History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637-1888, Vol. I, Part 45

Author: Roberts, Oliver Ayer
Publication date: 1895-1901
Publisher: Boston, A. Mudge & son, printers
Number of Pages: 602


USA > Massachusetts > History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637-1888, Vol. I > Part 45


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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1696-7. The officers elected were : Bozoun Allen (1676), captain ; Henry Deering (1682), lieutenant ; John Barnard (1677), ensign. Timothy Wadsworth (1691) was first sergeant ; Thomas Baker (1694), second sergeant ; William Paine (1691), third sergeant ; John Kilby (1691), fourth sergeant ; William Robie (1684), clerk; Robert Cumby (1691), clerk's assistant, and Samuel Marion (1691), drummer.


England and France continued at war. Each desired a complete conquest of the American continent. The French in Canada believed that the English would send a fleet against them to retrieve the misfortune of 1690, and intelligence came to Massa- chusetts that a French fleet was destined to make an attack on the province, and especially on Boston. This caused great alarm, but the projected expedition was not prosecuted. The fortifications of Boston were examined, and found to be " very much out of repair, and unfit for service." Therefore it was advised that the platforms and carriages for the great artillery be repaired, "so as they may be of service in case of invasion."


Col. Samuel Shrimpton (1670), Lieut .- Col. Hutchinson (1670), and Major Penn Townsend (1674), with the selectmen, six out of nine of whom were members of the Artillery Company, were appointed a committee "to make application unto the com- mander-in-chief for directions that the said platforms and carriages be speedily repaired, and fitted to be of service."


The three members of the Artillery Company above named were, in the following March, appointed to " examine after the town's powder that is lost," and fix the wages of the gunner. Subsequently, the town voted that William Tilley (1706) "should be allowed 2old per year for his service as gunner to the town, for 3 years past."


The members recruited in 1696 were : William Crow and Seth Smith.


William Crow (1696) was of Boston in 1691. He was married by Simon Brad- street, Governor, to Eliza Sergeant, Dec. 10, 1691, and they had four children born in Boston, prior to 1700. He held a town office in 1702.


Seth Smith (1696), of Boston in 1693, was born in 1665, and was married, Jan. 10, 1693, by Rev. Cotton Mather, to Mehitable Heath. Four children were born to them in Boston. He held town office in 1696 and 1697, in 1704 and 1705, and was also a tithing-man in 1696. In 1707-8, he occupied a house belonging to the town, situated on Beacon Street, at " whetcombs corner." He died Nov. 29, 1721, aged fifty-six years.


3II


HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.


1697-8]


Rev. Michael Wigglesworth,1 of Malden, delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1696. He was an only son of Edward Wigglesworth, of New Haven, and was born in England, Oct. 28, 163r. He received his first training in study under the direction of the famous Ezekiel Cheever, of Boston, and entered Harvard College in 1647. During his residence at college, Henry Dunster (1640), noted for his erudition and disci- pline, was its president. In 165r, he graduated, and was soon after appointed a tutor in the college. He was ordained at Malden in 1654, but after preaching a few years, his health failing, he was forced to relinquish the care of a church. During the twenty following years he practised as a physician, when, his health being restored, he resumed ministerial labors. He delivered the election sermon of 1686, and the Artillery election sermon of 1696, but is especially noted as being the author of a poem called " The Day of Doom." It was first printed in 1662, and the sixth edition appeared in 1716. It was twice reprinted in England. " The poem is of no value as poetry ; . . . it is a description of the Day of Judgment in coarse, realistic strokes." 2


He died on Sunday morning, June ro, 1705, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, after a career of great usefulness and honor.


1697-8 The officers elected were: Elisha Hutchinson (1670), captain ; John Ballentine (1682), lieutenant ; Samuel Johnson (1675), ensign. Thomas Cushing (1691) was first sergeant ; Richard Gridley (1695), second sergeant ; George Robinson (1694), third sergeant ; Joseph Allen (1694), fourth sergeant ; Robert Gibbs (1692), clerk; Robert Cumby (1691), clerk's assistant, and Samuel Marion (1691), drummer.


