USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Registers of probate for the county of Suffolk, Massachusetts, 1639-1799 > Part 3
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1 " The Character of a Christian's Life and Death illustrated. A SERMON Upon the Death of Mrs. Lucy Dudley, Relict of the late Honourable Paul Dudiry, Esq; Who Died October 24, 1756. Et. 72. Preached at Roxbury, October 1, 1756. By Amos Adams, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Roxbury. BOSTON : Printed and Sold by EDES and GILL, next to the Prison, in Queen-Street. 1750."
The Boston News Letter of January 13, 1757, contains the following: " To BE LETT, The Mansion-Ilouse of the late Hon. Judge DUDLEY, deceased in Roxbury ; together with the Coach-House, Barnes, and other out Buildings; and Gardens ; with about Thirty Acres of Land. Enquire of Samuel Williams, Re- tailer, or Thomas Dudley, of Roxbury aforesaid."
2 The births of these children are recorded in the Boston Records. Their baptisms are to be found in the Records of the Brattle Street Church. Dudley was admitted to full communion with the First Church in Roxbury, December, 1696.
Judge Sewall (Diary, II. 129), under date of April 26, 1705, notes the burial of the first born of these children.
" Mr. Paul Dudley buries his little son Thomas : . . . On the coffin was nail'd a little Plate of Lead with this Inscription
Thomas Dudley.
Pauli Dudlwi Armigeri et Lucice uxoris Filius primogenitus, Nepos .Josephi Dudlai Gubernatoris Novce Anglie. Natus est 13. Aprilis 1705. Obi't 25 ejusdem."
3 There is a photographic copy of each of these portraits and of the " Parting Stone 1744 P. Dudley " in the Report of the Third Annual Meeting of the Gov- ernor Thomas Dudley Family Association. Dudley's portrait may be found also in the History of the Dudley Family, by Dean Dudley, I. 184; in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, X. 343 ; and in the Rev. James De Normandie's account of the Roxbury Latin School in the New England Mag- azine (XVIII. 391). See also Ibid., XIX. 641.
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An account of the Method of making Sugar from the juice of the Maple-tree in New England A description of the Moose deer in America Account of the Poison-wood-tree in New England A method lately found out in New England for dis- covering where the Bees hive in the woods, in order to get their Honey
27.
XXII 1 05.
145.
XXXI. 148.
An Account of the Falls of the River Niagara XXXII. 69.
Of a new sort of Molasses made of apples XXXII. 231.
Of the Degenerating of Smelts XXXII. 231.
Account of the Rattle-snake
XXXII. 292.
An Account of an extraordinary cure by Sweating in Hot Turf ; with a description of the Indian Hot-houses XXXIII. 129.
Observations on some Plants in New England, with remarkable instances of the Nature and Power of Vegetation
XXXIII. 194.
An Essay upon the Natural History of Whales, with a particular account of the Ambergris, found in Sper- maceti Whales.
XXXIII. 256.
An Account of a Stone taken out of a Horse at Bos- ton, in New England, 1724.
XXXIV. 201.
An Account of the several Earthquakes which have happened in New-England since the first settlement of the English in that country, especially of the last, which happened in October 29, 1727
XXXIX 63.
Some MS. notes are in the Boston Public Library. A diary kept by him in an interleaved Almanac for the year 1740 was printed in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for January, 1881, XXXV. 28. See also Ibid., XV. 58.
JOSEPH MARION. 1715-1717.
Joseph Marion, son of John Marion,1 was born in Boston. June 10, 1686, and was baptized June 13, 1686, at the First Church, of which his father was a Deacon.
He was admitted to membership in the First Church, March 27, 1715.
1 Memorial History of Boston, II. 546; History of the First Church, Boston, 163; New England Historical and Genealogical Register, XLV. 86-88; Bridg- man's Inscriptions in King's Chapel Burial Ground, 204.
