History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 5

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

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 5

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1 The following notices of the judges of the Probate Court are taken from the " Norfolk Court Manual," prepared and published by Henry O. Hildreth, Esq., in 1876, with the kind permission of the author.

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

opposed the evacuation of that city, and near the close of the year 1776 was ordered to take command of the posts in the Highlands.

In 1777 he was intrusted with the command of the eastern department, and had charge of the Saratoga (convention) prisoners. In June, 1779, he was or- dered to the command on the Hudson, where he was stationed till the close of the war. Returning to his farm, he became a delegate to the convention that adopted the Federal Constitution in 1788, State senator in 1791-92, and in 1806 was chosen Lieu- tenant-Governor of Massachusetts, but declined the office. July 2, 1793, he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the new county of Nor- folk, and the same day was appointed first Judge of Probate for the county. He died Jan. 24, 1814, aged seventy-seven years.

EDWARD HUTCHINSON ROBBINS was born in Milton, Feb. 19, 1758, and was graduated at Har- vard College in 1775. He studied law with Oakes Angier, of Bridgewater, and commenced practice in his native town. He was chosen a Representative from Milton in 1781, and Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1793, which office he held for nine successive years. In 1802 he was chosen Lieu- tenant-Governor, and held the office until 1807. In 1793 he was appointed Special Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for Norfolk County, and in 1799 was appointed Chief Justice of the same court. In 1808 and 1809 he was a member of the Executive Council. He also held many other positions of trust and responsibility. On the decease of Gen. Heath, in 1814, he was appointed Judge of Probate for the county of Norfolk, which office he held until his death, which occurred Dec. 29, 1829.1

SHERMAN LELAND was born in Grafton, March 29, 1793, and remained on his father's farm until he was more than twenty years of age. During the two or three years following he attended school most of the time, and in October, 1805, commenced the study of the law, employing the winter months of that and the three succeeding years in teaching. He was admitted to the bar at Worcester in December, 1809, and commenced practice at Eastport, Me., January, 1810. Oct. 11, 1811, he was appointed prosecuting attorney for the county of Washington. Ile represented Eastport in the Massachusetts Legis-

lature of 1812, and in December of that year was appointed first lieutenant, and served under that ap- pointment in the army of the United States upon the eastern frontier until April, 1813, when he received the appointment of captain in the Thirty-fourth Regi- ment of Infantry in the United States army, and served until June 5, 1814, when he resigned his commission and resumed the practice of his profes- sion. In July he removed to Roxbury, Mass., and in the year 1815 opened an office in Boston, and commenced practice in both the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. He was a Representative from Rox- bury in the Massachusetts Legislature for the years 1818, '19, '20, and '21. He was also a delegate from Roxbury in the Constitutional Convention of 1820. He was a member of the Senate of Massachusetts from the county of Norfolk for the years 1823 and 1824, and, during the temporary absence of the presi- dent, was elected president pro tem. He was again a member of the House of Representatives in the year 1825, and was chairman of the committee on the judiciary. In 1824 he was a candidate for Rep- resentative in Congress for the Norfolk District, but, after several trials, his competitor, Hon. John Bailey, was elected by a small majority. He was again elected a member of the Senate from Norfolk County for the years 1828 and 1829, and was president of the Senate for the year 1828, and chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary for 1829. On the 26th of January, 1830, he was appointed Judge of Probate for the county of Norfolk, in place of Judge Robbins, de- ceased, and immediately entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office, which he continued to per- form until his death, which occurred Nov. 19, 1853, at the age of seventy years.

WILLIAM SHERMAN LELAND was born in Rox- bury, Oct. 12, 1824. After leaving the public schools in his native town, he entered the law-office of his father, Hon. Sherman Leland, then Judge of Probate of the county of Norfolk. On the death of his father, in November, 1853, he was appointed to fill the vacancy, which position he continued to oc- cupy until 1858, when, under the administration of Governor Banks, the law concerning Courts of Pro- bate and Insolvency was changed, and he failed to re- ceive the appointment as judge of the new court. He resumed the general practice of law, and soon ac- quired a large and lucrative practice. He was for many years one of the directors of the People's Bank of Roxbury, and was at one time its active president. He was one of the projectors of the Elliot Five Cent Savings-Bank, and was chosen its president, which office he continued to hold until his death, which

1 Judge Robbins was a man of fine personal presence, of genial manners, and great kindness of heart. He was emphat- ically the friend of the widow and orphan, and his death was regarded as a great public loss. He lived and died on the fine estate on Brush Hill, now the residence of his son, Hon. James Murray Robbins.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

took place July 26, 1869, at the age of forty-four years.

