USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 27
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Dr. Lloyd had studied midwifery under the distinguished Smellie, of London; and after his return home he was considered throughout the province the best authority in this branch of medicine. Ephraim Eliot writes :
Dr. James Lloyd was ranked high in the profession. He took the lead in regard to the practice of surgery; was the first who introduced the male practice of the ob- stetric art as a general appendage to the office of a physician ; was very successful in
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it, and consequently greatly esteemed among the ladies. He entertained a great deal of company, kept a genteel equipage, and a suite of servants; his horses were esteemed equal to any in the town. He was a gentleman of the old stamp, and de- servedly respected and valued. He observed to a dear and valued friend of mine [Eliot's], in regard to his practice in a lying-in chamber: " 1 never in my life refused to attend a call, even to the poorest class of society, in those cases which often re- quire immediate assistance. If there was only a bed of straw, I saw that it was beaten up, and rendered as easy and comfortable as it was possible, and with my own arms invariably laid the delivered woman upon it; and I assure you, sir, I have been amply paid by the esteem and affection of my patients."
Harvard conferred upon Dr. Lloyd the honorary degree of M. D. in 1790. He was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Medical So- ciety.
An extended notice of the life of Dr. Lloyd will be found in Thach- er's Medical Biography, written by his son, Hon. James Lloyd, LL. D .. etc., who graduated at Harvard College in 1787.
From Sabine's " Loyalists" we extract the following :
Lloyd, James, of Boston, born on Long Island 1728, educated in Connecticut, studied medicine in Boston, attended London Hospitals two years, returned to Bos- ton in 1752, obtained an extensive practice. A moderate Loyalist, he remained in that town while it was occupied by the British troops, zealously devoted to his pro- fession. In the French War, Sir William Howe (then a colonel) was dangerously ill at Boston, and ever after attributed (gratefully and publicly) his recovery to the skill and unceasing attentions of Dr. Lloyd, and when in 1775 he came on the hope- less mission of subduing a wronged and roused people, he immediately renewed the acquaintance formed under circumstances so interesting to himself and, as events proved, to the Anglo-Saxon race. He owned an estate on Long Island, of which the royal army took possession, and three thousand acres of it were stripped of a val- uable growth of wood. In 1789 he went to England to obtain compensation. On being told an allowance would be granted on declaring himself a British subject he at once declined. He returned to Boston without success.
He was highly accomplished in all branches of his profession, and in surgery and midwifery was without a superior, probably, in New England. He kept a genteel equipage and entertained company with great liberality. He was an Episcopalian and worshiped at Trinity Church. He died in 1810, aged eighty-two.
The Lloyds were ancient and extensive land owners; the manor of Queens Village, L. I., having been in possession of the family as early as 1679.
Lord, Dr., is recorded to have, with Dr. Church, inoculated fifty per- sons in 1764. He was probably only here during the time inoculation was being so extensively practised.
Linn, John, was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He came from Pennsylvania, was a surgeon during the Revo-
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lution, afterwards settling in Boston, he returned to his native place, where he is supposed to have died about 1193, aged about forty-three.
Marion, Joseph, contemporary with Dr. Douglass, and Dr. Dalhonde, made a sworn deposition of their personal experience of the dangerous character of inoculation.
Marshall, Samuel, was one of those who in 1964, although sent to, did not attend the meeting of the selectmen, when an agreement was en- tered into by the physicians not to inoculate after the 20th of April. He was probably only a transient inhabitant of the town, but may have been the Samuel, son of Francis and Abigail Marshal, who was born in Boston, 12 May, 1747.
Mather, Mr. There were two Mr. Mathers, one who agreed with the selectmen at their meeting with the "Gentlemen Physicians" in 1764, not to inoculate after the 20th of April, and one who, although notified, failed to attend and enter into the agreement.
Mather, Thomas. Dr. Thomas, the son of Rev. Dr. Samuel and Hannah (Hutchinson) Mather, was born August, 1438. He was a surgeon in a Provincial regiment. He died unmarried in Nova Scotia in 1762.
Nasra, Mathew. Of him we only know that his widow, Mary, died 12 September, 1259, in her eighty-eighth year.
Noyes, Oliver, the son of John and Sarah (Oliver) Noyes, was born in 1615, and baptized 22 October, 1676. He married first Ann, daughter of the Hon. Andrew Belcher, and second Katherine, widow of the sec- ond David Jeffries.