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He was bred a scrivener.1
At a Council 2 held in the Council Chamber in Boston, De- cember 9, 1715,
" The Honble The Lieutenant Governor nominated .. . Samuel Sewall Esq! to be Judge of Probate of Wills in the County of Suffolk
M: Joseph Marion to be Register to the Judge."
On the arrival of Governor Shute in 1716, Judge Sewall 3 secured his own reappointment as Judge of Probate, but Joseph Marion was told that the Governor had already in London promised the place of Register of Probate to John Boydell.
Marion continued to attest, as Register, the Probate records to June 27, 1717.
At a town meeting 4 held in Boston, March 13, 1715 6, he was one of the candidates for County Register, but Colonel John Ballantine received a majority of the votes cast, and was elected.
go. Los: @Marion
He was appointed May 10, 1716, Deputy Secretary 5 of the Province, Samuel Woodward being then Secretary, but when Josiah Willard was appointed Secretary in the place of Wood- ward, December 4, 1717, the Council 6
" Ordered That Joseph Marion Deputy Secretary to Sam1 Wood- ward Esq! late Secretary of this Province, with all convenient speed make delivery of all publick records books & records of the Council & Assembly with the Seal of the Province, enrowlment of the Laws and Files of Papers & all utensils &ca of & belonging to the sd Secretary's Office."
1 Judge Sewall, March 8, 1707 (Diary, II. 182), wrote some verses in honor of Queen Anne, who began on that day the sixth year of her reign, "Having got Mr. Joseph Marion to write the verses fair, I gave them to Mr. Winthrop, in the Governour's absence, saying, I can't drink the Queen's Health, parrum parra decent - Accept of a small essay for the honor of my Soveraign."
2 Council Records, VI. 396.
3 Sewall's Diary, III. 114.
4 Boston Town Records, II. 364.
6 Council Records, VI. 448; Boston News Letter, May 14, 1716.
6 Council Records, VI. 526, 527.
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He was by occupation a scrivener, and for nearly twenty years after he ceased to be Deputy Secretary, the Council Records 1 show that warrants were continually issued to pay him for " writing for the Publick" "writing for the Gov," etc. etc.
In Judge Sewall's Letter Book 2 there is the following
" LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.
Copy of a Certificat given Mr. Joseph Marion at his desire.
These are to certify whom it may concern, that when I had the Favour to be Appointed Judge of Probat for the County of Suffolke, by the Honble William Tailer Esqr. Lieut. Governour, and Commander in Chief of this Province, with the Consent of the Honble Council, Mr. Joseph Marion was at the same time Appointed my Register. And during that Relation, he behaved himself very agreeably, with Skillfull- ness, Industry, and Integrity. And after the said Marion ceased to be Register, he has frequently attended the Court of Probat as there might be Occasion, with sutable Demeanour, in Proving of Wills, plead- ing as an Attorny for Parties, writing for them, and forming their Accounts so as they might be received in the Court of Probat.
BOSTON OF THE MASSACHUSETS BAY,
SAM! SEWALL. February the Eleventh, 1728."
He was appointed August 3, 1720, by the Archbishop of Canterbury a Notary Public.3
Joseph Hiller and Samuel Tyley, who had been elected by the General Court November 11, 1720, Public Notaries in Boston, memorialized the General Court, December 15, 1720,
" That M! Joseph Marion of Boston Scrivener (as they are inform'd) takes upon him the Character & Acts as Publick Notary for the Pro- vince, Under Pretence (as is commonly said) of a Commission from his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury,"
1 Council Records, VII. et seq.
2 Sewall's Letter Book, II. 261.
3 Province Laws, I. 731 note ; General Court Records, XI. 108.
In the Boston News Letter of October 31, 1720, Marion announces his appointment, August 3, 1720, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, as Notary Public, and adds : -
" N. B. The said Marion keeps his Office on the North side of the Court House or Exchange in Boston, where the Merchants, Trading part and others may be furnished with all Instruments of Conveyances, Sales, Contracts, Agree- ments, and Merchants Affairs, as well as other Clerkship with Fidelity and Dispatch. Boston in New England, Octob. 24th Anno Dom 1720."
