USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 27
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 | Part 44 | Part 45
1808. Brian Hall, William Verry, Samuel Hunt.
1809. Brian Hall, William Verry, Samuel Hunt.
296
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
1810. Brian Hall, Samuel Hunt, William Verry.
1811. Brian Hall, Samuel Hunt, William Verry.
1812. Brian Hall, William Verry, Samuel Hunt.
1813. Brian Hall, Isaac Hodges, Samuel Hunt.
1814. Seth Hodges, Daniel Smith, Jonathan Newland.
1815. Brian Hall, Isaac Hodges, Samuel Hunt.
1816. Brian Hall, Isaac Hodges, Samuel Hunt.
1817. Isaac Hodges, Seth Hodges, Samuel Hunt.
1818.
Isaac Hodges, Seth Hodges, Daniel Patten.
1819.
Isaac Hodges, Seth Hodges, Lemuel Perry.
1820.
Isaac Hodges, Seth Hodges, Lemuel Perry.
1821.
Isaac Hodges, Lemuel Perry, Seth Hodges.
1822.
Daniel Lane, Richard Newcomb, Williams Hodges. 1823. Daniel Lane, Williams Hodges, Richard Newcomb. 1824. Williams Hodges, Daniel Shepard, George Walker. 1825. Williams Hodges, Daniel Shepard, George Walker.
1826. Jacob Shepard, Daniel Lane, John L. Munro, jun. 1827. Jacob Shepard, John L. Munro, jun., Elkanah Wood. 1828. John L. Munro, jun., Daniel Lane, Williams Hodges.
1829. Sylvester Newcomb, Cromwell Leonard, Jacob Shep- ard.
1830. Sylvester Newcomb, Cromwell Leonard, Jacob Shep- ard.
1831. Williams Hodges, Hennary Newcomb, Daniel Briggs, jun.
1832. William Lane, jun., Sylvester Newcomb, Cromwell Leonard.
1833. Cromwell Leonard, Sylvester Newcomb, William Lane, jun.
1834. Cromwell Leonard, Sylvester Newcomb,. William Lane, jun.
1835. Cromwell Leonard, Simeon Blandin, Seth Hodges.
1836. Seth Hodges, Cromwell Leonard, Simeon Blandin. 1837. Cromwell Leonard, Simeon Blandin, Leonard Hodges, jun.
1838. Leonard Hodges, jun., Hennary Newcomb, Richard F. Sweet.
TITHING-MEN AND WARDENS.
As early as 1679, in the Colony of the Massachu- setts Bay,1 it was ordered that tithing-men should be
1 See Records, vol. v. p. 240.
297
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
annually chosen in the towns " of their most prudent & discreet inhabitants," to inspect all licensed or un- licensed houses, "where they shall haue notice, or haue ground to suspect, that any person or persons doe spend their tjme or estates, by night or by day, in tipling, gaming, or otheruise vnproffitably ; or doe sell, by retayle, strong drincke, wine, ale, cidar, rumn, brandey, perry, matheglin, & without license." All such disorderly houses they were requested to search ; and if any of these liquors were found therein, and the owners could not give " satisfactory account of their having the same," either with or without warrant, they were empowered to seize said liquors and carry them off, and to institute legal proceedings against the parties on whose premises the liquors were found. The tithing-men were also requested " to inspect the manners of all disorderly .persons ; " and to present to some magistrate " the names of all single persons that live from under family government, stubborne and disorderly children and servants, night-walkers, typlers, Saboath-breakers, by night or by day, and such as absent themselves from the publicke worship of God on the Lord's dayes; " and all persons whose conduct tended " to debauchery, irreligion, prophaness, & atheisme."
The tithing-men's badge of office was "a black Staff, of two foot long, tipt at one End with Brass about three Inches ; to be provided by the selectmen, at the Charge of the Town."
Sept. 8, 1741, there was " voted to Jonathan Leo- nard, for 2 tithing-men's Staves, £00-02."
