Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume III, Part 62

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry Sweetser, 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume III > Part 62

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respects, stimulated his susceptible powers to higher efforts. He now took rank among the foremost men at the bar, and by his winning manners and persuasive style of speaking and address, accompanied by the skill and ingen- uity of his arguments, established his reputa- tion and his practice on a firm basis.

"In the act of the new state, establishing the supreme judicial court, passed June 24, 1820, the governor and council were required 'to appoint some suitable person learned in the law to be a reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court,' and publish them whenever they would compose a suitable vol- ume." His compensation was fixed at six hun- dred dollars a year salary and the profits aris- ing from the publication. Mr. Greenleaf was immediately appointed reporter under this act, and entered on his duties at York county, Au- gust term, 1820. He continued faithfully, promptly and very ably to discharge the duties of this arduous and responsible office for twelve years, closing with the July term at Waldo county, in 1832. The cases determined during this period are contained in nine vol- umes, the last embracing a table of cases and a digest of the whole. * * The reports are distinguished for the clear and concise manner in which the points of law are stated and the arguments of counsel given. They took high rank in this class of legal productions, and . were received as standards of authority throughout the Union. They were deservedly considered among the most valuable of Amer- ican reports, and so highly were they esteemed that a new edition was demanded by the pro- fession-a very rare thing in this class of works-which was published with annotations by Mr. Abbot, of Cambridge, a short time previous to Mr. Greenleaf's death. So con- spicuous had Mr. Greenleaf become about the time that he closed his duties as reporter, that the attention of Judge Story, then at the head of the law school at Cambridge, was turned to him as the most suitable person to fill the place in that department of the university rendered vacant by the death of the lamented Professor Ashman, and he immediately determined to bring Mr. Greenleaf to Cambridge if he could. At that time Judge Story, holding his court in Portland, had an interesting case in admiralty. This branch of the law was known only in our largest commercial cities, and not to many of the profession there. And Judge Story was surprised when he found that Mr. Greenleaf brought to this case a thorough acquaintance with this very peculiar system of law, which he himself deemed of great importance, and

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which, foreseeing its constantly increasing value, he wished to make prominent in the in- struction of the law school. * * * * In 1833 Mr. Greenleaf was appointed Royal Professor of Law at Harvard College, as associate to Professor Ashman. He received at Harvard, the year of his removal to Cambridge, 1833, the degree of Doctor of Laws, and the same de- gree at Amherst the next year. He was ap- pointed Royal Professor of Law at Harvard University, as successor to Professor Ash- man, in 1833, which office he held two years," when he was appointed to the chair of the Dane Professorship, a worthy successor to that chair made vacant by the death of Judge Story. In consequence of ill-health, he re- signed this chair in 1848, when he was hon- ored with the title of Emeritus Professor of Law in the University. His connection with the law school marked a season in its history of great prosperity. He became a Mason in Cumberland Lodge, Maine, and was the sec- ond grand master of the Grand Lodge, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, of Maine. In 1820 and 1821 he, with Asa Clapp and Nicholas Emery, represented Portland in the legislature of Maine. As these were sessions when the new government was put in opera- tion, the duty was responsible, and, to a law- yer who was expected to pass upon the code of laws to be adopted on careful revision, ar- duous. Mr. Greenleaf was faithful to his trust and beneficial to the country. With this ex- perience he retired at once and forever from political office. Mr. Greenleaf was a grave, sedate-looking man, and very quiet in his movements. He was about five feet ten inches in height, rather stout built, full face, with a small, sharp eye, nearly black. His original hair was very dark brown; his pos- ture a little stooping, with his head pro- jecting forward; his countenance was ex- pressive of benignity and intelligence.

