USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 36
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).
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 | Part 42 | Part 43
WILKES ALLEN, son of Elnathan and Thankful (Hastings) Allen, was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., July 10th, 1775; graduated at Harvard College in 1801; was the first teacher in the brick school- house, in Dorchester, District No. 1; was ordained at Chelmsford, the 16th of November, 1803; dis- missed at his own request, Oct. 21st, 1832; removed
* See " Blake Family," page 54.
.
551
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
to Andover, where he died, Dec. 2d, 1845. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Deacon James Morrill, of Boston, Nov. 13th, 1805, by whom he had eight chil- dren, two of whom were graduates of Harvard Col- lege, in the classes of 1833 and 1842, viz.,-John Clarke and Nathaniel Glover Allen. John Clarke Allen died in 1834.
ABNER GARDNER, son of Samuel and Dorothy (Miles) Gardner, was born in Charlestown, Nov. 28th, 1781; graduated at Harvard College, in 1803; mar- ried Mary, daughter of Ebenezer Niles, of Dorches. ter, Oct. 18th, 1807. They had five children, three sons and two daughters. Mr. Gardner died on the 29th of March, 1818. He was for some years a mer- chant in Boston.
ENOCH PRATT, son of Capt. William and Mary Pratt, was born in North Middleborough, Mass., in 1781, and graduated at Brown University in 1803 .* He taught in the brick school-house, near the old burying-ground, in 1804, while studying for the ministry with Rev. Dr. Harris. He afterwards stu- died two years with Rev. Dr. Kirkland, in Boston; was a school teacher there ; was licensed to preach by the Boston Association of Ministers ; preached temporarily in Portland, Me., Vergennes, Vt., Schaghticoke, N. Y., Brimfield, Mass., then in Barn-
* On page 480, it was stated that there were two graduates at Brown University among the teachers of the Dorchester Schools. It has since been ascertained that there were three ; viz., Messrs. Heaton, Hall and Pratt.
-
552
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
stable, where he was ordained Oct. 28th, 1807. He was settled as Pastor, in the latter place, 30 years, when he resigned and located in the town of Brews- ter, where he now resides. Mr. Pratt retired some time since from all public service. He married Ma- ry, daughter of Deacon Joseph Field, of Boston, in 1810, by whom he had a daughter, Elizabeth F., who married Staats S. Morris, Esq., of Newark, N. J. Mr. Pratt married, 2d, Mercy Snow, of Brewster, in 1825, by whom he had Mary K., who married El- lison Conger, Esq., of Newark. Mr. P., by his third wife, Lucy, daughter of Deacon Brady Jenkins, of Barnstable, had a daughter Sarah, who married Dr. Curtis, of North Carolina; and one son, George Greenleaf.
Mr. Pratt is the author of a " History of Eastham, Wellfleet, and Orleans," published at Yarmouth, in 1844, 8vo., pp. 180.
GRIFFIN CHILD, son of Alpha and Molly (May) Child, was born in Woodstock, Conn., January 25th, 1784. His parents were married March 27th, 1777. . He had brothers Darius and Spencer, and sister Pa- melia, being himself the youngest of the family. He was a teacher in the " Butler School " in 1803 and '4 (ante, page 459), and afterwards taught the school at the Lower Mills, then at Jamaica Plain, and per- haps in other places, with very good success. A contemporary teacher-Hon. Ebenezer Everett, of Brunswick, Me .- says, that at the examination of the schools in Dorchester, "in the spring of 1807, Mr. Child, who was quite an amateur instructor, bore
553
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
away the palm from all of us." At that time there were five public schools in the town. The one in the upper, or fifth district, was in the charge of a female instructor for the summer term.
Mr. Child married Ann, daughter of Lewis Peck, of Providence, R. I., August 15th, 1811, and by her had two sons. She died April 15th, 1816. He mar- ried January 22d, 1818, Sarah, daughter of David Field, of Providence, by whom he had five children -three sons and two daughters. His se second wife, Sarah Field, died May 26th, 1855. Mr. Child was for many years engaged in mercantile business in Providence. He is still living.