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and they asked the Court to interpose. After a hearing before the whole General Court, at which his commission was pro- duced and read, a Resolve was passed that the nomination and appointment of persons to the office of Public Notary
" of right & by Virtue of the Royall Charter is vested in his Majesties Governm' : of this Province &' has been at all Times So practised, And that for any person or persons within this Province to Claimn or Act in the sd: office without a Commission from this Governm': is Contrary to and a Breach of the priviledges of the Royall Charter, and that M. Joseph Marion be Served with a Copy of this Resolue, & be directed to Act no further as Notary Publick in this Province, Unless he be chosen to that office by this Court."
Notwithstanding this Resolve, Marion continued to act as notary.1
In 1724 he opened the first insurance office ever established
1 In the Boston News Letter of December 15, 1737, there is the following an- nouncement : -
" WHEREAS some Invidions and Eril-minded Person for a considerable Time past, has industriously Reported in and thro' this Town and Province, and the adjacent Provinces and Colonies, That Joseph Marion, dwelling in Boston in New England, who by Royal Authority on the third of August 1720, was appointed a Notary and Tabellion Publick, is superseded in the said Office of Natury ; which Report could be with no other Design than to impose on the Publick, and injure the said Marion in his Living and Employment,
THESE are therefore to Certify the Merchants, Trading Part, and others, that the said Report is altogether groundless, and without the least shadow of Truth : For that the said Merion still Holds and Exercises his said Notarial Faculty, in like manner as he has done for seventeen Years last past, at his Office in King-street, Boston, opposite to the North Door of the Court-House or Exchange ; where the Merchants, Trading Part and others, may be furnished with all Instruments of Conreyances, Sales, Con- tracts, Agreements and Merchants Affairs, as well as other Clerkship with Fidelity and Dispatch."
To this a reply was made in an advertisement of John Stuart, published also in the Boston News Letter of December 15, 1737, reciting that whereas some Invidious and Evil-minded person, supposed to be Joseph Marion, had, in the Gazette of the 12th inst. and in other places, publickly advertised that the said Marion is not superseded in the office of Notary Public, but that the said Marion still holds his Notarial Faculty appointed August 3, 1720, which advertisement could be with no other design than to injure said Stuart, these are to certify that said John Stuart is the only person, commissioned by the Archbishop of Canter- bury, now in the Province to act as Notary and Tabellion Publick ; that the said " Stuart still keeps his said Office at Mr. John Franklin's between the Dicelling-
1 Houses of Messi Andrew Lane and said Marion at the North side of the Town House, where the said Marion as well as all Gentlemen, Merchants and others " may be furnished with writings. " So that the said Marion, may not think it altogether an Imposition on the Publick if there is such a Report that he is superseded in his aforesaid Office," etc., etc.
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in Boston.1 He is thought to have been " the first under- writer ever known in Boston; and, what is more, the first person in America to enter definitely into this business." ?
He also carried on a Lottery Office, disposed of lands and general merchandise by lottery,3 and was one of the partners in the Land Bank 4 of 1740.
He was active in town meetings, served on numerous com- mittees,5 and was one of the sufferers in the Great Fire of
1 In the Boston News Letter of Dec. 26, 1745 : -
"The Publick is hereby advertised, That the INSURANCE-OFFICE first opened in Boston, Anno Dom. 1724, by Joseph Marion, Notary-Publick, is still held and kept by him on the North Side of the Court-House, near the Head of King- street, where Money upon the Bottom of Ships and Vessels may also be obtained for a reasonable Premium; which Affair of Merchandize as well as other Clerk- ship, the Trading Part and others may be by him furnished, with Fidelity and Dispatch."
He seems to have contemplated, a few years later, an assurance office to insure houses and household goods, for The New England Weekly Journal of November 25, 1728, contains the following notice : -
" Whereas a Scheme is Projected for the Erecting an Assurance Office for Houses and Household Goods from Loss and Damage by Fire in any part of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, by the Name of the Nou-England Sm Fire Office in Boston . . . the said Scheme or Proposals may be seen at the Office of Mr. Joseph Marion on the North side of the Court-House or Exchange in Boston."