The following are some of the works which have proceeded from his pen: "A Brief In- quiry into the Origin and Principles of Free Masonry," published at Portland in 1820. An anonymous pamphlet entitled "Remarks on the Exclusion of Atheists as Witnesses," octavo; published in Boston in 1839. "Catalogue of a Select Law Library," also a "Course of Legal Studies," etc. "A Letter to a Person Engaged in a Lawsuit by a Lawyer; by a Member of the Profession," published as a tract by the American Tract Society. "An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in Courts of Justice; With an Account of the Trial of

Jesus," published in Boston in 1846 and re- printed in London in 1847. "A Discourse Pronounced at His Inauguration as Royal Professor of Law, in Harvard University." "A Discourse Commemorative of the Life and Character of Joseph Story," pronounced Sep- tember 18, 1845. "Testamentary Counsels and Hints to Christians on the Right Distribution of Their Property by Will, by a Retired Solici- tor," carefully revised by a member of the American bar ; published at Troy, New York, in 1845. "A Treatise on the Law of Evi- dence," three volumes. An edition of "Cruise's Digest of the Law of Real Property, with Notes, 1849-50.

Professor Simon Greenleaf married, Sep- tember 18, 1806, Hanah Kingman, born Au- gust 5, 1787, died January 13, 1857, daughter of Ezra and Susanna ( Whitman) Kingman. Fifteen children were born of this marriage, of whom eleven died in infancy. Those who attained mature age and married were: Pat- rick Henry, Charlotte Kingman, James, Caro- line Augusta.

(For preceding generations see Edmund Greenleaf I.)

(III) Edmund (2), son

GREENLEAF and eighth child of Steph- en and Elizabeth (Coffin) Greenleaf, was born in Newbury, Massachu- setts, May 10, 1670, and died there about 1740. He married, July 2, 1691, Abigail Somerby, born in Newbury, January 25, 1670, daughter of Abiel Somerby. Children : 1. Judith, born December 15, 1692, died February 10, 1762 or 1772; married, April 22, 1713, John Cof- fin, eldest son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Brocklebank) Coffin, died September 30, 1762. 2. Abigail, born March 6, 1695, died same day. 3. Mary, born September 10, 1697, married, November 15, 1723, Rowland Brad- bury. He married (second) Elizabeth Oliver, of York. 4. Rebecca, born February 23, 1699, died September 29, 1702. 5. Edmund, born February 27, 1702. 6. Henry, born July 22, 1705, married in Boston, June 26, 1726, Eliza- beth Burnall. 7. Rebecca, born November 5, 1707, died August 19, 1709. 8. Richard, born May II, 1710. 9. Rooksby, born May II, 1713, married, April 21, 1738, John Clark, of Kings Towne.

(IV) Edmund (3), fifth child and eldest son of Edmund (2) and Abigail (Somerby) Greenleaf, was born in Newbury, Massachu- setts, February 27, 1702. He married, May 4, 1725, Mary, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Moody) Hale, and granddaughter of John Hale, who married Sarah Somerby, daughter

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of Henry and Judith (Greenlcaf) Somerby. Edmund Greenleaf and wife had two children : 1. William, born November 28, 1725. 2. Mary, born April 30, 1729.

(V) Captain William, only son of Edmund and Mary (Ilale) Greenlcaf, was born No- vember 28, 1725, died January 7, 1800. He marricd (first) Ruth Pearson, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, who dicd March 22, 1779. He married (sccond) April 11, 1784, Mary Soley, of Haverhill, who died November 7, 1802. He lived in Harverhill and was landlord of the Sun Tavern until his death, and was then succeeded by his son William. Hc is said to have been a very religious man and onc of the pillars of the Calvinist Baptist church. He was a member of the "fire society" of Haver- hill in 1768 and was a soldier of the revolu- tion. Hc had eight children, all born of his first marriage : 1. Danicl, born April 19, 1745. 2. William, born June 16, died October 9, 1747. 3. Hannah, born July 30, 1748, died July 1, 1749. 4. Edmund, born November 15, died November 25, 1749. 5. Samuel, born July 24, 1752, died March 20, 1795; married, December 9, 1779, Alice Ladd, of Haverhill. 6. William, born November 9, 1754, died March 29, 1833; married, March 16, 1788, Abigail Soley, daughter of his father's second wife. 7. Ruth, born July 17, 1758. 8. Han- nah, born September 14, 1762.