Having gone through the list of male teachers, known to us, of a date anterior to 1805, we would again revert to the female instructors in the town, who in past times bore their part, also, in the great work of human culture-many of them, to the world at large, unnoticed and unknown. Though we are unable to speak of them, except in a few instances, by name, we would honor them for their fidelity and moral worth. One humble individual, familiarly called " Ma'am Mima," may be mentioned, who from her own scanty store of knowledge gave instruction to the young. Twelve and a half cents a week were paid her by each scholar in attendance. Poor wo- man ! how they used to pity her. They would often carry to their teacher small pieces of wood for fuel, and food to eat, as she " could not afford," she said, " to have a dinner but once a week." These kind
554
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
attentions from the children were repaid to them, bý her, in love and thanks, and such services as it was in her power to render. Nearly sixty years have passed away since she was laid beneath the turf, in the westerly corner of the ancient burial ground. Some kind hands have erected a stone to her memory, on which is the following inscription :-
Here lies the body of Mrs. Jemima Smith, who died the 16th of November, 1798, in the 75th year of her age.
A few feet from thence were laid, long since, the remains of another school mistress, over whose grave the storms of more than a century and a half have beaten. The quaint inscription on her monumental stone is as follows :-
Here Lyes ye Body of Miriam Wood, Formerly Wife to John Smith, Aged 73 Years. Died October ye 19th 1706.
A Woman well beloved of all her neighbours, from her care of small Folks education, their number being great, that when she dy'd she scarsely left her mate. So Wise, Discre[et], was her behaviors that she was well esteemed by neighbours. She liv'd in love with all to dy [e] So let her rest [to] Eternaty.
555
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Graduates of Harvard College from the Town of Dorchester.
THE following is a list of those who went from Dorchester to Harvard College, arranged chronologi- cally, on the basis of the late Rev. Dr. Harris's account, in Mass. Historical Collections, Vol. IX. The year prefixed gives the time of their graduation.
1643. SAMUEL MATHER, A. M., son of Rev. Rich- ard Mather, of Dorchester, was born in Lancashire, Eng., May 13th, 1626. He was the first Fellow (then the same as Tutor) of the College; and first preached at the North Church in Boston, where his brother Increase, and nephew Cotton Mather, were afterwards settled. He went over to England in the time of Cromwell, and was chosen one of the chap- lains in Magdalen College, Oxford. Afterwards, he went to Ireland, and became one of the senior Fel- lows of Trinity College in Dublin. Upon the en- forcement of the act of uniformity in 1662, he left all his preferments in the Church, and became pas- tor of a congregation of dissenters in Dublin, where he died, Oct. 29th, 1671, aged 45.
1647. NATHANIEL MATHER, A. M., brother to the preceding, and his successor in the pastoral care of the Church in Dublin, was born in Lancashire, Eng., March 20th, 1630. After his graduation at Harvard College, he went to England. He was presented to the living at Barnstaple, in the County of Devon, by
556
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Cromwell, in 1656. Upon his ejectment in 1662, he went into Holland, and was a minister at Rotter- dam ; but about the time of the Revolution he went over to England, and was chosen pastor of a dissent- ing congregation in London, where he died July 26th, 1697, aged 67, in great esteem among his brethren for learning and piety.
ICHABOD WISWALL. (See Schoolmasters, p. 483.)
1650.
WILLIAM STOUGHTON.
(See page 271.)
PELATIAH GLOVER, though educated at Cambridge, it seems never received a degree there. He was born in 1637; ordained at Springfield, June 18th, 1661, " when a Church was first gathered there," and was its pastor many years. He died March 29th, 1692, leaving several children.
1651. JONATHAN BURR, A. M., son of Rev. Jona- than Burr, of Dorchester.
WILLIAM BRIMSMEAD was son of William, of Dor- chester (who died about 1648, leaving four children, three sons and one daughter, Mary, who m. Benja- min Leeds, 17 :7 : 1667). He was educated at Har- vard College, but never had a degree. (See page 483.) Mr. Brimsmead was a preacher at Marlbo- rough as early as September, 1660. He afterwards left that place and preached for a time in Plymouth, where he was invited to settle, but declined the call. He returned to Marlborough, where he was ordained
557
.