He graduated at Harvard College in 1695, was representative for many years, and very prominent in town affairs, and highly esteemed as a physician. Sewall speaks of Dr. Noyes in 1707. In 1710, with others, he proposed to build a wharf, where Long Wharf is now sit- uated. In 1716 he was one of a committee on the erection of a market house. Hutchinson writes of him that he was of a very humane, obliging disposition, and very strongly attached to the popular party. 14 March, 1420-21 Sewall writes: "Dr. Oliver Noyes is seized with an apoplexy at 10 at night." March 16, " Mr. Foxcraft preaches [Thurs- day lecture], prays for Dr. Noyes who died at 4 P. M." March 20, " Dr. Noyes is buried in his New Tomb in the South Burying-place."
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He joined the Artillery Company in 1699, was an officer in the Bos- ton militia, being an ensign in 1708. He was a member of the Old South Church. He had a son, Belcher, who sold real estate, formerly his father's, in 1:43.
Pecker, James, was born in Haverhill, the son of Dr. James Pecker, of that town. He graduated at Harvard College 1143 with the degree of A. M., and settled in Boston. He was a founder and first vice-presi- dent of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Towards the close of his life he had a stone in the bladder, which was successfully removed by Dr. Rand. He was a loyalist, and his arrest was ordered by the Coun- cil of Massachusetts April, 1426. He died in 1194.
Pecker, James. Whitman, in his "History of the Anc. and Hon. Artillery Company": "Capt. James Pecker, Boston, physician ; in his will styled wharfinger. Founder of the New Brick Church. He died in Boston, 30 April, 1434, after a lingering illness, very much lament- ed. Inventory, real and personal, £2,873 10 3. Grave-stone in the chapel ground. Member of the Old South Church." He joined in 1718.
Perkins, John, was born in Ipswich, 28 August, 1676, H. C. 1695. He first practiced in Ipswich, but soon removed to Boston. He mar- ried 11 December, 1697, Mrs. Mary McFarland; she died in Boston. He married secondly, Mary, daughter of Anthony Checkley, of Boston,
Perkins, John, son of the preceding, was born 9 March, 1698, and was an eminent physician of the town; he studied two years in Lon- don, and practiced forty years in Boston. In 1:55 he published a tract on earthquakes, also an essay on small-pox in the London Maga- sine. He left a manuscript of 368 pages, containing an account of his life and experience, which is preserved in the library of of the Ameri- can Antiquarian Society. On account of old age he had retreated from practice in 1780, Eliot says. In 1436 he was one of the subscribers to Prince's "Chronological History of New England." His wife Clarissa died in 1149, and he wrote a poem on her death. He died in Lynnfield in 1780.
Perkins, Nathaniel, son of John and Mary (Checkley) Perkins, was born in Boston about 1414-15. In 1423 attended the Boston Latin School.
Sabine writes:
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Nathaniel Perkins of Boston, Physician, H. U. 1734. When in 1764 hospitals were established in Boston Harbor for treatment of the small pox by inoculation, he was one of attendant physicians. Dr. Perkins was an addresser of Gage 1774, went to Halifax with British Army 1776, was proscribed and banished 1778, died 1799.
Eliot says he was supposed to attend a larger number of patients as a physician than any other practitioner in the town. In 1760 his home was on Wing Lane.
Perkins, William Lee, the son of Dr. John and Abigail Perkins, was born in Boston, 10 February, 1736; baptized at the New Brick Church, 13 February, 1736-7. He was a descendant of Rev. William Perkins, of Topsford. Eliot says that in 1780 " was respectable as to business and reputation." His name appears on the list of those who in 1478 were proscribed as enemies of the new State, but if Eliot is correct, he was not of those who left the town. Toner says he practiced in Boston about 1264 and was in good repute.
Sabine, in his account of the Loyalists, says:
William Lee Perkins of Boston, physician, An Addresser of Gage 1775 Went to Halifax 1776. Washington on taking possession of Boston ordered his stock of med- icines to be seized for the use of the Continental Army. In 1778 Dr. Perkins was proscribed and banished. He died at Hampton Court, Eng. He was an author of " several medical publications of much merit."
Peters, Alexander Abercrombie, in 1780 resided on Marlboro' street. and is found only in the directory.
Phillips, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Mary (Waterman) Phillips, was baptized at King's Chapel 14 October, 1752. Toner says he " resid- ed in Boston at an early date and kept an apothecary shop in Orange (now Washington) street, at the corner of Bennett." His name is in the Directory for 1789 as an apothecary, and it may be an error to include him among the practitioners.
