USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The aristocracy of Boston; who they are and what they were: being a history of the business and business men of Boston, for the last forty years > Part 3
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Dr. Doane married the widow of James Perkins, Jun., the only child of James, (of the great house of Perkins,) with a large fortune.
GARDNER, JOHN L. Son of the late S. P. Gardner, a merchant, origi- nally from Salem. John L. manied a daughter of the late Joseph Peabody, of Salem, who became the most extensive merchant in that place after William Gray left it. John L. inherited a large property from his father -- and his wife's fortune must have been very large. He is a good merchant.
GARDNER, HENRY. Resides in Dorchester, on the lower road to Quiney. He is called Dr. Gardner, having been bred a physician, though he does not practice. Ile is son of' Henry Gardner, late of Stowe, a member of the Provincial Congress, and afterwards many years Treasurer of the Cons- monwealth. His fortune has grown under judicious and safe management.
GASSETT, HENRY. Began the importing business with Phineas Upham, as Gassett & Upham, afterwards Henry Gassent & Co.
GIBBS, MISS SARAH. A benevolent lady, and zealous Episcopalian.
Gibbs & Channing, of Newport, (unele of Dr. Channing ) made a large fortune. Before the act prohibiting the slave trade took effect in 1816, they furnished cargoes to vezsols in the African trade, and received cargos of pro- duce from Cuba in payment for their advances. Other houses in Newport and Bristol pursued a similar trade. The De Wolfs, of Bristol, were always said to follow that detested traffic without any compuuction. Much of the ancient wealth of Newport and Bristol may be traced to this source.
GODDARD, NATHANIEL. From "Far down east," where he was well versed in the trade on the lines. He has been a large ship-owner, in the Baltic and freighting business ; a large underwriter; and long President of the New England Bank-when he said, that every man who failed, ought to be sent to the State P'rison. He was a man of great energy and stern will.
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THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON,
Mr. Gould-long celebrated as head master of the Latin School -- ma ried a daughter of Mr. Goddard, and joined him in some business.
William Goddard-a brother-pursued a similar shipping business with great success. He died, after a short sickness, about the same time with Fran- cis Stanton.
GOODWIN, OZIAS. Son of the late Capt. Ozias Goodwin, and cousin of Ex-Mayor Chapman. Served his clerkship with Henry Lee, of Joseph & Henry Lee, in the Calcutta trade. Was afterwards a successful supercargo in the same trade Inherited property from his father, and married a cousin Chapman.
GORHAM, BENJAMIN. Sou of the late Nathamel Gorham, of Charles- town. [See P. C. BROOKS.] Studied law with Artemas Ward, and was Mem- ber of Congress until he became tired of it. Whenever he would examine a case, and give an opinion, no opinion had more weight. He married a Lowell.
GRANT, ANNA P. Widow of Patrick Grant-a fine-looking Scotchman, who went from Boston to England nearly forty years ago. All were lost on the return passage. Mrs. Grant is a daughter of the late Jonathan Mason.
GRAY, JOHN C. Son of the late Wmn. Grav. Married a daughter of the late Samuel P. Gardner-by whom, as well as his father, he had a fortune He has not embarked much in trade. Is studious and retiring, and is a contributor to the " North-American Review." He studied law with Samuel Dexter, and has been State Senator several times,
GRAY, FRANCIS C. A bachelor. Studied law with the late cininens Wm. Prescott, but has practiced little except in his late father's affairs. He has been in the State Legislature; and is devoted to literature and political economy, in the protection interest.
GRAY, HORACE. The youngest son of the late Wmn. Gray. Married first, Miss Upham, of Brookfield, a neice of Thomas Upham; and on her death, a daughter of the late Samuel P. Gardner -- with a fortune. :
On coming of age, he went freely into business -- the Baltic, French, and India trades; afterwards into the iron works on the Mill Dam. From thi: be extended in the iron business; and at the time of his late failure, bis house was concerned the most deeply in the iron manufacture of any establishment in New England. They owned the iron works at Pembroke, Me .. (originally built by Jonathan Bartlett, once President of the Passamaquoddy Bank, a: Eastport, which failed about 25 years ago ;) an establishment at South Boston ; one in Clinton Co., N. Y. ; and yet another at Saugerties, N. Y.
Bis partner, Francis, is a nephew of Francis the bookseller, formerly Mun- roe & Francis. He was once a clerk for the father of Horace Gray, and is a very worthy man.
It is ascertained, that the debts against Horace Gray & Co. exceed a million, falling heavily on the iron works and coal dealers in different parts of the coun- try. It is feared. from the heary nature of the property, and the sacrifices that must be inado in the sale of it, that the dividend will be small.
