USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume III > Part 4
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in his joys and often strangers to his sorrows-through for a few days, and then the weary round of misery was faced again. The penalties of genius were never better illustrated than in the sad career of this gifted singer. The genealogy of the Payne family has been made a theme of special study by Mr. Henry Whittemore, and, as much misunderstanding exists concerning the poet's ancestors and even concerning his birthplace, we give the record in full :
Thomas Paine, the progenitor of the family from which John Howard Payne descended, was the son of Thomas, sup- posed to have come from Kent, England, and presumably iden- tical with Thomas Payne of Yarmouth, the first deputy from that place to the Old Colony Court at Plymouth in June, 1639.
Thomas Paine (2), son of Thomas (1), came to New Eng- Jand when a lad of ten years of age, and settled in Eastham be- fore 1653, as he was constable there at that date. He was ad- mitted freeman, 1658. He represented Eastham at the Colony Court 1671-2-3, 1676-78-80-81, and in 1690. He removed to Bos- ton before 1695. He was a man of more than ordinary education, and was a very fine penman. He died at Eastham, August 16, 1706. He married Mary Snow, daughter of Hon. Nicholas Snow. who came in the Anne to Plymouth in 1623, and in 1654 removed to Eastham, Massachusetts. He married Constance Hopkins, daughter of Stephen Hopkins, of Plymouth, fourteenth signer of the "Mayflower Compact."
The children of Thomas and Mary (Snow) Paine were: Mary, Samuel, Thomas, Eleazer, Elisha, John, born March 14. 1660-1, Nicholas, James, Joseph, Dorcas.
Deacon John Paine, sixth child of Thomas (2) and Mary (Snow) Paine, was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, March 14, 1660-1. He was admitted freeman June, 1696. He was elected clerk of the town 1706 and re-elected until 1729. He was treas-
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urer from 1709 to 1736, and Representative to the General Court at Boston 1703-9-14-16-18-24-5. He was of a literary turn of mind and some of his spare moments were devoted to literary pursuits. Scraps of prose and poetry written by him are still in the hands of his descendants, He died October 26, 1731.
He married first Bennet Freeman, daughter of Major John , and Mercy (Prence) Freeman, born March, 1671. She was "a pleasant companion, a most loving and obedient wife, a tender and compassionate mother and a good Christian." By her he had John, Mary, William, born June 6, 1695; Benjamin, Sarah, Elizabeth, Theophilns, Joseph, Nathaniel, Rebecca, Mercy, Ben- jamin again.
He married, second, Alice Mayo, and had by her Hannah, James, Thomas, Alice, Hannah.
Lieut. William Paine, third child of Deacon John and Ben- net (Freeman) Paine, was born at Eastham, June 6, 1695. He was a Representative to the Provincial Legislature from East- ham 1731-32-35-38-39-40-43-44. He was appointed one of His Majesty's Justices in 1738. He took part with the Colonial forces in the capture of Lonisburg as lientenant in Capt. Elisha Doane's company, Col. Gorham's Seventh Massachusetts Regi- ment, and died in service in 1746.
His first wife was Sarah Bacon, of Barnstable, whom he married in 1727. He married, second, June 14, 1741, Elizabeth Myrick, a widow, the daughter of Rev. Samuel Osborn, pastor of the South Church in Eastham, and sister of Dr. John Osborn, the distinguished physician and poetical writer of Middletown, Connecticut. By his first wife he had Sarah, Ruth, Josiah, Jede- diah. He had one child by his second wife, William, born 1746.
William Paine, or Payne (2), son of Lient. William and Eliz- abeth (Myrick, nee Osborn) Paine, was born in 1746, the year his father died in the Colonial service. His mother remarried
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and he was placed in the family of Rev. Joseph Crocker, pastor of the South Congregational Church of Eastham. He commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill. He was interrupted in his studies by the events which immediately preceded the Revolution, and opened an Eng- lish Grammar School in Boston, but on account of the occupa- tion of that city by the British he gave it up and became a tutor in a private family. Writing to a friend of his experience at that time, he says: He was obliged to be in his school "from the first entrance of light till nine in the evening." While on a visit to Barnstable he married Lucy Taylor, who died shortly after the marriage. He went to New London, Connecticut, and there engaged in a mercantile adventure to the West Indies. On his return he formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah Isaacs, of East Hampton, Long Island, who was on a visit there, and soon after married her. Her father was a convert from the Jew- ish faith, who came from Hamburg, Germany, previous to the Revolution and settled at East Hampton. He was a mau of edu- cation and wealth, but difficulties in his own country and the Revolution in his adopted country induced heavy losses and left him comparatively poor. His wife, a Miss Hedges, was the daughter of a lady whose maiden name was Talmage. His uncle Talmage was the Earl of Dysart, a British nobleman.
