USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 55
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 55
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Mr. French was among the first scientific agriculturists in Massachusetts; he was one of the founders of the Norfolk Agri- cultural Society, as well as one of its most active members ; also, of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and was among its principal contributors. He was for years a member of the Mas- sachusetts Board of Agriculture and also one of its founders. Through his exertions the School of Agriculture was established by Legislative enactment in 1856, which was not organized until some years after. He was also a member of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society from 1845, and a life member from 1857. Mr. French always having a taste for the beautiful originated the idea of garden cemeteries, and was one of the most active in establishing Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Mr. French was much in public life, having while in Boston
B.V. French 2
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been a Director for the House of Reform and Juvenile Delin- quents; Assistant Assessor and Overseer of the Poor, besides Director of banks and insurance offices. In 1843, Mr. French was chosen a member of the Executive Council.
Mr. French from his large and well selected library of stand- ard works on agriculture became well versed in the theory of farming, so much so, that the elder Quincy, now deceased, him- self a veteran farmer, once related " that in varied husbandry Mr. French had no competitor; his great love of nature and her productions was the all absorbing theme of his useful life, especially in the department of pomology, to which he had given especial attention. "In 1851, Mr. French exhibited in the Horti- cultural Rooms in Boston, two hundred and thirty choice speci- mens of as many different varieties of the apple and the pear for which he received a splendid piece of plate." Subsequently he increased his varieties to four hundred, and one hundred varieties of the cherry and the plum, besides a great variety of other fruits, which could be cultivated in this elimate. In his nursery were to be found all the native as well as rare exotic flowers and shrubs.
Mr. French died without issne at Harrison Square, in the Dorchester District of Boston, April 11th, 1860, aged 68. He was eminently distinguished among his fellow associates in the Horticultural and Agricultural profession.
Mr. Thomas Greenleaf was born in Boston, the 15th of May, 1767, he received the greater part of his early education in the Boston Latin School. During the siege of Boston his parents removed from the city and while they were absent he attended the Dummer Academy. On their return to Boston he again entered the Latin School, where he prepared for college. Mr. Greenleaf graduated at Harvard University in 1784, at the age of seventeen. He did not pursue professional studies.
From 1790, he resided a part of the year in Quincy, but took up his permanent residence here, on the old Neale estate,1 in
1. This fine estate on Adams Street, is now in the possession of Mr. William W. Greenough, and was purchased by Mr. Greenleaf of Dr. Charles Chauncey, the noted pastor of the First Church in Boston.
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1803, which he purchased in 1790, and resided there until his death.
His aptitude for publie business was such that in the early part of the present century, the town intrusted him with various and important duties, which he discharged with great fidelity. In 1808, he was chosen by the citizens of the town as Repre- sentative to the General Court, and for twelve consecutive years he filled this honorable office, and at one time was selected as temporary Speaker of the House, during the illness of the Hon. Timothy Bigelow, who was permanent Speaker.
In 1820, he was chosen a delegate to a convention to revise the Constitution of the State.
For upward of thirty years Mr. Greenleaf was called upon to preside over the deliberations of our town meetings, and in all matters favoring the prosperity of the town he took an active and responsible part.
Mr. Greenleaf was married on the 19th day of April, 1787, to Mary Deming Price, daughter of Ezekiel Price and Ruth Avery, sister of Secretary Avery, all of Boston. They lived together in a union of uninterrupted harmony and devoted attachment for the long period of nearly sixty-seven years. He died Jan. 5th, 1854, aged 86 years, 7 months and 21 days. Mrs. Greenleaf died Feb. 23d, 1856, aged 88 years, 8 months and 12 days.
John Hancock, the son of the Rev. John Hancock and Mary his wife, was born Jan. 12th, 1736-7, in the North Precinct of Braintree. His father was then the pastor of the First Church, and resided in a house that was located on a lot where the Adams Academy now stands, and always called the "Hancock Lot." His father died while he was quite young, and the youth- ful Hancock was adopted by his paternal uncle, of Boston, one of the most opulent merchants of the Colony. Under his care he received his education preparatory to entering college.