The iron works on the Mill Dam-owned by Francis C. Gray, Horace Gray & Co .- and the state of Paul Moody, have passed to Wm. Appleton, by whom they are carried on.
Mr. Gray bas lately occupied the house in Brighton, formerly owned and lived in by Commodore Downes. This was the northerly house of the two built by Joseph Haven and Joseph Wiggin. The other was occupied many years by Geo. Mannus, Esq., British Consul.
William R. Gray-the eldest son of William, and who usually managed his father's business in Boston, while he lived in Salem -- died some years ago. He married a daughter of the late Judge Clay, of Georgia, who then lived
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THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON.
on his plantation near Rinborough. Became a Baptist preacher, and was called to succeed the late Dr. Samuel Stillman, at the First-Baptist Church in Back- street ; and for a time occupied the house in which Dr. S. had lived in Salem- street, opposite Mr. Edes, the ship-bread baker, (father of the Rev. Hy. Edes, afterwards a Unitarian minister in Providence, R. I.)
William R. was a merchant in Boston, principally in the French, Baltic, and India trades.
Henry Gray-the second son-studied law with Artemas Ward, in Charles- town, but never practiced. Married one of the beautiful daughters of James Pierce, Clerk of the Municipal Court -- of whom Joseph Bonaparte said, she was the handsomest woman he had seen in America. He also was a ship- owner, and in similar extensive foreign business, and a Director in the State Bank. He resided in Dorchester ; a member of Dr. Codman's church; and a liberal benefactor to the Andover and other religious orthodox institutions. He now lives in New York.
Mr. Gray's only daughter-of noted piety and benevolence-was married to Col. Samuel Swett. [Sce Swert.]
William Gray-or as he was familiarly termed, " Old Billy Gray," -- way born in Lynn. in the year 1750. At the age of 15, he went to Salem, as clerk to a Mr. Gardner. After four years, Mr. Gardner died, and young Gray be- came clerk to Richard Derby, a Provincial Counsellor of King George III., and cklest brother of the late Elias Hasket Derby, Esq. As soon as he was of age, he owned part of a vessel with Mr. Derby-hes share being the result of his savings while a clerk.
He married Miss Chipman, a sister of Ward Chipman, since a Judge in the British Province of New Brunswick. She was a cousin of Peter C. Brooks; and proved one of the best of wives and mothers.
After the war of the Revolution had ended in the peace of 1783, he extended in foreign trade with varied success. Once he had lost all -- but kept on, and regained, with unimpaired credit.
His high integrity, and reputation for sagacity, gave confidence to many retired persons in Salem, Marblehead, and other towns, who placed large sums with him at a low rate of interest, in preference to public institutions at a higher rate. On one occasion, after he removed to Boston, more than thirty thousand black dollars were brought to him from Marblehead, which he had refused to take at six per cent. nearly forty years before. The owner had kept them safely in a cellar !
When William Gray left Salem, his property was valued at three millions of dollars, on a careful estimate made by the late Wm. B. Swett and Joshua Bates, now of Barings' house, London, then his clerks. About that time, he owned and loaded more than forty vessels at his own risk : he was besides a large underwriter, taking ahnost desperate risks, in the face of British and French seizures. His removal seems to have been necessary, even ou the score of commissions ; but political causes were not wanting. The opening to Tonningen was for a while vastly profitable ; and the war of 1812-when he had large stocks of foreign goods -- added greatly to his wealth. During that war, he advanced largely to the Government.
Ou the return of peace. he continued business as formerty, but often with loss, for the nations on the continent of Europe had become their own mer- chants. But, he bated to lay up a vessel, or see one of his old captains mem- ployed.
At the time referred to, Joshua Bates, whose house of Beckford & Bates had not been successful, was sent to London to act as his agent, and the agent of his sons. This led by degrees to bis connexion with the Barines. A stron.
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THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON.
ger credit than that of any individual stranger would be often necessary in London, in large operations.
Mr. Gray retired from the presidency of the Branch Bank, and was succeeded by the late Gardiner Greone. He soon after withdrew from business as far as be could, and died in 1823.
Mr. Gray was simple and unostentatious in his habits, an early riser, and usually wrote his letters and orders before breakfast. Weiss, the barber, in Congress-street, called on him, summer and winter, at 5 o'clock. On one occa- sion, Weiss told him he was likely to lose his old stand, nearly opposite the Past-Office. Unsolicited." he offered bim the money to bey it. (The son of Weiss is a Unitarian Minister in New Bedford.) In such spontaneous, un- looked-for acts, Mr. Gray loved to do good -- and no one did them with more delicacy. It was his nature to help those whom he thought were trying to help themselves. On one occasion, he offered $50.000 to a person, almost a stranger to him, to save him from stopping -- and without security !
