YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

AN
AMERICAN
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL
DICTIONARY,
CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE
LIVES, CHARACTERS, AND WRITINGS
OF THE
MOST EMINENT PERSONS IN NORTH AMERICA FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEBIENT,
AND A SUMMARY OF THE
HISTORY OP THE SEVERAL COLONIES
AND OF THE
UNITED STATES.

BY WILLIAM ALLEN, D. D.,
PRESIDENT OF BOWDOIN COLLEGE J
Fellow of the Amer. Acad, of Arts and Sciences ; anil Member of the Amer. Antiq.
Soc., and of the Hist. Soc. of Maine, N. Hampshire, and N. York.

Quiqitc sui mcmores alios Jcccr^mersndo. Virg
Stconlr toition.

BOSTON :
PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM HYDE & CO.
I'l DC CC XXXII.

Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 18.32, by
William Allen, in the Clerk's office of the District court of Maine.

C(v^

PRESS OF J. GRIFFIN, BRUNSWICK

PREFACE.
To the First Edition.

The following work presents itself to the public with no claims
to attention, but such, as are founded upon the interest, which may be
felt in the lives of Americans. Finding himself a few years a^-o in a
literary retirement, with no important duties, which pressed immedi
ately upon him, the author conceived the plan of this Dictionary.
He was desirous of bringing to the citizens of the United States more
information, than was generally possessed, respecting the illustrious
men of former times, the benefactors and ornaments of this country
who have passed away. He persuaded himself, that if he could col
lect the fragments of biography, which were buried in the mass of
American history, or scattered amidst a multitude of tracts of various
kinds, and could fashion these materials into a regular form so as to
place before the eye our great and good men, if not in their full di
mensions, yet in their true shape, he should render an acceptable ser
vice to his countrymen. This work with no little labor he has now
completed ; and the inexperienced artist, in his first essay, can hope
only, that his design will be commended. He wishes chiefly, that as
the images of departed excellence are surveyed, the spirit, which an
imated them, may be caught by the beholder.
As an apology however for the deficiences and errors of various
kinds, which may be found in the work, a full exposition of his plan
and some representation of the difficulty of executing it seem to be
necessary. It was proposed to give some account of the persons, wlio first
discovered the new world ; of those, who had a principal agency in
laying the foundations of the several colonies ; of those, who have
held important of&ces and discharged the duties of them with ability
and integrity ; of those, who have been conspicuous in the learned
professions ; of those, who have been remarkable for genius and
knowledge, or who have written anything, deserving of remembrance;
of the distinguished friends of literature and science ; of the states
men, the patriots, and heroes, who have contended for American lib
erty, or aided in the establishment of our civil institutions ; and of
all,whose lives, bright with Christian virtue, might furnish examples,
which should be worthy of imitation. It iVas determined to enlarge

IV PREFACE.
this wide field by giving as complete a list, as could be made, of the
writings of each person, and by introduciug the first ministers of the
principal towns for the purpose of illustrating the history of this coun
try. The design included also a very compendious history of the
United States, as well as of each separate colony and state, for the
satisfaction of the reader, who might wish to view the subjects of the
biographical sketches in connexion with the most prominent facts re
lating to the country, in which they lived. In addition to all this, it
was intended to annex such references, as would point out the sour
ces, from which information should be derived, and as might direct to
more copious intelligence, than could be contained in this work.
Such were the objects, which the author had in view, when he
commenced an enterprise, of whose magnitude and difficulty he was
not sufficiently sensible, before he had advanced too far to be able
to retreat. The modern compilers of similar works in Europe
have little else to do but to combine or abridge the labors of their
predecessors, and employ the materials, previously collected to their
hands. But in the compilation of this work a new and untrodden
field was to be explored. It became necessary not only to examine
the whole of American history, in order to know who have taken
a conspicuous part in the transactions of this country ; but to supply
from other sources the imperfect accounts of general historical wri
ters. By a recurrence to the references it will be seen, that much
toil has been encountered. But, although the authorities may seem
to be unnecessarily multiplied, there has been some moderation in
introducing them, for in many instances they do not by any means
exhibit the extent of the researches, which have been made. It could
not be expected or wished, that newspapers, pamphlets, and other
productions should be referred to for undisputed dates and sino-le
facts, which they have afforded, and which have been imbodied with
regular accounts. The labor however of searching for information
has frequently been less, than that of comparing different statements
endeavoring to reconcile them when they disagreed, adjusting the
chronology, combining the independent facts, and formino- a consis
tent whole of what existed only in disjointed parts. Sometimes the
mind has been overwhelmed by the variety and abundance of intelli
gence ; and sometimes the author has prosecuted his inquiries in
every direction, and found only a barren waste. —
For the large space, which is sometimes occupied in describing
the last hours of the persons, of whom a sketch is given, the following
reasons are assigned. In the lives of our fellow men there is no pe
riod, so important to them and so interesting to us, as the period which
immediately precedes their dissolution. To see one of our brethren at
a point of his existence, beyond which the next step will either plunge
him down a precipice into an abyss, from which he will never rise or

PREFACE.
will elevate him to everlasting glory, is a spectacle, w hioh attracts us not
merely by its sublimity, but because wc know, that the flight of time
is rapidly hastening us to the same crisis. We wish to see men in
the terrible situation, which inevitably awaits us ; to learn what it is,
that can support them, and can secure them. The gratification of this
desire to behold what is great and awful, and the communication of
the aids, which may be derived from the conduct of dying men, have
accordingly been combined in the objects of this work. After recount
ing the vicissitudes, attending the affairs of men, the author was irre
sistibly inclined to turn from the fluctuations of human life, and to
dwell, when his subject would give him an opportunity, upon the
calm and firm hopes of the Christian, and the sure propects of eterni
ty. While he thus soothed his own mind, he also believed, that he
should afford a resting place to the minds of others, fatigued with fol
lowing their brethren amidst their transient occupations, their suc
cesses, their disappointments, and their afflictions.
Some terms are used, which relate to local circumstances, and
which require those circumstances to be pointed out. In several of
the New England states, when the annual election of the several
branches of the legislature is completed, and the government is or
ganized, it has been an ancient practice to have a sermon preached in
the audience of the newly elected rulers, which is called the election
sermon. This phrase would not need an explanation to an inhabi
tant of New England. The names of pastor and teacher as distinct
oflicers in the church frequently occur. Soon after the first settle
ment of this country, when some societies enjoyed the labors of two
ministers, they bore the titles of teacher and pastor, of which it was
the duty of the former to attend particularly to doctrine, and of the
latter to exhortation ; the one was to instruct and the other to per
suade. But the boundary between these two of&ces was not well de
fined, and was in fact very little regarded. The distinction of the
name itself did not exist long.
Great care has been taken to render the dates accurate, and to
avoid the mistakes, which have been made from inattention to the
former method of reckoning time, when March was the first month of
the year. If any one, ignorant of this circumstance, should look
into Dr. Mather's Magnalia, or ecclesiastical history of New Eng
land, he would sometimes wonder at the absurdity of the writer. He
would read, for instance, in the life of president Chauncy, that he
died in February 1671, and will find it previously said, that he
attended the commencement in the same year, which was in Ju
ly. Thus too Peter Hobart is said to have died in Jan., and yet
to have been infirm in the summer of 1678. When it is remembered,
that March was the first month, these accounts are easy to be recon
ciled. There seems not however to have been any uniformity in

VI PREFACE.
disposing of the days between the first and the twenty-fifth of
March, for sometimes they are considered as belonging to the antece
dent and sometimes to the subsequent year. American writers, it is
believed, have generally if not always applied them to the latter.
When the figures for two years are written, as in dates before the
adoption of the new style in 1762 is found frequently to be the case
not only for the days above mentioned but for the days in January
and February, it is the latter year, which corresponds with our pres
ent mode of reckoning. Thus March 1, 1689 was sometimes written
March 1, 1688, 9, or with the figures placed one above the other.
The months were designated usually by the names of the fir.st, the
second, &c.; so that February was the twelfth month.
No apology is necessary for the free use, which has been made
of the labors of others, for the plan of this book is so essentially dif
ferent from that of any, which has preceded it, that the author has
not encroached upon the objects, which others have had in view. He
has had no hesitation in using their very language, whenever it suited
him. Compilers seem to be licensed pillagers. Like the youth of
Sparta, they may lay their hands upon plunder without a crime, if
they will but seize it with adroitness. The list of American literary
productions, which has been rendered as complete as possible, is for
the sake of method placed at the close of each article, and in giving
the titles of them it will be perceived, that there has frequently been
an economy of words, as far as was consistent with distinctness of
representation. —
The author is aware, that he lives in times, which are like all other
times, when the sympathies of parties of different kinds are very
strong ; and he believes, that he has sought less to conciliate them,
than to follow truth, though she might not lead him into any of the
paths, along which the many are pressing. Without resolving to be
impartial it would indicate no common destitution of upright and hon
orable principles to attempt a delineation of the characters of men.
He may have misapprehended, and he may have done what is worse.
All are liable to errors, and he knows enough of the windings of the
heart to remember, that errors may proceed from prejudice, or indo
lence of attention, and be criminal, while they are cherished as hon
est and well founded convictions, the results of impartial inquiry. He
trusts, however, that nothingwill be found in this book to counteract
the influence of genuine religion, evincing itself in piety and good
works, or to weaken the attachment of Americans to their well bal
anced republic, which equally abhors the tyranny of irresponsible au
thority, the absurdity of hereditary wisdom, and the anarchy of law
less liberty.
Cambridge, Massachusetls, JliigiislQ, 1809.

PREFACE. VII
To ihe Second Edilion.
After a long interval since the first edition of this work the author
now offers this second edition to the public. During 20 years past he
has been repeatedly urged to accomplish what he has not found leis
ure to accomplish till the present time. But the delay, as the death-
harvest among the eminent men of our country has been gathered in,
has sewlled the catalogue of those, who ought to be commemorated in
a Biography of "the mighty dead" of America. The first edition was
the first general collection of American biography ever published; and
it is still the largest work of the kind, which has appeared. In the
Prospectus of this second edition it was proposed to print 760 pages,
& it was thought, that the separate Biographical notices would amount
to about 1200, being about 600 more, than are contained in the first edi
tion. But the book has reached the unwieldy size of 808 pages, and
the Biographical articles exceed 1800, presenting an account of more
than lOCO individuals, not mentioned in Lord's edition of Lempriere,
and of about 1600, not found in the first ten volumes of the Encyclo
pedia Americana. Yet the author has been obliged to exclude accounts
of many persons, of whom he would willingly have said something.
If he has at times misjudged in his exclusions and admissions; yet for
some omissions an apology will be found in the difficulty of obtaining
intelligence, as well as in oversight, which could hardly fail to occur in
a work of such extent, embracing such a multitude of facts, and requir
ing, while in the press, such incessant attention and labor. He can
only promise, should he live to publish an additional volume or to pre
pare another edition, an earnest effort to render the work more complete
and more free from error. In the mean time he solicits the communica
tion of intelligence respecting individuals, worthy of being remem
bered, who have escaped or who are likely to escape his unassisted
researches .
To those gentlemen in different parts of our country, who have fa
vored him with notices of their friends or of others, he returns his ac
knowledgments. He has been particularly indebted to the biographi
cal collections of Mr, Samuel Jennison, jun., of Worcester, Mass., and
to the accurate antiquarian researches of Mr. John Farmer, of Con
cord, N. H., whose New England Genealogical Register will enable
most of the sons of the Pilgrims of New England to trace their de
scent from their worthy ancestry. The authorities referred to, though
abridged from the first edition, will show to what books he has been
chiefly indebted.
America is reproached in Europe for deficiency in literature and
science ; but if one will consider, that it is not 200 years, since the
first press was set up in this country, and will then look at the list of
publications, annexed to the articles in this Biography, he will be as
tonished at the multitude of works, which have been printed. N. Eng-

via PREFACE.
land was founded by men of learning, whose first care was to estab
lish schools ; and the descendants of the fathers have inherited their
love of knowledge and mental energy. No race of men on the face
of the earth, it may be safely asserted, are so rational, so intelligent,
so enlightened, and of such intellectual power, as the descendants of
the New England Pilgrims, and the inhabitants generally of our ex
tensive country.
Although the wide diffusion of knowledge is preferable to its con
vergence into a few points of splendor ; yet America can boast of
names of eminence in the arts and in various departments of science,
and can speak of her Sons of inventive power, of metaphysical a-
cuteness, of philosophical discovery, of profound learning, and thril
ling eloquence, and especially of a multitude, skilled in the knowledge
and the maintenance of the rights of man. Happj' will it be for our
country, if ancient wisdom, and patriotism, and piety shall not in a
future race dwindle down into the hunger for office, and the violence
of party, and the cheerlessness of infidelity.
This body of American Biography will be found to comprise the
first Settlers and Fathers of our country ; early Navigators and
adventurous Travellers ; the Statesmen, Patriots, and Heroes,
who have contended for American liberty, or assisted in laying the
foundations of our republican institutions ; all the Sicmers of the Dec
laration of Independence ; brave and skilful Militae-y and Naval
CoMjiAiJDEES ; many of the Gover.n-qrs of the several States and the
deceased Preside.nts of our country ; profound Lawyers and skilful
Physicians ; men of Gemds, Leae.ning and Science, and the distin
guished Friends and Patrons of learning ; Theologians and Histo
rians, Poets and Orators ; ingenious Artists and men celebrated
for their Inventions ; together with many eminent Philanthropists
and Christians, whose examples have diffused a cheering radiance
around them.
The author, in conclusion, cannot avoid expressing the wish, that
as the reader surveys the lives of such men, the commendable zeal,
which animated them, may come upon his own soul, and that he may
help to bear up the honors of a country, which has been the abode of
a face of enlightened, noble-minded, disinterested, and virtuous men.
Brunswicl; Maine, July 17, 1832.

AN

AMERICAN

BIOGRAPHICAL AJVD HISTORICAL

DICTIONARY.

ABBOT, Hull, a respectable minis
ter of Gharlestown, Massachusetts, was
graduated at Harvard college in the year
1720, and ordained Feb. 5, 1724, as col
league with Mr. Bradstreet. After con
tinuing fifty years in the ministry, he di
ed April 19, 1774, aged 80 years. He
published the following sermons ; on the
artillery election, 1735 ; on the rebellion
in Scotland, 1746 ; against profane curs
ing and swearing, 1747.
ABBOT, Samuel, one of the foun
ders of the Theological Seminary at An-
dover, died in that town, of which he was
a native, April 30, 1812, aged 80. He had
been a merchant in Boston. His dona
tion for establishing the seminary Aug.
31, 1807 was 20,000 dollars; he also be
queathed to it more than one hundred
thousand dollars. He was a humble, con
scientious, pious man, remarkable for pru
dence, sincerity and uprightness, charita
ble to the poor, and zealous for the inter
ests of religion. He bestowed several
thousands of dollars for the reUef of min
isters of the gospel and for other charita
ble objects. — It was a maxim with him,
"to praise no one in his presence and to
dispraise no one in his absence. " In his last
sickness he enjoyed a peace, which the
world cannot give. 'I desire to five,' he
said, 'if God has any thing more for me
to do or to suffer.' When near his end
he said, 'there isenoughin God ; I want
nothing but God.' He left a widow, with
whom he had lived more than fiftyyears,
and one son. — Woods'' fun. serm.i Panr
oplist, vm. 337. I

ABBOT, Abiel, d.d., a minister in
Beverly, Ms. , was born at Andover, Aug,
17, 1770, and was graduated at Harvard
College in 1787, having an unstained
character and a high rank as a, scholar.
After being an assistant teacher in the ac
ademy at Andover, and studying theolo
gy with Mr. French, he was settled about
1794 as the minister of Haverhill, where
he continued eight years. An inadequate
support for his family induced him to ask a
dismission, though with great reluctance.
He was soon afterwards settled in Bever
ly, about 1802, as the successor of Mr.
McKeen, who had been chosen president
of Bowdoin College. The remainder of
his life, about 24 years,was passed in Bev
erly in his ministerial office, except when
his labors were interrupted by sickness.
He passed the winter of 1827-1828 in and
near Charleston, South Carolina, for the
recovery of his health. Early in Feb.
1828 he embarked for Cuba, where he
continued three months, exploring differ
ent parts of the island, and making a dili
gent record of his obsei-vations in letters
to his family and friends. On his return
he sailed from the pestilential city of Ha
vana, with his health almost restored. He
preached at Charleston June 1, and the
next day sailed for New York. But, al
though able to go on deck in the morning,
he diedatnoon June 7th, just as the vessel
came to anchor at the quarantine ground
near the city of New York, and was bu
ried on Staten Island. It is probable, that
he was a victim to the yellow fever, the
contagion of which he received at Hava-

2 ABBOT.
na. — Dr. Abbot was very courteous and
interesting in social intercourse, and was
eloquent in preaching. His religious sen
timents are not particularly explained by
bis biographer, who says, that he belong
ed "to no sect but that of good men."
Happy are all they, who belong to that
sect. He seems to have been, in his last
days, extremely solicitous on the subject
of reKgious controversy. In the love of
peace all good men will agree with him,
and doubtless there has been much con
troversy concerning unimportant points,
conducted too in an unchristian spirit; but
in this world of error it is not easy to im
agine, how controversy is to be avoid
ed. If the truth is assailed, it would seem,
that those, who love it, should engage
in its vindication ; for men always defend
against unjust assault what they deem
valuable. Besides, if an intelligent and
benevolent man thinks his neighbor has
fallen into a dangerous mistake ; why
should he not, in a friendly debate, en
deavor to set him right ! Especially ought
the preachers of the truth to recommend
it to others, with meekness indeed and in
love, but with all the energy, which its
relation to human happiness demands.
When this is done, the enemies of the
truth, by resisting it, will present to the
world the form of religious dissension. If
infidels endeavor to subvert the founda
tions of Christianity ; if corrupt heretics
deny the plain doctrines of the gospel ; if
bewildered enthusiasts bring forward their
whims and fancies as doctrines revealed
fromheaven; shall the dread of controver
sy prevent the exposure of their false reas
onings, their presumptuous comments,
and their delusive and perilous imagina
tions .'' — Since the death of Dr. Abbot and
the settlement of his unitarian successor,
many of the congregation have withdrawn
and connected themselves with the sec
ond church and society, — His interesting
and valuable letters from Cuba were pub
lished after his death, Svo., Boston, 1829.
He published also artillery election ser
mon, 1802; sermons to mariners, 1812;
address on intemperance, 1815 ; sermon
before the Salem missionary society.

ABERCROMBIE.
1816; before the bible society of Salem,
1817; convention sermon, 1827.— Ffont's
Sermon ; Sketch in lett. fr. Cuba.
ABEEL, John Nelson, d.d. an elo
quent preacher, graduated at Princeton
college in 1787. He rehnquished the
study of the law, which he had commenc
ed under judge Patterson, and pursued
the study of divinity with Dr. Livings
ton. He was licensed to preach in April
1793. After being for a short time a min
ister of a presbyterian church in Philadel
phia, he was in 1795 installed as pastor
of the reformed Dutch church in the city
of New York. He died Jan. 20, 1 8 1 2, in
the 43d year of his age, deeply lamented
on account of his unassuming, amiable
manners, and his eloquence as a preacher
of the gospel. With a discriminating
mind and a sweet and melodious voice,
and his soul inflamed with pious zeal, he
was pre-eminent among extemporaneous
orators. In performing his various pas
toral duties he was indefatigable. — Crunn's
fun. serm.
ABERCROMBIE, James, a British
major general, took the command of the
troops, assembled at Albany in Junel756,
bringing over with him two regiments.
It was proposed to attack Crown Point,
Niagara, and fort du Quesne. But some
difficulty as to the rank of the provincial
troops occasioned delay, and in Aug. the
earl of Loudoun took the command. The
capture of Oswego by Montcalm disar
ranged the projected campaign. In 1757
Montcalm took fort Wilham Henry ; and
thus the French commanded all the lakes.
The British spirit was now roused. Mr,
Pitt in 1758 placed 50,000 troops under
the command of Abercrombie, determined
to recover the places, which had been
captured by the French, and also to cap
ture Louisbourg. Abercrombie at the
head of 15,000 men proceeded against
Ticonderoga, which he assaulted injudi
ciously and unsuccessfully July 8th, with
the loss of nearly 2,000 men, killed, woun
ded, and missing. He then retired to his
Intrenched camp on the south side of lake
George. An expedition, which he sent
out against fort Frontenac under Col.

ACKLAND.
Bradstreet, vras successful. He was soon

ADAMS.

superseded by Amherst,who the next year
recovered Ticonderoga and Ci'own Point
and captured Q,uehec.~Marshall, i. 432-
6; Holmes, u. 82; Mante, 59, 107, 144,
161. ACKLAND, maj., a British officer, was
at the head of the grenadiers on the left
in the action near Stillwater Oct. 7, 1777.
He bravely sustained the attack, but ov
erpowered by numbers the British were
obliged to retreat to their camp,which was
instantly stormed by Arnold. In this action
major Ackland was shot through the legs
and taken prisoner.— He was discovered
and protected by Wilkinson. His devo
ted wife, in the utmost distress, sought
him in the American camp, favored with
a letter from Burgoyne to Gates. — After
his return to England major Ackland, in
a dispute with lieut. Lloyd, defended the
Americans against the charge of coward
ice and gave him the lie direct. A duel
followed, in which Ackland was shot
through the head. Lady Harriet, his
wife, in consequence lost her senses for
two years ; but she afterwards married
Mr. Brudenell, who accompanied her
from the camp at Saratoga in her perilous
pursuit of her husband. When will there
cease to be victims to private combat and
public war ? It will be, when the meek
and benevolent spirit of the gospel shall
universally reign in the hearts of men. —
Remembrancer, for 1777, p. 461, 465;
Wilkinson's memoirs, 269, 376.
ADAIR, James, a trader with the In
dians of the southern states, resided in
their country 40 years. From 1735 he
lived almost exclusively in intercourse
with the Indians, cut off from the society
of his civilized brethren, chiefly among
the Chickasaws,with whom he first traded
in 1744. His friends persuaded him to
publish a work, which he had prepared
with much labor, entitled, the History of
the American Indians, particularly those
nations adjoining the Mississippi, E.&W.
Florida, Georgia, S. & N. Carolina, and
Virginia, London, 4to. 1775 ; in which
book he points out various customs of the
Indians, having a striking resemblance to

those of the Jews. His arguments to
prove them descended from the Jews are
founded on their division into tribes; their
worship of Jehovah ; their festivals, fasts,
and religious rites ; their daily sacrifice ;
their prophets & high priests; their cities
of refuge ; their marriages and divorces ;
their burial of the dead and mourning for
them ; their language and choice of names
adapted to circumstances ; their manner
of reckoning time ; and various other par
ticulars. Some distrust seems to have fal
len upon his statements, although he says,
that his account is "neither disfigured by
fable nor prejudice. " Dr. Boudinot in his
"Star in the West" has adopted the
opinions of Adair.
ADAMS, William, the second minis
ter of Dedham, Mass. , graduated in 1 67 1 ,
was ordained Dec. 3, 1673, as successor
to Mr. Allen, and died Aug. 17, 1685. He
published an election sermon, 1 685.
ADAMS, Eliphalet, an eminent minis
ter of New London, Connecticut, was
graduated at Harvard college in 1 694. He
was ordained Feb. 9, 1709, and died in
April 1753, in the 77th year of his age.
Dr. Chauncy speaks of him as a great Heb
rician. He published a sermon on the
death of Rev. James Noyes of Stoning-
ton ; election sermons, 1710 and 1733; a
discourse, occasioned by a distressing
storm, March 3, 1717 ; a thanksgiving ser
mon, 1721 ; a sermon on the death of gov.
Saltonstall, 1724 ; at the ordination of
WiUiam Gager, Lebanon, May 27, 1725 ;
of Thomas Clap, Windham, 1726 ; and
a discourse before a society of young men,
1727. ADAMS, John, a poet, was the only
son of Hon. John Adams of Nova Sco
tia, and was graduated atHarvard college
in 1721. He was settled in the ministry at
Newport, Rhode Island, April 11,1728, in
opposition to the wishes of Mr. Clap,
who was pastor. Mr. Clap's friends for
med a new society, and_Mr. Adams was
dismissed in about two years. He died
at Cambridge in January, 1740, at the
age of 36, deeply lamented by his ac
quaintance. He was much distinguished
for his learning, genius, and piety. As a

ADAMS.

preacherjho xvas much esteemed. His
uncle, Matthew Adams, describes him
as" master of nine languages," and con
versant with the most famous Greek, Lat
in, Italian, French, and Spanish authors,
as well as with the noblest English wri
ters. He also speaks of his "great and
undissembled piety, which ran, like a vein
of gold, through all his hfe and performan
ces." — He published a sermon on his
ordination, 1723, and a poem on the love
of money. A small volume of his poems
was published at Boston in 1745, which
contains imitations and paraphrases of
several portions of scripture, translations
from Horace, and the whole book of
Revelation in heroic verse, together with
original pieces. The versification is re
markably harmonious for the period and
the country. Mr. Adams' productions
evince a lively fancy and breathe a pious
strain. The following is an extract from
his poem on Cotton Mather : —
"What numerous volumes, scattered from his hand,
Liglitened his own, and warmed eacli foreign land'?
What pious breathings of a glowing soul
Live in each page, and animate the whole 1
The breath of heaven the savory pages show.
As we Arabia from its spices know. —
Ambitious, active, towering was his soul.
But flaming piety inspired tiie wlioie."
— Massa. mag. for Apr. 1789 ; Backus'
hist. ahr. 158 ; Pref. to his poems ; Spe
cimens of Amer. poetry, I. 67.
ADAMS, Matthew, a distinguished
writer in Boston, though a mechanic, or
"tradesman," yet had a handsome col
lection of books and cultivated literature.
Dr. Franklin acknowledges his obliga
tions for access to his library. He was
one of the writers of the Essays in the
New England Journal. He died poor,
but with a reputation more durable than
an estate, in 1753.— His son, Rev. John
Adams, a graduate of 1745, was the min
ister of Durham, N.H. from 1748 to 1778.
By a grant of 400 acres of land he was
induced to remove to the small plantation
of Washington or Newfield, county of
York, Maine, having only 5 families, in
Feb. 1781. Here he passed the remain

der of his Hfe, preaching and practising
physic in Newfield, Limington, Parsons-
field, and Limerick, till his death, June 4,
1 792, aged 60. He was subject occasion
ally to a deep depression of feeUng ; and
at other times was borne away by a sud
den excitement, which gave animation to
his preaching. A fine letter from Durham
to the town of Boston in 1774, with ado-
nation, was written by him.  Eliot:
Greenleaf eccl. hist. Maine, 113.
ADAMS, Amos, minister of Roxbury,
Mass., was graduated at Harvard college
in 1752. He was ordained as successor to
Mr. Peabody Sept. 12, 1753, and died at
Dorchester Oct. 5, 1775, in the 48th year
of his age, of the dysentery, which pre
vailed in the camp at Cambridge and Rox
bury. His son, Thomas Adams, was or
dained in Boston as minister for Camden,
South Carolina, where, after a residence
of 8 years, he died Aug. 16, 1797.
Mr. Adams in early hfe devoted him
self to the service of his Redeemer, and
he continued his benevolent labors as a
preacher of the gospel with unabating
vigor till his death. He was fervent in
devotion, and his discourses, always ani
mated by a lively and expressive action,
were remarkably calculated to warm the
heart. He was steadfast in his principles
and unwearied in industry.
He published the following sermons ;
on the death of Lucy Dudley, 1756 ; at
the artillery election, 1759; on a general
thanksgiving for the reduction of Quebec,
1759 ; on the ordination of Samuel Kings
bury, Edgartown, Nov. 25, 1761 ; at the
ordination of John Wyeth, Gloucester,
Feb. 5, 1766 ; the only hope and refuge
of sinners, 1767; two discourses on re
ligious liberty, 1767 ; a concise and his
torical view of New England in two dis
courses on the general fast April 6, 1769,
which was repubhshed in London 1770 ;
sermons at the ordination of Jonathan
Moore, Rochester, Sept. 25, 1768, and of
Caleb Prentice, Reading, Oct. 25, 1769.
Hepreached the Dudleianlectureof Harv
ard college in 1770, entitled, diocesan
episcopacy, as founded on the supposed
episcopacy of Timothy and Titus, sub-

ADAMS.

verted. This work is a specimen of the
learning of the writer. It is lodged in
manuscript in the library of the college.
ADAMS, Joseph, minister of New-
ington, N. H., was graduated at Harv
ard college, in 1 7 1 0, was ordained in 1 7 1 5,
and died in 1783 aged 93. He preached
till just before his death. He pubhshed
a sermon on the death of John Fabian,
1757 ; and a sermon on the necessity of
rulers civil and ecclesiastical exerting
themselves against the growth of impie
ty, 1760.
ADAMS, Zabdiel, minister of Lunen
burg, Mass., was born in Braintree, now
Quincy, Nov. 5, 1739. His father was
the uncle of John Adams, late president
of the United States. He was graduated
at Harvard college in 1759, having made,
while in that seminary, great proficiency
in learning, and much improved the vig
orous powers of mind, with which he was
endued. He was ordained Sept. 5, 1764,
and died March 1, 1801, in the 62nd year
of his age, and 37th of his ministry.
Mr. Adams was eminent as a preacher
of tlie gospel, often explaining the most
important doctrines in a rational and scrip
tural manner, and enforcing them with
plainness and pungency.His language was
nervous, and while in his pubUc peform-
ances he gave instruction he also impar
ted pleasure. In his addresses to the
throne of grace he was remarkable for per
tinency of thought and readiness of ut
terance. Though by bodily constitution
he was hable to irritation, yet he treasur
ed no ill wfll in his bosom. His heart
was easily touched by the afflictions of
others and his sympathy and benevolence
prompted him to administer rehef, when
in his power. About the year 1774 he
wrote a pamphlet maintaining, without
authority from the platform of 1648, that
a pastor has a negative upon the pro
ceedings of the church. Some ministers,
who embraced his principles, lost by con
sequence their parishes. Hepreached the
Dudleian lect. on presbyterian ordination
in 1794. — He published a sermon on the
nature, pleasures, and advantages of
diurch music, 1771 ; on christian unity.

1772; the election sermon, 1782; on the
19th of April, 1783 ; at the ordination of
Enoch W\\ipple,n8S.— Whit.fun serm.
ADAMS, Andrew, ll.d., chief justice
of Connecticut, was appointed to that
place in 1793, having been upon the
bench with reputation as a judge from
1789. He was a native of Stratford, a
graduate of Yale college in 1760, and a
member of congress about the year 1782.
He resided at Litchfield, and died Nov.
26, 1797, aged 61 years.
ADAMS, Samuel, governor of Massa
chusetts, and a most distinguished patri
ot in the American revolution, was born
in Boston of a reputable family Sept. 27,
1722. He was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1740. When he commenced mas
ter of arts in 1743, he proposed the fol
lowing question for discussion. Whether
it be lawful to resist the supreme magis
trate, if the commonwealth cannot other
wise be preserved ? He maintained the
affirmative, and thus early showed his at
tachment to the hberties of the people.
Early distinguished by talents as a
writer, his first attempts were proofs of
his filial piety. By his efforts he preserv
ed the estate of his father, which had
been attached on account of an engage
ment in the land bank bubble. He was
known as a pohtical writer during the ad
ministration of Shirley, to which he was
opposed, as he thought the union of so
much civil and military power in one man
was dangerous. His ingenuity, vrit, and
profound argument are spoken of with
the highest respect by those, who were
cotemporary with him. At this early
periods he laid the foundation of public
confidence and esteem. His first office of
tax gatherer made him acquainted with
every shipwright and mechanic in Bos
ton, and over their minds he ever retain
ed a powerful influence. From this em
ployment the enemies of liberty styled him
Samuel the publican.
In 1765 he was elected a member of the
general assembly of Massachusetts in the
place of Oxenbridge Thacher, deceased.
He was soon chosen clerk, and he gradu
ally acquired influence in the legislature.

ADAMS.

This was, an eventful time. But Mr.
Adams possessed a courage, which no
dangers could shake. He was undismay
ed by the prospect, which struck terror
into the hearts of many. He was a mem
ber of the legislature nearly ten years, and
he was the soul, which animated it to the
¦most important resolutions. No man did
so much. He pressed his measures with
ardor ; yet he was prudent ; he knew how
to bend the passions of others to his pur
pose. Gov. Hutchinson relates, that at a
town Meeting in 1769 an objection hav
ing been made to a motion, because it im
plied an independency of parliament, Mr.
Adams, then a representative, concluded
•his speech with these words: "Independ
ent we are, and independent we will be."
He represents too, that Mr. Adams by a
defalcation as collector had injured his
character ; but he adds: "The benefit to
the town from his defence of their liberties
he supposed an equivalent to his arrears
as their collector." Asa pohtical writer
he deemed him the most artful and insin
uating of all men, whom he ever knew,
and the most' successful in "robbing men
of their characters," or "calumniating
governors and other servants of the
crown." When the charter was dissolved, he
was chosen a member of the provincial
convention. In 1774 he was elected a
member of the general congress. In this
station, in which he remained a number
of years, he rendered the most important
services to his country. His eloquence
was adapted to the times, in which he liv
ed. The energy of his language corres
ponded with the firmness and vigor of
his mind. His heart glowed with the
feehngs of a patriot, and his eloquence
Was simple, majestic, and persuasive. He
was one of the most efficient members of
congress. He possessed keen penetration,
unshaken fortitude, and permanent deci
sion. Gordonspeaksof him in 1774 as
having for a long time whispered to his
confidential friends, that this country
must be independent. Walking in the
fields the day after the battle of Lexing
ton, he said to a friend, " It is a fine day :-
I mean, this day is a glorious day for Amer

ica." He deemed the blow to be strudk,
which would lead to independence. In
the last act of state of the British govern
ment in Massachusetts he was proscribed
with John Hancock, when a general par
don was offered to all, who had rebelled.
This act was dated Junel2, 1775, and it
teaches Americans what they owe to the
denounced patriot.
In 1 776 he united with Frankhn, J. Ad
ams, Hancock, Jefferson, and a host of
worthies in declaring the United States
no longer an appendage to a monarchy,
but free and independent.
When the constitution of Massachu
setts was adopted, he was chosen a mem
ber of the senate, of which body he was
elected president. He was soon sent to
the western counties to quiet a disturb
ance, which was rising, and he was suc
cessful in his mission. He was a member
of the convention for examining the cons
titution of the United States. He made
objections to several of its provisions, but
his principal objection was to that article,
which rendered the several states amen
able to the courts of the nation. He
thought this reduced them to mere corpo
rations ; that the sovereignty of each
would be dissolved ; and that a consolida
ted government, supported by an army,
would be the consequence. The consti
tution was afterwards altered in this point
and in most other respects according tohia
wishes. In 1789 he was chosen lieutenant gov
ernor, and Was continued in this office till
1794, when he was elected governor, as
successor to Mr. Hancock. He was annu
ally replaced in the chair of the first mag
istrate of Massachusetts till 1797, when
his age and infirmities induced him to re
tire from public life. He died Oct. 2d,
1803, in the 82d year of his age. His on
ly son, of the same name, was born in
1751, graduated at Harvard college in
1770,andafter studying under Dr. Joseph
Warren served his country as a surgeon
during the war. Returning home with
a broken constitution, he at length died
Jan. 17, 1788. The avails of his claims
for services in the army gave his father a
competency in his declining years.

ADAMS.

The leading traits in the character of
Mr. Adams were an unconquerable love
of liberty, integrity, firmness, and decis
ion. Some acts of his administration as
chief magistrate were censured, though
all allowed, that his motives were pure. A
division in pohtical sentiments at that time
existed, and afterwards increased. When
he differed from the majority, he acted
with great independence. At the close of
the war he opposed peace with Great
Britain,unless the northern states retained
their full privileges in the fisheries. In
1787 he advised the execution of the con
dign punishment, to which the leaders of
the rebelhon in 1786 had been sentenced.
It was his settled judgment, that in a re-
public,depending for its existence upon the
intelligence & virtue of the people,the law
should be rigidly enforced. Attached to
the old confederation, he often gave as a
toast, — "The states united and the states
separated." He was opposed to the treaty
with GreatBritain, made by Mr.Jayl794,
and he put his election to hazard by avow
ing his disUke of it. The three topics,
on which he deUghted to dwell, were
British thraldom, — the manners, laws,
and customs of New England, — and the
importance of common schools.
Mr, Adams was a man of incorruptible
integrity. Gov. Hutchinson, in answer
to the inquiry, why Mr. Adams was not
taken off from his opposition by an office,
writes to a friend in England, "Such is
the obstinacy and inflexible disposition of
the man, that he never can be conciliated
by any office or gift whatever."
He was poor. While occupied abroad
in the most important and responsible pub
lic duties, the partner of his cares suppor
ted the family at home by her industry.
Though his resources were very small;
yet such were the economy and dignityof
bis house, that those, who visited him,
found nothing mean, or unbecoming
his station. His country, to whose inter
ests he devoted his hfe, permitted him to
remain poor ; but there were not wanting
a few friends, who showed him their re
gard. In this honorable poverty he con
tinued to a very late period of his life ;

and had not a decent competency fallen
into his hands by the very afflicting event
of the death of an only son, he must have
depended for subsistence upon the kind
ness of his friends, or the charity of the
pubhc. To a majestic countenance and dignifi
ed manners there was added a suavity of
temper, which conciliated the affection
of his acquaintance. Some, who disap
proved of his political conduct, loved and
revered him as a neighbor and friend. He
could readily relax from severer cares and
studies to enjoy the pleasures of private
conversation. Though somewhat reserv
ed among strangers, yet with his friends
he was cheerful and companionable, a lov
er of chaste wit, and remarkably fond of
anecdote. He faithfully discharged the
duties arising from the relations of social
life. His house was the seat of domestic
peace, regularity, and method.
Mr. Adams was a christian. His mind
was early imbued with piety, as weU as
cultivated by science. He early approach
ed the table of the Lord Jesus, and the
purity of his life witnessed the sincerity
of his profession. On the christian sab
bath he constantly went to the temple,
and the morning and evening devotions
in his family proved, that his religion at
tended him in bis seasons of retirement
from the world. His sentiments were
strictly calvinistic. The platform of the
NewEngland churches he deemed an am
ple guide in all matters of ecclesiastical dis-
ciphne and order. The last production
of his pen was in favor of christian truth.
He died in the faith of the gospel.
He was a sage and a patriot. The in
dependence of the United States of
America is perhaps to be attributed as
much to his exertions, as to the exer
tions of any one man. Though he was
called to struggle with adversity, he was
never discouraged. He was consistent
and firm under the cruel neglect of a
friend and the mahgnant rancor of an en
emy; comforting himself in the darkest
seasons with reflections upon the wisdom
and goodness of God.
Mr. John Adams speaks of him in the

ADAMS.

following terms :-"The talents and virtues
of that great man were of the most exalt
ed, though not of the most showy kind.
His loveof his country, his exertions in
her service through a long course of years,
through the administrations of the gov
ernors Shirley, Pownall, Bernard, Hutch
inson, and Gage under the royal govern
ment and through the whole of the subse
quent revolution and always in support
of the same principles; his inflexible in
tegrity, his disinterestedness, his invaria
ble resolution, his sagacity, his patience,
perseverance, and pure public virtue were
not exceeded by any man in America. A
collection of his writings would be as cu
rious as voluminous. It would throw
fight upon American history for fifty
years. In it would be found specimens of
a nervous simphcty of reasoning and elo
quence, that have never been rivalled in
America." His writings exist only in the perishable
columns of a newspaper or pamphlet. In
his more advanced years, in the year
1790, a few letters passed between him
and Mr. John Adams, then vice presi
dent of the United States, in which the
principles of government are discussed,
and there seems to have been some differ
ence of sentiment between those eminent
patriots and statesmen, who had toiled
together through the revolution. This
correspondence was published, in 1800.
An oration, which Mr. Adams delivered
at the state house in Philadelphia Aug. 1,
1776, was published. The object is to
support American independence, the de
claration of which by congress had been
made a short time before. He opposes
kingly government and hereditary suc
cession with warmth and energy. Not
long before his death he addressed a letter
to Paine, expressing his disapprobation ot
that unbeliever's attempts to injure the
cause of Christianity. — Thacher's sermon;
Sullivan's character of him in public pa
pers; Polyanthos, iii. 73 — 82; Gordon,
i. 347, 410; Brissot, Nouv. Voy. i. 151;
Thacher's med. biog; Hutch, last Hist.
265; Eliot's biog. diet.; Ency. Amer. ^
Bees.

ADAMS, John, president of the Uni
ted States, was born at Braintree, Mass.,
Oct. 19, 1785, O.S., or Oct. 30th, pres
ent style. His father, John, was a dea
con of the church, a farmer, and a mechan
ic, and died May 25, 1761, aged 69; his
grand father, Joseph, died Feb., 12, 1737,
aged 82; his great grand father, Joseph,
was born in England, and died at Brain
tree Dec. 6, 1697 aged 63 ; the father
of this ancestor was Henry, who as the
inscription on his monument, erected by
John Adams, says, "took his flight from
the Dragon persecution, in Devonshire,
England, and alighted with eight sons
near Mount Wollaston." Of these sons
four removed to Medfield and the neigh
boring towns, and two to Chelmsford.
The year of Henry's arrival at Braintree,
now Quincy, is not known, but is sup
posed to be 1632 ; he died Oct. 8. 1646.
John Adams, while a member of Har
vard coflege, where he was graduated in
1755, was distinguished by dihgence in
his studies, by boldness of thought, and
by the powers of his mind. While he
studied law at Worcester with colonel
James Putnam, an able lawyer in exten
sive practice, from 1755 to 1758, he
instructed pupils in Latin and Greek,
as the means of subsistence. At this ear
ly period he had imbibed a prejudice
against the prevailing religious opinions
of New England, and became attached to
speculations, hostile to those opinions.
Nor were his views afterwards changed.
Perhaps the rehgious sentiments of most
men become settled at as early a period
of their fives. If therefore the cher
ished views of Christianity have any
relation to practice and to ope's destiny
hereafter; with what sobriety, candor,
and diligence and with what earnestness
of prayer for light and guidance from
above ought every young man to investi
gate revealed truth.? In April 1756 he
was deliberating as to his profession.
Some friends advised him to study theol
ogy. In a few months afterwards he fix
ed upon the profession of law. He had
not "the highest opinion of what is called
orthodoxy." He had known a young

ADAMS.

man, worthy of the best parish, despised
for being suspected of arminianism. He
was more desirous of being an eminent,
honorable lawyer, tlian of " heading the
whole army of orthodox preachers." In
a letter to Dr. Morse in 1815 he says —
" Sixty five years ago my own minister
Rev. Lemuel Bryant ; Dr. Mayhew of
the west church in Boston ; Rev. Mr.
Shute of Hingham ; Rev. John Brown
of Cohasset ; and perhaps equal to all, if
not above all, Rev. Mr. Gay of Hing
ham were Unitarians. Among the laity
how many could I name, lawyers, physi
cians, tradesmen, and farmers .'-More than
56 years ago I read Dr. S. Clarke, Em-
lyn, &c."
In Oct. 1758 Mr. Adams presented
himself a stranger,— poor & friendless,-to
Jeremy Gridley, of Boston, attorney gen
eral of the crown, to ask of him the favor
to offer him to the superior court of the
province, then sitting, for admission to
the bar. Mr. Gridley examined him in
his office and recommended him to the
court, and at the same time gave him ex
cellent paternal advice. For his kindness
Mr. Adams was ever grateful, and was af
terwards his intimate personal and profes
sional friend. As Mr. Gridley was grand
master of the Massachusetts' grand lodge
of Free Masons, Mr. Adams once asked
his advice, whether it was worth his while
to become a member of the society ; the
reply of the grand master was — "No" —
adding, that he did not need the artificial
support of the society, and that there was
"nothing in the masonic institution, wor
thy of his seeking to be associated with
it." In consequence of this advice he nev
er sought admission to the lodge.
Mr. Adams commenced the practice of
the law at Quincy, thenin the county of
Suffolk, and soon had a sufficiency of lu
crative business. In 1761 he was admit
ted to the degree of barrister at law. In
this year a small estate became his by the
decease of his father. At this period his
zeal for the rights of his country was in
flamed by the attempt of the British cabi
net to introduce in Massachusetts writs
of assistance, a kind of general search
2

warrant for the discovery of goods not
discharged from the parliamentary taxes.
The affair was argued in Boston by Mr.
Otis. Mr. Adams says, "every man of an
immense, crowded audience appeared to
me to go away, as I did, ready to take arms
against writs of assistance. " — ' 'Then and
there the child independence was born."
In 1764 he married Abigail Smith,
daughter of Rev. William Smith of Wey
mouth, and grand-daughter of Col. Quin
cy, a lady of uncommon endowments and
excellent education. — In the next year he
published an essay on Canon and Feudal
Law, reprinted at London in 1768, and
at Philadelphia in 1783. His object was
to show the conspiracy between church
and state for the purpose of oppressing
the people. He wished to enlighten his
feUow citizens, that they might prize their
liberty and be ready, if necessary, to as
sert their rights by force.
He removed to Boston in 1765, and
there had extensive legal practice. In
1768 gov. Bernard oflered him through
his friend, Mr. Sewall, the place of advo
cate general in the court of admiralty, a
lucrative post; but he decidedly dechned
the offer. He was not a man, thus to be
bribed to desert the cause of his country.
The office was the same, which Mr.
Otis had resigned in 1761 in order to op
pose the writs of assistance. Yet Mr.
Hutchinson states, that he was at a loss
which side to take, and that the neglect
of Bernard to make him a justice of the
peace roused his patriotism! He adds:
"his ambition was without bounds, and
he has acknowledged to his acquaintance,
that he could not look with complacency
upon any man, who was in possession of
more wealth, more honor, or more knowl
edge than himself" In 1769 he was
chairman of the committee of the town
of Boston for drawing up instructions to
their representatives to resist the British
encroachments. His colleagues were
R. Dana and Jos. Warren. These
instructions were important links in the
chain of revolutionary events. — In con
sequence of the affray with the British
garrison March 5, 1770, in which several

10

ADAMS.

of the people of Boston were killed, the
soldiers were arraigned before the civil au
thority. Notwithstanding the strong ex
citement against them Mr. Adams, with
J. Quincy & S. S. Blowers, defended
them, and procured the acquittal of all ex
cept two, who were convicted of man
slaughter and branded in punishment.
This triumph of justice, for the soldiers
were first attacked, was honorable to the
cause of America. — In May 1770 he was
chosen a member of the legislature, m
which he took a prominent part.
In 1773 he wrote ably in the Boston
Gazette against the regulation, making
judges dependent for their salaries upon
the crown. In 1773 and 1774 he was
chosen into the council by the assembly
but negatived by the governor. To the
struggle at this period between the house
and the governor in respect to the council
his friend, Sewall, pleasantly aUudes thus:
" we have sometimes seen half a dozen
sail of tory navigation unable, on an elec
tion day, to pass the bar formed by the flux
and reflux of the tides at the entrance of
the harbor, and as many whiggish ones
stranded the next morning on Gover
nor's island." — June 17, 1774 he was
chosen by the assembly, together with
T. Gushing, S. Adams, and R. T. Paine,
to the first continental congress. To
Sewall, who while they were attending
the court at Portland endeavored to dis
suade him, in a morning walk on " the
great hill," from accepting this appoint
ment, he said; " the die is now cast: I
have passed the Rubicon : swim or sink,
live or die, survive or perish with my
country is my unalterable determination."
Thus he parted with his tory friend, nor
did he converse with him again till 1788.
He took his seat in congress Sept. 5,
1774, and was on the committee, which
drew up the statement of the rights of
the colonies, and on that, which prepared
the address to the king. At this period
the members of congress generally were
not determined on independence. It was
thought,the British would relinquish their
claims. — He returned to Boston in No
vember, and soon wrote the papers, with

the signature of Novanglus, in answer to
those of his friend, Sewall, with the signa
ture of Massachusettensis. The latter
are dated from Dec. 12, 1774 to April 3,
1775 ; the former from Jan. 23 to April
17,1775. These papers were reprinted in
1819 with a preface by Mr. Adams, with
the addition of letters to W. Tudor.
A short review of them may be interest
ing, as they relate to a period immediate
ly preceding the commencement of hostil
ities. In this controversy Mr. Sewall
said; " I saw the small seed of sedition,
when it was implanted; it was as a grain
of mustard. I have watched the plant,
until it has become a great tree; the vi
lest reptiles, that crawl upon the earth,
are concealed at the root; the foulest
birds of the air rest on its branches. I
now would induce you to go to work im
mediately with axes and hatchets, and
cut it down, for a twofold reason ; because
it is a pest to society, and lest it be felled
suddenly by a stronger arm and crush its
thousands in the fall." In the first place
he maintained, that resistance to Great
Britain would be unavaihng. The mili
tia he considered undisciphned, & ungov
ernable, each man being a pohtician, puf
fed up with his own opinion. "An ex
perienced British officer would rather
take his chance with five thousand Brit
ish troops, than fifty thousand such mih-
tia." The sea coast he regarded as totally
unprotected. Our trade, fishery, naviga
tion, and maritime towns were liable to
be lost in a moment. The back settle
ments would fall a prey to the Canadians
and Indians. The British army would
sweep all before it, like a whirlwind. Be
sides, New England would probably be
alone, unsupported by the other states.
Rebellion therefore would be the height
of madness. In considering the reasons
for resistance he maintained, that the par
liament had a right to pass a stamp-act,
in order that the colonies should bear a
part of the national burden. Similar acts
had been before passed. We had paid
postage agreeably to act of parfiament,
duties imposed for regulating trade, and
even for raising a revenue to the crown.

ADAMS.

11

without questioning the right. This
right, he says, was first denied by the re
solves of the house of burgesses in Vir
ginia. " We read them with wonder ;
they savored of independence." The
tiiree-penny duty on tea, he thought,
should not be regarded as burdensome,
for the duty of a shilling, laid upon it for
regulating trade, and therefore allowed
to be constitutional, was taken off; so
that we were gainers ninepence in the
pound by the new regulation, which was
designed to prevent smuggling and not
to raise a revenue. The act declaratory
of the right to tax was of no consequence,
so long as there was no giievous exercise
ofit,especially as we had protested against
it and our assemblies had ten times re
solved, that no such right existed. But
demagogues were interested in inflaming
the minds of the people. The pul
pit also was a powerful engine in
promoting discontent. — Though the
small duty of three pence was to be paid
by the East India company or their fac
tors on landing the tea, for the purpose
of selling it at auction, and no one was
obhged to purchase ; yet the mob of Bos
ton in disguise forcibly entered the three
ships of tea, spht open the chests, and
emptied the whole, 10,000 I. sterling in
value, into the dock, "and perfumed the
town with its fragrance." Yet zealous
rebel merchants were every day importing
teas, subject to the same duty. The act
interfered with their interest, not with
the welfare of the people. The blockade
act against Boston was a just retahatory
measure, because the body meeting, con
trived merely as a screen to the town,
consisting of thousands, had resolved,that
the tea should not pay the duty. Now
sprung up from the brain of a partizan the
"committee of correspondence" — "the
foulest, subtlest, and most venomous ser
pent, that ever issued from the eggs of
sedition." A new doctrine had been ad
vanced, that as the Americans are not
represented in parhament, they are ex
empt from acts of parhament. But if the
colonies are not subject to the authority
of parhament. Great Britain and the colo

nies must be distinct states. Two inde
pendent authorities cannot co-exist.
The colonies have only power to regulate
their internal police, but are necessarily
subject to the control of the supreme
power of the state. Had any person de
nied 15 years ago, that the colonies were
subject to the authority of parhament, he
would have been deemed a fool or a mad
man. It was curious to trace the history
of rebellion. When the stamp act was
passed, the right of parliament to impose
internal taxes was denied, but the right
to impose external ones, to lay duties on
goods and merchandize, was admitted.
On the passage of the tea act a new dis
tinction was set up ; duties could be laid
for the regulation of trade but not for
raising a revenue ; parliament could lay
the former duty of a shilling a pound, but
not the present duty of three pence.
There was but one more step to indepen
dence, — the denial of the right in parha
ment to make any laws whatever, which
should bind the colonies; and this step the
pretended patriots had taken. Mr. Otis,
the oracle of thewhigSjin 1764 never
thought of this. On the contrary he
maintained in respect to the colonies, that
"the parliament has an undoubted power
and lawful authority to make acts for the
general good." Obedience, in his view,
was a solemn duty. The original charter
of the colony exempted it from taxes for
a definite period, implying the right to
tax afterwards. The grant of aU the lib
erties of natural subjects within the realm
of England affords no immunity from tax
es. If a person, born in EnglaiKi, should
remove to Ireland, or to Jersey, or Guern
sey, whence no member is sent to parlia
ment, he would be in the same predica
ment with an emigrant to America ; all
having the rights of natural born subjects.
In the charter by king Wflfiam the pow
ers of legislation were restricted, so that
nothing should be done contrary to the
laws of the realm of England. Even
Dr. Franklin in 1765 admitted, that the
British had " a natural and equitable right
to some toiler duty upon merchandizes,"
carried through the American seas. Mr.

12

ADAMS.

Otis also in the same year admitted the
same equitable right of parliament " to
impose taxes on the colonies, internal and
external, on lands as well as on trade."
Indeed for more than a century parliament
had exercised the now controverted right
of legislation and taxation.
On the whole Mr. Sewall was con
vinced, that the avarice and ambition of
the leading whigs were the causes of the
troubles of America : " they call them
selves the people, and when their own
measures are censured, cry out, the peo
ple, the people are abused and insulted !"
He deplored the condition of the dupes of
the republican party, the men, who every
morning "swallowed a chimera for break
fast." By the infamous methods resort
ed to, " many of the ancient, trusty, and
skilful pilots, who had steered the com
munity safely in the most perilous times,
were driven from the helm, and their pla
ces occupied by diflerent persons, some of
whom, bankrupts in fortune, business,
and fame, are now striving to run the
ship on the rocks, that they may have an
opportunity of plundering the wreck !"
To this Mr. Adams replied, that par
liament had authority over America by no
law: not by the law of nature and na
tions ; nor by common law, which never
extended beyond the four seas ; nor by
statute law, for none existed before the
settlement of the colonies ; and that we
were under no religious, moral, or polit
ical obligations to submit to parhament as
a supreme executive. He asked, " Is the
three pence upon tea our only grievance ?
Are we liot deprived of the privilege of
paying our governors, judges, &c. .'' Are
not trials by jury taken from us .' Are we
not sent to England for trial.'' Is not a
mihtary government put over us ? Is not
our constitution demohshed to the found
ation.?" — "Nip the shoots of arbitrary
power in the bud is the only maxim,which
can ever preserve the liberties of any peo
ple." He maintained that the pretence
to tax for revenue, and not merely
for the regulation of trade, had never
been advanced till recently ; that in 1754
Dr. Frankhn denied such a right ; that

more than a century before both Massa
chusetts and Virginia had protested
against the act of navigation and refused
obedience, because not represented in par
liament. He denied,that there was a whig
in the province, who wished to set up an
independent republic. But resistance to
lawless violence, he said, is not rebellion
by the law of God or of the land. And
as to inability to cope with Great Britain,
he maintained, that " in a land war this
continent might defend itself against all
the world." As to old charters, that of
Virginia in 1609 exempted the compa
ny forever from taxes on goods and mer
chandizes. The same exemption was giv
en to Maryland in 1 633. The Plymouth
colony was settled without a charter, on
the simple principle of nature, and thus
continued an independent government 68
years. The same was the case with the
colonies in Connecticut. In Massachu
setts the general court in 1677 declared,
that the laws of England were bounded
within the four seas and did not reach
America. The only power of parliament,
which he would allow, was that, arising
from our voluntary cession, of regulating
trade. The first charter erected a corpo
ration within the realm of England ;
there the governor and company were to
reside, and their agents only were to come
to America. But they came themselves
and brought their charter with them, and
thus, being out of the realm,were not sub
ject to parhament. The king of England
could by law grant nothing out of Eng
land, or the realm. The great seal had
no authority out of the realm, except to
mandatory or preceptory writs ; and such
was not the charter. In case of the for
feiture of a charter the people born here
could be under no allegiance to the king.
— Such briefly were the opposite views of
these distinguished men. These wri
tings of Mr. Adams, with those of Otis,
Thacher, and others, contributed much
to the emancipation of America from Brit
ish thraldom.
Mr. Adams attended the next congress
in 1775. On hearing of the battle of
Lexington, war was determined on. At

ADAMS.

13

his suggestion Gov. Johnstone nominated
Washington as commander in chief, and
he was unanimously chosen. When he
returned to Massachusetts,he dechned the
office of chief justice, to which he had
been invited. In congress he was among
the foremost, who were in favor of
independence. He moved May 6, 1776
to recommend to the colonies " to adopt
such a government, as would, in the opin
ion of the representatives of the people,
best conduce to the happiness and safety
of their constituents and of America."
This passed, after earnest debate, on the
15th. R. H. Lee moved on the 7th June,
and the motion was seconded by Mr.
Adams, " that these united colonies are,
and of right ought to be free and inde
pendent states." The debate continued
to the 10th, and was then postponed to
the 1st of July. A committee of five,
consisting of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin,
Sherman, and R. R. Livingston, was ap
pointed to draw up a declaration of inde
pendence. The two first were the sub
committee. The instrument, at the re
quest of Mr. Adams, was written by Jef
ferson. The resolution of Lee was deba
ted again July 1st, and adopted on the
2d. Then the Declaration was consider
ed and passed, with a few omissions and
changes, July 4th ; but not without vig
orous opposition, particularly from John
Dickinson, one of the ablest men and
finest writers in congress. The opposing
arguments were met by Mr. Adams in a
speech of unrivaUed power. Of him
Mr. Jefferson said, — " the great pillar of
support to the declaration of independ
ence and its ablest advocate and champion
on the floor of the house was John Ad
ams." — " He was the colossus of that
congress: not graceful, not eloquent, not
always'fluent in his public addresses, he
yet came out with a power both of
thought and expression, which moved
his hearers from their seats."
On the next day Mr. Adams wrote the
following letter to his wife, dated Phila
delphia, July 5, 1776: —
" Yesterday the greatest question was
decided, which was ever debated in A-

merica, and a greater, perhaps, never
was, or will be, decided among men. A
resolution has passed without one dissent
ing colony, " That these colonies are,
and of right ought to be. Free and Inr
dependent States."
"The day is passed. The fourth day
of July, 1776, win be a memorable epoch
in the history of America. I am apt to
beheve, it will be celebrated by succeeding
generations as the great anniversary festi
val. It^ought to be commemorated, as
the day of deUverance, by solemn acts of
devotion to Ahnighty God. It ought to
be solemnized with pomp, shows, games,
sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and iUumina-
tions from one end of the continent to the
other, from this time forward, forever.
You will think me transported with en
thusiasm ; but I am not. I am well aware
of the toil and blood, and treasure, that it
wiU cost us to maintain this declaration,
and support and defend these States ; yet
through aU the gloom I can see the rays
of fight and glory. I can see, that the
end is more than worth all the means, and
that posterity will triumph, although you
and I may rue, which I hope we shall not."
Mr. Silas Deane, commissioner with
Frankhn and A. Lee at the French court,
having been recalled, Mr. Adams was ap
pointed in his place Nov. 28, 1777. — He
was thus released from his duties as chair
man of the board of war, in which he had
been engaged since June 13, 1776. It is
said, that he had been a member of 90
committees, and chairman of 25. — Em
barking in about two months in the Bos
ton frigate, he arrived safely; but the trea
ties of commerce and aUiance had been
signed before liis arrival. — Soon after his
return he assisted, in the autumn of 1779,
as a member of the convention, and as one
of the sub-committee in preparing a form
of government for the state of Massachu
setts. He wrote the clause in regard to
the patronage of literature. Sept 29,
1779 he was appointed minister plenipo
tentiary to negotiate a peace, and had au
thority to form a commercial treaty with
Great Britain. He sailed in the French
frigate Sensible, Nov. 17, landed at Fer-

14

ADAMS.

rol, and after a toilsome journey arrived
at Paris in Feb. 1780.* He was accom
panied by Francis Dana as secretary of
legation, and by John Thaxter as private
secretary. Deeming a residence in Hol
land more favorable to his country, than
in Paris, he determined to proceed to
Amsterdam as soon, as peimission could
be obtained from the French minister,
count de Vergennes, who was displeased
by the refusal of Mr. Adams to commu
nicate to him his instructions in regard
to the treaty of commerce. In August
he repaired to Amsterdam, having previ
ously been instructed to procure loans in
Holland, and soon afterwards receiving
power to negotiate a treaty of amity and
commerce. Amidst great difficulties, aris
ing from the hostihty of England and the
intrigues of France herself, he toiled in
cessantly for the interest of his country.
In a series of 26 letters to Mr. Kalkoen
he gave an account of the controversy
with Great Britain and of the resources,
determination, and prospects of America.
These papers were reprinted in the Bos
ton Patriot and in a pamphlet form in
1809. They had much effect in enlight-
•ening the people of Holland. Yet he
¦could not persuade the States General to
acknowledge him as ambassador of the
United States until April 1782. Associat
ed withFrankhn, Jay,& Laurens, he form
ed the definitive treaty of peace, which
was ratified Jan. 14, 1784. — After assist
ing in other treaties Mr. Adams was in
1785 appointed the first minister to Lon
don. In that city he published his "De
fence of the American constitutions" in
1787. — At this time the constitution of
the United States had not been formed.
The object of the work was to oppose
the theories of Turgot, the Abbe de Mab-
ly, and Dr. Price in favor of a single leg
islative assembly and the consohdation
into one tribunal of the powers of gov
ernment. He maintained |the necessity
of keeping distinct the legislative, execu
tive, and judicial departments ; and to
prevent encroachment by the legislative
branch he proposed a division of it into
two chambers, each as a check upon the

other. He carried his views into efiect
in drafting the constitution of Massachu
setts,— which form has been copied in its
chief features by most of the other
states.— After an absence of 9 years he re
turned to America, and landed at Boston
June 17, 1788. Congress had passed a
resolution of thanks for his able and faith
ful discharge of various important com
missions. His "Discourses on Davila"
were written in 1790.
After his return he was elected the first
vice-president of the United States tinder
the new constitution, which went into
operation in March 1789. Having been
re-elected to that office, he held it and of
course presided at the Senate during the
whole of the administration of Washing
ton, whose confidence he enjoyed in an
eminent degree. The senate being near
ly balanced between the two parties of the
day, his casting vote decided some impor
tant questions ; in this way Clarke's res
olution to prohibit aU intercourse with
Great Britain on account of the capture
of several American vessels was rejected.
— On the resignation of Washington Mr.
Adams became president of the United
States March 4, 1797. He was succeed
ed by Mr. Jefferson in 1801, who was
elected by a majority of one vote.
After March 1801 Mr. Adams lived in
retirement at Quincy, occupied in agri
cultural pursuits, though occasionally ad
dressing various communications to the
pubhc. — In a letter to the founder of the
peace society of Massachusetts in 1816 he
says: — "I have read, almost aU the days
of my life, the solemn reasonings & pathe
tic declamations of Erasmus, of Fenelon,
of St. Pierre, and many others against
war and in favor of peace. My under
standing and my heart accorded with them
at first blush. But, alas ! a longer and
more extensive experience has convinced
me, that wars are necessary, and as inevi
table in our system, as hurricanes, earth
quakes, and volcanoes. — Universal and
perpetual peace appears to me no more
nor less than everlasting passive obedi
ence and non-resistance. The hu
man flock would soon be fleeced and butch-

ADAMS.

15

ered by one or a few. I cannot there
fore. Sir, be a subscriber or a member of
your society. — I do. Sir, most humbly
supplicate the theologians, the philoso
phers, and the pohticians to let me die in
peace. I seek only repose." Mr Jeffer
son expressed his opinions more calmly
on the subject.
In 1816 he was chosen a member of the
electoral college, which voted for Mr.
Monroe as president. In 1818 he sus
tained his severest affliction in the loss, in
October, of his wife, with whom he had
lived more than half a century. His only
daughter, Mrs. Smith, died in 1813. In
1820, at the age of 85, he was a member
of the convention for revising the consti
tution of Massachusetts. In the last years
of his hfe he had a friendly correspondence
with Mr. Jefferson. He enjoyed the sin
gular happiness in 1825 of seeing his son,
John Quincy Adams, elevated to the of
fice of president of the United States. In
this year he was the only survivor of the
first congress. He died July 4, 1826.
On the morning of the jubilee he was
-lOUsed by the ringing of bells and the fir
ing of cannon, and when asked by his
servant, if he knew what day it was, he
repUed, "O yes! it is the glorious 4th of
July — God bless it — God bless you all."
In the forenoon the orator of the day, his
parish minister, called to see him and
found him seated in an arm chair, and
asked him for a sentiment to be given at
the pubhc table. He rephed, "I wiU give
you — independence forever!" In the
course of the day he said, "It is a great
and glorious day;" and just before he ex
pired, exclaimed, " Jefferson survives,"
shewing, that his thoughts were dwelhng
on the scene of 1 776. But Jefferson was
then dead, having expired at 1 o'clock.
He himself died at 20 minutes before 6,
P.M. That two such men as Jefferson and
Adams, both of whom had been presi
dents of the United States, the two last
survivors of those, who had voted for the
Declaration of Independence, the former
having drawn it up and the latter having
been its most powerful advocate on the

floor of congress, should have died on the
4th of July, just 50 years after the "glori
ous day" of the Declaration of American
Independence, presented such an extraor
dinary concurrence of events, as to over-
wliehn tiie mind with astonishment.
Some of the eulogists of these illustrious
men seemed to regard the circumstances
of their removal from the earth as a sig
nal proof of the favor of God and spoke of
their spirits as beyond doubt thus won
derfully, on the day of their glory, trans
lated to heaven. But surely these cir
cumstances ought not to be regarded as
indications of the eternal destiny of these
men of political eminence. Like others
they must appear at the bar of Jesus
Christ to be judged, agreeably to the set
tled principles of the divine government,
according to their works and characters.
If they befieved in the name of the
Son of God and were his followers,,
they will doubtless, if the scriptures are
true, be saved ; otherwise they will be
lost. It is not always easy to ascertain
the design of providence. If some imag
ine, that the extraordinary deaths of
these men indicate the divine approbation
of their patriotism ; others may imagine,
that their deaths on the day, in which a
kind of idolatry had often been offered
them, and in which the American people
had been often elated with the emotions
of vanity and pride, instead of rendering
due thanksgivings to the Almighty, were
designed to frown upon the erring people
and to teach them, that their boasted pat
riots and statesmen, their incensed demi
gods, were but frail worms of the dust. —
A new and similar wonder has occurred
in the decease of the late president,Mun-
roe, on the 4th day of July 1830.
Mr. Adams was somewhat irritable in
his temper, and at times was frank in the
utterance of his indignant feelings. In
reply to a birth day address in 1802, the
year after the termination of his presiden
cy, he said; — "Under the continual pro
vocations, breaking and pouring in upon
me, from unexpected as well as expected
quarters, during the two last years of my
administration, he must have been more

16

ADAMS.

of a modern epicurean philosopher, than
ever I was or ever will be, to have borne
them all without some incautious ex
pressions, at times, of an unutterable
indignation. — I have no other apology to
make to individuals or the public." — This
confession may teach the ambitious, that
the high station of president may be a
bed of thorns. Mr. Adams added th'e
sentiment, which is worthy of perpetual
remembrance by our statesmen and citi
zens: — "The union is our rock of safety
as well as our pledge of grandeur." — Mr
Adams, it is befieved, was a professor of
religion in the church at Quincy. In his
views he accorded with Dr. Bancroft, an
unitarian minister of Worcester, of whose
printed sermons he expressed his high
approbation. In bis person Mr Adams was of mid
dling stature. With passions somewhat
impetuous, his manners were courteous.
Industry carried him honorably through
his immense pubhc labors ; temperance
procured him the blessing of a healthful
old age. He lived to see but one name
before his unstarred in the catalogue of
Harvard college: excepting the venerable
Dr. Holyoke, all before him were num
bered with the dead. He was a scholar,
versed in the ancient languages. In his
writings he was perspicuous and energet
ic. To his native town he gave his
whole library and made bequests for the
endowment of an academy and the build
ing of a stone church.
Memoirs of his life will be prepared by
his son, John Q. Adams. His chief wri
tings are — History of the dispute with
America, 1774; 26 letters on the Ameri
can revolution, written in Holland in 17-
80 ; memorial to the States General,
1782; essay on canon and feudal law,
1783; defence of the American Constitu
tions, 3 vols. 1788 ; answers to patriotic
addresses, 1798 ; letters on government,
to S. Adams, 1302 ; discourses on Da
vila, 1805; correspondence, 1809 ; No
vanglus, republished, 1819 ; correspond
ence with W. Cunningham, 1823 ; let
ters to Jefferson. — Enr.yel. Amer.; Amer.

AITKEN.
Ann. Reg. i. 225—240; Boston Weekly
Messeng. vi. 366; J. Q. Adams' lett. in
B. Patriot,Sep. 3, 1831; Holmes, u. 499.
ADDINGTON, Isaac, secretary of the
province of Massachusetts, died at Bos
ton March 19, 1715, aged 70 years. He
sustained a high character for talents
and learning and for integrity and , dili
gence in his public services. He was sec
retary more than 20 years, and for many
years a magistrate and member of the
councfl, elected by the people ; and was
also sometimes "useful in practising phy
sic and chirurgery." He was singularly
meek and humble and disinterested. In
his famfly he was a daily worshipper of
God. The rehgipn, which he professed,
gave him peace^ as he went down to the
dead. Judge Dudley married one of his
daughters.  Wadsworth's fun. serm.;
Hutchinson, i. 414; ii. 212.
ADDISON, Alexander, a distinguish
ed lawyer, died at Pittsburg, Penn., Nov.
24, 1807, aged 48. In tiie office of a
judge for 12 years he was a luminous ex
pounder of the law, prompt, and impa.r-
tial, and never was there an appeal from
his judgment. His various, powerful
talents and extensive learning were
displayed in numerous writings, which
evinced not only a cogency in reason
ing, but a classic purity of style, and a
uniform regard to the interests of virtue.
He was disinterested, generous, benefi
cent. He published observationsou Gal
latin's speech, 1798 ; analysis of report
of committee of Virginia assembly, 1800;
Reports in Penns. 1800.
AITKEN, Robert, a printer in Phila
delphia, came to this country in 1769 and
died July 1802, aged 68. For his attach
ment to American liberty he was thrown
into prison by the British. Among his
publications were a magazine, ^n edition
of the Bible, and the transactions of the
Amer. Phil. Soc. He was the author, it
is be lieved, of an Inquiry concerning the
principles of a commercial system for the
United States, 1787. Jane Aitken, his
daughter, continued his business ; she
printed Thompson's Septuagint.- TAom-
as, II. 77.

ALABAMA.

ALEXANDER.

17

ALABAMA, one of the United States
of America, originally belonged to Geor
gia, and was formed into a territory, with
the country now the state of Mississippi,
in 1800. When the part of Florida be
tween Pearl and Perdido rivers was an
nexed to this territory in 1812, emigra
tion into it immediately commenced. The
Indians, by whom the settlements were
harassed in 1813 and 1814, were teubdued
by general Jackson. — Alabama was ad
mitted into the union as an independent
state by an act of congress, March, 1819.
It contains 50,800 square miles. By its
constitution, adopted July 1819, the pro
visions of which are similar to those
of Mississippi, the legislative power is
vested in two houses, the members of
which are chosen by universal suffrage.
The greatest number of representatives is
100 ; the Senate to consist of from a
fourth to a third of that number. The
legislature meets the fourth Monday of
October. — In 1829 there were in this
State 19,200 Indians, Cherokees, Creeks,
Chickasaws, and Choctaws.  Encyc.
Amer. ALBERT, Pierre Antonie, rector of
the French protestant episcopal church
in New York, was the descendant of a
highly respectable family in Lausanne,
Switzerland. Being invited to receive
the charge of the church in the city of
New York, which was founded by the
persecuted Huguenots after the revoca
tion of the edict of Nantes,he commenced
his labors July 26, 1797, and died July 12,
1806, in the 41st year of his age. He was
an accomphshed gentleman, an erudite
scholar, a profound theologian, and a
most eloquent preacher. A stranger, of
unobtrusive manners and invincible mod
esty, he led a very retired fife. His worth
however could not be concealed. He was
esteemed and beloved by all his acquaint
ance.— Jlfas*a. Miss. Mag. iv. 78.
ALDEN, John, a magistrate of Ply
mouth colony, was one of the first compa
ny, which settled New England. He ar
rived in 1620, and his fife was prolonged
tin Sep. 12, 1687, when he died aged about
89 years. When sent by his friend, cap-
3

tain Standish, to make for him proposals
of marriage to Priscilla Mullins, the lady
said to him, — "Prithee John, why do you
not speak for yourself.'" This intimation
of preference from the lips of one of the
Pilgrim beauties was not to be overlooked.
Priscilla became his wife. He was a very
worthy and useful man, of great humihty
and eminent piety. He was an assistant
in the administration of every governor
for 67 years. A professed disciple of Je
sus Christ, he lived in accordance with
his profession. In his last illness he was
patient and resigned, fully believing that
God, who had imparted to him the love
of excellence, would perfect the work,
which he had begun, and would render
him completely holy in heaven. — One of
his descendants. Rev. Timothy Alden,
father of Rev. T. A. of Meadville, died at
Yarmouth, Mass., Nov. 1828, aged 92.
ALEXANDER, an Indian, was the
son and successor of Massassoit and broth
er of King Philip. His Indian name was
Wamsutta. He received his English
name in 1656. Being suspected of con
spiring with the Narragansetts against
the EngKsh, he was captured by surprise
by maj. Winslow in 1662, and carried to
Marshfield. The indignant sachem fell
sick of a fever, and was allowed to return
under a pledge of appearing at the next
court ; but he died on his way. Judge
Davis gives a minute account of this af^
fair. Dr. Holmes places the occurrence
in 1657.~Davis' Morton, 287; Holmes
I. 308.
ALEXANDER, James, secretary of
the province of New York, and many
years one of the council, arrived in the
colony in 1715. He was a Scotch gen
tleman, who was bred to the law. Gov.
Burnet was particularly attached to him.
Though not distinguished for his talents
as a public speaker, he was at the head
of his profession for sagacity and penetra
tion. Eminent for his knowledge, he
was also communicative and easy of ac
cess. By honest practice and unwearied
application to business he acquired a
great estate. He died in the beginning
of 1756.— Smith's N. Y. 152.

18

ALEXANDER.

ALEXANDER, Wifliam, common
ly caUed lord Stirling, a major gene
ral in the American army, was a native
of the city of New York, the son of the
secretary, James Alexander, but spent a
considerable part of his life in New Jersey.
He was considered by many as the right
ful heir to the title & estate of an earldom
in Scotland, of which country his father
was a native ; and although, when he
went to North Britain in pursuit of this
inheritance, he failed of obtaining an
acknowledgment of his claim by gov
ernment, yet among his friends and
acquaintances he received by courtesy
the title of lord Stirling.- He discov
ered an early fondness for the study
of mathematics and astronomy, and at
tained great eminence in these sciences.
In the battle on Long Island, Aug.
27, 1776, he was taken prisoner, after
having secured to a large part of the de
tachment an opportunity to escape by a
bold attack with four hundred men upon
a corps under lord Cornwallis. His at
tachment to Washington was proved in
the latter part of 1777 by transmitting to
him an account of the disaffection of gen.
Conway to the commander in chief. In
the letter he said," Such wicked duplicity
of conduct I shaU always think it my duty
to detect." He died at Albany, Jan. 15,
1783, aged 57 years. He was a brave,
discerning, and intrepid officer. — He mar
ried Sarah, daughter of PhUip Livingston.
His eldest daughter, Mary, married John
Watts, of a wealthy family in New York.
He pubhshed a pamphlet, " The conduct
of maj. gen. Shirley briefly stated." —
Miller, II. 390; Holmes, ii. 247. Mar-
thall. III. Note No. v.
ALEXANDER, Nathaniel, governor
of North Carohna, was graduated at
Princeton in 1776, and after studying
medicine entered the army. At the close
of the war he resided at the High Hills
of Santee, pursuing his profession, and
afterwards at Mecklenburg. While he
held a seat in congress, the legislature
elected him governor in 1806. He died
at Salisbury March 8, 1808, aged 52. In
aU his pubhc stations he discharged his

ALLEN.
duty with abihty and firmness.-CA. Cour.
March 23.
ALEXANDER, Caleb, d.d., a native
of Northfield, Mass., and a graduate of
Yale Coflege in 1777, was ordained at
New Marlborough, Mass. in 1781, and
dismissed in 1782. He was again settled
at Mendon, and dismissed in 1803. Af
ter an ineffectual attempt to establish a
college at Fairfield, state of New York,
erecting buildings, which now belong to
the medical school, he took the charge of
the academy at Onandago Hollow, where
he died in April 1828. He published an
essay on the deity of Jesus Christ, with
strictures on Emlyn, 1791 ; a latin gram
mar, 1794 ; an english grammar, and
gram, elements.  History of Berk
shire, 293.
ALFORD, John, founder of the pro
fessorship of natural religion, moral phi
losophy, and civil polity in Harvard col
lege, died at Charlestown Sept. 29, 1761,
aged 75. He had been a member of the
council. His executors determined the
particular objects, to which his bequest
for charitable uses should be applied, and
divided it equally between Harvard col
lege, Princeton college, and the society for
the propagation of the gospel among the
Indians. To the latter 10, 675dofl.were
paid in 1787. Levi Frisbie was the first
Alford professor.
ALLEN, John, first minister of Ded
ham, Massachusetts, was born in Eng
land in 1596, and was driven from his na
tive land during the persecution of the
puritans. He had been for a number of
years a faithful preacher of the gospel.
Soon after he arrived in Nevy England,
he was settied pastor of the church in
Dedham April 24, 1639. Here he con
tinued tiU his death Aug, 26, 1671, in
the 75th year of his age. He was a man
of great meekness and humility, and of
considerable distinction in his day. Mr
Cotton speaks of him with respect in his
preface to Norton's answer to Apollonius.
He published a defence of the nine posi
tions, in which, with Mr Shepard of
Cambridge, he discusses the points of
church disciphne; and a defence of the

ALLEN.

19

Synod of 1662 against Mr Chauncy un
der the title of Animadversions upon the
Antisynodalia, 4to, 1664. This work is
preserved in the New England library.
The two last sermons, which he preach
ed, were printed after his death. — Mag-
nal.ni.l3il;Prentiss' fun.serm. onHaveii.
ALLEN, Thomas, minister of Charles-
town, Massachusetts, was born at Nor
wich in England in 1608 ,and was educa
ted at Cambridge. He was afterwards
minister of St. Edmond's in Norwich,
but was silenced by bishop Wren about
the year 1636 for refusing to read the
book of sports and conform to other impo
sitions. In 1 638 he fled to New England,
and was the same year installed in Charles-
town,where he was a faithful preacher of
the gospel tfll about 1651, when he retur
ned to Norwich, and continued the exer
cise of his ministry till 1 662. He after
wards preached to his church on all occa
sions, that offered, till his death Sep. 21,
1673, aged 65. He was a very pious man,
greatly beloved, and an able, practical
preacher. He pubhshed an invitation to thirsty
sinners to come to their Savior; the way
of the Spirit in bringing souls to Christ;
the glory of Christ set forth with the ne
cessity of faith in several sermons; a
chain of scripture chronology from the
creation to the death of Christ in 7 pe
riods. This was printed in 1658, and
was regarded as a very learned and useful
work. It is preserved in the New En
gland library, established by Mr. Prince,
by whom the authors quoted in the book
are written in the beginning of it in his
own hand. Mr. Allen wrote also with
Mr. Shepard in 1645 a preface to a trea
tise on hturgies,&c. composed by the lat
ter. He contends,that only visible saints
and believers should be received to com
munion. — Magnal. iii. 215; Noncon.
memor. i. 254; iii. 11, 12.
ALLEN,Matthew, one of the first set
tlers of Connecticut, came to this coun
try with Mr. Hooker, in 1632, and became
a land holder in Cainbridge, in the records
of which town his lands and houses are
described. He accompanied Mr. Hook

er to Hartford in 1636 and was a magis
trate. In the charter of 1662 he is nam
ed as one the company. His public ser
vices were various. In 1664 he is called
Mr. Allen, senior. He might have been
the father of John. There was however
a Mr. Mathew Allen, a magistrate in
1710; another of the same name in
Windsor in 1732. — TrumbeU gives the
name Allen ; but Mather wrote Allyn.
ALLEN, John, secretary of the colo
ny of Connecticut, was chosen a magis
trate under the charter in 1662 and treas
urer in 1663. He was on the committee,
with Mathew Allen -and John Talcott,
respecting the union with New Haven
in 1663. He appears to have been sec
retary as early as Dec. 1664: Joseph Al
len had been secretary before him. He
was also secretary in 1683 and on the
committee respecting the boundary of
New York. The time of his death is not
known. One of his name was magistrate
as late as 1709. The history of the Pe-
quot war, given by Increase Mather in
his Relation in 1677, was not written by
Mr. Allen, as Judge Davis erroneously
supposes, but merely communicated by
him to Mr. Mather.— Davis' Morton,
196; Prince's introd. to Mason's hist.
ALLEN, James, minister in Boston,
came to this country in 1662, recommen
ded by Mr. Goodwin. He had been a
fellow of New college, Oxford. He was
at this time a young man,and possessed
considerable talents. He was very plea
sing to many of the church in Boston,
and an attempt was made to settle him as
assistant to Mr. Wilson and Mr. Norton.
He was ordained teacher of the first
church Dec. 9, 1668, as colleague with
Mr. Davenport, who was at the same
time ordained pastor. After the death
of Mr. Davenport he had for his col
league Mr. Oxenbridge, and after his.de-
cease Mr. Wadsworth.
In 1669 seventeen ministers pubhshed
their testimony against the conduct of
Mr. Allen and Mr. Davenpoirt. in relation
to the settlement of the latter. They
were charged with comimunicating parts
only of letters from ike church of New-

20

ALLEN.

haven to the church of Boston, by which
means it was said the church was decei
ved; but they in defence asserted, that
the letters retained did not represent
things differently from what had been
stated. The whole colony was interested
in the controversy between the first and
the new or third church. At length the
general court in 1 670 declared the conduct
of those churches and elders, who assisted
in establishing the third church, to be
Ulegal and disorderly. At the next session
however, as there was a change of the
members of the general court, the censure
was taken off. It seems, the act of censure
was expressed in language very intemper
ate, and invasion of the rights of churches
and assumption of prelatical power were
declared in it to be among the prevaihng
evils of the day. The charge was so gen
eral, and it threatened to operate so un
favorably on religion, that a number of
the very ministers, who had published
their testimony against the elders of the
first church, wrote an address to the
court, representing the intemperate na
ture of the vote; and it was in consequence
revoked,and the new church was exculpa
ted. Mr. Allen died Sep. 22, 1710, aged
78 years. His sons were James, John,
and Jeremiah, born in 1670, 1672,&1673.
The last was chosen treasurer of the
province in 1715.
He published healthful diet, a sermon ;
New England's choicest blessings, an
election sermon, 1679 ; serious advice to
deUvered ones ; man's self-reflection a
means to further his recovery from his
apostasy from God ; and two practical
discourses. — Hutchinson's Met. of Mas
sa. 1. 173, 222, 225, 270; Collections of
the hist, society, ix. 173; Calamy.
ALLEN, Samuel, a merchant of Loft-
don, proprietor of a part of New Hamp
shire, made the purchase of the heirs of
Mason in 1691. The territory included
Portsmouth and Dover, and extended 60
miles from the sea. The settlers resist
ing his clauns, a perplexing htigation fol
lowed. In the midst of it Mr. Allen died
at Newcastle May 5,1705, aged 69. He
sustained an excellent character. Though

attached to the church of England, he at
tended the congregational meeting. His
son, Thomas Allen of London, continued
the suits. The final verdict was against
him in 1707 in the case, Allen v. Wald-
ron ; — he appealed, yet his death in 1715,
before the appeal was heard, put an end
to the suit. The principal reliance of the
defendant was on the Indian deed to
Wheelwright of 1 629. This Mr. Savage
has satisfactorily shown to be a forgery
of a later date. If so, it would seem,
that the AUens were wrongfully dispos
sessed of a valuable province. — Belknap's
N. H. I.; Savage's Winthrop, i. 405;
N. H. coll. II. 137.
ALLEN, James, first minister of
Brookhne, Massachusetts, was a native
of Roxbury, and was graduated at Har
vard college in 1710. He was ordained
Nov. 5, 1718, and after a ministry of 28
years died of a lingering consumption
Feb. 18, 1747, in the 56th year of his
age, with the reputation of a pious and ju
dicious divine. In July 1743 he gave his
attestation to the revival of rehgion,which
took place throughout the country, and
made known the success, which had at
tended his own exertions in Brookhne.
Almost every person in his congrega
tion was impressed in some degree with
the important concerns of another world,
and he couU no more doubt, he said,
that there was a remarkable work of God,
than he could, that there was a sun in the
heavens. Afterwards, from pecuhar cir
cumstances, perhaps from the appstasy of
some, who had appeared strong in the
faith, he was led to speak of this revival
"unadvisedly vrith his lips." This pro
duced an alienation among some of his
former friends. In his last hours he had
a hope, which he would not part with, as
he said, for a thousand worlds.
He published a tbanksgi'iying sermon,
1722; a discourse on providence, 1727;
the doctrine of merit exploded, and hu
mihty recommended, 1727; a fast sermon,
occasioned by the earthquake, 1727 ; a
sermon to a society of young men, 1731 ;
a sermon on the death of Samuel Aspin-
wall, 1733 ; an election sermon, 1744.—

ALLEN.

21

Piercers cent, discourse; Christian hist.
I. 394.
ALLEN,- James, member of the house
of representatives of Massachusetts a
number of years, and a counsellor, was
graduated at Harvard college in 1717, and
died Jan. 8, 1755, aged 57.
In the beginning of 1749 he made a
speech in the house, censuring the con
duct of the governor, for which he was
required to make an acknowledgment.
As he dechned doing this, the house is
sued a- precept for the choice of a new
representative. When re-elected, he was
not permitted to take his seat ; but next
year he took it, and retained it till his
de^tb. — Minot'shist. Mass. i. 104 — 107j
ALLEN, William, chief justice of
Pennsylvania, was the son of William
Allen, an eminent merchant of Philadel
phia, who died in 1725. On the ap
proach of the revolution he_ retired to
England, where he died Sept. 1 780. His
wife was a daughter of Andrew Hamilton,
whom he succeeded as recorder of Phil
adelphia in 1741. He was much
distinguished as a friend to fiterature.
He patronised sir Benjamin West, the
painter. By his counsels and exertions
Dr. Frankhn was much assisted in estab-
hshing the college in Philadelphia. He
published the American crisis, London,
1774, in which he suggests a plan " for
restoring the dependence of America to
a state of perfection." His principles
seem to have been not a Uttle arbitrary. —
On his resignation of the office of chief
justice, to which he had been appointed in
1750, he was succeeded till the revolution
by Mr.Chew, attorney gen., & Mr.Chew
by his son, Andrew Allen. This son died
in London March 7, 1825, aged 85. At
the close of 1776 he put himself under the
protection of gen. Howe at Trenton,
with his brothers John and Wflham.
He had been a member of congress and
of the committee of safety; and Wilham a
lieut. col. in the continental service, but
in 1778 he attempted to raise a regimentr
oitones.— Miller's retr. ii. 352; Proud's
hist, of Penn. ii.lSS; Am. Remem.
1777. p. 56.

ALLEN, Henry, a preacher in Nova
Scotia, was born at Nevyport, R. I. June
14, 1748, and began to propagate some
very singular sentiments about the year
1778. He was a man of good capaci
ty, though his mind had not been much
cultivated, and though he possessed a
warm imagination. He believed, that
the souls of all men are emanations or
parts of the one great Spirit, and that they
were present with our first parents in
Eden and participated in the first trans
gression ; that our first parents in inno-
cency were pure spirits without material
bodies ; that the iDody wiU not be raised
from the grave ; and that the ordinances
of the gospel are matters of indifference.
The scriptures, he contended, have a spir
itual meaning, and are not to be under
stood in a hteral sense. He died at the
house of Rev. D. M'Clure, Northampton,
N. H. Feb. 2, 1784 and since his death
his party has much dechned. He pub-
fished a volume of hymns ; and several
treatises and sermons.— .^rfawis' view of
religions; Benedict i, 282.
ALLEN,Ethan, a brigadier general in
the war with Great Britain, was born in
Roxbury, Litchfield county. Con. His
parents afterwards lived in Safisbury ; at
an early age he himself emigrated to Ver
mont. At the commencement of the dis
turbances in this territory about the yeaj*
1770 he took a most active part in favor
of the green mountain boys, as the set
tler^ were then called^ in opposition to
the government of New York. An act
of outlawry against him was passed by
this state, and 50 pounds were offered
for his apprehension ; but his party was
too numerous and faithful to permit him
to be.disturbed by any apprehensions for
his safety; in afl the struggles of the day
he was successful ; and he not only
proved a valuable friend to those, whose
cause he had espoused, but he was hu
mane and generous toward those; with
whom he h^d to contend. When called
to take the field, he showed himself an
able leader and an intrepid soldier.
The news of the battle of Lexington
determined colonel Allen to engage on

32

ALLEN.

the side of his country, and inspired him
with the desire of demonstrating his at
tachment to liberty by some bold exploit.
While his mind was in this state, a ptan
for taking Ticonderoga and Crown Point
by surprise was formed by capts. Edward
Mottand Noah Phelps of Hartford, Con.
They marched privately April 29th, with
16 unarmed men. Arriving at Pittsfield,
the residence of col. James Easton and
John Brown Esq, — they communidated
the project to them and to col. Ethan
Allen, then at Pittsfield. These gentle
men immediately engaged to co-operate
and to raise men for the purpose. Of
the Berkshire men and the green moun
tain boys 230 were collected under the
command of Allen and proceeded to Cas-
tleton. Here he was unexpectedly joined
by col. Arnold, who had been commis
sioned by the Massachusetts committee
to raise 400 men, and effect the same ob
ject, which was now about to be accom
plished. As he had not raised the men,
he was admitted to act as an assistant to
colonel Allen. They reached the lake
opposite Ticonderoga Tuesday evening.
May,, 9, 1775. With the utmost diffi
culty boats were procured, and 83 men
were landed near the garrison. The ap
proach of day rendering it dangerous to
wait for the rear, it was deteimined im
mediately to proceed. The commander
in chief now addressed his men, repre
senting, that they had been for a number
of years a scourge to arbitrary power,and
famed for their valor, and concluded with
saying, "I now propose to advance before
you, and in person conduct you through
the wicket gate, and you, that wiU . go
with me voluntarily in this desperate at
tempt, poise your firelocks." At the
bead of the centre file he marched in
stantly to the gate, where a sentry snap
ped his gun at him and retreated through
the covered way ; he pressed forward
into the fort, and formed his men on
the parade in such a manner as to face
two opposite barracks. Three' huzzas
awaked the garrison. A sentry, who
asked quarter, pointed out the apartmeiits
of the commanding officer; and Allen

with a drawn Sword over the head of
captain De la Place, who was undressed,
demanded the surrender of the fort. "By
what authority do you demand it.'" in
quired the astonished commander. " I
demand it," said Allen, "in the name of
the great Jehovah and of the continental
congress." The summons could not be
disobeyed, and the fort with its very val
uable stores and 49 prisoners was imme
diately surrendered on May 10th. There
were from 112 to 120 iron cannon from
6 to 24 pounders,2 brass cannon, 50 swiv
els, 2 mortars, 10 tons of musket balls,
3 cart loads of flints, 10 casks of powder,
30 new carriages, 1 00 stand of small arms,
30 barrels of flour, and 18 barrels of pork.
Crown Point was taken the same day, and
the ca;pture of a sloop of war soon after
wards made Allen and his brave party
complete masters of lake Champlain. May
18th Arnold with 35 men surprised the
fort of St. John's in Can., taking 14 priso
ners, a sloop & 2 brass cannon. Allen,arri-
ving the saiYie day with 90 men,resolved,
against the advice of Arnold, to attempt
to hold the place. But he was attacked
the next day by a larger foriie from Mont
real and compelled to retreat.
In the fall 1775 he was sent twice into
Canada to observe the dispositions of the
people, and attach them, if possible, to
the American cause. During this last
tour colonel Brown met him, and propos
ed an attack on Montreal in concert. The
proposal was eagerly embraced, and col
onel Allen with 110 men, nearly 80 -of
whom were Canadians, crossed the river
in the night of Sept. 24. In the morning
he waited with impatience for the signal
from colonel Brown, who agreed to co
operate with him ; but he waited in vain.
He made a resolute defence against an
attack of 500 men, and it was not tifl his
own party was reduced by desertions to
the number of 31, and he had retreated
near a mile, that he surrendered. A mo
ment afterwards a furious savage rushed
towards him, and presented his firelock
with the intent of kifling him. It was on
ly by making use of the body of the offi
cer, to whom he had given his sword, as

ALLEN.

23

a shield, that he escaped destruction.
This rash attempt was made without au
thority from gen. Schuyler. He was kept
for some time in irons, and then sent to
England as a prisoner, being assured that
the halter would be the reward of his re
bellion, when he arrived there. On his
passage, handcuffed and fettered, he was
shut up with his fellow prisoners in the
cable tier, a space 12 feet by 10. After
his arrival about the mid41e of Dec.he was
lodged for a short time in Pendennis cas-
tie, near Falmouth. On the 8th of Jan.
1776he was put on board a frigate and
by a circuitous route carried to Halifax.
Here he remained confined in the gaol
from June to October, when he was re
moved to New York. During the pas
sage to this place, captain Burke, a dar
ing prisoner, proposed to kiU the British
captain and seize the frigate ; but colonel
Allen refused to engage in the plot, and
was probably the means of preserving the
fifeofcapt. Smith, who had treated him
very pohtely. He was kept at New
York about a year and a half, sometimes
imprisoned, and sometimes permitted to
be on parole. Whfle here, he had an op
portunity to observe the inhuman man
ner, in which the American prisoners
were treated. In one of the churches, in
w^hich they were crowded, he saw seven
lying dead at one time, and others biting
pieces of chips from hunger. He calcu
lated, that of the prisoners taken at Long
Island and fort Washington, near two
thousand perished by hunger and cold,
or in consequence of diseases occa
sioned by the impurity of their prisons.
Col. Allen was exchanged for col.
CampbeU May 6, 1778, and after having
repaired to head quarters, and offered his
services to general Washington in case
his health should be restored, he returned
to Vermont. His ^irrival on the evening
of the last of May gave his friends great
joy, and it was announced by the dis
charge of cannon. As an expression of
confidence in his patriotism and military
talents he was very soon appointed ^to-the
command of the state mUitia. It does
not appear however, that his intrepidity

was ever again brought to the test, though
his patriotism was tried by an unsuccess
ful attempt of the British to bribe him to
effect a union of Vermont with Canada.
Sir H. Clinton wrote to lord Germaine
Feb. 1781; "there is every reason to
suppose, that Ethan Allen has quitted
the rebel cause." He died suddenly at
his estate in Colchester Feb. 13, 1789.
His daughter Pamela married E. W.
Keyes, Esq. in 1803. Another daughter
entered a nunnery in Canada. He had
lived for a time in Sunderland. It was
his project to make a city, Vergennes, a
mile square.
General Allen possessed strong powers
of mind, but they never felt the influence
of education. Though he was bra!ve,
humane, and generous ; yet his conduct
does not seem to have been much influj-
enced by considerations respecting that
holy and merciful Being, whose character
and whose commands are disclosed to us
in the scriptures. His notions with re
gard to rehgion were such, as to prove
that they, who rather confide in their
own wisdom than seek instruction from
heaven, may embrace absurdities, which
would disgrace the understanding of a
child. He believed, with Pythagoras,
that mai;i after death would transmigrate
into beasts, birds, fishes, reptiles, &c,
and often informed his friends, that he
himself expected to live again in the form
of a large white horse, i
The following anecdote shows, that he
did not hold his strfinge opinions very
strongly. Being called to the chamber
of a dyin? daughter, who had been inr
structed in the principles of Christianity
by his pious wife, she said to him, "I am
about to die ; shaU I believe in the princi
ples you have taught me, or shall I be
lieve in what my mother has taught me .'"
He became agitated; his chin quivered ;
his whole frame shook ; and he repfied ;
"believe what your mother has taught
.you." '
Besides a number of pamphlets in the
controversy with New York, he pubhshed
in 1779 a narrative of his observations
during his captivity ,whichwas afterwards

24

ALLEN.

reprinted; a vindication of the^opposition
of theinhabitantsof Vt.to the goVerninent
of New York, and their right to form an
independent state, 1779 ; and Allen's the
ology, or the oracles of reason, 1786.
This last work was intended to ridicule the
doctrine of Moses and the prophets. It
would be unjust to bring against it the
charge of having effected great mischief
in the world, for few have had the pa
tience to read it. — Allen's narrative ;
Bost. weekly mag. ii; Holmes' annals, u.
207; Williams' Vermont; Chronicle,
March 5, 1789; Marshall's Wash., ii.
208; III. 24; Gordon, ii. 13, 160; Gror
ham's Vt.; Encyc. Am/; Dwight's Trav.
II. 409. 421 ; Amer. Rememb. 1778. 50.
ALLEN, Ira, first secretary of Ver
mont, the brother of Ethan, was born at
Cornwall, Con. about 1752 and in early
life co-operated with his brother in the
controversy between Vermont and New
York, being a lieutenant under him. He
also took an active part on the lakes in
the war of 1775. Being a member of the
legislature in 1776 and 1777, he was
zealous in asserting the independence of
Vermont. In Dec. 1777 he assisted in
forming the constitution of Vermont; and
soon afterwards was nominated surveyor
general and treasurer. He and Bradley
and Fay were commissioners to congress
for Vermont in 1780 and 1781. In the
politic negotiations with Canadain 1781,
designed to protect the people of the
"New Hampshire grants" from invasion,
Mr. Allen and Jonas Fay were the prin
cipal agents. In 1789 he drew up a me
morial infavor of the establishment of a
college at Burlington. Having risen to
the rank of eldest major general of the,
mihtia, he proceeded to Europe in Dec
1795 to purchase arms by the advice of
the governor fpr the supply of the state,
but as a private speculation by the sale
of his lands, of which he asserted, that he
and the heirs of Ethan held nearly 300,
000 acres. He v(fent to France and pur
chased of the French repubhc 24 brass
cannon and 20,000 muskets at 25 hvres,
expecting to sell them at 50, a part Of
which he shipped at Osteiid in the 0 five

Branch; but he was caf)tured Nov.9, 1 79p,
and carried into England. ' A htigation
of 8 years in the court of admiralty fol
lowed. He was charged with the pur
pose of supplying the Irish rebels with
arms. In 1798 he was imprisoned in
France. He returned to America in 1801.
At length he procured a decision in his
favor. His residence,when in Vermont,'
was at Colchester; but he died at Phila
delphia Jan.7, 1814, aged 62, leavingse-
veral children. — Ebenezer Allen, a 'grefen
mountain boy,' distinguished in Vermont,
and who died 1805, it is believed, was
his brother. There were 7 brothers. —
He published the Natural and Pofitieal
history of Vermont, 1798, and statements
appficable to the Olive Branch, Phil.
1807.— -Plii. char. 1802, 234—248;
Holmes, \i.. ATi; Am. Rememb. 1782.
p. 351, Part 11. 74.
ALLEN, Moses, minister of Midway,
Georgia, and a distinguished friend of
his country, was bom in Northampton,
Massachusetts, Sept. 14, 1748. He was
educated at the college in New Jersey,
where he was graduated in 1772; and was
hcensed by the presbytery of New B runs-
wick Feb. 1, 1774, and recommended by
them as an ingenious,prudent,pious man.
In his journal of this year he speaks of
passing in Dec. a few days, athis earnest
request, with his friend, Mr. James Mad
ison, in Virginia, at the house of his fa
ther. Col. Madison,, and of preaching re
peatedly at the court house, and of being
solicited to pass the winter .there. In-
March following he preached fircit at
Christ's church parish, about 20 miles
from Charleston, in South Carohna.
Here he was ordained, March 16, 1775,
by the Rev. Mr. Zubly, Mr. Edmonds,
artd William Tennent. He preached his
farewell sermon in this place June 8,
1777, and was.soon afterwards establish
ed at Midway, to which place he had
been earnestly solicited to remove.
The British army from Florida under
gen. Preyost dispersed his society in
1778, and bur;ned the meeting house, al
most every dwelling house, and the crops
of rice then in stacks. ' In December,.

ALLEN.

25

when Savannah was reduced by the Brit- i
ish troops, he was taken prisoner. The
continental officers were sent to Sunbury
on parole, but Mr AUen, who was chap
lain to the Georgia brigade, was denied
that privilege. His warm exhortations from
the pulpit and his animated exertions in
tlie field exposed him to the particular
resentment of the British. They sent
him on board the prison ships. Wea
ried with a confinement of a number of
weeks in a loathsome place, and seeing
no prospect of relief, he determined to at
tempt the recovery of his liberty by throw
ing himself into the river and swimming
to an adjacent point; but he was drown
ed in the attempt on the evening of Feb
ruary 8, 1779,'in the 31st year of his age.
His body was washed on a neighboring
island, and was found by some of his
friends. They requested of the captain
of a British vessel some boards to make a
coffin, but could not procure them,
Mr. Allen, notwithstanding his clerical
function, appeared among the foremost in
the day of battle, and on all occasions
sought the post of danger as the post of
honor. The friends of independence ad
mired him for his popular talents, his cour
age, and his many virtues. The enemies
of independence could accuse him of noth
ing more, than a vigorous exertion of all
his powers in defending the rights of his
ihjured country. He was eminently a
pious man. — Ramsay, ii. GyHist. col. ix.
157; Allen's ser. on M. Allen; Hart.
ALLEN, Thomas, brother of the
preceding and first minister of Pittsfield,
Mass.; was born Jan. 7, 1743, at North
ampton, of which towp his great grand
father, Samuel, was one of the first set
tlers, receiving a grant of land from the
town Dec. 17, 1 657. In the records of the
town the name is written variously,Allen,
Alfin, Allyn, and Alyn. His grandfath
er, Samuel, who died in 1739, was a dea
con of the church, of which Jonathan
Edwards was pastor. His father, Joseph,
who died Dec. 30, 1779, and his mother,
Elizabeth Parsons, who died Jan. 9,
1800, both- eminent for piety, were the
steady friends of Mr. Edwards during
4

the popular commotion, which caused
the removal of that excellent minister.
Through the bequest of an unmar
ried uncle of his fiither, — Mr. Thomas
Allen, who died in 1754, — Mr. Allen was
educated at Harvard college, where he
was graduated in 1762, being ranked a-
mong the best classical scholars of the day.
After studying theology under the
direction of Mr.Hooker of Northamptnn,
Mr. Allen was ordained April 18, 1764
the first minister of Pittsfield, so named
in honor of William Pitt, — then a frontier
town, in which a garrison had been kej)t
during the French war. The Indian name
of the place was Pontoosuc. At the time
of his settlement there were in Pittsfield
but half a dozen houses, not made of
logs. He lived to see it a rich and beauti
ful town, containing nearly three thou
sand inhabitants. During a ministry of
46 years he was unwearied in dispen
sing the glorious gospel. Besides his
stated labors on the sabbath, he frequently
delivered lectures and in the course of his
fife preached six or seven hundred fun
eral sermons. In the early part of his
ministry he also occasionally preached in
the neighboring towns, not then suppUed
Avith settled ministers.
The same benevolence, which awaken
ed his zeal in guiding men in the way
to heaven, made him desirous of render
ing them happy also in this world. His
charities to the poor excited their grati
tude and rendered his rehgous instructions
the more effectual. His house was the seat
of hospitality. Towards other denomi
nations of Christians, though strict in his
own principles, he was yet exemplarily
candid, neither believing that true piety
was confined to his own sect, nor that
gentleness and forbearance were useless
in the attempt to reclaim men from error.
At the commencement of the American
revolution, like most of his brethren, he
engaged warmly in the support of the
rights and independence of his country,
for he believed, that the security and per
manence of the best of earthly enjoy
ments, as well as the progress of genuine
rehgion, were intimately connected with

26

ALLEN.

pubhc liberty. Twice he went out as
a volunteer chaplain for a short time; —
from Oct. 3 to Nov. 23, 1776 he was ab
sent from home, with the army at White
"Plains, near New York, and in June and
July 1777 he was at Ticonderoga. On
the retreat of St. Clair before Burgoyne
he returned home. But the next month,
when a detachment from Burgoyne's
troops under the command of colonel
Baum had penetrated to the neighbor
hood of Bennington, and-threatened to de
solate the country, he accompanied the
volunteer mihtia of Pittsfield, whp march
ed to repel the invasion. Previously to
the assault of a particular intrenchment,
which was filled with refugees, he deem
ed it his duty to advance towards the ene
my and exhort them to surrender, assur
ing them of good treatment, in a voice
distinctly heard by them ; but being fired
upon, he rejoined the mihtia, and was
among the foremost, who entered the
breast-work. His exertions and exam
ple contributed somewhat to the triumph
of that day, August 16th, which checked
the progress of the British and led to
the capture of Burgoyne. After the
battle he found a Hessian surgeon's
horse, loaded with panniers of bottles of
wine. The wine he administered to the
wounded and the weary ; but two large
square glass bottles he carried home with
him as trophies of his campaign of three
or four days. During the rebellion of
Shays, which extended to the county of
Berkshire,Mr. Allen supported the author
ity of the established government of Mas
sachusetts. The insurgents at one period
threatened to seize him and carry him as
a hostage into the state of New- York.
But in his intrepidity he was not to be
shaken from his purpose and his duty
He slept with arms in his bed room, rea
dy to defend himself against the violence
of lawless men. In the new political con
troversy, which sprung up after the adop
tion of the federal constitution, Mr. Al
len's principles attached him to what was
called the democratic or republican party,
Among his parishioners were some, who
were tories in the revolutionary war and

who remembered with no good wfll the
zeal of their whig minister; others were
furious politicians, partaking fully of the
malevolent spirit of the times, intent on
accomphshing their object, though, with
the weapons of obloquy and outrage.
"During the presidency of Mr. Jefferson,"
says the History of Berkshire, " that
spirit of pohtical rancor, that infected ev
ery class of citizens in this country, ar
raying fathers, brothers, sons, and neigh
bors against each other, entered even
the sanctuary of the church. A- number
of Mr. Allen's church and congregation
withdrew, and were incorporated by the
legislature into a separate parish in 1808 ;
thus presenting to the world the ridiculous
spectacle of a church divided on party
pohtics and known by the party names of
the day." This division was, however,
healed in a few years ; though not until
after the death of him, whose last days
were thus embittered, as well as by do
mestic afflictions in the loss of his eldest
son and daughter.
In Mr. Allen the strength of those af
fections, which constitute the charm of
domestic and social fife, was remarkable;
giving indeed peculiar poignancy to the
arrows of affliction, but alsosweUing in a
high degree the amount of good, found
in the pflgrimage of the earth.
After the death of his brother Moses
Allen in 1779, he took a journey on
horseback to Savannah out of regard to
the vrelfare of the widow and her infant
son, whom, while the war was raging at
the south, he -placed for a time in a hap
py refuge at his house. — Mr. Allen's first
born daughter, who married Mr. Wil
liam P. White of Boston, died in London,
leaving an infant, unprotected by any rel
atives, her husband being then in the
East Indies. Though the child was left
under the care of a very respectable gen
tleman, whowas connected with itsfatber
in large mercantile business, yet such
was his soUcitude for its welfare, that in
the year 1799 he encountered the dan
gers of a voyage across the Atlantic &
brought his grand child home to hits own
family.

ALLEN.

27

He sailed in the shipArgo, capt. Rich.
— On the voyage many fears were awa
kened by a vessel of force, which pursu
ed the Argo, and was supposed to be a
French ship. The idea of a prison in
France was by no means welcome. In
the expectation of a fight Mr. Allen ob
tained the captain's consent to offer a
prayer with the men and to make an en
couraging speech to them before the ac
tion. The frigate proved to be British;
& the deliverance was acknowledged in
a thanksgiving prayer. On his arrival
at London he was received with great
kindness by his friends, Mr. Robert
Cowie and Mr. Robert Steel, and was
made acquainted with, several of the dis
tinguished evangelical ministers of Eng
land; with Newton and Haweis, and
Rowland HiU, and Bogue, and others,
from' whom he caught a pious zeal for
the promotion of foreign missions, which
on his return he diffused around him.
He regarded the London missionary so
ciety as the most wonderful work of
divine providence in modern times. It ap
pears from his journal, that he was absent
from Pittsfield from July 3d to Dec. 30,
1799. His return passage was boister
ous and extended to the great length of
85 days before anchoring at New York.
Among other objects of curiosity, which
attracted his attention in London, he
went to see the king, as he passed from
St. James' to the parhament house in. a
coach, drawn by six cream colored horses.
On this sight he recorded the following
reflections: — " This is he, who desolated
my country; who ravaged the American
coasts; annihilated our trade; burned our
towns; plundered our cities; sent forth
his Indian alhes to scalp our wives and
children; starved our youth in his prison
ships; and caused the expenditure of a
hundred ,mflfions of money and a hun
dred thousand of precious lives. Instead
of being the father of his people, he has
been their destroyer. May God forgive
him so great guilt! And yet he is the
idol of the people, who think, they can
not five without him." — In this journal
he also recorded with much confidence

the following prediction — "This country
will work the subversion & ruin of the free
dom and government of my country, or
my country will work the melioration if
not the renovation of this country."
Late events seem to prove, that the ex
ample of American liberty has not been
without a beneficial effect in G. Britain.
His health had been dechning fori sev
eral years before his death, and more than
once he was brought to the brink of the
grave. For several months he was una
ble to preach. He was fully aware of
his approaching dissolution, and the pros
pects of eternity brightened, as he drew
near the close of life. Those precious
promises, which with peculiar tenderness
he had often afinounced to the sick and
dying, were now his support. The all-
sufficient Savior was his only hope; and
he rested on him with perfect confidence.
He was desirous of departing, and was
chiefly anxious, lest he should be impa
tient. Knowing his dependence upon God,
he continually besought those, who were
around his bed, to pray for him. He
took an affecting leave of his family, re
peating his pious counsels and bestowing
upon each one his valedictory blessing.
When he was reminded by a friend of his
great labors in the ministry, he disclaimed
all merit for what he had done, though he
expresspd his belief, that he had plainly
and faithfully preached the gospel. He
forgave and prayed for his enemies.
When one of his children, a day or two
before his death,pressed him to take some
nourishment", or it would be impossible
for him to five ; he repfied, " Live? lam
going to live forever !" He frequently
exclaimed, "Come, Lord Jesus; come
quickly." In the morning of the Lord's
day, Feb. 11, 1810, he feU asleep in Je
sus, in the 68th year of his age and the
47th of his ministry. — Among his chil
dren, who have deceased since his depar
ture, was one son, who was a captain in
service during the war of 1 8 1 2. Another,
Dr. Efisha Lee Allen, officiated as sur
geon in the same war on the Niagara
frontier, and was retained on the peace

28

ALLEN.

establishment May 1815. His account of
the battle of Chippewa was published in
the Boston Centinel Aug. 10, 1814. He
died of the yellow fever at Pas Christian,
near New Orleans, Sept. 5, 1817. Ano
ther son, professor Solomon M. Allen,
died a few days afterwards, Sept. 23,
1817. And Mrs. Ripley, the wife of
maj. gen. Ripley, died at the Bay of St.
Louis of the yellow fever Sept. 11, 1820.
— Mr. Allen's widow, Elizabeth [Lee]
Aflen, died March 31, 1830, aged82years.
He published a sermon on the death of
his daughter, Elizabeth White, 1798 ;
on the death of Moses Allen, son of
Rev. Moses Allen, 1801 ; on the death
of Anna Collins, 1803 ; on the death of
his son Thomas Allen, jun. 1806 ; Elec
tion Sermon, 1808. Several of his letters
on the sickness and death of his daughter
were pubhshed in the Edinburgh Mis:-
sionary Mag. for Oct. Nov. & Dec.
il99.—Panoplist, March, 1310; -His*.
of Berkshire, 377 ; P. Sun, Feb. 21. '
ALLEN, Solomon, a useful minister
of the gospel, brother of the preceding,
was born at Northampton Feb, 23, 1751.
He and four of his brothers entered the
army in the revolutionary war. Of these
two, Moses and Thomas, whose lives
are here recorded, were chaplains. An
other, major Jonathan Allen, after esca
ping the perils of the service, was shot
fey his companion, Mr. Seth Lyman,
while hunting deer in a deep snow in the
neighborhood of Northampton, in Janua
ry 1780, aged 42 years. To such families'
of daring, self-denying, zealous patriots
and soldiers America is indebted, through
the blessing of God on their sacrifices
and toils, for her freedom and independ
ence. Mr. Solomon Aflen, in the course of
the war, rose to the rank of major. At
the time of the capture of Andre he was
a lieutenant and adjutant, on service near
the lines not far from New York. His
account of the removal of Andre to West
Point, received from his own fips, wfll
correct the errors Of the other accounts,
which have been given to the world.
When the British spy was brought to the

American post, col. Jameson ordered
lieut. Allen to select a guard of 9 men
Out of 300, who were detached from
West Point as a covering party to col.
Weld's (of Roxbury) fight horse on the
fines 60 miles from West Point, and to
carry the prisoner to gen, Arnold, the
commanding officer at West Point, with
a letter from Jatmeson to Arnold. Just
at night. Sept 23, 1780, be set out with
his prisoner, who wore an old, torn crim
son coat, nankeen vest and small clothes,
old boots and flapped hat. Andre's arms
being bound behind him, one of the
soldiers held the strap, which was around
his arm, and the guard on each side as
well as before and behind were ordered to
run him through, if he attempted to es
cape. Lieut. Allen, riding behind, assured
Andre of good treatment, and offered, if
he should be tired, to dismount and give
him his horse. Having thus proceeded
7 miles, with much cheerfulness on the
part of the prisoner, an express overtook
them with a letter from Jameson of this
import, that as the enemy might have
parties landed between them and West
Point, lieutenant Allen was ordered to
leave the river road and take the prisoner
immediately over east to lower Salem and
deliver him to capt. Hooglin,commanding
there a company of light horse ; then to
take one of the guard and proceed with
Jameson's letter to Arnold toWest Point,
sending the 8 men back under the com
mand of the sergeant. The guard were
unwilfing to comply, for they wished to
get back to West Point. They said,
there was no danger, and it would be best
to proceed ; and Andre seconded the pro
posal. He thought, the fear of a rescue
was very idle. But lieut. Allen replied,
like a soldier, I must obey orders. From
this moment Andre appeared downcast.
The same night Allen delivered him to
Hooglin; having travelled 20 miles. In
the morning of Sept. 24th he proceeded
with one of the guard to West Point,
it being arranged, that Andre should
soon follow him ; but the man being on
foot, and the distance 40 or 50 miles,
I they did not arrive till the forenoon of the

ALLEN.

29

35th. at Robinson's house, the east side
of the river, opposite West Point, — the
residence of Arnold and the quarters of
the general officers. Arnold was in the
buttery eating, it being 10 or 11 o'clock ;
on receiving the letter from Andre he
was thrown into great confusion ; he,
however, in a short time asked lieut. Al
len up stairs to sit with Mrs. Arnold,
probably to keep him from an interview
with the other officers, and. precipitately
left the house and fled. Such was Mr.
AUen's statement. Washington soon
arrived, at 12 o'clock on the same day,
from Hartford, and in the afternoon the
treason was discovered by the arrival of
the packet from Jameson for Washington ;
Andre was brought to head quarters the
next day. On the same day adjutant Al
len was invited to dine at head quarters ;
and at dinner he heard Gen. Knox remark,
— "What a v&f^ fortunate discovery this
was! Without it we should all have
been cut up." , To which Gen. Wash
ington very gravely and emphatically re
plied, "I do not call this a /ortenafe oc
currence ; but a remarkable Providence !"
After the war maj. Allen was a con
spicuous officer in quelfing the insurrection
of Shays, At the age of forty his soul
was conquered by the power of the gospel
which tiU then he had resisted ; in a few
years afterwards he was chosen a deacon
of the church of Northampton. As his
personal piety increased, he became sofic-
itous to preach the gospel to his perishing
brethren. But, at the age of ^0, with no
advantages of education, there were for
midable obstacles in his way. The min
isters around him suggested discourage
ments, as he could hardly acquire the ne^
cessary qualifications. But his pious
zeal was irrepressible. There were
various branches of learning, which he
could not hope to gain ; but " one thing
he could do ; — he could bend afl the force
of a naturally robust intellect' to the work
of searching the scriptures. This he did,
& while in this way he enriched his under
standing from their abundant treasures,his
faith was strengthened, his hope bright
ened, and all the chriJstian graces were re

freshed from that fountain of living wa
ters." He read also Howe's and Bax
ter's works. The former was in his view
the greatest of uninspired writers. From
these sources he drew his theology. He
wrote out a few sermons, and thus com
menced the labor of preaching, at first in
a few small towns in Hampshire county,
but for the last years of his fife in
the western part of the state of New
York, in Middletown at the head of Ca-
nandaigua lake, in Riga, Pittsford, Brigh
ton, and other towns near the Genesee
river. Without property himself, he
preached the gospel to the poor and was
perfectly content with food and clothing,
demanding and receiving no other com
pensation for his services. He rejoiced
in fatigues and privations in the service
of his blessed master. Sometimes in his
journies he reposed himself with nothing
but a blanket to protect him from the
inclemency of the weather. But though
poor, he was the means of enriching ma
ny with the inestimable riches of religion.
Four churches were estabUshed by him,
and he numbered about 200 souls, as by
his preaching reclaimed from perdi
tion. Though poor himself, there were
those, connected with him, who were
rich,, and by whose liberality he was ena
bled to accoinphsh his benevolent purpo
ses. When one of his sons presented
him with a hundred dollars, he begged
him to receive again themoney, as he had
no unsupplied wants and knew not what
to do with it; but, as he was not aUowed
to return it, he purchased with it books
for the children of his flock, and gave ev
ery child a book. From such sources he
expended about a thousand dollars in
books and clothing for the people in the
wilderness, while at thesame time he toil
ed incessantly in teaching them the way
to heaven. Such an example of disinter
estedness drew forth from an enemy of
the gospel the following remark; — "This
is a thing I cannot get along with: this
old gentleman, who can be as rich as he
pleases, comes here and does all these
things for nothing ; there must be some
thing in his religion."

so

ALLEN.

In the autumn of 1820, after having
been nearly 20 years a preacher in the
new settlements of the west, his declin
ing health induced him to bid adieu to his
people in order to visit once more, before
his death, his children and friends in Mas
sachusetts and in the cities of New York
and Philadelphia. His parting with his
church at Brighton was like the parting
of Paul with the elders of the church of
Ephesus. Many of the members of the
church accompanied him to the boat, and
tears were shed and prayers offered on the
shore of lake Ontario, as on the sea-coast
of Asia Minor. Even the passengers in
the boat could not refrain from weeping
at the solemnity and tenderness of the
scene. It was,as it was apprehended to be,
the last intervieAy between the beloved pas-
torand his'people, until they meet again in
the morning of the resurrection of the
just. The attachment of children to
Mr. Allen was indeed remarkable.
Wherever he went, children, while they
venerated his white locks, would cUng
around his knees to listen to the interest
ing anecdotes, which he would relate, and
to his warnings and instructions.
Mr. Allen revisited his friends, with a
presentiment, th£(t it was his last visit.
He had come, he said, "to set his house in
¦order," alluding to his numerous children
and grand children, living in different pla-
'Ces. It was his custom to address them
first inclividuallyj then collectively, and
while a heavenly serenity beamed upon
his countenance, he pressed upon them
the concerns of another world with plain
ness and simplicity, with pathos and en
ergy. He had the happiness to be per
suaded, that afl his children, excepting
one, were truly pious ; and concerning
that one he had the strongest faith, that
God would have mercy upon him. After
10 years that son has espoused a cause,
which he never before loved, and mani
fests much pious zeal.
At Pittsfield, where some of his rela
tives lived and where his brother had been
the minister, Mr. Allen went through the
streets, and, entering each house, read a
chapter in the Bible, exhorting all the

members of the famfly to serve God and
praying fervently for their salvation.
In like manner he visited other towns.
He felt, that the time was short, and
he was ieonstrained to do all the
good in his' power. . With his white
Jocks and the strong impressive tones
of his voice, and having a known
character of sanctity, all were awed at
the presence of the man of God. He
went about with the holy Zealand author
ity of an apostle. In prayer Mr. Allen
displayed a subUraity and pathos, which
good judges have considered as unequal
led by any mifiisters, whom they have
known. It was the energy of true faith
and strong feeling. — In November he ar
rived at New York, and there, after a few
weeks, he expired in the arms of his chil-
(Iren Jan. 20, 1821, aged 70 years. At
his funeral his pafl was borne by 8 clergy
men of the city.
As he went down to the grave he en
joyed an unbroken serenity of soul and re
joiced and exulted in the assured hope of
eternal life in the presence of his Redeem
er in heaven. Some of his last memora
ble sayings have been preserved by Rev.
Mr. Danforth in his sketch of his last
hours. If there are any worldly minded
ministers, who neglect the sheep and
lambs of the flock, — any, who repose
themselves in learned indolence, — any,
who are not bold to reprove and difigent
to instruct, — any, who are not burning
with holy zeal, nor strong in faith, nor
fervent and mighty in prayer ; — to them
the history of the ministry and faithful
ness of Mr. Allen might show to what a
height of excellence and honor they might
reach, did they but possess his spirit. .
Mr. Allen published no writings to keep
alive his name on earth. He did not, like
some learned men, spend his life in labo
riously doing nothing. But he has a rec
ord on high ; ahd his benevolent, pious,
zealous toils have doubtless gained for
him that honor, which cometh from God,
and which wiU be green and flourishing,
when the honors of science and of heroic
exploits and aU the honors bf earth shall
wither away. In his life th ere is present-

ALLEN.

31

ed to the world a memorable example of
the power in doing good, which may be
wielded by one mind, even under the most
unfavorable circumstances, when its ener
gies are wholly controlled by a spirit of
piety. Though found in deep poverty,
such a pious zeal may mould the charac
ters of those, who by their industry and
enterprise acquire great wealth ; and
thus may be the remote cause of all their
extensive charities. One lesson especially
should come home to the hearts of par
ents; teaching them to hope that by their
faithfulness and the constancy and impor
tunity of prayer all their offspring and a
multitude of^ their descendants wifl be
rendered through the faithfulness and
mercy of God rich in faith and be made
wise unto salvation. — Sketch of his last
hours by J. N. Danforth.
ALLEN, James, a poet, was born at
Boston July 24, 1739. It was his mis
fortune to be the son of a merchant of
considerable' wealth. From youth he was
averse to study. . He early adopted free
notions on reUgion. After remaining
three years at college, he afterwards lived
at his ease in Boston, without business
and without a family, displaying much
eccentricity, tifl hjs death, Oct. 1808,
aged 69 years. Had he been without
property, he might have been impelled
to some useful exertion of his powers.
He wrote a few pieces of poetry ; — lines
on the Boston massacre at the request of
Dr. Warren, the retrospect, &c. — Spec.
of Amer. Poet. 1. 160.
ALLEN, WiUiam Henry,'a naval offi
cer, was born at Providence, R. I., Oct.
21, 1784. His father, Wflfiam Allen, was
a major in the revolutionary army and in
1799 appointed brigadier general of the
mifitia of the state. His mother was the
sister of gov. Jones. Notwithstanding
the remonstrances of his father, who
wished bun to cultivate the arts of peace,
he entered the navy as a midshipman in
1800 and sailed under Bainbridge to Al
giers. After his return he again sailed
for the Mediterranean under Barron in
the Philadelphia ; the third tune in 1802
under Rodgers in the frigate John Ad

ams ; and the fouth time in 1804 as sail
ing master of the Congress. In his voy
age, while the ship was lying to in a gale,
be fefl from the forp yard into the sea, and
must have been lost, had he not risen
close by the mizen chains, on which he
caught hold. Thus was he by a kind
providence pteserved. As lieutenant he re
paired on board the Constitution,coroman-
ded by Rodgers,inOct. 1805. During the
cruise he visited the mountains Etna and
Vesuvius and the cities Herculanium and
Pompeia. Returning in 1806, he was
the next year on board the Chesapeake,
when, without fighting, she struck her
colors to the British frigate Leopard, —
an event, which filled him with indigna
tion. He, in consequence drew up the
letter of the officers to the secretary of
the navy, urging the arrest and trial of
commodore Barron for neglect of duty.^
During the embargo of 1808 he cruised
off Block island for the enforcement of
the law, but in his deficacy got excused
from boarding in person any vessel from
his native state. In 1809 he joined the
frigate United States as first heutenant
under Decatur. Soon after the declara
tion of war in 1812 he was distinguished
in the action Oct. 25th, which issued in
the capture of the Macedonian. The
superior skifl of the United States in
gunnery was ascribed to the difigent
training and disciphne of fieut. Allen. He
carried the prize safely into the harbor of
New -York amidst the gratulaitions of
thousands. Promoted to be master com
mandant, in 1813 he conveyed Mr. Craw
ford, the minister, to France in the brig
Argus, and afterwards proceeded to the
Irish channel, agreeably to orders, for the
purpose of destroying the EngUsh com
merce. His success was so great, that
the injury inflicted by him upon the ene
my in the capture of 20 vessels was esti
mated at 2 miUions of dollars. In his
generosity he never aflowed the baggage
of passengers to be molested. On the
14th of Aug. he fefl in with the British
brig Pehcan, cruising in the channel for
the purpose of capturing the'Argus. Soon
after the action commenced, captain Al-

32

ALLEN.

len was mortally wounded, and carried
below; heut. Watson being also wound
ed, the command for a time devolved on
fieut. W. H. Allen, jun. After ?. vigor
ous resistance of nearly an hour, the Ar
gus was captured, with the loss of 6 killed
and 17 wounded. Capt. Allen was car
ried into Plymouth the next day, his leg
having been amputated at sea. ' He died
Aug. 15, 1813, aged 28 years, and was
buried with military honors. — Capt. Al
len was highly respected and esteemed in
private life, exhibiting a uniform courtesy
and amenity of manners. With great care
he abstained from all irritating and insult
ing language. He united the milder gra
ces with the stern and mascuhne charac
ter of the sailor. The eager desire of fame,
called "the last infirmity of noble minds,"
seemed to reign in his heart. Against the
wishes of all his friends he entered the
naval service, thirsting for honor and dis
tinction, ofwhichhehad his share; but
in early manhood he died a prisoner in a
foreign land. If there must be victims to
war, we could wish the defenders of their
country's rights a higher reward than
fame. — Bailey's nav. biog. 205-226.
ALLEN, Solomon Metcalf, professor
of languages in MiddlebUry college, Ver
mont, was the son of Rev. T- Allen of
Pittsfield and was born Feb. 18, 1789. He
received his second name on account of
his being a descendant on his mother's
side of Rev. Nathan Metcalf, first minister
of Falmouth, Mass., who died about 1725.
His father destined him to be a farmer, as
he was athletic and fond of active life ;
but after he became pious, his friends be
ing desirous that he should receive a col
legia! education, he commenced the study
of Latin at the age of twenty. In 1813
he graduated at Middlebury with high
reputation as a scholar. During a year
spent at Andover, besides attending to the
customary studies, he read a part of the
New Testament in the Syriac language.
After officiating for two years as a tutor,
he was chosen in 1816 professor of the an
cient languages, having risen to this hon
or in 7 years after commencing the study
of Latin. He lived to accomplish but lit-

tie, but long enough to show what the en
ergy of pious zeal is capable of accomplish
ing. Respected and beloved by all his as
sociates and acquaintance, his sudden and
awful death overwhelmed them with sor
row. Being induced, on account of a de
fect in the chimney, to go imprudently up
on the roof of the college building, he fell
from it Sept. 23, 1817, and inconsequence
died the same evening, aged 28 years. In
his last hours his numerous friends crow
ded around him," watchijig with trembling
anxiety the flight of his immortal soul to
the kindred spirits of a better world."
Under the extreme anguish of his dying
moment?, resigning the loveliness, which
he had hoped would be shortly his own,
and 3ll the fair prospects of this world, he
exclaimed: — "The lord reigneth, let the
earth rejoice !— O, Father, thy will be
done ! So seemeth it good in thy sight,
O Lord." — Professor Frederic Hall has
described his frank and noble character
and his many virtues, the tenderness of
his heart and his energy of mind.
Another writer speaks of his unwearied
perseverance and unconquerable resolu
tion, and says, — "his march to eminence
was steady, rapid, and sure. Whether he
turned his attention to the abstruse and
profound branches of mathematical sci
ence or to the stores of ancient classical
learning, he solved every problem and
overcame every obstacle with equal facili
ty and triumph." Mr. Allen was at Ando-
Ver one of "the group of stars," the friends
of Carlos Wilcox, alluded to by him in
the following liiies. The others were
Sylvester Lamed, Alexander M. Fisher,
Levi Parsons, Pliny Fisk, and Joseph R.
Andrus ; all recorded in this volume.
These, with Mr. Allen and Mr. Wilcox,
all young men, no longer shine on the
earth ; but, it is believed, they make a
constellation of seven stars, like the Pleia
des, resplendent in heaven. May there
be in future many such groups in our
theological schools. —
"Ye were a group of stars collected here.
Some mildly glowing, others sparkling bright;
Here , rising in' a region calm and clear,
Ye shone awhile with intermingled light;

ALLEN.
Then, parting, each pursuing his own flight
O'er tlie wide hemisphere, ye singly shune;
But, ereyo climbed to half your promised height,
Yc sunk again with brightening, glory round
you tlirown,
Each, left a brilliant tiack.as each expired alone.
— Ilall's eulogy; Wilcox's Remains, 90;
Nat. Standard, Oct. 1, 1817.
ALLEN, Paul, a poet, was born at
Providence, R. I. Feb. 15, 1775, his fath
er, Paul Allen, being a representative in
the legislature, and his mother the daugh
ter of gov. Cook. He was graduated at
Brown university in 1796 &nd afterwards
studied, but never practised, law. Devo
ted to fiterature, he removed to Philadel
phia and was engaged as a writer in the
Port Fofio and in the United States' Ga
zette, and was al^o employed to prepare
for the press the travels of Lewis and
Clark. After this he was for some time
one of the editors of the Federal Repub-
Ucan at Baltunore ; but on quitting this
employment he found himself in impaired
health and extreme indigence, with a
widowed mother dependent on him for
support. In his mental disorder, he be
fieved that he was to' be way laid and
murdered. To the disgrace of our laws
he was thrown into 'jail for a debt of 30
dollars. About this time he wrote for
the Portico, a magazine^ associated with
PierpontandNeal. • His friends procured
for him the establishment of the Journal
of the Times, and afterwards of the
Morning Chronicle, which was widely
circulated. Having long and frequently
advertised a history of the American levf-
olution, of which he had written nothing,
it was now determined to publish jt, an
unequalled subscription having been ob
tained. The work appeared in two vols.
in his name, but was written by Mr.
John Neal and Mr, Watkins ; Neal wri
ting the first vol., beginning with the de
claration of Independence. His principal
poem, called Noah, which has simpUcity
and feeling, was also submitted to Mr.
Neal, and reduced to one' fifth of its Orig
inal size. ' He died at Baltimore in Aug.
1826, aged 51 years. He published orig
inal poems, serious and entertaining, 1801.
5

ALLERTON.

33

A long extract from Noah is in Speci
mens of American poetry, — Spec, A. P.
II. 185.
ALLEN, Richard, first bishop of the
African methodist episcopal church, died
at Philadelphia March 26, 1831, aged 71.
ALLEN, Benjamin, rector .of St,
Paul's church, Philadelphia, died at sea
in the brig Edward, on his return from
Europe, Jan. 27, 1829. He had been
the editor of the Christian magazine, and
was a disinterested, zealous servant of
God. ALLERTON, Isaac, one of the first
settlers of Plymouth, came over in the
first ship, the Mayflower. His name ap
pears the fifth in the agreement of the
company, signed at cape Cod Nov. 11,
1620. There were 6 persons in his fami-
ily. Mary, his wife,- died Feb. 25, 1621,
In the summer pr autumn of 1626 he
went to England as agent for the colony;
and he returned in the spring of 1627,
having conditionally purchased for his as
sociates the rights of the Adventurers for
1800 pounds, the agreement being signed
Nov. 15, 1626, and also hired for tfiem
200 pounds at 30 per cent interest and
expended it in gopds. He took a second
voyage as agent in 1627 and concluded
the bargain with the company at London
Nov, 6, accomphshing also other 6bjects,
particularly obtaining a patent- for a tra-i
ding, place in the Kennebec. Judge Da
vis erroneously represents, that Mr.
Prince dates ihe departure of Mr. Aller-
ton in the autumn ; but Mr. Prince
speaks only of his going "with the return
of the ships," probably June or July.
The voyage of the preceding year he re
gards as made "in the fafl ;"al^o the third
voyage in 1 628, fbr the purpose of enlarg
ing the Kennebec patent. After his re
turn in August, 1629, he proceeded again
to England and with great difficulty ob
tained the patent Jan. 29, 1630. A fifth
voyage was made in 1630, and he return
ed the following year in the ship White
Angel. Hevfasan enterprising trad er a t
Penobscot and elsewhere. ,In 1633 he
wafe engaged in " a trading wigwam,"
which was lost atMachias. AbaA of his

34

ALLISON.

was lost on cape Ann in 1635, and 21
persons perished, among whom were
John Avery, a minister, his wife and 6
children. The rock is called 'Avery's
fafl.' The time and place of Mr. AUer-
ton's death are not mentioped, Hutchin
son says, that he settled in England,
But from 1643 to 1658 he lived at New
Haven, and probably traded with the
Dutch at New Yo^-k. In 1653 he recei
ved mackerel from Boston to sell for
half profits, and is called J. Allerton,
sehior.  Point Aldertoh in Boston
harbor is supposed to be named from
him. — His second wife, whom he mar
ried before 1627, and who died of "the
pestilent fever" in 1634, was Fear Brews
ter, daughter Of elder Brewster, who had
another daughter, Loue, and a son, Wrest
ling. It seems, thatJie was married agajn,
for coming from New Haven in 1644 he
was cast away with his wife at Scituate,
but was saved.-^DaDis' Mofton, 88, 221,
389, 391; JVTas*. his. coll.in. 46; Prince,
242; Savage's Winthr.i. 25; ii. 210;
I. Mather's rem. prov.
ALLISON, Francis, d, d., assistant
minister of the first presbyterian church
in Philadelphia, was born in Ireland in
1705. After an early classical education at
an academy he completed his studies at the
university of Glasgow. Tie came to this
country in 1735, and was soon appointed
pastor of a presbyterian church at New
London in Chester couiity, Pennsylvania.
Here about the year 1741 his solicitude
for the interests of the Redeemer's king
dom and his desire of engaging young
men in the work of the ministry and of
promoting public happiness by the diffu
sion of religious liberty and learning in
duced him to open a public school.
There was at this time scarcely a particle
of learning in the middle states, and he
generally instructed all, that came to him,
without fee or reward.— About the year
1747 he was invited to take the charge of
an academy inPhiladelphia;in 1 755 he was
elected vice provost of the college, which
had just been established, and professor
of moral philosophy. He was also minis
ter in the first presbyterian church. In

the discharge of the laborious duties,
which devolved upon him, he continued
tifl his death, Nov. 28, 1777, aged 72.
Besides an unusually accurate and pro-
'found acquaintance with the Latin and
Greek classics, he was wefl informed in
moral philosophy, history, and general
literature. To his zeal for the diffusion
of knowledge Pennsylvania owes much
of that taste for solid learning ahd classic
al fiterature, for which many of her prin
cipal characters have been so distinguish
ed. The private virtues of Dr. Allison
concifiated the esteem of afl, that knew
hini, and his pubfic usefulness has erected
a lasting monument to his praise. For
more than 40 years he supported the
miilisterial character with dignity and
reputation. In his public services he
was plain, practical, and argumentative ;
warm, animated and pathetic. He was
greatly honored by the gracious Redeem
er in being made instrumental, as it is be
lieved, in the salvation of many, who
heard him. He was frank and ingenuous
in his natural temper ; warm and zealous
in his friendships ; cathohc in his senti
ments ; a friend to civil and religious lib--
erty. His benevolence led him to spare
no pains nor trouble in assisting the poor
and distressed by his advice and influence,
or by his owti private liberality. It was
he, who planned and was the means of
establishing the widows' fund, which vyas
remarkably . useful. He eften expressed
his hopes in the' mercy of God unto eter-
nallife, &buta few days before his death
said to Dr. Ewihg, that he had no
doubt, but that according to the gospel
covenant he should obtain the pardon of
his sins through the great Redeemer of
mankind,, and eiijoy an eternity of rest
and glory in the presence of God. — He
published a sermon delivered before the
synods of New York and Pennsylvania
May 24, 1758, entitled, peace and unity
recommended. — Assembly's miss. mag.
i. 457—361; Miller's retr. ii. 342;
Holmes' life of Stiles, 98, 99.
ALLISON, Patrick, d.d. , first minis
ter of the presbyterian church in Balti
more, was born in Lancaster county in

ALSOP.

AMERICUS.

35

1740, educated at the college of Philadel
phia, and installed in 1762 at Baltimore,
where he remained in eminent usefulness
till his death, Aug. 21', 1802, aged 61.
His few publications were in favor of
civil and religious liberty,
ALSOP, George, published "a charac
ter of the province of Maryland," des
cribing the laws, customs, commodities,
usage of slaves, &c. ; also "a smafl tret-
tise of the wfld and native Indians, &c."
Lond. 1666, pp, 118.
ALSOP, Richard, a poet, was born in
Middletown, Conn., in 1759, and bred a
merchant, but devoted himself chiefly to
literature. He died at Flatbush, Long
Island, Aug. 20, 1815, aged 56 years,
with a character of correct . morahty.
Several of his poetical compositions are
preserved in the volume entitled 'Amer
ican poetry.' In 1800 he pubhshed a
monody, in heroic verse, on the death of
Washington, and in 1803 a translation
from the Italian of a part of Berni's Or
lando Inamorato, under the title of the
Fairy of the enchanted lake. He publish
ed also several prose Iransktioris from the
French and Italian, among which is Mo-
hna's history of Chili, with notes, 4 vols.
Svo. 1808. This was republished in, Lon
don without acknowledgment of its be
ing an American translation. In' 181 5 he
pubhshed the narrative of the captivity, of
J. R. Jewitt at Nootka sound. The
universal Receipt book was compiled also
by him. Among numerous unpiibfished
works, left by him, is the poem, called
The Charms of Fancy. He wrote for
amusement, and made but little effort fbr
literary distinction ; yet his powers were
above the common level. With a luxu
riant fancy he had a facility of expression.
Inl791 the Echo was commenced at Hart
ford, being a series of burlesque, poetic
pieces, designed at first to ridicule the
inflated style of Boston editors. The plan
was soon extended, so as to include poll-.
tics. The writers were Alsop, Theodore
Dwight, Hopkins, ,Trumbull, and others,
called the "Hartford wits." This was re
published with other poems,in 1807. Alsop

contributor ; also the Political Green
house in the same volume. — His widow,
Mary,died at Middletown Oct. 1829, aged
90 years.. — Spec. Amer. poet. ii. 54 — 67.
ALSTON", Joseph, general, was elect
ed governor of South Carolina in 1812.
He died at Charlest6n Sep. 10, 1816,aged
38. His wife, the daughter of col. Aaron
Burr, was lost at sea on her passage from
Charleston to New York in 181 55.
AMERICUS VespuciusjOr more prop
erly Amerigo Vespucci,a Florentine gen
tleman, from whom America derives its
name, was born March, 9, 1451 of an an
cient family. His father, who was an
Italian merchant, brought him up in this
business, and his profession led him to
visit Spain and other countries. Being
eminently skilful in all the sciences sub
servient to navigation, and possessing an
enterprising spirit, he became desirous of
seeing the new world, which Columbus
had discovered in 1492. He accordingly
entered as a merchant on board the small
fleet of four' ships, equipped by the mer
chants, of Seville and sent out under the
command of Ojeda. The enterprise was
sanctioned by a royal license.
, According to Amerigo's own account he
sailed from Cadiz May 20, 1497, ahd re
turned to the same port October 1 5, 1498,
having discovered the coast of P^ria and
passed as far as the gulf of Mexico. If
this statement is correct, he saw the con
tinent before Columbus ; but its correct
ness has been disproved, and the voyage
of Ojeda was not made until' 1499, which
Amerigo cafls his second voyage, falsely
representing that he hiinself had the com
mand of 6 vessels.-He sailed May 20,1499
under the command of Ojeda & proceeded
to the Antilla islands and thence to the
coast of Guiana and Venezuela, and re
turned to Cadiz in Nov. 1 500. After his
return Emanuel, king of Portugal, who
was jealous of the success and glory of
Spain, invited him to his kingdom, '& gave
him the cornmand of three ships to make
a third voyage of discovery.. He safled
from Lisbon May 10, ISOl, and ran down
the coasts of Africa as far as Sierra Leone

wrote more of the Echo, than any other' and the coast of Angola, and then passed

36

AMERICUS.

over to Brazil in South America and con
tinued his discoveries to the sOuth as far
as Patagonia. He then returned to Sier
ra Leone and the coast of Guinea, and
entered again the port of Lisbon Sep. 7,
1502. King Emanuel, highly gratified by his
success, equipped for him si.x ships, with
which he sailed on his fourth and, last
voyage May 10, 1503. It was his object
to discover a western passage to the Mo
lucca islands. He pftssed the coasts of
Africa, and entered the bay of All Saints
iii BraziL Having provision for only 20
months, and being detained on the coast
of Brazil by bad weather and contrary
winds five months, he formed the resolu
tion of returning to Portugal, where he
arrived June 14, 1504. As he carried
home with him considerable quantities of
the Brazil wood, and other ar|,iclps of val
ue, lie was received with joy. ' It Was
soon after this period, that he wrote an
account of his four voyages. The work
was dedicated to Rene II, duke of Lor-
laine, who took the title of king of Sicily,
and who died Dec. 10, 1508. It was
probably pubhshed about the year 1507,
for in that year he went from Lisbon to
Seville, and king Ferdinand appointed
him to draw sea charts with the title of
jihief pilot. He died at the island of Ter-
'Cera in 1514 aged about 63 years, or,
agreeably to another account, at Seville,
in 1512.
As he published the first book and
chart, describing the new world, and as
he claimed the honor of first discoviering
the continent, the new world has recei
ved from him the name of America.
His pretensions however to this first dis
covery do not seem to be wefl supported
against the claims of Columbus, to whom
the honor is tiniformly ascribed by the
Spanish historians, and who first saw the
-continent in 1498. Herrera, who com-
pUed his general history of America from
the most authentic records, says, that
Amerigo never made but two voyages,
and those were with Ojeda in 1499 and
1501, and that his relation of Ms other
voyages was proved to be a mere imposi

tion. This charge n6eds to be confirmed
by strong proof, for Amerigo's bopk was
published within ten years of the period,
assigned for his first voyage, when the
facts must have been fresh in the memo
ries of thousands. Besides the improba
bility of his being guUty of falsifying
'da,tes, as he was accused, which arises
from this circumstance, it is very possi
ble, that the Spanish writers might have
felt a natioual resentment against him for
having deserted the service of Spain.
But the evidence against the honesty of
Amerigo is very convincing. Neither
Martyr nor Benzoni, who were Italians,
natives of the same country, & the former
of whom was a contemporary, attribute
to him the first discovery of the conti
nent. Martyr pubhshed the first general
history of the new world, and his epistles
contain an account of afl the remarkable e-
vents of his time. AlltheSpanish historians
are against Amerigo. Herrera brings a-
gainst him the testimony of Ojeda as giv
en in a judicial inquiry. Fonseca, who
gave Ojeda the hcense for his voyage, was
not reinstated in the direction of Indian
affairs until after the time, which A-
merigo assigns for the commencement
of his first voyage. Other circumstances
might be mentioned; and the whole mass
of evidence it is difficult to resist. The
book of Amerigo was probably pubhshed
about a year after the death of Columbus,
when his pretensions could be advanced
without the fear of refutation from that
illustrious navigatot. But however this
controversy may be decided, it is wefl
known, that the honor of first discover
ing the continent belongs neither to Co
lumbus nor to Vespucci, even admitting
the relation of the latter; but to the Ca-
bots, who safled from England. A fife
of Vespucci was pubhshed at Florence by
Bandini, 1745, in which an attempt is
made to support his pretensions.
The relation of his four voyages, which
was first pubfished about the year 1S07,
was republished in the Novus Orbis, fol.
1555. His letters were published after
his death at Florence.— Jlforeri, diet, his-
torique; New and gen. biog. diet; Rob-

AMES.

87

erjjon's S. Am&: u Nate xxii; Holmes^
annals, 1. 16; Herrera, i. 221; Prince,
introd. 80 — 82; L-ving's Columb. iu.
App. ix.
AMES, Nathaniel, a physician, died
at Dedham, Mass., in 1765, aged 57.
He had published for about 40^ears an
almanac, which was in high repute. His
taste for astronomy he acquired from his
father, Nathaniel Ames, of Bridgewater,
who died in 1736, and who was not, as
Dr. Ehot supposed, a descendant of the
famous William Ames. He married two
wives, each of the name of Fisher. His
most distinguished son bpre that name.
His son. Dr. Nath'l Ames, a graduate of
1761, died at Dedham in 1822, aged 82 ;
another son. Dr. Seth Ames, a graduate
of 1764, settled at Amherst N. H., but
removed to Dedham, whfere he died in
1776. His widow, who married Mr.
Woodward, died in 1818, aged 95. —
Mass. Hist, col: n. s. vii. 154 ; hist. col.
N. H. II. 79.
Ames, Fisher, ll.d., a distinguished
statesman, and an eloquent orator, was
theson of the preceding and was born at
Dedham Aprfl 9, 1758. He was gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1774, and after
a few years commenced the study of the
law in Boston. He began the practice
of his profession in his native viUage; but
his expansive mind could not be confined
to the investigation of the law. Rising
into fife about the period of the American
revolution and taking a most affectionate
interest in the concerns of his country,
he felt himself strongly attracted to poh
tics. His researches into the scieiice of
government were extensive and pro
found, & he began to be known by ppfiti-
cal discussions, pubfished in the newspa
pers. A theatre soon presented for the
display of his extraordinary talents. He
was elected a member of the convention
of his native state, which considered and
ratified the federal constitution; and his
speeches in this conveiition were indica
tions of his future eminence. The splen
dor of his talients burst forth at once upon
his country.
When the general government of the

United States commenced its operations
in 1789, he appeared in the national leg
islature as the first representative of his
district, and for eight successive years
he took a distinguished part in the nation
al cpuncils. He was a principal speaker
in the debates on every important ques
tion. Towards the close of this period
his health beganto fafl, but his indisposi
tion could not prevent him from engaging
in the discussion, relating to the appro
priations, necessary for carrying into
effect the British treaty. Such viras the
effect of his speech of April 28, 1796, that
one of the members of the legislature,
who was opposed to Mr. Ames, rose
and objected to taking a vote at thattime,
as they had been carried away by the im
pulse of oratory. After his return to
Jiis family, frafl in health and fond of re
tirement, he remained a private citizen.
For a few years however he was persua
ded to become a member of the councfl.
But though he continued chiefly in retire
ment, he operated far around him by his
writings in the pubfic papers. A few
years before his death he was chosen pre
sident of Harvard college, but the infirm
state of his health induced him to decline
the appointment. He died on the mor
ning of July 4, 1808. His wife, Frances
Worthington, was the daughter of John
Worthington, Esq; of Springfield. He
left seven children: his only daughter
died in 1829.
Mr. Ames possessed a mind of a great
'& extraordinary character. He reasoned,
but he did not reason in the form of logic.
By striking allusions more than by regular
deductions he compeUed assent. The
richness of his fancy, the, feitility of his
invention, and the abundance of his
thoughts were as remarkable as the just
ness and strength' of his understanding.
His pohtical character may be known
from his writings, and speeches, and mea
sures. He was not only a man of distin-
guished.talents, whose public career was
splendid, but he was amiable in private
hfe and endeared to his acquaintance. To
,a few friends he unveiled himseff with
out reserve. They found him modest &

36

AMERICUS.

over to Brazil in South America and con
tinued his discoveries to the sOuth as far
as Patagonia. He then returned to Sier
ra Leone and the coast of Guinea, and
entered again tlie port of Lisbon Sep. 7,
1502. King Emanuel, highly gratified by his
success, equipped for him six ships, with
which he sailed on his fourth and. last
voyage May 10, 1503. It was his object
to discover a western passage to the Mo
lucca islands. He passed the coasts of
Africa, and entered the bay of All Saints
In BraziL Having provisipn for only 20
months, and being detained on the coast
of Brazil by bad weather and contrary
winds five months, he formed the resolu
tion of returning to Portugal, where he
arrived June 14, 1504. As he carried
home with him considerable quantities of
the Brazil wood, and other articles of val
ue, lie was received with joy. i It Was
soon after this period, that he wrote an
account of his four voyages. The work
was dedicated to Rene II, duke of Lor
raine, who took the title of king of Sicily,
and who died Dec. 10, 1508. It was
probably pubfisfied about the year 1507,
for in that year he went from Lisbon to
Sevifle, and king Ferdinand appointed
him to draw sea charts with the title of
chief pilot. He died at the island of Ter-
icera in 1514 aged about 63 years, or,
agreeably to another account, at Seville,
in 1512.
As he published the first book and
chart, describing the new world, and as
he claimed the honor of first discovering
the continent, the new worid has recei
ved from him the name of America.
His pretensions however to this first dis
covery do not seem to be wefl supported
against the clairns of Columbus, to whom
the honor is uniformly ascribed 'by the
Spanish historians, and who first saw the
-continent in 1493. Herrera, who com-
pfled his general history of America from
the most authentic records, says, ' that
Amerigo never made but two yoyagtss,
and those were with Ojeda in 1499 and
1501, and that his relation of his other
voyages was proved to be a mere imposi-'

tion . This charge needs . to be confirmed
by strong proof, for Amerigo's book was
published within ten years of the period,
assigned for his first voyage, when the
facts must have been fresh in the memo
ries of thousands. Besides the improba
bility of his" being guilty of falsifying
'dates, as he was accused, which arises
from this circumstance, it is very possi
ble, that the Spanish writers might have
felt a natioual resentment against him for
having deserted the service of Spain.
But the evidence against the honesty of
Amerigo is very convincing. Neither
Martyr nor Benzoni, who were Italians,
natives of the same country,& the former
of whom was a contemporary, attribute
to him the first discovery of the conti
nent. Martyr published the first general
history of the new world, and his epistles
contain an account of all the remarkable e-
vents of his time. AfltheSpanish historians
are against Amerigo. Herrera brings a-
gainst him the testimony of Ojeda as giv
en in a judicial inquiry. Fonseca, who
gave Ojeda the hcense for his voyage, was
not reinstated in the direction of Indian
affairs until after the time, which A-
merigo assigns for the commencement
of his first voyage. Other circunistances
might be mentioned; and the whole mass
of evidence it is difficult to resist. The
book of Amerigo was probably pubhshed
about a year after the death of Columbus,
when his pretensions could be advanced
without the fear of refutation from that
illustrious navigator. But however this
controversy may be decided, it is wefl
known, that the honor of first discover
ing the continent belongs neither to Co
lumbus nor to Vespucci, even admitting
the relation of the latter; but to the Ca-
bots, who safled from England. A hfe
of Vespucci was published at Florence by
Bandini, 1745, in which an attempt is
made to support his pretensions.
The relation of his four voyages, which
was first pubhshed about the year 1S07,
was repubhshed in the Novus Orbis, fol.
1555. His letters were published after
his death at Florence. — Moreri, diet, his-
torique; New and gen. biog. diet; Rob-

AMES.

87

er|»on'a S. ^«ie»'. it Nate xxll; Holmes'
annals, 1. 16; Herrera, i. 221; Prince,
introd. 80—82; Irving'* Columb. in.
App. ix.
AMES, Nathaniel, a physician, died
at Dedham, Mass., in 1765, aged 57.
He had published for about 40;years an
almanac, which was in high repute. His
taste for astronomy he acquired from his
father, Nathaniel Ames, of Bridgewater,
who died in 1736, and who was not, as
Dr. Ehot supposed, a descendant of the
famous William Ames. He married two
wives, each of the name of Fisher. His
most distinguished son bpre that name.
His son, Dr. Nath'l Ames, a graduate of
1761, died at Dedham in 1822, aged 82 ;
another son. Dr. Seth Ames, a graduate
of 1764, settied at Amherst N. H., but
removed to Dedham, where he died in
1776. His widow, who married Mr.
Woodward, died in 1818, aged 95. —
Mass. Hist, col: n. s. vii. 154 ; hist, col,
N. H. II. 79.
AMES, Fisher, LL.D., a distinguished
statesman, and an eloquent orator, was
theson of the preceding and was born at
Dedham April 9, 1758. He was gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1774, and after
a few years commenced the study of the
law in Boston. He began the practice
of his profession in his native village; but
his expansive mind could not be confined
to the investigation of the law. Rising
into fife about the period of the American
revolution and taking a most affectionate
interest in the concerns of his country,
he felt himself strongly attracted to poh
tics. His researches into the science of
government were extensive and pro
found, & he began to be known by pohti
cal discussions, pubfished' in the newspa
pers. A theatre soon presented for the
display of his extraordinary talents. He
was elected a member of the convention
of his native state, which considered and
ratified the federal constitution; and his
speeches in this convention were indica
tions of his future eminence. The splen
dor of his talents burst forth at once upon
his country.
When the generiil government of the

United States commenced its operations
in 1789, he appeared in the national leg
islature as the first representative of hia
district, and for eight successive years
he took a distinguished part in the nation
al councils. He was a principal speaker
in the debates on every important ques
tion. Towards the close of this period
his health beganto fafl, but his indisposi
tion could not prevent him from engaging
in the discussion, relating to the appro
priations, necessary for carrying into
effect the British treaty. Such was the
effect of his speech of Aprfl 28, 1796, that
one of the members of the legislature,
who was opposed to Mr. Ames, rose
and objected to taking a vote at that time,
as they had been carried away by the im
pulse of oratory. After his return to
his family, frail in health and fond of re
tirement, he remained a private citizen.
For a few years however he was persua
ded to become a member of the councfl.
But though he continued chiefly in retire
ment, he operated far around him by hia
writings in the public papers. A few
years before his death he was chosen pre
sident of Harvard coflege, but the infirm -
state of his health induced him to dechne
the appointment. He died on the mor
ning of July 4, 1808. His wife, Frances
Worthington, was the daughter of John
Worthington, Esq; of Springfield. He
left seven children: his only daughter
died in 1829.
Mr. Ames possessed a mind of a great
& extraordinary character. He reasoned,
but he did not reason in the form of logic.
By striking allusions more than by regular
deductions he compeUed assent. The
richness of his fancy, the fertility of his
iiavention, and the abundance of hia
thoughts were as remarkable as the just
ness and strength'pf his understanding.
His pohtical character may be known
from his writings, and speeches, and mea
sures. He was not only a man of distin
guished, talents, whose public career was
splendid, but he was amiable in private
fife and endeared to his acquaintance. To
a few friends he unveiled himself with
out reserve. They found him modest &

AMES.

unassuming, untainted with ambition,
simple in manners, cdrrect in morals, and
a model of every social and personal vir
tue. The charms of his conversation
were unequalled.
He entertained a firm belief in Chris
tianity, and his befief was founded upon a
thorough investigation of the subject.
He read most of thebestwritings in defence
of the christian religion, but he was satisfi
ed by a view rather of its internal than its
external evidences. He thought it im
possible, that any man of a fair mind could
read the old testament and meditate on
its contents without a conviction of its
truth and inspiration. The subfime and
correct ideas,which the Jewish Scriptures
convey of God, connected with the fact
that afl other nations, many of whom
were superior, to the Jews in civilization
& general improvement, remained in dark
ness & error on this great subject, formed
in his view a conclusive argument. After
reading the book of Deuteronomy he ex
pressed his astonishment, that any man,
versed in antiquities, could have the hard
ihood to say, that it was the production of
human ingenuity. Marks of divinity, he
said, were stamped .upon it. His views
of the doctrines of rehgion were generally
Calvinistic. An enemy to metaphysical
and controversial theology, he disliked
the useof technical and sectarian phrases.
The term trinity however he frequent
ly used with reverence, and in a manner,
which imphed his belief of the doctrine.
His persuasion of the divinity of Christ
he often declared, and his behef of this
truth seems to have resulted from a par
ticular investigation of the subject, for
he remarked to a friend, that he once
read the evangefists with tl}e sole purpose
of learning what Christ had said of himself.
He was an admirer of the common
translation of the Bible. He said it was
a specimen of pure EngHsh; and though
he acknowledged, that a few phrases had
grown obsolete, and that a few passages
might be obscurely translated, yet he
should consider the adoption of any new
translation as an incalculable evil. He
lamented the prevaihng disuse of the

Bible in our schools. He thought, that
children should early be made acquainted
with the important truths, which it con
tains, and he considered it as a principal
instrument of making them acquainted
with their own language in its purity.
He saiti, " I wfll hazard the assertion,
that no man ever did or ever wfll become
truly eloquent, without being a constant
reader of the Bible, and an admirer of
the purity and sublimity of its language."
He recommended the teaching of the
assembly's catechism; not perhaps be
cause he was perfectly satisfied with eve
ry expression, but because, as he remark
ed, it was a good thing on the whole, be
cause it had become venerable by age,
because our pious ancestors taught it to
their children with happy effect, and be
cause he was opposed to innovation, un
wilfing to leave an old, experienced path,
for one new and uncertain. On the
same ground he approved the use of
Watts' version of the Psalms and Hymns.
No uninspired man, in his judgment had
succeeded so well as "Watts in uniting
with the sentiments of piety the embel
lishments of poetry.
Mr. Ames made a public profession of
religion in the first congregational church
in Dedham. With this church he regu
larly communed, tifl precluded by indis
position from attending public worship.
His practice corresponded with his profes
sion. His life was regular and irre
proachable. Few, who have been placed
in sirnilar circumstances, have been less
contaminated by intercourse with the
world. It is doubted, whether any one
ever heard him utter an expression, cal
culated to excite an impious or impure
idea. The most scrutinizing eye discov
ered in him no disguise or hypocrisy.
His views of himself however were
humble and abased. He was often ob
served to shed tears, while speaking of
his closet devotions and experiences.
He lamented the coldness of his heart
and the wanderings of his thoughts while
addressing his Maker or meditating on
the precious truths, which he had revealed.
In his last sickness, when near his end,

AMHERST.

39

and when he had just expressed his be
lief of his approaching dissolution, he
exhibited submission to the divine will
and the hope of the divine favor. " I
have peace .of mind," said he, " It may
arise from stupidity; but I think it is foun
ded on a belief of the gospel." At the
same time he disclaimed every idea of
meriting salvation. " My hope, " said
he, " is in the mercy of God, through
Jesus Christ."
Mr. Ames' speech in relation to the
British treaty, which was delivered April
28,1796, is a fine specimen of eloquence.
He pubfished an oration on the death of
Washington in 1800, and he wrote much
for the newspapers. His political writings
were published in 1809, in one volume,
Svo. with a notice of his fife and character
by president Kirkland. — Panoplist, July
1800; Dexter's fun, eulogy; Marshall's
Washington, v. 203; Ames' works.
AMHERST, Jeffery, lord, commander
in cliief of the British army at the con
quest of Canada in 1760, was bom in
Kent, England, Jan. 29, 1717. Having
early discovered a predilection for the mil
itary fife, lie received his first cpmmi^ion
in the army in 1731, and was aid de camp
to gen. Ligonier' in 1741, in which
character he was present at the battles of
Dettingen, Fontenoy, andRocoux. He
was afterward aid de camp to his royal
highness, the duke of Cumberland, at the
battle of Laffeldt. In, 1758 he retseived
orders to return to England, being appoin
ted for the American service. He sailed
from Portsmouth March 16th as major
general, having the command of the
troops destined for the siege of Lbuis-
bourg. On the 26th of July following
hecaptured that place, and without far
ther difficulty took entire possession of the
island of Cape Breton. After this event
he succeeded Abercrombie in the com
mand of the army iii North America.
In 1759 the vast design of .the entire con
quest of Canada was formed. Three ar
mies were to attack at nearly the same
time all tfie strong holds of the French in
that country. They were commanded
by Wolfe, Amherst, and Prideaux.-, Gen

eral Amherst in the spring, transfer! ed hia
head quarters from New York to Albany;
but it was not till the 22d of July,, that he
reached Ticonderoga, against which place
he was to act. On the 27th this place
fell into his hands, the enemy having.
deserted it. He next took Crown point,
and put his troops in winter quarters
about the last of October, In the year
of 1760 he advanced against Canada, em
barking on lake Ontario and proceeding
down the St. Lawrence. On the &th of
September M. de Vaudreuil capitulated,,
surrendering Montreal and all other places
within the government of Canada.
He continued in the command in.
America till the latter end of 1763, whea
he returned to England. The author
ofthe letters of Junius washisfriend,an4
in Sept. 1768 wr6te in his favor. In
177l he was made governor of Guernsey,
and in l776 he was created Baron Am
herst of Holmsdale in the county of Kent,
In 1778 he commanded the army in Eng
land. At this period lord Sackville, to
whom the letters of Junius have been as-
cribedjWas one ofthe king's ministers; ani
he had been intimate with Amherst from
early fife. In 1782 he received the gold
stick from the king ; but on the change
ofthe administration the command ofthe
army and the lieutenant generalship of
the ordnance were put into other hands.
In 1787 he received another patent of
peerage, as baron Amherst of Montreal.
On the 23d of January 1793 he was again
appointed tp the command of the army
in Great Britain ; but on the 10th of
February 1795 this veteran and very de
serving officer was superseded by his roy
al highness; the duke of York, the second
son of the king, who was only in the thii^
ty first year of his age, and had never
seen any actual service. The govern
ment upon this occasion with a view to
soothe the feehngs ofthe old general offei^
ed him an earldom and the rank of field
marshal, both of which he at that time
rejected. The office of fieM marshal how
ever he accepted on the 30th of July,1796.
He died without children at his seat in
Kent August 3, 1797, aged eighty years.

40

ANDERSON.

ANDRE.

— Watkins; Holmes' annals, ii. 226 —
246, 498 ; Marshall, i. 44S2— 470 ; Mi-
not, u. 36.
ANDERSON, Rufus, minister of
Wenham, Massa., was born in London
derry March 5, 1765 and graduated at
Dartmouth college in 1791. In conse
quence of a rehgious education his mind
was early imbued with the truths ofthe
gospel. He was ordained pastor of the
second church in North Yarmouth Oct.
22, 1794, After a ministry of ten years
he was dismissed, and installed July 10,
1805 at Wenham, wher6 he died Feb.
1814. D''- Worcester has desfcribed his
excellent character and spoken of his use-;
ful labors and peaceful death. He pub
lished two discourses on the fast, 1802 ;'
and 7 letters against the close communion
ofthe baptists, 1S05.— Worcester's fun.
serm.; Panopl, 10: 307.
ANDERSON, James, m. d., an em
inent physician of Maryland, died at his
seat near Chestertown Dec. 8, 1820, in
the 69th year of his age. He studied at
Philadelplua and at Edinburgh. His fa
ther was a physician from Scotland. Dr.
Anderson was learned and skilful, and
highly respected in all the relations of life.
As a Christian he was distinguished, — in
his pecuhar views being a disciple of Wes
ley. With exemplary patience and meek
ness he submitted to a painful iUness and
died in peace. — Thacher's med. Biog.
ANDERSON, Richard, minister ofthe
United States to Colombia, was a native
of Kentucky and for some years a mem
ber of congress. Being appointed envoy
extraordinary to the assembly of Ameri
can nations at Panama, while on fiis way
to that place he died at Carthagena July
24, 1826. On his former visit to Colom
bia he lost his exceUent wife. His father,
Richard C. Anderson, died Nov.6. — Mr.
Anderson was a very amiable man,of a dis
criminating mind, and very discreet and
concifiatory as a pofitician.
ANDERSON, John Wallace, m. d.,
physician to the colony in Liberia, was
the son of col. Richard Anderson, and
born in Hagerstown Maryland, in 1802.
His medical education was at Philadel

phia, where he took his degree in 1828,
and afterward? settied as a physician at
Hagerstown. Here, at his home, amidst
all the happiness of the famfly circle and
of religious institutions, he formed the
purpose of devoting his life to the colo
nists of Liberia. He hoped to benefit
them by his medical skifl and was particu
larly anxious to promote the cause of tem
perance in Africa. He sailed Jan. 17,
1830,& arrived at the colony Feb. 17. Dr.
Mechlin, the agent, now returning, the
affairs of the colony were committed to
Dr. Anderson; but he died ofthe African
fever April 12, aged 27 years. In bis
iUness he was resigned and joyful in the
hope of salvation. He requested, that the
foUowing sentence might be inscribed on
his tomb-stone: — "Jesus, for thee I live,
for thee I diel"—Afric. Repos. vi. 189-
191. ANDRE, John, aid de camp to sir
Henry Clinton, and adjutant general of
the British army in the revolutionary
war, was born in England in 1749.
His father was a native of Geneva and a
considerable merchant in the Levant
trade ; he died in 1769. Young Andre
was destined to mercantile business, and
attended his father's compting house,
after having spent some years for his edu
cation at Geneva. He first entered the
army in Jan. 1771. At this time he had
a strong attachment to Honoria Sneyd,
who afterwards married Mr. Edgeworth.
In 1772 he visited the courts of Germany,
and returned to England in 1773. He
landed at Philadelphia in Sept. 1774 as
lieuljenant of the Royal English Fusi-
leers ; and soon proceeded by way of
Boston to Canada to join his regiment.
In 1775 he was taken prisoner by Mont
gomery at St Johns ; but was afterwards
exchanged, and appointed captain. In
the summer of 1777 hg was appointed aid
to Gen. Grey and was present at the eil-
gagements- in New Jersey and Pennsyl
vania in 1777 and 1778. On the return
of Gen. Grey, he was appointed aid to
Gen. Cfinton. In 1780 he was promoted
to the rank of major, and made adjutant
general of the British army.

ANDRE.

41

After Arnold had intimated to the
British in 1780 hisintention of delivering
up West Point to them, major Andre
was selected as the person, to whom the
maturing of Arnold's treason and the ar
rangements for its execution should be
committed. A correspondence' was for
some time carried on between them under
a mercantile disguise & the feigned names
of Gustavus and Anderson ; and at length
to facilitate their communications the
Vulture sloop of war moved up the North
river and took a station convenient for
the putpose, but not so near as to excite
suspicion. An interview was agreed on,
and in the night of September 21, 1780
he was taken in a boat, which was des
patched for the purpose, and carried to
the beach, without the posts of both ar
mies, under a pass for John Anderson.
He met general Arnold at the house of a
Mr. Smith. While the conference was
yet unfinished, day light approached ;
and to avoid the danger of discovery it
was proposed, that he should remain con
cealed tifl the succeeding night. He
is understood to have refused to be
carried within the American posts, but
the promise made him by Arnold to res
pect this. objection was not observed. He
was carried within .them contrary to his
wishes and against his knowledge. He
continued with Arnold the succeeding
day, and when on the following night he
proposed to return to the Vulture, the
boatman refused to carry him, because
she had during the day shifted her station
in consequence of a gun having bee^
moved to the shore and brought to bear
upon her. This embarrassing circum
stance reduced him to the necessity of en
deavoring to reach New Yotk by land.
Yielding with reluctance to the urgent
representations of Arnold, he laid aside
his regiipentals, which he had hitherto
worn under a surtout, and put on a plain
suit of clothes ; and receiving a' pass from
the American general, authorising him,
under the feigned name of John Ander
son, to proceed on the public service to
the White Plains or lower if he thought
proper, he set out on his return in the
6

evening of the 22d, a6companied by Josh
ua Smith, and passed the night at Crom-
pond. The next morning he crossed the
Hudson to King's ferry,on the east side.
A little beyond the Croton, Smith, deem
ing him safe, bid him adieu, He had
passed all the guards and pofefs on the
road without suspicion, & was pfoceeding
to New York in perfect security, when,
September 23d, one of,, the three militia
men, ¦who^were employed with others in
scouting parties between the lines of the.
two armies, springing suddenly from his
covert into the road, seized the reins of
his bridle and stopped his horse. Instead
of producing his pass, Andre,-' with a
want of self possession, which. cah be at
tributed only to a kind providence, asked.
the man hastily wtiere he belonged, and
being answered, "to below,"" replied im
mediately, "and so do I." He then de
clared himself to be a British officer, on
urgent business, and begged that he might
not be detained. The other -two mUitia
men coming up at this moment, he dis
covered his mistake ; but it was too late
to repair it. He offered them his purse
and a valuable watch, to which he added
the most tempting promises of ample re
ward, and permanent' provision from' the
government, if they would permit him to
escape ; but his offers iVere rejected with
out hesitation.
The mifitia men, whose names were
John Paulding, David WiUiams, and
Isaac Van Wart, proceeded to search him.
They found concealed in his boots exact
'returns, in Arnold's hand writing, of the
state of the forces, orduance, and defen
ces at WestPoint-& its dependencies,crit-
ical remarks on the works, arid an esti
mate of the men prdiuarily employed in
.them, v/ith other interesting papers. An
dre was carried before lieut. col, Jameson,
the officer commanding the scouting par
ties on the fines, and regardless of him
self and only anxioUs for the safety of
A mold,- he stfll maintained the character,
^5rhich he had assunled,& requested Jame
son to inform his commanding officer,
that Anderson was taken. A letter wa,s'
ae'oordingly sent to Arnold, andthieHrai«

44

ANDRUS.

fees of office were .raised to a most ex-,
orbitant height. In Oct. 1687 he went
with troops to Hartford, and demanded
the surrender of the charter of Connec
ticut, which was placed in the evening
upon the table of "the assembly, but in
stantly the fights' were extinguished, and
the charter disappeared, having been car
ried off by capt. Wadsworth and secre
ted in a hollow oak, near the house of
Samuel Wyllys.
In the spring of 1688 Andros proceeded
in the Rose frigate to Penobscot and
plundered the house and fort of Castine
and thus by his base rapacity excited an
Indian war. In November he marched
against the eastern Indians at the head
of 7 or 800 men ; but not an Indian was
seen. They had retired to the woods for
hunting. He built two forts, one at
Sheepscot, the other at Pegypscot falls
or Brunswick, and left garrisons in them.
If the old name of Amarascoggin, on
which river he buUt Pegypscot fort, re
ceived at this time, in honor of him,
the name of Androscoggin; he was not
worthy of such remembrance. The
ancient name is to be preferred.
At length the capricious and arbitrary
proceedings of Andros roused the deter
mined spirit of the people.
Having sought in the wilds orAmerica
the secure enjoyment of that civil and
rehgious liberty, of which they had been
unjustly deprived in England, they were
not disposed to see their dearest rights
wrested from theiri without a struggle to
retain them. Animated with the love of
liberty, they were also resolute and cour
ageous in its defence. They had for sev
eral years suffered the impositions of a ty
rannical administration, & the dissatisfac
tion and indignation, which had been
gathering during this period, were blown
into a flame by the report pf an intended
massacre by the governor's guards. On
the morning 'of April 18, 1689 the ihhabi-
tents of Boston took up arms,' the people
poured in from the cbuntry, and the gov
ernor with such ofthe councfl , as had been
moat aetive,ajid other obnoxious perspns,
abtrut fifty in number, vreje seized and-

confined, The old magistrates were re
stored, and the next month the joyful
news ofthe revolution in England reach
ed this country, and quieted aU apprehen
sion of the consequences of what had
been done. After having been kept at
the castle till February following Andros
was sent to England for trial. The gen
eral court about the same time despatched
a committee of several gentlemen to sub
stantiate the charges against bun.
The government was reduced to a most
perplexing dilemma. If they condemned
Andros' administration, the sentence
might be drawn into a precedent, and they
might seem to encourage insurrection and
rebellion in future periods, when circum
stances did not render so desperate an
expedient necessary. On the other hand,
if they should approve of the administra
tion of Andros and censure the proceed
ings ofthe colonists, it would imply a rep
robation of the very measure, which had
been pursued in bringing about the revo
lution in England. It was therefore deem
ed prudent to dismiss the business with
out coming to a final decision. The peo
ple were accordingly left to the full en
joyment of their freedom ; and Andros,
in public estimation guilty, escaped with
out censure.
In 1692 he was appointed the governor
of Virginia,in which office his conduct was
for the most part prudent and unimpeach-
ed. He was succeeded by Nicholson in
1698. He died in London Feb. 24, 1714i
at a very advanced age. His narrative
of his proceedings in New England was
pubfished in 1691, & republished in 1773.
— Hutchinson ; Douglass, ii. 247, 272,
369 ; Holmes i. 421, 425 ; Belknap, i.
244 ; Eliot ; Beverly.
ANDRUS, Joseph R., agent of the
Colonization society, was graduated at
Middlebury college in 1812, and after
studying theology at New Haven and
Andover, and also under bishop Griswold
at Bristol, R. I., received episcopal or
dination. It had been for years his
purpose to devote himself to promote the
welfare of the degraded and oppressed
race of Africans, Being appointed -the

ANGE.

APPLETON.

45

agent of the Colonization society, he sal-
led early in 1821, and proceeded, with
his associate, Ephraim Bacon, in April
from Sierra Leone to the Bassa country
to negotiate with king Ben for a place
of settlement. It was well for the pro
posed colony, that the attempt was un
successful, for a more healthful and ehgi-
ble territory was afterwards purchased
by Dr. Ayres at Montserado. Mr. An
drus died at Sierra Leone, and was bu
ried July 29, 1821. He was the friend
of Carlos Wilcox and by him honored in
his fines, "the group of stars." — Pano
plist 18 ; 25, 400 ; Remains of Wilcox,
90. ANGE, Francis, a planter of Pennsyl
vania, died in 1767, aged 134 years. He
remembered the death of Charles 1. ; at
the age of 180 was in good health; and
at the time of his death his memory was
strong, his faculties perfect. He had liv
ed on simple food. His residence was
between Broad creek and the head of Wi-
comoco river. — Mem. hist. soc. Phil. 1.
320; Penn. mag. 1. 315.
ANTES, John, a Moravian missiona
ry, was born March 4, 1740, and sent
from America to Herrnhut in Germany
in 1764. In 1769 he proceeded to Cairo
on a proposed mission to Abyssinia; but
meeting Mr. Bruce, he was induced tp
abandon the undertaking. He returned
to Germany in 1781; and in 1808 visited
England, and died at Bristol Dec. 17',
1811. He pubfished a reply' to lord Va
lencia, vindicating Bruce's veracity; ob
servations on the manners of the Egyp
tians; and wrote a memoir of his own
fife. — Lord's Lempr.
ANTHONY, Susanna, an eminently
pious woman of Rhode Island, was born
in 1726 and died at Newport June 23,
1791, aged 64 years. Her parents . were
quakers. Dr. Hopkins pubfished the me
moirs of her life, consisting chiefly of ex
tracts from her writings, of which there
was a second edition in 1810. Shedevo-
ted h^self chiefly to prayer.
APPLETON, Nathaniel, d. d., min
ister of Cambridge, " Massachusetts, was
born at Ipswich, December 9, 1693. His

father was John Appleton, one of the
king]s council, and for twenty years judge
of probate in the county of Essex; and
his mother was the eldest daughter of
president Rogers. He was graduated at
Harvard college in 1712. After comple
ting his education an opportunity presen
ted of entering into commercial business on
very advantageous terms with an uncle
in Boston, who was an opulent merchant;
but he resolved to forego every worldly
advantage, that he might promote the
interest ofthe Redeemer's kingdom. Soon
after he began to preach, he was invited
to succeed Mr. Brattle in the ministry at
Cambridge, and was ordained October 9,
1717. On this occasion Dr. Increase
Mather preached the sermon and gave
the charge, and Dr, Cotton Mather
gave the right hand of fellowship . He
was the same year elected a fellow of
Harvard coflege, which office he sustained
above 60 years, faithfully consultmg and
essentially promoting the interests of the
institution. In 1771 the university con
ferred on him the degree of doctor of divin
ity, an honor, which had been conferred
upon but one person, Increase Mather,
about eighty years before. Degrees have
since become more frequent and less hon
orable. The usefulness of Dr. Appleton
was diminished for a few of his last years
through the infirmities of age, but did not
entirely cease except with his life. He
received Mr. HiUiard as his colleague in
1783 . After a ministry of more than sixty
six years, he died Feb. 9, 1784, in the 91st
year of his age. This country can fur
nish few instances of more useful talents,
and more exemplary piety, exhibited for
BO long a time and ¦with such great suc
cess. During his ministry 2133 persons
were baptized, and 784 admitted mem
bers of the church.
Dr. Appleton was as venerable for his
piety as fol- his years. His whole chftr-
acter was patriarchal. In his dress, in his
manners, in his conversation, in his min
istry, he resembled the puritan ministers,
who first settled New England. He lived
from the close of one century to near the
close of another, and he brought down

46

APPLETON.

with hini the habits of former times. His
natural temper was cheerful, but his ha
bitual deportment was grave. Early con
secrated to God, and having a fixed pre
dilection for the ministry, by the union
of good sense with deep seriousness, of
enlightened zeal with consurnmate pru
dence he was happily fitted for the pasto
ral office.
He preached with great plainness and
with primitive simplicity. In order to
accommodate his discourses to the mean
est capacity he frequently borrowed sim
ilitudes from familiar, sometimes from
vulgar objects ; but his applieation of
them was so pertinent and his utterance
so solemn, as to suppress levity and si
lence criticism. Deeply sensible of the
fallen state of man, he admired the wis
dom, bohness and mercy, which are dis
played in the plan of redemption through
a glorious Savior. From the abundance
of his heart, filled with the love of God,
he spake with such fervor, as was fitted
to inspire his hearers with pious senti
ments and affections.
He possessed the learning of his time.
The scriptures he read in the originals.
His exposition, preached in course on the
sabbath, comprehended the whole new
testament, the prophecy of Isaiah, and
some of the other prophets. It was
chiefly designed to promote practical pie
ty; but on the prophetical parts he disco
vered a continued attention, extent of
reading, and a depth of research, which
come to the share of but very few. ' In
his preaching he carefully availed himself
of special occurrences, and his discourses
on such occasions were peculiarly solemn
and impressive. With the fidelity and
plainness of a christian minister he
administered reproofs and admonitions,
and maintained with parental tender
ness and pastoral authority the discipline
of .the church. By hi& desire a com
mittee was appointed, and continued for
many yearS, for inspecting the manners
of professing christians. So great was
the ascendency, which he gained over his
people by his discretion and tpioderation,
by his condescension and benevolence, by

his fidelity and piety, that they regarded
his counsels as oracular. ,
In controversial and difficult cases he
was often applied to for advice at ecclesi
astical councils. Impartial yet pacific,
firm yet concifiatory, he was peculiarly
qualified for a counsellor, and in that cha
racter he materially contributed to the
unity, the peace, and order of the church
es. , With the wisdom of the serpent he
happily united the innocence ofthe dove.
In his rehgious principles he was a Cal-
vinist, as were all his predecessors in the
ministry,Hooker, Stone, Shepard, Mitch-
el, Oakes, Gookin, and Brattle. But to
wards those of different principles he was
candid and catholic.
His own example enforced the duties,
which he eirjoined upon others. He
was humble, meek, and benevolent. He
was ready at all times to relieve the dis
tressed, and through life he devpted a
tenth part of his whole income to pious
and charitable uses. He was ever a firm
friend to the civil and rehgious liberties
of mankind, and was happy in living to see
the establishment of peace and indepen
dence in his native land. He deserves
honorable remembrance for his exertions
to send the gospel to the Indians. Un
der his many heavy trials he was submis
sive and patient. "When his infirmities
had in a great measure terminated his
usefulness, he expressed his desire to de
part and be with Christ. He at length
calmly resigned his spirit into the hands
of its Redeemer. His son, Nathaniel, a
merchant in Boston, who died in 1798,
wrote, with James Swan and others,
against the slave trade and slavery ftom
1766 to 1770.
His pubfications are the following ; the
wisdom-ofGod in the redemption of man,
1728; a sermon at the , artillery election,
1733 ; on evangeUcal and saving repent
ance; 1741 ; discourses on Rom. vm. 14,
1743 ; funeral sermons occasioned by the
death of president Leverett, 1724 ; of
Francis E*oxcroft, 1728 ; of president
Wadsworth, 1737; of Rev. John Han
cock, 1752; of Spencer Phips, 1757; of
Henry ^lynt, 1760; of Dr. Wiggles-

APPLETON.

47

worth, 1 7 65 ; of president Holyoke, 1769;
sermons at the ordination of Josiah Cot
ton, 1728 ; of John Sergeant, 1735 ; of
John Sparhawk, 1736; of Matthew
Bridge, 1746; of 0. Peabody jtm. 1750;
of Stephen Badger, 1753; a sermon at
the general election, 1742 ; at the con
vention, 1743 ; two discourses on a fast,
1748; on the difference between a legal
and evangeUcal righteousness, 1749 ;
Dudleian lecture, 1758 ; at the Boston
lecture, 1763; against profane swearing,
1765 ; a thanksgiving sermon for the con
quest of Canada, 1760 ; for the repeal of
the stamp act, 1766 ; two discourses
on a fast, 1770.  Holmes' hist. Cam
bridge; col. hist, soc, VII. 37, 9 — 63 ;
X. 158 ; Amer. herald, Feb. 23,1784;
Independ. chron. March 4, 1784.
APPLETON, Jesse, d. d., the second
president of Bowdoin College, was born at
New Ipswich, in the state of New Hamp
shire, Nov. 17, 1772. He descended from
John Appleton of Great Waldingfield,
Suftblk, England, who died in 1436.
Samuel, a descendant of John, came to
this country in 1 635 and settled at Ips
wich, Massachusetts. Francis, bis father,
a man of piety and vigoroUs inteflect, died
in 1816, aged"83.
President Appleton was graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1792. It was du
ring his residence at that seminary, that
he experienced deep, reUgious impres
sions ; yet of any precise period, when
his heart was regenerated by the Spirit of
God, he was not accustorhed to speak
The only safe evidence of piety, he behe
ved, was 'the perception in himself of
those qualities, which the gospel requires. '
Having spent two years iu the instrijction
of youth at Dover and Amherst, he stu
died theology under Dr. Lathrop of
West Springfield. , In Feb. 1797, he was
ordained as the pastor of a' church at
Hampton, N. H. His , reUgious senti
ments at tliis period were Armihiaii.
Much pf his time during his ten years'
residence in that town was devoted to sys
tematic, earnest study, in consequence
of which his sentiments assumed a new
fopn. By his faithful, affectionate" servi

ces he was very much endeared to his
people. At his suggestion the Piscataqua
Evangelical magazine was published, to
which fie contributed valuable essays,
with the signature of Leighton. Such
was his public estimation, that in 1803 he
was one of the two principal candidates
for the professorship of theology at Har
vard coUege ; but Dr. Ware was elected.
In 1807 he was chosen president of Bow
doin College, into which office he was
inducted Dec. 23. After the toils of ten
years in this station, his health became
much impaired in consequence of a severe
cold in October 1817. In May 1819 hi.'s
illness became more alarming, his com
plaints being a cough, hoarseness, and de
bility. A journey proved of no essential
benefit. A profuse hemorrhage in Octo
ber extinguished all hope of recovery.
As the day of his dissolution approached,
he remarked, 'Of tins I am sure, that sal
vation is all of grace. — I would make no
mention of any thing, which I have ever
thought, or said, or done; but only of
this, that God so loved the world, as to
give his only begotten son, that whosoev
er believeth on him, should not perish
but have everlasting life. The atone
ment is the only ground of hope.' In
health he was sometimes anxious in a
high degree in regard to the college; but
in his sickness he said in cheerful cojifi-
dence, " God has taken care of the Col
lege, and God will take care of it."
-Among his last expressions were heard
the words, "Glory to God in the high
est: the whole earth shaU be filled with
his glory." He died Nov. 12, 1819, at
the age of 47, having been president near
ly 12 years, A discourse was published,
which was delivered at his funeral by
Benjamin Tappan of Augusta, describing
the excellences pf his character and his pe
culiar quafifications for the station, which.
he occupied.
He published a dedication sermon at
Hampton, 1797 ; sermons at the ordina
tions pf Rev. AsaRand,of Gorham, 1809;
Rev. Jonathan CpgsweU of Saco, and
Rev. Reuben' Nason of Freeport, 1810;
pf Rev. Benjamin Tappan of Augusta,

48

APTHORP.

ARCHDALE.

1811 ; discourse on the death of Frede
ric Southgate, 1813; .Massachusetts elec
tion sermon, 1814 ; a sermon on the per
petuity and importance of the sabbath,
•1814; thanksgiving sermon, 1815 ; ser
mon at the ordination of Rev. Enos Mer
rill of Freeport ; sermon before the Bath
Society for the suppression of pubhc
vices ; address before the Massachusetts
society for the suppression of intemper
ance, 1816 ; sermon before the Am. com
missioners for foreign missions, 1817 ;
senrion at the formation of the Maine edu
cation society, 1818 ; also a sermon on
the death of Mrs. Buckminster, a sermon
before the Portsmouth female asylum, and
a sermon relating to Dr. Emmons on
unity. In 1820 a volume of his Addresses was
pubhshed, containing his Inaugural Ad
dress and eleven annual Addresses, with
a sketch of his character by Rev. Dr.
Nichols of Portland.— In 1822 his Lec
tures Sa Occasional Sermons were publish
ed in one volume with a memoir of his life
by Rev. Benjamin Tappan of Augusta.
The subjects of these lectures, 27 in num
ber, are the necessity of revelation, hu
man depravity, the atonement, regenera
tion, the eternity of future punishment,
the resurrection ofthe body, and the de
moniacs ofthe New Testament.
The sermons are on the immortality of
the soul, the influence of religion on the
condition of man, the evils of war arid
the probability of universal peace, the
truth of Christianity from its moral effects,
conscience, and consequences of neglec
ting the great salvation.
APTHORP, East, an Episcopal min
ister, was the son of Charles Apthorp, a
merchant of Boston, who died in 1758
agedfil. He was born in 1733, and stu
died at Jesus' college, Cambridge, Eng
land. Having taken orders, he was ap
pointed, in 1761, by the Society for pro
pagating the gospel in foreign parts, a
missionary at Cambridge, Mass. ;. in
which place he continued four or five
years. He engaged in a warm cdntro'ver-
sy with Dr. Mayhew concerning the de
sign and conduct of the society, of -Which

he was a missionary. The political feel
ings ofthe people were mingled with their
religious attachments; the cause, -which
Mr. Apthorp espoused, was unpopular,
and he returned to England. He was
made vicar of Croydon in 1765, and in
1778 rectpr of Bow chiirch, London,, to
which he was presented by his friend and
fellow collegian, bishop Poiteus. In
1790, having lost his sight, he exchanged
these livings for the prebend of Finsbury,
&, having, an adequate income, he retired
to spend the evening of his days among
the spenes and friends of his youth, at the
university, in a house provided for him
by his patron, bishop Watson. He died at
Cambridge, England, Aprfl 16, 1816,
a^ed ^3 years. His wife was the daugh
ter of Foster Hutchinson, a brother ; of
the governor. His only son was a cler
gyman ; of three daughters one was mar
ried to Dr. Cary and one to Dr. Butler,
both heads of colleges ; the third mar
ried a son of Dr. Paley. Dr. Thonias
Bulfinch of Boston married one of his
sisters, and Robert Bayard of New York
another. He was eminent as a writer.
He pubfished a sermon at the opening of
the church at Cambridge, 1761 ; on the
peace, 1763 ; considerations respecting
the society for the propagation &c.j 1763;
on the death of Ann "Wheelwright, 1764;
review of Mayhew's remarks on the an
swer to his observations &c., 1765 ; dis
courses on prophecy, at the Warburton
lecture, Lincoln's Inn chapel, 2 vols';
and an answer to Gibbon's statement of
the causes of the spread of Christianity.
— Jennison, ms.; Holmes ii. 120, 48i.
^ ARCH, John, a Cherokee Indian and
an interpreter, died at Brainerd June 8,
1825, aged 27. When taken sick, he
was engaged in translating John's gospel
into Cherokee, using the ingenious alpha
bet invented by Mr. Guess. He had
been a christian convert several years;
and he died in peace, saying, ''God is
good, and wiU do right ;" and was buried^.
by the side pf Dr. Worcester.
, ARCHDALE, John, governor of
Carolina, was appointed to this office by
the proprietors, after lord Ashley had de-

ARGALL.

49

clined accepting it. He was a quaker
and a proprietor, and arrived in the sum
mer of 1695. The settlers received him
with universal joy. The colony had
been in much confusion, but order was
now restored. The assembly was called,
and the governor by the discreet use of
his extensive powers settled almost every
pubfic concern to the satisfaction of the
people. The price of lands and the form
of conveyances were settled by law.
Magistrates were appointed for hearing
all causes, and determining all diflerences
between the settlers and the Indians.
Public roads were ordered to be made and
water passages cut. The planting of rice,
which has since become the greatsource of
the opulence of Carolina,was introduced.
A captain of a vessel from Madagascar on
his way to Great Britain anchored off
Sulfivan's island and made a present to
the governor of a bag of seed rice, which
he had brought from the east. This
rice the governor divided among some of
his frien(ls,who agreed to make an experi
ment. The success equalled their expec
tation, and from this smafl beginning
arose the staple commodity of Carolina.
He continued, it is believed, but five
or six years in his government. After
his return to London, he pubfished a
work entitled, a new description of that
fertile and pleasant province of Carolina
with a brief account of its discovery, set-
tiing, and the government thereof to this
time, with several remarkable passages
during my time,n07 .-r-Holmes ; Hewatt,
1. 119, 129—131 ; Ramsay, t. 47—50.
ARGALL,Samuel, deputy governor of
Virginia, came to that colony in 1609
to trade and to .fish for sturgeon. The
trade was in -violation of the laws ; but
as the wine and provisions, which he
brought, were much wanted, his conduct
was connived at, and he continued to
make voyages for his own advantage and
in the service ofthe colony. In 1612 he
carried off Pocahontas to James Town.
In 1613 he arrived at the Island, now
called Mount Desert, in Maine, for the
purpose of fishing, and having discovered
a settlement of the French, which was
7

made two years before, he immediately
attacked it and took most of the settlers
prisoners. Gilbert de Thet, a Jesuit fa
ther, was killed in the engagement. This
was the commencement of hostiUties be
tween the French and EngUsh colonists
in America. Capt. Argall soon afterwards
sailed from Virginia to Acadie and de-
I stroyed the French settlements of St.
Croix and Port Royal. The pretext for
this hostile expedition in time of peace
was the encroachment of the French on
the rights of the EngUsh, which were
founded on the prior discovery of the
Cabots. Argall on his return subdued the
Dutch -settlement at Hudson's river. In
1614 he went to England and returned in
1617 as deputy governor. On his arri
val he found the public buildings at
James Town fallen to decay, the mar
ket place and streets planted with tobac
co, and the people of the colony dispersed
in places, which they thought best adap
ted for cultivating that pernicious weed.
To restore prosperity to the colony capt.
Argall introduced some severe regula
tions. He prohibited all trade or famil
iarity with the Indians. Teaching them
the use of arms was a crime to be punish
ed by death. He ordered, that all goods
should be sold at an advance of 25 per
cent, and fixed the price of tobacco at
three shilUngs per pound. None could
sell or buy at a different price under the
penalty of three years' imprisonment.
No man was permitted to fire a gun, be
fore a new supply of ammunition, except
in self defence, on pain of a year's slavery.
Absence from church on Sundays or hol
idays was punished by confinement for
the night, and one week's slavery to the
colony, and on a repetition of the offence
the punishment was increased.
The rigorous execution of these laws
rendered him odious in the colony, and
the report of his tyranny and his depre
dations upon the revenues ofthe compa
ny reaching England, it was determined
to recaU him. Lord Delaware was direc
ted to send him home to answer the
charges brought against him ; but as his
lordship did not reach Virginia, being

50

ARMSTRONG.

summoned away from fife while on his pas-
sage,the letter to him fefl into the hands of
Argall. Perceiving from it that the fine
harvest, which now occupied him, would
be soon ended, he redoubled his industry.
He multipUed his acts of injustice, and
before the arrival of a new governor in
1619 set sail in a vessel, loaded with his
effects. He was the partner in trade of
the eari of Warwick, and by this connex
ion was enabled to defraud the company
of the restitution, which they had a right
to expect. In 1 620 he commanded a ship
of war in an expedition against the Alge-
rines ; in 1623 he was knighted by king
James ; in 1625 he was engaged in the
expedition against the Spanish under Ce
cil. His character, likfe that of most, who
were concerned in the government of
Virginia, is dflferently drawn ; by some
he is represented as a good mariner, a
man of pubhc spirit, active, industrious,
careful to prp-vide for the people, and to
keep them constantly employed ; and by
others he is described as negligent ofthe
pubfic business, selfish, rapacidus,passion-
ate, arbitrary, and cruel, pushing his un
righteous gains in every way of extortion
and oppression. He was, without ques
tion, a man of talents and art, for he so
foiled and perplexed the company, that
they were never able to bring him to any
account or punishment. An account of
his voyage from James Town beginning
June 19, 1610, in which, missing Bermu
da, he "put over towards Sagadahoc and
cape Cod," and his letter respecting his
voyage to Virginia in 1613, are preser
ved in Purchas. — Belknap's biog. ii.
51 — 63 ; Holmes, 144, 155; i. Smith:
Stith; Marshall, i. 56, 107; Beverly.
ARMSTRONG, John, general, resi
ded in Pennsylvania & was distinguished
in the Indian wars. In 1776, being ap
pointed brigadier general, he assisted in
the defence of fort Moultrie and in the
battle of Germantown. He left the army
in 1777 through dissatisfaction as to rank,
and was afterwards a member of congress.
He died at Carfisle March 9, 1795. He
was a professor of religion.— ^Le»«pr.

ARNOLD.
ARNOLD, Benedict, governor of
Rhode Island, succeeded Roger Williams
in that office in 1657 and continued till
1660 ; he was also governor from 1662 to
1666, from 1669 to 1672, and from 1677
to 1 678,~in which last year he died. He
had hvedin Providence as early as 1639.
Winthrpp speaks of him, "as a great
friend of Massachusetts, especiaUy in ne-
gociations with the Indians." — In 1657
he and Coddington purchased ofthe In
dian sachems the island Qubnonoquot,
afterwards called James Town. — Massa.
hist. col. V. 2l7 ; Savage's Winthrop;
Farmer. ARNOLD, Benedict, a major general
in the American army, and infamous for
deserting the cause of his country, is sup
posed to have been a descendant of the
preceding. He was bred an apothecary
with a Dr. Lathrop, who was so pleased
with him, as to give him £ 500 sterling.
From 1763 tp 1767 he combined the busi
ness of a druggist with that of a bookseller,
at New Haven, Con. Being captain of a
volunteer company, after hearing of the
battle of Lexington he immediately
marched with his company for the Amer-
can head quarters, and readied Cam
bridge April 29, 1775. He waited on the
Massachusetts committee of safety and
informed them of the defenceless state of
Ticonderoga. The committee appointed
him a colonel, and commissioned him to
raise four hundred men, and to take that
fortress. He proceeded directly to Ver
mont, and when he arrived at Castleton
was attended by one servant only. Here
he joined col. Allen, and on May 10th the
fortress was taken.
In the fafl of 1775 he was sent by the
commander in chief to penetrate through
the wilderness of the District of Maine
into Canada. He commenced his march
Sep. 16, -with about one thousand men,
consisting of New England infantry,
some volunteers, a company of artUlery,
and three companies of riflemen. , One
division, that of col. Enos, was obfigedto
return from Dead river from the want of
provisions ; had it proceeded, the whole
army might have perished. The great-

ARNOLD.

51

est hardships were endured and the most
appalling difficulties, surmounted in this
expedition, of which maj. Meigs kept a
journal, and Mr. Henry also published an
account. The army was in the wilder
ness, between fort "Western at Augusta
and the first settlements on the Chaudiere
in Canada, about 5 weeks. In the want
of provisions capt. Dearborn's dog was
killed, and eaten, even the feet and skin,
with good appetite. As the army arrived at
the first settlements Nov. 4th, the intel
ligence necessarily reached Quebec in one
or two days ; but a week or fortnight be
fore this gov. Cramahe had been apprized
of the approach of this army. Arnold
had imprudently sent a letter to Schuyler,
enclosed to a friend in Quebec, by an In
dian, dated Oct. 13, and he was himself
convinced, from the preparations made
for his reception, that the Indian had be
trayed him. Nov. 5th the troops arrived
at St. Mary's 10 or 12 miles from Que
bec, and remained there 3 or 4 days.
Nov. 9th or 10th they advanced to Point
Levi, opposite Quebec. Forty birch ca
noes having been collected, it was stiU
found necessary to delay crossing the riv
er for 3 nights on account of a high wind.
On the 14th the wind moderated ; but
this delay was very favorable to the city,
for on the 13th col. M'Lean, an active
officer, arrived with 80 men to strengthen
the garrison, which already consisted of
more than a thousand men, so as to ren
der an assault hopeless. " Indeed Arnold
himself placed his chief dependence on
the co-operation of Montgomery.
On the 14th of Nov. he crossed the
St. Lawrence in the night ; and, ascend
ing the precipice, which Wolfe had
climbed before him, formed his small
corps on the height near the plains of
Abraham. With only about seven hun
dred men, one third of whose muskets
had been rendered useless in the march
through the wilderness, success could not
be expected. It is surprising,that the gar
rison, consisting Nov. 14th of 11 26 men,
didnotmarchoutfe destroy the smaU force
of Arnold. - After parading some days on
thfe heights near the town, and sending 2

flags to summon the inhabitants,he retired
to Point aux Trembles, twenty miles
above Quebec, and there waited the arri
val of Montgomery, who joined him on
the first of December. The city was im
mediately besieged, but the best measures
had been taken for its defence. The able
gen. Carleton had entered the city with
60 men Nov.20th. On the morning of the
last day of the year an assault was made
on the one side of the lower town
by Montgomery, who was killed. At
the same time col. Arnold, at the head of
about three hundred and fifty men, made
a desperate attack on the opposite side.
Advancing with the utmost intrepidity
along the St. Charles through a narrow
path, exposed to an incessant fire of
grape shot and musketry, as he approach
ed the first barrier he received a musket
ball in the left leg, -Which shattered the
bone. He was compeUed to retire,on foot,
dragging 'one leg after him' near a mile
to the hospital, having lost 60 men killed
and wounded, and three hundred prison
ers. Although the attack was unsuccess
ful, the blockade of Quebec was continued
tiU May. 1776, -when the army, which
was in no condition to risk an assault, was
removed to a more defensible position.
Arnold was compelled to reUnquish one
post after another, tiU the ISth of June,
when he quitted Canada. After this pe
riod he exhibited great bravery in the
command of the American fleet on lake
Champlain. In August 1777 he relieved fort Schuy
ler under the command of colonel Ganse-
voort, which was invested by colonel St.
Leger withan armyoffroml5to 18 hun
dred men. In the battle near Stillwater,
Sept. 19th, he conducted himself with
his usual intrepidity, being engaged inces
santly for four hours. In the action of
October7th, after the British had been
driven into the fines, Arnold pressed for
ward and under a tremendous.fire assaul
ted tiie works throughout thear whole ex
tent from right to left. The intrench-
ments were at length forced, and with a
few men he actually entered the works;
but his horse b^ng killed, and he himself

53

ARNOLD.

badly wounded in the leg, he found it ne
cessary to withdraw, and, as it was now
almost dark, to desist irom.the attack.
Being rendered unfit for active service in
consequence of his wound, after the reco
very of Philadelphia he was appointed to
the command of the American garrison.
When he entered the city, he made the
house of gov. Penn, the best house in the
city, his head quarters. This he furnish
ed in a very costly manner, and lived far
beyond his income. He had wasted the
plunder, which he had seized at Montreal
in his retreat from Canada; and at Phila
delphia he was determined to make new
acquisitions. He laid his hands on every
thing in the city, which Could be consi
dered as the property of those, who were
unfriendly to the cause of his country.
He was charged with oppression, extor
tion, and enormous charges upon the pub
lic in his accounts, and with applying the
public money and property to his own
private use. Such was his conduct, that
he drew upon himself the odium of the in
habitants not only of the city, but of the
province in general. He was engaged in
trading speculations and had shares in se
veral privateers, but was unsuccessful.
From the judgment ofthe commissioners,
who had been appointed to inspect his ac
counts, and who had rejected above half
the amount of his demands, he appealed
to congress; and they appointed a com
mittee of their own body to examine and
settle the business. The committee con
firmed the report of the commissioners,
and thought they had allowed him more
than he had any right to expect or de
mand. By these disappointments he be
came irritated and he gave full scope to
his resentment. His invectives against
congress were not less violent, than those,
which he had before thrown out against
the commissioners. He was however
soon obliged to abide the judgment of a
court martial upon the charges, exhibited
against him by the executive of Pennsyl
vania, and he was subjected to the morti
fication of receiving a reprimand from
Washington. His trial commenced in
J.un.e I77§, but s.uch were the delays oc

casioned by the movements of the army,
that it was not concluded until January
26, 1779. The sentence of a reprimand
was approved by congress, and was soon
afterwards carried into execution.
Such was the humiliation, to which
general Arnold was reduced in conse
quence of yielding to the temptations of
pride and vanity, and indulging himself
in the pleasures of a sumptuous table and
expensive equipage. From this lime his
proud spirit revolted from the cause of
America. 'He turned his eyes to West
Point as an acquisition, which would give
value to treason, while its loss would in
flict a mortal wound on his former friends.
He addressed himself to the delegation of
New York, in which state his reputation
was peculiarly high, and a member of con
gress from this state recommended him
to Washington for the service, which he
desired. The same application to the
commander in chief was made not long
afterwards through gen. Schuyler.
Washington observed, that as there was
a prospect ofan active campaign he should
be gratified with the aid of Arnold in
the field; but intimated at the same time,
that he should receive the appointment
requested, if it should be more pleasing to
him. Arnold, without discovering much
solicitude, repaired to camp in the begin
ning of August, and renewed in person
the solicitations, which had been before
indirectly made. He was now offered the,
command ofthe left wing of the army,
which was advancing against New York;
but he declined it under the pretext, that
in consequence of his wounds, he was una
ble to perform the active duties of the
field. Without a suspicion of his patriot
ism he was invested with thecpmmand of
West Point. Previously to his soficiting
this station, he had in a letter to eol. Be
verley Robinson signified his change of
principles and his wish to restore himself
to the favor of his prince by some signal
proof of his repentance. This letter
opened to him a correspondence with sir
Henry Cfinton, the object of which was
to concert the means of putting the im
portant post, which he commanded, intb

ARNOLD.

the possession of the British general.
His plan, it is beheved, was to have drawn
the greater part of his army without the
works under the pretext of fighting the
enemy in the defiles, and to have left un
guarded a designated pass, through which
the assailants might securely approach and
surprise the fortress. His troops he in
tended to place, so that they would be
compelled to surrender, or be cut in pieces.
But just as his scheme was ripe for exe
cution the wise Disposer of events, who
so often and so remarkably interposed in
favor of the American cause, blasted his
designs. Maj. Andre, after his detection, apprized
Arnold of his danger, and the traitor found
opportunity to escape on board the Vul
ture, Sept. 25, 1780, a few hours before
the return of Washington, who had been
absent on a journey to Hartford, Con. On
the very day of his escape Arnold wrote
a letter to Washington, declaring, that
the love of his country had governed him
in his late conduct, and requesting him to
protect Mrs. Arnold. She was conveyed
to her husband at New York, and his
clothes and baggage, for which he had
written, were transmitted to him. Du
ring the exertions, which were made to
rescue Andre from the destruction,
which threateiied him, Arnold had the
hardihood to interpose. He appealed to
the Jiumanity of the commander in chief,
and then sought to intimidate him by
stating the situation of many ofthe prin
cipal characters of South Carofina, who
had forfeited their lives, but had hitherto
been spared through the clemency of the
British general.- This clemency, he said,
could no longer in justice be extended to
them, should major Andre suffer.
Arnold was made a brigadier general
in the British service; which rank he pre
served throughout the war. Yet he must
have been held in contempt & detestation
bythe generous and honorable. It was
impossible for men of this description, ev
en when acting with him, to forget that
he was a traitor; first the slave of his rage,
then purchased with gold, and finally se
cured by the blood of one of the most ac

complished officers in the British army.
One would suppose, that his mind could
not have been much at ease ; but he had
proceeded so far in vice, that perhaps his
reflections gave him but little trouble.
" I am mistaken," says Washington in a
private letter, " if ai this time Arnold is
undergoiiig the torments of a mental hell.
He wants feeling. From some traits of
his character, which have lately come to
my knowledge, he seems to have been so
hacknied in crime, so lost to all sense of
honor and shame, that while his faculties
still enable him to continue his sordid pur
suits, there wUl be no time for remorse."
Arnold found it necessary to make some
exertions to secure the attachment of his
new friends. With the hope of aUuring
many ofthe discontented to his standard,
he published an address to the inhabitants
of America, in which he endeavored to
justify liis conduct. He had encountered
the dangers ofthe field, he said, from ap
prehension, that the rights of his country
were in danger. He had acquiesced in the
(ieclaratlon of independence, though he
thought it precipitate. But the rejection
of the overtures, made by Great Britain
in 1778, and the French alliance had op
ened his eyes to the ambitious views of
those, who would sacrifice the happiness
of their country to their own aggrandize
ment, and had made him a confirmed loy
alist. He artfully mingled assertions,
that the principal members of congress
held the people in sovereign contempt.
This was followed in about a fortnight
by a proclamation, addressed " to the
officers and soldiers of the continental ar
my, who have the real interest of their
country at heart, and who are determined
to be no longer the tools and dupes of
congress or of France." To induce the
American offi(:ers and soldiers to desert
the cause, which they had embraced, he
represented, that the corps of cavalry and
infantry, which he was authorized to raise,
would be upon the same footing with oth
er troops in the British service; that he
should with pleasure advance those,
whose valor he might witness; that the
private men, who joined him,' should re-

54

ARNOLD.

ceive a bounty of three guineas each, be
sides payment at the full value for horses,
arms, and accoutrements. His object was
the peace, liberty, and safety of America.
"You are promised liberty," he fexclaims,
" but is there an individual in the enjoy
ment of it, saving your oppressors .¦" Who
among you dare speak or write what he
thinks against the tyranny, which has rob
bed you of your property, imprisons your
persons, drags you to the field of battle,
and is daily deluging your country with
your blood?" — "What," he exclaims a-
gain, " is America now, but a land of wid
ows, orphans, and beggars ? As to you,
who have been soldiers in the continental
army, can you at this day want evidence,
that the funds of your country are exhaus
ted, or that the managers have appfied
them to their private uses ? In either case
you surely can no longer continue in their
ser-vice with honor or advantage. Yet you
have hitherto been their supporters in that
cruelty, which with equal indifference to
yours as well as to the labor and blood of
others, is devouring a country, that from
the moment you quit their colors wfll be
redeemed fromtheir tyranny."These pro
clamations did not produce the effect de
signed, and in all the hardships, sufferings,
and irritations ofthe war Arnold remains
the sofitary instance of an American offi
cer ,who abandoned the side first embraced
in the contest, and turned his sword up
on his former companions in arms.
He was soon despatched by sir Henry
Cfinton to make a diversion in Virginia.
With about 1700 men he arrived in the
Chesapeak in Jan. 1781, and being sup
ported by such a naval force, as was suit
ed to the nature ofthe service, he commit
ted extensive ravages on the rivers arid
along the unprotected coasts. It is said,
that while on this expedition Arnold in
quired ofan American captain, whom he
had taken prisoner, what the Americans
would do with him, if he should fall into
their hands. The officer repUed; that
they would cut off his lame leg and bury
it With the honors of war, and hang the
remainder of his body in gibbets. After
his recaU from Virginia he conducted an

expedition against his native state, Con
necticut. He took fort Trumbull Sept.
6th with inconsiderable loss. On the
other side of the harbor heut. coL Eyre,
who commanded another detachment
made an assault on fort Griswold, and
with the greatest difficulty entered the
works. An officer of the , conquering
troops asked, who commanded? " I did,"
answered colonel Ledyard, " hut you do
now," and presented him his sword,
which was instantly plunged into his
own bosom. A merciless slaughter com
menced upon the brave garrison, who had
ceased to resist, until the greater part
were either kflled or wounded. After
burning the to-wn and the stores, which
were in it, and thus thickening the lau
rels, with which his brow was adorned,
Arnold returned to New York in 8 days.
From the conclusion of the war till his
death general Arnold resided cheifly in
England. In 1786 he was at St. John's,
New Brunswick, engaged in trade and
navigation, and again in 1790. For some
cause he became very unpopular in 1792
or 1793, was hung in effigy, and the may
or found it necessary to read the riot act,
and a company Of troops was called to
quefl the mob. Repairing to the West
Indies in 1794, a French fleet anchored
at the same island ; he became alarmed
lest he should be detained by the Ameri
can aUies and passed the fleet concealed
on a raft of lumber. He died in Glouces
ter place, London, June 14, 1801. — He
married Margaret, the daughter of Ed
ward Shippen of Philadelphia, chief jus
tice, and a loyaUst. General Green, it is
said, was his rival. She combined fasci
nating manners with strength of mind.
She died at London Aug. 24, 1804, aged
43. His sons were men of property in
Canada in 1829. — His character presents
little to be commended. His daring cour
age may indeed excite admiration ; but it
was a courage without reflection and
without principle. He fought bravely
for his country and he bled in her cause;
but his country owed him no returns of
gratitude, for his subsequent conduct pro
ved, that he had no honest regard to her

ARNOLD.

ASHLEY.

55

interests, but was governed by selfish
considerations. His progress from self
indulgence to treason was easy and rapid.
He was vain and luxurious, and to gratify
his giddy desires he must resort to mean
ness, dishonesty, and extortion. These
vices brought with them disgrace; and the
contempt, into which he fell, awakened a
spirit of revenge, and left him to the un
restrained influence of his cupidity and
passipn. Thus from the high fame, to
which his bravery had elevated him, he
descended into infamy. Thus too he
furnished new evidence ofthe infatuation
of the human mind in attaching such val
ue to the reputation of a soldier, which
may be obtained, while the heart is un
sound and every moral sentiment is en
tirely depraved. — Ann. register for J 781,
37-49, 73 ; Marshall's Washington, iv.
271 — 290; Warren's hist, war; Holmes;
Stedman, 1. 138, 336; n.247; Gordon,u,
8, 128; 165, 463; m. 480; iv. 115, 178 ;
Amer, museum, ix, 144; Smith's narror-
tive of the death of Andre; Maine hist,
col, i; Amerrememb,m6,partii,; 1778,
p. 2; Massa, hist. col. 2d ser. ii. 227.
ARNOLD, Peleg, chief justice of
Rhode Island, was a delegate to congress
under the confederation and afterwards
appointed judge. He died at Smithfield
Feb. 13, 1820, aged 68.— Thomas Ar
nold, appointed chief justice in 1809, di
ed at Warwick Oct. 8, 1820.
ARNOLD, Josiah Lyndon, a poet,
was born at Providence and was gradua
ted at Dartmouth college in 1788. After
superintending for some time the academy
at Plainfield, Con., he studied law at
Providence and was admitted to the bar ;
but he did not pursue the profession, be
ing appointed a tutor in the college. On
the death, March 1793, of his father. Dr.
Jonathan Arnold, formerly a member of
congress, he settled at St. Johnsbury, Vt,
the place of his father's residence, where
he died June 7, 1796, aged 28 years. His
few hasty effusions in verse were pub
hshed after his death.—- Spec. Amer. po
et. II. 77.
ASBURY, Francis, senior bishop of
the methodist episcopal church in the

United States, came to this country in
1771 as a preacher at the age of 26. In
1773 the first annual conference of the
methodists was held at Philadelphia,when
it consisted of ten preachers and about
eleven hundred members. He was con
secrated bishop by Dr. Coke in 1784.
From this time he travelled yearly through
the U. States, probably ordaining 8,000
preachers and preaching 17,000 sermons.
He died suddenly whfle on a journey, at
Spotsylvania, Va., March 31, 1816, aged
70 years. A letter from J. W. Bond to
bishop M'Kendree gives an account of
his death.
ASH, John, an agent of Carolina, was
sent by that colohy to England to seek
redress of grievances in 1703. In the
same year he pubhshed an account of the
affairs in Carolina.
ASHE, Samuel, governor of North
Carolina; was appointed chief justice in
1777, and was governor from 1796 to,
1799. He died Jan. 1813, aged 88 years.
ASHLEY, Jonathan, minister of Deer-
field, Mass., was graduated at Yale col
lege in 1730, and was ordained in 1738w
He died in 1780, aged 67. He possessed
a strong and discerning mind and fively
imagination, and was a pungent and ener
getic preacher. He proclaimed the docr
trines of grace with a pathos, which was
the effeqt, not merely of his assent to their
divine authority, but of a deep sense of
their importance and exceUency. — He
pubUshed a sermpn on visible saints, vin
dicating Mr. Stoddard's sentiments res
pecting church membership ; a sermon
at the ordination of John Norton, Deer-
field, 1741 ; the great duty of charity,
1742 ; a letter to W. Cooper, 1745.—
Redeem, captive, 6th ed, 213.
ASHLEY, John, maj. general, -was
the son of col. John Ashley, one of the
settlers in 1732 of Houssatonnoc, after
wards Sheffield, and judge of the court of
common pleas, — and was graduated at
Yale College in 1758. In the Shays' in
surrection he commanded the force,which
disjiersed the insurgents at Sheffield Feb.
26, 1787. He died Nov. 5, 1799, aged
60. — Hist, Berkshire, 213.

56

ASHMUN.

ASHMUN, Jehudi, agent of the
American Colonization society, was born
of pious parents in Champlain, on the
western shore of the lake of the same
name. New York, in April, 1794. In
early life he was an unbeliever ; but it
pleased God to disclose to him the ini
quity of his heart and his need pf mercy
and the value and glory of the gospel.
He graduated at BurUngton college in
1816, and after preparing for the minis
try was elected a professor in the theologi
cal seminary at Bangor, Maine, in which
place, however, he continued but a short
time. Removing to ihe district of Co-
iumbia, he became a member of the epis
copal church, edited the Theological Re
pertory and published his memoirs of
Rev. Samuel Bacon. He also projected
a monthly journal for the American Co
lonization Society, and published one
number -; but the work failed for want of
patronage. Being appointed to take
charge of a reinforcement to the colony
at Liberia, he embarked for Africa, June
19, 1822, and arrived at cape Montserado
Aug. 8th. He had authority, in case he.
should find no agent there, to act as such
for the society and also for the navy de
partment. In the absence ofthe agents,
it was at a period of great difficulty, that
he assumed the agency. .The settlers
were few and surrounded with numerous
enemies. It was necessary for him to
act as a legislator and also as a soldier
and engineer, to lay out the fortifica
tions, superintending the construction,
and this too in the time of affliction from
the loss of his wife and while suffering
himself under a fever, and to animate the
emigrants to the resolute purpose of self-
defence. About three months after his
arrival, just as he was beginning to re
cover strength, and while his whole force
was thirty five men and boys, he was at
tacked at the dawn of day, Nov. 11, by
800 armed savages; but by the energy &
desperate valor of the agent the assailants
were repulsed with the loss of 4 colonists
kflled, and 4 wounded, and again in a
few days, when they returned with re
doubled numbers, were utterly defeated

ASPINWALL.
Here was a memorable display of heroism.
The same energy, diligence, and courage
were displayed in all his labors for the
benefit of the colony. When iU health
compelled him to take a voyage to Ameri
ca he was escorted to the place of embar
kation March 26, 1828 by three companies
ofthe mifitia, and the men, women ahd
children of Monrovia parted with him
with tears. He left a community of
1200 freemen. The vessel touched and
landed him at St. Bartholomews in very
ill health. He arrived at New Haven
Aug. lOthj a fortnight before his death.
In his sickness he was very humble and
patient. He said: "I have come here to
die. It is hard to be broken down by the
slow progress of disease. I wish to be
submissive. My sins, my sins ; they
seem to shut me out from that comfort,
which I wish to enjoy." — "I have been
praying for light ; and a littie Ught has
come, cheering and refreshing beyond ex
pression." He died in the evening of
Aug. 25, 1828, aged 34 years. An elo
quent discourse was preachedby Leonard
Bacon at his funeral, describing his remar
kable character, the important influence
On the tribes of Africa of his piety and re
gard to justice, and his great services for
the coloi>ists. He was, as Mrs, Sigour-
ney represents,
**Their leader, when the blast
Of ruthless war swept by ; —
Their teacher, when the storm was past,
Their guide to worlds on high."
Mr. Gurley, the editor of the African
Repository, is preparing an account of
his fife. In the Repository various com
munications, written by Mr. Ashmun,
were pubfished: his memoirs of S. Bacon
have been already mentioned. — Afric,
Repos, IV. 214—224,286; Christian
Sped, II. 528 ; N, Y, Merc, i. 13.
/"aSPINWALL, William, m. d., an
eminent physician, was born in Brookhne,
Massa., in June 1743, and graduated at
Cambridge in 1764. Hisancestor, Peter,
was the first settler in Brookline in 1 650.
Dr. AspinwaU studied his profession with
Dr. B. Gale of Connecticut and at Phila-
I delphia, where he received his medical de-

ATHERTON.

ATLEE.

gree in 1763. In the war ofthe revolu
tion he acted as a surgeon in the army.
In the battle of Lexington he served as a
volunteer and bore from the field the
corpse of his townsman, Isaac Gardner,
Esq., whose daughter he afterwards mar
ried. After the death of Dr. Boylston he
engaged in the business of inoculating for
the small pox, and erected hospitals for
the purpose. Perhaps no man in Ameri
ca ever inoculated so many, or had such
reputation for skiU in that disease. Yet,
when the vaccine inoculalion was intro
duced, after a proper trial he acknowl
edged its efficacy and rehnquished his own
profitable estabUshment. For 45 years
he had extensive practice, frequently ri
ding on horse back 40 miles a day. In
his youth he lost the use of one eye; in
his old age a cataract deprived him ofthe
other. He died Aprfl 16, 1823, in his
80th year, in the peace of one, who had
long professed therefigion of Jesus Christ
and practised its duties. At the bed of
sickness he was accustomed to give reli
gious counsel. His testimony in favor of
the gospel he regarded as his best legacy
to his children. In his political views he
was decidedly democratic or republican;
yet he was not a persecutor, and when-
in the councfl he resisted the measures of
-the violent. He was anxious, that wise
and good men . should bear sway, and
¦ that all benevolent and reUgious institu
tions should be perpetuated. His son of
the same name succeeded him in his pro
fession. Another son, col. Thomas As
pinwaU, lost an arm in the war of 1812
and was afterwards appointed consul at
London. — Thacher's med, biogt
ATHERTON, Humphrey, major ge
neral, came to this country about the
year 1636, succeeded Rob. Sedgwick in
his mifitary office in 1654, and was much
employed in negotiations with the Indi
ans. He died, in consequence of a fall
. from his horse Sep. 17, 1661. His resi
dence was at Dorchester. Among his
children are the names of Rest, Increase,
Thankful, Hope, Consider, Watching,
and Patience. — Hope, a graduate of 1665,
was. the first minister of Hatfield. As
8

chaplain he wa^ at the Indian battle In
Montague, May 18, 1676.— Farmer's
geneal, rcgist. ; Savage's Winthrop, ii.
137; M.hist. col.
ATKINS, Henry, a navigator, sailed
from Boston in the ship Whale, on a voy
age to Davis' straits, in 1729. In this and
in subsequent voyages for the purpose of
trade with the Indians, the last of which
was made in 1758, he explored muph of
the coast of Labrador. A short account
of his observations was published in the
first vol. of Massa. historical collections.
ATKINSON, Theodore, chief justice
of New Hampshire was born at New Cas
tle, son of col. Theodore Atkinson, and
graduated at Harvard college in 1718.
He sustained many public offices, civil and
military ; was secretary in 1741 ; a dele
gate to the congress at Albany in 1754,
and chief justice in the same year. The
revolution deprived him of the offices of
judge and secretary. He died in 1779,
bequeathing 2Q0Z to the episcopal church,
the interest to be expentied in hread for
the poor, distributed on the sabbath. —
Adams' ann. Portsm, 269.
,, ATKINSON, Israel, an eminent phy
sician, was a native of Harvard, Mass. &
graduated at Cambridge in 1762. He
settled in 1765, at Lancaster, where he
died July 20, 1822, aged 82. For some
years he was the only physician in the
county of Worcester, who had been well
educated. — Thacher's med, biog,
ATLEE, Samuel John, colonel, com
manded a Pennsylvania company in the
French war & a regiment in the war ofthe
revolution, & acquired great honor in the
battle on L. Island, tho' taken prisoner &
subject to a long captivity. Afterwards he
acted as commissioner to treat with the
Indians.In 1780 he was elected to congress
and was on the committee concerning the
mutiny, of the Pennsylvania troops in
1781. His usual residence was at Lancas
ter. He died at Philadelphia Nov. 25, 1786,
aged 48. — WAUam Augustus Atlee, a
judge of the supreme court and president
ofthe common pleas for Lancaster and
other counties, died at his seat on the
Susquehanna Sept. 9, \793.— Jennison.

58

AUCHMUTY.

AUSTIN.

AUCHMUTY, Robert, an eminent
lawyer, was of Scottish descent, and after
his education at Dubfin studied law at
the Temple. He came to Boston in
early life ; and on the death of Mr.
Menzies was appointed judge of- the
court of admiralty in 1703, but held the
place only a few months. In 1740 he
was one of the directors of the Land
Bank bubble, or Manufacturing company,
in which the father of Samuel Adams was
involved. When sent to England as
agent for the colony on the boundary
question with Rhode Island, he projected
the expedition to cape Breton, pubfish-
ing a pamphlet, entitled, " the impor
tance of cape Breton to the British na
tion, and a plan for taking the place."
On the death of Byfield he was again
appointed judge of admiralty in 1733.
He died April 1750. — His daughter mar
ried Mr. Pratt. His son Samuel, gradu
ated at Harvard college in 1742, was an
episcopal minister in New York, and re
ceived the degree of doctor in divinity
from Oxford. He died March 3, 1777;
and his son, sir Samuel, lieut. general in
the British army,diedin 1822. — His name
is introduced in the versification of Hugh
Gaine's petition, Jan. 1, 1783. He is
alluded to also in TrumbuU's M'Fingal. —
His other son, Robert, a most interesting,
persuasive pleader, defended with John
Adams capt. Preston. He had previ
ously been appointed judge of admiralty
in 1768. His letters, with Hutchinson's,
were sent to America by Franklin in
1773. Like his brother, he was a zealous
royalist, and left America in 1776. He
died in England. — Jennison, ms; Thom
as, n. 4S8; Hutchinson's last hist. 401;
Mass. hist. eol. v. 202 ; Eliot.
AUSTIN, Benjamin, a political wri
ter, early espoused the democratic or re
publican side in the political controversy,
which raged during the administration of
John Adams. He was bold, unflinching,
uncompromising. He assailed others for
their political errors ; and he was himself
traduced with the utmost virulence.
Perhaps no man ever met such a tide of
obloquy. Yet many, who once detested

his party, have since united themselves
to it. After the triumph of Mr. Jefferson,
he was appointed, without soliciting the
place, commissioner of Loans for Mass.
In'1806 his son, Charles Austin, when
attempting to chastise Mr. Selfridge for
abuse of his father, was by him shot and
killed in the streets of Boston. Mr. S.
was tried and acquitted. Mr. Austin
died May 4, 1820, aged 68 years. His
political writings, with the signature of
'Old South,' published in the Chronicle,
were collected into a volume,entitied' Con
stitutional Republicanism,' Svo. 1803.
His brother, Jonathan Loring Austin,
successively secretary and Treasurer of
Massa. died in May 1826.
AUSTIN, Moses, an enterprising set
tler in upper Louisiana, was a native of
Durham, Con, and after residing in Phila
delphia and Richmond emigrated to the
west with his family in 1798, having ob
tained a considerable grant of land from
the Spanish governor. He commenced
the business of mining at Mine au Breton,
ahd created there a town; but becoming
embarrassed by his speculations, he sold
his estate and purchased a large tract near
the mouth of the river Colorado, in Mex
ico. Ere his arrangements for removal
were completed, he died in 1821. Believ
ing the gospel, he placed his hopes of fu
ture happiness on the atonement of the
SavioT.—Schoolcraft's trav, 1821, p. 239
-250. AUSTIN, Samuel, d.d., president of
the university of Vermont, was gradua
ted at Yale college in 1783, and ordained,
as the successor of Allyn Mather, at
Fairhaven, Conn., Nov, 9, 1786, but was
dismissed Jan. 19, 1790. He was after
wards for many years pastor of a church
in Worcester, Mass. He was but a few
years at the head of the college in Bur
Ungton. After his resignation of that
place he was not resettled in the ministry.
He died at Glastonbury, Con., Dec. 4,
1830, aged 70 years. He was eminently
pious and distinguished as a nunister.
He published letters on baptism, exam
ining Merrill's 7 sermons, 1805 ; reply to
Merrill's 12 letters, 1806 ; and the fol-

AVERY.

BACKUS.

59

lowing sermons, — on disinterested love,
1790 ; on the death of Mrs. Blair, 1792 ;
Massa. missionary, 1803 ; dedication at
Hadley ; ordination of W. Fay, and of
J. M. Whiton, 1808 ; at a fast 1811 ; at
two fasts, 1812.
AVERY, John, a minister, came to this
country in 1635. While sailing from
Newbury towards Marblehead, where he
proposed to settle, he was shipwrecked in
a violent storm Aug. 14, 1635 on a rocky
island, called Thacher's wo, and Avery's
fall, and died with his wife and six chil
dren. — Mr. A. Thacher escaped. — His
last words were : "I can lay no claim to
deUverance from this danger, but through
the satisfaction of Christ I can lay claim
to heaven: this. Lord, I entreat of thee."
— Magnal. in. 77; Savage, 1. 165; Eliot.
AXTELL, Henry, d.d., minister of
Geneva, New York, was born at Mend-
ham, N. J. in 1773, and graduated at
Princeton in 1796. He went to Geneva
soon after the settlement of that part of
the state, and was very useful. At the
time of his ordination in 1812 his church
consisted of 70 members: at the time of
his death of about 400. In two revivals
his labors had been particularly blessed.
He died Feb. 1 1, 1829, aged 55. His el
dest daughter was placed in the same
grave. BACHE, Richard, postmaster general
of the United States, was appointed in
the place of Dr. Franklin in Nov. 1776,
and was succeeded by Mr. Hazard in
1782. A native of England, he came in
early fife to this country, and was at the
beginning ofthe revolution chairman of
the republican society in Philadelphia
He married in 1767 Sally, theonly daugh
ter of Dr. Frankhn, who died in Oct
1808 ; he died at Settle in the county of
Berks, Penn., July 29, 1811, aged 74.
BACHE, Benjamin FrankUn, a prin
ter, was the son of the preceding, and
accompamed Dr.Frankfin to Paris, where
he completed his education as a prin
ter and founder in the printing house of
the celebrated Didot. After his return
in 1785 he pursued with honor his studies
at the college of Philadelphia. In Oct.

1790 he commenced the publication of
the General Advertiser,the name of which
was afterwards changed to that pf the
Aurora, — a paper, which under the direc
tion of Mr. Bache and his successor, Mr.
Duane, exerted a powerful influence on
the politics of the country in hostihty to
the two first administrations. Mr. Bache
died in 1799 ; his widow married Mr.
Duane. — Jennison's ms.
BACKUS, Isaac, a distinguished bap
tist minister of Massachusetts, was born
at Norwich in Connecticut, in 1724. In
1741, a year memorable for the revival of
refigion through this country, his atten
tion was first arrested by the concerns of
anpther world, and he was brought, as he
believed, to the knowledge of the truth,
as it is in Jesus. In 1746 he commenced
preaching the gospel; and Aprfl 13, 1748
he was ordained first minister of a congre
gational church in Titicut precinct, in the
town of Middleborough, Massachusetts.
This society was formed in Feb. 1743 in
consequence of disputes with regard to
the settlement of a minister. The mem
bers of it wished for a minister of different
sentiments from the man, who was settled,
and as they could not obtain a dismission
from the church by an ecclesiastical coun
cil, at the end of five years they with
drew without this sanction, and formed a
churchby themselves in Feb. 1748. The
society, however, was not permitted now
to rest in peace, for they were taxed with
the other inhabitants ofthe town for the
purpose of building a new meeting house
for the first church.
In 1749 a number of the members of
Mr. Backus' church altered their senti
ments with regard to baptism, and obtai
ned an exemption from the congregation
al tax ; and he at length united with them
in opinion. He was baptized by immer
sion inAUgustl751. For some years af
terwards he held communion with those,
who were baptized in infancy, but he
¦mthdrew from this intercourse with
christians of other denominations. A
baptist church was formed January 16,
1756, and he was installed its pastor June
23 of the same year by ministers from

60

BACKUS.

Boston and Rehoboth. In this relation
he continued through the remainder of
his hfe. He died Nov. 20, 1806, aged
82 years. He had been enabled to preach
nearly 60 years until the spring before his
death, when he experienced a paralytic
stroke, which deprived him of speech,
and of the use of his limbs.
Mr Backus was a plain, evangeUcal
preacher, without any pretensions to elo
quence. It may be ascribed to his natu
ral diffidence that, when preaching or
conversing on important subjects, he was
in the habit of shutting his eyes. To his
exertions the baptist churches in America
owe not a Uttle of their present flourishing
condition. He was ever a zealous friend
to the equal rights of christians. When
the congress met at Philadelphia in 1774,
he was sent as an agent from the baptist
churches of the Warren association to
support their claims to the same equal li
berties, which ought to be given to every
denomination. In October he had a con
ference with the Massachusetts delega
tion and others, at which he contended
only for the same privileges, which were
given to the churches in Boston ; and he
received the promise, that the rights of
the baptists should be regarded. On his
return, as a report had preceded him,
that he had been attempting to break up
the union of the colonies, he addressed
himself to the convention of Massa. Dec.
9, and a vote was passed, declaring his
conduct to have been correct. When
the convention in 1779 took into consi
deration the constitution of the state, the
subject ofthe extent ofthe civil power in
jegard to religion naturally presented it-
seUj and in the course of debate the per
fect correctness of the baptist memorial,
whieh was read at Philadelphia, was cal-
Jedin question. In consequence of which
Mr. Backus published in the Chronicle
of Dec. 2d a narrative of his proceedings
as baptist agent, and brought arguments
against an article jn the bifl of rights of
the constitution of Massachusetts. He
believed, that the civil authority had no
right to require men to support a teacher
jof piety, morahty, apd religionj oi to at

tend public worship ; that the church
ought to have no connexion with the
state ; that the kingdom ofthe Lord Je
sus was not of this world, and was not de
pendent on the kingdoms of this world ;
and that the subject of religion should be
left entirely to the consciences of men.
The publications of Mr Backus are
more numerous, than those of any other
baptist writer in America. An abridge
ment of the whole work was published in
one volume, when the author was 80
years of age.
Little can be said in commendation of
his 3 volumes of the history of the Bap
tists, of which he published an abridge
ment, brought down to 1 804. It contains
indeed many facts, for which the public
is indebted to the patient industry ofthe
writer, and it must be a very valuable
work to the baptists, as it presents a mi
nute account of almost every church of
that denomination in New England.
But these facts are combined without
much attention to the connexion, which
ought to subsist between them, and the
author shows himself too much under the
influence of the zeal of party. — Massa.
bqpt. miss, mag., i. 287, 288; Backus'
church hist. in. 139 — 141 ; Backus'
abridg. 209, 214 ; Benedict, ii. 267—274.
BACKUS, Charles, d. d., an emi-
nenf minister, was born in Norwich, Con
necticut, in 1749. He lost his parents in
his childhood, but, as he early discovered
a love of science, his friends assisted him
to a liberal education. He was graduated
at Yale CoUege in 1769. His theological
education was directed by Dr. Hart of
Preston. In 1774 he was ordained to
the pastoral charge ofthe church in So-
mers, in which town he remained till his
death, Dec. 30, 1803, after a faithful mi
nistry of more than 29 years. In the last
year of his residence at college the mind
of Dr. Backus was impressed by divine
truth, and, although his conduct had not
been immoral, he was deeply convinced of
his sinfulness in the sight of God. He was
for a time opposed to the doctrines of tiie
gospel, particularly to the doctrine ofthe
atonement, and of the dependence of man

BACKUS.

61

upon the special influences of the Holy
Spirit to renew his heart. But at last his
pride was humbled, and he was brought
to an acquaintance with the way of salva
tion by a crucified Redeemer. From this
time he indulged the hope, that he was
reconciled unto God. A humble & an ex
emplary christian, under the afflictions of
life he quietly submitted to the will of his
Father in heaven. He was a plain,
evangelical, impressive preacher. Know
ing the worth of immortal souls, he
taught with the greatest clearness the
way of salvation through faith in the
Redeemer, and enforced upon his hear
ers that hohness, without which no man
can see the Lord. During his ministry
there were four seasons of peculiar atten
tion to reUgion among his people. ¦ Dr.
Backus was eminent as a theologian. His
retired situation and his eminence as an
instructer drew around him many, who
were designed for the christian ministry.
Nearly fifty young men were members of
his theological school. In his last sick
ness he had much of the divine presence.
The last words, which he was heard to
whisper, were "glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good wiU
towards men." He published the follow
ing sermons ; at the ordination of Free-
grace Reynolds, 1795; of Tim.M. Cooley
and Joseph Russefl, 1796 ; of Thomas
Snell, 1798 ; five discourses on the truth
of the Bible,1797;acentury sermon, 1801;
a volume on regeneration.-Cora. mag. iv.
BACKUS, Azel, d. d., president of
Hamilton college, state of New York,
was the son of Jabez Backus of Norwich,
Con. His father bequeathed to him a
farm in Franklin, which, he says, " I
wisely exchanged for an education in col
lege." He was graduated at Yale in
1787. AVhile in college he was a deist ;
but his uncle and friend. Rev. Charles
Backus of Somers, won him from infidel-
\ ity through the divine blessing, & reared
him up for the ministry. From the time,
that he befieved the gospel, he gloried in
the cross. In early life he was ordained
as the successor of Dr. Bellamy at Beth-
lem, where he not only labored faithfully

in the ministry, but also instituted and
conducted a school of considerable cele
brity. After the establishment of Ham
ilton coflege, near Utiea, he was chosen
the first president. He died of the typhus
fever Dec. 28, 1816, aged 51, and was
succeeded by president Davis of Middle
bury college. He was a man of an orig
inal cast of thought, distinguished by sus
ceptibility and ardor of feeling and by vig
orous and active piety. Of his benevo
lence and goodness no one could doubt.
In bis sermons, though famiUar and not
perhaps sufficiently correct and elevated
in style, he was earnest, affectionate, and
faithful. He pubUshed a sermon on the-
death of gov* Wolcott, 1797;atthe elec
tion, 1798; at the ordination of John
Frost, Whitesborough, 181i.—Relig.
Intel. I. 527, 592 ; Panopl 13: 43.
BACON, Nathaniel, general, a Virgin
ia rebel, was educated at the Inns of court
in England, and after his arrival in this
country was chosen a member of the
council. He was a young man of fine
accomplishments, of an interesting coun
tenance, and of impressive eloquence.
The treachery of the English in the mur
der of six Woerowances or Indian chiefs,
who came out of a besieged fort in order
to negotiate a treaty, induced the sava
ges to take terrible vengeance, inhuman
ly slaughtering 60 for the 6, for they
thought, that ten for one was a just atone
ment for the loss of their great men.
Their incursions caused the frontier plan
tations to be abandoned. Thus did the
crime ofthe Virginians, as is always the
case with public crime, draw after it pun
ishment. The governor,Berkeley,resort-
ed to the wretched policy of building a
few forts on the frontiers, which could
have no effect in preventing the incur
sions of the savages, who quickly found
out, as an old history of the affair expres
ses it, "where the mouse traps were set."
The people, in their indignation, deter
mined on wiser and more active meas
ures. Having chosen Bacon as their
general, he sent to their governor for a
commission, but being refused, he march
ed without one at the head of 80 or 90

63

BACON.

men, and in a battle defeated the Indians
and destroyed their magazine. In the
mean time the governor, at the instiga
tion of men, who were envious ofthe
rising popularity of Bacon, proclaimed
him a rebel May 29, 1676 and marched a
force against him to " the middle planta
tion," or Wilhamsburg, but in a few days
returned to meet the assembly. Bacon
himself soon proceeded in a sloop with
30 men to Jamestown; but was taken by
surprise and put in irons. At his trial
before the governor and council, June 10,
he was acquitted and restored to the
council, and promised also in two days a
commission as general for the Indian war,
agreeably to the passionate wishes of the
people. Their regard to him will account
for his acquittance. As the governor re
fused to sign the promised commission.
Bacon soon appeared at the head of 500
men and obtained it by force. Thus was
he "crowned the darling of the people's
hopes and desires." Nor did the people
imisjudge as to his capacity to serve them.
By sending companies under select offi
cers into the different counties to scour
the thickets, swamps, and forests, where
the Indians might be sheltered, he re-
: stored the dispersed people to their plan
tations. While he was thus honorably
.employed, the governor again proclaimed
him a rebel. This measure induced him to
¦countermarch to Williamsburg, whence
he issued, Aug. 6, his declaration against
the governor and soon drove him across
the bay to Accomac. He also exacted of
the people an oath to support him against
the forces, employed by the governor.
He then prosecuted the Indian war. In
Sept. he again put the governor to flight
and burned Jamestown, consisting of 1 6
or 18 houses and a brick church, the first,
that was built in Virginia. At this peri
od he adopted a singular expedient to
prevent an attack by the governor, besieg
ed by him. He seized the wives of several
of the governor's adherents and brought
them into camp ; then sent word to their
husbands, that they would be placed in
the fore front of his men. Entirely suc
cessful on the western shore. Bacon was

about to cross the bay to attack the gov
ernor at Accomac, when he was called to
surrender up his fife "into the hands of
that grim and all conquering captain,
death." In his sickness he implored the
assistance of Mr. Wading, a minister, in
preparing for the future world. He died
Oct. 1, 1676, at the house of Dr. Green
in Gloucester county. The Enc. Amer.
mistakes in mentioning the house of Dr.
Pate, instead of Green. The poets, who
wrote his epitaph, belonged, fike the Vir
ginians, to different factions. That of
the hostile poet is ended with these lines :
"Death , keep him close :
"We have too many Divells still goe loose."
After the death of Bacon one Ingram,
a weak man, assumed his commission,
but was soon won over by the governor.
— Among his followers, who were execu
ted, was col. Hansford, who, with the
feehngs of maj. Andre, had no favor to
ask, but that "he might be shot like a sol
dier, and not be hanged like a dog ;" also
captains Carver and Farlow and Wilford.
Maj. Cheisman died in prison. Drum-
mond also, formerly governor of Caroli
na, and col. Richard Lawrence were
victims of this civU war, which, besides
the loss of valuable lives, cost the colony
100,000 pounds. After reading the his
tory of this rebellion, one is ready to per
suade himself, that its existence might have
been prevented, had the governor consul
ted the wishes of the people by giving
Bacon the command in the Indian war;
had he been faithful to his own promise;
had he not yielded to the envious or ma
lignant counsels of others. Had Bacon
lived and been triumphant, he would
probably have been remembered, not
as an insurgent, but as the deliverer of
his country. Yet it is very obvious, that
under an organized government he did
not prove himself a good citizen, but was
an artful demagogue, & borne away by a
reprehensible and rash ambition. — Death
of Bacon; Keith's hist of Virginia, 156-
162; Holmes, i; Chalmers, i. 832—335 ;
Beverly, 105; Wynne,u, 222, 223 ;Mar-
shall, 1. 198 — 201 ; Mass. hist. col. n. s.
1 1. 72—80.

BACON.

BADGER.

63

BACON, Thomas, an episcopal min
ister at Frederictown, Maryland, died
May 24, 1768. He compiled " a complete
system of the revenue of Ireland," pub
lished in 1737 ; also a complete body of
the laws of Maryland, fol., 1765. He
also wrote other valuable pieces. — Jenn.
BACON, John, minister, of Boston,
was a native of Canterbury, Con., and
was graduated at the college of New Jer
sey in 1765. After preaching for a time
in Somerset county, Maryland, he and
Mr. John Hunt were settled as colleague
pastors over the old south church in Bos
ton, as successors of Mr. Blair, Sept. 25,
1771. His style of preaching was argu
mentative ; his manner approaching the
severe. Difficulties soon sprung up in
regard to the doctrines of the atonement
and of imputation and the administration
of baptism on the half way covenant,
which led to the dismission of Mr. Ba
con Feb. 8, 1775. His -views seem to
to have been such, as now prevail in New
England, while his church advocated
lunited atonement and the notion of the
actual transference of the sins of believ
ers to CJirist and of his obedience to them.
Probably the more popular talents of Mr.
Hunt had some influence in creating the
difficulty. Mr. Bacon removed to Stock-
bridge, Berkshire county, where he died
Oct. 25, 1820. Hb was a magistrate ; a
representative ; associate and presiding
judge of the common pleas ; a member
and president of the state senate ; and a
member of congress. In his pohtical
views he accorded with the party of Mr.
Jefferson. He married the widow of his
predecessor, Mr. Gumming. She was
the daughter of Ezekiel Goldthwait, reg
ister of deeds for Suffolk. His son, Eze
kiel Bacon, was a distinguished member
of congress just before the war of 1812.
He published a sermon after his installa
tion, 1772 ; an answer to Huntington on
a case of disciphne, 1781 ; speech on the
courts of U. S. 1802 ; conjectures on the
prophecies, 1805. — Wisner's hist. O. S.
church, 33 ; Hist, of Berkshire, 104,201.
BACON, Samuel, agent of the Amer
ican government for establishing a colony

in Africa, was an episcopivl clergyman.
He proceeded in the Elizabeth to Sierra
Leone with 82 colored people, accompa
nied by Mr. Bankson, also agent, and Dr,
Crozer; and arrived March 9, 1820. The
Augusta schooner was purchased and the
people and stores were transhipped, and
carried to Campelar in Sherbro river
March 20th. Dr. Crozer and Mr. Bank-
son died in a few weeks, and Mr. Bacon
being taken ill on the 17th Aprfl proceed
ed to Kent, at cape Shilling, but died
two days after his arrival, on the third of
May. Many others died. The circular
ofthe colonization society, signed by E.
B. Caldwell Oct. 26, describes this disas
trous expedition. — Memoirs by Ashmun.
BADGER, Stephen, minister of Na
tick, Massa., was born in Charlestown in
1725 of humble parentage, and graduated
at Harvard college in 1747, his name be
ing last in the catalogue, when the names
were arranged according to parental dig
nity. Employed by the commissioners
for propagating the gospel in New Eng
land, he was ordained as missionary over
the Indians at Natick, as successor of
Mr. Peabody, March 27, 1753, and died
Aug. 28, 1803, aged 78 years. Mr. Big-
low represents him as in reaUty a unitari
an, although not avowedly such. — He
pubUshed a letter from a pastor against
the demand of a confession of particulair
sins in order to church fellowship ; a let
ter concerning the Indians in the Mass.
hist, collections, dated 1797 ; and two
discourses on drunkenness, 1774, recent
ly reprinted. In his letter concerning
the Indians he states, that deacon Eph
raim, a good christian Indian of his
church, on being asked how it was to be
accounted for,that Indian youth,virtuous-
ly educated in English families,were apt,
when losing the restraints, under which
they had been brought up, to become
indolent and intemperate like others, re
plied — ' Ducks will be ducks, notwith
standing they are hatched by the hen,'
— or in his own imperfect English —
' Tucks will be tucks, for all ole hen he
hatchum.' — Another Indian of Natick
once purchased a dram at a shop in Bos-

64

BADLAM.

BAILY.

ton and the next spring, after drinking
rum at the same shop, found that the
price of the poison was doubled. On in
quiring the reason, the dealer replied,
that he had kept the cask over winter
and it -was as expensive, as to keep a
horse. " Hah," repUed the Indian, " he
no -eat .so much hay ; but I believe he
drink as much water !" — Of the strength
of rum the Naticks were unhappily too
good judges. It is deplorable, that in
aJ97 there were among the Natick In
dians, for whom the apostolic EUot la-
t)ored, only .two or three church members,
and not one, who could speak their lan-
¦guage, into which he translated the Bi
ble. Among the many causes of their
degeneracy maybe mentioned the sale of
¦their lands, their intermixure with blacks
and tw-hites, leaving only about 20 clear
blooded Indians, their unconquerable in
dolence and propensity to excess, and
-perhaps the want of zeal on the part of
(their rehgious teachers. — In 1 670 there
were 40 or 50 church members. The
number of Indians in 1749 was 160 ; in
1763 only 37. The war of 1759 and a
putrid fever had destroyed many of them.
— Bigloie's hist. Natick, 59—69, 77 ;
Col. hist. soc. V. 32 — 45.
BADLAM, Stephen, brigadier gener
al of the militia, was born in Canton,
Mass., and joined the American army in
1775. In the next year, as major of ar
tillery, he took possession, July 4th, of
the mount, which from that circumstance
was called Mount Independence. He did
good service with his fieldpiece in the
action at fort Stanwix, under Willett, in
Aug. 1777. His residence was at Dor
chester, where he was an eminently use
ful citizen, acting as a magistrate and a
deacon of the church. — Codman's fun.
aerm.; Panopl. xi. 572; Amer. rem.
1777,449. BAILY, John, an excellent minister in
Boston, was born in 1 644 in Lancashire,
England, From his earliest years his
mind seems to have been impressed by
the truths of religion. While he was yet
very young, his mother one day persua
•ded him to lead the devotions of the fam

ily. When his father, who was a very
dissolute man, heard of it, his heart was
touched with a sense of his sin in the
neglect of this duty, and he became after
wards an eminent christian. After hav
ing been carefully instructed in classical
learning, he commenced preaching the
gospel about the age of 22. He soon
went to Ireland, whereby frequent labors
he much injured his health, which was
never perfectly restored . He spent about
14 years of his life at Limerick, and was
exceedingly blessed in his exertions to
turn men from darkness to light. Yet,
while in this place as well as previously,
he was persecuted by men, who were
contending for form and ceremony in vio
lation ofthe precepts and the spirit ofthe
gospel. While he was a young man, he
often travelled far by night to enjoy the
ordinances ofthe gospel, privately admin
istered in dissenting congregations, and
for this presumptuous offence . he was
sometimes thrown into Lancashire jail.
As soon as he began to preach, his fidelity
was tried, and he suffered imprisonment
because in his conscience he could not
conform to the established church.
While at Limerick a deanery was offered
him, if he would conform, with the prom
ise of a bishopric upon the first vacancy.
But disdaining worldly things, when
they came in competition with duty to
his Savior and the purity of divine wor
ship, he rejected the offer in true disinter
estedness and elevation of spirit. But
neither this proof, that he was intent on
higher objects, than this world presents,
nor the blamelessness of his fife, nor the
strong hold, which he had in the affec
tions of his acquaintance, could preserve
him from again suffering the hardships
of imprisonment, while the papists in the
neighborhood enjoyed liberty and coun
tenance. When he was before the
judges, he said to them, " if I had been
drinking, and gaming, and carousing at a
tavern with my company, my lords, I
presume, that would not have procured
my being thus treated as an offender.
Must praying to God, and preaching of
Christ with a company of christians, who

BACON.

BALCH.

65

are peaceable and inoffensive and as ser
viceable to his majesty and the govern
ment as any of his subjects ;must this be
a greater crime ?" The recorder answer
ed, "we wifl have you to know it is a
greater crime." His flock often fasted
and prayed for his release ; but he was
discharged on this condition only, that he
should depart from the country within a
limited time.
He came to New England in 1684, and
Avas ordained the mimster of Watertown,
Oct. 6, 1636, with his brother, Thomas
Bailey, as his assistant ; he removed to
Boston in 1692, and became assistant
minister ofthe first church July 17, 1693,
succeeding Mr. Moody. Here he contin
ued tUl his death Dec. 12, 1697, aged 53.
In 1696 Mr. Wadsworth was settled. His
brother, Thomas,who died in Watertown
in Jan. 1689, wrote Latin odes at Lindsay
in 1668, which are in manuscript in the
library ofthe Mass. hist, society.
He was a man eminent for piety, of
great sensibility of conscience, and very
exemplary in his life. It was his constant
desire to be patient and resigned under
the calamities, which were appointed him,
and to fix his heart more Upon things
above. — His ministry was very acceptable
in different places , and he was a warm and
animated preacher. Dunton says, "I
heard him upon these words^Looking
unto Jesus — and I thought, he spake Uke
an angel." But with aU his faithfulness
he saw many disconsolate hours. He
was distresseti with doubts respecting him
self; but his apprehensions only attached
him the more closely to his Redeemer.
In his last sickness he suffered under a
conapfication of disorders ; but he did not
complain. His mind was soothed in
dwelUngupon the sufferings of his Savior,
At times he was agitated with fears, tho
they had not respect, as he said, so much
to the end, as to what he might meet in
the way. His last words were, speaking
of Christ, " O, what shafl I say ? He is
altogether lo-vely. His gloriou.s angels
are come for me !" He then closed his
eyes, and his spirit passed into etenuty.
He pubUshed an address to the people of
9

Limerick ; and man's chief end to glorify
God, a sermon preached at Watertown,
\689.—Middleton's biog. evdng. iv. 101
— 105 ; Nonconform, memorial, i. 331 —
335; Mather's fun. serm.; Magnalia,
III. 224—238 ; Eliot ; Farmer.
BALCH,William,ministe.r of Bradford,
Massa., was born at Beverly in l704 and
graduated in 1724. He was a descendant
of John Balch, who came to this country
about 1625 and died at Salem in 1648.
Ordained in 1728 over the second chuich
in Bradford, he there passed his days, and
died Jan. 12, 1792, aged 87 years.
About the year 1742 or 1743 several
members, a minority, of his church, dis
satisfied with his preaching, applied to a
neighboring church to admonish their
pastor, agreeably to the Platform. A
council was convened, which censured
the conduct of the complainants. But in
1746 Mr. Wigglesworth and Mr. Chip-
man, ministers of Ipswich and Beverly,
accused Mr. Balch of propagating Ar-
minian tenets. He wrote a reply, ¦ ming
ling keen satire with solid argument.
After this, they, who were dissatisfied
with Mr. Balch, buflt a meeting house
for themselves. In his old age he received
a cofleague. He lived in retirement,,occu-
pied in agriculture, and raising the best
apples in Essex. His mental powers re
tained their vigor in old age. New wri
tings delighted him ; and he engaged.free-
,ly in theological discussion. — He publish
ed the following discourses ; on reconcilia
tion 1740; faith & works, 1743; at the elec-
tion,1749;at theconvention,1760; account
of the proceedings of the 2nd church; reply
to Wigglesworth and Chipman, 1746.—
Eliot; M. hist, col iv.s, s, 145.
BALDWIN, Ebenezer, minister of
Danbury, Connecticut, was graduated at
Yalecollege in 1763, and was tutor in
that seminary from 1766 to 1770. He
was ordained as supcesaor of Mr, Warner
and Mr. White, September 19, 1770,
& died Oct. 1, 1776, 3ged 3J years. He
was a man of great talents and learning,
an unwearied student, grave in manners,
and an able supporter of the sound doc
trines ofthe gospel. He left a legacy pf

66

BALDWIN.

about 300 pounds to his society, which
is appropriated to the support of reUgion.
— Bobbins' cent. serm.
BALDWIN, Abraham,a distinguished
statesman, was born in Connecticut in
1754 and graduated at Yale college in
1772. From 1775 to 1779 he was a
tutor in that seminary, being an eminent
classical and mathematical scholar. Hav
ing studied law, he removed to Savannah
and was admitted a counsellor at the
Georgia bar, and in three months was
elected a member of the state legislature.
At the first session he originated the plan
of the university of Georgia, drew up the
charter, by which it was endowed with
40,000 acres of land, and, vanquishing
many prejudices, by the aid of John Mil-
ledge persuaded the assembly to adopt the
project. The college was located at
Athens, and Josiah Meigs was appointed
its first president. Being elected a dele
gate to congress in 1786, he was an ac
tive member of the convention, which
formed the present constitution of the
United States, during its session from
May 25 to Sep. 17,1787. After its adop
tion he was continued a member of con
gress until 1799, when he was appointed
as colleague with Mr. Milledge a senator,
in T\diich station he remained until his
death, at Washington city, March 4,
1807, aged 53 years. His remains were
placed by the side of his friend and former
coUeague, general Jackson, whom he had
followed to the grave just oneyear before.
He was the brother in lawof Joel Barlow.
Having never been married, his economy
put it in his power to assist many young
men in their education. His father dying
in 1787 with Uttle property, six orphan
children, his half brothers and sisters,
were protected and educated by hun, and
owed every thing to his care and affec
tion. In pubhc life he was industrious &
faithful. Though firm in his own re
publican principles during the contests
of the last ten years of his fife, he was yet
moderate, and indulgent towards his op
ponents. Untfl a week before his death
his pubfic services for 22 years had been
uninterrupted by sickness.— iVaf. InteU,

B.\LDWIN, Thomas, D. D.,a baptist
minister in Boston, was born in Norwich,
Con. Dec, 23, 1753. After he had remov
ed to Canaan, in New Hampshire he be
came pious, and joined the baptist church
in 1781. It was with pain, that he thus
forsook his connexions and early friends,
for he had been educated a pedo-bap-
tist and his venerable minister at Nor-wich
was his grand uncle. Having for some
time conducted the rehgous exercises at
pubfic meetings,in Aug. 1782 he ventured
for the first time to take a text and preach
doctrinally and methodically. His advan
tages for intellectual culture had been
few. At the request ofthe church he was
ordained June 11, 1783 as an evangelist,
and he performed the duties of pastor for
seven years, besides preaching often du
ring each week in the towns within a
circle of 50 miles, " chiefly at his own
charges," sometimes receiving small pres
ents, but never having a public contri
bution. In these journeys he was obliged
to cUmb rocky steeps and to pass through
dismal swamps ; and as the poor people
hadno silver,and the continental currency
was good for nothing, sometimes the
travelling preacher was obliged either to
beg or to starve. For several years he
was chosen a member of the legislature.
In 1790 he was invited to Boston, as
the pastor of the second baptist church.
He now successfully pursued a course of
study, and by his unwearied exertions
acquired a high rank as a preacher. His
church, though small in 1790, became
under his care numerous and flourishing.
Of his.own denomination in NewEngland
he was the head, and to him aU his breth
ren looked for advice. Besides being con
nected with most of the benevolent in
stitutions of Boston, he was a member of
the convention for revising the constitu
tion of the state, and just before his
death was fixed upon, by one party among
the people, as a candidate for an elector
of president of the United States. He
died very suddenly at WatervHle, Maine,
whither he had gone to attend the com
mencement, Aug.29, 1825, aged71 years.
The following stanza on his death -will

BANISTER,
apply to a multitude of others, recorded
in this work.
"He was a good man, -Yet amid our tears
Sweetjgrateful thoughts within our bosoms rise;
We trace his spirit up to brighter spheres,
And think with what pure rapturous surprise
He found himself translated to the skies:
From night at once awoke to endless noon.
OhI with what transport did his eager eyes
Behold his Lord in gloi-yl 'Twas the boon
His heart had hmged for! "Why deem we it came
too soonl" '
He pubfished the following discourses;
at the thanksgiving, 1795; quarterly ser
mon ; at the concert of prayer ; account
of re-vival of reUgion, 1799 ; on the death
of Heut. gov. Phillips ; election sermon,
1802; on the eternal purpose of God;
at thanksgiving; before a missionary so
ciety, 1804; at the ordination of D. Mer
rill, 1805; before the female asylum, 1806;
on the death of Dr. Stillman; at the
artillery election, 1807; and the baptism
of believers only, and particular commu
nion vindicated, 12mo. 1806. Of this
work the first and second parts were orig
inally published in 1789 and 1794.
BANISTER, John, an eminent bot
anist, was a native of England. After
passing some time in the West Indies he
came to Virginia and settled on James'
river, near James Town. Rees speaks of
him as a clergyman. In 1680 he trans
mitted to Mr. Ray a catalogue of plants,
observed by him in Virginia, which was
published by Ray in the second volume
of his history of plants, in the preface to
the supplement of which work, pubUshed
in 1704, he speaks of Banister as an illus
trious man, who had long resided in Vir
ginia, devoted to botanical pursuits, and
as drawing with his own hand the figures
of the rarer species. He mentions also,
that he had fallen a victim to his favorite
pursuit before he had completed a work,
in which he was engaged, on the natur
al history of Virginia. In one of his bo
tanical excursions, while clambering the
rocks. Banister fell and was killed. This
event occurred after 1687 and probably
before the end of the century. Many of
his descendants are living in Virginia
ftnd are very respectable. In honor of

BARCLAY.

67

him Dr. Houston named a plant Ban-
isteria, of which 24 species are enumera
ted. Lawson says, he " was the greatest
virtuoso we ever had on the continent.
Besides his " catalogue of plants," his
principal work in tiie philosophical trans
actions 1693, other communications on
natural history were published ; observa
tions on the natural productions of Jamai
ca ; the insects of Virginia, 1700; curiosi
ties in A''irginia;observations on the musca
lupus; onseveral sorts of snails; a descrip
tion of the pistolochia or serpentaria Vir-
giniana, the snake root. — Barton's med,
jour.ii.l34-139;Ray's sup.; Lawson,136.
BARBOUR, Thomas, colonel, was a
whig ofthe revolution and in 1769 was
a member of the house of burgesses of
Virginia, which made the first protest
against the stamp act. He died at Bar-
boursvflle, May 16, 1825, aged 90. For
60 years he had discharged the duties of
a civil magistrate, and was many years
the sheriff of the county, enjoying in a
high degree the confidence of his fellow
citizens. He was the father of James Bar
bour, the secretary of war.
BARCLAY, Robert, governor of East
Jersey, the author of the ' apology for
the quakers,'was born in 1 648 in Scotland,
and receiving his education at Paris he
at first imbibed the cathoUc tenets, but
afterwards with his father embraced the
principles ofthe quakers. His book was
pubfished in Latin in 1676 and translated
by himself He travelled with WiUiam
Penn in England and on the continent.
In 1682, when East Jersey was trans
ferred to Penn and 11 associates, he was
appointed the governor,though he never
came to this coiuntry ; in which office lord
Nefl Campbell succeeded him in 1685.
He died in 1690, aged 41. His brother,
John, a useful citizen of Jersey, died at
Amboy in 1731, leaving 2 sons. His
grandson, Alexander, was comptroUer ,af
the customs in Philadelphia, and died in
1771 . — Jennison.
BARCLAY, Henry, d. d,, an episco
pal clergymanin New York, was a native
of Albany, and graduated at Yale college
In England he received orders

in 1734.

BARD.

in the church, and Was appointed mission
ary to the Mohawk Indians. Having
served in this capacity for some years
with but Uttle success he was called to
the city of New York and appointed rec
tor of Trinity church. In this respecta
ble station he continued till his death, in
1765. The translation ofthe Uturgy into
the Mohawk language, made under his
direction and that of Rev. W. Andrews
and J. Ogilvie, was printed in 1769. Mr.
Ogilvie succeeded him both among the
Indians and at New York. — Life of Bit
ten. 245 ; Miller's retr. n. 356.
BARD, John, a learned physician, was
born in Burlington, New Jersey, Feb. 1,
1716. His father, Peter Bard, an exile
from France in consequence ofthe revo
cation of the edict of Nantes, came to
this country in 1703 as a merchant ; he
soon married the daughter of Dr. Mar-
mion, and was for many years a member
ofthe council and a judge ofthe supreme
court. Mr. Bard received his early education
under the care of Mr. Annan of Phfladel-
phia, a very eminent teacher. About
the age of 15 he was bound an ap
prentice for 7 years to Dr. Kearsly, a sur
geon of unhappy temper and rigorous in
the treatment of his pupils. Under his
thraldom the kindness of Mrs. Kearsly
and the friendship of Dr. FrankUn begui
led his sorrows. He engaged in business
in 1737 and soon acquired a large share of
practice and became much respected. In
1743 he was induced by urgent applica
tions from New York to remove to that
city to supply the loss of several eminent
physicians. Here he continued till with
in a few months of his death. In the
year 1795, when the yellow fever had put
to flight a number of physicians, who were
in the meridian of fife, the veteran Dr.
Bard, though verging towards his eigh
tieth year, remained at his post. In May
1798 he removed to his estate at Hyde
Park, near Poughkeepsie. Here he con
tinued in thejenjoyment of perfect health,
till he felt a paralytic stroke, which in a
few days occasioned his death. He died
March 30, 1799, aged 83 years. He was

a firm believer in the truth and excellency
ofthe Christian religion. In a letter to
his son. Dr. Samuel Bard, he said, "a-
bove all things suffer not yourself by any
company or example to depart, either in
your conversation or practice, from the
highest reverence to God and your reli
gion." In his old age he was cheerful
and remarkable for his gratitude to his
heavenly father.
Dr. Bard was eminent in his profes
sion, and his practice was very extensive.
Soon after the close of the war with
GreatBritian,on the reestabUshment ofthe
medical society of the state of New York
he was elected its president, and he was
placed in the chair for six or seven suc
cessive years. He possessed a singular
ingeniuty and quickness in discriminating
diseases ; yet he did not presumptuously
confide in hia penetration, but was re
markably particular in his inquiries into
the circumstances of the sick. Ever de
sirous of removing the disorders, to which
the human frame is subject, his anxiety
and attention were not diminished,
when called to visit the indigent, from
whom he could not expect compensation.
His conduct through his whole life was
marked by the strictest honor and integ
rity. In conversation he was poUte, affa
ble, cheerful, and entertaining. To his
pupils he was not only an instructer, but
a father. In the early part of his fife he de
voted much attention to polite learning,
in which he made great proficiency. He
possessed a correct and elegant taste, and
wrote with uncommon accuracy and pre
cision. He drew up an essay on the
pleurisy of Long Island in 1749, which
was not pubUshed ; a paper, inserted in
the Lond. med. observations ; and sev
eral papers on the yellow fever and the
evidence of its importation, inserted in
the American medical register. In 1750
he assisted Dr. Middleton in the first re
corded dissection in America, that of
Hermannus Carroll, executed for murder.
— Thacher'smed. biog. 96-103 ; M'Vie-
kar's life of S. Bard.
BARD, Samuel, m. d., son of the
preceding, was born in Philadelphia Apr,

BARD.

69

1, 1742. When a boy, in order to screen
a servant, who had broken his father's
cane, he falsely took the blame to himself
His father praised his generosity, but
severely punished his falsehood, thus
gi-ving him a lesson on the value of truth,
which he was careful to transmit to his
children. From his mother he received
early impressions in favor of refigion. Re
siding one summer, on account of ill
health, in the family of lieut. gov. Golden,
his father's friend, he acquired a taste for
botany under the teaching of Miss Col-
den. His skUl in painting enabled him to
perpetuate the beauties of plants. While
a student at Columbia college he formed
the habit of early rising, at day light in
summer and an hour previous to it in
winter, which he continued through hfe.
In Sept. 1761 he embarked for England
in order to obtain a thorough medical
education, and was absent, in France,
England, and Scotland, 5 years. His pro
fessional studies were pursued with un
diminished zeal, and especially under
the illustrious teachers in the school of
Edinburgh. Such was his skill in botany,
that he obtained the annual medal, given
by Dr.Hope the professor,for the best col
lection of plants. He received his degree
at Edinburgh in May 1765. On his return
he found his father in debt for his edu
cation, which had cost more than a
thousand pounds ; he entered into part
nership with him and for three years
drew nothing beyond his expenses from
the profits of the business, amounting to
1500 pounds a year. Having thus hon
orably discharged this debt, he married
his cousin, Mary Bard, a lady of beauty
and accomplishments, to whom he, had
long been attached. He formed this
connection on a stock of 100 pounds,
observing, that " his wife's economy
would double his earnings."
Dr. Bard formed the plan of the Med
ical school of New York, which was es-
tabfished within a year after his return.
He was appointed professor of the prac
tice of physic. Medical degrees were
first conferred in 1769. In the same year
the hospital was founded by his exer

tions; but the building wasburntjCausing
a delay of the establishment until 1791.
In 1774 he delivered a course of chemi
cal lectures. In the time ofthe war he
left the city, placing his family in the
house of his father at Hyde Park ; but
anxious to provide for his wife and chil
dren, [and to secure his property, he
the next year by permission returned to
New York, while ,the enemy had posses
sion of it, and engaged anew in his pro
fessional business, after being a consid
erable time without a call and reduced to
his last guinea. After the return of
peace Washington selected him as his
family physician. At this period he lost
four out of his six children by the scarla
tina, which prevailed in a virulent form,
attended with deUrium. In consequence
of the Ulness of Mrs. Bard he withdrew
from business for a year, devoting him
self to her. A prayer for her recovery
was found among his papers. In 1784
he returned to the city. At this period
he devoted 5 thousand guineas to enable
his father to free himself from debt. At
another time, when he had accumulated
1 500guineas, he sent that sum to England,
but lost it by the failure of the banker. On
receiving the intelUgence, he said to his
wife, "we are ruined ;" but she replied,
"never mind the loss, we will soon make
it up again." Having formed the pur
pose to retire from business, he in 1795
took Dr. Hosack into partnership, and in
1798 removed to his seat in the neigh
borhood of his father at Hyde Park.
But when the yellow fever appeared, he
resolutely returned to his post. By his
fearless exposure of himself he took the
disease, but nursed by his faithful wife he
recovered. The remaining 23 years of
his life were spent in happy retirement,
surrounded by his children and grand
children, delighted with their society, and
finding much enjoyment also in agricultu
ral improvements, in contemplating the
beauties of nature, and in the gratification
of his continued thirst for knowledge.
For the benefit of those, who with him
self had engaged in rearing merino sheep,
he published "the shepherd's guide."

70

BARD.

BARLOW.

In 1813 he was appointed president of the
College of physicians and surgeons. His
discourses, on conferring degrees, were
very impressive. He died of the pleurisy
May 24, 1821, aged 79 years, and his
wife of the same disorder the preceding
day: they were buried in one grave. It
had long been their wish to be thus united
in death, and a remarkable dream of Mrs.
Bard to this effect was remembered.
Dr. Bard was attached to the episcopal
mode of religious worship. The church
at Hyde Park was chiefly founded by him
in 1811, and to provide for the absence of
its rector he procured a ficense to act as
lay reader at the age of 70. He regular
ly devoted a part of the morning to re
ligious reading and reflection. Of reU
gion he said to his son, Wm. Bard, Esq.,
"this is our strong hold, our castle and
rock of defence, our refuge in times of
adversity ,our comforter under misfortune,
our cheerful companion and friendly
monitor in the hours of gladness and
prosperity." The following is an ex
tract from the form of daily devotion,
usedby himself and wife: — "O God! en-
fighten our understanding, that we may
comprehend thy will, strengthen our res
olution to obey thy commands, endow us
with resignation under thy dispensations,
and fill our hearts with love and gratitude
for afl thy benefits. Give unto us, O
Lord, whose fives thou hast continued to
so late a day, sincere and true repentance,
& grant, that as age advances upon us,our
minds may be more &more enlightened by
the knowledge of thy will, more resigned
to thy dispensations, and more invigora
ted with the resolution to obey thy com
mands. Calm afl our thoughts and fears;
give peace and quiet to our latter days ;
and so support us by thy grace through
the weakness and infirmities of age, that
we may die in humble hope and confi
dence of thy merciful pardon through the
merits of our Redeemer." — He pubfished
a treatise de viribus opn, 1765 ; on angi
na suffocativa, repub. in Vol i. Amer.
phil. soc. ; on the use of cold in hemorr-
.hage ; compendium of midwifery, 1807,
and subsequent editions ; many occasion

al addresses to pubhc bodies ; and anni
versary discourses to medical students. —
Life by McVickars; Thacher's med.
biog, 103—143.
BARLOW, Joel, an eminent states
man and poet, was born at Reading, Fair
field county, Connecticut, about the year
1757, and was the youngest of ten chil
dren. His father, a respectable farmer,
died while he was yet at school, leaving
him property sufficient only to defray the
expenses of his education. In 1774 he
was placed at Dartmouth college ; but he
very soon removed to Yale college, where
he was graduated in 1778, being ranked
among the first of his class,for talents and
learning, and particularly conspicuous for
his skfllin poetry. During the vacations
of the college he more than once seized
his musket, and repaired as a volunteer to
the camp,where four of his brothers were
on duty. He was present at several
skirmishes, and is said to have fought
bravely in the battle ofthe White Plains.
After leaving college he engaged for a
short time in the study of the la^v ; but,
being urged to quaUfy himself for the of
fice of chaplain, he applied himself dili
gently to the study of theology, and at
the end of six weeks was licensed to
preach. He immediately joined the army
and discharged the duties of his new sta
tion until the return of peace. As a
preacher he was much respected. But in
the camp he continued to cultivate his
taste for poetry, writing patriotic songs,
and composing, in part, his Vision of
Columbus. He also published in 1780
an elegy on the death of his early friend
and patron, Titus Hosmer, and in 1781
a poem entitled "the Prospect of Peace,"
which he had pronounced at Commence
ment. About this time he married
Ruth Baldwin of New Haven, sister of
Abraham Baldwin.
In 1783, after the army was disbanded,
he returned to the study of the law at
Hartford, where for his immediate sup
port he established a weekly newspaper.
The original articles, which he inserted,
gave it celebrity and a wide circulation.
In 1785 he was admitted to the bar and

BARLOW.

71

in the same year pubUshed a corrected
and enlarged edition of Watts' version of
the Psalms with a coUection of Hymns.
It was printed at Hartford by "Barlow &
Babcock." This work was undertaken
at the request of the General Association
ofthe ministersof Connecticut, and pub
lished by their recommendation. Many
ofthe psalms were altered so as to be adap
ted to the American churches, several
were written almost anew, and several,
which had been omitted by Dr. Watts,
were suppUed. Barlow inserted also
some original hymns. In 1787 he pub
lished the Vision of Columbus, a large
poem, with flattering success. It was
dedicated to Louis XVI. Some of its in
teresting passages are said to be imita
tions or copies of descriptions in the
Incas of Marmontel.
About this time he gave up his concern
in the weekly paper, and opened a book
shop chiefly with a view to the sale of
his poem and of the new edition of the
psalms. Having accomplished these ob
jects, he quitted the business and engaged
in the practice of the law. But in this
profession he was not successful, for his
elocution was embarrassed and his man
ners not familiar and conciliating, and his
attention was also diverted from it by po
etical and literary pursuits. He was
concerned in several occasional pubfica
tions at Hartford, particularly in the An-
archiad, a very singular poem, which was
projected by Dr. Hopkins, and which
had considerable political influence. In
an oration July 4, 1787 he earnestly re
commended an efficient general govern
ment, the new Constitution being then
under consideration of the convention at
Philadelphia. Urged by the necessity of
providing for his subsistence, he went to
Europe in 1788 as the agent ofthe Scioto
land company, but ignorant of their frau
dulent designs. From England he crossed
over to France, where he made sale of
some of the lands; but in the result he was
left without any resource for his mainte
nance, excepting his own talents & repu
tation. At this period his zeal for repub-
licaaism induced him to take an active

part in the French revolution, being par
ticularly connected with the Girondists,
or the moderate party. In 1791 he went
to England, where he pubUshed the first
part of his "Advice to the Privileged Or
ders," a work in which he reprobates the
feudal system, the national church estab
lishments, the mifitary system, the ad
ministration of justice, and the system of
revenue and finance, as they exist in the
royal and aristocratical governments of
Europe. In Feb. 1792 he published the
"Conspiracy of Kings," a poem of about
400 lines, occasioned by the first coafition
of the continental sovereigns against
France ; and in the autumn of the same
year a letter to the national conventions
of France, in which he recommends
among other measures the abolition of
the connexion between the government
and the national church. These publica
tions brought him some profit as well as
fame. At the close of this year he was.
deputed by the London constitutional
society to present their address to the
French national convention, which con
ferred upon him the rights of a French
citizen. Fearful of the resentment of the
EngUsh government, he now fixed his
residence in France. A deputation being
soon sent to Savoy to organize it as a de
partment ofthe Republic, he accompanied
it with his friend, Gregoire, to Chamber-
ry, the capital, where he resided several
months, Se. at the request of his legislati-ire-
friends wrote an address to the people of
Piedmont,inciting them to throw off their
allegiance to their king. At this time he
also composed "Hasty Pudding," a mock
didactic poem, the most popular of his po
etical productions. After his return to
Paris he translated Volney's ruins, but
his time was principally occupied by com
mercial speculations, in which he acquired
a large property. Shocked by the atro
cities ofthe revolution, he took little part
in politics.
About the year 1795 he went to the
north of Europe to accomplish some pri
vate business, entrusted to him, and on
his return was appointed by president
Washington as consul at Algiers, with

72

BARLOW.

powers to negotiate a treaty of peace with
the Dey and redeem the American cap
tives on the coast of Barbary. He im
mediately left Paris, and passing through
Spain crossed over to Algiers. He soon
concluded a treaty and negotiated also a
treaty with TripoU, rescuing many Amer
ican citizens from slavery. His humane
exertions were attended with great dan
ger. In 1797 he resigned his consulship
and returned to Paris, where he purcha
sed the splendid hotel ofthe count, Cler
mont de Tonnere, in which he lived for
some years in a sumptuous manner.
On the occurrence of the rupture be
tween his native country and France, he
published a letter to the people of the
United States on the measures of Mr.
Adams' administration. This was soon
followed by a second part, containing
speculations on various political subjects.
At this period he presented a memoir
to the French government, denouncing
the whole system of privateering, and
contending for the right of neutrals to
trade in articles contraband of war.
In the spring of 1805, having sold his
real estate in France, he returned to
America after an absence of nearly 17
years. He purchased a beautiful situ
ation and house near Georgetown but
within the limits of the city of Washing
ton. This place he called "Kalorama."
He printed in 1806 a prospectus of a na
tional Institution at Washuigton, which
should combine a university with a lear
ned society, together with a mihtary and
naval academy and a school of fine arts.
In compliance with this project a bill was
introduced into the Senate, but it was
not passed into a law.
In 1808 he published the Colurabiad, a
poem, which had been the labor of half
his life, ,in the most splendid volume,
which had ever issued from the American
press. It was adorned by excellent en
gravings, executed in London, and was
inscribed to Robert Fulton, with whom he
had long lived in friendship and whom he
regarded as his adopted son . This work,
though soon pubUshed in a cheaper form,
has never acquired much popularity. As

an epic poem it has great faults both in the
plan and the execution. It is justly ex
posed to severe criticism for some extrava
gant and absurd flights of fancy and fbr
the many new-coined and uncouth words,
which it contains. Its sentiments also have
been thought hostfle to Christianity.
Gregoire addressed a letter to the author,
reproving him for placing the cross a-
mong the symbols of fraud, folly, and er
ror. Mr. Barlow in his reply declared, that
he was not an unbeliever, or that he had
not renounced Christianity, and endeavor
ed to justify the description, which had of
fended Gregoire, on the ground that he
had been accustomed to regard the cross
not as the emblem of Christianity itself
but of its corruptions by popery.
In 1811 he was nominated a minister
plenipotentiary to the French govern
ment, but in his attempt to negotiate a
treaty of commerce and indemnification
for spofialions he was not successful. At
length, in October, 1812, he was invited
to a conference -with the emperor at Wil-
na. He immediately set off, travelfing
day and night. Overcome by fatigue,
and exposed to sudden changes from ex
treme cold to the excessive heat of the
smafl cottages of the Jews, which are the
only taverns in Poland, he was seized by
a violent inflammation ofthe lungs,which
terminated his life at Zarnowica, or Zar-
nowitch, an obscure village near Cracow,
Dec. 22, 1812, aged 54 years. His
widow died at Kalorama May 30, 1818,
aged 62.
He was of an amiable disposition and
domestic habits, generally silent in mixed
company, and often absent in mind. His
manners were grave and dignified. If,
as there is reason to conclude, though
once a preacher of the gospel he had
ceased to regard it as of divine authority,
and died without the support of its glo
rious promises ; there is no wise man,
who wiU envy him the possession of his
worldly prosperity and distinction to be
acquired at the price ofthe abandonment
ofthe religion, which he once preached.
As a poet Mr. Barlow wifl hardly live in
the memory of future ages. His vision of

BARNARD.

73

Columbus, replete with the scenes ofthe
revolution, acquired, notwithstanding its
imperfections, great pepularity as a na
tional, patriotic poem. But \yhen cast
anew into an epic form, with thlb attempt
to give by means of a vision an epic unity
to a long series of unconnected actions,
presenting philosophical speculation
rather than interesting narrative, the
Columbiad sunk into neglect. Besides
intellectual power a poet must have a
rich fancy, a refined taste, and a heart of
feefing. — Mr. Barlow had meditated a
general history of the United States and
made large collections of the necessary
documents. He pubfished several pieces in Ameri
can Poems ; Prospect of Peace, 1781 ;
Vision of Columbus, 1787 ; the conspira
cy of kings, London, 1796 ; advice to
privUeged orders, in two parts ; a letter
to the national convention ; address to
the people of Piedmont ; hasty pudding,
a poem, 12mo. 1796; the Columbiad, 4to.
1808, and 12mo. 1809 ; oration on the
the fourth July, 1809. — London Month.
mag., 1798; Pub. char. 1806, p. 152—
180 ; Monthly mag. and Amer. review,
I. 465 — 468; Analect, Jlfog-.iv. 130—1 58;
Spec, Amer, Poet, n. 1-13.
BARNARD, John, minister of Mar
blehead, Massachusetts, was born in Bos
ton Nov. 6, 1681. His parents were re
markable for their piety, and they took
particular care of his education. He was
graduated at Harvard college in 1700. In
the former part of his collegial course the
sudden death of two of his acquaintance
impressed his mind and led him to think
of his own departure from this world ;
but the impression was soon effaced.
However, before he left that institution
he was brought to repentance, and he
resolved to yield himself to tho commands
of God. In 1702 he united himself to the
north church in Boston under the pastoral
care ofthe Matiiers. In 1705 he was invited
to settle at Yarmouth, but he dechned ac
cepting the invitation. He was employed
for some time as an assistant to Dr. Col-
man. Being fond of active life, he was ap
pointed by gov. Dudley one of the chap-
10

lains, who accompanied the army to Port
Royal in 1707 to reduce that fortress. In
an attempt to take a plan of the fort a
cannon ball was fired at him, that covered
him with dirt without doing him any in
jury. At the soUcitation of capt. John
Wentworth, he sailed with him to Barba-
does and London. While he was in this
city the affair of Dr. Sacheverel took
place, of which he would often speak. He
became acquainted with some the famous
dissenting ministers, and received some
advantageous offers of settlement if he
would remain in England. He might have
accompanied lord "Wharton to Ireland as
his chaplain, but he refused to conform to
the articles of the national church. Soon
after this he returned to seek a settiement
in his own country. The north church in
Boston was built for him and he preach
ed the dedication sermon May 23, 1714,
expecting soon to be ordained according
to mutual agreement ; but a more popular
candidate, a Mr. Webb, being invited at
the request of Dr. Cotton Mather, the
people chose him for their pastor. Of
this transaction he could not speak with
calmness to the day of his death. He
was ordained minister of Marblehead
July 18, 1716, as colleague with Mr.
Cheever. In 1762 he received Mr. Whit-
well as his assistant. The last sermon,
which he preached, was delivered Janua
ry 8, 1769. He died January 24, 1770,
aged 88 years.
Mr. Barnard was eminent for his learn
ing and piety, and was famous among
the divines of America. During the lat
ter part of his Ufe, when he retained a
vigor of mind and zeal uncommon at so
advanced an age, he was regarded as the
father of the churches. His form was
remarkably erect, and he never bent un
der the infirmities of years. His counte
nance was grand, his mien majestic, and
there was a dignity in his whole deport
ment. His presence restrained the im
prudence and folly of youth, and when
the aged saw him, they arose and stood
up. He added a knowledge of the He
brew to his other theological attainments;
he was wefl acqainted with the mathemat-

74

BARNARD.

ics ; and he excelled in skill for naval
architecture. Several draughts of his,
the amusement of leisure hours,were com
mended by master ship builders. When
he first went to Marblehead and for some
years afterwards,there was not one trading
vessel belonging to the town. It was
through his exertions, that a commercial
improvement soon took place. Having
taken great pains to learn " the mystery
of the fish trade, " he directed the people
to the best use, which they could make of
the advantages of their situation. A
young man was first persuaded to send
a small cargo to Barbadoes,&_his success
was so encouraging, that the people were
soon able in their own vessels to trans
port their fish to the West Indies and
Europe. In 1767 there were thirty or
forty vessels, belonging to the town, em
ployed in the foreign trade. When Mr.
Barnard first went to Marblehead, there
was not in the place so much as one prop
er carpenter, nor mason, nor tailor, nor
butcher. By prudence in the management of his
affairs he acquired considerable property;
but he gave tythes of all he possessed.
His charity was of a kind, which is wor
thy of imitation. He was not disposed
to give much encouragement to common
beggars, but he sought out those objects
of benevolent attention, who modestly
hid their wants. The poor were often
fed by him, and the widow's heart was
gladdened, while they knew not where
to return thanks, except to the merciful
Father of the wretched. In one kind of
charity he -was somewhat peculiar. He
generally supported at school two boys,
whose parents were unable to meet this
expense. By his last -wiU he gave two
hundred pounds to Harvard college. He
left no children. In his sickness, which
terminated in his death, he said with
tears flowing from his eyes, " my very
soul bleeds, when I remember my sins ;
but I trust I have sincerely repented,&that
God will accept me for Christ's sake. His
righteousness is my only dependence."
The publications of Mr. Barnard are
numerous and valuable. They show his

theological knowledge, and his talents as
a writer. His style is plain, warm, and
energetic. The doctrines, which he en
forces, are the same, which were embra
ced by the fathers of New England. He
published a sermon on the death of Rev.
G. Curwin of Salem, 1717 ; on the death
of his colleague, S. Cheever, 1 724 ; his
tory of the strange adventures of Philip
Ashton, 1725 ; two discourses addressed
to young persons, with one on the earth
quake, 1727 ; a volume of sermons on the
confirmation ofthe christian religion, on
compelfing men to come in,and the saints'
victory and rewards, 1727 ; judgment,
mercy, and faith the weightier matters of
the law, 1 729 ; on the certainty of the
birth of Christ, 1731 ; election sermon,
1734 ; caU to parents and children, 1727 ;
convention sermon, 1738 ; zeal for good
works excited and directed, 1742 ; election
sermon, 1746; the imperfection ofthe
creature and the excellency of the divine
commandment, in nine sermons, 1747 ;
janua coelestis, or the mystery of the gos
pel in the salvation of a sinner, in several
discourses, 1750 ; a version of the psalms,
1752 ; a proof of Jesus Christ's being the
Messiah, a Dudleian lecture, and the first
one, that was published, 1756 ; the true
divinity of Jesus Christ, at a public lecture
in Boston, 1761 ; a discourse at the ordi
nation of Mr. Whitwefl, a charge, and an
address to the people, annexed to Mr. T.
Barnard's ordination sermon, 1762. His
version ofthe psalms, which hepublished
when he was about seventy years of age,
he fondly hoped would be sung in all the
New England churches ; but it was never
used beyond the limits of the town, in
which it was composed. The labors of
Watts had rendered it unnecessary. A
letter from Mr. Barnard to president
Stiles, written in 1767, giving a sketch of
the eminent ministers of New England,
is published in the Massachusetts hist.
collections. — Whitw ell's fun, serm, ; Col'
lect, hist, soc; vm. 66 — 69 ; x. 157 167 j
Holmes; u, 525.
BARNARD, John, minister of Ando
ver, Mass., was the grandson of Francis
Barnard of Hadley, and the son of Rev.

BARNARD.
Thomas Barnard, the third minister of
Andover, who was ordained colleague
with Francis Dane in 1682 and died Oct.
13, 1718. The first minister of Andover
was J. Woodbridge.— Mr. Barnard was
graduated in 1709 and succeeding his fath
er in the ministry died June 14, 1758,
aged 68. During his ministry Mr. Phil-
hps was the minister of the South Parish.
He was succeeded by Mr. Symmes. His
sons were ministers of Salem and Haver
hill. He published a discourse on the
earthquake ; to a society of young men ;
on sinful mirth, 1728; election sermon,
1746. BARNARD, Thomas, minister of Sa
lem, Mass., the son of the preceding,
was graduated at Harvard college in 1732
and ordained at Newbury Jan. 31, 1739.
Disturbed bj"- those, who called in ques
tion the correctness of his sentiments, he
was dismissed at his own request, and af-
tervrards studied law. He was in
stalled Sept. 17, 1755, as the minister of
the first church at Salem, and received
Asa Dunbar as his colleague in 1772 :
Dr. Prince succeeded Mr. Dunbar in 1779.
A paralytic affection impaired his men
tal powers. He died Aug. 1 5, 1776, aged
62 years. He -was regarded as a semi-
arian of Dr. Clarke's school, and as rath
er an arminian, than a calvinist. As a
preacher he was destitute of animation
and he was deficient in perspicuity of
style. He published discourses at the or
dination of E. Barnard, 1743 ; of Mr.
Bailey of Portsmouth, 1757 ; of WiUiam
Whitwefl, 1762 ; before the society for
encouraging industry, 1757; at the artil
lery election, 1758 ; attheelection,1763;
Dudleian lecture, 1768 ; at the funeral of
Hev. P. Clarke, n68,—Mass, hist, col
VI. 273.
BARNARD, Edward, minister of
Haverhifl, the brother of the preceding,
was gratiuated in 1736, and ordained
Aprfl 27, 1743 as the successor of John
Brown. He died Jan. 26, 1774, aged 53,
and was succeeded by John Shaw. In
his last days a division sprung up in his
society. There were those, who accus
ed him of not preaching the gospel He

BA RNES.

75

was regarded as an arminian. Yet he
was accustomed to preach, as he said, "the
fallen state of man, which gave rise to
the gospel dispensation, the fulness and
freeness of divine grace in Christ as the
foundation of all our hopes, the influence
of the Spirit, the necessity of regenera
tion, implying repentance towards God
and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ,
the necessity of practical reUgion, origi
nating from evangelical principles." He
was an excellent scholar and a highly es
teemed preacher and minister. He pub
lished a poem on the death of Abiel Ab
bot ; serm. at the ordination of H. True,
1754; of G. MerriU, 1765 ; ofT.Cary;at
the fast, 1764 ; at the election, 1766 ; at
theconvention,m3,-Saltonstall'ssketch of Haverhill in hist, col. n.s. iv.143-146.
BARNARD, Thomas, d. d., minister
in Salem, the son of Rev. T. Barnard,
graduated at Harvard college in 1766,
and was ordained over the north church
Jan. 13, 1773. He died ofthe apoplexy
Oct. 1 , 1 8 1 4, aged 66. He pubfished the
following discourses ; at the ordination
of A. Bancroft, 1786 ; of I. Nichols,
1809 ; at tiie election, 1789 ; at the con
vention, 1793 ; before the humane socie
ty, 1794 ; at the thanksgiving ; Dudleian
lecture, 1795 ; at thanksgiving, 1796 ;
before a female charitable society, 1803 ;
before the society for propagating the
gospel among the Indians, 1806 ; before
the Bible society of Salem, 18J4.
B.\RNES, David, d. d., minister of
Scituate, Mass., was born ¦s.t Marlbo
rough, graduated in 1752, .and ordained
Dec. 4, 1754. His predecessors in the
second society since 1645 were Wether-
ell, MighiU, Lawson, Eelles, and Derby.
He died April 27, 18L1, aged 80 years.—
His wife was the daughter of col. G. Leon
ard. David L. Barnes, a lawyer of Prov
idence, appointed district Judge of Rhode
Island in 1801, and who died Nov.. 3,
1812, was his only son, — Dr. Barnes is
represented as.remaikable for meekness.
A volume of his sermons was published
with a biographical sketch. He pubUsh
ed an' ordination sermon, 1756; on the
love of life .and -fear of deSth, 1795 ; on

76

BARNES.

BARNEY.

the death of Washington, 1800; on the
death of Rev. James Hawley, 1801 ;
ordination sermon, 1802 ; discourse on
education, 1803. — Mass. hist., eol. s. s.
jv. 237.
BARNES, Daniel, H., a distinguish
ed conchologist, died in the meridian of
fife Oct. 27, 1818. He and Dr. Griscom
originated and conducted with great
reputation the high school of New York.
He was also a baptist preacher. Invited
by gen. Van Rensselaer to attend the first
pubfic examination of the school estab-
fished by him at Troy, he proceeded to
New Lebanon and there preached on
Sunday,the day before his death,from the
text, "Ye know not what shaU be on the
morrow. For what is your life, &c."
On Monday, while riding between Nas
sau and Troy, the driver being thrown
from his seat, as the stage was rapidly
descending a hill, Mr. Barnes in his alann
jumped from the carriage and fractured
his skull. He died in a short time after.
Of the New York Lyceum of natural
history he was an active member. He
was a classical scholar of high attainments
and of a most estimable character as a
man. He had presided over several sem
inaries, and refused the presidency of the
college at Washington city. He was
probably the first conchologist in the
United States. His learned communica
tions on conchology were published in
Silliman'sjournal,with explanatory plates.
Of his writings in that journal the foUow
ing is a catalogue : geological section of
the Canaan mountain, v. 8-21 ; memoir
on the genera unio and alasmodonta,
with numerous figures, vi. 107-127, 258-
280 ; five species of chiton, with figures,
vii. 69-72 ; memoir on batrachian animals
and doubtful reptiles, xi. 269-297, xiii.
66-70 ; on magnetic polarity, xni. 70-73;
reclamation of unios, xin. 353-364. —
Sill jour. XV, 401.
BARNEY, Joshua, commodore, a dis
tinguished commander, was born in Bal
timore, July 6, 1759. In early Ufe he
made several voyages. At the beginning
of the war he entered as master's mate in
the sloop of waV, Hornet, in which vessel

he accompanied the fleet of commodore
Hopkins, who in 1775 captured New
Providence. Promoted to the rank of
heutenant for his bravery, he was captu
red in the Sachem, but was soon exchan
ged. He was twice afterwards captured,
But in Oct. 1779 he and his friend capt.
Robinson brought a valuable prize into
Philadelphia. In 1730 he married the
daughter of alderman Bedford. In a few
weeks afterwards, having all his fortune
with him in paper money, he was robbed
of it, while going to Baltimore. With
out mentioning his loss he soon went to
sea, but was captured and sent to Ply
mouth, England. From the Mill prison
he escaped and returning to Pennsylva
nia, the state in March 1782 gave him the
command of the Hyder Ally, a smaU ship
of 16 guns. In this vessel, carrying 4
nine and 12 six pounders, he captured,
April 26th, after an action of 26 minutes
the Gen. Monk of 1 3 guns, nine pounders,
with the loss of 4 killed and 11 wounded.
The Gen. Monk lost 30 killed and 53
wounded. In Sept. 1782 he sailed in the
command ofthe Gen. Monk, which was
bought by the United States, with des
patches for Dr. FrankUn at Paris ; he
brought back a valuable loan from the
king of France in chests of gold and bar
rels of silver. In 1796 he went to France
with Mr. Monroe, deputed the bearer of
tiie American flag to the National Con
vention. He was induced to take the
command of a squadron in the French
service,but resigned in 1800 and returned
to America. In 1813 he was appointed
to the command of the flotflla for the de
fence of the Chesapeak. He participated
in the battle of Bladensburg Aug.24, 1814
and was wounded in the thigh by a ball,
which was never extracted. In May 1815
he was sent on a mission to Europe and
returned in Oct., and resided on his farm
at Elkridge. He visited the western
country in 1 817. Having resolved to em
igrate to Kentucky, whfle on his journey
he was taken ill at Pittsburg and died
Dec. 1, 1818, aged 59. He had been 41
years in public service and engaged in 26
battles and one duel. He fought with

BARON.

BARRY.

77

Lemuel Tailor in private combat Sep. 3,
1813, — observing the laws of honor but
contemning the laws of his country and of
God. The want of moral courage, the
courage to do right in disregard of the
opinion of those, who judge wrong, the
want of fixed virtuous principle is a
great deficiency in any character. — En
cyc. Amer.
BARON, Alexander, m. d., was born
in Scotland in 1745, and received his me
dical education at Edinburgh. He arri
ved at Charleston, South Carolina, and
soon obtained extensive practice in part
nership successively with Drs. Milfigan,
Ofiphant, and Samuel and Robert Wil
son. He died Jan. 9, 1819, aged 74.
He had great reputation as a physician.
Possessing extensive knowledge and en
dowed -with almost every attribute of ge
nius, he was a most agreeable and instruc
tive companion. His affability and kind
ness made him a favorite with the youn
ger members of the profession. — Thach
er's med. biog. 144 — 146.
BARRES, Joseph Frederic Wallet,
Des, had the title of colonel, and was
heut. gov. of cape Breton, and afterwards
of Prince Edward island. He died at
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Oct. 22, 1804, aged
102 years. During the revolutionary
war he pubUshed in 1780 by order of ad
miral Howe, for the use ofthe British na
vy, valuable charts of the coasts and har
bors in the gulf of St. Lawrence, of Nova
Scotia, of New England, of New York
and southerly, compiled from surveys by
major Samuel Holland, surveyor general.
These charts of Des Barres are stiU the
most authentic surveys of these extensive
coasts. AU the numerous islands in Cas-
co bay and along the whole coast of Maine
are here described. A copy, with the ti
tle of Atlantic Neptune Vol. ii, is in the fi-
brary of Bowdoin coUege and another in
that of the Amer. phfl. society at Phila
delphia. BARRON, Samuel, a commodore in
the navy, commanded about the year
1798 the brig Augusta, equipped by the
citizens of Norfolk in consequence of ag
gressions by the French. When a fleet

was sent to the Mediterranean in 1805 to
co-operate with gen. Eaton in his opera
tions against TripoU, commodore Barron
had the command of it ; but ill health in
duced him to transfer the command to
capt. Rodgers. Eaton was indignant at
the negotiation for peace, commenced by
Barron. On his return Barron felt keen
ly the neglect of the government in not
continuing him in service. A few months
before his death he was made superinten
dent of the naval arsenal at Gosport.
He died of the apoplexy at Hampton,
Virginia Oct. 29, 1810. In the private
walks of Ufe he was greatly esteemed. —
Norfolk Ledger ; Life of Eaton, 368.
BARRY, John, first commodore in the
American navy, was born in the country
of Wexford, Ireland, in 1745. Witii an
education adapted to his proposed, active
life upon the sea, he came to this country
about 1760 and was for years employed
by the most respectable merchants in the
command of vessels, having their unreser
ved confidence. In; Feb. 1776 congress
appointed him to the command of the
brig Lexington of 16 guns, and he sailed
on a successful cruise from Phfladelphia.
From this vessel he was transferred to
the Effingham, a large frigate. Shut up
by the ice in the winter, he joined the ar
my as aid to gen. Cadwallader in the ope
rations near Trenton. When Philadel
phia was in the hands of the enemy and
the American frigates were up the river,
at Whitehill, Barry formed and executed
the project of descending the river in boats
to cuf off the suppUes of the enemy. For
this enterprise he received the thanks of
Washington. After his vessel was de
stroyed, he was appointed to the com
mand ofthe Raleigh of 32 guns, which a
British squadron compelled him to run on
shore at Fox's island, in Penobscot bay.
He next made several voyages to the
West Indies. In Feb. 1781 he sailed in
the frigate AlUance of 36 guns from Bos
ton for L'Orient, carrying col. Laurens
on an embassy to the French court. On
his return. May 29, 1781, he fought the
ship of war Atlanta of between 20 and SO
guns and her consort the brig Trepasa.

78

BARTLE TT.

After a severe action both struck their co
lors. Commodore Barry was dangerous
ly wounded in the shoulder by a grape
shot. He sailed again from Boston in
the Alliance, and carried La Fayette and
the count de Noailles to France, and pro
ceeded on a cruise. Returning from Ha-

Feb. 1775 in consequence of his being a
zealous whig. Being appointed a delegate
to congress, his name was first called as
representing the most easterly province,
on the vote ofthe declaration of indepen
dence, and he boldly answered in the
affirmative. In 1777, as medical agent.

¦vana he fought a vessel ofthe enemy of ihe accompanied Stark to Bennington.

equal size, which escaped only by the aid
of her consorts. It is related, that gen.
Howe at one period attempted to bribe
him to desert the cause of America by the

In 1 778 he withdrew from congress. He
was appointed chief justice of the court
of common pleas in 1779, a justice ofthe
superior court in 1784, and chief justice

promise of 15 thousand guineas and the in 1788. In 1790 he was President of

-command of a British frigate, and that
•the offer was rejected with disdain. Un
der the administration of Mr. Adams he
superintended the building at Philadelphia
of the frigate United States, of which he
¦retained the command, until she was
I laid up in ordinary after the accession of
Mr. Jefferson to the. .executive chair.
He died at Philadelphia of an asthmatic
.affection Sept. 13, 1803. His person,
above the ordinary stature, was graceful
and commanding. His strongly marked
countenance expressed the quafities of his
mind and virtues of his heart. He pos
sessed aU the important quafities, requi
site in a naval commander. Though a
rigid discipUnarian, his kindness and ge
nerosity secured the attachment of his
men. There was no desertion from his
ship. To the moral deportment- of his
crew he scrupulously attended, and he en
forced on board a strict observance of di-
vihe worship. Educated in the habits of
refigion, he experienced its comforts; and
he died in the faith ofthe gospel. — Port
folio; Am. nav. biog. 156 — 166.
BARTLETT, Josiah, m.d., governor
of New Hampshire, was the son of Ste
phen Bartlett, and born in Amesbury,
Mass., in Nov. 1729. After an imperfect
medical education he commenced the
practice of physic at Kingston in 1750.
During the prevalence ofthe angina ma
ligna in 1754 his successful antiseptic
practice in the use of the Peruvian bark
established his fame. He also acted as a
magistrate, and gov. Wentworth gave
him the command of a regiment, but at
last deprived him of his commissions in

New Hampshire, chosen by the legisla
ture, though Pickering and Joshua
Wentworth received each many more of
the votes of the people. The next day
after accepting the office he sent his
message, which, it is said, like some other
messages of men elevated to high places,
was not written by the great man, who
presented it. A distinguished gentleman
has asserted, that he was the writer of
the paper and that it was copied verbatim.
In 1791 and 1792 he was chosen by the
people. He had nominated his rival, J.
Pickering, chief justice. In 1793 he was
elected the first governor under the new
form of government. Of the medical so
ciety, established by his efforts in 1791,
he was the president. The duties of his
various offices were faithfully discharged.
He died suddenly of a paralytic affection
May 19, 1795, aged 65 years. He was
a good physician, devoting most of his
time to his profession. His patriotism
induced him to make great sacrifices for
the pubfic good. By the force of his tal
ents, without much education, he rose to
his various high offices. His mind was
discriminating, his judgment sound, and
in all his dealings he was scrupulous
ly just. In his dress he was very plain ;
in his habits extremely parsimonious,
whether from mere poverty or avarice is
not known. If, when a judge of the su
preme court,he could travel 50mfles a day
without eating, except the biscuit in his
pocket ; he might have had reason for his
frugality. He knew little of social visits.
In his last years his health was impaired
and after the loss of his wffe in 1789 his

BARTLETT.

BARTON.

79

spirits greatly depressed. Whether he
found any consolation in religion is a
matter of doubt, for some, who knew him,
represent, that he was an unbeliever in
Christianity, though he did not publicly
avow deism & often attended preaching,
out of regard to office. — Thacher's med.
biog. 147 — 150; Eliot; Goodrich's

BARTLETT, Josiah, m. d., was born
in Charlestown, Mass.,in 1759, and stud
ied physic with Dr. Israel Foster ofthe
same town, whowas chief surgeon ofthe
mifitary hospital in the war of 1775, un
der whom he served as surg-eon's mate till
1780. He then went two voyages as sur
geon to ships of war. He settled in
Charlestown, where for many years he
had extensive practice. At length misfor
tune broke down his spirits and health,
and Ufe ceased to be desired. After two
years the apoplexy terminated his hfe
March 5,1 820. He had been a represen
tative, senator, and counsellor. He deliv
ered many orations, medical, political and
fiterary ; and published various papers in
the works of the medical society and in
the N. E. medical journal ; address to
freemasons, 1797 ; discourse before the
Middlesex med. assoc. ; progress of med
ical science in Mass., 1810 ; history of
Charlestown, 1814 ; oration on the death
of Dr. John Warren, 1815.— T/t«cAer's
med. fti'og-. 150, 151.
BARTON, Thomas, an episcopal min
ister, was a native of Irelandand educated
at the university of Dubfin. In 1753 he
married at Philadelphia the sister of Mr.
Rittenhouse and the next year was or
dained in England. His talents and learn
ing were of great service to hi.^ friend Mr.
Rittenhouse, who enjoyed few advan
tages of early education. From 1755 to
1759 he was a missionary of a society in
England and resided in Redding township
York county. In 1758 he was a chaplain
in the expedition against fort Du Quesne
and became acquainted with Washington
and Mercer and other distinguished offi
cers. He resided in Lancaster as rector
nearly 20 years. Adhering to the royal
government in the revolution and refusing

to take a required oath, he went in 1779
to New York,where he died May 25,1786*,
aged 50 years. His eldest son, Wm. Bar
ton Esq.of Lancaster, wrote the memoirs
of Rittenhouse ; he left 7 other children,
one of whom was professor Barton. His
widow passed her last years in the house of
her nephew and niece. Dr. Samuel Bard
and wife. W^ithin a few days of their
decease she also died, aged 90. He pub
Ushed a sermon on Braddock's defeat,
1755 ; Mem. of Rittenh. 100, 112, 287,
441 ; Thacher's med. biog. 139.
BARTON, Benjamin Smith, m. d.,
professor in the university of Pennsylva
nia, was the son ofthe Rev. Mr. Barton
of Lancaster, Penns., and was born Feb,
10, 1766. His mother was the sister of
Rittenhouse, whose fife was written by
his brother, William Barton. After
spending several years in study in Phila
delphia, he went to Edinburgh & London
in 1786 to pursue his medical studies. His
medical degree he obtained at Gottingen,
In 1789 he returned to Philadelphia and'
commenced the practice of physie. In the
same year he -was appointed professor of
natural history and botany in the coflege.
He succeeded' Dr. Griffiths as professor
of materia medica and Dr. Rush as pro
fessor of the theory and practice of medi
cine. He died Dec. 19, 1815, aged 49
yeairs. Dr. Barton was distinguished by his
talents and professional attainments. He'
contributed much to the progress of nat
ural science, and his various works evince-
a closeness of observation, an extent of
learning, and a comprehensiveness of
mind, honorabte to bis character. He
was the first American, who gave to his
country an elementary work on botany.
His publications are the foHovvdng : — On
the fascinating quaUty ascribed to the rat
tlesnake, 1796 ; new views of the origin-
ofthe tribes of America, 1797; collec
tions towards a materia medica of the-
U. S. 1798 ; remarks on the speecfr
attributed by Jefferson to Logan, 1798i;-
Medical physical journal, begun 1804,
continued several years ; eulogy on Dr.
Priestley ; elements of botany withi SO

80

BARTON.

