USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 25
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 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
25 April, 1660, treasurer to pay Mr. Snelling fifty-four shillings for physic admin- istered to Robert Higgins.
Starr, Comfort, a physician or surgeon of Ashford, in County Kent, England, came in the Hercules from Sandwich in 1635. He settled first in Cambridge, then in Duxbury, and in Boston after 1643; Savage says, dying here 2 January, 1660. He was chosen surgeon in 1634 to go with the troops under Captain Patrick in the Pequot war, and reached the scene of warfare after the Pequot fort had been destroyed by Underhill and Moran. His bequests show him to have been a man of means. One of his sons bore his Christian name, and graduated at H. C. in 1642, and is catalogued as " Consolantius."
Starr, Thomas, a younger brother of the preceding, a surgeon, came soon after, or perhaps with him, from Canterbury, County Kent, and brought his wife Susan and one child. The Colonial records show that he served in the Pequot war in 1634; he died perhaps in 1640, for in March, 1641, his wife Susan had grant of administration by the General Court.
Stewart, - " Dr. Stewart of Boston," is all we know.
Stone, Daniel, was of Cambridge until about 1656 he removed to Boston. In the town records, 28 April, 1643, we find the following entry: " Agreed with Dr. Daniel Stone for taking care of infirme and siek people of the towne that are poore on the condition of abatinge or allowinge his rate and paying him 20s. in money." Ten years later, 30 July, 1683, it is " ordered 33s. to be paid Doctr. Daniell Stone for lookinge after and dressing an ulcerous Leg of Griffine, who was form- eriie a serv't to Lt. John Smith." We also find that "Dan'l Stone is fined 20s. for entertaynement of John Hunt and wife and to pay 20s. per weeke as long as they continue with him." Sewall records, "Sab- bath March 20 1685 Dr. Stone and dye-"
Stone, Samuel. In 1671 Dr. Samuel Stone agreed to attend to "the town's poor for twenty shillings in money and a remittance of taxes."
Savan, Thomas, was of Roxbury, and married Mary, daughter of Thomas Lamb; Savage surmises that as he had a son, Henry, born in
253
MEDICAL HISTORY.
Boston, 16 May, 1665; he pursued his profession here, returning to Roxbury so that his son, Francis (H. C. 1689), was born there 15 September, 1669. He died probably in February, 1688.
Swan, Thomas, son of the foregoing, was graduated at H. C., 1689. He married Prudence Wade, of Medford, ?" September, 1692. He practiced at Castle William, dying there 19 October, 1710. A petition for relief of his widow was presented to the Legislature, stating that
Whereas Mr. Thomas Swan lately deceased, did practice Physick and Chyrergerye at . Castle William, upward of Seven Years last past, for which service he was allowed Twelve pence per week for every Twenty Soldiers Garrisoned there towards ye supplying himself with medicines, for that service, but by reason of Sickness and other Casualties, happening in s'd service, ye said allowance fell short
not-withstanding Mr. Swan did from year to year make several Unguents, Oils and Syrrups which were not charged by which means he was forced to Expend a part of his Salary besides his extraordinary Care in Attending ye Sick at all times &c. by all which means he has left his family very necessitous. The Legislature 10 Nov. 1710 voted to her twenty pounds in consideration of his extraordinary Charge and Pains in the Service.
It is possible that in regard to their profession the father and son have been confused by Savage. He gives the senior as a physician, but not the son.
Taylor, Henry, styled by Savage " a surgeon," a freeman 1665. His wife's name was Mary, and he had children: Hannah, born " July, 1665; John, born 4 August, 1666; Mary, born 6 June, 1668; and Henry, born 12 October, 1610. He was one of the petitioners in 1666 to pre- vent a quarrel with the government in England. In 1669 had his rate omitted (?) in consideration of his agreement to attend the sick poor.
Thacher, Thomas, was the son of Rev. Peter Thacher, of St. Ed- munds, Salisbury, England, where he was born 1 May, 1620, came to this country in the James from Southampton.