As his sons canie of age, he gave each ample incans, that they might start and work for themselves.
His long experience had made him familiar with the commerce of the globe. It. conducting bis share of it, he was the soul of honor -- and American, heart and soul. How that American spirit must have exulted at the capture of the Guerriere ! He know that, but for him, the Constitution could not have been fitted out. The navy agent-Colonel Binney-another noble spirit, had exhausted his meaus, and broken his private credit. Regardless alike of the denunciations of the public press, and the scornings, batings, and badgerings of the junto at the Suffolk Office, he stood for his country --- and the Consti- tution went to sea, to break the charm of invincibility !
Mr. Gray being thus driven from the Federal Party, he was chosen Lieuten- ant-Governor of the State. when Elbridge Gerry was chosen Governor over Christopher Gore:
A charter was then obtained for the State Bank, with a capital of three mil- lions: Until then, a charter for a bank in Boston, with an odor of Republican- ism, could not be obtained. Mr. Gray was chosen first President of the State Bank.
The men who had denounced Mr. Gray, gave Commodore Hull a public dinner.
After the peace, and Treaty of Ghent, Mr. Gray presided at the public din- ver given to John Quincy Adams-the venerable father, John Adams, tremu- lous with age, seated first on his left. A noble trio! the first Merchant in the country-the President past-and the President to come !
Iu bis daily intercourse, Mr. Gray was marked for affability. Everybody knew him, and he had a word for everybody. The calls of the poorest man had no put offs. His eyes glistened with delight when be could contrive employment for an old acquaintance ; and if from Lynn, all the family affairs were subjects of inquiry. To many beginning life, he trusted goods when they could not get them elsewhere -- and thus started them. He met with many losses by this practice, and often other injury, but he would continue it. His refusal to any application, was -- " Well, I'll think ou't."
On bis removal to Boston, he bought for his residence the mansion of the deceased Gov. Sullivan. He intimated to the executor of Gov. S.'s will, his wish to purchase it, if the estate should be for sale. When he had decided to sell it, he named the price-thirty or forty thousand dollars. Mr. Gray sent a check for the money.
His residence in Salem, built by him, has since been kept as the Essex Cof. fee-House.
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THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON. '
GRAY, SAMUEL C. Son of the late Samuel Gray, of Medford, brother of William, who had been a successful merchant in Salem, and married a sister of Judge Chipman, of the Province of New Brunswick. They inherited a good property from their father, and are quiet, careful merchants -- minding their own business-chiefly in the Baltic trade.
GRAY, JOHN-Called, for distinction, " French John Gray." Heis the son of a Boston merchant, and resided a long time in France, (Bordeaux, we think,) where he acquired his property ; and on his return, was distinguished by this name. For many years he has done little business.
GRAY, THOMAS-Of Hawes, Gray & Co., for many years prosperous wholesale grocers in India-street ; now on Central Whaif, commission mer- chants, though our old friend, Prince Hawes, still haunts the tea sales in New York,
GREENE, MRS. GARDINER. Widow of the late Gardiner Greene, (who, at his death, was considered the richest man in Boston,) is a daughter of Copley the painter, and sister of the present Lord Lyndhurst, (" a Boston boy,") Lord Chancellor of England. Mr. Greene inherited a good property, partly in Demarara, and increased it largely by successful traffic, before that colony was ceded by Holland to Great Britain.
Que of the sons-Wm. P. Greene -- who resides at Norwich, Conn., studied law with Charles Jackson and Samuel Hubbard, (then in partnership :) is en- gaged in manufactures, and a main promoter of the Norwich and Worcester Rail-Road. Judge Hubbard married one of Mr. Greene's daughters, and is a principal trustee of the estate.
Gardiner Greene's seat on Pemberton Hill was worthy of admiration. The large garden arose in terraces to the top of the hill, there commanding a noble view of the town, the harbor, the islands, and Boston Light-House, Massa- chusetts Bay. It was the sole charge of the waggish Wyatt, an old Scotch gardener, who did not spare his jokes on any oddities of his employer, even to his fondness for string beans, of which he had to provide successive fortnight crops till late in the fall. It was kept in fine order, and liberally open to stran- gers. Wyatt's lodge was at the foot of the steps, where he had always a " svp" of George Murdock's choice old Cognac to offer those whom he liked well enough to ask in. This gardener was not green.