The war was terminated by the treaty of Ryswick, and King William saw his efforts to arrest the progress of French conquests attended with complete success. The treaty was made Dec. 10, 1697, but, during the year of 1697, the records are redundant with " fortifications," " repairs," " batteries," "powder," etc., showing the earnestness and patriotism of the people. Prominent in every public work, and watchful for the interests of the town, were the leading members of the Artillery Company. Three of the four representatives to the General Court, six out of ten of the selectmen, all the members of the various committees whose duty it was to repair defences and provide necessary military supplies, were members of the Artillery Company.


The members recruited in r697 were : John Mountfort and Zechariah Tuttle.


Rev. Michael Wigglesworth. AUTHORITIES : New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1847, 1863; Eliot's Biog. Dict .; Sprague's Annals of American Pulpit; Sibley's Harvard Graduates.


" [1697] Second-day, Apr. 5th. No Artillery Training, and consequently no choice of a Minister as usual. Last night and this morning were very cold, possibly that might be the reason. Street of earth and water was hard frozen." - Sewall Papers, Vol. I., p. 451.


"Second-day, April 12, 1697. . . . This day Artillery meets; chuse." - Sewall Papers, Vol. I., P. 452.


1 " Second-day June 1, 1696, Mr. Wigglesworth


preaches the Artillery Sermon, from Ephes. 6, 11. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. In the Applications, said 't was necessary we should doe so by reason of the evil of the Times or else of Popery, or something as bad as Popery should come to be set up, what should we doe? Mentioned Rev. 16, 15 said the Garments there and Armour in the Text were the same. About Dincr Time the Guns were fired at the Castle and Battery for joy that the Plot was discovered." - Sewall Papers, Vol. I., p. 427.


2 Prof. Charles E. Norton, at Hingham, August, ISSI.


312


HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND


[1697-8


John Mountfort (1697), cooper, fourth son of Edmund, and nephew of Benjamin (1679), was born in Boston, Feb. 8, 1670. On the 17th of January, 1693, he married Mary Cock, granddaughter of Nicholas Upshall (1637). He was the owner of " Mount- fort's Wharf," so called, and was engaged in the West India business, connected with which he had an extensive store and cooperage establishment. He died on the 23d of January, 1723, and was interred in the Mountfort tomb, No. 17, Copp's Hill Burial- Ground. This tomb was built by him in 1711.


John Mountfort (1697) was great-grandfather of Major Napoleon B. Mountfort (1826).


Zechariah Tuttle (1697), of Boston, called "Captain," son of John and Mary Tuttle, and grandson of Lieut. John (1644), was born in 1669. His name is spelled Tuthill, and is so written in his will.


He served as constable of Boston in 1698, and was one of the twenty persons, called " undertakers," to whom, in 1698, Thomas Brattle (1675) conveyed the lot upon which the Brattle Street meeting-house was erected in 1698. He was captain of a military company in Boston in 1707 and 1708. He died Jan. 7, 1721, aged fifty-two years. His will, dated Jan. 3, 1721, was proved on the 5th of February following. He was ensign of the Artillery Company in 1700, and lieutenant in 1702.


Capt. Zechariah Tuttle (1697) was commander of the Castle in 1711, when the armament, consisting of fifteen ships of war, with forty transports and six store-ships, under the command of Gen. Hill and Admiral Walker, arrived in Boston Harbor. When Gen. Hill arrived, Hon. Samuel Sewall (1679) was sent down the harbor to meet him. The party came in boats to the Castle, when Capt. Tuttle (1697) saluted them with twenty-one guns. Thence they proceeded to the council chamber in Boston, after which Gen. Hill was entertained by Mr. John Borland (1692).


Capt. Tuttle (1697) was commander of the Castle from Jan. 16, 1710, to Nov. 28, 1720. Mr. Drake is in error in making John Larrabee commander from 1712 to 1762. He became lieutenant of the Castle, June 16, 1725, and was only a quarter-gunner in November, 1720.


Capt. Tuttle's (1697) sister, "Sarah, was wife of James Gooch, and Mary was the wife of Deacon Thomas Hubbard."


John Mountfort (1697). AUTHORITY : Copp's Hill Burial-Ground, by Bridgman.