BARTRAM.

plates, 1804 ; also in two vols. 40 plates,
1812; flora Virginica, 1812; an edition
of CuUen's materia medica, 1808 ; ac-
countof the Syren lacertina; observations
on the opossum, 1813 ; collections on
extinct animals, &c. 1814; fragments of
the natural history of Penns.; remedy
for the bite of the rattlesnake ; on the
honey bee ; on the native country of the
potato, and other papers in the A. philos.
transactions. — W. P, C. Barton's biog,
sketch; Thacher's med. biog, 151 — 153.
BARTON, William, lieut. col. a pat
riot ofthe revolution, planned the capture
of maj.gen. Prescott on Rhode Island, &
executed the project July 10, 1777. Infor
mation had been received at Providence,
that the general was to sleep at Overing's
house,4 miles from Newport. Barton went
with a party of 40 men, including capts.
Adams and Phillips, in 4 whale boats
from Warwick neck ten miles by water,
landed about half way from Newport to
Bristol ferry, then marched one mile to
the general's quarters. On reaching the
chamber,at midnight, the sentry was se
cured ; then a negro, called Prince, who
accompanied Barton, and who died at
Plymouth, Ms. 1821 aged 78, dashed his
head against the door and knocked out a
pannel, so that col. Barton rushed in and
surprised Prescott in bed and carried him
off with his aid, maj. Wm. Barrington,
who jumped from the window in his shirt.
He escaped the guard boats and no alarm
was given to the enemy, until the party
on their return had nearly reached the
main, when the firing of rockets was in
vain. For this exploit congress presented
him with a sword and with a grant of
land in Vermont. By the transfer of
some of this land he became entangled in
the toils of the law and was imprisoned in
Vermont for years, untfl the visit to this
country in 1825 of La Fayette, who in
his munificence liberated his fellow soldier
and restored the hoary veteran to his
family. Col. Barton was wounded in an
action at Bristol ferry in May 1778. He
died at Providence in Oct. 1831, aged 84
years. — Amer, rememb, 1177, 'ill, 361 ;
Mass. his. col ii. 107, 138; Heath, 122.

BARTRAM, John, an eminent bota
nist, was born at Marpole, Chester coun
ty, Pennsylvania, in the year 1701. His
grandfather, Richard, accompanied Wil
liam Penn to this country in 1632. His
father, John, removed to North Carohna
and was killed by the Whitoc Indians.
He himself inherited the estate of his un
cle, Isaac, at Derby, a few miles from
Philadelphia. This self taught genius early discovered
an ardent desire for the acquisition of
knowledge, especially of botanical know
ledge ; but the infant state of the colony
placed great obstacles in his way. He
however surmounted them by intense ap
plication and the resources of his own
mind. By the assistance of respectable
characters he obtained the rudiments ofthe
learned languages, which he studied with
extraordinary success. So earnest was
he in the pursuit of learning, that he
could hardly spare time to eat ; and he
might often have been found with his vic
tuals in one hand and his book in the other.
He acquired so much knowledge of medi
cine and surgery, as to administer great
assistance to the intfigent and distressed in
his neighborhood. He cultivated the
ground as the means of supporting a large
family ; but while ploughing or sowing
his fields, or mowing his meadows, he was
still pushing his inquiries into the opera
tions of nature.
He was the first American, who con
ceived and carried into effect the design
of a botanic garden, for the cultivation of
American plants, as weU as of exotics.
He purchased a fine situation on the west
bank of the Schuylkill about four miles
below Philadelphia, where he laid out
with his ovni hands a garden of 5 or 6
acres. He furnished it with a variety of
the most curious and beautiful vegetables,
collected in his excursions from Canada to
Florida, These excursions were made
principally in autumn, when his presence
at home was least demanded by his agri
cultural avocations. His ardor in these
pursuits was such, that at the age of sev
enty hemade a journey into East Florida
to explore its natural productions. His

BARTRAM.

81

travels among the Indians were frequent
ly attended with danger and difficulty. By
his means the gardens of Europe were en
riched with elegant, flowering shrubs,
with plants and trees, collected in diffe
rent parts of our country from the shore
of lake Ontario to the source of the river
St. Juan. He made such proficiency
in his favorite pursuit, that Linnseus
pronounced him "the greatest natural bo
tanist in the world." His eminence in
natural history attracted the esteem of
the most distinguished men in America
and Europe, and he corresponded with
many of them. He was a fellow ofthe
royal society. By means of the friend
ship of sir Hans Sloane, Mr. Catesby,
Dr. Hill, Linnseus, and others, he was
furnished with books & apparatus, which
he much needed, and which greatly les
sened the difficulties of his situation. He
in return sent them what was new and
curious in the productions of America.
He was elected a member of several pf the
most eminent societies and academies
abroad, and was at length appointed
American botanist to his Britannic ma
jesty, George III, in which appointment
he continued till his death in September
1777, aged 75.
Mr. Bartram was an ingenious mechan
ic. The stone house, in which he lived,
he built himself, and several monuments
of his skifl remain in it. He was often
his own mason, carpenter, 8c, blacksmith,
and generally made his own farming
utensils. His stature was rather above
the middle size ; his body was erect and
slender ; his complexion was sandy ;
his countenance was cheerful, tho' there
was a solemnity in his air. His gentle
manners corresponded with his amiable
disposition. He was modest & charitable;
a friend to social order; & an ad-vocate for
the aboUtion of slavery. He gave freedom
to a young African, whom he had brought
up ; but he in gratitude to his master
continued in his seivice. Though tem
perate, he kept a plentiful table ; and an
nually on new year's day he made an en
tertainment, consecrated to friendship
and philosophy. Born and educated in
11

the society of Quakers, he professed to
be a worshipper of "God alone, the Al
mighty lord." He often read the scrip
tures, particularly on Sunday. Of his
children, John, his youngest son,who suc
ceeded him in his botanic garden, died at
Philadelphia Nov. 1812. In addition to
his other attainments he acquired some
knowledge of medicine and surgery,
which rendered him useful to his neigh
bors. In his first efforts to make a col
lection of American plants he was aided
by a;fiberal subscription of some scientific
gentlemen in Philadelphia. In 1 737, Mr.
ColUnson wrote to col.Custis of Virginia,
that Bartram was employed by "a set of
noblemen" at his recommendation ; and
he added, " be so kind, as to give him a
a little entertainment and recommendation
to a friend or two of yours in the country,
for he does not value riding 50 or 100
miles to see a new plant."
Mr. Bartram's communications in the
British philosophical transactions, vols.
41, 43, 46,62, are these ; on the teeth of a
rattlesnake ; on the muscles and oyster
banks of Penn. ; on clay wasp nests ; on
the great black wasp ; on the libella ; ac
count of an aurora borealis, observed
Nov. 12, 1757. He published also ob-
sefyations on the inhabitants, clhnate,
sofl"&c. in his travels to lake Ontario, 4th
ed. 4^0. Lond. 1751 ; description of East
Florida, with a journal, 4to. 1774. —
Rees; Month, anthol v. 231; Miller, i,
515; n.367 ; Life of Rittenh, 375; Mem.
Penns, hist, soc, i. 134; Holmes; Bar
ton's med. and phys. journal,!. 115-124.
BARTRAM, William, a botanist, son
of the preceding, was born at the botanic
garden, Kingsessing, Penns., in 1739.
After Uving vdth a merchant in Philadel
phia six years, he went to North CaroUna,
engaged in mercantile pursuits ; but, at
tached to the study of botany,he accompa
nied his father in his journey to E.Florida.
After residing for a time on the river St.
John's in Florida, he returned to his fa
ther's residence in 1771. In April.,177_3,
at the request of Dr. FothergiU he pro
ceeded to Charleston in order to examine
the natural productions of Carolina,

82

BARTRAM.

Georgia, and the Floridas, and was thus
employed nearly five years. His collec
tions & drawings were forwarded to Dr.
FothergiU. His account of his travels
was published in 1791. It is a delightful
specimen of the enthusiasm, with which
the lover of nature and particularly the
botanist surveys the beautiful and won
derful piroductions, which are scattered
over the face of the earth. Of himself
Mr. Bartram said, — "continuaUy impel
led by a restless spirit of curiosity in pur
suit of new productions of nature,my chief
happiness consisted in tracing and admi
ring the infinite power, majesty, and per
fection of the great Almighty Creator,
and in the contemplation, that through
divine aid and permission I might be in
strumental in discovering and introducing
into my native country some original
productions of nature, which might be
useful to society." Reposing in a grove
of oranges, palms, live oaks, and magno
lias, in the midst of beautiful flowers and
singing birds, he cried out, — "ye vigilant
and most faithful servants of the Most
High ; ye, who worship the Creator
morning, noon, and eve in simplicity of
heart ! I haste to join the universal an
them. My heart and voice unite with
yours in sincere homage to the great
Creator, the universal sovereign."
In 1782 he was elected prof, of botany
in the university of Penns., but from ill
health declined the appointment. Besides
his discoveries in botany, he prepared the
most complete table of American ornith
ology before the appearance of the book
of Wilson, whom he assisted in the com
mencement of that work. Such was bis
continued love to botany, that he wrote a
description of a plant a few minutes before
his death,which occurred suddenly by the
rupture of a blood vessel in the lungs, July
22, 1823, in the 85th year of his age. He
published Travels through N. and S.
Carolina, Georgia, East & West Florida,
the Cherokee country, with observations
on the manners of the Indians, with
plates, Svo. Phil., 1731; the same, Lon
don, 1792 ; and translated into French by
Benoist, entitled Voyage &c. 2 vols ;

BAXTER.
Paris, 1801; an account of J. Bartram ;
anecdotes of a crow ; description of Cer-
thia; on the site of Bristol.— J3nc. Amer;
Barton's med. journ. i. i. 89-95; i.n.103.
BASS, Edward, d. d., first bishop of
Massachusetts, was born at Dorchester
Nov. 23, 1726, and graduated at Harvard
college in 1744. For several years he
was the teacher of a school. From 1747
to 1751 he resided at Cambridge, pursu
ing his theological studies, and occasion
ally preaching. In 1 752 at the request of
the episcopal society in Newburyport he
went to England for orders, and was or
dained May 24, by bishop Sherlock. In
1796 he was elected by the convention of
the protestant episcopal churches of Mas
sachusetts to the office of bishop, and was
consecrated May 7, 1797 by the bishops
of Pennsylvania, New York, and Mary
land . Afterwards the episcopal churches
in Rhode Island elected him their bishop,
and in 1803 a convention ofthe churches
in New Hampshire put themselves under
his jurisdiction. He died Sep. 10, 1803,
humble and resigned. He was a sound
divine, a critical scholar, an accomplished
gentieman, and an exemplary christian. —
Mass. hist. col. ix. 188.
BASSETT,Richard,governor of Dela
ware, was a member ofthe old congress
in 1787, and was appointed a senator un
der the new constitution. He was gov
ernor, after Mr. Bedford, from 1798 to
1801, when he was placed by Mr. Adams
on the bench of the federal judiciary.
The repeal of the act, constituting the
courts, displaced him from his office in
1802. He had practised law for many
years with reputation and was a gentle
man of fortune. His daughter married
Mr. Bayard. He died in Sept. 1815.
BAXTER, Joseph, minister of Med
field, Ms. was the son of lieut. John Bax
ter of Braintree, who died in 1719 aged
80, and grandson of Gregory Baxter, a
settler of B. in 1632. He was born in
1676, graduated in 1693, and ordained
Aprfl 21, 1697. When gov. Shute hada
conference with the Indians at George
town, onArrousic island, in Aug. 1717,
he presented to them a Mr. Baxter as a

BAYARD.

83

protestant missionary, who was probably
Mr. Joseph B. ; but through the influ
ence of the Jesuit Ralle he was rejected.
He had a correspondence in Latin with
Ralle, and the Jesuit accused him ofthe
want of scholarship. Gov. Shute in his
letter repUed, that the main quaUficalion
in a missionary to the barbarous Indians
was not "to be an exact scholar as to the
Latin tongue," but to bring them from
darkness to the fight of the gospel, and,
"under the influence ofthe divine Spirit
to translate them from the power of sa-
tan,who has bad an usurped possession of
these parts ofthe world for so many ages,
to the kingdom of the Son of God."
Mr. Baxter died May 2, 1745. His son,
Joseph, a physician, died of the small pox.
He pubfished the election sermon, 1727;
sermons to two societies of young men ;
and sermons on the danger of security,
1729._Jlfas. hist. col. v. 115 ; col N. H.
hist., soc. 11. 245 ; Farmer.
BAYARD, John, a friend to his coun
try, and an eminent christian, was born
Aug. 11, 1738, on Bohemia manor in Ce
cil county, Maryland. His father died
•without a will, and being the eldest son
he became entitled by the laws of Mary
land to the whole real estate. Such how
ever was his affection for his twin broth
er, younger than himself, that no sooner
had he reached the age of manhood, than
lie conveyed to him half the estate. Af
ter receiving an academical education un
der Dr. Finley, he was put into the comp
ting house of Mr. John Rhea, a merchant
of Philadelphia. It was here, that the
seeds of grace began first to, take root,
and to give promise of those ftuits of righ
teousness, which afterwards abounded.
He eariy became a communicant of the
presbyterian church under the charge of
Gilbert Tennent. Some years after his
marriage he was chosen a ruling elder,
and he filled this place with zeal and re
putation. Mr. Whitefield, while on his
visits to America, became intimately ac
quainted with'Mr. Bayard, and was much
attached to him. They made several
tours together. On the 8th of January,

Dr. James A. Bayard, a man of promising
talents, of prudence and skifl, of a most
amiable disposition and growing reputa
tion. The violence of his sorrow at first
produced an illness, which confined him
to his bed for several days. By degrees
it subsided into a tender melancholy,
which for years after would steal across
his mind, and tinge his hours of domestic
intercourse and solitary devotion with
pensive sadness. When his brother's
widow died, he adopted the children, and
educated them as his own. One of them
was an eminent statesman.
At the commencement of the revolu
tionary war he took a decided part in fa
vor of his country. At the head of the
second battalion of the Philadelphia mili
tia he marched to the assistance of Wash
ington and was present at the battle of
Trenton. He was a member of the coun
cil of safety, and for many years speaker
of the legislature. In 1777, when there
was a report that col. Bayard's house had
been destroyed by the British army, and
that his servant, who had been intrusted
with his personal property, had gone off
with it to the enemy, Mr. William Bell,
who had served his apprenticeship with
col. Bayard, and accumulated several
thousand pounds, insisted that his patron
should receive one half of his estate.
This generous offer was not accepted, as
thereport was without foundation. Re
iterated afflictions induced a deep depres
sion of mind, and for some time he was
no longer relieved by the avocations of
business. In 1785 however he was ap
pointed a member of the old congress,
then sitting in New York, but in the fol
lowing year he was left out of the delega
tion. In 1788 he removed to.New Bruns
wick, where he was mayor of the city,
judge ofthe court of common pleas, and
a ruUng elder of the church. Here he
died Jan. 7, 1807, in the 69th year of his
age. At his last hour he was not left in dark
ness. That Redeemer, whom he had ser
ved with zeal, was with him to support
him and give him the victory. During

1770 Mr. Bayard lost his only brother, ' his last illness he spoke much of his broth-

84

BAYARD.

BAYLEY.

er, and one night, awaking from sleep,
exclaimed, "my dear brother, I shall soon
be with you . " He addressed his two sons,
"my dear children, you see me just at the
close of Ufe. Death has no terrors to me.
What now is all the world to me ? I
would not exchange my hope in Christ
for ten thousand worlds. I once enter
tained some doubts of his divinity ; but,
blessed be God, these doubts were soon
removed by inquiry and reflection. From
that time my hope of acceptance with God
has rested on his merits and atonement.
Out of Christ God is a consuming
fire. " As he approached nearer the grave,
he said, "I shall soon be at rest ; I shall
soon be with my God. Oh glorious hope !
Blessed rest ! How precious are the prom
ises of the gospel ! It is the support of
my soul in my last moments." While sit
ting up, supported by his two daughters,
holding one of his sons by the hand, and
looking intently in his face, he said, "my
christian brother !" Then turning to his
daughters he continued, "you are my
christian sisters. Soon will our present
ties be dissolved, but more glorious bonds
 " He could say no more, but his
looks and arms, directed towards heaven,
•expressed every thing. He frequently
commended himself to the blessed Redee
mer, confident of his love ; and the last
words, which escaped from his dying lips,
were, "Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, Lord Je
sus." — Evang. intelligencer, i. 1 — 7, 49
—57. BAYARD, James A., a distinguished
statesman, was the son of Dr. J. A. Bay
ard, and was born in Philarlelphia in 1767,
On the death of his father he was received
into the family of his uncle, John Bayard,
and was graduated at Princeton college in
1784. After studying lawat Philadelphia
with gen. Reed and Mr. Ingersoll, he
commenced the practice in Delaware. In
Oct. 1796 he was elected a member of
congress. In the party contests ofthe day
he was a distinguished suppprter of the
federal administration. In the memora
ble contest in the house concerning the
election pf president in 1801, Jefferson
and Burr having an equal number of the

electoral votes, he directed the course,
which issued in the election of Mr. Jeffer
son. Among the debaters on the repeal of
the judiciary bill in March 1 802 he was the
ablest advocate of the system, which was
overthrown. From the house he was
transferred to the senate in 1804, and
was again elected for si.x years from
I March 1805, and also from March 1811.
He opposed the declaration of war in
1812. After the commencement of the
war, the mediation of Russia being offer
ed, he was selected by Mr. Madison as a
commissioner with Mr. Gallatin to nego
tiate a peace with Great Britain, and
sailed from Phfladelphia for St. Peters
burg May 9, 1813. The absence of the
emperor preventing the transaction of
any business, he proceeded to Holland by
landin Jan. 1814. Helent his able assis
tance in the negotiation of the peace at
Ghent in this year, and afterwards made
a journey to Paris, where he was apprized
of his appointment as envoy to the court
of St. Petersburg. This he dechned, sta
ting, "that he had no wish to serve the
administration, except when his services
were necessary for the good of his coun
try. " Yet he proposed to co-operate
in forming a commercial treaty with
Great Britain. An alarming illness,
however, constrained him to return to
the United States. He arrived in June
and died at Wilmington Aug. 6, 1715,
aged 48 years. His wife , the daughter of
gov.Bassett, and several children survived
him. Mr. Bayard was an ingenious rea-
soner and an accomplished orator. His
fine countenance and manly person
recommended his eloquent words. There
were few of his contemporaries of higher
pohtical distinction. But his race of
worldly eminence was soon run. — His
speech on the foreign intercourse bill
was pubUshed 1798 ; and his speech on
the repealof the judiciary in a vol. ofthe
speeches, 1802.— .Biog-. Amer. 50; En
cyc. Amer.
BAYLEY, Matthias, remarkable for
longevity, died about the year 1789 at
Jones' creek, a branch ofthe Pedee, in
North CaroUna, aged 136 years. He was

BAYLEY.

BAYLIES.

85

baptized at the age of 134. His eye sight
remained good, and his strength was very
remarkable, till his death. — American mu
seum, vii. 206.
BAYLEY, Richard, an eminent phy
sician of New York, was born at.Fairfield,
Con., in the year 1745. From his moth
er's being of French descent and his pa
rents' residence among the French pro
testant emigrants at New Rochelle, N.
Y., he became early familiar with the
French language. He studied physic
with Dr. Charlton, whose sister he mar
ried. In 1769 or 1770 he attended the
London lectures and hospitals. Return
ing in 1772 he commenced practice with
Dr. Charlton in New York. His atten
tion in 1774 was drawn to, the croup,
which prevafled, and which men of high
character, as Dr. Bard, had fatally treated
as the putrid sore throat. He had seen a
child perish in 36 hours under the use of
stimulants and antiseptics. His dissec
tions confirmed him in his views ; and
they were adopted afterwards by his
friend, MiehaeUs, the chief of the Hes
sian medical staff in New York, the author
of a treatise "De angina polyposa."
In the autumn of 1775 he revisited
England in order to make further im
provement under Hunter, and spent the
winter in dissections and study. In the
spring of 1776 he returned in the capacity
of surgeon in the EngUsh army under
Howe. This was a measure of mistaken
prudence, in order to provide for his wife
& children. In the fall he proceeded with
the fleet to Newport ; but incapable of
enduring this separation from his wife,
he resigned and returned to New York in
the spring of 1777 just before her death.
His influence was now beneficially exer
ted in saving the property of his ab
sent fellow citizens. In 1781 his letter to
Hunter on the croup was published, in
which he recommended bleeding, blisters
to the throat, antimony, calomel, and en-
emata. He said, there was no fear of pu-
trescency. Unless there were ulcers. To
Bayley the pubfic is indebted for tfie pres
ent active treatment of the croup. , In
1787 he deUvered lectures on surgery,and

his son in law. Dr. Wright Post, lectured
on anatomy in the edifice, since conver
ted into the New York hopital. In 1788
"the Doctors' mob," in consequence of
the imprudence of some students, broke
into the building and destroyed Bayley's
valuable anatomical cabinet. In 1792 he
was elected professor of anatomy at Co
lumbia college ; but in 1793 he took the
department of surgery, in which he was
very skilful. About 1795 he was appointed
health officer to the port. During the
prevalence of the yellow fever he fear
lessly attended upon the sick and investi
gated the disease. In 1797 he published
his essay on that fever, maintaining, that
it had a local origin and was not conta
gious. He also published in 1798 a series
of letters on the subject. By contagion
he meant a specific poison, as in small
pox. He allowed,that the fever in certain
circumstances was infectious. No nurse
or attendant in the hospitals had taken the
disease, yet it might be conveyed in clo
thing and in other ways. Hence the im
portance of cleanfiness and ventilation.
The state quarantine laws originated with
him ; the total interdiction of commerce
with the West Indies had by some been
contemplated. In Aug. 1821 an Irish
emigrant ship with ship fever arrived.
He found the crew a^d passengers and
baggage huddled in one unventilated
apartanent, contrary to his orders. En
tering it only a moment, a deadly sick
ness at the stomach and intense pain in
the head seized him, and on the seventh
day he expired Aug. 17, 1801, aged 56.
He is represented as in temper fiery, in
vincible in his disfikes, inflexible in at
tachment, of perfect integrity, gentleman
ly and chivalrously honorable. He mar
ried in 1778 Charlotte Amelia, daughter
of Andrew Barclay, a merchant of New
York. His writings have been mentioned ;
on the croup, 1781 ; essay on the yeUow
fever, 1797; letters on thesame, 1798. —
Thacher's med. biog. 156 — 168.
BAYLIES, William, m. d., died at
Dighton, Mass., June 17, 1826, aged 82.
He was graduated at Harvard college in
1760 and was a member ofthe provincial

86

BAYNAM.

BEACH.

congress in 1775, and often a member of
the council of the state.
BAYNAM, William, a surgeon, the
son of Dr. John Baynham of Carofine
county, Virginia, was born in 1749, and
after studying ^with Dr. Walker was sent
to London in 1769, where he made great
proficiency in anatomy and surgery. He
was for years an assistant demonstrator
to Mr. Else, professor in St. Thomas'
hospital. After residing 16 years in En
gland he returned to this country, and
settled in Essex about 1785. He died
Dec. 8, 1814, aged 66 years. He perform
ed many remarkable surgical operations.
As an anatomist he had no superior.
The best preparations in the museum of
Cline and Cooper at Londpn were made
by him. Various papers by Mr. B. were
published in the medical journals, —
Thacher's med. biog. 168-173; N. Y.
med. journ. i ; Phil, journ. iv.
BEACH, John, an episcopal clergy
man and writer, was probably a descend
ant of Richard Beach, who lived in New
Haven and had a son, John, born in 1639.
He was graduated at Yale college in
1721, and was for several years a congre
gational minister at Newtown. Through
his acquaintance with Dr. Johnson he was
induced to embrace the episcopal form of
worship. In 1732 he went to England
for orders, and on his return was employed
as an episcopalian missionary at Reading
and Newtown. After the declaration of in
dependence congress ordered the nunisters
to pray for the commonwealth and not for
the king. Mr. Beach, who retained his
loyalty, chose to pray as usual for his ma
jesty, and was in consequence handled
roughly by the whigs. He died March
19, 1782.
He published an appeal to the unpreju
diced in answer to a sermon of Dickinson,
1737; also, about the year 1745, a sermon
on Romans vi. 23, entitled, a sermon
shewing that eternal life is God's free gift,
bestowed upon men according to their
moral behavior. In this he opposed
with much zeal some of the calvinistic
doctrines, contained in the articles of
the church, which he had joined. Jona

than Dickinson wrote remarks upon it the
following year in his vindication of God's
sovereignty and his universal love to the
souls of men reconciled, in the form of a
dialogue, 1747, He wrote also a reply to
Dickinson's second vindication. Mr.
Beach was a bold and distinguished advo
cate of those doctrhies, which are denomi
nated arminian. Whatever may be said
of his argument in his dispute with Dick
inson, he evidently yields to his antagonist
in gentleness and civility of manner. An
other controversy, in which he engaged,
had respect to episcopacy. He published
in 1749, in answer to Hobart's first ad
dress, a calm and dispassionate vindicatiori
of the professors ofthe church of England,
to which Dr. Johnson wrote a preface and
Mr. Caner an appendix. He seems to
have had high notions ofthe necessity of
episcopal ordination. His other pubfica
tions are, the duty of loving our ^enemies,
1738 ; an inquiry into the state of the
dead, 1755 ; a continuation ofthe vindica
tion of the professors, &c. 1756 ; the in
quiry ofthe young man into the gospel ; a
sermon on the death of Dr. Johnson,
1772. — Chandler's life of Johnson, 62,
126. BEACH, Abraham, d. d., an episco
pal minister, was born at Cheshire, Con.,
Sep. 9, 1740, and graduated at Yale col
lege in 1757. The bishop of London or
dained him in June 1767 as a priest for
New Jersey, During 17 years,including
the period ofthe revolution, he tranquil
ly discharged the duties of his office at
New Brunswick. After the peace, he
was called to New York as an assistant
minister of Trinity church, where he re
mained about 3D years, and then retired
in 1813 to his farm on the Rariton to pass
the evening of his life. He died Sep. 1 1 ,
1828, aged 88 years. — His daughter, Ma
ria, and his son in law, Abiel Carter, an
episcopal minister,died at Savannah, Oct.
28, and Nov. 1, 1827.— His dignified
person, expressive countenance, and live
ly feelings rendered his old age interes
ting to his acquaintance. He was re
spected and honored in his faUing years.
A sermon of his on the hearing of 'the

BEADLE.

BEAN.

87

word is in Amer. Preacher, in. He
published a fun. serm. on Dr. Chandler,
1790. — Episc. Watchman.
BEADLE, William, a deist, was born
near London, and came to this country
with a small quantity of goods. After
residing at New York, Stratford, and
Derby, he removed to Fairfield, where
he married a Miss Lathrop of Plymouth,
Mass. In 1772 he transplanted himself to
Wethersfield, where he sustained the
character of a fair dealer. In the depre
ciation of the paper currency he through
some error of judgment thought he was
StiU bound to sell his goods at the old
prices, as though the continental money
had retained its nominal value. In the
decay of his property he became melan
choly. ^For years he meditated the des
truction of his family. At last, Dec. 11,
1 782, he murdered with an axe and a knife
his wife and children and then shot him
self -with a pistol. He was aged 52 ; his
wife 32 ; and the eldest chfld 1 5 years.
The jury of inquest pronounced him to
be of a sound mind ; and the indignant
inhabitants dragged his body, uncoffined,
with the bloody knife tied to it, on a sled
to the river, and "buried it, as they would
have buried the carcase of a beast," and
as the masonic oaths speak of burying a
mason, murdered for his faithlessness to
masonry, "between high and low water
mark." He was a man of good sense, of
gentlemanly conduct, and a hospitable
disposition. His wife was very pleasing
in person,mind, and manners. — It appears
from his writings, that he was a deist, and
that pride was the cause of his crimes.
He was unwflling to submit to the evils
of poverty or to receive aid from others,
and unwilling to leave his family without
the means of distinction. Yet' was he
worth 300 pounds sterfing. He endeav
ored to convince himself, that he had a
right to kill his children, because they
were his ; as for his wife, he relied on the
authority of a dream for a right to murder
her. His wife, in consequence of his
carrying the implements of death into his
bed chamber, had dreamed, that she and;
the children were exposed in coffins in the

street. This solved his doubts. As to
kilUng himself he had no qualms. From
such horrible crimes what is there to res
train that class of men, who reject the
scriptures, or who, while professing
to believe them, deny that there
will be a future judgment, and maintain,
that death wiU translate the blood-stained
wretch to heaven.' — Dwight's trav. i.
229. BEAN, Joseph,minister of "VVrentham,
was born in Boston March 7, 1718 of
pious parents, who devoted him to God.
Having learned a trade, he commenced
business at Cambridge; but iii 1741 the
preaching of Whitefield and Tennent and
of his own minister, Appleton, was the
means of subduing his love of the world
and of rendering him wise unto salvation.
He now made a profession of reUgion and
commenced a consistent course of piety
and beneficence, in which he continued
through hfe. He joined a religious soci
ety of young men, who met once a week ;
and seized every opportunity for conver
sing with others, especially with the
young on their spiritual concerns. Inl742
he deemed it his duty to abandon his trade
and to seek an education, that he might
preach the gospel. The study of the
languages was wearisome ; but he perse
vered, and was graduated at Harvard
college in 1748, and ordained the third
minister of Wrentham Nov. 24, 1750.
He died Dec. 12, 1784, aged 66. Mr.
Bean was an eminently pious and faithful
minister, and is worthy of honorable re
membrance. From his diary it appears,
that he usually spent one or two hours,
morning and evening, in reading the Bible
and secret devotion; also the afternoon of
Saturday, when his discourses were pre
pared for the Sabbath ; and the days pf
the birth of himself and children, as well
as other days. He was truly humble, and
watchful against all the excitements of
pride. His conscience was peculiarly
susceptible. His heart was tender and
benevolent. Such was his constant in
tercourse with heaven, that hundreds of
times, when riding in the performance
of parochial duty, he had dismounted in

88

BEATTY.

BELCHER.

a retired place to pour out his heart to
God. AVhen he had prepared a sermon,
he would take it in his hand and kneel
down to implore a blessing on it. Noth
ing was permitted to divert him from
preaching faithfully the solemn truths of
the gospel. He loved his work and his
people, and they loved and honored him.
Such a life will doubtiess obtain the hon
or, which cometh from God ; and in th,e
day of judgment many such obscure men,
whom the, world knew not, wfll be exal
ted far above a multitude of learned doc
tors in divinity, and celebrated orators,
and lofty dignitaries, whose names once
resounded through the earth. He pub
lished a century sermon, Oct. 26, 1773.
—Panopl V. 481-483.
BEATTY, Charles, a missionary for
many years at Neshaminy, Penns., was
appointed about 1761 an agent to procure
contributions to a fund for the benefit of
the presbyterian clergy, their widows,
and chUdren. He died at Barbadoes,
whither he had gone to obtain benefac
tions for the college of New Jersey, Aug.
IS, 1772. He was highly respected for
his private virtues and for his pubhc toils
in the cause of learning, charity, and reU
gion. He was a missionary from the
presbyterian church to the Indians from
about 1740 to 1765. In one of
his tours Mr. Duffield accompanied him.
He published a journal of a tour of two
months to promote reUgion among the
frontier inhabitants of Pennsylvania, 8 vo.
Lond.,1768.-^Jenmsora; Brainerd's life,
149—155. BEATTY,'John, m. d., general, the
son of the preceding, was a native of
Buck's county, Penn. and was graduated
at Princeton in 1769. After studying
medicine with Dr. Rush, he entered the
army as a soldier. Reaching the rank of
lieut. col. he in 1776 feUintothe handsof
the enemy at the capture of fort Washing
ton and suffered a long and rigorous
imprisonment. In 1779 he succeeded Elias
Boudinot as commissary gen. of prison
ers. After the war he settled at Prince
ton as a physician, and was also atnember
of the state legislature and in 1793 of

congress. For ten years he was secreta
ry of the state of New Jersey,sucCeeding
in 1795 Samuel W. Stockton. For
1 1 years he was president of the bank of
Trenton, wljere he died April 30, 1826,
aged 77. For many years he was a ruling
elder in the church. — Thacher's med.
biog.— 173, 174.
BECK, George, a painter, was a na
tive of England, and appointed professor
of mathematics in the royal academy at
Woolwich in 1776, but missed the office
by his neglect. After coming to this
country in 1795 he was employed in
painting by Mr. Hamilton of the Wood
lands, near Philadelphia. His last days
were spent in Lexington, Ky., where he
died Dec. 14, 1812, aged 63. Besides
his skill in mathematics and painting, he
had a taste for poetry, and wrote original
pieces, besides translating Anacreon, and
much of Homer, Virgil, and Horace.
He published observations on the comet,
181 2. — Jennison.
BEDFORD, Gunning, governor of
Delaware, was a patriot ofthe revolution.
He was chosen governor in 1796. He
was afterwards appointed the district
judge ofthe court of the United States ;
and died at Wilmington, in March 1812.
BELCHER, Samuel, first mimster of
that parish in Newbury, Mass., which is
called Newbury Newtown,was graduated
at Harvard college in 1659. After preach
ing some time at the Isle of Shoals he
was ordained at Newbury Nov. 30, 169S;
&diedatlpswich,in I7l4,aged74. He was
a good scholar, a judicious divine, & a ho
ly and humble man. He published an
election sermon, 17 07. — Coll, hist. soc. x.
168 ; Farmer.
BELCHER, Jonathan, governor of
Massachusetts and New Jersey, was the
son of Andrew Belcher of Cambridge,
one of the council of the province and a
gentleman of large estate, who died in
1717, and grandson of Andrew B., who
lived in Cambridge in 1646,and-who recei
ved in 1652-a Ucepse for an inn, granting
him liberty "to sell beer and bread for
entertainment of strangers and the good
ofthe town." He was bornin Jan. 1681.

BELCHER.

89

As the hopes ofthe family rested on him,
his father carefully superintended his edu
cation. He was graduated at Harvard
college in 1699. While a member of this
institution his open and pleasant conversa
tion, joined with his manly and gener
ous conduct, conciliated the esteem of all
his acquaintance. Not long after the ter
mination of his collegial course he visited
Europe, thathe might enrich his mind by
his observations upon the various manners
and characters of men, and might return,
furnished with that useful knowledge,
which is gained by intercourse with the
world. During an absence of six years from his
native country he was preservetl from
those follies, into which inexperienced
youth are frequently dra-wn, and he even
maintained a constant regard to that
holy religion, of which he had early rhade
a profession. He was every where trea
ted with the greatest respect. The ac
quaintance, which he formed with the
princess Sophia and her son, afterwards
king George II, laid the foundation of his
future honors. After his return from his
travels he lived in Boston as a merchant
with great reputation. He was chosen a
member of the council, and the general
assembly sent him as an agent of the pro
vince to the British court in the year 1729.
Hutchinson relates, that just before he
obtained this appointment, he suddenly
abandoned the party of gov. Shute and
his measures; to which he had been at
tached, and went over to the other side.
This sudden change of sides is no rare oc
currence among politicians.
After the death of governor Burnet, he
was appointed by his majesty to the govern
ment of Massachusetts and New Hamp
shire in 1730. In this station he continued
eleven year?. His style of living was ele
gant and splendid, and he was distinguish
ed for hospitality. By the depreciation of
the currency his salary was much dimi
nished in value , but he disdained any un-
warrantablemeans of enriching himself,
though apparently just & sanctioned by
his predecessors in office. He had been
one' of the principal merchants of New
12

England ; but he quitted his business on
his accession to the chair of the first ma
gistrate. Having a high sense of the dig
nity of his commission, he was determi
ned to support it even at the expense of
his private fortune. Frank and sincere,
he was extremely liberal in his censures
both in conversation and letters. This
imprudence in a public officer gained him
enemies, who were determined on re
venge. He also assumed some authority,
which had not been exercised before,
though he didnot exceed his commission.
These causes of complaint, together with
a controversy respecting a fixed salary,
which had been transmitted to him from
his predecessors, and his opposition to the
land bank company finally occasioned his
removal. His enemies were so invete
rate and so regardless of justice and truth,
that, as they were unable to find real
grounds for impeaching his integrity,
they forged letters for the purpose of his
ruin. They accused him of being a
friend of the land bank, when he was its
determined enemy. The leading men of
New Hampshire, who wished for a dis
tinct government, were hostile to him ;
and his resistance to a proposed new emis
sion of paper biUs also created him ene
mies. On being superseded, he repaired
to court, where he vindicated his charac
ter and conduct, and exposed the base de
signs of his enemies. He was restored to
the royal favor, and was promised the
firstvacant government in America. This
vacancy occurred in the, province of New
Jersey, where he arrived in 1747, and
where he spent the remaining years of his
fife. In this province his memory has
been held in deserved respect.
When he first arrived in this province,
he found it in the utmost confusion by tu
mults and riotous disorders, which had
for some time prevailed, This circum
stance, joined to the unhappy controver
sy between the two branches ofthe legis
lature, rendered the first part of his admi
nistration peculiarly difficult ; but by his
firm and prudent measures he surmoun
ted the difficulties of his situation. He
steadily pursued the interest of the pro-

90

BELCHER.

vince, endeavoring to distinguish and pro
mote men of worth without partiality.
He enlarged the charter of Princeton col
lege, and was its chief patron and bene
factor. Even under the growing infirmi
ties of age he applied himself with his ac
customed assiduity and diUgence to the
high duties of his office. He died at Eli
zabeth Town, August 31, 1757, aged 76
years. His body was brought to Cam
bridge, Massachusetts, where it was en
tombed. His eldest son, Andrew, a
member ofthe council, died at Milton be
fore the revolution. In the opinion of
Dr. Eliot he did not inherit the spirit of
his father.
Governor Belcher possessed uncom
mon gracefulness of person and dignity
of deportment. He obeyed the royal in
structions on the one hand and exhibited
a real regard to the Uberties and happiness
of the people on the other. He was dis
tinguished by his unshaken integrity, by
his zeal for justice, and care to have it
equally distributed. Neither the claims
of interest, nor the solicitations of friends
could move him from -what appeared to
be his duty. He seems to have possessed,
in addition to his other accomplishments,
that piety, whose lustre is eternal. His
refigion was not a mere formal thing,
which he received from tradition, or pro
fessed in conformity to the custom of the
country, in which he Uved ; but it im
pressed his heart, and governed his fife.
He had such views of the majesty and
hohness of God, of the strictness and pu
rity ofthe divine law, and of his own un-
worthiness and iniquity, as made him
disclaim all dependence on his own right
eousness, and led him to place his whole
hope for salvation orl the merits of the
Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to him
an aU sufficient and glorious Savior. He
expressed the humblest sense of his own
character and the most exalted views of
the rich, free, and glorious grace, offered
in the gospel to sinners. His faith work
ed by love, and produced the genuine
fruits of obedience. It exhibited itself
in a life of piety and devotion, of meek
ness and humility, of justice, truth, and

benevolence. He searched the holy
scriptures with the greatest dfligence and
delight. In his family he maintained the
worship of God, himself reading the vol
ume of truth, and addressing in prayer
the Majesty of heaven and of earth, as
long as his health and strength would
possibly admit. In the hours of retire
ment he held intercourse with heaven,
carefully redeeming time from the busi
ness of this world to attend to the more
important concerns of another. Though
there was nothing ostentatious in his re
ligion, yet he was not ashamed to avow
his attachment to the gospel of Christ,
even when- he exposed himself to ridicule
and censure. When Mr. Wliitefield was
at Boston in the year 1740, he treated
that eloquent itinerant with the greatest
respect. He even followed him as far as
Worcester, and requested him to contin
ue his faithful instructions and pungent
addresses to the conscience, desiring him
to spare neither ministers nor rulers.
He was indeed deeply interested in the
progress of hohness and religion.' As he
approached the termination of his Ufe,
he often expressed his desire to depart
and to enter the world of glory. — Burr's
fun, sermon; Hutchinson, n. 367 — 397 ;
Holmes, ii. 78; Smith's N. J., 437, 438;
Belknap's N. H. n. 95, 126, 165—180 ;
Whitefield's jour. for. 1743 ; Marshall,
I. 299 ; Minot, i. 61 ; Eliot ; M. hist, col
vn. 28 .
BELCHER, Jonathan, chief justice of
Nova Scotia, was the second son of the
preceding, and was graduated at Harvard
college in 1728. He studied law at the
temple in London and gained some dis
tinction at the bar in England. At the
settlement of Chebucto, afterwards called
Halifax, in honor of one ofthe king's
ministers, he proceeded to that place, and
being in 1760 senior counsellor, on the
death of governor Lawrence he was ap
pointed lieut. governor, in which office
he was succeeded by col.Wilmotin 1763.
In 1761 he received his appointment of
chief justice ; in the same year, as com-^
mander in chief, he made a treaty with
the Mirimiohi, Jediuk, and Poginouch,

BELDEN.
Mickmack tribes of Indians. He died at
Halifax March 1 776, aged 65. He was a
man of prudence and integrity, and a
friend of New England. In 1756 he mar
ried at Boston the sister of Jerem. Allen,
Sheriff of Suffolk: on her death in 1771
Mr. Seccomb published a discourse and
her kinsman. Dr. Byles, a monody. An
drew Belcher, his son, was a distinguish
ed citizen of Hafifax and a member of the
council in 1801. A daughter married Dr.
Timothy L. Jennison of Cambridge,
Mass. — Mass.hist.col.v.102; Jenn.;Eliot,
BELDEN, Joshua, physician of
Wethersfield, Con., was the son of Rev.
Joshua Belden of that town, whoreached
the age 90 years. After graduating at
Yale college in 1787, he studied physic
with Dr. L. Hopkins. Besides his useful
tofls as a physician, he was employed in
various offices of pubfic trust. He was a
zealous supporter of all charitable and re
Ugious institutions. At the age of 50 he
fell a victim suddenly to the spotted fever
June 6, 1818. — Thacher's med, biog,
BELKNAP, Jeremy, D. d., minister
in Boston, and eminent as a writer, was
born June 4, 1744, and was a des
cendant of Joseph Belknap, who lived in
Boston in 1658. He received the rudi
ments of learning in the grammar school
of the celebrated Mr. Level, and was
graduated at Harvard coUege in 1762.
He exhibited, at this early period, such
marks of genius and taste, and such tal
ents in writing and eonversation,as to ex
cite the most pleasing hopes of his future
usefulness and distinction. Having upon
his mind deep impressions of the truths
of reUgion, he now appfied himself to
the study of theology, and, he was ordai
ned pastor ofthe church in Dover, New
Hampshire, February 18, 1767. Here
he passed near twenty years of his fife
with the esteem and affection of his flock,
and respected by the first characters of
the state. He was persuaded by them to
compile his history of New Hampshire,
which gained him a high reputation. In
1786 he was dismissed frOm his people.
The presbyterian church in Boston, be
coming vabant by the removal of Mr.

BELKNAP.

91

Annan, and having changed its establish
ment from the presbyterian to the congre
gational form,soon invited him to become
its pastor. He was accordingly installed
April 4, 1787. Here he passed the re
mainder of his days, discharging the du
ties of his pastoral office, exploring vari
ous fields of literature, and giving his
efficient support to every useful and be
nevolent institution. After being subject
to frequent returns of fll health he was
suddenly seized by a paralytic affection,
and died June 20, 1798, aged 54 years.
Dr. Belknap in hispreaching did not pos
sess the graces of elocution; nor did he aim
at splendid diction, but presented his
thoughts in plain and perspicuous lan
guage, that all might understand him.
While he lived in Boston, he avoided
controversial subjects, dwelUng chiefly
upon the practical views of the gospel.
His sermons were filled with a rich vari
ety of observations on human Ufe and
manners. He was peculiarly careful in
giving religious instruction to young
children, that their feet, might be early
guided in the way of life. In the after
noon preceding his death he was enga
ged in catechising the youth of his soci
ety. In the various relations of fife his
conduct was exemplary. He was a mem
ber of many fiterary and humane societies,
-whose interests he essentially promoted.
Wherever he could be of any service he
freely devoted his time and talents. He
was one of the founders of the Massa
chusetts historical society, the design of
which he was induced to form in conse
quence of a suggestion of Thomas Wall-
cutofBoston,a diUgerit collector of oltj and
valuable books, as well as on account of
his frequent disappointment from the loss
of valuable papers in prosecuting his his
torical researches. He had been taught
the value ofan association, whose duty
it should be to collect and preserve manu
scripts and bring together the materials
for iflustrating the history of our coun
try; and he had the happiness of seeing
such an institution incorporated in 1794.
Dr. Belknap gained a high reputation
as a writer ; but he is more reinarkahle

92

BELKNAP.

BELLAMONT.

for the patience and accuracy of his histo
rical researches, than for elegance of style.
His deficiency in natural science, as mani
fested in his history of New Hampshire,
is rendered more prominent by the rapid
progress of natural history since his
death. His Foresters is not only a des
cription of American manners, but a work
of humor and wit, which went into a
second edition. Before the revolution
he wrote much in favor of freedom and
liis country, and he afterwards gave to
the public many fruits of his labors and
researches. His last and most interesting
work, his American biography, he did
not live to complete. He was a decided
advocate of our repubUcan forms of gov
ernment and ever was a warm friend of
the constitution of the United States,
which he considered the bulwark of our
national security and happiness. He was
earnest in his wishes and prayers for the
government of his country, and in critical
periods took an open and unequivocal,
and, as far as professional and private
duties aUo-Wed, an active part.
The following extract from some lines,
found among his papers, expresses his
choice with regard to the manner of his
death, and the event corresponded with
his wishes.
When faith and patience, hope and love
Have made us meet for heaven above,
How blest the privilege to rise.
Snatched in a moment to the skies t
Unconscious to resign our breath.
Nor taste the bitterness of death.
Dr. Belknap pubUshed a sermon on
mifitary duty, 1772 ; a serious address to
a parishioner upon the neglect of public
worship ; a sermon on Jesus Christ, the
only foundation ; election sermon, 1784;
history of New Hampshire, the first vol
ume in 1784,-,the second in 1791, and the
third in 1792 ; a sermon at the ordination
of Jedediah Morse, 1789; a discourse at
the request ofthe historical society, Oct.
1792, being the completion of the third
century from Columbus' discovery of
America ; dissertations upon the charac
ter and resurrection of Christ, 12mo;
collection of psalms and hymns, 1795;

convention sermon, 1796 ; a sermon on
the national fast. May 9, 1793; American
biography, first volume in 1794, the sec
ond in 1798 ; the foresters, an American
tale, being a sequel to the history of
John Bull, the clothier, 12mo. Hepub
lished also several essays upon- the African
trade, upon civil and rehgious Uberty,
upon the state & settlement of this coun
try in periodical papers ; in the Colum
bian magazine printed in Philadelphia ;
in the Boston magazine, 1784; in the
historical collections ; and in newspapers.
Two of his sermons on the institution
and observation of the sabbath were
published in l801,^Mass. hist. col. vi. x
— xvin ; Columb. cent, June 25, 1798 :
Polyanthos, i. 1 — 13.
BELL, John, a distinguished citizen
of New llampshire, of great judgment,
decision, and integrity, died at London
derry, Nov. 30, 1825, aged 95 years.
His father, John, was an early set
tler of that town.  During the revo
lutionary war he was a leading mem
ber of the senate. From an early age
he was a professor of reUgion. Two
of his sons, Samuel and John, have been
governors of New Hamshire ; the former
is now a senator of the United States.
His grandspn, Jpbn Bell, son of Samuel,
a physician of great promise, died at
Grand Caillon, Louisiana, Nov. 27,1830,
aged 30.
BELLAMONT, Richard, eari of,
governor of New York, Massachusetts,
and New Hampshire, was appointed to
these offices early in May 1695, but did
not arrive at New York until May 1698.
He had to struggle with many difficulties,
for the people were divided, the treasu
ry was unsupplied, and the fortifications
were out of repair. Notwithstanding
the care of government, the pirates, who
in time of peace made great depredations
upon Spanish ships and settlements in
America, were frequently in the sound,
and were supplied with provisions by the
inhabitants of Long Island. The befief,
that large quantities of money were hid
by these pirates along the coast, led to
many a fruitless search ; and thus thena-

BELLAMY.

93

tural credulity of the human mind and the
desire of sudden wealth were suitably
punished. The earl of Bellamont remain
ed in the province of New York about a
year. He arrived at Boston May 26,
1699, and in Massachusetts he was receiv
ed with the greatest respect, as it was a
new thing to see a nobleman at the head
of the government. Twenty compa
nies of soldiers and a vast concourse of
people met " his lordship and countess"
on his arrival. — "There were all manner
of expressions of joy, and to end all,
firework and good drink at night." —
He in return took every method to ingra
tiate himself -with the people. He was
condescending, affable, and courteous up
on all occasions. Though a churchman,
he attended the weekly lecture in Boston
with the general court, who always ad
journed for the purpose. For the prea
chers he professed the greatest regard.
By his wise conduct he obtained a larger
sum as a salary and as a gratuity, than
any of his predecessors or successors.
Though he remained but fourteen
months, the grants made to him were one
thousand eight hundred and seventy
five pounds sterling. His time was much
taken up in securing the pirates and their
effects, to accomplish -which was a prin
cipal reason of his appointment. During
his administration captain Kidd was sei
zed, and sent to England for trial. Soon
after the session of the general court in
May 1700, he returned to New York,
where he died March 5, 1701. He had
made himself very popular in his govern
ments. He was a nobleman of pofite
manners, a friend to the revolution, which
excited so much joy in New England,
and a favorite of king William. Hutch
inson, who was himself not unskilled in
the arts of popularity, seems to consider
his regard to refigion as pretended, and re
presents him as preferring for his asso
ciates in private the less precise part
ofthe country. As the earl was once
going from the lecture to his house with
a. great crowd around him, he passed by
one BulUvant, an apothecary, and a man
of the fiberal cast, who was standing at

his shop door loitering. "Doctor," said
the earl with an audible voice, "you have
lost a precious serition to day." BulU
vant whispered to one of his com
panions, who stood by him, " if I
could have got as much by being, there,
as his lordship will, I would have been
there too." However, there seems to
be no reason to distrust the sincerity of
Bellamont. The dissipation of his early
years caused afterwards a deep regret.
It is said, that while residing at fort
George, N. Y., he once a week retired
privately to the chapel to meditate hum
bly upon his juvenile folly. Such a
man might deem a sermon on the method
of salvation "precious," without meriting
from the scoffer the charge of hypocrisy.
—Hutchinson, 11. 87, 108, 112-116, 121;
Belknap's N. H. i. 301, 304, 309; Doug
lass, II. 248.
BELLAMY, Joseph, d. d,, an emi
nent minister, was born at New Cheshire,
Connecticut, in 1719, and was gradua
ted at Yale college in 1735. It was not
long after his removal from New Haven,
that he became the subject of those seri
ous impressions, which, it is believed, is
sued in renovation of heart. From this
period he consecrated his talents to the
evangelical ministry. At the age of
eighteen he began to preach with accep
tance and success. An uncommon bless
ing attended his ministry at Bethlem in
the town of Woodbury ; a large propor
tion of the society appeared to be awak
ened to a sense of religion, and they
were unwilfing to part with the man, by
whose ministry they had been conducted
to a knowledge of the truth. He was
ordained to the pastoral office over this
church in 1740. In this retirement he
devoted himself with uncommon ardor
to his studies and the duties of his office
till the memorable revival, which was
most conspicuous in 1742. His spirit of
piety was then blown into a flame ; he
could not be contented to confine his la
bors to his small society. Taking care
that his own pulpit should be vacant as
Uttle as possible, he devoted aconsiderable
part of his time for several years to itine-

BELLAMY.

rating in different parts of Connecticut
and the neighboring colonies, preaching
thegospel daily to multitudes, who flock
ed to hear him. He was instrumental in
the conversion of many. When the
awakening dechned, he returned to a
more-constant attention to his own charge.
He now began the task of writing an ex
cellent treatise, entitled, true refigion de-
¦lineated, which was published in 1750.
lEKs abilities, his ardent piety, his theo-
Jogical knowledge, his acquaintance with
persons under all kinds of reUgious im
pressions quaUfied him pecuUarly for a
work of this kind. From this time he
became more conspicuous, and young
men, who were preparing for the gospel
ministry, applied to him as a teacher. In
this branch of his work he was eminently
'useful tifl the decline of fife, when he re
linquished it. His method of instruction
was the following. After ascertaining
the abilities and genius of those, who ap
plied to bun, he gave them a number of
questions on the leading and most es
sential subjects of religion in the form of
a system. He then directed them to such
books as treat these subjects with the
greatest perspicuity and force of argu
ment, and usually spent his evenings in
inquiring into their improvements & solv
ing difficulties, tifl they had obtained a good
degree of understanding in the general
system. After this, he directed them' to
write on each of the questions before
given them, reviewing those parts of tiie
authors, which treated on tiie subject
proposed. These dissertations were sub
mitted to his examination. As they ad
vanced in ability to make proper distinc
tions he led them to read the most learned
and acute opposers of the truth, the deis-
tical, arian, and socinian writers, and laid
open the fallacy pf their most specious
reasonings. When the system was com
pleted, he directed them to write on sev
eral of the most important points system
atically, in the form of sermons. He
next led them to peruse the best experi
mental and practical discourses, and to
compose sermons on like subjects. He
revised and corrected their compositions.

inculcating the necessity of a heart truly
devoted to Christ, and a life of watching
and prayer, discoursing occasionally on
the various duties, trials, comforts, and
motives of the evangelical work, that his
pupils might be, as far as possible, "scribes
well instructed in the kingdom of God."
Iri 1786 Dr. Bellamy was seized by a par
alytic affection,from which he never re
covered . He died March 6, 1790, in the
50th year of his ministry, aged 71. His
first wife, Frances Sherman of New Ha
ven, whom he married about 1744, died
in 1785, the mother of seven children. Of
these Jonathan Bellamy, a lawyer, took
an active part in the war and died of the
small pox in 1777; and Rebecca married
Rev. Mr. Hart. His eldest son, David,
died at Bethlem May 1826, aged 75.
His second wife was the relict of Rev.
Andrew Storrs of Watertown. Dr. Bel
lamy "was a large and well-built man, of
a commanding appearance."
As a preacher, he had perhaps no su
perior, and very few equals. His voice
was manly, his manner engaging and
most impressive. He had a peculiar fac
ulty of arresting the attention ; he was
master of his subject and could adapt
himself to the meanest capacity. When
the law was his theme, he was awful and
terrifying ; on the contrary, in the most
melting strains would he describe the
sufferings of Christ & his love to sinners,
and with most persuasive eloquence in
vite them to be reconciled to God. In
his declining years he did not retain his
popularity as a preacher. As a pastor he
was diligent and faithful. He taught not
only publicly but from house to house.
He was particularly attentive to the rising
generation. Besides the stated labors of
the Lord's day he frequently spent an hour
in the intervals of public worship in cate
chising the children of the congregation.
In a variety of respects Dr. Bellamy
shone with distinguished lustre. Exten
sive science and ease of communicating
his ideas rendered him one ofthe best of
instructers. His writings procured him
the esteem of the pious and learned at
home and abroad, with many of whom he

BELLAMY.

BELLINGHAM.

95

maintained an epistolary correspondence.
In his preaching, a mind, rich in thought,
a great command of language, and a pow
erful voice rendered his extemporary dis
courses peculiarly acceptable. He was
one of the most able divines of this coun
try. In his sentiments he accorded main
ly -with president Edwards, with whom
he was ultimately acquainted. From com
paring the first chapter of John with the
first of Genesis he was led to believe, and
he maintained, that the God, mentioned
in the latter, as the creator, was Jesus
Christ. He pubUshed a sermon entitled, early
piety recommended ; true religion deline
ated, 1750 ; sermons on the divinity of
Christ, the millennium, and the wisdom
of God in the permission of sin, 1758 ; let
ters and dialogues on the nature of love to
God, faith in Christ, and assurance, 1759 ;
essay on the glory of the gospel ; a vindi
cation of his sermon on the wisdom of
God in the permission of sin ; the law a
schoolmaster, a sermon ; the great evil of
sin ; election sermon, 1762. Besides these
he published several small pieces on creeds
and confessions ; on the covenant of grace;
on church covenanting ; and in answer
to objections made against his writings.
The following are the titles of some of
these; the half way covenant, 1769; the
inconsistency of renouncing the half way
covenant and retaining the halfway prac
tice ; that there is but one covenant,
against Moses Mather. His works were
pubfished in three vols. 1 8 1 1 , with a sketch
of his Ufe. — Benedict's fun. serm.; Brain
erd's life, 22. 41, 43, 55 ; Trumbull, u.
159; Theolmag. i. 5.
BELLAMY, Samuel, a. noted pirate,
in his ship, the Whidah of 23 guns and
1 30 men, captured several vessels on the
coast of New England ; but in April
1717 he was wrecked on cape Cod. The
inhabitants of Wellfleet still point out the
place of the disaster. More than 100
bodies were found on the shore. Only
one Englishman and one Indian escaped.
A. few days before, the master of a cap
tured vessel, while 7 pirates on board
were drunk, run her on shore on the back

ofthe cape. Six ofthe pirates were ex
ecuted at Boston in Nov.. — Holmes, i.
517; Hutch, n. 233; M. hist, col ni.
120. BELLINGHAM, Richard, governor
of Massachusetts, was a native of Eng
land, where he was bred a lawyer. He
came to this country in 1634, and Aug. 3
was received into the church, with hfa;
wife Elizabeth, and in the following year
was chosen deputy governor. In 1 641 he
vpas elected governor in opposition to Mr.
Winthrop by a majority of six votes ;,
but the election did not seem to be agree"-
able to the general court. He was re-
chosen to this office in 1654, and after the
death of governor Endicot viras again elec
ted in May 1665. He continued chief
magistrate of Massachusetts during the
remainder of his life. He was deputy
governor 13 years and governor 10. In
1 664 he was chosen maj. general. In this.
year the king sent 4 commissioners, Nich
ols, Cartwright, Carr, and Maverick, to
regulate the affairs ofthe colonies. A long
account of their transactions is given by
Hutchinson. BeUiiigham and others, oh-
noxious to the king, were required' to go
to England to answer for them.selves ;
but the general court, by the advice of
the ministers, refused compliance and
maintained the charter rights. But they
appeased his majesty by sending him "a
ship load of masts." He died Dec. 7,1672,.
aged 80 years, leaving several children.
Of his singular, second marriage in 1641
the following is a brief history ; a young.
gentiewoman was about to be contracted
to a friend of his, with his consent, "when
on the sudden the governor treated -with
her and obtained her for himself." He
failed to publish the contract where he-
dwelt,, and he performed the marriage
ceremony himself The- great inquest;
presented him -for breach of the order of
court ; but at the appointed time of trial,
not choosing to go off from the bench and
answer as an offender, and but few mag
istrates being present, he escaped any
censure. His excuse for this marriage was "the
strength of his affection." In his last

96

BENEDICT.

BENEZET.

wfll he gave certain farms,after his wife's
decease, and his Whole estate at Winisi-
met, after the decease of his son and his
son's daughter, for the annual encourage
ment of "godly ministers and preachers,"
attached to the principles of the first
church, "a main one whereof is, that all
ecclesiastical jurisdiction is committed by
Christ to each particular organical church,
from which there is no appeal." The
general court, thinking the rights of his
family were impaired, set aside the wiU.
His sister, Anne Hibbins, widow of Wm.
Hibbins, an assistant, was executed as a
witch in June 1656. — Hubbard speaks of
Bellingham as "a very ancient gentleman,
having spun a long thread of above 80
years ;" —"he was a great justiciary, a
notable hater of tribes, firm and fixed in
any resolution he entertained, of larger
comprehension than expression, fike a
vessel, whose vent holdeth no good pro
portion with its capacity to contain, a dis
advantage to a pubfic person." He did
not harmonize with the other assistants ;
yet they respected his character and mo
tives. Governor BeUingham Uved to be the
only surviving patentee,named in the char
ter. He was severe against those, who
were called sectaries ; but he was a man
of incorruptible integrity, and of ac
knowledged piety. In the ecclesiastical
controversy, which was occasioned in
Boston by tho settiement of Mr. Daven
port, he was an advocate of the first
church.— Hutchinson, I. 41,43,97, 211,
269 ; Neal's hist. i. 390; Mather's mag.
II. 18; Holmes i. 414; — Savage's Wirv-
throp, n. 43 ; Hist. coll. n, s. in. 143 ;
VI. 610.
BENEDICT, Noah, minister of
Woodbury , Con. , was graduated at Prince
ton college in 1757, and was ordained as
the successor of Anthony Stoddard, Oct.
22, 1760. He died in Sept. 1813, aged
76. He pubUshed a sermon on the death
of Dr. Bellamy, 1790.
BENEDICT, Joel, d. d., minister of
Plainfield, Con., was graduated at Prince
ton college in 1765, settled at Plainfield
in 1782, and died in 1816, aged 71, He

was a distinguished Hebrew scholar; and
for his excellent character he was held in
high respect. One of his daughters mar
ried Dr. Nott, president of Union college.
— He published a sermon on the death of
Dr. Hart, 1809.
BENEZET, Anthony, a philanthro
pist of Philadelphia, was born at St.
Quintins, a town in the province of
Picardy, France, Jan. 31, 1713. About
the time of his birth the persecution
against the protestants was carried on
with relentless severity, in consequence
of which many thousands found it neces
sary to leave their native country, & seek
a shelter in a foreign land. Among these
were his parents,who removed to London
in Feb. 1715, and, after remaining there
upwards of sixteen years, came to Phila
delphia in Nov. 1731. During their resi
dence in Great Britain they had imbibed
the religious opinions ofthe quakers, and
were received into that body immediately
after their arrival in this country.
In the early part of his life Benezet
was put an apprentice to a merchant ;
but soon after his marriage in 1722,
when his affairs were in a prosperous
situation, he left the mercantile business,
that he might engage in some pursuit,
which would afford him more leisure for
the duties of religion and for the exercise
of that benevolent spirit, for which during
the course of along life he was so con
spicuous. But no employment, which
accorded perfectly with his inclination,
presented itseU'till the year 1742, when
he accepted the appointment of instructer
in the friends' English school of Philadel
phia. The duties of the honorable,
though not very lucrative office of a
teacher of youth he from this period con
tinued to fuUil with unremitting assiduity
and delight and with very little inter
mission till his death. During the two
last years of his life his zeal to do good
induced him to resign the school, which
he had long superintended, and to engage
in the instruction of the blacks. In
doing this be did not consult his worldly
interest, but was influenced by a regard
to the welfare of men, whose minds had

BENEZET.

97

been debased by servitude. He wished
to contribute something towards render'-
ing them fit for the enjoyment of that
freedom^, to which many of them had
been restored. So great was his sympa
thy with every being capable lof feeling
pain, that he resolved towards the close
of his life to eat no animal food. This
change in his mode of living is supposed
to have been the occasion of his death.
His active mind did not yield to the debil
ity of his body. He persevered in his
attendance upon his school till within a
few days of his decease. He died May 3,
1784, aged 71 years.
Such was the general esteem, in which
he was held, that his funeral was attend
ed by persons of all reUgious denomina
tions. Many hundred negroes followed
their friend arid benefactor to the grave,
and by their tears they proved, that they
possessed thesensibilities of men.An officer,
who had served in the army during the war
withBritain,observed at this time,"I would
rather be Anthony Benezet in that coffin,
than George Washington with all his
fame." He exhibited uncommon activity
and industry in every thing, which he un
dertook. He used to say, that the highest
act of charity was to bear with the unrea
sonableness of mankind. He generally
wore plush clothes, and gave as a rea-son
for it, that, after he had worn them for
two or three years, they made comforta
ble and decent garments for the poor. So
disposed was he to make hirhself content
ed in every situation, that when his mem
ory began to fail him, instead of lament
ing the decay of his powers, he said to a
young friend, "this gives me one great ad
vantage over you, for you can find enter
tainment in reading a good book only
once ; but I enjoy that pleasure as often
as I read it, for it is always new to me."
Few men, since the days of the aposties,
ever lived a more disinterested life ; yet.
upon his death bed he expressed a de
sire to Uve a littie longer, "that he might
bring down self" The last time he ever
walked across his room was to take from
his desk six dollars, which he gave to a
¦poor widow, whom he had long assisted
13

to maintain. In his conversation ho was
affiible and unreserved ; in his manners
gentle and conciliating. For the acqui
sition of wealth he wanted neither abili
ties nor opportunity ; but he made him
self contented with a little, and with a
competency he was fiberal beyond most
of those, whom a bountiful providence
had encumbered with riches. By his
will he devised his estate, after the de
cease of his wife, to certain trustees for
the use of the African school. While
the British army was in possession of
Philadelphia he was indefatigable in his
endeavors to render the situation of the
persons, who suff'ered from captivity, as
easy as possible. He knew no fear in
the presence of a fellow man, however
dignified by titles or station ; and such
was the propriety and gentieness of his
manners in his intercourse with the gen
tlemen, who commanded the British and
German troops, that, when he could not
obtain the object of his requests, he never
failed to secure their civiUties and esteem.
Although the fife of Mr. Benezet was
passed in the instruction of youth, yet
his expansive benevolence extended itself
to a wider sphere of usefulness. Giving
but a small portion of his time to sleep,
he employed his pen both day and night
in writing books on religious subjects,
composed chiefly with a view tO inculcate
the peaceable temper and doctrines ofthe
gospel in opposition to the spirit of war,
and to expose the flagrant injustice of
slavery, and fix the stamp of infamy on
the traffic in human blood. His writings
contributed much towards meliorating
the condition of slaves, and undoubtedly
had influence on the public mind in ef
fecting the complete prohibition of
that trade, which until the year 1808
was a blot on the American national
character. In order to disseminate his
pubhcations and increase his usefulness
he held a correspondence with such per
sons in various parts of Europe & Ameri
ca, as united with him in the same benev
olent design, or would be likely to pro
mote the objects, which he was pursuing.
No ambitious or covetous views impelled

98

BENNET.

BERKELEY.

him to his exertions. Regarding all
mankind as children of one common Fath
er and members of one great family, he
was anxious, that oppression and tyranny
should cease, and that men should live
together in mutual kindness and affec
tion. He himself respected and he wish
ed others to respect the sacred injunction,
"do unto others as you would, that they
should do unto you." On the return of
peace in 1783, apprehending that the revi
val of commerce would be likely to renew
the African slave trade, which during the
war had been in some measure obstructed,
he addressed a letter to the queen of
Great Britain to soficit her influence
on the side of humanity. At the close
of this letter he says, "I hope thou wilt
kindly excuse the freedom, used on this
occasion by an ancient man, whose mind
for more than forty years past has been
much separated from the common course
ofthe world, and long painfully exercised
in the consideration of the miseries, un
der which so large a part of mankind,
equally with us the objects of redeeming
love, are suffering the most unjust and
grievous oppression, and who sincerely
desires the temporal and eternal felicity
of the queen and her royal consort." He
published, among other tracts,an account
of that part of Africa, inhabited by ne
groes, 1762 ; a caution to Great Britain
and her colonies in a short representation
ofthe calamitous state ofthe enslaved ne
groes in the British dominions, 1767 ;
some historical account of Guinea, with
an inquiry into the rise and progress of
the slave trade, 1771 ; a short account
ofthe religious society of Friends, 1780 ;
a dissertation on the plainness and simpli
city ofthe Christian reUgion, 1782 ; tracts
against the use of ardent spirits ; obser
vations on the Indian natives of this con
tinent, 1784. — Rush's essays, 311 — 314 ;
Vaux's memoir ;New and gen.biog. diet;
Amer. mus. ix. 192 — 194 ; Rees' cycl
. BENNET, David, a physician, was
born in England Dec. 1, 1615, and
died at Rowley, Mass. Feb. 4, 1719, aged
103 years. He never lost a tooth. His
senses were good to the last. His wife

was the sister of William Phipps. His
son, Spencer, who took the name of
Phipps, was graduated in 1703, was fieut.
governor of Mass. and died April 4, 1757,
aged 72. — Farmer.
BE NTLEY, William, d.d., a minister
in Salem, was born in Boston, graduated
in 1777, and was ordained over the second
church Sep. 24, 1783. He died sudden
ly Dec. 29, 1819, aged 61. In his theo
logical notions he was regarded as a so
cinian. Some of his sermons were re
markably deficient in perspicuity of style.
For nearly 20 years he edited the Essex
Register, a. newspaper, which espoused
the democratic side in pohtics. He was
a great collector of books, and much con
versant with ancient branches of learning,
admitting of little practical application.
His valuable library and cabinet he be
queathed chiefly to the college at Mead
ville, Pennsylvania, and to the American
Antiquarian society at Worcester. It
was said, that Harvard college,which had
given him a degree of Doctor in Divinity,
expected this bequest ; but the library
was more needed and may be more useful
at Meadville. An eulogy was pronounced
by prof. E. Everett. — He published a
sermon on Mat. 7: 21, 1790; on the
death of J. Gardiner, 1791 ; of gen. Fiske,
1797 ; of B. Hodges, 1804 ; collection of
psalms and hymns, 1795; 3 masonic ad
dresses and a masonic charge, 1797-1799;
at the artiflery election, 1796 ; at ordina
tion of J. Richardson, 1806; before the
female charitable society ; at the election,
1807 ; a history of Salem in Historical
collections, vol. 6th.
BERKELEY, WiUiam, governor
of Virginia, was born ofan ancient fami
ly near London and was educated at
Merton college, in Oxford, of which he
was afterwards a fellow. He was ad
mitted master of arts in 1629. In 1630
he travelled in different parts of Europe.
He is described as being in early hfe the
perfect model of an elegant courtier and a
high minded cavalier. He succeeded sir
Francis Wyatt in the government of Vir
ginia in 1641. Some years after his arri
val the Indians, irritated by encroach-

BERKELEY.

99

ments on their territory, massacred about
500 of the colonists. This massacre oc
curred about April 18,1 644, soon after, as
Winthrop says, an act of persecution. Sir
William with a party of horse surprised
the aged Oppecancanough, and brought
him prisoner to James Town. The In
dian emperor was a man of dignified sen
timents. One day, when there was a
large cro-(vd in his room gazing at him,
he called for the governor, and said, to
him, "if it had been my fortune to have
taken sir Wflliam Berkeley prisoner, I
should have disdained to have made a
show of him to my people." About a
fortnight after he was taken, a brutal
soldier shot him through the back, of
which wound the old man soon died. A
firm peace was soon afterwards made with
the Indians.
During the civil war in England gov.
Berkeley took the side of the king, ajid
Virginia was the last of the possessions
of England, which acknowleged the au
thority of CromweU. Severe laws were
made against the puritans, though there
were none in the colony; commerce was
interrupted ; and the people were unable
to supply themselves even with tools
for agriculture. It was not tifl 1651, that
Virginia was subdued. The parliament
had sent a fleet to reduce Barbadoes, and
from this place a smaU squadron was de
tached under the command of captain
Dennis. The Virginians by the help of
some Dutch vessels, which were then in
the port, made such resistance, that he
was obliged to have recourse to other
means besides force. He sent word to
two of the members ofthe council, that
he had on board a valuable cargo belong
ing to them, which they must lose, if the
protector's authority was not immediate
ly acknowledged. Such dissensions now
took place in the colony, that sir William
and his friends were obliged to submit
on the terms of a general pardon. He
however remained in the country ,passing
his time in retirement at his own planta
tion, and observing with satisfaction, that
the parliament made a moderate use of
its success, and that none of the Virginia

royalists were persecuted for their resis
tance. After the death of gov. Matthews,who
was appointed by Cromwell, the people
applied to sir William to resume the gov
ernment; but he declined complying with
their request, unless they would sub
mit themselves again to the authori
ty of the king. Upon their con
senting to do this, he resumed his
former authority in January 1659 ; and
king Charles II was proclaimed in Vir
ginia before his restoration to the throne
of England. The death of Cromwell, in
the mean time, dissipated from the minds
ofthe colonists the fear of the consequen
ces of their boldness. After the restora
tion governor Berkeley received a new
commission and was permitted to go to
England to pay his respects to his majes
ty. During his absence the deputy gov
ernor, whom he had appointed, in obedi
ence to his orders collected the laws into
one body. The church of England was
made the estabUshed reUgion, parishes
were regulated, and, besides a parsonage
house and glebe, a yearly stipend in to
bacco, to the value of eighty pounds,
was settled on the minister. In 1662
governor Berkeley returned to Virginia,
and in the following year the laws were
enforced against the dissenters from the
establishment, by which a number of
them were driven from the colony. In
1667, in consequence of his attempt to
extend the influence of the council over
certain measures of the assembly, he
awakened the fears and indignation ofthe
latter body. Front this period the gov
ernor's popularity declined. A change
also was observed in his deportment,
which lost its accustomed urbanity. His
faithlessness and obstinacy may be regard
ed as the causes of Bacon's rebellion in
1676. The people earnestly desired,
that Bacon might be appointed general in
the Indian war ; and -the governor prom
ised to give him a commission, but broke
his promise,and thus occasioned the rebel
lion. As his obstinacy caused the rebel
lion, so his revengeful spirit, after it was
suppressed, aggi^vated the evils of it-by

100

BERKELEY.

the severity of the punishments, inflicted
on Bacon's adherents. Though he had
promised pardon and indemnity, "nothing
was heard of butfines,executions,and con
fiscations." When the juries refused to aid
his projects of vengeance, he resorted to
the summary proceedings of martial law.
The assembly at length restrained him by
their remonstrances. Charles II is said to
have remarked concerning him : — "the old
fool has taken away more lives in that nak
ed country, than I have taken for the
murder of my father." After the rebellion
peace was preserved not so much by
the removal of the grievances, which
awakened discontent, as by the arrival of
a regiment from England, which re
mained a long time in the country.
In 1667 sir William was induced on ac
count of his ill state of health, to return
to England, leaving col. Jeffreys deputy
governor. He died soon after his arrival,
and before he had seen the king, after an
administration of nearly forty years. He
wasburiedat Twickenham July 13, 1677.
The following extract from his answer in
June 1671 to inquiries of the committee
for the colonies is a curious specimen of
his loyalty. "We have forty eight par
ishes and our ministers are well paid, and
by my consent should be better, if they
would pray oftener and preach less ; but,
as of all other commodities, so of this,
the worst are sent us,& we have few, that
we can boast of, since the persecution in
CromweU's tyranny drove divers worthy
men hither. Yet I thank God, there are
no free schools, nor printing ; &I hope we
shall not have these hundred years. For
learning has brought disobedience, and
heresy, and sects into the world, and
printing has divulged them and libels
against the best government." Thus
Sir WiUiam, of a very different spirit from
the early governors of New England,
seems to have had much the same notion
of education, as the African governor,
mentioned by Robert Southey in his collo
quies; the black prince said, he would
send his son to England, that he might
learn " to read book and be rogue. " More
recently Mr. Giles of Virginia expressed

his belief, that learning was become too .
general. He published the lost lady, a tragi
comedy, 1639; a discourse and view of
Virginia, pp. 12. 1663.— Keith's hist.
Virginia, 144— 16'2 ; Wynne, u. 216-
224; Holmes,!. 293,311; Chalmers, i.
336, 337 ; Wood's Athenm Oxonienses,
II. 586 ; Sav. Winthr. ii. 159, 165.
BERKELEY, George, bishop of
Cloyne in Ireland, and a distinguished
benefactor of Yale college, was born
March 12, 1684 at Kilcrin in the county
of Kilkenny, and was educated at Trini
ty college, Dublin. After publishing a
number of his works, which gained him
a high reputation, particularly his theory
of vision, he travelled four or five years
upon the continent. Hereturnedin 1721,
and a fortune was soon bequeathed him
by Mrs. Vanhomrigh, a lady of Dublin,
the "Vanessa" of Swift. In 1724 he was
promoted to the deanery of Derry,
worth 11 hundred pounds per annum.
Having for some time conceived the be
nevolent project of converting the savages
of America to Christianity by means of
a college to be erected in one of the isles
of Bermuda, he published a proposal for
this purpose at London in 1725, and
offered to resign his own opulent prefer
ment, and to dedicate the remainder of
his life to the instruction of youth in
America on the subsistence of a hundred
pounds a year. He obtained a grant of
10,000 Z. from the government of Great
Britain, and immediately set sail for the
field of his labors. He arrived at Newport,
Rhode Island, in F'ebruary 1729 with a
view of settling a correspondence there
for supplying his college with such pro-
¦visions, as might be wanted from the
northern colonies. Here he purchased a
country seat and farm in the neighbor
hood of Newport, and resided about two
years and a half. His house, which he
called Whitehall, stfll remains, situated
half a mile north east from the state
house. To the episcopal church he gave
an organ and a small library. His usual
place of study was a cliff or crag near
his dweUmg. His residence in this coun-

BERKLEY.

101

try had some influence on the progress
of fiterature, particularly in Rhode Island
and Connecticut. The presence and
conversation of a man so illustrious fbr
talents, learning, virtue, and social attrac
tions could not fail of giving a spring to
the literary diligence and ambition of
many, who enjoyed his acquaintance.
Finding at length, that the promised aid
ofthe ministry towards his new college
would fail him, dean Berkeley returned
to England. At his departure he distrib
uted the books, which he had brought
with him, among the clergy of Rhode
Island. He embarked at Boston in Sept.
1731. In the following year he publish
ed his minute philosopher, a work of
great ingenuity and merit, which he
wrote, while at Newport. It was not
long, before he sent as a gift to Yale col
lege a deed ofthe farm, which he held in
Rhode Island ; the rents of which he
directed to be appropriated to the main
tenance of the three best classical schol
ars, who should reside at college at least
nine months in a year in each of three
years between their first and second de
grees. All surplusages of money, arising
from accidental vacancies, were to be dis
tributed in Greek and Latin books to
such undergraduates, as should make the
best composition in the Latin tongue
upon such a moral theme, as should be
given them. He also made a present to
the library of Yale coflege of nearly one
thousand volumes. When it is considered,
jtbat he was warmly attached to the
episcopal church, and that he came to
America for the express purpose of foun
ding an episcopal college, his munificence
to an institution, under the exclusive
direction of a different denomination,
must be thought worthy of high praise.
It was in the year 1733, that he was
made bishop of Cloyne ; and from this
period he discharged with exemplary
faithfulness the episcopal duties, and
prosecuted his studies with unabating difi-
gence. On the 14th of January 1753 he
was suddenly seized at Oxford, whither
he had removed in 1752, by a disor
der, called the palsy of the heart, and

instantly expired, being nearly sixty nine
years of age. Pope ascribes
"To Berkeley every virtue under heaven."
His fine portrait by Smibert, with his
famfly and the artist himself, will be
contemplated with deUght by all, who
visit Yale college. Bishop Berkeley, while
at Cloyne, constantly rose between three
and four in the morning. His favorite
author was Plato. His character, though
marked by enthusiasm, was singularly
excellent and amiable. He was held by
his acquaintance in the highest estima
tion. Bishop Atterbury, after being
introduced to him, exclaimed, "so much
understanding, so much knowledge, so
much innocence, and such humility I did
not think had been the portion of any
but angels, till I saw this gentleman."
It is weU known, that bishop Berkeley re
jected the commonly received notion of
the existence of matter, and contended,
that what are called sensible material
objects are not external but exist in the
mind, and are merely impressions made
upon our mind by the immediate act of
God. These peculiar sentiments he
supported in his work, entitled, the prin
ciples of human knowledge, 1710, and in
the dialogues between Hylas and Philon-
ous, 1713. Besides these works, and the
minute philosopher, in which he attacks
the free thinker with great ingenuity and
effect, he published also, arithmetica abs
que algebra aut Euclide demonstrata,
1707 ; theory of vision, 1709 ; de motu,
1721 ; an essay towards preventing the
ruin of Great Britain, 1721 ; the analyst,
1734 ; a defence of free thinking in mathe
matics, 1735 ; the querist, 1735; discourse
addressed to magistrates, 1736 ; on the
virtues of tar water, 1744 ; maxims con
cerning patriotism, 1750. — Chandler's
life of Johnson, 47 — 60 ; Miller ii.349 ;
-Rees' cycl'.; Holmes, n, 53.
BERKLEY, Norborne, baron de Bo
tetourt, one of the last governors of Vir
ginia, while a British colony, obtained the
peerage of Botetourt in 1764. In July
1768 he was appointed governor of Vir
ginia in the place of general Amherst.
He died at WiUiamsburg Oct. 15, 1770,

102

BERNARD.

aged 52. At his death the government,
in consequence ofthe resignation of John
Blair, devolved upon WiUiam Nelson, un
tfl the appointment in December of lord
Dunmore, then governor of New York.
Lord Botetourt seems to have been high
ly and deservedly respected in Virginia.
His exertions to promote thejiiiterests of
William and Mary college were zealous
and unremitted. He instituted an annual
contest among the students for two ele
gant golden medals of the value of five
guineas ; one for the best latin oration
on a given subject, and the other for su
periority in mathematical science. For a
long time he sanctioned by his presence
morning and evening prayers in the col
lege. No company, nor avocation pre
vented his attendance on this service.
He was extremely fond of literary char
acters. No one of this class, who had the
least claims to respect, was ever presen
ted to him without receiving his encour
agement. — Miller, n. 378 ; Boston gaz.
Nov. 12, 1770 ; Marshall, a. 130.
BERNARD, Francis, governor of
Massachusetts, was the governor of New
Jersey, after gov. Belcher, in 1758. He
succeeded gov. Pownall of Mass. in 1760.
Arriving at Boston Aug. 2d, he continu
ed at the head of the government nine
years. His administration was during
one of the most interesting periods in
American history. He had governed
New Jersey two years in a manner very
acceptable to that province, and the first
part of his administration in Massachu
setts was very agreeable to the general
court. Soon after his arrival Canada was
surrendered to Amherst. Besides voting
a salary of 1300Z. they made to him, at
the first session, a grant of Mount Desert
island, which was confirmed by the king.
Much harmony prevailed fbr two or three
years ; but this prosperous and happy
commencement did not continue. There
had long been two parties in the state, the
advocates for the crown, and the defend
ers of the rights of the people. Gover
nor Bernard was soon classed with those,
who were desirous of strengthening the
royal authority in America ; the sons of

liberty therefore stood forth uniformly in
opposition to him. His indiscretion in
appointing Mr. Hutchinson chief justice,
instead of giving that office to colonel Otis
of Barnstable, to whom it had been prom
ised by Shirley, proved very injurious to
his cause. In consequence of this appoint
ment he lost the influence of colonel Otis,
and by yielding himself to Mr. Hutchin
son he dre-w upon him the hostflity of
James Otis, the son, a man of great tal
ents, who soon became the leader on the
popular side. The laws for the regula
tion of trade and the severities of the
officers of customs were the first thing,
which greatly agitated the public mind ;
and afterwards the stamp act increased
the energy of resistance to the schemes of
tyranny. Governor Bernard possessed
no talent for conciliating ; he was for ac
complishing ministerial purposes by force;
and the spirit of freedom gathered strength
from the open manner, in which he at
tempted to crush it. His speech to the
general court after the repealof the stamp
act was by no means calculated to assuage
the angry passions, which had lately been
excited. He was the principal means of
bringing the troops to Boston, that he
might overawe the people ; and it was
owing to him, that they were continued
in the town. This measure had been
proposed by him and Mr. Hutchinson
long before it was executed. While he
professed himself a friend to the province,
he was endeavoring to undermine its con
stitution, and to obtain an essential alter-,
ation in the charter by transferring from
the general court to the crown the right
of electing the council. His conduct,
though it drew upon him the indignation
of the province, was so pleasing to the
ministry, that he was created a baronet
March 20, 1769. Sir Francis had too lit
tle command of his temper. He could
not conceal his resentments, and he could
not restrain his censures. One of his
last public measures was to prorogue the
general court in July, in consequence of
their refusing to make provision for the
support of the troops. The general
court however, before they were proro-

BERNARD.

BEVERIDGE.

103

gued,embraced the opportunity of drawing
up a petition to his majesty for the re
moval of the governor. It was found
necessary to recafl him, and he embarked
August 1, 1769, leaving Mr. Hutchinson,
the lieutenant governor, commander in
chief There were few, who lamented
his departure. He died in England in
June 1779. His 2nd son, sir John B., who
held pubhc offices in Barbadoes and St.
Vincent's, died in 1809 ; bis third son, sir
Thomas B., was graduated at Harvard
college in 1767, and marrying in England
a lady of fortune, the daughter of Patrick
Adair, devoted much of his time to vari
ous benevolent institutions in London, so
as to gain the reputation of a philanthro
pist ; he died July 1, 1818 : his publica
tions, chiefly designed to improve the
common people, were riumerous.
The newspapers were very free in the
ridicule of the parsimony and domestic
habits of Bernard. But he was temperate,
a friend to literature, and a benefactor of
Harvard coUege, exerting himself for its
relief after the destruction of the library
by fire. He was himself a man of erudition,
being conversant with books, and retain
ing the striking passages in his strong
memory. He said, that he could repeat
the whole of Shakespeare. BeUeving
the christian religion, he attended habit
ually public worship. Though attached
to the English church, when he resided
at Roxbury, he often repaired to the
nearest congregational meeting, that of
Brookfine.
, If a man of great address and wisdom
had occupied the place of sir Francis, it
is very probable, that the American rev
olution would not have occurred so soon.
But his arbitrary principles and his zeal
for the authority of the crown enkindled
the spirit of the people, while his repre
sentations to the ministry excited them
to those measures, which hastened the
separation of the colonies from the moth
er country.
From the letters of governor Bernard,
which were obtained and transmitted to
this country by Mr. Bollan, it appears,
that he had very littie regard to the in

terests of Uberty. His select letters on
the trade and government of America,
written in Boston from 1763 to 1768,
were published in London in 1774. His
other letters, written home in confidence,
were published in 1768 and 1769. He
wrote several pieces in Greek and Latin
in the collection made at Cambridge,
styled, "Pietas et gratulatio," 1761. Mi-
not's hist. Mass. i. 73 — 222; Gordon, i.
139, 272—274; Marshall, ii. 96, 114;
Holmes, ii. 102, 162; Eliot,
BETHUNE, Divie, an eminent phi
lanthropist and christian, was born at
Dingwall, Rossshire, Scotland, in 1771.
In early life he resided at Tobago, where
his only brother was a physician. At the
command of his pious mother he left the
irreligious island and removed to the
United States in 1792, and settled as a
merchant in New York. He soon join
ed the church of Dr. Mason ; in 1802 be
came one of its elders. He died Sept. 18,
1824. His wife was the daughter of Isa
bella Graham. Before a tract society
was formed in this country Mr. Bethune
printed 10,000 tracts at his own expense,
and himself distributed many of them.
He also imported Bibles for distribution.
From 1803 to ,1816 he was at the sole ex
pense of one or more Sunday schools.
The tenth of his gains he devoted to the
service of his heavenly Master. In his
last sickness he said "I wish my friends to
help me through the vaUey by reading to
me the word of God. I have not read
much lately but the Bible : the Bible !
the Bible ! I want nothing but the Bible!
O, the Ught, that has shined into my soul
through the Bible !" His end was peace.
Such a benefactor of the human family is
incomparably more worthy of remem
brance, than the selfish philosophers and
the great warriors of the earth. — N. Y,
Observer; B. Recorder, Oct. 16.
BEVERIDGE, John, a poet, was a
native of Scotland. In 1758 he was ap
pointed professor of languages in the col
lege and academy of Philadelphia. He
pubUshed in 1765 a volume of Latin po
ems, entitled, 'Epistote familiares et alia
qtiiedam miscellanea.' In an address to

104

BEVERLY.

BIDDLE.

John Penn he suggests, that a convey
ance to him of some few acres of good '
land would be a proper return for the po
etic mention of the Penn family. The
Latin hint was lost upon the EngUsh-
man. The unrewarded poet continued
to ply the birch in the vain attempt to
govern 70 or 80 ungovernable boys. —
Mem. hist. soc. of Penn. i. 145.
BEVERLY, Robert, a native of Vir
ginia, died in 1716. He was clerk ofthe
councfl about 1697, when Andros was
governor, with a Salary of 50 /. and per
quisites. Intimately associated with the
government, his views of public measures
were influenced by his situation. His
book was written by a man in office. Pe
ter Beverly was at the same time clerk of
the house of burgesses. Mr, Beverly
published a history of that colony, Lon
don, 1705, in four parts, embracing the
first settlement of "V'irginia and the gov
ernment thereof to the time, when it was
written ; the natural productions and con
veniences of the country, suited to trade
and improvement ; the native Indians,
their reUgion, laws, and customs ; and
the state of the country as to the poli
cy of the government and the improve
ments of the land. Another edition was
published with Gribelin's cuts, 8vo. 1722;
and a French translation, with plates,
Amsterd. 1707. , Thi^ work in the his
torical narration is as concise and unsat
isfactory, as the history of Stith is prolix
and tedious.
BIART, Pierre, a Jesuit missionary,
came from France to Port Royal in Aca
dia in June 1611. Ofhis voyage and events
at Acadia he made a relation, in which
Charlevoix confides more, than in the
memoirs, used by De Laet to decry the
Jesuits. Biart gave the name of Souri-
quois to the Indians afterwards called
Micmacks. In 1 61 2 he ascended theKini-
bequi or Kennebec, and was wefl received
by the Canibas, formerly called the Cani-
bequi, a nation of the Abenaquis, from
whom the name of the river is derived.
This visit was soon after the attempted
establishment ofthe EngUsh under Pop-
ham at the mouth of the Kennebec. He

was followed by DreuUlettes in 1 646. Bi
art obtained provisions for Port Royal.
In 1613 he repaired to the Penobscot, to
the settiement called S. Sauveur. Ac
cording to Charlevoix he performed a
miracle in heahng by baptism a sick Male-
cite Indian child. But the miraculous
powers of the Jesuit failed him on the ar
rival of Argall, who took him prisoner
and carried him to Virginia and England.
— Charlev. i. 181 ; Maine hist, col, i.
325. BIBB, William W., governor of Ala
bama, was a representative from Georgia
in the 13th congress, from 1813 to 1815.
He was appointed in 1817 governor of
the territory of Alabama, and under the
constitution of the state was elected the
first governor in 1819. He died at bis
residence near fort Jackson July 9, 1820,
aged 39 years, and was succeeded by Is
rael . Pickens. He was highly respected
for his talents and dignity as a statesman ;
& in private fife was condescending, affa
ble, and kind. — Cahawba Press, July 15.
BIDDLE, Nicholas, a naval com
mander, was born in Philadelphia Sept.
10, 1750. In saihng to the West Indies
in 1765 he was cast away. The long
boat being lost and the yawl not being
large enough to carry away all the crew,
he and three others were left by lot two
months in misery on an island, which was
uninhabited. His many voyages made
him a thorough seaman. In 1770 he
went to London and entered the British
navy. When captain Phipps, afterwards
lord Mulgrave, was about to safl on his
exploring expedition, Biddle, then a mid
shipman, absconded from his own ship
and entered on board the Carcass before
the mast. Horatio Nelson was on board
the same vessel. After the commence
ment ofthe revolution he returned to
Philadelphia. Being appointed command
er of the Andrew Doria, a brig of 14 guns
and 130 men, he sailed under commodore
Hopkins in the succcessful expedition
against New Providence. After refitting
at New London, he was ordered to pro
ceed off the banks of Newfoundland.
He captured in 1776, among other prizes, '

BIDDLE.

BIGELOW.

105

two ships from Scotland with 400 high- \
land troops. Being appointed to the
command of the Randolph, a frigate of'
32 guns, he sailed from Philadelphia in
Feb. 1777. He soon carried into Charles
ton 4 valuable prizes, bound from Jamaica
to London, one of them the True Briton
of 20 guns. A little fleet was now fitted
out under his command, with which he
cruised in the West Indies. In an action
with the British ship Yarmouth of 64
guns March 7, 1779, captain Biddle was
wounded, and in a few minutes after
wards, while he was under the hands of
the surgeon, the Randolph with a crew
of 315 blew up, and he and all his men,
but four, perished. The four men were
tossed about 4 days on a piece of the
wreck, before they were taken up. The
other vessels escaped, from the disabled
condition of the Yarmouth. Capt. Biddle
was but 27 years of age. He had dis
played the quafities, requisite for a naval
commander, — skill, coolness, self-posses
sion, courage,together with humanity and
magnanimity. His temper was cheerful.
Believing the gospel, his religious im
pressions had a powerful influence upon
his conduct. — He was a brother of the
late judge Biddle. — Rogers ; Biog. Amer.
BIDDLE, Thomas, was a captain of
artiUery in the campaigns on the Niaga
ra in 1813 and 1814. He served under
gen. Scott at the capture of fort George.
In the battle of Lundy's lane he brought
offa piece of the enemy's artillery. After
the war, with the brevet rank of major,
he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and
was paymaster in the army. He was shot
in a duel with Spencer Pettis,a member of
congress, and died Aug. 29, 1831, at the
age of 41. The history of this affair is
the history of consummate folly, discred
itable pusillanimity, and hardened deprav
ity. Pohtical controversy was the origin
of the duel. Biddle had anonymously
abused Pettis in the newspapers ; this
led to a retort of hard words. Next,
Biddle assaulted Pettis, when he was
asleep, with a cowskin. Bonds were im
posed on Biddle for the preservation ofthe
peace. At last the friends of Mr. Pettis
14

urged him and constrained him to chal
lenge his chastiser and to hazard his life
and soul in the attempt of mutual murder.
The distance chosen by Biddle, who was
near sighted, was five feet, so that the
pistols would overlap each other, ma
king death apparently certain to both :
accordingly both feU, Friday Aug. 26th,
and soon their spirits went into eternity
with the guilt of blood. Pettis died on
Saturday and Biddle on Monday. The
promoters of this duel must be regarded
as sharers in the guilt. Dean Swift re
marked, "none but fools fight duels, and
the sooner the world is rid of such folks,
the better." It wiUbe weUfor those, who
call themselves men of honor, and well
for their miserable famflies, if th ey shall
learn to fear the judgment of God rather
than the sneers of unprincipled men,
and if they shall learn to abstain from
calumny, to forgive injuries, and to love
a brother. — N. Y. Mercury, iv. 9.
BIENVILLE, Le MoyneDe, govern
or of Louisiana and founder of New Or
leans, took the name of his brother, who
was kflled by the Iroquois in 1691.
Whfle in command at Mobile he manifes
ted his humanity by liberating the prison
ers, which were brought from Carolina
by the Indians in the Indian war of 1715,
of which Dr. Holmes has given an ac
count. In 1714 he constructed a fort at
Natchez, and in 1717, on a visit to the
gov. of Mobile, he obtained permission
to lay the foundation of the city of New
Orleans. In 1726 M. Perrier being nom
inated commandant of Louisiana in his
place, he went to France ; but in 1738 he
returned with a new commission as gover
nor. In 1740j with a large army of
French, Indians, and negroes, he made a
second expedition against the Chicka
saws: proceeding up the Mississippi, he
encamped near their towns, and brought
them to terms of peace. — Charlevoix;
Holmes, i. 513; n. 16.
BIGELOW, Timothy, a l?.,wyer, was
born at Worcester, Ms., Ar,rfl 30, 1767,
the son ofjjol. Timo. B. who served in
Arnold's ^pedition to Quebec, and com
manded the 16th rugiraent in the revolu-

106

BIGOT.

BIG WARRIOR.

tionary war, and probably a descendant
of John Bigelow, who lived in Water-
town in 1642. After graduating at Har
vard college in 1786, he studied law and
in 1789 commenced the practice at Gro-
ton. For more than 20 years from 1790
he was a distinguished member of the
legislature ; for 11 years he was the speak
er ofthe house of representatives. In
his politics he was ardently attached to
the federal party. Of the Hartford con
vention in 1814 he was a member ; and
grand master of masons. In 1807 he re
moved to Medford and kept an office in
Boston. He died May 18, 1821, aged
54. His wife was the daughter of OU-
ver Prescott ; one of his daughters mar
ried Abbot Lawrence. — Mr. Bigelow was
a learned, eloquent, and popular lawyer.
It has been computed, that during a prac
tice of 32 years he argued not less than
15, 000 causes. His usual antagonist
was Samuel Dana. Over the multitudi
nous assembly of 6 or 700 legislators of
Massa. he presided with great dignity and
energy. Of many Uterary and benevolent
societies he was an active member ; and
in private life was respected and beloved.
He published an oration before the Phi
Beta Kappa society, 1797. An extract
of his eulogy on S. Dana is in the hist.
collections. — Jennison ; Maine hist. eol.
1. 363, 388, 409; Massa. hist, col, s. s.
n. 235, 252.
BIGOT, Vincent,, a Jesuit iriissionary,
was employed in 1687 by gen, de Denon-
vifle to collect a village of the Penobscot
Indians, who had been dispersed, in order
to counteract the designs of gov. Andros.
It would seem, that he had been a mis
sionary among these Indians near Penta-
goet, or Penobscot,'for some years before,
but had been driven off by the disputes
-with the company of fishermen. Bigot
returned, says Denon-ville, " at my re
quest, in order to keep the savages in our
interest, which they had abandoned."
Such was the worldly poficy, which pro
duced the j«suit missions in Maine , and
the Jesuits, by their vows of obedience
being subject to their superiors, were
convenient instrumenta of politic governors

and adventurous generals. Denonville in
a memoir, which he prepared after his re
turn to France, ascribes much ofthe good
understanding, which had been preserved
with the Abenaki Indians, to the influence
ofthe two father Bigots : the name of the
younger was James. Vincent chiefly re
sided at St. Francois among the Indians
there assembled by the governor of Cana
da. In an expedition of the Abenakis
against New England, Bigot accompa
nied them, as is related by Charlevoix
under the year 1721 from the lips ofthe
missionary himself, and witnessed their
heroism in a battle, in which at the odds
of 20 English for 1 Indian they fought a
whole day, and -without the loss of a man
strewed the field of battle -with the dead
and put the Engfish to flight. In this
story there is as much truth, as in father
Biart 's miracle on the Penobscot. There
was no such battle in 1721, nor in any
other year ; though it is true, that in 1724
many Indians with father Ralle feU in bat
tle at Norridgewock, without the loss of
one of the English. Mr. Southey says ;
"let any person compare the relations of
our protestant missionaries -with those of
the Jesuits, dominicans, franciscans, or
any other Romish Order, and the differ
ence, which he cannot fail to perceive,
between the plain truth of the one and
the audacious and elaborate mendacity of
the other, may lead him to a just infer
ence concerning the two churches." —
Charlevoix, 1. 531, 559; in. 308 ; South-
ey's coll. II. 374 ; Maine hist.col i. 328.
BIG WARRIOR, the principal chief of
the Creek nation, died Feb. 9, 1825. With
a colossal body, he had a mind of great
power. In November 1824 he and Little
Prince and other chiefs signed the declara
tion of a council of the tribe, asserting
their reluctance to sell any more land and
their claims to justice, and describing the
progress made in the arts of civil life.
They, who think the Indians incapable
of civilization, may be surprised to learn,
that the upper Creeks alone had manu
factured 30,000 yards of homespun.' He
had always been a friend ofthe whites,
and fought for them in many a battle.

BINGHAM.

BISHOP.

107

BINGHAM, William, a senator of
the United States, was graduated at the
college of Philadelphia in 1768; he was
agent for his country at Martinique in the
period ofthe revolution ; in 1786 he was
a delegate to congress from Pennsylvania;
in 1795 he succeeded Mr. Morris as sena
tor. Of the measures of Mr. Adams' ad-

BIRDSEYE, Nathan, remarkable for
longevity, the minister of West Haven,
Con., was born Aug. 19, 1714, graduated
at Yale college in 1736, and was ordained
the 4th pastor of West Haven Oct. 1742.
His predecessors were Samuel Johnson,
Jonathan Arnold, and Timothy Allen ;
his successor was Noah Wifliston. After

ministration he was a decided advocate, being in the ministry 1 6 years he was dis
He died at Bath, England, Feb. 7, 1804,
aged 52.— Mr. Bingham married in 1780
Miss Willing of Philadelphia ; his son,
William, married in Montreal in 1822 ;
a daughter was married to a son of sir
Francis Baring. Mr. Bingham purchas
ed about the year 1793 more than 2 mil
lions of acres of land in Maine at an eighth
of a dollar per acre, or for more than 250
thousand dollars. In 1715 Mr. Green-
leaf calculated the cost to have amounted
to 49 cents per acre, when perhaps the
average value might not exceed 17 cents.
— Mr. B. pubUshed "a letter from an
American on the subject of the restrain
ing proclamation," with- strictures on
lord Sheffield's pamphlets, 1784; descrip
tion of certain tracts of land in the district
of Maine, 1793.
BINGHAM,Caleb,a bookseller of Bos
ton, was graduated at Dartmouth college
in 1782. In early life he was the pre
ceptor ofan academy and afterwards for
many years was a teacher in one of the
principal shools of Boston. Quitting
the toils of instruction, he kept a large
book shop in Boston, and compiled for
the benefit of youth various books, some
of which went through many editions.
For several years he was a director ofthe
state prison, in which capacity he made
great efforts for the mental improvement
ofthe younger criminals. In his, pohtics
he belonged to the school of Mr. Jeffer
son. He had a character of strict integri
ty and uprightness, and he was a^ exem
plary professor of refigion. After much
suffering he died April 6, 1817, aged 60.
A daughter, Sophia, married col. Towson
of the army. He pubfished an interes
ting narrative, entitled, "the Hunters";
young lady's accidence, 1789 ; epistolary
correspondence ; the Columbian Orator.

missed in June 1758, and retired to his
patrimonial estate at Oronoake in Strat
ford, where he resided 60 years, till his
death Jan. 28, 1818, aged 103 years and
five months. About a hundred of his
posterity were present at his funeral.
The whole number ofhis descendants was
258, of whom 206 were^living. His wife,
with whom he had lived 69 years, died at
the age of 88. By her he had 1 2 children,
alternately a boy and girl ; 76 grand
children ; 163 great grand children ; and
7 of the fifth generation. Of all the
branches ofhis numerous family,scattered
into various parts of the U. S., not one
of them had been reduced to want. Most
of them were in prosperous, aU in com
fortable circumstances. — In his last years
he occasionally preached, and once at
Stratford to great acceptance, after he
was 100 years old. At last he became
bfind and deaf; yet his retentive memory
and sound judgment and excellent temper
gave an interest to his conversation with
his friends. He died without an enemy,
in the hope of a happy immortality. Ac
cording to his account ofthe Indians near
Stratford, about the year 1700 there were
60 or 80 fighting men ; in 1761 but three
or four men were left. However, the
race was not exterminated ; for of the
emigrants there lived at Kent on the
"Oustonnoc river" 127 louls. — Mass.
hist, col.x. 111.
BISHOP, George, a quaker, published
"New England judged, not by man's but
by the spirit of the Lord, and the sunune
sealed up of New England's persecutions,
being a brief relation ofthe sufferings of
the quakers in that part of America from
the beginning ofthe 5th m. 1 656 to the end
ofthe 10th m. 1660: wherein the cruel
whippings and scourgings, bonds and im-

108

BISSELL.

BLAuKSTONE.

prisonments &c. burning in the hand and
cutting off of ears, banishment upon pain
of death, and putting to death &c, are
shortly touched, 1661." He gives an ac
count of the execution of .Wm. Robinson,
Marmaduke Stephenson, Mary Dyer, &
William Ledea, for returning after being
banished as quakers ; such was the bloody
spirit of persecution in men, who sought
liberty of conscience in a wilderness.
Among the banished was Mary Fisher,
who travelled as far as Adrianople and in
the camp of the grand vizier delivered her
message "from the great God to the great
Turk." Hutchinson remarks, "she fared
better among the Turks, than among
christians. — Hutch. 1. 180."
BISSELL, Josiah, a generous philan
thropist, was the son of deacon ' Josiah
Bissell. About the year 1814 or 1815 he
was one of a number of young men, who
removed from Pittsfield, Ms., to the new
town of Rochester, N. Y. The increase
in the value of the land, which he had
purchased, made him rich; but his wealth
he very liberally employed in promoting
the various benevolent operations of the
day. He expended many thousands of
dollars. Were his example followed by
the rich, the face of the world would soon
be renewed. At. great expense he was
the principal promoter of the "Pioneer"
fine of stages, so called, which did not
run on Sunday,and which was established
for the sole purpose of preventing the
desecration of the holy day. His piety
was ardent ; his courage unshaken by the
calumnies and revilings of men, who pre
ferred gain to godliness. As he had Uved
for Christ, he died in the triumphs of
faith early in April 1831, aged 40 years.
When told, that he would soon die, he
said, "why should I be afraid to die ?
The Lord knows, I have loved his cause
more than afl things else; I have wronged
no man ; I possess no man's goods ; I
am at peace with all men ; I have
peace, and trust, and confidence ; I am
ready, willing, yea anxious to depart."
When told the next day, that he was
better, he said, "I desire to go : my face is
set." "Tell my children to choose the

Lord Jesus Christ for their portion and to
serve him better than I have done, — Say
to the church, — go on gloriously.— Say
to impenitent sinners, — if they wish to
know the value ofreligion,lookatadying
bed." BLACKHOOF, a chief of the Shaw-
anese tribe of Indians, died at Wapagh-
konnetta in Sept. 1831, aged 114 years.
In war he had been a formidable enemy,
though the latter part ofhis warfaring Ufe
had been devoted to the American cause.
He was at St. Clair's, Harmer's, and
Crawford's defeats, and perhaps was the
last survivor of tho3e,who were concerned
injBraddock's defeat.
BLACKMAN, Adam, first minister of
Stratford, Con., was a preacher in Leices
tershire and Derbyshire, England. After
he came to this country, he preached a
short time at Scituate, and then at Guil
ford ; in 1640 he was settled at Stratford,
where he died in 1665. His successors
were Israel Chauncy, Timothy Cutler,
Hezekiah Gould, Israhiah Wetmore, and
recently Mr. Dutton, afterwards profes
sor at Yale. Notwithstanding his name,
Mather represents him as for his hohness
"purer than snow, whiter than milk."
With almost the same name as Melanc-
thonjhe was a Melancthon among the re
formers of New Haven, but with less oc
casion, than the German, to complain,
that "old Adam was too hard for his
young namfesake." Mr. Hooker so much
admired the plainness and simplicity of
his preaching, that he said, if he could
have his choice, he should choose to live
and die under his ministry. — His son,
Benjamin, a graduate of Harvard college
in 1663, preached for a time at Maiden,
but left that place in 1678 ; and after
wards at Scarborough: in 1683 he was a
representative of Saco, in which town he
was a large landholdei'& owner of all the
mill privileges on the east side ofthe river.
He probably died in Boston. — Magnalia,
III. 94; Folsom's hist. Saco, 164.
BLACKSTONE, William, an episco
pal minister, and the first inhabitant of
Boston, settled there as early, as 1 625 or
1626; and there he lived, when gov.

BLAIR.

109

Winthrop arrived in the summer of 1630
at Charlestown, the records of which
place say, — "Mr.Blackstone, dwellingon
the other side of Charles River, alone, at
a place by the Indians called Shawmut,
where he only had a cottage, at or not
far off the place, called Blackstone's point,
he came ond acquainted the governor of
an excellent spring there, withal inviting
him & soliciting him thither, whereupon,
after the death of Mr. Johnson and divers'
others, the governor, with Mr. Wilson,
and the greatest part of the church re
moved thither." Though Mr. Black-
stone had first occupied the peninsula, or
Trimountain ; yet all the right of soil,
which the charter cpuld give, was held
by the governor and compatiy. In their
regard to equity they at a court April 1 ,
1 633 agreed to give him 50 acres near his
house in Boston to enjoy forever. In
1634 he sold the company this estate,
probably for 30 pounds, which was raised
by an assessment of six shilfings or more
on each inhabitant. With the proceeds
he purchased cattle, and removed, proba
bly in 1635,toPawtucket river, now bear
ing his nanie,Blackstone river,a few miles
north of Providence, near the southern
part ofthe town of Cumberland. He was
married July 4, 1659 to widow Sarah
Stephenson, who died June 1673. He
died May 26, 1675, having lived in New
England 50 years. — His residence was
about tv?o miles north of Pawtucket, on
the eastern bank of the Blackstone river
& within a few rods of Whipple's bridge.
From his house a long extent of the
river could be seen to the south. The
cellar and well are at this day recognised.
A small round eminence west of his house
is cafled Study Hill, from its being his
place of retirement for study. His grave
near his house is marked by a large round
white stone. — Holmes,!. 377; 2 Coll. hist.
soc. X. 171 ;— IX. 174: Saiiage's Winth
rop, 1. 44; Everett's address, 2d cera<.29.
BLAIR, James, first president of Wfl
liam and Mary college, Virginia, and 'a
learned divine, was born and educated in
Scotland, where he obtained a benefice in
the. episcopal church. On account of the

unsettied state of religion, which then ex
isted in that kingdom, he quitted his pre
ferments and went into England near the
end of the reign of Charles II. The
bishop of London prevailed on him to go
to Virginia, as a missionary, about the
year 1685 ; 8tin that colony by his exem
plary conduct and unwearied labors in the
work ofthe ministry he much promoted
reUgion, and gained to himself esteem
and reputation. In 1689 he was appoin
ted by the bishop ecclesiastical commis
sary, the highest office in the church,
which could be given him in the province.
This appointment, however, did not in
duce him to relinquish the pastoral office,
for it was his delight to preach the gospel
of salvation. /
Perceiving that the want of schools and
seminaries for literary and religious in
struction would in a great degree defeat
the exertions, which were making, in or
der to propagate the gospel, he formed the
design of establishing a college at Wil
liamsburg. For this purpose he soUcited
benefactions in this country, and by direc
tion of the assembly made a voyage to
England in 1691 to obtain the patronage
ofthe government. A charter was pro
cured in this year with liberal endow
ments, and he was named in it as the first
president ; but it does not appear, that
fie entered on the duties ofhis office before
the year 1729, from which period till 1742
he discharged them with faithfulness.
The college however did not flourish very
greatly during his presidency, nor for ma
ny years afterwards. The wealthy farm
ers were in the habit of sending their sons
to Europe for their education. After a
life of near sixty years in the ministry,
he died in a good old age August 1, 1743,
and went to enjoy the glory, for which he
was destined. Mr. ' Blair was for some
time president ofthe council ofthe colony,
and rector of Wflliamsburg. He was a
faithful labbrer in the vineyard of his
Master, and an ornament to his profession
and to the several offices, which he sus
tained. He pubUshed, our Savior's di
vine sermon on the mount explained and
the practice of it recommended in divers

no

BLAIR.

sermons and discourses,4 vol. 8vo. Lon
don, 1742. This work is spoken of with
high approbation by. Dr. Doddrige, and
by Dr. Williams in his christian preacher.
Introd. to the above work; Miller's retr.
n. 335, 336, ; New and gen. biog. diet. ;
Burnet's hist, own times, a. 129, 120,
folio; Keith, 168; Beverly.
BLAIR, Samuel, a learned minister in
Pennsylvania, was a native of Ireland.
He came to America very early in Ufe,
and was one of Mr. Tennent's pupils in
his academy at Neshaminy. About the
year 1745 he himself opened an academy
at Fog's manor, Chester county, with
particular reference to the study of the
ology as a science. He also took the pas
toral charge of the church in this place ;
but such was his zeal to do good, that he
did not confine himself to his own socie
ty, but often dispensed the precious
truths of heaven to destitute congrega
tions. He died, it is believed, in 1751,
and his brother in a few years succeeded'
him in the care of the church.
Mr. Blair was one of the most learned
and able, as well as pious, excellent, and
venerable men of his day. He was a pro
found divine and a most solemn and im
pressive preacher. To his pupils he was
himself an excellent model of pulpit elo
quence. In his life he gave them an ad-
imirable example pf christian meekness, of
ministerial diUgence, of candor, and Catho
licism, without a dereliction of principle.
Be was eminently serviceable to the part
¦of the country, where he lived, not only
as a mimster of the gospel, but as a teach
er of human knowledge. Prom his aca
demy, that school of the prophets, as it
was frequently called, there issued forth
many excellent pupils, who did honor to
their instructer both as scholars and chris
tian ministers. Among the distinguish
ed characters, who received their classical
and theological education at this semina
ry, were his nephew, Alexander Gum
ming, Samuel Davies, Dr. Rodgers of
New York, and James Finley, Hugh
Henry, and a number of other respectable
clergymen. Mr Davies, after being in-^
formed ofhis sickness, wrote respeetirig

him to a friend the foflowing fines.
"O , had you not the mournful news divulg'd,
My mind had still the pleasing dream indulg'd,
Still -fancied Blair with health and vigor
bless'd,
¦With some grand purpose lab'ring in his breast,
In studious thought pursuing truth divine.
Till the full demonstration round him shine ;
Or from the sacred desk proclaiming loud
His' master's message to the attentive crowd.
While heavenly trutli with bright conviction
glares.
And coward error shrinks and disappears,
"While quick remorse the hardy sinner feels.
And Calvary's balm ibe bleeding conscience
heals."
He published animadversions on the
reasons of A. Creaghead for quitting the
presb. church, 1742 ; a narrative of a re
vival of refigion in several parts of Penn
sylvania, 1744.— JMiHer's reir. n. 343;
Mass. miss. mag. in. 362 ; Davies' life,
BLAIR, John, an eminent minister in
Pennsylvania, was ordained to the pasto
ral charge of three congregations in Cum
berland county as early as 1742. These
were froritier settlements and exposed to
depredations in the Indian wars, and he
was obliged to remove. He accepted a
call from Fog's manor in Chester county
in 1757. This congregation had been fa
vored with the ministry Of his brother,
Samuel Blair ; & here he continued about
nine years, besides discharging the duties
of the ministry, superintending also a
flourishing grammar school, and preparing
many young men for the ministry.
When the presidency of New Jersey col
lege became vacant, he was chosen pro
fessor of divinity and had for sometime
the charge of that seminary before the
arrival of Dr. Witherspoon. After this
event he settled at Wallkifl in the state of
New York. Here he labored a while
with his usual faithfulness, and finished
his earthly course Dec;.' 8, 1771, aged
about 51 years.
He was a judicious and persuasive
preacher, and through his exertions sin
ners were converted and the children of
God edified. Fully convinced of the
doctrines of grace, he addressed immortal
souls with that warmth arid power, which

BLAIR.

Ill

left a witness in every bosom. Though
he sometimes wrote his sermons in full,
yet his common mode of preaching was
by short notes, comprising the general
outlines. His labors were too abundant
to admit of more ; and no more was ne
cessary to a mind so richly stored, and so
constantly impressed with the great
truths of reUgion.— For his large family
he had amassed no fortune, but he left
them what was infinitely better,a rehgious
education, a holy example, and prayers,
which have been remarkably answered. —
His disposition was uncommonly patient,
placid, benevolent, disinterested, and
cheerful. He was too mild to indulge
bitterness or severity, and he thought
that truth required little else than to be
fairly stated .and properly understood.
Those, who could not relish the savor
of his piety, loved him as an amiable and
revered him as a great man. Though
no bigot, he firmly beUeved that the pres
byterian form of government is the most
scriptural, and the most favorable to reli
gion and happiness. In his last sickness
he imparted his advice to the congrega
tion, and represented to his family the
necessity of an interest in Christ. A few
nights before he died he said, "directiy, I
am going to glory.' My master calls me;
I must be gone." He pubUshed a few
occasional sqrmons and tracts in defence of
important truths. — Evan,^ Intellig. i,
241-244. BLAIR, Samuel, minister of Boston,
the son of Rev. Samuel Blair, was borri
at Fogg's manor in 1741. After being
graduated at the coUege of N. Jersey in
1760, he was a tutor in that seminary.
He was settled as colleague with Dr.
Sewall over the old south church in Bos
ton Nov. 26, 1766. He had been previ
ously ordained as a presbyterian. In the
next year he was chosen president of the
college, in N. Jersey, as successor of
Finley, but he declined the appointment
in consequence of the ascertained willing
ness of Dr. Witherspoon to accept the
place, which at first he had rejected. By
reason of lU health and some difficulty
respecting the half way covenant Mr.

Blair was dismissed Oct. 10, 1769. He
never resumed a pastoral charge. D uring
the last years of his life he resided at G er-
mantown, where he died suddenly Sept.
24, 1818, aged 77. He was succeeded
by Mr. Bacon and Mr. Plunt. Distin
guished for talents and learning, he was
in preaching, -with a feeble voice, a mas
ter of the touching and pathetic. He
married in 1769 a daughter of Dr, Ship-
pen,the elder, of Philadelphia: his daugh
ter married Charles Peirce. He pubUsh
ed an oration on the death of George
II, 1761. — Wisner's hist. O, S, church,.
31; Green's discourses, 392, 396.
BLAIR, John, one of the associate
judges of the supreme court of the United
States died at Wilfiamsburg jjn Virginia
August 31, 1800, aged 68. He was'a
judge ofthe court of appeals in Virginia
in 1787, at which time the legislature of
that state, finding the judiciary system in
convenient, estabfished circuit courts, the
duties of which they directed the judges.
ofthe court of appeals to perform. These
judges, among whose names are those of
Blair, Pendleton, and Wythe, remonstra
ted and declared the act unconstitutional.
In the same year, he was a member of
the general convention, which formed the
constitution of the United ' States. To
that instrument the names of Blair and
Madison are affixed as the deputies from
Virginia. In September, 1789, when the -
government, which he had assisted in es
tablishing, had commenced its operation,,
he was appointed by Washington an as
sociate judge of the supreme court, of
whiqh John Jay was chief justice. He-
was an arriiable, accomplished, and truly
virtuous man. He discharged with abil
ity and integrity the duties of a number of
the highest &most important public trusts;
and in these, as well as in the relations of
private life, his conduct was upright & so
blameless, that he seldom or never lost a
friend or made him an enemy. Even
calumny, which assailed Washington,
shrunk from his friend, the unassumirigf
and pious Blair. ' Through life he in a
remarkable manner experienced the truth
of our Savior's declaration, "blessed are

112

BLAKE.

BLANC.

the meek,for they shall inherit the earth;"
and at death he illustrated the force ofthe
exclamation, "let me die the death ofthe
righteous, and let my last end be Uke
his."— Cla^jpoole's adv. Sept. 12. 1800 ;
Marshall V. 216.
BLAKE, Joseph, governor of South
Carolina, was a proprietary and a ne
phew of the famous admiral Blake. He
succeeded gov. Thomas Smith in 1694
and Archdale in 1696, and was himself
succeeded by James Moore in 1700. In
the account of Archdale it is suggested,
that he might have been goverrior 5 or 6
years ; he was iri fact governor but one
year. — During Blake's administration a
set of 41 articles, caUed ' the last funda
mental constitutions,' was sent from Eng
land, by the earl of Bath, the palatine,
and other patentees ; but the change in
the government vvas never confirmed by
the Carolina assembly. Mr. Blake died
in 1700. Although a dissenter, yet with
a highly honorable spirit of liberality he
prevailed on fhe assembly to settle on the
episcopal minister of Charleston 150
pounds a year and to furnish him with a
house, glebe, and two servants. A very
different, an intolerant and persecuting
spirit was manifested towards the dissen
ters in the subsequent administration of
Johnson. — Univ. hist. xl. 427.
BLAKE, James, a preacher, was a na
tive of Dorchester, Massa. and was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1769. In
college he was distinguished by the sweet
ness ofhis temper and the purity of his
morals. He conciUated the love of his
fellow students, and the high approbation
of his instructers. After pursuing for
some time his theological studies under
the care of Mr. Smith of Weymouth, he
began with reluctance at a very early pe
riod the important work of the ministry.
He died November 17, 1771, aged 21.
A smafl volume of his sermons, which
was pubUshed by his friends after his
death, displays a strength of ihind and a
knowledge of theoretical and practical di
vinity very uncommon in a person so
young. His sermons also indicate, a
warmth of pious feeling, honorable to his

character. — Pref. to his serm. Coll. hist,
soc, IX. 189.
BLAKELEY, Johnston, a captain in
the navy, was born in Ireland in 1781.
After his father's removal to Wihning-
ton, N. Carofina, he passed a few years
in the university of that state, In the
year 1800 he . obtained a midshipman's
warrant. Appointed to the command
of the Wasp, in 1814 he captured and
burnt the Reindeer, after an action of 19
minutes, with the loss of 21 men ; the
enemy lost 67. In an action Sept. 1,
1814 the Avon struck to him, though the
approach of other vessels prevented his
taking possession of her. The last ac
count of the Wasp is, that she was spoken
off the western isles. In what manner
Blakeley died is, therefore, not known.
His wife and an infant daughter survived.
The legislature of N. C. passed the reso
lution, that this child " be educated at
the expense ofthe state."
BLANC, Vincent Le, a traveller in
Asia, Africa, and America, from the age
of 12 to 60, gives an account of Canada
in his book, entitled, "Les Voyages fa-
meux &c." 1648. Though his narrative
is, in some respects valuable ; yet it is
confused, with Uttle regard to dates, and
tolerant towards fables. The author
speaks of the giant stature, of the Indians.
— Charlevoix, i, 4.
BLANC, Jean Le, chief ofthe Ou-
taouais or Ottaway Indians, — called Le
Blanc, because his mother was as white
as a French woman, — was a chief pf tal
ents, and difficult to be won by the gov
ernor. , He rescued the father Constan-
tin, who had fallen into the hands of the
Indians. In 1707 he appeared before the
governor at Montreal and excused his
tribe for some disorders. This chief,
whom Charlevoix denominates a bad
christian and a great drunkard, was asked
by Frontenac, of what he supposed the
water of life, or rum, for which he was so
greedy, was composed ; he repfied, — 'it
is an extract of tongues and hearts ; for
when I have been drinking it, I fear noth
ing and talk marveflously.' — He might
have added, — it is the essence of folly and

BLAND.

113

madness ; for when I have swaUowed it,
I play the part of a fool and a madman.
Yet the governor, de Callieres, was very
careful never to send away a chief, until
after "regaling" him. Thus, from poficy
and covetousness, have drunkards had
the poison dealt out to them from age to
age,— Charlev, ii. 274, 311; in. 306.
BLAND, Richard, a political writer
of Virginia, was for some years a principal
member ofthe house of burgesses in Vir
ginia. In 1768 he was one of the com
mittee to remonstrate with parliament on
the subject of taxation ; in 1773 one of
the committee of correspondence ; in
1774 a delegate to congress. He was
again chosen a deputy to congress Aug.
12, 1775 ; in returning thanks for this
appointment he spoke of himselfas " an
old man, almost deprived of sight, whose
great ambition had ever been to receive
the plaudit ofhis country, whenever he
should retire from the public stage oflife."
The honor, which cometh from God,
would have been a higher aim. Though
lie declined the appointment from old age,
he declared, he should ever be animated
"to support the glorious cause, in which
America was engaged." Francis L. Lee
was appointed iu his place. He died in
1778. Mr. Wirt speaks of him as "one
of the most enUghtened men in the colo
ny ; a man of finished education and of
the most unbending habits of application,
His perfect mastery of every fact connec
ted with the settlement and progress of
the colony had given him the name of the
Virginia antiquary. He was a pohtician
of the first class, a profound logician, and
was also considered as the first writer in
the colony." He published in 1766 an
inquiry into the rights of the British colo
nies, in answer to a pamphlet published in
London in the preceding year, entitled,
regulations lately made concerning the
colonies, and taxes imposed on them con
sidered. This was one of the three pro
ductions of Virginia during the contro
versy with Great Britain ; the other wri
ters were Arthur Lee, and Jefferson.
He wrote also in 1758 on the controversy
between the clergy and the assembly con-
15

cerning the tobacco tax for the support of
the clergy. — Jefferson's notes, qu. 23 ;
Wirt's life of Henry, 46.
BLAND, Theodoric, a worthy patriot
and statesman, was a native 6i Virginia,
and descended from an ancient and respec
table family in that state. He was bred
to the science of physic ; but upon the
commencement of the American war he
quitted the practice, and took an active
part in the cause ofhis country. He soon
ipse to the rank of colonel, and had the
command of a regiment of dragoons.
Whfle in the army he frequently signali
zed himself by brilliant actions. In 1779
he was appointed to the command of
the convention troops at Albemarle bar
racks in Virginia, and continued in that
situation tifl some time in the year
1780, when he was elected to a seat in
congress. He continued in that body
three years, the time aUowed by the con
federation. After the expiration of this
term he again returned to Virginia, and
was chosen a member of the state legisla
ture. He opposed the adoption of the
constitution, believing it to be repugnant
to the interests of his country, and was
in the minority, that voted against its
ratification. But, when it was at length
adopted, he submitted to the voice of the
majority.' He was chosen to represent
the district, in which he lived, in the first
congress under the constitution. He died
at New York, June 1, 1790, while atten
ding a session of congress, aged 48.
When the subject of the assumption of
the. state debts was debated in March
1790, he made a speech in favor of the
assumption, differing in respect to this
measure from all his colleagues. In this
speech he expressed his attachment tp the
constitution as amended, though he wish
ed for more amendments, and declared his
dread of silent majorities on questions of
great and general concern. He was hon
est, open, candid ; and his conduct was
such in his intercourse with mankind, as
to secure universal respect. Though a
legislator, he was not destitute of a genius
for poetry. — Gazette ofthe U. S, April
17, and June 5, 1790.

114

BLATCHFORD.

BLATCHFORD, Samuel, d. d., min
ister of Lansingburg, N. Y. , v/as a native
of Plymouth, England, where he was
educated and became a dissenting minis
ter. In 1795 he emigrated to the United
States : after a residence one year at Bed
ford, West Chester county, he succeeded
Dr. Dwight at Greenfield ; subsequently
he was the minister of Bridgeport, whence
he was invited to Lansingburg in 1804.
He died March 17, 1828, aged 60.— His
son, Henry Blatchford, who had bee^
pastor ofthe Branch church, Salem, Ms.,
and thence removed to Lansingburg, died
in Maryland Sept. 1822, aged' 34.— Dr.
Blatchford was a sound scholar and theo
logian, and as a pastor kind, persuasive,
and often eloquent in his manner. He
was endeared to his acquaintance by his es
timable virtues and his christian graces.
BLEECKER, Ann EUza, a lady of
some literary celebrity in New York, was
the daughter of Mr. Brandt Schuyler,
and was born in October 1752. From
early Ufe she was passionately fond of
books. In 1769 she was married to John
I. Bleecker, Esq. of New Rochelle, and
removed to Poughkeepsie, and shortly af
terwards to Tomhanic, a beautiful, solita
ry vfllage, 18 miles above Albany, where
she lived a number of years in great tran-
qUilUty and happiness. But the approach
of Burgoyne's armyin 1777drove her from
her retreat in circumstances of terror.
She fled on foot with her two little daugh
ters, and obtained shelter for the night at
Stone Arabia. In a few days she lost the
youngest of her children. This affliction
cast a gloom over her mind ; and posses
sing an excessive sensibiUty, though not
unacquainted with religious consolations,
she was unable to support the weight of
her troubles. After the peace she revisi
ted New York to awaken afresh the scenes
of her childhood ; but the dispersion of
her friends, and the desolation, which ev
ery where presented itself to her sight,
overwhelmed her. She returned to her
cottage, -where she died November 23,
1783, aged 31, She was the friend of
the aged and infirm, and her kindness
and benevolence to the poor of the

BLINMAN.
village, where she lived, caused her
death to be deeply lamented. After her
death, some of her writings were collec
ted and published in 1793 under the title
of the posthumous works pf Ann Eliza
Bleecker in prose and verse. To this
work are prefixed memoirs of her life,
written by her daughter, Margaretta V.
Faugeres. There is also added to the
volume a collection of Mrs. Faugeres' es
says. — Hardie's biog, diet; Spec. Amer.
poet, I. 21 1-220.
BLEECKER, Anthony, a poet, was
born about the year 1778 and educated at
Columbia coUege in the city of New
York. The circumstances of his family
constrained him to study law, though he
never succeeded as an advocate in conse
quence of an unconquerable diffidence,
a somewhat rare faiUng in a lawyer.
Yet was he respected in his profession for
his learning and integrity. After a short
illness he died in the spring of 1827, aged
49 years. For thirty years the periodi
cal literature of New York and Philadel
phia was constantly indebted to his fancy
and good taste. All bis writings were
occasional. — Spec. Amer. poet, n, 381-
386. BLINMAN, Richard, first minister of
New London, Connecticut, was a native
of Great Britain, and was minister at
Chepstow in Monmouthshire. On his
arrival in this country in 1642 it was his
intention to settle with his friends, who
accompanied him, at Green's harbor, or
Marshfield, near Plymouth. But some
difficulty arising in that place, he remo
ved to cape Ann, which the general court
in the year above mentioned established a
plantation and called Gloucester. He re
moved to New London in 1648. Here
he continued in the ministry about ten
years, and was then succeeded by Ger-
shom Bulkley, In 1 658- he removed to
New Haven, and after a short stay in that
town returned to England. On his way
he stopped in 1659 at Newfoundland,
where he dechned to settle. Johnson
wrote his name BUndman; TrumbuU
Blynman.-Ha-ving lived to a good old age,
he happily concluded at the city ofBris-

BLODGET.

BOGARDUS.

Hi

tol a life spent in doing good. A short
time before his death he published in ans
wer to Mr. Danvers a book entitled, an
essay tending to issue the controversy
about infant baptism, 18vo,674.— JtfotA-
er's mag. in. 213 ; Nonconform, memor.
in. 177 ; Coif. hist. soc. ix. 39 ; Sava^
ge's Winthrop, a. 64; Trumbull's Con.
I. 293,310,314,522.
BLODGET, Samuel, remarkable for
enterprise, was born at Woburn, Mass.,
and resided many years at Haverhill. Be
fore the revolution he was a judge of the
court of common pleas for the dounty of
Hillsborough, N. H. He, was engaged
in the expedition against Louisbourg in
1745. — Having raised in 1783 by a ma
chine of his invention a valuable cargo
from a ship, sunk near Plymouth, he was
induced to go to Europe for the purpose
of recovering from the deep the treasures
buried there. In Spain he met with dis
couragement. His project for raising the
Royal George was no better received in
England. After his return he set up a
duck manufactory in 1791 ; and in 1793
he removed to N. H.' and commenced the
canal, jvhich bears his name, around
Amoskeag falls. He expfended much
money without completing the -work, be
came embarrassed, and for a time suffer
ed imprisonment for debt. Judge B. was
rigidly temperate. At afl seasons he slept
in a large room, with open windows.
He intended' to live, in consequence ofthe
course he pursued, until he was at least
100 years old ; but in Aug. 1807 he diet}
at the age of 84 of a consumption, occa
sioned by his exposure in travelling from
Boston to Haverhill in a cold night. His
projects for public improvements unhap
pily involved him in great pecuniary los
ses. He wanted more skiU. — M. hist.
col. n. s. IV. 158.
BLOOMFIELD, Joseph, governor
of New Jersey, was probably a descendant
of Thomas Bloomfield, who lived at New
bury, Mass., in 1633 and afterwards re
moved to New Jersey. He was a soldier
of the revolution. He succeeded Rich
ard Howell as governor in 1801 and was
succeeded in that office by Aaron Ogden

in 1812. In the war, which commenced
in this year, he was a brigadier general.
He died at Burlington Oct. 3, 1823. Gen.
Bloornfteld was a firm republican in po
litics 5 in congress a sound legislator ; a
brave soldier in the field ; and in private
fife an excellent man. — Farmer's collect.
u. app. 91.
BLOUNT, Wflliam, governor of tiie
territory south of the Ohio, was appoint
ed to that office in 1790. The first gov.
of Tennessee under the constitution in
1796 was John Sevier. While a mem
ber of the senate of the U. S. frpm Ten
nessee, Mr. Blount was ' expelled from
that body in July 1797 for being concer
ned in a project ofthe British to conquer
the Spanish territories and instigating the
Creeks and Cherokees to lend their aid.
He died at Knoxville March, 26, 1800,
aged 56.
BLOWERS, Thomas, minister in Be
verly, Massachusetts, was born at Cam
bridge August 1, 1677. His mother was
the sister of Andrew Belcher. He was
graduated at Harvard coflege in 1695,
and was ordained pastor of the first
church in Beverly October 29, 170J.
He died June 17, 1729, aged 51. He
was a good scholar, and an excellent min
ister ; of sincere and ardent piety ; of
great meekness and sweetness of temper;
of uncommon stabihty in his principles
and steadiness in his conduct. He was a
vigilant, prudent pastor, and a close, pa
thetic preacher. He pubfished a sermon
on the death of Rev. Joseph Green of Sa
lem village, 1715. — JV. E. weekly jour.
June 23, 1729 ; Foxcroft's fun. sermon.
BOGARDUS, Everardus, the first
minister of the reformed Dutch church
in New York, came early to this country,
though the exact time ofhis arrival is not
known. The records of this church begin
with the year 1639. He was ordained
and sent forth, it is befieved, by the clas-
sis of Amsterdam, which had for a numr
ber of years the superintendence of the
Dutch churches in New Netherlands, or
the province of New York. The tradi
tion isj that Mr. Bogardus became blind
and returned to Holland some tune before

116

BOLLAN.

BOLLMAN.

the surrender of the colony to the British
in 1664. He was succeeded by John and
Samuel Megapolensis. — Christian's mag.
N. Y. 1. 368.
BOLLAN, William, agent of Massa
chusetts in Great Britain, was born in
England, and came to this country about
the year 1740. In 1743 he married a
most amiable and accomphshed lady, the
daughter of gov. Shirley, who died at the
age of 25. Mr. Bollan was a lawyer of
eminence, in profitable business, was
advocate general, and hadj just received
the appointment of collector of cus
toms for Salem and Marblehead, when
he was sent to England in 1745 as agent
to soficit a reimbursement ofthe expenses
in the expedition against cape Breton.
It was a difficult, toilsome agency of three
years ; but he conducted it with great
skiU and fidefity, and obtained at last a
full repayment of the expenditure, being
183,649?. sterfing. He arrived at Bos
ton Sep. 19, 1748, with 653,000 ounces
of silver and ten tons of copper, reckoned
at 175,000Z. sterling, or nearly 800,000
dollars. He was again sent to England
as the agent ; but it appears from a letter,
which he wrote in 1752 to the secretary
of Massachusetts,that for his three years'
services the colony, after seven years
from his appointment, voted him the
sum of only 1 500Z. sterfing. He had
supported his family, and advanced ofhis
money in the agency business as much as
fifteen hundred pounds ; he had aban
doned a profitable business, which would
have yielded him double the amount voted
him ; and besides this he had passed his
years in the degradation of "a continual
state of attendance and dependence on
the motions and pleasures of the great,"
standing alone too without any support
or assistance. After gov. Shirley was
superseded, attempts were made to dis
place Mr. Bollan, notwithstanding his
address and talents, and his long, faithful,
and important services. His connexion
with Shirley and his attachment to the
episcopal form of worship awakened pre
judices. Dissatisfaction had also been
occasioned by his making some deduc

tions from the money, granted in 1759 as
a reimbursement to the province, and his
neglecting to correspond with the general
court. He was dismissed in 1762 and
Jasper Mauduit, whose learning and tal
ents were not adequate to the office, was
appointed in his place. In 1768 or 1769
he obtained from alderman Beckford cop
ies of 33 letters of gov. Bernard, which
he sent to Massuehusetts,being employed
as ag^nt by the councfl, though not by
the general- court. For this act lord
North exclaimed against him in parha
ment ; but it restored his lost popularity.
Mr.Hancock declared in the house of rep
resentatives, that there was no man, to
whom the colonies were more indebted.
In 1775 he exerted himself in recommen
ding to the mother country concifiatory
measures. He died in England in 1776.
Several of his letters and writings are in
the Mass. historical collections, vols i.
and VI. In one of them he maintains,
that the boundary of Nova Scotia to the
north is the river of Canada. He pub
lished a number of pohtical tracts, among
which are the following ; importance of
cape Breton truly iUustated, Lond. 1746;
colonite .Anglican© fllustratae, 1762; the
ancient right of the EngUsh nation to the
American fishery examined and stated,
1764 ; the mutual interests of Great Brit
ain and the American colonies considered,
1765 ; freedom of speech and writing up
on public affairs considered, 1766 ; the
importance of the colonies in North
America, and the interests of Great Bri
tain with regard to them considered, 1766;
epistle from Timoleon, 1768 ; continued
corruption of standing armies, 1768 ; the
free Briton's memorial, in defence of the
right of election, 1769 ; a supplemental
memorial, on the origin of parliaments
&c. 1770; a petition to the king in coun
cil January 26, 1774, with illustrations in
tended to promote the harmony of Great
Britain and her colonies. This peti
tion he offered as agent for the council of
the pro-vince of Massacbusetts.^.HMfcAiw-
son's Mass., n. 436; Minot's contin. n.
109, 110; Eliot.
BOLLMAN, Erich, m. d., was born

BOMMASEEN.

BONYTHON.

117

at Hoya, in Hanover, in Europe, and was
well educated, receiving his medical de
gree at Gottingen. He settled as a
physician at Paris. In 1794 he engaged in
the project of releasing La Fayette from
the prison of Olmutz. His co-adjutor
was Francis Huger, an American, son of
col. Huger of South Carolina. He found
means through the surgeon to communi
cate with the prisoner. As La Fayette
was riding out for his health, Nov. 8, the
guard was attacked and overcome: the
prisoner and his defiverers galloped off,
but missing the way, were soon captured.
Dr. Bollman was confined 12 months and
then banished. After he came to the
United States, he was implicated in the
conspiracy of Burr. On his return from
South America he died at Jamaica of the
yellow fever Dec. 9, 1821. He publish
ed paragraphs on banks, 1810 ; improved
system ofthe money concerns ofthe un
ion, 1816; strictures on the theories of
Mr. Ricardo. — Jennison.
BOMMASEEN, an Indian chief,
signed the treaty of Pemaquid in Maine
Aug. U, 1693, with Madockawondo and
other sagamores. It was one part of the
agreement that, as the French had insti
gated wars, the Indians should abandon
the French interest. The treaty is given
at length by Mather. The next year
after various barbarities at Kittery and
elsewhere, in which he w,as suspected to
have been concerned, Bommaseen pre
sented liimself with two other Indians at
Pemaquid, "as loving as bears and as
haimless as tigers," pretending to have
just come from Canada; when capt. Mafch
made him prisoner Nov. 19, and sent him
to Boston, where he was kept a year, or
two in gaol. In 1696 one of the ininis-
ters of Boston visited Bommaseen at his
request in prison, vvhen the savage in
quired, whether it was true, as the French
had taught him, that the Virgin Mary
was a French lady, and that it was the
EngUsh, whp murdered Jesus Christ; and
whether he required his disciples "to re
venge his quarrel upon the EngUsh?"
The minister gave him suitable religious
instruction, and taught him how to ob

tain the pardon of sins from God, with
out paying beaver skins for it to a priest ;
which instruction was received with
strong expressions of gratitude. This
is the serious narrative of Cotton Mather.
Unless the Indian invented the story,
what a proof is here furnished, of the de
pravity of the French teachers of the sav
ages ? After his liberation Bommaseen
manifested his humanity by sa-ving the
life of Rebecca Taylor, a captive, whom
her master was endeavoring to hang with
his belt near Montreal in 1696. Hutchin
son, a. 149; Magnal. vn. 22.
BOND,Thomas, m.d., a distinguished
physician and surgeon, was born in Ma
ryland in 17 1 2. After studying witli Dr,
Hamilton, he spent a considerable time
in Paris. On his return he commenced
the practice of medicine at Philadelphia
about the year 1734. With his brother.
Dr. Phineas Bond, he attended the
Pennsylvania hospital, in which the first
clinical lectures were delivered by him.
He assisted in founding the coflege and
academy. Of a literary society, composed
of FrankUn,Bartram, Godfrey and others,
he was a member in 1743, and an officer
of the philosophical society from its es
tablishment. The annual address before
the society -w:as delivered by him in 1782
on the rank of man in the scale of being.
For half a century he had the first prac
tice in Philadelphia. Though disposed
to pulmonary consumption, by attention
to diet, a!nd guarding against the changes
of the weather, & the obstraction of blood
when his lungs were affected, he lived to
a good old age. He died March 26,1784,
aged 72. His daughter, married to
Thomas Lawrence, died in 1771. His
brother. Dr. Phineas Bond,who studied at
Leyden, Paris, Edinburgh, and London,
and" was an eminent practitioner in Phila
delphia, died in June 1773, aged 56. He
published in the London med. inquiries
and observations, vol. i. an account of a
worm in the liver, 1754 ; on the use of
the Peruvian bark in scrofula, vol. ii. —
Thacher's med, biog; Ramsay's rev,
med, 37; Miller 1. 312.
BONYTHON, Richard, captain, one

118

BOONE.

of the first settlers of Saco, had a grant
of 120 acres in Saco in 1629. He was
one of the commissioners under Gorges
for the government of the province of
Maine, then called New Somersetshire,
in 1636. The first meeting was held at
Saco March 25th, which was the first
day of the year. When Gorges had ob
tained from the king a new charter of
the province, Bonython was named one
of the councfl, with Vines, Jocelyn, and
others, in 1640. The last court under
this authority was held at WeUs in 1646.
Capt. Bonython died before 1653. He
lived in a house on the left bank of the
Saco, just below the falls ; the place is
now owned by James Gray. His name
is written Benython by Sullivan and Bp-
nighton by Farmer and WilUs. He was
an upright and worthy magistrate ; even
against his own son he once entered a
complaint. This son was John Bony
thon, who was outlawed for contemning
the summons of court and was guilty of
various outrages ; he died in 1684. — His
ungovernable temper procured him the
title of thp sagamore of Saco in the coup
let, proposed for his gravestone, which
represents him as having gone to the evil
spirit ofthe Indians: —
¦"Here lies Bonython, the sagamore of Saco;
He lived a rogue and died a knave and went to
Hobomocko."
Although he left many children, yet his
name is extinct in Maine and probably
in New England. — Folsom's hist. Saca,
113, 115; Sullivan, 368.'
BOONE, Daniel, colonel, one of the
first settlers of Kentucky, was born
about 1730. While he was young, his pa-
rents,who came from Bridgeworth,E.,'re-
moved from Penns. or Va. to the Yadkin
river in N. CaroUna. He was early addict
ed to hunting in the woods; in the militia
he attained to the rank of colonel. In
1769, in consequence of the representa
tion of John Finley, -Who had penetrated
into the wilderness of Kentucky, he was
induced to accompany him in a journey
to that country. He had four other com
panions, John Stuart, Joseph Holden,
James Money, and William Cool, with
whom he set out May 1. On the 7th of

June they arrived at the Red river, a
branchof the Kentucky ; and here from
the top of a hill they had a view of the
fertile plains, of which they were in pur
suit. : They encamped and remained in
this place till Dec. 22, when Boone and
Stuart were captured by the Indians near
Kentucky river. In about a week they
rriade their escape ; but on returning to
their camp, they found it plundered and
deserted by their companions, who had
gone back to CaroUna. Stuart was soon
killed by the Indians ; but Boone being
joined by his brother, they remained and
prosecuted the business of hunting during
the winter, without further molestation.
His brother going home for suppUes in
May 1770, he remained alone in the deep
solitude of the western wilderness until
his return with ammunition & horses Ju
ly 27th. During this period this wild
man of the woods, though greeted every
night Tidth the howUngs of wolves, was
delighted in his excursions with the sur
vey of the beauties of the country and
found greater pleasure in the soUtude of
wfld nature, than he could have found
amid the hum of the most elegant city.
With his brother he traversed the coun
try to Cumberland river. It was not un
tfl March 1771, that he returned to his
family, resolved to conduct them to the
paradise, which he. had explored.
Having sold his farm, he set out with
his own and 5, other families, Sept. 25,
1773, and was joined in Powell's valley
by 40 men. After passing over two
mountains, called Poyirell's and Walden's,
through which, as they ranged from the
north east to the south west, jpasses were
found, and approaching the Cumberland,
the rear of the company was attacked by
the Indians on the 10th of October, when
six men were killed, among whom was
the eldest son of colonel Boone. One
man was also wounded, and -the cattle
were scattered. This disaster induced
them to retreat about 40 miles to the set
tlement on Clinch river, where he re
mained with his family, until June 6,
1774, when, at the request of gov. Dun-
more, he conducted a number of survey-

BOONE.

119

ors to the fafls of Ohio. On this tour of
800 miles he was absent two months.
After this he was intrusted by the gov
ernor, during the campaign against the
Shawanese, with the command of three
forts. Early in 1775, at the request of a
company in North Carofina, he attended
a treaty with the Cherokee Indians at
Wataga in order to make of them the
purchase of lands on the south side ofthe
Tennessee river. After performing this
service, he was employed to mark out a
road from the settlements on the Holston
to the Kentucky river. While thus em
ployed, at the distance of about 15 mfles
from what is now Boonesborough, the
party was attacked March 20, and 23,
1775 by the Indians, who killed four and
wounded five. Another man was killed
in April. On the first day of this month
at a salt Uck, on the southern bank ofthe
Kentucky,in what is now Boonesborough
a few miles from Lexington, he began to
erect a fort, consisting of a block house
& several cabins, enclosed with palisades.
On the 14th of June he returned to his
family in order to remove them to the
fort. His wife and daughters were the
first white women, who stood on the
hanks of the Kentucky river. Dec. 24th
one man was kifled and another wounded.
July 14, 1776, when all the settlements
were attacked, two of col. Calway's
daughters and one ofhis own were taken
prisoners ; Boone pursued with 18 men
and in two days overtook the Indians, kilr
led two of them, and recovered the cap
tives. The Indians made repeated attacks
upon Boonesborough; Nov. 15,1777 with
100 men, and July 4 with 200 men. On
both sides several were killed and wound
ed ; but the enemy were repulsed ; as
they were also July 1,9 from Logan's fort
of 15 men, which was besieged by 200.
The arrival of 25 men from Carolina and
in August of 100 from Virginia gave a
new aspect to affairs, and taught the sav
ages the' superiority ofthe long knives,"
as they called the Virginians. Jan. 1,
,1778 he went with 30 men to the blue
Ucks on the Licking river to make salt
for the garrison. Feb. 7, being alone,.he

was captured by a party of 102 Indians
and 2 Frenchmen ; he capitulated for his
men, and they were aU carried to ChiUi-
cothe on the Little Miami, whenfce he
and 10 men were conducted to Detroi't,
vsrhere he arrived March 30. The gov
ernor, Hamilton, treated him with much
humanity, and offered 100/. for his re
demption. But the savages refused the
offer from affection to their captive. Being
carried back to Chillicothe in Aprfl, he
was adopted as a son in an Indian family.
He assumed the appearance of cheerful
ness ; but his thoughts were on his wife
and chfldren. Aware of the en-vy of the
Indians, he was careful not to exhibit his
skill in shooting. In June he went to
the salt springs on the Sciota. On his
return to Chillicothe he ascertained, that
450 warriors were preparing to proceed
against Boonesborough. He escaped June
16, and arrived at the fort June 20th,
having travelled 160 miles in 4 days, with
but one meal. His wife had returned to
her father's. Great efforts were made
to repair the fort in order to meet the ex
pected attack. Aug. 1 he went out with
19 men to surprise Point Creek town on
the Sciota ; meeting 30 Indians; he put
them to flight and captured their baggage.
At last, Aug. 8, the Indian army of 444
men, led by captain Dugnesne and 11
pther Frenchmen, and their own chieffe,
with British colors flying, summoned the
fort to surrender. The next day Boone;
having a garrison of only 50 men, an
nounced his resolution to defend the fort,
while a man was alive. They then pro
posed that 9 men should be sent out 60
yards from the fort to enter into a treaty;
and when the articles were agreed upon
and signed, they said it was customary on
such occasions, as a token of sincere
friendship; for two Indians to shake eve
ry white man by the hand. Accordingly
two Indij^ns approached each of the nine
white men, and grappled with the intent'
of making him a prisoner ; but the object
being perceived, the men brpke away and
re-entered the fort. An attempt was
now made to undermine it ; but a coun
ter trench defeated that purpose. At

120

BOONE.

last on the 20th the enemy raised the
siege, having lost 37 men. Of Boone's
men two were killed and four wounded.
"We picked up," said he, "125 pounds of
bullets, besides what stuck in the logs of
our fort, which certainly is a great proof
of their industry. " In 1 779, when Boone
was absent, revisiting his family in Caro
fina, col. Bowman with 160 men fought
the Shawanese Indians at old ChiUicothe.
In his retreat the Indians pursued him
for 30 miles, when in another engagement
col. Harrod suggested the successful pro
ject of mounting a number of horses and
breaking the Indian line. Of the Kentuc-
kians 9 were kifled. — June 22, 1780 about
600 Indians and Canadians under col.
Bird attacked Riddle's and Martin's sta
tions and the forks of Licking river with
6 pieces of artillery, and carried away afl
as captives. Gen. Clarke, commanding at
the falls of Ohio, marched with his regi
ment and troops against Reccaway, the
principal Shawanese town on a branch
of the Miami, and burned the town, with
the loss of 17 on each side. About this
time Boone returned to Kentucky with
his family. In Oct. 1780, soon after he
was settled again at Boonesborough, he
went with his brother to the Blue Licks,
and as they were returning the latter was
slain by a party of Indians, and he was
pursued by them by the aid of a dog. By
shooting him Boone escaped. The se
verity of the ensuing winter was attended
with great distress, the enemy having
destroyed most of the corn. The people
subsisted chiefly on buffalo's flesh. In
May 1732 the Indians having killed a
man at Ashton's station, captain A. pur
sued -with 25 men, but in an attack upon
the enemy he was killed with 12 of his
men. Aug. 10 two boys were carried off
from major Hay's station. Capt. Holden
pursued with 17 men ; but he also was
defeated, with the loss of four men. In
a field near Lexington an Indian shot a
man and running to scalp him, was him
self shot from the fort and fell dead upon
his victim. On the 15th Aug. 500 In
dians attacked Briant's station, five miles
from Lexinglon,anddestroyedaU the cat

tle ; but they were repulsed on the third
day, having about 30 killed, whfle of
the garrison 4 were killed and 3 wounded.
Boone, with cols. Todd and Trigg and
major Harland, collected 176 men and
pursued on the 18th. They overtook
the enemy the next day a mfle beyond
the Blue Licks, about 40 miles from Lex
ington, at a remarkable bend of a branch
of Licking riVer. A battle ensued, the
enemy having a Kne formed across from
one bend to the other, but the Kentuc-
kians were defeated with the great loss
of 60 killed, among whom were cols.
Todd and Trigg, and maj. Harland, and
Boone's second son. Many were the wid
ows made in Lexington on that fatal day.
The Indians having 4 more killed,4 ofthe
prisoners were given up to the young war
riors to be put to death in the most barba
rous manner. Gen. Clarke, accompanied
by Boone, immediately marched into the
Indian country and desolated it, burning
old Chfllicothe, Peccaway, new Chilli
cothe, Willis town, and ChilUcothe.
With the loss of four men he took seven
prisoners and flve scalps, or kiUed five In
dians. In October the Indians attacked
Crab orchard. One ofthe Indians having
entered a house, in which were a woman
and a negrO, and being thrown to the
ground by the negro, the woman cut off
his head. From this period to the peace
with Great Britain the Indians did no
harm. "Two darfing sons and a brother,"
said Boone, "have I lost by savage hands,
which have also taken from me 40 valu
able horses and abundance of cattle.
Many dark and sleepless nights have I
spent, separated from the cheerful society
of men, scorched by the summer's sun
and pinched by the winter's cold, an in
strument ordained to settle the wilder
ness." From this period he resided in Ken
tucky and Virginia tfll 1798, when in
consequence of an imperfect legal title to
the lands, which he had settled, he found
himself dispossessed of his property. In
his indignation he fled from the deUght-
ful region, which he bad explored, when
a wilderness, and which now had a pop-

BORDLEY.

131

ulation of half a million. With his rifle
he crossed the Ohio and plunged into
the immense country of the Missouri.
In 1799 he settled on the Femme Osage
river with numerous followers. In 1800
he discovered the Boone's Lick country,
now a fine settlement : in the same year
he visited the head waters of the Grand
Osage river and spent the winter upon
the head waters of the Arkansas. At
the age of 80, in company with a white
man and a black man, laid under strict
injunctions to carry him back to his fam
ily, dead or alive, he made a hunting
trip to the head waters of the Great Os
age, and was successful in trapping bea
ver and other game. In Jan. 1812head-
dressed a memorial to the legislature of
Ky. stating that he owned not an acre of
land in the region, -which he first settied ;
that in 1794 he passed over into the
Spanish province pf Louisiana, under an
assurance from the governor, who resid
ed at St; Louis, that land should be given
him ; that accordingly 10 thousand acres
were given him on the Missouri and he
became Syndic or chief of the district of
St. Charles ; but that on the acquisition
of Louisiana by the United States his
claims werq rejected by the commission
ers of land, because he did not actually
reside ; and that thus at the age of 80 he.
was a wanderer, having no spot of his
own, whereon to lay his bones. The
legislature instructed their delegates to
congress to soficit a confirmation of this
grant. He retained, it is believed, 2,000
acres. In bis old age he pursued his ac
customed course of fife, trapping bears
and hunting with his rifle. Though a
magistrate and sometimes a member of
the legislature of Virginia, and much en
gaged in agriculture ; yet he preferred
the solitude ofthe wilderness to the hon
ors of civU office and the society of men.
He died at the house ofhis son, major A.
Boone, at Charette, Montgomery co. Sep.
36, 1 820, aged nearly 90 years. His wfle
died in the same place. He left sons and
daughters in Missouri. In consequence
ofhis death the legislature of Missouri
voted to wear a badge of mourning for
16

20 days. A brother died in Mississippti
Oct. 1808, aged 81.— Col. Boone was of
common stature, of amiable disposition,
and honorable integrity. In his last years
he might have been seen by the traveller
at the door of his house, with his rifle on
his knee and his faithful dog' at his side,
lamenting the departed vigor of his limbs,
and meditating on the scenes of his past
Ufe.^-Whether he also meditated on the
approaching scenes of eternity and his
dim eyes ever kindled up with the glori
ous hopes of the christian is not mention
ed in the accounts of him, which have
been examined. But of all objects an ir
religious old man, dead as to wordly joy
and dead as to celestial hope, is the most
pitiable. An account of his adventures,
drawn up by himself, was pubfished in
Filson's supplement to Imlay's descrip
tion of the western territory, 1793. —
Niles' w. regist. March 13, 1813.
BORDLEY, John Beale, a writer on
agriculture,, died at Philadelphia Jan. 25,
1804,aged 76. In the former part of his life
he was an inhabitant of Md . He was of the
profession ofthe law, & before the revolu
tion was a judge ofthe superior court &
court of appeals of Maryland. He had al
so a seat at the executive council of the
province. But he was not allured by this
office from his duty to his country. He
found : our revolution necessary to our
freedom, and he rejoiced initsaccpmplish-
ment. His habitual and mpst pleasing-
employment was husbandry ; which , he
practised extensively upon his own estate
on "Wye island in the bay of Chesapeak.
As he readily tried every suggested
improvement, and adopted such as were
confirmed by his experiments, and as he
added to his example frequent essays upon
agricultural subjects, he was greatly in
strumental in diffusing the best knowledge
ofthebest ofaU arts. He was cheerful
in his temper, and was respected and be
loved. In religion he was of the most
liberal or free system within 'the pale of
revelation. In his political principles he
was attached to that republican form of
government,in which the public authority
is founded on the people, but guarded a-

122

BOSTWICK.

gainst the sudden fluctuations of their
will.' He published Forsyth's treatise on
fruittreeswith notes ; sketches on rota
tions of crops, 1792 ; essays and notes on
husbandry and rural affairs, with plates,
1799 and 1801 ; a view of the courses of
crops in England and Maryland, 1804. —
Gaz. U. S. Feb. 7.
BOSTWICK, David, Tan eminent
minister in New York, was of Scotch ex
traction, and was bom about the year
1720. He was first settled at Jamaica on
Long. Island, where he continued till
1756, when the synod translated him to
thepresbyterian society of New York. In
this charge " he continued till November
12, 1763, when he died aged 43. He
was of a mild, cathohc disposition, of
great piety and zeal ; and he confined
himself entirely to the proper business of
his office. He abhorred the frequent mix
ture of divinity and politics, and much
more the turpitude of making the former
subservient to the [latter. His ,. thoughts
were occupied by things,which are above,
and he wished to withdraw the minds of
his people more from the concerns of this
world. He was deeply grieved, when
some of his flock became, not fervent
christians, but furious pohticians. He
preached the gospel, and as his life cor
responded with his preaching, he was re
spected by go"od men pf all denominations.
His doctrines he derived from the scrip
tures, and he understood them in accor
dance -with the pubfic confessions of the
reformed churches. His discourses were
methodical, sound, and pathetic, rich in
sentiment; and ornamented in diction.
With a strong, commanding voice his
pronunciation was clear, distinct, and de
liberate. He preached without notes
¦with great ease and fluency ; but he al
ways studied his sermons with great care.
With a lively imagination and a heart
deeply affected by the truths of religion
he was enabled to address his hearers
with solemnity and energy. Few men
could describe the hideous deformity of
sin, the misery of man's apostasy from
God, the wonders of redeeming love, and
the glory and riches of divine grace in so

distinct and affecting a manner. He
knew the worth of the soul and the de-
ceitfulness of the human heart ; and he
preached with plainness, more intent to
impress sinners -with their guilt and to
teach them the truths of God, than to at
tract their attention to himself Though
he was remarkable for his gentleness and
prudence, yet in preaching the gospel he
feared no man. He knew whoseservant
he was, and with all boldness and impar
tiality he deUvered his message, proclaim
ing the terrors ofthe divine law to every
transgressor, however elevated, and dis
playing the mild glories ofthe gospel for
the comfort and refreshment of every pen
itent believer. A few months before his
death his mind was greatly distressed by
apprehensions respecting the interests of
his family, when he should be taken from
them. But God was pleased to give him
such views of his power and goodness,
and such cheerful reliance upon the -wis
dom and rectitude of his government, as
restored to him peace and calmness. He
was wilfing to cast himself and aU; that
was dear to him, upon the providence of
his heavenly Father. In this temper he
continued to his last moment, when he
placidly resigned his soul into the hands
ofhis Savior. Such is the serenity, fre
quently imparted to christians in the so
lemn hour of dissolution.
He published a sermon, preached May
25, 1758, entitled, self disclaimed and
Christ exalted. It received the warm re
commendation of Gilbert Tennent. It is
a sermon for ministers, penetrating into
the subtile workings and base motives of
the human heart, and presenting the most
serious truths, in a manner very perspicu
ous and affectionate. — He published also
an account of the hfe, character, and death
of president Davies, prefixed to Davies'
sermon on the death of George II, 1761.
After his decease there was pubfished
from his manuscripts a fair and rational
vindication ofthe right of infants to the
ordinance of baptism, being the substance
of several discourses from Acts ii. 39. It
is an able production. — Middleton's biog.
evang. iv. 414-418 ; New and gen. biog.

BOUCHER.

BOUDINOT.

123

diet. ; Smith's New York, 193 ; Pref. to
Bostwick's vindiction.
BOUCHER, Pierre, governor of
Trois Rivieres in Canada, died at the age
of nearly 100 years, having lived to see
numerous descendants, some ofthe fifth
generation. He was sent to France to
represent the temporal and spiritual
wants of the colony ; and pubfish
ed in 1 664 an account of Canada, entitled,
Histoire veritable et naturelle des moeurs
et productions &c.
BOUCHER, Jonathan,- a learned
archaeologist, was a native of Cumber
land, — the northern county of England,
the country of lakes, the abode of the
poets Wordsworth and Southey, and the
resort of " the lakers," — ^but came to
America at the age'of 16. After receiving
episcopal ordination he was appointed
rector of Hanover and then of St. Mary,
Virginia. , Gov. Eden gave him also the
rectory of St. Anne, Annapolis, and of
Queen Anne, in Prince Georges county.
These, are indeed saintly and princely
names for a protestant, republican coun
try. However, Mr. Boucher was a
loyaUst, unshaken by the mighty demo
cratic movements around him. In his
farewell sermon, at the beginning of the
revolution in 1775, he declared, that as
long, as he lived, he would say with
Zadock, the priest, and Nathan, the
prophet, "God save the king!" Re
turning to England, he was appointed
vicar of Epsom ; and there he spent the
remainder ofhis life; He died April 27,
1804, aged 67. He was esteemed one of
the best preachers of his time. During
the last 14 years ofhis life he was em
ployed in preparing a glossary of provin
cial and archaeological words, intended as
a supplement to Dr. Johnson's Diction
ary. The manuscripts of Mr. Boucher
were purchased of his family in 1831 by
the proprietors of the Engfish ethtion
of Dr. Webster's Dictipnary, who pro
posed to pubUsh them in 1 832 in 1 vol. 4to
as a supplement to Webster, and also to
insert many of the archaic terms in an
octavo edition. These works of Mr.
Boucher must be extremely curious and

interesting. He pubfished in 1799 a view
of the causes and consequences of the
American revolution in 15 discourses,
preached in N. America between 1763
and 1775, dedicated to Washington, con
taining many anecdotes, illustrative of
pohtical events ; — also 2 sermons before
the grand juries of Surrey and Cumber
land, 1799.
BOUDINOT, Elias, f, l. d., first
president of the American Bible society,
was born in Philadelphia May 2, 1740.
His great grand father, Elias, was a
protestant in France, who fled from his
country on the revocation of the edict
of Nantes ; his father, Efias, died in 1770;
his mother, Catharine Wilfiams, was
of a Welsh family. After a classical
education he studied law under Richard
Stockton, whose eldest sister he married.
Soon after commencing the practice of
law in New Jersey, he rose to distinqtion.
He early espoused the cause ofhis coun
try. In 1777 congress appointed him
commissary general of prisoners ; and in
the same year he was elected a delegate
to congress, of which body he was elect
ed the president in Nov. 1782. In that
capacity he put his signature to the trea
ty of peace. He returned to the profes
sion ofthe law ; but was again elected to
congress under the new constitution in
1789, and was continued a member of the
house 6 years. In 1796 Washington
appointed him the director ofthe mint of
the United States, as the successor of
Rittenhouse : in this office he continued
tfll 1805, when he resigned it, and retir
ing from Philadelphia passed the remain
der ofhis fife at Burfington, New Jersey.
He lost his wife about the year 1808 : he
hunselfdied Oct. 24, 1821, aged 81. His
daughter married Wm. Bradford. His
brother, Efisha Boudinot, died at Newark
Oct. 17, 1819, aged 71.— After the estab
Ushment in 1816 of the Bible society,
which he assisted, in creating, he was
elected its first president ; and he made
to it the munificent donation of ten thou
sand dollars. He afterwards contributed
liberally towards the erection of its de
pository. Inl813hewas elected a mem-

124

BOUQUET.

ber ofthe American board of commission
ers for foreign missions, to which he pre
sented the next year a donation of lOOZ.
sterling. When three Cherokee youths
were brought to the foreign mission
school in 1818, one of them by his per
mission took his name, for he was deeply
interested in every attempt to meliorate
the condition of the American Indians.
His house was the seat of hospitality and
his days were spent in the pursuits of
biblical literature, in the exercise of the
lovehest charities oflife, and the perform
ance ofthe highest Christian duties. He
was a trustee of Princeton college, in
which he founded in 1805 the cabinet of
natural history, which cost 3,000 dollars.
He wasamemberof a'presbyterian church.
By the refigion, which he professed,he was
supported and cheered, as he went down
to the grave. His patience was un
exhausted ; his faith was strong and tri
umphant. Exhorting those around him
to rest in Jesus Christ as the only ground
of trrist, and commending his daughter
and only child to the care of his friends,
he expressed his desire to depart in peace
to the bosom of his Father in heaven, and
his last prayer was, "Lord Jesus, receive
my spirit."
By his last wifl Dr. Boudinot bequeath
ed his large estate principally to charitable
uses ; 200 doUars for 10 poor widows ;
200 to the New Jersey Bible society to
purchase spectacles for the aged poor, to
enable them to read the Bible ; 2,000
dollars to the Moravians at Bethlehem for
the instruction of the Indians ; 4,000
acres of land to the society for the benefit
of the Jews ; to the magdalen societies of
New York and Phfladelphia 500 dollars
each ; 3 houses in Philadelphia to the
trustees of the general assembly for the
purchase of books for ministers ; also
5,000 dollars, to the general assembly
for the support of a missionary in Phila
delphia and New York ; 4,080 acres of
land for theological students at Princeton;
4,000 acres to the college of New Jersey
for the establishment of fellowships;
4,542 acres to the American board of com
missioners for foreign missions, -with spe

cial reference to the benefit of the Indians;
3,270 acres to the hospital at Philadelphia,
for the benefit of foreigners; 4,589 acres
to the American Bible society ; 13,000
acres to the mayor and corporation of
Phila. to supply the poor with wood on
low terms ; also, after the decease of his
daughter, 5,000 dollars to the college and
5,000 to the theological seminary of
Princeton, and 5,000 to the A. B. of com
missioners for foreign missions, and the
remainder ofhis estate to the general as
sembly of the presbyterian church. How
benevolent, honorable atid useful is such
a charitable disposition of the property,
which God intrusts to a Christian, com-
bared with the selfish and narrow appro
priation of it to the enrichment of family
relatives without any reference to the
diffusion of truth and holiness in the earth ?
For such deeds of charity the names of
Boudinot, and Burr, and Abbot, and
Norris,and Phillips will be held in lasting,
most honorable remembrance.-Dr.Boudi-
not published the age of revelation, or the
age of reason an age of infidefity, 1790,
also 1801; an oratipn beforg the society'of
the Cincinnati,1793; second advent of the
Messiah, 1815 ; star in the west, or an
attempt to discover the long lost tribes of
Israel, preparatory to their return to their
beloved city, Jerusalem, Svo. 1816. Like
Mr. Adair he regards the Indians as the
lost tribes.— Panop. 17: 399; 18: 25;
Green's disc. 278.
BOUQUET, Henry, a brave officer,
was appointed heutenant colonel in the
British army in 1756. In the year 1763
he was sent by general Amherst from
Canada with military stores and provi
sions for the refief of fort Pitt. While on
his way he was attacked by a powerful
body of Indians on the 5th and 6th of Au
gust, but by a skilful manoeuvre, suppor
ted by the determined bravery of his
troops, he defeated them, and reached the
fort in four days from the action. In the
foUowing year he was sent from Canada
on an expedition against the Ohio Indi
ans, and in October he reduced a body of
the Shawanese, Delawares, and other In
dians to the necessity of making terms of

BOURNE.

125

peace at Tuscarawas. He died at Pensa-
cola in February 1766, being thena brig
adier general. Thomas Hutchins pub
lished at Philadelphia in 1765 an historical
account ofthe expedition against the Ohio
Indians in 1764, with a map and plates. —
Annual reg. for 1763, 27-31 ; for 1764,
181 ; /or 1766, 62.
BOURNE, Richard, a missionary
among the Indians at Marshpee, was one
of the first emigrants from England,
who settled at Sandwich. Being a reli
gious man, he officiated publicly on the
Lord's day until a minister, Mr. Smith,
was settled ; he then turned his attention
to the Indians at the southward and east
ward, and resolved to bring them to an
acquaintance with the gospel. He went
to Marshpee, not many miles to the south.
The first account of him is in 1658, when
he was in that town, assisting in the set
tlement of a boundary between the Indi-
dians and the proprietors of Barnstable.
Having obtained a competent knowledge
of the Indian language he entered on the
missionary service with activity and ar
dor. , On the 17th of August 1670 he was
ordained pastor of an Indian church at
Marshpee, constituted by his own disci
ples and converts ; which solemnity was
performed by the famous Eliot and Cot
ton. He died at Sandwich about the
year 1685, leaving no successor in the
ministry but an Indian, named Simon
Popmonet. Mr. Bourne is deserving of
honorable remembrance not oilly for his
zealous exertions to make known to the
Indians the glad tidings of salvation, but
for his regard to their temporal interests.
He wisely considered, that it would be in
vain to attempt to propagate christian
knowledge among them, unless they had
a territory, where they might remain in
peace, and have a fixed habitation. He
therefore, at his own expense, not long af
ter the year 1660, obtained a deed of
Marshpee from Quachatisset and others
to the south sea Indians, as his people
- were called. This territory, in the opin
ion of Mr. Hawley, was perfectly adapted
for an Indian town ; being situated on
the sound, in sight of Martha's Vineyard,

cut into necks of land, and well watered.
After the death of Mr. Bourne, his son,
Sheaijashub Bourne, Esq. succeeded him
in the Marshpee inheritance, where he
lived tifl his death in 1719. He pro
cured from the court at Plymouth a rati
fication of the Indian deeds, so that no
parcel of the lands could be.bought by any
white person or persons without the con
sent of all the said Indians, not even with
the consent of the general court. Thus
did the son promote the designs of the fa
ther, watching over the interests of the
aborigines. A letter of Mr. Bourne, giv
ing an account ofthe Indians in Plymouth
county and upon the cape, is preserved in
Gookin. — Mather's mag. iii. 199 ; Coll.
hist. soc. 1, 172, 196-199, 218 ; hi. 188-
190; viii. 170; Gookin; Morton,192;
Hutchinson, i. 166.
BOURNE, Ezra, chief justice of the
court of common pleas for Barnstable
county, was the youngest son of Shear-
jashub Bourne, who died at Sandwich
March 7, 1719, aged 75. He succeeded
his father in the superintendence of the
Indians, over whom he had great influ
ence. He married a sister of Rev. Tho
mas Prince ; and died at Marshpee in
Sept. 1764, aged nearly 88 years. — His
son, Sheaijashub, a graduate of Harvard
college in 1743, died at Bristol, R. I. Feb.
9, 1781 ; — his grandson, Shearjashub, a
graduate of 17 64, a representative in con
gress and chief justice of the common
pleas for Suffolk, died in 1806: — his
grandson, Benjamin, ll.d., a graduate
of 1775, a member of congress, and ap
pointed a judge of the circuit court of
Rhode Island in 1801, died Sept. 17, 1808.
— Col. hist. soc. in. 190.
BOURNE, Joseph, missionary to the
Indians, was the son of the preceding
and graduated in 1722 at Harvard college,
in the catalogue of which his name is er
roneously given Bourn. He was ordained
at'Marshpee as successor to Simon Pop
monet Nov. 26, 1729. He resigned his
mission in 1742,complaining much ofthe
ill treatment, which the Indians received,
and of the neglect of the commissioners
with regard to his support. He was sue-

126

BOURS.

BOWDOIN.

ceeded by an Indian, named Solomon Bri-
ant ; but he still took an interest in the
cause, in which he was once particularly
engaged, and much encouraged and assis
ted the missionary, Mr. Hawley. Mr.
Bourne died in 1767. — Col. hist. soc. in.
190-191. !
BOURS, Peter, episcopal minister in
Marblehead, was a native of Newport, and
was graduated at Harvard college in 1747. '
After his settlement at Marblehead, he
discharged with faithfulness the duties of
his office nine years, enforcing the doc
trines of the gospel with fervency, and il
lustrating the truth of what he taught by
his Ufe. His predecessors were Mousam,
Pigot, Malcom ; his successors. Weeks, 1
Harris, Bowers. He died February 24,
1762, aged thirty six years. His dying '
words were "0 Lamb of God, receive ^
my spirit." — Whitwell's ser. on death
of Barnard; Collect, hist. soc. vni.
77. BOWDEN, John, d. d., professor of
belles lettres and moral philosophy in
Columbia college, N. Y., was an episco
pal clergyman more than 40 years. In
1787 he was rector of Norwalk. He
was elected bishop of Connecticut,but, as
Sie dechned, Mr. Jarvis was appointed.
He died at Ballston July 31, 1817, aged
.65. He published a letter to E. Stiles,
'Occasioned by his ordination sermon at
New London, 1787; the apostolic origin
¦of episcopacy, in a series of letters to
Dr. Miller, 2 vols. Svo, 1808. — Jennison.
BOWDOIN, James, ll.d., gover
nor of Massachusetts, and a philosopher
and statesman, was born in Boston Au
gust 18, 1727, and was the son of James
Bowdoin, an eminent merchant. His
grand father Peter Bowdoin, or Pierre
Baudouin, was a physician of Rochelle, in
France. On the revocation ofthe edict
of Nantes in 1685 he fled with a multitude
of protestants, and went first to Ireland,
and came to Falmouth, now Portland,
in Casco bay, Maine, as early as April
1687. He owned several tracts of land,
one tract of 23 acres extending across the
neck, where south street now is. In about
3 years he removed to Boston. The day

after his departure the Indians attacked.
May 15, 1690, and in a few days destroy
ed Casco. The time of his death is not
ascertained: his will is dated in 1704, but
was not proved till 1719. He had two
sons, and two daughters. His eldest
son, James, the father of gov. B., by his
industry, enterprise, and economy having
acquired a great estate and laid the foun
dation ofthe eminence ofhis family, died
Sept. 4, 1747, aged 71 : he also left two
sons, James and William, the latter by his
second wife.
Mr. Bowdoin was graduated at Har
vard college in 1745. During his resi
dence at the university he was distinguish
ed by his genius and unwearied applica
tion to his studies, while bis modesty, po-
fiteness, and benevolence gave his friends
assurance, that his talents would not be
prostituted, nor his future enunence em
ployed for the promotion of unworthy
ends. When he arrived at the age of
twenty one years, he came in possession
ofan ample fortune, left him by his father,
who died Sept. 4, 1747. He was now in
a situation the most threatening to his lit
erary and moral improvement, for one
great motive, which impels men to exer
tion, could have no influence upon him,
and his great wealth put it completely in
his power to gratify the giddy desires of
youth. But his life had hitherto been re
gular, and he now with the maturity of
wisdom adopted a system, which was
most rational, pleasing, and useful. He
determined to combine with the enjoy
ments of domestic and social Ufe a' course
of study, which should enlarge and perfect
the powers of his mind. At the age of
twenty two years he married a daughter
of JohnErving, and commenced a system
of hterary and scientific research, to which
he adhered through life.
In the year 1753 the citizens of Boston
elected him one of their representatives
in the general court, where his learning
and eloquence soon rendered him conspi
cuous. He continued in this station un
tfl 1756, when he was chosen into the
council, in which body he was long known
and respected. With uniform abifity and

BOWDOIN.

127

patriotism he advocated the cause of his
country. In the disputes, which laid
the foundation of the American revolu
tion, his writings and exertions were em
inently xiseful. Governors Bernard and
Hutchinson were constrained to confess,
in their confidential letters to the British
ministry, the weight of his opposition to
their measures. In 1769 Bernard nega
tived him, when he was chosen a member
ofthe councfl, in consequence of which
the inhabitants of Boston again elected
him their representative in 1 770. Hutch
inson, who in this year succeeded to the
governor's chair, permitted him to take a
seat at the council board, because, said
he, " his opposition to our measures will
be less injurious in the council, than in
the house of representatives." He was
chosen a delegate to the first congress, but
the illness of Mrs. Bowdoin prevented
him from attending with the other dele
gates. In the year 1775, a year most
critical and important to America, he was
chosen president of the councfl of Massa
chusetts, and he continued in that office
the greater part of the time tifl the adop
tion of the state constitution in 1780.
He was president ofthe convention, which .
formed it ; and some of its important arti
cles are the result ofhis knowledge of gov
ernment. In the year 1785, after the resignation
of Hancock, he was chosen governor of
Mass., and was re-elected the following
year. In this office his wisdom, firmness,
and inflexible integrity were conspicuous.
He was placed at the head of the govern
ment at the most unfortunate period after
the revolution. The sudden influx of
foreign luxuries liad exhausted the coun
try of its specie, while the heavy taxes
of the war yet burthened the people.
This state of suffering awakened dis
content, and the spirit of disorder was
cherished by unlicensed conventions,
which were arrayed against the legisla
ture. One great subject of complaint
was the administration of justice. Against
lawyers and courts the strongest resent
ments were manifested. In many in
stances the judges were restrained by

mobs from proceeding in the execution
of their duty. As the insurgents became
more audacious from the lenient measures
of the government and were organizing
themselves for the subversion of the con
stitution it became necessary to suppress
by force the spirit of insurrection. Gov.
Bowdoin accordingly ordered into service
upwards of 4,000 of the mflitia, who were
placed under the command ofthe veteran
Lincoln. As the pubUc treasury did
not afford the means of putting the troops
in motion, some of the citizens of Bos
ton with the governor at the head of the
fist subscribed in a few hours a sufficient
sum to carry on the proposed expedition.
This decisive step rescued the govern
ment from the contempt, into which it
was sinking, and was the means of saving
the commonwealth. The dangerous in
surrection of Shays was thus completely
quelled. In the year 1787 gov. Bowdoin was
succeeded by Hancock, in consequence
ofthe exertions ofthe discontented, who
might hope for greater clemency from
another chief magistrate. He died ia
Boston, after a distressing sickness of
three months,Nov. 6,1790, aged 63. His
wife, Elizabeth, died in May 1803, aged
72. He left two children, James, and a
daughter, who married Sir John Tem
ple, consul general of Great Britain in
the United States, and died Oct.26, 1809.
Gov. Bowdoin was. a learned man,
and a constant and generous friend of
fiterature. He subscribed liberally for
the restoration ofthe library of Harvard
college in the year 1764, when it was
consumed by, fire. He was chosen a
fellow of the corporation in the year
1779; but the pressure of more impor
tant duties induced him to resign this
office in 1784. He ever felt, however,
an affectionate regard for the interests of
the coUege, & bequeathed to it four hun
dred pounds, the interest of which was
to be applied to the distribution of pre
miums among the students for the
encouragement of useful and pofite fitera
ture. The American academy of arts
and sciences, incorporated at Boston

128

BOWDOIN.

May 4, 1780, at a time when our country
was in the deepest distress, was formed
under his influence, and was an object
of his constant attention. He was chosen
its first president, and he continued in
that office tiU his death. He was regarded
by its members as the pride and orna
ment of their institution. To this body
he bequeathed one hundred pounds and
his valuable library, consisting of up
wards of twelve hundred volumes upon
every branch of science. He was also
one of the founders and the president
of the Massachusetts bank, and of the
humane society of Massachusetts. The
literary character of gov. Bowdoin gained
him those honors, which are usually
conferred on men distinguished for their
literary attainments. He was constituted
doctor of laws by the university of Ed-
ingburgh, and was elected a member of
the royal societies of London and Dubfin.
He was deeply convinced of the truth
and excellence of Christianity, and it had
a constant effect upon his life. He was
for more than thirty years an exemplary
member of the church in Brattle street,
to the poor of which congregation he be
queathed a hundred pounds. His chari
ties were abundant. He respected the
injunctions of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
which he professed. He knew the pleas
ures and advantages of family devotion,
and he conscientiously observed the
christian sabbath, presenting himself ha
bitually in the holy temple, that he might
be instructed in reUgious duty, and might
unite with the worshippers of God. In his
dying addresses to his family and servants
he recommended the christian religion
to them as of transcendent importance,
and assured them, that it was the only
foundation of peace and happiness in
fife and death. As the hour of his depar
ture approached, he expressed his satis
faction in the thought of going to the
full enjoyment of God and his Redeemer.
Gov. Bowdoin was the author of a po
etic "Paraphrase of the Economy of Hu
man Life," dated March 28, 1759. He
also published a philosophical discourse,
publicly addressed to the American acade

my of arts and sciences in Boston Novem
ber 8, 1780, when he was inducted into
the office of president. This is prefixed
to the first vol. of the society's memoirs.
In this work he published several other
productions, which manifest no common
taste and talents in astronomical inquiries.
The following are the titles of them ; ob
servations upon an hypothesis for solving
the phenomena of fight, with incidental
observations tending to shew the hetero-
geneousness of Ught, and of the electric
fluid, by their union with each other ; ob
servations on Ught and the waste of matter
in the sun and fixed stars occasioned by
theconstant efflux of Ught from them ; ob
servations tending to prove by phenome
na and scripture the existence of an orb,
which surrounds the whole material sys
tem, and which may be necessary to
preserve it from the ruin, to which, with
out such a counterbalance, it seems liable
by that universal principle in matter, gra
vitation. He supposes, that the blue ex
panse ofthe sky is a real concave body en
compassing all visible nature ; that the
milky way and the lucid spots in the hea
vens are gaps in this orb, through which
the right of exterior orbs reaches us ; and
that thus an intimation may be given of
orbs on orbs and systems on systems innu
merable and inconceivably grand. 
Thacher's fun. serm. ; Lowell's eulogy ;
Massa. mag. in. 5-8, 304,305, 372; Uni-
ver.asyl,!. 73-76; Miller, ii; Minot's
hist, insur. ; Marshall, v. 121 ; Amer.
Qu. Rev. n. 505; Maine hist, col, 184 ;
Eliot, V ¦'¦''¦'¦¦/¦' S4,.,C, ,,,. Or,
BOWDOIN, James, minister of the
United States to Spain, was the son of
the preceding and was born Sept. 22,
1752. After he graduated at Harvard coli-
lege in 1771 he proceeded to England,
where he prosecuted the study of the few
nearly a year at the University of Oxford.
After revisiting his native country be sai
led again for Europe, and travelled in
Italy, Holland, and England. On hear
ing of the battle of Lexington he returned
home. The anxieties of his fether pre
vented him from engagi'jig in military
service, to which he was inclined. Be-

BOWDOIN.

BO WEN.

129

fore the close ofthe war he married the
daughter of Mr. William Bowdoin, the
half brother of his father. Devoting
much of his time to literary pursuits at
his residence in Dorchester, he yet sus
tained successively the public offices of
representative, senator, and counsellor.
Soon after the incorporation of the col
lege, which in honor of his father, who
was governor at the time, received the
name of Bowdoin college, he made to it
a donation of one thousand acres of land
and more than eleven hundred pounds.
About this time he was chosen a fellow,
or elected into the corporation of Harv
ard college, and retained the office seven
years. Having received a commission
from Mr. Jefferson, the president of the
United States, as minister plenipotentiary
to the court of Madrid, he sailed May 10,
1805 and was abroad until April 18, 1808.
The objects ofhis mission, which related
to the settlement of the limits of Louisia
na, the purchase of Florida, and the pro
curing of compensation for repeated spo
liations of American commerce, were not
accomplished. During his absence he
spent two years in Paris, where he pur
chased many books, a collection of well
arranged minerals, and fine models of
crystallography, which he afterwards
presented to Bowdoin College. After his
return much of his time was speni upon
his family estate, the valuable island of
Naushaun, near Martha's Vineyard. At
this time his translation of Daubenton's
'Advice to Shepherds' was published for
the benefit of the owners of sheep. He
had previously published, anonymously,
' Opinions respecting the commercial inter
course between the United States & Great
Britain.' In July 1811 he executed a deed
to Bowdoin college of six thousand acres
in the town of Lisbon. By his last wifl
he bequeathed to the college several arti
cles of philosophical apparatus, a costly
collection of seventy fine paintings, and
the reversion of Naushaun island on the
faflure of issue male of the present devi
sees, — a contingency now very improba
ble. After a long period of infirmity and of
17

painful attacks of disease he died without
children October 11, 1811, in the 60th
year of his age. His widow married the
late gen. Henry Dearborn. At her de
cease, she left a sum of money and a
number of valuable family portraits to the
college. The name of James Bowdoin
is now borne by one of the heirs ofhis es
tate, — the son of his niece,who married
Thomas L. Winthrop, the lieutenant
governor of Massachusetts. — Jenks' eu
logy. BOWEN, Jabez, ll.d., Lieut, gov.
of Rhode Island, was born in Providence,
graduated at Yale coUege in 1757, and
died May 7, 1815, aged 75 years. For
SO years he was the chancellor of the
college at Providence as the successor .of
gov. Hopkins. During the revolutiona
ry war he was devoted to the cause of
his country, and was a member of the
board of war, judge of the supreme court,
and fieut. governor. Of the national
convention at Annapolis and ofthe state
convention to consider the constitution he
was a member. During the administra
tion of Washington he was commissioner
of loans for Rhode Island. Of the Bible
society of R. I. he was the president. In
the maturity of his years he became a
member ofthe first congregational church.
His great capacity for public business,
joined to his unquestioned integrity,
gave him an elevated character and great
influence in society. — A gentleman of the
same name was a judge of the superi
or court in Georgia : having in an elegant
charge, delivered at Savannah, made some
imprudent remarks concerning the color
ed population, the grand jury presented
his charge, in consequence of which he
sent them aU to prison. He was removed
from office ; and, it is said, died insane at
Philadelphia. ¦
BOWEN, Pardon, m. d., a distui-
g-uished physician, was born in Provi
dence, R. I., March 22, 1757.— Rich
ard Bowen is said to have been his ances
tor; perhaps it was Griffith Bowen, who
fivedin Boston in 1639. His father was
Dr. Ephraim Bowen, an eminent phy
sician of Providence, who died Oct. 21,

130

BOWEN.

1812, aged 96 years. — After graduating
at the college of Rhode Island in 1775,
he studied with his brother. Dr. WiUiam
Bowen ; and embarked as surgeon in a
privateer in 1779. Though captured
and imprisoned 7 months at Hafifax, he
was not deterred from engaging repeat
edly in similar enterprises, resulting in
new imprisonments. In 1782 he reached
home and was content to remain on
shore. In 1783 he repaired to Philadel
phia for his improvement in his profes
sion at the medical school. After his re
turn it was but gradually that he obtained
practice. At length his success was ample;
his eminence in medicine and surgery
were undisputed. During the prevalence
of the yellow fever he shrunk not from
the peril : more than once was he attack
ed by that disease. For much of his
success he was indebted to his study of
idiosyncrasy or ofthe peculiarities, moral,
intellectual, and physical, of his patients.
In 1820 he experienced an attack of the
palsy, which terminated his professional
labors, in consequence of which he retired
to the residence ofhis son in law, Frank
lin Greene, at Potowomut, (Warwick),
where he passed years of suffering, some
times amounting to agony. In the life-
giving energy of the doctrines, precepts,
and promises of the Bible he found the
only adequate support and solace. —
He died Oct. 25, 1826 aged 69. His
wife who survived him, was the daughter
of Henry Ward,secretary of Rhode Island.
Dr.Bowen sustained an excellent char
acter ; he was modest, upright, affable ;
free from covetousness and ambition;
beneficent ; and in his last days an exam
ple of christian holiness. He published
an elaborate account of the yellow fever
of Providence in 1805 in Hosack's med
ical register, vol jv. — Thacher's med.
biog. BOWEN, William C, m, d., pro
fessor of chemistry in Brown university,
received this appointment in 1812. He
was the only son of Dr. Wflliam Bowen,
who is stfll an eminent practitioner at the
age of 80 years, and was bom June 2,
1785. .4fter graduating at Union cellege

BOWLES.
in 1703 he studied medicine with Dr.
Pardon Bowen ; also at Edinburgh and
Paris, and at London as the private pu-
pfl of sir Astley Cooper. He did not re
turn till Aug. 1811. Experiments to dis
cover the composition of the bleaching
liquor, just brought into use in England,
laid the foundation ofthe disease, which
terminated his life Aprfl 23, 1815, aged
29. He married a daughter of col. 01-
ney. Though his labors on chlorine im
paired his property and destroyed his Ufe,
they led to the creation of the valuable
bleaching establishments of Rhode Island.
— Thacher's med. biog,
BOWIE, Robert, general, governor of
Maryland, succeeded John F. Mercer as
governor in 1803, and was succeeded by
Robert Wright in 1805. He was again
governor in 1811, but the next year was
succeeded by Levin Winder. He died at
Nottingham in Jan. 1818, aged 64. He
was an officer ofthe revolution, and pre
sents one of the multitude of instances in
America ofthe success of patriotism, in
tegrity, and benevolence, unassisted by
the advantages of wealth or of a learned
education. BOWLES, William A., an Indian
agent, was born in Frederic county, the
son of a school master in Maryland, who
was an Englishman and brother of Car-
ington B., keeper of the famous print-
shop, Ludgate hill, London. At the age
of 13 Bowles privately left his parents &
joined the British army at Philadelphia.
Afterwards he entered the service ofthe
Creek Indians and married an Indian
woman. Ferocious Uke the savages, he
instigated them to many of their excesses.
The British rewarded him for his exer
tions. After the peace he went to Eng
land. On his return his influence with the
Indians was so disastrous, that the Span
iards offered six thousand dollars for his
apprehension. He was entrapped in Feb.
1792 and sent a prisoner to Madrid &
thence to Manilla in 1795. Having leave
to go to Europe,he repaired to the Creeks
and commenced his depredations anew ;
but being again betrayed in 1804 into the
hands of the Spaniards,he was confined in

BOYD.

131

the Moro castle, Hav-ana, where he died
Dec. 23, 1805. Such is the miserable end
of most of the unprincipled adventurers,
of whom there is any account. A memoir
of him was published in London, 1791, in
which he is called ambassador from the
united nations of Creeks and Cherokees.
— Jennison,
BOYD, Thomas, a soldier, who per
ished by the hands ofthe Indians, was a
private soldier belonging to capt. Matthew
Smith's Pennsylvania rifle company in
Arnold's expedition through the wilder
ness of Maine to Quebec in 1775. He'
was the largest and strongest man in the
company. He was taken prisoner in the
assault Dec. 31. — After being exchanged
he was a lieutenant in the first Pennsylva
nia regiment and accompanied gen. Sul
livan in his expedition against the Indians
in the Seneca country. New York, in
Aug. and Sept. 1779. When the army
had marched beyond Canandaigua and
was near the Genesee town on the Gen
esee river, Boyd was sent out in the eve
ning of Sept. 12 to reconnoitre the town
6 miles distant. He took 26 men, with
an Oneida chief, named Han-Jost. The
guides mistook the road, and led him to a
castle 6 miles higher up the river, than
Genesee. Here a few Indians were dis
covered, of whom two were killed and
scalped. On his return Boyd was inter
cepted by several hundred Indians and
Rangers under Butler. His flanking par
ties escaped ; but he and 14 men with
the Oneida chief were encircled. Resor
ting to a smafl grove of trees, surrounded
with a cleared space, he fought desperate
ly tiU afl his men but one were kiUed and
he himself was shot through the body.
The next day his body and that of his
companion, Michael Parker, were found
at Genesee, barbarously mutilated. The
Indians had cruelly whipped him; stab
bed him with spears ; pufled out his nails;
plucked out an eye ; and cut out his
tongue. His head was cut off. Simp
son, afterwards general, his companion at
Quebec, decently buried him. His
scalp, hooped and painted, found in one
ofthe wigwams, was recognised by, Simji-

son by its long,brown,silky hair. — Maine
hist, col 1. 416 ; Am. rememb, 1780,162.
BOYD, Wflliam, minister of Laming-
ton in New Jersey, was descended from
Scotish ancestors, who emigrated to Penn
sylvania. He was born in Franklin coun
ty, 1758. At the age of 15 he lost his
father, but about the same time it pleased
the Father of mercies to turn him from
darkness to light. His collegial educa
tion was completed at Princeton in 1778
under the presidency of Dr. Wither
spoon. After pursuing the study of the
ology with Dr. AlUson of Baltunore, ho
commenced preaching the gospel. His
popularity and talents would have pro
cured him a conspicuous situation; but he
was destitute of ambition. It was his
supreme desire to live a life of piety, and
to preach in the apostolic manner; and he
was apprehensive, that in a city he should
be infected by the corruption of those a-
round him. He therefore preferred a
retired situation, and accepted the call of
Lamington. Here he continued till his
death. May 15, 1808. Being asked, if he
was wiUing to leave the world, he re
plied, that he had been searching into the
evidence of his being in a state of grace,
and that he was satisfied, that he had
been renewed by the spirit of God. A
lively faith in the Redeemer gave him
hope and triumph. He was a man of un
feigned humility, amiable in the various
relations of Ufe, and remarkable for pru
dence and moderation in all his deport
ment. He was a preacher of pecufiar
excellence. Deeply penetrated himself
with a sense of the total depravity ofthe
human heart and of the inability of maa
to perform any thing acceptable to God
without the influence of the Holy Spirit,
he endeavored to impress these truths on
others. He dwelt upon the necessity of
a divine atonement, and of faith in the
Redeemer in order to justification-; upon
the riches of divinegrace andthe encour
agements of the gospel to the humble and
contrite; upon the dangers of self decep
tion and the false refuges of the wick«L
He was remarkable 'for a natural facility
and perspicuity of expression. For a

182

BOYD.

BOYLSTON.

few years he wrote his sermons and com
mitted them to memory ; but for the re
mainder of his Ufe he depended, after
having digested his subject, upon the vi
gor ofhis powers. A penetrating eye, nat
ural gestures, a sweet and commanding
voice, and an irreproachable character
gave weight ^ authority to his words. But
his labors, fike those of many other good
men, were attended with only a gradual
increase ofthe church, committed to his
care. He was formed no less for society, than
for the pulpit, having a friendly disposi
tion, being animated in conversation,
accommodating himself to the tempers of
others, and mingling condescension with
dignity. — Evang, intellig. May, 1808.
BOYS, John P., brigadier general in
the army of th«; United StkteSr-comman-
ded the detachment of 1 500 men of Wil
liamson's army, which fought the battle
of Williamsburg, Upper Canada, with
1800 of the enemy, the garrisons of
Kingston and Prescott, Nov. 11, 1813.
In this severe action brigadier general
Covington was kUled ; the American loss
was 339 ; the British 181. This British
force being in the rear, and the co-opera
tion of Hampton having failed, the pro
posed descent toMontreal was abandoned,
and the American army recrossed the St.
Lawrence and went into winter quarters
at French Mills. Gen. Boyd was a good
officers his early military career was in
India, But this service was of a pecu
liar kind. He organized three battaUons,
each of about 500 men, and had also a
small irregular force. He had six can
non ; three or four elephants ; and as
many EngUsh officers. He hired his
men and his officers at a certain number
of rupees a month. This corps, as re
garded arms and equipments, was his
sole property ; and in the command of it
he entered the service of any ofthe In
dian princes,who would give him the best
pay. Once he was in the pay of Holkar ;
afterwards in the Peshwas service ; then,
quitting the Mahratta territory, he was
hired for the service of Nizam Ally Khan.
Then Jie marched to Poona, and having

no eligible offer of employment, he sold
out his elephants, guns, arms, and equip
ments to col. Felose, a NeopoUtan parti
zan, who acquired the implements, ele
phantine and human, for carrying on the
same trade of hired ruffianship. — In 18108
he was in Paris. After the war he recei
ved the appointment of naval officer for
the port of Boston. He died Oct.4, 1830,
aged 62. He pubUshed documents and
facts relative to military events during the
late war, 1816. — Bost, week, messeng.
VIII. 774.
BOYLSTON, Zabdiel, p. e. s., an
eminent physician, who first introduced
the inoculation ofthe small pox in Amer
ica, was born of respectable parents at
Brookline, Mass., in 1680. His fatiier
was not Dr. Thomas B., as Thacher
represents, but Peter B., the son of Dr.
Thomas B., who received his medical
degree at Oxford and came to this coun
try and settled in Brookline in 1635. —
After a good private education, he stu
died physic under the care of Dr. John
Cutler, an eminent physician and surgeon
of Boston, and in a few years arrived at
great distinction in his profession, and
accumulated a handsome fortune. He
was remarkable for his skill, his humanity,
and his close attention to his patients. In
the year 1721 the smafl pox prevailed in
Boston, and being fatal, fike the plague,
it carried with it the utmost terror.
This calamity had not visited the town
since the year 1702, in which year as well
as in the year 1692 it had proved destruc
tive to the fives of many, though it was
much less mortal, than when it appeared
in the year 1678. On its reappearance.
Dr. Cotton Mather, who had read in a
volume of the philosophical transactions,
yxt into his hands by Dr. Douglass, two
communications from the east, the one
from Timoni at Constantinople and the
other from Pylarini, the Venetian consul
at Smyrna, giving an account ofthe prac
tice of inoculation for the smafl pox, con
ceived the idea of introducing this prac
tice in Boston. He accordingly, June 6,
addressed a letter to the physicians of Bos
ton, enclosing an abridgment of those

BOYLSTON.

133

communications, and requesting them to
meet and take the subject into considera
tion. As this request was treated with
neglect, he wrote to Dr. Boylston sepa
rately June 24, and sent him all the in
formation, which he had collected, in the
hope that he would be persuaded to
embrace a new and favorable means for
the preservation of human fife. Dr.
Boylston happily was a man of benevo
lence and courage. When there was
before him a promising opportunity for
diminishing the evils of human fife, he
was not afraid to struggle with prejudice,
nor unwilling to encounter abuse. The
practice would be entirely new inAmerica,
and it was not known, that it had been
introduced into Europe. Yet he determi
ned to venture upon it. He first inocula
ted, June 96th, his son Thomas of the
age of six years, and two ofhis servants.
Encouraged by the success of this experi
ment, he began to enlarge bis practice.
The other physicians gave their unani
mous opinion against inoculation, as it
would infuse a maUgnity into the blood ;
and the selectmen of Boston forbid it in
July. But these discouragements did not
quench the zeal & bene volence,which were
now excited ; tho' prejudice might have
triumphed over an enlightened pifactice,
if the clergy had not stepped in to aid the
project. Six venerable ministers of Bos
ton gave their whole influence in its favor;
and the weight of their character, the
confidence, which was reposed in their
wisdom, and the deep reverence, inspired
by their piety, were hardly sufficient to
preserve the growing right from extinc
tion. They were abused, but they tri
umphed. July 17, Dr. Boylston inocula
ted his son, John, who was older than
Thomas, and Aug. 23 his son, Zabdiel,
aged 14. During the year 172) and the
beginning of 1722 he inoculated 247 per
sons in Boston and the neighboring
towns. Thirty nine were inoculated by
other physicians, making in the whole
286, of whom only six died. During the
same period,Df 5,759 persons,who had the
smafl pox in the natural way, 844 died.
The utility of the practice was now es

tablished beyond dispute, and its success
encouraged its more general introduction
in England, in which country it had been
tried upon a few persons, most or all of
whom were convicts. In the prosecution
of his good work Dr. Boylston was obli
ged to meet not only the most virulent,
but the most dangerous opposition. Dr.
Lawrence Dalhonde, a French physician
in Boston, gave his deposition concerning
the pernicious effects of inoculation, which
he had witnessed in Europe. The depo
sition, dated July 22, was pubfished by
the selectmen, the rulers ofthe town, in
their zeal against the practice. Dr.
Douglass, a Scotchman, violent in his
prejudices, and bitter and outrageous in
his conduct, bent his whole force to anni-
hUate the practice, which had been intro
duced. Onelargument, which he brought
against it, was that it was a crime, which
came under the description of poisoning
and spreading infection, which were made
penal by the laws of England. In the
pamphlets, which were pubUshed'in 1721
and 1722, various kinds of reasoning are
found. The following extracts will give
some idea of the spirit of them. "To
spread abroad a mortal contagion, what is
it but to cast abroad arrows and death ?
If a man should -wilfully throw a bomb
into a town, burn a house, or kifl a man,
ought he not to die? — I do not see how
we can be excused from great impiety
herein, when ministers and people, with
loud and strong cries, made supplications
to almighty God^to avert the judgment of
the small pox, arid-at the same time some
have been carrying about instruments of
inoculation and bottles of the poisonous
humor to infect afl, who were wflUng to
submit to it, whereby we might as natu
rally expect the infection to spread, as a
man to break bis bones by casting himself
headlong from'the highest pinnacle. Can
any man infect a family in the town in
the morning, and pray to God in the eve
ning, that the distempermay not spread ?"
It was contended, that, as the small pox
was a judgment from God for the sins of
the people, to endeavor to avert the stroke
would but provoke him the more ; that

134

BOYLSTON.

inoculation was an encroachment upon the
prerogatives of Jehovah, whose right it
was to wound and to smite ; and that as
there was an appointed time to man upon
earth, it would be useless to attempt to
stay the approach of death.
The people became so exasperated, that
it was unsafe for Dr. Boylston to travel
in the evening. They even paraded trie
streets with halters and threatened to
hang him. But his cool and deter
mined spirit, supported by his trust in
God, enabled him to persevere. As he
beUeved himself to be in the way of his
duty, he did not tremble at the apprehen
sion of the evils, which might come upon
him. When riis family were alarmed for
his safety, he expressed to them his re
signation to the wifl of heaven. To such
a heigrit was trie popular fury raised, that
a lighted granado was in trie nigrit trirown
into the chamber of Mr. Walter, minis
ter of Roxbury, who had been privately
inoculated in trie house of riis uncle. Dr.
Mather of Boston. The sheU however
was not filled with powder, but with a
mixture of brimstone with bituminous
matter. Had Dr. Boylston gone at this time to
England, he might have accumulated an
immense fortune by his skill in treating
the smaU pox. He did not, however, vis
it that country till 1725, when inoculation
was common. He was then received
with the most flattering attention. He
was chosen a member of trie royal society,
though he was not, as Dr. Thacher sup
poses, the first American, thus honored,
for Dr. Cotton Mather was elected in
1713. He enjoyed the friendsriip of some
oftrie most distinguished characters of
the nation. Of these he used to mention
with great respect and affection Dr. Watts,
with wriom rie corresponded. After his
return to his native country he continued
at the head of his profession, and engaged
in a number of literary pursuits. His
communications to the royal society were
ingenious and useful. After a long peri
od of eminence and skill in his profession,
his age and infirmity induced him to re
tire to Ims patrimonial estate in Brookline,

where he passed the remainder of his days.
He had the pleasure of seeing inoculation
universally practised, and of knowing,
that he was himself considered as one of
the benefactors of mankind. Occupied
in his last days in agricultural pursuits, he
bestowed much care on the improvement
of the breed of horses. Those of his own
farm were celebrated. It seems, that he
had a vigorous old age, notwithstanding
the asthma, which afflicted him 40 years,
for he was seen, at the age of 84, in the
streets of Boston, riding a colt, which as
an excellent horseman he was breaking
to the bit. He died March 1, 1766, aged
86, saying to his friends, "my work in
this world is done, and my hopes of futu
rity are brightening." His wif^, who died
before him, was Jerusria Minot of Bos
ton. His second son, Jorin, a merchant,
died at Bath, England, Jan. 17, 1795,
aged 80, bequeathing much to his native
town. — The inscription upon his tomb
represents, that through a life of exten
sive beneficence he was always faithful to
his word, just in riis dealings, affable in
his manners, and that after a long sick
ness, in which he was exemplary for his
patience and resignation to his Maker,
he quitted this mortal life in a just ex
pectation of a blessed immortality.
Dr. Boylston published, some account
ofwhatissaid of inoculating or trans
planting the small pox by the learned Dr.
Emanuel Timonius and Jacobus Pylari-
nus, 1721 ; an historical account of the
small pox inoculated in New England,
with some account of the nature of the
infection, and some short directions to
the inexperienced, dedicated to the prin
cess of "Wales, London, 1726, and Bos
ton, 1730 ; and several communications
in the philosophical transactions.-Jtfasso.
mag. Dec, 1789, 776-779 ; Pierce's cent,
discourse; Holmes, n. 148 ; Boylston's
hist, account; Hutchinson, n. 273-276 ;
Thacher's med, biog,
BOYLSTON, Nicholas, a benefactor
of Harvard college, died in Boston Aug.
18, 1771, aged 55. His portrait, which
is an admirable painting, is in the philoso
phy chamber of the college. He had

BOYLSTON.

BRACKETT.

135

been an eminent merchant, and was
about to retire from business to enjoy the
fruit of his industry, when he was remov
ed from the earth. He was honest in his
dealings, and remarkable for his sincerity,
having a peculiar abhorrence of all dis
simulation. He bequeathed to the uni
versity at Cambridge 1500 pounds for
laying the foundation of a professorship
of rhetoric and oratory. This sum was
paid into the college treasury by his exe
cutors February 11, 1772 ; and the fund
became accumulated to 23,200 dollars be
fore any appropriation was made. Jorin
Quincy Adams, then a senator of the
United States, was installed the first pro
fessor June 12, 1806, with the title of
"the Boylston professor of rhetoric and
oratory in Harvard college." — Holmes,
H. 179.
BOYLSTON, Ward Nicholas, a pat
ron of medical science, was a descendant
ofthe preceding, and died at his seat in
Roxbury, Mass., Jan. 7, 1828, aged 78
years. In the year 1 800 he gave to the
medical school of Harvard college a valua
ble collection of medical and anatomical
books and engravings, making also an
arrangement for its perpetual enlarge
ment. — Bartlett's prog, med. science.
BRACKENRIDGE, Hugh Henry, a
judge ofthe supreme court of Pennsylva-
nia,was born about 1749 and graduated at
Princeton in 1771, in the class with
James Madison. He was the master of
an academy in Maryland before the revo
lution. In 1781 he settied at Pittsburg,
which he deemed favorably situated for
becoming a large town ; and in its im
provement he engaged with zeal. He
wrote for the newspapers many essays in
prose and poetry. His pieces were gen
erally satirical ; one of them ridiculed the
societyof the Cincinnati. In 1789 he was
appointed judge. In 1798 pohtical parti-
zans reproacried him for his partiality to
Mr. Gallatin. A few years before his
deatri he removed to Carlisle, where be
died June 25, 1816, aged 67. His wife,
whom he married in 1790, was Sabina
Wolf, a young lady of German origin,
whose parents lived in obscurity on trie

banks of the Ohio. He published a poem
on the rising glory of America, 1774 ; eu-
logium of the brave men, who feU in the
contest with Great Britain, 1779; modern
chivalry, the adventures of capt. Farra
go, &c. 1792; 2d edit. 2 vols. 1808 ; ora
tion July 4, 1793 ; incidents of the insur
rection in 1794 in Pennsylvania, 1795 ;
gazette publications, collected, 1806; law
of miscellanies, containing instructions
for the study ofthe law, 1814.
BRACKETT, Anthony, captain, an
early settler at Casco, or Falmouth, as
Portland, Maine, was at first called,
was the son of Anthony B., of Greenland,
N. H. then a part of Portsmouth. He
lived at Casco as early as 1662, and was
one ofthe settlers around the Back cove,
his house being on the ridge, near the
present mansion of Mr. Deering. His
farm consisted of 400 acres. The Indians,
led by Simon, who escaped from prison
at Dover and was familiar at Brackett's,
took him, his wife, and five children,
and a negro servant prisoners Aug, 11,
1676. Michael Mitton, the brother of
his wife, was killed. At Presumpscot
also the party killed and captured several
persons. Thomas Brackett, his brother,
who lived at Clark's point,on the neck,was
shot down and his wife and three children,
taken; Megunnaway,an Indian, "a.noto-
rious rogue," being concerned in his mur
der. In all 34 persons were killed and
carried into captivity. The prisoners
were conveyed to Arrousic island, of
which the Indians had recently gained
possession, killing captain Lake and
wounding Davis. Being left there in
Nov. while the Indians proceeded on an
expedition, Brackett escaped in an old
leaky birch canoe, which his wife had
repaired with a needle and thread, found
in a deserted house, and crossed over to
Black point with his family, and got on
board a vessel bound to Piscataqua. After
the peace of Casco Apr. 12, 1678 he re
turned, and in 1682 was intrusted with
the command of fort Loyall at Portland.
In 1688 rie was put in command of the
three forts, erected by Andros. He was
killed in the fight with the Indians Sept.

136

BRACKETT.

BRADDOCK.

21, 1689, when maj. Church commanded
the whites. — In 1679 he married for his
second wife Susannah Drake of Hampton,
covenanting v/ith her father, that one
half of riis estate sriould be her jointure
and descend to her male children. A dis
pute between the children of the two
marriages respecting triis property was
adjusted by an amicable division. — His
sons were Antriony and Seth: the latter
was killed at the capture of Saco May 20,
1690, and the former taken prisoner. His
posterity still remain at Casco. — Thomas
Brackett's wife, the sister of M. Mitton,
died in captivity ; his son, Joshua, after
wards lived in Greenland, where rie died,
being the father of Anthony and Joshua
of Portland. — Willis' hist, of Portland
in Me. hist, col i. 94, 200, 207,143-156;
Sullivan, 199; Hubbard.
BRACKETT, Joshua, m. d., a distui-
guished priysician, was born in Green
land, New Hampshire, in May 1733 and
after graduating at Harv. college in 1752
studied theology at trie request of riis pa
rents and became a preacher ; but the
science of medicine had for him greater
attractions. He studied with Dr. Clem
ent Jackson, then the principal physician
in Portsmouth, and estabfished himself in
that town, in which he continued during
the remainder of his life. He died July
17, 1802, aged 69. His wife, Hannah
Whipple of Kittery, died in May 1805,
aged 70, bequeathing to the N. H. medi
cal society, of which her husband had
been president, 500 dollars. She was
skilful in botany, having a garden of
rare plants.
Dr. Brackett was a skilful, faithful, be
nevolent physician, particularly success
ful in obstetrical practice ; mild, amia-
ble,unassuming, affable ; warm in friend
ship, an enemy to flattery, a despiser of
popular applause. It is stated, that he
never made a charge for his professional
services to the poor, with whom, he
thougrij, trie payment would occasion any
embarrassment. — In his religious senti
ments he was a universafist. — He took a
deep interest in the promotion of natural
history at Cambridge, and requested his

wife to appropriate 1 500 dollars towards
trie professorship of that science in Har
vard college. She complied with his re
quest and added to the amount. — Dr.
Brackett was a zealous whig in trie
revolution ; during which he was ap
pointed judge of the maritime court of
New Hampshire and honorably sustained
the office, till its duties were transferred
to the District court. — He was a benefac
tor ofthe N. H. medical society, of which
he was president from 1793 to 1799, pre
senting to it, at its establishment, 143
vols, of valuable medical books. — Adams'
ann, Portsm, 321; Thacher's med, biog;
Med, repos. s, h, i. 211.
BRADBURY, Theophilus, a judge of
trie superior court of Massacriusetts, was
graduated at Harvard college in 1757.
His early days were devoted with diligence
and success to the profession of the law.
He resigned trie emoluments, arising
from riis practice, for the appointment of
a judge, in whicri station he was intefli-
gent and faithful in executing the laws.
A sudden attack of disease at length ren
dered him incapable of discharging the
duties of his office. He died Sep. 6, 1803,
aged 63 years. — Colum, cent. Sept, 11,
1803. BRADDOCK, Edward, major general
and commander in chief of the British
forces in America, arrived in Virginia
with two regiments from Ireland in
February 1755. The plan of military
operations having been settled in April
by a convention of the several gov
ernors at Alexandria, he undertook to
conduct in person the expedition against
fort Du Quesne, now Pittsburg. Meeting
with much delay from the necessity of
opening roads, the general determined to
advance with rapidity at the rieadof 1200
men, leaving the heavy baggage to the
care of colonel Dunbar, who was to fol
low by slow and easy marches. He
reached the Monongakela July 8th. The
succeeding day he expected to invest the
fort. He accordingly made his disposi
tions in the morning. He was advised
to advance the provincial companies in
the front for the purpose of scouring the

BRADFORD.

137

woods, and discovering any ambuscade,
which might be formed for him. But he
held both his enemy and the provincials
in too much contempt to follow triis salu
tary counsel. Three hundred British
regulars composed his van, whicri was
suddenly attacked, at the distance of
about seven miles from the fort, by an
invisible enemy, concealed by the higri
grass. The whole army was soon thrown
into confusion. The brave general exer
ted his utmost powers to form his broken
troops under a gaUing fire upon the very
ground, where they were first attacked ;
but his efforts were fruitless. With such
an enemy, in such a situation, it was
necessary either to advance or retreat.
All his officers on horseback, excepting
his aid, the late general Washington,
were killed or wounded ; and after losing
three horses he received a mortal wound
through his right arm into his lungs.
The defeated army fled precipitately to
the camp of Dunbar, near forty miles
distant, where Braddock, who was
brought off trie ground in a tumbril, expir
ed ofhis wounds July 13th. Sixty four
out of eighty five officers, and about half
the privates were killed and wounded,
making in the wriole a loss of about 700
men. Of trie killed were Wm. Shirley of
the staff, and col. sir feter Halket ; and
among trie wounded Rob. Orme, Roger
Morris, sir Jorin St. Clair and otriers of
the staff ; and lieut. cols. Gage and Bur
ton. Thougri Mante defends the conduct
of Braddock ; yet this disaster obviously
resulted from the contempt of good
advice,— Marshall, i, 384, 390-393 ; n.
14-19; Holmes,!!, 60; Col. hist, soc, vn.
89-94;*. «.vin. 153; Wynne,!!. 37-42;
Mante, 17, 21, 26.
BRADFORD, WiUiam, second gov
ernor of Plymouth colony, and one ofthe
first settlers of New England, was born
at Ansterfield, a vfllage in the north of
England, in 1588. He was educated in
the practice of agriculture. His paternal
inheritance was considerable ; but he had
no better education, than such as usually
falls to the share of the children of hus
bandmen. At the age of twelve years his
18

mind wa3 seriously hnpressed by divine
truth in reading the scriptures, and an ill
ness of long continuance conspired to
preserve him from the follies of youth.
His good impressions were confirmed by
attending upon the ministry of Mr.
Richard Clifton. As he advanced in
years he was stigmatized as a separatist ;
but such was his firmness, that he cheer
fully bore the frowns of his relatives and
the scoffs ofhis neigribors, and connected
himself with the church, over whicri Mr.
Clifton and Mr. Robinson presided, fear
less of the persecution, which he foresaw
this act would draw upon him. Believing
that many practices of the estabUshed
church of England were repugnant to the
directions of the word of God, he was
fully resolved to prefer the purity of
christian worship to any temporal advan
tages, whicri migrit arise from bending his
conscience to the opinions of others.
In the autumn of 1607, when he was
eighteen years of age, he was one of
the company of dissenters, who made
an attempt to go over to Holland,
wriere a commercial spirit riad establisri-
ed a free toleration of reUgious opinions ;
but the master of the vessel betrayed
them, and triey were thrown into prison
atBoston in Lincolnshire, In the spring
of the next year he made another unsuc
cessful attempt. At length he effected
riis favorite object and joined his brethren
at Amsterdam. Here he put himself an
apprentice to a French protestant, who
taught him the art of silk dying. When
he reached the age of twenty one years,
and came in possession of his estate in
England, he converted it into money, and
engaged in commerce, in which he was
not successful.
Mr. Bradford, after a residence of about
ten years in Holland, engaged with zeal
in the plan of removal to America, which
was formed by tbe|English church at Ley
den under the care of Mr. Robinson. He
accordingly embarked for England July
22, 1620, and on the sixth of September
set sail from Plymoutri with the first com
pany. While the ship in November lay
in the harbor of cape (Cod, he was one of

138

BRADFORD.

the foremost in the several hazardous at
tempts to find a proper place for the seat
of the colony. Before a suitable spot was
agreed upon, riis wife fell into trie sea and
was drowned. Soon after the death of
governor Carver at Plymoutri, April 5,
1621, Mr. Bradford was elected gover
nor in riis place. He was at this time in
the thirty third year of his age, and was
most conspicuous for wisdom, fortitude,
piety, and benevolence. The people ap
pointed Isaac Allerton his assistant, not
because they could repose less confidence
in him, than in Carver, wrio had been
alone in the command, but chiefly on ac
count of his precarious health. One of
the first acts of his administration was to
send an embassy to Massasoit for the pur
pose of confirming trie league with the
Indian sacriem, of procuring seed corn
for the next season, and of exploring the
country. It was well for the colony,
that the friendship of Massasoit was thus
secured, for his influence was extensive.
In consequence of his regard for the new
settlers nine sachems in September went
to Plymouth, and acknowledged them
selves loyal subjects of king James. In
the same month a party was sent out to
explore the bay of Massachusetts. Triey
landed under a cUff, supposed to be
Copp's hill in Boston, where they were
received with kindness by Obbatinewa,
who gave them a promise of his assis
tance against the squaw sachem. On
their return they carried with them so
good a report of the country, that the
people lamented, that they had establisri-
ed triemselves at Plymouth ; but it was
not now in their power to remove.
In the beginning of 1622 the colony be
gan to experience a distressing famine,
occasioned by the arrival of new settlers,
who came unfurnished with provisions.
In the Jieight of their distress a threaten
ing message was received from Canoni-
cus, sachem of Narragansett, expressed
by the present of a bundle of arrows,
bound with the skin of a serpent. The
governor sent back trie skin filled with
powder and ball. This prompt and in
genious reply terminated the correspon

dence. The Narragansetts were so ter
rified, that they even returned the ser
pent's skin without inspecting its con
tents. It was however judged necessary
to fortify the town ; and this work was
performed by the people, while they were
suffering the extremity of famine. For
some time they subsisted entirely upon
fish. In triis exigency governor Brad
ford found trie advantage of his friendly
intercourse with trie Indians. He made
several excursions among them, and pro
cured corn and beans, making a fair pur
chase by means of goods, which were
brought by two ships in August, and re
ceived by trie planters in excriange for bea
ver. The wriole quantity of corn and
beans, thus purchased, amounted to twen
ty eight hogsheads. But stiU more im
portant benefits soon resulted from the
disposition of governor Bradford to pre
serve the friendship of the natives. Du
ring the illness of Massasoit in the spring
of 1623, Mr. Winslow was sent to him
with cordials, which contributed to his
recovery. In return for this benevolent
attention the grateful sachem disclosed a
dangerous conspiracy, then in agitation
among the Indians, for the purpose of to
tally extirpating the English. This plot
did not originate in savage maUgnity, but
was occasioned bpthe injustice and indis
cretion of some settlers in trie bay of Mas
sachusetts. As the most effectual means
of suppressing the conspiracy, Massasoit
advised, triat the chief conspirators,
whom he named, should be seized and put
to death. This melancholy work was
accordingly performed by captain Stan-
dish, and the colony was relieved from
appreriension. When the report of this
transaction was carried to Holland, Mr.
Robinson in his next letter to the gover
nor expressed his deep concern at the
event. "O that you had converted
some," said he, "before you had killed
any !"
The scarcity, which had been experi
enced by the planters, was in part owing
to the impoficy of laboring in common
and putting the fruit of their labor into
-the public store. To stimulate industry

BRADFORD.

139

by the prospect of individual acquisition,
and thus to promote the general good by
removing the restraints upon selfishness
it was agreed in the spring of 1623, that
every family should plant for themselves,
on such ground, as should be assigned
them by lot. After this agreement the
governor was not again obliged to traffic
with the Indians in order to procure the
means of subsistence for the colony.
Thus will fail the common stock projects
of Ann Lee, Owen, and other enthusiasts.
The original government of Plymoutri
was founded entirely upon mutual com
pact, entered into by the planters, before
they landed, and was intended to contin
ue no longer, than till they could obtain
legal authority from their sovereign.
The first patent was obtained for the col
ony in the name of John Peirce ; but
another patent of larger extent was ob
tained of the council for New England
January 13, 1630, in the name of William
Bradford, his heirs, associates, and assigns,
wriich confirmed the title of trie colonists
to a large tract of land,& gave triem power
to'make all laws,not repugnant to the laws
of England. In the year 1 640, when the
number of people was increased, and new
townships were erected, the general court
requested governor Bradford to surrender
the patent into their hands. With this
request he cheerfully compUed, reserving
for himself, no more than his proportion,
as settled by a previous agreement. After
this surrender the patent was immediately
delivered again into his custody. For sev
eral of the first years after thefirstsettle-
ment of Plymouth the legislative, execu
tive, and judicial business was performed
by the whole body of freemen in assem
bly. In 1 634 the governor's assistants,
the number of whom at the request of
Mr. Bradford had been increased to five in
1624 & to seven in 1633, were constituted
a judicial court, & afterwards the supreme
judicature. Petty offences were tried
by the select men of each town with liber
ty of appeal to the next court of assistants.
The first assemblyof representatives was
held in 1639, when two deputies were
sent from each town,excepting Plymouth,

which sent four. In 1649 this inequality
was done away.
Such was the reputation of Mr. Brad
ford, acquired by his piety, wisdom, and
integrity, that he was annually chosen
governor, as long as rie lived, excepting
in trie years 1633, 1636, and 1644, when
Mr. Winslow was appointed, and the
years 1634, and 1638, when Mr. Prince
was elected chief magistrate. At these
times it was by his own request, that the
people did not reelect him. Governor
Winthrop mentions the election of Mr.
Winslow in 1633, and adds, "Mr. Brad
ford having been governor about ten
years, and now by importunity got off."
What a lesson for the ambitious, who
bend their whole influence to gain and se
cure the high offices of state I Mr.Bradford
strongly recommended a rotation in the
election of governor. "If this appoint
ment," he pleaded, "was any honor or
benefit, others beside himself should par
take of it ; ff it was a burden, others be
side himself should help to bear it." But
the people were so much attacried to him,
that for triirty years they placed riim at
the head ofthe government, and in the
five years, when others were chosen, he
was first in the Ust of assistants, which
gave him the rank of deputy governor.
After an infirm and decUning state of
health for a number of months, he was
suddenly seized by an acute disease May7,
1657. In the night riis mind was so en
raptured by contemplations upon rehg
ious truth and the hopes of futurity, that
he said to his friends in the morning,"the
good spirit of God has given me a pledge
of my happiness in another world, and
the first fruits of eternal glory." The
next day. May 9, 1657, he was removed
from the present state of existence, aged
68, greatly lamented by the people not
only in Plymouth, but in the neighboring
colonies. Hubbard makes the day ofhis
death June 5 ; but the fines given by
Morton are doubtless good at least for
the dale ;
"The ninth of May, about nine of the clock ,
A precious one God out of Plymouth took:
Goyemor Bradford then expired his breath,"

140

BRADFORD.

His son, Jorin Bradford, was represen
tative of Duxbury in 1652, and after
wards of Marshfield. By his second wife,
Alice Southworth, whom he married
April 14, 1623 and who died ,1670, aged
79, he had two sons, William and Joseph.
William, who was born in 1624 and died
February 20, 1704, was an assistant,
treasurer ofthe colony, and deputy gov
ernor. He lived in what is now Kings
ton, on the south side of Jones' river ; he
had 9 sons and three daughters, and his
descendants are numerous,Uvingin Mass.,
R. Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania. Governor Bradford, though not favor
ed with a learned education, possessed a
strong mind, a sound judgment, and a
good memory. In the office of chief mag
istrate he was prudent, temperate, and
firm. He would suffer no person to tram
ple on the laws, or to disturb the peace
of the colony. Some young men, who
were unwilling to comply with the order
for laboring on the public account, excus
ed triemselves on a Criristmas day under
pretence, that it was against their con
science to work. But not long after
wards, finding them at play in trie street,
he commanded the instruments of trieir
game to be taken from them, and told
them, that it was against his conscience
to suffer them to play, whfle others were
at work, and that,.if they had any reUg
ious regard to the day, they should show
it in the exercise of devotion at home.
This gentle reproof had the desired effect.
On other occasions his conduct was equal
ly moderate and determined. Suspecting
Jorin Lyford, wrio had imposed himself
upon the colony as a minister, of factious
designs, and observing triat he had put a
great number of letters on board a ship
for England, the governor in a boat fol
lowed the ship to sea, and examined the
letters. As satisfactory evidence against
Lyford was trius obtained, a convenient
time was afterwards taken for bringing
him to trial, and he was banished.
Though he never enjoyed great Utera
ry advantages, governor Bradford was
much incfined to literary pursuits. He

was familiar with the French and Dutch
languages, and attained considerable
knowledge ofthe Latin and Greek ; but
he more assiduously studied the Hebrew,
because, as be said, "he would see with
his own eyes the ancient oracles of God
in their native beauty." He had read
much of history and philosopriy ; but
theology was his favorite study. Dr.
Mather represents him as an irrefragable
disputant, especially against the anabap
tists. Yet he was by no means severe or
intolerant. He wished rather to convince
trie erroneous, trian to suppress trieir
opinions by violence. His disposition was
gentle & condescending. Though he was
attached to trie discipline ofthe congrega
tional churcries ; yet rie was not a rigid
separatist. He perceived, that the reform
ed churches differed among themselves in
the modes of discipline, and he did not
look for a perfect uniformity. His life was
exemplary and useful. He was watchful
against sin, a man of prayer, and conspic
uous for holiness. His son, William
Bradford, was deputy governor of
the colony after his father's death, and
died at Plymoutri at the age of 79. Sev
eral of his descendants were members of
the council of Massacriusetts, and one of
triem was deputy governor of Rriode Is
land and a senator in the congress of the
United States.
Governor Bradford wrote a history of
Plymotith people and colony, beginning
with the first formation ofthe church in
1 602 and ending with 1 647. It was con
tained in a folio volume of 270 pages.
Morton's memorial is an abridgment of it.
Prince and Hutcriinson had the use of it,
and trie manuscript was deposited witri
Mr. Prince's valuable collection of papers
in the library of the old south church in
Boston. In the year 1775 it shared the
fate of many other manuscripts in this
place. It was destroyed or carried away
by the barbarians of the British army,
who converted the old south criurch into
a riding school. — He had also a large
book of copies of letters, relative to the
affairs of the colony, which is lost. A
fragment of it however, found in a gro-

BRADFORD.

141

cer's shop at Halifax, has been published
by the Massachusetts historical society,
to which is subjoined a descriptive and
historical account of New England in
verse. If this production is somewhat
deficient in the beauties of poetry, it has
the more substantial graces of piety and
truth. He published some pieces for the
confutation of trie errors of trie times,
particularly of the anahaptists.-Belknap's
Amer. biog. n. 217-251; Mather's mag
nalia, n, 2-5 ; Davis' Morton, 269 ;
Neal's N. England, i. 99, 31 6 ; Prince's
annals, pref. vi, ix, 1 96; Winthrop, 47 ;
Holmes, 1. 309 ; Collect, hist. soc. in.
27, 77; VI. s. s. 555 ; x. 67,
BRADFORD, Gamaliel, a soldier of
the revolution, a descendant of governor
Bradford, was the son of judge Gamaliel
B., and great grandson of dep. gov. Wm.
Bradford. He served in the French wars
under Shirley and PeppereU, and com
manded a regiment in the revolutionary
army. For several years he was rep
resentative of Duxbury, Ms., where he
died Jan. 1807, aged 77. He %vas the
father of Alden Bradford, author of a his
tory of Massachusetts.
BRADFORD, William, a senator of
the United States, the son of Samuel B.,
and a descendant in the fourth generation
from gov. Bradford, was born at Plymp-
ton, Ms., in Nov. 1729. Having studied
physic with Dr. E. Hersey, he commen
ced the practice in Warren, R. I., and
was skilful and successful . In a few years
he removed to Bristol, and buflt a house
on that romantic and venerable spot.
Mount Hope, whicri is associated witri
the name of king Philip. Here he studied
law and became eminent in civil life in
Rhode Island. In the revolutionary con
test he took a decided part in favor of the
rights of the colonies. In the cannonade
of Bristol in the evening of Oct. 7, 1775,
by the British vessels of war, the Rose,
Glasgow, and Siren,he went on board the
Rose, and negotiated for the inhabitants.
About this time his own house was des
troyed bythe enemy. In 1792 he was
elected a senator in congress ; but soon
resigned bis place for the shades of his

delightfril retreat. He was many years
speaker ofthe assembly of Rhode Island
and deputy governor. He died July 6,
1808, aged 78. He had lived a widower
33 years ; his wife, Mary Le Baron of
Plymouth, whom he married in 1751,
died Oct. 2, 1775. His eldest son, maj.
WilUam Bradford, was aid to gen.
Charles Lee ofthe revolutionary army. —
By industry and rigid economy Mr.
Bradford acquiredan independent fortune,
in the use of which he was hospitable
and fiberal. For many years he was ac
customed to deposit with his minister a
generous sum to be expended in charitv
to the poor. In his habits he was tem
perate, seeking riis bed at an early hour of
the evening, and rising early and walking
over his extensive farm. Thus he at
tained nearly to trie age of fourscore. —
Thacher's med. biog.; Ch-isioold's fun.
serm-. BRADFORD, WiUiam, the first
printer in Pennsylvania, was born in
Leicester, England, and being a quaker
emigrated to this country in 1682 or 1683,
and landed where Priiladelphia was after
wards laid out, before a house was built.
In 1787 he printed an almanac. The
writings of George Keith, which he prin
ted, having caused a quarrel among the
quakers, for one of them, represented as
seditious, he was arrested with Keith
and imprisoned in 1 692. It is remarka
ble, that in his trial, when the justice
charged the jury to find, only the fact
as to printing, Bradford maintained, that
the jury were also to find whether the
paper was really seditious, and maintain
ed, that "tiie jury are judges in law, as
well as the matter of fact." Triis is the
very point, which awakened such inter
est in England in the time of Wilkes.
Bradford was not convicted ; but, having
incurred the displeasure of the dominant
party in Philadelphia, he removed to
New York in 1693. In that year he
printed the laws of the colony. Oct.
16, 1725 he began the first newspaper in
New York, called the N. Y. Gazette.
In 1728 he caused a paper mill at Eliza-
bethtown, N. Y. wriich perhaps was the

142

BRADFORD.

first in this country. Being temperate
and active, he reached a great age, a
stranger to sickness. In the morning of
the day of his death he walked about the
city. He died May 23, 1752, aged 93.
By riis first wife, a daughter of Andrew
Sowles, a printer in London, he had two
sons, Andrew and WiUiam. For more
than 50 years he was printer to the New
York government and for 30 years the
only printer in the province. He was
kind and affable and a friend to the poor.
— Thomas, n. 7, 91 ; Penns. Gaz. May
28, 1752.
BRADFORD, Andrew, a printer, the
son ofthe preceding, was the. only printer
in Pennsylvania from 1712 to 1723. He
publisried trie first newspaper in Priila
delphia Dec. 22,1719, called the American
weekly mercury. In 1732 rie was post
master; in 1735 he kept abookshop,at the
sign of the Bible in second street. In 1738
he removed, riaving purchased a hbuse.
No. 8., south front street, which in 1810
was occupied as a printing house by his
descendant, Thomas Bradford, the pub
lisher of the TrueAmerican, a daily paper.
He died Nov. 23, 1742, aged about 56.
His second wife, with whom he failed to
find happiness, was CorneUa Smith of
New York: srie continued trie Mercury
till trie end of 1746, and died in 1755. —
Thomas, n. 30, 325.
BRADFORD, William, colonel, a
printer, and a soldier of trie revolution,
was the grandson of the first printer in
Philadelphia. His father, William, was
a seaman. Adopted by his uncle, Andrew
Bradford, he became his partner in busi
ness ; but his foster mother, Mrs. Corne
lia B., wishing him to faU in love with
her adopted niece and he choosing to fall
in love with some other lady, caused the
partnership to be dissolved. In 1741 he
went to England and returned in 1742
witri printing materials, and books. At
triis period he married a daughter of Tho.
Budd, who was imprisoned with riis an
cestor in 1692. He publisried Dec. 2,
1742 trie Penns. Journal, which was con
tinued till the present century, when it
wasj superseded by trie True American.

In 1754 heopened,at the corner of Market
& Front streets, the Lond. coffee house ;
in 1762 he opened a marine insurance of
fice with Mr. Kydd. He opposed the
stamp act in 1765, and in tiie early stage
of the war he took up arms for his coun
trv. As a major and colonel in the mili
tia he fought in the battle of Trenton, in
the action at Princeton, and in several
other engagements. He was at fort
Mifflin, when it was attacked. After
the British army left Phfladelphia, he re
turned with a broken constitution and a
shattered fortune. Business had found
new channels. Soon he experienced the
loss of his beloved wife ; age advanced
upon him ; a paralytic shock warn
ed him of approacriing deatri. To riis
crifldren he said, "though I bequeath you
no estate, I leave you in the enjoyment
of liberty." Sucri patriots deserve to be
held in perpetual remembrance. He died
Sep. 25, 1791, aged 72, leaving three
sons ; Thomas, his partner in business,
WiUiam, attorney general, and Schuyler,
who died in the East Indies ; also three
daughters. — Thomas, n. 48, 330; U. S,
Gaz, Oct, 1,
BRADFORD, Wflliam, attorney
general of the United States, the son
of the preceding, was born in Phila
delphia Sept. 14, 1755, and was early
placed under the care of a respectable
clergyman a few miles from the city. His
father had formed the plan of bringing
him up in the insurance office, which he
then conducted ; but so strong was the
love of learning implanted in the mind of
his son, that neither persuasions, nor
offers of pecuniary advantage could pre
vail with him to abandon the hopes of a
liberal education. He was graduated at
Princeton college in 1772. During his
residence at this seminary he was greatly
beloved by his fellow students, while he
confirmed the expectations of his friends
and the faculty of the college by giving
repeated evidence of genius and taste. At
the public commencement he had one of
the highest honors of the class conferred
upon him. After continuing at Princeton
till the year following, during which time

BRADFORD.

143

he had an opportunity of attending the
lectures on theology of Dr. Witherspoon,
and derived from this useful teacher much
information and general knowledge, he
returned to the scenes ofhis youth, and
spent several months under the instruc
tion of his first preceptor, who strove to
prepare him for future usefulness in life.
He now commenced the study of the
law under Edward Shippen, one of the
council of the supreme court of Pennsyl
vania and afterwards chief justice of the
state, and he prosecuted his studies with
unwearied appUcation. In trie spring of
1776 he was caUed upon by the peculiar
circumstances of the times to exert him
self in defence ofthe dearest rights of hu
man nature, and to join the standard of
his country in opposition to the oppressive
exactions of Great Britain. When the
mihtia were called out to form the flying
camp, he was chosen major of brigade to
gen. Roberdeau, and on the expiration of
his term accepted a company in colonel
Hampton's regiment of regular troops.
He was soon promoted to the station of
deputy muster master general, with the
rank of heut. col., in wriicri office he con
tinued about two years till his want of
health, being of a delicate constitution,
obliged him to resign his commission and
return home. He now recommenced the
study of the law, and in Sept. 1779
was admitted to the bar of the su
preme court of Pennsylvania, where his
rising character soon procured him an
unusual share of business. In Aug.1780,
only one year after he was licensed, by
the recommendation oftrie bar & the par
ticular regard of Joseph Reed, president
of trie state, he was appointed attorney
general of Pennsylvania.
In 1784 be married the daughter of
Elias Boudinot of New Jersey, with
whom he lived till his death inthe exercise
of every domestic virtue, that adorns
human nature. On the reformation of
the courts of justice under the new con
stitution of Penn3ylvania,he was solicited
to accept trie office of a judge of the su
preme court, which with mucri hesitation
he accepted, and was commissioned by

gov. Mifflin, Aug.22,1791. In this station
his indefatigable industry, unshaken in
tegrity, and correct judgment enabled him
to give general satisfaction. Here he had
determined to spend a considerable part
ofhis rife ; but on the promotion of Ed
mund Randolph to the office of secretary
of state, as successor of Mr. Jefferson, he
was urged by various public considera
tions to accept the office of attorney gen
eral of the United States,now left vacant.
He accordingly received the appointment
January 28, 1794. But he continued
only a short time in this station, to whicri
he was elevated by Washington. He
died ofthe bilious fever August 23, 1795,
aged 39, and was succeeded by Mr. Lee
of Virginia. According to his express
desire he was buried by the side of his
parents in the burial ground of the second
presbyterian church in Philadelpriia.
Mr. Bradford possessed a mild and ami
able temper, and riis genteel and unassu
ming manners were united with genius,
eloquence, and taste. As a public speak
er he was persuasive and convincing.
He understood mankind well, and knew
how to place his arguments in the most
striking point of Ught. His language
was pure and sententious; and he so<
managed most of his forensic disputes,.
as scarcely ever to displease his oppo
nents, while rie gave the utmost satisfac
tion to his clients. He possessed great
firmness of opinion, yet was remarkable
for his modesty and caution in delivering
his sentiments. Combining a quick and
retentive memory and an excellent judg
ment with great equanimity and steadi
ness in his conduct and a pleasing deport
ment, he conciUated respect and affection.
Towards his country he felt trie sincerest
attacriment, & rier interests rie preferred
to every selfish consideration. His char
ities were secret, but extensive; and none
in distress were ever known to leave him
with discontent. It is mentioned as a
proof of riis benevolence, tliat he adopt
ed & "educated as his own son an orphan
child of Joseph Reed. His friendships
were few, but very affectionate, & those,
who aided him in his first setting out in

144

BRADLEY.

BR,ADSTREET.

life, were never ungratefully forgotten.
Though engaged constantly in public
business; yet trie concerns of triis world
did not make riim regardless oftrie more
important concerns of reUgion. He firm
ly believed the christian system, for he
had given it a thorougri examination.
By its incomparable rules he regulated
his whole conduct, and on its promises
he founded all riis riopes of future riappi-
ness. In the earlier periods ofhis life he was
not unacquainted with the walks of poe
try, and some of his poetical productions
in imitation of trie pastorals of Shenstone
were publisried in trie Priiladelphia maga
zines. Triey were at trie time rield
in high estimation. He published in
1793 an inquiry how far the punish
ment of death is necessary in Pensylva-
nia,with notes and illustrations; to whicri
is added an account of the gaol and pen
itentiary house of Philadelpriia, by Caleb
Lownes. Triis work was written at trie
request of governor Mifflin, and was in
tended for the use ofthe legislature in the
nature of a report, they having the sub
ject at large under their consideration.
Furnishing a proof of the good sense and
priUanthropy of trie autrior, it gained him
great credit. It had much influence in
meliorating the criminal laws and hasten
ing the almost entire aboUtion of capital
punishments not only in Pennsylvania,
but in many other states, where the
interests of humanity liave at last pre
vailed over ancient and inveterate preju
dices. — Rees' cycl; Hardie's biog. diet.;
Marshall, v. 489, 639; Gaz. U, S. Aug.
24, 1795.
BRADLEY, Samuel, killed in the
"Bradley massacre," was an early settler
at Concord, N.H. then Rumford. On trie
llthAug.1746, as rie was proceedingwitri
6 others to Hopkinton, the party was
attacked by a hundred Indians a mile and
a half from Concord village. Samuel
Bradley was killed and scalped near trie
brook. To his brother, Jonathan Bradley,
a lieutenant in capt. Ladd's company,
quarter was offered; but he refused it and
fought, tfll rie was hewed down with

the tomahawk. Three others were
kflled: Alexander Roberts and William
Stickney were made prisoners. Mr. Brad
ley was a young man : his widow, who
married Richard Calfe of Chester, died
Aug. 10, 1817, aged 98 years. His
son, John, who was two years old at trie
time of trie massacre, was a very respecta
ble citizen of Concord, and served in both
brancries ofthe legislature. He died July
5, 1815, aged 71, leaving sons, among
whom is Samuel A. Bradley of Fryeburg.
Seven persons of the name of Bradley
were killed by the Indians in Haverhill,
Mass., in March 1697: in 1704 a Mrs.
Bradley, after kilUng a Indian by pouring
boiUng soap on him, was taken prisoner.
— Bouton's cent, disc; Moore's ann.. of
Concord; Col. hist. soc. s. s. iv. 129.
BRADLEY, Stephen, R., a senator
oftrie United States, was born Oct, 20,,
1754 in Wallingford, now Crieshire, Con.
and graduated at Yale college in 1775.
He was trie aid of gen. Wooster, wrien
triat officer fell in a skirmish with*be ene
my. Removing to Vermont, he contri
buted much to trie establishment of that
state. He was one of its first senators to
congress, in wriicri body he continued
witri one intermission, until he retired
from public life in 1812. He died at
Walpole, N. H. Dec. 16, 1830, aged 76.
— He published Vermont's appeal, 1779,.
which has been sometimes ascribed to Ira
AUen. BRADLEY, William H., a poet, was
born in Providence, R. I. After being
educated as a physician, he went to Cu
ba, where he died in 1825. He publisried
Giuseppino, an occidental story, 1822,
besides many fugitive pieces. — Spec. Am.
poet. II. 394-398.
BRADSTREET,Simon,gov.ofMass.
was the son of a nonconformist minister
in England, and was born at Horbling in
Lincolnshire in March 1603. His father
died, when he was at the age of fourteen.
But he was soon afterwards taken into
the reUgious family ofthe earl of Lincoln,
in whicri rie continued about eight years
under the direction of Thomas Dudley,
and among other offices sustained that of

BRADSTREET.

145

steward. He lived a year at Emanue 1
college, Cambridge, pursuing his studies
amidst many interruptions. He then re
turned to the earl's ; but soon accepted
trie place of steward in trie family ofthe
countess of Warwick. Here he contin
ued till he married a daugriter of Mr.
Dudley, and was persuaded to engage in
trie project of making a settlement in
Massachusetts. He was in March 1 630
chosen assistant of the colony, which
was about to be established, and arrived
at Salem in the summer of the same
year. He was at the first court, which
was held at Charlestown August 23.
He was afterwards secretary and agent
of Massachusetts, and commissioner of
the united colonies. He was sent with
Mr. Norton in 1662 to congratulate king
Charles on riis restoration, and as agent
ofthe colony to promote its interests.
From 1673 to 1679 he was deputy gov
ernor. In this last year he succeeded Mr.
Leverett as governor, and remained in
this office till May 1686, when the charter
was dissolved, and Joseph Dudley com
menced his administration as president
of New England. In May 1689, after
the imprisonment of Andros, he was re
placed in the office of governor, which
station he held till the arrival of sir Wil
liam Phipps in May 1692 with a charter,
whicri deprived trie people of the right of
electing their chief magistrate. He died
at Salem March 27, 1697, aged 94 years.
He had been fifty years an assistant of
the colony. He had lived at Cambridge,
Ipswich, Andover, Boston, and Salem.
Gov. Bradstreet, though he possessed
no vigorous, nor splendid talents, yet by
his integrity, prudence, moderation, and
piety acquired the confidence of all classes
of people. When king Charles demanded
a surrender of the charter, he was in fa
vor of complying ; and the event proved
the correctness ofhis opinion. He thougrit
it would be more prudent for trie colonists
to submit to a power, which they could
not resist, than to have judgment given
against the charter, and thus their privia
leges be entirely cut off. If his mod
eration in regard to rehgious affairs, par

ticularly towards the anabaptists and the
quakers, was not so conspicuous, it was
not a fault pecufiar to him. Yet he had
the good sense to oppose the witchcraft
delusion. He had eight children by
his first wife, the daughter of gov
ernor Thomas Dudley, who wrote a vol
ume of poems. His second wife, a sister
of sir George Downing, was the widow
of Joseph Gardner of Salem, His son,
Simon, the minister of New London,
graduated 1660, was ordained Oct.5,1670,
and died 1685. Another son, maj. Dud
ley B., was taken prisoner by the Indians
with his wife at Andover in 1698. — Mat-
ther's magnalia, n. 19, 20; Huthinson,
I. 18, 219, 323; n. 13, 105; Holmes,
1. 466; Neal's N. E. 1. 350; n. 186;
Prince, 235; Collect, hist. soc. i. 229;
VI. 271,288.
BRADSTREET, Anne, a poetess,
was the daughter of governor Dudley,
and was born in 1612 at Northampton,
England. At the age of sixteen she
married Mr. Bradstreet, afterwards gov.
of Massachusetts, and accompanied riim
to America in 1630, After being trie
mother of eight children, srie died Sept,
16, 1672, aged 60.
Her volume of poems was dedicated to
rier father, in a copy of verses, dated
March 20, 1642, and is probably the
earliest poetic volume,written rii America.
The title is — Several Poems, compiled
with great variety of wit and learning,
fuU of deUght ; wrierein especially is
contained a complete discourse and des
cription of the four elements, constitu
tions, ages of man, seasons of trie year,
togetrier with an exact epitome of the
three first monarchies, viz ; the Assyrian,
Persian, Grecian, and Roman common
wealth, from the beginning to the end of
trieir last king, with divers other pleasant
and serious poems. By a Gentlewoman
of New England." A third edition was
pubUshed in 1758.
By constitutions the temperaments are
intended ; in the account of the seasons
there is good description ; and the ver
sification is generally harmonious. The
historical poetry is little more than a

146

BRADSTREET.

chronological table. It is declared in the
preface,that the volume "is the work of a
woman honored and esteemed, where she
lives, for her gracious demeanor, her emi
nent parts, her pious conversation, her
courteous disposition, her exact diligence
in her place, and discreet managing of her
family occasions : and more so, these po
ems are but the fruit of some few hours,
curtailed from her sleep and other refresh
ments." John Norton says of her —
"Her breast was a brave palace, a broadsttett.
Where all heroic, ample thoughts did meet.
Where nature such a tenement had ta'en ,
That other souls, to hers, dwelt in a lane.''
He also says, that her poetry is so fine,
that were Maro to hear it, rie would again
condemn riis works to trie fire. The fol
lowing extract is a favorable specimen of
her poetic talent, thougri her taste was
probably not improved by the study of
Du Bartas:
Then higher on the glistering sun I gazed,
Whose beams were shaded by the leav ie tree ;
The more I look'd , the more I grew amazed,
And softly said, what gloi-y's like to thee-?
Lord of this world, this universe's eye.
No wonder some made thee a deity ;
Had I not better known, alas, the same had I.
Art thou so full of glory, that no eye
Hath strength thy shining rays once to behold 1
And is thy splendid throne erect so high.
As to approach it can no earthly mould'?
How full of glory then must thy creator be.
Who gave this bright light lustre unto theel
Admired, adored forever, be that Majesty,
When I behold the heavens, as in their prime,
And then the earth (thougli old) still clad in
green,
'i'he stones and trees, insensible of time,
Nor age, nor wrinkle on their front are seen ;
If winter come and greenness then do fade,
A spring returns, and they more youUifuI made ;
But man grows old, lies down, remains where
once he's laid.
Shall I then praise the heaven, the trees, the
earth.
Because tlieir beauty and their strength last
longerl
Shall 1 wish their, or never to had, birth,
Becituse they'r bigger and their bodies stronger?
Nay they shall darken, perish, fade and die,
And when unmude, so ever shall they lie.
But niau Wjs nj-dde fo) endless immortality." —

Spec. Amer. poet. intr. xs; American
Qu. Rev. n. 494-496.
BRADSTREET, Simon, minister of
Charlestown, Massachusetts, was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1 693, and
was ordained as successor of Mr. Morton,
October 26, 1698. He received J. Ste
phens as coUeague in 1721, and Mr. Abbot
as his colleague in 1724. After a ministry
of more than 40 years, he died Dec. 31,
1 741 , aged 72 years. His successors were
Abbot, Prentice, Paine, Morse, and Fay.
He was a very learned man, of a strong
mind, tenacious memory, and lively imag
ination. Lieut, gov. Tailer introduced
him to gov. Burnet, who was riimself a
fine scholar, by saying, here is a man,who-
can whistle Greek ; and the governor af
terwards spoke of him as one of the first
Uterary characters & best preachers, whom
he had met with in America. Mr. Brad
street was subject to hypochondriacal
complaints, which made him afraid to
to preach in the pulpit some years before
he died. He delivered his sermons in the
deacon's seat, without notes, and they
were in general melancholy effusions
upon the wretched state of mankind and
the vanity of the world. He possessed
such a catholic spirit, that some of the
more zealous brethren accused him of ar
minianism ; but the only evidence of this
was his fondness for Tillotson's sermons,
and his being rather a practical, than a
doctrinal preacher. He seldom appeared
witri a coat,but always wore a plaid gown,
and was generally seen with a pipe in his
mouth. His latin epitaph upon his pre
decessor, Mr. Morton, has been preserved
by the Mass. hist, society. — Hist. coL
VIII. 75.
BRADSTREET, Simon, minister of
Marblehead, Massachusetts, was the
son of tiie preceding, and was graduated
at Harvard college in 1728. He was
ordained successor of Mr. Holyoke Jan.
4,1738, and died October 5,1771, Isaac
Story, who married riis daughter, having
been his coUeague four or five months.
He was an excellent scholar, a most
worthy and pious christian, and faithful
pastor ; laboi-(ng to bring his hearers to

BRADSTREET.

BRAINARD.

147

the love of God, the reception of the
Savior, and the practice of hoUness.
He published a sermon on thedeath of
his brother, Samuel of Charlestown, 1 755 .
— Mass. hist. col. viir. 75, 76.
BRADSTREET, John, a major gen
eral in America appointed by the king of
Great Britain, was in 1746 lieutenant
governor of St. John's, Newfoundland.
He was afterwards distinguished for his
mifitary services. It was thought ofthe
highest importance in the year 1756 to
keep open the communication with fort
Oswego on lake Ontario. General Shirley
accordingly enUsted.40 companies of boat
men, each consisting of 50 men, for trans
porting stores to the fort from Schenec
tady, and placed them under the com
mand of Bradstreet, who was an active
and vigilant officer, and inured to the
hardships, to which that service exposed
riim. In trie beginning of the spring of
this year a small stockaded post with 25
men, at the carrying place, was cut off.
It became nece-ssary to pass through the
country with large squadrons of boats,
as the enemy infested the passage
through the Onondago river. On his
return from Oswego, July 3, 1756, col
onel Bradstreet, who was apprehensive of
being ambushed, ordered the several di
visions to proceed as near each other, as
po.ssible. He was at the head of about
300 boat men in the first division, when
at the distance of nine miles from the fort
the enemy rose from their ambuscade and
attacked him. He instantly landed upon
a small island and with but six men
maintained his position, till he was rein
forced. A general engagement ensued,
in whicri Bradstreet with gallantry rushed
upon a more numerous enemy, and en
tirely routed them, kilUng and wounding
about 200 men. His own loss was about
SO. He arrived at Schenectady July 1 1th.
In the year 1758 he was intrusted with
the command of 3000 men on an expedi
tion against fort Frontenac, which was
planned by himself He embarked at
Oswego on lake Ontario and on the eve
ning of August 25th landed within a
mile ofthe fort. On the 27 th it was

surrendered to him. Forty pieces of can
non and a vast quantity of provisions
and merchandise, with 110 prisoners, fell
into his hands. The fort and nine armed
vessels and such stores, as could not be
removed, were destroyed. In August
1764 he advanced with a considerable force
toward the Indian country, and at Pres-
que Isle compelled the Delawares, Shaw-
nese, and other Indians to terms of peace.
He was appointed major general in May
1772. After rendering important servi
ces to his country, rie died at New York
Oct. 21, 1774.— Wynne, a. 59-61, 86-
88; Ann. reg. for 1764, 181; Holmes, n.
198; Marshall i. 437, 438 ; Coll hist,
soc, vn. 150, 155 ; Mante,
BRAINARD, John Gardiner Calkins,
a poet, was trie son of judge Jeremiah G.
Brainard of New London, Con., and was
born about the year 1797. He was grad
uated in 1815 at Yale college. Though
his name differs in one letter from that of
the celebrated missionary, yet probably
they had a common ancestor. Indeed his
name, in a catalogue of the college, is
given Brainerd, while triat of John, a
brother of David, is printed Brainard,
These are probably both mistakes. Au-
tograpri letters of David and John in my
possession present the form of Brainerd :
the otrier form oftrie name being adopted
by the poet and his father, I do not feel
autriorised to criange it for the sake of
uniformity. Brainard studied law and
commenced the practice at Middletown ;
but not finding the success, wriich he de
sired, in 1822 he undertook the editorial
charge ofthe Connecticut Mirror at Hart
ford. Thus was he occupied about 7
years, untfl being marked as a victim for
the consumption he returned about a
year before his death to his father's house.
He died Sept. 26, 1828, aged 32.
He was an excellent editor ofthe pa
per, wriicri he conducted, enriching it with
his poetical productions, whicri riave ori
ginality, force, and pathos, and with
many beautiful prose compositions, and
refraining from that personal abuse, which
many editors seem to think essential to
their vocation. In this respect his gentle-

148

BRAINERD.

manly example is worthy of being fol
lowed by the editorial corps. He, who
addresses himself every week or every
day to thousands of readers, sustains a
high responsibility. If, destitute of good
breeding and good principles, he is deter
mined to attract notice by the personali
ties, for which there is a greedy appetite
in the community ; if he yields himself a
slave to the party, which he espouses, and
tofls for it by contumelies upon his oppo
nents ; if, catching the spirit ofan infuria
ted zealot, and regardless of truth and
honor, he scatters abroad his malignant
slanders and inflammatory traducements ;
then, instead of a wise and benevolent tea
cher and guide, he presents himseff as a
sower of discord and a minister of evil.
In an Utopian commonwealth,or a repubUc
constructed by pure reason and right, if
the laws subject the teacher of ten chfld
ren to an examination and approval be
fore he can commence his labors, they
would not allow a beardless youth, witri-
out judgment or principle, nor a man of
full age, witriout conscience or rionor, to
send fortri from day to day into the
houses of the people a foul and mahgnant
spirit, to corrupt them by indecencies and
blasphemies and drive them to madness by
falsehoods and bitter incitements. Mr.
Brainard possessed a kindness of heart
and rectitude of mind, which would not
allow him to traduce and revile. He
could not be the drudge of some patriot
ic impostor, who, hungry for office, clam
orously boasts of seeking the interests of
the dear people.
While Mr. Brainard was hopeless of
success in the world, melancholy and des
pondent; yet in his social interviews, by
a natural re-action, his spirit would some
times run into an excess of levity and
merriment. A laugh seemed to exorcise
the demons, which were preying on his
heart. Yet never did he utter any jests,
aimed at religion ; nor smile at' such jests
in others. His poetry is very creditable
to his feehngs, and principles, and talents.
Most of his poetical productions were
originally printed in the Mirror. The
following ia a part of his description of

the faUs of Niagara. "It would seein.
As if God pour'd thee from his hollow hand.
And hung his bow upon thine awful front ;
And spoke in that loud voice, which seem'd to
him,
Who dwelt in Patmos for his Savior's sake,
'The sound of many waters,' and had bade
Thy flood to chronicle the ages back.
And notch his cent'ries in the eternal rocks. "
"When he was a member of Yale college
in 1815, during a revival of reUgion, he
was deeply impressed with his sin and
danger ; but his reUgious sensibiUty soon
diminished, and the world occupied again
his thoughts, though speculatively rie
assented to trie truths of the gospel.
Thus he Uved 12 or 13 years, till a few
montris before his death. Then at his fa
ther's house, during his decayby the con
sumption, he spent his days and evenings
in reading religious books and in pi
ous meditations. To his minister, Mr.
McEwen, he said, "this plan of salvation
in the gospel is all, that I want ; it fills
me with wonder and gratitude, and makes
the prospect of dcith not only peaceful,
but joyous." Pale and feeble, he went to
tiie house of God, and made a profession of
religion and was baptized. Trie next sab
bath, as he could not attend meeting, the
Lord's supper was administered at his
room. His last remark to his nunister
was, "I am wilfing to die: I have no
righteousness, but Christ and his atone
ment are enough. — God is a God of truth
and I think I am reconciled to him."
The change experienced by the renova
ted, pardoned sinner, is described by him
in the following Unes:
"All sights are fair to the recovered blind ;
All sounds are music to the deaf restored ;
The lame, made whole, leaps like the sportive
hind ;
And the sad, bow'd down sinner, with his load
Of shame and sorrow, when he cuts the cord.
And leaves his pack behind, is free again
In the light yoke and burden of his Lord."
He published Occasional pieces of poetry,
12mo, 1825. — Spec. Amer. poet. in. 198-
212 ; Hawes' serm.
BRAINERD, David, an eminent
preacher and missionary to the Indians,

BRAINERD.

149

was born at Haddam, Connecticut, Aprfl
20, 1718. His father, Hezekiah Brainerd,
son of deacon Daniel B., was an assistant
of the colony, or a member of the council,
who died, when his son was about 9
years of age ; his mother, the daughter of
Rev. Jeremiah Hobart, died when he
was 14 years of age. His elder brother,
Hezekiah, was a representative of Had
dam ; and his brother, Nehemiah, who
died in 1742, was the minister of East-
bury, Con. As his mind was earlv im
pressed by the truths of reUgion, he took
defight in reading triose books, which
communicate religious instruction ; he
called upon the name of God in secret
prayer ; he studied the scriptures with
great diUgence ; and he associated with
several young persons for mutual encour
agement and assistance in trie paths of
-wisdom. But in aU this he afterwards
considered himseff as self righteous, as
completely destitute of true piety, as gov
erned by the fear of future punishment
and not by the love of God, as depending
for salvation upon his good feeUngs and
his strict fife, without a perception of the
necessity and the value of the mediation
of Christ. At this time he indeed acknow
ledged, that he deserved notriing for his
best works, for the theory of salvation
was famiUar to him ; but while he made
the acknowledgment, he did not feel what
it implied. He still secretly relied upon
the warmth of his affections, upon his
sincerity, upon some quaUty in himself
as the ground of acceptance with God ;
instead of relying upon the Lord Jesus,
through whom alone there is access to
the Father. At length he was brought
under a deep sense of his sinfulness, and
he perceived, that there was notriing
good in riimself Triis conviction was
not a sudden perturbation of mind ; it
was a permanent impression, made by
trie view of his own character, wrien com
pared with that holy law of God, whicri
he was bound to obey.. But the discove
ry was unwelcome and irritating. He
could not readily abandon the hope, which
rested upon his reUgious exercises. He
was reluctant to admit, that the principle,

whence all his actions proceeded, was en
tirely corrupt. He was opposed to the
strictness of the divine law, which exten
ded to the heart as well as to the life. He
murmured against the doctrines, that
faith was indispensably necessary to sal
vation, and that faith was completely the
gfft of God. He was irritated in not
finding any way pointed out, which
would lead him to the Savior ; in not
finding any means prescribed, by wriicri an
unrenewed man could of riis own strength
obtain that, whicri trie higriest angel
could not give. He was unwilling to be
lieve, that he was dead in trespasses and
in sins. But these unpleasant truths
were fastened upon his mind, and they
could not be shaken off. It pleased God
to disclose to him his true character and
condition and to quell trie tumult of his
soul. He saw, that riis schemes to save
himself were entirely vain, and must for
ever be ineffectual ; he perceived, that it
was self interest, which had before led
him to prav, and that he had never once
prayed from any respect to the glory of
God ; he felt, that rie was lost. In this
state of mind, while rie was walking in a
soUtary place in the evening of July 12,
1739, meditating upon religious subjects,
his mind was illuminated witri completely
new views of the divine perfections ; he
perceived a glory in the character of God
and in the way of salvation by the cruci
fied Son of the Most High, which was
never before discerned ; and he was led
to depend upon Jesus Cririst for righ-
eousness, and to seek trie glory of God
as his principal object.
In Sept. 1739 rie was admitted a mem
ber of Yale college, but rie was expelled
in Feb. 1742. The circumstances, which
led to this expulsion, were these. Triere
had been great attention to religion in
the college, and Mr. Brainerd, whose
feelings were naturally warm, and -whose
soul was interested in the progress of the
gospel, was misled by an intemperate
zeal, and was guilty of indiscretions,
which at that time were not unfrequent.
In a conversation with some of his asso
ciates he expressed his belief, triat one of

u.itAiNERD.

the tutors was destitute of religion. Be
ing in part overheard, his associates were
compelled by the rector to declare, res
pecting whom he was speaking ; and he
was required to make a public confession
inthe haU. Brainerd thought, that it
was unjust to extort from riis friends wriat
he had uttered in conversation, and triat
the punishment was too severe. As rie
refused to make trie confession, and as he
had been guilty of going to a separate
meeting after prohibition by the author
ity of coflege, he was expelled. In the
circumstances,, which led to this result,
there appears a strong disposition to hunt
up offences against the new lights, as
those, who were attached to the preach
ing of Mr. Whitefield and Tennent, were
then called. It was not so strange, that
a young man should have been indiscreet,
as that he should confess himself to riave
been so. Mr. Brainerd afterwards per
ceived, triat rie riad been uncriaritable and
had done wrong, and with sincerity and
humility he acknowledged his error and
exhibited a truly christian spirit ; but he
never obtained his degree. Thougri he
felt no resentment, and ever lamented his
own conduct ; yet he always considered
himself as abused in the management of
this affair.
In the spring of 1742 he went to Rip-
ton to pursue the study of divinity under
the care of Mr. Mills, and at the end of
July was licensed to preach by the asso
ciation of ministers, which met at Dan-
bury, after they had made inquiries res
pecting his learning, and his acquaintance
with experimental religion. Soon after
he began his theological studies, he was
desirous of preaching the gospel to the
heathen, and frequently prayed for them.
In November, after he was hcensed, he
was invited to go to New York, and was
examined by the correspondents of the
society for propagating christian know
ledge, and was appointed by them a mis
sionary to the Indians.
He arrived on the first of April 1743 at
Kaunameek, an Indian village in the
woods between Stockbridge, in the state
of Massachusetts, and Albany, at the

distance of about 20 miles from the for
mer place and 15 mfles from Kuiderhook.
He now began his labors at the age of 25,
and continued in this place about a year.
At first he lived in a wigwam among the
Indians ; but he afterwards built himself
a cabin, that he migrit be alone, wrien
not employed in preacriing and instruct
ing the savages. He lodged upon a bun-
ble of straw, and his food was principally
boiled corn, hasty pudding, and samp.
With a feeble body, and frequent illness,
and great depression of mind, he was
obUged to encounter many discourage
ments, and to submit to hardships, which
would be almost insupportable by a mucri
stronger constitution. But he persisted
in his benevolent labors, animated by
the hope, that he should prove the means
of illuminating some darkened mind with
the truth, as it is in Jesus. Besides his
exertions, which had immediate reference
to the instruction of the savages, he stud
ied much, and employed much time in
the deUghtful employment of communing
in the wilderness witri that merciful Be
ing, who is present in all places, and who
is the support and joy of all christians.
When the Indians at Kaunameek had
agreed to remove to Stockbridge and
place themselves under the instruction of
Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Brainerd left them
and bent his attention towards the Dela
ware Indians.
He was ordained at Newark in New
Jersey by a presbytery June 12, 1744,
on which occasion Mr. Pemberton of
New York preached a sermon. He soon
afterwards went to the new field of his
labors, near tiie forks ofthe Delaware in
Pennsylvania, and continued there a year,
making two visits to the Indians on
Susquehannah river. He again built
riim a cabin for retirement ; but here he
had the happiness to find some white
people, witri whom he maintained family
prayer. After the hardships ofhis abode
in this place with but little encourage
ment from the effect ofhis exertions, he
visited the Indians at Crosweeksung,
near Freehold in New Jersey. In this
village he was favored with remarkable

BRAINERD.

151

success. The Spirit of God seemed to
bring home effectually to the hearts of the
ignorant heathens the truths, which he
deUvered to them with afteotion and zeal.
His Indian interpreter, who had been
converted by his preaching, cooperated
cheerfully in trie good work. I twas not
uncommon for the whole congregation to
be in tears, or to be crying out under a
sense of sin. In less than a year Mr.
Brainerd baptized 77 persons, of whom
38 were adults, that gave satisfactory
evidence of having been renovated by the
power of God; and he beheld with un
speakable pleasure between 20 and 30 of
his converts seated round the table of the
Lord. The Indians were at the time en
tirely reformed in their fives. They were
very humble and devout, and united in
christian affection. In a letter, dated
Dec. SO, 1745, in my possession, he says,
"the good work,which you will find large
ly treated of in my journal, still contin
ues among the Indians ; though the as
tonishing divine influence, that has been
among them, is in a considerable measure
abated. Yet there are several instances
of persons newly awakened. When I
consider the doings of the Lord among
these Indians, and theil take a view of my
journal, I must say, 'tis a faint represen
tation I have given of them." Nor is
there any evidence, thathe misjudged.
The lives of these Indian converts in sub
sequent years, under John Brainerd and
Wm. Tennent, were in general, holy and
exemplary, furnishing evidence of trie sin
cerity of their faith ui the gospel.
In the summer of 1746 Mr.Brainerd
visited the Indians on the Susqueriannari,
and on his return in Sept. found himself
worn out by trie hardships of his jour
ney. His health was so much impair
ed, that he was able to preach but little
more. Being advised in the spring of
1747 to travel in New England, he went
as far as Boston, and returned in July to
Northampton, where in the family of Jon
athan Edwards he passed the remainder
of his-days. He gradually decUned tiU
Oct. 9y 1747, when, after suffering inex
pressible agOtiy, he entered upon that

rest, which remaineth for the faitiiful
servants of God, aged 29 years.
Mr. Brainerd was a man of vigorous
powers of mind. While he was favored
with a quick discernment and ready in
vention, with a strong memory and nat
ural eloquence, he also possessed in an un
common degree the penetration,the close
ness and force of thougrit, and the sound
ness of judgment which distinguish the
man of talents from him, who subsists
entirely upon the learning of others.
His knowledge was extensive, and he ad
ded to his other attainments an intimate
acquaintance witri riuma n nature, gained
not only by observing others, but by
carefully noticing the operations of his
own mind. As he was of a sociable dispo
sition, and could adapt himself with great
ease to the different capacities, tempers,
and circumstances of men, he was remar
kably fitted to communicate instruction.
He was very free, and entertaining, and
useful in his ordinary discourse ; and be
was also an able disputant. As a preach
er he was perspicuous and instructive,
forcible, close, and pathetic. He abhor
red an affected boisterousness in the pul
pit, and yet he could not tolerate a cold
delivery, when the subject of discourse
was such, as should warm the heart, and
produce an earnestness of manner.
His knowledge of theology was uncom
monly extensive and accurate. President
Edwards, whose opinion of Mr. Brainerd
was founded upon an intimate acquain
tance with him,says, that "he never knew
his equal, of his age and standing, for
clear, accurate notions of trie nature and
essence of true reUgion, and its distinc
tions from its various false appearances."
Mr. Brainerd had no charity for the re
ligion of those, who indulging the hope,
that they were interested in trie divine
mercy settled down in a state of security
and negUgence. He believed, that trie
good man would be continually making
progress towards perfection, and that con
version was not merely a great change in
the views ofthe mind and the affections of
the rieart, produced by the Spirit of God;
but that it was the beginning of a course

152

BRAINERD.

of hoUness, wriich through the divine
agency would be pursued through life.
From the ardor, with wriicri rie engaged
in missionary labors, some may be led to
conclude, that his mind was open to the
influence of fanaticism. During his resi
dence at college, bis spirit was indeed
somewhat tinged witri trie zeal of bitter
ness ; but it was not long before rie was
restored to true benevolence and the pure
love ofthe truth. From this time he de
tested enthusiasm in all its forms. He re
probated aU dependence upon impulses, or
impressions on the imagination, or the
sudden suggestion of texts of scripture.
He withstood every doctrine, wriich
seemed to verge towards antinomianism,
particularly the sentiments of those, who
thought that faith consists in believing,
that Christ died for them in particular,
and wrio founded their love of God, not
upon the excellence of his character, but
upon the previous impression, that they
were the objects of his favor, and should
assuredly be saved. He rebuffed the pride
and presumption of laymen, who thurst
triemselves fortri as public teachers and
decried human learning and a learned
ministry ; he detested the spirit, which
generally influenced the separatists
through the country ; and rie Was en
tirely opposed to triat religion, wriicri was
fond of noise and sriow, and delighted to
publish its experiences anfl privileges.
Very different from the above was the re
ligion, which Mr. Brainerd approved, and
which he displayed in his own Ufe.
In his character were combined the most
ardent and pure love to God and the most
unaffaited benevolence to man, an aliena
tion from the vain and perishable pursuits
ofthe world, the most humbling and con
stant sense of his own iniquity, which
was a greater burden to him than all his
afflictiens, great brokenness of heart be
fore God for the Coldness of his'love and
the imperfection of his christian virtues,
the most earnest breathuigs of soul after
holiness, real defight in the gospel of Je
sus Christ, sweet complacence in all his
disciples, incessant desires & importunate
prayers that men might be brought to the

knowledge and the pbedienceof the truth,
&that thus God might be glorified & the
kingdOmOf Cbristadvanced,great resigna
tion to the -will ofhis heavenly Father,an
entire distrust of his own heart and a uni
versal dependence upon God, the absolute
renunciation of every thing for his Redee
mer, the most clear and abiding views of
the things of the eternal World, a contin
ual warfare against sin, and trie most un
wearied exertion of afl his powers in the
service and in obedience to the commands
of the Most High. He believed, that the
essence of true religion consists in the
conformity of the soul to God, in acting
above aU selfisri views for riis glory, de
siring to please & honor him in all things,
and triat from a view of his excellency,
and worthiness in riimself to be loved,
adored, and obeyed by all intelligent
creatures. Wrien this divine temper is
wrought in the soul by the special influen
ces of the Holy Spirit, discovering the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,
he believed, that the Author of all good
could not but delight in his own image,
and would most certainly complete his
own work, which he had begun in the
human rieart. His refigion did not con
sist in speculation ; but rie carried his
own principles into practice. Resisting
the solicitations of selfishness, he conse
crated his powers to the high and benevo
lent objects, enjoined in the scriptures. It
was his whole aim to promote in the
most effectual manner the glory of his
Redeemer. After the termination of a
year's fruitless mission at Kaunameek,
where rie had suffered the greatest hard
ships, he was invited to become the min
ister of East Hampton, one of the best
parishes on Long Island ; but though he
was not insensible to the pleasures of a
quiet and fixed abode, among chris
tian friends, in the midst of^ abun
dance ; yet, witriout trie desire of fame,
he preferred the dangers and sufferings
of a new mission among savages. He
loved his Savior, and wished to make
known his precious name among the
heathen. In hia last illness and during the ap-

BRAINERD.

153

proachea of death Mr. Brainerd was re
markably resigned and composed. He
spoke of that willingness to die, which
originates in the desire of escaping pain,
and in the hope of obtaining pleasure or
distinction in heaven, as very ignoble.
The heaven, which he seemed to antici
pate, consisted in the love and service of
God. "It is impossible," said he, "for
any rational creature to be happy without
acting all for God. I long to be in heaven,
praising and glorifying him witri trie holy
angels. — There is notriing in trie world
worth Uving for, but doing good and fin
ishing God's work ; doing the work,
whicri Christ did. I see notriing else in
trie world, triat can yield any satisfaction,
besides riving to God, pleasing him, and
doing his whole will. My greatest com
fort and joy has been to do something for
promoting the interests of reUgion, and
for the salvation of the souls of particular
persons." When he was about to be
separated forever from the earth, his de
sires seemed to be as eager as ever for the
progress of the gospel. He spoke much
of the prosperity of Zion, of the infinite
importance of trie work, which was com
mitted to the ministers of Jesus Christ,
and of the necessity, which was imposed
upon them, to be constant and earnest in
prayer to God for the success of their ex
ertions. A little while before his death
he said to Mr. Edwards, "my thoughts
have been much employed on the old,
dear theme, the prosperity of God's
church on earth. As I waked out of
sleep, I was led to cry for the pouring out
of God's Spirit and the advancement of
Christ's kingdom, which the dear Redee
mer did and suffered so much for ; it is
this especially whicri makes me long for
it. He felt at this time a pecuhar con
cern for his own congregation of christian
Indians. Eternity was before him with
all its interests. '"Tis sweet to me,"
said he, "to think of eternity. But Ori,
wriat sriafl I say to the eternity of trie
wicked! I cannot mention it, nor think
of it. The triought is too dreadful !" In
answer to the inquiry, how he did, he
said,"I am almost in eternity; 1 long to be
20

there. My work is done. I have done
with all my friends. All the world is now
nothing to me. Ori, to be in heaven, to
praise and glorify God with his holy an
gels!" At length, after the trial ofhis pa
tience by the most excruciating sufferings,
his spirit was released from its tabernacle
of clay, and entered those mansions,which
the Lord Jesus hath prepared for oil his
faithful disciples.
The exertions of Mr. Brainerd in the
christian cause were of short continuance,
but triey were intense, and incessant, and
effectual. One must be either a very
good or a very bad man, who can read
his life without blushing for himself If
ardent piety and enlarged benevolence, if
the supreme love of God and the inextin-
guisriable desire of promoting his glory
in the salvation of immortal souls, if per
severing resolution in the midst of the
most pressing discouragements, if cheer
ful self denial and unremitted labor, if hu
mility and zeal for godliness, united with
conspicuous talents, render a man worthy
of remembrance ; the name of Brainerd
wfll not soon be forgotten.
He published a narrative of his labors
at Kaunameek, annexed to Mr. Pember-
ton's sermon at his ordination ; and his
journal, or an account of the rise and
progress of a remarkable work of grace
amongst a number of Indians in New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, with some
general remarks, 1746. Triis work wriich
is very interesting, and which displays
the piety and talents of the author, was
pubfished by the commissioners of the
society in Scotland, with a preface by
them, and an attestation by W. Tennent
and Mr. M'cKnight. His life, written
by president Edwards, is compiled chiefly
from his own diary. Annexed to it are
some ofhis letters and other writings.
It is a book, which is well calculated to
enkindle a flame of benevolence and
piety in the breast. — A new edition of
his Memoirs was pubUshed in 1 822 by
Sereno Edwards Dwight, including his
Journal. Mr. Edwards had omitted the
already printed journals, which had been
published in two parts ; the first, from

154

BR.A.1NERD.

BRANT.

June 19, to Nov 4, 1745, entitied Mira-
bilia Dei inter Indicos ; the second from
Nov. 24, 1745 to June 19, 1746, with
trie title. Divine grace displayed, &c.
These journals Mr. Dwight has incorpo
rated in a regular chronological series
with the rest oftrie Diary, as alone given
by Edwards. — Brainerd's life ; his
journal ; Inwards' fun. serm; Middle-
ton's biog. evang. iv.262 — 264 ; Assem
bly's miss. mag. n. 449 — 452 ; Boston re
corder, 1824. jB. 196.
BRAINERD, John,amissionary,broth-
er of the preceding,was graduated at Yale
coll. in 1746, & was a trustee of Princeton
college from 1754 to 1780. The Indian
congregation of his brother being remo
ved from Crosweeksung or Crosweeks to
Cranberry, not far distant, he succeeded
his brother in the mission about the year
1748. His efforts were incessant for
their good ; but he riad to encounter
great difficulties. A drunken Indian sold
their lands ; the greedy government of
New Jersey was hostile to the tribe ; and
Mr. Brainerd, unable to support a school
master, endeavored himself amidst nu
merous avocations to teach them the ele
ments of learning as well as the truths of
reUgion. The place of his residence in
1754 was Bethel ; whence he wrote to
Dr. Wheelock: "it belongs to thousands
to endeavor to christianize the Indians, as
wefl as to us. It is as really their duty,
and VTOuld be every way as much to their
advantage, as ours. If the country in
general were but sensible of trieir obli
gation; bow would they exert themselves,
how freely would they disburse of their
substance, and what pains would they
take to accomplish triis great and good
work?" About 1755 Wm. Tennent
succeeded him. In 1763 he lived at
Great Egg Harbor. In 1772 he lived at
Brotrierton, N. J. He diedabout 1780.
BRANT, Joseph, a famous Indian
chief, w^ts- at the head ofthe six nations,
so called, in the state of New York.
Each of these was divided into 3 or more
tribes, called the turtle tribe, the wolf
tribe, the bear tribe &c. He was a Mo
hawk of pure Indian blood. His father.

Brant, a chief, was denominated an 0-
nondago Indian, and about the year 1756
had three sons in sir Wm. Johnson's ar
my. Young Brant was sent by sir WilUam
to Dr.Wheelock's Indian charity school at
Lebanon crank, now the town of Colum
bia, Connecticut ; and after he had been
there educated, employed him in public
business. His Indian name was Thayen-
danega. About the year 1762 Rev.
Charles J. Smith, a missionary to the
Mohawks, took Brant as his interpreter ;
but, the warobUging him to return. Brant
remained and went out with a company
against the Indians, behaving "so much
like the christian and the soldier, that he
gained great esteem." In 1765 his house
was an asylum for the missionaries in the
wilderness and he exerted himself for the
reUgious instruction of his poor Indian
brethren. In 1775 he -visited England ;
and it was triere perceived, of course
after the education he had received, that
he spoke and wrote the EngUsh language
with tolerable accuracy. In the war, which
commenced in that year, he attached him
self to the British cause. The barbarities,
attending the memorable destruction of
thebeautiful settlement of Wyoming in Ju
ly, 1778, have been ascribed to him by the
writers of American history and by Camp
bell in his poem, Gertrude of Wyoming ;
but Brant was not present in that mas
sacre: the Indians were commanded by
col. John Butler, a tory and refugee,
wriose rieart was more ferocious, than
that of any savage. Col. Brant, however,
was the undisjiuted leader of the band,
which in July 1779 destroyed the settle
ment of Minisink in Orange county. New
York, a few miles from West Point. In
June he left Niagara with about 300 war
riors of the 6 nations and a number of
tories for the purpose of destroying the
settlements upon the Delaware river.
On the 20th of July he appeared on the
west of Minisink and sent down a party,
which,after destroying tjie settlement, re
turned with their booty to the main body
at Grassy swamp brook. The next day
120 men assembled under the command
of a physician, col. Tusten, and marched

BRATTLE.

155

17 miles toward the enemy. In the morn
ing of July 22d col. Hathorn arrived and
took the command, and in a short time the
battle commenced and lasted the whole
day. The fire was irregular, from behind
trees and rocks, botri by trie Indians and
Americans, every man figriting in riis own
way. Brant and his whole force -were
engaged. About sunset our troops, hav
ing expended their ammunition, retreated
and were pursued by the savages. Dr.
Tusten, in a nook of rocks, had dressed
the wounds of 17 men, whose cries for
protection and mercy, when they heard
the retreat ordered, were piercing to the
soul ; but they all perisried, with Dr.
Tusten, under the Indian tomahawk.
On this day 44 Americans fell, some of
whom were the pride and flower of the
village of Goshen: among them were
Jones, Little, Duncan, Wisuer, Vail,
Townsend, and Knapp. Maj. Poppino,
who escaped, lived to nearly 100 years,
and was present with an assemblage of 10
or 12,000 people, when trieir bones were
buried July 22, 1 822. After the peace of
1783 Brant visited England, and passed
trie remainder of riis Ufe in upper Canada.
In 1785 rie in self defence kflled one of riis
sons, wrio in a fit of drunkenness had at
tempted his Ufe: in consequence of this
act he resigned his commission of captain
in the British service, and surrendered
himself to justice; but lord Dorchester,
the governor, would not accept his resig
nation. He sent his two sons, Joseph
and Jacob, in 1801 to the care of presi
dent Wheelock of Dartmouth college, to
be educated in Moor's school. He died
at his seat^n upper Canada, at the head
oflake Ontario, Nov. 24, 1807, aged 65.
His daughter married Wm. J. Kerr, Esq.
of Niagara in 1824.
His son, Jorin, an Indian chief, was in
England in 1822, and placed before trie
poet, Campbell, documents to prove that
his father was not present at the massa
cre of Wyoming, and that he was in fact
a man of humanity. After reading them
Campbell published a letter, in which he
recanted the charges of ferocity ,advanced
in his Gertrude ; but he assigns rather an

inadequate reason for this change in die
estimate of his character, namely, that
Brant enjoyed the friendship of some high-
minded British officers, which would not
have been trie case, had he been ferocious,
and destitute of amiable qualities. In
the war ofthe revolution he was doubtless
trie leader of savages, wrio took delight in
scalps : he was undeniably in command,
when thewounded of Minisink were butch
ered ; yet the slaughter may have occur
red entirely without his orders. Proba
bly riis subsequent intercourse with civili
zed men and reading the New Testament
may have softened riis character. I am
able to state, upon the authority of his
son Joseph, that as he lay in his bed and
looked at the sword, rianging up in his
bed room,with which he had killed his son,
he was accustomed to cry in trie sorrow
of riis rieart. He once proposed to write
a history of the 6 nations. He published
the Book of common prayer and the gos
pel of Mark, in the Moliawk and English
languages, 8vo. Lond. 1787.- The gospel
according to St. John, in Mohawk, enti
tled Nene Karighwiyoston tsiniriorighho-
ten ne Saint John, whicri is ascribed to
him in the Cambridge catalogue, was the
work of the chief, John Norton: it is
without date, but was printed at London
in 1807 or 1808 by the British and foreign
bible society, in an edition of 2,000 copies.
—Holmes, a. Z9i, 302 ; Mas. hist, col
X. 154; Phil trans, vol 76. 231; Panop
list, in. 323, 324; Weld's trav. n. 297 ;
Wheelock's narrative ; E. Argus, May
7, 1822.
BRATTLE, Thomas a respectable
merchant of Boston, was born Sept. 5
1757, and was graduated at Harvard
college in 167 6 and was afterwards treas
urer of that institution. He was a princi
pal founder of the church in Brattle
street, of which Dr. Colman was the
first minister. His death occurred May
18, 1 7 1 3, in the fifty sixth year ofhis age.
He was the brother in law of Mr. Pem
berton. Several of his communications
on astronomical subjects were published
in trie philosophical transactions. He
wrote an excellent letter, giving an

158

BR-ITTLE.

account ofthe witchcraft del usion in 1 692,
which is preserved in the hist, collections.
— Holmes, 1.511; Caiman's life. 42;
Collect, hist. soc. v. 61 — 79.
BRATTLE, William, minister of
Cambridge, Massa. brother of the pre
ceding, was born in Boston about the
year 1672, and was graduated at Har
vard college in 1680. He was after
wards for several years a tutor and a
fellow of that seminary. He exerted him
self to form his pupils to virtue and the
fear of God, punishing vice with the au
thority of a master, and cherisriing every
virtuous disposition with parental good
ness. When the smaU pox prevailed in
the coflege, he was not driven away in
terror ; but with benevolent courage re
mained at his post,& visited thesick,both
that he might administer to them relief,
and might impress upon them those
trutris, which were necessary to their
salvation. As he had never experienced
the disease, he now took it in the natu
ral way ; for the practice of inoculation
had not been introduced into America.
But the course of the disorder was mild
and he was soon restored to his usual
health. He was ordained pastor of the
church in Cambridge, as successor of Mr.
Gookin, Nov. 25, 1696, and after a use
ful ministry of 20 years died Feb. 15,
1717, aged 54. Farmer, with all his
accuracy, erroneously says March for
Feb. He was succeeded by Dr. Apple-
ton. His funeral was attended February
20, a day memorable for the great snow,
which then commenced, and which de
tained for several days at Cambridge the
magistrates and ministers, who were as
sembled on the occasion. The snow
was six feet deep in some parts of the
streets of Boston.
Mr. Brattle was a very reUgious, good
man, an able divine, and an excellent
scholar. Sucri was his reputation for
science, that he was elected a fellow of
the royal society. He was polite and
affably, compassionate and charitable.
Having a large estate, he distributed of
his abundance with a liberal hand ; but
bis charities were secret and silent. His

pacific spirit and his moderation were so
conspicuous, as to secure to him the res
pect of all denominations. So remark
able was his patience under injuries, and
such a use did he make ofthe troubles of
life, that he was heard to observe, that
he knew not how he could have spared
any of his trials. Uniting courage with
his humility, he was neither bribed by
the favor, nor overawed by the displeas
ure of any man. He was a man of great
learning and abilities, and at once a phi
losopher and a divine. But he placed
neither learning nor religion in unprofita
ble speculations, but in such solid and
substantial truth, as improves the mind
and is beneficial to the world. The
promotion of reUgion, learning, virtue,
and peace was the great object, in which
he was constantly employed. As he
possessed penetration and a sound judg
ment, his counsel was often sought and
highly respected. Such was his regard
to the interests of literature, triat he be
queathed to Harvard college 250 pounds,
besides a much greater sum in otrier
criaritable and pious legacies. With regard
to his manner of preaching. Dr. Colman
comparing him and Mr. Pemberton, who
died about the same time, observes ;
"they performed the public exercises in
the house of God with a great deal of
solemnity, though in a manner somewhat
different ; for Mr. Brattle was afl calm,
and soft, and melting , but Mr. Pember
ton was all flame, zeal, and earnestness."
The death of triis good man, after a
languishing disease, was peaceful and
serene. Hepublished a system of logic, entitled,
"compendium logicis secundum principia
D. Renati Cartesii plerumque effbrma-
tum et catechistice propositum." It
was held in high estimation, and lOTg
recited at Harvard college. An edition
of it was published in the year 1758. —
Holmes' hist. Cambridge ; Col. hist. soc.
vn. 32, 55—59 ; x. 168 ; Holmes, n, 94 ;
Boston news let. JVo.671; Farmer's reg.
BRATTLE, WilUam, a man of ex
traordinary talents and character, the son
ofthe preceding, was graduated at Har-

BRAXTON.

BREARLEY.

157

vard college in 1722. He was a repre
sentative of Cambridge in the general
Gourt,& was long a member ofthe coun
cil. He studied trieology and preached
with acceptance. His eminence as a
lawyer drew around him an abundance of
clients. As a physician his practice was
extensive and celebrated. He was also a
military man, and obtained the appoint
ment of major general of the miUtia.
While he secured the favor of the gover
nor of trie state,rie also ingratiated himseff
with the people. In his conduct triere
were many eccentricities. He was at
tached to the pleasures of the table. At
the commencement ofthe American revo
lution an "unhappy sympatriy in trie plans
ofgejleral Gage induced riim to retire in
to Boston, from which place he accompa
nied the troops to Halifax, where he died
in Oct. 1776. His first wife was the
daughter of gov. SaltonstaU; his second
was the widow of James Allen, & daugh
ter of col. Fitch. His son,Thomas Brat
tle, of Cambridge, died Feb. 7, 1801.—
Collect, hist. soc. vn. 58 ; vm. 82.
BRAXTON, Carter, a member of
congress in 1776, was the son of George
Braxton, a rich planter of Newington,
King and Queen's county, Virginia, born
Sept. 10, 1736. His mother was the
daughter of Rob. Carter of the council.
After being educated at WiUiam and Ma
ry college, he married and settled down
as an independent planter. On trie death
of his wife he visited England,& returned
in 1760. By his second wife, trie daugri
ter of Richard Corbin of Lanneville, he
had 16 children: she died in 1814, and
all the children but one were dead before
1829. In 1765 he became a member of
the liouse of burgesses, and was distin
guished for his patriotic zeal. In Nov.
1775 he was elected the successor of Pey
ton Randolph in congress, but continued
a member of that body only till the sign
ing of the declaration of independence.
During the remainder of his life he was
often a member ofthe legislature & coun
cil of Virginia. He died of the palsy Oct.
10, 1797. His talents were respectable ;
his oratory easy ; his manners pecuUarly

His last days were imbittered
by unfortunate commercial speculations,
& vexatious lawsuits: some of his friends,
his sureties, suffered with him. Though
in early life a gentleman of large fortune,
he found himself in his old age, by his
own imprudence, involved in inextricable
embarrassments. Happy are they, who
are wisely content with their lot and who
use liberally their wealth, not for dis
play, but for the purposes of a noble char
ity. — Goodrich's lives.
BRAY, Thomas, d.d., ecclesiastical
commissary for Maryland and Virginia,
was sent out by the bishop of London in
1699, and was indefatigable in his efforts
to promote religion in the colonies and a-
mong the Indians and negroes. Libraries
were instituted by him both for mission
aries and for parishes. He crossed the
Atlantic several times & spent the greater
part of his fife in these labors. Soliciting
the charities of others, he also in his dis
interested zeal contributed the whole of
his smaU fortune to the support of his
plans. Through his exertions parish
libraries were estabUshed in England, and
various benevolent societies in London
were instituted, particulary the society
for the propagation of the gospel in for
eign parts. He died Feb. 15, 1730, aged
73, leaving one daughter. He pubfished
a memorial on trie state of religion in
North America with proposals for the
propagation of refigion in the several pro
vinces ; circular letters to the clergy of
Maryland ; cursus catecheticus America-
nus, 1700 ; apostolic criarity ; bibliotheca
parochiafis; discourse pn the baptismal
cpvenant. BREARLEY, David, chief justice pf
New Jersey, was bprn in that state in
1763, and received the degree of A. M.
at Princeton in 1781. He attained to
great eminence at the bar. As a member
ofthe convention in 1787 he assisted in
forming the constitution of the United
States. Soon after he received the ap
pointment of judge, he died at his seat
near Trenton, Aug. 23, 1790, at the early
age of 26 years. He was appointed by
Washington in 1789 district judge for

158

BREBEUF.

BRECK.

New Jersey and was succeeded by Rob-
ertMorris. — Gen. Joseph Brearley diedat
Morristown in 1805, aged 93. Whether
he was the father of trie judge is not as-
certained,nor whetrier the judge was a de
scendant of Roger Breirly, who publisri
ed Bundle of soul-convincing truths,
Edinb. 1670.
BREBEUF, Jean de, a Jesuit mis
sionary among the Indians in Canada, ar
rived at Quebec in 1625. According to
Charlevoix he twice, when among the
Hurons, in a time of drought, obtain
ed rain in answer to his prayers. How
ever, taken prisoner by the Iroquois in
1649, he was cruelly put to death by
them, with his associate, father Lalle-
mant. Amidst trieir barbarities the sava
ges said to him, "You have assured us,
triat the more one suffers on earth trie
greater will be his happiness in heaven ;
out of kindness to you we therefore tor
ture you." At least Charlevoix reports,
that they said so. Brebeufwas 55 years
of age. He was the uncle of the poet of
Normandy, George de B. — He translated
into Huron an abridgment of the Chris
tian doctrine by Ledesma. This is an
nexed to Champlain's relation du voyage,
163Z.—Charlev. i. 294.
BRECK, Robert, a minister of Marl
borough, Mass., was bom in Dorchester
in 1682, the son of captain John Breck, a
very ingenious and worthy man, and
grandson of Edward Breck, a settler of
Dorchester in 1636. After his father's
death he was sent to Harvard college,
where he graduated in 1700. He was
ordained Oct. 25, 1704, as successor of
Mr. Brimsmead, and after a ministry of
26 years he died Jan. 6, 1731, aged 48.
His sucessors were Kent, Smitri, and
Packard. He left a wife and four crifl
dren. A daughter married Rev. Mr.
Parkman of Westborough. He was a
man of vigorous talents, of quick percep
tion, and tenacious memory, of solid
judgment, and extensive learning. So
great was riis skifl in the Hebrew, that
he read the bible out of it to his family.
He was also well versed in philosophy,
mathematics, antiquities, and history; and

his extensive knowledge he was always
ready to communicate for the instruction
of others. As a pastor he was prudent
and faithful: he was an orthodox, close,
methodical preacher. He was a strong
disputant ; a strenuous asserter of the
privileges of the churcries, and an oppo
nent of episcopal claims. United with
his piety, he possessed a singular courage
and resolution. Before his settlement he
preached some time on Long Island dur
ing the administration of gov. Cornbury,
when, tho' a young man,he boldly asserted
the principles ofthe nonconformists, not
withstanding the threatening & other ill
treatment, which he experienced. In
temper he was grave and meditative,yet at
times cheerful, and in conversation enter
taining. A perfect stranger to cove
tousness, he was ever hospitable and
charitable. In severe pain he was re
signed ; and his end was peace. So
great was the esteem, in which he was
held, that in his sickness a day of fasting
was kept for him Oct. 15, 1730, wrien
several ministers were present ; and on
his death sermons were preached by
Swift of Framingriam, Prentice of Lan
caster, and Loring of Sudbury. He pub
lisried an election sermon, 1728; the
danger of fairing away after a profession ;
a sacramental sermon, 1728. — Bost. w.
news letter, Jan. 21 ; Week, journ. Jan.
18; Loring' s serm.
BRECK, Robert, minister of Spring
field, Mass. was the son ofthe preceding,
and'was graduated at Harvard college in
1730. He was ordained Jan. 27, 1736.
His settlement occasioned an unhappy
controversy. It was alleged against him,
that he did not deem a knowledge of Je
sus Christ necessary to the salvation of
the heathen, and that he treated rightly
of trie atonement. A narrative relating
to riis ordination was published ; followed
by "an answer to the Hampshire narra
tive ;" and this by "a letter" to the author
of the narrative, in 1737. After a
ministry of 48 years he died April 23,
1784, aged 70. His superior intellectual
powers were enlarged by an extensive
acquaintance with men and books. He

BRECKENRIDGE.

BRENTON.

159

accustomed himself to a close manner of
thinking and reasoning. By diligent
application he acquired a rich fund of the
most useful knowledge. His disposition
was remarkably cheerful and pleasant,
and his conversation was entertaining and
instructive, sometimes enlivened by hu
mor, but always consistent with the sobri
ety of the christian and the dignity of the
minister. Hewas easy of access,hospitable,
compassionate, & benevolent. His sense
of riuman weakness and depravity led
riim to admire trie gracious provision of
the gospel, and he delighted to dwell upon
it in riis public discourses. His reUgious
sentiments rie formed on a careful exam
ination of trie scriptures. Steady to riis
own principles, he was yet candid towards
those, who differed from him. In his
last illness he spoke in trie riumblest terms
of himself, but professed an entire reliance
on divine mercy through the Mediator,
and he resigned himself to death with the
dignity of a christian. He published a
century sermon, preached at Springfield
Oct. 16,1775, one hundred years from the
burning of trie town by the Indians ; also
a sermon on the death of Rev. Dr. Ste
phen Wilfiams, 1782. — Lathrop' s funeral
sermon. BRECKENRIDGE, John, attorney
general ofthe United States, died at Lex
ington, Kentucky, Dec. 14, 1806. He
was elected a member of the senate in the
place of Humphrey Marshall, and took
his seat in 1801. In Jan. 1802 he submit
ted in the senate a resolution to repeal an
act of the preceding session respecting
the judiciary establishment of the United
States, by which sixteen new circuit
judges had been created. It was this res
olution, which called forth the most as
tonishing powers of argument and elo
quence. In 1803 Mr. Breckenridge dis
tinguished himself by supporting resolu
tions in relation to Spanish affairs of a
milder complexion, than those advocated
by Mr. Ross. After the resignation of
Mr. Lincoln of Mass. he was appointed
attorney general in his place.
BREED, Allen, one of the first settlers
of Lynn, Mass., was born in England in

1601 and arrived in this country in 1630,
probably in the Arabella at Salem
June 12. He was a farmer and lived in
the western part of summer street, Lynn,
possessing 200 acres of land. The viUage,
in which he resided, derived from him the
name of "Breed's End." He isone ofthe
grantees, named in 1640 in the Indian
deed of South Hampton, Long Island,
whicri was settled from Lynn by Rev.
Mr. Fitch and others. He died March
17, 1692, aged 91. The name of his
wife was Elizabeth ; and his children
were Allen, Timothy, Joseph, and John.
Of these Allen was living in 1692, when
it was voted by the town, that AUen
Breed, senior, "shouki sit in trie pulpit,"
with 7 others ; Joseph was then a select
man ; and John died 1678. The descend
ants in Lynn and other towns in Massa
chusetts are numerous ; from one of them
was derived trie name of Breed's hfll in
Charlestown, celebrated for the battle of
1 7 7 5, called by mistake the battle of B un-
ker's hfll, for the battle was fought on
Breed's not Bunker's hill. One of his
descendants at Lynn was col. Fred, B.,
an officer of the revolution, who died July
1820, aged 68. Among the descendants;
in Connecticut were Gershom Breed, an
eminent merchant of Norwich, and his
sons, Jorin M. Breed, mayor of trie city,
a graduate of Yale, 1768, Shubael Breed,
a graduate of 1778, and Simeon Breed, a
graduate of 1781. — Some of the descend
ants are in Pennsylvania. At New-Hope
in Bucks county there died in 1829 a pious
youth, aged 11 years,bearing the name of
the ancestor of all, Allen "Breed. He had
been for years a Sabbath scriool scriolar,
and received also from his parents reli
gious instruction. July 6 he trod upon a
nafl, in consequence of which he expired
on the I5th. He said to his mother, his
father being deceased, "I love you. Hove
WiUiam, I love all ; but I love Jesus
Christ better."-"I don't wish to get well ;
I had rather go to Christ." Andthus he
departed in christian peace.— -Lewis' hist.
Lynn, 25 ; Farmer's reg. ; Dwight's
trav. HI. 313.
BRENTON, William, governor of

160

BRESSANL

BREWSTER.

Rhode Island, was a representative of
Boston for several years from 1 635. Of
Rhode Island he was president between
1660 and 1661 and governor under the
charter from 1 666 to 1669 ; in both whicri
offices he succeeded Arnold and was suc
ceeded by him. He died in Newport,
1674. Several of his descendants held
important offices in the colony : they ad
hered to trie royal government at the rev
olution. A late admiral in the British
navy was a native of Newport. — Far
mer's reg.
BRESSANI, Francisco Giuseppe, a
Jesuit missionary, was a Roman by birth.
He toiled witri much zeal in his mission
among the Hurons in Canada, until it
was broken up. Having been taken cap
tive and tortured, he bore in riis mutilated
hands for the rest ofhis life trie proofs of
his sufferings. He died in Italy. In
1653 there was pubfished an account of
his mission in Italian, entitled. Breve re
latione d' ulcune missioni &c. — Charle
voix. BREWSTER, Wflliam, one ofthe
first settlers of Plymouth colony, and a
ruling elder of trie criurcri, was born in
England in the year 1560, and was edu
cated at the university of Cambridge,
where riis mind was impressed witri reli
gious trutri, and he was renewed by the
Spirit of God. After completing his
education he entered into the service of
WilUam Davison, ambassador of queen
Elizabeth in Holland. This gentleman,
who was friendly to religion, possessed
the highest regard for Mr. Brewster,
and reposed in him the utmost confidence.
He esteemed him as a son. Mr. Brews
ter in return proved himself not unworthy
of the friendship, wriicri he had experien
ced ; for when Davison, who had been
appointed secretary of state, incurred the
affected displeasure of the queen for
drawing, in compliance with her orders,
the warrant for the execution of Mary,
he did not forsake his patron. He remai
ned with him, and gave him what assis
tance it was in his power to afford, under
the troubles, with whicri it was trie policy
of Elizabeth to overwhelm the innocent

secretary in the year 1587. .When he
could no longer serve him, he retired to
the north of England among his old
friends. His attention was now criiefly occupied
by the interests of religion. His life was
exemplary, and it seemed to be his great
object to promote the highest good of
those around riim. He endeavored to
excite their zeal for holiness, and to en
courage triem in trie practice ofthe chris
tian virtues. As he possessed considera
ble property, he readily and abundantly
contributed towards the support of the
gospel. He exerted himself to procure
faithful preacriers for the parishes in the
neighborhood. By degrees he became
disgusted with the impositions of the
prelatical party, and trieir severity towards
men of a moderate and peaceable dispo
sition. As rie discovered mucri corrup
tion in the constitution, forms, ceremo
nies, and discipline of the established
criurcri, he thought it his duty to withdraw
from its communion, and to establish
with otriers a separate society. This
new criurcri, under trie pastoral care of
the aged Mr. Clifton and Mr. Robinson,
met on the Lord's days at Mr. Brewster's
house, where they were entertained at his
expense, as long as they could assemble
witriout interruption. Wrien at length
the resentment of trie hierarchy obliged
them to seek refuge in a foreign country,
he was the most forward to assist in the
removal. He was seized with Mr. Brad
ford in the attempt to go over to Holland
in 1607, and was imprisoned at Boston,
in Lincolnshire. He was the greatest
sufferer of trie company, because he had
the most property. Having with much
difficulty and^expense obtained his liberty,
he first assisted the poor ofthe society in
their embarkation, and then followed them
to Holland.
He had a large family and numerous
dependents ; and his estate was exhaust
ed. As his education had not fitted him
for mechanical or mercantile employments
he was now pressed with hardships. In
this exigency he found a resource in his
learning and abilities. He opened a school

BREWSTER.

