USA > Massachusetts > History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637-1888, Vol. II > Part 38
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William Coolidge (1792), machinist, of Boston, son of John and Hannah Coolidge, was born in Boston, Jan. 5, 1730. He resided, in 1796, on Common Street.
Oliver Gridley (1792), of Boston, son of William and Lidia Gridley, of Roxbury, was born in that town, Dec. 5, 1767. He died at Providence, R. I., in 1831.
Records; Mass. Rev. Rolls.
William Bass ( 1792). AUTHORITIES: Boston Boston Records; Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842; Annals of Mass. Char. Mech. Humphrey Clark (1792). AUTHORITIES : Association.
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Robert Homes (1792), brass-founder, No. 33 Union Street, Boston, son of William Homes, Jr. (1766), grandson of William (1747) and father of Josiah W. (1822), was born in Boston. He was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1797. He received the Masonic degrees in Columbian Lodge, A. F. and A. M., in June and July, 1796.
John Howe, Jr. (1792), turner, of Boston, was a son of John (1773), and was born in 1764. His residence was No. 43 Charter Street. He learned the trade of a turner with his father, and later formed a partnership, under the name, " John Howe & Son." Their place of business was on Back, now Salem, Street. He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1797, and ensign in 1802. The original pillars of the State House, Boston, were turned under the direction of this firm. John, Jr. (1792), resided on the northerly corner of Hanover and Centre streets. His sister Harriet married Peter Conant, Jr. (1807).
Mr. Howe (1792) was a member of the city council of Boston from Ward 12 in 1822. For some years he held the office of surveyor of mahogany, etc. He died March 28, 1828, aged sixty-four years, after a lingering illness.
Jonathan Loring, Jr. (1792), housewright, of Boston, son of Jonathan and Susanna (Pierce) Loring, was born in 1767, probably in Marlboro, Mass. He was a nephew of Joseph (1788), and a cousin of Joseph Loring, Jr. (1793). His military service began in his youth, and was rewarded by promotion to a captaincy in the Boston regiment. He also served as fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1796, ensign in 1801, and lieutenant in 1807. His place of business was on Burditt's Wharf, and his residence in Sheafe's Lane. He was selectman of Boston in 1820 and 1821, and a member of the common council of that city in 1827. He represented Boston in the State Legislature, and joined the Lodge of St. Andrew, A. F. and A. M., in 1796.
He died at Boston, Aug. 29, 1834, aged sixty-seven years. His first wife, Polly Loring, died Oct. 4, 1792, in her twenty-fourth year, and was buried in King's Chapel Burial-Ground.
John S. Lowell (1792), merchant, of Boston. He never held any office in the Artillery Company. He became a member of The Massachusetts Lodge, A. F. and A. M., June 3, 1793. He died at Bombay in December, 1796, aged twenty-seven years.
George Makepeace, Jr. (1792), merchant, of Boston, only son of George Make- peace, of Boston, was born Aug. 26, 1767. He was a young man of great promise, and, being intended by his father for a mercantile life, his education was pursued to that end. He went on several voyages as supercargo in his father's vessels, and was very successful. About the time he joined the Artillery Company he was taken into partnership by his father, who was largely engaged in commercial business, trading principally with the West Indies.
In the summer of 1793, having made a voyage in one of their vessels to the West Indies, and was returning, he went into Philadelphia, where the yellow fever was raging with so great virulence that more than four thousand persons were carried off by it in the
John Howe, Jr. (1792). AUTHORITIES: Bos- ton Records; Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Com- pany, Ed. 1842; Columbian Centinel, March, 1828.
Jonathan Loring, Jr. (1792). AUTHORITY : Boston Records.
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months of August, September, and October of that year. He also fell a victim to this fatal disease, and died at Philadelphia, Sept. 22, 1793, aged twenty-six years and twenty- six days. He was never married.
