USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 24
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Ellis, Edward, son of the preceding, was born 23 February, 1698-9; was also a chirurgeon, and is the only one known to have had descend- ants.
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Eyre, John, was born 19 February, 1683-4, son of Simon (given later), and married Catherine, daughter of Thomas Brattle. They had eight children, five of whom died young, as his will mentions only three. A post- humous child was born 7 August, 1700, John, who was graduated from Harvard College in 1718. John Eyre was a member of the Artillery Company in 1682; in the Committee on Safety in 1689; representative in 1693 and 1698; and died in June, 1700. His widow married Waitstill Winthrop, 13 November, 1707.
Eyre, Jonathan, son of the preceding, was born 20 March, 1638. Savage says he "was educated for a surgeon 1656, but no more is known of him."
Eyre, Simon, surgeon, came, in 1635, from London in the Increase, being forty-eight years of age, bringing his wife Dorothy and eight children. He settled in Watertown, where he was freeman 1632; he held several offices-selectman 1636-41, town clerk 1641-5, and repre- sentative 1641-until 1645, when he removed to Boston, where his wife died 11 August, 1650. He married again-Martha, daughter of William Husband, sister of the historian, and widow of John Whittingham, of Ipswich. He had several children by each wife. He died 10 October, 1658. His youngest child by his second wife was Dr. John Eyre, al- ready given.
Firmin, Giles, jr. Dr. Green writes as follows: "Another among the early settlers of Massachusetts who practiced medicine was Giles Firmin, jr., who came to this country in 1632. His father-' a godly man, an apothecary of Sudbury in England,' according to Winthrop- arrived here about the same time; and in some accounts the two have been confounded from the similarity of their names. It is very likely that Giles, senior, was a medical practitioner. The son did not long remain in Boston, but soon returned to England; coming again, how- ever, to these shores a few years subsequently. He had been educated at the University of Cambridge, and was learned in medicine. He is the first man known to have taught in New England this branch of science, and he seems to have left a professional imprint on the minds of his students. He soon removed to Ipswich, where he was widely known as a successful physician. His practice does not appear to have been a lucrative one, for he writes to Winthrop some years afterward, -' I am strongly set upon to studye divinitie, my studies else must
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be lost: for physick is but a meene helpe.'1 Subsequently he carried this plan into execution, and studied theology, after which he returned to England, where he was ordained and settled as a rector. Never- theless, he continued to practice his early profession.
" The apostle Eliot, under date of 24 September, 1647, writes to Mr. Shepard, the minister of Cambridge, and expresses the desire that-
' Our young Students in Physick may be trained up better than yet they bee, who have onely theoreticall knowledge, and are forced to fall to practise before ever they saw an Anatomy made, or duely trained up in making experiments, for we never had but one Anatomy in the Countrey, which Mr. Giles Firman (now in England) did make and read upon very well, but no more of that now.'"?
Savage says that he came perhaps with his father in 1630, but settled in Boston before him. He was at Ipswich in 1638, a freeman 22 May, 1639, removed probably to Haverhill with his brother-in-law, Rev. John Ward, having married his sister Susan, daughter of Rev. Na- thaniel Ward. In 1644, or soon after, he returned to England, where he was settled as rector in Sholford in Essex. Savage writes: " In a sermon before Parliament and the Westminster Assembly, he said, that in our country, in seven years ' I have never heard one profane oath, and in all that time never did see a man drunk,'" and quaintly adds, " which is better proof of his keeping good company than for searching for opportunity," adding that "punishment was frequent enough for such offences; but his presence was, no doubt, protection to both eyes and ears." He was ejected in 1662, and died at Ridgewell, in April, 1697.
Firmin, Giles, sr. This " godly man, an apothecary of Sudbury in England," as Winthrop styles him, instead of being a medical prac- titioner, as Dr. Green surmises, very likely continued to follow his early calling of an apothecary. The following extract from the early town records, appointing him as an "overseer," would indicate that he was more likely to be about home rather than one who was visiting among the sick, although, like many of his ilk of the present day, he may have combined counter practice with the dispensing of drugs.