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Oct. 3d, 1666. As he was in the midst of his dis- course, on Sunday, March 20th, 1676, the whole as- sembly were aroused by the cry of "Indians at the door." The congregation immediately fled to the Fort, which was not far distant. They all reached the place in safety, except one man, Moses Newton, who was wounded. The meeting-house and many of the dwelling-houses were destroyed. The inhabi- tants dispersed, but in the year following returned and erected a new meeting-house. " Tradition at- tributes to him one odd conceit, that 'he uniformly refused baptism to children who were born on the Sabbath.'" The first Covenant of the Church of Marlborough, called " the Brimsmead Covenant," as renewed Oct. 15th, 1679, was used by the Church, with a few verbal changes only, until 1837 .* He was never married. He died on Commencement morning, July 3d, 1701. Rev. Asa Packard, in 1795 (Mass. Hist. Coll., Vol. 4, p. 47), states that there was then an unlettered stone to his memory. He was characterized as a " well accomplished ser- vant of Christ."
Mr. Brimsmead preached an Election Sermon in 1681, which was printed. Among the papers made use of by Prince, in compiling his " Annals," was a journal in Latin, kept by Mr. B., from 1665 to 1695, inclusive.t
* See a copy of the Covenant, in Field's Historical Sketch of the First Church in Marlborough, 1859.
+ Allen's Biographical Dictionary.
63
558
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1656. ELEAZER MATHER, son of Rev. Richard Mather, was born in Dorchester, May 13th, 1637. He was invited by the people of Northampton, in June, 1658, to preach on probation, and was ordain- ed over the Church there, June 23d, 1661. " Here he labored for eleven years in the vineyard of the Lord ; much admired as a man of talents and exalt- ed piety, and as a zealous preacher." He died July 24th, 1669, aged 32 years. His wife was Esther, the only daughter of Rev. John Warham. (See page 498.)
1656. INCREASE MATHER, A. M., brother to the former, was born in Dorchester, June 21st, 1639. He was ordained minister of the North Church in Boston, May 27th, 1669 ; was appointed President of the College in 1685, but resigned that office in 1701. He was the first person who received the degree of Doctor of Divinity at Harvard College. This was given him in 1692. He died August 23d, 1723, aged 85 years.
Dr. Mather was a man of decided ability and en- terprise, and although unpopular with a small por- tion of his fellow citizens, his counsels had great weight both with the clergy and body politic. He was sent to England as agent of the Mass. Colony (see page 485), and had great influence over the friends of New England, on that side of the Atlantic. He kept a vigilant eye on the privileges granted by the charter. Taken as a divine, a scholar and a man of political strength and sagacity, he was a gi- ant. The conversation between Dr. Mather, King
559
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
William and Queen Mary, related by Rev. Cotton Mather, in the memoirs of his father, is very inter- esting. It was to the subject of this notice that Queen Mary uttered the following beautiful senti- ment, so full of kindness and toleration-viz .: " It is not in the power of men to believe what they please; therefore I think they should not be forced in matters of religion, contrary to their persuasions and their consciences. I wish all good men were of. one mind; however, in the mean time, I would have them live peaceably and love one another." It was in reference to this paragraph that Cotton Mather breaks forth as follows: " O mentis aurea, verba bracteata. My ink, too vile a liquor art thou to write so divine a sentence."*
1665. HOPE ATHERTON. (See Schoolmasters, p. 489.)
1667. JOHN FOSTER. (See account of him on, pages 244 and 492.)
1671. SAMUEL MATHER, A. M., son of Timothy and Elizabeth (Weeks) Mather, was born in Dor- chester, July 5th, 1650. He was a minister at Windsor, in Connecticut, 45 years. He was one of the first Trustees of Yale College, and died March 18th, 1727-8, aged 77.
* Mass. Hist. Coll., Vol. 9, p. 251. For interesting Memoirs of the Mathers, Samuel, Nathaniel, Eleazer and Increase, by John Farmer, see American Quarterly Register, Vol. 8, pp. 134, 332; and Vol. 9, p. 367.
560
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1675. JAMES MINOT. (See Schoolmasters, page 495.)