Neal says, "This Mr. Thacher was both a good devine and an ex- cellent Physician and did a good deal of Good in both Capacities; he was first minister of Weymouth and from thence removed to the New Church of Boston (the Old South), among whom he spent the rest of his days; he died October the 13th, 1678 in the 59th Year of his age."
He is distinguished in medicine as being the author of the first con- tribution to its literature in this country; it was a broadside, twelve inches by seventeen in size, bears date 21 January, 1677-8, and was printed and sold by John Foster, Boston. The title is " A Brief Rule
254
SUFFOLK COUNTY.
To guide the Common People of New England How to order them- selves and theirs in the Small Pocks, or Measels." A second edition was printed in the year 1:02. It is reprinted in Toner's "Annals of Medical Progress."
Wadsworth. In a "List of the male Persons in the town of Boston from Sixteen years old and upwards," the following entry is found, " Doct. Wadsworth." In the same list occurs the name of " Timothy Wadsworth," it is therefore impossible that they were one and the same. Timothy was one of the constables of the town, and his name only ap- pears in a list of the inhabitants in Boston in 1695. Our knowledge is limited to the simple fact that Doctor Wadsworth was taxed in Boston in 1688. In the genealogy of the Wadsworth family recently published, Timothy is called a gunsmith, the son of Samuel and grandson of Christo- pher, and born in Boston in 1662. He married Susannah Cooke and had Susannah, born 1682, married Edward Langdon; Recompense, born 1688, graduated at Harvard College 1708. Timothy Wadsworth, the gunsmith, joined the Artillery Company in 1691.
Waldron, Isaac, came to Boston in 1676 from York, where he was in 1670. His wife's name was Priscilla; they had children, Isaac, born 23 June, 1677; Priscilla, born 6 December, 1678, died young; Priscilla, born 23 June, 1680, died young; Priscilla, born July 12, 1681; all were baptized at the Old South Church. He died 1683, and little else is known of him.
Weeden, Elizabeth, was apparently the regular attendant on Sewall's family, he mentions her as "Goodwife Weeden."
Wilkinson, Thomas. Dr. Holmes in his address before mentioned says, Thomas Wilkinson in 1676 was complained of for practicing contrary to law. The law at that time appears on page 175 of this article. In what particular Wilkinson transgressed must be left to conjecture. He continued an inhabitant and is found in the tax list of 1679. Savage says, he was of Billerica, "but continued an inhabitant and is found in the tax list of 1679."
Williams, Richard. "Dr. Richard Williams " appears in the list of inhabitants in 1695, printed in the first volume, issued by our Record Commissioners. Savage gives two of this name, Richard, who had Phebe, born 1643; and Richard who by wife Bathsheba had Joseph, born De- cember, 1622. These may be one and the same and the inhabitant of
255
MEDICAL HISTORY.
1695. It may be however, that, the Richard of whom Savage speaks was a physician in New Haven in 1691, and of whom no more is heard ; tiring of Connecticut, he came to Boston and was here in 1695.
Winslow, Edward, governor of Plymouth, had a knowledge of med- icine, and even among the Indians had a wide reputation for his treatment of disease. He was once summoned to visit Massasoit, a prominent chief, who was seriously sick, but who recovered under his care. As a mark of his gratitude, the faithful sachem revealed to the English a plot that was forming against them, which was averted by the timely information. A full report of the case with the treat- ment is found in Winslow's "Good Newes from New-England," (London, 1624, ) pages 25-32.
Winslow was an English gentleman from Worcestershire, born in 1595, and came in the Mayflower. His wife was among those who died the first winter, and he married the widow of William White, 12 May, 1621, this being the first marriage which took place in New England. She was the mother of the first child born here. He died at sea in 1655.
Winthrop, John, the founder of Boston and governor of Massachu- setts, was well versed in medicine, but his public services to the colony were so marked that his minor ministrations among friends and neigh- bors are thrown into the background. The venerable Cotton says of him just before his death, that he had been a " Help for our Bodies by Physick, for our Estates by Law."1 He was born in Suffolk, England, in 1588; and died in Boston in 1649.