2 Memorial History of Boston, IV. 179, ch. vii .; Insurance in Boston, by Os- borne Howes, Jr.
3 Boston News Letter, September 14, 1719. See also Suffolk Court Files, CXXVI. 12, 37; CXX VIII. 139, 140.
# New England Historical and Genealogical Register, L. 187, 310; Mass. Archives, CII. 53.
A photographic copy of a bill of the Land Bank payable to Joseph Marion or order may be found in Andrew McFarland Davis's "Currency and Banking in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay," II. 224. See also Publications of the Colonial Society, III. 12.
5 Some of these committees were as follows : -
At a town meeting held March 10, 1734/5, he was appointed one of a Com- mittee to consider the petition of the inhabitants of Rumney Marsh (Town Records, III. 142).
At a town meeting held May 7, 1735, the Selectmen made a report on Mr. Marion's Proposals referred to them March 12, 1784/5. These proposals were eight in number and in writing, signed by Joseph Marion. One of these proposals was
" That as the Release of Mr. Blackston the First Proprietor of the Town of Boston made by him to the said Town is now on File in the Town Clerk's Office. as also the Indian Deeds to the Select Men - That the Said Release and Deeds be Registred by the Town Clerk in his said Otlice, That so the Town may have Recourse to the same when there may be Occasion therefor " -
Another, -" That all Deeds, Leases, Releases, and Instruments in writing made and Executed by the Select Men of the said Town in their said Capacity or the Town-Treasurer in his said Capacity be Registred by the Town Clerk in a Book of Records to be specially kept for that purpose - By which Means, a
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1760, " the most terrible Fire that has happened in this Town, or perhaps in any other Part of North-America, far exceeding that of Octo. 2, 1711." 1
The Boston Gazette of Monday, October 12, 1761, contains the following : -
" Yesterday morning died here, Mr. Joseph Marion, aged about 76 Years. We hear his Funeral is to be attended on Wednesday next."
few Hours may discover a Hundred Years Transactions, When much time may be spent in Searching for Papers on File - Which Files are liable to be Mislay'd, or lost, - Of which the Town has a Memorable Instance in the loss of a Paper of the greatest concern to the Town." (Town Records, III. 157.)
At a town meeting held August 5, 1735, he was chosen one of a Committee to draw up an answer to the "Petition of John Bowles, Thomas Tilestone, and Seven Others, Representatives of several Towns within the County of Suffolk, preferr'd to the Great and General Court -Praying, That Boston may be a County by itself, And the Country Towns in the County of Suffolk a County by them- selves." (Ibid., III. 166.)
At a town meeting held November 21, 1738, he was chosen one of a committee to draw up an answer to the "Petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants of the Dis- trict of Rumney-Marsh, within the Township of Boston, Presented to the Great and General Court, to be Set off and Erected A distinct and Separate Township." (Ibid., III. 321.)
At a town meeting held May 2, 1739, he secured the appointment of the com- mittee "to Consider of Ways and Means for Retrenching and Lessening the Annual heavy growing Charge of this Town." (Ibid., III. 355.)
He was also on various committees in 1740-1742 in regard to encroachments on the Town's rights at Fort Hill. (Ibid., III. 404, 415, 416, 432, 464, 458, 477.)
At a town meeting held March 14, 1742/3, there was " A Motion made by Mr. Joseph Marion that the Thanks of the Town be given to Mr. Jolm Lovell for his handsome Performance in the Forenoon in Pronouncing the Oration desired of him by the Select Men on Occasion of the Death of Peter Faneuil Esq! & that the same be Entred in the Records of the Town & that a Copy thereof be desired for the Press." (Ibid., III. 511.) This was the first meeting held in Fanenil Hall since the death of Peter Faneuil. The oration of Master Lovell is recorded in the Town Records, III. 527.
