends at home.

Solomon Vose, son of Col. Joseph Vose, was born at Milton in 1768, and graduated at Harvard College in 1787 ; studied law with Hon. Levi Lincoln, of Worcester, and commenced practice at Northfield, Franklin Co., which town he frequently represented in the State Legislature, and in 1805 he removed to Augusta, Me., where he died, much respected, in 1809.

Roger Vose, son of Robert Vose, of Milton, born in 1763, and graduated at Harvard College; studied law, and settled at Walpole, N. H., where he was in practice many years. He served two terms as member of Congress from that district. His death occurred in 1841, when seventy-eight years of age.

Charles Pinckney Sumner, son of Job Sumner, was born at Milton in 1776; graduated at Harvard in Doct Sam1 Gardner Dea Benjamin Wadsworth, and 1796; studied law, and practiced his profession in Boston many years. He served fifteen or twenty years as sheriff of the county of Suffolk, and died in 1839, aged sixty-three. He delivered an eulogy upon the death of Washington, at Milton, Feb. 22, 1800, | which was published by the town.

CHAPTER LXIIL.

MILTON-(Continued).

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

BY H. B. MARTIN.

FEW are the towns in which can be gleaned more interesting history in regard to matters relating to the Revolutionary period than in the town of Milton.

March 10, 1764, Grenville, then Secretary of State, proposed to pay a portion of the expenses of the war then closed by taxation of the American colonies.

March 22, 1765, the Stamp Act was passed, im- posing duties on all newspapers, every law paper, all ships' papers, property transfers, college diplomas, and marriage licenses.

October 24th of that year (1765) our forefathers assembled, and the following record of their doings on that day, we think, needs no further explanation :

" At a Town Meeting legally warned and held at Milton on thursday the 24th day of October 1765. 1st William Tucker Esq was chosen Moderator. 2udly, the question was put whether the Town would instruct their present Representative respecting the Stamp Act, and it past in the affirmative. Voted: to choose a Committee to draw up instructions, Accordingly, Lieut Jazaniah Tucker, were chosen, who withdrew and after a short time returned with the following Instructions, which the Town Unanimously Accepted, and voted that they be recorded in the Towns book, and an Attested Copy thereof be by the Town Clerk delivered to Stephen Miller Esq. our present Repre- sentative."

" Instructions by the Freeholders and other Inhab- itants of the Town of Milton, to Stephen Miller Esq. their present Representative."

"SIR: Being sensibly affected with the calamitous circum- stances to which this Country must be soon reduced by the exe- cution of the Stamp Act unless by some means relieved : we think proper in the present distressed conjunction of affairs to give you the following Instructions,

" 1st That you promote and readily join in representing our Grievances to the King and Parliament in a suitable manner, and if Redress may be easily obtained it will be most accept- able to us; yet as the distress threatened must (if not pre- vented,) bring Slavery and Ruin, we expect you to promote and

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

join in any measures which may Relieve us, be the expense or consequences what it will. for if we had no dispute as to the justice of a tax where we are not Represented, the sum that even the Distributors of the Stamps would have for their trouble, according to the best calculation that has been made, would be insupportable for us to pay in addition to our Annual Expenses and the great Debts that we have contracted in the last War .- Now if we had been Represented in Parliament or could have even been heard by our Agent, we can't suppose that such an Immoderate Tax would have been laid on us, if it had been just to lay any : but if British Subjects in America are

"With the utmost Abhorance of any such Unjustifyable Proceedings by persons unknown, committed on the property of divers of our fellow subjects, a loss too much for any Individ- uals to bear in Civil Society, and it not being in their power to liable to be taxed otherwise than by their own Representatives, | prevent ;- In Dutyfull respect to his Majesties Request, in and may not be allowed Trial by their own Peers, which by this Act we understand is the case, they are as Distant from the Liberty of Englishmen as are the Slaves in Turkey.

" 2ndly. That you discountenance as far as lies in your power, the late horrible outrages that have been committed in the town of Boston, and that you use your utmost endeavors that the | ury, and that those persons who were Aiding and Assisting in Destroying the Property of Individuals in the Town of Boston, in the year 1765, Contrary to Law and Equity, should be brought to Justice, and Suffer accordingly."

Offenders may be found out and brought to justice, and that restitution may be made by them and their Accomplices, if they have Estates sufficient, to the persons who have suffered by them. and we could wish that persons who desire to conceal such Of- fenders were obliged to make satisfaction in their stead, and if there are not Laws already Sufficient for Restraining such Dis- orderly persons we desire that you use your endeavors that Laws be made Sufficient for that purpose, so that all his Majesties Subjects in this Province, may have their Lives and properties secured, if they may be thought worth securing after the Stamp Act takes place.