GREENWOOD, W. P. A retired dentist ; father of the late Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood, successor of Dr. Freeman at Stone (or King's) Chapel.
Dr. Greenwood operated successfully for himself; but rather harshly for his subjects -- as the writer of this has thought -- many years in Friend-street.
GORE, JOHN. Lives in Roxbury. Son of the late John Gore, who was brother to Gov. Christopher Gore, and a very large and successful importer of British dry goods, of the firm of Gore, Miller & Parker.
Samuel R. Miller-in his prime, one of the finest-looking men in Boston --- mjured his health by exposure on the frontiers of Canada. He had shipped large quantities of goods from England to Montreal, to be ready for an opening on the repeal of the non-intercourse act. He suffered long a martyr to dys- pepsia. Josiah Quincy, Jun., Mayor, married his only daughter.
The late Governor Gore effected a great improvement in the vegetable and fruit market of Boston. Je had resided near London several years as one of the Commissioners under Jay's treaty, Covent Garden Market did not escape his eye. Oa his return, he built an elegant seat in Waltham, and laid out extensive grounds for gardening. First he sent presents to his epicurean friends, William Paine and others; but he had a great surplus. His gardener soon stood in the market with the finest and earliest vegetables that had been seen, and some now varieties.
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THE ARISTOCRACY OF BOSTON.
Hill, of West Cambridge, Williams, of Roxbury, and others, soon followed the example. J. O. Reid, a lame man, (now a wealthy ship-chandler and ship- owner on South-street, New York,) stood for M. Williams, of Roxbury, a bro- ther of John D.
HAMMOND, DANIEL. The former ablo and most efficient man in the house of Whitney, Catler & Hammond. As honorable as he was able. [See PLINY CUTLER and GEORGE HALLEY. ] Since that firm was dissolved, some of his speculations have not been fortunate. He occupied a house in Pearl near High-street, where Jones's boarding-house formerly stood.
HAMMOND, SARAH. Widow of the late Samuel Hammond, long in the boot and shoe business in Ann-street and Merchants'-row; and in hides and leather, with Samuel Train ; and a private underwriter. The Rev. Dr. Palfrey married one daughter, and N. P. Russell another. A son was of the firm of Swett & Hammond -- John Swett, of " Squirrel up a tree," in Union- street.
HANCOCK, JOHN. Son of Eben. Hancock, and nephew of John Han- cock, President of Congress at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and Governor of Massachusetts. Jolm's widow married Capt. Scott, master of the ship Minerva, the only ship in the London trade, owned by Dr. Eliakim Morse, wholesale druggist, in Dock Square. Mrs. Scott continued in the noble old " Hancock House," near the State House, on which estate Samuel A. Eliot's house now stands. Hancock's Wharf, (where William Parsons, Henry Sigourney, and Edward Craft kept, in the old wooden buildings,) belonged to Gov. Hancock's estate.
The present John, (very long, and always stooping,) did a small business as agent for a powder company, in Merchants' Row, near the head of Cod- man's Wharf, and opposite Faneuil Hall. He inherits Gov. Hancock's estate.
HASKINS, RALPH. A retired distiller. Long connected with the late Oliver Keating, ouce in some partnership with Theodore Lyman, when he first came from near Kennebunk to Boston. The Rev. Mr. Haskins, of the Epis- copal Church, is a nephew of Ralph.
HAYWARD, GEORGE. Physician, and son of the late Dr. Hayward. He inherited a good property from his father, and has made money in his pro- fession, in which he is much esteemed.
HENSHAW, DAVID. Came from Leicester, a poor boy. Served his time with George Brinby, (formerly Dix & Brinby,) on the south side of Faneuil Hall, in the wholesale druggist and dye-stuff business. Began for himself in State-street, in IS15, and afterwards united his brothers, in exten- sive business in the same line, in India-street. He established various che- mical works in Roxbury and at South Boston ; and it was said, at the time, that he was the only wholesale dealer in Boston, of practical chemical science.
He became a warm politician ; furnished means for, and was a writer in the " Statesman,"-advocating, first, the claims of Mr. Crawford, then those of Gen. Jackson, for the Presidency.
Ile was made Collector of the Port on the removal of Gen. II. A. R. Dear- born; and afterwards appointed Secretary of the Navy, by President Tyler -- but this appointment was not confirmed by the Senate.
He has since been engaged in the purchase of mineral lands, and mining operations for copper, on Lake Superior. Those associated with him, have great confidence in his skill and energy.
Ile now resides at Leicester, a martyr to the gout. Indomitable energy of character, and abstemious habits, sustain him under great suffering-great enough to break down common men.