1677. EDWARD PAYSON, A. M., son of Edward, for many years a minister at Rowley, died Aug. 22d, 1732, aged 75 years, 2 months and 10 days.
1677. JOSEPH CAPEN, A. M., son of John Capen, of Dorchester, was baptized January 2d, 1658; or- dained at Topsfield, June 4th, 1684; died June 30th, 1725, aged 67.
1690. NATHANIEL CLAP, A. M., son of Nathan- iel Clap, of Dorchester, was baptized January 24th, 1668. He was for nearly fifty years a minister at Newport, in Rhode Island; and died October 30th, 1745, in the 78th year of his age.
1693. HENRY FLINT, Esq., A. M., son of Rev. Josiah Flint, of Dorchester. " He was for fifty-five years a tutor at Harvard College, and one of the Fellows of the Corporation sixty years. He died February 13th, 1760, aged 84. A discourse was de- livered at his funeral by Rev. Dr. Appleton, from Psalm cxii., 7, which pays a just tribute to his piety, learning, and worth; and an elegant Latin oration by James Lovell, A. M. A volume of Mr. Flint's sermons was published in 1739, which pos- sesses considerable merit."
1695. JOHN ROBINSON. (See Schoolmasters, page 504.)
561
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1698. RICHARD BILLINGS. (See Schoolmasters, page 506.)
1700. ROBERT BRECK, A. M., son of John Breck, of Dorchester, was born Dec. 7th, 1682. After leav- ing College he preached for a time at Long Island, in the Province of New York, during the Government of Lord Cornbury. "There he had the Courage, though at that Time Young, to assert and adhere to the Cause and Principles of the Non-Conformists, notwith- standing the Threatenings and other ill Treatment he there met with." He was ordained the second minister of Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 25th, 1704, when only 22 years of age, succeeding Rev. William Brimsmead. He married Elizabeth Wainwright, of Haverhill, by whom he had six children, one of whom, Robert, was ordained a minister at Springfield, Jan. 26th, 1736, where he died April 23d, 1784, in the 71st year of his age and the 49th of his ministry .* Robert, the father, died in Marlborough, Jan. 6th, 1731, at the age of 49 years, " in the vigor of his powers, and universally lamented. On the occasion of his death, three funeral sermons were preached to his people : one by Mr. Prentice, of Lancaster; one by Mr. Swift, of Framingham; and also one by Mr. Loring, of Sudbury; all of which were published in a single pamphlet." A monument was erected to his memory, on which is a Latin inscription.t
* See Holland's History of Western Massachusetts, Vol. 1, p. 199.
+ See Field's Sketch of Marlborough Church, before referred to, pp. 16-23.
562
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1701. SAMUEL WISWALL. (See Schoolmasters, page 506.)
1703. ELIJAH DANFORTH. (See Schoolmasters, page 507.)
1704. EBENEZER WHITE. (See Schoolmasters, page 512.)
1711. SAMUEL BLAKE, A. M., son of John Blake, of Dorchester, was born Sept. 26th, 1691; was a schoolmaster at Barnstable; died April 29th, 1715, aged 23.
1715. SAMUEL DANFORTH. (See Schoolmasters, page 512.)
1723. NATHANIEL GLOVER, A. M., Clerk in the store of Thomas Hancock, Esq., of Boston.
1724. PHILLIPS PAYSON. (See Schoolmasters, page 516.)
1724. ISAAC BILLINGS, A. M., son of Roger, was born in Dorchester, July, 1703; died in Milton, 1784. (See Schoolmasters, page 515.)
1725. ICHABOD WISWALL, for many years a Schoolmaster at Martha's Vineyard; died at Edgar- town, in June, 1782.
1725. JAMES ROBINSON, probably son of John ;
-
563
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
if so, he was born in 1704. He was a physician at Newport, and died Nov. 29th, 1745.
1729. SAMUEL MOSELEY. (See Schoolmasters, page 518.)
1730. WILLIAM ROYAL, born in Dorchester, was Representative from that town. Died in Stough- ton, January 15th, 1794, aged 84.