William Paine, or, as he wrote his name, "Payne," settled in East Hampton after his marriage, about 1780, and became one of the teachers of the academy there. His wife, who was a woman of remarkable beauty, fine education and many excellent traits of character, assisted her husband in teaching. Payne continued there for about ten years. Several of his children were born there, and this was really the only home he ever possessed. He removed to New York in 1790, where he taught school for some years. In 1793 he resided at No. 5 Dey street, and he also
Payne Home.
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resided and taught school on Little Queen street. In 1799 he was invited by some influential men in Boston to open a school there, which became quite noted. He returned to New York about 1809 and taught school on Common near Grand street. He died March 7, 1812.
In the cemetery at East Hampton is the grave marked by a stone of Andrew Isaacs, the father of William Payne's wife, Sarah (Isaacs) Payne, on which is inscribed: "Behold an Israelite in Whom is No Guile."
William Payne by his wife Sarah (Isaacs) Payne had issue :
1. Lucy Taylor, born 1781, at East Hampton, married, in 1816, Dr. John Cheever Osborne, of New York; died in Brook- lyn, 1865, left no issue.
2. William Osborne, born at East Hampton, August +, 1783, died March 24, 1804.
3. Sarah Isaacs, born at East Hampton, July 11, 1785, died in New York, October 14, 1808.
4. Eloise Richards, born at East Hampton, March 12, 1787, died at Leicester, Massachusetts, July, 1819.
5. Anna Beren Leagers, born at East Hampton, April 9, 1789, died at Newport, Rhode Island, October 11, 1789.
6. John Howard, the poet, born in New York city, at 33 Pearl street, June 9, 1791, died at Tunis, Africa, April 9, 1852.
7. Eliza Maria, born in New York city, September 19, 1795, died there May 25, 1797
8. Thatcher Taylor, born in New York city, August 14, 1796, married in New York, 1833, Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Bailey, died in Brooklyn, December 27, 1863.
9. Elizabeth Mary, born in Boston, Massachusetts, died there aged about two years.
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WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
Stephen Bryant is the first of the name mentioned in the New England records. The date and place of his birth are not given. The "History of North Bridgewater, Massachusetts," states that he was in Plymouth Colony as early as 1632. His name is entered on the list of 1643 among those able to bear arms, which he probably did. He was admitted a freeman of the colony in 1653, and was chosen constable of Duxbury, June 6, 1654, and was constable at Plymonth, January 1, 1663. He mar- ried Abigail. danghter of John Shaw, of Plymouth, and had children : AAbigail, John, Mary, Stephen, Sarah, Lydia, Eliza- bethı.
Stephen Bryant (2), son of Stephen (1) and Abigail (Shaw) Bryant, was born at Plymouth, February 2, 1658. He married Mehitabel and had Stephen (3), David, William, Han- nah, Ichabod, Timothy.
Ichabod Bryant, fifth child of Stephen (2) and Mehitabel ( ----- ) Bryant, was born at Middleboro, Massachusetts, July 5, 1699; died August 2, 1759. He married Ruth Staples, who died March 27, 1777. They had Philip, Nathan, Seth, Job, Gamalius, Phebe, Ruth, Sarah, Anna, Prudence.
Dr. Philip Bryant (1), eldest child of Ichabod and Ruth (Staples) Bryant, was born in Middleboro, Massachusetts, De- cember, 1732. He lived some time with his father at Titicut (Teightaqued), a parish formed of part of Middleboro and part of South Bridgewater, and then removed to North Bridgewater. He studied medicine with Dr. Abiel Howard, of West Bridge- water. He continued to practice medicine with much success. He married in 1757, Selena, daughter of Dr. Abial Howard. She died June 25, 1777. He married second, Hannah, daughter of Benjamin Richards. He died December 19, 1816, aged
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eighty. His children were all by his first wife. These were Oliver, born March 5, 1758, Ruth, Daniel, Bezaleel, Philip, Jr., Cyrus, Anna, Selena, Charity.