" 1693-4, Jan. 17. This day John Mountfort [1697] marries Mr. Bridgham's wives Daughter." - Sewall's Diary, Vol. I., p. 388.


Zechariah Tuttle (1697). AUTHORITY : New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1868.


" [1698-9] 2d Day, Jan 2. I speak to Mr. Mico about S M. at his house, largely about Capt Tuttle. Saith he never heard any ill of him, in answer to my asking if he had any blot. Saith knows not his estate but thinks it may be about 6 or 700 f. . . . Jan. -. at night Capt Tuthill comes to speak with Betty, who bid her self all alone in the coach for several hours till he was gon, so that we sought at several houses, till at last came in of her self, and look'd very wild. . . . Jan 9. speaks with her in my presence. . . . Jan 10 at night sent Mr. Tuthill away, because company was here, and told him was willing to know her mind better." - Sewall Papers, Vol. I., PP. 490-492.


" June 5, 1699. . . . M. T. [Mr. Tuttle ] Wednes- day nights." - Sewall Papers, Vol. I., p. 498.


In October following, " Betty " Sewall accepted the attentions of Grove Hirst, whom she after- wards married, and Mr. Tuttle's advances were rejected.


The following appeared in the News-Letter, Jan. 15, 1722: "Boston, On the Lord's Day Night, the 7th instant, Died here Capt. Zechariah Tuthill, aged 52 years. He was a Gentleman entirely and universally esteemed of, and favoured by, ali De- grees of People, both High and Low that Knew him, being one of a Just, Affable, Courteous, and Generous Spirit : Adorning the Post he sustained, as Captain of His Majesty's Castle William (the chief Fort of this Province) for about 10 Years past : The duty whereof he singularly and diligently at- tended to and carefully and faithfully discharged, to the General content and satisfaction, both of the Government, his Superior Officers and Soldiers, as well as the Inhabitants, and therefore being greatly beloved by all in his Life, he is now as much lamented in his Death. fle was Honourably In- terred on Thursday last the 11th current."


313


HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.


1698-9]


Rev. Nehemiah Walter, of Roxbury, delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1697. He was a brother of Thomas, of Roxbury, and was born in Ireland. Tradition, according to Mr. Savage, says " he was sent by his father to be apprentice to an uphol- sterer in Boston in 1674"; but, having been trained in one of the best schools in Ireland, he was enabled to graduate at Harvard College in 1684. At thirteen, he could converse fluently in Latin. Later, while sojourning in Nova Scotia, he gained such mastery of the French language as enabled him to preach occasionally, in the absence of their pastor, to the French congregation in Boston, in their own tongue.1 He was ordained, Oct. 17, 1688, as colleague with Rev. John Eliot, pastor of the Roxbury church.


He married, in 1691, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Increase Mather, and sister of Rev. Cotton Mather.


The pastorates of Rev. John Eliot and Rev. Nehemiah Walter extended over a period of one hundred and eighteen years. The latter died Sept. 17, 1750, at the age of eighty-seven years.


In 1721, Rev. Mr. Walter published a small volume, entitled " The Grounds and Rules of Music explained ; or, An Introduction to the Art of Singing by Note. Fitted to the meanest Capacity." It ran through several editions prior to 1764. Rev. Cotton Mather preached a commemorative discourse concerning Rev. Mr. Walter, which was printed under the title, "A Good Reward of a Good Servant."


1698-9.


The officers elected were : Penn Townsend (1674), captain ; Thomas Hunt (1685), lieutenant ; Samuel Marshall (1685), ensign.


was first sergeant ; Thomas Hutchinson (1694), second sergeant ; Adam Winthrop (1692), third sergeant ; Anthony Checkley, Jr. (1695), fourth sergeant ; Robert Gibbs (1692), clerk, and Samuel Marion (1691), drummer.


Rev. Cotton Mather, in his Boston lecture, May 7, 1698, said, " The small-pox has four times been a great plague upon us. In one twelvemonth about one thousand of our neighbors have, one way or other, been carried unto their long home ; and yet we are, after all, many more than seven thousand souls of us at this hour living on the spot. Ten times has the fire made notable ruins among us, and our good servant been almost our master ; but the ruins have mostly and quickly been rebuilt. I suppose that many more than a thousand houses are to be seen on this little piece of ground, all filled with the undeserved favors of God." 2


The members recruited in 1698 were : David Buckley, John Cotta, Jr., Benjamin Emmons, Jr., and John Noyes.