Snow's "Description of Boston," published in 1817, gives a fac-simile of the first entry in the town records, in which Giles Firmin is recorded
1 Hutchinson's Collection of Original Papers, &c., page 109.
2 Massachusetts Historical Collections, third series, iv, 57.
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as present with nine others, "1634; - month (th dave," and the fol- lowing orders were passed :
Whereas it hath been founde that much damage hath already happened by laying of stones and logges near the bridge, and landing place, whereby diverse boats have been much bruised: for prevention of such harmes for time to come, it is ordered that whosoever shall unlade any stones, timber or logges, where the same may not be plainly seen at high water, shall set up a pole or beacon to give notice thereof, upon pain that whosoever shall faile so to doe, shall make full recompence for all such damage as shall happen to any boats or other vessels, by occasion of said stones, timber or logges, the same to be recovered by action at the court; and this order to be in force from this day forwarde.
It is also ordered, that no person shall leave any fish or garbage near the said bridge or common landing place, between the creeks, whereby any annoyance may arise to the people that passe that way, upon payne to forfeit for every such offence, five shillings, the same to be levied by distress of the goods of the offenders.
And for the better execution of these orders the aforesaid Giles Firmin is appointed overseer of said landing place, to give notice to such strangers and others as come hither with boats.
And to take knowledge of all offences committed, and to levye the penalties which shall be forfeited -Pages 22 and 73.
Giles, sr., came with Winthrop in 1630, and settled first in Water- town, remaining two years, when he removed to Boston. In 1633 he was chosen deacon by the imposition of hands. He was a selectman, a freeman 4 March, 1634, and died in September of the same year.
Gager, William, a surgeon, came with Winthrop to Boston. He joined the church in Charlestown. Winthrop, in a letter to his wife November 29, 1630, speaks of his death: " Vet I have lost of my fam- ily Mr. Gager. We conceive that this disease grew from ill diet at sea and proved infectious." Prince also says: "Died of a fever, Mr. Gager, a skillful surgeon, a right godly man and one of the deacons of our congregation." This occurred 20 September, 1630. Toner is in error in saying that he practiced many years in Bos- ton. " Lord's Day, 1 August, 1630, five were joined to the church in Charlestown Mr. William Gager, surgeon."
Glover, John. Savage says: "Cambridge, son of Rev. Josse, born in England. H. C. 1650, in 1654 was living in England, had a degree of M. D. at Aberdeen, and probably never came again to our shores."
" Josse, rector, it is said, of Sutton, in Surrey, made contract with Stephen Day, of Cambridge, England, to come over with wife, chil- dren, and servants in the John of London, at expense of Glover, his
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design being to set up a printing press here; died on the passage, and his widow married Henry Dunster, afterwards the first president of Harvard College."
Another authority says. "John was the son of John, and born in Dorchester. After receiving his degree in Europe returned to New England and settled in Roxbury. He was a benefactor of his alma mater and is supposed to have died before the end of the century."
His connection with Boston is that he was taxed here in 1644.
Hall, Nathaniel, was taxed in Boston, 1695, and we are sure of no more. Possibly he may be the Nathaniel of whom Savage writes: " A captain in the Indian war at the E. under Church; fought with great bravery in defence of Falmouth, September 21, 1689; was son of the first John, of Falmouth, and married Ann, daughter of Rev. Thomas Thornton ; had no children ; kept a tavern, and practiced as a physician ; removed to Hingham, thence to the Delaware River."
Hawkins, Jane, was a physician of some notoriety. According to Governor Winthrop:
She used to give young women oil of mandrakes and other stuff to cause coneep- tion ; and she grew into great suspicion to be a witch, for it was credibly reported, that, when she gave any medicines (for she practised physic,) she would ask the party, if she did believe, she could help her .- (" The History of New England," i. 316.)
Thomas Welde, in " A Short Story, " etc. (London, 1644), says that she was "notorious for familiarity with the devill." Her reputation in the community was anything but good. She was looked upon as a witch, and for that reason greatly feared by her neighbors. Her case was considered at the session of the General Court, beginning 12 March, 1637-8, when it is recorded that :
Jane Hawkins the wife of Richard Hawkins had liberty till the beginning of the third mo. called May, & the magistrates (if shee did not depart before) to dispose of her, & and in the meane time shee is not to meddle in surgery, or physick, drinks, or oyles, nor to question matters of religion except with the elders for satisfaction .- (General Court Records, i. 219.)
The effect of this order is not known ; but some years later summary steps were taken to get rid of her without much previous notice. At the session of the General Court, beginning 2 June, 1641, it was voted that,
Jane Hawkins is enioyned to depart away tomorrow morning, & not to returne again hither upon paine of severe whipping, & such other punishment, as the Court
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shall thinke meete. & her sonnes stand bound in 201 to carry her away according to order .- (General Court Records, i. 309.)