161

at Leyden for Instructing the youth of
the city & ofthe university in the EngUsh
tongue ; and being familiar with the Lat
in, witri which they were also acquainted,
he found no impediment from the want of
a language common to both. By means
of a grammar, which he formed himself,
he soon assisted them to a correct know
ledge of the Engfish. By the help of
some friends he also set up a printing
press, and pubfished several books against
the hierarcriy, which could not obtain a
license for publication in England.
Such was his reputation in the criurcri
at Leyden, triat rie was chosen a ruling
elder, and he accompanied the members
of it, who came to New England in 1620.
He suffered with triem all trie hardships,
attending their settlement in the wilder
ness. He partook with them of labor,
hunger, and watching ; and riis bible and
his sword were equally familiar to him.
As the church at Plymouth was for several
years destitute of a minister, Mr. Brews-
ter,who was venerable for his character
and years, frequently officiated as a
preacher, though he could never be per
suaded to administer the sacraments.
According to trie principles of trie criurch,
the ruling elder, in trie absence of the
teaching elder or pastor, was permitted
to dispense the word. No regular
minister was procured before the year
1629, when Ralpri Smith was settled.
Previously to this period, the principal
care of trie criurch rested upon Mr.
Brewster, who preached twice every
Lord's day; and afterwards he occasional
ly exercised for the good of the criurcri
his talents in teaching. He died in trie
peace and hope of the christian April 16,
1 644,aged 83. His children were Patience,
Fear, Love, (a sdn). Wrestling, Joha-
than, Lucretia, WiUiam, Mary. — Jona-
trian removed to New London, thence to
Norwich, Con. , and died 1659. Love
was an inhabitant of Duxbury,
Through his whole fife he was remarka
bly ' teniperate.' He drank nothing but
water, until within the last five or six
years. During the famine, which was
experienced in the colony, he was resigned
21

and cheerfhl. When nothing but oysters &
clams were set on his table,he would give
thanks, that his family were permitted "to
suck oftrie abundance ofthe seas, & ofthe
treasures hid in the sand." He was social
& pleasant in conversation, of a humble &
modest spirit ; yet, when occasion requir
ed, courageous in administering reproof,
though witri such tenderness, as usually
to give no offence. He was conspicuous
for his compassion towards the distress
ed ; and if they were suffering for con
science sake, he judged them, of aU others,
most deserving of pity and relief. He
riad a peculiar abriorrence of pride. In
the government of the criurcri he was
careful to preserve order and the purity of
doctrine and communion, and to suppress
contention. He was eminent for piety.
In riis public prayers he was fiiU and com
prehensive, making confession of sin with
deep huraiUty, and supplicating with
fervor the divine mercy through the
merits of Jesus Christ. Yet he avoided
a tedious prolixity, lest he should damp
the spirit of devotion. In his dis
courses he was clear and distinguishing,
as weU as patrietit: ; and it pleased God to
give him uncommon success, so that ma
ny were converted by his ministry. At his
death he left what was called an excellent
library. It was valued at 43 pounds in
silver, arid a catalogue ofthe books is pres
erved in the colony records. ¦
The church at Plymouth, of which
Mr. Brewster was ruling elder, was
peculiar for the liberty of "prophesying"
or preaching, which was aUowed even
to such private members, as were "gift
ed." When governor Winthrop visit
ed Plymouth in 1632, in trie afternoon's
exercise of the Lord's day a question,
according to - custom, was propounded,
upon which a number of the "congrega
tion expressed their opinions, and the
governor of Massachusetts, being re
quested, "spoke to it" with the rest.
"The preachirientsof the gifted breth
ren," says Dr. Mather, "produced those
discouragements to the ministers, that
almost afl left the colony, apprehending
triemselves driven away by the neglect

162

BREWSTER.

and contempt, with which the people on
this occasion treated them." This church
admitted none to its communion without
either a written or oral declaration of
their faith and reUgious experience.
The scriptures were not read in public
nor was the psalm before singing, till in
compassion to a brother, who could not
read, one of the elders or deacons was
permitted to read it Une by line, after
it had been previously expounded by
the minister. No children were baptized,
unless one of the parents was in full
communion, and baptized children were
considered as subjects of ecclesiastical
discipline. While in Holland the Lord's
supper was administered every sabbath ;
but it was omitted in America till a
minister was obtained, and then it was
administered only once in a month. —
Belknap's Amer. biog. n. 252 — 256 ;
Collect, hist. soc. iv. 108, 113—117;
Morton, 153; Neal's N. E. i, 231;
Savage's Winthrop, i. 91 ; Magnalia, i,
14 ; Prince, 89.
BREWSTER, Nathaniel, minister of
Brookhaven, Long Island,was a graduate
of the first class of Harvard college in
1642. At first he was settled in the min
istry at Norfolk, England: on his return
to America he was settled at Brookhaven
in 1665, and died in 1690, lea-ving sons,
John, Timothy, and Daniel, whose de
scendants of respectable standing remain
on Long Island. — Farmer's register,
BRICKETT, John, published a work,
entitled, natural history of North Caroli
na, with cuts, Dublin, 1737.
BRIDGE, Thomas, minister ofthe
first church in Boston, was born at Hack
ney, England, & was graduated atHar
vard college in 1675; After visiting
Europe as a merchant, he became a min
ister. He first preached at Jamaica; then
at New Providence and Bermuda, and at
West Jersey. He was ordauied at Bos
ton as colleague with Mr. Wadsworth
May 10, 1705. He died suddenly of an
apoplexy Sept. 26, 1715, aged 58 years.
He was eminent for his christian virtues.
While he was upright in his deafings, he
was also meek and mild ; his heart was

BRIGHAM.
kind ; and he was humble & devout. He
was habitually serious. Though his tal
ents were not conspicuous, yet his
thoughts were always expressed in suit
able and manly language. In prayer he
was eminent. His intimate acquaintance
with the scriptures and the devotional
frame ofhis mind rendered his supplica
tions to the throne of grace very interes
ting. While he was himself exceedingly
desirous of doing good, free from every
particle of envy, he sincerely rejoiced in
the usefulness and respectability of others.
He was not desirous of honor, & so hum
ble was the opinion,which he had formed
of himself, that the expression ofhis hu
mility sometimes put to the blush those,
wrio were younger and more desirous of
distinction. He was diligent in study,
but his bible was his fibrary. To this
book he devoted his attention, and he
became weU acquainted with its important
truths. Such was his moderation, so
greatly was he desirous of peace, that it
was thougrit he was sometimes silent
when he ought to have spoken, and that
he yielded too much to others. He pub
lished the foflowing sermons ; at the ar
tUlery election, 1705 ; on the choice of the
town officers, 1710; on faith, 1713. —
Caiman's fun, serm,; Hist, col, in. 257.
BRIDGE, Josiah, second minister of
East Sudbury, Massa., was graduated at
Harvard college in 1758, and ordained
Nov. 4,1761 the successor of Wm. Cook,
who died Nov. 12, 1760, aged 63, in the
37th year of his ministry. Mr. Bridge
died June 20, 1801, aged 61, in the 40th
year of riis ministry, and was succeeded
by Joel Foster, who died in 181 2. Before
the division of the church the ministers of
Sudbury were E. Brown, Sherman, and
I. Loring. He was a popular preacher,
with a clear, loud voice. His convention
sermon in 1792 and Dudleian lecture in
1797 were not printed. He published the
election sermon, 1789 — Col. hist, soc.s.s.
IV. 61 ; Palladium, June ^6th.
BRIGHAM, Paul, fieut. gov. of Ver
mont, died at Norwich, June 16, 1824,
aged 79. For 4 years he was a captain
in the war of independence j 5 years high

BRIMSMEAD.

BROCK.

163

sheriff of Windsor county ; 5 years chief
judge ofthe county court ; and 22 years
fieut. governor. His various duties he
discharged to the acceptance of his fellow
citizens, till the infirmities of age admo
nished him to retire from the public ser
vice. — Farmer's col. in. ap, 64.
BRIGHT, Francis, first minister in
Charlestown, Mass. was a pupil of the
famous Mr. Davenport. He arrived at
Naumkeag, or Salem, in June 1629, in
company with Mr. Skelton and Mr. Hig-
ginson. Disagreeing in judgment with
his two brethren, he removed to Charles
town. After tarrying here a little more
than a year and finding, that the people
were disposed to carry the reformation to
a greater length, than he thought was ne
cessary, he returned to England in 1630.
He was succeeded by Mr. Wilson —
Morse and Parish's N. E., 74; Morton,
82; Prince, 184,188.
BRIMSMEAD, William, first minis
ter of Marlborough, Mass., was a native
of Dorchester and probably the son of
John Brimsmead, who lived in Dorches
ter in 1 638, and who had a son, John,
born 1640. The name is the same as
Brinsmead, as it was written in 1752 in
the last will of John Brinsmead of
MUford, one of whose daughters married
Dr. Wheelock ; and the same as Brins-
made, as it was written by Daniel Natha
niel B. of Woodbury in 1777 and as it is
written at the present day. He was edu
cated at Harvard college, but never recei
ved a degree. He with others ofhis class,
being displeased with a vote of the corpo
ration, requiring the students to reside
four years at Cambridge instead of three,
left the institution in 1647. He was
employed as a preacher at Plymouth in
1665. At Marlborough he preached as
early as Sept. 1660, though he was not
ordained till Oct. 3, 1666. As he was
preaching, Sunday, March 20, 1676, the
assembly was dispersed by an outcry of
"Indians at the door." All reached the
fort safely, except one man, who was
wounded. The meeting house and many
dwelUng houses were burnt. He died
July 3, 1701, and was succeeded by Mr.

Breck. He was never married. He is
represented as a well accomplished servant
of Christ. He published the election ser
mon, 1681. — Among the papers, made
use of by Prince in compiling his annals,
was a journal in latin kept by Mr. B. from
1665 to 1695 inclusively. — Cal. hist. soc.
V. 47, 122; ix. 179; x. 89.
BROCK, John, minister of Reading,
Massachusetts, was born in England in
1620, and was distinguished for early
piety. He came to this country about the
year 1637. He was graduated at Har
vard college in 1646, and, after residing
there two years longer,engaged in preach
ing the gospel, first at Rowley and then
at the isle of Shoals. He continued at
this last place till 1662, when he removed
to Reading,as successor of Samuel Hough,
being ordained Nov. 13, 1662. Here he
ministered in holy things tifl his death June
18, 1688, aged 67. Hewas succeeded
by Mr. Pierpont. His wife was the
widow of Mr Hough.
Mr. Brock was an eminent christian,
and a laborious, faithful minister, preach
ing not only on the sabbath, but frequent
ly on other days. He established lectures
for young persons, and for the members
of the church. He often made pastoral
visits, and they were rendered very useful
by his happy talents in conversation. He
was so remarkable for hoUness & devotion,
that it was said of him by the celebrated
MitcheH,"he dwells as near heaven,as any
man upon earth." He was full of faith
and of the Holy Ghost. Several remar
kable stories are related of the efficacy of
his prayers, in which he frequently had a
particular faith, or an assurance of being
heard. When he lived at the isle of
Shoals, he persuaded the people to enter
into an agreement to spend one day in
every month, besides the sabbaths, in re
ligious worship. On one of these days
the fishermen, who composed his society,
desired him to put off the meeting, as the
roughness of the weather had for a num
ber of days prevented them from attend
ing to their usual employment. He en
deavored in vain to convince them of the
impropriety of their request. As most

164

BROCK.

BROMFIELD.

of them Were determined to seize the op
portunity for making up their lost
time, and were more interested in
their worldly than in their spiritual con
cerns, he addressed them trius ; "if you
are resolved to neglect your duty to God,
and wfll go away, I say unto you, catch
fish if you can ; but as for you, who will
tarry and worship the Lord Jesus Christ,
I will pray unto him for you, that you
may catch fish until you are weary."
Of triirty five men only five remained
with the minister. The 30, wrio went
from the meeting, with all their skill
caught trirougri the whole day but four
fishes ; while trie five, wrio attended di
vine service, afterwards went out and
caugrit 500. From triis time trie fisher
men readily attended all the meetings,
which Mr. Brock appointed. A poor
man, who had been very useful with his
boat in carrying persons, who attended
public worship, over a. river, lost his boat
in a storm, and lamented riis loss to riis
minister, Mr. Brock said to him, "go
home, honest man, I will mention the
matter to the Lord ; you will have your
boat again tomorrow." The next day,
in answer to earnest prayer, trie poor man
recovered riis boat, wriicri was brought
up from the bottom by the anchor of a
vessel, cast upon it witriout design. A
number of sucri remarkable corresponden
ces between trie events of ptovidence and
trie prayers of Mr. Brock caused Mr.
John Allen of Dedham to say of him, "I
scarce ever knew any man so famiUar
with great God, as his dear servant
Brock." — Mather's magnalia, iv. 141
143; Coll hist. soc. vn. 251-254; Stone's
fun. serm. on Prentiss; Fitch's serm, at
ihe ordination of Tucke.
BROCK, Isaac, maj. general in the
British army, captured gen. Hull and riis
whole army at Detroit -A.ug. 16, 1812.
He afterwards proceeded to the Niagara
frontier, and was killed in the battle of
¦Qeenstown, Oct. iStri. He was rallying
riis troops, which had been put to flight
by a desperate charge of col. Chrystie,
when he was pierced by three balls. He
¦was a brave and generous officer. Du

ring his funeral the guns ofthe American
fort were fired as a token of respect. —
Brackenridge's hist. laar. 73,
BROECK, Abraham Ten, a patriot
ofthe revolution, was the president oftrie
convention of the state of New York in
1776 and signed their eloquent address,
dated at Fisri-Kill Dec. 21, which was
written by John Jay. In Oct. 1781 he
was the mayor oftrie city of Albany and
communicated to gen. Heatri a vote of
trianks for trie protection he had affor
ded the city. He died at Albany Jan.
1810, aged 76. — Jorin Ten Broeck, wrio
died at Albany in Dec. 1822, aged 84,
was also a patriot of the revolution and
held various public offices, while he adorn
ed in private fife his Christian profession.
Amer. rememb. 1777, p. 53; Heath,
320. BROMFIELD, Edward, an eminent
merchant in Boston, was born in Novem
ber 1695. His father, Edward, was a
member of the council ; his mother was
the eldest daugriter of Rev. Mr. Dan-
fortri of Roxbury. By means of rier in
structions and trie instructions of riia
grandmotrier, a daugriter of Mr. Wilson
of Boston, riis mind in early life was deep
ly impressed by religious truth. His
whole Ufe was conscientious, upright,and
holy. He sustained several important
trusts, and with incorruptible integrity
sought the public good. He was a rep
resentative of his native town in the gen
eral court from the year 1739 to 1743 ; &
he would have been continued, as col
league with bis brother in law, Thomas
Gushing, but rie preferred the humbler
station of overseer of trie poor, in which
office he remained twenty one years suc
cessively. He died April 10, 1756, aged
60. His daugriter, Sarah, married Jere
miah Powell, a member of the council.
His son, col. Henry Bromfield, a mer
chant in Boston, passed his last days at
Harvard, where he died Feb. 9, 1820,
aged 92: his daughter married Daniel D.
Rogers of Boston. Mr. Bromfield was
eminent for his christian virtues. In his
intercourse with others he was open,
friendly, pleasant, and repiarkable for

BROMFIELD.

BROOKS.

165

candor. Attached to the ancient princi
ples of New England, he loved the most
zealous and awakening ministers ; he
worshipped the Most High in his family;
he partook of the supper of his Lord and
Master with the humblest reverence and
the most ardent gratitude and love. In
his last sickness so deep was the sense of
his unworthiness and guilt, that he en
joyed little composure till just before his
death, when his apprehensions were in a
great measure removed. In his most de
sponding moments he ever justified the
ways of God. — Prince's fun. serm.; Bos
ton gaz., Apr. 19, 1756.
BROMFIELD, Edward, a young
man of uncommon genius, the son ofthe
preceding, was born in Boston in
1723. He was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1742. He lived but a short time
to display his virtues and riis talents, for
he died Aug. 18, 1746, aged twenty three
years. From his childhood he was very
amiable and modest. As rie grew up, the
powers ofhis mind were unfolded, and he
discovered remarkable ingenuity and pene
tration, which were strengthened and in
creased as he became acquainted with
mathematical science. His : genius first
appeared in the use ofthe pen, by which
with admirable exactness he sketched trie
objects of nature. He made himself so
familiar with Weston's short hand, that
he was able to take down every word of
the professor's lectures at the college, and
the sermons, which were delivered from
the pulpit. He was skilful in projecting
maps. As he was well skilled in music,
he for exercise and recreation made with
his own hands an excellent organ, with
two rows of keys and several hundred
pipes. The workmanship exceeded any
thing ofthe kind, which had been impor
ted from England. He took peculiar
pleasure in pursuits, which related to nat
ural philosophy, for he wished to behold
the wisdom of God in his works. He
made great improvement in the micro
scopes, which were then used, most accu
rately grinding the finest glasses, and mul
tiplying the powers of optical instruments.
He met witri no mechanism, which he

did not readily improve. But these were
only the amusements of Mr. Bromfield.
He was engaged in the pursuits of higher
and more interesting objects, than those,
which had reference only to the earth and
could bccupy the mind but a few days.
Though from childhood he pcissessed the
virtues, which endeared him to his
acquaintance , yet it was not before he
reached the age of 17, that hewas con
verted by trie influence of the divine
Spirit from his natural state of selfishness
and iniquity to the supreme love of his
Maker. From this period the truths of
revelation claimed his intense study, and
it was his constant aim to conform riis fife
to trie requisitions of the gospel. Noth
ing interested him so much, as the char
acter of Jesus Christ and the wonders of
redemption, whicri rie hoped would excite
his admiration in the future world,"and
constitute his everlasting blessedness.
He left behind him a number of manu
scripts, which contained his pious medita
tions, and marked his progress towards
perfection. Thou gh his body was feeble,
his whole soul was indefatigable. In riis
eyes triere was an expression of intellect,
which could not be mistaken. Had his
life been spared, his name might have
been an honor to his country, and philo
sophy might have been dignified by a
connexion with genuine religion. 
Prince's ac. of Bromfield; Panoplist, n.
193-197. BROOKS, Eleazer, a brigadier gen
eral, was bornin Concord, Mass., in 1726,
and was a descendant of capt. Thomas
Brooks, a settler of Concord in 1636,
who died May 22, 1667. Without the
advantages of education he acquired a
valuable fund of knowledge. It was his
practice in early life to read the most ap
proved books, and then to converse with
the most intelligent men respecting them.
In 1774 he was chosen a representative
to the general court and continued 37
years in pubhc Ufe, being successively a
representative, a member of the senate,
and of the councfl. He took a decided
part in the American revolution. At the
head of a regiment he was engaged in the

166

BROOKS.

battle at White Plains in 1776, and distin
guished himself by his cool, determined
bravery. From the year 1801 he seclu
ded himself in the tranqufl scenes of do
mestic life. He diedat Lincoln, Nov. 9,
1806, aged 80 years. Gen. Brooks pos
sessed an uncommonly strong and pene
trating mind, and his judgment ' as a
statesman was treated with respect. He
was diligent and industrious, slow in con
certing, but expeditious in performing his
plans. He was a firm believer in the
doctrines of criristianity and in his advan
ced years accepted the office of deacon in
the church at Lincoln. This office he
ranked above all others, which he had sus
tained in life. — Steam's fun. ser.; Co
lumb. cent. Nov. 22, 1806.
BROOKS, John, ll.d. , governor of
Mass., was born at Medford in 1752.
His fatrier was capt. Caleb B., a farmer ;
and his early years were spent in the
tofls of a farm, with no advantages of edu
cation, but those of a town schook At
the age of 14 by a written indenture as
an apprentice for seven years he was
placed under the tuition of Dr. Simon
Tufts. At this period he formed a friend
ship with his fellow student, count Rum-
ford. While studying medicine he also
exhibited a fondness for mflitary exercises,
forming the vfllage boys into companies
and training them. Commencing the
practice of physic at Reading, he took
the command of a company of minute
men, for the drilling of whom he acquired
some skifl by observing the trainings of
the British soldiers in Boston. On the
news of the expedition to Lexington
April 19,1775 he instantly marched; and,
meeting the British force returning from
Concord, he ordered his men to place
themselves behind the barns and fences
and to fire continually upon the enemy.
He soon received the commission of major
in the army. He entered the service ef
his cpuntry with an excellent character
and a high sense of moral rectitude. On
the evening ofJunel6thhe assisted in
throwing up the fortifications at Breed's
hfll ; but next morning being despatched
by col. Prescott with a message to gen.

Ward at Cambridge, and being obfiged,
for the want of ahorse, to go on foot, he
did not participate in the memorable battle
of the 17th June. In 1777 he was ap
pointed lieut. colonel. He accompanied
Arnold in August 1777 against col. St.
Leger on the Mohawk, and suggested to
Arnold the successful project of dispersing
the Indians by sending out one Cuyler to
spread an exaggerated account of our for
ces. In the battle of Saratoga,Oct,7,atthe
head of his regiment he stormed and car
ried the intrenchments of the German
troops. In the battle of Monmouth he
was acting adjutant general. When the
conspiracy at Newburgh in March 1783
had wefl nigh disgraced the army, Wash
ington rode up to Brooks and requested
him to keep his officers within 'quarters
to prevent their attending the insurgent
meeting ; the reply was, "sir, I have an
ticipated your wishes, and my orders are
given." With tears iri his eyes Wash
ington took him by the hand and said,
" colonel Brooks, this is just what I ex
pected from you."
From the army Brooks returned to pri
vate life, free from the vices incident to
soldiership, rich in honor, esteem, and af
fection, but without property and without
the means of providing for his family, ex
cept by resuming his profession. His aged
and infirm teacher. Dr. Tufts, resigned
his business into the hands of his pupil.
For many years he was major general of
the mifitia of his county, and he estab
lished excellent discipline, for which dur
ing the whole war he had been distin
guished. As a member of the convention
he advocated the adoption of the constitu
tion of the United States. By Washing
ton he was appointed marshal of the dis
trict and inspector ofthe revenue ; in the
war of 1812 he was appointed adjutant
general of Massachusetts by gov. Strong,
whom he succeeded as chief magistrate
in 1816. For 7 years successively he
was re-elected ; and with great dignity
and faithfulness he presided over the af
fairs of the commonwealth. In 1816 he
retired to private life, being succeeded by
William Eustis. He died March 1,

BROOME.

BROWN.

167

1825, aged 72 years. His wife died many
years before. His only daughter, Lucy,
the wife of Rev. George 0. Stuart of
Kingston, upper Canada, died Dec. 1814;
and his son, John, a lieutenant in the
navy,of youthful beauty & generous en-
terprise,fell in the battle of Lake Erie Sep.
10,1813, on board Perry's flag ship, Law
rence. One son, maj. Alexander S.
Brooks, of the army of the U. S. survived
him. Gov. Brooks held a higri rank as a priy
sician. He was scientific and skillul.
His manners were dignified, courteous,
and benign ; and his kind offices were
doubled in value by the manner, in whicri
he performed them. In the office of
chief magistrate he labored incessantly for
the public good. His addresses to the
legislature manifested large and liberal
views. No one could doubt his integrity
and devoted patriotism. He was the
governor of the people ; not of a party.
In his native town, of whicri he was the
pride, the citizens were accustomed to re
fer their disputes to his arbitrement, so
that lawyers could not thrive in Medford.
In private fife he was most amiable and
highly esteemed, the protector and friend
ofhis numerous relatives, and the deUght
of all his acquaintance. The sweetness
of his temper was evinced by the compo
sure and complacency of his countenance.
Towards the close of his life he connected
himself with the church in Medford un
der the pastoral care of Dr. Osgood. A
short time before he died, he said, "I see
nothing terrible in death. In looking to
trie future I have no fears. I know in
whom I have believed ; and I feel a per
suasion, that all the trials appointed me,
past or present, will result in my future
-and eternal happiness. — I look back upon
my past life with humiUty. lam sensible
of many imperfections, that cleave to me.
I know, that the present is neither the
season nor the place, in which to begin
the preparation for death. Our whole
hfe is given us for this great object, & the
work of preparation should be early com
menced, and be never relaxed tifl the end
of our days.>— To God I can appeal, that

it has been my humble endeavor to serve
him in sincerity, and wherein I have failed,
I trust in his grace to forgive. I now
rest my soul on the mercy of my adorable
creator, through the only mediation of
riis Son, our Lord. — Oh, what a ground
of hope is triere in that saying of an apos
tle, that God is in Christ reconciling
a guUty world to himself, not imputing
their trespasses unto them i" — In God I
have placed my eternal all ; and into his
hands I commit my spirit !" — To the med
ical society he bequeathed his library.
— Besides his valuable official communica
tions as chief magistrate, he published a
discourse before the humane society, 1795;
discourse on pneumonia, before the med
ical society, 1808. — Thacher's med. biog.
197-207; Dixwell's memoir; Columb,
Centinel, May 18, 1825.
BROOME, John, lieut. gov. of New
York, and president of the Senate, was
an eminent merchant and for many years
at the head of various commercial, char
itable, and reUgious institutions. In 1777
he was a member of the convention,
which framed the constitution of New
York. In 1804 he was elected lieut. gov.;
and he died Aug. 8, 1810, aged 82.
BROWN, Chadd, minister of Provi
dence, R. I. fled thitrier from persecution
ill Massachusetts in 1636, and became
in 1639 one ofthe members of the bap
tist church, then formed by Roger
Williams, when Wm. Wickenden was
appointed first elder. With him Mr.
Brown was associated in the pastoral care
ofthe criurcri in 1642. He died about
1665; & his coUeaguein 1669. In 1792 trie
town of Providence voted to erect a
menu ment to his memory. His descend
ants for nearly two centuries have been
among the most distinguished citizens,
of Rhode Island. His grandson, James
Brown, was a minister of the same
criurch ; and four of the grandsons of
James have been patrons of Brown
university; — Nicholas; Joseph, ll.d.
who died Dec. 1785 ; John, an eminent
merchant, who died Sept. 20, 1803, aged
67 ; and Moses. Probably also Elisha
was a grandson, who was lieutenant

168

BROWN.

governor and died in Aprfl 1802, aged
85. — Col. hist. soc. s. s. ix. 197.
BROWN, Edmund, trie first minister
of Sudbury, Massa., came from England
in 1637, was ordained, Aug. 1640, over
the 18th criurcri in Massa., and died June
22, 1677. He sustained a good charac
ter and was a man of distinction in his
day. His successors were James Sher
man, who was dismissed in 1705 ; Israel
Loring, who died March 9, 1772, aged
89 ; and Jacob Biglow, and Trinothy
HiUiard. BROWN, John, minister of Haver
hill, Massa., was born in Brighton and
w-as graduated in 1714, and ordained the
successor of Joshua Gardner May 13,
111-9. He died Dec. 2, 1742, aged 46,
being greatly esteemed for his learning,
piety, and prudence, and was succeeded
by Edward Barnard. By his wife, Jo
anna, daughter of Rev. Roland Cotton,
he had four sons, educated at Cambridge,
3 of whom were ministers, namely, John
of Cohasset, who graduated in 1741 and
died Sept. 21, 1791 ; Cotton of Brook
hne, who graduated in 1743 and died
Apr. 13, 17-51 ; and Thomas of Stroud-
water, who graduated in 1752 and died
in 1797, Of his three daughters one
Hiarried John Chipman of Marblehead,
and aaother Rev. Edward Brooks of
North Yarmouth and Medford, father of
Peter C. Brooks. He published a ser
mon on the death of Tho. Symmes,
1726. — Mass. hist, col s. s. iv. 142.
BROWN, John, col., a distinguish-
«i officer in trie revolutionary war, was
born in Sandisfield, Berkshire county,
Mass., Oct. 19, 1744. His parents re
moved from Woodstock, Con., first to
Brimfield, then to Granville, and to Sand
isfield, and last to Rutland, Vermont. Af
ter graduating at Yale college in 1771, he
studied law with Oliver Arnold in Provi
dence, and commenced the practice at
Caghnawaga,now Johnstown, New York,
and was appointed king's attorney. How
ever, in a short time, aboutthe year 1773,
he removed to Pittsfield, where there was
then but one lawyer, Woodbridge Littie.
But these two men of the law riad very

different notions of patriotism. Mr.
Brown was resolved to hazard every
thing in resistance of oppression. Bold
and prudent and having a fine personal
appearance, he was selected by the state
committee of correspondence in 1774 for
the hazardous enterprise of going to
Canada to excite the people to revolt.
He went in the spring of 1774 & returned
in the autumn, and went again in 1775.
His pretence was the purchase of riorses ;
but the Canadians remarked, that he was
a singular jockey, for the horses never
suited him. Once indeed the house, in
which he lodged, was assailed ; but he
made his escape. He was delegate to the
provincial congress Feb. 15, 1775.-^Im-
mediately after the battle of Lexington
some gentlemen in Connecticut formed
the project of taking Ticonderoga by sur
prise. Capts. Edward Mott and Noah
Phelps of Hartford marched April 29th
privately with 1 6 unarmed men. Arriv
ing at Pittsfield, they communicated the
project to Mr. Brown and col. James
Easton ; also to Arnold, who was then
at Pittsfield. These gentlemen instantly
engaged in the affair, and led by Arnold
they captured the fort of Ticonderoga
May 10th. Mr. Brown was intrusted
with the business of conveying away the
prisoners, amounting to 100, and was al
so sent as express to the general congress
at Phfladelphia, where he arrived May
17th. In July he and Allen were des
patched through the woods into Canada
to assure the Canadians, that their reli
gion and liberties should not be impaired
by the approaching army. On the 24th
of Sept. he took fort Chamblee. The
next day Allen,who expected the co-oper
ation of Brown, marched upon Montreal,
but was attacked by a superior force and
was taken prisoner. As this was an expe
dition unauthorized by any higher au
thority, Allen was treated with great se
verity. While Arnold was before Quebec maj.
Brown arrived from Sorrel and joined
him: Montgomery had arrived two days
before. In the attack on Quebec, Dee.
31st,maj.Brownwitha part of a regimeat

BROWN.

169

of Boston troops was directed to co-ope
rate by making a false attack upon the
walls to the south of St. John's gate and
to set fire to the gate with combustibles
prepared for the purpose. He executed
his part in the enterprise: col. Livingston,
owing to the depth ofthe snow, failed in
his. In this assault Montgomery fell.
The congress Aug. 1, 1776 voted him a
commission of heut. colonel, with rank
and pay in the continental army from
Nov. 1775. In Dec. 1776 he conducted
a regiment of mflitia to fort Independence.
After the defeat of col. Baum at Benning
ton, in 1777, he was despatched by gen.
Lincoln from Pawlet to the north end of
Lake George with 500 men to relieve our
prisoners. By marching aU 'night he
attacked the enemy at break of day Sept.
I7th at the landing, 3 miles from Ticon
deroga ; set at hberty 100 of our men ;
made.prisoners of 293 ; took the landing,
mount Defiance, mount Hope, trie
French fines, and the block house ; 200
batteaux, an armed sloop, several gun
boats, a few cannon, and a vast quantity
of plunder. His letter to Gates Sept. 18
describes his success, which tended to
raise trie spirit of trie troops and to excite
trie mflitia to join their brethren. After
this exploit he joined the main army. In
the next month Burgoyne was captured.
Soon after this event col. Brown retired
from the service on account ofhis detesta
tion of Arnold. In the campaign in Can
ada in 1776 he had become acquainted
with his character ; and it is remarkable,
that at triis period, 3 years before the
treason of Arnold, col. Brown pubUshed
ahand bfll of 13 or 14articles against him
in the heigrit of his ,fame, charging him
with levying contributions on the Cana
dians for his own private use and benefit.
He said, that Arnold would prove a trai
tor, for rie riad sold many'a life for money.
The people of La Prairie had submitted
on the promise of good quarters ; but
their viUage was plundered and burnt, and
lives were destroyed. After this col.
Brown was employed occasionally in the
Massachusetts service. He was chosen a
member of the general court in 1778.
22

In the faU of 1780 he marehed up trio
Moriawk, for trie relief of gen. Schuyler,
but was led by a traitor into an ambuscade
of Canadians, tories, and Indians at Stone
Arabia, in Palatine, and was slain on his
birth day, Oct. 19, 1780, aged 36 years.
Forty five of his men, many of whom
marched from Berkshire trie week before,
were also killed. Trie same day at Fox's
mills gen. Van Rennselaer defeated the
same party under sir John Johnson.
This force had destroyed Schoriarie. —
Col.Brown's daughters marriedWm. But
ler, printer, Northampton, and Dr. Hook
er of Rutland, Vt. His son, Henry C.
Brown, has been for years the sheriff of
Berkshire. — When rie was in Albany on
riis way to Stone Arabia, col. Brown riad
the curiosity to call upon Ann Lee, then
in prison, the motrier of the Shakers; and
he assured rier, by way of pleasantry, triat
on riis return he should join her society.
About a fortnight after his death two
grave looking shakers proceeded from
Albany to Pittsfield, and presented them
selves before the widow of col.Brown,say-
ing, that triey came from motrier Ann
witri this message to her, that her rius-
band in spirit, since his death, riad come
and joined mother Ann's company and
had given express orders, that his widow
should also join the society. But mother
Ann, with all her art, did not in this case
find a dupe. Mrs.Brown,who is stifl living,
trie wife of capt. Jared Ingersoll, and who
gave me this narrative, bid the stupid
messengers go about their business. Yet
this motherAnn is now by multitudes re
garded as a divinely commissioned teach
er of true religion and the way to heaven.
When will rational men cease to yield up
their understandings to gross and palpa
ble imposture, fike that of Ann Lee and
Emanuel Swedenborg? It will never be,
untfl they are wiUing to receive the truth
of God from his word and to obey his com
mands. — Hist, Berkshire, 119, 122, 378;
Amer, remem. 1777.458; Col, hist, soc,
II. 56, 117, 1-97 ; s.». ii.24, 243; in. 286.
BROWN, Joseph, professor of ex
perimental philosophy in the college of
R. Ldied Deo. 3, 1785, aged 52. He

iro

BROWN.

was distinguished for skfll in mechanical
science ; being the first in this country
to construct and apply the British inven
tion of the steam engine.
BROWN, Nicholas, an eminent mer
chant of Rriode Islarid, died at Providence
May29,1791,aged61. He was the grand
son of James Brown, minister ofthe bap
tist church in Providence; and James was
the grandson of Chadd Brown, a minis
ter of trie same criurch, after Roger
Wilfiams, in 1642. From early
youth his attention had been directed to
mercantile pursuits, and by the divine
blessing upon his diUgence and upright
ness he acquired a very ample fortune.
But althougri he was rich he did not
make an idol of his wealth. His heart was
liberal, and he Ustened to every call of
humanity or science. The interests
of government, of learning, of religion
were dear to him. He loved his coun
try, and rejoiced in her freedom. The
pubhc buildings in Providence, sacred to
reUgion and science, are monuments of
his liberality. He was an early and con
stant patron of the college. In his reli
gious principles he was a baptist, and he
was a lover of good men of all denomina
tions. He was not ashamed of the gos
pel, nor of the poorest of the true disci
ples of the Redeemer. His general
knowledge & the fruitfulness ofhis inven
tion furnished him with an inexhaustible
fund of entertaining conversation. — Still-
man's fun. serm; Providence gaz.
BROWN, Andrew, editor ofthe Phi
ladelphia gazette, was born in Ireland
about the year 1744. He came to Amer
ica in 1773 as a soldier in the British regi
ment ; but he quitted the service and set
tled in Massachusetts. He engaged in
the American cause at trie commencement
of the war, and displayed great courage in
the battles of Lexington and Bunker's
hill. He was also a useful officer in the
northern army under general Gates. At
the close ofthe war rie establisried an ac
ademy for young ladies in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, on a very liberal and exten
sive plan. He afterwards removed to
Philadelphia, where he pursued the same

object; but as his employment didnot
well accord with a very irritable temper,
he relinquished it. He now established the
Federal gazette,the first number of which
was pubfished Oct. 1, 1788. The present
government of the United States had not
then commenced, and his paper was the
channel, through which some ofthe most
intelUgent friends of the constitution ad
dressed the public. He pursued his task
with indefatigable industry ; but difficul
ties pressed upon him, and he seemed to
have littie prospect of deriving much pe
cuniary advantage from his paper, before
the city was visited with the yellow fever
in 1793. As he remained in Philadelphia
during the ravages of the pestflence, and
continued his gazette, when the other
daily papers were suspended, he derived
from triis circumstance an increase of pat
ronage; which at length rewarded his la
bors. His exertions were not relaxed
through his success ; but changing the
name of his paper to that ofthe Phfladel
phia gazette, and resolving, that it should
not be devoted exclusively to any politi
cal sect, but should be open to discussions
from every side,he made it a correct vehi
cle ofimportant intelUgence. The profits
of riis estabfishment were now great, and
he was in the midst of prosperity, when
it pleased God to overwhelm him with
ruin. His house took fire by means of
hisoffice, whicri was one part of it,Jan.27,
1797, and in an unsuccessful attempt to
rescue riis family from the flames he was
so much burned, that he survived but a
few days. His wife and three children
were next day committed to a common
grave, and the next Saturday, Feb. 4,
1797, his spirit followed them into another
world. The only survivor of the family
was a son, born in Ireland of a former
wife, who became one of the proprietors
ofthe gazette,after the death ofhis father.
— Hardie's biog. diet.; Monthly mag,
1797. 71,72.
BROWN, Moses, a brave officer in
the navy ofthe United States, died ofan
apoplectic fit January 1, 1804, aged 62
years. "During the last 48 years ofhis
life he followed the profession of a mariner.

BROWN.

171

In the revolutionary war his reputation
gained him the command of several ofthe
largest private armed ships from New
England. In these stations he was zea
lous, brave, and successful. He was enga
ged in several severe battles with the ene
my. When the small American navy
was estabUshing a number of years after
the war, the merchants of Newburyport
built a ship by subscription for the govern
ment, and obtained the command of her
for captain Brown. His advanced age
had not impaired his skill, nor deprived
him of his zeal and activity. While he
commanded the Merrimac, he was as en
terprising and successful as formerly.
When the reduction of the navy took
place, he was dismissed from office ; but
his finances did not allow him to retire
from business, and he followed till his
death his accustomed avocation. — N, E,
repertory, Jan. 14, 1804.
BROWN, William Hill, a poet, died
at Murfreesborough, N. Carolina, where
he was studying law, Sept. 2, 1793, aged
27. He wrote a tragedy, founded on trie
death of Andre, and a comedy. His
Ira and Isabella was published in 1807.
BROWN, Samuel, M. B., a phy
sician in Boston, was the son ofan inn
keeper of the same name, and was born
at Worcester, Massa., in 1768. He
graduated at Harvard college in 1793 ;
obtained the degree of M. B. in 1797 ;
and died at Bolton in Jan. 1805 aged 36.
His wife was a daughter of Dr. Jeffries.
He lost a brother by the yellow fever of
1798. Dr. Brown was very much re
spected and promised to be distinguished
in his profession. He published a disser
tation on bilious mahgnant fever, 1797,
and a valuable dissertation on yellow
fever, whicri received trie premium ofthe
humane society, 8vo., 1800 ; onmercury
in med. repos. vol. 6th.
BROWN, Criarles Brockden, a distin
guished writer, was born in Philadelphia,
Jan. 17, 1771. After a classical educa
tion under Rob. Proud, author of the
history of Pennsylvania,he was at the age
of 18 apprenticed to a lawyer, Alex. Wil
cox; but his time was chiefly employed,not

in the study ofthe law.but in various lite
rary pursuits.Timiditjr & an invincible dis
Uke to the legal profession prevented him
from becoming a member of the bar. He
published in 1798 his first novel, Wie-
land, which gained for him reputation; &
in 1799 Ormond, or the secret witness,
which was less successful. Next follow
ed Arthur Mervyn, in which the ravages
of the yellow fever, witnessed by the
author in Philadelphia and New York,are
faithfully described. He wrote also Ed
gar Huntley; and in 1801 Clara Howard,
in an epistolary form, and then Jane Tal
bot in 1804, the two last being much in
ferior to bis preceding productions. He
conducted two periodical works ; in 1799
and 1800 the monthly magazine and Am.
review, and in 1805 the literary mag.
& Am. register. He also wrote S political
pamphlets. In 1806 he commenced the
semi-annual American register, 5 volumes
of which he lived to pubhsh.
Of a delicate constitution, his lungs in
1809 gave clear indications, that he was
in a consumption. He traveUed in New
Jersey and New York,but without bene
fit : he died Feb. 22, 1 8 1 0, aged 39 . His
wife, whom he married in 1804, was the
sister of John B.Linn. His son, Eugene
L., a youth of great promise, died of the
consumption in 1824.
His novels, which were admired while
he Uved, fell into oblivion after his death;
but after a few years they began to be read
in England and they were ;republished in
Boston. They present in rich language
varied incidents and powerful emotions,
& the author has a wonderful invention ;
but riis scenes are terrific, and trie riorrors
of crime are oppressive to the heart. As
his novels were produced with great rap
idity, they are aU deficient in unity and
apparently unfinished. There is no mor
al in them ; no useful end was proposed.
Mr. Brown wrote for amusement, and
for the indulgence of his diseased imagin
ation ; and his writings, like much of
modern Uterature,are not tinged with the
spirit of that holy rehgion, which wiU at
a future day pervade the productions of
aU the learned ofthe earth. — He was an

I7S

BROWN.

admirer of Godwin ; and by Godwin, who
acknowledged, that he was indebted to
him, he was regarded as a writer of
distinguished genius. His style is free
from affectation, simple and nervous. "For
a large part ofhis short life he appears as
a sad enthusiast, a sceptical inquirer, a
dissatisfied observer, a whimsical projec
tor of better things for society than he
could ever bring to pass, or in a calm mo
ment wish to reaUze ; turning his mind
to various pursuits with rash : eagerness ;
planning epics, studying [architecture,
forming literary associations, discussing
legal questions witri riis fellow students,
& abandoning the profession ofhis choice
before he had felt either its vexations or
excitements, or even framed a tolerable
excuse for his conscience, or an answer to
the persuasions of riis friends. Sucri was
his hurried, mingled, undirected life."
The latter part of his literary career was
more beneficial to himself and useful to
the world. With a fixed and important
object before him and a course of study,
directed in its subjects and manner of
prosecution by a sober judgment, his
days might have been prolonged and have
been passed in comparative happiness.
In 1815 Wm. Dunlap pubhshed a short
account ofhis life, witri selections from
his letters, manuscripts, & printed works.
Besides the magazines, already mention
ed and the novels, which were reprinted
at Boston, 6 vols. 1827, Mr. Brown trans
lated Volney's travels in trie U. S. 1804,
and wrote a memoir of J. B. Linn, pre
fixed to Valerian, 1805 ; address to trie
government of the U. S. on the cession of
Louisiana to the French, &c. 1803; the
British treaty,1808; address to congress on
the restrictions of foreign commerce &c.,
1809,-N.A. review, Junel8l9 ; Enc. Am.
BROWN, Samuel R., author of seve-
jal books; in the war of 1812 was a volun
teer in the corps of mounted rifle men,
conwaanded by col. R. M. Johnson. He
afterwards edited a newspaper at Cayuga,
N.Y., called the Patriot, which on account
of pecuniary, embarrassment he reUnquish-
ed in 1815. He died at Cherry Valley,
Slept, 15, 1817,. aged 43. He published

View?of the campaigns ofthe north wes
tern army, 1814 ; History ofthe war of
1812 in 2 vols. ; Western gazetteer, or
Emigrant's directory,'! 817.
BROWN, Criarles, M. D., died at
Harper's ferry Sept. 1824, leaving a large
estate to the Philadelpriia med. hospital.
BROWN, Richard, colonel, a Chero
kee Indian, died in Tennessee Jan. 26,
1818, aged 45, wrien gen. Jackson was pro
ceeding against trie Seminole Indians. He
was one of the Cherokee delegation, ap
pointed to proceed toWasriington in order
to carry into effect trie objects of a treaty,
which the nation had made with the Uni
ted States. The American government
had not in 1818 renounced and cast away
the obfigations of sacred treaties with the
Cherokees, pledging the faith of the
country for their protection within defined
boundaries. — Col. Brown was regarded
by his countrymen as a leader in war and
a wise counsellor in peace. In every
battle during the Creek war he was at
the head of the Cherokees under general
Jackson, whose personal friendship he en
joyed. He was severely wounded in the
action at the Horse Shoe. His blood
and triat ofhis countrymen was shed for
ungrateful and faithless whites, determin
ed for the sake of their lands to drive
them from their beautiful hills and
vallies into the wide plains of the wilder
ness beyond the Mississippi. Possibly a
returning sense of right will yet spare the
remains ofthe red men, the original occu
pants of our country, and allow triem to
lie down in the dust by the graves of
their fatiiers. An old English charter
will be found a poor justification of injus
tice and inhumanity towards a weak and
defenceless people.— Soii. Patr, Feb, 18,
1818. BROWN, Francis, d.d., president of
Dartmoutii College, was born at Chester,
N.H.Jan. 11, 1784, and graduated in
1805 at Dartmouth where rie was a tutor
from 1806 to 1809. In Jan. 1810 he was
ordained the minister of North Yarmouth,
Maine, as the successor of Tristram Gil-
man, whose daughter he married. Of
BowdoincoUege he was an overseeE& trus-

BROWN.

173

tee. In 1815 he was appointed president
of Dartmouth college. He died of the
consumption July 27, 1820, aged 36. His
predecessor vras Dr. Wheelock ; riis suc
cessor Dr. Dana. "His talents and lear
ning, amiableness and piety eminently
qualified him for the several stations,
which he filled, and rendered him highly
useful and popular." He published sev
eral sermons, among wriich are the fol
lowing; at the ordination of Allen Greely,
1810; at a fast on account of the war,
1812 ; on the evils of war, 1814 ; before
the Maine missionary society, 1814. —
Lord's Lempr.
BROAVN, Catharine, a Cherokee,was
born about the year 1800, at a place, now
called Wills- Valley, in a beautiful plain of
tall forest trees, within the chartered Um-
its of Alabama, a few miles west of the
Georgia line and 25 miles south east ofthe
Tennessee river. On_, each side of the
valley rose the Raccoon and Lookout
mountains. Her parents were half breeds ;
their mothers only being full blooded
Cherokees. Her father's name was
Yaunugungyahski, which means, "the
drowned by a bear ;" he had also the
name of John Brown, from his father.
Her mother's name was Tsaluh; she was
called by the whites Sarah ; and before
she married Brown, she was trie wife of
Webber, by whom she had a son, a man
of property, now caUed col. "Webber.
Catharine's parents were ignorant of the
English language, and the amount of
their reUgion was, that triere was a Crea
tor of trie world, and also a future state of
rewards and punishments.
In 1801 the Moravians commenced a
mission at Spring-place in the Crierokee
country,' about 40 or 50 miles east of
Wills- VaUey ; soon afterwards Rev. Gid
eon Blackburn made efforts for several
years to establish a scriool among the
Cherokees. In 1816 Rev. Cyrus Kings
bury, employed by the American board
for foreign missions, appeared at a Cher
okee council and obtained permission to
establish schools. He selected, as the
place for the first school, Chiokamaugari,
now called Brainerd, 20 or 30 mfles nortri

of Springiplace, within the limits of Ten
nessee. Catharine heard of this school,
and though living at a distance of 100
miles she became a member of it in July
1817, being then 17 years of age. She
had learned to speak English by residing
attrie riouse of a Cherokee friendand could
read in words of one syllable. Although
an Indian girl of comely features and
blooming, and although she had been
placed amidst many temptations ; yet her
moral deportment riad been always correct.
Srie was modest and gentle, but withal
somewhat fond of displaying the orna
ments of her dress. In three montris
she learned to read and write. In Dec.
1817 she cherished the hope, that she
had experienced the power of the gospel
in her heart. Srie was baptized Jan. 25,
1818, and admitted as a member of the
criurcri March 29th. In June 1820 she
undertook to teach a scriool at Creek patri,
near rier father's. For sweetness of tein-
per, meekness, and gentleness she was
unsurpassed. To rier parents she was
very dutiful and affectionate. A weekly
prayer meeting was instituted by her ;
and she was zealous to instruct rier igno
rant neigribors in trie great truths of the
gospel. She formed the purpose of per
fecting her education, that her usefulness
might be increased. But in the spring of
1823 rier healtri declined, she had a settled
consumption,& it became evident,that her
death was near. She said,. — "I feel per
fectly resigned to the will of God. I
know he will do rigrit witri his children.
I triank God, triat I am entirely in his
hands. I feel williBg to live, or die,
as he thinks best. My only wish is, that
He may be glorified.'' Having- been con
veyed about 50 miles to the house of her
friend. Dr. Campbell, srie there died July
18, 1823, aged 23. She was buried at
Creekpath bytrie side of rier brother, John,
who haddied the preceding year in the tri
umphs of the same faith. Dr. Campbell
remarks, "the Savior'seemed to be con
tinually the anchor of her hope, the
source of her constant and greatest hap
piness, and the object of her most ardent
love." A pure flame of benevolence

174

BROWN.

burned within her. "My heart," she
said, "bleeds for my poor people!; I am
determined to pray for them while God
lends me breath." If it be asked,
"Fair spirit, nursed in forest wild.
Where caught thy breast those sacred flames'!"
The answer must be ; from the beams of
that Sun of righteousness, whicri is the
light of the world ; from that glorious
gospel, which it is the duty of Christians
to communicate to all trie heathen tribes
of the earth. Her conversion was the
means of the estabUshment of a mission
at Creek patri, and of trie conversion to
the faith and riopes of Criristianity of rier
father and of most of her family. Let
any scoffer at missions contemplate this
lovely child of the wilderness, won from
the gloom of paganism tfj^the joyous,
lofty hopes of Criristianity, and triumph
ing over the king of terrors, and then say,
if he can, that the missionary enterprise is
idle, and useless, and a waste of money.
An interesting memoir of Catharine
Brown was compiled by Riifus Anderson,
assistant secretary of the American board
for foreign missions, & published in 1825.
— Anderson's memoir,
BROWN, David, a Cherokee, was a
brother of the preceding, who followed
her to the school at Brainerd. In Nov.
1819 he assisted John Arcri in preparing
a Crierokee spelling book, which was
printed. At trie school he became con
vinced of his sinfulness, and embraced
the salvation, offered in trie gospel. In
1820, on going home to visit his sick fa
ther, rie immediately took riis bible and
began to rfead and interpret it to his pa
rents, exhorting them and others to re
pent of their many sins and to become
the followers of Jesus Christ. With his
father's consent he maintained the wor-
.ship of God in the family. This visit in
duced Mr. Brown '& other chiefs to soli
cit the establishment of a mission at
Creekpath town: the school was opened
by Rev. Mr.Butrick in Mar. 1820. May
1 1th, David Brown, soon after he was ad
mitted to the church, set out for N.Eng
land, to attend the foreign mission school
at CornwaU,Con., that he.might be pre

pared to preach the gospel. His visits to
Boston and other towns had a fa
vorable effect in exciting a missionary
zeal. After passing two years at the
school, with Elias Boudinot and 6 other
Cherokees, rie remained a year at Ando
ver, enjoying many advantages for im
provement. In the mean time his broth
er, John, bad become a convert and made
a profession and died in peace ; his pa
rents also and other members of his fami
ly had become pious. He returned to
them in 1824, having first delivered in
many of the principal cities and towns an
address on the wrongs, claims, and pros
pects of the American Indians. His
father had removed to the Arkansas, west
of the Mississippi ; and triere on his arri
val at Dwight, July 12, he immediately
engaged in efforts to enlighten & convert
his countrymen. "On the sabbath,"
said he, "I interpret English sermons,
and sometimes preach myself in the sweet
language of Tsallakee," (trie Cherokee.)
He attended Indian councfls and was ap
pointed the secretary of the Indian gov
ernment. But he soon revisited his peo
ple on the east of the Mississippi. His
father died in Arkansas in the autumn of
1826 aged 65, having been a worthy
member of the church about 5 years, and
having the satisfaction of seeing two sons
and four daughters also members of the
church. In the spring of 1829 David
Brown was taken ill and bled at the lungs.
He wrote June 1st., "on the bed of sick
ness I have enjoyed sweet communion
with my Sa-vior." He died at Creek
path Sept. 14, 1829, at the house of Rev.
Mr. Potter, giving evidence, that he died
in the faith ofthe gospel.
In Sept. 1825 he wrote a letter, giving
some account of the Cherokees, from
which it appears, that there were then
about 14,000 on the east ofthe Mississip
pi, among whom were 1277 African
slaves. The nortriern part of the Chero
kee country was mountainous ; at the
south were extensive, fertile plains, wa
tered with beautiful streams. "These
plains," said he,"furnish immense pastur
age, and numberless herds of cattie are

BROWN.

175

dispersed over them. Horses are plenty.
Numerous flocks of sheep, goats, and
swine cover the valleys and hills. On
Tennessee.Ustanala, and Ganasagi rivers
Cherokee commerce floats. The climate
is deficious and healthy; the summers
are mild. The spring clothes the ground
¦with its richest scenery. Cherokee
flowers of exquisite beauty and variega
ted hues meet and fascinate the eye in
every direction. In the plains and val
leys the soil is generally rich, producing
Indian corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, oats,
indigo, sweet and Irish potatoes. Apple
and peach orchards are quite common.
Butter and cheese are seen on Cherokee
tables. Cotton and woollen cloths are
manufactured here. Schools are increas
ing every year ; learning is encouraged
and rewarded. Our native language, in
its philosophy, genius, and symphony, is
inferior to few, if any in the world. Our
system of government, founded on repub
lican principles, by which justice is equal
ly distributed, secures the respect of the
people. The legislative power is vested
in what is denominated Tsalagi Tinilawi-
gi, consisting of a national committee and
council. Members of both branches are
chosen by and from the people for a limit
ed period. Trie Criristian religion is trie
religion of the nation." The meaning of
the last assertion is, that Christianity was
approved and the propagation of it en
couraged by the national council, al
though thousands yet remained in the
darkness of paganism. Such and still
greater was the progress of the Chero
kees toward civilization, under the sanc
tion of sacred treaties with the United
States, when the Georgians, greedy for
the Cherokee lands & the Cherokee gold
mines,determined to annoy them & com
pel them to sell their little remaining nook
of territory &, abandoning the graves of
their fathers, to seek a new abode, offer
ed them by the United States' government
in the wilderness,west of the Mississippi.
Whether this attempt of sriameful covet
ousness and enormous injustice will be
successful is yet to be ascertained. How
ever, one thing is certain, that pubfic op

pression always cries to heaven for ven
geance upon the gujlty nation. Nor
does the bolt ever fail to strike the guflty.
— Anderson's memoir of C.Brown; Mis
sionary herald.
BROWN, Jacob, maj. gen,, was born
in 1775 in Bucks county, Pennsylvania,
where he resided until 20 years of age.
Afterwards he fived two years in Ohio,
engaged in surveying public lands. Set
tling in the city of New York, he super
intended a large school and commenced
the study of the law ; but he soon relin
quished these pursuits, and emigrated to
uncultivated lands, which he had pur
chased, on the borders of lake Ontario.
He built in the wilderness the first house
at Brownville, which is now, in conse
quence ofhis adventurous spirit, a flour
ishing, beautiful village. In 1812 he was
called into service as a mifitia general.
His arrangraents were judicious and he
repulsed an attempt ofthe enemy against
Ogdensburg. In the spring of 1813 he
was invited by col. Backus, then in com
mand at Sackett's harbor, when it was
invested and menaced by the enemy, to
assume the defence. Gen. Brown was
successful, and soon afterwards received
an appointment of brigadier general in
the regular array: early in 1814 rie was
appointed, witri the rank of major general,
to the command of the army of Niagara.
Trie four principal incidents in the Nia
gara campaign were the battles of Chip
pewa and Niagara, and the defence and
sortie of fort Erie. In the two first and
the last he commanded in person. The
army crossed into Canada the morning of
July 3d, the two brigades of regulars be
ing commanded by generals Scott and
Ripley, and the volunteers by gen. Por
ter. Fort Erie was surprised and taken.
The battle of Chippewa was fought July
5th, by Scott's brigade, and the enemy
were driven to their intrenchments ; the
American loss being 338 ; the British
500. On the 10th gen. Brown marehed to
Queenstown. Here, "at a conference of
officers, it was debated, whether the army
should proceed to invest fort George or
to attack gen. Riall at 12 mile creek, 10

176

BROWNE.

or 12 miles from Queenstown. Gen.
Scott was in favor of investing the fort.
Gen. Ripley proposed to march in the
night with his brigade and the artillery of
Towson, and attack Riall in the morning,
so as to break him up before he should be
re-inforced. He deemed it idle to invest
the fort with inadequate artillery. Gen.
Porter and cols. McRee and Wood con
curred with him in opinion. But the
contrary opinion of gens. Brown and
Scott and col. Gardner prevailed. From
the 16th to trie 23d of July the army lay
before fort George, and retrograded to
Chippewa on the 24th. The battle of
Bridgewater or Niagara was fought with
the reinforced enemy July 25th. It was
commenced by Scott's brigade. Gen.
Ripley advanced to his support and arriv
ing on the ground instantly ordered col.
Miller with trie 2l8t regiment to carry
trie enemy's artillery by an attack in front,
while he should lead the otrier regiment
upon trie flank of the enemy. The bat
tery was taken, and was held by Ripley
against repeated attempts to recover it.
In the mean time generals Brown and
Scott were wounded ; and late at night,
after a murderous contest with a much
superior force, gen. Brown ordered a re
treat, and gave up the command to Rip
ley, who returned to fort Erie and fortifi
ed it. The British loss was upwards of
1000 ; the American from 600 to 700.
He recovered sufficiently to be in com
mand at the sortie from fort Erie Sept.
17th, when gen. Ripley was dangerously
wounded. Fort Erie was evacuated
Nov. 5th, and our army returned to trie
American side of the river, whence it
had proceeded three months before, hav
ing gained nothing but the rionor of una-
vaiUng victories.
In riis official account of trie battle of
Niagara gen. Brown forgot to give any
praise to gen. Ripley «§• also censured him
for not attacking the enemy the next day,
to have done which with a greatly inferior
force after the retreat, ordered by gen.
Brown the preceding night, would have
hazarded the safety of the army. Gen.
Ripley in consequence demanded a court

of Inquiry, which was sitting at Troy
March 15, 1815, when it was dissolved
by an order from the department of war,
wriich stated as reasons,— "trie congress
of the United States having approved his
conduct by a highly eompfimentary re
solve and the President being pleased to
express his favorable opinion ofthe mflita
ry character of gen. Ripley."— A gold
medal was voted by congress to gen.
Brown ; and also to generals Ripley,
Miller, Porter, Scott, Gaines, Macomb,
Jackson, Harrison, and Shelby.
At the close of trie war he and gen.
Jackson were retained in the service as the
major generals ofthe army ; and in 1821
he was left in the sole command. From
that time he resided in the city of Wash
ington, where be died Feb. 24, 1828, aged
52, lea-ving a large family. — Bracken
ridge's hist, war ; Holmes, ii. 464; N.
Y. Statesman, Feb. HA, 1828; -B. Patri
ot, June 17, 1815 ; Facts relative to the
campaign ofthe Niagara.
BROWNE, Arthur, an episcopal cler
gyman at Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
was a native of Drogheda in Ireland, and
was trie son of Rev. Jorin Bro-wne. He
was educated at Trinity college in Dub
fin, and received the degree of master of
arts in 1729. Being ordained hy the bish
op of London for a society in Providence,
Rhode Island, he went to that place, and
remained there tfll the year 1736, when
he removed to Portsmouth. He was the
first incumbent of the criurcri, consecra
ted in 1734. He received a salary of 75Z.
as a missionary from trie society for pro
pagating the gospel in foreign parts, and
continued in this station tiU his death at
Cambridge June 10, 1773, aged 73. His
wife, Mary, was the daughter of Thomas
Cox, D. D. of Drogheda. Ofhis children,
Marmaduke,a clergyman,died at Newport
about 1771; Jane married Samuel Liver-
more; Ann married Mr. Saint Loe,a Brit
ish officer. His criurcri ascribed to hira
"good conduct, a most noble and benevo
lent disposition, excellent preacbiDg,sound
doctrines, and good oratory." He pub
lished a sermon on the excellency of the
christian religion, 1738 ; at the exefrutioii

BROWNE.

BRUCE.

177

of Penelope Kenny, 1739; on the rebel- [ in the same year, liad received some In-
lion in Scotland, 1746 ; to the free masons, j struction from Buttner, Ranch, and oth-
1748 ; on trie fast ; on trie doctrine of
election, 1757 ; remarks onMayriew's re
flections on trie church of England, 1763.
— Alden' s account of Portsmouth ; Coll
hist. soc. X. 57, 58, 70.
BROWNE, Arthur, l l. d., king's
professor of Greek in Trinity college,
Dublin, and an eminent political character
in Ireland, was the son of Marmaduke
Browne, rector of Trinity church, New
port, Rhode Island. He enjoyed in early
life the advantages of a scriool, estabUsh
ed in Newport by dean Berkeley, and
was distinguished by his talents, industry,
and strong desire of improving his educa
tion in some European university. To
gratify this desire his fatrier went to Ire
land to make provision for entering his
son at Trinity college ; but after having
effected his object, he died soon after his
return, in consequence of his sufferings
during a tedious voyage of three months.
His son, who went to Ireland in 1771 or
1772, continued during the remainder of
his -Ufe connected with Trinity college,
and was trie idol ofthe students. He was
professor of civil law in the university,
and its representative in the Irisri house
of commons. He died in the year 1805.
His great powers of mind he improved
by incessant study and by intercourse
with the most distinguished scholars and
the most able and virtuous statesmen of
his day. He was always a champion of
the people. He published a compendious
view of civil law, being the substance of
a course of lectures read in the university
of Dubfin, together with a sketch ofthe
practice of the ecclesiastical courts, and
some useful directions for trie clergy ;
Hussen 0'Dil,or beauty and trie heart, an
allegorical poem, translated from trie Per
sian language ; and miscellaneous sketcri-
es, in 2 volumes, Svo. This last work is
written after the manner of Montaigne. —
Monthly anthol. a. 559-562.
BRUCE, David, a Moravian mission
ary, died in Litchfield county. Con.,

er missionaries at the neighboring sta
tion of Shacomaco in the state of New
York. , He lived in the house, belonging
to the brethren, called Gnadensee, in the
village of Wachquatnacri, which, I sup
pose, was on the river Houssatonnoc in
Cornwall or Sharon. Mr. Sergeant, ten
years before, had been visited for instruc
tion in religion by a company of Indians
from trie same place, which he writes
Wukhquautenauk, distant from Stock-
bridge about 28 miles. Bruce also lived
occasionally amongst the Indians at Pacri-
ga-tgacri, which perhaps was Pauquaun-
ucri at Stratfield, or with greater proba-
biUty a settlement on the Houssatonnoc
in trie interior of Con., eitrier at Derby
or New Milford or Kent. Mr. Brain
erd in 174S visited some Indians, Uving
at Scaticoke, 5 or 6 miles from New Mil-
ford, and preacried to triem. Triere was
stfll anotrier village, wriich the Moravi
ans visited, called Potatik, probably the
same as Poodatook, on the river at New
town. As Bruce was dying, he called
the Indian brethren, and, pressing their
hands to his breast, entreated them to
remain faithful to the end . He was succeed
ed by Buninger. — Loskiel's hist. n. 115;
Brainerd's life, 65 ; Hopkins' Houss,
Ind. 75.
BRUCE, Archibald, m.d., a physician
of New York, was born in that city in
Feb. 1777. His mother, the daughter of
Nicholas Bayard, was the widow of Jere
miah Van Rennselaer, His father, Wil
liam Bruce, the head of the medical de
partment in the Britisri army at New
York was very sohcitious, that he should
not become a priysician. After trie
death of his father he was educated
at Columbia college, where he was grad
uated in 1795. The medical lectures of
Dr. Nicholas Romayne gave him a taste
for the study of physic. He afterwards
became the pupil of Dr. Hosack. In 1798
he repaired to Europe and in 1800 obtai
ned a medical degree at Edinburgh.

stock, with whom he was
23

1749. The Indians, ofthe Mohegan During a tour of two years in France,
stock, with whom he was sent to reside ] Switzerland, and Italy he collected a valu-

178

BRUEN.

able mineralogical cabinet, — his taste for
the science of mineralogy having been ac
quired while rie was a pupil of Dr. Hosack,
wrio brought to this country the first cab
inet of minerals and in arranging it cal
led for the assistance ofhis pupil, Bruce.
He married in London and came out to
New York in 1 803. About the year 1 807
he was appointed professor of materia me
dica and mineralogy in the college of phy
sicians and surgeons of New York.
Upon trie re-organization of the col
lege in 1 81 1 he was superseded by trie ap
pointment of otriers., Intestine feuds
were alleged as the cause of the crianges
made. Dr. Bruce, in connexion witri his
friend Romayne and otrier gentlemen, es
tablished for a while a rival medical facul
ty. — In 1810 he commenced the journal
of American mineralogy ; but he pubfish
ed only one volume. His work was -fol
lowed by Sflliman's journal. After re
peated attacks of severe indisposition he
died of the apoplexy Feb. 22, 1818, aged
40 years.— Thacher's med. biog.; Silli-
man's journ. i. n.
BRUEN, Matthias, a minister in New
York, was a descendant ofan early settler
of New England, and was born at New
ark, N. J. Aprfl 11, 1793. He dated
his renovation of mind by the divine Spirit
at the age of 18. After graduating at
Columbia college in 1812 he studied the
ology with Dr. Mason. In 1816 he tra
velled in Europe with bis distinguished
preceptor. About the beginning of 1 81 9,
being invited to preach in the American
chapel ofthe oratory at Paris, he was or
dained in London, and then passed 6
months at Paris. In 1822 rie was em
ployed as a missionary in the city of New
York, but refused to receive any compen
sation. During his labors he collected
the Bleecker street congregation. Of
this people he became the stated pastor,
and contriiued such till his death, by in
flammation of the bowels, Sept. 6, 1829,
aged 36 years.
Mr. Bruen engaged earnestly in vari
ous benevolent institutions. He was
agent and corresponding secretary of the
domestic missionary society ; and when

BRYAN.
it was changed into the American home
missionary society, he still assisted by his
counsels. Bible, sunday school,' tract,
and foreign mission societies engaged his
efforts ; and in the Greek cause he cheer
fully co-operated. Be was accomplished
in manners, in Uterature, and in the know
ledge of mankind. Though he had high
and honorable feeUngs, abhorring every
thing mean ; yet he had humble views of
his own acquisitions intellectual & moral.
All his distinctions he laid at his Master's
feet. In the last week ofhis life he suffer
ed extreme pain. It was a sudden sum
mons to depart; yet was he calm and
resigned. "I die" said he "in peace and
love with aU men." Thus, after embra
cing riis wife and two babes, and most
impressively addressing his relatives, he
fell asleep in Jesus.
*'He lay, and a smile was on his face. —
Affection over him bent to trace
The token, mercy had left, to tell.
That with the spirit all was well.
It was the smile, that marks the blest. —
It told, that in hope he had sunk to rest
Of a joyful rising, after his sleep,
No more to suffer, no more to weep."
He published a sermon at Paris on the
death of a lady of N. York ; and Sketch
es of Italy. — Cox's and Skinner's serm.;
Home miss, mag; Bost. record. Nav. 11.
1829. BRY, Theodore de, pubUshed coHec-
tiones perigrinantium inlndiam oriental-
em et occidentalem. America, partes 13.
1590-1599. BRYAN, George, a judge pf the su
preme court of Pennsylvania, was the el
dest son of an ancient and respectable
family in Dublin, Ireland, in his ode on
which country Southey exclaims with
some reason, —
"O land, profuse of genius and of worth."
He came to this country in early hfe, and
lived 40 years in Philadelphia. At first
he engaged extensively in commercial bu
siness ; but it pleased the wise Disposer
of events to defeat his plans, and reduce
him to a state of comparative poverty.
He afterwards lived more in accordance
with ancient simplicity. He was an ac-

BRYANT.

179

tive and intelUgent man. Previously to
the revolution he was introduce.4 iuto
public employments. He was a delegate
to the congress,, which met in 1765 for
the purpose of remonstrating against
the arbitrary measures of Great Britain.
In the war, which followed, he took an
open and active part. After the declara-
ation of independence he was vice pres
ident of the supreme executive council pf
Pennsylvania, and on the deatri of presi
dent Wharton in May 1778 he was
placed at the head of trie governmant.
When his office, by the limitation of the
constitution, expired in the autumn of
1779, hewas elected a member of the
legislature. Here, amidst the tumult of
war and invasion, when every one was
trembUng for himself, his mind was occu
pied by the claims of humanity and chari
ty. He at triis time planned and com
pleted an act for the gradual abo
Ution of slavery, which is an imperish
able monument to his memory. He thus
furnished evidence, that in opposing the
exactions of a foreign power he was oppo
sing tyrann.y and was really attached to
the cause of liberty. In 1780 he was ap
pointed a judge of the supreme court, in
which station he continued during the re
mainder of his life. In 1784 he was elec
ted one ofthe councfl of censors, and was
one of its principal members till his death.
WTien the subject of the constitution of
the U.S. was discussed, he was conspicu
ous in the ranks of 'trie opposition. He
died at Philadelpriia, Jan.28,1791,aged 60.
Beside the offices already mentioned,
judge Bryan engaged in various of public,
fiterary, and charitable employments.
Formed for a close application to study,
animated with an ardent thirst for knowl
edge, and blessed with a memory of won
derful tenacity, and a clear, penetrating,
and decisive judgment, he availed himself
ofthe labors and acquisitions of others, &
brought honor to the stations, which he
occupied. To riis otrier attainments he
added the virtues of the christian. He
was distinguished by his benevolence and
sympathy witri the distressed ; by an
unaffected humifity and modesty; by his

readiness to forgive injuries; and by the
inflexible integrity ofhis conduct. He
was superior to the frowns and blandish
ments of the world. Thus eminently
qualified fbr the various public offices, in
which he was placed; he was faithful and
humble in discharging their duties, and
he filled them with dignity and repu-
utati'on in the worst of times, and, in the
midst of a torrent of unmerited obloquy
and opposition. Such was his disinter
estedness, and his zeal for the good of
others, that his own interest seemed to
be overlooked. In trie administration of
justice rie was impartial and incorruptible.
He was an ornament to the profession of
Christianity, whicri rie made, trie delight
of his connexions, and a pubfic blessing
to the state. By his death religion lost
an amiable example, and science a steady
friend.— Ewing's fun. serm.; American
mus. IX. 81-83; Dunlap's Amer. adv.
BRYANT, Lemuel, minister of Brain
tree, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1739. He died at Hingham in 1754,
and was buried at Scituate, probably
because he was a native of that place.
John Adams speaks of a controversy be
tween Mr. B. and Miles, Porter, Bass,
&c., "wriich broke out Uke the eruption
of a volcano- and blazed with portentous
aspect for many years." He pubfished a
sermon on moral.virtue, 1747 ; remarks on
Mr. Porter's sermon, 1750.
BRYANT, Solomon, an Indian minis
ter, was ordained at Mashpee, Mass., soon
after the resignation' of Mr. Bourne in
1742, and he preached to his red brethren
in trie Indian dialect. He was a sensible
man and u. good minister, but not suffi
ciently prudent in the admission of mem
bers and rather deficient in economy.
After his dismission, occasioned by some
dissatisfaction on the part of trie Indians,
he was succeeded by Mr. Hawley in 1758.
It seems, however, that his labors were
not entirely interrupted, for Mr. Hawley
wrote concerning him in 1760, — "he
grows better as he grows older. He 'is
near 66 years of age, has been a preacher
more than 40, and continues in his use
fulness to this day." He died May 8,

reo

BUCKINGHAM.

1775, aged 80. — Joseph Bryant, also an
Indian minister at Mashpee, or in that
neighborhood, died April 25, 1759. In
1698 John Bryant had been Indian teach
er at Acushnet 5 or 6 years. — Mass. hist.
Col. in. 191 ; x. 130 ; «. s. in. 16.
BUCKINGHAM, Thomas, minister
of the second criurcri in Hartford, Connec
ticut, was probably trie son of Triomas
Buckingham, the minister of Saybrook in
1669, and a descendant of Thomas B.,
who lived in New Haven in 1639. Ste
phen B., minister of Norwalk from 1697
to 1727, was probably his brother.— He
was graduated at Harvard college in 1690.
Trie time of riis settiement has not been
ascertained. He died November 19, 1731,
aged si.xty two years, and was succeeded
by EInathan Whitman. He was one of
the most eminent ministers in Connecti
cut, and was regarded as one ofthe pillars
of the criurcri. His superior abiUties
were under trie direction of good princi
ples. His conversation was sucri, as was
becoming a minister of Christ. Iri his life
he imitated his blessed Master, and, being
exemplary in piety, having a pleasant
temper, obliging and engaging manners,
and many amiable virtues, he concifiated
respect and esteem.
He pubUshed a sermon preached at the
election, in 1728, entitled Moses and
Aaron. The following passages from it
will give some view of his sentiments,
and of the times. "By the Spirit the
elect are brought to possess the good,
which Jesus Cririst hath purchased for
them. By him triey are convinced,
awakened, humbled, converted, sanctified,
led, and comforted." — "If we look back
upon trie last year, riow many appearan
ces and indications ofhis anger were there
to be observed therein ; the unusual illu
minations of the, heavens by repeated and
almost discontinued flashes of lightning,
with dreadful peals of thunder attending,
the scorching heat and drought of the
summer^ the pinching cold and length of
the- winter, stormy winds and tempests,
the death of useful men, and the groaning
.and trembUng of the earth under our
fe^t." — "Have you not heard some, who

BUCKMINSTER.
have risen from among you, speaking per
verse things, blaspheming the constitution
and order of your churches, denying the
validity of your ordinations, and condem
ning your ministerial acts as so many usur
pations, who unchurch the best and grea
test part of christian^, and leave you with
trie best of your flocks to uncovenanted
mercies, that is, in a state of heathenism,
without God and Christ and hope in the
world ; and this merely for the sake of a
Bon-agreement with them in a few un-
scriptural rites and notions?"— Edwards'
elect, serm. in 1732; Trumbull, i, 498,
519, BUCKMINSTER, Joseph, minister
of Rutiand, Mass., was the son of col,
Joseph Buckminster pf Framing'ham,
wrio died in 1780, aged 83, and wriose
father, Joseph, one ofthe earliest settlers
of Framingriam, died in 1749, also aged
88. Trie last named was a grandson of
Triomas Buckminster, written in trie col
ony records Buckmaster, who came from
Wales and lived in as early as 1645 in
Boston, where he died Sept. 28, 1658,
leaving several sons.
Mr. Buckminster was graduated at
Harvard college in 1739, ordained in 1742,
and after a ministry of 53 years died Nov.
27, 1792, aged 72. He was highly res
pected and useful. In his theological sen
timents hewas a sublapsarian calvinist.
Mr. Foster of Strafford having published
a sermon, in which he asserted a twofold
justification, and "a remedial law, or law
of grace,whose precepts arebrought down
to a level witri the fallen sinner's abifities,"
Mr. Buckminster pubfished a reply, being
a paraphrase on Rom. x. 4, for which he
received the thanks ofan association of
ministers. Other pamphlets foUowed by
the same writers in this controversy. In
his dissertations on gospel salvation Mr.
Buckminster asserts on the one hand the
doctrine of election against the Arminians,
and on trie other hand, against the supra-
lapsarians, he says, "the decrees have no
direct, positive influence upon us. We
are determined by motives, but act freely
and voluntarily. They lie in the founda
tion of the divine proceedings, and com-

BUCKMINSTER.

181

pose his plan of operation. They infer the
certain futurition of things, but have no
influence ab extra to bring them to pass."
These seem not very incorrect Views on
the subjects ofthe divine decrees & of free
agency. Indeed, it is not easy to imag
ine how it is possible to reconcile the doc
trine of divine efficiency or positive influ
ence in the production of sinful volitions
with the responsibleness of man or witri
the truth and holiness of God. The
views of Mr. B. seem to accord well with'
those of Robert Southey, who says ;
' ' Impossible as it may be for us to reconcile
the free will of man with the foreknowl
edge of God, I nevertheless believe in
both with the most fufl conviction. When
the human mind plunges into time and
space in its speculations, it adventures be
yond its sphere ; no wonder therefore,
triat its powers fail, and it is lost. But
triat my will is free, I know feelingly : it
is proved to me by my conscience. And
that God provideth all things, I know by
his own word, and by. that instinct, which
he hatri implanted in me to assure me of
his being."
Mr. B. published two discourses on
family religion, 1759 ; an ordination ser
mon ; paraphrase on Rom. x. 4. ; disser
tations .on Eph. II. 9-1 1 ; a sermon on
the covenant with Abrariam. — Farmer's
reg, ; Eliot,
BUCKMINSTER, Joseph, D.D.,min-
ister of Portsmouth, N. H., was the Son
of the preceding and was born Oct. 14,
1751. Being the deUght and hope of his
parents, they were desirous that he should
become a minister ofthe gospel. He
was graduated at Yale' college in 1770,
and from 1774 to 1778 was a tutor in
that seminary, associated in that emplo.y-
ment with Abraham Baldwin. At this
period he became temporarily attached to
a lady, then of reputation and celebrity,
whose character is the basis of one the
productions of Mrs. Foster. — He was or-
dairied over trie north church in Ports
mouth Jan, 27, 1779, as successor of Dr.
Langdon; after whose death Dr. Stiles
had supplied the pulpit one or two years.
After a ministry of 33 years his health

became greatly Impaired ; a depression of
spirits, to whicri he had been subject,
came upon him with new violence ; spas
modic affections caused at times a suspen
sion of reason ; under these distressing
complaints a long journey was thought
necessary to his relief. He left riome
June 2, 1812, accompanied by his wife
and two friends ; but on the Green
mountains of Vermont he was arrested
by the messenger of death. He died at
a solitary tavern in Reedsborough June
10, aged 60, and on the following day his
remains were interred at Bennington,and
a sermon preached on the occasion by
Mr. Marsh. It is remarkable, that on
the preceding day his eldest son, a minis
ter in Boston, died after a week's iUness.
Altriougri Dr. B. riad not heard of his
sickness, yet he said to his wife repeatedly
a few hours before his own death, Joseph
is dead! His first wife, the only daugh
ter of Rev. Dr. Stevens of Kittery, died
July 19, 1790, aged 36, leaving one son
and two daughters ; his second wife, the
daughter of Rev.. Isaac Lyman of York,
died June 8, 1805, aged 39 ; his third
wife, who survived him, was the widow
of col. Eliphalet Ladd. One of his
daughters, who married professor Farrar
of Cambridge, died in Sept. 1824. — He
was succeeded in the ministry by Mr.
Putnam. Dr. Buckminister was an eminently
pious man. He left an unsullied reputa
tion, and was greatly beloved, and deep
ly lamented. His mind had been well
cultivated. A brilliant imagination, his
most distinguishing faculty, gave a rich
ness to his style. He had a heart of sen
sibility. His voice, strong and musical,
expressed the various emotions of his
soul. His attitude and gestures were un
affected and impressive, while his counte
nance itself was eloquent. But his popu
larity as a preacher is to be ascribed also
to the boldness and trie energy, with
which he proclaimed the great and all-
important truths 'of the gospel. Even
the hosliUty of trie erroneous and the
wicked, whicri he aroused, proved, that
he had found a way to their conscience.

182

BUCKMINSTER.

for in his great meekness, humility, and
benevolence they could not think, that
he was their enemy. They could hardly
hate trie man, except on account of riis
doctrine and the faithfulness of his warn
ings. Thougri his sermons were not sys
tematic, they were luminous and instruc
tive. Breaking from trie confinement of
a few favorite topics, rie expatiated in trie
wide field of religious truth. The vary
ing events of providence were always
noticed by him, and employed to some
pious purpose. The tenderness of his
heart made him peculiarly welcome in trie
house of affliction. In trie giftof prayer,
on all trie occasions of prayer, he particu
larly excelled. As a pastor he was a
bright example to his brethren; incessant
in labor and deUghting in his work;
cherishing always most sedulously the
seriousness witnessed amongst his people
and devising new plans for gaining access
to their hearts ; and in meetings for so
cial prayer seeking the divine blessing up
on the means of instruction. — In his
preaching he dwelt much on the iniquity
of the human heart, on the character and
valueof the atonement by the crucified
Son of God, and on the necessity of re
generation by the Holy Spirit, of faith
and repentarice, and trie holiness,
without which there is no admission into
heaven. In his own opinion he began to
preach, before he was truly a servant of
God ; and afterwards he ceased to preach
for a time in the persuasion, that his
motives were selfish and unwortriy. But
afiter a long period of distress light broke
in upon his mind. A few years after his
settlement, on the anniversary of his or
dination, he wrote as follows: — "Blusri,
© my soul, and be ashamed, that thou
hast felt no more of thy own
wbrth] and the worth of thy feUow
immortals, the infinite love and compas
sion of God, of thy dear Redee
mer, and trie excellency of the gospel.
Shall God caU me, who have been so
great and aggravated an offender, to the
high .& honorable office of publishing the
glad tidings of salvation, & of an ambas
sador for him,to woo and beseecri men to

be reconciled to him ; and shaU I be luke
warm and indifferent?" But notwith
standing the talents, the piety, the faith
fulness, and the fervent zeal of Dr. Buck
minster, no very remarkable effects at
tended hispreaching ; shewing, that, af
ter all the skilful and diUgent tofl of' the
planter, it is God only, who according to
his sovereign pleasure giveth the increase.
— On account of his cathohc disposition
Dr. Buckminster possessed the regard of
otrier denominations of christians besides
his own. In the private relations of life
he was faithful, affectionate, and in
teresting. He pubfished the following
sermons : — at the New Hampshire elec
tion, 1787; on the death of Washington,
1800; on baptism, 1803 ; at the ordi
nation of his son, 1805-; on the
death of Rev. S. Haven and his
wife, 1806 ; at the installation of J.
Thurston, 1809 ; three discourses, Bos
ton, 18U;anda short sketch of Dr.Mac-
clintock. — Panoplist, vm, 105-111; Ad
ams' ann, of Portsm, 353-355; Parker's
fun, serm; Farmer's coll, in, 121.
BUCKMINSTER, Joseph Stevens,
a minister in Boston, was the son of the
preceding and was born May 26, 1 784.
Under the cultivation of his devoted pa
rents his talents were early developed.
At the age of four years he began to stu
dy the Latin grammar ; at the age of 12
he was ready for admission into college.
He graduated at Harvard with distin
guished honor in 1800. The next four
years were spent partly in the family of
his relative, Theodore Lyman of "Wal-
tham, partly as an assistant in the acade
my at Exeter, and in the prosecution of
theological studies. In Oct. 1804 he
began to preach at Brattle street,Boston,
where he was Ordained as the successor
of Dr. Thacher Jan. 30, 1805. A severe
illness immediately followed, which in
terrupted his labors until March. In the
course of this year the return of the epi
lepsy, which he had previously experien
ced, excited his apprehensions, that his
mental faculties would be destroyed. He
wrote in Oct., — "trie repetition of tliese
fits must at length reduce me to idipcy.

BUELL.

183

Can I resign myself to the loss of memory,
and of that knowledge, I may have vainly
prided myself upon? 0 God! enable me
to bear this thought." A voyage to Eu
rope being recommended, he sailed in
May 1806 and visited England, HoUand,
Switzerland, and France. In Paris he
spent 5 months; and triere and in London
he collected a valuable library of nearly
3,000 vols. After his return in Sept.
1807 he was occupied in the ministry
about five years with occasional attacks
of the epilepsy, till his death, caused by
that disorder, June 9,1810, aged 28 years.
His last iflness continued a week. His
father died the next day.
Mr. Buckminster was a very interes
ting and eloquent preacher. Though of
scarcely the middle size,yet a fine counte
nance, combining sweetness and intelli
gence, appropriate and occasionally ani
mated gestures, a brilliant imagination,
and a style of winning elegance caused
his hearers to hang -with delight upon his
fips. His power, however, would have
been increased by more of fervor and pas
sion. Deeply interested in bibfical criti
cism, he superintended the publication of
Griesbach's N. Testament. In his reli
gious sentiments, as appears from trie vol
ume ofhis sermons, published since his
death, he differed in some important
respects from his father. He did not be-
fieve the doctrine of trie trinity. He did
not regard the human race as originally
corrupt and utterly lost in their depravi
ty ; he did not admit, that the death of
Christ had any relation to the justice of
God in the pardon of sin, nor did he sup
pose, that there was any special influence
of the Holy Spirit in the renewal of the
heart. He quoted with approbation Pa-
ley's sermon, written when a young man,
on caution in the use of scripture lan
guage, in which he denies any agency of
the Spirit of God on the human heart; yet
in his latter sermons Paley expressly
declares his belief, ^hat the scrip
ture does teach such an agency. He
imagined, that men were not able to
obey the divine law, and that Christ came
to redeem and has actually redeemed afl

men from its curse, or has disclosed a
new dispensation, in which repentance. is
accepted instead of obedience. Justify
ing faith he considered as only a principle
of hoUness, and not as a trust in Jesus
Christ for salvation. Yethis views seem
iUtterly opposed to the doctrine of theSo-
cinians,for he speaks of "the incarnation"
ofthe Son of God, "the vicegerent of Je
hovah," and he saw in his life a "wonder
ful contrast of powers— <livine greatness
& mortal debUity, ignominy,& glory, suf
fering and triumph, the servant of all and
theLordof all."
In 1808 Mr. Buckminster pubUshed a
collection of hymns, in which those of
Watts and others were mutilated with
out notice. In a review of this collection
in the Panoplist this mutilation was just
ly reprehended as apparently designed to
lend the authority of Watts to the sup
pression of important doctrines. Mr. B.
suffered under the charge, for he was un
willing to confess what he recorded in
his private journal, that he took the al
tered riymns from ^ippis' collection with
out being aware of the alteration. He
published a number of reviews in the
monthly anthology and other periodicals ;
the rigrit hand of fellowship at the ordi
nation of C. Lowell, 1806; a sermon on
the death of gov. Sullivan, 1809; on the
death of W. Emerson, 1811 ; an address
to the Phi Beta Kappa society, 1809.
After his death a volume of 24 sermons
was published, with a memoir ofhis life
and character by S.C. Thacher.— JWe-
moir ; Mass, hist, col, s. s, ii. 271 ;
Christian spectator, v. 145.
BUELL,Samuel, d.d, an eminent pres
byterian minister on Long Island, was
born at Coventry in Connecticut, Sept. 1,
1716. Iri the 17triyear ofhis age it pleas
ed his merciful Father in heaven to re
new his heart and teach him those truths,
which are necessary to salvation. He was
iijipressed with a sense of his entire desti
tution of love to God, of the incompetency
of any works, -which he could perform, to
justify him, ofthe necessity of a '¦ Savior,
and of his dependence on divine mercy
and influence. From the depression pf

184

BUELL,

mind, occasioned by a frill conviction of

sin, and a clear perceptiori ofhis danger
he was relieved by a vie-w ofthe wonder
ful plan of redemption by JesusChrist,and
the gladness of his heart now was pro
portionate to the thickness of the gloom,
which before hung over his mind. This
change in his character produced a change
in his plans oflife; His father was a rich
farmer, and he, had been destined to ag
ricultural pursuits; but the belief, that it
was his duty to ' engage in labors; which
would most advance, the interest of. relig
ion, and to extend his usefulness as much
as possible, induced hirii to reUnquish the
epployments of husbandry and to attend
tothe cultivation ofhis mind.. Hew-as
graduated at Yale cpflege in 1 741 . Whfle
in this seminary his appUcation to his
studies was intense,and his proficiency was
such, as rewarded his toils. It was here,
that he first became acquainted with Da
vid Brainerd, with whom he was very
intimate, till death separated them,
Their friendship was the union of hearts,
attached to the same. Redeemer, having
the same exalted views, and animated
by the same spirit.
It was his intention to spend a number
of years with Mr. Edwards of Northamp
ton in theological studies; but the exten
sive revival of religion at this period ren
dering the zealous preaching pf the truth
peculiarly important, he immediately
commenced those benevolent labors,
which occupied and delighted him
through trie remainder of riis life. After
being licensed be preached about two
years in different parts of New England,
and such was the pathos and energy of his
manner, that almost every assembly -was
melted into tears., In November 1743 he
was ordained as an itinerant ' preacher,
in which capacity he was indefatigable
and very suctiessful. He was the instru
ment of doirig mucfi good, of impressing
the trioughtless, of reforming the vicioi;s,
and of imparting to the selfish and worldly
the genuine principles of benevolerice and
godfiness. Carrying with him testimo
nials from respectable ministers, he was
admitted into many pulpits, from which

other Itinerants were excluded. While

he disapproved ofthe imprudence of some
in those days, wrien rehgious trutri was
brought home remarkably to the heart,
he no less reprehended the unreasonable
opposition of others to the -work of God.
During this period his health was much
impaired, and a severe -fit of sickness
brought him to the very entrance ofthe
grave; but it pleased God, who holds the
lives of all in his hand, to restore his
health and prolong his usefulness for riia-
ny years.
He was led to^East Hampton on Long
Island by a direction of providence in some
respects extraordinary, and was installed
pastor ofthe church in that place Sept.
19, 1746. His predecessors were Thomas
James, the first minister; then Nathaniel
Hunting, ordained Sept. 13, 1699, and
dismissed in riis old age at the settlement
of Mr. Buell. In this retirement he devo
ted himself with great ardor to his stud
ies. Though he always felt the necessity
of the special aid of the Spirit of God in
preaching; yet he duly estimated the im
portance of diUgent application of mind to
the duties of the ministry. ' Fdr a num
ber of years he wrote aU his sermons and
preached them without notes . He was
long engaged in writing a work on the
prophecies, but the publication of New
ton's dissertations induced him to relin
quish it. He sought the acquisition of
knowledge, not that he might have 'trie
honor of being reputed a learned man,
but thathe might increase his power of
usefulness; arid keeping his great object,
that of doing good, constantly in view,
he never suffered the pleasures of literary
and theological research to detain him
frpm the field of more active exertion.
He could not shut himself up in his study,
while immortal souls in bis own congre
gation or in the neighborhood Were des
titute of instruction and were ready to
hear the word$ of eternal life. He fre
quently preached two Or three times in
the course ofthe week, in addition to his
stated labors on the sabbath. For a
number of the first years of his ministry
he seemed' to ^ labor without effect. His

BUELL.
people paid but Uttle attention to the con
cerns of religion. But in 1764 he wit
nessed an astonishing change. Almost
every individual in the town was deeply
impressed, and the interests of eternity
received that attention, which their tran
scendent importance demands. He had
trie happiness at one time of admitting
into his church 99 persons, who, he be
lieved, had beenrenewed,and enlightened
with correct views of the gospel, and in
spired with benevolent principles of con
duct. In the years 1785and 1791 also he
was favored, through the influence oftrie
Holy Spirit on the hearts ofhis hearers,
with great success. After a life of emi
nent usefulness he died July 19, 1798,
aged 81.
Dr. Buell presents a remarkable instance
of disinterested exertion for the good of
others. When Long Island fell into the
hands ofthe British in 1776, he remained
with his people, and did much towards
relieving their distresses. As there was
at this period but one minister within
forty miles able to preach, the care of all
the churches fell upon him. His natural
disposition inclined him to do with riis
might whatever his hand found to do.
He was an example of all the christian
virtues. He was attached to literature
and science, and was the father and pat
ron of CUnton academy in East Hampton.
His house was the mansion of hospitality.
-Possessing a large fund of instructive and
entertaining anecdote, his company was
pleasing to persons of every age. In no
respect was he more distinguished, than
for a spirit of devotion. He was fully
convinced ofthe necessity and efficacy of
prayer, and amid the prosperous and afflic
tive scenes, trirougri wriich he passed, it
was his deUght to hold intercourse with
his Father in heaven. He followed two
wives and eight children to the grave.
On these solemn and affecting occasions,
such was the resignation and support im
parted to him, that he usuaUy preached
himself -To his uncommon and long con
tinued health the strict rules of temper
ance, which he observed, without doubt
much contributed. On the day,in whicri he
24

BUIST. 185
was 80 years old, he rode 14 miles to
preach the gospel and returned in trie
evening. In his last hours his mind was
in perfect peace. He had no desire to re
main any longer absent from his Savior.
He observed, as trieriour of riis departure
approached, that he felt all his earthly con
nexions to be dissolved. The world, into
which he was just entering, absorbed all
hia thoughts; so that he was unwUling tp
suffer an,Y interruption of his most cheer
ing contemplations from the last attention
of his friends. While they were endeav
oring to prolong trie dying flame, he
would put them aside with one hand,
while trie otrier was raised towards rieav-
en, wriere his eyes and soul were fixed.
In this happy state of mind he expired.
He published a narrative of the revival
of reUgion among his people in 1764, and
fourteen occasional discourses, whicri
evince trie vigor of his mind and the ardor
ofhis piety ; among which are a sermon
at the ordination of Samson Occom, Aug.
29, 1759, to which is added a letter giving
an account of Occom, 1761 ; at the ordina
tion of Aaron Woolwortri, Bridgehamp-
ton, 1788; funeral sermons on his daugri
ter, Mrs. ConkUng, 1782, and on an only
son, Samuel, wrio died ofthe small pox
in 1787, — Con. evan. mag. n. 147-151,
179-182; Daggett's fun. serm.
BUELL, Abel, of Kflling worth, Con.,
began unaided a type foundery in 1769,
and completed several fonts of long prim
er. He was a skilful goldsmith and jew
eller. John Baine, a Scotchman, who
died at Philadelphia in 1790, was the first
successful type founder ; and he came to
triis country after the war. — Thomas, i.
214; II. 547; Holmes, ii. 165.
BUIST, George, d. d., minister in
Charleton, S. C, was born in 1770 in
Fifesriire, Scotiand. In trie college of
Edinburgh, whicri he entered in 1787,
he became very distinguished. In classical
learning he excelled, having a predilection
for Grecian literature. With trie He
brew also he was familiar. In French
and Italian hewas skUled. The elders of
the presliyterian church in Charleston,es-
tablishedin 1731, sent for Mr. Buist on

186

BULFINCH.

the recommendation of Dr. Robertson
and'Dr. Blair. He arrived in June 1793.
Being.appointed in 1805 principal of the
college of Charleston, the seminary soon
became more respectable than ever. He
died Aug. 31, 1808 after an illness of a
few days, aged 38 years. His predeces
sors in trie presbyterian criurch were Stu
art, Grant, Lorimer, Morison, Hewatt,
Graham, & Wilson. As ,a preacrier he
was impressive, oratorical, and popular,
while he was also instructive and faith
ful. In the censure of vice he
was bold & animated. A friend of be
nevolent institutions, his warm and elo
quent appeals aroused the pubUc feeling.
He wrote various articles for the Brifisri
encyclopedia. He pubUshed an abridg
ment of Hume for schools, 1792; aver
sion of the psalms, 1796 ; a sermon
on trie deatri of Rev. Mr. Malcomson,
1805. His sermons in 2 vols. Svo. were
publisried in 1809.— Sketch prefix, to
Sermons. BULFINCH, Thomas, m. d., a physi
cian in Boston, was the only son of Dr.
Thomas B., an eminent and pious physi
cian, wrio died Dec. 1757, aged 62, and
whose father Adriio B., came from Eng
land in 1680. He was born in 1728, and,
after attending the latin school of John
Lovell, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1746. He spent four years in England
and Scotland in trie prosecution of his
medical studies and, obtaining his medi
cal degree in 1757, returned immediately
to Boston. During the prevalence oftrie
small-pox in 1763 riis antiphlogistic treat
ment was eminently successful. With
Drs. Warren, Gardiner, and Perkins he
attempted the establishment of a small
pox hospital at Point Shirley ; but preju
dice defeated his efforts. During the oc
cupation of Boston by the British troops,
he remained in the town and suffered ma
ny privations and losses. He continued
in practice till two years before his death,
which occurred in Feb. 1802. His moth
er was the daughter, of John Colman,
brother of Rev. Benjamin C. His wife
was the daughter of Charles Apthorp.
He left a son, the architect and superin-

BULKLEY.
tendent of thepubUc buildings at Wash
ington, who married the daughter of
John Apthorp, and two daughters, mar
ried to George Storer and Joseph Cool-
idge. Dr. Bulfinch was distinguished
for riis personal appearance and elegance
of manners. Like his father rie was mild
and unobtrusive, cheerful,benevolent,and
pious. He pubUshed a treatise on the
treatmentof the scarlet fever ; another on
the yellow fever. — Thacher's med. biog.
BULKLEY, Peter, first minister of
Concord, Mass. was born at Woodhill in
Bedfordshire, Eng.,Jan.31,l 583. Hewas
educated at St. John's in Camb. and was
fellow of trie coUege. He riad a gentle
man's estate left him by his father. Dr.
Edward Bulkley of Woodhill, whom he
succeeded in the ministry. For 21 years
rie continued riis faithful labors without
interruption; but at lengtri, being silenc
ed for nonconfoimity to some of the cer
emonies of the English church, be came
to New England in 1635, thathe might
enjoy liberty of conscience. After resi
ding some time at Cambridge, he began
the settlement of Concord in 1636 with
a number of plantersT^whtfrhad accompa
nied him from England. He formed Ju
ly 5, 1636 the twelfth criurcri, which had
been estabUsried in the colony, and in
1637 was constituted its teacher and
John Jones its pastor. He died in this
town Mar.9, 1659, aged 76. His first wife
was a daughter of Thomas Allen of Gol-
dington ; his second a daugriter of sir
Ricriard Criitwood. By triese he had 14
children, 3 of whom were educated for
the ministry. Edward, who succeeded
him about 1659, died at Chelmsford Jan.
2, 1696, and was buried at Concord: his
son, Peter, a graduate of 1660, was agent
in England in 1676; vras speaker of the
house and assistant from 1677 to 1684;
and died May 24, 168g.
Mr. Bulkley was remarkable for his be
nevolence. He expended a large estate by
giving farms to his servants, whom he
employed in husbandry. It was his cus
tom, when a servant had fived with riim a
certain number of years, to dismiss him,
giving him a piece of land for a farm, and

BULKLEY.
He was

187

to lake another in his place.
familiar and pleasant in his manners,
though whfle subject to bodily pains he
was somewhat irritable, and in preaching
Was at times considered as severe. So
strict was his own virtue, that he could
not spare some follies, which were thought
too inconsiderable to be noticed. In
consequence ofhis pressing importunately
some charitable work, contrary to the
wishes of theruUng elder, an unhappy di
vision was produced in the church; but
it was healed by the advice of a council
and the abdication of the elder. By
means of this troublesome affair, Mr.
Bulkley said he knew more of God, more
of himself, and more of men. He was
an exceUent scholar, and was distinguish
ed for the holiness of his life and his dili
gent attention to the duties of the minis
try. He gave a considerable part of his
library to Harvard college. He was ve
ry conscientious'in his observance of the
sabbath. He was averse to novelty of
apparel, and his hair was always cut close.
Such was his zeal to do good, that he sel
dom left any company, without making
some serious remark, calculated to im
press the mind. When trirougri infirmity
he was unable to teach from house to
house, he added to riis usual labor on the
Lord's day that of catechisriig and ex
horting the youth in trie presence oftrie
whole assembly. Such was his reputation
among the ministers of New England,
that he was appointed orie of the mod
erators of the synod of 1637. Mr.
Hooker was trie otrier.
He pubUshed a work entitled, the gos
pel cpvenant or the covenant of grace
opened, &c. London, 1646, 4to. pp. 383.
This book was so much esteemed, that it
passed trirougri several editions. It is com
posed of sermons preached at Concord
upon Zechariah ix. 11, "the blood ofthe
covenant." Speaking of this work, Mr,
Sriepard of Cambridge says, "the
church of God is bound to bless God for
the holy, judicious, and learned labors of
this aged, and experiericed, and precibus
servant of Jesus Christ." Mr. Bulkley
also wrote Latin poetry, some specimens

of which are preserved by Dr. Mather In
his history of New England. -r-Mather's
magn. in. 96, 98; Neal, i. 821; Noncon
form, memor. last ed. n. 200; Holmes, i,
314; Coll h.s. x. 168; Ripley's ded.serm.
BULKLEY, John, one ofthe first grad
uates of Harv. col. , was the son ofthe pre
ceding. He took his deg. of a.m. in 1642.
He afterwards went to England, & settled
at Fordham, where he continued for sev
eral years with good acceptance and use
fulness. After his ejectment in 1662 he
went to Wapping in the suburbs of Lon
don, where he practised physic several
years with success. He was eminent in
learning and equally so in piety. Though
rie was not often in his pulpit after his
ejectment; he might truly be said to
preach every day in the week. His
whole life was a continued sermon. He
seldom visited his patients without read
ing a lecture of divinity to them, and pray
ing with triem. He was remarkab e for the
sweetness ofhis temper, & his integrity
and charitableness; but wriat gave a lus
tre to all riis other virtues was his deep
humility. He died near the tower in
London in 1689, aged 69. — Nonconfor.
memor. last ed. n. 200; James' fun.serm.
BULKLEY, Gershom, an eminent
minister, the brother of the preceding,
was born in Dec. 1636, and graduated at
Harvard college in 1655. About the
year 1658 rie succeeded Mr. BUnman as
minister of New London. Here he con
tinued till about the year 1666, when he
became pastor of the church in Wethers
field in the place of Mr. Russell, who had
removed to Hadley. He was succeeded
at New London by Mr. Bradstreet. Ma
ny years before his deatri he resigned the
ministry at Wethersfield on account of
his infirmities, and Mr. Rowlandson of
Lancaster, Mass., was received as minis
ter. Mr. Bulkley died Dec 2, 1713, aged
77 years. His wife was Sarah, the
daugriter of president Chauncy. He
was a man of distinction in his day, and
was particularly eminent for his skill in
chemistry. From an inscription upon
his grave stone, it appears that he was
regarded as a man of rare abiUties and

188

BULKLEY.

extraordinary industry, excellent in leiir-
ning, master of many languages, exquis
ite in his skill in divinity, physic, and law,
and of a most exemplary and christian
\[Ce_ — Trumbull, I. 319, 3^4, 483, 519;
Mass. hist, col x. 165.
BULKLEY, John, first minister of
Colchester, Connecticut, was the son of
Gershom Bulkley. His mother was the
daughter of president Chauncy. Hewas
graduated atHarvard college in 1699, was
ordained Dec. 20, 1703, & died in June
1731. His son, John Bulkley, a graduate
at Yale college in 1756, eminent for lear
ning, possessed a higri reputation as a
physician and lawyer, and when very
young was appointed a judge ofthe supe
rior court of Connecticut.
Mr. Bulkley Was very distinguished as
a scholar. "Whfle a member of college he
and Mr. Dummer, who was a member of
the same class, were considered as pre
eminent in genius and talents. T he palm
was given to the latter for quickness, bril
liancy, and wit ; but Mr. Bulkley was re
garded as his superior in solidity of judg
ment and strength of argument. He car
ried his researches into the various depart
ments ofthe law, of medicine, arid theolo
gy. He was classed by Dr. Chauncy in
1788 among the three, most eminent for
strength of genius and powers of mind,
which New England had produced. The
other two were Jeremiah Dummer and
Thomas Walter. — He wrote a preface to
R. Wolcott's meditations and published an
election sermon in 1713, entitled, the ne
cessity of religion in societies- In 1724
he pubUshed an inquiry into the right of
the aboriginal natives to the lands in
America. Triis curious treatise has with
in a few years been reprinted in the collec
tions of the historical society of Massa
chusetts. The autrior eontends, that the
Indians had no just claims to any lands,
but such as they had subdued and improv
ed by their own labor, and that the En
glish had a perfect right to occupy all
other lands without compensation to the
natives. He pubUshed one other tract,
entitled, an impartial account of a late
debatg at Lyme upon the following points;

BULL.
whether it be the wiU of God, that the
infants of visible believers should be bap
tized ; whetrier sprinkling be lawful and
sufficient ; and wriether trie pre.sent way
of maintaining ministers by a public rate
or tax be lawful, 1729. In this he gives
some account of the rise ofthe antipedo-
baptists. — Trumbull, i. 520; Mas. hist.
col IV. 159; X. 155; Gen.hist.ofCon.n3.
BULL, WilUam, m. d., a priysician,
eminent for literature and medical science,
was trie son of Wm. Bull, lieut. gov. of S.
CaroUna, who died March 1755, aged 72.
He was the first native of South Caroli
na, and probably the first American, who
obtained a degree in medicine. S. L.
Knapp, in his stereotype lectures on Ame
rican fiterature, mistakes in representing
Dr. Bull as a graduate of Harvard college,
and also in giving his name Ball. He was
a pupil of Boerhaave, and in 1735 defen
ded a thesis de colica pictonum before the
university of Leyden. He is quoted by
Van Swieten as his fellow student -with
the title of the learned Dr. Bull. After
his return to this country, his services in
civil life were required by his fellow citi
zens. In 1751 he was a member of the
council ; in 1763 he was speaker of the
house of representatives, and in 1764 he
was lieutenant governor of South Caroli
na. He was many years in this office,
and commander in chief. When the
British troops left South Carohna in
1782 he accompanied them to England,
where he resided the remainder of his
life. He died in London July 4, 1791,
aged81. — Ramsay's rev. of med. 42, 43 ;
Miller, i. 317, n, 863; Gentleman's mag.
XXV. 236; Ramsay's Hist. S. C.iu 113.
BULL, John, general, a soldier of the
revolution, died at Northumberland,
Penns., in Aug. 1824, aged 94. In the
French wars his services were important,
especiaUy in making treaties with the
Indians for the safety of the frontiers. In
the war for independence he engaged
-with zeal. In 1776 he was a member of
the assembly from the county of Phila
delphia. At the age of 75 he was also a
useful member of the legislature. He
died with composure, trusting in the

BULLOCK.

BURGOYNE.

189

atonement- of the Savior, with assured
hope of a glorious resurrection.
BULLOCK, WilUam, published a
work, entitled, Virginia impartially exam
ined, 1649.
BUNKER, Benjamin, minister of Mai
den, Mass., was the son of George Bun
ker, who lived in Criarlestown in 1634
and in 1637 was disarmed, with many
others, by order of the general court for
being a follower of Wheelwright and Mrs.
Hutchinson, lest in some re-velation they
should make an assault upon trie govern
ment: from wriom or from some descen
dant the name of Bunker's hill is doubt
less derived. The celebrated battle was
fought on Breed's hill, distant 120 rods
S. E. from Bunker's, which is a loftier
bill. — Mr. Bunker was graduated at Harv
ard college in 1658, and died Feb. 3, 1670,
aged about 30.-Savage's Winthr, i, 248.
BURD, Benjamin, general, a soldier
of the revolution, at the age of 21 joined
col. Thompson's regiment of Pennsylva
nia riflemen & marched as a volunteer to
Boston, where he arrived August 1775
He was afterwards in the battle of Long
Island. In 1777, as captain in the 4th
Pennsylvania regiment he was in the bat
tles of Trenton and Princeton, and after
wards at the battle of Brandywine. In
the capacity of major he was engaged in
the battles of Germantown and Mon
mouth. In 1779 he accompanied Sulli
van in his expedition against the Indians.
In all his services he was brave and ac
tive. After the war he settled down on
his paternal farm at fort Littleton, where
he was long known for his hospitable and
gentlemanly deportment. For the ten
last years of his life he resided at Bedford,
Penns.; where he died Oct. 5, 1822 of
the dropsy in the chest, aged 69. His
wife died on the preceding day. — Far
mer's col, n, ap. 99.
BURGOYNE, John a British lieuten
ant general inAmerica,was the natural son
of lord Bingley. He entered early into
the army, and in 1662 had the command
of a body of troops, sent to Portugal for
the defence of that kingdom against the
Spaniards. After his return to England

he became a privy counseUor, and was
chosen a member of parliament. In the
American war he was with th6 British
army in Boston at the battle of Bunker's
hill in 1775, and in the same year was
sent to Canada. In the year 1777 rie was
intrusted witri the command ofthe north
ern army, which should rather have been
given to sir Guy Carleton, who was
much better acquainted with the situation
of the country. It was the object of the
campaign of 1777 to open a communica
tion between New York and Canada, and
thus to sever New England from the oth
er states. Burgoyne first proposed to
possess himself of the fortress of Ticonde
roga. With an army of about 4,000 cho
sen British troops and 3,000 Germans he
left St. John's June 6jind, proceeding up
lake Champlain, landed near Crown
Point, where he met the Indians and gave
them a war feast. He made a speech
to them, calculated to secure their
friendly co-operation, but designed al
so to mitigate their native ferocity.
He endeavored to impress on them
the distinction between enemies in the
field and helpless, unarmed inhabitants,
and promised rewards for prisoners, but
none for scalps. The attempt to lay some
restraint upon the mode of warfare, adop
ted by the savages, is rionorable to the
humanity of Burgoyne ; but it may not
be easy to justify the connexion with an
ally, upon whom it was weU known no ef
fectual restraints could be laid. He also
published on June 29th a manifesto, in
tended to alarm the people of the country,
through whicri he was to march, and con
cluded it with saying, "I trust I shall
stand acquitted in the eyes of God and
man in denouncing and executing the
vengeance ofthe state against the wilful
outcasts. The messengers of justice and
of -wratri await triem in trie field, and de
vastation, famine, and every concomitant
horror, that a reluctant but indispensable
prosecution of mifitary duty must occa
sion, will bar the way to their return."
On the first of July he proceeded to
Ticonderoga, where general St. Clair
was stationed with about ' 3,000 effective

190

BURGOYNE.

rank & file, many of whom were without
bayonets. The works were extensive
and incomplete, and required 10,000 men
for their defence. The British army was
larger, than had been expected. When
the investment was almost complete, gen
eral St. Clair called a council of war, and
the immediate evacuation of the fort was
unanimously advised; Preparations for
the retreat were accordingly made in the
nigrit of July 5th. Burgoyne the next
morning engaged in the pursuit, and with
the grand division of the army in gun
boats and two frigates proceeded to the
falls of Skeensborough; but, meeting with
opposition in this place from the works,
wriich had been constructed, he returned
to South Bay, where he landed- He fol
lowed the Americans, however, from
Skeensborough to -fort Edward on the
Hudson river, where,after conducting his
army with incredible labor and fatigue
through the wilderness, he arrived July
30. Had he returned to Ticonderoga,
and embarked on lake George, he might
easily have proceeded to fort George,
whence there was a waggon road to fort
Edward. But he disUked the appearance
of a retrograde motion, though it would
have brought him to the place of riis des
tination much sooner and with mucri less
difficulty. On his approach general
Schuyler, who had been joined by St.
Clair, passed over to the west bank ofthe
Hudson, and retreated to Saratoga. Col.
St. Leger had been destined to reach Al
bany from Canada by a different route.
He was to ascend the St. Lawrence to
lake Ontario; and thence to proceed down
the Mohawk. He had accordingly reach
ed the head of this river, and was invest
ing fort Schuyler, formerly called fort
Stanwix, when intelUgence of his opera
tions was brought to Burgoyne,who per
ceived the importance of a rapid move
ment down the Hudson in order to aid
him in his project, and to effect the junc
tion of the troops. But this intention
could not be executed without the aid of
ox teams, carriages, and provisions. In
order to procure them he detached lieut.
col. Baum with about 600 men to Ben

nington, a place about 24 miles to the
eastward of Hudson's river, where large
suppUes were deposited for the northern
American army. But Baum was defeat
ed at Walloon creek, about seven mfles
from Bennington, Aug. 16th and colonel
Breyman, who had advariced to his assisr
tance with about 500 men, was obliged to
i retreat. This was the first check, which
the northern army received. This disas
ter was followed in a few days by anoth
er ; for St. Leger, being deserted by his
Indian allies, who were alarmed by the
approach of general Arnold and by a re
port of the defeat of Burgoyne, was
ohUged to raise the siege of fort Schuyler
in such haste,that the artillery with great
part of the baggage, ammunition, & pro
visions feU into the hands of the Ameri
cans. As he returned immediately to Can
ada, Burgoyne was cut off from the hope
of being strengthened by a junction, and
the American forces were enabled to con
centrate themselves in order to oppose
him. General Gates arrived to supersede
Schuyler and to take the coinmand of the
northern American army August 19th;
and his presence, with the recent events,
procured a vast accession of militia, and
inspired them with the-hopte of capturing
the whole British army. Burgpyne was
prevented from commencing his march by
the necessity of transporting provisions
from fort George, and every moment's
delay increased the difficultyof proceeding.
Havriig thrown a bridge of boats over the
Hudson, he crossed that river September
13th and 14th, and encamped on the
heights and plains of Saratoga. Gates
immediately advanced towards him, and
encamped three miles above StUlwater.
Burgoyne was not averse to battle. He
accordingly approached, and on the 19th
the action commenced at about three
o'clock and lasted till night, when the
Americans under the command of Arnold
retired to their camp. The loss on the
part of the Americans in killed .and
wounded was between three & four hun
dred. The loss of the British was about
600. Burgoyne now found, that the en
emy, which he had to meet, was able to

BURGOYNE.

191

sustain an attack in open plains with the
intrepidity and the spirit of veterans, .^s
he had given up all communication with
the lakes, he now felt the necessity of a
diversion in his favor by the British army.
He accordingly wrote upon this subject in
the most pressing manner to sir WilUam
Howe and general Clinton; but no effectu
al aid was afforded. He was also at this
time deserted by his Indian allies, who
had been disappointed in their hopes of
plunder, and whose enthusiasm was
chilled. These hordes of trie wilderness,
of whom in his proclamation he boasted,
that "he had but to lift his arm and beck
on by a stretch thereof," and they would
execute riis vengeance,were now "deaf to
every consideration of honor,and unmoved
by any representation made to them of
the distress, in which their secession
would involve him." Difficulties thick
ened around him. His army was reduced
to about 5, 000 men, and they were limi
ted to half trie usual allowance of provi
sion. As the stock of forage was entirely
exhausted, his horses were perisriing in
great numbers. The American army
was so much augmented, as to render him
diffident of making good his retreat.
In this exigency he resolved to examine
the possibility of advancing,or of dislodg
ing the Americans, and removing them
to a greater distance, so as to favor, his
retreat, if he should be under the neces
sity of resorting to that melancholy expe
dient. For this purpose he detached a
body of 1500 men, which he led, attended
by generals Philips, Reidesel, & Frazer.
This detachment, on trie seventh of Oc-
tober,had scarcely formed within less
than half a mile of the American in-
trenchments,when a furious attack was
made ori its left,by thedirection of Gates,
who had perceived the movements
of the Britisri. Arnold soon pressed
hard On the right under Burgoyne, which
with the loss of the field pieces and great
part of trie artillery corps retreated to the
camp. The Americans followed & assault
ed trie works triroughout their whole ex
tent from right to left. The works were
actually forced towards the close of the

day, and colonel John Brooks, who had
dislodged the German reserve, occupied
the ground, whicri rie had gained. In
this action Burgoyne lost a number of
his best officers, among whom were gen
eral Frazer and colonel Breyman, many
privates killed, and two hundred taken
prisoners, witri nine pieces of brass artil
lery and the encampment and equipage of
the German brigade. After the disasters
oftrie day he took advantage ofthe night
to change his position, and to secure him
self in the strong camp on the heights.
But apprehensive of being enclosed on all
sides, he the next evening commenced
his retreat to Saratoga, where he arrived
on trie morning of the tenth. In his
march ' all the dwelling houses on his
route were reduced to ashes. This move
ment had been foreseen, and a force was
already stationed in his rear to be ready to
cut off his retreat. No means of extrica
ting himself from difficulty was now left
him, but to abandon his baggage and artil
lery, and by fording the Hudson to escape
to fort George through roads unpassa-
ble by waggons. Of this last resource he
was deprived by the precaution of Gates,
who had posted strong parties at the
fords, so that they could not be passed
without artillery. In triis dilemma, when
his army was red uced to about 3 , 500 fight
ing riien, and there was no means of pro
curing a supply of provisions, which
were almost exhausted, he called a coun
cil of war, and it was unanimously agreed
to enter into a convention -with general
Gates. The troops of Burgoyne were at
first required to ground their arms in their
encampments and yield themselvesprison-
ersofwar; but this demand was imme
diately rejected, and the American gen
eral did not think it necessary to insist
upon the rigorous terms proposed. The
convention was signed October 17th, and
the British army on the same day march
ed out of their encampment with all the
honors of war. It was stipulated, that
they should be permitted to embark for
England, and should not serve against
the United States during the war. The
whole number of prisoners was 5,752.

192

BURKE.

Burgoyne's army in July had consisted
of upwards of 9,000 men. The army of
Gates, including 2500.sick, amounted to
13,200. The army of Burgoyne was escorted
to Cambridge, Mass., where it was kept
till Nov. of the following year, when
congress directed its removal to Char-
lotteville in Virginia. This detention of
the troops was trirougri fear, that the
convention would be broken, and until a
ratification of it by the court of Great
Britain. Burgoyne himself had obtained
permission to repair to England on parole,
where rie arrived in May 1778. He met
a very cool reception, and was denied ad
mission to trie presence of his sovereign.
He was even ordered immediately to re
pair to America as a prisoner ; but the iU
state of his health prevented his compU-
anee. At length rie was permitted to
vindicate his character ; soon after which
he resigned his emoluments from gov
ernment to the amount of upwards of
15,000 dollars a year. In 1777 there
was published at London "a reply to his
letter to his constituents, " doubtless
written by lord Sackville, the secretary of
the American department,, on whom Bur
goyne had thrown the blame of 'the- fail
ure of the expedition. This pamphlet
exhibits some of trie peculiarities of the
style of Junius, and furnishes one of the
reasons for the belief, that lord Sack
ville was the author of the letters of Ju
nius. Towards the cilose of the year 1781,
when a majority of parliament seemed
resolved to persist in trie war, he joined
the opposition, and advocated a motion
for the discontinuance of the fruitless
contest. He knew, that it was impossi
ble, to conquer America. "Passion, pre
judice, and interest," said he, "may ope
rate suddenly and partially ; but when we
see one principle pei-vading the whole
continent, the Americans resolutely en
countering difficulty and death for a
course of years, it must be a strong vanity
and presumption in our own minds,which
can only lead us to iriiagine, that they, are
not in the right." From the peace tiU his

death he lived as a private gentleman, de
voted to pleasure & the muses. His death
was occasioned by a fit of the gout, Au
gust 4, 1792. He published a letter to his
constituents, 5th. ed. 1779; state of the
expedition from Canada, 1T80 ; the maid
of the oaks, an entertainment ; bon ton ;
and the heiress, a comedy, which vvere
once very popular, and are considered as
respectable dramatic compositions. —
Stedman, i. 318-S57; Marshall, in. 231-
291,393; Warren, a. 1-58; Holmes,
n. 269-275; Ramsay; u. 27-56;. Gordon,
n. 476-490, 238-578; Annual reg. for
1777, 141-176; for 1778,-195-200; Call.
hist. soc. 11. 104-1S4 ;Juniiis unmasked.
BURKE, Aedanus, a judge of the
colirt of chancery in South CaroUna,
was a native of Gahvay in Ireland. At
the beginning of the revolution he came
as a volunteer to fight for American liber
ty. In 1778, he was appointed a judge
of the supreme court. In 1789 he was a
delegate to congress. The establishment
of the society of' trie Cincinnati was op
posed by riim with great zeal. He died
at Charieston Marcri 30, 1802, aged 59.
Mr. Burke was an earnest republican ;
rionest, yet eccentric ; in the administra
tion of justice inflexibly upright. He
published an address to the freemen of
the state of S. C. by Cassius, ,1783,. in
which he recommended a general amnes
ty ; considerations upon the order of the
Cincinnati, 1783. — Gordon, iv, 396 ;
Warren, 111, 288; Ramsay's S. C. i.
'477. BURKE, John Doly, author of a his
tory of Virginia, was a native of Ireland
and educated at Trinity college. Com
ing to America in 1797, 'he conducted for
a short time a paper at Boston and after
wards at New York, wriere he was arres
ted under the sedition law. At the
Boston theatre he was made the master
of ceremonies. He was kiUed in a duel
with FeUx Coquebert, a Frenchman, in
consequence of a poUtical dispute, Aprjl
12, 1808. He publishedariistory of Vir
ginia from its first settlement to 1804 in
3 vols. An additional volume, the joint
production of Mr. Jones and Mr. Girar-

BURNABY.
din, was published in 1816. He publish
ed also Bunker hill, a tragedy ; Bethlem
Gabor, an historical drama, 1803 ; an
oration, delivered March 4, 1808. .
BURNABY, Andrew, a clergyman,
published Travels through the middlle set
tlements of North America in 1759 and
1760, 4to. 1776.
BURNAP, Jacob, d, d., first minister
of Merrimac, N. H., was born in Read
ing, Mass., Nov.'2, 1748,& was a descen
dant of Isaac, who died 1667. After grad
uating at Harvard college in 1770, he
studied theology with Thomas Haven of
Reading, a man of profound erudition, of
great mfldness and gentleness, and of re
markable patience under severe trials,
whose example taught his pupil much of
the spirit of reUgion. The criurcri of Mer
rimac was constituted Sept. 5,1772 and
Mr. Burnap was ordained Oct. 14th.
After a ministry of nearly 50 years he di
ed Dec. 26, 1821, aged 73. By his sec
ond wife, Elizabeth, sister of gov. John
Brooks, who died in 1810, he had 13 chil
dren. Two ofhis sons graduated at Har
vard college. With a sound judgment
and vigorous powers he diUgently stud
ied the scriptures in trie original langua
ges. In riis sentiments he escaped trie
extremes of orthodoxy and liberality. In
his disposition he was kind and cathoUc.
He published an oration on independence,
1803, and the following sermons; at a
fast, 1799 ; at the election, 1801 ; on the
death of S. Chandler, 1806 ; of R. M.
Davidson, 1808 ; of R. Parker, 1809 ; of
Sarah, Sam'l & Joanna Spaulding,' 1815;
of J. Kidder, 1818 ; at the thanksgiving,
1811; at Merrimac, 1819; atM. Dec.20,
1820, two centuries from the settiement
of N. E. — Farmer's collect, n. 76-79.
BURNET, William, gov. of several
of the American colonies, was the eldest
son of the celebrated bishop Burnet, and
was born at the Hague in March 1688.
He was named Wflliam after trie Prince
of Orange, wrio stopd riis godfatrier. Pre
viously to his coming to this country, he
possessed a considerable fortune ; but it
had been wrecked in the south sea
scheme, which reduced many opulent
25 '

BURNET.

108

families to Indigence. In the year 1720
he was appointed governor of New York
and New Jersey in the place of Robert
Hunter, who succeeded Mr. Burnet as
cbmptroUer general of the accounts of
the customs, a place worth 1200 hundred
pounds per annum. He arrived at New
York and took upon him the government
of that province Sept. 17, 172.a He
continued in this station till his removal
in 1728. None of his predecessors had
such extensive and just views of the In
dian affairs, and of the dangerous neigh
borhood of the French, whose advan
ces he was fully determined to check.
He penetrated into their policy, being
convinced from their possessing the main
passes, from their care to conciliate the
natives, and from the increase of their
settlements in Louisiana, that the British
colonies had much to fear from their arts
and power. In his first speech to the
assembly he expressed his apprehen
sions and endeavored to awaken the
suspicion of the members. Agreeably
to riis desire an act was passed at trie first
session, proriibiting the sale of such goods
to the French, as were suitable for the In
dian trade. This was a wise and neces
sary measure ; for by means of goods,
procured from Albany and transported tp
Canada by the Mohawk and lake Ontario,
the Frencri were enabled to divert the
fur trade from the Hudson to the St.
Lawrence, and to corrupt the fidefity of
the Indian alUes. But wise and necessa
ry, as this measure was, a clamor was
raised against it by those, whose interests
were affected. The gpvernor, riowever,
was not prevented from pursuing his
plans for the public welfare. He per
ceived the importance of obtaining the
command oflake Ontario in order to frus
trate the project of the French for estab
lishing a chain of forts from Canada to
Louisiana,so as to confine the Engfish col
onies to narrow Umits along the seacoast.
For this purpose he began the erection of
a trading house at Oswego in the country
of the Seneca Indians in 1722. In triis
year there was a congress at Albany of
the several governors and commissioners

194

BURNET.

on the renewal of the ancient friendship
with the Indians ; and governor Burnet
persuaded them to send a message to the
eastern Indians, threatening them with
war, unless they concluded a peace with
the- English, who had been much harass
ed by their frequent irruptions,
Anotrier circumstance,in addition to the
act above mentioned,. increased trie disaf
fection of the people to the governor. As
he sustained trie office of criancellor, he
paid great attention to its duties. Though
he, was not a lawyer, he in general tran
sacted the business, which was brought
before him, with correctness and ability.
He had, however, one failing, which dis
qualified him for a station, that some
times required a patient appUcation of
mind. His decisions were precipitate.
He used to say of himself, "I act first,
and think afterward." As some cases
were brought before him, in which the
path of justice was not so plain as to be
instantly seen, and as the establishment
of the court itself without the consent of
the asembly was considered as a griev
ance, Mr. Burnet saw a strong party rise
against him. His services were overlPok-
ed and his removal became necessary.
Such was riis disinterested zeal in prose
cuting his- plan of opposition to the
French, that after they had built a large
storehouse and repaired the fort at Niag
ara in 1726, he iri the following year, at
his own expense, built a fort at Oswego
for the protection of the post & trade.This
was a measure ofthe highest importance
to the colonies. In the government of
New jersey ,which he, enjoyed at the same
time witrithat of New "York, no event of
interest, took place. In the session ofthe
assembly, in the year 1721, a bill was in
troduced, whicri was supposed to have
originated with the governor, entitled,
" an act against denying the divinity of
our Savior Jesus Christ, the doctrine of
the blessed Trinity, the truth ofthe holy
scripture, and spreading atheistical
books;" but it was rejected.
Mr. Burnet was succeeded in fiis gov
ernments by John Montgomerie, to
whom he delivered the great 'seal ofthe

province of New York April 15, 1728.
He left New York with reluctance, for
by his marriage with the daughter of Van-
home he had become connected with a
numerous family, and he had formed a
strict intimacy and friendship with sev
eral gentlemen of learning and worth.
Being appointed governor of Massachu
setts and New Hampsriire, he reached
Boston July 13, 1728, and was received
with unusual pomp. In his speech to the
assembly July 24, he made known his in
structions to insist upon a fixed salary,
and expressed his intention firnily to ad
here to them. Thus the controversy,
which had been agitated during the ad
ministration of his predecessor, Shute,
was revived. On the one hand it was
contended, that ifthe support of the gov
ernor depended upon an annual grant, he
would be laid under constraint, and
would not act witri the necessary indepen
dence and regard to the rights of the
king. On the other hand it was
asserted, that the charter gave the as-
seiribly a full right to raise and appropri
ate all monies for the support of govern
ment, and that an honorable support
would always be afforded to a worthy
chief magistrate, without rendering him
completely independent of the. people,
whose interests he is bound to promote.
The governor pursiied trie controversy
witri zeal, but without success ; and
opposition had an evident effect upon his
spirits. A violent cold, occasioned by
the oversetting of his carriage upon
the causeway at Cambridge, when the
tide was high, was followed by a fever,
which terminated his Ufe September 7,
1729. He left two sons & a daughter.
He was succeeded by Mr. Belcher.
Governor Burnet was a man of superi
or talents, and in many respects ofan am
iable character. His acquaintance with
books and his free and easy manner of
communicating his sentiments made hira
the delight of men of letters. His library
was one of the richest private collections
America. His right of precedence in
all companies rendered him the more ex
cusable in indulging his natural disppsi-

BURNET.
tion by occupying a large share in the
conversation. To the ladies he made
himself peculiarly agreeable. In his con
duct as a governor rie discovered nothing
ofan avaricious spirit, though in order to
procure suppUes for his family he exceed
ed the bounds of the law in demanding
fees of masters of vessels. His controver
sy with the assembly respected not the
amount of his salary, but only the man
ner, in which it should be secured to him.
In his disposal of public offices he was
sometimes generous, though he usually
preferred those, who would favor his
cause, and displaced some, who. opposed
him. He removed from his posts Mr.
Lynde, a member of the house, wriose in
tegrity and talents were unquestioned,
merely because he would not vote for a
compliance with the instructions given to
the governor. By this measure he lost
many of his friends. It is, however,
highly to the honor of Mr. Burnet, that
an immoral or unfair character was in
his view a complete exclusion from office;
and UpOn this principle only he . once
gave his negative to the election of a
member of the council.
With regard to his reUgion, he firmly
beUeved the truth of Christianity, but he
seems not to have possessed aU the seri
ousness, which would have been honora
ble to bis character, nor that constant
sense of obUgation tothe Giver of all good,
which the christian should feel. Being
invited to dine with an aged gentleman,
who had been a senator under the old
charter, and who retained the custom of
saying grace sitting, he was asked ,wheth-
er it would be more agreeable to his ex
ceUency, triat grace should be said sitting
or standing. The governor repUed, "stan^
fling or sitting, any way or no way, just
as you please." Another anecdote is the
following. One of the committee, who
went from Boston to meet him on the
borders of Rhode Island; was the facetious
colonel Tailer. Burnet complained of the
long graces, which were said by clergy
men on the road, and asked when they
would shorten. Tailer answered, "the
graces wfll increase in length till you come

BURR.

195

to Boston; after that they will . shorten
tfll you come to your government of New
Hampshire, where your excellency will
find no grace at all." The governor,
thougri trie son of a bisriop, was not re
markable for his exact attendance upon
public worship. Mr. Hutchinson, one of
his successors, who had a keener sense of
what was discreet, if not of what was
right, triinks, that he should have confor
med more to the customs and prejudices
of New England. But he had no talent
at dissimulation, and his character presen
ted itself fully to view. Hfe did not ap
pear better, than he really was. He some
times wore a cloth coat, lined with vel
vet ; it was said to be expressive of his
character. By a clause in his last will
he ordered his body to be buried in the
nearest criurch yard or burying ground,
as he had no attachment to particular
modes and forms.
He published some astronomical obser
vations in the transactions ofthe royal so
ciety, arid an essay on scripture propriecy,
wrierein he endeavored to explain the
three periods contained in the twelfth
chapter of Daniel, with arguments to
prove, that the first period expired in
1715. This was published'.1724, 4to. pp.
167.— Smith's hist. N. Y.- 151-173, ed.
in 4to; Hutchinson, ii. 332-366; Bel
knap, II. 93-95; Marshall, i. 290-299,
306; Caiman's life, 196; Johnson's life,
41,42; Minot,!. 61; N. E. weekly jour
nal, Sept. 15, 1729.
BUIINET, Mattriias, d. d., episcopal
minister, at Norwalk, Con., graduated
at Princeton in 1764 and died in 1806,
aged about 55. He published reflections
upon the season of harvest, and evidences
of a general judgment, two sermons in
Amer. preacher, il, in.
BURR, Jonathan, minister of Dorches
ter, Mass. was born at Redgrave in Suf
folk, England, about the year 1604.
He gave early indications of an inquisi
tive, studious, and pious mind. While
he was mricri attacried to books, the bible
was pecuUarly his delight, and by means
of its instructions, which were famifiar to
him from childhood, he was made wise to

196

BURR.

salvation. Hence he was Conscientious
in secret prayer ; his whole deportment
was guarded and serious; and his_sabbaths
were entirely occupied in the exercises be
coming a day of holy rest. His pious pa
rents observed with satisfaction the prom
ising disposition of their son ; and being
desirous to consecrate him to the service
of God and his criurcri, determined to be
stow upon him a learned education. He
was accordingly sent to the university,
where he continued three or four years,
wheri trie course of his academical studies
was interrupted by the death ofhis father.
Being compelled by this melancholy
event to retire into the country, he, un
dertook the instruction of a scriool ; but
he stfll pursued with unabated ardor his
design of accomphshing himself in the va
rious branches of knowledge. The awful
providence of God, he would remark, by
which he was precluded from those em
ployments and honors in the university,
of which he was very fond, produced an
effect, for which he had reason to admire
the divine wisdom. It promoted in him
a humflity and seriousness, which render
ed him more fit for the great work of tur
ning many to righteousness.
After having preached for some time
at Horning, near Bury in Suffolk, he
was called to take the charge of a- congre
gation at Reokingshal in the same coun-
ity. Here he approved himself a faithful
minister of the gospel. By an explicit
-and solemn covenant rie obligated riimself
tothfe most conscientious discharge ofthe
•high duties, devolved upon him. He often
and earnestly prayed, that whatever he
preached to others, he might preach from
his own experience. Yet he not Unfre-
-quently lamented to hia friends, "alas! I
preach not what I am, but what I ought
to be." Being silenced in England with
many others for resisting the impositions
ofthe prelatical party, and apprehending,
that calamities were in store for the nation,
he came to NewEngland in 1 639, with his
wife arid 3 children, willing to forego afl
worldly advantages, that he might enjoy
the ordinances ofthe gospel in their puri
ty. He was admitted a member of the

church in Dorchester under the pastoral
care of Richard Matrier, December 21.
He was in a short time invited to settle
as a colleague with Mr. Mather in the
ministry ; but before accepting the invita
tion a misunderstanding arose, which
made it necessary to ask the advice ofthe
neighboring churches. A council was ac
cordingly called Feb. 2, 1640, consisting
of governor Winthrop and another mag
istrate and ten ministers. Four days
were spent in examining and discussing
the afiair. It appeared, that Mr. Burr
had been suspected of some errors, and
being directed to give his opinion in wri
ting to Mr. Matrier, trie latter had re
ported the exceptionable expressions and
the, erroneous sentiments to the church.
Without alluding to the qualifications,
which they might receive from other
parts oftrie writing. These errors Mr.
Burr disclaimed. The council declared,
that both these good men had cause to
be humbled for their failings, and advised
them to set apart a day for reconcfliation.
This was accordingly done. The spirit
of meekness and love triumphed, the mu
tual affection ofthe ministers was restor
ed, and the peace of the church was hap
pily re-established. Mr. Burr, whose
faitri had been somewhat shaken, by
means of the discussion was confirmed in
the truth, and he bumbled himself with
many tears. He and his family were in
this year taken sick with the smafl pox,
which, as inoculation was not practised,
was a very dangerous disorder ; but he
happily recovered. On this occasion he
renewed the dedication of himself to God,
resolving io act only for his glory and the
good ofhis brethren, and not to be govern
ed by selfishness ; to live in humiUty and
with a sense of his complete dependence
upori divine grace ; to be watchful over
his own heart, lest his reliance should be
transferred from trie Creator to the crea
ture ; to be mindful, that God heareth
prayer ; and to bend his exertions with
more diligence for the promotion pf pious
affections in himself and in his -family.
He lived afterwards answerably to these
holy resolutions. The most experienced

BURR.

197

christians in the cpuntry found his minis- ; death. Previously to each celebration of

try and his whole deportment breathing
much of the spirit of a better world. The
eminent Mr. Hooker, once hearing him
preach, remarked, "surely triis man will
not be long out of heaven, for he preach
es, as if he were there already." He died
after a short sickness August 9, 1 641, aged
37 years.
Mr. Burr was esteemed both in Eng
land and in this country for his piety and
learning. His modesty and self diffidence
were uncommonly great. He could with-
difficulty imagine, that performances such
as his could be productive of aUy good.
Yet he was sometimes most happily dis
appointed. Having been by much im
portunity prevailed on to preach at a dis
tance from home, he returned, making the
most humiliating reflections on his ser
mon. "It must surely be of God," said
he,"if any good is done by so unworthy
an instrument." Yet this sermon was
instrumental in the conversion of a per
son of eminence,who heard it, and whose
future Iffe manffested,that he was a chris
tian indeed. It was his custom on the
sabbath, after bis public labprs, to retire
to his closet, where he supplicated for
giveness ofthe sins, which had attended
his performances,and implored the divine
blessing upon them. He then spent some
hours in praying with his family and in
structing them in the great trutljs of re
figion.. When he was desired to relax
his excessive exertions to do good, lest
he should be exhausted, he replied,"it is
better to be worn out with the work,than
to be eaten out with rust." He begari
each day with secret prayer. He then
carefuUy meditated on a chapter of the
bible, which be afterwards, at the time of
domestic worship, expounded to his fairi-
ily and such neighbors, as wished to be
present. A similar course he pursued at
evening. He, generally spent some time
after dinner in praying with his wife.
Immediately before retiring to rest, he
employed half an hour in recoHecting and
confessing the sins of the day, in grateful
acknowledgments of divine mercies, and

the Lord's supper,he kept with his wife a
day of fasting and prayer, not merely as
a preparative for that sacred ordinance,
but as a season for imploring the blessing
of God on his family and neighborhood.
Absence from home was irksome to him,
particularly as it deprived him of those
opportuhities of holding intercourse with
heaven, on which he placed so great a
value. But when he journeyed with riis
friends, he did not fail to edify them by
profitable conversation; especially by in
structive remarks on such objects and oc
currences, as presented themselves to his
attention. In the recollection of these
scenes he was accustomed to inquire,
what good had been done or gained, what
useful examples seen, and what valuable
instructions heard.
While he was indefatigable in bis min
isterial work, he was not anxious for any
other reyyard, than what he found in the
service itself If any, who hoped that
they had received spiritual benefit through
his exertions, sent him expressions of
their gratitude, he -would pray, that he
might not have bis portion in these things.
Nor was he backward to remind his grate
ful friends, that-whatever good they had
received through him, the glory should
be ascribed to God alone. It was in
preaching the gospel, that he found his
highest enjoyment in life. In proportion
-to the ardor of hispjetywas the extent
of his charity. He sincerely loved his
fellow irieri, and while their eternal inter
ests pressed with weight on his heart, he
entered with fively sympathy into their
temporal afflictions. Rarely did he visit
the poor without communicating what
was comfortable to the body, as well as
what was instructive and salutary to the
soul. ' When he was reriiinded of the im
portance of having a greater regard to his
own interest, he replied, I often think of
those words, "he that soweth sparingly
shall reap sparingly." For the general
interests of refigion in the world he felt so
lively a concern, that his personal joys
and sorrows seemed inconsiderable in

in .supplications to be prepared for sudden j comparison. He was bold and zealpus in

198

BURR.

withstanding every thing, which brought
dishonor on the name of God ; but -under
personal injuries he was exemplarily meek
and patient. When 'informed, that any
thougrit meanly of him, his reply was,
"I think meanly of myself, and therefore
may wefl be content, that others think
meanly of me." When charged with
what was faulty, he remarked, "if men
see so much evil in me, wriat does, God
see ? "
In his last sickness he exhibited un
common patience and submission. He
was perfectly resigned to the wfll of God.
Just before his death, as riis faith was
greatly tried, and he endured a sharp
conflict, a person, who was standing by,
remarked, "this is one of Satan's last as
saults ; he is a subtle enemy, and would,
if it were possible, deceive the very elect."
Mr. Burr repeated the expression, "if it
were possible,'' & added, "but blessed.be
God, there is no possibility." He then re
quested to be left alone for prayer. Bnt
seeing the company reluctant to depart,
he prayed in Latin as long as he had
strength. He then caUed for his wife,
and steadfastly fixirig his eyes upon lier
said, "cast thy care upon God, fbr he
careth for thee." He soon afterwards ex
pired. He left four children. His sons
were Jonathan, Jorin, and Simon: the
former graduated at Harvard coUege in
1651, was a physician in Hingham, and
died in Canada in 1690. John settled in
Fairfield, Con. — Among his grandsons
was Peter Burr, a graduate of 1690 and
chief justice of Connecticut in 1723, the
son of Dr. Jonathan Burr. — His widow,
Frances, married Richard Dummer, with
whom she lived happily nearly forty
years. — Mather's magn., in, 78-81 ;
Panoplist, Sep. 1808 ; Savage's Win
throp, II. 22 ; Harris' hist, of Dorchester
in Coll. hist. soc. ix. 173-175.
BURR, Aaron, president of New Jer
sey eollege,a descendant of the preceding,
was a native of Fairfield in Connecticut,
and was born in the year 1714. His an
cestors for a number of generations had
lived in that colony, and were persons pf
great respectability. He is said by Farm

er to have been the grandson of chief
justice Peter Burr, and son of Rev. Isaac
B., who graduated in 1717 ; but this may
be doubted, as he was born in 1714. Sav
age, with greater probability,calls him the
son ofthe chief justice. He- was gradua
ted at Yale college in 1785. In 1742 he
was invited to take the pastoral charge of
the presbyterian church at Newark in
New Jersey. Here he became so emi
nent as an able and learned divine and, an
accomplished scholar, that in 1748 hewas
unanimously elected president ofthe col
lege, which he was instrumental in found
ing, as successor to Mr. Dickinson. The
college was removed about this time from
Elizabethtown to Newark and in 1757, a
short time before the death of Mr. Burr,to
Princeton. In 1754 he accompanied Mr.
Whitefield to Boston, having a high es
teem for the character of that eloquent
itinerant preacher, and greatly rejoicing
in the success of his labors. After a life
of usefulness and honor, devoted to his
Master in heaven, he was cafled into the
eternal world September 24, 1757, in the
midst ofhis days, being in the forty third
year of his age.
President Burr had a slender and deU-
cate frame ; yet to encounter fatigue he
had a heart of steel. To amazing talents
for the despatch of business he joined a
constancy of mind, that commonly se
cured to him success. As long as an en
terprise appeared possible,he yielded to no
discouragement. The flourishing state
of the college of New Jersey was much
owing to his great & assiduous exertion.
It was in a great degree owing to his in
fluence with the legislature and to his in
timacy and friendship with governor
Belcher, that the charter was enlarged in
1746. The first class was graduated in
1748, the first year ofhis presidency.
When his services were requested by the
trustees ofthe college in soliciting dona
tions for the purchase of a library & phi
losophical apparatus, and for erecting a
building for the accommodation of the
students, he engaged with his usual zeal
in the undertaking, and every where met
witri the encouragement, which the de-

BURR.

199

sign so f\illy deserved. A place being
fixed upon at Princeton for the site of the
new building, the superintendence of the
work was solely committed to him. Un
til the spring of 1757, when the college
was removed to Newark, he discharged
the duties both of president and pastor of
a, church. Few were, more perfect in the
art of rendering themselves agreeable in
company. He knew the avenues tothe
human heart, and he possessed the rare
power of pleasing without betraying a de
sign to please. As he was free from os-
tentatioii and parade, no one would have
suspected his learning, unless his subject
required him to display it, and then every
one was surprised that a person, so well
acquainted with books, sriould yet possess
sucri ease in conversation and sucri free
dom of behavior. He inspired all around
him with cheerfulness. His arms were
open to good men of every denomination.
A sweetness of temper, obliging courtesy
and mildness of manners, joined to an en
gaging candor of sentiment, spread a glo
ry over his reputation, and endeared his
person-to all his acquaintance, Thougri
steady to his own principles, he was free
from afl bigotry. In the pulpit he shone
with superior lustre. He was fluent,
copious,subhme, and persuasive. Having
a clear and harmonious voice, whicri was
capable of expressing the various passions,
and taking a deep interest in his subject,
he could not fail to reach the heart. His
invpntion was exhaustless, and his elocu
tion was equal to his ideas. He was not
one of those preachers, who soothe their
hearers with a delusive riope of safety, who
substitute morality in the place of holi
ness, and yield the important doctrines of
the gospel through fear of displeasing the
more reputable sinners. He insisted up
on the great and universal duty of repen
tance, as all were guilty and condemned
by the divine law. He never wished to
administer consolation, till the heart was
renewed&consecrated unto God. When
he saw the soul humbled, he then dwelt
upon the riches of redeeming mercy, and
expatiated upon the glories of him, who
was God" manifest in the flesh. It was

his endeavor to alarm the thoughtless, to
fix upon the conscience a sense of sin, to
revive the disconsolate, to animate the
penitent, to reclaim the relapsing, to con
firm the irresolute, and to establish the
faithful. He wished to restore to roan
the beautiful image of God, disfigured by
the apostacy. His life and example were
a comment on his sernjons, and by his en
gaging deportment he rendered the amia
ble character of a christian still iriore at
tractive and lovely. He was distinguish
ed for his public spirit. Amidst his other
cares he studied, and planned, and toiled
for the good of his country. He had a
high sense of Engfish liberty and detested
despotic power as the bane of human hap
piness. He considered the heresy of A-
rius as not more fatal to the purity ofthe
gospel, than the positions of Filmer were
to the dignity of man and the repose of
states. But tho' he had much of that pa
triotic spirit, which is ornamental even to' a
christian minister,he cautiously intermed
dled with any matters of a political nature,
bfeing aware of the invidious construc
tions, wriich are commonly put upon the
most unexceptionable attempts, made by
men of his profession to promote the pub
lic welfare. He was a correspondent of
the Scotch society for propagating the
gospel ; and he thought no labor too
great in the prosecution of an enterprise,
whicri promised to flluminate trie gloomy
wflderness witri the beams of evangeUcal
truth. Over the college he pi"esided -with
dignity and reputation. He had the most
engaging iriethod of instruction and a
singular talent in communicating his sen
timents. While he stripped learning , of
its mysteries, and presented the most in
tricate subjects in the clearest fight, and
thus enriched his pupils with the treas-
uers of learning, he wished also to im
plant in their minds the seeds of virtue
and reUgion. He took indefatigable pains
in regard to their religious instruction,
and with zeal, soUcitude, arid parental af
fection pressed upon thefn the care of
th?ir souls and with melting tenderness
urged the importance of their becoining
the true disciples of the holy Jesus. In

200

BURR.

some instances his pious exertions were
attended with siiccess. In the govern
ment ofthe college he exhibited the great
est impartiafity and wisdom, Triough in
judgment and temper incfined to mild
measures, when these failed, he would
resort to a necessary severity, and no con
nexions could prevent the equal distribu
tion of justice. In no college were the
students more narrowly inspected and
prudently guarded, or vice of every kind
more effectually searched out, and dis
countenanced and suppressed. He secur
ed with the same ease the obedience and
loveof his pupils.
The year after he took his first degree
he resided at N. Haven, & this is the pe
riod, when his mind was first enUghterted
witri the knowledge of the way of salva
tion. In bis private papers he wrote as
follows; " this year God saw fit to open
my eyes, and shew me what a miserable
creature I was. TiU then I had spent
my life in a dream; and as to the great
design of my being had lived in vain.
Though before I had been under frequent
convictions, & was driven to a form of re
ligion, yet Iknew nothing as I ought to
know. But then! was broughttothe foot
stool of sovereign grace ; saw myself pol-
lutedby nature and practice; had affecting
views of trie divine wrath I deseirved; was
made to despair of help iu myself, and al
most concluded, that my day of grace
was past. It pleased God, at length, to
reveal riis Son to me in the gospel, an all-
sufficient and willing Savior, and I hope
inclined me to receive him on the terms
of the gospel. I received some consola
tion, and found a great change in myself
Before this I was strongly attached to the
Arminian scheme, but then I was made to
see those things in a different light, and
seemingly felt the truth of the Calvinian
doctrines." He was unfluctuating in
principle and ardent in devotion, raising
his heart continually to the Father of
mercies in adoration and praise. He kept
his eye fixed upon the high destiny of
man, and lived a spiritual life. The effi
cacy ofhis religious principles was evinced
by his benevolence and charity. From the

grace-^ God he received a liberal and
generous disposition, and from his bounty
the power of gratifyng the desire of do
ing good. At the approach of death
that gospel, which he had preached to
others, and which discloses" a crucified
Redeemerj gave him support. He was
patient and resigned, cheered with the
liveliest hope. The king of terrors was
disarmed of his sting.
Mr. Burr married in 1752 a daughter of
Jonathan Edwards, his successor in the
presidency of the college. She died in
1758, the yearafter the death of her hus
band, in the twenty seventh year of her
age, leaving two children, one of whom
is Aaron Burr, who stfll Jives, late vice
president of the United States; and the
other a daughter, deceased, who was mar
ried to judge Reeve. Mrs. Burr was in
every respect an ornament to her sex,
being equally distinguished for the suav
ity of her temper, the gracefulness of her
manners, her Uterary accomplishments,
and her unfeigned regard to, religion.
She combined a lively imagination, a pen
etrating mind, and correct judgment.
When only seven or eight years of age
she was brought to the knowledge ofthe
truth, as it is in Jesus, and her, conduct
trirougri fife was becoming the gospel.
Her religion did not cast a gloom over
her mind, but made her cheerful and hap
py, and rendered the thought of death
transporting. She left a number of man
uscripts upon interesting subjects, and it
was hoped they would have been made
public; but they are now lost.
Mr. Burr publisried a treatise, entitled,
trie suprerrie deity of our Lord Jesus
Cririst, maintained in a letter to the dedi
cator of Mr. Emlyn's inquiry; reprinted
at Boston in 1791. He pubfished also a
fagt sermon on account of the encroach
ments of the Frencli, Jan. 1, 1755; the
watchman's answer to the question, what
of the night ? a sermon, '1756; a fu
neral sermon on governor Belcher,
1757. This was preached but a few days
before his own death, and his exertions
in a very feeble state of , health to honor
the memory of a highly respected friend.

BURR:

BURROUGHS.

'JOl

it is thought, accelerated that event.-^'
Livingston's fun: clog.; Smith's serm.
Srpref. to Burr's serm. on Belcher;Mili-
er, II. 34ij; Edward's life, app.; Green's
disc.300-313; Savage's Winthrop,ll.%(i.
BURR,Henry,of N.Jersey, died about
the year, 1772 making provision for the
emancipation of all his slaves, the eldest
at his death, and the younger as they
reached a suitable age. Peter White of
Haddonfield, who married a daughter of
Burr,.and died about 1744, also emancipa
ted his slaves. These were the two earliest
instances of emancipation. — Mass. hist.
col s. s. VIII. 187.
BURR, Joseph, a philanthropist, died
at Manchester, Vt. ,-withonta famfly, April
14, 1 828, aged 56, bequeathing more than
90,000 dollars to various objects of charity.
He bequeathed for foreign missions 17
thousand ddllars, 15 to the Bible society,
12 to Middlebury college, 10 to the Ameri
can Home missionary society, 5 to the
tract, colonization, and Vermont mis
sionary societies each, 54© the Parish in
Manchester, 3 to an education society, 1.
to Dartmouth and WiUiams colleges each,
10 for a public seminary of learning in
Manchester. He bequeathed these thou-
fiarids of dollars, besides bestowing a la-rge
amount of property upon his relatives.
With a smafl patrimoriy he had acquired
his estate by his unfailing judgment-
and prudence. He was the banker of his
region. He was honorable. and-eo»selen-
tious. With correct religious views and a
moral deportment,, he yet avowed no
hope of a spiritual renovation, until a
short time before his death. On his last
morning he said, "I think I am waiting
for the doming of riiy Lord." — Mission.
herald, xxiv. 226.
BURRILL, John, speaker ofthe house
of representatives of Mass., sustained triis
office for many years during the adminisT'
tration of governor Shute, and acquitted
himself in it with great reputation. He
was distinguished for his great integ
rity, his acquaintance -with the forms of
parUamentary prPceedings,the dignity and
authority, with which he filled the chair,
and for the order and decorum, which he
25

maintained in the debates of the house.
In the year 17.20 he viras chosen a member
ofthe councfl. He died ofthe small pox
at Lynn Dec. 10, 1721, aged 63. Be
sides sustaining the offices above mention
ed, he was also one of the judges of the
county of Essex. To his other accom
plishments triere was added an exemplary
piety. Trie morning and evening incense
of prayer to God ascended from his family
altar, — Henchman's fun. serm. ; Hutchin
son's hist, of Mass. n. 234,
BURRILL, James, a senator, was the
son of James B., of Providence, R. I.,
and was born about 1771. He was the
descendant of George Burrfll, an early
settler and -wealthy farmer of Lynn, Mass.,
who died in 1653. The genealogy is
traced by Mr. Farmer in his register.
Hewas graduated (at Brown university
1788. Having studied law, he was
for many years attorney general 6f
the state, a member and speaker of the
assembly, and chief justice. He succeed
ed Mr. Howell in the senate pf the U. S.'
in 1816, and died at Washington Dec,
25, 1820, aged 49. He entered earnestiy
into the debate concerning the admission
of Missouri into the union,vindicating the
cause of freedom, only a few days before
his death. His wife, Sarah, sister of J.
L. Arnold, died in 1814. Two daughters
were married in 1821 to Geo. Curtis and
Wm. R. Greene".— former's geneal.reg.
BURROUGHS, George, one of the
victims of the witchcraft delusion in 1692,
was graduated at Harvard college in 1670,
and in 1676 was a preacher at Ifalmouth,
now Portland, Maine. When the place
was attacked by the Indians Aug. 1 1th,
he escaped to Bang's island. He succee
ded Mr. Bayley as a preacher at Salem
village in Nov. 1680. In 1683, in conse
quence of some dispute, he returned to
Portland, where he held 200 acres of land,
which' the people had some years before
given to him as their minister: of this he
rehnquished at their request 170 acres,
and iri a very disinterested spirit Offered, to
give them 20 acres more, if they wished,
without receiving, what they had offered,
100 acres "frirther off." His character

202

BURROWS.

BURT.

stood unimpeached. After the town was
destroyed by the Indians in 1690, he re
turned to Salem vfllage, or Danvers. In
1692 he was accused of witchcraft, and
was brought to trial August 5th. In his
indictmerit it was stated, that by his wick
ed arts one MaryWolcfdti "was tortured,
afflicted, pined, consumed, wasted, and
tormented." The evidence against him
was derived principally from the testimo
ny ofthe afflicted persons, as those were
caUed, who were supposed to be bewitch
ed, and from that of the confessing
witches. The spectre of a little, black-
haired man, it was testified, had
inflicted cruel pains, and appeared as a
head conjuror. Two of his wives had
appeared to the Witnesses, saying that he
was the cause of their death, ahd threaten
ing, if he denied it, that they would
appear in court. Accordingly, during
his trial the afflicted persons were thrown
into a paroxism of horror by the spectres
of his wives, who were mindful of their
engagement. The confessing witches af^
firmed, that he had attended witch meet
ings with them, and compelled them to
the snares of witfJicraft. He was also
accused' of performing such feats of extra
ordinary strength, as could not be perfor
med without diabolical assistance, such
as carrying a barrel of molasses through
a difficult place from a canoe tothe shore,
and putting his fore finger into the muz
zle of a large gun, and holding.it out
straight; He pleaded his innocence; but
it was in vain. He had excited prejudices
against him, while he lived in Salem, and
he was now doomed to suffer with many
others trirough the infatuation, whicri
prevafled. He was executed August 19.
At his execution he made a speech, asser
ting his irinocence, and concluded his
dying prayer with the Lord's prayer,
probably to vindicate his character, as it
was a received opiniori, that a witch could
not repeat the Lord's prayer,without mis
take. This last address to heaven was
uttered witri such composure and ferven
cy of 8pirit,a3 drew tears from the specta
tors.— iVijoPs JV. £.11. 130-134, 144;
HutcMnson, n. 37, 56; Call hist, soc.vi.

265, 268; Sullivan's hist, Maine, 209-
212; Calef's mare woriders- of invis.
world, pref, and 103, 104; Maine hist.
col. 1. 14i; 174.
BURP-OWS, WiUiam; a naval officer,
was born at Kenderton,near Philadelphia,
Oct. 6, ,1785. To the grief of his father,
col. Burrows ofthe marine corps, ,he ear
ly indicated a passion for the naval ser
vice. A midshipman's warrant Was ob
tained in 1799. In subsequent years he
served on board of different ships; in
1803 he was under Preble in the Tripoli-
tan war ; in 180'7 he enforced the embar
go in 'the Delaware. In 1812 he made
a voyage to India on his private affairs.
Appointed to the command of trie sloop
of war. Enterprise, rie sailed from Ports
mouth, and on Sunday Sept.' 5, 1813 fell
in with his Britahnic majesty's brig, the
Boxer, off JPorflarid, between Seguin and
cape EUzabeth. After an action- of 45
minutes the Boxer was captured; her
commander, Blyth, being kiUed by a can
non ball. At the first fire lieut. Burrows
was wounded by a piuskef ball, but refu
sed to ' be carried below! When the
sword of his enemy was presented to him,
he exclaimed,' clasping riis hands, "I am
satisfied-I diecpfitented." He died at 12
o'clock at night. For his gallantry con
gress voted a gold medal to his nearest
male relative. The two commanders
were honorably buried an Portland on the
9th. Lieut. Burrrows was cold and re
served in his manners ; yet he had an ir
resistible vein of wit and humor. His
master passion was the love of glory ; and
a momentary flush, of triuiriph soothed
the anguish of riis last hours. He lived
not to hear the applauses of his country
men. Happy are they, who seek and ob
tain the unwithering glory, the everlas
ting honor of heaven. — Amer. nav. biog.
231-242. BURT, John, minister of Bristol,
Rhode Island, was graduated at Harvard
college in 1736, arid was ordained May
13, 1741. He died Oct. 7, 1775, aged
58 years. His death was very singular.
Capt. Wallace a British commander, had
commenced a heavy cannonade upon the

BURT.

BUSS.

203

town, at a time, when an epidemical sick.
ness was prevaiUng. Those, who were'
able, fled from the town. Mr. Burt,
though weak and sick, endeavored to es
cape the impending destruction. He was
afterwards found dead in an adjacent field,
supposed to have been overcome by fa
tigue. No other person was injured; in
the attack. His wife was the daughter of
lieut. gov. Wm. EUery. His father was
Benjamin BuTt,and his mother the daugh
ter of Rev. Mr. Cheever of Chelsea. —
He was a sound djvine and a venerable-
servant of Jesus Christ, preaching the
true doctrines of grace. — Account of Bris
tol; Warren, i. 244.
BURT, Federal, minister of Durham,
N. H.; was probably a descendant of
David Burt, an early settler of 'Nprth-
amptdn, Mass., whp_had 15 children. He
was born at Southampton March 4, 1789.
.4ls the new governriient under the feder
al constitution commenced at that time,
his christian name is to-be ascribed fo that
circumstance. There are names iri our
country prigiriating in greater caprice,—
as Mr. Preserved Fish, a sound merchant
of New York, and Mr. Adam Eye, who
died lately in Penn. at a great age, &,Mr.
Pickled Ham of Maine, -who has not yet
turned to corruption. Mr. B. was grad
uated at Williams college in- I8l2, was
ordained June 18, 1817^, and died Febru
ary 2, 1828, aged 47. Settled over a smaU
church, his faithful labors caused it to be
gr''eatly increased. He was an active and
intelligent minister and his usefulness ex
tended to the neighboring to-wns. He
endured .with the utinost patience a most
painful disease, obliging, him to submit
totheamputation, first of a finger, and
then ofan arm. In this condition he un
dertook to conduct the N. H. Observer,a
religious paper.-. Many of the ' editorial
articles he wrote, when in extreme pain :
he was exerting an extensive, beneficial
influence in the community, when he was
called,away from his labors.— CAr. Mir
ror, Feb. 15, 1828. ¦ '
BUSHNEiLL, David, inventer.of sub
marine navigation,, was a native, of Say-
brook, Con., and probably a descend&nt of

Heriry B. of Guilford in 1650, Hewas
graduated at Yale college in 1775. In
the revolutionaify war he invented a ma
chine for submarine navigation, by which
' a magazine was to be carried to the bot
tom of ships for blowing them up, when
the conductor was at a safe distance. Ha
attempted to put it in opej-ation in the
harbor pf New York, but with fittle suc
cess. Great alarm, hpwever,was excited
among the British ; which occasioned
the humorous poetical narrative of "the
battle of the kegs," by Francis Hopkin-
sPn. Dr. Dwight in his " Greenfield
Hill " speaks of Bushnell's genius, and
alludes tp
"His mystic vessel, plunged beneath the waves,
Gliding through dark retreats iind coral caves."
An account of this machine is con tariied
in Silliman's journal, 1820. It was un
der the management of capt. Ezra Lee, a
goodofficerof daring enterprise, who di
ed at Lyme in 1821, aged '72. At the
close of the war Bushnell himself was a
captain in the army. Gen. Heath relates,
that Oct. 9, 1776 the eneriiy captured, a
sloop- in the Hudson with the machine on
board, arid surik it to the bottom, and he
i-^arks, "its fate was truly a contrast ,to
its design. "-^H"eaiA, 69.
BUSS, John, a physician, officiated
formariy years.as a preacher of the gos
pel. In Sept. ¦1672 a contract was made
with him by the people of Wells, Maine.
He preached there at least ten years. The
preachers before him were Joseph Emer
son, Jeremiah Hubbard; and Robert
Payne. His successors were Percival
Green, Richard Marten, Samuel Emery,
Samuel Jeffords, Gideon , Richardson,
Benjamin "White, and Jonathan Green-
leaf. , Untfl 1701 no church was form
ed. Probably Mr. Buss was riot prdain-
ed. About 1682 he removed to Oyster
river, now Durham, N. H., where he
preached $3 years and was also a prac
titioner of physic. His house and valua
ble library were burnt by the Indians in
1694. He Qeased preaching about 1715,
and was succeeded by Hugh Adams, the
first minister : the last minister of Dur
ham was Federal Butt . Mr. Buss died

204

BUTLER.

in 1736, aged 95. Dr. Belknap & others
erroneously make his age 108, for in a
petition to the governor and legislature in,
1718 he stated his age as then 78.~ — Far
mer's reg.; Hist, collect, n. 291 ; Maine
hist, col I. ,264 ; Belknap's N. H. in.'
250.: ;
BUTLER, Richard, major general,
an officer of the revolutionary ariny, in
tfie latter part ofthe war had the rank of
colonel and was distinguished on several
occasions. About 1787 he was agent for
Iridian affairs in Ohio. In the expedition
against the Indians in 1791 he. accompa
nied St. Clair and commanded the right
wing. Our troops, encamped a few mfles
from the Miami villages, were attacked in
the 'morning of Nov., 4th. The mflitia,
who were in advance, were thrown into
confusion, and rushed through the first
fine, Commarided by gen. Butler. The
action was now severe ;, the Indians lying
on the ground, and poUring a deadly fire
upon the whites. Gen.Butier, in an heroic
charge with the bayonet, drove them
back 3 or 400 yards. But resistance was
ineffectual. In a short time 600, of the
army of 1 200, were kiUed and wounded,
and the rest at 9 o'clock fled -with precip
itation. Gen. Butler was wounded and
carried to a convenient place to have his
wounds dressed ; but an Indian broke in
in upon him and tomahawked and scalped
him, ere he himself was killed by our
troops, Major Ferguson was another
victim. Inoneof the criarges maj. But
ler was dangerously wounded. A son of
gen. . B. distinguisried himself at fort
Meigs,, under Harrison, in April 1813.—
Holmes, ii. 388 ;¦ Marshall, v. 329-334.
BUTLER,Thomas,col. a brave officer
during the revolutionary war, was a
brother of the preceding. Thrpe other
bYothers fought in the service, of their
country. In the year 3776 he was a stri
dent at law with judge Wilson of Phila
delphia; but early in that year he quitted
his studies, and joined the army as a sub
altern . He soon obtained the command
of a company,- in which he continued till
the close ofthe revolutionary contest. He
was in almost every action, that w'as

fought, in the rniddle states during the
war. At the battle of Brandy wine, Sep.
11,1777, he received the .thanks of Wash
ington on the field ofbaitle, through his
aid de camp, general Hamiltpn, for his in
trepid coriduct in rallying a detachment
of retreating troops,.and giving the enemy
a severe fite. At the battle of Monmouth,
June 28, 1778, he received the thanks of
Wayne for defending a defile in the face
of a heavyfire from'the enemy, while col.
Richard Butler's regiment made good
their retreat. At the close ofthe war he
retired into private Ufe as a farmer, and
continued in the enjoyment of rural and
domestic happiness tfll the year 1791,
when he again topk the field against the
savages, who menaced our western fron
tier. He commanded a battalion in the
-disastrous battle of Nov. 4, in which his
brother fell. Orders were'given by gen
eral St. CJaii- to charge with the bayonet,
and major Butler, though his leg had been
broken by a baU, yet on horse back led
his battalion to the charge. It was with
difficulty,, that his surviving brtitberi
captain Edward Butler, removed him
from the field. In 1792 he was contin
ued on the estaiblishment as major, and in
17'94he was promoted tothe rank of lieut.
colonel commaridant ofthe fourth sub-le
gion. He commanded iri this year fort
Fayette at Pittsburg, and prevented the
deluded insurgents from taking it more by
his name, than by his forces, for he had-
but few troops. In 1797 he was named
by "Washington as the officer best calcula
ted to command in the state of Tennes
see, when it was necessary to dispossess
some citizens, wh6 had imprudently set
tled on the Indian lands. Accordingly
in May he marched with his .regiment
from the Miami on the Ohio, and by that
prudence & good sehse, which marked .his
character through life, fie iii a short time
removed all difficulties. ' While in Ten
nessee he made several treaties with the
Indians. In 1 802, at the reduction of the
ajmy, he was continued as colonel of a '
regiment on the peace estabUshment.
The close of his Ufe was imbittered. - In
1803 he was arrested by the comnianding

BUTLER.

205

general at -fort Adams on the Mississippi,
and sent to Maryland, where hewas tried
by a court martial, and acquitted of all
the charges, except that of wearing his
hair. He was then ordered to New Orr
leans, where he arrived to take the com
mand of the troops Oct. 20. He was
again arrested the riext month. He died
September 7, 1805, aged fifty one years.
— Louisiana gaz.; Polyanthos,. i. 13 —
17; Marshall v. 332.
- BUTLER, John, colonel, a tory, infa
mous for the massacre at Wyoming, for
which the name of Brant has been unjust
ly branded with infamy, removed from
Connecticut and settled at Wyoming un
der a g^ant from that colony, though witri-^
in the bounds of Perinsylvania. Early
after the beginning of the -war he espou
sed the cause of the enemy. In Aug.
1777 he and Daniel Claus signed an' ad
dress to the inhabitants of Tryon county,
exhorting the people to lay down their
arms, and sent it by Walter Butler and a
party of white and red men to the German
Flats. The messenger was imprisoned
for his pains. Gen. Arnold issued a coun
ter proclamation at German Flats Aug.
20th. In 1778 there were 8 tovynships on the
Susquehannah in the vale of Wyoming,
each 5 mfles square, namely, Lackewana,
Exeter, Kingston, Wilkesbarre, Ply
mouth, Nanticoak, Huntington,, and Sa
lem. There were 1,000 families", from
which 1,000 soldiers bad been furnished
to the array, besides the garrisons of four
forts at Lackewana, Exeter, Kingston,
and Wilkesbarre. July 1,1778 colonel
Butler, with about 1600 men,300 of whom
were Indians and the rest tories painted
like Indians, approached the upper fort ;
and a skirmish ensued, in -which ten of
the inhabitants were killed. ' July 2, Exe
ter fort, garrisoned by tories, was given
up to them, and Lackewana fort wa^ ta
ken. Mr. -Jenkins and his family were
barbarously ¦ .killed; and most of the
women ,and children were captured.
July ,3 he defeated cOl. Zebulon Butler
and destroyed most of his men, amoun-J
ting to 400 by one account and 300 by

another. July 4, he invested fort King
ston, commanded by coltMiel Nathan
Dennison, who went to fort Exeter
with a flag to learn the terms, which
would be granted. Col- John Butler re
plied,— "the hatchet!" The next mor
ning, Sunday July 5th, col. Dennison,
his men being nearly all killed or woun
ded, surrendered at discretion. Hewas
seen surrounded bythe enemy, and was
doubtless murdered. Some of the prisoners
were taken away: the rest were shut up
in the houses, and consumed With them.
The enemy immediately crossed the riv
er to fort "Wilkesbarre, which surrender
ed. About 70 of the soldiers were inhu
manly butchered ; and the rest, with the
women and children,, were shut Up in the
houses, which were set on fire and afl
perished. Every building, except what
belonged to tories, in all these settlements
was destroyed. Capt, James Bedlock, his
body stutjk fufl of splinters of pine knots,
was, burned , and captains Robert Durgee
and Samuel Ranson were held down in
the fire with pitchforks. There were oth
er horrors, which cannot be described.
The fugitives, who escaped, were many
of them twP or three days without provi
sions. In Sept. about lOO houses were des-
' troyed by the enemy at German Flats.
Dec.11,1778, Cherry Valley was destroy^
ed .and women and- chfldren massa-r
cred. Dr. Dwight represents, that the
party of, 500 Indians and whites was
commanded by a son of Butler and by
Brant ; but the anecdote, he gives, ofthe
death, of Butler needs correction, for he
was not kiUed till a subsequent year. At
this time col, Ichabod Alden, who had 250
men in the fort, tvas surprised,' when im
prudently out of it, .and kiUed. Of the
inhabitants, 180 were left without a
house. Dr. Dwight relates, that Butler
on enteririg a house ordered a woman iri
bed with her infant child to be kflled ; but
Brant said, "What, kiU a woman and
child ? No, that child is riot an enemy tp
to the king, nor a friend to the congress.
Long before he wfll be big enough to do
any mischief, the dispute wfll be settied."

206

BUTLER.

Thus Brant, the red man, was the man
of humanity ; and the white man was the
savage.— About the middle of Oct. 1781
capt. Walter Butier, a son of col. Butler,
Was killed in. an act-ipn on the Mohawk,
when maj. Ross and his party of 600, of
whom 130 were Indians; were routed by
col. Willett and driven into trie wilderness.
Wfllett had'in hisarmy 60 Oneida Indians.
On being shot by one of them, Butler as
ked, for quarter ; the Indian cried ojit
with a terrible voice. Sherry Valley land
tomahawked him. Thus the white say-
age had his retribution. — .Col. Butler
about the year 1796 was EngUsh agent
with reference to the 6 nations, and live,d
in upper Canada. This office Was wc(rth
500Z. sterling a year ; rie had also apen-
sionPf 200 or 300; and had received 5,000
acres of land for himself and the same
for his children. Thus was he rewarded
for his baTbarities;-r- JKTarsAoZi, in.' 557;
Dieight's trav. in. 204; Mass. hist. col.
n.220; Griffin's remains; Almon's Amer.
remembrancer, 1'777.^. 395 ; , Thacher's
mil..jowrn;141, 294.
BUTLER, Zebulon, a. soldier of the
revolution, was one ofthe early settlers at
Wypming, said' to be the cousin of col.
John. Butler, but this has been recently
denied by his grandson. He fought
bravely in the old French war; In the
War of the revolution he was the second
in command at Wyoming, when that
beautiful vale was desolated by the fero
cious John Butler ; he marched July 3,
1778, from Wilkesbarre, where a smaU
giiardwas left, to the neighboring fort of
Kingston with 400 men. On being sum
moned to surrender in two hoiirs he de
manded a parley and a place in Kingston
was appoirited for the meeting ; he pro
ceeded thither with his tro'bps, and on
approaching a flag, seen at the foot of a
mountain, he was drawn thus treacher
ously into an ambush, and the enemy
rose upon him in great n-umbers. He
fought bravely three quarters ofan hour,
when One of his men cried out, that he
had ordered a retreat. This interrupted
their fire and a total route ensued. Ma
ny were lost in the river, when endeavor

ing to cross it,the enemy pursuing them
with' fury. Only 70 escaped to Wilkes
barre. . On this day 200 women were
made widovys. July 4, the enemy, with
a summons to surrender, sent 196 scalps
into fort Kingston, where col. Dennison
commanded. In the evening, qoL' Butler
left the fort with his family and proceeded
down the river in safety. Such is the
account, written or published at'Pough-
keepsie July 20th, and pubUshed in Al
mon's remembrancer, and which was fol
lowed by Gordon, Marshall, and others,
excepting, that Marshall reduces the
number, which escaped July 3d io 20;
iristead of 70. But triis account of the
affair has been recently contradicted by
E. D. Griffin, whose mother was the
daughter of col. Butler., .According to
his statement, his grandfather was com
pelled to fight prematurely by the rash
vehemence of his men, -who could not
brook the delay, requisite for obtaining
information concerning the enemy ; but,
ambushed, he rode amongst his ranks,
exposing himself with the utiriost cool
ness to trie whole fire of the enemy iri
the -vain hope of sustaining the courage
of his men; and of 300 only 4 escaped,
pf which number he was one. Such an
incautious, ras'h attack of the enemy un-.
^er Brant by the troops of Goshen issu
ed' the next year in a similar defeat at
Minisink ; col. Tusten being Compelled
to march' by the brave flourish of a subor
dinate officer.  Col. Butler received
iriarks of confidence from Washingtouj
Mr. -Griffin, about the year 1816, visited
ihe grave ofjhisgrandfather, the patriarch
of Wyoming, and found some uncouth
rhymes chiselled on his monument.
Had Thomas CampbeU resided one win
ter at Wyoming, ere .he wrote his Ger
trude, a beautiftil poem, he never would
have associated the objects of tropical scen
ery, with the vale of the Susquehannah ;
he never v^ould have made the crocodile
to swim in that ri-ver; nor caused the red
flamingo: iM^ the Jiuge condor of the
rock to spread their wings there; nor
planted on its banks the aloes, the high
magnolia, atid the palm tree'. — Almond

BUTLER.
Amer. rememb: 1779.^, 51-55; Gordon,
m.. 188; Thacher's mil jour. 141;
Marshall, in. 557; Griffin's remains.
BUTLER, WilUam, col., an pfficer of
the revolution, after the destruction of
Wyoming by John Butler and the In
dians July 5, 1778, was imnlediately de
tached in command, as lieut. colonel, of
the 4th Pennsylvania regiment for the as
sistance of the frontiers. He marched
from Schoharie and penetrated into the
Indian country in Oct. with great difficul
ty, crossing high mountains and deep
waters, arid destroyed the towns UnadiUa
and Anaguaga, the latter being the head
quarters of Brant, lying Pn both sides,the
Susquehannab,where it is 250 yards wide.
Many farm hpuses arid about 4000 bush
els of grain were destroyed, — His account
of the expedition was published. It is
beUeved, thathe is trie col. Brown, who
was distinguished in the expedition of
Sullivan against the Indians in 1779.
Marshall, ni. 562 ; Almon's remem.
1779. 253.
BUTLER, William, major general,
an officer of the revolution, was the sori
of James Butler, who in the comiriand of
a party of whigs was surprised and taken
prisoner near Cloud's creek. South Caro-
pnna, by a party of Cunningham's horse,
arid after his surrender perished with the
other prisoners, who were marched out
one by one and cut to pieces'.' This
treacherous murder, by the hand 6f the
royalist leader, gave a keen edge to the
spirit of the son. At the head of a body
of cavalry he with capt. Michael Wat
son ofthe mounted rangers attacked w^th
great gallantry and dispersed double the
number ofthe enemy in Dean's swamp,
though Watson fislt in the action. In
1800 he was a representative ip congress. '
In the war of 1812 he coriimanded the
forces of South CaroUna, employed in the
defence of the' state. He died in Edge
field district Nov, 15, 1821, aged 67.
BUTLER, Percival, general, a sol
dier ofthe revolution, was with the army
at the siege and capture of York, Oct.4 9-
1781, He died at Pprt William,^Kentuc-
ky,Sept. 11, 1821, aged 61.

BUTTNER.

207

BUTLER, Peirce, a senator, was of
.the family of the dukes of Ormond in
Ireland. Before the re-v^olution he was a
iriajor iri a British regiment in Boston.
He afterwards' attached himself to the
republican institritions of America. In
1787 he was a delegate from South Caro
lina to congress; in 1783 a member oftrie
convention, which framed the constitu
tion pf the United States. Under the
constitution he was one of the first sena
tors from S. ,C. arid remained in congress
till 1796. On the death of Mr. Calhoun
in 1802 he was again appointed; but re
signed in 1804. In his politipal views he
was opposed to some of the measures of
Washington's administration. Jay's
treaty he disapproved, whfle he approved
of the war of 1812. He died at, Philadel
phia Feb. 15, 1822, aged 77. His wife,
a daughter pf col. Middletpn of Charles
ton, whom he married, in 1768, died in
1790. Buttner, Gottiieb,a Moraviari mis
sionary to the Mohegan Indians in New
York, arrived in this country Oct, 1741.
In the preceding year C. H. Ranch had
commenced the mission at Shekomeko,
or Shacomaco; a viHage of a few Mohe
gan Indians SO miles from Poughkeepsie,
about 25 miles east of the Hudson river,
near the borders of Conn. & close by trie
Stissik mountain. In Feb. 1742 count
Zinzendorf at Oly in Penn.ordairied Butler
a deacon. The count, with his daughter
Beriigna, visited Shacomaco in Aug, and
constituted the first Moravian congrega
tion of Indians; consisting of 10 persons
ariiong wriom were'Shabash, Seim, Kiop,
Tschopp, and Kermelok. Buttner, with
his wife, arrived at Shacomaco in Oct.
and entered upon his labors, preaching in
Dutch or EngUsh, and having an inter
preter for the Indians. In 1 742 the num
ber of the baptized' was 31. The Lord's
supper was first administered March 13,
1743, and' again July 27. A monthly
prayer meeting was established, at which
accounts were read concerning the prog
ress of the gospel in theworld,. During
the year 1743 Buttner experienced much
persecutipri, being summoned several

208

BYFIELD.

BYLES.

times to' Poughkeepsie tp answer to
charges; brought against him; He was
accused. of teaching without authority,
and of refusing to take the oath of allegi
ance, deeming an oath unlawful. At this
time his health was declining. He died
Feb.. 23, 1745-; aged 28. The other mis
sionaries were soon withdrawn from
Shacomaco on aticountof the persecution,
and in 1746 "ten families of the Indians, in
all 44 persons,emigrated to Pennsylvania.
For them 200 acres of land were purchas
ed at the junction ofthe rivers Mahoriy
and Lecha beyond the blue mountains,
and the new town was called Gnadenhut-
ten or tents of grace. Other Mohegan
enjigrants from Shacomaco and Connecti
cut soon followed.— The mission of Ser
geant at Stockbridge was earlier than
lhis.—Loskiel's hist. Morav. miss. ii.58,
63. .BYFIELD, Nath'l, judge ofthe vice
admiralty, and member of the councfl of
Massachusetts, was the son of Richard
Byfield, pastor of LOng Ditton in Sussex,
England,- who was one of the divines in
the Westminister assembly. His mother
was the sister of bishop Juxon. He was
born in the year 165S, and was the young
est of twenty one chfldren, sixteen of
whom sometimes accompanied at the same
time their pious father to the house of
worship.' He arrived at Boston in the
year 1 674. Being an eminent merchant,
whose property was very considerable,
soon after Philip's war-fle was one of the
four proprietors and the principal settler of
the town of Bristol in Rhode Island,^ He
lived in this place till the year 1724, when
on account of his advantied age he return-
^ to Boston, where he died June 6, 1733,
aged 79. He possessed very considera
ble abiUties, whjch fitted him for the sta
tions, which he occupied. He held a' va
riety of offices both civfl and militaiy. He
was speaker of the house of representa
tives ; was for 38 years chief justice of
trie court pf common pleas for Bristol
county, and two years for Suffolk ; was
many years a member of the council ; and
was judge of the vice admiralty from the
year 1703. His spirit was active arid vig

orous, his courage unshaken"" by any dan
ger, and his constancy such, as was not
easily discouragedciy difficulties. Hewas
wefl formed for the exercise of authority,
his very, looks inspiring respect. He
possessed a happy elocution. He loved
order, and in his family the nicest econo
my was visible. He -was conspicuous for
piety, having a Uberal, catholic spirit, and
loving all good men, however they differ-^
ed from him in matters of. small impor
tance; For forty years he constantly de
voted a certain proportion of his estate to
charitable purposes. In-one year he was
known to give away several hundreds
of pounds. He had a steady and unsha
ken faith in the truths of the gospel ; and
he died in the fively hope of the mercy of
God through the glorious Redeemer. He
pubUshed a tract, entitled, an account of
the late revolution in New England, with
the declaration of the gentleirien, iner-
chants, and inhabitants of Boston, &e.
1689. — Chauncy' s fun. ser. ; Weekly
news let., no. 1533 ; Hutchinson, ii. 211.
BYLES, Mather, d. d., minister of
Boston, was descended from a respectable
family and was born in that town March
26, 1706. His- father was a native of
England and died within a year after the
birth of his son. By his mother's side he
descended from Richard Mather of Dor
chester and John Cotton of Boston. In
early life he discovered a taste for litera- ,
ture, and he was graduated at Harvard
college in 1725. After pursuing his lite
rary and theologicalstudies for some time
he (Commenced preaching. He was or
dained the first pastor, of the church in
HoUis street, Boston, Dec. 20, 1733. It
was not long before he attained consider
able eminence in his profession, and he
became known by his publication of sev
eral pieces in prose and verse. His poet
ical talents he considered only as instru
ments of innocent amusement, and never
permitted them to withdraw his attentipn
from more serious and profitable objects.
He never attempted any great prciduction
in verse ; but Sounded his lyre only in
compliance with occasional incfination.
He contihried to live happily with his par-

BYLES.

209

ish in the useful discharge of ministerial
duties until the late revolution began to
create distrust and animosity between the
different parties, that existed in the coun
try prior to the war. Falling under the
imputation of being a tory, be was in
l776 separated from his people bythe
jealousy and violence of the times, and
he was never afterwards re-united to
them. He was accused of attachment to
Great Britain. The substance of the
charges against him was, that he contin
ued in Boston with his family during the
siege ; that he prayed for the king and
the safety of the town ; and that he re
ceived the visits of the British officers.
In May 1777 he was denounced in town
meeting as a person inimical to America;
after which he was obliged to enter info
bonds for his appearance at a public trial
before a special court on the secorid of
June following. ' He was pronounced
guilty, and sentenced to confinement on
board a guard ship, and in forty days to
be sent with his family to England. When
brought'before the board of war, by whom
he was treated respectfully^ his senterice
seems to havebeen altered, and it was
directed, that he should be confined to
his own house, and a guard placed over
him there. This was accordingly done
for a few weeks, and then the guard was
removed. A short time afterwards a
guard was again placed pver him, and
again dismissed. Upon this occasion he
observed in his own manner, that he was
guarded, reguarded, and disregarded. He
was not again connected with any parish-.
In the year 1783 hewas seized with a
paralytic disorder, and he died July 5,
1788, aged eighty two years. He was
twice married. .His- first wife was the
niece of gov. Belcher, and his second the
daughter of lieut. gov. Tailer. His son,
Mather ByleS, d. d., was a minister of
New London in Connecticut but was
dismissed in 1763, and was then an
episcopal minister several years in
Boston till the revolution, arid after
wards at St. John's, New Brunswick,
where he died March 12, 1814. — His
grandson, Mather Brown, historical and
27

portrait painter, artist to Geo: IV. died at
London May 25, 1831.
Dr. Byles was in person ta'U and well
proportioned. He possessed a Command
ing presence, and was a graceful speaker.
His voice was strong, clear, harmonious,
and susceptible of various modulations,
adapted to. the subject of his discourse.
He was remarkable for the abundance of
his wit in common conversation, and for
the smartness of his repartees. He pos
sessed an uncommon talent in making
puns, some of which are at the present
day frequently repeated in social circles.
His imagination was fertile, and his satire
keeri. His wit was a dangerous instru
ment, in the use of which he was not al
ways prudent, and it is thought, that he
was not sufficiently regardful of the con
sequences ofthe severe remarks, in which
he sometimes indulged himself.
His literary merit introduced him to
the acquaintance of many men of genius
in England ; and the names of Pope,
Lansdowne, and Watts are found among
his correspondents. From the former he
received a copy of an elegant edition of
the Odyssey in quarto. Dr. Watts sent
him cbpies of his works, as he published
them. — His poetry evinces a rich fancy,
and the versification is polished. The
following extract from "the Conflagra
tion" relates to the.effect on the earth of
the flames of the last day:— ^
"Vet shall ye, Flames, the wasting globe refine,
, 'And bid the skies with purer splendor shine, ,
The earth, which the prolific fires consume.
To beauty burns, and withers into bloom;
Improving in. the fer-tile flame it lies,
Fades into form and into vigor dies:
Fresh-diiwning glories blush amidst the blaze.
And nature all renews her flowery faiie."
In his preaching he was generally solemn
and interesting, though sometimes his
sermons gave indications of the peculiar
turn ofhis mind. Ori being asked why
he did, not preach politics, he replied ; "I
have thrown up four breastworks, behind
which I have intrenched myself, neither
of vrhich can be forced. In the first place
I do not understand politics ; in the sec
ond {llace, you all do, every man ^d-

no

BYRD.

mother's son of you ; in the third place,
you have politics aU the week, pray let
one day out of seven be devoted to reli
gion ; in the fourth place I am engaged
in a work of infinitely greater importance.
Give me any subject to preach on of more
consequence, than the truths I bring to
you, and I will preach on it trie next sab
bath." The following extracts from one of his
sermons wfll show what were the reli
gious sentiments, which he embraced and
enforced upon his hearers. "We per
ceive," said he, "that conversion is out
of our own power. It is impossible fbr
us to convert ourselves, or for afl the an
gels in heaven to do it for us. To cour
vince you of this, let the natural man
make the experiment. 'Try this moment.
Try and see whether you can bring your
hearts to triis, to renounce all happiness
in every thing but the favor of God ; to
let God order for you ; to have no wiU of
your own ; to be swallowed up and rav
ished with his wiU, whatever it is. Can
you renounce every mortal idol? Can
you leave this world and all the low
deUghts of it, and go to a world where
you willhave none of them; but the love
of God will swallow you up? These
things are so far distant from an unre
newed heart, that they look Uke wild
paradoxes to it."  "The enmity be
tween Godand us is irreconcilable, but
by Christ. Out of him God' is a
consuming fire. False notions of the
divine justice and mercy could never
bring us truly to him ; and true ones
would only drive us farther from him. So
that set Christ aside, and there can be no
conversion. We learn also the honors
ofthe Holy Ghost. He is the agent,
who performs this work. One reason,
that men fall short of this saving change,
is the not acknowledging him, as they
ought. Did men regard the operation of
the Holy Spirit more, there would
be more frequent converts. Men are apt
to trust to their own strength,when'they
set about the work of conversion. They
rob the Spirit pf Gpd ofhis glory, and so
it all comes to nothing. He it is, who

makes this great change in men. He
must be the almighty God tiien ; and we
should honor him as so."
He published a number of essays in the
New England weekly-journal, which are
marked by one of the letters composing
the word CELOiz.i; a poem on the death
of George 1, and the accession of George
II, 172'7; a poetical epistle to governor
Belcher, on the death of his lady, 1736. ,
A number of his miscellaneous poems
were collected and printed in a volume,
in 1744. Among the sermons, which he
published, are the following ; the charac
ter ofthe upright man, 1729 ; on the na
ture and necessity of conversion, 1732 ;
flourish of the annual spring, 1739; at
the artillery election, 1740; on setting our
affections on things above,1740; before an
execution, 1751; on Mrs. Dummer;1752 ;
on WilUamDummerjl761; on J. Gould,
1772; at the lecture, 1751; on the earth
quake, 1755 ; at the thanksgiving for the
success ofthe British arms, 1760 ; on the
present vileness ofthe body and its future
glorious change, second edition, 1771. —
Polyanthos, iv. 1-10; Sped Amer. poet.
1. 124-133.
BYRD, William, colonel, a distin
guished citizen of Virginia, was a mem
ber ofthe council about 1682. When in
1699 about 300 ofthe persecuted French
protestants arrived in the colony, he re
ceived them with the affection of a father
and gave them the most liberal assistance.
His generous charity to the poor foreign
ers is particularly described by Beverly.
He had received a liberal education in
England, and was distinguished for his
Uterary taste and his patronage of science.
He had one ofthe largest libraries on the
continent. In 1723 he was one of the
commissioners for establishing the Une
between North Carolina and Virginia.
He died about 1743 at an advanced age.
He was a fellow of the royal society, as
were also Mather, Boylston, Dudley,Silas
Taylor of Virguiia, and others. Having
a large property, his munificence and his
style of living were unrivalled in the ci3l0-
ny. He wrote, it is befieved, the anony
mous work/the history of the dividing

CABELL.
Une between Virginia and Nortii Caroli
na, 1728: also, for the philosoph. transac
tions an account of a negro boy, dappled
with white spots. — A colonel Wm. Byrd,
probably his son, was a commissioner to
treat with the Indians in 1756 ; and ac
companied Forbes in the expedition
against fort du Quesne in 1 758. He was
a member of the council at the beginning
of the revolution ; but he was deceased
before Jan. 5, 1781, when Arnold debar
ked at Westover, the residence of his
widow. — Beverly, iv. 13; Miller, n.
61; Burk.
CABELLjSamuel J., col.,a revolution
ary soldier jdied at his seat in Nelson coun
ty, Va., Sept. 4, 1818, aged 61. Being
in college at the beginning of the war, he
joined the first armed corps, raised in Vir
ginia, and soon attained the rank of lieut.
col. in the continental army, serving with
reputation in all the northern campaigns,
till the faU of Charleston, May 12, 1780,
when he became a prisoner. The close
of the war restored him to liberty. For
many years he was a member of the as
sembly; also a member of corigress.
CABOT, John, a Venetian, who first
discovered the continent of America, was
perfectly skilled in all the sciences, requi
site to form an accomplisried mariner.
He had three sons, Lewis, Sebastian, and
Sanctius, afl of whom he educated in a
manner best calculated to make them able
seamen. Encouraged by the success of
Columbus, who returned in 1493 from his
first voyage, he was determined to attempt
the discovery of unknown lands, particu
larly of a northwest passage to the East
Indies. Having obtained a commission
from kuig Henry VII, empowering him
and his three sons to discoVer unknown
lands, and to conquer arid settle them,
and giving him jurisdiction over the coun
tries, which he should subdue, on condi
tion pf paying the king one fifth part of
all the gains, he sailed from Bristol with
two vessels, freighted by the mer
chants of London and Bristol with
articles of traffic, and with about 300
men, in May 1497. He sailed towards
the northwest till he reached the latitude

CABOT.

211

pf 58 degrees, when the floating ice and
the severity ofthe weather induced him
to alter his course to the southwest. He
discovered land, June 24, which, as it was
the first, that he had seen, he called Prima
Vista. This is generally supposed to be
a part of the island of Newfoundland,
though in the opinion of some it is a
place on the peninsula of Nova Scotia in
the latitude of 45 degrees. A few days
afterward a smaller island was discovered,
to which he gave the name of St. John,
on account of its being discovered on the
day of John, the baptist. Continuing
his course westwardly, he soon reached
the continent, and theri sailed along the
coast northwardly to trie latitude of 67
and a half degrees. As the coast stretch
ed toward the east, he turned back and
sailed toward the equator, till he came to
Florida. The provisions now faiUng, and
a mutiny breaking out among the mari
ners, he returned to England without at
tempting a settlement or conquest in any
part of the new world. In this voyage
Cabot was accompanied by his son Sebas
tian, and to them is attributed the honor
of first beholding the continent of North
America ; for it was not tiU the following
year, 1498, that the continent was seen
by Columbus. But this circumstance, ia
of Uttle importance: for, as Irving re
marks, "when Columbus first touched the
shore of the western hemisphere, he had
achieved bis enterprise, he had accom-
pUsried afl, that was necessary to his fame:
the great problem was solved ; the New
World was discovered."  Belknap's
Amer. biog. i. 149-154; Holmes; Pur
chas, 1. 737, 738; Robertson, book ix. 16,
17; Prince, introd, 80; Irving's Co
lumb, CABOT, Sebastian, an eminent navi
gator, the son of the preceding, was born
at Bristol. When about 20 years of age
he accompanied his father in the voyage
of 1 497,in which the continent oftrie new
world was- discovered. About the year
1517 he sailed on another voyage of dis
covery, and went to the Brasils, and
thence to Hispaniola and Porto Rico.
Fafling in his object of finding a way to

SI2

CABOT.

the East Indies, he returned to England.
Having been invited to Spain, where he
was received in the most respectful man
ner by king Ferdinand an.d queen Isabella,
he sailed in their service on a voyage of
discovery in April 1525. He visited the
coast of Brasil, and entered a great river,
to which he gave the name of Rio de la
Plata. He sailed up this river 1 20 leagues.
After being absent on this expedition a
number of years, he'returned to Spain in
the spring of 1531. But he was not
well received. He made other voyages,
of which no particular memorials remain.
His residence was at the city of Seville.
His employment in the office of chief pi
lot was the drawing of charts, on which
he deUneated all the iiew discoveries
made by himself and others ; and, by
his offlce, he was intrusted with the
reviewing of aU projects for discovery.
His character is said to have been gentle,,
friendly, and social, though in his voyages
some instances of injustice towards the
natives and of severity towards his mari
ners are recorded. In bis advanced age
be returned to England and resided at
Bristol. He received a pension from Ed-
Ward VI, and was appointed governor of
a company of merchants, associated for
the purpose pf making discoveries. He
had a strong persuasion, that, a passage
might be found to China by the north
east. By h's means a trade was commen
ced with Russia, which gave rise to the
Russian company. The last account of
him is, that in 1556; when the company
were sending out a vessel for discovery,
he made a visit on board. "The good
old gentieman, master Cabota," says the
journal ofthe voyage in Hakluyt, "gave
to the poor most Uberal alms, wishing
triem to pray for the good fortune arid
prosperous success of our pinnace. And
then at the sign of St. Christopher, he
and his friends banqueted, and for very
joy, that he had to see the towardness of
pur intended discovery, he entered ^into
the dance himself among the rest of the
young and lusty company ; which being
ended, lie and his friends departed, most
gently commending; us to the governance

pf almighty God." He died, it is believ
ed, in 155t, aged 80 years. He was one
of the most extraordinary men of the age,
in which he Uved. There is preserved in
Hakluyt a complete set of instructions,
drawn and sigried by Cabot, for the direc
tion of the voyage to Cathay in China,
which affords the clearest proof of his sa
gacity. It is supposed, that he was the
first, who noticed the variation of the
magnetic needle, and he published, navi-
gatione nolle parte settentrionale, Venice,
1583, folio. He published also a large
map, which was engraved by Clement
Adams, and hung up in the gallery at
Whitehall ; and onthis map was inscribed
a Latin account ofthe discovery of New
foundland.  Belknap's Amer, biog. i.
149-158; Mass. mag. 11. 467-471; Hak
luyt, I. 226, 268, 274; Campbell's admi
rals, 1. 419; Rees' cycl.
CABOT, George, a senator, was born
in Salem, Mass., in 1752: the name was
perhaps originally Cobbett. His early
employment was that of a shipmaster ;
but his visits to foreign countries were
made subservient to the enlargement of
his knowledge. At the age of 25 he was
a member of the provincial congress at
Concord, in which body he opposed the
project of estabUshing by law a maximum
of prices, & cpntended for entire freedom
of commerce. He was also a meiriber of
the state convention for considering the
constitution of the United States. Being
appointed, a few years afterwards, a sena
tor ofthe United States, he co-operated
in the financial views of Hamilton and as
sisted him by his extensive commercial
knowledge. May 3, 1793, he was ap
pointed the first secretary of the navy, but
declining it, B. Stoddart received the
appointment. Of the eastern convention,
assembled at Hartford in 1814 during the
war, Mr. Cabot was the president. He
died at Boston April 18, 1823, aged 71.
Destitute of the advantages of a public
education,Mr. Cabot was yet distinguish
ed for his intelligence&almost unequalled
for the eloquence ofhis conversation) es^
pecially on the topic of the French revo
lution. He was master of the science of

CADWALLADER.

CALDWELL.

213

political economy. In the party divisions
ofhis day he -was a decided federalist, the
friend of Ames and Hamilton. He had
enjoyed also the confidence of Washing
ton. His fellow citizens intrusted him
with various offices, evincing their reli
ance on his wisdom and integrity. In
private life he was most amiable, courte
ous, and benevolent. He was a profess
or of reUgion in the church, of which the
minister was Dr. Kirkland, who, after bis
death, married his daughter. — Lord's
Lempr.; Enc. Amer.
CADWALLADER, Thomas, m. d.,
a phyisician of Philadelphia, was the son
of John C.,and completed his medical ed
ucation in Europe. From 1752 till his
death he was one ofthe physicians of the
Pennsylvania Hospital. His dissections
for Dr. Shippen were among the earliest,
made in this country. Dr. John Jones
was his pupU. He died Nov. 14, 1779,
aged 72. In his disposition he was equa
ble and benevolent; in his raanners cour
teous. . His hfe was once saved by his
courteousness. A provincial officer, wea
ry ofhis life, had determined to^oot.the
first person, whom he should meet, in or
der thatjustice might bring him to the gal
lows. An easier method of reaching his end
would have been to shoot himseff. How
ever, -with his, resolution and his gun he
saUied forth. He met first a pretty girl ;
but her beauty vanquished his intent. He
next met Dr. C, whose courteous "Good
morning, sir, what sport?" also conquered
him . He then went to a tavern , & shot a
Mr. Scull, for which he was hung. — He
published an essay on the Iliac passion,
entitled, an Essay on the West India Dry
Gripes, 1745, in which he recommended
the useof opiates and mild cathartics, in
stead of quicksilver, then employed. This
was one ofthe earliest American medical
treatises. Bpy Istpn had written before on
the smafl pox, and Harwood a treatise ori
pharmacy, and, at a far eariier period,
Thacher on the smafl pox and measles.
— Ramsay's rev. 36; Thacher's med.
biog. CADWALLADER, John, general, a
soldier ofthe revolution, was born in Phil

adelphia, and was a member ofthe Penns.
convention in 1775. He was appointed
by congress a brigadier general Feb.1777.
In the battles of Princeton, Brandywine,
Germantown, and Monmouth he partici
pated ; and in the attack on the enemy at
Trenton Washington intrusted him with
one 6f the divisions ofthe army ; but he
could not crass the river,on account of the
ice, until the day after the battle. He
fought a duel with gen. Conway in conse
quence oftheintrigueof the latter against
Washington. After the war he was a mem
ber of the issembly of Maryland, where
he died Feb. 10, 1786, aged 48. He was
a relative of John Dickinson and a gen
tleman of gfeat fortune. He published a
Reply to gen. J. Reed's remarks &c.,
1783.— Marshall, in. 139.
CAINES, George, reporter ofthe su
preme court of New York, died at Cat-
skfll, July 10, 1825, aged 54. He pub
Ushed Lex mercatoria Americana, 1802;
cases in the court for trial of impeachment
& correction of errors, 2 vols. 1805-7;
practical forms ofthe supreme court of
N. Y: 1808.
CALDWELL, James, minister in N.
Jersey, graduated at Princeton in 1759,
and was a trustee ofthe college from 1769
tiU his death, Jan. 1782, occasioned by
ruffian violence. He lived near the Con
necticut Farms. During trie war his zeal
in the cause of his country made him a
mark for the British vengeance. In June
1780 the British troops destroyed Ms
house and 12 other houses apd the meet
ing house. Some officers first received
refreshments from the hands of Mrs. Cald
well ; soon afterwards a soldier approach
ed, and, putting his gun into the window
of her bed room, shot her through the
breast. An officer then throwing his
cloak over the corpse, carried it to the
next house. Thus died the mother of
9 children. — Thacher's mil. journ. 194 ;
Col. hist. soc. 11. 188.
CALDWELL, David, a minister, di
ed at Guilford court house, N. Carolina,
Aug. 19, 1824, aged 99 years and five
months. He was born in March 1725,
in Lancaster county, f enns.

214

CALDWELL.

CALHOUN.

CALDWELL, Elias Boudinot, clerk
ofthe supreme court ofthe United States,
graduated at Princeton in 1796, and died
at Washington in May 1825, gladdened
by the promises of the reUgion, which he
professed. He zealously assisted in form
ing and conducting the American coloni
zation society, of which he was the cor
responding secretary. In honor of him
the managers ofthe society gave the name
of Caldwell to a town in their African
colony. Mr. C . , in order to bring reUgious
instruction to the untaught in the couri-
try near Washington, obtained a license
to preach from the presbytery, and was
accustomed to preach on the sabbath. —
Afr. repos. i. 126 ; Mis. her. 22: 81.
CALEF, Rob't, a merchant of Boston,
was distinguished about the time of the
witchcraft delusion by his resistance to the
infatuation. After Cotton Mather had
published Wonders of the invisible world,
from which it appears, that he was by no
means incredulous with regard to the sto
ries then in circulation, Mr, Calef pub
lished a book on the opposite side, enti
tled. More wonders ofthe invisible world,
London, 1700. This was reprinted at
Salem in 1796. Dr. Increase Mather,
president of Harvard college, in 1700
ordered the book to be burned in the col
lege yard. The members ofthe old north
church pubUshed a defence of their pas
tors, the Mathers, in a pamphlet entitled,
"Remarks upon a scandalous book &c. "
with the motto, " truth will come off con
queror." And so it was, for the witch
craft sorcery was soon vanquished. The
judges and jury confessed their error, and
the deluded people opened their eyes.— As
he censured the proceedings of the courts
respecting the witches at a time, when
the people of the country in general did
not see their error, he gave great offence.
But he is thought to be faithful in his
narration of facts. He diedat Roxbury
Apr.lS, 17\9.—Hutchins(yn, n. 54; Mas.
hist, col; III. 300 ; Eliot.
CALHOUN, Patrick, a patriot ofthe
revolution, was born in Ireland in the
year 1727. His father emigrated in 1733
to Pennsylvania, where he resided many

years, and afterwards to the western part
of Virginia. The settlement, after the
defeat of Braddock, was broken up by the
Indians, and Mr. C, with his -three elder
brothers & a sister, emigrated in 1756 to
Long Cane, Abbeville, in the interior of
South CaroUna, then an uninhabited wil
derness, & settled on the immediate con
fines ofthe Cherokee Indians. The set
tlement was shortly after, in the war,
which commenced in 1759, attacked &
destroyed bythe Cherpkees, & half of the
males were killed in the desperate engage
ment. The remnant retired to the older
settiements below, where they remained
till the peace of 1763, when they return
ed & re-occupied their former settiement.
After the destruction of the settlement,
Mr. Calhoun was appointed by trie pro
vincial government to take command of
a body of rangers, raised for the defence
of the frontiers, in which service he en
countered great danger and displayed
much enterprise & intrepidity. Shortly
after the peace, he was elected a member
of the provincial legislature, being the
first individual ever elected from the up
per county of the state. He continued a
member of triat & afterwards of trie State
legislature till his death, with the inter
mission of a single term. In the war of
the revolution he took an early, decided,
and active part in favor of his country.
He was self taught, having never been at
school more than 6 months; yet, though
being continually on the frontiers he was
without opportunity to acquire knowl
edge, such was his thirst for information,
that he made himself a good Engfish
scholar, and an accurate land surveyor.
He acquired also a competent knowledge
of the lower branches of mathematics, &
an extensive knowledge of history. His
moral character well harmonized with
his love of knowledge Sr strength of intel
lect. He passed a long and active Ufe
•without a blemish; a sincere christian, a
good citizen, an upright magistrate, a
kind neighbor, & an affectionate bnsband
and father. He died in 1796. Eight
years afterwards his son, John Caldwell
Calhoun, now vice president oftheUni-

CALHOUN.

CALLENDER.

215

ted States, graduated at Yale coUege.
CALHOUN, John Ewing, a senator,
the nephew of the preceding, was born
in 1749. His father died, while he was
young ; and his mother marrying again
shortly after, his uncle, then a widower,
took him under his care. Such was the
anxiety of his uncle to give him every
advantage to acquire an education,which
the country afforded, that, shortly after
the restoration of the settlement in the
year 1763, he sent him to a grammar
school in North Carolina, more than one
hundred miles from home, and afterwards
to Princeton college, where he graduated
in 1774. He afterwards studied law, in
which profession he became distinguish
ed. After being for many years in the
state legislature ¦ of South Carolina, he
was elected in 1801 as successor of Mr.
Read, a senator in congress, in which
body he took his seat the year, which
brought Mr. Jefferson into power.
Though a decided repubfican and sup
porter of Mr. Jefferson, he proved his in
dependence in resisting strenuously the
passage of the bill, introduced by Mr.
Breckenridge, to abolish the office of the
judges, who had been appointed, when
Mr. Adams went out of power. He
stood alone on the republican side on the
occasion, delivering a speech, which did
credit not only to his talents, but more
especially to his independence of thought
and resolution. In the political divisions
of our country, when many seem wiUing-
ly to surrender their own intelligence and
conscience to the leaders of their party,or
to^e merely the dupes and slaves of those,
who reap the profit of the delusion and
trie conflict, it is refreshing to fix the eye
upon a man of clear views, and strong
powers of elocution, and great firmness
and integrity of character, who dared to
secede alone from his party, and to op
pose singly a popular measure, because it
appeared to'^ hira to be unconstitutional
and perilous in its consequences. He
was on the select committee, to whom
the bill was referred with instructions to
report a modification ofthe judiciary sys
tem ofthe United States. IBut the com

mittee were on motion of Mr. Brecken
ridge, Feb. 3, 1802, discharged from that
service. On the same day the final
question was taken 16 to 15. Mr.Calhoun
voted with Hillhouse, Morris, Tracy, and
other political opponents. Before the
next session of congress, he died in Pen
dleton district, Nov. 26, 1802, aged 52
years. CALLENDER,EUsha,minister ofthe
1st baptist church in Boston, was theson
of ElUs Callender, who was a member as
early as 1669 and minister of the same
church from 1708 till 1726. In early Ufe
the blessings of divine grace were impar
ted to him. He was graduated at Harvard
college in the year 1710. Athis ordina
tion. May 21, 1718, Increase and Cotton
Mather & Mr. Webb, though of a differ
ent denomination, gave their assistance.
He was very faithful and successful in the
pastoral office till his death, March 31,
1738. He was succeeded by Mr. Condy.
A few days before his death he said;
" when I look on one hand, I see nothing
but sin, guilt, and discouragement; but
when I look on the other, I see my glori
ous Savior, and the merits of his pre
cious blood, which cleanseth from aU sin.
I cannot say, that I have such transports
of joy, as some have had; but through
grace I can say, I have gotten the victo
ry over death and the grave." The last
words, which fell from his lips, were, "I
shall sleep in Jesus." His life was un
spotted; his conversation was always af
fable, rehgious, and dignified; and his
end was peaceful and serene.— Bactes'
his. ofN. E. ni. 124; Boston eve. post.
April 3, 1738.
CALLENDER, John, an emirient
baptist minister and writer in Rhode
Island, was a nephew of Elisha Callen
der and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1723. He was ordained col
league with elder Peckum as pastor of the
church at Newport Oct. 13, 1731. This
was the second baptist church in Ameri
ca. It was founded in the year 1644.
Mr. Callender died January 26, 1748,
aged 41 . He was a man of very consider
able powers of mind, and was distinguish-

216

CALLENDER.

CALVERT.

ed for his candor and piety. He coUected
many papers relating to the history
of the baptists in this country,
which were used by Mr. Backus. A
tentury after the deed of Rhode Island was
obtained of the Narragansett Indians he
deUvered at Newport, March 24, 1738, a
sermon on the history of the colony,
which was published in 1739, with addi
tions. This historical discourse brings
down the history of Rhode Island and
Providence plantations from 1637 tothe
end of the first century. This is but a
small work ; yet it is the only history of
Rhode Island, which has been written,
and it is honorable to its author. He
published also a sermon at the ordination
of Jeremiah Condy, 1739, and a sermon
on the death of Mr. Clap of Newport,
1745.— JSocfc«s' hist, of N. E. iii. 229.
CALLENDER, James Triompson,
editor of trie Recorder, died at Richmond,
Va., in July 1803, being drowned in
James river,in which he was accustomed to
bathe. He was the author of the Prospect
before us, and of other assaults on the ad
ministration of Washington and Adams.
Mr. Jefferson paid him repeatedly 50 and
100 dollars : the circumstances are ex
plained in Jefferson's letters. Afterwards
Callender proclaimed to the world, in hos
tility to Mr. Jefferson, the patronage or
charity, which he had enjoyed. He was
a man of talents, witii an energetic
style, and in severity of invective unequal
led. He pubUshed political progress of
Britain, 3d. ed. 1795 ; poUtical register,
1795; sketches of the history of Ameri
ca, 1798.— Coi. cent. July.30, 1803.
CALLIERES, ChevaUer De, gover
nor of Canada, was appointed governor
of Montreal in 1684. He enclosed the
town with palisades. In 1689 he went
to France to suggest the project of the
conquest of New York. In the enter
prise he was to have been commander in
chief; but it failed. After the death of
count de Frontenac in 1698 he acted as
governor tiU his appointment in 1699.
Without the birth and rank ofhis prede
cessor, hewas free also from his haughti
ness, prejudice, and violence. His known

abiUties and valor made him acceptable to
the colony. He had various nego
tiations with the Indians. In signing a
treaty Sep. 8,1700 the Onnontaguese and
Tsonnonthouans delineated a spidei* ; the
Goyogouins a calumet ; the Onneyouths
a piece of cleft wood with a stone in it ;
the Agniers a bear ; the Hurons a bea
ver ; the Abenaquis a kid ; and the Ou-
taouais a hare. In endeavoring to unite
all the Indian tribes in a permanent
peace and to attach them to the French
interest he had enlarged views and adop
ted wise measures ; but in the midst of
his toils he died May 26, 1703, and was
succeeded by Vaudreuil. — Charlevoix;
Univ. hist. xr,. 127-144.
CALVERT, George, baron of BaUi-
more, founder of the province of Mary
land, was descended from a noble fami
ly in Flanders, and was born at Kipling
in Yorkshire, England, in 1582. After
taking his bachelor's degree at Trinity
college, Oxford, in 1597, he travelled
over the continent of Europe. At his re
turn to England in the beginning of the
reign of James I, he was taken into the
office of sir Robert Cecil, secretary of
state, by whose favor he was made clerk
of the privy council, and received the
honor of knighthood. In 1619 he was
appointed one of the principal secretaries
of state in the place of Sir Thomas Lake.
His great knowledge of public business
and his dfligence and fidelity conciUated
the regard of the king, who gave him a
pension of a thousand pounds out of
the customs. In 1 624 he became a Ro
man catholic, and having disclosed his
new principles to the king resigned his
office. He was continued, however, a
member of the privy council, and was
created baron of Baltimore in the kingdom
of Ireland in 1625, at which time he rep
resented the university of Oxford in par
liament. While he was secretary of the state
he was constituted by patent proprietor of
the southeastern peninsula of Newfound
land, which he named the province of
Avalon. He spent 25,000 pounds in ad
vancing his plantation, andvisited it twice

CALVERT.

'il7

iu person ; but it was so annoyed by the
French, that, though he once repulsed
and pursued their ships and took sixty
prisoners, he was obUged to abandon it.
Being still inclined to form a settlement
in America, whither lie niight retire with
his family and friends of trip same re
ligious principles, he ma^e a visit to Vir-
ginia, tiie fer.tility and advantages of
which province had been highly celebra
ted, and in which he had been interested
as one of the adventurers. But meeting
with an unwelcome reception pn account
of his religion, and' observing, that the
Virgiriians had not extended their plant
ations beypnd the Patowmac, he fixed his
attention upon ihe territory northward of
this river, and, as soon as he returned to
England, obtained a grant of it from
Charles I. But owing to the tedious
forms of public business, before a patent
vvas completed he died at London Al>ril
15, 1632, aged 50. After his death the
patent was again drawn in the name of
his eldest son, Cecil, who succeeded to his
honors, and it passed the seals June 20,
1 632. The country was called Maryland'
in honor of .Henrietta Maria, the queen
consort of Charles I. From trie great
precision of this charter, the powers,
which it confers upon the proprietor, and
the privileges and exemptions, which it
grants to the people, it is evident, that it
was written by sir George himself. The
Uberal code of religious toleration, which
it established,' is very honorable to him,
and was respected by his son, who car
ried his. design intp execution. Sir.
George was conspicuous for his good
sense and moderation. AU parties were
pleased with him. Not being obstinate in
his opinions, he topk as mucri pleasure in
hearing the sentiments of others, as in
delivering his own. In his views of es
tablishing foreign-plantations he thoughit.,
that the original inhabitants, instead of
being exterminated, should be civilized
and converted; that the governors, should
not be interested merchants,"b,ut gentle
men^ not concerned in, trade; arid that
every one should be, left to provide for
himself by his own industry without de-
28

pendence on a common interest. He pub
Ushed carrnen ( unebre inD.Hen.Untonum,
1596; parUamentary speeches; various
letters of state ; the answer of Tom Tell
Troth, the practice of princes and the
lamentation ofthe kirk, 1642, — Belknapfs
Amer. biog. ii. 363-368; Biog. Brit.;
Rees; Wood's Athence Oxon. i. 566;
Keith, 14i.
CALVERT, Leonard, first governor
of Maryland, was. the brother' of CeeiUus
Calvert, the proprietor, who sent him to
America as the head ofthe colony in 1633.
After a circuitous voyage he arrived, ac
companied by his brother George Calvert,
and about 200 persons of good families
and of the Roman catholic persuasion, at
point Comfort in Virginia, Feb. 24, 16S4.
On the third of March he proceeded in
thebay of Chesapeak to the northward,and ¦
entered the Patowmac, up which he sailed
twelve leagues, and came to an anchor
under an island, which - he named St:
demerit's. Here he fired hiii cannon,
erected a cross, and took possession " in
the name of trie Savior of trie world
and of the King of England." Thence
he went 15 leagues higher to the Indian
town of Patowmac on the Virginia side of
the river, now called New Marlborough,
where he was i^eceived in a friendly man
ner by the guardian regent, the prince of
the country being a minor. Thence he
sailed 12 leagues hi&her to the town of
Piscataway on the Marylarid side, where ,
he found Henry Fleet, an Englishman,
who had resided several years among' the
natives, and was held by them in great es
teem. This man was very serviceable as
an interpreter. An interview having been
procured with the Wefowance, or prince,
Calvert asked- him, whether he was wil
ling, that a settlement should be niade in
his own country. He replied, " I wfll
not bid you go, neither will I bid you
stay; but you may use 'your own dis
cretion." Having convinced the natives,
that his designs were honorable and pa
cific, the governor now sought a more
suitable station for commencing his col
ony. He visited a creek on the northern
side ofthe PatawmaC about four leagues

218

CALVERT.

CAMMERHOF.

from its mouth, where was an Indian vil
lage. Here he acquainted the prince ofthe
place with his intentions, and by presents
to him and his principal men cpnciUated
his friendship so much, as to obtain per
mission to reside in one part of .the
town untfl the next riarvest, when, it
was stipulated, the natives should entire
ly quit the place. Both parties entered
into a contract to live in a friendly man
ner. After Calvert had given a satisfac
tory consideration, the Indians readily
yielded a number of their houses, and
retired to the others. As the season
for planting corn had now arrived, both
parties went to work. Thus, March 27,
1634, the governor took peaceable posses
sion of the country of Maryland, and
gave tothe town,the name of St. Mary's,
and to the creek, on which it was situa
ted, the name of St. George's. The de
sire of rendering justice to the natives by
giving them a reasonable compensation
for their lands is a trait in the charac^r of
the first planters, which will always do
honor to their memory. The colony had
brought with them meal from England;
but they found Indian corn in great plen
ty both at Barbadoes and Virginia, and
by the next spring they were able to ex
port 1000 bushels to New England and
Newfoundland, for which they received
in return dried fish and other provisions.
The Indians also killed many deer and
turkies, which they sold to the English
for knives, beads, and other small articles
of traffic. Cattle, swine, and poultry
were procured from Virginia. The prov
ince was estabUshed on the broad founda
tion of security to property, and of free-,
dpm in reUgion. Fifty acres of land were
granted in absolute fee to every emigrant,
and Christianity was established without
allowing pre-eminence to any particular
sect. This libera] policy rendered a Ro
man catholic colony an asylum for those,
who were driven from New England by
the persecutions, which were there" expe
rienced from protestants. The same toler
ation, or rather perfect freedom, was also
estabUshed by R. Williams in Rhode Isl
and. The governor built him a house at

St. Mary's, for;himself and his successors,
and superintended the affairs of the coun
try, tifl the civfl war in England, when the
name of a papist became ^o obnoxious,
that the parliament assumed the govern
ment of the province, and appointed a
new governor. Gecilius Calvert, the pro
prietor, recovered his right to the prov
ince upon the restoration of King Charles
II in 1660, and in thesame year appoint
ed his son, Philip, the governor, and his
son, Charles, in 1662. He died in 1676;
far in years and high in reputation, & was
succeeded by his son, Charles, by whom
an assembly was called, which passed a
law prohibiting the importation of con
victs. In 1676 there were in the colony
only 3 clergymen of the church of Eng
land. — Belknap's Amer. biog. n. 372 —
380; Holmes,!!. 386; Univ. hist. xl. 468;
Eurap. settlem-. n. 228; Brit. emp. in
America, i. 324—330.
CALVERT, Benedict, governor of
Maryland, succeeded in 1727 Charles C,
who had been governor from 1720, and
who died at Annapolis Feb. 5, 1734 ; or,
according to Savage, Feb. 2, 1732. He
was induced to resign from iU health in
1732, and died June 1st on his passage to
England. His brother, Edward Henry
Calvert, president of the council, died at
Annapolis Aprfl 24, 1730, aged 28. His
wife was the daughter of the earl of
Litchfield and sister of the wife of Edward
Young.  Lord's Lempr. ; Savage's
Winth. I. 139.
CALVERT, Frederic, baron of Bal
timore, and proprietor pf Maryland, suc
ceeded Charles, lord Baltimore, in 1751,
and died at Naples Sept. 30, 1771, leaving
his property in Maryland to his son, Hen
ry Harford. He pubfished a topr in the
east, 1764 ; and Gaudia Poetica, Latina,
Anglica, et GaUica, &c.
CAMMERHOF, Frederic, a Mora
vian bisriop, came to this country in 1746
to assist bp. Spangenberg. In 1748 he
visited the establishment at Shomokin on
the Susquehannah ; in 1750 he repaired
to Onondago to promote the introduction
oftrie gospel amongst the Iroquois. He
died at Bethlehem, his usual place of resi-

CAMMOCK.
dence, Apr. 28, 1751, greatly deplored.
During four years he had baptized 89 In
dians. There was so much sweetness
and benevolence in his character, as to
impress even the savages with respect
for him. His mild and friendly behavior
once turned the heart of an Indian, en
raged by his reproofs, who had resolved
to kiU him. — Loskiel
CAMMOCK, Thomas, proprietor of
Black Point, obtained a patent Nov. 1,
1631 from the Plymouth company of 1500
acres in Scarborough, in Maine, exten
ding from Black Point river to the Spur-
¦wink and back one mile frbm the sea. He
was a nephew of the earl of Warwick
and as early as 1631 resided at Piscataqua.
In 1 633 he was at Black Point. March
21, 1636 he was one of Gorges' commis
sioners, or a member ofthe court of New
Somersetshire at Saco, with Jocelyn and
others ; but not being in commission Sept.
2, 1639, he may have died before that
time. He died at Scarborough. — Sulli
van, 128-; Maine hist. col. i. 18, 41; Sav
age, I. 90.
CAMPBELL, John, first minister of
Oxford, Mass. was born in Scotiand and
educated at Edinburgh. He came to this
country in 1 7 17. He was ordained pastor
of Oxford, a town settled by French pro
testants, March 11, 1721. He faithful
ly discharged the duties ofhis office, un
til his death, March 25, 1761, aged 70,
and was succeeded by Jdseph Bowman,
who had been a missionary among the
Mohawk Indians. — Whitney's hist, of
Worcester, 84.
CAMPBELL, lieut. colonel, in the
battle of Eutaw, Sept. 8,1781, was order
ed to charge the enemy at the head of
the Virginia troops, -with col. Williams,
commanding the Maryland continentals.
In this successful exploit, which broke
the British Une, he received a ball in his
breast and dropped speechless on the
pommel of his saddle. Being borne in
the rear, he expired the moment he was
taken from his horse. Dr. Holmes re
lates, that on being told,' that the British
were flying, he said, "I die contented ;."
but Lee, who was present, says, he utter-

CAMPBELL.

219

ed not a word. — Lee, n. 292; Holmes, n.
327. CAMPBELL, Alexander, attorney of
the United States for the district of Vir
ginia, received his appointment from
Washington and was a man of eloquence.
He died in July 1796. His father resided
in Virginia ; and his uncle, Archibald
Campbell, — a Scotch gentleman, the fa
ther of Thomas CampbeU, the poet, —
also resided there in his youth.
CAMPBELL, John P., a minister at
.Chillicothe, Ohio, died about December
1814, aged 46. He was the author of a
manuscript history of the western coun
try. He published the doctrine of justifi
cation considered ; Strictures on Stone's
letters, 1805; Vindex, in answerto Stone's
reply, 1806.
CAMPBELL, Samuel, colonel, an
officer of the revolution, was born in
Londonderry, N. H. in 1738, and in 1745
removed with his father to Cherry VaUey,
then a wilderness. In the French war
his services were useful; he was a brave
officer of the miUtia in the war of the
revolution,&fought in most of the actions
on the frontier. He was particulary dis
tinguished at the battle of Oriskany under
gen. Herkimer. He was engaged also in
Nov. 1778 inthe conflict at Cherry Val
ley, when the village was destroyed and
many of the people massacred by the ene
my under Butler and Brant. At this
time his buildings were burnt, his person
al property carried off, and his wife and
all his children, but his eldest son,led into
captivity. The captives were marched
down the Susquehannah river to its junc
tion with the Tioga; thence up that river,
and to Geneva and Niagara; and thence
to the neighborhood of Montreal. At
length, owing to the exertions of gov.
CUnton, Mrs. Campbell was exchanged
for the wife of col. Butler, and trie chil
dren were with difficulty at the same
time rescued from captivity. — In 1783,
when gen. Washington and gov. Cluiton
were on their exploring touT,they honor
ed him with a visit for one night and
commended warmly his patriotic zeaL
After the w^r he was. a member of the

220

CANER.

legislature & an earnest republican. He
died.Sept. 12, 1824, aged 86.— So firm
had been his health, that he was engaged
in personal labor the day before he died.
Among his numerous descendants were
someof the chief citizens of Cherry Val
ley. His character through life was irre
proachable ; and for many years he had
been a consistent professor of religion. —
Cherry Valley gaz. Sep. 14, 1824.
CANER, Henry, d. d., minister of
king's chapel in Boston, was graduated at
Yale college in 1724. In the following
year he began to read prayers in an episco
pal church at Fairfield. In 1727 he went
to England for ordination, &was appoint
ed missionary for that town. His occa
sional services at Norwalk promoted the
interest ofthe church; and it was not
long before he had a respectable congre
gation there, as well as at Fairfield . He
was a man of talents and agreeable man
ners, highly esteemed by his people.
Having been chosen rector of the first
episcopal church in Boston, he was induc
ted into this office April 11, 1747 . Here
he continued, till the commencement of
the American revolution obUged him to
retire from Boston. He left the church
March 17, 1775. From this period he
resided in England till his death, in Long
Ashton at the close of the year 1792,
aged 92. A daughter married Mr. Gore
of Boston. He published a sermon on
Mathew vn. 28, 29, entitled, trie true
nature and method of christian preaching.
He supposes the sermon on the mount
was addressed to the disciples, and con
cludes from this circumstance,that "when
we preach to christians, we are not to
spend time in exhorting them to believe,
for that their very profession supposes
they do already; but to press and per
suade them to Uveas becomes christians,
to be found in the practice of all moral
duties." Jonathan Dickinson in his
vindication of God's sovereign, free grace,
answers this sermon, and endeavors to
show, that Christ and his apostles, even
when in their preaching they addressed
themselves to professing christians, dwelt
much upon repentance and faith, as well

CANONICUS.
as moral duties. Mr. Caner pubUshed al
so funeral sermons on the death of Charies
Apthorp, 1758; of Frederic, prince of
Wales, 1751; of Rev. Dr. Cutler, 1765;
of George II., 1761; of Tim.Cutler, 1765;
a thanksgiving sermon for the peace,
1763;- perhaps also a vindication of the
society for propagating the gospel, 1T64.
— Chandler's life of Johnson, 62; Coll.
hist. soc. in. 260; Colvm. centinel, Feb.
13, 1793.
CANONICUS, an Indian chief of
Narragansett, was the eldest of three
brothers and his father's heir. Miantun-
nomu, son of his youngest brother, was
"his marshal and executioner," but did
nothing without his uncle's consent. Ni-
iiegrad was the other uncle of Miantun-
nomu. In 1622, the second year after
the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth,
Canonicus, having about 5,000 fighting
men, sent as a challenge a bundle of ar
rows tied with a snake-skin : this skin
was returned, filled with powder and ball.
Peace was preserved by this defiance and
by a discreet negotiation.
When Roger Williams, driven from
Massachusetts, sought a retreat at Nar
ragansett, the king,Canonicus,generously
made him and his companions a present
of aU the neck of land between Pawtucket
and Moshasuck rivers; that they might
own it forever. On this neck they settled.
Here was an act of kindness, which even
at the present day demands a requital
from the whites towards the remains of
the Indian tribes. About fifty years af
terwards WiUiams gave a deposition, in
which he says, "I declare to posterity, that
wire it not for the favor, that God gave
me with Canonicus, none of these parts,
no, not Rhode Island, had been purchased
or obtained, for I never got any thing of
Canonicus but by gift." — "And I desire
posterity to see the gracious hand of the
Most High, that when the hearts of my
countrymen and friends and bretrireh fail-
red me, his infinite wisdom, & merits stir
red up the barbarous heart of Canonicus to
love me as his own son to his last gasp."
Once, in a solemn oration, the sachem said
to Williams, "I have never suffered any

CANONICUS.
wrong to be offered to the English since
they landed, nor never will. — Wunnaum-
wagean Englishman, (that is, Ifthe Eng
lish speak true, if he mean truly,) then
shall I go to my grave in peace." When
WilUams replied that he had no cause to
distrust the Englishman's Wunnaum-
wauonck, faithfulness, the old Indian
took a stick and broke it into ten pieces,
and related ten instances, laying down a
stick to every instance, which awakened
his fears. He proved himself at all.times
the friend of the English. The Indian
deed of Rhode Island bears date March
24, 1633. Trie deed of Providence is
dated the same day. — In 1632 there was
a war between the Narragansetts and Pe-
quots concerning the territory between
Paucatuck river and Wecapaug brook on
the east, 10 mfles wide, and 15 or 20 in
length, which was claimed by Canonicus
as having conquered it many years before.
After three years' war the land was ob
tained, and given to Sossoa or Sochso, a
renegade Pequot, who had fought valor-
ously for Canonicus. However, the Pe-
quots very soon recovered it. On losing
his son Canonicus, after burying him,
"burned his own palace and all his goods
in it, amongst them to a great value, in a
solemn remembrance to his son, and in a
kind of humble expiation to the gods,
who, as they beUeved, had taken his son
from him."
When an embassy was sent to him in
] 637 from Massachusetts, he received the
ambassadors in his best style. In trie
royal entertainment, which he provided,
he gave them boiled chestnuts for white
bread ; also boiled puddings, made of
pounded Indian corn, well filled with a
"great store of black berries, somewhat
fike currants." . His audience chamber
was a house, 50 feet wide, made of long
poles stuck in the ground, covered 'With
mats, save a hole in the roof to let out trie
smoke.. Seated on a mat, his nobility
were around him, with their iegi doubled
under them, trieir knees toucriing their
chins. He agreed to favor the Englisri
rather than the Pequots ; and to the lat
ter he gave his faithful advice, designed to

CAPEN,

221

hush the tempest of war, which was rea
dy to break out. But in a short time the
Pequots forgot his wise counsels, and
plunged into a fatal war with the Eng-
lisri, and were destroyed by Mason. In
the war with Uncas in 1643 Miantunno-
mu was taken prisoner and kflled. April
19, 1644 Pessacus and Canonicus by deed
submitted to the English king for protec
tion. In 1645, the sons of Canonicus
having excited a war with some neigh
boring Indians, troops were sent from
Massachusetts under Gibbons, who quell
ed the disturbance. After Miantunnomu
a sachem, called Mecumeh, was associat
ed with Canonicus. Pessacus also was a
powerful sachem. The venerable king,
whose name deserves to be held in honor,
died June 4, 1647, aged about 85 years.
Roger WilUams calls him "a wise and
peaceable prince." "Wise he must have
been, compared with most princes, since
he was peaceable. In about thirty years
Priilip and his race fell victims to war,
which he enkindled. — Prince, 392; Mass.
hist, cat in. 215, 238 ; v. 237 ; s. s. iv.
42 ; VII. 75 ; ix. 169 ; Holmes, i. 177,
286; Savage's Winthrop, n. 308.
CAONABO, a Carib chief, called by
the Spaniards the lord ofthe golden house,
in 1493 captured the fortress of La Navi-
dad in Hispaniola and massacred the Span
iards. The next year he unsuccessfully
besieged Ojeda, though he had with
him 10,000 warriors. Soon afterwards
Ojeda made him prisoner by stratagein,
pretending to honor him by putting on
him a pair of manacles pf burnished steel,
resembling silver, and mounting • him
in state on his own horse. Thus he
galloped off with his prize, the victim
of vanity. In 1496 he was put on board
a vessel to be conveyed to Spain ; but he
died in the passage. His death is ascri
bed to the deep melancholy of his proud
spirit. At first a simple Carib warrior,
he became the most powerful cacique in
the populous island of Hayti. But being
made a prisoner, he died in obscurity.
Thus sinks away all the gldry of human
greatness. — Irving's Cahimbus, n.
CAPEN, Joseph, a poet arid minister

222

CARDELL.

CARLETON.

of Topsfield, Mass. was the son of John
C, who fived in Dorchester in 1634 and
died in 1692, aged 79. He was gradua
ted atHarvard college in 1677, ordained
June 4, 1684, and died June 30, 1725,
aged 66. He published, about 1682, an
elegy on the ingenious mathematician and
printer, John Foster, which concludes
with the following lines, doubtless
suggested by Woodbridge's elegy on
John Cotton: 
"Thy body, which no activeness did lack,
Now's laid aside, like an old almanac;
But for the present only's out of date;
'Twill have, at length , a for more active state.
Tea, though witli dust thy body soiled be ,
Tfet, at theresurection, we shall see
A fair edition, and of matchless worth,
Free from erratas, new in heaven set forth;
'Tis but a word from God, the great Creator,
It shall be done, when he saith Imprimatur."
CARDELL, Wflliam S., a useful
writer, died at Lancaster, Pa., Aug. 10,
1828 ; his usual residence had been in the
city of N. Y. He was a man of talents
and active benevolence. He projected an
American academy of belles lettres, which
had a momentary existence but soon expi
red. He published a new system of gram
mar, and other useful books for youth.
CARHEIL, Etienne De, a Jesuit mis
sionary, visited the Iroquois in 1668.
For more than 60 years he toiled amongst
the Indians in Canada with Uttle success;
in 1791 Charlevoix left him in Canada,
still fuU of vigor and vivacity. Though
he spoke the Huron and Iroquois langua
ges better than his own, and was regar
ded by the savages as a saint and a gen
ius of the first order ; yet he made but few
converts, and for his little success he hum
bled himself'before God. Charleyoix re
marks, that the history of Carheil may
well teach missionaries, triat it is the pre
rogative of God to renew the heart, and
that their toils are never in vain, if they
themselves become saints.
CARLETON, Guy, lord Dorchester,
a distinguished British officer in America,
was appointed a brigadier general in this
country in 1776. He was made major
general in 1772. At the close of the year

1774 a commission passed the seals, con
stituting him captain general and gover
nor of Quebec. When Canada was in
vaded by Montgomery in 1775, Carleton
was in the most imminent danger of being
taken prisoner upon the St. Lawrence
after the capture of Montreal; but he es
caped in a boat with muffled paddles, and
arrived safely at Quebec, which he found
threatened by an unexpected enemy. Ar
nold, though he had been repulsed by col
onel Maclean, was yet in the neighbor
hood of the city, waiting for the arrival
of Montgomery previously to another
attack. General Carleton with the skfll
of an experienced officer took the neces
sary measures for the security ofthe city.
His first act was to obUge all to leave
Quebec, who would not take up arms in
its defence. When Montgomery ap
proached, his summons was treated with
contempt by the governor, whose intre
pidity v(ras not to be shaken . By his in
dustry and bravery Carleton saved the
city. After the unsuccessful assault of
the last of December, in which Mont
gomery was kiUed, he had nothing more
immediately to apprehend. In May 1776
he obUged the Americans to raise the
siege, and it was not long before he com
pelled them to withdraw entirely from
Canada. In October he recaptured
Crown Point ; but, as the winter was ad
vancing, he did not attempt the reduction
of Ticonderoga,but returned to St. John's.
In the beginning of the next year he was
superseded in his command by Burgoyne,
who was intrusted with the northern
British army. Carleton's experience,
and abiUties, and services were such, as
rendered hira worthy of the command,
which was given to another. Though
he immediately asked leave to resign his
government, he yet contributed aU in his
power, to secure the success of the cam
paign. In the year 1782 he was appoin
ted, as successor of sir Henry Clinton,
commander in criief of all his majesty's
forces in America. He arrived at New
York with his commission in the begin
ning of May . After the treaty was signed
he delayed for some time the evacuation

CARLTON.

CARMICI-IAEL.

223

of the city from regard to the safety of
the loyalists; but Nov. ,25, 1783 he em
barked and withdrew the British ships
from the shores of America. He died in
England at the close of the year 1808,
aged 83. He was a brave and an able offi
cer, and he rendered important services
to his country. Though he was not
conciliating in his manners, and possessed
the severity of the soldier ; yet his hu
manity to the American prisoners, whom
he took in Canada,hasbeen much praised.
In excuse for the fittle attention, which
he paid to the honorable burial of Mont
gomery, it can only be said, that he re
garded him as a rebel. — Stedman, i.;
Annual reg. xvii. 189, xix. 2-16; xx.2;
Warren's hist, rev., n. 2, 3; in. 217,
252, 311.
CARLTON, Osgood, a teacher of
mathematics and navigation,resided chief
ly in Mass., but died in Litchfield, N. H,
in June 1816. He published valuable
maps of Mass., and of the district of
Maine ; also the American navigator,
1801; the South American pilot, 1804;
a map of the U, S., 1806; practice of
arithmetic, 1810.
CARMAN, captain, a brave seaman,
sailed from New Haven Dec. 1642 in a
vessel of 180 tons with clapboards for the
Canaries, being earnestly commended by
the church at New Haven to the Lord's
protection. Near the island of Palma he
was attacked by a Turkish pirate of 300
tons, with 200 men and 26 cannon, he
havuig only 20 men and 7 serviceable
cannon. The battle lasted three riours,
the Turk lying across his hawse, so tha't
he had to fire through his own "hood-
ings." At last he was boarded by 100
men; but a shot kilUng the Turkish cap-
tain,and the tiller ofhis ship being broken,
the Turk took in his ensign and fefl off,
leaving behind 50 men. These Carman
and his crew assaulted hand to hand and
compelled all, who were not killed, tojeap
overboard. He had many wounds on his
head and body, and several of his men
were wounded,but only one was kifled . At
the island he was courteously entertain
ed. He arrived at Boston July 2, 1643.

In Nov. 1645 he sailed from Boston for
Malaga, in company with a new ship of
400 tons ; but both vessels run aground
in the night on the coast of Spain, and
Carman, Dr. Pratt, and 17 others were
drowned. There were on board the
large vessel several ship masters as
passengers : but,says Hubbard,"according
to the old proverb, the more cooks the
worse broth, and the more masters the
worse mariners." The lights in the cas
tle of Cadiz had been seen ; but were
mistaken for lights in enemies' vessels.
— 2 Hist, col, VI. 525; Savage's Winth,
II. 124, 239.
CARMICHAEL, WiUiam, charg^ d'
affaires at the court of Spain, was a native
of Maryland. At the beginning of the
revolution he was in London, and thence
he proceeded to Paris on his way to
America with despatches from A. Lee.
At Paris he was detained by sickness.
On the arrival of Mr. Deane in June
1776, he aided him in his correspondence
and the transaction of business till Oct.
Then, at the suggestion of the Prussian
minister he went to Berlin, by way of
Amsterdam, to communicate to the king
intefligence concerning American com
merce. Returning to Paris, he was em
ployed more than a year by the American
commissioners. He arrived at Boston
in May 1778; in Nov. he took his seat
in congress as a delegate, from Maryland,
though he had been appointed secretary
to the commissioners in France. The
next year, in Sept., he was appointed sec
retary of legation to Mr. Jay in his mis
sion to Spain and accompanied him and
remained with him during his residence
in Madrid. "When Mr. Jay went to
Paris in June 1782, Mr. Carmichael vvas
left as priarg^ d' affaires, and after the
peace was commissioned in that charac
ter by congress, and continued as such at
the court of Spain about 15 years. In
March 1792 Wm. Short was joined -With
him in a commission to negotiate a treaty
with Spain. The attempt was unsuc
cessful. Soon afterwards Mr. Carmi
chael returned to the United States. He
died in March or April 1795. His cor-

224

CARNES.

CARRINGTON.

respondence makes a part of the 9th vol.
of diploiriatic correspondence, edited by
J. Sparks. — Dipt. cor. ix. S, 4.
CARNES, Thomas P., a judge of
Georgia, was born and educated at Mary
land ; removing to Georgia, he there at
tained to a high rank as a lawyer. He was
successively solicitor general, attorney
general, and judge of the supreme court ;
and he was also a member of congress.
He died at MiUedgeviUe May 8, 1822,
aged 60.
CARR, Robert Sir, was appointed by
Charles II, in 1664, a commissioner, with
col. Nicolls, Cartwright, and Maverick,
with extensive powers in New England.
It was designed to repress the spirit of
liberty. Clarendon said, "they are al
ready hardened into republics." Inthe
summer he and Maverick arrived at Pis
cataqua. Aug. 27, 1664 Nicolls & Carr,
-with 4 frigates & 800 men, captured from
the Dutch New Amsterdam and called it
New York in honor ofthe Duke of York
and Albany, the brother of the king.
Sept. 24th the garrison at fort Orange
capitUjlated, and the place was called
Albany. Carr forced the Dutch and
Swedes on Delaware bay to capitulate
Oct. 1. Thus New Netherlands, inclu
ding New Jersey, was subjected. The
commissioners, excepting Nicolls, repair-v
ed to Boston iii Feb. 1665. Their pro
ceedings are narrated by Hutchinson.
When theyarrivedinMainein Junel665,
they assumed all the powers of govern
ment, so that the authority of Massachu
setts there was suspended. By special
commission from them a court was held
at Casco by Jocelyn and others in July
1666. The government, thus created by
the commissioners, expired in 1668, the
people looking to Massachusetts, for a fir
mer administration of affairs. In the
mean time Carr had returned to England,
where he died, at Bristol, June 1, 1667,
the day after he landed.— -ffu/we.s, i, 333;
Hutchins. i. 211-229.
CARR, Dabney, a distinguished mem
ber of the assembly of Virginia, moved
and eloquently supported the resolution
for appointing a cpmmi'ttee of correspon

dence in consequence of the British en
croachments, whicri was adopted March
12, 1773. But he died in about two
months, at Charlotteville, May 16th, aged
30. He married Martha, the sister of
Mr. Jefferson, who in his works has de
lineated his character, as marked by a
sound judgment and inflexible firmness,
combined with fancy and eloquence,
softness and kindness. His eldest son,
Peter Carr,died about 1S08. — Jefferson's
Works. CARRIER, Thomas, remarkable for
longevity, dipd at Colchester, Con., May
16, 1735, ag^d 109 years. He was born
in the west of England and removed
thence to Andover, Mass. He married
in 1664 Martha Allen, who fell a vic
tim to the witchcraft infatuation at Salem
vfllage, with Mr. Burroughs, Aug, 19,
1692, one of her own daughters,aged 7,be-
ing allowed to testify against her, as ma
king her a witch, & appearing Uke a black
cat, the cat saying, she was her mother.
Hutchinson has preserved her testimo
ny. — He Uved at Colchester about 20
years, and was a member of the church in
that town. His head in his last years
was not bald, nor his hair gray. Not
many days before his death rie travelled
on foot to see a sick man six miles, and
trie very day before he died he was visit
ing his neighbors. — New Eng. week.
jour. June 9, 9,735; Hutchinson, n. 47;
Fariner's col. n. 69.
CARRIGAIN, PhiUp, a distinguished
physician, was born in New York in 1746,
and was the son of a Scotch physician,
who died in that city. After studying
with Dr. Bricket of HaverhiU, Mass., he
settled in 1768 at Concord, N. H., wriere
he rose to eminence as a physician and
surgeon. His practice was for years
more extensive, than that of any other
physician in the state. He died in Aug.
1806. His son of the same name, a law
yer, and secretary of state, published in
1816 the large and beautiful map of New
Hampshire.— JV/bore's annals of Concord,
62; Bouton's cent. disc. 94.
CARRINGTON, Paul, a patriot of
the revolution, died at his seat in Char-

CARRINGTON.

CARTER.

ii!5

lotte county, Virginia, June 22, 1818,
aged 85. He was probably older, than
any surviving Virginia patriot, who
took an active part in the councils of
the country in the first struggles for liber
ty and independence.
CARRINGTON, Edward, an officer
of the revolution, was an active quarter
master general under Greene in the cam
paign at the south ; and served also in the
north. He was a representative in congress
from^ Virginia after the peace. When Aa
ron Burr was tried fbr high treason, he
was foreman of the jury. He was born
Feb. 11,1749, and died Oct. 28, 1810,
aged 61. — Lord's Lempr.; Lee, i. 296.
CARRINGTON, Paul, judge ofthe
general court of Virginia, died at bis seat
in Charlotte county, Virginia, Jan. 8,
1816, aged 52. In his youth he was dis
tinguished as a soldier in trie actions at
Guilford court house and Green spring.
On the return of peace he completed his
studies atWm. and Mary college. At
the age of 22 he was a member of the
house of delegates, afterwards ofthe sen
ate; from which body he was transferred to
the bench of the superior court. He
died, expressing the hope of a happy im
mortality through the merits of the Sa
vior. — Christian Visitant, na. 36.
CARROLL, John, D. D. ll.d., first
catholic bishop in the U. S., was born at
Upper Marlborough in Md. in 1734 and
sent for education at the age of 1 3 to Flan
ders. From St. Omer's,where he remained
6 years,he was transferred to the colleges
of Liege and Bruges. Having been or
dained a priest and become a Jesuit, in
1770 he accompanied the son of an Eng
lish catholic nobleman on a tour through
Europe. In 1773 he was appointed a
professor inthe college of Bruges. On
the suppression of the Jesuits by the pope
he retired to England, and acted as secre
tary ofthe fathers ; in 1775 he returned
to America and engaged in the duties of a
parish priest. By request of congress he
accompanied FrankUn, C. Carroll, and S.
Chase in tiieir mission to Canada in order
to recommend neutrality to the Canadians.
Appointed cathoUc vicar general in 1786,
29

he settled at Baltimore. In 1790 hewas
consecrated in England catholic bishop
of the U. S., and he returned with the
title ofthe bishop of Baltimore. A few
years before his death he was created
arch bishop. He died Dec. 3, 1815, aged
80 years. He was the brother of Charles
CarroU, the only surviving signer ofthe
declaration of independence. Bishop C.
was venerable, dignified, and learned. In
Latin, Italian, and French be converserl
with ease. He was mild, and courteous,
and free from intolerance, living in friend
ly intercourse with persons of other sects.
His end was peaceful. In his last ill
ness he said to a protestant minister, who
alluded to his approaching death, "my
hopes have always been on the cross of
Christ." — Encyc. Amer.; Am. quar. rev.
I. 19-24.
CARTER, Thomas, first minister of
Woburn, Mass., came to this country in
1635, and lived several years at Dedham
and Watertown. He was ordained at
Woburn Nov. 12, 1642 ; the church had
been gathered Aug. 14th. This was a
lay ordination. The church having no
elder, or minister to impose hands, and
apprehending a precedent, leading to the
"dependence of churches and a presbyte
ry," two of its members performed that
solemnity, although several ministers
were present. When they had imposed
hands for the church, and said, we or
dain thee pastor of this church, a prayer
was made by an elder of a neighboring
church. There is no other undoubted
instance of such an ordination, recorded
in the early history of this country. Mr.
Carter died Sep. 5, 1 684, or, as Woburn
records say, Dec. l,aged 73. — Savage's
Winthrop, n. ;91, 253; 2 Hist, col vn.
42; Chickering's hist. Woburn.
CARTER, Robert, president ofthe
councfl of Virginia in 1726, was succeeded
next year as the head ofthe state by gov.
Wm.' Gouch. He died Aug. 4, 1732
aged 69. Of great wealth, he was the
proprietor of 300,000 acres of land and
1100 slaves.
CARTER, Robert, of Nominy,Vir-
ginia, a member ofthe executive council.

226

CARTER.

probably a descendant of the preceding,
was rich, having 7 or 800 slaves. Believ
ing, that the toleratipn of slavery indi
cates very great depravity, he gradually
emancipated the whole. Another ac
count mentions, that he emancipated 442
slaves, at a sacrifice of 100,000 dollars.
Hewas 14 years a regular baptist; then
became an arminian; and afterwards a fol
lower of the bewildered enthusiast, Swe
denborg. He removed to Baltimore to
find a society ofthe same faith. He died
a few years before 1813, at an advanced
age. — Benedict, n. 278; Rippon's Reg.
CARTER, Ezra, a respectable and
benevolent jiriysician, was born in South
Hampton, N. H. and settled about 1740
in Concord, where he died Sept. 17,1767,
aged 48. He several times narrowly es
caped being killed by the Indians. In one
of his visits to a sick and poor family in
Bow, something was said concerning the
payment of his bfll. The man and his
wife plead their deep poverty ; but the
doctor replied, you have property enough
to satisfy me, and I will have my pay,
before I leave your house. Then, seizing
a kitten from the floor, he said, — "I told
you, I should have my pay; I have got it.
Good by, and God bless you." Justbe-
fore his death he signed receipts to the
bills against all poor persons, with direc
tions to his executors to deliver them. —
Moore's ann. of Concord, 35.
CARTER, Nathaniel Hazeltine, a
scholar and traveller, was the son of Jo
seph Carter, and was born in Concord,
N. H. about the year 1788. In 1811 he
was graduated at Dartmouth college,and
afterwards studied law. When the char
ter of the college was amended by the
legislature in 1817,he was appointed pro
fessor of languages in Dartmouth univer
sity & officiated in that capacity two or
three years. In 1820 he became the
proprietor & editor ofthe Albany Regis
ter, the name of which he changed. May
16, to that ofthe New York Statesman.
He removed to the city of New York
Jan. 1822, and associated his paper with
another, entering into partnership with
Mr. G. W. Prentiss. He zealously es

poused the interests of Dewitt Clinton,
From 1825 to 1827 he was abroad, travel-
Ung upon the continent of Europe as the
companion and guide of a young gentle
man of New York, whose father defrayed
the expenses of the tour. During this
absence he enriched his paper with letters
from Europe, which on his return he col
lected and pubUshed in two large Svo.
volumes, entitled. Letters from Europe,
comprising the journal of a tour through
Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Italy,
and Switzerland, 1827. These writings,
the production of a classical scholar and a
zealous friend of the republican institu
tions of America as well as of a believer
in the simple and pure religion of the gos
pel, are well calculated to promote in the
reader the love of country. The expo
sure ofthe civil & religious tyranny, under
which the greater part of Europe groans,
is doing good service to the cause of liber
ty. — Mr. Carter's health becoming im
paired, he spent the winters of 1827 and
1828 in Cuba. When be visited Concord
in Nov. 1888 he addressed a few fines to
his "Native Stream," in which he alludes
to his wanderings by other streams : —
"Along the Shannon, Doon, and Tay
I've sauntered many a happy day ,
And sought beside the Gam and Thames
Memorials of immortal* names ;
Or mingled in the polished train
Of fashion on the banks of Seine.
And I have seen the azure Rhone
Rush headlong from his Alpine throne ;
Green Mincius and the silver Po
Through vine^clad vales meand'ring flow ;
Sweet Arno, wrealh'd in summer flowers,
Linger amidst Etrurian bowers;
And the old Tiber's yellow tide
Roll to the sea in sullen pride.
In climes benenth the burning zone.
Mid tang-led forests, deep and lone.
Where fervid skies forever glow,
And the soft trade-winds whispering blow,
My roving footsteps too have prest
Tile loveliest island of the west.
Tliere Yumuri winds deep and calm,
Through groves of citron and of palm ; '
There on the sluggish wave of Juan
My littie boat hath borne me on ;
Or up Canimar's silent floods ,
Strewn with the blossoms of its woods."

CARTERET.

CARTIER.

227

His partner, Mr. Prentiss, died in March
1829. In the same year he reUnquished
his interest in the Statesman, and for the
benefit of bis very enfeebled health pro
ceeded again to France. But a fatal con
sumption terminated his life, a few days
after his arrival at Marseilles, Jan. 2,1830,
aged 42. His funeral was attended by
many Americans and British. Mr. Car
ter was a very upright and amiable man,
and an accomphshed scholar. He was a
poet, as well as a writer of prose ; his
longest poetical piece is entitled the Pains
of Imagination, delivered at Dartmouth
college. His hymn for Christmas is pre
served in Specimens of Amer. poetry. —
Bouton's Cent, Disc, 95.; Spec, in. 113.
CARTERET, George sir, one ofthe
proprietors of New Jersey, obtained with
lord Berkeley from the duke of York a
grant of N. J. June 23, 1664, the duke
having received from the king a larger
patent March 12. The name of New
Jersey was given,because Carteret's fam
ily were from the isle of Jersey. Eliza
bethtown is said to have been named from
his wife. — Philip Carteret was gov. of N.
Jersey, with some interruption, from
1665 tifl his death, Nov. 1682. After
1676, when the division of the country
was made by Berkeley and Carteret, he
governed east Jersey. — Holmes, n, 333.
CARTIER, Jacques, a French navi
gator, who made important discoveries in
Canada, was a native of St. Malo. After
the voyage of the Cabots the French
learned the value of their discoveries, and
in a few years began the cod fishery upon
the banks of Newfoundland. The baron
de Levi is said to have discovered a part
of Canada about 1518. In 1524 John
Verazzana, a Florentine, in the service of
France, ranged the coast ofthe new con
tinent from Florida to Newfoundland.
From a subsequent voyage in 1525 he
never returned, and it is supposed, that
he was cut to pieces and devoured by the
savages. His fate discouraged other at
tempts to discover the new world, till the
importance of having a colony in the
neighborhood of the fishing banks induced
Francis I. to send out Cartier in 1534.

The king said, — "the kings of Spain and
Portugal are taking possession of the new
world, without giving me a part; I should
be glad to see the article in Adam's last
wiU, which gives them America." Car-
tier sailed from St. Malo April 20 with
two ships of sixty tons and 122 men. On
the tenth of May he came in sight of
Bona vista on the Island 6f Newfoundland;
but the ice obliged him to go to the south,
and he entered a harbor at the distance of
five leagues, to whicri he gave the name
of St. Catherine. As soon as the season
would permit, he sailed northward, and
entered the straits of BeUisle. In this voy
age he visited the greater part of the
coast, which surrounds the gulf of St.
Lawrence, and took possession of the
country in the name ofthe king; he dis
covered a bay, which he called baye des
Chaleurs, on account ofthe sultry weath
er, which he experienced in it; he sailed
so far into the great river, afterwards
called the St. Lawrence, as to discover
land on the opposite side. August 15, he
set sail on his return, and arrived at St.
Malo on the fifth of September.
When his discoveries were known in
France, it was determined to make a set
tlement in that part of America, which
he had visited. Accordingly in the fol
lowing year he received a more ample
commission and was equipped with three
vessels. When he was ready to depart,
he went to the cathedral church with his
whole company, and the bishop gave
them his benediction. He sailed May 1 9,
1535. He experienced a severe storm on
his passage, but in July he reached the
destined port. He entered the gulf as in
the preceding year, being accompanied by
a number of young men of distinction.
He sailed up the St; Lawrence and dis
covered an island, which he named Bac
chus, but which is now called Orleans, in
the neighborhood of Quebec. This island
was full of inhabitants, who subsisted by
fishing. He went on shore and the na
tives brought him Indian corn for his re
freshment. With his pinnace and two
boats he proceeded up the river as far as
Hochelaga, a settlement upon an island.

22.3

CARTWRIGHT.

which he called Mont-royal, but which is
now called Montreal. In this Indian town
were about fifty long huts, built with-
stakes, and covered with bark. The-peo-
ple lived mostly by fishing and" tillage.
They had corn, beans, squashes, and
pumpkins. In two or three days he set
out on his return, and arrived, Oct. 4, at
St. Croix, not far from Quebec, now
called Jacques Cartier's river. Here he
passed the winter. In Dec. the scurvy
began to make its appearance among the
natives, and in a short time Cartier's com
pany were seized by the disorder. By
the middle of Feb., of 110 persons fifty
were sick at once, and eight or ten had
died. In this extremity he appointed a
day of humiliation. A crucifix was placed
on a tree, a procession of those, who were
able to walk, was formed, and at the close
ofthe devotional exercises, Cartier made
a vow, that "if it should please God to
permit him to return to France, he would
go in pilgrimage to our lady of Roque-
mado." The sick were all healed by us
ing a medicine, which was employed
with success by the natives. Thi.s was
a decoction of the leaves and bark of a
tree. The liquor was drunk every other
day, and an external appUcation was made
to the legs, Charlevoix says, the tree
was that, which yielded turpentine, and
Dr. Belknap thinks it was the spruce
pine. In May he set safl on his return to
France, carrying off with him Donnacon-
na, the Indian king ofthe country, and 9
other natives, all of whom but a little girl
died in France. He arrived at St. Malo
July 6, 1536.
At the end of four years a third expedi
tion was projected. Fran5ois de la Roque,
lord of Robervai, was commissioned by
the king an his Ueutenant governor in
Canada ; and Cartier was appointed his
pilot witti the command of five ships, his
commission, which may be seen in Haz
ard's collections, being dated October 17,
1540. He sailed, however. May 23, 1540,
ito Newfoundland and Canada. — Aug. 23,
he arrived at the haven of St. Croix, in
Jihew.ver St. Lawrence ; about 4 leagues
above ihi-t place, on a cliff, at the east

side of the mouth of a smaU river, he
built a fort, which he called Charlesbourg.
This was near Quebec. In the spring of
1542, he determined to return to France,
and accordingly in June arrived at Saint
John's inNewfoundland on his way home.
Here he met Robervai, who did not ac
company him in his voyage, and who had
been detained till this time. He was or
dered to return to Canada, but he chose
to pursue his voyage to France, and
sailed out of the harbor privately in the
night. Robervai attempted to estabUsh
a colony, but it was soon broken up, and
the French did not estabUsh themselves
permanently in Canada till after the expi
ration of half a century.
Cartier published memoirs of Canada
after his second voyage. The names,
which he gave to islands, rivers, &c. are
now entirely changed. In this work he
shows, that he possessed a good share of
the credulity or the exaggeration of trav
ellers. Being one day in the chase he
says, that he pursued a beast, which had
but two legs, and which ran with aston
ishing rapidity. This strange animal was
propably an Indian, clothed with the skin
of some wild beast. He speaks also of
human monsters of different kinds, of
which accounts had been given him.
Some of them lived without eating.-Bei-
knap's Amer, biog., i. 159-184; Charle
voix, introd. xx; i. 8-22. edit, 4to;
Hakluyt, HI. 186, 201-240; Holmes, i.;
Prince, introd. 89, 90, 93; Purchas, i.
931, 932; v. 1605; Fhrster's voy. 337,
448; Univ. hist, xxxix. 407.
CARTWRIGHT, George, colonel,
was one of king Charles' commissioners
to New England, with Nicolls, Carr, and
Maverick in 1 664. When the commis
sioners, on their arrival at Boston, in
formed the general court, that they should
next day sit and hear a cause against the
governor and company, th#court publish
ed "by sound of trumpef'^ts disapproba
tion of this proceeding and prohibited all
persons from abetting it. Thus early and
boldly was the note of liberty sounded.
The commissioners, finding that they had
to do with stifl-necked men, soon went

CARVER.

229

away in displeasure. In Cartwrigbt's
voyage to England in 1665, he was taken
by the Dutch, and lost his papers and
hardly escaped with his life. Hubbard
says, they put into his mouth a gag,
which he had " threatened to some in
New England, that pleased him not."
The loss of his papers was deemed a ben
efit to the colonies, as his prejudices were
strong against them, and as the papers
would have been employed for purposes
of mischief — Holmes, i. 338 ; Hist, col
VI. 579.
CARVER, John, first governor of
Plymouth colony, was a native of England,
and was among the emigrants to Leyden,
who composed Mr. Robinson's church in
that place. When a removal to America
was contemplated, he was appointed one
of the agents to negotiate with the
Virginia company in England for a
suitable territory. He obtained a patent
in 1619, and in the foUowing year came
to New England with the first company.
Two vessels bad been procured, the one
called the Speedwell and the other the
May-flower, which sailed from South
ampton, carrying 120 passengers, Aug.
5, 1620. As one of the vessels proved
leaky, they both put into Dartmouth for
repairs. They put to sea again Aug. 21;
but the same cause, after they had sailed
about 100 leagues, obUged them to put
back to Plymouth. The Speed wefl was
there pronounced unfit for the voyage.
About twenty ofthe passengers went on
shore. The others were received on
board the May-flower, which safled with
101 passengers, besides the ship's officers
and crew, Sept. 6. During the voyage
the weather was unfavorable, and the
ship being leaky the people were almost
continually wet. One young man died
at sea, and a child was born, the son of
Stephen Hopkins, which was called Ooe-
anus. Nov. 9, they discovered the white,
sandy shores of cape Cod. As this land
was northward of Hudson's river, to
which they were destined, the ship was
immediately put about to the southward ;
but the appearance of breakers and the
tlanger from shoals, together with the

eagerness of the women and children to
be set on shore, induced them to shift
their course again to the north. The
next day the northern extremity of the
cape was doubled, and the ship was safe
ly anchored in the harbor of cape Cod.
As they were without the territory ofthe
south Virginia company, from whom they
had received the charter, which was thus
rendered useless, and as they perceived
the absolute necessity of government, it
was thought proper before they landed,
that a political association should be form
ed, intrusting all powers in the hands of
the majority. Accordingly, after solemn
prayers and thanksgiving, a written in
strument was subscribed Nov. 11, 1620
by 41 persons out ofthe whole number of
passengers of all descriptions on board.
Mr. Carver's name stood first, and he
was unanimously elected governor for one
year. Among the other names were
those of Bradford, Winslow, Brewster,
AUerton, Standish, Alden, Fuller, War
ren, Hopkins, White, Rogers, and Cook.
Government being thus regularly estab
lished on a truly republican principle, 16
armed men were sent on shore the same
day to procure wood and make discove
ries. They returned at night, having
seen no house nor a human being. The
next day, Sunday, was observed as a day
of rest. Whfle they lay in this harbor,
during the space of five weeks, several
excursions were made by the direction of
the governor. In one of them Mr. Brad
ford's foot was caught in a deer trap,
which was made by bending a young tree
to the earth, witri a noose under ground,
covered with acorns. But his compan
ions disengaged him from his unpleasant
situation. An Indian burying ground
was discovered, and in one of the graves
were found a mortar, an earthern pot, a
bow and arrows, and other implements,
all of which were carefully replaced. A
more important discovery was a cellar,
filled with seed corn in ears, of which
they took as much as they could carry
away, after reasoning for some time upon
the morality of the action, and resolving
to satisfy the owners, when they should

230

CARVER.

find them. In other expeditions a num
ber of bushels of corn were obtained, the
acquisition of which at a time, when it
was much needed, they regarded as a pe
culiar favor of divine providence. In six
mopths the owners were remunerated to
their entire satisfaction.
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, governor Car
ver himself, with nine of the principal
men, well armed and the same mumber of
seamen, set sail in the shallop to make
further discoveries. The weather was
so cold, that the spray of trie sea froze on
their coats, till they were cased with ice,
like coats of iron. They coasted along
the cape, and occasionally a party was set
onshore. Attrie dawn of day on Friday,
Dec. 8, those who were on the land, were
surprised by the sudden war cry of the
natives, and a flight of arrows. They
immediately seized their arms, and on the
first discharge of musketry the Indians
fled. Eighteen arrows were taken up,
headed either with brass, deer's hoins, or
bird's claws, which they sent as a present
to their friends in England. As they sailed
along the shore, they were overtaken by
a storm, and the rudder being broken and
the shallop driven into a cove full of
breakers, they all expected to perish.
By much exertion, however, they came
to anchor in a fair sound under a point of
land. While they were divided in opin
ion with respect to landing at this place.

them to go on shore. In the morning of
Saturday the.y found themselves on a
small uninhabited island, which has ever
since borne the name of Clarke's island,
from the mate of the ship, the first man,
who stepped upon it. As the next day
was the christian sabbath, they appropri
ated it to those rehgious purposes, for
which it was set apart. On Monday,
Dec. 11, they surveyed the bay, and
went ashore upon the main land at the
place, which they called Plymouth ; and
a part ofthe very rock on which they first
set their feet, is now in the public square
of the town, and is distinguished by the
name of the fprefathers' rock. The day
of their landin?, the 22d of Dec. in the

new style, is ui the present age regarded
as an annual festival. Several of the dis
courses on the occasion have been pub
lished. As they marched into the coun
try they found cornfields, and brooks, and
an excellent situation for building. With
the news of their success they returned
to their company, and Dec. 16, the ship
came to anchor in the riarbor. The high
ground on the south west side ofthe bay
was pitched upon as the site of the con
templated town, and a street and house
lots were immediately laid out. It was
also resolved to plant their ordnance upon
a commanding eminence, that overlooked
the plain. Before the end of Dec. they
had erected a storehouse with a thatched
roof, in which their goods were deposited
under a guard. Two rows of houses
were begun, and as fast as they could be
covered, the people who were classed into
19 families, came ashore, and lodged in
them. On the last of Dec. the public
services of religion were attended for the
first time on the shore, and the place] was
named Plymouth, both because it was so
caUed in capt. Smith's map, published a
few years before, and in remembrance of
the kind treatment, which they had recei
ved from the inhabitants of Plymouth,
the last port of their native country,
from which they sailed. The severe
hardships, to which this company were
exposed in so rigorous a climate, and the

the severity ofthe weather coinpelled .scorbutic habits, contracted by Uving so

long on board the ship, caused a great
mortality among them, so that before
the month of April near one half of them
died. Gov. Carver was himself danger
ously ill in January. On the 14th of that
month, as he lay sick at the storehouse,
the building took fire by means of the
thatched roof, and it was with diffi
culty, that the stock of ammunition was
preserved. By the beginning of March
he was so far recovered of his first illness,
that he was able to walk three miles to
visit a large pond, which had been dis
covered from the top of a tree by Francis
BiUington,whose name it has since borne.
None ofthe natives were seen before the
sickness among the planters had abated.

CARVER.

2SI

The pestilehce, which raged in the coun
try four years before, had almost depopu
lated it March, I6th, a savage came
boldly into the town alone, and to the
astonishment of the emigrants addressed
them in these words, "welcome. English
men I welcome. Englishmen!" His
name was Samoset, and he was lord, or
sagamore of Moratiggon, distant five
days' journey to the eastward. He had
learned broken English of the fishermen
in his country. By him the governor
was informed, that the place, where they
now were,was called Patuxet, and, though
it was formerly populous, that every hu
man being had died of the late pestilence.
This account was confirmed by the ex
tent ofthe deserted fields, the number of
graves, and the remnants of skeletons,
lying on the ground. Being dismissed
with a present, he returned the next day
with 5 of the Indians, who lived in the
neighborhood, & who brought a few skins
for trade. He was sent out again in a
few days and March 22, returned with
Squanto, the only native of Patuxet then
living. Having been carried off in 1614
by a captain Hunt of Smith's fleet, who
in his voyage from Virginia to Malaga
visited Plymouth and treacherously seized
him and 26 others ofthe natives, he esca
ped the pestilence, which desolated the
country. They were sold at Malaga at
'20 2. a man. As several of these Indians
were rescued from slavery by some be
nevolent monks at Malaga, Squanto was
probably thus set at Uberty. He had
learned the English language at London,
and came back to his native country with
the fishermen. They informed the plan
ters, that Massassoit, the sachem of the
neighboring Indians, was near with his
brother and a number of his people ;
and within an hour he appeared on the
top of a hill over against the English
town with a train of 60 men. Mutual
distrust prevented for some time any ad
vances upon either side ; but Mr. "Wins
low being sent tp the Indian king with a
copper chain and two knives, with a
friendly message from the governor, the
sachem was pleased to descend from the

hill, accompanied by twenty men un
armed. Capt. Standish met, him at the
brook at the head of six mew with mus
kets, and escorted him to one (!>f the best
houses, where three or four cushions were-
placed on a green rug, spread over the-
floor. The governor came iri', preceded'
by a drum and trumpet, the sound of
which greatly delightetl the Indians. Af
ter mutual salutations, the governor kiss
ing his majesty's baud, refreshments were-
ordered. A league of friendship was
then agreed on, which was inviolably
observed for above fifty years. Tfie
articles of the treaty were the follow
ing, "that neither he nor his should
injure any of ours ; that, if they did,
he should send the offender, that we
might punish him; that if our tools were
taken away, he should restore them, and
if ours did any harm to any of his, we
would do the like to them ; that if any
unjustly warred against him, we would
aid him, and if any warred against us he
should aid us ; that he should certify
his neighbor confederates of this, that
they might not wrong us, but be com
prised in the conditions of peace ; that,
when their men came to us, they should
leave their bows and arrows behind them,
as we should leave our pieces, when we
came to them ; that in doing thus king
James would esteem him as his friend
and ally." After the treaty, the gover
nor conducted Massassoit to the brook,
where they embraced each other and
parted. The next day, March 23, a few laws
were enacted, and Mr. Carver was con
firmed as governor for the following year.
In the beginning of April,20 acres of land
were prepared for the reception of Indian
corn, and Samoset and Squanto taught
the emigrants how to plant, and dress it
with herrings,of which an immense quan
tity came into the brooks. Six acres
were sowed with barley and peas. While
they were engaged in this labor April
5th, the governor came out of the field
at noon,complaining of a pain in his head,
caused by the heat of the sun. In a few
hours it deprived him of his senses, and

233

CARVER.

in a few days put an end to his fife to the
great grief of the infant plantation. He
was buried witri all the honors, which,
could be paid to his memory. The men
were underarms, and fired several vollies
over his grave. His wife, overcome by
her loss, survived him but six weeks.
When he arrived, there were 8 persons
in his family.
Governor Carver was distinguished for
his prudence, integrity, and firmness.
He had a good estate in England, which
he spent in the emigration to Holland and
Airierica. He exerted himself to promote
the interests of the colony ; he bore a
large share of its sufferings ; and the peo
ple confided, in him as their friend and
father. Piety, humility, and benevolence
were eminent traits in his character. In
the time of the general sickness, which
befell the'colony, after he had himself re
covered, he was assiduous in attending
the sick and performing the most humilia
ting services for them without any dis
tinction of persons or characters. He
was succSeded in the office of governor
by Mr. Bradford. One of his grandchil
dren, who lived in Marshfield, reached the
age of 102 years. The broad sword of
Gov. Carver is deposited in, the cabinet
ofthe Massachusetts hist, society in Bos
ton. A town in the county of Plymouth
is named Carver. Other pilgrim fathers
have been thus honored, as Bradford and
Brewster.^-Belknap's Amer. Biog. n.
179-216; Prince, 66-104; Holmes, i.
161, 168; Purchas, v. 1843-1850; l[7wi-
vers. hist, xxxix.272; Neal's N. E. i.
99. Davis' Morton. 38.-68.
CARVER, Jonathan, an enterprising
traveUer, was a native of Connecticut, and
was born in 1732. He lost his father,
who was a justice ofthe peace, when he
was only five years of age. He was in
tended for the profession of medicine,
which he quitted for a military life. In
the French war he commanded an inde
pendent company of provincials in the
expedition, carried on across the lakes
against Canada. He served with reputa
tion till the peace of 1763. After this he
formed the resolution of exploring the

most interior parts of North America and
of even penetrating to the Pacific ocean
over that broad part of the continent,
which lies between the forty third and the
forty sixth degrees of nortri latitude. As
the English had come in possession of a
vast territory by the conquest of Canada,
he wished to render this acquisition profi
table to his country, while he gratified his
taste for adyentures. He believed, that the
French had intentionally kept other na
tions ignorant of the interior parts of N.A
merica. He hoped to facilitate the discov
ery of a north west passage,or of a commu
nication between Hudson's bay and the
Pacific ocean. If he could effect the es
tablishment of a post on the straits of An-
nian, he supposed he should thus open a
channel for conveying intelUgence to
China and the Engfish settlements in the
East Indies with greater expedition, than
b.v a tedious voyage by the cape of Good
Hope, or the straits of Magellan.
With these views he set out from Bos
ton in 1766, and in September of that
year arrived at Michillimackinac,the most
interior English post. He appfied to the
governor, Mr, Rogers, to furnish him
with a proper assortment of goods, as a
present for the Indians Uving in the track,
which he intended to pursue. Receiving
a supply in part, it was promised, that the
remainder should be sent to him, when
he reached the falls of St. Anthony in the
river Mississippi. In consequence of the
failure ofthe goods he found it necessary
to return to la Prairie la Chien in the
spring of 1767, having spent the prece
ding winter among the Naudoussee ofthe
plains, on the river St. Pierre, 1400 miles
west of MichiUimackinac. Being thus
retarded in his progress westward, he de
termined to direct his course northward,
that by finding a communication between
the Mississippi and lake Superior, he
might meet the traders at the grand ppr-
tage on the northwest side of the lake.
Of them he intended to purchase the
goods, which he needed, and then to pur
sue his journey by the way of the lakes la
Pluye, Dubois, and Ouinipique tp the
heads of the river of the west. He

CARY.

233

reached lake Superior, before the traders
had returned to MichiUimackinac, but
they could not furnish him with goods.
Thus disappointed a second time, he con
tinued some months on the north and
east borders of lake Superior, exploring
the bays and rivers, -K'hich empty them
selves into that large body of water, and
carefully obser-ving the natural productions
of the country, and the customs and man
ners of the inhabitants. He arrived at
Boston in Oct. 1768, having been absent
on this expedition two years and five
months, and during that time travelled
near 7000 miles.
As soon as he had properly digested his
journal and charts, he went to England
to publish them. On his arrival he pre
sented a petition to his majesty in council
for a reimbursement of the sums, which
he had expended in the service of govern
ment. This was referred to the lords
commissioners of trade and plantations,
by whom he was examined in regard to
his discoveries. Having obtained permis
sion to publish his papers, he disposed of
them to a bookseller. When they were
almost ready for the press, an order was
issued from the council board, requiring
him to deliver into the plantation office
all his charts and journals, with every pa
per relating to the discoveries, which he
had made. In order to obey this com
mand he was obliged to repurchase them
from the bookseller. It was not until ten
years after, that he published an account
of his travels. Being disappointed in his
hopes of preferment, he became clerk of
the lottery. As he sold his name to a
historical compilation, which was pub
lished in 1779 in folio, entitled, the
New universal traveUer, containing an
account of all the empires, kingdoms,
and states in the known world, he was
abandoned by those, whose duty it was
to support him, and he died in want of
the common necessaries of Iffe in 1780,
aged 48 years. His vrife Uved at Mon
tague in 1767. He published a tract on
•theculture of tobacco; and travels
through the iriterior parts of North
America in the years 1766, 1767, and
30

1768, London, 8vo. 1778.— An edition
of this work was pubUshed at Boston in
1797. — Introduction to his travels; New
and general biog. diet.; Watkins.
CARY, Thomas, minister in New
buryport, Mas.sa., the son of Samuel Ca
ry, of Charlestown, was born Oct. 18,
1745, and graduated at Harvard college in
1761. While preparing for the sacred
office, he resided in Haverhill, where he
enjoyed the instructions of Mr. Barnard,
whom he highly respected and affection
ately loved. He was ordained as succes
sor of Mr. Lowell, pastor ofthe first
church in Newburyport, May 11, 1768.
One third of the church and congregation,
being dissatisfied with the choice of Mr
Cary, were formed into a separate society.
For near twenty years he was enaliled
to perform all the duties ofthe ministerial
office; but in the 43d year ofhis age it
pleased God by a paralytic stroke to re
move him from his public labors. After
this event Mr. Andrews was ordained as
his colleague Dec. 10,1788. From this
period until about two years before his
death Mr. Cary was so far restored to
health,as to be able occasionafly to perform
the public offices of religion. He died Nov.
24,1 808, aged 63. He possessed a strong &
comprehensive mind, which was highly
cultivated by reading, observation, reflec
tion, and prayer. His sermons were
plain, forcible, sententious, and altogether
practical. He was not ashamed to be
called a rational Christian. Though he
read writers on all sides of theological
questions; yet those were his favorite au
thors, who treated the doctrines and du
ties of Christianity in a rational manner.
Candid towards those, who differed from
him in opinion, he sincerely respected the
free and honest inquirer after truth. His
feefings were keen and his passions
strong; but it was the great business of
his life,& the subject ofhis earnest prayers,
to reduce them to the government of rea
son & the gospel. In the various relations
oflife he conciliated respect and esteem.
To his brethren iri the ministry he was
a generous friend, a wise counsellor, and
a most pleasant and'improving associate.

234

CARY.

He excelled in the charms of conversation.
He was held in very high esteem for
his pubfic labors; for sound and fervent
devotion, for judicious, impressive, pa
thetic, and edifying discourses. Between
him and his people there subsisted an un
common harmony and affection. During
his long debility the religion, which he
preached, was his support and solace.
In the leisure, which was now afforded
him, he took a peculiar interest in atten
ding to the ecclesiastical history of his
country; and the fruits of his studies
were conspicuous in his conversation.
As his disorder increased upon him, he
sunk into a state of insensibiUty, and
without a struggle his spirit returned to
God, who gave it. He pubUshed two
sermons on the importance of salvation;
a sermon from Matthew xii. 20; at the
funeral of S. Webster, 1796; the right
hand of fellowship at the ordination of J.
Beattie; the charge at the ordination of A.
Moore; a sermon on the last day of assem
bling in the old meeting house, Sept. 27,
1801.— ,^nafretos'/«n, serm.; Panoplist,
Dec. 1808.
CARY, Samuel, minister in Boston,
the son of the preceding, was graduated
at Harvard college in 1804 and was set
tled as the colleague of Dr. Freeman at
the stone chapel, Jan. 1, 1809. He died
in England Oct. 22. 1815, aged 30. He
pubUshed a review of English's '^Grounds
of Christianity examined," 1813; also the
following sermons; before Merrimac hu
mane soc, 1806; at his ordination, 1809;
on the fast, 1813; at Thursday lecture,
1814; on death of S. Bulfinch, 1815.
CARY, Lott, an African minister, was
born a slave about 30 miles below Rich
mond, Virginia, on the estate of Wm. A.
Christian.' In 1804 hewas hired out in
Richmond as a common laborer. He
was profane and much addicted to intoxi
cation. But about the year 1807 it pleas
ed God to bring him to repentance, and
he became a member ofthe Baptist
church, of which his father was a pious
member. As yet he was not able to read.
But having a strong desire to read the
third chapter of John, on which he had

heard a sermon, he procured a New Tes
tament, and commenced learning his let
ters in that chapter. He learned to read
and write. Being employed in a tobacco
warehouse, and for his singularly faithful
and useful services receiving a liberal re
ward, and being also assisted by a sub
scription, he was able, soon after the
death of his first wfle in 1813, to ransom
himself and 2 children for 850 doHars.
He soon became a preacher, and was em
ployed every sabbath among the colored
people on plantations near Richmond. His
desire to promote the cause of religion in
Africa induced him to accompany the first
band of emigrants to Africa, sent out by
the colonization society in 1 821 . He made
sacrificesfor this object, for in 1820 he
received a salary for his services in Rich
mond of 800 dollars; and this would have
been continued to him. It was probably
his resolution, that at an early period pre
vented the abandonment ofthe colony of
Montserado. In the batties of Nov. and
Dec. 1822 he bravely participated. He
said, " there never has been a minute, no,
not when the balls were flying around my
head, when I could wish myself again in
America. " He was health officer and
general inspector. During the prevalence
of the disease of the cfimate he acted as a
physician, the only one at the time,
having obtained some medical infor
mation from Dr. Ayres, and made lib
eral sacrifices of his property for the
poor, the sick, and afflicted. In March
1824 he had 100 patients. About 1815
he had assisted in forming in Richmond
an African missionary society. In Africa
he did not forget its objects; but most so-
ficitously sought access to the native
tribes, that he might instruct them in the
christian reUgion. Through his agency
a school was established about 70 miles
from Monrovia. — Before he sailed for Af
rica a church was formed at Richmond
of 8 or 9 persons, of which he became the
pastor. In Sept. 1826 he was elected
vice-agent of the colony. Mr. Ashmun,
who had perfect confidence in his integ
rity, good sense, public spirit, decision,
and courage, cheerfully committed' the

CASAS.

235

affairs of the colony to his hands, when
ill health compelled him to withdraw. For
6 months he was the able and faithful
chief of Liberia.
The following were the melancholy
circumstances of his death. The natives
robbed a neighboring factory of the colo
ny, and refusing redress, Mr. Cary called
out the militia to enforce his claim or to
prevent such encroachments. In the eve
ning of Nov. 8, 1828 as he and others
were engaged in making cartridges in the
old agency house, a candle was upset
which set the powder on fire. This explo
sion caused the death of Mr. Cary and 7
others; though he survived till the 10th.—
Perhaps Mr. C.did wrong; when he was
so ready to Ught up the torch of war. lit
resolute self defence against unprovoked
attack, the heroism of 1822 is to be com
mended; but the resolution to march an
army against the natives, because they
had plundered a small factory, was a pur
pose of questionable wisdom and proprie
ty. The accomplishment of the purpose
might have issued in the destruction of
the colony. It needs the calm of peace,
that its roots may strike deep and its bran
ches spread out wide on the African
coasts. Besides, the spirit of war is in
every respect hostile to the reUgion of
Christ, which, it is hoped, the Liberian
colony wiU recommend to all the natives,
with whom they have intercourse. If
this last act was an error of judgment on
the part pf Mr. Cary; yet will he deserve
a perpetual remembrance in the colony,
whose foundation he assisted in laying.
' "Thy meed shallbe a nation's'love!
Thy praise the Free-man's song!
And in thy star-wreathed home above
Thou mayst the theme prolong ;
For hymns of praise from Afric's plains
Shall mingle with seraphic strains."
Some of the letters of Mr. Cary are pub
hshed in the African repository for Sept.
\8'i8.—Afr. Repos. i. 233; iv. 162. 209;
V. 10, 64.
CASAS, Bartholomew Las, bishop of
Chiapa, was born at Seville in 1474 and
was of French extraction. His father,
Antonio, who went to Hispaniola with

Columbus in 1493 and returned rich to
Seville in 1498, made him a present ofan
Indian slave, while he was pursuing his
studies at Salamanca. All the slaves be
ing sent back to their country by the
command of Isabella, Las Casas became
deeply interested in their favor. In 1502
he accompanied 0 vando to Hispaniola, &,
witnessing the cruel treatment experien
ced by the natives, he devoted his whole
subsequent life, a period of more than 60
years,to the vindication of their cause and
the melioration of their sufferings. As a
missionary he traversed the wilderness of
the new world. As the champion of the
natives he made voyages to the court of
Spain and vindicated their cause with his
lips and his pen . He was made bishop
of Chiapa in 1544, and returned to Spain
in 1551. After a Ufe of apostolic intre
pidity and zeal he died in 1566 at the
age of 92, and was buried, at Madrid at
the church of the Dominican convent of
Atocha, of which fraternity he was a
member. — He has been justly reproached
for lending his encouragement to the sla
very ofthe Africans in 1517. The traf
fic existed before that period: in 1511
Ferdinand had ordered many Africans to
be transported from Guinea to Hispaniola,
since one negro could perform the work of
4 Indians. It was to spare the Indians
undoubtedly ,that Las Casas recommended
to cardinal Ximenes the introduction of
negro slaves, the number being limited to
4,000. In this he trespassed on the grand
rule, never to do evil for the sake of sup
posed good. — He pubUshed "a brief rela
tion of thS destruction of the Indians,"
about 1542. There was pubUshed at
London, in 1656, Tears of the Indians,
being a translation from Las Casas. A
French version of his Voyages of the
Spaniards appeared in 1697. — J. A. Llor-
ente has published a memoir of Las Casas,
prefixed to the collection of his works .
The most important work of Las Casas
is a general history of the Indies from
their discovery in 1 520 iri 3 vols, in manu
script. It was commenced in 1527 at 53
years of age and finished in 1559, at 85.
This work, which was consulted by Her-

236

CASS.

reia and Mr. Irving, exists only in manu
script, the publication of it never having
been permitted in Spain on account of its
too faithful deUneation of Spanish cruelty.
— Irving's Columb. iv.
CASS, Jonathan, major, a soldier of
the revolution, was born in SaUsbury,
Mass., and was a descendant of Joseph
Cass, who lived in Exeter in 1680. He
removed to New Hampshire in early life.
He was fiving at Exeter at the period of
the battle of Lexington, and entered the
army the day after, as a private soldier.
He served during the whole revolution,
and attained the rank of captain. He
was in the battles of Bunker Hfll, of Sara
toga, of Trenton, of Brandywine, of
Monmouth, of Germantown, and was en
gaged in the most active and trying
scenes ofthe revolutionary struggle. In
the memorable winter, when the British
occupied Philadelphia, he held a command
upon the lines, under that gallant parti
zan, col. Allen McLane of Delaware, and
fully participated in all the dangers and
sufferings of that critical period . He was
also with SuUivan in his Indian expedi
tion. At trie termination of the war, be
established himself at Exeter, where he
married and resided, till his appointment
in 1790 as captain in the army, then or
ganizing for the defence of the western
frontier. He joined the army, and con
tinued to serve with it tiU 1800, when he
resigned, having the rank of major, and
settled upon the bank of the Muskingum
in Ohio, about fifteen miles from Zanes-
ville. Here he resided till his death, in
August 1830, aged 77 years.* He was
a man of strong natural powers, and
of great purity of purpose ; one
of that band of patriots, who were born
for the times, in which they Uved.
He met death in his chamber, as he had
faced it in the field, and observed upon
its approach, "this then is death." He
died with the faith of a christian, and
with those hopes and assurances, which
Christianity only can impart. His spn,
Lewis Cass, is now Secretary of war.
CASTILLO, Bernal DiazDel, pubUsh
ed Historia verdadera de la conquista de

CASWELL.
la Nueva Espana, 1692. His True his
tory of Mexico was republished in Salem,
2 vols. 1803.
CASTIN, Saint, a French baron, was
a captain in the regiment of Carignan,
which was sent from Hungary to Canada
in 1665. He lived at Penobscot, at what
is now the town of Castine, in 1687.. The
next year his trading house was pfllaged
by the English in his absence. He mar-,
ried one of the Abenaquis Indians. In
1696 he led 200 savages, which Charle
voix calls Canibas and Malecites, against
Pemaquid, associated with Iberville, the
French commander, and was successful
in the capture of the fort. , Capt. Chubb,
who had 15 cannon and 90 men, did not
make a brave defence. In 1706 Castin
assisted in the defence of Port Royal and
again 1707, when he was wounded. His
son, the baron de St. Castin, who suc
ceeded him in the command ofthe Penob
scot Indians, was taken by surprise in
Dec. 1721, and carried a prisoner tti Bos
ton, but soon released. His last days
were spent in France, where he had an
estate.-Charlev. ; Hutchinson; Hist, col
CASWELL, Richard, governor of
North CaroUna, received an education
suitable for the bar, and was distinguished
as a friend to the rights of mankind.When-
ever oppressed indigence called for his
professional assistance, he afforded it with
out the hope of any other reward, than
the consciousness of having exerted him
self to promote the happiness of a fellow
man. Warmly attached to the Uberties
of his country, he was appointed a mem
ber of the first congress in 1774, and he
early took arms in resistance to the arbi
trary claims of Great Britain. He was at
the head of a regiment in 1776, when it
became necessary to oppose a body of
loyalists, composed of a number of the
ignorant and disorderly inhabitants of
the frontiers, sty fing themselves regula
tors, and of emigrants from the highlands
of Scotland. This party of about 1 500
men was collected in the middle of Feb.
under gen. M'Donald. He was pursued
by gen. Moore, and on the 27th he found
himself under the necessity of engaging

CATESBY.

237

col. CasweU, who was intrenched with
about 1000 minute men and militia di
rectly in his front, at a place called
Moore's creek bridge. This was about
1 6 miles distant from Wilmington,where
M'Donald hoped to join general CUnton.
But he was defeated and taken prisoner
by Caswell with the loss of 70 men in
kflled and wounded, and 1500 excellent
rifles. This victory was of eminent ser
vice to the American cause in North
CaroUna. Col Caswell was president of
the convention, which formed the consti
tution of North Carolina in Dec. 1776,
under which constitution he was govern
or from 1777 to the year 1780, and from
1785 to 1787. At the time of his death
he was president of the senate, and for a
number of years he had held the commis
sion of major general. He died at Fay-
etteville, Nov. 20, 1789. In his charac
ter the pubhc and domestic virtues were
united. Ever honored with some
marks ofthe approbation of his fellow citi
zens, he watched witri unremitted atten
tion over the welfare of the community,
and anxiously endeavored also to promote
the felicity of its members in their sepa
rate interests. Whfle the complacency of
his disposition & his equal temper pecu
liarly endeared him to his friends,theycom-
manded respect even from his enemies.
Of the society of freemasons he had been
grand master. — Martin's fun. oral;
Gaz. ofthe U. S. i. 307, 340; Marshall
I. 380; Gordon, n, 209; Ramsay, i. 254.
CATESBY, Mark, f.e.s., an eminent
naturalist, was born in England in 1679.
Having an early and a strong propensity
to the study pf nature, he determined to
gratify his taste by exploring a part of the
new world. As some of his relations lived
in Virginia, he was induced first to visit
that province, where he arrived Aprfl 23,
1712. Herfe he remained seven years,
observing and admiring the various pro
ductions of the country, and occasionally
sending dried specimens of plants to his
correspondents in Great Britain, and par
ticulary to Dr. Sherard. His collections,
however, as yet had no reference to the
work, which he afterwards pubUshed. On

his return to England in 1719 he was en
couraged, by the assistance of several of
the nobility, and of some distinguished
naturafists, to revisit America with the
professed design of describing,delineating,
and painting the most curious objects of
nature. He arrived at South CaroUna,
which was selected as the place ofhis res
idence. May 23, 1722; and, having first
examined the lower parts of the country
in occasional excursions from Charleston,
he afterwards went into the interior and
resided for some time at fort Moore upon
Savannah river, 300 miles from the sea.
From this place he made several -visits to
the Indians, who lived still higher up the
river in the more mountainous regions;
&he also extended his researches through
Georgia and Florida. In his travels he
generally engaged one of the savages to
be his companion, who carried for him his
box, containing conveniences for painting,
andthe specimens of plants, which he
collected. Having spent near three years
upon the continent, he visited the Baha
ma islands at the invitation of the gover-
nor,and, residing in the isle of Providence,
prosecuted his plan, and made various
collections of fishes and submarine produc
tions. Returning to England in 1726, he was
well received by his patrons; but the
great expense of procuring engravings
induced him to learn from Joseph Goupy
the art of etching. He then retired to
Hoxton, where he devoted his time to trip
completion of his great work, which he
published in numbers of 20 plants each.
The figures were etched by himself from
his own paintings, and the colored copies
were done under his own inspection. Al
though his attention was principally devo
ted to plants, yet most of his plates ex
hibit spme subject ofthe animal kingdom.
The first number appeared in 1730, and
the first volume, consisting of 100 plates,
was finished in 1732; the second in 1743;
and the appendix of 20 plates in 1748.
Of each number a regular account, written
by Dr. Crpmwell Mortimer, secretary
of the royal society, was laid before the
society, as it appeared, and printed in the

238

CATHRALL.

CHALKLEY.

philosophical transactions. The whole
work is entitlfjd, the natural history of
CaroUnaf,Flprida,and the Bahama islands,
in French and English, cpntaining the
figures of birds, beasts, fishes, &c. colored
after the life, and a map of the countries.
It contains descriptions of many curious
and important articles of food, medicine,
domestic economy, and ornamental cul
ture; and was one of the most splendid
works ofthe kind, which had ever been
published. The principal defect of the
work is the want of a separate delineation
of all the parts of the flower. For the
Latin names Mr. Catesby was indebted to
Dr. Sherard. He did not rive to see a
second impression, for he died in London
Dec. 24, 1749, aged 70 years, leaving a
widow and two children, whose depen
dence forsupport was entirely upon the
profits ofhis work. He was esteemed by
the most respectable members ofthe royal
society, of which he was a fellow, for his
modesty, ingenuity ,and upright behavior.
His name has been perpetuated by Dr.
Gronovius in the plant, called Catesbsa.
The secon<l edition of Catesby's natural
history was published in 1754, and the
third in 1771, to which a Linnaean index
was annexed. The colorings, however, of
this edition are wretchedly executed;
those, which passed under the inspection
of Catesby himself, have most of Ufe and
beauty, though even these cannot vie
with the splendid figures, which are now
presented to the lovers of natural history.
He was the author of a paper, printed in
the 44th volume ofthe philosophical trans
actions, on birds of passage ; in which
he proves, that they emigrate in search of
proper food,from a variety of observations,
which he had an opportunity of making
during his voyages across the Atlantic.
In 1767 there was published under his
name, hortus Americarius, a collection of
85 curious trees and shrubs from North
America, adapted to the soil of Great
Britain, colpred, folio.— Pre/ace to his
not. hist;. Rees' cycl; Miller, n. 365;
Pulteney's sketches of the prog, of boU
any in Eng. ii. ch. 44.
CATHRALL, Isaac, m. d., a physi

cian In Philadelphia, studied in that city
and in London, Edinburgh, and Paris,
and returned home in 1793. During the
prevalence of the yellow fever in that
year and in 1797, 1798, & 1799 he remain
ed at his post and even dissected those,
who died of trie disease. In 1816 he -was
seized with a paralytic affection. He died
of the apoplexy Feb. 22, 1819, aged 55,
He was a judicious physician ; a skilful
anafomist and surgeon ; a man of rigid
moraUty and inflexible integrity; and
truly estimable in the relations of a son,
husband, and father. In his religious
views he was a quaker. He published re
marks pn the yellpw fever, 1794; Bu-
chan's domestic medicine, with notes,
1797; memoir on the analysis of the
black vomit, shewing, that it might be
safely tasted, 1 800, in 5th vol. of the trans
actions of the Amer. philosoph. society ;
and a pamphlet on the yeUow fever, in
conjunction with Dr. Currie, in 1802. —
Thacher's med. biog.
CATLIN, Jacob, d. d., minister of
New Marlborough, Mass., a native of
Harwinton, Con., was graduated at Yale
coUege in 1784, and ordained July 4,
1787. His predecessors were Thomas
Strong, who was ordained in 1744 and
died in 1777, and Caleb Alexander. Af
ter a mirustry of nearly 40 years he died
Aprfl 12, 1826, aged 68. Industry, pa
tience, frankness, and meekness were his
characteristics. He was a plain, faithful
preacher. In his reUgious views he was
calvinistic. During his^ miriistry about
250 persons were added to the church.
He published a Compendium of trie sys
tem of divine truth, 12riio.2ded. 1825. —
Hist, of Berkshire, 298.
CHABERT, M. De, published Voy
age dans 1' Amerique Septent. 1750 et
1751, 4to. 1753.
CHALKLEY, Thomas, a preacher
among the quakers of Pennsylvania, re
moved from England to that colony
about the year 1701, and lived there up
wards of forty years, excepting when the
necessary affairs of trade, or his duties- as
a preacher called him away. In 1705 he
visited the Indians at Conestpga near the

CHALMERS.

CHAMPE.

289

river Susquehannah, in company with
some of his brethren, to secure their
friendship and impart to them religious
instruction. He died at the island of
Tortola in 1741, whfle on a visit there for
the purpose of promoting what he be
lieved to be the truth. He was a man of
many virtues, and was endeared to his
acquaintance by the gentleness of his
manners. The library of the quakers in
Philadelphia was commenced by him.
His journal and a collection ofhis writings
was published at Philadelphia, 1749, and
New York, 1808.— Proud, i. 463.
CHALMERS, Lionel, m. d., a physi
cian of South Carolina, eminent for medi
cal science and for his various and exten
sive knowledge, was born about the year
1 7 1 5 at Cambleton in the west of Scotland,
and came when very young to Carolina,
where he practised physio more than 40
years. He first practised in Christ Church,
but soon removed to Charlestown. . Af
fecting no mystery in his practice, he em
ployed the knowledge, which he had ac
quired, for the good of mankind. He
died in 1777, aged 62, leaving behind him
the character of a skilful, humane pliysi-
cian, and of a worthy, honest man. He
wrote in 1754 useful remarks on opistho
tonos and tetanus, which were pubfished
in the first volume of the observations
and inquiries of the medical society of
London. His most respectable work is
an essay on fevers, pubfished at Charles
ton, 1767, in which he gave the outlines
of the spasmodic theory, which had been
taught by Hoffman, and which was after
wards more fully illustrated by CuUeh.
Besides several smaller productions he
also published a valuable work on the
weather and diseases of South Carolina,
2 vols. Lpndon, 1776.— Miller, i. 319 ;
u. 364; Ramsay's rev. of med. 42, 44;
hist. ofS. CaroUna, n. 112, 451.
CHALMERS, George, died in Lon
don in June 1825, aged 82. In early life
he practised law in. Maryland. He pub
Ushed, with other works. Political annals
of tiie United Colonies, 4to. 1780 ; es
tiraate of strength of Britain, 1782 ; opin-

from Amer. independence, 1784 ; opin
ions of lawyers on Engl, jurisprudence, 2
vols. 1814 ; life of Mary, queen of Scots,
1822. CHAMBERS, John, chief justice of
New York, was a member of the execu
tive councfl in 1754, when he attended,
as one ofthe commissioners, the congress
at Albany June 14th. He was soon
afterwards appointed judge, and died at
NewYork Aprfl 10, 1765.
CHAMBERS, William, a physician
of New York, died in that city JUly 23,
1827. A short time before his death he
acquired considerable celebrity by the in
vention of a medicine for the cure of in
temperance. The . effect was produced
by the strong association of what is nau
seous and insufferable with the taste of
ardent spirits.
CHAMBLY, De, captain, gave his
name to the fort in Canada, which he
built of wood, in 1665, but which was af
terwards constructed of stone, with four
bastions. The fort of Sorel was built at
the same time by capt.de Sorel., Both
Chambly and Sorel were officers in the
regiment of Carignan-Safieres, which, af
ter fighting in Hungary against the
Turks, was sent to Canada in 1665 to
fight against the Iroquois. Chambly
owned the larid in the neighborhood of
the fort.— About the year 1673 he was
appointed as successor of Grandfontaine
to the command of the fort at Penobscot;
but Aug. 10, 1674 he was taken prisoner
by an Englishman ; and at the same pe
riod the fort at St. John's was also sur
prised. In 1680 he was nominated gov
ernor of Acadia; but in a short time was
promoted to the government of Grenada.
Charlevoix, i. 381, 462,
CHAMPE, John, sergeant major of
Lee's legion cavalry in the revolutionary
war, was born in Loudon county, Virginia.
In 1776 he entered the army at the age of
20. Immediately after the treason of Ar-
nold,he was sent by Lee, at the request of
Washington,asa spy to NewYork,for two
purposes ; to ascertain, whether another
Airierican general was also a traitor, as

ions on

subjects of law and policy, arising I has been suggested in some papers in the

240

CHAMPE.

CHAMPLAIN.

hands of Washington, and, if possflDJe, to
bring off Arnold to the American head
quarters, that he might be tried and pun
ished, and trius Andre be saved. It was
witri a daring spirit of patriotism, that
Champe undertook this enterprise. He
feared not the danger ; but the ignominy
of desertion and of enUsting in the army
of the enemy, he apprehended, would de
stroy his hope of promotion, should he
Uve to return. He was assured, that
his character should be protected at a
proper time. At 11 o'clock the same
night Champe took his cloak, vallise, and
orderly ^book, drew his horse from the
picket, and fled, as a deserter, from the
American camp near Tappan. In half
an hour the desertion was reported to
Lee, who made afl the delay, in his
power, and then ordered a pursuit about
12. Ataboutday break a few miles north
of the vfllage of Bergen the pursuing
party beheld from the summit of a hfll
the deserter half a mile in front. Champe
now put spurs to his horse, and' the pur
suit was hot ; he passed through Bergen,
to reach the British galleys a few miles
west, at Elizabeth town point. Getting
abreast of the galleys, having lashed his
vaUise on his shoulders, with his drawn
sword in his hand, he dismounted, and
running through the marsh plunged into
the jiver and called to the galleys for help.
This was afforded, for a boat was sent to
take him up. The horse was carried
back to the camp. To Washington the
success of Champe was very accep
table intelUgence. Champe was taken
to New York and examined by sir Henry
CUnton, and by him sent to Arnold, who
offered him the place of sergeant major in
a legion, he was raising. On the last day
of Sept, hewas appointed one of Arnold's
recruiting sergeants. He enlisted, be
cause that step was necessary, in order
that he might gain access to the traitor.
Two days afterwards Andre was tridd,
and, the intelligence from Champe not
promising any immediate success in car
rying off Arnold, the sentence was exe
cuted Oct. 3d. In a few days Champe
sent ample evidence of the innocence of

the accused general, who I suppose, was
Gates, so that gen. Washington dismissed
all his suspicions. Oct. 20, the general
expressed his approbation of Champe's
plan for taking Arnold, of -vi^hom he wish
ed to "make a pubfic example," and
pledged himself to bestow the promised
rewards on Champe and his associate.
The plan was this :, to seize Arnold,
when in his garden; whither he went at
a late hour every night; to gag him;
and to drag him between two men, as a
drunken soldier, to a boat on the Hudson,
and to deliver him to a party of horse on
the Jersey shore. The night was fixed,
and the inteUigence communicated to
Lee, who repaired to Hoboken with a
party of dragoons and three led horses for
Champe, his associate, and the prisoner ;
but after waiting in vain for hours near the
river shore, he retired, as the day broke,
and returned to the army with deep cha
grin. It appeared, that on the eventful
day Arnold removed his quarters, in or
der to superintend the embarkation of
troops, and the American legion, to
which Champe belonged, was transferred
to the fleet of transports, and landed in
Virginia. After the junction of Corn
wallis with Arnold at Petersburg, Champe
escaped and rejoined the American army
in North Carolina. When his story was
known, he secured the respect and love of
every officer and soldier. Greene fur
nished him with a horse and money, and
sent him to Washington, who granted him
a discharge, lest, faUing into the enemy's
hands, he should die on a gibbet. When
Washington was called by president Ad
ams in July 1798 to the command of the
army then raised,he sent to lieut. col. Lee
to inquire for Champe, determined to
place him at the head of a company of in
fantry; but he had removed to Kentucky,
where he soon ^afterwards died, — Lee's
memoirs, n. 159-187.
CHAMPLAIN, Samuel, de,the foun^
der and governor of 'Quebec; was of a
noble family of Brouage in the province
of Saintonge in France. He commanded a
vessel, in which he made a voyage to the
East Indies about the year 1600, and ac-

CHAMPLAIN.

241

quired a high reputation as an able and
experienced officer. After an absence of
two years and a half he returned to
France at a time, when it was resolved to
prosecute the discoveries, which had
been commenced in Canada by Cartier.
The Marquis de la Roche and Chauvin,
governors of Canada, had endeavored to
establish a coloriy, and the latter was
succeeded by de Chatte, who engaged
Champlain in his service in 1 603. Cham
plain sailed.Mar.l6,accompanied by Pont-
grav^, who had made many voyages to
Tadoussac, at the entrance of the Sague-
nay into the St. Lawrence. After their
arrival at this place May 25th, he left his
vessel,, and in a Ughtbatteau ascended the
St. Lawrence to the faUs of St. Louis,
which bounded the discoveries of Cartier
in 1535. This was in the neighborhood
of Hochelaga; but that Indian settlement
was not now in existence. After ma
king many inquiries of the natives and
exploring much of the country along the
St. Lawrence, he sailed for France in
August. On his arrival in Sept., he
found that de Chatte was dead, and his
commission as lieutenant general of Can
ada given to the sieur de' Monts. This
gentleman engaged him as his pilot in an
other voyage to the new world.
Champlain safled on his second voyage
March 7,1604, and arrived at Acadie May
6. After being employed about a month
in the long boat, visiting the coast in or
der to find a proper situation for a settle
ment, he pitched upon a small island'
about twenty leagues to the westward of
St. John's river and about half a league
in circumference. To this island de
Monts, after his arrival at the place, gave
the name of St. Croix. It lies in the riv
er of the same name, which divides the
United States from the British province
of New Brunswick. During the winter
Champlain was occupied in exploring the
country, and he went as far as cape Cod,
where he gave the name of Malebarre to
a point of land, on account of the immi
nent danger of running aground near it
with his bark. In the next year he pur
sued his discoveries, though he did not
31

pass more than ten or twelve leagues be
yond Malebarre.
In 1607 he was sent out on anpther
voyage to Tadoussac, accompanied by
Pontgravd. In July 1608 he laid the
foundation of Quebec. He was a man,
who did not embarrass himself with com
merce, and -who felt no interest in the traf
fic with the Indians, which proved so
profitable to many, that were engaged in
it. Being intrusted with the charge of
establishing a permanent colony, he ex
amined the most eligible places for settle
ment, and selected a spot upon the St.
Lawrence, at the confluence of this river
and the small river of St. Charles, about
320 miles from the sea. The river in this
place was very much contracted, and it
was on this account, that the natives call
ed it Quebec. Here he arrived July 3.
He erected barracks, cleared the ground',
sowed wheat and rye, and laid the foun
dation of the capital of Canada. The
toil of subduing the wilderness, it seems,
was not very acceptable to all bis compa
ny, for some of them conspired to put
their leader to death, and to embark at
Tadoussac for France. The attempt to
destroy him was to be made by poison
and by a train of gunpowder ; but the
apothecary having discovered the scheme,
one of the conspirators was hanged, and
others condemned to the galUes. During
the -winter his people were afflicted with
the scurvy, Champlain sought after the
medicine, which had been so successfully
useAby Cartier ; but the tree, which was
called Annedda, was not now to be found.
From this circuriistance it was concluded,
that the tribe of Indians, with which Car-
tier was acquainted, had been exteriniuat-
ed by their enemies.
In the summer ofthe year 1609, when
the Hurons, Algonquins, and others were
about to march against their common en
emy, the Iroquois, Champlain very readi
ly joined them, for he had a keen taste
for adventures, and he hoped by a con
quest to impress all the Indian tribes
with' the power ofthe French, and to se
cure an alliance with them. He did not
foresee, that he should force the Iroquois

242

CHAMPLAIN.

who lived in what is now the state of N.
York, to seek the protection of the Eng
lish and Dutch. He embarked on the
river Sorel, which was then called the
Iroquois, because these savages usually de
scended by this stream into Canada. At
the falls of Chahibly he was stopped, and
was obliged to send back his boat. Only
two Frenchmen remained with him. He
ascended with his allies in the Indian ca
noes to the lake, to which he gave his
own name, which it retains at the pres
ent day. The savages, whom he" accom
panied, hoped to surprise the Iroquois in
their villages, but they met them
unexpectedly upon, the lake. After gain
ing the land, it was agreed to defer the
battle till the next day, as the night was
now approaching. In the morning of
July 30 Champlain placed a party with
bis two Frenchmen in a npighboring wood,
so as to come upon the enemy in flank.
The Iroquois, who were about 200 in
number, seeing but a handful of men,
were sure of victory. But as soon as the
battle began, Champlain killed two of
their chiefs, who were conspicuous by
their plumes, by the first discharge ofhis
firelock, loaded with four balls. The re
port and execution of fire arms filled the
Iroquois with inexpressible consternation.
They were quickly put to flight, and the
victorious alUes returned to Quebec with
fifty scalps.
In Sept. 1609 Champlain embarked
with Pontgrav^ for France, leaving the
colony under the care of a brave man,
named Peter Chavin. But he was soon
sent out again to the new world. He
sailed from Honfleur April 8, 1610 and
arrived at Tadoussac on the 26th. He
encouraged the Montagnez Indians, who
lived at this place, to engage in a se
cond expedition against the Iroquois.
Accordingly, soon after his arrival at Que
bec, they sent to him about 60 warriors.
At the head of these and others of the al
lies he proceeded up trie river Sorel.
The enemy were soon met, and after a
severe engagement, in which Champlain
was wounded by an arrow, were entirely
defeated. He arrived at Quebec from

Montreal June 19, and landed at Rochelle
Aug. 11. After the death of Henry IV.
the interest of de Monts, in whose ser
vice Champlain had been engaged, was
entirely ruined, and the latter was obUged
to leave a settlement, which he was com
mencing at Mont roj'al, or Montreal, and
to go again to France in 1611. Charies de
Bourbon, being commissioned by the
queen regent governor of New France,
appointed Champlain his heutenant with
very extensive powers. He returned to
Canadain 1612, was engaged again in
war with the Iroquois, and made new
discoveries. His voyages across the At
lantic were frequent. He was continued
Ueutenant under the prince of Conde and
Montmorenci. In 1615 his zeal for the
spiritual interests of the Indians induced
him to bring with him a number of Je
suit fathers, some of whom assisted him
in his warfare. He penetrated to lake On
tario, and, being wounded while assisting
the Hurons against their enemies, was
obliged to pass a whole winter among
them. When he returned to Quebec in
July 1616, he was received as one risen
from the dead. In July 1629 he was obli
ged to capitulate to an EngUsh armament
under sir David Kertk or Kirk. He
was carried to France in an English ship;
and there he found the public sentiment
much divided with regard to Canada ;
some thinking it not worth regaining, as
it had cost the government vast sums
without bringing any returns, others
deeming the fishery and fur trade great
national objects, especially as a nursery
for seamen. Champlain exerted himself
to effect the recovery of this country, and
Canada was restored by the treaty of St.
Germain's in 1632, with Acadie , and cape
Breton. In 1 633 the company of New France
resumed all their rights, and appointed
Champlain the governor. In a short
time he was at the head of a new arma
ment, furnished with a fresh recruit of
Jesuits, inhabitants, and all kinds of ne
cessaries for the welfare of the revived
colony. His attention was now engrossed
by the spiritual interests of the savages,

CHAMPLAIN.
whom it was his principal object to bring
to the knowledge ofthe christian religion.
The number of ecclesiastical missionaries,
exclusive of lay brothers, was now 15,the
chief of whom were le Jeune,de None, and
Masse, and Brebeuf A mission was es
tablished among trie Hurons; the colony
was gaining an accession of numbers and
strength; and an attempt was just com
mencing to establish a college in Quebec,
when in Dec. 1635 the governor died,
and was succeeded the next year by de
Montmagny. Champlain merited the title of the
father of New France. Though he was
credulous, he possessed an uncommon
share of penetration. His views were
upright, and in circumstances of difficulty
no man could make a better choice of
measures. He prosecuted his enterprises
with constancy, and no dangers could
shake his firmness. His zeal for the in
terests of his country was ardent and dis
interested ; his heart was tender and com
passionate towards the unhappy ; and he
was more attentive to the concerns of his
friends, than to his own. He was a faith
ful historian, a voyager, who observed
every thing with attention, skilful in ge
ometry, and an experienced seaman. He
appears to been fond of good cheer, for
in the early period of his residence in
Canada he estabUshed with his associates
an order "de bon temps," which contri
buted not a little to the gratification of
the palate. By this order every one of
the same table Was in his turn to be both
steward and cater for a day. He was
careful by hunting to make a suitable pro
vision, and at supper, when the cook had
made every thing ready, he marched at
the head of thecompany with a napkin
over his shoulder, having also the staff of
office, and wearing the collar ofhis order,
and was followed lay his associates, each of
whom bore a dish. At the close ofthe
banquet, he pledged his successor in a
bumper of wine and resigned to him the
collar and staff. It may not be easy to
justify Champlain in taking an active part
in. the war against the Iroquois. "It is
even supposed by' some, that his love of

CHANDLER.