David Buckley (1698) was of Boston in 1697. He was married to Hannah Tally, by Rev. Cotton Mather, June 3, 1697.


John Cotta, Jr. (1698), hatter, of Boston, son of John Cotta (1679), tailor, of Boston, was born Nov. 23, 1671, and married, May 4, 1698, Sarah, daughter of Richard Wharton, son-in-law of Capt. William Tyng ( 1638). In the administration of his estate,


Rev. Nehemiah Walter. AUTHORITIES: New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1853; Sprague's Annals of American Pulpit; Eliot's Biog. Dict.


John Cotta, Jr. (1698.) AUTHORITY : Boston Records.


1 Drake's Hist. of Roxbury, p. 172.


2 Mather's Magnalia, Ed. 1855, Vol. I., p. 92.


314


HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND


[1698-9


June 17, 1728, he is called " felt-maker." He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Com- pany in 1705, and clerk of the market in 1706.


July 10, 1722, "John & Sarah Cotta in Cornhill " were approved and recommended by the selectmen as retailers of strong drink, and July 5, 1728, the license was granted to "Sarah Cotta in Corn Hill."


John Cotta (1698) died June 9, 1728, aged fifty-six years.


Benjamin Emmons, Jr. (1698), trader, of Boston, son of Benjamin and Mary Emmons, was born Jan. 24, 1669, and by wife, Elizabeth, had two daughters born in Boston. He became a member of the Old South, March 27, 1698. He was a tithing- man and member of the Boston militia in 1704, and for several years held town offices. He was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1708, and its ensign in 1721. His will was proved Aug. 17, 1752.


John Noyes (1698), of Boston, son of John Noyes (1676), and brother of Capt. Oliver Noyes (1699), was born Nov. 4, 1674, and married, March 16, 1699, Susanna Edwards. His mother, wife of John Noyes (1676), was Sarah, daughter of Capt. Peter Oliver (1643). John, Jr. (1698), was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1699, and its ensign in 1704. In 1704, he was elected a constable of Boston, but declined to serve, and paid the usual fine for not serving.


Administration was granted on his estate, Aug. 15, 1749.


The first regular record remaining of the proceedings of the Military Company of the Massachusetts is dated April 4, 1698, all previous to that date having been lost. Recorded, however, in the same book, are the names of the members from the organi- zation of the Company, and also the names of the officers elected and appointed for each year. From the above-mentioned date the records are complete, except 1775-85.


The first record is as follows: " April 4, 1698. The Artillery Company met and chose the Rev. Mr. Joseph Belcher to preach the next election sermon, and desired Lt Col'n Hutchinson [1670], Lt John Ballentine [1682] and Lt. Samuel Johnson [1675] to request him to preach it. Accepted by him."


The next record is : "June 6, 1698. The Rev. Mr. Belcher preached from Ist Cor. ix. 26. 27."


Rev. Joseph Belcher, of Dedham, delivered the election sermon of the Artillery Company in 1698. He was a son of John and Rebecca Belcher, of Braintree ; was born May 14, 1671, and graduated at Harvard College in 1690. He was invited by the church and town of Dedham to be minister there at a salary of sixty pounds, to be increased to one hundred pounds per annum. Mr. Belcher was ordained Nov. 29, 1693. The last sermon was delivered by him Aug. 30, 1721, between which time and Dec. 28 following he had an attack of paralysis, from which he died at Roxbury, April 27, 1723, and was buried at Dedham.


Benjamin Emmons, Jr. (1698.) AUTHORI- TIES: Boston Records; Whitman's Hist. A. and II. A. Company, Ed. 1842.


John Noyes (1698). AUTHORITIES: Savage's Gen. Dict .; Boston Records; Whitman's Ilist. A. and 11. A. Company, Ed. 1842.


Rev. Joseph Belcher. AUTHORITIES : Cent. Dis., by Mr. Lamson, Dedham; Eliot's Biog. Dict .; Sprague's Annals of American Pulpit; Records of Dedham.


John galloy


315


HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.