Dr. Philip Bryant (2), son of Dr. Philip (1) and Selena (Howard) Bryant. was born at West Bridgewater, Massa- chusetts, Angust 12, 1767. He was a physician and settled at Cnmington, Massachusetts.
Dr. Bryant married in 1792, Sarah Snell, daughter of Eben- ezer and Sarah (Packard) Snell, born at North Bridgewater, Massachusetts, April 6, 1766. Their children were. 1. Anson, born April 16, 1793, married Adeline Plummer. 2. William Cullen, born November 3, 1794, married Frances Fairchild. 3. Cyrus, born July 12, 1798. 4. Sarah Snell, born July 24, 1802. 5. Arthur, born November 28, 1803, married Henrietta R. Plum- mer.
William Cullen Bryant, second child of Dr. Philip (2) and Sarah (Snell) Bryant, was born in Cumington, Massachusetts, November 3, 1794. He made metrical translations from the Latin before he was ten years old. His father superintended his education. His "Embargo," a political satire, and the "Spanish Revolution" were published in his fourteenth year, and again in 1809. Entering Williams College in 1810 he re- mained two years, taking high rank in literary studies. He chose the legal profession and was admitted to the bar in 1815, and commenced practice in Plainfield, Massachusetts. remov- ing thence to Great Barrington ; but though he rose to distinction in the courts, his tastes inclined him to literature. "Thanatop- sis" was written in his eighteenth year. He wrote several prose articles for the North American Review in 1818. In 1821 he de- livered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Harvard Univer- sity a poem on "The Ages," and a volume containing several of his poems, published at Cambridge, at once stamped him as a Vol. III-4
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genuine poet. He was married while living at Great Barring- ton, and there wrote some of his finest poems.
He moved to New York in 1825 and edited the New York Review, which was soon after merged into the United States Review, for which he wrote poems and criticisms. In 1826 he became one of the editors of the Evening Post. This he subse- qnently, upon obtaining its exclusive control, changed from a Federal to a Democratic print, favoring free trade.
In 1832-45-49-57 he traveled in Europe, his observations forming material for his books entitled "Letters of a Traveler," "Letters From Spain and Other Countries." In 1849 he ex- tended his journey into Egypt and Syria. From 1827 to 1834, with Sands & Verplank, he edited "The Talisman," an annual, and contributed "Medfield" and the "Skelerton Cave" to the "Tales of the Glanber Spa." In 1832 a complete edition of his poems appeared in New York, and Washington Irving, thien in England, caused it to be reprinted there with a landatory pre- face, securing him a European reputation. Before going abroad in 1832 he associated William Legget with himself in the man- agement of The Post, and he continned his connection with the paper up to the time of his death. He made his first purchase of property in Roslyn in 1845, soon after removing there.
Of all the American poets, probably none was more beloved than Bryant, and when he had attained his eightieth year, the suggestion was made by a few of his admiring friends that a suitable tribute of respect to his genius was due to him, and after consultation it was decided that a commemorative vase of appropriate original design and choice workmanship, would be the best form of intended tribute, especially since My. Bryant did not need any material aid, and moreover, the sculptor and painter and engraver conspicuously paid their respects to him. A committee of twenty-five gentlemen of New York and Brook-
:
Cedarmere, Home of Wm. Cullen Bryant.
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lyn took the matter into their charge, and associated with them prominent citizens of other parts of the country from Boston to San Francisco. The committee waited upon Mr. Bryant at his home upon the eightieth anniversary of his birthday, No- vember 3, 1874, and after an address by Mr. Jonathan Sturgess, the written testimonial of respect with its large list of signers was presented, and Mr. Bryant made an appropriate and mem- orable reply. The occasion was remarkable from the repre- sentative character of the company that met together, and from the interest of the interview.
Arrangements were made at once for competitive designs and the field of competition was thrown open to the whole crast of silversmiths. The design of Mr. Whitehouse, of the firm of Tiffany & Company, was accepted unanimously, alike from its beanty and fitness and the public were encouraged to study their merits by friendly comments from the committee, and by articles in the newspapers and illustrations in the magazines.