1730. LEMUEL TROTT.
1731. SUPPLY CLAP. (See Schoolmasters, page 519.)
1732. MATHER WITHINGTON, son of Ebenezer Withington, of Dorchester. After he took his de- gree, he kept a school at Cape Ann. He commenc- ed preaching, and was much esteemed for his talents, virtues, and piety. He died April 28th, 1736.
1735. GILLAM TAILOR, son of Lieut. Governor William, was a physician in Boston. He died July 17th, 1757, aged 39.
1735. NOAH CLAP. (See page 356.)
1741. THOMAS JONES. (See Schoolmasters, page 524.)
1742. NATHANIEL HATCH, Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for Suffolk, was a Loyalist. He
564
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
went to England, and died there in the year 1780, aged 56.
1744. EDWARD BASS. (See Schoolmasters, page 525.)
1744. SAMUEL BIRD, of Dorchester, was in the same class with Dr. Bass, but did not obtain his de- gree, in consequence of some rash censures upon several of the Governors of the College and the ven- erable clergyman of Cambridge, which were dictated by religious enthusiasm. He was afterwards settled as a minister at New Haven, where he died.
1744. JAMES HUMPHREY. (See Schoolmasters, page 527.)
1753. THOMAS OLIVER, born in Dorchester, Jan. 5th, 1734; Lieut. Governor in the year 1774; went to England on the breaking out of the Revolution, and died in Bristol, England, Nov. 29th, 1815, aged 82. He lived at the Five Corners, in the house now owned by Mr. George Richardson.
1755. JONATHAN BOWMAN was born Dec. 8th, 1735. He was the son of Rev. Jonathan Bowman, of Dorchester, was Judge of Probate for Lincoln Co., Me., and died in Dresden, Maine, Sept. 10th, 1804, aged 69.
1760. JAMES BAKER. (See Schoolmasters, page 528.)
565
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1761. JOHN BASS, son of Joseph, and brother of Bishop Bass, was born in Dorchester, Oct. 9th, 1738. He went to Nova Scotia, and kept school, and there died. He was never married.
1761. DANIEL LEEDS. (See Schoolmasters, page 530.)
1764. WILLIAM BOWMAN. (See Schoolmasters, page 530.)
1769. JAMES BLAKE, son of Samuel and Patience (White) Blake, was born in Dorchester, Dec. 10th, 1750. He entered College at the age of fifteen, and exhibited there an eminent pattern of studiousness and proficiency in learning. Distinguished for the purity of his morals, the exemplariness of his conduct, and the sweetness of his temper, he conciliated the love of all his fellow students, and the high approba- tion of his instructors. After taking his first degree, he went to Weymouth, to take the charge of a school, which he kept to general satisfaction. That employment he resigned in about nine months, and devoted himself to the study of divinity, under the instruction of Rev. William Smith. " He pursued this his favorite study with unwearied assiduity for a year, and then began the important work of the ministry, but not without great reluctance ; for he had determined not to preach till he acquired a per- fect knowledge in the fundamental parts of religion. But Mr. Smith being sick, he was many times urged to take his place until he recovered, which, after 64
566
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
repeated denials, he did. Thus having made a be- ginning, he continued almost every sabbath, until he died." He died November 17th, 1771, after a short illness, wanting one month of being twenty- one years old. .
A small volume of his sermons was published by his friends, several of which are now in possession of relatives of the family. They discover a strength of mind, a clear and comprehensive intellect, truly wonderful in so young a person. On his grave stone, in Dorchester, is the following inscription :
" An Angel's arm can't snatch him from the grave ; Legions of Angels can't confine him there."*
1772. JOHN HOMANS, during the American war, was a surgeon in the army, and afterwards settled as a physician in Boston. "Dr. Homans had received from nature a great share of superior sense, which was well cultivated, and evinced a mind rich in bright ideas and refinedly polished by education. As a physician he was not inferior to any of his age ; he was employed much, and greatly approved." The duties of this profession he discharged with great tenderness and humanity ; and in behalf of the poor, with disinterested benevolence. Having been several years quite an invalid, in the year 1800 he un- dertook a voyage to the northwest coast of America for the recovery of his health, but died on the sec- ond day after the departure of the vessel, June 3d, in the 47th year of his age.
* See "Blake Family," pp. 33-35.