Pope, John. In the Massachusetts Centinel, 21 September, 1785, we find this notice of a pedagogical charlatan :
John Pope, who, for eighteen years past has been noted for curing Cancers, schropulus Tumour, fetid and phagedemic Ulcers, etc., has removed into a house, the north corner of Orange and Hollis Street, South End, Boston, where he pro- poses to open a school for Reading, Writing, Arithmetick.
Pynchon, Charles, born 31 January, 1719, was of Springfield, and only temporarily here during the small-pox epidemic of 1764. He was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He died in Springfield, 19 August, 1783.
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Rand, Isaac, jr., the son of Dr. Isaac Rand, of Charlestown, was born in Charlestown, 24 April, 1743; married Anna, daughter of John Adams. He settled in Boston; he died 11 December, 1822. He re- ceived his A. B. from Harvard in 1761, an honorary M. D. in 1999; was an overseer of the college. He was one of the founders of the Massachu- setts Medical Society, and its president from 1798 to 1804, and gave the first annual address before that society, choosing as his subject "On Phthisis Pulmonia and the use of the Warm Bath." His father was vice-president of the society from 1787 to 1790, and also one of the incorporators.
Dr. Isaac Rand was one of the most learned men of his day. Being much of a mathematician, he was seeking for something like demonstration on which to lean in his profession. For want of it he was always dissatisfied, and probably read more books than any physician among us. He was apt to pin his faith upon the last book. He was, however, a successful practitioner, had a discriminating judgment, was a good surgeon, and remarkably neat in his operations."-Eliot.
Rand, Samuel. Whitman gives, among those who joined the Artil- lery Company in 1418, "Capt. Samuel Rand, Boston, physician," and adds, "Lieutenant of the Art. Co. 1731; officer of the militia. I suppose him an ancestor of the late Dr. Isaac Rand, of Boston. His will was dated January 9th, proved Feb. 21st, 1748. His gravestone was recently standing in the Granary ground. A member of the Old South Church."
Rand, William. Whitman, in his history of the Anc. and Hon. Art. Co., gives this name as first appearing on the roll in 1732, simply adding, " Boston, physician, member of the Old South." He was probably son of Thomas, and born 4 May, 1689, died 29 May, 1759. He kept an apothecary store at the sign of the Unicorn, near the Town Dock, in 1733. Was admitted to Old South Church 24 February, 1722; his grave stone is in King's Chapel yard. His daughter Sarah married Benjamin Lord 13, August, 1735. He is probably the graduate of Har- vard of the class of 1721.
Rand, William, another William, son of Samuel, and grandson of Thomas, was born 27 August, 1716, dying in 1758; was also an apothe- cary. He was an army surgeon at Louisburg in 1745. His estate was administered by his nephew, Henderson Inches. He was perhaps the graduate of 1742 at Harvard College.
Read, William. I have found the name of Dr. William Read, and nothing more.
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Roberts, Doctor. Dr. Roberts in 1764 inoculated forty-three persons, supplied the necessary medicines, and attended them gratis (see page 180).
Rogers, Theophilus, son of Capt. Ezekiel and Lois (Bligh) Rogers, was born at Lynn, 4 October, 1699; removed to Boston in 1720, but soon emigrated to Norwich, Conn., and married the daughter of Wm. Hyde, of that town, where he died 29 September, 1753; his wife died soon after, on the 24th November of the same year, aged fifty-three years and seven months.
Rogerson, Robert. Of him or his name I have only learned that Robert and Lucy Rogerson had a son Robert born 30 January, 1268, and that Robert Rogerson and Lucy Dearing were married 24 March, 1785. A Robert Rogerson received an honorary A. M. from Harvard College in 1765, and died in 1799.
Spooner, William, the son of John, jr., and Hannah (Jones) Spooner, born in Boston, 24 March, 1760; H.C., 1728; studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Danforth, of Boston, and was surgeon in ships of war in 1781-2. In 1782 he went to Edinburgh to complete his professional studies, where he received the degree of M. D. in 1785; he returned to Boston in 1786, and immediately commenced the practice of medicine. He was a member of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh; of the Massachusetts Medical Society; of the American Academy; of the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1296. He was several times repre- sentative and senator in our State Legislature; a trustee of Humane Society of Massachusetts, and a member of Board of Overseers of Har- vard University. He married, 21 October, 1788, Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Winthrop) Phillips. She was born 23 September, 1763. He died in Boston, 15 February, 1836.