In 1760, an Act passed to prevent " The Propha- nation of the Lord's day;" which required that from two to six persons, " of good substance, and of sober Life and conversation," called wardens, should be chosen annually, whose duty it was to see that the sabbath was duly observed in all public-houses and elsewhere; and to examine all persons suspected of unnecessary travelling on Sunday, &c.
They were probably called wardens, from the fact
298
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
that Boston was required to choose one from each ward in the town. The penalty for not choosing them in each town was fifty pounds. Their badge of office was a "white wand, not less than seven Feet in length." It will be seen that their duties were simi- lar to those of the tithing-men. For a year or two after the Act requiring wardens to be chosen was passed, no tithing-men were chosen in Norton. Sub- sequently, a portion of the time, both tithing-men and wardens were chosen. We here transcribe the names of the " prudent & discreet ". persons, and those " of sober Life and Conversation," who have been chosen tithing-men and wardens: those of the latter we put in Italics. The town voted not to choose tithing-men in 1839. Subsequently, none have been chosen, we believe, with the exception of the year 1850, when Eli. C. Wood was elected.
1716. John Austin, Richard Briggs, (Clement Briggs).1
1717. Seth Dorman, Isaac Shepard, (Thomas Randall).
1718. William Wetherell, sen., John Smith, jun., Thomas Grover, (Ephraim Manuel).
1719. Ephraim Lane, Joshua Lincoln, (William Manley).
1720. John Newland, Peter Aldrich, (Israel Randall).
1721. Ebenezer Burt, Samuel Clap, (Benjamin Drake).
1722. John Briggs, sen., Richard Briggs.
1723. John Briggs, sen., Richard Briggs, (Benjamin Drake).
1724. John Briggs, sen., Seth Dorman, Thomas Manley.
1725. John Briggs, sen., Joseph Pitee, Israel Randall.
1726. Joseph Gray, Joseph Godfrey, Ephraim Lane.
1727. John Briggs, 2d, Richard Briggs.
Ebenezer Eddy, John Briggs, 1st, Joseph Pitee. Samuel Clap, Josiah Pratt, Joseph Gray.
1728. 1729. 1730. Thomas Skinner, sen., John Wild, William Codington. 1731. Josiah Atherton, James Leonard, Benjamin Seele.
1732. John Harvey, John Newland, 2d, Isaac Welman.
1733. Benjamin Cobb, Solomon Skinner, John Austin, jun., William Haradon.
1 Those names enclosed in parentheses were for the East Precinct, now Easton.
299
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
1734. John Andrews, Ephraim Dunham, William Bassett, Jonathan Pratt.
1735. Stephen Blanchard, Joseph Gray, John Cobb, John Barney.
1736. Ebenezer Welman, Benjamin Seele.
1737. Isaac Welman, Ebenezer Burt.
1738. William Paine, Thomas Shepard.
1739. William Paine, Samuel Phillips.
1740. Samuel Clap, Ebenezer Brintnell.
1741. George Allen, John Wetherell, 3d.
1742.
Gideon Bassett, Benjamin Copeland.
1743. James Briggs, Samuel Titus.
1744. John King, Joseph Elliot.
1745. Ephraim Lane, 2d, Eliphalet Hodges, Stephen Blan- chard.
1746. Benjamin Hews, Nicholas White, Timothy Briggs.
1747. Stephen Blanchard, Jonathan Burt, Uriah Leonard.
1748. John Fisher, Seth Smith, Nathaniel Brintnell.
1749. John Briggs, 2d, William Codington, Thomas Fille- brown, Ephraim Lane.
1750. William Codington, Joseph Elliot, Gideon Bassett, Joseph Hodges.
1751. Seth Smith, Samuel Elliot.
1752. Thomas Fillebrown.
1753. Seth Smith, Thomas Fillebrown.
1754. Nathaniel Fisher, Joseph Newland.
1755. Ebenezer Grover, Nathan Williams, Sylvanus Bra- man, Paul Cook, Timothy Briggs.
1756. John Fisher, Benjamin Newcomb, James Grover.
1757.
William Paine, jun., Jonathan Knap.
