USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 28
USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 28
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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 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
Daniel Waldo Lincoln, H. U. 1831, son of Levi Lincoln, born in Worcester, studied with Rejoice Newton and William Lincoln, and was admitted to practise in 1834.
Joseph W. Newcomb, W. C. 1825, son of Richard E. Newcomb, born in Greenfield, Mass. studied with his father and with Rejoice Newton and William Lincoln, practised in Templeton to 1830; Salisbury, Mass. to 1834; and since in Worcester. He removed to New Orleans in the autumn of 1836.
William Pratt, B. U. 1825, son of Col. Nymphas Pratt, born in Shrewsbury, Mass ; studied with Pliny Merrick, Esq ; and practised in his native town, until April, 1835; when he came to Worcester, and formed professional connection with Mr. Merrick.
ANDREW D. MCFARLAND, U. C. 1832, son of William McFar- land, born in Worcester, in 1811, studied with Hon. John Davis and Emory Washburn, Esq .; commenced practise here in 1835; and died in Worcester, June 23, 1836.
John H. Richardson, H. U. 1825, brother of George W. Rich- ardson, born at Concord, Mass. studied with Hon. Levi Thaxter of Watertown, Hon. William Prescott and Franklin Dexter, Esq. of Boston ; and commenced practise in Newton, Mass. He removed to Worcester, April, 1836, and entered into partnership with his brother.
George Ticknor Curtis, H. U. 1832, son of Benjamin Curtis of Boston, born in Watertown ; studied in the Law School at Cam- bridge; in the offices of Wells and Alvord at Greenfield; and of Charles P. Curtis in Boston ; was admitted in Suffolk, August, 1836, and established himself in Worcester soon after.
PHYSICIANS.
It is not now practicable to trace with exactness the succession of physicians of the town, Of the professional life of the early med- ical men, no public record remains : of their personal history, little has been preserved. The few memorials of their useful labors which can be gathered, are derived principally from tradition. The following list, accurate so far as it extends, cannot be considered full or complete.
ROBERT CRAWFORD, was probably the first practitioner of medi- cine in Worcester. He emigrated from Ireland with the colony of Scottish extraction, planting here in 1718. From his employment
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in the military expeditions of the period, in the capacity of surgeon, it may be inferred that he sustained respectable professional stand- ing.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD, united the clerical and medical offices, and served in the French Wars, sometimes as chaplain and sometimes as surgeon. He was in the campaigns in Nova Scotia and on the northern frontier. 1
SAMUEL BRECK, son of Rev. Robert Breck, second minister of Marlborough, who married Elizabeth Wainwright of Haverhill, in 1707, was probably here in 1730. He too was surgeon in the prov- incial army. He removed to Windsor, Conn. about 1747, and died in Springfield, Mass. in 1764.
NAHUM WILLARD, son of Col. Abijah Willard, of Lancaster, was born, April 22, 1733, and probably settled here about 1755. He was surgeon of Capt. Goodwin's company, marching with Col. Chandler's Regiment for the relief of Fort William Henry in 1757 : and was in extensive practise. He removed to Uxbridge, Mass. af- ter the revolution, and died there, April 26, 1792, aged 59.
JOHN GREEN, (sen.) son of Dr. Thomas Green,2 was born at Lei-
I A branch of the Crawford family, was early settled in that part of Rutland called Dublin : several brought testimonials of their church fellowship in Ireland. Hon. Wil- liam H. Crawford, formerly Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and Judge of the Supreme Court of Georgia, is said to have descended from the planters of Rut- land. Reed's Rutland, 155.
2 Thomas Green, ancestor of a family distinguished through successive generations for medical skill, was a native of Malden, Mass. The surgeon of a British ship, a cas- ual visitor of his father, probably gave direction to the taste of the son, by the donation of a volume on medicine. Active, energetic, and enterprising, he set forth into the wil- derness to seek fortune, with the outfit of an axe, a gun, a cow, and his whole library of one book, and became an early settler of the plantation, called by the natives Towtaid, by the English Strawberry-bank, now Leicester. His first dwelling was formed under a shelving rock, which stretched a natural roof over his cabin. The severe labor of hewing away the forest brought on a fever. Feeling the premonitory symptoms of the disease, he provided for subsistence during impending sickness in the solitude, by tying the calf of the single animal he owned, near his primitive habitation, and when the mother returned to feed her offspring, he was enabled to obtain the nourishment feeble condition prevented him from seeking abroad, and thus, alone, and unassisted, he pre- served a valuable life through severe illness.