Sprague, John, was born in 1713; graduated at H. C., 1737; was a pupil of Dr. William Douglass at the time of his death, and later of Dr. Dalhonde, whose daughter he married. He began practice and con- tinued to reside in Boston, until the death of his wife. He again mar- ried Mrs. Esther Harrison, widow of Charles Harrison, esq., a lady of fortune, and removed to Dedham, where he remained until his death, in 1797. He acquired a considerable fortune, which, it is said, was due not so much to his successful practice as to the rise in soldiers' claims, which he largely purchased. He considered himself one of the incorporators of the Massachusetts Medical Society, an honor which
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was claimed by Dr. John Sprague, of Newburyport, as being the elder of the name in the State. The latter having been elected to fellow- ship, wrote that he considered himself an original member, where- upon Dr. Sprague, of Dedham, resigned, but was immediately elected a fellew. In 1799 he was a delegate to the Massachusetts Convention for framing a constitution. He resided in Federal street in 1280, and was there in 1296.
Eliot says he had retired (1780) on an ample fortune, his practice had been large, and that he had a confidence placed in him which followed him in his retreat; he was sent for and consulted by physicians in Boston for many years.
He received the honorary degree of M.D. from his alma mater in 1792.
Sprague, John, jr., perhaps the graduate of H.C. in 1765, and Fellow of the American Academy, and who died, 1800.
St. Medard, Peter, called himself a surgeon, and in 1796 resided in Garden court, North square; he became a licentiate of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1811, and died in 1822.
Stewart, George, married 2 June, 1715, for his second wife, Ruth, daughter of John Cutler, who was born 22 February, 1691-2, at Hing- ham. Dr. Stewart was treasurer of the Episcopal Charitable Society in 1731, and an attendant at King's Chapel, and of him I know nothing more.
Swetser, Henry Sebastian. The Boston Weekly News-Letter of 14 January, 1712, has the following, which necessitates including Swetzer among the practitioners:
Boston, On the Lords day Morning the sixth Currant, a strange thing fell out here, One Thomas Smith a Sawyer about four Month ago, bought a Lusty Tall new negro, fit for his Employ, who after complain'd of something within him that made a Noise Chip, Chip, Chip; his Master sent for a Doctor, one Sebastian Henry Swetzer, a German, who told him he had Worms, whereupon he gave him some Physick on Wednesday: from Thursday till the Lords Day he gave him some Powders, which on the Lords Day had that effect as to cause him to vomit up a long Worm, that measur'd a hundred and twenty eight Foot, which the negro took to be his Guts; it was almost as big as ones little Finger, its Head was like a Snakes, and would receive a Mans little Finger into its Mouth, it was of a whitish Color all full of Joynts, its tail was long and hard, and with a Microscope it seem'd to be hairy; the Negro before voiding the Worm had an extraordinary Stomack.
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Tamer, Mr. Of him it is only known that he was one of those who entered into the agreement with the selectmen in regard to inoculation in 1764.
Thomas, John, a surgeon, born in Plymouth, son of Dr. William Thomas.
Thomas, Joshua, was born 1766. Married 1 October, 1789, Anna Thomson. H. C. 1772; Fellow American Academy; member Massa- chusetts Historical Society. He died in 1821.
Whitman gives :
" JOSHUA THOMAS, Boston, physician," as joining the Art. Co. in 1792.
Thomas, William, born 1718; died 1804; had son John, mentioned above.
Townsend, David, the son of Shippie and Ann (Kettell) Townsend, was born in Boston, ? January, 1753. He graduated at Harvard College in 1770, and received from that institution the honorary degree of M. D. in 1813.
Dr. Townsend studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Warren. He was at Cambridge at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill and aided in car- ing for the wounded after that engagement. He was commissioned 12 July, 1475, as surgeon in Col. Jonathan Brewer's Regiment. He was commissioned 1 January, 1776, surgeon in the Sixth Regiment (Col. Asa Whitcomb). In March, 1777, he was appointed senior surgeon in the General Hospital of the Northern Department with the army for the invasion of Canada. On the reorganization of the army, he receiv- ed, 1 January, 1:81, a commission as surgeon-general of the hospital department, to date from 10 October, 1780, which position he held by subsequent reappointments until the close of the war, after which he successfully practiced his profession until his death, 13 April, 1829.
He was secretary, vice-president, and president of the Society of the Cincinnati.
Tufts, Cotton, was born in Medford in 1731. Graduated at Harvard College 1749, studied medicine with his brother, Dr. Simon Tufts, and settled in Weymouth, where he died in 1815, aged eighty-four.