1758. Joshua Atherton, Ephraim Hodges.
1759. Phineas Grover, William Newcomb.
1760. John Briggs, Deacon Samuel Dean, Capt. William Dean, James Fillebrown.
1761. Benjamin Pearson, John Briggs, Benjamin White, William Paine, 2d.
1762. Jonathan Burt, Sylvanus Braman, Mr. Nathan Wil- liams.
1763. Israel Woodward, Job White.
1764. Meletiah Washburn, Samuel Fillebrown, Abijah Fisher, Gershom Cambell, Nathan Williams.
1765. David Arnold, William Paine, 2d, John White, 1st, William Basset, jun.
-
300
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
1766. Timothy Briggs, John White, 2d, John Wetherell, jun., George Briggs, Elijah Dean.
1767. Ebenezer Brintnell, Capt. Jonathan Hodges, William Cambell.
1768. Meletiah Washburn, Timothy Smith, Samuel Fille- brown, David Arnold, William Carpenter, jun., James Fillebrown.
1769. Dr. Gideon Tiffany, Thomas Grover, Record Franklin, David Arnold, Benjamin Day, Eleazer Williams.
1770. Stephen Pond, John Patten.
1771. Isaac Williams, Meletiah Washburn, John Eddy, Sam- uel Hunt.
1772. Seth Williams, James Gilbert, Silas Cobb.
1773. John Patten, Josiah Woodward.
1774. Samuel Hunt, Silas Cobb.
1775. William Makepeace, Hezekiah Willard.
1776. Daniel Knap, Joseph Burt.
1777.
Meletiah Washburn, Simeon Briggs.
1778.
Joseph Burt, Noah Woodward.
1779.
Meletiah Washburn, Timothy Briggs.
1780.
Capt. Silas Cobb, Capt. Israel Trow.
1781. Elkanah Lincoln, jr., Nathan Babbit, Nathaniel Prior.
1782.
James Hodges, Elijah Danforth.
Seth Smith, jun., Tisdale Hodges.
1784.
1783. Abiathar Shaw, Benjamin Braman.
1785.
Nathaniel Freeman, Elisha Cobb.
1786. William Verry, Isaac Bassett.
1787. Nathan Perry, Jonathan Briggs.
1788. Samuel Copeland, Thomas Braman.
1789.
Timothy Briggs, Benjamin Wild, Benjamin Blandin, Benjamin Puffer.
1790. Benjamin Wild, William Morey, Isaac Hodges, Daniel Phillips.
1791. Jonathan Clap, 2d, Samuel Hunt, John Gilbert, Wil .. liam Makepeace.
1792. Thomas Braman, Isaac Bassett.
1793. Elisha Cobb, Thomas Braman.
1794. Daniel Briggs, Nathan Perry.
1795. Capt. Titus, Isaac Burt.
1796. Jonathan Leonard, Asa Copeland.
1797. Ichabod Perry, Benjamin Puffer.
1798. Daniel Lane, Luther Lincoln.
1799. Ephraim Raymond, Benjamin Horton.
301
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
1800. Lieut. Abiel Lincoln, Lysander Makepeace.
1801. Thomas Leonard, Daniel Bassett.
1802. Josiah Hodges, jun., Araunah Smith.
1803. Daniel Bassett, Daniel Lane.
1804.
Zopher Skinner, Asa Knowles.
1805. Thomas Braman, jun., David Hodges.
1806. Josiah Hunt, Capt. Daniel Knapp.
1807. Capt. Thomas Danforth, Daniel Knapp, David Make- peace, Benjamin King.
1808. Seth Babbit, Jonathan Clapp.
1809. No record of choice.
1810. Abiel Lincoln, Nathaniel Stone, jun.
1811. No record of choice.
1812. 1813.
Abiel Lincoln, David Makepeace, Daniel Bassett.
1814.
David Makepeace, Timothy Briggs.
1815.
Daniel Smith, Jonathan Newland.