The Indians were near neighbors of the white settler. From their communicated know- ledge of roots and herbs, from the science drawn from a few books, and, more than all, from the action of a vigorous mind, he soon became skilful as a physician. While he exercised the cure of bodies, he assumed the care of souls, as clergyman, an union of professions not remarkable in early times. His success as a preacher, was scarcely less considerable than his reputation as doctor. A respectable Baptist society was gathered, and a meeting house built, through his agency. A life of persevering industry and ex- tensive usefulness, terminated, October 25, 1778, at the age of 73 years. Thatcher's Medical Biography, 274. Washburn's Leicester in Wor. Hist. Mag. ii. 92.
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WILLIAM PAINE.
cester, Aug. 14, 1736. Educated by his father, and inheriting pe- culiar talents, he came into the profession early, and settled in Wor- cester, about 1757. Tradition bears ample, though very general, tes- timony of his worth. Fortunate adaptation of natural capacity to pro- fessional pursuits, gave an extensive circuit of employment and high reputation. Habits of accurate observation, the action of vigorous intellect, and the results of experience, seem to have supplied the place of that learning, deriving its acquirements from the deductions of others, through the medium of books. Enjoying great esteem for skill and fidelity, hospitality and benevolence secured personal re- gard. He was a leading and influential whig, member of the revo- lutionary committees, representative in 1777, and selectman in 1780. He died Oct. 29, 1799, aged 63 years.1
ELIJAH DIX, son of James Dix of Waltham, studied with the elder Dr. Green, and commenced practise about 1770. Managing exten- sive concerns, and having much employment as physician and drug- gist, he was in active business more than thirty years. He died at Dixmont, Me. June 7, 1809.
WILLIAM PAINE, H. U. 1768, eldest son of Hon. Timothy Paine, was born in Worcester, June 5, 1750. One of his early instructors was President John Adams, who taught a school while reading law in the office of James Putnam. His medical studies were under the direction of the late venerable Dr. Edward A. Holyoke, at Salem. After the usual period of novitiate, he commenced practise here, in 1771. A partnership was formed with Drs. Levi Shepherd and Ebenezer Hunt of Northampton, for the sale of drugs and medicines, and the first apothecary's shop of the county opened here, about 1772. For the purpose of facilitating the negotiations of this business abroad, and of perfecting his medical education, Dr. Paine visited Europe, long previous to the commencement of hostilities. Sail- ing from England, in the spring of 1775, he found, on his arrival at Salem, that war had broken out. 'The proceedings of the revolu- tionary tribunals, were summary. On the evidence that he was an absentee, he was denounced as loyalist. Return to his family and home being precluded, he took passage back to Liverpool, designing to avail himself of the advantages and means of improvement af- forded by foreign institutions, until the conflict should terminate. His property, thus abandoned, suffered confiscation, and his name was inserted on the list of those designated as enemies of their country.
1 Dr. Green married Mary Osgood, and afterwards Mary, daughter of Brigadier Timothy Ruggles, who died June 16, 1814, aged 74 years.
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After a year's attendance on the hospitals, having received the diploma of Doctor of Medicine from Marischal College, Aberdeen, Nov. 1, 1775, as the contest still continued, he accepted the commis- sion of Apothecary to the forces in America, entered the army in that capacity, and served in Rhode Island and at New York. In January, 1781, in attendance on his patient, Lord Winchelsea, he again crossed the Atlantic. Driven from her course by storms, the ship entered the port of Lisbon. After some stay there, he went to England, and in October, was admitted licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, and, for a long time, his name was enrolled among those of the practitioners of London. Returning to New York, in March, 1782, he was appointed by Sir Guy Carlton, in October following, Physician to the army, and soon was ordered to Halifax, where he remained on duty, until the troops were reduced, in 1783, when he was disbanded on half pay. In June, 1784, he took possession of Le Tete Island, in the Bay of Passamaquoddy, granted by the government for services, and erected a house, with a view to permanent residence. The solitude of the wild situation not proving agreeable to his family, he removed, and entered into practise in the city of St. Johns. In 1785, he was elected member of the assembly of New Brunswick, from the County of Charlotte ; and appointed Clerk of that body. The office of deputy, was con- ferred by his friend, Gov. Wentworth, Surveyor General of the King's Forests, and retained until the summer of 1787, when, by permission from the War Office, he went to Salem. With good professional business, and occasionally writing marine policies there, after the death of his father, July 17, 1793, he returned to his native place, and occupied the paternal estate until his decease, April 19, 1833, at the age of 83 years.