In stating his conception of the design to the committee, Mr. James H. Whitehead the artist said: "When the Bryant testimonial was first mentioned to me, my thoughts at once flew to the country-to the crossing of the boughs of trees, to the plants and flowers, and to a general contemplation of nature; and these, together with a certain Homeric influence, produced in my mind the germ of the design-the form of a Greek vase, with the most beautiful American flowers growing round and entwin- ing themselves gracefully about it, each breathing its own par- ticular glory as it grew."
The vase is entirely covered with a fretwork formed of apple branches and their blossoms, or a delicate basket work from the apple tree, which so well expressed Mr. Bryant's poetry in its fragrant bloom and its wholesome fruit. Beneath this fretwork, and forming the finer lines of the fret, are the
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primrose and the amaranth, which out of the lips of their love- liness speak their lessons of inspiration and of immortality. The body of the vase which is thus formed and enriched, bears expressive and elaborate medallions of the poet and of the main aspects of his life and works. The most prominent of these medallions is a portrait bust of the poet. Above his head is the lyre which represents his art, and below is the printing press in its primitive form, which suggests his career of journalism, while more prominent still, further below, is the elaborate and beautiful design of the water-fowl which so presents God over nature in the charming and exalting poem of that name. On the opposite side of the vase there is a carefully designed and executed study of Poetry contemplating Nature-two female figures, which balance wisely the somewhat severely masculine character of the other designs, and give their womanly grace to the honor of the poet whose life and works so well harmonize in respect for woman, and for the home, marriage, and religion, that give her the best defense and power. Between these two principal medallions there are on each side two groups illustrat- ting scenes in the poet's life, making four groups in all. The first group presents him in company with his father, who points to Homer as a model in poetic composition :
"For he is grave who taught my youth The art of verse, and in the bud of life Offered me to the muses."
The next group presents him as the student of nature such as he appears in "Thanatopsis" or "A Forest Hymn."
The third design illustrates his life as journalist, and the fourth represents him in his good old age as translator of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The lower part of the bowl bears orna- mentation from the characteristic products of American agri-
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culture-cotton and Indian corn. The neck is encircled with primrose and ivy in token of youth and old age, while the "fringed genitian" suggests the grave thought from its blue petals :
"I would thus when I shall see The hour of death draw near to me, Hope blossoming within my heart, May look to heaven as I depart."
KING FAMILY.
* "John Alsop King, Jr., second son of Governor John Alsop King and Mary Ray, his wife, was born at Jamaica, Long Is- land, July 14, 1817. His early years were passed at Jamaica, where he was educated at the Union Hall Academy, the classical school of Dr. Louis E. A. Eigenbrodt. At the early age of fifteen he entered Harvard College in the sophomore class, and was graduated with much credit. For a short time afterward he was a clerk in the house of Ebenezer Stevens, but, disliking the busi- ness, he took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of New York and practiced his profession for several years.
"After his marriage, in 1839, he went to Europe and spent some years in travel there, and subsequently made frequent visits there. His last journey extended to Egypt, where he and his family remained for a winter.
"In 1854 he bought a beautiful point of land on Long Island Sound, part of the Hewlet Point property, where he built his fine mansion and made his home there for the remainder of his life. His tastes led him to become a member of the agri- cultural societies of Queens county, and he took an active part in their proceedings. as well as a deep interest in all the affairs of the neighborhood. both political and religious. Here, as elsewhere, his genial disposition and courteous manners won for him the esteem of those with whom he was brought in con- tact.
"The Republican party of that day was guided by the prin- ciples which he had inherited, and he became interested in pro- moting them. His first public appointment was as presidential elector in 1872: this was followed by an election to the state
* Extract from a paper read by the Very Rev. Eugene A. Hoffman before the New York Historical Society, February 5, 1901.
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senate, in which he served during the years 1874-1875. He was a zealous supporter and defender of the Erie canal, and of the constitutional amendments which brought abont many reforms in the state government. With the aid of the members of the first district, he succeeded in securing the repeal of the infamous act of 1868, by which, unknown to the owners, the salt meadow water fronts of Staten and Long Islands had been sold for a trifling sum to a land company. For his services in securing the passage of the act establishing the Court of Arbitration he received a vote of thanks from the New York Chamber of Com- merce. In the year 1876 he was nominated in his district for the office of representative in the national congress, but was defeated, as he was also in 1880, the district being strongly Democratic.