GEORGE WHITE was born in Quincy. He was fitted for college under the instruction of William M. Cornell, LL.D., and at the Phillips Academy, in Exeter, N. H. He was graduated at Yale College in 1848, and began his professional studies in the Dane Law-School at Cambridge, and received the degree of LL.B. from Harvard College in 1850. He completed his studies with Hon. Robert Rantoul, Jr., and upon his admission to the Suffolk bar, in 1851, he became a partner with Mr. Rantoul, having an office in Boston. He was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention from Quincy in 1853. He was appointed Judge of Probate and Insolvency in 1858, | and Ames Street, about 1795.

and he has held the office since that time. He now resides in Wellesley, having an office in Boston. (See notice of Judge White in history of Wellesley.)

The Bar .- FISHER AMES .- He was admitted to the bar in Suffolk in 1781. He was graduated at ! Harvard College in 1774, and studied law with Wil- liam Tudor in Boston. He had an office in Boston for a short time, but he removed to Dedham about the time of the incorporation of the county. He

member of Congress until 1797. His health, how- ever, failed in 1795, and while he continued to practise in the courts to some extent, he gradually withdrew towards the close of his life. Mr. Ames evidently found the trial of ordinary cases very irksome, and his time and attention were taken up by his farm and politics. His fame as a lawyer was completely overshadowed by his eminence as a states- man and political writer. An account of his life and character will be found in the history of Dedham in this volume.

HORATIO TOWNSEND was born in Medfield, March 29, 1763, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1783 ; studied law with Theophilus Parsons at New- buryport, and began practice in Medfield. In 1799 he was appointed special justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and about the same time was appointed clerk of the courts, which office he held until 1811, when he was removed by Governor Gerry. He was reappointed the following year, and continued in office until his death, which occurred at Dedham, July 9, 1826, at the age of sixty-three years.

ter, of Boston. He was the first Register of Probate of this county. In 1802 he was commissioned a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and in 1804 was appointed Chief Justice, and continued in that office until the court was abolished, in 1811. He was in the office of Register of Deeds until 1833, a period of forty years, and almost wholly retired from the practice of law. He then removed to Roxbury, where he continued to reside until his death, Sept. 4, 1847, at the age of seventy-six years.

The mother of Judge Haven was the sister of Samuel Dexter, Sr., and daughter of Rev. Samuel Dexter, minister of Dedham. He built the fine house near the court-house, on the corner of Court His office stood upon his grounds, and was the first office occupied by Waldo Colburn, who began practice in 1850, but it is now removed. It was in this office probably the first meeting of the bar was held. He was in- terested in theological questions, and wrote an elabo- rate pamphlet upon the case of the Dedham Church in 1818. He was the father of Samuel F. Haven, of Worcester.

THOMAS GREENLEAF .- He was a member of the built an office and began practice, although he was a | bar before the incorporation of the county. He was born in Boston, May 15, 1767, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1784. He removed to Quincy early in the present century. He was a represen- tative to the General Court from 1808 to 1820. He was a member of the Executive Council from 1820 to 1822. In 1806 he was appointed a special justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Norfolk. He died Jan. 5, 1854, aged eighty six years and seven months.

ASAPH CHURCHILL, of Milton, was a member of the bar at the formation of the county. He was born in Middleborough, May 5, 1765, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1789, having a disputation with Nahum Mitchell, of Bridgewater, as his part for commencement. He studied law with John Davis, Esq., of Plymouth, and was admitted to practice in Boston in 1795. He was one of few attorneys, prob- ably less than twelve, at that time practising law in Boston. Having continued his office in Boston for several years, he removed to Milton, where he pur- chased an estate on Milton Hill of Edward H. Rob- bins. He had a large practice in Norfolk County. He died in Milton, June 30, 1841, at the age of

SAMUEL HAVEN .- Admitted to the Suffolk bar before the incorporation of the county of Norfolk. seventy-six years. He was a descendant of John He was the son of Rev. Jason Haven, the minister , Churchill, who came to this country in 1640. of Dedham, and was born April 5, 1771. He was JOHN SHIRLEY WILLIAMS .- Attorney of Supreme graduated at Harvard College in 1789, and studied | Judicial Court, 1803. He was born in Roxbury, May law with Fisher Ames and his cousin, Samuel Dex- 3, 1772, and was graduated at Harvard College in

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1797. He practised law at Roxbury and at Dedham. In 1811 he was appointed Clerk of the Courts by Gov- ernor Gerry, but was removed the next year by Gov- ernor Strong. He was also County Attorney. He died at Ware, Mass., while on a journey for his health, in May, 1843, aged seventy-one years.