Hughs, William. "Dr. William Hughs" is recorded in list of in- habitants 1695. " Doctor William Huse" is taxed in 1687, and here our knowledge ends. Savage makes no mention of such a person. Toner says " William Hughes practised in Boston between 1685 and 1695."
Hutchinson, Anne, was born in Lincolnshire, England, about 1600. She was the wife of William Hutchinson, whom she accompanied to Boston in 1636. She taught doctrines which were condemned as heretical by the Synod of 1637. Shortly after the death of her hus- band, in 1642, she was banished and removed to what is now West- chester county, N. Y. The next year her house was set on fire by the Indians, and she and her family, consisting of sixteen persons, except a child taken captive, either perished in the flames or were killed by the savages.
Dr. Green writes:
The women had their representatives in the profession in olden times as well as in our day, though they were not so strenuous in regard to their political rights as are their modern sisters. Anne Hutchinson was among the earliest of the sisterhood who practised medicine in Massachusetts. She came to Boston in the year 1636, and in "A Short Story," &c., by Thomas Welde (London, 1644), she is spoken of as a person "very helpfull in the times of child-birth, and other occasions of bodily in_ firmities, and well-furnished with means for those purposes."-(Page 81.) She was a noted character in colonial history, and by her heretical teachings and preachings soon threw the whole settlement in a flame, for which she was subsequently ban- ished.
Anne Hutchinson left Boston 28 March, 1638 (Ellis's Life of Anne Hutchinson, v. 320, Sparks's biog. )
Kittredge, John, was born in Billerica, 24 January, 1666, son of John, who came with his mother from England, and settled in Billerica as a farmer. Farmer, in his "Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England," says of John: "Being the first of the name in America styled Dr., a prefix so common among his descendants" He married Hannah French, ? August, 1685, and had eleven children, six of whom were sons. He was probably of Boston, and died 2: April, 1714.
Knopp, Nicholas. During the first winter, 1 March, 1630, at Boston, the Court of Assistants fined Nicholas Knopp five pounds:
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For takeing vpon him to cure the scurvey by a water of noe worth nor value, which he solde att a very deare rate, to bee imprisoned till hee pay his ffine or giue secury- tie for it, or els to be whipped & shalbe lyable to any mans accon of whom he hath receaued money for the s'd water .- (General Court Records, i. 67.)
The record, however, does not state which dose he took in the way of punishment, but as three pounds of the fine were subsequently re- mitted, it is fair to infer that he was not whipped. This shows that he was a practitioner, if not a physician. He may be the person of this name who was a proprietor in Watertown, 1636-1.
Lake, Lancelot, a physician, of whom it is only known that he mar- ried 6 May, 1708, widow Catherine Child, and died 17 September, 1:15. In his will he left his widow all his estate. His gravestone was lately found in the burial ground at King's Chapel.
Ludowick, Christian. The Rev. Thomas Prince, in speaking of Dr. James Oliver, of Cambridge, says he "had a singular Help in the Art of Chymistry by the ingenious Dr. Lodowick a German, who was also accounted an excellent Physician, and the most skilful Chymist that ever came into these Parts of America." Dr. Green thinks that Dr. Lodowick was the same person as Christian Lodowick who wrote a letter to Increase Mather, about the Quakers. It is dated 1 February, 1691-2, and was subsequently printed.
Lunerus, Polus. Dr. Lunerus was a German or Polish physician, who married, 1 June, 1652, Margaret Clemens, a widow. By the record of the General Court in 1654, he was to determine when an offender should be whipped, the offender being then too ill. Savage says: " I trust the advice of the physician was on the side of mercy, for the poor Scotch prisoner, a waif from the civil war in Great Britain, died soon after."
Lyall, Francis. Savage gives the following spellings of the name: Lysle, Lisle, Lioll or Loyal, and thinks that it may even be the same as Seyle. According to this authority, Francis Lyall was a barber-sur- geon of some importance, and went with Leverett, Brunce, Houghton and others to England to serve in the cause of Parliament, where he became surgeon in the life guard of the Earl of Manchester. He re- turned to Boston in 1645. In 1641 he bought of Elizabeth, widow of Walter Blackborne, "the dwelling house & shopp with outhouses, garden and 2 acres and halfe of land in centry field of the said Walters." The lot of land here spoken of was in Washington street, very nearly
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opposite where the Old South Church now stands. He also had a lot in the "new field."