1816. Lysander Makepeace, John Dean, Daniel Shepard.
1817. Abiel Lincoln, Nathaniel Stone, jun., Thomas Braman, Zopher Skinner.
1818. Terrel Cobb, William Burt, John Hall, jun., Abiel Lincoln.
1819. David Woodward, Zopher Skinner.
1820.
Zopher Skinner, Bartholomew Burt.
1821. Simeon Briggs, David Field, David Makepeace.
1822.
Joseph Hill, Capt. Thomas Braman, Cromwell Leo- nard, Sylvanus Braman.
1823. Joseph Hill, Asa Danforth, Cromwell Leonard.
1824. William Lane, Joseph Hill, David Makepeace.
1825. Cromwell Leonard, Ephraim Allen, Bartholomew Burt, Joseph Snow.
1826. Josiah Harvey.
1827. Asa Adams.
1828.
Isaac Woodward.
1829.
Deacon Asa Copeland.
1830.
Laban M. Wheaton.
1831. No record of choice.
1832. Richard F. Sweet.
1833. Laban M. Wheaton.
1834. Leavit Bates. ·
1835. Leavit Bates.
1836. Asa P. Holmes.
1837. Leavit Bates.
26
George Gilbert, Zopher Skinner.
302
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
CORONERS.
Most of the facts relating to coroners and deputy- sheriffs, I have taken from the " Massachusetts State Register," commencing in 1784. From another source, I find that Isaac Hodges was coroner in 1757; and, without doubt, was in office till 1792 or 93. Isaac Hodges, jun., was coroner from 1794 to 1825; Lemuel Perry, 1816 to 1818 ; Cromwell Leonard, from 1819 to 1821, and from 1838 to the present time.
DEPUTY-SHERIFFS.
Benjamin Williams was deputy-sheriff in 1757. How long he held the office, we know not. Ephraim Burr is believed to have been sheriff from some years previous to 1784, up to 1803; Isaac Morey, from 1791 to 1796; Thomas Fobes, from 1794 to 1796; William Verry, most of the time from 1800 to 1815; George Gilbert, from 1803 to 1805 ; Ebenezer Titus, from 1803 to 1808; Preston Hodges, from 1818 to 1821; Daniel Smith, 2d, from 1822 to 1824; George Clapp, from 1822 to 1824; Daniel Morey, in 1825 ; Timothy Smith, from 1826 to 1834; Horace B. Wetherell, from 1835 to 1850; Austin Messinger, from 1851 to 1853, and again in 1856. Cyril S. Swect was appointed in 1858, and is now in office.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Those marked (*) were afterwards justices of the peace and quorum. Those marked (+) have been justices throughout the Commonwealth.
Names. Appointed.
Names. Appointed.
George Leonard . . . June 5, 1713.
George Leonard*
Mar. 4, 1723.
Ephraim Leonard* 1737. Geo. Leonard, jr .* t . Jan. 25, 1754. Thomas Morey Feb. 4, 1762.
Laban Wheaton* .. Aug. 6, 1789. Seth Smith, jun. . . May 10, 1791, Samuel Morey, jun .. Jan. 11, 1792. Ephraim Raymond *. Feb. 11, 1801. Silas Cobb . Before 1804.1
George Wheaton . Feb. 3, 1774.
William Burt Mar. 5, 1808.
William Homes
Aug. 29, 1776.
Samuel Morey* . Jan. 9, 1789.
Brian Hall . . June 21, 1809. Thos. Danforth, 2d . May 16, 1810.
1 We cannot find the date of his appointment. His commission was renewed in 1809. For some years previous to 1800, he was doubtless ex-officio justice, in consequence of his being high in military office.
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
303
Names.
Appointed.
Names.
Appointed.
George Gilbert
Feb. 21, 1811.
Daniel S. Cobb . .. Feb. 23, 1843.
John Hall
Feb. 22, 1811.
Hennary Newcomb . Feb. 23, 1843.
Daniel Parker
Oct. 26, 1812.
Eddy Lincoln
Mar. 24, 1843.
Isaac Hodges
Feb. 2, 1815.
Leonard Hodges
April 15, 1850.
Joseph Hodges Jan. 7, 1825.