Mr. Hancock graduated at Harvard College in 1754, and at Yale in 1769. While in college he held a respectable rank as a scholar, but was in no wise distinguished; he gave little promise of the high eminence to which he afterwards achieved. On leaving college, he entered the counting-house of his uncle, and
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in 1760, made a tour to England for the purpose of a personal acquaintance with the distinguished merchants with whom his house was intimately engaged in business transactions. Shortly after his return from England, in 1764, his uncle died, and the nephew inherited this large mercantile business, as well as the princely fortune of his uncle, then considered the largest estate in the Province. This large fortune, together with an upright and honest character, gave him great influence and a high posi- tion in society.
In 1766, he was elected to the Provincial Legislature.1 This important event seems to have given direction to his future career, as he became associated with such patriots and strong opponents to the oppressive laws of the Home Government as Samuel Adams, Otis and others.
March 5th, 1774, he was called upon by the citizens of Boston to deliver the fourth consecutive address in commemoration of the Boston massacre, which was an able and eloquent produc- tion.2. When the time came for the great struggle between the Home Government and the Colonies, Mr. Hancock was found to
1. Gordon gives the following humorous account of the way in which Mr. Hancock first came to be elected to the House of Representatives :- "When the choice of members for Boston, to represent the Town in the next General Conrt was approaching, Mr. John Rowe, a merchant who had been active on the side of Liberty in matters of trade, was thought of by some influential persons. Mr. Samuel Adams artfully nominated a different one, by asking, with his eyes looking to Mr. Hancock's house, 'Is there not another John that may do bet- ter?' The hint took. Mr. John Hancock's uncle was dead, and had left him a very considerable fortune. Mr. Adams judged that the fortune would give credit and support to the cause of Liberty; the popularity would please the pos- sessor, and that he might be easily secured by prudent management and might make a conspicuous figure in the band of Patriots."
2. " The Saints professing loyalty and godliness at Boston, send us by every vessel from their port, accumulated proofs of their treasons and rebellions. That mighty wise patriot, Mr. John Hancock, from the Old South meeting- house, has lately repeated a hash of abusive treasonable stuff, composed for him by the joint efforts of the Rev. Divine, Samuel Cooper,-that Rose of Sharon, and by the very honest Samuel Adams, Clerk, Psalm-singer, purloiner and curer of bacon. This great and honorable master Hancock is very well known in London to many; indeed, unfortunately for them, too well known. When he was in London about twelve years ago, he was the laughing-stock and the contempt of all his acquaintances. 'He kept sneaking about the kitchen of his uncle's correspondent; drank tea every day with the housemaid, and on
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have arrayed himself on the side of the Americans. His high position and influence was such, that he was chosen a delegate to the first Provincial Congress, held at Concord, Mass., and was chosen its first president.
Mr. Hancock was also a member of the Continental Congress, held at Philadelphia, and was selected for its second president.
After the committee appointed had completed the draft of the Declaration of Independence, Mr. Hancock, with a clear, bold and steady hand, without a quiver, was the first to sign this in- strument declaring the " United Colonies should, and of a right ought to be, Free and Independent States."
In 1772, Mr. Hancock subscribed towards the erection of the second Brattle-street Church, £1000.
In 1775, Mr. Hancock married Miss Dorothy Quincy, daughter of the fourth Edmund Quincy, by whom he had an only son, which was named John George Washington Hancock. This son, at the early age of five years, was inoculated for the small-pox. So great was this event considered that Mr. Quincy thought it worthy of a letter.1 This only son met with a sudden and sad death while skating on the ice, Jan. 27th, 1787, at the age of
Sundays escorted her to White Conduit House, &c.' The temper and abilities of the rebellious Saints in Boston are easily discoverable in Hancock's oration who, at his delivery of it, was attended by most of His Majesty's Council, the majority of the House of Representatives, the Selectmen, Justices of the Peace, and the rest of the rebellious herd of Calves, Asses, Knaves and Fools, which compose the Faction."-Drake's Antiquities of Boston, p. 720.
1.
" BOSTON, Sept. 25th, 1783.
