USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 23
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MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS IN SUFFOLK COUNTY.
An account of the rank and file will give a better insight into the character of any army than a record of its officers, however brilliant some of them may have been. So it is thought that an account of all individual practitioners from the earliest days of the county will give a clear view of the profession in the times when they were its repre- sentatives. With this view the following sketches have been collected.
Until a profession is organized it has but little weight in a commu- nity as such, although much may be accomplished by its individual members. With organization come concerted action, the preservation of records, and results that can easily be traced and recorded. Prior to organization we must content ourselves with recording the work of
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individuals, and it will be a part of our task to present as far as possible the records of the physicians of Suffolk county until the profession organized itself in this community by establishing the Massachusetts Medical Society.
The biographical sketches of the practitioners of medicine in Suffolk county have been divided in two parts. Those who practiced their pro- fession during the years succeeding the settlement of Boston in 1630 until the year 1700, are included in the first part. Those who were here between 1700 and 1800 are included in the second part.
This list of practitioners in Boston is believed to contain the names of all who practiced medicine previous to 1700:
Addington Isaac, sr. Ellis Edward, jr.
Pemberton Thomas.
Addington Isaac, jr.
Ellis Robert.
Perkins John.
Alcock Samuel.
Eyre John.
Pighogg - -.
Allen Daniel.
Eyre Jonathan.
Pratt Abraham.
Ashton (Henry?)
Eyre Simon.
Pratt John.
Avery Willianı.
Firmin Giles.
Scottow Thomas.
Barnaby Ruth.
Gager William.
Snelling William.
Bowdoin Peter.
Glover John.
Starr Comfort.
Boylston Thomas.
Hall Nathaniel.
Starr Thomas.
Brackenbury Samuel.
Hawkins Jane.
Stewart
Brackenbury Samuel, jr.
Hughs William.
Stone Daniel.
Bradstreet Samuel.
Hutchinson Anne.
Stone Samuel.
Bullivant Benjamin.
Kittredge John.
Swan Thomas.
Chauncey Elnathan.
Knopp Nicholas.
Swan Thomas, jr.
Checkley Samuel.
Lake Lancelot.
Taylor Henry.
Child Robert.
Ludovick Christian.
Thacher Thomas.
Clark John.
Lunerus Polus.
Wadsworth
Clark John.
Lyall Francis.
Waldron Isaac.
Clark John, the Counsellor. Mather Increase.
Weeden Elizabeth.
Clark John.
Morley Robert.
Wigglesworth Michael.
Cooke Elisha.
Morton Charles.
Wilkinson Thomas.
Cutler John.
Mountfort Jonathan.
Williams Richard.
Cutler John J.
Noyes Oliver.
Winslow Edward.
Cutler Peter.
Oakes Thomas.
Winthrop John.
Dinely William.
Oliver James.
Winthrop John, jr.
Ellis Edward.
Oliver Thomas.
Winthrop Wait.
Palgrave Richard.
Addington, Isaac, sr., " a single man," was admitted a member of the First Church, 1640, 13 4 mo .; "is believed to have been a sur- geon; " the evidence of this seems to rest upon items in the inventory of his estate-"steele instruments," "a box of lancets tipt with silver,"
MEDICAL HISTORY. 233
and "a surgeon's chest." He was a freeman 22 May, 1650, and joined the Art. Co. in 1650. Whitman says: " This christian name is Jesse on the old roll -- probably a mistake." His autograph on a half-length portrait is given in the first volume of the Memorial History of Boston. His wife was Anne, daughter of Elder Thomas and Anne Leverett, sister of John, afterwards governor. He died in 1653. He had five children, the eldest, Isaac, a physician.
Addington, Isaac, jr., was born 22 January, 1644-5, son of the pre- ceding; is styled chirurgeon in three deeds, 1669-70-41. Eliot, in his Biographical Dictionary of New England, says he was "an eminent magistrate of Massachusetts." He was one of the worthies who op- posed the administration of Sir Edmund Andros; and was appointed secretary of the Province by those who adhered to the old charter. He also received the same appointment from the crown when the charter of William and Mary was brought over. He was chosen for many years one of the Council, and was very active as a justice of the peace. He was admitted a freeman ? May, 1623, joined the First Church 1688, and was a prominent member. He held many offices, and it seems doubtful if he could have devoted much time to the practice of medicine. Chief Justice Sewall, in his diary, speaks of having "the advice of Mr. Addington and Dr. Allen." He died 17 March, 1715.