Mather, Increase, and his son Cotton, both ministers of the North Church, are hardly to be elassed as physicians, although they were practitioners to a certain extent, perhaps only among their own parish- ioners. They united the professions of theology and physie, in the "angelical eonjunetion." Increase was born in Dorchester, 21 June, 1639; died 23 August, 1723. Cotton was born 12 March, 1663, and died June 22, 1785.
Dr. Increase Mather wrote a pamphlet entitled "Some further Ac- count from London of the Small-Por Inoculated. The Second Edition. With some Remarks on a late Scandalous Pamphlet Entituled, Inocu- lation of the Small-Pox as practis'd in Boston," &c., Boston, 1121. The first half of this pamphlet appeared in the Boston Gasette, of 5 February, 1221-22, No. 115, covering the third page of the news- paper; and this impression constituted the first edition. Dr. Mather was also the author of a broadside printed at Boston, in November, 1221, giving " Several Reasons proving that Inoculating or Trans- planting the Small-Por is a Lawful Practice, and that it has been Blessed by GOD for the Saving of many a Life."
Cotton Mather, if not a physician, was able to furnish a case which was probably of interest to those who were, for Sewall, in his diary, records under date of "March 28, 1693, Mr. Cotton Mather had a son born, which is his first; it seems it was without a posterior for the voidance of excrements: Dies Satterday, April 1."
Holmes speaks of Cotton Mather as a " meddlesome pedant," tor- menting his daughter by giving her an " uncertain and violent drug, in that spirit of well meant but restless quackery, which could touch nothing without mischief, not even a quotation, and yet proved at length the means of bringing a great blessing to our community " (the inoculation for small-pox).
Morley, Robert. Although Robert Morley was appointed to "serve as a barber and surgeon," I can find no record that he ever came to these shores.
Morton, Charles, was only a sojourner, coming to these parts in 1686 with his uncle, Charles Morton, who was the first vice-president of Harvard College. Savage, speaking of the latter, says: " His nephew Charles, an M. D., came with him, but went home in July of next year."
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Mountfort, Jonathan, the son of Edmund, a tailor, was born 15 June, 1648. Married, ? January, 1702, Hannah Nichols. He was said to have been a man of liberal education, a physician and apothecary, and lived for many years at what was called " Mountfort's Corner." He was independent in his means and eccentric in his habits. He was founder of tomb fifty-nine in the Granary Burying Ground and also of tomb nineteen in Copp's Hill Cemetery. In 1719 he was one of the seceders from the North Church, and among the founders and building committee of the "New Brick " or "Cockerel Church " on Hanover street, of which he was also treasurer.
His descendants in the male line are extinct.
Oakes, Dr. Thomas, son of Edward, was born at Cambridge, 18 June, 1644, a brother of President Oakes, and a graduate of Harvard College in 1662; he settled in Boston as a physician. He joined the Artillery Company in 1684, and is styled " Lieut." by Whitman, as he was an officer of the militia. Dunton calls him "the greatest Esculapius of the Countrey," and says that :
His wise and safe Prescriptions have expell'd more Diseases and rescu'd Languish- ing Patients from the Jaws of Death, than Mountebanks and Quack-Salvers have sent to those dark Regions: And on that score, Death has declar'd himself his Mortal Enemy: Whereas Death claims a Relation to those Pretenders to Physick, as being both of one Occupation, viz. : that of Killing Men."-("The Publications of the Prince Society," iv. 93).
Cotton Mather, in speaking of the physicians who were consulted in the case of the Goodwin children in 1688, says that Dr. Oakes "found himself so affronted by the Distempers of the children, that he con- cluded nothing but an hellich Witchcraft could be the original of these Maladies." He was a representative and speaker, and a leader in the opposition to Dudley's government; he went to England in 1690 as an agent of Massachusetts and assisted in procuring a new charter. He returned to Boston 23 October, 1692.
Probably to gratify his son Josiah, he removed to the part of Eastham 110w called Wellfleet on Cape Cod, where he died 15 July, 1219, his wife, Martha, having died in Boston on the 19th of the preceding April at the age of seventy years.
Oliver, James. Toner says that James Oliver practiced in Boston about 1640, but this is probably an error, as Rev. Thomas Pierce calls " the Learned Dr. James Oliver of Cambridge; one of the most esteemed
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Physicians in his Day," and it was this Cambridge physician whom Toner thought to be of Boston.
Oliver, Thomas, was a practicing physician of Boston, and was a most useful citizen, active both in town and church matters. In 1644 he is mentioned with high appreciation in Winthrop's Journal, as an experi- enced and skillful surgeon. In John Hull's Diary, published in the " Archeologia Americana " (III. 182), it is recorded that " The 1st of the 11th month [1 January, 1657-8], Mr. Thomas Oliver, one of the ruling elders of this church, died, being ninety years old, -a man by his outward profession a chirurgeon."