243

adventures led him to arouse the spirit of
the Hurons and to excite them to war.
His zeal for the propagation of reUgion
among the savages was so great, that he
used to say, "that the salvation of one
soul was of more value than the conquest
of an empire, and that kings ought not to
think of extending their authority over
idolatrous nations, except for the purpose
of subjecting them to Jesus Christ."
He pubUshed an account of his first
voyages in 161S in 4to, ,and a continua-,
tion in 1620 in Svo. He published an edi
tion of these in 1632 in one volume enti
tled, les voyages de la Nouvelle France
occidentale, dicte Canada, 4to. This
work comprises a history of New France
from the first discoveries of Verazzani to
the year 1631. There is added to it a
treatise on navigation and the duty of a
good mariner, and ^an abridgment of the
christian doctrine in Huron andFrench. —
Champlain's voyages; Charlevoix, fastes
chroriol xxvni-xxx; i. Ill, 141-198 ;
Belknap's Amer. biog: i. 322-345; Univ.
hist. XXXIX. 410-426; Purchas, 1.933;
V. 1605-1645; Harris' voy. i. 811-815;
Holmes, i.; Chalmers, i. 586.; Churchill,
III. 798-815.
CHANDLER, Thomas Bradbury,
D. D., an eminent episcopalian minister
and writer, was a native of Woodstock,
Con., and was graduated at Yale college
in 1745. ^Triere was with many in the
year 1748 an expectation ofan episcopal
establishment in this country, when men
of talents could indulge the hope of be
coming dignitaries in the church. The
bait of preferment was at this time offered
to .Dr. Stiles. Whether the circum
stances of the times had an insensible in
fluence over the mind of Mr. Chandler or
not, it was iri the year 1748, that he was
proselyted to episcopacy. He went tp,
England in 1751 and took orders in the
established church. On his return to this
country, he became rector of St. John's
church at Elizabethtown, New Jersey,
where he long maintained a high character
both for erudition and talents. During
the la^t ten years of his Ufe he was afflic
ted with a disorder, which made trial of

244

CHANLER.

CHARLEVOIX.

all his patience. But he was resigned to
the will of God. His hope of final deliv
erance from sin, and from the evils con
nected with it, rested upon the incarna
tion and sufferings of the eternal Son of
the Father. He was even cheerful under
the heavy troubles, which were laid upon
him. His respectable and useful life ter
minated June 17, 1790, aged 64. Dr.
Chandler was a zealous friend of the epis
copal church, and he wrote much in favor
of it. He was engaged in a controversy
on the subject with Dr. Chauncy of Bos
ton. He published an appeal to the pub
lic in behalf of the church of England in
America, 1767; a defence of his appeal,
1769; a further defence ofhis appeal;
1771; a sermon, preached before the cor
poration for the relief ofthe widows and
children of episcopal clergymen, 1771 ;
an examination ofthe critical commentary
on Seeker's letter to Walpole concerning
bishops in America, 1774. He also pre
pared for the press a life of Dr. Johnson ;
but the revolution arrested its publication.
It was printed at New York in the year
1805. — Miller, n. 356; Beach's fun. ser.;
Gen. hist, of Connect. 158 ; Memoirs of
T. Hollis, I. 435, 436.
CHANLER, Isaac, a baptist Minister,
was born in Bristol, England, in 1701,
and came to South CaroUna in 1733.
He settled as pastor ofa baptist church on
Ashley river in 1736, where he continued
tifl his death, Nov.30, 1749, aged 48. He
was succeeded by Oliver Hart, who re
mained till 1780, when he removed to
New Jersey. Mr.Chanler published a ser
mon on estabUshment in grace, preached
at Charleston in 1740 by the desire of
Mr. Whitefield at the commencement ofa
course of lectures by ministers of different
denominations ; also the doctrines of glo
rious grace unfolded, and practically im
proved; a treatise on original sin ; and a
sermon on the death of Rev. Wni. Tilly,
1744;— Miller, II. 364; Backus' akridg-
ment, 248 ; Benedict, n. 126.
CHAPIN, Walter, minister of Wood
stock, Vermont, died July 22, 1827, aged
48. He was an efficient friend of various
benevolent societies. For several years

he was the editor ofa small religious pa
per, which was discontinued in 1824. He
published a valuable compilation, the Mis
sionary gazetteer.
CHAPLIN, Ebenezer, minister of
Millbury, Mass., was ordained Nov. 14,
1764, and after about 30 years dismis
sed, and was succeeded by Mr. Goffe.
He died at Hard wick Dec. 13, 1822, aged
89. He pubfished a sermon on the death
of Rev. Mr. Webb, Uxbridge, 1772;
discourse on political affairs, 1773 ; result
ofa council, 1793; a treatise on the sacra
ments, 12mo. 1802.
CHAPLIN, Daniel, d. d., minister of
Groton, Mass., was a descendant of Hugh
ChapUn of Rowley, -who came to this
country as early as 1638. He was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1772, and
died in May 1831, aged 87. His son. Dr.
James P. ChapUn, a very respectable and
useful physician of Cambridge port, died
Oct. 12, 1828, aged 46.— He published
the character of Rev. Mr. Wright, 1802;
convention sermon, 1803.
CHAPMAN, Asa, judge of the su
preme court of. Con., was graduated at
Yale college in 1792, and in a few years
commenced the practice of the law at
Newtown, Fairfield county, rising to the
first rank in his profession. In 1818 he
was appointed to the bench of the su
preme court, in which station he was
upright and impartial, while he was pro
found and learned as a jurist. He died at
New Haven Sept. 24, 1825, aged 54.
CHARDON, Peter, a Jesuit missiona
ry, was employed for many years among
the Indians upon lake Michigan. He be
gan his labors as early as 1697, and con
tinued them for 25 or 30 years. He pre
sided over the mission at the village of
Pouteautamis upon the river St. Joseph,
and he labored also among the Sakis at
the southern extremity of green Bay, or
baye des Puans, as it was called by the
French. He was acquainted with almost
all the languages ofthe Indians, who in
habited the lakes. — Charlevoix, m, 392,
295; Lettres kdif. et curieuses, xi. 372-
378. CHARLEVOIX, Peter Francis Xa-

CHASE.

245

vier de, a historical writer, who lived a
number of years in Canada, was born at
St. Quintin in France in 1684, and, enter
ing into the society of Jesuits, taught
the languages and philosophy with great
reputation. Before the year 1720 he had
resided some time in Quebec, and was
connected, it is befieved, with the college
in that place. By order of the king he
made a voyage to Canada in 1720, where
he arrived in Sept. From Quebec he pas
sed up the St. Lawrence, and through
the lakes to, MichiUimackinac ; thence
down lake Michigan, and the Illinois and
Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, from
which place he returned, touching at St.
Domingo, to France in 1722. During
this period he collected facts for his histo
ry of Canada, and kept a journal, which
he afterwards published, annexed to his
history. After his arrival in his native
country, he had a principal concern for 24
years in the journal des Tr^voux. He
died in 1 761 , aged 78 years. He publish
ed in French the history of Christianity
in Japan, 8 vol. 1715, 8vo'; the life of
Mary, 1624, 12mo; the history of St.
Domingo, 2 vol. 1731, 4to ; the history
and general description of Japan, 2 vol.
1736, 4to, and 9 vol. 12mo, comprising all
that is valuable in Koempfer's history of
that country ; a general history of New
France, 3 vol. 1744, 4to, and 6 vol. i2mo ;
and a history of Paraguay, 3 vol. 1756,
4to. His works were weU received ; but
the history of New France, or Canada, is
deemed peculiarly valuable, as he himself
visited the country, which he described,
and paid particular attention to the man
ners and customs ofthe Indians. He has
added something upon botany arid other
parts of/ natural history ; but on these
subjects a perfect confidence is not placed
in his accuracy. His style is deficient in
precision. — Nouv. diet, historique, edit,
1804; Aikin's and Nicholson's gen. biog,
CHASE, Samuel, a judge of the su
preme court of the United States, was
the son of Thomas Chase, an episcopal
minister, who came from England, and
was born in Somerset county, Maryland,
April 17, 1741. "Under his father, who

removed to Baltimore in 1743,he received
his early education. He studied law at
Annapolis and there settled in the prac-
tice,and "his talents, industry ,intrepidity,
imposing stature, sonorous voice, fluent
and energetic elocution raised him to dis
tinction." In the colonial legislature he
vehementiy resisted the stamp act. He
was a delegate to the general congress at
Philadelphia in Sept. 1774, and served in
that body several years. It was he, who
denounced Mr. Zubly, the delegate from
Georgia as a traitor, and compeUed him
to flee. By the congress he was early in
1776 sent with Franklin and Carroll on a
mission to Canada with the design
of conciliating the good wifl of the
inhabitants. When the proposition
for independence was before congress,
as he had been prohibited from voting for
it by the convention of Maryland, he im
mediately traversed the province and sum
moned county meetings, which should
address the convention. In this way
that body was induced to vote for inde
pendence; and with this authority Mr;
Chase returned again to congress in sea
son to vote for the declaration. In 1785
being invited, at Baltimore, to attend a
debating club of young men, the indica
tion of talents by Wm. Pinkney, then
clerk to an apothecary, induced him to
patronize the young man,who afterwards
rose to great eminence. In the same
year he went to England as the agent of
the state of Maryland to reclaim a large
amount of property, which had been in
trusted to the bank of England. At a
subsequent period the state recovered
650 thousand doUars. In England he be
came acquainted with Pitt, Fox, and
Burke. In 1786 he removed to Balti
more at the request of col. Howard, who
presented him with a square of ten lots
of land, on which he built a house. In
AnnapoUs he had been the recorder ofthe
city, and performed his duties highly to
the acceptance of his feUow citizens. In
1788 he was appointed the presiding
judge ofa court for the county of Balti
more. In 1790 he was a member of the
convention in Maryland for considering

246

CHASSE.

CHAUMONOT.

the constitution of the U. S., which he
did riot deem sufficiently democratical.
In 1791 he was appointed chief justice of
the general court of Maryland. His
characteristic firmness was manifested in
1794, when, on occasion ofa riot and the
tarring and feathering of some obnoxious
persons, he caused two popular men to
be arrested as ring leaders. Refusing to
give bail, he directed the sheriff to take
them to prison ; but the sheriff was ap
prehensive of resistance. "Call out the
posse comitatus, then," exclaimed the
judge. "Sir," said the sheriff, "no one
wiU serve." "Summon me, then,"
cried trie judge: "I wfll be trie posse
comitatus, and I wfll take him to
jail." This occurred on Saturday. He
demanded assistance from trie governor
and councfl. On Monday the security
was given: but on that day the grand
jury, instead of finding a bill against the
offender, presented the judge himself for
holding what they deemed two incom
patible offices, those of judge in the crim
inal and general courts. But the judge
calmly informed them, that they touched
upon topics beyond their province.
In 1796 he was appointed an associate
judge of the supreme court of the U. S.,
in which station he continued 15 years.
Yet in 1804, at the instigation of John
Randolph,he was impeached by the house
of representatives, accused of various mis
demeanors in some poUtical trials, as of
Fries, Callender, &c. His trial before
the Senate ended in his acquittal March
5, 1805. On 5 of the 8 charges a majori
ty acquitted him ; on the others a major-
ty was against him, but not the required
number of two thirds. His health failed
in 1811, and he clearly saw, that he was
approaching the grave. A short time
be^^e his death he partook of the sacra
ment, and declared himself to be in peace
with aU mankind. He died June 19,
1811, aged 70. In his will he prohibited
any mourning dress on his account, and
requested a plain inscription on his tomb
of only his name and the date ofhis birth
and death.— Judge Chase was a man of
eminent talentsand of great courage and

firmness. But unhappily he was irascible
and vehement. More of humiUty and
more of mildness would have preserved
him from much trouble. Yet was he a
zealous patriot and a sincere and affection
ate friend, and notwithslanding'some of
the imperfections of man his name de
serves to be held in honor. — A report of
his trial was pnhhshed,~Goodrich's lives ;
Encyc. Amer.
CHASSE, Pierre De La, a Jesuit
missionary, in 1710conducted to Quebec
a party of Abenaquis Indians from Maine.
Their presence was acceptable to Vau-
dreufl, the governor. For many years
before this he had been a missionary.
About 1720 he was superior general of
missions. In July 1721 he wrote a letter
to the governor of Massachusetts con
cerning the detention of some Indians as
prisoners in Boston, threatening repri
sals. After the death of Rale, La Chasse
requested ofthe superior of the seminary,
that prayers might be made for the re
pose of his soul: trie old man repUed in
the words of Augustin, that a martyr did
not need prayers. With the character
istic poUcy of the Jesuits he represented
to the governor, that some measures
were requisite to attach the Indians in
Maine to the French, — that grace often
needed the co-operation of men, and that
temporal interest often served as the vehi
cle of faith. — Charlevoix, n.
CHASTELLUX, F. J. Marquis De,
was a member of the French academy,
and field marshal of France. He served
in America in the revolutionary war.
His travels in N. America in 1780-1782
were pubUshed at Paris in 1786, and
translated, in two vols. 1787. He pub
Ushed also a work on pubhc happiness,
& a translation of a poem of Humphreys,
CHAUMONOT, Joseph, a Jesuit
missionary among the Indians of North
America, was an Italian. He labored
with indefatigable zeal for more than half
a century among the natives of Canada.
He was among the Hurons, who Uved
north oflake Erie, as early as 1642, and
in the following year spent some time
with a tribe to the south east, which was

CHAUNCY.

247

called the neutral nation, because they
did not then engage in the war between
the Iroquois and the Hurons. From the
latter they derived their origin. In the
year 1655, when hewas the oldest mis
sionary in New France, he visited the
Onondagas at their request, and made
a number of converts, some of whom
were the principal men of the tribe.
This mission however was soon abandon
ed, though it was afterwards resumed.
Aboutthe year 1670 he established the
mission of Loretto, three leagues north
east from Quebec, where he collected a
number of Indians of the Huron tribe.
The Hurons resided originally northward
of lake Erie, and it was in consequence of
the wars, in which they were engaged
with other tribes, that they were induced
to go down the St. Lawrence. The
name of Hurons was given them on ac
count of the manner, in which they dress
ed their hair. As they cut it for the most
part very short, and turned it up in ,. a
fantastical way, so as to give themselves
a frightful appearance, the French cried
out, when they first saw them, "quelles
hures!" What wild boars' heads I They
were afterwards called Hurons. Cham-

bridge, and attained the degree of bache
lor of divinity. He was soon chosen
professor of Hebrew ; but the vice chan
cellor. Dr. Williams, wishing to bestow
this office upon a kinsman, Mr. Chauncy
was chosen professor of Greek. He went
from the university an eminent preacher
of the gospel. He was first settled in the
ministry at Marstow, but afterwards be--
came Vicar of Ware in the beginning of
1627, in which place his success in the
conversion and edification of souls was
remarkably great. He had at this time
serious objections to the disciphne and to
some of the articles of the estabUshed
church,&, in about two years he began to
suffer for his nonconformity to the inven
tions of man in the worship of God.
In 1629 he was charged with asserting in
a sermon, that idolatry was admitted into
the church; that the preaching of the
gospel would be suppressed ; and that
much atheism, popery, arminianism, and
heresy had crept into the church; and,
after being questioned in the high com
mission court, his cause was referred to
Dr. William Laud, the bishop of London,
his ordinary, who required him to make
a submission in Latin. He was again

plain calls them Ochasteguins; but their j brought before the same court in 1635,
true name is Yendats, with the French when Laud was archbishop of Canter-

pronunciation. Their descendants, the
Wyandots, on the south western side of
lake Erie, were in 1809 under the care of
Joseph Badger, a missionary from New
England, who had been with them two
or three years with the most flattering
prospects of rescuing them from barbar-
rism. Chaumonot composed a grammar
ofthe Huron Xangnage.^Charlevoix, i.;
Univ. hist, xixix. 457; Lettres edif. et
cur. xxiii. 213—216.
CHAUNCY,Charles, the second presi
dent of Harvard college, was born in
Hertfordshire, England, iu 1589, and was
the son of Geo, Chauncy. He was at
Westminster school, which adjoined
to the parliament house, at the time of
the gunpowder plot, and must have per
ished, if the scheme had been executed.
After leaving Westminster, he was ad
mitted a student of Trinity college. Cam-

bury. The crime, of which he was now
acoused,was opposing the making ofa rail
around the communion table of his church
as an innovation and a snare to men's
consciences. He was pronounced guilty of
contempt of ecclesiastical government and
of raising a schism, and was suspended
from his ministry , till he should make in
open court a recantation, acknowledging
his great offence, and protesting that he
was persuaded in his conscience, that
kneeUng at the sacrament was lawful and
commendable, and that the rail set up in
the chancel, with the bench for kneeling,
was a decent and convenient ornament,
and promising never to oppose either that
or any other laudable rite or ceremony
prescribed in the church of England. He
was sentenced to pay the costs of suit,
which'were great,and to imprisonment till
he complied with the order of court.

248

CHAUNCY.

His fortitude failed him in the midst of
his sufferings, and contrary to his con
science he made the recantation Feb. II.
For his weakness and folly he ever re
proached himself. Hp soon repented of
his submission and before he came toNew
Engl, made a solemn retractation, which
was afterwards printed in London. In
the preface of his last wifl he particularly
laments, as "stifl fresh before him,hia ma
ny sinful compliances with and conformi
ty unto vilp human inventions, will wor
ship, superbtition, and patcheries stitched
into the service of the Lord, which the
English mass book, the book of common
prayer,& the ordination of priests,&c. are
fully fraught withal." He proceeds to
charge his posterity with the greatest
warmth of zeal and solemnity of language,
as they would answer for their conduct at
the tribunal of Christ, "not to conform,'
as he had done, to rites and ceremonies in
religious worship of man's devising and
not of God's appointment." Being si
lenced for refusing to read the book of
sports, he determined to seek the peacea
ble enjoyment ofthe rights of conscience
in New England. He accordingly came
to this country, and arrived at Plymouth
a few days before the great earthquake
of June 1, 1638. He continued in this
town about three years, assisting Mr,
Reyner in his public labors; but being
invited to take the pastoral charge ofthe
church at Scituate,he was again ordained
and continued in that place about 12
years, faithfully performing the duties of
the sacred office. The ecclesiastical
state of England had now assumed a new
appearance, and as his maintenance at
Scituate was so diproportionate to the
necessities of his fkmily, that he was
sometimes unable to procure bread, he re
solved to accept the invitation, which he
received from his people in Ware to re
turn to them. One cause ofhis difficul
ties was the opposing influence of Mr.
Vassall, which issued in the establishment
of the second church. At this period
Mr. Chauncy's worldly wealth consisted
ofa house and about 60 acres of land.
His predecessor at Scituate -was John

Lathrop. He went to Boston to embark
for Great Britain; but the presidentship
of Harvard coUege being at this time va
cant by the resignation of, Mr. Dunster,
he was requested, Nov. 2, 1654, to accept
that office. As he was of opinion, that
the baptism of infants and adults should
be by immersion, arid that the Lord's
supper should be celebrated in the eve
ning, the overseers of the college desired
him to forbear disseminating his peculiar
sentiments. He had no difficulty in
yielding to their wishes. He was induc
ted into the office of president Nov. 27,
1654, and continued in this station till
his death, Feb. 19, 1672, aged 81. He
left behind him six sons, all of whom
were graduated at Harvard coUege, and
were preachers. They were Isaac, a
graduate of 1651, who was pastor of
Berry Street church, London, and had
for his assistant Dr. Watts in 1698, and
by him was succeeded in 1701 ; Ichabod,
a graduate of 1651, who was chaplain of
a regiment at Dunkirk ; Barnabas, a
graduate of 1657; Nathaniel, a graduate
of 1661, minister of Windsor, who re
moved to Hatfield 1672 and died Nov. 4,
1686; EInathan, a graduate of 1661, a
physician in Boston; and Israel. His
daughter, Sarah, married G. Bulkley.
AU, who bear the name of Chauncy in
America, are probably his descendants,
President Chauncy was a distinguished
scholar, being intimately acquainted with
the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages.
He enjoyed an opportunity of perfecting
his knowledge of the former by living one
year in the same house with a Jew. He
was well versed also in the sciences, esr
peciaUy in theology, which was his favor
ite study. To his other acquisitions he
added some skill in physic, and thus he
was enabled to prescribe for bodily diseas
es, as well as to cure those of the mind.
He presided over the college with dignity
and reputation, and some ofthe most em
inent men in the country, as Increase
Mather, Willard, Stoddard, and judge
Sewall, were educated under his care.
To those students, who were destined
for the ministry, he addressed these

CHAUNCY.

. 249

words; "when you are yoiirselves inter
ested in the Lord Jesus Christ and his
righteousness, you will be fit to teach
others." When he attended prayers in
the college hall in the morning, he usual
ly expounded a chapter of the old testa
ment, which was first read from the He
brew by one of his pupils, &nd in the
evening a chapter of the new testament,
read from the Greek. On the, mornings
ofthe Lord's day,instead ofan exposition,
he preached a sermon of about three
quarters of an hour in length. Once a
fortnight iri the forenopn his labors were
enjoyed by the congregation of Cam
bridge. As a preacher he was animated
and learned, yet remarkably plain, being
mindful ofthe importance of accommoda
ting himself to the understandings of all
his hearers. In a letter to a brother in the
ministry he advised him not to use a-ny
dark, Latin words, or any derived from
Latin, lest he should not be understood,&
enjoined it upon him to be much in prayer
to God, as the surest way to- success in
his labors. The subjects, which he
thought important to be preached; are
the misery of the natural state of man,
the necessity of union, with Christ, and
the fruits of justifying faith in love and
good works. He believed, that Jesus
Christ; by suffering the full punishment
due to the sins of the elect, made satis
faction to di-vine justice, and that faith
justifies by receiving the righteousness of
the Savior, which is imputed to believers..
He was exceedingly solicitous to exclude
works from any share in the antecedent
condition of justification; yet few insisted
more upon their necessity in all the justi
fied., He was an indefatigable student, ma
king it his- constant practice to rise at
four o'clock in the morning; but his stu
dies did not interrupt his intercourse vvith
heaven, for he usually devot'ed»seyeral
hours in the. course of the day- to secret
prayer. Immediately after he rose from
bed, at 1 1 o'clock, at 4 in the afternoon,
land at 9 he retired froni the world to com
mune with the Father of mercies. He
kept a diary, in which, under the heads
32

of sins and mercies, he recprdeft hia im-
perfectipns, and the blessings, which were
imparted to him. His temper was pas
sionate, but he endeavored to - subdue it,
arid such was his conscientiousness arid
self inspection, that when his better reso
lutions weie overcome by the warmth of
his feelings, he would immediately retire
to humble himself - before God and to
seek his mercy. He kept many days of
fasting and prayer, somethnes alone, and
sometimes with his family and a few of
his pious neighbors. Such vvas his atten
tion to those, whose reUgious instruction
was more peculiarly his duty, that every
morning & evening, after he had expoun
ded a chapter ofthe bible in hisfamily, he
would endeavor by suitable questions to
impress the truths, presented, upon the
minds of his children and servants.
•This venerable man, when he had trav
elled beyond the boundaries of fourscore,
was yet able to preach and to superintend
the concerns ofthe college. His friends
at this period observed to him, as he was
going to. preach on a. winter's day, that he
would certainly die in the pulpit; but he-
pressed more vigorously through the
snow drift, replying, "how glad should
Ibe, if this should prove true.'" He was
induced on accourit of the infirmities of
age to address to his friends a farewell
oration on the day of commencement in
1671, after which he sent fdr his children
and blessed them. He now waited for
his departure. When he was stretched
on the bed of death, and the flame of life-
was almost extinct, he was desired by
Mrj Oakes to give a sign of his hope and
assurance of future glory. The speech- .
less old man accordingly lifted up his
hands towards heaven and his spirit soon
rushed forth, and entered eternity.
He pubUshed a sermon on Amos n. 11,
preached in the college haU in 1655; en
titled, God's mertjy shewed his people in
giving them a faithful ministry,& schools
of learning for the continuance thereof.
In this sermori he speaks of the wearing
of Igrig hair, particularly by students and
ministers, with the utmost detestation;
and represents it as a heathenish practice,

250

CHAUNCY.

and as one ofthe crying sins of the land.
In this sentiment he was supported by
some of the most distinguished men of
that day. He takes occasion at the same
time to reprehend the criminal neglect of
the people with regard to the suitable
maintenance of ministers. He pubUshed
also the election sermon, 1656; and a vol.
of 26 sermons on justification, 1659, 4to.
He pubUshed in 1662 the Antisynodalia
Americana, in opposition to the result of
the Synod of 1662, which made a perilous
innovation by admitting tp baptism the
children of those, who did not partake of
the Lord's supper. In his resistance he
had the aid of Mr. Davenport and In
crease Mather. On the other side were
Mr. Allen of Dedham, who answered the
AntisynodaUa, Richard Mather, and Mr.
MitcheU.^  President • Chauncy's man
uscripts fell into the riands of the widow
of his son, Nathaniel Chauncy of Hat
field, and as she married a Northamp
ton deacon; who subsisted principally
by making and selling pies, these learned
and pious writings were not suffered to
decay. Being put to the bottom of the
pies, they rendered good service by shield
ing them from the scorching of the ov
en ! By reason of this- sad fate ofhis an
cestor's manuscripts Dr. Chauncy resol
ved to burn his own ; but he failed to do
it.- — Mather's magnalia, in. 133-141 ;
IV. 128; Col hist .soc. iv. ill ; x. 31,
171-180; s. s. IV. 246. Rushworth's hist.
col n. 34, 316; Neal's N. E., i. 387-
390; Hutchinson,!.''259; Holmes, i. 363,
364. , '
CHAUNCY, Israel, minister of Strat
ford, Con., the son of president Chauncy,
was graduated at Harvard college in 1661
and ordained at Stratford in 1665. At
his ordination, elder Brinsmead, one of
the lay brethren, assisted in imposing
hands, and wore his mittens ; on vvhich
account the episcopalians called the
induction "the leather-mitten ordina
tion." It is probable, that elders or min
isters also imposed their hands on him
and that this was not, as in the case of
Mr. Carter, a purely lay ordination. He
died Marcri 14, 1703, aged 58, leaving

two sons, Charles and Isaac, whose pos
terity are in England.
CHAUNCY, Isaac, minister of Had
ley, Massa., was graduated at Harvard
coUege in 1693, ordained Sept. 9, 1696,
&died May 2, 1745, aged 74. His wife,
probably his second wife, was the widow'
of Rev. Nathan Metcalf of Falmouth,
Massa.,who died about 1725. His daugh
ter married Rev. Mr. Graham of South-
bury, of whom Rev. Dr. Chauncy Lee of
Marlborough, Con., is a grandson. — He
pubUshed a sermon on the death of John
Williams of Deerfield, June 12, 1729,
which displays very considerable -learning
and taste, uncommon for the time.
CHAUNCY, Nathaniel, minister of
Durham, Con. was the son of Nathaniel
Chauncy, minister of Windsor and Hat
field. He was in the first class at Yale
college, allof whom were ministers, and
graduated in 1702. He was ordained
Feb. 7, 1711 and died Feb. 1, 1756. His
successor was Elizur Goodrich. From
1746 to 1752 he was a trustee of the col
lege. He pubUshed the election sermon
inl719,alsoinl734.— TrMTOiitM, 1. 520.
CHAUNCY, Charles d. d., minister
in Boston, was born in that town Janua
ry 1, 1705, and was a descendant of pre
sident Chauncy. Mr Farmer mistakes in
saying, that he was the son of Rev.
Charles C. of Stratfield. He was the son
of Mr. Charles C, a merchant of Boston,
who died about 1712. His father was,
not the youngest son, as Dr. Eliot repre
sents, but the eldest son of Rev. Isaac
Chauncy of London. Entering Harvard
college at twelve years of age, he receiv
ed his first degree in 1721. He was
ordained pastor of the first church in
Boston, as colleague with Mr. Foxcroft,
Oct, 25, 1727. After enjoying for a few
years the assistance of Dr. Clarke, he died
Feb. 10, 1787, in the 83d year ofhis age,
and the 60th of his ministry. He was
eminent for his learning, and for the spirit
of independence, which marked his inqui
ries. Being placed by divine providence
in a situation, which afforded him much
leisure, he was diUgent in his search af
ter truth. He formed the resolution. to

CHAUNCY.

251

see for himself, to understand^ if possible,
all the articles of his creed, and not to
teach for the doctrines of Christ the com
mandments of men. The jesult of his
inquiries in some instances did not corres
pond with the opinions, embraced gener
ally by his brethren in the ministry ; but
he adopted them after patient investiga
tion, and he beUeved them himself to be
founded on the scriptures. His favorite
authors were Tillotson and Baxter. Soon
after Mr. Whitefield came to this country,
when his preaching was attended with
very remarkable effects, and many disor
ders accompanied the reformation produ
ced. Dr. Chauncy stood forth in opposi
tion to him. He could not easily admit,
that any good could be done by an itin
erant preacher, "who played the bishop in
another man's parish," as he rendered I.
Peter, iv. 12, "and who went out of his
proper Une of things." Believing, that
the welfare of trie churches was endanger
ed, he traveUed several hundred miles to
collect facts, and pubUshed in 1743 his
seasonable thoughts on. the state of reli
gion in New England., in which Jie gives
a faithful picture of the uncharitableness,
enthusiasm, and confusion, which prevail
ed in different parts of the country. He
attacked what was worthy ofreprehension;
but, like most men of strong ipassions, by
dweUing constantly upon the picture,
which he was drawing, he-almost forgot,
that different and more pleasant pbjects
might be presented to the eye. Such
men as Colman, Sewall, Prince, Cooper,
Foxcroft, and EUot agreed with him in
reprehending and opposing the extrava
gancies, -whicri he had witnessed; but
they had different views ofthe general re
ligious state of the country, and thought
it their duty to express "their full perr
suasion, that there had been a happy and
remarkable revival of reUgion in many
parts ofthe land through an uncommon
divine influence." Dr. Chauncy in his
work endeavors to distinguish the nature
of true rehgion. He represents the new
creation as wrought in the minds of sin
ners, by the Spirit' of God in different,
wa-ys;sometimes asaccompanied by terror.

and sometimes as exciting Uttle agitation ;
but as always evincing itself by the fruits
ofhoUriess. As a remedy for the evils,
which he recorded, he enforces it upon
his brethren as their most sacred duty to
discourage and oppose all itinerant preach
ing in places, where ministers were settled.
He recommends also a more strict exami
nation of candidates for the ministry, and
the revival of discipline in the churches.
In regard 'to Mr. Whitefield, than whom
there was never a more disinterested man,
it was suggested, that vanity might have
been the cause of his incessant travels in
Great Britain and America, and that in
soliciting subscriptions be might have
had "a fellow feeling with the orphans in
Georgia." Dr. Chauncy was ardently attached to
th'e civil and religious liberties ofhis coun
try. After the death of Dr. Mayhew he
followed in his steps in withstanding the
schemes of episcopalians. He published
in 1767 remarks upon a sermon ofthe
bishop of Landaff, in which pamphlet he
expressed hia fears, that the appointment
of bishops for America, as was projected,
would be followed by attempts to promote
episcopacy by force. He then adds, "it
may be relied on, our people would not
he easy, if restrained in the exercise of
that liberty, wherewith Christ hath made
them free ; yea, they would hazard every
thing dear .to them, their estates, their
very lives, rather than suffer their necks
to be put under that yoke of bondage,
which was so sadly gaUing to their fathers,
and occasioned their retreat into, this dis
tant land, that they might enjoy the free
dom of men and christians." A contro
versy on the subject with Dr. Chandler
succeeded, and in his reply to him he ob
serves, "it is with me past all doubt, that
the religion of Jesus will never be restor
ed to its primitive purity, simpUcity, and
glory, until religious establishments are so
brought down, as to be no more." In
1771 he published his complete view, of
episcopacy frpm the fathers, a work,
which does him great honor, and which
in the opinion of many has settled the con-
trpversy.

2J2

CHAUNCY.

He was an honest patriot, and at the
commencement of the revolution he en
tered warmly into those measures, which
were considered necessary to vindicate
our rights, and which were founded in
justice and dictated by wisdom. During
the war he was a most incurable whig.
So firmly was he convinced of the justice
of our cause, that he used to say, he had
no doubt, if human exertions were inef
fectual, that a host of angels .would be
sent to assist us. When a smile was
excited, and some doubts were expressed
respecting the possibility of such an ally,
he persisted in his assertion, adding, that
he knew it. His mind was indeed of a pe
culiar stamp. In conversation he was apt
to be vehement and extravagant ; a Uttle
opposition would easily kindle a fiame; but
in his writings he appears more calm and
collected. He was respected for the ex
cellence of his character, being honest
and sincere in his intercourse with his fel
low men, kind, and charitable, and pious.
Dissimulation, which was of all things
most foreign to his nature, was the object
of his severest invective. His language
was remarkably plain and pointed, when
he spoke against fraud either in public bo
dies, or individuals. Paper money, ten
der acts, and every species of knavery
met his severest reprehension both . in his
public discourses and in private conversa
tion. No company could restrain him
from the honest expression of his senti-
nients. In the latter part of his life he ap
peared to those, who were near him, to
be almost wrioUy engaged in devotional
exercises.
• Dr. Chauncy's, publications are numer
ous. The following is a Ust of them.
Funeral sermons from 1731 to 1769 on
Sarah Byfield, EUzabeth Price, Nathaniel-
Byfield, Jonathan Williams, Lucy Wal
do, Cornelius Thayer, Anna Foxcroft,
Edward Gray, Dr. Mayhew, Mr. Fox
croft, and Dr: Sdwall ; sermons at the or
dination of Thomas Frink, Joseph Bow-
. man, Penuel Bowen, and Simeon How
ard ; a sermon befote the artillery compa
ny, 1734 ; on religious compulsion, 1739;
on the new crtature ; on an unbridled

tongue ; on the gifts ofthe Spirit to min
isters, 1742 ; on the outpouring ofthe
Holy Ghost ; against enthusiasm ; ac
count ofthe French prophets in a letter
to a friend, 1742 ; seasonable thou grits
on the state of reUgion in New England,
8vo, 1 743 ; a convention sermon, 1744 ; a
thanksgiving sermon on the reduction of
cape Breton, 1745 ; a letter to George
Whitefield ; a second letter to the same ;
a sermon on the rebellion in favor ofthe
pretender,1746 ; election sermon, 1747 ; a
sermon for encouraging industry ; 1752 ;
on murder, 1754 ; on the earthquake,
1755; an account ofthe Ohio defeat, 1755;
a particular narrative ofthe defeat ofthe
French army at lake George, 1755 ;
sermon on the earthquakes in Spain, &c.
1756; the opinion ofone,who has perused
Clark's summer morning's conversation,
1758 ; a Dudleian lecture on the vafidity
of presbyterian ordination, 1762 ; twelve
sermons on seasonable and important sub
jects, particulaly referring to the Sande-
manian doctrines, 8vo, 1765; a thanks
giving sermon on the repeal of the stamp
act, 1766 ; on trust in God the duty
ofa people, &c. ; on all things in common
1773; on the accursed 'thing,1778 ; an ac
count ofthe French prophets in a letter
to a friend ; remarks on the bishop of Lan-
dafi^'s serinon, 1767 ; answer to Dr.
Chandler's appeal, 1768 ; reply to Dr.
Chandler's appeal defended, 1770 ; a com
plete view pf episcopacy from the fathers,
Svo, 1771 ; five sermons on the Lord's sup
per, 1772; a just representation ofthe
sufferings and hardships of the town of,
Boston, 1774; the mystery hid from ages,
or the salvation of all men, 8vo, 1784 ;
this has been answered by Dr. Edwards ;
the benevolence ofthe Deity considered,
8vo, 1785 ; five dissertations on the fall
and its consequences, 8vo. 1785 ; a ser
mon on the return of his society to their
house of worship, after it had undergone
repairs. — Clarke' fun, serm. ; Miller, n.
368. CHAUNCY, Charles, ll.d., a judge
of the supreme court of Connecticut, was
a descendant of president Chauncy, and
was bornin Durham, Con., June II,

CHECKLEY,

953

1747. "Without the advantages ofa pub
lic education he studied law with J. A. Hfll-
house,and was admitted to the bar inl768.
In 1789 hewas appointedjudge;but in 1793
he resigned his seat on the bench, and
retired from the business ofthe courts,
tho' he afterwards gave lectures to a class
of students at law. He was also delight
fully employed in educating his children.
He died at' New Haven April 18, 1823,
aged 75 years. His thirst for knowledge
was unquenchable. In legal science his
investigations were profound, and he was
well skflled in various departments of lit-.
erature, history, civil poUcy, and theplo-
gy. Having thoroughly studied the ev
idences of Christianity, he obtained a set
tled conviction, that the Bible is the word
of God. In searching the scriptures he
was led to embrace the tenets, in which
most of the protestant churches are
agreed. He early made a profession of
reUgion. As he advanced in years, he had
serene anticipations of the future, com
mingled, with grateful recollections ofthe
past. His was not a querulous old age.
"With deep emotion, as he approached the
grave, he reviewed and acknowledged the
divine goodness to riimself and his family,
and then sunk to rest with the hope of
awaking to the ineffable glories of heaven.
— Christ, spectator, v. S35, 336.
CHECKLEY, John,episcopal minister
at Providence, was born in Boston about
1680. His parents came from England.
At the supreme court, held in Boston
Nov. 27, 1724 he was fined 50?. for pub-
Usbing a libel ; this wasa reprint in 1723
of Leslie's "Short and easy method with
the deists," with the addition, written
by himseff, of a "Discourse concerning
episcopacy, in defence of Christianity and
the church '^if England against the deists
and dissenters, London-, 1723." In this
he rudely attacked the clergy and people
of New England, with some unloyal allu-.
sions to the family on the throne. In
1727 he went to England for orders, in
tending to settle' at Marblehead ; but the
bishop of London refused tp ordain hirii
in consequence of letters from Mr. Barnard
and Mr. Holyoke, describing him as

without a fiberal education, a non-juror,
and a bitter enemy to christians of other
persuasions. Bishop Gibson said, he
would riever ordain an uncatholic, unloy
al man, so obnoxious to the people of
New England. Afterwards the bishop
of Exeter ordained him and sent him to
Narragansett. He went to Providence
in 1739 and preached also once a month
at Warwick and Attleborough. He
died in 1753, aged 73. He was a wit, a
classical scholar, skilful also in Hebrew
and Narragansett Indian ; but he was
more remarkable for the eccentricities of
his temper and conduct, than for piety
and learning. He published Choice dia
logues about predestination, 1715; this
was answered by Tho. Walter, who de
fended the calvinistic doctrine ; it was re
published, "with an answer by a strip
ling," 1720. The Modest proof of the or
der ofthe churches, 1727, which introdu
ced the episcopal controversy in Mass.,
and which was answered by Wiggles
worth and Martin Mar Prelate, is suppo
sed to have been written by him, > He
pubUshed his Speech upon his trial &c,,
2d. edit. 1728, and the same in London,
1738, probably to promote his views as
to ordination, — Hist. col. vni. 77; Eliot.
CHECKLEY, Samuel, minister in
Boston, was graduated 'at Harvard col
lege in 1715. He -was ordained the first
minister of the new south church in
Summer street Nov. 22, 1719, and died
Dec. 1, 1769, in the fifty first year of his
ministry, aged 73. His colleague, Mr.
Bowen, who was settled in 1766, survi
ved him; but was dismissed in 1772. In
the follow;ing year, Mr. Howe was ordai
ned his successor. Mr. Checkley's son,
Samuel, was minister of the old north
church from 1747 tol768. — In hispreach
ing he was plain and evangelical. The
great subject of his discourses was Jesus
Christ, as a diyine person, and as the end
of the- law for righteousness to all, that
believe. He frequently dwelt upon the
fall of man, the necessity ofthe irifluences
ofthe Spirit of God, the freeness and
richness of divine grace, the necessity of
f egeneration,ju8tification by faith,& faith

254 CHEESHAHTEAUMUCK.

CHESTER.

as the gift of God. He was careful also
to insist upon the importance ofthe chris
tian virtues. These he exhibited in his
own life. Discountenancing all parade in
religion,itgiavo him pleasure to encourage
the humble and diffident. As he did not
consider it of little importance, what prin
ciples were embraced, he was tenacious of
his sentiments. During his last sickness
he enjoyed the supports of reUgion, and
anticipated the blessedness of dweUing
with his Saviof,and with his pious friends,
who had been called before him into eter
nity. ' Renouncing his own righteous
ness, he trusted only in the merits of
Christ. He published a sermon on the
death of k'ing George I, 1727; of Rev.
Wm.Waldron, 1727; of Lydia Hutchin
son, 1748; at the election, 1755.— rBow-
en'sfun. serm.; Collect: hist. sac. in.
361. CHEESHAHTEAUMUCK, Caleb,
the only. Indian, who ever graduated at
Harvard college, received his degree in
1665 and died at Charlestown in 1666,
aged 20.
CHEETHAM, James, editor of the
American citizen at New YoTk,died Sept.
19, 1810, aged 37. He pubUshed a Re
ply to Aristides, 1804; the Ufe of Thomas
Paine, 1809.
CHEEVER, Ezekiel, an eminent in
structer was born in London Jan. 25,
1615, and came to this country in June
1637 for the sake of the peaceable enjoy
ment of christian -worship in its purity.
He was first employed as a schoolmaster
at New Haven for 12 years; then at
Ipswich, Mass., 11 years; and afterwards
at Charlestown 9 years. He removed to
Boston Jan. 6, 1671, where he continued
his labors during the remainder of his
life. He died Aug. 21, 1708, aged 93.
Most of the principal gentlemen in Bos
ton at that time had been his pupils, and
took, pleasure in acknowledging their ob
ligations and honoring their old master.
He was not only an excellent teacher, but
a pious christian. He constantly prayed
with his pupils everyday, and catechised
them every week. He also took frequent
occasions to address them upon religious

subjects. Being well acquainted with di-^
vinity, he waS an able defender of the
faith and order of the gospel. In his old
age his intellectual powers were very lit
tle impaired. The follo-wing extracts
from an elegy upon him by Cotton Math
er, one ofhis pupils,will show the esteem,
in which he was held, and may serve also
as a specimen of the poetry of the age.
'*A mighty tribe of well instructerl youth
Tell what they owe to him, and tell with truth.
All the eight parts of speech, he taught to tliem,
They now employ to trumpet his esteem . —
IMagister pleas 'd them well because 'twas he;
They say, that bonus did with it agree.
While they said amo, they the hint improve
Him for to make the object of their love.
No concord so inviolate they knew.
As to pay honors to their master due.
With interjections they break off at last.
But, ah is all they use, wo, and alas!"
He published an essay on the millen
nium and a Latin accidence,which passed
through 20 editions. — Mather's fun.
serm. and elegy; Hutchinson, n. 175;
Hist. col. VIII. 66. '
CHEEVER, Samuel,the first minister
of Marblehead, was the son of the prece
ding, & was graduated at Harvard college
in 1659. In Nov. 1 668 he first visited the
town, in which he was afterwards settled,
when the people were few. He continued
preaching with them 16 years before his
ordination. Higginson, Hubbard, and
Hale assisted in ordaining him, Aug. 13,
1684. He received Mr. Barnard as his
coUeaguein 1716. He died in 1724, when
he was 85 years of age. He possessed
good abflities, and was a constant and
zealous preacher, a man of peace and
of a cathoUc mind. Never was he sick.
For fifty years he was not taken off from
his labors one sabbath. "When he died,
the lamp of life fairly burned? out. He
felt no pain in his expiring moments.-^
He published the election sermon, 1712.
—Coll hist Sac. VIII. 65, 66; x. 168.
CHESTER, John, colonel, an officei*
in the army of the revolution, was grad
uated at Yale college in 1766. He was
among the brave men, who fought in the
battle of Bunker hiU in 1775. In August
1801, after the accession of Mr. Jefferson

CHEW.

CHILDS.

265

to the presidency, he was removed frpm
the office of Supeirvisor of Connecticut.
He died; deeply lamented, at Wethers
field, Con., the residence of his ances
tors, Nov. 4, 1809, aged 60. His son, John
Chester, D. d., minister in Albany, died,
full of faith and hope, at Philadelphia Jan.
12, 1829, aged 43.
CHEW, Samuel,chief justice of New
castle, &c. in Penns., was a quaker and
a physician, arid died June 16, 1744. Of
great influence over the quakers, his death
was defimed an essential loss to the
province. His speech to the grand ju
ry of Newcastle on the lawfulness of de
fence against an armed enemy was pub
lished in 1741, and republished in 1775.
For this he was reproached in a Philadel
phia paper as an apostate and a time-serv
er, and as having been "hired by Balak
to curse Israel." He replied with be
coming dignity and spirit.
CHEW, Benjamin, chief justice of
Penns,. was the son ofthe preceding and
born in Maryland Nov. 29, 1722. He
studied law with Andrew Hamilton ; also
in London. On his return he settled on
the Delaware, and in 1754 removed to
Philadelphia. Of this city he was recor
der from 1755 to 1772 ; also register of
wills. The office of attorney general he
resigned in 1766. In 1774 he succeeded
Wifliam Alien as chief justice ; but, be
ing opppsedto the revolution, he retired
from pubhc Ufe in 1776. Appointed in
1790 president ofthe high court of errors
and appeals, he continued in that station
till the abolition of the court in 1 806. He
died Jan. 20, 1810, aged 87. His first
wife was Mary, daughter of Samuel Gal
loway of Maryland; his second was a
daughter of Mr. Oswald ;• she died about
1«09, aged 85. One of his daughters
married in 1768 Alexander Wilcox.—
Jennison,' CHILD, Robert, a- physician, was edu
cated at Padua, and came to Massachu
setts as early as 1 644. His object was to
explore the mines of this country. In
1646 he and others caused disturbance in
the colony by a petition, supposed to
have originated with Wflliam Vassall, in

which he complained, that the fundamen
tal laws of England were disregarded, and
that free-born Englishmen, if not mem
bers of one of the churches, were denied
civil privileges, and debarred from chris
tian ordinances. He prayed for redress,
and threatened to apply to parliament.
He was summoned before the court ac
cused of "false and scandalous- passages"
Stc, and fined 50 pounds. His trial is re
lated by Winthrop. When he was about
to proceed to England with his com
plaints, he was apprehended, arid suffered
a long imprisonment. His brother, maj.
John Child of England, in his indignation
pubUshed a pamphlet, entitled. New Eng
land's Jonas cast up at London, contain
ing Child's petition to the court &c, 1647.
This, which is reprinted in 2 Hist. col.
IV., was answered by Winslow in the
"Salamander," alluding to Vassall,"aman
never at rest, but when he was in the fire
of contention." The reason of the title of
"Jonas" viras this, as we learn frpm the
paper ; when the ship, in which Vassall
proceeded to England in 1646, was about
to sail, Cotton in his Thursday lecture
said, that writings, carried to England
agairist ^his country, would be as Jonas
iri the ship, and advised the ship-master,
in case ofa storm, to search the chests and
throw over any sutih Jonas. There was
a storm ; a good woman at midnight en-*
treated Tho. Fowle, if he had a petition,
to give it to her. He according gave her,
not the petition to parliament, but a copy
ofthe petition' to the general court. This
was thrown overboard ; yet a copy of the
same and a petition to parliament were
safely cast up at London. — Winthrop; 2
Hist col IV.- 107-1 20.
CHILDS, Timothy, m. d.,, a physi
cian of PittsfielS, Mass., and a patriot of
the revolution, was born at Deerfield in
Feb. 1748, and passed several years at
Harvard college, Having studied phy
sic under Dr. WilUams, he commenced
the practice at Pittsfield in 1771. In
the political controversy with Great Bri
tain he engaged with zeal. In 1774 he
was .chairman of a committee ofthe town
to petition the justice of the- court

256

CHIPMAN.

CHITTENDEN.

(jf common pleas to stay alk proceed
ings till cer,tain oppressive acts of parlia
ment should be repealed. When the
news of the battle of Lexington was
received, he marched to Boston with a
company of minute men, in which he was
enrolled in the preceding year. Being
soon appointed surgeon of col. Patterson's
regiment, he accompanied the army to
New York and thence toMontreal. In
1777 he returned to his practice in Pitts
field, in which he continued till his death.
For several years he was a representative
in the general court, and also a senator.
In his pohtics he warmly supported the
republican party, which came into power
with the accession of Mr. Jefferson to the
presidency in 1801. He died, Feb. 25,.
1821, aged 73. TiU within a few days
of his death he attended to the active du
ties of his profession, in which he was
eminent. Great and general confidence
was reppsed in his skill. He had always
been the supporter of religious institu
tions, though not a professor of reUgion:
in his last sickness he earnestly besought
the divine mercy, and spoke of the blood
and righteousness of Christ as the only
hope ofa sinneir. — Thacher's med. biog.;
Hist. Berkshire, 380.
CHIPMAN, John,colonel, a soldier of
the revolution, was an officer in the regi-
frierit of col. Seth Warner, was engaged
iri the: battles of Bennington and Hubbard-
ton, and subsequently commanded fort
George, which he was compelled to" sur
render to a superior force of Tories, In
dians,, and British. He felled the first
tree in Middlebury, Vermont, in 1767 ;
and there he died in Sept. 1829, aged 87.
CHIPMAN, Wa,rd, judge of the su
preme court of New Brunswick,and pres
ident of the province, was a native of
Massa., and graduated at Harvard coUege
in 1770. He died at Frederickton, Feb.
9, 1824.. Mrs. Gray of Boston was his
sister. His son. Ward Chipman, is a
distinguished citizen of New Brunswick.
CHITTENDEN, Thomas, first gov
ernor of Vermont, was born at East
Guilford, Conn., in 1730. His mother
was sister of Rev. Dr. JohnsPn. He

received a cPmmon school education,
which at that period contributed but little
to the improvement of the mind. Agree
ably to the custom of New England he
married early in life, when in his 20th
year, and soon removed to Salisbury.
Here he commanded a regiment. He
many years represented the town in the
general assembly, and thus acquired that
knowledge of public business, which after
ward rendered him eminently useful in
Vermont. The office of a justice of
peace for the county of Litchfield made
him acquainted with the laws of the
state and the manner of carrying them
into effect. Though destitute of learn
ing, his good sense, affability, kindness,
and integrity gained him the confidence
of his fellow citizens ; and the highest
honors, which a retired town could be
stow, were given him. His attention was
principally directed to agriculture, and
belabored personally in the field. With
a numerous and growing family, a mind
formed for adventures, and a firmness,
which nothing could subdue, he deter
mined to lay a foundation for the future
prosperity of his children by emigrating
to the New Hampshire grants, as Ver
mont was then called. He accordingly
in 1774 removed to Williston on Onion
river. , An almost trackless wilderness
now separated him from his former resi
dence. Here he settled on fine lands,
which opened a wide field for industry,
and encouraged many new settlers. In
the year 1776 the troubles, occasioned by
the war, rendering it necessary for him
to remove, he purchased an estate in Ar
lington, and continued in that town until
1 787, when he returned to "Williston. In
the controversy with N. York, he was a
faithful adviser and a strong supporter of
the feeble settlers. During the war of
the revolution, whfle Warner, Aflen, and
many others were iri the field, he was as
siduously engaged iri the council at home,
where he rendered essential service to his
country. He wasa member ofthe con
vention, which January 16 1777 declared
Vermont an independent state, and was
appointed pne pf the committee tp com-

CHRISTMAS.

257

municate to congress the proceedings of
the inhabitants, and to solicit for their
district an admission into the union ofthe
American states. When the powers of
government were assumed by this state,
and a constitution was established in
1778, the eyes of the freemen were im
mediately fixed on him as their gpver
nor; and in that arduous and difficuk office
he continued, one year only excepted,
until his death. From the year 1780
till the conclusion pf the war, during a
period, in which the situation of Vermont
was peculiarly perplexing, he displayed a
consummate policy. The state was not
acknowledged by the congress, and they
were contending on the one hand for in
dependence, and on the other band they
were threatened, by the British forces
from Canada. A little management was
necessary to promote the interests of
this district. A correspondence was open
ed with the enemy, who were flattered
for several yearswith the belief, that the
people of Vermont were about to subject
themselves to the king of England ; and
thus a meditated invasion of the, territory
was averted, and the prisoners were re
stored. At the same time, the possibflity
that Verniont would desert the cause of
America was held up to congress, and by
this means probably the settlers were not
required to submit to the ckims of New
York. Such was the politic course,
which he thought it necessary to pursue.
— He enjoyed very good health untfl
about a year before his death. In Oct.
1796 he took an -affecting leave of his
compatriots in the general assembly, im
ploring the benediction of heaven on
them and their constituents. He died
Aug. 24, 1797, aged 67 years. ^
Governor Chittenden, though an fllit-
erate man, possessed great talents. His
discernment was keen, and no person
knew better how to effect great designs,
than himself. Though his open frank
ness was sometimes abused, yet when
secrecy was required in order to accom
plish his purposes, no misplaced confi
dence made them liable to be defeated.
His nejfotiatitirie during the war were
33

master strokes of .policy. He possessed a
peculiar talent in reConciUng the jarring
interests among the people. The impor
tant , services, which he rendered to his
country, and especially to Vermont, make
his name worthy of honorable remem
brance. He lived to see astonishing
changes iri the district, which was almost -
a wilderness, when he first removed, to it.
Instead of a little band of associates he
could enumerate 100,000 persons, whose
interests, were intrusted to his care. He
saw them rising superior to oppression,
braving the horrors of a foreign war, and
finally obtaining a recognition of their in
dependence, and an admission into the
United States of America.- — He was con
spicuous for his private virtues. In times
of scarcity and distress, which are not
unfreqUent in new settlements, he dis
played a noble liberality of spirit. , His
granary was open to all the needy. He
was a professor of religion, a worshipper
of God, believing in the. Son to the glory
of the Father, Several of his letters to
congress and to general Washington
were pMhlished.—rMonthly anthology, i.
490-492; Williams' Vermont, Z33-%77 ;
Graham's sketch of Vermont, 135-137;
CHRISTMAS,' Joseph S,, minister at
Montreal, when he was in college had a
passion for painting, to whiish art he in
tended to devote his life; but becoming
reUgious, he resolved to be occupied iri
more important and useful'toils. His. fa
ther was very soUcitous,that he should be
a physician, & made all the arrangements
for his entering upon the study of physic:
the son was constrained by a sense of re-
iigious duty to disappoint the paternal
hpp*s. He Studied theology at Prince
ton. In 1824 he went to Canada and was
ordained as the first minister ofthe Amer
ican presbyterian society in Montreal,
Here he labored amidst many difficulties,
with considerable success for upwards of
3 years, wheri his ill health compeUed him
in 1828 to ask a dismission. In that
year he addressed to his people a farewell
letter, affectionate, faithful, and able, da
ted at Danbury; Con. In 1829 he ^aa
oaUed to drink deep in the cup of affliction.

258

CHURCH.

for first he lost both his children, and
then, Aug. 9th, his wife, Louisa Jones,
also died, leaving him singularly desolate
iri respect to the world, yet joyful in God,
his Savior. He had the consolation of
knowing, that his wife, thougt\ through
much tribulation, as Is usually the lot of
the righteous, departed in christian peace.
"Ohibeivare of the world;" was her
counsel. " How deeply am I convinced,
that the worldly intercourse of professing
Christians is utterly wrong ! It cuts out
the very heart of piety. — Seek not the
thjngs, which are your own, but things,'
which are Jesus Christ's." This bereave
ment was. perhaps the means of preparing
him for heavenly bliss. Oct. 14, 1329 he
was installed the pastor of Bowery church
in the city of New York. But here he
was allo-wed to toil in the cause of his
Master only a few months ; for, after an
illness of only 3 or 4 days, he died March
14, 1830, aged 27. He was a faithful
and able preacher of the gospel.' Two
revivals of religipn occurred during his
ministry at Montreal. His vigorous in-
tellectimd cultivated taste were controll
ed and directed by ardent piety. While
rising high in the public esteem, he was
snatched away from his toils. Of his
wife an interesting sketch appeared in
the N. Y. Observer. His own life was
written by Eleazer Lord. He pubUshed
Valedictory admonitions, or a farewell let
ter to his society in Montreal, 1828. —
Bost Recorder, Sept 16, 1829.
CHURCH, Benjainin, distinguished
by his exploits in the Indian wars of New
England, was born at Duxbury, Mass.
in 1639. He was the first Englishman,
who commenced the settlement at Sacp-
net pr Sekonit, since called Little Comp-
tori. His life, vvhich was frequently' ex
posed to the greatest dangers, was by
divine providence remarkably preserved.
In the year 1676, when in pursuit of king
PhiUp,he was engaged with the Indians in
a swamp. ¦ With, two men by his side,
who were his guard, he met three of the
enemy. Each ofhis men took a prison
er, but the other Indian, who was a stout
feUoiv with his two locks tied up with

red and a great rattle snake's skin hang
ing from his liair behind, ran into the
swam'f). ; Church pursued, and as he
approached him presented his gun, but it
missed fire. The Indian, being equally
unsuccessful in his attempt to discharge
his gun, turned himself to continue his
flight, but, his foot was caught in a small
grape -vine & he fell on his face. Church
instantly struck him with the muzzle ofhis
gun & despatched him. Looking about he
saw another Indian rushing towards him
with inexpressible fury ; but the fire of
his guards preserved him from the dan
ger. After the skirmish his party found
they had kifled and taken 173 men. At
night they drove their prisoners into
Bridgewater pound, where, having a
plenty of provisions, they passed a merry
night. CoLChurch commanded the party,
which killed Philip in August, ,1676.
When it was known, that the' savage
monarch was shot, the whole company
gave three loud 'huzzas. Church ordered
him to be beheaded and quartered, and
gave one. of his hands to the friendly In
dian, who shot him. , The governmerit
of Plymouth paid 30 shilUngs a head for
the enemies killed or taken and Philip's
head went at the same price.
In Sept. 1689 he was commissioned by
Hinkley, president ofthe Plymouth colo
ny, as commander- in chief of an expedi
tion against the Eastern Indians ; and
commissioned also by Danforth, president
of the province of Maine, and by Brad
street, governor of Massachusetts. He
soon embarked and proceeded to Casco
with 250 men, partly Saconet and Cape
Indians. He arrived at. a critical moment,
for several hundred French and Indians
were then on an island, having come in
80 canoes. The next day he repulsed
their attack on the town, with the loss of
10 or 12 inen. He afterwards visited
aU the garrisons at Black Point, Spur-
wink, and Blue point, and went up the
Kennebec. On the approach of winter
he returned to Boston. In May following
Casco fell into the hands ofthe enemy,
100 persons being captured. The whole
country was desolated.

CHURCH.

259

He proceeded pn a secpnd expeditipn in
Sept. 1690, and, landing at Maqupit,went
to Pegypscpt fort, in Brunswick, and
thence up the river 40 or 50 'miles to
Amerascpgen fort, near the great falls,
where he took a few prisoners, and des
troyed much corn. He put to death sev
eral of the prisoners, women and chil
dren, strange as it may seem in the pres
ent age, "for an example!" The wives
of Hakins of Pennacook and of Worumbo
were spared.— He returned to Winter
Harbor, and thence went again to Pegyp
scot plain to obtain a quantity of beaver,
hid there. At Perpodack he had an en
gagement with the Indians. — In his third
expedition in 1692 he accompanied
Phipps to Pemaquid. He also went up
the Kennebec and destroyed the Indian
fort and the corn at Taconoc. In his'
fourth, in 1696, he went to the Penob
scot and to Passamaquoddy. The French
houses at Chignecto were burnt ; for
which he was blamed. He was soon
superseded by col. Hawthorne of Salem.
His fifth and last expedition was ear
ly in 1704. The burning of Deerfield in
Feb. awakened the spirit of this veteran
warrior; and he took his horse and rode
70 miles to offer his services to gov-
Dudley in behaff of his country. He did
much damage, in this expedition, to
the French and Indians at Penohscot and
Tassamaquoddy. — After Philip's war he
lived first at Bristol; and then at Fall. riv
er, now Troy; and lastly-at Saconet. In
his old age he was corpulent. A fall
from his horse -was the cause of his death.
He died Jan. 17, 1718, aged 77, and was
buried with miUtary honors. He was a
man of integrity and piety. At the
gathering of the church in Bristol by
Mr. Lee he was a member, and his life
was exemplary. He had 5 sons^ and of
his descendants some now live in Little
Compton and Boston. His son, Thomas
Church,, compiled from his minutes and
under his direction a history of Philip's
war, which was published in 1716; a sec
ond edition, 1772; a 4th,with notes, by S.
G.Drake,1827. — Church' sriarrative; Ac
count of Church annexed to it; Holmes.

CHURCH; Benjamin, a physician in
Boston, regarded as a traitor to his coun
try, wasjgraduated atjHarvatd coflege in
1754, and having studied with Dr. Pyn-
chon, rose to considerable eminence as a
physician, and particularly as a surgeon.
He had talents, genius, and a ppetic fan
cy. About the year 1 768 he built him an
elegant liouse at Raynham, on the side of
Nippahonsit pond, allured perhaps by the
pleasures of fishing. I'erhaps it was th us,
that he created a pecuniary embarrass
ment, which led to his defection from, the
cause ofhis country. In the earnest dis
cussions, which preceded the war of the
revolution he was a zealous whig, and
the associate ofthe principal whigs in Bos
ton. In 1774 hewas a member ofthe
provincial congress ; and is suspected of
communicating intelligence to gov. Gage
and pf receiving a reward ofhis treachery.
One ofhis students, who kept his books,
and knew his embarrassment, could not
otherwise account fpT his sutiden acqui
sition of spme hundreds of'fuew British
guineas." In Boston he was in frequent
intercoul-se with [capt. PriCe, a half pay
British officer, and with Robinson, one of
the commissioriers. A few days after the
battle of Lexington in Apr. 1'775, when
he was, at Cambridge with the commit
tee of safety, he suddenly declared his
resolution to go into Boston the next day:
he went to the house of gen Gage. At
length his treachery was detected. A
letter, written in cypher, to his brother in
Boston, -was intrusted by him to a young
woman, with whom he was living in
crime. The mysterious letter was 'found
upon her ; but, the doctor having oppor
tunity to speak to her, it was only by the
force of threats, that the name of the wri
ter was extorted from her. When gen.
Washington charged him with his base
ness, he never attempted to vindicate
hiraselC He was convicted by court mar
tial Oct. 3, of -which Washington was
president, "of holding a criminal corres
pondence with the enemy." He was im
prisoned at Cambridge. Oct. 27 he was
called to the bar ofthe house Of representa
tives and examuied. His defence was ve-

m

CHURCHMAN.

CLAIBORNE.

fy ingenious and able '; that the lietter was
designed for hisbro'ther,but that,not being
^'Sent, he had communicated np intelli
gence; that there was nothing in tht; letter
but notorious facts; that his exaggerations
of the American force could only be de
signed to favor the Cause ofhis country ;
and that his object was purely patriotic.
He added — "the warmest bosom here
does not flame with a brighter zeal for the
security, happiness, aud liberties of Amer
ica, than mine." His, eloquent professions
didnot avafl him. He was expelled from the
house ; arid congress afterwards resolved,
that he should be confined in jail in Con
necticut & "debarred the use of pen, ink,
and paper." In 1776 he was released and
allowed to sail for the -West Indies ; but
the vessel was never again heard of. His
own well vvritten account ofhis examina
tion and defence is in the first vol. ofthe
hist. cijUections. It is very possible, that
his sole motive was the supply of his pe
cuniary wants, occasioned by his extrava
gance, and that he communicated nothing
very injurious to his country ; but that
lie, held correspondence with the enemy
there can hardly be a doubt. Nor is the
patriotismof any man to be trusted, whp
lives in the flagrant violation ofthe rules
of moraUty.
He was the best of the poetic coritribu-
tOTS lo the" Pietas et Gratulatio Cantabrig-
lensis apud Npvanglos," on the accession
of George ni, 4to, 106 pages. Among
,the other writers were Sam. Cooper, judge
Lowell, arid Stephen SewaU. He pub
lished also an Elegy on the times, 1765 ;
elegy on Dr. Mayhew, 1766 ; elegy on
the death of Whitefield, 1770 ; oration-on
the 5tli March 1773,— Gordon, a. 134 ;
Hist col 1. 84 ; V. 106 ; Eliot; Thach
er's med. biog.
CHURCHMAN, John, a quaker and
a nati-veofMaryland, published a magnetic
atlas, and explanation, Phil., 1790 ; also,
at London, Magnetic atlas, or variation
charts of the -globe.. He died s-t sea July
24, 1805.— Lord'-Lemp.
CILLEY, Joseph, general, an officer
of the revolution, was born at Notting
ham, N. H. in 1735, of which place his

father, capt. Joseph C;, was one of the
first settlers in 1727. With but little
education, he became a self taught law
yer in consequence of -living amongst
a htigious people. Early in 1775, before
the war, he with other patriots disman
tled the fort at Portsmouth and removed
the cannon. Immediately , after the bat
tle of Lexington he marched at the head
of 100 volunteers. Congress nominated
him a major in the army in May 1775,and
afterwards colonel. At Ticonderoga he
commanded a regiment in July 1777.
He fought at the storming of Stony
Point under Wayne, and at Monmouth.
After the war he was appointed first ma
jor general of the mifitia, June 22,^ 1786,
ahd he served the state in various de
partments of the government.' From
this time he advised the people to com
promise their law suits. He died of the
colic in Aug. 1799, aged 64. He was a
man of temperance, economy, and great
industry. His judgment was sound.
With strong passions he was yet frank
and humane. In politics. he wasa deci
ded republican, a supporter, of the admin
istration of Mr. Jefferson.— jBeiA:. ,i. 370.
CLAIBORNE, Wflliam C. C, gov
ernor of Mississippi and Louisiana, was
born in Virginia in 1773 and was proba
bly a descendant of Wm. C, an early
settler in Virginia and distinguished in
the history of-, that colony from about
1630 to 1651. — Being bred a lawyer, he
settled in Tennessee, of which state he
assisted iu forioing the constitution in
1796, and was afterwards a member of
congress. His appointment of governor
of the Mississippi territory he received
from Mr. Jefferson in 1802,'in the place
of Sargent. After the purchase of Lou
isiana he was appointed in 1804 its gov
ernor; and tp that office under the con
stitution he was also chpsen by the pep^
pie from 1812 to 1816. James Villere
succeeded him. — Elected a Senator of
the, U. S.; he did not live to take his
seat. He died at New Orleans Nov. 23,
1817. As chief magistrate he was "up
right and popular, and esteemed in pri
vate life. — Salem reg.; Lord's ' Lempr.

CLAIR.

261

CLAIR, Arthur St., gen., was born at
Edinburgh, and came to this country
with admiral Boscawen in 1755. He
served as a lieutenant under Wolfe. Af
ter the peace he was intrusted with the
command of fort Ligonier in Pennsylva
nia. Here he settled as a citizen. In
the revolutionary war he espoused the
American cause. In 1776 he accompa
nied the troops to Canada; and afterwards
was in the battle of Trenton. He was
appointed by congress brigadier general
in Aug. 1776, and major general Feb. 19,
1777. Commanding at Ticonderoga,
when Burgoyne approached, he evacua
ted that, post July 6, 1777, A court of
inquiry honorably acquitted him of char
ges of cowardice arid treachery. He had
not troops enough to man the Unes. Had
he listened to the counsels of rash he
roes, his army would have befen sacrificed.
He afterwards joined the army of Greene
at the south. On the occurrence of peace
he returned to Pennsylvania, from which
state he was sent a delegate to, congress
in 1784. In 1787 he was chosen' presi
dent of Congress. Of the territory
northwest of the OTiio he was appointed
governor in Oct. 1789, and held the place
tiU 1802.. In 1791 he was appointed
commander in chief of the forces, to be
employed against the Indians. He pro
ceeded to the neighborhood of the Miami
villages and encamped Nov. 3, with 1400
men. The next morning, soon after the
men were dismissed from the parade, the
Indians commenced the attack, and in-
stantiy put to flight the mflitia, who were
encamped a little in advance. The reg
ular troops fought bravely several hours,
repeatedly charging with the bayonet;
but the Indians stiU poured in a deadly
fire. Several officers had fitUen, among
whom was geUiButler and maj. Ferguson;
haff the army had been killed or wounded ;
and the terror became so great, that St.
Clair found it necessary to retreat. They
were pursued only 4 miles, when the
Indiains: returned to plunder the camp; but
the troops fled precipitately 30 mfles, and
then cqntinued the retreat to fort Wash
ington. The loss was 38 officers killed abd

593 men,21 officers wounded & 242 men.
The Indian force was supposed to be
from. 1000 to 1500. The Indians said, they
had 4000,men and lost 56. There was
no ground of censure on St. Clair for this
defeat. He was ready for the attack.
Eight balls passed through his clothes.
The next year he resigned his military
commission, and gen. Wayne succeeded
him. Ohio was erected into an independent
state in 1802. As the election ofgover-
nor.approached, in an address to the peo
ple, Dec. 8, 1802, St. Clair declined being
a candidate for governor. He says, , that
for 14 years, since the first institution of
the territorial government, in which liv
ed only 30 men, he had endeavored to ex
tend the liberty and promote the happi
ness of the people, neglecting his own
private affairs. He reprobated the act of
congress, imposing certain conditions, as
allowing but one member of congress &c,
& called upon the people to make a consti
tution in, their o-wn way, and to imitate
the spirit of Vermont. This address was
probably offensive to Mr. Jefferson, who
removed him from his office of territorial
governor. He died at Laurel Hfll, Penn
sylvania, in Aug. 31, 181B, aged 84
years. By a stateipent madein 1825, it appears
that St. Clair advanced in Oct. 1776 to
maj. Wm^ Butler of the Pennsylvania
troops 1800 dollars to aid iri the re-enlist
ment of soldiers. This claim was bar-red
by the statute ; but it was adjusted in
1817 by the payment only of 2000 dollars,
on condition of releasing congress from
aU claims. The pen nyless general sub
mitted. There was granted him also the
hah" pay ofa maj. general, or 60 dollars
per month, which he enjoyed but a short
time, being then 83 years old. It would
seem, that if he left children, they have
claims on congress, for as Edward Ever
ett has remarked in the house ofrepresen-
tives, there is no way to settle a just
claim, except by the honest payment of it.
The annuity of 2500 doUars for life to ba
ron. Steuben,' and the -payments to the
daughters of count de Grasse arid to lady

262

CLAP.

Stirling were honorable, to congress.—
iV. Y. Sped Jan, 26,. 1803j Lord's
Lempr: CLAP, Roger,one'of the first settiers of
Dorchester, Mass. was born in England
April 6, 1609, and came to this country
with Warham and Maverick in 1630.
At this time there were only a few settlers
at Plymouth, Salem, and Charlestown.
Mr. Clap with others of the company be
gan, a plantation at Dorchester. The
hardships endured at first were very con
siderable, as there was a great want of
the necessaries of fife ; the Indians, how
ever, who ^brought baskets of corri for
traffic, afforded great assistance. The
people were glad to] procure clams, and
muscles, and fish ; and often they had
nothing but samp, or hominy. Mr.
Clap sustained several civil and mifitary
offices. He was a representative of the
town, and in Aug. 1665 he was appointed
by the general court the captain of castle
WilUam. This trust he discharged with
.great fidefity, and continued in command
tifl 1686, when he resigned. During his
jesidence at the castle he officiated as
•chaplain, always calling in the soldiers to
fanjily prayer. He constantly' attended
the lectures in Boston. While he was
remarkably pious, very meek and humble,
and ofa quiet and peaceable spirit, there
was a digriity in his deportment,jwhich
comnianded respect. He possessed also a
pleasant and cheerful disposition. In 1686
he removed from the castle into Bos
ton, -where he died Feb. 2, 1691, aged
81. Ampng his sons are the names of
Preserved, HopestiU, and Desire, and one
of his daughters was named Wait. Mr.
Preserved Clap' was one ofthe early set
tlers of Northampton, and died Sept. 20,
1720, aged about 77 years. Capt. Clap
wrote memoirs of himself, in which he
gives a sketch of the early history of New
England, and leaves some excellent advice
to his descendants. Tfiese memoirs
were pubUshed in a small pamphlet by
Mr. Prince in 1731, and they were re
published in 1807, with an appendix by
James Blake. — Clap's memoirs; Collect.
hist. soc. IX. 149, 150,

CLAP, Nathaniel, minister of New
port, Rhode Island, was the son of Na
thaniel Clap and, grandson of deacon
Nicholas C, a settler of Dorchester in
1636. He was born Jan. 1668 and was
graduated at Harvard coUege in 1690.
In 1695 he began to preach at Newport;
and he continued his labors under many
discouragements till a church was formed,-
of which he was ordained pastor Nov. 3,
1720. In a few years, however, apopular
young man, whom he disapproved, drew
away a majority ofhis people ; in conse
quence of which a new church was form
ed, of which Mr. Clap was the pastor for
the remainder ofhis Ufe. He preached iri
Newport nearly 50 years. ~ In 1740,
when Mr, Whitefield arrived at Newport
from Charleston, he called upon Mr.
Clap, and he speaks of him as the most
venerable man, he ever saw. "He looked
Uke a good old puritan, and gave me an
idea pf what stamp those men were, who
first settled New England, His counte
nance was very heavenly, and he prayed
most affectionately for a blessing on my
coming to Rhode Island. I cpuld not
but think, that I was sitting -with one of
the patriarchs. He is full of days, a bach
elor,' and has been a minister ofa congre
gation in Rhode Island upwards of 40
years." Dean Berkley, who esteemed him
highly for his good deeds, said, "before I
saw father Clap, I thought the bishop of
Rome had the gravest aspect of any man
I ever saw; but really the minister of New
port lias the most venerable appearance."
Mr. Clap died Oct. 30, 1745, aged 77.
His colleague,, Jonathan Helyer, who
was ordained June 20, 1744,, died a
few months before him,. May 27, 1745.
Mr. Clap was eminent for sanctity, pi
ety, and an'ardent desire to promote true
godliness in others. The powers of his
mind and his learning were above trie-
common level, but he made no attempt
tp display himself and attract attention.
Though he had some singularities ; yet
his zeal to promote the knowledge of Je^
sus Christ and the interests ofhis gospel
spread a lustre overi all his character. H,e
was zealously attached to what he consid-

CLAP.

263

ered the true doctrines of grace, and to
the, forms of worship, which he believ
ed to be of divine institution; but his
charity embraced good men pf aU denom
inations. He had little value for merely
speculative, local, nominal Christianity,
and a form of godliness without its povyer.
He insisted chiefly upon that faith, by
which we are justified and have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus, and
that repentance toward God arid new
obedience, which are the necessary effect
and evidence of regeneration, and the
proper exercise of Christianity^ In his
preaching he dwelt much upon the evil
of sin and the worth of the soul, the
influence of the divine Spirit in restoring
us to the image of God, and the necessity
of constant piety and devotion. He ad
dressed his brethren with the affectionate
earnestness, which a regard to their wel
fare and a fufl conviction of the gfeat
truths ofthe gospel could not but inspire.
He abounded in acts pf charity, being
the father and guardian of the poor and
necessitous, and giving away aU his liv
ing. He scattered many Uttle books- of
piety and virtue, and put himself to very
considerable expense, that he might in
this way awaken the careless, instruct the
ignorantjencourage the servants of Christ,
and save the sinner from death. He was
remarkable for his care with regard to the
education of children, and his concern for
the instruction of servants. He knew
' by experience the advantages of a pious
education and fully aware of the conse
quences of suffering the youthful mind to
be undirected tp what is good, he gave
much of his attention to the lambs of
his flock. His benevolent labors also ex
tended to the humble and numerous
class of slaves, to whom rie endeavored
with unwearied care to impart theknowl-
edge ofthe gospel. Thus evincing the
reality ofhis ^religion by the purity and
benevolence pf his Ufe, he was an honor
to the cause ofthe Redeemer, in which
he was engaged. He.departed this Ufe in
peace, withotit those raptures,, which
some express, but with perfect resigna
tion to the will of God & with confidence

in Jesus-Christ, who was the sura of his
doctrine and the end of his conversation.
He published a sermon on the Lord's
voice crying to the people in some extra
ordinary dispensations, 171 5.-Callender's
fun.serm.; Hist, col ix. 182, j,183;
Backus' abridg. 157, 168; Whitefield's
jour. 0/1749; 39,-45; Eliot
CLAP, Thomas, president of Yale
college, was born at Scituate, Mass.,
June 26, 1703, and was graduated at
Haryard cpUege in 1722. He was the
descendant of Thomas Clap, the brother
of Nicholas Clap, of Dorchester, who
died at Scituate in 1 684. The early im
pressions, made upon his mind by divirie
grace, inclined him to the study of divini
ty. He was settled in' the ministry
at Windham, Con. Aug. 3, 1726, the
successor of Samuel Whiting. From
this place he was removed in 1739 to the
presidentship of Yale coUege, as successor
of E. WilUams. Triis office he resigned
Sep. 10,1766; and hediedat Scituate Jan.
7,' 1767, aged 63. He was succeeded by
Dr. Daggett. — In his last 3'ears a clamor
was raised against him: it was represented
that he was attached to antiquated no
tions and averse to improvements in edu
cation. Men, less evangelical than he in
their reUgious view-s, were his enemies.
He possessed strong powers of mind, a
clear perception, and solid judgment.
Though not very eminent for classical
learmng,he had a competent knowledge of
Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. In the high
er branches of mathematics, in astronomy,
and in the various departments of natural
priilosophy he had probably no equal in
America; excepting professor Winthrop
of Cambridge. He appears to have been
extensively and profoundly acquainted
with history, theology, moral philosophy,
the canon and civil law, and .with most of
the objects of study in his time. The la
bors of his office left a most contemplative
mind only a few hours for reading; but
he employed what' time he could devote
to study in a most advantageous method.
He always p'ursued his researches system
atically, with an arrangement, which.had
respect to some whole. A large library

264

CLAP.

CLARK.

before him he treated as a cplJBCtjpn pf
reports, books delivering the knowledge
and reasonings ofthe learned world on all
subjects of Uterature. He seldom read
a volume through in course. Haying
previously settled in his mind the particu
lar subjects' to be examined, he had re
course directly to the book, or the parts
ofa book, which would give him the de
sired information, generally passing by
what did not relate to the object of his
inquiry, however attracting and interes
ting. He ' thus amassed and digested a
valuable treasure of erudition, Ijiaving in
vestigated almost all the principal subjects
in the whole circle of Uterature. "He was
indefatigable in labors both secular and
and scientific for the institution over
which he presided. He was the means
pf building a coUege edifice and chapel;
and he gave frequent public dissertations
in the various departments of learning.
As a preacher he was solid, grave,, and
powerful; not so much delighting by a
florid ipanner, as impressing by the
weight ofhis matter. His religious sen
timents accorded with the Calvinism of
the Westminster , assembly. He had
thoroughly studied the scriptures, and had
read the most eminent divines of thelast
200 years. — Though in his person he was
not tall, he yet appeared rather bulky.
His aspect was light, placid and contem
plative ; and he was a calm and judicious
man, who had the entire comman^ pf his
passions. Intent on being useful, he was
economical and lived by fule and was a
rare pattern of industry. He had no
fondness for parade. As he was exem
plary for piety in life, so he was resigned
and peaceful at the hour of death.
When some one in his last illness observed
to him, that he was dangerously sick, he
replied, that, a person was not in a dan
gerous situation who was approaching
the end of his toils.— By some means he
acquired a prejudice against Mr. White-
field. He was apprehensive, that it was
the design of that eloquent preacher to
break down our churches, and, to intro
duce ministers from Scotland and Ireland'.
He therefore opposed him, though it is

believed, that they did not differ much in
their religious sentiments. He had a con
troversy With Mr. Edwards of North
ampton respecting a conversation, which
passed between them in reference to Mr,
Whitefield. JHe seems to have misap
prehended Mr. Edwards. Mr. Clap
constructed the first orrery, or planetari
um, made in America. His manuscripts
were plundered in the expedition against
New Haven under gerieral Tryon. He
had made coUections of materials for a his
tory of Connecticut. He published a
sermon at the ordination of Ephraim
Little, Colchester, Sept. 20, 1732; - let
ter to Mr. Edwards, respecting Mr.
Whitefield's design, 1745;- the religious
constitution of colleges, 1754; a brief his
tory and vindication of the doctrines, re
ceived and estabfished in the churches of
New England, with a specimen of the
new scheme of refigion, beginning to pre
vail, 1755; this scheme he collects from
the! writings of Chubb, Taylor, Foster,
Hutcheson, Cam.pbeU, and Ramsay; and
in opposing it he vindicates the use of
creeds, and contends for the doctrines of
the divinity and satisfaction of Christ,
original sin, the necessity of special grace
in regeneration, and justification by faith.
He published also an essay on the nature
and foundation of moral virtue, and obli
gation, 1765; a history of Yale college,
1766; and conjectures upon the nature
and motion of meteors, which are abo-ve
the atmosphere, 1781.— Hofeies'.Zi/e of
Stiles, 263; 393-396; annals, n. 151;
Miller, u. 360; Daggett's fun. serm.;
Hist. Y. Coll
CLARK, John, a physician in Boston,
was the eldest spn of John C, a physi
cian, who died in 1690, and the grandson
of John C, also a physician, who arriv
ed in this country about 1650. He was
graduated at Harvard college in 1687.
For several years he was the speaker of
the house of representatives, and a mem
ber of -the counCfl. In the controversy
with Shute he was a strong opponent.
He died Dec. 6, 1728, aged 59., His
third wife, Sarah Leverett, survived hira
arid married Dr. Colman. — His son, John

CLARK.

'105

a physician in Boston, died April 6, 1768,
aged 69, being the father of EUzabeth,
the wife of Dr. Mayhew, and the father
of John Clark, a physician, and the grand
father of John, also a physician, who died
in 1788. This last was the father of
John, a physician, who died at Weston,
April 1805, aged 27, leaving no male is
sue. — Thacher's med. biog.
CLARK, Peter, minister of Danvers,
Mass., was graduated at Harvard college
in 1712, and was ordained pastor of the
first church in Salem village, now Dan
vers, June 7, 1717. Here he continued
more than half a century. He died June
1768, aged 75. He was highly respected
as a minister of the gospel, and there
were few, who were more universally
venerated. He was very plain and faith
ful in his admonitions, and he applied
himself diUgently to sacred studies. Pos
sessing an inquisitive genius, he read all
trie modern' books of any note, whicri
came in his way. By conversing much
with some of the best and most celebrated,
he had formed a style somewhat superior
to that of most ofhis contemporaries. He
was warmly attacried to the sentiments,
generally embraced in the New England
churches. He published a sermon at the
ordination of W. Jennison, Salem, 1728 ;
two letters on baptism, 1732 ; the neces
sity and efficacy of the grace of God in
the conversion ofthe sinner,1734; at the
artillery election, 1736; at the election,
1739; at a fast, occasioned by the war,
Feb. 26, 1741; before the annual conven
tion of ministers, 1745; a defence of the
divine right of infant baptism, 8vO. 1752,
spiritual fortitude recommended to young
men, 1757; the scripture doctrine of orig
inal sin staled and defended in a summer
morning's conversation, 1758;^-this' was
in answer to the "winter evening's con
versation;" a defence ofthe principles of
the summer morning's conversation,
1760; a Dudleian lecture, 1763.— Bor-
nard's fun. serm.
CLARK, Abraham, a patriot of the
revolution, was bom February 5, 1726 at
Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and was
bred a fkrmer, but gave his chief atten-
34

tion to surveying, conveyancing, and the
imparting of gratuitous legal advice to
his neighbors. Being appointed a mem
ber of congress, he voted for the .dec
laration of independence and affixed his
name to that instrument. After the adop
tion of the constitution he was chosen a
member ofthe second congress. He died
in consequence of a stroke of the sun, in
Sept. 1794, aged 67, and was buried at
Rahway. During the war several of his
sons, officers in the armj', fell into' the
handsof the enemy, aud were shut up in
the memorable prison ship, Jersey. Tho
sufferings of one of them were such, that
congress ordered a retaliation. — Good
rich's lives; Biog. Signers.
CLARK, Jonas.minister of Lexingtpn,
Mass., was born at Newton, Dec. 25,
1730, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1752, and ordained as successor of Mr.
Hancock Nov.5, 1755. Having through
the course of half a century approved
himself an able and faithful minister of the
gospel, he died in much peace Nov. 15,
1805, aged 74. His daughter, Lydia,
wife of Benjamin Greene of Berwick,died
in 1830. He was wholly devoted to the
duties of his sacred calling. His pubUc
discourses consisted not of learned discus
sions on speculative or metaphysical sub
jects, nor yet of dry lectures on heathen
morality ; but of the most interesting
truths of the gospel, delivered with un
common energy and zeal. In the times
preceding the American revolution be
was not behind any of his brethren in
giving his influence on the side of his
country, in opposition to its oppressors.
It was but a few rods from his own door,
that the first blood was shed in the
war. On the morning of Aprfl 19, 1775,
he saw his parishioners most wantonly
murdered. During the struggle, which
then commenced, the anniversary of this
outrage was reUgiously observed by him
and his people. He published a sermon ,
and narrative on Lexington battle 1776.
This was the first anniversary. Succes
sive preachers on the occasion.whose ser
mons were pubUshed, were S. Cooke, .1.
Gushing, S, Woodward, J. Morrfll, H.

266

CLARKE.

Cumings, P. PaysonandZ. Adams. He
published also a sermon at the artillery
election, 1768; at the election, 1781. —
Panopl. 1. 324; Cal cent Dec. 31, 1805.
CLARKE, John, one of the first
founders of Rhode Island, was a physi
cian in London, before ¦ he came to this
country. Soon after the first settlement
of Mass., he was driven from that colony
with a number of others; &Mar. 7, 1638
they formed themselves into a body po
litic & purchased Aquetneck ofthe Indian
sachems, calling it the Isle of Rhodes, or
Rhode Island. The settlement commen
ced at Pocasset, or Portsmouth, The
Indian deed is dated March 24, 1638.
Mr. Clarke was soon employed as a
preacher, and in 1644 he formed a church
at Newport and became its pastor. This
was the second baptist church, which
was established in America. In 1649 he
was an assistant and treasurer of Rhode
Island colony. In 1651 he went to visit
one ofhis brethren at Lynn,near Boston,
and hepreached on Sunday July 20; but,
before he had completed the services of
the forenoon, he was seized with his
friends by an officer ofthe government. In
the afternoon he was compelled to attend
the parish meeting, at the close of which
he spoke a few words. July 31, he was
tried before the court of assistants and
fined twenty pounds, in case of failure in
the payment of which sum he was to be
whipped. Iu passing the sentence judge
Endicot observed, "you secretly insinu
ate things into those, who are weak,
which you cannot maintain before our min
isters; you may try & dispute with them."
Mr.Clarke accordingly wrote from prison,
proposing a dispute upon the principles,
which he professed. He represented his
principles to be, that Jesus Christ had the
sole right of prescribing any laws respec
ting the worship of God, which it was
necessary to obey ; that baptism, or dip
ping in water, was an ordinance to be
administered only to those, who gave
some evidence of repentance towards God
and faith in Jesus Christ; triat such visible
believers only constituted the church; that
each of them had a right to speak in the

congregation, according as the Lord had
given him talents, either to make inquiries
for his own instruction, or to prophesy
for the edification of others, and that at all
times and in all places they ought to re
prove folly and open their lips to justify
wisdom ; and that no servant of Jesus
Christ had any authority to restrain any
fellow servant in his worship, where in
jury was not offered to others. No dis
pute, however, occurred, and Mr. Clarke,
after paying his fine, was soon released
from prison, and directed to leave the
colony. His companion, Obadiah Holmes,
shared a severer fate; for on declining to
pay his fine of thirty pounds, which his
friends offered to do for him, he was pub-
ficly whipped in Boston.
In 1651 Mr. Clarke was sent to Eng
land with Mr. WilUams to promote the
interests of Rhode Island, and particular
ly to procure a revocation of Mr. Cod-
dington's commission as governor. Soon
after his arrival he published a book,giving
an account of the persecutions in N.Eng
land. In Oct. 1 652 the commission of Mr.
Coddington was annulled. After the re
turn of Mr. WUliams, Mr. Clarke was
left behind , and continued in England as
agent for the colony, till he obtained the
second charter July 8, 1663, to procure
which he mortgaged his estate in New
port. He returned in 1664, and continu
ed the pastor of his church till his death.
Some years passed before he obtained
from the assembly a repayment of his ex
penses during his absence, though a con
siderable reward was voted him. The
quakers about this time occasioned much
trouble in New England, and Mr. Clarke
and his church were obUged in Oct. 1673
to exclude five persons from their com
munion for asserting, "that the man
Christ Jesus was not now in heaven, nor
on earth, nor any where else ; but that his
body was entirely lost." Mr. Clarke
died at Newport April 20, 1676, aged
about 56 years, resigning his soul to his
merciful Redeemer, through faith in
whose name he enjoyed the hope of a
resurrection to eternal \i!fe.
His Ufe was so pure, that he was n«ver

CLARKE.

267

accused of any vice, which has left a blot
on his memory. His sentiments respec
ting religious toleration did not indeed ac
cord with the sentiments of the age, in
which he lived, and exposed him to some
trouble ; but at the present time they are
almost universally embraced. His exer
tions to promote the civil prosperity of
Rhode Island must endear his name to
those, who are now enjoying the fruits
ofhis labors. He possessed the singular
honor of contributing much towards es
tabUshing the first government upon the
earth, which gave equal liberty, civil and
reUgious, to all men Uving under it. In
Maryland, too, during the administration
of Charles Calvert, appointed governor in
1662, an act was passed, aUowing all
Christians to settle in the province.
He left behind him a writing, which
expressed his religious opinions. He be
Ueved, that all things, witri their causes,
effects, circumstances, and manner of
being, are decreed by God ; that this
decree is the determination from eternity
of what shall come to pass in time ; that
it is most wise, just, necessary, and un
changeable, the cause of all good, but not
of any sin ; that election is the decree of
God, choosing, of his free love, grace,
and mercy, some men to faith, holiness,
and eternal life ; that sin is the effect of
man's free will, and condemnation an
effect pf justice, inflicted upon man for sin
and disobedience. It was not in these
opinions, but in his sentiments respecting
baptism, that he differed from the minis
ters of Massachusetts.
In his last will he left his farm in New
port to charitable purposes ; the income
of it to be given to the poor and to be em
ployed for the support of learning and re
ligion. It has produced about 200 dollars
a year, and has thus been promoting
the public interests ever since his death.
The titie ofthe book, which he pub
fished in London in 1652, is, IU news
from New England, or a narrative of
New England's persecution ; wherein it
is declared, that while Old England is
becoming New, New England is becom
ing Old; alsp four proposals to parliament

and four conclusions, touching the faith
and order of the gospel of Christ out of
his last will and testament, 4to, pp. 76.
This work was answered by Thomas
Cobbett of Lynn.— Backus' church hist,
ofN, E, HI. 227, 228; Backus' abridg.
84,86,109-116. CLARKE, Richard, an elegant classi
cal scholar, came to this country from
England before the middle of the last
century. He was for some time rector
of St. Philip's church in Charleston.
He returned to England in the year 1759,
and in 1768 was curate of Cheshunt in
Hertfordshire. He published several
pieces on the prophecies, and on univer
sal redemption. The following are the
titles of them ; — An essay on the number
7, whereui the duration of the church of
Rome and of the Mahometan imposture,
the time of the conversion of the Jews,
and the year ofthe world for the millenni
um, and for the first resurrection are at
tempted to be settled, 1769 ; a warning to
the world, or the prophetical numbers of
Daniel and John calculated; a second war
ning to the world, 1762; glad tidings to
the Jews and Gentiles, 1763 ; the gospel
ofthe daily service ofthe law preached to
the Jew and gentile, 1768. He seems to-
have been tinctured with the mystical doc
trines of Wflfiam Law and Jacob Beh-
men. — Miller's retrospect, n, 365; Ram
say's hist, 8. C. 11. 452-454.
CLARKE, George Rogers, general,
a revolutionary officer, resided on the
western border of Virginia, and had aU
the hardihood and energy necessary for
a soldier. After the massacre at Wyom
ing in 1778 he took the command ofa
body of troops, designed to operate
against the Indians, for the protection of
the frontiers. He descended the Monon-
gahela with between 2 and 300 men for
the purpose of capturing the British post
at Kaskaskias, on the Mississippi, whith
er the Indians were.accustomed to resort
for the reward of their barbarities. So
secret was the approach of Clarke, that
the fort and town were taken witriout the
escape of a man to spread the alarm. In
this expedition his scanty provisions were

268

CLARKE.

consumed, and his men for one or two
days subsisted on roots, found in the
woods.. He now mounted a detachment
on hpi?ses, and reduced three other towns
higher up the river, and sent the princi
pal agent ofthe enemy a prisoner to Vir
ginia. At this period the county of
Illinois was organized ; and new troops
ordered to be raised for the protection of
the west. In the mean time colonel
Clarke was informed, that Hamilton, the
governor of Detroit, was about to attack
him in the spring of 1779 and to lay waste
the settlements of Kentucky. He resolv
ed therefore to anticipate this movem.ent
and to surprise the British commander.
Having garrisoned Kaskaskias,he proceed
ed across the country with 150 brave
companions. When within a few miles
of the enemy, he was 5 days in wading,
frequently breast-high in water, through
the drowned lands of the Wabash. Feb.
23d he camein sight of Vincennes. The
attack was commenced in the evening and
the next day Clarke was in possession of
the fort, with Hamilton and the garrison
prisoners. He also intercepted a convoy
of goods and provisions, coming from
Detroit, valued at 10,000i. and took 40
prisoners at the same time. Hamiltori
arid his officers were sent to Williamsburg.
In this year he built fort Jefferson on the
western bank of the Mississippi, below
the Ohio. An expedition against De
troit was projected, but not executed.
When Arnold invaded Virginia in 1780,
col. Clarke, then at Richmond, joined
baron Steuben in an expedition against
the traitor. Being detached with 240
men, he drew a party of the enemy into
an ambuscade, kiUing and wounding 30
men. In 1781 hewas promoted to the
rank of brigadier general. Being com
mander of the post at Kaskaskias, he was
restrained to defensive measures, and was
obliged to abandon the long meditated
project pf capturing Detroit. In Aug.
1782 he was in command at the Falls of
Ohio. After the war he settied in Ken
tucky with a small band of associates, and
was regarded by his fellow citizens as the
protector and father ofthe western coun

try. John Randolph called him ' the
American Hannibal, who by the reduction
of Vincennes obtained the lakes for the
northern boundary at the peace of Paris.
He died at Locust grove, near Louisville,
Feb. 13, 1808, aged 66. Another ac
count says, that he died in 1317. Itis
related in the Notes of em old officer, that
at the treaty effort Washington, where
the troops were only 70 men, all the Indi
ans in council appeared peaceab le, excep
ting 300 Shawahanees, whose chief
made a boisterous speech and then placed
on the table his belt of black and white
wampum, to intimate, that he was pre
pared for either peace or war, while his
300 savages applauded him by a whoop.
At the table sat commissary-general Clarke
and gen. Richard Butler. Clarke with
his cane coolly pushed the wampum from
the table ; then rising, as the savages
muttered their indignation, he trampled
on the belt, and with a voice of authority
bid them instantly quit~the hall. The
next day they sued for peace. — Marshall,
in. 565 ; Jennison ; Enc. Amer.
CLARKE, John, d.d., ministerin Bps-
ton, was born at Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, Aprfl 13, 1755. While a
member of Harvard college, at which he
was graduated in 1774, he was dis
tinguished by his improvements in Ut
erature and science, b.y a strict obedience
to the laws, and by irreproachable morals.
He afterwards engaged in the instruction
of youth ; but in his leisure hours he pur
sued with assiduity his theologicalstudies.
In the office of preceptor he was gentle
and persuasive, beloved by his pupils,
and esteemed by their friends. He was
ordained pastor of the first church in
Boston, as coUeague with Dr. Chauncy,
July 8, 1778. With him he lived in the
most intimate and respectful friendship
about nine years, and afterwards labored
alone in the service of the church, until
Aprfl 1, 1798, when, as he was addressing
his hearers, he was seized by apoplexy
and fell down in his pulpit. He expired
the next morning, Apr. 2, aged 42 years, &
was succeeded by W. Emersori. Hewas
ofa mild arid cheerful temper, easy and

CLARKSON.

CLAYTON.

269

polite in his manners, and endeared to all
his acquaintance. Though fond of lite
rary and philosophical researches, be yet
considered theology as the proper science
ofa minister ofthe gospel. To this ob
ject he principally devoted his time and
studies, and was earnestly desirous of in
vestigating every branch of it, not merely
to gratify curiosity, but that he, might be
able to impart instruction. He was ha
bitually a close student. His public dis
courses bore the marks of penetration,
judgment, perspicuity , and elegance. In
the private offices of pastoral friendship
he was truly exemplary and engaging.
In the various relations oflife his deport
ment was marked with carefulness, fidel
ity, and affection. He published the fol
lowing sermons ; on thedeath of S. Coop
er, 1784 ; of C. Chauncy, 1787 ; ofN.
W. Appleton, 1796 ; before the humane
society, 1793 ; also an answer to the ques
tion, why are you a christian .'8vo. 1785,
and several other editions ; letters to a
student at coflege, 12mo. 1796. After
his death a vol. of sermons was publish
ed, 1799 ; and discourses to young per
sons, 1804. — Thacher's fun. ser. ; Hist.
eol. VI. i-ix.
CLARKSON, Gerardus, m. d., an
eminent physician of Philadelpriia was the
son of Matthew C, a merchant of New
York, who died in 1770,and a descendant
ofDavidC, an English nonconforming
minister of distinction, who died in 1686.
 Dr. Clarkson was a practitioner as early
as 1774, and he died Sept. 19, ,1790, aged
53. Rev. Dr. Finley married his ' sister
in 1761. John Swanwick wrote a poem
on his death.
CLARKSON, Matthew, general,a sol
dier of the revolution, vyas distinguished
in the war of independence for his cour
age, talents, and integrity. He acted as
aid de camp to gen. Gates in the battle of
Stillwater, in which, as he was carrying
an order to the officer ofthe left wing by
passing in front of the American line,
when engaged, he received a severe
wound in his neck. In his last years he
was vice president ofthe American Bible
society, and much of his time was devoted

to the meetings ^.''the mariagers. He
died at New York, after an illness of 5
days, April 22, 1825, aged 66 years. , A-
miable, frank, affectionate, pure and ben
eficent, his character was crowned by an
exalted piety.
CLAVIGERO, Abbe, was the author
of a history of Mexico, which was pub
lished in 2 vols. ,4to. London, 1787.
CLAY, Joseph, a judge and a minister;
was'bornat Savannah in 1764 and grad
uated at Princeton in 1784. His father,
Joseph Clay, a revolutionary patriot and
soldier, judge of the county court, ' and
an exemplary christian, died at Savannah
Dec. 1804, aged 63. — He was appointed
the judge of the district court of Georgia
in 1796 and resigned the office in 1801.
Becoming in 1803 a member of the bap
tist church in Savannah, he was ordained
the next year as colleague with Mr^ Hol-
combe, the pastor. Having visited New
England, hewas invited to settle as col
league with Dr. Stillman, a baptist min
isterin Boston, and was installed Aug.
19,1807. In Nov. 1808 he visited Sa-
varmah, and finding his health declining
he asked a dismission from his people.
But anxious to be in the bosom of his' fam
ily he returned in 1810 to Boston, where
he died Jan. 11, 1811. His daughter
married WiUiam R. Gray of Boston.
Mr. Clay was highly respected for his
learning, talents, piety, and benevolence;
In college he was the, most distinguished
ofhis class. With an ample fortune he
yet determined to live a Ufe of toil in the
best of causes. The circumstance of his
relinquishing the office ofa judge for that
ofa .minister probably drCw after him
some hearers ofthe legal profession. Af
ter hearing him at Providence Mr. Bur-
rill, a lawyer, exclaiiried to a friend, "see,
what a lawyer can do." The reply was,
"see-what the grace of God can do with a
lawyer." He published his inauguration
sermon, 1807. — Benedict, i: 403.
CLAYTON, John, an eminent botan
ist and physician of Virgjinia, was born at
Fulham, in Great Britain, and came to
Virginia with his father in 1705, aged a-
bout 20 years. His father was an emi-

270

CLAYTON.

CLEAVELAND.

nent lawyer, and was appointed attorney
general of .Virginia. "Young Clayton was
put into the office of Peter Beverly, who
was clerk or prothonotary for Gloucester
county, and,succeedirig him in this office,
filled it fifty one years. He died Dec. 15,
1773, aged 87. During the year prece
ding his decease, such was the vigor of
his constitution even at this advanced pe
riod, and such his zeal in botanical re
searches, that he made a botanical tour
through Orange county; and it is believed,
that he had visited most of the settled
parts of Virginia. His residence was a-
bout 20 miles from the city of Wilhams
burg. His character stands high as a
man of integrity, aud as a citizen. He
was a strict, though not ostentatious ob
server ofthe practice of the church of
England, and he seemed constantly pious
ly disposed. He was heard to say while
examining a flower, that he could not
look into one, without seeing the display
of infinite power slnd contrivance, and
that he thought it impossible for a botan
ist to be an atheist. He was a member of
some of the most learned literary (^socie
ties of Europe, and corresponded with
Gronovius, Linnseus, & other able botan
ists. As a practical botanist he, was per
haps uiferior to no botanist ofhis time.
He left behind him two volumes of
manuscripts,neatly prepared for the press,
and a hortus siccus of folio size, -with
marginal notes and directions for the en
graver in preparing the plates for his
proposed work. This work, which was
in the possession of his son, when the
revolutionary war commenced, was sent
to WilUam Clayton, clerk of New Kent,
as to a place of security from the invading
enemy. It was lodged in the office with
the records of the county. An incendiary
put a torch to the building; and thus per
ished nbt only the records of the county
but the labors of Clayton.
Several ofhis communications, treat
ing ofthe culture and different species of
tobacco, were pubfished in numbers 201,
204 205, and 206 of the philosophical
transactions; and in number 454 is an
ample account of medicinal plants, which

he had discovered, growing in Virginia.
He is chiefly known to the learned, espe
cially in Europe, by his Flora Virginica,
a work published by Gronovius at Ley
den in 8vo, 1739 — 1743, and again in 4to,
in 1762. This is frequently referred to
by Linneeus, and by all the succeeding
botanists, who have had occasion to treat
of the plants of North America. It is to
be regretted, however, that they so fre
quently refer to the flora as the work of
Gronovius, though its greatest value is
derived from the masterly descriptions,
communicated to the Leyden professor
by Mr. Clayton. — Barton's med. and
phys. journal n. 139 — 145; Rees' cycl.
Arher, edit ; Miller, i, 142; ii. 368.
CLAYTON Joshua, a physician, was
the ptesident of Delaware from 1789 to
1793 and governor under thepi^esent con
stitution from 1793 to 1796, when he was
succeeded by G. Bedford. In 1798 he
was elected tp the Senate pf the U. S.
He died in 1799. During the war, when
the Peruvian bark was scarce, he sub
stituted for it successfully iri his practice
the poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera, com
bined with nearly an equal quantity of
the bark ofthe root of the dogwood, Cor-
nus florida, and half the quantity of the
inside bark of the white oak tree. —
Thacher's med, biog.
CLEAVELAND, John, minister of
Ipswich, Mass., was born in Canterbury,
Con., Aprfl 22, 1722. He was gradua
ted at Yale coUege in 1745, and while a
member of that institution he exhibited
that independence and courage in the
cause of truth, for which he was ever
distinguished. Whfle at home during
a vacation in 1744 he attended a separate
meeting, for which, on his return to col-
lege,he was required to make a confession.
HejUstified himself on the ground, that
he was a member ofthe church and atten
ded the meeting with his father and a ma
jority of the church. The same defence
was made by Ebenezer Cleaveland, alsp
of Canterbury, who was involved in the
same difficulty. They were both expell
ed from college. This act of persecution,
especially as episcopalians were tolerated

CLEAVELAND.

CLINTON.

271

in their own worship, a-wakened the pub
fic indignation. John obtained his de
gree afterwards, and the catalogue dates
it 1745, with his class. Ebenezer re
ceived his degree in 1749, and died the
minister of Gloucester July 4, 1805, a. 79.
John Cleaveland, after being a preacher
about two years, was ordained at Chebac-
co in Ipswich in 1747. Here he con
tinued more than half a century, and dur
ing his ministry two separate churches
and congregations were formed into one.
He died April 22, 1799, aged 77 years.
His son, John Cleaveland, a soldier du
ring the -war, was settled as the minister
of Stonebam about 1788, and after being
dismissed -was settled again in 1798 at
Wrentham, where he died Feb. 1, 1815,
aged 65. — His daughter married Mr.
Proctor. — He wrote his name Cleveland ;
his descendants prefer the form Cleave
land. He was an active and enterprising
man. During four years he was chaplain
in the army, and was called to lake
Champlain, cape Breton, Cambridge, and
the banks of the Hudson. As a minister
he was laborious and successful. At one
period, in the space of about six months,
100 persons were added to his church.
He zealously contended for the faith once
delivered to the saints. Though for a
great part of his life he was frequently
engaged in religious controversy, yet his
temper was not soured. Being unfeigned-
lyjpious, while he constantly held inter
course with heaven, he consecrated par
ticular days to private fasting tind prayer.
He died at last in much peace, relying se
curely upon trie merits of his Redeemer.
He pubUshed a narrative of the work
of God atChebaccoin 1763 and 1764;
an essay to defend some of the niost im
portant principles in the protestarit refor
med system of Christianity, more espe
cially Christ's sacrifice and atonement,
agairist the injurious aspersions cast on
the same by Dr. Mayhew, in a thanks-gi
ving sermori, 1763 ; a reply to Dr; May
hew's letter of reproof, 1765; a treatise
on infant baptism, n84.^-Parish's fun.
ser, ; Mass, miss, mag, n. 129-133;
Backus, UI. 241; Pan. xii. 49.

CLEAVELAND, Parker, a physician
and patriot of the revolution, the son of
the preceding, was born in Ipswich in
1651 and settled as a physician at Byfield,
a parish of Rowley, at the age of 19.
During the first year of the war he was
the surgeon of a regiment. He was fre-'
quently a representative of Rowley in the
legislature. He died Feb. 1826, aged 74.
As a physician he was intelligent and
skUful. But the glory of his character
was his religion. He read much in the
ology. After much investigation he em
braced and earnestly supported the ortho
dox doctrines ; and he exhibited also
"the best affections and graces of the
Christian character. He was benevolent,
humble, and devout. Emphatically might
he be called a man of prayer." At dif
ferent periods of revivals of religion he
exerted a pious and useful influence. In
affliction and adverse cirumstances he was
resigned and cheerful ; and from every
earthly care he, found a relief in the love
ofhis Redeemer. — Bost. record, March
3, 1826.
CLEEVES, George, an early settier
and distinguished magistrate of Maine,
lived at Spurwink, cape EUzabeth, in
1630, associated in business with Rich
ard Tucker. In 1632 they commenced
the settlement at Casco and erected the
first house on the Neck, called Machi-
gonne by the Indians, then Cleeves' Neck
and Munjoy's Neck, now Portland. In
1643 he was appointed by Rigby his de
puty in the government of Ligonia, and
was a large land-owner under grants from
Gorges and Rigby. He died at Portland
between Nov. 1666 and Jan. 1671, at an
advanced age, probably more than 90.
The Bracketts are his descentiants. An
ample account of him is given in Willis'
history of Portland. — Maine hist. col. i.
124. CLIFTON, WiUiam, a poet, the son
pf a rich mechanic in Philadelphia, was
born in 1772, and was educated as a qua
ker, but in the latter part of his life
threw off the quaker dress and raanners.
He died of the consumption in Dec. 1 799,
aged 26. He pubUshed an epistle to Mr.

272

CLINTON.

Gifford, in an edition of Gifford's poems,
evincing much poetical power. He also
commenced, but did not finish, a poem,
called, the Chimeriad, in which under the
character of the witch, Chimeria, the
genius of false phflosophy is portrayed.
H-is poems were printed atN York, 12-
mo., 1800. Much of his poetry is ofa
satirical, poUtical cast,containing vitupera
tions of the French revolutionists and of
the party, to which hewas opposed.- —
Enc, Amer; Knapp's lect. 179; Spec.
Am.p, II. 86.
CLINTON, George, governor of the
colony of Nevi* York before the revolution,
was the yciungestson of Francis Clinton,
the earl of Lincoln. He was appointed
governor in 1743.— His administration of
10 years was turbulent. He was enga
ged in a violent controversy with the gen
eral assembly, instigated by-chief justice
James Delancey, the ruling demagogue
of that period. Mr.' Horsemander wrote
against the governpr ; Mr. Golden in his
favor. The goverrior was the friend of
sir WiUiam Johnson, Mr. Clinton was
succeeded in Oct. 1753 by sir D. Osborne,
who in two days, in consequence of politi
cal troubles, committed suicide. He was
afterwards governor of Greenwich hospi
tal. — Hist. col. VII. 79; Lempr.,
CLINTON, Charles, the ancestor of
the family of Clintons in NewYork, was
a descendant of Wm. C, who, after being
an adherent of Charles I., took refuge in
the north of Ireland. James, the son of
Wm., married Elis. Smith,, the daughter
ofa captain in Crom-well's ^rmy, and was
the father of Charles, who was born in the
county of Longford, Ireland, in 1690.
Having induced a number ofhis friends
to join him in the project of emigrating
to America, he chartered a ship for Phila
delphia in 1729 and sailed May 20th. On
the passage it was ascertained, that the
captain had formed the design to starve
the passengers in order to seize their pro
perty. Among those, who died, were a
son and daughter of Mr. Clinton. It was
now proposed to wrest the command from
the captain ; but there was not energy
enough in the passengers to make the

attempt. At length they were larided at
cape Cod, Oct. 4th; It was not till the
spring of 1731, that they removed and
formed a settlement in the county of Ul
ster, state of New York, ^bout 60 miles
from the city and 8 miles west of the
river. Mr. Clinton was a farmer and land
surveyor; His house, was surrounded by
a palisade, against the Indians. He was
made judge of the county court; and in
,1756, was appointed lieut. colonel under
col. Oliver Delancey. He served under
Bradstreet at the capture of fort Fronte
nac. He died in Ulster, now Orange
county, Nov. 19, 1773, aged 82. Ofhis
4 sons in America, Alexander, a graduate
in the third class at Princeton, in 1750,
was a physician ; Charles was a surgeon
in the army, which took Havana in 1762,
and died in Aprfl 1791 ; James was major
general ; and George vicfe president of
the United States. — ^With an uncommon
genius and a fund of useful knowledge he
was affable and interesting in conversa
tion. He was tall, graceful, and dignified.
The duties of the various relations of
private Ufe were regarded by him; and
he was a patriot and a sincere christian.
— Lord's Lempr.; Rogers' biog. diet;
N. Y. State^m. Aug. 23, 1828,',
CLINTON, James, brigadier general,
the fourth son of the preceding, was born
in Ulster county, N. Y., Aug. 9, 1736;
He received a good education. In 1756
he was a captain under Bradstreet at fort
Frontenac,and captured a French sloop of
-war on Lake, Ontario. In 1763 he was
appointed captain commandant of 4
companies, raised for the defence of
Ulster and Orange, whose western fron
tiers were^ exposed to the inroads pf the
savages. In the beginning of the revolu
tionary war he was appointed colonel
June 30, 1775, and accompanied Mont
gomery to Canada. He was made briga
dier general Aug. 9, 1776. In Oct. 1777
he commanded, under gov. CUnton, at fort
Clinton, which with fort Montgomery,
separated from each other by a creek,
defended the Hudson against the ascent
of the enemy, below West Point: Sir
Henry Clinton, in order to favor the de-

CLINTON.

273

signs of Burgoyne, attacked these forts
Oct. 6th with 3,000 men and Carried
them by storm, as they were defended by
only about 500 miUtia. A brave resis
tance was made from four o'clock until it
was dark, when the garrison were over
powered. Gen. Clinton was severely
wounded by a bayonet, but escaped. Af
ter riding a little distance he dismounted,
that he might escape the pursuing enemy,
and taking the bridle frpm his horse slid
down a precipice 100 feet tothe creek,
which separated the forts. Thus he
reached the mountain at a secure distance.
In- the' morning he found a horse, which
conveyed him about 16 miles from the
fort to his house, covered v(rith blood.
In 1779 he joined with 1600 men gene-
ralSulliyan in his expedition against the
Indians. Proceeding up the Mohawk in
batteaux about 54 miles above Schenecta-
dy,he conveyed them from Canojoharie to
the head of the Otsego lake, one of the
sources of the Susquehannah, down
which he was to join SulUvan. As the
water in the outlet of the lake was too
low to float his batteaux, he constructed
a dam across it, and thus accumulated the
water in the lake. By letting out this
water his boats and troops were rapidly
conveyed to Tioga, where he joined Sul
Uvan, who had ascended the Susquehan
nah. During most of fhe war general
Clinton was stationed in command ofthe
northern department at Albany. But he
was afterwards present at the, capture of
¦CornwalUs. On the evacuation of New
York, bidding the 'commander in chief an
affectionate farewell, he retired, to his es
tate. Yet was he afterwards caUed by his
fellow citizens to various public services,
being a.commissioner to adjust the boun
dary Une with Pennsylvania, representa
tive, delegate to the convention of 1801
for amending the constitution, and
senator; and in all his labors manifesting
integrity andabijity. He died Dec. 22,
1812, aged 75, and was buried at Little
Britain, in Orange county. His tem
per was affectionate and mild, but capable
of being roused to yehemence^by injuries
.and insults. , His , wife, Mary De Witt,

was of a family, which emigrated frpm
Holland. — Rogers' biOg. diet; . Enc.
Amer.; Lord's Lempr.
CLINTON, George, governor of
Neyir York and vice president of theU.
S., was named aftfer the colonial gpveinpr,
a friend of his'father. He was the young
est son of col.' Charles Clmton, and was
born in Ulster opunty, now Orange,July,
26, 1739. In his .education his father
was assisted by Daniel Thain, a minister
from Scotland. In early life he evinced
the enterprise, which distinguished him
afterwards. He once left his father's
house and sailed in a privateer. On his
return he accoinpanied as a lieutenant his
broihei', James, in the expedition against
fort Frontenac, now Kingston. He af
terwards studied law under ,Wm. Smith
and rose to some distinction in his native
country. As a member of the Colonial
assembly in 1775 and afterwards, he was
a zealous whig. May 15,- 1775 he took
his seat as a -member of congress. He
voted for the declaration of independence, -
July 4,1776; but, beingcalled away by his
appointment as brigadier general before
the instruriient was ready for the signa
ture of the members, his name is not at
tached to it. , March 25, 1777 he was ap
pointed brigadier general of the U. S.7—
At the first election under the constitution
of New York, hewas chpsen, April 20,
1777, both governor and lieutenantgov-
ernor. Accepting the former office, the
latter was filled by Mr. Van Cortlandt.
He was thus , elected chief magistra1:e six
successive periods or for 18 ye£(rs, till
1795, when -he was succeeded by Mr, •
Jay. Being at the head of a powerful
state and in the comriiand of the mflitia,
his patriotic services were of the highest
importance to his country. On the ad
vance of the enemy up the Hudson in-
Oct, 1777 he prorogued the assembly
and proceeded to take command of
fort Montg.omery, where he and fiis
brother, James, made a most gallant de
fence Oct. 6th. He escaped under cover
of the night. The next day^ forts Inde
pendence' and Constitution were evacua
ted. He presided in the conveiition at

274

CLINTON.

Poughkeepsie, June 17, 1788; for delib
erating on the federal constitution, which
he deemed not sufficiently guarded in fa
vor of the sovereignty of each State.
After being 5 years in private life he was
elepted to the legislature. Again in
1801 was he chosen governor ; but in
1804 was succeeded by Mr. Lewis. In
that year he was elevated to the vice
presidency ofthe United States, in which
station he continued till his death. It was
by his casting vote, that the bill for re
newing the bank charter was negatived.
He died at Washington Aprfl 20, 1812,
aged 72. In private life he was frank,
amiable, and warm in friendship. By
his wife, Cornelia Tappan of Kingston,
he had one sbn and 5 daughters, of whom
but orie daughter is still living. His daugh
ter, Maria, wife of Dr. S. D. Beekman,
died in Aprfl 1829; riis second daughter,
Cornelia, wife of E. C. Genet, died
March 1810, aged 35; his third daughter,
EUzabeth, widow of Matthias Talmadge,
died Apr. 1825, aged 45. Another daugh
ter married col. Van Cortlandt^ and died
in 1811. — An oration on his death was
deUvered by Gouverneur Morris.
Of his energy and decision the follow
ing are instances. At the conclusion of
the war, when a British officer was placed
on a cart in the city of New York, to be
tarred and feathered, he rushed in among
the mob with a dravvn sword and rescued.
the sufferer. During the raging of what
was caUed the doctor's mob, when in
consequence of the disinterment of some
bodies for dissection, the houses of the
physicians were in danger of being pulled
down, he called out the miUtia and quelled
the turbulence; The following is an in
stance of the skiU,with which -he diverted
attention from his .growing infirmities.
On a visit to Pittsfield, as he was rising
from a dinner table in his old age, he fell,
but was caught by a lady sitting next to
him. "Thus," said he, "should I ever
wish to fall; — into the hands of the
ladies." — For many years he suffered
much by the rheumatism.^— Deiopfame's
repository ; Encyclopedia Americana;
Lord's Lempriere; Rogers; Marshall,

V. 396; Almon's remembrancer, 1780.
160. CLINTON, Henry, sir, an English
general, son ofthe colonial gov. C, was the
grandson ofthe earl of Lincoln. After
distinguishing himself in the battle " of
Bunker hill in 1775,he was sent unsuccess
fully against New York and Charleston.
He afterwards, in Sept. i776,occupied the
city of New York. Oct., 6, 1777 he as
saulted and took forts Clinton and Mont
gomery. In 1778 he succeeded Howe in
the command at Philadelphia, whence
Washington compelled him to retire.
In May 1780 he took Charleston. It was
he, who negotiated with Arnold in his
treason. He returned to England in
1782 and died Dec. 22, 1795. A few
"months before, he had been- appointed,
governor of Gibraltar. He published a
narrative of his conduct in America, 1782;
observations on Cornwallis' answer,1783;
observations on Stedman, 1784.
CLINTON, DeWitt, i,L.D.,governor
of New York, was the son of gen. James
Clinton, and was born at Littie Britain,
in Orange county, March 2, 1769. He
was graduated at Columbia college,
with the highest honors of his class, in
1786. Although he studied law under
Samuel Jones, he was never much en
gaged in the practice. After having been
private secretary of his uncle, governor
George Clinton, he was elected to the
Senate of New York in 1799. He was
two years before in the house. It was a
time of violent party excitement; he en
tered into the struggle with all his energy
and was one of the champions of democ
racy. At this period, as afterwards, he
was theftiendof education, the sciences,
& the arts, and advocated Uberal grants to
Union college and the common schools.
He exerted himself also to procure the
aboUtion of slavery in New York. As
a member ofthe councfl of appointment,
he claimed a co-ordinate right of nomina
tion, in which claim he and a majority of
the councfl were resisted by' gov. Jay.
By reason of this controversy all the offi
cers of the state held over for one year.
In 1801 the constitution was amended,

CLINTON.

275

allowing the co-ordinate nominatiori. In
July 1 802 he betrayed a want pf moral
and religious principle by fighting a duel
with John Swartwout, arising from polit
ical controversy concerning Mr. Burr. Iri
the same year he was appointed a senator
ofthe United States, in which station he
voted for the treaty with the Creek Indi
ans, guarantying to them the peaceful
possession of their own territory in Geor
gia. In the difficulty with Spain concern
ing the navigation of the Mississippi, he
successfully, in a powerful speech, resisted
the attempt ofthe federal party to plunge
the country into a war. His last vote in the
Senate was to confirm the treaty for the
purchase of Louisiana. He was chosen
mayor of New York, an office of great
emolument and patronage, in 1803, and
annually, — excepting in 1807 and 1810,
— untfl 1815, exerting'himselfto promote
in every way the prosperity of the city.
Under his auspices the historical society
and the academy of arts were incorpora
ted; the city haU was founded ; the or
phan asylum estabUshed ; and the
city fortified. While he vvas mayor,
he was also, during several years, a sen
ator and the heutenant governor, engage-
ing with zeal and with strong ambition in
the political movements of the day. He
could not be "content without being a pro
minent leader. In respect to the war of
1812, he was opposed to its declaration
as inexpedient and injurious ; yet after it
was commenced, he made every effort to
call forth the energies of the country
against the enemy. In 1 8 1 2 he consented
to become the candidate ofthe peace par
ty for the presidency ofthe United States,
and received 89 votes, Mr. Madison ob
taining 128 and being re-elected. By
thus arraying himself against Madison
Cfinton alienated from himself many of
his former friends.
! In 1815 he became a private citizen.
In 1816 he was appointed a canal cpm-
missioner and president ofthe board: he
had been a member ofthe first board,
tvith Gouverneur Morris, Stephen Van
Rensselaer, and others, in 1810, but
nothing was effected until April 18J7,

when in consequence ofthe exertions of
Mr. CUnton a law was passed, authoriz
ing the Erie canal, 363 miles in length, at
an estimated expense of 5 millions of dol-
laVs. Being in the next month elected
governor, in his able message to the leg
islature he called their attention, among
other subjects, to the great interests of
education and of internal improvement,
particularly to the proposed most impor
tant canal. During his administration
of three years a strong party was arrayed
against him. He was however re-elected
in 1820 against Mr. Tompkins. But his
opponents obtained majorities in both
branches of the legislature, so that, when
under the amended constitution, limiting
the term of office to two years, a new
election came on in 1822, Mr. Clinton, in
order to avoid certain defeat, withdrew
from the contest. Yet the various meas
ures ofhis administration had all been
wisely directed to promote the publie
welfare. In regard to education he re
marked to the legislature,"itcaiinotbeioo
forcibly inculcated, nor too generaUy un
derstood, that in promoting the great in
terests of moral and intellectual cultivation
there can be no prodigality ia the appli-
catiori ofthe pubUc treasure."
He acted as president of the board of
canal commissioners in 1823 and 1824 ;
but in this last year the legislature, with
out accusation, removed him from this
place. This flagrant act of injustice to
wards thefather of the .great system of in
ternal improvement roused the .indigna
tion ofthe people. He was immediately
nominated for governor, and was elected
by a majority of 16,000 votes over his
antagonist. During his administration
the Erie canal was in 1825 finished, and
the completion of the work was celebra
ted throughout the state. Re-elected in
1826, he in that year declined the embas
sy to England, which Mr. Adams offered
hiin. At this period the most important
measure, which he recommended, was an
amendment ofthe constitution, making
the- right of suffrage universal. The
change- was made by the people ; but
there were those, who regarded the rq-

276

CLINTON.

CLYMER.

commendation as arising frpm the desire
of gaining popularity. He died sud
denly at Albany Feb, 11,1828, aged 59
yearsyfrom a disease ofthe heart in conse
quence ofa catarrhal affection bf the throat
and chest. His first wife was Maria Frank
Un, the daughter of an eminent merchant of
New "Fork, by whom he had 7 sons and
3 daughters, of whom 4 sons and 2 daugh
ters survived him. His second wife was
Catharine Jones, the daughter of Dr.
Thomas Jones.'
Mr. -CUri-ton was a member and (the
president of -various learned societies, be
fore which he was frequently invited to
deliver discourses, in all which, as, well as
in his official communications, he display
ed the energies of an enlightened and
comprehensive! intellect. His title as the
head "of the free masons was sufficientiy
ridiculous; — "Mpst Excellent General
Grand HighPriest of the General Grand
Royal Arch Chapter of the United
States!" In his person he was taU and
of a commanding aspect. His manners
were distant and reserved; yet was he
cheerflil, and kind, and siricere in friend
ship, - He rose early and toiled incessant-'
ly for the enlargement of his knowledge.
There is no doubt, that hewas ambitious,
and that he was looking higher, than the
office of governor. But his political
measures deserve to be commended as
subservient to the prosperity and honor
of the state;' His failure to, reach the
height, to which he aimed in the national
government, and his sudden removal
from -the vydrld present a new and striking
instance ofthe vanity of earthly pursuits.
They, who fix their aim upon any object
beneath the sky, will be disappointed;' even
the man of ambition, who gains the de
sired and giddy eminence, will not there
be happy. In Hosack's life of Clinton
there is published a letter, addressed to
him by one of the ministers of New York,
deploring his neglect of an important
religious duty, arid ppiriting put a path,
which leads to the unwithering honors of
a future Ufe. He published a discourse
before the N. Y. hist: society, iSll; dis
course before the lit. and phil- society of

N. Y. 1815 ; and in the trans, of that so
ciety remarks on the fishes of the western
waters of N. Y.; discourse before th^
Amer. academy ofthe arts, 1816; a dis
course before the Phi Beta Kappa society,
1823 ; address before the Amer. Bible so
ciety, 1823 and 1325; address to the
freemasons on resigning a high office,
1825. — Hosack's merrioirs ; Amer, ann,
reg. 1827-9.' )>. 151-166; Proudfit's
serm. . CLYMER, George, a patriot ofthe re
volution, was born in Philadelphia in 1739.
He received a good education and acquir
ed a taste for books ; but engaged in mer
cantile pursuits. He early espoused the
cause ofhis country. In 1773 he resolute
ly opposed the sale of tea, serit out by the
British government.. Not a pound was
sold in Philadelphia. In 1775 he was one
of the fi.rst continental treasurers. As a
member of congress, he the next year
signed- the declaration of independence.
In l774 the furniture of his house in
Chester county, 25 miles from Philadel
phia, was destroyed by the enemy. In
this year he was a commissioner to the
Indians to preserve peace and enlist war-^
riors from the Shawanese and Delaware
tribes. In this capacity he resided for a
while at Pittsburg. In 1780 he co-opera
ted with Robert Morris in the establish
ment of a bank for the relief of the coun
try. Again was he a member of congress
in 1780 ; but in 1782 he removed to
Princeton for -the education of his- chfl
dren. After the adoption ofthe constitu
tion he was again a member of congress.
Dn the passage ofthe bill for imposing a
duty on distilled spirits in 1791, fie was
placed at the head of the excise depart
ment in Pennsylvania. The insurrection
made his duties sufficiently disagreeable ;
and he resigned the office. In 1796 he
was sent to Georgia, to negotiate, togeth
er with Hawkins and Pickens, a treaty
with the Cherokee and Creek Indians: He
was afterwards president ofthe Philadel
phia bank and ofthe Academy of fine arts.
He died at ^orrisville, Bucks county,
Jan. 23, 1813, aged 73. — His wife' was
the daughter of Mr. Meredith. Joseph

COBB.

COBBETT,

277

Hopkinson pronounced an eulogy upon
his character. In his various stations he
was remarkable for the punctual and con
scientious discharge of duty. He had a
delicacy of taste and was attached to the
refined pursuits of a cultivated genius.
The improvement ofhis country awaken
ed his constant solicitude. — Goodrich's
lives. COBB, Ebenezer, remarkable for lon
gevity, was born in Plymouth, Mass.,
March 22, 1694, and was ten years con
temporary with Peregrine White of
Marshfield, the first son of New England,
who was born on board the Mayflower
in cape Cod harbor in Nov. -1620. Mr.
Cobb died at Kingston, Dec. 8, 1801,
aged 107 years. His days were passed
in cultivating the earth. His mode of
fiving was simple. Only twice in his life,
and then it was to gratify his brethren or
ajury;'did he substitute an enervating
cup of tea in place of the invigorating
bowl of broth, or the nutritive porringer
of milk! He never used glasses ; but for
several years could riot see to read. He
was ofa moderate stature, stooping in at
titude, having an expanded chest, and of
a fair and florid countenance. He enjoy
ed life in his old age, and in his last year
declared, that he had the same attath-
ment to life as ever. He was a professed
christian. As he approached the close of
his days, he shrewdly replied to some one,
who. made a remark upon his expected dis
solution, "it is very rare, that persons of
my age die." His posterity were not nu
merous, being- only 185, — Columb. cent
Dec. 16, 1801; JV". Y. Sped Dec.'n.
COBBETT, Thomas, an eminent
, minister apd writer, was born at Newbu
ry in England in 1 6.08. He entered the
university of Oxford and was for sonie
time a student there , but in the time of
the plague he was induced to remove and
to become a pupil Of the celebrated Dr.
Twiss of Newbury. In consequence of
his> nonconformity to the established
church he experienced a storm of persecu
tion, which drove him to this country in
1637. He came in the same vessel with
Mr. Davenport. He was soon chosen as

a cplleague to his old friend; Mr- Whiting
of Lynn, with whorii he labored in his
benevolent work ¦ near 20 years. In the
year, in which their salary was reduced
to 30?. each, the town suffered a loss by
disease among the cattle of 3001., vfhich
may be regarded, in the opinion pf Cotton
Mather, as a punishment of their parsi
mony. After the removal of Mr. Nofton
pf Ipswich to Boston and the death of
Mr. Rogers, he became the pastor ofthe
firstchurch in Ipswich. During his min
istry there was a powerful and extensive
revival of religion in the town. Here he
cnntinned in the faithful discharge ofthe
duties of the sacred- office' till his death
Nov. 5, 1685, aged 77. From the re
cords ofthe town it appears, that the ex
penses of the funeral were about 18i., in
cluding 32 gals, of wine at 4s., 621bs. of
sugar, cider and ginger, and some dozen
pairs of gloves. His predecessors were
Ward, Norton,' and Rogers ; his succes-'
sors Hubbard, Dennison, J. Rogers,
Fitch, N. Rogers, Frisbie, and Kimball.
Mr. Cobbett was remarkable not only
for a constant spirit of devotion and for
the frequency of his addresses to heaven,
but for a particular faith, or assurance
in prayer. During the wars with the
Indians one ofhis sons was taken prison
er by the savages. The, aged parent cal
led together a number of his neighbors,
and they mingled their prayers for the de
Uverance of the captive. He was impres
sed with the belief, that the Father of
rnercies had heard the supplications, ad
dressed to him, and hisheartwasnomore
sad. In a few' days his son, -who had
been redeemed ofa sachem at Penobscot
fora red corit, actuaUy returned. He pub
Ushed a work on infant baptism, 1€48,
which is much commended by Cotton,
and desctibed by Mather as "a large, ner
vous, golden discourse"; the civil magis
trate's power in matters of religion mod
estly debated, &c. with an answer to a
pamphlet, called, ill news from England,
by John Clarke of R. I., 1653; a practi
cal discourse of prayer, 8vo, 1654 ; on
the honor due from children to their pa
rents, 1656.-^Magnalia, in. 165-167.

278

COCHRAN.

COCHRAN, John; m. d./s physician,
was born iri 1730 in Chester county,.
Penns, His father, a farmer, came from
the north of Ireland. He studied physic
with Dr. Thompson of Lancaster. In
the French war, which began in 1755,
he served as surgeon's mate in the hospi
tal department. At the close of the war
he settled in Albany, and married Ger
trude Schuyler, the only sister of-gen.
Schuyler. But hesoon removed to New
Brunswick. April 10, 1777, on the re
commendation of Washington, he was
appointed physician and surgeon general
in the middle department ; and in Oct.
1781 director general of the hospitals of
the U. S. After the peace he removed to
New York, where "Washington nomina
ted him the commissioner of loans. He
died at Palatine, Montgomery county,
April 6, 1807, aged 76. The impressions
in early Ufe derived from a religious fa
ther were never obliterated. — Thacher's
med. biog.
CODDINGTON, WilUam, the father
of Rhode Island, was a native, of Lincoln
shire, England. He came to this coun
try as an assistant, or one ofthe magis
trates of Mass., and arrived at Salem in
the Arbella June 12, 1630. He was sev
eral times rechosen to that office; but in
1637, when governor Vane, to whose in
terests he was attached, was superseded
by Mr. Winthrop, he also was left out of
the magistracy. The freemen of Boston,
however, the next .Say chosC him and Mr.
Vane their deputies to the court. Mr.
Coddington expressed his dissatisfaction
in losing the office, which he bad-sustain
ed, by sitting with the deacons at public
worship, instead of placing himself as
usual inthe magistrates' seat, and by go
ing to mount Wollaston on the day of the
general fast to hear Mr. Wheelright.
When the religious contentions ran high
in 1637, he defended Mrs, Hutchinson at
her trial in opposition to governor Win
throp and the ministers; he opposed the
proceedings of the court against Mr.
Wheelwright and others; and when he
found, that his exertions were unavailing,
he relinquished his advantageous situa-

CODDINGTON.
tion as a merchant at Boston, and his
large property and improvements in
Braintree,and accompanied the emigrants,
who at that time left the colony. He re
moved to Rhode Island April 26, 1638,
and was the principal instrument in effect
ing the original settlement of that place.
His name stands first on the covenant,
signed by eighteen persons at Aquetneck,
or Rhode Island, March 7, 1638, forming
themselves into a body politic, to be gov
erned by the laws of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the King of kings. It was soon
found necessary to have something more
definite. Mr. Coddington was appointed
judge, and three elders Were joined with
him. These were directed by a vote of
the freemen, Jan. 9, 1639, to be governed
by the general rules of the word of God,
TN'hen no particular rule was known. But
this plan was changed March 12, 1640,
when a governor, heutenant governor,
and four assistants were appointed.
Mr. Coddington was chosen governor
seven years successively, until the char
ter was obtained, and the island was in
corporated with -Providence plantations.
In 1647 he assisted in forming the body
of laws, which has been the basis ofthe
government of Rhode Island ever since. .
The next year. May 16, 1648, he was
elected governor; but he decUned the of
fice on account ofa controversy, in which
he -was engaged, respecting some lands.
In Sept. he made an unsuccessful attempt
to procure the reception of Rhode Island
into the confederacy of the united colo
nies. In 1651 he went to England and
was commissioned governor of Aquetneck,
island, separate from the rest of the col
ony; but as the people were jealous, last
his commission should affect their laws
and Uberties, he resigned it. He now
retired from public business; but towards
the close pf his life he was prevafled on
to accept the chief magistracy. He was
governor in the years 1674 and 1675. He
died Nov. 1,1678, aged 77,
He appears to have been prudent in his
adnnnistration, and active in prompting
the welfare pf the little commonwealth,
which he had assisted in founding. "While

CODMAN.
he lived in Rhode Island, he embraced
the sentiments of the quakers. He was
a warm advocate for liberty of con
science. A letter, which he wrote in
1674 to the governor of New England,
is preserved in Besse's sufferings of the
quakers, n. 265— 270.— Derfic. of Cal-
lender's hist, disc; Holmes; Winthrop;
Hutchinson, i, 18.
CODMAN, John, a member of the
senate of Mass., died in Boston May 17,
1803, aged 48. He filled the public sta
tions, in which he was placed, with in
tegrity and honor. As a merchant, he
sustained a character ofthe first respec
tability. Endeared to his friends by a
natural disposition, which rendered him
warm in his attachments, he also pos
sessed, by the gift of divine grace, a prin
ciple of benevplence, which drew upon
him the blessings ofthe poor. In his last
moments, more anxious for trie safety of
others than for his own, he resigned him
self to death with the fortitude, calmness,
and triumph, becoming the religion which
he professed. — N. Y. herald. May 25,
1803. COFFIN, Nathaniel, M.D.,a physi
cian in Portland, was the son of Dr. .Na
thaniel Coffin, who came, frpm Newbu
ryport to Portland in 1738 and died ofthe
palsy in Jan. 1766, aged 50, and a descen
dant of Tristram Coffin, -who came to this
country in 1642 and after living at New
bury died at Nantucket in 1681. He, was
born May 3, 1744. His medical studies
were completed in the hospitals of Lon
don. His long Ufe of professional servi
ces was spent in Portland, where he died
Oct. 18, 1826, aged 82. By his wife, the
daughter of Isaac Foster of Charlestown,
he had 1 1 children. He, was the first pres
ident of the Maine rtiedical society. - As a
surgeon he, was particularly skilful and
eminent. As to his reUgion, he united
40 years before his death in the unitarian
faith of Dr. Freeman of Boston, and was
afterwards a member ofthe church pf the
first parish in Portland. — Thacher's med.
biog. COFFIN, John Gorham, m. d., a
physician in Boston, died at Brookfieldin

COGSWEI^L.

279

Jan. 1829, aged 59. He pubUshed a
treatise on cold and warm bathing, 12mo.
1818; on medical education, 1822.
COFFIN, Robert S-, a poet, was the
son of Ebenezer Coffin, minister of
Brunswick,- Maine, and born alxiut the
year 1797. As his father soon removed
to Newburyport, he was there appren
ticed to a printer. He began to indite
poetry at an early age. In, the late war
he was a. sailor, and found himself a
prisoner on board a British frigate. Af
ter the war he pursued his business as a
printer at Boston, New York, and Phila
delphia, sending forth alsp occasional pie
ces of poetry under the name of "the
Boston Bard." In- March 1826 he was
in New York, in sickness and poverty,
and with the wretchedness of self re
proach for his misconduct. He had been
iri habits of intemperance. Some benev
olent ladies and others assisted him to re
turn to his destitute,widowed mother and
sister in Massachusetts. In Boston some
sympathy -was awakened by his distresses.
After many months pf extreme suffering
he died at Rowley May 7, 1827, aged
about 30, and was- buried at Newbury
Old Town,as the place is contradictiously
called by the inhabitants. He was bu
ried by the side of his father, whose ex
ample unhappily was of no benefit, to the
son. His poetical pieces were collected
and pubfished in a volume in 1826. His
last productiori breathed the wish, that
he might die the death of the righteous. —
Spec. Amer. Poet, n, 159.
COGGESHALL, John, first presi
dent of Rhode Island, was a representative
of Boston in the first court in May 1634,
& in various courts afterwards. His name
was written Coxeall. Being exiled from
Mass. in March 1638 he joined his com
panions in persecution at Rhode Island,
and was, chosen governor in 1647. Jer.
Clarke succeeded him -the next year.
His descendants remain to the present
day. — Savage's Winthrop, 1. 130.
COGSWELL, James, D. D., minister
of Windham,Con.,was born in Saybrook,
Jan. 6, 1720. In his childhood his pa
rents removed to Lebanon, where they

280

COGSWELL.

COKE.

remained, till in their old age, he with
filial affection took them to his own house.
He Was graduated at Yale college in
1742, and 'vvhile a member of that institu
tion at the time, of the general revival of
religion through America, he became ex
perimentally acquainted with the trtiihas
it is, iri Jesus. Forming the resolution
to devote his Ufe to the service of the
Redeemer, he was ordained in 1744 pastor
of the first church in Canterbury. In
1771 he wa's removed from this charge.
But early in the followingyear he was in
stalled mhiister of Scotland, a parish in
the town of Windham, where he contin
ued until Dec. 1804. The infirmities of
age now rendering him incapable of
piibUc service, he found a retreat for'
the remainder of his Ufe in the
famUy of his son. Dr. Mason Fitch
Cogswell of Hartford. His own filial pie
ty was now repaid him. He died Jan. 2,
1807, aged 87 years. He was in early
life distinguished for his learning, and he
retained it in his old age. His temper
was cheerful and social, and benevolence
shone in his countenance. Under heavy
affiictions he was submissive, adoring the
sovereignty of God. His pteaching was
generally plain and practical, addressed to
the understandings and consciences ofhis,
hearers. On the great doctrines ofthe gos
pel, which he inculcated, he built his own
hope of a blessed immortality. He pub
lished a sermon preached at the funeral of
Solomon Williams,1776, sec.edit. 1806.—
Panoplist, n. 581-583 ; Piscataqua
evang. mag. ni. 196.
COGS"WELL, Mason Fitch, m.d.,
a physician, was graduated at Yale col
lege in 1730, and, al'ter studying physic,
seltledat Hartford. Injl812 he waschosen
president ofthe Connecticut medical soci
ety, and held the office ten years. He died
Dec. 1830, aged 69. As a physician he
was distinguished^ a:nd as a, surgeon he
had few equals. Dr. Cogswell first formed
the design ofan establishment for the edu
cation of the deaf & dumb in this country.
His sympathy for them had been awa
kened by the unfortunate condition ofhis^
own daughter. The Asylum for the

deaf and dumb, at-Hartford, commenced
by Mr. Gallaudet, is to be ascribed in a
considerable degree to the exertions of
Dr. Cogswell. It is remarkable, that his
own deaf and dumb daughter survived
her father only a few weeks, her heart be
ing broken by the event of his removal.
Mrs.Sigourney,in a piece upon her death,
supposes AUce Cogswefl to say to some
of her relatives,
*^Si5ters I there's music here ;
From countless harps it flows
Throughout this wide, celestial sphere,
IS'or pause nor discord knows. ¦, -
The seal is melted from my ear
By love divine;
And what throqgh life I pinnd to hear
Is mine !--fs mine '.
The warbling of an ever' tuneful choir
And the full deep response of David's golden
lyre.
Did the kind earth hide from me
Her broken harmony,
That thus the melodies of Heaven might roll
And whelm in deeper tides of bliss my won
dering soull"
COKE, Thomas, ll.d, a methodist
bishop in the U. S., was born in Wales in
1747, and educated at Oxford. , At the
university he was a deist. He afterwards
was a curate in Somersetshire. By read
ing Witherspoon on regeneration he was
convinced, that he needed a new heart.
His first interview with Mr. Wesley was
in 1776; he became his assistant in 1730.
In Sept. 1784 he sailed for New "Vork,
and communicated in America the new
plan of government and disciphne, which
Mr. W. had drawn, and which sliU binds
the great body of Methodists. In 1786
he estabUshed missions in the West In
dies. In the subsequent year he repeatedly
visited the U. S.; for the last time in
1804. He sailed for Ceylon with six
preachers Dec. 31, 1813, butdied sudden
ly on his passsge May 3, 1814, aged 66
years,being in the morning found dead in
his cabin. On his passage he wrote
several sermons in Portuguese, that his
usefulness might be incT-eased in Asia.
His pious zeal may well shame the sloth-
fulness of christians, if such they can be
called, who do nothing for the diffusion

COLDEN.

281

ofthe go$pel in the world. He published
a hist, of the West Indies; a commentaty
on the scriptures. — Chr. Visitant.
COLDEN, Cadwallader, a , physician,
botanist, and astronoraer, was the son of
Rev. Alex. Golden of Dunse in Scotland,
and was born Feb. 17, 1688. After hav
ing received a liberal education under the
immediate inspection of his father,he went
to the university of Edinburgh, where, in
1705, he completed his course of academi
cal studies. He then applied himself to
medicine and mathematics, and was emi
nently distinguished by his proficiency in
both. Allured by the fame of William
Penn's colony, he came over to this coun
try about the year 1708; and, having
practised physic for some years with con
siderable reputation, he tetiirned to Eng-
land,which he found greatly distracted in
consequence of the troubles of 1715.
While inLondon hewas introduced to Dr.
Halley, who was so well pleased with a
paper on animal secretions. Written in
that early part of Mr. Colden's Ufe, that
he read it before the royal society, the no
tice of which it greatly attracted. At
this time he formed an acquaintance with
some of the most- distinguished Uterary
characters of England,, with whom he af
terwards corresponded, giving them cu
rious and useful- intelligence respecting a
part of the -vsrorld, then but 'little knowri.
Governor Hunter of New York con
ceived so favorable an opinion of Mr.
Coldeii after a short acquaintance, that he
became his -ivarn^ friend; and offered his
patronage, if he would remove to New
York. In 1718 he therefore settled in
that city. He was the first, jvho fiUed
the office of surveyor general in the colo
ny. He received also the appointment of
masterin chancery. : In 1720, on tfie arri
val of governor Burnet," he was honored
with a seat in the king's councfl of the
province. He afterwards rose to the head
of this board, and in that station succeed
ed to the administration of the. govern
ment in 1760. He had previously ob
tained a patent for a tract of land about
nine mfles from Newburgh pn Hud
son's river; and to this place, which
36

in his patent is called Coldingham, or
Coldenham, he retired with his family
about the year 1755. There he under
took to clear and' cultivate a small part of
the tract as a farm, and his attention was
divided between agricultural and philo
sophical pursuits, and the duties of hia
office bf surveyor general. The spot,
which' he had selected for his retirement,
was entirely inland, and the grounds
were rough. At the time, 'he chose
it for a residence, it was solitary, unculti
vated, and the country around it abso
lutely a wilderness, without roads, or
with such only, as -were almost impassa--
ble. It w-as besides a frontier to the In
dians, whO' cpmmitted frequerit barbari
ties. Yet no entreaties of his friends,
when they thought him in danger frorii
, his savage neighbors, could entice him
from' his favorite home. ' He chose rather
to guard and fortify his house; and amidis-t
dangers, which would have disturbed the
minds of most men, he appears to have
been occupied without any interruption
in the pursuit ofknowledge.
In 1761 he was appointed Ueutenant
governor of New York, and he held this
comriiission during the remainder of his
Ufe, 'being repeatedly at the head ofthe
government in consequence of the death
or absence of several governors. His
political character was renderedvery con
spicuous by the firmness ofhis conduct in
the violent commotions, which preceded
the late revolution. He possessed the
supreme authority, -when the paper, to be
distributed in New York under the Brit
ish stamp act, arrived; and it was put un
der his care in the fortification, called fort
George, which was then standing on bat
tery point. The attempt of the British
parliament to raise a revenue by taxing
the colonies had, in every stage, excited
a spirit of indignation and resentment,
which hafl long before this risen above
the control of government. At length a
multitude, consisting of several thousand
people, assembled under leaders, who
Were afterwards conspicuous revolutiona
ry characters, and determined to make
the lieutenant governor deliver up the

282

COLDEN.

stamp paper to be destroyed . Mr. Golden
had received - intimation of their design,
and prepared to defend with fidelity the
trust, which had devolved upon him.
The fort was surrounded, on the eve
ning of Feb. 15, 1766, by avast concourse
of people, who threatened to massacre
him and his adherents, if the paper was
not deUvered tpthem; and though tlie en
gineers within assured him that the place
was untenable, and a terrified family im
plored hini to regard his safety, he yet
preserved a firmness of mind, and suc
ceeded firially in securing the papers on
board a British man of war, then in the
port. The populace, in the mean time,
unwilling to proceed to extremities, grat
ified their resentment by burning his effi
gy, and destroying his carriages under
his view. His administratipn is rendered
memorable, amongst other things,by sev
eral charters of incorporation for useful
and benevolent purposes. The corpora
tion for the relief of distressed seamen,
called the marine, society ; that of the
chamber of commerce ; and one for the
relief of widows and children of clergymen
will transmit his name with honor to pos
terity. After the return of Mr. Tryon,
the governor, in 1775, he was relieved
from the cares of government. He then
retired to a seat on Long Island, where a
recollection of his former studies and a
few select friends, ever welcomed by a
social and hospitable disposition, cheered
him in his last days. He died Sept. 28,
1776, aged 88, a few hours before New
York was wrapped in flames, which laid
near one fourth part ofthe city in ashes.
He complained neither of pain of body nor
anguish of mind, except on account of the
poUtical troubles, which he had long pre
dicted, and which he then saw over
whelming the country. His wife, Alice
Christie, daughter of the minister of
Kelso in Scotland, died in 1762. His
son, Alexander, who succeeded him as
surveyor general and was also postmaster,
died Dec. 1774, aged 58. His son, David,
also surveyor general, a physician and
man of letters, died in Englaiid July
1784, aged 51. His grandson, Thomas

Golden, died at Coldenham, March, 1826,
aged 72. ' -
Mr. Golden early began to notice the
plants in America, classing and distin
guishing them according to the custom
of botany, then in use. He was attentive
to the climate, and left a long course of
diurnal observations on the thermometer,
barometer,and winds. He cultivated an ac
quaintance with the' natives of thecpQn-
try,&-often entertained his correspondents
with observations on their customs and
manners. He wrote also a history of
the prevalent diseases of the climate ;
and if he was not the first to recommend
the cooling regimen in the cure of fevers,
he was one of its earliest and warm
est advocates, and he opposed with
great earnestness the shutting upin warm
and confined rooms of patients in the
small pox. Though he quitted the prac
tice of medicine at an early day; yet he
never lost sight ofhis favorite study ,being
ever ready to give his assistance to his
neighborhood, and to those, who, from
his reputation for knowledge and expe
rience, applied to him from more distant
quarters. His principal attention, after
the year 1760, was directed from philo
sophical to political matters; yet he main
tained with great punctuality his literary
correspondence, particularly with Linnse-
us, Gronovius of Leyden„Dr. Pottersfield
and Dr. Whittie of Edinburgh, and Mr.
Peter Colfinson, who was a most useful
and affectionate friend, and to whom Mr.
Colden, "though he never saw; him, owed
an introduction to many of the mpst dis
tinguished Uterary characters of Europe.
He was the correspondent pf Dr. Frank
Un, and they regularly communicated to
each other their philosophical & physical
discoveries, particularly on electricity,
which at that time began to excite the at
tention of philosophers. In their letters
are to be observed the first davynings of
many of those discoveries, which Dr.
FrankUn has communicated to the world,
and which have excited so much astonish
ment, and contributed so much to human
happiness. , Ofthe American philosophi
cal society he first suggested the plan. It

COLDEN.
was established at Philadelphia on ac
count of the central and convenient situa
tion of that city.
About the year 1743 a malignant fever,
then called the yellow fever, had raged
for two summers in thecityof NewYork;
and it appears" to have been in all respects
similar to tiiat disorder, which of late
years has proved so very fatal. He com
municated his thoughts to the public on
the most probable cure ofthe calamity in
a little treatise,-in which he enlarged on
the bad effects of stagnating waters, moist
air,'damp cellars, fikhy stores, and dirty
streets; showed how much these nuisan
ces prevailed in many parts of the city;
and .pointed out the remedies. The' cor
poration ofthe city gave him their thanks,
and established a plan for draining and
cleaning the city, which wis attended
with the most happy effects. He_also
wrote and pubfished a treatise on the cure
of the cancer. Another essay of his on
the virtues of the bortanice, or great wa
ter dock, a species of ruiriex, introduced
him- to an acquairitanee. with Linnaeus.
Inl753he publishedsome observations on
epidemical sore throat; which appeared
first at Kingston, Mass. in 1735, and had
spread over a" great part of North Ameri
ca. These observations are repubfished
in the American museum.
When he. became acquainted with
Linnaeus' system of botany, he applied
hiinself with new 'defight to that study.
His description of between 3 and 400 A-
merican plants was pubfished in the acta
Upsaliensia. He also published the his
tory ofthe five Indian nations, & dedica
ted ittogov.Burnet,who had distinguish
ed himself by his Ti^isdom and success in
the management of the Indians. The
book was printed at London in 1747,
with the original dedication, intended,
for gov. Burnet, directed to gen. Ogle
thorpe.' Mr. Colden justly' complained
of this as an unpardonable absurdity of
the printer; who took the further liberty
of adding several Indian treaties, without
his knowledge or approbation. But -the
subject, which drew Mr. Colden at one
time ofhis life from' every other pursuit.

COLE.

283

was what he first published under the ti
tle of the cause of gravitation; which,
being much enlarged, appeared in 1751
under the titie of the principles of action
in matter, to which is, added a treatise on
fluxions. He died in the firm persuasion,
that, however he might ^lave erred in the
deductions; the grand, fundamental prin
ciples of his systeni were true; and that
they would at length be received as suph
in the world. This book cost him many
years of closfe and severe study. He pre
pared anew edition of it with elucidations
of such parts, as had^been subjected to
pbjections, and with large additions. At
the time it was prepared for the press, he
was so far advanced in years, that~he de
spaired of living to see it published. He
therefore transmitted the manuscripts to
Dr. Whittle, professor of medicine in the
university of Edinburgh. The fate of
the work since that time is not known.
Of his other manuscripts many, through
the variety of hands, jntp which they
have fallen,'.have become mutilated, and ,
a great part of some of them is entirely
lost. Among these are an inquiry into
the operation of inteUect in animals, a
piece of great originality; another on the
essential properties of light, interspersed
with observations on electricity,'heat,mat-
ter, &c; an introduction to the study
of physic, in the form of instructions to
one of his grandsons, and dated in the
eighty first year ofhis age; an inquiry in
to the causes,, producing the phenomenon
of metal .medley, swimming in water; an
essay on vitel motion; and, lastiy, obser
vations on Mr. Sniith's history of New
York, comprehending memoirs -of the ,
pubUc transactions, in .which he -was con
versant. He complains of ithe partiality
of Mr. Smith, and supposes; that he is
incorrect in many particulars. — JRee« ;
Amer. museum; nj. 53 — 59.
COLE, James L., a poet, died at Ca
nandaigua, New York, in Feb. 1823, aged
24. His repugnarice tp mercantile busi
ness induced him ,to engage in the study
of the law, in >the practice of which he
estabUshed himself at Detroit in 1821. A
pulmonary ;affection induced hira to return

234

COLEMAN.

COLMAN.

to his father's roof About 3 years before
his death he made a public profession
of his attachment to the^ Savior of the
world. For several of his" hist years he
devoted much time to poetical composi
tion. His productions appeared in the
New York Statesman and in the Ontario
Repository with the signature of "Ad
rian." He had fancy, genius, and taste,
and was virtuous and pious, though be
had occasion to lament the predominance
of his imagination and his propensity to
satire. COLEMAN, WiUiam, editor of the
New York Evenings Post, died July 13,
1829, aged 63. He was for many years
the able editor ofa paper, first in Hamp
shire county, Massa. and then in New
York. ) In his politics he was a zealous
federalist ofthe school of HamUton and
violent in his warfare. His only son,
Willjam Henry, diedat NewYork July
1830, aged 33.
COLLAMORE, John, died in Ken
sington, N.H. Dec. 29, 1825, aged 110
years and 4 months. He was a native of
Ireland-. His hair, which had been sil
very white, became before his death near
ly black.
COLLETON, James, gov. of South
Carolina from 1686 to 1690, came from
Barbadoes and was proprietary and land-
gra-ve. He built a fine house on Cooper
river. His government was very unpopu
lar. There were disputes concerning
tenures of land and quit-rents. In 1687
he called a parUament arid procured alter
ations in the fundamental laws. He of
fended the high church party, who were
inflamed w'ith zeal against the puritans.
In the end he was driven from the gov
ernment and the pro-virice.-^UmV. hist.
XL. 426.
COLLINS, John, gov. of Rhode Isl
and from 1786 to 1789, succeeded Wm.
Greene and was succeeded by A. Fenner.
He was a patriot of the revolution; a del
egate to congress in 1789. He died at
Newport in March 1795, aged 78. Dr.
John Warren of, Boston married his
daughter. COLMAN, Benj.,D.D.,first minister of

the church in Brattle street, Boston, was
born in that town Oct. 19, 1673. He
was distinguished by early piety and zeal
in Uterary pursuits, and in 1692 was grad
uated at Harvard coflege. Beginning to
preach soon afterwards, his benevolent
labors were enjoyed for half a year by the
town of Medford. In July 1695 he em
barked for London. During the voyage
the ship, in which he sailed, was attacked
by a French privateer, and Mr. Colman,
though he had none of the presumptuous
fearlessness of some of his companions,
yet remained upon the quarter deCk, and
fought bravely with the rest. Being tak
en prisoner, he was dressed in rags, and
put into the hold among the sailors.
When he arrived in France, by means of
a Uttle money, which he had preserved,
he was enabled to make som.e imprbve-
ment in his appearance. In a few weeks
he was exchanged, and he soon reached
London. Among the eminent ministers,
with whom he here became acquainted,
were Howe, Calamy, and Burkitt. Be
ing called to preach in different places, he
supplied a small congregation at Cam
bridge for a few weeks, and was succeeded
by the learned James Pierce,- who by his
matheiriatical, knowledge attracted the
notice of Mr. Whiston, and, becoming his
friend, imbibed his Arian sentiments. He
afterwards preached about two years at
Bath, where he becarne intimately ac
quainted with Mrs. Rowe, then Miss
Singer, and admired her sublime devotion
as weU as ingenuity and wit, and After
wards corresponded with- her.
A new society having "been formed in
Brattle street, Boston, the principal gen
tlemen, who composed it, sent him an in
vitation to return to his native coun
try, and to be their minister. Tfie pecu
liar constitution of this Church, differing
from that of the other churches in New
England, rendered the founders desirous,
that he should be ordained in London.
They approved of the confession of faith,
composed by the Westminster assembly;
but they were averse to the pubUc rela
tion of experiences, then practised previ
ously to admission into the churches, aiid

COLMAN,

285

they wished the scriptures to be read
on the sabbath andthe Lord's prayerto be
used. These innovations, the founders
befieved, would excite alarm, and to avoid
difficulty Mr. Colman was ordained by
some dissenting ministers in London Aug.
4, 1699. He arrived at Boston Nov. 1,
and Dec. 24th the new house of worship
was opened and Mr. Colman preached in
it for the first time. From the year 1701
he had for his assistant about two years
and a half Eliphalet Adams, afterwards
minister of New London. WilUam
Cooper was ordained his colleague May
23, 1716, and after his death in 1743 his
Son, Dr. Cooper, was settled in his place.
Dr. Colman died Aug. 29, 1747, aged 73.
His 3 , wfves were Jane Clark, widow
Sarah ' Clark, and widow Mary Frost,
sister of sir Wm.- PeppereU. He left no
son. One daughter married Mr. Turefl,
another Mr. Dennie.
He was an emriiently useful and good
man, and was universaUy respected for
his learning and talents. He was distin
guished as a preacher. TaU and erect
in stature, of a benign aspect, presenting
in his whole appearance something amia
ble arid venerable, and having a peculiar
expression in his eye ; he was enabled to
interest his hearers. His voice was har
monious, and his action iriimitable. He
was ranked among the first ministers- of
New England. Jesus Christ was the
great subject of his preaching. He dwelt
upon the Redeemer in riis person, natures,
offices, & benefits; in his eternal Godhead;
in, the cpvenants of redemption and' of
grace ; and upon the duties pf natural re
Ugion as performed only by strength de
rived from the Savior and as acceptable
xinly for his sake. He had a happy way
of introducing large paragraphs of scrip
ture to enrich his discourses, and he fre
quently embelUshed them by aUusioUs to
the historical parts of the sacred volume.
He could delight by the gracefulness of
his manner, and never by boisterous and
violence transgressed the decorum ofthe
pulpit ; yet he knew how to- preach 'with
pungency, and could array the terrors of
the Lord before the 'children of iniqui

ty. It may excite surprise at the present
day, that the practice of reading the
scripture and repeating the Lord's prayer,
as a part of the services of the sabbath,
shouU have excited opposition ; but many
were offended, though it was not long
before a number of other churches fol
lowed in the stejis of Brattle street. The
ground of opposition to this new church
was the strong features of episcopacy,
which it was imagined, were tp be dis
cerned in it.
In the various duties ofthe pastoral office
Dr. Cplman was diligent and faithful.
He catechised the children ofhis congre
gation, addressed them upon the concerns
of their souls, and as they advanced in
years was urgent in his persuasions to in
duce them to approach the table ofthe
Lord. His church had intrusted him
with authority to judge of the qualifica
tions of communicants, and it was thought
by "many, that he was too free in his ad
missions to the supper. But he was far
from thinking, that a competent knowl
edge of Christianity and a moral fife were
sufficient qualifications. He thought, that
there shouldbe a profession of repentance
& faith, with the'purpose &promise of obe
dience through the influence of the divine
Spirit ; and believed, that the purity of
the (iriurChes would be corrupted, if there
was an indiscriminate arid general admis
sion to the sacrament. While he entertain
ed the highest veneration for the fathers of
Ne)v England, and was very friendly to
confessions of faith, and to the publi
cation of them on particular' occasiops, he
used to say, that the bible was his plat
form. Iri his sentiments upon church
government he incfined towards the pres-
byterians. He was opposed to the prac
tice, adopted by the churches, of sending
for. counsel wherever they pleased, be
lieving the neighboring churches to be
the proper counsellors. As he conceived,
that aU baptized perspns, who made a cred
ible profession of the reUgion of Christ,
were the members of the church, he
though that they should not be prohibited
from voting in the choice of a minister. At
the same time, he cbnsidered them as very

286

COLMAN.

reprehensible, if they neglected to ap
proach the table ofthe Lord.
Such was the estimatiori, in which
Dr. Colman was held, that after the
death of Mr. Leverett in 1724, he was
chosen his successor as president of Har
vard cpllege ; but he declined the appoint
ment. He however rendered great ser
vice to the institution. He procured bene
factions for it, and took indefatigable pains
in forming rules and orders relating to
the settiement of the Hollis professor
of divinity in Cambridge. His carealso
extended to Yale college, fbr which he
procured many valuable books. In 1732
he addressed a letter to Mr. Adams of
New London, one of its trustees, desir
ing him to vindicate that college from the
charge of Arminianism. By his acquain-
tarice in England his usefulness was much
increased. He received from Samuel
Holden of London thirty nine sets of the
practical works of Mr. Baxter in four
maSsy volumes, foUo, to distribute among
our churches. He procured also benefac
tions for the Indians at Houssatonnoc,
and engaged with earnestness in promo
ting the objects of that mission, which was
intrusted to the care of Mr. Sergeant.
But his labors were not confined to what
particularly related to his profession. He
was employed, in his younger as well as
in his latter years, on weighty affairs by
the general court. No minister has since
possessed so great influence. His atten
tion to civil concerns drew upon him cen
sure and at times insult ; but he thought
himself justified in embracing every op
portunity for doing good. He knew the
interest of his country and was able to
promote it ; and he could not admit, that
the circumstance of his being a minis
ter ought to prevent his exertions.
Still there were fewmen, more zealous and
unwearied in the labors of his sacred
office. His character was singularly ex
ceUent. Having imbibed the true spirit
of the gospel, he was cathoUc,'moderate,
benevolent, ever anxious to promote the
gospel of salvation. He was wilUng to
sacrifice every thing, but truth, to peace.
Once a seventh day baptist from Rhode

Island visited him to dispute concerning
the sabbath. Ha-ving heard his argu
ments patiently and ariswered him mildly,
and preceiving, that the disputatious hu
mor of his ppponent was in no degree
softened, he declined a continuance of
the controversy by offering to direct him
to a person, who would be a proper an
tagonist in his own way. After a life coriT
spicuous for sanctity and usefulness, he
met the king of terrors without fear. In
the early part of his life his health was
very infirm ; sickness frequentiy reminded
hira of his mortafity ; and he made it his
constant care to Uve in readiness for death,
and ever kept his -will made, that he
might not be obliged to attend to world
ly concerns on his dying bed. With a
feeble constitution, he yet was able to
preach on the very sabbath before he died.
His life was written by Mr. TureU, who
married his daughter, and published in
8vo, iu 1749.
He pubUshed an artillery sermon in
1702 ; trie government and improvement
of mirth in three sermons, 1707; impre
cation against the enemies of God lawful;
practical discourses on the parable of the
ten virgins, 8vo, 1707 ; a poem on the
death pf Mr. Willard ; the ruler!s piety
and duty ; a sermon on the union of Eng
land and Scotland, 1708 ; on seeking God
early, 1713 ; the heinous nature of the
sin of murder; on the incomprehensible-
ness of God, in four sermons, 1715 ; the
precious gifts of the ascended Savior ;
the blessing and honor of fruitful moth
ers ; divine compassions magnified ; fu
neral sermons on Abigail Foster, 1711 ;
Elizabeth Wainwright, 1714 ; Isaac
Addington, and Thomas Bridge, 1714;
Elizabeth First, 1716; Messrs. Brattle
and Pemberton, and Grove Hirst, 1717 ;
governor Dudley, 1720 ; William Harris,
1721 ; madam Steel, David Stoddard,
and Increase Mather, 1723 ; president
Leverett, 1724 ; Cotton Mather, 1728 ;
Solomon Stoddard and WilUam Welsted,
1729; Simeon Stoddard, 1730; Thomas
Hollis, 1731 ; pn his eldest daughter, 1735;
Thomas Steel, 1736 ; Peter Thacher,
1739 ; Sainuel Holden, 1740 ; William

COLMAN.

COLUMBUS.

287

Cooper, 1743; -Francis Shirley, 1746;
the warnings of God unto young people,
1716 ; a sermon for tho reformation of
manners; our fathers' sins confessed with
our own ; a thanks-giving sermon for the
suppression ofthe rebeUion in Great Brit
ain ; at the ordinatian of William Cooper,
1717 ; the rending ofthe vafl ofthe tem
ple ; five sermons on the strong man
armed ; the pleasure of reUgous worship
in our public assemblies ; an election ser
mon, 1718 ; the blessing of Zebulun and
Issachar ; reason for a market in Boston,
1719; early piety inculcated, 1720; early
piety. towards men, 1721 ; some observa
tions on inoculation ; Jacob's vow, 1722 ;
Moses a witness to Christ, a sermon at
the baptism of Mr. Monis, 1722 ; an elec
tion sermon, 1723 ; God deals with us
as rational creatures ; the duty of parents
to pray for their children ; the doctririe
and law of the holy sabbath, 1725 ; a ser
mon to pirates, 1726 ; a sacramental dis
course, 1727 ; at the ordination of Mr.
Pemberton of New York ; on the acces
sion of king George II ; five sermons on
the great earthquake ; twenty sacranieri-
tal sermons on the glories of Christ 8vo,
1728 ; the duty of young people to give
their hearts to God, four sermons ; death
and the grave without any order ; a
treatise on family, worship ; on governor
Belcher's accession,- 1730 ; the grace giv
en us in the preached gospel, 1732 ; God
is a great king, 1733; the fast, which
God hath chosen, 1734; a dissertation
on the three first chapters of Genesis,
1735 ; a dissertation on the image of God,
wherein man was created, 1736; mer
chandise and hire holiness to the Lord ;
righteousness and compassion the ruler's
duty and character ; the divine compas
sions new every morning, 1787 ; waiting
on God in o,ur straits and difficulties, 1737 ;
at the artillery election, 1738; the un-'
speakable gift, 1739 ; the withered hand
restored ; pleasant to see souls flying tp
Christ, 1740; on goverrior Shirley's acr
cession, 1741 ; the word of God magni
fied by him 1742 ; : the glory pf God's
power in the firmament ; satan's fiery
darts in hellish suggestions,in several ser

mons, 1744 ; at the ordination of Samuel
Cooper, 1746.- Turell's life and char.
of Colman; Thacher's cent. ser. ; Hop
kins' hist, of Houssatonnoc Indians.
COLUMBUS, Christopher, the first
discoverer of the new world, was born in
Genoa, about the year 1436. His fath
er, Domenico Colombo, wasa manufac
turer of woollen stuffs in Genoa, and rath
er poor. When the son went to reside
in Spain he phanged the name of Co-
lumbo to Colon, as more conforma
ble to the Spanish idiom, writing his
name Cristoval Colon. He was ed
ucated in the sciences of geometry
and astronomy, which form the basis of
navigation, and was well versed in cos
mography, history, & philosophy, having
studied some time at Pavia. To equip
himself more completely for riiaking dis
coveries he learned to draw. He entered
upon a seafaring life at the age of 1 4.
During one of his voyages the ship, in
which he sailed, took fire in an engage
ment with a Venetian galley, and by the
help ofan par he swam two leagues to
the' coast of Portugal near Lisbon.
He married at Lisbon Dona Felipa
Monis de Palestrello, the daughter ofan
old Italian seaman, from whose journals &
charts he-received the highest entertain
ment. The Portuguese were at this time
endeavoring to find a way to India around
Africa ; they had been pursuing this ob
ject for half a century without attaining
it, and had advanced, no farther along the
coast of Africa than just to cross the eqUa-
tor, when Columbus Conceived his great
design of finding India in the west. He
knew from observing lunar ecUpses, that
the earth was a , sphere, and concluded,
that it might be travelled over from east
tp west, or from west to east. He also
ho'ped, that between Spain and India some
islands would be found, which would be
resting places in his voyage. Some learn
ed writers had asserted, that it was pos
sible to effect wb'at^he was now resolved to
accomplish. So early as the year 1474 he
had communicated his ideas in writing, to
Pan! Fpscanelli, a learned physician of
Flprence, who encouraged his design,

288

COLUMBUS.

sending him a chart, in which he had
laid down the supposed capital of China
but littie more, than two thousand leagues
westward from Lisbon. The stories of
mariners, that carved wood, a covered
canoe, and human bodies of a singular
complexion had been found after west
erly winds, also contributed to settie his
j udgment. -Having established his theory
and fortned his design, he now began to
think ofthe means of carrying it into ex
ecution. Deeming the enterprise too
great to be Undertaken by any but a sov
ereign state, he appUed first, according to
Herrera, to the repubUc of Genoa, by
whom his project was treated as visiona
ry. Ferdinando Columbus in his Ufe of
his father says nothing of this appUcation,
but represents, that the plan was first
proposed to John II, king of Portugal,
because his father lived under him. This
king had encountered such vast expense
in fruitless attempts to find a way to India
around the African continent, that he
was eritirely indisposed to give to Colum
bus the encouragement, which he wished
to obtain. By the advice however of a
favorite courtier he privately gave orders
to a ship, bound to the island of cape de
Verd, to attempt a discovery in the west ;
but the navigators, through igriorance
and want of enterprise, effected nothing,
and on reaching their destined port turned
the project of Columbus into ridicule.
When he became acquainted with this
dishonorable conduct of the king, he
quitted Portugal in disgust, and repaired
to Ferdinand, kirig of Spain. He had
previously sent his brother,Bartholomew,
to England to solicit the patronage of
Henry VII, but on his passage he was ta
ken by pirates, and he was detained a
number pf years in captivity. The pro
posal of Columbus I was referred to the
consideration ofthe most learned men in
Spain, who rejected it for various reasons,
one of which was, that if a ship should
sail westward on a globe, she would neces
sarily go down on the opposite side, and
then it would be impossible to return, for
it would be Uke climbing, up a hill, which
no ship could do with the strorigest wind.

But by the influence of JuanPerez,a Span
ish priest, and Lewis Santangel, an officer
of the kirig's household, queen Isabella
was persuaded to listen to his request,and,
after he had been twice repulsed, recalled
him to court, , She offered to pawn her
jewels to defray the expense ofthe equip
ment; amounting to more than 2,500
crowns ; but the money was advanced by
Santangel. Thus after seven years'
painful solicitation he obtained the pat
ronage, which he thought ofthe highest
importance in executing his plan.
By an agreement with their catholic maj
esties of Apr. 17, 1492, he waste be vice
roy and admiral of all the countries, which
he should discover, and was to receive
one tenth part of the profits, accrueing
from their productions and commerce.
He sailed from Palos in Spain- Friday,
Aug. 3, 1492, with three vessels, two pf
which were caUed caravels, being smafl
vessels, without decks, except perhaps at
the ends; having on board in the whole
90 men. He might have deemed small
vessels better fitted for the purposes of
navigation in uriknown sea's. He him
self commanded the largest vessel, called
Santa Maria. He left the Canaries Sept,
6, and when he was about two hundred
leagues to the west, the magnetic nee
dle was observed, Sept. 14th. to vary
from the polestar: This phenomenon
filled the seamen with terror, but his fer
tile genius by suggesting a plausible rea
son in some degree quieted their appre
hensions. After being twenty days at
sea without the sight of land, some of
them talked of throwing their commander
into the ocean. AU his talents were re
quired to stimulate their hopes. At length,
when he was almost reduced to the ne
cessity of abandoning the enterprise, at
ten o'clock in the night of Oct. 11th, he
saw a Ught, which was supposed to be on
shore, and early the next morning, Fri
day Oct. 12tb, land was distinctly seen,
which proved to be Guanahana, one of
the Bahama islands. Thus he effected
an object, which he had been 20 years in
projecting and executing. At sunrise
the boats were manned and the adveo-

COLUMBUS.

289

turers rowed towards the shore with mu
sic and in martial pomp. The coast was
covered With people, who were over
whelmed with astonishment. Columbus
went first on shore, and was followed
by his men. They aU, kneeling doWn,
kissed the ground with tears of joy, and
returned thanks for their successful voy
age: This island, which is in nor^h lat
itude 25", and is sometimes called Cat
island, was named b.V Columbus San Sal
vador. Having discpvered a number of
other islands, and among them Cuba, Oct.
27th and Hispaniola Dec. 6th, he began
to think of returning. His large ship
having been wrecked on the shoals of
Hispaniola, he built a fort with her tim
ber, and left behind him a colony of 39
men at the port, which he called Nay-
idad, the riativity, because he entered it
on Christmas day. From this place lie
safled Jan. 4, 1493. Duririg his passage,
when threatferied with destruction by a
violent storm,- he wrote an account ofhis
discoveries ort pai'chment, which he
wrapped in a piece of oiled cloth and en
closed in a cake of wax. This he put in
to a tight cask and threw it into the sea
with the hope, that it might be driven
ashbre, and that his discoveries might not
be lost, ifthe vessel should sink. But he
was providentially saved from destruction
and arrived safe at Lisbon March 4th. On
the fifteenth he reached- Palos, and was
received with the highest tokens pf hon
or by the king and queen, who now
made him admiral of Spain.
He sailed on his second voyage to the
new world Sept; 25, 1493, having a fletS.
of three ships of war, and fourteen carar
vels, arid about 1,500 people, some of
vyhom were of the first families in Spain.
The pope had granted, by bull, dated
May 3, 1493, in full right to Ferdinand
and Isabella aU the countries from pole to
pole beyond a Une drawn one hundred
leagues west , of the Azores ; and their
catholic majesties had confirmed to Co
lumbus his privileges, making the office
of viceroy and' governor of the Indies
hereditary in his family. On the Lbrd's
* day, Nov. 3, he discovered an- Island,
37

which in honor of the day he Called Do
minica. After discovering Marigalante,
so called in honor ofhis ship, Guadaloupe,
Montserrat, Antigua, and other islands,
he entered the port of Navidad, on the
north side of Hispaniola, -where' he had
left his colony ; but not a Spaniard was to
be seen, and the fort was entirely demo
lished. - Th^ men, whom he had left in
this place, had seized the provisions ofthe
riatives and their wonien, and exhibited
srich rapacity, as to excite the indigna
tion of the Indians, who had in pbnse-
querice burned the fort and cut them off.
Dec. 8th, he landed at another part of
the same island hear a rock, which was a
convenient situation for a fort ; and here
he buflt a town, which he called IsabeUa,
and which was the first town, founded
by Europeans in the new world. He dis
covered Jamaica May 5, 1494, where fie
found water and other refreahmerits for
his men, pf which they were in the great:-
est want. On his return to Hispaniola
Sept.29;hemet his brother, Bartholomew,
from whom he had been separated thirteen
years; -and whom hesuppbsed to hp dead.
His brother had brough-t suppUes from
Spain in three ships, which he comma.n-
ded, and arrived at a tihae; when his pru
dence, experience,' and brafery were pe
culiarly needed; for Columbus on his
return found the colony in the utmost
confusion. Their licentiousness had pro
voked the natives, who had united against
their invaders, and- had actually killed a
number ofthe Spaniards'. He collected
his people, and prevented the destruc
tion, which threatened them. In th?>
spring of 1495 he carried on a war against
the natives, and with two hundred men,
twenty horses and as many dogs, he de
feated an army of Indians,. which has beea
estimated at one hundred thousands : In
about a year he-teduced the natives to
submission.. But while Colunsbus -wufi
faithfuUy erriploying riis talents to pro
mote .the interests of his sovereign, his
enemies were endeavoring to Tv,in,his,
character.. He was a foreigner, and the
proud Spaniards could not patiently see-
him elevated to such honors. He dfi not.

290

COLUMBUS.

require so enorriibus a tribute of the In
dians, as some of his rapacious fellow ad
ventures would impose, and (somplaints
against him were entered with the king's
ministers. The disoipUne, which he
maintained, was represented as severity,
and the punishments, which he inflicted,
as cruelty ; and it was suggested, that he
was aiming to -make himself independent
These whispers- excited .suspicion inthe
jealous mind of Ferdmand, and Columbus
was reduced to the necessity of returning
to the Spanish court, that hemight vindi-
eate himseff from these false charges.
After placing the affairs of the colony in
the best- possible condition, and leaving
the supreme power in the hands of his
brother, Bartholomew, he sailed from Isa
bella March 10, 1496, having with hira
thirty Indians. He first visited several
islands, and, leaving the West Indies April
20, he arrived at Cadiz, after a dangerous
and tedious voyage, June 1 1th. His pre
sence at court, with the influence of the
gold and other valuable articles, which he ,
carried with him, removed in some degree
the suspicions, which had been gathering
in the mind ofthe king. But his enemies,
though silent, were not idle. They threw
such obstructions in his way, that it was
near two years, before he could again set
sail to continue his discoveries. , Fonseca,
bishop of BadaJQs, who in Sept. 1497
was reinstated in the direction of Indian
affairs, was his principal enemy. It -Was
he, who patronised Amerigo,
May 30, 1498. he sailed from Spain on
his third voyage with six, ships. At the
Canary islands he despatched three of
his ships -with provisions to Hispaniola,
and with the other three he kept a course
more to the south'. He disc9Vered Trin
idad July 31, and the continent at Terra
Firma on the first of August. Having
made many other discoveries he entered
,tbe port of St. Domingo in Hispaniola
A.ug. 30. By the directipn of Columbus
his brothef had begun a settlement in this
place, and.it was now made the capital.
Its n.ame was given tp it in honor of Do
minic,, the father of Columbus. He
ibund itbs colony in a state, which awak

ened his most serious apprehensions,
Francis Roldan, whom he; had left chief
justice, bad excited a considerable num
ber of the' Spaniards to mutiny. He had
attempted to seize the magazine and fort,
but failing of success, retired to a distant
part -ofthe island. Columbus had npt a
force sufficient to subdue him, and he
dreaded the effects of a civil war, which
might put it in the power of the Iijdians,
to destroy the whole colony. He had re
course therefore to address. By promi
sing pardon to such as should submit,'by
offering the' liberty of return to Spain,
and by offering to re-establish Rpldan in
his office he in Nov. dissolved this danger
ous combination. Some ofthe refractory
were tried and put to death.
As soon as his affairs would permit, he
sent some of his ships to Spain with a
journal of his voyage, a chart of the coast
which he had discovered, specimens of
the gold -and pearls, and an account of
the insurrection. Roldan at the same
trine sent home his accusations against
Columbus. The suspicions of Ferdinand
were revived, and they were fomented by
Foriseca- and others. It was resolved to '.
send to Hispaniola a judge, who should
examine facts upon the spot. Francis de
Bovadilla was appointed for this purpose,
with full powers lo supersede Columbus,
if he found him guilty. When he arrived
at St. Domingo, all dissentions were com
posed in the island, effectual provision was
madefor working the mines, & the author
ity of Columbus over the Spaniards & In-
dians.was wefl estabUshed. But Bovadilla
•Was determined to treat him as a criminal.
He accordingly took -poss^ssipn. of his
house and seized his effects, and assum
ing the government ordered Columbus
to be arrested in Oct., 1500, and loaded
with irons. He was thus sent home as a
prisoner. The captain of the vessel, as
soon as he was clear of the island, offered
to release him from his fetters. "No," said
Columbus,"! -vyear' these irons in conse
quence of an order of my sovereigns, ahd
their command alone shaU set me at liber
ty." He arrived at Cadiz Nov. 5, &Deo.
17, was set atliberty by the command of

COLUMBUS.

291

Ferdinand and invited to court. He vin
dicated his conduct and brought the most
satisfying proofs of the rrialevolence of
his enemies. But though his sovereigns
promised to recal Bovadilla, they did not
restore Columbus to his government.
Their jealousy was not yet entirely re
moved. In the beginning of 1502 0 vando
was sent out, governor of Hispaniola, and
thus a new proof -was given ofthe sus
picion and injustice of the Spanish king.
Columbus, still intent on discovering a
passage to India, sailed on his fourth voy
age from Cadiz May 9, 1502 with four
small vessels, the largest ofvrhichwas
but of seventy tons. He arrived off St.
Domingo, June 29, but Ovarido refused
him admission into the port. A fleet of
ejghteenrsail was at this time about set
ting safl for Spain. Columbus advised
Ovando to stop them for a few days, as
he perceived the prognostics of an ap
proaching storm, but his salutary warn
ing was disregarded. The fleet sailed,
and ofthe 18 vessels, but two or three es
caped the hurricane. In this general wreck
perished- Bovadilla, Roldan, and the oth
er enemies of Columbus, together with
the immense wealth, which, they had un
justly acquired. Columbus under thelee
of 'the shore rode out the tempest with
great difficulty. He soon left Hispaniola,
-and discovered the bay of Honduras,
He then proceeded to cape Gracias a Dios
rand thence along the coast to the isthmus
of Darien, where he hoped but in vairi to
find a passage to the great sea beyond -the
continent, which he believed would con
duct him to India. Nov. 2 he found a
harbor, which on account of its beauty
he cafled Porto Bello. He afterwards
met with such violent storms, as .threat
ened his leaky vessels with destruction.
One of them, he lost and the other he was
obhged to abandon. With the two re
maining ships he with the utmost difficul
ty reached the island of Jamaica in l503,,
being obliged to run them aground to pre
vent them from sinking. His ships were
ruined beyond the possibility of being
repaired, and to convey an account of his
situation tp Hispanipla seemed - impracti

cable. But his fertile genius discovered
the only expedient, which was left him.
He obtained from the natives two of their
canoes, each formed out a of single tree. In
these two of -his most faithful friends of
fered to set out on a voyage of above 30
leagues. They- reached Hispaniola in
ten days, but they soUcited relief for their
companions eight months in vain. Ovan
do was governed by a mean jealousy of
Coluriibus, and he was wiUing, that he
should perish. In the mean time Colum
bus had to struggle with the greatest dif
ficulties. His seamen threatened his life
for bringing them into such trouble ; they
mutinied, seized a number of boats, antj
went to a distant part of the island ; the
natives murmured at the long residence
ofthe Spaniards among them and "began
to bring in their provisions with reluc
tance. But the ingenuity and foresight
of Columbus again reUeved him from
his difficulties. He knew that a total
eclipse ofthe moon was near. On
the day before it occurred he assembled
the principal Indians, and told, them that
trie-Great Spirit in heaven was angry with
them for withdrawing their assistance
frbm his servants, the Spaniards; that he
was about to, punish them ; and that as a
sign of 'his wrath the moon would be ob
scured that very night. As the eclipse
came on, they ran to Columbus, loaded
with provisions, and entreated his inter
cession with the great Spirit'to avert the
destruction, which threatened them.
From ibis time the natives were very
ready to bring their provisions, and they
treated the Spaniards with the greatest
respect. , '
At the end of eight months Ovando
sent a small vessel-to Jamaica to spy out
the,£oridition of Columbus. Its approach
inspired the greatest joy; but the.officer,
after delivering a caskof wirie, two flitch
es of bacon, and a letter of compliment,
immediately set safl on his return. To
quiet the murmurs, which were rising,
Columbus told bis cbUipanions, that he
himself had refused to return in the cara
vel, because it was too srnaU to take the
whole of them ; but that another vessel

292

COLUMBUS.

would soon arrive to take them pff. The
niutineers from a distant part of the island
were approaching and it was necessary
to oppose them with force. Columbus,
being afflicted with the gout, sent his
brother,Bartholomew, against them, who
on their refusing to submit attacked them,
and took their leader prisoner. At length
a vessel, which was purchased by one of
his friends, who went to Hispaniola for
his relief, came to Jamaica and released
him from his unpleasant situation. On
his arrival at St. Domingo Aug 13, 1504,
Ovando received him with the most
studied respect, but as he soon gave new
proofs of malevolence,Columbusprepared
for his return to Spain. In Sept. he set
sail, accompanied by his brother and son,
and after a long voyage, in which he en-
count?red violent storms, and after sail
ing seven hundred leagues with jury
masts he reached the port of St. Lucar
in Dec. He now was informed of the
death of his patroness, Isabella. He soon
repaired to court, and after spending
about a year in fruitless solicitation for
his violated rights,and after caUing in vain
upon a sovereign to respect his engage
ments, he died at Vallaflolid May 20,
1506, aged about 70, leaving 2 sons, Don
Diego and Ferdinand. His body was
deposited in the convent of St .Francisco;
and in 1513 removed to the monastery of
the Carthusians at Seville, and thence in
1536 to the city of St. Domingo in His-
panibla,where it was placed in the chancel
of the cathedral. In 1795, when the
Spanish part of Hispaniola was ceded to
France, the bones of Columbus were
transported to the Havana, where they
now lie. At this city a eulogy was pro-
ttmrmd on the occasion by an aged priest,
Jan. fl7, J796 in the presence of nearly a
ihundred tho.wsand people.
In the ehaFac«ter of Columbus were oom-
hined the quaifities, which constitute
greatness.. He jppssess^d a strong and
penetrating mind. He knew the sciences,
-.as ,they ,were taught at the period, in
which he lived. Hewas fond of great
.enterprises^ and capable %f prosecuting
jherowith the roost unwearied patience.

He surmounted difficulties, which would
have entirely discouraged persons of less
firmness and constancy of spirit. His in
vention extricated him from many per
plexities, and his prudence enabled him to
conceal or subdue his own infirmities,
whilst he took advantage of' the passions
of others, adjusting his behavior to his
circumstances, temporizing, or acting
with vigor, as the occasionrequired. He
was a man of undaunted cburage and
high thoughts..
The following instance ofthe ingenuity
of Columbus in vindicating his claim to
jespect for his discoveries is related by
Peter Martyr. Not long before his (Jeath,
at a public dinner, the nobility insinuated
that his discoveries were rather the result
of accident than of well concerted meas
ures. Columbus beard them decry his
services for some tiine,butat length called
for an egg, and asked them to set it up
right on its smaller end. When they
confessed it to be impossible, be flatted its
shell by striking it gently upon the table
tifl it stood upright. The company im
mediately exclaimed with a sneer, " any
body might have done it." "Yes," said
Columbus, "but none of you thought of
it. So I discovered the Indies, and now
every pilot can steer the same course.
Remember the scoff3,which were thrown
at me before I put my design in execution.
Then it was a dream, a chimera, a delu
sion; now it is what any body might have
done as well as I." The signature to his
wfll is as follows : - S.
S. A.S.
X. M. Y.
ELALMIKANTE.
Instead of the last line. The Admiral,
he sometimes put the words
XPO PERENS,
Or Christo Ferens. ' The other letters
' have not been explained. They are sup
posed to be the ciphers ofa pioUs ejacula
tion to Christ and Mary and Josephus, as
Sancta Maria, Salva me &c. Mr. Irving
has not accounted fbr the disposition of
the letters in the form of a pyramid. It
was probably with reference to the name
Colori, Cdlonna in Italian, a column.

CONANT.

CONNECTICUT.

293

Columbus was tafl of stature, large and
muscular, long visaged, of a majestic as
pect, his nose hooked, his eyes grey, ofa
clear complexion, and somewhat ruddy.
He was witty and elegant His conver
sation was discreet,which gained him the
affections of those, with whom he had to
deal, and his presence attracted respect,
having au air of authority and grandeur.
He was always temperate in eating
and drinking and modest in his dress.
He understood Latin and composed ver
ses. In reUgion he was a very zealous and
devout cathoUc. He left two sons, Die
go and Ferdinand. The latter entered
the church: he collected the richest li
brary in Spain, consisting of 12,000 voir
umes, which he bequeathed to the cathe
dral church of Seville, where he resided.
Diego was for a time admiral and gover
nor of Hispaniola.
Colunibus was ever faithful to his
prince. How far the artifices, to which
he had recourse in the dangerous circum-
stances,.in which he was placed, can be
justified, it inight not be easy to decide.
He is represented as a persori, -who al-
-wgys entertained a reverence for the Dei
ty, and confidence in his protection. His
last words were, "into thy hands, 0,
Lord, I commend my spirit." His life
was written by his son Ferdinand. His
personal narrative, translated by Samuel
Kettefl, was pubfished at Boston; Svo.
1 827; his Iffe by Irving,4 vols. 12mo. Paris,
1829. — Robertson's hist. Amer, book n;
Belknap's biog. i. 86-148; Holmes; Her
rera' s hist, of America,!; Irvine's life
af Columbus.
CONANT, Roger, an early settler in
Mass., bornin 1591, came to Plymouth
in 1623, and temoyed to Nantasket in
1625, and thence in the autumn to cape
Ann, intrusted with the care ofthe plan
tation by the adventurers in England.
He discovered Naumkeak or Salem, and
proposed that as a better place of settle-
menti and buflt the first house there in
1626. He was representative at the first
court in 1634, and died at Beverly Nov.
19, 1679, aged 88. Dr. Holmes errs in
the date 1680. His son, Roger, was the

first white child born in Salem, and from
that circumstance hada grant of 20 acres
in 1640. — Fai-mer's N. E. register.
CONNECTICUT, one of the United
States of America, at the time of the first
arrival of the English was possessed by
the Pequot, the Mohegan, the Podunk,
and many other smafler tribes of Indians,
The Pequots, who were numerous and
warlike, and "who occupied the territory
along the sea coast from Paukatuck to
Connecticut river,about the year 1630 ex
tended their conquest over a considerable
portion of Connecticut, over Long Island,
and a part of Narragansett. Sassacus
was the grand sachem, whose seat was at
New London, the ancient Indian name of
which wds Pequot. ¦ He had . under him
26 petty sachems. One of these was Un
cas, chief of the Mohegans, whose terri
tory comprehended most of New London
cou-nty,almost the whole county of Wind
ham, and a part of the counties of^ Tol
land and Hartford. The Podunks, in
habited East Hartford and the circumja
cent country.
The first grant of" Connecticut was
made by the Plymouth council in Eng
land to the earlof Warvfick in 1630 ; and
in .the following year he assigned this
grant to lord Say and Seal, lord Brook,
and others. Attracted by the trade witri
the Indians, some of the settlers of Ply
mouth had explored Connecticut river in
the years 1631 and 1632, and fixed upon
"Windsor as suitable for the establishment
ofa trading house. Whether the Dutch
of New Netherlands or New York had
before this discovered tiie river is uncer
tain, triough it isr probable, that they had.
By their own accounts they had built a
fort upon it as early as.l 623. Without a
question, however, the first settlement
was made by them. In Oct. 1633 a com
pany froni Plymouth, with materials for
a house, sail^ for Connecticut to execute
the plan, which had been formed by the
traders. On their arrival at the place,
where Hartford now stands, they foUnd
a fight fort, which had just been built by
the Dutch, and two pieces of cannon
planted. They were ordered to strike

294

CONNECTICUT.

their colors, but they resolutely proceed
ed, and landed on the west side of the
river set up their house about a mile
above the fortification ofthe Dutch. This
was the first house erected in Connecti
cut. The Indian trade had become too
important to be neglected. Otter and
beaver skins to -the amount in value of
lOOOZ. had been sent in a single ship to
England, and the Dutch purchased not
less than 10,000 beavers annually.
In the summer of 1635 some of the
people of Massachusetts made prepara
tions for a settlement on Connecticut riv
er near the Plymouth trading house.
October 15th about 60 men, women, and
children commenced their journeythrough
the wilderness, and in 14 days arrived at
the place of their destination, Mr, War-
ham, with a company from Dorchester,
settled at Mattaneaug, which they called
Windsor ; several people frbm Water-
town commenced a plantation at Pauqui-
aug, which they cafled Wethersfield ; and
others from' Newtpwn estabUshed them
selves at Suckiaug, or Hartford. Of
these emigrants, those, who settled at
Windsor, had purchased the right of set
tling there of the old Plymouth company
in England, and the sofl of the Indians.
About the same time lord Say and Seal
and his associates sent over John Win
throp, son ofthe governor of Mass., with
a comraission as governor of Connecticut
for one year, with instructions to erect a
fort at the mouth of Connecticut river.
He arrived at Boston iri Oct. 1635 and
the next month sent a bark with twenty
men to begin the fortification, which they
called Saybrook fort. A few days after
their arrival a Dutch vessel, sent from
New Netherlands to take possession of
the country, appeared off the harbor ; but
the English, having two pieces of Cannon
mounted, prevented their landing. The
commission of Mr. Winthrop interfered
with the plantefs of Massachusetts, but
the latter were permitted quietly to en
joy their possessions. In the wiriter, as
the vessels with provisions, which had
been expected, had not arrived, a severe
famine was experienced. Most of the

emigrants were obUged to descend the
riveir, and set sail on their return to Boa-
ton. Those, who kept their station, sub
sisted on acorns, malt, arid grains ; and
many of their cattle perished. The plan
ters in Connecticut at first settled under
the general government of Massachusetts,
but the administration of their affairs
was entirely in tiieir otvri bands. The
first court, which exercised aU the pow
ers of government, was held "Aprfl 26,
1436 at Hartford, the plantation, between
Windsor and Wethersfield, , It consis
ted of two delegates from each of thtee
towns, and several orders were passed
for the benefit -of the infant settlements.
The courts were afterwards held in each
town in rotation. '
In the year 1636 a large accession was
made to the inriabitants on Connecticut
river. Messrs. Hooker and Stone, the
ministers of Newtown near Boston, with
their whole church and congregation
travelled in June through a trackless
wilderness, driving 160 cattle and'subsisr
ting during the journey on the milk of
the cows. They settled at Hartford, hav
ing purchased the land of an Indian sa
chem. At the close of the year there
were about 800 persons in the colony.
The year 1637 is distinguished by the
war with the Pequots. This powerful
tribe had looked with jealousy upon the
settlements, madein their neighborhood,
and had murdered a number of the Eng
lish. The dangers, which -threatened
the colony, rendering vigorous measures
necessary, it was determined to invade
the Pequots, and carry the war into their
territory. A body of troops was sent out
in May under the command of John Ma-
sbn, and on the 26th they attacked the
enemy in one of their forts near New
London, and killed 5 or 600 of the Indians.
Only two of the Eng-lish were kflled, and
sixteen wounded. The Pequots were
entirely subdued, and the other Indians
of New England were inspired with such-
terror, as restrained them from open hos
tiUties for near forty years. The aston
ishing success of this war, which could
be attributed only to the providence of

CONNECTICUT.

295

God, called forth' the most devout ac
knowledgments. In 1637 a new colony, was commenced
in Connecticut. John Davenport, ac
companied by Theophilus Eaton and
Edwrard Hopkins, and other respectable
persons from London, arrived in the sum
mer nt Boston, seeking the unmolested
enjoyrrient of civil and religious Uberty.
Not finding a convenient place in Mas
sachusetts, and being informed ofa large
bay to the southwest of Connecticut riv
er, commodious for trade, they applied to
their friends in Connecticut to purchase
for them ofthe native proprietors all the
lands, lying between the rivers Connecti
cut and Hudson. This purchase was in
part effected. In the autumn Mr. Eaton
and some others of the company made a
journey to Connecticut to explore' the
lands and harbors on the sea coast, and
pitched upon Quinnipiack, afterwards
called New Haven, for the place of their
settlement. Here they erected a hut and
remained through the winter. In the
next spring, March 30, 1638, the rest of
the company went from Boston, and ar
rived at Quinnipiack in about a fortnight.
Aprill8lhthey kept the first sabbath in
the place, and Mr. Davenport preached
to them under a large, spreading oak.
They soon after entered into what they
called a plantation covenant, by which
they solemnly engaged to be governed
in their civil as well as reUgious concerns
by the rules of scripture. Nov. 24th the
lands of Quinnipiack were purchased of
the sachem of that part ofthe country by
a few presents and an engagement to pro
tect him and bis Indians; he reserving a
sufficent quantity of land ,to plant on the
east side ofthe harbor. In Dec, another
purchase was made for thirteen coats ofa
large tract, lying principally north ofthe
other, extending eight miles east of the
river Quinnipiack and five miles west,
and being ten miles in breadth froni the
north to the south. Near the bay of
Quriinipiack they laid out their town in
squares on the plan ofa spacious city, and
<;.alled it New Ha-i^en.
The fbupdation of two colonies was

now laid, which were cafled the colonies
of Connecticut and New Haven. The
original constitution ofthe former was
established by a convention of all the free
planters of "Windsor, Hartford, & Weth
ersfield, which met at Hartford Jan. 14,
1639. It was ordained, that there should
be annually two general courts, or assem
blies, in April and Sept.. the first to be the
court of election, in which six magistrates,
at least, and all other public officers were
to be chosen; that a governor should be
elected fbr one year, and until anothei
should be appointed; that no one coukl be
chosen to this office, unless he had been
a magistrate, and was a member of some
church, nor more than once in, two years;
that the choice of these officers should be
made by ballot and by the whole body of
freemen. Convened in general election;.
every man to be considered as a freeman,
who had been received as a member of a-
ny of the towns, and who had taken the
oath of fidefity to the commonwealth;
that each ofthe three towns'should sent!
four deputies to the general court; and
that when there was an equal division,
the governor should have a casting vote.
Agreeably to this constitution the free
men convened at Hartford in April and
established their officers for the ensuing
year. John Haynes was chosen govern
or, and the general assembly proceeded
gradually to enact a systefri of laws.
The planters of Quinnipiack had con
tinued more than a year without any
other constitution than their plantation
covenant. But June 4, 1 639 they con-
-vened to lay the foundation pf their civil
arid religious polity. It was resolved,
that the scriptures afford a perfect rule
for the discharge of all duties, and that
they would be governed by them; that
church members only should be free bur-
gesse;s, and that they only should choose
magistrates among themselves tp manage
their affeirs; and that twelve men should
be chosen, who should elect seven to be
gin the church. , Seven men were accor
dingly chosen in Aug., who were called
the seven pillars. They met in court,
Oct. 25, apd admitted into their body afl

396

CONNECTICUT.

the members ofthe churches. To this
succeeded the election of officers. The
ophilus Eaton was chosen governor, and
with him were joined four magistrates.
It was at the same time decreed, that
there should be a general court annually
in Oct, at which all the officers of the
colony should be chosen, and that the
word pf God should be the sole rule for
regulating the affairs of the common
wealth. As the plantation enlarged, the
general court received a new form, and
the civil poUty of this jurisdiction grad-
uaUy approached to a near resemblance
of the government of Connecticut. The
greatest dissimilarity subsisted in respect
to juries, which were never used on trials
in the colony of New Haven.
- These two colonies remained distinct
¦until the year 1665, when they were uni
ted into one; but though distinct in gov
ernment, yet a union, rendered necessary^
by common danger, subsisted between
them. The apprehension of hostilities
from the Indians, and the actual encroach
ments and violence of the Dutch induced
the colonies of New Haven, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, and .Plymouth to adopt
articles of confederation, which were
signed at Boston May 19, 1643. By
these articles it was agreed, that two
commissioners from each of the united
colonies of New England should meet an
nually ; -that they should be vested with
full powers for making war dnd peace, &
estabUshing laws of a general concern, the
agreement of six, however, being always
necessary to render any measure binding
upon the whole ; and that fugitives from
justice, and servants, who escaped from
their masters, should on proper evidence
of their character be delivered up to the
colony, which they had left. This union
was of the highest importance to the col
onies, particularly to Connecticut and
New Haven, which were peculiarly ex
posed to hostilities from the Dutch. It
subsisted more than forty years Until the
abrogation of the chatters of the New
England colonies by king James II. In
the year 1 643 it -was directed in the colo
ny of New Haven, that each town should

choos.e their own judges, whose powers
were restricted, and a court of magis
trates was appointed, which was to meet
twice annually at New Haven, and to be
composed of aU the magistrates in the
jurisdiction. To this court appeals were
made frbm the plantation courts, and
here the decision was final. It was de
creed also, that there should be two gen
eral courts, or assembUes, consisting of
the governor, deputy governor, magis
trates, and two deputies from each town,
and that the election of officers should be
annual. In consideration of the success and in
crease of the New England colpnies the
English parliament granted them, March
10, 1643, an exemption from all customs,
subsidies & other duties untfl further or
ders. In 1644 the Connecticut adventur
ers purchased ofthe agent of lord Say ahd
Seal, and lord Brook their right to the
colony of Connecticut for 1600Z. In 1647
an unhappy controversy commenced be
tween Massachusetts and Connecticut
respecting an impost of two pence
per bushel for corn, and one penny
on the pound for beaver, or 20 shillings
upon every hogshead, to be paid by the
inhabitants of Springfield at the mouth of
Connecticut river, for the support of the
fort at SaybrocJti The subject was refer
red to the commissipners of the united
colonies, and when they had decided in
favor of it in 1649, Massachusetts imme
diately in retaliation imposed a duty upon
all goods, belonging to any ofthe inhabi
tants of Plymouth, Connecticut, or New
Haven, imported within the castle, or
exported from any part of the bay. A
singular law was about this time made in
Connecticut respecting the use of tobac
co, AU persons,- not accustomed to take
it, and all persons under twenty years of
age were prohibited frora using it, unless
they procured a certificate from a physi
cian, that it would be useful, and obtain
ed a license from the court. All others,
addicted to the use of it, were prohibited
from taking it in, any company, oral their
labors, or in traveUing unless ten miles
from any company ; and not more than

CONNECTICUT.

297

,once in a day under tiie penalty of a fine
of six pence for every offerice. The colo
nies of New Ha ven«nd Connecticut con
tinued to increase, and new towns, pur
chased of the Indians,' -were constantly
settled. In 1661 major John Mason, as
agent for Connecticut, bought ofthe na
tives aU lands, which had not before been
purchased by particular towns, & made a.
public surrender of them to the colony in
the presence of the general assembly. A
petition was now jirepared to king
Charles II. for a charter, and John Win
throp, who had been chosen goverrior of
Connecticut, was employed to present iti
His majesty issued his letters under the
gfeat seal, April 23, 1662, ordaining that
there should be animaUy two general as-
SembUes, consisting of the governor, the
deputy governor, and twelve assistants^
with two deputies from every town or
city. This charter remained the baS'is,of
the government of Connecticut until
1318. It included the colony of New
Haven ; but that colony did not accept
it. The boundaries were fixed, and on
the west it extended across the continent
tothe south sea, or Pacific ocean. Inthe
year 1665, when apprehensions were en
tertained respecting the New England
charters, the .union of Connecticut and
New Haven -was coriipleted, and they
have remained under one government
ev^r since. At the time of the union-
tliey consisted of nineteen towns. This
event had been delayed by a difference of
views respecting the propositions of trie
synod of Cambridge in 1662. It was re-
Commended, that the children of parents,
' not iri full communion in the criurches,
should be baptized. To tjiis measure
New Haven was utterly ppposed ; arid as
in, this colony no person could be a free
man, unless he was a member of the
church, which was npt a requisite quaU
ficalion in Connecticut, it was feared that
a union vyould corrupt the purity of the
ecclesiastical body and have no good effect
upon their civfl affairs. At the general'
assembly in May 1665 counties were first
made andeounty courts were first institu
ted bv that name. In 16,70 an alfera-
38

.tion was madein the mode of elecition,
which had hitherto been by the whole
body of freqmen. The freemen had, now
become so numerous that they, Were al
lowed to complete the election of civil
officers at Hartfprd by proxy, and a law
was enacted, regulating electibns. The
riumber of men iri Connecticut in 1671,
from 16 to 60 years of age, was 2,050.
In 1672 the unipn of Connecticut, Massa
chusetts, and Plymouth was renewed,and
the first code of Connecticut laws was
published. , The book -n'as printed at
•Cambridge, compiled by Roger Ludlow.
Every family was required to possess one.
The Indian wars in 1675 and 1676 occa
sioned much suffering in the colony. In
1687, when Andros was governor of New
England, an attempt was made to wrest
the charter from Connecticut. , A quo-
warrarito against the',governor and com
pany had been issued two years bears be
fore, and in October of ithis year, when
the assembly was sitting, Andros went to
Hartford vsdth sixty regular troops, de
manded- the charter, and declared th^ gov
ernment to be dissolved. The subject
was debated in the assembly Until evening,
when the charter was brought and laid
Upon the table; but the lights being in
stantly extinguished,, captain Wadsr
worth of Hartford seized it, and secreted
it in the cavity of a large pak treein fro^t
ofthe house of; Samuel Wyllys. This
tree, measuring 21 feet in circumfereriee,
is now standing. Sir Edmund Andros
assumed the government, and the records
of th e colony were Closed . He appointed
aU officers, civil and military. Notwith
standing the professions of regard to the
public good, inade by the tyrant, he soon
i)egan to infringe the rights of the people.
The laws for the support of the clergy
were suspended. Liberty, property, eve
ry tiling dear to man becoming insecure,
the progress of improvement was arres-
tedj'and, as authprity was in the^hands of
the wicked, the people mourned. After
the seizure of Andros bythe daring friends
of liberty in Maissaehusetfs, the old mag
istrates of Connecticut were induced
again to' accept the .govfernraent,at the

298

CONNECTICUT.

COOKE.

request ofthe freemen. May 9, 1689. Iri
1691 the old charter was resumed, -being
acknowledged to be valid, as no judgment
had been entered against it. The clergy
were exempted from taxation in 1706,
and the Saybrook platfbrm was adopted
in 1708. In 1711 a superior court, to be
held annually in the several counties, was
established. ' The college, which had
been incorporated at Saybrook in 1701,
was in 1717 removed to New Haven, and
in the following year named Yale college.
In 1750 the laws pf Connecticut were
again revised and published in a small folio
volume. The charter of this colony being sup
posed to extend the western boundary to
the south sea, purchases were 'accordingly
made in 1754 of the Indians ofthe Si.x
Nations by a number ofthe inhabitants of
Connecticut, called- the Susquehannah
and Delaware companies, of a large tract
, of land lying west of the Delaware river,
and thence spreading over the east and
west branches of Susquehannah river, on
which considerable settlements were
shortly after made.- The settlers were
incorporated afterwards by the general as
sembly & annexed to the county of Litch
field.- , As -the charter of PeniSylvariia
covered these settlements, a dispute arose,
which -was maintained with warmth for
some time, and was at length " submitted
to gentlenoien, chosen for the purpose,
whose decision was in favor bf Pennsyl-
-vania. - At the close of the revolution
Conn, ceded all her charter claim's west of
Penns. to congress, reserving only a tract
ofthe width of the state of Connecticut,
and 120 miles in length, bounded north
by lake Erie, containing near four mil
lions of acres. This cession was accepted
by congress, which establishes to Connec
ticut her title to these lands. The legis
lature of this state in 1793, granted to the
sufferers in the several towns, that were
burned during the war, a tract of half a
miUion of acres on the west end of this
reservation. The American revolution,
which so essentially aflected the govern
ments of riiost of the colonies, produced
. no very perceptible alteration in the

government of Connecticut. While un
der the' jurisdiction,' of. Great Britain
they elected their ovy-n governors,
and all - subordinate civil officers in the
same manrier, and with as Uttle control,
as at the present, time. Connecticut has
always been a repubUti, and perhaps as
perfect and as happy a republic as ever
existed. Its system of laws, digested by
Zephaniah Swift and pubUshed'in 1796,
is contained in an 8vo.volume..The Con.
academy of arts and sciences was incorpo
rated in- 1801. The school fund of Con.
amounts to. 1,882,000 dollars, yielding a
revenue of upwards of -80,000 dollars an
nually. Thedividendis,85-cen.ts to.each
child in the comirion schools, or frbm 5 to
12,000 dollars to. each of the 8 counties.
A new constitution was adopted in
1818. T^^' governbr eari .reprieve but
not pardon, that power being given to
the legislature. All free white male citi
zens, resident fbr six months, -who have
paid a tax,aTe electors, and themselves eli
gible to any office. The. elections are an
nual, the first Wednesday of May. The
judges are chosen - by the legislature.
The senate consists of 12. There is.no
councfl. There is no religious test of of
fice; and entire freedorii of religion is se
cured.  Trumbull's hist, of Cori.;
Morse's geog.; H. Adams' N.E.; Morse
and Parish's N,E.;Rees' cycl; Holmes;
Gordon, i.
CONWAY, Henry, general, a hero of
the revolution^ died in East Tennessee in
Sept. 1812 pf the sting of bees.
CONWAY, Thomas, maj. gen., 'a na
tive bf Ireland, came from France in 1777
on the recommendation of Silas Deane.
After intriguing against Washington and
fighting gen. Cadvrallader, he returned to
France in 1778. It was while suffering
under the wound, received in the duel,
that he repented and wrote to Washing
ton, "You are in my eyes the great apd
good man." ' '
CONWAY, Robert, general, a herb-of
the devolution, diedat Georgetown,South
CaroUna, in Dec* 1823, aged 70. He
had previously UVed at Charleston,
COOKE, Elisha, a physician of Bos-

COOKE.

299

ton, the son of Richard C, was born
Sept. 16, 1637, and'was graduated at
Harvard college in 1657. After having
been an assistant under the old govern
ment, he was sent to England in 1689 as
an agent of Mass. to procure the restora
tion of the charter. He was deci
ded in his opinion, that if the old char
ter could not be obtained; it would fie
better tp meet the consequences, than to
¦submit to 8' charter, which abridge^d the
liberties of the people. When the new
charter was prbcuredin 1691, he refused
to accept it, and did what he Could to
prevent its acceptance. Increase Mather,
'who was agent at the same time, pursued
a different course, thinking it wise to
submit to a necessary evil. Though he
was not placed in.the list of counsellors,
nominated by Dr. Mather in 1692, from
apprehensions that he would, oppose tiie
new charter; yet in the following year he
was elected in Massachusetts. He was,
however, rejected by gov. Phips, because
he opposed lus appointment in England.
In 1694 he was reelected,and continued in
the council tifl 1703, when gov. Dudley
negatived his election,as heflid for a num
ber of years successively. He died Oct. 31,
1715,aged78years. Though esteemed sa
a physioian,he was most remarkable in his
poUtical character, having been more than
40 years in places of puliUc trust,and being
always firm and -steady to his, principles.
He married a daughter ofgoV. Leverett.
—Hutchinson, i. 398,408; n. 70, 136,
,'211. ' -\ - '.-.-'
COOKE, Elisha, distinguished in the
history of Mass., -Was the son of the pre
ceding and was graduated at Harvard
college in 1697; He was a representative
of Boston inthe general court in 1713,
^ and was in favor of a private bank rather
than of thepubUc bank, the plan of whiph
was adopted to remedy the evils of the
bills of credit. He was elected into the
councfl in 1717, and immediately com
menced his opposition to gov! Shute, en
gaging on the; popular side. This yras
the.cpramencement bf the dispute. The
different parties became more hostile;
new subjects of controversy arose; and

Shutewas at length obUged to leave tho
colony, Mr. Cooke was elected a coun
sellor in 1718; but the goverrior in a
manner not very civil informed him, that
his attendance at the board would be ex
cused. In ,1720 he -was" chose'n speaker
ofthe house of representatives; but the
governor negatived the choice, and as the
house refused to make a new election,
contesting his right to control them, he
dissolved the assembly. At the next ses
sion- a different person was elected, not
because the pretension of Shute was ' ad
mitted, but that there might be no ob-r
struction to the progress of the regular
business of the court. In 1723 he was
appointed agent for Mass., and sailed for
London in January. Sobn after his re
turn he was chosen-in May 1726 a mem
ber of the councfl. On the accession of
gov. Belcher, he was appointed in 1730
a justice ofthe common pleas for Suffolk.
He had hitherto retained the attachment
of the people by endeavoring to support
their liberties, but being desirous of se
curing his interest both with the govern
or and, the town of Boston, a jealousy
was excited, and he was in danger
of losing the regard of both parties. In
1733 or 1734 he was elected represen
tative by a majority of only one or two
votes in six or "seven hundred. He died in
Aug. 1737, worn out with his labors,
having been- many years the head ofthe
popular party;, ' He published, political
tracts.-^Hutehinsan, h. 221, 233, 302,
348,391; Colled hist soc. in. 300.
COOKE,, Sahiuel, first minister of the
second parish in Cambridge, was gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1735, and or
dained Sept. 12, 1739. He died June 4,
1783,aged 74,and was succeeded by Mr.
Fiske., He was a man pf science, of a
social disposition, distinguished hy his
good- sense and prudence, and a faithful
servant of the Lord Jesus; ^He publisl|ed
a sermon at the ordination of C. Brown,
1748'; of W. Symmes, l'759; the election
sermon, 1770; a sermon for a metnorial
ofthe battle of Lexington, 1777. — Hist.
col. VII. 33.
COOKE, George Frederic, a theatri-

soo

COOPER.

cal performer, was born fin Westminister,
Apr. 17, 1766. He became distinguished
as a player;n London in 1 800. He came
to Airierica iri Nov. 1810, and was much
admired. He was intemperate and died
at N. York as a drunkard Sept. 26, 1812.
Mr. Dunlap published his memoirs, 2 vols.
1813. COOPER, William, minister in Bos
ton, was a native of that town, and,
being early impressed by the truths of
religion- and deUghting in the study of
the scriptures, passed through the temp
tations of youth without a blemish upon
his character. He was grave, but not
glbomy nor austere ; discreet, but not
precise; and cheerful, with innocence.
While a meriiber of Harvard' college,
where he was graduated in 1712, hear-
dentiy cultivated those' branches of sci-
ence,whifch were most useful&important.
Every Uterary pursuit was sanctified by
prayer, and every human acquisition ren
dered subservient to the knowledge of
God and religion. Sobn after he began
to' preach, the eminence of his qualifica
tions as a minister attracted the attention
of the church in Brattle street, Boston,
and he was invited to be coUeague pas
tor with Mr. Colman. At his own re-
qilest his ordination was delayed" for k
year until May .^3, 1716, wh?n he was
inducted Into the sacred office. From
this period to that ofhis death his minis
terial gifts, graces, and usefulness seemed
constantly to increase, and the more he
was known, the more he was este,emed,
loved, and honorfed. In the year 1737 he
was chosen president of Harvard college,
but he decUned the honorable trust He
died Dec. 13, 1743, aged 49.
He was an eminent preacher, being an
able and zealous advocate of the distin
guishing doctrines of the gospel.' Jesus
Christ was ever the prominent object in
his discourses. He insisted much on the
doctrines of grace , considering them as
not only constituting the sole foundation
ofa sinner's hope,but as exhibiting the ca
pital aids & incentives to hoUness of heart
and life. Hence his preaching was prac
tical as wdl as evangelical. He ineulcfi-

ted obedience upon qhristlan ¦ principles
and by chrisliari arguments. His ser
mons were easy and natural in method ,
rich in important trtith ; plain, but not
grovelling in style ; soUd and argumenta
tive, yet animated with the spirit ofde-
votion ; calculated at once to enlighten
the mind, to impress the conscience, arid
to warm the heart. In explaining the
profound and sublime truths ofthe gospel
he, had the singular felicity to be intelligi
ble to the ignorant, instructive to the
well informed, and edifying to the-serious.
In prayer he reiriarkably excelled. He
had a voice at once strong and ple,asant,
an elocution grave and dignified .; while a
deep impression of God; whosfe merc-y he .
implored, and whose messages he deliver
ed, was -i^isible in his countenance St de
meanor, & added an indescribable solemni
ty to alt his performances. His benevolent
labors were not in vain. He was an emi
nent instrument&promoter ofthe great re
vival of reUgion, which occurred toward
the close of his Iffe. With a heart over-
flov^ing with joy he declared, that "since
the year 1740 more people had sometimes
come to him in concern about their souls
in orie week, trian in the preceding 24
years ofhis ministry." To these appli
cants he was a most judicious and affec
tionate counseUor and guide. Though
the general attention to the, things of
another world was pronounced by many
to be enthusiasm and fanaticism, yet Mr.
Cooper, while he withstood the irregulari
ties, -which prevailed, was persuaded,
that there was a remarkable work of di
vine grace. The numerous instances in
his own parish of persons, affected either
with pungent and distressing convictions
of sin, with deep humiliation and self ab
horrence, with ardent love to God and
man, or with ihexpressible consolation in
religion, perfectly satisfied him, that the
power ofthe divine Reprover, Sanctifier,.
and Comforter was among them. In the
private walks'of fife he displayed the com
bined excellencies of the gentleman and
christian. He had but Uttle warning of
the approach of death, but in the lucid
intervals of his disease he was enabled

COOPER.

301

to declare, that he rejoiced in God his
Savior. He pubMshed a sermon on the inoora-
prehensibleness of God, 1714 ; how and.
why young people shpuld cleanse their
way, 1716 ; a sermon to young people,
1723 ; a funeral sermpn on J. Corey,
1726; ' on the earthquake, 1727; a dis
course on early piety, 1728; a discourse
on the reality, extremity, and absolute
certainty of hell torments, 1732; on the
death of lieut. gov. Tailer, 1732 ; at the
ordination of R. Breck, 1736 ; concio
hyemalis, or a winter sermon, 1737; on
the death of P. Triacher, 1739 ; the doc
trine Of predestination unto life explained
and vindicated in four sermons, 1740 ;
which were republished in 1804; election
sermon, 1740 ; a preface to Edward's ser
mon on the trial ofthe spirits, 1741 ; two
sermons preached at Portsmouth in the
time ofthe revival, 1741.— Caiman's fun.
ser. ; Panoplist, n. 537-540; Collect.
hist. soc. X. 157.
COOPER,Samuel,D.D., minister in Bos
ton, son of the preceding,was born March
28, 1725. He exhibited early marks ofa
masterly genius. As bis mind was deep
ly impressed by reUgious truth, soon after
he was graduated at Harvard college, in
1743, he devoted himself to the study of
divinity, preferring the office of a minis-:
ter of the gospel to the temporal advan
tages, which his talents might have pro
cured him. When he first appeared in,
the pulpit, his performances- were so ac
ceptable, and raised such expectations,
that at the age of twenty years he was
invited by the congregation in Brattle
street, Boston, to, succeed, his, father as
colleague with Dr. Colman. In this
, office he was ordained May 21, 1 746, 30
years after the ordination of his father.
He did not disappoint the, hopes of his
friends. . His reputation increased, and he
soon became one of the most popular
preachers in the country. After a minis
try of 37 .years,.he died of the apoplexy
Dec. 29,, 1783,' aged 58.
Dr. Cooper was very distinguished- in
the sacred office, which he sustained.
His sermons were evangeUcal and pefr

spicuous, and unequalled in America for
elegance and taste. - Delivering them
with enetgy and pathos, his eloquence
arrested attention and warmed the heart.
In his prayers, which were uttered with
humility and reverence, there was a
grateful variety ; and, as they were per
tinent, scriptural, and animated with the
spirit of devotion, they were admirably
calculated to raise the souls of his fellow
worshippers to God. His presence in
the chambers of the sick was peculiarly
acceptable, for he knew how to address
the conscience without offence, to impart
instruction, to sooth, and to comfort. '
Hisattention was not Confined tp theology ;
but he made himself acquainted with Oth
er branches of science, arid was one ofthe
most finished classical scholars of his day.
His friendship to literature induced him,
after the destruction of the library of
Harvard college by fire, to exert himself
to procure subscriptions to repair the loss.
In 1767 he was elected a member ofthe
corporation, in which office he continued
untfl his death. He was an active mem
ber of trie society for propagating the
.gospel aiiiong the aborigines of America.
To his other acquisitions he added a just
knowledge of the nature and design of
government, and the rights of mankind.
Most sincerely attached to the cause of
civil and religious liberty; he was among
the first bf those patriots, who took a de
cided part in opposition to the arbitrary ex
actions of Great Britain. In his inter
course with his fellow citizens and by
his pen he endeavored to arouse arid
strengthen the spirit of resistance, Such
were his abiUties, and firmness, that he
was esteemed and consulted- by some of
the; principal men, who were the means of
effecting our revolution. He did much
towards procuring foreign alliances. His
letters were read jvith great satisfaction
in the court of Versailles, while men pf
the most distinguished characters in Eu
rope became his correspondents. The
friendship, which he maintained wjth
Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, was the
means of introducing to his acquaintance
I many gentiemen from France, to -vyhbm

302

COOPER.

he rendered himelf- pecuUarly agreeable
by his literary attainments, byrin eng^ag-
ing address, and by the ease and poUte-
ness ofhis manners. Receiving from Dr.
Franklin the letters pf Hutchinson, pro
cured by Mr. Williamson, with a, strict
injunction not to allow them to be pub
lished, he put them into the hands ofa
gentleman' under the same injunction ;
but his confidence was misplaced. When
his country had asserted her right to in
dependence, believing that knowledge is
necessary to the support ofa free govern
ment, he was anxious to render oui; liber
ties perpetual by promoting literary estab
lishments. He was therefore one of the
foremost iri laying, the foundation of the
American academy, of arts and sciences,
arid Was chosen its first vice president in
the year 1780. In his last fllness he ex
pressed his great satisfaction- in seeing his
cpuritry in peace, and in possession of
freedom and independence, and his hopes,
that the virtrie and the pubfic spirit ofhis
countrymen would prove to trie world,
that they were not unworthy of thes^ in
estimable blessings. In trie intervals of
reason, he informed his friends, that he
was perfectly resigned to the -wiU of heav-
¦en ; that his hopes and consolations
sprang from a .firm belief of those truths,
which he had preached to others ; ' and
that he wished not to b^ detained any
longer from that state of perfection and
felicity,' which the gospel had opened to
his view.
Besides his political writings; which
appeared in^the journals of the day, he
published the foflo.wirig discpurses; on
the artillery election, 1751 ; before the
society for encouraging industry, 1753 ;
at the general' election, 1756 ; on the re-
dn'ation of Quebec, 1759 ;. at the, ordina
tion of J. Jackson, 1760 ; onthe death of
George II, 1761 ; at the Dudleian lec
ture, 1773 ; bn the commencement ofthe
new constitution of Massachusetts, Oct.
25, 1780. This last discourse, with oth
ers of his productipns, have Been publish
ed in several languages, and,beirig written
in a poUshed and elegant manner,' were
^eU calculated for the lips of an eloquent I

Speaker, sUch as he hiriiself ' was. He
was also one ofthe poetic contributors to
the "Pietas et ' -Gtatulatio,"" with 'Dr.'
Church and others, 1760. — Clarke's fun.
ser. ; Amer. herald, Jan. IS, 1784';
Contin. joiirnal, Jan. Zl ; Holmes.;
Thacher's cent, disc.
COOPER, Myles,D. d., president of
King's college. New York, was educated
in the university of- Oxford, where, he
took the degree of master of arts in 1760.
He- arrived at New' York in the autumn
of] 762, being recommended by the arch
bishop of Canterbury as^a person -(v-ell
qualified to assist in the management of
the college, and to succeed the president, -
He was received by Dr, Johnson- with
.the affection ofa-father, and was imnledi
ately appointed professor of moral philds-
bphy. .After the-resignation of Dr: John
son iri .Feb. 1763, he was chosen presi
dent previously to the commencement in
May. It was not long before Di'- Clos-
sey, a gentleman, who had been educated
in Trinity cbllege, Dublin, and had taken
the degree of doctor .of physic, was ap-^
pointed professor of natural phUosophyJ
A grammar schoolwas also established
and connected with the college, under the
care bf Mr. Gushing from Boston. The
classes were now taught by Mr. Cooper,
Mr. Harper, and Dr. Clbssey ; arid under
such able instructers they .had peculiar
advantages. Iri the year 1775 Dr; Coop
er, as his politics leaned towards the Brit
ish; was reduced to the. necessity ^of with
drawing from the college and returning
to England. He was afterwards one of
the ministers of the, episcopal chapel of
Edinburgh, in which city he died May 1,
1785, aged about fiftyyears. After the
revolution Wflliam Samuel Johnson, son
of Dr. Johnson, was president of the
college. -
Dr. Cooper, though he had long expec
ted death, waiting patiently for its ap
proach, yet died in rather a sudden man
ner. The foUo-wing epitaph- was written
by himself. .
"Here lids a priest of English blood,
Who, living, lifc'cl whate'er was good ;
Good company, good witle , good name,

COPLEY.

CORLET.

303

Yet never hunted after fame ;
But as the first hp still preferr'd.
So hero he chose to be iijterrM ,
And, unobscnr'd, from crd^vds witltdrew
To re^t among a chosen few,
In humble hopes, that sovereign love
"Will raise him to be lilcst above,"
He published a volume bf poems in
1758, and a sermon on civfl government,
preached before the university of Oxford
on a fast, 1777.' While in this country
he maintained a literary character of cbn-
siderable eminence. He wrote on the
subject bn an American Episcopate, and
sometimes used his pen on pohtical sub
jects. It is said, he narrowly escaped the
fury of the whigs. — New and gen. biog.
did; Miller, ii. 369 ; Penns. packet,
July 29,1785; Chandler's life of John
son, 106^109.
COPLEY, John Singleton, an emi
nent painter, was born in 1738 in Boston.
He had a natural talent for 'painting, and
was the pupil arid successor of Smibert.
Many full leijgth portraits, painted by
him, remain in Massachusetts, In color
ing and drapery he excelled ;, and hi?
likenesses were faithful. He went to
England before the war. . In 1770 hewas
admitted a member of the royal academy
of painting in London. He was patron
ised by Mr. West In 1774 he went to
Italy ; and in 1776 returned to England,
where he met his wife and children,-w-hom
he had left in Boston. He now devoted
hipnself to portrait painting. His fi-tst
historical picture was the Youth, rescued
from- a ^hark. 'His picture of the Death
of lord Chatham established his fame.
Afterwards he -painted the siege of Gib
raltar ; major Pearson's death on the isl
and of Jersey ; Charles I. iri the house of
'cpmmons ; the surrender of De^ Winter
to Drincau ; besides niany portraits. ' He
died sudderily, September 25, 1815. His
mother was Sarah Winslow' ofthe' Plym
outh family. Col, Henry Bromfield mar
ried his sister. His wifo was the daugh-^'
ter of Ricbi.' Clarke, a merchant in- Bds-
ton, oiie of the consignees of the India
company's tea ; a connexion, which may
account for his -attachment to the royal
interest. His daughter married Gardiner

Greene, whp in 1818 piesented to Har
vard college a collection pf all the proof
engravings of Copley's iiistorical paint
ings. — Knapp's lect. 191; Enc, Amer.
CORBITANT, an Indian sachem,
living at Mattapoiset, a neck pf land in
Swanzey, was an enemy of the Plymeuth
plantation at the first settlement. Hewas
a sachem under MassassOjt. Indignant
at the peace made witb the English, he
in 1621 seized, Squarito at Namasket, or
Middleborough, and put his knife to the
breast of Hobbamoc, another Indian,
friendly to the English, wrio, being stout,
broke away ,a!nd fled to Plymouth. Capt.
Standish and ten men were immediately
.sent'to Namasket tb take Corbitant pris
oner ; but he escaped. . Some time after -
Corbitant through the mediation of Mas
sassoit made peace,- and ventured, to show
himself at Plymouth. " In March 1623 he
was, visited by E- Winslow and John
Hampden, celebrated in EngUsh history,
with Hobbamoc for theif guide. The
Indian "was a notable pohtician, yet full
of merry jests and squibs, and never bet
ter pleased', than, when the like were re
turned again upori him," He inquired,
why it was, that when he visited the
English, the guns were pointed towards
him. ^And on being told, it was out of
respect and honor, he said, shaking his
head, he"Uked not such salutations."
On seeing his visiters ask a blessing on
their food, he inquii-ed the meaning, and
on being told the reason, said it was well ;
he too believed in an almighty power, callr
ed Kichtan.-Hist. c;dl. yiij; 263, MourVs
relat, in 2 Hist cal ix. 54; Belkn, biog.
II. 229.
CORLET, Elijah, an eminent instruc
ter, commenced his labors at^ Cambridge
not long after the first settlement of the
town. He -was master of the gramriiar
school between forty and fifty years,, and
many of the most worthy men in the
country enjoyed the benefit of his instruc-
tioris previously to their, entrance into
college. The society for propagating
the gospel cpmpensated him for his atten
tion to the Indian scholars, who were
designed for the university,^ He died in

304

CORNBURY.

CORNELIUS.

1687, aged 76. He was a man of learn
ing, piety, and respectability. N.Walter
published an elegy on his death in blank
verse. He wrote a Latin epitaph on Mr.
Hooker, which is inserted in Mather's
magnalia. — Hist col i. 243 ; vii. 22 ;
life of Walter; Mather's magnalia in.
68. CORNBURY, Edward Hyde, lord,
governor of New York, was the son of
the earl of Clarendon, and ,being one
ofthe first officers, who deserted the army
of king James, king WilUam, in gratitude
for his services, appointed him to an
American government. Hunted out of
England by a host of himgry creditors,
bent upon accumulating as much wealth,
as he could squeeze from the purses ofan
impoverished people, and animated -with
unequalled zeal for the church, he com
menced his administration, as successor
of lord Bellamont, May 3, 1702. His
sense of justice was as weak, as his bigot
ry was uncontrollable. Thfr following
act of outrage will exhibit his character.
A great sickness, which was probably the
yellow fever, prevailing in New York in
1703, lord Cornbury retired to Jamaica,
on Long Island ; and as Mr. Hubbard,
the presbyterian minister, Uyed in trie
best house in the town, his lordship re
quested the use of it during his short res
idence there. Mr. Hubbard puthimself
to great inconvenience to obUge the gov
ernor, and the governor in return deUv
ered the parsonage house into the hands
of the episcopal party, and seized upon
the glebe. In the year 1707 he impris
oned without law two presbyterian min
isters for presuming to preach in New
York without his hcense. They were
sent out by some dissenters in London
as itinerant preachers for the benefit .of
the middle and southern cblonies. He
had a conference with them, and made
himself cbnspicuous as a savage bigot, and
as an ungentlemanly tyrant. The cries
of the oppressed reaching the ears of the
queen in 1708, she appointed lord Love
lace governor in his stead. As soon as
Cornbury was superseded, his creditors
threw hira into the custody of the, sheriff

of New York ; but after the death of his
father he was permitted to return to
England, and succeeded to the earldom
of Clarendon. He died at Chelsea April
1,1723. Never was there a governbr of
New York so universally detested, or
so deserving of abhorrence. His beha
vior was trifling, mean,and extravagant. It
was not uncommon for him to dress him
self in a woirian's habit, and then to pat
rol the fort, in which he resided. By
such freaks he drew upon himself univer
sal contempt ; while his despotism, bigo
try, injustice, and insatiable avarice arou
sed the indignation bf the people. —
Smith's New York, 101-116; Hutchinson
11. 123; Marshall; i, 272.
CORNELIUS, Elias, a physician and
a patriot of the revolution, was a native
of Long Island. At the age of 19, in op
position to the advise of his relatives, who
were then attached to the British cause,
he repaired to New York early in 1777,
and, being recommended by his instruc
ter. Dr. Samuel Lathan, was appointed
surgeon?s mate in the 2d R. Island, reg.,
commanded bycol. Israel Angefl. Ou re-
cbnnoitering near the Unes above N.York,
he was soon taken prisoner and carried
to the "old Provost" jail in the city,
where he suffered incredible hardships,
till with great courage and presence of
mind he made his escape in March 1778,
He immediately Tejoined the army and
continued in it tUl the close of 1781. He
died at Somers, New York, June 13,
1823, ,aged 65.- He left a Widow, 3
daughters, and a son . As a physician he
had extensive and successful practice. It
was while he was in the army, that he
received those reUgious impressions,
which issued in an established christian
hope. A warm friend to charitable insti
tutions, he left 100 dollars to each ofthe
following societies, — the American Bible,
Education, Foreign mission, and the
United foreign mission. — Bostonrecord-
er, July 5, 1823,
CORNELIUS, EUas, d. d,, secretary
of the American Education society, son
of the preceding, graduated at Yale col
lege in 1813; and; after studying theolo-^

CORNWALLIS.

CORTEZ.

305

gy, engaged in 1816 as an agent of the
American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign rriissions, in which' capacity he
was for one or two yeara very active and
successful. In Sept. and Oct. 1817 he
visited the missions in the Cherokee na
tion. On his way therice to the Chicka
saw nation -rie met a party of Indians from
the Arkansas, and redeemed from them a
little Osage orphan captive, 5 years of
age, and sent the girl to the mission
family. The subsequent winter he spent
at New Orleans, in the employment of
the Missionary society of Connecticut.
He arrived in the city Dec. 30, 1817, arid
commenced preaching and gathering a
congregation. Jan. 22, 1818 he was
joined by Sylvester Lamed and they la
bored together till the congregation was
organized and Mr. Lamed invited to be
come the minister"; after which he turn
ed his attention to the poor and sick and
others of the destitute. In the spring he
returned to Andover ; and July 21, 1819
was installed as colleague with Dr. Wor
cester at Salem. In Sept. 1326 he was
dismissed by trie advice ofa mutual coun
cil, having been appointed Secretary of
the Arrierican Education society. In the
service of this institution he devised the
plan of permanent scholarships' and met
with unexampled success in soliciting
subscriptiohs. He estabfished also the
Quarterly Register arid Journal of trie
A. Education society, which he conduc
ted for some years, assisted by Mr. B. B.
Edwards. In Oct. 1831 he was chosen
Secretary of the American Board ' of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions in
the place of Mr. Evarts deceased. But
he had signified his acceptance of this
office only a few weeks, and he had just
entered the new and wide field of toil for
the -enlargement of the kingdom of Jesus
Christ, when hfe was reriioved from the
world. Exhausted by a journey from
Boston, he was taken sick at Hartibrd,
Con., Feb. 7, and died in that city ofa fe
ver on the brain Feb. 12, 1832, aged 37,
His wife, the daughter of Rev. Asahel
Hooker, arrived a few hours after his de
cease. — Dr. Cornefiiis was enterprisirig,
39

bold, and elt^quent ; though resolute, yet
considerate and prudent Ofa vigorous
frame and determined spirit, hewas capa
ble of meeting .and surmounting great
diffictilties. He fell in the fulness of his
strength ; and the American churches
are again taught not to trust in man. Be
sides his labors iri the Quarterly Jourri-
al and the' Annual Reports ofthe Educa
tion society, he published a discourse on
the, doctrine ofthe trinity, reprinted as
No. 185 ofthe Tract society.
CORNWALLIS, Charles, marquis,
commander of the British army in Amer
ica, surrendered at Yorktown Oct. 19,
1781, — an event, which broughtthe war
to a close. In 1 7 90, he was governor gen
eral Pf India and by his victories in the
war with Tippoo Saib acquired high
reputation. Again was he appointed in
1805 governor of India, where he died, at
Ghazepore, Oct. 5. He married in 1768
Miss Jones, a lady of large fortune, said
to have died- of a broken heart in conse
quence of his engaging in the American
war. He published an answer to the
narrative of sir Henry CUnton, 1783.
CORREA De Sena, Joseph Francis,
minister plenipotentiary from Portugal
to this country, was born in 1750, and
studied at Rome and Naples, i Botany
early engaged his attention. After the
peace of Amiens he resided 1 1 years in
Paris. He came to this country in 1813
in order to prosecute his researches in nat
ural history; arid, while here, received his
appointment as minister from Portugal.
He died at Lisbon in Sept. 1823, aged 74.
He was an eminent botanist. He pub
Ushed dissertations on subjects of natural
history in the EngUsh phfl. transactions ;
note sur la valeur du p^risperme; vues
carpologiques; colleccap de livros ineditos
de historiffi Portug., 3 vol., 1790; sofl of
Kentucky in Amer. ph. tr. i. n. series.
CORTEZ, Hernando, the conqueror
of Mexico, was born in Estremadura,
in Spain, in 1485. At the age of 33 he sai
led 'frorii Cuba Nov. 18, 1518, with 1.1
small vessels, 617 meri, spldiers and sai
lors, 10 field pieces, and only 13 firelocks.
He landed at Tabasco and captured it.

306

CORTLANDT.

At Vera Cruz he built a smaU fort; then,
burning his ships, he advanced against
Mexico, with 500 men and 15 horses.
The emperor, Montezuma, received him
into the city with great pomp ; but he
was seized and confined by the Spaniard.
In a tumult of the people Montezuma
was brought forward, in order to quell it;
but in the attack the emperor was mortal
ly wounded and the invaders driven from
the city. But Cortez, after obtaining re
cruits, marched again tb Mexico in Dec.
1520 and after a siege of three months
took it, and seized Guatemozin. , The
sovereign was placed on burning coals, in
order to extort from him a confession of
the place, where his riches were conceal
ed. Thus the empire was subdued by a
small band of adventurers, and hundreds
of the natives for refusing to become
christians were cruelly put to death by
men of less religion, than they. The
name of Cortez is made memorable on the
earth fbr bravery, avarice, and cruelty.
He died in Spain Dec. 2, 1554, aged 63.
CORTLANDT,Pierre Van,lieutenant
governor of New York, was appointed to
that office at the commencement of the
new' government in 1777, and was con
tinued in it 18 years in succession till
1795, his friend and confidant, Geo. Clin-
ton,being during the same period govern-'
or. He early took an active part against
the oppressive acts ofthe British govern
ment. Of the first provincial congress
he was a meraber; also ofthe convention,
which fraraed the constitution of New
York. His residence being 40 or 50
miles from the city, during the war his
family was driven from their dwelUng in
the manor of Cortlandt ; but he confided
in the justice ofthe American cause, and,
putting his trust in God, he was undis
mayed by danger. He died at his seat at
Croton river May 1,1819, aged 94. His
wife was the daughter of Gilbert Living
ston. Col. Van Cortlandt, probably his
son, married a daughter of gov. Clinton.
Augustus Van Cortlandt, perhaps his
brother,diedinTonkers,N.Y.inl823,aged 96. — He was a man bf exemplary -virtues,
upright, benevolent,the friend ofthe poor.

COTTON.
•
and died a sincere christian, with fuU as
surance of salvation by the redeeming
love of Jesus Christ, upon whom in his
last moments he called to receive him to
endless life and glory. — West Chester
Gaz. CORY, Giles, accused of witchcraft,
was brought into court at Salem iri Sept.,
1 592; but observing the fate of those,who
had been tried, 15 at that court having
been convicted, he refused to plead, and
agreeably to law he had judgment for
standing mute and was pressed to death.
This is the only instance of the kind in
the history of this country. Eight of the
15 were executed Sept. 22, ampng whom
was Martha Cory. — Hutchinson, n. 60.
COTTON, John, one ofthe most dis
tinguished of the early ministers of New
England, was born in Derby, Eng., Dec.
4, 1585. At the age of 13 hewas admit
ted a member of Trinity college, Cam
bridge, and afterwards removed to Eman
uel CQllege,where he obtained a fellowship.
He was soon chosen the head lecturer in
the college, being also employed as tutor
to many scholars, who afterWards became
distinguished. For this office hewas pe
culiarly well .qualified, as his knowledge
was extensive, his manners gentle and
accommodating, and he possessed an un
common ease and facifity in communica
ting his ideas. His occasional orations
and discourses were so accurate and ele
gant, and displayed such invention and
taste, that he acquired a high reputation
in the university. Hitherto he had
been seeking the gratification ofa Uterary
taste,or yielding tothe claims of ambition;
but at length a complete change in his
character, which he attributed to . the
grace of God, induced him to engage with
earnestness in the pursuit of new and more
exalted objects. While a member of the
college his conscience had been impressed
by the faithful preaching of William Per
kins ; but he resisted hi§ convictions;
and such was his enmity to the truths,
which had disturbed his peace, that when
he heard the bell tofl forthe funeral of that
eminent servant bf God, it was a joyful
sou nd to him. It announced his release from

COTTON.

307

a ministry ,hostile to his self-righteous and
unhumbled spirit. It was not lorig, how-
e-ver, before he was again awakened from
his security by a sermon of Dr.Sibs on the
misery bf those, who have no righteous
ness except the moral virtues. After a
distressing anxiety of three years it pleas
ed God to give him joy in believing. He
-was soon called upon to preach again in
his turn before the university, and more
anxious to do good than to attract ap
plause, he did not array his discourse in
the ornaments of language, but preached
withplainneiss and pungency upon the du
ty of repentance. The vain wits of the
university, disappointed in their expecta
tions of a splendid harangue,and "reproved
by the fidefity of him, who was now a
christian minister, did not hum their ap
plauses as usual, and one of them, Mr.
Preston, who afterwards became famous
in the religious world, received such deep
impressions upon his mind as were never
effaced. Such was the collegial fife of
Mr. Cotton.
About the year 1612,-when in the 28th
year of his age, he became the minister
of Boston in Lincolnshire. Soon after
his establishment in this place, the zeal of
a physician in the town in promoting ar
minian sentiments induced him to dwell
much and principally for some time upon
what he believed to be the truths of scrip
ture; upon the doctrine of God's eternal
election before all foresight of good or
evil, and the redemption only ofthe elect;
upon the effectual infiuence of the Holy
Spirit in the conversion of the sinnerj
without any regard tb the previous exer
tions of free will; & upon the certain per
severance of every true believer. Such
was his, success, that he soon silenced his
antagonist, and afterwards the doctrine
bf predestination was not brought into
controversy. He soon entertaine-d doubts
respecting the lawfulness of complying
with some of the . ceremonies of the
church, and was subjected to inconven
iences on this account; but as his people
coincided with hin^ in his sentiments he
kept his place for twenty years, and was
during this time remarkably useful not on

ly by theeffect ofhis faithful preaching,bu t
as an instructer of young men, who -tvere
designed for the ministry, some of whom
were from Germany and Holland. His la
bors were immense, for in addition to his
other avocations he generally preached
four lectures in the course of a -Week.
His benevolent exertions werfe not in
vain. It pleased God, that a general re
formation should take place in the town.
The voice of profaneness was no longer
heard, and the infinitely important truths
ofthe gospel arrested the attention of al
most all the inhabitants. He was much
admired, and much applauded, but he
ever remained humble. At length, after
the government of the English criurch
fell into the hands of bishop Laud, divis
ions arose among the parishioners of Mr.
Cotton; a dissolute fellow, whp had been .
punished for his immoralities, informed
against the magistrates and the minister
for not kneeling at the sacrament ; and
Mr Cotton, being cited before the high
commission court, was obliged to flee.
After being concealed fpr sometime in
London, he embarked for this country,
anxious to secure to himself the peaceable
enjoyment of the rights of conscience,
though in a wilderness. He sailed in the
same vessel -with Mr. Hooker and Mr.
Stone, and the circumstance of their
names caused the people to say on their
arrival, Sept. 4, 1633, that their three
great necessities would now be supplied,
for they had Cotton for their clothing.
Hooker for their fishjng, and Stone for
their building. This was an age of con
ceits. During the voyage three sermons
or expositions were delivered almost eve
ry day, and Mr.' Cotton was blessed in
the birth of his eldest son, whom,, at his
baptisrii in Boston, he called Seaborn. —
Oct. 10,1633hewas established the teach
er of the church in Boston, as colleague
with Mr. Wilson, who was pastor. He
was set apart to this office, on a day of
fasting,by imposition of the hands of Mr.
Wilson, and his two elders. He remain
ed in this town, connected with this
church, more than . 19 years'; «nd such
was his influence in estabUshing the order

303

COTTON.

of our churches, and so extensive was
his usefulness, that he has been called the
patriarch of New England. The preva
lence of those erroneous doctrines,which
occasioned the synod of 1637, so much
disturbed his peace, that he was alnipst
induced to remove to New Haven. Mrs.
Hutchinson endeavored to proinote her
wild sentiments by shielding them under
the name of Mr. Cbtton ; but though he
was imposed upon for some time by the
artifices of those of her party, yet when
he discovered their real opinions, he was
bold and decided in his opposition to
them. Though he did not sign the re
sult of the synod of 1 637 on account of
his differing from it in one or two points;
he yet approved of it in general, and his
peaceable intercourse with his brethren
in the ministry was not afterwards inter
rupted on account of his supposed errors.
In 1642 he was invited to England with
Mr.Hooker arid Mr.Davenport to assist in
the assembly of divines at Westminster,
and be was in favor of accepting the invi
tation, but Mr. Hooker was opposed to it,
as be was at that time forming a system
of church government for New England.
His death, which was occasioned by an
inflammation of the lungs, brought ori. by
exposure in crossing the ferry to Cam-
bridge,where he went to preach; occurred
Dec. 23, 1652, when he was 67 years of
age. So universally was he venerated,
that many sermons were preached on his
decease in different parts of the country.
Mr. Cotton sustained a high reputation
for learning. He was a critic in Greek,
and with Hebrew he was so well acquain
ted, that he could discourse in it. He
also wrote Latin with elegance, as a spe
cimen of which his preface to Norton's
answer to the inquiries of Apollonius has
often been mentioned. In the pulpit he
impressed his hearers with admiration.
Uniting to conspicuous talents and a pro
found judgment the candor and mildness,
enjoined in the gospel, and the warmth of
pious feeUng, his instructions did not
meet the resistance, which is often expe
riericed, but fell with the gentleness of
tfee dew, and insinuated themselves im

perceptibly into the mind. His labors,
soon after he came to Boston, were more
effectual, than those of any ofthe minis
ters in the country ; he was the means of
exciting great attention to reUgious sub
jects ; and some of the most profligate
were brought to renounce their iniqui
ties, and to engage in a course of conduct
more honorable and more satisfactory,
and which would terminate in everlasting
felicity. , His discourses -vyere generally
written with the greatest attention,
though he sometimes preached without
any preparation. His intimate and accu
rate knowledge of the scriptures and
the extent of his learning enabled him to
do this without difficulty. His written
sermons, which he had composed with
care, were yet remarkable for their sim
plicity and plainness, for he was desirous,
that aU should understand him, and less
anxious to acquire fame, than to do good.
His voice was not loud, but it was so clear
and distinct, that it was heard with ease
by the largest auditory ; and his utterance
was acompanied by a natural and becom
ing motion of his right hand. The Lord
was in the still, small voice. He preach
ed with such life, dignity, and majesty,
that Mr. Wilson said, one almost thinks,
that he hears the very prophet speak,upon
whose works he is dwelling. His library
was large, and he had well studied the fa
thers and schoolmen, but he preferred
Calvin to them all. Being asked in the
latter part ofhis life, why he indulged in
nocturnal studies, he answered, that he
loved to sweeten his mouth with a piece
of Calvin before he went to sleep. Twelve
hours in a day -were generally occupied
by his studies, and such was his zeal in
theological pursuits, that he frequentiy
lamented the useless visits, with which
he was oppressed, though he, was incapa
ble of inciviUty to persons; who thus ob
truded upon him. He gave himself
chiefly tb reading and preparation for the
duties of public instruction, depending
much on the ruling elders for intelligence
respecting his flock. He was an excel
lent casuist, and besides resolving many
cases, which were brought him, he was

COTTON.

309

also deeply though not violently engaged
iri controversies respecting church'govern-
ment. In his controversy with Mr. Wil
liams he found an antagonist, whose wea
pons were powerful and whose cause was
good; while he himself unhappily advo
cated a cause, -which he had once pppo
sed, when suffering persecution in Eng
land. He contended for the interference
of the civil power in support of the truth,
and to the objection of Mr. Williams,
that this . was infringing the rights bf
conscience, the only reply, that cpulfl be
made, was, tl\at when a person, after re-.
peated^admonitions, persisted in rejecting
and opposing fundamental points of doc
trine or worship, it could not be from
conscience, but against conscience, and
therefore, that it was not persecution for
cause of conscience for the civil power to
drive such persons away, but it was a
wise regard to the good of the church ;
it was putting away evfl from the people.
To his intellectual powers and improve
ments he added the virtues, which ren
der the christian character amiable and
interesting. Eyen, Mr. Williariis, his
great antagonist, with very extraordinary
candor speaks of him with esteem and re
spect, commending hira for his goodness
and for his attachment to so many ofthe
truths of the gospel. , He was modest,
humble, gentle, peaceable, patient, and
forbearing. Soraetimes he almost lameri-
ted, that he carried his meekness to such
an extent. "Angry meri," said he,
"have an advantage over me ; the peor
pie will not oppose them, for they will
rage ; but sorae are encouraged to do me
injury, because they know, I shall not be
angry with them again." It wiU not be
questioried however, that his temper con-,
tributed more to his peace, and- enjoy
ment, and usefulnes, than a different
temper would have done. When he was
once ,told, that his preaching was very
dark and comfortless, he replied, "let me
have your prayers, brother, that it may
be otherwise." Having observed to a
person, who boasted ofhis knowledge of
the book of revelation, that he wanted
light in those mysteries, the man went

home and sent him a pound of candles ;
which insolence enly excited a smile.
"Mr. Cotton," says Dr. Mather, "would
not set the beacon of -bis great soul pn
fire at the landing of such a little cock
boat." A drunken fellbw, to make merri
ment for his companions, approached
him in the street, and whispered in his
ear, "thou art an old fool." Mr. Cotton
replied, "I confess I am so ; the Lord
make both rae and thee wiser than we are ,
even wise to salvation." Though be,as-
serted the right ofthe civfl power to ban
ish heretics, he yet had a great aversion
to engaging in any civil affairs, and with
reluctance yielded .his attention to any
concern, not immediately connected with
his holy calUng. In his family he was
very careful to impart instruction, and
wisely and calmly to exercise his authori
ty in restraining vice. He read a chap
ter in the Bible, with an exppsition, before
and after which he made a prayer, remem
bering however to avoid a tedious pro
lixity. He observed the sabbath from
evening to evening, and by him this prac
tice was rendered general in New Eng
land. Ori, Saturday evening, after ex
pounding the scriptures, he catechised
his children and servants, prayed with
them, and sung a psalm. On the sabbath
evening the sermons of the day were re
peated, and ^fter singing, with upUfted
hands and eyes he uttered the doxology,
"blessed be God in Christ our Savior."
In bis study he prayed much. He would
rarely engage in any theological research,
or sit down to prosecute his studies
withbut first imploring the divine bles
sing. He kept m^ny flays of private fas
ting and thanksgiving. While he was
thus distinguished for his piety, he was
also kind andbenevolent. He knew, that
the efficacy of religious principles must
be evinced by good works, and he was
therefore hospitable and charitable. The
stranger and the needy were ever welcom
ed to his table, ' Such was his benefi
cence, that, when Mr. White was driven
with his church from Bermuda into the
American wilderness, he , collected 700Z.
for their relief, towards which he him-

310

COTTON.

self contributed very liberally. Two
hundred pounds were given by the church
in Boston.
After a Ufe ofeminent sanctity and
usefulness, he, was not left destitute of
support in his dying- moments. In his
sickness president Dunster Went to see
him, and with tears begged his blessing,
saying," I know in my heart, that he,
whom you bless, shall be blessed."' He
sent for the elders of the church, and ex
horted them to guard against declensions,
expressing to them the pleasure, which
he had found in the service of the Lord
Jesus Christ. After he had addressed his
children, he desired to be left alone, that
his thoughts might be occupied by heav
enly things without interruption ; arid
thus he died in peace. He was ofa clear,
fair complexion, and like David ofa rud
dy countenance. His stature was rather
short, than tall. In early life his hair
was brown, but in his latter days it was
white as the driven snow. In his coun
tenance there was an inexpressible majes
ty, which commanded reverence from ev
ery one, not hardened against good im
pressions, who approached him.' In an
epitaph on Mr. Cotton by Mr. Wopd-
bridge are the following Unes, which
probably led Dr. FrankUn to write the fa
mous epitaph on himself. .
"A living, breathing Bible; tables where
Both covenants at large engraven were ;
Gospel and law in 'a heart had each its
column.
His head an index to the sacred volume;
His very name a title page; and next
His life a commentary on the text.
O , what a monument of glorious worth.
When in a new edition he comes forth 1
¦Without errata may we think he'll be.
In leaves and covers of eternity !"
He left two sons, who 'Were ministers
of Hampton & of Plymouth. His young
est daughter married Increase Mather.
Mr. Cotton's publications were numer
ous ; the most Celebrated are the works,
which he published in the controversy
with Mr. "Williams, and his power of the
keys, on the subject of church govern
ment. In this work he contends, that the
constituent members ofa church are el

ders and brethren ; that the elders are
intrusted with government', so that with
out them there can be no elections, ad
missions, . or excommunications ; that
they have a negative upon the acts of
the fraternity, yet that the brethren have
so much liberty, that nothing of common
concernment can be imposed upon them
without their consent. He' asserts the
necessary communion of churches in sy
nods, who have authority to enjoin such
things, as may rectify disorders, dissen
sions, and confusions of congregations,
and upon an obstinate refusal to comply
may withdraw communion. The fol
lowing is a catalogue of his writings:
God's -promise to his plantation, an elec
tion sermon, 1634 ; a letter in answer to
objections made against the New England
churches, with the questions proposed to
such, as are admitted to church fellow
ship; 1641 ;'the way oflife, 4to ; God's
mercy mixed with his justice ; an abstract
of the laws of New England,- 1641, and
a second edition in 1655 ; this abstract of
such laws ofthe Jews, as were supposed
to be of perpetual obligation, was drawn
up in 1 636, when Vane was governor,
though it was never accepted ; it is pre
served in vol.v. ofthe histor. collections ;
the church's resurrection, on the fifth and
sixth verses of revelation xx, 1642;. a
modest and clear answer to Mr. Ball's
discourse on set forms of prayer ; exposi
tion of Revelation xvi ; the true consti
tution of a particular, visible church,
1643 ; the keys of the kingdom of heav
en, and power thereof, 1644 ; the doctrine
of the church, to which is committed
the keys of the kingdom of heaven ; the
covenant of God's free grace most sweet
ly unfolded, to which is added a profes-
sibn of faith by Mr. Davenport, 1645; 3d.
ed. 1671 ; the way ofthe churches of
Christ in New England, or the way of
churches walking in brotherly equaUty
&c. ; this was published from an imper
fect copy, and represents Mr. Cotton as
less friendly , to the authority of the el
ders, than he really was ; the pouring out
of the seven vials ; the controversy con
cerning hberty of conscience truly stated,

COTTON.

311

1646 ; a treatise shewing, that singing of
psalms is a gpspel ordinance, 1647 ; the
grounds & ends of the baptism ofthe chil
dren ofthe faithful, 1647; a letter to Mr.
WilUams; the bloody tenet washed &made
white in the blood of the lamb, being dis
cussed & discharged of blood guiltiness by
just defence, in answerto Mr. WilUams,
to which is added a reply to Mr. WiUiams'
answer to Mr. Cotton's letter, 1647 ;
questions propounded to him by the
teaching elders, with his answer to each
question ; the way of congregational
churches cleared in two treatises, against
Mr. Baylie and Mr. Rutherford, 1648 ;
of the holiness of church members, prov
ing, that visible saints are the matter pf
the church, 1650 ; Christ the fountain of
life, 1651; a brief exposition of Ecdesi-
astes, 1654 ; his censure upon the way of
Mr. Henden of Kent; 1656 ; sermons on
the first epistle of John, foUo ; a discourse
on things indifferent, proving, that no
church governors have power to impose
indifferent things upon the consciences Of
men ; exposition of Canticles ; milk for
babes, a catechism ; meat for strong men ;
a discourse about civfl government in a
plantation, whosedesign is refigion, 1663.
— Norton's and Mather's life of Cotton;
Mather's magn., in. 14 — 31 ; Neal's N.
£; 1. 305-^307 ; Hist col. v. 171; ix. 41
— 44 ; Hutchinson, i. 34, 55 — 75, 115
179 ; Winthrop, 52—153.
COTTON,Seabom,minister of Hamp
ton, N..Hairipshire,was theson ofthe prS-
ceding, & was born at sea in Aug. 1633,
while his parents were on their voyage
to New England. His name is put Ma-
rigena in the 'catabgueof Harvard college,
where he was graduated in 1651.' He
was ordained at Hampton in 1660 as suc
cessor of Mr. Wheelwright, and died
Apr. 19, 1686, aged 52 years. His first
wife was Dorothy, daughter of gov.
Bradstreet. His son, John, his succes
sor in the ministry at Hampton, was
ordained, in 1696 and died March 27,
1710, aged 52 years. During governor
Cranfield's administration Mr. Moody
was imprisoned for refusing to adminis
ter the sacrament to him : the next week

the governor serit word to Mr. Cptton,
that " when he had prepared hia soul, he
would come and demand the sacrament of
hira, as he had done at Portsmouth."
This threat induced Mr. Cotton to with
draw for some time to Boston. He was
esteemed a thorough scholar, and an able
preacher. The heresies of his name sake
Pelagius, which had been revived in the
world, he regarded with abhorrence. —
Magn.,in, 20, 31; Farmer's Belknap,!.
COTTON, John, minister of Ply
mouth, Mass., and of Charleston S. C,
brother of the preceding, was the son of
John Cotton of Boston, and. was born
March 13, 1640. He was graduated at
Harv.cpl.inl657. From 1664 to 1667 he
preached on Martha's Vineyard to a con
gregation of white people and also to the
Indians, having acquired a good knowl-
ejlge of their language ; and thus he af
forded great assistance to Thomas May
hew, who was laboring to make the hea
then acquainted with the glad tidings of
salvation. In Nov. 1667 he removed tp
Plymouth on the invitation ofthe pepple
in that town, but was not ordained until
June 30,1669. He continued here about
SO years. He was a very faithful mhiis-
tet, and his exertions were extensively
useful. He was completely occupied in
doing good by visiting the families in his
parish with the ruling elders, catechising
the children, and attending church meet
ings, and by his public preaching on the
sabbath. Before his admission of any
person into the church he required a re
lation, either public or private, ofthe ex
perience ofa work of divine grace. He
usually expounded the psalm, which was
sung, and the psalms were sung in course.
In 1681 the practice of reading the psalm
line by line was introduced from regard
to a brother, who w^as unable to read.
Some difference of opinion between him
and his church respecting the settlement
ofa neighboring minister having arisen,
and there being no prospect ofa reconcili
ation, he was induced to ask a dismission,
whicri was granted Oct 5, 1697. Being
soon invited to South Carolina, he set
sail for Chariesfoh Nov. 1 5, 1 698. After

312

COTTON.

his arrival he gathered a church, and la
bored with great diligence and much suc
cess tifl his death, Sept. 18, 1699, aged 59
years. In the short space of time, that
he lived here, twenty five were added to
the number, of which the church consis
ted, when it was first organized ; and many
baptized. His church erected a handsome
monument over his grave. Among his
sons were the foUowing ministers ; John
of Yarmouth, Roland of Sandwich, and
Theophilus of Hampton Falls.
Mr. Cotton was eminent for his- ac
quaintance with the Indian language.
When he -began to learn it, he hired an
Indian for his instructer at the rate of
twelve pence a day for fifty days; but his
knavish tutor, having received his whole
pay in advance, ran away before 20 days
had expired. Mr. Cotton, however, found
means to perfect bis acquaintance with the
barbarous dialect. While at Plymouth
he frequently preached tp the Indians,
who lived in sevei-al congregations in the
neighborhood. The whole care of re
vising and correcting Eliot's Indian Bible,
which was printed at Cambridge in 1685,
feU on him. — Hist col ly. 122—128,
137; Magnalia, in. 194, 199, 200;
Mayhew's Indian converts; Holmes.
COTTON, Roland, first mimster of
Sandwich, Massa., the son of Rev. John
C. of Plymouth, was graduated at Har
vard college in 1685, ordained Nov. 28,
1694, and died March 29, 1722. His
successors were B. Fessenden, A. "Wil-
lianis, and J. Burr. His wife -was the
sister of gov. Saltonstall, and widow of
Rev.J.Denison of Ipswich. One daugh
ter married Rev. J. Brown of Haverhill,
and another married Rev. S. Bourne of
Scituate. He is worthy of honorable
remembrance for his benevolent regard
to the spiritual interests of the; Indians at
Mashpee, of which 214 were under his
care in 1693, whife 500 of other tribes
were under the care ofhis father. — Hist.
col I. 201; X. 183.
COTTON, Josiah, judge, a preacher
to the Indians, the son of Rev. John C.
of Plymouth, was born Jan. 8, 1680, and
graduated at Harvard college in 1698.

Sustaining the office of clerk of court,
register bf deeds, and judge of the com
mon pleas, he also preached tp the In
dians at Manomet and Herring ponds,
Plymouth, and Mattakeeset pond, Pem
broke, with a salary of 20i. from the com
missioners for propagating the gospel.
His engagement closed Nov. 15, 1744,
having preached nearly 40 years both in
Indian and EngUsh. He died Aug. 19,
1756, aged 75. He had 4 brothers, who
were ministers. Of bis 14 children his
son, John, was minister of HaUfax. His
daughter, Mary, was the' mother of judge
"W'm. Gushing. He compfled a copious
English and Indian vocabulary; the publi
cation of which is promised by the Mass.
hist, society. — 2 Hist col iv. 92.
COTTON, John, minister of New
ton, Mass. son of Rev. Roland C. of
Sandwich, was graduated at Harvard
college in 1710, Having been ordained
as successor of Mr. Hobart, No'v. 3,
1714, he continued in this place till his
(ieath. May 17, 1757, in the sixty fourth.
year ofhis age. He was faithful, fervent,
and successful in his labors, and was par
ticularly happy in seeing the attention of
his people to religious truths in 1729 and
1740. He pubfished a sermon after the
earthquakes; 1728 ; on the death of Na
thaniel Cotton of Bristol, 1729; at the
ordination of his brother. Ward Cotton,
1734; four sermons, addressed to youth,
1739 ; at the election, 1753. — Homer's
j^st NeMon; Collect, hist. soc. v. 273-
276. COTTON, John, first minister of
HaUfax, Mass., a native of Plymouth,
son of. Josiah C, was graduated at Harv
ard coUege in 1730 and ordained in 1735.
The failure of his voice induced him to
resign in 1756, and he was succeeded by
Wflliam Patten, aft-erwards minister of
Hartford, Con. — He was a useful citizen
at Plymouth, county treasurer, and reg- ,
ister of deeds, and died in 1789, aged 77.
He published 2 serm. on a day of huraUi-
ation for the drought and war, 1757 ;
practice of trie criurches as to baptism
vriidicated ; history of Plymouth church.
—2 Hist, eol IV. 282.

COUDRAY.

CRAIK.

313

COUDRAY, Du, general, was engag
ed by the American commissioners at
Paris to enter our service as the head of
the Amei-ican artillery. He was at Bos
ton in May 1777. But Sept. 16th he
was drowned in the Schuylkill. He rode
into a ferry boat, and was unable to con
trol his horse, who plunged into the riv
er. Had he Uved, probably great dissat
isfaction would have been felt in conse
quence of the rank assigned him.— Heath,
128. COVINGTON, Leonard, brigadier
general, was the son of Leviri C. of Ma
ryland. He served viriih reputation un
der Wayne in the Indian war. At fort
Recovery his horse was shot under him.
He participated in the battle on the Mi
ami. Returning to his family, he settled
as a planter. For many years he -was a
member of the Maryland senate ; he was
also elected a member of congress. In
1809 Mr. Jeflerson appointed him lieut.
cob in the regiment of dragoons. Ap
pointed Aug. 1, 1813 brigadier general,
he repaired to the north. At the - battle
of Williamsburg Nov. Hth, when Boyd
commanded, while gallantly leading his
brigade to the charge, . he was mortally
wounded, and died on the 13th, aged 45,
leaving a wife and six children. He was
buried at French Mills, now called Mount
Covington. COXE, Daniel, «.n author, claimed the
territory of Georgia, Florida, and Louis
iana under his father, who purchased of
sir Robert Heath, to whoni it was origin
ally granted in 1630 ; but the claim was
declared void, as the conditions had not
been fulfilled. He Uved 14 years in this
country ; and pubUshed a description of
the English province of Carolana, by the
Spaniards called Florida, &c. 8vo. Lon
don, 1722; thesame, 1741.
COXE, Tench, a writer on public
economy, died at Philadelphia July 16;
1824, aged 68 years. He published an
address on American manufactures ; an
inquiry on the principles ofa commercial
system for the U. S., 1787; examination
oflord Sheffield's observations,1792; view
ofthe U.S., 1794; thoughts on naval pow-
40

er & the encouragement of commerce and
manufactures, 1806 ; memoir on the cul
tivation, trade, and manufacture of cot
ton, 1807; memoir Pn a navigation act,
1809 ; statement of the arts and manu
factures ofthe U. S., 1814.
CRADOCK, Matthew, first governor
of Massachusetts, was an 'opulent mer
chant in London. Ofthe London compa
ny, which in 1628 purchased the patent
of the territory of Mass., he was chosen
governor. He never came to this coun
try; but Endicott was sent but to make a
plantation. He proposed the important
measure of transferring the government to
the actual settlers ; accordingly W'uthrop
waschosen governor. — Winthrop, i. 2 ;
2 Hist cal V. 109.
CRADOCK, Thomas, rector of St
Thomas, Baltimore county, Maryland,
died in 1760. He delivered a sermon in
1753 before the governor and assembly on
the irregularities of some of the clergy.
He also published in 1756 a version of
the psalms of David in heroic measure,
which, though not destitute of merit,
will hardly attract many readers at the
present day. '
CRAFTS, Wflliam, a poet, was born
in Charleston, S. C. Jan. 24, 1787, and
having graduated at Harvard college 'in
1805, soon settled in his native city as a
lawyer of ability. He was a member of
the legislature, and for some time the
editor of the Charleston Courier. He
died at New Lebanon springs, New
York, Sept. 23, 1826, aged 39. A col
lection of his poems- and prose essays,
with a memoir, was published in 1828. —
Spec. Am. poet. 11. 144.
CRAIK, James, m. d., a physician, a
native of Scotland, accompanied Wash
ington in the expedition against the
French and Indians in 1754, and in 1755
attended Braddock and assisted in dres
sing his w-ounds. During the revolu
tionary war he served in the medical de
partment. As director general of the
hospital at Yorktown, rie was present af
the surrender of CornwaUis October 19,
1781. After the war, at the request of
Washington, he settled in the neighboiw

314

CRANCH.

hood of Mount Vernon. He died in
Fairfax county Feb. 6, 1814, aged 83.
He was estiipable in the various relations
of private life. Asa physician he had
great skill and success. Washington de
signated him in these terms, "my com
patriot in arms, my old and intimate
friend " — Thatcher's, med. biog.
CRANCH, Richard, judge of the com
mon pleas for Suffolk, was born in Eng
land of puritan parents in Oct. 1726. He
resided for a while in Boston and became
a member of Dr. Mayhew's church. In
1750 he removed to Braintree, now Quin
cy, where he died Oct. 16, 1811, aged 85.
His wife, Mary, died the next day, aged
70. They had Uved together nearly 50
years. She was tiie daughter of Rev.
W. Smith and the sister of Mrs. Adams.
— Judge C ranch had 3 children. One
daughter married Rev. Jacob Norton of
Weymouth and died Jan. 25, 1811: an
other married John Greenleaf The son
is Wm. Cranch, chief justice of the dis
trict court of Columbia and reporter of
the supreme court of the U. S. His
grandson, Richard, of the topographical
engineers, was drowned in lake Erie in
1 825. Judge Cranch was very much res
pected for his intelUgence and learning
and for his moral and reUgipus character.
Theological investigations occupied much
of his time. He published his views of
the prophecies concerning antichrist. —
Whitney's fun, serm.; Norton's dis
course. CRANE, Jairies C, secretary of the
United Foreign mission society, was born
in Morristown, N. J;, Jan. ,11, 1794.
His parents were pious. The faithful
instructions of his mother deeply impres
sed hirii at the age of 6 years. His fath
er having removed in 1805 to New York,
he there served as an apprentice. Amidst
temptations he fell into vicious habits ;
but in consequence of the lessons of his
deceased mother he experienced severe
rebukes of conscience. The approach of
night terrified him, and compelled him to
pray ; but the return of morning re-as
sured him in his irreligious Ufe. At last
in J 81 3 his anguish constrained him to

CRAVEN.
seek mercy as a misei;able sinner ; and he
found it. From this time he felt the
strongest desires for the conversion of
the heathen. By conversing with his
fellow apprentices, in a short time a ma
jority of^them became pious. Determin
ed to become a missionary, he, while yet
an apprentice, attended the lectures of
Dr. Mason, and was directed in his stud
ies by Rev. J. M. Matthews. He was
ordained in Aprfl 1817. In a few days he
repaired as a missionary to the Indians in
Tuscarora village, where he continued
till Sept. 18^3, when he was appointed
general agent ofthe United Foreign mis
sion society; and in May 1825 secretary
for domestic correspondence as successor
to Mr. Lewis. In the same year he vis
ited the Indians in the western part of
New York and in Ohio, and returned vrith
impaired health. The society being
now about to be merged iri another, he
was chosen assistant secretary of the
American Bible society. He died Jan.
12, 1826, aged 32. He left a wfle and 3
chfldren without property. His anxiety
for the Indians was strong in his sickness.
He said — "O, how mysterious the provi
dence ? The fields are white, the laborers
few. I have done fittle — just beginning
— and now I am going. The Lord's
wifl be done." — Panopl Apr. 1826.
CRANFIELD, Edward, president of
N. H., succeeded Waldron in 1682 and
was succeeded by Barefoote in 1685. He
was afterwards collector of Barbadoes and
died about 1700. The tyrannical acts of
his administration are narrated by Bel
knap. In his displeasure towards Rev.
Mr. Moody he endeavored to enforce the
uniformity act. He ventured to tax the
people -without their consent. He came
to this country to make his fojrtune : his
injustice drove him away in dishonor. —
Farmer's Belknap,!. 113; Hist, col.x.
44. CRAVEN,Charles, governor of South
Carolina frora 1712 to 1716, badbeen.pre-
viously secretary to the proprietors.
They ordered him in 1712 to sound port
Royal river,, and probably he built Beau
fort soon afterwards. In 1 7 1 5, on the oc-

CROIX.

CUMING.

315

currence of an Indian war, he displayed
great vigor and talents, and expelled from
the province the invading savages.- —
Holmes, i. 513.
CROIX, John Baptist de la, second
bishop of Quebec, was of a noble family
in Grenoble, and was appointed first al
moner to Louis XIV. He came to Cana
da aboutthe year 1685, as successor to
Laval, the first bishop. He died Dec.
28, 1727, aged 74, having been 42 years
in Quebec. — Such was his benevolence,
that be founded three hospitals, and dis
tributed among the poor more than a
milfion of Uvres. — Wynne's Brit, emp, in
Amer., n. 138-141.
CROMWELL, Thomas, captain,was
a common seaman in Mass. about 1636.
While serving under captain Jackson in
a man of war in the West Indies, he was
intrusted with the command ofa vessel,
and captured 4 or 5 Spanish vessels.
Dec. 4, 1646 he arrived at -Boston with
three ships and 80 men, having previously
put into Plymouth. To the governor
he presented a curious sedan, designed by
the viceroy of Mexico as a present for his
sister. He and his men had much money,
plate, and jewels of great value. In Bos
ton he lodged with a poor man, in a
thatched house, because "in his mean es
tate that poor man had entertained him,
when others would not." He died in
Boston 1649. His widow was soon mar-
Tied,— Winthrop, II. 264.
CROPPER, John, general, an officer
of the revolution, entered the army in
1776 as captain in a Virginia regiment at
the age of 19 or 20. He was soon pro
moted. He fought in the battle of Bran
dywine, when the regiment, in which he
was a major, was nearly cut to pieces.
His colonel and lieut. colonel having run
off, he commanded the regiment in the
retreat. He was also in the batties of
Germantown and Monmouth court
house. He died at Bowman's folly in
Accomack county, Virginia, Jan. 15,
1821, aged 65.
CROSWELL, Andrew, minister in
Boston,^was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1728. After having been settled

in Groton, Con. assuccessor of Ebenezer
Punderson for two years, he was installed
over a society in Boston, which -vyas
formed by persons from- other churchr
es, Oct 6, 1738. The house of
meeting was formerly possessed by Mr.
Le Mercier's society, and after Mr. Cros-
weU's death it was converted into a Ro
man CathoUc chapel. He died April 12,
1735, aged 76. It was his fate to be en
gaged much in controversy. He published
a narrative of the new congregational
church; what is Christ to me if he is not
mine, or a seasonable defence of the old
protestant doctrine of justifying faith,
1746; an answer to Giles Firmin's eight
arguments in relation to this subject; sev
eral sermons against Arminians ; contro
versial writings with TureU, Gumming,
and others; part of an exposition of
Paul's journey tp Damascus, shewing,
that giving more than forty stripes is
breaking the moral law,1768; remarks on
bishop "Warburton's sermon before the so
ciety for propagating the gospel, 1763;
remarks on commencement drollery,1771.
— Colledhist soc ni. 264.
CULPEPER, Thomas, lord, govern
or of Virginia from 1680 to 1683; On
his arrival the assembly passed an act
of oblivion in reference to persons, con-
-cerned in the rebellion under gov. Berke
ley. They also, in order to encourage
emigration, authorized the governor to
naturalize any person by instrument un
der seal. An act was also passed to pre
vent the frequent meetings of the slaves.
Ofhis associates in the grant ofthe terri
tory between the Potowraac and Rappa-
hannoc in 1649 he purchased their rights
in 1669. He died in 1719. His estate
descended to his daughter, raarried to
lord Fairfax. — Holmes, i. 397 ; Lord's
Lempr. CUMING, John, a physician, was the
son of Rob.C. a Scotchman, who emigrat
ed after the rebellion and died in Coricord,
Mass. In the French war of 1755 he
was a lieutenant and was taken pris
oner. He afterwards became an eminent
physician in Concord, and died July 3,
1788, aged 60. He was a christian,who

SI 6

CUMINGS.

early devoted himself to the service of
his Maker,'and he died in peace. He was
a friend to learning, charitable to the
poor and constantly exerting himself to
protriote the, good of society. His gener
ous donations for the benefit ofthe poor,
for the 'maintenance of schools, for a libra
ry in Concord, and to the coUege in Cam-
bi^idge towards the support of a medical
professor, are evidences ofhis enlightened
benevolence. — Independent chronicle Ju
ly ^4, 1788.
CUMINGS, Henry, d. d., minister
of Billerica, Mass., was born in HolUs,
N. H. Sept. 28, 1739, and graduated at
Harvard college in 1760. He was or
dained Jan. 26, 1763, After toiling 51
years he received Nathaniel Whitman as
his coUeague Jan. 26, 1814. He died
Sept. 5, 1823, aged nearly 84. He was
frequently called to preach on public oc
casions. His occasional discourses publish
ed are fourteen, of which are the follow
ing; attrie election, 1783; Dudleian lec
ture, 1791; at a thanksgiving, 1798; be
fore a charitable society, 1802; half cen
tury discourse, 1813. — Farmer's coll n.
ap. 86.
CUMMING, Alexander, minister in
Boston, was the son of Rob. C, a na
tive of Montrose, Scotland, a merchant,
highly respected, who died at Freehold
in 1769. In 1750 he was chosen a col
league of Mr. Pemberton of New York,
but was dismissed in 1753 on accou ntof
his ill health. Feb. 25, 1761 he was in
stalled as colleague with Dr. Sewall at
Boston. He died Aug 25, 1763, aged
36. Dr. Macwhorter married his sister.
His mind readily comprehended points,
which to others were intricate arid ab
struse, and his public discourses were
frequently on such subjects. He was
zealous against the errors of the day.
The sermon, which he preached at his
own instalment, was published, and it is
a specimen of his talents, and of his re
gard to the truths ofthe gospel.— Setooffs
fun. serm.
CUMMING, John Noble, general, a
hero of the revolution, was a relative of
the preceding, probably his sou. He ear-

CUMMINGS.
ly espoused the cause ofhis country and
participated in some ofthe battles ofthe
war. He died at Newark. N. J., July 6,
1 821 , aged 70. His wife was the daugh
ter of gen. For-man. His son, Hooper
Gumming, d.d., minister of Newark for
a few years, died at. Charleston, S. C, in
Dec. 1825. Gen. C. was a man of in
tegrity and honor, a patron of civfl or
der, and a supporter of religious institu
tions. Though not a professor of reli
gion; yet at the period of a revival of re
ligion in 1817 his mirid experienced a
great change, and from that time he reg
ularly attended family prayer. His min
ister regarded him as a true believer in
the gospel. — Griffin's sermon.
CUMMING, Robert, general,, a rev
olutionary hero, died at his residence in
Liberty town, in Maryland, Feb. 14,
1826, aged 71 years. He commanded at
the time ofhis death the second division
ofthe militia.
CUMMINGS, Abraham, a missiona
ry graduated at Providence college in
1776, and died at Phipsburgh, Maine,
Aug, 31, 1827, aged 72. He bad never
any pastoral charge, but was strictly an
itinerant preacher or missionary. He
was known and respected in almost afl
the towns along the coast from Rhode
Island to Passamaquoddy, especially in
the islands, which had no settled minis
ter. In his little boat he often traversed
alone the waters along the whole coast
of Maine, and preached the gospel of
Jesus Christ in the islands. For these
toils in the cause of benevplence the world
wUl not honor him,as it honors the blood
stained hero; but such toils wfll not be
nnrewarded. Hepublished a few treatises.
CUMMINGS, Jacob A., author of
several elementary works, was graduated
at Harvard coUege in 1801 and after be
ing a useful teacher and bookseller in Bos
ton died Feb. 24, 1820, aged 47. His
publications for schools were highly es
teemed, and , his industry, useful labors,
and amiable qualities procured him much
respect. He published N. Test, ques
tions, 1817; geography, ancient and
modern, 1825.

GUSHING.

317

GUSHING, Thomas, speaker of the
house of representatives of Massa,, was
the son of Thomas C, a member ofthe
council, & a descendant of Matthew C. of
Hingham. He -was born in Bbston Jan.
30, 1694, graduated at Harvard college
in 1711, and died Apr. 11, 1746, aged
52. His wife was the daughter of Ed
ward Bromfield. He left one son and 2
daughters. He was distinguished by his
wealth, his abiUties, his zeal for hia coun
try's service, his integrity, and in a pe
culiar manner for his piety. Mr. Prince
says of him, "I found, that in a small,
relaxed, and feeble body there dwelt a
great, a lively, a strong, and well com
posed soul." About the age of 20 his
soul was renewed by the Spirit of God.
He daily read the scriptures and prayed
in his family; and he died in joyful hope.
The revival of reUgion in Boston a few
years before his death gave him g^reat de
light. In regard to pubUc men in days of
difficulty he said, — "men may be a long
while great patriots from moral or politi
cal principles; or party or worldly inter
ests; or the applause or esteem of others.
But there is nothing Uke the special grace
of God, a believing view of his present
eye and future judgirient;, and an interest
and conscience wholly subjected to him,
to keep men steady to the public interest
in times of trial." — Prince's fun. serm,
GUSHING, Thomas, ll.d. heut.
goverrior of Massa., the son of the pre
ceding, v/as bom in the year 1725; -and
was graduated at Harvard coUege in 1744.
In early life he was called to respectable
public offices. Having "been chosen rep
resentative of Boston in the, general
court, his patriotism and talent's soon pro
cured him the appointment of speaker.
While in the chair, it was resolved inthe
controversy with England to make an
ajipeal to arms, and he bent all his exet-
tions to promote the cause of his country,
He was a judicious and active member of
the first and second corigress. On his re
turn to his own state he was elected into
the council, which then constituted the
supreme executive. He was also appoin
ted judge, of the courts of common pleas

and of probate in Suffolk, which stations
he held tifl the adoption ofthe state con
stitution. Being then appointed lieut,
goverrior, he remained in that office till
his death. He died Febr. 28, 1788, aged
62, having had the salisfactiori, a few
days before, of seeing the new federal
constitjitiori ratified in Massachusetts.One
of his daughters married John Avery,
secretary of State,who died June 1806. —
He was from youth a professor of reli
gion; the motives of the gospel governed
him through fife; and at the hour of his
departure from .the world its sublime
doctrines and its promises gave him sup
port. ,He was a man of abiUties; a dis
tinguished patriot; a friend of learning;
charitable to the poor; and amiable in afl
the relations oflife. His days were pass
ed in constant exertion for the public
good.. — American mus. vn. 163, 164;
Centinel, March 1, 1788; Prince's fun.
serm. ,
GUSHING, Jacob, d. d., minister of
Waltham, Mass. was the son of Rev.
Job Gushing bf Shrewsbury, and was
born Feb. 28, 1730. Hewas graduated
at Harvard college in 1748, and ordained
Nov. 22, 1752. After continuing 56
years in the ministry, he died Jan. 18,
1809, aged 78. He -was mild and be
nevolent in his temper, and in the dis-
, charge of the duties of the pastoral office
was conspicuous for discretion and pru
dence. In, his preaching however he
was not so fond of dwelUng upon those
doctrines of the sacred volume; which are
controverted, as upon the practical views
of the gospel. He pubUshed the foUow
ing sermons ; at the ordination pf Samuel
Williams, 1766; of Elijah Brown, 1771 ;
of Jacob Biglow, 1772 ; of N. Under
wood, 1793 ; a sermon at Lexington
April 20, 1778 ; on the death of Joseph
Jackson, 1796. — Columb. cent Feb. 8,
1809. GUSHING, WiUiam, ll. d. judge of
the supreme court of the United States,
was the descendant of Matthew C, who
arrived at Boston in 1638. John C, his
grandfather, the grandson of Matthew,
was appointed a judge of the supreme

318

GUSHING.

court in 1728 and died at Scituate Jan.
19, 1737, aged 75. His father, John, also
a judge of the supreme court, died in
1 772. He was born in Scituate in March
1733 and graduated at Harvard college
in 1751. He studied law with Gridley.
Appointed judge of probate for the coun
ty of Lincoln, he lived in 1769 at Pownal-
borough, or Wiscasset. In 1772, as suc
cessor ofhis father, he received a comrais
sion as justice of the superior court, and
in Nov. 1777 that of chief justice. At
the beginning of the revolution, among
the high in office he alone supported the
rights of his country. At the organi
zation of the federal government he was
placed by Washington in 1789 on the
bench of the supreme court of the U.
S., in which office he [continued till his
death, although for some time by reason
of iU health unable to attend to its duties.
He died at Scituate Sept. 13, 1810, aged
77. He united patience of inquiry with
quickness of perception, and the learning
of the scholar with the science of the
la-wyer. Convinced ofthe truth of chris
tianity, he'was careful in the performance
of its duties, and was eminent for his pub
fic and private virtues.
GUSHING, Thomas H., brigadier
general, a native of Mass., entered the
army in 1776 and served during the war.
He was appointed a captiin under St.
Clair in 1790 ; adjutant general in 1812 ;
and brigadier general in 1813. After the
war he was appointed in 1815 collector of
New London in the place of gen. Hun
tington, and died Oct. 19, 1822, aged 67.
He had not strength of moral principle
to restrain him from a duel with Mr.
Lewis, meraber of congress from Virgin
ia. His life was saved by his watch,
which was struck by his adversary's ball.
Some one remarked, it must be a good
watch, that kept timefrom eternity. An
account of his trial before a court martial
was pubUshed in 1812.
CUSHMAN, Robert, distinguished in
the history of Plymouth colony, was one
of those worthies, who quitted England
for the sake of liberty of conscience, and
settled at Leyden. In 1617 he was sent

CUTBUSH.
to England with Mr. Carver to procure
a grant of lands in America, and in 1619
he was sent again with Mr. Bradford, and
obtained a patent. He set sail with the
first company in 1620, but, the vessel
proving leaky, he was obfiged to reUn
quish the voyage. He did not arrive at
Plymouth tiU Nov. 10, 1621, and tarried
only a month, being under the necessity
of returning to give an account of the
plantation to the merchant adventurers,
by whose assistance the first settlers were
transported. While preparing to rejoin
his friends in America, he was removed
to another and better country in 1626.
He was a man of activity and enterprise ;
respectable for his talents and virtues ;
well acquainted with the scriptures ; and
a professed disciple of Jestis Christ. Af
ter his death fiis family came to New
England, and his son, Thomas Cushman,
succeeded Mr. Brewster, as ruling elder
ofthe chjirch of Plymouth, and died in
1691, aged 83. Mr. Cushman, during
his short residence at Plymouth, though
not a minister, delivered a discourse on
the sin and danger of self love, which was
printed at London in 1622, atBoston in
1724, and at Plymouth in 1785, withan
appendix by John Davis, containing an
account of Mr. Cushman. The design
ofthe discourse was to repress the desire
of personal property, which was beginning
to exhibit itself, and to persuade our fa
thers to continue that entire community
of interests, which they at first establish
ed. Extracts from this valuable and cu
rious relic of antiquity are preserved in
Belknap. — Appendix to this discourse ;
Belknap's American biography, ii. 267-
280. CUTBUSH, James,professor of chem
istry in the military academy at West
Point, died there Dec.15,1823. He was
profoundly skiUed in chemistry, and was
also a man of great independence of opin^
ion, the promoter of objects, which he
deemed conducive to the happiness and
honor ofhis country. He published the,
useful cabinet, monthly, 1 vol. 1808 ;
philosophy of experimental chemistry, 2
vols. 1813. After his death a treatise.

CUTLER.
which he prepared on pyrotechny, was
published by his widow.
CUTLER, John, long an eminent
physician and surgeon in Boston, died
Sept 23, 1761, aged 85. Dr. Boylston
was his pupil.
CUTLER, Timothy, d. d., president
of Yale college, was the son of major
John Cutler of Charlestown, Mass., and
was graduated at Harvard coUege in 1701.
He was ordained Jan. 11, 1709 minister
of Stratford, Con., where he continued
ten years in high esteem, being the most
celebrated preacher in the colony. In
1719 he waschosen president ofYale col
lege, and entered upon the duties ofthe
office in the same year. His predecessor
was Mr. Pierson, in the interval between
whose death and his accession the college
had. been removed to New Haven. The
removal was in 1716; the first commence
ment at New Haven was in 1717. The
appointment of Mr. Cutler was consider
ed as an auspicious event to the institu
tion, for he was a man of profound, and
general learning, particulariy distinguish
ed for his acquaintance with oriental lit
erature, and he presided over the coUege
with dignity and reputation. In 1722
he was induced in consequence of reading
the works of a number of late writers in
England to renounce the communion of
the congregational churches, and the
trustees therefore passed a vote "excusing
him from all further service, as rector of
Yale coUege," and requiring of future rec
tors satisfactory evidence of "the sound
ness of their faith in opposition to Armi
nian and prelatical corruptions." He was
succeeded by Mr. Williams. He went
to Boston in Oct., where a new church
was offered to him, and embarked with
Mr. Johnson for England Nov. fifth. In
the latter end of March 1723 he was or
dained first a deacon and then a priest.
From Oxford he received his degree of
doctor in divinity. He set sail on his re
turn to America July 26th, and soon after
became rector of Christ church in Boston,
where he continued till his death August
17, 1765, aged 82 years.
He was a man of strong powers of mind.

CUTT.

319

Dr, EUot describes him as haughty and
over-bearing in his manners, and incapa
ble of winning the hearts of the young.
Mr. Whitefield gives an account ofa de
bate with him on presbyterian ordination
and instantaneous conversion. — He spoke
Latin with great fluency and dignity, and
he was one of the best oriental scholars,
ever educated in this country. President
Stiles represents him, as having more
knowledge ofthe Arabic than any man in
New England before him, except presi
dent Chauncy, and his disciple, Mr.
Thacher. He was also well skiUed in
logic, metaphysics, moral pbilbsopby,
theology, and ecclesiastical history. He
published a sermon delivered before the
general court at New Haven, 1717 ;
and a sermon on the death of Thom
as Greaves, 1757. — Caner's fun. serm. ;
Miller, ii. 359 ; Clap's hist, of Yale col
lege, 31; Whitefield's jour, in N. E.
1740, 48; Chandler's life of Johnxon,
17, 27-39; Holmes' life of Stiles 387;
and annals, n. 143.
CUTLER, Mannasseh, ll. d. a bpt-
Inist, minister of Hamilton, Mass., grad
ated a Yale college in 1765, and died
July 28, 1823; aged 80, in the 52d'year
of his ministry. He was a member of
various learned societies, and was one of
the earliest cultivators in New England of
the science of botany. Besides being a
minister, he was also elected a member of
congress in 1 800 and 1 802. He published
a century discourse 1815 ; and an account
of American plants in Memoirs of Ameri
can academy, vol. 1. 396-493.
CtJTT, John, president ofthe prov
ince of N. H., came from Wales before
1646 and was a distinguished merchant,
of great probity, in Portsmouth. He
was appointed president in 1679, and
commenced the duties of his office in 1 680.
He died March 27, 1681, arid was succee
ded by Rich. Waldron. He left sons,
John and Samuel. His widow, a second
wife, was killed by the Indians. His bro
ther, John, carried on the fishery at the
Isle of Shoals, and Robert the business of
ship building at Kittery. The descen
dants write the name Cutis, Of these,

320

CUTTER.

DALLAS.

/ Edward died at Kittery in Jan. or Feb.
1818, aged 89 ; and col: Thomas at Saco
Jan. 1821, aged 87.—Ann. af Portsm.
70; Farmer.
CUTTER, Ammi R., m. d., a physi
cian, was bornin North YaTmouth,Maine,
in 1735, the son of Ammi R. C.,the first
minister of that town. He was graduated
at Harvard coflege in 1752. In 1755 he
Served as a surgeon in the company of
rangers under Robert Rogers in a very
hazardous expedition, and in 1758 in the
expedition against Louisbourg-. He set
tled at Portsmouth. Early in 1777 he was
appointed physician general of the eas
tern department, and stationed at Fish-
kill, N. J. During his absence his el
dest son, at college, died. He returned
to his large famfly in the beginning of
1778. After being in practice about 50
years he received his son, Wm., into
partnership and soon relinquished busi
ness. He died Dec. 8, 1815. aged 81.—
Thacher's med. biog ; Ann. afPortms,
DAGGETT, Naphtali, d. d., presi
dent of Yale college, was a native of At-
llebprough, Massa. He was in 1748
graduated at the institution, which was
afterwards intrusted to his care. In the
year 1751 he was settled in the ministry
at Smith Town on Long Island, from
whence he removed in 1756 to New Ha
ven, and accepted the appointment of pro
fessor of divinity in the college. This office
he filled during the remainder of his Ufe.
After thedeath of Mr. Clap-in 1766 he
officiated. as president till April 1, 1777,
whenhe resigned the chair. Dr.Stiles was
appointed his successor. In July 1779
he distinguished himself by his bravery,
when the British attacked New Haven.
He died Nov. 25, 1780, and was succeed
ed in his professorship by Samuel Wales.
He was a good classical scholar, and a
learned divine. He pubUshed a sermon
on the death of pres. Clap. 1767 ; at the
ordination of Eb. Baldwin, 1770 ; of J.
Howe, 1773. — Holmes' life af Stiles,
392, 396; Gen. hist of Con., 412.
DALE, Richard, commodore in the
navy, was born in Virginia about 1757.
In the war ofthe revolution he served in

the brig Lexington as midshipman. Cap
tured in 1776 by a British frigate, he and
his crew retook the brig in the following
night. He was again captured Sept. 19,
1777 and thrown into Millprisori, from
which he made his escape in Feb. 1779,
andjoined Paul Jones in the Bon Homme
Richard at L' Orient. In the action
with the Serapis, Sept' 23, he was badly
wounded in the leg. On board the
TrumbuU of 28 guns, capt. J. Nicholson,
he was again captured in 1781, but in
Npv. was exchanged.: In May 1798 he
commanded the sloop of war, Ganges.
Apr. 38, 1801 he Was appointed to the
command of the American squadron in
the Mediterranean ; but resigned his com
mission Dec. 17, 1802. His residence
was at PhiUdelphia, where in the midst
of an amiable family and respected as a
citizen and a christian he died Feb. 24,
1826, aged 69.— Life of Jones ^126,361.
DALLAS, Alexander James, Secreta
ry of the treasury of the U. S., was of
Scotch descent and was born in the island
of Jamaica in 1759. His father, Robert
D., was an eminent physician. After re
ceiving an early education at Edinburgh
and Westminster, he came to this coun
try, after thedeath ofhis father, in 1783
and studied law at Philadelphia. He also
engaged in various literary enterprises,
writing much for the periodicals and be
ing at one time the editor ofthe Columb.
magazine. In Jan. 1791 he was appointed
secretary of state, and again in 1793 and
1796. In 1801 he was appointed by Jef
ferson attorney of the U. S. for the eas
tern district of Pennsylvania. About this
time he recovered against Fenno 2500
doll, for a libel. In Oct. 1814 he was ap
pointed by Mr. Madison secretary of the
treasury of the U. S. as the successsr of
G. W. CampbeU ; and in March 1815 he
undertook the additional trust of secreta
ry at war, arid performed the task, on the
return of peace, of reducing the army.
He resigned his honorable office and re
turned to the practice of the law at Phila
delphia in Nov. 1816 ; but in a few weeks
his earthly career was closed. While at
Trenton, he was attacked with the gout

DANA.

321

in the stomach of which he died,feoon af
ter he reached, home, Jan. 16, 1817, aged
57. His wife. Whom he married in 1780,
was pfDevonshire, England. Mr. Dallas
had great decision and energy, arid was
emjnent as a lawyer. lie excelled in
conversation aud his manners were high
ly polished, Whfle in office he promoted
the establishment ofa tariff arid ofthe na
tional bank. He published features of
Jay's treaty, 1795 ; speeches pn the
trial of Blount and the impeachment
of the judges; the laws of Pennsylva
nia with notes ; address to the society
of constitut. republicans, 1805 ; reports
of cases in the courts of the U. S. and
Penns., 4 vols., 1806-7 ; treasury reports;
exposition of the causes and character of
the late war, 1815. Geo. M. Dallas pro
posed in 1817 to pubUsh his works in S
Sro\. He left unfinished sketches ofa his
tory of Penns. — Nat. Int. March 15th.
DANA, Francis, l l.d., chief justice of
Massa., was a descendant of Richard Da-;
na, who diefl at Cambridge about 1695.
His father was-Richard Dana, an eminent
magistrate. He was born at Charlestown
in Aug. 1742, and,, after graduating at
Harvard cmlege in 1762, studied law with
judge Trowbridge. He passed the year
1775 in England, where he hada brother,
Edmund, a minister at Wroxeter,who
died in 1823. In 1776 he was appointed
a delegate to congress; and taking his seat
iri Nov. 1777 continued in that body until
in Nov. 1779 he accompanied Mr. Adams
to Paris as secretary of legation. He
was elected Dec. 19, 1780 as minister to
Russia, where he remained, though not
publicly received, from Aug, 1781 till
the close flf the war, returning in Dec.
1783. He -was chpsen a delegate to con
gress in 1784. , A ,m,ember ofthe Massa.
conventipn,he advocated the constitution.
The office of envoy extraordinary to
France in 1797 he declined, arid Mr. (jerry
was deputed in his sfead with Marshall
and Pinckney. Appointed chief justice of
Mass.,, in 1 7 92,he discharged very iiripar-,
tially and ably the duties of that office
until his resignation" in 1806. He died at
his seat in Cambridge April 25, 1,811,
41

aged 68. Judge Dana was a leai'ried law
yer and presided in court with great dig
nity., His opinions on the bench were
remarkable for , theii" clearness and
perspicuity. In his politics during the
days-of violent excitement he was strong
ly, attached to the federalists. His corre
spondence! while in Europe is coritained
in Sparks'' Diplomatic correspondence,
vol. 8ih.
DANA, James, ,D. d., -minister ofNewf
Haven, was a native of Massa. and grad
uated at Harvard college in 17 53-. Some
years afterwards he was a resident, at
Cambridge. He was ordained as the
successor of Samuel Whittelsey at Wal-
Ungford, Con. Oct. 12^ 1758, The his-,
tory ofthe difficulties, occasioned by his
settlement, occupies 40 or 50 pages in
Trumbull's history of Connecticut ; he
was accused of heterodoxy, and an inter
esting question also arose concerning the
construction of the Saybrook platform.
The writers,- called forth on. the occa
sion, were Eells, Todd, Hart, and Hob
art. It- is plain, that the ordination was
a departure from the Saybrook platform, ¦
because 'the ordaining council-was not
Umited tothe consociation; it amounted to;
an assertion of the independence of' the
church, in disregard of the platform.
The members of the council were consid
ered as inclining to Arminianism. After
remaining at Wallingford 30 years Dr.
Dana was iristaUed the pastor of the first
church at New Haven Apr. 29, 1789 as
-the successor of Chauncy W-hit'telsey.
In the autumn of 1805 he was dismissed,
after which he occasionally pt-eached in
the pulpits of his brethren in the vicinity.
He died at New Haven Aug. 18, 1812,
aged 77. Samuel W: Dana, - senator of
. iheU. ,S., washis only surviving child.
— Dr. Dana published, anonymously, an
-Examination bf Edwards' Inquiry on the
Freedom ofthe Will', 8vb. Boston, 1770;
and, with his name,'" the Exa'raination
continued, N. Haven,l773 ; in all more
than SOO pages. Some of his viev^s are
the.foUowin'g, which are similar to those
of Samuel' West of New Bedford-, pub-
liahed-at a,,later period,— For the actions

Ma

DANA.

of men there must he an efiiGierit, cause.
Motives are not that cause; abstract no-
tions,and such are afl reasons and motives,
are not agents ; and if they were, they
must themselves, according to Edwards,
be determined by motives. As motives
are not the efficient cause of the actions of
men, so neither is God that cause ; for
the scheme of Stephen West of Stock-
bridge, making God the sole efficiient
in the universe, is fraught with the impi
ety of making God the author of sin, and
annihilates the responsibleness of man, ren
dering him a mere machine, or .binding
upon him the chains of a dreadfril fatal
ism. ¦ Men themselves, then, are the on
ly efficiifent causes of their own volitions:
nor do they always determine according
to the greatest apparent good; the affec
tions, do not follow the judgment ;: men
fein against liglit, with the wiser choice,
the greater good full in their view.
Through the impetuosity of their pas
sions they determine against the greatest
apparent good. This' is the case with
every sinner, who resolves to delay re
pentance to a future time. Self-dptermiri-
ation is the charatiteristic of every moral
ageut. Such was the opinion of Dr.
' Watts, who maintained, that every intel
ligent spirit is the cause of its own voli
tions. Even according to Edwards, it is
evidently improper to speak of the minfl
as being determined by motives; for he
expressly allows, that "an appearing
most agreeable or pleasing to the mind,
and the mind's preferring arid choosing
seem hardly to be properly and perfectly
distinct." But if not distinct ; then the
choice is not caused by the appearance of
the greatest good. Motive is not the deter
miner of volition and at the same time the
act of volition;; And if the highest raotive
is thesame as volition. J then to say, that a
man chooses, as he pleases, is to say, that
he chooses as he chooses. The absence
of liberty he deemed inconsistent with
moral agency ; and by Uberty he meant,
not merely liberty in regard to the exter
nal action, but liberty of volitipn ; an ex
emption from all circumstances and cau
ses having a controlling influence over the

wiU,— a'self determining power of nian,
as a real agent, in. respect to his own
volitions. On the whole, he regard
ed the scheme of Edwards as acquitting
the creature of blanie, and impeaching the
truth and justice of the Creatbr.-^He pub
lished also 3 sermons in Amer, preacher,
vol. I, and in ; on death of John Hall,
1763 ; of Chauncy Whittiesey, 1764 ; 2
sermoris on faith and inscrutable provi
dence,' 1767 ; a century discourse Apr. 9,
1770; on, prayer, 1774 ; on capital pun
ishments, '1790; pn African slave trade,
1791 ; at the installation of A. Holmes,
1792; practical atheism, 1794; on the
death of Dr. Styles, 1795 ; 2 sermons on
new year and completionof 18th cent.
1801 ; character of scoffers, 1805 ; ser
mons to young people, 1806.
DANAj Joseph, d. d., minister of
Ipswish, Massa:, was born at Porafret,
Con. Nov. 13,1742, and graduated at
Yale college in 1760, He was a descen
dant of Jacob Dana of Porafret, the son
ofRicJhard D. of Cambridge. Having
early devoted himself to God, he studied
theology, and was ordained as the minis
ter of the south society in Ipswich' Nov.
7, 1765. On the 60th anniversary pfTiis
ordination, at the age of 83; he preached
in 1825 a discourse, in which he stated,
that aU, who were heads of fariiilies at the
time ofhis settlement, were deceased, ex
cepting 5; that he had followed about
900pf his parishioners to the grave; and
had received into the church the small
number of 121, being the average of 2 in
a year. Of these 50 were received in a
revival frora 1798 to 1801. Hedied No*'.
16; 1327, aged 85, leaving two sons,
Daniel and Samuel, ministers of Newbu
ryport and Marbfehead. Dr. Dana was
a firm believer in the great doctrines of
Calvinism; a faithful preacher; eminently
a man of prayer; and deeply interested in
all the events, which relate to the king
dom of Jesus Christ. He was a diligent
student and laborious pastor. A fort
night beifore his death he preached a
discourse, recently written. An unaffec
ted humility marked his character and his
end was peace. He pubUshed 2 dis-

DANA.