Alcock, Samuel, son of Dr. George, and brother of Dr. John, of Roxbury, who graduated from Harvard College 1646. Toner, in his " Annals of Medical Progress," says he "was born in Roxbury and settled in Boston as a chirurgeon." In 1676 he is rated on the tax lists. Sewall, in his diary, under date of 16 month, 1677: " Dr. Alcock dyes about midnight. Dr. Alcock was 39 years old." Samuel was a graduate of H. C. in 1659.
Allen, Danicl, son of Rev. John Allen, of Dedham, born 5 August, 1656, died 1692. Winthrop, in his interleaved catalogue, says he was a physician in Boston; and Sewall writes in 1676: "Have the advice of Mr. Addington and Dr. Allin, who made the issue." He was grad- uated from H. C. in 1675, and was librarian of the college 1646 to 1679. Savage says he lived in Charlestown, mortgaged his estate in Dedham, and died in 1692.
Ashton, (Henry ?) Drake, in his History of Boston, says: "over against Dr. Ashton's in Marlboro street." Savage mentions Henry
30
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Ashton as of Boston in 1643, coming from Lancastershire, England, and presumes he is of Providence in 1626, and one of those who, for staying out the war, was entitled to receive an Indian for a slave.
Avery, William, was born in England, came to Boston, in 1650, with his wife Mary and children Mary, William and Robert; settled first in Dedham, where he was the first educated physician; was in Boston in 1680, for Withington, in his history of Dedham, writes: "In 1680 Captain Daniel Fisher and Ensign Fuller report that Dr. William Avery, now of Boston, but formerly of the Dedham church, out of his entire love to this church and town, freely gives into their hands sixty pounds for a Latin school."
He opened an apothecary's shop, which is said to have been the first established in New England. He died 18 March, 1686, in Boston, aged sixty-five years. Toner says he was a benefactor of Harvard College. He is buried in the Chapel burying-ground, where a small gravestone marks the place of interment. Possibly he is " Lieut. William Avery, Dedham physician," who joined the Art. Co. in 1654. " There is a will of William Avery, Suff. Prob. Rec., 1680, bookseller -- on the back says, now of Boston, formerly of Dedham." Toner says that "Jonathan, son of Dr. William, was born in Boston, and in his will, made in May, 1691, describes himself as a resident of Dedham, a practitioner of physic, aged 35 years."
Barnaby, Ruth. Of her, Toner writes that she was a noted midwife of Boston, "who practiced her calling in that town for more than forty years. She was born in Marblehead, in August, 1664, and died' 12 Feb., 1765, aged 101 years." He also states that at the age of one hundred years she was inoculated, and thus escaped dying with the loathsome disease which carried off some of her family.
Bowdoin, Peter, although a physician, his career in Boston was that of a successful merchant. He came from La Rochelle, and was in Casco in 1684. He died in Boston, in September, 1206.
Brackenbury, Samuel, was born 10 February, 1645-6, admitted to Second Church in 1614. He was graduated from H. C. in 1664. He was at first a preacher, and assisted Rev. Samuel Phillips at Rowley. He married Mary, daughter of Rev. Michael Wigglesworth, and moved to Boston. Sewall says, 3 October, 1676: " For the Flux Dr Brackenbury advises to Diacodium to more Rest and Approves Pepper boyled in Milk and Water alike of each. Diacod. 6 ounces." Again,
a. S. Sean
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22 September, 1676, he states that he " spent the day from 9 in the m. with Mr. Brackenbury dissecting the middlemost of the Indian executed the day before, who, taking the in his hand affirmed it to be the stomach. Ispent 18s. 6d. in all, 6d. in Madeira wine and 6d. I gave to the maid." John Hull, in his diary, says: "Jan. 11 [1617], Mr. Samuel Brackenbury, a physician, died of the small pox."
Brackenbury, Samuel, son of the preceding, was born in Malden, in in February, 1613; said to have practiced in Malden and Boston. Mar- ried Ann, daughter of John Chickering, ?? October, 1694; was ad- mitted to the church in Charlestown in 1676, and died at Malden, 26 November, 1202, aged about thirty years.
Bradstreet, Samuel, was born in England in 1603: graduated at Harvard College in 1653. He may have received his medical educa- tion in England, where he went in 1657, returning in 1661. He is supposed to have practiced in Boston in 1663 to 1640. He went to Jamaica, where he died in 1682.