JAMES RICHARDSON .- Attorney of the Supreme Judicial Court, 1803. He was born in Medfield, Oct. 12, 1771, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1797. He studied law in the office of Fisher Ames in Dedham, and was afterwards his partner in business until the death of Mr. Ames. He was a learned lawyer, and had a taste for literature. He was a senator from the county in the session of 1813-14, and a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1820. He was one of the Presidential electors in 1832. He was president of the Bar Association of the county for many years. He was at one time engaged in manu- facturing business, and towards the close of his life withdrew from active practice. He continued to be president of the Norfolk Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany until his death, which occurred in May, 1858.

JAIRUS WARE .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, March, 1808. He was born in Wrentham, Jan. 22, 1772, and was graduated at Brown Univer- sity in 1797. He practised law in Wrentham. He was Representative to the General Court from 1809 to 1816, and also 1818-23; member of the Executive Council, 1825-26 ; in 1811 Justice of Circuit Court of Common Pleas ; and in 1819 Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions. He was appointed Clerk of the Courts Sept. 1, 1826, and held the office until his death, which occurred at Dedham, Jan. 18, 1836, at the age of sixty-four years.

GIDEON L. THAYER .- Counsellor of Supreme Ju- dicial Court, 1808. He was the son of Hon. Ebenezer Thayer, and was born in Braintree, Sept. 24, 1777. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1798, and studied law with Benjamin Whitman, of Plymouth County, and also with Judge Crauch. He practised HENRY MAURICE LISLE .- Attorney of Supreme in that part of Braintree which is now Quincy, and Judicial Court, 1802. He was an Englishman who . also in the easterly part of the town near Weymouth practised law in Milton. He was a man of ability, but little is known concerning him. There is a tra- dition that he went to the West Indies.

Landing. He had a high standing in his profession. He died July 17, 1829, at the age of fifty-two years.

WILLIAM DUNBAR .- Counsellor of Supreme Ju- dicial Court, 1809. He was born in Stoughton, now Canton, Aug. 15, 1780, and never received a collegiate education. He practised law in Canton for a time, and then went West or South, and was gone many years. He returned to Canton a few years before his death, which took place May 6, 1848, and did some office work.

DANIEL ADAMS .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1809. He was born in Watertown, March 26, 1779 ; was graduated at Harvard College in 1799, and commenced the practice of law at Medfield. He was a Representative to the General Court from 1812 to 1820, excepting one year, and again in 1841. He was appointed Judge of the Court of Sessions of Norfolk County in 1822, and upon the retirement of Judge Ware, in 1826, was made Chief Justice. He died Sept. 2, 1852, at the age of seventy-three years.

JABEZ CHICKERING .- Counsellor of Supreme Ju- dicial Court, 1809. He was the son of the Rev. Jabez Chickering, of Dedham (South Parish), where he was born Aug. 28, 1782. He began practice in Dedham and continued it for many years. He subsequently engaged in manufactures, and was cashier of the Ded- ham Bank. He removed in 1823 to Monroe, Mich., where he died Oct. 20, 1826.

JOSEPH HARRINGTON .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1809. He had an office in Roxbury, where he practised many years.

THOMAS B. ADAMS .- Counsellor of Supreme Ju- DAVID ALLEN SIMMONS .- Attorney of Circuit Court of Common Pleas, September, 1812. He was born in Boston, Nov. 7, 1785, and was educated at Chesterfield Academy in New Hampshire, whither he removed in his childhood. He returned to Boston in 1806, and studied law with Thomas Williams, of Roxbury. He had an office in Boston, and was part- ner with George Gay, who was admitted at the same time, for many years, and afterwards with James M. bury, and had a good practice in Norfolk County. He was a man of remarkable energy, and conducted his cases with zeal and ability. He died in Roxbury, Nov. 20, 1859, at the age of seventy-two years. He dicial Court, March, 1808. He was the third son of President John Adams, and was born in Quincy, then Braintree, Sept. 15, 1772; was graduated at Harvard College in 1790; was admitted to the bar in the State of Pennsylvania, and returned to the commonwealth after the incorporation of the county. He was chief justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas in 1811, Representative to General Court from Quincy in 1805, and in 1811 was a member of the Executive Council. | Keith and Harvey Jewell. He always lived at Rox- He died March 12, 1832, at the age of fifty-nine years and six months. Mr. Adams took an interest in the bar meetings for a time, and his name frequently appears in these proceedings.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

had received the honorary degree of Bachelor of Laws from Dartmouth College.