Dr. Ebenezer Alden in his " Early History of the Medical Profession in the County of Norfolk," says:
He was esteemed as a well educated and judicious physician. In early and middle life he had an extended medical practice. * * * He was much in public life; a
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finished and well-bred gentleman of the old school, courteous, dignified, never assum- ing to himself titles or places which did not belong to him, nor shrinking from the performance of any duty to which he was properly called. * * * Towards the close of life his time was so much engrossed with public trusts, that he was not so much occupied in general practice.
He was an incorporator of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and its president from 1787 to 1193. He,received the honorary degree of M. D. from Harvard in 1185.
Warren, John, was born in Roxbury, 27 July, 1:53. He was gradu- ated at Harvard in 1171, and received the honorary degree of M. D. in 1786. He was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Medical Society, its corresponding secretary from 1784 to 1800, vice-president from 1800 to 1804, president from 1804 to his death, which occurred 4 April, 1815, aged sixty-two. He was Hersey professor of anatomy and surgery, a fellow of the American Academy.
Warren, Joseph, the eldest son of Joseph and Mary (Stevens) War- ren, born in Roxbury, 11 June, 1441. Graduated at Harvard College in 1:59, kept school in Roxbury in 1260, studied medicine in Boston with Dr. James Lloyd, and settled there as a physician. He married, 6 September, 1764, Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Richard Horton, of Boston. He pronounced the town oration of 5 March, 1771, 1745; was active in battle of Lexington, and in a combat which terminated in the destruc- tion of a British ship of war on Chelsea Beach; he was president of the Provincial Congress, received commission of major-general from that body, was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, aged thirty-four years and six days. At the time of his decease he was Grand Master of all the lodges of Free Masons in the United States.
Of his practice, Eliot writes that it "was large and increasing when he lost his life and immortalized his name."
Welsh, Thomas, was born in 1751. Graduated at Harvard College in 1122, receiving the honorary degree of M. D. in 1811: was a fellow of the American Academy, and a founder of the Massachusetts Medical Society, its vice-president 1815 to 1823, its treasurer 1783 to 1998, corre- sponding secretary 1805 to 1815; was an active surgeon during the Revolutionary War, at one time attached to the Marine Hospital at Charlestown, later quarantine physician of the port, and for many years a consulting physician of the Massachusetts General Hospital. He died
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February, 1831, the oldest physician in the city and the last survivor of the founders of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Whipple Joseph, one of the founders of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and its corresponding secretary from 1800 to 1805. In 1280 he resided on Orange street, and in 1296 on South Bennet street.
Eliot says that " in 1280 was rising into notice, Dr. Joseph Gardiner having taken him under his protection. "
He lived on Bennet street in 1991. He died 1804, aged forty-eight. Toner says he acquired a large professional business.
Whitworth, Miles. This name occurs very frequently in the records of the town. He was a surgeon under Pepperrell at Louisburg, in the campaigns against Ticonderoga and Quebec, and in Nova Scotia under Winslow. In 1464 he was an addresser of Hutchinson. He remained in Boston during the siege and was attending physician and surgeon to the Whig prisoners who were wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1976 he was arrested and confined by order of the Council of Massa- chusetts. He died in Boston in 1979 of a fever contracted while in prison.
Of him Eliot says:
He had once a respectable share of practice. He was unfortunately the attending surgeon at the jail in 1775. The wounded prisoners from Bunker Hill were thrown into the common prison, and provided with little better than jail provisions. They suffered, and some died; in particular, Lieutenant-Colonel Parker, a very respectable man. Much blame was laid upon the doctor; whether justly or not, is dubious. He remained in Boston, was neglected, and died in 1778.
His wife was Deborah Thayer; they had a son, Miles, who graduated at Harvard University in 1462; entered the naval service as a surgeon, and died unmarried in England in 1728.
In the minutes of the Boston selectmen for 1:64, we find this entry:
The selectinen appointed Dr. Myles Whetworth to take charge of the Province Hospital New Boston as Physician to the Sick that may be sent there from time to time; and also agreed with him to provide and furnish the Patients with what Pro- visions and Medicines may be necessary and that he does not suffer the Sick to want anything for their Comfort while under his care.
Ezekiel Price, in his Diary under date of Saturday, 20 April, 1415, records that :
Dr. Whitworth and son were yesterday on their examination and afterwards or- dered to give bail. It is said the justices have evidence of the Dr. not having acted the part of an honest surgeon in his practice on the late unfortunate Col. Parker, that
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his limb was unnecessarily taken off, a cruel neglect of attendance on him, by which means he lost his life.
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