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THE ARISTOCRACY A? BOSTON.
HENSHAW, JOHN. Brother of David. Wholesale druggists and dye- stuff dealers.
HILL, DAVID. Long a small grocer in Milk-street, between Atkinson and Pearl. Famed for " dun fish."
HOMER, FITZHENRY. Only son of the late Bemj. P. Homer. Served his time with Whitwell, Bond & Co. B. P. Homer was the largest private general underwriter in Boston-and sometimes in the Canton trade. He was noted for fairness and promptness in the payment of losses.
HOOPER ROBERT-HOOPER SAMUEL-HOOPER ROBERT C. Robert and John Hooper, fathers of the above, and William Reed, their brother- in-law, were the principal foreign merchants of Marblehead.
Wm. Reed was a zealous orthodox Congregationalist. One of the Hoopers removed to Boston-an Episcopalian.
HUMPHREY, BENJAMIN. Born in Weymouth. An only son. Came young to Boston, and served with Abraham Wild. Began himself in Fore (now Ann) street -- then Humphrey & Clark, on Long Wharf-in the salt busi- ness, and supplying fishermen with salt for the mackerel and Bank fisheries, and selling the cargoes on their return. He has always been a shrewd, careful, industrious man.
INCHES, HENDERSON. A retired merchant, and long owner of Russia Wharf. Inherited an estate from his father.
INGERSOLL, JAMES. An intelligent merchant, Central Wharf. Has been much abroad as supercargo to different parts of Europe.
JACKSON CHARLES L. L. D .--- JACKSON JAMES -- JACKSON PATRICK TRACY. Sons of Jonathan Jackson, late of Newburyport. He had an office on or near the comer of Bromfield's-lane, forty-five years ago, as Commissioner under the General Government. A quick, small gentleman in black, of the old school.
Charles studied law with the late Theophilus Parsons, who said of him, that "he was bringing up a young hawk, to pick out his own eyes." He opened an office on Pemberton Hill, near the late Eben. Gry-where Francis Blan- chard was associated with him. He removed into the Lowell building. near the then new Court Ilonse, constructed by John Lowell for law offices ; and on the death of Blanchard, invited Sarauel Hubbard, who had studied with hiro, and was then in Saco, to take Blanchard's place. His practice was very great and very profitable. He studied thoroughly every case, not only in the law, but on all that related to it. Among other means to serve him for facility of illustration and the use of technical words, in cases of Marine Insurance, he procured a model ship, with every piece of timber marked with its technical name.
His kindly sympathies won the hearts (often suffering ones) of his clients. His integrity-" that e'en his eye, when turned on empty space, beamed keen with honor"-was united with delicacy that shrunk, unconscious of its worth. His mind was of the largest comprehension ; his perceptions, quick as light- ning ; his knowledge of law, profound : and all his aim was truth. No won- der that all his time and all his talents were demanded and rewardel.
In the midst of this success, the public called for his services on the bench of the Supreme Court. He obeyed that call, and became the Justice Buller of America-relinquishing a practice worth four times the amount of his salary. His health-never robust-began to fail. He went to Europe, and was en- lightened and delighted by the wonders of manufacturing industry, relieved and guided by science ; but most of all, by the potteries of Staffordshire-the rough elements of nature wrought into perfect forms and uses,
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The Bench in England awarded him distinction not before conferred o! any foreigner -- he was seated with Stowell.
He returned from Europe with improved health, and has since lived in retirement. May he live long, and happy !
After James had pursued his studies in this country, he went to Europe, to benefit by its institutions. On his return, he opened an office in Hanover- street, (near the residence of Wm. Cooper, the old town-clerk. whose house is still standing-No. 5.)
How few are left united of those who got their marriage certificates of good old Mr. Cooper ! When Dr. Jackson opened his office, a career of unex ampled success opened to him. Wealth and honors followed him. The hearts of his patients, especially females, were always with him. No man ever attended woman with more patience and delicacy, through scenes and sufferings that woman only knows. Their mental suffering he tried to alleviate, by introducing a lady thoroughly educated in midwifery. He was opposed by a majority of the profession. He retired from active practice, to the regret of many families, when receiving a large income from it. For more than twenty years he has been consulting physician only.
JACKSON, PATRICK T .- More than forty years ago, was extensively engaged in the Calcutta trade, with Joseph and Heury Lee.
Beerboom Gurrahs, Chittabilly Baftahs, and Cawnpore Sonnahs or Mamog- dies, are now unknown here. They have been driven away by Waltham and Lowell cottons-and these are now shipped to India.
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