"In 1881 Mr. King was appointed, by Governor Cornell, the commissioner for the state of New York, to receive and extend the courtesies and hospitalities of the state to the delegation from France and the other foreign guests invited by the United States to take part at Yorktown in the centennial celebration. Both duties were faithfully performed.
"From that time, though still interested in the welfare of his party, he was no longer prominent in politics, but devoted himself to other pursuits for which he had long felt a deep con- cern. These were chiefly in connection with the church in which he was brought up. and which was that of his affections, the Protestant Episcopal church. His desire to promote its in- terests and to do good in his generation was shown by his con- necting himself with Zion church at Little Neck, Long Island, of which he was for many years a warden, and afterwards by his materially aiding in building the Church of All Saints at Great Neck, of which he was every year elected a warden up to the close of his life. He was a delegate to the diocesan conven- tion of New York, from Grace church, Jamaica, from 1850 to 1866, and, after the division of the diocese of New York, a dele- gate to the Long Island diocesan convention, from Zion church, Little Neck, from 1863 to 1887, and from All Saints' church, Great Neck, from 1888 to the date of his death. During all these years he was a member of important committees of the diocesan conventions and was always present at their meetings, except when absent from the country. He was a trustee of the Fund for Aged and Infirm Clergymen from the year 1869, and a trustee of the General Theological Seminary from the year 1872. Both these offices, as well as those of member of the board of
John Alsop King Homestead at Great Neck.
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managers of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, and trustee of King Hall, Washington, D. C., founded and largely endowed by himself, for the higher education of the colored race, he held up to the time of his death. He was a deputy to the Federal Council on every occasion from its formation in 1871, and a deputy to eight successive Triennial General Con- ventions of the church. He was also a lay member of the Cathe- dral Chapter of Long Island, and, following the example of his ancestors, he was a liberal benefactor of Grace church, Jamaica. He and his wife were greatly interested in the New York Asylum for the Blind, of which he was a manager, and it has been truly said that in all his efforts to promote benevolent objects, his wife and daughters were ever ready to join with him.
"Mr. King became a member of the New York Historical Society in 1881. In 1887 he was elected its eighteenth president, and, devoting himself to its interests, was annually re-elected to the same office. He delivered the address at the eighty-third anniversary of the founding of the society, November 15, 1887, the subject of his address being 'The Framing of the Federal Constitution and the Causes Leading Thereto.' This address was published by the society. At a meeting held June 5, 1900, Mr. King presented and read a memorial of Robert Schell, late treasurer of the society.
"He was very seldom missing from the presidential chair at the monthly meetings of the society, and was a frequent vis- itor to the library, looking over, with Mr. Kilby, the librarian, the latest additions to the books and manuscripts. The last time he presided was at the meeting on October 2nd. Mr. King's elder brother, Dr. Charles Ray King, was then the oldest member of the society.
"Our late president was deeply interested in procuring a new building for the society, and it was under his inspiration that ten full city lots, in the block between Seventy-sixth and Seventy-seventh streets, west of the park, were purchased as a site for the purpose. He had intended, early in the year, to call a meeting of the society, to take steps for raising the money to build at least a part of it.
"This is but an imperfect summary of the many good deeds of our friend's busy and well-spent life. It reveals a man of marked manliness of character, with a singularly sweet and loving disposition. Holding decided views, conscientiously maintained, on questions which came before him, they were not put forward without a due regard for those who differed from
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him. Notwithstanding the multiplicity of works in which he engaged, they were always accompanied by such modesty and reticence that few, even of his intimate friends, were aware of the energy and punctuality with which he devoted himself to the duties which he voluntarily assumed for the good of others. Of all the boards and committees of which he was a member he was never absent from a meeting unless prevented by other im- perative duties. For twenty years it has been my privilege to sit beside him in the board of managers of our Missionary So- ciety. In all that time I have been a constant observer of the careful and conscientious manner in which he discharged its important responsibilities. In addition to all these public duties, how many days and honr's he devoted to personal acts of kindness will never be known until that day when their recip- ients will rise up and call him blessed. His heart and his hand were always open to every appeal of suffering and want.
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