Boylston, Thomas, born 11 mo. 26 day, 1644, in Brookline, son of Thomas, from Fenchurch street, London. The father came in 1635, and settled in Watertown, with wife, Sarah Boilston. Farmer says he received his degree at Oxford, and came to New England and settled in Brookline in 1635; another authority gives the date of his birth as 26 January, 1637, and Bond makes it 26 January, 1644-45; Vinton agrees with the date given by Bond, being twenty-eight years old by oath given in court in 1643. " He was the earliest physician or chirur- geon in Brookline, called Muddy River, and a part of Boston till 1205." He married, in Charlestown, Mary Gardner, born 3 April, 1648, died 9 July, 1222, daughter of Thomas Gardner, of Muddy River. He was engaged as surgeon in the Narragansett war in 1645. His estate ap- praised at £560 14s., was probated in Suffolk county, 10 August, 1695.
Bullivant, Benjamin, came from London, England, in 1685. He was a very prominent member and one of the first wardens in King's Chapel. John Danton says he was of noble family, and also writes:
His Skill in Pharmacy was such, as rendered him the most compleat Pharmacopean, not only in all Boston, but in all New-England; and is beside, as much a Gentleman as any one in all the Countrey. He is as intimate with Gallen and Hypoc- rates (at least with their ways and works, ) as ever I have been with you, Even in our most Familiar Converse. And is so conversant with the great variety of Nature, that not a Drug or Simple can Escape him; whose Power and Vertues are known so
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SUFFOLK COUNTY.
well to him, he needs not Practise new Experiments upon his Patients, except it be in desperate Cases, when Death must be expell'd by Death. This also is Praise- worthy in him, That to the Poor he always prescribes cheap, but wholesome Med- icines, not curing them of a Consumption in their Bodies, and sending it into their Purses; nor yet directing them to the East-Indies to look for Drugs, when they may have far better out of their Gardens .- (" The Publications of the Prince Society," iv, 94-96.)
He was attorney-general for Governor Andros, Savage says, "and on the outburst, April, 1689, was for his office imprisoned, yet did not _ remain." He was in Northampton, England, in 1711, when he wrote a letter to Danton. He is described as "a worth apothecary, a medical lawyer, and an honest politician." Mr. Foote, in his History of King's Chapel, gives quite an account of his connection with that church, and his experience in Boston.
Chauncey, Elnathan, born about 1639 in Plymouth, was the fourth son of President Chauncey of H. C. He was graduated at II. C. in 1661, and received his A. M. in 1664, when he maintained the affirmative of the following questions: "Utrum detur concensus per modem prin- cipii?" Probably he is the one of whom Winthrop mentioned as having " swooned away " when immersed " in very cold water " by his father, who persevered in his opinion of dipping in baptism and practiced ac- cordingly.
Robert Hixon, a merchant of Plymouth, at his birth gave him "fifty acres of land ; so much were the people of Plymouth attached to Presi- dent Chauncey." Charles Chauncey, H C., 1721, says " he lived here in Boston, a noted doctor, for some time." He went to Europe, and R. Blinman, of London, in a letter to Increase Mather, under date of 14 August, 1676, says "Mr. Elnathan Chauncey is like to return to New England, who hath had advantages from his two brothers here for the practice of physick." Subsequently he went to Barbadoes, where he died, probably in 1684.
Checkley, Samuel, the sixth child of John and Anna Checkley, was born November 26, 1661. "He was a surgeon." Whitman writes: "Col. Samuel Checkley, Boston, physician and surgeon, son of Capt. Anthony, Ar. Co., 1662, and an officer of the militia of Boston. After the revolution, which overturned Andros's government, he was actively engaged in revising the Ar. Co .; was elected its lieutenant in 1694, captain in 1700, and must have long remained an active member. He was major of Boston regiment 1702, in 1706 lieutenant-colonel, and 1710
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colonel, which office he held two years. When he died I have been unable to ascertain, except that his will was dated January, 1:11, and proved 1 July, 1212. I conclude he died while colonel of the regiment. A member of the Old South Church." He joined the Art. Co. in 1678.
Child, Robert, came from Northfleet, County Kent; was educated at Corpus Christi College, and received A. B. 1631, A. M. 1635. He was educated for the medical profession at Padua. After coming to these shores he settled at Hingham. Previous to coming he had traveled on the Continent, and, as Winslow says, "confesseth hee was twice at Rome, speaking some times, as I have heard reported, in favor of the Jesnits." His object in coming to New England was stated to be to explore the mines of the country. In 1646 he and others were fined for protesting against the union of the church and state. He com- plained that the fundamental laws of New England were disregarded, and that freeborn Englishmen, if not members of one of the churches, were denied civil privileges and debarred from Christian ordinances. He prayed for redress and threatened to apply to Parliament. He was summoned before the court, accused of "false and scandalous passages," and fined fifty pounds. His trial is related by Winthrop. He prepared to sail for England in order to lay his case before Parliament; but the court anticipating his design, caused him to be apprehended, and, ad- judging him to be guilty of contempt, quadrupled his former fine and ordered his imprisonment until payment was made.