Winthrop, John, jr., son of the preceding, for some years an inhab- itant of Massachusetts and afterward governor of Connecticut, was a noted physician. He was born in England in 1606, and died in Boston, 1676. He was one of the earliest members of the Royal Society of London and an accomplished scholar. He had a large correspondence with scientific men, from which many interesting facts are gathered about medicine in the early history of the colony. Dr. Holmes says he " practiced so extensively, that, but for his more distinguished title in the State, he would have been remembered as the Doctor."
Winthrop, Wait, represented the third generation of this noted fam- ily ; a son of John, jr., he was born in Boston 17 February, 1641-2, and was also proficient in the profession. In Cotton Mather's sermon,
1 Magnalia, Book ii., Chap. iv. 15.
256
SUFFOLK COUNTY.
preached at his funeral, November :, 1212, there is an " Epitaphium," from which the following is an extract:
MEDICINÆE Peritus ;
Qui Areanis vere Aureis, et Auro preciosioribus potitus ; Quæque et Hippocratem et Helmontium latuerunt, Remedia panacæasque Adeptus ; Invalidos omnes ubicunque sine pretio sanitati restituit ; Et pene omnem Naturam fecit Medicam.
Mr. Sewall, in his funeral sermon, says he was " a skillful physician, and generously gave, not only his advice, but also his medicine, for the healing of the sick, which, by the Blessing of God, were made success- ful for the recovery of many." April 20, 1689, he was appointed sole major-general of Massachusetts, which office he held at the time of his decease. Whitman says he was "Captain of the Ar. Co. the year hc joined, which is the second instance known, and the first duly authen- ticated. By profession he was a physician, and as such was celebrated for his skill; he practiced extensively, but gratis, finding his own med- icines." He died 7 November, 1417, aged seventy-five.
List of practitioners in Boston, 1200 to 1800:
Adams Samuel.
Davis William.
Jackson Hall.
Appleton Nath'l Walker.
Dexter Aaron.
Jackson William.
Barnet William.
Doubt Nyot.
Jackson
Barret
Douglass William.
Jarvis Charles.
Bertody Francis.
Eliot Ephraim.
Jeffries John.
Boylston Zabdiel.
Euslin John Frederick.
Jeorku
Bulfinch Thomas.
Eustis William.
Bulfinch Thomas, jr.
Fay Nahum.
Cheever Abijah.
Fleet John
Church Benjamin.
Fleet John, jr.
Kennedy Hugh.
Clark John.
Gardner Joseph.
Latham
Clark John.
Gardiner Joseph.
Leavitt Josiah.
Clark John.
Gardiner Sylvester.
Lloyd James.
Clark John.
Gelston Samuel.
Clark William.
Godfrey Phillip. Greenleaf John.
Lord Linn John.
Cooke Elisha, jr.
Marion Joseph.
Crozier Henry Will
HIall George Holmes.
Marshall Samuel.
Curtis Benjamin.
Hayward Lemuel.
Mather
Cutler John.
Nazra Mathew.
Dalhonde Lawrence Danforth Samuel.
Hill - Homans John, 1753-18 00. Hunt Ebenezer.
Noyes Oliver. Pecker James.
Kast Philip Godfrey, or Godfrist. Kast Thomas.
MEDICAL HISTORY.
Perkins John.
Roberts
Tufts Cotton.
Perkins Nathaniel.
Rogers Theophilus.
Townsend David.
Perkins William Lee.
Rogerson Robert.
Warren John.
Peters Alexander Aber- crombie.
Sprague John.
Welsh Thomas.
Philips Nathaniel.
Sprague John, jr.
Whipple Joseph.
Pope John.
Stewart George.
Whitmarsh Miles.
Pynchon Charles.
St. Medard Peter.
Williams Nathaniel.
Rand Isaac, jr.
Swetzer Henry Sebastian.
Windship Amos.
Rand Samuel.
Tamer
Windship Charles.
Rand William.
Thomas Joshua.
Read William.