Daniel Messinger (1792), hatter, of Boston, son of Daniel and Mary Messinger, of Wrentham, Norfolk County, Mass., was born in that town June 17, 1768. His brother Henry joined the Artillery Company in 1800. Daniel Messinger (1792), after leaving school, assisted his father on the farm until his fourteenth year, when he was apprenticed with his uncle, David Brastow, in his native town, to learn the hatter's trade. His uncle being unsuccessful in business, he was sent to Boston when about fifteen years of age, and was apprenticed to Nathaniel Balch, hatter, No. 72 Cornhill, now Washington Street, opposite the head of Water Street. Shortly after he completed his apprenticeship he began business for himself, and opened a store on Newbury, now Washington, Street, near the Lamb Tavern, now the site of the Adams House. In the twenty-fifth year of his age he married Susanna Hinckley, daughter of Capt. Thomas Hinckley by his wife Susanna, danghter of Rev. Daniel Hewes, of Foxboro. Susanna (Hinckley) Messinger died in 1843. In 1797, by the advice of his friend, Mr. John Avery, Jr. (1786), then secretary of the Commonwealth, he purchased the estate No. 15 Newbury Street, corner of Sheafe's Lane, now Avery Street, for one thousand pounds. Mr. Secretary Avery (1786) lived on the opposite corner. Here Mr. Messinger (1792) resided and kept his hat store. The latter was in the front of the house, and his parlor was in the rear of it, entered from Avery Street, until his business became so large that he built a brick factory in the rear of his dwelling-house. He resided here and carried on business until the decease of his wife.
In military affairs he took a great interest, and was a good officer and disciplinarian. In 1779 he raised the well-known infantry company, the Winslow Blues, named for his friend, Gen. John Winslow (1786), and was its first commander. He held this office for several years. Upon the organization of the infantry companies of Boston into a sub- legion, in 1806, he was elected first major. He was afterwards lieutenant-colonel, and, later, colonel of the Third Regiment, and was senior colonel of the Boston brigade during the war of 1812. He was chosen a brigadier-general, but declined accepting the office. For years he was very active in all matters pertaining to the Ancient and Hon- orable Artillery Company. He was its first sergeant in 1796, lientenant in 1800, and its captain in 1804 and 1810. His last military parade was on the two hundredth anniver- sary of the Company (1838), when he marched in the ranks as an artilleryman.
He was an original member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association . in 1795, was for several years a trustee and vice-president, and for two years was its president. He filled various offices in the municipal and State governments, was a fire- ward for many years, and a member of the city council ; often a member of the House of Representatives, in 1820 a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Conven- tion, and in 1835 a senator from Suffolk County. In politics, he belonged to the old Federal party, and often presided at public meetings. Afterwards he became attached to the National Republican, or Whig, party. His last appearance at a public meeting was in Faneuil Hall in 1845, when Daniel Webster, of whom he was a great admirer,
Daniel Messinger (1792). AUTHORITIES: pany, Ed. 1842; New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., Boston Records; Annals of Mass. Char. Mech. 1862.
Association; Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Com-
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spoke. Mr. Webster, on seeing him on the platform, came forward and greeted him so cordially as his "old friend, Col. Messinger [1792]," as to attract the attention and elicit the applause of the citizens in that part of the Hall.
Mr. Messinger (1792) first attended the First Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Stillman, pastor, but afterwards became a member of the First Congregational Church, with which he was connected until his decease. For many years he was the leader of the choir in the Congregational church. "He had a fine musical ear and as fine a voice, and could sound the highest notes on the treble staff with remarkable strength and clearness." He was often invited to sing on public festive occasions, and Faneuil Hall has many a time been filled with the melody of his notes. His favorite songs were : "My friend and Pitcher," "Green grow the Rushes, Oh !" " Bright Phœbus," "To-morrow, to-morrow," and "The Downhill of Life." When over seventy years of age, he sang without any apparent diminution of strength, clearness, or sweetness. An amusing incident occurred at a dinner given Prince Jerome Bonaparte in 1804. After dinner, Col. Messinger (1792) sang the favorite old song, " To-morrow." As the audience joined in the chorus of "To-morrow, to-morrow," a cloud came over the face of the prince, and taking his next neighbor by the arm, he exclaimed : "To Moreau, to Moreau ! Is it a song in honor of Gen. Moreau?" He was quickly undeceived, and smiled when he found no one but himself was thinking of the great rival of his brother.
Mr. Messinger (1792) was, by nature, of a very strong constitution. His death was hastened by being accidentally knocked down by an express wagon while he was crossing the street. From the effects of this shock he never recovered, it being followed by a sickness of seven months, ending in a severe attack of erysipelas and dropsy. He died June 21, 1846, being seventy-eight years and four days old. His funeral, from his former residence in Purchase Street, was private. He was buried in the family lot at Mount Auburn.
George Singleton, Jr. (1792), cooper, of Boston, son of George Singleton and Mary, his wife, was born in Boston, Aug. 28, 1766. His place of business was on How- ard's Wharf, Ann Street, and his residence in Salutation Alley. He was deeply interested in the artillery service. He was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1795. In 1799-1800, he was second lieutenant of the Columbian Artillery, and in 1801-2, lieu- tenant in the Sublegionary Brigade of Artillery. When John Bray (1788) was pro- moted to be major, Mr. Singleton (1792) - a good officer, and thriving mechanic - was superseded, which so mortified him that he became reckless, and soon died, leaving a large family.