George B. Crane
Mar. 26, 1851.
Laban M. Wheatont Jan. 26, 1828.
Earl Hodges April 2, 1851.
Lemuel Perry Feb. 1, 1828.
John Arnold
Aug. 6, 1853.
Jacob Shepard*
Feb. 19, 1829.
Zeno Kelly . Jan. 27, 1855.
Cromwell Leonard *. Dec. 11, 1830.
Royal P. Hodges Mar. 24, 1855.
George Clapp
May 31, 1833.
L. O. Makepeace . . Aug. 29, 1856.
John Crane Jan. 8, 1841.
Thos. T. Rockwood . Feb. 26, 1858.
STATE SENATORS.
Hon. ABRAHAM WHITE was chosen senator in 1787, and again in 1788. He is believed to have been the son of Thomas White, of Taunton ; and tradition says he was descended from Peregrine White, the first English child born at Plymouth. He was a some- what eccentric man, and could not read or write ; . but was possessed of much native talent, practical good sense, and sound judgment. He was much employed in public life, where energy, and deci- sion of character, werc needed. Numerous anecdotes are related of him, all of which illustrate his ready wit, keen satire, and ability to meet any emergency that arose. He lived at the easterly part of the town, a short distance below where Isaac Woodward now lives. He married, first, a daughter of John Holmes, of Taunton, by whom he had a son; who, with his mother, died young. For second wife, Mr. White married Hannah, daughter of Edward White, of Easton ; and had by her eight children. He died Feb. 20, 1801, in his eighty-fifth year; so that he must have been born in 1717.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD was chosen senator in 1793, and served one year only. (For notice of him, see Collegiate History.)
Hon. SETH SMITH, Jun., was chosen senator in 1797, and held the office but one year. He was the son of Deacon Seth Smith (already mentioned) by his first wife, Sarah Cobb, 2d; and was born Oct. 1, 1756. He married, March 16, 1780, Rachel Newcomb; and had three children. He was much employed in public
304
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
business ; was town-clerk many years; also represen- tative to the General Court. He kept a store in the centre of the town a few years. He left Norton about 1799, and went to New-York City, where he is believed to have died some thirty or forty years ago.
Hon. CROMWELL LEONARD was chosen senator for the year 1848, and rechosen for the year 1849. He is the son of Jonathan Leonard by his second wife, - Rebecca Smith, 2d ; and was born Dec. 1, 1788. He is the grandson of Jacob and Mary (Wild) Leonard ; and is descended from the Taunton Leonards, who came from Pontypool, Wales (see p. 85). Mr. Leo- nard married, June 15, 1815, Miss Belinda Cope- land, of Mansfield. They had four children. She
died Aug. 25, 1848. He married for second wife, June 20, 1849, Miss Harriet Morse, of East Cam- bridge, daughter of the late Dr. Caleb Morse, of Moultonborough, N.H. Mr. Leonard has enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens in an eminent degree ; having served the town many years as mode- rator of town-meetings, selectman, assessor, repre- sentative to the General Court, and other positions of trust and respectability.
Hon. JOHN CRANE was chosen senator for the year 1852. He is the son of Terry and Rebecca (Harvey) Crane, grandson of John and Rachel (Terry) Crane ; and was born Jan. 11, 1799. He married, March 28, 1825, Miss Sally Harvey, of Taunton ; and has had two children. Mr. Crane has ever been very popular with his townsmen. He held the office of town-clerk and treasurer for thirty successive years ; which is nine years longer than any other person has continued in either office in town. When chosen for the thirtieth time, in 1857, he declined a re-election. He has repre- sented the town in the General Court, wholly or in part, ten years.
COUNCILLORS.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD was a royal councillor twenty- five successive years ; commencing his term of service
I, Grozelier Lithi.Boston,
Cromwell Leonard.