1699-1700]


" Mr. Belcher," says his immediate successor, " lived much desired and died greatly lamented in the fifty-third year of his age and thirtieth of his ministry." Rev. Cotton Mather, who paid a tribute to his memory, May 2, 1723, says, "Mr. Belcher ranked . high in the estimation of those who knew him. He was greatly admired and followed. He lived what he spoke and did what he taught."


The officers elected were : John Walley (1671), captain ; 1699-1700. Nathaniel Byfield (1679), lieutenant; Thomas Hutchinson (1694), ensign. Samuel Phillips (1693) was first sergeant ; William Griggs (1675), second sergeant ; Joseph Belknap, Jr. (1692), third sergeant ; John Noyes (1698), fourth sergeant ; Robert Gibbs (1692), clerk, and Samuel Marion (1691), drummer.


The first steps toward the formation of the Brattle Street Church were taken in 1697. Thomas Brattle (1675) conveyed the land for the meeting-house, Jan. 10, 1698. The number of persons or "undertakers" interested in the conveyance was twenty, of whom the following were members of the Artillery Company : Thomas Clarke (1685), John Mico (1702), Benjamin Davis (1673), Timothy Clarke (1702), William Keen (1692), Zechariah Tuttle (1697), Thomas Palmer (1702), Joseph Allen (1694), John Kilby (1691), and Addington Davenport (1692). A church was established, a meeting- house built, and Rev. Benjamin Colman, a native of Boston, was called to the pastorate. He accepted, and, arriving home from England the first of November, 1699, preached the first sermon in the new meeting-house, Dec. 24, 1699. Thomas Brattle (1675) was elected a deacon of this church in 1699; Benjamin Davis (1673) in 1699 ; John Kilby (1691) in 1701, and John Phillips (1725) in 1729. The old or first meeting-house of Brattle Street Church was built of wood, and was "never painted." It stood until 1772, when it was decided to erect a new building, the corner-stone of which was laid June 23, 1772.


John Marshall, " a mason of Braintree," recorded in his valuable diary, under date of May 26, 1699 : "Great expectations we had of his excellency Richard earl of Bello- mont ; and great preperations to entertain him; who came to Boston on Fryday the 26 of this May; and to receive him ther was I think twenty companys of souldiers, of which 3 weer troops, and such a vast concourse of people as my poor eyes never saw the like before ; the life-guard went to' Roadisland to wait on him ; two troops went to Dedham to meet him their; and when he came to Boston we made a guard from the end of the towne to the South meeting-house. The lifeguard rode foremost then came some oficers ; next his Lordship and Countess, then the troops and other gentlemen ; the drums beat, the trumpets did sound, the Coullors weer displayed ; the Cannons and ordinance from the ships and fortifications did roar ; all manner of expressions of joy ; and to end all Fireworks and good drink at night."


The members recruited in 1699 were : John Adams, Henry Bridgham, Charles Chauncy, William Clark, Elisha Cooke, Jr., John Edwards, Samuel Gaskell, Jr., Samuel Keeling, Oliver Noyes, Edward Proctor, Richard Proctor, Joseph Russell, Thomas Sandford, Habijah Savage, John Wharton.


316


HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND


[1699-1700


John Adams (1699), maltster, of Boston, son of Alexander Adams (1652), a ship- wright, of Boston, was born Feb. 26, 1653. He was a constable of Boston in 1699, and a tithing-man in 1704. He became a member of the Old South Church, March 24, 1700, and, Mr. Whitman (1810) says, "died about 1702."


Henry Bridgham (1699), tanner, of Boston, son of Joseph Bridgham (1674), nephew of Jonathan (1673), and grandson of Henry (1644), was born Dec. 16, 1676. He was an officer of the Boston militia, and, Oct. 3, 1703, became a member of the Old South Church. He was a tithing-man in 1703; clerk of the market in 1704, and constable in 1706; also third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1704 ; first sergeant in 1709, and clerk of the Company from 1707 to 1709. He died April 10, 1720, aged forty-four years, and was " buried April 14."