DANFORTH.

323

courses on Prov. 1 5 : 8, 1 782; at tire ordin
ation of D. Dana, 1795; at a fast, 1799;
a discourse on thedeath of Washington,
1800,; at the convention, 1801; observa
tions on baptism, 1806; on integrity; on
the worth ofthe soul, 1807; 2 discourses,
1810; onthe death of J. M'Kean,1818.—
Crow ell's fun. serm.
DANA, James Freeman, m. d., the
grandson of judge Samuel Dana and the
son of Luther Dana, was born in Am
herst, N. H. Sept. 23, 1793. His moth
er, Lucy Giddings, was a descendant in
the 7th generation frora John Robinson.
He graduated at Harvard college in 1813,
and in a few years was appointed assis
tant to Dr. Gorham, professor of chem
istry. In 1,820. he was appointed professor
of chemistry & mineralogy at Dartmouth
college; but resigned this office in 1826
on being chosen professor of chemistry in
the college of physicians and surgeons at
New York. In Npv. he removed to that
city. He soon lost his only child, and in
April 1827, after an illness offive days,'he
died of the erisipelas at the age of 33.
His wife was the daughter of president
Webber. He was a tfistinguished chem
ist, and highly esteemed by his acquaint
ance. He published, 'vyith his brother,
outlines of the geology and mineralogy
of Boston, with a map, 1818; an epitome
of chemical philosophy as a textbook,
Svo. 1825. He wrote also for various
journals many comraunicatioUs, a list of
which is given by Dr. Thacher. — Thach
er's med. biog.; Cal N. H. hist. soc. n.
290. DANFORTH, Thomas, president of
the district of Maine, was born in Eng
land in 1622, and was the son of Nicho
las Danforth, who died. at Cambridge in
1 637i He had great influence iri the mart-
agement of public affairs in difficult times.
He was an assistant frora 1659 to 1678. In
16'r9 hewas elected dep.govemor. Inthe
sarae year the inhabitants of the district
of Maine, being no longer attached to^
Massachusetts as a county, elected him-
presiderit of the province., He according
ly opened his court at "York, and granted
several parCels of land. He cpntin-

uedin this office, andin that of depur
ty governor tiU the arrival of Andtos
at the end of the year 1686, and 'during
this time resided chiefly in Cambridge.
He was also a judge ofthe superior court.
In 1681 he united "with Gookin, Cooke,
and others in opposing the acts ;0f trade,
and vindicating the chartered rights bf
his country. He died Nov. 5, 1699,aged
77 years. He was a man of great integ
rity and wisdom. In fliC time of the
witchcraft delusion in 1692 he evinced
the correctness of his judgment and his
firmness by condemning the proceedings
ofthe courts. — Hutchinson, 1. 189, 323,
329, .331, 380, 404; Sulliva:n, 385, 386;
Hist, col V. 75.
DANFORTH, Samuel, minister of
Roxbury, Massa., brother of] the priece-
ding, was born in England in Sept.
1626, and came to this country with his
father in 1634. After he was. gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1643 he was
a tutor and feUow. When Mr.Welde
returned to, England, he was invited to
become the colleague of.Mr.Eliot of
Roxbury, and' he was accordingly or
dained Sept 24,1650. He died Nov.
19,1674, aged 48 years. He had 12
children. Two of his sons were ministers.
His sermpns were elaborate, judicious &
methodical; he wrote them twice over in
a fair, large hand, and in each discourse
usually quoted forty or fifty passages of
scripture. Notwithstanding this care and
labor he was so affectionate and pathetic,
that he rarely finished the delivery ofa
sermon without weeping. , In the fore
noon he usually expounded tfle old tes
tament, and in the afternoon discoursed
on the body of divinity. His wife, whom
he riiarried in 1651, waS' the daughter of
Mr. Wilson, and, when he was contrac
ted to her, before his marriage, a sermon
was. preached by Mri Cotton, according
to the old usage of New England. Such
was his peace in his last moments, that
Mr. EUot used tosay, 5'my brother Dan
forth made the most glorious end, that
I ever saw." Mr. Welde wrote a ppem
on his death. He published a number of
almanaijs, and, ari astronomical description

324

DANFORTH.

ofthe comet, -which appeared in 1664,
with a brief theological appUcation. He
cbritends;that a comet is a heavenly body,
moving, according to defined laws, and
that its appfearance is portentous. He
published also the cry of Sodom inquired
hito, or a testimony against the sinof un-
cleanness; and the election sermon, 1670,
entitled a recognition of New England's
errarid into the wilderness. ^-Mather's
magnalia, IV. 153 — 157.
DANFORTH, John, 7th minister of
Dorchester, Mass., was the son of the
preceding, born Nov. 5, 1660, and was
g'r-aduated atHarvard coUege in 1677. He
-Was ordained as successor of Mr. FUnt,
June 28, 1682. From this period he
continued in the ministry till his death,
May 26, 1730, aged 70 years. ¦ Dr. Sam
uel Danforth of Boston was his grandson.
Jonathan Bowman, who survived him,
was ordained his colleague Nov.' 5,1729.
Mr. Danforth was a man of great lear
ning; While he possessed an uncommon
acquaintance with mathematics,he had al
so a taste for poetry. He wiote many epi
taphs uponthe gbod christians ofhis flock.
He was an eminent servant of Jesus
Christ, being' sound in his principles,
zealous to promote the salvation ofhis
brethren, upright, holy, and devout.
The following Unes, which are a version
of Mr.' Eliot's hints on the proper method
of teaching the Indians the christian reli-
' gion, may serve as a specimen ofhis poe
try. *'Till agriculture and cohabitation
Come under full restraint and regulation,
Much you would do you'll find impracticable,
And much you do will prove unprofitable.
The common lands, that. lie unfenc'd,you know,
The husbandman in vain doth plough and sow;
We hope in vain the plant of grace will thrive
Inforest-s, where .civility can't live,"
He pubUshed a sermon at the departure
of Mr. Lord and his church for Carolina,
1697; the blackness of sinning against the
light, 1710; funeral sermon on.E. Brom
field; judgment begun at the house of
God, 1716; two sermons on the earth
quake, to which is addeij a poem on the
death of P. Thacher of Milton, and S.

Danforth of Taunton, 1727; a fast ser
mon ; a poem bn the death of Ann EUot,
aad verses tothe memory of her husband,
John EUot. — Collect hist, sac. ix. 176,
177; N. E. weekly jour., June 1, 1730.
DANFORTH, Samuel, minister of
Taunton Mass., was the son of Mr. Dan
forth of Roxbury, and, was born Dec. 18,
1666. He was. graduated at Harvard
college in 1683, and married the daugh
ter of Rev. J. Allen of Boston. He died
Nov, 14, 1727. He wasone of the most
learned and eminent ministers of his day.
In the beginning of the year 1705 by
means of his benevolent labors a deep im
pression was made upon the ininds of his
people, and. a mpst pleasing reformation
occurred. The youth, who formerly
assembled for amusement and folly, now
met for the exalted purpose of improving
in christian knowledge and virtue, and of
becoming fitted for the joys of the heav
enly and eternal world, in the presence of
Jesus, the Savior. Several letters of Mr.
Danforth, giving an account of this re
formation, are preserved in Mr. Prince's
christian history. He published au eulo
gy on Thomas Leonard, 1713, and the
election sermori; 1714. , He left behind
him a manuscript Iridian dictionary, a
part of which is now in the library ofthe
Massachusetts historical society. It
seems to have been formed . from Eliot's '
Indian Bible, as there is a reference under
every word to a passage of scripture.—
Hist col III. 173; ix. 176; Christian
hist. 1. 108. /
DANFORTH, Samuel, m. d., a phy
sician inBoston,was borri near that town
in 1740, and was the son of Samuel D.,
judge of probate for Middlesex, and the
descendant of men distinguished in N. E.
Hewas graduated in 1758 and studied
with Dr. Rand. At this period he be
came acquainted with a German physi
cian, probably Dr. Kast, who exerted an
unhappy infiUence on his religious opin
ions; He practised first at Newport;
then settled at Boston. Being a loyalist,
he remained in the town, while it was
occupied by the British; for whichhewas
afterwards treated harshly. From 1795

DARBY.

DAVENPORT.

325

to 1798 he was president of the medical
society. Neglecting surgery, he devoted
himself to medicine, and had full practice
tfll he was nearly 80 years old. , For
about 4years he was confined to his fami
ly. Hedied ofa paralytic affection Nov.
16, 1827, aged 87.' He vvas tall,, thin,
erect, with an aquiline nose and a prom
inent chin, and a countenance expressive
of great sagacity. He employed only a
few and powerful remedies, relying
chiefly on calomel, opium, ipecacuanha,
and bark. He rarely caused a patient to
be hied.— ^Thacher's med. biog.
DARBY, WiUiam, engineer and geog
rapher, died in Frederic county, Mary
land, in Aug. 1827. He was an officer
under gen. Jackson in Louisiana, and was
one ofthe surveyors of the boundary be
tween the U.' S. and Canada. He pub
lished a geographical description of .Lou
isiana .8vo. 1816; a map of the same;
plan of Pittsburg and adjac. country,
1817; emigrant's guide to the western
country, 8vo., 1818 ; tour from New
York to Detroit, 1819 ; memoir on the
geog. and hist, of Florida, with a map,
1821; 3d. edit, of Brooke's univ. gazet
teer, 1823. - '
DARKE, WiUiam, a brave ^ officer
during the American war, was born in
Philadelphia county in 1736, and when a
boy accompanied' his parents tp Virginia.
In the 19th year ofhis age he joined the
army under gen. Braddock, and shared in
the dangers ofhis defeat in 1755. ¦ Inthe
beginning pf the war with Great Britain
he accepted a captain's commission, and
served with, great reputation till the close
of the war, at which time he held tlie
rank of major. In 1791 he received from
congress the command of a regiment in
the army Under St. Clair, and bore a dis
tinguished part in the unfortunate battle
with the Indians N,ov. 4th. In this bat
tle he tost a favorite son, and riarrowly.
escaped -witri his own life. In, his retire
ment during, his remaining years hp en
joyed the confidence of the state, which
had adopted him, and was honored with
the rank of major general of the militia.
Hedied af his seat in Jefferson county

Nov. 26, 1801, aged 65,— iV;. Y,' specta
tor; Dec 18, 1801.
D' AULNAY de Chariiis6, or D' Aunai,
D'Aunay, D'Aulney, as his name ia Vari
ously written, governor of Acadia, had a
fort at Penobscot as early as Nov. 1 636 and
claimed as far as Pemaquid. About the
year 1632 Acadia was divided into three
pf-ovinces, and the proptiety and govern
ment assigned to De Razilly, La Tour,
and Denys. The first had the territory
from Port Royal, in the west of Nova
Scotia, to NewEngland;, the second had
Acadia proper or' Nova Scotia ; yet La
Tour had a fort at the river St. John in
the province of the. first. The rights of
Razilly were after his death purchased by
D'Aulnay,who built a fort at Port Royal.
His claims conflicting with those of La
Touri a Warfare was carried on between
them.. .Of these difficulties a long account
is given by Hubbard. In 1643 and 1644
D'Aulna'y stifl had a fort at Penobscot.
He made a treaty with gov. Endicott,
Oct. 8, 1644. Some advantages were de
rived from thp trade with him. His secre
tary afterwards visited Boston to confer
with the governor on certain grievances,
and the governor sent D'Aulnay as a
conciliatory present the "fair new sedan,"
which capt. . CromweU had given him.
Early in 1645 he captured La Tour's fort
at St. Jbhn river, after it had been reso
lutely 'defended by his wife ; he lost 12
men in the assault, and in violation ofhis
faith he put tp death all the men in the
fort, except one,whom he made the hang
man of the others. The jewels, plate &c.
were estimated at 10,000 2. La Tour's
wife died with grief in three weeks. ¦ Af
ter D'Aulnay's death La Tour married
his widow. Such Was the termination of
the quarrel.— 2 Hist, col vi, 478-499;
Charlev,!, 411.
DAVENPORT, John, first minister
of New'Haven, and one of the founders
ofthe colony of that name, was born inthe
ciity of Coventry in England in 1 597 . In
1613 he was sent to Merton coUege, -Ox
ford, where he continued about two years.
He was then rempved to Magdalen haU,
whichrie left without a degree. Retiring

326

DAVENPORT.

to London he became an eminent preacher
among trie puritans; and at length minis
ter of St, Stephen's church in Coleman
street. In 1625 he went to Magdalen
hall, and performing the exCrcise required
took the degree of bachelor of divini
ty. By his great industry he became a
universal scholar, and as a preacher he
held the first rank. There was in his de
livery a gravity, an energy, and an enga
ging eloquence, vffhich were seldom wit
nessed. About the year 1630 he united
with Dr. Gouge, Dr. Sibs, and others in
a design of purchasing impropriations,
and with the profits of them to provide
ministers for poor and destitute congrega
tions. Such progress was made in the
execution ofthe plan, that all the church
lands in the possession of laymen wpuld
soon have been obtained ; but bishop
Laud, who was apprehensive, that the
project would promote the interests of
nonconformity, caused the company to be
dissolved, and the money to he confisca
ted to the use ofhis majesty. As Mr.
Davenport soon became a conscientious
nonconformist, the persecutions, to
which he was exposed, obUged hira to re-
isign his pastoral charge in Coleman street,
and to retire into Holland- at the close of
-.the year 1633. He was invited to be
come the colleague of the aged Mr. Pa-
.get, pastor ofthe English church in Am
sterdam; but as he soon withstood the pro
miscuous baptism of children, which was
practised in HoUand, he became engaged
an a controversy, which in about two
years obhged him to desist fromhis pub
lic ministry. He now contented himself
with giving private instruction ; bftit his
situation becomuig uncomfortable, he re
turned to Lbndori. A letter from Mr.
Cotton, giving a favorable account ofthe
colony of Massachusetts; induced Mr.
Davenport^to come to Boston, where he
arrived Jun6 26, 1637, in company with
Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hopkins. He was
received with great respect, and in Aug.
was a prudent and useful member of the
synod, which was occasioned by the er
rors ofthe day. He sailed with his com
pany March 30; 1638 for Quinnipiack, or

New Haven, to found a new colony.
He preached under an oak April 18th, the
first sabbath after their arrival, and he
was minister there near thirty years.
He .endeavored to estabUsh a civil and
religious order more strictly in coriformi'^
ty to the word of Gbd, than he had seen
exhibited in any part of the world. In
the government, which was es.tablished,
it was ordained, that none but members
ofthe church should enjoy the privileges
of freemen. He was anxious to promote
the purity of the church, and he therefore
wrote against the resultof thesynod of
1662, which met in Massachusetts and
recommended a more general baptism of
children, than had before that time
been practised. He was scrupulously
careful in admitting . -persons to church
communion, it being a fixed principle with
him, that no person should be received
into the church, -who did not exhibit
satisfactory evidence, that he was truly
penitent, and believing. He did not
think it possible to render the church per
fectly pure, as men could not search into
the heart ; but he was persuaded, that
there should be a discrimination.
After the death of Mr. "Wilson; pastor
of the first cfiurch in Boston, in l66'7, Mr.
Davenport was invited to succeed him ;
and at the cloge ofthe year he according
ly removed to that town. He was now
almost seventy years of age, and his
church and people were unwilfing tp be
separated from him ; but his colony of
New Haven had been blended with Con
necticut, and he hoped to be more useful
in Boston, where the strictness of former
tiiries in relation to ecclesiastical disciphne
had been somewhat relaxed. He was or
dained pastor Dec. 9, 1668, and James
Allen at the same time teacher. But his
labors in this place were of short continu
ance, for he died of an apoplexy March
1 5, 1 670, aged 72. He was a distinguish
ed scholar, ari admirable preacher, rind a
man of exemplary piety and virtue.
Such was his reputation, that he was in
vited with Mr., Cotton and Mr. HobkCr
to take a seat among ,the Westminster di
vines. Knowing the efficacy of prayer.

DAVENPORT.

327

he recommended with earnestness ejacu-
latory addresses to heaven. His intrepid
ity saved Whalley and G.offe, the judges
of king Charles, who fled to New Haven
in 1661. He concealed them in his own
house, and, when the pursuers were com
ing to New Haven, preached publicly
frorii Isaiah xvi. 3, 4, believing it to be a
duty to afford them protection. His por
trait is in the museum of Yale coUege.
Hepublished a sermon on 2 Samuel, i.
18, 1629 ; a letter to the Dutch classis,
wherein is declared the 'miserable slavery
aud bondage, that the English church at
Amsterdam is' now in by reason of the
tyrannical government and corrupt doc
trines of Mr. John Paget, 16.34; Instruc
tions to the elders of the EngUsh church,
to be propounded to the pastors ofthe
Dutch church ; a report of some procee
dings about his calling tp the English
church, against John Paget ; allegations
of scripture 'against the baptizing of some
kind of infants ; -protestation aboutthe
publication of his writings, aU in 1 634 ;
an applogetical reply to the answer of W.
Best, 1 636; a discpurse about civil govern
riient in a new plantatiori, whose design
is reUgion ; a profession of his faith made
at his adn?iission into one pf the churches
of New England, 1642; the knowledge
of Christ, whereiri the types, prophecies,
&c. relating to him are opened; the
Messiah is already come, a sermon, 1653;
saint's arichor hold in all storms and tem
pests, 1661 ; election sermon, 1669;
God's call to his people to turn unto him
in two fast sermons, 1 670 ; the power of
congregational churches asserted and
vindicated, in answer to a treatise of Mr.
Paget, 1672. He also wrote in Latin a
letter to John Dury, which was subscri
bed bythe rest of the ministers of New
Haven colony, and he gave his aid to Mr.
Norton in his life of Cotton. He left be
hind him an exposition on the-Canficles
in a hundred sheets of sraafl'hand writing,
but it was never published.-- Wood's Ath,
Oxon, II. 460-463, 650; Mather's mag:
III. 51-57; Trumbull's Conn. i. 89, 490-
492; Hutehinson, i, 84, 226; Win
throp; Holmes; Stiles' h.judg., 32, 69.

DAVENPORT, John, minister of
Stamford, Con., grandson of the prece
ding, was the son of John D. of New Ha
ven ; his mother was Abigair,daughter of
Rev. A. Pierson. He was graduated at
Harvard coUege in 1687,ordainedinl694,
and died Feb., 5, 1731, aged 61. His
daughter, Sarah, married first Mr. Malt-
by of New Haven arid tl^en Rev. E.
"Wheelock;; ariotbef daughter was the
first wife of Rev. Wm. Gaylord. Cou- '
rageous in the reprehension of prevalent
vices, particularly drunkenness, and pun
gent in his addresses tp the cbnscience, he
was enrinently faithful as a minister, and
being devbut and exeinplary in his Ufe;he
was revered by all gbod m?n. The ori
ginal languages, in which the scriptures
are written, were alraost as familiar to
bin) as his mother tongue. When he
read the Bible in his family, he did not
make use of the English translation; but
ofthe Greekand Hebrew original.-Coo7c'»
fun. serrhon,
DAVENPORT, James, minister of
Southhold, - Long Island, son of the
preceding, was ' graduated at Yale col
lege in 1732. He had been esteem
ed fbr, soirie years a soUnd, pious, and
faithful minister at Southhold when in
the rehgious excitement of 1740 and 1741
he was borneaway by a strange enthu
siasm. He preached in New Haven and
other towns, and encouraged the outcries
and agitations; by which reUgion was dis
graced. His voice he raised to the high
est pitch, and gave it a tune, which was
characteristic of the separate preachers.
In his zeal lie examined ministers as to
the ' reaUty -of their religion, and warned
the people against unconverted ministers.
In l742 the assembly of Connecticut,
deeming him under the influence of en
thusiastic impulses, directed the governor
and councfl to transport him out of the
colony to the place, whence be came.
Withbut doubt he was enthusiastic ; but
the assembly was equally bewildered,
being arbitrary, and tyrannical. At last,
through the influence of Mr. Wheelock
and Mr. Williamsi, he was conviriced of
'riis error and published an ample confes-

323

DAVIDSON.

sipn and retractation in 1744.. He died
about the.year 1755. His brother, Abra
ham, colonel and judge, of Stamford, died
in 1789. His son, John, born at Free
hold, Aug. 11,1752, was graduated at
Princeton in 1769, and after studying
with Drs. Bellamy and Buell -was minister
of Bedford, N. Y. and Deerfield, N. J.
In 1809 he returned to the state of Ne-w
Yock and died at Lysander, July 13, 1821.
-TrumbuU,!!, 167, 189.
DAVIDSON, Wflliam, brigadier gen
eral, a soldier ofthe revolution, -\vas born
in 1746, the son of Geo. D., ivho re
moved in 1730 from Penns. to Rowan
county. North Carolina. He was a ma
jor in one of the first regiments of N. C.
and served in New Jersey.,, In Nov.
1779 hewas detached to reinforce Lincoln
atthesou^th. , On his march he visited his
family, frorn which he had "been absent
nearly 3 years ;— such were the sacrifices
ofthe heroes, who fought for American
liberty. In an action with a party ofthe
loyalists near Calson'smiUj.at the lyest, a
ball passed through his body near the kid
neys ; but from this- -wound he recovered
in 2 months, arid, instantly rejoined the
army, b'ping .appointed brigadier in the
place of Rutherford, taken prisoner at
Camden. Jan. 31, 1781 he was ordered
by Greene to guard the ford ofthe Cat
awba, which CornwaUis might attempt
to pass. In the action with the superior
force .of the enemy Feb. 1, gen. Davidsori
was shot through the breast and instant
ly fell dead. The Brit lieut.- col. Hafl
was 'also killed ;' and Corriwallis had a'
horse shot under' him. Congress ordered
a monument to his memory not exceed-
ing'500 dollars in value., Hisfamily, it is
presumed, were placed above want. He
was a man of pleasing address, active and
indefatigable, and devpted to the cause of
his country. — Lee's iriemairs, 1.9,71, 397.
DAVIDS.ON, Lucretia .Maria, a
youthful poetess, was born at Plattsburg,
onlake iphamplain, Sept. 27, 1808, being
tiie second daughter of Dr. Oliver Da
vidson and Margaret his wife. Her pa
rents being in straiteiied circumstances,
much of her time was devoted to the

cares of home; .yet she read much,; and
wrote poetry at a very early a^e, "When
her productions were discovered by her
mother in a dark (yloset,she in her sensi
tiveness and modesty burned them. Af
terwards she wrote an epitaph upon a
robin in Jier 9th year, which is the ear
liest remaining specimen of her verse.
Before she was 12 years. old, she had
read much history, the dramatic works of
Shakespeare, Kotzebue, and Goldsmith,
together Tvith popular novels and roman
ces. She vvas frequeritly seen watching
the storm, the clouds, the rairibbw, the
setting sun, for hours. At the age of 1 2,
a gentleman, whp was pleased with her
verses, serif her a bank-bill for 20 dollars.
She wished to buy books; but, her mother
being at this time sick, she instantly car
ried the; money to her father, saying,
"Take it father;, it wifl buy many com
forts for mother; I can dp without the
books." Knowing that some people
had counselled her parents to deprive hei^
of pen, ink, arid paper, and confine her to
domestic toUs, she relinquished her books
and her pen .entirely for several months,
though with tears; till her mother advised
her to alternate her studies and the busi- '
ness of the world. She composed with
great rapidity; yet her thoughts so oiit-
strippeid her peri, that she often wished,
that she had two pair of hands, that she
might employ therii to transcribe. She
was often, when walking, in danger from
carriages; in consequence of her absence
of riiLnd.. Often did she forget her meals.
She had a burning thirst for knowledge.
In Oct. 1824 a gentleman, on a visit to
Plattsburg, saw some of her verses and
was made acquainted with her character
and circumstances. He determined tb,
give her the best education. On knowing
his purpose, her joy was almost greater
than she could bear. She was placed in
Mrs. Willard's school at Troy; but her
incessant application was perilous to Iher
health. After returning home and re^
covering from illness, she was sent to
Miss Gilbert's school at Albany^ But
soon she was again very ill. On her re
turn the hectic flush of her .cheek indisa-

DAVIDSON.

DAVIE.

829

ted her approaching fate. She awaited
the event witb a reliance on the divine
proniises, hoping for salvation through
the Lord Jesus Christ. The last name,
she pronounced, was that of her patron.
She died Aug. 27, 1825, aged nearly 17.
In her 15th year she wrote the following
verses " TO A STAR."
" How calmly, brightly, dost thou shine,
Like the pure lamp in Virtue's shrinel
Sure, the fair world, which thou may'st boast,
Was never ransomed, never lost.
There , beings , pure as Heaven's own air,
Their hopes, their. joys together share;
While hovering angels touch the striilg,
And seraphs spread the sheltering wing.
There, cloudless days and brilliant nights.
Illumed by -Heaven's refulgent lights,
There , seasons, years unnoticed roll.
And unregretted by the soul.
Thou little, sparkling Star of Even —
Thou gem upon an azure Heaven!
How swiftly will I soar to thee,
When this imprisoned soul is free t"
Her person was singularly beautiful.
She had " a high, open forehead, a soft
black eye, perfect symmetry of features,
a fair complexion,and luxuriant dfirk hair.
The prevailing expression of her face
was melancholy."
Her poetical writings, besides many,
which were burnt, amount to 278. pieces,
among which were 5 poems of several
cantos each. She also wrote some ro
mances, and a tragedy. A biographi
cal sketch, with a collection of ber poems,
was pubUshed by Mr. Samuel F. B.
Morse, in 1829, with the title of "Amir
Khan, and other Poems: the remains of
L.M.Davidson." Of this work a very in
teresting review ,which may be imagined,
by those conversant with his writings, to
have come frora the pen of Robert South
ey, — is contained in the London Quar
terly review for 1829. The writer says,
" In our own language, ^except in the
cases of Chatterton, and Kirke White,
we can call to mind no instance of so early,
so ardent, and so fata] a pursuit of intel
lectual advanceraent." By the early
death ofa person of such growing power
and unequalled proraise we may well be
taught the vanity of earthly hopes, and
42

be led to estimate more highly & to seek
more earnestly a lasting dwelling place
in the world of unclouded Ught, and per
fect holiness, and purest joy.
DA VIE,Mary, died at Newton,Mass.,
in 1752, aged 116 years. Her portrait,
drawn by Smibert, is in the museum of
the historical society. — Holmes,
DAVIE, William Richardson, Jirig.
general, governor of North Carolina, was
born at the village of Egremont, near
White Haven, England, June 20, 1756,
came to this country in 1763, and was
graduated at Princeton college in 1776.
He Soon afterwards entered the army as
an officer in the cavalry of count Pulas
ki's legion. By his talents and zeal he
soon rose to the rank of colonel. He
fought at Stono, where he was severely
wounded, at Hanging' Rock, and Rocky
Mount. Having great strength and ac
tivity, it was his delight to lead a charge
and to engage in personal conflict. At
the period of Gates' .defeat he expended
the last shilUng ofan estate, bequeathed
him by his uncle. Rev. Wm. Richardson,
in equipping the legionary corps, which
he commanded. Greene appointed him
a commissary. During the whole strug
gle he displayed great zeal and en
ergy. After the war he devoted himself
to the profession of the law at HaU
fax, on the Roanoke, and rose to emi
nence. He was a member of the conven
tion, which framed the constitution ofthe
U. S., though his absence prevented hia
name frora being affixed to it; and in the
convention of N. C. he was an able advo
cate for its acceptance. Through his ef
forts the university of North CaroUna
was established. In 1799 he was elected
governor; but he was soon appointed by
president Adams envoy to France with
Ellsworth and Murray. His residence
after his return was at TivoU, a beautiful
estate on the Catawba river in S. C. He
died at Camden Nov. 8, 1820, aged 64.
His wife,Sarah, was the daughter of gen.
Allen Jones. Of a comraanding figure,
he was dignified in his manners, and dis
tinguished for his patriotic spirit and sol
dierly qualities, fbr manly eloquence and

sso

DAVIES.

for the virtues of private Hfe. — Lee, i.
381. DAVIES,Samuel, president of Prince-
tpn college in New Jersey, was of Welsh
descent and born Nov. 3, 1724. His fa
ther was a planter in the county of New
castle on the Delaware, of great simplicity
of manners and reputed piety. He was
an only son ; a daughter was born five
years before. His mother, an eminent
christian, had earnestly besought him of
heaven, and, believing him to be given in
answerto prayer, she named him Samuel.
This excellent woman took upon herself
the task of teaching her, son to read, as
there was no school in the neighborhood ;
& her efforts were rewarded by the uncom
mon proficiency of her pupil. At the
age of ten he was sent to a scriool at some
distance from home, and continued in it
two years. His mind was at this period
very little impressed by reUgious truth,
though he was not inattentive to secret
prayer, especially in the evening ; but it
was not long before that God, to -whom
he had been dedicated, and who designed
him for eminent service in the gospel of
his Son, was pleased to enlighten and re
new him. Perceiving himself to be a
sinner, exposed to the awful displeasure
of God, he was filled with anxiety and
terror. In this distress he was enabled to
discern the value of the salvation, revealed
in the gospel. This divine system of
mercy now appeared in a new fight. It
satisfied his anxious inquiries^ and made
provision for all his wants. In the blood
and righteousness of the Redeemer he
found an unfaiUng source of consolation.
His comforts, however, were long inter
mingled with doubts ; but after repeated
and impartial self examination he attained
a confidence respecting his state, which
continued to the close oflife. From this
period his mind seemed almost entirely
absorbed by heavenly things, and it was
his great concern, that every thought,
word, and action should correspond with
the divine law. Having tasted the joys
and made a profession of rehgion at the
age of 15, he became eagerly desirous of
imparting to his fellow sinners the know

ledge of the truth. With this object
before him he engaged with new ardor in
literary and theological pursuits, under
Samuel Blair. Every obstacle was sur
mounted; &, after the previous trials,which
he passed with distinguished approbation,
he was licensed to preach the gospel
at the age of 22. He was also ordained
Feb. 19, 1747, that he might be qualified
to perform pastoral duties.
He now applied himself to unfold and
enforce those precious truths, whose pow
er he had experienced on his own lieart.
His fervent Zealand undissembled piety,
his popular talents and engaging methods
of address soon excited general admira
tion. At this time an uncommon regard
to religion existed in Hanover county,
Virginia, produced by the benevolent ex
ertions of Mr. Morris, a layman. The
event was so remarkable, and the Virgin
ians in general were so ignorant of the
true doctrines ofthe gospel, that the pres
bytery of Newcastle thought it incumbent
upon them to send thither a faithful
preacher. Mr. Davies was accordingly
chosen. He went to Hanover in April
1747, and soon obtained of the gerieral
court a license to officiate in four meeting
houses. After preaching assiduously for
some time, and not witliout effect, he re-
turned from Virginia, though earnestly
invited to continue his labors. A call for
hira to settle at Hanover was immediate
ly sent to the presbytery ; but he was
about this time seized by complaints,
which appeared consumptive and which
brought him to the borders of the grave.
In this enfeebled state he determined to
spend'the remainder ofhis Ufe in unremit
ting endeavors to advance the interests
of reUgion. Being among a people, who
were destitute of a minister, his indisposi
tion did not repress his exertions. He
stiU preached in the day, while by night
his hectic was so severe, as sometimes to
render him delirious. In the spring of
1748 a messenger frora Hanover visited
hira, and he thought it his duty to accept
the invitation ofthe people in that place.
He hoped, that he might live to organize
the congregation. His health, however.

DAVIES.

331

gradually improved. In Oct 1748 three
more meeting houses were licensed, and
among his seven assemblies, which were
in different counties, Hanover, Henrico,
Caroline, Louisa, and Goochland, some of
of them 40 mfles distant from each other,
he divided his labors. His home was
in Hanover, about 12 miles from Rich
mond. His preaching encountered all the
obstacles, which could arise from blind
ness, prejudice, and bigotry, from profane
ness and immorality. He and those, who
attended upon his preaching, were de
nominated new rights by the more zeal
ous episcopalians. But by his patience
and perseverance, his magnanimity and
piety, in conjunction with his evangeUcal
and powerful ministry, he triumphed over
opposition. Contempt and aversion were
gradually turned into reverence. Many
were attracted by curiosity to hear a man
of such distinguished talents, and he
proclaimed to them the most solemn
and impressive truths with an ener
gy, which they could not resist. It
pleased God to accompany these exertions
with the efficacy of his Spirit. In about
three years Mr. Davies beheld 300 com
municants in his congregation, whom he
considered as real christians. He had al
so in this period baptized about forty
adult negroes, who made such a profes
sion of saving faith, as he judged credible.
He had a long controversy with the epis
copalians, who denied, while he maintain
ed, that the "act of toleration" extended
to Virginia. On this point he contended
vyith the attorney general, Peyton Ran
dolph, and once addressed the court with
great learning and eloquence. When he
afterwards went to Engknd, he obtained
from sir Dudley Rider, attorney general,
a declaration, that the act did extend
to Virginia. In 1753 the synod of New
York, by request ofthe trustees of New
Jersey college, chose hira to accompany
Gilbert Tennent to Great Britain to solicit
benefactions for the college. This ser
vice he cheerfully undertook, and he exe
cuted it with singular spirit and success.
He arrived in London Dec. 25. The Ub
eral benefactions, obtained from the pat

rons of religion and learning, placed the
coflege in a respectable condition. After
lus return to America he entered anew in
1754 or early in 1755 on his beloved task
bf preaching the gospel in Hanover.
Here he continued till 1759, when he
was chosen president of the coUege, as
successor of Mr. Edwards. He hesitated
in his acceptance of the appointment, for
his people were endeared to him, and he
loved to be occupied in the various du
ties of the ministerial office. But repea
ted applications & the unanimous bpinion
ofthesynod of New York and Philadelphia
at length determined him. He was dis
missed May 13 and entered upon his new
office 'July 6, 1759. Here the vigor and
versatility of his genius were strikingly
displayed. The ariiple opportunities_and
demands, which he found for the exercise
of his talents, gave a new spring to his
diligence ; and while his active labors
were multiplied and arduous, his studies
were intense. He left the college at his
death in as high state of literaryexcellence,
as it had ever known since its institution.
In short the space of eighteen months he
made some considerable improvements in
the seminary, and was particularly happy
in inspiring his pupils with a taste for
writing and oratory, in which he himself
so much excelled.
His habit of body being plethoric, the
exercise of riding, to which he was much
habituated in Virginia, wasprobably^ the
means of preserving his health. At
Pririceton his fife was sedentary, and his
application to study incessant from morn
ing till midnight. At the close of Jan.
1761 he was bled for a bad cold, andthe
next day transcribed forthe press his ser-
raon on the death of GeOrge n. The
day foUowing he preached twice in the
chapel. His arm became inflan^ed, and a
violent fever succeeded, to which he fell a
victim in lOdays. He died Feb. 4, 1761,
aged 36. His new year's sermon in the
preceding month was from the text, "this
year thou shalt die," as was also president
Burr's, on the first day of the year, in
which he died. Dr. Witherspoon avoid
ed preaching on that occasion from that

332

DAVIES.

text. President Davies was succeeded-by
Dr. Finley. His venerable mother, Mar
tha Davies, surived hira. When he
was laid in the coffin, she gazed at him a
few minutes and said, "there is the son of
my prayers and iriy hopes-ray only son-
my only earthly support. But there is
the will of God, and I am satisfied." She
afterwards Uved in the family of her son's
friend. Rev. Dr. Rodgers ofN. York, till
her death. His widow, Jean Davies, re
turned to her friends in Virginia. His
son, col. WilUam Davies, now deceased,
studied law and settled at Norfolk ; was
an officer of merit in the revolution ; and
enjoyed in a high degree the esteem of
Washington. His son, John Rodgers
Davies, alsp studied law and settled in
Sussex, Va. Samuel Davies, the third son,
died at Petersburgh. An only daughter,
unmarried, was Uving in 1822.
The Father of spirits had endued Mr.
Davies with the richest intellectual gifts;
with a vigorous understanding, a glowing
imagination, a fertile invention, united
with a correct judgraent, and a retentive
memory. He was bold and enterpris
ing, ahd destined to excel in whatever he
undertook. Yet was he divested of the
pride of talents and of science, and being
moulded into the temper of the gospel he
consecrated all his powers to the promo
tion of refigion. " 0, my dear brother,"
says he in a letter to his friend, Dr. Gib
bons, " could we spend our lives in pain
ful, disinterested, indefatigable service
for God and the world, how serene and
bright would it render the swift approach
ing eve of life! I am laboring to do a
little to save my country, and, which is of
much more consequence, to save souls from
death,from that tremendous kind of death,
which a soul can die. I have but little suc
cess of late ; but, blessed be God, it
surpasses my expectation, and much more
my desert." His religion was purely
evangelical. It brought him to the foot
ofthe cross to receive salvation as a free
gift. It rendered him humble and dissat
isfied with himself amidst his highest at
tainments. While he contended earnest
ly for the great and distinguishing doc

trines ofthe gospel, he did not attach an
undue importance to points, respecting
which christians may differ. It was the
power of religion, and not any particular
form, thathe was desirous of promoting,
and real worth ever engaged his esteem
and affection. Having sought the truth,
with diligence, he avowed his sentiments
TTith the greatest simpUcity and courage.
Though decided in his conduct, he was
yet remarkable for the gentleness and
suavity ofhis disposition. A friend, who
was very intimate with him for a number
of years, never observed him once angry
duririg that period. His ardent benev
olence rendered him the delight of his
friends and the admiration of all, who
knew him. In his generous eagerness
to supply the wants of the poor he
often exceeded his abflity. As a
parent he felt all the solicitude,
which nature and grace could inspire.
"There is nothing," he writes, "that can
wound a parent's heart so deeply, as the
thought, that he should bring up children
to dishonor his God here, and be misera
ble hereafter. I beg your prayers for
mine, and you may expect a return in the
same kind. — We have now three sons
and two daughters. My dear little crea
tures sob and drop a tear now and then
under my , instructions ; but I am not so
happy as to see them under deep and las
ting impressions of religion ; and this is
the greatest grief they afford me." As
president of the college he possessed an
admirable mode of government and in
struction. He watched over his pupils
with the tender soUcitude ofa father, and
secured equally their reverence and love.
He seized every opportunity to inculcate
on them the worth of their souls, and
the pressing necessity of securing imme
diately the blessings of salvation.
Dr. Davies was a model of the most
striking oratory. It is probable, that the
eloquent spirit of Patrick Henry, who
lived in his neighborhood from his 11th
to his 22d year, was kindled by listening
to his impassioned addresses ; such as his
patriotic sermons of July 20, 1775, after
the defeat of Braddock; & of Aug. on reU

DAVIESS.

DAVIS.

333

gion and patriotism the constituents bf a
good soldier ; in a note to which he says,
"Iraay point out to thepublic that heroic
youth, col'. Washington, whora I, cannot
but hope Providence has hitherto preser-
ved,''in so signal a manner,/or some im-
portant service to his country." A simi
lar sermon was preached to the militia
May 8, 1759, a few days before he left
his people, in order to raise a company
for capt. Meredith. It was raised on the
spot. When he went to the tavern to
order his horse, the whole regiment fol
lowed, and from the porch he again ad
dressed them, till he was exhausted. As his
personal appearance-was august and ven
erable, yet benevolent and mild, he could
address his auditory either with the most
comraanding authority, or with the most
melting tenderness. When he spoke, he
seemed to have the glories and terrors of
the unseen world in his eye. He seldom
preached without producing some visible
emotions in great numbers present, and
without making an impression on one or
more which, was never efiaced. His favo
rite themes were the- utter depravity arid
impotence of man; the sovereignty and
free grace of Jehovah ; the divinity of
Christ ; the atonement in his blood ;
justification through his righteousness ;
and regeneration and sanctification by
the Holy Spirit. He viewed these doc
trines, as constituting the essence of the
christian scheme, and he considered those,
who attempted to subvert and explain
them away, as equally hostile to the truth
of God, & the best interests of men. His
printed sermons, whicri exhibit his sen
timents, abound with striking thoughts,
with the beauties and elegances pf expres-
sipn, and with the richest imagery. His
highly ornamented style is the raore par
donable, as he was by nature a poet, and
forms of expression were fairiiliar to him,
which to others may seem unnatural and
affected. He published a sermon on raan's prim
itive state, 1748 ; the state of religion
among the protestant dissenters of Virgi
nia in a letter to Joseph Bellamy, 1751 ;
reUgion and patriotism the constituents of

a good soldier, a sermon before a compa
ny pf volunteers, l755 ; Virginia's dan
ger and remedy, two discourses occasion
ed by the severe drought and defeat of
general Braddock, 1756 ; curse of cow
ardice, a sermon before the mflitia of Vir
ginia, 1757 ; letters frora 1751 to 1757,
shewing the state of reUgion in Virginia,
particularly among the negroes ; the ves
sels of mercy and the vessels of wrath ;
little children invited to Jesus Christ,
1758; 6th edit has an account of a revival
at Princeton college ; valedictory address
to the senior class, 1760 ; aseripon on the
death of George II, 1761 ; sermons on the
most useful and important subjects, 3 vol.
8vo, 1765, which have passed through a
number of editions ; and sermons, 2 vol.
8vo. — Pref. to his serm. ; Finley's and
Gibbon's fun. serm.; Gibbon's eleg.
poem; Panoplist, n. 155-160, 249-256,
302-307; Middleton's biog. evang. iv.
341-S50; Assembly's miss, mag.i. 371,
425, 536, 578; n. 341-350; State ofrelig,
in Virginia; Bostwick's ace. prefixed
to Davies' serm, on George II ; Green's
discourses, 333-356 ; Rice's memoirs af
Davies. DAVIESS, Joseph Hamilton, colonel,
attorney of the U. S. for Kentucky, vol
unteered in the expedition against the
savages in 1811, andfeU Nov. 7th, as did
also col. Owen, in the battle of Tippeca
noe, in which gen. Harrisbn defeated the
Indians. When they suddenly attacked
the American encampment at 4 o'clock
in the morning, col. Daviess asked permis
sion to charge the enemy, and, making
thecharge with Only 16dragoons, he was
killed. Though it was yet dark, his
white blanket coat enabled the savages to
distinguish him. He was a. man of ta-
lents,rionored in his profession, and belov
ed in social Ufe. His wife was Nancy,
the sister of chief justice MarshaU. He
published in lS07 a View of the presi
dent's conduct concerning the conspiracy
of 1806.— Schoolcraft's trav. 1821, p.
135. DAVIS, Sylvanus, captain, an early
settier of Falmouth, or Portland, Me.,
purchased land ofthe Indians at Daraaris-

334

DAWES.

cotta June 1659, also other tracts. For
some time rie resided at Srieepscott. In
Aug. 1676, when the Indians captured
the fort on Arousic island, he fled and
crossed to the west side of the Kennebec
in a boat with capt. Lake. Lake was shot
and killed as he landed, while Davis escaped
with a severe wound. Early in 1677 he
accompanied the expedition under maj.
Waldron, and was left by him with 40
men in command ofa fort on Arousic is
land ; but the garrison was soon recalled.
He became an inhabitant of Falmouth,
-where he owned land in 1680. In 1686
the ferry was granted to him at Nonsuch
point, near Vaughan's bridge. Early in
1690, he took the command effort Loyal
in Falmouth, in which he was besieged
May 16th by 4 or 500 French and Indi
ans. He fought the enemy 5 days, and
then was obfiged to surrender May 20,
after requiring Portneuf, the French lea
der, to Uft up his hand and swear by the
great God to protect aU in the fort and
allow them to march to the next English
town ; but the treacherous commander
forgot his oath and conducted the prison
ers to Canada, being 24 days on the road.
After remaining 4 months in Quebec he
was exchanged. He was named a coun
sellor in 1691 in the charter of Wm. and
Mary ; and gov. Phipps appointed him to
the same office in 1692. He died in Bos
ton in 1703, leaving no issue. — Maine
hist col I. 168, 203, 209.
DAWES, Thomas, judge of the su
preme court of Mass., was the son of
Thomas Dawes, eminent as an architect,
long a member of the senate and council,
and deacon ofthe Old South church, Bos
ton, who died Jan. 2, 1809, aged 77.
He was born in 1757 and graduated al
Harvard college in 1777. In the revolu
tionary war he espoused with zeal the
cause of his country. After a successful
course of practice at the bar he was ap
pointed judge of the supreme court in
1792, but resigned in 1802, and was made
judge of probate for Suffolk. On the de
cease of judge Minot he also received in
1802 the appointment of judge ofthe mu
nicipal court of Boston, which he held 20

DEANE.
years. The office of judge pf probate he
retained till his death, July 22, 1825,aged
63. He wasan impartial, faithful, humarie
magistrate. In early life he wrote a few
pieces of poetry. He pubfished an ora
tion on the Boston massacre, 1781 ; ora
tion July 4th, 1787.
DAY, Stephen, the first printer in
New England, came to this country in
1638 or eariy in 1639, for he commenced
printing at Cambridge, by direction ofthe
magistrates and elders, in March 1639.
Day was employed by Mr. Glover, who
died on his passage. The first thing
printed was the Freeman's oath ; next
an almanac, made by Wm. Peirce, mari- .
ner ; then the Psalras, "newly turned
into metre." Hewas unskilled in the art
of the compositor, and was an ignorant
printer. The printing house about 1648
was taken from him and put into the
hands of Sam. Green. He died at Cam
bridge Dec. 22, 1668, aged about 58.
Mr. Farmer, who once had in his posses
sion an almanac of 1647 with the imprint
of Matthew Day, regards Matthew as
the first printer ; but Mr. Thomas quotes
from the colony records, which in 1641
speak of "Steeven Day-^the first that
sett upon printing." Matthew was ad
mitted freeman in 1646: he probably
therefore came to this country sorae
years after Stephen, and may have taken
his placein 1647. The oath and almanac
were printed in 1 639 ; the psalms in 1 640.
Almanacs in subsequent years, some of
them by S. Danforth, were printed. Mr.
Day also printed a catechism ; body of
liberties, 100 laws, 1641 ; the psalms, 2d
ed. 1647; they were afterwards improv
ed by Dunster.— TAomas, i. 227-234.
DAYTON, Elias, major general of the
militia of New Jersey, at the com
mencement of the American revolution,
though in the enjojrment of eveiy domes
tic blessing, took an active part, and
never quitted the tented field till the con
summation of independence. In Feb.
1778 congress appointed him colonel. He
died at Philadelphia in July 1807, aged
70, He Tvas open, generous, and sincere;
ardent in his friendships ; scrupulously

DEANE.

DEARBORN,

335

upright ; in manners easy, unassuming,
and pleasant ; prompt and diffusive in his
charities ; and also a warm supporter of
the gospel. At the time of his death he
held the office of major general. — Brown's
Amer. register, n. 76.
DEANE, Silas, minister of the Uni
ted States to the court of France, was a
native of Groton; Con., and was gradu
ated at Yale coUege in 1758. Hewas a
meraber of the, first congress, which met
in 1774. In 1776 he was deputed to
France as a pofitieal .and commercial
agent, and he arrived at Paris in June
with instructions to sound the disposition
of the cabinet on the controversy with
Great Britain, and to endeavor to obtain
suppUes of mflitary stores. In Sept it
was agreed to appoint ministers to nego
tiate treaties with foreign powers,
and Dr. Franklin and Mr.' Jefferson
were elected tp join Mr. Deane in
France. But Mr. Jefferson declining
the appointment, Arthur Lee, then
in London, was chosen in his place. - It
is remarkable, that the delegates of Con
necticut did not vote for Mr. Deane. In
Dec. the three commissioners met at
Paris. Though Mr. Deane assisted, in
negotiating the treaty with his most
christian majesty, yet he- had very Uttle
to recommend him to the high station, in
which he was placed. He was instructed
to engage not exceeding four engineers,
and he was most profuse in his promise
of offices of rank to induce French gen
tlemen to come to America. Congress
being embarrassed by his contracts was
under the necessity of recaUing him Nov.
21, 1777, and John Adams was ap
pointed in his place. He left Paris April
1 ,1778. -After hisarrival in this country,
hewas desired to give an account of his
transactions on the floor of congress, but
he did not remove all suspicions of having
misapplied the public riionies. He eva
ded the scrutiny by pleading, that his pa
pers were in Europe. Tp divert the
public attention from himself he in Dec.
published a manifesto, in which he ar
raigned before the bar of the public the
conduct not only of those concerned in

foreign negotiations, but of the members
of congress themselves, ' In 1784 he
published an address to the citizens ofthe
United States,coinplainingof the manner,
in which he had been treated. He went
soon afterwards to Europe,and at last, rcr
duced to extreme poverty, died' in a mis
erable condition at Deal, in England,
Aug. 23, 1789. His intercepted letters
to his brothers and others were published
in 1782. — Warren's Amer. rev.,ii. 130-
137 ; Marshall, in. 155, 411 ; iv. 5;
Gordon, in. 216.
DEANE, Samuel, d. d., minister of
Portland, Me. was gradpated at Harvard
coUege in 1760, and was ordained a col
league with Thomas Smith, the first min
ister, Oct. 17, 1764. After preaching 45
years, he received as a colleague Ichabod
Nichols in June 1809. He died Nov.
12, 1814, aged about 73. He published
election sermon; 1794; sermon on the
death of T. Smith, 1795 ; New England
farmer, or Georgical diet. 2d edit. 8vo.
1797. DEARBORN, Henry, major general,
a soldier of the revolution; was a descend
ant of Godfrey D., who came from .Exe
ter, England, with his son Henry, and
settled at Exeter; N. H. in 1639, but
afterwards removed to Hampton, -where
many descendants still live. In this town
gen. Dearborn was born in March 1751.
He studied physic with Dr. Hafl Jackson
of Portsmoutri, and had been settled three
years at Nottingham square,when on the
20th of, April 1775 an express announced
the battle of Lexington on the preceding
day. He marched on the same day
with 60 voluriteers, and early in the
next day reached Cambridge, a distance
of 65 miles. On his return he was ap
pointed a captain in the regiment of
Stark; and having enlisted his men, he
presented himself again at Cambridge with
a full company May 15th. Heparticipa-
ted June 17th in the battle of Breed's
hill. Having marched on that day across
Charleston neck under a gaUing fire, he
took post behind the rail fence, which
stretched from Prescott's redoubt to Mys
tic river.' During the bloody action he

386

DEARBORN.

regularly fired with his men. In Sept.
he accompanied Arnold in the expedition
through the wilderness of Maine to Que
bec. The army Was more than a inonth
in the wilderness, before they reached,
Nov. 4th, the first house in Canada, on
the Chaudiere. The hardships and suffer
ings of the troops were incredible. The
provisions were exhausted. "My
dog," said gen. D. in a letter to the au
thor of this work, "was very large and a
great favorite. I gave him up to several
men of capt. Goodrich's company at
their earnest solicitation. They carried
him to their company and killed and di
vided him among those, who were suffer
ing mpst severely with hunger. They
ate every part of him, not excepting his
entrails ; and after firushing their meal
they collected the bones and carried them
to be pounded up, and to make broth for
another meal. There was but one other
dog with the detachment. It was small,
and had been privately kUled and eatgn.
Old moose-hide breeches were boiled and
then broiled on the coals and eaten. A
barber's powder bag made a soup in the
course of^the last three or four days before
we reached the first settlements in Cana
da. Many men died with fatigue and.
hunger, -frequently four or five minutes
after making their last effort and sitting
down." Being seized with a fever, he
was left in a cottage on the banks of the
Chaudiere without a physician. During
ten days his life was despaired, of. A
good catholic woman even sprinkled him
with holy water. Yet he gradually re
covered; and, procuring a conveyance 60
miles to poirit Levi, he crossed over to
Wolfe's cove, and rejoined his company
early in Dec. The assault on the city
was made in the morning of Dec. 31st.
Montgomery fell on the bank of the St.
Lawrence in attacking the lower town on
that side. Arnold's division made the at
tack on the other side of the city,along the
St.Charles. In the action capt. Dearborn,
who had been quartered on the north
Bide of the river Saint Charles, march
ed to join the m.ain body, but in the
attempt was captured with his company

by capt. Law, who issued from Palace
gate with 200 men Stsome cannon. He was
put into close confinement ; but in May
1776 was permitted, to return on parole
with maj. Meigs. They were carried to
Halifax in the frigate Niger and then
transferred to another frigate,which after
a cruise of 30 days landed them at Penob
scot bay. In March 1777 he was ex
changed. Being appointed a ma
jor in Scamrael's regiraent, he pro-,
ceeded in May to Ticonderoga. He
fought in the conflict of Sept. 19th, and
on the 7th Oct. he shared in the honor
of carrying the German fortified camp.
On the 17th the British army surrender
ed. Gen. Gates in his despatch particu
larly noticed Morgan and Dearborn. At
the battle of Monmouth in 1778, after
Lee's retreat, Washington ordered Gil-
ley's regiment, in vyhich Dearborn was
lieut. col., to attack a body ofthe enemy.
A gallant charge compelled the British to
retreat. Dearborri being sent to ask for
further orders, Washington inquired by
way of commendation, "what troops are
those.-"' — "Full-blooded yankees from
New Hampshire, Sir," was the reply.
In 1779 he accompanied SulUvan in his
expedition against the Indians; in 1780
he was with the army in New Jersey ;
in 1781 he was at Yorktown at the surren
der of CornwalUs. On the death of
Scammel he succeeded to the command
ofthe regiment. During 1782 hewas
on garrison duty at the frontier post at
Saratoga. After the peace, he emigrated
in June 1784 to the banks ofthe Kenne
bec and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
In 1789 Washington appointed him Mar
shal of Maine. Twice he was elected a
member of congress. On the ac
cession of Mr. Jefferson to the presi
dency in 1801 he was appointed sec
retary of war, as the successor of Roger
Griswold; and the laborious duties ofthe
office he faithfully discharged for eight
years tiU 1809, when he was succeeded by
Wm. Eustis, and was appointed to the
lucrative office of collector of Boston. In
Feb. 1812 he received a commission aa
senior major gen. in the army of the Uni-

DECATUR.

337

ted States. In the spring of the next
year he captured York in Upper Canada
April 27th, ,, and. soon afterwards fort
George at the mouth of the Niagara.
But his health being soriiev^hat impaired,
Mr. Madison was induced very unne
cessarily to recaU him July 6, 1813 on
the ground of ill health. A court
of inquiry -was immediately solicited
but not granted. He was soon ordered to
assume the command of the military disr
trict of N.Y.city. After the peaceof 1815
he retired to private-life. In July 1822 he
sailed from Boston .for Lisbon, having
been appointed by president Monroe the
minister plenipotentiary to Portugal.
After two years he soUcited permission to
return home. Though he usually resided
at Bbston, he annually repaired to the
scene of his agricultural labors iri Maine.
In 1829 an imprudent exposure brought
on a violentbflibus attack, whiph caused
some fatal organic • disarrangements.
Duririg the agonies of his last illness he
never complained; he trusted in the mer
cy ofthe supreme Intelligence. He died
at the residence ofhis sori, gen. H. A. S.
Dearborn, in Roxbury June 6, 1829, aged
78. He was thrice married. .His last vyife,
' thevyidbw ofthe late James Bowdoin,died
in May 1826. Gen. Dearbbrn was large
and manly in his person ; pf frankness and
unimpeached integrity; and as a com
manding officer, notwithstanding his re
call' frorii the froritier, he had the confi
dence and the warm attachment, of the
brave officers and men, who served under
hini. DTECATUR, Stephen, '¦ comhiodore,
was born Jan. 5, 1779 on the eastern
shore of Maryland, His grandfather,
a native of France, married a lady of
Newport,. R. L, -where he resided. His
father, Stephen Decatur, after the estab
lishment of the navy, was appointed to
command the -Delaware slopp Of war,
and afterwards the frigate Philadelphia:
on the occurrence .of peace vvitlji^ France
he resigned h'S cpramission, and died at
Frankfort, near Philadelphia, Nov. Ij,,
1808, aged 57. The sort, Stephen, was
eduQated'in that citv. In March .1798,
43

at the age of 19; he entered as midship
man the American navy under Barry.
Thrice he proceeded to the Mediterrane-
an'under commodores Dale, MbrriS, and
Preble. He arrived the third time just
after the frigate, Philadelphia, which had '
run aground on the Barbary coa'St, had
fallen into the hands of the TripoUfans.
He inimediately formed the jiroject of re-
Capturing or destrpying her, and, having
obtairied the coriserit of com. Preble, he '
sailed for Syracuse Feb. 3j 1804 in the
-ketch Intrepid with,70vblunteers, accoiri-
paniedby the United States brig Syren,
lieut. Stewart. In a few days he arrived
at the harbor of Tripoli,whichhe entered
about 8 o'clock in the eirening alone, as
he was unwilling tb w^it for the boats of
the Syren, which was several, n^iles dis
tant. The enterprise was extreniely haz
ardous, for the Philadelphia -was riloored
-within half gun shot of the Bashaw's
castle and ofthe principal batterv. Two
cruisers and several gun boats lay near,
and the guns ofthe frigate^were mounted
and loaded. The attack was to be made
by a single ketch. About 11 o'clock he
approached within 200 yards, when he
was'hailed, and Ordered to anchor. He di
rected a Maltese pilot tp answer that
the anchors had betn lost in a, gale of wind.
His object was not suspected,. Until he
was almost alongside the frigate, when the
Turks were thrown into the utmost con
fusion. Decatur sprang'abpard, followed
by midshipman Charles Morris, and they
were nearly a minute on deck before their
companions could join them, the enemy
in the mean whfle not.pffering to assail
them,be;ing crowded togetherin astonish
ment on the quarter deck. The Turks-
were soon . assaulted and overpowered.
About 20 men were, killed on the spot ;
mariy jumped overboard ;' and the rest
were driven to the hold. After setting
fire to the ship in different parts, -Deeatur
retreated to his ketch, &i a breeze spring
ing up, he soon got beyond the reach of
the- enemy's guns, which had opened, a
fire upon hiln from the batteries and castle
and two corsairs. In this daring exploit
not a single manwas.kiUed and only fo.ur

338

DECATtJR.

were wounded. For this achieveraent he
was immediately promoted to the rank bf
post captain.
' At an attack on Tripoli, Aug. 3d, he
commanded a division of gun boats, which
he led to action, covered by the frigate
Constitution and some smaller vessels.
Disregarding the fire of the batteries, he
with 27 men boarded one of the enemy's
gun boats, which contained 40 men;
and in ten minutes, with but 3 wounded,
he cleared the deck and made it a prize.
At this moment he was informed, that
his brother, lieut. James Decatur, who
cpmmanded another boat, had captured a
boat ofthe enemy, but was treacherously
shot by her commander, who immediately
pushed off, and was then stretching tow
ards the harbor. Decaturinstantly pur
sued him, entering the enemy's line with
his single boat, and overtaking the foe,
boarded her with eleven inen, being all
the Americans he had left. He singled
out the Turkish commander, who was
armed with a spear, in atteippting to cut
off the head of which he struck the iron
and broke his sword close to the hilt. The
Turk now making a push and wounding
him slightly, he seized the, spear and
closed with him. In the strugg-le both
feU. Decatur, being uppermost, caught
the arm of the Ttirk, -who was on the
poirit of stabbing hitri with a dagger, and
with a pocket pistol shot him. The
crews at the same time were fighting
around them, and it was with difficulty
that, after killing his adversary, he could
extricate himself from the slain and
wounded. His life in this struggle with
the Turk was preserved by a noble mind
ed commpn sailor, who, when a blow was
aiiried at his captain from behind with an
UpUfted sabft,, having lost the use of his
hands, rushed forward and received the
blow on his own head, by which his skull
was fractured. He however survived,
and received a pension froni government.
Decatur returned to the squadron with
both bf his prizes^ and the next day re
ceived the highest commendation in a
general ordfer froni comnjodore Preble.
After a peace was concluded with TripoU

he returned home in the 'Congress, and
after his return was employed in superin
tending gun boats,until he was ordered to
supersede commodore Barron in the com
mand of the Chesapeak frigate. He af
terwards was removed to the United
States, in which ship, Oct 25,1812, in.
lat 29 N. long.29, 30 W., he fell in with
his Britannic majesty's ship Macedonian,
one of the finest frigates in the British
navy, which he'captured after an action of
an hour and a half. His loss was four
killed and seven wounded ; that of the;
enemy 36 killed and 68 wounded. When
capt. Garden came on board the. United
States & presented his sword,Decatur ob
served, -that he could riot think of taking
the sword of so brave an officer, but
wpuld be happy to take him by the
hand. The prize was safely brought into
Newport by lieut. W. H. Allen, and the
command of her given to capt. Jones.
In May, 1813, in command ofthe Uni
ted States, with his prize, the, Macedo
nian, refitted as an American frigate, he
attempted to get to sea, but was compell
ed to-enter the harbor of New London,
where for a long timfe the enemy closely
blockaded him. ' In Jan. 1815 hewas ap
pointed to the comraand of the Presi
dent, and attempted to get to sea, but,
after first fighting the Endymion, was
captured on the 15th by the Pomoiieand
Tenedos and Majestic and carried into
Bermuda. He returned to New London
Feb. 22d. Being soon despatched with
a squadron to the Mediterranean, he cap
tured off cape de Gatt an Algerine frig
ate of 49 guns, in whiph the celebrated
admiral, Rais Hammida, -was killed; and
on the i9th an Algerine brig of -22 guns.
He arrived before Algiers June 28, and
the next day compelled the proud regen
cy to a treaty most honorable to our
country, according to which no tribute
was ever again to be demanded of the U.
S.; all enslaved Ame,ricans were tbbe re
leased vyithout ransom ; and no American
should ever again be held as a slave.
These terms shamed the great powers
of Europe, who had long been triblitary
to a band of corsairs. He proceeded also

DEHON.

DE LANCEY.

339

to Tunis and Tripoli and obtained redress
for outrages. -After his return Nov.
12ih, he was appointed one of the board
of navy commissioners and resided at
Washington, at the former "seat of Joel
Barlow, called Kalorama. During a part
of the year 1819 lie bad a long corres
pondence with commodore Barron, who
some years before had been punished fpr
yielding up the Chesapeak by a court
martial, of which Decatur was a member.
The correspondence issued in a challenge
from Barron, though he considered duel
ling " as a barbarous practice, which
ought to be exploded from civilized socie
ty ;" and the challenge was (accepted by
Decatur, though he ';had long since dis
covered, that fighting duels is not even
an unerring criterion of personal cour
age.",; He was persuaded, that it was the
intention of Barron " to fight up his
character."' They fought at Bladens-
burgh March 22, 1820, when at the first
fire he was mortally wounded, and, being
conveyed to his home and to his distrac-
. ted wife, died the same night, aged 40.
His wife whom he married in 1806, -was
Susan,daughter of Luke Wheeler, mayor
of Norfolk; Thus the brave officer died,
"as a fool dietb." It has been stated, that
before he died he renounced the principle
of duelling and cast himself upon the mer
cy of God. He was murdered under the
eyes of congress, which, in consequence of
his having ''died in the -violation of the
laws of God and his country,'? refused to
bestow the official marks of respect, cus
tomary on the decease at Washington of
men in high public statioris. Yet, with
strange inconsistency , notwithstanding the
laws of the country, his murderer afierr
wards received sorae appointment from
the government. — Anqlect mag. i. 502;
Amer. nav. biog. 75-93.
DEHON, Theodore, d. d., bishop bf
S. Carolina, of French descent, was born
at Bostori in 1776 and graduated at Har
vard coUege in 1 795. After being a rec
tor at Newport, R. I., he removed.to
Chariestpn, where he was elected bishop
in 1812. BEe married, in 1813 Sarah,
daughter of Nathaniel Russefl, and died

suddenly ofa malignant fe-(rerAug.6,l 817,
aged 41. He Was respected as a man of
talents and beloved for his amiable quali
ties and many virtues. He published a
discourse before a charitable society,1804;
a thanksgiving sernion, 1 805 ; a discourse
to the Phi Beta Kappa sociely, 1807; a
sermon before the episc. convent of U.
S.; sermons on confirmation, 1818; 90
sermons on various subjects, 2 vols, Svo.
1821. . ' , , ¦
DE LANCEY, James, chief justice
and lieutenant governor of New York,
was the son of a protestant emigrant from
Caen in Normandy, who fled from perse
cution in France. Being sent to England
for education, he entered the university of
Cambridge about 1725. He returned to
this country in 1729, and was soon,while
ignorant of the law, appointed a judge, pf
the supreme court, and chief justice in
1733; His industry made him a profound ,
lawyer. During the greater part ofthe
administration of Clinton from 1743 to
1753 Mr.. De Lancey exerted a powe;rful
influence on the legislature in opposition
to the go-vernor. After the removal of
Clinton and the death of Osborn, he tis
lieut. governor was at the head of the
government from 1753 to 1755, and also,
a successor to Hardy, from 1757 to 1760.
He died Aug. 2,1760, aged 57. His
daughter,the wife of the celebrated sit W.
Draper, died in 1778. His brother, Oli
ver, a loyalist in the war, was appointed
a brigadier general in 1777 and adjutant
general in 1783, and was afterwards a
member of parUament. — The character of
De Lancey is described by the author of
the Review of military operations fVPrii
1753 to 1756, who represents him as a
man of learning and talents, yet as an un
principled demagogue and finished in
triguer. "His uncommon vivacity', with
the semblance of affability and ease ; his
adroitness at jest, with a shew of coride-
scerision to his inferibis; woriderfufly fa-
cHitated his progress. These plausibfe
arts, together, with his influence as chief
justice and a vast personal estate at use
all conspired to secure his popular tri
umph," — HisttCQlynJS; .Miller,ii.%56

840

DELAWARE.

DELAWARE, one of the United
Slates of America, was first settled .at
cape Henlopen by a colony of Swedes
aud Finns .in 1627. They laid out a
smaU town near Wflmington in 1631,
but it was destroyed by the Dutch.
They were at first subject to a governor
under a commission from the king of
Sweden. In 1655 they were subdued by
the Dutch from New York, and they
continued Under this government until
the butch were subdued by the English
in 1664, when they passed under^the au
thority of the English governor of New-
York. In 1682 this cblony. was united
to Pennsylvania under sir William Penn,
and the inhabitants enjoyed all the benefit
ofthe laws ofthe province, They were
from this time to be considered, as the
same people., . The freemen were sum
moned to attend the assembly in person,
but they chose to elect representatives.
In the settlement of this country under
the government of Mr. Peim the lands
were purchased and not forcibly taken
from the natives. The Dutch had pre
viously adopted a similar practice. In 1 692
the government of Pennsylvania and Del
aware was assumed by the crown,and was
intrusted to colonel Fletcher, gpvernor of
New York. But in the latter end of
1693 the 'government was restored to
Mr. Penh, who appointed Wflliam Mark-
ham Ueutenant governor. During his
adniinistration in 1696 another frame of
government was adopted, which contin
ued tbbe the constitution of Pennsylva-,
nia and Delaware during the whole time
of their , union in legislation. When the
nest charter was accepted by the prov
ince of Pennsylvania in Oct, 1701; it was
(totally rejected by the members ofthe
three lower counties of .Delaware, This
rejection and consequent separation did
not originate iri caprice. By the new
charter the principles ofthe first constitu-
tiori were essentially altered. The people
had no longer the election of the council,
who were to be nominated by the gov
ernor. He, instead of having but threC
votes in 75, was left single in the execu
tive, and had the power of restraining

the legislature by refusing his assent to
their bills, whenever he thought fit.
For .many years after the separation
the repose ofthe lower counties remained
almost undisturbed. At last the contests
between^ the two proprietaries, William
Penn and lord Baltimore, revived, and
when the claimants were satisfied with the
portion of expense, anxiety, and trouble,
which fell tb their share in consequence
bf their disputes, they entered into arti
cles of agreement May 10, 17S2, asper-
tainingjthe mode of settlement and ap
pointing commissioners to complete the
contract. Those articles made a partic
ular provision for adjusting the contro
versy by drawing part of a circle about
the town of New Castle and by determin
ing the boundary -line between Maryland
and Delaware colony. But the execution
of those articles and the decree thereon
was delayed until they were superseded
by another agreement between Freder
ic, lord Baltimore,^on and heir of Charles,
lord Baltimore, and the proprietaries of
Pennsylvania, which was made July 4,
1760, and was confirmed by decree Marph
6, 1762. The lines were designated'from
actual survey. But from several causes
there never was a complete change of ju
risdiction until Ml*. Penn's proclamation
for that purpose, April 8, 1775. By an
act of ,the Delaware legislature Sept. 2,
the phange was effected and the bounda
ries of the counties and hundreds estab
lished. The tranquil state of this cplony
was not much interrupted, except by the
wars in which it -was obUged to participate
from its connection with Great Britain.
In the war, which commenced in, 1755,
Delaware was infetior to none of the
colonies in furnishing suppUes in proppr-
tiPn tp its wealth and abifity. In the
year 1 762 its expenditures sp muph e^tceed- -
ed its regular proportion, that a parlia
mentary grant of near 4,000/ was made tp-
\yards a reimburseraent of those expenses.
From the beginning of the struggle ber
tween the coloriies and Great Britain this
province exhibited a becoming spirit. So
early as Oct. 1765 representatives were
deputed to attend the first congress,

DELAWARE.

DENNIE.

841

which 'was held at New York, for the
purpose of obtaining a repeal of sorae of
the most obnoxious ofthe British statutes.
In the year 1773 the legislature appointed
a standing committee offive members to
correspond with the other colonies and to
procure the most authentic political intel
ligence respecting the resolutions bf par
liament andthe proceedings of the admin
istration in f elation to America. When
the town of Boston by the operation of
the port bfll was reduced to great distress,
supplies from different parts of this colony
were forwarded for its relief During
the war there was no relaxation in the
spirit and exertions of this state. Their
supplies of every kind requisite to the
public service were proofs of a sincere
attachment to the common cause. The
Delaware regiment was considered as one
ofthe finest and most efficient in the contiT
nental army. Its brave commander, col
onel John Haslet, was killed at the battle
of Princeton. The pecuhar exposure of
this state to the ravages of war put a stop
to its growth and prosperity. The inter
ests of fiterature, ui a particular.manner,
suffered. The flourishing academies of
Newark and Wilmington lost tiieir stu
dents, and by a depreciation of the contin
ental currency lost their funds.
Previously to the late revolution this
district of country was denominated , the
three lower counties on Delayreire. In
Sept. 1776 a constitution was established
by a convention pf representatives, cho
sen for that purpose, and at that time the
name of the state of Delaware was assum
ed. Trie present constitution was adopted
June 12, 1792. It estabUsries a general
assembly, consisting of a senate and a
Jiouse of representatives ; the members of
the fol-mer are chosen eveiy three years
and of the latter annually ; the governor,
who has.no Share in enacting the laws, is
elected every three years, and cannot re
main in office two terms in immediate
succession ; the judges are liable tb be re
moved on address to the governor, of twp
thirds of all the meriibers of both branches
of the legislature. - The legislature of
the state is required to meet annually

tiie 1st. Tuesday of Jan.— Encyclopedia,
Amer. edit,
DENISON, Daniel, major general, the
sonofWm, D. of Cambridge, was born
in England in 1613, and reirioved from
Cambridge to Ipswich in 1 684, He sus
tained various civfl & military offices ; for
many years he was an assistant ; in 1649
and 1651 the speaker of the house ; and
major general in 1662. He died Sept,
20, 1682, aged 69. His wife was Pa
tience, the daughter of gov. Dudley.
His grandson, John, the 6th minister of
Ipswich, was ordained colleague with
Mr. Hubbard in 1687 and died in Sept.
1689, leaving a widow, EUzabeth, who'
married Roland Cotton . — Gen. D. was
a man of eminence arid religion. He wrote
a treatise, which is annexed to Hubbard's
funeral sermon, called, Irenicon, or a
salve for New England's sore, which
considers the public calamities, the pcca-
sion, danger, blamable causes, and cure
of them. — Hubbard ; Farmer,
DENNIE,, Joseph, editor of the
Port FoUo, the son ofa merchant in Bos
ton, was born Aug-. 30, 1768, and gradu
ated at Harvard college in 1790. He
studied law at Charlestown, N. H. ; but
was not successful in the practice at Wal
pole, Where he opened an office. For 4
months he read prayerS in a church atDart-
mouth. In 1795 he published in Boston,
the Tablet, a weekly paper ; and the
Farmer's museum, at Walpole, in which
he inserted essays of some celebrity, enti
tled the Lay preacher. Mr. Pickering,
secretary of state, having appointed him
pne of his clerks, he rempved to Philadel
phia in 1 799. On the dismissal ofhis pat
ron he conducted the Port FoUo, a lite
rary journal commenced in 1800. Being
deficient in industry and discretion, he
destroyed his bodily constitution and his
hopes bf fortune. A victim to anxiety
and disease, he died Jan. 7, 1812, aged 43.
His father, who was deranged 25 years,
died Sept. 1811. — Witb genius, taste, a
fine style, & a fund of literature ; with col
loquial powers and other. interesting qual
ities ; he yet stands only as a warning to
others against indolence and imprudence,

342

DE WITT.

DE WITT, Benjamin, m.d., a physi
cian of New York, was appointed profes
sor of medicine in Columbia college in
1807, and professor of chemistry in 1808.
He was also riealtli officer of the city ;
and died of the, yellow fever at the quar
antine ground, Staten island, Sept. 11,
1819, aged 45. He published a disserta
tion on the effect of oxygen, 1797 ; an
oration commemorative of the prisoners,
who died in the prison ships atWallabout,
1808 ; account of minerals in N. Y. in
Mem. of A. A. S. vol. ii. •
DE WITT, Susan, died at Philadel
phia, while on a visit, May 5, 1324. She
was the wfle of Simeon De Witt of Al
bany, and the secorid daughter, of Rev.
Dr. Linn. She was a woman of strong
intellectual powers and of elevated piety.
She published a poem, which has been
much read and admired, — The pleasures
of rehgion.
DE WITT, John, d. d., professor of
Biblical history in the theological seminary
of the Dutch reformed church at New
Brunswick, N.J. a native of Castkfll,N. Y.,
was ordained as colleague with Daniel
CoUins of Lanesbo rough, Mass., July 8,
1812 and was dismissed Dec. 8, 1813, and
afterwards settled as the minister ofthe
second reformed Dutch church in Albany.
He was afterwards professor in the theo
logical seminary and also ohe of the pro
fessors of Rutgers' college in New
Brunswick, where he died Oct. 12, 1831,
aged about 49,r^Hist Berkshire', 389.
iJEXTER, Samuel, a benefactor of
Harvard college, was the son of Rev.
Samuel Dexter of Dedham, Mass., who
was ordauied May 6, 1723 and died Jan.
29, 1755, aged 55. He was a merchant
in Boston. In tjie political struggles
jiSt before the revolution he was repeat
edly elected to the council and negatived
for his, patriotic zeal by the royal govern
or. In his last years he was deeply en
gaged in investigating the doctrines of
theology. He died at Mendon June 10,
1810, aged 84. For the encouragement
of bibfical priticism he bequeathed a hand
some legacy to Harvard college. ' He al
so bequeathed 40 tJollars to a minister.

DEXTER.
whom he wished to preach a funeral
sermon, without making any mention of
him in the discourse, from the words,
"the things, which are seen,are temporal;
but the things, which are not seen, are
eternal." He said in his last will, '..' I
wish the preacher to expostulate with his
auditory on- the absurdity of their being
extremely assiduous to 'lay up treasures
on earth,' while they are iridolent with
respect to their well-being hereafter. To
those of sp blamable a character,- and to
such as are ofa still worse, and from their
vicious lives appear to be totally regard
less of the doctrine ofa future existence,
let him address himself with pious ardor.
Let him entreat them to pay a serious
attention to their most valuable interests..
Let him represent" the summit of earth
ly . glory as ineffably despicable, when
comparatively estimated with an exemp
tion from the punishment denounced, and
the possession of the perfect and never
ending felicity . promised in , the scrip
tures." — Kendal's fun. serm.
DEXTER, Samuel, ll. d., secretary
at war ofthe U. S., son ofthe preceding,
was born in 1761 and graduated at Har
vard college in 1781. Having studied
law at Worcester with Levi Lincoln, he
spon, rose to professional eminence. Af
ter being for some tiriie a member of the
House of representatives in Congress, he
was elected to the Senate. During the
administration of John ' Adatns he was
appointed secretary of war in 1800, and
secretary ofthe treasury in Jan. 1801, and
for a short time also had the criarge of
the department of State. He was offered
a foreign embassy, but decUned it. On
the accession of Mr. Jeflerson to the pres
idency he returned to the practice of law.
In the progress of events he thought he
observed, that political parties were
changing their poUcy and principles.
From his old friends he separated and
lent the aid of his powerful mind in sup
port of the war of 1812, while they were
throwing obstacles in the way of its prose
cution. He maintained, that they had
changed, and that he was unchangeable.
In the practice of law before the supreme

DEXTER.

DICKINSON.

343

court at Washington he stood in the
first rank of advocates. He always at
tracted an audience, consisting of the
beauty, taste, and learning of the city.
Hewas requested by Mr. Madison in
1815 to accept ofa mission to Spain,
but declined the appointment. On his
return from Washington at the close of
April 1816 he went to Athens, N. York,
to attend the nuptials of his son. Some
what unwell with the epidemic, prevail
ing at Washington, he called for medical
aid on Tuesday and died of the scarlet
fever Saturday,May 4,1816,aged'54. His
wife was a sister of Wm. Gordon ofN.
H. — He was tall and muscular, with
strong features. His enunciation was
very slow and distinct ; and his tones mo
notonous. But at tiriies, his eloquence
was thrflling. — He drafted the eloquent
answer of the Senate to president Adams'
address on the death of Washington.
He was estabUshed in the belief of
Christianity. — A few weeks before his
death Mr. Dexter had been the republi
can candidate for governor in Mass., in
opposition to Dr. Brooks, and received
about 47,000 and his rival about 49,000
votes. He had also been the candidate
in 1815. The republicans had selected
him, as they said, because "he had
broken forth from the legions of rebel
lion," referring to his manly resistance to
the Hartford convention, a favorite pro
ject of the party, with whiph he had be
fore been associated. In hie letter ex
pressing his acceptance of the invitation
to be a^ candidate he said, "every combi
nation for g-ereerai opposition is an offence
against trie community." The party
struggles for office are not wbrthy of re
membrance ; but the principles, which
have a bearing on ' the public welfare
hereafter, ought not to be forgotten. In
the preceding year he expressed in his
letter from Washington his entire pppo-
sition to the system of restriction qn
commerce, as unconstitutional,oppressive,
ineffectual, and impracticable; and at the
same time declared, that he was unable tp
reconcile some ofthe leading measures of
the federalisis in regard tp.the war with

the fundaraerital principles of civilized
society & the duty of American citizens
to support the union of their country. —
Story's sketch of Dexter.
DICKINSON, Jonathan, first presi
dent of New Jersey cpllege, was born in
Hatfield, Mass., AprU 22, 1688. His
father was Hezekiah D.; his mother,
being left a widow, married again and re
moved to Springfield, and carefully edu
cated her children. He was graduated
at Yale college in 1706, and within one
or two years afterwards he was settled the
minister of the first presbyterian church
in EUzabeth Town, New Jersey. Of
this Church he was (or near forty years the
joy and glory. As a friend of literature
he was also eminently useful. The char
ter ofthe college of New JerSey, which
had never yet been carried into operation,
was enlarged by governor Belcher, Oct
22, 1746 ; and Mr. Dickinson was ap
pointed president. The institution com
menced at EUzabeth Town, but it did
not long enjoy the advantages ofhis su
perintendence, for it pleased God to call
him away from Jife Oct. 7, 1747, aged
59. The first commencement was in
1748, when 6 young men graduated, 5
of whom became ministers. — He left 3
daughters, married to Jonathan Sergeant
of Princeton, to John Gooper,and to Rev.
Caleb Smith of Orange.
Mr. Dickinson, besides his other em
ployments, was a practising physician, of
considerable medical reputation. He
was a man of learning, of distinguished
talents, and much celebrated as a preach
er ; and he was succeeded in the .college
by men, who hold a high reputation in
our country; by Burr, Edwards, Davies,
Finley, & Witherspoon. He had a mind
formed for inquiry; he possessed a quick
perception and an accurate judgment ;
and to a keen penetration he united a dis
interested attachment to truth. With a
natural' turn for controversy he had a hap
py government of his passions,- and
abhorred the perverse disputings; so
common to men of corrupt minds.
The eagerness of contention did not ex
tinguish iri him the fervors of devotibn

344

DICKINSON.

and brotherly love. By his good works
and exemplary life he adorned the doc
trines of grace, which he advocated with
zeal. He boldly appeared in defence of
the great truths of our most hbly religion,
confronting what he considered as error,
and resisting every attack, on the chris
tian faith. He wished to promote the in
terests of practical godUness, of holy Uv
ing ; and therefore he withstood error in
every shape, knowing that it poisons the
heart andthus destroys the very principles
of virtue. He was an enemy to that blind
charity, that pofitic silence, that tem
porizing moderation, which sacrifices the
truths of God to human friendships, and
under color of peace and candor gives up
important points of gospel doctrine to
every opposer. He knew, that this tem
per was inconsistent with the love of
truth, and was usually connected with the
hatred of those, who engaged warmly in
its support. He expected to be opposed
and ridiculed, if he followed his Savior,
and preached with plainness and earnest
ness the doctrines, -which are so obnbx-
ipus to the corrupt heart and perverted
understanding, Still under pretence of
zeal for truth he concealed no party ani
mosity, no bigotry, no malevplence. He'
had generous sentiments with regard to
freedom of inquiry and the rights of pri
vate judgment in matters of Conscience,
not approving subscription to human
tests of orthodoxy. As he lived a devout
and useful Ufe and was a bright ornament
to his profession, he died universally la
mented. , '
His writings possess very considerable
merit. They are designed to unfold the
wonderful method of redemption, and to
excite men to that cheerful consecration
of all their talents to their Maker, to that
careful avoidance of sin arid practice of
godUness, which wiU exalt them to glory.
He published the reasonableness of Chris
tianity in four sermons, Boston, 1732;
a funeral sermori on Ruth Pierson, wife
of Rev. John P. of Woodbridge, 1738;
a sermon on the witness of the Spirit,
1740 ; the true scripture doctrine concer-'
ning some important points of christian

faith, particularly eternal election, origi
nal sin, grace in conversion, justflication
by faith, and the saint's perseverance, in
five discourses, 1741, in answer to Mr.
Whitby ; a display of God's special grace
in a familiar dialogue, 1742; on the nature
and necessity Of regeneration, with re
marks on Dr. Waterland's regeneration
stated and explained, 1743, against bap
tismal regeneration ; reflections upon Mr.
Wetmore's letter in defence of Dr. Wa
terland's discourse on regeneration, 1745.
The above works were pubUshed iri an
octavo volume at Edinburgh in 1793.
Presiderit Dickinsbn published alsp a de
fence of presbyterian, ordination in answer
to a pamphlet, erititled a modest proof &e.,
1724; the vanity of human institutions
iri the worship of God, a sermon, 1736 ;
a defence of it afterwards ; a second de
fence of it against the exceptions of John
Beach in his appeal to the unprejudiced,
1738 ; this work is entitied, the reasona
bleness of nonconformity to the church of
England in point of worship ; famfliar let
ters upon various important subjects in
religion, 1745; a pamphlet in favor of in
fant baptism, 1746; a vindication of God's
sovereign, free grace ; a second vindica
tion &c. against John Beach, to which
are added brief reflections on Dr. Johri-
son's defence of Aristocles' letter to Au-
thades, 1748 ; an account of the deliver
ance pf Robert Barrow, shipwrecked
among, the cannibals of Florida. — Pier-
son's ser. an his death ; preface : to his
serm. Edin. edit. ; Miller, n. 345;
Douglass, n. 284 ; Brainerd's life, 129,
161 ; Chandler's life of Johnson, 69 ;
Green, 297.
DICKINSON, John, presidentof Del
aware and of Pennsylvania, was born in
Maryland in Dec. 1732. His father,
Samuel D., who soon after the birth of
his son removed to Delaware, was chief
justice of the county of Kent and died
July 6, 1760, aged 71 . He studied law in
Philadelphia and then three years at the
Temple in London, and on his return en
gaged successfully in the practice at Phil
adelphia. Of the assembly of Pennsylvia-
nia he was a member in 1'3'64, and of the

DICKINSON.

345

general congress in 1765. In the same
year he began to Write against the meas
ures ofthe British government. In Nbv.
1767 he began to pubUsh his celgbrated
letters against the acts for taxation ofthe
colonies ; in which writings he supported
the Uberties ofhis country and contribu
ted much towards, the American revolu
tion. He was a meraber of the first re
volutionary congress in 1774, and a
member in subsequent years; Of the el
oquent and important state papers of that
period he wrote the principal ; — the ad
dress to the inhabitants of Quebec ; the
first petition to the king ; the address to
the armies ; the second petifiPn'to the
king ; and the address to the several
states. He wrote also in 1774 the re
solves and instructions of the committee
of Penns. In June 1776 he opposed the
declaration of independence, when the
motion was considered by congress, be
cause he doubted of the poUcy at that
particular period, "without some prelu-
sory trials of our strength," and before
the terms of confederation were settled,
and foreign assistance made certain. He
had occasion afterwards, in order to prove
the sincerity of his attachment to his
country's fiberty, to appeal to the fact,
that within a few days after the declara
tion he was the only member of congress,
who marched to face the enemy. He ac
companied his regiment to EUzabeth
town in July to repel the invadingf ene-
mv, and remained there till the end of
the tour of service. In Sept. he resign
ed, because two brigadiers had been jai-
sed over him, through the same hostility,
as he supposed, which effected his rerao-
val from congress. He now retired to
Delaware, and there, in the summer of
1777, in capt Lewis' company he served
as a private with his musket upon his
shoulder in the mflitia movements against
the British, who had landed at the head
of the Elk. In Oct. Mr.M'Kean gave him
a commission of brigadier general In
1779 by unanimous vote ofthe assembly
he was elected a member of congress, and
in May wrote the address to the states.
In 1780 he was elected by the county of
44

J^'ew Castle a member bf the assembly ;
in 1731 he was, chosen presiderit of Dela
ware, as successor of Ca3sar Rodney, by
unanimous vote of the two houses. On
commencing his duties he published Nov,
19, 1781 an exceUent proclarriation, re
commending piety and virtue and the en
forcement ofthe laws in favor of morality.
In 1782 he was chpsen president of Penn
sylvania, and remained in office from Nov.
1782 till Oct. 1785, when hewas succee
ded by FrankUn. In 1788 he wrote 9 let
ters with the signature of Fabius in or
der to promote the adoption of the con
stitution ; and with the same signature
in 1797 he wrote 14 letters in order to
promote a favpfable feeUng towards
France. His last days were spent iu pri
vate Ufe at Wilmington, .Delaware,
where he died Feb, 15, 1808, aged 75.
His wife, whom he manied in T 7'70, was
Mary Norris of Philadelphia. His
daughter, Maria, married in 1808 Albi-
nus C. Logan. — His countenance and
person were fine. He filled with, ability
the various high stations, in which he
was placed. He was distinguished by his
strength of mind, miscellaneous knowl
edge, and cultivated taste, which wBre
united with an habitual eloquence, with
an elegance of manners, and a benignity,
which made him the delight and orna
ment of society. The infiririities of de
clining years had detached him Ibng be
fore his death from the busy scenes of
Ufe ; but in retirement his patriotism felt
no abatement. The welfare of his coun
try" was ever dear to him, and he was
ready to make any sacrifices for its pro
motion. Unequivocal in his attachment
to a repubUcan government, he invaria
bly supported, as far as bis voice could
have influence, those men arid those mea
sures, which he believed most , friendly to
republican principles. . He was esteemed
for his uprightness and the purity of his
morals. - From a letter, which he wrote
to Mrs, Warren of Plymouth, dated the
25th of the first month 1805, it would
seem that he was a member of the society
of friends,-^He published a speech deliv
ered in the house bf assembly of Pennsyl-

346

DICKINSON.

vania, 1764; a reply to a speech of Jo
seph Galloway, 1765 ; late regulations
respecting the colonies considered, 1765;
letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania to
the inhabitants of the British colonies,
1767—1763. Mr. Dickinson's political
writirigs were collected and published in
two volumes, 8vo. 1801. — Gordon, 1.220;
Ramsay, n. 319 ; Warren, i. 412 ; Ad
ams' letter to Dr. Calkoen ; Monthly
anthol V. 226 ; Nat. intellig. Feb. 22,
1808 ; Marshall, iv. note at end;, v. 97.
DICKINSON, Philemon, general, a
brave officer in the revolutionary war,
died at his seat near Trenton, New Jer
sey, Febi 4, 1809, aged 68. He took an
early and an active part in the struggle
-with .great Britain, and hazarded his am
ple fortune and his life in establishing our
independence; In the memorable battle
of Monmouth at the head of the Jersey
militia he exhibited the spirit and gallan
try of a soldier of liberty. After the es
tablishment of the present natiorial gov-
ermiient he was a member of congress.
In the various stations, civil and military,
virith which he was honored, he dischar
ged his duty with zeal and ability. The
last twelve or fifteen years of his life
were spent in retirement from public
concerns. — Phila. gaz. Febr. 7, 1809.
DIESKAU, John Harmand, baron,
Ueutenant general in the French army,
proceeded in 1755 frora Montreal with
2,000 raen agains(i fort Edward, intending
to penetrate to Albany. Gen. Johnspn was
at this time encamped at the south end
of lake George. After defeating the de
tachment of col. E. WiUiams, heattack-
ed Johnson's camp, Sept. 8 ; but the
roar oif the artillery frightened away his
Indians ; his troops were routed ; and he
himself taken prisoner. A soldier fimnd
him' alone, leaning on a stump, being
wounded in the leg ; and, while he was
feeling for his watcri, to surrender it, sup
posing he was searching for a pistol,
poured a charge through his hips. He
was conveyed to N. York, where Dr.
Jones attended him. Marshall says, he
was mortally wounded.; but he Uved
some years. He died at Surene in

DORSEY.
France Sept. 8, 1767.— Thacher's med.
biog. 327 ; Dwight, in. 374.
DINWIDDIE, Robert,.. governor of
Virginiafrom 1752 to 1758, had been pre
viously clerk to a collector of customs in
the West Indies, whose enormous fraud
he detected and exposed to the govern
ment. For this disclosure he was rewar
ded by his appointment in, Virginia. But
while he was governor he did' not forget
what he had learned wheri a clerk, for he
trod in the steps of his principal ; at
least, ;he was charged with applying to
his own use 20,000i. sent to defray the
expenses of Virginia for the public service.
It was during his administration, that
Braddock proceeded on his expedition
against the Indians. He died in Eng
land Aug. 1, 1770, aged 8,0.
DIXWELL, John, colonel, one ofthe
judges of king Charles I., fled tp this
country for safety. In 1664 he visited
Whalley and Goffe at Hadley, and after
wards resided at Nevv Haven, with the
name of John Davids, till his death,
March 18, 1689, aged 81. He married
at New Haven, and left children. A de
scendant by the female Une, a respectable
physician of Boston, has assumed and
bears up the name of John Dixwell. —
Farmer. DONGAN, Thomas, governor of N,
York from 1683 to 1688, afterwards earl
of Limerick, succeeded Brockholst and
was succeeded by Nicholson. He was
highly respected as a governpr, being up
right, discreet, and accomplished in'man-
ners. He ordered an assembly to be con
vened by election, a privilege, which the
people bad not before enjoyed. Yet he
unjustly fell under the displeasure of his
sovereign. DORSEY, John Syng, m. d., profes
sor of anatomy, was the son of Leonard
D., and grandson of Edmund Physick.
He was born in Philadelphia Dec. 23,
1783. He early studied physic with his
relative Dr. Physick, and was doctor of
medicine at the age of 1 8; He afterwards
visited England and France for his im
provement in medical science, returriing
hpme in Dec. 1804. In 1807 he was elec-

DpUGHERTY.
ted adjunct professor of surgery with Dr.
Physick at Phfladelphia, and on the death
of Dr. Wistar was chosen professor pf
anatpmy. He npw had attained a height,
most gratifying to his ambition; but Prov
idence had selected him to teach a saluta
ry lesson on the precarious tenure of life
and the importance of being always pre
pared for deatl^. On the evening ofthe
day, in which be pronounced his eloquent
introductory lecture, he was attacked
with a fever, and in a week died Nov. 12,
1818, aged 35. When by his express
command he was infprmed of his state,
and apprized ofhis certain death, he was
resigned to the wfll of heaven. As a
christian he hajl practised the duties of
religion. With fervor he re-iterated his
confidence in the atonement of his Sa
vior. He was thus sustained in an hour,
when on the bed of death the proud war
rior would shudder in thinking ofthe des
tinies of eternity. As a surgeon he was
almost unrivalled. Besides papers for
the periodical journals and an edit.of Coo
per's surgery with notes, he published
Elements of surgery, 2 vols. 1813, deem
ed the best work extant on the subject. —
Thacher's med. biog.
DOUGHERTY, Michael, remarkable
for longevity, died at his plantation on
Horse Creek, in Scriyen county, Georgia,^
May 29, 1808, aged 135 years. He was
one of the first settiers of that state. The
day before he died be -walked two miles.
DOUGLASS, William, m.d., a physi
cian in Boston was a, native of East Lo
thian, iri Scotland, of no mean pareritage.
After being educated for his profession,
partly at Paris and Leyden he Came to
this country in 1716, and after visiting
gen. Douglass, gov. of St. Kitts, settled
atiBoston in 1718. Having letters to
Cotton Mather, he put into his hands
those numbers ofthe philosoph. transac
tions, which gave an account ofthe inoc
ulation for the smallpox ; and this benev
olent minister pommunicated the inteUi
gence to Dr. Boylston and persuaded him
to introduce the practice, ^wishing him to
communicate the project to other physi
cians. As Dr. Douglass received no no-

DRAYTON.

347

tice, he indignantly opposed the prac
tice. Dr. Thacher erronepusly states,
that Mather communicated the work of
Timoni to Douglass. He died without
a wifl Oct. 21, 1752. In the epidemic
sore throat he made a free use of mercu
ry. He was a skflful physician. His
prejudices were very strong, and in his
language he was frequently intemperate.
His notions of religion were very loose.
In his history ofthe American colonies, he
is often incorrect, and it was his foible to
measure the worth of men by his person
al friendship for them. A town of Mas
sachusetts, of which, he was a proprietor
and benefactor, bears his name. — He
published the inoculation ofthe small pox,
as practised in Boston, 1722 ; the abuses
and scandals of- some late pamphlets in fa
vor of inoculation, 1722; a practical es
say concerning the small pox, containing
the history, &c. 1730 ; a practical histo
ry ofa new eruptive, military fever, with
an angina ulcusculosa, which prevailed
in Boston in 1735 and 1736, 12mo, 1736;
a summary, historical and political,, ofthe
first planting, progressive improvements,
and present state of the British settle
ments in North America, the first vol
ume, 1749, the second 1753 ; an edit.
1755. — Summary, n. 409 ,• Hutchinson,
a. 80; Hist. col. ix. 40; Whitney's hist.
Worcester, 203; Amer. museum, in. 53 ;
Holmes. DRAYTON, WiUiam ll.d., judge of
the federal court for the district of South
Carolina, was a native of that provincej
andwasbbrn in the year 1733." About
the year 1747 he was placed under Thom
as Cbrbett, an eminent lawyer. In 1750
he accompanied that gentleman to Lon-
don,and entered into the Middle Temple,
where he" Con tinued tifl 1754, at which
time he returned to his native country.
Though his abiUties were confessedly
great, he soon quitted the bar from dis-
incUnation to the practice of .the law; but
about the year 1768 he was appointed
chief justice -in the province of East Flo
rida. When the revolution commenced
in 1775 hefeU under the suspicion of the
governor, and was suspended by him. He

348

DRAYTON,

however went to England, and was rein
stated ; but on his return to St. Augus
tine was again suspended by governor
Tonyn. In consequence bf this he took
his family with him to England in 1778
or- 1779 in the hope of pbtaining redress,
but the distracted situation of affairs in
AnieriCa prevented him from effecting
hjs purpose. Soon after his return to
Ainerica he was appointed judge of the
admiralty court of South CaroUna. In
March 1789 he was appointed associate
justice ofthe state, but he resigned this
office in Oct. following, when he was
made a judge under the federal govern
ment. He died in June 1790, aged 57.—
Hardie's biog. diet ; Amer. museum,
VIII.S2. DRAYTON, Wflliam Henry, a poUt
ical writer, was a native of South Caroli
na, born in Sept 1742. From 1753 to
1764 he studied at Westminster and Ox
ford. In 1771 he was appointed a judge.
He was one ofhis majesty's justices when
they inade their last circuit in the spring
of 1775, and the only one born in Amer
ica. In his charge to the grand jury he
inculcated the same sentiments infavor
of liberty, which were patronised by the
popular leaders. Soon afterwards he was
elected president of the pro-vincial con
gress, and devpted his great abiUties With
uncommon zeal for the support ofthe
measures adopted by his riative country.
Before the next circuit his colleagues
were advertised as inimical to the liberties
of America and Marcri 1776 he was ap
pointed chief justice by the ypice ofhis
country. He died suddenly in Philadel
phia in Sept. 1779, while attending his
duty in congress, aged 36. He was a
statesman of great decision and energy,
and one of the ablest political writers of
Carolina. In 1774 he wrote a pamphlet,
addressed to the American congress, un
der the signature ofa freeman, in which
he stated the grievances of America, and
drew up a bfll of American rights. He
pubUshed his charge to the grand jury in
April 1776, which breathes aU the spirit
and energy ofthe mind, which knows the
value of freedom and is determined tp

DRINKER.
support it. Ramsay in his history has
published this charge entire. His speech
in the general assembly of Soutl^ Carolina
on the articles of the confederation was
published in 1 778. Several other produc
tions ofhis pen appeared, explaining the
injured rights of his country, afld en
couraging his fellow citizens to vindicate
them. He also wrote a history ofthe A-
merican revolution, brought down lo the
end ofthe year 1778, in three large vol
umes, which he intended to correct and
publish, but was prevented by his death.
It was published by bis son in 1821. He
was once challenged by gen. Lee in con
sequence of his censure in congress pn the
general's conduct at the battle of Mon
mouth ; but he had the courage and the
conscience to decline the combat and as
signed his reasons. — Miller, n. 380 ;
Ramsay's rev. S. C. i. 57, 91, 103 ; hist
S. C. II. 454 ; Encyc. Amer.
DRAYTON, John, only son of the
preceding, governor of S^ Carolina from
1800 to 1802 and from 1808 to 1810, suc
ceeded in that office E. Rutledge ond
C. Pickney, and was succeeded by J. B.
Richardson and H. Middleton. Lord's
Lempriere erroneously gives his name.
Dayton. At the time of his death he
was district judge ofthe U. S. He died
at Charleston Nov. 27j 1822, aged 60.
The historical materials, collected by his
father, were by him revised and pubUsh
ed with the title of Memoirs of the Am.
revolution from its coraraencement to the
year 1776, inclusive, as relating to the
state of S. C. &c. 2 vols. 8vo. 1821. He
had previously published View of S; C.
8vo. 1802.
DRINKER, Edward, remarkable for
longevity, was born Dec. 24, 1 680 in a
cabin near the present corner of Walnut
and second streets in Philadelphia. His
parents had removed to this place from
Beverly in Mais. The banks of the Dela
ware were inhabited at the time of his
birth by the Indians, and a few Swedes
and Hollanders. At the age of twelve
years he went to Boston, where he serv
ed an apprenticeship to a cabinet maker.
In the year 1745 he returned to Phila

DUANE.

DUDLEY.

349

delphia, where he lived tfll the tirie of
his death. He was four times marriel and
had eighteen chUdren, all of whomwere
by his first wife. He died Nov! 17, 1782,
aged 102 years. In his old age the powers
of his mind were very Uttie impaired. He
enjoyed so uncommon a share i of health,
that he was never confined more than
three days to his bed. He vas a nfan
of an amiable character, and he continiied
to the last uniformly cheerful and kind.
His religious principles were as steady, as
his morals Were pure. He attended pub
lic -worship about thirty years it the pres
byterian church under Dr Sproat, and
died in the fullest assurance ofa happy ira-
raortality. He witnessed the most aston
ishing changes. He Uved to see the spot,
where he had picked black berries and
hunted, rabbits, become the seat of a great
city, the first in wealth in America. He
saw ships of every size in those streams,
where he had been used to see nothing
larger than an Indian canoe. He sav the
first treaty between France and the inde
pendent States of America ratified\p6n
the v^ry spot, where he had seen Wil
liam Penn ratify his first and last treaties
with the Indians. He had been the sub
ject jof seven crowned heads. — New
and gen. biog. diet; Har die ; Rush's es
says, I 295 — 300 ; Universal asylum, n.
83 ;American museum, n-.73 — 75.
DUANE, James, judge ofthe district
court for New York, was a member of
the first congress from this state in 1774,
and received his appointment of judge in
Oct 1789. He was the first mayor of
New York after its recovery from the
British. His death occurred at Albany
in Feb. 1797. He published a law case.
DUCHE, Jacob, d.d., an episcopal
minister of Philadelphia, was a native of
that city and a graduate ofthe college in
1757. For some yCars he was an assis
tant minister of two churches ; in 1775 he
succeeded Dr. Peters as rector. Whfle
chaplain to congress he gave^ his salary
for (the refief of the families of Pennsylva-
nians,killed in battle. Yet he was opposed
to independence ; and,in order to persuade
Washington to adopt his own views, he

senthimaletlerbyMrs.Ferguson. "Wash
ington transmitted the letter to congress.
Thus losing the public confidence, he
went to England in 1776, arid was chap
lain to an asylum for orphans. He died
in Jan.-1798, aged about 60. His daugh
ter, Sophia, married John Henry, the
agent of the Canadian governbr in 1810.
He was a man of brUliant talents ; an in
teresting, impf essive^ orator, with much
action ; and he had also a fine poetical
taste. He published a serm. on the death
pfE. Morgan, 1763; of Richard Penn,
1771 ; a fast sermon before congress, July
20 ; a sermon to the militia, 1775 ; obser
vations moral, &c. by Caspapina, 1773 ;
sermons, 2 vols; Lpnd. 1780 ; a sermon
before the humane society, 1781. —
Wirt's' old bachelor, no. 31.
DUDLEY, Thomas, gpvernor of
Mass., was bom in Northampton, Eng
land, iri 1776. After having been for some
time in the army, his mind was impressed
by reUgious truth, and he attached him
self to the nonconformists. He came to
Massachusetts, in 1630, as deputy gover
nor, and was one ofthe founders and pil
lars ofthe colony. He was chosen gover
nor in the years 1634, 1640, 1645,& 1650,
His zeal against heretics did not content
itseff with arguments, addressed to the
understanding, and reproofs, aimed at the
conscience ; but his intolerance was not
singular in an age, -when the principles
of reUgious liberty were nbt understood.
The following lines are a part of a piece,
found in his pocket after his death.
"Let men of God in courts and churches watch
O'er such , as do a toleration hatch.
Lest that ill egg bring forth a cockatrice.
To poison all with heresy and vice.
If men be left, and otherwise combine,
My Epitaph's, / died no libertirie."
He died at Roxbury July 3], 1652, aged
76. His daughters married gov. Brad
street, gen. Denison, and Rev. J. Wood-
bridge. Hewas a man of sound judgment,
of inflexible integrity, of public spirit, and
of strict and exemplary piety.— Jlforton,
150; Mather's Magn. n. 15—17; Neal's
N..E. I. 308 ; Hist coL vn. 11 ;x.39;
Hutchinson, I. 183; Winthrop ; ffolmes.

S50

DUDLEY/

DUDLEY, Joseph, governor of Mass.
was the son of the preceding, and was
born Sept. 23, 1647, when his father was
70 years of age'. In his childhood, after
his father's death, he was under the care
of Mr. Allen, of Dedham, who married
his mother. He was graduated at Har
vard cbllege in 1665. He afterwards en
tered into , the service of his country in
the Indian war of 1675. In 1682 he
went to England as an agent for the
province. When the government was
changed in 1686 he was appointed presi
dent of Mass. and New Hampshire. His
commission was received in May 1686.
His authority was of short continuance,
for Andros arrived at the close of the
same year. He, however, was continued
in the council, and was appointed chief
justice. In 1689 he went again to Eng
land, and in 1690 returned with a com
mission of chief justice of New York,
and continued in this country three
years. He was then eight years lieuten
ant governor of the isle of Wight. He
was appointed governor of Mass. by
queen Ann, and, arriving at Bbston June
11, 1702, continued in the govern
mant tiU Nov. 1715, being succeeded by
Shute. He died at Roxbury Aprfl 2,
1720 aged 72. He possessed rare endow-
ments,'aiid was a singular honor to his
country , being a man of learning and an ac
complished gentleman. He was a scholar,
a divine,a philosopher,& a lawyer. As gov.
of Mass., he was ^instructed to procure
an act rendering his salary and that of
the lieutenant governor permanent ; the
object was to secure the dependence of
the governors on the crown. These in
structions occasioried a controversy with
the legislature, which lasted during the
administration of Shute and others ofhis
successors. He loved much ceremony in
the government and but little ceremony
in the church, being attached to the con
gregational order. He was a sincere
christian, whose virtues attracted general
esteem, though in the conflict of poUtical
parties his character was frequently as
sailed. While iu his family he devoutiy
addressed himself to the supreme Being,

1
he alijo frequently prayed Avilh his chil
dren bepara'tely for their everlasting wel-
farei and did not think it humbfing to
impai^t religious instruction to his ser-
vanlsl He was economical and. digni
fied, and he applied himself -with great
dilig-ence to the duties of his station. —
Caiman's fun. serm.; Bostonnews letter,
Ap-il 4, 1720; Hutcldnsan, i, 287, 340-
345; H il3; Belknap's N.H: i. 361;
Holmes; Minot's contin., i. 59.
DUDLEY, Paul, f. a. s., chief justice
of Mass., the son of the preceding, was
born Sept. 3, 1675, and graduated at
Harvard college in 1690. He finished
his law studies at the Temple in London.
He returned in 1702 with the commis
sion of attorney general, which he held
until he was appointed judge in 1718.
He succeeded Lynde as chief justice, and
was succeeded by Sewall. Onthe bench
he was impartial;' the stern enemy pf
vice ] of quick apprehension, extensive
knowledge, and powerful eloquence. He
died it Roxbury Jam 21, 1751, aged 75.
He -was a learned and pious man. From
his regard to the interests of religion and
as a proof of his attachment to the insti
tution, in which he was educated, in his
last will he bequeathed to Harvard col
lege lOOZ, the interest of which was to
be applied to the support of an annual
lecture to be preached in that college ;
the first lecture to be for proving
and explaining, and for the proper use
and improvement of the principles of nat
ural religion ; the second for the- confir
mation, iUustration, and improvement of
the great articles of the christian religion;
the third for detecting, cbnvicting and
exposing the idolatry and tyranny, the
damnable heresies, and abominable super
stitions, arid fatal and various errors of
the Romish church ; the fourth for inain-
taining, explaining, and proving the va
lidity of the ordination of ministers, as
the same hath been practised in New
England from the first beginning of- it.
These subjects were successively to occu
py the lecture, and he, who Should be
chosen for the last, was directed to be a
sound, grave, experienced divine of at

DUFFIELD.

DUMMER.

351

least forty years of age. A copy of each j oThis country. But it was as a christian,
discourse is required to be left with the tiat he was most conspicuous, for the

treasurer. The trustees are the president
and senior tutor, the .professor of divini
ty, the pastor of the first church in
Cambridge, and the pastor of the first
church in Roxbury. The first sermon on
this foundation was preached by president
Holyoke in May 1755. The second, and
the first, that wa^ published, was deUv
ered by Mr. Barnard in 1756. Mr. Dud
ley pubUshed 1 2 articles in the transac
tions of the royal society in vols. 31-34,
and 39; among them an account of the
making of maple Sugar ; of discovering
the hive of bees in the woods ; of the
earthquake of N. E.; of the poison wood
tree ; of the rattlesnake ; ofthe Indian
hot houses and cures by sweating in hot
turf; description ofthe inoose deer; essay
upon the natural hist, of whales. He
published also an essay on the merchan-.
dise of slaves and souls of men, mentioned
in Revelation xviii. 13, with an appUca
tion to the church of Rome. — Holmes;
Append, to Barnard's Dudleian lecture.
DUFFIELD, George, d.d., minister in
Philadelphia,wasborn in Octl732. After
he became a preacher, he was first settled
in.the town of Carlisle, where his zealous
and incessant labprs, through the influ
ence ofthe divine Spirit, were made ef
fectual to the conversion of many. So
conspicuous was his benevolent activity,
that the synod appointed him as a mis
sionary, and he accordingly in company
with Mr. Beatty visited the frontiers.
His talents at length drew him into a
more public sphere, and placed him as a
pastor of the second' presbyterian church
in Philadelphia. His zeal to do good ex
posed him to the disease, of which he
died Feb. 2, 1790. Dr. Duffield possess
ed a vigorous mind, and was considerably
distinguished as a scholar. As his readi
ness of utterance was seldom equalled, he
was enabled to preach with uncommon
frequency. As he possessed an uncon
querable firmness, he always adhered
steadily to the opinions, which he had
formed. In the struggle with Great
Britain he was an early and zealous friend

riUgion, which he preached, was exhibi-
td in his own life. The spirit of the
giSpel tinctured his whole mind. It ren-
dired him the advocate of the poor, and
tie ftiend of tiie ftiendless. He sought oc-
Cisions of advancing the interests of reli-
gon and humanity. As a preacher he
vas in early life remarkably aniiriated and
pDpular, and his manner was always warm
aid forcible, and his instructions always
pactical. Dwelling much on the great
aid essential doctrines of the gospel, he
hid a peculiar talent of touching the
conscience, and impressing the heart.
He published an account ofhis tour with
Mr. Beatty along the frontiers of Penn
sylvania j' a thanksgiving sermon for the
restorktibn of peace, Dec; 11, 1783. —
Green's fun. sermon.; Assembly's miss.
mag. I. 553-556; American museum,vn.
66-68. DULANEY, Daniel, an eminent
counsellor of Maryland, resided at Annap
olis and died at an early stage ofthe revo
lutionary war. He was considered as
one of the most learned and accomplished
men in, his profession, that our country
ever produced. He made some publica
tions on the controversy between Ameri
ca and Great Britain. The titie of one
of them is, considerations on the pro
priety of imposing taxes in the British
colonies in North America for the pnrposa
ofa revenue, 1766.— Miller's retrospect.
n. 379.
DUMMER, Shubael, minister of
York," Maine, was the sbn of Richard
Dummer, who came to N. E. in 1636
and died at Newbury Dec. 14,1679, aged
87. He was borri Feb. 17, 1636, gradu
ated at Harvard college in 1656 and began
to preach at York in 1662. He was not
ordained, probably because a church was
not Organized, until Dec. 3, 1672, The
town of York was , surprised Monday,
Feb. 5, 1692, by a party of French and
Indians, who came on snow shoes, and
burnt most of the houses, excepting t.be
four garrison houses of Alcock, Preble,
Harman, and Norton, and kflled about 75

S52

Of the inhabitants and carried as manf
into captivity. Mr. Dummer was shd
down dead near his own door, aged 5 .
His wife was taken captive. His succet
sorwas S.Moody.
DUMMER, Jeremiah, an agent f
Mass., in England, and a distinguishel
scholar,Vas a native of Boston, the son \l
Jeremiah, and was the grandson of Ricl-
ard Dummer, one of the principal settleis
of Mass. who died at Newbury. He
-i^asgraduted at Harvard college in 169).
While a member of this seminary, he wss
preeminent for the brifliancy of his gei-
ius. His only competitor was Mr. John
Bulkley, who surpassed him for solidily
of judgment, but not rii sprightliness of
thought and wit. He soori afterwards
went to Europe and spent a number of
years at the university of Utrecht, where
he received a doctor's degree. He then
returned tp New England, but,finding no
prospect of employment in this country,
that would be agreeable to him, he went
t6 England, where he arrived a little be
fore the change of queen Ann's ministry.
In 1710 he was appointed agent of Mass.,
and his services were important, till his
dismission in 1721. Contrary to the ex
pectation of his countrymen he devoted
himself to the persons in power, and was
an advocate of their measures. He was
employed by lord Bohngbroke in spme
secret negociations, and had assurances of
promotion to a place of honor and profit ;
but the death of the queen blasted all his
hopes. If he had espoused a different
side, it is thought, that his gteat talents
might have elevated him to some ofthe
highest offices." His acquaintance with
Bohngbroke pervel"ted his religious sen
timents and corrupted his manners; so
that he, who had studied divinity, and
who in youth, as appears by his diary,
had a susceptible conscience and was ac
customed to the language of fervent
prayer, through the contaminating influ
ence of profligate great men became li
centious in manners and a sceptic in reli
gion. Yet he was miserable in his de
pravity, and confessed to a friend, that he
wished to feel again the pure joys, which he

DUMMER.

experienced, when he breathed the air of N.
E. HediedMay 19, 1729. Though upon
the change of times he deserted his patron,
lord Bohngbroke, in regard to poUtics ; it
is said, that he adhered to his sentiments
upon reUgion to the close of fife. Few
men exceeded him in quickness of
thought, and in ease, delicacy, and fluen
cy in speaking anfl writing. He pubUsh
ed disputatio theologica de Christi ad in
feros descensu, quam, indulgente Triuno
Numine, sub prtesidio clar. & celeber. viri,
D. D. Herrii. Witsii, &c. 4to, 1702; de
jure Judseorura sabbati brevis disquisitio
4to, 1703; dissertatio thCologico — philo-
logica, 4to, 1703 ; disputatio philosophi-
ca inaug. 4to, 1703; a defence ofthe
New England charters, 1721 ; a letter
to a nob'e lord concerning this expedition
to Canada 1712.^ — Hist, col x. 155 ;
Hutchinson, n. 187, 255 ; Eliot.
DUMMER, WilUam, Ueutenant gov.
of Mass. received a commission for this
office at the time that Shute was apppoin -
ted governor in 1716. At the departure
of Shute Jan. 1, 1723, he was left at the
head ofthe province, and he continued
commander in chief till the arrival of
Burnet in 1728. He was also comman
der in chief in the interval between his
death and the arrival of Belcher. His
administration is spoken of with great re
spect, and he is represented as governed
by a pure regard to the public good. The
war with the Indians' was conducted
with great skill,the Norridgewocks being
cut off in 1724. From the year l730
Mr. Dummer lived chiefly in retirement
for the remainder of his life, selecting
fpr his acquaintance and friends men of
sense, virtue, and religion, and receiving
the blessings. and applauses of his coun
try. He died at Boston Oct 10, 1761,
aged 82 years. He preserved an unspot
ted character thrbugh life. Though he
enjoyed fame, he did not place his happi
ness in the distinctions of this world. He
was sincerely and firmly attached to the
reUgion of Jesus, and in the midst of hu
man grandeur he was preparing for
death. In health and sickness he often
declared, that his hope of the divine ac-

DUNBAR.

DUNTON.

353

ceptance was built upon the merits and
mediation of Jesus Christ, whom he
adored as the true God and the only Sa
vior of men. He attended with reverence
upon the institutions of the gospel ; he
was constant in his family devotions ; he
appUed himself to the perusal of pious
books ; and at stated times he retired to
his closet for prayer. During his life
his alms were a memorial of his benevo
lence, and at death he left a great part of
his estate to pious and charitable uses. —
Byles' fun. sermon ; Boston Gaz. Oct.
26, 1761; Hutchinson, n. 291, 322, 368,-
Holmes. DUNBAR, WilUam, a planter, died
at his seat at Natchez Nov. 15, 1810.
He was an astronomer, and distinguished
for his researches in natural science. To
the philosophical society of Philadelphia,
of which he was a member, he made sev
eral communications, which are pubUshed
ia transact, vol. vi ; — account of the lan
guage of signs among the Indians ; me
teor, observ. 1800 ; description of the
Mississippi. DUNCAN, John M., died at Glasgow
Oct 3, 1825, aged 31 years. He pub
lished Travels through part of the U. S.
and Canada in 1818 and 1819, 2 vols.
l2mo. 1823; also. Sabbath among the
Tuscaroras. DUNMORE, John Murray, eari of,
the last royal governor of Virginia, was
the governor of New York from 1770 to
1771, and governor of Virginia from
1772 to 1775. In his zeal for his royal
master he removed the public stores from
Wilfiamsburg on board of armed vessels
in Apr. 1775 and afterwards abdicated
the government and retired for safety on
board the Fowey man of war at York
Town. He landed in different places,
acting the part of a corsair and plunderer.
He burnt NorfoUi Jan. 1, 1776 ; but fam
ine and disease obliged him to quit the
coast. He was appointed in 1786 gov.
of Bermuda, & died in England in 1809.
His wife was lady Charlotte Stewart,
daughter of the earl of Galloway. —
Holmes, n. 219, 256.
DUNSTER, Henry, first president of
45

Harvard college, was inducted into this
office Aug. 27, 1640. He succeeded
Nathaniel Eaton, who was the first mas
ter of the seminary, being chosen in
1637 or 1638, and who had been removed
on account of the severity of his disci
pline. He was highly respected for his
learning, piety, and spirit of government;
but having at length imbibed the princi
ples of antipedobaptism, and publicly ad
vocated them, he was induced to resign
the presidentship Oct. 24, 1654, and was
succeeded by Mr. Chauncy. He now
retired to Scituate, where he spent the
remainder of his days in peace. He died
in Feb. 27, 1659. He was a modest,
humble, charitable man. By his last
will he ordered his body to be buried at
Cambridge, and bequeathed legacies to
the very persons, who had occasioned his
removal from the college. He was a
great master of the oriental languages,
and when a new version of the psalms
had been made by EUot, Welde, and
Mather, and printed in 1640, it was put
into his hands to be revised. He accor
dingly, with the assistance of Richard
Lyon, improved the version, and brought
it into that state, in which the churches
of New England used it for many subse
quent years. — Mather's magn.,in. 99 —
101 ; IV. 128 ;Neal's N. E. .. 308 ; H.
Adams' N. E. 73; Hutchinson, i. 174 ;
Hist col vn. 20, 48, 49 ; Holmes ; Mor
ton, 1701.
DUNTON, John, a bookseller in Bos
ton, had conducted his business extensive
ly in London, but in a time of embarrass
ment came to this country in March
1686 with a stock of books and for the
purpose of collecting his debts, amounting
to 500?. He remained here 8 months and
became acquainted with all the clergy
men and the principal citizens. On his
return to Londonhe resumed his business
there. He published in 1705 the Ufe and
errors of John Dunton, in which he gives
an account ofhis voyage to Boston, a ve
ry amusing extract from which is in
hist, collections. He describes the minis
ters, booksellers, and other citizens of
Boston and Saleiri. In his will he direc-

354

DUSTON.

ted his burial to be "the 7th day after his
death and not before, lest he should come
to "life, as his mother had done, on the
,day appointed for her funeral." He died
about 17i5.-Thomas, 11.41 5-420,- 2 Hist.
col n. 97—124.
DUSTON, Hannah, the wife of
Thomas D. of HaverhiU, Mass., was
married Dec. 3, 1677, and was the moth
er of 13 children. When the Indians
attacked HaverhiU March 15, 1697,
her husband- flew to his house and order
ed his chfldren to flee without delay.
Before his wife, with an infant only a
week old, could escape, the Indians ap
proached. Mounting his horse and bear
ing his musket he followed his seven
young children as their defender. A par
ty ofthe savages pursued and fired upon
him, but he returned the fire, and by the
favor of providence conducted his Uttie
flock to a neighboring garrison. Mrs.
Huston, with her infant, and her nurse,
widow Mary Neff, was captured. At
this time 9 houses were burnt, and 40
persons killed and carried into captivity.
After proceeding a short distance the
savages took the infant from the nurse
and killed it. Mrs. D. after » fatiguing
journey, was brought to an island just
above Concord, N. H., formed at the
junction of the Contopcook river with the
Merrimac between Concord and Bosca
wen, now called Huston's island. The
Indian family, to which she had been
assigned, consisted of 12 persons, 2 men,
3 women, and 7 children ; the prisoners
in this family were three, Mrs. D., Ma
ry Neff, ,and Samuel Lennardson, a boy,
who had been taken at Worcester. Ear
ly in the morning of April 5 Mrs. D.
awoke her confederates, and, seizing the
hatchets ofthe Indians, who were asleep,
despatched ten of the twelve, a favorite
boy being spared and a wounded woman
making her escape with him. Mrs. D.
arrived safe at HaverhiU, and for the
scalps received 50?. from the general
court, besides many valuable presents.
In 1816 her house was standing, owned
by Thomas Duslon, a descendant. — 2
Hist col IV. 128; Dwight, 1. 411,-

DWIGHT.
Drake's Ind, wars, 316 ; Magnalia,
vn. 90 ; Hutchinson, 11. 101.
DUTTON, Matthew Rice, profes
sor of mathematics and natural philosophy
at Yale college, was born in Watertown,
Cori. June 39, 1783 and graduated at
Yale coUege in 1808. He was a tutor
from 1810 to 1814. In this last year he
was ordained the minister of Stratford,
where he remained about 8 years. After
the death of professor Fisher in 1822, he
was chosen as his successor, and dis
charged the duties of his office, till his
failing health, which had long been feeble,
compelled him to desist from his labors.
He died of a pulmonary complaint July
17, 1825, aged 42. With great scientific
attainments he combined the most amia
ble manners and the piety, which sustain
ed him in the hour of death. — N. H. re-
lig. intellig.
DWIGHT, Joseph, brigadier general,
was born in Dedham in 1703, and gradu
ated at Harvard college in 1722. While
residing in Brookfield, he was admitted to
the bar in 1733; in 1739 he was appoint
ted a judge ofthe court of common pleas
for the county of Worcester ; in 1 745,
at the reduction of Louisburg, he and
Waldo were the brigadiers. He com
manded the artillery of Mass., and was
distinguished for his exertions, and ser
vices and commended by PeppereU. In
1756, at the head of a brigade of militia,
he repaired to lake Champlain, in the sec
ond French war. Soon after his return
he purchased land in Great Barrington,
and there passed the remainder ofhis Ufe.
In 1761, when the county of Berk
shire was formed, he was appointed
judge of the county court and judge of
probate. He died June 9, 1765, aged
62. By his second wife, the wid
ow of Rev. J. Sergeant, he had 2 chil
dren, the late Henry W.Dwight of Stock-
bridge, and the second wife of judge
Sedgwick. His personal appearance was
fine. He was dignified in his manners,
an'upright judge, and an exemplary pro
fessor of the religion of the gospel. —
Hist. Berkshire, 233.
DWIGHT, Timothy, n. d., ll. d.,

DWIGHT.

355

president of Yale college, was a descend-
ant,in the fourth gerieralion, from Timo
thy Dwight,who died in Dedham,Mass.,
Jan. 31, 1718, aged 83, and whose father,
John,settled at Dedham in 1635 and died
in 1653. His father was colonel Timothy
Dwight, a graduate of Yale college in
1744, and a respectable, pious merchant
of Northampton, where he lived many
years until in 1776, in order to provide
for the settlement of two ofhis sons, he
repaired to the territory of the Natchez, of
which he was one of the original purcha
sers with gen. Lyman, his brother in law,
and died there in 1 777. His mother was
Mary, the third daughter of Jonathan
Edwards. He was born at Northamp
ton May 14, 1752. The religious im
pressions, made upon his mind by the in
structions of his intelUgent and excellent
mother, were never effaced: she also
very successfuUy directed his early stu
dies. In his 4th year he could read the Bi
ble with correctness. While in Yale col
lege, where he was graduated in 1769,
for the two first years through the folly
of youth much ofhis time was misspent ;
but during the two last years he was dili-
gent,devoting 14 hours each day to study,
and made great acquisitions. From 1769
to 1771 he taught a grammar school at
New Haven, and during this period ap
propriated 8 hours every day to severe
study. In 1771, at the age of 19, he
was chosen a tutor in the college and
continued in that office with high reputa
tion 6 years. Whfle he was eminent as a
teacher of mathematics, guiding his pu
pils in fluxions and in the Principia of
Newton, he awakened a new zeal in the
cultivation of rhetoric and oratory. On
taking his second degree in 1772 he de
Uvered a Dissertation on the history, elb-
quence, and poetry of the Bible, which
was immediately pubUshed and procured
hira great honor. At this period, in his
economy of time, he endeavored to re
move the necessity of bodily exercise by
diminishing greatiy the quantity of food ;
but in a few months his heaUh began to
decline. He was emaciated, and had
suffered ' severely by the bilious colic.

With difficulty was he removed to Nor
thampton. But, by advice ofa physician,
he commenced a daily course of vigorous
bodily exercise, walking and riding ; and,
persevering in it, erijoyed uninterrupted
health for forty years. In 1774 at the
age of 22 he finished his epic poem, " the
Conquest of Canaan," which^he had be
gun 3 years before. On recovering from
the small pox his incautious return to his
habits of study injured his eyes, which
caused him for the remainder of his life
great pain. In March 1777 he married
the daughter of Benjamin Woolsey of
Long Island, by whom he had eight sons,
six of whora survived him. In June he
was licensed as a preacher ; and in Sept.
he withdrew from the college and was
appointed chaplain to gen. Parsons' brig
ade in Putnam's division, in which ca
pacity he continued about a year. He
joined the army at West Point in Oct.
While he discharged his appropriate du
ties, he also employed his poetical pow
ers for the good of his country. Ofhis
poetical songs at that period, his "Co
lumbia" is still remembered. On recei
ving in Oct. 1778 the news of the death
ofhis father in the preceding year he was
induced to leave the army and to remove
his family to Northampton, that he might
console his mother and provide for her
numerous family. For five years he
here discharged with the utmost fidelity
and cheerfulness the duties ofa son and a
brother, laboring personally on a farm,
preaching occasionally in the neighboring
towns of Westfield, Deerfield, and South
Hadley, superintending also a school.
His income he expended in the support
of the common family. In 1781 and
1786 he was a member ofthe legislature.
With many and strong motives to devote
himself to civil employments he yet re
solved to spend his days in the clerical
profession. He was ordained, Nov. 5,
I783,the minister of Greenfield,a parish of
Fairfield, and continued in this station for
the next 12 years. His method of
preaching was to write the heads of his
discourse and the leading thoughts, and
to fill up the plan at the time of delivery.

356

DWIGHT.

With a small salary of 500 dollars he
found it necessary to make other provis
ion for his family. He opened an acade
my, which was filled with pupils of both
sexes, and which was highly celebrated
during the whole period of his residence
in Greerifield. In 1785 rie published his
"Conquest of Canaan," which had been
written 11 years before and for which
3,000 subscribers had been obtained. In
1794 he published his poem in 7 parts,
called "Greenfield HiU." After the
death of Dr. Stiles he was chosen presi
dent of Yale college and inaugurated in
Sept. 1795. For ten years he was an
nually appointed professor of theology.
In 1805 the appointment was made per
manent. Having while at Greenfield
written in short notes and preached over
twice a course of lectures on systematic
theology in about 100 sermons, he went
through with them twice in the same state
at New Haven, frequently adding to their
number. In 1805 he began, by the aid
of an amanuensis, to write out these ser
mons and finished them in 1809. After
his death they were pubUshed in 5 vols.,
being 173 sermons. In 1800 was comple
ted his revision of Watts' psalms, to
which he added 33 psalms, which he had
composed. In 1796 he commenced jour
neying in the college vacations of May
and Sept. in N. E. and New York, and
continued this practice till the last year
of his Ufe, taking notes, which he after
wards wrote out. This was the origin of
his book of Travels, published in 4 vols.
The last journey, which he made, was in
Sept. 1815, when he proceeded as far
west as Hamilton college, near Utica. In
Feb. 1816 he was seized with a most
threatening disease, an affection of the
bladder ; in April he was deemed beyond
recovery. Under all his suffering he
was patient and resigned. But in June
he was able again to preach in the chapel,
and in his first sermon he alluded to his
impression in his sickuess of the vanity
of all earthly things. He said, "I have
coveted reputation and influence to a de
gree, which I am unable to justify;" and
he earnestly warned his pupils against

the pursuit of earthly enjoyments. Though
he resumed his labors ; yet his disease
was only mitigated, not removed. Dur
ing the last few months of his fife he
wrote on the evidences of revelation and
other subjects, — the whole forming mat
ter for a volume. He wrote also the lat
ter half of a poem of 1 500 lines in the
measure of Spenser, the subject of which
is a contest between Genius and Common
Sense on their comparative merits, the
question being decided by Truth. At
the close of Nov. he became too unweU to
continue his labors as an instructer in
college. He died Jan. 11, 1817, aged
64, having been president 21 years.
A full account of the character and
labors of Dr. Dwight may be found in his
life, prefixed to his system of theology.
Besides his printed works, he wrote also
discourses, preached on the sabbath before
commencement to the senior class,& many
miscellaneous sermons,which, it is hoped,
may be given to the public. The follow
ing is a catalogue of his pubhcations : —
the history, eloquence, and poetry of the
Bible, 1772 ; the conquest of Canaan, a
poem, 1785; election sermon, 1791; the
genuineness and authenticity of the N.
Test. 1793 ; Greenfield Hill, a poem ;
1794 ; the triumph of infidelity, a poem;
occasioned by Chauncy's work on uni
versal salvation ; two discourses on the
nature and danger of infidel philosophy ;
a sermon on the death of Elizur Good
rich, 1797; the duty of Americans at the
present crisis, 1798; on the character of
Washington, 1800 ; on some events of
thelast century, 1801; onthe death of
E. G. Marsh, 1804 ; on duelling, 1805 ;
at the theological institution at Andover
and ordination of E. Pearson, 1803 ; on
the death of gov. Trumbull, 1809;
a charity sermon, 1810 ; at the or
dination ofN. W. Taylor ; on the fast ;
on the national fast, 1812 ; a sermon be
fore the American board of commissioners
for foreign missions, 1813; remarks on
the review of Inchiquin'a letters, 1815 ;
observations on language, and an essay
on light in Mem. of Con. Academy of
sciences, 1816; theology explained and

DYCKMAN.

EASTBURN.

357

defended in a series of sermons, 4 vol.
several editions, Amer. and EngUsh ;
travels in New England and New York,
4 vols. 8vo. 1801. — Life pref, to his the
ology; Spec, Amer. poet, 1,^93,
DYCKMAN, Jacob, M.D. , was born
at Yonkers, West Chester county, N. Y.
Dec. 1,1788. After graduating at Colum
bia college in 1810 he studied physic with
Dr. Hosack. For some years he was
physician ofthe city dispensary, and sur
geon of the alms house at New York ; in
1821 he was appointed health commis
sioner. He died of the consumption
at the residence of his father at
King's Bridge Dec. 5, 1822 in christian
composure. In the days ofhis health he
had regarded morality as all, that religion
demanded ; but in his sickness he per
ceived, that the divine commands in the
scripture are the measure of duty, and
that God demands the homage of the
heart. He published a dissertation on
the pathology of the human fluids ; an
improved edition of Duncan's dispensato
ry, 1818 ; an essay on Adipocire in trans.
N. Y. Lyceum. He also had made pro
gress in collecting materials for a work
on the vegetable Materia Medica of the
U. S.— Thacher's med, biog,
DYER, Mary a victim of persecu
tion, was the wife of WilUam Dyer, who
removed from Mass. to R. Island in 1638.
Having been sentenced to execution for
"rebellious sedition and obtruding herself
after banishment upon pain of death,"
she was reprieved attrie request of her
son, on condition, that she departed in
48 hours and did not return. She re
turned and was executed June 1, 1660.
DYER, Eliphalet, chief justice of the
supreme court of Conn., was the son of
Thomas D. ofWindham,and grandson of
Thos.D.of Weymouth in 1632,& gradua
ted at Yale college in 1740. He was col
onel of a regiment raised in 1758 for the
expedition against Crown Point. He was
a delegate to the congress of 1765 and to
that of 1774; was appointed judge in
1766 and chief justice in 1789, in which
office he continued tiU 1797. He contri
buted his efforts with other patriots to

promote and support the independence
of his country. He died at "Windham
May 13, 1807, aged 86.
EARLE, James, a portrait painter,
was born at Paxton, or Leicester, Mass.,
the son of capt. Ralph Earle, and went
to London, where he gained some distinc
tion as a painter, and where he married.
He died at Charleston ofthe yellow fever
in Aug. 1796, leaving in London a wife
and 3 children. At the time of his
death there was perhaps no painter in this
country of superior skill.
EARLE, Ralph, a portrait painter,
brother of the preceding, was born at
Leicester, and was employed in Rhode
Island in making fans before he went to
England. He was with Stewart at the
royal institution in London. He pain
ted the king. By Stewart he was regar
ded as one of the best of painters. In
this country he painted in Bennington
and Albany. He died at Bolton, Con.
Aug. 16, 1801, aged 50. A son of his
afterwards Uved at New Orleans, also a
distinguished painter.
EARLY, Peter, governor of Georgia,
was a distinguished lawyer. In 1802 he
was a member of congress and a decided
republican ; in 1807 hewas appointed a
judge of the supreme court of Georgia,
From 1813 to 1815 he was governor, in
which capacity he prevented the enact
ment of a law to obstruct the coUection
of debts, and thus placed a good example
before those governors, who from love of
popularity or office shrink from the honest
discharge of duty, which requires them
to resist, as far as they have power, all
pernicious, oppressive, iniquitous legis
lation. He died Aug. 15, 1817.
EASTBURN, Joseph, a preacher to
seamen iri Philadelphia,died Jan.30, 1828,
aged 79. Many thousands attended his
funeral. His coffin was carried by 12
sailors. At the grave Dr. Green deliver
ed an address. When he began to
preach to seamen, about 1820, "we pro
cured" he said, "a safl loft, and on the
sabbath hung out a flag. As the sailors
came by, they hailed us, "ship ahoyt"
We answered them. They asked us,

358

EASTBURN

EATON.

"where we were bound ?" We told them
to the port of New Jerusalem— and that
they would do well to go in the fleet.
"Well," said tiiey, "we will come in and
hear your terms." , This was the begin
ning of the mariner's church. Mr. E.
was eminently pious, and devoted to this
work. EASTBURN, James Wallis, a poet,
the son of James Eastbum, N. York, at
an early period was settled or about to be
settled as the pastor of St. George's
church, Accomac county, Virginia, and
died at sea on a voyage to the West Indi
es for his health Dec. 2, 1819, aged 22.
After his death the poem of considerable
merit, which he wrote in conjunction
with his friend, Rob. C. Sands, was pub
lished, entitled, Yamoyden, a tale ofthe
wars of king PhiUp, in 6 cantos, 1 2mo,
1820.— Spec, A. poet n, 228.
EASTON,' Nicholas, governor of
Rhode Island, came to this country with
two sons in 1636 and removed in 1639 to
Newport, where he built the first house.
He exerted himself to secure civil and
reUgious Uberty with Coddington, & was
governor from 1650 to 1655, when he
was succeeded by R. WilUams. In 1672
he succeeded B. Arnold and was succee
ded, iri 1674 by W. Coddington. He
died in 1675, aged 83. His son, John,
governor from 1690 to 1695, died in 1705,
aged 85.
EATON, Theophflus, first governor
of New Haven colony, was born at Stony
Stratford in Oxfordshire, his father be-,
ing the minister of that place. He was
bred a merchant and was for several years
agent for the king of England at the
court of Denmark ; and after his return
prosecuted his business in London with
high reputation. He accompanied Mr.
Davenport to New England in 1637,
and soon after his arrival was chosen one
of the magistrates of Mass. He was
one of the founders of New Haven in
1638, and was annually elected governor
till his death, Jan. 7, 1657, aged 66. His
brother, Samuel, was assistant minister
to Mr. Davenport from 1640 to 1644,
and died in England in 1664. The wis

dom and integrity of his administration
attracted universal respect. As a magis
trate, he was impartial in the distribution
of justice, and was invested with an indes
cribable dignity and majesty. He was
amiable in all the relations of life. In
conversation he was affable, courteous,
and pleasant, but always cautious, and
grave on proper occasions. Though his
family were sometimes very numerous, it
was under the most perfect government.
All the members of it were assembled
-morning and evening, and the governor,
after reading the scriptures, and making
useful observations upon them, addressed
himself to heaven with the greatest rever
ence and pertinency. On the sabbath
and on other cays of public devotion he
spent an hour or two with his family,
giving them instruction in reUgious truth
and duty, reccmmending to them the stu
dy of the scriptures, and the practice of
secret prayer He was beloved by his
domestics, ard ever preserved the esteem
of the commonwealth. His monument,
erected at the public expense, and which
remains to the present day, has upon it
the following lines.
"Eaton, so meek, so fam'd, so just,
The phoenix of our world, here hides his dust ;
This name forget New England never must."
—Neal's N. E. 1. 318; Trumbull's Con,
1.90, 240; Holmes; Douglass,!!, 160.
EATON, Samuel, minister of Harps-
well, Maine, was the son of Elisha Eaton,
minister of Q,uincy, and afterwards of
Harpswell from 1753 till his death, Apr.
22, 1764. He was born Aprfl 3, 1737 ;
graduated at Harvard college in 1763 ;
was ordained Oct. 24, 1764 ; and died
Nov. 5, 1822, aged 85, in the 59th year
of his ministry. Probably no minister in
Maine had preached so many years.
Mr. Eaton was the only physician ofthe
town ; as a magistrate he was also very
useful. He was the last of the ministers
of Maine, who wore a large white wig.
He was one ofthe first overseers of Bow
doin college, and president of the Maine
Missionary society from 1809 to 1815.
The evangelical doctrines, which he
preached, sustained him,a8 he approached

EATON.

ECKLEY.

359

the grave. He published a sermon on
the death of Jacob Abbot, 1820.
EATON, WUliam, general, was born
in Woodstock, Con. Feb. 23, 1764. His
father ,a farmer and schoolmaster,reraoved^
to Mansfield about 1774. At the age of
16 he eloped from home and enlisted in
the army, from which he was discharged
in 1783. He afterwards studied with
the ministers of Franklin, Windham,
and Mansfield, and was graduated at
Dartmouth college in 1790. By keeping
school he provided for the expenses pf his
education. In 1792 he vras appointed a
captain in the army, and soon repaired to
Ohio. He continued in service until
July 11, 1797 he was appointed consul at
Tunis, though he did not sail, till Dec.
1798, in company with Mr. Catchcart,
consul to Tripoli. When the efforts of
commodore Preble proved unavailing to
humble the bashaw of TripoU, Mr. Eaton
projected an alliance with his brother,
Hamet, the rightful soverign, then in ex
ile at Tunis, the object of which was to
recover for him the sovereignty and with
him to establish a permanent peace.
The plan was approved ; and as he had
returned to the U. S. iu May 1803 he
was appointed navy agent March SO,
1804 and authorized to proceed again to
the Mediterranean and to execute the
project against Tripoli. He sailed in the
squadron of com. Barron. In Nov. he
proceeded in the Argus to Alexandria in
search of Hamet, whora at last he found
in Feb. 1805. By their united exertions
a Uttle array of 500 raen was raised.
March 6th he entered the desert of
Lybia at their head, it being arranged,
that the American fleet should co-operate
in the expedition. In his army were
men of twelve different nations, among
whom were 11 Americans and seventy
or eighty Greeks and Frenchmen.
After surriiountjng great obstacles and
marching 50 days over a space of 600 miles
in the desert, he encamped, Apr. 26, in
the rear of Derne. This town was the
capital of the richest province of TripoU.
It contained 15,000 souls, and was defen
ded by a fort and batteries and strong gar

rison. Eaton, with an army now increa
sed by the addition of Arabs to 2500 men,
commenced the attack on the 27th with
the important aid of 3 frigates. In two
hours the town was captured. He was
wounded in the left wrist by a pistol ball.
A large army, coUected by Jussuf or Jo
seph Bashaw, soon appeared before the
town,and was defeated in a battle May 13;
and met with a complete repulse June 10,
and thus a way was opened to the gates of
Tripoli. At this moment, when the in
trepid sodierwas anticipating the accom
plishment ofhis project, a peace was con
cluded by Tobias Le^, who had authori
ty for the purpose, and he agreed to pay
f 60,000 for the redemption of SOO Ameri
cans in slavery. The indignant feeUngs of
Eaton at being thus arrested in his career
of triumph were unutterable. After his
return he was invited by Burr to engage
in his conspiracy, which he disclosed,
and was a witness against the conspira
tor. From the U. S. government he
failed to obtain the compensation, he ex
pected. In 1807 he was a representative
from Brimfield. In reward of his hero
ism the legislature of Mass. presented him
10,000 acres of land, half of which was
sold at 50 cents per acre. The last years
ofhis life were passed amidst the pains of
disease and the distresses of poverty, to
which his own imprudence had reduced
him. He was intemperate. Ofthe con
solations of religion hewas ignorant. He
died at Brimfield June 1, 1811, aged 47.
He left five children. His wife, EUza,
whom he married in I792,wasthe widow
of gen. Timothy Danielson of Brimfield.
A daughter, now deceased, married in
1820 Rev. Mr.Sprague of W.Springfield.
His eldest son, lieut. Wm., died in 1828.
— His Life, written by Prentice, was
pubUshed, 8vo. 1813,
ECKLEY, Joseph, d, d., minister of
Boston, was born in London Oct. 22,
1750. . His father removing to New Jer
sey about 1767, he was graduated
at Princeton college in 1772. He was
ordained at Boston, as the successor of
Mr. Hunt, over the old South congrega
tion Oct.27,1779. The society at this time

360

ECKLEY.

made use ofthe King's chapel, as the old
south meeting house after being occupied
by the British troops was not repaired
and re-occupied till March 2,1783, Rev.
Joshua Huntington was ordained as col
league pastor May 18, 1808. Dr. Eck-
ley died after a shprt fllness Aprfl 30,1811,
aged 60. His wife, a daughter of John
Jeffries, survived him, and died in 1825.
During 24 years he admitted, on an aver
age, only about 5 persons a year into the
church; but in 1803 and 1804 he made
new efforts to promote a revival of reUg
ion among his people; the Tuesday even
ing meeting, amidst much opposition,
was established, exerting a moSt impor
tant, beneficial influence. In his religious
sentiments, while Dr. Eckley held fast
to all the other doctrines of the evangeli
cal system, he became a semi-Arian or
Worcesterian in his views ofthe person of
Christ. He wrote as follows: "My plan
respecting the Son of God was very sim
ilar to what your brother (Dr.N.Worces-
ter) has now adopted. The common
plan of three self existent persons, form
ing one essence or infinite being, and one
of these persons being united to a man,
but not in the least humbling himself or
suffering, leads to andends in Socinianism;
and though it claims the form of ortho
doxy, it is as a shadow without the sub
stance ; it eludes inspection ; and I some
times say to those, who are strenuous
for this doctrine, that they take away my
Lord and I know not where they place
him.' — 'The orthodo.^y, so called,of Wa-
terland is as repugnant to my reason and
views of reUgion, as the heterodoxy of
Lardner ; and I am at a loss to see, that
any solid satisfaction, for a person, who
wishes to find salvation through the death
of the Son of God, can be found in eith
er.' — 'I seek for a plan, which exalts the
personal ^character of the Son of God in
the highest possible degree." He sup
posed the Son to be derived from the Fa
ther, God of God, Light of Light, having
a real divine nature, yet, being derived,
not self existent and independent. He pub
lished an essay on the divine glory in the
condemnation ofthe ungodly,l782; at the

EDWARDS.
artillery election, 1792; at the installation
of Mr. Evans ; at the thanksgiving, 1797;
before the Asylum, 1802 ; before the soci
ety for propagating the gospel, 1805 ; at
installation of H. Holley, in 1809 ; Dudle
ian lecture of 1806, 1810, ; — Wisner's
hist ofthe O. S. church, 45.
EDES, Benjamin, a printer in Boston,
was a native bf Charlestown, and began
business in 1755 with John GiU. He
published the Boston gazette and coun
try journal. During the controversy with
Great Britain this paper was devoted to
the cause of freedom, and had a wide cir
culation and great influence. No newspa
per did more to promote independence.
Afterwards other papers in a great meas
ure superseded it. By the depreciation of
paper money Mr. Edes lost bis property ;
and the aged patriot died in poverty in
Dec. 1803, aged 80.— Thomas, i. 341-
345. EDWARDS, Richard, a merchant,
the only child of William and Agnes Ed
wards, was born in May 1647 at Hart
ford, Con., where he resided- during bis
life. He was a man of wealth, of intelli
gence, and of great respectability. At an
early age he became a communicant in
the congregational church, and adorned
his profession by a long Ufe of integrity
and unusual devotedness to the cause of
reUgion. During his last sickness he ex
hibited a bright example of christian re
signation and triumphant faith. Hedied
April 20, 1718, aged 70. By his first
wife, EUzabeth, daughter of "Wm. Tut-
hiU, merchant of New Haven, he had 7
children, the eldest of whom was Rev.
Timothy E., the father of Jonathan Ed
wards. By his second wife, the sister of
John Talcott of Hartford, he had 6 chil
dren. — Sereno E. Dwight's life of Ed
wards. EDWARDS, Timothy, first minister
of East Windsor, Con., the son of the
preceding, was graduated at Harvard coP
lege in 1691. Hewas ordained in May
1694. In the year 1755 he received
Joseph Perry as his colleague. After a
ministry of 63 years he died January 97,
1758, aged 88. He married a daughter

EDWARDS.

sei

of Mr. Stoddard of Northampton, and he
lived to see his son, Jonathan Edwards,
the most distinguished divine in Amer
ica. He was universally esteemed, and
was an upright, pious, and exemplary
man, and a faithful and successful preach
er ofthe gospel. It seems, that he was
a poet, for R, Wolcott in dedicating his
poems to him in 1723 says: —
"Yet, where you censure, sir, don't make the
verse.
You pinned to Glover's renerable hearse,
The standard for their trial; nor enact.
You never will acquit wimt's less exact.
Sir, that will never do; rules so severe
Would ever leave .Apollo's altar bare.
His priests no service: all must starve together,
And fair Parnassus' verdant tops must wither."
Hepublished an election sermon, 1732. —
Life af Jona. Edwards.
EDWARDS, Jonathan, president of
the college in New Jersey, and a most
acute metaphysician, and distinguished
divine, was the son of the preceding, and
was born at Windsor, Conn., Oct. 5,
1703. He was graduated at Yale college
in 1720, before he was 17 years of age.
His uncommon genius discovered itself
early, and while yet a boy he read Locke
on the human understanding with a keen
relish. Though he took much pleasure
in examining the kingdom of nature ; yet
moral and theological researches yielded
him the highest satisfaction. He Uved
in college near two years after taking his
first degree, preparing himself fbr the
office ofa minister of the gospel. In
1722 he went to New York, at the re
quest ofa small society of English pres-
byterians, and preached a number of
months. In 1724 he was appointed a
tutor in Yale college, and he continued
in that office, till he was invited in 1726
to preach at Northampton, Mass. Here
he was ordained as colleague with his
grandfather, Mr. Stoddard, Febr. 15,
1727. In 1735 his benevolent labors were
attended with very uncommon success ;
a general impression was made upon the
minds of his people by the truths, which
he proclaimed ; and the church was much
enlarged. He continued in this place
more than 23 years, till he was dismissed
46

in 1750. The circumstances, which led
to his dismission, were the following.
Mr. Edwards, being informed of immo
ralities, in vchich some young persons,
who were connected with the church, in
dulged themselves, thought that an in
quiry should be made into their conduct..
The church readily acknowledged the
importance of strict discipline, and enter
ed into the plan ; but when the names of
the persons accused were known, and it
was found, that members ofthe principal
families in the town were implicatedi it
was impossible to proceed. There were
few in his church, who continued their
zeal for discipline, when they perceived,
that it would enter their own houses ;
and the hands of the immoral were
strengthened by this defeat ofan attempt
to correct their errors and to bring them
to repentance. After this occurrence in
1744 Mr. Edwards' usefulness in North
ampton was almost destroyed. - A secret
dislike was excited in the minds of many,
and it was soon blown into a flame.
When he was settled in this town, he
was not perfectly convinced of the cor
rectness ofthe principle, which was sup
ported by his colleague, Mr. Stoddard,
that unconverted persons had a right in
the sight of God to the sacrament of the
Lord's supper. After diUgent inquiry
he was convinced, that the principle was
erroneous and dangerous. His investi
gations led him to believe, that the sup
per was instituted for the true disciples of
Jesus Christ ; that none but such could
have a right to it ; and that none but
those, who were considered' as such,
should be permitted to partake of it.
Adopting these sentiments, he had the
courage to avow them. He considered
it as an inviolable duty ever to vindicate
the truth. He knew the zeal of his
people for their loose principles, and ex
pected to see that zeal bursting upon him,
if he should dare to stand forward in op
position to their long continued practice.
He anticipated a dismission from North
ampton, and a deprivation of the means
of support. But, in the full view of these
cpnsequences, he openly avowed his

362

EDWARDS.

change of sentiment, cheerfully sacrificing
every worldly interest to promote the
purity of the church and the glory of the
Redeemer. The evils, which he antici
pated, came upon hira. He was driven
away in disgrace from a people, who
once would almost have plucked out their
eyes, and given them to him. They
would not even hear him in his vindica
tion. He had been instrumental in cheer
ing many hearts with the joys of reUgion,
and not a few had regarded him with all
that affectionate attachment, which is
excited by the love of excellence and the
sense of obUgations, which can never be
repaid. But a spirit of detraction had
gone forth, arid a few leading men of
outrageous zeal pushed forward men of
less determined hostility ; and in the
hopeless prospect of conciliation he was
dismissed by an ecclesiastical council June
22, 1750.
In this scene of trouble and abuse,
when the mistakes and the bigotry of the
multitude had stopped their ears,and their
passions were without control, Mr. Ed
wards exhibited the truly christian spirit.
His calmness, and meekness, and humil
ity, and yet firmness and resolution were
the subjects of admiration to his friends.
More anxious for his people, than for
himself, he preached a most solemn and
affecting farewell discourse. He after
wards occasionally supplied the pulpit at
times, when no preacher had been pro
cured ; but this proof of his superiority to
resentment or pride, and this readiness to
do good to those, who had injured hira,
met with no return, except a vote of the
inhabitants, prohibiting him from ever
again preaching for them. StiU he was
not left without excellent friends in
Northampton, and his correspondents in
Scotland, having been informed of his
dismission, contributed a considerable
sum for the maintenance ofhis family.
InAug. 1751he succeeded Mr. Ser
geant as missionary to the Houssatonnoc
Indians, at Stockbridge, in Berkshire
county. Here he continued six years,
preaching to the Indians and the white
people ; and, as he found much leisure.

he prosecuted his theological and meta
physical studies, and produced works,
which rendered his name famous through
out Europe. Thus was his calamitous
removal from Northampton the occa
sion, under the wise providence of God,
ofhis imparting to the world the most
important instructions, whose influence
has been extending- to the present time,
and whose good effects may still be felt
for ages. In Jan. 1758 he reluctantly ac
cepted the office of president of the college
in New Jersey, as successor of his son
in law, Mr. Burr ; but he had not enter
ed fully upon the duties of this station,
before the prevalence of the small pox
induced him to be inoculated, and this
disease was the cause of his death March
22, 1758, aged 54. A short time before
he died, as some of his friends, who sur
rounded his bed to see him breathe his
last, were lamenting the loss, which the
college would sustain, he said, to their
astonishment, " trust in God, and ye
need not fear." These were his last
words. He afterwards expired with as
much composure, as if he had only fal
len asleep. He was succeeded by Mr.
Davies. His wife, Sarah, daughter of
Rev. J. Pierpont, N. Haven, whom he
married in 1727 in her 18th year, died in
1758. She became pious at the age of
5. The following beautiful account of
her, when in her 13th year, was written
on a blank leaf by Mr. Edwards, in 1723,
when he was 20. "They say, there is a
young lady in New Haven, who is belov
ed of that Great Being, who made and
rules the world, and that there are cer
tain seasons, in which this Great Being,
in some way or other, comes to her and
fills her mind with exceeding sweet
deUght, and that she hardly cares for any
thing, except to meditate on Him— that
she expects after a while to be received
up where he is, to be raised up out ofthe
world, and caught up into heaven ;
being assured, that He loves her too well
to let her remain at a distance from Him
always. There she is to dwell with Him
and to be ravished with his love and
delight forever. Therefore, if you pre-

EDWARDS.

363

sent all the world before her, with the
richest of its treasures, she disregards it,
and cares not for it, and is unmindful of
any path of afifiction. She has a strange
sweetness in her mind, and singular puri
ty in her affections ; is most just and con
scientious in all her conduct, and you
could not persuade her to do any thing
wrong or sinful, if you would give her
all this world, lest she should offend this
Great Being. She is of a wonderful
sweetness, calmness, and universal bene
volence of mind; especially after this
Great God has manifested himself to her
mind. She will sometimes go about frora
place to place, singing sweetly ; and
seems to be always full of joy and pleas
ure, and no one knows for what. — She
loves to be alone, walking in the fields
and groves, and seems to have some one
invisible always conversing with her."
Mr. Edwards had 3 sons and 7 daughters.
His eldest son, Timothy, judge of probate
and deacon, died at Stockbridge Oct.
27, 1813, aged 75. His youngest son,
Pierpont, judge ofthe district court, died
at Bridgeport, Con., Apr. 5, 1826, aged
76. Two of his daughters died unmar
ried ; Sarah married E. Parsons, and
Lucy, J. Woodbridge of Stockbridge ;
Esther married pres. Burr ; Mary mar
ried col. Dwight of Northampton ; Su
sanna married E. Porter of Hadley ; Eu
nice married T. Pollock ofN. Carolina.
President Edwards was distinguished
not only for the astonishing vigor and
penetration of his mind, but for his chris-
tianvirtues. Ataveryearlyperiodofhis
life he was much affected by the truths of
reUgion, and used several times in a day to
address himself to heaven in secret pray
er, and to meet for reUgious conversation
and devotion with boys of his own age.
But at length he returned to a state of
negUgence and forgetfulness of God. He
no longer addressed his prayer to the
Lord, his Maker. The pleasure, which
he had enjoyed in reUgious duties, he af
terwards believed to have originated in
selfish views and hopes, and not to have
been founded in a correct knowledge of
the truth. Soon after he left college,

however, n deop sense of his sin was im
parted to him ; he beheld a new glory in
the character of God and in the doctrines
of the gospel ; and a view of the way of
salvation by a crucified Redeemer fill
ed him with inexpressible joy. Those
doctrines, which he had formerly opposed,
and regarded with horror, now inspired
him with deUght. Such were his con
ceptions of the wisdom and excellence of
the Most High, that he found a real plea
sure in ascribing to him an absolute sove
reignty in the disposal of his creatures ;
in choosing whora he would to eternal
Ufe, and rejecting whom he pleased, for
the display ofhis glory. Ofthe certain
ty of this doctrine he felt as much as
sured, as of the existence of any object,
which was presented to his sight. The
excellence, upon which he fixed his
thoughts, was communicated to him ;
and he was moulded into the glorious
image, which was so constantly in his
eye. His life of integrity, of humility,
of meekness, of benevolence, of piety, of
christian courage, and of zeal directed by
the meekness of wisdom, gives full evi
dence, that his religion was the religion
of Christ. His highest and sweetest joys,
he remarked, did not spring from the
hope, that he was in a state of salva
tion, nor from the consciousness of any
excellence in himself, but from a direct
view ofthe precious truths ofthe gospel.
No one could be more deeply humbled
under a sense ofthe iniquity of his heart,
and of his impotence to what is good.
This conviction led him to distrust him
self, to rely only upon the grace of God,
and to ascribe every thing to infinite mer
cy. In the various relations oflife his char
acter was unimpeached. The benevo
lent principles, which he had embraced,
taught him to do good, andwhile, he in
culcated charity upon otriers, he himself
gave much to the poor. He seldom visi
ted his people, except in sickness or afflic
tion, not ha-ving remarkable talents in
conversation, and believing,that he should
be more useful in his study. Yet he was
not austere and unsociable, but easy of

864

EDWARDS.

access, kind and condescending. To his
friends he opened himself without re
serve. He gave no encouragement in
his conversation to evil speaking and fol
ly ; nor was he fond of disputes, though,
when called upon, he vpould express his
opinion, and calmly vindicate his senti
ments. He preferred managing a contro
versy with his pen in his hand. Though
his constitution was delicate, he common
ly spent thirteen hours every day in his
study. He usually rose between four and
five in the morning, and was abstemious,
living completely by rule. For exercise,
he would in the winter take an axe and
chop wood for half an hour ; and in the
summer would walk or ride on horseback
two or three miles to some retired grove.
Here his ever active mind was still occu
pied in religious meditation and devotion,
or in study. Having his pen and ink
with him, he recorded every striking
thought, that occurred. All his
researches were indeed pursued with
his pen in his hand, and the num
ber of his miscellaneous writings, which
he had left behind him, was above
1400. They were all numbered and
paged, and an index was formed for the
whole. He was peculiarly happy in his
domestic connexions. Mrs. Edwards
by taking the entire care of his temporal
concerns gave him an opportunity of con
secrating all his powers,without interrup
tion, to the labors and studies of the sa
cred office.
As a preacher he was not oratorical
in his manner, and his voice was rather
feeble, though he spoke with distinct
ness ; but his discourses were rich in
thought ; and, being deeply impressed
himself with the truths,which he uttered,
his preaching came home to the hearts of
his hearers. Though he usuaUy wrote
his sermons with great care and read his
notes ; yet, when in the delivery a new
thought struck him, he was not so shack-
led,but thathe would express it,and his ex-
tempory effusions were frequently the most
interesting and useful parts of his discour
ses. Towards the close of Ufe he was in
clined to think, that it would have been

better, if he had never used his notes at
all. He advised the young preacher
to commit his sermons to memory.
Mr. Edwards was uncommonly zealops
and persevering in his search after truth.
He spared no pains in procuring the ne
cessary aids, and he read all the books,
which he could procure, that promised to
afford him assistance in his inquiries. He
confined himself to no particular sect or
denomination, but studied the writings of
men, whose sentiments were the most
opposite to his own. But the bible claim
ed his peculiar attention. Frora that
book he; derived his religious principles,
and not from any human system. The
doctrines, which he supported, were Cal
vinistic, and when these doctrines were
in any degree relinquished, or were not
embraced in their whole length and
breadth, he did not see, where a man
could set his foot down, with consistency
and safety, short of deism or atheism it
self. Yet with all his strict adherence to
what he believed to be the truths of heav
en , his heart was kind and tender. When
Mr, Whitefield preached for him on the
sabbath, the acute divine, whose mighty
intellect has seldom been equalled, wept
as a child during the whole sermon.
His Essay on the freedom ofthe will is
considered as one of the greatest efforts
of the human mind. Those, who era-
brace the Calvinistic sentiments, have
been acustomed to say, that he has
forever settled the controversy with the
Arminians by demonstrating the absurdi
ty of their principles. Ontheother hand,
there are those, attached to the general
theological doctrines embraced by Ed
wards, who think that the unavoidable
consequences of his metaphysical argu
ment are so contradictory to the common
judgment of mankind, as to authorize
any one "boldly to cut asunder the knot,
which he is unable to unloose." How
ever, if the argument of Edwards be a
fallacy, "there must be some way to un
ravel the puzzle." The following is a
brief exhibition ofhis supposed sophistry.
I. He uses the word cause perpetually in
various senses ^-in the sense of efficiency,

EDWARDS.

305

or real cause; of reason or inducement ;
and of antecedent circumstance, the
ground, "in whole or in part," of an
event. When he lays down the maxim,
"nothing ever comes to pass without a
cause," and says, "if the will be determin
ed, there is a determiner ;" he means an
efficient cause. But when he asserts,
that motive is the cause ofvoUtion, he
departs frora the raeaning of efficiency.
The true meaning in the latter case is no
thing more, than that motives or views of
the mind precede or accompany the ac
tions of men, or in other words, that ra
tional men, who exert their efficiency in
volition, do it for some purpose, or with
some design ; for motives are mere views
of the mind, and it were absurd to ascribe
to them an agency, or to make them
efficient causes. As Mr. Edwards asserts,
"actions are to be ascribed to agents."
Men must cause their own volitions ; or
some other agent must cause them, in
which case men are machines. 2. He as
sumes the great point of controversy ;
that is, he takes for granted, that because
the mind of man had a beginning of exis
tence, and because its actions have a be
ginning, therefore it cannot originate a
volition. But ifthe eternal Spirit origi
nates volitions, it should have been prov
ed, that He could not give the same pow
er to a human spirit, made in his likeness.
In ascribing to God in perfection the es
sential qualities ofa moral agent he enu
merates "a capacity of choice, and choice
guided by understanding, and a power of
acting according to his choice or pleas
ure ;" but in considering man as a moral
agent he ascribes to him only "a power of
acting according to choice," and omits
the essential quaUty of a moral agent, —
¦"the power of choice." 3. The term mo-
tive is employed at one time to express
the antecedent reason or ground, or^re-
viaus view or circumstance, supposed to
determine the choice, as when he says,
the strongest motive governs the will ;
and at another time he represents the
strongest motive and the mind's choosing
as very much the same thing, so that th e
.motive cannot be antecedent or previous

to the volition. He says, "an appearing
most agreeable or pleasing to the mind
and the mind's preferring and choosing.
seem hardly to be properly and perfectly
distinct." If the view of the greatest
good and the preference or act of choice
itself are very much the same thing ;
then to say, that volition is the effect of
the strongest motive is very much the
same thing as to say, that volition is the
effect of volition ; and a "previous ten
dency of the motive to move the will" is
but a previous tendency of the choice
to determine the choice. 4. The distinc
tion between natural and moral necessity
can make no difference as to excusable-
ness/rom blame, unless there be implied
in the case of moral necessity the power
of choosing differently, which yet he de
nies ; for if men are excusable, when ne
cessity prevents them frora doing what
they will to do, then surely they must be
excusable, when necessity absolutely con
trols their choice, or governs their will.
Man cannot be a moral agent, if his mind
is completely enslaved and his volitions
a!U influenced by causes beyond his con
trol, whether the necessity be called
moral or not. Luther said, "I truly
wish, that in this controversy some more
appropriate term were employed, than
the usual one necessity, which is applica
ble neither to the will of God nor man.
It is of so harsh and incongruous a signif
ication, suggesting a sort of co-action and
what is altogether contrary to the nature
of volition."
This is a very imperfect view of the
objections tothe argument of Edwards.
Should a new school of metaphysical the
ology spring up, it will doubtless discard
some old and revered notions. The fol
lowing may be some of its elementary
principles. Man is constituted an agent ;
he is the cause, the originator ofhis own
volitions, else he would not be accounta
ble. The mere liberty of doing what he
wills is not enough ; he must be free to
will, or.bave power to choose, or must
originate his own volitions. Right views
of free-agency are of high importance, for
universalism and infidelity will be the re-

366

EDWARDS.

suit, when man is regarded as a machine,
governed by exterior efficiency. By the
faculty of the will is meant the power of
the mind to choose, the self determining
power. To say, that motives govern
the wfll, is to say that motives govern
the self determining power, and this is to
deny such a power. If, as Edwards as
serts, "the being of a good will is the
most proper subject of command," it
must be, because man has the power to
choose aright, for responsibleness is boun
ded by power. If man has no power, but
that of doing what he chooses ; then he
could not be required to have a good
will, or to make a wise choice, for God
never demands impossibilities. — The
mind does not always choose according
to the greatest apparent good, though
required to choose the greatest good ; for
frequently men choose against clear Ught
and full conviction. They always prefer
frideed what they choose, for choosing is
but preferring ; but they often choose
from unholy appetite and passion against
understanding and conscience. The
mind arbitrates between different motives,
but is not determined by them. It de
termines its own course in the view of
motives, or with some design or purpose.
Men are real agents, and not thinking
machines,irresponsible, destined to no fu
ture judgment, incapable of punishment.
In the midst of a world of motives they
are the authors of their own volitions ;
certainly of that class of voUtions, for
which they may be held to a retribution
of evil. Yet it can never be proved, that
all this impairs the foreknowledge of the
infinite Spirit or is inconsistent with his
eternal purpose, and his influence in
giving a new heart or securing a right
direction to the choice. At least, such an
interposition of divine grace and mercy,
if it should even destroy in that respect
human freedom by efficiently causing a
holy choice, is to be deemed an immeasu
rable benefit towards those, who experi
ence the new-creating energy, while yet the
choosers of evil are left free to their own
agency, and the character of God remains
unsulfied and his government unim

peached. — Remarks were made on the
Essay on the freedom ofthe will by James
Dana and Samuel West ; the latter was
answered by Dr. Edwards. His other
works, which are most celebrated, are his
book on original sin in answer to Taylor,
his treatise on the affections, his disserta
tion on the nature of true virtue, and
that on the end, for which God created
the world. A splendid edition of his
works was published in England, and
an edition in 8 volumes, intended to be
a complete collection of his writings, ed
ited by Dr. Austin, was published in
1809. Another edition, with an ample
account of his Ufe, edited by his descend
ant, Sereno Edwards Dwight, was
published in ten vols. Svo. in 1850.
The foUowing is a catalogue of riis
publications ; a sermon preached at Bos
ton on 1 Corinth, i. 29, 30, 1731 ; a ser
mon preached at Northampton on Matt.
XVI. 17, 1734 ; a narrative ofthe work of
God in the conversion of many hundred
of souls in Northampton, 1736 ; five dis
courses on justification by faith alone,
pressing into the kingdom of God, Ruth's
resolution, the justice of God in the dam
nation of sinners, and the excellency of
Jesus Christ, 1738 ; sinners in the hands
ofan angry God, a sermon preached at
Enfield, 1741 ; a sermon on the distin
guishing marks of a work of the Spirit
of God, 1741 ; thoughts on the revival of
religion, 1742 ; a sermon at the ordination
of R. Abercrombie, 1744 ; at the instal
ment of S. BueU, 1746 ; a treatise on re
ligious affections, 1746 ; an attempt to
promote agreeraent in prayer for the
revival of religion, 1746 ; life of D. Brai
nerd, 1749 ; an inquiry into the qualifi
cations for full communion in the church,
1749 ; a reply to S. Williams' answer to
the inquiry, 1752 ; a sermon preached at
Newark,1752; an inquiry into the modern
prevailing notions of that freedom of wfll,
which is supposed to be essential to mor
al agency, &c., 1754 ; the great doctrine
of original sin defended, 1758. Since his
death the following works have been
published from his manuscripts ; eighteen
sermons, with his life, written by Dr.

EDWARDS.

367

Hopkins, 1765 ; the history of redemp
tion, 1774 ; on the nature of true virtue,
1788 ; God's last end in the creation ;
thirty three sermons ; twenty sermons,
1789 ; miscellaneous observations, 1793 ;
miscellaneous remarks, 1796. — Hopkins'
life of Edwards; life prefixed to his
works; Middleton's biog. evang. iv.
294—317. EDWARDS, Jonathan, d. d., presi
dent of Union college at Schenectady, in
the state of New York, son of the prece
ding, was born at Northampton, June 6,
1745. In childhood an inflammation in
his eyes prevented him from learning to
read till an uncommonly late period.
He was but six years old, when he was
removed to Stockbridge ; and here
there was no school but one, which was
common to the Indian children and the
children of white parents. Ofthe latter
there were so few, that be was in danger
of forgetting the English tongue. Here,
whilst at school, he learned the language
of the Mohekaneew or Stockbridge In
dians so perfectly, that the natives fre
quently observed, that "he spoke exactly
like an Indian." This language he re
tained in a good degree through Ufe
and he pubUshed interesting remarks
upon it some years before his death.
His father intended him for a mis
sionary among the aborigines, and in ac
cordance with this plan sent him in Oct.
1755, when he was ten years of age, with
Gideon Hawley to Oughquauga, on the
Susquehannah river,to learn the language
of the Oneida Indians. This place was
in the wilderness about 100 miles from
any English settlement. He remained at
Oughquauga but four months in conse
quence ofthe war between England and
France, which now extended to the col
onies. During this short time he made
rapid progress in acquiring the language
ofthe natives, and in engaging their af
fections. They were so much attached to
bun, that when they thought their settle
ment was exposed to inroads frora the
French, they took him upon their shoul-
diers and carried him many miles through
the wilderness to a place of security.

He was graduated at the college in
New Jersey in 1765. Two years before,
at a time, when the students of the col
lege were generally impressed by the-
truths of reUgion, he was blessed' with
the hope of his reconciliation to God
through Christ. This was during the
presidentship and under the impressive
preaching of Dr. Finley. He afterwards
pursued the study of divinity under the
instruction of Dr. Bellamy, and iri) Oct.
1766 was licensed to preach the gospeliby
the association of ministers in the county
of Litchfield, Conn. In 1767 hewas ap
pointed tutor of Princeton college and in
this office he remained two years. He
was ordained pastor of the church) at
White Haven in the town of New Ha
ven Jan. 5, 1769, and continued there tfll
May 1795, when he was dismissed by an
ecclesiastical council at his own request
and the request ofhis society. Some of
the leading men ofhis parish had embra
ced reUgious sentiments of a different
stamp from those, which were formerly
professed ,and which Dr.Edwards believed
to be true ; and this circumstance was the
principal cause of dismission, though an
inability on the part of the society to give
him support was the most prominent rea
son assigned for this event. In Jan.
1796 he was installed pastor ofthe church
at Colebpipok in Litchfield county. In
this retired situation, where he was ena
bled to pursue his theological studies with
little interruption, he hoped to spend the
remainder ofhis days. But in June 1799
he was elected president of the coUege,
which had been recently established at
Schenectady, as successor of Mr. Smith.
In July he commenced the duties of the
office. From this time his attention and
talents were devoted to the concerns of
the seminary, of which he was intrusted
with the charge. He died Aug. 1, 1801,
aged 56.
There were several remarkable coinci
dences in tfle lives of Dr. Edwards and
his father. Both were tutors in the
seminaries, in which they were educated;
were dismissed on account of their reli
gious opinions; weresettied again in retired

368

EDWARDS.

situations ; were elected to the president
ship of a college ; and, in a short time af
ter they were inaugurated, died at near
the sarae age. They were also remarkably
similar in person and character.
Dr. Edwards was a man of uncomraon
powers of mind. He has seldom been
surpassed in acuteuess and penetration.
His answer to Dr. Chauncy, his disserta
tion on the liberty of the will in reply to
Dr. West, and his sermons on the atone
ment of Christ are considered as works
of great and pecufiar merit. As a preach
er, in his manner of delivery he was bold
and animated ; but he addressed the un
derstanding and conscience rather, than
the passions of his audience. A mind
like his could not in the progress of
discussion lose sight of its subject. His
thoughts were well arranged and his
arguments strong and convincing. He
-was by nature of an irritable disposition ;
but, conscious of his infirmity, he made it
tjje business of his life to subdue it, and
he was successful. Under many trying
circsumstance his equanimity was con
spicuous. In prosperity and adversity
he was .the same, always sensible of his
dependence upon God, always acquies
cing in his will, and confiding in his mer
cy. In his habits^ he was very regular.
His exercise, his studies, and aU his con
cerns were as systematic as pogj^ble. He
generally f ose early and his first thoughts
were directed towards his Almighty Cre
ator and Friend, to whom in early life he
^d consecrated the powers of his mind,
his improvements,his possessions,histime,
his influence, and all the means of doing
good, which should be put into his hands.
At the age of eighteen he began a diary
of his reUgious life. This he continued
for a few months and then abruptly reUn
quished it, but for what reason it is not
known. In the eariy stages of his last
illness, when he retained his reason and
the power of speech', he expressed his en
tire resignation to the pleasure of God.
In his death an extensive acquaintance
lamented the fall of one of the firmest pil
lars ofthe church.
He published a work entitled, the salva

tion of all men strictly examined &c. in
answer to Dr. Chauncy ; a dissertation
on liberty and necessity ; observations on
the language of the Mohekaneew or
Stockbridge Indians, communicated to
the Connecticut society of arts and scien
ces, and republished in Mass. hist, collec
tions, with notes by J. Pickering ; brief
observations on the doctrine of universal
salvation ; three sermons on the atone
ment ; sermons at the ordination of Tim
othy Dwight, Greenfield, 1783 ; of Dan
Bradley, Haraden, 1792; of W. Brown,
Glastonbury, 1792 ; of Edward Dorr
Griffin, New Hartford, 1795 ; a serraon
on the injustice and impolicy of the slave
trade, 1791 ; human depravity the source
of infidelity, a sermon in the American
preacher, n ; marriage of a wife's sister
considered in the anniversary concio ad
clerum in the chapel of Yale college,
1792 ; on the death of Roger Sherman,
1793 ; at the election, 1794 ; on a future
state of existence and the immortality of
the soul, printed in a volume, entitled,
sermons collected &c.; a farewell sermon
tO' the people of Colebrook ; and a
number of excellent pieces, with the sig
nature I and O, in the New York theo
logical magazine. He also edited, from
the manuscripts ofhis father, the history
ofthe work of redemption, two volumes
of sermons, and two volumes of observa
tions on important theological subjects.
— Connect evang. mag., a. 377 — 383 ;
Miller, II. 453; 2 Hist col x. 81-160 ;
Holmes, n. 32J .
EDWARDS, Morgan,a baptist minis
ter, was born in Wales in 1722, and be
gan to preach in his 16th year. He came
to America in May 1761, and became the
pastor of a church in Philadelphia, in
which office he was succeeded by Dr.
Rogers. He removed in 1772 to a plan
tation in Newark, Newcastle county.
Being opposed to the revolution, he ceas
ed preaching during the war. After
wards he read lectures in different parts
of the country. He had been intempe
rate ; it washis own opinion, that a min
ister should not preach again after such a
faU. He died Jan. 28, 1795, aged 72.

ELBERT.
He once persuaded himself about the year
1 770, that he should die on a particular
day, and preached his own funeral ser
mon ; but he Uved a quarter ofa century
afterwards. He published a farewell dis
course, 1761; at the ordination of S.
Jones ; customs of primitive churches ;
on new year, 1770 ; materials towards a
history of baptists of Penns. and N. Jer
sey, 2 vols. 12mo. 1792 ; on the millen
nium; on the new heaven and new earth ;
res sacra, a translation. He left many
vols, of sermons, and 12 vols, of manu
scripts on various subjects. — Benedict,
H. 294-301.
ELBERT, Samuel, major general,and
governor of Georgia, in 1785 succeeded
John Houston,and was succeeded in 1786
by Edward Telfair. He was a soldier of
the revolution, entering the army in 1776
as a heut. col. In 1778 he was engaged in
the expedition against E.Flor.; & conduc
ted with gallantry in command"of a brigade
in the action at Brier creek March 2,
1779, in which he was taken prisoner.
He died at Savannah Nov. 3, 1788, aged
45. ELIOT, John, minister of Roxbury,
Mass., usually called the apostle of the
Indians, was born at Nasin, Essex, Eng
land, in 1604. His pious parents early
imparted to him religious instruction,
and it was not without effect. After re
ceiving his education at the university of
Cambridge, he was for some time the in
structer of youth. In 1631 he came to
this country, and, arriving at Boston har
bor Novera. 3, immediately joined the
church in that town, and preached to
them, as Mr. Wilson, their rainister, was
then in England. Here he was earnestly
requested to remain ; but he was settled
as teacher of the church in Roxbury Nov.
5, 1632. In the following year Mr.
"Welde was ordained as his colleague, with
the title of pastor. These two minis
ters lived together in much harmony. In
1737 they opposed the wild notions of
Mrs. Hutchinson,and were both witnesses
against her at her trial. In 1639 they
were appointed -with Richard Mather of
Dorchester to make a new version of the
47

ELIOT,

8C9

psalms, which was printed in the follow
ing year. For tuneful poetry it would
not perhaps yield the pahn even to tnat
of Sternhold and Hopkins ; but it did not
give perfect satisfaction. Mr. Shepherd
of Cambridge thus addressed the transla
tors, ""ye Roxbury poets, keep clear of the crime
Of missing to give us veiy good rhyme;
And you of Dorchester, your terses lengthen.
But with the text's own words you will them
strengthen,"
The New England psalms were after
wards revised and improved by president
Dunster, and they have passed through
twenty editions. In 1641 Mr. Welde
returned to England. Mr. Eliot's other
colleagues in the ministry were Mr. Dan
forth and Mr. Walter.
His benevolent labors were not confined
to his own people. Having imbibed the
true spirit of the gospel, his heart was
touched with the wretched condition of
the Indians, and he became eagerly de
sirous of making them acquainted with
the glad tidings of salvation. There
were at the time, when he began his mis
sionary exertions, near twenty tribes of
Indians within the limits of the English
planters. But they were very similar in
manners, language, and religion. Hav
ing learned the barbarous dialect, he first
preached to an assembly of Indians at
Nonantum, in the present town of New
ton, Oct. 28, 1646. After a short prayer
he explained the commandments, des
cribed the character and sufferings of
Christ, the judgment day and its conse
quences, and exhorted them to receive
Christ as their Savior and to pray to God.
After the sermon was finished, he desired
them to ask any questions, which might
have occurred. One immediately in
quired, whether Jesus Christ could un
derstand prayers in the Indian language ?
Another asked, how all the world became
full of people, if they were all once
drowned ? A third question was, how
there could be the image of God, since it
was forbidden in the commandment .'' He
preached to them a second time November
11, and some of them wept whUe he was

370

ELIOT.

addr&sing them. Anoldmanasked,with
tears in his eyes, whether it was not too
late for him to repent and turn unto God?
Among the other inquiries were these,
how it came to pass, that sea water was
salt and river water fresh ; how the
English came to differ so much from the
Indians in the knowledge of God and Je
sus Christ, since they all at first had but
one father ; and why, if the water is lar
ger than the earth, it does not overflow
the earth ? He was violently opposed by
the sachems and pawaws or priests, who
were apprehensive of losing their author
ity, if a new reUgion was introduced.
"When he was alone with them in the vril-
demess, they threatened him with every
evil, if he did not desist from his labors ;
but he was a man not to be shaken in his
purpose by the fear of danger. He said to
them, " I am about the work of the great
God, and my God is with me ; so that I
neither fear you, nor aU the sachems in
the country ; I wfll go on, do you touch
me, if you dare." With a body capable
of enduring fatigue, and a mind firm as
the mountain oaks, which surrounded his
path, he went from place to place, rely
ing for protection upon the great Head of
the church, and declaring the salvation of
the gospel to the children of darkness.
His benevolent zeal prompted him to en
counter with cheerfulness the most terri
fying dangers, and to submit to the most
incredible hardships. He says in a letter,
"I have not been dry, night or day, from
the third day of the week unto the sixth ;
but so travelled, and at night pull off my
boots and wring my stockings, and on
with them again, and so continue. But
God steps in and helps. I have consider
ed the word of God, 1 Tira. n. 3, endure
hardship as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ." He made a missionary tour ev
ery fortnight,planted a number of church
es, and visited all the Indians in Massa
chusetts and Plymouth colonies, pursuing
his way as far as cape Cod. In 1651 an
Indian town was built on a pleasant spot
on Charles* river, called Natick. A house
of worship was erected, and a form of
government was estabUshed similar to

that, which is mentioned in Exodus
xviii. 21. He was convinced, that in
order to the most permanent success it
was necessary to introduce with Christian
ity the arts of ci-vilized Ufe. He accor
dingly made every exertion io persuade
the Indians to renounce their savage cus
toms and habits ; but he never could
civilize those, who went out in hunting
parties; and those, who Uved near ponds &
rivers, andwere occupied in fishing or cul
tivating the ground, though their condi
tion was much improved, could never be
made equally industrious with the Eng
lish. The first Indian church, established
by the labors of protestants in America,
was formed at Natick in 1660 after the
manner ofthe congregational churches in
New England. Those, who wished to
be organized into a christian body, were
strictly examined as to their faith and
experience by a number of the neighbor
ing ministers, and Mr. Eliot afterwards
administered to them baptism and the
Lord's supper. Other Indian churches
were planted in various parts of Mass.,
and he frequently visited them ; but his
pastoral care was more particularly over
that, which he first established. He
made every exertion to promote the wel
fare of the Indian tribes ; he stimulated
many servants of Jesus to engage in the
missionary work ; and, although he
mourned over the stupidity of many, who
preferred darkness to right, yet he lived
to see twenty four of the copper colored
aborigines fellow preachers of the pre
cious gospel of Christ. In 1661 he pub
lished the New Testament in the Indian
language, and in a few years the whole
bible, and several other books, best adap
ted for the instruction ofthe natives. He
possessed an influence over the Indians,
which no other missionary could obtain.
Hewas their shield in 1675 during Phil
ip's war, when some of the people of
Mass., actuated by the most infuriate
spirit, had resolved to destroy them. He
suffered every abuse for his friendship to
them, but nothing could quench the di
vine charity which glowed in his heart.
His firmness, his zeal, his benevolence at

ELIOT.

371

this period increased the pure lustre of
his character. When he reached the age
of fourscore years, he offered to give up
his salary, and desired to be liberated from
the labors ofhis office, as a teacher ofthe
church at Roxbury. It was with joy, that
he received Mr. "Walter as his colleague
in 1688. When he was bending under
his infirmities and could no longer visit
the Indians, he persuaded a number of
families to send their negro servants to
him once a week, that he might in
struct them in the truths of God.
He died May 20, 1690, aged about 86
years, saying, that all his labors were
poor and small and exhorting triose, wrio
surrounded his bed, to pray. His last
words were, "welcome joy." Four sons,
educated at Harvard college, were preach
ers ; John, of Newton, a preacher also
to the Indians, died in 1668; Joseph, of
Guflford, died in 1694; Samuel died in
early life unsettled ; Benjamin, a graduate
of 1665, was a colleague with his father,
but died before him.
Mr. Eliot was one of the most useful
preachers in new England. No minister
saw his exertions attended with greater
effects. He spoke from the abundance of
his heart, and his sermons, being free from
that labored display of learning, from the
quibbles and quaint turns, with which
most discourses were at that time infec
ted, were acceptable iri all the churches.
So much was he endeared to his own peo
ple, that they continued his salary after
be had offered to resign it, and when he
was unable to preach ; and the youth
were in the habit of visiting hira, calUng
him their father and friend. Such atten
tions chased away the gloom, which usu
ally hangs over the head ofthe aged, and
cheered the evening ofhis life.
His moral and reUgious character was
as excellent, as his ministerial qualifica
tions were great. He carried his good
principles with him in every situation,
viewing all things in reference to God.
He habitually Ufted up his heart for a
blessing upon every person, whom he
met, and when he went into a family, he
would sometimes call the youth to him.

that he might lay his hands upon them,
arid give them hisberiediction. Such was
his charity, that he gave to the poor In
dians most of his salary of fifty pounds,
which he received annually from the soci
ety for propagating the gospel. In his
manner of living he was very simple. One
plain dish was his repast at home, and
when he dined abroad, he seldom tasted
any of the luxuries before hira. He
drank water; and said of wine, "it is a
noble, generous liquor, and we shpuld be
humbly thankful forit,but, as I remember,
water was made before it." Clothing
himself with humflity, he actually wore a
leathern girdle about his loins. In do
mestic Ufe he was peculiarly happy. By
the prudent management ofhis wife, who
looked well to the ways of her household,
he was enabled to be generous to his
friends, and hospitable to strangers, and
with a small salary to educate four sons at
Cambridge, of whom John, and Joseph,
ministers of Newton and Guilford, were
the best preachers of that age.
In his principles of church government
he was attached to the congregational
order. Yet he contended earnestly for
frequent synods or councils, as necessary
for the preservation of union, for the sup
pression of dangerous opinions and here
sies, for the correction of abuses, and the
healing of divisions. He thought, that
every particular church should have ru
ling elders to assist the minister in the du
ties of government and instruction. In
his admission to the church, he required
of the candidates some evidence, that
they were truly Christians, renewed in
their hearts by the Spirit of God. He
withstood the attempts,which were made,
to change the old practice of giving a re
lation ofthe work of divine grace, which
practice in his -view honored the Savior,
and produced an intimate union among
his disciples. He could not in conscience
give the cup of the Lord to any one, who
did not give some evidence of being a
sincere Christian.
With all his excellencies he had some
singularities and strange notions. He
had a most deep ropted prejudice against

272

ELIOT.

wigs. Ha preached against the custom
of 'wearing them ; he prayed against it ;
he attributed to it the evils, which over
whelmed the country. He thought, as
Dr. Cotton Mather, who himself wore a
wig, informs us, " that for men to wear
their hair with a luxurious, delicate, fem
inine proli-xity, or to disfigure themselves
with hair, which was none of their own,
but above all for ministers of the gospel
to ruffle it in excesses of this kind" was
an eriormous sin. But fashion would
bear sway, notwithstanding his remon
strances, and he finally ceased to com
plain, saying, "the lust is become insup
erable." His prejudice against tobacco
was as strong as his aversion to wigs ;
but in contempt of all his admonitions
the hairless head would be adorned with
curls of foreign growth, and the pipe
would send up volumes of smoke. In his
old age, not long before his death, he
used to say that he was shortly going to
heaven, and would carry a deal of good
news with him ; he would carry tidings
to the old founders of New England,
that our churches stfll remained, and that
their number was continuaUy increasing.
So remarkable was he for his ¦ charities,
that the parish treasurer, when he once
paid him the money due for his salary,
tied the ends of a handkerchief, into
-vyhich he put it, in as many hard knots
as he cpuld, to prevent him from giving
away the money before he should reach
home. The good man immediately went
to the house of a sick and necessitous
famfly, and told them, that God had
sent them some refief Being welcomed
by the sufferers with tears of gratitude,
he began to untie the knots. After many
fruitless efforts, and impatient ofthe per
plexity and delay, he gave the handker
chief and afl the money to the mother of
the family, saying, " here, my dear, take
it ; I believe, the Lord, designs it all for
you." Mr. Eliot pubUshed several letters in a
work, entitied, the glorious progress of
the gospel among the Indians &c. 1649 ;
tears of repentarice, in conjunction with
Mr. Mayhew, 1.653 ; a late and further

manifestation of the progress of the gos
pel among the Indians, &c. 1655 ; ofthe
gospel amongst the Indians, &c. 1659 ;
a brief narrative of the progress of the
gospel, &c. 1 670. A work of his enti
tled the christian commonwealth &c.'
was published in England about the
year 1660, written nine or ten years
before. When it was received in Massa
chusetts, the governor and council, view
ing it as full of seditious principles against
all established governments, especially
against the monarchy of their native
country, required Mr. Eliot to make a
recantation, which he accordingly did,
acknowledging, that government by
kings, lords, and commons was not anti-
christian. The book was suppressed.
In 1661 he pubUshed his translation of
the New Testament into the Indian
tongue; 2d edit. 1680 ; and in 1663 his
immense work, the translation of the
whole bible, in 4to, entitied, Mamusse
Wunneetupanatamwe Up-Biblum God
naneeswe Nukkone Testament kah woiik
Wusku Testament. A second edition was
printed in 1685, revised by Mr. Cotton
and both of them were printed at Cam
bridge. The longest word is in Mark i,
40 : Wutappesittukqussunnoohwehtunk-
quoh, "kneeUng down to him." Mr.
Eliot also pubUshed the Jews in Ameri
ca, 1660, intended to prove, that the In
dians were descendants of the Jews ; an
Indian grammar, 1666; anew edition with
notes by Du Ponceau and introduction
by J.Pickering, 8vo. 1822; also in 2
hist. col. 9th vol. ; the logic primer for
the use of the Indians, 1672 ; the psalras
translated into Indian metre, and a cate
chism, annexed to the edition of the
New Testament in 1680 ; a translation
of the practice of piety, of Baxter's call
to the unconverted, and of several of
Shepard's works ; the harmony of the
gospels in English, 4to, 1678 ; the di
virie management of gospel churches by
the ordinance of councils, designed for
the reconciUation of the presbyterians,'
arid corigregationalists. Nine of his let
ters to sir Robert Boyle are in the third
and his account of Indian churches in th»

ELIOT.

873

10th volume ofthe historical coUections. —
Mather's magna, in. 170-211 ; Eliot's
life and death ; Neal's N. E. i. 151,
242, 258 ; n. 98 ; Hist col i. 176 ; ni.
177-188; Douglass, n. US; Hutchin
son, 1. 162-169, 212 ; Holmes, i. 434.
ELIOT, John, minister of Newton,
the son of the preceding, was graduated
at Harvard college in 1656. He was or
dained at Cambridge village, or Nonan
tum, now Newton, in 1 664, and in this
place he died Oct. 11, 1668, aged 32.
His abilities as a preacher were preemi
nent. He gave his father ranch assis
tance in his missionary employment.
Duripg bis ministry at Newton he usual
ly pri;ached once a fortnight to the In
dians \t Pequimmit, or Stoughton, and
sometimes at Natick. — Gookin, ch. v ;
Homer's hist, of Newton in hist col v.
266. ELIOT, Jared, minister of KilUng-
worth. Con., was grandson of the apos-
toUc John Eliot and the son of Joseph
Eliot, minister of Guilford, who died in
1694. He was born Nov. 7, 1685 ;
graduated at Yalecollege in 1706; was
ordained Oct. 26, 1709 ; and died Aprfl
22, 1763, aged 78. In the year 1722 he
was strongly inclined to adopt the episco
palian sentiments ; but in a conference
with the trustees of the college his doubts
were removed. He was a botanist and a
scientific and practical agriculturist. The
white mulberry tree was introduced by
him into Con. He discovered a process
of extracting iron from black sand. He
was the first physician of his day in the
colony. Such was his fame for the
treatment of chronic complaints, that he
was sometimes called to Boston and
Newport, and was more extensively con
sulted than any physician in N. E.
Maniacs were managed by him with
great skiU. In the multitude ofhis pur
suits his judgment seemed to be unfail
ing. His farms in different parts of the
colony were well managed. Living on
the main road frora Boston to N. "York,
he was visited by many gentlemen of
distinction. Dr. FrankUn always called
upon him, when journeying to his native

town. His house was the seat of hospi
tality. He was a pious, faithful preacher.
For 40 years he never omitted preaching
onthe Lord's day. He published agri
cultural essays, sev. editions ; reUgion
supported by reason and revelation, 1735;
election sermon, 1738 ; sermon on the
taking of LouislDOurg, 1745. — Thach
er ; Eliot; 2 Hist. cal. i.
ELIOT, Andrew, d. d., minister in
Boston, was a descendant of Andrew
Elliott, as he wrote his name, from So
mersetshire, who settled at Beverly about
1683. His father, Andrew, was a mer
chant in Boston. He was born about the
year 1719 and in 1737 was graduated at
Harvard coUege. He early felt the im
pressions of religion and was induced
to devote himself to the service of the
Lord Jesus. He was ordained pastor of
the new church in Boston, as coUeague
with Mr. Webb, April 14, 1742. Here
he continued in high reputation tfll his
death, Sept. 13, 1778, aged 59 years.
He left 1 1 chfldren, two of thera minis
ters ; Andrew, of Fairfield, and John, of
Boston. His last surviving child, Susan
na, wife of Dr. David Hull of Fairfield,
died in 1832.
He was highly respected for his talents
and virtues. While he preached the dis
tinguishing doctrines of the gospel, his
sermons were not filled with invectives
against those, who differed from him.
He was anxious to promote the interests
of practical godliness, and, destitute of
bigotry, he embraced all, who appeared
to have an honest regard to reUgious
truth. His discourses were written in a
style perspicuous and correct, and he de
livered them with dignity, gracefulness,
and unaffected fervpr. His audience was
never inattentive. The various duties
of the pastoral office he ever discharged
with fidefity. He revered the constitu
tion of the churches of New England, and
deUghted in their prosperity. In 1743 he
united with many other excellent minis
ters in giving his testimony in favor of
the very remarkable revival of religion
in this country.
When the British took possession of

S74

ELIOT.

Boston, he sent his family out of the
town yfith the intention of following
them ; but a number of the people, be
longing to his society and to other socie
ties, being obliged to remain, requested
him not to leave them. After seeking
divine direction, he thought it his duty
to comply with their request, and in no
period ofhis life was he more eminently
useful.: He was a friend to the freedom,
peace, and independence of America.
By his benevolent offices he contributed
much toward alleviating the sufferings of
the inhabitants ; he ministered to his sick
and wounded countrymen in prison ; he
went about doing good ; and he appear
ed to be more than ever disengaged from
the world, and attached to things heav
enly and divine. He was a friend of
literature and science, and he rendered
important services to Harvard coUege
both as an individual benefactor, and as a
meraber of the board of overseers and of
the corporation. So highly were his
literary acquirements and general charac-
Ser estimated, that he was once elected
president of the university ; but his at-
»tachment to his people was such, that he
-decUned the appointment. In his last
sickness he expressed unshaken faith in
rtihose doctrines of the grace of God,
which he had preached to others, and
would frequently breathe out the pious
ejaculation, "come. Lord Jesus, come
quickly." He wrote a long account of the effects
¦ofthe dispute between Great Britain and
America in ^1768, which he sent to a
friend in England. It is spoken of with
high respect both on account of its style,
and of the candor and nioderation, with
which it was written. The following is
a catalogue of his pubfications. A ser
mon at his own ordination, 1742 ¦ inor
dinate love of the world inconsistent
with the love of God, 1744 ; on the death
of John Webb, 1750 ; a fast sermon,
1753 ; at the ordination of Joseph Rob
erts, 1754; of Eben. Thayer, 1766 ; of
Joseph Wfllard, 1773 ; of his son, An
drew Eliot, 1774 ; a thanksgiving ser
mon for the conquest bf Quebec, 1759 ;

election sermon, 1765 ; Dudleian lecture,
1771 ; at the execution of Levi Ames,
1773 ; a volume of twenty sermons, 8vo,
1774. — Thacher's fun. serm.; Memoirs
of Thomas Hollis; Hist. col. x. 188;
Farmer. ELIOT, Samuel, a benefactor of Har
vard college, was the son of Samuel,
E. a bookseller of Boston, who was the
brother of Dr. A. Ehot. As a merchant
he acquired a large estate. He died Jan.
18, 1820, aged 81. Three of his (laugh
ters were married to E. Dwight and
professors A. Norton and G. Ticknor.
Some time before his death he presented
to H. college 20,000 doUars to found a
professorship ^of Greek literature. He
left an estate of little less than a million
of dollars.
ELIOT, John, d. d., minister in Bos
ton, the son of Dr.Andrew E., was born
May 31, 1754 and graduated at Harvard
college in 1772. After preaching a few
years in different places he was ordained,
as the successor of his father, Nov. 3,
1779, pastor ofthe new north church in
Boston. He died ofan affection of the
heart or pericardium Feb. 14, 1813, aged
58. His wife, Ann Treadwell, daughter
of Jacob T. of Portsmouth, survived
him. During his ministry of 34 years
he baptized 1454 persons ; performed the
Ceremony of marriage 31 1 times ; and
admitted 161 to full communion in the
church. Dr. EUot was very mild, cour
teous, and benevolent ; as a, preacher he
was plain,familiar, and practical, avoiding
disputed topics, and always recommen
ding charity and peace. For 9 years he
was one of the corporation of Harvard
college. With his friend. Dr. Belknap,
he co-operated in establishing and sus
taining the Mass. historical society, to the
publications of which he contributed
many writings. His attention was much
devoted to biographical and historical re
searches. He published a sermon to free
masons, 1782 ; a charge to the same,
1783 ; a thanksgiving sermon, 1794 ; at
the ordination of J. McKean, 1797 ; of
H. Edes, 1805 ; on public worship, 1800;
on the completion ofa hotise of worship^

ELLERY.

ELLIS.

375

1804; a New England biographical
dictionary, 8vo. 1809 ; and in tiie Histor.
collections the following articles ; account
of burials in Boston ; description ofN.
Bedford, iv; notice of W. Whittingham,
and narrative of newspapers, v ; sketch
of Dr, Belknap, vi ; ecclesiast. history of
Mass. and Plymouth, vn, ix, x, and 2
ser. 1 ; account of John EUot ; account
of Marblehead; memoirs of Dr. Thacher,
vin ; memoirs of A. Eliot and T. Pem
berton, X.— 2 Hist col I. 211—248.
ELLERY, WiUiam, a member of con
gress, the son of Wm. E., a merchant of
Newport, R. I., was born Dec. 22,
1727, and was graduated in 1747 at Har-
-vard college, of which his father was a
graduate in 1722. Having studied law,
he for many years successively prosecu
ted his profession at Newport. At the
commencement ofthe revolution he es
poused the cause of his country. Ofthe
congress of 1776 he was an active and
influential member. His name was affix-,
ed to the declaration of independence.
Placing himself by the side of secretary
Thompson, he watched the looks of the
noble-minded patriots, as they signed the
instrument. The plan of fii?eships, rec
ommended by the marine committee, to
be sent out from R. Island, is supposed to
have been suggested by him. When
the British occupied Newport, his dwel
ling house was burnt. On his retiring
from congress in 1786 he was appointed
commissioner of loans ; he was also elec
ted chief justice of R. I. When the new
government vvas organized, Washington
appointed him in 1789 collector of New
port ; an office, which he held till his
death, Feb. 15, 1820, aged 92. He died,
as he was reading Tully's offices, in
Latin. It was often his consolation in
fife, that " the Lord reigneth." Disre
garding human applause, he was accus
tomed to say, "humility rather, than
pride, becomes such creatures, as we
are.'' — Goodrich's lives.
ELLICOTT, Andrew, professor of
mathematics at West Point, was a native
of Penns., and was employed in survey
ing and planning the city of Washington,

He was also employed in ascertaining tho
boundary between the U. S. and Spain,
which labor he commenced in 1796. He
died at W. Point Aug. 28, 1820, aged 67.
He published a journal, with a map of
Ohio, Mississippi, and apart of Florida,
1806; astronomical and other papers in
the transactions of A. P. society.
ELLIOTT, Thomas, a patriot ofthe
revolution, died in South Carolina Feb.
5, 1824, aged 73. In the battle of Sulli
van's island hewas stationed at fort John
son ; he fought at Storio ; during the
siege of Charleston he performed the du
ties ofa soldier and witb unyielding firm
ness perferred the miseries of the prison
ship to the terms, offered by the enemy.
ELLIOTT, Stephen, ll. d., a bota
nist, was born at Beaufort, S. Carolina,
Nov. 11, 1771, and graduated at Yale
college in 1791. Afterwards he devoted
his attention chiefly to the improvement
ofhis estate. At an early age he became
a meraber of the legislature, in which ca
pacity he introduced the project of the
state bank, of which be waschosen presi
dent and at the head of which he reraained
until his death. He was also president
of several Uterary and scientific societies,
and professor of natural history and bbta-
ny in the medical college. The South
ern Review was principally conducted by
him. Hedied at Charleston March 28,
1830, ofthe gout in the stomach, aged 58
years.- His temper was mild, and his
manners interesting. He had made a large
and valuable collection in natural history.
With tTie literature of France and Spain
he was well acquainted. He pubUshed
sketch of the botany of South CaroUna
and Georgia, 2 vols. 8vo. 1821.
ELLIS, Caleb, judge of the superior
court of New Hampshire, was born at
Walpole, Mass., and graduated at Har
vard college in 1793. He practised law
in Claremont, N. H. In 1804 he was
elected a meraber of congress. In 1813
he was appbinted. a judge of the supe
rior court, in which office he continued
M his death. May 9, 1816, aged 49. He
was a man of candor and moderation, dis
interested, and faithful in the offices, in-

S78

ELLSWORTH.

trusted to hitn. He sought no populari
ty except that, which follows the pursuit
of riobie ends by honest means. As a judge
he was enUghtened, independent, impar
tial, and inflexible ; yet mild and courte
ous. He had a delicate and scrupulous
sense of honor and honesty. His regard
to the institutions of religion and moraUty
was evinced by the bequest of 5000 dollars
for the support of a minister in Clare
mont. — Smith's sketch; Farmer's collect
H. 225-232.
ELLSWORTH,,OUver,Li,. d., chief
justice ofthe United States, was born at
Windsor, Conn., April 29, 1745, and
was graduated at the college in New Jer
sey in 1766. He soon afterwards com
menced the practice of the law, in which
profession he became' eminent. His per
ceptions were unusually rapid, his reason
ing clear and conclusive,arid his eloquence
powerful. In the year 1777 he was chp
sen a delegate to the continental congress.
In 1780 he was elected into the councfl
of his native state, and he continued a
member of that body till 1784, when he
was appointed a judge of the superior
court. In 1787 he was elected a member
ofthe convention, which framed the fed
eral constitution. In an assembly, illus
trious for talents, erudition, and patriot
ism, he held a distinguished place. His
exertions essentially aided in the produc
tion of an instrument, 'Which, under the
divine blessing, has been the main pillar
of American prosperity and glory. He
was immediately afterwards a member of
the state convention, and contributed his
efforts towards procuring the ratification
of that iristrument. When the federal
government was organized in 1789, he
was chosen a member of the senate.
This elevated station, which he fiUed witii
his accustomed dignity, he occupied till
in March 1796 he was nominated by
Washington chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States as the succes
sor of Mr. Jay. Though his attention
had been for many years abstracted from
the study of the law, yet he presided in
that high court with the greatest reputa
tion. His charges to the jury were rich

not only in legal principles but in moral
sentiments, expressed in a simple, concise
style. Towards the close of the year
1799 he was appointed by president Ad
ams envoy extraordinary to France for
the purpose of settling a treaty with that
nation. With much reluctance he accep-
ed the appointment. In conjunction
with governor Davie and Mr. Murray,
his associates, he negotiated a treaty.
Having accomplished the business of his
embassy, he repaired to England for the
benefit of the mineral waters, as his
health had suffered much in his voyage to
Europe. Convinced, that his infirmities
must incapacitate him for the future dis
charge of his duties on the benph, he
transmitted a resignation of his office of
chief justice at the close ofthe year 1800.
On his return to Connecticut, his fellow
citizens, desirous of still enjoying the
benefit ofhis extraordinary talents, elec
ted hira into the council ; and in May
1807 he was appointed chief justice of
the state. This office, however, he de
clined from apprehension, that he could
not long survive under the pressure ofhis
distressing malady, the gravel, and of
domestic afflictions. He died Nov. 26,
1807, aged 65.
Mr. Ellsworth was an accomplished
advoCate,an upright legislator,an able and
impartial judge, a wise and incorruptible
ambassador, and an ardent, uniform, and
indefatigable patriot. He moved for
more than thirty years in a most conspic
uous sphere, unassailed by the shafts of
slander. His integrity was not only
unimpeached but unsuspected. In his
debates in legislative bodies he was some
times ardent, but his ardor flluminatcd
the subject. His purposes he pursued
with firmness, independence, and intre
pidity. Iri private life he was a model of
social and personal virtue. He was just in
his dealings, frank in his communications,
kind and obUging in his deportment, easy
of access to all, beloved and respected by
his neighbors and acquaintance. Amid
the varied honors, accumulated upon him
by his cpuntry, he was unassuming and
humble. His dress, his equipage, and

ELLSWORTH.
mode of living were regulated by a prin
ciple of republican economy; but for the
promotion of useful and benevolent de
signs he communicated with readiness and
liberality. The purity and excellence of
his character are rare in any station, and
in the higher walks of Ufe are almost un
known. If it be asked, to what cause is the uni
formity of his virtue to be attributed .'
The answer is at hand. He was a chris
tian. He firmly believed the great doc
trines of the gospel. Having its spirit
transfused into his own heart and being
directed by its maxims and impelled by its
motives, he at all times pursued a course
of upright conduct. The principles,
which governed him, were not of a kind,
which are liable to be weakened or des
troyed by the opportunity of concealment,
the security from dishonor, the authority
of numbers, or the prospects of interest
He made an explicit confession of Chris
tianity in his youth ; and in all his inter
course with the polite and learned world
he was not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ. In the midst of multiplied en
gagements he made theology a study,
and attended with unvarying, punctuality
on the worship of the sanctuary. The
sage, whose eloquence had charmed the
senate, and whose decisions from the
bench were regarded as almost oracular,
sat with the simplicity of a child at the
feet of Jesus, devoutly absorbed in the
mysteries of redemption. His religion
was not cold and heartless, but practical
and vital. Meetings for social worship
and pious conference he countenanced by
his presence. He was one of the trus
tees of the missionary society of Connec
ticut, and engaged with ardor in the be
nevolent design of disseminating the
truths of the gospel. In his last illness
he was humble and tranquil. He expres
sed the submission, the views, and the
consolations of a Christian. His speech
in the convention of Connecticut in favor
of the constitution is preserved in the
American museum. — Panoplist and mis.
mag. I. 193-197; Brown's Amer. reg. n.
95-08; Dwight's tre^. i, 801-^04.
48

EMERSON.

S77

ELY, David, d.d., minister Of Hunt
ington, Conn., was born in Lyme in 1749;
graduated at Yale college in 1769; and was
ordained aa a colleague minister in 1773.
For nearly thirty years' he was an effi
cient meraber of the corporation of Yale
college. He died Feb. 16, 1816, aged
66 ; he and his colleague, who Was set
tled at the organization of the church in
1721, having preached nearly a century.
His successor is Thomas Punderson.
With a vivid fancy and warm heart, he
usually preached extemporaneously. His
character was described by his friend.
Dr. Dwight— PunopZ. 12: 487-489
ELY, Zebulon, minister of Lebanon,
Con., was graduated at Yale college in
1779 and was a tutor from 1781 to 1782.
As a minister he was highly respected
and devoted to his work. For a few last
years his powers of mind failed hira. He
died about the year 1824. His memoirs
were written by his son. Dr. E. S. Ely
of Philadelphia. He published a sermPn
at the election, 1804 ; on the death of
gov. Trumbull, 1809 ; before the county
foreign mission society, 1815.
EMERSON, Joseph, minister of Mai
den, Mass., the son of Edward E., and
the grandson of Rev. Joseph E. of Men
don, was born at Chelmsford April 20,
1700 ; was graduated at Harvard college
in 1717 ; and ordained October 31, 1721.
For near half a century he continued his
benevolent labors without being detained
frora his pulpit but two sabbaths. He
died suddenly July 13, 1767, aged,67. His
wife was Mary, daughter of Rev. S.
Moody of York. He had 9 sons and 4
daughters. Three of his sons were min
isters ; Joseph, of PeppereU, William, of
Concbrd, and John, of Conway. He
was pious in early Ufe, and his parents
witnessed the effect of their instruction
and prayers. As a teacher of religion to
his fellow men and their guide to hea
ven, he searched the scriptures with
great diligence, that he might draw
his doctrines from the pure fountains of
truth. In the various relations, which
he sustained, he was just, amiable, kind,
and benevolent. One tenth ofhis intionie-

373

EMERSON.

was devoted to charitable uses. He at
stated times every day addressed himself
tg heaven, and never engaged in any im
portant affair without first seeking the
divine blessing. Such was his humiUty,
that when unguarded words fell ftom his
lips, he would ask forgiveness of his chfl
dren and servants. He published the im
portance and duty of a timely seeking of
God, 1727; meat out of the eater, and
sweetness out of the strong, 1735 ; early
piety encouraged, 1738 ; at the ordina
tion of his son, Joseph, -at Groton, now
PeppereU, 1747.— Funeral sermon by his
son. EMERSON, Daniel, first minister of
HolUs, N. H., was a descendant of Joseph
E., minister of Mendon, who died at
Concord, Jan. 3, 1680. He was gradua
ted at Haryard college in 1739 ; was or
dained April 20, 1743; received Eli
Smith as his colleague Nov. 27, 1793 ¦
and died Sept. 30, 1801, aged 85, in the
59th of his- ministry. His praise was in
all the churches. In 1743 there were on
ly 30 famiUes in the town. During his
ministry many died in the faith, which he
had taught the'ra ; and at the time of his
death the church consisted of about 200
members. Such men, the successful
teachers of moraUty and religion, of whom
the world knows nothing, are its benefac
tors, while the men of fame are usually
the scourges of trie earth.— Jlfoss. miss.
mag. I. 57-59.
EMERSON,Wm.,minister in Boston,
the grandson of Rev. Joseph E. of Maiden,
was the son of Rev. Wm. E. of Concord,
who died a chaplain in the arm.y in 1776.
He was bom May 6, 1769, and gradua
ted atHarvard College in 1789. He be-
carae first the minister of Harvard in 1792-
but in Oct. 1799 he was installed the pas
tor ofthe first church in Boston. In the
year 1804 he engaged in the labor of con-
dttcting the Mpnthly Anthology, a Ute
rary journal, which opposed the ortho
dox ot Calvinistic vieWs of the christian
reUgion. He died May 11, 1811, aged
42. He pubUshed a sermon, preached
July 4, 1794 ; at the artillery election,
1799 ; before a charitable society, 1800 ;

EMMET.
at the ordination of S. Clark, 1800 ; of
R. Smiley, 1801 ; of T. Beede, 1803 ; on
the death of Dr. Thacher, 1802 ; of mad
am Bowdoin, 1803 ; of C. Austin, 1806;
before the female .asylum, 1805 ; before
the humane society, 1807 ; oration July
4, 1802; 4 discourses in the christain
monitor, numbered 1, 2, 3, 7 ; a collection
of psalms and hymns, 1808. After his
death there was pubUshed his sketch of
thehistory.of the first criurcri in Boston,
with 2 sermons annexed, 8vo. 1812. — 2
Hist cal 1. 254—258.
EMMET, Thomas Addis, an eminent
lawyer, was born in Cork, Ireland, in
1764, the son of a physician. Educated
at Trinity college, Dublin, he studied
medicine at Edinburgh, and took the de
gree of M. D. in 1784. His thesis was
pubUshed in Smellie's thesaurus. At this
time he was inclined to forensic pursuits,
presiding over 5 debating societies. He
afterwards made the tour of Italy and
Germany, visiting the most celebrated
schools of the continent. On his return
to Ireland the death of his brother, Chris
topher Temple Emmet, a lawyer of sur
passing talents, induced hira to engage in
the same profession. After studying at
the Temple in London two years he was
admitted to the Irish bar at Dublin in
1791. He soon rose to distinction, and
was deemed superipr in legal and general
science and in talents to Curran. At this
period the events ofthe French revolu
tion awakened in the oppressed Irish the
hope of national freedom. The associa
tion of "United Irishraen"wasconstituted,
embracing both cathoUcs and protestants,
bound together by a secret oath. Each
society was Umited to 36 persons, but the
whole kingdom was organized into de
partments, and at the head ofthe whole
was a committee, of which Mr. Emmet
was a leading member. It was deter
mined to seek aid from France and to
take up arms. May 23, 1798 was ap
pointed for the general rising. But previ
ously to that time a traitor disclosed the
conspiracy, and Emmet & others were ar
rested and thrown into prison. The rebel-
lion,nptwithstanding,broke put on the fix-

ENDICOTT.

879

ed day; but it was soon crushed before the
arrival of Humbert and his French army
of 1200 men, which surrendered in Au
gust. An agreement was soon made by
the- government with the state prisoners,
that if they would make certain disclos
ures, not implicating individuals, they
should be released. The disclosures
were made ; yet Mr. Emmet was long
detained in prison. After the peace of
Amiens he was set free, and conveyed to
the river Elbe. The winter of 1802 he
spent in Brussels, where he saw his
brother, about to embark in the enter
prise, which ended in his execution. —
From France Mr. Emmet proceeded to
NewYork, where he arrivedNov.il,
1804. The death of Hamfl ton had left
an opening for such a man in the bar ; he
was soon admitted to the supreme court
ofthe state and ofthe United States, and
stood among the first in his profession.
He identified himseff with the democratic
party. In 1812 he was appointed attor
ney general ofthe state. As an advocate
he was unrivalled. With a prolific fancy
his figures were bold ; yet was he logical
and profound, and his manner was most
earnest and impressive. He was inces
sant in labor, devoting more than 13
hours in each day to stufiy and business.
Of course he mixed but fittle with the
fashionable world. He had often amused
himself with mathematical calculations.
Inthe circuit court of 1827 he -was en
gaged in the important Astor cause and
on Monday Nov. 12th replied in an ela
borate argument to Webster and Van
Buren. On Wednesday, while occupied
in another cause, he was seized with the
apoplexy in court and died Nov. 14, 1827,
aged 63 years. Whfle in prison in Scot
land he wrote part of an essay towards
the history of Ireland, which was pub
lished at N. Y. in 1807 .—Amer. ann.
reg. 1827-9, 139—149.
ENDICOTT, John, gov.iof Mass.,
was sent to this country by a company in
England as their agent to carry on the
plantation at Naumkeag, or Salem, & ar
rived in Sept. 1628. It was here, that he
laid the foundation ofthe first permanent

town within the Umits ofthe Mass. pa
tent. He was a suitable person to be in
trusted with the care ofa new settlement
in the wilderness ; fbr he was bold, un
daunted, sociable, and cheerful, fari:iiliar,
or austere and distant, as occasion re
quired. The company in Aprfl 1629
chose him the governor of " London's
plantation ;" but in August it was deter
mined to transfer the charter and the
government of the colony to New Eng
land, and John Winthrop, who arrived,
in the following year, was appointed
gov. In 1636 Mr. Endicott was sent
out on an expedition against the Indians
on Block island, and in the Pequot coun
try. He continued at Salem till 1 644,
when he was elected governor of Mass.,
and removed to Boston. He was also
governor from 1649 to 1654. excepting
in 1650, when Mr. Dudley was gov.,
and frora 1655 to 1665. He died March
15, 1665, aged 75 and was succeeded by
Bellinghara. He was a sincere, and
zealous puritan, rigid in his principles,
and severe in the execution of the laws
against sectaries, or those, who differed
frora the reUgion of Mass. Two epis
copalians, who accused the members of
the church of Salem of being separatists,
were sent back to England by his orders.
He was determined to establish a reform
ed and a pure criurch. The quakers and
the baptists had no occasion to remem
ber hira with affection. So opposed was
he to e-very thing, which looked Uke po
pery, that, through the influence of
Roger Williams, he cut out the cross
from the military standard. He insisted
at Salem; that the women should wear
veils at church. In 1 649, when he was
governor, he entered into an association
with the other magistrates against long
hair. As the practice of wearing it, " af
ter the manner bf ruffians and barbarous
Indians, had begun to invade New Eng
land,", they declared their detestation of
the custom, " as a thing uncivil and un
manly, whereby men do deform them
selves, and offend spber and modest men,
and do corrupt good "manners." In
1659, during his administration, four

880

ENGLISH.

EUSTIS.

quakers were put to death in Boston. —
Neal's N. E., i. 139, 364 ; Hutchinson,
I. 8—17, 38, 235 ; Winthrop ; Hist, col
VI. 245, 261 ; ix. 5 ; Holmes; Morton,
81, 188 ; Magn. n. 18.
ENGLISH, George B., an adventur
er, the son of Triomas English of Bo^
ton, wasgraduated at Harvard college in
1807 and afterwards for a while studied
theology. He , then became an officer of
marine in the naVy. Embracing, as is
said, Islamism, he entered the service of
the Pasha of Egypt and accompanied an
expedition under Ismael to Upper Eg.vpt.
He died at Washington in Sept. 1828,
aged 39. He pubUshed Grounds of
Christianity examined, 12mo. 1813, which
was answered by E. Everett & S. Cary ;
letter to Mr. Cary on fiis review ; letter
to Mr. Channingori his 2 sermons on
infideUty, 1813 ; expedition to Dongola
and Sennaar, Svo, 1823.
ERVING, Wflliam, a benefactor of
Harvard college, was graduated in 1753,
and quitted the British army,. in which he
was an officer, at this commencement of
the American revolution. He died at
Rpxbury May 27, 1791, aged 56, be
queathing to the coUege, in which hewas
educated, 1000?. towards estabUshing a
professorship of chemistry and materia
medica. ESCARBOT, Marc L', published
Nova Francia, or an account of New
France as described in late voyages into
the countries called by the Frenchmen
La Cadie, 4to. Lond, 1654: translated
from the French edit of 1612: the sarae
iri Purchas and Churchill.
ESTAING, Charles H., count de,
commanded the French fleet, sent to our
aid in the revolutionary war. He made
an unsuccessful assault on Savannah Oct.
9, 1779, when Pulaski was mortally
wounded. He afterwards captured Gren
ada. Being one of the assembly of no
tables in Prance, and incurring the sus
picion of the dominant faction, he was
guUlotined at Paris Apr. 29, 1793.
EUSTACE, John Skey, a brave of
ficer in the American war, entered into
the service of his country not long after

the commencement ofthe revolution, and
continued one of her active defenders till
the conclusion ofthe contest. He served
for some time as aid de camp to general
Lee, and afterwards as an aid de camp to
general Greene. When the war was
ended, he retired to Georgia, and was
there admitted to the bar as an advocate.
In that state be received the appointment
of adjutant general. In the year 1794, as
he was fond of miUtary life, he went to
France, and there received the appoint
ment of a brigadier general, and was af
terwards promoted and made a major
general. In that capacity he served the
French nation for sorae tinie. He com
manded in 1797 a division of the French
army in Flanders. In 1800 he returned
again to his native country and resided
in Orange county. New York, where
he led aretired,studiouslifetiU his death.
He devoted to literature all the time,
which the state of his health would per
mit. He died at Newburgh Aug.' 25,
1805, aged 45 years. — New York spect.
Sept 4, 1805.
EUSTIS, Wflliam, m. d., governor of
Mass., was the son of Benjamin Eustis
and was born at Cambridge June 10,
1753. '^"After graduating at Harvard col
lege in 1772 he studied physic with Dr.
Jpsepri Warren. At the beginning of the
war he was appointed surgeon ofa regi
ment, and afterwards hospital surgeon.
In 1777 and during most of the war he
occupied as a hospital the spacious house
of col. Robinson, a royalist, on the east
side of the Hudson, opposite to West
Point. In the same house Arnold had
his head quarters. At the termination of
the war he comraenced the practice ofhis
profession in Boston. In 1800 he was
elected a raember of congress. By Mr.
Madison in 1809 he was appointed secre
tary of war, and continued in office until
in the late war the army of Hull was
surrendered, when he resigned. In 1815
he was sent ambassador tp Holland.
After his return he was a member of
congress in 1821 and for 4 successive
sessions. After the resignation of gov.
Brooks, he was chosen gov. in 1823 and

EVANS.

381

died in Boston, after a short iUness, Feb.
6, 1825,aged 71. His wife,who survived
him,was Caroline the daughter of Wood
bury Langdon of New Hampshire. By
his direction he was buried by the side of
his. mother. His successor was Levi
Lincoln, the present governor. — Holmes,
II. 515 ; Thacher.
EVANS, Nathaniel, a minister in Nevv
Jersey, and a poet, was born in Philadel
phia June 8, 1742, and was graduated at
the college in that city in 1765, having
gained a high reputation for his genius.
He immediately afterwards embarked for
England, reccommended to the society
for propagating the gospel, and was or
dained by the bishop of London. He ar
rived at Philadelphia on his return Dec.
26, 1765, and entered Soon upon the bu
siness ofhis mission at Gloucester county
in N. Jersey. His season pf labor was
short, for it pleased God to remove him
from this present life Oct. 29, 1767, aged
25. He was remarkable for the excel
lence of his temper, the correctness of
his morals, arid the soundness of his doc
trines. He published a short account of
T. Godfrey, prefixed to Godfrey's poems,
and an elegy to his memory. After his
death a selection of his writings was
published, entitied, poems on several oc
casions, with some other compositions,
1772. Annexed to this volume is one of
his sermons. — American mus. vn. 405 ;
Preface to the above poems.
EVANS, Lewis, eminent for his ac
quaintance with American geography,
was a surveyor in Pennsylvania, and
died in June 1756. He made many
journeys into the neighboring colonies,
and had been frequently employed in sur
veying lands, purchased of the natives.
He had collected a great store of materi
als from other sources. Frora these he
compiled a map of the middle colonies,
and of the adjacent country of the In
dians, lying northward and westward.
The first edition of it was published in
1749, and a second in 1755, accompanied
with an explanatory pamphlet. Some
expressions, countenancing the title of
France to fort Frontenac, btought him

into a controversy with a writer in
Gaine's New York mercury in 1756. In
the course of the same year he wrote a full
and elaborate reply to this and other
charges against hira, and caused the
pamphlet to be published in London.
They are both offered to the public under
the title of geographical, historical, politi
cal, phflosophical, and mechanical essays;
number 1 , and 2. The first edition of
this map was chiefly limited to New
York, New Jersey, and Delaware ; the
second was much enlarged, being made a
general map of the middle British colo
nies, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York,
Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and the
country of the confederate Indians. It
was inscribed to Mr. Pownall, in consid
eration, as a writer of that period asserts,
of being promised by him the office of
surveyor general of New Jersey, and to
gratify whom he published also in 1755 a
pamphlet against gov. Shirley.., He be
longed to the cabal in favor of W. John
son. He was imprisoned for a libel on
gov. Morris. Afterwards in 1776, on
the breaking out of the war between
Great Britain and her colonies, Mr. Pow
nall himself gave a new edition of Evans'
map with large additions, entitled a map
ofthe British colonies in North America.
It comprehended afl New England and
the bordering parts of Canada.
EVANS, Israel, minister of Concord,
N. H., was of Welsh descent, born in
Pennsylvania, where his father and grand
father were ministers. He graduated at
Princeton coUege in 1772: and being or
dained in 1776 at Philadelphia as a chap
lain, he served during the war in the
New Hampshire brigade. He accompa
nied SulUvan against the Indians ; and
was at the capture of Burgoyne and sur
render of CornwaUis. July 1, 1789 he
was installed as the successor of Mr.
Walker at Concord ; but was dismissed
at his request July 1797. His feelings
and habits, brought from the army, were
not adapted to make him useful as a min
ister. HuraiUty was no trait in his char
acter. He died March 9, 1807, aged 59;

S82

EVANS.

EVARTS.

and was succeeded by A. M'Farland.
His patriotic sermons during the war
were acceptable to the army; he pubUsh
ed a serraon after the Indian expedition ;
oration on the death of gen. Poor, 1780 ;
ori the surrender of the British army at
York ; on the thanksgiving for indepen
dence, Dec. 11, 1783 ; at the election,
1791. — Bouton's centen. disc. S3 ;
Moore's ann. Concord, 63.
EVANS, Oliver, a metihanic, was a
descendant of Evan Evans, d. d., the first
episcopal rainister of Philadelphia, who
died in 1728. He made various improve
ments in the arts. His iron foundery,
steam factory, and steam mill were loca
ted at Philadelphia. He died at New
York Apr. 15, 1819, aged 64. He pub
lished the young engineer's guide, 1805 ;
miller's and millwright's guide, 25 plates,
1807; first edit 1795.
EVARTS, Jeremiah, Secretary of the
American board of commissioners for for-
icign missions, probably a descendant of
John Evarts, who lived in Guifford,- Con.,
in 1650, was bom in Sunderland, Ver
mont, Feb. S, 1781. In a few years his
parents removed to the town of Georgia
in the northern part of Vermont. In
1 798 he was placed under the instruction
of Rev. John EUot of E. Guilford, and
was graduated at Yale college in 1802.
During a revival of religion in the college
in the beginning of this year he cherished
the hope, that his soul was renewed by
4he Spirit of God, and became a meraber
of the college church. From 1803 to
1804 he was the instructer of the acade
my at Peacham, and afterwards studied
law with judge Chauncy of New Haven,
in which city he comraenced the practice
of ihe law in July 1806. In May 1810 he
removed to Charlestown, near Boston, in
order to edit the Panoplist,a religious and
literary monthly purification, which had
been oonductedby Dr.Morse & others 4 or
5 years ; and he superintended that work,
writing for it a large proportion of the
original articles, tiU the close of 1820,
when it was discontinued, and the Mis
sionary Herald was published in its stead,
under the authority of the American

Board. This work was also committed
to him. He had been chosen treasurer
ofthe Board in 1812 and the next year
one of the prudential committee. He
served as treasurer till 1822. In 1821
he succeeded Dr. Worcester as corres
ponding secretary, in which office he con
tinued nearly 10 years till his death.
Thus he toiled 10 years as the editor of
the Panoplist, 10 years as the treasurer of
the Board of Missions, and 10 years as
corresponding secretary. In feeble health
he took a voyage to the island pf Cuba
in Feb. 1831, and thence in April to
Charleston, where in the house of Rev.
Dr. Palmer he died May 10th, aged 50.
He left several children : his wife, who
survived him, was the daughter of Roger
Sherman of New Haven. While Mr.
Evarts was on his voyage to Cuba, fully
aware of the uncertain continuance of
his life, he wrote as follows ; "here, in
this sea, I consecrate myself to God as
my chief good :^to Him, as my heavenly
Father, infinitely kind and tender of his
children ; — tb him, as my kind and mer
ciful Redeemer, by whose blood and nier-
its alone I do hope for salvation ; — to him,
as; the beneficent renewer and sanctifier bf
the saved. I implore the forgiveness of
my nutrierous and aggravated transgres
sions ; and Task, that my remaining tirine
and strength may be employed for the
glory of God, my portion, and for the
good of his creatures." In his last
hours his hope of forgiveness and salva
tion was undiminished and unshaken.
He said, " I wish in these dying words
to recognize the great Redeemer as
the Savior frora sin and hell. — And I re
cognize the Great Spirit of God as trie
renovator of God's elect." When it was
said to him, " you will soon see Jesus ;"
he exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful,
wonderful glory ! We cannot understand
— we cannot comprehend — wonderful
glory I — I wfll praise,I will praise him ! Je
sus reigns." This was no feverisTi ex-
citement,nor dream of enthusiasm; but the
vision of a dying believer. Mr. Evarts'
character has been deUneated in printed
discourses by Dr, Woods and Dr. Spring,

EVEREST.

EWING.

383

In the management of the important in
terests, with which he was intrusted, he
manifested a scrupulous integrity. He
combined with a sound judgraent the ar
dor, requisite for the accorapUshment of
"great designs. His piety and extensive
knowledge of theology and his accordance
with the settled orthodoxy of New Eng
land secured to him the confidence ofthe
churches in a degree seldom obtained by
one, not specially trained for the ministry
of the gospel. Free frora self sufficiency
and pride, he sought the counsel of his
associates; and especially he with habit
ual devotion sought the guidance and
blessing of God. Though humble he
was yet resolute and determined and per
severing. Having enlarged views and a
vigorous mind, he was not disheartened
by difficulties and opposition. Feeble in
health with a thin, slender frame, and
destitute of oratorical action, he yet in
his pubUc addresses arrested attention and
produced effect, for his conceptions were
clear and his language perspicuous and
forcible. His industry was untiring. Be
sides his labors in editing the Panoplist,
he wrote the ten annual reports of the
American Board frora 1821 to 1830, the
last of which contains a most weighty
and valuable discussion on the futrire
growth of this country and the means of
preserving it from ruin. His essays, 24
in number, on the rights and claims of
the Indians under the signature of Wil
liam Penn, were published in 1829 ; and
he subsequently wrote various other pie
ces on the same subject, one of which is
an article in the N.American review. He
edited the volume of speeches on the In
dian biU and wrote the introduction. —
Wood's ^ Spring's sermons; Miss, her
ald, Od Nov. 1831.
EVEREST, Solomon, a physician,
diedat Canton, Con. in July 1822. He
bequeathed 10,000 dollars to religibus and
missionary purposes. ' /
EVERETT, Oliver, minister in Bos
ton, was graduated at Harvard college in
1779, and was ordained pastor of the
church in summer street, as successor of
Mr. Howe, Jan. 2,1782. After a ministry

often years, and after having apquired a
high reputation for the extraordiary pow
ers Ofhis mind, the state ofhis health in
duced him to ask a dismission from his
people in 1792. 'He was succeeded in
1794 by Mr. Kirkland. Afterwards he
was appointed ajudge ofthe court of com
mon pleas for the county of Norfolk.
He died at Dorchester Nov. 19, 1802,
aged 49. Two of his sons are Alexander
H. and Edward Everett.
EVEREiTT, David, editor of the
Boston Patriot, was born at Princeton,
Mass., and graduated at Dartmouth col
lege in 1795, and engaged in the profes
sion of the law in Boston. In 1809 he
comraenced the Patriot, in which John
Adaras in a series of letters gave, a history
of his poUtical career. In 1811 he was
appointed register of probate ; but a rev
olution in politics deprived hira of his of^
fice. In Sept. 1812 he coraraenced the
Pilot, a paper devoted to Dewitt Clinton.
Removing soon to Marietta to edit a pa
per, he died there Dec. 21, 1813, aged
44. He published Common sense in
Dishabille,or the Farmer's monitor, 1799 ;
Daranzel, a tragedy, 1800 ; essay on the
rights and duties of nations ; Junius
Americanus in B. gazette in defence of
J. Adams. — Spec. A. poet. ii. 113.
EWING, John, d. d., minister in Phil
adelphia, and provost of the college in
that city, was born in East Notting
ham, Maryland, June 22, 1732.
His classical studies were begun under
Dr. AUison, with whom, after finishing
the usual studies, he remained three years
as a tutor. He was gradiiated at Prince
ton college 1752, and afterwards accepted
the appointment ofa tutor. Having re
solved by divine permission to become a
minister of the gospel, he pursued his
theological studies under the direction of
Di-i Allison. At the age of 26 he was
employed as the instructer of the philo
sophical classes in the coflege of Philadel
phia during the absence of Dr. Smith,
who was then provost. In 1758 he ac
cepted an Unanimous call from the first
presbyterian church in Philadelphia, of
which he continued a minister tfll his

384

EWING.

FAUGERES.

death. In 1773, he was sent to Great
Britain to solicit benefactions for the acad
emy of Newark in Delaware. He was
every where received with respect. A-
mong his acquaintances and friends were
Dr. Robertson, Dr. Webster, Mr. Bal
four, and Dr. Blacklock. In 1775 he re
turned to America; as the revolution was
commencing, notwithstanding the most
tempting offers, which were made to in
duce him to remain in England. In 1779
he was elected provost ofthe university
of Pennsylvania. To this station, which
he held till his death, he brought large
stores of information and a paternal ten
derness toward the youth, who were
committed to his care'. He died Sept.
8, 1802, aged 70, having , been a
minister more than forty years. During
his last sickness no murmur escaped his
lips, and he was patient and resigned to
the wiU ofhis heavenly Father. His col
league. Dr. Linn, survived him. In all
the tranches of science and Uterature,
usually taught in colleges, he was uncom-
monlyaccurate,and in his mode of commu
nicating information on the most abstruse
and intricate subjects he was seldom sur
passed. His qualifications as a minister
of the gospel were many and eminent.
Science was with him a handmaid to reli
gion. He was mighty in the scriptures.
His own investigation confirmed him in.
his belief of the doctrines of grace, which
he endeavored to impress upon the hearts
of his people. His sermons were written
with great accuracy and care, in a style
always perspicuous, and generally sober
and temperate, though sometimes orna
mented. Mere declamation was never
heard from his lips.— His deportment was
easy and affable. He had a freeness of
salutation, which sometimes surprised the
stranger ; but which was admired by those,
who knewhim,asitproceededfrbm an open
and honest heart. His talents in conver
sation were remarkably entertaining. He
could unbend from severer studies arid
become the companion of innocent mirth,
and of happy gaiety. Perfectly -free ftom
pedantry, he could accommodate himself
to the most unlettered. His talent of

narration was universally admired. — An
extract ofhis sermon on the death of Dr.
AlUson is in the assembly's magazine. He
published also a sermon on the death of
GeOrge Bryan, 1791 ; the design of
Christ's coming into the world, in the
American preacher, n ; and several
communications in the transactions ofthe
American philosophical society. His lec
tures on natural philosophy were publish
ed, 1809. — Linn's fun. serm.; Assembly's
miss. mag. i. 409 — 414, 458 ,• Miller, n.
372; Holmes, n. 424.
FAIRFAX, Brian, minister of the
episcopal church in Alexandria; Virginia,
died at mount Eagle, near Cameron,
Aug. 7, 1802, aged 75. He' was a man
of upright principles, of unfeigned piety,
and of simple manners. His long illness
he bore with resignation. He pubUshed
a sermon on the forgetfulness pf our sins,
in Amer. preacher, vol. i.
FAIRMAN, Gideon, colonel, an en
graver, died at Philadelphia March 18,
1827, aged 51. He and the late Geo.
Murray contributed more than any other
persons, to elevate the beautiful art of
engraving in this country. Richard
Fairman, also an engraver, died at Phila
delphia in Dec. 1821, aged 34.
FANEUIL, Peter, founder of Faneuil
hall in Boston, died March 3, 1743.. He
possessed a large estate and he employed
it in doing good. Whfle his charities
were, extensive, his liberal spirit induced
him to present to the town of Boston a
stately edifice for the accommodation of
the inhabitants at their pubUc meetings.
FAUGERES, Margaretta V., distin
guished for her Uterary accomplishments,
was the daughter of Ann Eliza Bleecker,
and was born about the year 1771. The
first years of her life were spent with her
parents in the retired village of Tomhanic,
about 18 miles above Albany. Here
through the instructions of her mother
her mind was much cultivated, but the
loss of this excellent parent at an age,
when her cbunsels were of the utmost
importance, was'irreparable. Mr. Bleeck
er after the termination ofthe war remo
ved to New York, and as his daughter

FAUQUIER.

FENWICK.

885

grew up, saw her engaging in her man
ners, lively and witty, of an equal and
sweet temper, and diffusing cheerfulness
around her. Of her admirers she placed
her affections upon one of a dissipated
character, and, notwithstanding the most
earnest remonstrances of her fathei', she
in 1792 married Peter Faugeres, a phy
sician in New York. It was not long,
before she perceived the folly of having
been governed by passion rather than'by
reason ; and her disregard of paternal ad
vice and preference of external accomplish
ments to correct morals and the virtues
ofthe heart overwhelmed her with trou
ble. In three or four years the ample
fortune, which she had brought to her
husband, was entirely expended. Before
the death of her father in 1795 his affec
tion shielded her from many evils ; but
in the summer of 1796 she was glad tp
procure a residence in a garret with the
author of her woes and one child. Mr.
Faugeres fell a -victim to the yellow
fever in tiie autumn of 1798, and she
soon afterwards engaged as an assistant
in an academy for young ladies at New
Brunswick. For this statipn she was
pecuUariy qualified by the variety of her
taleats and the sweetness of her temper.
In about a year she removed to Brooklyn,
where she undertook the education ofthe
children of several families. Her decli
ning health having rendered her incapa
ble of this employment, she was received
by a friend in New York, whose atten
tions were pecuUariy grateful, as she was^
sinking into the grave. She was resign
ed to the will of God, and, cheered by
the truths of religion, she died in peace
Jan. 9, 1801, aged 29. She had a taste
for poetry, and many ofthe productions
of her pen were published in the N. Y.
magazine and the Amer. museura. In
1793 she pubhshed, prefixed to the works
of Mrs. Bleecker, her mother, memoir^
of her Ufe ; and several of her own essays
were annexed to the volume. She pub
lished in 1795 or 1796 Belisarius, a trag
edy. FAUQUIER, Francis, governor of
Virginia from 1758 to 1767, succeeded
49

Dinwiddle, and was succeeded by Bote
tourt. He was well educated ; had fine
talents ; sustained an excellent character;
and proved himself a friend of religion,
science, and liberty. His administra
tion was very popular. He died March
3, 1768.— Lempr.
FAY, David, judge, died at Benning
ton in June 1827, aged 66. He was en
gaged, in the battle of Bennington and
was among the first to mount the Hes
sian breast work. He had been adjutant:
general, attorney for theU.,S., and judge
ofthe supreme court of Vermont, and
judge of probate.
FELLOWS, John, brigadier general,
a soldier of the revolution, was born at
Ppmfret, Con., and resided at Shef
field, Mass. He commanded in 1775
one of the two regiments !of minute men,
constituted by the patriotic citizens of
Berkshire, and after the battle of Lexing-
,ton marched to the neighborhood of
Bbston : John Patterson commanded the
other regiment. He was for several
years high sheriff of Berkshire, and died
Aug. 1, 1808, aged 73.
FENNELL, James, a theatrical per
former, -was born in London in 1766, and
destined for the church. In 1793 he
came to this country, and acquired fame
as an actor. At Boston he taught read
ing and elocution. ^Like Cooke, hedied
adrunkard, at Philadelphia, in June 1816.
He published an apology for his life, 2
vols. 1814. .
, FENNER, Arthur, , go.vernor of R.
Island, succeeded Mr. Collins in 1789 and
was succeeded by James Fenner in 1807.
He was the son of Arthur Feriner, and
died at Providence Oct. 15, 1805, aged
60. FENWICK, George, proprietor of a
part of Cbnnecticut, came to this country
in 1636, having purchased the plantation
of Saybrook fort and was " a good en-
courager to the church of Christ at Hart
ford." He returned to England ; but
came again to this country and arrived at
New Haven July 15, 1639 with his lady
and famfly, and commenced the settle
ment at Saybrook, so called in I'emem-

386

FESSENDEN.

FINLEY.

brance of lords Say and Brook, who with
Others claimed the tei-ritory by grant of
Robert, earl of Warwick. Mr. Fenwick
was their agent He spld his rights to
the Connecticut government Dec. 5,
1644, and it was stipulated, that he
should teceivp for ten years a certain
duty on exports from the mouth of the
river. The colony paid him 1600/. for
the old patent. He died in 1657. His
wife died at Saybrook, where her monu
ment remains to the present day near the
fort, but, it being of sandstone, the in
scription is effaced. — Dwight, n. 519.
FESSENDEN, Thomas, minister of
Walpole, N.H., a descendant, als others of
the name are,of Nicholas F. of Cariibridge,
graduated in 1758 and died May 1813,
aged 74, in the 47th of his ministry. He
pubUshed a theoretic explanation of the
science of sanctity, 8vo. 1804 ; and the
Boston self-styled gentlemen reviewers
reviewed, 1806.
FEW, William, colonel, a patriot of
the revolution, was borri in Maryland in
1748, and, residing in Georgia, was in
1796 a member of the convention, which
framed the constitution ofthe state. He
soon distinguished himself in several ac
tions with the British and Indians. Au
gusta being recovered, he in 1780 was
sent a delegate to congress, and remained
in that body till the peace ; and was again
appointed in 1786. The next year he
assisted in forming the national constitu-'
tion. He resided in his last years in the
city of New York, and died at Fislflcill in
July 1828, aged 81.
FIELD, Richard, a physician and se
nior editor ofthe Petersburg IntelUgencer,
studied at Edinburgh. He died in Bruns
wick County, Va., May 23, 1829, aged
61. As a physician he was skilful and
as a botanist none exceeded him in the
knowledge ofthe plants of Virginia. He
was a member of 3 electoral colleges and
voted for Jefferson and Madison as pres
ident. FINDLEY, William, a member of
congress, came in early Ufe from Ireland.
In the revplution he engaged vfith zeal in
the cause pf his adopted country ; at the

close of the war he removed to the west
ern part of Penns. He was a member
of the convention, which in 1789 framed
the new constitution of Penns. ; and a
member of congress in 1812. He died at
Unity township, Greensburg, Apr. 5,
1821, aged upwards of 70. In his pol
itics he opposed the administration of J.
Adams and supported Mr. Jefferspn. , In
his religion he belonged to the class of
"old dissenters" of the Scotch reforma
tion. He published a review ofthe fund
ing system, 1794 ; a history ofthe insur
rection of the 4 westerri counties of
Penns. &c., 1796 ; observations on the
two sons of oil, vindicating religious
liberty against Rev. Samuel B. Wylie,
1812. FINLEY, Samuel, d. d., president of
the coUege of New Jersey, was born of
pious parents in the county of Armagh
in Ireland in the year 1715, and was one
of seven sons, who were all pious. Very
early iri life it pleased God to awaken and
convert him. He first heard a sermon,
when he was six years old, and from that
time resolved tp be a minister. He left
his native country at the, age of eighteen,
and arrived at Philadelphia, September
28, 1734. After his arrival he spent
several years in completing his studies.
Having been licensed to preach in
Aug. 1740, he was ordained Oct. 13th
by the presbytery of New Brunswick.
The first part ofhis ministry was spent in
fatiguing, itinerant labors. He contribu
ted his efforts with Gilbert Tennent and
Mr. Whitefield in promoting the revival
of religion, which was at that period
so remarkable througriout this country.
His benevolent zeal sometimes brought
him into unpleasant circumstances. The
legislature of Connecticut had made a law,
prohibiting itinerants from entering par
ishes, in which a minister was settled, un
less by his consent. For preaching to a
presbyterian congregation in New Haven
Mr. Finley was in consequence of this
law seized by the civfl authority, and car
ried as a vagrant out ofthe colony. But
persecution could not shake him from
his purpose c»f being occupied in preach-

FINLEY.

887

Ing the everlasting gospel. His exertions
were greatly blessed in a number of towns
in New Jersey, and he preached for six
months with great acceptance in Phila
delphia. In June 1744 he accepted an
invitation from Nottingham, Maryland,
where he continued near 7 years faithful
ly and successfully discharging the duties
of his office. Here he estabUshed an acad
emy, which acquired great reputation.
Under his instruction many youths re
ceived the rudiments of learning, and
correc^ moral sentiments, which have
since contributed much towards render
ing them the most useful merabers of so
ciety. Upon the death of president Da
vies Mr. Finley vvas chosen his succes
sor. It was with reluctance, that he left
a people, so much endeared to him, and
with whom he had so long lived iri friend
ship. He removed to Princeton in Ju
ly 1761 and entered upon the duties of
his new office. The coflege ffourished
under his care ; but it enjoyed the benefit
of his superintendence for but a few years.
He died ofan affection of the liver at Phfla
delphia, whither he had gone for medical
assistance, July 17 1766, aged 50, and
was buried by the side ofhis friend, Gil
bert Tennent. His first wife,who died- in
,1760, was Sarah HaU, by whom he had 8
children ; his second wife was Ann Clark-
son, daughter of Mat. Clarkson, mer
chant of N. York. She survived him 41
years. His son, Ebenezer Finley, was
a physician in Charleston, S. C. His
daughter married Samuel Breeze of N.
Jersey and was the mother of the wife of
Rev. Dr. Morse.
In his reUgious opinions he was a Calvin
ist. His sermons were not hasty produc
tions, but the result of study, and filled
with good sense and well digested senti
ment, expressed in a style pleasing to the
man of science, yet perfectly intelligible
by the flhterate. He was remarkable for
sweetness of temper and polite behavior,
hospitable, charitable, and diUgent in the
performance ofthe various duties oflife.
During his last sickness he was perfect^
ly resigned to the divine will ; he had a
strtHig faith in hie Savior ; and he fre

quently expressed an earnest desire of de
parting, that he might dwell with the
Lord Jesus. A short time before his
death he sat up, arid prayed earnestly,
that God would enable him to endure pa
tiently to the end, and keep him from dis
honoring the ministry. He then said,
" blessed be God, eternal rest is at hand.
Eternity is but long enough to enjoy my
God. This, this has animated me in my
severest studies ; I was ashamed to take
rest here. O, that I might be filled with
the fulness of God ! " He then addressed
himself to all his friendsin the room, " O,
that each of you may experience what,
blessed be God, I do, when you come to
die ; may you have the pleasure in a dy
ing hour to reflect, that with faith and
patience, zeal and sincerity you have en
deavored to serve the Lord ;' and rriay
each of you be impressed, as I ha-ve been,
wit"h God's word, looking upon it as sub
stantial, and not only fearing but being
unwilling to offend against it. " On be
ing asked how he felt, he repUed, " full
of triumph I I triumph through Christ !
Nothing clips my wings, but the thougrits
of iriy dissolution b,eing delayed. O,
that it were to riight ! My very sbul
thirsts for eternal rest. " When hewas
asked, what he saw in eternity' to excite
such vehement desires, he said, " I see
the eternal love and goodness of Gbd ; I
see the fulness of the mediator ; I see the
love of Jesus. O, to be dissolved and
to be - with him ! ' I lorig to be
clothed with the complete righteous
ness of Christ. " Thus this excellent
man died in the full assurance of salvation.
He pubUshed a sermon on Matthew
XII. 28, entitled; Christ triumphing and
satan raging, preached at Nottingham,
1741 ; a refutation of Mr. Thomson's
sermori on the doctrine of convictions,
174S ; satan stripped of his evangeli
cal robe, against the Moravians, 1743 ;
a charitable plea for the speechless in an- ,
swer to Abel Mbrgan's anti-pedo-raiitiSm"
1747 ; a vindication of the preceding,
1748 ; a sermon at the ordination of John
Rodgers at St. George's, March 16,1749;
a sermon ori the death ofpiesident Davies,

888

FINLEY.

prefixed to his works; the curse of Mc-
roz, or the danger of neutraUty inthe
cause of God and our country, 1757.—
Assem.miss. mag. 1.71—77 ; Panoplist, i.
281— 286 ; and new series, i. 241 —
257 ,• Cliristian's mag. i. 301 — S07,
4197—436 ; Massa. miss. mag. iv. 241 —
247 ; Green's disc. 356-886.
FINLEY, Robert, d. d., president of
the university of Georgia, was born at
Princeton in 1772, and graduated at
Pririceton coUege in 1787. From 1793
tp 1795 he was a tutor, and a trustee from
1807 till 1817, when he resigned. He was
the minister of Basking-Bridge,N.Jersey,
from Jurie 1795 until 1817. Deeply in-
tereiited in the welfare of the free blacks,
he formed a plan of sending them to
Africa and may be considered as the fa
ther ofthe Colonization society. In Dec.
1816 he went to Washington, and suc
ceeded in calling a meeting of gentlemen
Dec. 21, at which addresses were made
by Mr. Clay and Mr. Randolph. The
next week a constitution was adopted
and judge Washington chosen president.
On his return Dr. Finley caused the es
tablishment of an auxilary society at
Trenton. Being at this period chosen
president of FrankUn college, at Athens,
Georgia, he repaired to that plape in 1817,
and in a few months died there Oct. 3,
1817, aged 45, leaving a wife and 9 chil
dren. He published several sermons. —
Memoirs of Finley.
FIRMIN, Giles, a physician, was
born in Suffolk, and educated at Cam
bridge, England. His father of the same
name was chosen deacon in Boston in
1 633. He came himself to this country as
early as 1 634. He Settled at Ipswich,where
in 1638 he had a grant of 120 acres of
land. He married the daughter of Rev.
Nathaniel Ward. About the end of the
civil wars he returned to England, and
his family followed him. Ordained as the
riiinister of Shalford, he there faithfuUy
preached the gospel, until he was ejected
in 1662. Retiring to the village of
Redgwell, 7 or 8 miles distant, he prac
tised physic and continued to preach,
having a vigorous constitution, to the

FISK.
last sabbath ofhis life. He died in April
1697, aged upwards of 80. He was a man
of leami'ng,Of peace, and ofa public spirit.
Calamy gives a catalogue ofhis writings,
among which are the schism ofthe paro
chial congregations in England and ordi
nation, with an examination, of Owen,
and of Noyes' argument against impos
ing hands, 1658; and the real christian,
1670. — Calamy's aed n. 295.
FISHER, Nathaniel, episcopal minis
ter, Salem, was born at Dedham in 1742 ;
graduated in 1763; and ordained in 1776
for a church in Nova Scotia. He went to
Salem in 1781 and died Dec. 22, 1812, on
the sabbath, after preaching from the
text, "how long have I to live.'" A
volume ofhis sermons was pubUshed,8vo.
1818. FISHER, Myers, a lawyer at Phila
delphia, and a quaker, died March 12,
1819, aged 71. He was a man of science
arid an eloquent otator. He pubUshed
an answer to Paine's age of reason.
FISHER, Alexander M., professor of
mathematics in Yale coUege, was born
in FrankUn, iVIass., in 1794, and gradua
ted at Yale college in 1813, For awhUe
he studied theology at Andover. He was
appointed professor in 1817 as successor
of Mr. Day, elected president. Anxious
to enlarge his knowledge of the science,
to which he was devoted, he determined
to make a voyage to Europe. He accor
dingly sailed in the packet ship Albion,
which was wrecked on the coast of Ire
land April 22, 1822 ; and he was among
those, who were lost, He died at the
age of 28, and was succeeded by Mr.
Dutton. With a genius for mathemati
cal inquiry be had made great advances
in the higher branches of mathematics.
Some of his investigations were publish
ed in SilUman's journal.
FISK, Pliny, a missionary, was born
at Shelburne, Mass., June 24, 1792. At
the age of 16 he became pious. He was
graduated at Middlebury college in 1814.
In his indigence he lived 2 years on bread
and milk ; nor was he ashamed to carry
his corn to mill upon his shoulders. A
good woman baked his loaf for him.

FISKE.

FITCH.

889

Having studied theology at Andover,
where he was one of the " group of
stars," commemorated by Wilcox, he
was employed as an agent for the board
of foreign missions one year, and then
safled for Palestine with Mr. Parsons
Nov. 3, 1819. On arriving at Smyrna
Jan. 15, 1820, they engaged in the study
of the eastern languages ; but in a few
months removed to , Scio, in order to
study modem Greek under professor
Bambas. The college at Scio then had
7 or 800 students. But in 1821 the isl
and was desolated by the barbarous
Turks. In 1822 he accompanied to
Egypt his feUow laborer, Mr. Parsons,
and witnessed his death and buried him
in the Greek convent. From Egypt he
proceeded in April 1823 through the de
sert to Judea, accompanied by Mr. King
and Mr. Wolff. Having visited Jerusa
lem, he went to Beyroot, Balbec, Damas
cus, Aleppo, and Antioch. He raade a
third visit to Jerusalem with Mr.
King. When he withdrew from
Jerusalem in the spring of 1825, he
retired to the mission family of Mr.
Goodell and Mr. Bird at Beyroot,
where he died of a prevaiUng feyer Sab
bath morning, Oct. 23, 1825, aged 33.
He was eminently qualified to be a mis
sionary in the east. He was a preacher
in Italian, French, Modem Greek, and
Arabic. He had been employed in pre
paring a dictionary in EngUsh and Ara
bic, and on the day of his seizure by
his sickness he had put down against the
last letter of the EngUsh alphabet the
last word, 'which he knew in Arabic.
His various communications are found in
several volumes ofthe Missionary herald.
— Bond's memoir af Fisk.
FISKE, John, first minister of Wen
ham and Chelmsford, Mass. was born in
England in 1601, and was educated at
Cambridge. . He came to this country in
1637, and being in the same ship with
John Allen, they preached two sermons
alraost every day during the vpyage.
He was for some time the teacher of a
school at Cambridge. As his property
was large, he made considerable loans tp

the province. He lived almost three
years at Salem, preaching to the church,
and instructing a number of young per
sons. When a church was gathered in
Enon, or Wenham, Oct. 8, 1644, he
was settled the minister, and here he con
tinued till about the year 1656, when he
removed to Chelmsford, then anew town,
with the raajority ofhis church. Having
been an able and useful preacher in this
place twenty years, he died Jan. 14,
1677. He was a skilful physician, as
well as an excellent minister. His son,
Moses, was minister of Braintree.
Among the severest afflictions, to which
he was called, says Dr. Mather, was the
loss of his concordance ; that is, of his
wife, who was so expert in the scriptures,
as to render any other concordance unne
cessary. He published a catechism, enti
tled, the olive branch watered.-Magnalia,
ni. 141-143 ; Hist col vi. 239, 249.
FISKE, Nathan, d. d., minister of
Brookfield, Mass. was born in Weston
Sept. 20, 1733. He was graduated at
Harvard coUege in 1754, and ordained
pastor ofthe church in the third parish in
Brookfield May 28, 1158. Here he con
tinued more than 40 years. After preach
ing on the Lord's day. Now 2-V1799,
he retired to his bed at his usual hour in
apparent health, and in a short time died
without a struggle, aged 66. By inces
sant study he gradually perfected his
talents, and gained the public esteem.
In prosperity and adversity he possessed
the. same serenity of mind. With a
small salary he found means to practise a
generous hospitality, and to give three
sons a collegial education. He pubUshed
a sermon on the settlement and growth
of Brookfield, delivered Dec. 31, 1775 ;
at a fast, 1776 ; on the death of Joshua
Spooner, 1778; of judge Foster, 1779;
of J. Hobbs, 1784 ; an oration on the
capture of Cbrnwallis, Oct. 1781 ; ser-
irions on various subjects, Svo. 1794;
Dudleian lecturfe, 1796 ; the nioral moni
tor, 2vok 12mo. 1801. — Pref. to moni
tor; Monthly an<^ofc-*.-639.
FITCH, James, first minister bfSay-
bropk and of Norwich, Con., was born

B90

FITCH.

FLINN.

In the county pf Essex, England, Dec.
24, 1622, and came to this country in
1638. He had already acquired a correct
knowledge ofthe learned languages ; but
he spent seven years under the instruc
tion of Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone. In
1646 he was ordained over a church,
which was at that time gathered at Say
brook, and it is said, that the brethreri's
hands only were imposed. In 1660 he
removed with the greater part of his
church to Norwich, and in that town
passed the remaining active days of his
life. When the infirmities of age obliged
him to cease from his public labors, he re
tired to his children at Lebanon, where he
died Nov. 18, 1702, aged 79. By his
first wife Abigail, daughter of Rev. Hen
ry Whitefield, he had two sons, James
and Samuel, and 4 daughters ; by his se
cond wife Priscilla, daughter of maj. John
Mason of Norwich, he had 7 sons, Dan
iel, John, Jeremiah,and Jabez,Nathaniel,
Joseph, and Eleazer, and 1 daughter ;
and all Uved to have families, excepting
Eleazer. His brother, Thomas of Nor
walk, was the father of gov. Tho. Fitch.
He was distinguished for the penetration
ofhis mind, the energy of his preaching,
and the sanctity of his life. He was ac
quainted with the Mohegan language,
and preached the gospel of salvation to the
Indians in the neighborhood of Norwich.
He even gave some of his own lands
to induce them to renounce their savage
manner of living. The descendants of
those Indians at Mohegan, for whose
benefit he toiled, have recently been in
structed in religion by some self-denying
christians ; have had a meetinghouse
built for them by the liberality ofthe cit
izens of Norwich and other towns ; and
have received an appropriation from the
war department of a few hundred doHars.
A letter ofhis on the subject of his mis
sionary labors is pubUshed in Gookin. —
Mather's magna, in. 200 ; Trumbull's
Con, I. 107, 299, 502, 503 ; Hist col i.
208 ; IX. 86 ; Alden's ace, of Ports
mouth, FITCH, Jabez, minister of Ports
mouth, N. H., was the son of the prece

ding, arid was born at Norwich in April
1672. He was graduated at Harvard
college in 1694. In 1703 he was ordain
ed at Ipswich as colleague of John Rog
ers. On account of the incompetency of
his maintenance he withdrew from his
pastoral office in Dec. 1723, and about
the year 1725 was established at Ports
mouth. After continuing here more
than twenty years he died Nov. 22, 1746,
aged 74. He had a taste for historical
researches, and began in 1728 tp make a
collection bf facts relative to New Hamp
shire. Dr. Belknap had access to his
papers. He published a sermon, occa
sioned by the great earthquake, Oct. 29,
1727; at the ordination of John Tucke
at Gosport, isle of Shoals, in 1732, from
these words, " I will make you fishers of
men ;" two sermons designed to make a
religious improvement of the throat dis
temper, which prevailed in 1735 and
1736 ; and an account of that dis
ease, as it appeared in New Hamp
shire. — Alden's ace ofsociet, in Ports
mouth; Hist, col, vn, 251, 257; x. 50.
FITZHUGH, William Henry, vice
president of the Colonization society, the
son of Wifliam F., a patriot of the revo
lution, was born at Chatham, Stafford
county, Va., March 8,1792, and graduated
at Princeton college in 1808. He after
wards settled on the patrimonial domain of
Ravensworth, Fairfax county, devoting
himself to agricultural pursuits and re
ceiving with generous hospitality his riu
merous friends. He died at Cambridge,
Maryland, ofthe apoplexy. May 21,1830,
aged 38. His wife was the daughter of
Cha. Goldsborough of Dorset,Maryland.
He pubUshed in favor ofthe colonization
society the essays of Opimius in -the
Richmond Inquirer of 1826 ; a speech at
the 9th anniversary ; and a review of
Tazewell's report in Afric. repos. Aug.
and Nov. 1828. In one of his writings he
represents, "that the labor of the slave is
a curse on the land, on which it is expen
ded." — Afric repas,vi, 91-96.
FLINN, Atidrew, d. d., minister of
Charieston, S. C, had been previously
the minister of Camden Seven or eight

FLINT.

FOLGER.

S91

years, and removed to Charleston about
1808. He died Feb. 25, 1820, rejoicing
in the hope of eternal life. As a minister
he was faithful and zealous. He publish
ed a sermon on the death of judge Wilds,
1810 ; a dedication sermon, 1811.
FLINT, Henry, one ofthe first minis
ters of Braintree, Mass., was ordained as
teacher March 17, 1640. When the
church was first organized Sept. 16,1639,
he was chosen colleague with Mr.
Thompson, who was ordained pastor
Sept. 24th ; but his settlement was de
layed for a few months. He died April
27, 1668, aged 68, and his colleague
died in the month of December fol
lowing. He was a man of piety and
integrity, and well qualified for the work
of the ministry. His wffe was Margery,
sister of President Hoar. His son, Jbsiah
FUnt, was settled at Dorchester in 1671
and died in 1680. — Magnalia, ni. 122;
Hancock's cent. serm. ; Morton; 200,
Winthrop, 188; Holmes.
FLINT, Henry, tutor and fellow of
Harvard college, was the son of Josiah
Flint of Dorchester, and received his de
gree of bachelor of arts in 1693. Hewas
chosen a fellow of trip college in 1700,
and in 1705 was appointed tutor. This
office he sustained till his resignation Sept.
25, 1754. He died Feb. 13, 1760, aged
84. Many of the most eminent men in
the country were educated under his
care. Dr. Chauncy pronounces him a
solid, judicious man, and one of the best
of preachers. The few foibles, which he
exhibited, were ascribed to his Uving in a
sirigle state. In his last illness he viewed
the approach of deith with perfect calm
ness, for he trusted in the mercy pf God
through the merits of Christ. He pub
lished an appeal to the consciences of a de
generate people, a sermon preached at the
Thursday lecture in Boston, 1729; a ser
mon to the students in the college hall,
1736; bratio funebris in obitura B. Wads
worth, 1738; twenty serraons,8vo.l739.
— Appleton' s fun. serm. ; Lovell's oratio
funeb. ; Hist, col ix. 183 ; x. 165.
FLOYD, WilUam, general, was the
son of Niooll F., an opulent landholder,

whose ancestors came from Wales and
settled on Long Island. He was born
Dec. ,17, 1734. His education was im
perfect ; but he acquired much knowledge
by intercourse with the intelUgent. He
was a delegate to the congress of 1774
and continued a member tiU after the de
claration of independence. When the
British took possession of Long Island,
his family fled for safety to Connecticut ;
his house was occupied by troops ; and
for nearly seven years he was an exile
from his dwelUng and derived no benefit
from his landed estate. In Oct. 1778 he
was again a member of congress, and
was frequently a member of the legisla
ture of the state. In 1784 he purchased
a tract of land at Western, Oneida coun
ty, on the Mohawk ; and this, by the la
bor ofseveral summers, he converted into
a good farm, to which he removed his
family in 1803. He died Aug. 4, 1821,
aged 86. He left a widow and chfldren.
Three ofthe signers ofthe declaration of
independence survived him. His man
ners were not familiar, nor was his dispo
sition affable ; yet in public life he was
patriotic and independent, and for more
than 50 years was honored with the con
fidence ofhis fellow citizens. — Goodrich's
lives. FOBES, Perez, li,. d., professor of
mathematics, was graduated at Harvard
coUege in 1762, and ordained minister of
Raynham Nov. 19, 1766. In 1786 he
was elected professor of the college in R.
Island. He died Feb. 23, 1812, aged 70.
His wife was the daughter John Wales,
minister of Raynham. He pubUshed a
history of Raynham ; serraon on death of
president Manning, 1791; election ser
mon, 1795.
FOLGER, Peter, was theson of John
F. of Norwich, England ; was born in
1618 ; and came to this country in 1635.
He settled at Martha's Vineyard in 1635,
and removed to Nantucket in 1662. He
married Mary MorriU. , He is described
as an "¦ able, godly Englishman, who
was employed in teaching the youth in
reading, writing, andthe principles of re
ligion, by catechising." His daughter,

S92

FOLSOM.

FOSTER.

Abiah, was the mother of Benjamin
FrankUn. The time of his death has
not been ascertained." His small poem
was finished April 23, 1676, and bears
the title of "A Looking-glass for the
Times." According to FrankUn, " the
author addresses himself to the governors
for the time being ; speaks for liberty of
conscience, and in favor of the Anabap
tists, Quakers, and other sectaries, who
had suffered persecution. To this perse
cution he attributes the war with the na
tives, and other calamities, which afflic
ted the country, regarding them as the
judgments of God in punishment of so
odious an offence ; and he exhorts the
government to the repeal of laws so con
trary to charity. The poem appeared to
be written with a manly freedom and a
pleasing simplicity."
Of the simplicity, the following is a
specimen ; — the four last Unes are quoted
erroneously by Dr. FrankUn: —
•'I am for peace and not for war.
And that's the reason why,
I write more plain, than some men do.
That use to daub and lie.
But I shall cease, and set my name
To what I here Insert ;
Because to be a libeller,
I hate it with my heart.
From Sherbontown, where now I dwell.
My name do I put here.
Without offence, your real friend.
It is Peter Folger."
FOLSOM, Nathaniel, general, a mera
ber of the first cbngress of 1774, died at
Exeter, N. H., in June 1790. In the
French war of 1755 he distinguished him
self at the capture of Dieskau. He was
a general of the miUtia. His earUest an
cestors in this country wrote the name
Foulshame. FORBES, Eli, D. D., rainister of
Brookfield and of Gloucester, Mass. was
born, in Westborough in Oct. 1726, and
entered Harvard college in 1744. In the
month of July of the following year he
W.HS demanded as a soldier, and he cheer
fully shouldered his musket and marched
more than a hundred miles to oppose the
French and Indians. Having been relea

sed by the interposition of his friends, he
returned to his studies with a sharpened
appetite, and was graduated in 1751. He
was ordained minister ofthe second parish
in Brookfield June 3, 1752. In the years
1758 and 1759 he was a chaplain in one
of the regiments. In 1762 he went
as a missionary to the Oneidas, one of
the six nations of Indians, and planted
the first christian church at Onaquagie,
on the river Susquehannah. Having es
tabUshed in this place a school for chil
dren and another for adults, he returned,
bringing with him four Indian chUdren,
whom he sent back again in a few years,
after furnishiDg them with such know
ledge, as would be useful to them. He
also brought with him a white lad, who
had become a complete savage ; but he
was civilized, and being educated at
Dartmouth college, where he received a
degree, was the agent of congress during
the revolutionary war,& was very useful.
Dr. Forbes, faUing under the groundless
suspicion of being a tory, requested a dis
mission from his people in March 1776,
and on the fifth of June was installed at
Gloucester. Here he died Dec. 15,1804,
aged 77. He published a family book,
and a number of single sermons, among
which are a thanksgiving sermon on the
conquest of Canada, 1761 ; an artiUery
election sermon, 1771; an account of
Joshua Eaton of Spencer, prefixed to
seven sermons of Mr. Eaton, and a fu
neral sermon on his death, 1772; a ser
mon on repairing his meetriig house,l792.
— Month, anthology, i. 669 ; Whitney's
hist. Worcester, 75 ; Chauncy's serm. at
or din. of J. Bowman; Piicataqua evan,
mag, II. 169-173; Assemb. miss, mag, i,
53, 54.
FORMAN, Wflliam a physician,
served as a surgeon's mate in the old
French war under Amherst; he -was
also a surgeon during the revolutionary
contest, and was patriotic and skflful.
He died at FishkiU, N. York, in July
1816, aged 78.
FOSTER, Jedidiah,justice ofthe su
perior court of Mass., was born in Ando
ver, Oct. 10, 1726, the son of Ephraim

FOSTER.

FOXCROFT.

393

F., and graduated at Harvard coUege in
1744. He soon established himself in
the town of Brookfield, and married a
daughter of gen. Dwight. His character
for integrity and talents procured him a
riumber of civil and miUtary offices. He
received his appointment of judge in 1776.
He was a member of the convention,
which framed the constitution of Mass.
He died Oct 17, 1779, aged 53. His
sons, Theodore and Dwight, were mem
bers of congress. He was early and firm
ly attached to the interest and freedom of
his country; in opposition to the despotic
measures ,of Great Britain, and never
once, in the most gloomy periods, was
heard to express a doubt of the ultimate
success of America. In early life he
made a profession of Christianity, and his
conduct was uniformly exemplary. —
Fiske' s. fun. serm.; Chronicle, Oct. 28,
1779. FOSTER, Benjamin, d. d., minister
in Ne\y York, was borri in Danvers,
Mass. June 12, 1750. Althpugh' early
inspired with the love of excellence, it
was not untfl after many conflicts, that
he obtained that peace, which the world
can neither give nor take away. He
was graduated at Yale coUege in 1774,
While a meriiber of thisinstitution'aconr
troversy respecting baptism" occupied
much ofthe public, attention, and, this
being thought a proper subject of discus
sion, Mr. Foster was appointed to de
fend infant baptism by sprinkling.. In
preparing himself fbr this disputation he
became convinced, that his former sen-
tiinents were erroneous; and he was after
wards a conscientious baptist. After
pursuing for some time the study Of (li-
vinity under the care of Dr. Stillman of
Boston, he was ord.ained minister of a
baptist church in Leicester Oct. 23,
1776. The want of a suitable main
tenance induced him in 1782 to ask a
dismission from his pepple ; after whiph
he preached about two. years in Danvers,
In Jan. 1785 he was called to the first
church in Newport ; and in the autumn
of 1788 removed to !New York, where he
was minister of the first baptist Churcfi
6J

till his dcatb. During the prevalence of
the yellow fever he did not shrink from
his duties as a faithful minister of Jesus
Christ. He visited the sick and dying,
and endeavored to impart to them the
hopes of religion. He fell a victim to
his benevolence Aug. 26, 1798, aged 48
years. He was distinguished for his ac
quaintance with the Greek, Hebrew, and
Chaldean languages. As a divine he
advocated with zeal the doctrine of sal
vation by free grace, and as a preacher
was indefatigable. His life was pure and
amiable, upright and benevolent. He
pubhshed,! while he Uved at Leicester,
the washing of regeneration, or the di
vine right of immersion,, in answer to a
treatiseof Mr. Fish, and primitive bap
tism defended, in a letter to John Cleave
land. He also published a dissertation on
the 70 weeks of Daniel. — Mass. miss.
mag. 1.30; Backus, ni, 174, 230; Ben
edict, n. SOl-4.
FOSTER, John, d. d., minister of
Brighton, Mass., was graduated at
Dartmouth college in 1783 and died in
Sept; 1829. His wife wrote the Cor
quette, a novel. He published a sermon
before a charitable society ; on the death
of Washington, 1799 ; of C. Winship,
1802; a sermon on infidelity, 1802; on
the installation of his brother, IS03 ; at a
fast, 1305 ; at artill. election ; at a dedi
cation, 1809; before the society for
propag. the gospel, 18^17. - -
FOWLE, Daniel, a printer in Boston,
was arrested in Oct 1754 by order ofthe
house of representatives on suspicion of
having printed "the monster of mon
sters," a pamphlet, reflecting on some of
its mensbers, and by the same authority
was committed to prison ariiongst thieves.
After a few days he was liberated. -Dis
gusted with such tyranny, he removed
to Portsmouth, and in 1756 commenced
the N. Hampshire gaziette. He died in
Jtine 1787, aged 72.— TAdmoss. i. 332,
-434.
- FOXCROFT, Thomas, minister iri
Boston, was theson of Frartcis Foxcroft,
of Cambridge,and was graduated at Har
vard college in 1714. His father, ,who

894

FOXCROFT.

FRANKLIN.

was a member of the church of England,
was desirous, that his son should be an
episcopal clergyman. This was also his
intention, till by diligent study and free
conversation with Nehemiah Walter of
Roxbury, a great reasoner and an em
inently pious man, he became convinced,
that- the congregational mode of worship
Was most agreeable to the scriptures.
He was ordained pastor of the first
church in Boston, as colleague with Mr.
Wadsworth,, Nov. 20, 1717. No min
ister was more universaUy admired.
None was accounted either a raore polite
and elegant, or a more devout and edi
fying preacher. His high reputation
continued till in his latej years the vigor
ofhis coristitutiori arid of his mind was
impaired by repeated sickness. Dr.
Chauncy was settled as his colleague in
1727. After a ministry of more than
half a century he died June 18, 1769,
aged 72. His son, Samuel, minister of
New Gloucester, died in March 1807,
aged 72. He was a learned diyine,
His powers of reasoning were strong,
and few had a greater command of
words. His religious sentiments were
strictly Calvinistic, and they were the
chief subjects of his preaching. He never
concealed or yielded them from the fear
of man, as he always sought the appro
bation of God. His addresses to the
consciences of his hearers were pungent.
He was, says Dr. Chauncy, a real, good
christian ; a partaker ofthe Holy Ghost ;
uniform in his walk with God in the way
of his commandments, though, instead
of trusting that he was righteous in the
eye of strict law, he accounted himself an
unprofitable servant ; fixing his depen
dence, not on his own worthiness, not
on any works of righteousness, which he
bad-done, but on the mercy pf God and
the atoning blood and perfect righteous
ness pf Jesus Christ His writings e-
vince a clearness of perception, .copious
ness of invention, Uveliness of imagina
tion, and soundness of judgment. They
bear testimony also to his unfeigned pie
ty. He published a sermon at his own
ordination, 1718 ; on kindness, 1720 ; pn

the death of his mother, 1721 ; of John
Coney, 1722; of dame Bridget Usher,
1723 ; of George I ; of Penn Townsend ;
of W. Waldron, 1727 ; of- John Wil
liams and Thomas Blowers, ' 1729 ; of
Benjamin Wadsvvorth, 1737; an essay on
the state of the dead, 1722 ; the day of
a godly man's death better than that of
his birth ; duty ofthe godly to be inter
cessors and reformers ; two sermons
shewing how to begin and end the year
after a godly sort ; God's face set against
an incorrigible people, 1724 ; at the or
dination of John Lowell, 1726 ; a dis
course preparatory tb the Choice of a
minister, 1727 ; on death ; on the earth
quake ; at the ordination of John Tay
lor, 1728 ; an answer to T. Barclay's
persuasive, a defence of presbyterian or
dination, ,1729; observations historical
and practical on the rise and primitive
state of New England, with special
reference to the firgt, church in Boston,
a century sermon, Aug. 23, 1730; pleas of
gospel impenitents refuted in two ser
mons, 1730 ; the divine right of deacons,
1731 ; to a young woman under sentence
of death, 1733 ; a sermon, occasioned by
the visits and labors of Mr. Whitefield,
1740 ; at a private familymeeting, 1742 ;
a preface to' Fleming's fulfilling of the
scripture, 1743 ; an apology for Mr.
Whitefield, 1745 ; Saints' united confes
sion in disparagement of their own
righteousness, 1750 ; like precious faith
obtained by all the true servants of
Christ, 1756 ; a thanksgiving sermon
for the poncjuest of Canada, 1760. —
Chauncy's fun. ser.; Mass. gaz., June
22, 1769 ; Chandler's life of Johnson,
70; Hist, col X. 164.
FRANCISCO, Henry, died near
Whitehall, State ofN. York, Nov. 1820,
aged 134. A native of England, be was
present a' the coronation of queen
Anne. He had Uved in this cpuntry 80
or 90, years, and served in the French
and revolutionary wars.
FRANKLIN, Benjamin, l l. p. a
philosopher and statesman, was born in
Boston Jan. 17, 1706. His father, Josi-
as, who was a native of England, was a

FRANKLIN.

395

soap boiler and tallow chandler in that
town. His mother was a daughter of
Peter Folger, the poet. At the age of
eight years he was sent to a grammar
school, but at the age often his father
required his services to assist him in his
business. Two years afterwards he was
bound as an apprentice to his brother,
James, who was a printer. In this em-
ployraent he raade great proficiency, and
having a taste for books he devoted much
of his leisure time to reading. So eager
was he in the pursuit of knowledge, that
he frequently passed the greater part of
the night in his studies. He became ex
pert in the Socratic mode of reasoning by
asking questions, and thus he sometimes
embarrassed persons of understanding su
perior to.his own. In 1721 his brother
began to print the New England.courant,
W-hich was the third newspaper, publish
ed in America. The two preceding pa
pers were the Boston news letter and
Boston gazette. Young Franklin wrote
a number of essays for the courant,
which were so well received, as to
encourage hirri to continue his literary la
bors. To ittiprove his style he resolved
to, imitate Addison's spectator. The
method, which he took, was to make a
summary ofa paper, after he had read it,
and in a few days, whenhe had forgotten
the expressions of the author, to endea
vor to restore it to its original form. By,
this means he was taught his errors, and
perceived the necessity of being more
fully acquainted with the synonymous
words of the language. He was much
assisted also in acquiring a facility and
variety of expressions by writing poetry.
At this early period the perusal of
Shaftsbui-y and Collins made hira com
pletely a sceptic, and he was fond- of dis
puting upon the subject of reUgion. This
circumstance caused him to be regarded
by pious men with abhorrence, and on
this account as wefl as on account pf the
ill treatment, which he received from his
brother he determined to leave Boston.
His departure w'as facilitated by the pos
session ofhis indenture, which his broth
er had given him about the year 1723,

not from friendship, but because the gen
eral court prohibited him from publishing
the New England courant, and in order
that it might be conducted under
the name of Benjariiin FrankUn. He
privately went on board a sloop, and
soon arrived at New York. Finding no
employment here, he pursued his way to
Philadelphia, and entered the city with
out a friend and with only a dollar in his
pocket. Purchasing some rolls at s ba
ker's shop, he put one under each arm,
and, eating a third, walked through seve
ral streets in search of. a lodging. ' There
were at this time two-printersin Philadel-.
phia, Andrew Bradford, and Mr. Keimer,
by the latter of whom he was eniployed.
Sir. Wflliam Keith, the governor, having
been informed, that FrankUn was a young
man of promising talents, invited him to
his house and treated him in the most
friendly manner. He advised him to enter
into business for himself, and, in order to
accomplish this object, to make a visit to
London, that he might purchase the ne
cessary articles for a printing office. Re
ceiving the promise of assistance, Frank
lin prepared himself for the voyage, and
on applying for letters of recommendation
pre-viously to saiUng he was told, that
they would be sent on board: When
the letter bag -was opened, there was no
packet for Franklin ; and he now discov
ered, that the governor was one of those
men, who love to oblige every body, and
who substitute the most liberal profes
sions and offers , in the place of active,
substantial kindness. Arriving in London
in 1724, he was obliged to seek employ
ment as a journeyman printer. He lived
so economically, that he saved a great
part ofhis wages. Instead of -drinking
six pints of beer in a day, . like some
of his fellow laborers, he drank only
water, and he persuaded some of them to
renounce the extravagance - of- eating
bread and cheese for breakfast and to pro
cure a cheap soup. As his principles at
this time were very loose, his zeal to en
lighten the world induced him to publish
his dissertation On Uberty and necessity,
in which he contended, that virtue and

996

FRANKLIN.

vice were nothing more than vain distinc-
tinctions. This work procured him the
acquaintacc of Mandeville and others of
that licentious class.
He returned to Philadelphia in Oct.
1726 as a clerk to Mr. Denham, a mer
chant ; but the death of that gentleman in
the following year induced him to return
to Mr. Keimer in the capacity of
foreman in his office. He was very use
ful to his employer, for he gave him assis
tance as a letter founder ; he also en
graved various ornaments, and made
printer's ink. He soon began business in
partnership with Mr. Meredith, but in
1729 he dissolved the connexion with
him. Having purchased of Keimer a pa
per, which had been conducted in a
-vyretched manner, he now .conducted it in
a style, which attracted much attention.
At this time, though destitute of those
religious principtes, which give stability
and elevation to virtue, he yet bad dis
cernment enough to be convinced, that
truth, probity, and sincerity would pro
mote his interests and- be useful to him in
the world, and he resolved to respect
them in bis conduct Sept. 1, 1730 he
married a widow, whose maiden name
was Read, and to whom six years before
he had pledged his fidelity, but had neg
lected her, when be was in London. The
expenses ofhis establishment in business,
notwithstanding his industry and econo
my, brought him in a short time into em
barrassments, from which he was relieved
by the. generous assistance of William
Coleman and Robert Grace. In addition
to his other employments, he now opened
a small stationer's shop. But the claims
of business did not e.xtinguish his taste
for literature and science. He formed a
club, which he called the junto, compo
sed ofthe most intelligent ofhis acquain
tance. Questions of morality, poUties,
or philpsophy were discussed every Fri
day evening, and the institution was con
tinued almost forty years. As books
were frequently quoted in the club, and
as the members had brought their books
together for mutual advantage, he was
led to form the plan of a public library,

which was carried into effect in 1731,
and became the foundation of that noble
institution, the library company of Phila
delphia. In 1732 he began to publish
poor Richard's almanac, which was en
riched with maxims of frugality, tempe
rance, industry, and integrity. So great
was its reputation, that he sold ten
thousand annually, and it was continued
by him about 25 years. The maxims
were collected in the last almanac in the
form of an address, called the w^ay to
wealth, which has appeared in various
publications. In 1736 he was appointed
clerk ofthe general assembly of Pennsyl
vania, and in 1737 postmaster of Philadel
phia. The first fire company was formed
byhim in 1738. When the frontiers of
Pennsylvania were endangered in 1744
and an ineffectual attempt was made to
procure a militia law, he proposed a vol
untary association for the defence of the
province, and in a short time obtained ten
thousand names. In 1747 he was cho
sen a member of the assembly, and con
tinued in this station ten years. In all
important discussions his presence was
considered as indispensable. He seldom
spoke, and never exhibited any oratory ;
but by a single observation he sometimes
determined the fate of a question. In
the long controversies with the proprieta
ries or their governors, he took the most
active part, and displayed a firm spirit of
liberty. He was now engaged for a number of
years in a course of electrical experiments,
of which he published an account. His
great discovery was the identity of the
electric fluid and lightning. This-discov-
ery he made in the summer of 1752. To
the upright stick ofa kite he attached an
iron point ; the string was of hemp, ex
cepting the part held in his hand, which
was of silk ; and a key was fastened,
where the hempen string terminated.
With this apparatus, on the approach of
a thunder storm, he raised his kite. A
cloud passed over it, and, no signs of elec
tricity appearing, he began to despair ;
but observing the loose fibres of his
string to move suddenly toward an erect

FRANKLIN.

897

position, he presented his knuckle to the
key, and received a strong spark. The
success of this experiment completely es
tabUshed his theory. The practical use
of this discovery in securing houses from
Ughtning by pointed conductors is well
known in America and Europe. In 1753
he was appointed deputy postmaster gen
eral of the British colonies, and in the
same year the academy of Philadelphia,
projected by him, was estabUshed. In
1754 he was one of the commissioners,
who attended the congress at Albany to
devise the best means of defending the
country against the French, He drew
up a plan of union for defence and gene
ral government, which was adopted by
the congress. It was however rejected by
the board of trade in England, because it
gave too much power to the representa'-
tives of the people, and it was rejected
by the assembUes of the colonies, because
it gave too much power to the presi
dent general. After the defeat of Brad
dock he was appointed colonel of a regi
ment, and he repaired to thefroniiei-s,
and built a fort. In 1757 he was sent to
England as the agent of Pennsylvania
and while residing there was appointed
agent of Massachusetts, Maryland, and
Georgia. He now received the reward
of his philosophical merit. He was cho
sen a feUow of the royal society, and
was honored with the degree of doctor
oflaws by the universities of St. An
drews, Edinburgh, and Oxford, and his
correspondence was sought by the most
eminent philosophers of Europe. Dur
ing his residence in England he published
a pamphlet, showing the advantages,.
which would spring from the conquest of
Canada, and he formed that- elegant in-
strnment,which he called the Harmonica.
He returned in 1762, and resumed his
seat in the assembly; but in 1764 was
again sent to,- London as an agent for
the province to procure a change of the
proprietary government. In ,1766 he was
examined at the bar of the house of com
mons respecting the repeal of the stamp
act ; and there he evinced the utmost
possession and an astonishing accuracy

and extent of information. During the
same and the following year, by visiting
Holland, Germany,and France, he became
acquainted with mostof the literary char
acters of Europe. In 1773 some letters of
Hutchinson, Oliver, and others in Mas
sachusetts falling into his hands, he sent
them to the legislature of that state ; but
he ever refused to tell how he procured
them. It is now known, that he receiv
ed them from Dr. Williamson. He re
turned to America in 1775 and the day
after his arrival was elected a meraber of
congress. He was sent to the camp
before Boston to confirm the army in
their decisive measures, and to Canada
to perisuade the citizens to join in the
common cause. In this mission however
he was not successful. He was in 1776
appointed a committee with John Adams
and Edward Rutiedge to inquire into
the powers, with which lord Howe was
invested in regard to the adj uslment of o ur
differences with Great Britain. When
his lord.ship expreissed his concern at
being obliged to distress those, whom he
so -much regarded. Dr. Franklin assured
him,that the Americans, out of reciprocal
regard, would endeavor to lessen, as
much as possible, the pain, which he
might feel on their account, by taking
the utmost care of themselves. In the
discussion of the great question of inde
pendence he was decidedly in favor ofthe
measure. He was in the same year cho
sen president of the convention, which.
met in Philadelphia to form a new con
stitution for Pennsylvania. The single,
legislature and the plural executive seem
to have been his favbriteprinciples. In the
latter end ofthe year 1776 he was sent to
France to assist in negotiation with Mr.
Arthur Lee arid Silas Deane. He had'
much influence iri forming the treaty of
alliance and commerce, which was signed
Feb. 6, 1778, and he afterwards comple
ted a treaty of amity and commerce with
Sweden. In conjunction with Mr. Ad
ams, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Laurens, he
signed the provisional articles of peace
Nov.30, 1782, and the definitive treaty
Sept. 30, 1783. While he was in France

398

FRANKLIN,

he was appointed one ofthe commission
ers to examine Mesmer's animal magnet
ism in 1784. Being desirous of returning
to his native country he requested, that
an ambassador might be appointed in his
place, and on the arrival of his successor,
Mr, Jefferson, he immediately sailed for
Philadelphia, where he arrived in Sept.
1785. He was received with universal
applause, and was soon appointed presi
dent of the supreme executive council.
In 1787 he was a delegate to the grand
convention, which formed the constitu
tion of the United States. Some of the
articles, which composed it, did not alto
gether please hun, but for the sake of
union he signed it. In the same year he
was appointed the first president of two
excellent societies, which were establish
ed in Philadelphia for alleviating the mis
eries pf public prisons, and for promoting
the abolition of slavery. A memorial of
the latter society to congress gave occa
sion to a debate, in which an attempt was
made to justify the slave trade. In con
sequence of this Dr. Franklin published
in the federal gazette March 25, 1789 an
essay, signed Historicus, communicating
a pretended speech, delivered in the divan
of Algiers in 1687 against the petition of
a sect, called Erika or Purists, for the
aboUtionof piracy and slavery. The ar-
gnriients, urged in favor, of the African
trade by Mr. Jackson of Georgia, are
here appUed with equal force to justify
the plundering and. enslaving of Europe
ans. In 1788 he retired wholly from
public Ufe, and he now approached the
end of his day's. He had been afflicted
for a number of years with a' complication
of disorders. For the last twelve months
he was confined almost entirely to his bed.
In the severity ofhis pains he would ob
serve, that he was afraid he did not bear
them as he ought, and he expressed a
grateful sense of the many blessings, re
ceived from the Supreme Being, who had
raised him from his humble origin to
such consideration among men. He died
April 17, 1790, aged 84. He had only
two children ; Wflliam Franklin, who
was governor of New Jersey, and a

daughter, who married Wm. Bache.
The following epitaph was written by
himself many years previously to his
death; probably suggested by Wood-
bridge's Unes on John Cotton ; —
The body of
Benjamin Franklin, printer,
Like the cover ofan old book,
Its contents torn out,
And stript of its lettering and gilding,
Lies here food for worms ;
'i'^et the work itself shall not be lost,
For it will, (as he believed), appear once more
In a new
And more beautiful edition,
Corrected and amended
by
The Author.
But although he thus expressed bis hope
of fiiture happiness, yet from his memoirs
it does not appear, whether this hope was
founded upon the mediation of Jesus
Christ. Some ha've even considered him
as not unfriendly to infidelity ; but the fol
lowing anecdote seems to prove,that in bis
oldage he did not absolutely reject the scrip
tures. As a young gentleman was one
day ridiculing religion as a vulgar preju
dice he appealed to Dr. Franklin, expec
ting his approbation. "Young man,"
said the philosopher emphatically, " it is
best to believe." President Stiles addres
sed a letter to him, dated Jan. 28, 1790,in
which he expressed, a desire to be made
acquainted with his sentiments on Chris
tianity. The following is an extract from
it. " You know. Sir, I am a Christian ;
and would to heaven, all others were as I
am, except my imperfections. As much
as I know of Dr. FrankUn, I have not an
idea of his religious sentiments. I wish
to know the opinion of my venerable
friend concerning Jesus of Nazareth.
He will not impute this to irapertinence,or
improper curiosity in one, who for many
years has continued to love, estimate, and
reverence his abilities and literary char
acter with an ardor of affection. If I
have said too much, let the request be
blotted out and be no more." To this
Dr. Franklin replied March 9, but a
few weeks before his death : " I do not
' take your curiosity amiss, and shaU en-

FRANKLIN.

FREE^MAN.

399

deavor, in a few words, to gratify it. —
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of
'whom you particularly desire, I think
the system of morals and his reUgion, as
he left them to us, the best the world ever
saw, or is likely to see; but I apprehend it
has received various corrupting changes;
and I have, with most of the present
dissenters in England, some doubts as to
his divinity." It may not be unnecessary
to remark, that, if we may credit Dr.
Priestley, Dr. FrankUn was not correct
in estimating the sentiments ofa majori
ty of tile dissenters in England. To
Thomas Paine concerning the proposed
publication of his age of reason Dr. F.
wrote, — "I would advise you not to at
tempt unchaining the tiger, but to burn
this piece before it is seen by any other
person. — If men are so wicked with relig
ion, what would they be, it without it ?"
Dr. Franklin acquired a high and de
served reputation as a philosopher, for
his philosophy was of a practical and
usefjil kind, and he seemed, to be continu
ally desirous of advancing the welfare of
society. In company he was sententious
and not fluent, and he chose rather to
listen to others, than to talk himself.
Impatient of interruption, he often men
tioned the custom of the Indians, who
always remain silent for some time, be
fore they give an answer to a question.
When he resided in France as a minister
from this country, it has been thought,
that he was somewhat intoxicated by the
unljounded applauses, which he received,
and was too much disposed to adopt the
manners of the French. One of his col
leagues was immersed in the pleasures of
a voluptuous City, and between himself
and the other, Mr. Lee, there was some
coUision. He published experiments and observa
tions on electricity, made at Philadelphia,
in two parts, 4to. 1753 ; new experiments,
1754 ; a historical view ofthe constitution
and government of Pennsylvania, 1759 ;
the interest of Great Britain considered
with respect to her colonies, 1760 ; his
experiments with the addition of explan
atory nptes,, and letters and papers on

philosophical subjects, 1769 ; poUtical,
miscellaneous, and philosophical pieces,
1779 ; and several papers in the transac
tions of the American philosophical soci
ety. Two volumes of his essays, with
his life, brought down by himself to the
year 1730, were published in England in
1792. A collection ofhis works was first
published in London in 1806, entitled,
the complete works in philosophy, poU
tics, and morals of Dr. Franklin, first
collected and arranged, with a memoir of
him, 3 vol. 8vo. — Franklin's life; Holmes'
lifeaf Stiles, 309,310.
FRANKLIN, William, the last royal
gbvernor of N. Jersey, the son of Dr.
FrankUn, tvas born about 1731. He
was a captain in the French war, and
served at Ticonderoga. After the peace
of Paris he accompanied his father to
England. Going to Scotland, he became
acquainted with the Earl of Bute, who
recommended him to Lord Halifax, and
by the latter he was appointed governor
of N. Jersey in 1763. He continued in
office, firm in loyalty, till the beginning
ofthe revolution, when the whigs, in Ju
ly 1776, sent him to Connecticut. On
his release he sailed to England, and ob
tained a pension for his losses. He died
in England Nov. 17, 1813, aged 82.
His first wife was a West Indian, by
whom he had a son ; his second wife was
a native of Ireland. His son, WUliam
Temple Franklin, editor of the works of
Dr. F., died at Paris May 25, 1823.-
Pub. char. iv. 189-203.
FREEMAN, Nathaniel, a physician
and brigadier general,was a descendant of
Edmund F.,an early settler of Sandwich,
Mass., and whose sons, John and Ed
mund, married the daughters of gov.
Prince. He was bom at Dennis in Apr.
1741, and soon afterwards his father re
moved to Mansfield, Con. Having stud
ied medicine with Dr. Cobb of Thomp
son, he settled in Sandwich. Being a
patriot of the revolutiori, he performed
various important services for his coun
try as a member of the legislature and as
colonel ofthe miUtia, He was also regis
ter of probate 47 years and judge of the

400

FREEMAN.

FRENCH,

common pleas 30 years. At the age of
63 he retired from the practicerif physic.
He died, lea'iring but little property, Sept.
20, 1827, aged 66. By two marriages
he had 20 children, 18 of whom' 'lived to
adult age. He was a brother of Jona. F.
of Hanover, N. H. He had coUected a
large library in medicine and theology.
In early life he jbined a calvinistic Church ;
in his meridian he became a follower of
Priestley ; at a later period he, returned to
his first faith, in which he Uved many
years and died. — Thacher's med. biog.
FREEMAN, Samuel, judge, ai descen
dant of Sam. F.of Watertown in 1630, Was
the son of Enoch Freeman, judge of the
coUrt of common pleas and of probate,
who died at Portiand Sept. 2, 1788, aged
81. He was born at Portland June, 15,
1743 ; was judge of probate many years ;
and died at Portland in Jurie 1831, aged
88. He published the town officer, 6th
ed. ; American clerk's mag. 6th ed. 1805.
FRELINGHUYSENi Theodore
James, minister of the reformed Dutch
church at Raritan, New Jersey, came
from "Holland in the year ,1720, His
zealous labors in preaching the pure doc
trines ofthe gospel, especially in inculca
ting the necessity ofan entire renovation
of the corrupt heart, were eminently use
ful in a number of towns. He was a mem
ber of the assembly of Dutch ministers
in,1738, which formed the -plan of a coet-us,
or assembly of ministers and elders in this
country, though subordinate to the classis
of Amsterdam. This proposition convul
sed the Dutch churches in America, for it
was apprehended, and'the apprehension
was verified, that these churches, yypuld
be led in time to throw off entirely their
subjection to a distant ecclesiastical body.
Mr. Frelinghnysen -w;as an. able, evangel
ical, and eminently guccessful preacher.
He died in 1754, leaving five sons, aU
ministers, and, twp- daughters riiarried to,
ministers. Among his spn^'-tfjere Rev.
Theodora F., minister of Albany,: elo
quent, active, and pious, succeeded, by
"Westerlo, and Rev. John,,,F,, who
preached at Raritan. — Christian's mag.
11,4, 5 ; Prince's Christ his'l, for 17.44^:

FRELINGHU YSEJil, Frederic,- gen
eral, a senatot of the U.S., was the son of
Rey. John F.^of Raritan, and ' grandson
of the preceding. He graduated at
Princetori in 1770. In the. war of the
revolution he fought for his country. As
a captain, it is said, that in the battle of
Trenton De<;. 1776 he shot Rhalle, the
Hessian coirimander. He was a member of
the old congress before the adoption of
the constitution in 1789, and was after
wards under the admimstration of Wash
ington a senator, from New Jersey. Of
Princeton cbUegehe was one of the trus
tees. He died in April 1804, aged about
52.. His son, Theodore Ereling'huysen of
Newark, is now one of the senatoirs from
(New Jersey, and is known for his earnest
support bf charitable and religious insti
tutions. ¦
FRENCH, Jonathan, minister of An-
dovefc, Mass., a. descendant of John F.,
who lived in Dorchester in 1639, was born
at Braintree Jan. 30, 1740 ; graduated at
Harvard college in 1771 ; was ordained
Sept. 22, 1772, as successor of Samuel
Phillips; and-died July 28, 1809, aged 69.
His daughter married Rey. Sam. Stearns
of Bedford; his son, Jonathan, is the min
ister of North Hampton, N,. H. At the
age of 16 Mr. French was a soldier, a
drummer, in the French war, and after
wards was stationed as a sergeant at Cas
tle Wflliam, near, B'oston. His desire to
obtain an education, although at an un
common age, was encouraged by several
literary gentlemen, with whom he became
acquainted at the castle. Gov. Bow
doin liberally assisted him. In the revo
lutionary war he partook of the patriotic
spirit of that period. On hearing ofthe
battle of Breed's hill he took his musket
and his surgical instruments and repaired
to the army. Up was a faithful, useful
preacher. During his ministry 506 were
added'to the church. He published a ser
mpn against exlprtibn, 1777 ; at the ordir
natibnol" Daniel OUver, 1787 ; of Abiel
Abbot, '1,795,; of James Kejjdall, 1800;
pf Jona, French, 18,01 ; at 'the election,
1796 ;at athankisglying, 179%'5 ,at a lec
ture, 1805,--.^i!rf<;n'» ,jJieTOau'S'.^,j^,

FRISBIE.
FRISBIE, Levi, n^intker of IpswiCh,
Mass., was the sori pf EUsha F. of Bran-
fotd, Conn.' arid was bom in April 1748.
In 1767,, having the character of a pious
youth of promising talents, he was pla
ced under the patronage of Dr. Wheelock,
-with a special view to the missionary
i^ervice. He entered Yale bollege, where
h« Coritinued more than three years ;
butXis collegial stutfiee were completed
at Dartmouth college, where he was
graduated, in the first class,^in 1771.
In June 1772 he and ^avid Macdure set
put on a mission to the Delaware Indians
west pf the Ohio, and' he returned in
October 177$. He wasordainedin 1775,
and then continued his missionary career.
After extendirig his labors to different
parts Pf the country and into Canada, the
convulsed state of America obstructed
his progress. He was settled the minis
ter ofthe first churchin Ipswich, as suc
cessor of Nathaniel Rogers; Feb. 7, 1.776, .
and after a ministry of thirty years he
diedJ'eb. 25, 1806,aged57.. Hisvtidow
died April 1828, aged 77. He was. a
faithful, evangelical preacher,, whose la
bors at different periods it pleased God to
render eminently useful. His disceinirig
mind was strengthened by a close applica
tion to study, and furnished with the
most useful knowledge ; and all his acqui
sitions were consecrated tp moral and re
ligious purposes. His life displayed the
humility, meekness, and benevolence of
the christian. Interesting and instructive
in' conversation, remarJfably tender pf the
character of others, upright, sincere, and
affectionate in afl the relation? of life,
he was respected and beloved. His dis
trust of himself led him to place his entire
dependence upon God, and to ascribe afl
hope to the riches of djvine mercy in Je
sus, the- Redeemer. He published - an
oration on thepeace, 1783 ; on thedeath
of Moses Parsons, 1784 ; two sermons on
a day of public fasting ; at a thanksgiv
ing ; an eulogy on -Washingtpn, 1800 ;
before ; the society for propagating the
gospel lamong the American Indians,
I804.^-Huntington's fun. ser. j Pano
plist, I. 471, 472; Wheelock's narratives.
51

FRONTENAC.

401

FRISBIE, Levi, professor of moral
philosophy at Harvard college, was the
son of the preceding, arid -Was born at
Ipswich in 1784. After graduating in
1802 he engaged in the study ofthe law ;
but an affection of his eyes, which pro
ved to be a permanent evil, obliged him
to desist. In 1805 lie was appointed
latin tutor, and professor of moral philosor
phy in 1817. He died at Cambridge
July 9, 1822. He was an admirable
teacher and lecturer. His inaugural ad
dress was pubUshed in 1817, and after his
death professor Norton published his
Miscellanebus vyritings, with notices of
his life and character, 8vo.- 1,823.
FROMENTIN, Elig'ius, senator, of
the U. S. from Louisiana, was elected in
1813, and was succeeded by JamcS
Brpwn in 1819. In 182i.he siiCceeded
Mr. W^lnston as judge of the criminal .
court of Orleans ; and was appoirited
judge of the wijstern district of Florida.
Gen. Jackson, the governor, Jiaving de
manded in vain certain documents of col.
Callava, the late Spanish governor, threw
"him into prison, from which he Was relie
ved by a. writ of habeas corpus, granted
byjudge Fromentin. This act of judicial
authority occasioned a long- and bitter al-
tercatibn with the gerieral, who claimed
the supreme power. For the sake ofqui-
etness judge F. resigned.his office and re
turned to the practice of the law at New-
Orleans, where he died of the yellow
fever Oct 6, 18^8. Hi? wife died the
prepeding day. They had no chfldren.
He is a remarkable instance of the insta-
bflity,of human affairs. He published
observations on. a bfll .respecting land ti
tles in Orleans. , .
FRONTENAC, Louis, count, gov
ernor general of Canada, succeedeti Cour-
ceUesin 1678, and in the spring of the fol
lowing year built upon lake Ontaridthe
fort, which bore his name. He was re
called in'1.682, butwas reinstated in his
office in 1689. He died Nov. 28, 1698,
aged. 77. His exertions conduced in a
great degree to the protection .and pros
perity of Canada; but he was a man of
haughty feelings, suspicious, revengeful.

402

FROST.'

FULTON.

and iuitrageous. ' Notwithstanding his
professions of regard tp religion, it was
ve'fy evident, that he was alniost com
pletely under the influence of ambition.
—Charlevoix; i. 444-469, 543-570 ; ii.
43, 237 ; Holmes. '
FROST, Edmund, missionary to Bom
bay, was a native of Brattleborough, Vt.
aiid, after graduating at Middlebury col
lege, studied thecriogy at Andover. He
was ordained at Salem Sept. 25, 1823,
and embarked with his wife, a native of
Chester, N. H., on the 27th for Calcut
ta. June 28; 1 824 he arrived at Bombay^
andjoined the missionaries, Mr. Hall and
Mr. Graves. But he died of a pulmona
ry complaint Oct. 18, 1825.
FRYE, Jonathan, chaplain to capt.
Lovewell's company, was a native of An
dover and graduated at Harvard college
in 1723. In Lovewell's fight with the
Indians at Pigwacket, or Fryeburg, in
May 1725, he was kflled.
F'R'YE, Simmi, judge, was among the
first settlers' bf the town of Fryeburg,
Maine, 'where he died in Nov. 1822, aged
82- He -was a patriot of the revolution
and sustained various important offices ;
was a member of the councfl, and judge
ofthe common pleas for York, and chief
justice of Oxford. He reared up a numer-
ous'family. FULLER, Samuel, a physician, one
ofthe first settlers of Plymouth in 1620,
was a regulariy educated physician. His
practice extended to Massachusetts. A
prevailing sickness called .him to Salem in'
1628 arid 1629. Besides being a surgeon
and physician, he was also a useful dea
con of the church. He died of a fever
at Plymouth in 1633.— Thacher.
FULTON, iRobert, a celebrated engi
neer, was of Irish descent and was born
in Little Britain, Lancaster county,
Penns., in 1765. His genius disclosed
itself at an early period. He -was attrac
ted to the shops of mechanics ; and at
the age of 17 he painted landscapes and
portraits in Philadelphia. Thus he was
enabled in part to purchase a small farm
for his widowed mother. At the age of
21 he, by the advice of his friends, repaired

to London to place himself under the
guidance of Mr. West, the painter, and
by him was kindly received and admitted
as an inmate of his house for several
years. Prosecuting his business as a
painter, he spent two years in Devon
shire, where he became acquainted with
the duke of Bridgewater and with lord
Stanhppe, well known for his attachment
to the mechanic arts. In 1793 he enga
ged in the project of improving inland
navigation, and in 1794 obtained patents
for a double incfined plane, and for ma
chines for spinning flax and making ropes.
The subject of canals now chiefly occu
pied his attention, and at this period, in
1796, bis work on canals was pubhshed.
In his profession of a civil engineer he
was greatly benefited by his skill in draw
ing and painting. He went to Paris in
1797, and, being received into the family
of Joel Bariow, he there spent 7 years,
studying chemistry, physics, and mathe
matics, aiid acquiring a knowledge of the
French, ItaUan, and German languages.
To him Barlow dedicated his Columbiad.
In Dec. 1797 he made his first experiment
on sub-marine explosion in the Seine, but
without success. His plan for a sub-ma
rine boat was afterwards perfected. In
1801, -vvhile he was residing with his
friend, Mr. Bariow, he met in Paris chan
cellor Livingston, the American minister,
who explained to him the importance in
America of navigating boats by steam.
Mr. Ful-tori had already conceived the
project as eariy as 1793, as appears by his
letter to lord Stanhope Sept. 30. He now
engaged anew in the affair, and at the
common expense of himself and Mr.
Livingston built a boat on the Seine in
1803, and successfuUy navigated the
river. The principles of the steam en
gine he did not invent ;' he claimed only
the application of water wheels for pro
pelling vessels. In Dec. 1 806 he returned
to this country ; and he and Mr. Living
ston built in 1807 the first boat, the Cler
mont, ISO feet in length, which naviga
ted the Hudson at the rate of 5 miles an
hour. In Feb. 1809 he took out his first
patent. In 1810 he pubUshed his Torpe-

FULTON.

GADSDEN.