Dr. Paine was fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sci- ences, and member of the Medical, Agricultural, Linnean, Essex Historical, and American Antiquarian, Societies. He possessed extensive professional learning and refined literary taste, and was equally respected as a physician and citizen.
JOSEPHI LYNDE, son of Joseph Lynde,1 born at Charlestown, Mass. Feb. 8, 1749, commenced practise about 1774, and was for a time
' Joseph Lynde, H. U. 1723, born at Charlestown, Mass. Jan. 7, 1703, married Mary Lemmon, Feb. 24, 1736. After the destruction of Charlestown by the British troops in 1775, he resided in Worcester till his death. Four of his daughters married here : 1. Sarah, b. Feb. 21, 1743, m. Andrew Duncan : 2. Dorothy, b. May 23, 1746, m. Dr. Elijah Dix : 3. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 1, 1756, m. Theophilus Wheeler, Esq. d. March 7, 1833: 4. Hannah, b. July 4, 1760, married Hon. Edward Bangs. d. Sept. 10, 1806.
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THADDEUS MACCARTY.
connected with Dr. Dix ; superintended the Hospital for the small pox in 1775, and had the reputation of a first rate physician and an excellent man. He removed about 1783, and established himself as druggist in Hartford, Conn. and died in that city, Jan. 15, 1829, aged 80.
Among other physicians in practise here before the revolution were these: EBENEZER WHITNEY, in the inventory of whose estate, March 7, 1744, the library is appraised at 4s. 6d. and the drugs at £6. 1Ss. : ZACHARIAH HARVEY, whose medical title is preserved on the records, with the fact that he slew sixty seven rattlesnakes in 1740 : JOHN FISKE, who died here in 1761 : THOMAS NICHOLS of Danvers, who came from Sutton about 1765, and died Dec. 17, 1794, at the age of 82 years : WILLIAM and GEORGE WALKER, sons of that Capt. John Walker, who commanded a company of foot in the provincial service during the French wars.
THADDEUS MACCARTY, Y. C. 1766, son of Rev. Thaddeus Mac- carty, was born in Worcester, Dec. 19, 1747. Under the instruc- tion of Dr. John Frink of Rutland, an eminent physician of the county, he received his medical education, and commenced practise in Dudley, in 1770, entering into partnership and extensive business with Dr. Ebenezer Lillie. On the termination of three years, this connection was dissolved. Removing to Fitchburg, Mass. he found there full and laborious employment. The small pox made fearful ravages in the country about this period. Dr. James Latham, man- aged this terrible disease, once the scourge of the race, with great safety in the Suttonian method.1 To acquire the art of resisting the prevalent malady, in 1775, Dr. Maccarty left his family, repaired to a hospital in Great Barrington under the superintendence of this practitioner, and learned the mode of cure by suffering its operation. In the following year, having obtained the right to extend the rem- edy, and the license required by law from the Court of Sessions, with
1 The remedy was kept secret by the inventor, Dr. William Sutton, of Surry, in Eng- land, except from those who purchased knowledge. It is hinted in a publication of the time, that, in obtaining his patent, hic veiled his discovery by a false specification. Dr. Latham, surgeon in his majesty's 8th regimenl of fool, partner and agent of Sutton, who introduced the system in America, resided at Livingston Manor, in New York. He licensed physicians to administer the medicines prepared and furnished by himself within certain lowns and limits, they contracting to pay over lo him one half of all mon- les received, until his portion should amount to three hundred pounds, and afterwards, one third of all further sums obtained in the business ; and covenanting not to allempt, by analysis or otherwise, to discover the composition of the medicines. Different inno- cent drugs were mixed in the preparation, to defeat any examination which might be made. MS. of John W. Stiles, Esq.