Charles Chauncy (1699), merchant, of Boston, was a son of Isaac and grandson of Charles Chauncy, president of Harvard College, who succeeded in that office Henry Dunster (1640), in 1654. Charles Chauncy (1699) was born in England, but came to America, and married Sarah, daughter of Hon. John Walley (1671). They had four children, the eldest of whom was Charles, who graduated at Harvard College in 1721. Mr. Savage calls him "one of the ablest divines Boston ever saw." He delivered the Artillery election sermon in 1734.


Charles Chauncy (1699) was an officer in the Boston militia, and a member of the Old South Church. He served the town as constable in 1702, and overseer of the poor in 1709 and 1710, and until his decease, in 1711. On the ninth day of May, 1711, the inhabitants voted in town meeting that "Mr. Anthony Stoddard is chosen to serve as overseer of the poor in the room of Mr. Charles Chauncy [1699] deceased." Adminis- tration on his estate was granted March 26, 1712.


He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1701.


William Clark (1699), merchant, of Boston, son of John Clark, M. D., of Boston, and brother of Hon. John Clark, speaker of the House, etc., was born in Boston, Dec. 19, 1670. He married Sarah Brondson, May 14, 1702, by whom he had two sons, Robert and Benjamin (1733), and three daughters. He lived in Clark Square, in a house afterward owned and occupied by Sir Henry Frankland, collector of customs. William Clark (1699) died in July, 1742.


He held several minor town offices, as constable in 1700; overseer of the poor in 1704-but declined that office in 1705; tithing-man in 1713, 1715, and 1718; was


John Adams (1699). AUTHORITIES: Boston Records; Savage's Gen. Dict.


"John Adams [1699]. This is probably the man of whose death in November, 1702, Judge Sewall [1679] twice speaks. Nov. 2, ' John Adams, a very good man ' dies of the small-pox. Dec. S, . .. ' the death of Jno Adams . . . is a great stroke to our church and congregation.'" - Ilist. Cat. of Old South Church, ISS3.


Henry Bridgham (1699). AUTHORITIES : Boston Records; Whitman's Ilist. A. and IT. A. Company, Ed. 1842.


Charles Chauncy (1699). AUTHORITIES: Savage's Gen. Dict .; Boston Records; Whitman's llist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842.


"[1711] Friday, May 4 Mr. Charles Chauncy dies. . . . May 7, 1711, Mr Chauncy buried." - Sewall Papers, Vol. II., p. 308.


William Clark (1699). AUTHORITIES: Bos- ton Records; Mass. Records; Descendants of 1Iugh Clark; Whitman's Hist. A. and II. A. Company, Ed. 1842.


" Last Saturday died here the IIonorable Wil- liam Clark Esq who has been one of the most con- siderable Merchants in this Town, and has formerly served as a Representative for the Town in the General Court, and was for some years one of the Members of his Majestys Council." - The Boston Weekly News-Letter, July, 1742.


.


317


HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.


1699-1700]


one of a committee to consult for the common good in 1719 ; and was, also, selectman of Boston from 1719 to 1723, and representative to the General Court, 1719-22, 1724, and 1725.


Mr. Whitman (1810) says, "In 1721 there was some difficulty between the Gov- ernor and council on one side and the House on the other, about appointing the annual day for Fast. Mr. Clark [1699], being a representative, carried his opposition so far that he 'would not attend public worship, but opened his warehouse, as upon other days.' He was elected a member of the council in 1722, but he adhered so closely to Mr. Cooke's [1699] party, and had been so violently opposed to the Governor, that he negatived him; 'but did not serve his own interest, Mr. Clark's [1699] opposition being of greater consequence in the House.'"


He was a member of the Second Church, and was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1703 and 1706.


Elisha Cooke, Jr. (1699), lawyer, of Boston, was a son of Elisha, of Boston, a physician, but better known as a politician, and a grandson of Lieut. Richard Cooke (1643). He was, on his mother's side, a grandson of Gov. Leverett (1639), and was born Dec. 20, 1678. He graduated at Harvard College in 1697, and married, Jan. 7, 1703, Jane, daughter of Hon. Richard Middlecot, by whom he had one son, and a daughter, Mary, who married Judge Richard Saltonstall. He was active in town matters ; was selectman from 1719 to 1723, and representative to the General Court, 1714-6, 1719-23, and 1727-37.




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