Thomas William.
Young Lemuel. Youguet
Adams, Samuel, was born in Boston, 2: October, 1751, and was the son of Governor Samuel Adams. He was a Latin School boy, and graduated from Harvard in 1870. He was a student of medicine under Dr. Joseph Warren, of Revolutionary fame, and practiced in Boston one year. He entered the army as surgeon on the breaking out of the war for independence, and his duties there broke down his health and constitution, so that on his return to Boston he was unable to recom- mence the practice of his profession. He was a member of the Mas- sachusetts Medical Society. His death from scrofula occurred 12 Jan- uary, 1788.
Appleton, Nathaniel Walker, was a grandson of the venerable Na- thaniel Appleton, D. D., of Cambridge, and son of Nathaniel and Mary (Walker) Appleton. He was born in Boston, 14 June, 1155, and grad- uated at H. C. in 1:13. He studied medicine with Dr. Holyoke, the centenarian and first president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He was one of the founders of that society, and also of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was the first secretary of the Medical Society, and was active in its behalf; he resigned in 1794 with a view of removing from Boston, and presented the society a portion of his library and anatomical cabinet as a token of his regard. After a few years' residence in Marietta, Ohio, he returned to Boston, where he died 15 April, 1795, aged forty-three. His wife was Sarah, daughter of William Greenleaf, of Boston. Eliot says of him: " Was a most estimable man, but too diffident to show his real worth and abilities, which were far above mediocrity."
Barnett, William, was from Elizabethtown, N. J., and was one of the prominent inoculators in 1764. He was appointed by Congress, 6 January, 1176, surgeon of the First Jersey Battalion. In February
33
Spooner William.
Warren Joseph.
258
SUFFOLK COUNTY.
of the same year he was appointed major of the regiment of light horse in the Eastern Division of the State of New Jersey.
Barret, - Toner says that Dr. Barret was in practice in Bos- ton in 1264, and in good repute. I think this is an error for Barnett.
Bertody, Francis, resided on Leverett street in 1196. He was from Prussia, and was naturalized 19 June, 1488. He left one son.
Boylston, Zabdiel, the son of Thomas and Mary (Gardner) Boylston. He was born 1679, and probably did not practice before the year 1700. He married in Boston, 18 January, 1205-6, Jernsha, born 28 January, 1669, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Birch) Minot, of Dorchester. He was an eminent physician of Boston, though much employed in his native town of Brookline, and in all the region about. He studied under Dr. John Cutler, of Boston, and, in a few years, arrived at great distinction in his profession, and accumulated a handsome for- tune. He introduced inoculation in Boston and America in 1221, in response to the invitation of the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, and in spite of violent opposition. He visited England in 1425, where inoculation was common, and was received with the most flattering attention, chosen member of the Royal Society, and was admitted to the intimacy and friendship of the most distinguished characters of the nation.
After a long period of work, his age and infirmity induced him to retire to his paternal estate in Brookline, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died 1 March, 1766. He published some account of what is said about inoculating or transplanting the small-pox by the learned Dr. Emanuel Timonius and Jacobus Pylarinus in 1221.
Of the position of the physicians of Boston toward inoculation, Dr. Green writes as follows:
With one exception, however, they seemed to be either indifferent or opposed to the whole matter. This exception was Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, who took up the prac- tice of it amid the most violent opposition of his professional brethren; and on the 26th of June, 1721, he inoculated his own son, Thomas, six years of age, his negro man, Jack of thirty-six years, and a little negro boy of two and a half years. They all had the disease very lightly, and he was encouraged to try the experiment on others.