" 3rdly. We expect that you Enquire by what Authority or whose advice it was that the Public money was appropriated for Raising Soldiers, without the consent and in absence of the General Court."

As has already been stated, March 22, 1765, the Stamp Act was passed; the courts were closed ; in the town of Boston outrages and riots were insti- gated ; sworn officials were subjected to great indig- nities, insulted in every way possible (some tarred and feathered, and hung in effigy); the mob sacked and destroyed private houses and pillaged them.

But the people of Milton were a law-abiding people, and, although they felt as deeply and keenly the wrongs and insults of Britain, they discountenanced all such disgraceful acts as these.

And so when in town-meeting assembled, on Oct. 22, 1766, their doings on that day amply testify to the high tone of the Milton of that period, and is a reminder to the people of to-day that a true man is ever considerate of others' welfare,-and if we had no other record, the one simple case here cited would stamp the men of Milton of 1766 as nature's noble- men, a title of far more worth than any ever bestowed by George III.

The record is as follows :

" At a Town Meeting legally warned and held at Milton, on Wednesday October 22nd 1766.

" 1st Dea Benjamin Wadsworth was chosen Moderator.

« Polly. The question was put whether the Town would give their Representative any Instructions, and it past in the Affirmative.

" 3rdly. Voted to give him the following Instructions.

" Milton Oct 22nd 1766., At a meeting of the Freeholders, and other Inhabitants of the Town of Milton, qualified as the law directs ; Voted : Whereas the Inhabitants of this Town have taken under consideration the clause in the warrant, re- specting the sufferers in the Month of August 1765, in the Town of Boston.

Humanity and Generosity towards those Gentlemen who have suffered, that on the Application of such Sufferers to the Gen- eral Assembly in a parliamentary way, the Representative of | this town be directed in his best discretion to use his Influence that such Losses be made up and paid out of the Public Treas-

August, 1768, the merchants and traders of Boston entered into an agreement not to import goods from Great Britain after Jan. 1, 1770, and made a further agreement, Oct. 17, 1769, that no goods should be sent from here till the revenue acts be repealed.

Consequently exports from England fell off to such an extent that English merchants were seriously in- jured. Lord North, perceiving this, proposed the removal of duties from all articles except tea.

Oct. 4, 1769, a town-meeting was held in Boston, when was promulgated that noted document prepared by Samuel Adams, entitled an " Appeal to the World," wherein he says, " We should yet be glad that the ancient and happy union between Great Britain and this country might be restored, but our rights are in- vaded, and until the Revenue Acts are All repealed, the cause of our just complaints cannot be removed."

March 12, 1770, in town-meeting assembled, the citizens of Milton, ever ready to uphold and sustain every measure for their country's welfare,

" Voted : that the Thanks of this Town be given to the Mer- chants and Gentlemen of the Town of Boston, who have exerted themselves in so Spirited a manner for the Preserva- tion of the Liberties of America :- That this Town will Exert their Utmost Endeavor to Support those Gentlemen while exer- cising their feeble efforts, (so called by their Enemies) to Pre- serve the Liberties of this Province ; That this Town will never Purchase of; or have any Communication with, those persons that Import goods contrary to the Agreement of Merchants of the Town of Boston, until they have given full Satisfaction to those merchants and gentlemen that they have treated with so much Indignity ; That this Town will prevent, (to the utmost of their power) the use of India Tea, Discountenancing its use in any one (except where it may be thought necessary for Health,) until the Revenue Acts, so much and so justly com- plained of shall be Repealed."

1772. Parliament having enacted laws of such a sumptuary and arbitrary character, so repugnant to

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the people of the province, and contrary not only to the charter, but to the fundamental principles of common law, among which was one making the sala- ries of the Governor and the judges to depend upon a royal stipend, the inhabitants of the town of Bos- ton held a town-meeting in the fall of that year (1772), and after passing resolves respecting the grievances under which they suffered, the patriot leader, Sam. Adams, stood up and made that cele- brated motion which it was said " gave visible shape to the American revolution."

The record says,-

" It was then moved by Mr. Samuel Adams that a Committee of Correspondence be appointed to state the rights of the Colo- nists, and of this province in particular, as men and Christians, and as subjects; and to communicate and publish the same to the several towns, and to the world, as the sense of this town, with the infringements and violations thereof that have been made."

The motion passed by a nearly unanimous vote ; a committee was appointed ; the work to be done was divided between them ; Adams was appointed to pre- pare a statement of the rights of the colonists; War- ren, of the several violations of those rights; and Church was to draft a letter to the other towns.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 156

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534