JOSIAH J. FISKE .- Counsellor of the Supreme Judicial Court, 1815. (See history of Wrentham.)

JOHN KING .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1811. He had an office in Randolph, where | with Samuel K. Williams, he practised in Boston

he practised many years.

SAMUEL P. LOUD .- Counsellor of Supreme Ju- dicial Court, 1811. He was born in Weymouth, March, 1783 ; was graduated at Brown University in 1805; studied law in the office of John Quincy Adams, and began the practice of law in Dorchester. He was a representative from Dorchester and senator from Norfolk County for many years ; was a member of the Executive Council in 1841 and 1842, and represented the town in the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1853. He was for six years a justice of the Court of Sessions for the county, and from 1828 to 1853, a period of twenty-five years of continuous service, he was chairman of the county commission- ers. He died at Dorchester, July 11, 1875, at the age of ninety-two years and four months.

CHRISTOPHER WEBB .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1813. He was graduated at Brown University in 1803 and resided in Weymouth, and was a representative to the General Court from that town for many years, and was also a senator from the county from 1827 to 1834. He was county attorney for the county, and in 1826 was commis- sioner of highways. He died in Baltimore in Febru- ary, 1848, aged sixty-seven years.

EBENEZER F. THAYER .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1813. He was a brother of Gideon L. Thayer, and was born in Braintree, June 12, 1784. He studied law with H. M. Lisle, of Milton, with James Sullivan and Gideon L. Thayer. In company some six or eight years, and afterwards in Brain- tree. He died Feb. 15, 1824, at about forty years of age.

THOMAS GREENLEAF, JR .- Counsellor of the Supreme Judicial Court, 1814. He was a son of Thomas Greenleaf, of Quincy ; was graduated at Har- vard College in 1806, and died in 1817.

CYRUS ALDEN .- Counsellor of the Supreme Ju- dicial Court, 1815. He was born at Bridgewater, Mass., and was graduated at Brown University in 1807, and studied law at Litchfield, Conn., and with William Baylies, at West Bridgewater. He was ad- mitted to the bar first at Plymouth. He began the practice of the law at Wrentham, where he remained for six years and then removed to Fall River, from which town he was Representative to the General Court in 1837. In 1819 he published a work en- titled, " An Abridgement of Law, with Practical Forms." He was a worthy man and had a good rep- utation in his profession. He died in 1855.

SAMUEL J. GARDNER .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1814. He was born in Brookline, July 9, 1788. He entered Harvard College in 1803, being the youngest member of his class. He left college a few days before the close of his senior year, being engaged with his class in a rebellion. Gardner was invited to return and take the valedictory part at commencement, but he declined. Some years after, he received an honorary degree from the college. He studied law with Judge Fay, of Cambridge, and at- tended lectures at Philadelphia. He began practice John Heard, Esq., of Boston. He was first ad- | in Roxbury in 1810. His office was on Boston Neck,

ERASTUS WORTHINGTON .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1813. He was born in Belchertown, Mass., Oct. 8, 1779, and was graduated at Williams College in 1804. After his graduation he was em- ployed for a time in teaching, and then began the study of law, which he completed in the office of mitted in Suffolk, but came to Dedham in 1809. and was a well-known landmark for twenty years. He acquired considerable property in his practice, active in public affairs, being secretary and treasurer of the Roxbury Grammar School, and manager of the Roxbury Benevolent Society. He was a Repre- sentative to the General Court, president of the Nor- folk County Temperance Society, and Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Massa- chusetts. Here he continued to practise until about the year 1825, when, having been active in the formation of and retired from active practice after a time. He was the Norfolk Mutual Fire Insurance Company, he became its first secretary, and held this office until 1840, when he resigned it on account of ill health. He was Representative from Dedham to the General Court in 1814 and 1815. He wrote and published " An Essay on the Establishment of a Chancery Jurisdiction in Massachusetts," which is believed upon competent authority to have been the first ar- He subsequently lost much of his property, and in 1838 he removed to Newark, N. J., where he en- gaged in literary pursuits and in the education of his children. In 1844 he removed to New York. He was for eleven years editor of the Newark Daily Ad- gument published in favor of an equity jurisdiction in the commonwealth. In 1827 he wrote and pub- lished a " History of Dedham from its Settlement in 1635 to May, 1827." He died June 27, 1842. 2

HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

vertiser. He was an accomplished scholar and able writer, and under his editorial administration his paper held a high position among the leading journals of the country. In the discussions preceding the war of the Rebellion he was a vigorous supporter of the party of the Union. He retired from this post at the age of seventy-two in 1861. He died in the White Moun- tains, July 14, 1864, at the age of seventy-six years. After his death a selection of his writings, written for the columns of his newspaper, appeared under the name of " Autumn Leaves," and in these the wit and humor which made his conversation delightful found expression.

ABNER LORING .- Attorney of the Supreme Judi- cial Court, 1813. He was born in Hingham, July 21, 1786, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1807. He studied law with Ebenezer Gay. He began practice at Dorchester, and was well read in his profession, devoted to business, and of unexception- able character. He died, deeply lamented, July 18, 1814, at the age of twenty-eight years.

THOMAS TOLMAN .- Counsellor of the Supreme Judicial Court, 1820. He was born in Stoughton, Feb. 20, 1791, and was graduated at Brown Univer- sity in 1811. He practised law in Canton until 1837, and then removed to Boston and had an office there. He was a Representative to the General Court from Canton in 1828 and 1836. He was afterwards a member of the Executive Council. He died in Boston in 1869.

JOHN B. DERBY .- Counsellor-at-Law of Supreme Judicial Court, 1821. He practised law in Dedham for some years, and afterwards removed to Boston, where he died. He was the father of Lieut. Derby, well known as a humorous writer under the nom de plume of " John Phoenix."

LEWIS WHITING FISHER .- Attorney of the Cir- cuit Court of Common Pleas, September term, 1819. He was born in Franklin, Dec. 29, 1792, was grad- uated at Brown University in 1816, and studied law with Josiah J. Fiske, at Wrentham. He afterwards opened an office at Wrentham, where he lived until his death, April 20, 1827.

was much interested in the building of the court-house in 1827.

ABEL CUSHING .- Counsellor of Supreme Judicial Court, 1818. He was graduated at Brown Univer- sity in 1810, studied with Ebenezer Gay, of Hing- ham, and practised law in this county for a number of years, having an office in Dorchester. He was afterwards appointed a justice of the Justices' Court in Boston, which office he held until his resignation, shortly before his death, in 1866. He was a Repre- sentative to the General Court from Dorchester for three years, and also a Senator from Norfolk County.

MELETIAH EVERETT .- Counsellor of the Supreme Judicial Court, 1820. He was born in Wrentham, June 24, 1777. He was graduated at Brown Uni- versity in 1802. He studied law with Hon. Laban Wheaton, of Norton, and began practice in Foxbor- ough, where he resided until about the year 1832, when he removed to Wrentham. He was a Repre- sentative to the General Court from Foxborough in 1831, and was a Senator from the county in 1841 and 1842. He was a safe and prudent counsellor. He died in Wrentham in 1858. The Hon. Horace Everett, of Vermont, was his brother.

EZRA WESTON SAMPSON .- He was probably ad- mitted to the bar in the county of Plymouth. He was born in Duxbury, Dec. 1, 1797, and was gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1816. He had an office in Braintree, where he practised law about twelve years. Upon the decease of Judge Ware, he was ap- pointed in 1836 Clerk of the Courts for the county, and held the office until January, 1867. During the last year of his life he was unable to perform the duties of his office by reason of illness. He died in Dedham, Jan. 15, 1867, at the age of sixty-nine years.

WARREN LOVERING .- Counsellor of the Supreme Judicial Court, October term, 1825. He was grad- uated at Brown University in 1817. He had an office in Medway for many years, and at one time had an extensive practice. He was a Representative to the General Court from Medway in 1827 and 1828. He held several important offices, and was a promi- nent member of the Whig party. The last years of his life were spent in poverty and obscurity. He died in 1876.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 5

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