Thomas Waldron Sumner (1792), housewright, of Boston, was second sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1795, and ensign in 1799, and in the militia became a captain. His residence was then on Cambridge Street. Mr. Sumner (1792) became wealthy, and retired to Brookline, where he cultivated a small but good farm. He was employed as a draftsman, superintendent of construction, and referee respecting building contracts, and for several years was a Boston representative in the General Court. When the Artillery Company was embarrassed in its finances, he gave the largest sum, fifty dollars, towards its relief.
George Singleton, Jr. (1792). AUTHORI- TIES: Whitman's Hist. A. and II. A. Company, Ed. 1842; Boston Records.
Thomas Waldron Sumner ( 1792). AUTHOR- ITV : Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842.
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Joshua Thomas (1792), physician, of Boston. In 1796, he kept an apothecary store at No. 34 Marlborough, now Washington, Street, and became a member of St. John's Lodge, A. F. and A. M., in 1793.
The record of the Artillery Company for 1792 is as follows : -
" Monday evening, March 26th 1792. Voted, That the Commissioned Officers, Capt Jenkins [1756], Col. Winslow [1786], Maj. Cunningham [1786] and Mr. Thomas Clark [1786], be a Committee to report such regulations, as in their opinion will be for the honor and interest of the Company.
" Monday, April 2d 1792. The Company paraded at Faneuil Hall, & marched into the Common, commanded by Col. Waters. The Rev. Mr. Eckley was chosen to preach the Election Sermon in June next. Voted, That the Commissioned Officers with the Treasurer be a Committee to wait on & inform him of the choice. The Committee appointed the 27th ult. to consider what regulations it may be necessary to adopt, have attended that Service and beg leave to report the following Votes : - Ist That in future all fines arising from neglect of duty, together with the Assessment of three shillings heretofore voted to be paid by each new member on his admission, shall be appropriated to purchase Badges for the use of the Company ; and after the Company is furnished therewith, the fines & Assessments aforesaid shall be appropriated to other uses of the Company. 2d That the fine for absence on Muster days be six shillings to be paid by every member without distinction, except that such members as are Militia Officers be exempted, when their duty to the publick calls their attention to the Militia. 3d That when a meeting of the Company for exercise, or otherwise, is notified, the Roll shall be called, & every member absent at roll-call shall pay a fine of nine pence, & if absent the whole meeting, one shilling & six pence, to be paid if present without Arms, when ordered for Exercise. 4th The fines may be remitted by the Commanding Officer, in case of bodily indisposition, or the members being out of Town on business, (not pleasure ;) provided such member make his excuse in person or by writing, within six days after the meeting, if in Town; and if out of Town; the same term of time after his return. 5th That when any Gentlemen are admitted members of the Company, it shall be the duty of the Sergeants to instruct them in the manual Exercise, until, in the opinion of the Commanding Officer, they are qualified to appear with reputation on Muster days ; that they be excluded [from] turning out with the Company until they are thus qualified, & that a fine of three shillings be laid upon each Sergeant for neglect of the above duty. 6th Any member not complying with these Regulations, & so continuing for the space of one year shall no longer be considered a member ; & his name shall be returned by the Clerk to the Commanding Officer of the Militia in the district or ward to which he may belong, that no one may escape military duty. 7th Every member shall be served by the Clerk with a copy of these Regulations.
" The Committee conceive the foregoing Regulations, strictly adhered to, will be for the honour & interest of the Company, & that no Gentleman would wish to make a frivilous excuse answer for neglect of duty, when a fine appropriated as above, will tend to relieve the Company from the disagreeable necessity of borrowing badges on every public appearance.
"All which is respectfully submitted, April 2d 1792.
" J. WATERS [1769]. per Order.
" Voted unanimously, forty-one members present, that the above report be accepted.
"Attest T. CLARK, Clerk.
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" Monday, May 7th 1792. The Company paraded agreeable to Charter, marched into the Common - went through a variety of Evolutions & firings commanded by Col. Waters [1769]. The Committee appointed to wait on the Rev Mr. Eckley reported, that he accepted the invitation to preach the Election sermon in June next. Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to Wednesday evening.