Within the period of one year Dr. Boylston inoculated 247 persons, and of this number only six died; and during the same time 39 other persons in the neighbor- hood were inoculated by two other physicians, and all made good recoveries. This low rate of mortality, as compared with that among persons who had taken small- pox in the natural way, was a telling argument in favor of inoculation. The array
Geo I. M. Lauthlin
259
MEDICAL HISTORY.
of these statistics carried the public to the side of Dr. Boylston, who was now honored to the same degree that he had previously been libeled by a fickle populace. He was invited by Sir Hans Sloane, the Court Physician, to visit London, where he re- ceived the most flattering attentions from the scientists of England, as well as from the reigning family. He was chosen a member of the Royal Society, and read a paper before that learned body on the subject of small-pox inoculation in New Eng- land. This was published in London in the year 1726, and dedicated by permission to the Princess of Wales. In this pamphlet he gives a minute account of many of his cases, telling the names of his patients in full, besides stating their ages; and in the preface he apologizes for the liberty he has taken in doing so. A second edition of this pamphlet was published at Boston, in the year 1730. In the course of time inoculation conquered all opposition, and finally became a well established fact in the community. Some of those who had bitterly opposed it were now its warmest friends.
Dr. Boylston wrote, in 1726, an historical account of the small-pox inoculation in New England, with a statement of the nature of the infec- tion and short directions to the inexperienced. His son Thomas, born 30 July, 1715, practiced in Brookline.
Bulfinch, Thomas, was the son of Adino Bulfinch, a merchant of Bos- ton, who came to this country from England about the year 1680. He was born in 1694, and began the study of his profession with Dr. Zabdiel Boylston as his preceptor. He afterward went to London and received instruction in anatomy and surgery under the famous Cheselden, and subsequently to Paris, where he completed his professional education. He soon required the reputation of an excellent physician, and enjoyed a very large practice. He married, 11 June, 1124, Judith, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Coleman, of Brattle Square Church. He died ? Decem- ber, 1:57, in his sixty-third year, leaving a son, Thomas, jr., who fol- lowed in the footsteps of his father as a successful practitioner. He had a brother, Adino, who married, 10 October, 1727, Susannah Green : he was an apothecary.
Bulfinch, Thomas, jr., was born in Boston in 1428. Graduated in 1746 from Harvard College, he studied medicine with his father, also going abroad he received his degree of M. D. at Edinburgh in 175. Shortly after he was called home by the death of his father, and began to practice his profession in Boston. He married Susan, daughter of Charles and Guissilde (Estwick) Apthorp, 13 September, 1459.
Dr. Elliot has this mention of the younger Dr. Bulfinch:
Had a good share of very genteel practice, and lived in good style. He kept a chariot, was very tender and affectionate, and greatly valued by those who employed him. Dr. Bulfinch declined joining the Medical Society.
260
SUFFOLK COUNTY.
Cheever, Abijah, son of Abner and Elizabeth (Newhall) Cheever, was born in Lynn, 23 May, 1160; graduated at Harvard College in 1779; was a surgeon in the navy during the Revolutionary War. He after- ward established himself in the practice of his profession in Boston, where he married, 5 July, 1789, first Elizabeth Scott, and second, 18 April, 1798. Sarah, widow of Jonathan Williams, daughter of Daniel and Bethial (Ingersoll) Pearce. About the year 1810 he removed from Boston to Saugus, where he died 21 April, 1843, aged eighty-four. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Church, Benjamin, senior. Hollis Street Church records state that Benjamin and Hannah had a daughter baptized in 1745, the parents being in communion with the church at Newport.
He joined the Artillery Company in 1142. Whitman in his history says, "Boston, physician; father of the famous Dr. B. Church, was a violent Whig at the commencement of the Revolution, but when the tug of war came on, became a Tory. An assessor, 1770. He gradu- ated at Harvard College, 1722."
Church, Benjamin, jr., son of Deacon Benjamin Church, born at Newport, 24 August, 1734, of the Latin School of Boston 1745, H. C. 1754, studied with Dr. Pynchon, later was a student of the London Medical College, married Miss Hannah Hill, of Ross, Hertfordshire, England; was the surgeon who examined the body of Crispus Attucks, pronounced the oration on the massacre; representative, member of Provincial Congress, 1174; physician-general of the army, 1774; direc- tor-general of the hospital, 1745; court martialed for some treasonable correspondence with the enemy, 3 October, 1775; imprisoned at Nor- wich, Conn .; released May, 1776; sailed from Boston to London, and the vessel was wrecked. Of him Eliot says that he "was gaining practice among the Whig interest; but, for reasons that are sufficiently known, was banished from the country."