(VI) Daniel, eldest son and child of Cap- tain William and Ruth (Pearson) Greenleaf, was born April 19, 1745, died June 10, 1794, in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He married, in 1765, Ruth Dalton, of Newbury, and had ten children: I. James, born September 1, 1766, died 1796; married Sarah Townsend. 2.

Mary P., born July 1, 1768, married Palmer. 3. Daniel, born August 29, 1770, died in infancy. 4. Hannah, born August 18, 1771, married Moses Kelley. 5. Abigail, born Sep- tember 9, 1773, married, November 25, 1801, John 6. Ruth, born July 31, 1775, married William Hook, of Salem, Massachu- setts; had four children, of whom Elias and George G. were the celebrated church-organ builders of Boston. 7. Rebecca, born March 28, 1778, died August 26, 1859, at Salem ; married, September 3, 1797, Ephraim Bea- man, died May 6, 1822. 8. Daniel, born May 5, 1780, died April 23, 1854; married, May, 1803, Elizabeth W. Gale, of Concord, New Hampshire ; died June 8, 1847. 9. William, born September 3, 1782. 10. Sally, born March 19, 1785, married Joseph Brown, of Hampton, New Hampshire.

(VII) William, ninth of the children of

Daniel and Ruth (Dalton) Greenleaf, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, September 2, 1782, died January 2, 1855. He married Ann Taylor, born April II, 1785, in Halifax, England, by whom he had cight children: I. William Taylor, born September 6, 1807, died August 20, ,1843; marricd Agnes R. Milican. 2. James, born March 17, 1810. 3. John, born July 5, 1811, married Louisa Poland, who died December 6, 1847. 4. Charles T., born Jan- uary 28, 1815, died December 26, 1886. 5. -, born October 3, 1817, married James William Fisher. 6. Edmund D., born October 16, 1820. 7. Francis, born April 3, 1824. 8. Mary, born October 19, 1825.

(VIII) Charles T., fourth son and child of William and Ann (Taylor) Greenleaf, was born January 28, 1815, died at Bath, Maine, December 26, 1886. He married, at Newport, Kentucky, November 1, 1841, Mary J. Wheel- er, of Warwick, New York, and in a few years removed east to Bath, Maine, where he established himself in the hardware business, in which he continued, at the same time con- ducting an ice business, until 1867, when he received appointment as postmaster of Bath, which position he filled two terms. He was also city marshal for a number of years. His wife died in June, 1893, having borne her hus- band seven children: I. Charles Henry, born September 27, 1842. 2. William Franklin, born October 28, 1844, died May 7, 1845. 3. Eugene, born October 12, 1846, died November 26, 1892, at Bath; married, June 14, 1870, Emma J. Hartwell, had one child, Alice E., born July 1, 1872. 4. George Rogers, born May 10, 1849, died July 23, 1850. 5. Albert, born May 9, 1851, died No- vember 14, 1851. 6. Fred A., born November 27, 1853, died October 23, 1885 ; married Lil- lian S. Snow, had no children. 7. Annie T., born November 6, 1855, died October 7, 1865.

(IX) Charles Henry, eldest son and child of Charles T. and Mary J. (Wheeler) Green- leaf, was born in Newport, Kentucky, Septem- ber 27, 1842. When he was four years old his father removed with the family from New- port to Bath, Maine, and he was educated in the public schools of that city, graduated from the high school, and then took a course at the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. At the age of eighteen years, in the summer of 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A of the Third Maine Regiment, saw active service, and for gallantry on the field was breveted second lieutenant by General Kearney, at Malvern Hill. He was in the army for two years, then was compelled by