408

do war. In 1811 and 1812 he built two
steam ferry boats for crossing the Hud
son ; he contrived also very ingenious
floating docks for the reception of these
boats. In 1813 he obtained a 'patent for
a sub-marine battery. Conceiving the
plan of a steam man of war, the govern
ment in March 1814 appropriated
$320,000 for constructing it, and appoin
ted him the engineer. In about 4 months
she was launched with the narne of Ful
ton, the first. He was eniployed in im
proving his sub-marine boat, when he died
suddenly Feb. 24, 1815, aged 50. His
wife,whom he married in 1808, was Har
riet, daughter of Walter Livingston.
His features were strong and interesting;
his manners easy ; his temper mild.; in
his domestic and social relations he
was affectionate, kind, and generous.
The two inventions ofthe cotton gin by
Whitney and of steam navigation by
Fulton have an incalculable effect on the
prosperity of this country, and may show
the bearing of genius, invention, science,
and skifl on national wealth. The follow
ing is a brief explanation of Some bf his
inventions, besides the steam boat. 1. By
the machine for making ropes, which can
stand in a room 40 feet square, the rope-
yarns are put on spools and any sized cor
dage made by one man. 2. The sub-ma
rine boat had a main-safl and jib like a
sloop; the mast and sails could be taken in
and the boat dive under water in one min
ute, & be" rowed arid steered by a compass.
Thus a torpedo could be fixfed to the bot
tom of ships of war. Mr. F. and three
Others coritinued under water one hour.
He supposed,- that five men might pon-
tinue under water six- hours and rise 15
mfles frora the place, where they Went
down. 3. The torpedo is a copper case,
containing 50 or 100 lbs', of powder, disr
charged by a gun lock, which strikes by
means of clock work, set to any short
tirae. He.proposed to attach it to a rope
of 60 or 80 feet, and to fasten it by a gun
harpoon to the bow of a vessel, whose
motion, would draw it under her bottora
and thus she wouldbe blown up. A few
rbw-boats, each with a torpedo, might

attack a ship of war, and be pretty sure to
succeed. — Colden's life pf Fulton; Eri-
cyc Am.
FURMAN, Richard, D. d., an eminent
baptist minister of Charleston, S. C.,died
Aug. 25, 1825. He had been nearly 40
years the pastor of a church in Charles
ton, having previously been the minis
ter of Statesburgh from 1774 to 1787.
He furnished Ramsay Vith a statistical
account of Camden, and published a ser
mon on the death of Oliver Hart, 1796.
GADSDEN, Christopher, lieutenant
governor of South CaroUna, and a distin
guished friend of his country, was bom in
Charleston in ,1724. He was appointed
one of the delegates to the congress,,
which met at New York in Oct. 1765 to
petition against the stamp act. He was
also chpsen a inember of the cpngre^s,
which met in 1774. He veas among the
first, who openly advocated repubUcan
principles, and wished to, make his coun
try independent of the monarchical gov
ernment of Great Britain. " The deci
sive genius' " says Ramsay, f of Christo
pher Gadsden in the south and of, Jbhn
Adams in the north at a much earlier day
might have dpsired a complete separa-
tion,of America from Great Britain, but
till. the year 1776, the rpjec.tion ofthe sec
ond petitibn bf congress, and the appear
ance of Paine's pamphlet, common sense,
a reconciliation with the mother country
was the unanirnous wish pf almost every
other American. " During- the siege of
Charleston in 1780 he remained -within
the Unes with- five of the council, while
governor Rutledge, with the other three,
left the city at the earnest request of geit
eral, Lincoln. Several months after the
Capitulation he was taken out bf his bed
August 27th, and with most. of -the. qivil
and mifitary officers transpor.ted in a
guard ship to St. Augustine^ This -was
done by the order of lord CpmwalljSj and,
it was in violation of the rights of prison
ers on parole, Guards were left at their'
houses, and the private papers of sojne pf
them were examined, A pafole was ,ofr
fered at St- Augustine ; but such was, his
indignation at the ungenerous treatirient^

404

GAGE.

GAINE.

which he had received,, that he refused to
accept it, and bpre a close confinement in
the castle for forty two weeks with the
greatest fortitude. In 1782, when it be
came necessary ,by the rotation established,
to choose a new governor, he was elected
to this office; but he declined it on ac
count ofhis age. He continued, howev-!
er, his exertions for the good ofhis coun
try bpth in the assembly and council, and
notwithstanding the injuries he had suf
fered and the immense loss ofhis proper
ty he zealously opposed the law for con
fiscating the estates bf the adherents to
the.British-goverriment, and contended,
that sound policy required us to forgive &
forget. He died Aug. 28, 1805, aged 81
years. — Baiven'sfun.ser.; Ramsay's rev.
of Car. 1. 35, 55, 61, 164; ri! 125', 349.
GAGE, Thomas, or friar Thomas of
St Mary, a cathoUc missionary, wasan
Irishman educated at St. Oraer's and
joined the Dominicans. In 1625 he
went out from Spain to Mexico with a
band , of missionaries, destined fpr - the
Philippine islands ; but not relishing so
distant a mission he fled to Gautimala,
where and in other neighboring places he
lived as, a missionary tp the Indians 10 or
1 1 years. In 1 637 ,he escaped to England
and became a protestant minister at Deal.
He published a New Survey ofthe West
Indies, giving an account ofhis mission tb
,New Spain and pf his travels ; second
editl655;4th editl699; 4th ed.in French,
1720. ¦- It is a curious and interesting
book; , though Clavigero, an Italian,
might well after the laspe 6f 100 years
decry it and represent it as full pf false-
hdod, for it unveils much ofthe secrets bf
Catholicism and describes the pope as anti
christ. ,
GAGE, Thomas, the last governor of
Mass. appointed by the king, after the
conquest of Canada in 1760 was appoin
ted governor of Montreal. At the depart
ure of general, Amherst in 1763, he suc
ceeded him as commanderin chief ofhis
majesty's forces in America ; he was ap
pointed governor of Mass. and arrived at
Boston May 13, 1774. He was a suita
ble instrument for executing the purposes

of a tyrannical ministry and parliament.
Several regiments soon follojved him, and
he began to repair the fortifications upon
Boston neck. The powder in the arsen
al in Charlestown was seized ; detach
ments were sent out to take pbssession of
the stores in Salem and Concord ; and
the battle of Lexingtori became the signal
of war. In May 1775 the provincial con
gress declared Gage to be an inveterate
enemy of the country, disqualified from
serving the colony as governor, and un
worthy of obedience. From this time
the exercise of his functions was confin
ed to Bostori. - In June he issued a proc
lamation, offering pardon to all the rebels,
excepting Samuel Adams and John Han
cock, and ordereil the use of the riiartial
law. But the affair of Breed's bill a few
days afterwards proved to him, that he
had mistaken the character ofthe Ameri
cans. In Oct. he embarked for England,
and was succeeded in the command by
sir WilUam Howe. His conduct towards
the inhabitants of Boston in promising
them liberty to leave the town on the deUv-
ery of their arms, and then detaining
many of them, has been reprobated for
its treachery. He died in England in
Aprfl 1787.  Stedman, i, 95—110;
Gordon; Holmes; Marshall, i. 391,
446; II. 163, 185,276 ; iii. 21; Warren,
I. 127—132, 241.
GAILLARD, John, senator of the
U. S., from South Carolina, was a na
tive of St. Stephen's district. He voted
for the war of 1812, CaUed repeatedly
to preside over' the senate in the absence
of the vice president, he presided with
great impartiality. He died at Washing
ton Feb. 26, 1826. He was a man of a
vigorous understanding and inflexible in
tegrity ; firm in friendship ; fixed in his
political principles ; yet in all the conflicts
of parties maintaining the courtesy,
which is too often forgotten.
GAINE, Hugh, a bookseller in New
York, was born in Ireland. In 1752 he
published the N. Y. mercury, ahd soon
opened a bookshop in Hanover square,and
continued in his profitable business forty
years. He died April 35, 1807, aged 81.

GALE.

GAMAGE.

405

In the poetical version of hia petition st
the close of the war, he is made to e-t-
press the principle, by which many othen
have been found to be governed :
"And I always adhere t» the sword, that ii
longest.
And stick to the party, that's like to be stiong-
eat."
Thomas, n. 103, 301, 483.
GALE, Benjamin, a physician, was
born on Long Island in 1715, but his pa
rents soon removed to Goshen N. Y.
He graduated at Yale college in 1733.
Having studied with Jared Eliot of Kill-
ingsworth, he married his daughter, and
settled in that town, where he died in
1790, aged 75. He was an eminent phy
sician and agriculturist, and was deeply
concerned also in poUtiCs, He invented
a drill plough ; he wrote a dissertation on
the prophecies ; he published a treatise on
the inoculation fpr the small pox, abgut
1750. His method of a preparatory
course of mercury was commended in
England. The same was employej in
1745 by -Dr. Thompson of PennSi and
Dr. Morison of Long jsland.—^In ihe
transactions ofthe Royal society vol. 45,
he published hist, memoirs on inocula
tion, and .account of the cure by saK of
the bite ofthe.rattle snake. — Thaehm
GALLISON, John, a lawyer, ivas
born at Marblehead in Oct.l 17,88. His
mbtherwas sister of judge Seyyall. After
practising law for ashprt_time in Marble
head, he remoV-ed to Boston, where rpr a
year or two he was the editor of tht Week
ly Messenger. He died Dec.25,1820,aged
32. He published Reports of cases deci
ded in the circuit court, 2 vols. 1817; ad
dress to the peace society, 1820.
GALL0"WAY, Joseph, ari eminent
lawyer in Pennsylvania, was a member
"of the assembly of that province in May
1764, when the subject of a petition, in
favor ofa change of the government from
that of a proprietary to a royal" govern
ment was discussed. John Dickinson
was opposed to the petition and Mr; Gal
loway answered his speech with much
warmth. Both speeches were printed,
and Mr. Dickinson after an ineffectual

challenge, wrote his " answer to a piece,,
called the speech of Jbseph Galloway."'
After having been for some time speaker
of the house of assembly, he was appbin
ted o meraber of the first congress in 1774.-
He afterwards deserted the American
cause, joining the British at NeW York ,
in Dec. 1776, and remained with the army
till June 1778. His counsels and exer
tions wereof little avail against the reso
lute spirit of millions, determined to be
free. By his own account he abandoned
an estate of the value of 40,000Z. In
1779 he was examined before the house of
commons on the transactions in America,
and his representation did not .do much
creditto the British commanders. He
died inEngland in Sept. 1803, aged 73,
The preface to his speech,which was pub
lished in 1764, was written by Dr. Frank*-
Un, who supported the same cause. It
presents a history of the proprietary
government. Mr. Galloway published
also observations on the conduct of sir
Wifliam Howe, in - which, nptwith-
standing" his attachments, he dis
closes arid reprehends the shocking bru
tality of the British troops, especially
in New Jersey. The following work, it
is believed, is the production ofhis pen ;
brief comhientaries upon such parts ofthe
revelation and other prophecies, as imme
diately refer to the present times, Lon-r
don, 1802. He pubUshed a letter to
Ho-(ye on his naval conduct ; letters ;to a
nobleman on the conduct of war in the
middle, coloriies, 1779;. reply to the ob
servations of gen. Howe ; copl thpughts
on the consequences pf Ameripan inde
pendence ; candid examination of Jhe
claims of Great Britain and her colpnies ;
reflections on the American rebellion,
London,1780.— Hist, cal n. 93; Month
ly rev: xxxii. 67 ; Ixi. 71 ; Franklin's
works. III. 163.
GAMAGE, William, m. d., a 'physir
cian in Boston, was the son of Dr.^Wm,
G, of Cambridge, who died Jan. 1, 1821,
aged 76. He graduated at Haryard col
lege in 1802, arid died Oct 5, 1818, aged
37. He publisKed several articles in tlie
N. E. journal of medicine, and some ac-

406

GAMBOLD.

GARDEN.

•count ofthe fever bf 1817 anfl 1818, with
. remarks ori typhus.
GAMBOLD, John, Moravian mission
ary, resided atSpring, Place among the
Chero.kees in 1817, when he was visited
by Mr. Cornelius. By his labors Mr.
Hicks became a christian convert. In
1827 he resided within 30 miles of Spring
Place at Oochelogy, and in that year lie
died Nov. 6th, after a long period of
weakness and-suffering. He wasa faith
ful servant ofhis master. .
GANNETT,Caleb,minister of Amherst
& Cumberland, N. S.,was born in Bridge-
water, Mass., Aug. 22, 1745 ; graduated
at Har--vard, college in 1763; and was or
dained Oct. 12, 1767; but 'from inade
quate support returned to N. E. in 1771.
.For some years he was a tutor irt the cpl-
ege, and steward from 1 780 till his death,
Apr., 25, 1818, aged 72. He njarried a,
daughter ^of president StUes. In the
. transactions of the American- Academy,
vols. 1. and ii, he published observations
ofan eclipse, and two papers on the auro
ra borealis. — 9 Hist cal. vili. 277-285.
, GANO,,John, minister in New York,
collected the first baptist sbciety in that
city, and was ordained its pastor in 1762.
Early espousing the cause of his country
in the contest with Great Britain, at the
commencement of the war he jbined the
stan(|ard of freedom in the capacity of
chaplain. His preaching contributed to
impart a determined spirit to the soldiers,
and he continued in the army till the
conclusion of the war. When a Ueuten
ant, after uttering some profane expres
sions, accosted him, saying, " Good mor
ning Dr. Gbod Man ;" he replied — "You
pray early this morning." — The reproved
man said, " I beg your pardon.'' — ;" 0,"
retorted Mr. G., " I cannot pardon you ;
carry your case to God." He left his so
ciety in New York in 1788, and removed
to Kentucky. He died at Frankfort
Aug. 10, 1804, aged 77, resigned to the
divine will, and in the hope of everlasting
blessedness in th^ presence of his Redee
mer, His son, Steph. Ganb, d. D.,died
at Providence Aug. 28, 1818, aged 65,
in the 36th year of his mimstry.---Me-

tjoirs of his life, written principally by
limself, were published in 12mo. 1806. —
^ano's memoirs.
GANSEVOORT, Peter, jun. briga-
cier general, was born in Albany July 17,
1749. With the rank of major he accom
panied Montgomery to Canada in 1775.
He commanded at fort Stanwix, as colo
nel, when it was besieged by St. Leger
in 1777._ He resolutely defended the post
from Aug. 2 to 22, until the approach of
Arnold dispersed the Indians & gave him
relief For his gallant defence he recei
ved the thanks of congress. "In 1781 he
was appointed brigadier gerieral by the
state. After the war he was military"
agent and intrusted with other offices.
He died July 2, 1812, aged 62. He was
brave, intelligent, and faithful, and highly
respected. In Lempriere he is said to have
been a brigadier of the U. S. in 1809 ;
but, it is a mistake ; it was Leonard G.,
who received that appointment, and who
died Aug. 1810.
GARDEN, Alexander, an episcopal
minister, was born in Scotland in 1 685 ;
came to ' Charleston about 1 720 ; and
died in 1756, aged 70. He was the
faithful commissary of the bishop of Lon
don for the CaroUnas, Georgia, and the
Bahama islands. He was a man of lear
ning and of charity. A tenth of his in-r
come he gave tb the poor. He published
six tetters to Mr. Whitefield, 1740 ; doc
trine of justification vindicated ; two ser-
moiB, 1742. — Ramsay, n. 10, 466.
GARDEN, Alexander, d. d.,f. k. s., a
physician, was the son, of Rev. A. G. of
Birse, Aberdeen, who died about 1784.
Having studied. physic at Edinburgh; he
came to Charleston, S. C, about 1750,
and by his practice of SO years acquired a
fortune. In 1783 he returned to Europe
and died in London April 15, 1791, aged
63. He was much devoted to the study
pf natural history, particularly of botany,
and made a number of communicatibns
on , those subjects to his philosophical
friends in Europe. In compUraent to him
the greatest botariist ofthe age gave the
name of Gardenia to one of the most beau
tiful flowering shrubs in the world. He

GARDINER.
introduced into medical use the Virgini
pink root as a vermifuge, and publish
in 1764 an account of its medical prope
ties, with a botanical description ;
second edit. 177^.— Thacher; Ramsay
review af medicine, 42, 44; Milter's re
rasped, i. 319. J
GARDINER, Sylvester, a physiciar,
was born in R. Island in 1717. His
grandfather emigrated, frora England.
Having studied his profession several
years in France and England, he pac-
tised physic very successfully in BostDij:
he also established a very profitable dru^-
shop. Acquiring great wealth, he coi-
nected himself with the Plymouth Mn|i
company, and purchased extensive tracts
of land in Maine. At the commence
ment of the revolution he was a tory re-
, fugee, and of his large estate was able t(|
take with him only 400/. His lands,
about 100,000 acres,were confiscated and
sold at auction ; but ,his heirs, through
sorne informaUty, were re-invested with
the property. After the war he return
ed to Newport,where he.died of a malig
nant fever Aug. 8, 1786, aged 68. , He
displayed in, hiss life the moral vistues and
a regard to the duties of religiorf. In his
will he bequeathed 10 acres and a small
sum of money for the episcopal society in
Gardiner, and directed thp small house of
worship to be finished ; but it was.soon
burnt by an insane man, Mc Causland, in
1793.-^ — Thacher ; Greenleaf 's ecqles.
sketches, 227.
-GARDINER, John Sylvester John,
D.D., episcopal minister in Boston,became
assistant to Dr. Parker Apt. 12, 1792 and
':died at Harrowgate springs, . England,
July 26, 1830, aged 65. He was' distin
guished for his literary attainments, and
zealous for what he regards as the Armin
ian and Trinitarian tenets ofthe episcopal
church, and no less zealous in politics.
He pubUshed a sermon at the ordination
of J. Bowers, 1802; before the hurnane
society; before the charitable fire society,
1803 ; on death of bp. Parker, 1804; of
Geo. Higginson, and Tho. C. Amory,
1812; ata fast, 1808, and 1812; before
S female- asylum, 1809 ; on the divinity

GATES.

407

of Jesus Christ, 1810; preservative
against unitarianism, l8ll; before the so
ciety of donations, 1813.
GARDNER, George, a benefactor of
Harvard, coUege, was graduated in 1762,
and was a merchant in Salem, where he
died in 1773, bequeathing to the college
4,867 doll, for the education of poor
scholars; l,466rf, to the poor of Salem;
and 7,333d. to the marine society for
superannuated seamen. The legacies
became due bn the death of his brother,'
Weld G., in Nov. 1801.
GARRARD, James, gpvernor of
Kentucky' from 1796 to 1804, wasa na
tive of Virginia and an officer of the rev
olution. He was among the first adven
turous settlers of Kentucky and died at
Mount Lebanon, Bourbon' county, Jan.
19, 1822, a^ed73. ^
GATES, Horatio, a" major general in
the army of the United States, was a na
tive pf England. In early life he entered
the British army, and laid the foundation
of his future military' excellence. He
was aid to gen. Monkton at the capture
of Martiniop ; arid after the peace of Aix
la Chapelle he was among the first troops,
which landed at HaUfax under general
Cornwallis. He was -with Braddock at
the time of his defeat in 1755, and was
shot through the body.- When peace
Was concluded, he purchased an estate in
Virginia, where he resided until the com
mencement ofthe American war in 1775,
when he was appointed by congress adju
tant general, with the rank of brigadier
g'eneral. He accompanied Washington
to Cambridge, when he went to take com
mand ofthe armyin that place. In June
1776 Gates was appointed to the com
mand .ofthe army of Cariada. He was
superseded by general Schuyler in May
1777, but in August following he took
the place of this officer in -the northern
department. The success, which attend
ed his arms in the capture of Burgoyne
in October, filled America with joy. Con
gress passed a vote of thanks,andordeted a
medal of gold to be presented to him by the
president. His conduct towards his con-
quefed enemy was marked by a deUcacy,

408

GATES.

GEE.

which does him the highest honor. He
did not permit his bwn troops to witness
the mortification of the British in deposr
iting their arms. After gen. Lincoln was
taken prisoner, he was appointed June 13,
1780 to the command ofthe southern de
partment. .August 16, he was defeated
by Cornwallis at Camden. He was su
perseded Dec, 8, by gen. Greene ; but
was in 1782 restored to his command.
After the peace he retired to his farm
in Berkeley County, Virginia, where he
remained uhtil the year 1790, when he
went to reside at New York, having first
emancipated his slaves, and made a pecun
iary provision for such, as were not able
to provide "for themselves. Sdirie of lliem
would not lea.ve him, but continued in
his fariiily. On ' his arrival at New
York th6 freedoni pf the city was pre
sented to him. In 1800 he accepted a
seat in the legislature, but he retained it
no longer,, than fie conceived his services
might be useful to the cause of liberty,
which he never abandoned. His poUtical
opinions did not separate him from many
respectable citizens, whose views differed
-widely from his own. He died Aprfl 10,
1806, aged 77. His widow died Nov. 20,
1810. A few weeks before his death he
wrote to his friend. Dr. Mitchill, then at
Washingtbn, on some business, and clos
ed his letter, dated Feb. 27, 1806, with
the following words:—" I am very weak,
and have evident signs of an apprbaching
dissolution. But I have lived long enoughj
since I have lived to see a mighty people
animated with a spirit to be free, and,gov-
erned by transcenderif abilities and hon
or." He retained his faculties to the last
He took pleasure in professing his attach
ment to reUgion and his -firm belief in the
doctrines of Christianity. The wiU, which
was made not long before his death, ex
hibited the humility of his faith. In an
article, dictated by himself, he expressed
a sense of his own unworthiness, and his
reliance,sblely on the intercession and Suf
ferings of the Redeemer. In another
paragraph he directed, that his body
shpuld be privately, buried, which was
accordingly done. General Gates Avas a

vhig in England and a republican in
America. He was a scholar, well versed
n history & the Latin classics. "While
le was just, hospitable, and generous, and
lossessed a feeling heart, his manners and
leportment yet indicated his military
f.haracter. — Marshall, ii, 237; iii. 3, 226,
273, 336 ; iv. 169-182,334, 596; Bris-
,'ot, iiouv. voy. It. 50 ; Stedman, i. 836,
343 ; 11.^200,^33 ; Gordon, ii. 276, 572;
iii.)S91, 439, 472 ; iv. 26. ,
(lAY, Ebenezer, d. d., minister of
Hiigham, Mass. was born Aug. 26, 1696.
He -fvas graduated at Harvard college in
:714, andordained June 11, 1718, as suc-
«essor of John Norton. The first min
ster was P. Hobart. These three min
isters preached about 150 years. Dr.
Gay died March 18, 1787, aged 90, in
the 69th year of his ministry. He was
succeeded by Dr. Ware, j His mental
po-ii^ers were continued to him in an un-
cotnmon degree till his death. On the
day, which completed the 85th year ofhis
age, he preached a sermpn, which was
n|uWh celebrated and- was reprinted in
England. Dr Chauncy pronounces him
to have been one ofthe greatest and most
valuable men i" *he country.- His senti-
irienfs were nbt so rigid, as those of some
of Ids -brethren in the ministry ; but he
was izealons for the interests of practical
goodness. He published a sermpn at the
ordination of Joseph Green, 1725 ; of Eb.
G^y, jun. 1742 ; of J. Mayhew, 1747 ; of
J. Dbrby, 1752 ; of E. Carpenter, 1753 ;
ofG, Rawson, 1755; of Bunker Gay,
1763; of C. Gannett,1768 ; at the artillery
election ;on the transcendent glory ofthe
gospel, tp which is added a pillar of salt to
seasona corruptage,1728; on the death of
John Hancock,174,4;atthe election, 1745;
at the convention, 1746;Dudleian lecture,
1759 ;,two sermons on the death of Dr.
Mayhew, 1766; thanksgiving sermbn,
1771 ; the old man's calendar, 1781. —
Shute' s fun. ser.; Hist. col. x, 159;
Mass. cent. JVffl!rcA3P, 1^87.
GEE, Joshua, minister in Bpston,wa»
graduated at Harvard coUege in 1717,
and ordained pastor of the second or old
north church, as colleague with Cotton

QEORGIA.

409

Mather, Dec* 18, 1723. In 17S2 he re
ceived for his colleague Samuel Math
er, but a separation occurred, and a new
church was built for Mr. Mather. He
died May 22, 1748, aged 50. His wife,
the daughter of Rev. Mr. Rogers of
Portsmouth, an accorapUshed vyoman,
died in 1730 aged 29. A sermon on her
death was published by P. Thacher. He
possessed a strong and penetrating mind.
His powers of reasoning were very
uncommon. Few were more discern
ing, or could more completely develop
a subject. He possessed also a con
siderable share bf learning. His foi
ble was a strange indolence of temper.
He preferred talking with his friends to
every thing else. He published in 17-43
a letter tp Nathaniel EeUs, moderator of
a convention of pastors in Boston, con
taining some remarks on their printed-
testimony against disorders in the land.
Frorathis pamphlet it, appears, that there
was present in the convention not one
third of the pastors of MassC and that 'of
these, 70 in number, but a small majority
voted for the.last paTagfaph of the testi
mony, which caused 'such debates, res
pecting an attestation to the work, of
God's grace in a remarkable revival of
religion among the churches. Mr. Gee
complains of the testimony, that it is par-
tial;that it speaks ofthe prevalence of anii-
nomian but not of Arminian errors; that it
holds up to view the disorders consequent
upon the re-vival, and not the great and
beneficialeffects of the revival itself. He
was one of theassemblyof ministers,whb
met in Boston July 7, 1743, and gave
their attestation to the progress of reli
gion in this country. He pubUshed klsp
a sermon pn the death of Cotton Mather,
1728 ; two sermons, entitled, the. strait
gate and the narrow way infinitely pref
erable to the wide gate and the^ broad
Way, l7'29.^Histor. calx. 157; Prince's
Chr. hist., i. 164.
GEORGIA, one of tiie .United 'States
of America, was originally a part of Car
olina; It was granted to twenty pne
trustees- on the ninth of June 1732 by
king George II, and received its name
53

in honor of him. The desigri' of the
founders of this colony was -most benevo
lent and generous. It was intended to
strengthen the province of Carolina, to
open an asylum for the oppressed, and to
attempt the conversion of the natives.
The parliament gave 10,000?. to encour
age the design. ' The territory was by
charter erected into a sepalrate arid inde-
perident government for 21 years, at the
e.'ipiration of which period such a form of '
government was tp be established, as the
king should appoint. The trustees en
gaged immediately in the prosecutipn of
their design. - Large contributions were
obtained fbr tlie assistance of the poor,
who should engage in the settlement.
Jan. 15, 1733 James Oglethorpe, one of
the trustees, at the head of upwards of a
hundred persons, arrived at CaroUna.
He proceeded iminediately to- Savannah
river, arid, having fixed upon a spot fbr
commencing the plantatiori, his people
joined him on the first of February. On
the ninth, with the assistance of colonel ,
William Bull from Ashley river, he laid
out'the streets, squares, and forty lots for ,
houses, and the town was called Savan
nah, after the river, so denominated by
the Indians. A fort was soon completed
for the safety of the colony, and a treaty
was concluded with the eight tribes of
the lower Creek Indians. He told the
Indians, that he came ^' tb^ settle among'
them for their benefit and instruction. "
Every thing seemed to promise future
prosperity ; but some regulations were.
established,, which tended to retard its
growth, although considerable accessions
were' received from Scotland and Germa
ny. In 1787 the depredations,committed
by the Spaniards on the EngUsh by Sea,
threatening a war between the two pow-^
ers, a regiment of six hundred men was
sent to- Georgia for the protection of
that colony. .In l742 the Spaniards frpm
Florida invaded Georgia with near six
thousand men, including Indians ; but
the military skifl of Oglethorpe, under a
kind providence, was the means of saving
the coloriy. The charter was surrenderr
ed by the trustees to the king in 1752 in

410

GEORGIA.

consequence pf the languishing state of
the polony and bf the complaints of the
pepple. The fundamental regulations
were iU adapted tp the circurhstances of
the poor settlers, and to the situation of
the territory: The restrictions upon the
'descent, of estates drove settlers to other
colonies, where lands could be obtained on
better' terms, and held by a better tenure.
By the prohibition of negroes the culture
of the'lands was rendered difficult, and by
forbidding the importation of rum the
Colonists were cut off from much trade
with the West Indies, as well as from
an article, whieri was thought necessary
tb .health, especially by those, whose
taste was eager for it. A royal govern
ment vvas now establis'hed, and the peo
ple were favored with the same privileges, '
which were enjoyed by their neighbors in
CaroUna. From 17^2 to the peace of Paris in
1763' (Jeorgia struggled with many diffi
culties, arising from the want of, credit,
and the frequent molestations of enemies.
The good effects Of the peace were soon
perceived. From this, time it flourished
under the care of governor Wright.
This colony united with the other colo
nies in opposition to Great Britain in the
summer of 1775, and appointed delegates
to attend the continental congress. Du
ring the war it was' overrun by^the Brit
ish troops, and the inhabitants were obli
ged to flee into the neighboring states for
safety. Since the war population, agri
culture, and commerce have increased
with great rapidity, though the frontiers
have suffered much from the frequent at
tacks ofthe Creek Indians. ,A treaty was
concluded with theni by the United
States August 13, 1790, since which time
immigrations have been numerous.
Georgia by an act of the legislature,
passed Jan. 7, 1795, sold to four different
companies about twenty two million
acres of its webtem territory, and the pur
chase money, amounting to five hUndred
thousand dollars, was paid into the state
treasury. By an act of the next legisla
ture, passed Feb. 13, 1796, the law rela
ting to the sale pf trip said lands was de

clared, on the ground of bribery and cor
ruption, unconstitutional and void, and
the records were ordered to be burned.
By these proceedings the purchasers,
under the original companies, were pla
ced in a most unpleasant situation. The
constitution of Georgia was revised and
adopted in its jiresent form by a conven
tion of the state May SO, . 1 7 98. By the
articles of this constitution the governor
is to be elected by the general assembly
for the term of two years ; the judges of
the superior court to be chosen for 'the
terrii pf three years, and to be Uable tp
removal by the governor on the address
of two thirds of both houses of the legis
lature. In other respects the constitution
of this state differs but Uttle from that of
Massachusetts. In 1802 Georgia' ceded
the sovereignty and her rights as to the
Cherokee lands to the U. S. for
1,250,000 doll, and the U. S. agreed to
extinguish, as soon as conlA peaceably be
done on reasonable terms, the Indian
title. In 1831 a law was passed, that no
white person should reside in the Chero
kee territory without a license from the
governor, on taking a certain oath. The
design of the layv, as afterwards avowed
by the legislature, was" in order to effect
the removal ofthe Indians," and particu
larly to destroy " the influence," meaning
that of christian ifilssionaries among the
Indians, " which was at war with the in
terest of Georgia." For refusing to'take
this oath and to remo-ve,two missionaries,
Rev. S. Worcester and Dr. E. Butler,
who had entered on their labors by en
couragement of the United States' gov
ernment, were sentenced in 1831 to the
penitentiary fbr four years, and shut up
ui the prison house of Georgia. Their
case was brought up to the Supreme court
of the U. S. at Washington, and by that
court it was decided, March 3, 1832, that
the laws pf Georgia in regard to the Che
rokees were " null and void, " being re
pugnant to the constitution of the U. S.
and to solemn treaties and acts of the na
tional government. Such is the state of
things at the moment of sending this ar
ticle to the press. It remains to be seen.

GEHRISH.

GERRY.

411

whether Georgia, agreeably to the utter
ed wishes of her representative in con
gress, wiU madly raise the standard of re
bellion, or, in obedience ti) wiser counsels,
will retrace the steps of injustice and
oppression and by adhering to the Union
save herself from abandonment and ruin.
— Hewatt'sacountafS. C. and Georgia;
Wynne, n. 301-315; British emp. in
America, i. 525-541 ; Holmes.
GERRISH, Joseph, minister of Wen
ham, Mass., the son of capt. Wm. G. of
Newbury, was born March 23, 1 650 ;
graduated in 1669 ; was ordained as suc
cessor of A. Newman in 1673 ; and died
Jan. 6, 1720, aged 69. His wife was a
daughter of maj. Waldron of Dover: his
son, Joseph, was a minister. His broth
ers, Benj. of Salem, John of Dover, and
Moses of Newbury, with many of their
descendants, were distinguished men.
John Dunton calls him Mr. Geery r his
description of him is thus given ;-^" the
philosopher is acute, ingenious, and sub-
tle» The divine curious, orthodox, and
profound. The man of a majestic air,
without austerity or sourness ; his aspect
is masterly and great, yet not imperious
or haughty. The christian is devout,
without moroseness or starts of holy fren
zy and enthusiasm. The preacher is
primitive, without the accessional colors
of whining or cant ; and methodical,
without intricacy, or affectation, and,
which crowns his character, he , is a man
ofa public spirit, zealous for the conver
sion, of the Indians, and of great hospitali
ty to strangers. He gave us a noble
dinner, and entertained us with such plea
sant fruits, as, I must own. Old England
is a stranger to." — 2 Hist.col. n. 120.
GERRY, Elbridge, vice-president of
theU..S.,was born in Marblehead, Mass.,
July 17, 1744. His father, a merchant,
came to this country in 1730 and died in
1774. After graduating at Harvard col
lege in 1762, he devoted hiraself for sev
eral years to coraraercial pursuits, and ac
quired a corapetent estate. Being a mem
ber of the legislature in 1773, he was ap
pointed on the important coraraittee of
inquiry and correspondence. In his pat

riotic labors he was the associate of Ad
ams, Hancock, and Warren,^ The pro
vincial congress of 1775 appointed him on
the committee of pubUc safety and sup
pUes. ' The committee had been in ses
sion at Menotomy, then a part of Cam
bridge. Mr. Gerry and col. Orne werein
bed, when the approach - of the British
troops induced thera to flee haff dressed
to a neighboring corn-field, where they
remained, while the troops searched eve
ry apartment ofthe house in order tp find
them. To the provincial congress "he
proposed the very important measure of
passing laws for the encouragement of
privateers and for the establishment ofa,
court of admiralty; and he and Mr. Sufli-
van were the committee to draw up the .
act for that purpose. Elected to the con
tinental congress, he took his seat Feb.
9, 1776, and continued in that body with
some intervals, untfl Sept. 1785. .He
served on various important committees.
His skiU in finance rendered him particu
larly useful. ,In 1787 -^he was deputed to
the cpnvention, which framed the consti
tution ofthe U. S. He was opposed to
the plan adopted, deeming the executive
and judicial powers perilous, and some of
the legislative powers ambiguous and
dangerous, and, thinking that the consti
tution had few federal features and was
rather a system pf national government.
He retained his objections. In 1809 the
writer bf this heard him express his opin
ion, that the president had,powers,which
few were aware of, and which, he hoped
would never be exerted. Under the con-
stjtption he served four years as a member
of congress. In 1797 he was appointed
by Mr. Adams minister to the French re
pubUc,with Mr.Marshall and gen. Pinck
ney. When, in 1798, his colleagues
were sent away from France, he was in
vited to reiriain. His services were use
ful in preserving peace. In 1810 he was
elected governor as successor of Mr. Gbre,
and was succeeded in 1812 by Mr. Strong.
By mistake Mr. Goodrich, states, that he
wasgovernor in 1805. March 4, 1813 he,
was inaugurated the vice president of the
United States, Mr. Madison being presi-

412.

GIBBONS.

GILES.

dent. Hedied suddenly at Washington
Nov. 23, 1814, aged 70. His daughter
married James T. Austin of Boston, the
author of memoirs of his Life. — Good
rich's lives; Austin's life of Gerry.
GIBBONS, Edward, general, came to
this country as early as 1629 ; in a few
years he was a representative of Boston ;
frorii 1649 to 1651 he was major general,
in which office, elective by the people an
nually like that of governor, he was suc
ceeded by Robert Sedgwick ; and he
died Dec- 9, 1654. He was a- worthy
member of Mr. Wilson.'s church. Hav
ing advanced to La Tour more than
2500J., secured by mortgage of his fort
and lauds in Acadia, when D'Aulnay cap
tured La Tour's fort, maj. Gibbons was
by the loss "quite undone." — 2 Hist, eol
vu 4,98. ,
GIBSON, John, general, a soldier of
the French and revolutionary wars, was
' born in Lancaster, Penns.., in May 1740,
and was well educated. . He early, served
ynder gen. Forbes in the expedition to
fort du, Q,uesne,which was occupied Nov.
25, 1773 and called Pittsburg. Here he
remained as an Indian trader. In 1783
he was captured by the Indians, and adop
ted by a squaw, whose son he had slain
in battie. He had thus .opportunity to
acquire a knbwledge of several Indian
-languages. On being released, he again
settled at Pittsburg. In 1774 he was an
important agent in making the Indian trea-
ty,enteredintoby gov.Dunmore. On this
occasion Logan's celebrated speech was
delivered, of which col. Gibson was the
interpreter. Ori the comm.Pncement of
the revplutiPnary war he was appointed
the coloriel of a Virginia rg^iment, of
which he was in command at the close of
the war. Residing at Pittsburg, he was
in 1788 a meraber of the Penns. conven
tion ; he was also associate judge and
maj. gen. ofthe miUtia. In 1800 he was
appointed secretary ofthe territory of In
diana, geri. Harrison being governor ; an
office which he held till the territory be
came a state in 1816., Being afflicted
with ah incurable cataract, he removed to
" Braddock's fields," near Vincennes, the

residence ofhis son in law, George Wal-
lace,where hedied in May 1822, aged 81.
GILBERT, Raleigh, -a patentee of
N. E., nephew of sir Walter Raleigh,
commanded a vessel in the expedition of
100 men, who attempted a settlement at
the mouth of the Sagadahoc or Kenne
bec in 1 607. They sailed -from Plymouth
the last of May; arrived at Monhegan isl
and Aug. 1 1 ; and soon landed on the west
shore of Kennebec at cape Small point,
now in Phipsburg. They buflt a fort and
called it St. George. Dec. 5th the two
ships returned, leaving forty five persons.
George Pophani was chosen president and
Gilbert the admira'l.. In the spring-,when
suppUes were brought, intelUgence wag
received of thedeath of sir Johli Gilbert,
to whom Raleigh Gilbert was the heir :
he therefore determined to return, and
Mr. Pophara having died, and- the stbre
house being burnt, the whole colony
went back with him to England tb the
great discouragement ofthe first under
takers." GILES, William Branch,.goyernor of
Virginia, was for many years a member
of congress. He was a representative as
early as 1796. ' Iri 1802 he voted for. the
repeal of the judiciary law, arid in 1812
he .voted for the war. He was elected to
the senate in Jan. 1811, and resigned his
office in Oct. 1815. He was again a can
didate for election to the senate in 1825,
but his rival, Mr. Randolph,was chosen.
In 1826 he Was chosen governor and con
tinued in office tUl 1829. He died at his
residence the Wigwam, Amelia county,
Dec. 8, 1830, at an advanced age: He
published a speech bn the, embargo laws,
1808; in NoV. 1813 political letters to
the people of Virginia; a series of letters,
signed a Constituent, in the Richmond
Enquirer of Jan. 1818, against the plan
for a general education ; in April 1824 a
singular letter of invective against presi
dent Monroe and . Mr. Clay for their
"hobbies," "the Sbuth America cause,
the Greek cause. Internal improvements,
and the Tariff:" In Nov. 1825 he ad
dressed a letter to judge Marshall, dis
claiming the expressions, not the general

GILLEY.

GIRARD.

413

sentiments,. in regard to Washington, as
cribed to him in debate of 1796 inthe
life of Washington, V. 722.
GILLEY, John, died at Augusta,
Maine, July 9 , 1 8 1 3, aged 1 24. He was
a native of Irelarid. When he came
to fort Western about 1755 to en
list as a j^soldier, capt. Howard deemed
him too old. He had enjoyed fine
health, and was singularly active and
vigorous. In 18U he could walk four
miles to the bridge.
GILMAN,Tristram,rainister of North
Yarmouth, Maine, was the son of Rev.
Nicholas G. of Durham, N. H., who
died Apr. 13, 1748, aged 41, and a des
cendant of Edward G. of Exeter. He
was born in 1735,; graduated at Harvard
college in 1757 ; was ordained Dec. 8,
1769 as successor of Edward Brooks ;
and died Aprfl 1, 1809, aged 74, leaving
seven children. His successor, Francis
Brown, married his daughter. — He wasa
faithful, useful, highly respected riiinister.
A revival of refigion attended his labors in
1791 arid 1792, when 132 members were
added to the church. During the whole
period of his ministry 293 were admitted,
and 1344 baptized. He was tie first
president of the Maine mlssionarr socie
ty. — Panoplv. 1-4.
GILMAN, John Taylor, govenor of
New Harapshire,' was the son of Nicho
las Gilmari and Ann Taylor, daughter of
Rev. John Taylor of Milton,Mass.; born
at Exeter Dec. 19, 1753. He received
the- usual education of those, who were
- not designed for the learned professions.
The morning after the news of the battle
of Lexington he marched as a volunteer
with a hundred others to Cambridge. He
was also employed to assist his father,the
' treasurer of the state. In Oct. 1780 he
was the delegate from New Hampshire
to the covention at Hartford to provide
for the common defence. After being a
member of congress in 1782, he succeed
ed his father as treasurer in 1783. When
the confederated govcTriment appointed
three commissipners to settle thd ac
counts of the different states, he was
joined with Irvine and Kean. On re

signing this place in 1791 he was ire-cho
sen treasurer of N. H., and was vefy
faithful and useful.. In 1794 he was cho
sen governor as successor tb Bartlett,
and was. annually re-elected until 1805,
when he was succeeded by Langdon. He
was again elected in 1813, and the two
next years, but declined and was succee
ded in 1816 by Plumer, whom he had
succeeded in 1813. The legislature in a
farewell address acknowledged his lorig
and important services. In the political
divisions of the times hewas known as a
decided federalist. ¦ He died at Exeter in
Sept. 1828, aged 74. — Amer. ann. reg.
1827-9. j9. 182-194.
GIRARD, Stephen, a man of wealth,
diedat Philadelphia Dec. 26, 1831, aged
83, leaving an estate of 10 pr 15 mil
lions of dollars. He was a native of
Bordeaux in France ; came to this coun
try before the revolution ; and had lived
in Philadelphia about 50 years. He was
first a cabin boy ; then the mate of a
ship; then the keeper of a tap shop;
afterwards a merchant do-syn to the year
1811; arid for the remainder- of his life
a bariker. The notes of his bank were
deemed ,as good, as those of any incor
porated institution. In 1811 he pur
chased the banking house and 1,?0 0,000
dol. worth of the stock of the old bank
ofthe U. S., and commenced banking in
1812. At last his bank capital was i^i-
creased to 5 miUions. His other proper
ty was iri real estate iri the city, stock in
the Schuylkill navigation and -Chesapeak
canal companies, lands in Mississippi,
shipping, &c. ' He owned the great.
square between 11th and 12th and Chest
nut streets. His particular bequests
amount to upwards of 3 milUons ; the
residue of his estate is given to Philadel
phia for improvements in the city. The
following are some of the thousands of dol
lars bequeathed; 2 to a brother; 10 to sev
eral nephews & nieces; lO to the orphans'
asylum; 10 to purchase Wood for the poor;
10 to the society of ship masters ; 20 to.
the asylum for the deaf and dumb ; 20 to
the freemason's lodge ; 30 to the Penns.
hospital,; 110 to the city ; 120 in various

414

GIST.

GODDARD.

legacies to individuals ; , 300 to the state
foririternal improvements; arid ^millions
for a college for poor white children. The
building is to-be of three stories, 110 'feet
by 160, to be erected at Peel Hall, on the
fi-idge Road, Penn township ; to be en
closed by a wall, lO feet high, capped
with marble "and guarded with irons on
the top." The. scholars are to be or
phans from Penns., N. York, (the first
pprt, at which he arrived,) and New Or
leans, (the first port, at which he traded
as first officer,) and must be between 6
and ten years old; when between 14]
and 18 years old they are to be bound
out by the corporation ofthe city to me
chanical trades, agriculture, &c. There
is also the following provision, " I enjoin
and require,-that no ecclesiastic, mission
ary, or minister of any sect whatever
shall ever' hold or exercise any station or
duty whatever in the said cbllege ; nor
shall any such person ever be admitted
for any purpose, or as visitor, within the
premises, appropriated to the purposes of
said college." He wished, that the or
phans, after they left the college, might
adopt "such religious tenets, as their ma
tured reason may enable them to prefer.".
He thus wished to carry into effect the
exploded project of Rousseau, not consid
ering, that the religious sentiments and
character are. necessarily settled, for the
most part, before a young man is 16 or
18 years of age; not considering, that
-prhether for learning or reUgion an early
training of children and youth is imjior-
tant. However, -while ecclesiastics may
not'see.the inside of Mr. Girard's iron-
capped college -walls, his teachers are to
inculcate "the purest principles of morali
ty:" those teachers wiU be either infidels
or christians; if christians, they will teach
their pupfls the only pure inojality from
the revealed code of moral iristructiori in
the New Testament bf Jesus Christ, in-
cludihg that fear and love of God, which
constitute the sole basis of moral virtue.-
His bequests were large ; but true liber
ality may be seen in the life of Solomon
Goodell. GIST, Mbrdecai, a brigadier general

in the Ameripan war, commanded one of
the Maryland brigades in the battle pf
Camden Aug. 16, 1780. In Aug. 1782
he defeated' a party of the British at
Combakee ferry. He died at Charleston,
S. C, in Sept 179^.— Marshall, ,iv.
178; Holmes.
GLOVER, Thomas, pubUshed in vol,
XI of transactions ofthe royal society ah
Account of Virginia, its situation, tem
perature, productions, &c.' He relates,
that when alone in a sloop in the Rappa-
hannoc, 3 leagues from the mouth, he
I heard "a great rushing and flashing of the
water, " and that looking,' he saw near
him " a most prodigious creature, much
resembling a man, standing right up in ¦
the water, with his head, neck, shoul
ders, breast, and waist to the cubits ofhis
arms above water. His skin was tawny
much Uke that ofan Iridian; his head
pyramidal and sleek without hair ; his
eyes large and black, and so were his eye
brows ; his mouth very wide, with a
broad,black streak on the upper lip, tur
ning upwards at each end like nausta-.
Chios ; his countenance grim and terri
ble. " I After gazing a sufficient time at
Mr. Gbver, -the animal plunged down,
and ca^ his tail above water, like the tail
ofa fisli. He speaks also of a dreadful
storm |n Aug. 1667, which lasted 3 days,
destroying the tobacco; &c.
GODDARD, William, a printer, the
son of Dr. Giles G., postmaster at New
London, Gon., was born in 1740. In
1762 he commenced the Providence ga
zette ; in 1766 he went to Philadelphia
and commenced the Penn. chronicle un
der the patronage of Joseph Galloway ;
in 1773 he conimenced the Maryland
journal at Baltimore, where be formed an
intimate acquaintance with gen. Cha.
Lee; who bequeathed him a part of his ,
estate in Berkeley county. In 1775
Franklin appointed him comptroUer of the
post office. In 1792 he relinquished the
journal, and afterwards resided in R. Isl
and. He died at Providence Dec. 23,
1817^ aged 77. He married a Miss An^
geU of Providenpe, taking, as his friends
said,"an angel for his wife". He pubUshed

GODFREY.

416

a history of the P. chronicle, 1770,—
Thomas, i. 427 ; ii. 63, 134—140.
GODFREY, Thomas, the inventor of
Hadley's quadrant, was by trade a glaiier
in the city of Philadelphia. The extent
of his education was only to read, and
Write, and apply the common rules of
arithmetic. Having met with a mathe
matical book he was so delighted with
the study, that, without an instructer he
soon iriade himself master of it, and of
every book of the kind, which he could
procure. in English. Finding, that the
knowledge of the Latin would open to
him new treasures of mathematical sci
ence, he appHed hiraself to the study of
that language, till he was enabled to read
a Latin author on his favorite subject.
He then borrowed Newton's principia of
Mr. Logan, to whom about the year
1730 he communicated his inverition of
the quadrant. The royal society of Lon-.
don, being made acquainted -with it in
1732 by means of Mr. Logan , sent .Mr.
-Godfrey as a reward household furniture
tp the value of 200?. Money was not sent
on account ofa habit of intemperance, to
which the artist was subject. The fol
lowing is an account ofthe invention and
of the method, by- which he Was de
prived of the honor of the invention.
While- replacing a pane of glass pn the
north side pf Arch street, opposite a
pump, a girl, after filling her pail,placed it
on the path way.. Turning round, Godfrey
observed the rays of the sun reflected
from his window into the bucket of water.
He Was trius led to conceive,' that if by
reflection he cbuld draw the sun down to
, the horizon, he should have an instru
ment incomparably superior to the pig-
yoke, then in use. He formed his model
in wood, and carried pieces" to Charles
Hainm, who completed for him an instru
ment in brass. This was committed to
Godfrey'sbrother, a captain in the West
Indian trade, who on arriving at Jariiaica..
and exhibiting the quadrant to some of-^
fairs of the British navy, was tempted by
a captain Hadley to sell it to him for a
large sum of riioney. Hadley carried the
instrument to London and placed it iri the

handsof his brother, q mathematical In
strument maker in the Strand, and ob
tained a patent. — According tp anothpr
account John Hadley, eomriianding a ves
sel in the Delaware, was allowed to see
the instrument and took a description of
it. The American Encyclopedia states,
that May 13, 1731 John Hadley, vice
president of the royal society, presented a
paper, describing the quadrant, and
that the society decided, that both Had
ley and Godfrey were entitled to the hon
or of the invention. Mr. Godfrey died
in Philadelphia Dec. 1749. He was a
member of a literary club, established by
Dr. Franklin, and having confined his at
tention to mathematical pursuits, he was
almost insufferable in conversation, re
quiring an unusual precision in every
thing, which was said, continually con
tradicting, and making trifling distinc
tions. — Miller'sretr. i. 468 ; Amer. mag.
for July and Aug.1758; Franklin's life;
Pref. to Godfrey's poems; Bost. chron.
Aug. 1, 1821 ; Nat Reg. iv. 155.
GODFREY, Thomas, a poet, the son
ofthe preceding, was bornin Philadelphia
in 1736. The only advantages of educa
tion, which he enjoyed, were found in a
common EngUsh school. > Such however
was his desireof knowledge, that he pros
ecuted his studies with Unwearied dili-
dence ; and, ht^ving perused the best of
the English poets, he soon exhibited
proofs bf poetical talents. He had a fine
ear fpr music, and a taste for painting.
After the death -of his father, he was
put an apprentice to an ingenious watch
maker ; but the muses and graces, poe
try aud jiainting stole his attention. He
devoted all his hours of release from me-.
chanical labor to. writing the poetical
pieces,which were published fli the Amer*
ican magazine. At length he was recom
mended to a lieutenant's commission in
the Pennsylvania forces, raised in 1758
for an expedition against fort du Quesne.
In this station he continued, tfll the
troops were disbanded, He was settled
in the succeeding spring as a fac
tor in North CaroUna, where ' he
continued upyvtirfls of three years. -He

416

GODMAN.

died near Wilmington of a fever, occa
sioried by violent exprcise in a very warm
day, Aug. 3, 1763, aged 26. With an
amiable disposition and an engaging dif
fidence and modesty of manners he Uni
ted an integrity of character, which pro
cured him esteem and respect. The pro
ductions ofhis pen were collected by his
friend, Mr.Evans, and published in 1765,
entitled, Juvenile poems on various sub
jects, with the prince of Parthia, a trage
dy. — Account prefixed to poems; Amer
ican mus., VI. 471, 472.
GODMAN, John, D., an eminent an
atomist and naturalist, was born at An
napolis in Maryland. His parents died,
while he was yet young. Being without
property, he was indented an apprentice
to a printer in Baltimore ; but, disgusted
with the employment,he entered as a sailor
in 1813 in the- flotilla, then stationed in
the Chesapeak. At the close ofthe war,
being allowed to follow his own inclina
tions, he commenced the study of medi
cine at the age of 15, at first under Dr.
Lucket of Lancaster, but Soon under Dr.
Davidge of Baltimore, professor of anato
my. He was indefatigable in his toils to
acquire learning. Before he graduated,
he was called to supply the place ofhis
preceptor in the anatomical chair; and he
lectured for several weeks with such
enthusiasm and eloquence, as to gain
high applause. Soon after he obtained
his degree, he settied in a smaU village in
Anne-Arundel county and entered with
energy upon the active duties of bis pro
fession. At this period he commenced
the study of natural history, for which he
ever afterwards had a strong, -passion.
He removed to Baltimore, and, after his
marriage, to Philadelphia. Being invited
to the professorship of anatomy in the col
lege of Ohio, he spent a year at the west
and then returned -to Philadelphia, where
he willingly retired from the field of prac
tice and devoted himself to scientific pur
suits. Determined to be a thorough
teacher of anatomy, be opened a room
for private demonstrations, and in the
first winter had a class of 70 students.
His incessant toils and exposure to the

foul atmbsphere of the dissecting rpom
laid the foundation of the disease, of
which he died. After prosecuting his
anatomical labors four or five years,
he was chosen professor of anatomy in
Rutgers medical college in New York.
With a broken constitution, he was com
pelled, before the completion ofhis sec
ond course of lectures, to retire from the
school and to seek a milder climate. Af^
ter passing the winter in Santa Cruz, he
settled in Germantown, near Philadelphia.
His disease was still advancing ; yet with
unabated ardor he prosecuted his literary
and scientific employments not for
fame, but for the support ofhis family
and the welfare of his fellow men. He
died April 17, 1830, aged 31.
Dr. Godman like many other young
physicians, adopted the infideUty and
atheism of the French naturalists of the
last century. For a time he not only re
jected revelation, but was blind to the
strong proofs of the existence of God,
which are presented continually to the
eye ofthe anatomist and the student of
nature. A depraved, unrenewed heart
extinguished the Ught of reason. But,
while lecturing at New York in the win
ter of 1827, he visited the death bed of a
student of medicine, in whose joyous an
ticipations of heaven and triumph over
death he saw a pbenomenon,which philos
ophy could not comprehend. This event
led him to read the Bible ; and the secret ,
was unfolded. From this time he stud
ied the scriptures. He obtained the
Christian hope ; and.he died in peace, in
his last hour commending his family to
the Father of the fatherless and the wid
ow's God, then with uplifted eyes and
hands and a beaming countenance resign
ing his spirit to his Redeemer. In one of
his writings he says, " did I not in all
things feel most thoroughly convinced,
that the overruling of our plans by an all
wise Providence is always for good, I
might regret, that a part of my plan can
not be executed. This was to state a
few curious incidents from among the
events of my most singularly guided Ufe,
which in addition to mere novelty or pe-

GODMAN.

GOERING.

417

culiarity of character, could" not have fail
ed practically tb fllustrate the importance
of - inculcating correct reUgious and moral
principles and imbuing the mind there
with from the very earliest dawn of intel
lect ; from the very moment, that the ut
ter imbecility of infancy begins to disap
pear!" — "Notwithstanding the life of
neglect, sinfulness, and perversion of
heart, which I so long- led, before it pleas
ed Him to dash all my idols in the dusst, 1
feel an humble hope in the boundless
mercy of our blessed Lord and Savior,
who alone can save the soul from merited
condemnation. May it be in the power of
those, who chance to read these UneS,to say,
into thy hands I commitmyspirit,for thou
bast redeemed me, O Lord ! thou God of
truth. " In the last sickness of his friend,
Dr. Judson, an infidel, the brother
of the missionary , he addressed to him a
letter, which was the means of his conver
sion, pointing out the way pf conquering
the fear of death: "HumiUation of pride,
denialofself, subjection of evil tempersand
-dispositions, and an entire submission to
the will of God-for support and direction
are the best preparatives for such an ap
proach. " He says, that the Savior in
the gospel " shows how awfully corrupt
is man's nature and how deadly his pride
and stubbornness of heart, -which causes
him to try every subterfuge to avoid the
humiliating confession of his" own weak
ness, ignorance, and folly. But the same
blessed hand has stripped death of all bis
terrors, which brooded around the grave,
and converted the gloomy repeptacle of
our mortal remains into the portal of life
.and light! "— " Philosophy is a fool, and
pride a madman. Many persons die with
what is called manly firmness ; — they
put on as smboth a face, as they can, to
impose on the spectators, and die firmly.
But this' is all deception ; the true state of
their minds at the very time, nine times
out-of ten, is worse than the most horri
ble inriaginirigs even of hell itseff. —But
the man. Who dies as a man ought to die,
is the humble riiinded, believing chris
tian.— He does not die manfully, but
he rests in Jesus. " ¦
63

Dr. Godman was a distinguished schol
ar. With a limited education he yet ac
quired a knowledge of the Latin, Greek,
French, Spanish, and Italian languages.
His industry was astonishing; Itwas'his
purpose to accomplish thoroughly what
ever he undertook. He concentrated all
his'powers upon the pursuit, in which he'
was engaged. The most, striking, char
acter of his mind was a fertile fancy, yet
controlled by a sound judgment. His '
talent at description is exhibited in his
history of American quadrupeds and his
Rambles ofa naturalist. , His addresses
are compositions of highly-wrought elo
quence. At one tirae he was the princi
pal editor ofthe Philadelphia journal of
the medical and physical sciences. He
wrote the articles on natural history for
the American Encyclopedia to the end of
letter C, besides numerous papers in the -
periodical journals of the day. .-Hepub
lished the western quarterly reporter of
medical science;, &c. Cincinnati, 1822 ;
account of irregularities of structure and
morbid anatomy ; contributions to phys
iological and pathological anatomy ;. Bell's
anatomy, with notes ; anatomical investir
gatipns, comprising descriptions of various
fasciae ofthe body, 1324 ; American natu
ral history, with engravings, 3 vols. 1828;
addresses on various public occasions
.1829; rambles ofa naturalist. — Prof,
Sewall's eulogy.
GOERING, Jacob, minister of the
German Lutheran chufch in York, Penns.
commenced the labors ofthe sacred office,
when only 20 years of age, and it pleased
,God to give such success to his faithful
exertions at this early period of Ufe, that
a revival of reUgion always attended his
preaching. ' He died in 1807, aged 52.
He was a president ofthe synod ofthe
German Lutheran church in the states of
Pennsylvania, Marylarid, and 'Virginia,,
He was a man of profound erudition ;
and among the languages, with which -he
was acquainted, the Hebrew and Arabic
were his favorites. Though warmly in
terested in his country's welfare, he yet
decUned a civil station,, in which his fej-
Ipw citizens would gladly have placed

418

GOFFE.

him, dedicating himself wholly to the
ministry. He died in the full assurance
of obtaining and enjoying a perpetual
happiness through the merits ofhis Re
deemer. — Brown's Amer. reg. ii. 84, 85.
GOFFE, William, one of the judges
of king Charles I, and a major general
under Cromwell, left London before
Charles II was proclaimed and arrived at
Boston with general Whalley in July
1660. Governor Endicott gave them a
friendly reception. But when the act of
indemnity arrived in Nov., and their
names were not found among those, to
whom pardon was offered, the govern
ment of Mass. was alarmed. Perceiving
their danger, they left Cambridge, where
they had resided, Feb. 26, 1661, and ar
rived at New Haven March 7th. They
were here concealed by deputy governor
Leet, and Mr. Davenport. From New
Haven they went to West Rock, a moun
tain '300 feet in height at the distance of
two or three miles from the town, where
they were hid in a cave. They after
wards Uved in concealment at Milford,
Derby, and Branford , andin Oct. 1664
removed to Hadley in Mass., and were
concealed for 15 or 16 years in the house
of Mr. Russel, the minister. On the first
of Sept 1675 the town of Hadley was
alarmed by the Indians in the time of
public, worship, and the people were
thrown into the utmost confusion. But
suddenly an aged, venerable man in un
common dress appeared in the midst of
them, revived their courage, and, putting
himself at their head, led them to the attack
and repulsed the enemy. The deUverer
of Hadley immediately disappeared,and the
inhabitants, overwhelmed with astonish
ment, supposed, that an angel had been-
sent for their protection. He died in
Hadley, it iis thought, about the year
1679. Under the oppression of constant
fear during his resuience in this country,
his mind, seems to have found some relief
in the consolations of religion. — Stiles'
hist of the judges; Hutchinson, i. 215 —
219, 532; Holmes.:
GOLDSBOROUGH, Robert, a pa
triot of the revolution, was graduated at

GOODELL.
Philadelphia college in 1760,and was after
wards attorney , general of Maryland,
which office he resigned in 1768. In Aug.
1775 he was elected to congress, and em
barked his large fortune in the cause of
his country. He died at Cambridge,
Md., Dec. 31, 1788.
GOOCH, William sir, maj. general,
and governor of Virginia from 1727 to
1749, sustained an excellent character,
and was popular in his administration.
He had superior military talents, and
commanded the forces in the unsuccess
ful attack on Carthagena in 1740. '
GOODELL, Solomon, a man of Uber-
ality, died at Jamaica, Vermont, in Sept
1815, aged 70. At no time was his prop
erty worth 5, 000 dollars. He was a far
mer, living in a rude spot in the neigh
borhood of the Green mountains ; all his
property was gained by severe personal la
bor, and saved by strict frugality ; yet
his liberality was such, as might shame
Mr. Girard, the possessor of 15 milUons
of dollars. About the year 1800 he gave
lOOdoUs. tothe Con. missionary society,
and the same sum for several successive
years. When the American board of
foreign missions was established, he sent
notice, that he wished to subscribe 500
doll, for imraediate use and 1, 000 for the
fund, while yet it was not in his power
to forward only 50 doU. as earnest money.
He fulfilled his engagemeiit, and paid in
terest on the proposed 1 ,000 until he made
provision fbr its payment just before his
death, adding to it another 1,000. The
amount of his donations for missions to
the heathen, besides other charities, was
3, 686 doll. He had also provided for his
children and his wife. He was a baptist,
yet most of his donations were intrusted .
to the hands of his fellow christians, not
baptists. In this way he proved, that he
was no sectarian : not, like Mr. Girard,
by contemning all religions alike. The
power, that moved him to his self deny
ing distributions in his life,— not, like
Mr. Girard, when he could hold and.ac-
curaulate no longer,~wa3 a settied relig
ious principle ; a conviction, that aU his
property was the gift of God and that it

GOODRICH.
vyas his duty to employ it for the highest
and noblest of all purposes , that of pro
moting the knowledge of the gospel
of his Redeemer and the inef
fable blessedness of eternal salvation
through that knowledge among his fel
low men, whom he was bound to love, as
he loved himself.
GOODRICH, Elizur, d.d., minister
of Durham, Conn, was bornin Wethers
field Nov. 6, 1734, and wasgraduated at
Yale college in 1752. He was ordained
to the work of the ministry Nov. 24,
1756. After his character as an excel
lent minister and a friend of literature was
established, he was chosen in 1776 a mem
ber of the corporation of Yale college.
He died at Norfolk in Nov. 1797, aged
63. Dr. Goodrich conciliated the esteem
ofhis acquaintance, and was faithful in all
the relations of Ufe. He was distinguish
ed ' for his Uterary and scientific acquire
ments, as well as for his piety and patri
otism. As a preacher, he followed the
examples of the apostles, preaching re
pentance and faith... He taught his hear
ers, that man was depraved, and guilty,
and lost, condemned by the law, andhav-
ing no hope but in Christ, and that salva
tion was of grace and not of works.^-
Dwight's fun. serm.
GOODRICH, Chauncy, lieut govern
br of Con., the son ofthe preceding, was
born at Durham OCt. 20, 1759 ; was
graduated in 1776 at Yale college, where
hewas a tutor from 1779 to 1781. .En
gaging in the practice ofthe law at Hart
ford, he soon rose to eminence. From
1794 to 1800 he was a representative in
congress, and senator from 1807 until his
resignation in 1813, when he was chosen
lieut. governor. He was also mayor of
Hartford. He died suddenly ofa drop
sy in the heart Aug. 18, 1815, aged 55.
He survived two wives, but left no chil
dren. He was a man of energy of mind,
of integrity, moderatiori, and amenity of
manners. Several months before his
death he appUed for admission to^
the church, but, in consequence of his
infirmity of bbdy, had not been re
ceived." He remarked, "a rabral life of

GOOKIN.

419

itself is nothing for the salvation of the
soul. I have Uved a moral life in the es
timation ofthe world ; bfitl am a bundle
of iniquity in the sight of a holy God.
If there were not an atonement, I must
be condemned and miserable forever." —
Strong's fun. serm.
Gookin, Daniel, author ofthe hist.
collections of the Indians in . New Eng
land, and major general of Mass., was
bom in the county of Kent in England.
He came to Virginia in 1621 with his
father, who brought cattle to the colony
from Ireland, and who established him
self at a plantation, called Newport's
Neves. In the year 1642 Mr. Thomson
and other ministers frora Mass. were
sent to Virginia tb preach, the gospel to
a people, but little acquainted with the
truth. When they were forCed tp with
draw from this colony, because they
would not conform to the church of
England, such .was the attachment of Mr.
Gookin . to their preaching, that hesoon
followed them. In 1644 he removed
with his family to New England, and
settled in Cambridge, that he might en
joy the ordinances of the gospel in their
purity. Soon after his arrival he was
appointed captain of the military compa
ny in Cambridge, and a member of the
house of deputies. In 1652 he was
elected assistant or magistrate, and four
years after was appointed by the general
court superintendent of all the Indians,
who had submitted to the governmerit of
Mass. He executed this office with Sjuch
fidelity, that he was continued in it tifl
his death. In 1656 he visited England,
and had an interview with Crpmwell,
who coraraissioned him to invite the
people of Mass. to transport themselyes
to Jamaica, which had been conquered
from the Spaniards. 'In 1662 he was
appointed, , with Mr. Mitchell, one of
the licensers of the printing press in
Cambridge. When Philip's war com
menced in 1675, several, severe latys
were passed against the friendly Indians,-
to whom religious instruction had been
imparted, through apprehension, that
they would join the enemy, and the rage

420

GOOKIN.

of the people against , their .red colored
brethren was violent and alarming. Mr.
Eliot stood forth as the ftiend and .pro
tector ofthe Indians, and Mr. Gookin,
who had zealously co-operate'ji with Mr.
Eliot in his benevolent exertions, and
who^ frequently .accompanied him in his
missionary' tours, was equally their
friend. He' Was the only magistrate, who
endeavored to prevent the outrages of
the populace. He Was in consequence
much abused, and even insulted as he
passed the, streets ; but he had too much
of the elevation of Christian virtue to feel
any resentment, and the effects of licen
tiousness did not inspire him with the
desire of abridging the -liberties ofthe
pepple. He soon, however, recovered
the esteem and confidence, which he had
lost, by firmly resisting the attempts,
which were made ,to destroy the char
ter of Mass. 'In 1681 he was appointed
major general of the colony, and he con
tinued in the magistracy' till the dissolu
tion ofthe charter in 1686. He died
March 1 9, 1 687,aged 75 . In the inscrip
tion upon his monument in the burying
ground in Cambridge, which is yet legi
ble, his name is written Cookings. Such
was his pbveriy, that Mr. Eliot in a let
ter to Mr. Boyle, not long after his de
cease, ' solicits that charflable gentleman
-to bestow ten pounds upon his widow.
He was a man of good understanding,
rigid in his religious and poUtical opin
ions, zealous and active, of inflexible in
tegrity and exemplary piety, disinteres
ted and benevolent, a firm patriot, and
uniformly and pecuUarly the friend of
the , Indians, -who lamented his death
with urifeigned sorrow. His two sons,
Daniel and Nathaniel, vverc ministers, the
former of Sherburne,, whose care extended
also to the Indians at Natick, and the lat
ter of Cambridge, who was ordained Nov.
15, 1682, and died Aug. 7, 1692,aged S3.
He was succeeded by Mr. Brattie. .
Mr. Go,okin wrote in 1674 historical
collections' of the Indians in New Eng
land, which remained in manuscript, till
it was published by the Mass. historical
society in 1792. In this wprk he gives

GORDON.
many interesting particulars of the vari
ous tribes, of Indians, of their customs,
manners, religion, and government, and
of the exertions, which were made to
civilize them, and to bring them to an
acquaintance with the Christian relig
ion. He also wrote a history of N.E. ;
but it is not known, that the manuscript
is now in existence. — Hist col i. 228,
226; VII. 9.3;Holmes' hist, af Cambridge;
Hutchinson; Magnalia, n. 21 ; Johnr-
son's wand. work. prov. 109, 192 ;
Stith, 205.
GOOKIN, Nathaniel, minister of
Hampton, N. H., was the .son of Rev.
N. Gookin of Cambridge, and was grad
uated atHarvard college in 1703. He
was ordained in 17 lO as successor of
John Cotton. After a prudent and
faithful ministry of about 24 years, he
died in 1734, aged 46. His son, Nathan
iel, was settled in North Hampton, N.H.,
in 1739..and died in 1766. Mr. Gookin
published three sermons, occasioned by
the earthquake in Oct. 1727, to which is
added an account of the earthquake, and
something remarkable of thunder and
lightning in Hampton. — Hist colvii.55;
Shwtleffs serm. at ard. of Mr. Gookin,
1739. GORDON, William, d. d,, minister
of Roxbury,^Mass., and a. historian ofthe
American war, was a native of Hitchin,
Hertfordshire, England. He was early
settled as a pastor ofa large independent
church at Ipswich, but after many years
be removed in consequence of some un
easiness occasionfd by his reprehension
ofthe conduct of one of his principal
hearers in employing his workmen on
public business on the Lord's day. After
the death of Dr. David Jennings hewas
chosen to be his successor in the church
at old gravel lane, Wapping. Here he
might have continued touch respected,'
but in the year 1770 his partiality to
America induced him to force himself
away, in order to settle in this country.
After having preached about a year to
the third church in Roxbury, he was
ordained its minister July 6, 1772. He
took an active part in pubUc measures

GORDON.

GORGES.

421

during the war with Great Britain, and
was chosen chaplain to the provincial con
gress of Massachusetts. While in this
office he preached a fast sermon, which
strongly ' expressed his political senti
ments. In 1776 he formed the design of
writing a history of the great events in
America. Besides othef sources of in
formation, he had recourse to the records
of congress, and to those bf New England,
and was indulged 'with the perusal ofthe
papers of Washington, Gates, Greene,
Lincoln, and Otho Williams. After the
conclusion of the war he returned to bis
native country in 1786, and in J 733 pub
lished the work, which had for a number
of years occupied his attention. It pro
duced him 300/. After spending some
time in London, where lie had many
friends, he obtained a settlement at St.
Neots in Huntingdonshire. This situa
tion was much inferior to either of the
former settlements, which, he had enjoy
ed. The congregation gradually decli
ned in consequence, of his want of that
popular address, to which they had been
accustomed, and ofthe failure ofhis men
tal powers. The infirmity of his mind
was at length so visible, that - his friends
advised his resignation, and raised a sub
scription for him. He afterwards return
ed to Ipswich, where be had some agreea
ble connexions left. Here he preached a
few occasional sermons ; but his memo
ry soon failed him to such a degree, as to
render him, unfit for all public service.
After living to experience the melanchol-
ly extinction of the powers ofhis mirid,
he died at Ipswich Oct. 19, 1807, aged
77. In his religious sentiments Dr. Gordon
was a strict Calvinist ; yet he possessed
a Uberal mind, and a very sociable dispo
sition. Hewas even sometimes facetious.
Though his temper was warm, he was
yet friendly and benevolent. His ser-
inons were coriiposed with care ; but as
thej' were written in a very systematical
form, and were read with slavish adher-=
ence to his notes,, he was not interesting
as a preacher. He published a plan of a
society- for making provision for widows.

by annuities for life, 1772 ; a sermon at
a fast; at two thanksgivings, 1775; he-
fore the house of representatives, 1775 ;
at the election, 1775 ; before the general
court on the anniversary of independence,
1777 ; doctrine of universal salvation ex
amined and shown to be unscriptural,
1783. His history of the rise, progress,
and establishment of the independence of
the U. S. of America in 4 vol. 8vo. 1788,
though not written with elegance, is al
lowed to have considerable merit as a
minute and in general a faithful narrative
of facts. Before became to this country
he pubUshed an abridgment of president
Edwards' treatise pn the affections. —
Pref. to his hist, of the American war ;
Monthly repos. London, for Nov. 1807.
GORGES, Ferdinando sir, proprietor
of the province of Maine, was the gover-i
nor of Plymouth and an early member of
the Plymouth company in England. In
1606 he and chief justice Pppham sent
out Challons in a ship of 50 tons for dis
covery, but the vessel was captured by
'the Spaniards. In the next year George
Popham and Raleigh Gilbert were sent
out to the Kennebec. In 1619 he sent
capt. Dermer to Monhegan. Desirous
of engaging the Scotch in the settlement
of N. England, he promoted the patent
of Nova Scotia to sir Wm. Alexander
Sept 10, 1621. In 1622 the councfl of
Plymoutii, established by new charterjin
1620, made to him and J. Mason a grant
of the lands between the Merrimac and
Sagadahoc, reaching back to trie lakes,
called Laconia. The next year a settlel-
ment was commenced at Pascataqua. In
1639 he oh tained from the crown a con
firmatory grant bf the land,frora Pascata
qua to Sagadahoc, called the province of
Maine, in compUment to queen Henriet
ta, who held as her estate the province
of Maine in France. He was made lord
palatine. He incorporated the village of
Agamenticus or York into a city, called
Gorgeana-; but the colony, didnot pros
per; He died before June 1647 and his
estate fell to his son, John Gorges, whp
neglected the province, sb that in 1652
they placed themselves under Massachu-

422

GORGES.

GORE.

setts. He expended 2O,O0OZ. in his
American enterprises. He published a
nanrative of his proceedings relative to
the settlement ofN. E., contained in the
work of his grandson, Ferdinando, 1659;
In closing his narrative he asks, " what
can be more pleasing to a generous nature,
than to be exercised in doing public good;
— and what monument so durable as erec
ting of houses, villages, and towns ; and
what more pious than advancing of chris
tian religion amongst people, who have
not known the excellency thereof?" In
this work Dr. Belknap found materials
for his history of Gorges. — Belknap's
biog. I. 346-393.
GORGES, Ferdinando, grandson of
the preceding, succeeded to the rights of
his father, John. On the restoration he
petitioned the king against the usurpation
of Massachusetts. Commissioners, Carr,
&c., were sent over to adjust the affairs
of government. But in 1677 he was in
duced to sell his rights to Massachusetts
for 1250Z. The territory, thus acquired,
was first formed intp the two counties of
York and Cumberland. He published a
description of New England, entitled
" America painted to the life," London,
1659, containing the narrative by his
grandfather, as weU as descriptions ofhis
own. In some editions Johnson's Won
der Working Providence is also annexed.
Gorham, Nathaniel, president of
congress, was born in Charlestown,
Mass., in 1738 and died June 11, 1796,
aged 58. He was often a member of the
legislature, and in 1784 was elected to
cbngress. He was also a judge of the
corirtjifcommon pleas for several years.
As a member of the convention he assis
ted in forming the constitution of the U.
S.— Eliot
GORHAM, John, m. d., physician in
Boston, graduated at Harvard college in
1801, and studied his'profession at Edin
burgh. In 1809 he was appointed ad
junct professor bf chemistry and materia
medica at Cambridge ; and in 1816 pro
fessor of chemistry and mineralogy. He
'died suddenly March 29, 1829, aged 46.
He published inaugural address, 1817 ;

elements of chemical science, 2 vols. 8vo.
1819. GORE, Christopher, governor of Mas
sachusetts, was born in Boston in 1758,
and was the son of a respectable mechanic,
wheat the beginning of the revolution,
as he adhered to the royal government,
went to Halifax but afterwards returned
to Boston. He was graduated in 1776,
and after studyinglawwith judge Lowell,
engaged in extensive and lucrative prac
tice. In 1789 he was appointed first
United States attorney for the district of
Mass., in the execution of which office he
met with difficulties, but he resolutely
pursued the course of duty. In 1796 he
was appointed colleague with WilUam
Pinkney, a commissioner under the
fourth article of Jay's treaty to settie our
claims for spoUatioris. By his efforts,
when in England, he recovered suras to
a vast amount for our citizens ; his ar
gument on that class of captures, -which
were made under the rule of 1756, was
elaborate and powerful. As his commis
sion lasted nearly eight years, he remain
ed abroad till 1804. In the preceding
year he had been left by bis intimate
friend, Rufus King, minister to England,
charge d'affaires. After' his return he
was chosen, in 1809, gov. of Mass., as
successor of Sullivan ; but the next year
the people chose Mr. Gerry in his place.
In 1814 he was appointed senator to con
gress, in which capacity he served about
three years,& then withdrew intofinal re
tirement. His residence was a beautiful
seat, about 9 miles from Boston, at Wal
tham, whence he was accustomed fre
quently to walk into town. An excru
ciating disorder embittered his last years.
He died. March 1, 1827, aged 68. His
friend, Mr. King, died the next month.
Having no children Mr. Gore left valu
able bequests to the American academy
and the Historical society, of which he
was a member ; and he made Harvard
college, of which he had been a fellow or
trustee, his residuary legatee. With the
literature of the day he had kept himself
familiarly acquainted, and he was an ex
ceUent classical scholar. His mind was

GORTON.

423

acute and discriminating ; his morals
pure ; his manners dignified and elegant.
He published a masonic oration, 1783'. —
Amer. ann. reg. 189,6-7, p. 339-341.
GORTON, Samuel, the first settler
of Warwick, R. Island, came to this
country in 1 636, and in a few years occa
sioned much disturbance in the church of
Boston by the wild sentiments bn reli
gion, which he advanced. He sobn went
to Plymouth, in which colony he was
subjected to corporal punishment for his
errors, and whence he rempved in. June
1638 to R.' Island. At Newport he re
ceived the same discipline on account of
his contempt of the civfl authority. He
purchased some land near Pawtuxet river,
in the south part of Providence, in Jan.
1641. Under the cover of this purchase
he encroached upon the lands of others,
and, complaints having been entered
against him in the court of Massachu
setts, he was required to submit himself
to the jurisdiction of that colony, and to
answer for his conduct. This summons
he treated, with contempt ; but being ap
prehensive, that he was not in a place of
safety, he crossed the river at the close of
• 1642, and with eleven others purchased
pf Miantunnomu, the Narragansett sa
chem, a tract of land at Mishawomet, for
which he paid 144 fathoms of wampum.
Thedeedwas signed Jan. 17, 1643. The
town, of which he now laid the. founda
tion, was afterwards called Warwick.
In May following he and his party were
seized by order of the general court of
Mass., and carried to Bostori, where
he was required to answer to thecharge
• of being ahlasphemous enemy ofthe gos
pel and its ordinances, and of all civil gov
ernraent. His ingenuity embarrassed the
judges, for, while he adhered to his own
expressions, which plainly contradicted
the opinions which were embraced in
Massachusetts, he yet, when examined
by the ministers, professed a coincidence
with them generally in their religious
sentiments.. The letter, which he wrote
to the governor before his seizure, was
addressed " to the great, honored, idol
gentieman of Massachusetts," and was

filled with reproaches of the magistrates
and ministers ; but in his examination he
declared, that he had .reference only to
the corrupt state of mankind in general.
He had asserted, that Chriist suffered
actually before he suffered under Pilate;
but his meaning was, as he said, that the
death of Christ was actual to the faith of
the fathers. The ordinances,he thought,
were abolished after the revelation was
written, and thus he could admit, that
they were the ordinances of Christ, be
cause they were established for a short
time by him. But this equivocation did
riot avail him. His opinions were un
doubtedly erroneous. All the magistrates
but three were of opinion, that he should
be put to .death, but the deputies werein
favor of milder measures. Gbrtbn, with
a number of his companions, was sen
tenced to imprisonment and hard labor,
and prohibited from passing the limits of
the townj to which he was'sent, and from
propagating his heresies under pain of
death. After a few months, the dissatis
faction of many people with his imprison
ment and other causes induced the court
to substitute banishment in its place. In
1644 he went to England with a deed from
the Narragansett Indians transferring
their territory to the king ; and he ob
tained an order from parliament, securing
to him the peaceable possession of his
lands. He arrived at Boston in 1648,
and thence .proceeded to Shawomet,
which he called Warwick in honor ofthe
earl of Warwick, who had given him
much assistance in affecting, his object.
Here he officiated as a minister, and dis
seminated his doctrines, in cbnsequerice
of which a large part ofthe descendaihts
ofhis followers have neglected all reli
gion to the present day. He died after
the year 1676 at an advanced age. With
out the advantages of education, he inade
himself acquainted with the Hebrew and
Greek -languages, that he -might better
understand the scriptures, though he had
affected to despise human learning. He
violently opposed the quakers, as.their
principles were hostile to his antinoiriian
sentiments. He beUeved, that the suffer-

424

GOSNOLD.

GRAHAM.

irigs of ' Christ were within his chfldren,
and that he was as much in this world at
one tirae as at another ; that all, which is
related of him, is to be taken in a spiritual
sense ; that he was incarnate in Adam,
and was the image of God, wherein he
was created. He pubUshed simpUcity's
defence against the seven headed policy,
which was answered by Mr. Winslow ;
antidote against Pharisaical teachers ;
saltmarsli returned from the dead, 1655 ;
a glass for the people of New England.
— Winthrop, 309-318, 325; Morton,
117-120; Hutchinson, i. 72, 117-124,
549; Colledhist. soc ix. 85-38; Holmes;
Callender, 36, 87; Magnalia, vn. II.
GOSNOLD, Bartholomew, an intrep
id mariner of the west of England, sailed
from Falmouth for the coast of America
March 26, 1 602. Instead of approach
ing this country by the way ofthe West
Indies, he was the first Englishman, who
directly crbsse'd, the ocean. He discovered
land May 14th, & a capeonthe 15th, near
which he caught a great number of cod,
from which -circumstance he named the
land cape Cod. The Indians, which he
met at different places, wore ornaments
of copper, and used the pipe and tobacco.
He passed Sandy Point, & in a few days
came to an island, which he named Mar
tha's Vineyard, as there were many vines
upon it. This is supposed to have been,
not the island, which now bears that
name, but the small island, which is-call-
ed No man's land. He resided three weeks
on the most western of the Elizabeth
islands, on -which he built a fort and store
house. But, finding, that he had not a
supply of provisions, he gave up the de
sign of making a settlement. The cellar
ofhis store house was discovered by Dr.
Belknap in 1797. After his return to
England, he embarked in an expedition to
Virginia, where he was a member of the
council. But he died, soon after his arri
val, Aug. 22, 1607.— Belknap, n. 100-
19i ; Holmes;. Purchas, IV. 1690; v.
1646-1653 ; Stith, 30, 35, 45; Brit em
pire, 1. 353 ; Harris' voy. i. 816 ; Univ.
hist XXXIX. 269, 270. '
GRAHAM, John, first minister of

Southbury in Woodbury, Con., a de .
scendant of orie of the marquises of Mont-
rose,'Was born in Edinburgh in 1694,
and educated, at Glasgow. He came to
this country about 1720 or" 1725, but was
not settled at Southbury until Jan. 27,
1733, if Trumbull is jight,.-though he-had
probably been there some years. After
a ministry of 40 years or more he died in
1773, aged 79. He wasa faithful, elo
quent minister. Dr. TrumbuU speaks of
him- as favoring the. revival in 1741.
His wife was .the daughter pf Rev. Mr.
Chauncy of Hadley, Mass. Three ofhis
sons, graduates of 1740, 1747, and 1760,
were ministers ; John of Suffield, Chaun
cy bf Fishkill, N.Y. and Richard Crouch
of Pelham, Mass. His daughter. Love,
married Rev. Jona, - Lee of Salisbury.
His sons, Andrew and Robert, were phy
sicians: the latter lived at White Plains,
and was chief justice of the court of com
mon pleas and judge of the admiralty
court.— Mr. G. wrote in. 1732 a ballad
against the- church of England in Con..
He pubUshed also a tract on the same
subject, and a rejoinder to Johnson's an
swer. — Life ofjohnsoh,70; 71.
GRAHAM, Andrew, an eminent -*
physician, and patriot of the revolution,
was the son of the preceding, and was
fo.r many years the representative of
Woodbury. He was the surgeon of the
troops in the action at Danbury'; and iu
the battle of the White Plains was taken
prisoner, and not released till the surren
der of Cornwallis. , He died in 1785.
John Andrew Graham, li.. d:, bf the
city of N. York, is his fourth son. — Gra
ham's Vermont, 6, 7.
GRAHAM, Isabella, a pious and he-
nevolent lady of New York, was bornin
Scotiand July 29,1742 ; in 1765 she mar
ried Dr. John Graham,& accompanied him
with his regiment to Niagara, and thence
to Antigfia, where he died in 1774. She
came in 1789, to N. York, where for
many years' she superintended a school
fpr the instruction of young ladies. By
her efforts the widow's society, the or
phan asylum society, and the society for
the promotion of industry were instiiu-

GRAHAM.
ted. She died July 27, 1814. Mr.
Bethure married her daughter. Dr.
Mason published interesting memoirs of
ber Ufe.
GRAHAM, John, minister plenipo
tentiary to the court of Brazil, died at
Washington August 6, 1820, aged 46.
His ill health had induced hira to return.
While a member of the legislature of
Virginia, he was appointed secretary to
the American legation in Spain ; after
wards secretary for the territory of Loui
siana ; then chief clerk in the department
of state. In 1818 he went on a mission
with, Rodney and Bland for political in
formation to Buenos Ayres. His long
and valuable report was made Nov. 5,
1818 and is among the printed state pa
pers. His worth was attested bv letters
of Madison and Monroe, published in
Nat. Intel. Aug.' 29, 1820.
GRANGER, Gideon, postmaster gen
eral, of the U. S., was born at Suffield,
Con., July 19, 1767, the son of Gideon
Graham, and graduated at Yale col
lege in 1787. He soon became emi
nent as a lawyer. Through his exertions
in the legislature Connecticut is chiefly
indebted for its large school fund. In
1801 Mr, Jefferson appointed him post
master general in the place of J. Haber
sham, in which office he continued tiU
1814',when being displaced and succeeded
by Mr. Meigs, he removed to Canan
daigua, N. Y. As a member of the sen
ate of N. Y. in 1819 he promoted internal
improvements. He gave 1000 acres of
land for the canal. He died Dec.Sl, 1822.
His wife was the sister of Mr. Pease, as-
sistantpostmaster general. He was tall,
dignified, and commanding, yet affable ;
a man of integrity and distinguished
talents. His political writings were un
der the signature of Senectus, on the
school fund, and of Algernon Sidney m
1809 and Epaminondas in 1820, m favor
of the administrations of Jeflerson and of
gov. CUnton.
GRASSE, Frangois Joseph Paul,count
de, commander ofthe French fleet in the
American servicein the revolutionarywar,
died in France Jan. 15, 1788, aged 65.
54

GRAYSON.

425

His family were exiles in the revolution
of France. His sori in 1795 commanded
a man of war in the British service.
GRAY, Wflliam, lieut. gov. of Mass.,
an eminent merchant, was born in Lynn
ofhumble parentage about 1751. He
was early an apprentice to Sarauel Gard
ner, and then to , Richard Derby, mer
chants of Salem. Entering upon com
mercial pursuits at a favorable period, he
conducted his business with sound judg
ment and unwearied industry. Though
he acquired a very large fortune, his sim
ple habits remained unaltered. In the pe
riod ofthe embargo in 1808 he abandoned
the party, to which he had been attached,
and espoused the side of the government,
and it is said, that the political excite
ment, awakened against him, induced
him to remove to Boston. In 1810 he
was elected Ueutenant governor, Mr.
Gerry being chosen governor. He died
Nov. 4, 1 825, aged 74. Mrs. Gray died
in 1823. His eldest son, Wflliam R., has
since died.
GRAYDON, Alexander, naval cap
tain in the revolutionary war, after the
peace entered on theprofession ofthe law
and lived in Dauphin county, Penns.
He died at Phfladelphia May 2, 1818,
aged 66. He published Authentic me
moirs of a life chiefly passed in Penns.
&c., 1811.' ',
GRAYSON, Wflfiam, a senator, of
the U. S., was a native of Virginia, and
was appointed a representative to congress
from that state in 1784, and continued a
number of years. In June 1788 he was
a member of the Virginia convention,
which was called for -the purpose of con
sidering the present constitution of the
U. S. In that assembly, rendered illus
trious by men of the first talents, he was
very conspicuous. His genius united
with the eloquence of Henry in opposing
the adoption ofthe ponstitution. While
he acknowledged the evils ofthe old gov
ernment, he was afraid that the" proposed
government would destroy the liberty of
the states. His principal objections to it
were, that it took from the states the sole
right to direct taxation, which was the

426

GREEN.

highest act of sovereignty ; that the Um
its between the national aud state author
ities were not sufficiently defined ; that
they might clash, in which case the gen
eral government would prevaU ; that
there was no provision against raising
such a navy, as was more than sufficient
to protect our trade, and thus would ex
cite the jealousy of European powers and
lead to war ; and that there were no ade
quate checks against the abuse of power,
especially by the president, who was re
sponsible only to his counsellors and part
ners in crime, the members of the senate.
After the constitution was adopted, colo
nel Grayson was appointed one ofthe sen
ators from Virginia in 1789. His col
league was Richard Henry Lee. He died
at Dumfries, whither he had come on his
way to the congress, March 12,1790, and
his remains were deposited in the famfly
vault at Rev. Spence Grayson's. His
great abilities were united with unim
peached integrity. — Gazette ofU. S. i.
395 ; Debates in Virginia convention.
GREEN, Samuel, a printer, the son
of Percival Green of Cambridge, was 15
years old, when he arrived in 1630. He
succeeded to the business of Daye in
printing at Cambridge about 1649,- and*
died Jan. 1, 1702, aged 86. He was a
pious and benevolent man. He had 19
children , His descendants were a race of
printers ; living in Boston, New London,
Norwich, Hartford, New Haven, and al
so in Vermont and Maryland. He prin
ted the laws in 1660 ; and also, at the
expense of about 1200Z., paid by the com
missioners in New England, the follow
ing in the Indian language ; — the psal
ter, Eliot's catechism, Baxter's cafl, the
New Testament, and 1000 copies of the
Bible, 1683. A second edition of the
Bible, begun in 1680, was completed in
1686. Thomas gives a long fist of the
books printed by him. — Thomas, i. 235-
264. GREEN, Barthplpmew, a prmter, has
been generally regarded as the son ofthe
preceding ; but Farmer thinks, he was
not. He began business in Boston in
1690; and commenced a weekly paper.

the Boston News-Letter, Apr. 1704 for
John Campbell, postmaster, and after 18
years pubUshed it on his own account.
This was the first newspaper in the
British colonies. Like his father he was
distinguished for piety and benevolence,
and was a deacon of the old south church.
He died Dec. 28, 1732. His son, Bar
tholomew, a printer ui Boston, was the
grandfather of Joseph Dennie. — Thomas,
1. 283, 321.
GREEN, Timothy, a printer, the
son of John G., and grandson of Samuel
G. of Cambridge, after conducting a press
13 years in Boston, removed to N. Lon
don in 1714 by encouragement of
the government of Con., having a
salary of 50?. a year. He was pious
and benevolent, cheerful and facetious.
Of the church at New London he was a
deacon. He died May 5, 1757, aged 78.
Three of his sons were printers.
GREEN, Joseph, a poet,was born in
Boston in 1706; graduated at Harv.coUege
in 1726 ; & afterwards devoted himself to
commercial purstuts. He had a vein of
humor and satire, which he freely in
dulged, associated with a club of wits,
not sparing the measures of the govern
ment ; but at the beginning of the revo
lution he went to England, and died in
1780, aged 74. He wrote a burlesque
on a psahn of Mather Byles ; he ridiculed
the freemasons in the Entertainment for
a winter's evening in 1750 ; he wrote
also the Land bank ; account of the cele
bration of St. John ; and lamentation on
Mr. Old Tenor.— Spec. A.poet. i. 133-
139. GREEN, Francis, a merchant in Bos
ton, son of Benj.G.of Halifax,was gradua
ted atHarvard college in 1760. At the be
ginning of the revolution he repaired to
England. On his return in 1799 he resi
ded at Medford, where he died April 21,
1809, aged 67. Having two chfldren,
who were deaf and dumb, he placed them
at Edinburgh under the care ofthe Mr.
Braidwoods. He published a dissertation
on the art of imparting speech to the deaf
and dumb, London, 1783. After his re
turn he wrote essays on the same subject

GREEN.

GREENE.

427

in the newspapers, and translated the let
ters of the Abb^ L' Epde.
GREEN, John, a physician, was the
son of Dr. Thomas G., who was a native
of Maiden, Mass., and one of the first set
tlers of Leicester, havirig his first lodg
ing in the cave ofa rock. Born in 1736,
he studied with his self taught father; set
tled at Wprcester ; and was extensively
emplpyed. He died Nov. 29, 1799, aged
63. His wife was the daughter of brig
adier Ruggles of Hardwick : he had ma
ny children. His son, John, a physi
cian, more distinguished, than himself,
was born in 1763 and died at Wor
cester, Aug. 11, 1808, aged 45. Never
in his practice was he known to accept
the proffer of strong drink for his refresh
ment. — Thacher.
GREENE, Nathaniel, a major gerieral
of the array of the U. SJ, was born in
Warwick, R. Island, about the year 1740.
His parents were quakers. His father
was an anchor smith, who was concerned
in some valuable iron works, and transac
ted muchbusiness. While he was a boy,
he learned the Latin languagechiefly by his
own unassisted industry. Having procur
ed a small library, his mind was much im-
proved,though the perusal of military his
tory occupied aconsiderable share ofhis at
tention, such was the estimation, in which
his character was held, that he was at an
early period of his life chosen a member
of the assembly of R. Island. After the
battle of Lexington had enkindled at once
the spirit of Americans throughout the
whole continent, Mr. Greene, though
educated in the peaceful principles ofthe
friends, could not extinguish the martial
ardor, which had been excited in his own
breast. Recei-ving the command of three
regiments with the title of brigadier geUr
erai, he led them to Cambridge ; in con
sequence pf which the quakers renounced
all connexion with him as a meraber of
their reUgious body. On the arrival of
Washington at Cambridge, he was the
first, who expressed to the commander in
chief his satisfaction in his appointraent,
and he soon gained his entire confidence.
He was "appointed by congress major

general in Aug. 1776. In the battles of
TrentPn Dep. 26th and of Pririceton
January 3, 1777 he was ttiuch distinguish
ed. He commanded the left wing ofthe
American army at the battle of German-
town Oct. 4th. In March 1778 he was
appointed quarter master general, which
office he accepted on condition, that his
rank in the army should not be slffected,
and that he should retain his command
in the time of action. This right he ex
ercised June 28th at the battle of Mon
mouth. His courage and skill were
again displayed August 29th in Rhode Is
land. He resigned in this year the office
of quartermaster general, and was suc
ceeded by col. Pickering. After the dis
asters, which attended the American
arms in S. Carolina, he was appointed to
supersede Gates, and he took the com-
mandin'the southern department Dec. 3,
1780. Having recruited the army,
which had been exceedingly reduced by
defeat and desertion, he sent out a de
tachment under the brave general Mor
gan, who gained the iinportant victory at
the Cowpens Jan. 17, 1781. Greene
effected a junction With him February 7,
but on account ofthe superior numbers
of CornwaUis he retreated with great skifl
to Virginia, Having received an acces-^
sion to his forces, he returned to N. Caro-
olina, and in the battle of GUifford March
15th was defeated. The victory howev
er was dearly bought by the British, for
their loss was greater than that ofthe
Americans, and no advantages were de
rived from it. In a few days CornwalUs
began to march towards Wilmington,
leaving many ofhis wounded behind him,
which had the appearance of a retreat,
and Greene followed him for some time.
But, altering his plan, he resolved to re
commence offensive opei-ations in S. Car
oUna. He accordingly marched directly
to Camden, where, April 25th, he was
engaged with lord Bawdon. Victory in
clined for some time to the Americans ;
but the retreat of two companies occasion
ed the defeat of the whole army. Greene
retreated in good order, and took such
rrieasures as effectually prevented lord

428

GREENE.

Rawdon from improving his success, and
obliged him in the beginning of May to
. retire beyond the Santee. While he was
in the neighborhood of Santee, Greene
hung in one day eight soldiers, who had
deserted frora his army. For three
months afterwards there was, no instance
of desertion. A number of forts and
garrisons in South Carolina now fell into
his hands. He commenced the siege of
Ninety six May 22d, but he was obliged
o^ the approach of lord Rawdon in June
td raise the siege. The army, whicri had
been highly encouraged by the late suc
cess, was now reduced to the melancholy
necessity of retreating to the extremity of
thestate. The American commander was
advised to retire to Virginia ; but to sug
gestions of this kind, he replied; "I wfll
recover S. Carolina, or die in the at
tempt." Waiting till the British forces
were divided, he faced about, and lord
Rawdon was pursued in his turn, and was
offered battle after he reached his en-
Campment at Orangeburgh, but he de
clined it. Sept. 8th Greene covered him
self with glory by the victory at the Eu
taw springs, in Which the British, who
'fought with the utmost brayery, lost
1100 men, and the Americans about half
that number. For his good conduct in
this action congress presented him with a
British standard and a golden medal.
This engagement maybe considered as
closing the'revolutionary war in S. Caro
Una. During the remainder ofhis com
mand he had to struggle with the greatest
difficulties from the want of supplies for
histroops. Strong symptoms of mutiny
appeared, but his firmness and decision
completely quelled it.
After the conclusion of the war he re
turned to Rhode Island, where the great
est, dissensions prevailed, and his endea
vors to restore harmony 'were attended
with success. In Oct. 1785 he sailed to
Georgia, where he had a considerable es
tate not far distant from Savannah.
Here he passed his time as a private citi
zen, occupied by • domestic concerns.
Whfle walking without an umbreUa, the
intense rays ofthe sun overpowered him,

GRIDLEY.
and- occasioned an inflammation of the
brain, of which he died June 1 9, 1786,
aged 46. In Aug. following congress
ordered a monuraent to be erected to his
memory at the seat of the- federal gov
ernment. His widow married Phineas
Miller, the co-partner of- Eli Whitney,
inventor of the cotton gin. His youngest
daughter, Mrs. Louisa C. Shaw, died at
Cumberland island in Apr. 1831. His
eldest surviving brother, Wm., died at E.
Greenwich in Oct 1826, aged 83. He
poS/Sessed a humane and benevolent dis
position, and, abhorring the cruelties and
excesses, of which partizans on both sides
were guilty, uniformly inculcated a spirit
of moderation. Yet he was resolutely
severe, when the preservation of disci
phne rendered severity necessary. In the
campaign of 1781 he displayed the pru
dence,' the military ?kill, the unshaken
firmness, andthe daring courage, -which
are seldom combined, and which place
him in the first rank.of American officers.
His judgment was correct, and his self
possession never once forsook him. In
one of his letters he says, . that he was
seven months in the field without taking
o.ffhis clothes for a single night. It is
thought, that he was the most endeared
to the commander in chief of all his as
sociates in arms. Washington often la
mented his death with the keenest sorrow.
— Hillhause's oral, on his death; Amer
ican mus. II. III. VII. Mass. mag. iv.
616,671 ; Gordon; Marshall; Ramsay's
S. C. II.; Holmes; Stedman, a. 376;
Warren, iii. 56-59.
GREENUP, Christopher, governor
of Kentucky, after Shelby and Garrand,
from 1804 to 1808, when he was succee
ded by Charles Scott. He was a brave
patriot of the revolution and participa
ted in the perils, of war. He was for
years a faithful and able member of the
state and riational legislature. He died
at Frankfort in May 1818. In the piib-
lic estimation he was the most useful man
in Kentucky.
GRIDLEY, Jeremy, attorney general
of the province ofMasS:, was graduated
at Harvard college in 1725. He was edi-

GRIDLEY.

GRIFFIN.

429

tor of the weekly rehearsal, a newspaper,
which commenced in Boston Sept. 27,
1731, and continued only for one year.
He soon became pre-eminent as a lawyer,
and was appointed king's attorney. In
this capacity he in 1761 defended the writs
of assistance, -which the custom house
officers had applied for to the superior
court, and by Which they would be au-
tiiorized to enter at their discretion sus
pected houses. He was opposed with
great force of argument by his former pu-
pfl, Mr. Otis. He died Sept 10, 1767,
being colonel ofthe first regiment of mili
tia, and grand master ofthe free masons.
His strength of understanding and his
extensive knowledge, particularly his inti
mate acquaintance with classical literature,
gave him the first rank among men of in
tellect and learning, while his thorough
knowledge of the canon and civil law
placed him at the head of his profession.
He possessed at tlie same time a sensibili
ty of heart, which endeared him to all
who were connected with him in social
and domestic Ufe. His fortitudes in his
last moments resulted from the principles
of reUgion. — Hist, cal lii. 301 ; v. 212 ;
Boston post bay,Sept.. 14,1767; Minot, i.
88—90 ; Gordon,!.^ 141.
GRIDLEY, Richard, maj. general,
brother of the preceding, was born in
Boston in 1711. In 1746 he was engi
neer in the reduction of Louisbourg. In
1755 he again entered the army as chief
engineer and colonel of i:nfantry. Under
Winslow he was concerned in the expedi
tion to Crown point in 1756, and construc
ted the fortifications on lake George.
He served under Amherst in 1758, and
was with Wolfe on the plains of Abra
ham. For his services Magdalen island
was given hira, with half pay. At the
comraenceraent of the revolution -he was
appointed chief engineer. He skilfully
laid out the works in fortification of
Breed's hill, the day before the battie of
June 17th, in which he was wounded.
He "died at Stoughton June 20, 1796,
aged 84, His daughter, Jane, who mar
ried Elijah Hunt of Northamptori, died
in 1313, aged 80.

GRIDLEY, EInathan, a missibnary
at Smyrna, was born in Farmington,
Con. ; was graduated at Yale college in
1820 ; and studied theology at Andover.
He also studied physic. He was ordain
ed as a missionary A ug. 25, 1 825, and sail
ed with Mr. Brewer Aug. 16, 1826. After
his arrival at Smyrna, he studied Modern
Greek and Turkish. In June 1827 he
accompanied a friend to Endurouk, a
Greek village, 6 miles from Caisaria, in
the interior of Asia Minor. There he
died Sept. 27,' 1827, aged 31. Proposing
to ascend mount Argeus, which is about
13,000 feet high, covered with perpetual
snows, he with much fatigue Sept. 13th
approached within 300 or 400 feet of
the summit, when he was prevented frora
advancing by perpendipular rocks. The
next day he suffered frora the head ache
and soon fell a victim to a maUgnant
fever, occasioned probably by his knpru-
dence. — Miss, herald, Apr. 1828.
GRIFFIN, Cyrus, president of con
gress, was a native of England ; in 1778
he was elected a delegate to congress frora
Virginia, and again in 1787. Under the
constitution he was a judge of the dis
trict cpurt frora Dec. 1789 for 21 years.
At hia first court John MarshaU was ad
mitted as counsel. He died at York
town Dec. 10, 1810, aged 62.
GRIFFIN, Edmund D., a distinguish
ed writer, was the second son of George
Griffin, and was born at Wyoming,
Penns. Sept 10, 1804. His mother was
the da-ughter of col: Zebulori Butler who
commanded in the defence of Wyoming,
when it was desolated by the British and
Indians in 1778. His parents removing
to New York, he was at the age of 12
placed under the instruction of David
Graham of that city. With unequalled
ardor he now pursued the variousbranch-
es of study, gaining the highest rank in
the school. In this school it was an excel
lent arrangement, which -required fre
quent exercises in Composition. Young
Griffin wrbte 9 little volumes of essays,
and thus acquired a rich flow bf language
and remarkable copiousness and energy
of thought At the age of 14, Mr'. Gra-

430

GRIFFIN.

GRISWOLD.

ham's school being discontinued, he was
transferred to that of Mr. Nelson, a cele
brated Wind teacher. In 1823, at the
age of 18, he was graduated at Columbia
college with the highest honors of his
class. After prosecuting the study of law
about two months in the offipe of his fa
ther, he determined to prepare for the
ministry, and entered on his studies in
the seminary , of the episcopal church,
although nbne of his family were then
episcopalians. One motive, which influ
enced him in his choice, was his repug
nance to the doctrines of Calvinism. In
Aug. 1826 he was admitted to deacon's
orders, and soon became an assistant
preacher in the church in Hamilton
square and also associate with Dr. Lyell.
In the hope of promoting his ultimate
usefulness he visited Europe in 1823.
Arriving in Nov. at Paris, he there pas
sed two months, and crossed the Alps
into Italy. He set sail on his return
April 1, 1830, and iri the short passage of
16 days reached New York. Being im
mediately invited, in the absence of the
professor, to deUver in the college a
course of lectures on- the history of Utera
ture, he performed this service in May
and June. The lectures, which are pub
lished, related to Roman and Italian and
EngUsh literature, and are " a noble
monument of promptitude, diUgence, and
knowledge." From a journey of recrea
tion he returned to New York, Aug.
25th, and three days after was seized
with an acute disease, an inflammation of
the bowels, which terminated his life
Sept. 1, 1830, at the age of 26. He died
in meek submission and joyful trust in the
Redeemer, admonishing others to pursue
the course to a blessed immortaUty. On
reviving, after a spasm, which seemed to
be fatal; he said with a smile of uiexpres-
sible sweetness, "I did not get off that
time ;" but, checking himself, he added,
" that was a rebellious thought ; I must
wait God's time to die."— He was buried
by the side bf his beloVed sister. — Lan
guage cannot depict the desolation,
which must have come over the heart of
a father, enthusiastically attached to a

son of such promise. Such a blow,
however alleviated by the memorials of
the genuis and by the virtuous fame of
the departed youth, would seem to be
insufferable without the hope of a re-un
ion in the world of holiness and joy. —
Probably America cannot boast of any
young man, who at so early a period
reached such a height of learning and
eloquence. He had taste, and feeUng,
and enthusiasm ; and his powers of de
scription are unrivalled. His poetical ta
lents were of a high order. Two vol
umes of his works have been pubUshed,
with the title Remains of Rev. Edmund
D. Griffin, compfled by Francis Griffin ;
with a biographical memoir of the de
ceased, by John Mc Vickar, d. d., 2
vols. 8vo. 1831 . Among the pieces in his
Remains are his lectures and a journal of
his travels.
GRIFFITTS, Samuel Powell, m. d.,
a physician in Philadelphia, was born in
that city July*21, 1759. His medical ed
ucation was completed during his resi
dence of 3 years in Europe. After his
return he practised more than 40 years
till his death. May 12, 1826, aged 67.
He was a quaker. Every morning he
read the N. Testament in Greek or Lat
in. He was seldom absent from religious
meetings. During the prevalence ofthe
yellow fever in various years he never
deserted his post. Yet he believed the
fever to be contagious. The establish
ment of the Dispensary and other chari
table societies were promoted by his ef
forts. Of the Eclectic repertory he was
one of the editors. — Thacher, i. 275-
285. GRIMKE, John, F., judge of the su
preme court of S. Carofina, was a colonel
in the war of the revolution. He died in
1819. He published a revised edition of
the laws of S. C. to 1789 ; on the duty
of justices of the peace ; a probate direc
tory. GRISWOLD, Roger, governor of
Con., was theson of Matthew Griswold,
who was chief justice, and the governor
after Trumbull from 1784 to 1785, when
he was succeeded by Huntington. He

GROS.

HAKLUYT.

431

was born at Lyme May 21, 1762 ; his
mother was the daughter pf gov. R. Wol
cott. Having graduated at Yale college
in 1780, he studied Ijaw. In 1794 he was
elected a member of congress, and was
for many years a distinguished member
of the federal party. In 1801 he declin
ed the appointment, offered him by Mr.
Adams, of secretary at war ; probably
because the accession of Mr. Jefferson
would in a few days remove him. In
1807 he was appointed a judge ofthe su
preme court of the state. He was also
lieut. gov. from 1809 tiU May 1811, when
he was elected governor in opposition to
Mr. Treadwell. He refused to place 4
companies under gen. Dearbprn, at the
requisition of the president, for garrison
purposes, deeming the requisition uncon-
stitutipnal, as they were not wanted "to
repel invasion, &c." For 4 or 5 years he
was afflicted with paroxysms of suffering.
He died at Norwich, Oct. 26, 1812, aged
50 : his body was removed to Lyme. An
eiilogium on him was pronounced at New
Haven by D. Daggett before the general
asseinbly. His successor was John Cot
ton Smith.
GROS, John Daniel, d. d., professor
of moral philosophy in Columbia college,
and minister in the city of N. Y., was a
German. During the revolutionary con
flict he was a' nunister ofa Dutch reform
ed churchion the frontier of the state,
and was exposed to many perils. After
the war he removed to N. York. He di
ed at Canojoharie May 25, 1812, aged 75.
He published Natural principles of recti
tude &c. a systematic treatise on moral
philosophy, Svo. 1795.
GUNN, Alexander, n. d., minister of
the reformed Dutch church at Blooiriing-
dale. New York, died Sept. 18, 1829.
His widow died in 1831. He pubUshed
memoirs of the late Dr. Livingston.
GWINNETT, Button, a meraber of
congress, was born in England about
1732, and after he came to this country
purchased a large tract of land in Geor-
. gia and devoted himself to agricultural
pursuits. Elected to congress in 1776,
he signed the declaration of independence.

At this period he was a competitor with
col. Lackland M'lntosh for t;he office of
brigadier general, and formed a settled
hostility to his successful rival. Being
afterwards president of the council, he
riominated a subordinate officer to the
command of an expedition against Flori
da. The expedition faUed, and by conse
quence Mr. Gwinnett failed to be elected
governor in May 1777. In the mortifi
cation ofhis adversary M'lntosh exulted.
In the result Mr, G. challenged him.
Fighting at the distance of 12 feet, both
were wounded, and Mr. G. died of' his
wounds May 27, 1777, aged 44. In his
miserable death may be seen the effects
of envy, rivalry, and hatred. Had he
possessed the spirit of the gospel, he
would not thus have perished. Had he
been governed by moral and rehgious
principles, he might have been the orna
ment ofhis state. — Goodrich's lives.
HABERSHAM, Joseph, postmaster
general of the U. S. was the son of James
H;, a merchant of Savannah, who died at
Brunswick, N. J. August 29, 1775. He
served with reputation in the revolution
ary war and had the rank of lieut. colonel.
In 1785 he was a member of congress ;
in 1795 he was appointed postmaster
general, but resigned the place in 1800.
In 1802 he was president of the Branch
bank in Savannah, where he died Nov.
1815, aged 65.
HAINES, Charles G., adjutant gener
al of New York, was born in Canterbury,
N. H., and was early throwri upon the
resources ofhis own mind. He gradua
ted at Middlebury in 1816. In 1818 ha
removed.^ to the city of New York, As a
lawyer he was respectable ; but his tal
ents were of a popular kind, and he gave
himself to politics. He supported Mr.
Clinton. No young man, perhaps, ever
acquired so much influence. He died of
the consumption at Bloomingdale July 3,
1825, aged 32. His writings were num
erous. He pubUshed considerations on
the canal, 1818; meraoir of T; A. Emmet,
1829  N. Y. Statesman, July 8.
HAKLUYT, Richard, a geographer,
was born in 1553 and died 1616. He was

432

HALE.

HALL.

buripd at VVestmiuister abbey. To him
sir"Walter Raleigh assigned his patent for
discoveries in America & he was appoint
ed one of the company. Purchas made use
of his manuscripts. He pubfished Voya
ges, navigations, traffiques, and discover
ies of the English nation, fol., 3 vols.
1589-1600; Virginia richly valued, by the
description of Florida, 1609. An edition
of his works was published, 5 vols. 4to.
1809-1812. HALE, John, first minister of Beverly,
Mass., the son of Robert H., was born at
Charlestown June 3, 1636; graduated in
1657 ; was ordained Sept. 20, 1667, and
was chaplain in the expedition to Canada
iri 1690. HediedMay 15, 1700, aged
63. His son, James, minister of Ash-
ford, Con.; died in Oct 1742, aged 56.
Inthe witchcraft delusion of 1692, begin
ning in the family of Mr. Parris, he was
deluded and approved of the judicial
measures. His modest inquiry into the
nature of witchcraft was published in
1702. His account ofthe witchcraft was
made use of by C. Mather, in Magnalia,
VI. 79.
HALE, Nathan, captain, a revolution
ary officer, was a descendant of the prece
ding. He was the son of Richard H. of
Coventry, Con. and graduated at Yale
college in 1773 with high reputation.
In the war he commanded a company in
col. Knowlton's regiment, and was with
the army in the retreat from Long Island
in 1776. Washington having applied to
Knowlton for a discreet and enterprising
officer to perietrate the enemy's camp and
procure intelUgence, Hale passed in dis
guise to the British camp, but on his re
turn was apprehended and carried before
lord Wm. Howe, by whom he was order
ed for execution the next morning. He
was denied a bible and the aid of a cler
gyman. The letters, full of fortitude and
resignation, which he had written to his
mother and sister, were destroyed. He
was hung, regretting, that he had but one
life to lose for his country ; though exe
cuted in a brutal manner as a spy, he was
,firni and composed. In education and
talents he was superior perhaps to Andre,

who died also as a spy: iripatriotic devo
tion to his country, hazarding in her sa
cred cause not only life but honor and
home, no one was superior to him.
Dwight honored him by some lines on his
death. — Amer. Rememb. 1782, p: 285 ;
Knapp's lect 254-255.
HALL, Lyman, governor of Georgia,
was a native of Conn., and graduated at
Yale college in 1747. Having studied
medicine, he estabUshed himself at Sun-
bury, Georgia. He early and zealously
espoused the cause of his country. His
effotts were particularly useful in indu
cing the Georgians to join the American
confederacy. In May 1775 he was a
meraber of congress, and signed the decla
ration of independence, aud continued in
that body to the close of 1780. While
the British had possession of Georgia,
they confiscated his property. In 1783
he was elected governor ; the next year
he was succeeded by J. Houston. He
died in Feb. 1791, aged 66. Though
warm and enthusiastic, he had the gui
dance ofa, sound judgment.^ — Goodrich's
lives. HALL, Gordon, first American mis
sionary at Bombay, was a native of
Berkshire county, Mass., and was gradua
ted at Williams' coUege in 1808. Hav
ing studied theology, he refused an invi
tation to settle in Con., sayirig "wo is
me if I preach not the gospel to the hea
then." Offering himselfas a missionary
to the American Board of Commissioners
for missions, he was ordained at Salem,
with Newell, Judson, Nott, and Rice Feb.
6, 1812, and in the same month sailed for
Calcutta. Another band of missionaries
consisting of Bardwell, Meigs, Poor,
Richards, and Warren sailed for Ceylon
in Oct. 1812, followed by Graves and
Nichols in 1817, arid by "Winslow, Spaul-
ding. Woodward, and Dr. Scudder in
1819. Mr. Hall arrived at Bombay iri
Feb. 1813 ; and there spent 13 years in
his benevolent toils, with a purpose unal
tered and zeal unquenched. He had just
revised the New Testament in Mah
ratta, when, as be was on a journey in
the interior, he -was seized with the choli-

HALL.

HAMILTON.

433

era, which proved fatal in 8 or 9 hours.
He died March 20, 1826, aged about 36.
His wife was a native of England. He
was a man of great force pf mind and de
cision of character, of ardent piety and of
entire devotedness to the work of a mis
sionary. His vigorous frame and habits
oflife fitted him to endure the hardships
of a missionary. His qualifications of
every kind for the work, to which he de
voted his Ufe, were very uncommon. His
appeal to the American christians in behalf
ofthe 12 millions, speaking the Mahratta
language, was published in the Miss.
herald Oct 1826. He wrote also, with
Newell, the Conversion of the world, or
the clairas of 600 millions &c., 2d ed.
1818. The N. Testament in Mahratta
was printed at the mission press in Bom
bay in 1896.— Miss, her., Oct 1826.
HALL, John E., editor of the Port
folio, died at Philadelphia Junel829, aged
44. He pubUshed American law journal,
6 vols, 1808-1817.
HALLO CK, Jeremiah, minister of
Canton, Con,, was born on Long Island
March 1758, and served as a soldier in
the revolutionary war. He died June 3,
1826, aged 68. For his piety he was pe
culiarly distinguished. His Ufe was
written by Cyrus Yale.
HAMILTON, Andrew, an eminent
lawyer of Philadelphia, died Aug. 4,1741.
He had been speaker of the house of as
sembly, but he resigned this office in
1739 on account of his age and infirmi
ties. He filled several stations with hon
or, integrity, and ability. In Zenger's
trial at New York he acquired much rep
utation as a lawyer. His son, James
Hamilton, was repeatedly governor of
Pennsylvania between the years 1748 and
mi.— Proud's hist Penns. n. 216-219.
HAMILTON, Alexander, first secre
tary ofthe treasury ofthe U.S., of Scotch
or English descent, was born in the isl
and of Nevis in 1757. At the, age of
16 he accompanied his mother to New
York, and entered a student of Columbia
college, in which he continued about 3
years. While a member of this institu
tion the first buddings of his intellect
65

gave presages of his future eminence.
The contest with Great Britain cal
led forth the first talents on each side,
and his juvenile pen asserted the clainas of
the colpnies against very respectable wri
ters. His papers exhibited such evidence
of intellect and wisdom, that they were as
cribed to Mr. Jay. At the age of 18 be
entered the army as an officer of artillery.
The first sound of war awakened his
martial spirit, and as a soldier he soon
conciliated the regard of his brethren in
arms. It was not long before be attrac
ted the notice of Washington, who in
1777 selected him as an aid with the rarik
of lieutenant colonel. Throughout the
campaign, which terminated in the cap
ture of Lord CornwalUs, he commanded
a battalion pf Ught infantry. At the
siege of York in 1781, when the second
parallel was opened, two redoubts, which
flanked it and were advanced three hun
dred yards in front of the British works,
very much annoyed the men in the tren-,
cries. It was resolved to possess them;
and to prevent jealousies the attack ofthe
one was committed to the Americans and
of the other tb the French. The de
tachment of the Americans was comman
ded by the marquis de la Fayette, and
colonel Hamilton, at his own earnest re^
quest, led the advanced corps, consisting
of 2 battalions. Tovyards the close ofthe
day,Oct. 14th, the troops rushed to the
charge without firing a single gun. Tfle
works were carried with but little loss.
Soon after the capture of Cornwallis,
Hamilton sheathed his sword, and, being
encumbered with a family destitute of
funds, at the age of twenty five applied
to the study of the law in New York. In
this profession he soon rose to distinction.
But his private pursuits could not detach
him from a regard to the public welfare.
The violence, which was meditated,
against the property and persons of all,
who remained in the city during the -war,
called forth his generous exertions, and
by the aid of governor Clinton the faith
less and revengeful scheme was delisted.
In July 1792 he was chosen a member of
congress. He was chairman of the com-

434

HAMILTON.

mittee, which reported ,a resolution to
provide a sinking fund to pay the nation
al debt. In 1786 he was chosen a mem
ber of the assembly of New York,and he
introduced and ably supported the bill for
acceding to the assumed independence of
Vermont. A more important affair now
demanded his talents. After witnessing
the debility of the confederation he was
fully impressed with the necessity of an
efficient general government, and he
was appointed with two others in 1787
a memher of the federal convention for
New York. He assisted in forming the
constitution of our country. It did not
indeed completely meet his wishes. He
was afraid, that it did not contain suffi
cient means of strength for its own pre
servation, and that in consequence we
should share the fate of many other re
publics and pass through anarchy to des
potism. He was in favor ofa more per
manent executive and senate. He wished
for a strong government, which would
not be shaken by the conflict of different
interests through an extensive territory,
and which should be adequate to all the
forms of national exigency. He was ap
prehensive, that the increased wealth and
population of the states would lead to
encroachments on the union, and he an
ticipated the day, when the general gov
ernment, unable to support itself, would
fall. But believing the constitution to
be incomparably superior to the old
confederation, he exerted afl his tal
ents in its support, though it did not
rise to his conception of a perfect system.
By his pen, in, the papers signed Publius,
and by his voice in the convention of
New York in the summer of 1788 he con
tributed much to its adoption. When
the government was organized in 1789,
Washington placed hira at the head of
the treasury. In his reports he proposed
plans for funding the debt of the union
and for assuming the debts ofthe respec
tive states, for establishing a bank and
mint, and for procuring a revenue. He
wished to redeem the reputation of his
country by satisfying ber creditors, and
combine with the government such a

monied interest, as might faciUtate its
operations. But while he opened sour
ces of wealth to thousands by establish
ing public credit, and thus restoring the
public paper to its original value, he did
not enrich himseff. He did not take
advantage of his situation, nor improve
the opportunity he enjoyed for acquiring
a fortune. Though accused of amassing
wealth, he did not vest a dollar in the
public funds.
In the early stage of the administration
a disagreement existed between Mr.
Hamilton and the secretary of state, Mr.
Jefferson, which increased till it issued in
Such open hostility, and introduced such'
confusion in the cabinet, that Washing
ton found it necessary to address a letter
to each, recommending forbearance and
moderation. Mr. Harailton was appre
hensive of danger frora the encroachment
of the states and wished to add new
strength to the general government ;
while Mr. Jefferson entertained little
jealousy of the state sovereignties, and
was rather desirous of checking and
limiting the exercise of the national au
thorities, particularly the power ofthe
executive. Other points of difference
existed, and reconciliation could not be
effected. In the beginning of 1 7 93, after
intelUgence ofthe rupture between France
and Great Britain had bpen received,
Hamilton, as one of the cabinet of the
president, supported the opinion, that the
treaty -with France was no longer bind
ing, and that a nation might absolve itself
frora the obligations of real treaties,
when such a change takes place in the in
ternal situation of the other contracting
party, as renders the continuance bf the
connexion disadvantageous or dangerous.
He advised therefore, that the expected
French minister should not be received
in an unqualified manner. The secreta
ry of state on the other hand was of opin
ion, that the revolution in France had
produced no change in the relations be
tween the two countries, and could riot
weaken the obligation of treaties ; and
this opinion was embraced by Washing
ton. The ,advice of Hamilton was fol-

HAMILTON.

435

lowed in regard to the insurrection in
Pennsylvania in 1794, and such a detach
ment was sent out under his own com
mand, that it was suppressed without
effusion of blood. He remained but a
short time afterwards in office. As his
property had been wasted in the public
service, the care ofa rising family made
it his duty to retire, that by renewed ex
ertions in his profession he might provide
for their support. He accordingly re
signed his office on the last of Jan. 1795,
and was succeeded by Mr. Wolcott.
Not long after this period, as he was ac
cused of peculation, he was induced to
repel the charge, and in doing this he
thought it necessary to disclose a circum
stance, which it would have been more
honorable to his character to have left in
obUvion. This was an adulterous con
nexion with a Mrs. Reynolds, while he
was secretary ofthe treasury. When a
provisional army was raised in 1798 in
consequence of the injuries and demands
of France, Washington suspended his
acceptance of the command of it on thp
condition, that Haraflton should be his
associate and the second in command.
This arrangement was accordingly made.
After the adjustment of our dispute with
the French republic, and the discharge
ofthe armyin the summer of 1800, he
returned again to his profession in the
city of New York. In this place he
passed the remainder of his days.
In June 1804 colonel BUrr, vice presi
dent of the United States, addressed a
letter to Hamilton,requiring his acknowl-
edgraent or denial of the use of any ex
pression derogatory to the honor of the
former. This demand was deemed inad-
missible,and a duel was the consequence.
After the close of the circuit court, the
parties met at Hoboken July 11th, and
Hamilton fell on the same spot, where
his son a few years before had fallen, in
obedience to the same principle of honor,
and in the same violation of the laws of
God and of man. He was carried into
the city, and being desirous of receiving
the sacrament of the Lord's supper, he
immediately sent for Dr. Mason. As

the principles of his church prohibited
him from administering the ordinance in
private, this minister ofjthe gospel in
formed Hamilton, that the sacrament
was an exhibition and pledge of the
mercies, which the Son of God has pur
chased, and that the absence ofthe sign
did not exclude from the mercies signified,
which were accessible to him by faith in
their gracious Author. He repUed, "I
am aware of that. It is only as a sign,
that I wanted it." In the conversation,
which ensued, he disavowed all intention
of taking the life of colonel Burr, and
declared his abhorrence of the whole
transaction. When the sin, of whichrie
had been guilty, was intimated to him,
he assented with strong emotion ; and
when the infinite merit ofthe Redeemer,
as the propitiation forsin,the sole ground
of our acceptance with God, was sugges
ted, he said with emphasis, "I have a
tender reliance on the mercy of the Al
mighty through the merits of the Lord
Jesus Christ." Bishop Moore was af
terwards sent for, and, after making
suitable inquiries ofthe penitence and
faith of general Hamilton, and receiving
his assurance, that he would never again,
if restored to health, be engaged in a
simflar transaction, but wpuld employ
afl his influence in society to discounte
nance the barbarous custom, administered
to him the communion. After this hia
mind was composed. He expired July
12, 1804, aged about 47. His wife, a
daughter of general Schuyler, survived
him, with several children. Like his
antagonist, Mr. Burr, he was smafl in
person iiud short in stature.
In assigning the reasons for accepting
the challenge of col. ' Burr, while he
seems to intimate his apprehensions, that
the debiUty of the general government
would be followed by convulsions, he al
so alludes to trie denoand, which, in such
an event, might be made upon his mili
tary talents: His words are, " the abflity
to be in future useful, whether in resis
ting mischief or effecting good, in those
crises of our public affairs, 'which seem
Ukely to happen, would probably be in-

436

HAMILTON.

separable from a conformity with pubUc
prejudice in this particular. " With all
his preeminence of talents he is yet a
melancholy proof of the influence, which
intercourse with a depraved world has in
perverting the judgment. In principle
he was opposed to dueUing, his con
science was not hardened, and he was
not indifferent to the happine-ss of his
wife and children ; but no consideration
was strong enough to prevent him from
exposing his Ufe in single combat. His
own views of usefulness were followed
in contrariety to the injunctions ofhis
Maker and Judge. He had been for
some time convinced ofthe truth of Chris-
tianitv, and it was his intention, if his
life had been spared, to have written a
work upon its evidences.
He pubUshed the letters of Phocion,
which were in favor of the loyalists after
the peace, in two pamphlets, 1734. The
Federalist, a series of essays, which, under
the signature of PubUus, appeared in the
public papers in the interval between the
publication and the adoption ofthe con
stitution ofthe United States, and which
was designed to elucidate and support its
principles, was written by him in conjunc
tion with Mr. Jay and Mr. Madison.
The Washington City Gazette Dec. 22,
1817, states indirectly on the authority
of Mr. Madison himself, that Hamilton
wrote all the numbers excepting numbers
2, 3, 4, 5, & 64, which were written by
Mr. Jay ; and numbers 10, 14, 17, 18,
19, 21, 37 to 58 inclusive, 62 & 63, which
were written by Mr. Madison. This
work has been pubUshed in two volumes,
and is held in the highest estimation.
His reports while secretary of the treasu
ry are very long, and display great pow
ers of mind. Sorae of thera are preser
ved in the American museum. In the
report upon manufactures he controverts
the principles of Adam Smith. In the
papers signed Pacificus, written in 1793,
while he justified the proclamation of
neutrality, he also supported his opinion,
that we were absolved from the obUgation
of our treaties with France, and thatjus
tice was on the side of the coaUtion of the

HANCOCK.
European power sfor the re-estabUshment
of the French raonarchy. A series of
essays in defence bf the British treaty
under the signature of Caraillus, was
written by him in the summer of 1795.
He published also observations on certain'
documents &c. being a, defence" of him
self against the charge of, peculation,
1797 ; the stand, or essays signed Titus
Manlius, designed to awaken this coun
try to a sense of its danger from France,
1798 ; and a letter concerning the public
conduct and character of his excellency
John Adams, president of the United
States, 1800. In this letter he endeavors
to show, that the venerable patriot, who
was more disposed than himself to main
tain peace with France, was unworthy
of being replaced in the high station,
which he occupied. His writings were
collected and published in three vols. 1810.
— Mason's orat. on his death ; Noll's
discourse ; Morris' fun. oration ; Otis'
eulogy ; Ames' sketch ; Marshall, v.
131,350-360, 607-611.
HAMILTON, Paul, secretary of the
navy of the U. S., was the governor of
S. Carolina from 1804 to 1806, when he
was succeeded by Charies Pinckney. Ha
was secretary ofthe naVy in the adminis
tration of Mr. Madison from 1809 to
1813; and he died at Beaufort June 30,
1816. Hewas a patriot ofthe revolution.
HANCOCK, John, minister of Lex
ington, Massachusetts, was born in 1670,
and was graduated at Harvard college in
1689. He was ordained Nov. 2, 1698.
After a ministry of raore than half a cen
tury, he died very suddenly Dec. 6,
1752, aged 81. Two of his sons were
ministers, one of whora, Ebenezer, -\vas
settled as his coUeague Jan. 2, 1733, and
died Jan. 28, 1740. Mr. Hancock pos
sessed a facetious temper, and in general
his wit was -used with discretion. Being
a friend to peace he exerted himself, and
with success, to preserve harmony in his
parish. • By his' brethren in the ministry
he was highly respected and beloved, and
as he was for many years senior minister
in the county, his services were frequent
ly requested in ecclesiastical councils.

HANCOCK.

437

He had given the charge to twenty one
ministers. He retained uncoramon vigor
to the last. He published the election
sermon, 1722 ; a sermori preached in Bos
ton, 1724 ; at the ordination of his son,
1726; at the installation of T.Harring
ton 1748. — Appleton' s fun. serm.
HANCOCK, John, minister of Brain
tree, Mass. was the son ofthe preceding,
and was graduated at Harvard college in
1719. Hewas ordained as successor of
Joseph Marsh Nov. 2, 1726. He died
May 7, 1744, aged 41. , Possessing good
talents, he applied with diligence to the
studies ofthe ministerial office. During
the revival of religion in America a short
time before his death, it was his wish to
guard his people against what he consider
ed as enthusiasm on the one hand, and
against infidelity and indifference to reli
gion on the other. After a life of up
rightness and sobriety, he expressed in
his last moments the satisfaction, which
he felt in the testimony ofa good con
science, and looked for the mercy of the
Lord Jesus to eternal Ufe. He pubUshed
a sermon on the death of E. Quincy,
1733 ; a century sermon, Sept. 16, 1739 ;
on the good work of grace, 1743 ; an ex-
postulatory and pacific letter in reply to
Mr. Gee, 1743; the Examiner, or Gilbert
against Tennent, 1748. — Gay's fun.ser.
HANCOCK, Thomas, a benefactor
-of Harvard college, was theson of Mr.
Hancock of Lexington, and died in Bos
ton Aug. 1, 1764. His portrait at full
length is in the philosophy chamber of
the coUege. His nephew,, the late gov
ernor Hancock, inherited most of his pro
perty ; but he bequeathed 1000?. sterling
for founding a professorship of the He
brew and other oriental languages in
Harvard college ; lOOOZ. to the society
for propagating the gospel among the In
dians in North America ; and 600t. tb
the town of Boston towards erecting a
hospital for the reception of such persons,
as are deprived of their reason. Stephen
Sewall,, the first Hancock professor of
Hebrew in the university pf Cambridge,
was inducted into his office in 1765. —
.Ann. reg. for 1764, 116 ; Holmes.

HANCOCK, John, li.. d., gpvernor
of Massachusetts, the son of Mr. Han
cock of Braintree, was bom about the
year 1737. Hewas grad uated at Harvard
college in 1754. On the death ofhis
uncle, Thonias Hancock, he received a
very considerable fortune, and soon be
came an eminent merchant. In 1766 he
was chosen a member of the house of rep
resentatives for Boston with James Otis,
Thomas Gushing, and Samuel Adams.
The seizure of his sloop, Liberty, in
1768 for evading the laws of trade pcca-
sioned a riot, and several ofthe commis
sioners of the customs narrowly escaped
with their lives. As the controversy with
Great Britairi assumed a more serious
shape and afl'airs were hastening to a cri
sis, he evinced his attachment to the
rights ofhis country. He was president
ofthe provincial congress in 1774. June
12th of the following year general Gage
issued his proclamation, offering pardon
to all the rebels, excepting Sam. Adams
and John Hancok, "whose offences," it is
declared, " are oftoo flagitious a nature to
admit of any other consideration, than that
of condign punishment. " Mr. Hancock
was at this time a member of the contin
ental congress, of which he -was chosen
president May 24th in the place 'of Peyton
Randolph, who was under the necessity
of returriing home. In this office, as the
head of the illustrious congress of 1776, he
signed the; declaration of independence.
In consequence ofthe ill state ofhis health
betook his leave of congress in Oct. 1777,
and received their thanks for his unremit
ted attention and steady impartiality in dis
charging the duties of his office. Henry
Laurens was his successor.
On the adoption of the present consti
tution of Massachusetts, he .was chosen
the first governor in Oct. 1780, and was
annually re-elected and continued in that
office till Feb. 1785, when he resigned.
In 1787 he was again chosen in the place
pf Mr. Bowdoin and remained iri the chair
tiU his death, Oct. 8, 1793, aged 56, His
administration was very popular. It was
apprehended by some, that on his acces
sion the dignity of government wpuld not

438

HANCOCK.

be sufficiently maintained; but his lan
guage on assuming the chair was manly &
decisive, and by his moderation & leni-
tv the civil convulsion was completely qui
eted without the shedding of blood by the
hand of the civil magistrate. Fourteen
persons, who received sentence of death,
were pardoned. In his public speeches to
the legislature he acquitted himself with a
degree of popular eloquence, which is sel
dom equalled. In one of his last acts as
governor he supported in a dignified man
ner the sovereignty of the individual
states. By a process commenced against
Massachusetts in favor of William Vassal,
he was summoned by a writ to answer to
the prosecution in the court ofthe United
States. But he declined the smallest con
cession, which might lessen the indepen
dence of the state, whose interests were
intrusted to his care, and he supported
his opinion with firmness and dignity.
Litigations of this nature were soon af
terwards precluded by an amendment of
the constitution of the United States. —
Mr.Hancock is represented as not possess
ing extraordinary powers of mind, and as
not honoring the sciences very raucri by
his personal attentions. But rie was easy
in his address, polished in his manners,
affable, and liberal ; and as president of
congress he exhibited a dignity, imparti
afity, quickness of conception, and con
stant attention to business, which secured
him respect. As the chairman ofa delib
erative body, few could preside with such
reputation. In the early periods of his
pubhc career, it has been said, that he
was somewhat inconstant in his attach
ment to the cause ofhis country. Though
this representation should be true ; yet
from the commencement of the war the
part, which he took, was decided and uni
form, and his patriotic exertions are wor
thy of honorable remembrance. By the
suavity of his manners and his insinua
ting address he secured an almost une
qualled popularity. He could speak with
ease and propriety on every subject. Be
ing considered a repubUcan in principle
and a firm supporter bf the cause of free
dom, whenever he consented to be a candi

HARDENBERGH.
date forgovernor,he was chosen to thatof-
ficeby an undiputed majority. In private
Ufe he was charitable and generous.
With a large fortune he had also a dispo
sition to employ it for useful and benevo
lent purposes. The poor shared liberally
in his bounty. He was also a generous
benefactor of Harvard college.. He pub
lished an oration, which he deUvered on
the Boston massacre, 1774. — Thacher's
serm. on his death; Gordon, i. 508, 231;
II. 31 ; III. 18—21,498,; Warren,!.
212—215, 430; Minot's hist insur. 179,
184 ; Holmes.
HANSON, John, president of con
gress from 1781 to 1783, was a delegate
from Maryland and a distinguished friend
of his country. He died in Prince George
county Nov. 13, 1783.
HANSON, Alexander Contee, a sena
tor ofthe U. S., was the grandson ofthe
preceding, and the son of Alex. F. H.,
chancellor of Maryland, who died^Jan.
23, 1806. He edited with Mr. Wagner
the Federal republican at Baltimore.
The printing establishment, after the
declaration of war in 1812, was attacked
by a mob, on which occasion Mr. Han
son's friends, gens. Lingan and Lee, were
wounded. Elected to congress in the
sarae year, he was a distinguished oppo
ser of the adminiistration. In 1816 he
was appointed a senator in the place of
gen. Harper ; and died at Belmont] Apr.
23, 1819, aged 33. At the age of 24, rii
Jan. 1810, he was guilty of the folly and
crime of fighting a duel, occasioned by
political controversy, with capt. Gordon
of the navy.
HARDENBERGH,Jacobus R.,d. d.,
first president of Queen's college in New
Jersey, was a native of this country. He
was not favored witri many advantages
in the early part of his education, yet
with a powerful mind and habits of per
severing application he made great pro
gress in knowledge. He was ordained by
that party in the Dutch churches, which
was denominated the Coetus, and was
its most distinguished and able supporter.
He cheerfully exerted himself with Dr.
Livingston in 1771, when he was minister

HARMAR.

HARPER.

439

of Raritan, to heal the division of the
Dutch churches, and a union was comple
ted in the following year. After the
charter of Queen's college at New Bruns
wick was obtained in 1770 he was the
first president and died in that office in
Nov. 1790. This institution was design
ed for educating young men for the min
istry. Dr. Hardenbergh's piety was ar
dent ; his labors indefatigable ; and his
ministry greatly blessed. — Chistian's
mag. II. 13, 270.
HARMAR, Josiah, brigadier general,
in 1784 conveyed to France the ratifica
tion ofthe definitive treaty. In 1785 he
was appointed colonel and commander of
the forces on the north western frontier.
In the war against the Indians he march
ed Sept. SO, 1790 from fort Washington,
and bad an army of 1453 men. His de
tachment had several engagements with
Indians. In the last col. Harding was
defeated, near ChiUicothe, with the loss of
maj. Fontaine, aid to the general, and
maj. WyUys, and upwards of 180 men.
The Indians lost 120 warriors and 300
wigwams burnt. After this defeat, cal
led Harmar's defeat, he returned to fort
Washington : St. Clair was in command
the next year. He died on the Schuyl
kill, near Phfladelphia, in Aug. 1813.
HARMON, Johnson, colonel, a com
mander against the Indians in Maine, was
a native of York and served under col.
Westbrook in his expedition to the upper
falls ofthe Androscoggin' in Feb. 1723 ;
and in Sept. was at Arousic, under col.
Walton. In Aug. 1724 he and col.
Moulton proceeded against the Indian
vfllage of Norridgewock, and killed father
Ralle, and dispersed the Indians. He re
sided in his last days at Harpswell, where
he died and where his descendants re
main. HARPER, Robert Goodloe, major
general, a senator of the United States,
was born near Fredericksburg, Virginia,
in 1765. His parents, who were poor,
emigrated, when he was young to Gran
ville, North Carolina. At the age of 15
he joined a troop of horse and served for
a short time under Greene. AVhile , a

member of Princeton college, where he
graduated in 1785, he was a teacher of
one or two of the lower classes. He
soon afterwards embarked for Charleston,
S. C, where he arrived a stranger, with
but a dollar or two in his pocket. A
gentieman, of whose son he had been
the teacher, offered hira his assistance
and friendship, and introduced him to
a lawyer, with whom he studied the
profession of the law. In a year he be
gan the practice. He settled in the inte
rior, and soon entered upon pubhc life
and was chosen a member of congress.
In that body he became very distinguish
ed. He was an earnest supporter of the
measures of Washington, and was
known as a decided federalist. After
the accession of Mr. Jefferson in 1801 he
retired from congress, and, having mar
ried the daughter of Charles CarroU, he
entered upon the practice of the law at
Baltimore. He was employed in the de
fence of judge Chase, when he was im
peached. It was by Maryland, that he
was elected, a member of the senate. In
1819 and 1820 he visited England,France,
and Italy with his family. After his re
turn he engaged with zeal in promoting
the interests of the American colonization
society. After beirig engaged in the prece
ding day in a cause ofthe circuit court,
he died suddenly Jan. 15, 1825, aged 60.
He had been subject to the angina pec
toris: having breakfasted, he arose from
the table and was standing with a news
paper in his hand, when he suddenly fell,
and died before medical aid could be pro
cured. It is worthy of remark, that he
had just offered himseff as a candidate for
election to congress in the autumn ofthe
next year; so uncertain and vain are
the hopes of raen in regard to the future.
One ofthe Reports of the colonization soc.
contains an able & long discussion,\yhich
he wrote. He published also address on
the British treaty, 1796 ; obsei-vations
on the dispute between the U. S. and
France, 1797; letter on the proceedings
of congress ; letters to his constituents,
March 1801 ; correspohderipe with Rob
ert Walsh respecting Germany ; address

440

HARRIS.

HARRISON.

on the Russian -victories, 1813 ; on the
triumphs in Germany, 1814. Some of
his addresses and speeches were coUected
in a volume. — Encycl Amer.
HARRIS, Samuel, a baptist minister,
called the apostle of Virginia, was born
in Hanover county Jan. 12, 1724. Re
moving to Pittsylvania CO., he there sus
tained various offices, was col. of the
miUtia, captain of Mayo fort, and com
missioner for the fort and army. He was
baptized about 1758. He soon preached
diUgently, but was not ordained until
1769. His pious zeal met the usual return
of persecution. He was once pulled
down from his stand, as he was preach
ing, and dragged by the hair, and once
knocked down. Having much property,
he devoted the greater part to charitable
purposes. In his power over the affec
tions ofhis hearers he was thought to
be equal to Whitefield. The Virginians
say, he seemed to pour fourth streams of
lightning from his eyes. His worldly
offices he resigned, as he ascribed to them
the diminution of his religious enjoy
ments. In 1774 the general association
of separate baptists, wishing to re-estab
lish the primitive order, as mention
ed Ephes. 4: H ., chose Mr. Harris
apostle, and ordained him by the hands of
every minister in that body. No other
instance of such an extraordinary appoint
ment is recollected. The following anec
dotes may illustrate his character.
Meeting a pardoned criminal, who shew
ed him his pardon received at the gallows,
he asked, " Have you shown it to Jesus
Christ.?" "No, Mr. H., I wantyou to do
it for me." Accordingly the old man dis
mounted and kneeled, and, with the par
don in one hand and the other on the
offender's head rendered thanks and pray
ed for God's pardon. — He once requested
a debtor to pay him in wheat, as he had
a good crop ; but the man replied that he
did not intend to pay untfl he was sued.
Unwilling to leave preaching to attend a
vexatious suit, he wrote a receipt in full
and presented it to the man, saying, he
had sued him in the court of heaven ; he
should leave the affair with the head of

church, with whom he might settle an
other day. The man soon loaded his
waggon and sent the wheat. — Benedict,
II.8S0-339. HARRIS, Tucker, m. d., a physician
of Charleston, S. C, was born in that
city in 1747 ; studied at Edinburgh ;
served his country as a physician in the
revolutionary war ; and died July 6,
1821, aged 73. He sustained an excel
lent character and was known as a friend
of religion. He published some essays in
the medical journal of Phikidelphia. —
Thacher's med. biog.
HARRISON, Robert Hanson, a pat
riot of the revolution, sustained the of^
fice of chief justice of the general court
of Maryland. He decUned in 1789 the
appointment of judge of the Supreme
court ofthe U. S., and died at his resi
dence on the Potomac,in Charles county,
April 2, 1790, aged 45. His talents
were distinguished, and he enjoyed in a
high degree the confidence ofhis fellow
citizens. HARRISON, Benjamin, gov. of Vir-
ginia,was a patriot ofthe revolution. His
father and grandfather, having the name
of Benjamin, Uved at Berkeley, on the
banks of James river, in view of the sea
port of Petersburg and Richmond. His
father, who married the daughter of Mr.
Carter, surveyor general, was killed with
two of his daughters by Ughtning.
About 1764 he became a member of the
legislature and in 1774 a member of con
gress, in which body for several years he
rendered important services. On signing
the declaration of independence, being
quite corpulent, he said to Mr. Gerry,
who was slender and thin, after putting
his name to the instrument, — "when the
time of hanging shall come, I shall have
the advantage of you ; it will be over
with me in a minute ,but you will be kicking
in the air half an hour after I am gone." —
In 1777 he resigned his seat in congress.
From 1782 to 1784 he was the popular
governor of Virginia, and was succeeded
by Henry. He was afterwards a member of
the convention for adopting the constitu
tion of the U. S. He died of the gout in

HARRISON.

HART.

441

April 1791. His health bad been impair
ed by his free manner of living. His wife
was Elizabeth, daughter of col. William
Bassett. His third son is gen. William
Henry Harrison distinguished in the
Indian war, governor of Indiana, and
more recently minister to Mexico. —
Goodrich's lives.
HARRISON, Benjamin, a tall man,
was a native of Virginia, and died in
Georgia in April 1818, aged 44. Hewas
by accurate measurement seven feet, two
inches and a half in height.
HART, Wflliam, minister of Saybrook,
Con., was graduated at Yale college in
1732 and ordained Nov. 17, 1736. He
first gave the name of Hopkintanian to
certain doctrines, which he opposed.
Dr. Hopkins replied to his dialogue. He
published nature of regeneration, 1742;
with Jona. Todd, narrative of procee
dings at Wallingford, in regard to the
settlement of J. Dana, 1759 ; remarks on
dangerous errors, against the Hopkins-
ians, 1770 ; a dialogue, and a sermon,
which was never preached and never will
be, against the same; remarks on Ed
wards' dissertation on the nature of vir
tue, 1771, which was answered by Dr.
Hopkins ; a treatise of quaUfications for
the sacraments, 1772.
HART, OUver, rainister of Charles
ton, S. C, was born at Warminster,
Bucks county, Penns., July 5, 1723.
At the age of eighteen he was impressed
with the importance of religion and was
baptized. He was ordained at South
ampton Oct. 18, 1749, and in the same
year went to Charleston, where he suc
ceeded Mr. Chanler, and was minister of
the baptist church in that city for 30
years. In such estimation was his char
acter for patriotism and talents held by
the council of safety of Carolina, that at
the beginning of the revolution he was
appointed by them, with William Ten
nent, to visit the frontiers in order to
reconcile some of the disaffected inhabi
tants to the change, which occurred in
public affairs. In Feb. 1780 the warm in
terest, which he took in proraoting the
American revolution, induced him to
65

leave Charleston, lest he should fall into
the hands ofthe British, who were about
to besiege the city. In Dec. following
he was settled at Hopewell in New Jer
sey, where he remained till his death
Dec. 31, 1795, aged 72.
Mr. Hart possessed strong powers of
mind. His imagination was lively and
his judgment sound. Though not favor
ed with a liberal education, by diUgent
study and habitual reflection he became
very respectable for his knowledge of
Christian truth. He was a uniform ad
vocate of the doctrines of free and sove
reign grace. As a preacher his manner
was pleasing and his delivery animated.
As a citizen he was a firm and decided
patriot. He possessed a Uberal spirit and
exhibited the beneficence, which he re
commended. In his last moments he en
joyed the consolations of the gospel, rest
ing his hopes upon the righteousness of
Christ. He published several sermons
and tracts, namely, dancing exploded ; a
discourse on the death of WilUam Ten
nent ;the Christian temple; a circular let
ter on Christ's mediatorial character ; A-
merica's remembrancer ; a gospel church
portrayed ; and a thanksgiving sermon,
1789. He had a turn fbr poetry, and
wrote much, though none of his produc
tions were pubUshed. Many of his pa
pers and of his best books were destroyed
by the British army. — Rogers' and Fur-
man's discourses on his death.
HART, John, a patriot ofthe revolu
tion, was the son of Edward Hart of
Hopewell, New Jersey. He was a
member of the congress of 1774, and in
1776 signed the declaration of indepen
dence. In the latter part of this j'ear his
farm was pillaged by the enemy and his
family dispersed. The alarm and dis
tress of these occurrences caused the
death ofhis wffe, whose name was Scud
der. After the evacuation of New Jer
sey he again collected his family ; but his
health was now failing hira, and he died at
Hopewell in 1780, leaving many chfldren.
He in his rehgious profession was a baptist,
and sustained an excellent character.
Great confidence was reposed iu the wis-

442

HART.

HAVEN.

dom and judgment of " honest John ;
Hart." — Goodrich's lives.
HART, Levi, d. d., minister of Pres
ton, Conn., was the son of Thomas H. of
Southington, and was graduated at Yale
college in 1760. While a member of col
lege he made a public profession of that
religion, which regulated his whole life.
Having pursued the study of divinity for
some time with Dr. Bellamy, whose
daughter, Rebecca, he afterwards married,
he was settled Nov. 4, 1762 as the min
ister of the second church in Preston.
Here he continued to perform the various
duties ofthe sacred office until a short
time before his death, Oct. 27, 1808, aged
69. Receiving from the gfft of God a
sound and vigorous mind, it was much
improved by his scientific and literary ac
quisitions. Many young men were train
ed up by him for the ministry. As he
united a keen discernment of character to
a social and communicative turn of mind,
and was always governed by the desire of
promoting the interests of religion, he
was very useful in his private intercourse
with his people, as" well as in his pubUc la-
borsi He sought out the abodes of afflic
tion, of poverty,and of distress; and, whfle
he soothed the poor by his conversation,
he was enabled also by an exact economy
to contribute something from a small sal
ary for the reUef of their wants. His dis
position was placid ; his manners amiable
and unassuming ; and in the various rela
tions of life he was faithful and affection
ate. He engaged zealously in the support
of missionary institutions, and the pro
gress of the gospel was the theme ofhis
correspondence with a number of respec
table friends of reUgion in Europe. He
pubUshed a sermon, preached to the cor
poration of freemen in Farmington, 1774;
election sermon, 1786 ; on the death of
his wife, 1789 ; on the death of Dr. Hop
kins, 1803.— Panop. and miss. mag. i.
287, 283.
HARVARD, John, the founder of
Harvard college, died in Charlestown, in
1 638,soon after his arrival in this country.
He had been a minister in England and
he preached a short time in Charlestown.

He left a legacy of 779i. to the school at
Newton, or Cambridge. The next year
the general court constituted it a college.
The first president was Mr. Dunster. —
Precisely 190 years after his death a
granite monument was erected to his
memory, Sept. 26, 1828, on the top of the
burying-bill in Charlestown. On this
occasion Edward Everett delivered an
address to a large company, including the
officers and students of the college.
The expense was provided for by the
payment of one doUar each by many grad
uates. The monument is a soUd obeUsk,
15 feet high, four feet square at the bot
tora, two at the top, weighing 12 or 13
tons,brought from the quarry at Quincy.
On the eastern face is the narae of Har
vard in high reUef ; beneath it is an in
scription in English on a white marble
tablet and on the tablet ofthe west side,
looking toward the college, an inscription
in La tin. — Magnalia, iv. 126 ; EnieretPs
address; Hist, col 1.242; Neal,!. 199;
Holmes, i. 247; Hutchinson, i. 90.
HAVEN, Samuel, d. d., minister of
Portsmouth, N. H., was bornin Framing-
ham, Mass., Aug. 16, 1727, and was
graduated at Harvard college in 1749.
During a revival of reUgion, bis mind was
impressed by the truths of God, and he
was a great admirer of the preachers,
whose labors appeared to be blessed by
the Holy Spirit. He was ordained May
6, 1752, and died March 3, 1806, aged 78.
His first wife was the daughter of Dr.
Appleton of Cambridge. His second wife,
who closed his eyes, died herseff in a few
hours afterwards. They were both bu
ried at the same time, and 12 children
followed them to the grave.  Dr. Ha
ven possessed respectable talents, and
was acquainted with various departments
of science. His mind was rather spright
ly, than inclined to abstruse researches
and deep investigation. Having paid con
siderable attention to the study of physic,
his usefulness was thus increased among
his people. In his theological sentiments
he was moderately Calvriiistic, though in
the latter part of his life he possessed a
spirit of Catholicism and charity so exces-

HAVEN.
sive, as led him privately to specul&te
with Dr. Chauncy on the sentiment of
universal restitution. But he never pro
claimed this sentiment from the pulpit,
and he declared, that he never meant to
risk his salvation on that ground. He
excelled in the tender and sympathetic.
In scenes of affliction and sorrow he was
a son of consolation. On funeral occasions,
for variety, copiousness, tenderness, and
pertinency of address he was rarely
equalled, and he was often instrumental
in awakening the careless and convincing
the unconvinced.
He pubUshed the followinig sermons ;
at the request of ministers of N. H.,
1760 ; on the death of George II and the
accession of George III, 1761 ; on the
conclusion of the war and the declaration
ofpeace,'1763; at the ordination of Jeremy
Belknap, 1767; on the death of Henry
Sherburne, 1767 ; of B. Stevens,1791; at
Cambridge, 1771 ; at Medfield, 1771 ;
at the election, 1786 ; on the rea
sonableness and importance of prac-
, tiCal religion, 1794 ; the Dudleian lec
ture, 1798 ; after the ordination of T.
Alden, as his coUeague, 1800. — Buckmin-
ster's sermon on his death.
HAVEN, Jason, minister of Dedham
Mass.,wasbornatPramingharaMarchl3, 1733, and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1754. He was ordained pastor of
the first church in Dedhara Feb. 5, 1756.
In his old age bis impaired health render
ing a colleague necessary, Joshua Bates
was ordained March 16, 1803. Mr. Ha
ven died May 17, 1803, aged 70. He
was furnished with talents for the accepta
ble discharge of trip various duties of the
sacred office. His discourses were very
evangeUcal ; he was eminent in prayer ;
and his appearance and manners uniformly
accorded with his station. Besides several
smaller works, he pubUshed the following
sermons ; on the thanksgiving, 1758 ; at
the artillery election, 1761 ; at a private
meeting, Hei ; at the ordination of Ed
ward Brooks, 1764 ; of E. Ward, 1771 ;
of M. Everett, 1774; of S. Palmer, 1792 ;
election sermon, 1769; on thedeath of
Mrs. Hannah Richards, 1770; of Sam-

ILIWKINS.

443

uel Dunbar, 1783 ; a sermon to his own
people 40 years after his ordination, Feb.
7, 1796.— Prentiss' serm. on his death.
HAVEN, Nathaniel Appleton, editor
of the Portsmouth journal, grandson of
Dr. S. Haven of Portsmouth, was the
son of Nathaniel A. H., who was a mem
ber of congress in 1809 and died March
1831 aged 69. He was born Jan. 14,
1790; graduated at Harvard college in
1807; settled as a lawyer at Portsmouth
and died of the scarlet fever June 3^ 1 826,
aged 36. His wife, the daughter of John
Haven, survived with five children. He
wrote some pieces of poetry, and many
valuable articles for the journal, which he
edited from 1821 to 1825. He wrote
also for the N. A. review. He was a
member of one of the churches in Ports
mouth and for six years superintended a
sabbath school. His Remains, with a
memoir by Geo. Ticknor, was published
1827.— iV. Hhist col ii. 229-235.
HAWKINS, John, an Indian chief,
sagamore of Pennacook, had the name of
Hancamagus, but the EngUsh called him
Hawkins, Hakins,or Hogkins. He killed
maj.Waldron and his family- By Church
his wife was taken prisoner in 1690.
The following letter to the governor of
N. H. May 15, 1685, is a specimen of
his EngUsh learning : — "Honor governor,
my friend, — You my friend I desire your
worship .and your power; because I hope
you can do sora great matters this one. I
am poor and naked and I have no men at
my place because I afraid allwayes Mo-
hogs he will kill me every day and night.
If your worship when please pray help
me you no let MohogS kill me at
my place at Malamake river caUed
Panukkog, and Nuttukkog, I will
submit your worship and your pow
er.^ And BOW I want pouder and such
alminishon, shatt and guns,because I have
forth at ray bora and I plant theare.
This all Indian hand, but pray you do
consider your humble servant JOHN
HOGKINS." In another letter he said,
"if my Indian he do you long pray you
no put your law because sora my In
dians fooU, som. men much Ipve drunk

444

HAWKINS.

HAWLEY.

then he no know what he do, may be he
do mischief when he drunk if so pray you
must let me know what be done because I
wfll ponis him what he have done." He
called himself "Indian sogmon." — Far
mer's Belkn. i. 508.
HAWKINS, Benjamin,. colonel, long
a useful agent for Indian affairs, died at
the Creek agency in May 1816. On the
settlement of his accounts by his brother,
there was found a balance due from the
government of 200,000 dollars. His nar
rative of the Creeks was published among
the public documents in Dec. 1801.
HAWLEY, Joseph, distinguished as
a statesman and patriot, was born in
Northampton, Mass., and wasgraduated
at Yale college in 1742. He engaged in
the practice of the law in his native town.
In tliis science rie became a great profi
cient and was one ofthe most distinguish
ed counsellors in the province. Among
his other studies he attained to such an
eminence ofknowledge in political history
and the principles of free government,
that during -the disputes between Great
Britain and the colonies he was regarded
as one of the ablest advocates of Ameri
can Uberty. His integrity both in public
and in private life was inflexible, and was
not even questioned by his poUtical oppo
nents. He was repeatedly elected a mem
ber of the council, but refused in every
instance to accept the office, as he pre
ferred a seat in the house of representa-
tives,where his character for disinterested
patriotism and his bold and manly elo
quence gave him an ascendency, which
has seldom been equalled. He was first
elected a member of the legislature in
1764. In the latter part of 1776 major
Hawley was afflicted with hypochondria
cal disorders, to which he had been fre
quently subject in former periods of his
life ; and after this he decUned public bu
siness. He died March 10, 1788, aged
64 years. A letter, which he wrote in
1760, preserved in the life of Edwards,
does him the highest honor, for it proves
him not incapable of humbUng himself for
his failings. He had been active in ef
fecting the removal of Mr. Edwards from

Northampton, and he deplores the part,
which he took in that affair.
HAWLEY, Gideon, many years a
missionary to the Indians, was a]native of
Connecticut and was graduated at Yale
college in 1749. He commenced his
missionary labors in Februray 1752, at
Stockbridge. In September he made
an excursion to Schoharie in the country
ofthe Mohawk Indians,& after his return
to Stockbridge he opened his school again
at the beginning of winter under the pa
tronage of Mr. Edwards, Here he was
the instructer ofthe chUdren of a number
of Mohawk, Oneida, and Tuscarora fami
lies, and preached to them on the sabbath.
It being determined by the commissioners
for Indian affairs in Boston to establish a
mission in the country ofthe Iroquois, or
Indians of the six nations, he engaged in
the plan. In May 1753 he commenced his
journey towards the wilderness, accom
panied by Timothy Woodbridge, a gen
tieman of abilities, and of great influence
among the Indians. Having visited sir
William Johnson at his seat upon the Mo
hawk river and secured his patronage,
they proceeded towards the head of the
Susquehannah, adoring every night and
morning that kind providence, which at
tended and preserved thera in the recesses
of the forest. On the fourth of June
they reached the place of their destination,
Onohoghgwage, or as it is sometimes
called Oughquauga,upon the Susquehan
nah river. Here an interview was held
with the Indians, who gave them a good
reception. July 31, 1754 Mr. Hawley
was ordained at Boston, that his useful
ness might be increased by being author
ized to administer the ordinances ofthe
gospel. He soon returned to Onohoghg
wage, and wasthere^till May 1756, when
the French -war obliged him to withdraw
frora that country. He went to Boston
in June, and, entering as chaplain in the
regiment of colonel Gridley, he soon join
ed the army above Albany, which was
destined against Crown point. After the
campaign he made an attempt to return
to the place of his mission, but was
deterred by the dangers of the enter-

HAY.

HAYNE.

445

prise. A church was established here
by Dr. Forbes in 1762. In Decem
ber Mr. Hawley went to Stock-
bridge, where he spent the winter. In
1757 the commissioners ofthe society for
propagating the gospel persuaded him to
visit the tribe of Indians at Marshpee,
whose pastor, Mr. Briant, had been dis
missed, and who were dissatisfied with
the labors of Mr. Smith. Here he was
installed April 10,1758, and passed the
remainder of his Ufe, being occupied in
this place more than half a century in
benevolent exertion to enlighten the
darkened mind, and to promote the salva
tion ofhis Indian brethren. He died
Oct 3, 1807, aged 80 years. In his last
sickness he observed, " I have hope of
acceptance with God, but it is founded
wholly on free and sovereign grace, and
not at all on my own works. It is true,
my labors have been many ; but they
have been so very imperfect, attended
with so great a want of charity and hu
mility, that I have no hope in them as the
ground of my acceptance." An exten
sive correspondence was the source of
much satisfaction to him. As a mission
ary he was peculiarly well quaUfied, for
there was a dignity in his manner, and
an authority in his voice, which had
great influence with the Indians. He
published in the collections of the histori
cal society biographical and topographical
anecdotes respecting Sandwich and
Marshpee, and an interesting letter,
giving a narrative of his journey to Ono
hoghgwage. — Panoplist, iii. 431; Hist.
col III. 188-193; IV. 50-67.
HAY, George, judge of the U. S.
court for the eastern district of Virginia,
was for many years attorney of the U.
S., in which capacity he was the prose
cutor of Aaron Burr. As a Virginia
legislator he was distinguished. On his
return from the Springs, whither he was
induced to repair by ill health, he died in
Albemarle county Sept 18, 1830. His
wife was the daughter of president Mon
roe. His poUtical writings, signed
"Hortensius," gave him some celebrity.
He wrote also a treatise against the

usury laws and the life of John Thomp
son ; a treatise on emigration, 1814, of
which a review was ascribed to J. Low
ell. HAYNE, Isaac, a patriot of the revo
lution, was a native of S. CaroUna. In
the beginning ofthe war he lived on his
plantation, with an ample fortune ; yet
he served as a captain of artillery, being
also a senator in the legislature. Dis
gusted with the promotion of a younger
officer over him, he resigned his commis
sion and served as a private soldier at the
siege of Charleston. At its capitulation
May 12, 1780 he was taken prisoner,
but was allowed to return home on pa
role, under an engagement not to bear
arms. In 1781 he was required by the
British commander to bear arms or to
return to Charleston ; he refused to do
either, but at length was induced to re
pair to the city on the assurance of be
ing allowed to return, when he should
engage to demean himself as a British
subject so long as a British army occu
pied the country. At Charleston he was
threatened with close confinement, un
less he subscribed a declaration of his
allegiance to the British king with an
engagement to bear arms in support of
the royal government. He suhscribed
the declaration but expressly objected to
the clause, requiring him to bear arms,
and was assured, that this would not
be required. Thus he was able to return
to his family sick with the small pox.
One of his children was dead and his
wife sobn expired. After a time he was
summoned to repair to the British stan
dard in disregard ofthe' assurance he had
received. Deeming himself, in conse
quence, absolved frora his engagement,
he joined the American army in command
ofa regiraent, and in July 1781 sent out
a detachment, which captured gen. Wil
liamson. For his recovery the whole
British cavalry was ordered out, and col.
Hayne fell into their hands. He was
thrown into prison in Charleston ; and
soon ordered by lord Rawdon and col.
Balfour to be hanged for taking arms a-
gainst the British government, after he

446

HAYNES.

HAZEN.

had become a subject. The sentence,
notwithstanding various petitions and
the entreaties of his children on their
knees, was e-xecuted Aug. 4, 1781. On
the morning ofhis execution he deUvered
to his son of 13 years some papers to be
sent to congress ; and added — " go then
to the place of my execution and
receive my body." Thus fefl in the
bloorii oflife a brave officer and good cit
izen. Gen. Greene issued a proclamation
Aug. 26th, saying he should make repri
sals. Lord Rawdon's pamphlet in justi
fication of his conduct was examined in
the first number of the Southern Review.
The minute history of this affair, given
by Lee, particularly the letter of col.
Hayne to lord Rawdon and col. Balfour,
cannot fail to awaken strong feeUngs of
indignation at the conduct of those offi
cers, who ordered his execution. Col.
Hayne was not a spy, who might be
forthwith executed. He was either a
prisoner of war or a British subject. If
a prisoner of war, he could not be exe
cuted for his lawful conduct in the exer
cise of arms: if a British subject, he had a
right to a formal trial. The court of in
quiry was riot a court of trial. Besides,
as he returned to his home in the charac
ter of a British subject ; when the coun
try west of the Edisto, in which he
lived, fell under the protection of the A-
merican arms, he could no longer be cori-
sidered as a British subject. The effect
of his execution was to sharpen by pity
and revenge the swords of the Ameri
cans. — Lee's memoirs, n. 252-274 ,-
Ramsay, i. 453-460 ; Rememb. for
1789, p. 121.
HAYNES, John, governor of Massa
chusetts & ofConnecticut,wasanativeof
Essex in England, and arrived at Boston
in company with Mr. Hooker in 1 633.
He was soon chosen an assistant, and in
1635 governor. The next year he was
succeeded by Mr. Vane. In 1636 he re
moved to Connecticut,of which colony he
was one of the principal founders. He
was elected its first governor in April
1639, and was replaced in this office eve
ry second year, which was as often as the

constitution would permit, till his death
in 1654. He was distinguished for his
abflities, prudence, piety, and public spir
it, being considered as in no respect infe
rior to governor Winthrop. His estate
and talents were devoted to the interests
ofthe colony of Connecticut. He paid
strict attention to family worship, and
the religious instruction of his children.
His son, Joseph Haynes, was the minis
ter of the first church in Hartford ; but
the name is now extinct. — Trumbull's
Conn., I. 34, 223, 224 ; Magnalia, ii. 17;
Hutehinson, i. 34, 4S, 53 ; Holmes.
HAYWARD, Lemuel, m. d., physi
cian in Boston, was born in Braintree and
graduated at Harvard college in 1768.
He was a fellow student with Eustis
under Warren. He coraraenced the
practice at Jamaica plain ; was appointed
surgeon in the general hospital of the
army in 1775 ; and removed in 1783 to
Boston, where he died March 20, 1821,
aged 72. He was an excellent physician
and from early life a professor of the
Christian religion. — Thacher's med.
biog. HAYWOOD, Henry, a minister in
South Carolina, arrived in Charleston
from England in 1739, frora which time
till his death in 1755 he was minis
ter to the Socinian Baptists in that city.
He translated into English Dr. Whitby's
treatise on original sin, and had prepared
for the press a large volume in defence of
Dr. Whitby against Dr. GiU, and also a
catechism. — Miller, n. 365.
HAZARD, Ebenezer, post master
general of the U. S., was a native of
Philadelphia, and graduated at Princeton
college in 1762. In 1782 he succeeded
Mr. Bache as postmaster, and continued
in office until the adoption of the consti
tution in 1789. He died June 13, 1817,
aged 72. His daughter married Ebenezer
Rock wood of Boston. He published a
valuable work in reference to American
history, which is often quoted, namely.
Historical collections, 2 vols. 4to. 1792,
1794 ; also remarks on a report concern
ing the western Indians, in 2 Hist, coliv.
HAZEN, Moses, brigadier general, a

HEATH.

HENDRICK.

447

soldier of the revolution, commanded a
corps, called " congress's own regiment."
He died at Troy, N. Y., Jan. 30, 1802,
aged 69.
HEATH, William, major general in
the army of the revolution, was born
March 2, 1737 at Roxbury, Mass., of
which town one of his ancestors was a
settler in 1636, and was bred a farmer.
In 1775 he was appointed provincial
brigadier and also brigadier ofthe U. S.,
June 22, and Aug. 9, 1776 major general.
When the army removed to N. York, he
commanded near King's bridge. In 1777
he was intrusted with the command 'of
the eastern department near Boston, & the
prisoners of Saratoga fell under his care.
In June 1779 he returned to the main
array, and comraanded the troops on the
Hudson, and in that station, for the
most part, he remained until the close of
the war. In 1793 he was appointed
judge of probate for the county of Nor
folk. He was several times one of the
electors of president. He died at his seat
in Roxbury Jan. 24, 1814, aged 77. He
published Memoirs of maj. gen. Heath,
containing anecdotes, details of skirmish
es, battles, &c. during the American war,
8vo. 1798. Notwithstanding the indica
tions ofan excusable vanity and simpUcity,
it exhibits him as an honest, faithful pat
riot, and presents many interesting occur
rences of the war. He says of himself,
" he is of middling stature, light complex
ion, very corpulent, and bald-headed."
He was the last surviving maj. general of
the war. — Heath's memoirs.
HECKEWELDER, John, a Mora
vian missionary, was born in Bedford,
England, March 12, 1743, and came With
his father to Pennsylvania in 1754. He
was bred a cooper and joiner. In 1771
he commenced his benevolent labors
amongst the Indians, and was devoted to
their instruction for many years, amidst
many perils and hardships. Such raen,
and not blood-stained warriors, are deser
ving of honor, though they seek it not.
In 1786 he returned to Bethlehem in
Pennsylvania. As he had acquired a per
fect knowledge of the Delaware language

and was well acquainted with Indian
affairs, he was repeatedly requested by
Washington to accompany missions to
the Indians for pacific purposes. In 1797
he went to Ohio in order to superintend
the remnants of his Indian congregation,
to whom congress had granted lands on
the Muskingum. In 1810 he returned to
Bethlehem, where he died Jan. 31, 1823,
aged nearly 80. Dr. Wistar persuaded
him to communicate to the world the
result ofhis observations. He pubUshed
Correspondence with Mr. Du Ponceau
concerning the languages of the Indians,
1819 ; account of the history, manners,
&c. ofthe Indian nations &c. in transact,
of hist, committee of Am. phil. soc. vol.
I. ; this was translated into French,
1822 ; communications on the same sub
jects, 1822 ; some papers for Barton's
med. journal ; a paper on the bird Nine-
Killer, and the big naked bear, Amer.
phil. tr. vol. 4, ; on the beaver, vol. 6. ;
narrative of the missions among the Del
aware and Mohegan Indians, 1821 ;
words and dialogues of Delaware Indians
in Philadel. historical trans, vol. i. He
wrote also books and pamphlets in the
German language, and left many manu
scripts. — Encyc. Amer.
HEMMENWAY, Moses, d. d., min
ister of Wells, Maine, a descendant of
Ralph H., who Uved in 1634 at Roxbury,
was born in Framingham, and graduated
at Harvard college in 1755 ; was ordain
ed Aug. 8, 1759 ; and died Aprfl 5, 1811,
aged about 75, having been a minister 51
years. His wife, the daughter of Mr.
Jefferds, one of his predecessors, died
Nov. 1824, aged 84. He was a faithful
preacher and a learned theologian. His
controversies were conducted with fair
ness and candor. He pubUshed7 sermons
on the obligation of the unregenerate to
strive for eternal life, 1767; a pamphlet
on thesame subject, against Dr. Hopkins,
pp. 127, 1772 ; remarks on Hopkins'
answer, pp. 166, 1774; at the election,
1784 ; discourse concerning the church,
1792; at the ordination of M. Calef,
1795. — Chreenleaf's sketches, ap. 4-9.
HENDRICK, a Mohawk chief, was

443

HENING.

HENRY.

the son of a Mohegan chief, called the
Wolf, by a Mohawk woman. He mar
ried Hunnis, daughter ofa Mohawk chief
He was consulted in 1751, by the commis
sioners of Mass., on the project of remo
ving the Mohawks to Stockbridge to be
intructed by Mr. Edwards. There were
then about 13 chiefs of the tribe of the
Cauneeyenkees or proper Mohawks ; 7
living at Caunaujohhaury and 6 at Te-
wauntaurogo. The other tribes were the
Oneiyutas, of which the village Onoh-
quauga was 200 miles from Albany, the
"Tuscaroroes, the Quiuquuhs, the
Onoontaugas, the Chonuntoowaunees or
Senecas, the three last 'being chiefly in
trie French interest. He attended the
corigress at Albany for a treaty with the
6 nations in June 1754. In the next
year he joined sir Wm. Johnson with a
body of 200 Mohawks and marched to
meet baron Dieskau. When it was as
certained, that the enemy, after marching
from South Bay to the Hudson, 4 miles
'ftom fort Edward, were now advancing
to attack Johnson at fort Wm. Henry or
fort George, a council of "war was called
Sept. 8. It was proposed to send a de
tachment to meet the enemy ; when the
number was mentioned to Hendrick, he
replied,—" if they are to fight, they are
too few ; if they are to be killed, they are
too many." "When it was proposed to
send out the detachment in 3 parties,
Hendrick took three sticks, and said,
" put these together, and you can't break
them ; take them one by one and you will
break them easily." From respect to his
judgment 1200 men were sent out, com
manded by col. WiUiams. At Rocky
brook, 4 miles from fort George, they fell
into an ambuscade, because Hendrick had
been too late sent out as a flank guard ;
and in the action the old and valiant war
rior and faithful friend of the English was
mortally wounded. — Holmes, n. 63 ;
Dwight, HI. 363 ; Mante, 35, 37.
HENING, William, presiding judge
of the court of appeals ofVirginia,died at
his seat in Chesterfield, Virginia, in Feb.
1824, aged 89. He was a revolutionary
patriot and an upright judge.

HENING, William Walker, clerk
of the chancery court for the Richmond
district, Virginia, died March 31, 1828.
With great industry and research he col
lected the sratutes of Virginia down to
1792. He published the New Virginia
justice, called Hening's justice, 3d ed.
1 820 ; Statutes at large, being a col
lection of all the laws of Virginia from
the first session in 1619, 13 vols. 8vo.
1823 ; and, with Wm. Munford, Reports
in the supreme court of appeals, 4 vols.
1 809- 1 8 1 1 . He was also the editor of Fran
cis' Maxims of equity.
HENNEPIN, Louis, a French mis
sionary, was born in 1640; embarked for
Quebec in 1675 ; and, during 6 or 7 years
explored Canada and Louisiana. In 1680
he was taken prisoner 150 leagues from
the mouth of the Illinois and carried into
the country bf the Naudowessies and Is-
sati. He gave the name of the falls of
St. Anthony and the river St. Francis.
He published Description de la Louisiane,
12mo. 1683; the same in Dutch, 1688 ;
New discovery of a vast country in
America, with a continuation, London,
1698 ; Nouveau voyage dans I'Amerique
Sept 12mo. 1711 et 1790.— Schoolcraft's
trav. Intr.
HENRY, Patrick, governor of Virgin
ia, and a most eloquent orator, took an
early and decided part in support of the
rights ofhis country against the tyranny
of Great Britain. In the year 1765 he
was a member of the assembly of Virgin
ia, and he introduced some resolutions,
which breathed a spirit of liberty, and
which were accepted by a small majority
May 29. These were the first resolutions
of any assembly occasioned by the stamp
act. One ofthe resolutions declared, that
the general assembly had the exclusive
right and power to lay taxes and imposi
tions upon the inhabitants of the colony.
Such was the warmth, excited in the de
bate, that Mr. Henry, after declaiming
against the arbitrary measures of G. Brit-
ain,added-" Caesar had his Brutus,Charles
the first his CromweU, and George the
third  , " when the Speaker of the
house cried out " treason ! " and the cry

HENRY.

449

was echoed from every part ofthe house.
Mr. Henry finished the sentence with
firm emphasis — "may profit by the exam
ple. If this be treason, make the most of
it." Mr. Henry left a paper for his exe
cutors, in which he speaks ofthe resolu
tions of 1765, which closes with these
words — "If they [the people] are wise,
they will be great and happy. If they are
ofa contrary character, they will be mis
erable. Righteousness alone can exalt
them as a nation. Reader, whoever thou
art, remember this; andin thy sphere
practise virtue thyself and encourage it in
others. " He was elected in 1774 one of
the deputies from Virginia to the first
congress, and was in this year one of
the committee, which drew up the peti
tion to the king. In May 1775, after lord
Dunmore had conveyed on board a ship a
part of the powder from the magazine of
Williamsburg, Mr. Henry distinguished
himself by assembling the independent
companies of Hanover and King WUliam
counties, and directing them towards
Williamsburg with the avowed design
of obtaining payment for the powder, or
of compelling to its restitution. The
object was effected, for the king's receiv
er general gave a bill for the value of
the property. The governor immediate
ly fortified his palace, and issued a procla
mation, charging those, who had procur
ed the bill, with rebellious practices.
This only occasioned a number of county
meetings, which applauded the conduct
of Mr. Henry, and expressed a determi
nation to protect him. In Aug." 1775,
when a new choiceof deputies tp congress
was made, he was not re-elected, for his
services were now demanded more exclu
sively in his own state. After the de
parture of lord Dunmore he was chosen
the first governor in June 1776, and»he
held this office several succeeding years,
bending all his exertions to promote the
freedpm and independence ofhis country.
In the beginning of 1778 an anonymous
letter was addressed to him with the de
sign of aUenating his affections from the
coramander in chief. He enclosed it tb
Washington both to evince his ftiendship
51

and to put him on his guai'd. In another
letter, written a few days afterwards,
when he had heard ofa plan to effect the
removal of Washington, he says to him,
" while you face the armed enemies of
our Uberty in the field, and, by the favor
of God, havebeen kept unhurt, I trust
your country will never harbor in her
bosom the miscreant, who would ruin her
best supporter ; but when arts, unworthy
of honest men, are used to defame and tra
duce you, I think it not amiss, but a duty
to assure you of that estimation, in which
the pubUc hold you. "
In June 1778 he was a member, with
other illustrious citizens of Virginia, of
the convention, which was appointed to
consider the constitution of the United
States ; and he exerted all the force of
his masterly eloquence, day after day, to
prevent its adoption. He contended that
changes were dangerous to Uberty ; that
the old confederation had carried us
through the war, and secured our_inde-
pendence, and needed only amendment ;
that the proposed government was a con
solidated government, in which the sov
ereignty of the states would be lost, and
all pretensions to rights and privileges
would be rendered insecure ; that the
want of a bill of rights wasan essential
defect ; that general warrants should
have been prohibited ; and that to adopt
the constitution with a view to subsequent
amendments was only submitting to ty
ranny in the hope of being liberated
from it at some future time. He there
fore off'ered a resolution, containing a bill
pf rights and amendment for the greater
security of liberty and property, to be re
ferred to the other states before the rati
fication of the proposed fbrm of govern
ment. His resolution however was not
accepted. The argument of Pendleton,
Randolph, Madison, and Marshall pre
vailed against the eloquence of Henry,
and the constitution was adopted, though
by a smafl majority, Mr. Henry's bill rii
rights and his amendments were then ac
cepted and directed to be transmitted to the
several states. Some of iheseamendments
have been ingrafted into the federal con-

450

HENRY.

stitution, on which account as well as on
account ofthe lessons of experience Mr.
Henry in a few years lost in a degree his
repugnance to it. As he had opposed the
constitution with all the force of his elo
quence, because endangering the sover
eignty of the states, his support of the
constitution afterwards presents a me
morable example to all the nuUifiers of
the constitution,-to all, who would resist
the supreme law of the land and endanger
the union. He offered himself a short
time before his death a candidate for the
house of delegates, and in his address said
to the people, — in consequence of some
proceedings ofthe assembly, — " The state
has quitted the sphere, in which she has
been placed by the constitution. What
authority has the County of Charlotte to
dispute obedience to the laws of Virginia.''
And is not Virginia to the Union what
the County of Charlotte is to her? Op
position on the part of Virginia to the
acts of the Federal Government must
beget their enforcement by military pow
er. This will produce civil war; civil war,
foreign alliances ; and foreign alliances
must end in subjugation to the powers
called in. Pause and consider. Rush
not, I conjure you, into a condition, from
which there is no retreat. " "You can
never exchange the present government
but for a monarchy. If the Administra
tion have done wrong, let us all go wrong
together, rather than split into factions,
which must destroy that unian,on which
our existence hangs. " After the resig
nation of Mr. Randolph in Aug. 1795 he
was nominated by president Washington
as secretary of state, but considerations of
a private nature induced him to decline
the honorable trust. In Nov. 1796 he
was again elected governor of Virginia,
and this office also he almost immediately
resigned. In the beginning of the year
1799 he was appointed by president Adams
as an envoy to France with Messrs.
Ellsworth and Murray. His letter in
reply to the secretary of siate is dated in
Charlotte county Aprfl 16th, and in it he
speaks ofa severe indisposition, to which
he was then subject, and of his advanced

age and increasing debility, and adds,
" nothing short of absolute necessity
could induce me to withhold my littie aid
from an administration, whose abifities,
patriotism, and virtue deserve the grati
tude and reverence of aU their fellow citi
zens. " Governor Davie of North Car
olina was in consequence appointed in his
place. He lived but a short time after
this testimony of the respect, in which
his talents and patriotism were held, for
he died at Red Hill in Charlotte county
June 6, 1799, aged nearly 63. By his
first wife he had 6 children, of whora 2
survived him ; by his second wife he had 6
sons and 3 daughters, who survived him.
By judicious purchases of lands he left
hisfamily rich. His widow married the
late judge Winston and died in Halffax
county Feb. 15, 1831.
He was a man ofeminent talents,of ar
dent attachment to liberty, and of most
commanding eloquence. The Virginians
boast of him as an orator of nature. His
general appearance and manners were
those ofa plain farmer. In this character
he always entered on the exordium ofan
oration. His unassuming looks and ex
pressions of humiUty induced his hearers
to listen to him with the same easy open
ness, with which they would converse
with an honest neighbor. After he had
thus disarmed prejudice and pride and
opened a way to the heart,the inspiration
of bis eloquence, when little expected,
would invest him with the authority ofa
prophet. With a mind of great powers
and a heart of keen sensibUity, he would
sometimes rise in the majesty of his geni
us, and, while he filled the audience
with admiration, would with almost
irresistible influence bear along the pas
sions of others with him.
In private life he was as amiable and
virtuous, as he was conspicuous in his
public career. He was temperate. He
never uttered a profane expression, dis
honoring the name of God. He was
kind and hospitable, friendly to his neigh
bors, punctual,and faithful to his promise.
Yet it was thought, that the love of mon
ey was too strong a passion in his heart.

HENRY.

451

rendering him exorbitant in his fees, and
leading him to partake in the profit ofthe
Yazoo speculation ; and that he was also
too vain of his wealth. If this be true, it
wiU detract frora hisexceUence of charac
ter. He said to a friend, just before his
death, who found hira reading the Bible,
"here, " said he, "is a book worth
more than all the other books, that were
ever printed ; yet it is my misfortune
never to have found time to read it , with
the proper attention and feeling,till lately.
I trust in the mercy of heaven, that it is
not yet too late. " He was not a mem
ber of any church. His principles of lib
erty and regard to Christianity led him to
deplore the practice of slavery. On this
subject, in a letter written in 1773, he
inquires, " is it not amazing, that at a
time, when the rights of humanity are
defined and understood with precision,
in a country above all others fond of
liberty; that in such an age and such
a country we find men, professing a
reUgion, the most humane, mild, gen
tle, and generous, adopting a princi
ple, as repugnant to humanity, as it is
inconsistent with the bible, and destruc
tive to liberty? — Would any one believe,
that I am master of slaves of my own
purchase.' I am drawn along by the gen
eral inconvenience of living here without
them. I wiU not — I cannot justify it. —
I beUeve a time will come, when an op
portunity will be offered to abolish this
lamentable evil. Every thing we can do
is to improve it, if it happens in our day;
if not, let us transmit to our descendants,
together with our slaves, a pity for their
unhappy lot, & an abhorrence of slavery. "
In another letter to Archibald Blair, writ
ten a few months before his death, after
lamenting the violence of parties in Vir
ginia, and reprobating French infidelity,
and manners, and politics, he adds, " I
am too old and infirm ever again to under
take public concerns. I live much retir
ed amidst a multiplicity of blessings from
that gracious Ruler of all things, to whom
I owe unceasing acknowledgments for
his unremitted goodness to me. — And if
I were permitted to add to the catalogue

one other blessing, it should be, that my
countrymen should learn wisdom and vir
tue, and in this their day to know the
things, that pertain to their peace." Mr.
Wirt's very interesting Ufe of Henry
was published, 3d edit. 8vo 1818. —
HENRY, Alexander, a traveUer, was
bom in N.Jersey in Aug. 1739. In
1760 he accompanied the expedition of
Amherst, and was present at the reduc
tion of fort de Levi, near Ontario, and
the surrender of Montreal. In descend
ing the river he lost 3 boats of merchan
dize and saved his life by clinging to the
bottom of one of them. Immediately af
ter the conquest of Canada, in his enter
prising spirit he engaged in the fur trade.
He visited the upper lakes in 1760, and
during 16 years travelled in the north
western parts of America and was in
many scenes of hardship and peril. He
died at Montreal AprU 4, 1824 aged 84.
He was a man of warm affections, domes
tic habits, and a generous mind. He
published an interesting book, written
with simplicity. Travels in Canada and
the Indian territories, between the years
1760andl776,8vo. N. York, 1809.
HENRY, John Joseph, presiding
judge of the second district of Pennsylva
nia, was the son of Wm. H., of Lancas
ter, a skilful mechanic, inventor of the
screw auger, and commissary of the
troops at the beginning of the war.
He was born November 4, 1758.
At the age of 17 he entered the ar
my in 1775 and accompanied Arnold
through the wilderness ofMaine to Que
bec. In the attack on the city he was
wounded and taken prisoner. Having
afterwards studied law, he practised from
1785 till 1793, when hewas appointed
judge. Hedied about the year 1810 at
Paxton, Dauphin county, aged 52. His
wife was the sister of Stephen Chambers.
His interesting account of the expetfi-
tion across the wilderness to Quebec was
published at Lancaster, 12mo. 1812,
HENRY, T. Charlton, d.d., minis
ter of Charleston, S. C, was the son of
Alexander Henry of Phfladelphia, presi
dent of the sabbath schtjol union, and

452

HERKIMER,

HEWES.

Was graduated at Middlebury college in
1814. Hewas the pastor of the 2d. pres
byterian church at C, and died Oct. 5,
1827, aged 37. For talents, acquisitions,
holy zeal, and usefulness in the ministry
few are superior to him. He published
an inquiry into the consistency of popular
amusements with a profession of Christi
anity, 1825 ; Letters to a friend to relieve
an anxious inquirer, with memoirs by
Th. Lewis, London.
HERKIMER, general,of the militia of
N . York, was of German descent . When
St. Leger, in 1777, invested fort Stanwix,
afterwards called fort Schuyler, at the
head of Mohawk river, Herkimer, with
the militia of Tryon county, hastened to
the relief of col. Gansevoort. On his ap
proach he was ambuscaded in August,
about 6 miles from the fort, near Oneida
creek. Though mortally wounded in his
legs, he seated himself upon a stump and
heroically encouraged his men to the fight;
but his party was defeated with the loss
of 400 men. Congress ordered a monu
ment to his memory. — Holmes, n. 270 ;
Hist col II. 108.
HERRERA, Antonio de, a Spanish
historian, was born in 1559 and died in
1 625. He pubUshed in Spanish a general
history of the West Indies, 1601, also
1615. The same has been published in
various editions and languages. It gives
an account of discoveries from 1492 to
1553. The history of America, tr. by J.
Stevens, was published at London, 2d.
edit 6 vols. 1740.
HERSEY, Ezekiel, an eminent physi
cian of Hingham, Mass. and a benefactor
of Harvard college, was graduated at that
seminary in 1728, and died Dec. 9, 1770,
aged 62. His widow married capt. Der
by of Salem, and in fulfilment of his
wishes established an academy at Hing
ham, calUng it Derby instead of Hersey
academy. Dr. H. was remarkably hu
mane and benevolent, and had extensive
jiractice as a surgeon. He bequeathed to
the college lOOOZ. towards founding a
professorship of anatomy and surgery.
His widow also gave the same sum for
the same purpose. Dr. Warren was the

first, who Was estabUshed on this founda
tion. — Holmesi
HERSEY, Abner, an eminent physi
cian of Barnstable, Mass. was the brother
ofthe preceding, the son of James Her
sey. He studied physic with his bro
ther, James, of Barnstable and on his de
cease succeeded to his practice. Dr.
Thacher was his pupil. He had many
singularities. His dress was loose, Uned
throughout with baize. He had a great
coat made of 7 calfskins, to protect him
from the rain. He was hypochondriacal,
capricious, whimsical, and churlish ; and
domestic peace was a stranger to his fa
mily. He died Jan. 9, 1787, aged 65,
leaving no children. He bequeathed to
Harvard college 5001. towards the estab
lishment of a professorship of the theory
and practice of physic. The first pro
fessor in this department was Dr. Wa-
terhouse. Dr. Hersey also bequeathed
about 5007. the interest of which he direc
ted to be applied annually to the purchase
of religious publications, which should be
distributed in all the towns on cape Cod.
He directed what books should be selec
ted for a hundred years ; after the expira
tion of which time the ministers and dea
cons of the 13 parishes, to whose care
his donation is intrusted, are authorized
to select any reUgious books at their
pleasure, excepting on every fourth
year. On the petition ofthe parties the
legislature authorized the division of the
property among the churches interest
ed. — Thacher.
HEWATT, Alexander, pubUshed an
Historical account of S. CaroUna and
Georgia, 2 vols. Lond. 1779.
HEWES, Joseph, a patriot of the
revolution, was born in 1730 in N. Jersey.
His parents were quakers. He was
well educated, but did not, as Goodrich
represents, graduate at Princeton college.
At the age of SO he settled as a merchant
at Edenton, N. Carolina, In 1774 he
was a member of congress, and was ap
pointed on the committee to state the
grievances of congress. Although a
merchant, he entered heartily into the
plan of non-importation. He signed the

HEYWARD.

HICKS.

453

declaration of independence in 1776, arid
remained in congress, with the exception
of a year, till his death at Philadelphia
Nov. 10, 1779, aged 49, He left a large
fortune but no children. It is said, that
when in 1775 the quakers put forth a
" testimony " against the proceedings
of congress, he Withdrew from the sect.
— Goodrich's lives ; Enc. Amer.
HEYWARD, Thomas, judge, a pa
triot of the revolution, was born at St.
Luke's, S. CaroUna, in 1746, the son of
col. Daniel H., a wealthy planter. Hav
ing studied law at the temple in London,
he spent some years in a tour on the con
tinent of Europe. On his return he prac
tised law. In 1775 he was appointed a
member of congress in the place of Mr.
Rutledge, and in 1776 signed the declara
tion of independence. In 1778 he was
appointed judge of the civil and criminal
courts. At the capture of Charleston
May 12, 1780 he bore arms and fell into
the hands of the enemy, and was sent to
St. Augustine. His plantation was plun
dered, and he lost 130 slaves, who were
probably transported to Jamaica. Hav
ing at last permission to safl to Philadel
phia, he narrowly escaped drowning,
ha-ving fallen overboard. In 1798 he re
Unquished his judicial duties. He died
March 1809 aged 63. By his two wives,
whose names were Matthews and Savage,
he had children. With an ardent dispo
sition he yet had a sound judgment, and
was honest, firm, and fearless. — Biog.
Amer. ; Goodrich.
HIACOOMES, the first Indian in
New England, who was converted to
Christianity and a minister at Martha's
Vineyard, lived upon this island, when a
few English families first settled there in
1642. Under the instruction of Thomas
Mayhew he eagerly received the truths
ofthe gospel. Having learned to read, he
in 1645 began to teach his copper colored
brethren the Christian doctrines, and he
did not labor in vain. A number of them
were soon impressed with a sense of
their guilt in fiving, as they had Uved,
and sought for pardon from him, who is
the propitiation for the sins ofthe world.

The sachems and pawaws, or priests, did
not observe this progress of Christianity
with indifference. While the latter
threatened to destroy all the praying In
dians with witchcraft, their menaces
Were particularly directed against Hia-
coomes ; but ho said to them, " I beUeve
in God and put my trust in him, and
therefore all the pawaws can do me no
hurt" In 1650, when he lost a young
child, the funeral Was performed in the
English manner. The mourners did not
discolor their faces, nor deposit any
utensils or goods in the grave, nor howl
over the dead. After the death of Mr.
Mayhew in 1657, he continued his benev
olent labors, though he greatly lamented
the loss of that good man, by whom he
had been enlightened in the knowledge of
the truth,and whose instructions gave him
the power of instructing others. August
22, 1670, an Indian church was regular
ly formed on Martha's Vineyard, and
Hiacoomes and Tackanash were ordained
its pastor and teacher by Eliot and Cot-
ion. Hiacoomes survived his coUeague,
and died about the year 1690, aged near
80. In 1698 his son, John Hiacoomes,
was a preacher and school master at As-
sawampsit, or Middleborough. — He was a
faithful and successful minister, slow in
speech, grave in manners, and blameless
in his Ufe. He was courageous in repre
hending the Indians for worshipping their
false gods and adhering to their pawaws.
He was not elated by the high office,
which he sustained, but ever continued
humble. At the ordination of Mr. Ja-
phet, who succeeded Tackanash, as his
colleague, he prayed, imposed hands, and
gave the charge with much propriety.
In his last sickness he expressed the
hopes ofa christian, and gave good ex
hortations to those around ; and at his
death he without doubt entered into that
rest, from which many of the learned and
refined, who love not the Lord Jesus
Christ, will be excluded. — Mayhew's
Indian conv. ; Mather's magna, iii. 199.
HICKS, EUas, a quaker, died at Jeri
cho, L. Island, Feb. 27, 1830, aged 81.
His wife^ Jemima, with whom he had

454

HIGGINSON.

Uved in harmony 58 years, died in 1829.
— In the last years of his life he was the
cause, by some new doctrines, which he
advanced, of a great discord and division
among the Friends.
HIGGINSON, Francis, first minister
of Salem, Mass. after receiving his ed uc-a-
tion at Emanuel college iu Cambridge,
became the minister of a criurcri at Lei
cester in England. Here he devoted
himself to the duties ofhis office, bending
all his efforts to produce that renovation
of heart and holiness of Ufe, without
which no man can see the kingdom of
God. While his popular talents filled his
I church with attentive hearers, such was
the divine blessing upon his labors, that
.-a deep attention to religious subjects was
lexcited among his people, and he witnes-
! sed with pleasure the progress of upright
ness, benevolence, and piety among the
-dishonest, the selfish, and the impious.
Becoming at length a conscientious non
conformist to the rites of the EngUsh
church, some of which he thought not
only were unsupported by scripture, but
corrupted the purity of Christian worship
and discipline, he was excluded from the
parish pulpit. But he obtained liberty to
preach a lecture in Leicester, and often
attended private meetings for prayer and
religious conference with a number of
excellent Christians. As the spirit of
ecclesiastical tyranny became more jeal
ous and rigorous, information was lodged
against him, and while he was daily ex-
'pecting to be dragged away by pursui-
^vants to the high commission court, a
kind providence interposed remarkably in
his favor, and provided for hira a place of
security. One day two raessengers came
to his house, and with loud knocks cried
out, " where is Mr. Higginson.' We
must speak with Mr. Higginson !" His
wife ran to his chamber and entreated
liim to conceal himself ; but he rephed,
¦that he should acquiesce in the will of
God. He went down, and as the mes
sengers entered the hall they presented
him with some papers, saying in a
rough manner, " sir, we came frora Lon
don, and our business is to convey you to

London, as you raay see by those papers."
" I thought so," exclaimed Mrs. Hig
ginson weeping ; but a woman's tears
could have little effect upon hard hearted
pursuivants. Mr. Higginson opened the
packet to read the form of his arrest, but,
instead of an order from bishop Laud for
his seizure, he found a copy ofthe charter
of Massachusetts, and letters from the
governor and company, inviting him to
embark with them for New England.
The sudden transition of feeUng frbm
despondence to joy inspired him with the
same good humor, which induced his
friends to act the part of his enemies,and
a pleasant interview succeeded.
Having sought advice and implored the
divine direction, he resolved to accept
the invitation. In his farewell sermon,
preached before a vast assembly, he de
clared his persuasion, that England
would be chastised by war, and that Lei
cester would have more than an ordinary
share of sufferings. It was not long be
fore his prediction was verified. It is
not meant, that he claimed the power of
foretelling future events ; but he could
reason with considerable accuracy from
cause to effect, knowing what iniquity is
generally followed by its punishment, and
he Uved in an age, when it was usual for
ministers to speak with more confidence,
and authority, and efficacy, than at pre
sent. He safled from Gravesend April
25, 1629, accompanied by Mr. Skelton,
whose principles accorded with his own.
When he came to the land's end, he cal
led bis children and the other passengers
on deck to take the last view of their na
tive country ; and he now exclaimed,
" fareweU England, farewell the church
of God in England, and all the Christian
friends there . We do not go to Ameri
ca as separatists from the church of Eng
land, though we cannot but separate
from its corruptions." He then conclu
ded with a fervent prayer fbr the king,
church, and state in England. He arri
ved at cape Ann, June 27, 1629, and
having spent the next day there, which
was Sunday, on the 29th he entered the
harbor of Salem. July the 20th was oh-

HIGGINSON.

4J5

served as a day of fasting by the appoint- I rash in his decisions, he was not easily
ment ofgovernorEndicott,and the church shaken from his purposes. In his person

then made choice of Mr. Higginson to
be their teacher, and Mr. Skelton their
pastor. Each with the assistance of
some ofthe gravest members ofthe church
laid his hands at this time on the oth
er with prayer. A more solemn inves
titure took place August 6th, when about
30 persons accepted a confession of faith
and church covenant, which had been
drawn up by Mr. Higginson, and the
two ministers were again ordained by the
imposition of hands. Governor Bradford
and others from the church of Plymouth
gave thera the right hand of fellowship.
As both these ministers had been ordain
ed by bishops in England, and as Mr.
Higginson professed not to be a separate
from the established church, this ordina
tion cannot be considered as investing
them with the sacred office but only as
introducing them to the pastoral care of
a particular flock. Thus auspicious was
the commencement of the settlement of
Naumkeak, or Salem ; but the scene was
soon changed. During the first winter
about 100 per.sons died and Mr. Higgin
son was soon seized witb a hectic, which
terminated his days in Aug. 1630, aged
42. In riis last sickness he was reminded
ofhis benevolent exertions in the service
ofthe Lord Jesus Christ. To consoling
suggestions of this kind he replied, " I
have been an unprofitable servant, and
all my desire is to win Christ, and be
found in him, not having my own righ-
teoasness." His faraily, consisting of
his wife and eight children, whom he
was about to leave without a suitable pro
vision for their maintenance, he cheerfully
commended to the care of God, being ful
ly persuaded, that his favor would attend
them. He was a zealous and useful preacher,
mild in his doctrines, but strict in disci
phne. He admitted none into the church
without satisfactory evidence, that they
were truly religious, and excluded the
Ignorant and immoral from the table of

he was slender and not tall. His son,
Francis Higginson, went to Europe, and
after residing some time as a student at
Leyden, was settled as a minister atKer-
by Steven in Westmoreland, England,
where he died about the year 1670, aged
54. He was the first, who wrote against
the quakers, and he published also a latin
treatise concerning the five principal
lights, uncreated and created Ught, and
the light of nature, grace, and glory.
Mr. Higginson of Salem wrote an ac
count of his voyage, which is preserved
in Hutchinson's collection of papers. He
wrote also a short account of triat part of
Massachusetts, which -was now settUng,
and of the Indians, entitled. New Eng
land's plantation,or a short & true descrip
tion of the commodities & discommodities
of that country, 1 630. It has been reprin
ted in the collections ofthe hist, society.
This curious account is generally correct,
though the isle of slates, and the marble,
and the lions existed only in report and
imagination. — Magnalia, i. 18, 19 ; iii.
70-75 ; Colled hist sac i. 117-124;
VI. 231, 242-244; ix. 2-3
HIGGINSON, John, minister of Sa
lem Mass., was the son of the preceding,
and was born in England Aug. 6, 1616.
Some time after the death of his father,
with whom he came to this country in
1629, he was the instructer of a school at
Hartford,his mother with six of her cliil-
dren being somewhat dependent upon his
exertions for her support. Having be
come a preacher, he was chaplain at Say
brook fort a number of years. In 1641
he went to Guilford, and preached about
two years as an assistant to Mv. Whit
field, whose daughter he married. In
1643 he was chosen one of the seven pil
lars of Guilford. The practice of choo
sing from among the brethren seven per
sons, who were called pillars, to whom
the other church members rrere gathered,
had before been adopted in New Haven
and Milford. After the church was com-
in

the Lord, In his deportment he was I pletely orgaiuzed in Guilford in 1643,
grave,and pure in morals, and, though not ' Mr. Higginson was elected teacher to as-

456

HIGGINSON.

sist Mr. Whitfield ; but he was not or
dained. About the year 1650 Mr. Whit
field returned to England, and Mr. Hig
ginson remained as teacher of the church.
But in 1659 he left that town with the
intention of revisiting his native country.
On his arrival at Salem he was persuaded
to preach one year in the church, where
his father had been settled, and was or
dained in Aug. 1 660. Here he continued
near half a century tiU his death Dec. 9,
1708, aged 92. He had been 72 years in
the ministerial office. His colleague, Mr.
Nicholas Noyes, says of him in his
elegy,— "For I'icli array cared not a fig,
And wore Eliaha's periwig;
At ninety three had comely face,
Adorned with majesty and grace :^
Before he went among the deaJ,
He children's childi-pn's children had."
At his ordination the hands of the dea-
cons and of one ofthe brethren were im
posed in the presence of the neighboring
churches and elders. Wriether they
united in this ceremony is not known ,
but Mr. Norton of Boston gave the
right hand of fellowship, Mr, Higgin
son was at first zealous against the qua
kers, and he lived to lament, that his zeal
was so warm. As a preacher he was
"highly respected. Judge Sewall calls
him, "that aged and venerable divine ;"
and Dr. Mather speaks of him, in the
83th year ofhis age, as then performing
the duties of his office with such manly,
pertinent, judicious vigor, and with so lit
tle decay of his intellectual abflities, as
excited admiration, In his worldly af
fairs he was often embarrassed, being sup
ported during part of his ministry by
voluntary contribution. It is considera
ble evidence of his good sense and
of his benevolence, that he took no
part in the proceedings relating to witch
craft in 1692. Ho pubUshed an election
sermon, entitled, the cause of God and
his people in New England, 1663 ; our
dying Savior's legacyof peace to his dis
ciples in a troublesome world, with a dis
course on (the duty of Christians to be
witnesses nnto Christ, unto which is ad

HILLIARD.
ded some help to self examination,
1686; an attestation to Dr. Mather's
magnalia, or church history of New
England, prefixed to that work, and da
ted, 1697; a testimony to theorderof the
gospel in the churches of New England
with Mr. Hubbard, 1701 ; an epistle to
the reader, prefixed to Hale's inquiry in
to the nature of witchcraft, 1702; a pre
face to Thomas AUen's invitation to
thirsty sinners ; the deplorable state of
New England, 1708. — Magnalia in. 66,
76 ; Colled hist soc vi. 243, 244, 259-
294, 271, 272.
HILLHOUSE, WilUam, judge, was
the son of James H., first minister ofthe
second church in New London, now
Montville,who was a native of Ireland, &
was installed Oct3,1722,anddiedin 1740.
He was born in 1727, and was for 50
years a member of the legislature ; for 40
years a judge of the court of common
pleas, and also judge of probate. During
the revolutionary war he was one of the
council of safety. His seat in the councfl
he resigned in 1808 and died at Montville
Jan. 12, 1816, aged 87. He was a man
of integrity, a christian, and an unshaken
patriot. HILLHOUSE, James Abraham,a dis
tinguished lawyer,thebrotherof the prece-
dingjWas born at New London about! 729.
He was graduated at Yale college in
1749, and was tutor from 1760 to 1756.
He afterward practised law at N.Haven,
where he died Oct. 3, 1775, aged 46.
His widow, Mary, died July 1822, aged
87. He had a high reputation as an advo
cate, and was a zealous supporter of the
rights of his country. His christian life
was exemplary; he was adorned by
meekness, humility, and charity. 
Holmes' life of Stiles, 66.
HILLIARD, Timothy, minister of
Cambridge, Mass., was bornin Kensing
ton, N. H., in 1746, and was graduated
at Harvard college in 1764. In 1768 he
was appointed chaplain of castle William,
and after officiating a few months was
elected a tutor of the college, in which he
was educated. He was ordained the
minister of Barnstable April 10, 1771, as

HINCKLEY.
the successor of Mr. Green ; but after
continuing his benevolent exertions in
this place for twelve years, respected and
beloved by his people, he was induced in
consequence of his impaired health, occa
sioned by the dampness ofthe sea air, to
request a dismission, which was given
him Aprfl 30, 1783. He was succeeded
by John Mellen. Ori the 27th of October
hewas installed at Cambridge, as col
league with Dr. Appleton. He was pe
cuUarly well qualified for the conspicuous
station, in which by divine providence he
was now placed ; for he possessed an easy
and pleasing elocution and a devotional
manner, and his discourses were pure in
language and replete with judicious senti
ments, well arranged, instructive, and
truly evangelical. But the power of do
ing good was continued to him but a few
years. In the midst of his usefulness and
with increasing reputation he died sud
denly May 9, 1790, aged 43. A short
time before he expired, he expressed his
full confidence in God, and said, that he
enjoyed those consolations, which he had
endeavored to impart to others. While
he was respected for his talents and ac
quisitions, and made himself pleasing in
social intercourse, he also possessed an
amiable temper, kind and sympathetic
feelings, and the genuine benevolence of
the gospel. Though firm in the main
tenance of his religious sentiments, he
was yet conspicuous for his candor. He
published two fast sermons, 1774 ; a ser
mon at the execution of three persons,
1785 ; at the ordination of Henry Ware,
1788 ; of Bezaleel Howard ; of John An
drews, 1789 ; and a Dudleian lecture,
nS8.— Willard's fun. sermon; Holmes'
hist, of Cambridge; Colled hist soc
III. 16 ; VII. 63-67.
HINCKLEY, Thomas, the last gov.
of Plymouth, was theson of Samuel H.,
who lived in Scituate in 1636, removed to
Barnstable in 1639, and died in 1662.
He was born about 1630. He was cho
sen governor in 1680, and continued in
office,except when interrupted by Andros,
till the union ofthe old colony with Mass.,
in 1692 He died at Barnstable in 1705,
58

HITCHCOCK.

457

aged 75. Among the manuscripts of
the N . England or old south church li
brary, which were deposited in 1817 in
the historical library, are 3 vols . foUo of
papers, collected by gov . Hinckley.
HINDE, doctor, family physician of
general Wolfe, was a native of England,
horn in 17S7, and was with Wolfe, when
he fell on the plains of Abraham Sept . 1 3,
1759. He afterwards settled in Virginia
in the neighborhood of Patrick Henry,
whom he accompanied, when he marched
against lord Dunmore. His practice as
a physician and surgeon was extensive
both in Virginia and Kentucky, whither
he removed. He died in Newport, Ky .,
in 1829, aged 92. Educated an episco
palian, he became a deist, and ridiculed
Christianity . When his wife and daugh
ter attached themselves to the Metho
dists, in his rage he banished his daughter
from his house, and to cure his wife of
her insanity he applied a bUster to her
spine . But, as he used to say, ' God
turned the huge blister upon his own
heart.' Her meekness and fortitude un
der this malignant cruelty awakened his
attention to the reUgion, which sustained
her ; and in the result he became a Meth
odist. For nearly half a century he was
a devout adherent of that sect of Chris
tians. No waking hour ever passed,
whoever might be present, in which he
did not utter some expression of admira
tion for the christian faith. No patient
was visited without first praying in secret
for success, nor without assembling the
faraily, on his arrival at the house, and
praying for the recovery of the sick. —
West, journ . med. and phys. sciences .
HITCHCOCK, Gad, D.D. , minister
of Pembroke, Mass., was graduated at
Harvard college in 1748, and after a miri
istry of 55 years died Aug, 8, 1803, aged
85. He was frank, afiable, arid hospit
able : in his old age many profited by his
instructions. He published a sermon to
a military company, 1757 ; at the ordina
tion ofE. Hitchcock, 1771 ; at the elec
tion, 1774 ; anniversary at Plymouth,
Dec, 1774 ; Dudleian lecture, 1779.
HITCHCOCK, Enos, d. d., minister

453

HOAR.

HOBART.

of Providence, R. Island, was a native of
Springfield, Mass., and was graduated at
Harvard college in 1767. He was or
dained in 1771 a colleague of the aged
M r. Chipman, pastor ofthe second church
in Beverly. At the commencement of
the war his zeal for his country's rights
induced him to become a chaplain in the
American army. Believing, that his
duty to the public and to his family re
quired, that his connexion with the
church in Beverly should be dissolved,
he was dismissed in 1780. In intervals
of leisure from duty in the camp he
preached at Providence, and was installed
Oct 1, 1783. He died Feb. 27, 1803,
aged 58. Distinguished by active, ha
bitual benevolence through Ufe, at bis
death he bequeathed 2500 dollars for the
estabUshment of a fund for the support
of the ministry in his society. He paid
great attention to the education of youth,
and, while he wrote upon the subject, he
projected and promoted the estabUshment
of free schools . He was an excellent
preacher and died in peace. He publish
ed a book of catechetical instructions and
forms of devotion for chiklren and youth ;
memoirs of the Bloomsgrove family, a
work on edncation,2vol.l2mo,1790; a ser
mon at the dedicationof his meetinghouse,
1795 ; an essay on the Lord's supper ;
at the ordination of Jonathan Gould,
1793 ; ofE. Fiske, 1799; on the death
of Washington-; of Mrs, S. Bowen,
]800. — Tappan' s serm. on his death.
HOAR, Leonard, m.d., president of
Harvard coUlege, was graduated in that
seminary in 1650, and in 1653 went to
England and took trie degree of doctor in
medicine at the university in Cambridge.
He was afterwards settled as a minister of
Wensted in Sussex, from which parish he
was ejected for his nonconformity in 1662.
He returned to this country in 1672 and
preached a short time as an assistant to
Thomas Thacher, at the south church in
Boston, In July he was chosen presi
dent, to supply the loss of Mr. Chauncy,
and was inducted into this office Septem
ber 10th. As a stiholar and a Christian
he was very respectable ; but being defi

cient in a spirit of government and falUng
under the displeasure ofa few men of in
fluence in the neighborhood, the students
were thus encouraged to array themselves
against him, and his situation was render
ed so unpleasant, that he was under the
necessity of resigning his office March 1 5,
1675. He was succeeded by Mr. Oakes.
The injuries, which he had suffered, visi
bly affected his health, and induced a con
sumption, of which he died Nov. 28,
1675, aged about 45. While he was
president, there was a contribution
through the colony for erecting a new
building for the college, and 1895Z. were
collected. A valuable letter of Dr. Hoar
to Josiah FUnt, giving him direction in
his studies, is published in the collections
ofthe historical society. — Magnalia, iv.
129 ; Called historical society, vi.
100-108. HOBART, Peter, first minister of
Hingham, Mass. the son of Edmund H.,
was born in Hingham, England, in 1604,
and was educated at the university of
Cambridge. After he began to preach,
the impositions of the prelatical party in
duced him to come to this country. He
arrived June 8, 1635, and in Sept. he
began,witb a number of his friends, anew
plantation at Hingham. Here he contin
ued tiU his death, Jan. 20, 1679, aged 74.
Four of his sons were respectable minis
ters, Joshua of Southold, L. I. , Jeremi
ah of Topsfield and Haddam, Gershom
of Groton, Mass., and Nehemiah of
Newton. His grandson, Nehemiah, was
minister of Cohasset from Dec. 13, 1721
to his death, May 31, 1740 ; and his
grandson, Noah, was minister of Fairfield,.
Con. — Magnalia, iii. 153-155 ; Win
throp, III. 222.
HOBART, Nehemiah, minister of
Newton, the son of the preceding, was
born Nov. 21, 1648, and was graduated
at Harvard college in 1 667. After preach
ing two years at Newton,he was ordained
Dee. 23, 1674, as successor of Mr. EUot,
and died Aug. 12; 1712, aged 63. Mr.
Cotton succeeded him. He was humble,
pious, and learned. He published a ser
mon entitied, the absence ofthe Comfor-

HOBART.

459

ter described and lamented.— Hts«. eol
v. 267-269; IX. 169.
HOBART, Noah, minister of Fair
field, Conn., was graduated at Harvard
college in 1724, and was ordained Feb. 7,
1733, as the successor of Joseph Webb.
In a few years a number of persons in
Fairfield county adopted the episcopalian
worship, separating themselves from the
congregational churches, and some of the
episcopal missionaries represented the
ministers of the country as not the true
ministers of Christ. In consequence of
this he was induced to write upon the
subject of presbyterian ordination and to
vindicate its validity in a sermon, which
he preached at the close ofthe year 1746.
In answer to him Mr. Wetmore wrote
his vindication ofthe professors of the
church of England. A controversy now
commenced, in which Mr. Hobart had
for his opponents Dr. Johnson, Mr.
Wetmore, Mr. Beach, and Mr. Caner.
He contended, that the inhabitants ofthe
American plantations were not obliged
by any laws of God or man to conform
to the prelatic church, as established in
the south part of Great Britain ; that it
-was not prudent to embrace the episcopal
communion ; and that it was not lawful
for members ofthe NewEngland church
es to separate from them and produce a
schism. He also animadverted upon the
conduct of the society for propagating
the gospel in foreign parts, and upon the
misrepresentations of its missionaries.
This controversy lasted a number of
years. Mr. Hobart died Dec. 6, 1773,
aged 67, in the 41st year ofhis ministry.
He buried 2 wives,8 children,and 1093 pa
rishioners. His first wife, whora he mar
ried Sept. 22, 1735, was Ellen Sloss.
His relict, Priscilla, died at Plymouth
July 1798, aged 92, He was her third
husband, as she was his third wife. In
his life he exhibited the virtues and in his
death the resignation and peace ofthe
Christian. Not long before his depart
ure from the world, as sorae one remark
ed to him, that he was going to receive
his reward, he repUed, " I am going, I
trust, to receive the mercy of God through

Jesus Christ" He had few equals in
this country for acuteness of genius and
learning. A sound judgment, a retentive
memory, and an uncommonly social and
communicative temper,joined to a knowl
edge of books, and an extensive acquain
tance with most branches of science, es
pecially with history and divinity, which
were his favorite studies, rendered his
conversation very interesting and useful.
In the public offices of religion he acquit
ted himself with graceful dignity, and
with a solemnity, which indicated a deep
impression ofthe majesty of that Being,
in whose presence he appeared . In his
preaching he addressed himself to the un
derstanding rather than to the imagination
and passions, inculcating the great doc
trines of regeneration, of repentance tow
ards God, and faith in Jesus Christ, and
pressing with earnestness upon his hear
ers the necessity of that holiness, without
which no man will be admitted to heaven.
He pubUshed a sermon at the ordination
of Noah Welles, 1747 ; a serious address
to the members of the episcopal separa
tion in New England, 1748 ; election
sermon 1750 ; a second address to the
members of the episcopal separation in
NewEngland, 1751 ; a vindication of the
piece entitled, the principles of congrega
tional churches &c. applied to the case
of the late ordination at Wallingford, oc
casioned by remarks made thereon hy
Mr. Hart, 1761.— Welles' fun. serm. ;
Holmes- HOBART, John Sloss, judge of the
district court of New York, was the son
of the preceding, and died Feb. 4, 1805,
aged 66, having sustained through life a
blameless character. During the late
war he was placed in sorae of the most
important and cpnfidential stations in
New York. Mr, Jay, Mr. Hobart, and
Mr. Yates were appointed the three
judges of the supreme court, first appoint
ed after the revolution. This place he
held for a number of years. In 1798 he
was chosen a senator of the U. States.
HOBART, John Henry, d. d., bishop
of N. York, and professor of theology and
eloquence in the theolpgical seminary.

460

HOBBAMOC.

HOLDEN.

was born about the year 1776, and, after
graduating at Princeton inl793 was atutor
from 1796 to 1798. After being for sorae
years assistant minister of Trinity church,
N. Y., he was consecrated bishop May
29, 1811. He was also rector of Trinity
parish. The parish includes Trinity
church, St. Paul's chapel, and St John's;
and the rector had 3 assistant ministers.
Dr. Hobart's predecessors in the rector-
^ship were Wm. Vesey frora 1696 to
1746 ; Henry Barclay from 1746 to 1764;
Sam. Auchmuty from 1764 to 1777 ;
Charles Inglis, afterwards bp. of N. Sco
tia, from 1777 to 1783 ; Sam. Provoost
from 1783 to 1800; Benjamin Moore
from 1800 to 1816. While at Auburn,
in the performance of his official duties,
he died suddenly Sept. 13, 1830, aged 54,
and was buried at New York. His no- |
tions concerning the necessity of episcopal
ordination caused him to be ranked among
the high-churchmen. He had a contro
versy on the subject with Dr. Mason,
who wrote in the Christian's magazine ;
and a controversy with Rev. J. C. Jones,
an episcopalian, 1811. He published a
companion for the festivals and fasts,
1804 ; a thanksgiving serraon ; charge
to the clergy, 1815 ; address to the N. Y.
Bible and common prayer book society,
1816 ; to the episcopal missionary society,
1817 ; sermons in 2 vols. 8vo. London,
1824 ; a discourse comparing the U. S.
with England, 1825.
HOBBAMOC, an Indian, was a Pi-
nese, or chief captain of Massassoit. He
repaired to Plymouth in July 1621 to
live among the settlers as their friend
and he proved faithful till his death. He
was the guide of capt. Standish, whenhe
went, Aug. 14th, against Corbitant at
Namasket ; and he fought bravely by his
side in 1623. He also accompanied the
governor to Manomet in 1623; and was
the guide of Winslow and John Hamp
den, when they visited Massassoit in the
same year. Hubbard describes him as
" a proper, lusty young man." — Hist.
col. ; Prince.
HOBBY, Wflliam, mimster of Rea
ding, Mass., was graduated at Harvard

college in 1725, and died June 18, 1765,
aged 57, in the 33d year of his ministry.
His natural endowments and acquire
ments were uncommon. He preached
with fluency, and copiousness, and fervor,
and much promoted the cause of evangel
ical faith, which he zealously espoused.
As he went down to the grave, he had a
joyful, triumphant hope of eternal life.
He left behind him a serious address to
his people, as from the dead, charging
them to choose as his successor a faithful
preacher of the gospel, which is in Mass.
miss. mag. v. 371-375. He pubUshed
a vindication ofthe itineracy and conduct
of Whitefield, 1745 ; self examination in
its necessity and advantages, 1746 ; artil
lery election sermon, 1747 ; vindication
ofthe protest against Jonathan Edwards'
dismission, 1751.
HOGE, Moses, d. d., president of
Hampden Sidney coUege, Virginia, died
at Philadelphia in July 1820, aged 60.
His son. Rev. Samuel Davies Hoge, pro
fessor of natural sciences in the universi
ty of Ohio, died at Athens, Ohio, Dec.
25, 1826, aged 33. After the death of
Dr. Hoge, a volume of his sermons was
published. HOLBROOK, Abiah, a schoolmaster
in Boston, was master of the south wri
ting school, & died Jan.27,1769, aged 50.
He was an exemplary Christian. He
brought penmanship to a perfection before
unknown in this country. A specimen
of his skfll is in the Ubrary of Harvard
college. HOLDEN, Samuel, a benefactor of
the province of Mass., died in London in
1740. A sermon on his death was
preached in Boston by Dr.Colman before
the general court. Mr. Holden was at
the head of the dissenters in England,
and at the head of the bank of England.
Such was his benevolence and regard to
religion, that he sent to Dr. Colman 39
sets of Baxter's practical works in four
massy folios, to be distributed among
our churches. The amount of his char
ities for promoting the gospel and other
useful purposes was 4,847Z. After his
death his widow and daughters gave in

HOLLENBACK.

HOLLIS.

461

the same liberal and benevolent spirit
&,585Z. Holden chapel for the college at
Cambridge was built by their donation.
Mr. Holden was a man of unfeigned piety.
He says in a letter, " I hope my treasure
is in heaven, and would to God my heart
were more there. Abstract from God
and futurity, I would not accept of an
eternity here in any given circumstances
whatever." — Caiman's serm.
HOLLENBACK, Matthias, judge, a
patriot of the revolution, was born in 1753
and was an eariy settler in the valley of
Wyoming. When the valley was deso
lated by the Indians under Butler, he was
one of the few, who esciped, while his
corps was mostly destroyed. In the revo
lutionary army he was a lieutenant, and
afterwards engaged in the profession of
the law. He died at Wilkesbarre Feb.
18, 1829, aged 76. He had a sound
judgment and much decision of charac
ter. HOLLEY, Horace, i. l. d. , president
of Transylvania university, Kentucky,
was born in Salisbury, Con., Feb. 13,
1781 ; was graduated at Yale college in
1803 ; in 1805 was ordained as the min
ister of Greenfield Hill, Fairfield, and in
1809 installed the minister of Hollis street,
Boston. In 1818 he became the presi
dent of the university of Kentucky in
Lexington, but was induced to resign his
office in 1827. On his voyage to New
York he died of the yellow fever July
31, 1827, aged 46. He was settled in
Connecticut as a calvinist ; but, renounc
ing his early faith, he was at Boston a
unitarian. In Kentucky his reUgious views
occasioned much excitement. Some
accused hira of being openly a deist.
It was found, that the college would
not flourish under his care. He pub
lished a discourse on the death of col.
James Morrison, 1823. His meraoirs
were written by his widow.
HOLLINGSHEAD, WiUiam, d. d.,
minister of Charleston, S. C, was the son
of Wm. H. of Wakefield, Penns. About
the year 1783 he succeeded Mr. Tennent
as the pastor ofthe congregational church
ifl Charleston, where he died Jan. 26,

1817. He was a distinguished theologian.
He published a serraon on opening the
new raeeting house, 1787 ; on the advan
tages of pubUc worship, 1794 ; commem
orative of gen. Moullrie,1805.
HOLLIS, Thomas, a most liberal
benefactor of Harvard college, was born
in England in 1659 of pious parents, and,
being impressed by religious truth and
having embraced the principles of the bap
tists, was baptized in 1679. He died in
Feb. 1731, aged about 72. He was for
many years an eminent merchant, and,
while success attended his exertions, it
pleased God to incline him also to charit
able and benevolent deeds in proportion to
his wealth. He founded two professor
ships in Harvard college, the professor
ship of divinity and mathematics. He
also presented a valuable apparatus for
mathematical and philosophical experi
ments, and at different times augmented
the library with many valuable books.
In 1727 the net produce of his donation,
exclusive of gifts not vendible, amount
ed to 4900?., the interest of which he di
rected to be appropriated to the support
ofthe two professors, to the treasurer of
the college, and to ten poor students in di
vinity. The liberality of Mr.HoUis seem
ed to proceed from a pious heart. He says
ina letter after speakingof some ofhis ef
forts to do good, "I think not hereby to be
justified. My rejoicing is in Christ,my God
and Savior. " He also ascribes all, that
he was, " to rich, free, and sovereign,
electing love." Being a Calvinist in his
sentiments, he required his professor of
divinity to be "of sound or orthodox prin
ciples. " Stfll he was not governed by a
sectarian spirit ; he did not require the
preference of his own baptist denomina
tion ; but the professorship was open to
every one, who, in his view, embraced
the important and fundamental doctrines
of the gospel. His first professor was
Dr. Wigglesworth. His nephew, Thom
as HolUs, who died in 1774, had a most
ardent attachment to liberty, and endeav
ored to promote it by the publication and
distribution ofbooks, which vindicate the
rights of man. His benefactioris to the

462

HOLMES.

HOLYOKE.

library of Harvard college araounied to
about 1400i. — Caiman's and JViggles-
vsorth's sermons, Greenwood's discourse,
and Rudd's poem on his death; Memoirs
of T. Hollis, I. 1 ; II. 598— 601; Morse's
true reasons, Sfc ; Holmes.
HOLMES, Obadiah, baptist minister
of Newport, R. Island, was a meraber of
the church in Salera in 1639, but, being
excommunicated, became a baptist and
settled at Newport, and was the minister
there in 1 652. He died in 1 682 aged 75.
He had 8 children. His descendants in
1790 were estimated at 5,000. — Farmer.
HOLT, John, a printer in N. York,
was a native of Virginia, and settled as a
merchant in Williamsburg, of which place
he was elected mayor. Being unsuccess
ful in business, he repaired in 1760 to
New York, where he pubUshed the N.
Y. gazette and postboy, and in 1766 the
N. Y. journal. In the revolution he
was a firm whig ; he was an excellent
writer in favor of his country. While
the British had possession of the city, he
published his journal at Esopus and
Poughkeepsie : he inserted inft Burgoyne's
boastful proclamation, and subjoined, —
"pride goeth before destruction, and a
haughty spirit before a fall." By the
enemy he lost much property. He died
Jan. 30, 1784, aged 64. His widow
printed a memorial of him on cards,
which she distributed among her friends.
— Thomas, n. 105.
HOLTEN, Samuel, president of con
gress, was born in Danvers, Mass., June
9, 1738, and settled in that town as a
physician. In the revolution he zealous
ly espoused the cause ofhis country. In
1778 he was elected a member of congress,
and continued in that body 5 years. He
was again elected in 1793 ; and in 1796
was appointed judge of probate for the
county of Essex, which office he resigned
in May, 1815, after having been in
public stations 47 years. He died in
christian peace Jan. 2, 1816, aged 77.
With a majestic form, a graceful person,
and engaging raanners, he was erainent-
ly popular. Of all the public and private
virtues he was a bright exaraple ; and

he was pious from early life. — Tliacher.
HOLYOKE, Edward, president of
Harvard college, was graduated in that
seminary in 1705, and, after being a tu
tor for a few years, was ordained the min
ister ofa new society in Marblehead April
25, 1716. He continued in this place
until 1737, when he was elected presi
dent. He was inducted into tbisofficeas
the successor of president Wadsworth
Sept. 28th. He died June 1, 1769, aged
79, retaining the vigor of his mind and
considerable strength of body, and dis
charging the duties ofhis station until a
few months before his death. He was
succeeded by Mr. Locke. As a minister
ofthe gospel, while he contended for the
free and sovereign grace of God in our
salvation, he was also zealous for good
works, and by his benevolence, upright
ness, and the uniform integrity of his
conduct he exemplified the lessons, which
he inculcated upon others. His excel
lence as a preacher was such, as gained
him a high reputation. At the head of
the university he possessed a dignity pe
culiar to himself. His majestic appear
ance, his speech, and demeanor were cal
culated to impress with awe ; but, not
withstanding his air of dignity and au
thority, he was humble in heart. He
sought not praise from men, but endeav
ored to secure the approbation of God.
Having a vigorous constitution, and
knowing the value of time, his hours
were appropriated to particular duties.
and he was remarkable for his punctuali
ty, exactness, and order. He was emi
nent in the various walks of literature,
but he principally excelled in acquain
tance with matherriatics and natural phi
losophy. He published an election ser
raon at the ordination of J.Diman, 1737 ;
at a convention of ministers, 1741 ; an
swer to Mr. Whitfield, 1744.— Apple-
ton's serm. on his death; Sewall's orat.
funeb. ; Hist. col. vm. 70 — 75; x. 158;
Holmes. HOLYOKE, Edward Augustus, m.d.,
a physician of Salem, Mass., son ofthe
preceding was born in Marblehead Aug.
13, 1728, graduated at Harvard college

HOLYOKE.

HOOKE.

463

in 1746, and died at Salera March 31,
1829, aged 100 years. He was born just
100 years after the settlement of Salem.
He was married, first in 1755, and a sec
ond time in 1 759. By his second wife he
had 12 children, of whora only 2 survived
him. He had been a practising physician
in Salem 79 years ; for 2 years he had no
case excepting a whitlow ; for many
years he had almost all the practice in
the town ; on some days he raade 100
visits, and at one period, as he said, there
was not a dwelUng house in Salem, which
he had not visited professionally. He en
joyed during his long Ufe almost uninter
rupted health, which may be ascribed to
his exercise, and great temperance, to
the calmness and cheerfulness of his dis
position, his virtuous practice, and his pi
ous sentiments. On his centennial anni
versary, Aug. 13, 1828, about 50 medical
gentlemen of Boston and Salem gave him
a public dinner, whenhe appeared among
them with a firm step and cheerful look.
He smoked his pipe with them at the ta-
ble,and gave an appropriate toast relating
to the medical society and its members.
A meraoir of his fife and character has
been pubfished.
HOLYOKE, Sarauel Adaras, a teach
er of music, died at Concord, N. H., in
Feb. 1820. He published Columbian
repository of sacred harmony ; occasional
music, Exeter, 1802.
HOMES, William, minister of Mar
tha's Vineyard, was born ui 1663 in the
north of Ireland, and was liberally educa
ted. He came to this country in 1686
and taught a school 3 years on the Vine
yard ; then returned to Ireland and was
ordained in 1 692 the minister of Strabane.
He came again to this country in 1714
and in 1715 was settled at Chflmark,
where he died June 20, 1746, aged 83.
He was a learned, judicious, orthodox
theologian, attached to the presbyterian
forms, and eminently pious. He pub
lished a sermon on the sabbath ; on the
public reading of the scriptures ; on
church government, 1732; on secret
prayer ; on the government of christian
families, 1747.

HONEYWOOD, St. John, a poet,
was born in Leicester, Mass., in 1764.
His father, a man of literature, who
came from England, died as a surgeon in
the American army at Ticonderoga in
1776. By the generosity of individuals he
was educated, and was graduated at Yale
college in 1782. Having studied law at
Albany, he settled in the practice at Sa
lem, N. Y., where he died Sept. 1, 1798,
aged 33. His miscellaneous writings,
prose and verse, were published in 1801.
— Spec. Am. poet n. 43.
HONTAN,Baron la, a traveller,was an
officer ofthe French army and first went
out to Quebec in 1683. For 4 years he
was stationed chiefly at Chambly, fort
Frontenac, Niagara, St. Joseph at lake
Huron, and the Sault de St. Marie. In
1688 he was at Michilimackinac, and
at Green Bay in 1689, and thence he pro
ceeded to the Mississippi . Some of his
accounts are the inventions ofa traveller,
particularly his account of Long river,
which he ascended 84 days, and of vari
ous tribes of Indians. He was an infi
del as to reUgion. His travels were pub
lished in French 2 vols. 12mo, 1705 ;
and in Engl. 1732.
HONYMAN, Robert, m. d., a physi
cian, was a native of Scotland ; for some
years was a surgeon in the British navy ;
came to this country in 1774 and settled
in Louisa, Virginia ; was for a time a
surgeon in the army ; and after most skil
ful medical toils for half a century died in
1824. He read the Greek,Latiri,French,
and Italian, and with unwearied indus
try read alraost all the most valuable
books in English, making extraordinary
attainments in literature. His life was
honorable and upright. — Thacher.
HOOKE, William, minister of New
Haven, after he came to this country
was a preacher at Taunton ;was settled at
N. Haven in 1644, the colleague of Da
venport; returned to England in 1656
and was Crora wells' chaplain ; and died
March 21, 1677, aged 76. Hepublished,
among other works,New England's tears
for old England's fears, a fast sermon al
Taunton, July 23, 1640. His descrip-

464

HOOKER.

tion in this sermon ofthe horrors ofa civil
war and of the battle field is very striking.
" Here ride some dead men, swagging
in their deep saddles ; there fall others
alive upon their dead horses ; death sends
a message to those from the mouth of
the muskets. — In yonder file is a man,
that hath his arm struck off from his
shoulder, another by him hath lost his
leg ; here stands a soldier with half a face,
there fights another upon his stumps. —
A day of battle is a day of harvest for the
devil "
HOOKER, Thomas, the first minister
of Cambridge, Mass., and one of the
founders of the colony of Connecticut,
was born in Leicestershire, England, in
1 586, and was educated at Emanuel col
lege, Cambridge. In his youth he had
such a deep sense of his guflt, as filled
his mind with anguish ; but at length he
found peace through the blood of the Re
deemer, and an exemplary life of piety
and goodness proved, that his hope would
not make him ashamed. After preach
ing for some time in London he was chosen
lecturer and assistant to Mr. Mitchell at
Chehnsford in 1626. He was remarka
bly successful in his labors ; but, being
silenced in about four years for his non
conformity, he established a grammar
school, and continued to exert his whole
influence for the christian cause. Forty
seven cwnforming clergymen in his neigh
borhood petitioned the bishop of London
on his behalf ;but Laud was oftoo imperi
ous and determined a spirit to suffer any
circumstance to shake him from his pur-
pose,when he had an opportunityto lay his
hands upon a puritan. Mr. Hooker was
obUged to flee to Holland about the year
1630,and he preached sometimes at Delft,
and sometimes at Rotterdam, being an
assistant to the celebrated Dr. Ames.
In 1 633 he came to New England in
company with Mr. Cotton and Mr.
Stone, and was settled with the latter at
Newton or Cambridge October 11, being
ordained by the imposition of the hands
ofthe brethren of the church. In June
1636 he removed with a hundred others
to a fertile spot on the banks ofthe Con

necticut river, which they caUed Hart
ford, having travelled through the wilder
ness with no other guide than a compass.
In this new colony he had great influence
in estabUshing the order ofthe churches.
He died of an epidemical fever July 7,
1 647, aged 61. As he was dying,he said,
" I am going to receive mercy ; " and
then closed his own eyes, and expired
with a smile on his countenance. He
was a remarkably animated and interes
ting preacher. With a loud voice, an
expressive countenance, and a most com
manding presence, he delivered the truths
of God with a zeal and energy, seldom
equalled. He appeared -with such maj
esty in the pulpit, that it was pleasantly
said of him, that "he could put a king
into his pocket. " He has been cafled
the Luther, and Mr. Cotton the Melanc
thon of New England. It was his cus
tom, it seems, to preach without bis notes.
On a visit to Massachusetts in May 1 639,
he preached on the Sabbath at Cambridge,
and governor Winthrop went from Bos
ton to hear him. Having named his text
in the afternoon, he proceeded about a
quarter ofan hour with great loudnessof
voice & vehemence of manner, when sud
denly be found himself entirely at a loss
what to say. After several ineffectual
attempts to proceed, he observed to the
assembly, that what he intended to have
spoken was taken from him, and, request
ing them to sing a psahn, withdrew for
half an hour. He then returned and
preached about two hours with wonderful
pertinency and vivacity. After the ser
mon, he said to some ofhis friends, " we
dafly confess, that we can do nothing
without Christ, and what if Christ
should prove this to be the fact
before the i whole congregation.'" Dr.
Ames declared, that he never met
with Mr. Hooker's equal either in
preaching or disputation .
While he Uved in his native country he
was invited to preach in the great church
of Leicester, and one ofthe chief burges
ses set a fiddler in the church yard to dis
turb the worship. Mr. Hooker elevated
his voice to such a pitch and spoke with

HOOKER.

465

such animation, as to rouse the curiosity
ofthe man and attract him to the church
door. There he listened, and such sol
emn truths reached his ears, as by the
blessing of God were the means ofhis
salvation. Tho.ugh his own preaching
was generally very practical and experi
mental, he advised young ministers to
preach the whole system of divinity both
for their own benefit and that of their
people. In the government ofthe church
he would propound nothing for decision
till it had been previously considered by
some of the principal brethren, and said,
" the elders must have a church in a
church, if they would preserve the peace
of the church. " Though naturally
irascible in his temper, he acquired a re
markable command of his passions. He
was condescending, benevolent, and
charitable. It was no uncommon act of
beneficence with him to give five or ten
pounds to the necessitous. At a time,
when there was a great scarcity at South
ampton upon Long Island, he with some
friends sent the inhabitants a small ves
sel, freighted with corn. His benevo
lence was united with piety. One day in
every month he devoted to private prayer
and fasting, and he used to say, that pray
er was the principal part bf a minister's
work. In his family he exhibited a lively
devotion, and all, who resided under his
roof, were instructed and edified by him.
His most celebrated work, entitled, a
survey of the sum of church discipline,
was published inEngland in 4to, 1648,
under the inspection of the famous Dr.
Thomas Goodwin, who says, " as touch
ing this treatise and the worthy author of
it, to preface any thing by commendation
of either were to lay paint upon burnish
ed marble, or add light unto the sun. "
In this work Mr. Hooker contends, that
each church has in itself full power to
exercise all church discipline, but that
there is a necessity for consociations,
which may proceed against a church,
pertinaciously offending, with a sentence
of non communion. Mr. John Higgin
son transcribed from his manuscripts about
200 sermons and sent them to England ;
59

and near one halfof thera were published.
The titles of sorae of his discourses and
treatises are the following ; the soul's
preparation for Christ ; the soul's hurail-
iation ; exaltation ; vocation ; implanta
tion ; the unbeliever preparing ; of self
denial ; duty and dignity of saints ; on
the Lord's prayer ; on church discipline ;
four treatises on the carnal hypocrite,
the church's deliverance,the deceitfulness
of sin, the benefits of afflictions, 1638 ;
the soul's possession ; pattern to perfec
tion ; saint's guide ; the application of
redemption ; and the poor, doubting
Christian drawn to Christ. The sev
enth edition of this last and excellent
work was published at Boston in 1743.
— Magnalia, iii. 58 — 68 ; Hist, col
vn. 38 — 41 ; Trumbull's Connect, i. 10,
48, 55, 306 ;
HOOKER, John, minister of North
ampton, Mass., was a descendant of the
preceding, being bis great grandson, and
was a native of Farmington. He was
graduated at Yale college in 1751, and
was ordained at Northampton in 1754.
After a ministry of about 23 years he died
of the smaU pox Feb. 6, 1777, aged 48,
deeply regretted by the people of his
charge, who in testimony of their affec
tion and his virtues erected a handsome
monument to his memory. Having ear
ly imbibed the genuine spirit of Christi
anity, he uniformly exhibited the evidence
of it in his Ufe. He was an able and
faithful minister, of distinguished learn
ing, penetration, and prudence, of un
common suavity of temper and the most
engaging manners. He published a ser
mon at the ordination of Thomas Allen
of Pittsfield, 1764, and a sermon on the
death of John Hunt of Boston, 1776,
both of which sermons furnish honora
ble testimony ofhis piety and talents.
HOOKER, Asahel, minister of Nor
wich, Con., a descendant of Thomas
H., was bornin Bethlem in 1762. Af
ter the age of 20 he became a member of
the church in Farmington, whither his
parents had removed. His own efforts to
obtain an education were aided by the be
nevolence of others. He was graduated at

466

HOOPER.

Yale college in 1789 and- was ordained in
Sept. 1791 at Goshen, where in 1799 his
labors were eminently blessed, about 80
persons being added to the church.
There was also a revival in 1807. At
this period ofhis life about 20 young men
studied theology with him. In conse
quence of ill health he was dismissed in
June 1810. Jan 16, 1812 hewas install
ed at Chelsea, or Norwich city, as
the successor of Walter King, who
had been dismissed. But he died'the
next year, April 19, 1813, aged 51. His
wife wag Phebe, daughter of Timothy
Edwards of Stockbridge. His only son
is now minister of Bennington, Vermont.
One of his daughters is the widow of
Elias Cornelius. — Mr. Hooker was suc
ceeded by Alfred Mitchell. HepubUshed
5 occasional sermons, among which are
a sermon at the election, 1 805 ; at the
ordination of John Keep, 1805; of James
Beach, 1806.— Parao;)/«si,xi. 43, 97, 145.
HOOPER, WilUam, minister in Bos
ton, was a native of Scotland, and was
first settled. May 18, 1787, as the con
gregational minister of the West church,
and then episcopal minister of Trinity
church Aug. 28, 1747, as successor of A.
Davenport, the first rector. He died
Aprfl 14, 1767. His successors were
Walter, Parker, and Gardiner. He had
talents and eloquence. He pubUshed the
Apostles neither impostors nor enthusi
asts, 1742 ; a sermon on the death of Tho.
Greene, 1763.
HOOPER, WflUam, a patriot of the
revolution, son of the preceding, after
graduating at Harvard college in 1760,
studied law with James Otis, & settled at
Wilmington, N. Carolina. In 1774 he
was elected a member of congress, and
drevf- up in 1775 the address to the inhab
itants of Jamaica. In 1776 he signed the
declaration of independence. His em
barrassed private affairs induced him to
resign his place in Feb. 1777. He died
Oct. 1790, aged 48. — Goodrich.
HOPKINS, Edward, governor of
Connecticut, and a benefactor of Harvard
coUege, was an eminent merchant in Lon
don, and arrived at Bostpn with Mr. Da-

HOPKINS.
venport in the summer of 1 637. He soon
removed to Cennecticut, choosing rather
to establish himself at Hartford, than to
join Mr. Davenport and Mr. Eaton,
whose daughter in law he married, at
New Haven. He was chosen a magis
trate in 1639, and governbr of Connecti
cut every other year from 1 640 to 1 654.
Mr. Haynes was the alternate governor.
He afterwards went to England,where he
was chosen warden of the English fleet,
commissioner ofthe admiralty and navy,
and a member of parliament. He died in
London in March 1657, aged 57. His
young wife, the sister of David Yale, a
merchant of Boston, became deranged a-
bout 1642 and died in 1698. Governor
Winthrop says, she had written many
books, and he ascribes the loss of her rea
son to her " giving herself wholly to read
ing and writing, " and he adds, that if
she had attended her househould affairs
and not " meddled in such things, as are
proper to men, whose minds are strong
er &c. she had kept her wits." 
He was a wise and upright magistrate,
and a man of exemplary piety and
extensive charity. He bequeathed most
of his estate in New England, estimated
at about lOOOZ. to trustees in Connecticut
for the support of grammar schools in
New Haven and Hartford ; and 5001.
out of his estate in England for proraot
ing the kingdora ofthe Lord Jesus, which
donation was considered as made to Har
vard coUege and the grammar school in
Cambridge, and by virtue of a decree in
chancery was paid in 1710. With this
money real estate was purchased in a
township, named Hopkinton, in honor of
the donor, and the legislature of thestate
has made such addition to the fund, that
six bachelors raay now reside at Harvard
college, and seven boys at the grammar
school. — Magnalia, n. 22 — 25 ; Hutch
inson, 1. 82, 101; Trumbull, i. 241.
HOPKINS, Samuel, minister of West
Springfield, Mass., was graduated at Yale
college in 1718, and was ordained in 1720.
He died in 1755, much beloved and es
teemed. He pubUshed historical memoirs
relating to the Housatunnuk Indians, or

HOPKINS.

4G7

an account pfthe methods used for tiie
propagation of the gospel among the
heathenish tribe under the ministry of
John Sergeant, &c. 4to, 1753.— BrecA;'*
cent. serm.
HOPKINS, Samuel, D. d., minister of
Hadley, Mass., son of the preceding,
was born Oct. 20, 1729 ; was graduated
at Yale college in 1749, and was tutor ;
was ordained Feb. 1755 ; and after a min
istry of 56 years died March 8, 181 1, aged
81. His first wife was the relict of Rev.
Charles WilUams and daughter of judge
Porter ; his second was Miss Margaret
Stoddard . Of his eight children by his
first wife 6 were married to ministers ; 3
of them to Drs. Emmons,Spring, & Aus
tin. His character & useful labors were de
scribed by Dr. Lyman in a funeral sermon.
HOPKINS, Samuel, d. d., an eminent
theologian, from whom the Christians,
called Hopkinsians, derive their name,
was a descendant of gov. Hopkins and
was born in Waterbury, Conn., Sept. 17,
1721. He Uved with his parents, em
ployed ill the labors of agriculture, untfl
he entered his 15th year ; and such was
the purity of manners among the youtri
of this place, that he never heard from
any of thera a profane expression. Af
ter having been placed for a short tirae
under the tuition of Mr. Graham of
Woodbury, he entered Yale college,
where be was graduated in 1741 . While
a member of that institution he made a
pubUc profession of religion. He dfligent-
ly studied the scriptures and was constant
in his secret devotions ; but he was after
wards convinced, that he did all this with
out any true love to the character of God,
and that as yet he was ignorant of that
religion, which has its seat in the heart.
It was during the remarkable attention to
the things of a better world, excited in
the college and town of New Haven by
the preaching of Mr. Whitefield and
Gilbert Tennent in the year 1741, that
his false confidence was shaken. Such
was the extraordinary zeal for religion,
which was at that time called into action,
that a number ofthe merabers ofthe col
lege were impelled to visit their fellow

students without regard to tiio distinction
of classes, and to speak to them of the
important concerns of eternity. At this
period David Brainerd, then a student,
entered the room of Mr. Hopkins, and
though he could draw nothing from him
and found hira completely reserved, yet
he made a remark, which sunk into his
heart. He observed, that it was impossi
ble for any man to be a real Christian,
who was not sometimes deeply affected in
contemplating the character of Christ.
Mr. Hopkins could not but admit, that a
warm affection for the Redeemer would
exist in those, who had been saved by him
from their sins, and, as he was conscious
of no such love to the Son of God, he be
came convinced, that he was destitute of
the spirit of the gospel. The sense of
his ignorance and of his sin impelled hira
to seek instruction and supplicate mercy.
At length he was enlightened with the
knowledge ofthe way of salvation. The
character of Jesus Christ, as a mediator
between God and man, filled hira with
joy, to which he had before been a stran
ger. StUl he did not indulge the hope,
that he was a christian. His mind was
for some tirae principally occupied by the
consideration of bis unworthiness, help
lessness, and guilt. Many whole days he
spent in fasting and prayer. In Sept.
1741, he retired to his father's house, and
lived a recluse for a number of months,
except when he could hold intercourse
with persons zealous in rehgion. In
Dec. he went to Northampton, to pursue
the study of divinity with Mr. Edwards,
In July 1743, he went to Houssatonnoc,
now Great Barrington, where he was or
dained Dec. 28, 1743. At this time there
were only thirty families in the place.
Here he continued till Jan. 18, 1769,
when ,he was dismissed by an ecclesi
astical councfl. This event was occasion
ed by the dirainution of his society and
the want of support. An episcopal
church had been estabUshed in the town
in orfler to escape the tax for the raain-
tenance bf a minister bf the gospel. He
was again settled in the ministry at New
port, R. L, April 11,1 770, There were

468

HOPKINS.

some circumstances, attending his estab
lishment in this place, which were remar
kable, and which prove, that, the hearts of
aU raen are in the hands of God, and may
be turned,as the rivers of water are turn
ed. After he had been with this people
some time, a meeting was called, and it
was voted not to give him an invitation
to settle among them. Many were dis
satisfied with his sentiments. He accor
dingly made his preparations to leave
them, and on the sabbah preached a fare
well discourse. This sermon was so in
teresting and impressive, that a different
vote was immediately and almost unani
mously passed, and he consented to re
main. For about four years he was un
wearied in the discharge of his pastoral
duties, preaching a lecture every week in
addition to the services of the sabbath,
and seizing every opportunity to impart
religious instruction. The war of the
revolution interrupted his benevolent la
bors. In Dec. 1776, when the British
took possession of Newport, he left the
town, and retired to his family, which he
had before sent to Great Barrington.
During the summer of 1777 he preached
at Newburyport in a congregation, which
was thought to be the largest in Ameri
ca. Its pastor, Mr. Parsons, died a short
tirae before. He afterwards preached in
Canterbury and Stamford. In the spring
of 1780, he returned to Newport, which
had been evacuated by the British in the
fall of the preceding year. He found his
church and congregation much diminish
ed. The meeting house had been made
a barrack for soldiers. That portion of
his former society, which had remained
in the town, had become so impoverished,
that he had no prospect of a maintenance.
Yet such was his benevolence, that he
preached to them a year, supported en
tirely by a few generous friends, and,
when he received a pressing invitation to
settle at Middleborough, the request of
his people induced him to decline it.
From this time tUI his death his mainten
ance was derived entirely from a weekly
contribution and the donations of his
friends. But he was contented with his

hui-nble circumstances, and in a situation,
which would have filled most minds with
the greatest anxiety, he cast himself up
on the providence of God, and experienc
ed through a course of years many remar
kable interpositions in his favor. His
wants were always supplied. Jan. 1799
a paralytic affection deprived hira of the
useof his Umbs, although his mental pow
ers were uninjured. But he afterwards
recovered from this attack, so as to be able
to preach. He died Dec 20, 1803 aged 82.
Dr. Hopkins was a very humble,pious,
and benevolent man. His views of his
own character were always very abasing.
This humility pervaded his whole con
duct. It preserved him from that over
bearing zeal, which is the offspring of
self confidence and pride. In his inter
course with persons of sentiments, differ
ent from his own, he exhibited the great
est mUdness and candor. As truth was
his object, and he never disputed for vic
tory, he sometimes carried conviction to
an opponent by the force of arguments.
He sympathised in the distresses of oth
ers. He took deUght in reUeving the
wants of the poor. Though he had but
little to bestow, yet many were gladden
ed by his liberality. On one occasion he
contributed 100 doUars for promoting the
gospel among the Africans. His life was
spent chiefly in meditation : his preaching
had but little effect. He sometimes de
voted to his studies 18 hours in a day.
With respect to his views of divine
truth, he embraced the Calvinistic doc
trines ; and it is principally by the con
sequences, which he drew from these doc
trines, that his name has been rendered
famous. He fully admitted the doctrine
of the entire depravity of the human
heart and the sinfulness of aU the doings
of the unregenerate ; but thought there
was a discordance between this doctrine
and the preaching of some of the Calvin
istic divines, who exhorted the unregen
erate as such to perform certain acts as
the appointed way to obtain that grace,
which should renew their hearts and
make them holy. If men before conver
sion could do nothing, that was pleasing

HOPKINS.

469

to God,he concluded, they could do noth
ing to procure the influences of the Holy
Spirit. Instead therefore of exhorting
sinners to use the means of grace in or
der to obtain the divine assistance to en
able them to repent, when it was ac
knowledged, that in the use of the means
of grace they would be entirely sinful,
he thought it a sacred duty, incumbent
on the ministers of the gospel, to imitate
the preaching of the Lord Jesus, their
Master.and to call upon men iraraediately
to repent and yield themselves to the love
of God, He thought,that reUgious advan
tages, if in the use of them the unregen
erate were not converted, would but in
crease guilt, as in this case there would
be a greater resistance to the truth. An
other sentiment, which is considered as
one of the peculiar sentiments of Dr.
Hopkins, is that the inabiUt-y of sinners is
moral and not natural ; but this is only
saying, that their inability consists in dis-
incUnation of heart or oppositon of will to
what is good. Combining the Calvinis
tic doctrine, that God has foreordained
whatsoever comes to pass, with his views
of the nature of sin as consisting entirely
in the intention or disposition of the mind,
he inferred, that it was no impeachment
upon the character of the most righteous
disposer of all events to say, not merely
that he decreed the existence of sin, but
that he exerted his own power to produce
it. The design being benevolent, he con
tended that this agency is no more an
impeachment of the divine character,
than the bare permission of sin. This is
another of his peculiarities. In this]; he
differed from president Edwards, who
maintained, that sin was "not the fruit
of any positive agency or influence ofthe
Most High," and who said, " if by the
author of sin he meant the sinner, the
agent, or actor of sin, or the doer of a
wicked thing ; so it would be a reproach
and blasphemy to suppose God to be the
author of sin ." It may indeed well excite
astonishment, that a man of inteUigence
and piety should be so bewildered in
metaphysics, as to ascribe to God the ef
ficient production of aU sinful voUtions,

and yet deem himself responsible for sucli
voUtions. From his views of the
nature of hoUness, as consisting in
disinterested benevolence,he also inferred ,.
that a Christain should be willing to per
ish forever, to be forever miserable, if it
should be for the glory of God & the good
of the universe, that he should encounter
this destruction . Instead of the Calvin
istic doctrine of the strict imputation of
Adam's sin and of the righteousness of
Christ, he chose rather to adopt the lan
guage of scrip ture,that on account ofthe
first transgression men were made or
constituted sinners, and that men are jus
tified on account of the righteousness of
Christ or through the redemption, which
there is in him.
He published three sermons, entitled,
sin through divine interposition an ad
vantage to the universe, and yet this no
excuse for sin or encouragement to it,
1759 ; an inquiry concerning the promi
ses of the gospel, whether any of them
are made to the exercises and doings of
persons in an unregenerate state, contain
ing remarks on two sermons by Dr.
Mayhew, 1765 ; on the divinity of
Christ, preached in Boston, 1768; two
sermons on Romans vn. 7, and John i.
13, 1768, republished, 1793 ; the true
state and character of the unregenerate,
being an answer to Mr. Mills, 1769 ; an
imadversions on Mr. Hart's dialogue,
1770 ; an inquiry into the nature of true
holiness, with an answer to Drs. Hera-
men way an(^ Mather, 1773 ; of this a
second edition was pubUshed in 1791 ; a
dialogue, shewing it to be the duty and
interest of the American states to emanci
pate all their African slaves, 1776 ;
an inquiry concerning the future state of
those, who die in their sriis, 1783 ; a syss
tem of doctrines, contained in divine reveT
lation, to which is added a treatise on the
millennium, 2 vols. Svo, 1793; it is on
this system of divinity, that the reputar
tion of the author principally rests ; the
Ufe of Susannah Anthony, 1796 ; the Ufe
of Mrs. Osborn, 1798; and a volume of
sermons. He left behind him sketches of
his life written by himself, a dialogue on

470

HOPKINS.

HOPKINSON.

the nature and extent of brue Christian
submission, and an dddress to professing
Christians, all of which, were published
by Dr. West of Stockbridge in 1805.-
Hopkins' life.
HOPKINS, Daniel, d. d., brother of
the preceding, was bom at Waterbury
Oct 16, 1734 ; was graduated at Yale
college in 1758; removed to Salem, Mass.,
in 1766, and for twelve fears was chiefly
employed as a teacher of youth ; was or
dained as successor of Dr. Whitaker,
who had become a presbyterian, in Nov.
1778; and 'after a ministry of 36 years
died Dec. 14, 1814, aged 80. He was a
respected and useful minister. — Panopl
XII. 42.
HOPKINS, Stephen, governor of R.
Island, was born at Scituate March 7,
1707 and was bred a farmer. In 1742 he
removed to Providence and engaged in
mercantile business. He was from 1751
to 1754 chief justice of the superior court.
In 1755 he was elected governor, and
remained in office, excepting four years,
tifl 1768. In 1774 he was a member of
congress. His signature to the declara
tion of independence indicates a trembling
hand: this was owing to a nervous affec
tion. His heart did not tremble. He
retired from congress in 1779 and died
July 13, 1785, aged ^78. He published,
at the order of the assembly. Rights of
the colonies examined, 1765 ; and an ac
count of Providence, in 2 Hist. cal. ix.
166-903.— Goodrich.
HOPKINS, Lemuel, a physician, a
descendant of gov. Hopkins, vas born in
Waterbury June 19, 1750. At Litch
field, where he practised physic from
1776 to 1784, he acquired celebrity, and
the singularity of his appearance, man
ners, and opinions attracted general no
tice. About the year 1784 he removed
to Hartford, where he had a high repu
tation and extensive practice as a physi
cian tiU his death, Apr. 14, 1801, aged
50. Itis supposed, that his erroneous
practice in his own case was the cause of
his death. Apprehensive of the pulmo
nary consumption, for a pain in his side
he was repeatedly bled, against the re^

monstrance of his medical friends, and he
otherwise reduced his strength and
brought on a hydrothorax. His widow
died at N. York in Sept 1826. He was
tall, lean, stooping,' with large features,
and light, staring eyes. In his early
life he admired the infidel philosophers of
France ; in his last days he read the Bi-
We. As a physician he was remarkable
for his unceasing attentions to his pa
tients, sometimes devoting to one patient
whole days and nights. Once, on being
called to a child sick with the scarlet
fever in a family, to which he was a
stranger, he entered the room without
saying a word, and, seeing the child load
ed with bed clothes in a heated room, he
seized the child in his arms, and rushed
out ofthe house, followed with cries and
broomsticks, for his appearance was un
couth and ugly. But resting in a cool
shade, he called for wine, and had the
pleasure of seeing the chfld restored to
health. — He was a man of learning and a
poet. He wrote for Barlow the
beautiful version of psalm 137, begin
ning with the words, " Along the banks,
where Babel's current flows." Associa
ted with Trumbull, Barlow, Alsop, and
others, he wrote parts of the Anarchiad,
the Echo, Political Green House, the
Guillotine, and other essays. Three of
his productions were pubUshed in the
American poems, — the Hypocrite's hope,
the cancer quack, and a poem on Ethan
Allen. The Anarchiad was a satirical
poUtical poem in 24 numbers ; and these
writings appeared in the newspapers
from 1786 to 1793.— Thacher's med.
biog. ; Spec. A. poet. i. 272-284.
HOPKINSON, Francis, district
judge ofthe United States for Pennsylva
nia, was born in that state in 1738.
After passing two years in England, he
settled at Bordenton, N. J. He was a
member of congress in 1776, in which
year he signed the declaration of indepen
dence. He held an appointraent inthe
loan office for several years, apd after
wards succeeded George Ross, as judge
ofthe admiralty for the state of Pennsyl
vania. In this station he continued till

HOPKINSON.

HOWARD.

471

the year 1796, when he was appointed by
Washington ajudge ofthe district court.
Hedied May 9, 1791. He was a person,
whose stature was a Uttle below the com
mon size, whose features were small, but
uncommonly animated, and whose speech
and motions indicated the activity of his
mind. He was distinguished for his wit
in conversation ; but it was mild and
elegant He contributed not a little to
wards promoting the independence of
America, not however by labored discus
sions, but by his inimitable humor and
satire. He began in 1775 with a smafl
tract, entitled, a pretty story, in which in
an allegorical manner he exposed the ty
ranny of Great Britain towards America,
and he concluded his contributions to his
country in this way with the history of
the new roof, which ought to be read
with interest, while the citizens of the
United States are sheltered under their
present form of national govemraent.
His battle of the kegs has been much ad
mired for its wit. A few years before his
death in consequence of an act of the as
sembly for cutting down the trees of
Phfladelphia in order to guard against
fire and the evils of stagnant air, he
wrote a humorous speech of a standing
member ofthe assembly against the act,
and rescued the devoted trees from the
impending destruction. His satires on
newspaper scandal had the efiect to res
train for a number of months the licen
tiousness of the press. His specimen of
modern learning, in an examination of
the properties ofa salt box, is a piece of
exquisite humor. His opinions on edu
cation were somewhat peculiar. He
often ridiculed in conversation the prac
tice of teaching children the EngUsh lan
guage by means of grammar. He consid
ered most ofthe years, which were spent
in learning Greek and Latin, as lost, and
he held several of the arts and sciences,
which are taught in colleges, in great
contempt. To his poetical talents he
united -uncommon excellence in music,
and some knowledge of painting. Be
sides the above works, he pubUshed sci
ence, a poem, 1762, After his death his

miscellaneous essays and occasional wri
tings were pubUshed in three vols. 8vo,
1799.— Mass. mag.iii. 750-753 ; Amer.
mus. III. 165 ; IX. 39.
HORSMANDER, Daniel, chief jus
tice of New York, a native of Great Brit
ain, came to the province about 1730, and
was recorder of the city and president of
the council. He died in Sept. 1778, and
was buried in Trinity church yard. He
pubUshed the N. Y. conspiracy, or the
history of the negro plot, 1742 ; repub
lished, 1810. Of the conspirators to
burn the city 14 were burnt, and 18 han
ged, with 10 whites.
HOVEY, Ivory, minister of Plymouth,
Mass., was born at Topsfield July 14,
1714 ; was graduated at Harvard college
in 1735 ; and was ordained minister of
Meiapoiset, the second pajish of Roches
ter, Oct. 29, 1740. Having devoted
much attention to the study of physic, he
in 1744 coraraenced the practice, and
was the principal physician of Metapoiset
till his dismission in 1765 . He was af
terwards instaUed, April 18, 1770, at
Monument ponds in Plymouth, where he ,
passed the remainder of his life. He
died Nov. 4, 1803, aged 89. He had
preached about 65 years, and during that
time kept a journal, designed to promote
his improvement in Christian excellence,
which he left behind him in about 7,000
pages of short hand. Extracts from it
are preserved in the Piscataqua maga
zine. He was one of the best of men,
being distinguished for meekness, humili
ty, and piety. He published a sermon
on leaving Metapoiset, and one on the
subject of mortaUty.
HOWARD, Simeon, d. d., minister in
Boston, was bora at Bridgewater, May
10, 1733, and was graduated at Harvard
college in 1758. He was afterwards an
instructer of youth for several years.
Soon after he began to preach, he was
invited to the province of Nova Scotia,
where he officiated about a year. In
1766 he was elected a tutor of Harvard
college ; and May 6, 1767 was ordained
pastor of the west church in Boston, as
successor to Dr. Mayhew. He contin-

472

HOWARD.

HOWE.

ued in this station tiU his death Aug. 13,
1804, aged 71, and was succeeded by
Charies Lowell. He heartily engaged in
promoting the American revolution, and
participated in the joy, experienced on
the acknowledgment of our indepen
dence. In the various relations oflife he
was faithful and exemplary. In his the
ological sentiments he differed from the
first fathers of the New England church
es, for he rejected the systera of Calvin.
Towards those, who difiered from him,
he was indulgent in his thoughts, and
tolerant in his conduct. He never could
approve ofa sarcastic and irreverent way
of speaking of objects, which any sincere
believer might deem sacred. He was in
deed so mild and gentle, that he could not
express severity, which he never felt.
There was a serenity upon his counte
nance, which indicated the peace, that
constantly dwelt in his heart He was
remark-able for humility. While he nev
er mentioned either his virtues or his
faults, it was evident to all, who were
intimately acquainted with him, that he
had a humble sense of his own talents
and moral attainments. He was endear
ed to his people, for he interested himself
in their welfare, and endeavored to render
them virtuous and good. All, who knew
him , were delighted with the modesty,
mildness, and benevolence, which he ex
hibited. He published a sermon at the
artillery election, 1773 ; on the death of
his wife, 1777 ; to freemasons, 1778 ; on
not being ashamed ofthe gospel, occa
sioned by the death of Dr. 'Wintbrop,
1779 ; at the election, 1780 ; at the ordi
nation of T. Adams, 1791. — Monthly an
thol 1. 476; III. 115-119.
HOWARD, John Eager, governor of
Maryland, was born June 4, 1752 in Bal
timore county, Maryland. His grand
father came to this country about 1685
and obtained a grant of land, which is still
in the faraily. His father, Cornelius,
married Ruth Eager, grand daughter of
George Eager, whose estate, procured
soon after the charter, now makes a con
siderable part of the city of Baltimore,
Mr. Howard entered the army in 1776 as

a captain in the regiment of col J. C.
Hall ; in the following years he was pro
moted, till finally he succeeded lieut. col.
Ford in the command of the 2d Mary
land regimeut. — He was an efficient co
adjutor of Greene during the campaign in
the south, distinguishing hiraself at the
battle of Cowpens, when, says Lee," he
seized the critical moment, and turned
the fortune ofthe day;" also at Guilford
and the Eutaws. He was in the engage
ments of While Plains, Germantown,
Monmouth, Camden, and Hobkick's hill.
Having been trained to the infantry ser
vice, he was remarkable for pushing into
close battle with fixed bayonet. At
Cowpens this mode of fighting was resor
ted to for the first time in the war ; but
afterwards the Maryland line was often
put to this service. In this battle he had
in his hands at one time the swords of
seven officers, who had surrendered to
him personally. On this occasion he
saved the Ufe of the British general,
O'Hara, whora he found cUnging to his
stirrup and asking quarter. When the
army was disbanded, he retired to his
patrimonial estate near Baltimore. He
soon afterwards married Margaret, the
daughter of Benjamin Chew of Philadel
phia ; a lady of courteous manners and el
egant hospitality. In Nov. 1788 he was
chosen governor of Maryland, and con
tinued in this office three years. From
the autumn of 1796 till March 1803 he
was a senator of the United States. His
estate was increased in a high degree in
value by the growth of Baltimore, which
extended so as to embrace in its streets
the shades, which sheltered the retired
soldier. His old age was the object of re
gard and veneration. In more than one
letter Washington expressed to him his
confidence and esteem. He died Oct. 12,
1827, aged 75 years. Amer. ann. reg,
1896-7. p. 1S7-139.
HOWE, George, lord viscount, was
the eldest son of sir E. Scrope, second
lord viscount Howe in Ireland. He com
raanded 5000 British troops, which ar
rived at Halifax in July 1757. In the
next year, when Abercrombie proceeded

HOWE.

473

against Ticonderoga, in an attack on the
advanced guard of the French in the
woods lord Howe fell bn the first fire, in
July 1778, aged S3. In him,says Mante,
" the soul of the array seemed to expire."
By his military talents and raany virtues
he had acquired esteem and affection.
Massachusetts erected a monument to his
memory in Westminster Abbey at the
expense of'i50l.— Holmes, ii. 82; Mante,
147. HOWE, Richard, earl, an English
admiral,brother ofthe preceding,was born
in 1725, and on the death of his brother
succeeded to his title and estate. He
commanded the British fleet, which ar
rived at Staten island July 12, 1776, and
was one of the commissioners to offer
proposals of peace. In July 1777 he con
voyed the 270 transports, in which the
British army sailed from N. York to the
Chesapeak. In the winter he repaired to
Newport, as a safe harbor. This place,
when threatened by the Americans and
French, he relieved Aug. 30, 1778, ar
riving, from N. York with 100 safl of
ships. In Sept. he resigned the com
mand to admiral Gambler. June 1,
1794 he obtained a victory over the
French. Hedied Aug. 5, 1799. A se
vere Letter to lord Howe on his naval
conduct in the American war was pub
Ushed in 1779, in all probability written
by lord Sackville, the minister or secre
tary for the colonies. This short letter
of 50 pages has many of the characteris
tics of Junius, both in pecuUar terms and
phrases and the structure of sentences,
strengthenriig the argument to prove
Sackville the author of the letters of
Junius. The writer says, "had your
lordship and your brother saved the
northern army, which you had abundant
power to do, the rebellion, then in its in
fant state, must have been suppressed ;
the war with France and Spain had not
happened ; and, what is yet of more mo
ment to the peace and safety of the em
pire, that faction, which is daily distrac
ting the councils of state, and wreriching
asunder the union of power, which is
necessary to its safety, would now hide
60

its monstrous head in the dark cells of its
owri folly and treason." He pubUshed a
narrative of the transactions of the fleet,
&c. 1779.
HOWE,, sir William, genei^al, brother
of the preceding, was the successor of
Gage, in the command of the British
forces in America, arriving at Boston in
May 1775 with Burgoyne. He com
manded in the battle of Bunker HUl.
In Sept 1776 he took possession of New
York. With his brother he was a com
missioner for peace. In 'July 1777 he
sailed for the Chesapeak ; entered Phila
delphia Sept. 27th ; and defeated the
Americans at Germantown Oct. 4th. In
May 1778 he was succeeded by Clinton.
In the house of commons in Dec, in as
signing his reasons for quitting the com
mand in America, he particularly blamed
lord SackvUle, the minister, for not provi
ding re-inforcements, nor co-operating in
his plans, &c. In 1779, lord Sackville, if
he was the author of the letter to admi
ral Howe, returned the invective. He
died in 1814. He published a narrative
as to his command in N. America, 2d ed.
1780. HOWELL,Richard, governor of New •
Jersey, was a native of Delaware, but
commanded a New Jersey regiment from
1776 till 1779, when in consequence ofa
new arrangement ofthe army he resumed
the profession of the law. In 1788
he* was appointed clerk of the supreme
court, which office he held tUl June 1793,
when he was chosen governor of the
state. To this place he was eight years
successively elected. He died April 28,
1302,aged 47. He possessed a cultivated
mind, and was benevolent in his life.
HOWELL, David, ll.d., judge, was
born in New Jerseyabout 1747 and grad
uated at Princeton, 1766. Removing to
R. Island, he was appointed professor of
mathematics and afterwards of law in the
university. Devoting himself to the prac
tice ofthe law at Providence,he was cho
sen judge of the supreme court. He was
also a meraber of the old congress ; and
in 1312 was appointed district judge for
R, Island, which office he sustained tfll

474

HOYT.

HUDSON.

his death, July 29, 1824, aged 77. He
wasa man of distinguished talents and
learning. HOYT, Ard, missionary to the Chero
kees, was a settled minister of Wilkes
barre, Pa., when he offered his services to
the American Board. In Nov. 1817 he
proceeded with his family to Brainerd,
and in 1824 to Willstown, where be died
Feb. 18, 1828, aged 57. He died very
suddenly, but was able to say, lifting his
eyes in rapture to heaven, "I'm going."
The Cherokees were strongly attached to
him. By his labors Catherine Brown
and others were converted. He was in
deed a most valuable missionary. His
journals were read with great interest.
HUBBARD, WiUiam, minister of
Ipswich, Mass. and a historian, was bom
in the year 1621, and was graduated at
Harvard college in the first class in 1642.
The time of his ordination is not known,
but it is supposed to have been about the
year 1757 as colleague witri Mr. Gobbet.
In his old age John Rogers was settled
with him in 1692. He died Sept. 14,
1704, aged 82. His wife was the daugh
ter of Nathaniel Rogers. His son Na-
- thaniel, was a judge of the superior
court. He was a man of learning, and
ofa candid, benevolent mind. He wrote
a valuable history of N.England,for which
the state paid hira 501. It was used by
Mather in writing his magnalia,by Hutch
inson, and by Dr. Holmes. At last it was
pubUshed in the Mass. hist, collections,
2 series, vols. v. and vi. He published
an election sermon, entitled the happiness
ofa people in the wisdom of their rulers
directing and in the obedience of their
brethren &o. 1676 ; the present state of
N. England, being a narrative of the
troubles with the Indians frora the first
planting thereof in 1607 to 1677, but
chiefly of the two last years 1675 and
1676, to which is added a discourse about
the war with the Pequots, 4to, 1677 ; a
fast sermon, 1682 ; a funeral discourse on
gen. Denison, 1684; a testimony to the
order bf the gospel in the churches ofN.
E., with Mr. Higginson, 1701.— Hutch
inson, II. 147; Holmes; Hist cal

HUDDY, Joshua, captain, was taken
prisoner in a small fort on Tom's river,
N. Jersey, by a party of tory refugees in
March 1782, and carried, with his compa
ny, to New York. On the 8th of April
he and two others were sent by the board
of loyalists to Middletown point or Sandy
hook to be exchanged under the care of
capt. Lippencot, who reported on his re
turn, that he had exchanged the two as
directed, and that "Huddy had been ex
changed for Philip White." He had, hi
fact, of his own authority, hung hrin on
a tree on the Jersey shore. The case of
Philip White, the tory, was this. Hav
ing been taken prisoner, as some light
horse were conveying him to Freehold at
the end of March, he attempted to escape;
though caUed upon to surrender, he con
tinued to run, and as he was about to leap
into a bog he was cut down by a sword.
—Gen. Washington, Aprfl 21, 1778, de
manded of gen. Clinton the delivery of
Lippencot, the murderer of White ; but
the board of loyalists interposed for his
protection. On the failure of compliance
with his demand, gen. Washington selec
ted by lot captAsgiU ofthe guards, taken
at York town, and fixed the time and
place of his execution. Mrs. Asgill, the
mother, wrote to M. Vergennes, the
French minister and begged his interfer
ence, describing her distress and that Of
her family. Her pathetic appeal was
published. In consequence of it Vergen
nes interposed with Washington, and by
order of congress Asgill was released in
Nov. Capt. Asgill was afterwards sir
Charles A., general ; and died in 1823,
aged 70.
HUDSON, Heriry, an eminent naviga
tor, was an Englishman, who explored a
part of the coast of Greenland in the
years 1607 and 1608, while seeking a
passage to Japan and China. After his
return to England from his second
voyage, he went over to Holland, and the
Dutch East India corapany gave fiim the
command of a ship for discovery. He
sailed March 25, 1609, and, after passing
along the coast of Lapland, crossed the
Atlantic, and discovered cape Cod, at

HUIT.
which place he landed. He then pursued
his course to the Chesapeak, and on his
return along the coast entered the river
in the state of New York, which bears
his name, and ascended as far as where
the city of Albany now stands. A set
tlement was soon after made upon this
river by the Dutch. In 1610 he was
again fitted out by some gentleman to
discover a passage to the south sea, and
in this voyage he discovered the exten
sive bay to the north, which bears his
name. He drew his ship into a small
creek Nov. 3, and it was frozen up dur
ing the winter. Uncommon flights of
-wild fowl furnished provision, without
which supply the crew must have perish
ed. Inthe spring of 1611 he made seve
ral efforts to complete his discoveries, but
was obUged to abandon his enterprize and
make the best of his way home. He dis
tributed to his men with tears in his eyes
all the bread, he had left, which was only
a pound to each ; though it is said, that
other provisions were afterwards found in
the ship. In bis uneasiness and despair ,he
let fall threatening words of setting some
ofhis men on shore ; upon which a few
ofthe sturdiest, who had been very muti
nous, entered his cabin in the night, tied
his arras behind him, and set him adrift
in the shallop at the west end of the
straits with his son and seven of the most
sick and infirm of his men. He was
never heard of again. The crew procee
ded -with his ship for England. Four of
them were killed by the savages, as they
went on shore near the strait's mouth,
and the rest, ready to die for want, arri
ved at Plyraouthin Sept 1611. He pub
lished divers voyages and northern dis
coveries, 1607; a second voyage for find
ing a passage to the East Indies by the
north east, 1608. Accounts ofhis other
voyages were published ; but they were
not written by hiraself Sorae of thera
are preserved in the third volume of Pur
chas' pilgrims. — Belknap's biog. i. 394-
407; New and gen. biog. did
HUIT, Ephraim,minister of Windsor,
Con., came from England and was set
tled as colleague with Mr. Wareham in

HULL.

475

1639, and died Sept 4, 1644. He was a
man of superior talents and eminent use
fulness. Johrisori says of him, —
"And Huet had his arguings strong and right."
His name is also writteriHeuetand Hew-
ett. He published the prophecy of Dan
iel explained, 4to. 1 643 .
HULL, William, general, governor of
Michigan territory, was a brave and use
ful officer of the revolutionary war. In
1796 he was chosen major general in the
militia of Massachusetts. In 1805 he
was appointed governor of the Michigan
territory, in which office he was succeed
ed by Lewis Cass in 1814. At the be
ginning of the war he was requested to
command the north western army. He
surrendered with 2000 men at Detroit to
the British general Brock Aug. 15, 1812.
A court martial was ordered to try him
on several charges, and he was actuaUy in
1814 sentenced to be shot, but for his
revolutionary services and his age recom
mended to mercy. The president appro
ved the sentence and remitted the execu
tion. Geii. Hull died at his residence in
Newton, near Boston, Nov. 29, 1825,
aged 72. His relict, Sarah, died irj Aug.
1826.— In his defence he makes state
ments, which ought to be taken into
consideration, before it shall be conclu
ded, that the sentence was just. Being
governor of Michiganj as well as general,
he was bound to consult the safety ofthe
frontier settlers, who were threatened by
a horde of savages. His army was in ef
fective force only one third of the forces
of Brock. He could hope for no co-ope
ration on the part of gen. Dearborn on
the Niagara who had entered into an ar
mistice, and thus threw the enemy upon
him ; the British comraanded lake Erie ;
and a part of his own forces under Cass
and Mc Arthur had been sent to the river
Raisin. Under these circumstances,with
six hundred Indians already present with
the British 'army ; cut off by the lake
and the wilderness from his supplies and
re-inforcements; he says, that he deemed
it a sacred duty, which he owed to his
fellow citizens under his government, to

478

HUMMINGBIRD.

HUNTER.

negotiate a capitulation, which secured
their safety.. We must put treachery
out of the question. The only inquiry
is, 'whether a brave revolutionary officer
was absolutely a coward at Detroit? It
has been often the case, that rash
heroes have occasioned a pitiable and
useless destruction of life. It was so in
the action at Minisink. When St. Clair
retreated from Ticonderoga in 1777,
there was a great clamor against him ;
but the measure was wise and indispensa
ble to the safety of the army. — He pub
lished Defence of himself, 1814 ; me
moirs of the campaign of 1812, with a
sketch ofhis revolutionary services,1824.
— Holmes, n. 470.
HUMMING BIRD, gen., a Choctaw
chief, was from his youth a friend of the
U. S., and fought many battles by the
side of white men against the red people.
In the expedition of Wayne and Scott in
1794 against the Shawnees and Dela
wares, he commanded 60 Choctaw war
riors. In the late war against the Creeks
and British he also distinguished himself
He died at NashviUe, Tenn., Dec. 23,
1827, aged 75, and was buried by col.
Ward, the agent, with the honors of
war. His commission and silver medal
received from Washington, were placed in
his coffin.
HUMPHREYS, David, colonel, the
son of Daniel H., the minister of Derby,
Con., was born in 1753 and graduated at
Yale college in 1771, and soon went to re
side in the family of col. Phillips of Phil-
Ups manor, N. York. He early entered
the army as a captain ; in 1778 he was a
major and aid to gen. Putnam ; in 1780
he was selected as Washington's aid,
with the rank of colonel, and remained
in his family to the end of the war, enjoy
ing his confidence and friendship. His
competitors for the place of aid were
Talhnadge, Hull, and Alden. For his
valor at the siege of York congress hon
ored him with a sword . In 1784 he accom
panied Jeffers(m to Paris as secretary ofle-
jjbtion, accompanied by his friend Kos
ciusko. He returned in 1786, and was
elected to the legislature from Derby.

Being appointed to command a regiment,
raised for the western service, he resided
for some time at Hartford, and with
Trumbull, Barlow, and Hopkins wrote
the Anarchiad. In 1788 he went
to reside with Washington, and continu
ed with him tUl he was appointed in 1790
minister to Portugal. He sailed in 1791 ;
and soon after his return in 1794 was ap
pointed minister plenipotentiary to Spain.
He concluded treaties with TripoU and
Algiers. In 1802 he was succeeded by
Pinckney. In his last years he devoted
much care to the rearing of merino sheep.
In 1812 he took the command ofthe mili
tia of Connecticut. He died suddenly, of
an organic affection of the heart, at N .
Haven, Feb. 21, 1818, aged 65. His
wife, whom he married in 1797, was the
daughter of John Bulkley, an English
merchant at Lisbon of great wealth.
He published in 1782 a poetical address
to the armies of the U. S., which was
much celebrated. His other works are
poems on the happiness of America ; on
the future glory ofthe U. S. ; on the in
dustry of the U.S.; on the love of
country ; on the death of Washingtbn.
He wrote also the Ufe of Putnam, 1788 ;
the widow of Malabar, a tragedy, from
the French, 1790 ; and several political
tracts and orations. A collection of his
poems and tracts, including most of his
writings, was published at N. York, Svo,
1790 & 1804.— Spec. Amer. poet. i. 259-
272. HUNT, Ebenezer, m. d., a physician
of Northampton, was born there in 1744 ;
was graduated at Harvard college in
1764 ; and studied with Dr. Pyncheon of
Springfield. He died Dec. 26, 1820,
aged 76, having practised physic more
than 50 years, and in that time never
having sued any person for any debt, in
curred by medical attendance. For sev
eral years hewas a niember of the senate.
— Thacher.
HUNTER, William, m. d., a physi
cian of Newport, R. I., was a native of
Scotland ; came to this country about
1752 ;and gave, in 1754-6, the first lec
tures on anatomy, delivered in N. Eng-

HUNTINGTON.

477

kind. Hedied in 1777. His wife was
the daughter of Godfrey Malbone, a rich
merchant. His son, William, was a
senator of the U. S.— T/iocAer.
HUNTINGTON, Samuel, governor
of Conn., was the eldest son of Nathaniel
H., a farmer of Windhara, and was born
in 1732. In his youth he gave indica
tions of an excellent understanding.
Without the advantages of a collegial
education he acquired a competent knowl
edge of the law and was early admitted
to the bar ; soon after which he settled
in Norwich in 1760 and in a few years
became eminent in his profession. In
1764 he was a representative in the gen
eral assembly, and the following year was
appointed king's attorney, which office he
filled with reputation, until more impor
tant services induced him to relinquish it.
In 1774 he was made an assistant judge
ofthe superior court In 1775 he was
elected into the council, and in the same
year chosen a delegate to congress . In
1779 he was president of that honorable
body, and was rechosen the following
year. After this year he resumed his
seat in the council and on the bench. In
1783 he was again a member of congress.
In 1784 he was appointed chief justice.
He was placed in the chair of the chief
magistrate in 1786. as successor of gov.
Griswold, and was annually reelected till
his death. He died at Norwich Jan. 5,
1796, aged 63. His wife, Martha, the
daughter of Eb. Devotion, minister of
Windham, died June 4, 1794. Having
no children, he adopted two children of
his brother, Joseph ; one of whom was
the gov. of Ohio and the other married
Rev. Edward D. Griffin, now president
of Williams' college. His elder brother,
Nathaniel, rainister of East Windsor or
EUington, was ordained in 1749 and died
in 1756, aged 32. Gov. H. was an exera-
plary professor of reUgion. He is one of
those men, who by the force of ge
nius, by industry, patriotism, and in
tegrity rose to eminent usefulness and
honor. — Strong's fun. serm.; Goodrich;
Dwight. 11.43.
HUNTINGTON, Joseph, d. d., min

ister of Coventry, Conn, was graduated
at Yale college in 1762, and died in tiie
year- 1795. His daughter is the wife of
president Griffin of WilUams' college.
He is well know as the author ofa work,
entitied, Calvinism improved, or the gos
pel illustrated as a system of real grace,
issuing in the salvation of aU men, which
was published, after his death, in 1796.
It was answered in the same year by Dr.
Strong. It is probable, that he adopted
the notion of universal salvation, as many
others have, in consequence of erroneows
views ofthe divine sovereignty. Ascrib
ing to God an " unalterable decree, — in
cluding every thought, volition, or incli
nation of all moral agents, — every being
and mode of being, every circumstance,
connexion, and consequence throughout
the whole system of being;" it would
very naturally seem to him unjust, that
any man should be punished forever.
He says,-' 'if any are in extreme sufferings
to endless duration, in this case they
must be infinite losers by that existence,
which the God ofloveforced upon them."
But surely scripture does not ascribe to
God any decree or agency to produce sin;
on the contrary it declares expressly, that
God tempteth no man to sin. Through
out the Bible man is regarded as a moral
agent, self-acting, and, if sinful, with
unforced volition choosing evil. Hence
he is responsible, and destined to answer
for himself in the final judgment. — Set
ting out with the grand error of absolute
decree of sin and the consequent denial
of human responsibleness. Dr. H. founds
his argument for universal salvation on
another error in regard to the atone
ment of Christ, which, he thought, inclu
ded the indurance of all the punishment,
threatened the sinner, and thus a satis
faction of the law, so that all sinful men
are released from its curse. Hence he
says, by a wild perversion of the plain
language of scripture, that sinners " in
their surety, vicar, or substitute, i. e.
in Chirist, the head of every man, go
away into everlasting punishment, in a
true gospel sense. In him they suffer in
finite punishment, i. e. he suffers for them.

478

HUNTINGTON.

in their room and stead." By another
strange perversion, revolting to common
sense, he represents that in the day of
judgment, not men of all nations, but
"characters shaU be separated one from
another, as a shepherd divideth the sheep
from the goats."—" The character of
sinners was always at God's left hand and
always WiU be." In the resurrection he
maintains, that our sins will arise, " in
the holy voice ofthe law," and that this
wfllbe theonly resurrection to condem
nation and everlasting shame and con
tempt, while all men will arise to ev
erlasting life. It is by such strange de
parture from scripture and comraon
sense, that error is built up and mis
erable men are deluded.
Dr. Huntington pubUshed a sermon on
the vanity and mischief of presuming on
things beyond our measure, 1774 ; at the
installation of John Ellis,Rehoboth,1785;
a plea before the ecclesiastical council at
Stockbridge in the cause of Mrs. Fisk,
excommunicated for marrying a profane
man, 1779 ; an address to his anabaptist
brethren, 1783.
HUNTINGTON, Jedidiah, general,
was born in Norwich, Con., Aug. 15,
1743,& was graduated at Harvard college
in 1763,on which occasion he pronounced
the first EngUsh oration, ever delivered
at commencement. He soon engaged in
commercial pursuits in Norwich. At the
age of 23 hemade a profession of religion.
Entering the army in command ofa regi
ment in 1775, he was in May 1777 ap
pointed by congress a brigadier general.
After the war, during which he had the
esteem and confidence of Washington, he
was sheriffof the county and treasurer of
the state. In 1789 he was appointed col
lector of the port of New London, an
office, which he held 26 years, resigning
it in 1815. He died Sept 25, 1818, aged
75. His first wife, the daughter of gov_
Trumbull, died at Dedhara in 1775,while
he was on his way to join the army at
Cambridge. His reUct, the sister of bish
op Moore of Va., died in March 1831.
"With the courage of the soldier he com
bined the humble graces ofthe christian.

He was an officer of the church, a mem
ber of the American foreign mission socie
ty from its organization, and a zealous
supporter of various charitable institu
tions. His own charities were unequalled
in Connecticut. — Panopl. xv. 143.
, HUNTINGTON, Joshua, minister
of Boston, son of the preceding, was born
Jan. 31, 1786, and graduated at Yale
college in 1804. During a revival in
1 802 he became pious. He was ordained
colleague with Dr. Eckley May 18, 1808,
and on his return frora a journey for his
health to Canadadiedat Groton Sept. 11,
1819, aged 33. He was a very faithful
and useful rainister, and a humble, disin
terested, excellent christian. When, in
his sickness, told that he was about to
meet his father, he replied, " yes ; it will
be a glorious meeting." — He published
memoirs of the life of Abigail Waters,
1817.— Panopl xvi. 529-535.
HUNTINGTON, Susan, wife ofthe
preceding, the daughter of AchiUes
Mansfield, minister of KilUngworth,Con.,
was born Jan. 27, 1791. Her mother
was the grand daughter of Jared EUot,
minister of K., a descendant of the " In
dian apostle. " At the age of 16 she made
a profession of religion . She was mar
ried May 18, 1809. After surviving her
husband four years, she died in Boston
Dec. 4, 1823, aged 32. Her four sur
viving children have become partakers of
the same grace, in which their parents
rejoiced. She was very intelligent and
remarkably pious. She wrote a letter to
a friend recovered from sickness, which
is tract no. 88 of Am. tr. society, and the
story of Little Lucy. Her memoirs by
B. B.jWisner, with an introductory essay
and poem by James Montgomery, were
published. 3d ed., 1829, containing her
letters, journal, and some pieces of poetry.
Five editions have been pubUshed in
Scotland. HUNTINGTON, Samuel, governor
of Ohio, the son of Dr. H. of Coventry.
and the adopted son of gov. H. of Con.,
was born in 1765 and graduated at Yale
college in 1785. Removing in 1801 to
Ohio,he was there appointed chiefjustice.

HURLBUT.
In 1803 he was elected governor, as suc
cessor of Tiffin, the first governor ; in
1810 he was succeeded by Meigs. He
died at Painesville July 7, 1817, aged 49.
HURLBUT, James, a physician,
was born in Berlin, Con., in 1717, but
lived in his latter years at Wethersfield,
where he died Apr. 11, 1794, aged 77.
He was a learned and skilful physician.
No physician was better acquainted with
our indigenous materia medica : he em
ployed the blood root, geranium, cornus,
trillium ; the cornus norvegica in stran
gury, &c. — Although he was the greatest
genius in the medical profession, in Con.,
he was in his last years a miserable drunk
ard, an enormous eater of opium, a poor
dependant on charity. — Thacher.
HUTCHINS, Thomas, geographer
general of the U. S., was born in Mon
mouth county, N. Jersey. Before he
was 16 years of age he went to the wes
tern country, and was soon appointed
ensign in the army. He distinguished
himself at fort Pitt, the plan of which
he laid out, and which was executed by
hira under general Boquet. He after
wards Uved several years in Louisiana,
and was engaged in a variety of batties
with the Indians while with the army in
West Florida. He here obtained a cap
tain's commission in the British array ;
but, being much attached to America, he
found it necessary to reUnquish it. He
was in London at the commencement
of the war in 1775 and his zeal in
the cause of his country induced him
to refuse sorae excellent offers, which
were made hira in England. Being sus
pected in 1779 of holding a correspon
dence with Franklin, then in France, he
was thrown into a dungeon, and lost
12,000^. in one day. In this dark and
loathsome place he was kept six weeks.
He was then examined and liberated.
After this he went to France and sailed
thence to Charleston, where he joined
the army under general Greene. It was
not long before he was appointed geog
rapher general of the U. S. He died at
Pittsburgh April 28, 1789. He was es
teemed and beloved, being remarkable for

HUTCHINSON.

479

piety, charity, and benevolence. Under
the vicissitudes oflife he was patient and
resigned to the divine will. Dr. Morse
was much indebted to him in the com
pilation of his American gazetteer. He
pubUshed an account of Bouquet's expe
dition against the Ohio Indians in 1764,
with a map & plates, 1765 ; a description
of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
North Carolina, &c. with maps, London,
1778 ; and an historical narrative and
topographical description of Louisiana
and West Florida, 1784.
HUTCHINSON, Ann, an artful
woman, who occasioned much difficulty in
in N. E. soon after its first settlement,
came from Lincolnshire to Boston in
1636, and was the wife of Wm. H., a
representative of Boston. She was an
admirer of Mr. Cotton. The merabers
of his church used to meet every week to
repeat his sermons, and discourse on doc
trines. She set up meetings for women,
and soon had a numerous audience. Af
ter repeating the sermons of Mr. Cotton,
she added reflections of her own ; she ad
vocated erroneous sentiments, and warped
the discourses of rier minister to coincide
with her own opinions. She asserted,
that believers are personally united with
the Spirit of God ; tiiat commands to
work out salvation belong only to such,
as are under a covenant of works ; that
sanctification is not sufficient evidence of
a good state ; and she pretended to im
mediate revelation respecting future
events. She soon threw the whole colo
ny into a fiarae. Those, who opposed
her, were said to be in favor of a coven
ant of works, and those, who supported
her, were said to be vindicating a cove
nant of grace. The progress of her senti
ments occasioned the synod of 1637, the
first synod in Araerica. This convention
of ministers condemned 82 erroneous
opinions, then propagated in the country.
Mrs. Hutchinson, after this sentence of
her opinions, was herself called before
the court in Nov. ofthe same year, and,
being convinced of traducing the minis
ters, and advancing errors, was banished
the colony. Her trial is pubUshed in the

480

HUTCHINSON.

appendix ofthe secpnd volume pf Hutch
inson. She discovers art, spirit, and tal
ents. The church in Boston excommu
nicated her for many evils in her conver
sation as well as for corrupt opinions.
She went with her husband to R. Island.
In the year 1 642 after her husband's death
she removed into the Dutch country be
yond New Haven, and the next year
she, her son Francis, and most of her
family of 16 persons were killed by the
Indians. — Hist soc. vn. 16, 17 ; ix, 28,
M ; Hutchinson, i. 55—57, 66, 70—73 ;
Magnalia, vii. 17—20; Winthrop.
HUTCHINSON, Thomas, governor
of Massachusetts, a descendant of the
preceding, was the son of col. Thoraas
H., a distinguished merchant and mem
ber ofthe council, and a most benevolent
and excellent man, who died in 1739.
He was born in 1711 and graduated at
Harvard college in 1727. He applied
himself first to mercantile business, but
without success. He then engaged in
the study ofthe common law of England
and the principles of the British con
stitution, with reference to his employ
ment in public life. For ten years he
was a representative and the speaker
of the house three years. In 1752 he
succeeded his uncle, Edward, a judge of
probate ; he was a member of the council
from 1749 to 1766, and lieut governor
from 1758 to 1771 ; in 1760 he was ap
pointed chief justice after the death of
judge Sewall. This appointment displeas
ed the Otis family, the father having
had the promise of a seat on the bench.
At one time he held the offices of coun
sellor, judgfe of probate, chiefjustice, and
lieutenant governor. His respect to re
ligious institutions, his sympathy with
the distressed, his affability, his integrity,
industry, and talents procured in a very
high degree the public confidence. The
stamp act being passed, Andrew Oliver,
oneof the councfl and brother in law of
Mr. Hutchinson, was appointed distri
butor of stamps. The kw was to go into
effect Nov. 1, 1765. A few months before
that tirae, Jared Ingersoll, the distributor
for C.nnnecticut, arrived in Boston from

London, When he left town, Mr. Oliver
accompanied him a short distance, in con
sequence of which he was hung in effigy
on the great tree at South Boston, and a
mob destroyed a building, which he had
erected, supposed to be designed for a
stamp office, and also destroyed the fur
niture ofhis house. Mr. Oliver immedi
ately resigned his office. In the evening
the mob thanked him and made a bonfire
on fort hill near his house. The next eve
ning the house of M.r. Hutchinson was
attacked, a report being spread, that he
had written letters in favor of the stamp
act ; but the chief damage was the break
ing ofthe windows. In a few evenings
there was a more formidable assault.
The merchants being displeased with the
officers of the customs & the admiralty, a
mob was collected in the evening of Aug.
26th in King street, and well supplied
with strong drink. Having first plun
dered the cellar of the comptroller of the
customs of the wine and spirits, the rioters
proceeded with intoxicated rage to the
house of Mr. Hutchinson, and, splitting
the doors to pieces with broad axes,
they destroyed or cast into the street ev
ery thing, which was in the bouse, and
kept possession until day light. The
damage was estimated at 2500Z., besides
the loss of a great collection of public and
private papers. He received a grant for
his losses. The governor was that night
at the castle. The town, the next day,
voted their abhorrence of the riot; but no
person was punished ; even six or eight
persons, who were imprisoned for this
affair, were released by a company, who
by threats obtained the keys ofthe prison
from tho prisonkeeper.
The political controversy continued
during the remainder of Bernard's ad
ministration from 1765 to 1770 ; and Mr.
Hutchinson, by taking his seat in the
councilin 1767 without being chosen,and
merely in consequence of his office of
lieut. governor, excited a clamor against
him. He charged it upon Mr. Hawley's
resentment for something, which had
occurred in the court of common law.
But the claim to a seat was voluntarily

HUTCHINSON.

481

abandoned, though Mr. H. thought, that
the early practice sanctioned the claim.
In a few days, however, he was appoin
ted by the house to an important post, that
of one ofthe commissioners for settUng the
boundary with New York. In 1768 the
arrival of the troops at Boston increased
the popular excitement against the lieut
governor. At the request ofthe govern
or he accompanied the sheriff to the man
ufactory house, to advise the occupants
to leave it, as it belonged to the state
and was at the disposal ofthe governor,
who had appropriated it for the use of
the troops; but theoccupants,encouraged
by " the first-rate sons of liberty," held
their ground. When gov. Bernard left
the province in 1769, the administration
devolved on Mr. Hutchinson, the lieu
tenant governor. In tiie next year the
Boston massacre, as it was called, occur
red, and infiamed the public mind ; he
had also a long controversy with the as
sembly on his proroguing the assembly
to Cambridge by order of the king ; the
council also was opposed to him. At this
period, in meditating on the future, he
concluded, that it would be prudent for
him to remain chiefjustice and to pass
his days in peace ; and his wishes be
communicated to the British government.
In the mean time, however, his com
mission as governor was received in
March 1771, Andrew Oliver being nomi
nated lieut. governor, and Tho. Flucker
.secretary in his stead. Unhappily for
himself, he accepted the appointment, for
from this time tiU his departure for Eng
land in 1774 hewas in constant dispute
with the assembly and council. Among
the subjects of con troversy were the pro
vision made for his support by the crown,
which paid him a salary of 1500Z., and the
provision made in the same way for the
judges. By his speech Jan. 6, 1773, as
serting the supreme authority of parlia
ment, he provoked a discussion by the
council and house, which it would
have been wiser not to have awakened.
Indeed, the minister recommended to
him not to renew the discussion. In
1773 Dr. FrankUn procured some con-
61

fidential letters of gov. H. and others and
sent them in the autumn to Samuel Coop
er, withan injunction, that they should
not be copied nor published. Mr. Coop
er put them into the hands ofthe speaker,
with permission to show them to five
persons. Thus they were kept 6 or 8
months. In June 1773 they were com
municated to the legislature in secret ses
sion. In order to obviate the difficulty
of the restriction and to make them public,
Mr. H. says, that Mr. Hancock presen
ted to the house copies of the letters,
which some one in the street had put in
to his hands ; and the next day, in con
sequence of copies being abroad, the
person, to whom they were sent, gave
his consent to the publication. It has
been recently asserted, that Mr. William
son obtained them from a public office ;
but this is probably a mistake. They
were written to Thomas Whately, a
member of parUament, who at the time
was out of office and in opposition to' the
ministry, and the ministry never saw
them. In the letters also there was no
sentiment, but what the governor had
openly expressed in his addresses to the
legislature. ThecouncU indeed reproach
ed him for saying, " there must he an a-
bridgment of what are called English
liberties ; " but this was no move, than
what had been said openly in his speech
at the last meeting;- the whole paragraph
was, — " I never think of the measures
necessary for the peace and good order
ofthe colonies without pain: there must
be an abridgment of what are called
English liberties: — I doubt whether it is
possible to project a systera of govern
ment in which a colony, 3, 000 miles dis
tant, shall enjoy all the liberty of the pa
rent state. " — The writers of the other
letters were Andrew OUver, Charles Pax
ton, Thomas Moffatt, Robert Auchmuty,
Nathaniel Rogers, and George Rome,
Gov. H. complained, that his letters were
united with the other letters, of which
he knew nothingy and that he was made
responsible for all. FrankUn remarked,
in regard to the restriction, under which
he sent the letters, " possibly, as distant

482

HUTCHINSON.

objects, seen only through a mist, appear
larger, the same may happen from the
mystery in this case." For their concern
in obtaining these letters Dr. Franklin
and Mr. Temple were removed from of
fice. Mr. H. thought, that the letters
had been in the possession of a member of
pariiament, not Mr. Whately,and by him
given to Dr. Franklin .-The last public
difficulty was the affair of the tea . A part
of it had been consigned to two sons of
the governor, a part to Richard Clark
and sons, and a part to Benj. Faneuil
and Josh. Winslow. On the arrival of
the first ship with tea a " body meeting "
of the town and neighborhood was cal
led at Old South church on Tuesday
Nov. 30th, and it was resolved, that the
tea should be sent back ; Mr. Rotch, the
owner, being required not to enter the
tea and capt. Hall, the master, not to
land it. By order of the town the ship
was brought from below the castie to a
wharf, and a watch of 25 raen was ap
pointed for securing the ship . The gov
ernor sent a sheriff, who read a procla
mation for the dispersion of the public,
but a general hiss followed, and it was
unanimously voted to proceed in defiance
of the governor, and compel the own
er and master to engage to send the tea
back in the same vessel. When two
other vessels arrived, the committee of
safety required them to be brought to the
same wharf There was a difficulty in
the return of the ships, for no clearance
could be obtained from the custom house
and no pass by the castie from the gover
nor. As there were several men of war in
the harbor, an attempt to get to sea with
out a pass would be ineffectual. It was
apprehended, too, that the collector would
demand the duties and seize the ship and
good8,inthe proper discharge ofhis office.
Another "body" meeting was therefore
summoned Dec. 14, 1773, ofthe people
of Boston and the adjacent towns, who
enjoined the owner of the ship to apply
for a clearance and a pass, which were
refused. When the governor's answer
was returned to the " body, " they dis
solved the meeting and repaired to the

wharf as a guard to the destroyers ofthe
tea. About 50 men, covered with blank
ets and appearing like Indians, had previ
ously marched by the Old South church,
and gone on board the vessel. On the
arrival of the " body, " the "Indians"
in 2 or 3 hours hoisted out of the holds of
the ships 342 chests of tea and emptied
them into the sea. — The governor was
much blamed in England for not grant
ing a pass ; but he could not have done it,
without violating his oath, as the laws of
the custom house had not been observed.
Nor could he secure the tea in the town
without bringing the regiment from- the
castle, or by marines frora the men of
war. This would have brought on a
contest . In fact the sons of liberty had
annihilated all" the powers of government.
There was not a judge, justice of the
peace, or sheriff, who could venture
to withstand the inflamed, determined
people. — Feb. 24, 1714 he informed the
legislature by message, that he had ob
tained his majesty's leave to go to Eng
land and that he should soon avail hiinseff
of it. Gen. Gage arrived May 13th,
but Mr. H. was assured ofthe king's in
tention to re-instate him, when gen.
Gage's services should be elsewhere re
quired, and that he should not suffer by
the loss of his commission. He sailed
for England June 1st.
After the publication of the letters in
1773 the council and house voted an ad
dress for the removal of the governor..
His friend, Israel Mauduit, petitioned for
a hearing before the privy councfl, which
was granted Jan. 29, 1774, Mr. Wed-
derburne defending the governor, and
Mr. Dunning and John Lee being
on the other side. The decision was in fa
vor ofthe honor,integrity,and conduct"
of the governor and was approved by the
king. In Massachusetts Jonathan Sew
all ably defended him under the signature
of Philalethes. After his arrival in Eng
land, the unprosperous state of affairs in
America deprived him of the offices and
rewards, he may have expected, though
he received a pension. He lived at
Brompton, near London. The death of

HUTCHINSON.

INDIANA.