Clark, John, 4 son of Dr. John3 and Sarah Clark, the counsellor, was born 15 December, 1698; he died 6 April, 1768, of paralysis. He had sons John and William, to the latter he gave by will all his drugs and medicines, and also a daughter Elizabeth, who was wife of Jonathan Mayhew, D.D. To his grandson John, son of John, were bequeathed all his books, chests of utensils, etc., relating to surgery and physic, as his son, the physician, had died before him.
261
MEDICAL HISTORY.
Clark, John,5 grandson of the counsellor; he was also a physician and died before his father, in 1468, but left a son who inherited his grandfather's professional outfit.
Clark, John, 6 son of the preceding, graduated at Harvard 1742, then studied with Dr. James Lloyd and later visited the hospitals in Europe, intending on his return to participate in the practice of his preceptor. He married Abigail Turner, and had son John, born 1678. His health failing he removed to Wrentham, where he died July 29, 1788.
Clark, John, son of the preceding, born 1778, graduated at Harvard College 1799, received the degree of M. B. in 1802. He died at Weston on Sunday, ?1 April, 1805, aged twenty-seven, leaving no male issue, and thus ending a famous line of physicians bearing the name of Clark. His only child, Emily, born & May, 1804, married first Joseph Merriam, of Lexington, and had three sons and one daughter; and secondly, George D. Soren.
Clark, William, son of John and grandson of the counsellor, gradu- ated at Harvard in 1726.
The Boston Post Boy and Advertiser under date of June, 1760, has this notice of his death :
Yesterday departed this life Dr. William Clark, a Physician of Principal Note in this town. He was a Gentleman of Extensive Learning, of great knowledge in that Profession and Success in his Practice. He was easy in his manners; humane and benevolent in his Temper; a Lover and Encourager of Art and Industry; a ten- der Husband, a good Master, and a steady Friend. His Death is universally la- mented.
In 1:58 he visited the schools; in 1759 he was chosen on a committee to make application to the General Court for relief from taxes. He is styled "Surgeon " in a power of attorney given him by his father in 1760.
Cooke, Elisha, jr., son of Elisha and Elizabeth (Leverett) Cooke, was born December 20, 1678. He was graduated from Harvard College with the degree of A. M. in 1697. He succeeded to the practice of his father. He was clerk of the Supreme Court in 1702, but was displaced in 1718. He died in 1737.
Crosier, Henry Will Grozier, under this latter spelling he inoc- ulated and attended gratis four patients in 1764. He entered into the agreement with the selectmen (see pages 179-181).
262
SUFFOLK COUNTY.
Curtis, Benjamin, son of Benjamin and Abigail (Bridge) Curtis, was born in Roxbury, September 16, 1452, and graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1411 with the degree of A. M. He was a pupil of Dr. Joseph Gardner. He married Eliza Billings, of Sharon, Mass.
Eliot writes that in 1480 among the gentlemen doing the business of the town, viz. : beginning at the south, Dr. Benjamin Curtis, who was employed there considerably. Toner: "Settled in Boston, main- taining a good reputation and practice until his death, which occurred in 1:84 in the thirty-second year of his age."
He joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1181, and died in Boston, 26 November, 1184. His widow married in 1291 Elisha Tick- nor, and was the mother of George Ticknor.
Cutler, John, born at Hingham, August 6, 1676, is supposed to have been sent to Europe for his education. He inherited the house and practice of his father. He certified to the health of a cargo of negroes, with Dr. William Douglass, William Clark and Edward Ellis, 10 July, 1439. He married, 21 August, 1416, Mrs. Joanna (Dodd) Richards ; no children. He adopted first his nephew, Peter Cutler, who died unmarried; secondly, his nephew, John Cutler, who cared for his old age. He died at eighty-five and was buried in King's Chapel burial ground, 28 September, 1761.
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.