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the state of his health to return home, but acted as recruiting officer until the close of the war. He then entered the post-office as assistant to his father, who was postmaster at the time, and later was with A. Sewall & Com- pany, as bookkeeper, having an excellent repu- tation as an expert accountant. He then for a number of years filled the position of purser on a line of steamers plying along the Pacific coast, then returned to Bath to enter upon the duties of local manager and superintendent for the American Express Company. From 1885 to 1896 he was in the employ of Galen Moses, and in the latter year was appointed collector of taxes, in which office he was retained for eleven years, retiring in March, 1907, and dur- ing this period he also acted as representative of the Cunard and Allen lines of steamships. He was for several years treasurer at the Worombo Mills. In politics Mr. Greenleaf was a Republican, served several terms in both branches of the city council, also for eleven years as alderman from ward seven, and gave freely of his time and service for the interest of the city. As expert accountant he served during most of his time while alderman as chairman of the finance committee. He also served as trustee of the Bath Savings Insti- tution and of the Patten free library, had been treasurer of the Eastern Electric Construction Company, and at the time of his death was secretary and treasurer of the Bath Real Es- tate Company. He was a prominent Mason, a member of Polar Star Lodge, No. 114, F. and A. M .; Montgomery Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M .; St. Bernard Council, R. S. M .; Dun- lap Commandery, K. T., of Bath; Kora Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Lewiston; Mt. Vernon Council, of Brunswick. He was an enthusiastic member of Sedgwick Post, G. A. R., having served as commander and patriotic instructor of the Bath Post, and he also held membership in the Sagadahoc Club and Dro- more Grange. He was a consistent member of the Universalist church, and as a young man for several years was superintendent of the Sunday-school of his parish.

Mr. Greenleaf married, August 15, 1871, Emma C. Allen, daughter of Amos L. Allen, of Bath, a prominent ship-builder of Ports- mouth, Virginia, before the war, where he built seven gunboats for the government. At the outbreak of the civil war he returned to Bath, where he built the gunboats "Katahdin" and "Iosco" for the government, also building vessels and repairing at East Boston, Massa- chusetts. Mrs. Greenleaf, his daughter, at the present time has a claim pending for payment

for the construction of the latter vessel, the government never having fulfilled this obliga- tion. Mr. Greenleaf died at his home in Bath, Maine, November 29, 1907, after a brief ill- ness with typhoid pneumonia, and his loss was keenly regretted by an unusually wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a man of uncommonly fine qualities, broad- minded, generous, patriotic and of sterling in- tegrity and correct business methods, and his loss was deeply felt by those who had chosen him for positions of trust and responsibility. Mr. Greenleaf is survived by his wife, but had no children.

(For ancestry see preceding Greenleaf sketches.) (V) Samuel, third child

GREENLEAF and son of Stephen (3) and Mary (Mackres) Greenleaf, was born in Newbury, Massachu- setts, June 12, 1718, and married Hephzibah Preble, of York, born in 1725, died in Wool- wich in 1792, her husband dying in 1792 at Westport, Maine. Samuel removed to York with his father, and, like his father, was a coastwise seaman. Children : Stephen, Sam- uel, Enoch, Olive, Benjamin, Hannah and Dorcas.

(VI) Stephen (4), eldest son of Samuel and Hephzibah (Preble) Greenleaf, was born in York or Westport, Maine, 1747, and married Mary Knight, November 25, 1769, of Scar- borough, Maine, who was born May 2, 1749, died May II, 1832, surviving her husband nineteen years; he died in 1813. Children : Nathaniel, Sarah, Mary, Stephen, Westbrook, Abigail, Ebenezer, Samuel, Olive, Thankful and Ebenezer.

(VII) Westbrook, fifth child and third son of Stephen (4) and Mary (Knight) Green- leaf, was born in Westport, Maine, in 1778. and married in 1800 Mary Dunton, and ( sec- ond) Ruth B. Harriman. Westbrook lived to attain the age of eighty-eight, and was vigor- ous, hale and hearty up to his death. Chil- dren : Abigail, Mary, Westbrook, Austin, Daniel D., Eliza A., Wilmot, Mary McCarty and Silas H. He resided in Westport, Maine.