Toner further says his original intention in coming to this country was to explore the mineral resources of the New World. He was a learned man, for the times, and his bitterest opponent, Gov. John Win- throp, spoke of him as "a man of quality, a gentleman and a scholar."
His brother, Major Child, of England, indignant at his brother's im- prisonment, published a pamphlet, "New England's Jonah east up at London," containing Child's petition to the court. This was answered by Winslow in the "Salamander." He probably died in England.
Whitman gives a short sketch of Dr. Robert Child in the second edi- tion of his history of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, concluding him to be the member whose surname only was given on the old roll, and not very legible, and which in his first edition he deciphered a Chidley.
Clark, John, 1 was first of Newbury, where he was for ten years before coming to Boston. Savage says he "was noted in his profession, as
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SUFFOLK COUNTY.
also for keeping fine horses." Admitted a freeman 1639, and repre- sentative to the September session of that year.
His oil portrait is owned by the Massachusetts Historical Society, in which he appears in a close-fitting skull-cap, with long loeks and ven- erable flowing beard. His left hand rests upon a skull, and his right holds a trephine. Tradition says he was the first regularly educated physician in New England, and that he received a diploma in England before he came to this country for his success in cutting for stone. He married Martha, sister of Sir Richard Saltonstall (he died in November, 1664), who survived him sixteen years or more, during which time it may be inferred she subsisted on the proceeds of certain patent stoves, invented by her husband. The patent was granted him only for life, but at his death there were many stoves left which came to her by will.
He was instrumental in the introduction of a breed of horses into this country, which, it is said, were long known in Plymouth as Clark's breed. His will devises "horses, mares, and colts both in the Colony of Massachusetts and in Plymouth Colony," and the inventory of his estate shows "mares and horses, young and old, 12 at f5 each-£60."
He left only one son, John, also a physician.
Clark, John,? son of the preceding, pursued his father's calling. He was interested in civil affairs, and was chosen representative from Bos- ton in 1689 and 1690. He married Martha, daughter of John Whitting- ham, and had sons John, William and Samuel. He was a freeman in 1643, and graduated at Harvard in 1687. He died on the 19th of De- cember, 1690, without leaving a will.
Clark, John, 3 son of the preceding, was born 2; January, 1668, grad- uated at Harvard in 1687. He was married three times, first to Sarah Shrimpton, 30 April, 1691, who died 20 November, 171; second, to Elizabeth Hutchinson, 16 April, 1718, who died 2 December, 1722; he married for the third time, 15 July, 1425, Sarah Leverett, who survived him, and subsequently married Rev. Dr. Benjamin Colman.
In Copp's Hill burying-ground is this epitaph :
Relique JOHANNIS CLARKE ARMIG laudatissimi senatoris et medicinae doctoris probitate modestina et mansuetudine præclari terram reliquit Decem 5 1728 ætat 62 Nomen et pietas manent post funera
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Ile had several daughters and one son, John, 4 born December 15, 1698. He was a representative for Boston in 1208 to 1714, and 1120 to 1124, and was thrice chosen speaker of the House. While he was a representative in 1421, a controversy arose between the House and the Council, and at the same time the small-pox began to spread. Hutch- inson, in his history, says: " In the midst of the dispute, Mr. Hutch- inson, one of the members for Boston, was seized with the small-pox and died in a few days. The speaker, Mr. Clark, was one of the most noted physicians in Boston, and notwithstanding all his care to cleanse himself from infection after visiting his patients, it was supposed, brought the distemper to his brother member." This occurrence so terrified the Court that they could not be kept together. From 1224 to the time of his death he was in the Council of the Province.
Clarke, John, was a physician in London before he came to this country. He came to Boston in 1632; as a favorer of Mr. Hutchinson, he was driven thence, and the next year went to Rhode Island, and is venerated as the father of the settlement at Newport, where he died 20 April, 1676. He was from Bedfordshire, and son of Thomas and Rose. He was the author of " Ill News from N. E.," and an account of his life in Rhode Island is to be found in Rev. Dr. Allen's American Biographical Dietionary. He is not known to have been related to those of the name who follow. During his life in Rhode Island he was more interested in theology than medicine, forming a church at New- port, being the second Baptist church established in America, and of which he was pastor at the time of his death.
Cooke, Elisha, was a prominent physcian as well as a politician of this period. He was the son of Richard, a tailor of Boston, where he was born, 16 September, 1637, and graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1651, being one of the first natives of the town that studied medicine. While esteemed as a physician, his reputation is based more on his labors in connection with the body politic than the body physical. Hutchinson says: " Though esteemed as a physician, he was most rem'kable in his political character, having been more than forty years in places of public trust and being always firm and steady to his principles." He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Governor Leverett .. He had a son, Elisha, who was also a prominent politician, speaker and counsellor. He died 31 October, 1:15.