" Wednesday Evening, May 9th 1792. Voted, That the Commissioned officers, Col. Winslow [1786], Capt Jenkins [1756], Major Cunningham [1786], Mr Samuel Greenough [1786] and the Clerk be a Committee to make the arrangements for the Election in June next & report.
" Wednesday Evening, May 16th 1792. The Treasurer reported, that the Com- mittee of Charlestown had paid eight hundred dollars, being all the principal, also the interest due to the Company £13. 17. 6. Voted, That a Committee of Finance be chosen next Friday evening by ballot, consisting of three members, & that they, with the Treasurer, dispose of the monies in the way they shall judge most for the interest of the Company. The committee chosen the 9th inst. being ready to report; Voted, That they be requested to report next Friday evening.
" Friday Evening, May 18th 1792. The Committee of Arrangements reported that there be twelve shillings assessed on each member towards the Expences of the Election in June next, & that the deficiency be paid by the Treasurer out of the Com- pany funds. Voted, That the above report be accepted. Capt Robert Jenkins [1756], Major Andrew Cunningham [1786] and Mr. Thomas Clark [1786] were elected a Com- mittee of Finance to serve till the Election of Officers in June 1793.
"Attest T. CLARK, Clerk.
" Monday, June 4th 1792. On this Anniversary of the Election of Officers, the Company as usual, escorted the supreme Executive from the Council Chamber to the Old Brick Meeting House, where a well-adapted discourse was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Eckley. After which they escorted His Excellency, the Commander-in-chief & other Gentlemen to Faneuil Hall, where an elegant entertainment was provided : at four o'clock the Company marched into the Common under the command of Col. Waters [1769], where they went through the usual exercises, evolutions & firings with great exactness. The following gentlemen were elected officers for the year ensuing, viz : - Col. John Winslow [1786], Captain ; Mr. Thomas Clark [1786], Lieutenant; Capt Lemuel Gardner [1787], Ensign ; Mr. Samuel Greenough [1786], Mr. Jonathan Balch [1786], Mr. Joseph Lovering Jr. [1788] Capt Joseph Clark [1789], Sergeants. Col. John Winslow [1786], Treasurer ; Mr. John G. Doubleday [1790], Clerk.
" Voted, that Col. Josiah Waters [1769], Col. John Winslow [1786], Capt Robert Jenkins [1756], Major Andrew Cunningham [1786] and Mr. Thomas Clark [1786], or a major part of them be a Committee fully authorized & impowered to institute a suit against the estate of Joseph Blanchard [1737] on a bond executed to Trustees for the use & benefit of the said Company, by said Blanchard [1737] and others in his life time, and pursue the same to final judgment and execution with power of substituting one or more Attorneys for the same purpose. Voted, That the late Commissioned Officers, with the Treasurer, wait on the Rev. Mr. Eckley, return him the thanks of the Company for his Sermon this day delivered and request a copy thereof for the press.
"Attest. THOMAS CLARK, Clerk.
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"Monday, September 3d 1792. The Company paraded agreeable to Charter, marched into the Common -went through a variety of Evolutions & Firings commanded by Col. Winslow [1786].
" Friday, October 6th 1792. The Company paraded agreeable to charter ; Marched into the Common, went through various evolutions and firings, commanded by Col. Winslow [1786]."
Monday, April 2, 1792, agreeable to its charter, the Ancient and Honorable Artil- lery Company, commanded by Col. Waters (1769), made its first appearance for the season, and went through the usual manœuvres, evolutions, and firings. The attention of this corps to their duty, when almost the embers of military fire seemed expiring, entitled them to the thanks of their fellow-citizens.1
The Artillery election exercises, on Monday, June 4, 1792, were in accordance with the ancient custom. The Vice-President of the United States was present. On account of his illness, the governor, John Hancock, rode in the procession in his carriage. A considerable number of federal, State, municipal, and military officers participated in the services of the day. Fifteen toasts were offered, and a song, composed for the occa- sion, was sung. The election of officers on the Common having been completed, the officers and officers-elect proceeded to the mansion of Gov. Hancock, where the officers resigned their insignia, and officers-elect were duly invested therewith. The Company and guests returned to Faneuil Hall, where, on invitation of the commander, a collation was enjoyed. The Hall was elaborately decorated with flowers and pines, " The Temple of Honor," the "Adams " and " Hancock " pieces of artillery, and a large cage (con- cealed by flowers, and suspended from the centre of the ceiling), from which issued the harmonious notes of a "real American singing-bird."