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Dr. Israel Atherton of Lancaster, he conducted a hospital in Fitch- burg, with such success, that of eight hundred patients, five only were lost by death. The earnest solicitations of his father, the venerable clergyman of Worcester, then fast declining to the grave, induced the son, at great sacrifice, to return to his native town, in June, 1781. In June, 1785, he was elected Fellow of the Massa- chusetts Medical Society. Not receiving adequate patronage here, and his own health being much impaired, he took up his permanent residence in Keene, N. H. in June, 1789, and engaged in mercan- tile business, practising physic occasionally. In the spring of 1793, he again made use of Dr. Sutton's medicine, in a small pox hospital at Charlestown, N. H. In 1796, he applied Dr. Perkins' once famous Metallic Tractors, with singular efficacy. For some time, wonder- ful cures were wrought, and these fanciful agents, in his hands, en- joyed signal reputation. But the warm faith so essential to their usefulness subsided, and the Tractors sunk beneath the merciless satire of Fessenden. In February, 1797, Dr. Maccarty was com- missioned Justice of the Peace for the County of Cheshire, and in February, 1802, of the Quorum, and officiated extensively in the capacity of magistrate. He was Chairman of the Selectmen of Keene for many years. He died in that town, Nov. 21, 1802.1
JOHN GREEN, the second of like name and fame, born in Wor- cester, March IS, 1763, came to the practise of medicine at the early age of eighteen years. 'From his childhood,' writes his biogra- pher,2 ' the natural bias of his mind led him to that profession, which, through life, was the sole object of his ardent pursuit. To be distinguished as a physician, was not his chief incentive. To assuage the sufferings of humanity by his skill, was the higher mo- tive of his benevolent mind. Every duty was performed with deli- cacy and tenderness. With these propensities, aided by a strong, inquisitive, and discriminating mind, he attained to a preeminent rank among the physicians and surgeons of our country.' It has been the high privilege of few of our community to enjoy so much of con- fidence and respect ; to be so loved while living, and so mourned when dead. A life whose events were acts of usefulness, skill, and
1 Dr. Maccarty married Experience, daughter of Thomas Cowdin, Esq. of Filchburgh, Jan. 1775: she died at Worcester, Jan. 29, 1789. His only daughter married, Nov. 1801, John W. Stiles, Esq. sometime of Templeton, who died al Worcester, Sept. 1836.
Although the Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty had a numerous family of fifteen children, there now survive of his posterity only one grand child, two great-grandchildren, and three great great-grandchildren.
" Hon .Oliver Fiske in Thatcher's Medical Biography.
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OLIVER FISKE.
charity, affords few incidents for narrative ; it was terminated Aug. 11, 1808.
SAMUEL PRENTICE, a man of talents and eminent as surgeon, came from Stonington, Conn. in January, 1783. A Medical Soci- ety was formed in the County in 1785, but not sustained. Of this association he was Secretary. He removed to Keene, N. H. about 1786; and afterwards settled in Saratoga, N. Y.
OLIVER FISKE, H. U. 1787, son of Rev. Nathan Fiske, was born in Brookfield, Mass. Sept. 2, 1762. His early education was superin- tended by his father, whose productive farm, during most of the revolutionary war, was, from necessity, principally confided to his management. In the summer of 1780, a requisition for recruits was made. The quotas of men, had, thus far, been furnished without compulsory process ; but levies had been so frequent, that none would enlist freely, at a season so busy. The company, then com- manded by the late Major General John Cutler, was ordered to meet for a draft. Exempted, by the courtesy extended to clergymen, from military duty, and never having been enrolled, Dr. Fiske offered himself as volunteer, with the approbation of his father, who ap- plauded the patriotic spirit, while the personal sacrifice it involved was severely felt. Animated by the example, the requisite number came from the ranks on the parade. The regiment, in which they were embodied, was ordered to West Point, and was stationed in the vicinity of that post, at the defection of Arnold and the capture and execution of André. On being discharged, he returned to the farm, and was employed in its cultivation until the close of the war, in 1783, when he entered Harvard College. At the breaking out of Shay's Insurrection, he was instrumental in reorganizing the Marti- Mercurian Band of the University, in obtaining an order from Gov. Bowdoin for sixty stands of arms at Castle William, and was second officer of the company. When the Court commenced at Concord, he was the organ of a petition from this corps, to march in support of government, which was properly declined by the authorities of the institution. In the winter vacation of 1786-7, he took a school at Lincoln, but hearing of the threatened movements of the malcontents to stop the judicial tribunals at Worcester, he procured a substitute to assume his engagement, exchanged the ferule for appropriate weapon, and hastened to this place. Finding the enemy dispersed, and the troops on their way to Springfield, he set out to visit his father. On the heights of Leicester, the report of Gen. Shepherd's Artillery diverted him from his course. Uniting himself to a body
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of light horsemen, then on their route, he joined Gen. Lincoln's army. When the rebellion was suppressed, he resumed his studies, without censure for the long absence, and graduated in 1787. After the usual preparation, under the tuition of Dr. Atherton, of Lan- caster, le commenced business in this town, in October, 1790. He was active in forming a County Medical Association, and in obtain- ing the establishment of the present district organization of the Mass. Medical Society. Soon after the formation of the last named body in the second medical district, he was elected President, and held the offices of Councillor and Censor until he retired from the pro- fession. In February, 1803, he was appointed special Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. During five years succeeding 1809, he was member of the Executive Council. The commissions of Jus- tice of the Peace, of the Quorum, and throughout the Common- wealth, were successively received, and the latter has been renewed to the present time. Dr. Fiske was Corresponding Secretary of the Linnean Society of New England in 1815; of the Worcester Agri- cultural Society from 1824; and Councillor of the American Anti- quarian Society. He was Register of Deeds during the triennial term from 1816 to 1821. From this period, an increasing defect in the sense of hearing, induced him to retire from busy life, and devote himself to the pursuits of horticulture and agriculture, those employ- ments, in his own graceful language, 'the best substitute to our progenitors for their loss of Paradise, and the best solace to their posterity for the evils they entailed.' The results of that taste and skill in his favorite occupations, early imbibed, ardently cherished, and successfully cultivated, have been freely and frequently commu- nicated to the public in many essays, useful and practical in matter, and singularly elegant in manner.