(VIII) Westbrook (2), third child and eld- est son of Westbrook ( I) and Mary ( Dunton) Greenleaf, was born January 28, 1806, died January 18, 1883. He was educated in the schools of his native town, was a farmer and fisherman by occupation, and resided in West- port all his life. He was for a time port- collector, and was active in church work. We surmise, by the naming of his children after . prominent Democratic politicians, that he was

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of that party. He married ( first) Emeline, daughter of William Clifford, of Edgecomb. She died in 1846. Married ( second) Mrs. Diademia Cathran Gove, who died April 3, 1883. Children: Mercy, Sarah C., William Clifford, Daniel D., Silas Nelson, Levi Wood- bury, James D., Richard M., Johnson, Gran- ville C. and Westbrook. They all lived to years of maturity, with the exception of James D., who died at the age of nine, from an in- jury received from sliding. Of the seven brothers, all, with the exception of one, Levi WV., who was lost at sea at the age of about twenty-one, were master mariners.

(IX) Granville C., ninth child and seventh son of Westbrook (2) and Emeline (Clif- ford) Greenleaf, was born in Westport, Maine, November 8, 1844. Educated in the schools of his native town, at the age of fourteen he be- came a fisherman, sailing to the fishing-banks and following the sea for seven years. Feb- ruary 1, 1866, he came to Bath, engaging in the grocery business, which he continued eleven years. He then took charge of the Kennebec Steamship Company as agent, and when this company became part of the Eastern Steamship Company, he was continent agent and general agent of the Boothbay division, which position he now holds. He is a Demo- crat ; was alderman from the fourth ward from Bath in the years 1881-83-84; was Demo- cratic nominee for mayor, 1889. He belongs to Lincoln Lodge, No. 10, Sagadahoc En- campment, No. 6, and Canton King, No. 10, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is ac- tive in the Universalist church. He married, April 23, 1867, Clara Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Fowle, of Westport. She died May II, 1890. Children: Gertrude Clifford and Earl Granville.

Miss Mary Blanche Bixby, of Pasadena, California, formerly of Skowhegan, Maine, wrote to Governor Hill, calling his attention to the fact that the first commission ever is- sued to a keeper of a lighthouse on the coast of the United States was issued to a Maine man, and that this original commission is now in existence in that city. Miss Bixby thinks it would be a good idea to have the commis- sion purchased and brought back to Maine, where it could be hung in the rooms of the Maine Historical Society, or in the State House. It is in splendid state of preservation, she says, excepting that a small piece is gone from one of the lower corners, opposite the signature. This piece is about an inch by half · an inch. The commission is neatly framed and covered by glass, which protects it. Under

this commission was appointed, by President George Washington, the first keeper of the Portland head lighthouse, which was the first beacon-light to be established on the coast of the nation. This light still sends out its warn- ing rays to mariners bound for Maine's most prominent seaport. At the time the commis- sion was issued Maine was a district of Mas- sachusetts. The following is a copy of the commission :

"GEORGE WASHINGTON

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS GREETING :

"KNOW YE, That I have appointed and do appoint Joseph Greenleaf Keeper of the Light House at Portland in the District of Maine in the State of Massachusetts to exercise and ful- fill the Powers and Duties of Office: And to have and to hold the same, with all the Au- thorities, Privileges and Emoluments there- unto of Right appertaining during the Presi- dent of the UNITED STATES for the time being.

"GIVEN under my Hand at the City of New York, the seventh Day of January in the Year of our Lord, one thousand seven hun- dred and ninety-one.

"GO WASHINGTON."

MASON

The Masons of pioneer days in the New England colonies were numerous, and many of them

were men of more than ordinary ability. Ten or twelve men of this name are mentioned among the well-known immigrants in the colonies before 1650.