305
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
in 1741, and closing in 1766. He was the son of Major George and Anna (Tisdale) Leonard (whom we have noticed among the early settlers, p. 85), and was the first male child born in the westerly part of Norton. His advent into the world took place March 4, 1698. He was the second justice of the peace in town; was town-clerk many years; and also other- wise much employed in public affairs, as selectman, assessor, moderator of town-meetings, representative to the General Court, &c. He was also much engaged in the military affairs of this neighborhood, having risen from a subordinate officer to the command of the regi- ment; and is generally known as "Colonel George Leonard." He was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1725, and held the office till 1730. He was re-appointed to the same office in 1733, and held it till 1740, when he was dismissed for having been connected with the Land-Bank scheme. He was again appointed to the bench in 1746, and continued in office till about the commencement of the Revolu- tion. A portion of the time he was on the bench, he was Chief-Justice of the Court.1 He was appointed Judge of Probate for Bristol County, Feb. 16, 1747 ; and held the office about thirty-one years. Tradition has universally given him a character above reproach, and represented him to be a man of much practical wisdom and of sterling worth; and the fact that he was almost constantly in public office, from the age of twenty-one to the close of fourscore years, serves to
strengthen this idea. Rev. Pitt Clarke says, "He appears to have been distinguished for his urbanity, practical piety, and active benevolence. The praise of his many good deeds, in the church and through the county, has long been identified with Norton, and will be co-extensive with the history of this place." He married, in 1721, Miss Rachel Clap, of Scituate ; and they had four children. He died Dec. 4, 1778, in the eighty-first year of his age. His wife died
1 Judicial History of Massachusetts, by Hon. Emory Washburn, p. 369.
26*
306
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
April 23, 1783, in her eighty-second year. His pic- ture we have placed as the frontispiece of this book.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD, Jun., was councillor from 1770 to 1775. He was the son of Col. Leonard, just mentioned. (See Collegiate History.)
Hon. LABAN M. WHEATON held the office of coun- cillor two years; viz., 1857 and 1858. (See Colle- giate History.)
JUDGES OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD was appointed to this office, Dec. 10, 1715; and was on the bench only a few months, when he died. (See early settlers, p. 85.)
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD, son of the above, was judge most of the time from 1725 to 1775. (See council- lors.)
Hon. EPHRAIM LEONARD was appointed judge in 1747, and was in office till about the commencement of the Revolution. He was a brother of George Leo- nard, last named ; and was born Jan. 16, 1705-6. He settled in the North Precinct of Norton, now called East Mansfield. He was a man of great energy, and decision of character, and was much employed in town-affairs; and held the office of colonel in the militia during the old French and Indian war, and is generally known as "Colonel Ephraim Leonard." He married, first, Judith Perkins, of Norwich, Conn., May 28, 1739 ; and they had one son, Daniel. She died Sept. 4, 1740. His second wife was Meletiah, who " had been ye wife of Jonathan Ware, Esqr., and of Benjamin Ware, M.D., of Wrentham."1 Her maiden name was Fisher; and she died Oct. 3, 1758. His third wife was Mrs. Abigail (King) Williams, married March 18, 1760. "She had been the wife of Mr. John Williams,"1 of Easton. She died July 27, 1771; and was buried beside her first husband, at Easton, near the late Daniel Wheaton's estate. His fourth wife was Anna, who " had been the wife of Mr.
1 Gravestone.
307
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
Elisha Woodwarth, and also of ye Revd. Mr. Timothy Ruggles,"1 of Rochester. She died Oct. 7, 1782. He died May 2, 1786; and, with three of his wives, lies buried in a grove, about half a mile easterly from his former residence at East Mansfield. But his own, and the gravestones of his wives, lying flat on the ground, are nearly covered up with the earth and leaves.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, July 1, 1785. In 1798, he was Chief-Justice of the Court, and was on the bench as late as 1804. (See Collegiate History.)
Hon. LABAN WHEATON was appointed Chief-Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, May 18, 1810; but, it is believed, did not hold the office long. (See Col- legiate History.)
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD was commissioned Judge of Probate, Feb. 16, 1747; and held the office till his death in 1778. (See councillors.)
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD, son of the above, was ap- pointed to this office, June 7, 1784; and held it several years.