Mrs. Hancock, Point Shirley :-
DEAR DAUGHTER HANCOCK: I have only time to give you joy as to your Son's courage expressed at ye time of inoculation and to tell you that we've great reason to be confident (according to the Common course of Success, which the practitioners here and abroad have met with, especially in such young patients) that your Son will do well, as hear all without exception have done, under ye distemper heretofore inoculated; a very happy remedy which, through the Goodness of Divine Providence, the world is favored with. Still more happy the world will be if mankind should prove obedientially grateful, instead of being careless, under the blessings conferred upon them. I hope soon to hear the Symptoms upon a prospect of eruption are favorable, and with my most devont wishes of a Favorable Issue, I remain, Dear daughter,
Your Most Affectionate Father,
-Hist. Gen. Reg., Vol. XV, p. 61.
EDMUND QUINCY."
i
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nine years. Mrs. Hancock was married at the age of twenty- four, and filled her illustrious position with great dignity, and dispensed with queenly grace the hospitalities of her house.
So obnoxious was Mr. Hancock and Samuel Adams to the parent government, that Gage, while governor of the Province, issued a proclamation offering a general pardon to all who would proselyte themselves to the royal authority, excepting Hancock and Adams. Mr. Hancock held the distinguished position as president of the Continental Congress until October, 1777, when he was obliged to resign on account of ill-health.
When the Constitution of Massachusetts was adopted, Mr. Hancock was elected its first governor, in 1780, to which office he was annually chosen until 1785, when his health again prov- ing poor, he was obliged to resign. Subsequently, after a rest of two years from the tedious and constant labors of public duties, he was again called to the gubernatorial chair in 1787, where he continued to serve until the 8th of October, 1793, when he died at the age of fifty-five years. Mrs. Hancock sub- sequently married a Mr. Scott.
Thus lived and died one of the noblest men of the American Revolution of 1776, who sacrificed his health, life and property to secure the independence of the United States. "Full justice was done to his memory, at his death, in the expressions of grief and affection which were offered over this patriot's remains by multitudes who thronged his stone mansion house on Beacon street, while his body lay in state, and who followed all that was mortal to the grave."
Gov. Hancock was a strong defender of the doctrine of State rights, and considered the State sovereign to the United States; which doctrine was exemplified in the reception that was given Gen. Washington on his visit to Boston in 1789,1 and also, “in
1. " It is well known that when Washington, 'with a mind oppressed with more painful sensations than he had words to express,' accepted the presidency, and undertook the more difficult task of guiding in peace the nation which he had saved in war, he thought it a proper expression of his respect to the nation to take the tour of the country.
" Wherever he came, he was received with every mark of honour and regard that a grateful and confiding people could bestow.
"Mr. Hancock was willing to show him attention in any way which allowed
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one of his last acts as governor when he supported in a dignified manner the sovereignty of the individual States. By a process commenced against Massachusetts in favor of William Vassal, Esq., he was summoned by a writ to answer to the prosecution in the Court of the United States. But he declined the smallest concession which might lessen the independence of the State, whose interests were intrusted to his care, and he supported his opinion with firmness and dignity."
Henry Hope, a member of an eminent banking house of Am-
the governor to take precedence of the president. The State, though confeder- ate, was sovereign, and who greater here than its chief magistrate? So it was settled in his mind that etiquette required his excellency to be waited on first in his own honse by the president, and not make the advance to his illustrious visitor. The president, as appeared in the result, had different ideas.
"On Gen. Washington's approach to Boston, at some miles distance, he was met by the governor's suite, and an invitation to dinner, but no governor. He means to present himself, thought Gen. Washington, at the suburbs. But on arriving at the Neck, he still missed the chief magistrate. He passed the long procession and reached the entrance of the State House-but no governor. He stopped and demanded of the secretary, if his excellency was above, because if he were, he should not ascend the stairs. Upon being assured that he was not, he ascended, saw the procession pass, and then went to his lodgings.