John Green, B. U. 1804, son of the second Dr. Green, born in Worcester, studied with his father, and succeeded to his practise in 1807. He has received the degree of M. D. from Harvard and Brown Universities, and been Councillor and Censor of the Mas- sachusetts Medical Society, President of the Worcester District Medical Society, and Councillor of the American Antiquarian Society.
BENJAMIN CHAPIN, son of Thaddeus Chapin, was born at Wor- cester, May 29, 1781. He studied with the second Dr. John Green, and first entered into practise in Marlborough, Mass. In 1808, he returned, was elected town clerk from 1818 to 1833, and died here Jan. 15, 1835, aged 54 years.
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Benjamin F. Heywood, D. C. 1812, son of Hon. Benjamin Hey- wood, a native of Worcester, attended the lectures of Dr. Nathan Smith in the medical schools of Dartmouth and Yale Colleges, receiv- ed the degree of M. D. at the latter institution in 1815, and formed partnership in practise with Dr. John Green, which continued twenty years. He is Councillor and Censor of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Oliver Hunter Blood, H. U. 1821, son of Gen. Thomas H. Blood of Sterling, was born at Bolton, Mass. His studies were pur- sued with Dr. Lemuel Capen in Sterling, and in the Medical Insti- tution of Harvard University, where he received his degree in regular course. He practised in Worcester from 1825 to 1828 : resided in Brookfield, Mass. from April, 1829, to Feb. 1831, when he returned to Worcester.
John Simpkins Butler, Y. C. 1825, son of Daniel Butler, born in Northampton, Mass. ; pursued his professional studies in the Medi- cal College in Boston, and the Jefferson Medical School in Philadel- phia, and received the degree of M. D. at the latter institution, in 1828. He commenced practise in Worcester in 1829.
George Chandler, son of Maj. John Wilkes Chandler, born in Pomfret, Conn., pursued his preparatory studies in Brown Univer- sity and Union College, read medicine with Dr. H. Holt, and received the degree of M. D. at Yale College, March 4, 1831 ; commenced practise in Worcester, Nov. 3, 1831; and since March 28, 1833, has resided in the State Lunatic Hospital, in the capacity of Assistant Physician and Apothecary.
SAMUEL BAYARD WOODWARD, [Y. C. 1822, M. D.] son of Dr. Samuel Woodward,1 an eminent physician of Torringford, Conn. is a native of that town. Having received good academic education, he pursued medical studies, and entered into practice, with his father, in his birth place. Removing to Wethersfield, Conn. in No- vember, 1816, extensive engagements of business attended his high professional reputation. During his residence there, he was elected Secretary of the Connecticut Medical Society, Vice President of the Hopkins Medical Association, and one of the Medical Examin- ers of Yale College. In 1827, he was appointed Physician of the
1 Dr. Samuel Woodward, born at Watertown, Conn. 1750, was not only distinguished in his profession, but in political life. From 1800 to 1810, he was the candidate of the democratic party, then a minority, for member of Congress ; was long member of the Legislature of Connecticut ; and, for many years, as the oldest representative, ' father of the house.' He died, Jan. 26, 1835, aged 84.
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State's Prison in Wethersfield, and held the office six years. In the spring of 1832, he was chosen Senator in the Legislature of Con- necticut from the first district. In the foundation of the Retreat for the Insane, at Hartford, he bore leading part. One of the first by whom the project of that noble charity was presented to the public, by his efforts, the funds of the Medical Society of the State were bestowed for this most worthy purpose. Of the committees to ob- tain subscriptions, to assist in the foundation of the institution, determine its location, and superintend the erection of buildings, and one of the Visitors, the great weight of his personal exertions and influence were devoted to its prosperity.
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