JUDGE OF COURT OF SESSIONS.
Hon. LABAN WHEATON was appointed Judge of this Court, May 25, 1819; but, the following year, the court was abolished.
REGISTER OF PROBATE.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD, Jun., was commissioned re- gister, April 18, 1749 ; and held the office till 1783.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
Hon. GEORGE LEONARD was chosen, in 1788, a mem- ber of the first Congress of the United States. He
1 Gravestone.
t
308
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
failed of an election to the second, but was a member of the third and fourth Congresses.
Hon. LABAN WHEATON was representative eight years, - from March 4, 1809, to March 4, 1817.
We here present to our readers the votes for Gover- nor for each year, from the adoption of the State Constitution to 1857. The name first recorded under the year was the Governor for that year, either elected by the people or by the Legislature. Those who failed of a popular election, but were subsequently chosen by the General Court, we have designated by a (*).
Votes.
Votes.
1780.
John Hancock
72
James Bowdoin . 2
1781.
John Hancock . 54
1782.
John Hancock . 21
1783.
John Hancock
41
1784.
James Bowdoin . 33
John Hancock 3
1785.
James Bowdoin* 8
Thomas Cushing 25
Nathaniel Gorham .
1
1786.
James Bowdoin . 7
John Hancock
29
Thomas Cushing 2
1787.
John Hancock 104
James Bowdoin . 8
1788.
John Hancock 52
Elbridge Gerry .
39
1789.
John Hancock 71
Scattering 4
(
1790.
John Hancock
56
James Bowdoin .
8
1791.
John Hancock
.
77
1792.
John Hancock
71
Samuel Phillips, jun. .
10
1793.
John Hancock .
61
1794.
Samuel Adams . 52
William Cushing 14
David Cobb .
10
1795.
Samuel Adams .
47
1796.
Samuel Adams . 52
Increase Sumner
18
1797.
Increase Sumner 18
Moses Gill 55
James Sullivan
31
I M
I
0
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
309
Votes.
1798.
Increase Sumner 58
Moses .Gill
19
1799.
Increase Sumner 33
William Heath . 91
1800.
Caleb Strong 42
Elbridge Gerry . 85
1801.
Caleb Strong
31
Elbridge Gerry . 73
1802.
Caleb Strong 38
Elbridge Gerry . 83
Edward H. Robbins 1
1803.
Caleb Strong 81
Elbridge Gerry . 63
1804.
Caleb Strong 64
James Sullivan .
93
William Heath .
1
1805.
Caleb Strong 71
James Sullivan . 89
1806.
Caleb Strong 86
James Sullivan
69
John Sullivan 1
1807.
Caleb Strong . 123
James Sullivan
118
Scattering 3
1808.
James Sullivan .
90
Christopher Gore . . 120
Votes.
George Walker .
1
1809.
Christopher Gore
.
. 108
Levi Lincoln
.
127
Scattering 3
1810.
Elbridge Gerry . . 149
Christopher Gore . 107
David Cobb .
1
1811.
Elbridge Gerry .
.
125
Christopher Gore
.. 104
William Grey 1
1812.
Caleb Strong
.
139
Elbridge Gerry .
. 124
1813.
Caleb Strong
. 146
Joseph B. Varnum .
. 108
1814.
Caleb Strong
137
Samuel Dexter .
. 123
1815.
Caleb Strong
.
141
Samuel Dexter .
.
122
Scattering
2
1816.
John Brooks .
. 121
Samuel Dexter . 112
Scattering
3
1817.
John Brooks .
. 104
Henry Dearborn
81
1818.
John Brooks .
.
.
119
B. W. Crowningshield .
87
Thomas Kittridge
.
1
310
MUNICIPAL AND OFFICIAL HISTORY.
Votes.
Votes.
1819.
1828.
John Brooks . . 133
Levi Lincoln 56
B. W. Crowningshield. 103
Marcus Morton . 5
William Phillips 1
Emerson Briggs 1
1820.
1829.
John Brooks . 103
William Eustis .
74
1821.
Scattering
3
John Brooks .
115
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.