(I) Captain Hugh Mason, a tanner, one of the very first settlers of Watertown, was ad- mitted freeman March 4. 1635; was repre- sentative 1644-45-60-61-64-71-74-75-76 and 77; selectman twenty-nine years, between 1649 and 1678, inclusive ; a lieutenant as early as 1649, and made captain May 5, 1652. He was for many years one of the three com- missioners appointed by the county court to determine small cases. This was before the appointment of justices of the peace. October 30. 1657, he was appointed by the court one of a committee to attend to the defects in several bridges in the county. December 18, 1660, he was appointed on a committee to take account of John Steadman, county treas- urer, and make a levy, etc. It has been con- jectured that he was a brother of Captain John Mason, the distinguished Pequot war-

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rior. He died October 10, 1678, aged seventy- three. By his wife Esther, who died May I, 1692, he had seven children : Hannah, Ruth, Mary, John, Joseph, Daniel and Sarah.

(II) John, eldest son of Captain Hugh and Esther Mason, born January 1, 1645, was a tanner, and settled at Cambridge Village, now Newton, where he died about 1730, aged eighty-five. He was one of the signers of the secession petition, 1678, was constable in Cam- bridge Village, 1679, and selectman five years. His residence was near the Falls. He married Elizabeth Hammond, born March 6, 1655, died November 13, 1715. Their children were: John, Elizabeth, Abigail, Daniel, Sam- uel and Hannah.

(III) Daniel, second son of John and Eliza- beth (Hammond) Mason, was born between 1679 and 1689, in Newton, where he became a farmer. He married (first) 1717 Experi- ence Newcomb, and had: Daniel, Samuel, Abigail, Hannah, John, William, Moses and others.

(IV) Moses, son of Daniel and Experience (Newcomb) Mason, born in Newton, Massa- chusetts, settled in New Hampshire. He mar- ried, in Boston, June 6, 1749 (records of King's Chapel), or June 20 (town records), Lydia, daughter of Jesse and Mary Knap, and settled in Newton. He removed to Sher- born about 1757. July 27, 1767, he sold his land in Sherborn and thence removed to Dub- lin, and settled on lot 10, range I, and died October, 1775. His widow removed with the family, 1798, to Bethel, Maine, and died there July 2, 1802, aged seventy-three. Their chil- dren, four born in Newton, four in Sherborn and two in Dublin, were: Martha, Lucy, Ly- dia, Moses, Mary, Hannah, Betty, Walter, John and Thirza.

(V) Moses (2), eldest son of Moses and Lydia (Knap) Mason, born April 26, 1757, died in Bethel, Maine, October 31, 1837, aged eighty. He served as a soldier in the revo- lution and fought under General Stark at the battle of Bennington. His name is on the "Muster and Pay Rolls of Captain Joseph Parker's Company raised out of Col. Enoch Hale's Regiment ; joined the Northern Army at Ticonderoga mustered and paid July 18, 1776 by Enoch Hale muster and pay master." On Colonel Enoch Hale's return, 1777, he is registered as enlisted from Dublin for nine months' service and described as twenty-one years of age and five feet six inches high. His name is on the pay roll of a company com- manded by Captain John Mellin which marched from Fitzwilliam and towns adja-

cent to reinforce the garrison at Ticonderoga on the alarm in June and July, 1777; "date of entry, June 28, time of service, five days, date of discharge, July 2." Also on "Pay Roll of Captain Salmon Stone's Company in Col. Nichol's Regiment, General Stark's Brigade, raised out of the Fifteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Militia, Enoch Hale Colonel, which company marched from Rindge in said state July 1777, and joined the Northern Conti- mental Army at Bennington and Still water." He enlisted July 21, and was discharged Sep- tember 26, 1777, having served one month and ten days. There also appears the following re- ceipt :

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Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume III, Part 62

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry Sweetser, 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe Publication date: 1909 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 818

Author: Little, George Thomas, 1857-1915, ed; Burrage, Henry Sweetser, 1837-1926; Stubbs, Albert Roscoe
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 818