In 1645 he presented the following petition to the General Court:
May it please this honored Court to Consider of ye Paines and Cost: I haue bin at in dressing. Joseph White of yr disease called ye kings evill. wh hath bine vnder my hand vpon. 20. months both for sergery. and phisick. ye disease being in my Judg- ment hard to be Cured wt out amputation (we ye boy would never Consent vnto) yet I know not what ye lord will do in blessing ye meanes vsed. for he is in good ease for ye pressent and is able to worke for his liuing and begine to tread upon his foote
Yrs in all dewty to be co Tio: OLIVER
I would for the time past if it. please you. demand for my Pains and Cost 12-00-00 The magistrates judge it reasonable that the Petitioner demand should be granted & desire the concurrence of the Deputyes herein
Jo: WINTHROP: D: Go: (Massachusetts Archives, c. 10).
Palgrave, Richard, a physician, from Stepney, London, came over in Winthrop's fleet. He settled in Charlestown, though neither himself nor his wife was ever connected with the church in that town. Their ecclesiastical relations were always with Boston, where those of their children who were born in this country were baptized. His will, dated 4 June, 1651, was proved in October of the same year. In this he signs his name "Paulgrave." As Dr. Palgrave was connected with the church here, it seems probable that he must have practiced his profes- sion on this side of the Charles River as well as where he resided.
Pemberton, Thomas, was the son of James, who was of Newbury, 1646. He was born 17 February, 1653, in Boston. Savage says he was "a surgeon in that unhappy expedition of Phips against Quebec, 1690, and died 26 July, 1693." Under this date Sewall records, " Dr. Thomas Pemberton dies."
Perkins, John, was the son of Abraham Perkins, of Ipswich, where he was born 23 August, 1676; graduated at Harvard College, 1695, and
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soon after began the practice of medicine in Ipswich. He is said to have come to Boston, but when or for how long I have failed to deter- mine.
Pighogg, -. Farmer says: "The singular cognomen of Pighogg is found in the Boston records, one of this name, dignified with the title of Jr., being received as a townsman."
Savage says Mr. Pighogg "admitted a townsman 28 February, 1652, with prefix of respect, and entitled a 'churrergeon,'" and that no baptismal name is given. Dr. Holmes in his Lowell lecture (1869) hopes for the honor of his profession that this name was only Peacock disguised under an alias.
Pratt, Abraham, a "chyrurgeon," was said to have been in Boston in September, 1630. He was an inhabitant of Charlestown, and Wy- man, in his "Charlestown Genealogy and Estates," says that he and his wife were "both lost, near Cales [Cadiz], on Coast of Spain, with Capt. Coitmore, 1644."
Pratt, John, who was "accounted an abell man," came to this coun- try, but settled in Cambridge.
Scottow, Thomas, was the son of Joshua and Lydia. He was born 30 June; baptized 10 July, 1659, and graduated H. C. 1677. How long he remained in Boston is unknown. Mr. H. F. Waters has recently discovered his will in London, from which the date of his death can be proximately determined: "Thomas Scottow, of Boston, in New Eng- land, chirurgeon, now bound forth on a voyage to sea in the ship Gen- eral of London, Captain William Dennis, commander, 14 November, 1698." The will, penned 4 September, 1699, provides: " To my loving sister, Elizabeth Savage, of New England, aforesaid, all my real and personal estate in New England of what kind soever." Evidently he had neither wife nor child.
Snelling, William, son of Thomas Snelling, esq., of Chaddlewood, in Devonshire, was of Newbury in 1651, in 1654 he purchased an estate in Boston, selling it in 1657, to again buy in 1660. His wife was Mar- gery, eldest daughter of Giles Stagge, of Southwark, where he mar- ried 5 July, 1648, and died 18 June, 1667, aged forty-six years, in Bos- ton. He came to Boston before 1655, says Farmer. His children were: William, born 24 June, 1649; Ann, born 2 March, 1652, proba- bly died young; Ann, born ? May, 1654. His will is dated 7 May, 164.
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Sewall says:
Cousin Ana's water was carried to Dr. Snelling on Sat. morning. He affirmed her not to be dangerously ill. My Father-in-law from the first feared her death, from her trembling pulse, wormes coming away without amendment, and the well looking of her water, when she was manifestly very ill.
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