He was one of the committee appointed May 19, 1742, to pray the General Court for relief as to the Town's proportion of the Province Tax. Their report is recorded in the Town Records, III. 523.
At a town meeting held March 25, 1745, there was " A Motion made by M: Joseph Marion, that as the Old Brick Church Bell which for many years past has been rung at five and eleven a Clock in the forenoon, and nine in the Evening is now broke, the Town would direct that the old South Church Bell shall be rung at those hours." (Ibid., IV. 56.)
At a town meeting held May 17,,1745, he was one of the committee to audit the Accounts of the Town Treasurer and of the Overseers of the Poor. (Ibid., IV. 78.)
1 Boston Post Boy & Advertiser, March 24, 1760; Report of the Record Commissioners, XXIX. 78; New England Historical and Genealogical Register, XXXIV. 288; Boston News Letter, March 21, 1760.
But misfortune had before this overtaken him. Sec Suffolk Deeds, Lib. 77, fol. 176; Lib. 78, fol. 56, 262, 263, 264.
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He was buried in the Granary Burial Ground, where his gravestone is still to be seen.
He married in Boston, June 7, 1711, Ellen Bridge, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Bridge,1 by whom he had several children.
JOHN BOYDELL. 1717-1739.
John Boydell, son of Edward Boydell,2 came to New Eng- land in 1716, as private secretary to Governor Shute.
John Barrington - afterward Viscount Barrington - brother of Governor Shute, in
John Boydell
a letter 3 dated London, July 30, 1716, to the Council of the
Province of Massachusetts Bay, says: -
" But I hope I have given you the highest proof of my sincere esteem, and Affection for your Country, in consenting to part with an only Brother, and persuading him to give his Consent to be your Gov- ernour ; . . . I have likewise parted with Mr. John Boydell [with Col. Shute ], to be his privat Secretary. He has been in my family many years, where he rendred me very faithfull Services, to my utmost Sat- isfaction. I cannot omit this opportunity of Recommending him to you, as a person you will find extreamly faithfull and capable in any thing the Governour shall recommend him to, and you employ him in."
Judge Sewall,+ under date of December 24, 1716. records the fact that he dined that day with Governor Shute at Mr. Bromfield's : -
" Before I went to Diner, Mr. J. Maryon told me that upon his petitioning for the Governour's Favour as to the place of Register : His Excellency said, IIe had promised it to Mr. Boydell in London. And after Diner at Mr. Bromfield's ; his Excel. took me aside, and told me he intended to make Mr. Boydell my Register ; would do little but settle the Judges this Council, which was like to be but thin."
1 History of the First Church in Boston, by A. B. Ellis, p. 163.
" Sewall's Diary, III. 869.
3 Sewall's Letter Book, II. 61.
4 Sewall's Diary, III. 114.
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And when Judge Sewall waited on the Governor, June 19, 1717, to secure his own reappointment as Judge of Probate, he adds that Governor Shute 1
" Mention'd Mr. Boydel, for Register ; I said if he could condescend, 'twas a Laborious place."
There is an hiatus in the Council Records of this date, but Boydell began to attest the Probate Records as Register July 8, 1717, and he held the office until his death.
Judge Sewall also records the following : 2-
"Tuesday, Xr. 23, [1718]. Super Court, Fined Capt. Tho. Smart, and Mr. John Boydell, for Duelling on Tuesday, Xr. 16. in the Common near Mr. Sheaf's House, £10. each ; 24. Hours Imprisonment, and order'd them also to find Sureties for their good Behaviour till the Ses- sions in May. Mr. Sheriff Winslow had them to Prison. Clock struck Four when the Sentence was pass'd."
In 1722 Boydell made a visit to England,3 returning the fol- lowing year. During his absence Benjamin Rolfe filled his place as Register of Probate.
Boydell was also Register of the Court of Vice-Admiralty and one of the Naval Officers for the Port of Boston.