" A message came from the governor that dinner was waiting; the president answered by declining the invitation, and dined at home. Loud expressions of resentment were heard from all quarters at this slight offered the first of men, whom the town had received on their part with every possible celebration. They had not added an entertainment to their plan, because this was claimed by the governor. In the evening, two of the council came to the president with explanations and apologies in behalf of the chief magistrate; 'he was not well,' &c. 'Gentlemen,' said Gen. Washington, 'I am a frank man, and will be frank on this occasion. For myself, you will believe me, I do not regard ceremony; but there is an etiquette due to my office which I am not at liberty to waive. My claim to the attention that has been omitted rests upon the ques- tion, whether the whole is greater than a part. I am told,' said he, 'that the course taken has been designed, and that the subject was considered in coun- cil.' This was denied. One gentleman said, however, 'it was observed that the president of the United States was one personage and the ambassador of the French republic another personage.' 'Why that remark, sir, if the subject was not before the council?' He added, 'This circumstance has been so disa- greeable and mortifying that I must say, notwithstanding all the marks of respect and affection received from the inhabitants of Boston, had I anticipa- ted it, I would have avoided the place.' The next day the governor called on the president, and the latter returned the attention, and so intercourse was opened."
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sterdam, Holland, was born in Boston, in 1736. His mother, (whose maiden name was Willard), was a native of Braintree, now Quincy, and with her husband, was lost at sea while on a voyage to Europe. Mr. Hope, a poor boy, after residing in Quin- cy some years, went to London and entered a counting house. In 1760, he became a partner with his uncle in the great banking house at Amsterdam, which at one time wielded the destinies of continental Europe. Mr. Hope descended from a shrewd Scotch family, and at the death of his uncle in 1781, became the head of this large house. He associated with him in business the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, who married for his first wife a daugh- ter of Sir Henry Barings, the English banker. Mr. Labouchere was one of the most active partners of the house of Hope. His connection by marriage with this great English house enabled hin at times when there was a great call for money by Russia, Holland or Spain, to readily supply their financial demands, and with the exception of the Rothchilds, they became the largest banking house on the Continent of Europe. Hope certificates, as their stocks were called, were well known throughout Europe. So reliable and well-established had their house become that their stocks were in great demand.1 This Dutch house supplied
1. " The good faith was maintained until about the middle of the last cen- tury, when the managers secretly lent a part of their bullion to the East India Company and Government. The usual oaths of office were taken by a relig- ious magistrate, or rather by the magistrate of a religious community, that all was safe. The good people of Holland believed as an article of their creed, that every florin which circulated as bank money had its metallic constituent in the treasury of the bank, sealed up securely by oaths, honesty and good policy. This blind confidence was dissipated in December, 1790, by a declaration of that bank, that it would reclaim 10 per cent. of all deposits, and would return none of a less amount than 2,500 florins. Even this was submitted to, and for- given. But four years afterwards on the invasion of France, the Bauk of Holland was obliged to declare that it had advanced to the State of Holland and West Friesland and the East India Company, more than 10,500,000 florins, which sum it was of course unable to make up to the depositors, to whom, how. ever, it assigned its claims on the State and Company. Bank money which had previously borne an agio of 5 per cent. immediately fell to 16 below current money. This epoch marked the fall of an institution which had enjoyed an unlimited credit, and at one time controlled the money interests of Europe, as well as rendering great service to the State. The amount of treasury in the vaults of the Bank in 1775, was estimated by Mr. Hope at 35,000,000 florins."- Encyclopædia Britannica.
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the Russian Government with $35,000,000, as well as other Con- tinental powers with an equal amount, especially Spain, who, during her wars, was largely indebted to this banking house. Mr. Hope erected a splendid villa at a cost of $200,000, near Harlem, the Dutch city of the tulip mania, where 4600 florins was offered for one bulb, so great was the mania for this gandy flower. This villa of Mr. Hope's was sold to Louis Bonaparte, the father of Napolean III, who for years resided in it. After a long career of financial success, and having been banqueted by the principal crowned heads of Europe, Mr. Hope died Feb. 25th, 1811, aged 75.
Samuel Nightingale was born in Braintree, and graduated at Harvard College in 1734. He died in 1786, highly respected, having been Judge of one of the Courts of Rhode Island, and also Lieutenant-Governor of that State.