The conduct of the corps gave universal satisfaction ; their discipline and exactness spoke the merit of their officers, and their attention showed how zealously they guarded the fame of the corps.2
Rev. Joseph Eckley, D. D., delivered the Artillery election sermon in 1792. He was a son of Thomas Eckley, of the city of London, England, where he was born Oct. 11, 1750, O. S. Thomas Eckley, with his family, came to America in 1767, and settled at Morristown, N. J. When Joseph Eckley left England he had nearly completed his preparation for college, and, therefore, soon after his arrival, he entered the college of New Jersey, where he graduated in 1772.
Mr. Eckley remained at Princeton after he graduated, and pursued his theological studies. He was licensed to preach on the 7th of May, 1776, by the presbytery of New York, and for a time preached as a supply at Albany. He travelled in New England, and the Old South Church, of Boston, which, for nearly three years, from 1775 to 1777, had been "without a pastor, without a sanctuary, few in numbers, and greatly impover- ished, their strong men in the armies of the nation, and the future full of uncertainties," invited him to take charge of the parish. Sept. 9, 1778, he was chosen pastor, to succeed Rev. John Hunt. He accepted, and was ordained in King's Chapel, Oct. 27, 1779, the
Rev. Joseph Eckley, D. D. AUTHORITIES : Sprague's Annals of American Pulpit; Hill's Hist. of Old South Church; Columbian Centinel, May 4, 1811.
1 Columbian Centinel, April 4, 1792.
2 Columbian Centinel, June 6, 1792.
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Old South Meeting-House being in a dilapidated condition, as a result of the war. That meeting-house was not re-occupied by the church until March 2, 1783. In 1808, Mr. Eckley was provided with a colleague, - Rev. Joshua Huntington. Dr. Eckley died April 30, 1811, aged sixty-one years. His remains were interred in the Granary Burial- Ground, tomb No. 163. The heavy slab which covers it is incised with his coat of arms, and with his name, " Rev. Joseph Eckley."
The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1793 were : Andrew 1793. Cunningham (1786), captain ; Samuel Todd (1786), lieutenant ; John Bray (1788), ensign. Josiah Waters (1769) was first sergeant ; John G. Double- day (1790), second sergeant ; Jonas S. Bass (1789), third sergeant; James Phillips (1790), fourth sergeant, and Thomas Clark (1786), clerk.
Aug. 19, 1793, the military company recruited in Wards 1 and 2, commanded by Capt. Robert Gardner (1794), made its first public appearance in complete and elegant uniform.
The interment of the remains of Gov. John Hancock, who died Oct. 7, 1793, took place on Monday, Oct. 14, 1793. Every mark of respect and honor which affection and gratitude could inspire was apparent. The bells of the town began to toll at sunrise, and continued tolling for one hour; flags in the town, on the shipping, and at the Castle, were at half-mast ; stores and shops were closed, all business being suspended. The militia of Boston, with that from neighboring towns, assembled on the Common. The Legislature, judicial, military, and municipal officers joined in the funeral proces- sion. In the procession, a detachment of the Boston artillery, under Capt. Bradlee (1765), had charge of the "Hancock " piece of artillery reversed, with a pall of black velvet over it. Various separate military bodies, with the First and Second Battalions, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, all under the command of Brig .- Gen Hull (1788), com- posed the military part of the procession. Major-Gen. Brooks (1786), with his aids, were present in uniform, with side arms. Col. Josiah Waters (1769) was marshal of the procession which followed the corpse, in which were the Vice-President of the United States, members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery in uniform, with their side arms, State and town officers, etc. During the movement of the procession, minute guns were fired at the Castle and by a detachment of Capt. Bradlee's ( 1765) artillery, stationed on Beacon Hill.
The members of the Artillery Company recruited in 1793 were : Thomas Bartlett, Gideon Batey, Edmund Bowman, Nehemiah Freeman, Benjamin Goldthwait, Thomas Greene, Asa (changed to Samuel) Hammond, Joseph Loring, Jr., John Osborn, Samuel Thwing, Dudley Walker, John Wells.
Thomas Bartlett (1793), apothecary, of Boston, son of Capt. John Bartlett (1769) and Tabitha, his wife, was born in Boston, May 14, 1767.
" He long kept the sign of the Good Samaritan, in old Cornhill, which originally was painted with 'a priest passing by on the other side.' This was soon erased, because the painter had copied the portrait and costume of Rev. Dr. Walter, of Christ Church, with his full wig, so exactly that travellers were wont to recognize the likeness, probably too near a resemblance in another point of view." 1 He resided on Hanover Street.
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