He was also in 1736 one of the Prince subscribers.+
Governor Belcher in a letter 5 dated Boston, April 24, 1732, to ex-Governor Shute, who had returned to England, says : -
" M' Boydell & his wife are very easy under their present circum- stances. I suppose what he enjoys under me makes him 4 to €500 a year, and his grocery shop 6 (doubtless) maintains the family. He is a very honest man, & I am glad in his welfare."
1 Sewall's Diary, III. 133.
2 Ibid., III. 208.
In a " List of the Well disposed Gentlemen and other Persons that Con- tributed their assistance for the Building a Gallery, a new Pulpit, and adorning the Kings Chappel in Boston, and the Paving before it in the Year 1718," appears the name of " John Boydell .₺ 5" ( Annals of King's Chapel, 1. 265.)
8 Sewall's Diary, III. 310, 311; Sewall's Letter Book, II. 147, 157; Council Records, VII. 409.
4 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, VI. 190; Memorial IIis- tory of Boston, II. 561.
5 Belcher Papers, I. 114.
6 The Boston News Letter, June 3, 1731, contains the following advertise- ment : -
" Mrs. Hannah Boydell, Wife of Mr. John Boydell (Register of Probates for the County of' Suffolk) Sells Tea, Sugar, Coffes, Chocolate. Starch, Indigo, Spices, and other Grocery Ware, reasonably, in a Shop adjoyning to the Naval Office, and over against the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in King-street, Boston."
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In a letter 1 to Lord Barrington dated Boston, October 21, 1732, Governor Belcher writes : -
" MY LORD, - Sometime the last month I gain'd your favour of 24 June, wherein I observe your Lordship's kind acceptance of the assur- ances I had given your Lordship & M' Boydill of serving him still fur- ther in the Naval Office; and your Lordship will always find iny promises grow into performances when in my power, M' Boydill having had the half of the Naval Office conformable to the time I wrote your Lordship. I am now further to acquaint your Lordship that M' Mar- shal, the late postmaster here, dy'd about 14 days ago, upon which M' Boydill came to me & desir'd I wou'd appoint him his successor 'till orders appear'd from the Commiss's of the Post Office at home, or from Coll" Spotswood, of Virginia, Deputy Postmaster General of North America, and that if he might be confirm'd in the Post Office here he wou'd quit his half of the Naval Office, which is worth but ab' £200. and the other (viis & modis) near £400 a year. Upon M' Marshal's death I immediately fill'd up the vacancy by M' Boydill, and wrote the inclos'd in his favour to Coll" Spotswood ; and since that I have reed one from Coll" Spotswood, of which the inclos'd is a copy, and have this day fill'd up the blank in Coll" Spotswood's commission with: M" Boydill's name & deliver'd it to him. Notwithstanding M' Boydil is apprehensive that several will be endeavouring to get a deputation from the Commissioners of the Post Office at home, or a recommendation from them to M' Spotswood, that may endanger M' Boydill's removal. It's a pretty place that don't require much attendance, in which M' Boy- dill wou'd be glad to be establisht, and if your Lordship cou'd procure a letter from Gov" Harrison & M' Cartwright (the Commiss') to M' Spotswood, approving of what he has done in favour of M' Boydill, the matter wou'd be compleat. And if you are inclin'd to do good to an old faithfull servant, I don't know when your Lordship will have an easier or better opportunity ; but of this M' Boydill writes you more particularly. As this office depends cheifly on the trade, I wou'd only add that M' Boydill is very acceptable to the trading part of this country."
Governor Belcher in a letter2 dated Boston, December 6, 1732, to ex-Governor Shute, says : -
" Since my last I have prevail'd with Coll" Spotswood to appoint M' Boydill postmaster here (in the room of M' Marshall deed), upon which he resigns the half of the Naval Office. - the postmaster's place being (as he supposes) much better. As I wrote you before his grocery shop full out supports his expence, and his places are
1 Belcher Papers, I. 209.
2 Ibid., I. 221. See also Ibid., I. 231, 370, 456, 512.
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Postmaster 400.
Admiralty Register 150.
Probate ditto 150.
is £ 700 a year.
I think his lott is fallen in a pleasant place, and he can't fail of doing well."
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