Joseph Pearse Palmer, son of Gen. Joseph Palmer, was born in Braintree, and graduated at Harvard College in 1771, and died 1797. He was one of the party, at the beginning of the Revolutionary struggle, who was engaged in throwing the tea overboard in Boston harbor.1
Edmund Quincy came from England with the Rev. John Cotton, flying from civil and religious persecution, so vigor- ously enforced in the reign of Charles I. He arrived in Bos- ton Sept. 4th, 1633, and was made freeman in 1633-4. The town of Boston selected him in May, 1634, as one of her first Representatives to the first Colonial General Court, and he was appointed one of a committee to purchase the peninsula of Shawmut of Mr. Blaxton. He was among the first to receive a grant of land at Mount Wollaston, from Boston. Soon after receiving this grant he died, at the early age of 33 years.2
1. See works of Samuel Adams, by William V. Wells, Vol. II, pp. 121 to 124, where a graphic account is given of this Revolutionary incident.
2. Edmund Quincy of Wigsthorpe, Northamptonshire, married Ann Palm- er, Oct. 14th, 1593. Their son Edmund was baptized May 30th, 1602. He married July 14th, 1623, Judith Pares, and lived on his estate at Achurch,
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Edmund Quincy, son of Edmund Quincy, was born in Eng- land in 1627. He inherited and settled on his father's estate at Mount Wollaston. The Colonial Government appointed him Magistrate of the County, and he also received a commission as Lieutenant of the Suffolk regiment; he was one of the military committee for the town of Braintree. He died in 1697-8, aged about 70 years. The Court appointed him one of the committee to establish and verify the charges against Sir Edmund Andros, in April, 1689, and one of the Council of Safety for the preser- vation of the peace.1
" Edmund Quincy, the youngest son of Edmund Quincy, was born in Braintree, in Oct., 1681, graduated at Harvard Univer-
near Wigsthorpe. He here was living in 1627, when the following curious entry shows he had become a Puritan :- "1627, Mar. 15th, a child of Edmund Quincy baptized elsewhere and not in our Parish Church." The faulty state of the Public Records in this Country, prevent our tracing the family to an earlier date, but we note that the arms of Edmund Quincy are the same as those of De Quincy, second Earl of Winchester. Edmund and Judith Quincy, came from England with Rev. John Cotton, and arrived in Boston, Sept. 4th, 1633. - Hist. Gen. Register, Vol. XI, p. 71.
1. Miss Eliza Susan Quincy, the historian of the family, relates the following in reference to the removal of the coat of arms and inscription on Mr. Edmund Quincy's tombstone, who died in 1697-8, and was buried in the old Hancock Cemetery :-
" The grave of Edmund Quincy, born in England 1627, was marked by a gran- ite stone, in which the inscription or arms were inserted, cut on lead, but in the Revolutionary war the lead was taken to run into bullets. The inscription would have been lost, but President John Adams recollected the monument before it was robbed of the lead, and identified it, as that of Edmund Quincy. A stone slab with his name and age has recently been cut and placed between the granite head and foot stone.
" The arms of Edmund Quincy cut in stone, were inserted in a table monn- ment over the tomb, made about 1700, by Judge Edmund Quincy. These were thought to have been of lead, and broken at the same time the other monuments were robbed, but when the mistake was discovered they were left in a fractured state. They were removed and placed together, and the original coat of arms copied, and is still in possession of the family."
The arms for 150 years after the emigration of Edmund Quincy in 1633, were considered a sufficient mark of the ownership without name or cypher, and were engraved on a silver cup bequeathed to the First Church of Braintree, (now the Unitarian,) by Edmund Quincy who died in 1697-8.
When Mr. Lunt wrote his Centennial sermon, the giver of the plate was not known, the arms being forgotten, and an inscription was added.
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sity in 1699, and entered early into public life as Representative of his native town, and afterwards as member of the Executive Council. He held the commission of Judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony from the year 1718 to his death. He was appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts their agent at the Court of Great Britain, to settle a controversy between the Province of Massachusetts Bay and that of New Hampshire, relative to their respective boundary lines. In December, 1737, he embarked for England on that mission. He died in London, of small pox, Feb. 23d, 1738. Besides a dona- tion of one thousand acres of land to his heirs, in the town of Lenox, in the County of Berkshire, the Colony caused a monu- ment to be erected over his grave in Bunhill Fields,1 London, at their expense."
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