,483

his youngest son, Wflliam, in Feb. 1780, the history of Mass. ftom 1749 to 1774,
most deeply afflicted him; and he himself, Svo. London, 1828. It is probable, that
died June 3, 1780, aged 69, and was bu
ried at Croydon. His son, Thomas,died
in England in 1811, aged 71, and Elisha
in 1824, aged 80. His brother, Foster
H., was a judge of the supreme court.
Mr, Hutchinson was a man of a good
character, of unwearied industry, and of
respectable talents. But it was his for
tune to live at a revolutionary period, and
in the very focus of the popular excite
ment . His pofitieal views he candidly
and manfully explained to the legislature
in many speeches and messages, which
display his learning, temper,and abilities.
If any man deserved ithe gratitude of
the British administration, it was he.
Though a baronetcy was offered, which
he decUned for private reasons ; yet was
he treated with neglect. Had the " re
bellion" been put down the first year, he
would have been deemed worthy of the
highest honors, so much does the estima
tion of men depend on success.-Massachu-
setts, amidst afl the vituperations against
him for encouraging the ministers in their
measures to keep the colonies in a state
of dependence, has one cause to remember
him with gratitude, for when the com
missioners. Brattle, Hawley, and Han
cock, met those of New York at Hartford
May 12, 1773, it was his advice only,
which prevented them from abandoning
the claim of Mass. to the western territo
ry of New York, which was retained and
sold for a large sum. He deserves great
honor also for his labors in regard to the
history of Massachusetts. He published
a brief state of the claim of the colonies,
&c. 1764 ; the history of the colony of
Massachusetts Bay, frora the first settle
ment thereof in 1628 until.,the year 1750,
in 2 vol. Svo. the first in 1760, and the
second in 1767; and a collection of ori
ginal papers relative to the history ofthe
colony of Massachusetts Bay, Svo. 1769.
Those works are held in high estimation
by those, who are searching into the his
tory of our country. His grandson. Rev.
John H., of Trentham, E., pubUshed
from his manuscripts a third volume of

a bipgraphy of gov. H. will be written by
the same descendant. — Warren; Gor
don; Minot; Hutchinson's hist.
ILLINOIS, one ofthe U. States, was
admitted into the Union in 1818. Its
population, in 1800 was 215; — in 1810,
12,000 ;— in 1820, 55,000;— iu 1830,
about 160,000, besides nearly 6,000 In
dians. There are 6 kinds of soil, — the
rich bottom lands, the newly formed land
at the moutri of rivers,dry prairies border
ing on the bottom land, constituting two
thirds ofthe state,wet prairie,timber land,
and sterile hills. The principal forest tree
is oak. It is purposed to unite by means of
a canal the Mississippi with the Michi
gan lake. On the Saline river are salt
springs, from which are manufactured
300,000 bushels of salt annually. At
Galena on Fever river are rich lead
mines, from which were made, in 1829,
13 mfllions of pounds of lead. A college
has been established at Jacksonville, and
generous provision has been made for
schools and a university. The constitu
tion prohibits the introduction of more
slaves. The senators arechosen for four
years, the representatives for two, and
the governor for four, and made ineligible
for the next succeeding four years . The
judges are liable to removal on the ad
dress to the governor of two thirds of
each branch of the assembly.
IMLAY, George, published a topo
graphical description of the western ter
ritory ofN. America, 8vo.London,]792;
the same,witli a supplement by J. Filson,
2 vols. N. Y. 1793.
INDIANA, one of the U. States, was
admitted into the Union in 1816. Its
population in 1800 was 4650 ; in 1810,
24,520; in 1820, 147,178; in 1830, 441,
582, of whom 3562 were blacks, besides
4000 Indians. There are no mountains
in the state. The national road from
Cumberiand in Maryland through Penns.,
Virginia,and Ohio, will pass through the
centre, of this state from east to west
By the constitution the senators are cho
sen fpr three years and the representa-

m

INGERSOLL.

tives for one year. The judges of the
supreme court are appointed by the gov
ernor and seriate ; the presidents of the
circuit courts by the legislature ; and the
associate judges are chosen by the people.
There are reservations of lands for educa
tion and a college is to be estabUshed at
Bloomington. INGERSOLL, Jared, a judge of the
admiralty court, was born in Milford,
Con., in 1722 ; was graduated at Yale
college in 1742 ; settled at New Haven
as a lawyer, and was agent ofthe colony
in England in 1757 ; but being appointed
distributor of the stamps in Con., under
the stamp act, he lost his popularity.
The people of N. Haven compelled him
to resign Aug. 24, 1765. Not deeming
this resignation explicit a large company
frora the eastern part of Connecticut set
out on a journey to N.Haven. They
met Mr. I. at .Wethersfield, when they
compelled him to resign and cry out,
three times Liberty and Property. The
next day 500 men escorted him to Hart
ford. On being appointed admiralty
judge for the middle district about the
year 1870 he removed to Philadelphia;
but in consequence of the revolution he
returned to N. Haven, where he died in
Aug. 1781.
INGERSOLL, Jared, ll.d., judge of
the district court of Philadelphia, the son
ofthe preceding, was graduated at Yale
college in 1766, and attained a high rank
as a lawyer in Philadelphia. He was
also a member of congress and ofthe con
vention, which framed the constitution of
the U. S. The office of attorney gene
ral of Penns. he resigned in 1816. At
the time of his death he was judge. In
1812 he was the Federal candidate for
the oifiee of vice president of the U. S.
He died Oct. 31, 1822, aged 78.
INGERSOLL, Jonathan, ll.d.,
judge, and lieut, governor of Con. , was
born in Ridgefield, the son of Rev. Jona
than I,, and was at Yale coUege in 1766.
He settled at N. Haven and became emi
nent in the profession of the law. Dur
ing the last 30 years of his life he was in
msny unsought pubfic employments, and

IRVINE.
in all enjoyed the perfect confidence of
his fellow citizens. He was appointed
judge in 1798,but resigned in 1801 and was
chosen lieut. governor in 1816. He died
Jan. 12, 1823, aged 76, leaving a wife
and 7 children. His daughter, Grace,
marriedtoPeterGrellet,diedinParis,1816. He was a patriot, statesman, and incor
ruptible judge. Of the episcopal church
he was from early life a member ; his life
evinced his benevolence and piety ; he
was eminently a man of prayer. He lived
and died without reproach ; yet at death
he had no proud confidence ; his reUance
was on the mercy ofthe Redeemer.
INGLIS, Charles, d. d., bishop of
Nova Scotia, was rector of Trinity
church, N. York, from 1777 to 1783,
and died in Feb. or March 1816, aged 82.
INGLIS, James, d. d., minister of
Baltimore, and an eloquent preacher, died
Aug. 15, 1820. A volumeof his sermons
was soon afterwards published.
IREDELL, James, judge, was appoin
ted ajudge in N. CaroUna in 1777, and
in 1790 a judge of the supreme court of
the U. S. He died at Edenton in Oct.
1799.— James I., probably his son, was
governor in 1827.
IRVINE, WUliam, major general, wa«
born in Ireland. Educated for the med
ical profession, he served as a surgeon on
board ofa British ship in the war, which
began in 1754, and after the peace of
1763 settled at CarUsle, Penns. In 1774
he was a member of the state conven
tion. In 1776 he served in Canada, and
accompanied col. Thompson, who was
despatched by gen. Sullivan from Sorelle
to dislodge the enemy frora Trois Riv
ieres, but was taken prisoner June 16th,
and remained as such at Quebec nearly
two years, untfl he was exchanged in
April 1778. On his release he was pro
moted to the comraand of the second
Pennsylvania regiment. In 1781 the
defence ofthe north western frontier,
threatened by the British and Indians,
was intrusted to him. After the war he
was elected a meraber of congress.
During the whiskey insurrection of 1794
he was 3 commissioner to the insurgents

IRVING.
on the part ofthe state, and, his peaceful
mission having failed, he was more suc
cessful at the head of the militia. Remo
ving about this time ftom Carlisle to
Philadelphia, he was appointed intendant
of mflitary stores. He died of an inflam
matory disorder July 30, 1804, aged 63.
IRVING, Matthew, a physician, died
at Charleston, S. C. in Sept. 1827. He
was a distinguished physician and scholar
and a patriot ofthe revolution.
IRVING, WiUiam, a Uterary merch
ant, was a member of congress from N.
York city frora 1812 to 181S, and one of
the committee of commerce and manu
factures. He died Nov. 9,1821. He
was the brother of Washington Irving,
of whose " Salmagundi" he wrote some
papers. IRWIN, Jared, general, governor of
Georgia, was a soldier ofthe revolution.
He was a member of the convention,
which adopted the constitution in 1789 ;
was governor from 1796 to 1798 and al
so frora 1806 to 1809, when hewas suc
ceeded by Mitchell; and died March 1,
1818, aged 68.
IVES, Levi, m. d., a physician, was
born in 1750, and died at N. Haven,Con.,
Oct 17, 1826, aged 76. He was one of
the founders of the N. H. medical socie
ty, and one of the conductors of the
" Cases and Observations," a medical
journal at N. Haven, the first in this
country. With professional skill, he ac-
-quired only a competence. While he re
garded the temporal welfare of his pa
tients, he had a deeper soUcitude for their
spiritual interests.
IZARD, Ralph, a senator ofthe U. S.
from South Carolina from 1789 to 1795,
was a distinguished and eloquent states
man. In the judgment of Washington,
no man was more honest in public Ufe.
There was an enthusiasm in his political
sentiments; but his patriotic motives were
unquestionable. In the senate he had
the confidence of all parties. He died at
South Bay, May 30, 1804, aged 66. His
wife was AUce, daughter of Peter Delan-
.cey of New York.
IZARD, George, general, governor of

JACKSON.

485

the Arkansas territory from 1825 to 1828,
was a native of South CaroUna. After a
classical education and travelling in Eu
rope he entered the army as a captain of
artillery and rose to the rank of maj. gen
eral. At one period of the late war he
commanded the division on the north
western frontier. After the war he resid
ed near Philadelphia till he was appointed
successor of gov. Miller. In his office of
governor he was faithful and had the con
fidence ofthe people. He died at Little
Rock, in consequence of the gout, Nov.
22, 1828.
JACKSON, HaU, m. d., a physician,
was the son of Dr. Clement Hall of Ports
mouth, N. H., who died Oct 10, 1788,
aged 82. After studying with his father,
he attended the medical lectures in Lon
don during three years. On his return
he settled in his native town, where he
was eminent not only as a physician, but
particularly as a surgeon. He frequently
performed the operation of couching the
eye. He, died in consequence of being
overset while riding in his gig to visit a
patient, Sept. 28, 1797. His habits were
social, and he was a welcome guest in ev
ery circle. The culture of the foxglove
in N. E. was introduced by him. He
published a tract on the maUgnant sore
throat, which prevailed from 1784 to
to 1786.— Thacher.
JACKSON, James, governor of Geor
gia, was a native of England and came to
this country at the age of 14 in 1772.
Early in the war he joined the army ; in
1778 he was chosen brigade major ; in
1781 he commanded the legionary corps
ofthe state. When the British evacua
ted Savannah, July 12, 1782, he received
the keys . For his various services the
Assembly ofthe state presented him with
a house and lot in Savannah. On the
return of peace he engaged with success
in the practice of the law. In 1789 he
was chosen a meraber of congress, and
soon afterwards a senator, which office
he resigned in 1795. He was major gen.
of the militia ; and governor frorn 1798
till his election as Senator in the place of
geri. Gunn in 1801. He died at Wash-

JAMES.

ington March 18, 1806, aged 48. His
brother, gen. Abraham J., died in Geor
gia Jan. 1810. — Governor Jackson, it
seems, had not strength of moral and reli
gious principle to restrain him from duel
ling. He was an honorable murderer.
In 1780 he killed lieut. gov. Wells in a
duel, and was himself severely wounded
in both knees. In consequence ofa polit
ical controversy he fought a duel with
col. R. Watkins in June 1802 and was
wounded. In May 1803 he complained,
that he had been cruelly treated by Geor-
gia,and that republics are always ungrate
ful: he thought the capital of "Wayne
county ought to be called Jacksonville in
honor of himseff.
JAMES, Thomas, first minister of
Charlestown, Mass., was born in 1592 ;
came from Lincolnshire, where he had
been a minister, to Boston June 5, 1632 ;
and when the church in Charlestown was
organized Nov. 2 by dismissions from the
Boston church, he was appointed the pas
tor. Mr. Symraes was ordained his as
sociate, as teacher, Dec. 22, 1634, and
not in 1652 as Dr. Bartlett states in his
history of Charlestown. The succee
ding ministers were Harvard, Allen,
Shepard, Morton, Bradstreet, Stevens,
Abbot, Prentice, Paine, Morse, and Fay.
After a short time he was dismissed.
Gov. Winthrop relates, that Satan stirred
up a spirit of discord between Mr, James
and many of his people, on which Mr.
Savage remarks, that " few in the present
age would attribute such a misfortune to
the agency of Satan," and that in our
indictments for capital offences we retain
ed till lately " the absurd allegation"—
" being moved and seduced by the insti
gation of the devil." Mr. Savage is
sincere in his disbelief of the agency of
Satan in tempting men to great crimes
and Christian raen to discord ; but he
certainly misjudges in his estimate of the
general opinion of the great body of
Christians of various sects, who really
believe, that, " he, who committeth sin,
is of the devil," and also ofthe opinion
of those, who are not Christians, unless
we are to suppose, that in their daily

conversation they ascribe much to the
tempter as a real being, when they regard
hira as a non-entity. But whether or
notthedevfl was the sower of discord at
Charlestown, there arose a dissension be
tween Mr. James and the brethren. It
is related, that being "a melancholic
man," he had uttered sorae groundless,
jealous surraises. A council advised to
his disraission, which occurred in March
1636. He soon reraoved to N. Haven.
When at the request of the people of
Virginia 3 ministers were sent to thera,
Mr. Thompson of Braintree, and Mr.
Knowles of Watertown set sail October
7 or 8, 1642 ; they were long wind bound
at R. Island. It seems also, that they
put in at N. Haven, where they took in
Mr. James as their companion. On the
rocks at Hell gate they lost their pinnace.
After 1 1 weeks dangerous passage the
vessel arrived about Jan. 1 , 1 643 in Vir
ginia. It fared with them as with the apos
tles: the people heard them gladly, but
the rulers persecuted them, ordering
them to quit the country by a certain
day, unless they would conform to the
English church. In June 1643 Mr.
Knowles returned to N. England. Soon
afterwards the great massacre by the
Indians occurred. Mr. James stated,
that in Maryland he saw 40 Indians bap
tized in new shirts given them as encour
agement to receive the ordinance, but
that, being detained there, after a while
he saw the same Indians return to the
English, saying, they must have again
new shirts, or they would renounce their
baptism. It is not known at what time
Mr. James returned to England ; per
haps not tiU after 1650, when his son,
Thomas, was settied at East Hampton,
L. I. In England he was the mimster
of Needhara in Suffolk, but was sUenced
and ejected for nonconformity in 1662.
Yet afterwards he preached to a pretty
numerous society. He died abput 1 678,
aged 86. The clergyman, his successor,
would aUow him to be buried nowhere in
the church-yard, but in " the unconsecra-
ted corner, left for rogues &c." Mr.
Calamy says, " he was a very holy, good

JARVIS.

JAY.

487

man" ; and Johnson speaks ofhis " learn
ed skill and courteous speech." Mr.
Savage mistakes Mr. James for his son,
who was the minister of East Hampton
from 1650 till his death, 1696.
JARVIS, Abraham, d. d., bishop of
Connecticut, was born in Norwalk May
5, 1739 and was graduated at Yale col
lege in 1761. He was a minister in Mid
dletown from about 1764 to 1799, when
he reraoved to Cheshire, and in 1803 to
N. Haven. He succeeded bishop Seabu-
ry in 1797, and died May 3,1813, aged
73. He pubUshed a sermon on the death
of bishop Seabury, and a sermon on the
witness ofthe Spirit.
JARVIS, Charles, m. Di, a physician,
was the son of col. Leonard Jarvis, a mer
chant of Boston, and was born in 1748.
His mother was the granddaughter of
the celebrated col. Church. After gradua
ting at Harvard college in 1766, he com
pleted his medical education in Europe.
On his return he settled in Boston and
rose to eminence in his profession. In
the revolution he engaged zealously in
the cause of his country. For many
years he was a member ofthe legislature.
As on orator he was impressive and .pow
erful. With a bald head and aqufline
nose, he was called the bald eagle of the
Boston seat. In bis poUtics, he opposed
Jay's treaty and espoused the democratic
side, of which he was the leader in Boston.
When the marine hospital was estabUsh
ed at Criarlestown, he was appointed by
Jefferson its surgeon, and faithfully dis
charged the duties of his office till his
death, Nov. 15, 1807, aged 58. His
wife was the sister of sir Wm. PeppereU
and the grand daughter of the first baro
net of that name. He left no issue. His
only sister married Joseph Russell. —
Thacher. JAY, John, chiefjustice of the United
States, was the great grandson of Pierre
Jay, a protestant merchant of Rochelle
in France, who on the revocation of the
edict of Nantes fled to England. Augus
tus, a merchant, the son of Pierre, emi
grated to New York, where in 1697 he
married Anne Maria, daughter of Bal-

thasar Bayard . Dying at the age of 85,
he left one son, Peter, who was born in
1704, and in 1728 married Mary, daugh
ter of Jacobus Van Cortlandt of New
York. About the year 1746 Peter retir
ed to his estate at Rye, whence he was
compelled to remove by the approach of
the British army. He died at Pough
keepsie in 1782. — John Jay, the son of
Peter, was born in NewYork Dec. 12,
1745, old style. He was educated at
King's college, where he graduated May
15,1764; andin 1768 was admitted to
the bar. In 1774 he married Sarah Liv
ingston, the daughter of WilUam Liv
ingston, afterwards governor of New
Jersey. Acquiring great reputation as
a lawyer, and presenting a rare union
of the dignity and gravity of manhood
with the energy of youth, his fellow citi
zens began to look up to him as their
future guide in the contest for liberty.
He was appointed to the first American
congress in 1774. Being on the commit
tee with Lee and Livingston to draft an
address to the people of Great Britain, he
was the writer of that eloquent produc
tion. In the congress of 1775 he was on
various important committees, performing
more services perhaps, than any member,
excepting FrankUn and J. Adams. In
May 1776 hewas recaUed to assist in for
ming the government of New York, and
in consequence his name is not attached
to the declaration of independence ; but
July 9th he reported resolutions in the
provincial convention in favor of the
declaration. After the fall of New
York and the removal of the provincial
assembly to Poughkeepsie, Mr. Jay re
tained his resolute patriotism. The
very eloquent address of the convention
to the people of New York, dated Fish-
Kill Dec. 23, 1776, and signed by A.
Ten Broeck as president, was written by
him. March 12, 1777 he reported to the
convention of New York the draft of a
form of govemraent, which was adopted
and many of the provisions of which were
introduced into the constitutions of other
states. Frora May 3, 1777 to Aug. 18,
1779 he was chiefjustice of the state ;.

488

JAY.

but resigned that office in consequence of
his duties as president of congress.
The glowing address of that body to
their constituents, dated Sep. 8, 1779,
was prepared by him. On the 29th Sept.
he was appointed minister plenipotentiary
to the court of Spain. The frigate, in
which be sailed, losing her masts in a
gale, was obUged to proceed to Martin
ique. He reached Madrid April 4, 1780.
In communicating the resolution of con
gress of July 15, 1781, yielding the navi
gation of the Mississippi to Spain, he had
the prudence to limit the proposition, so
that it should have no force, unless a
treaty was made with Spain before a gen
eral peace. This limitation was sanc
tioned by congress April 30, 1782. Be
ing unsuccessful in his negotiation, Mr.
Jay suspected some bad faith on the part
of France, but probably without reason.
Being appointed a commissioner to ne
gotiate a peace with Great Britain, he
arrived at Paris June 23, 1782, & toiled in
cessantly to secure the interests of his
country. His health now becoming im
paired, he went to Bath for its recovery.
He signed the definitive treaty at Paris
Sept. 3, 1783. The next year, having
resigned his Spanish commission, he re
turned to New York, where he arrived
July 24, 1784. Congress had already ap
pointed him secretary of state for foreign
affairs in the place of R.. IL Livingston.
In the difficult circumstances of the
country, the secretary was ia effect the
head of the government. Mr. .Jay's ser
vices were of great importance. He
drew up, Oct 13, 1786, an elaborate re
port on the relations between this coun
try and Great Britain. Though not a
member ofthe convention, which formed
the constitution of the United States, he
was present at Annapolis and aided by
his advice. He also assisted Hamilton
and Madison in writing the Federalist.
He wrote numbers 9, 3, 4, 5, 64. His
labors after the 5th number were inter
rupted by a wound in the forehead from
a stone in the doctor's mob. In the con
vention of New York he contributed to
the adoptfon of the constitution.

For the high station of chiefjustice of
the United States, to which he was ap
pointed by Washington Sept. 26, 1789,
he was eminently qualified. In 1792 he
was the unsuccessful candidate of the
federal party for the office of governor of
New York against George Clinton ; but
in 1795 he was elected against Robert
Yates, though he was at the time abroad,
having been appointed Aprfl 19, 1794
minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain.
He effected the treaty, which bears his
name, Nov. 19, 1794 ; a treaty, which,
notwiihstanding the clamors of political
partizans, friendly to France, was highly
advantageous to our country, as it stipui-
lated forthe surrender ofthe north wes
tern posts, procured admission for our
vessels into India, and obtained payment
for spoliations amounting to nearly 10
milUons of dollars. In 1798 be was re
elected governor against R. R. Livings
ton. The political excitement of the pe
riod rendered his station unquiet. Long
ing for retirement, be withdrew, at the
end of the term, for which be was chosen,
inthe summer of 1801, from the cares
and honors of public station, and passed
the remaining nearly 30 years of his life
in retirement at his seat in Bedford,
West Chester county, where he died
May 17, 1829, aged 84 years. His bro
ther, Sir James Jay, m. d., died in N. Y.
in Nov. 1815.
In his character there were great and
peculiar excellences. The utmost pru
dence was combined with invincible ener
gy. At a period oflife, when ambition
is apt to bear sway, be abandoned all the
scenes of political agitation, nor did he
once cast a lingering look behind. In
his last years he was much occupied in
the study of the scriptures, particularly
ofthe prophecies, and devoted to the du
ties of religion and preparation for the
scenes of the future world. There is
something refreshing in the view of his
last years. Instead of dwelling, like his
co-patriots, Adams and Jefferson, on the
history of the past or the agitating politi
cal occurrences of the day, and fighting
anew the battles of old time, his serene

JEFFERSON.

489

mind was absorbed in the contemplation
of the bright, and glorious, and everlas
ting kingdom of God. Besides the wri
tings already mentioned, he published
Letters, being the whole of the corres
pondence between him and Lewis Littie-
page, a young man, whom Mr. Jay, when
in Spain, patronized and took into his
family, 2d ed. I7a6.—Amer. ann.reg.
1827-9, p. 215-234.
JEFFERSON, Thomas, president of
the United States, was the son of Peter
J., and was born at Shadwell, Albermarle
county, near Monticello, in Virginia,
April 2, 1743, old style. His mother
was Jane Randolph. His early education
was conducted by Mr. Douglas, and Mr.
Maury, clergymen. In 1760 he went to
William and Mary college, where he con
tinued two years. He derived great
benefit from the instructions of . W^ilUam
Small, professor of mathematics, and
afterwards lecturer on ethics, rhetoric,
and belles lettres. By his kindness he
was placed as a student of law at Wil
liamsburg under his intimate friend,
George Wythe. In 1767 he entered
upon the practice of the law at the bar of
the general court. In 1769 he became
a meraber ofthe legislature for the coun
ty of riis residence, and so continued till
the revolution. Jan. 1772 he married
Martha Skelton, widow of Bathurst Skel
ton and daughter of John Wales, a law
yer of much practice. By her he receiv
ed property about equal to his own patri
mony. In May 1769 he was a raember of the
house of burgesses. In the spring of
1773 he, with Mr. Henry, R. H. Lee,
F. L. Lee, and Dabney Carr, his brother
in law, at a private meeting agreed upon
certain patriotic resolutions, which were
adopted by the house, and a committee of
correspondence with the other colonies
was accordingly appointed, of which Pey
ton Randolph, the Speaker, was made
chairman. At this period Mr. J. main-
tauied the opinion, in which Wythe
agreed with hira, that the British parlia
ment had no authority whatever over
Araerica. His views were printed with
62

the title, "A summary view of the Rights
of British America." It was reprinted,
a little altered, by Mr. Burke, as an op
position paper in England. The otiier
Virginia patriots, Randolph, the Lees,
Nicholas, and Pendleton, concurred with
John Dickinson, who allowed, that Eng
land had a right to regulate our commerce
and to lay duties for regulation but not
for revenue.
He took his seat in congress June 21,
1775, inthe place of Peyton Randolph,
who had been recalled to the general as
sembly of Virginia. He took with him
the answer ofthe assembly, drawn up by
himself, to the conciliatory propositions
of lord North. In congress he was im
mediately placed on the committee to
prepare a declaration of the causes of ta
king up arms. He accordingly drew up
a paper ; but it not being deemed suffi
ciently conciliatory, he put it into the
hands of Mr. Dickinson, who was also on
the committee ; and he drew up the dec
laration, which was adopted, retaining
only of Mr. Jefferson's the four last par
agraphs and half the preceding. Mr.
Dickinson also drew up the second peti
tion to the king, which Mr. Jefferson
thought expressed too much humility. —
In July Mr. Jefferson drew up the report
on lord North's conciliatory resolution.
May 15, 1776 the convention of Viiginia
instructed their delegates to propose iri
congress a declaration of independence.
Accordingly Friday, June 7, R. H. Lee
made the motion for the declaration of in
dependence. In the debate, which fol
lowed, it was argued by Wilson, R. R.
Livingston, E. Rutledge, Dickinson, and
others, that the measure, though ultimate
ly to be adopted, was yet now precipitate,
and for various reasons ought to be defer
red. On the other hand the measure
was supported by J. Adams, Lee, Wythe,
and others. Of the thirteen states aU but
four voted for the motion on the 1st Ju-
l.V, in committee of the whole. South
CaroUna and Pennsylvania voted against
it. Delaware was equally divided. The
delegates from New York, though in fa
vor of the motion, were excused from vo-

490

JEFFERSON.

ting, being restrained by their old instruc
tions. The committee reported their re
solution to the House. July 2 the House
agreed to the resolution of the committee,
all the states but New York voting for it.
South Carolina falUng in for the sake of
unanimity, and the new members turned
the votes of Delaware and Pennsylvania.
On the day of this vote the form of the
Declaration reported, drawn up by Mr.
Jefferson, was taken into consideration
by the committee of the whole. The de
bates continued till Thursday the 4th, in
the evening, when the Declaration was
reported by the committee of the whole,
agreed to by the House, and signed by
every member present, except Mr. Dick
inson. — July 9, the convention of N.
York approved of the declaration, and
their delegates signed July 15th. There
was no sub-committee for drawing up the
Declaration, though Mr. Jefferson shew
ed it to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams,
who suggested a few slight alterations.
The other members of the committee
were R. Sherman and R. R. Livingston.
Several paragraphs were struck out by
congress, among which was the following:
" He has waged cruel war against human
nature itself, violating its most sacred
rights of life and liberty in the persons of
a distant people, who never offended him,
captivating and carrying them into sla
very in another hemisphere, or to incur
miserable death in their transportation
thither. This piratical warfare, the op
probrium of infidel powers, is the warfare
ofthe CHRISTIAN king of Great Brit
ain. Determined to keep open a market,
where MEN should be bought and sold,
he has prostituted his negative for suppres
sing every legislative attempt to prohibit
or to restrain this execrable commerce."
Mr. Jefferson supposed, that this clause
was struck out in complaisance to South
CaroUna and Georgia, who wished to
continue the importation of slaves, and
that the northern carriers also felt a little
tender under that censure.
This declaration was engrossed on
parchment and signed again Aug. 2d. —
The convention of Pennsylvania named a

new delegation July 20th, leaving out
Mr. Dickinson, and "Willing and Humph
reys, who had withdrawn, re-appointing
the three members, who had signed, —
Morris, who had not been present, and
five new ones, Rush, Clymer, Smith,
Taylor, and Ross. These six were per
mitted to sign, as indicating the assent of
the full delegation. Thornton of New
Hampshire signed as late as Nov. 4th, for
reasons unknown.
Mr. Jefferson retired from congress
Sept. 2, 1776 and took his seat in the leg
islature of Virginia Oct. 7th. He drew
up the bill for the establishment of courts
of justice ; the bill declaring tenants in
tail to hold their lands in fee simple ; the
bill for religious freedom ; the bill for the
revision of the laws, in regard to which
the committee were Pendleton, Wythe,
Mason, Thomas L. Lee, and himself.
The work was done by Pendleton,
Wythe, and Jefferson frora 1777 to June
1779. Mr. Jefferson also proposed a bfll
for general education, providing schools
for every hundred or ward, and 24 higher
schools, &c. June 1, 1779 he was ap
pointed governor, as successor of Mr.
Henry. As one ofthe visitors of Wil
Uam and Mary college he procured the
abolishment of the professorships of divini
ty and oriental languages, and substituted
those of law, of anatomy, medicine, and
chemistry, and of modern languages.
After being governor two years, thinking
that at the time of invasion, the public
might have more confidence in a miUtary
chief magistrate, he resigned and gen.
Nelson was appointed to succeed him.
In Sept. 1776 the state ofhis family in
duced him to decline the appointment
then made of commissioner, with Frank
Un and Deane, to negotiate treaties with
France. Dr. Lee was appointed in his
place. He was appointed on the commis
sion for peace June 1781, but the state of
his family again kept him at home. He
was again appointed minister plenipoten
tiary, with others, for negotiating peace
Nov. 13, 1782. This he accepted, hav
ing two months before lost the cherished
companion ofhis life, with whom he had

JEFFERSON.

491

passed " ten years in unchequered happi
ness." But before he could safl for Eng
land news was received of the signing of
a provisional treaty of peace. He there
fore was excused from further proceeding
and returned home May 1783. He took
his seat at Trenton Nov. 4th in congress,
which adjourned the same day to Annap
oUs. In 1784 he wrote Notes on the es
tabUshment of a money-unit, and of a
coinage for the United States, in opposi
tion to the views of Robert Morris, the
financier, or of his assistant, Governeur
Morris. He proposed the money-system,
now in use. To him we are indebted for
the dollar as the unit, and the very con
venient decimal divisions, and our present
pieces of coin. This was an important
service. As a member of congress Mr. Jefferson
made few speeches. He remarks, " I
served with gen. Washington in the leg
islature of Virginia, before the revolution,
and, during it, with Dr. Franklin in con
gress. I never heard either of them
speak ten minutes at a time, nor to any
but the main point, which was to decide
the question. They laid their shoulders
to the great points, knowing, that the
fittle ones would follow of themselves. If
the present congress errs in too much
talking, how can it be otherwise in a
body, to which the people send 150 law
yers, whose trade is to question every
thing, yield nothing, and talk by the
hour.?" In May 1784 he was appointed, with
Adaras and Franklin, a minister plenipo
tentiary to negotiate treaties of commerce
with foreign nations. He sailed from
Boston, with his eldest daughter, July 5,
in the Ceres, a merchant ship ; after a
pleasant voyage of 19 days from land to
land he arrived at Cowes July 26, and at
Paris Aug. 6th. He now printed his
Notes in Virginia, for which he had been
collecting information since 1781. Dr.
Franklin having returned in July 1785,
Mr. Jefferson was appointed his succes
sor at Paris ; in which station he contin
ued tifl he solicited his recaU in 1789 in
order to place his daughters in the society

of their friends. Ho arrived at Norfolk
Nov. 23. While at lOppington in Chester
field, at the residence of Mr. Eppes,he re
ceived from president Washington the ap
pointment of secretary of state. At
Monticello his eldest daughter was mar
ried to Tho. M. Randolph, the eldest son
of the Tuckahoe branch of Randolphs,
afterwards governor of Virginia. He ar
rived at New York March 21, 1790, and
entered upon the duties of his of
fice. On his way he saw for the last
time the venerable Frariklin, who put in
to his hands a narrative of his negotia
tions with the British ministry, by the
intervention of lord Howe and his sister.
This paper Mr. J. deUvered to W. T.
Franklin after Franklin's death. He
apprehended, it was suppressed by the
British government, and not published by
his grandson. In the office of secretary
of state Mr. Jefferson continued tfll the
close of Dec. 1793, when he resigned.
Hewas opposed to the funding system and
other measures of the admistration and
became the head ofthe republican party.
In a letter to gen. Knox Aug. 10, 1791
he maintained, "that the Indians have a
right to the occupation of their lands, in
dependent of the states, within whose
chartered limits they happen to be ;" that
without their consent " no'act of a state
can give a right to such lands ;" and that
government will think itself bound to re
move unallowed settlements " by the
public force."
In his retirement at Monticello Mr. J.
says in Feb. 1794, " I indulge myself in
one particular topic only, that is, in de
claring to my countrymen the shameless
corruption ofa portion ofthe representa
tives ofthe first and second congress, and
their implicit devotion tothe treasury."
On sorae appointment being offered him
by Washington in Sept. 1794 he replied
to the secretary, "no circumstances will
ever more terapt rae to engage in any
thing , public. " To Mr. Madison in
Dec. 1794 he expressed a hope, that his
friend might reach a more splendid post,
that of president of the United States, ad
ding, " I ought perhaps to say, while I

492

JEFFERSON.

would not give up my own retirement
for the empire of the universe, how I
can justify wishing one, whose happiness
I have so much at heart as yours, to take
the front of the battle, which is fighting
for my security. " Apr. 27 he wrote to
Mr. Madison on the subject of a repub
lican candidate for president, " there is
not another person in the United States,
who being placed at the helm of our
affairs, my mind would be so completely
at rest for the fortune of our political
bark. "—"As to myself, the subject had
been thoroughly weighed and deci
ded on, and my retirement from office
had been meant from all office, high or
low, without exception. " —
Mr. Jefferson was chosen vice-presi
dent at the close of 1796. Just before
the election he wrote to Mr. Madison,
Dec. 17, " The first wish of my heart
was, that you should have been proposed
for the administration ofthe government.
On your declining it, I wish any body
rather than myself; and there is nothing
I so anxiously hope, as that my name
may come out either second or third. "
In case of an equal division he expres
sed a wish, that congress would choose
Mr. Adams. To E. Rutledge he also
also wrote Dec. 27, "I retired much poor
er, than when I entered the public service,
and desired nothing but rest and oblivion.
My name however was again brought
forward without concert or expectation
on my part ; (on my salvation I declare
it.) I do not yet know the result, as a
matter of fact. "
Mr. Jefferson was chosen president by
congress in Feb. 1801, he and Mr. Burr
having an equal number of the electoral
votes. In this high office he continued
eight years, retiring in 1809 to Monti
cello. There he passed the remainder of
his days, yet devoting the last years of
his life to the establishment of the Univer
sity of Virginia at Charlottesville, about
4 miles from Monticello. He died, at
the age of 83, July 4, 1826, at 1 o'clock
P. M., just 50 years from the date of the
declaration of Independence. On the
same jubilee, itis remarkable, that Mr.

Adams also died. In the short intervals
of deUrium in his last hours he seemed
to dwell on the events ofthe revolution.
He exclaimed, " warn the coraraittee to
be on their guard. " For the most part,
during the last days ofhis life, bis reason
was undisturbed. He expressed the anx
ious wish, that he might see the 50th
anniversary of independence. — In a pri
vate memorandum he suggested, that, if a
monument should be erected, it should be
a small granite obeli.sk, witb this inscrip
tion : " Here lies buried Thomas Jeffer
son, author ofthe Declaration of Inde
pendence ; ofthe Statutes of Virginia for
religious freedom ; and Father of the uni
versity of Virginia. " The youngest
daughter of Mr. J., who married Mr.
Eppes, died about May 1804, leaving two
children. His eldest daughter, Martha,
married to Mr. Randolph, was left with
11 children.
Not long before his death Mr. Jeffer
son wrote an essay on lotteries and solic
ited permission of the legislature to sell
his property at its just value by lottery,
that he might be able to pay his debts.
A lottery was granted Feb. 1826. It
was a humiliating expedient, for unde
niably all lotteries exert a most baneful,
corrupting influence on the morals of the
people, and several of our states have on
this account interdicted thera. ReUef by
public charity would have been no dis
honor ; but the request ofa lottery is no
credit to his philanthropy. His library
was purchased by congress in 1815,
6, 000 vols, for 24, 000 dollars.
Mr. Jefferson was taH,with a raild coun
tenance, alight complexion, & hair inclin
ing to red. He was interesting in social in
tercourse, but not eloquent in debate.
As the head of a political sect he had a
greater sway, than ever any man had in
this country, excepting Washington.
For the accomplishment of his objects he
spared no personal efforts or pecuniary
sacrifices. He wrote nothing for the
newspapers himself; but in Jan. 1799 he
stimulated E. Pendleton to write against
Adams ' administration, and in Feb. he
wrote to Mr. Madison, — "The engine

JEFFERSON.

JEFFRIES.

493

is the press. Every man must lay his
purse and his pen under contribution.
As to the former, it is possible I may be
obliged to assume something for you.
As to the latter, let me pray and beseech
you to set apart a certain portion of eve
ry post day to write what may be proper
fbr the public. Send it to me. " In the
result he obtained the office of president.
He kept his friends, for he never aban
doned thera and gave thera all the re
wards in his power.
The blindness of Mr. J. on the sub
ject of religion, while deeply laraented by
the adrairers of his talents, is only a new
proof, that " the wisdora of this world is
foolishness with God. " He seeras to have
believed, that God is a material being,
for his words are in letter 154, " to say,
that the human soul, angels, God are
immaterial, is to say, that they are noth
ings, or that there is no God, no angels,
no soul. " — "When once we quit the
basis of sensation, all is in the wind."
Yet he believed, that after depositing his
material body in the grave, he should
"ascend in essence, " and be a " looker
on from the clouds above. " His igno
rance of the disclosures, made in the gos
pel, — to say nothing of bis setting him
self up, like Mahomet, as a rival teacher,
— in the comparison, which he makes be
tween his own doctrine and that of Jesus
Christ, ought not to be overlooked: —
"Jama raaterialist ; He takes the side
of spiritualism. He preaches the efficacy
of repentance towards the forgiveness of
sin ; / require a counterpoise of good
works to redeem it, &c., " (let 151.)
Any person, acquainted with the instruc
tions of Jesus, any child in a Sunday
School would have told the philosopher,
that repentance means a real change of
character, implying the performance of
good works, and that Jesus required
men to bring forth "fruits meet for repen
tance. "
It appears most clearly from his letters,
that Mr. J. was a contemner ofthe relig
ion of the gospel. The amount of his
faith seems to have been, that there is a
God, and that there wfll be a future state

of retribution. The standard of duty,
in his view, was reason or instinctive
moral sense, not the Bible. He did not
consider how easily by strong passion and
the practice of evil conscience is blinded,
and seared, and how necessary religious
instruction is to preserve the power of the
moral sense. This philosopher imagined
that he found in the gospel, among many
passages of correct raorality, " much
untruth, chariatanism, and imposture,"
and he regarded Paul as the chief of " the
band of dupes and impostors," and the
" first corrupter ofthe doctrines of Jesus.''
And so he gravely attempts " to winnow
the grain from the chaff. " He speaks of
the ministers ofthe gospel of various
sects thus, — " We have most unwisely
committed to the hierophants of our par
ticular superstition the direction of pub
Uc opinion, that lord of the universe.
We have given them stated and privi
leged days to coUect and catechize us,
opportunities of delivering their oracles
to the people in raass, &c." With these
views of the gospel, he of course, when
he died, could not be cheered with the
hopes, which are founded upon a belief,
that Jesus Christ was the son of God.
There is no Christian on the earth, who
would die, as he died. He publish
ed Summary view of the rights of
British Araerica, 2d. ed. 1774 ; Declara
tion of independence, 1776 ; notes on
Virginia, 1781 ; manual of parUamentary
practice for the use ofthe senate ; life of
capt. Lewis, 1814 ; some papers in Am.
phil. trans, iv. His works, chiefly let-
ters,were pubUshed byhisgrandson,Tho.
Jefferson Randolph, 4 vols. Svo. 1829.
JEFFRIES, John, m.d., a physician,
was the son of David Jeffries and was
born in Boston Feb. 5, 1744. After
graduating at Harvard coUege in 1763, he
studied physic with Dr. Lloyd, and after
wards attended the medical schools of
Great Britain. From 1771 to 1774 he
was the surgeon ofa ship ofthe line, ly
ing in Boston harbor. His services were
required by the British coramander for
the wounded at the battle of Bunker hill.
Having accompanied the British garrison

494

JENKS.

JOHNSON.

to Halifax in 1776, he was appointed sur
geon general to the forces of Nova Scotia,
and.also apothecary general. He went
to England in 1779, and being appointed
surgeon major to the forces in America,
he repaired to Charieston and NewYork.
At the close of 1780 he resigned and
commenced the practice of his profession
in London. Jan. 7, 1785 he crossed the
British channel from Dover to the forest
of Guines in a baUoon. This exploit
procured him many friends in Paris and
London. But in 1790 he was induced to
resume his profession ui his native coun
try and town. He kept for more than 40
years a medical and surgical diary. An
inflammation, originating in a hernia,
which was caused by his efforts in his first
aerial voyage in 1784, caused his death
Sept. 16, 1819, aged 75. He published
a narrative of his two aerial voyages,
London, 1736.— Thacher, 316— 394.
JENKS, Joseph, governor of R. Isl
and, was the son of Joseph J. of Pawtuck
et, who built there the first house, and
grandsonof Joseph J., a blacksmith, who
caraefrom England to Lynn about 1645
and died in 1683. He was born in 1656;
was govemor,after Cranston,from 1727 to
1732 ; and died June 15, 1740, aged 83.
His brother, William, a judge, died in
1765, aged 90 ; his brother, Ebenezer,
was a mimster at Providence. Gov. J.
was a raember of the baptist church and
a zealous Christian.
JENKINS, John, a teacher ofthe art
of penmanship, died at Wilmington,
Delaware, in Oct. 1823. He was for
merly of Boston. He published the art
of writing reduced to a plain and easy sys
tem on a plan entirely new, 1805.
JENKINS, Charles, minister of Port
land, Maine, was born in Barre, Mass.,
in 1786, and was graduated at WilUams
college in 1313. He was afterwards pre
ceptor of the academy at Westfield ; in
1816 he was appointed tutor at the col
lege ; he was settled in the ministry at
Greenfield, Mass., in 1820, and installed
at Portland, as the minister ofthe third
congregational society, in 1825. After a
short illness ofthe prevailing influenza he

died Dec. 29, 1831, aged 45. Hewas
highly esteemed and exerting a most im
portant and beneficial influence, when he
was removed from life. His mind was
of an original cast and very fertile and
vigorous . With a rich poetical fancy, he
gave an interest to the subjects of lus dis
cussion. Sometimes, however, he failed
in simplicity of style and in adapting his
method of instruction sufficiently tothe
understandings of minds less elevated,
than his own. With some defect of this
kind, which is to be ascribed in part to
his very originality, he was yet a most
faithful and useful preacher, and made
himself understood in the hearts of the
hypocritical and the sinful. Disregard
ing the world's applause, he steadily pur
sued the path of d uty, declaring the whole
counsel of God, and seeking in every way
to advance the power of the gospel. He
published 3 sermons on the obligations,
duties, and blessings ofthe sabbath, with
remarks on the Report in congress on
sabbath mails, 1830 ; a sermon on the
elevated nature of true piety, in the na
tional preacher Dec. 1831. A volume
of his sermons is promised in this
year, 1832.- — Christian Mirror, Jan.
5, 1832.
JOHN, an Indian sagamore, Uved at
Wriinesimet at the first settlement of
Boston in 1630, and was one of the prin
cipal chiefs of the Mattachusetts. He
was courteous and friendly to the new set
tlers and endeavored to learn their lan
guage. In 1632 the Tarratines or eas
tern Indians wounded him. In 1633 he
andmostof his people died ofthe small
pox: he said — " I must die, the God of
the EngUsh is mucri angry with me, and
will destroy me. " To Mr. Wilson,
who visited him in his sickness, he gave
his son to be taught the Christian reUg
ion.— 2 Hist col m. 127 ; vi. 650.
JOHNSON, Isaac, one of the foun
ders of Mass., was anative of Clipsham,
county of Rutland, England, and arrived
at Salem June 12,1630, with gov. Win
throp in the chief ship ofthe fleet, former
ly the Eagle, but now named the Arbel
la in honor of his wife. In July he.

JOHNSON.

495

with the governor and other gentlemen,
proceeded to Charlestown. July 30th
was a day of fasting, andthe church of
Boston was founded at Charlestown ; the
four persons, who entered into covenant
and laid the foundation of the church,
were gov. Winthrop, deputy governor
Dudley, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Wilson,
afterwards the minister. Five more were
added Aug. 1. The want of good water
at Charlestown induced Mr. Johnson,
and others to remove to Shawmut or
Boston, where was "an excellent spring."
In August his wife died at Salem: for an
account of her see the next article. At
the second court of assistants in Charles
town Sept. 7, Mr. Johnson was present.
Boston was settled under his conduct.
He died there on Thursday Sept. 30,
1630. "Hewas a holy man and wise,
and died in sweet peace ; leaving part of
his substance to the colony. He made a
most godly end ; dying willingly ; profes
sing his life better spent in promoting
this plantation, than it could have been
any other way." He had the largest estate
of any ofthe settlers, and was "the great
est furtberer of this plantation ." His lot
in Boston was the square between Tre-
mont. School, and Queen streets and
CornhiU ; and he was buried at the upper
end of his lot, which gave occasion for
the first burying place to be laid out a-
round his grave. This is now called the
Stone Chapel grave yard. His house was
on a hill near Tremont street. — Prince,
318, 333.
JOHNSON, Arbella, wife ofthe pre
ceding, came with him to Salem in June
1630, and died about Aug. 30th, probably
ofa prevaiUng infectious fever, contracted
on ship-board, and of which many died.
She was the daughter of Thomas,3d earl
of Lincoln, who died in 1619, and sister
of Theophilus, the fourth earl. Her sis
ter, Frances, married John, son of sir
Ferdinando Gorges ; her sister, Susan,
married John Humphrey. She has been
usually called the lady ArbeUa, audit was
in honor of her, that the admiral ship of
Winthrpp's fleet, before called the Eagle,
received the name of the Arbella. The

word indeed by Johnson, Mather, Neal,
Hutchinson, and almost all our histori
ans, excepting Prince, has been written*
Arabella. Mr, Savage, in his edition of
Winthrop in 1825, has insisted upon the
propriety of following Prince, whose ac
curacy is unquestioned, and who doubt
less in the manuscripts, of which hemade
use, found the form Arbella, as printed
in his Annals. Mr. Savage testifies, that
the word is so written in the original note
of the meeting of the assistants on board
this ship ; that Winthrop so wrote the
word ; and that gov. Dudley so wrote it
in a letter to the countess of Lincoln, the
mother of the lady. I am able to
strengthen the cause by a new argument.
The lady Arbella Johnson was probably
named after the lady known as the lady
Arabella Stuart, who died in the tower
about 20 years before the settlement of
Mass. In respect to her name the Eng
Ush historians generally have faUen into
a mistake. Her narae ought to be writ
ten Arbella ; and for these reasons. Ech-
ard quotes the indictment against Ra
leigh &c. for sedition and " setting up
the lady Arbella Stuart." Thus be
wrote the narae, and thus doubtless he
found it in the record. Moreover, sorae
years ago, in examining an English book,
I met with a/ac simile of this lady's meth
od of writing her own name after her
marriage to Seymour ,and the copy stands
thus, — " Arbella Seyraoure." We
ought, then, to be satisfied, that Arbella
was the name of Isaac Johnson's wife,
and the name on the stem of the admiral
ship. Shall we now so write the name ;
or shall we accommodate the orthogra
phy to what was probably the pronuncia
tion of the English, who now give, in
some cases, a pecuUar sound to the letter
r, which we are not accustomed to give?
Can we hope to induce the English to
write Arbella Stuart.' ShaU we di-vide into
the two belligerous factions of Arbellans
and Arabellans, and dispute, Uke the the
ologians of old, about a single letter.' Or
shall we fall in with the modern reform
er, who stands up for the primitive wri
ting, and dares not substitute custom for

496

JOHNSON.

the record.' Dr. Holmes, in his second
edition, has come out an Arbellau . Mr.
Farmer, though contrary to his own an
tiquarian principles,is an Arabellan. For
my part, I have concluded to be toler
ant, — especially as in my book I happen
to present the word in both forms, — and
will embrace the partizans of both sides in
the compass of my charity. — Savage's
Winthrop, 1. 1, 34; Prince, 314; Holmes,
1. 906 ;Farmer.
JOHNSON, Edward, captain, an
early N. England historian, came frora
Herne-Hill, a parish in Kent, in 1 630,
probably in the fleet of gov. "Winthrop,
for Oct. 19 he was among the petitioners
to be admitted as freemen. In 1632 he
was at Merrimac residing there under a
license to trade, but his usual residence
was Charlestown. When it was deter
mined to erect a new town, and church,
now calletl Woburn, he was one of the
committee for that purpose. In May
1642 the town was incorporated ; it had
been called "Charlestown village." Aug.
14, the church was formed, and Mr.
Carter ordained Nov. 2-2. In 1643 he
went with capt. Cook and 40 men to
Providence to seize Gorton. In the same
year he was chosen representative, and
was annually re-elected, excepting 1 648,
till 1671. He was the speaker of the
house in 1655. — At the incorporation of
the town he was chosen recorder, and he
kept the records of the town until about
a year before bis death. In 1665 he was
appointed on the committee with Brad
street, Danforth, and others to meet the
commissioners, Nicolls, Carr, &c., who
had been sent from England. He died
April -23, 1682, aged probably upwards of
70. He left five sons, Edward, George,
WilUam, Matthew, and John, two of
whom were representatives of Woburn.
His descendants are numerous in Wo
burn and Buriington. John Farmer, the
author of the N. England Genealogical
Register., &c., is a descendant. Capt.
Johnson was the author of a history of
Massachusetts from 1628 to 1652, which
is of great value, notwithstantfing the
imperfections of its style. Its title is,

History of N. E. from the EngUsh plan-
tmgin 1623 tiU 1652 ; or Wonder Work
ing Providence of Zion's Savior, 4to.
London, 1654. It has been reprinted in
the historical coUections, second series,
vols. II, III, IV, VII, VIII ; in which work
it fills about 230 pages. Short pieces of
poetry are interspersed in the work, as a
kind of sonnets on individuals,and in other
forms, amounting to about 1200 lines.
We should be glad at the present day to
exchange this poetry for a.plain narrative
of facts. — Farmer; Chickering's ded.
serm. JOHNSON, Robert, governor of S.
Carolina, died at Charleston May 3, 1735.
He was governor in 1719, and again from
1 730 till the period of his death. In 1 73 1
he negotiated a treaty with the Chero
kees. He proved hiinseff an efficient
friend of Mr. Oglethorpe and the first
settlers of Georgia on their arrival at
Charleston, the assembly at his sugges
tion furnishing them with 104 head of
cattle, 25 hogs, -20 barrels of rice, and
ten horsemen rangers for their protec
tion. The settlement of Purrysburgh
by 600 Swiss under col. Peter Purry was
made in his administration.
JOHNSON, Samuel, d. d., first presi
dent of King's college. New York, was
bornin Guilford, Con., Oct. 14,1696, and
graduated at Yale college in 1714. In
Oct. 1716 the trustees and general court
directed the college to be removed to
New Haven and Mr. Johnson was chosen
a tutor, in which office he continued till
March 20, 17-20, when he was ordained
the minister of West Haven. Having
an aversion to extemporary performances,
it was his practice to use forms of prayer,
and to write only one sermon in a month.
He usually preached the discourses of
others, minuting down only the heads, &
expressing himseff,when his remembrance
of the words of the author failed him, in
language of his own. Having embraced
the Arminian doctrines arid become a con
vert to the episcopalian worship and
church government, he resigned his
charge at West Haven, and embarked at
Boston with president Cutier for Eng-

JOHNSON.

497

land Nov. 5, 1722. Having received
ordination as a missionary for Stratford,
he arrived at that i)lace in Nov. 1728.
His predecessor and friend, Mr. Pigot,
Was immediaiely removed to Providence.
Mr. Johnson was now the only episcopa
lian minister in Connecticut, & there were
but a few families of the English church
in the colony. They were not increased
in Stratford by means of his labors, but in
the neighboring towns, where he some
times officiated, many families conformed.
The desire of escaping the congregational
tax by joining a church, whose minister
received a salary from a foreign society,
and the petty quarrels, which exist in
most congregations, were causes, accor
ding to Mr. Hobart, of no inconsiderable
influence,in multiplying the episcopalians.
Between the years 1724 and 1736 Mr.
Johnson was engaged in a controversy on
the subject of episcopacy with Mr. Dick
inson, Mr. Foxcroft, and Mr. Graham.
Entering on a new course of studies, he
procured the w-orks of John Hutchinson,
and embraced many of his sentiments.
He regarded hira as a' person ofa stupen
dous genius, little inferior even to that of
sir Isaac Newton, whose principles he op
posed ; and he thought, that in his wri
tings he had discovered many important,
ancient truths, had effectually confuted
the Jews, infidels, Arians, and heretics of
other denominations, and proved, that
the method of redemption by Jesus Christ
was better understood in the patriarchal
and Mosaic ages, than was generally im
agined. In 1754 he was elected presi
dent of the college, which had been lately
instituted at New York. He went to
' that place in April and soon commenced
his labors. The charter was procured
Oct. 31, 1754. In March 1763 he resign
ed, and was succeeded by Myles Coop
er. He passed the remainder ofhis days
in the peaceful retreat of Stratford, re-
suming his former charge, and continu
ing in the ministry till his death, Jan . 6,
1772, aged 75.
Dr. Johnson was in his person rather
tall and in 4ie latter part of his life corpu
lent. Hewas happv in a calmness of
' 63

temper, which was seldom discomposed.
Those, who knew him, generally loved
and revered him. The same good dis
position, which rendered him amiable in
private Ufe, marked all his proceedings of
a public nature, and may be discovered in
his controversial writings. Benevolence
was a conspicuous trait in his character.
He seldom suffered a day to pass without
doing to others some good offices relating
to their temporal or spiritual affairs. His
conversation was enlivened by the natural
cheerfulness ofhis disposition, yet in his
freest discourse he retained a respect to
his character as a clergyman. By his
acquaintance with dean Berkeley he be
came a convert to the peculiar metaphysi
cal opinions of that great man . His pie
ty was unmingled with gloom or melan
choly, and he contemplated with admi
ration and gratitude the wonderful plan
of redemption, disclosed in the gospel.
An account ofhis life, written by Dr.
Chandler, was given to the public in
1805. He published plain reasons for
conforming to the church, 1733 ; two
tracts in the controversy with Mr. Gra
ham; a letter from Aristocles to Authades;
a defence of it in a letter to Mr.Dickinson;
a system of moraUty, 1746, designed to
check the progress of enthusiasm ; a com
pendium of logic, 1752; a demonstration
ofthe reasonableness of prayer, 1761 ;
a sermon on the beauties of holiness in
the worship ofthe church i^-f England • a
short vindication of the f.ociety for propa^
gating the gospel ; s-^ EngUsh grammar
and a catechism-, I7g5 ; a Hebrew gram
mar, 1767 ; this evinced an accurate ac
quaintance with that language, and it
was repiinted with improvements in
1771.- — Chandler's life of Johnson;
Be.ach'sfun. sermon,
JOHNSON, William Samuel, ll. d.,
president of Columbia college, N. York,
the eldest son ofthe preceding, was born '
at Stratford Oct, 7, 1727; viras graduated
at Yale college in 1744; and soon rose to
eminence as a lawyer. He was not only
a man of science and literature, but also
an eloquent orator. In 1765 he was a
delegate to the congress at New York ;

498

JOHNSON.

and in 1766 was an agent of the colony to
England. While there he formed an ac
quaintance with illustrious men ; with
Dr. S. Johnson he corresponded for many
years. He returned in 1771 and in 1772
was appointed a judge of the supreme
court of Connecticut ; an office which he
relinquished in 1774. In 1785 hewas a
delegate to congress; and in 1787 hewas
a member of the convention, which
framed the constitution of the U. S. He
was one ofthe first senators from Con.,
and with Mr. Ellsworth drew up the bill
for the judiciary system. From 1792 to
1800 he vras the president of Columbia
coUege. After 1800 he lived in his native
village tfll his death Nov. 14, 1819, aged
92. JOHNSON,Thomas, governor of Ma
ryland, was a native of Calvert county. In
1774 hewas appointed a member of con
gress, and was for several years in that
body. After the revolution be was the
first governor, from 1777 to 1779, when
he was succeeded by Tho. S. Lee. He
was an associate justice of the supreme
court of the U. S. from 1791 till his re
signation, from ill health, in 1793. He
died at Rose HiU Oct. 26, 1819 aged 87.
JOHNSON, sir WilUam, a major-
general of the militia of New York, and
remarkable for the ascendency, which he
gained over the Indians, was bom in Ire
land about the year 1714, and was a
nephew of sir Peter Warren, the naval
hero, who distinguished himself especially
at the siege of Louisbourg in 1745. Sir
Peter, having married a lady in New
York, was induced to purchase large
tracts of land upon the Mohawk river and
the more interior parts of the country,
and he sent for his nephew about the year
1734 to come to America and take the
charge of his affairs. Young Johnson
accordingly took up his residence upon a
certain tract on the Mohawk about 30
miles from Albany, and cultivated an ac
quaintance with the Indians. He learned
their language; he studied their manners,
that he niight be able to conciliate their
regard ; his situation upon the river be
tween Albany and Oswego presented a

fine opportunity for trade, and he carried
on a large traffic witb them, supplying
them with such goods, as they needed,
and receiving in return beaver and other
skins ; at length he acquired an influ
ence over them, which no other man ever
possessed. In 1755 he was intrusted
with the command of the provincial
troops of New York, and marched to in
vest Crown Point, while Shirley procee
ded towards Ontario agreeably to the
plan of the campaign. General Johnson,
after the defeat of a detachment under
col. Williams, which he had sent out,
was attacked himself in his camp on lake
George Sept. 8th. But as soon as
his artillery began to play, the Canadi
an militia and the Indians fled with pre
cipitation to the swamps. The French
troops were repulsed, and baron Dieskau,
their general, was taken prisoner. The
advantage, however, which was thus
gained, was not pursued, and his conduct
in not proceeding against Crown Point
has been the subject of reprehension.
Even the success ofthe battie is to be at
tributed to the exertions of the brave
general Lyman. But Johnson,who was
wounded in the engagement, reaped the
benefits ofthe repulse of Dieskau, which
was magnified into a splendid victory.
The house of commons bestowed on him
5,000?., and the king conferred on him
the title of baronet. About this time also
he was appointed superintendent of In
dian affairs in New York. In the year
1759 he commanded the provincial troops
under brig. gen. Prideaux, in the expedi
tion against Niagara. While directing
the operations of the siege, Prideaux was
killed by the bursting of a cohom July
20th ; but Johnson prosecuted the plan,
which had been formed, with judgment
and vigor. On the 24th of July, the
enemy made an attempt to raise the
siege, but were defeated through the ex
cellent dispositions and the courage of
Johnson, and the next day the fort was
taken, and about 600 men made prison
ers of war. This event broke off the
communication, which the French inten
ded to estabUsh, between Canada and

JOHNSON.

459

Louisiana. When Amherst embarked at
Oswego in June 1760 to proceed on the
expedition to Canada,sir William brought
to him at that place 1,000 Indians of the
Iroquois or five nations, which was the
largest [number, that had ever been seen
in arms at one time in the cause of Eng
land. He died at his seat at Johnson
hall, about 24 miles from Scheneciady,
on the Mohawk river, July 11, 1774,
aged 60. He left a large sum of money
to be employed in presents to the Indians
of the Mohawk castles, all of whom, men,
women, and children, had mourning dres
ses presented them on his death.
Sir William possessed considerable
talents as an orator, and his influence
over the Indians was not a Uttle owing
to the impression made upon them by
means ofhis elocution. Il has been rep
resented, that he was envious towards
Shirley, and endeavored to thwart him
in his plans by discouraging the Indians
from joining him ; and that in his private
conduct he paid little respect to those laws,
the observation of which can only insure
domestic peace and virtue. He had wives
and concubines, sons and daughters,of dif
ferent colors. He was zealous in suppor
ting the claims of Great Britain, which
excited such agitation in the colonies a
few years before his death, and he exerted
hiraself to promote the interest of the
church of England. The following an
ecdote seems to evince, that in his deal
ings with the Indians, who have a good
reputation for cunning, he was not out
witted by them. Having sent to Eng
land for clothes finely laced, on their ar
rival Hendrick, the chiefof the Mohawks,
was dazzled with their splendor, and be
gan to think how finely he should look
dressed in a similar manner. His vanity
could not be resisted, and to gratify it he
hit upon the following expedient. He
Went to sir WilUam one morning, and
told hira very demurely, that in the pre
ceding night he had dreamed, that the
baronet had generously presented him
with a suit of his laced clothes. The
solemn hint could not be mistaken or
avoided, and the Indian monarch went

away pleased with his successful ingenu
ity. In a few days, however, sir William
accosted his majesty and made knowri
his dream, which was that Hendrick had
had given him a tract of land containing
several thousand acres. "The land is
yours," said Hendrick, "but now, sir
William, I never dream with you again ;
you dream too hard forme." — He pub
lished a piece on the customs and lan
guage of the Indians in phil. transact.
vol. 63. — Dr. Eliot; Annual reg. for
1758, 1759, 1760, 1766, 1774 ; Mar
shall, I. 385, 395, 446; Wynne, ii. 44-52,
99-101. JOHNSON, sir John, son of the pre-
ceding,succeeded his father in his title,and
was appointed major general in his place
Nov. 1774. At the commencement of
the war he joined the British, and about
the year 1776 persuaded the Mohawks to
retire into Canada, from whence he re
peatedly ravaged different parts of New
York, and in one expedition, in which he
destroyed the very settlement, where he
formerly lived, he proved himself not very
dissimilar in character to his savage com
panions. .In Aug. 1777 he invested fort
Stanwix, and defeated Herkimer. In Oct,
1780 gen. Van Rensselaer defeated hira at
Fox's miUs. In 1796 he was appointed
governor of Upper Canada. Hediedat
Hampton, Canada, inJan. 1798.
JOHNSON, Joseph, an Indian prea
cher, was born at Mohegan,near Norwich,
Con., about 1750. He was the son of
capt. Joseph Johnson, who served near
lake George in the French war of 1757,
and who was a man of piety. After be
ing educated at Mr. Wheelock's school
at Lebanon,he was sent,at the age of 15,
as a schoolmaster to the six nations of
Indians in New York, and was thus em
ployed two years. Afterwards "he wan
dered up and down in this delusive
world." Returning frora a whaling
voyage in 1771, he repaired to his farm
at Mohegan, and there, in a tirae of sick
ness brought on by his vices, became a
christian convert by reading the New
Testament and Baxter's Saints' Rest. It
would seem from his journal, which ia

500

JOHNSON.

JONES.

still preserved, that he experienced the
deepest conviction of sin. Afterwards he
was licensed to preach and was for
years a missionary in the state of New
York. Being among the si.x nations in
1776, he received a letter from Washing
ton, dated at Cambridge Feb. 20th, say
ing, "tell them, that we don't want them
to take up the riatchet for us except they
choose it ; we only desire, that they will
not fight against us. We want, that the
chain of friendship should always remain
bright between our friends ofthe Six na
tions and us. We recommend you to
them, and hope by your spreading the
truths of the gospel among them, it wiU
keep the chain bright." His manuscript
journal and sermons display his talents
and acquaintance -with theology. He
was not inferior to Samson Occom, an
other Mohegan preacher.
JOHNSON, John, major, a painter,
was a brave officer in the revolutionary
army. After the peace of 1733 he took
up the pencil, residing chiefly at Boston ;
but he was deficient in drawing, though
with a correct eye and steady hand . He
was also a man of a vigorous mind. His
.strong likenesses of some of our fathers
ure valuable. He died about 1817. —
Knapp's lectures, 193.
JOHNSON, SamuelB., lieutenant, an
officer of the n-avy, was born in New
York and educated a printer. In the
war of 181-2 he joined the marine corps,
and was for a time a prisoner in Chfli.
H? died on board the ^lacedonian. May
1-2, 1320. He published Letters from
Cliili, 1316.
JOHNSTONE, Samuel, governor of
N. CaroUna from 1788 to 1790, was also
a judge of the superior court ofthe state.
II L- died at Stewarkey in Aug. 1816, aged
82. Gabriel Johnstone was the govern
or before the revolution from 1734 to
175.3. JONES, Hugh, minister of James
town, published The present state of Vir
ginia, Svo. Lond. 1724.
JONES, David, judge ofthe supreme
court of New York, was born in Sept.
J 699 at Oyster bay, L. Island, and from

1737 to 1758 was a meraber of the as
sembly and for 13 years the speaker. In
1753 he received the appointment of
judge, which he resigned in 1773. He
died Oct. 11, 1775. During his whole
life he was the firm advocate ofthe rights
ofthe people against royal encroachments,
and participated largely in the pubhc con
fidence and respect.
JONES, Samuel, a distinguished law
yer, has been called the father ofthe New
York bar. His services were extremely
important in organizing the judiciary sys
tem at the close ofthe revolution. For
industr}', extensive acquirements, and pu
rity of character he presented a model for
the imitation of those, who aim at high
attainments in jurisprudence. — N. York
hist. col. III. 273.
JONES, Noble "\^"imberly, a physi
cian and a patriot of the revolution, was
the son of col-anel Noble J., oue of the
first settlers of Georgia andjudge in 1755.
He held a military commission in 1738,
and in 1748 was associated in business
with his father. He was a member of
theassembly in 1761 ; in 1774 he was
one of the first to stir up the revolutiona
ry spirit in Georgia. In 1775 he was
chosen a delegate to congress ; and again
in 1731. In the capture of Savannah in
Dec. 1778 by the British he lost one of
hia sons, and he himself fell into the
hands of the enemy at the capture of
Charleston in May 1780. In Dec. he
was sent a prisoner to St. Augustine.
In Aug. 1731 he was exchanged, and
commenced the practice of physic in
Philadelphia . At this period he was also
a member of congress . In Dec. 1782 he
returned to Savannah. He was soon in
duced to remove to Charleston, where he
lived in lucrative practice till Dec. 1788,
when he again settled at Savannah. In
1795 he was president of the convention,
which amended the state constitution.
He died Jan. 9, 1805, aged 80, having
continued in the practice of his profession
till his death. He was not only eminent
as a physician and statesman, but in the
relations of private Ufe was amiable & ex
emplary. He was temperate and abste-

JONES.

501

mious, a lover of neatness and order, of
strict morality, and a sincere believer in
Christianity. Though attached to. the
episcopal church, he contributed liberally
to other religious societies. — Thacher,
340-344 JONES, John, M. D., a physician, of
Welch extraction, was the son of Evan
Jones, a physician, and was born at Ja
maica, Long Island, in 1729. After
studying physic with Dr. Cadwallader at
Philadelphia, he completed his medical
education in Europe, — at London, Paris,
Leyden, and Edinburgh. On his return
he settled at New York and was particu
larly eminent as a surgeon. In the war
of 1755 he served as a surgeon in the ar
my. The French commander, Dieskau,
severely wounded, was attended by him.
On the establishment ofa medical school
in New York, he was appointed profes
sor of surgery. Soon after he settled in
the city the physicians agreed for their
own dignity to wear their hair in a par
ticular bob, and, as he refused to concur
in the project, they refused to consult
with him. But he soon triumphed, and
the power of ridicule compeUed th.e medi
cal men to wear their hair like other gen
tlemen. In the revolutionary war he
left the city, when it was occupied by the
enemy. In 1780 he settied in PhUadel-
phia, where he was the physician of
Franklin and Washington. He died
June 23, 1791, aged 62. In his religious
views he was a Quakei-. He pubUshed
Plain remarks upon wounds and fractures,
1775. After his death his pupil, J.Mease,
published his surgical works, with an ac
count of his life, Svo. 1795.— Ramsay's
rev. 86; Thacher, 324-340.
JONES, John Paul, a naval command
er, was born at Arbingland, Scotland,
July 6, 1747. His father was a gardener
ofthe name of Paul; for some reason the
son, when he lived in Virginia, • assumed
the name of Jones. He early went to
sea. After being for some time in com
mand ofa vessel, he engaged in commer
cial pursuits in the West Indies. In
1773, on the deatii of his brother, he re
sided in Virginia to settle his affairs.

Soon after the beginning of the war he
commanded the Providence of 12 guns:
aud 70 men, in which he cruised and
took 16 prizes. In Mdy 1777 he was or
dered to proceed to Paris to arrange some
naval operations with the American com
missioners. April 10, 1778 he sailed on a
cruise iu the Ranger, and alarmed the
whole coast of Scotland. He landed at
Whitehaven, and captured two forts with
30 cannon ; he carried off also the
plate from the house of the earl of Sel
kirk, at St. Mary's Isle, but he after
wards restored it. He returned to
Brest with 200 prisoners of war. He
sailed again with a squadron of 7 sail
Aug. 14, 1779. His own ship was the
Bon Homme Richard, in which after a
desperate engagement off Flamborough
head he captured the British ship of war,
Serapis, of superior force Sept. 24, 1779.
His own vessel, however, soon went
down. For this exploit the French king
presented him with a golden sword. Feb.
13, 1781 he arrived at Philadelphia. Con
gress passed a complimentary resolution
and voted him a golden medal. He after
wards superintended at Portsmouth, N.
H., the building ofa ship of war. After
the restoration of peace he went to Paris
as agent for prize money. He was soon
invited to enter the Russian service-with
the rank of rear admiral. But after serv
ing a short time in the Black sea, he was
dissatisfied, was calumniated at court, &
had liberty from the empress to retire.
Returning to Paris, he died in that
city in neglect July 18, 1792. Though
most enterprising and brave, he was irri
table, vain, and of an impetuous temper.
An account of his life was pubUshed in
1828 by J. H. Sherburne.
JONES, Walter, m. d., a physician,
was born in Virginia, and educated for
medicine at Edinburgh about 1770. On
his return he settled in Northumberland
county, where he had extensive practice
through life. For a few years he was a
member of congress. On account ofthe
originality and strength ofhis mind, his
extensive and various learning, and the
captivating powers ofhis conversation he

502

JONES.

JUDSON.

was one of the most extraordinary men .
He died Dec. 31, 1815, aged 70.—
Thacher .
JONES, WflUam, governor of R. Isl
and, was born in Newport in 1754, and
during the war was a captain of marines.
At the capture of Charleston he was
made a prisoner. After being some years
the speaker of the house, hewas chosen
governor in 1810 and remained in the of
fice tiU 1817. He died in 1822 at Prov
idence. JOSSELYN, John, an author, arrived
in Boston in 1663, and resided in N. E.
a number of years. He was brother to
Henry Josselyn, a counsellor under the
government of Gorges. The following
is the title of riis principal work, — New
England's rarities discovered in birds,
fishes, serpents, and plants of that coun
try ; together with the physical and chy-
rurgical remedies, wherewith the natives
constantly use to cure their distempers,
wounds, and sores ; also a perfect descrip
tion ofan Indian squaw in all her bravery,
with a poem not improperly conferred
upon her ; lastly a chronological table of
the most reraarkable passages in that
country araongst the EngUsh ; illustrated
with cuts, 1672. His account of the
natural history ofthe country is amusing :
— " Some frogs, when they sit upon their
'breech, are a foot high ;" — " barley fre-
xjuentiy degenerates into oats," &c. He
pubUshed also an account of two voyages
to New England, wherein you have the
setting out of a ship with the charges, a
description of the country, &c. 1674. —
Sullivan's' Maine, 382 ; Hutchinson, i.
267, 268 ; Douglass, ii. 71.
JUDSON, Ephraim, minister of Shef
field, Mass., was bom in Woodbury,
Con., and graduated at Yale coUege in
1763. After being some years the minis
ter of Chelsea, or the second church of
Norwich, as the successor of Dr. Whita
ker, he was dismissed and succeeded by
Walter King. He was next settled as
the minister of Taunton, Mass. In May
1789 he was settled at Sheffield as the
successor of John Keep ; and died Feb.
23, 1813, aged 76. He was succeeded

by James Bradford. During his ministry
of 22 years only 60 were added to
the church. In the next 15 years 329
were added. He was mild, courteous,
hospitable, and faiihful as a preacher of
the gospel. He pubUshed a sermon at
the ordination of Holland Weeks, Water
bury, Nov. 1799.
JUDSON, Ann, missionary to Bur-
mah, was the daughter of John Hassel-
tine of Bradford, Mass., and was born
Dec. 22, 1789. In early life she was
gay, enterprising, active, and eager for
the acquisition of knowledge. She was
educated at the academy of her native
town. At the ageof 16 she became pi
ous. She married Adoniram Judson,
jun., appointed a missionary to India,
Feb. 5, 1812. In his letter to her father,
asking his consent to the marriage, Mr.
Judson said — "J have now [to ask,
whether you can consent to her depar
ture for a heathen land — whether you can
consent to her exposure to the dangers
of the ocean ; to every kind of want and
distress ; to degradation, insult, persecu
tion, and perhaps a violent death .' Can
you consent to all this for the sake of
Him, who left his heavenly home and
died for her and for you .'" She was the
first American female, who made up ber
mind to go to India as a missionary. She
sailed from Salem Feb. 1 9, with Mrs.
Newell, and arrived in June at Calcutta.
While residing there she and her husband
adopted the principles ofthe baptists and
were baptized Sept. 6. Mr. Rice also, a
missionary, was haptized Nov. 1 . As
the missionaries were ordered to quit In
dia, she sailed to the Isle of France,
where, on her arrival Jan. 17, 1813, she
was informed of the death of Mrs. New
ell in Nov. She proceeded in July to
Rangoon in Burmah. A few English
missionaries had been there since 1807.
After studying the language several years,
Mr. Judson began to preach and to pub
lish tracts in the Burman language. He
was also joined by the missionaries,
Hough, Colman, and Wheelock. In
Jan. 1820 Mr. Judson made a fruitless
visit to the emperor to obtain permission

JUDSON.

KALM.

503

to propagate the Christian religion. In
consequence of this refusal Mr. Colman
was induced to remove to Chittagong,
near which place he died Jul. 4,1322. Mr.
Wheelock was also deceased, and Mr.
Hough had departed, so that Mr. and
Mrs, Judson were left alone at Rangoon.
Several converts were baptized in 1820.
In consequence of alarming illness Mrs.
Judson left Rangoon in Aug. 1821, and
repaired to Calcutta, and thence to Eng
land. In Sept. 1822 she arrived at N.
York. After visiting her friends at Brad
ford for a few weeks, she was induced, on
accountof her health, to pass the winter
in the milder climate of Baltimore, where
Dr. EInathan Judson, an only brother of
her husband, resided. Here she lived in
retirement and wrote an interesting
work, a History ofthe Burman mission,
in a series of Letters to Mr. Butter-
worth, a member of the parUament, in
whose house she was received while in
England. She sailed on her return June
22, 1823 from Boston, with the mission
aries, Mr. and Mrs. Wade and arrived at
Calcutta in Oct, and in Dec. proceeded
to Rangoon. In the same month she
accompanied her husband to Ava, the cap
ital. The Bengal government invaded
Burmah in May 1824. June 8th Mr.
Judson was seized and imprisoned with
Dr. Price, and others . During his im
prisonment of more than a year and a
half, 9 months in three pair of fetters
2 months in 5 pair, — amidst indescribable
sufferings, — Mrs. Judson repaired every
day two miles to the prison, prepared
food for her husband, and administered to
the wants ofthe prisoners, and made con
stant application to the government for
their lives and their deliverance, until at
last, on the approach ofthe British army,
she had the happiness to announce to
them their freedom.
**0 woman —
When pain and anguish wring the brow,
A ministering angel thou!"
In March 1826 she passed down the Irra-
waddy to the British camp, when gen.
Archibald Campbell received her with the
kindness, which she deserved for the el

oquent appeals to the proud Burman
government, of which she was the author,
and which contributed to the peace, Mr,
and Mrs. Judson now settled in the new
town of Amherst on the Salwen river.
But after a few months in the absence of
Mr. Judson she died there of a fever
Oct. 24, 1826, aged 36. This fatal
event is to be ascribed to her sufferings
at Ava. In a few months her only sur
viving child, Maria, died. They were bu
ried beneath a large hope tree, the Hopia.
Her Uttle son, Roger "Williams, was bu
ried at Rangoon. She was a woman of
unquestioned piety and most benevolent
zeal. Her talents, too, were of a high
order. No female missionary ever pas
sed through such scenes of suffering, or
made such efforts of benevolence in sick
ness and amidst perils and difficulties of
every kind. When, at a future tirae,
the gospel shall triumph over the super
stitions of the east, her narae will be
honored throughout alljBurraah . A very
interesting memoir of her life was publish
ed by James D. Knowles, 2d ed. Boston,
1829. KALB, Baron de, major general in the
army of the U. S., was a German by
birth, and had long been in the French
service. In the battle near Camden,
Aug, 1780, he fell after receiving eleven
wounds in his vigorous exertions to pre
vent the defeat ofthe Americans. He died
Aug. 1 9, ag.47, having served 3 years with
high reputation. His last moments were
spent in dictating a letter, which expres
sed his warm affection for the men and offi
cers of his division, and his admiration
of their firmness and courage in with
standing a superior force. An ornamen
tal tree was planted at the head of his
grave in the neighborhod of Camden, and
congress resolved, that a monument
should be erected to his memory at An
napolis with a very honorable inscription.
— Gordon, in. 391,443; Ramsay, n.
168; Warren, n. 243 ; Marshall, iv.
184 ; Holmes.
KALM, Peter, a naturalist, was a
Swede, and was sent to America in 1748
to collect information concerning its bot-

504

KEARSLEY.

KEITH.

any. In two or three years he travelled
through Canada, N. "York, and Pennsyl
vania. He was afterwards professor of
economy in Swedish Finland, where he
died Nov. 16, 1779. In honor of him
the beautiful Kalmia received its name.
His Travels in N. America were publish
ed, at Gottingen, 1754; the same in
EngUsh, 3 vols. 1770 ; 2 vols. Svo. 1772.
He published also an acccount of the cata
racts at Niagara, 1751.
KEARSLEY, John, a physician of
Philadelphia, was a native of England
and came to this country about 1711.
As a member of the assembly his speech
es for the rights ofthe colony Avere so ac
ceptable, that he was sometimes carried
home on the shoulders of the people.
He died Jan. 11, 1772, aged 88. He
contributed much for building Christ
church, and the hospital of that church
for widows he endowed with a valuable
estate. KEITH, ..Tames, first minister of
Bridgewater, Mass., was a native of
Scotland, and educated at Aberdeen.
He was ordained Feb. 18, 1664, and died
July 23, 1719, aged 75. He had 6 sons
and 2 daughters. His descendants in
Bridgewater in 1810 were 200 ; and there
were many more in other towns. His
-successors were Daniel Perkins, who
died Sept. 29, 1782, aged 85, and John
Reed. He was of singular sweetness of
temper and eminent piety. In his preach
ing he did not use notes. He pubUshed
a Case of prayer, on the establishment
ofa nevv society. — Mather's serm.
KEITH, George, a quaker, was born
at Aberdeen, and was weU educated.
He came in 1682 to East Jersey, where
he was surveyor general. In 1689 he
taught a school in Philadelphia. After
writing various treatises in favor of the
quakers, and visiting N. England for the
propagation of his sentiments, on his
return a schism occurred between him
and the quakers in 1 691 . He drew away
many as his followers, who called them
selves Christian quakers. At length he
entirely deserted the society ; in England
he became an episcopalian,and he officiated

as an episcopal missionary about a year
in N. York and Boston. Repairing again
about 1706 to England, he was a rector
at Edburton in Sussex, where he died.
He had learning, talents, acuteness, and
logical skill, but was irritable, overbear
ing, and virulent. He had nothing of
moderation, meekness, and charity. In
his day the contention among the quakers
was vehement. The following are the
titles of some of his many publications ;
immediate revelation not ceased, 1668;
the way to the city of God, 1678 ; the
presbyterian and independent churches
in N. E. brought to ihe test, 1689; —
this was answered in 1 690 by the Boston
ministers in their Protestant religion
maintained ; the pretended antidote pro
ved poison, in answer to the preceding,
1690; account of the great division
amongst the quakers in Penns. 1693;
more divisions, 1693 ; against Sam. Jen
nings, 1694; a plain discovery of many
gross cheats in pamphlets by the quakers ;
account of his travels, 1699 ; the deism
of Wm. Penn and his brethren destruc
tive of the Christian religion, 1699; ac
count ofa national church and the clergy;
reasons for renouncing quakerism, 1700 ;
account of the quakers' politics ; the
magic of quakerism, 1705 ; journal of
travels from Ne\v Hampshire to Caratuck,
1706; new theory of the longitude, 1709.
— Proud, 1. 363-376 ; Sewal's hist. 504,
664. KEITH, Sir William, governor bf
Pennsylvania, sustained this office from
1717 to 1726. He had been before sur
veyor general ofthe customs in America.
He died in England in poverty Nov. 17,
1749, aged near 80. He was a desperate
intriguer, courting always the favor of
the people, and not sparing of delusive
promises to individuals. At last he sunk
into contempt. He pubUshed the history
of the British plantations in America,
part I. containing the history of Virginia,
4to. 173S; coUectionof papers and tracts,
1749 ; on the subject of taxing the colo
nies, 1767.
KEITH, Isaac Stockton, d. d., minis
ter of Charleston, S. C, was born ia

KENDAL.

KENTUCKY.

505

Bucks county, Penns., Jan. 20, 1755, and
graduated at Princeton in 1775. He was
the minister of Alexandria in Virginia for
about ten years tiU 1788, when hewas'
settled at Charleston as the colleague of;
Dr. HolUngshead. There his ministry of
25years was longer than that of any ofhis
1 1 predecessors He died suddenly Dec. 14,
1813, aged 58. His first wife was the
daughter of Rev. Dr. Sproat ; his second
the daughter of Tho.Legare of Charles
ton ; his third the daughter of Wm.
Huxham. He was an eminent Christian
and a faithful pastor. To his church he
bequeathed 5,000 doU. and half that sum
to the general assembly. To each of
about 20 children, bearing his narae or
that of one of his wives, he bequeathed
Scott's commentary. A collection ofhis
sermons, addresses &c. with an account
of his life by Dr. Flinn, was published,
1816.—Panopl xi. 441-44S.
KENDAL, Samuel, d. d., minister of
Weston, Mass , a descendant of Francis
K., who lived in Woburn in 1647, was
born at Sherburne July 11, 1753: his fa
ther, Elisha K., died in 1824 at the age
of 99. He was graduated at Harvard
college in 1782 ; was ordained Nov. 5,
1785; and died Feb. 16, 1815, aged 60.
His two wives were the daughters of
Samuel Woodward, his predecessor in
the ministry, and descendants of Richard
Mather. He published a sermon at the
ordination of T. M. Harris, 1794 ; at the
election, 1804 ; 7 sermons for the young,
making 8th number ofthe Christian mon
itor, 1808 ; on the death of S. Dexter,
1810 ; century sermon, 1813. A volume
of his sermons was published after his
death. KENTUCKY, one of the United
States of America, was formerly a part of
Virginia, and was weU known to the In
dian traders many years before its settle
ment. A map of this country was pub
fished by Lewis Evans in 1749. It was
not till 1773, that the first family settled
in this territory. In that year colonel
Daniel Boone, with five other families,
who were joined by forty men from Pow
ell's valley, took up their abode in the
64

forest. During the war of the American
revolution the infant setilement of Ken
tucky was repeatedly ravaged and alraost
annihilated by the attack of the Indians,
stimulated to rapine and murder by emis
saries from the government of Canada.
But reinforcements of emigrants, attrac
ted by the fertility of the soil, enabled
the inhabitants to undertake even offensive
measures. In the latter end of 1778 the
brave general Clarke in several expedi
tions defeated a number of tribes of In
dians, laid waste their villages, and was
the means of saving the country from de
struction. In 1777 this newly settled
country was erected into a county, and
in 1782 the legislature of Virginia made it
a separate district, and established in it a
supreme court. This measure conduced
much to the convenience of the inhabi
tants and the interests of justice. Still,
as the seat of government was at the dis
tance of 600 miles,tbe necessity ofa sep
aration occasioned a convention of depu
ties from the different counties in 1785,
who determined that an application should
be made to Virginia to procure her con
sent to the independence of Kentucky.
This was generously granted. But de
lays arising from the change of the gov
ernment of the U. S. and other causes
prevented the erection of this district into
a separate state till Dec. 6, 1790, and its
admission into the Union till June 1,
1792. A form of government was adop
ted in this year, and the first general as
sembly met at Lexington Jurie 4. The
constitution was amended and estabUshed,
as it now exists, by a convention at
Frankfort August 17, 1799. The gen
eral assembly consists ofa house of rep
resentatives not exceeding 100 members,
and ofa senate of 38 members ; the mem
bers of the former to be chosen for one
year, and of the latter for four years.
The governor is also elected for four
years, and is ineligible for the seven suc
ceeding years. The judges are liable to
removal on an address to the governor,
for a reasonable cause, of two thirds of
each house of the assembly. The popu
lation in 1790 was 73,677; in 1800,

506

KETELTAS.

KILLEN.

220,959; in 1810, 406, 511; in 1820,
564,317 ; in 1830, 688,844. Of these
the free whites were 518,678 ; free color
ed persons 4,816 ; slaves 165, 350. Tran
sylvania university is at Lexington ; Cen
tre college at Danville ; Cumberland col
lege at Princeton. There is also a Cath
olic college at Bairdstown; a methodist
college at Augusta ; a Baptist college at
Georgetown. There is at Lexington a
lunatic asylum ; and an asylum for the
deaf and dumb at Danvflle. — There is a
cave in the limestone rocks, called Mam
moth cave , which is 8 or 10 miles in
length. It is distant about 130 miles
from Lexington on the road to Nashville.
KETELTAS, Abraham minister of
Jamaica L. I., was the son ofa minister
of the same name ; was graduated at
Yale col. in 1752 ; and was settled at first
the minister of Elizabeth. He preached
fluently in Dutch and French. In 1777
he was a member ofthe convention,which
framed the constitution of N. York. He
died Sept. 30, 1798, aged 66. His wife,
the daughter of Wm. Sraith, a distin
guished raan, died in 1815, aged 84. He
published several occasional discourses.
KIDD, William, a pirate, was the
commander of a vessel, which sailed
from N. York to London, and in London
was recomraended by Mr. Livingston of
N. York as a suitable coramander ofa
vessel, which lord Rumney and others
had fitted out against the pirates of the
East Indies at an expense of 6000Z. —
Kidd first sailed to N. York, where he
had a family: on his arrival in India he
committed many daring acts of piracy.
In his infatuation he came frora Mada
gascar to Boston, July 3, 1699 he was
summoned before governor Bellamont,
and ordered to draw up a narrative ofhis
proceedings. But not doing this, he
was arrested July 6th, with several of
his men, A man of war was sent from
England to transport them thither for
trial. They were condemned and execu
ted. Bradlsh, who was executed at the
same time, had run away with the ship
Adventure on a voyage to India and ar
rived in March 1699 at the east of Long

Island, where he had deposited in the
care of a gentleman his money, rings,
and jewels. Multitudes of weak-minded
men have dug along the American coast
in search of " Kidd's money, " imagin
ing that he had concealed gold and silver
on the shores. Such dupes of covetous
ness would do well to dig the soil.
KILLEN, WUliam, chancellor ofthe
state of Delaware, was a native of Ireland.
Early in Ufe, before he had attained the
age of manhood, he arrived in America,
having an excellent education in the Eng
lish language . After passing through a
variety of scenes, incidental to strangers,
he settled himself in the family of Samuel
Dickinson, the father of John Dickinson,
of Wilmington . There he devoted him
self most assiduously to the acquisition of
a competent knowledge of the Greek
and Latin languages under the direction
of Jacob Orr, who was engaged in teach
ing the sons of Mr. Dickinson, and some
other young gentiemen. The diUgence
and modesty of Mr. Killen made him a
favorite of the whole faraily and partic
ularly of his instructer. His unwearied
attention was rewarded by a rapid profi
ciency in his studies. After holding the
office of county surveyor for some years,
he coraraenced the study of the law. In,
the courts of Delaware his knowledge,
and especially his skill in surveying and
in various branches of the mathematics
rendered him an able assistant in suits for
land, and in such trials the most eminent
men of his day were always pleased to
associate with hira as their colleague.
His practice soon becarae extensive. His
moderation, his modesty, and his punctu
ality in business, aided by his abilities, led
hira to wealth and to all the honors ofhis
country. For many years before the
revolution he was selected by his fel
low citizens lo represent them in the as
sembly of Delaware. At the commence
ment of the contest with Great Britain
he took a decided and active part infavor
of American liberty. Soon after the dec
laration of independence he was appoin
ted chiefjustice of the supreme court of
the state of Delaware, which office he

KIMBALL.

KING.

507

held till he was promoted to that of chan-
pellor in 1793. He resigned his seat in
the court of chancery in 1801, and died
at Dover Oct 3, 1805, aged 83. In all
the variety of public business, in which
he was engaged, he exhibited the strict
est integrity. As a legislator he was
wise and attentive to the interests of his
constituents, and as ajudge he was learn
ed, patient, and impartial. The same
uprightness, which marked his public
character, was also conspicuous in all
the relations of private life. — N. York
spectator, Oct. 22, 1805.
KIMBALL, Daniel, founder of Union
academy in Plainfield, N. H., died in
March 1817, aged 63. He gave theacad-
emy between 20 and 30,000 dollars.
KING, Rufus, rainister of the United
States to Great Britain, was the eldest
son of Richard King, a merchant of Scar
borough, Maine, and was born in 1755.
From Moody's academy at Byfield he
went to Harvard college, about the time
ofthe death of his father. His studies
had been interrupted at the beginning of
the war by the occupation of the college
buildings as barracks, but were resumed
at Concord. He graduated in 1777, witb
reputation for classical attainments and
particularly for his powers of oratory, to
the culture of which he had appUed him
self with great zeal. In 1778 he was an
aid to Sullivan in an expedition against
the British in Rhode Island. After
studying law with Mr. Parsons, he was
admitted to the bar in 1780 at Newbury
port, by which town he was soon after
wards chosen a representative in tiie leg
islature. It being recommended by con
gress to the states about 1784 to grant a
5 per cent impost to the general govern
ment, a distinction arose between the
federal and the state interests. In the
debate, which followed, Mr. King sup
ported the grant,and prevailed, and James
Sullivan, the most popular speaker in the
house, opposed it. The legislature ap
pointed him in 1784 a delegate to con
gress, then in session at Trenton, but
soon adjourned to New York ; in which
body he introduced, March, 1785, a reso

lution, prohibiting slavery in the territo
ry north west ofthe Ohio. Of the con
vention in 1787 to form the present con
stitution ofthe United States he was an
efficient meraber ; as he was also of the
Massachusetts' convention for consider
ing that constitution.
Having relinquished bis profession
1784, and in 1786 having married the
daughter of John Alsop, an opulent mer
chant of New York, he removed in 1788
to that city. In 1789 be and general
Schuyler were elected senators under the
constitution of the United States. Dur
ing the violent discussions respecting the
British treaty in 1794 he co-operated with
his friend, general Hamilton, in its de
fence. Of the papers concerning this
treaty, with the signature of Camillus,
usually ascribed to Hamilton, all the num
bers, except the ten first, were written by
Mr. King, displaying much acquaintance
with the laws of different nations on the
subjects of navigation and trade. When
a petition was presented against allowing
Mr. Gallatin to take his seat as senator,
in consequence of the law of naturaliza
tion, a warm debate arose ; the right to
the seat was maintained by Taylor, Mon
roe, and Burr, and opposed successfully
by Ellsworth, Strong, and King. On
this occasion Mr. King displayed great
talents as an orator. Being re-eljpcted to
the senate, he was nominated bJ' Wash
ington in 1796 minister plenipotentiary to
Great Britain. At the English court he
remained during the administration of
Mr. Adams and two years of that of Mr.
Jefferson with great advantage to his
country. His dignity, mildness, and
firmness promoted the adjustment of sev
eral difficult claims. The convention as
to boundaries was however rejected by
Mr.Jefferson, frora misapprehension per
haps as to its effect on the boundary of
Louisiana, which had been purchased.
Had this convention been adopted, the
north eastern boundary, which has occa
sioned much uneasiness, would have been
settled by 3 commisioners, two appoin
ted by the parties and the third by the
two. Mr. King made great efforts to in-

505

KINNE.

KIRKLAND.

duce the British to renounce the practice
of impressing American seamen. After
his return in 1803 he lived in retirement
until the war of 1812, when became for
ward in support ofhis country. In conse
quence of the patriotic spirit, which he
manifested, the democratic legislature of
New York appointed him in 1813 a sen
ator of the United States. His speech
concerning the conduct of the enemy in
the destruction ofthe city of Washington
gained him great honor. In 1816 he was
an unsuccessful candidate for the office of
governor of New York. Re-elected to
the senate in 1820, he brought forward
the important law, requiring cash pay
ments upon sales of the public lands. In
the discussions relating to the admission
of Missouri into the union, he endeavored
to extend to that state the prohibition
of slavery, which had been wisely impos
ed upon the north west territory. The
last proposition, which he brought for
ward, was to devote the proceeds of
the public territory to the removal of
slaves and free persons of color to some
country beyond the limits of the United
States. On retiring from the Senate in 1825
he was induced by Mr. Adams to pro
ceed again as a minister to the British
court in the hope of adjusting several dis
puted questions. But an overruling Prov
idence did not permit him to accompUsh
the objects, which he had in view. Dur
ing his voyage he was attacked by a dis
ease, often the consequence ofa voyage,
which prevented him from entering up
on the active discharge of his duties.
After remaining abroad a year without
amendment, he returned to die in his na
tive land and in the bosom of his family.
He died at Jamaica, Long Island, in a
composed and resigned state April 29,
1827, aged 72 years. — In person Mr.
King was above the common size and
somewhat athletic, with a countenance
manly and bespeaking high intelligence.
His conversation and writings were re
markable for conciseness and force.
KINNE, Aaron, minister of Groton,
Con., wasborn at Newent in Norwich,

now Lisbon ; was graduated at Yale col
lege in 1765 ; and was ordained Oct.
1770. The massacre of Ledyard & others
ofhis people at fort Griswold diminished
his means of support. At last, in 1798,
he was dismissed. In 1800 he resided in
Winsted ; in 1803 at Egremont, Mass. ;
andin 1805 he removed to Alford. He
was occasionally employed by the Berk
shire missionary society. He died at
Talmadge, Ohio, at the house of his son
in law, Dr. Wright, five days after his
arrival there, July 9, 1824, aged 79. He
was a faithful preacher. He pubUshed a
work on the sonship of Christ ; a display
of scripture prophecies, 1813 ; an explan
ation ofthe types, prophecies, revelation,
&c., Svo. 1814.
KINSEY, James, LL. d., chiefjustice
of New Jersey, died at Burlington Jan.
4, 1802, aged 69. He had been a mem
ber of congress before the adoption ofthe
present constitution .
KIRBY, Ephraim, first judge of
the district court of the U. S. at New
Orleans, died at fort Stoddert Oct. 20,
1804. He had sustained this office but a
short time. He had been for a number
of years an inhabitant of Litchfield in
Connecticut, and was once a candidate
for governor in that state. He published
Reports of cases adjudged in the su
preme court of the state of Connecticut
frora 1785 to May 1788, with sorae deter-
rainations in the supreme court of errors,
Litchfield, Svo. 1789.
KIRKLAND, Sarauel, a raissionary
among the Indians, was the son of Dan
iel K., minister of Norwich, Con. who
died in May 1773, aged 72. After en
joying for sorae time the advantages of
Wheelock's school, he finished his educa
tion at the college in New Jersey, where
he was graduated in 1765. While at
school he had learned the language of the
Mohawks, and he commenced a jour
ney to the Seneka Indians in order to ac-
quire their language, Nov. 20, 1764, and
did not return tiU May 1766. June 19th
he was ordained at Lebanon as a mission
ary to the Indians. He removed his wife
to Oneida castle in 1769. In the spring

KISSAM.
he went to the house ofhis friend, gen.
Herkimer, at Little Falls ; and there
his twin children were born -'Vug. 17,
1770, of whora one is Dr. Kirkland, late
president of Harvard college. About
1772 he removed to Connecticut, and
afterwards lived for a time at Stockbridge.
For more than forty years his attention
was directed to the Oneida tribe in New
York, and he died at Paris in that state,
the place ofhis residence in the neighbor
hood of Oneida, March 28, 1808, aged
66. — Wheelock's narratives; Panoplist,
III. 536.
KISSAM, Richard S., m. d., a distin
guished surgeon, was the son of Benj.
K., a lawyer, and was born in N. York
in 1763. At Edinburgh he studied medi
cine five years. Returning to N. York
in 1791, he continued in the practice
about 30 years, and died Oct. 1822, aged
58. He was one of the surgeons of the
N. Y. hospital. Of 65 operations as a
lithotomist only 3 cases were fatal. —
Thacher .
KITTREDGE, Thomas, m. d., a
physician, was a descendant of John K.
who died at BUlerica Oct. 18, 1676, and
whose son, John, was a physician. — He
was born at Andover in July 1746, and
studied with Dr. Sawyer of Newbury
port. At the beginning ofthe revolution
he was a surgeon in the array. After
being an erainent physician and surgeon
about 50 years, and being often a mera
ber of the legislature, he died of the an
gina pectoris in Oct. 1818, aged 72. In
his poUtics he was a strenuous republican .
It were not an easy task to reckon up all
the physicians in N. E., who have had
the name of Kittredge. — Thacher.
KNAPP, Francis, a poet, was educa
ted at Oxford, and in this country Uved
at Watertown. In 1717 he wrote a po
etical address, congratulating Pope on his
Windsor forest, in the best style, then
exhibited in our country.
KNOLLYS, Hanserd, an early preach
er at Dover, N. H. and at L. Island,
after being an episcopal minister some
years, came to this country in 1638.
For his abuse of the Massachusetts gov-

KNOWLES.

509

ernraent he made a confession in Boston.
About 1642 he returned to England, and
formed a Baptist church in London, of
which he was many years the minister.
He died Sept. 19, 1691, aged 93. He
pubUshed Rudiments ofthe Hebrew gram-
raar, 1648.
KNOWLES, John, minister of Wa
tertown, Mass., was educated at Magda
len Hall, Cambridge, and was chosen fel
low of Catharine Hall in 1625, in which
station he was a respected and successful
tutor. Hecame to N. England in 1639;
was ordained colleague with George Phil
lips Dec. 9, 1640 ; and went as a mission
ary to Virginia with Mr. Thompson and
Mr. James in 1642. He arrived about
Jan. 1, 1643, having been invited by gen
tlemen of Virginia, who were anxious to
hear the gospel . Gov. Berkeley at first
received these missionaries courteously ;
but when he found, they were opposed to
the common prayer, surplice, &c. hewas
determined to silence thera. In about 2
months an act was passed, March 2,
1643, prohibiting any minister from
preaching in the colony, unless he sub
scribed an agreement to conform to the
church of England. The governor and
council were to silence offenders and com
pel them to leave the country. Without
question this act was aimed at the N. E.
ministers, and Virginia had as good right
to pass it, as Massachusetts to make
enactments against the quakers for their
religion. It was clearly an act of bigo
try and persecution. In consequence of
this act Mr. Knowles returned to Water-
town in June 1643. Probably Mr.
James remained longer, as he was for
•some tirae in Maryland. Cotton Mather
is mistaken in supposing the Indian mas
sacre occured at the time, Mr. Knowles
left Virginia, for the date of the massacre
was Aprfl IS, 1644. In 1650 Mr. K. re
turned to England, and was a preacher in
the cathedral of Bristol. After being si
lenced in 1662 he preached, at the haz
ard of imprisonment, in London, where
he was useful during the plague in 1665.
He died April 10, 1685, probably between
80 and 90 years of age.-^Calamy.

510

KNOX.

KOLLOCK.

KNOX, John, a captain in the British
army, published an historical journal of
the campaigns in N. America for 1757-
1760, 2 vols. 4to. London, 1769.
KNOX, Henry, a major general in the
army of theU..S., was born in Boston Ju
ly 25, 1750. Before hostiUties between
this country and Great Britain in the
revolutionary war comraenced, he disco
vered an uncomraon zeal in the cause of
liberty. Being placed at the head of an
independent corapany in Boston he ex
hibited in this station a skill in discipline,
which presaged his future erainence. It
was at the unaniraous request of all the
officers of artfllery, that he was intrusted
with the comraand in that department.
When the corps of artillery in 1776 was
increased to -three regiments, the com
mand Tvas given to Knox, who was pro
moted to the rank -of a brigadier general.
He was actively engaged during the
-whole contest. After the capture of
CornwaUis in 178-1, he received the com-
¦mission of major general, having distin
guished hiraself in the siege at the head
ofthe artillery. Previously to the adop
tion of the present constitution he succee
ded ge;neral Lincoln as secretary at war
in March 1785 ; and after our present
government was organized in 1789
Washington nomina'ted him for the sarae
office. He conti-n-ued to fill this depart
ment till the close of the year 1794, when
he resigned it. In his letter to the presi
dent he says, " after having served my
country near twenty years, the greater
portion ofthe time under your immediate
auspices, it is with extreme reluctance I
find myself constrained to withdraw from
so honorable a situation. But the natu
ral and powerful clairas of a numerous
family will no longer permit me to neg
lect their essential interests. In whatev
er situation I shall be, I shall recollect
vour confidence and kindness with all the
fervor and purity of affection, of which a
grateful heart is susceptible." Washing
ton in reply assured him ofhis sincerest
friendship, and declared him to have
" deserved well ofhis country." During
the last years of his life general Knox

lived at Thomaston, Maine, where he
died Oct. 25, 1806, aged 56 years. His
death was occasioned by his swallowing
the bone of a chicken. His wife, the
daughter of J. Flucker, secretary of
Mass., died June 20, 1824 In April
1796 he lost two children by death in one
week ; and in a manner almost as sudden
he had previously lost five chUdren.
He was distinguished for his mflitary
talents and possessed in an uncommon de
gree the esteem and confidence of Wash
ington. Though a soldier and a states
man, he did not dismiss the amiable vir
tues of the man. There was a frankness
in his manners, which was pleasing, and
his heart was susceptible of the kindiy
affections.  Bradford's serm. on his.
death ; Marshall, in. 62 ; iv. 495 ; v.
25,213, 614; American reg. i. 211;
Thacher's eulogy.
KNYPHAUSEN, Baron, Ueutenant
general, txnnmanded the Hessian troops in
the British service in the war of the revo
lution. In June 1780 he made an incursion
into New Jersey with 5,000 men. Land
ing at Elizabeth town, he proceeded to
Connecticut Farms, where he burned 13
houses and the church. Being re-in(brced,
be repulsed the Americans near Spring
field, and burned the town, consisting of
about 30 houses. He died at Berlin,
Prussia, in June 1789, aged 59.
KOLLOCK, Henry, d. d., minister of
Savannah, was bom at New Providence,
N. J., Dec. 14, 1778 ; was graduated at
Princeton in 1794 ; in Dec. 1800 was or
dained at Elizabethtown to which place
his parents had reraoved, but in Dec.
1803 was appointed professor of theology
at Princeton, having the care also of the
church. His abilities and eloquence pro
cured him great respect. In 1806 he re
moved to Savannah, where he was a
minister about 13 years. For a time
some ecclesiastical difficulties, foiioded on.
a charge of intemperance, threw a cloud
over his good name. He went to Europe
in 1817, and returned with invigorated
health. He died Dec. 19, 1819, aged 4U
After his death his sermons were pub
lished in 4 vols.

KOSCIUSKO.

KUHN.

511

KOSCIUSKO, Thaddeus, a Polish
officer in the American revolutionary war,
was born in Lithuania in 1756, of an an
cient and noble family ,and educated at the
military school at Warsaw. He after
wards studied in France. He came to
America, recommended by Franklin to
gen. Washington, by whom he was ap
pointed his aid. He was also appointed
engineer, with the rank of colonel,in Oct.
1776. At the unsuccessful siege of Nine
ty Six in 1791 he very judiciously direc
ted the operations. It was in 1784, that
he left this country, and in 1736 he re
turned to Poland. In 1789 the diet gave
him the appointment of major general.
In the campaign of 1792 he distinguished
himself against the Russians. When in
1794 the Poles made a noble attempt to
recover their liberty and independence,
Kosciusko was intrusted with the supreme
command. In April at the head of 4,000
men he defeated 12,000 Russians,but was
subsequently defeated and obUged to re
tire to his intrenched camp near Warsaw,
in which city he was soon besieged by
60,000 Russians and Prussians. When,
after two months, an assault was made he
with only 10,000 men repelled the attack.
An insurrection in Great Poland com
pelled the king of Pussi^ to raise
the siege. Kosciusko, with 20,000 reg
ular troops and 40,000 armed peasants,
had resisted the combined armies, amoun
ting to 1-50,000 men. At last Oct 10,
at Macziewice, 50 miles from Warsaw,
an overwhelming Russian force defeated
Kosciusko, who had only 21,000 men.
Being wounded, he fell from his horse,
saying, "Finis Poloniae," and was made
a prisoner.
"And Freedom shrieked when Kosciusko fell."
Hewas thrown into prison by Catharine;
but TOS released by Paul I. When the
emperor presented hira with his own
sword, he declined it, saying— "I no lon
ger need a sword, since I have no longer
a country." Never afterwards did he
wear a sword. In Aug. 1797 he visited
America and was received with honor.
For his revolutionary services he received
a pension. In 1798 he went to France .

Having purchased an estate near Fon-
tainebleau, he Uved there till 1814. In
1816 he settled at Soleurein Switzerland,
In 1817 he aboUshed slavery on his estate
in Poland, He died at Soleure, in
consequence ofa fall with his horse from
a precipice near Vevay, Oct. 16, 1817,
aged 61. He was never married. His
body was removed to the tomb of the
kings at Cracow, beneath the cathedral.
Grey-headed warriors bore the relics on
their shoulders ; two maidens with.
wreaths of oak leaves and branches of
cypress followed ; then came the general
staff, the senate ,clergy &c. Count Wod-
ziki deUvered a funeral oration on the hill
Wavel, and in the church a prelate gave
an eloqueniaddress. The senate of Cra
cow decreed, that a lofty mound should
be raised on the heights of Bronislawad.
For 3 years men of every class & age toiled
in this work from Oct 16, 1820 to Oct 16,
1823, till the Mogila Kosciuszki, the hill
of Kosciusko, was raised to the height
of 300 feet. A serpentine foot path leads
to the top, frora which there is a fine
view ofthe Vistula and ofthe ancient city
of the Polish kings. He erected himself
a better monuraent to his memory. In
1798 he made a bequest for the emancipa
tion and education of slaves in Virginia.,
In 1826 the amount was about 25,000
dollars. B. L. Lear was the executor. A
suit was pending in 1830, instituted by
the heirs, who claimed the bequest.
KRIMMEL, John Lewis, a distin
guished painter was drowned,while bath
ing near Germantown,July 15, 1821,aged
35. He was president of the society of
American artists, having resided about
10 years in Philadelphia. At the time of
his death he was engaged to paint a large
historical picture of the landing of Wm.
Penn. His genius and amiable manners
secured to him respect and esteem.
KUHN, Adam, m. d., aphysician,was
born at Germantown, Nov. 17, 1741,
old style ; his father came from Swabia,
and was a useful physician and an elder
of the Lutheran church. In 1761 he pro
ceeded to Europe, and studied atUpsal
under Linnaeus, and by him was highly

512

KUNZE.

LANGDON.

esteeraed. After visiting various coun
tries of'Europe, he returned to this coun
try in Jan. 1768, and in May coraraenced
his first course in botany. For 22 years
he attended the Pennsylvania hospital.
In 1789 ha was appointed professor of
medicine in the university, but resigned
in 1797. After practising physic about
50 years, he died July 5, 1817, aged 75.
He left two sons. — Thacher.
KUNZE, John Christopher, d. d.,
professor in Columbia college, N. Y.,was
born in 1744. For 14 years he was the
minister of the German Lutheran church
in Philadelphia, and a professor in the
college of that city. In 1 784 he removed
to New York, where he was a rainister
23 years, also professor of the oriental
languages. He died July 24, 1807, aged
73. His valuable cabinet of coins and
medals is now owned by the N. Y. His
torical society.
LADD, Joseph Brown, 'a poet, was
the son of Wm. L. of Little Compton,
R. I. Having commenced the practice
of physic, the rejection of his addresses
by a young lady, to whom he was ex
tremely attached, induced him to remove
to Charleston, S. C . There, he proved
himself destitute of moral and reUgious
principles by fighting a duel in conse
quence ofa political controversy. He
was wounded, and neglected the means of
recovery. Hedied Nov. 2, 1786, aged
31. The poems of Arouet were pub
lished in 1786.— Spec. Am. pod i. 334.
LAET, John de, a historian, and a
director ofthe Dutch East India compa
ny, died at Antwerp in 1649. Among
other works he published Novus Orbis,
fol. 1633.
LAFON, Barthelemy, a geographer,
died at N. Orleans, where he had long
been a citizen, Sept. 29, 1820. He pub
lished a map of Lower Louisiana and
New Orieans. About 1814 he proposed
for publication a work, entitled, Urane
geography, designed to prove, that A-
merica was known to the ancients, and
was the native place of Orpheus, &c.
LAIDLIE, Archibald, d. d., the first
muiisterof theDutchchurch in America,

who officiated in the English language,
was a native of Scotland, and had been
for four years a minister of the Dutch
church of Flushing in Zealand, when he
received a caU from New York. He ar
rived in America in the year 1764, and
died at Red Hook Nov. 14, 1779, during
his exile from the city, occasioned by
the revolutionary -war. His wife was
the daughter of col. Martin Hoffraan.
He was a man ofa vigorous mind and of
singular piety ; a sound divine ; an evan
gelical, commanding, & powerful preach
er, and indefatigably faithful in his pasto
ral labors. His ministry was much
blessed and attended with an uncoramon
revival of religion. — Christian's mag., n.
13. LAKE, William, a poet, was born at
Kingston, Penns., in 1787, and, died
Dec. 17, 1805. His poems, entitled the
Parnassian pilgrim, were published at
Hudson, 12mo. 1807.
LALLEMAND, Baron Henry, gen
eral of artfllery in the Imperial guard of
France, espoused the side of Napoleon
on his return frora Elba, for which he
was conderaned to death for conturaacy,
having escaped to this country. He died
at Bordentown, N. J. Sept 15, 1823.
He published in this country a valuable
work on artillery.
LANGDON, Sarauel, d. d., minister
of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and
president of Harvard college, was a native
of Boston, and was graduated in 1740.
He was ordained as the successor of Mr.
Fitch Feb. 4, 1747. He was inducted
into the office of president as the succes
sor of Mr. Locke Oct 14, 1774, but re
signed it, in consequence of the disaffec
tion of his pupils, occasioned by his want
of dignity and authority, Aug. 30, 1780.
President Wfllard succeeded him. He
now entered again on the milder task
of presiding over an assembly of Chris
tians. He was installed at Hampton
Falls, N. H., Jan. 18, 1781. His exten
sive knowledge, hospitality, patriotism,
and piety secured to him, in this calm re
treat, the affection and respect of the
people ofhis charge, and ofhis numerous

LANGDON.
acquaintance. He died Nov. 29, 1797,
aged 74. He published a sermon at the
ordination of S. Macclintock, 1756 ; on
the conquest of Quebec, 1759 ; an irapar-
tial examination of R. Sanderaan's letters
on Theron and Aspasio, 1765 ; a sum
mary of Christian faith and practice,
1768 ; a rational expUcation of St John's
vision ofthe two beasts, 1771 ; Dudleian
.lecture, 1775 ; before the provincial con
gress, 1775 ; at the ordination of E.
Sprague, 1777 ; onthe death of professor
Winthrop, 1779 ; N. H. election sermon,
1788 ; observations on the revelations of
Jesus Christ to saint John, 1791 ; the
efficacy of the gospel above all earthly
wisdom, the business of life and hope in
death,two sermons in American preacher,
IV ; before the Piscataqua association
1792 ; corrections of some great mistakes
committed by J. C. Ogden ; remarks on
the leading sentiments of Dr. Hopkins'
systera of doctrines, 1794. — Alden's aec.
ofthe relig. soc. of Portsmouth j His:t
col. X. 51.
LANGDON, John, ll.d., governor
of New Hampshire, bornin 1740,wasthe
grandson of Tobias L,, and the son of
John L. a farmer of Portsmouth, After
being educated at a public grammar school,
he became acquainted with mercantile
business iu the counting house of Daniel
Rindge, and afterwards prosecuted busi
ness upon the sea until the commencement
of the controversy with Great Britain.
He was one ofthe party, which removed
the powder and the military stores frora
fort Wm, and Mary at Newcastle in
1774, In 1775 and 1776 he was chosen a
delegate to congress. Commanding a com
pany of volunteers, he served for a while
in "Vermont and R, Island, In bis own
state he was in 1776 and 1777 speaker of
the house and judge of the court of com
mon pleas. In 1779 be was continental
agent in New Hampshire and contracted
for the building of several public ships of
war, June 1 3, 1 783 he was again appoin
ted delegate to congj-ess. He was after
wards repeatedly a member of the legis
lature, and speaker. In March 1788
be was chosen president of the state ;
65

LARNED.

513

and in Nov. was elected senator of the
U. S. He was opposed to the funding
system. In 1794 he was re-elected for
another term of 6 years. He was after
wards representative and speaker in the
state legislature. From 1805 to 1808
and in 1810 and 181 1 he was governor of
the state. After 1811 his days were
passed in the calmness of retreat from
public life. He died at Portsmouth Sept.
18, 1819, aged 78. In his poUtics he
acted with Mr. Jefferson and was known
as a republican. In 1801 Mr. Jefferson
soUcited him to accept the post of secreta
ry of the navy. In 1812 the majority in
congress selected him for vice-presi
dent, but he declined the honor, to which
he would have been elevated instead of
Mr. Gerry, had he consented to be a can
didate . For several years he was a mem
ber of the first church in Portsmouth ; he
enjoyed the consolations of religion ; and
nothing gave him so much pain as to see
the doctrines of grace rejected and assail
ed. His habits were social ; and in his
raanners he was easy,poUte, and pleasing^
— Annals of Portsm. 370 ; Farmer's
Belknap, i. 405.
LARNED, Sylvester,rainister of New
Orleans,was the son of col. Simon Lamed
of Pittsfield, Mass., who was a native of
Thorapson,Con., and a revolutionary offi-
ceranddiedin 1817. His raother,of extra
ordinary inlelleotual power and pious zeal,
was of t he name of B uU of Hartford. He
wasborn Aug.Sl,1796, & after being for a
short time a member of Williams college,
he removed to Middlebury with his ftiend,
Solomon AUen, and there in bis senior
year his mind was first impressed by reli
gious truth. He graduatedin 1813, hav
ing the English oration. His talents
were very early developed. His theolog
ical education was at Andover and Prince
ton. At this period no one equalled him
in'exteroporary debate. After he becarae
a preacher in 1817, and was ordained as.
an evangelist, he repaired to New Or
leans, where be arrived Jan. 22, fStSi.
Mr. Cornelius had been there as a mis
sionary about three weeks, endeavoring
tp form a congregation. On the arrival

514

LATHROP.

of Mr. Larned the society was quickly
established, and he was settled as the
minister of the first presbyterian congre
gation. In the summer he visited New
England, and procured materials for the
erection ofa church. The corner stone
was laid Jan. 8, 1819. He fell a victim
to the yellow fever Thursday, Aug. 31,
1820,aged 24. He preached on the prece
ding sabbath frora the words, "For to me
to Uve is Christ and to die is gain ;" and
closed his.discourse in tears. Mr. Hull,
the episcopal minister, read the funeral
service over him in the presbyterian
church. His widow, Sarah Wyer of
Newburyport, died at Washington city
Jan. 20, 1825, aged 25. — Mr. Larned was
distinguished for his powerful talents and
pathetic eloquence He was sanguine,
bold, and confident, yet not haughty.
He had pressing solicitations from chur
ches in Alexandria, Baltimore, and Bos
ton to become their pastor ; but he deem
ed his christian influence more important
at New Orleans. Probably no preacher
in the U. S. occupied a more important
station, or was more admired for his elo
quence. By his death, a kind of sacrifice
to duty, he left a deep impression of the
courage and value of true piety.
"Revolving his mysterious lot,
I mourn him, but I praise him not;
Glory to God begiTen,
Who sent hira , like the radiant bow.
His covenant of peace to show,
Athwart the breaking storm to glow.
Then vanish into heaven."
LATHROP, John, the first minister
of Scituate and Barnstable, Mass., was
educated at Oxford and was an episcopal
minister in Kent. About 1624 he re
nounced his episcopal orders and was cho
sen the successor of Henry Jacob, who in
1616 became the pastor in London of
the first Independent or Congregational
church in England, but removed in 1624
to Virginia, where he died. The con
gregation met in private houses. In
April 1632 the bishop seized and impris
oned 42 of thera ; 18 escaped. Mr. L.,
after an imprisonment of two years, ob
tained liberty " to depart the kingdom."

Mr. Canne succeeded him. With about
30 followers he came to N. England in
1634. He removed frora Scituate to
Barnstable Oct 11,1639, and died Nov.
8, 1653. He was raeek, hurable, learned,
and faithful. His successors were Walley,
Russell, and Shaw. He left several sons
and daughters: his son, Samuel, who
settled at Norwich, Con., was the ances
tor of those,who bear the name in Connec
ticut, N. York, and Vermont. Mr. L.
wrote his narae Lothropp; Morton wrote
it Lay throp ; sorae of his descendants in
Plymouth county still write it Lothrop,
as the word is pronounced in Mass.; but
it is generally written Lathrop. A de
scendant at Norwich, Dr. Joshua L.,
died Oct. 29, 1807, aged 84.— Two ofhis
letters to' gov. Prince are in 2 Hist.
col. I. 171.
LATHROP, Joseph, d. d. minister of
West Springfield, Mass., a descendant of
the preceding, was the son of Solomon
and Martha L., and was born at Norwich
Con., Oct. 20, 17S1 . After the decease
ofhis father in 1733, his mother removed
to Bolton . He graduated at Yale college
in 1750, having first made a profession of
religion. Becoming the teacher of a
school at Springfield, he studied theolo
gy with Mr. Breck, and was ordained
Aug. 25, 1756, and was pastor 63 years.
In 1819, Mr. Sprague was settied as his
colleague. He died Dec. 31, 1820, aged
89. His wife, EUzabeth, daughter of
capt. Seth Dwight of Hatfield, died in
1821. His son has been president ofthe
senate. He stood as the patriarch ofthe
congregational churches: no minister
was more respected and venerated. He
was as erainent for candor',& charity, as he
was devout and holy in life. As a writer
he was remarkably perspicuous, plain and
useful. His publications were numerous
and more extensively known, than those
of any contemporary theologian of this
country. They consisted of sermons, 6
volumes of which were published during
his life, on various subjects, chiefly pract
ical. After his death an additional vol
ume was published, accompanied by a
memoir of his fife, written by hiraself.

LATHROP.
This autobiography is remarkable for its
simplicity and candor. His sermons were
published, 2 vols. 1796 ; 1 vol. 1806 ; 5
vols, 2d edit 1807-9; and a volume of
discourses on the epistle to the Hebrews,
Svo. 1801. He published also the fol
lowing sermons; on the death of R.Breck,
1784; ofDr.Gay,Suffield; of Dr.G.'s wife,
1796; of Mrs. Whitney, 1800; of Rev.
Mr. Atwater, 1802 ; of 4 young women
drowned at Southwick,1809; at a thanks
giving relating to the insurrection, 1786 ;
the perspicuity of the scriptures in Am.
preacher, 1791; 4 disc, on baptism, 1793;
on the dismission of Mr. Willard of Wil-
hraham, 1794 ; on Anjerican independ
ence, 1794; at a thanksgiving, 1795;
a century discourse for the town ; to
children, 1796 ; God's challenge to infi
dels, at a fast, 1797; at a fast, 1798 ; also
1803 ; also 1803 ; at the ordination of
Mr. BaU, 1797; of Mr. Bemis, ISOl; of
E. D. Andrews, 1807; of Thaddeus Os
good, 1808 ; century sermon, 1800 ; at
the dedication of Westfield academy,
1800 ; before a missionary society, 1802 ;
on leaving the old meeting house ; dedi
cation of the new, 1802; two discourses
on the Sabbath, 1803 ; two on the church
of God, 1804; on old age ; on suicide, 2
sermons; on the drought ; on the opening
pfthe bridge, 1805 ; on Christ's warning
to churches ; on the consulting of the
witch of Endor; on the solar eclipse,1806;
warning to beware of false prophets,! 81 1 .
LATHROP, John, d. d., minister in
Boston, a great grandson of John L. of
Barnstable, was born in Norwich, Con.,
May 17, 1740, and was one of 10 sons.
He graduated at Princeton college in
1763, and soon afterwards became an as
sistant to Mr. Wheelock in his Indian
school at Lebanon. He was ordained
May 18, 1768, attrie Old North church
Boston, where the Mathers -tvere minis
ters. In 1779, his society ha ving united
with Dr. Pemberton's of the New Brick
church, their own church being deraolish-
ed by the eneray, he becarae the pastor
ofthe united society, called the second
church. He died Jan. 4, 1816, aged 75.
He was an officer of various literary and

LAURENS.

il5

charitable societies. He published the
following sermons; soon after 5th March,
1770 ; on early piety, 1771 ; at the artille
ry election ; at the thanksgiving, 1774 ;
on 5th March, 1778 ; on the death ofhis
wife, Mary L., 1778 ; of S. West, 1808;
ofhis wife, EUzabeth L. ,1809; of J. Eck
ley, 1811 ; of J. Eliot, 1813 ; at the ordi
nation of W. Bentiey, 1783 ; on the
peace, 1784 ; before the humane society,
17S7 ; catechism, 1791 ; Dudleian lec
ture, on popery, 1793 ; before the Fire
society, 1796 ; at the Thursday lecture,
1797 ; at Brattie Street, 1798 ; on the
fast, 1799 ; on the commencement ofthe
19th century ; before the society for pro
pagating the gospel ; before the Female
asylum ; at Milton, 1804 ; at the thanks
giving, 1808 ; at the same, 1811 ; a birth
day discourse, 1812 ; at the fast, 1812 ;
on the law of retaliation, 1814 ; on the
peace ; history of the late war, 1815. —
Parkman's serm.
LATHROP, John, son of the prece
ding, was born in Boston 1772, and was
graduated at Harvard college in 1789.
Having studied law, he settled at Ded
ham ; but soon returning to Boston he
devoted hiraself to fiterary and social in
dulgence with Paine, Prentice, & others,
neglecting his profession. Erabarking for
India he Uved at Calcutta 1 0 yearB,teaching
a school, and writing for the journals. In
1809 he returned and engaged in the bu
siness of teaching, and gave lectures on
natural philosophy. In 1819 heproposed
to publish a work on the manners and
customs of India. He went to the south,
arid delivered lectures. At last he obtain
ed a place in the post office. He died at
Georgetown Jan. SO, 1820, aged 48,
Improvident and destitute of foresight,
his talents scarcely procured him subsis
tence. He published an oration July 4,
1796 ; speech of Canonicus, a poem, Cal
cutta, 1802 ; the same, Bost. 1803; pock
et register and free-mason's anthology,
1813.- iSpcc. Amer. Poetry a. 101-108.
LAURENS, Henry, president of con
gress, was a native of S. Carolina, and
took an early part in opposing the arbitra
ry claims of G. Britain at the commence-

516

LAURENS.

ment ofthe American revolution. When
the provincial congress of Carolina met
in June 1775, he was appointed its presi
dent, in which capacity he drew up a
form of association, to be signed by all
the friends of hberty, which indicated a
most determined spirit. After the estab
lishment ofthe temporary constitution in
1776, he was elected vice president.
Being appointed a member ofthe general
congress, after the resignation of Han
cock he was appointed president of that
illustrious assembly in Nov. 1777. In
1780 he was deputed to solicit a loan
from Holland and to negotiate a treaty
with the United Netheriands. But on
his passage he was captured by a British
vessel on the banks of Newfoundland.
He threw his papers overboard, but they
were recovered by a sailor. Being sent
to England, he was coraraitted to the
tower Oct. 6th as a state prisoner upon a
charge of high treason. Here he was
confined more than a year and was treated
with great severity, being denied for
the most part all intercourse with his
friends, and forbidden the useof pen, ink,
and paper. His capture occasioned no
small embarrassment to the ministry.
They dared not to condemn him as a reb
el through fear of retaliation, and they
were unwUUng to release him, lest he
should accompUsh the object of his mis
sion. The discoveries found in his pa
pers led to war between Great Britain
and HoUand, and Mr. Adams was ap
pointed in his place to carry on the ne
gotiation with the united provinces.
During his imprisonraent, it was intima
ted to Mr. Laurens, that it might be of
advantage to him if he could induce his
son, then on a mission to France, to with
draw from that country. He replied,
"that such was the filial regard ofhis son,
that he knew he would not hesitate to
forfeit his life for his father ; but that no
consideration would induce colonel Lau
rens to reUnquish his honor, even were it
possible for any circumstance to prevail
on his father to make the improper re
quest." At length, in Dec. 1781, enfee
bled in health, and apparently sinking into

the grave if continued in confinement, he
sent a petition to the bouse of commons for
release, stating that he had labored to pre
serve the friendship between Great Brit
ain and the colonies, and had extended
acts of kindness to British prisoners of
war. At the close of the year he was ac
cordingly released. Proceeding to Paris,
he with;Franklin, &c. signed the prelim
inaries of peace Nov. 30, 1782, having
been appointed by congress one of the
commissioners. He returned to this
country, in 1783, and died at Charleston,
Dec. 8, 1792, aged 69. He directed his
son to burn his body on the third day as
the sole condition of inheriting an estate
of sixty thousand pounds sterling. Dr.
Ramsay married his daughter. His son,
Henry L., died in May 1821. — Gordon ;
Ramsay's Rev. n. 213 ; hist. S. Caroli
na, I. 33, 38, 93 ; Warren ; Marshall,
111. 339 ; IV. 5, 572.
LAURENS, John,a brave officer in the
American war, was the son of the preced
ing, and was sent to England for his edu
cation. He joined the array in the be
ginning of 1777, frora which tirae hewas
foreraost in danger. At Germantown he
was wounded . He was present and dis
tinguished hiraself in every action ofthe
array under general Washington, and
was among the first, who entered the
British lines at York town. Early in
1781, while he held the rank of lieuten
ant colonel, he was selected as the most
suitable person to depute on a special
mission to France to solicit a loan of mon
ey and to procure military stores. He
arrived in March and returned in Aug.,
having been so successful in the execu
tion of his commission, that congress pas
sed a vote of thanks for his services.
Such was his despatch, that in three days
after he repaired to Philadelphia he fin
ished his business with congress, and
immediately afterward rejoined the Amer
ican army. In conjunction with Dr.
Franklin, count de Vergennes, and mar
quis de Castries he arranged the plan of
the campaign for 1781. August 27,
1782, in opposing a foraging party ofthe
British, near Combahee river in South

LAVAL.

LAW.

517

Carolina, he was mortally wounded, and
hediedat the age of 29. His father,
just released from imprisorimerit, and hap
py in a son of such distinction and vir
tues, now witnessed the desolation of all
his hopes. Colonel Laurens, uniting the
talents ofa great officer with the knowl
edge of the scholar and the engaging
manners ofthe gentleman, was the glory
ofthe array and the idol ofhis country.
Washington, vrho selected hira as his aid,
and reposed in him the highest confidence,
declared that he could discover no fault
in hira unless it was intrepidity, border
ing upon rashness. His abilities were
exhibited in the legislature and in the
cabinet, as well as in the field. He was
zealous for the rights of humanity, and,
living in a country of slaves,contended that
personal liberty was the birth right of
every human being, however diversi
fied by country, color, or powers of mind.
His insinuating address won the hearts
-of aU his acquaintance, while his sinceri
ty and -virtue secured their lasting esteem.
— Ramsay's S. Carolina, n. 21, 105,
206, 306, 374; Gordon; Warren, a.
465; III. 54, 55 ; MarshaU, in. 486, 508;
IV. 407, 485, 575 ; Gordon.
LAVAL, Frangois de, first bishop of
Canada, arrived in June 1659. He
was also the pope's apostolic vicar. In
1662 he procured the establishment ofthe
Seminary at Quebec. He .sent out vari
ous missionaries araongst the Indians. He
made great and commendable exertions
to prevent the supply to the Indians of
strong liquors ,for all his promising Chris
tians were becoming drunkards. But he
struggled in vain against the covetous
ness ofthe traders, who were not opposed
by the government. He, therefore, in
1662 repaired to France and presented
his complaint to the king, and obtained
an order for the suppression of the detes
table traffic. It was afterwards resumed,
and representations were made of the in
dispensable necessity of it in order to
secure the friendship ofthe Indians. The
bishop was for some time engaged iu
onother struggle ; but in 1678 he procur
ed another order for the suppression of

the traffic under severe penalties to offen
ders. — Charlevoix.
LAVAeL, Le Pere, a Jesuit, pubUshed
Voyage de la Louisiane en 1720, 4to.
1728. LAVAT, R. P., pubUshed Nouveau
Voyage aux Isles de I' Amerique, 12mo.
8 vols. 1711.
LAW, Jonathan, governor of Connec
ticut was born at Milford, Aug. 6, 1674 ;
was graduated at Harvard college in
1695 ; and from 1715, to 1725, except
ing one year, was a judge ofthe supreme
court. In 1725 he was appointed chief
justice and lieutenant governor, which
offices he held till he was chosen governor,
as successor of Joseph Talcott, in 1741.
He died Nov. 6, 1750, aged 76, and was
succeeded by Roger Wolcott. Gov.
Law, in his zeal against the more zeal
ous preachers ofhis day, the followers of
Mr. Whitefield, the New lights, fee.
gave his sanction to sorae persecuting
acts ofthe legislature. Trumbull remarks
— " Gov. Talcott, who called those days
times of refreshing, was now no more,
& a gentleman ofa different character was
chosen governor. Under his administra
tion a number or severe and persecuting
laws were enacted." Mr. Law was ofthe
Arminian, or " old-light " party, and the
outrageous enactments were ascribed to
him. President Finley, for preaching in
Connecticut, was agreeably to one of
those laws carried as a vagrant out of
the colony.
LAW, Richard, ll. d., chief justice of
Connecticut, the son of the preceding,
was born at Milford March 17, 1733, and
graduated at Yale college in 1751. Af
ter a lucrative practice of law for sorae
years at New London, he was appointed
a judge of the county court ; in 1784
ajudge of the supreme court, andin 1 78 6
chief judge. In 1789 he was appointed
district judge ofthe U. S., in which office
he continued tfll his death Jan. 26, 1806,
aged 72.
LAW, Andrew, a teacher of music
for forty years, died at Cheshire, Con.,
July 1821, aged 73. He invented four
characters to express always the four syt-

518

LAWRENCE.

LAY.

iables of music. He published Rudi
ments of music, 1783 ; Musical Primer
on a new plan, with the four characters,
1803 ; Musical magazine, 1804 ; CoUec-
leotion of hymn tunes.
LAWRENCE, James, a naval com
mander, was the son of James L., a law
yer, and was born at Burlington, N. J.
Oct 1, 1781. He had early a predi
lection for a sea faring life, which his
friends could not conquer. At the age
of 16 he received a midshipman's war
rant In the war against Tripoli he ac
companied Decatur as his first lieuten-
antin the hazardous exploit of destroy
ing the frigate Philadelphia. He remain
ed several years in the Mediterranean
and commanded successively the Vixen,
Wasp, Argus, and Hornet. While cruis
ing in the latter off Delaware, he fell in
with the British brig, Peacock, and after
an action of 1 5 minutes captured it Feb.
24, 1813. On his return he was receiv
ed with'distinction. Being promoted to
the rank of post captain, he was intrusted
with the command of the frigate Ches
apeak. While in Boston roads nearly
ready for sea, the British frigate Shan
non, capt. Broke, appeared off the har
bor, and made signals expressive of a
challenge. Although under many disad-
vantages,with an undisciphned crew,&c.,
yet capt. L. determined to accept the
challenge. He put to sea in the morn
ing of June 1 ; the Shannon bore away.
At 4 the Chesapeak hauled up and fired a
gun ; the Shannon then hove to. Soon
after the action comraenced, capt. L. was
wounded in the leg. Soon the anchor of
the Chesapeak caught in one ofthe Shan
non's ports, in consequence of which her
guns could not be brought to bear upon
the eneray. As capt. L. was carried be
low in consequence ofa second and raor-
tal wound from a bullet, which lodged in
his intestines, he cried out, "don't give
up the ship! " But after the action had
continued 1 1 minutes the eneray boarded
and captured the Chesapeak. The loss
of killed and wounded was 1 46 ; that of
the Shannon 86. Capt. L. lingered four
days in extreme pain and then died, June

6, 1813, aged 31. He was honorably
buried at Halifax. His body and thatof
lieut. Ludlow were brought by capt. G.
Crowninshield at his own expense to
Salem, & then removed to N. Y. His wife
was the daughter of Mr. Montaudevert,a
merchant of N. York. She survived
with two children.
LAWSON, John, a traveller, was
surveyor general of N. CaroUna. While
exploring lands on the river Neus, accom
panied by the baron Graffenreid, the Indi
ans seized him and solemnly tried him
for encroaching on their territory before
a large council, and conderaned and exe
cuted hira in the autumn of 1712. This
was the comraenceraent ofan Indian war.
The baron escaped by representing, that
he was not ofthe English party, but king
of the Palatines . He pubUshed a journal
of pne thousand railes' travels amongst
the Indians, with a description of North
Carolina, 4to. London, 1700 ; the sarae,
1711 ; also the same at Hamhurg, 1812;
history of Carolina, 4to. London, 2nd
edit 1714; thesame, 1718.  Holmes,
I. 507.
LAY, Benjamin, a benevolent quaker
of great singularities, was a native of
England and brought up to the sea.
About the year 1710 he settled in Barba
does. Bearing his open testimony in all
companies against the conduct of the ow
ners of slaves, he became so obnoxious to
the inhabitants, that he left the island in
disgust, and settied in Pennsylvania.
He fixed his residence at Abington, ten
miles from Philadelphia. On his arrival
he found many quakers, who kept slaves.
He remonstrated against the practice with
zeal both in public and private. To ex
press his indignation at the practice of
slave keeping, he once carried a bladder
filled with blood into a public meeting,
and in the presence of the whole congre
gation thrust a sword into it, which he
had concealed under his coat, exclaiming,
" thus shall God shed the blood of those
persons, who enslave their fellow crea
tures." CalUng upon a friend in Philadel
phia, he was asked to sit down to break
fast. He first inquired, " dost thou keep

LAY.

LEAR.

519

slaves in thy house?" On being answer
ed inthe affirmative, he said, " then I will
not partake with thee of the fruits of thy
unrighteousness." After an ineffectual
attempt to convince a farmer and his wife
in Chester county ofthe iniquity of keep
ing slaves, he seized their only child, a
little girl of three years of age, under the
pretence of carrying her away, and when
the cries of the child, and his singular
expedient alarmed thera, he said, " you
see and fed now a Uttle of the distress,
which you occasion by the inhuraan
practice of slave keeping." In 1737 he
wrote a treatise, entitled. All slave keep
ers, that keep the innocent in bondage,
apostates. It was printed by Dr. Frank
lin, who told the author, when the manu
script was brought to him, that it was de
ficient in arrangement. " It is no mat
ter," said Mr. Lay, "print any part, thou
pleasest, first." This worthy quaker died
at his house in Abington in 1760, aged 79.
He was temperate in his diet, living
chiefly upon vegetables, and his drink was
pure water. When tea was introduced
into Pennsylvania, his wife brought
home a small quantity with a set of cups
and saucers. In his zeal he seized them,
and carrying them back to the city, he
scattered the tea from the balcony of the
court house, in the presence of a multi
tude of spectators, and broke to pieces
the instruments of luxury, delivering at
the sarae time a striking lecture upon the
folly of introducing a pernicious herb
in the place of the wholesome diet
of the country. He often visited
schools, carrying a basket of reli
gious books with hira, and distributing
them as prizes among the scholars, impar
ting also frequently sorae advice and in
struction. So much was he the enemy
of idleness, that when the inclemency of
the weather confined him to his house, or
his mind was wearied with reading, he
used to spend his time in spinning. All
his clothes were manufactured by himseff.
Though kind to the poor, he had no pity
on common beggars, who, he said, if able
to go abroad to beg, were able also to earn
four pence a day, and this sum was suffi

cient to keep any person above want ot
dependence in this country. He once- at-
terapted to imitate our Savior liy fasting
40 days ; but he was obliged to desist
from the attempt. His weaknesses and
eccentricities disappear before the splendor
of his humanity and benevolence. His
bold, determined, and uniform reprehen
sion ofthe practice of slavery, in defiance
of public opinion, does him the highest
honor. The turbulence and severity of
his temper were necessary at the time ia
which he Uved ; and the work, which he
began, was completed by the raeek and
gentle Anthony Benezet.— i?«sA'« essays,.
305-311 ; Mass. mag. iv. 28-30.
LEAKE, Walter, governor of Missis
sippi, succeeded Geo. Poindexter in 1821
and was succeeded by David Holmes in
1825. He was a soldier ofthe revolution..
He died at Mount Salus in Hinds coun
ty. Miss., Nov. 17, 1825.
LEAMING, Jeremiah, d. d., an epis
copal minister, was born in Middletown,
Conn, in 1719, and wasgraduated at Yale
college in 1745. He preached in New
port, R. Island, 8 years ; at Norwalk,
Connecticut, 21 years ; and at Stratford
8 or 9 years. He died at New Haven in
Sept. 1804, aged 86. In the episcopal
controversy, he wrote with great abiUty
upon the subject. He published a de
fence of the episcopal government of the
church, containing remarks on sorae no
ted sermons on presbyterian ordination,
1766 ; a second defence of the episcopal
government of the church in answer to
Noah Welles, 1770 ; evidences, of the
truth of Christianity, 1785 ; dissertations
on various subjects, which may be well
worth the attention of every Christian,
1789. LEAR, Tobias, colonel, was consul
general at St. Domingo in 1802 ; he was
afterwards consul general at TripoU, and
in 1804 commissioner with Barron to ne
gotiate a peace, which he effected much
to the di-ssatisfaction of Gen. Eaton, then
at the head of an army at Derne, agree
ing to pay for 200 prisoners 60,000 dollars,
At the time of his deatli Mr. Lear was
I accountant of the war department. He

530

LECHFORD.

LEDYARD.

died at Washington October 11, 1816.
LECHFORD, Thomas, a lawyer
from London, lived in Boston from 1638
to t640. Being dissatisfied with the
country, he returned to England. He
published Plain dealing, or news from N.
England's present government, ecclesias
tical and civil, compared &c.Lond. 1642.
LEDYARD, John, a distinguished
traveller, was born in Groton, Conn, in
1751. His father died, while he was yet
a child, and he was left under the care of
a relative in Hartford. Here he enjoyed
the advantages of a grammar school.
After the death of his patron, when he
was eighteen years of age, he was left to
follow his own inclinations. With a view
to the study of divinity he now passed a
short time in Dartmouth college, where
he had an opportunity of learning the
manners of the Indians, as there were
several Indian pupils in the seminary.
His acquaintance with the savage charac
ter, gained in this place, was of no little
.-advantage to him in the future periods of
Jus Ufe. His poverty obliging hira to
spithdraw frora the college before he had
completed his education, and not having
a shilling in his pocket to defray the ex
pense of a journey to Hartford, he made
ihim a canoe, fifty feet in length and three
in breadth, and being generously suppUed
¦with sorae dried venison for his sea stores
he erabarked upon the Connecticut, and
going down that river, which is in many
.places rapid, and with which he was to
tally 'Unacquainted, be arrived safely at
Hartford at the distance of 140 miles.
He soon went to New York, and sailed
for London in 1771 as a comraon sailor.
When captain Cook sailed on his third
voyage of discovery, Ledyard, who felt
an.irtesistible desire to explore those re
gions of the globe, which were yet undis
covered, or imperfectly known, accepted
the humble station of corporal of marines,
rather than forego an opportunity so in
viting to his inquisitive and adventurous
spirit. He was a favorite of the illustri
ous navigator, and was one of the witnes
ses ofhis tragical end in 1778. He ascri-

injustice towards the natives. He surpris-
etl his American friends, who had heard no
thing of him for 8 yearSjby a visit in 1781.
His mother kept a boarding house at
Southold: he took lodgings with her, and
she did not recognise her son. Having
offered his services to several merchants
to conduct a trading voyage to the north
west coast, and meeting with no encour
agement, he again erabarked for England
in 1782. He now resolved to traverse
the continent of America from the north
west coast, which Cook had partly ex
plored, to the eastern coast, with which
he was already perfectiy familiar. Disr
appointed in his intention of saiUng on a
voyage of commercial adventure to Noot
ka sound, he crossed the British channel
to Ostend with only ten guineas in his
purse ; determined to travel over land to
Kamschatka, whence the passage is short
to the western coast of America. When
he came to the gulf of Bothnia,.he attemp
ted to cross the ice, that he might reach
Kamschatka by the shortest way ; but
finding tliat the water was not frozen in
the middle, he returned to Stockholm.
He then travelled northward into the arc
tic circle, and passing round the head of
the guff, descended on its eastern side to
Petersburgh. There his extraordinary
appearanee attracted general notice.
"Without stockings or shoes, and too poor
to provide himself with either, he was
invited to- dine with the Portuguese anrk-
bassador, who supplied him vsith 20
guineas on the credit of sir Joseph Banks.
Through his interest he also obtained
permission to accompany a detachment of
stores destined to Yaku.tz for the use
of Mr. Bfllings, an Englishman, who was
intrusted with the schemes of northera
discovery, in which the empress was then
engaged. Frora Yakiitz, which is- situa
ted in Siberia, 6,000 miles east of Peters
burgh, he proceeded to Oczakow,or Ochr
otsk, on the Kamschatkan, sea ; but as the
navigation was completely obstructed by
the ice, he returned ta Yakutz, intending
to wait for the conclusion of the winter.
Here in consequence of some iinaccounta-

bed the fate of Cook to his rashness and ^ ble suspicion he was seized in the name of

LEDYARD.

521

the empressby two Russian soldiers, who
conveyed him, in the depth ofthe winter
through the north of Tartary to the fron
tier of the Polish dominions ; assuring
him at their departure, that, ff he return
ed to Russia, he should certainly be hang
ed, but, if he chose to return to England,
they wished him a pleasant journey!
Poor, forlorn, and friendless, covered
with rags, and exhausted by fatigue, dis
ease, and misery, he proceeded to Kon-
ingsberg, where the interest of sir Joseph
Banks enabled him to procure the sum of
five guineas, by means of which he arrived
in England.
He immediately waited on sir Joseph,
who recommended hira to an adventure
as perilous as that,from which he had just
returned. He now was informed of the
views ofthe a-ssociation, which had been
lately formed for promoting the discovery
of the interior parts of Africa, which
were then littie known. Sparrman, Pat-
erson, and Vaillant had travelled into
Caffraria, and Nordon and Bruce had
enlarged the acquaintance of Europeans
with Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia. In
regard to other parts of this quarter of
the globe, its geography, excepting in
relation to its coasts, was involved in
darkness. Ledyard engaged with en
thusiasm in an enterprise, which he bad
already projected for hiraself ; and, receiv
ing from sir Joseph a letter of introduc
tion to one of the members of the com
mittee appointed to direct the business
and promote the object of the association,
he went to him without delay. The de
scription, which that gentleman has giv
en ofhis first interview, strongly marks
the character of this hardy traveller.
*' Before I had learned, " says he, " from
the note the name and business of my
visitor, I was struck with the manliness
'bf his person, the breadth of his chest,
the openness of his countenance, and the
inquietude ofhis eye. I spread the map
«f Africa before hun, and, tracing a line
from Cairo to Sennaar, and from thence
westward in the latitude and supposed
direction of the Niger, I told hira that
was the route, by which I was anxious,
66

that Africa might, if pos,sibIe, be explor
ed. He said, he should think himself
singularly fortunate to be intrusted with
the adventure. I asked him when he
would set out.' Tomorrow morning was
his answer. "
Frora such zeal, decision, and intrepid
ity the society naturally formed the most
sanguine expectations. He sailed from
London June 30, 1788, and in 36 days
arrived in the city of Alexandria ; and
having there assumed the dress ofan E-
gyptian traveller proceeded to Cairo,
which he reached August 19th. He
travelled with peculiar advantages. En-"
dovired with an original and comprehen
sive genius, he beheld with interest, and
described with energy the scenes and ob
jects around him ; and by comparing
them with what he had seen in other re
gions of the globe he was enabled to give
his narrative all the varied effect of con
trast and resemblance. His remarks on
Lower Egypt, had that country been less
generally known, might have ranked
with the most valuable of geographical
records. They greatly heightened the
opinion, which his employers already en
tertained of his singular qualifitiations for
the task, which he had undertaken. Nor
was his residence at Cairo altogether use
less to the association. By visiting the
slave markets, and by conversing with
Jelabs, or travelling merchants of the
caravans, he obtained without any ex
pense a better idea ofthe people of Afri
ca, of its trade, of its geography, arid of
the most prudent manner of travelling,
than he could by any other means have
acquired ; and the communications on
these subjects, which he transmitted to
England, interesting and instructive as
they were, afforded the society the most
gratifying proofs of the ardent spirit of
inquiry, the unwearied attention, the
persevering research, and the laborious,
indefatigable, anxious zeal, with which
their author pursued the object of his
mission. He had announced to his employers,
that be had received letters of earnest
recommendation from the Aga ; that the

LEDYARD.

day of his departure was appointed ; that
his next despatch would be dated from
Sennaar ; and the committee expected
with impatience the result of his jour
ney. But that journey was never to
be performed. The vexation, occa
sioned by repeated delays in the de
parture of the caravan, brought on a
bilious complaint, which, being increased
at first by incautious treatment, baffled
the skill of the most approved physicians
of Cairo, and terminated his earthly exis
tence Jan. 17, 1789, aged 37.
The society heard with deep concern
of the death of a man, whose high sense
of honor, magnanimous contempt of dan
ger, and earnest zeal for the extension of
knowledge had been so conspicuously dis
played in their service ; whose ardor,
tempered by calm deUberation, whose
daring spirit, seconded by the most pru
dent caution, and whose impatience of
control, united with the power of sup
porting any fatigue, seemed to have
quaUfied him above all other men for the
very arduous task of traversuig the widest
and most dangerous part ofthe continent
of Africa. Despising the accidental dis
tinctions ofsociety,he seemed to regard no
man as his superior ; but his manners,
though unpolished, were not disagree
able. His uncultivated genius was pe
cuUar and capacious. The hardships, to
which he submitted in the prosecution
of his enterprises and in the indulgence
of his curiosity, are almost incredible.
He was sometimes glad to receive food
as in charity to a madman, for that char
acter he had assumed in order to
avoid a heavier calamity. His judgment
ofthe female character is very honorable
to the sex. " I have always remarked, "
said he, " that women in all coun
tries are civil and obliging, tender,
and humane ; that they are ever in-
cUned to be gay and cheerful, timor
ous and modest ; and they do not riesi-
tate, like men, to perform a generous
action. Not haughty, not arrogant,
not superciUous, they are full of
courtesy, and fond of society ; more
Uable in gensral to err than man, but in

general also more virtuous,and performing
more good actions, than he. To a wom
an, whether civilized or savage, I never
addressed myself in the language of de
cency and friendship, without receiving a
decent and friendly answer. With man
it has often been otherwise. In wander
ing over the barren plains of inhospitable
Denmark, through honest Sweden and
frozen Lapland, rude and churlish Fin
land, unprincipled Russia, and the wide
spread regions of tiie wandering Tartar ;
ifhungry, dry, cold, wet, or sick, the
women have ever been friendly to me,
and uniformly so. And to add to this
virtue, so worthy the appellation of be
nevolence, their actions have been per
formed in so free and kind a manner, that,
if I was dry, I drank the sweetest draught,
and, ifhungry, I ate the coarsest morsel
with a double relish. "
Besides his communication to the Afri
can association, he published an account
of Cook's voyage in 1781. Several of
his manuscripts were a few years ago in
the handsof his brother. Dr. Isaac Led
yard, health officer of the city of New
York. His life by J. Sparks was pub-
ILshed in 1828.
LEDYARD, colonel, commanded in
1781 fort Griswold in Groton, Con., on
the Thames, exactly opposite to New
London, when, Sept. 7, he was attacked
by col. Eyre -with a large force. With
150 men he fought bravely; col. Eyre
and maj. Montgomery being killed, the
command ofthe British devolved on maj.
Broomfield. When the fort was carried
by assault with the bayonet, Broomfield
inquired, who commanded. Ledyard
replied, " I did command, sir ; but you
do now ; " and presented to him his
sword. The ferocious officer instantly
run him through the body ; and between
60 and 70 Americans were slaughtered,
after they had surrendered. The whole
American loss was 73 killed ; about 30
wounded ; and about 40 taken prisoners.
The British loss was 48 kiUed,143 woun
ded. On the other side ofthe river Arnold
burned New London. Col. Ledyard
was a brave, sensible, polished, noble-

LEE.

523

minded citizen. He feU by tiie hand ofa
brutal assassin. — Dwight, ii. 525.
LEE, Samuel, first minister of Bristol,
R. Island, was born in London in 1625,
and was the son of Samuel L., an eminent
and wealthy citizen, whose estate he in
herited. At the age of 15 he -went for
his education to Oxford, where he was
admitted to the degree of master of arts
in 1648. Hewas soon settled in a fel
lowship in Waldham college, and in 1651
was appointed a proctor ofthe univer
sity. He was afterwards preferred by
Crorawell to a church near Bishopsgate
in London, but was ejected in 1662. He
was then a lecturer of great St. Helen's
church in London. After the restoration
he was not silenced for nonconforraity,
for he had no preferment to lose ; but he
Uved for some time in Oxfordshire, oc
casionally preaching. In 1678 he re
moved to Newington green near London,
where he was for several years minister
of an independent church. His learned
tutor, bishop Wilkins, advised him to en
ter the established church ; but his views
of truth and duty would not suffer him to
do it Being apprehensive, that the
rights of conscience would soon be further
invaded by the return of popery, he in
June 1686 removed to New England,
and preached in the town of Bristol.
When a church was formed May 8,
1687, he was chosen minister. After
the revolution in his native country, he
was eagerly desirous of returning. Just
before he sailed in 1691, he told his wife,
that he had viewed a star, which, accord
ing to the rules of astrology, presaged
captivity. He was accordingly captured
by a French privateer, and carried into
St. Maloe, in France, where he died
about the time of Christmas in 1691 aged
64, and was buried without the city as a
heretic. He was a very learned man,
who spoke Latin with elegance, was a
master of physic and chemistry, and well
versed in all the liberal arts and sciences.
He had studied the astrological art, but
disapproving of it, he burned a hundred
books, which related to the subject.
Though a conscientious nonconformist.

he possessed a cathoUc, liberal spirit. His
learning was united with charity, and the
poor were often relieved by his bounty.
In a manuscript treatise on Rev.xi he ex
pressed his belief, that the period of 1260
years would end between 1716, and 1736,
and that thebroad wings ofthe eagle mean
the eastern & western empire. Hepublish
ed chronicon Cestrense, an exact chron
ology of all the rulers of Cheshire and
Chester in church and state from the
foundation of the city, 1656 ; orbis mir-
aoulura, or the temple of Solomon por
trayed by scripture light, foUo, 1 659 ; this
was printed at the charge ofthe univer
sity ; de excidio antichristi, folio, 1659 ;
a sermon on the means to be used for the
conversion of carnal relations, 1661 ; con
templations on mortaUty, Svo. 1669; a
sermon on secret prayer, 1674 ; the vis-
ibilityof the true church, 1675; the tri
umph of mercy in the chariot-of praise ; a
discourse of secret and preventing mer
cies, 1677 ; two discourses on the mourn
ful state ofthe church with a prospect of
her dawning glory, 1679 ; a dissertation
on the ancient and successive state of the
Jews, with scripture evidence of their
future conversion and establishment in
their own land, 1679 ; this is printed with
Fletcrier's Israel redux ; the joy of faith,
1689 ; answer to many queries relative to
America, to its natural productions, dis
eases, &c. 1690; the great day of judg
ment, preached before a court at Bristol,
1695. He also wrote a preface to John
Rowe's Immanuel, with his Ufe. His
Triumph of Mercy was much read
in N. England ; judge Davis says, it is
now, with his other works, " lost in obliv
ion. " But I have a copy in my posses
sion, printed at Boston, 1718 ; also a
copy of his contemplations on mortaUty.
They display learning and genius. — •
Wood's Ath. Oxonienses, n .882, 883 ;
Calamy; Nonconform, memorial, 1. 104 ;
Mather, iii, 223; Account of origin af
Bristol. LEE, Charles, a major general in the
army of the United States, was born in
Wales and was the son of John Lee, a
colonel in the British service. He enter-

524

LEE.

ed the array at a very early age ; but
though he possessed a military spirit, he
was ardent in the pursuit of knowledge.
He acquired a competent skill in Greek
and Latin, while his fondness for travel
ling made him acquainted with the Italian,
Spanish, German, and French languages.
In 1756 he came to America, and was en
gaged in the attack upon Ticonderoga in
July 1758, when Abercrombie was de
feated . In 1762 he bore a colonel's com
mission, and served under Burgoyne ui
Portugal, where he much distinguished
himseff. Not long afterwards he enter
ed into the Polish service. Though he
was absent when the stamp act passed,
he yet by his letters zealously supported
thecause of America. In the years 1771,
1772, and 1773 he rambled over all Eu
rope. During this excursion he was
engaged vrith an officer in Italy in an af
fair of honor, and he murdered his antag
onist, escaping himself with the loss of
two fingers. Having lost the favor of
the ministry and the hopes of promotion
in consequence ofhis political sentiments,
he came to America in Nov. 1773. He
travelled through the country, animating
the colonies to resistance. In 1774 he
was induced by the persuasion of his
friend, general Gates, to purchase a valu
able tract of land of two or three thous
and acres in Berkeley county, Virginia.
Here he resided till the following year,
when he resigned a commission, whichrie
held in the British service, and accepted
a commission from congress, appointing
him major general. He accompanied
Washington to the camp at Cambridge,
where he arrived. July 2, 1775, and
was received with every mark of re
spect. In the beginning of the following
year he was despatched to New York to
prevent the British from obtaining pos-,,
session of the city and the Hudson.
This trust he executed with great wisdora
and energy. He disarmed all suspicious
persons on Long Island, and drew up a
test to be offered to every one, whose
attachment to the American cause was
doubled. His bold measures carried ter
ror wherever he appeared. He seems to

have been very fond of this application of
a test ; for in a letter to the president
of congress he informs him, that he had
taken the liberty at Newport to adminis
ter to a number of the tories a very strong
oath, one article of which was, that they
should take arms in defence of their coun
try, if called upon by congress, and he
recommends, that this measure should be
adopted in reference to all the tories in
America. Those fanatics, who might re
fuse to take it he thought should be car
ried into the interior. Being sent into
the southern colonies, as comraander of
aU the forces, which should there be rai
sed, he diffused an ardor araong the sol
diers, which was attended by the most
salutary consequences. In Oct. by the
direction of congress he repaired to the
northern army. As he was marching
from the Hudson through New Jersey
to form a junction with Washington in
Pennsylvania, he quitted his camp in
Morris county to reconnoitre. In this
employment he went to the distance of
three miles from the camp and entered a
house for breakfast. A British colonel
became acquainted with his situation by
intercepting a countryman, charged with
a letter from him, and was enabled to
take him prisoner. He was instantly
mounted on a horse without his cloak
and hat, and carried safely to New York.
He was detained tiU Aprfl or May 1778,
when he was exchanged for general Pres
cott, taken at Newport. He was very
soon engaged in the battle of Monmouth.
Being detached by the commander in
chief to make an attack upon the rear of
the enemy, Washington was pressing
forward to support him June 28th, when
to hia astonishment he found him retreat
ing without having made a single effort
to maintain his ground. Meeting him in
these circumstances, without any previ
ous notice of his plans, Washington ad
dressed him in terms of some warmth.
Lee, being ordered to check the enemy,
conducted himself with his usualbravery,
and, when forced from the ground, on
I which he had been placed, brought off his
troops in good order. But his haughty

LEE.

525

temper could not brook the indignity,
which he believed to have been offered
him on the field of battle, and he addres
sed a letter to Washington, requiring
reparation for the injury. He was on
the 30th arrested for disobedience of or
ders, for misbehavior before the enemy,
and for disrespect to the coramander in
chief Of these charges he was found
guilty by a court martial, at w-hich lord
Stirling presided, and he was sentenced
to be suspended for one year. He defen
ded himself with his accustomed ability,
and his retreat seems to be justified from
the circumstance of his having advanced
upon an enemy ,whose strength was much
greater, than was apprehended, and from
his being in a situation, with a morass in
his rear, vvhich would preclude him from
a retreat, ifthe British should have prov
ed victorious. But his disrespectful let
ters to the commander in chief it is not
easy to justify. His suspension gave gen
eral satisfaction to the array, fbr he was
suspected of aiming hiraself at the su
preme command. After the result of his
trial was confirmed by congress in Jan.
1780 he retired to his estate in Berkeley
county, where he Uved in a style peculiar
to himself. Glass windows and plaster
would have been extravagances in his
house. Though he had for his compan
ions a few select authors and his dogs;
yet, as he found his situation too solitary
and i rksome, he sold his farm in the fall
of 1782, that in a different abode he might
enjoy the conversation of mankind. He
went to Philadelphia and took lodgings
in an inn. After being three or four
days in the city he was seized with a fe
ver, which terminated his Ufe Oct. 2,
1782. The last words, which he utter
ed, were, " stand by rae, ray brave grena
diers." In his person general Lee was rather
above the middle size, and his remarkable
aquUine nose rendered his face somewhat
disagreeable. Hewas master of a most
genteel address, but was rude in his man
ners and excessively negligent in his ap
pearance and behavior. His appetite
was so whimsical, that he was every

where a most troublesome guest. Two
or three dogs usually followed him wher
ever he went. As an officer he was
brave and able, and did much towards-
discipUning the American army. With
vigorous powers of mind and a brilliant
fancy he was a correct and elegant classi
cal scholar, and he both wrote and spoke
his native language with propriety, force,
and beauty. His temper was severe.
The history of his life is Uttle else than
the history of disputes, quarrels, and duels
in every part ofthe world. He was vin
dictive, avaricious, immoral, impious, and
profane. His principles, as would be ex
pected from his character, were most
abandoned, and he ridiculed every tenet
of religion. He pubUshed about the
year 1760 a pamphlet on the importance
of retaining Canada. After his death,
memoirs of his life, with his essays and
letters, were published, 12rao, 1792. —
Lee's memoirs.
LEE, Richard Henry, president of
congress, was a native of Virginia, and
from his earliest youth devoted his tal
ents to the service of his country. His
father was Thomas Lee of Stratford,
Westmoreland county, and in 1749 presi
dent of the council, who died in 1750,
leaving 6 sons, all of whom were men of
distinction ; Philip Ludwell, a member of
the council, Thomas Ludwell, a member
of the assembly, Richard Henry, Fran
cis Lightfoot, William, and Arthur. — .
Richard Henry was born Jan. 20, 1732.
He was educated in a school at Wake
field, Yorkshire, England. He had a
seat in the house of burgesses in 1757 ;
but it was only after several years, that
he was able to surmount his natural diffi
dence^ His public Ufe was distinguished
by some reraarkable circurastarices. He
had the honor of originating the first re
sistance to British oppression in the time
of the stamp act in 1 765. He proposed in
the Virginia house of burgesses in 1773
the formation of a committee of corres
pondence, whose object was to disseminate
information, and to kindle the flame of
fiberty throughout the continent. He
was a member of the first congress, in

526

LEE.

1774, and it was he, who made and ably
supported the declaration of independence
June 7, 1776. From June 10th tiU Aug.
he was absent from congress on account
ofthe sickness of his family. The second
eloquent address to the people of Great
Britain was drawn up by him as chair
man ofthe committee. After the adop
tion ofthe articles ofthe confederation he
was under the necessity of withdrawing
from congress, as no representative was
allowed to continue in congress more than
three years in any term of six years ; but
he was re-elected in 1784 and continued
tUI 1787. It was in Nov. l784, that he
was chosen president of congress. When
the constitution ofthe U. S. was submit
ted to the consideration of the public he
contended for the necessity of amend
ments previously to its adoption. After
the government vvas organized, he and
Mr. Grayson were chosen the first sena
tors from Virginia in 1789. This station
he held tiU his resignation in 1792, when
John Taylor was appointed in his place.
Mr. Lee died at his seat at Chantilly in
Westmoreland county Virginia June 19,
1794, aged 62. By two marriages he left
many children. He supported through
\ife the character of a philosopher, a patri
ot, and a sage ; and he died, as he had
lived, blessing his country. A letter,
which he wrote against Deane, is publish
ed in the Virginia gazette of Jan. 1, and
the independent chronicle of Feb. 11,
1779, and a letter to governor Randolph
respecting the constitution, in the Ameri
can museum . He is supposed to have
been the author of observations leading to
a fair examination of the system of gov-
ernment,proposed by the late convention,
in letters from the federal farmer to the
repubUcan, 1787. His life, with his cor
respondence, was published by R. H.
Lee in 2 vols. 8vo. 1895.— Gazette of
U. S. July 8, 1794 ; MarshaU, a. 180-
183, 209, 402, 409; Gordon, ii, 274 ;
Warren, i. 306; Holmes' annals, n.
401; American museum, ii 553-558.
LEE, Francis Lightfoot, a statesman
of Virginia, brother ofthe preceding,was
born Oct 14, 1734. He was educated

under the care of Mr. Craig, a domestic
tutor. The estate, bequeathed him by his
father, was in the county of Loudoun,
from which county he was a member of
the house of burgesses in 1765. In 1772,
having married the daughter of col. John
Tayloe of Richmond, he removed to that
county. In 1775 the convention of Vir
ginia elected him a member of cbngress,
in whicri body he continued till the spring
of 1779. He was one of the signers of
the declaration of independence. Though
he seldom took part in the public discus
sions, his patriotic spirit was not less
determined, than that of his brother,
Richard Henry Lee. After being called
again to the legislature of Virginia, he
withdrew from public life for the quiet
ness of domestic retirement. In his dis
position he was benevolent ; his man
ners were courteous ; and in his inter
course with his friends he was uncom
monly interesting and instructive. At
the approach of death the gospel gave
him consolation and hope. He died pf
the pleurisy in Aprfl 1797, aged 63, and
his wife in a few days afterwards died of
the same disease.
LEE, William, brother of the prece
ding, was born about 1737 and was sent
to London before the revolution as the
agent of Virginia. Being a zealous whig,
and a favorite ofthe Uvery of London, he
was elected oue of the sheriffs in 1773.
During the revolution hewas the agent of
congress at Vienna and Berlin.
LEE, Arthur, m. d., minister of the
United States to the court of Versailles,
the youngest brother ofthe preceding,was
born in Virginia Dec. 20, 1740. He was
educated at the university of Edinburgh,
where he also pursued for some time the
study of medicine. On his return to
this country he practised physic four or
five years in Williamsburg. He then
went to London about 1766 and com
menced the study of the law in the Tem
ple. At this time he became the inti-
raate friend of Sir William Jones
During his residence in England he
kept his eye upon the measures of
government, and rendered the most im-

LEE.

527

portant services to his country by sending
to America the earliest intelligence of the
plans of the ministry. When the in
structions of governor Bernard were sent
over, he at the same time communicated
information to the town of Boston res
pecting the nature of them. In 1769 he
wrote his Monitor's letters in vindication
ofthe colonial rights. From 1770 to
1776 he enjoyed a lucrative practice of
law. At this period he wrote a series
of letters under the signature of Ju
nius Americanus, which were much
celebrated. In 1775 he was in London
as the agent of Vir^inia,and he presented
in Aug:, the second petition of congress to
the king. All his exertions were now
directed to the good of his country.
When Mr. Jefferson decUned the ap
pointraent of a minister to France, Dr.
Lee was appointed in his place, and he
joined his colleages. Dr. Franklin and
Mr. Deane, at Paris in Dec. 1776. He
assisted in negotiating the treaty with
France. In 1779 he and Mr. Adams,
who had taken the place of Deane, were
recaUed, and Dr. FrankUn was appointed
sole minister to France. His return had
been rendered necessary by the malicious
accusations, with which Deane had as
sailed his public conduct. In the prece
ding year Deane had left Paris agreeably
to an order of congress, and came to this
country in the same ship with the French
minister, Gerard. On his arrival, as
many suspicions hovered around him, he
thought it necessary to repel them by at
tacking the character of his colleague.
Dr. Lee. In an inflammatory address. to
the public he vilified hira in the grossest
terms, charging him with obstructing the
alliance with France, and disclosing the
secrets of congress to British noblemen.
He at the same tirae impeached the con
duct of his brother, WiUiam Lee, agent
for congress at the courts of Vienna and
BerUn. Dr. Lee also was not on very
good terms with Dr. Franklin, whom he
beUeved to be too much under the influ
ence of the French court. Firra in his
attachraent to the interests of his coun
try, honest, zealous, he was inclined to

question the correctness of all the cora
raercial transactions, in which the philos
opher had been engaged. These dissen
sions among the ministers produced cor
responding divisions in congress, and
Monsieur Gerard had so Uttie respect to
the dignity of an ambassador, as to be
come a zealous partizan of Deane. Dr.
Lee had many friends in congress, but
Dr. FrankUn had more. When the for
mer returned to America in 1780, such
was his integrity, that he did not find it
difficult to reinstate himself fully in the
good opinion of the public. In 1784 be
was appointed one of the commissioners
for holding a treaty with the Indians ofthe
six nations. He accordingly went to fort
Schuyler and executed this trust in a man-
ner,which did him much honor. In Feb.
1790 he was admitted a counsellor ofthe
supreme court of the United States by a
special order. Having purchased a farm
in the county of Middlesex, near Urbana,
on the banks ofthe Rappahannoc, while
assisting in planting an orchard he expo
sed himself in a cold and rainy day, in
consequence of which he died of the
pleurisy Dec. 14, 1782, aged nearly 42.
He was never married. He was a distin
guished scholar, being well skilled not
only in the Greek and Latin, but also in
the French, Spanish and Italian langua
ges. He was a man of uniform patriot
ism, of a sound understanding, of great
probity, of plain manners, and strong
passions. During his residence for a
number of years in England he was inde
fatigable in his exertions tp promote the
interest of his country. Besides the
Monitor's letters, written in 1769, and
the letters of Junius Americanus, he
wrote an appeal to the EngUsh nation ;
he also published extracts frora a letter to
the president of congress in answer to a
libel by Silas Deane, 1780 ; and observa
tions on certaiui commercial transactions
in France, laid before congress, 1780. —
His life by R. H. Lee was pubUshed in 2
vols. Svo. 1829. This work contains
raany of his letters. His public letters
are published in Sparks' Diplom. corres
pondence,-

528

LEE.

LEE, Jonathan, first minister of SaUs
bury, Conn., was the son of David Lee
of Coventry, one of three brothers, who
came from England, of whom Josiah liv
ed in Farmington, and Simon in Lyme.
Mr. L. was born about 1718 ; was grad
uated at Yale college in 1742 ; and, hav
ing studied theology with Mr. Williams
of Lebanon, was ordained Nov. 23, 1744.
The church of Salisbury was formed on
the principles of the Cambridge platform :
the association of the county, adhering
to the Saybrook platform, suspended the
ministers, who ordained Mr. Lee, — Mr.
Humphreys of Derby, Mr. Leavenworth
of Waterbury, and Mr. Todd of North-
bury. A fierce zeal against the zealous
calvinistic preachers occasioned this and
other strange proceedings in Connecticut,
which are related by Dr. Trumbull. Mr.
Lee died Oct. 10, 1738, aged 70. His
first wife was EUzabeth, daughter of
Rev. Nathan Metcalf of Falmouth,
Mass. ; his second was Love Graham
Brinkerhoff, a widow, the daughter of
Rev. Mr. Graham. He had 11 children,
of whom Elizabeth married Rev. Thomas
Allen, Love married Rev. Aaron Cook
ColUns ; and Elisha Lee of Sheffield, and
Dr. Chauncey Lee, minister of Marlbo
rough, Conn., are still Uving. He was
an animated and popular preacher. He
published the election sermon, 1766 ; a
serraon on the death of Abigail Spencer,
1787. LEE, Ezra, captain, an officer in the
revolutionary war, died at Lyme, Conn.,
Oct 29, 1821, aged 72. He was-selected
by gen. Parsons, at the request of Wash
ington, to navigate Bushnell's submarine
vessel, called the Marine turtle, in the
harbor of New York for the purpose of
blowing up the British ship Asia. The
copper of the ship prevented him from at
taching the instruraent of destruction to
it,though he toiled two hours under wat
er ; but the explosion at a Uttle distance
alarmed the fleet and caused its removal
to the Hook. He was amiable and benev
olent, and respected for his valor, hav
ing fought bravely in several battles.
LEE, Joseph, first minister of Royals-

ton, Mass., was graduated at Harvard
college in 1765 ; was ordained Oct. 19,
176S ; and died Feb. 16, 1819, aged 77.
He published 4 sermons, 12mo.,.1782 ; a
sermon at the ordination of W. B . Wes
son, 1803.
LEE, Thomas Sim, governor of Ma
ryland, from 1779 to 1783, was afterwards
a member of congress, and of the con
vention, which formed the constitution.
He was again chosen governor in 1792.
He died at Needwood, in Frederic coun
ty, November 9, 1819, aged 75. He was
much attached to agricultural pursuits.
LEE, Charles, attorney general of the
U. S., succeeded Mr. Bradford Dec. 10,
1795, and was succeeded by L. Lincoln
in 1801. He died in Fauquier county,
Virginia, June 24, 1815, aged 58.
LEE, Henry, general, governor of
Virginia, was born in Virginia Jan. 29,
1756,and wasgraduated at Princeton col
lege in 1773. While his father, in 1774,
was engaged in negotiating a treaty with
the Indian tribes, he was intrusted with-
the management ofthe private concerns
of the family. In 1776 be was appointed
a captain of cavalry under col. Bland ; in
Sept. 1777 be joined the main army. His
skiU in discipUne andgaUant bearing soon
attracted the notice of Washington. He
was soon promoted to the rank of major,
with the command of a separate corps of
cavalry, and then advanced to the rank of
lieut colonel. From 1780 to the end of
the war he served under Greene. The
services of Lee's legion in various actions
were very important. He particularly
distinguished himself in the battle of
Guilford ; afterwards he succeeded in cap
turing fort CornwaUis and other forts ;
he was also conspicuous at Ninety Six
and at the Eutaw Springs. In 17-86 he
was appointed a delegate to congress to
Virginia, in which body he remained till
the constitution was adopted. In the con
vention of Virginia he advocated its adop
tion. In 1791 he succeeded Beverly Ran
dolph as governor, and remained in office
3 years. By appointment of Washing
ton he commanded the forces, sent to
suppress the whiskey insurrection in

LEE.

529

Pennsylvania. In 1799, whUe a member
of congress, he was selected to pronounce
a funeral oration at Washington. After
the accession of Mr Jefferson in 1801 he
retired to private Ufe. In his last years
he was distressed by pecuniary embarrass
ments. While confined, in 1809, within
the bounds of Spottsyl vania' county for
debt, he wrote his valuable memoirs of
the southern campaigns. Being in Balti
more in 1814, when the mob attacked a
printing office, he was one of the defend
ers, and was carried to jail for safety ; in
the attack on the jail, when gen. Lingan
was killed, he was severely wounded. Re
pairing to the West Indies for his health ;
on his return he died at Cumberland island,
near St Mary's,Georgia, at Mrs. Shaw's,
the daughter of gen. Green, March 25,
1818, aged 62. By his wounds at Balti
more he was rendered decrepid, and af
terwards life was a burden. It has been
represented, that he was dissipated and
without moral principle. Being once ta-
keri by an officer for debt, the ingenuity
of the soldier procured his release from
the sheriff : he told him, he was glad,
that he was about to lodge him in prison,
for he had been bitten by a mad dog and
might do mischief. After a vyhile, as they
were riding, he began to rave, and the
terrified officer was glad to esCape from a
man, who had been bitten by a mad dog !
— He pubUshed an oration on the death
of Washington, 1800; memoirs ofthe
^war in the south, 2 vols. 8vo. 1812.
LEE, Thomas Bland, a member of
the first congress frora Virginia, died at
Washington March 12, 1827, aged 65
years. He enjoyed the friendship and
confidence of i\Ir. Madison, and was a
man of high talents and public virtue.
LEE, Ann,foiinder ofthe sect of Sha
kers in America, was born in Manches
ter, England, about 1736, and was the
daughter ofa blacksmith, who Uved in
Toad lane. Her trade was that ofa cut
ter of hatter's fur. Not being instructed
in what she afterwards taught was the
way of rectitude, she committed the sin
bf marrying Abraham Standley, a black
smith, who lived in her father's house.
67

Her 4 chUdren died iit infancy. Attrie
age of 22, about 1758, she became a con
vert to James Wardley, who was origi
nally a quaker, but who in 1747; imagin
ing that he had supernatural visions and
revelations, established the sect, called
Shakers, frora their bodily agitations.
Having becorae a member of this sotiiety,
— which was merely a new fbrm ofthe fa
naticism of the French prophets 50 years
before, — she passed through the exer
cises of the sect. In her fits, as she
clinchfed her hands, it is said, the blood
flowed through the pores of her skin.
Her flesh wasted away, and in her weak
ness she was fed like an infant. Thus
was she exercised 9 years, by the end of
which time, it might be thought, she had
lost her reason. At lenglh,about 1770,she
made the discovery of the wickedness bf
marriage,& opened her testimony against
it. She caUed herself" Ann, the word, "
signifying, that in her dwelt the word,
and to this day her followers say, that
" the man vv.ho was called Jesus, and the
woman, who was called Ann, are verily
-the two first pUlars ofthe church, the two
anointed ones," &c. Soon after JMrs.
Standley began her testimony against
" the root of human depravity, "lier ex
ercises induced the people of Manches
ter to shut her up in a mad-house, where
she was kept several weeks. She came
to Araerica in the ship Maria, capt.
Smith, and arrived at N.' York in May
1774, -having as her companions her
brother, Wm. Lee, James Whitaker,
John HockneU, called elders, and others.
As her husband's riame is not mentioned,
probably he was left behind. During
the voyage the ship sprung aleak, and she
and the elders, being, strong and lusty,
put their hands to the pumps, and the
ship arrived Safe in consequence, as the
shakers say iri their book, of their " pow
er,,' which was above the natural power
of man." In the spring of 1776 she
went to Albany, and thence to Niskeuna,
now Water-Vliet, 8 mfles from Albany.
Here she and her followers' lived unknown
a few years, holding their meetings as
usual.

530

LEE.

But in the beginning of 1780, when
there was an unusual reUgious commo
tion principally among the baptists in
New Lebanon and some adjacent towns,
in the midst ofthe wildness & extravagance
of fanaticism, sorae account of the elect
lady reached the bewildered enthusiasts.
Iraraediately the road to Niskeuna was
crowded with deluded beings in quest of
greater delusions. The mother received
them with many smiles and told them
she knew of their coming before ; declar
ed herself to be the woman clothed with
the sun, mentioned in the twelfth chap
ter of the revelation; claimed the power
of ministering the Holy Spirit to, whom
she pleased ; asserted that she was daily
judging the dead of all nations, who came
to her for that purpose ; and that no fa
vor could be shown to any person but
through the confession of their sins unto
her. These impious pretensions, enforc
ed upon persons, some of whom were al
ready bereft pf reason, by the magical
charms of wrylooks, odd po|tures,whim-
sical gestures, unintelligible mutterings,
alternate groans and laughter, and the
solemn ceremony of hopping, dancing,
and whirling, completed the work of con
verting rational beings into idiots, and
brought her in a fine harvest of deluded
followers. One of these was Valentine
Rathbun, a baptist minister, who howev
er in about three months recovered his
senses, and pubUshed a pamphlet
against tfie imposture. He says, that
there attended this infatuation an inex
plicable agency upon the body, to which
he himself was subjected, that affected
the nerves suddenly and forcibly Uke the
electric fluid, and was followed by tremb
lings and the complete deprivation of
strength. When the good mother had
somewhat estabUshed her authority with
her new disoiples,she warned thera ofthe
great sin pf following the vain custoras of
the world, and having fleeced them of
their ear rings,riecklaces, buckles, and ev
ery thing, which might nourish pride,
and having cut off their hair close by their
ears, she admitted them into her church.
Thus metamorphosed, they were asham

ed to be seen by their old acquaintance,
and would be induced to continue shakers
to save themselves from further humilia
tion. The iriipostor asserted, that she
was not liable to the assaults of- death,
and that, when she left this world, she
should ascend in the twinkling ofan eye
to heaven. But unhappily for hel- claims,
shewas not exempted from the sarae event,
which befalls beasts, and her bones are
mouldering in the vile ground. She died
at Water Vliet Sept. 8, 1784. After her
death James Whitaker was head man ;
and after his death in 1787 elder Joseph
Meachara and Lucy Wright, a native of
Pittsfield, Mass.,, stood in the "spiritual
relation of a joint parentage " to the so
ciety ; and on Meacham's death in 1796
Lucy Wright,-as she chose to be called,
though her husband, Mr. Goodrich, was
still living, — stood to the shakers " in the
order ofthe first mother of their redemp
tion. " There are now several societies.
in different parts of our country. Reject
ing the ordinances, which Jesus Christ
most expressly enjoined, and subsituting
revelations and impressions upon their
minds in the place of the consistent and
plain instructions of scripture, they are to
be classed with those, who choose rather
to he guided by their own reason or im
agination, than by the wisdom of God.
Ofthe art of mother Ann an instance is
given in the account of col. John Brbwn.
-She had the gift of speaking in an un
known tongue. An honest man, who
was once her follower, assured me, that
in her presence he once uttered many
unmeaning words with Latin and Dutch
terminations, — for he had studied the
Latin Grammar and knew a little ofthe
Dutch, — and asked her what it meant,
when she replied, that " he was talking
to the spirits, and triey understood his
language, " But, he remarked, he knew
better, when she said so, for he could not
understand it himseff. Tho. Brown,
who was once a shaker, and published an
acepunt ofthe shakers in 1812, gives the
foUowing specimen of one of his miracu
lous speeches: — " Lierodevojirankeman-
go, ad sileabana,durera subramo d^virante

LEET.

LEVERETT.

501

diacerimango, jasse vah pe cri evani-
galio ; de vora grora seb crinom, os vare
crerao domo. " .Learned inquirers into
the affinities of spiritual languages arid
unknown tongues may compare this pre
cious morsel witii the following, which
was uttered by one of Mr. Irving's con
gregation in London in 1831.
" Hippo-gerosto hippo booros senoote
Poorime oorin hoopo tanto noostia
Noorastin niparos hipanos bautos boorin
O Pinitos eleiastino halimiingitos dantitu
Hampbotine farimi aristos ekrarapos
Epoongos vangami beresessino tercston
Sa tinootino alinoosis O fastos sungor O fuston
sungor
Eletanteti eretine menati."
As to the moral character of mother Ann,
Reuben Rathbun, who was once a sha
ker, testifies, that he once saw her come
to hard blows with Wm, Lee. He adds,
" it appears to. me, that the mother, at
that time, was very much overcorae with
strong liquor. " He considered her also
as well skiUed, in profane and indecent
language. But, whatever might have
been her moral deportment, it is- one of
the deplorable facts, of which the his
tory of the world is full, evincing the
blindness and depravity of man, that ra
tional beings should yield their minds to
her blasphemous reUgious pretensions., —
N.York theol mag., i. 82; V. Rath-
bun's hints; D, Rathbun's, Taylor's,
West's and Brown's account af shakers.
LEET, Williani, governor of Con
necticut, came to N. England in 1637, in
company with Eaton and Hopkiris.
Sept 29, 1639 he, Mr. Whitfield, and
others purchased Menunkatuck, or Guil
ford, of the sachem squaw, the owner.
The agreement was 'made at N. Haven,
and was confirmed by the general court
Jan. 31, 1640. When the church of
Guilford was formed in 1 643, he was one
of the seven pillars, or first members.
Whitfield and Higginson were two pth-
erS. For many years he was the clerk of
the town. He was an assistant of' N .
Haven colony from 1643 to 1657, and
governor from 1661 to 1665; and after
the union ofN. Haven and Connecticut

was deputy governor from 1669 to 1675,
and governor, after Winthrop, from
1676 tp 1680. Having removed to Hart
ford, he' died there April 16, 1683. His
sons were John and Andrew ; his posteri
ty are numerous. He conducted the
pubUc affairs with integrity and wisdom.
In 1660, when the regicides, Whalley
and Goffe, were in danger of being arres
ted, he nobly protected them.
LE MERCIER, Andrew, ministerin
Boston, had for many years the care of
the protestant French church, which was
founded by protestants, driven from
France bythe revocation pfthe edict of
Nantes in 1686. The society being very
much diminished, he at length desisted
from his public labors, & the house was in
1748 occupiedbyMr. CrosweU's church.
He died in 1762, having sustained a repu
table character. He published a church
history of Geneva, 12mo, 1732; and a
treatise on detraction.— JJuf. col rii.
264, 301.
LESCARBOT, Marc, published His
toire de la Nouvelle France,-2 vols. 12mo.
2ded. 1612.
LEVERETT, John, governor of
Massachusetts, was the son of elder
Thomas L., and came to this country
-with his father in 1633, and was admitted
a freeman in 1640. He signalized him
self by his bravery in the early periods of
his life. He was long employed in public
affairs and places of great trust. He was
-in England at the restoration, aud ap
peared an advocate for the colony.
Upon his return to .this country he was
chosen a member ofthe general court for
Boston. In 1664 he was, chosen major
general, and in 1665 an assistant. He
was elected governor in 1673 assucces
sor to BelUrigham, and was continued in
that office till his death, March 16, 1679,
aged about 60. His administration is
spoken of with respect. He was succee
ded by Bradstreet; — Magnalia, ii. 19;
Neal, II. 32 ; Hutchinson,
LEVERETT, John, president of
Harvard college, was grandson of gover
nor Leverett, and was graduated at the
college, which -was afterwards intrusted

532

LEVERETT.

to^is care, in 1680. He was first ap
pointed a tutor iri this serainary. He
next was chosen a member of the house
of representatives, and then speaker. He
was successively a member of his majes
ty's couijcU, a justice ofthe superior court,
and a judge of the probate of wills. Af
ter the death of the vice president Wil
lard he was chosen president and was induc
ted into this office Jan. 14, 1 70S. In this
station he continued till his sudden death
May's, 1724. He was succeeded by
Wadsworth. President Leverett recei
ved ftom the gift of God great powers of
mind, which he diligently cultivated.
He was conspicuous for liis learning ;
and he was an eminent divine as well as
statesman. In an early period ofhis Ufe
he occasionally preached. So extensive
was his knowledge arid- so correct was
his judgment, that in almost every- diffi
cult case the people resorted to him for
inforraation and advice. He was a man
of courage, and resolutiori, and firmness,
as well as learning. No difficulties dis
couraged him, when he once engaged in
any affair of importance ; he encpuntered
them with cheerfulness ; and by his per
severance and diligence frequently effec
ted what would have been impossible to
a mind of feebler texture. When his ob
ject could not be accomplished, he yield
ed it without disquietude. At the head
of the university he was respected, for
he possessed personal dignity and a talent
of government. There was a majesty in
his speech, behavior, and couritenance,
which secured the reverence of all, who
conversed with him, and impressed the
vouth, who were subject to his authority,
with awe. Yet he did npt lose their af
fections, for his digriity was not the off
spring of pride. He wasa good man, of
unaffected piety and of a holy Ufe, a cor
dial friend to the congregational churches,
but placing religion not so much in par
ticular forms, as in the weightier matters
of righteousness, faith, and love. In his
care ofthe college he was indefatigable,
and it flourished rauch during his presiden
cy. Hewas its glory, and he was also
the ornaraent of his country. — Fun. serm.

LEWIS.
by Appleton, Caiman, and Wadsworth.
'lEVERIDGE, William, a preacher,
arrived, at Salem in the ship James Oct.
10, 1633 ; & preached at Dover tifl 1635.
In 1640 he was in Sandwich, and was
employed as a missionary in 1657 by the
commissioners of the united colonies.
He accompanied the first settlers tp Hun
tington, L. I. ; but in 1670 he removed
to Newtown, where he died, and where
his posterity remain. — Farmer.
LE"VVIS, Francis, a patriot ofthe rev
olution, was born in Landaff, S. Wales,
in 1713. He was educated at Westmin
ster. In 1785 he arrived at N. York,
where he engaged extensively iu naviga
tion and foreign trade. His commercial
transactions induced him tp visit Russia
and other parts of Europe. As agent for
supplying the British troops he was at
fort Oswego, when it surrendered to
Montcalm,, after col, Mersey had been
kflled by. his side. He was carried a pris
oner to Montreal and thence to France.
After his liberation, in the revolutionary
moveraents of the country he was araong
the first of -"the sons of liberty." In
April 1775 he was. elected a member of
congress ; the next year he signed the
declaration of independence. He was
employed in the importation of military
stores and other secret services. — In 1775
he removed to L. Island ; in the autumn ,
of 1776 his house was plundered by the
British ; his library and papers were des
troyed ; and Mrs, Lewis taken prisoner.
She was confined several months by the
brutal foe, without a bed to lie upon ;
her sufferings were such as to occasion
her death in one or two years. Mr. Lew
is in his last days lived in comparative
poverty. He died Dec. 30, 1803, aged
90. — Goodrich.
LEWIS, Meriwether, governor of
upper Louisiana, was born near Char
lottesville, Virginia, Aug. 18, 1774. He
relinquished his aqademic studies at the
age of 18, and after being a farraerfor
two years enlisted as a volunteer in the
militia, called out at that tirae, and soon
entered the array. Frora 1801 to 1803
he was the private secretary of president

LINCOLN.

533

Jefferson, who appointed hira in 1803 to
the command of the exploring party, di
rected to cross the continent to the Paci
fic ocean. His unshaken firmness and
undaunted courage, his prudence and en
terprise, besides his knowledge of botany,
qualified him for this service. Accompa
nied by William Clarke,he returned from
this expedition in about three years. He
was rewarded by a tract of land. Soon
after his retiirn in 1806 hewas made gov
ernor of Louisiana and Clarke was made
a general and agent for Indian affairs.
On his arrival he was successful in com
posing somedissensions-,which had sprung
up. Some difficulty, as to his' accounts,
which distressed him, induced hira to set
out on a journey to W"ashington. Lan
ding at Chickasaw bluffs, he thence pro
ceeded by land. On the borders of Ten
nessee about 40 railes from Nashville he
killed himself with a pistol and a razor
Oct. 11, 1809, aged 35. This event was
ascribed to the protest of some bills,
tybich he drew on the pubUc account.
He had written an account ofhis expedi
tion up the Missouri and to the Pacific,
which was published, under the care of
Paul Allen, in 2 vols. 8vo. 1814; in
which appeared his Ufe, written by Mr.
Jefferson. •-LINCOLN, Benjamin, general, wasa
descendant of Thomas L., a cooper, who
lived at Hingham, Mass., in 1636. His
father was Benj. L., a malster and farmer,
a member of the council, and one ofthe
principal men in the county, He was
born Jan. 23, 1733, old style, and had
few advantages of education, though his
brother, Bela, was a graduate of 1754.
His vocation was that of a farmei' till he
was more than 40 years of age. He toil
ed every day, except when engaged in
civil or military duties. He was a magis
trate, representative, and lieutenant col
onel ofthe militia. In 1776 he was much
eraployed in training the militia, being
major general. In Feb. 1777 he joined
Washington's army with a re-enforce
ment, and was soon created a major gen
eral by congress. Gn the approach of
Burgoyne, Washington sent him to join

the northern army, but first to receive at
Manchester and form the militia, as they
came in, and to operate in the rear of the
enemy. Sept- 13th he detached col.
Brown on a successful service. He himself
joined Gates on the 29th. Commanding
in the works, he did not participate in the
action of Oct. 7th. The next day as he
was returning frora a post, he had visited,
a party of the enemy having been advan
ced, he fbund himself within the reach of
their fire and was severely wounded in the
leg, rendering it necessary for him to be
removed to Albany and to Hingham. It
was several years before the wound was
healed ; but he was able to rejoin Wash
ington in Aug. 1778. Being now appoin
ted to the chief comraand in the southern
department, he proceeded to Charleston
in Dec. As the enemy in the same
month had landed in Georgia, and defea
ted gen. Robert Howe, and captured Sa
vannah, gen. Lincoln marched in April
1779 toward Augusta in order to cover
the upper parts of Georgia, but was re
called to protect Charleston against gen.
Prevost. June 19 he attacked the ene
my intrenched at Stono ferry ; but as
their works were strong and they were
re-enforced from John's island, opposite
to Stono, he was repulsed. On the ar
rival of count D'Estaing with French
troops it was resolved to recover Savan
nah. An assault was made by the com
bined American and French forces Oct.
9th, but it was unsuccessful, with the loss
of nearly 1000 men. In Feb. 1780 sir H.
Clinton conducted an expedition from N.
York against Lincoln ; besieged him in
Charleston ; and constrained hira to ca
pitulate May 12th. But, notwithstanding
his misfortunes, his reputation as an able,
prudent, brave officer was untarnished.
Admitted to his parole, he returned to
Hingham; but was exchanged in Nov.
In 1781 he joined the army of Washing
ton. At the siege of Yorktown he com
manded a central division : the same
terms were granted to Cornwallis, which,
were granted at Charleston, and Lincoln
was appointed tb receive the submission of
the captured troops and to conduct thera

534

LINCOLN.

to the field, where their arms were depos
ited. Congress elected him Oct 31, 1781 the
secretary of war, which office he dischar
ged, still retaining his rank in the army,
for three years, when he retired to his
farm with a vote of congress commending
his capacity and faithfulness in his office
and his meritorious services in the field.
In 1786 and 1787 he was intrusted witri
the command of the militia for the sup
pression of the Shays' insurrection. He
proceeded to Harapshire and to Pittsfield
in Berkshire and restored order. In May
1787 he was elected Ueutenant governor ;
but at the next election the deraocratic
party gained the ascendency and chose
Samuel Adams. In 1789 he was appoin
ted coUector of the port of Boston, which
office he held nearly 20 years till he re
signed it two years before his death. He
had offered to resign it a year or two be
fore Gen. Dearborn succeeded him. In
1789 he was a commissioner to treat
with the Creek Indians, and in 1793 a
commissioner to make peace -with the
western Indians. After a short attack of
disease hedied at Hingham May 9, 1810,
aged 77. He lived with his wife 55
years. His sons, Benjamin and Theo
dore, were graduates of 1777 and 1785 ;
the former, who married a daughter of
James Otis, died ifl 1788. — Gen Lincoln
was temperate, frugal, and methodical ;
cheerful in his temper ; and for a great
part of his Iffe a deacon in the church. —
No profane expression ever feU from the
lips of this soldier. — About the year 1799
his pecuniary responsibiUties for gen.
Knox subjected him to much temporary
inconvenience ; but his large income for
the last 20 years enabled him to distribute
considerable sums amongst his children.
He published, in the hist, collections,
observations on the cUraate &c. of the
eastern counties of Maine ; on the re
ligious state of thesame, vol. iv, ; on the
Indian tribes, their decrease and claims,
vol. v.— Hist cal in. 233-255.
LINCOLN, Levi, attorney general of
the U. S., and fieut. gov. of Massachu
setts, was a descendant of Samuel L. of

Hingham, who came tb this country from
Hingham, England, in 1637. He was
graduated at Harvard college in 1772 and
settled as a lawyer in Worcester, where
he rose to distinction. In the party di
visions during Mr. Adams' administration
he was a zealous democrat or republican.
He wrote, at that period, a series of poUt
ical papers, called 'Farmer's letters.' — On
the triumph of Mr. Jefferson he was
appointed attorney general March 5,1801,
as successor of Cha. Lee, and was suc
ceeded by R. Breckenridge . Dec. 23,
1805. In 1807 and 1808 he was chosen
lieut. gov., and on the death Of Mr. Sulli
van, acted as governor in Jan. 1809. His
speech,deU vered at a difficult poUtical peri
od, reprehending the resistance to the em
bargo laws, was not responded to in senti
ment by the senate and house ; and in
the spring Mr. Lincoln, who was a can
didate for the office of governor against
Mr. Gore, failed to be elected. In 1810
Mr. Gerry was chosen governor and Mr.
Gray lieut. governor. INIr. Lincoln died
atAVorcester April 14, 1820, aged 71.
His widow, Martha, died at Worcester
in Aprfl 1828, and was followed to the
grave by two .sons, then governors,-Levi,
gov. of Massachusetts, and Enoch,gov. of
Maine. LINCOLN,Enoch, governor of Maine,
son of the preceding, was born Dec. 28,
1788, and, having studied law, settled in
Fryeburg, Maine,and afterwards in Paris.
He was a member of congress from 1819
to 1826. Having been elected governor,
he entered upon the duties of riis office in
Jan. 1827. In the autumn of the same
year andin 1828 he was re-elected; but at
the election in Sept 1829 he was not a
candidate. He died at Augusta, whither
in bad health he had taken a journey of
50 or 60 mfles to deliver an address to a
female academy, Oct. 8, 1829, aged about
38. He was never married. It was a
grief to his friends, that in his last days
he was addicted to strong drink. As the
governor of the state he maintained the
right of Maine to the whole controverted
eastern, territory and denied the power of
the U. S. to alienate it, whatever might

LINGAN.

LINN.

535

be the decision of the umpire, to whom
the dispute between Great Britain and
the U. S. as to the north eastern boundary
had been referred. He pubUshed, while
he lived at Fryeburg, the Village, a poem,
1816. The first vol. of Maine hist, col
lections contains a few remarks on the In
dian languages, and an account of the
cathoUc missions in Maine, found among
his papers. — Spec, A, poet, ii. 303.
LINGAN, James Maccubin, general,
a victim to a mob, was a native of Mary
land & an officer ofthe revolutionary ar
my; he fought in the battle of Long Island.
At the surrender effort Washington he
was taken prisoner and sharfsd in the suf
ferings of the horrible prison ship. At
the close of the war he returned to
Georgetown, of which port he was ap
pointed by Washington the coUectar.
For several years before his death he
lived retired in the Country, happy in do
mestic life. He was murdeled by a mob
at Baltimore, his brains being beaten out
with clubs, July 28,lS12,^ged about 60.
The following is a brief history of the
event. The war had just been declared
againt Great Britain. In June Mr.
Hanson had published something in his
Federal Republican, which so irritated
the populace, that they , destroyed > the
printing office. Mr. H., resolving to
issue his paper anew, took possession of
a house pn Sunday, July 26th, supported
by a number of his zealous political
friends, well armed. The next morning
the paper was issued, containing animad
versions on the police and people of Balti
more: inthe evening the house was at
tacked, but, assisted by gens. Lingan and
Lee and about 20 others, he repelled the
assault by, firirig upon the assailants, kill
ing Dr. Gale and wounding others. In
the morning of the 28th the gentlemen
in the house found it necessary for their
security to surrender to the ci vii authori-'
ty and were conducted to jail. Inthe
evening of the same day a blood thirsty
mpb forced the jail, and killed gen. Lin
gan and dreadfully mangled 11 others.-
A few escaped in the crowd. Eight ofthe
wounded were thrown together in front

of the jaU, supposed to be dead. Of this
number were Mr. Hanson and gen. Lee.
Dr. Hall preserved them by persuading
the mob to intrust the supposed dead bo
dies to his care. He removed them first
to the jail room, and then to places of ,
safety. LINING, Jphn, m. D.,an eminent phy
sician and philosopher of South CaroUna,
was born in Scotiand in 1708 and received
an excellent education. He came to
America about the year 1730. He cor
responded with Dr. Franklin on the sub
ject of electricity,and was the first person,
who introduced an, electrical apparatus
into Charleston. He practised physic in
Charleston nearly thirty years, and was
reckoned one of its most skilful physicians.
Hedied in 1760. He pubUshed a series of
judicious statical experiments, which
were conducted from 1738 to 1742. In
1753 he published a history ofthe yellow
fever, which was the first account of that
disease, that was given to the world from
the American continent. — Miller, n.
364. LINN, "WilUam, d.d. minister" in
New Yprk, was born in 1752 and was
graduated at the, college of New Jersey
in 1772. He was at first connected with
the presbyterian church in Pennsylvania,
During the war ofthe revolution he wa?
chaplain in the army. A few years after
the peace he attached himself to the re
formed Dutch church, and settled in the
city of New York. He was finally con
strained to resign his pastoral charge by
indisposition, though his friends regarded
his complaints as imaginary ¦; and he died
at Albany in Jan. 1808, aged 55. Before
disease broke down his strength,- he was
distinguished and useful. His eloquence
was for the most part-natural, impressive,
and Commanding, though at times he had
too much vehemence in his manner. He
raarried a daughter of Rev. John Blair.
One of his daughters raarried Cha. B.
Brown ; another Siraeon De Witt. The
following are his publications ; a miUtary
discourse, delivered in Carlisle, 177 6 ; the
spiritual death and life of the believer, and
the character and misery of the wicked.

536

LINN.

two sermons in American preacher, i ; a
sermon bn American independence,1791;
sermons historical and characteristical,
12mo. 1791 ; a funeral eulogy on Wash
ington, 1800.— Panoplist, in. 431, 432 ;
Life of J. B. Linn, 1.
LINN, John .Blair, d. d., a poet, and
minister in Philadelphia, the son of the
preceding, was born in Shippensburgh,
Pennsylvania,March 14, 1777. He eariy
e-vinced a strong attachment to books.
At the age of thirteen he returned home
from a seminary in Flatbush on Long Is
land, wriere he had passed two or three
years in the full enjoyment of health, and
delighted with the beauties of nature.
He now entered Columbia college, aud
engaged in a new scene, being subject to
new discipline and interested by new as
sociates. During the four years, which
he passed in the college,he evinced a pow
erful tendency to poetry and criti
cism. Admiring the great works of the
dramatic writers, it was natural for him,
when unrestrained by deep seriousness,
and in a city,where there is an established
theatre, to hasten where he might behold
these works invested with the charms of
life and action on the stage. But though
the theatre became his chief passion, he
was not seduced into -vicious pleasures.
When his academical career was ended,
he was eighteen years of age, and his
choice ofa profession fell upon the law.
He was placed under the direction of Al
exander Hamilton, who was the friend of
his father ; but he did not apply himseff
with much assiduity to his new pursuit
He regarded the legal science every day
with new indifference, and at the close of
the first year relinquished the profession
altogether. Before this event he ventured
to produce a new draraatic composition,
called Bourville castle, on the stage. Its
success was encouraging ; but other ob
jects now claimed his attention, and his
dramatic career was entirely renounced.
His passion for theatrical amusements
yielded to affections of a more serious
and beneficial nature, and those reUgious
impressions, which from his earliest in
fancy he had occasionally felt, now sunk

permanently into his heart. He was
ordained June 13, 1799, as the colleague
of Rev. Dr. Ewing of Philadelphia.
The two succeeding years ofhis life were
passed in diUgent and successful applica
tion to the duties of the pastoral office,
which were rendered more arduous by the
increasing infirmities ofhis venerable col
league. In the summer of 1802 his con-
stitutiori suffered irreparable nuschief from
a fever. His brain afterwards was fre
quently seized with a dizziness, which
was followed by a heavy depression of
mind. He struggled manfully with his
infirmity, but his strength was wasting,
and he was sinking into the earth.
The gloom, which hovered over his
mind, became deeper and more settled.
He could look beyond the grave without
fear, but the terrors of death were almost
insupportable . In the summer of 1 804 he
was induced to take a journey to the eas
tern states. The images of melancholy,
the gloom, the despondence, the tenor,
which he had before felt, stiU however at
tended him. He returned to Phfladel
phia in July. Aug. 30th he arose with
less indisposition, than usual. On the
evening of that day he had scarcely laid
his head upon the pfllow, when he said to
his wife, "I feel something burst within
me. CaU the family togetrier ; lam dy
ing," A stream of blood now choaked
his utterance. But after a short interval
he recovered strength to exclaim with
fervency, clasping his bands and lifting
his eyes, "Lord Jesus, pardon my trans
gressions, and receive my soul!" Such
was the termination of his Iffe Aug. 30,
1804.' He prepared for the press and pubUshed
soon after he left college without his
narae two volumes of miscellanies in
prose and verse, 12mo. His poem on the
deathof Washington was written in imita
tion ofthe manner of Ossian, & published
in 1800,and his powers of genius in 1801;
a funeral sermon on Dr. Ewing, 1808;
his two tracts in the controversy with
Dr. Priestley, 1802. After his death
there was published from his manuscripts
Valerian, a narrative poem, intended in

LITTLE.

LIVINGSTON.

537

part to describe the early persecutions of
Christians, and rapidly to illustrate the in
fluence of Christianity on the raanners of
nations, 4to, 1805. Prefixed to this is a
sketch of Dr. Linn's life by Mr. Brown,
written in a style of uncoramon excel
lence. — His life in Valerian; Portfolio,
new series, i. 21-29, 129-134, 195-^03 ;
Blair's fun. serm.
LITTLE, Moses, a distinguished
physician of Salera, was a descendant of
George L., who lived in Newburyport in
1640. He was born there in 1766 ; grad
uated at Harvard college in 1787 ; and
died at Salem Oct. 13, 1811, aged 35.
He and his wife, the daughter of George
Williams, and two children were the
victims ofthe consumption. In his sur
gical practice he once successfully punc
tured the liver. — Thacher.
LITTLEPAGE, Lewis, an adventu
rer, was born at South Wales, Hanover
county, Virginia, Dec. 19,1762, and lost
his father,when he w'as young. At the re
quest ofhis uncle, Benjamin Lewis, Mr.
Jay, minister at Madrid, was induced to
patronize hira and received hira into his
family in Sept. 1780, and soon advanced
for him, as his uncle failed to make hira
a remittance, about 1,000 dollars in cash.
He volunteered under the duke De Cril-
lon in the expedition against Minorca in
1781 ; and afterwards acconipanied the
count Nassau to the siege of Gibraltar,
and thence to Constantinople and War
saw. The kirig of Poland made him his
confidential secretary in 1786 and sent
him as his agent or ambassador to Russia.
— On the revolution in Poland he retur
ned to Virginia ; and died at Fredericks
burg July 19, 1802, aged 39.— When he
was at New York in Nov. 1785, Mr. Jay
arrested hira for the debt of 1,000 dollars,
without interest, which was still unpaid.
For this he challenged Mr. Jay. The'c"br-
respondence between hira and Mr. Jay
was pubUshed in 1786. Mr. Jay had
reason to complain, not only of the pe
cuniary imposition, but also of other
abuse, as he expresses himself, from the
young man "with my money in his potik-
et and my meat stfll sticking in his teeth."
68

LITTLE TURTLE,an Indian chief,
was defeated by general Wayne in 1792
on the Miami. The confederated Indians
were Wyandots, Miamis, Pottowatto-
miee, Delawares, Shawanoes, Chippe-
ways, Ottoways, and some Senecas. He
lived many years afterwards, and was es
teemed and respected for his courage and
humanity, his wisdom and consistency.
He did much to abolish the horrible cus
tom of human sacriflces. His grave is
near fort Wayne.
LIVERMORE, Samuel, ll.d., chief
justice of New Hampshire, was probably
a descendant of John L., who lived in
Watertown in 1642, and' was born in
Waltham about 1732 ; he graduated at
Princeton in 1752 ; was judge advocate
ofthe admiralty court before the revolu
tion ; from 1782 to 1790 was a judge of
the superior court ; and a senator of the
U. S. from 1793 to 1801. He died at
Holdemess in May 1803, aged 71. , His
wife was the daughter of A. Browne of
Portsraouth. His sons,Edward St. Loe
and Arthur, were , judges of the same
court. — Farmer.
LIVINGSTON, Robert, first posses
sor of the manor of Livingston in the
state of New York, and founder of one of
the most distinguished families in this
country, was the son of John L., who
received the degree of a. m. at Glasgow
in 1621 and was the minister of Ancrum,
but,refusing to take the oath of allegiance
in 1663, was banished, and removed to
Rotterdam, where he was a minister of
the Scot's chapel and died Aug. 9, 1672,
aged 69. Robert L.was born at Ancrum
in 1654, and came to this country with
his nephew about 1672. Hewas a mem
ber ofthe council in 1698. His wife was
ofthe family of Schuyler and the widow
of Mr. Van Rensselaer. He left three
sons, PhUip, Robert and Gilbert. — A Mr,
Livingston, perhaps Mr. R. L. who was
many years speaker of the assembly of N.
York, died at Bostpn Oct 1, 1728.
LIVINGSTON, Peter Van Brugh, a
native of J^ew York, was graduated at
Yale college in 1731 and was long distin
guished as a judicious, weU informed,

538

LIVINGSTON.

and public spirited man. He died at an
advanced age. — Miller, n. 345.
LIVINGSTON, Philip, a patriot of
the revolution, grandson of Robert L.,
was the fourth son of PhiUp, L., who in
herited the manor of Livingston. He
wasborn at Albany Jan. 15, 1716, and
was graduated at Yale college in 1737,
and soori afterwards settled in New York,
where he engaged prosperously in com
mercial pursuits. In 1754 he was elected
an alderman; the population ofthe city
was then only about 10,000. In 1759 he
was chosen a member of the assembly,
the whole colony having only 100,000 in
habitants. He exerted an important in
fluence in promoting measures for the
prosecution of the French war and also
for advancing trie interests of agriculture
and commerce. In 1764 the answer to a
speech of lieutenant governor Colden,
which he wrote, he spoke of " that great
badge of English liberty, of being taxed
only with our own consent." In 1770,
when Edmund Burke was agent of the
colony in London, Mr. Livingston, as
chairman ofthe committee ofthe legisla
ture, conducted the correspondence with
him. He was chosen a member of con
gress in 1774, and again in 1776, when
he signed the declaration of indepen
dence, and also in 1777. It was in astate
of ill health, from the dropsy in the chest,
that he took his seat in congress at York,
Penns., May 5, 1798. He had visited his
friends in Albany, and bid adieu to his
faraily at Kingston, whither they, had
been obliged to flee frora the city. His
health rapidly declined. During his few
last days his son, Henry, then a member
of Washington's family, was with him.
He died June 12, 1778, aged nearly 62.
His wife was the daughter of col. Dirck
Ten Broeck, by whora he had several
children. He firmly belieyed the truths
of Christianity and was a humble follower
of the Savior. By a donation in money
in 1746 he laid the foundation of the pro
fessorship of divinity at Yale coUegej —
Goodrich's lives.
LIVINGSTON, William, ll. d., gov
ernor of New Jersey, a descendant ofthe

family, which emigrated from Scotiand,
was born about the year 1741. He after
wards pursued the study of the law. Pos-
sessing-frora the gift of God a strong and
coraprehensive mind, a brilliant imagina
tion, and a retentivememory,& improving
with unwearied diligence the literary ad-
vantages,which he enjoyed, he soon rose to
eminence in his profession. He early em
braced the cause of civfl and religious Ub
erty. When Great Britain advanced her
arbitrary claims, he employed his pen in
opposing them and in vindicating the
rights ofhis countrymen. After sustain
ing some important offices in New York
he reraoved to New Jersey, and as a rep
resentative of this state -Was one of the
principal members ofthe first congress in
1774. After the inhabitants of New
Jersey had sent their governor, William
FrankUn, under a strong guard to Con
necticut, and had formed a new constitu
tion in July 1776, Mr. Livingston was
elected the first chief magistrate, and such
was his integrity and republican virtue,
that he was annually re-elected till his
death. During the war he bent his exer
tions to support the independence of his
country. By the keenness and severity of
his poUtical writings he exasperated the
British, who distinguished him as an ob
ject of their peculiar hatred. His pen
had no inconsiderable influence in exci
ting that indignation and zeal, which
rendered the militia of New Jersey so re
markable for the alacrity, with which on
any alarm they arrayed themselves
against the common eneiriy. He was in
1787 a delegate to the grand convention,
which formed the constitution of the Uni
ted States. After having sustained the
office of governor for 14 years with great
honor to himself and Usefulness to the
state, he died at his seat near Elizabeth-
town July 25, 1790, aged 67. He was
succeeded by William Patterson. Judge
Brockholst L. was his son : Mr. Jay
married his daughter.
Governor Livingston was frora his
youth reraarkably plain and simple in his
dress and manners. Always the enemy
of parade, he never exhibited himself iri

LIVINGSTON.

539

splendor. He was convivial, easy, mild,
witty, and fond of anecdote. Fixed apd
unshaken in Christian principles, his Ufe
presented an example of incorruptible in
tegrity, strict honor, and warm benevo
lence. He obeyed the precepts of the
gospel,and in the opinion ofhis Christian
friends was sincerely pious. He relied for
salvation solely uponthe merits of Christ.
In his political principles he was purely
republican, having an abhorrence of the
monarchical form of government. He
was an excellent classical scholar. His
writings evince a vigorous mind and a re
fined taste. Intimately acquainted with
the celebrated writers of his day and of
the preceding age, he acquired an ele
gance of style, which placed him araong
the first of raodern writers. He was un
equalled in satire. He pubUshed a poem,
called philosophical solitude ; a funeral
eulogium on president Burr, 1758, which
is considered as a fine specimen of elo
quence ; a letter to the bishop of Landaff,
occasioned by some passages in his ser
mon, 1767; and a number of miscellane
ous tracts, in various periodical works.
The review of the miUtary operations of
1753-1756, ascribed to him & W. Smith
and Scott, which is in Mass. hist. col.
vii. , a literary gentleman of Philadelphia
has said was not written by them. His
son, WiUiam Livingston, issued propo
sals a few years ago for publishing me
moirs of his life, with his miscellaneous
writings in prose and verse ; but the
work was not given to the public. — Macj
whorter's fun. serm; Miller's retrospect.
II. 369.
LIVINGSTON, Robert R., chancel
lor of the state of N. York, was born
Novi 27, 1746. His grandfather, Ro
bert L., was the second son of the first
owner of Livingston's manor, and died
at Cfermont June 27, 1775, aged 88; his
father, Robert Livingston, was a judge of
the suprerae court, who died at Clerraont
Dec. 9, 1775, aged 58 ; his mother was
Margaret Beekman. He was graduated
at King's college, N. York, in 1765.
Having studied law with Wm. Smith,
he was appointed by gov. Tryon recor

der of the city ; an office, which he re
signed at the beginning of the revolu
tion. In April 1775 he was elected frpra
.Duchess county to the , assembly. In
1776 he was a raember of congress, and
was placed on the committee with Jef
ferson, Adams, FrankUn, and Sherman,
for drawing up the declaration of inde
pendence, and on other important com
mittees. In Aug. 1781 hewas appointed
secretary for foreign affairs ; and he com
menced his duties Oct. 20th. The for
eign concerns of congress had been pre
viously conducted by the coraraittee of
secret correspondence. He was dUigent,
prompt, and energetic. DoraSstic af
fairs were also in part intrusted to him.
His valuable correspondence is pub
lished in the Diplomatic correspondence',-
edited by Jared Sparks. On his resigna
tion in 1783 he received the thanks of
congress, and was succeeded by Mr. Jay.
Under the new constitution ofN. York,
which he assisted in forming as chair
man ofthe committee, he was appointed
chancellor, and continued in that place
tiU 1801. In 1788 he was chairman pf
the state convention, which adopted, the
federal constitution, uniting his efforts at
that time with those of Jay and Hamil
ton. In 1794, on his declining the place
of minister to France, which "Washing
ton offered him, it was given to Mr.
Monroe. But in 1801 he was induced
to proceed as minister plenipotentiary to
Paris, appointed -by Mr. Jefferson. By
the first consill he was received with re
spect, and after his mission had closed
Napoleon presented him with a splendid
snuff-box, with a miniature of himself by
Isabey. Assisted , by Mr. Monroe, he
made the very important purchase of
Louisiana for 15 millions of dollars. In
Paris he formed an intimacy with Robert
Fulton, whora he assisted by his cbun
sels and money. After his resignation
and the arrival of general Armstrong,
his successor, he travelled in Italy,
Switzerland, and Germany, returning to
his seat, called Clerraorit,on the Hudson,
in June 1805. He rebuilt a venerable
old, mansion, his summer residence, on

540

LIVINGSTON.

an ample patrimonial estate, called the
upper Livingston's manor, and devoted
the rest of his days tothe promotion of
improvements in agriculture and the arts.
He ^ caused the introduction of steam
navigation in this country. He intro
duced the merino sheep in New York,
and the use of gypsum ; of an agricultu
ral society and of the academy of the
fine arts he was the president. He died
suddenly at Clermont Feb. 26, 1813,
aged ,66. His widow, Maria, died at
Washington in March 1814. He pub
lished an oration before the Cincinnati,
1787 ;an address to the society for pro
moting the arts, 1808 ; essays on agricul
ture ; a work on the merino i?heep.
LIVINGSTON, John H, d. d.,
president of Queen's college, N. Jersey,
was born at 'Poughkeepsie, N. York, in
1746, and graduated at Yale college in
1762. In May 1776 he went to Holland
io prosecute his theological studies in the
university of Utrecht, where he resided
about 4 years, obtaining the degree of
doctor in theology in 1770, in which
¦year he returned to this country and be
came the pastor of the Dutch reformed
church in the city ofN. York. At this
period the Dutch churches in this coun
try were divided into the Conferentie and
the Coetiis parties: by the efforts of Dr.
I<ivingston a happy union was effected in
1772, and the Dutch churches became
independent ofthe classis of Amsterdam.
For this independence he had negotiated
-whilein Holland. In 1784 he was ap
poirited theological professor in the
Dutch church. The duties of minister
and professor he performed till 1810,
when on the removal bf the theological
echpol to Queen's college. New Bruns
wick, he was appointed trie-president of
the college, in which place he remained
till his death,' Jan. 29, 1825, aged 78.
He was eminently learned, pious, and
useful. He published two sermons on
growth in grace in Amer. preacher, vol.
1 ; sanctuary blessings, vol. in ; before
N. Y. mlaaionary society, 1799 ; address
at thecommenceuient at Queen's college,
iSiP.

LIVINGSTON, Brockholst, l l. d.,
judge ofthe supreme court of the U. S.,
was the son of gov. WilUam L. of N.
Jersey, and was born in N. York Nov.
25,1757. He was graduated at Prince
ton college in 1774 ; and in 1776 enter
ed the family of gen. Schuyler, comraan
der of the northern army, and afterwards
was attached to the suite of Arnold at
the time of the capture of Burgoyne.
In 1779, when Mr. Jay, who had mar
ried his sister, repaired to the court of
Spain, he accompanied hira as his private
secretary. After an absence of 3 years
colonel Livingston returned arid studied
law. He was admitted to the bar in
April 1783 ; was appointed judge ofthe
state supreme court Jan. 8, 1802; and
in Nov. 1806 was appointed, in the place
of Mr. Patterson, judge of the supreme
court of the U. S. He died at Washing
ton during a session ofthe court March
18, 1823, aged 65. His daughter, Lou
isa C, died Feb. 1807, aged 16. It is
said, that, having killed a man in a duel
in early Ufe, the recollection of the deed
imbittered' the, remainder of his days.
His mind was acute and powerful, and
he was distinguished as a scholar and
jurist. LIVINGSTON, Henry, general, a
soldier of the revolution, was bom ai
Livingston manor, Jan. 19, 1752. He
joined his-eountry in the struggle for
Uberty ; accompanying a detachment of
militia frora his native county, he acted
as Ueutenant colonel at the capture of
Burgoyne. He died at his residence in
the manor of Livingston May 26, 1823,
aged 71, and his remains were placed in
the family vault. The poor and indus
trious experienced his benevolence and
liberality . He was a friend to the peo
ple, aiming always to secure their liber
ties and rights. His princely estate was
inherited by Henry L-, who married the
eldest daughter of judge W. W. Van
Ness, and died at Claverack Nov. 14,
1828. LIVINGSTON,Henry Walter judge,
a meraber of congress frora 1803 to
1807 ; was born in 1764 ; was graduated

LLOYD.

LOCKWOOD.

541

at Yale coflege in 1786 ; was secretary
in 1792 to Mr. Morris, ambassador to
France ; and died at Livingston's manor,
in Linithgow, N. York, Dec. 22, 1810,
aged 42. He was educated to the law
and possessed good talents. Of the
court of common pleas for Columbia
county he was the judge. In his man
ners he was pleasing, and in his habits of
life correct and honorable.
LLOYD, James, m. D.,a physician,was
the grandson of James L., who came
from Somersetshire in 1670 and after re
siding a short tirae at Shelter Island,
where he married a lady, settled at Bos
ton, where he died in July 1693. His
father was Henry L., who inherited an
estate,purchased by his father, in Queen's
county. Long Island ; his mother was the
daughter of John Nelson of Boston, a
"revolutioner," or one of those, who put
down the tyranny of Andros in 1689. Dr.
L. was bom at Long Island in Apr. 1728.
He was educated at Stratford, where he
formed a friendship with Wm. Sarauel
Johnson, which lasted through life.
Having studied medicine for a time in
Boston, he proceeded to England, where
he attended the London hospitals two
years. In 1752 he returned to Boston
and soon obtained extensive practice. He
introduced improvements in surgery, such
as ligatures for cautery, and amputation
by double incision. Among his numer
ous pupils were gen. Warren, Rand, Jef
fries, and Clark. During the occupation
of Boston by the British, he remained in
the to w n . He thou ght the revolutionary
movements were premature. Yet he was
devoted to his profession, and not a zeal
ous pbUtician. The dispersion of his
connexions and the loss of his two spns
threw a heavy cloud upon his mind for
several years, and taught him the lesson,
which comes to all, that the earth is not
the abode of happiness. In the wartbeene-
my stripped of its timber an estate of 6 pr
700 acres, inherited from his father, at
Queen's village' or Lloyd's Neck, on
Long Island, about 40 miles from N. Y.,
bordering on the sound. In 1789 he
went to England to seek compensation,

but without success, as he would not con
sent to become a British subject, nor even
express an intention of beopming such.
His firie health, which continued tP old
age, was first interrupted by a fafl from
his horse. In 1 809 he was confined to his
house. He died in March 1810, aged
82 years. He left two children ; James
L., and Sarah, relict of Leonard Vassal
Boriand. For neariy 60 years he was in
extensive practice. He was educated in
the episcopal form and was a worshipper
at Trinity church. His house was the
seat of hospitaUty. Multitudes of the
poor experienced his kindness. He had
no avarice of money. His professional
services to them were without charge,
and he was also frequently the almoner
to their necessities. In his last wfll he
directed the cancelment ofthe debts due
frora those, who could ill afford to pay
them. — Thacher's med. biog. 359 — 376.
LLOYD, James, a senator of the U.
S., the son of the preceding, was born
in Boston in 1769 and graduated at Har
vard college in 1787. He afterwards, in
order to acquire a knowledge of coraraer
cial pursuits, entered the counting house
of Thoraas Russell. About the year
1792 he visited Europe and resided for
some time in Russia. In 1808 hewas
elected senator, and in a period of great
political excitement and national difficulty
was a distinguished member of congress.
He opposed the war of 1812. Hewas
re-elected senator in 1822, and during a
service of 5 years was incessant in hi?
efforts to promote the public interest.
He was the chairman of two important
committees,-of commerce and navgl af^
fairs. The result of his investigations
appeared in several pamphlets. He died
at New York in 1831. He married in
1809 the daughter of Samuel Breck of
Philadelphia. He published remarks on
the report ofthe committee of commerce
of March 1826 on the British colonial in
tercourse. LOCKWOOD, Samuel, d. d., minis-s
ter of Andover, Conn., a descendant of
an early settler of Conn,, was a native of
Norwalk, and was graduated at Yale col-

542

LOGAN.

lege in 1745. , He was ordained Feb. 15,
1749, and died June 18, 1791. He con
tributed in the year 1787 one hundred
pounds towards completing the philosoph
ical apparatus in Yale college.— iloZmes'
lifeaf Stiles, 390, 397.
LOGAN, James, distinguished for his
learning, was descended frora a family
formerly of Scotland, and wasborn at
Lurgan in Ireland in 1674. Possessing
a good genius and being favored with a
suitable education, he made considerable
proficiency in the sciences and in various
branches of polite literature. As he was
educated in the sentiments ofthe quakers,
and was acquainted with WflUam Penn,
he was induced to accompany that gen
tieman to Pennsylvania in 1699 in his last
voyage. Under his patronage he was
much employed in public affairs. By his
commission he was in 1701 appointed
secretary of the province and clerk of the
councfl. He afterwards held the offices
of commissioner of property, chiefjustice,
and president ofthe council. He attach
ed himself rather to the interest ofthe pro
prietary and his governor than to that of
the assembly, and was in consequence in
the earlier periods of his Ufe very unpop
ular ; but he soon gave general satisfac
tion in the discharge ofthe duties ofhis
several offices. Upon the death of gov
ernor Gordon in Oct. 1736 the govern
ment of course devolved upon him,as pres
ident of the council ; and during his ad
ministration of two years the utmost har
mony prevailed throughout the province.
Several years previously to his death he
retired frora public affairs and spent the
latter part of his life principally at Stan
ton, his cpuntry seat, near Gerraantown,
where he enjoyed among his books that
leisure, which he much relished, and was
much employed in corresponding with
learned men in different parts of Europe.
He died pet 31, 1751, aged about 77.
He was weU versed in both ancient and
modem learning ; he had made consider-
ble proficiency in oriental literature ; he
was master ofthe Greek, Latin, French,
and German languages ; and he was well
Acquainted with mathematics, natural

and moral philosophy, and natural histo
ry. In his- reUgious sentiments he was a
quaker. He had collected with great
care a library of more than 3,000 vol
umes, which at that tirae was by far the
largest in Pennsylvania, and particularly
rich in works in the Latin and Greek lan
guages, and in the most curious, rare,
and excellent scientific publications.
This valuable collection ofbooks, usually
called the Loganian library-jWas bequeath
ed by its possessor to the citizens of Phila
delphia, and has since been deposited in
one of the apartments belonging to the
library company of that city.
Mr. Logan pubUshed in the philo-
sopical transactions for 1735 an ac
count of his experiments on maize.
The work was afterwards pubUshed in
Latin, entitled, experimenta et meiete-
mata de plantarum gerieratione, &c.
Leyden, 1739 ; and in London by Dr.
FothergUI with an English version
on the opposite page, 1747. He also
pubUshed canonum pro inveniendis re-
fractionum, tura simpUcium, tum in len-
tibus duplicium foois, - demonstrationes
geometricae, &c.' Leyden, 1739 ; and a
translation of Cicero's treatise de senec-
tute, 1744. This was the second trans
lation of a classical arithor, made in A-
raerica. The first was frora Ovid by
Geo. Sandys of Virginia. — Proud's hist.
Pennsylvania, i. 448. 479 ; Miller's retr.
I. 134 ; II. 340.
LOGAN, Martha, a great florist, was
the daughter of Robert Daniel of S.
CaroUna. In her 15th year she married
Geo. Logan, son of col. Geo. L., and
died in 1779, aged 77. At the age of 70
she wrote a treatise on gardening.
' LOGAN, an eloquent chief, was the
second son of Shikellemus, a celebrated
chief of the Cayuga nation, whose resi
dence was at Shamokin. Logan was the
friend of the white people, he admired
their ingenuity, and wished to be a
neighbor to them. In April or May 1 774,
when Logan's residence was on the Ohio,
his family was murdered by a party of
whites under the comriiand of captain
Michael Creaap. The occasion ofthis

LOGAN.

LOOMIS.

543

outrage was a report, that the Iridians
had killed a number of white persons,
who were looking out for new settiements.
A war immediately commenced, and dur
ing the summer great numbers of inno
cent men, women, and children fell vic
tims to the tomahawk and scalping knife
of the Indians. In the autumn ofthe
sarae year a decisive battle was fought at
the mouth of the great Kanhaway be
tween the collected forces ofthe Shawan
ese, Mingoes, and Delawares, and a de
tachment ofthe Virginia miUtia. The In
dians were defeated & sued for peace. Lo
gan however disdained to be seen among
the suppliants. But, lest the sincerity of
a treaty, from which so distinguished a
chief absented hiraself, should be mistrus
ted, he sent by a messenger the following
speech to be deUvered to lord Dunmore,
governor of Virginia. " I appeal to any
white man to say, if ever he entered Lo
gan's cabin hringry, and he gave him not
meat ; if ever he came cold and naked,
and he clothed him not. During the
course of the last long and bloody war
Logan remained idle in his cabin, an ad
vocate for peace. Such was my love for
the whites, that my countrymen pointed,
as they passed, and sai^, Logan is the
friend of white men. I had even thought
to have Uved with you, but for the inju
ries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the
last spring, in cold blood and unprovoked,
murdered all the relations of Logan, not
even sparing my women and children.
There runs not a drop of my blood in the
veins of any living creature. This cal
led on me for revenge. I have sought it ;
I have killed many ; I have fully glutted
my vengeance. For ray country I rejoice
at the beams of peace. But do not har
bor a thought that mine is the joy of fear.
Logan never felt fear. He will riot turn
on his heel to save his life. Who is
there to mourn for Logan ? Not one."
After this peace Logan sunk into a
deep melanchbl'y, and declared that life
wasa torment to him. He became in
some measure delirious. He went -to
Detroit, where he yielded himself to the
habit of intoxication. On his return,

between that place and Miami, he was
murdered. In Oct 1781 Mr. Heckewel-
der was shown the spot by some Indians,
where this event was said to have occur
red. — Jefferson's notes on Virginia, que
ry VI, and appendix.
LOGAN, George, m. d., a senator of
theU. S., the grandsonof Jaraes Logan,
was the son of Wra. L., and was born
at Stanton, near Philadelphia, Sept. 9,
1753. After being 3 years at the medical
school of Edinburgh, he travelled on the
continent, and returned to this country
in 1779. After applying himself for
sonie years to agriculture & serving in the
legislature, he was induced in June 1798
to embark for Europe with the sole pur
pose of preventing a war between Amer
ica and Fr'ance. He made his way from
Hamburg to Paris ; and there was intro
duced to MeiUn, the chief director. At
this period Mr. Gerry, the American
minister, had departed, an embargo had
been laid on our shipping, and many sea
men had been imprisoned. Dr. L. per
suaded the French government to raise
the embargo, and prepared the way for a
negotiation, which terminated in peace.
He was indeed reproached, and accused
of being sent by a faction ; but on his re
turn he vindicated himself in a letter of
Jan. 12, 1799. He'was a senator in the
7th and 8th congresses from 1801 to 1807.
He went to England in Feb. 1810 on the
same peaceful mission, which led him
to France, but riot with thesame success.
He died at Stanton Aprfl 9, 1821, aged
66. Mr. Duponceau said of him, — " And
art thou too gone, Logan .'' friend of man !
friend bf peace I friend of science ! Thou,
whose persuasive accents couki still the
angry passions of the rulers of men and
dispose their iriinds to listen to the voice
of reason and justice?" He was an ac
tive inember of the board of agriculture,
and bf the philosophical society. He
published experiments qn gypsum, and
on the rotationpf crops, 1797.
LOOMIS, Harvey, first minister of
Bangor, Maine, was a native of Connec
ticut ; graduated at Williams cellege in
1809 ; and was Ordained Nov. 27, 1811,

544

LORD.

LORING.

when the church of Bangor was formed,
consisting partly of members of what was
called the Orrington church. On Sun
day morning, Jan. 2, 1825, Mr. Loomis
walked in a snow storm up to his meet
ing house, with a sermon on this text,
" This year thou shalt die." When he
had seated hiraself in the pulpit, he had a
fit of the apoplexy and died in ten min
utes, aged about 36. His successor is
S. L. Pomeroy . He was a popular and
useful preacher. He published a sermon
before the Maine missionary society,
1823. On occasion of his death a young
lady ofhis society wrote some lines, cal
led " The Deserted Conference Room,"
of which the following is an extract.
"Ye need not hang that candle by the desk.
Ye may remove his chair, aud take away his
book;
He will not come to night. He did not hear the
bell,
"Which told the hour of prayer. —
Do ye remember, how he'd sometimes sit
In this now vacant corner, quite hid by its
obscurity.
Only ye might perceive his matchless eye
Striving to read the feelings of your/souls.
That he might know, if ye would hear tlie voice
of Je.susi
Ye do remember. — "Well — he's not there now ;
Te may be gay and thoughtless , if ye will.
His glance shall not reprove you, 
There  listen to that hymn of praise: 
Did ye not hear an angel-voice take up the lof
ty strain.
For Thov, O t,amb of God, art worthy 1
'Twas his voice ; ~~^
Not rising, as io former days from this low
temple:
Only the clearest, softest strain , waving its way
From the celestial world, JustEti-ikes the listen
ing ear, 
And now 'tis gone.'-'
LORD, Joseph, first minister of Dor
chester, S. CaroUna, was a native of
Charlestown, Mass. and was graduated
at Harvard college in 1691. In the faU
of 1695 he was ordained pastor of the
church, which was gathered in Dorches
ter, Mass ., with the design of removing
to S. CaroUna. They arrived Dec. 20th,
and began a settlement on Ashley river
about 18 railes from Charleston. The sa

crament of the Lord's supper was first
administered in CaroUna Feb. 2, 1696.
Hugh Fisher succeeded Mr. Lord and
died Oct. 6, 1734. — Holmes' annals, ii.
34; Colled hist. soc. ix. 156, 157 j
Guildersleeve's cent, sermon.
LORD, Benjamin, d. d., minister of
Norwich, Conn., was graduated at Yale
coUege in 1714, and was afterwards a tu
tor in that seminary two years. He was
ordained in Oct. 1717 as successor of
Mr. Woodward, who was the next rain
ister after Mr. Fitch, and, continuing his
public labors about sixty years, he Uved
to see 8 reUgious societies, which had
grown out of the one, of which he had
taken the charge. Two other parishes
were formed at the time of his settle
ment. During the half century of his
ministry, ending in 1767, about a thous
and persons had died. Of persons admit
ted to the church there were 330. The
covenant was owned by 410, of whom 90
joined the church ; and 2050 were bapti
zed. He died in April 1784, aged 90,
having been a man of distinction and a
faithful, evangelical preacher. He pub
lished a discourse on the parable of the
merchant man seeking goodly pearls,
1722 ; true Christianity explained, and
enforced, 1727 ; on the character, birth,
and privileges of God's chUdren, 1742 ;
an account ofthe extraordinary recovery
of Mercy Wheeler, 1743 ; at the election,
1752 ; on the death of Rev. Henry Wfl-
les, 1759 ; of Rev. Hezekiah Lord, 1763 ;
of Hezekiah Huntington, 1773; of Mrs.
W"illes, 1774 ; at the instalment of Na
thaniel Whitaker, 1761 ; at the ordina
tion of Levi Hart, 1762; a half century
discourse, Nov. 29, 1767, being fifty
years from his ordination.
LORING, Israel, rainister of Sudbu
ry, Mass. was bom at Hull April 6, 1682,
and was graduated at Harvard college in
1701. He was ordained at Sudbury Nov.
20, 1706, as successor of Mr. Sherman.
A new church was formed on the east
side of the river, in 1623, and William
Cooke was settled as its pastor March 20.
Mr. Loring died March 9, 1772,/aged
80, having preached on the first day ofthe

LOUISIANA.

LOVELL.

545

month. He was a venerable man, of
primitive piety and manners, and faithful
and useful in his ministerial work. ' He
had preached for near 70 years, and was
zealously attached to the doctrines of the
gospel. His successor vvas Jacob Bige
low. He published the nature and neces
sity of the new birth, 1728, with a pre
face by Mr. Prince ; on the deathof Rob
ert Breck, 1731 ; onthe torments of hell,
1732; election sermon, 1737; justifica
tion not by works, but by faith in Jesus
Christ, 1749 ; at the, ordination of G.
Richardson, 1754.
LOUISIANA, one of the United
States, is a part of what was formerly the
territory of Louisiana. New Orleans
was founded at the beginning of the last
century. In 1713 there were 400 inhabi
tants in the colony, principally French.
By the peace of 1763 France ceded her
possessions east ofthe Mississippi to Eng
land'; in the preceding year she had ced
ed the territory west of the Mississippi
and the island of Orleans to Spain. By
the peace of 1783 Florida was ceded to
the Spaniards. By an arrangeraent with
Spain in 1795 the free navigation of the
Mississippi was secured to the U. States.
Louisiana was afterwards ceded to France.
At the moraent, when the French force,
destined to occupjr the country, was
blockaded in the Dutch ports, Louisiana
was purchased" by the U. S. of the first
consul for 15 raillions of dollars. This
was a raost important measure of the ad
ministration of Mr. Jefferson. Two ter
ritorial governments were constituted, —
Orleans and Louisiana ; the latter is now
Missouri. The former was admitted into
the Union as an iridependent state in
1812 with the name of Louisiana. This
state -is bounded east by the Mississippi,
north by the Arkansas territory, west by
the Sabine river, and south by the guff
of Mexico. The populatibri,in 1820, was
153,407 ; slaves 69,064: in 1830,214,693.
The whole southern part is an aUuvial
tract Upwards of 10,000 square miles
of land are Uable to be overflowed by the
Mississippi, though perhaps not 5,000
are actually inundated in each year.
69

The -prairie lands make a fifth ofthe sur
face. The country produces cotton, su
gar, rice,and corn. The olive tree grows
wefl, with the orange and the pomegran
ate. In 1830 the bales of cotton export-
I ed were 351,890. The value of all the
'exports of 1829 was 12,386,060 dollars,
[ and the imports 6,857,209 dollars. Con
gress granted 46,088 acres of- land for a
[college, and 873,000 acres fbr schools.'
There are colleges at New Orleans and
Jackson. The civfl law, which prevailed
under the French dominion, is retained,
except as altered by statute. By the con
stitution the two houses select for gov
ernor one of the two candidates having
the most votes of the electors, and the
governor is to be chosen fbr 4 years ;
members of congress are ineligible. The
representatives are chosen for 2 years arid
the senators for 4. The clergy are ex
cluded from civil office. The judges are
removable by address.-
LOVELL, John, a schoolmaster in
Boston,was a descendant of ohe'of the first
settlers of Mass., and was graduated at
Harvard college in 1728, and, after suc
ceeding Jeremy Gridley as assistant, for
some years, in the south . grararaar or
Latin school, was placed at the head of
the school in 1738. Hewas "the master"
nearly 40 years. Many of the principal
men of the revolution had been under his
tuition. But unhappily he was hiraself a
loyalist and in 1776 accorapanied the
British army to Halifax, where he died
in 1778, aged about 70. He was suc-
ceedefl in his schook by Samuel Hunt.
He was a good scholar, of solid judg
ment, rigid in discipline, yet humor
ous and an agreeable companion. — He
published a funeral oration on P. Faneuil,
1743, and several poUtical and theologi
cal pamphlets. In the Pietas &c. printed
at Cambridge he wrote no. 2, 25, 26, and
27, partly in Latin. — Eliot.
LOVELL, James, a schoolmaster in
Boston, son of the preceding, was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1756, and
was for many years a distinguished teach
er of the Latin school, associated with
his father. In the revolutibn he was a

546

LOVEWELL.

LOW.

firm whig,devoted to thecause of liberty.
For his patriotic zeal gen. Gage Shut
him up in prison : and he was carried as
a prisoner by the British troops to Hal
ifax, where he was for a long time kept
in close confinement. The father was a
tory refugee ; the son a whig prisoner.
On his return to Boston he was elected
a member of congress, in which station
his services were of great advantage to
his country. On the committee of for
eign correspondence he was laborious and
faithful. One ofthe letters of the com
mittee, to which his name is affixed, is
dated Oct. 1777. In May 1773 he was
associated with R. H. Lee and R. Mor
ris. Before the establishment of the pres
ent constitution of Massachusetts he was
the coUector of the custoras for Boston,
and afterwards was naval officer fbr Bos
ton and Charlestown, in which station he
continued till his death. He died July
1814, aged 76. He pubUshed oratio in
funere H. Flyntii, 1760. Several of his
letters are found in the life of A. Lee.
LOVEWELL, John, captain, the
hero of Pigwawkett, was the son of
Zaccheus L., who was an ensign in the
army of 0. Cromwell, and who settled
at Dunstable, and died there, aged 120,
being the oldest person, who ever died in
New Hampshire. Zaccheus had 3 sons ;
Zaccheus, a colonel in the French war of
1759; Jonathan, a preacher, representa
tive, and judge ; and the subject of this
article. In the Indian wars a large boun
ty being offered forscalps,capt. Lovewell,
at the head ofa volunteer company of
30 men, marched to the north of Winipise-
ogee lake and killed an Indian and took a
boy prisoner Dec. 19, 1724. Having ob
tained his reward at Boston, he augraent-
ed his company to 70 and marched to the
same place. There dismissing SO men
for the want of provisions, he proceeded
witb 40 men to a pond in Wakefield, now
called Lovewell's pond, where he discov
ered 10 Indians asleep by a fire; they
were on their march from Canada to the
frontiers. He killed them all Feb. 20,
1725, and with savage triumph entered
Dover withtheir scalps hooped and ete-

vated on poles, for each of which one
hundred pounds was paid out of the pub
lic treasury at Boston. He marched a
third time with 46 men. Leaving a few
men at a fort, which he built at Ossapy
pond, he proceeded with 34 men to the
north end ofa pond in Pigwawkett, now
Fryeburg in Maine, and there a severe
action was fought with a party of 42 In
dians, commanded by Paugus and Wah-
wa. May 8, 1725. At the first fire Love-
well and 8 of his men were kUled ; the
remainder retreated a short distance to a
favorable position and defended them
selves. With the pond in their rear, the
mouth of an unfordable brook on their
right, a rocky point on their left, and
having also the shelter of some large pine
trees, they fought bravely frora 10 o'
clock till evening, when the Indians, —
who had lost their leader, Paugus, killed
by Mr. Chamberlain, — retired, and fled
from Pigwawkett. Ensign Bobbins and
two others were mortally wounded; these
were necessarily left behind to die. Elev
en, wounded but able to march, and nine,
unhurt, at the rising ofthe moon quitted
the fatal spot. Jonathan Frye, the chap
lain, lieut. FarweU, and another man died
in the woods in consequence of their
wounds. The others, with the widows
and children ofthe slain, received a grant
ofLovewell's town, or Suncook, now,
Pembroke, N. H., in 1728, in recompense
of their sufferings. The bodies of 12 were
afterwards , found by col. Tyng and bu
ried. Capt. L. had two sons ; John died
in Dunstable, and col. Neheraiah in Co
rinth, Verraont. His daughter married
capt Joseph Baker of Pembroke. The
last of his company, Tho. Ainsworth,
died at Brookfield Jan. 1794, aged 85.—
Symmes' memoirs ofthe fight; Farmer;
Belknap, n. 61 — 70 ; Farmer's hist. eol.
I.; II. 94, ISO; HI. 64, 173.
LOW, Jaraes, m. d., a physician, -was
born at Albany Dec. 9, 1781, and was
educated at Schenectady college. He
studied his profession 4 years at Edin
burgh, and returning in 1808 coramenced
the ptactice at Albany in connexion with
his former teacher, Dr.Wm. McClelland,

LOWELL.

LOWNDES.

547

and was extensively eraployed . He died
Feb. 3, 1822, aged 40. For some years
he delivered lectures on chemistry. He
was a scholar, an enthusiast in poetry,
and a promoter of learning. He publish
ed an inaugural dissertation, de tetano,
1807 ; account of the epidemic pneumo
nia in med. reg. iv ; observations on the
moth destructive to bees ; notes to Hoo
per's Vade Mecum, and to Bell on the
venereal. — Thacher.
LOWELL, John, minister in Newbu
ry, was a descendant of Percival L., a
merchant, -who came from Bristol, Eng
land, and settled at Newbury, where he
died Jan. 8, 1665. His father, Ebenezer
L. of Boston, died in Boston in 1711,
aged 36. He was born March 14, 1704;
graduated at Harvard college in 1721 ;
was ordained over the third church in
Newbury Jan. 19, 1726 ; and died May
15, 1767, aged 63. Mr. Gary was his
successor. He was amiable, candid, lib
eral, and sociahrespected for his learning,
and a useful minister. He pubUshed a
sermon at the ordination of T. Barnard,
1738 ; before col. Titcomb and his sol
diers, 1755 ; on thedeath of col. Moses
Titcomb, who fell near lake George,
1760. — Tucker's fun. serm.
LOWELL, John, i. l. d., judge, the
son of the preceding, was graduated at
Harvard college in the year 1760. Hav
ing settled in Boston as a lawyer, he was
chosen a member of congress in 1781 .
Ofthe convention,which formed the con
stitution of Mass., he was a distinguished.
member. In 1789 Washington appoin
ted him judge ofthe district court ; and
on the new organization, of the courts of
the United States in Feb. 1801 he was
appointed chief judge ofthe first circuit.
He died at Roxbury May 6, 1802, aged
58. Uniting to a vigorous mind, which
was enriched with literary acquisitions, a
refined taste and conciliatory manners,
and being sincere in the profession and
practice of the Christian religion, his de
cease was deeply felt and lamented. For
1 8 years he was a member ofthe corpora
tion of Harvard college, and o.ne ofthe
founders of the American academy. His

son, Francis C, proprietor ofthe Lowell
factories, died in 1817 ; his sons, John
and Charles, are still living. He wrote
an English poem, no 3, in the "Pitas"
Sic.printed at Cambridge. He pronounced
before the American academy of arts and
sciences in Jan, 1791 an elegant eulogy
on theirlate president, James, Bowdoin,
which is prefixed to the second volume
ofthe memoirs of that society.
LOWNDES, WiUiam, l l, d., a
statesman, was a native of S. CaroUna,
and was a distinguished meraber of con
gress for a period often years from about
1812 to 1822, when from ill health he
resigned. In 1818 he was. chairman of
the committee of ways & means. While
on a voyage from Phfladelphia to Lon
don in the ship Moss he died at sea, Oct.
27, 1822, aged 42. His family was with
him. — A -writer in the National Regis
ter describes him as tall, slender, emacia
ted, ofa rueful countenance ; a man of
wealth and probity ; modest, retiring,
and unambitious ; with a mind of the
first order, vigorous, coraprehensive, and
logical, and a memory of uncommon
power, and standing in the first rank of
American statesmen. There must have
been some most extraordinary excellen
ces in his character, for he was respected
and beloved even by his political adver
saries. He bad a heart of kindness, pu
rity of morals, frankness and candor, a
sound judgment, wisdora pre-eminent, &
patriotism most ardent. His feeble voice
and awkward gesticulation were of little
advantage to his oratory. But his strong,
comprehensive mind and his love of coun
try, together with his virtues, gave him
a persuasive power. On hearing ofthe
victory oflake Erie, he rose and electri
fied the house with hia eloquence. Had
he lived, he might have been the presi
dent ofthe U. S. -It was said of him in
corigress by Mr. Taylor of N. York, —
" the highest & best hopes of the coun
try looked to Wm. Lowndes for their ful
filment The most honorable office in
the civflized work!, the chief magistracy
ofthis free people, would have been illus
trated by his virtues and talents.'' Con-

548

LUDLOW.

LYMAN.

cerning that office, of seeking which by
any intrigue, or artifice, or effort of his
own whatever Mr. Lowndes was totally
incapable, he remarked, " the office of
president of the U. S. is one neither to
be solicited nor declined. " It were happy
for our country, ifthe same modest spirit
e-terted a controlling spirit over our great
statesmen, and if the honors of high of
fice were merited by public services and
private virtues, and not sought.
LUDLOW, Roger, deputy governor
of Massachusetts and of Connecticut, was
a pious gentleman ofa good family in the
west of England, and came to this coun
try with Maverick and Warham and was
one ofthe first settlers of Dorchester in
1630. He was an assistant 4 years, be
ing chosen such in England. In May
1632, when goV. Winthrop told him,
that the people intended to ask of the
next general court, that the assistants
might be chosen annually, " he grew into
passion, and said, that then we should
have no government, &c. " In 1 634 he
was deputy governor ; but failing to be
chosen governor, he complains of the
election, as agreed upon by the deputies
in private. For this he was left out of
the magistracy. In consequence he re
moved in 1635 with the first settlers to
Windsor ; and in Connecticut he was for
19 years one of the most useful and dis
tinguished men. He was every year a
magistrate or deputy governor ; he was
also one of the commissioners ofthe uni
ted colonies. Removing in 1639 to Fair
field, his situation made him particularly
interested in the protection of the wes
tern frontier against the Dutch and Indi
ans. The commissioners,in consequence
of an alleged plot of the Dutch, voted in
1653 to make war against them ; but
Massachusetts refused to concur, rauch
to the dissatisfaction of N. Haven and in
disregard, it was asserted, ofthe power,
stipulated to belong to the commission
ers, to make war and peace. At this pe
riod the inhabitants of Fairfield deter
mined to make war with Manhadoes,
and,chosa Mr. Ludlow commander in
chief. He accepted the appointment.

But the general court ofN. Haven dis
countenanced the project and punished
his officers, Basset and Chapman, for at
tempting to make an insurrection, and
for raising volunteers. Probably in c^sn-
sequence of this affair Mr. Ludlow em
barked in Apr. 1654 for Virginia with his
family, and carried away the records of
Fairfield with hira. The time and place
ofhis death are not known. Mr. Endi
cott was his brother in law. He was
ambitious and aspiring. Yet be deserves
honorable remembrance for his knowedge
of jurisprudence & various public services.
He compiled the first Connecticut code
oflaws, which was printed in 1672.
LYMAN, Phinehas, major general,
was born at Durham, Conn., about 1716;
was graduated in 1738 at Yale college,
in which he- was afterwards a tutor 3
years ; and settled as a lawyer in Suffield.
He sustained various public offices. In
1755 he was appointed major general and
commander in the chief of the Cpnnecti-
cut forces. When sir W. J.ohnson was
wounded in the battle oflake George, the
command devolved on him and he ani
mated his men to a successful combat.
For five hours,in front of trip breast work
he issued his orders with the utmost
coolness. Yet Johnson, who was in every
respect his inferior, in his mean jealousy
gave him no praise ; he wished to bear
away the honor himself; he-was in fact
made a baronet for this battle, and receiv
ed 5,O00Z, In 1758 he served with
Abercrombie, and was with lord Howe,
when he was kiUed. He was also at the
capture of Crown Point by Amberstand at
the surrender of Montreal. In 1762 he
commanded the provincial troops in the
expedition against Havana. His services
were important and he acquired a high
reputation. In 1763 he went to Eng
land as the . agent of a company, caUed
the " Military Adventurers, " and wast
ed 11 years ofhis Ufe. The company
had purchased ofthe 6 nations of Indians,
under the authority of Connecticut, a
tract of land on the Susquehannah river.
The proprietors of Pennsylvania claim
ing the same tract, the government of

LYMAN.

LYNDE.

549

Connecticut recommended to the com
pany to obtain a confirmation from the
king. For this purpose gen. Lyman
went to England. Probably he formed
other projects. Dr.D wight represents, that
the object ofthe company was to obtain
a tract on tiie Mississippi and Yazoo.
Being deluded for years by idle promises,
his mind sunk down into imbecility. At
last his wife, who was a sister of Dr.
Dwight's father, sent his .second son to
England to solicit his return in 1774.
About this tirae a tract was granted to
the petitioners. After his return he em-
Ibarkcd with his eldest son for the Missis
sippi. Both died soon after their arrival
at West Florida in 1775. Mrs. Lyraan
and all her family, but her second son,
accompanied by her only brother,
col. Dwight, proceeded in 1776 to the
neighborhood of Natchez. Within a
few months she died, and col. Dwight
also died in 1777. The Spanish warcom-
pelled the whole company in 1781 or
1782 to fiee from Natchez arid with in
credible sufferings to make a journey of
more than 1,000 miles to Savannah,
where two of the daughters of gen. Ly
man died. His four sons joined the Brit
ish in the war. One of them, once bril
liant, gay, and ingenious, came to Suf
field, about 1783, penny less, and died in
poverty and melancholy. The history of
this unhappy family is not encouraging
to adventure and emigration. — Divight,
I. 305 ; III. 361.
LYMAN, Joseph, d. d., minister of
Hatfield, Mass., was graduated in 1769
at Yale college, where he was a tutor
from 1770 to 1771. Soon afterwards he
was ordained at Hatfield ; and died in con
sequence of a cancerous humor, which
afflicted him nearly 2 years, March 27,
1823, aged 78- In his painful sickness he
never complained: his last words express
ed his trust in Christ as a Savior. He
was an original meraber ofthe Araeriean
foreign mission society, and in 1823 and
several subsequent years was its president.
He published election sermon, 1787 ; two
ocasional sermons, 1804 ; at the ordina
tion of H. Lord, 1804 ; at the convention.

1806 ; at the opening of the bridge, 1807;
at Chariestown, 1811 ; onthe death of
S. Hopkins, 1811 ; two sermons ori the
overthrow ofthe French army in Russia,
1818 ; the foreign mission sermon, 1819.
LYMAN, William, brig, general, con
sul ofthe U. S. at London, was a native
of Northampton, Mass., and graduated
at Yale college in 1776. For some years
he was a raember of congress from Hamp-*
shire county, then - residing at Nprth-
ampton. He went in 1805 as consul to
London, where he died in Oct. 1811,
aged about 58.
LYNCH, Thomas, a patriot of the
revolution, was born Aug. 5, 1749 at
Prince George's parish, South CaroUna.
His ancestor, Jonack L., emigrated from
Ireland. He was educated at Eton and
Cambridge, England ; and afterwards
studied law at the Temple. In 1772 he
returned. In 1775 he commanded a
corapany in the first S. Carolina regi
ment. Being Chpsen to succeed his fa
ther, then in ill health, as a member of
congress, he signed in 1776 the declara-
ation pf independence. He set out on
his return in company with his father,
who died at Annapolis. His own ill
health constrained hira at the close of
1779 to erabark with his wife in a ship,
coraraanded by Capt. Morgan ; but noth
ing was ever afterwards known concern
ing the vessel. Probably he and his
companion went down together intb the
depth of the ocean. He was about 28
years of age. He had ability, integrity,
and firmness, and was amiable in the re
lations of private Ufe. — Goodrich.
LYNDE, Benjamin, chief justice of
Massachusetts, was born at Salem in 1 666;
graduated at Harvard college in 1681 ;
and studied law at the Temple. He was
appointed ajudge in 1712, and chiefjus
tice in 1729; . From 1729' to 1737 he was
a raember ofthe councfl. He died March
28, 1745, aged 79.
LYNDE, Benjamin, chief justice of
Massachusetts, son ofthe preceding, was
graduated in 1718 ; frora 1737 he was for
many years a meraber ofthe council. - At
the trial of capt. Preston in 1770 he pre-

550

LYNDON.

MADISON.

aided in court. He resigned the office of
chiefjustice in 1772.
LYNDON, Josias, governor of R. Is
land in 1768, died in 1778 aged 74. He
was a meraber of the baptist society in
Providence, to which he bequeathed his
house and other property.
LYON, Richard, a poet, came early to
this country. In 1649 he was a private
tutor to a young EngUsh student at Cam
bridge, and Uved with president Dunster:
he was a preacher. Aftpr Eliot's 'Bay
Psalms' were published, when it was
deemed necessary to revise them, Mr.
Lyon was appointed to this service vvith
president Dunster. Many passages from
other parts of the Bible, called the Spirit
ual Songs ofthe Old and New Testament,
are inserted. The 20th ed. was published
in 1722.
LUZERNE,chevalier Caesar Anne De
La,minister frorii France to the U.S., suc
ceeded M. Gerard, having been previous
ly employed in a diplomatic capacity in
Bavaria. He arrived at Philadelphia
Sept 21,1779, from which time till the
end ofthe war he continued in his office,
having the esteem and confidence of the
American people. After five years he
was succeeded by M. Barb^ Marbois, the
secretary of legation,as Charg^ d' affaires.
Frpm Jan. 1788 Luzerne was ambassa
dor at London till his death Sept. 14,
1791, at the age of 50. His correspon
dence, in regard to America, is published
in the 10th and 11th vols, of Diplomatic
correspondence, edited by Jared Sparks.
MACCLINTOCK, Samuel, n. d.,
minister of Greenland, N. Hampshire,
wasborn in Medford, Mass. May 1,1732.
His father was a native of Ireland. He
was graduated at the college in New Jer
sey in 1751. Being invited to become an
assistant to WflUara Alien of Greenland,
he was ordained about the year 1757, and
after a ministry of 47 years hedied April
27,1804, aged 71. Hewas an eminent
divine. Though he had no predilection for
the field of controversy ; yet, when forced
into it, he evinced hiraself a master of ar
gument. An enemy to all civil and re
Ugious impositions, during the war

he was repeatedly in the army in the
character ofa chaplain. His exhorta
tions animated the soldiers to the conflict.
Under afflictions he was submissive to
the divine will. As he was averse to pa
rade, he directed his funeral to be attended
in a simple manner. He pubUshed a ser
mon on the justice of God in the mortali
ty of man, 1759 ; a sermon against the
baptists, entitled, the artifices of deceivers
detected, and Christians warned against
them, 1770 ; Herodias, or cruelty and
revenge the effects of unlawful pleasure,
1772 ; 'a sermon at the commencement of
the new constitution, 1784; an epistola
ry correspondence between himself and
J. C. Ogden, 1791 ; at the ordination of
Jesse Appleton, 1797 ; a sermon, entitied
the choice, occasioned by the drought, the
fever, and the prospect of war, 1798 ; an
oration coramemorative of Washington,
1800. — Fiscal, evang. mag. i. 9-12.
MACKHN, Robert, was born iri
Scotland and died at Wakefield, N. H.,
in 1787, aged 115. He lived several
years in Portsmouth.
"MADISON, James, bishop of Virgin
ia, was born Aug. 27, 1749 near Port
Republic, Rockingham county, Virginia.
His father was clerk of West Augusta dis
trict. He was educated at William and
Mary college, and was distinguished for
classical learning. Under Mr. Wythe
he studied law and was admitted to the
bar ; but he soon resolved to devote him
self to theology. In 1773 he was chosen
professor of mathematics in WilUam and
Mary college, andin 1777 was apppinted
the president, and visited England for his
improveraent in science. UntU 1784 he
was not only president, but professor of
mathematics, and afterwards was profes
sor of natural, moral, and political philoso
phy until his death. He was in the lec
ture room frora 4 to 6 hours every day
through the week. He first introduced
lectures on political economy. In 1 788 he
was chosen bishop. As a preacher he
was eloquerit. He died March 6,
1812, aged 62. His wife was Mrs. Ma
ry Tait of Williamsburg.. He was tall
and slender, ofa delicate constitution, tem-

MADISON.

MAINE.

551

perate and abstemious. In his disposi
tion he was mild and benevolent, of sim
ple, but courteous and winning manners.
— He published a thanksgiving sermon,
1781 ; a letter to J. Morse, 1795 ; ad
dress to the episcopal church, 1799 ; dis
course on the death of Washington ; a
large map of Virginia ; and several pie
ces in Barton's journal.
MADISON, George, governor of
Kentucky, son ofthe preceding, at the age
of 17 went out as a soldier in defence
ofthe western frontier, and was engaged
in several battles w^ith the Indians. In
St. Clair's defeat he was wounded. In
the war of 1812 he was an officer at the
.battle of Raisin. After having been 20
years auditor of the public accounts, he
was chosen governor for the term of foul
years in 1816, but in a few weeks after
his election he died at Paris in Oct 1816
and was buried at Frankfort. Lf. gov.
Slaughter was, in consequence, the act
ing governor nearly 4 years.
MADOCKAWANDO, sachem of
Penobscot, or chiefof the Malecites, .was
a powerful chief in the war bf 1676:
Mugg was his prime minister. At the
siege and capture of Casco fort in May
1690 by Portneuf, whom capt. Davis
calls Burniffe, hewas present with his
Indians. June 10, 1692 he co-operated
whh a Frenchman in an unsuccessful
attack on Storer's garrison in Wells,
commanded by capt. Convers. He after
wards entered into the treaty of Pe
maquid, but Thury, the missionary, per
suaded him again perfidiously to take up
the hatchet. In 1694 he accompanied
the Sieur de Villieu, who had under him
260 Indians, in the attack on Oyster river,
at Piscataqua, kilUng and capturing July
17th nearly 100 persons, and burning 20
houses. Matawando, as Charlevoix
calls him, fought bravely by the side of
the Frenchman. He carried the scalps to
Canada and was rewarded by Frontenac.
MAGRUDER, Allen B., a senator of
the U. S. from Louisiana in 1812, had
been previously a lawyer in Kentucky.
He died at Opelousas in Aprfl 1822 . He
had collected materials fora general histo

ry of the Indians. He pubUshed a char
acter of Mr. Jefferson, and reflections on
the cession of Louisiana to the U. S.,
1805. MAINE, one of the United States,
was discoverd by Martin Bring in June
1603. He ranged the coast from the
Penobscot to Massachusetts bay. The
country was called Mawooshen. In 1605
George Weymouth visited- the Penob
scot river. An attempt -was made, tp
form a permanent settlement in Maine in
1607, thesame year in which Virginia
was .settled, and 13 years before the set
tiement at Plymouth. George Popham
and Raleigh Gilbert commanded the Gift
and the Mary and John, and arrived
with loo men at the island of Monhegan
Aug. 11th, and landed at the mouth of
the Sagadahoc or Kennebec, on the west
ern shore, near cape Small point. Gov.
Sullivan mistakes in supposing, that they
landed on Stage Island, for Purchas says,
they landed " in a westerly peninsula."
.There they heard a serraon ; read their
patent and laws ; and built a fort, called
fort St, George. When the ships return
ed Dec. 5th, they left a colony of 45 per
sons. Pophara was president, and Gil
bert admiral. During the winter the
store house was burnt, and Popham died,
and the colony was so muCh discouraged,
that when, in 1608, ships arrived with
supplies, it was concluded to return in
them to England. Purchas relates, that
the settlers were informed by the Indians
of cannibals near SagadahoC " with teeth
three inches long, but they saw thera not."
The first permanent settlement was made
in 1630.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges obtained a
charter of the land from Piscataqua to
Sagadahoc, called the province ofMaine.
The narae probably was given from
Maine in France, of which the queen of
England was the proprietor. Gorges
set up a govemraent. In 1640 the first
general court was held at Saco. But this
government being feeble, the inhabitants
submitted themselves to Massachusetts
in 1652, and sent deputies tothe general
court at Boston. In the new charter of

552

MAKIN.

MALBONE.

Mass. in 1692 Maine -was included. In
1820 it was separated from Mass. and
admitted into the union as an independ
ent state. — The population ofMaine was
in 1790, 96,540 ; in ISOO, 151,719 ; in
1810, 228,705 ; in 1820, 298,335 ; in
1830, 399, 462.— No state is more favor
ably situated for ship building and navi
gation, on account of the great number of
navigable rivers and bays, which indent a
coast of 300 railes. The tonnage in 1 829
was 232,939.— The greater part of the
land is well adapted to agriculture, and
the climate is very favorable to health,
although the cold of winter is severe.
The Thermometer sometimes descends to
SO degrees below zero. In the winter of
1831-1832 there were 4 months of good
sleighing in many parts ofthe state. At
Brunswick, at the time of writing this ar
ticle, the snow fell, April 28th, 1832,,sev-
eral inches, and sleighs were in motion.
Yet on the preceding day the fragrant
Epigaea was found in blossom. — By the
constitution of Maine the representatives,
senators, and governor are to be chosen
annually. The governor has a counoU of
seven, who are chosen by the two houses
in convention. ' The judges are disquali
fied at the age of 70.
MAKIN, Thomas a poet, was one of
the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and
died in 1735. In the year 1689 he was
usher to George Keith in the Friends'
public grammar school, and in the follow
ing year succeeded hira as master. He
was for some time clerk of the provincial
assembly, which was held in the Friends'
meeting house . He published two Latin
poems in 1728 and 1729 inscribed to
James Logan, and entitled, encomium
Pennsylvanise, and in laudes Pennsylva-
niffi poema ; extracts from which are pre
served in Proud's history of that province.
iMALBONE, Edward G., a valuable
portrait painter ,was a native of Newport,
R. Island . At an early period of life he
discovered a propensity for painting,
-Which becarae at length so predominant,
that he neglected every other amuseraent
for its indulgence. "When a school boy
he deUghted in drawing rude sketches of

the objects of nature. As he obtained the
necessary assistances to iraproveraent,his
talents were developed. • He frequented
the theatre to contemplate the illusions of
scenery ; and by the regularity of his at
tentions behind the scenes in the forenoon,
he attracted- the notice of the painter,who
discovered unusual/genius in his young.
acquaintance and accepted his assistance
with the brush. He was at length permit
ted to paint an entire, new scene, and as a
reward received a general ticket of admis
sion. His intervals of leisure were now
employed in drawing heads, and after
wards in attempting portraits. His rapid
progress in the latter occupation convin
ced hira, that he had talents for it, and
gave alacrity to his exertions ; and he
was soon induced to devote to it his
whole attention. As he now began to be
known and patronized as a miniature
painter, his natural propensity was nour
ished by the prospect of reputation and
wealth. He visited the principal cflies,
and resided successively in New York,
Philadelphia, and Boston. In the winter
of 1800 he went to Charleston, where his
talerits andthe peculiar amenity of his
manners enhanced the attentions, which
he received from the hospitality of its in
habitants. In May 1801 he sailed from
Charleston to London, where he resided
some months, absorbed in admiration of
the paintings of celebrated masters. With
mind iraproved by study and observation,
and animated by the enthusiasm of gen
ius, he visited the different galleries of
living painters, enlarging his ideas and
profiting by the contemplation of their
works. He was introduced to the ac
quaintance of the presidentof the royal
academy, who gave him free access to his
study, and showed him those friendly at
tentions, which were more flattering
than empty praises to the mind of bis
young countryman. He even encouraged
him to remain in England, assuring hira,
that he had nothing to fear from profes
sional competition. But he preferred his
own country, arid returned to Charleston
in the winter of 1801. , He afterwards
continued his pursuits in different parts

MALT BY.

MANLY.

yj3

of the continent, always finding employ
ment. By his sedentary habits and in
tense application to his prefessional labors
his health was so much impaired, that in
the summer of 1806 he was compelled to
relinquish his pencil, and indulge in exer
cise ; but his frame had become too weak
to become again invigorated. As he felt
the symptoms of an approaching con-
sumption,his physicians advised him to try
the effect ofa change of climate. In the
beginning of the winter he therefore took
a passage in a vessel for Jamaica; but, the
change not producing much benefit, he
returned to Savannah, where he lan
guished tiU his deathj May 7, 1807.
Though he had not reached all the per
fection, which maturer years would have
given, yet his pencil will rescue his name
from oblivion. His style of painting was
chaste and correct, his coloring clear aud
judiciously wrought, and his taste alto
gether derived from a just contemplation
of nature . In his female heads particularly
there was, when his subjects permitted,
enchanting delicacy and beauty. To his
professional excellence he added the vir
tues, which endeared him to his friends.
His heart was warm and generous. The
profits of his skill, which were very con
siderable, contributed to the happiness of
his relations ; and as their welfare was
an object, which seemed always to ani
mate his exertions, his mother and sis
ters deeply deplored his death.
MALTBY, Isaac, general, lived in
Hatfield, and was a representative in the
legislature and a member of the church.
He removed to Waterloo, New York,
where he died in Sept. 1819. He pub
lished elements of war, 12mo. 1812; a
treatise on courts martial and military
law, 1813.
MAN, Sarauel, first minister of Wren
tham, Mass., graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1665. After preaching one or two
years in Wrentham, he was driven away
by the Indian war March 30, 1676, but
after the war he returned to his labors
Aug. 21, 1680 and continued them tiUhis
death. No church being previously
formed, he was not ordained tiU April 13,
70

1692. He died May 22, 1719, aged 71.
He was a man of erudition, a faithful
pastor, an accomplished preacher, good,
pious, and eminent. His successors were
Henry Messinger, who died March 30,
1750, and Mr. Bean.
MANIGAULT,, Gabriel, a merchant
pf Charieston, S. C, and a patriot ofthe
revolutibn, was born in 1704 of parents
driven from France by Catholic persecu
tion. By his commercial pursuits for
50 years he honestly acquired a fortune
of half a, million of dollars. In the be
ginning of the war he loaned the state
220,000 dollars. In May 1779, at the
age of 75, when the British gen. Provost
appeared, before Charleston, he equipped
himself as a soldier, and equipping also
his grandson of 15 years, he led him to
the lines to repel an expected assault. He
died in 1781 aged 77. His daughter
married Lewis Morris, and, lost her life in
the great hurricane on SulUvan's island
in 1822. His son, Peter, also a patriot
and speaker ofthe house from 1766 to his
death, died in 1773, aged 42. Integrity
and benevolence were prominent trails in
the character of Mr. M. He bequeathed
to a charitable society 5,000Z. He was a
member and a zealous supporter of the
French calvinistic church.
MANLY, John, a captain in the navy
ofthe U. S., received a naval commission
from Washington, Oct. 24, 1775. In
vested with the command ofthe schooner
Lee, he kept the hazardous station of
Massachusetts bay during a most tem
pestuous season, and the captures, whitih
he made, were of immense value at the
moment. An ordnance brig, which fell
into his hands, suppUed the continental
army with heavy pieces, mortars, and
working tools, of which it was very des
titute, and in the event led to the evacua
tion of Boston. His services were the
theme of universal eulogy. Being raised
to the command of the frigate Hancock of
352 guns, his capture ofthe Fox increased
his high reputation fpr bravery and skill.
But he was taken prisoner by the Rain
bow of 40 guns July 8, 1777, and suffer
ed a long and rigorous ponfitjement on

554

MANNING.

MARION.

board that ship at Halifax, and in Mill
prison, precluded from further actual ser
vice till near the close of the war. In
Sept. 1782 the Hague frigate was intrus
ted to his care. The cruise was peculiar
ly unhappy. A few days after leaving
Martinique he was driven by a British
seventy four on a sand bank at the back
of Gaudaloupe. Three ships of the line,
having joined this ship, came to within
point blank shot, and with springs on
their cables opened a most tremendous
fire. Having supported the heavy can
nonade for three days, on the fourth day
the frigate was got off, and, hoisting
the continental standard at the main top
gallant mast, 13 guns were fired in fare
well defiance. On his return to Boston
a few months afterwards, he was arrested
to answer a variety of charges exhibited
againt him by one of his officers. The
proceedings of the court were not alto
gether in approbation of his conduct.
Memoirs of his Ufe, which should vindi
cate his character. Were promised, but
they have never appeared. He died in
Boston Feb. 12, 1793, aged 59, and was
buried with distinction.
MANNING, James, d. d., first presi
dent of the college in R. Island, was
born in New Jersey Oct. 22, 1738, and
was graduated at Nassau hall in 1762.
When he began to preach, several ofhis
baptist brethren inNew Jersey and Penn
sylvania proposed the estabUshment of
a college in Rhode Island on account of
the religious freedom,which was there en
joyed, and directed their attention to-
-wards him as its president. The charter
was obtained in Feb. 1764, and in 1765 he
removed to Warren to make preparations
for carrying the design into execution. In
Sept. the seminary was opened, and it was
soon replenished with students. In 1770
the institution was removed to Providence,
where a spacious building had been erec
ted. He was soon chosen pastor of the
baptist church in that town, and he con
tinued in the discharge of the duties of
these two offices, except in an interval of
about six months in 1786, when he was a
member of congress, till his death ofthe

apoplexy July 29, 1791, aged 59. He
was of a kind and benevolent disposi
tion, social and communicative, and fitted
rather for active life than for retirement.
Though he possessed goodabiUties,he was
prevented frora intense study by the pe-
cuUarity of his constitution. His life
was a scene of labor for the benefit of oth
ers. His piety and his fervent zeal in
preaching the gospel evinced his, love to
God and raan. With a dignified and
raajestio appearance, his address was
manly, familiar, and engaging. In the
government of the college he was raild
yet energetic.
MANNING, John, a physician, prob
ably a descendant of JohnM.,who lived in
Ipswich in 1640, was the son of Dr. Jo
seph M. of Ipswich, who -died at the age
of 79. He was born Nov. 1737, and,
after practising in Ipswich 1 1 years, went
to England in 1771 for his raedicalira-
provement. In the American war he
served as a surgeon one campaign on
Long Island and R. Island. He died
Nov. 1824, aged nearly 87. In his poli
tics he was a democrat or republican.
On public worship he was a regular at
tendant. He left 3 sons, physicians. —
Thacher. MANSFIELD, Jared, colonel, ll. d.,
professor of- natural philosophy in the
miUtary academy at West Point, was
born in N. Haven and graduated at Yale
college in 1777. He was afterwards
surveyor general of the United States
and professor. A few years before his
death he retired from West Point to
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he resided while
surveyor. While on a visit to N. Ha
ven, hedied Feb. 3, 1830, aged 71. Col
onel Totten, U. S. engineer, is his neph
ew. He published Essays matheraatical
and physical, 1802.
MARION, Francis, a brave officer in
the revolutionary war, was born near
Georgetown, S. Carolina, in 1733. In
1759 he served as a soldier against, the
Cherokee Indians. In the revolutionary
war he assisted in the defence of fort
Moultrie arid commanded a regiment at
the siege of Charlestown. He was pro- .

MARKOE.

MARYLAND.

555

moted by gov. Rutledge to the rank of
brig, general in 1730. On the advance
of Gates, he placed himself at the head of
16 men, and captured a small British
guard, rescuing 150 continental prisoners.
As the militia was in no subordination,
sometimes he had not more than a dozen
men with him. Sept. 4th he marched
witii 53 men to attack a body of 200 tories.
He first surprised a party of forty five,
kilUng and wounding all but fifteen, and
then put the main body of two hundred
to flight. His conduct was most gener
ous as wefl as br-ave. Not one house was
burned by his orders, for he detested ma
king war upon poor women and chfl
dren. At one time he was obliged to
convert the saws of sawmills into horse
men's swords for his defence. For
months he and his party slept in
the open air, and sheltered themselves
in the thick recesses of swaraps, whence
they sallied out and harassed the enemy.
After the war he married Mary Videau,
a lady of wealth, and resided in his native
parish of St John's. As a member of
the legislature he nobly resisted all retali
atory measures towards the tories. He
died in Feb. 1795. As a prudent, hu
mane, enterprising, brave partisan officer,
he had no superior. His Ufe, written
by general P. Horry & M. L. Weems,
waspublished,6th edit 1818. Thesoldier
and companion of Marion had little con
cern in writing the book. It bears all the
marks of Mr. Weems' wUd, undisciplined
pen ; one can scarcely read it without
mingled laughter and tears.
MARKOE, Peter, a poet, died at
Philadelphia in 1792. He published mis
cellaneous poems, 1787 ; the times, a po
em, 1788 ; ' the patriot chief, a tragedy ;
reconciliation, an opera ; and was sup
posed to be the author of Algerine spy,
MARSH, Ebenezer Grant, professor
of languages& ecclesiastical hist, in Yale
college, was the son of Dr. John Marsh,
minister of Wethersfield, a native of
Haverhill, who died in 1821, aged 78.
He was graduated at Yale college in 1795.
In 1798 he was elected an instructer in
the Hebrew language, and in 1799 oneof

the tutors. In 1802 he was elected a
professor ; but the hopes, which had
been excited by his talents and unequaUed
industry, were blasted, and his increas
ing usefulness was terminated by his
death Nov. 16, 1803, aged 26. He was
a man of amiable manners, pure morals,
and Unquestioned piety. As a preacher
ofthe gospel he was uncommonly accep
table. His literary acquisitions were
great. He published an oration on the
truthof the mosaic history ofthe crea
tion, 1798; a catalogue of the historical
writers of this country, entitled, a series
of American historians from the first dis
covery ofhis country to the present time,
1801 ; and an elaborate oration, delivered
before the" American academy of arts and
sciences in 1802, designed to confirm the
truth of scripture history by the testimo
ny of eastern writers. This, it is be
lieved, with iraproveraents, was a pos
thumous publication. — Dwight's and
Dana's serm., and Fowler's oration on
his death; Hist. col. ix. 108 — 111.
MARSHALL, Humphrey, a botanist
and industrious horticulturist, died about
1805. He published Arbustum Ameri-
canum, the American grove, or alphabet
ical catalogue of forest trees and shrubsi
Philadelphia, 8vo. 1785 and 1788. It
was translated into French, 1788.
MARYLAND, one of the United
States of America, was granted by king
Charles I to CeciUus Calvert, lord Balti
more, June 20, 1632. It received its
narae in honor of the queen Henrietta
Maria, 'daughter of Henry the great,
king of France. It was the first colony,
which was erected into a province ofthe
British empire, and governed by laws
enacted ina provincial legislature. The
proprietor arrived in Feb. 1634, andin
March at the head of about 200 Roman
caihoUcs he took possession of the terri
tory, which had been granted him.
Lord Baltimore, himself a Roman catho-
lic,established his province on the basis of
perfectfreedom in religion and security to
property. The land was purchased of
the Indians for a consideration, which
seemed to be satisfactory. Fifty acres of

BBS

MARYLAND.

MASON.

land were given to every emigrant in
absolute fee.
A collection of regulations was pre
pared by the assembly in 1638. The
province was divided into baronies and
manors, and bills were passed for set
tUng the glebe, and for securing the Ub
erties ofthe people. A house of assem
bly, composed of representatives, was
established in 1 639, and a code of laws
passed. AU the inhabitants were requir
ed to take the oath of allegiance to the
king, and the rights of the proprietary
were acknowledged. At this period the
colony was very inconsiderable in num
bers and wealth,fora general contribution
was thought necessary to erect a water-
mill for the useof the colony. Slavery
seems to have existed at the time of its or
iginal settlement. The encroachments
of the English awakened the apprehen
sions of the natives, that they should be
annihilated as a people, and an Indian
war coraraenced in 1642, which lasted
several yeara, and which brought with it
the usual sufferings. After a peace
was made, salutary regulations were
adopted, securing to the Indians
their rights. A rebellion in 1645, pro
duced by a few restless raen, obliged
the governor to fiee into Virginia ; but it
was suppressed in the following year.
The constitution was established in 1646,
and it continued with a Utile interruption
tiU 1776. Theparliament of England as
sumed the government of Maryland in
1652, and within a few years after this
event an act was passed, declaring, that
none, who professed the popish reUgion,
should be protected in the province. The
contrast between this act and the previ
ous one of the Roman catholics reflects
the highest honor on the liberality ofthe
latter. The authority of the proprietary
was re-established at the restoration, and
he appointed a governor. In 1662 the
prosperity of the province was considera
bly checked by the incursions of the Jan-
adoa Indians; but by the aid of the Sus-
quehannahs they were repelled. The
government experienced a variety of
changes, being sometimes in the posses

sion of the crown, and soraetimes in the
hands ofthe proprietary. In 171 6 it was
restored to the proprietary, and it was not
again taken away until the late revolu
tion. Maryland was not behind her sis
ter states in ber efforts to support the vio
lated rights ofthis country in the strug
gle, which terminated in the separation
of the colonies from Great Britain. A
convention, which met at Annapolis in
July 1775, drew up a form of association
to be signed by all the freemen of the
province. This state did not adopt the
articles ofthe confederation till March 1,
1781. The present constitution ofMary-
land was formed in August 1776. It es
tablishes a general assembly, consisting
ofa house of delegates, who are chosen
annually, and ofa senate, the members
of which are elected every five years by
electors, appointed by the people for that
purpose. The governor is elected annu
ally by a joint vote of both houses, and is
incajiable of continuing in office more than
three years successively, and not eUgible
again until the expiration of four years
after he has left the office. The judges
are removable by address of two thirds of
the legislature. Amendments of the con
stitution are made by act of the legisla
ture, if the act be confirmed by the next
legislature. MASON, John, captain, proprietor of
N. Hampshire, was a merchant of Lon
don and afterwards governor of New
foundland. On his return, he met with
sir Wm. Alexander, who was induced to
engage in the project of settling the new
world, and obtained a patent of Acadie or
Nova Scotia in 1621. In the same year
Mason obtained of the Plymouth compa
ny, of which he was a raeraber, a grant of
the laud frora Salera river to the Merri
mac and up to the heads thereof, called
Mariana ; in 1622 he and Gorges obtain
ed a grant of the lands between the Mer
rimac and Sagadahoc, extendirig back to
the lakes, called Laconia ; he obtairied
Nov. 7, 1629 a new patent of New
Hampshire, He died Nov. 26, 1635.
His daughter, Jane, married Johri Tuf-
ton, whose son, Robert T., assumed the

MASON.

657

name of Mason. He had been at great
expense in the settlement of his province,
with no advantage. His heirs sold their
rights to Samuel Allen in 1691.
MASON, John, major, a brave soldier,
and author of the history of the Pequot
war, was born in England about the
year 1600. He was bred to arms in the
Netheriands under sir Thomas Fairfax,
whose good opinion he so much concilia
ted, that after his arrival in this country,
when the struggle arose in England be
tween king Charles I and the parUament,
sir Thomas addressed a letter to Mason,
requesting him tb join his standard and
give his assistance to those, who were
contending for the liberties ofthe people.
The invitation however was declined.
Mason was "one of the first settlers of
Dorchester, being one of the company
of Mr. Warham in 1630. Frora this
place he reraoved to Windsor about the
year 1635, and assisted in laying the
foundation of a new colony. The Pequot
war, in which he was so distinguished,
was in the year 1637. The Pequot In
dians were a spirited and warlike nation,
who lived near New London. In 1634 a
tribe which was in confederacy with them,
murdered a captain Stone and a captain
Norton with their crew of eight men,
and then sunk the vessel. A part of the
plunder was received by SassaCus, the
Pequot sachem. In 1636 the Pequots
killed a number of men at Saybrook,
where there was a garrison of about 20
men; inconsequence of which Mason was
sent down the river by the Connecticut
colony in March 1637 for the rehef of the
fort. He remained there a month, but
not an Indian -tvas to be seen. In April
the Pequots killed nine ofthe English at
"Wethersfield, and destroyed much pro
perty. The colony was now reduced to
a most lamentable condition. The inhab
itants were in number but about 250 and
most of the raen were needed for the la
bor of the plantations. Many of the cat
tle had been lost by the want of hay or
corn ; there were perhaps not five
ploughsin the colony; and the people were
suffering for want of provisions. They

were at the same time so harassed by a
powerful eneray, that they could neither
hunt, fish, nor cultivate their fields, but
at the peril of their fives. They were
obliged to keep a constant watch. At
this crisis a court was sumraoned at
Hartford on the first of May. Besides
the six magistrates, there were also com
mittees from the few towns in the colony
to compose the court. As the Pequots
had killed about SO and were endeavoring
to effect a union of all the Indians in a
plan for the extirpation ofthe English,
it was determined, that an ofiensive war
should be carried on against them and
that ninety men should immediately be
raised, 42 from Hartford, 30 from Wind
sor, and 18 from Wethersfield. The lit
tle army under the comraand of Mason,
with Mr. Stone for their chaplain, fefl
down the river on the tenth, and arrived
at Saybrook on the 17th. They had uni
ted with them about 70 Indians under
the command of Uncas, sachem of the
Mohegans, who had lately revolted from
Sassacus. At Saybrook Mason and his
officers were entirely divided in opinion
respecting the manner of prosecuting
their enterprise. The court had directed
the landing of the men at Pequot harbor,
from whence they were to advance upon
the enemy ; but Mason was of opinion,
that they should sail past the Pequot coun
try to Narragansett, and then return and
take the enemy by surprise. This opinion
was a proof of his discernment and mifi
tary skill. The Pequots were expecting
them at the harbor, where they kept a
watch day and night ; and the place was
encompassed by rocks and thickets, affor
ding the Indians, who were the more
numerous, every advantage. It would
be difficult to land, and if a landing was
effected it would be difficult to approach
the enemy's forts without being much
harassed, and giving an opportunity for
all of them to escape, if they were unwil
ling to fight. Besides, by going first to
Narragansett the hope was indulged, that
some accession to their force might be
procured. These reasons weighed much
with Mason, but not with the other offi-

553

MASON.

cers, who were afraid lo exceed their
comraission. In this perplexity Mr.
Stone was desired to seek wisdom from
above. Having spent most of Thursday
night in prayer on board the Pink, in the
morning he went on shore and told Ma
son, he was entirely satisfied with his
plan. The council was again called, and
the plan was adopted. On Saturday the
20th they arrived at Narragansett ; but
the wind was so unfavorable, that they
could not land until Tuesday at sun set.
He immediately marched to the residence
of the sachem, Miantunnomu, and dis
closed to hira the object, which he had
in view. Two hundred ofthe Narragan
setts joined hira, and on Wednesday they
marched about 18 or 20 miles to the
eastern Nihantick, which was a frontier
to the Pequots. Here was the seat of
one of the Narragansett sachems, who
was so unfriendly, that he would not suf
fer any of the English to enter the fort
A strong guard was in consequence pla
ced round it, that none of the Indians
should come out, and alarm the Pequots.
The Uttle army continued its march on
Thursday, having in its train about 500
Indians. In the evening they reached
the neighborhood of one of the Pequot
forts at Mistlc. The army encamped,
being exceedingly fatigued in conse
quence of the heat and the want of
necessaries. The guards, who were ad
vanced considerably in front, heard the
eneray singing untfl raidnight. It was
a time of rejoicing with them, as they
had seen the vessels pass a few days be
fore and concluded that the English bad
not courage to attack them. About two
hours before day on the morning of Fri
day, May 26tb, the captain assembled
his men, and prepared hiraself for deter
mining the fate of Connecticut. The
•blessing of God was briefly and devoutly
implored. With less than eighty brave
men he marched forward, the Indians,
¦<vho were much afraid, having fallen in
the rear. He told them to stay behind
at what distance they pleased, and to see
whether EngUshmen would not fight.
As Mason approached within a rod ofthe

fort, a dog barked, and an Indian roared
out, Owanux! Owanux! [Englishmen!
Englishmen I] The troops pressed on,
and, having fired upon the Indians
through the pallisadoes, entered the fort
at the principle entrance, sword in hand.
After a severe confiict, in which a num
ber of the enemy were killed, victory was
still doubtful, for the Indians concealed
themselves in and about their wigwams,
and from their retreats made good use of
their arrows. At this crisis the captain
cried out to his men, " we must burn
them", and seizing a fire brand in one of
the wigwams set fire to the mats, with
which they were covered. In a short
time all the wigwams were wrapped in
flames. Mason drew his men without
the fort, encompassing it completely ; &
the sachem, Uncas, with his Indians and
such of the Narragansetts as reraained,
took courage and formed another circle
in the rear. The enemy were now
thrown into the utmost terror. Some
climbed the pallisadoes and were brought
down by the fire of the muskets ; others
were so bewildered, that they rushed into
the very flames. A number collected to
the windward and endeavored to defend
themselves with their arrows, and about
forty ofthe boldest issued forth and were
cut down by the swords of the Engfish.
In a little more than an hour the whole
work of destruction -was completed.
Seventy wigwams were burned and 600
Indians perished. Seven escaped, and
seven were taken prisoners. Two only
of the English were killed, ind sixteen
wounded . The victory wis complete,
but the army was in greai danger and
distress. So many were wounded and
worn down by fatigue, that only about
forty could be spared to contend with the
remaining enemy. In about an hour 300
Indians came on from another fort ; but
Mason led out a chosen party and check
ed their onset. It was determined to
march immediately for Pequot harbor, in
to which a few minutes before, to their
unutterable joy, they had seen their ves
sels enter, guided by the hand of provi
dence . When the march commenced.

MASON.

559

the Indians advanced to the hiU,on which
the fort had stood. The desolation,which
here presented itself to their view, filled
them with rage ; they stamped and tore
their hair in the transports of passiori ;
& rushing down the hill with great fury
seemed determined to avenge theraselves
on the destroyers of their brethren.
But the superiority of fire arras to their
bows and arrows kept them at a distance.
Mason reached the harbor in safety; and,
putting his wounded aboard, the next day
marched by land to Saybrook with about
twenty men. His safe return, and the
success, which attended the expedition,
filled the whole colony with joy and
thanksgiving. Several providential e-
ve nts -were particularly noticed. It was
thought remarkable, that the vessels
should come into the harbor at the very
moraent,when they were so much needed.
As Mason entered a wigwam for fire to
burn the fort, an Indian was drawing an
arrow to the very bead, and would have
killed him instantly, had not one Davis at
this critical moment cut the bowstring
with his sword. So completely was the
object of the expedition effected, that the
remaining Pequots were filled with such
terror, that they burned their wigwams
and fled from their abode. The greatest
part of them went towards New York.
Mason was sent out to pursue them, and
he took 100 prisoners of the old men,
women, and chfldren. The rest, about
two hundred in number, soon subraitted
theraselves, engaging never to live in
their country again, and becoming sub
ject tothe sachems of Mohegan and Nar
ragansett with the disgraceful necessity
of never again being called Pequots.
Soon after this war Mason was appoin
ted by the government of Connecticut
maj. gen. of all their forces, & continued
in this office till his death. He remained
a magistrate, to which station he was
first chosen in 1642, tifl May 1660, when
he was elected deputy governor. In this
office he continued ten years, till May
1670, when his infirmities induced him to
retire from public Ufe. After the Pe
quot war, at the request of the inhabi

tants of Saybrook and for the defence'of
the coloriy he reraoved frora Windsor to
that place in 1647. Thence in 1659 he
removed to Norwich, where he died in
1672 or 1673, aged 72. He left 3 sons,
Samuel.John, and Daniel, whose descen
dants are numerous ; one of them is
Jeremiah Mason of Portsraouth. Mason
held the sarae reputation for railitary tal
erits in Connecticut, which Standish held
in Plymouth colony. Both rendered
the most important services to their coun
try. Both were bred to arms in the
Dutch Netherlands. Standish was of
short stature ; but Mason was tall and
portly, and equally distinguished for his
courage&vigor. He was also a gentleman
of prudence and correct morals. At the
request ofthe general court he drew up
and pubUshed a brief history ofthe Pe
quot war. It is reprinted in Increase
Mather's relation of troubles by the In
dians, 1677. It was also republished
more correctly, with an introduction and
some explanatory notes, by Thoraas
Prince in 1736. — Introd, ta Mason's
hist. ; TrumbuU,!. 68-87, 337 ; Holmes.
MASON, George, an erainent states-
raan of Virginia, was a meraber of the
general convention,which in 1787 fraraed
the constitution of the United States,
but refused to sign his narae, as one of
that body, to the instruraent, which they
had produced. In the foUowing year he
was a member ofthe Virginia convention,
which considered the proposed plan of
federal government. He united with
Henry, and opposed its adoption with
great energy. He thought, that the
confederation was about to be converted
into a consolidated government, for
which, he said, many of the merabers of
the general convention avowed an attach
raent; and he was desirous of introducing
amendraents. He contended for the ne
cessity of an article, reserving to the
state aU powers not delegated. This ar
ticle is now araong the araendments of
the constitution. He wished also, that
there should be a limitation to the contin
uance of the president in officCi So
averse was he to that section, which al-

560

MASON.

MASSACHUSETTS.

lowed the slave *rade for twenty years.
that, attached as he was to the union of
all the States, rie declared, that he would
not adrait the southern states into the
union,unless they would agree to discon
tinue the traffic. He died at his seat at
Gunston Hall, Virginia, in the autumn of
1792, aged 67.
MASON, John M., d. d., minister in
NewYork, was theson Dr. John M.,
minister of the Scotch church in N. Y.
who died in 1792, aged 57. He was born
March 19, 1770, and was graduated at
Columbia coUege in 1789. Having stu
died theology with his father, he comple
ted his education at Edinburgh. In
1792 he succeeded his father in the
church in Cedar street. By his letters on
frequent communion, written in 1798, the
associate reformed churches were induced
to change the old custom of corarauning
but twice a year for a more frequent
commemoration of the death of the Re
deemer. Appointed professor of theology
in 1801, he performed the duties until his
health declined. In 1810 his connexion
with Cedar street church was dissolved,
andin 1812 he became the pastor ofa new
church in Murray street. From 1811 to
1816 hewas the provost of Columbia col
lege. In 1816 he travelled in Europe for
the benefit ofhis health ; in 1819 he suf
fered from two paralytic attacks. Frora
1821 he presided over Dickinson college
in Pennsylvania until 1824, when he re
turned to NewYork, and lingered the
rest of his days the shadow of what be
once was. Hedied Dec. 27, 1829, aged
59. He was erainent for erudition and for
his intellectual powers. As a preacher he
was uncoraraonly eloquent. But he was
harsh and overbearing, somewhat in pro
portion " to the robustness of his faculties
of mind and body." He edited for some
years the Christian's magazine, in which
he had a controversy with bishop Hobart
on episcopalianism; in that work his letters
on frequent communion, a plea for com
munion on catholic principles, and other
writings are found. He jiublished a ser
mon, preached before the N. Y. missiona

ry society, 1797; before the London
missionary society about 1802 ; an ora
tion on the death of Washington, 1800 ;
of Haraflton, 1804. Four volumes of
his sermons were published in 1832.
MASON, Armistead T., general, a
senator ofthe U. S., was the son of Ste
phens Thompson Mason, a senator from
Virginia, and was born in 1785. He ably
defended Norfolk in 1812. On the re
signation of Mr. Giles he was elected
senator in his place in 1816, the terra of
office expiring in 1817. In consequence of
a political dispute with his relative, John
McCarty, they fought a duel with raus-
kets at Bladensburg Feb. 6, 1819, when
gen. Mason was killed, aged S3. In the
correspondence with his antagonist, which
was published, he manifested the most
malignant ferocity. The benevolent tem
per, enjoined by the gospel of Jesus
Christ, would have excluded from his
heart that hatred of his brother, which
led to his own destruction. Since the be
ginning of the present century there have
been more than a hundred murders com
mitted by duellists in this country, and
the blood of more than a hundred unaven
ged murders cries to heaven against our
guUty land. Maj. Campbell was execu
ted in London in Sept. 1808 for killing
capt. Boyd in a duel ;. yet in our republic
no "honorable murderer" has yet been
brought to the gallows. Blackstone, in
expounding the law of England, says of
deliberate duelling that " both parties
meet avowedly with an intent to mur
der." The law of God and the laws of
our country require, that the murderer
shall be put to death.
MASSACHUSETTS,oneof the Uni
ted States of America, was formerly di
vided into the two colonies of Plymouth
and of Massachusetts bay, which were
distinct for many years. Roger Wil
liams, who was skilful in the Indian lan
guage, and anxious to ascertain the im
port ofthe names of places, says, " I had
learnt, that the Massachusetts was so
called ftom the Blue Hills. " Cotton in
his ms. vocabulary of the language of
the Plymouth Indians gives the mean-

MASSACHUSETTS.

561

•rig " an hill in the form of an an'ovi's
head," But as Wachusett in the Indian
means a hill, and as Eliot in his Bible
gives Mahsag as raeaning great, the
combination of Mahsag Wachusett,
meaning Great Hill, [the Blue hUl of Mil
ton] would make the word Massachu-
sett. Plymouth was first settied in
Dec. 1620 by persons, who intended to
commence a plantation in the territory of
the south Virginia company, but who on
account of the advanced season of the
year were induced to establish them
selves where they first landed. They
formed a government for themselves, and
chose Mr. Carver for their governor.
In 1620 all the land from sea to sea be
tween the fortieth and forty eighth de
grees of north latitude was granted to the
council at Plymouth in England. From
this company a patent was obtained in
1 621 . For several years the whole prop
erty of the colony was in common. The
governor, who was chosen annually, had
at first but one assistant ; in 1624 he had
five ; and in 1633 the number was in
creased to seven. The last patent was
obtained in 1630, by which the colonists
were allowed to establish their own gov
ernment The first house of representa
tives was formed in 16S9, being rendered
necessary by the increase of the inhabi
tants and the extension of the settlements.
The patent of Massachusetts bay was ob
tained in 1628. This colony was boun
ded on the south by a line 3 miles distant
from Charles' river, which passes between
Cambridge and Boston. In the same
year a few people under the government
of John Endicott began a settiement at
Naumkeak, now Salem. In 1 629 a form
of government was settled, and 13 per
sons, resident on the plantation, were in
trusted with the sole management of the
affairs of the colony. Of these persons
one was the governor and twelve were
counsellors. All these were but deputy
officers, as they were appointed by the
governor and company in England.
This state of things however lasted but a
short tirae. It was soon deterrained to
transfer the government entirely to New
71

England. Governor Winthrop accord
ingly came over in 16S0 with about
1500 persons, bringing the charter with
him. This instrument vested the whole
executive power in the governor, deputy
governor, and 18 assistants, and the leg
islative power in a general court, com
posed of the above and of the freemen of
the colony. This assembly was author
ized to gleet their governor and all ne
cessary officers. But the provisions of
the charter were not very carefully ob
served. The emigrants, considering
themselves as subject to no laws excepting
those of reason, and equity, and scrip
ture, modelled their government accor
ding to their own pleasure. Early in 1631
the general court ordained, that the gov
ernor, deputy governor, and assistants
should be chosen by the freemen alone ;
they directed that there should be two
courts instead of four in a year ; in May
1634 they created a representative body ;
they established judicatories of various
kinds ; andin 1644 the general court was
divided into the two houses of deputies
and of magistrates, each of which was to
send its acts to the other for approbation.
The assistants and the general court for
four years often judged and punished in a
summary way without a jury ; and with
in three years after it was enacted, that
there should be no trial, which should af
fect life or residence in the country, with
out a jury of freemen, the general court
violated this law in passing sentence of
banishment in 1 637. Massachusetts con
tinued to increase tfll the Indian war of
1675 and 1676, which occasioned great
distress. About 600 of the inhabitants bf
New England were killed, and 12 or 13
towns were entirely destroyed, and this
colony was the greatest sufferer. In
1684 the charter of Massachusetts was de
clared to be forfeited by the high court of
chancery in England in consequence of
well founded charges of disrespect to the
laws of England, and of tendencies to
ward exercising the rights ofa free state.
In 1636 Joseph Dudley received his com
mission of president of New England,
though Plymouth was not included ; but

562

MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSASSOIT.

at the close of the year Andros arrived
with a commission, which included that
colony. In 1689 this tyrannical gover
nor was deposed and imprisoned by an
indignant people, and Massachusetts and
Plymouth re-estabUshed their old govern
ment. In 1 692 a charter was obtained,
which constituted Massachusetts a pro
vince, and added to the colony of Ply
mouth the province of Maine, the prov
ince of Nova Scotia, and the Elizabeth
islands, and Nantucket and Martha's
Vineyard. From this period Massachu
setts and Plymouth were blended and un
der one government. This new charter
greatly abridged the liberties ofthe people.
Formerly they had chosen their gover
nor ; but now the appointment of the
governor, Ueutenant governor, secretary,
and all the officers of admiralty was ves
ted in the crown. Other important chan
ges -were made. This charter continued
till the late revolution. During the at
tempts of Shute, Burnet, and other gov
ernors to procure a fixed salary, which
should make them independent of the
people, the general court showed a deter
mination to prevent the removal of any
barrier against tyranny. While the
claims of British taxation were discussed
from the year 1765 tiU the coraraence
ment ofthe war, Massachusetts was con
spicuous for the unshaken and persever
ing spirit, with which the cause of liberty
was supported. In Oct. 1774 a provin
cial congress assuraed the government,
and July 1775 elected counsellors, as un
der the old charter. The constitution
was formed by a convention in March
1780, and amended in 1820. The dis
trict of Maine was made a distinct
State in the year 1820. By the consti
tution the legislative powers are ves
ted in a general court, consisting of a
senate and a house of representatives,
annually chosen, which have a negative
upon each other; and no act can be pass
ed without the approbation of the gov
ernor, unless after a revisal two thirds of
both branches are in favor of it. The
governor is chosen every year by the
people, and he has a councfl composed of

the lieutenant governor, and nine others,
chosen by the general court, without
whose advice he can exercise none of his
powers, except such as are incident to his
office of commander in chief The gov
ernor is called ' his Excellency,' and the
Ueutenant governor 'his Honor.', The
judges may be removed on address.. In
1786 there wasan insurrection in Massa
chusetts, occasioned by the scarcity of
money and the pressure of taxes and of
debts to individuals. A convention from
fifty towns in Hampshire county met at
Hatfield in Aug. and drew up'a catalogue
of grievances. In the same month a
body of insurgents took possession of the
court house in Northampton ; and in a
short tirae the flame of open opposition
to government was enkindled in other
counties. But the rebellion was suppres
sed in 1787 with the loss of but few Uves.
Since then internal peace has existed. —
Morton; Prince; Winthrop; Hutchin
son; Minot; Gordon; Holmes.
MASSASSOIT, sachem or king of
the Womponeags or Woraponoogs,
whose authority extended frora Narra
gansett bay to Massachusetts bay, is
sometimes called their great sagamore and
great sachem ; but, although Dr. Dwight
maintains, that sachera means a principal
chief and sagamore an inferior one, yet
probably they are words ofthe same mea
ning, or the same word in different dia
lects or in different inflexions . Hubbard
says the same as Dr. Dwight ; but Win-
slow speaks of " sachems or petty govern
ors." An ancient writer says, that the
northern Indians used the term sagamore
and the southern the term sachera. Pur
chas gives the word sagarao. Winslow,
in his account of his visit to Massassoit,
says, that he went to the sachimo coma-
co, to the ' sachera's house ; ' and that
Hobbamoc addressed him with the words,
Neen womasu sagimus, ' my loving sa
chera.' We may then regard sachem,
sachemo, sagamo, sagamore as the same.
The name of M. was written by Wins
low, as it was probably pronounced, Mas-
sassowat ; also it was written Massasoyt
and Massasoyet He was also called

MASSASSOIT.

MATHER.

563

Asuhmequin, Osaraekin, and Woosame-
quen. His residence was at Packanakick,
or Pokanoket, sometimes called Sowams
and Sowamset Over against him, on
the opposite side of the great bay, lived
the Narragansetts: of course judge Da
vis mistakes in supposing, that he lived
at Mount Hope. Winslow in going to
Massassoit, crossed a river, which, I sup
pose, was Taunton ; in 3 miles he came
to Metapoiset, in Swansey ; and four
or five railes beyond was Packanokic,
the residence of the sachera. A
Dutch vessel had been stranded before
his riouse. I suppose, therefore, that he
lived at Warren, and that Sowams,or So-
waraset was Swansey, though the town
was so called from Swansey in Wales,
whence some ofthe first inhabitants came.
March 22,1621 he visited the EngUsh
pilgrims at Plymouth with his brother,
Quadequina, and a train of 60 men, and
presented himself on Spring hiU. The
gov. sent Mr. Winslow to invite him to
a treaty. Whfle Quadequina detained
Mr. W. as a hostage, the sachem with
20 unarmed men met capt. Standish and
a few men at trie Town brook, where
they saluted each other. Massassoit was
then conducted to gov. Carver and made
a treaty, the articles of which he always
fiiithfully observed. The league lasted
to 1 675. It was stipulated, "that neither
- he nor his should injure any of ours ;
that ff any unjustly warredagainst him,we
- would aid him, and if any warred against
us, he should aid us." He was "a portly
man, in his best years, grave of counte-
- nance, spare of speech." The Narra
gansetts under Canonicus being hostfle
to hira, he was glad of the friendship of
the whites. In July E. Winslow visited
the sachera at his residence, and was
kindly received. When he was sick in
March 1623 Mr. Winslow, accorapanied
by John Hampden, "a gentleman of Lon
don," visited hira. This was probably the
celebrated Harapden. Massassoit, who
was very sick, in his gratitude said, " I
will never forget this kindness ;" and he
disclosed the Indian conspiracy for the
destruction of the Plymouth settlers.

Capt. Standish in consequence killed the
ring leaders. The benevolent visit was
the means of saving the colony from des
truction. M. died about 1655, and was
succeeded by his son, Alexander: king
PhiUp was another son.— Belknap ji.
229, 290.
MATHER, Richard, minister of Dor
chester, theson of Thomas M., was born
in Lancashire, England, in 1596. At
the ageof 15 he was invited to take the
instruction of a school at Toxteth, near
Liverpool. After suffering for some time
that anxiety and distress, which the
knowledge of his own character as a sin
ner produced, he in his 18th year
found peace and joy in the gospel of the
Redeemer. In May 1618 hewas admit
ted a student at Oxford ; but in a few
months afterwards he becarae the rainis
ter of Toxteth, being ordained by the
bishop of Chester. Here he continued
about 15 years without any interruption
ofhis benevolent labors. He preached
every Tuesday at Prescot, and he al
ways seized the opportunity, which his
attendance upon funerals afforded, for im
parting instruction to the living. He
was silenced for nonconformity to the es
tablished church in 1633, but through the
influence of his friends was soon restored.
He was again suspended in 1 634, as he
had never worn the surplice, and could
not adopt the ceremonies, which were
enjoined. Having resolved to seek the
peaceable enjoyment ofthe rights of con
science and the purity of Christian ordi
nances in N. England, he escaped the
pursuivants, who were endeavoring to
apprehend him, and erabarked at Bristol
in May 1635. Aug. I7th he arrived in
Boston harbor. He was in a few months
invited to Dorchester ; and, as the first
church had removed with Mr. Warham
to Windsor, a new church was formed,
of which he was constituted the teacher
Aug. 23,1636. He assisted Mr. Eliot
and Mr. Welde in 1640 in making the N.
England version of the psalms. The
model of church discipUne, which he pre
sented to the synod of 1648, was the one,
which was chiefly adopted in preference

564

MATHER.

to the models, prepared by Mr. Cotton
and Mr. Partridge. He died in the peace
ofthe Christian, April 22, 1669, aged 73.
His first wife was the daughter of Ed
mund Hoult ; his second was Sarah, wid
ow of John Cotton. His 6 sons were by
his first wife. Though in his old age he
experienced many infirmities, yet, such
had been his health,that for half a century
he was not detained by sickness so much
as one Sunday from his public labors.
He was a pious Christian, a good scholar,
and a. plain and useful preacher. He
was careful to avoid foreign and obscure
words, and unnecessary citation of Latin
sentences, that all might understand him.
While his voice was loud and distinct,
there was also a vehemency and dignity
in his manner. He wrote the discourse
about the church covenant, and the an
swer to 32 questions, published in 1639,
whicri pass under the name ofthe elders of
N. England. He wrote also a modest
and brotherly answer to Charles Herle's
book against the independency of church
es, 1644 ; a reply to Rutherford, or a de
fence ofthe answer to Herle's book,1646;
an heart melting exhortation, &c. in a
letter to his countrymen of Lancashire,
1650 ; a catechism ; a treatise of justifica
tion, 1652; a letter to Mr. Hooker to
prove, that it was lawful for a minister to
administer the sacrament to a congrega
tion not particularly under his care ; elec
tion ser. about 1660 ; an answer to Mr.
Davenport's work against the proposi
tions of the synod of 1662. He also pre
pared for the press sermons on the sec
ond epistle of Peter, and an elaborate de
fence ofthe churches ofN. England. —
Wood's Athence Oxon. n. 427, 428 :
Magnalia, iii. 122—130 ; Hist. col.
VIII. 10; I.Mather's account ofhis life,
MATHER, Sarauel, rainister of Dub
lin, Ireland, the son ofthe preceding, was
born in Lancashire May 13, 1626. Ac
companying his father to this country,he
was graduated at Harvard college in
1643. He was appointed the first fellow
of the college and he was held in such
estimation by the students, whom he in
structed, that, when he left them, they

put on badges of mourning. When
he began to preach,be spent some time in
Rowley as an assistant to Mr. Rogers.
A church having been gathered in the
north part of Boston, he was invited to
take the charge of it ; but, after preach
ing there one winter, he was induced to
go to England in 1650. The church,
which he left, was afterwards under the
pastoral care of his brother. Increase
Mather. In England he was appointed
chaplain of Magdalen college, Oxford.
He then preached in Scotland and Ire
land. In Dublin he was senior fellow of
Trinity college, and was settied the min
ister of the church of St. Nicholas.
Though he refused several benefices, that
were offered by the lord deputy, because
he did not wish to have the episcopalian
ministers displaced ; yet soon after the
restoration he was suspended on a charge
of sedition. Returning to England, he
was rainister at Burton wood, till ejected
by the Bartholomew act in 1662. He
afterwards gathered a church at his own
house in Dublin, where he died in peace
Oct. 29, 1671, aged 45. He was suc
ceeded by his brother, Nathaniel Mather.
As a preacher he held the first rank, and
his name was known throughout the king
dora. His discourses were reraarkable
for clearness of method. He published a
wholesome caveat for a time of liberty,
1652 ; a defence of the protestant relig
ion against popery, 1671 ; an irenicum, or
an essay for union among the presbyteri
ans , independents, and anabaptists ; a
treatise against stinted liturgies ; a piece
against "Valentine Greatarick, who pre
tended to cure diseases by stroking ; a
course of sermons on the types ofthe
old testament, with some discourses
against popish superstitions. — Wood's
Athenx Oxon, n, 489, 490 ; Magn,, iv.
143 — 153 ; Nonconform, memorial, ii.
355—357. MATHER, Nathaniel, minister in
London, the son of Richard Mather, was
born in Lancaster March 20, 1630. Af
ter his arrival in this country with his
father, he was educated at Harvard col
lege, where he was graduatedj in 1 647.