567
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1782. JONATHAN BIRD. (See Schoolmasters, page 536.)
1783. DANIEL LEEDS. (See Schoolmasters, page 538.)
1787. BENJAMIN BEALE was born in Quincy, and spent part of his life in France. He died in 1826.
1793. JOHN PIERCE, son of John and Sarah (Blake) Pierce, was born in Dorchester, July 14th, 1773. He was ordained minister of Brookline, Mass., March 15th, 1797. He continued in the ministry until his death, which took place August 24th, 1849. Although a large part of his life was spent in Brookline, he was well known and much respected by the inhabitants of Dorchester, and few were so well acquainted with its history as Dr. Pierce. He was an ardent, and very active man, and enjoyed life to a remarkable degree up to his last illness. He was a devoted friend of Harvard College, took a great interest in whatever related to it, and was for many years its Secretary.
1794. JAMES BLAKE HOWE. (See Schoolmas- ters, page 545.)
1795. SAMUEL TOPLIFF. (See Schoolmasters, page 542.)
1796. MOSES EVERETT. (See Schoolmasters, page 539.)
568
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1797. ELISHA CLAP, born in Dorchester, June 25th, 1776, son of Lemuel and Rebecca (Dexter) Clap; died in Boston, Oct. 22d, 1830. He was edu- cated for the ministry, but preached only a short time. He was very successful as a teacher of youth-
1798. HENRY GARDNER, son of Treasurer Henry Gardner of Stow, father of Ex-Governor Henry J. Gardner, was born August 2d, 1779; died June 19th, 1858. He studied medicine with Dr. John Warren, of Boston, but never practised. He was a Representative from Dorchester three years, a Sena- tor from Norfolk County three years, and a member of the Convention of 1820 to Revise the Constitu- tion. A very energetic and prompt man.
1802. JOSEPH GARDNER, brother of the last nam- ed, was born August 16th, 1782. He was a skilful physician in Dorchester, and died June 29th, 1809.
1802. JAMES EVERETT, son of Rev. Moses, was born Oct. 13th, 1782; died at Port Mahon, April 12th, 1837. He was a Chaplain in the U. S. Navy, and the latter part of his life an ardent Episcopalian. He was admitted to Priest's orders July 15th, 1829. 1
1803. BENJAMIN ANDREWS HICHBORN, son of Hon. Benjamin Hichborn, of Dorchester, was born in Dorchester, February 1st, 1783. He was a law- yer in Boston, and subsequently in Mississippi. He died in November, 1818, aged 33.
569
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1804. CHARLES WARD APTHORP MORTON was born August 15th, 1786; died April 30th, 1809.
1805. NATHANIEL CLAPP, son of Nathaniel, was born in Dorchester, October 21st, 1783 ; kept school in Dorchester a while, but was for many years con- nected with the Tremont Bank, in Boston. He died November 4th, 1847.
1806. EBENEZER EVERETT, son of Moses Everett, was born August 15th, 1788; now living, a lawyer. in Brunswick, Maine. He kept school in Dorches- ter a short time. (See page 539.)
1807. ELEAZAR CLAPP, son of Ebenezer and Ma- ry (Glover) Clapp, was born August 18th, 1786. He was a physician; died August 27th, 1817.
1809. WILLIAM SWIFT, born Sept. 11th, 1779.
1810. LEMUEL CAPEN, son of John, Jr., and Pa- tience (Davis) Capen, was born in Dorchester, Nov. 25th, 1788. He was ordained pastor of the Unita- rian Church in Sterling, Mass., March 22d, 1815; resigned June 21st, 1819. He was installed over the Hawes Place Church, South Boston, Oct. 31st, 1827; resigned in 1839. He died August 28th, 1858, aged 69 years and 9 months. (See N. E. Hist. and Gen. Register for Jan., 1859, p. 86.)
1811. WALTER BAKER, son of Edmund, was born July 28th, 1792; was owner of the extensive choco-
570
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
late mills in Dorchester, and a man of genius and enterprise. He was a Colonel of the 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Ist Division, Mass. Militia, and an offi- cer of great merit. He represented the town in General Court for several years, and died in Boston May 7th, 1852.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.