Cutler, John, was a " chirurgeon," and served in King Philip's war in 1676-7, and drew pay so much larger in amount as to suggest the
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SUFFOLK COUNTY.
supposition that he held the office of chief surgeon. He came origin- ally from Holland, where his name was written Demesmaker. On coming to this country he adopted the English translation of his Dutch patronymic, and called himself Cutler; and ever afterward the family was so designated. His marriage is thus given in the town records of Hingham :
Johannes Demesmaker, a Dutchman (who say his name in English in John Cutler) and Mary Cowell the daughter of Edward Cowell of Boston were marryed by Cap- taine Joshua Hobart on the fourth day of January 1674.
The births of seven children are also recorded in the same records. The entries of the two oldest and the two youngest of these children are given, as they show how the distinction between the names was made at the outset, and that it was dropped in the course of time. The oldest child was John, who became the physician, and signed the circular relating to the epidemic.
Johannes Demesmaker, whose name in English is John Cutler, the son of Johannes Demesmaker a Dutchman and of Mary his wife was born on the sixt day of August 1676.
Peter Demesmaker (the son of Johannes Demesmaker a Dutchman & of Mary his wife an English woman) was born on the seventh day of July 1679.
David Cutler, ye son of Doctor John Cutler & of Mary his wife was born the first of November 1689.
Ruth Cutler the daughter of Doctor John Cutler & of Mary his wife was born ye 24th of February 1693.
He removed to Boston about the year 1649, and built a splendid house, for that time, in which he lived in Marlborough street, now a part of Washington street, near the Old South Meeting-house. Tradition says that this house was of wood, three stories high ; the tapestry of its rooms was made of leather. He had a large practice, and was the preceptor of Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, who afterward became famous during the time of the small-pox inoculation. He died intestate, leav- ing an estate inventoried at £5,740 15s. His death occurred before 17 February, 1417, at which time his wife administered his estate.
Cutler, John, was the son of John Cutler, the preceding, and was born August 6, 1676, at Hingham. He graduated H. C. 1698. He inherited from his father his practice, as well as the homestead. The son married the widow, Mrs. Joanna (Dodd) Richards; and he was actively connected with the King's Chapel, of which church he was warden. He died 23 September, 1761, having lived a long life of use-
MEDICAL HISTORY. 241
fulness. It is supposed that he was sent to England for his education. With Drs. William Douglass, William Clark and Edward Ellis, on the 10th of July, 1739, he certified to the health of a cargo of negroes. Dr. Boylston was his pupil.
Cutler, Peter, was a brother of the preceding. He was born in Hingham, August 6, 1679. He made a voyage in the ship Swallow to Trieste as a " surgeon." He was afterwards a shopkeeper, and died in 1220, it is said, on an island in the harbor.
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Dinely, William. The pathetic story of William Dinely has often been told. He was a barber-surgeon and tooth puller, and perished during a severe snow storm, 15 December, 1638, between Boston and Roxbury, whither he was going to pull a tooth. It was many days be- fore his body was found, and his poor widow suffered great anguish. Her grief hastened the coming event which she was anticipating with so much joy, and she named the baby Fathergone Dinely. She after- wards married Richard Critchley.
Ellis, Edward. It is said that Dr. Ellis came from Wales. He mar- ried, in Boston, 6 August, 1652, Sarah, daughter of Robert and Susan Blott. Blott lived in Boston, at the time of the marriage of his daugh- ter, at the corner of Newbury, now Washington, street and Blott's lane. Dr. Ellis inherited this estate, and the corner of Newbury and Winter streets was called Ellis's corner until 1732. The baptism of each of his children are given in the records of the First Church. He died 23 April, 1695, aged seventy-four. Sewall says, "Neighbor Ellis died to-day." Sarah, widow of Dr. Ellis, " chirurgeon of Boston," Robert Ellis, chirurgeon, and other surviving children mortgaged the land on Blott's lane, 17 June, 1698. His widow died 18 December, 1:11.
Ellis, Robert, son of the preceding, was born September 24, 1671. He was a merchant as well as a physician. He married, June 4, 1698, Elizabeth, daughter of James and Sarah Pemberton, of Boston, and had eleven children, whose baptisms are given in the records of the old First Church. He was appointed " Chirurgeon " for the expedition to Port Royal, 19 August, 1710, William Rand and Wheatley Gooch being his assistants. He died 7 April, 1:20.
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