MATHER.

565

He afterwards went to England, and
was presented to the living at Barnstable
by Oliver CromweU in 1656. Upon his
ejectment in 1662 he went into Holland
and was a minister at Rotterdam. About
the year 1671 or or 1672 he succeded his
brother, Sarauel Mather, at DubUn.
Thence he reraoved to London, where
he was pastor of a congregational church,
and one of the lecturers at Pinner's hall.
He died July 26, 1697, aged 67. He
was buried in the burying ground near
Bunhill fields, and there is upon his
tombstone a long Latin inscription,
written by Dr. Watts, which ascribes to
him a high character for genius, learning,
piety, and ministerial fidelity. He pub
lished the righteousness of God by faith
upon all, who believe, 1694 ; a discussion
ofthe lawfulness of a pastor's officiating
in another's church ; 23 sermons, preach
ed at Pinner's hall, and Lime street, ta
ken in short hand as they were delivered,
1701 ; a fast serraon. — Calamy's contin,
I, 257—258. MATHER, Eleazer, first rainister of
Northampton, Mass., the son of Richard
Mather, was bom May 13, 1637. He
was graduated at Harvard college in
1656. Having preached about two years
at Northampton, when a church was gath
ered there in 1661 he was ordained its
minister June 2Sd. He died July 24,
1669, aged 32. His wife was the daugh
ter of John Warham: she married after
his death S. Stoddard. His daughter mar
ried Rev. John Williams. He was ad
mired as a man of talents and exalted pi
ety, and as a zealous and eminently use
ful preacher. After his death there was
published from his manuscripts a serious
exhortation to the succeeding and pres
ent generation, being the substance of
his last sermons,I671. — Magn,, iir. 130.
MATHER, Increase, d. d., president
of Harvard college, the son of Richard
Mather, was born at Dorchester June 21,
1639. He was graduated in 1656. Be
ginning to preach in the next year, and
being invited by his brother to Dublin,
he erabarked for England July 3, 1657,
and after an absence of 4 years returned

in Aug. 1661. In the ne.xt month he
was invited to preach at the north church
in Boston, though he was not ordained
there till May 27, 1664. Two years be
fore this, when the controversy respec
ting the subjects of baptism was agitated,
he opposed the results ofthe synod, but,
being convinced by the arguments of Mr.
Mitchell, he afterwards defended the
synodical propositions. He was a mem
ber of the synod of 1679, and drew
up the result, which was then agreed
on. When king Charles II expressed
his wish that the charter of Mass. inight
be resigned into his hands in 1683, Dr.
Mather zealously opposed a compliance
with his majesty's pleasure. In 1688 he
sailed for England as agent of the pro
vince to procure redress of grievances.
After several years of important services
he returned with a new charter, and ar
rived at Boston May 14, 1692. He had
the sole nomination ofthe first governor.
After his arrival the general court ap
pointed a day of public thanksgiving for
his safe return, and for the settlement of
the government. During the witchcraft
delusion he opposed the violent measures,
which were adopted. He wrote a book
to prove, that the'devil raight appear in
the shape ofan innocent man, by means
of which a number of persons, convicted
of witchcraft, escaped the execution of
the sentence. Afler the death of Mr.
Oakes in 1681 the care of Har vard college
devolved upon him. But as his church
refused to reUnquish him, he only made
weekly visits to Cambridge until the ap
pointment of president Rogers in the
following year. After his death he was
again called to the presidency of the col
lege June 11, 1685, and he continued in
this station till Sept 6,1701, when he
resigned in consequence ofan act of the
general court, requiring the president to
reside at Cambridge. He was unwilling
to leave his church, though his son. Cot
ton Mather, had been settled as his col
league for a number of years. Mr. Wil
lard succeeded him. After a long life of
benevolent exertion, he died in Boston
Aug. 23, 1723, aged 84, having been a

566

MATHER.

preacher sixty six years, 62 of which
were passed in the ministry in Boston.
His wife was Maria, the daughter of
John Cotton. He had 6 daughters and
3 sons: Sarah raarried Rev. Mr. Walter,
and Abigail Rev. John White.
He was a raan of great learning and of
extensive influence and usefulness. Soon
after his return frora England he procur
ed an act, authorizing the college to cre
ate bachelors and doctors of theology,
which power was not given by its for
mer charter. As president he was care
ful not only to give the students direc
tion in their literary pursuits, but also to
impart to them religious instruction. He
frequently called them one by one into
the library, and there with the affection
ofa parent and the fidelity ofa minister
of the gospel he would confer with them
respecting the salvation of their souls,
and solemnly charge them to renounce
their sins, to embrace the gospel, and to
devote themselves to the service of God.
He usually preached to them every week,
and his sermons, both at Cambridge and
in Boston, were designed to impress the
conscience as well as to enlighten the
mind. He considered him as the best
preacher, who taught with the greatest
simpUcity. His delivery was somewhat
peculiar. He usually spoke with deliber
ation, but at times, when uttering an im
pressive sentence, his voice became the
voice of thunder. Always comraitting
his sermons to memory, he never used
his notes in the pulpit. Sixteen hours
in every day were commonly spent
in his study, and in his retirement he
repeatedly addressed himself to the Lord,
his Maker. He always kept a diary,
designed for his improvement in religion.
Such was his benevolence, that he devo
ted a tenth part of all his income to
charitable purposes. His portrait is in
the library of the Mass. historical socie
ty. The following is a list of his publi
cations. The mystery of Israel's salva
tion, 1659 ; the life and death of Richard
Mather, 1670; wo to drunkards, 1673 ;
the day of trouble near ; important truths
about conversion, 1674 ; the first princi

ples ofN. England ; a discourse concer
ning the subject of baptism, and consoci
ation of churches ; the wicked man's
portion ; the times of men in the hands
of God, 1675 ; history ofthe war with
the Indians frora June 24, 1675, to Aug.
12,1676; a relation of troubles of N.Eng.
from the Indiana from the beginning; an
historical discourse on the prevalency of
prayer; renewal of covenant the duty of
decaying and distressed churches, 1677;
pray for the rising generation, 1678; a
call to the rising generation, 1679 ; the di
vine right of infant baptism; the great con
cernment ofa covenant people ; heaven's
alarm to the world, 1680; animadver
sions upon a narrative of the baptists,
1681 ; diatriba de signo filii hominis ;
practical truths ; the church a subject of
persecution, 1682 ; a discourse concern
ing comets, 1683 ; reraarkable providen
ces ; the doctrine of divine providence,
1684 ; an arrow against profane and pro-
raiscuous dances, 1685; the raysteryof
Christ ; the greatest of sinners exhorted;
a sermon on an execution fbr murder,
1686; a testimony against superstitions,
1687 ; de successu evangelii apud Indos
epistola, 1688 ; the unlawfulness of using
common prayer, and of swearing on the
book, 1689 ; several papers relating to
the state of N. England ; the revolution
justified, 1690; election sermon, 1693;
the blessing of primitive counsellors ; ca
ses of conscience concerning witchcraft ;
an essay on the power of a pastor for the
administration of sacraments, 1693 ;
whether a man raay marry his wife's own
sister ; solemn advice to young men,
1695 ; a treatiseof angels, 1696 ; a dis
course on man's not knowing his time ;
the case of conscience concerning the eat
ing of blood, 1697 ; funeral sermon on J.
Baily, 1698 ; the surest way to the high
est honor ; on hardness of heart ; the fol
ly of sinning, 1699 ; the order of the gos
pel vindicated, 1700 ; the blessed hope,
1701 ; remarks on a sermon of George
Keith ; Ichabod, or the glory departing,
an election sermon ; the Christian reUg
ion the only true religion ; the excellency
of public spirit, 1702 ; the duty of parents

MATHER.

567

to pray for their children ; soul saving
gospel truths, 1703 ; the voice of God in
the stormy winds; practical truths to pro
mote holiness, 1704 ; meditations on the
glory of Christ, 1705 ; a discourse con
cerning earthquakes ; a testimony against
sacrilege ; a dissertation concerning right
to sacraments, 1706; meditations on
death ; a disquisition concerning right to
sacraments, 1707 ; a dissertation wherein
the strange doctrine of Mr. Stoddard is
refuted, 1708 ; on the future conversion
of the Jews, confuting Dr. Lightfoot,
and Mr. Baxter ; against cursing and
swearing, 1709 ; concerning faith and
prayer for the kingdom of Christ ; at the
artillery election on being very courage
ous ; awakening truths tending to conver
sion, 1710 ; meditations on the glory of
the heavenly world ; concerning the death
of the righteous ; the duty of the chil
dren of godly parents, 1711 ; burnings
bewailed ; remarks upon an answer to a
book against the common prayer ; medi
tations on the sanctification ofthe Lord's
day, 1712 ; a plain discourse showing
who shaU not enter into heaven ; a fu
neral serraon for his daughter in law,
1713 ; on the death ofhis consort, 1714 ;
Jesus Christ a raighty Savior, and other
subjects, 1715; a disquisition concerning
ecclesiastical councils ; there is a God in
heaven ; the duty and dignity of aged
servants of God, 1716 ; at the ordination
of his grandson ; sermons on the beati
tudes ; practical truths plainly delivered
with an ordination serraon, 1718 ; five
serraons on several subjects, one of them
on the author's birth day, 1719 ; a testi
mony to the order of the churches, 1720 ;
advice to chfldren of godly ancestors, a
sermon concluding the Boston lectures on
early piety ; several sheets in favor of in
oculation forthe sraaU pox, 1721 ; a dy
ing pastor's legacy ; Elijah's mantle,
1722. — Remarkables of I, Mather; Non
conform, memor, n, 245 — 249 ; Magn,
IV. 130, 131 ;v. 77-84; vi. 2.
MATHER, Cotton, d. d. f. r. s.,
minister in Boston, was the son of the
preceding, and grandson of John Cotton .
He was born in Boston Feb. 12, 1663.

Distinguished for early piety, when he
was a school boy he endeavored to per
suade his youthful companions frequent
ly to lift up their hearts to their Ma
ker and heavenly Friend, and he even
wrote for them some forras of devotion.
He had also the courage to reprove their
vices. At the age of 14 he began to ob
serve days of secret fasting and prayer,
reading coraraonly 15 chapters in the
bible every day. He was graduated at
Harvard college in 1678, having made
uncommon proficiency in his studies. At
this early period of his life he drew up
systems ofthe sciences, and wrote reraarks
upon the books, which he read, and thus
matured his understanding. At the age
of 17 he approached the Lord's table
with affectionate reUance upon Jesus
Christ for salvation. Having been occu
pied for some time in the study of theolo
gy, he was ordained rainister ofthe north
church in Boston as colleague with his
father. May 1*, 1 684. Here he passed
his days unwearied and unceasing in
bis exertions to promote the glory of his
Maker, and the highest welfare of his
brethren. He died in the assurance of
Christian faith Feb. 13, 1728, aged 65,
His first wife was the daughter of col,
Jorin Phillips ; his second, widow Hub
bard, daughter of Dr. John Clark ; his
third, widow George, daughter of Sarau
el Lee. By his two first wives he had
15 children. He was a man of unequalled
industry, of vast learning, of unfeigned
piety, and of most disinterested and ex
pansive benevolence. He was also dis
tinguished for his credulity, for his pedan
try, and for his want of judgment and
taste. No person in America had so
large a library, or had read so many
books, or retained so much of what he
read. So precious did he consider time,
that to prevent visits of unnecessary
length he wrote over his study door in
capital letters, " be short." Still his
manners were never raorose, but easy
and obUging. His social talents and va
rious knowledge rendered his conversa
tion interesting and instructive. Every
morning he usuaUy read a chapter of the

568

MATHER.

Old Testament in Hebrew and another in
the French, and a chapter of the New
Testament in Greek. Besides the Frencri
he understood also the Spanish and Iro
quois, and in these languages he publish
ed treatises. There were two books, in
which he every day wrote something.
In the one, which he called his quotidiana,
he transcribed passages from the authors,
which he read. In the other, which was
his diary, he noted the events of the day,
his imperfections and sins, and every
thing, which might subserve his reUgious
improvement. By this diary it appears,
that in one year he kept sixty fasts, and
twenty vigils, and published fourteen
books, besides discharging the duties ofhis
pastoral office. As a minister of the gos
pel he was most exemplary. Always propo
sing in his sermons to make sorae particu
lar impression upon the rainds of his hear
ers, the whole discourse had relation to
this object, and he endeavored to make
his sentences short, that those, who took
notes, might do it with more ease. His
discourses without doubt were equal in
length to those ofhis brethren, which he
himself informs us usually went a good
way into the second hour. He kept a
list of the members of his church, and fre
quently prayed for each separately.
Those especiaUy, whose cases had been
mentioned on the Sabbath in the house of
public worship, were remembered by him
in his secret addresses to the throne of
grace. He usually allotted one or two
afternoons in a week to visiting the fami
lies of his congregation, and in these vis
its he addressed both the parents and the
children, exhorting the former to faith
fulness, and endeavoring to instruct the
latter by asking them questions, and re
commending to thera secret prayer and
reading of the scriptures. When he left
them he recommended to their considera
tion a particular text of scripture. As
he pubUshed many pious books, he was
continually putting them into the hands
of persons, to whom rie thought they
would be useful. His success seemed to
correspond with his fidelity. In the first
year of his ministry about 30 were added

to his church ; and he received the bene
dictions of many dying believers, who
spoke of his labors as the raeans of their
salvation. He proraoted the establish
ment of several useful societies, particu
larly a society for suppressing disorders
and for the reformation of raanners, and
a society of peace makers, whose object
was to prevent law suits and to compose
differences. He arranged the business of
every day in the morning, always inquir
ing by what raeans he could be useful to
his fellow men, and endeavoring to devise
new methods of doing good. He did not
content himself with contriving plans,
but vigorously executed them. When
he travelled, he coraraonly had for a com
panion some young gentleman, to whom
he raight irapart instruction, and he used
to pray with him in private, when they
lodged together. Notwithstanding his
benevolent labors and unwearied industry,
he expressed the greatest humility, and
spoke of his days as passed in sloth and
sin. He took sorae interest in the politi
cal concerns of his country, and on this
account as wefl as on accountof his faith
ful reproof of iniquity he had many ene
mies. Many abusive letters were sent
hira, all of which he tied up in a packet
and wrote upon the cover, " libels ; Fa
ther, forgive thera." Though he deri
ved much satisfaction frora his theologi
cal and literary pursuits ; yet he declared,
that in performing an act of benevolence
to some poor and suffering Christian he
found much higher pleasure. In his dia
ry he says, " as for trie delights of the
world, I know of none comparable to
those, which I take in communion witb
my Savior. As for the riches of this
world, I use no labor for thera. In my
Savior I have unsearchable riches ; and
in my fruition of him I have a full sup
ply of all my wants. As for the honors
ofthis world, I do nothing to gain honors
for myself To be employed in the Lord's
work, for the advancement of his king
dom, is all the honor that I wish for.*'
His publications amounted to 382.
Many of them indeed were small, such
as single sermons ; but others were of

MATHER.

5C9

considerable magnitude. His essays to
do good, 12rao. 1710, is a volume pecu
liarly excellent. It has lately been reprin
ted. Dr. FrankUn ascribed all his useful
ness in the world to his reading it in early
life. His Christian philosopher, 8vo.
1721, was admired in England . His di
rections for a candidate of the ministry,
12mo. 1725, gained him a vast number of
letters of thanks. Others of his larger
works are the life nf his father, and ratio
discipliuEB fratrum Nov-Anglorum, or an
account of the discipline professed and
practised in the churches of New Eng
land. But his largest and most celebrated
work is his Magnalia Christi Americana,
or the ecclesiastical history of New Eng
land from its first planting in 1625 to the
year 1698, in seven books, foUo, 1702.
His style abounds with puerilities, puns,
and strange conceits, and he makes a
great display of learning ; but no man
was so thoroughly acquainted with the
history of New England, and he has saved
numerous important facts from oblivion.
In the work are contained biographical
accounts of many of the first settlers,
both governors and ministers. It appears,
that he gave full credit to the stories of
witchcraft ; but he was not singular in
his credulity. Even Dr. Watts wrote
to him, " I am persuaded, that there was
much immediate agency of the devil in
those affairs, and perhaps there were some
real witches too. " The catalogue of his
publications in his life, written by his son,
occupies eighteen pages ; and the whole
therefore could not with convenience be
here inserted. He published many fune
ral sermons. Among his other works,
which are principally occasional sermons
or pious tracts, is the Wonders of the in
visible world, 4to. 1692 ; and Psalterium
Araericanura, or the book of Psalms in
blank verse, with illustrations, 1718. Be
sides his nuraerous publications, he left
behind hira in manuscript the angel of Be-
thesda, in which he placed under every
disease not only suitable reUgious instruc
tions, but the most simple and easy medi
cines ; a large treatise, designed to pro
mote union among protestants; Golia-
72

thus detruncatus, against Mr. Whiston,
to prove that most of the Anteniccno
fathers were orthodox and not Arian ;
and BibUa Americana, or the sacred
scriptures of the Old and New Testa
ment illustrated. This learned work,
which it was once proposed to publish in
three folio volumes, is now in the library
ofthe Mass. historical society.- Li/e by
S. Mather; Middleton's biog. evang. iv.
233-240. MATHER, Sarauel, minister of
Windsor, Conn., the son of Timo. M.,
of Dorchester, and the grandson of Rich
ard M., was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1671; was ordained in 1682;
and died March 18, 1726, aged 76. His
predecessors were Warham and Huit ;
his successor was Jonathan Marsh.
An unhappy division existed in Windsor
frora 1667 to 1680. The two preachers,
neither of whom were ordained, were
Mr. Chauncy and Mr. Woodbridge.
But the two churches and town happily
united in Mr. Mather and lived in har
mony during his ministry. He was one
of the first trustees of Yale college, from
1700 to 1724.
MATHER, Samuel, d.d., minister
in Boston, the son of Cotton M., was
graduated at Harvard college in 1723.
He was ordained in the same church, in
which his father was settled, as colleague
with Mr. Gee June 21, 1732. In about
ten years a separation occurred, in con
sequence, itis believed, ofa difference of
views in regard to the revival of religion
at that period. A church was buflt for
him in Bennet street by persons,who with
drew with him from the old north church.
He was their pastor till his death June 27,
1785, aged 79. He was buried, by his
own direction, without any ceremony.
A society-of universalists purchased his
church and still occupy it. Dr. Mather
pubUshed a serraon on the death of Wil
liam Waldron, 1727 ; of his father, 1728 ;
life ofhis father, Svo. 1729; essay on
gratitude, 1732 ; on the death of queen
Caroline, 1738 ; an apology for the liber
ties ofthe churches in N. England, 8vo.,
17S8 ; artillery election sermon, 1739 ^

570

MATIGNON.

MAYHEW.

on thedeath of T. Hutchinson, 1740 ; of
the prince of Wales, 1751 ; of William
¦yVelsteed and Ellis Gray, 1753 ; disserta
tion on the name of Jehovah, 1760 ;
convention serraon, 1762 ; essay on the
Lord's prayer, 1766 ; amodest account of
the salutations in ancient times, 1768,
anonymous ; the sacred minister, a poem,
in blank verse, 1773 ; America known to
the ancients', 1774 ; all men will not be
saved forever, in answer to Chauncy,
1781.— Hist col III. 258, 263 ; Holmes.
MATIGNON, Francis Anthony, d.
D., catholic minister in Boston, was born
at Paris Nov. 10, 1753. Appointed pro
fessor inthe college of Navarre in 1785,
after some years he received .an annuity
from the king, which made him indepen
dent. The revolution compelUng him to
leave France, bp. Carroll sent him from
Baltimore to Boston Aug. 20, 1792 ; in
1796 he received Mr. Cheverus as his
colleague. He died Sept. 19, 1818. He
was gentle and courteous, learned and el
oquent; and assisted by the higher elo
quence of Mr. Cheverus the decayed
catholic society was ;-endered flourishing.
MATTHEWS, John, governor of S.
CaroUna, was a patriot ofthe revolution,
and in 1776 a judge of the supreme court.
He was appointed in 1780 a delegate to
congress, in which body his services were
important. He succeeded Mr. Rutledge
in 1782 as governor for one year, and in
1784 was appointed a judge in the court
of equity. He died at Charleston Nov.
1802, aged 58.
MAVERICK, John, one of the first
ministers of Dorchester, and colleague
pastor w-ilh Warham, lived in England
40 railes frora Exeter ; he arrived at
Nantasket May SO, 1630, and died at
Boston Feb. 3, 1636, aged about 60. He
wasa man of a humble spirit and eminent
ly useful. Most of his church removed
to Windsor.
MAXCY, Jonathan, d. d., president
of 3 colleges,- was born at Attleborough,
Mass., Sept. 2, 1763, and was graduated
in 1787 at the college in Providence, of
the baptist church in which town he was
ordained the pastor, Siept. 8, 1791. He

was also professor of divinity in the col
lege, and 11 years the president from
Sept. 6, 1792. In his pastoral office he
was succeeded by S. Gano. In 1801 he
succeeded Dr. Edwards as the president
of Union college in Schenectady, in
which office he was succeeded hy D-r,
Nott in 1804. For the next 15 years he
was the first president of the college of
S. CaroUna in Columbia, where he died
June 4, 1820, aged 52. He raarried a
daughter of coraraodore Hopkins of Pro
vidence. He published a discourse on
the death of pres. Manning ; a discourse
on the atonement, 1796 ; address to a
class, 1797 ; a funeral sermon before the
legislature, 1818.
MAYHEW, Thomas, governor of
Martha's Vineyard and the neighboring
islands, resided at Watertown, Mass. in
1636. In Oct. 1641 he obtained ofthe
agent of lord Stirling a grant of the above
lands. In the foUowing year he began a
seitlement at Edgarton. In about 30
years these islands were attached to New
York, and in 1692 they were annexed to
Massachusetts. He gave his son much
assistance in the benevolent work of con
verting the heathen. The Indian sa
chems were afraid, that the reception of
the Christian religion would deprive
them of their power ; but governor May
hew convinced thera, that religion and
govemraent were distinct, and by his
prudent conduct removed their prejudices
against the truth. Having persuaded
them to adopt the English administra
tion of justice, and having proved him
self their father and friend, they became
exceedingly attached to him and at
length submitted themselves to the crown
of England. After the death of his son,
as he was acquainted with the language
of the Indians, and as he saw no pros
pect of procuring a stated minister for
them, he began himself, at the age of 70,
to preach to the natives as well as to the
English. Notwithstanding his advanced
years and his olfioe of governor, he some
times travelled on foot near 20 miles
through the woods in order to impart the
knowledge of the gospel to those, that

MAYHEW.

571

sat in darkness. He jiersuaded the na
tives at Gayhead to receive the gospel,
which they had before opposed. Between
the years 1664 and 1667 hewas much
assisted by John Cotton. When an In
dian church was formed Aug. 22, 1670,
the members of it desired him, though
above fourscore, to become their pastor ;
but, as he declined, they chose Hia
coomes. When Philip's war commenced
in 1675, the Indians of Martha's Vineyard
could count twenty times the number of
the English, & the latter would probably
have been extirpated, had not the Chris
tian religion been introduced ; but now
all was peace, and Mr. Mayhew employ
ed some of his converts as a guard.
While his zeal to promote the gospel was
yet unabated, he died in 1681, aged 92.
In his last moments his heart was filled
with Christian joy. — Prince's account,
annexed to Mayhew's Indian converts,
280, 292-302.
MAYHEW, Thomas, the first minis
ter of Martha's Vineyard, the only son of
the preceding, in 1 642 accompamed him
to that island,where he became the minis
ter of the English. He beheld with
Christian compassion the miserable
Indians, who were ignorant of the
true God ; he studied their lan
guage ; he conciliated their affection ;
and he taught them the truths of the gos
pel. The first convert was Hiacoomes
in 1643. Mr. Mayhew commenced his
public instructions to the Indians in 1646,
the same year, in which Mr. Eliot began
his missionary exertions in a different
part of the country. Many obstacles
were thrown in his way ; but he perse
vered in his benevolent labors, visiting
the natives in theii: different abodes,
lodging in their smoky wigwams, and us
ually spending a part ofthe night in rela
ting to them portions of the scripture
history. Before the close of the year
1650 a hundred Indians entered into a
solemn covenant to obey the Most High
God, imploring his mercy through the
blood of Christ. In 1662 there were 282
of the heathens, who had embraced
Christianity, and among these were

eight pawaws, or priests, who were so
much interested to support the credit
of their craft. He sailed for England in
Nov. 1657 to communicate intelligence
respecting these Indians to the society for
propagating the gospel, and to procure
the means of more extensive usefulness ;
but the vessel was lost at sea, and he
died aged 36. He left 3 sons,— Matthew,
who succeeded his grandfather ins the
government of the island in 1681 and also
preached to the Indians, and died in 1710 ;
Thomas, ajudge ofthe common pleas for
the county ; and John. A grandson of
Matthew was Dr. Matthew Mayhew, a
man of wit and humor and unconimon
powers of mind, who died before 1815
aged 85. — He had received a Uberal edu
cation, and was a raan xif considerable
learning. His talents raight have procu=r
red hira a settieraent in places, where
his maintenance would have been gener
ous ; but he chose to preach the gospel to
the heathen, and cheerfully consented to
Uve in poverty and to labor with his own
hands to procure the means of subsistence
for his family. Four of his letters res
pecting the progress of the gospel were
published in London,— frad. converts,
app. 280-292 ; Neal's N. E. i. 262-267;
Magnalia, in. 200.
MAYHEW, John, rainister of Mar
tha's vineyard, the son of the preceding,
was born in 1652. At the age of 21 he
was called to the ministry araong the
English at Tisbury in the middle of the
island. About the sarae time also he
began to preach to the Indians, He
taught them alternately jn aU their assem
blies every week, and assisted them in
the management of their ecclesiastical
concerns. For some years he received
but five pounds annually f<k his services,
but he was content, being more desirous
of saving souls from death than of accu
mulating wealth. He sought not glory
of men, and wilingly remained unknown,
though he possessed talents, which
might have attracted applause. He died
Feb. 3, 1639, aged 36, leaving an Indiaji
church of 100 communicants, and several
wefl instructed Indian teachers in differ*

572

MxVYHSW.

ent congregations. In his last sickness
he expressed his hope of salvation through
the merits of Christ. — Indian conv.
app. MAYHEW, Experience, rainister on
Martha's Vineyard, the eldest son ofthe
preceding, was born Jan. 27, 1673. In
March 1694, about five years after the
death ofhis father, he began to preach to
the Indians, taking the oversight offive or
six of their assembUes. The Indian lan
guage had been familiar to him from in
fancy, and he was employed by the com-
raissioners of the society for propagating
the gospel in N. England to make a new
version of the Psalras and of John, which
work he executed with great accuracy in
1709. He died Nov. 29, 1758, aged 85.
His sons were Jonathan, Joseph, Nathan,
and Zechariah. He pubUshed a sermon,
entitied, all mankind by nature equally
under sin, 1724 ; Indian converts, 8vo,
1727, in which he gives an account ofthe
lives of 30 Indian ministers, and about
80 Indian men, women, and youth, wor
thy of remembrance on account of their
piety ; a letter on the Lord's supper,
1741 ; grace defended, 8vo. 1744, in
which he contends, that the offer of sal
vation, made to sinners in the gospel,
contains in it a conditional prom
ise of the grace given in regeneration.
In this, he says, he differs frora most in
the Calvinistic scheme ; yet he supports
the doctrines of original sin, of eternal
decrees, and ofthe sovereignty of God in
the salvation of man. — Indian conv.,
appen. 306, 307 ; Chauncy's remarks an
Landaff s sermon,93.
MAYHEW, Zechariah, a missionary
to the Indians, the son of the preceding,
was ordained at Martha's Vineyard Dec.
10, 1767, and devoted his life to the in
struction of the remnants of the red men,
being employed by the Mass. society for
propagating the gospel among the Indi
ans. He died March 6, 1806, aged 89.
In Oct. of this year there were at Gay-
head people of color in all 212. Former
ly the number of Indians was very large.
The age, attained by the Mayhews, is
reraarkable ; the first Thoraas died, aged

90 ; Experience, 84 ; John, grandson of
the first John, 89 ; his brother, Jeremi
ah, 85 ; Dr. Matthew, 85 ; Zechariah,79.
MAYHEW, Jonathan, d. d., minister
in Boston, the son of Experience
M., was born at Martha's Vineyard Oct.
8, 1720, and was graduated at Harvard
college in 1744, having raade uncommon
proficiency in literary pursuits. He was
ordained the minister ofthe vfest church
in Boston June 16, 1747, as successor of
the first minister, Mr. Hooper, who had
embraced the episcopalian worship.
Here he continued tfll his sudden death
July 9, 1766, aged 45. He was succeed-
ded by Dr. Howard.
He possessed superior powers of mind
and in classical learning held an eminent
rank. His writings evince a mind, capa
ble of making the nicest moral distinc
tions, and of grasping the most abstruse
metaphysical truths. Among the corre
spondents, which his Uterary character or
his attachment to liberty gained him
abroad, were Lardner, Benson, Kippis,
Blackburne, and Hollis. From the lat
ter he procured many rich donations for
the college at Cambridge. Being a de
termined enemy to reUgious establish
ments, to test acts, and to ecclesiastical
usurpation, he in 1763 engaged in a con
troversy with Mr. Apthorp respecting
the proceedings of the society forthe
propagation ofthe gospel in foreign parts,
of which Mr. Apthorp was a missionary.
He contended, that the society was either
deceived by the representations of the
persons employed or was governed more
by a regard to episcopacy than to charity.
He was an unshaken friend of civil and
reUgious liberty, and the spirit, which
breathed in his writings, transfused itself
into the minds of raany ofhis fellow citi
zens, and had no little influence in pro
ducing the great events ofthe revolution.
He was the associate of Otis, and other
patriots in resisting the arbitrary clairas
of Great Britain. He believed it to be
his duty to promote the happiness ofhis
brethren in every possible Way, and he
therefore took a deep interest in political
concerns. He possessed singular forti-

MAYHEW.

MC CALLA.

573

tude and elevation of mind. Unshackled
by education, he thought for himself, and
what he believed he was not afraid to
avow. In his natural temper he was
warm, and he had not always a full com
mand of himself. His want of meekness
and his pride are peculiarly displayed in
his letter to John Cleaveland. He was,
however, amiable in the several relations
of Ufe, endeared to his friends, ready to
perform the offices of kindness, liberal,
and charitable. Some of his conterapo-
raries considered him as not perfectly
evangelical in his sentiraents. But, al
though he thought for himself, and wish
ed others to enjoy the same liberty ; yet
he did not degrade his intellectual dignity
by confounding the diflerence between
truth and falshood, right and wrong, and
saying, that it is of little consequence
what a man believes. Though he was
called Uberal in his sentiments, his chari
ty would not admit of attenuation and
expansion to such a degree, as to era-
brace every one. His discourses were
practical and persuasive, calculated to- in
form the mind, and to reach the heart.
He was most interesting to the judicious
and enlightened. He published seven
sermons, 8vo. 1749, which for perspicu
ous and forcible reasoning have seldom
been equalled ; a discourse concerning
unliraited submission, and non-resistance
to the higher powers, preached Jan. 30,
1750, in which he did not speak of the
royal martyr in the strainof the episco
palians ; on the death of the prince of
Wales, 1751 ; election sermon, 1754; on
the earthquakes ; sermons on justifica
tion, 1755 ; two thanksgiving sermons
for the success of his majesty's arms,
1758, and two on the reduction of Que
bec, 1759 ; a thanksgiving sermon on the
entire reduction of Canada ; on the death
of Stephen Sewall ; on the great fire in
Boston, 1760; on the death of George
II ; striving to enter in at the strait gate
explained and inculcated, 1761 ; Chris
tian sobriety in eight sermons to young
men, with two thanksgiving sermons ;
observations on the charter and conduct
of the society for propagating the gospel

in foreign parts, 1763 ; defence of the
preceding, 1764 ; second defence, 1765 ;
letter of reproof to John Cleaveland ;
Dudleian lecture, 1765; thanksgiving
sermon for the repeal of the stamp act,
1766.— Chauncy's and Gay's serm.
MAZZEI, Philip, a native of Tus
cany, after engaging in commercial busi
ness in London, removed to Virginia.
By that state he was sent on a secret
mission to Europe, from which he re
turned in 1785. He afterwards Uved in
Poland in the service of the king. He
died at Pisa March 19, 1816, aged 86.
A notorious letter of Mr. Jefferson was
addressed to hira . He published Recber-
ches historiques et poUtiques sur les E-
tats-Unis, 4 vol. 8vo. 1788.
MC CALL, Hugh, majpr in the army
ofthe U. S., died at Savannah, Georgia,
July 9, 1824, aged 57. He published a
history of Georgia, 2 vols. 8vo. 1816.
MC CALLA, Daniel, d.d., rainister at
Wappetaw, S. CaroUna, was born at
Neshaminy, Penns., in 1748 of pious pa
rents,, and graduated at Princeton in
1766. He afterwards taught an acaderay
in Philadelphia, making himself great
improvement in science, acquiring also a
knowledge of the French, Spanish, and
ItaUan languages. In 1774 he was or
dained pastor of the churches of New
Providence and Charleston, Penns. In
the war he went as a chaplain to Canada
and was made a prisoner with Thomson
at Trois Rivieres. For some months he
was confined' in a prison ship. He re
turned on parole at the close of 1776.
After his exchange he taught an acade
my in Hanover county. For 21 years
hewas the minister of the congregation
al church at Wappetaw, ' Christ's church
parish, ' devoting himself chiefiy to the
critical study of the scriptures in the
original languages. The death of his
daughter overwhelmed him, and gave
new power to his disease. He died in
calm submission Aprfl 6, 1809, aged 60.
His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Rev.
John Todd of Virginia ; his only child,
who married Dr. John R. Witherspoon,
died at the age of 96, leaving one son.

574

MC CLURE.

He was an eminently learned, good, and
useful man. His eloquence was almost
unrivalled . He preferred the congrega
tional form of government as most con
sonant to the apostolical practice. He
published a sermon at the ordination of
James Adams. His sermons and essays,
with an account of his life by HolUngs
head, were published in 2 vols. 1810.
MC CLURE, David, D.D., minister of
East Windsor, Conn., was a native of
Brookfield, Mass., and was graduated at
Yalecollege in 1769. From Nov. 18,1776
till Aug. SO, 1785 he was the minister of
North Hampton, N. H., and in 1786
was installed at-East Windsor, where he
died June 25, 1820, aged 71. His wife
was thedaughter of Dr. Pomeroy. His
predecessors were T. Edwards and J.
Perry. Dr. M. was a respected and use
ful rainister, and a trustee of Dartmouth
CoUege. He pubUshed, a sermon on the
deathof Dr. Pomeroy,1784 ; on the death
of Erastus Wolcott ; with Dr.Parish, Me
moirs ofE. Wheelock, founder of Dart
mouth xoUege, 8vo. 1810 ; sertrions on
the moral law, 8vo. 1818 ; an account of
Windsor in Hist. col. v.
MC CREA, Jane, murdered by the
Indians, was the second daughter of
James M., minister of Lamington, N.
Jersey, who died before the revolution.
After his death,she resided with her broth
er, col. John M. of Albany, who removed
in 1773 to the neighborhood of fort Ed
ward. His house was in what is now
Northumberland, on the West side^of the
Hudson, 3 miles north of fort Miller
faUs. In July or Aug. 1777, being bna
visit to the family of Mrs. Mc Nefl, near
fort Edward, at the close of the week,
she was asked to remain until Monday.
On Sunday morning, when the Indians
come to the house, she concealed herself
in the cellar ; but they dragged her out
by the hair, and, placing her on a horse,
proceeded on the road towards Sandy
hill. They soon met another party of
Indians, returning frora Argyle, where
they had killed the faraily of Mr. Bains ;
these Indians disapproved the purpose of
taking Miss Mc Crea to the British

MC DONOUGH.
camp, and one of them struck her with a
tomahawk and tore off her scalp. This
is the account, giveri by her nephew. The
account of Mrs. Mc Nefl is, that her
lover, anxious for her safety, employed
two Indians, with the promise ofa barrel
of rum, to bring her to hira ; and that in
consequence of their dispute for fhe
right of conducting her, one of thera
murdered her. Gates, in his letter to
Burgoyne of Sept. 2, says, she " was
dressed to receive her promised husband."
Her brother, on hearing of her fate, sent
his famfly the nCxtday to Albany, and, re
pairing to the American camp, buried
his sister with one lieut. Van Vechten 3
railes south of fort Edward. Shewas 23
years of age, of an amiable and virtuous
character, and highly esteeraed by all her
acquaintance. It was said and beUeved,
that she was engaged in raarriage to capt.
David Jones of the British array, a loyal
ist, who survived her only a few years;
and died, as was supposed, of grief for
her loss. Her nephew,col. James Mc Crea,
lived at Saratoga in 1823.
MC DONOUGH, Thoraas, commo
dore, was the son of a physician in New
Castle county, Delaware; who was a
major in the war, and died iri 1796. Af
ter the death of his father he obtained a
midshipman's warrant and went in our
fleet to the Mediterranean . In the war
of 1812, at the age of 28, he commanded
the American forces on lake Champlain.
His own ship, the Saratoga, mounted 26
guns ; the Confiance, the ship ofthe Brit
ish captain Downie, mounted 36. In the
battle of Sept 11, 1814, after an action of
2 hours and 20 minutes, he obtained a
complete victory, which he announced to
the department of war as follows, " the
Almighty has been pleased to grant us a
signal victory on lake Champlain in the
capture of one frigate, one brig, and two
sloops of war ofthe enemy. " Thestate
of N. York gave him 1000 acres of land
on the bay, in which the battle was
fought. He died Nov. 10, 1825, aged
about 39. His residenee was Middle-
town, Con. His wife, who was Miss.
Shaler of that town, died in Aug., while

MCDOUGALL.

MCINTOSH.

575

he was absent. He was tall and dignified,
of Ught hair, coraplexion,arid eyes.
MC DOUGALL, Alexander, raajor
general, was theson ofa Scotchman, who
spill milk in the city of N. York, nor -was
he asharaed to acknowledge, that, when a
boy, he assisted his father. He proved
hiraself a zealous whig before the begin
ning of the war ; in Aug. 1776 he was ap
pointed brigadier, and major general in
Oct. 1777. He commanded in the ac-
tionat White Plains and was engaged in
the battle of Germantown. In 1781 he
was elected a delegate to congress ; he
was afterwards ofthe senate ofN. York.
He died in June 1786. His only daugh
ter married John Lawrence.
MC GREGORE, James, first minis
ter of Londonderry, N. Hampshire, for
merly had the care ofa Scot's presbyteri
an society in the North of Ireland. The
sufferings of the protestants in that coun
try and the inextinguishable desire of re
Ugous liberty impelled him with a nupi-
ber of other ministers and a part of their
congregations to seek an asylum in A-
merica. He arrived at Boston with
about 100 famflies Oct 14, 1718. In the
following year sixteen families settled on
a tract of good land near HaverhiU, which
was called Nutfield, and which they nam
ed Londonderry. Mr. Mc Gregore, who
since bis arrival had preached at Dracut,
was called to be their minister. He died
March 5, 1729 aged 52. He was a wise,
affectionate, and faithful guide to his peo
ple both in civil and religious concerns.
They brought with thera every thing
necessary for the manufacture of linen.
They also introduced theculture pf ppta-
toes. Which were first planted in the gar
den of Nathaniel Walker of Andover.
—Belknap's N. H. n. 55—37, 41.
MC GREGORE, David, minister of
Londonderry, N. H., son of the preced
ing, died May SO, 1777, aged 66, in the
42d year of his ministry. He left 8 chil
dren. One ofhis daughters married col.
Robert Means, who died in Amherst in
1823, leaving two sons and three daugh
ters, who married Jeremiah Mason, Jesse
Appleton, and .Caleb ElUs. With em

inent abilities he was an excellent evan
gelical preacher. He was also a zealous
and intrepid assertor ofthe rights and lib
erties of America, and died in the full
persuasion, that the cause ofhis country
would triumph and that here the church
of Godwould flourish in its purity. He
pubUshed professors warned of their dan
ger, 1741 ; on the trial of the spirits, in
answer to Caldwell, 1742 ; the beUever'a
all secured, 1747 ; on the death of J.
Moorhead, 1774.
MC INTOSH, Lachlan, general, an
officer of the revolution, was one of the
early settlers of Georgia and the princi
pal military officer ofthe province. Sept.
16, 1776 he was appointed brigadier geri
eral. Having murdered Mr. Gwinnett
in a duel, the event, instead of banishing
him from the army, was the cause ofhis
removal to the north. Having served
till the end of the war, he was a
member of congress in 1774. In 1785
he was one of the commissioners to treat
with the southern Indians. He died at
Savannah Feb. 20, 1806, aged 80.
MC INTOSH, John, general, .Was
an officer ofthe Georgia line in 1775, and
served during the war with unblemished
honor. In 1 8 1 4 he comraanded the Geor
gia division, which went to Pensacola.
He died at his plantation in Mc Intosh
county Nov. 12, 1826, aged about TO.
He was a sincere Christian.
MC INTOSH, Williara, general, an
Indian chief, was one of the three great
chiefs ofthe Creeks; the others were Big
Warrior, and Littie Prince, whp died in
Apr. 1828.— He was about 6 feet in
height, dignified, generous, and brave;
teraperate ; and the only chief, who could
converse in English with facility. About
the year 1826 he was killed by his tribe
on the charge of treachery, in bargain
ing away their territory to the whites.
A chief, who assisted in killing him,
made this speech t " Brothers 1 Mc In-
fosh is dead. He broke the law of the
nation. The law, which he made him
self His face was turned to the white
men, who wish, to take pur land from iis.
His back was to his own people. His

576

MC INTOSH.

MC KEAN.

ears were shut to the cries of our
women and childreri. His heart was es
tranged from us. - The words ofhis talk
were deceitful. They carae to us like
the sickly breeze, that flies over the
marsh of the great river. "
MC INTOSH, Duncan, a noble phi
lanthropist, a native of Scotland and an
American citizen, died at Aux Cayes in
Nov. 1820. At the revolution in St.
Domingo he was Uving there, a merchant
of immense wealth acquired by trade ; he
might have withdrawn, and secured his
property ; but he remained and sacrificed
his estate and risked his Ufe in the sacred
cause of humanity. When 400,000 ig
norant slaves had hroken their chains and
were devastating the Island and triirsting
for the blood of the whole French popu
lation, and when all were flying for safe
ty, there was found one man, who re
mained' as the preserver and benefactor
of the miserable. With his gold he
bought the victiras out of the hands of
the executioners ; others he rescued by
force. In defiance of the decree of death
against those, who should conceal the
French, he raaintained them 3 months in
the places, where they were concealed.
More than once was he thrown into a
dungeon ; but on recovering his freedom
he engaged with new ardor in the work
of benevolence. During the revolutiona
ry storm of 7 or 8 months' cpntinu-
ance he was able, by his indefatigable
exertions, to save in vessels, which he
freighted for that pupose, more, than
900 men and 1500 women and children.
While the heart "is susceptible of the
emotions of gratitude and admiration
towards men of great virtues and heroic
benevolence, the name of Mc Intosh will
not be forgotten.— Pori/oZ. new series,
1. 285—297.
MC KEAN, Thomas, governor of
Pennsylvania, a patriot ofthe revolution,
the son of WilUam M., an Irishman, -who
settied in New London, Penns., was
born March 19, 1734. He was educated
in the excellent school of Dr. Allison at
New London. Having studied law in
Newcastle, he settled in that county.

He was a member of the legislature in
1762 ; of the cbngress of 1765 ; and of
that of 1774, having his residence at this
period at Philadelphia. He remained in
congress as a delegate from Delaware
frora 1774 to 1783; yet was he at the
same time chief justice of Pennsylvania
from 1777, being claimed by both states.
Hewas present in congress July 4, 1776,
and voted for the declaration of indepen
dence, and signed it as engrossed, Aug.
2d, yet in the printed journal his name
was omitted. The subsequent signers,
who were not present July 4th, were
Mr. Thornton, B. Rush, G. Clymer, J.
Sraith, G.Taylor, and G.Ross. Asa
member of the convention of Pennsylva
nia, he urged the adoption of the consti
tution. In 1799 he succeeded Mr. Mif
flin as governor and reraained in office till
1808, when he was succeeded by Mr.
Snyder. In his politics he accorded with
Jefferson. After the close of 1808 he
passed his days in retireraent. He died
June 24, 1817, aged 83. As chiefjustice
for 22 years he was very eminent. His
decisions were accurate and profound.
He once had occasion to say, — " no act
of my public life was ever done frora a
corrupt motive, nor without a deliberate
opinion that the act was proper and laW--
ful in itseff. " — Goodrich.
MC KEAN, Joseph, d.d.. ll.d.,
professor of rhetoric and oratory at Har
vard college, was born at Ipswich April
19, 1776. His father was Wm. M., a
native of Glasgow ; his mother was a
daughter of Dr. Joseph Manning of Ips
wich. Having graduated at Harvard
college in 1794, he for a ft;w years taught
a school in Ipswich and the academy in
Berwick. In Nov. 1797 he was ordained
as the minister of Milton; bis infirm
health induced him to ask a disraission
Oct. 3, 1804. He afterwards engaged in
the business of instruction at Boston.
He was inaugurated Oct. 31, 1809 as
professor of oratory at Cambridge, in
which office he was industrious and
punctual. It was with him a maxim,
that what was worth doing at all was
worth doing -well. He died at Havana,

MC KEEN.

MEAD.

577

whither he went fbr his health in conse
quence ofa pulmonary complaint, March
17, 1818, aged 41, trusting in the mer
cy of God through the merits ofhis Son.
His wife was a daughter of maj. Swasey
of Ipswich. Prof Mc Kean possessed a
powerful mind, and was an impressive
orator. He was an efficient member of
the historical society. He published a
valedictory sermon, 1804 ; two fast ser
mons on friendship and patriotism, 1614 ;
at the ordination of J. B. Wight, 1815 ;
of N. L. Frothingham, 1815; on the
death of John Warren, 1815 ; at the in
stallation of Dr. Richmond, 1817 ; me
moir of John EUot in hist, collections ;
addition to Wood's continuation of Gold
smith's England.
MC KEEN, Joseph, d. d., first pres
ident of Bowdoin college, was born at
Londonderry, N. Hampshire, Oct. 15,
1757. His imraediate ancestors were
frora the north of Ireland, though of
Scotch descent. He was graduated at
Dartraouth college in 1774, having evinc
ed while in that seminary a decided predi
lection for mathematical pursuits. After
eight years' employment in a school in
bis native town, and after being some
time an assistant in the academy at An
dover, he directed his attention to theol
ogy, and was ordained successor of Dr.
Willard, as pastor ofthe church in Bever
ly, in May 1785. Here he continued
with reputation and usefulness 17 years.
Being chosen president of Bowdoin col
lege, which had been incorporated eight
years, but had not yet been carried into
operation, he was inducted into that im
portant office Sept. 2, 1802. He died of
the dropsy July 15, 1807, aged 49, leav
ing the seminary, over which he had pre
sided, in a very flourishing condition.
He possessed a strong and discriminating
mind, his manners were conciliating
though dignified, and his spirit mild
though firm and decided. He was inde
fatigable in his exertions to promote the
interests of science and religion. He was
respectable for his learning and exempla
ry for his Christian virtues, being pious
without ostentation and adhering to evan-
73

gelical truth without bigotry or supersti
tion. He published a sermon at the fast,
1793 ; at the ordination of Rufus Ander
son, 1794 ; of A. Moor, 1796 ; two dis
courses on the fast, 1798 ; at the election,
1800 ; at the fast, 1801 ; aud some pa
pers in the transactions ofthe American
academy ; his inaugural address, with
Mr. Jenks' eulogv, 1802.
MC KNIGHT, Charles, m. d., a phy
sician, of Irish descent, was born in
Cranbury, N.Jersey Oct 10, 1750, and
graduated at Princeton college in 1771.
He studied medicine with Dr. Shippen.
In the revolutionary war he was the se
nior surgeon ofthe flying hospital in the
middle department After the war he
settled in N. York, where he delivered
lectures on anatomy and surgery. He died
in 1790, aged 40. His wife was Mrs.
Litchfield, daughter of John M, Scott
He published a paper in memoirs of Lon
don med. soc. iv.
MC LEAN, John, a merchant of
Boston, died in Oct. 1823, aged 64. He
once failed for a large sum and was re
duced to the necessity of resorting to the
bankrupt act. Afterwards, while he was
in Italy for his health, he engaged in such
commercial pursuits, as enabled him to
acquire a large fortune. Having thus
the abflity, he honorably paid all his old
creditors, although they had no legal
claims upon him. In his last will, after
providing for his wife, Ann Amory, he
bequeathed the large sum of 100,000 dol
lars to the Massachusetts general hospi
tal in Boston ; also 50,000 dollars to the
hospital and to Harvard university on the
death ofan individual.
MC MAHON, Bernard, a gardener
and florist, founded in 1809 a botanic
garden near Philadelphia, and died in
Sept. 1816. He published the Araeriean
gardener's calendar, 1806.
MEAD, Asa, minister of Brunswick,
Maine, was born at Meredith, N. H.,
in 1792, and graduated at Dartmouth
college in 1818. His father was a bap
tist. He studied theology at Andover
was ordained at Brunswick in Dec,
1822, and dismissed in 1829. After loik

B78

MEGAPOLENSIS.

ing for a few months as an agent of the
temperance and peace societies, he was
installed Aug. 18, 1830 at East Hartford,
Conn., where he died of the Typhus fe
ver Oct 26, 1831, aged 39. His mind
was vigorous, and he -was conspicuous
for industry. He always kept several
sermons on hand, which he had never
preached, and prepared his discourses for
the sabbath before the end of the week.
While on a journey to Maine a short
time before he died, he wrote 5 or 6 ser
mons. He died in peace and hope. His
son, John Mooney, nearly 5 years old,
a child of great promise and undoubted
piety, died April 8, 1831. He pubUshed
a discourse before the Cumberland con
ference, 1826 ; a call to the temperate,
1827 ; a sermon" before the Hartford
county peace society, 1331 ; a memoir of
John Mooney Mead, pp. 92, 1831.
MEGAPOLENSIS, John, junior, a
minister of the Dutch church at Albany,
wrote an account ofthe Mohawk Indians
in 1644. A translation is in Hazard, i.
517-526. MEIGS, Return Jonathan, colonel, a
hero of the revolution, was probably a
descendant of John M., who lived in
"Weymouth in 1641. Living in Con
necticut in 1775, immediately after the
battle of Lexington he marched a compa
ny of light infantry to the neighborhood of
Boston. AVith the rank of major he ac
companied Arnold in his march through
the wilderness of Maine in order to at
tack Quebec. His printed journal gives
thebest account ofthis expedition. Inthe
assault on Quebec by Montgomery and
Arnold at the close of the year he was
made a prisoner with captains Mor
gan and Dearborn. In 1776 he was ex
changed and returned home, and the
next year was appointed colonel. His
expedition to L. Island in May 1777 was
one of the most brilUant enterprises of
the war, for which he received, Aug. 3,
the thanks of congress and a sword. At
the head of a few companies he attacked
the British troops at Sagg harbor with
fixed bayonets, made 90 prisoners, and
destroyed 12 vessels and much forage

MELLEN.
without the loss of a man. In 1779 he
comraanded a regiment under Wayne at
the capture of Stony Point and was hon
orably mentioned by Washington. Af
ter the war, about 1788 or 1789, he was
one of the first settlers of the wilderness
of Ohio. For the first eraigrants he
drew up a system of regulations, which
were posted on a large oak near the con
fluence of the Ohio and Muskingum riv
ers, tiie bark of the tree being cut away
for the space of the sheet. Often was
the venerable oak consulted. He was
the agent for Indian affairs as early as
1816. He died at the Cherokee Agency
Jan. 28, 1823, at an advanced age. His
journal ofthe expedition to Quebec from
Sept. 9, 1775 lo Jan. 1, 1776 is pubUshed
in Amer. remembrancer for 1776 ; in 2
Hist. col. II. 227 — 247 ; and a summary
of it in Maine hist. col. i.
MEIGS, Return Jonathan, governor
of Ohio, son ofthe preceding, succeeded
Mr. Huntington as governor in 1810 and
remained in office, until he was appointed
post master general, in the place of Mr.
Granger, in Feb. 1314. He wassucceed-
ed by John Mc Lean in 1823. He died
at Marietta in March 1825.
MELISH, John, a geographer, was a
native of Scotland ; came to this country
in 1809; and died at Philadelphia Dec.
30, 1822, aged 52. He published travels
in the U. S., and in G. Britain and Can
ada 2 vols. 8vo. 1812 ; a description of
the roads &c., 1814 ; traveller's directory,
1815 ; description of the U. S., 1816 ;
universal school geography and atlas ;
the necessity of protecting manufactures,
1818 ; maps of Penns. and ofthe U. S.;
information to emigrants, 1819.
MELLEN,John, minister of Steriing,
Mass., was born at Hopkinton March 25,
1722, and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1741. He was ordained pastor
of the church in Lancaster, now Sterling,
December 19, 1744. His connexion
with his society was dissolved in conse
quence of disputes, occasioned principally
by his endeavors to maintain what he
considered the order ofthe churches. In
1784 he became the minister of Hanover,

MELLEN.

MESSHEIMER.

579

where he continued to discharge the du
ties ofthe sacred office until Feb. 1805,
when his infirmities induced him to relin
quish it. He soon removed to Reading,
and closed a long and useful life in the
house of his daughier, the reUct of Ca
leb Prentiss, July 4, 1807, aged 85. His
sons were John, — Henry, a lawyer and
poet, who died at Dover, N. H. July 31,
1809, aged 51, — and Prentiss, chief jus
tice of Maine, who was born in 1764.
He was respectable in his profession, and
many had an aff'ectionate remembrance
of his faithful labors as a minister of the
gospel. He published a sermon at the
ordination of J. Palmer,1753; ata general
muster, 1756 ; on the mortal sickness
among his people, 1756 ; on the conquest
of Canada, 1760; religion productive of
music ; at the ordination of Levi Whit
man, 1785; before a lodge of freemasons,
1793 ; on the thanksgiving, 1795 ; on
the duty of making a profession of Chris
tianity ; 1 5 discourses on doctrinal sub
jects with practical improveraents, 8vo.
1765. MELLEN, John, minister of Barn
stable, son of the preceding, was born
July 8, 1752 ; graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1770 ; was ordained Nov. 12,
1783; and died at Cambridge Sept. 19,
1828, aged 76. One of his daughters
married professor Frisbie. He pubUshed
a sermon on the death of I. Dunster,
1791 ; masonic discourse, 1793; at a
dedication, 1795 ; at the election, 1797 ;
Dudleian lecture, 1799.
MERCER, Hugh, brigadier general,
was a native of Scotiand, and educated
for the profession of medicine. On his
emigration to this country he settled and
married in Virginia. He served with
Washington in the war against the
French and Indians, which terminated in
1763, and was by him greatiy esteeraed.
He was with Braddock in the campaign
of 1755. In the action at fort Du quesne
he was wounded, and, faint with the loss
of blood, he lay down under a fallen tree.
One of the pursuing Indians jumped up
on the very tree, but did not discover
him. Mercer found a brook, at which he

refreshed himself. In his hunger he fed
on a rattlesnake, which he had killed.
After pursuing his solitary way through
a wflderness of 100 miles, he arrived at
fort Cumberland.— At the commence
ment of the war of the revolution he
abandoned his extensive medical practice
and entered the army. He was distin
guished in the battie of Trenton. In the
action near Princeton, Jan. 3, 1777, he
commanded the van of the Americans,
composed principally of Southern miUtia.
While exerting himself to rally them, his
horse was kiUed under hira. He was
surrounded by some British soldiers, who
refused him quarter arid stabbed him with
their bayonets, and bruised his head with
the butt-end of their muskets, leaving
him on the field as dead. He died from
the wounds on his head Jan. 19th, aged
about 56. He was buried at Philadel
phia ; 30,000 of the inhabitants followed
him to the grave. He was a valuable
officer. Wilkinson regarded him as sec
ond only to Washington. He was well
educated, polished in manners, gentle
and diffident, yet in the hour of peril ig
norant of fear, patriotic and disinterested.
Provision was made by congress in 1793
for the education of his youngest son,
Hugh Mercer. His son, colonel John
M ., who accompanied Monroe to France
as secretar}', died Sept 30, 1817. —
MarshaU, a. 552 ; Holmes.
MERCER, John, governor of Mary
land, was a soldier ofthe revolution. In
1782 he was elected a delegate to con
gress from Virginia ; in 1787 hewas a
memberfrom Maryland of theconvention,
which fraraed the constitution of the U.
S., and also a inember of congress frora
Maryland. He was governor from 1801
to 1803, where he was succeeded by
Robert Bowie. He died at Philadelphia
Aug. 30, 1821, aged 64.
MESSHEIMER, Fred. Val.,a nat
uralist, ministerof the Lutheran church
at Hanover, York county, Penns-, devo
ted much time to the study of the ento
mology of this country, but was nPt en
couraged. He died about 1814. He
left a sou, with similar inteUigence and

580

METCALF.

MIANTUNMOMU.

taste.— He published a catalogue of in
sects of Penns. 1806.
METCALF, Joseph, first minister of
Falmouth, Massa., was born in April
1682; graduated at Harvard college in
1703 ; and died greatly lamented May
1723, aged 41, leaving'a widow and 8
female children. One of his daughters
married Jonathan Lee. In the account
of Solomon Allen and of J. Lee Mr. Met-
calf's name is by mistake mentioned as
Nathan instead of Joseph.
MEYER, Hermannus, d.d., minister
ofthe reformed .Dutch church, was invited
from HoUand to take the charge of the
church at Kingston or Esopus, N. York.
Upon hisarrival in 1762 he was received
with that respect & affection,which were
due to his character. But his preaching
soon excited opposition. Hewas too
evangelical, practical, and pointed, ad
dressing the conscience too closely to suit
the taste of many of his principal hear
ers. No plausible ground of opposition,
however,could be found until his marriage.
The Dutch churches in this country
were at this time divided into two parties,
called the ccetus and the conferentie par-
ties,of which the former wished to estab
lish judicatories with fuU powers in Amer
ica, and the latter was desirous of retain
ing the churches in subjection to the
classis of Amsterdam. His marriage in
to a leading family of the coetus party& an
intimate friendship, which soon succeeded,
with other famiU es and distinguished char
acters ofthe same party furnished his ene
mies with an occasion of standing forth
against him. A number ofthe neighbor
ing ministers were invited to attend and
decide in the dispute, and they proceeded
to suspend him frora his ministry in that
place. He was afterwards settled at
Pompton in N. Jei-sey,where he contined
to labor with much diUgence, faithfulness,
and success till his death. He died in
1791, without ever being able to effect a
reconciUation with the church at Kings
ton, greatly beloved and respected in all
the other Dutch churches. He was a
man of great erudition, of a mild and
humble temper, polite and unaffected

in his manners, and eminently pious.
Appointed by the general synod of the
Dutch church a professor of the oriental
languages and a lector or assistant to the
professor of theology, as such he render
ed very important services in preparing
candidates for the ministry. — Mason's
christian's mag. n. 10 — 12.
MIANTUNNOMU, or Miantono-
moh, sachera of the Narragansetts, was
the nephew and successor of Canonicus,
and in the old age of the latter took upon
hira the govemraent in 1636. In the same
year he made a treaty with the English
atBoston. He was the friend and bene
factor of the settlers in Rhode Island.
In the Pequot war of 1637 several ofhis
chiefs and many of his raen joined capt.
Mason. It was estiraated at this period,
that he had 5,000 warriors, probably the
number is much exaggerated. In 1638
he and Uncas, sachem of Mohegan, and
the English entered into an agreement
at Hartford. The sachems engaged not
to make war upon each other without
first appealing to the English. In 1643
Uncas attacked Sequasson, a sachem on
Connecticut river, kiUing and wounding
about 20 men, and burning the wigwams.
Miantunnomu, a kinsman and ally of
Sequasson, took up the quarrel ; he first
complained of Uncas to the governor at
Hartford ; he asked, whether any offence
would be taken, if he made war upon
Uncas.' The governor replied,that if Un
cas had injured him and refused to give
satisfaction, Miantunnomu would be left
" to take his course. " This seems to
have been submitting the affair to the
judgraent of the sachem. He according
ly marched to Mohegan at the head of
800, or 1,000 men, and on a great
plain in Norwich was defeated by Uncas,
who had only 5 or 600 men, and taken
prisoner. Uncas appUed to the commis
sioners ofthe United colonies, Winthrop,
Winslow, Eaton, &c, for advice as to
disposing of his prisoner. They deci
ded, after enumerating several charges,
that he might be put to death in the ju
risdiction of Uncas. This decision in
regard to a prisoner in their hands, an

MICHAUX.

MIDDLETON.

581

Indian king, who had been their ally
against the Pequots and a friend of the
whites, was ungenerous and iniquitous,
and a stain upon the character of the
commissioners. The prisoner was taken
to a place bet ween Hartford and Wind
sor, where some of Uncas' men Uved,
and a brother of Uncas killed him with
a hatchet. This is the account of Win
throp. Trumbull says, on the authority
of a manuscript of Mr. Hyde, that he
was put to death at Sachem's plain, in
the easterly part of Norwich, and that a
pile of stones was placed upon his grave.
He was a "a goodly personage, of tall
stature, subtle and cunning in his con-
trivements, as well as haughty in his de^
signs. " His execution by the advice of
the commissioners roused the indignation
of Canonicus and Pessacus,who the next
year threatened war, but were induced
to enter into terms of peace. Probably
this unhappy event contributed to light
up the subsequent dreadful war of king
Philip, who was assisted by the Narra
gansetts. It is known also, that it fos
tered in the breasts of the Indians a con
tempt of Christianity, In every respect
generosity, forgiveness, and kindness as
well as justice are advantageous.
MICHAUX, Andre, a botanist, was
born in France in 1746. He married in 1 769
CeciliaClaye; butshediedin 1770. After
extending his botanical excursions to
Spain, and spending two years in Persia,
came to America in Oct. 1785. During
about 9 years he travelled over the mid
dle, southern, and western states, and
proceeded to the north to the neighbor
hood of Hudson's bay, procuring trees
and shrubs for the, establishment at
RambouUlet. For the preservation of
his plants he established botanical gar
dens at N. York and near Charleston.
On his return to Europe in 1796 he was
shipwrecked, but saved most ofhis coUec
tions. He had sent. 60,000 stocks to
RambouUlet, of which but few had es
caped the ravages of the revolution.
His salary for 7 years he could not obtain,
nor any employraent frora govemraent
In 1800, however, he was sent out ou an

expedition to New Holland. He died of
a fever at Madagascar in Nov. 1802.
He published Histoire des Chenes de
Amerique Septentrionale, fol. Paris, 36
plates, 1801; Flora Boreali — Americana,
2 vols. Svo. Paris, 1803, 51 plates.
MICHAUX, Frangois Andr^, son of
the preceding, was born in 1770., He
published the beautiful work, entitled the
North American Sylva, 5 vols. 8vo.
PhUad. 1817, 150 colored engravings;
and voyage a I'Ouest de Monts &C.1804;
the same, translated, entitled Travels in
Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, Lond.
1805. MIDDLETON, Peter, m. d., a phy
sician in N. York, was a native of Scot
land. In 1750 he assisted Dr. Bard in
the first dissection in this country, and in
1767 was appointed professor of physiol
ogy and pathology. He died in 1781.
He published a medical discourse, 1769 ;
and a letter on the croup, in med. repos.
IX. — Thacher.
MIDDLETON, Arthur, a patriot of
the revolution, was born on the banks of
Ashley river, S. Carolina, iu 1743. His
father, Heriry,was president of congress ;
his grandfather,Arthur,wa3 the first royal
governor of S. Carolina, He received an
excellent education at Westrainster and
Cambridge, England, and then travelled
several years upon the Continent. After
returning and marrying the daughter of
Walter Izard he again travelled in Eu
rope. In 1773 he settled upon the banks
of the Ashley river in Carolina. At the
commencement of the revolution both he
and his father, a raan of great wealth,
entered zealously into the Araeriean cause.
In 1775 he wasone ofthe secret corarait
tee of defence, and also of the council of
safety, and, the next year, on the com
mittee to prepare a constitution. He
was also sent a delegate to congress and
signed the declaration of independence,
but resigned his seat at the close of 1777.
In 1779 he suffered in his property, Uke
others, by the ravages of war. At the
capture of Charleston in 1780 he was ta
ken prisoner and confined at St. Augus
tine nearly a year. At length in July

582

MIFFLIN.

1781 he was exchanged and proceeded in
a cartel to Philadelphia. He was now
again appointed a member to congress.
He died of an intermittent fever Jan. 1,
1783, aged 43. — Goodrich.
MIFFLIN, Thomas, a major general
in the American array, and governor of
Pennsylvania, was born about the year
1744 of parents, who were quakers, and
his education was intrusted to the care
of Dr. Sraith, with whom he was con
nected in habits of cordial intimacy and
friendship for more than 40 years. Ac
tive and zealous, he engaged early in op
position to the measures of the British
pariiament. He was a meraber of the
first congress in 1774. He took arms,
and was among the first officers commis
sioned on the organization of the conti
nental army, being appointed quarter
master general in Aug. 1775. For this
offence he was read out of trie society of
quakers. In 1777 he was very useful in
animating the militia ; but he was also
suspected in this year of being unfriendly
to the coramander in chief, and of wish
ing to have some other person in his
place. His sanguine disposition and his
activity might riave rendered him insen
sible to the value of that coolness and
caution, which were essential to the pres
ervation of such an array, as was then
under the comraand of "Washington. In
1 787 he was a raeraber of the convention,
whicri framed the constitution of the U.
S. and his name is affixed to that instru
ment. In Oct. 1788 he succeeded Frank-
fin as President of the supreme executive
council of Pennsylvania, in which station
he continued tifl Oct. 1790. In Sept.
a constitution for this state was formed
by a convention, in which he was pres
ident, and he was chosen the first
governor. In 1794, during the in
surrection in Pennsylvania he employ
ed to the advantage of his country the
extraordinary powers of elocution, with
which he was endowed. The imperfec
tion of the miUtia laws was compensated
by his eloquence. He made a circuit
through the lower counties, and at dif
ferent places pubficly addressed the mili-

MILLER.
tia on the crisis in the affairs of their
country, and ti trough his animating ex
hortations the state furnished the quota
required. He was succeeded in the office
of governor by Mr. McKean at the close
ofthe year 1799, arid he died at Lancas
ter Jan. 20, 1800, aged 56. He was an
active and zealous patriot, who had devo
ted much ofhis Ufe to the public service. —
Smith's sermon on his death.
MILES, John, minister of the first
baptist church in Massachusetts, was set
tled at Ilston near Swansea in South
Wales from 1649 till his ejectment in
1662. He soon came to this country and
formed a church at Rehoboth in Bristol
county in 1663. The legislature of Ply
mouth colony granted to these baptists in
1667 the town of Swansey, to which
place they removed. He died Feb. 3,
1683. His wife was Ann, the daughter
of John Humphrey. — Baylies' memoir
of Plymouth, n. 239.
MILLEDGE, John, governor of
Georgia, was in 1780 attorney general,
and governor in 1802. He was after
wards a member of congress and a sena
tor of the U. S. from 1806 to 1809. He
died at his seat at the Sand Hills Feb. 9,
1818, aged 61. He was the principal
founder of the university of Georgia.
MILLER, John, minister of Dover,
Delaware,-the son of John M. , a native
of Scotiand, who married and settled in
Boston in 1710, — was born in Boston
Dec. 24, 1722, and experienced the pow
er of religion under the ministry of Dr.
Sewall. Having studied theology with
Mr. Webb, he was ordained in the old
South in Aprfl 1749 with a view to his
estabUshment at Dover, where he was a
minister more than 40 years, having the
charge also ofthe church at Smyrna, 12
railes distant. He died in July 1791,
aged 68. Among his many sons, all of
whom engaged in the learned professions,
were Edward Miller, and Samuel Miller,
now one ofthe professors in the theologi
cal seminary at Princeton. — Another son,
a physician in the army, died in 1777. —
With a sound mind he was a good scholar,
a faithful preacher a great lover and ma-

MILLER.

MILLS.

583

ker of peace, and a centre of literary and
religious influence.
MILLER, Edward, M. d., a physi
cian ofN. York, third son of the prece
ding, was born at Dover, Delaware, May
9, 1760 ; his mother was the daughter of
A. Millington of Talbot county, Mary
land. He was educated by his father
and at Newark academy under F. Alli
son and A. Mc DoweU. Having studied
medicine with Dr. Ridgeiy, he entered
the army as surgeon's mate in 1780, and
in 1781 went as surgeon in an arraed
ship to France. After attending the
lectures at Philadelphia, he commenced
the practice in Frederica, but removed
thence to Maryland and in 1786 to Do
ver, where he remained ten years. About
1793 he wrote an able letter to Dr. Rush,
asserting the domestic origin of the yel
low fever. In 1796, in order to enjoy
the society ofhis only surviving brother,
he reraoved to N. York, where his prac
tice was extensive, and where he projec
ted and published, with Dr. MitchiU and
Smith, the Medical repository, the first
number of which appeared in Aug. 1797.
This was the first work of the kind in
the U. S. ; he lived to see nearly 15 vols.
completed. In 1803 he was appointed
resident physician ofN. York. In 1805
he drew up a learned report, maintain
ing the domestic origin of the yeUow fe
ver. In 1807 he was elected the profes
sor of the practice of physic in the uni
versity of New York ; in 1809 one ofthe
physicians ofthe hospital. The typhus
fever, succeeding an inflammation ofthe
lungs, terminated his life March 17,1812,
aged 5i. Four of his brothers, in two
ofthe learned professions, died in early
Iffe. — ^He was a distinguished scholar,
and in the opinion of Dr. Rush "inferior
to no physician in the U. S." He was
a man of probity, and honor, and charity,
with a heart of sympathy, and courtesy
of manners. His gratuitous services to
the poor have been seldom equalled. In
his habits he was reraarkably teraperate,
seldom using any drink but water, and
rejecting the use of tobacco in every
form as an odious practice, and a provo

cative to the love of drinking. He was
a believer in Christianity, and devoutly
perused the Holy Scriptures. His medi
cal works, with a biographical sketch by
his brother, Samuel Miller, were publish
ed, 8vo. 1814.— Thacher, 385-392.
MILLS, Samuel J., agent of the A-
merican Colonization society, -was the
son ofthe minister ofTorringford,Conn.,
and was bom April 21, 1783. At an
early period he had such a sense of his
sin, that for two years he regarded his
existence as a curse. In answer to the
prayers bf his parents he was cheered
with the Christian hope. He graduated
at Williams' college in 1809. Whilein
that seminary his mind was deeply im
pressed with the importance of foreign
missions, and he endeavored to awaken
a similar feeling- in the hearts of his fel
low students. At the theological Semi
nary in Andover he united with Newell,
Judson, Nott, and Hall in a resolution to
undertake a foreign mission. He with
the three first offered themselves as mis
sionaries to the general association of
ministers of Massachusetts at Bradford,
June 27, 1810. In 1812 and 1813 he
and J. F. Sohermerhorn made a mission
ary tour in the western states. He was
ordained with other missionaries at New
buryport June 21 , 1 8 1 5. He made a sec
ond tour with D. Smith in 1814 and
1815. He ascertained, that in March 1815
not a bible could be found for sale or to be
given away in New Orleans: in this city
he distributed many bibles in French and
EngUsh, and visited the sick soldiers.
Finding, that 70 or 80,000 families at the
south were destitute of a bible, he sug
gested at the close ofhis report the estab
lishment of a national society like that of
the British. His efforts contributed to
the establishment of the society. May 8,
1816. The plan. of the United Foreign
Mission society, which, however, accom
phshed but little, originated with him,
while residing with Dr. Griffin at New-
wark, as did also the African school,
which existed a few years at Parsippany,
near Newark. He attended the first
meeting of the Colonization society Jan.

584

MINOT.

1, 1817, which was estabUshed by the
exertions of Dr. Finley. Appointed,
witri E. Burgess, to visit England and
explore the coast of Africa for the socie
ty, he sailed in Nov. 1817 and in a won
derful manner escaped ship wreck on the
coast of France. As the ship was drif
ting towards a ledge of rocks, the captain
despaired of preservation and jumped into
the boat with his two sons, all of whom
were lost. A strong current as the ship
approached the rocks carried her away
from them. He safled from England for
Africa Feb. 2, 1818, and arrived on the
coast March 12th. After a laborious in
spection of more than two months he
embarked on his return in the brig Suc
cess May 22, 1818. A severe cold,
which he took early in June, was succee
ded by a fever, of which he died June
16, 1818, aged 34. Hewas buried in the
depths ofthe ocean. He was eminently
pious and benevolent ; and, when the sea
gives up its dead, he will rise to heavenly
glory. His memoirs by Gardiner Spring
were published, 8vo. 1820.
MINOT, George Richards, a histo
rian, was born in Boston Dec. 28, 1758.
Distinguished in early life by the love of
learning, graceful modesty, and amiable
manners, he was peculiarly endeared,
while at school, to his excellent instructer,
Mr. Lovell, and in coUege he secured the
esteem of the governors ofthe institution
and the warmest attachment ofhis com
panions. He was graduated in 1778.
Having pursued the study ofthe law un
der the care of William Tudor, he began
its practice with a high reputation and
with fixed principles and habits. But
his attention was immediately diverted
soraewhat from his profession by his ap
pointraent as clerk ofthe house of repre
sentatives, in 1781, soon after the new
constitution had coramenced its operar
tion. While in this station, the duties
of which he discharged with the greatest
fidelity and impartialitj^,the causes, which
produced the insurrection, were opera
ting, and he had an oportunity of being
well acquainted with the proceedings of
the house. Of these transactions he

MINTO.
wrote a sketch, which was published in
the Boston magazine for 1784 and 1785.
After the insurrection was suppressed, he
wrote a history of it, which was praised
equally for its truth, moderation, perspi
cuity, and elegance. Ofthe convention
in Mass., which considered the constitu
tion ofthe United States, he was chosen
the secretary. In Jan. 1792 he was ap
pointed judge of probate for the county of
Suffolk, aud several years afterwards
judge of the municipal court in Boston.
He died Jan. 2, 1802, aged 43. Amidst
the violence of parties his mildness, can
dor, and moderation gained him the re
spect of all. His conversation was inter
esting, for his mind was enriched with
various knowledge, and there was a
modesty and benignity in his character,
which attracted and deUghted. Humble
and devout, he complied with the ordi
nances of Christianity,and trusted entire
ly to the mercy of God for salvation.
He published an oration on the Boston
massacre, March 5, 1782; history of the
insurrection in Mass., Svo. 1788 ; an
address to the charitable fire society,
1795 ; eulogy on Washington, 180O ; a
continuation ofthe history of Massachu
setts bay from 1748 to 1765, with an in
troductory sketch of events from its orig
inal settlement. The first volume ofthis
work, which is a continuation of Hutch
inson, was pubUshed in Svo. 1798 ; the
second volume was almost completed at
the time of his death, and it has since
been published. The narrative is per
spicuous, and the style simple and pure,
and a model of historical eloquence. —
Hist. soc. VIII. 89-109.
MINTO, Walter, ll. d., professor
of natural phflosophy in the college ofN.
Jersey, was born in Scotland Dec. 3,
1753, and educated at Edinburgh. By
the persuasion of the earl of Buchan he
wrote a book to prove, that the original
discovery of logarithms was to be attribu
ted to Napier, the laird of Merchiston.
The earl sent him to America in 1786,
being desirous of laying a foundation of
mathematical science in the land of
Columbus and of Washington. Soon

MIRANDA.

MITCHELL.

535

after his arrival he was chosen mathemat
ical professor in Princeton college. In
this situation he was respected and use
ful. He died Oct, 21, 1796, aged 42.
He was a sincere Christian and a truly
learned raan. Besides the book on Na
pier he pubUshed a demonstration of the
path of the new planet ; researches into
some parts of the theory ofthe planets,
&c. Svo. 1783 ; and an oration on the
progress and importance of the mathe
matical sciences, &c. 1788.
MIRANDA, Don Francisco, general,
was born of a Spanish family at Caracas,
of which province his grandfather was
governor. In 1783 he visited the U. S.,
and travelled on foot over a part of Eu
rope. In the French revolution he was
a major general in the service of France.
From the prison, into which he was cast,
he escaped to England in 1797. Having
been again banished from France for op
posing the French consul in 1803, he re
solved to emancipate S. America from
the dominion of Spain. Having obtained
secret assistance and encouragement, he
sailed from N. York in 1806 with a num
ber of American volunteers. At St Do
mingo he chartered two schooners ; they
were captured on the coast, while he es
caped in his ship. In 1810 he renewed
his attempt, but was obUged to capitulate
to gen.- Monteverde, who in disregard of
the agreement treated him as a prisoner.
He was sent to Spain, and died after four
years' confinement in the dungeons of
the inquisition at Cadiz.
MISSISSIPPI, one of the United
States, was originally inhabited by the
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians. Settle
ments were begun by the French about
1716. In I763'it was ceded to England.
In 1798 the country was erected into a
territorial government, and formed into a
distinct state, separate from Alabama, in
1817. The population of both in 1800
was 8,850; in 1810, 40,352 ; that of Mis
sissippi, in 1816,45,929; in 1820,75,
448, of which 32,814 were slaves ; in
1830, 136,806, of whom 65,659 were
slaves. The climate and sofl of the state
are favorable to the growth of cotton.
74

There are ample funds for the endow
ment of schools. Jefferson college is at
Washington, 6 miles frora Natchez.
The constitution, which was adopted in
1817, provides, that the governor shaU
be chosen for two years, and that the
lieutenant governor shall be president of
the senate . Senators and representatives
are chosen annually. Judges are remov
able on .address. The clergy are exclu
ded from civil office. Slaves, as in Ken
tucky, are not to be emancipated by law
without the consent of the owners nor
without compensation, nor to be prohibi
ted from being brought into the state by
emigrants. MISSOURI, oneof the United States,
was a part of Louisiana. St. Louis was
settied in 1764 ; the inhabitants being
Canadians. In 1820 it was made a dis
tinct State. The question of allowing
the introduction of slaves was very ear
nestly debated in congress. It was de
termined to allow them to be introduced.
The population in 1820 was 66,586, of
whora 10,222 were slaves ; in 1830,
140,074, of whom 24,990 were slaves.
In this state are extensive prairies, cov
ered with various, beautiful flowers. A
tract of 100 miles by 40 abounds in lead
ores. More than 3,000,000 pounds are
annually smelted. There is a catholic
college at St. Louis. The constitution
ofthis state is similar to that of Mississip
pi. The number of representatives is
never to exceed 100.
MITARK, sachera of Gay Head on
Martha's vineyard, being converted to
the Christian faith by Mr. Mayhew, be-;
came a preacher. Ofthe English he was
a faithful ally, and died, regretted by all
the islanders, Jan. 20, 16S3. He said —
" I have hope in God, that when ray
soul departs out of this body, God wifl
send his raessengers, who shall conduct it
to himself to be with Jesus Christ, where
that everlasting glory is. "
MITCHELL, Jonathan, minister of
Canib ridge, Mass., the son of Jonathan
M., was born in England in 1624. He
was brought to this country in 1635 by
his parents, who sought a refuge from

536

MITCHELL.

ecclesiastical tyranny in the wflderness.
His father first settied at Concord ; after
wards he lived at Saybrook, Wethers
field, and Stamford; and died in 1645.
Mr. MitcheU was graduated at Harvard
college in 1647, having made great ac
quisitions in knowledge and improve
ments in virtue. Under the ministry of
Mr. Shepard his mind was impressed by
the truths of religion . While at college
he kept a diary in Latin. When he be
gan to preach, he was invited to settle
at Hartford, but he was ordained at Cam
bridge, as the successor of Mr. Shepard,
Aug. 21, 1650. Soon after his settle
ment president Dunster embraced the
principles of antipedobaptism. Triis was
a peculiar trial to him ; but, though he
felt it to be his duty to combat the prin
ciples of his former tutor, he did it with
such meekness of -wisdom, as not to lose
his friendship, though the controversy
occasioned his removal from the college.
In 1662 he was a member of the synod,
which met in Boston to discuss and settle
a question concerning church member
ship and church discipline, and the result
was chiefly written by hun. The deter
mination of the question relating to the
baptism of the children of those, who did
not approach the Lord's table, and the
support thus given to what is called the
halfway covenant, was more owing to
him than to any other man. Consider
ing baptized persons as members of the
church and liable to its discipline, he
thought, that their children should be ad
mitted to baptism. He died in the hope
of glory July 9, 1668, aged 42. His
wife was Margaret, daughter of Mr.
Shepard, his predecessor. His children
were John ; Nathaniel ; Samuel, a gradu
ate of 1 681 ; and Jonathan, a graduate of
1687. — Mr. M. was eminent for piety,
wisdom, huraiUty, and love. His vigor
ous powers of mind were dfligently culti
vated ; his memory was very retentive ;
and he had acquired much learning.. He
wrote his sermons with care and yet
preached without notes, speaking with
great majesty, and attaining towards the
close of his discourses a fervency, which

was most energetic and impressive. His
defivery was inimitable. He was fre
quentiy called to ecclesiastical councils,
and, possessing singular acuteness, pru
dence, and moderation,he was well quali
fied to heal differences. Attached to the
institutions ofthe founders of New Eng
land, he frequently said, that if it should
become a general opinion, that all persons,
orthodox in judgraent as to matters of
faith, and not scandalous in life, should
be admitted to partake of the Lord's sup
per without any examination concerning
the work of saving grace in their hearts,
it would be a real apostacy from former
principles, and a degeneracy frora the
reforraation already attained. He was
faithful and zealous in the discharge of
the duties of the sacred office. Besides
his stated labors on the sabbath, he
preached a monthly lecture upon man's
misery by sin, salvation by Christ, and
holy obedience, which was much at
tended by persons from the neighboring
towns. He published a letter of counsel
to his brother, 1664 ; an election serraon,
entitled, Nehemiah upon the wall in
troublesome times, 1667 ; a letter con
cerning the subject of baptism, 1675 ; a
discourse ofthe glory, to which God hath
called believers by Jesus Christ, printed
London, reprinted Boston, 12rao, 1721.
— His life by C. Mather; magnalia, iv.
158—185; His. soc. vn. 23, 27,47— 51.
MITCHELL, John, m. d. p. a. s., a
botanist and physician, came from Eng
land to Virginia about the year 1700. He
died in 1772. His residence was chiefly at
Urbana, a small town on the Rappahanoc,
about 73 miles from Richmond. He ap
pears to have been a man of observation,
acuteness, and enterprise, as well as learn
ing. He wrote in 1743 an essay on
the causes of the different colors of
people in different climates, which was
pubUshedin the philosophical transactions,
vol . xliii. He attributes the difference of
the human complexion- to the same causes,
which have been assigned by Dr. Sraith,
to the influence of climate and modes of
life ;. and be thinks, that the whites have
degenerated more frbm the original cbm-

MITCHELL.

MONRO.

537

plexion in Noah and his family, than the
Indians or even negroes. The Color of
the descendants of Ham he considers a
blessing rather than a curse, as without it
they could not wefl inhabit Africa. He
published also an essay on the prepara
tions and uses of the various kinds of
potash in philosojihical transactions vol.
xlv ; a letter concerning the force of
electrical cohesion in vol. li ; and a use
ful work on the general principles of bota
ny, containing descriptions of a number
of new genera of plants, 4to. 1769. It is
believed, that he v^as also the author of
the map of North America published in
1755, which was accompanied by a large
pamphlet, entitled, the contest in Araeri
ca, and followed by another, entitied the
present state of Great Britain and North
America, 1767, His manuscripts on the
yeUow fever, as it appeared in "Virginia in
1742, feUintothe hands of Dr. Franklin,
by whom they were communicated to
Dr. Rush. — Miller's retrospect, i. 318 ;
II. 367 ; Thacher.
MITCHELL, AraraiR. a physician,
the son of judge David Mitchell, was
born at North "Yarraouth, Maine, May 8,
1762. Having studied physic at Ports
mouth, when at the close of the war the
America, a 74 gun ship, was presented
by congress to the king of France, he
accorapanied Dr. Meaubec, the surgeon
ofthe ship, to Brest, where he enjoyed
many advantages for iraproveraent in
surgery. On his return he settled at
North Yarmouth, where he had exten
sive practice through life. He was
also an eminent Christian ; for 21 years
a deacon of the church. He died May
14, 1824, aged 62. He was found dead
in the street, having been thrown frora
his gig, as he was riding. He published
an eulogy on Washington, 1800 ; an
address on sacred music, 1812, — Cumr
mings' serm.; Thacher,
MITCHELL,Alfred, minister of Nor
wich, Conn,, the son of judge Stephen
MixM., was bomat Wethersfield May
22, 1790 ; was graduated at Yale college
in 1809 ; and, having studied theology at
Andover, was ordained as the successor

of Mr. Hooker Oct. 27, 1814. He died
Dec. 19, 1831, aged 41. He Was a man
of intellectual power, of firmness, and
zeal, yet modest and retiring. Almost
his last words were — " the will of the
Lord be done . " He pubUshed several
occasional sermons. From the lines,
written on his death by Mrs. Sigoumey,
who once attended on his preaching, the
following is an extract. She had heatd,
that one ofhis last expressions was " am
I sa near my home? "
 " Pure spirits should not pass unmourn'd.
This earth is poor without them. — But a view
Of better climes broke o'er thee, and thy soul
Rose o'er its stricken tent with out-spread wing
Of seraph rapture: — for to reach a home,
Where is no rootless hope, no vain desire,
No film o'er faith's bright eye, for love no
blight,—
Is glorious gain. — Teacher and guide,farewell."
MONIS, Judah, the first Hebrew in
structer in, Harvard college, was a na-
tiye of Italy, and after his arrival in this
country began his instructions about the
year 1720. Though a Jew he embraced
the christian religion, and was publicly
baptized at Cambridge in 1722. After
the death ofhis wife in 1761 he resigned
his office, which he had sustained for
about forty years, and retired to North-
borough. In that town he passed the
remainder of his life in the family of
Rev. John Marty n, who married a sister of
his wife. Hedied April 25, 1764, aged
81, bequeathing forty six pounds to be
divided among seven of the neighboring
ministers, and 126Z. as a fund, the inter
est of which was to be given to the indi
gent widows of ministers. He published
truth, whole truth, nothing but the
truth, 1722, and a Hebrew grararaar,
4to. 1735.
MONRO, George, m. d., a physi
cian, was born at Newcastle, Delaware,
Feb. 22, 1760; his father, George M.,
carae ftom Scotland. At the close ofthe
war he was a surgeon in the array. On
the return of peace he spent three years
in London and Edinburgh, and profited
by the lectures of CuUen, Gregory, Black,
Home, Brown, and Monro. He pub
lished at this period a Latin dissertation

588

MONROE.

on Cynanche, which was commended by
Cullen. In 1786 he settled on his farm
at St. George's, Newcastle county ; in
1793 he removed to Wilmington, where
he passed the remainder of his Ufe in ex
tensive practice as a physician and sur
geon. He was an infidel tfll about 1800,
when he publicly acknowledged his be
lief in Christianity, and joined the pres
byterian church, and ever afterwards ex
hibited the virtues of an eminent Chris
tian. In all his habits he was simple.
He drank nothing but water. His strict
economy enabled him to be extensively
charitable ; his charities prevented him
from accumulating property. Of uniform
piety, he was punctual in attending upon
every reUgious ordinance. The eternal
welfare of his patients weighed upon his
heart ; he conversed with them on relig
ion. His Bible was always open before
him ; he relished no book, company, or
employment, which was not spiritual.
An ossification of his heart terminated
his life Oct 11,1819, aged 59. His wife
was Jemima, daughter of col. John Has
let, who fell in the battle of Princeton. —
Thacher, MONROE, James, president of the
United States, was bom April 28, 1758
on the Potomac, in Westmoreland coun
ty, Virginia, on the land of bis ancestor,
one ofthe first patentees of the province.
His father was a mason. Having been
educated at Wm. and Mary coUege, he
in 1776 entered as a cadet in the regiment,
commanded by col. Mercer. Beirig ap
pointed a lieutenant, he joined the array
of Washington, and was engaged in the
battles of Harlem heights, and White
Plains. In the attack on Trenton, Dec. '
36, 1776, he was wounded through the ;
left shoulder, and for his bravery was
proraoted to be a captain of infantry. Being
soon appointed aid to lord Stirling, he
served as such in 1777 and 1778, and was
engaged in the battles of Brandywirie,
Germantown, and Monmouth. In 1778
he proposed to raise a regiment in Vir
ginia, but,not being successful, he engag
ed in the study of the law under Mr.
Jefferson, yet rendered good military ser

vice in the repulse of invasions. In 17S0
he was miUtary coramissioner for Virgin
ia and visited the southern army under
De Kalb. In 1782 he was elected from
king George county to theassembly ; the
next year,at the age of 24, he was a raem
ber of congress. His enlarged views at
this period were evinced by his propo
sition in 1786, which however was not
adopted, to vest congress with power to
regulate trade with all the states. Hav
ing served three years, he returned home
in 1786. In the mean tirae he had mar
ried a beautiful young lady, whose person
& conversation had attracted rauch notice
in Paris and London. Inl7SShewasa
member of the convention of Virginia,
which considered the constitution of the
U. S., — an assembly of illustrious and
eloquent men, never equalled in any state.
From 1790 to 1794 he was a senator of
the U. S. Washington sent him in 1794
a minister plenipotentiary to France. He
was recalled in 1797. As he had been
severely censured in a letter of Mr. Pick
ering, the secretary of state, of June 13,
1796 for not vindicating at the French
court the British treaty, he published on
his return the whole of his correspon
dence, with 100 pages of preliminary
observations. He was attached to the
republican party as contradistinguished
from the federaUsts. Frora 1799 to 1802
he was governor of Virginia. When
Mr. Livingston was resident minister
at Paris, he was appointed to join him as
envoy extraordinary in 1802 for the pur
chase of Louisiana. This service having
been performed, he repaired in 1803 to
London as successor of Mr. King, min
ister at the British court. In 1805 he
assisted Mr. Charles Pinckney in a nego
tiation in Spain, and then returned to
London, where he remained two or three
years, occupied in important duties. He
remonstrated against the seizure of ves
sels under the orders in council. With
Wm. Pinkney he negotiated a commer
cial treaty with great Britain, which
Mr. Jefferson rejected, because it did not
provide against impressment. After an
absence of 5 years returning home in

MONROE.

MONTGOMERY.

589

1808, he passed the two next years on
his farm in Albemarle county. In 1811
he was again elected governor of Virgin
ia. Mr. Madison nominated him as sec
retary of state, as successor of R.Smith,
Nov.95, 1611, and he remained in office
tifl 1817, being also secretary at war as
successor of J. Armstrong from Sept 27,
1814 toMar.2, 1815, when Mr. Crawford
was appointed . Being elected the 5th
president of the U. S., he commenced his
administration March 4, 1817, and, be
ing subsequently re-elected,with only one
dissenting vote, continued in his high
office 8 years till 1825. His wife, the
daughter of Lawrence Kortwright, died
in Virginia at Oak Hill, bis residence in
Loudoun county, Sept. 23, 1830. He
died July 4, 1831, aged 72. It was re
markable, that Adams and Jefferson also
died July the fourth, 1826. He left no
son; one daughter married judge George
Hay of Richmond and was left a widow
in Sept. 1830 ; another married Samuel
L. Gouverneur of N. York, at whose
house Mr. Monroe died. — He was an
attendant on the episcopaUan worship.
Mr. Monroe possessed a very determined
spirit and was distinguished for unweari
ed industry. There was much energy in
the measures of his administration : the
army & navy were strengthened; surveys
and .plans of^ fortifications were made ; a
cession of Florida for Spain was obtain
ed ; the independent states of S . Ameri
ca vrere recognized, and the bold declara
tion was made to the- world, that an inter
ference of European powers in respect to
those states would not be tolerated. Vig
orous efforts were also made for the sup
pression of the slave trade ; the pension
for the revolutionary soldiers was voted ;
and the generous La Fayette receiveti
frora the U. S. the just acknowledgraent
of his services in proraoting the estabUsh
ment of Araeriean Uberty. — Though in
the course ofhis life he had received from
the public treasury for his services 358,
000 dollars, he retired from the office of
presidency deep in debt. He was, how
ever, at last relieved by the adjustment
by congress ofhis claims, founded chiefly

on the disbursements made during the
war. MONTCALM, Louis Joseph De,
marquis of St, Veran, a distinguished
French general, was born of a noble fam
ily at Candiac in 1712, and entered early
in the array. He comraanded with repu
tation in Italy, Bohemia, and Germany.
In 1756 he became a field marshal, and
was sent to Canada, where he succeeded
Dieskau. He soon took Oswego ; and
in 1757 fort WilUam Henry; and in
1758 he repulsed Abercrombie with much
slaughter from the walls of Ticonderoga.
When Wolfe in his attack upon Quebec
had gained the plains of Abraham Sep
tember 13th, 1759, Montcalm resolved
upon a battle, and accordingly marched
out. The commanders of the two ar-,
mies both fell, equally iUustious for bra
very, and both occupied by the event of
the battle attrie moment they were about
to exchange time for eternity. The for
mer rejoiced, that he should die in the
arms of victory, and the latter that he
should not survive the surrender of Que
bec. — Wynne, n, 125, 141 ; Marshall,
I, 407, 414, 450, 456—464.
MONTGOMERY, Richard, a major
general in the army ofthe United States,
was born in the north of Ireland in the
year 1737. He possessed an excellent
genius, which was matured by a good ed
ucation. Entering the army of Great
Britain, he successfully fought her battles
with Wolfe at Quebec in 1759, and on
the very spot, where he was doomed to
fafl, when fighting against her under the
banners of freedom. After his return to
England he quitted his regiment in 1772,
though in a fair way to. preferment. He
had imbibed an attachment to America,
viewing it as the rising seat of arts and
freedom. After his arrival in this coun
try he purchased an estate in New York
about a hundred miles from the city, and
married a daughter of judge Livingston.
He now considered himself as an Ameri
can. When the struggle with Great
Britain commenced, as he was known to
have an ardent attachment to liberty, and
had expressed his readiness to draw his

590

MONTGOMERY.

MOODY.

sword on the side of the colonies, the
comraand of the continental forces in the
northern department was intrusted to him
and general Schuyler in the fall of 1775.
By the indisposition of Schuyler the
chief command devolved upon him in Oc
tober. He reduced fort Chamblee and
Nov. 3d, captured St. Johns. On the
12th he took Montreal . In Dec. he join
ed Arnold & marched to Quebec. The city
was besieged and on the last day of the
year it was deterrained to raakean assault.
The several divisions were accordingly
put in motion in the midst ofa heavy fall
of snow, which concealed them from the
enemy. Montgomery advanced at the
head of the New York troops along the
St. Lawrence, and, approaching one of
the barriers, he was pushing forwards,
when one ofthe guns of the battery was
discharged, and he was killed with his
two aids. This was the only gun, that
was fired, for the enemy had been struck
with consternation, and all but one or
two had fled. But this event probably
prevented the capture of Quebec. When
he fell, Montgomery was in a narrow pas
sage, and his body rolled upon the ice,
which formed by the side of the river.
After it was found the next morning
among the slain, it was buried by a few
soldiers without any marks of distinction.
He was thirty eight years of age. In
his person he was tall and slender, genteel
and graceful. He was a man of great
military talents, whose measures were ta
ken with judgment and executed with
vigor. With undisciplined troops, who
were jealous of him in the extreme, he
yet inspired them with his own enthusi
asm. He shared witb them in all their
hardships, and thus prevented their com
plaints. His industry could not be wea
ried, nor his vigilance imposed upon, nor
his courage intimidated. Above the pride
of opinion, when a measure was adopted
by the majority, though contrary to his
ownjudgment, he gave it his full support.
By the direction of congress -a monument
of white marble of the most beautiful
simplicity, with embleraatical devices,
was executed by Mr. Cassiers at Paris,

and it is erected to his memory in front
of St Paul's church, New York. His
remains, in consequence of an act of the
legislature of fN. Y., were taken up by
his nephew, col. 'L. Livingston, in June
1818, the place of burial being pointed
out by an old soldier, who attended the
funeral 42 years before, and conveyed to
New York, where they were again com
mitted to the dust in St. Paul's church
with the highest civil and military honors.
His widow was thenaUve. — Smith's ora
tion on his death; Marshall, n, 302 —
311 ; Warren,!, 259—268, 431.
MOODY, Joshua, minister of Ports
mouth, N. Harapshire, was born in Eng
land in 1633. His father, WiUiara, one
ofthe early settlers of Newbury, came to
this country in 1634. Hewas gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1653. He be
gan to preach at Portsmouth about the
year 1658, but was not ordained tiU 1671.
In the year 1683, when Cranfield was
governor, one of the members of Mr.
Moody's church was guilty of peijury
in relation to a vessel sent out of the
harbor; but he found means to settle
the affair with the governor and collector.
The faithful minister of the gospel how
ever beUeved, that a regard to the purity
and reputation of the church rendered it
necessary, that a notorious offence should
be the subject of ecclesiastical discipUne.
The governor, when called upon, refu
sed to furnish the evidence of the man's
perjury,and even threatened Mr. Moody,
if he proceeded. But the servant of Je
sus Christ was not to be intiriiidated. He
preached against false swearing ; he cal
led the offender to an account ; and even
obliged him to make a public confession.
Cranfield in revenge issued an order, re
quiring the ministers to admit all persons
of suitable years and not vicious to the
Lord's supper from the first of Jan. 1684,
under the penalty of the statutes of uni
formity. He at the same tirae signified
to Mr. Moody his intention of partaking
the supper on the next Sunday, and re
quiring hira to adrainister it according to
the liturgy. As Mr. Moody refused to
adrainister the ordinance to an unworthy

MOODY.

591

applicant, a prosecution was iraraediately
coramenced against him, and he was sen
tenced to six months imprisonment with
out bail or mainprize. Two of the judges,
who dissented from this sentence, were
removed from their offices. At length
by the interposition of friends he obtained
a release, though under a strict charge
to preach no more within the province.
He then accepted of an invitation from
the first church in Boston to be an assis
tant minister, and was so highly esteera
ed, that upon the death of president Ro
gers he was invited to take the oversight
of the college ; but he declined. In the
days of the witchcraft delusion in 1692,
he manfully resisted the unjust and vio
lent measures towards the imagined offen
ders. Particularly, when Philip English,
a merchant of Salem, was accused with
his wife, and both were imprisoned in
Boston, just before the appointed time of
trial Mr. Moody preached from the text,
if they persecute you in one city, flee to
another, and provided for their flight to
N. York, by which means they escaped
a trial and probable condemnation. His
zeal against this wretched delusion occa
sioned, however, his dismission from the
church, where he was preaching. In the
following year he returned to Portsmouth,
where he spent the rest ofhis life in use
fulness and peace. On the approach of
his last sickness he went for advice to
Boston, where he died July 4, 1697, aged
64. His son, Samuel, a graduate of 1689,
was a preacher at New Castle, N. H.
He was succeeded by Mr. Rogers.
Though he was deeply impressed with
his unworthiness of the divine mercy ;
yet he indulged the hope of glory, and
was desirous of entering into the
presence of the Redeemer, whom he had
served in his gospel . He wrote upwards
of four thousand serraons. Hepublished
a practical discourse concerning the
choice benefit of coramunion with God
in his house, being the sura 'of seve
ral sermons, 12mo. 1685, reprinted 1746;
an election sermon, 1692. — C. Mather's
fun. ser. ; Magnalia, iv. 192-199.
MOODY, Samuel, minister of York

in the district of Maine, , the son of
Caleb M., and grandsori of Wra. M,, '
wasborn Jan. 4, 1676, and graduated at
Harvard coUege in 1697. Hewas or
dained Dec. 20, 1700 as successor of
Shubael Dummer, who was killed by the
Indians, and died Nov. 13,1747, aged 70.
He was succeeded by Mr. Lyman. His
son, Joseph Moody, the first minister of
the north church in York, died March
20, 1753, aged 52, leaving a son, Samuel,
who after being 30 years the distinguish
ed preceptor of Dumraer academy, died
at Exeter Dec. 17, 1795, aged 69. He
had many eccentricities in his conduct ;
but he was eminent for piety and was a
remarkably useful rainister ofthe gospel.
In his younger years he often preached
beyond the limits of his own parish, and
wherever he went, the people hung upon
his lips. In one of his excursions he
went as far as Providence, where his ex
ertions were the means of laying the
foundation ofa church. Though a zea
lous friend to the revival of religion,
which occurred throughout the country a
short time before his deeath ; yet he gave
no countenance to separations. Such
was the sanctity ofhis character, that it
impressed the irreligious with awe. To
piety he united uncomraon benevolence.
While with importunate earnestness he
pleaded the cause of the poor, he was
very charitable himself. It was by his
own choice, that he derived his support
from a free contribution, rather than a
fixed salary in the usual way. In one of
his sermons he mentions, that he had
been supported twenty years in a way
most pleasing to him,and had been under
no necessity of spending one hour in a
week in care for the world. Yet he was
soraetimes reduced almost to want,
though his confidence in the kind provi
dence of God never failed him. Sorae
remarkable instances of answers to his
prayers, and of correspondences betweeil
the event and his faith are not yet forgot
ten in York. The hour of dinner once
came, and his table was unsuppUed with
provisions ; but he insisted upon having
the cloth laid, saying to his wife, he was

592

MOORE.

MOORHEAD.

confident, that they should be furnished
by the bounty of God. At this moraent
some one rapped at the door, and pre
sented a ready cooked dinner. It was
sent by persons, who on that day had
made an entertainment, and who knew
the poverty of Mr. Moody. He was an
irritable man, though he was constantiy
watchful agairist this infirmity. He once
went into a tavern and among a number
of gamblers found a member of his
church. , In his indignation he seized
hold of him, and cast him out at the
door. In one of his sermons the doc
trine, which he drew from bis text, and
which was the foundation ofhis discourse,
was this, "when you know not what to
do, you must not do you know not what."
He pubUshed the doleful state ofthe dam
ned, especially of such as go to hell from
under the gospel, 1710 ; election sermon,
1721 ; a summary account ofthe life and
death of Joseph Quasson, an Indian. —
Sullivan's Maine, 238 ; a fun. serm. on
Moody. MOORE, Alfred, judge ofthe supreme
court of the U. S., was a native of N.
Carolina and a patriot of the revolution.
He was a captain in a Carolina regiment
at the age of 19, and sacrificed a great por
tion of his ample fortune in the cause of
his country. After the peace he studied
law, and in his profession was the rival of
Davie and acquired a large fortune. He
succeeded Mr. IredeU as judge in 1800,
but resigned the office in 1805. He died
at Belfont Oct. 15, 1810, aged 55.
MOORE, Benjamin, d.d., bishop of
N. York, was born at Newtown, L. Is
land, Oct. 16, 1743, and educated at
King's college, N. York. Hisfather was
Samuel M., a farmer. He was chosen
the rector of Trinity church in 1800; was
president of Columbia college from 1801
to 181 1 ; and was for some years a bishop.
He died at Greenwich Feb. 27, 1816,
aged 67. He was succeeded by bishop
Hobart. He published a sermon before
the convention, 1804 ; on disobedience,
in Amer. preacher, vol. i ; iniquity its
own accuser, in vol. ii.
MOORE, Williara, m. d., a physi-

cian,brother ofthe preceding was born at
Newtown, L. Island in 1754. In 1778 he
went to Europe for his medical education.
For more than 40 years he was in exten
sive practice in N. York and highly res
pected for his virtues and religion. He
died in April 1824, aged 70. He pubUsh
ed various papers in the Amer. med. reg
ister, the Repository, and the i;^. Y.
Journal. — Thacher.
MOORE, Zephaniah Swift, d. d.,
president of Williams' college and first
president of Amherst college, was
born at Palmer, Mass., Nov. 20, 1770 ;
was graduated at Dartmouth college in
1793 ; and was the minister of Leicester
from 1798 tiU 1811, when he was appoin
ted professor of languages in Dartmouth
college. In Sept. 1815 he was chosen
president of WilUams' college. Having
co-operated in the ineffectual attempt to
remove this coUege to Hampshire coun
ty, his situation was rendered unpleasant
at Williamstown; so that when the colle
giate serainary was established at Am
herst in 1821, and before it was incorpor
ated as a college, he was invited to pre
side over it. He died of the cholera at Am
herst June 35, 1823, aged 52. His wife
was the daughter of Thomas Drury of
Ward. He published a sermon at the
ordination of Mr. Cotton at Palmer,
1811 ; at the election, 1818.
MOORHEAD, John, minister in
Boston, was born near Belfast in Ireland
about the year 1703, and completed his
education at one of the universities of
Scotland. He arrived at Boston in 1729
or 1730, being invited to become the
minister of some emigrants from the
north of Ireland, who had sought in that
town the peaceable enjoyment of civil and
religious liberty. The first meeting for
the election of elders was held July 14,
1730, and the church was formed accor
ding to the model of the presbyterian
church of Scotland. He devoted himself
entirely to his benevolent work, and such
was the success ofhis labors, and the ac
cession of foreign protestants, that the
comraunicants in 1736 were about 250.
He died Dec. 2, 1778, aged 70. His

MORELL.

MORGAN.

593

successor was Rob. Annan. He visited
once or twice in the year all the farailies
of his congregation for the purpose of
iraparting religious instruction, and he
concluded his visit with prayer, which
he always performed upon his knees.
Keeping the great object of the ministry
continually in view, he was unwearied
in his endeavors to promote the edifica
tion and salvation of his people. His
mind was not destitute of strength, his
imagination was lively, and his manner
was solemn, affectionate, and pathetic.
— Panoplist, a . S9S-396.
MORELL, Wflliam, a poet, accora
panied Robert Gorges to this country in
Sept. 1633, with a commission to super
intend the ecclesiastical concerns of N.
England. But, as Gorges fafled in his
plan ofa general government, MoreU had
no opportunity to act under his commis
sion. He Uved about a year at Wey
mouth and Plymouth, and then returned.
The result ofhis observations on the coun
try, the Indians, &c. he wrought into a
poem, which he published in La tin. and
English, It is printed in the histor. col
lections, I. The following is a specimen.
**A grand child to earth's paradise is born.
Well limb'd, well nerv'd, fair, rich, sweet,
- yet forlorn ;
Thou blest director, so direct my verse,
That it may win her people, friends, cdm-
merce;
Whilst her sweet air, rich soil, blest seas, my
pen
ShaU blaze, and tell the natures of her men.''
MORGAN, Abel, baptist minister of
Pennepek, Penn., was born in Wales in
1637 and came to this country in 1711.
Hedied Dec. 16, 1722. He compiled a
folio concordance to the Welch 'Bible,
printed at Philadelphia ; and also trans
lated " Century confession" into Welch,
with additions. — Benedict, i . 583.
MORGAN, John, m. d. r. e. s., a
learned physician, was born in Philadel
phia in 1735. When he had completed
the study of physic under the care of
Dr. Redman, he entered into the service
of his country as a surgeon and lieuten
ant with the provincial troops in the
75

last war, which was carried on against
the French in America. He acquired
both skill and reputation as a surgeon in
the army. In the year 1760 he went
to Europe to prosecute his studies in
medicine. After attending the lectures
of Wflliam Hunter, he spent two years
at Edinburgh, where he received the in
structions of Monro, ^CuUen, Rutherford,
Wliyt, and Hope. He then published
an elaborate thesis upon the formation of
pus, and was admitted to the degree of
doctor of medicine. From Edinburgh
he went to Paris. He also visited Hol
land and Italy. During his absence he
concerted with Dr. Shippen the plan of
a medical school in Philadelphia, and on
his arrival in 1765 was iraraediately elec
ted professor of the theory and practice
of medicine in the college of that city.
He soon delivered his plan for connecting
a medical school with the college. In
1769 he saw the fruits of his labors, for
in that year five j'oung gentlemen receiv
ed the first honors in medicine, that were
conferred in America. He was active in
estabUshing the American philosophical
society in 1769. In 1773 he went to Ja
maica to solicit benefactions for the ad
vancement of general literature in the
college. In Oct. 1775 he was appointed
by congress director general and physi
cian in chief to the general hospital ofthe
American armyin the place of Dr.Church.
He immediately repaired to Cambridge ;
but in 1777 he was removed from his of
fice without an opportunity to vindicate
himseff. The dissensions between the
surgeons of the general hospital and of
the regiments and other circumstances
gave rise to calumnies against hira. Af
ter his removal he presented himself be
fore a committee of congress, appointed
by his request, and was honorably acquit
ted. He died Oct 15, 1789, aged 53.
His successor in the professor's chair was
Dr. Rush. He pubUshed ten taraen raed-
icum de puris confectione, 1763 ; a dis
course upon the institution of medical
schools in America, 1765 ; four disserta
tions on the reciprocal advantages of a
perpetual union between Great Britain

594

MORGAN.

and her American colonies, 1766 ; a rec
ommendation of inoculation,' 1776; a
vindication of his public character in the
station of director general. — Rush's ad
dress, Src; American museum, vi. 353-
355. MORGAN, Daniel, brigadier general,
a distinguished officer of the revolution,
was born in N. Jersey in 1737. At the
age of 18 he emigrated to Virginia in
1755, and being without property, depen
dent on his daily labor, he obtained em
ployment from farmerRoberts of Berkeley
county, now Jefferson. Afterwarils he
was engaged to drive a wagon for J.
Ashley, who lived on Shenandoah river
in Frederic county. At last he be
came the owner of - wagon and horses,
and was employed by J.Ballantine on Oc-
coquan Creek. A British writer mention
ed it as a matter ofa reproach, that gen
eral Morgan was once a wagoner. He
shared in the perils of Braddock's expedi
tion against the Indians, probably as a
wagoner, aud was wounded by a bullet
through his neck and cheek. It is said
also, that in this campaign he was un
justly punished on the charge of contume
ly to an officer and received 500 lashes.
From the age of 20 to that of 30 he was
dissipated, a frequenter of tippling and
gambling houses, and often engaged
in pugilistic combats, at Berrystown, a
small village in Frederic county. From
this degradation he rose to usefulness and
honor as a soldier. In civil life he might al
so have been distinguished, had he sought
to educate himself. — The profits of his
business as a wagorier enabled him to
buy a tract of land in Frederic, on which
he built a house, and where he lived at
the commencement of the revolutionary
war. Soon after the battle of Lexing
ton he was appointed a captain by con
gress June 22, 1775 and directed to raise
a company of riflemen and march to Bos
ton. Recruiting very soon 96 men, he
arrived at Boston after a march of 21
days. In Sept. he was dstached in the ex
pedition again&t Quebec and marched
with Arnold through the wilderness of
Maine. In the attaslk on the city of QuC'

bee Dec. 31, 1775, he was with the par
ty, which attacked on the northerly side,
along the St. Charles ; Montgomery
made the attack on the southerly side,
along the St. Lawrence. Arnold being
wounded, Morgan and his riflemen as
saulted the battery of two guns at the
west angle ofthe town in a street called,
not Saint des Matelots, as Marshall says,
but Sault au Matelot, or sailor's leap ;
and firing into the embrasures and
mounting the barricade by ladders, soon
carried the battery. Col. Green, who
commanded, marched, about day light to
attack the second barrier, which was just
around the angle of the town. But this
attack was ineffectual, as the enemy fired
from the stone houses on each side ofthe
street as w-ell as from the port holes, be
sides pouring over grape shot from a can
non on a high platform within the barrier.
In the rear also there was a strong force
to prevent their retreat. Morgan and
the survivors were taken prisoners. Af
ter his exchange he rejoined the army,
and was appointed to the command ofa
regiment. Being sent to the assistance of
gen. Gates, he contributed to the capture
of Burgoyne, though Gates neglected to
speak of his merit. He afterwards serv
ed under Gates and Greene in the cam
paign at the south. With admirable
skill and^bravery he defeated Tarleton in
the battle ofthe Cowpens Jan. 17, 1781,
taking upwards of 500 prisoners. For
this action congress voted him a golden
medal. Soon afterwards he retired from
the army, and returned to his farm. In
the Whiskey Insurrection in 1794 Wash
ington summoned him to command the
militia of Virginia. He afterwards was
elected a member of congress. In July
1799 he published an address to his consti
tuents, vindicating the administration of
Mr. Adams. His health declining, he
removed from his residence, called Sara
toga, to a farm near Berrysville, and af
ter a few years to Winchester- , Gen. Lee
says, that no man better loved this world
and no man more reluctantly quitted it.
In his last years he manifested great pen
itence for the follies of his early life, and

MORGAN.

595

became a member of the presbyterian
church of Winchester. He died July 6,
1802, aged 65, after a long and distress
ing sickness . His son was a captain in
the northern army in 1812. — He was
stout and active, 6 feet in height, fitted
for the toils of war. In his military com
mand he was indulgent. His manners
were plain, and his conversation grave
and sententious. Reflecting deeply, his
judgment was soUd, and what he under
took he e.N;ecuted with unshaken courage
and perseverance.
MORGAN, WiUiara, captain, a vic
tim of free-raasonry, was bom in Culpe-
per county, Virginia, about 1775. He
fought in the battle of N. Orleans under
gen. Jackson Jan. 8, 1815. In Oct. 1819
he married Luoinda Pendleton of Rich
mond, Virginia. In 1821 he removed to
York, Upper Canada,where he commenc
ed the business of a brewer ; but, his
buildings being destroyed by fire, he re
moved to Rochester, and then to Batavia,
in the state of N. York. His trade was
that of a mason. Having resolved to
publish a book, disclosing the ridiculous
secrets of free-masonry,and his intentions.
being known, the free-masons resolved to
suppress the book and to punish him for
bis anti-masonic conduct. He was first
throAvn into prison at Canandaigua for an
alleged debt; a free-mason paid the debt,
and, taking him out of the prison, placed
him in a carriage at the door, Sept. 11,
1826 ; and thus, attended and guarded by
a sufficient number of free-masons, he
was conveyed 80 or 90 miles to fort Ni
agara, comraanded by col. King, a free
mason. After being confined a few day^,
he was removed from the fort, and has
never been seen since' that time. The ev
idence eUcited has put it beyond a doubt,
that he was murdered by free-masons in
the night of Sept. 19, 1826 ; and his body
was probably sunk in the Niagara river.
This murder was the consequence of the
masonic oaths, the result ofthe principles
of free-masonry ; and many masons, in
various places, have justified the deed.
Capt. Morgan was a royal arch mason,
being the seventh Jegree, and he had ta

ken seven oaths, bindirig himself not to
reveal any ofthe secrets of masonry un
der penalty of" having his throat cut a-
cross, his tongue torn out by the roots, "
— and having " his left breast torn open,
his heart and vitals taken from thence
and thrown over his left shoulder, " and
other penalties of similar horror. In the
execution of these penalties Morgan
was doubtless murdered by free-masons.
— Such an event as the abduction and
murder ofa fellow citizen for merely ex
posing the imposture of free-masonry,
which he had engaged to keep secret,natu-
rally aroused the indignant spirit of trie-
people of this country, especially as free
masonry, too strong for the laws, still pro
tected the murderers. Richard Rush, the
minister to London and secretary of state
in the administration of J. Q. Adams, in
his letter of March 2, 1832 says—" A
fellow citizen in New York has been mur
dered by a large and daring confederacy
of free-masons for telUng their secrets.
The spirit, that led to this deed, has
proved itself able to rescue the murderers
from punishment ; for masonic witnesses
would not testify against brother masons,
nor would masonic jurymen convict
thera, although jurymen not masonic
were satisfied of their guilt. This is e-
nougb . It shows the lod ge to be too strong
for the law. Can there be a greater re-"
proach to the Republic? " — "It has been
demonstrated, that evil minded men or
those of weak understandings committed
murder under color of these oaths. " —
" Masonry works in the dark. — Such an
institution is dangerous. It ought not to
be allowed to exist in a well governed
country. " — " I am for suspending all
other poUtical differences till we get rid of
it. " — " Its charities are mixed up with
the demon spirit of its terrific oaths.^-It
continues to this hour to insult society
by retaining in fellowship criminals, con
victed under the laws of the land of hav
ing had a share in this crime. " He
deems it therefore an American duty " to
vindicate the sanctity of the laws, and to
expel from the land an institution,
which has outraged them . " The con-

596

MORGAN.

MORRIS.

vention ofthe people,who are engaged in
this work of overthrowing masonry, in
Sep.lSSl nominated Wm. Wirt, formerly
att^jrney gen. of the U. S.,as a candidate
for president ; and Mr. Wirt, who had
been himself a mason of the first or sec
ond degree, in his letter of Sept. 28th
says, speaking of the masonic oaths — " In
one of them, called the Royal Arch, the
candidate swears araong other things,
that he will aid and assist a companion
Royal Arch Mason in distress and es
pouse his cause so far as to extricate him
•from the same, if in his power, whether
he be right or wrong, and that he will
conceal the secrets of a companion Royal
Arch mason, given him in charge as
such, murder and treason not excepted ;
and in other oaths, in still higher degrees,
I also observe, that the candidate binds
himself to avenge the violated secrets of
the Lodge by the infliction of death on
the offender, and to avenge the wrongs
of a brother to the utmost extremity ;
and the whole mixed up with the most
horrible imprecations and blasphemous
mockeries of the rites and tenets of the
Christian religion. " — After speaking
further of the wide spread conspiracy
against Morgan and of the evidence, that
allegiance to the Lodges is deemed of high
er obUgation tUan allegiance to the laws,
he adds, " If this be masonry, as accor
ding to this uncontradicted evidence it
seems to be, I have no hesitation in say
ing, that I consider it at war with the
fundamental principles of the social com
pact, as treason against society, and a
wicked conspiracy against the laws bf
God and man, which ought to be put
down. " John Q. Adaras says, " the
use of the narae of Washington to give
an odor of sanctity to the institution, as it
noiu stands exposed to the world, is, in my
opinion, as unwarrantable as that of my
father's name." This exposure has been
made by masons themselves, Whether the
institution of masonry, with its false pre
tensions to antiquity, its mummeries, its
ridiculous secrets, its horrible oaths, and
shocking blasphemies all exposed to full
light, and red with the blood of its victim,

can yet sustain itself in this land of laws
and of morals and of Christianity, assailed
by 230 newspapers estabUshed for the
special purpose of overthrowing the in
stitution, and with ten thousands of in
telligent, patriotic, and indignant raen
frowning upon it, remains to be seen.
JNIORRIS, Lewis, governor of New
Jersey, was the son of Richard M., an
officer in the time of Cromwell, who at
the restoration came to New York, and,
obtaining a grant of some thousand acres
of land in West Chester county, died in
1673. He was iborn a short tirae before
the death of his father, and was adopted
by his uncle. Once through fear of his
resentment he strolled into Virginia, and
thence to the West Indies. On his re
turn however he was received with joy.
He was for several years chief justice of
New York. He was the second coun
cillor of New Jersey, named in Cornbu-
ry's commission in 1702, and continued
with several suspensions tiU 17S8, when
he was appointed the first governor of
New Jersey as a separate province from
New York. He died May 14, 1746,
aged about 73. He directed his body to
be buried at Morrisania in a plain coffin
without covering or fining with cloth ; he
prohibited rings and scarfs from beirig
given at his funeral ; he wished no man
to be paid for preaching a funeral sermon
upon him, though if any man, church
man or dissenter, minister or not, was in
clined to say any thing on the occasion,
he should not object. He prohibited any
mourning dress to be -ivorn on his account,
as he should die, when divine providence
should call hira away, and was unwilling,
that his friends should be at the expense,
which was owing only to the coramon
folly of mankind. One of his sons was a
judge of the court of vice admiralty ;
another, Robert, was chief justice of N.
Jersey, and judge of the district court,
and died Jurie 2, 1815, aged 71 ; and a
third was lieut. gov. of Pennsylvania.
He-was a man of letters, and though a
little whimsical in his temper was grave
in his manners and of a most penetrating
mind. No man equalled him in the

MORRIS.

597

knowledge of the law and in the arts of
intrigue. Acute in controversy, when he
had advanced an argument, he would not
yield it, unless it was disproved by dem
onstration almost mathematical. — Smith's
N. Jersey, 428-435 ; Smith's N. York,
125, 126.
MORRIS, Robert Hunter, chief jus
tice of New Jersey, the son ofthe prece
ding, was for near 26 years one of the
councfl of this colony, and was also lieut.
governor of Pennsylvania from Oct. 1754
to Aug. 1756. Theofficeof chief justice
he resigned in the fall of 1757 and he died
Feb. 20, 1764. His vigorous powers of
mind were improved by a Uberal educa
tion. As a judge he was impartial and
upright. Insisting upon strict adherence
to the forms ofthe courts, he reduced the
pleadings to precision and method. His
address was easy, and there was a com
manding influence in his manners. He
was free from avarice ; generous and
manly, though sometimes inconsiderate
in the relations of Ufe ; often singular,
sometimes whimsical, always opinionat
ed, and mostly inflexible. — Smith's Neie
Jersey, 438, 439.
MORRIS, Lewis, major general,grand-
son of governor Lewis M., was born at
the manor of Morrisania in 1726. He
was the eldest of four brothers : Staats
was an officer in the British service and a
member of parliament; Richard was judge
of the vice-admiralty court. New York,
chief justice, and died in Aprfl 1810 ; and
Gouverneur was a member of congress.
After graduating at Yale college in 1746
he settled down in domestic life at Mor
risania, having married a Miss Walton,
and being devoted to agricultural pursuits.
In May 1775 he was a member of con
gress, and no one was more zealous for
the interests of his country. He was
sent to Pittsburgh to detach the western
Indians from the British. Disregarding
his private interest, he voted for the dec
laration of independence, although Brit
ish ships were lying within cannon shot
of his house. His beautiful manor of
Morrisania -was soon desolated ; his
woodland of 1,000 acres was destroyed ;

and his family driven into exile. He re
tired from congress in 1777, and was af
terwards general of the militia. He died
Jan. 22, 1798, aged 71. Three of his
sons served their country ; one as the
aid of SulUvan and in the family of
Green ; another as the aid of Lee ; and
a third as lieutenant of artillery. One of
these, I suppose, was colonel Lewis M.,
who died at Morrisania in Nov. 1824,
aged 70.
MORRIS, Robert, superintendent of
the finances of the U. S., was born in
Lancashire, England, in June 1734;
when he was at the age of 13 his father
brought hira to this country. About
1749 hewas placed in the counting house
of Charles WiUing, an eminent merchant
of Philadelphia, after whose death he was
taken into partnership by his son. Trios.
Willing. The partnership lasted from
1754 to 1793, a period of 39 years. At
the beginning ofthe revolution the house
of Willing and Morris was more exten-
tensively engaged in commerce than
any other house in Philadelphia. His
enterprise and credit have seldom been
equalled. In 1776 he was a member of
congress from Pennsylvania, and his name
is affixed to the declaration of independ
ence. In the beginning of 1781 he was
intrusted with the management of the
finances, and the services, which in this
station he rendered to his country were
of incalculable value, being assisted by
his partner, Gouverneur Morris. He
pledged himself personally and extensive
ly for articles of the most absolute neces
sity to the army. It was owing ina
great degree to him, that the decisive op
erations of the campaign of 1 781 were
not impeded, or completely defeated froln
the want of supplies. He proposed the
plan of a national bank, the capital to be
formed by individual subscription, and it
was incorporated on the last day of 1781.
The army depended principally upon
Pennsylvania for flour, and he himself
raised the whole supplies of this state on
the engagment of being reimbursed by
the taxes, which had been imposed by
law. In 1782 he had to struggle with the

593

MORRIS.

MORRISON.

greatest difficulties, for with the most
judicious and rigid economy, the public
resources failed, and against him were
the complaints of unsatisfied claimants
directed. He resigned his office after
holding it about three years. In his old age
he engaged in land speculations, by which
he lost his fortune, and in his last years
he was confined in prison for debt. Sure
ly those laws, which send a man to prison
for misfortune" and not for crime, will at
last come to be regarded as discreditable
to a civflized community. He died al
Philadelphia May 8, is66, aged 71. His
wife was the sister of bishop White. A
part of his laborious correspondence is
pubUshed in the Diplomatic correspond
ence by J. Sparks. — Marshall, iv. 457-
460, 557, 565.
MORRIS, Gouverneur, minister of
the U. S. to France, the youngest
son of Lewis Morris by a second mar
riage, was born at Morrisania, near New
York, Jan. 31, 1752, and was graduated
at King's college in 1768. Having stu
died with WilUam Smith, he was chosen
in May 1775 a member of the provincial
congress, and he served zealously in the
sarae body in subsequent years ; in Octob.
1777 he was a raeraber ofthe continental
congress. In 1780 he removed to Phfla
delphia. Being thrown from his carriage
in the street, the bones ofhis leg were so
fractured, as to render amputation neces
sary. The loss was supplied by a 'rough
stick,' which he never changed for a
handsome leg. In July 1781 he was an
assistant to Robert Morris in the superin
tendence ofthe finances, and after the war
engaged with him in commercial enter
prises. They were not connected by
bleod. In Dec. 1786 he purchased from
his brother, a lieutenant general in the
British service, the estate of Morrisa
nia and soon made it his abode. In the
next year he was a member for Pennsyl
vania of the convention, which framed
the constitution of the U. S. He propo
sed a senate for life. From 1788 to 1792
he resided chiefly in Paris, engaged in
seUing lands and in money speculations.
In 1792 he was appointed a minister

plenipotentiary to France and held this
place tiU Oct. 1794. Afterwards he trav
elled on the continent. Returning to
this country in the autumn of 1798, he
was chosen a senator ofthe U. S. in 1800
to fill a vacancy tfll 1803. In the contest
for the presidency he preferred Jefferson
to Burr, The project of the great canal
of New York was promoted by his ef
forts. He died at Morrisania Nov. 6,
1816, aged 64. His wife whom he mar
ried in 1816, was Miss Randolph of Vir
ginia. He lived in hospitality & was admi
red for his various knowledge and his co
pious and eloquent conversation ; yet he
was sometimes overbearing and indis
creet. He delivered two months before
his death an address to the historical soci-
ety,in which he points out the superiority
of scriptural history to aU other history.
He regarded religious principle as neces
sary to national independence and peace.
"There must be something more to hope,
than pleasure,wealth , and power. Some
thing raore to fear than poverty and pain.
Something after death more terrible than
death. There must be religion. When
that ligament is torn, society is disjointed
and its members perish." This final tes
timony in favor of scripture is the more
important, as Mr. Jefferson represents,
thathe did not believe in Christianity.
He pubUshed Observations on the Amer
ican revolution, 1779 ; address against
the abolition ofthe bank of North Ameri
ca, 1785 ; an eulogy on Washington ; an
eulogy on Hamilton; an eulogy on G,
CUnton ; an oration before the N.Y.hist.
society,1812; oration on the restoration of
the Bourbons in France, 1814 ; inaugural
discourse as president of the N. Y. histo
rical society, Sept. 4, 1816. His life,
with selections from his correspondence
&c. was published by Jared Sparks in 3
vols. Svo. 1832.
MORRISON, William, d.d., minister
of Londonderry N. Hampshire, a native
of Scotland, succeeded David Mc Gre
gore, and was ordained in the West par
ish of L. Feb. 12, 1783. He died March
9, 1818, aged 69, and was succeeded Jan.
16, 1822 by Daniel Dana, now one ofthe

MORSE.

MORTON.

599

nunisters of Newburyport. He was an
eminently pious and useful minister. He
published a sermon at the election, 1792 ;
a sermon at the ordination of J. Walker,
1812. MORSE, Jedidiah, d. d., minister of
Charlestown, Mass., was a native of
Woodstock, Con., and a descendant of
Anthony M. who lived in Newbury,
Mass.in 1636. Hewas bornin 1761;
graduated at Yale college in 1783 ; and
was installed Aprfl 30, 1789. His prede
cessors were James, Symmes, Harvard,
Allen, the Shepards, Morton, Bradstreet,
Stevens, Abbot, Prentice, and Paine.
About 1821 he was dismissed and Mr.
Fay was settled as his successor. He
died at New Haven June 9, 1826, aged
65. His wife was Miss Breeze of New
Jersey, a grand daughter bf president
Finley, and was eminent for her intelli
gence and virtues: she died May, 28,
1828. One of his sons is distinguished
as a painter ; and two are the editors of
the New York Observer, one of whom is
known to the public by his excellent geo
graphical writings. — Dr. Morse estab
lished the publication of the Panoplist
and was for some time its principal editor,
until it was committed to Mr. Evarts.
His zeal for the orthodox faith caused him
to be much engaged in controversy, par
ticularly in regard to the election of the
Hollis professor of divinity at Harvard
college. He deserves the title of the
American Geographer. He first pub
lished Geography made easy, 1 784, and
American Geography Svo. 1789. In
1793 it appeared in two vols, and in many
subsequent editions. He published also
the American gazetteer, 1797, and 1804.
He published also thanksgiving sermons,
1795, 1798, 1799 ; fast sermons, 1798,
1799, 1812; on the death of- R. Carey,
1790 ; of Tho. Russell, 1796 ; of James
Russell, 1798 ; of George Washington,
1800; of Mary Russell, 1806; masonic
sermon, 1798 ; address to the Andover
students, 1799 ; before the Humane so
ciety; at the artillery election, 1803 ; his
tory of New England, with E. Parish,
1804; true reasons, on which the elec

tion of a professor of divinity was oppo
sed 1805 ; at the African meeting house,
1808 ; at the ordination of H. May, 1803;
of J. Huntington, 1S08 ; before the asy
lum 1807; before the society for propaga
ting the gospel, 1810; at the converi-
tion, 1812 ; before amoral association,
1813 ; appeal to the public on the contro
versy concerning Harvard college, 1814;
at theannual raeetingof the commissioners
for foreign missions, 1821 ; report on In
dian affairs, being a narrative of a tour
madein 1820, Svo.
MORTON, Thomas, an early settfer
in N. E. and a disturber of the public
peace, was a lawyer in England and came
first to this country in June 1622, with
Weston's company who made a tempora
ry settlement at "Weymouth. He arrived
again with capt. Wollaston in 1625, and
settled at Mount Wollaston, now Brain
tree. Here the company which did not
consist of persons influenced by any reli
gious considerations, "fell to great licen
tiousness of life, in all profaneness, and
the said Morton became lord of misrule."
He supplied the Indians with arms,
that they might hunt for him ; and in
this way, as well as by his injustice -en
dangered the existence of the religious
settlements. On May day 1628 anew
name was given to Pasonagessit or mount
Wollaston, that of "Ma-re Mount," com
monly written Merry Mount, on which
occasion there was a revel. A pine tree
80 feet in length, with a pair of buck's
horns nailed near the top, was brought to
the place with drums, guns, & pistols and
raised up ; a barrel of beer and a case of
bottles were provided ; and the company
danced around the may-pole hand in
hand, while one filled out the liquor and
all joined in a licentious song ; which,
says M., was " lamentable to the precise
separatists at Plymouth." The magis*-
trates, at the common request of different
plantations, after ineffectual remonstran
ces with Morton, sent capt. Standish to
suppress the pestilent establishment.
Morton was taken prisoner and transpor
ted to England ; but the next year he re
turned, and he was again geized by the

600

MORTON.

gov. of Mass. and transported, and his
house was demolished " triat it might be
no longer a roost for such unclean birds."
He came again to this country in 1 643
and after being arrested and imprisoned
a year for his scandalous book, was dis
missed with a fine in 1644. His age
saved him from corporal punishment
He died in poverty at Agamenticus about
1646. He pubUshed New English Cana
an, containing account of the natives, a
description of the country, and the tenets
and practice of the church, 4to. 1632.
The earae work has the imprint, Amster
dam, 1637, pp. 188. It professes to be
written upon 10 years' knowledge. Asa
specimen of his skill in natural history,
he says, that the humming bird " lives
upon the bee,which he catcheth among the
flowers. Flowers he cannot feed upon
by reason of his sharp bill." He des
cribes the principal persons under ficti
tious names ; Mr. Endicott is capt. Lit-
tleworth, Winthrop is Joshua Temper-
well, Standish is capt. Shrimp. He re
lates, that at Wessagusset a young man
stole corn, and was tried by Edw. John-
'son, a special judge, and sentenced to
death ; when it was proposed to put the
young man's clothes on an old, impotent,
sickly man, that was about to die, and
hang him instead of the young man ; and
" so they did." Sucri is my memoran
dum after examining the book many
years ago ; Mr. Savage, however, says,
that he states that the proposal " was not
agreed to." In either case, this was the
origin of the story in Hudibras. — Prince,
76—80 ; Hutchinson, i. 8, 31, -3-2.
MORTON, Charies, minister of
Charlestown, Mass., was born in Eng
land about the year 1626, and educated at
Oxford, of which college he was feUow.
He was at first a royalist and zealous for
the church of England ; but, observing
in the civil wars, that the most debauched
generaUy attached themselves to the king
in opposition to the more virtuous part
of the nation, he was led to attend more
to the controversy between the prelatists
and the puritans. At length he became a
puritan himsejf He began his ministry

at Blisland. After his ejectment by the
act of uniformity in 1662 he preached
privately to a few people till the fire of
London, in 1666, after which event he
removed to that city and established an
academy at Newington green. Among
his pupfls was De Foe, the author of
Robinson Crusoe. Many young minis
ters were educated by him. After about
twenty years' continuance in an employ
raent, for which he was eminently
qualified, he was so infested by processes
from the bishop's court, that he was obli
ged to desist from it. He came to New
England in July 1686, and was instaUed
pastor of the church in Charlestown Nov.
5, 1686. Here he continued tiU his death
April 11, 1698, aged 71. He was succee
ded by Mr. Bradstreet. He was eminent
in every kind of learning. Having a gen
tle and benignant temper, he was endear
ed to all his acquaintance. He wrote a
number of treatises, but they are chiefly
compendious, for he was an eneray to
large volumes, often quoting the adage, a
great book is a great evil. In Calamy's
continuation there is a copy of bis advice
to those of his pupils, who were designed
for the ministry. Two of his manuscripts
are still preserved in this country ; the
one in the library ofthe Mass. hist, soci
ety, entitled, compendium physicas ex
authoribus exiractum ; and the other in
the library of Bowdoin college, entitled a
complete system of natural philosophy in
general and special. He published the
little peace maker ; foolish pride the make
bate, 1674 ; the gaming humor c-Dnsidered
and reproved ; the way of good men for
wise men to walk in ; season birds, an
inquiry into the sense of Jer. vm. 7 ;
meditations on the first 14 chapters of
Exodus, &c. ; the spirit of man, medita
tions on 1 Thess. V. -23 ; of coramon
places or memorial books ; a discourse on
improving the country of Cornwall, a
part of which on sea sand for manure is
printed in the philos. transactions Aprfl
1675; considerations on the new river;
letter to a friend to prove money not so
necessary as imagined ; the ark, its loss
and recoverv.

MORTON.

MOULTRIE.

601

MORTON, Nathaniel, secretary of
Plymouth colony, was born in England in
1612 and was the son of George M., who
came to this country in July 1623 and
died at Plymouth in June 1624, leaving a
widow, the sister of gov. Bradford, and
four sons; from John,one of these, descen
ded Marcus M., and from Ephraim de
scended Perez M., distinguished men,
now Uving in Mass. — Mr. M. was ap
pointed in 1645 clerk or secretary of the
colony court, and continued in office 40
years till his death June 28, 1685. He
wrote in 1680 a brief ecclesiastical histo
ry of the church at Plymouth in the rec
ords ofthe church, which is preserved by
Hazard ; and New England's memorial,
or a brief relation ofthe most memorable
and remarkable passages of the providence
of God, manifested to the planters of N.
England, 4to. 1669. This work, which
is confined very much to Plymouth colo
ny, was compiled principally from man
uscripts of his uncle, William Brad
ford, extending from the year 1620
to 1646, and he had access also to the
journals of Edward Winslow. This
work has been of great service to succee
ding historians. A second edition was
printed in 1721 ; a third in 1772; a fourth
edition 12mo. ; and a fifth, with notes, by
judge Davis, Svo. 1826.
MORTON, John, a patriot of the
revolution, was a native of Chester coun
ty, Penns., now Delaware. In 1764 he
was appointed a member of the assembly
of Pennsylvania, and afterwards a judge
ofthe superior court. Elected a member
of congress in 1774, he in 1776 voted in
favor of the declaration of independence.
Had he voted on the other side, the voice
of Pennsylvania would have been against
the declaration, as the other delegates
were equally divided on the subject. Of
the coraraittee on the system of corifede-
ration he was the chairman . He died
at the close of 1777 of' a fever, aged 55,
leaving three sons and five daughters . He
was a professor of religion and a benevo
lent and excellent man. — Goodrich.
MOULTON, Jeremiah, colonel, was
born in York, Maine, in 1688 and was ta-
7q

ken prisoner by the Indians Jan. 22,1692,
old style, when York was destroyed by
the Indians. He was released, with oth
er children, in gratitude for the humanity
of col. Church, who in one ofhis expedi
tions had released several Indian prison
ers, old women and children. The sava
ges were not ungrateful for acts of kind
ness. In Aug. 1724 he and capt. Plarmon
with 208 raen and 3 Mohawk Indians
marched against the Indian settlement at
Norridgewock, in consequence of attacks
upon the frontiers. There being 4 com
panies, the other commanders were capt.
Bourne, and Ueut. Bean. They left Rich
mond fort Aug. 8, old style, or Aug. 19 ;
the next day arrived at Taconic, where
they left their boats and a guard of 40
men. Aug. 21 they marched by land,
& in the evening fired upon two Indians,
who proved to be the daughter and wife
of Boraaseen ; the forraer was kUled ; the
latter taken prisoner. Aug. 23 they ap
proached the village ; Harmon with SO
men marching circuitously by the fields,
and Moulton with SO men directly upon
Norridgewock, which he surprised. The
Indians, consisting of about 60 warriors,
were defeated and the chapel and village
destroyed. Father Ralle was killed in
a wigwam, and 26 Indians, among whom
were Boraaseen, and his son in law, Mog,
also Job,Canabesett, and Wissememet, all
noted warriors. One of the Mohawks
was killed, but none ofthe whites. Har
mon carried the scalps to Boston and
being chief in command was made a lieu
tenant colonel for the exploit of Moulton,
who obtained no reward. At the reduc
tion of Louisbourg in 1745 he comman
ded a regiment, andwas afterwards sheriff
of the county, councillor, and judge of
the common pleas and of probate. He
diedat York July 20, 1765, aged 77. His
son and grandson were sheriffs.
MOULTRIE, John,an erainent physi
cian of S. CaroUna, was a native of Eu
rope, and came to Charleston about the
year 1733. For forty years hewas at
the head of his profession. He died about
the year 1773, universally lamented. He
was the idol of his patients. So great

602

MOULTRIE,

MOXON.

was the confidence reposed in his judg
ment, that those,who were usuaUy atten
ded by him, preferred his advice and as
sistance, even on the festive evening of
St. Andrew's day, to the advice of any
other professional man in his most collec
ted moments. He possessed exceUent
talents for observation, and was very sa
gacious in finding out the hidden causes
of diseases and in adapting remedies for
their removal. On account of his death
a number ofthe ladies of Charleston went
into mourning.
MOULTRIE, John, m. d., son ofthe
preceding, and erainent for literature and
medical science, was the first Carolinian,
who obtained a medical degree, from the
university ofEdiiiburgh,where in 1749 he
defended a thesis de febre flava. He was
afterwards Ueutenant governor of East
Florida. — Ramsay's rev. of med., 43 ;
Miller, n. 364.
MOULTRIE, William, governor of
S. CaroUna, and a major general in the
American war, was devoted to the service
of his country from an early period of
his life. In the Cherokee war in 1760 he
-was a volunteer under the command
of gov. Littleton. He was afterwards in
another expedition Under col. Montgom
ery, He ihen comraanded a company in
a third expedition in 1761, wVrich hum
bled the Cherokees, and brought thera
to terms of peace. He was among the
foremost at the comraenceraent ofthe late
revolution to assert the liberties of his
country, and braved every danger to re
dress her wrongs. His manly firmness,
intrepid zeal, and cheerful exposure of
every thing be possessed, added weight
to his counsels, and induced others to join
him. In the beginning ofthe war he was
colonel ofthe second regiment of S. Caro
lina. His defence of Sullivan's island
with 344 regulars and a few militia, & his
repulse of the British iri their attack up
on the fort June 28, 1776igainedhim hon
or. In consequence of his good conduct
he received thi uriariiraous thanks of con
gress, and in compliment to him the fort
was from that time called fort Moultrie.
In 1779 he gained a victory oyer the Brit

ish in the battie near Beaufort. In 1780
he was second in command in. Charleston
during the siege. After the city surren
dered he was sent to Philadelphia. In 1782
he returned with his countrymen and was
repeatedly chosen governor of the state-,
till the infirmities of age induced him to
withdraw to the peaceful retreat of dbr
mestic life. He died at Charleston Sept.
27, 1805, aged 75. The glory pf his
honorable services was surpassed by his
disinterestedness and integrity. , An atr
tempt was once made on the part of
the British to bribe him, and he was
thought to be more open to corruption,
as he had suffered much in his. private
fortune. But resolving to share the fate
of his country, he spurned the offers bf irir
demnification and preferraent vf-hich Were
made hira. He wasan unassuming,easy,
and affable companion, cheerful and sihr
cere in his friendships. He ' published
memoirs in the American revolution, so
far as it related to N. aud S. Carolina, and
Georgia, 2 vols. Svo. 1802. This work
is principally a collection of letters, writ
ten by civil and miUtary officers in the
time of the war. — HolUngshead' s disc
MOUNTAIN, Jacob, first episcopal
bishop of Quebec, was consecrated about
the year 1794 and died at Marchmont,
near Quebec, June 19, 1825, aged 75.
He was succeeded by Dr. Stewart.
MOURT, George, published a Rela
tion or Journal of the beginning and pro
ceedings of the English plantation, set
tled at Plymouth in N. E. by certain
English adventurers, botri merchants and
others, London, 1622. This was
abridged by Purchas in b. x. ch. iv.; and
republished in Hist. col. vm. 203-239.
The parts of the original relation, which
are omitted in the abridgment, are pub
Ushed in 2 hist. col. ix. 26-74. This
Relation, probably written by different
persons,includes a journey to Packanokik,
the habitation of the great king, Massas
soit. Concerning Mourt himself nothing-
is known ; it is supposed, that he was one
of the merchant adventurers.
MOXON, George, first minister of
Springfield, Mass., was born near Wake-

MUHLENBERG.

MURRAY.

603

field in Yorkshire, England, and educated
at Cambridge. Coming to this country as
a preacher, in 1637, he was in that year
settied at Springfield, where he remained
untfl 1653, when he returned to England.
He preached in different places till disa
bled by age and the palsy. He died at
Congleton Sept. 15, 1687, aged 84. His
son, George, was ejected from a parish in
Essex in 1662. — Some sermons on self
denial were prepared for the press, but
not printed. He was so good a Latin
poet, that it was difficult to distinguish
his odes from those of Horace, whom he
imitated. MUHLENBERG, Henry Melchior,
d. d., the founder of the German Lu
theran church in the U. S., was born at
Eirabeck, iri Hanover, Germany, in 1711,
and came to Philadelphia, where he was
the pastor ofa German Lutheran church
45 years, and distinguished for his piety
and learning. He died in 1787, aged 76.
His three sons, Peter, Frederick, and
Henry, were distinguished men : Freder
ic Augustus, treasurer ofthe state, presi
dent ofthe convention, which ratified the
constitution of the U. S., member of con
gress and speaker of the house in 1793,
died at Lancaster June 4, 1801, aged 51.
MUHLENBERG, Peter, major gen
eral ill the army of the revolution, son of
the preceding, was born about 1745. In
obedience to the wishes of his father he
studied divinity and officiated as an epis
copal clergyman in Virginia until 1776,
when he was elected a member of the
convention. He soon entered the mili
tary service in command of a regiment.
In conducting a storming party at York
town he & all his men were wounded . In
Feb.1777 he was appointed brig, general,
and major general at the close of the war.
In 1801 he was appointed a senator of
the U. S. from Penn.sylvania„ and in
1802 collector ofthe post of Philadelphia,
in which office he continued tiU his
death, Oct. 1, 1807, aged 62.
MUHLENBERG, Henry Ernst,
d. d., a botanist, the son of Rev. Henry
M. M., was born in New Providence,
Montgomery county, Penns., Nov. 17,

1753. In 1763 he was sent to Halle
with his two elder brothers to finish his
education. On his retunV in 1770 he
was ordained at the early age of 17 and
in 1774 appointed one ofthe assistants of
his father in the Philadelphia congrega
tion. In 1780 he accepted a call from
Lancaster, where he lived about 85 years
in the exemplary discharge of the dutieS'
of his office. He died of the apoplexy
May 23, 1815, aged 61. While he was
a learned theologian and well acquainted
with the ancient languages, and skilful
also in medicine, chemistry, and mineral
ogy, he was particularly distinguished for
his knowledge of botany. He was in
duced first to cultivate this science in
1777, when he was driven from Philadel
phia in consequence of its being occupied
by the British. From this time he corre
sponded with many learned botanists in
Europe and America. Of many learned
societies he was a member . His herba
rium was purchased and presented to the
Amer. phil. society. He published Catalo-
giis plantarum Amer. Septent. 1713 ; De-
scriptio uberior graminium &c. 1816.
He left Flora Lancastriensis in manu
script. — Encyc Amer.
MUNSON, Aeneas, m. d., a physi
cian, was born in N. Haven June 24,
1734 ; graduated at Yale college in 1753;
and, having been a tutor, was a chaplain
in the army in 1755 on Long Island.
IU health induced him to study medicine
with John Darly of Eastharapton. He
practised physic at Bedford in 1756 and
removed in 1760 to N. Haven, where he
died June 16, 1826, aged nearly 92. For
more than half a century be had a high
reputation as a physician, and'was in" the
prac'Jce 70 years. Ofthe medical society
of Conn, hewas the president. Hewas
a man of piety from an early period of his
life. At the bedside of his patients he
was accustomed to commend therri to God
in prayer. Itf was with joyous Christiari
hope, that this venerable old man went
down to the dead. — Thacher.
MURRAY, Joseph, a friend of Utera
ture, was a native, it is believed, of Great
Britain, and educated in that country.

604

MURRAY.

He was one of his majesty's councfl aud
attorney general for the province of New
York. He left the whole of his estate,
consisting ofbooks, lands, and other prop
erty, in value to the amount of about
$25,000 to King's college.— Miller, n.
357. MURRAY, Wflliam Vans, minister
of the U. S. to the Balavian republic,
was born in Maryland in the year 1761
or 1762. After the peace of 1783 he
went to London and resided three years
as a student in the temple. At an age
when the passions are generally unre
strained ; with a constitution of exquis
ite sensibility ; and in the midst of a
splendid and luxurious metropolis, he re
tained the resolution and the firmness to
devote his tirae and attention to those ob
jects, which were to mark the usefulness
of his future life. The observations of
Dr. Price, of Mr. Turgot, and of the
abbe de Mably on the constitutions and
laws of the U. S. being published during
his residence in England, he studied
them with persevering and honest re
search, and gave the public result of his
reflections in a pamphlet, which was fa
vorably received. In the summer of
1784, during a vacation, he made an ex
cursion of about six weeks to Holland ;
and during this short time, in which he
travelled over that country, he was most
assiduous in the use of his pen. The
minutes, which he then took, he after
wards digested and methodized into a
regular work. The intelligence of the
death ofhis father, to whora hewas most
affectionately attached, reaching him at a
time, when his health was precarious, he
sunk under the affliction, and did not rise
from his bed for 6 weeks. After a tedious
convalescence of several months he return
ed to his native country. He immediately
engaged in the practice of the law; but the
voice of his country soon called him
to her councils. He was first elected a
meraber of the legislature of Maryland,
and at three successive elections frora
1791 to 1797 to a seat in the house of
representatives of the U. S. This sta
tion he filled with distinguished hpnor.

His eloquence in debate placed him in the
same rank with Madison and Ames,
Giles and Dexter. A regard to his for
tune, which was not affluent, at length
induced him in 1797 to decUne being a
candidate for re-election to congress. But
his merit and talents had not escaped the
discerning eye of Washington, who in
one of the last acts of his admimstration
appointed Mr. Murray as minister of the
United States to the Batavian republic.
This station had been occupied about
three years by John Q. Adams, who
now received a commission as minister
plenipotentiary at Lisbon. Mr. Murray
arrived at the Hague at a very critical
period of affairs, for the misunderstanding
hetween the U. S. and France was ap
proaching to a rupture, and the influence
ofthe latter over the Batavian councils
was uncontrolled. But by a judicious
mixture of firmness, of address, and of
conciliation he succeeded in preserving
uninterrupted harmony between the A-
merican and Batavian nations. With
Mr. EUsworth and Mr. Davie he assis
ted in making the treaty, which was sign
ed at Paris Sept. 30, 1800, and which
has contributed in a great degree to the
prosperity of America. Immediately
after signing that instrument he returned
to his station as minister resident at the
Hague, where he reraained tiU his return
to the U. S. in Dec. 1801, it having been
judged unnecessary to continue the ex
pense of supporting that mission. From
this period he lived in retirement at his
seat in Cambridge on the eastern shore of
Maryland. His health, which had always
been infirm, soon began to decline ,and
he died Dec. 11, 1803, aged 41. In pri
vate life he was remarkably pleasing in
his manners and at once amusing and in
structive in his conversation. With a
mind of incessant activity he united the
fancyofa poet. He had a strong and
genuine relish for the fine arts, a refined
and delicate taste for Uterature, and a per
severing fondness for the pursuits of sci
ence. The keenness of his sensibiUty
and the rapidity of his conceptions gave
him a sense of decorum, which seemed

MURRAY.

605

almost intuitive. His facflity in wrfling
-was proportioned to the vivacity of his
mind. His letters by their elegance, their
simpUcity, their poignant wit, and un
bounded variety of style, might serve as
models of epistolary correspondence.
MURRAY, John, a. philanthropist, a
brother of Lindley Murray, the gramma
rian, was born in New York, August 3,
1758, and after acquiring a fortune as a
merchant retired frora business and de
voted his incorae and toils to enterprises
of benevolence. He died Aug. 4, 1819,
aged 61. He was a Quaker. The soci
ety for the manumission of slaves was
promoted by his efforts, and he assisted
in founding and supporting most of the
benevolent institutions of New York, and
was liberal in his benefactions. He exer
ted himself to effect the repeal of the
criminal code and to estabUsh the peni
tentiary system. For 35 years he was a
governor of the N. York hospital. Such
men of beneficence deserve to be held in
lasting honor.
MURRAY, John, first universafist
minister in Boston, was bom at Alton,
Harapshire county, England, about 1741.
His father was an episcopalian; his moth
er a presbyterian. They removed from
Alton to Ireland. In early life he be
lieved the doctrine of election ; then he
became a methodist preacher in Mr.
Wesley's connexion ; and afterwards he
was attached to Mr. Whitefield. Re
pairing to London, he soon forgot the
character of a rainister. Good company,
music, dancing, Vaux Hall, and the play
houses intoxicated him. He says — " I
plunged into avortex of pleasure." Vis
iting a young lady to convert her from
the error of universaUsra, the foUowing
was the arguraentation. She asked,
what is an unbeliever damned for not be
lieving.'' He replied — for not believing,
that Jesus Christ is his complete Savior.
She again asked, must the unbeliever be
lieve, that Jesus Christ is his Savior.?
Must he believe a lie.? Is Christ the
Savior of the unbeliever ? By this
argument he was overwhelmed. His
own erroneous definition of faith was in

deed refuted by the questions ofthe lady;
but, instead of abandoning that error,and
regarding Christ as the Savior only of
them, who believe, he was led to regard
him as the actual Savior of all men, be
lievers or unbelievers. Having lost his wife
&chUd, he came to Am'erica in poverty in
Sept. 1770. He preached at Brunswick,
N. Jersey, Newport, and Providence,
and first in Boston Oct. 30, 1773 ; after
wards in Newburyport and New Lon
don, in N. York and Pennsylvania. In
May 1775 he wasa chaplain in a R. Isl
and regiment. After preaching in Glou
cester, he was established in Boston about
the year 1785, and passed the remainder
of his life there. After six years of
helplessness he died in peace, Sept. 3,
1815, aged 74. His widow, Judith, sis
ter of gov. Sargent, of Mississippi, a na
tive of cape Ann, died at Natchez June
6, 1820, aged 69: she wrote the Repos
itory and Gleaner, 3 vols. 1798, first pub
Ushed in Mass. mag. with the signature
of Constantia: she wrote also poetical es-
says,signed Honora Martesia, in B. week.
mag. — Mr. M. was aTrinitarian. He re
garded Winchester as a believer in pur
gatorial satisfaction, and as teaching,
that every man is his own Savior. He
believed, that myriads of men would rise
to the resurrection of damnation, and
would call on the rocks to hide them from
the wrath ofthe Lamb ; yet he seeras to
have considered that damnation as ending
at the judgment day, when the judge
would separate all men frora sin and
death and frora the evil angels. He sup
posed, that in the day of judgment the
devil and his angels would be placed, as
the goats, on the left hand ofthe judge,
and all men on the right hand, — in most
obvious contradiction to the scripture,
which says, that " all nations " will be
gathered, to be separated. This amounts
in fact to a denial ofthe future judgment.
But since his death Mr. Balfour has ex
plicitly maintained, that there wiU be no
future reckoning day. At last this error
of denying a future judgmerit, and thus
subvening the moral government of God,
appeared so great and perilous to a num-

606

MURRAY.

ber of uriiversalist ministers, who assert
a future retribution and the punishment
though not everlasting, of the wicked,
that in August 1831 they announced
their full and entire separation from the
denomination of Universalists, and the
establishment of a religious community
by the name ofthe " Massachusetts As
sociation of Universal Restorationists."
The ministers thus associated, are Paul
Dean of Boston, Charles Hudson of
Westrainister, Adin Ballou of Mendon,
Lyraan Maynard of Oxford, Nathaniel
Wright of Attleborough, & Seth Chand
ler ; also David Pickering of Providence,
R. I. and P. R. Russell of Winchester,
N. H. There are other ministers in
Mariie and in other New England states,
who adopt the same -views and who will
be likely to separate from the universa-
Usts and to join this or a similar union of
restorationists. Mr. Murray published
Letters and Sketches of sermons, 3 vols.
His Ufe, by himself, was published in
1816. MURRAY, Alexander, commodore,
was born in Chestertown, Maryland, in
1755. His father was a physician ; his
grand father, banished from Scotland for
adhering to thecause ofthe pretender iu
1715, settled at Barbadoes. As a lieut.
and captain in the army he fought in the
battles of White Plains, Flatbush, and
N.York, and served till the close of 1777.
He afterwards took the command of a let
ter of marque. Twice was he taken
prisoner ; the second time in the frigate
Trumbull ; he afterwards served in the
AlUance under Barry until the close of
the vfar. He then successively coraraan
ded the Insurgent and the Constellation,
and went with a squadron to the Medi
terranean to protect our trade against the
Barbary states. He, at last, comraanded
the navy yard at Philadelphia, and died
near Germantown Oct. 6, 1821, aged 66.
To great firmness and resolution he uni
ted a mild and serene temper.
MURRAY, James, major, a military
adventurer, was bom in R. Island about
1765; his name was Lillihridge, which
he changed to Murray. In consequence

NELSON.
of a quarrel with hia family,, he went io
sea in early Ufe ; in 1790 he arrived at
Tranquebar on the coast of Coromandel,
and joining the Mahrattas, who Were at
war with the British, he encountered iri
their service during 1 5 years every kind
of peril and hardship. Having displeased
Holkar, the chief, by preserving the lives
of British officers, he abandoned his ser
vice and , raising a large force, occupied
as a sovereign a large district. At fength
he went over to the British with 7,000
native cavalry, the command' of which
he retained. At the close of the War;
having acquired a large fortune, he.deter-
mined to return to AmeficaJ I A few
days before he proposed to set safl, he
made a splendid entertainment in Calcut
ta. After dinner, for the entCrtairiment
ofhis guests, he mounted afa-voriteAtaJ
bian horse to leap over the table,a!t vvhich
they sat, — a feat, whichrie had often per
formed. But the horse, having his feet
entangled in the carpiet, threw his. rider,-
who in a few days died of the injury, iri
1806. Thus died, the victimbf his -van
ity, the best horseman in India, the sol
dier, unrivalled in the use of the broad
sword, who had fought in many battles.- '
NASH, Francis, brigadier general, a
soldier ofthe revolution, was a captain iri
North CaroUna in 1771, wheri liedistin-i
guished himself by his firmness and brav
ery in an action with the insurgents : Iri
the revolutionary war he was appbinted a
colonel by the convention of N. Carolina
in Sept. 1775, and brigadier general in
the continental army in Feb. 1777, In
the battle of Germantown Oct. 4, 1777
he was mortally wounded at the head of
his brigade, which with Maxwell's form
ed a corps de reserve under lord Stirlingi
NELSON, Thoraas, governor of Vir
ginia, a patriot of the revolution, was
born at York Dec. 26, 1733, being the el
dest son of Wra. N., a rich merchant.
At the age of 14 he was sent to England
for his education. At the university of
Cambridge Beilby Porteus was his tutor.
In 1761 he returned to this country. Be
ing a meraber of the general convention
of Virginia in 1775, he introduced a res-

NEWELL.

607

olution for organizing a.riiilitary force.
In Aug. 1775 be . was appointed a mem
ber of congress ; in the next year he sign
ed the declaration of independence ; but
iU health in 1777 induced hira to resign
his seat. He was soon appointed briga
dier general and commander in chief of
-the forces of the colony. He also aided
the cause of his country by his property.
In 1781 he succeeded Mr. Jefferson as
governor of Virginia. His efforts in the
prosecution ofthe war were very impor
tant and were particularly noticed by
gen. Washington after the capture of
York, in his general orders Oct. 20, 1781,
In about a month afterwards his ill health
caused hira to resign the office of chief
magistrate. An act was passed Dec. 31st
to legalize certain acts of his administra
tion, which owing to peculiar circum
stances were done without the advice of
the council. He died at his estate in
Hanover Jan. 4, 1789, aged 50. His
wife was the daughter of Philip Grymes
of Brandon. He had four brothers, zeal
ous friends of the revolution ; of these
the last, Robert N., died at Malvern hills
in Aug. 1818, aged 66. — As a soldier he
was active and intrepid. Most ardently
was he attached to civil and reUgious lib
erty. He was refined in manners, social,
and benevolent. — Goodrich.
NELSON, Roger, general, a soldier
and patriot of the revolution, was for
many years a distinguished member of
-congress from Maryland. He died at
Frederickstown June 7, 1815, at an ad
vanced age.
NEWELL, Samuel, a missionary at
Bombay., was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1807, and studied theology at An
dover. Wi*h Judson, Nott, and Mills
he offered himself as a nussionary to the
general association of ministers at Brad
ford June 27, 1810 ; was ordained at Sa
lem with Judson, Nott, and Rice Feb. 6,
1812 ; and safled on the 19th for Calcut
ta. On his arrival he was ordered by the
Bengal government to leave the country.
Proceeding first to the Isle of France, he
suffered the affliction of losing his wifo
and child ; he afterwards went to Ceylon,

and was useful in preparing the way for
the subsequent mission in that island . He
afterwards joined Mr. Hall at Bombay
and in 1817 was joined by Mr. Graves
and Mr. Nichols. He continued at Bom
bay a faithful laborer in the service of Je
sus Christ untfl his death. He was seiz
ed with the epidemic, spasmodic cholera
in the morning of May 29th, and died,
without being able to say any thing of
his hopes, at 1 o'clock the next morning.
May 30, 1821, aged about 35. The same
disease in 4 years had swept over India,
Burmah, and the Asiatic islands and hur
ried millions to the tomb; it is now, 1832,
prevailing in London and Paris. A few
days before his death he visited at Tan-
nah many of the sick and dying, from
whom probably he took the disease, as it
was deemed somewhat contagious. At
that time from 60 to 1 00 were dying dai
ly in Bombay. — Mr. N. was very mod
est and humble, possessed great tender
ness of feeling, and was entirely devoted
to the arduous and important labors of a
missionary. He wrote with Mr. Hall
The Conversion of the world, or the
claims of 600 miUions &c. 2d edit. 1818.
NEWELL, Harriet, the wife of the
preceding, the daughter of Moses At-
wood of HaverbUl, Mass., wasborn Oct.
10, 1793, and received an excellent edu
cation. At the age of 15 she raade a
profession of religion. She sailed with
her husband from Calcutta for the Isle of
France Aug. 4, 1812 ; about three weeks
before her arrival she became the mother
ofa daughter, who died on the 5th day,
Oct. 13, and was buried in the ocean. In
a few weeks Mrs. Newell died ofthe con
sumption at the Isle of France Nov. 30,
1312, aged 19. She departed in the
peace and triumph of an eminent Chris
tian. In writing to her mother, Mr.
Newell said, " Come, then, let us min
gle our griefs and weep together ; for
she was dear to us both ; and she too is
gone. Yes, Harriet, your lovely daugh
ter, is gone, and you will see her face no
more ! Harriet, my own dear Harriet,
the wife of my youth and the desire of
my eyes, has bid me a last farewell, and

608 NEW HAMPSHIRE.
left me to mourn and weep ! Yes, she is
gone. I wiped the cold sweat of death
from her pale, emaciated face.— Oh, Har-
et, Harriet, for thou wast very dear to
me. Thy last sigh tore my heart asun
der, and dissolved the charm, which tied
me to the earth."— Her life, written by
Dr. Woods, has passed through many
editions. The cause of missions was
greatly promoted by the delineation of
her character and the description of her
sufferings. NEW HAMPSHIRE, one of "the
United States, was first settied in 1623
by persons sent out by Gorges and Ma
son under authority of a grant from the
council of Plymouth. The councfl had
been established in 1620 by king James
and he gave to it the territory extend
ing from the fortieth to the forty
eighth degree of north latitude. The
settlements went on but slowy for several
years. In 16S8 three associations for
government were formed at Portsmouth,
Dover, and Exeter. In 1641 and 1642
the inhabitants of these towns voluntari
ly submitted themselves to the jurisdic
tion of Massachusetts, securing to them
selves the sarae privileges with the rest
of the colony,and being exempted frora all
pubUc charges, except such as arose
among themselves. New Hampshire
was separated from Massachusetts and a
royal government estabUshed in 1680,
consisting of a president and council ap
pointed by the king, and representatives
chosen by the people. A change was
made in 1686 and all New England was
intrusted to a president and council.
After the imprisonraent of Andros the
union with Massachusetts was revived
in 1689, but in 1692 the old, separate
government was re-establish ed. Frora
1699 to 1702 it was united with New
York and Massachusetts, and from 1702
to 1741 with Massachusetts. -A separ
ate government subsisted from this peri
od tfll the revolution in 1775, when a
provincial convention was formed. A
teraporary constitution was formed in
1776 ; a new constitution was estabUshed
in 1784, and this, being altered and

NEW JERSEY.
amended in 1792, is the permanent con
stitution ofthe state. The population,
in 1810, was 214,460 ; in 1820, 244,161 ;
in 1830, 269,533. New Harapshire suf
fered much in the Indian wars, and in
all miUtary enterprises it took an active
part. During the war in opposition to
the encroachments of the British parlia
ment its troops were distinguished. The
constitution of this state estabUshes a
general court, consisting of a house of
representatives, and a senate, the mera
bers of which are annually chosen. The
governor also is annually elected by the
people, and has a council to advise him.
NEW JERSEY, one of the United
States, was first settled by the Swedes,
and was formerly a part of New Nether
lands, which was divided into Nova Ctesa-
rea, or New Jersey, and New York, in ¦
1664, when it was conquered by the
English. It has its narae frora the Island
of Jersey, the residence of the family of
sir George Carteret, to whora this terri
tory was granted. Philip Carteret was
appointed governor in 1665, and took
possession of Elizabethtown, the capital,
then consisting of four families, just set
tled in the wilderness. In 1672 he was
driven from his government by insurgents,
who refused the payment of quit rents
under pretence, that they held their pos
sessions by Indian grants & not from the
proprietors. In 1673 the Dutch retook
New Netherlands, but in the following
year it was restored by treaty to the
English. In 1676 New Jersey was divi
ded into East and West Jersey. The
govemraent of the latter was retained as
a dependency of New York, and a con
fusion of jurisdiction coramenced, which
long distracted the people, and which at
length terminated in the annihilation of
the authority ofthe proprietors. West
Jesey was reinstated in its former privile
ges in 1680. Sir George Carteret in 1682
transferred his rights in East Jersey to
WilUam Penn. At this tirae there were
supposed to be in the province about sev
en hundred farailies . In 1 688 the Jersies
were added to the jurisdiction of New
England. They were united under one

NEWMAN.

NEW YORK.

609

government in 1702, and received the
single name of New Jersey. Cornbury,
governor of New York, was appointed
also to the chief command of New Jersey,
andthe union continued tifl 1738, when
this colony received a separate gbvernor.
During the war with Great Britain this
state suffered much. Her losses in pro
portion to population and wealth were
greater than those of any other of the
thirteen states. Her soldiers gained
great distinction, and she can boast of
places rendered famous by exploits; places,
which cannot be mentioned without
bringing to the recollection the name of
Washington,who earned in them thelau-
rels,with whichhis head has been encircled
by American historians. The Indians
of N. Jersey, who removed to Green
Bay, Michigan, in conveying their lands
south ofthe Raritan, reserved the right
of fishing. In 1832 the state granted
them 2,000 doll, for this reserved right,
and in the act it was asserted, that every
Indian right & title in N. J.had been ac
quired by fair and voluntary transfer.
The population, in 1820, was 277, 575 ; in
1830, 320,779. The present constitution
of New Jersey was adopted by a provin
cial congress July 2, 1776. By this in
struraent the power of enacting laws is
vested in a legislative council and a gen
eral assembly, the members of which are
annually chosen. The governor is ap
pointed by a joint vote of these two bod
ies every year. He has a casting vote in
the council, and with them is a court of
appeals in the last resort. The judges of
the supreme court continue in office for
five years, and all are appointed by the
council and assembly.
NEWMAN, Samuel, first ministerof
Rehoboth, Mass. was born at Banbury,
England, in 1600, and was educated at
Oxford. He came to this country in
1636. After his arrival he spent a year
and a half at Dorchester, and then, be
coming the pastor ofthe church at Wey
mouth, continued triere about five years.
In 1644 he removed with a part of his
church and settled at Rehoboth. He died
July 5, 1663, aged 63. While he was
77

indefatigable in his study of the scrip
tures, and animated and zealous in his
preaching, he was also hospitable, chari
table, and pious. In his last illness he
sent for one of his deacons, and, after re
questing him to make a prayer, said,
" and now, ye angels of the Lord, come
and do your duty. " He then im
mediately expired. Antipas N., the
minister of Wenham, who married in
165SElizabeth,the daughterofgov. Win
throp, and died Oct. 15, 1672, is suppos
ed to have been his son. — He compiled a
concordance of the scriptures, which was
published in London in a thick folio,
5th ed. 1720. While he was at Reho
both he revised it, using pine knots in
the night instead of candles. It passes
"under the name of the Cambridge con
cordance. — Magnalia, in. 113 — 116.
NEWTON, R-oger, d. d., ministerof
Greenfield, Mass., was born at Durham,
Conn., May 23, 1737 ; was graduated at
Yalecollege in 1758 ; was ordained Nov.
18, 1761 ; and, after having Gamaliel S.
Olds as his colleague for a few years,
died Dec. 10, 1816, aged 79. His son,
Roger, educated at Yale college and a
tutor, died Aug. 19, 1789.— He was a
faithful, useful minister, prudent, and
courteous and amiable in all the relations
oflife. NEW YORK,oneofthe United States,
was discovered in 1 608 by Henry Hud
son, who passed up the river, which
bears his name. His right to the coun
try, which he had discovered under a
commission from king James I, he sold
to the Dutch. In 1614 the states gen
eral granted a patent for an exclusive
trade on Hudson's river to a number
of merchants, who buflt a fort
near Albany. In the same year the
Dutch were visited by captain Argal
from Virginia, and being unable to resist
him they submflted for the tirae to the-
king of England. The country was
granted by the states general to the West
India company in 1621. In June 1629
Wouter Van Twiller arrived at fort
Amsterdam, now New York, and took
upon hiraself the government. "The ex-

610

NEW YORK

NICHOLS.

tension- pf the EngUsh settlements natu
rally occasioned some disputes respecting
the boundaries of the Dutch possessions.
The last Dutch governor was Peter
Stuyvesant, who began his administra
tion in 1647. The inroads upon his ter
ritory kept hira constantly eraployed.
In 1655 he subdued the few Swedes on
the west side of Delaware bay, and plac
ed the country under the command of a
lieutenant governor. But he was him
self obliged at last to submit to the Eng
lish. The country in the possession of
the Dutch was given by the king of Eng
land to the duke of York and Albany.
An expedition was fitted out, and Aug.
27, 1664 governor Stuyvesant was re
duced to the necessity of capitulating to
colonel NicoUs, and the whole of the
New Netherlands soon became subject
to the English crown. The country
was retaken by the Dutch in 1673, but it
was restored in the following year. In
1683 the inhabitants of New York first
participated in the legislative power.
Previously to this period they had been
completely subjected to the governor ;
but in this year they were summoned to
choose representatives to meet in an as
sembly. In 1688 New York was annex
ed to the jurisdiction of New England.
In 1691 a governor arrived frora England
and the first asserably after the revolu
tion was held. The population, in 1702
was 20,708 ; in 1790, 340,120 ; in 1800,
586,050; in ISIO, 959,049; in 1820,
1,372,812; in 1830, 1,919,404. The
Erie and Champlain canals, opened in
1825, cost upwards of 9 milUons of dol
lars. Many rail road companies have
been incorporated.
From the influence ofthe French over
the Indians and frora its proximity to
Canada New York suffered many incon
veniences ; but the waragainst the French
was frequently carried on with vigor, and
the friendship of the Indians was gener
ally secured. While this colony was,
subject to England the government was
vested in a governor and council, appoin
ted by the king, and twenty seven repre
sentatives elected by the people. Vacan

cies in the cbuncil were filled up by the
governor. The constitution of New
York was estabUshed by the, convention,
appointed for the purpose, April 20, 1777
and amended in 1801. A new constitu
tion was adopted in 1821 . The legisla
ture consists of the assembly of 1 28 mem
bers, and the senate of 32 ; the represen
tatives and one fourth of the senators are
chosen annually. The governor is cho
sen for two years, by plurality of votes.
The lieutenant governor presides in the
senate. Suffrage is almost universal:
free colored persons, however, must be
free holders in order to be electors. The
clergy are incapable of holding civil or
military offices . The senate, chancellor,
chief justice, and two judges constitute
the court for the trial of impeachments
and the correction of errors. The chan
cellor holds a court in equity cases.
NICHOLAS, Wilson Cary, governor
of Virginia, was an officer in the war of
the revolution, and a member of the con
vention, which ratified the constitution
of the U. S. He was for years a distin
guished member ofthe house of represen
tatives and of the senate of the U.S.,
being chosen senator from Virginia in
Dec. 1799 in the place'of Henry Taze
well deceased. He "ably supported the
measures of Jefferson's administration.
Accepting the office of coUector of the
ports of Norfolk and Portsmouth in 1804,
he resigned his seat in the senate. He
was afterwards a member ofthe bouse ;
but he resigned his seat in 1809. In
1814 he succeeded James Barbour as
governor, and was succeeded by col.
James Preston in 1717. He died at
Mflton Oct. 10, 1820. He published a
letter to his constituents, 1809.
NICHOLS, John, missionary to
Bombay, was ordained at Boston, with
the missionaries. Swift, Graves, Parsons,
and Buttrick, Aug. 2, 1817, and sailed
for Bombay with his wife and Alien
G raves and his wife, and Philomela Thur
ston Sept 5, 1817, and arrived Feb. 23,
1818. After toiling in his benevolent
work nearly seven years, he died of a
fever at Bombay Dec. 10, 1824.

NICHOLSON.

NILES.

611

NICHOLSON, James, a naval officer,
descended from ancestors, who were
the early settlers of Maryland, was born in
Chestertown in 1737, and was trained to
the sea with two brothers, who were af
terwards commanders in the navy. Hav
ing married, he resided in the city ofN.
York from 1763 tUI 1771, when hq re
turned to the eastern shore of Maryland.
In 1776 he was put in command of the
Maryland ship of war, the Defence, in
which in March he re-captured several
vessels, which the British had taken.
In 1778 he was intrused with the com
mand of the Trumbull, a frigate of 32
guns, in which, June 2, 1780, he fought
a severe battle of three hours with the
Wyatt, losing about SO men, when the
vessels parted. He was afterwards cap
tured and carried into N. York, where
he continued to live after his release at
the close of the war. During the con
troversy concerning Jay's treaty, he was
at the head of the opponents to it in N.
York. In 1801 he succeeded Mr. Clark-
son as commissioner of loans for the
state of New York. He died near N.
York Sept, 2, 1804, aged 68 .- His triree
daughters married Albert Gallatin, Wil
liam Few, and John Montgomery, a
member of congress and mayor of Balti
more : it is remarkable,that Mr . MontgomT
ery and col. Few- were buried on the sarae
day,in 1828. Commodore Samuel N.,who
I suppose was his brother, died at Charles
town Dec. 29, 1811, aged 69.
NICHOLSON, Joseph Hopper, chief
judge of the sixth judicial district and a
judge of the court of appeals of Mary
land, died March 4, 1817, aged 47 years.
His talents were invigorated by a good
education. For many years he was a
conspicuous member of congress. H e
was appointed a judge in 1805. On the
bench his dignity, integrity, and abiUties
comraanded respect. In private fife he
was amiable and beloved. He was suc
ceeded by Walter Dorsey.
NICOLL, John, m. d. a physician
in New York, was a native of Scotland
and was educated at Edinburgh. Re
taining the highest attachment to the

doctrine, constitution,and discipUne of the
church of Scotland, after his arrival in
this country he was one of the principal
founders and benefactors of the first pres
byterian church in New York, which
was established in 1719. He spent a
considerable part ofhis estate in erecting
a house of worship. As a physician he
was unwearied in his attention , to his
patients. The poor he cheerfully visited
without the prospect of reward. After a
Ufe distinguished for benevolence and pie
ty he died Oct. 2, 1743, aged 63.
NICOLLS, Richard, colonel, first
English governor of N. York, was com
missioned in 1 664, witri CarrjCartwright,
and Maverick, to determine complaints
and appeals in all causes, military, crimi
nal, and civfl, throughout N. England.
NicoUs proceeded to- Manhattan and
obliged Stuyvesant, the Dutch governor,
to capitulate Aug. 27,1664,and gave toN.
Arasterdara the narae of N. York. Sept.
14th fort Orange was captured and called
Albany. He established a regular gov
ernment at N. York. The purchase of
lands from the Indians on L. Island was
prohibited, except with a license from
the governor. In 1667 he retired from
the government with honor, and was
succeeded by Lovelace, who purchased
Staten Island from the natives.
NILES, Sarauel, minister of Braintree,
Mass., a descendant of John Niles, who
lived in Braintree from 1639 till his death
in Feb. 1694, was born May 1, 1674
and was graduated at Harvard college in
1 699. He afterwards preached for sorae
tirae in R. Island in a district, called
ministerial lands. In 1710 he removed
from Kingston to Braintree, where he
was ordained minister of the second
church May 23, 1 7 1 1 . In 1 759, 60 years
after he received the first honors of
the college, he took the degree of master
of arts. He died May, 1, 1762,
aged 88. He published a brief and sor
rowful account of the present churches in
N. England, 1745 ; vindication of divers
important doctrines, Svo. 1752 ; script
ure doctrine of original sin, in answer to
Taylor, Svo. 1757.

612

NILES.

NISBET.

NILES, Samuel, minister of Abing
ton, Mass., the son of Samuel N.,who
was distinguished in public life, wasborn
in Braintree in 1744 and graduated at
Princeton college in 1769. He was or
dained Sept. 25, 1771 ; his predecessors
were Sarauel Brown, who died in 1749,
and Ezekiel Dodge, who died in 1770.
After suffering from the palsy about two
years, he died Jan. 16, 1S14, aged 69.
His successor was Holland Weeks. His
brother, Judge Nathaniel N., died in W.
Fairlee, Vermont ,in Nov. 1828, aged
86. — He was a faithful, useful minister,
and a man of a vigorous mind, inclined to
metaphysical investigations. He pub
lished Remarks on a sermon by John
Reed, about 1813.
NINIGRETT, sachem of Niantick,or
Nehantick, or Nayantick, wasone ofthe
Narragansett chiefs at the settlement of
R. I. by the whites. His name is , vari
ously written, Ninegret, Ninegrad, Nin-
icrete, Ninicraft, Nynigrett. He was
the uncle of Miantunnomu ; but in the
war of the latter with the Pequots iu
1632 he did not participate. However,
he assisted the English in the Pequot
war of 1637, has country being in the Une
of march, and when the division ofthe
200 surviving Pequots was made araong
the conquerors,ihe received 20 and Mian
tunnomu 80. The commissioners ofthe
united colonies Sept. 20, 1653 determined
to make war with him, and ordered 250
sokliers to be immediately raised. He
was suspected of joining in a plot with
the Dutch for the destruction of the Eng
Ush colonies, for he had spent the prece
ding winter at Manhadoes with Stuyve
sant, the Dutch governor, and had visit
ed the western Indians. The commis
sioner from Massachusetts was opposed to
the war, and, as that colony did not con
cur in the measure, it was not prosecuted.
In the mean while Ninigrett waged his
war with the L. Island Indians ; and, re
fusing to appear at Hartford, war was
again deterrained on in-Sep. 1654. Maj.S
Willard marched from Mass. into the
Narragansett country to demand the
Pequots under Ninigrett, and tribute ;

he brought off 100 Pequots, but Nini
grett had fled. His country was not laid
waste, probably frora the forbearance of
Massachusetts, averse to the war. Oct.
13, 1660 he and Scuttup and other chiefs
mortgaged their territory to H. Ather-
ton and his partners and delivered posses
sion by turf and twig at Pettequamscot
in 1662. He did not join in Philip's war
and in consequence his tribe escaped
the ruin, which came upon the other
tribes. The time of his death is not
known. In 1 761 the number of his tribe
was 248 ; and there was a sachem Nini
grett, probably his descendant.
NISBET, Charles, d. d., first presi
dent of Dickinson college, Penns., was
born in Scotland in 17S7, and was for
many years minister of Montrose. Du
ring the struggle between Great Britain
and her colonies, such was his attachment
to liberty, that he dared to lift up his
voice in favor of America. When Dick
inson college was founded at Carlisle in
1783 he was chosen its principal, though
he did not arrive in this country and enter
upon the duties of this office till 1785.
Hedied Jan. 17, 1804, aged 66. His
imagination was lively and fertile, and
his understanding equally acute and vigo
rous. He possessed a memory tenacious
almost beyond belief, a solid judgment,and
a correct taste. He could repeat with great
facility all the beautiful and striking pas
sages of the classic authors. He was
acquainted, both with the ancient learned
languages, and with the modern langua
ges of Europe. His lectures in the col
lege, which were designed to communi
cate the elements of knowledge, were
plain and simple, but rich in solid learn
ing. In private life he was a most enter
taining companion, for his humor was
excellent and exhaustless. His penetra
ting mind perceived relations and con
nexions among things, which escaped
almost every other, and he was constant
ly enlivening conversation with flashes of
wit. He was master of the lively anec
dote, the smart repartee, the keen irony,
and the delicate rebuke. His remarks on
men were often severe and cutting, for

NIXON.

NORRIS.

613

being hiraself upright, he had a rooted
abhorrence of deceit and chicanery in
others. His independent mind scorned
the idea, of procuring favor or ensuring
popularity by any means inconsistent with
the raost dignified and virtuous senti
ments, and he had no respect for the man,
who to obtain the one or the other would
cringe to the multitude. His manners
were ge-ntle, unassuming, simple, and in
the common affairs and traffic of this
world he was a very child. His temper
-was cheerful, his morals unimpeached, his
piety unquestioned. As the principal of
a college, as a minister of the gospel, as
a true patriot, as a good man he has not
often been surpassed.
NIXON, John, brigadier general, a
soldier of the revolution, was born at
Framingham, Mass. March 4,1725. He
was present as a soldier at the siege of
Louisburg'in 1745. After serving in the
army and navy seven years, he returned
to his native place . But he soon again
entered the army as a captain. He
fought in the -attack on Ticonderoga,
when Abercrombie was defeated, and in
the battle of lake George. Afterwards
falling into an ambuscade, he cut his way
through the enemy and escaped, but with
the loss of nearly all his party. In the
revolutionary war, at the head of a com
pany of minute men he met the enemy
in the battle of Lexington ; and in that
of Bunker hill he was distinguished by
his bravery at the head of a regiment,
and received a severe wound, from which
he never entirely recovered. He was
made a brigadier general in Aug. 1776.
Washington intrusted him with the
command on Governor's island, near N.
York. He was with Gates in 1777. In
the battle of Stillwater a cannon ball
passed so near his head, as to impair per
manently the sight of one eye and his
hearing in one ear. In bad health he re
signed his commission in 1780. He remo
ved to Middlebury Vt. in 1803, and lived
with his children. He died March 24,
1815, aged 90. His brother col. N., an
officer of the revolution, was drowned in
a voyage to the district of Maine. For

many years before his death he was a
member ofa congregational church . He
was respected and esteemed in the .vari
ous relations of life.
NORRIS, Edward, rainister of Salem,
had been a preacher, before he arrived in
this country in 1639 ; was ordained at
Salem March 18, 1640 as a colleague with
Hugh Peters; and died April 10, 1659,
aged about 70, having been sole pastor 18
years. His church did not adopt the
platform of 1648; nor did they use the
N. England psalras, instead of Ains-
worth's, till some years after his death.
Mr. Norris was- tolerant, and did not join
in the persecution of the Gortonists and
Anabaptists, In 1654 and 1651, when
.one person was executed for witchcraft in
in Boston and several others in the colo
ny, he withstood the delusion of the
times. Yetwithhis excellentdisposition,
and enlarged views he urged by his wri
tings the prosecution of the war against
the I Dutch, which the commissioners of
the united colonies had recommended in
1653, but which was deemed inexpedient
by the government of Massachusetts. If
they did, not go to war, he thought, the
curse upon Meroz would be deserved. In
this he erred in spirit and judgment.
NORRIS, John, one of the founders
of the theological seminary in Andover,
was for many years a respectable mer
chant in Salem, Massa. March 21,
1808 he gave 10,000 doUars towards es
tabUshing the institution at Andover.
This- was a day of unequalled munifi
cence, for on the same day Messrs. Brown
and Bartiet, raerchants of Newburyport,
gave towards the same object the former
10,000 and the latter 20,000 dollars. Mr.
Norris lived to see the seminary opened
on Sept. 28th. -He died Dec. 22, 1808,
aged 57. His widow, Mary Norris, died
at Salem in 1811, bequeatMng 30,000
dollars to the theological seminary at An
dover and the same sum to trustees for
the benefit of foreign missions to the hea
then. In such esteem was he held by his
fellow citizens, that he was for several
years elected a member of the senate of
Mass. Obtaining through the divine

614

NORTH CAROLINA.

NORTON.

blessing upon his industry an ample for
tune, he considered himself as the stew
ard of God, and his abundant liberality
flowed in various channels. Though
his extreme self diffidence prevented hira
from making a public profession of reli-
giqn ; yet his house was a house of pray-
er,in which the morning and evening sac
rifice ascended to the mercy seat, and he
was constant in his attendance on public
worship. Being asked by a friend,
whether he did not entertain a hope, that
he was a Christian, he replied in a sol
emn mariner, " I would not relinquish my
hope, that I am a child of God, for a
thousand worlds."
NORTH CAROLINA, one of the
United States, was originally included in
the territory, called Soutri Virginia, and
it was in North Carolina that the first
EngUsh settleriients were made iu Araeri
ca. They were however broken up, and
the first perraanent colony was estab
lished on the Chesapeak. This state was
afterwards included in the grant of Caro
lina in 1663. It began to be settled about
the year 1710 by a few Palatines frora
Germany, who had been so much haras
sed by a calamitous war, as to be very
desirous of a secure retreat, even though
it should be in the wflderness. They
had scarcely taken possession of their
fancied asylum in Albermarle and Bath
precints, when they fell a prey to the
savages. The colony was aUnost des
troyed, 137 settlers being massacred. As
sistance however having been obtained
from South Carolina, the Indians were
entirely defeated and driven back. This
was in the year 1712. After this the
infant colony remained in peace and con
tinued to flourish under the general gov-
enment of South Carolina till the year
1729, when seven oftrie proprietors, for
a valuable consideration, vested their
property and jurisdiction in the crown,
and the colony was erected into a sepa
rate province by the name of N. Carolina,
& its present Umits were established by an
order of king Geo. II. It was made a regal
govemment,the gov.and council being ap-
pointedby hisraajesty. In 1771 therewas

an insurrection of a body of the inhabi
tants, who complained of oppressions
practised in the law; they called them
selves regulators, and it was their object
to prostrate the government. Gov.
Tryon marched against them, and totally
defeated them, leaving 300 dead on the
field. At the commencement of the late
war, the regulators espoused the cause
of the British, and were defeated by col
onel CasweU in Feb. 1776. Dec. 18th
the present constitution ofthis state was
adopted by a congress, appointed for
the purpose. It estabUshes a general
assembly, consisting of a senate and
a house of commons, the members of
which are annually chosen. The
judges of the courts are appointed
by the general assembly, and hold their
offices during good behavior. The as
sembly also annually elects the governor,
who is not eUgibler longer than three
years in six successive years. He has a
council of seven. The clergy are exclu
ded from the legislature and council.
NORTON, John, minister in Boston,
was born at Starford in Hertfordshire,
England, May 6, 1606, and was educat
ed at the university of Cambridge. A
lecture was at this time supported at
Starford by a number of pious ministers,
and through their labors Mr. N., who
was himself a preacher, though like many
others ignorant of his own character and
unacquainted with the truth as it is in
Jesus, was impressed with a sense of his
sin, and by the agency of the Holy Spirit
was brought to repentance. The view
of his own heart and life, compared with
the holy law of God, almost overwhelmed
him with despair ; but at length the prom
ises of the gospel administered to him in
expressible joy. His attention had been
hitherto occupied in literary and scientific
pursuits, but he now devoted himself ex
clusively to the study of theology, and
being by his own experience acquainted
with repentance, and faith, and hoUness,
he preached upon these subjects with
zeal and effect. He soon became eminent.
Unable to subrait to the impositions of
the establishment, he embarked for New

NORTON.

615

England in 1634, but a violent storm
obliged him to return. In the following
year he sailed again for this country, and
arrived at Plymouth in Oct. in company
with Mr. Winslow. He preached in this
town during most of the winter, and was
earnestly invited to take the charge of the
church ; hut the state of things in the
colony did not please hira. Early in
1636 he reraoved to Boston, where he
was highly respected, being consulted by
the magistrates in sorae of their most dif
ficult affairs. Before the close of the
year he accepted an invitation to settle in
Ipswich, where a church had been gath
ered in 1634. In 1639 Mr. Rogers was
estabUshed as his colleague. — While min
ister of Ipswich he wrote a number of
books, which procured him a high repu
tation. He assisted in forming the Cam
bridge platform, which was adopted in
1648. After the death of Mr. Cotton at
the close of 1652, the church in Boston
applied to Mr. Norton to become their
minister. He accordingly preached in
that town for some time with the consent
ofhis people ; but after the death of Mr.
Rogers in 1655 they reclaimed him.
Though a number of councils, called upon
the occasion, advised his removal to Bos
ton, the inhabitants of Ipswich declined
giving him a dismission. At length the
governor and magistrates were under the
necessity of summoning a council, whose
advice or result was followed, as it was
considered as partaking more of the na
ture of authority. From this period he
was the minister of Boston, and was emi
nently useful. After the restoration of
Charles II it was thought necessary to
address him. Mr. Norton and Simon
Bradstreet were accojdingly appointed
the agents of Massachusetts for that pur
pose. They safled for England in Feb.
1662and returned in Sept.,bringing with
them a letter from the king, in which he
promised to confirm the charter, but re
quired that the administration of justice
should be in his name, and that all per
sons of good and honest lives shoUld be
admitted to the sacrament of the Lord's
supper, and their children to baptism.

The agents, who had faithfuUy endeav
ored to serve the colony, on their return
met with a cold reception, and the smoth
ered grief of Mr. Norton on account of
thcill treatment, which he received, it is
thought hastened bis end. He died sud
denly Aprfl 5, 1663, aged 56. He left no
children. Mr. Davenport succeededhim
in the ministry.
Mr. Norton was an eminent scholar
and divine. In controversy he was very
acute, for his powerful talents had been
cultivated by an excellent education, and
he was familiar with the subtleties of the
schoolmen. The doctrines, for which
he contended, were the following ; that
there is one God subsisting in three per
sons ; that the will of God is the cause
of all causes, and second causes the ef
fects of the first cause ; that the will of
man is an instrument disposed and deter
mined unto its action according unto the
decree of Gbd, being as much subordin
ate to jt as the axe is to the hand of the
hewer ; that man even in violating God's
commands fulfils God's decree ; that the
infallible ordering of the existence of sin
for a better end, and the forbidding of sin,
are not at all inconsistent, but fall under
the compass of the sarae one volition of
God, which cannot be resisted or delfeat-
ed ; that God is not the author of sin,
and yet that he does not merely permit
it, since he has decreed it ; that the rep
robates freely corarait such a measure of
sin, as fits them for the intended measure
of wrath ; that man is a free agent,
having a real efficiency, though sub
ordinate to the first cause, which deter
mines the second in its operation ; that
all mankind participated in Adam's
sin and also have it iraputed to thera ;
that original sin is the hereditary and ha
bitual contrariety and enmity of the na
ture of man against, the whole will of
God ; that God has elected whom in his
wisdom and mercy he pleased tp eternal
Ufe ; that the conversion of these is the
effect of God's Spirit ; that good works
are necessary as the -R'ay to salvation,
but not as the cause ; that the only mSri-
torious cause of salvation is the active

616

NORTON.

NOWELL.

and passive obedience of Jesus Christ,
which is imputed unto those, who be
lieve, and is received by faith alone ;
that only the elect beUeve in the Redee
mer ; that their belief or faith is the
effect of special, absolute, irresistible
grace ; and that the will is passive, not
having the nature ofa free agent, in the
first reception of grace. His sermons
were written with great care, and in his
extemporary devotional performances
there was a variety and fulness and fer
vor seldom equalled. A good man of
Ipswich used frequently to walk to Bas-
ton, a distance of about thirty miles, to
attend the Thursday lecture, and would
say, that it was worth a great journey to
unite in one of Mr. Norton's prayers.
His example, according to Dr. Mather,
was so much foUowed, that sorae young
ministers were able to continue their ad
dresses to God for more than an hour
with great propriety ; and without wea
rying those, who joined with them. In
his natural temper Mr. Norton was
somewhat irascible, but, being taught by
the grace of God to govern his passions,
his renewed heart rendered hira meek,
courteous, and amiable. StiU a mistaken
zeal for the truth raade him, as it made
his contemporaries, friendly to persecu
tion. He was convinced, that some dif
ference of sentiment must be permitted,
and wished that an erroneous conscience
should -be treated with tenderness; but
when the fundamental doctrines of
Christianity were denied, or errors were
supported by a contumacious will, espe
cially if tUey produced disturbance in the
state, then he thought it indispensably
necessary to be acquainted, to use his
own words, " with the holy tactics of the
civil sword." The disuse of this instru
ment, in riis opinion, gave opportunity for
the rise of the man of sin ; the abuse of
it maintained him ; but the good use of
it would tend to destroy him. With
these sentiraents he probably encouraged
the magistrates in their persecution of
the quakers, who in return represented to
the, king and parUament, that " John
Norton, chief priest in Boston, by the

immediate power of the Lord was smit-
ten,and died."
Mr. Norton wrote in Latin a letter lo
the famous John Dury, which was sign
ed by forty three other ministers. 'A
translation of it raay be found in S . Ma
ther's apology. In 1645 he drew up at
the request of the ministers of New Eng
land an answer to a number of questions
relating to church government, which
were sent over by Apollonius under the
direction of the divines of Zealand.
This was the first Latin book ever writ
ten in this country. It was pubUshed
with the title of Responsio ad totum
quEestionura syllogen a clariss. -viro dom.
Gul. Apollonio propositam, ad compon-
endas controversias in AngUa, Lond.
Svo. 1648. He pubUshed also a discus
sion of the sufferings of Christ, and the
questions about hia righteou.sness active
and passive, and the imputation thereof
in answer to a dialogue of Mr. Pinchin,
12mo. 1653 ; this was written by the di
rection of the general court ; the ortho
dox evangelist, or a treatise wherein
many great evangelical truths are briefly
discussed, 4to. 1654; election sermon,
1657 ; the Ufe of Mr. Cotton, 1658 ;
the heart of New England rent by the
blasphemies of the present generation, a
treatise concerning the doctrine of the
quakers, by the desire of the general
court, Svo. 1660 ; election sermon, 1661 ;
a catechism ; three choice and profitable
sermons on several texts, being the last
serraons, which he preached at the elec
tion, at the Thursday lecture, and on the
sabbath, 1664.— Mather' s life of Nor
ton. NOWELL, Increase, secretary of
the Massachusetts colony, was chosen
au assistant in England in 1629, and carae
to this country with Winthrop in the
Arabella 16S0. He was chosen ruling
elder Aug. 27th but resigned the office in
1632, being convinced that the offices of
ruler in the church and state were incom
patible. Of the church in Charlestown
he was one of the founders in 1632,
having been dismissed frora Boston. In
1634 he was one of the coraraissioners

NOYES-

617

for miUtary affairs. He was secretary from
1644 to 1649. In 1649 he entered into
the association against wearing long hair.
He died Nov. 1, 1655, in poverty. The
name of his wife was Parnell, to whom
1 ,000 acres of land on Cocheco river, N .
H., were granted probably as a public
acknowledgment of his faithful services.
He left several sons, of whom Sarauel, a
graduate of 1653, was a preacher, an as
sistant from 1680 to 1686, and an adher
ent of the old charter ; and Alexander,
who graduated in 1664, was the author
of several almanacs.
NOYES, James, one of the first min
isters of Newbury, Mass., was bornin
Wiltshire,, England, in 1608, and was for
some time a student in the university of
Oxford. After he began to preach, as he
could not conscientiously comply -with
the ceremonies of the established church,
he accorapanied his friend, Mr. Parker,
to New England in 1634. They arrived
in the month of May. Mr. Noyes preach
ed about a year at Mystic, now Medford,
when he was invited to become the m.in-
ister of Watertown ; but, as he preferred
a settiement with Mr. Parker, who had
removed from Aggawam to Newbury, he
was established as his colleague in 1635,
having the title of teacher. He continu
ed to discharge -with faithfulness the du
ties of his office more than twenty years.
After a long sickness, which he bore
with patience and cheerfulness, he died
Oct. 22, 1656, aged 47. He left 6 sons.
Mr. Noyes and Mr. Parker were the
most cordial and intimate friends. In
England they instructed in the same
school ; they came to this country in the
same ship ; they were ministers in the
same church ; and, as Mr. Parker had no
family, they lived in, the same house.
Mr. Noyes was very rauch beloved by
his people, for he was hurable, gentle,
and constantly desirous of doing them
good. He was the implacable enemy of
heresy and schism. Though he could
never submit to the ceremonies of the
EngUsh church, he was not so averse to
episcopacy itseff. He did not approve of
a governing vote in the fraternitv, and he
78

thought, that ecclesiastical councils should
have the power of inflicting censures upon
particular churches. He was eminently
skilled in Greek, and he had read the fa
thers and the schoolmen. His memory
was tenacious, his invention rich, and
his judgment profound. WhUe his man
ners were so amiable and his disposition
so truly benevolent and affectionate, that
no one was ever acquainte'd -tvith him,
who did not desire his friendship and so
ciety ; he yet was resolute and determin
ed in his defence of the truth. He was
considered as one of the mo,st eminent
men in his day. He pubUshed the tem
ple measured, or a brief survey of the
temple mystical, which is the instituted
church of Christ, 4to. 1647 ; a catechism,
which was reprinted in 1797 ; Moses and
Aaron, or the rights of church and stale,
contained in two disputations, the forraer
concerning tiip church, the latter asserting
the sacredness of the persons of kings
against king kilUng, 1661. This was
published by Mr. Woodbridge of England .
— Mather's magnalia,in. 145-148; Hist.
col VII. 242.
NOYES, James the first minister of
Stonington, Conn., the second son of
the preceding, was born March 11, 1640,
and graduated at Harvard college in 1 659,
being educated at the expense of his un
cle, Mr. Parker. In the year 1664 he
began to preach at Stonington, where he
was ordained Sept. 10, 1674. After im
parting religious instruction to this peo
ple 55 years he died Dec. SO, 1719, aged
nearly 81. His brother, Moses Noyes,
was the first minister of Lyme and died
Nov. 10, 1729, at the age of 85 years,
sixty of which he spent with his people.
His son, Joseph Noyes, was the minister
of N. Haven from July 4, 1716 till his
death, June 14, 1761, aged 72. Mr,
Noyes of Stonington was a distinguished
preacher, carrying an uncomraon fervor
and heavenly zeal into all his public per
formances. His ordinary conversation
breathed the spirit ofthe world, to which
he was endeavoring to guide his felkDw
raen. In ecclesiastical controversies he
was eminently useful. Being a friend df

618

NOYES.

OAKES.

literature, he was one of the first trustees
of Yale coUege. He was also a council
lor in civil affairs at sorae critical periods.
As a physician he was rauch consulted,
and he gave away annually the amount
of his salary in medicines. But he most
deUghted in his ministerial work, for his
tenderness and faithfulness in which he
was highly esteemed and beloved.
NOYES, Nicholas, minister of Salera,
Mass., the son of Nicholas N. and the
nephew of Mr. Noyes of Newbury, was
born in that town Dec. 22, 1647. He
was educated at the expense ofhis uncle,
Mr. Parker, receiving the first honors of
Harvard college in 1667. After having
preached 13 years in Haddam, he remo
ved to Salem, where he was ordained as
colleague with Mr. Higginson Nov. 14,
1683. George Curwin was settled with
him in 1714, but died in 1717. Mr.
Noyes, after a ministry of 34 years, died
Dec. 13, 1717, aged nearly 70. He was
never married. Acquainted with all the
literature of the times, and having uncom
mon talents for his sacred work, his
death was deeply and generally lamented .
He was entertaining and useful in con
versation, ofeminent sanctity and virtue,
and always solicitous for the welfare of
his people. But with all his good quali
ties he unhappily believed the reaUty of
witchcraft and had some influence in pro
moting those legal inquiries in 1692,
which reflect so much disgrace upon the
age. He afterwards however pubUcly
confessed his error without offering any
excuse for himself, or concealing any cir
cumstance ; and he visited and blessed
the survivors, whom he had injured, as
king always their forgiveness. Such con
duct reflects the highest honor upon his
character. A letter of his containing an
account of James Noyes is preserved in
Mather's magnalia. He published the
election sermon, 1698 ; and a poem on
the death of Joseph Green of Salem vil
lage, 1715. — Colled hist. sac. vi. 264,
267, 273, 286.
OAKES, Urian, president of Harvard
college, was born in England about the
year 1631, and was brought to America

in his childhood. A sweetness of dispo
sition exhibited itseff early and remained
with him through life. He was gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1649. While
very young and small he published at
Cambridge a set of astronomical calcula
tions with this apposite motto ;
Parvum parva decent sed inest sua gratia parvis.
He soon went to England, and was
settled in the ministry at Titchfield in
Hampshire. Being sflenced in 1662
with the other nonconforming ministers,
he found an asylum in a respectable fam
ily, and afterwards preached in another
congregation. Such was his celebrity
for learning and piety, that the church
and society of Cambridge on the decease
of Mr. Mitchell in 1668 sent a messenger
to England to invite him to become their
minister. He accepted the invitation,
but through various circumstances did
not commence his labors in Cambridge till
Nov. S, 1671 . Being placed at the head
of Harvard college after the death of Dr.
Hoar, he commenced the duties of this
office Aprfl 7, 1675, still however re
taining the pastoral care of his flock.
But Feb. 2, 1680 the corporation appoin
ted him president, and persuaded him to
be inaugurated, and to devote himself ex
clusively to this object. He died July 25,
1681, aged 49, and was succeeded by
Mr. Rogers in the college, and by Mr.
Gookin in the criurcri of Cambridge. He
was a man of extensive erudition and dis
tinguished usefulness. He excelled equal
ly as a scholar, as a divine, and as a Chris
tian. By his contemporaries he was
considered as one of the most resplendent
fights, that ever shone in this part ofthe
world. He was very humble with all
his greatness, like the full ear of com,
which hangs near the ground. In the
opinion of Dr. Mather America never
had a greater master of the true, pure,
Ciceronian Latin, of his skill in -vvhich
language an extract from one of his com
mencement orations is preserved as a
specimen in the Magnalia. He publish
ed an artillery election sermon, entitled,the
unconquerable, all conquering, and more
than conquering Christian soldier, 1672 ;

O'BRIEN.

OCCOM.

619

election sermon 1673 ; a sermon at Cam
bridge on the choice of their military
officers ; a fast sermon ; a long elegy in
poetry on the death of Rev. Mr. Shep
ard of Charlestown, 1677. This is pa
thetic and replete with imagery. — Holmes'
hist. Cambridge.
O'BRIEN, Richard, consul general of
the U. S . to the Barbary powers, was in
early Ufe an active seaman ; then a suc
cessful adventurer in the privateering
exploits of the revolution ; afterwards a
brave commander in the regular naval
service. FalUng into the hands of the
barbarians of Africa, he was a slave in
Algiers. After being released from sla
very, he was appointed consul general.
In his last years he was a farmer and a
member of the legislature of Pennsylva
nia. He died at Washington city Feb.
14, 1824, aged 72.
OCCOM, Samson, an Indian preach
er, was born at Mohegan, on Thames
river, near Norwich, Conn., about the
year 1723. His parents, like the other
Indians, led a wandering life, depending
chiefly upon hunting and fishing for sub
sistence. Not one then cultivated the
land, and all dwelt in wigwams. None
of them could read. When Occom was
a boy, Mr. Jewett, the minister of New
London, now Montville, was accus-^
toraed to preach once a fortnight
at Mohegan. One man went among the
Indians to teach them to read. During
the religious excitement, about 1739
and 1740, several ministers visited these
Indians, and the Indians repaired to the
neighboring churches. Occom at this
period became the subject of reUgious
impressions, and was in distress of mind
for six months. He then found consola
tion. From this time he was desirous of
becoming the teacher of his tribe. He
could read by spelling and in a year or
two learned to read the Bible ; At the
age of 19 he went to the Indian school of
Mr. Wheelock of Lebanon and remained
with him four years. He afterwards, in
1748, kept a school in New London;
but soon went to Montauk on L. Island,
where he taught a school among the In

dians 10 or 11 years, at the same time
being the religious teacher of the Indians
in their own language, and preaching
also to the Skenecock or Yenecock Indi
ans, distant 30 mfles. During a revival
among theMontauks many becarae Chris
tians. He lived in a house covered with
mats, changing his abode twice a year, to
be near the planting ground in the sura-
raer and the wood in the winter. Araongst
his various toils for subsistence, he was
expert with his fish hook and gun ; he
bound old books for East Hampton peo
ple, made wooden spoons, stocked guns,
and made cedar pails, piggins, and churns.
He was ordained by the Suffolk presby
tery Aug. 29, 1759, and was from this
time a regular member of the presbytery.
In 1766 Mr. Wheelock sent him to
England with Mr. Whitaker, the minis
ter of Norwich, to promote the interests
of Moor's Indian charity school. He
was the first Indian preacher, who visited
England. The houses, in which he
preached, were thronged. Between Feb.
16, 1766 and July 22, 1767 he preached
in various parts of the kingdom between
300 and 400 serraons. Large charitable
donations were obtained, and the school
was soon transplanted to Hanover, N.
H. , and connected with Dartraouth col
lege. After his return, Occom sometimes
resided at Mohegan, and was often em
ployed in missionary labors among dis
tant Indians. In 1786 he reraoved to
Brotherton, near Utica, N. York, in the
neighborhood ofthe Stockbridge Indians,
who were ofthe Mohegan root, and who
had formerly been under the intsruction
of Mr. Sergeant and Mr. Edwards. A
few of the Mohegans and other Indians
of Conn., L. Island, and R. Island re
moved about the same time. The Onei
das gave them a tract of land. In the
last years of his life he resided with the
Indians at New Stockbridge, near Broth
erton, where he died in July 1792, aged
69. Upwards of 300 Indians attended
his funeral. — The flattering attentions,
which he received in England, might
have awakened some emotions of pride,.
and occasioned some discontent with his

620

OGDEN.

OGLETHORPE.

previous narrow circumstances. In a
few instances he was betrayed into excess
and intemperance ; but then he humbled
himself and reformed. He did not, like
raany white men, destroy himself by
stiong drink. Dr. Dwight says, "I
heard Mr. Occom twice . His discourses,
though not proofs of superior talents,
were decent ; and his utterance in some
degree eloquent. His character at times
labored under some imputations. — Yet
there is good reason to believe, that raost,
if not all, of them .were unfounded ; and
there is satisfactory evidence, that he
was a man of piety. " J. Johnson was
another Indian preacher of the same tribe.
An account of the Montauk Indians,
written by Occom, is preserved in the
hist, collections. He says, that they had
a multitude of gods. He published a ser-.
mon al the execution of Moses Paul, an
Indian, at N. Haven, Sept. 2, 1772. —
Buell's ord. serm. ; Hist. col. iv. 68 ; v.
13 ; IX. 89, 90 ; x.105 ; Dwight, n. 112.
OGDEN, Jacob, a physician, was
bom at Newark, N. Jersey, in 1721,
and coraraenced the practice of medicine
at Jamaica, L. Island, where he Uved in
high reputation as a physician nearly 40
years. He died in 1779, aged 58. His
death was occasioned by an injury, re
ceived in consequence of a fright ofhis
horse. He pubUshed letters on the Ma
lignant sore throat distemper in 1769 and
1774. He recommended the use of mer
cury. Perhaps he was the first to intro
duce in that disorder the mercurial treat
ment. — Thacher,
OGDEN, Matthias, brigadier in the
army ofthe U.S. took an early & a decided
part in the contest with Great Britain.
He joined the army at Cambridge, aud
such was his zeal and resolution, that he
accompanied Arnold in penetrating
through the wilderness to Canada in
1775. He was engaged in the attack
upon Quebec and was carried wounded
frora the place of engagement. On his
return from this expedition he was ap
pointed to the command of a regiment,
in which station he continued until the
ponclusibri of the war, On the occur

rence of peace he was honored by con
gress with a comraission of brigadier
general.- He died at Elizabethtown, N.
Jersey, March 31, 1791. He was dis
tinguished for his liberaUty and philan
thropy. He was generous, amiable, and
endeared to his friends.
OGILVIE, James, an orator,was a na
tive of Scotland. His father. Rev. Dr.
0.,who died in 1814, was a branch ofthe
noble famfly of Finlater. From the age
of 18 to 35 he had the chargeofan academy
at Milton, Albemarle county, Virginia.
He relinquished his school in 1807 and
delivered in the principal cities lectures as
models of oratory. It was a hazardous
but successful undertaking. He received
much applause ; and for that he hunger
ed. However, although his gestures
were very graceful, there was a monoto
ny in his voice. He wanted the fire and
vehemence of passion. Returning to
Europe, he was very unsuccessful in his
lectures in London and Edinburgh, and
was overwhelmed with disappointment.
In 1820 he succeeded to the lordship of
Finlater, butdied soon at Aberdeen, Sept.
IS, 1S20, aged 45. It was reported,
that he killed himseff. He was in Amer
ica addicted to the use of opiura forthe
purpose of exhiliration. He pubUshed
philosophical essays, 1816.
OGLETHORPE, Jaraes, the founder
of Georgia, was bom in England about
the year 1688. Entering the array at an
early age, he Served under prince Eugene,
to whom he becarae secretary and aid
de camp. On the restoration of peace
he was returned a member of parliament,
and distinguished himselfas a useful sen
ator by proposing several regulations for
the benefit of trade, and a reform in the
prisons. His philanthropy is coraraerao-
rated in Thomson's seasons. His benev-
lence led him in 1732 to become one of
the trustees of Georgia, a colony, the de
sign of whose settlement was principally
to rescue many of the inhabitants of
Great Britain from the miseries of pover-
erty, to open an asylum for the persecu
ted protestants of Europe,and to carry to
the natives the blessings of Christianity.

OGLETHORPE.

621

In the prosecution of this design Mr.
Oglethrope embarked in Nov. with a
number of emigrants, and, arriving at
Carolina in the middle of Jan. 17S3,
proceeded immediaiely to Savannah river,
and laid the foundation ofthe town of Sa
vannah. He made treaties with the In
dians, and crossed the Atlantic several
limes to promote the interests of the col
ony. Being appointed general and com
mander in chief of bis majesty's forces in
S. Carolina and Georgia, he brought from
England in 1738 a regiment of 600 men
to protect the southern frontiers from the
Spaniards. A mutiny was soon excited
in his camp, and a daring attempt was
made to assassinate him ; but his life was
wonderfully preserved through the care
of that providence, which controls all
earthly agents, and superintends every
event. After the commencement of the
war between Great Britain and Spain in
1 739 he visited the Indians to secure their
friendship, and in 1740 he went into
Florida on an unsuccessful expedition
against St. Augustine. As the Spaniards
laid claim to Georgia, 3000 men, a part of
whom were from Havana, were sent in
1742 to drive Oglethorpe from the fron
tiers. When this force proceeded up
the Alatamaha, passing fort St. Simon's
without injury, he was obUged to retreat
to Frederica. He had but about 700
men, besides Indians. Yet with a part of i
these he approached within two miles of j
the enemy's camp, with the design of at- j
tacking them by surprise, when a French !
soldier of his party fired his musket and
ran into the Spanish Unes. His situa- [
tion was now very critical, for he knew, i
that the deserter would make known his
weakness. Returning however to Fred- :
erica, he had recourse to the following
expedient. He wrote a letter to the de- j
serter, desiring him to acquaint the Span
iards with the defencless state of Frederi- [
ca, and to urge them to the attack ; if he
could not effect this object, he directed
hira to use all his art to persuade thera to
stay triree days at fort Simon's, as within
that time he should have a reinforcement
of 2,000 land forces, with 6 ships of war,

cautioning him at the same time not to
drop a hint of admiral Vernon's medita
ted attack upon St Augustine. A Span
ish prisoner was intrusted with this letter
under proraise of delivering it to the de
serter. Buthegaveit, as was expected
and intended, to the commander in chief,
who instantly put the deserter in irons.
In the perplexity, occasioned by this let
ter, while the enemy was deliberating
what measure to adopt, three ships of
force, which the governor of S. CaroUna
had sent to Oglethorpe's aid, appeared off
the coast. The Spanish commander was
now convinced beyond all question, that
the letter instead of being a stratagem
contained serious instructions to a spy,and
in this moment of consternation set fire to
the fort, and embarked so precipitately, as
to leave behind him a number of cannon
with a quantity of mflitary stores. Thus
by an event beyond human foresight or
control, by the correspondence between
the artful suggestions ofa military genius
and the blowing ofthe winds, was the in
fant colony providentially saved from des
truction, and Oglethorpe retrieved his
reputation and gained the character ofan
able general. He now returned to Eng
land, and never again revisited Georgia.
In 1745 he was promoted to the rank of
major general, and was sent against the
rebels, but did not overtake them, for
which he was tried by a court martial and
honorably acquitted. After the return of
Gage to England in 1775 the command
ofthe British army in America was offer
ed to general Oglethorpe. He professed
his readiness to accept the appointment, ff
the ministry would authorise hira to as
sure the colonies, that justice would be
done thera ; but the command was given
to sir William Howe. He died in Aug.
1785 at the age of 97, being the oldest
general in ihe service. Upon bis tomb,
in Cranham church, Essex, is the follow
ing inscription.
"Religion watches o'er his um.
And all the virtoes bending mourn.
Humanity, with languid eye.
Melting for other's misery;
Prudence, whose hands a measure holdj

622

O'HARA.

And Temperance, with a rein of gold;
Fidelity's transparent vest.
And Fortitude in armour drest ;
Wisdom's gray locks and Freedom join
The moral train to bless his shrine,
And, pensive, all around his ashes holy,
Their last sad honors pay in order melancho-
ly-"
—Marshall i. 318-344 ; Thompson's
seasons, winter, 359-388.
O'HARA, James, one of the founders
of Pittsburg,Penn., was born in Ireland in
1754, and came to America in 1772 with
out friends orcapflal. Engaging in the
Indian trade, he became quaUfied for em
ployraent by the government in frequent
missions to the Indian tribes. Under
gen. Wayne he was very useful to the
army as quarter master general. Duly es
timating the fine locality of Pittsburgh,
he early purchased there an extensive re
al estate and laid the foundation of a
princely fortune. The first glass works
and brewery were established by him. He
died Dec. 19, 1819, aged 66. Mary Car
son, his daughter, married in 1823 Wm.
Croghan. His intelligence and wit gave
a charm to bis conversation ; he was
most hospitable, liberal, and beneficent.
The cltzens mourned him as a father.
OHIO, one of the United States, was
not settled till the year 1788. It was for
merly included in Virginia, the legisla
ture of which state in 1781 ceded the ter
ritory northwest of the Ohio river tothe
United States, reserving however several
portions of land, and among them one
for the officers and soldiers, by whom the
British posts were reduced. The settle
ment in Ohio was comraenced at Mariet
ta Aprfl 7, 1788, under the superinten
dence of general Rufus Putnara. Before
this time there were no inhabitants in the
territory excepting the Indians, a few
Moravians, and trespassers on public
lands. The country was at first under
the jurisdiction of a governor, appointed
by congress for three years, a secretary,
and a court consisting of three judges.
There was also a legislative council and a
house of representatives. It was to be
admitted into the union,whenever it con
tained sixty thousand free inhabitants.

OLIVER.
This event occurred April 28, 1802. A
constitution was immediately formed and
adopted, and the government was organi
zed March 3, 1803. The representatives
are chosen annually and the senators and
governor every two years. The judges
are chosen by the legislature for 7 years.
Slavery is prohibited.
OJEDA, Don Alonzo de, a follower
of Columbus in his second voyage, was
celebrated for his personal endowments
and daring spirit. Of small size, yet he
had great strength and activity, was ex
pert in all kinds of weapons, most adven
turous and fierce in fight. Once, when
queen Isabella was in the tower of a
church at Seville, he walked out on a
beam which projected 20 feet from the
tower at a dizzy height. In Jan. 1494
he explored the interior of Hispaniola.
After being besieged in a fortress by Cao-
nabo, he treacherously seized the Carib
chieftain. In the same spirit of inhu
manity he made up his Cavalgada, or
droves of slaves, carrying the unhappy
natives to Cadiz and selling them in the
slave market. He was afterwards gover
nor of New Andalusia at Darien, but he
failed about 1513 in his attempt to estab
lish a colony there. — In his voyage to
Paria in 1499 he was accompanied by
Amerigo. — Irving's Columbus.
OLIVER, Daniel, a member of the
council of Mass., the son of elder Thomas
O., who came to Boston in July 1631,
was born in 1 664, and died in Boston in
July 1782, aged 68. He was distin
guished for piety, humility, and charity
from his youth. He always rose early to
read the sacred volume and pour out his
heart unto God . Though mercantUe bu
siness claimed much of his attention, yet
he devoted Saturday afternoon to visiting
the sick in his neighborhood. He was
an overseer ofthe poor, and he maintain
ed at his own expense a school, which
received thirty of their children. He
buflt for this purpose a house which cost
6001. and in his wiU he directed it to be
devoted to the instruction of the poor
forever. He contributed largely to the
promotion of the gpspel among the igno-

OLIVER.

ORR.

623

rant and vicious. — Prince's fun. serm.
OLIVER, Andrew, lieutenant gover
nor of Mass., the son of the preceding,
was graduated at Harvard college in 1724.
While he was secretary of the province,
he was appointed distributer of stamps in
1765, but the Boston mob demolished his
office Aug. 14, & compelled him to resign.
He sustained the office of Ueutenanfgov.
frora 1770 tfll 1774, during the adrainis-
tration ofhis brother in law, Mr. Hutch
inson. No man was more disposed to pro
mote the designs ofthe British ministry.
His letters, which were sent over by Dr.
FrankUn in 1772,disclosed his subservien
cy to the British ministry, and the dis
closure embittered his remaining days.
He was hungry for office and honor.
Yet in private life he was respected. He
died at Boston March 3, 1774, aged 67 ;
and was succeeded as lieutenant governor
by Thomas Oliver, of a different family,
who died in Englarid, not before 1809, as
Dr. Elioi supposed, but in July 1816,
aged 82.
OLIVER, Peter, ll. d., chief justice
of Mass., the brother of the preceding,
was born in 1713, and graduated at Har
vard college in 1730. He was appointed
ajudge of the superior court, Sept. 15,
1756. His place of residence was Mid
dleborough, and he had not been educated
to the law. In the year 1774, when the
general court called upon him, as they
called upon the other judges, to receive
the grant for his services, as usual, from
" the treasury of the province, and to en
gage to receive no pay or emolument ex
cept from the assembly, he peremptorily
refused. In consequence of this refusal
the house voted articles of impeachment
in Feb. ; accusing him of high crimes
and misdemeanors. He died at Birming
ham, England in Oct. 1791 aged 79. His
son, Peter, died at Shrewsbury, England,
in 1822, aged 81. He pubUshed a speech
on the death of Isaac Lathrop, 1750. —
Warren, i. 119; Gordon, i. 345.
OLIVER, Andrew, judge ofthe court
of comriiori , pleas for Essex, the son of
lieut. gov. Andrew O., was born in 1731;
was graduated at Harvard college in

1649; and died at Salem early in Dec.
1799, aged 68. He was distinguished for
his attachment to literature and science.
Ofthe American academy he was one of
trie original members. He published an
essay on comets in 1772 ; and theory of
lightning and -water spouts in Amer.
transact. ORONO, chiefof the Penobscot tribe
of Indians, died at Old town, an island in
Penobscot river, Feb. 5, lS01,aged 113
¦years. He cultivated araong his subjects
the principles of peace, teraperance, and
reUgion. In the tirae of the war with
Great Britain he formed a treaty with
the American government, and faithfully
adhered to it._ His people profess the Ro
man CathoUc religion and have a church.
He retained his mental faculties to an un
usual degree in his old age. His hair
had long been of a milky white, and this
venerable chief had lived to hunt in three
different centuries. His wife, madam 0-
rono, died in Jan. 1809, aged 115.
ORR, Hugh, an enterprising manufac
turer, was born Jan. 13,1717, in Scotland,
& was educated a gunsmiih. About 1738
he settled at Bridgewater, Mass., where
he first erected a trip hammer and manu
factured scythes and other tools. About
1748 he made 500 musquets for the state.
In the war of the revolution he cast
iron and brass cannon from 3 to 42 poun
ders, and cannon balls. He also invented
a machine for cleaning flaxseed, which he
exported to Scotland, and constructed a
machine for the manufacture of cotton.
So highly was he esteemed by his fellow
citizens, that he was for some years elec
ted a senator. He died in Dec. 1798,
aged 81. His widow,Mary, died in 1804
aged 80. His son, Robert was armorer
at Springfield; Dr. Hector Orr of Bridge-
water was bis grandson.
ORR, John, an officer in the revolu
tion, served under gen. Stark in the bat
tle of - Bennington and was severely
wounded, a ball entering just above the
knee joint and lodging in the bone. In
consequence of this he had a stiff knee
and was a cripple and subject to indes
cribable sufferings for life . For many

624

OSBORN.

OSGOOD.

years he was a representative and sena-
ator of New Hampshire. His mind was
vigorous ; his judgment sound ; and his
christian character exemplary. He died
at Bedford in 1822, aged 75. His son,
Benjamin Orr, a distinguished lawyer,
died at Brunswick, Maine, jn Sept 1828;
his son, Isaac Orr, is the secretary ofthe
African education society at Washington;
his daughter is the wife of Samuel A.
Worcester, the missionary, whom the
Georgians hold a prisoner in their peni
tentiary in disregard of the solemn decis
ion ofthe supreme court ofthe U. S.
OSBORN, John, a poet, was born at
Sandwich, Mass.-in 1713. His father a
native of Ireland, was the minister of
Eastham from 1718 to 1737, and died at
Boston, aged above 90. He was gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1735. Uncer
tain fora time what profession to pursue,
he directed his thoughts towards theolo
gy, and proceeded so far as to read before
the association of ministers, with the de
sign of being licensed to preaoh,a serraon,
which was not perfectly orthodox. Hav
ing afterwards resolved upon the study of
medicine, he removed to Middletown,
Conn. But little is known concerning
him after this period. In 1753 he wrote
to a sister, that he had lingered almost
two years a Ufe not worth having. He
died May 31, 1753 aged 40, leaving six
children. One of his sons was a physi
cian in Middletown. His manners were
open, plain, and agreeable, and his tem
per cheerful and mild. His elegy on the
death of a young sister is preserved in
the Boston mirror. His whaling song has
been sung by whalers.
OSBORN, John, a physician, son of
the preceding, wai^ born March 17, 1741,
and after practising physic more than 60
years at Middletown, died in June 1825
aged 84 . He was with the army at Ti
conderoga in 1758. He was skilful as a
chemist, and had the best medical library
in the state. Hepublished before the
revolution La Condamine's treatiseon in
oculation, with an appendix. — Thacher.
OSBORN, John C., m. D.,a physician,
the eldest son of the preceding, was born

in Sept. 1766, and studied medicine with
his father. He practised physic at New-
hern, North CaroUna, frora 1787 tiU
1807, when he reraoved to the city ofN.
York, where he was appointed professor
of medicine in Columbia college, and af
terwards professor of obstetrics in the
coUege of physicians and surgeons. He
died of a pulmonary disorder at St.
Croix March 5, 1819, aged 52. He had
a taste for painting and such skill in poet-
ry,that Barlow's Vision of Columbus was
submitted to him and Alsop fbr revision
before it was pubUshed. — Thacher.
OSBORN, Selleck, a poet, a native of
Conn., was brought up a printer. He
conducted a news paper in Litchfield,
about 1S06 or 1808 and was imprisoned
for a libel, a circumstance, which excited
much sympathy among his republican
friends. He afterwards edited a paper in
Boston and the American Watchman at
Wilmington, Delaware. He died at
Philadelphia Oct. 1, 1826. Hepublished
a volume of poems, Boston, 1823. —
Spec Am. Pod ii. 145.
OSGOOD, John, minister of Midway,
Georgia, was born in Dorchester, S. Ca
rolina ; graduated at Harvard college in
1733 ; and ordained at Dorchester March
24, 1735. He followed in 1754 a part
of his society to a new settlement about
30 miles from Savannah, called Midway,
where he remained tifl his death Aug. 2,
1773. He was succeeded by Moses Allen,
Abiel Holmes from Nov. 1785 to June
21, 1791, and Cyrus Guildersleeve Dec.
14, 1791. He was the father, friend, and
shepherdof his flock, and by them was
greatly beloved and lamented.
OSGOOD, Samuel, postmaster gen.
ofthe U. S., a descendant of John O.,
one ofthe founders of the church at An
dover in Oct. 1645, was born in Ando
ver, Mass., Feb. 14, 1748, being the son
of Peter 0., and Sarah Johnson, and was
graduated at Harvard college in 1770.
At the beginning of the revolution hewas
a member ofthe board of war and for
some years a meraber of the legislature.
In 1775 and 1776 he was an aid to gen.
Ward. In 1781 he was appointed a

OTIS,

625

member of congress. In 1785 the con
gress appointed hira first coramissioner of
the treasury. After the commencement
of our present government Washington
selected hira in 1789 a postmaster gen. ,
after Mr. Hazard, an office which he held
two years, when he was succeeded by
Mr. Pickering. In 1 801 he was super
visor of N. York, and in 1803 appointed
naval officer for the port of N. York,
where he died Aug. 12, 1813, aged 65.
He was an elder of one ofthe churches in
N. York. Though he cherished the
hope, that he became reUgious at the age
of 15, yet he had many days of doubt and
melancholy, and suffered keen remorse
fbr doing so little in the cause ofhis mas
ter. He pubUshed a work on chronolo
gy ; remarks on Daniel and Revelation ;
a letter on episcopacy, 1807 ; three letters
on different subjects, addressed to J. B.
Roraeyn, J. Osgood, and A. Armstrong.
OSGOOD, David, d. d., minister of
Medford, Mass., was graduated at Har
vard college in 1771, and ordained Sept.
14, 1774. After a ministry of nearly 50
years, he died Dec. 12, 1822, aged- 74.
His wife was Hannah Breed of Charles
town. He was one ofthe most distin
guished preachers of Mass. His style
was perspicuous, energetic, and elegant.
In his delivery he was accustomed to
raise his voice occasionally to a high
pitch. It may be doubted, whether his
usefulness as a minister was not impair
ed by the zeal, with which he engaged iu
the political controversies ofhis day. He
was a federalist, of the Hamilton school,
and he sometimes preached sermons of
bitter invective against men of different
poUtics. Quotations from thera are
given by Mr. Carey in his " Olive
Branch." He published a sermon at the
installation of P. Thacher, 1785 ;at the
artillery election, 1788 ; at the thanksgiv
ing, 1783, 1794, and Feb. & Nov. 1795 ;
on the death of a child, 1797 ; bf Wash
ington, 1800; of J.Roby,1803; at the fast,
& convention, 1798; the devil let loose &c.
a fast sermon, 1799 ; at the ordination of
Leonard Woods, 1800 ; of C. Francis,
1819 ; at the Dudleian lecture, 1802 ; the
79

validity of baptism by sprinkling, and the
right of infants, &c. 1804 ; at the elec
tion, 1809 ; a'discourse at Cambridge, in
the hearing of the university, 1810 ;
solemn protest against the declaration of
war, 1812- A volume of his sermons
was published, Svo. 1S24.
OTIS, John, colonel andjudge, was
born at Hingham, Mass., in 1657, and
was the eldest son of John O., who lived
in Hingham in 16S6 and removed, about
1662, to Scituate, where he died in 1684.
He settled, when a young man, in Barn
stable, of which town he was for twenty
years the representative. He was a coun
cillor from 1706 for 21 years, and was al
so for many years comraander of the mil
itia of Barnstable county, chief justice of
the court of common pleas, and judge
of probate. He died Sept 23, 1727, aged
70. His son, John, a representative of -
Barnstable and meraber of the council,
from 1747 till his death, died in May
1758.— Col. Otis had fine talents, the
power of wit and humor, and an inti
mate knowledge of mankind. He was
also an erainent Christian, strict and ex
emplary in the performance of religious
duties. — Eliot.
OTIS, James, colonel and judge, was
the son of the preceding. Without the
advantages of a collegial education, he
yet was distinguished for his intellectual
powers and his knowledge of law. Gov.
Shirley promised him, that upon a va
cancy in the superior court he should be
appointed judge ; but he did not fulfil his
proraise. On the death ofthe chief jus
tice Sewall in 1760, col. Otis, then spea
ker of the house, applied to gov. Bernard
for the appointment of associate judge,
and his son, James, seconded the request.
But Mr. Hutchinson was nominated.
To this disappointment Mr. Hutchinson
attributes the flaming patriotism of the
father and the son. He says, " from this
time they were at the head of every
measure in opposition.— From so smaU
a spark a great fire seems to have been
kindled." In order to conciliate this
family gov. Bernard, as by the demise
of the king in 1760 all civil and miUtary

626

OTIS.

offices must be renewed, proposed to col.
Otis to give him the principal offices in
the county of Barnstable, with the right
of nominating many of his relations and
friends. Accordingly col. Otis was ap
pointed chiefjustice of the county court
andjudge of probate. Soon afterwards
Mr. Otis, the son, supported the grant
of the island, of mount Desert to the
, governor. It seems, however, that the
reconciliation was not of long continuance.
Col. Otis maintained the rights of the
colonies ; and the governor, in his
speech in 1766, asks— " ShaU this fine
country be ruined, because every person
in the government has not been gratified
with honors or offices according to the
full of his pretensions.'' Shall the pri
vate interests, passions, or resentments of
a ' few men deprive this whole people of
the great and manifold advantages, which
the favor and indulgence of their sove
reign and his parliament are even now
providing for them.'" Hutchinson says,
that the reference is to col. Otis ; but
this is ascribing a great deal to one fami
ly. When chosen a councUlor, he was
repeatedly rejected by the governor.
He died at an advanced age in Nov. 1778.
His three sons were men of distinction.
His daughter married gen. James War
ren. OTIS, James, a distinguished patriot
& statesman,the son of thepreceding,was
born at Barnstable Feb. 5, 1725 and was
graduated at Harvard college in 1743.
After pursuing the study of the law un
der Mr. Gridley, the first lawyer and civ
ilian ofhis time, at the age of 21 he be
gan the practice at Plymouth. In about
two years he removed from this town to
Boston, where he soon gained so high a
reputation for integrity and talents, that
his services were required in the most im
portant causes. It will be seen under the
account ofhis father, that Mr. Hutchin
son acribes his zeal for colonial rights to
resentment. Dr. Eliot also says, that in
1775 he heard judge Trowbridge remark,
that Mr. Otis, in his resentment,had said,
"that he would set the prbvince in flames,
if he perished by the fire," and he doubted

not, the war would have been delayed
for years, if Mr. Hutchinson had not
been appointed chiefjustice. But, allow
ing the resentment at the time, one
would think the accommodation ofthe fa
ther as to office was pretty ample. Be
sides, new questions had sprung up, and
the force of circumstances would easily
render such a mind as that of James
Otis earnest in the defence of the rights
of the colony. In 1761 he distinguished
himself by pleading against the writs of
assistance, which the officers of the cus
toms had applied for to the judges of the
supreme court. His antagonist was Mr.
Gridley. Of his speech John Adams
said — "Otis was a flame of fire: with a
promptitude of classical allusions, a depth
of research, a rapid summary of histori
cal events and dates, a profusion of legal
authorities, a prophetic glance ofhis eyes
into futurity, and a rapid torrent of im
petuous eloquence, he hurried away all
hefore him. American independence was
then and there born. Every man of an
immense crowded audience appeared to
me to go away, as I did, ready to take
up arms against writs of assistance."
Judgment was suspended in order to get
information from England ; at the next
term writs were ordered to be issued on
application tothe chiefjustice bythe sur
veyor gen. of the customs. Yet they
were never executed. He was in this or
the following year chosen a member of
the legislature, in which body the powers
ofhis eloquence, the keenness of his wit,
the force ofhis arguments, and resources
ofhis intellect gave him a most comman- '
ding influence. When the arbitrary
claims of Great Britain were advanced,he
warmly engaged in defence of the colo
nies, and was the first champion of Ameri
can freedom, who had the courage to af
fix his name to a production, that stood
forth against the pretensions of the parent
state. He was a member of the congress,
which was held at New York in 1765, in
which year his rights ofthe colonies vin
dicated, a pamphlet, occasioned by the
stamp act, and which was considered as a
masterpiece both of good writing and of

OTIS.

027

argument, was published in London.
For the boldness of his opinions he was
threatened with an arrest ; yet he contin
ued to support the rights of his fellow
citizens. He resigned the office of judge
advocate in 1767 & renounced all employ
ment under an administration, which had
encroached ujion the liberties ofhis coun
try. His warm passions sometimes be
trayed hira into unguarded epithets, that
gave his eneraies an advantage, without
benefit to the cause, which lay nearest
his heart. Being viUfied in the public
papers he in return publishedsome severe
strictures on the conduct of the commis
sioners ofthe customs, and others of the
ministerial party. A short time after
wards, on the evening of Sept. 5, 1769,
he met John Robinson, one of the com
missioners, in a public room, and an affray
followed, in which he was assaulted by a
number of ruffians, who left him and a
young gentleman, who interposed in his
defence, covered with wounds. The
wounds were not mortal ; but his useful
ness was destroyed, fbr his reason was
shaken from its throne, and the great
man in ruins Uved several years, the
grief of his friends. In an interval ofhis
reason he forgave the men, who had done
him an irreparable injury ,and reUnquished
the sum of 2000Z. which Mr. Robinson had
been by a civil process adjudged to pay,
on his signing a humble acknowledgment.
He lived to see but not fully to enjoy the
independence of Araerica, an event, to
wards which his efforts had greatly con
tributed. At length. May 23, 1783, as
he was leaning on his cane at the door of
Mr. Osgood's house in Andover, he was
struck by a flash of lightning ; his soul
was uistantly liberated from its shattered
tenement, and sent into eternity. His
wife was Ruth Cunningham of Boston.
President Adams, then minister in
France, wrote respecting him, "it was
with very afflicting sentiments I learned
the death of Mr. .Otis,my worthy master.
Extraordinary in death as in life, he has
left a character that will never die, while
the memory ofthe American revolution
remains ; whose foundation he laid with

an eriergy, and with those masterly abili
ties, which no other man possessed."
He was highly distinguished by genius,
eloquence,and learning, and no American
perhaps had possessed more extensive in
formation. Besides his legal and politi
cal knowledge, he was a complete master
of classical Uterature. He published ru
diments of Latin prosody, with a disser
tation on letters, and the power of har
mony in prosaic composition, 12mo. 1760,
which has been considered the most clear
and most masterly treatise on the subject;
vindication of ihe conduct of the house of
representatives of Mass. in 1762; the
rights of the British colonies asserted,
1764; considerations on behalf of the
colonists, 1765. His life by Wflliam
Tudor was published Svo. 1S23. — War
ren, 1. 47, 85-89 ; Monthly anthology, v.
222—226. OTIS, Joseph, general, brothef of the
preceding, a revolutionary patriot, was
bom in 172S, and was for many years a
clerk of the court of common pleas, a
member of the legislature, and brigadier
general of the miUtia. Washington ap
pointed him collector ,for the district of
Barnstable, an office which he held for
many years. His residence was at the
parish of Barnstable, called Great Marsh
es. He died in the peace ofthe Christian
Sept. 23, 1810, aged 82, leaving four
sons and two daughters. His daughter,
Maria, wife of Rev. Philip Colby of
Middleborough, a lady of many attrac
tions and aocompUshments and eminent
piety, died May 20, 1821, aged 33.
OTIS, Samual AUyne, secretary of the
senate of the U. S., brother ofthe prece
ding, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1759, and settled as a merchant in
Boston . In 1 776 he was chosen a repre
sentative, and afterwards was a member
of the convention, which framed the con
stitution of Mass. — He was also a raera
ber ofthe board of war. In 1787 hewas
one of the coraraissioners to negotiate
with the insurgents. In 1788 he was
elected a member of congress, and, after
the adoption of the constitution, secreta
ry of the senate, an office which he held.

628

OVANDO.

PACA.

araidst the collision of parties, with ex
emplary fidelity and araenity of manners,
without the absence of one day, more
than thirty years, till his death at Wash
ington April 22, 1814, aged 73. His
first wife was the daughter of Harrison
Gray, treasurer of Mass.; his second was
the widow of Edward Gray. His son,
Samuel AUyne Otis, died at Newbury
port in 1814, aged 46. Another son
is Harrison Gray Otis of Boston.
OVANDO, Don Nicolas de, governor
of Hispaniola, was chosen in 1501 to
succeed BobadUla, whose hunger for
gold had caused the greatest raiseries and
disorders in the island. He arrived in
April 1502. In June he refused to af
ford a shelter to the squadron of Colum
bus in the harbor, and afterwards treated
him with great neglect, when he was in
distress in Jamaica. Under the color of
hiring the natives to labor, with the be
nevolent design also of teaching them
Christianity, the chiefs were ordered to
furnish a certain number of natives for 6
or eight months, who were subjected to
severe toil, under the lash, with scanty
food, and with no teaching but the cere
mony of baptism . The indignant Indi
ans, who fled to the mountains, were
hunted like wild beasts. Such was Ovan-
do's method of promoting Christianity !
He was indeed an unprincipled tyrant,
greedy after lucre, and his name is infa
mous. Once he seized treacherously
several of the caciques of Anacaona and
after torturing them set fire to the house,
and consumed them, and then sent the
princess, Anacaona, in chains to San Do
mingo, and caused her to be hung. His
various atrocities and horrible cruelties
cannot here be described. Yet such is
the man, whom the Spanish represent as
an enemy to avarice and venerable for
his regard to justice. It is no wonder,
that the curses of heaven have descended
on the Spanish empire, chargeable with
the blood, by which the new world was
drenched. He was superseded by Don
Diego Columbus in 1509, but was per
mitted to retain his wealth, which he
wrung from the natives.— hving' s Col

OVIEDO, Gonzalo Fernandez de,
historiographer ofthe Indies, wasborn in
Madrid in 1478 ; in 1513 hewas sent out
to the new world to superintend the
gold founderies, and -U'as alcayde of the
fortress of St. Domingo- in 1535; and
died at Valladolid in 1557, aged 79. He
had lived 34 years in the colonies. He
pubUshed a chronicle of the Indies in 50
books, 1535 and 1547. A part of the
work is yet unpublished.-Ii"uiw,g:'s Colum
bus. OXENBRIDGE, John, minister in
Boston, was born in England Jan. 30,
1609, and was educated at Oxford, where
he was for some time a tutor. Becom
ing a preacher, soon after the year 1634
he went to Bermuda, and took the charge
ofachurch. In 1641 or 1 642, he return
ed to England, and was fellow of Eaton
coflege. In 1662 he was induced in con
sequence of the act of uniformity to go to
Surrinam and thence to Barbadoes. He
came to New England in 1669, and was
settled pastor of the first church as col
league with Mr. Allen Aprfl 10, 1670.
He died Dec. 28, 1674, aged 65. Hewas
a celebrated divine & one of the most pop
ular preachers of his time. He published"
a double watch word, or the duty of
watching and watching in duty, 1661 ; a
proposiiion for propagating the gospel by
Christian coloriies in the continent of
Guiana; election serraon, 1671 ; season
able seeking of God. — Wood's Ath. Ox-
on.,u. 536,537; Magnalia,ni. 321.
PACA, WiUiara, governor of Mary
land, the son of John P., a gentleraan of
large estate in Hartford county, was bom
Oct. 31, 1740. Having been educated at
the college of Philadelphia, he practised
law at AnnapoUs. He was appointed a
member of congress with Samuel Chase
in 1774, and continued in ^that body tfll
the close of 1778. He signed the decla
ration of independence. From 1778 to
1780 he was chiefjustice of Maryland ;
then chief judge of the court of appeals
in adrairalty cases ; he was governor' in
1782 and again in 1786 ; in 1789 he was
appointed the judge of the district court
of the U.S. He died in 1799, aged 59.

PAGE.

PAINE.

629

His first -wife was a daughter of Sarauel
Chew. He was a man of vigorous intel
lect and polished address, of integrity,
patriotism, and moral worth.
PAGE, John, governor of Virginia,
died at Richmond Oct. 11, 1803, aged 64.
From his youth he was a man of pure
and unblemished life. He was a patriot,
a statesman, a philosopher, and a Chris
tian. From the commencement of the
American revolution to the last hour
of his life he exhibited a firm, inflexible,
unreraitting, and ardent attachment to
his country, and he rendered her very
important services. He was one of the
first representatives from Virginia under
the present constitution. In 1800 he was
chosen one of the electors of president.
In Dec. 1802 he was chosen governor of
Virginia in the place of Mr. Monroe
and was succeeded by Mr. Cabell in 1805.
His residence was at Rosewell. His con
duct was marked by uprightness in all
the vicissitudes of life, in the prosperous
and calamitous times, through which he
had passed, in seasons of gladness and of
affliction. He pubUshed addresses to the
people, 1796, and 1799.
PAINE, Thomas, a political writer
and deist, was born in Norfolk, England,
in 1737; his father, a quaker, was a stay
maker. He followed the same business ;
and then becarae an exciseman in Sussex,
but was dismissed for misconduct. He
came to Philadelphia in 177,4 and in Jan.
1775 he was employed by Mr. Aitken to
edit the Penns. Magazine. After the war
comraenced, he at the suggestion of Dr.
Rush wrote his celebrated paraphlet of
Comraon Sense, recommending independ
ence. For this tract the legislature of
Penns. voted him 500Z. He was also elec
ted by congress in April 1777 clerk to the
committee on foreign affairs ; he chose
to caU himself "secretary for foreign af
fairs. " At this period he wrote the Crisis.
For divulging some official secrets he lost
his office in Jan. 1779. In 1780 he was
clerk ofthe assembly of Penns.; in 1785
congress voted him 3,000 doll., and the
state of N. York gave him 500 acres of
land, the confiscated estate of Davol, a

royalist, at New Rochelle. There was
on it a stone house, 120 by 28 feet. In
1787 he went to Paris and Jjondon. In
answer to Burke's Reflections on the
French revolution he wrote his Rights of
Man. In Sept. 1792 he was a member
from Calais of the national convention of
France. Voting against the sentence on
the king, he offended the Jacobins, and
in Dec. 1793 was thrown into prison for
11 months. He had written the first
part ofhis Age of Reason against Chris
tianity and committed it to Joel Barlow ;
the second part was pubUshed in 1795,
after his release. At this period he was
habitually drunk. He returned to Amer
ica in Oct. 1802, bringing with him as a
companion the wife of De Bonneville, a
French bookseller, having separated from
his second wife. He died at New York
June 8, 1809, aged 72. His poUtical
writings have simplicity, force, and pun
gency. But he died in contempt and
misery. His disgusting vices, his intem
perance, and profligacy, and irreligion
made him an outcast from afl respectable
society. He is represented as irritable,
vain, cowardly, filthy,envious,malignant5
dishonest, and drunken. In the distress
of his last sickness he frequently called
out,"Lord Jesus! help me." Dr. Manley
asked him, whether from his calling so
often upon the Savior it was to be infer
red, that he beUeved the gospel. He re
plied at last — "I have no wish to believe
on that subject." Mr. Cheethara publish
ed an account of his life . — His writings
were published in 1 vol. 1792.
PAINE, Robert Treat, ll.d., a judge
of Massa., was born in Boston March 11,
1731 ; his father, Thomas P. was ordain
ed the minister of Weymouth Aug. 19,
1719, but in consequence of iU health had
been dismissed ; his mother was the
daughter of Samuel Treat and grand
daughter of Sarauel Willard. Having
graduated at Harvard coUege in 1749, he
studied theology and in 1755 acted as a
chaplain in the army. He was induced
to go Europe for mercantUe objects, and
to .provide for the support of his father ;
on his return he studied law, and set-

630

PAINE.

tied about 1759 at Taunton, where he
became distinguished^ in his profes
sion. In 1770, in the absence of the at
torney general, he conducted the prose
cution of capt. Preston for the Boston
massacre. About the year 1780 he re
moved to Boston. Being a delegate to
the first congress, which assembled Sept.
5, 1774, he signed the declaration of inde
pendence, and continued in that body an
efficient patriot until on the adoption of
the Massachusetts constitution he, was
appointed attorney general. He was a
judge ofthe superior court from 1790 till
his resgnation, in consequence of his
deafness, in 1804. He died at his resi
dence in Boston May 11, 1814, aged 84.
His wife was a sister of general Cobb.
He had an inflexi'ble regard to order and
justice. His appearance on the bench
was stern and ungainly, and in his man
ner there was an unpopular severity ; yet
by his talents, integrity, and learning he
rendered good service to his country in
the various stations, in which he was
placed. He was a firra believer in Chris
tianity and died in peace.
PAINE, Robert Treat, a poet, son of
the preceding, wasborn at Taunton Deo.
9, 1773. While a member of Harvard
college, he was irregular and subject to
discipline. At the time of his graduation
in 1792 he delivered a poem. Being
placed as a clerk to a merchant, instead
of applying himself to business, he pen
ned stanzas. He was also often attracted
to the theatre. At this period the law
against theatrical performances was ab
rogated in Mass. On the opening of the
brick theatre in 1793 he obtained a me
dal for the prologue. In Oct. 1794 he
commenced a newspaper, the Federal
Orrery ; but indolence, the theatre, and
temptations to pleasure made him neg
lect it) and it sunk into disregard, and
was reUnquished in 1796. His satire
drew upon him.self personal chastisement.
In 1795 he married Miss Baker, an ac
tress, who withdrew from the stage ; this
marriage caused a separation between
him and his father, and his removal from
his father's house. His poem, delivered

PALMER.
at Cambridge in 1795, called the Inven
tion of letters, brought him a profit of
1500 dollars ; and in 1797 his Ruling
Passion 1200.- He now was appointed
Master of ceremonies at the theatre, with
a salary. His song of Adams and Liber
ty in 1798 yielded hira 750 doUars; more
than 11 dollars fbr each line. When at
this time his name, which, had been
Thomas, was by act of the legislature
changed to Robert T., he remarked, that
now he had a Christian narae, alluding to
the name of Paine, the infidel. By the
advice of his friends he studied law, and
was admitted to the bar in 1802. At first
he was patronized ; but, after neglecting
his profession a few years, he gave up
his office. His diss^ated habits broke
down his health and reduced him to want.
Indolence and the theatre, wine and
women ruined him. He died the victim of
his own folly and vices Nov. 14, 1811,
aged 37. There is nothing of simple,
natural beauty in any of the writings of
Mr. Paine. His prose is in bad taste,
and his poetry is entirely unworthy of
the commendation, bestowed upon it by
his contemporaries. But, had he written
the most beautiful poetry, it would have
been worthless, associated with his own
immoral character. No poet has power
over the heart, if known to be a game
ster, and intemperate, and a profligate
lover of pleasure. The virtuous and
ennobUng sentiments, found in the po
ems of Cowper and Montgomery, have
tenfold power, because known to have
come from the heart of virtuous, good
men.  His works with a biography
by Charles Prentiss, were pubUshed, Svo.
1812. — Spec Amer. poet. n. 93.
PALMER, EUhu, a preacher of de
ism, was graduated at Dartmouth college
in 1787. He was the rieadof the Colum
bian illuminati, a deislical company at N.
York, -established about 1801, consisting
of 95 members. Its professed aim was to
promote "moral science,"against reUgious
and political imposture. The temple of
reason was a weekly paper, of which
the principal editor was one Driscoll, an
Irishman, who had been a Romish priest.

PARISH.

"PARKER.

631

and who removed with his paper to
Philadelphia. Mr. P . deUvered lectures,
or preached against Christianity. But
according to Mr. Cheetham he was " in
the small circle ofhis church raore priest
ly, more fulminating," than Laud and
Gardiner of England; "professing to
adore reason, he was in a rage, if any
body reasoned with hira." He wasblind
frora his youth. He died 3 years before
Paine, at Philadelphia, in March 1806,
aged 42. He published an oration, July
4, 1797 ; the principles of nature, 1802.
PARISH, Elijah, d. d., minister of
Byfield, Mass., was born in Lebanon,
Conn., Nov. 7, 1762, and graduated at
Dartmouth college in 1 785 . He was or
dained in 1787. After being the minister
of B. nearly 40 years he died Oct. 14,
1825, aged 62. Some of his violent po
litical sermons are quoted by Mr. Carey
in his Olive Branch. He published a
sermon on the death of J. Cleaveland,
1799 ; at the ordination of A. Parish,
1792; ofN. Waldo, 1806 ; of D. Thurs
ton, 1807 ; ofN. MerrUl, 1812 ; on mis
sions, 1807 ; before a charitable society,
1808 ; at a thanksgiving, 1804 ; do. 1807;
at Hanover, 1806; at fasts, 1808, 1812,
1813 ; before the society for propagating
thegospel ; eulogy on J. Hubbard, 1810 ;
history of N. England, with Dr. Morse,
1804 ; with Dr. McClure, memoirs of
Eleazer Wheelock, Svo. 1811 ; gazetteer
of the eastern continent ; modern geogra
phy ; gazetteer of the Bible. A volume
of sermons was published after his death.
" PARKER, Thomas, first minister of
Newbury, Mass. the only son of Robert
Parker, who was driven out of England
for Puritanism in the reign of Elizabeth,
was born in 1595. After having been for
some time a student at Oxford, he pursu
ed his studies in Ireland under Dr. Usher.
Thence he went lo Holland, where he
enjoyed the assistance of Dr. Ames. He
returned to Newbury in England, where
he preached and was the instructer of a
school. He came to this country with a
number of Christian friends in May 1634,
and immediately went to Aggawam, or
Ipswich, Masssachusetts, where he con

tinued about a year as an assistant to
Mr. Ward. In 1635 he commenced the
settlement of Newbury, and was chosen
pastor and Mr. Noyes teacher. He died
in April 1677, aged 81, leaving behind
him the character of an eminent schol
ar, and of a most pious and benevo
lent Christian. Through his incessant
application he beiiame bUnd several years
before his death. Under this heavy ca
lamity he was patient and cheerful, and
used to say in reference to his darkened
eyes, " they will be restored shortly in
the resurrection." Having never been
married, he yet with parental affection
gave ' several young gentlemen the ad
vantages of a public education. In his
views of church government he was in
clined 10 presbyterianism. Some theses
de traductione peccatoris ad vitam, writ
ten by him at-an early age, were printed
with some works of Dr. Ames. He also
published a letter to a member of the
Westminster asserably, on the govern
ment in the churches of England, 1644 ;
the prophecies of Daniel expounded, 4to.
1646 ; a letter to his sister, Mrs. Averjr,
on her opinions, 1649. — Magnalia, in.
143-145, 147.
PARKER, Samuel, d. d., bishop of
Mass. wasborn at Portsmouth, N. H., in
1745 and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1764. He was afterwards nine
years an instructer of youth in Newbury
Port and other towns. In 1773 he was
ordained by the bishop of London, and
May 19, 1774 was established as assistant
minister at Trinity church, Boston, of
which he became ihe rector in 1779.
During the revolutionarywar the other
episcopal clergymen quitted the country,
but he remained at his post, and his
church was saved from dispersion. Af
ter the death of bishop Bass he was elec
ted his successor ; but he was at the
head of the episcopal churches but a few
months. He died suddenly at Boston
Dec. 6, 1804, aged 59. Distinguished
for his benevolence, he was in a peculiar
manner the friend of the poor, who in his
death mourned the toss of a father. He
published a serraon at the election, 1793;

632

PARKER.

PARSONS.

before the asylum, 1803 ; and some other
occasional discourses.
PARKER, Isaac, ll. d., chief justice
of Mass^, wasborn in Boston in 1768 and
graduated at Harvard coUege in 1786. He
commenced the practice of law in the
district of Maine, and was elected a mem
ber of congress. In 1806 he was appoin
ted a judge ofthe suprerae court, and in
1814 chief justice, as the successor of
Mr. SewaU, of which office he with high
reputation and faithfulness discharged the
duties 16 years. On Sunday, May 25,
1830, he was suddenly attacked with the
apoplexy, of which he died the next mor
ning. May 26th aged 62. His successor
is Lemuel Shaw. He was a distinguish
ed scholar and friend of literature. For
1 1 years he was a trustee of Bowdoin
college, and for 20 years an overseer of
Harvard college. He was a man of great
moral worth and a firm believer in the
Christian religion. He pubUshed a sketch
of the character of judge Parsons, 1813.
PARKMAN, Ebenezer, first minister
of Westborough, Mass., "was graduated at
Harvard coUege in 1721, and was ordain
ed Oct 28, 1724, the day, on which the
church was gathered. After continuing
his ministerial labors near sixty years, he
died Dec. 9, 1782, aged 79. His wife
was a daughter of Rob. Breck ; Samuel
P., who died in Boston in June 1824,
aged 72, was a descendant. A short ac
count of Westborough, written by hira, is
printed in the historical collections. He
published Reforraers and intercessors,
1752 ; a convention serraon, 1761.
PARRIS, Samuel, the first minister of
Danvers, Mass., was born in London in
1653; studied at Harvard college; and
was ordained at Salem village, now
Danvers, Nov. 15, 1689. In 1692 the
Salera witchcraft delusion coramenced in
his family. His daughter, about twelve
years of age, and his niece, Abigail
Williams, 11 or 12 years old, preten
ded to be bewitched, and accused Tituba,
an Indian w;oman living in the family, of
bewitching them. Mr. Parris beat her
and corapelled her to confess herself a
witch. Indian John, Tituba's husband,

for his own safety, turned accuser of
others. The " afflicted " persons increa
sed ; the " accused " also increased rapid
ly. More than 100 women were appre
hended, and raost of them committed to
prison. Even the wife of gov. Phipps
was accused. Aug. 19, 1692 George
Burroughs and 4 others were executed ;
in all 19 were hung, and G. Corey pres
sed to death for not pleading. There
had before been executed for witchcraft
Margaret Jones of Charlestown in June
1648 ; then a woman in Dorchester, and
another in Cambridge ; then in Boston
in 1655 Mrs. Hibbins, wife ofan assis
tant; soon two or three at Springfield,
and one at Hartford ; in 1662 Mrs.
Greensmith and her husband; in 1663
Mary Johnson ; in 1 683 Mrs. Glover of
Boston. This delusion at Salera lasted
16 months. As Mr. Parris had been a
zealous prosecutor, his church in April
1693 brought charges against him ; and
at last, although he acknowledged his
error, he was dismissed in June 1696.
He removed to Concord. In 1711 he
preached six months in Dunstable.
PARSONS, Jonathan, m.inister in
Newburyport, Mass. was graduated at
Yale college in 1729, having given indica
tions of- an uncommon genius. Soon
after he began to preach, he was ordain
ed minister of Lyme, Conn., where he
continued several years. The last thirty
years ofhis life were spent at Newbury
port in one of the largest congregations
in Araerica. His labours were incessant
and he soraetimes sunk under his exer
tions. During his kst sickness he enjoyed
the peace of a Christian. He expressed
his unwavering assurance of an interest
in the favor of God through the Redeem
er. He died July 19, 1776, aged about
66. He was a presbyterian. As a
preacher he was eminently useful. Dur
ing some of the first years of his minis
try his style was remarkably correct and
elegant ; but after a course of years,
when his attention was occupied by*
things of greater importance,his manner of
writing was less polished, though perhaps
it lost nothing of its piathos and energy.

PARSONS.

633

In his preaching he dwelt much and with
earnestness upon the doctrines of grace,
knowing it to be the design ofthe Chris
tian religion to humble the pride of man
and to exalt the grace of God. He labor
ed to guard his people both against the
giddy wildness of enthusiasm, and the
licentious tenets of antinoraian delusion.
His invention was fruitful, his imagina
tion rich, his voice clear and command
ing, varying with every varying passion,
now forcible, majestic, terrifying, and
now soft, and persuasive, and melting.
His zealous and indefatigable exertions
were not in vain. During his ministry
at Lyme, at a period of uncoramon effu
sion of God's Spirit of grace, he indulged
the belief, that near two hundred of his
people were renewed in the dispositions
of their minds, and enUghtened by the
truth as it is in Jesus ; and his labors at
Newburyport were attended by a happy
revival of religion. He was eminent as
a scholar, for he was familiar with the
classics, and he was skilled in the Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew languages. He was
accounted a dexterous and masterly rea
soner. He published a sermon at Boston
lecture, 1742 ; good news from a far
country in 7 discourses, 1756 ; observa
tions &c., 1757 ; manna gathered in the
morning, 1761 ;' infant baptism from
heaven, in two discourses, 1765 ; a ser
raon on the deathof G. Whitefield, 1770;
freedom from civil and ecclesiastical ty
ranny the purchase of Christ, 1774 ;
sixty sermons on various subjects in two
volumes, Svo. 1780. — Searl's sermon on
his death.
PARSONS, Moses, minister of By-
field, Mass., was born June 20, 1716,
and was graduated at Harvard college in
1736. He devoted a -number of years to
the labors of a grammar school, and,
while the respect and the affection of his
pupils were preserved by mingled digni
ty and mfldness, he endeavord to impress
them with reUgious truth, and to give
them that instruction,' which might save
their souls from death . He was ordained
June 20, 1744, and died Dec. 14, 1783,
ae-ed 67. The Maker of the human
^ 60

frarae gave him a most graceful and
comraanding presence, a quick concep
tion, a fertile invention, an easy flow of
thought and expression, a correct judg-
ment,a resolute teraper,8t. a large share of
the kind and tender sensibilities. These,
expanded by a liberal education, polished
by a large acquaintance with mankind,
and sanctified by divine grace, made him
eminent as the gentleraan and Christian,
the divine and the preacher. When he
had once deUberately fixed his opinion
or his purpose, no opposition could shake
him. He always carried the dignity and
decorum of the Christian minister into
his most cheerful hours, and, though he
often indulged his pleasant humor among
his friends, yet he never degraded himself
by the puerile jest, the boisterous laugh,
or by vain, indelicate mirth. He usuaUy
mingled with his sprightly saUies some
useful lesson of a moral nature. He
knew how to be familiar without mean
ness, sociable without loquacity, cheerful
without levily,gi-ave without moroseness,
pious without enthusiasra,supei-stilion,or
ostentation, zealous against error and
vice without illnatured bitterness, affa
ble to all without the least sacrifice ofhis
ministerial dignity. There was a gener
ous openness in his language and beha
vior, and one could almost discern his
heart in his frank, honest countenance.
He was influenced by enlarged benevo
lence. He was a zealous advocate ofthe
civil and religious interests of his beloved
America. Eminent as a preacher, he
yet greatly excelled in the gift of prayer.
His Jast hours were brightened with
the hopes ofthe gospel. He anticipated
the joy of dwelling in the presence of
that divine Savior, whom he had served
in his church below. He published the
election sermon, 1772, at the ordination
of O. Parsons, 1773. — Tappan's serm. an
his death; Frisbie's orat.
PARSONS, Theophilus, ll. d., chief
justice of Massachusetts, the son of the
preceding, wasborn Feb. 24, 1750. His
early education was at Dummer acade
my under master Moody. After gradua
ting at Harvard college in 1769, he. stud-

PARSONS.

PARTRIDGE.

ied law with judge Bradbury of Falmputh,
now Portland, and kept the grararaar
school. When the town was burnt by
the British, he returned to his father's,
and soon opened an office in Newburyport.
In 1779 hq was a member ofthe conven
tion, which framed the constitution of
Mass. ; he was also in 1789 a member
of thestate conventlon,which adopted the
constitution of the U.S. He removed
to Boston in 1800. After an extensive
practice of 35 years he succeeded chief
justice Dana in 1806. He died at his
residence in Boston Oct. 30, 1813, aged
63 ; and was succeeded by judge Sewall.
His wife was a daughter of Benjamin
Greenleaf; he left three sons and four
daughters. He was of large size, broad,
and corpulent, with a sallow complexion,
and heavy appearance. His eyes were
blue, tinged with hazel-grey, sunk in his
head, but soraetimes twinkling bright.
His high, smooth forehead was partly
covered with a reddish skull-cap, which
he wore, having been bald at the age of
thirty. A bandanna handkerchief often
protected his neck from the chflly winds,
which were his abhorrence. He was not
more remarkable for his deep learning,
than for the keenness of his wit. His
repartees were often very cutting. Not
only was he a profound lawyer, but an
excellent classical scholar and a skilful
matheraatician. His poUtical influence,
in the party divisions of his day, was ve
ry great. He was a most deterrained
federaUst. Of his belief in Christianity
he raade a profession in his last years,
joining the church in Boston, of which
Dr. Kirkland was the pastor. The first
6 vols, ofthe Mass. reports contain many
of his judicial decisions. In the opinion
judge Parker, had he lived in England he
would have been made lord chancellor or
lord chief justice. — Parker's sketch;
Knapp's hiag. sketches, 37 — 77.
PARSONS, Samuel Holden, brigadier
general in the army of the revolution,
was a native of Connecticut, and on a
committee of correspondence before the
war. He was appointed brigadier by
congress in Aug. 1776. He detached

col, Meigs on his successful expedition
to L. Island in 1777. In 1785 he was a
commissioner to negotiate with the
western Indians ; in Oct. 1787 he was
appointed one of the judges of the north
western territory. He was drowned in
Ohio in Dec. 1789. He published a
piece on the Discoveries in the western
country in mem. Amer. acad. vol. 2.
PARSONS, Levi, a missionary to
Palestine, the son of Justin P., a minis
ter, -was born in Goshen, Mass., July
18, 1792. At trie age of 16, he became
a Christian convert ; but his graces were
revived, while he was a member of col
lege, and he became earnestly desirous to
be a missionary. During three revivals
of religion bis efforts were useful. He
was graduated at Middlebury in 1814,
and studied theology at Andover. After
being ordained in Sept. 1817, he wasan
agent ofthe Board of missions. In Nov.
1819 he sailed with- Mr, Fisk for Palestine,
and arrived at Smyrna in Jan, 1820; after
passing half a year at Scio, he proceeded
to Jerusalem, where he remained from
Feb. to May 1821. On his return to
Smyrna he was seized with a distressing
malady at Syra. In Dec. he went with
Mr. Fisk to Alexandria, where he died in
great peace and triumph Feb. 10, 1822,
aged 29. He was a good schcflar, and
very amiable and interesting in his man
ners and devoted to his benevolent work.
His life was written by his brother in law,
D. O. Morton, 1824.
PARTRIDGE, Ralph, first minister
of Duxborough, Mass., was born in Eng
land and became a minister of the estab
lished church ; but by the severity of the
bishops he was hunted, as C. Mather
says, Uke a partridge upon the mountains,
till at last he resolved to get out of their
reach by taking his flight into N. Eng
land. He arrived at Boston Nov. 14,
1636, and was soon settled at Duxbor
ough. He was appointed with Mr.
Mather and Mr. Cotton to prepare a
model of church government for the con
sideration of the synod of Cambridge in
1648. He died in 1658, having been a
preacher 49 years and was succeeded by

PATTEN.

PAUGUS.

635

Mr. Holmes. Such was his humiUty
and self denial, that, when most of the
ministers of Plymouth colony left their
places for want of a suitable maintenance,
he was one of the few, who remained
with their people.
PATTEN, Wflliam, ministerof Hart
ford, Conn., a descendant of Wm. P.,
who lived in Cambridge from 1 645 till
1663, was born at BiUerica in March
1738, and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1754. He succeeded J. Cotton
as the minister of HaUfax, Mass., in Feb.
1758 ; but was dismissed by reason of
iU health in 1768. He was afterwards
the rainister of the S. church in Hartford,
as the colleague of E. Whitman, about
7 years. After languishing two years,
and losing his voice, he died in his father's
family at Roxbury, Mass., Jan. 16, 1775,
aged 36. He was an eminently eloquent,
popular, and faithful preacher. Leaving
a wife and 6 children with little property,
he committed them in faith to the God
ofthe widow and fatherless. His son,
George Jeffrey P., for 30 years a teacher
in Hartford, died in March 1830 ; his
widow, the daughter of president Eleazer
Wheelock, eminent for her piety, died at
Hartford Dec. 5, 1831, aged 91. His
son, Dr. William P., minister of New
port, R. I., is StiU living.— 2 Coll h. s.
IV. 282. I
PATTERSON, William, governor of
New Jersey, and associate judge of the
suprerae court ofthe U. S. was a native
of New Jersey and was graduated at the
college in that state in 1763. He was a
member ofthe convention in 1787, which
framed the constitution ofthe U. S., and
his name is affixed to that instrument.
When the new government commenced
its operations in1789 hewas a member of
the senate from New Jersey. He was
chosen governor in 1790 as successor of
Mr. Livingston. While ajudge of the
supreme court of the U. S. he died "at
Albany Sept. 9, 1806. In this office he
was succeeded hy Brockholst Livingston.
He was an able statesman, an upright
judge, and a disinterested friend of his
country. He endured the sufferings of

a lingering and distressing disease with
exemplary patience. When he saw, that
death was at hand, he sent for a rainister
to receive frora hira the sacrament. The
judge observed, that it had been for some
tirae past his intention to receive that sa
cred rite, but that sorae casualty or other
had always prevented him. He did not
wish howeVer to leave the world before
he had fulfilled his duty . When the min
ister mentioned the quaUfications, which
are required of those, who partake of that
holy ordinance, he acquiesced in them all,
and remarked at the sarae time, that he
had always been a believer in the truths
of Christianity ; that the only point, on
which he had ever entertained any doubt,
was the divinity ofthe Savior; but he had
long since examined that subject, and
satisfied his mind upon it ; that he had
now no hesitation in professing his
belief in aU the doctrines of our religion.
He then received the communion with the
utmost devotion. When the rainister,
as he retired, expressed his apprehension,
that they should not meet again, he re
plied "yes, I trust we shall ; we shall meet
again in heaven." — Clarke's fun. serm.
PATTERSON, Robert, ll. d., pres
ident ofthe Araeriean philosophical socie
ty, was bom in the north of Ireland May
30, 1743. In 1768 he eraigrated to
Philadelphia. In 1774 he was appointed
principal ofthe acaderay at Wilmington,
Delaware. In the revolutionary war he
acted as brigade major. In 1779 he was
appointed professor of mathematics in
the university of Penns. and then vice-
provost. He was succeeded by his son
of thesame name in 1814. In 1805 he was
appointed director of the mint of the U.
S. In 1819 he was chosen president of
the A. P. Society. He died July 22,
1824, aged 81 . In the transactions of the
phil . society he published many papers.
A remarkable trait of his character was
his fervent piety. It influenced all his
conduct from his youth. He was an
elder of the Scotch presbyteriari church
neariy half a century.
PAUGUS, sachem of Pigwawkett, was
killed near the pond in Fryeburg, Me, in

636

PAULDING. PAYSON.
ments of their education under him. tiia
acquaintance with astronomy and natural
philosophy is evinced by his ti'acts in the
transact, of the Amer. acad. of arts and
sciences. As a minister he was the friend
and father ofhis people, and he preached
with energy of diction and pathos of de
livery. He published an election sermon,
1778 ; at the ordination of his brother,
Seth Payson of Rindge, 1782 ; on the
death of Washington, 1800. — Barnard's
fun. serm.
PAYSON, Seth, d. d., minister of
Rindge, N. H., brother ofthe preceding,
was born Sept. 19, 1758 ; wasgraduated
at Harvard college in 1777 ; ordained
Dec. 4, 1782 ; and died Feb. 26, 1820,
aged 61. His widow. Grata, died in
1 827. He possessed superior abilities and
was a plain, faithful, and useful preacher.
He was a trustee of Dartmouth coUege
and a member of the American foreign
mission society . He published Proofs of
iUuminism, an abstract of Robinson and
Barruel, 12mo. 1802 ; two fast serraons,
1805 ; on the death of J. Gushing, 1S06;
of L. Pillsberry, 1819 ; at the ordination
of J. Converse, 1806.
PAYSON, Edward, d. d., minister of
Portland, Maine, the son ofthe preceding,
was born July 25, 1783; was graduated
at Harvard college in 1803 ; and for three
years was the teacher of an academy at
Portland. At this period the death of a
brother had a favorable influence on his
reUgious character, and he engaged with
a pious zeal, which continued through Ufe,
in the cause of Jesus Christ. He was
ordained, as the colleague of Mr. Kellogg,
Dec. 16, 1807; he afterwards became the
sole pastor of a new church, and died
Oct. 22, 1827, aged 44. His successor is
Dr. Tyler. In his distressing sicknsss he
displayed in the raost interesting and ira-
pressive manner the power of Christian
faith. Smitten down in the midst of his
days and usefulness, he was entirely re
signed to the divine will, for he perceived
distinctly, that the infinite wisdora of
God could not err in the direction of
events, and it was his joy, that God reign
eth . His mind rose over bodily pain, and

LoveweU's fight, Aprfl 18, 1725. A
man by the name of Chamberlain shot
him. PAULDING, John, one of thecaptors
of major Andre, was three times a priso
ner with the eneray in New York ; twice
he escaped, the second time only four
days before Andre was taken ; frora his
third imprisonment he was released by
the peace. The watch, horse, saddle
and bridle of Andre, with 80 dollars in
continental biUs, were retained as lawful
prize, being the property of an enemy,
and were sold and the money divided
among the three captors and four others
of the party, -who were keeping a look
out half a mile distant. Col. Wm. S.
Smith purchased the watch for SO guin
eas. Judge Benson states, that the
watch was sent from a person unknown
to Ueut gov. ElUot in New York, and by
hiin sent to the family of maj. Andre. —
Paulding and his companions, Van Wart
and WUliams, received from congress a
silver medal, on one side of which was a
-shield, inscribed " FIDELITY," and on
the other the motto, " VINCIT AMOR
PATRIiE ;" also an annuity of two
hundred doUars. He died at Yorktown,
or Staatsburg, Feb. 18, 1818, aged 59.
The corporation of New York in 1827
erected a marble monuraent to his memo
ry in the church yard, two miles from
Peekskill village, West Chester county.
PAYSON, Phillips, d. d., minister of
Chelsea, Mass., a descendant of Edward
P.,wholiv,ed in Roxbury in 1640, the
grandson of Edward P., the fifth minister
of Rowley, and the son of Philips P.,
ministerof Walpole, was born Jan. 18,
1736. He was graduated, at Harvard
college in 1754. From the time of his
ordination, Oct 26, 1757, he continued
to discharge the duties of the sacred of
fice with zeal and fidelity till his death
Jan. 11. 1801, aged 64. He was succee
ded by Mr. Tuckerman. During the
struggle, which termiriated, in the inde
pendence of Araerica, Dr. Payson boldly
advocated the cause of his country. As
a classical scholar he rose to distinction,
and many young men received the rudi-

PEABODY,

637

in the strong visions of eternity he seem
ed almost to lose the sense of suffering.
During about 20 years he was exclusive
ly devoted to the work of the ministry
with increasing usefulness, being the in
strument of the conversion to the christ
ian faith of some hundreds ofhis hearers.
He repeatedly decUned invitations to re
move to Boston and New York. Among
his uncommon intellectual powers, a rich
fancy was the most conspicuous. With
out any of the graces of the orator, his
preaching had the eloquence of truih and
feeUng. In his prayers especially there
was a solemnity, fulness, originality, va
riety, pathos, and sublimity, seldom
equalled. Some of his discourses, on
which he bestowed labor, exhibit a poUsh
ed taste and much grace and beauty of
language. His eloquent address to the
Bible society has been published as one
ofthe Tracts of the American tract soci
ety. He published a discourse on the
worth of the Bible ; an address to sea
men ; and a thanksgiving sermon. A
memoir ofhis life by Asa Cummings was
pubUshed, 2d. edit. 1830; a volume of
Sermons, Svo. 1828 ; another volume,
12mo. 1831.
PEABODY, Oliver, minister of Na
tick, Mass., and missionary to the In
dians, was born in Boxford in 1698, and
graduated at Harvard college in 1721.
He was pious in early Ufe, and whfle in
college was preparing for the ministry.
Employed by the commissioners for prop
agating the gospel, he preached first at
Natick Aug. 6, 1721 ; there were then
but two families of white people in the
town. The Indian church, which the
apostolic Eliot had founded, was now
extinct, the Indian preacher, Daniel Tah-
howompait having died in 1716 ; and all
records were lost. A new church was
formed Dec. 8, 1729, consisting of three
Indians and 5 white persons, and he was
ordained at Cambridge Dec. 17th.
Through his influence many of the In
dians were induced to abandon their sav
age mode of Uving and to attend to hus
bandry as the means of subsistence ; he
had the happiness to see many of the

Indian families with comfortable houses,
cultivated fields, and flourishing orchards.
But his chief aim was to'teach them the
religion of Jesus Christ. There were
added to the church in the first year 22
persons, several of whom were Indians ;
in July 1743 ha stated, that in the two
preceding years about 50 had been recei
ved into the church. Against the vice
of intemperance among the Indians he
set himself with great zeal and much suc
cess. During his residence at Natick he
baptized 189 Indians, and 422 whites ;
and he received to thii church 35 Indians
and SO whites ; and there died 256 In
dians, of whom one was 110 years old.
During one season he went on a mission
to the Mohegans. He died 'in great
peace Feb. 2, 1752, aged 53. His wife
was Hannah, daughter of Rev. Joseph
Baxter of Medfield. His eldest son, Oli
ver, ordained at Roxbury in Nov. 1750,
died in May 1752; he had 11 other chil
dren. His successor at Natick was
Stephen Badger, under whora the Indians
degenerated, and the Indian church be
came almost again extinct. After Mr.
B., the ministers were Freeman, Sears,
and Martin Moore. Mr. Peabody was
eminently pious and greatly beloved and
lamented. He published artillery election
sermon, 1732 ; on a good and bad hope
of salvation, 1742. — Panopl. vn. 49-56.
PEABODY, Nathaniel, a physician
and revolutionary patriot, was "born at
Topsfield, Mass., March 1, 1741 ; his
father, Jacob P., a physician, removed to
Leominster in 1745 and died in 17'58 ;
his mother,Susanna, was the daughter of
John Rogers, minister for 50 years of
Bo.xford, and a descendant ofthe martyr.
Having studied with his father, he set
tled at Atkinson, New Hampshire, and
had extensive practice. In Oct. 1774 he
was appointed a lieutenant colonel and in
Dec. he accompanied Langdon, Bartlett,
and SuUivan in the capture of fort Wil
liam and Mary at Newcastle. As a
raember of the legislature his patriotic
services were important. In 1778 he
was adjutant general of the militia, with
the rank of colonel. Being appointed a

633

PEABODY.

PEARSON.

delegate to congress, he took his seat
June 22, 1779, and was a very useful
member. In 1780 he was with Philip
Schuyler and J. Matthews, on the com
mittee of congress, to repair to head quar
ters for the general improveraent of the
miUtary system. It was a laborious ser
vice ; his zeal and labors were commen
ded hy Greene, R. H. Lee, and others.
In the autumn he resigned his seat. In
subsequent years he was a representative,
senator, and councfllor ; in 1793 he
was appointed a maj. gen. of the militia.
During several ofthe last years ofhis Ufe
he was for debt confined to the limits of
the prison at Exeter,where he died June
27, 1823, aged 82. This old revolutiona
ry patriot, and Robert Morris, whose
financial operations contributed in a very
high degree to the success of Washing
ton and the estabUshment of American
independence, both died in prison, not for
crime but debt. When will laws, which
are remnants of a barbarous age, be re
pealed ? Gen. Peabody left no child ;
his aged widow survived hira. He was a
man of huraor and wit. In his poUtics
he was a decided republican . Notwith
standing his patriotisra and public servi
ces, he had some faults ; he was vain and
obstinate, and iri middle Ufe fond of dress
and parade. Being a good horseman, he
expended much money in the purchase of
elegant horses, and travelled with a ser
vant. If there is no excuse for his ex
travagance ; yet he asserted, that his
misfortunes were owing to his losses by
suretyship and the misconduct of his
agents and pretended friends. — Farmer's
collect III. 1-16 ; Thacher.
PEABODY,OUver, judge, was born at
Andover, Mass.,Aug. 22, 1752, and grad
uated at Harvard college in 1773. Hav
ing studied law, he about 1788 settied at
Exeter, N.H. He was judge of probate
from 1790 till 1793; treasurer of the
state from 1794 to 1805 ; sherflf of the
county from 1805 to 1810; judge of the
common pleas from 1813 to 1816; and
repeatedly a senator. Three times he
was an elector of president and vice pres
ident In all his stations he acquitted

himself with dignity and integrity. He
died at Exeter Aug. 3, 1831, aged 79.
His two sons, twins, OUver Wm. Bourn
P.,& Wm. Bourn OUver P. a lawyer & a
minister,known as men of literature, grad
uated at Harvard coUege in 1816.
PEALE, Charies WUson, the founder"
of the Philadelphia museura, wasborn at
Charlestown, Maryland, in 1741, and^was
apprenticed to a saddler at Annapolis.
He becarae also a silver smith, watch ma
ker and carver ; he was a portrait painter,
a naturalist and preserver of animals, a
skilful dentist, and the inventor of various
machines. Carrying a handsome saddle
to Hesselius, a portrait painter in his
neighborhood, he begged him to explain
to him the mystery of putting colors on
(janvas. Repairing to England, he
studied under Mr. West in 1770 and
1771. After his return he was for about
15 years the only portrait painter in N.
America. In the war he was at the head
ofa company in the battles of Trenton
and Germantown. At Philadelphia he
opened a picture gallery, in which were
the portraits of many officers of the army.
Opening a museum, he procured an al
most entire skeleton of a mammoth from
Ulster county, N. York, at an expense
of 5,000 dollars. His museum at length
became extensive . He delivered a course
of lectures on natural history ; and zeal
ously supported the academy of fine arts.
After a life of tofl and temperance he died
in Feb. 1327, aged 85. His sons have
been distinguished as painters. Rapha-
elle P., the eldest, died at Philadelphia
in March 1825, aged 52. — Enc. Amer.
PEARSON, Eliphalet, ll.d., profes
sor of Hebrew and oriental languages at
Harvard college, was a desendant of John
P., who came from England and settled
at Rowley in 1647, and died Nov. 2,
1697, aged 82. He was bom in 1752 ;
graduated in 1773 at Harvard college,
where he was a distinguished professor
from 1786 to 1806, and after his removal
from Cambridge the first professor of sa
cred Uterature in the theological seminary
at Andover from 1808 to 1809, when he
was succeeded by Moses Stuart. He

PECK.

PEMBERTON.

639

died at Greenland, N. H., at the house
of his son in law. Rev. Mr. Abbot, in
Sept. 18:26, aged 74. Dr. Pearson, be
sides teaching Hebrew at Cambridge, was
also a lecturer on grammar and the teach
er of rhetoric, in -n'hich capacity his taste,
and skill, and severity of criticism had a
most beneficial effect on the style of
composition at the college. He was a
learned and able instructer. At the
opening ofthe seminary, Sept. 28, 1808,
he was ordained as a preacher. He pub
lished a lecture on the death of pres. Wil
lard, 1804 ; a discourse before the society
for promoting Chr. knowledge, 1811 ; on
the death of madam Phfllips, 1812; at
the ordination ofE. Abbot, 1813 ; before
the education society, 1815.
PECK, William- Dandridge, professor
of natural history at Harvard college, was
born in Boston May 8, 1763. His father,
John P., an ingenious ship wright, at
the siege of Boston in 1776 removed to
Braintree and afterwards to Kittery, Me.
— After he was graduated in 1782, he
passed a few years in the counting house
of Mr. Russell, a merchant, in Boston ;
and then repaired to his father's house,
where he spent 20 years of his life, seclu
ded from the world, but occupied in the
pursuits of natural history. Whatever he
attempted to study, he studied profound
ly. It was chiefly for his benefit, that
some of his friends promoted a subscrip
tion for a professorship of natural history
at Cambridge. He was elected the first
professor March 27, 1805, and subse
quently spent three years in Europe. He
died at Cambridge Oct. 3, 1822, aged 59.
He left one son ; his wffe was Harriet,
the daughter of Rev. Timothy Hflliard.
Mr. p. ,like his father, was a most ingen
ious artist; he made a microscope,and the
most delicate instruments, for which he
had occasion. He -found amusement at
the lathe after he had lost the use of one
of his hands by the palsy . At the age of
SO he was baptized by bishop Bass, as he
preferred the worship of the episcopal
church. He published anaccount ofthe
sea-serpent in memoirs of A. A. iv. and a
few other articles. — 2 Hist, colx.161.

PEMBERTON, Ebenezer, minister
in Boston, the son of Jaraes P., one of
the founders of t_i!e old south church, was
graduated at Harvard college in 1691
and was afterwards a tutor in that serai
nary. He died Feb. IS, 1717, aged 44.
His wife, Mary Clark, survived hira and
raarried Henry Lloyd, the father of Dr.
Lloyd. He left one son and three daugh
ters. He was a very eminent preacher.
He wrote in a style strong, argumentative,
and eloquent. With great powers of
mind and extensive learning he united a
zeal, which flamed. His passions, when
excited,were impetuous and violent ; but,
when free from the excitement of any
unpleasant circumstance, he was mild
and soft. The talent of reasoning he
possessed in a high degree ; and he was.a
master of speech. He was a faithful ser
vant of Jesus Christ, preaching the
gospel with zeal, and exhihiting in his life
the Christian virtues. In prayer he was
copious and fervent. His sermons were
illuminating, practical and pathetic, and
deUvered with very uncommon fervor.
Towards the close his Ufe he was afflicted
with much pain ; but under bis weakness
and infirmity he was enabled to do much
for the honor of his master and the good
of his brethren. His election sermon
preached 1710 entitled the divine original
and dignity of government asserted and
an andvantageous prospect ofthe ruler's
mortaUty recommendedj is much and
justly celebrated. It is reprinted in a
volume of sermons, which was published
in 1727.
PEMBERTON, Ebenezer, d. d.,
minister in Boston, the son of the pre
ceding, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1721. After he began to preach, he
was invited in April 1727 by the presby
terian church in N. York to succeed Mr.
Anderson, the first minister, with the
request, that he would be ordained in
Boston. This ceremony was accordingly
performed Aug 9th. Through his ben
evolent exertions the congregation was
greatly increased, so as to be able to
buUd an edifice of stone in 1748. In
1750 A. Gumming, afterwards minister

640

PEMBERTON.

PENN.

in Boston, was settled as his 'colleague ;
but both were dismissed about the year
1753, the former on account of indispo
sition, and Mr. Pemberton through tri
fling contentions, kindled by ignorance,
and bigotry. He was succeeded by Mr.
Bostwick. Being installed minister of
the new brick church in Boston March
6, 1754, as successor of Mr. Welsteed,
he continued in that place tfll his death,
Sept. 9, 1777, aged 72. Dr. Lathrop's
society, whose meeting house had been
destroyed by the British, united with
Mr. Pemberton's in 1779. — He was a
man ofa devotionaP spirit, who was zeal
ous and respectable in his ministerial
work. He published a sermon before
the synod, 1731 ; before the commission
ers bf the synod, 1735 ; sermons on sev
eral subjects, Svo. 1738; practical dis
courses on various texts, 12mo. Boston,
1741 ; on thedeath of Dr. Nicofl, 1743 ;
of Mr. Whitefield, 1770 ; at the ordina
tion of Mr. Brainerd, 1744 ; of J. Story,
1771 ; artillery election sermon, 1756 ;
election sermon, 1757 ;¦ salvation by
grace through faith illustrated and con
firmed in eight sermons, Svo. 1774. —
Smith's N. Y. 192, 193 ; Colled hist
soc. III. 261.
PEMBERTON, Thomas, eminent
for his acquaintance with American his
tory, was born in Boston in 1728 and
for many years pursued the mercantile
employraent. He died July 5, 1807, aged
79, having Uved a bachelor, devoting
regularly apart of each day to his studies
and to visiting his friends. He contribu
ted almost a ninth part to the collections
of the historical society. Of this insti
tution he was a raeraber, & he bequeath
ed to it aU his raanuscripts. He wrote
a Mass. chronology, of the eighteenth
century,containing the reraarkable events
of 'every year, biographical notices of
eminent men, &c. iu five MS. volumes.
This work was used by Dr. Holmes in
compiUng his annals. His MS. merao-
randa, historical and biographical, make
about fifteen volumes. His hist journal
ofthe war is in Hist. col. ii.
PENDLETON, Edmund, a distin

guished statesman of Virginia, was a
member ofthe first congress in 1774, and
was again appointed at the next choice,
but in Aug. 1775 he declined a third
election on account of his ill health. He
was for many years one of the judges of
the court of appeals of Virginia with
Blair and Wythe, and was its president
at the time of his death. In 1787 he, was
appointed president of the convention of
Virginia, which met to consider the con
stitution of the U. S., and all the weight
ofhis character and talents aided its adop
tion . After the government was organ
ized, he was in 1789 appointed by Wash
ington district judge for Virginia, but, as
he decUned this office, Cyrus Griffin was
appointed in his place. In 1798, when
the difficulties between this country and
France approached almost to a rupture,
the venerable patriarch, as the late presi
dent Adaras calls him, published a pamph
let, protesting against a war with a sister
republic. He died at Richmond Oct.
26, 1803, aged S2.
PENHALLOW, Samuel, jidge, his
torian of Indian wars, was born in Corn
wall, England, July 2, 1665 ; came to
this country in 1686 ; and settled at
Portsmouth, where he was a judge of
the superior court in 1714, and chief jus
tice from 1717 tiU his death. Hedied
Dec. 2,, 1726, aged 60. His wife was
Mary, daughter of president Cult. He
published a narrative of the wars of N.
England with the eastern Indians from
1703 to 1726, printed 1726; reprinted in
in N. H; hist col. i.
PENN, WilUam, the founder of Penn
sylvania, was born in London, Oct. 14,
1644, and in the 1 5th year of his age en
tered as a gentleman commoner of n col
lege in Oxford. His genius was bright
and his imagination lively. Being im
pressed by the preaching of an itinerant
quaker, he, wilh a number of other stu
dents, withdrew from the estabUshed wor
ship, and held meetings by themselves.
He was fined for the sin of nonconfor
mity ; but this only confirmed him in his
principles. He was then expelled in the
16th year of his age. Next followed the

PENN.

641

discipUne of his father, which was also
ineffectual to reclaim him. Being sent to
France forthe refinement of his manners,
he passed two years in that country, learn
ed its language, and acquired its polite
ness. He then studied law in Lincoln's
Inn tiU the plague broke out in 1665. He
was sent to Ireland in 1666 to manage an
estate ofhis father ; but he there associ
ated himself with the quakers, and in con
sequence he was recalled. He could not
be pursuaded to take off his hat in the
presence ofthe king, or his father. For
this inflexibility he was turned out of
doors ; upon which he commenced the
toils of an itinerant preacher, and gained
many proselytes. Though sometimes
imprisoned, he was persevering, and such
was his integrity and patience, that his
father became reconciled to him. In
1668 he published a book entitled "the
sandy foundation shaken," for which he
was imprisoned 7 months. In vindica
tion of the principles of this book, he
wrote during his confinement his "inno-
cency with her open face," &, also his fa
mous work,"no cross no crown." In 1670
he was apprehended for preaching in the
street, and was tried at the old Bailey,
where he pleaded his own cause with the
magnanimity of a hero. The jury return
ed their verdict "not guilty." On the
death of his father he received a plentiful
estate ; but he continued to preach, to
write, and to travel as before. Hewas
shut up in the lower and in Newgate.
On his release hepreached in Holland and
Germany. It was owing to his exertions,
in conjunction with Barclay and Keith,
that the fraternity was formed into order.
Some debts being due to bis father, at the
time of his death, from the crown and as
there was no prospect of payment very
soon in any other mode, Penn solicited a
grant of lands in America, and in 1681
obtained a charter of Pennsylvania. The
colony was planted in the same year,
though before this time some Dutch and
Swedes had settled in the province. In
1682 Penn himself arrived, and establish
ed a government, allowing perfect liberty
of 6onscience. He made honest purcha-
81

ses of the Indians, and treated them with
great tenderness. He formed a plan of
a capital city and called it Philadel
phia. Two years after it was founded, it
contained 2,000 inhabitants. In 1684
Mr. Penn returned to England, One
great raotive for his return was to exert
his influence in favor of his suffering
brethren in Great Britain. He exerted
it with success, and 1 ,300 quakers, who
had been confined in prison, were set at
liberty. While he remained in England
he was suspected of being a papist, and
an enemy to his country, and was several
times arrested. But he continued his
preaching and increased his controversial
writings. In 1699, after 15 years' ab
sence the American Lycurgus revisited
his province. Having made some altera
tion in the government, he sailed again
for England in 1701. He resumed his
favorite employraent, and continued it for
a number of years. In 1712 he was seized
by a paralytic disorder and died July 30,
1718, 'aged 73. Notwithstanding his
large paternal inheritance he was contin
ually subject to the importunity of hia
creditors, and obliged to mortgage his es
tate. , His death prevented his surrender
ing his province to the crown. His pos
terity held it till the revolution, his last
surviving son, Thoraas Penn, dying in
1775. Mr. Penn was a man of great abil
ities, of quick thought and ready utter
ance, of mildness of disposition and exten
sive charity. He was learned without
vanity, facetious in conversation, yet
weighty and serious, of an extraordinary
greatness of mind, yet void of the stain
of ambition. He published a multitude
of tracts large and sraall. The following
is the title of his principal works ; no
cross no crown, or several sober reasons
against hat honor, titular respects, you to
a single person, &c. 4to. 1669 ; serious
apology for the people, called quakers,
against Jeremy Taylor, 4to. 1669 ; the
spirit of truth vindicated in answer to a
Socinian, 4to. 1672; quakerism a new
nickname for old Christianity, Svo. 1673' ;
reason against raifing, and truth against
fiction, 8vp. 1673; the Christian quaker

642

PENN.

PEPPERELL.

and his divine testimony vindicated, folio,
1674. His select works have lately been
pubUshed in 5vols. 8vo.-Belknap's Amer.
biog. II. 381-450.
PENN, John, a patriot ofthe revolu
tion, the son of Moses P., was born in
Virginia May 17, 1741. His early edu
cation was greatly neglected ; he went to
school only two or three years. At the
age of 18, on the death of his father, he
inherited a competent fortune. Instead
of plunging into vicious excesses, he re
solved to acquire knowledge and study
law. The library ofhis relative, Edmund
Pendleton, was opened to him. He be
came a self taught lawyer, a distinguished
advocate. In 1774 he reraoved to North
CaroUna. Being a member of congress
from 1775 to 1779, he signed the declara
tion of independence. He died in Sept.
1788, aged 47 .—Goodrich.
PENNSYLVANIA, one of the Uni
ted States, was granted by king Charles
II to William Penn March 4, 1681, and
in this year a colony commenced a settle
ment above the confluence ofthe Schuyl-
kifl with the Delaware. In the following
year the proprietary published a frame of
government and a body of laws. All
legislative powers were vested in the gov
ernor and freemen ofthe province in the
provincial council, and a general assem
bly. The governor had a treble vote in
the council, which consisted of seventy
two members, chosen by the people, and
the assembly at first embraced all the free
men, but as the colony increased it was
lunited to five hundred. Liberty of con
science was extended to all. A treaty
was immediately held with the natives,
and the purchase of the soil was com
menced. The friendly intercourse with
the Indians, which was now begun, was
not interrupted for more than seventy
years. The first settlers of Pennsylvania
-were chiefly quakers, who had suffered
persecution on account of their religion.
In 1 683 the first assembly was held at
Philadelphia, and a new frame of govern
ment was adopted, by which the council
was reduced, and the governor vested
wilh a negative upon all bills, passed in

the assembly. Mr. Penn being soon cafl
ed to England, he intrusted the govern
ment to five commissioners. In 1688 he
appointed a deputy, and in 1701 gave the
people the last charter of privileges. From
this period the government was chiefly
administered by deputies, appointed by
ihe proprietaries, who usually resided in
England. Jealousies arose between the
people and their governors, and disputes
and dissensions existed till the revolution.
At the comraenceraent of the struggle
with Great Britain the proprietary gov
ernment was abolished. The constitu
tion then adopted recognised a legisla
ture of but one branch. Parties were
formed, those, who disapproved of it, be
ing styled repubUcans, and its friends
constitutionaUsts. The government of
the state was alternately in the hands of
these parlies, till at length the republicans
triumphed, and the present constitution
was established by a convention Sept. 2,
1790. It vests the legislative power in a
general assembly, consisting . of a senate
and a house of representatives, the mem
bers of the former to be chosen for four
years, and of the latter annually. The
governor is elected for three years, and
can be chosen only thrice in 12 years, and
no bill can pass without his assent, unless
two thirds of both houses are in favor of
it. The judges ofthe courts are Uable to
removal for any reasonable cause on an
address of two thirds of each branch of
the legislature to the governor. In 1794 an
alarming insurrection occurred in the
western counties of this state, through
discontent with an e.Kcise upon whiskey ;
but by the decisive measures of the gen
eral government it was quelled almost
without bloodshed. In 1809 a part of
the militia of Philadelphia was by the
governor arrayed against the U. States
by obstructing a process of the supreme
court ; but the federal authority in a short
time quietly prevafled. — Proud's hist.
Pennsylvania. PEPPERELL, Sir WflUara, lieuten
ant general, was born at Kittery point,
Maine, 1696, and was bred a raerchant ;
his father, WflUam P., a native of Corn-

PEPPERELL.

643

wall, England, settled at the Isle of
Shpals as a fisherraan about 1676, and af
ter acquiring some property reraoved to
Kittery, where he died Feb. 15, 1734.—
He was an only son. One of his sisters
married John Newraarch. About the
year 1727 he was criosen one ofhis rnajes-
ty's council, and was annually re-elected
thirty two years till his death. Living
in a country exposed to a ferocious en-
emy,he was well fitted for the situation,
in which he was pIaced,for it pleased God
to give him a vigorous frarae, and a mind
ofa firm texture, and of great calmness
in danger. He rose to the highest mili
tary honors, which his country could
, bestow upon him. When the expedition
against Louisbourg was contemplated, he
was coraraissioned by the governors of
New England to command the troops.
He invested the city in the beginning of
May 1745. Articles of capitulation were
soon afterwards signed. There was a
remarkable series of providences in the
whole affair, and Mr. PeppereU ascribed
his unparaUeled success to the God of
armies. The king in reward ofhis servi
ces conferred upon hira the dignity of a
baronet of Great Britain, an honor never
before nor since conferred on a native of
,New England. He was appointed lieu
tenant general in Feb. 1759. He died
at his seat in Kittery, Maine, July 6,
1759, aged 63 years. He married, March
16, 1723, Mary Hirst, the daughter of
Grove Hirst of Boston, and the grand
daughter of judge Sewall. When he
first saw her in 1722 at the house
of her relative. Rev. Samuel Moody
of York, his visit was very unwelcome
to Joseph, the son of Mr. M., who in his
journal has recorded, that he was bewil
dered by the attractions of the young
lady. Itis no wonder that the pretensions
of the school-master could not rival those
of colonel P., the heir of a man of
wealth,who also conducted the affair with
much skill, making presents of gold rings,
and a large hoop, and other articles of
dress, thus awakening a littie vanity,
which drew upon Miss Hirst, who in the
preceding year had made a profession of j

religion, the remonstrances of her sober
friends. — He had two children; — a daugh
ter, bom Dec. 29, 1723, who raarried
col. Nathaniel Sparhawk, and whose son,
a loyalist in the revolution, having as
sumed the name and title of sir Wm. P.,
died in London Dec. 17, 1816, when the
title become extinct ; and a son, Andrew,
who died March 1, 1751, aged 25. The
following letter, written the day before
the death ofhis son, exhibits the anguish
of the parental heart and shows how
worthless, compared with other blessings
of providence,are high honors and distinc
tions. — "Dear Christian Friends, — The
great, but holy, just, and good God is
come out against us in his holy anger.
O may it be fatherly anger I — He is bring
ing our sins to remembrance, and seems
to be slaying our only son. O pray!
pray I pray ! for us, that the Lord would
keep us from dishonoring his great name
in our distress and anguish of soul, that
he would support us under and carry us
through what he shall in his sovereign
pleasure bring upon us, and, if it be his
blessed wUl, that our child may be yet
spared lo us, and sanctified, and made a
blessing. — Pity us! O our Friends, and
cry mightily lo God for us. — We are
your distressed friends. Wm. PeppereU..
Mary PeppereU.
Dear cousin Gerrish, let our case be
known to christian friends along the road,
and carry this letter, as soon as you get to
town, to one of the ministers to whom it
is directed. Kittery, Feb. 28, 1750.
To the Rev. Dr. Sewall,
Mr. Prince,
Mr. Foxcroft,
Dr. Chauncy, &c. &c. &c.,
at Boston."
He had a high relish for the pleasures of
society and was the life and spirit of every
corilpany. Though not without his
faults, he yet respected the christian
character. During his last sickness he
spoke with gratitude of the goodness of
God, which he had experienced, and of
his own imperfections and sins ; he ad
mired the plan of salvation, made known

644

PERKINS.

PERRY.

in the gospel ; knowing hia dependence
upon the grace of God he sought the in
fluences of the Holy Spirit ; and as he
ever professed a belief of the transcend
ent dignity and glory of the great Savior
of mankind, of the fulness of his merits,
and the atoning virtue ofhis obedience
and sufferings,when he was just entering
the eternal world he commended his soul
into the hands of this Redeemer. — Ste
vens's fun. serm.
PERKINS, William, remarkable for
longevity, was bom in the west of Eng
land, and diedat New Market, N. Hamp-
6hire,in 1732,agedll6 years. — Belknap's
N. H. III. 252.
PERKINS, Elisha, a physician, the
inventor ofthe Tractors, was the son of
Dr. Joseph P .,a distinguished physician of
Norwich, Conn., who died in 1'794, aged
90 ; — he wasborn in Jan. 1740. Having
studied with his father, he settled in
Plainfield, Conn., and had extensive
practice. His habits were social; his mind
active and inquisitive. About the year
1796 he invented the Tractors, which
are two instruments, one of steel and the
other of brass, pointed at one end. Cures
were effected by drawing the points for a
few minutes over the part of the body
diseased. Thus the head ache, the tooth
ache, rheumatic and other pains were
removed. A patent was obtained. The
fame of Perkinism extended to Europe .
The son of Dr. P. went to London
where a Perkineari Institution was crea
ted for the benefit of the poor, of which
lord Rivers was president, The publish
ed cases of cures amounted to 5,000, cer
tified by 8 professors, 40 physicians and
surgeons, and SO clergymen. Yet it was
not long before the tractors sunk into
neglect Dr. P. invented an antiseptic
medicine and repaired to New York to
test its efficacy against the yellow fever ;
but he took the disease from the sick
and died in Sept. 1799, aged 59. His
son, Benjamin Douglass P.,a graduate of
Yale college in 1794, a bookseller at N.
Y.,died in Oct. or Nov. 1810, being highly
respected for hia intelligence,beneyolence,
i»nd piety,— Thacher.

PERKINS, James, a benefactor of
Harvard college and of the Boston Athe
naeum, was born in Boston in 1761, and
was the son of James P. Educated as a
merchant in the counting house of the
Messrs. Shattucks,he settled in St. Dom
ingo ; but was driven away by the revolu
tion in that island. On his return he enga
ged in business with his brother,col.Tho.
Handasyde P., and conducted an exten
sive trade to the north west coast and to
China. He died at Roxbury Aug. 1, 1822,
aged 61. His wife was the daughter of
Timothy Paine of Worcester. He was an
upright merchant. One of his last acts
of liberaUty was the gift to the Boston
Athenaeum of the house now occupied by
the institution, — au estate, which was val
ued at 18,000 dollars. He also in his
will bequeathed 20,000 doll, to Harvard
college. His fine portrait is preserved in
the Athenaeum.
PERREIN, Jean, eminent for his ac-
qaintance with natural history, was a
native of France, and a raeraber of the
societ.y of sciences and belles lettres of Bor
deaux. With a view to the acquisition and
diffusion ofknowledge in botany and other
departments of natural history he travel
led through Africa and most of the West
India islands. t,To complete his coUec
tion of birds, plants, &c. he came to N.
York, where fhe spent several months ;
but he was cut down in the midst of his
labors. He died at New York March 31 ,
1805,''aged 54. In Sonninni's edition of
Buffon's nat. history credit is given to
Perrein as the author of many of the most
valuable communications, contained in
that work.
PERRY, OUver Hazard, a naval com
raander, was born at Kingston, near
Newport, R. I., in Aug. 1785 ; he was
the son of Christopher R. P., a naval
patriot of the revolution and collector of
Newport, who died in May 1818, and
grandson of judge Freeraan P., who died
in Oct 1813, aged 82. His earUest an
cestor in America was Edmund P., a
quaker. — Having served as a midshipman
in the Mediterranean, he was in 1812
advanced to be master-commandant - In

PETERS.

645

1813 he was appointed to the command
ofthe squadron on lake Erie. Sept. 10 be
achieved a complete victory over the ene
my under cora. Barclay after an action of
three hours,capturing the whole squadron.
In 1815 he proceeded to the Mediterra
nean in command of the Java ; in June
1519 he proceeded to the West Indies
in the ship John Adams. He died of the
yellow fever at port Spain, Trinidad,
Aug. 23, 1820, aged 35. His wife was a
daughter of Dr. Mason, and niece of
Christopher Charaplin of Newport ; he
left four sons and one daughter. He
once unhappily was engaged in a duel.
Under a sense of a supposed injury he
personally assaulted capt. Heath of the
marines on board of his ship. A court
martial censured both. Capt. H. how
ever challenged him, and a duel was
fought on the Jersey shore in Oct 1818,
though Perry refused to fire. The con
temptible code of honor must explain
how the opportunity of shooting off a
pistol at Perry could soothe into quiet
ness the irritated feelings of the captain of
marines. Had the commodore refused
thus to stand as a mark to be fired at, in
stead of violating the laws of his country,
he would have been honored for a manly
courage,whicb restrained him from doing
wrong. Our rulers, whose business it is
to execute the laws of the people, ought
to have struck both their names from the
rolls of the navy.
PETERS, Hugh, minister of Salem,
Mass., wasborn at Fowey in CornwaU
in 1599, and was educated at Trinity col
lege, Cambridge, whe he took the degree
of master of arts in 1622. He was licen
sed by the bishop of London, and preach
ed in the city with great popularity and
success. Meeting with some trouble on
account of his nonconformity, he went
into Holland, where he reraained five or
six years. He arrived in Araerica with
Richard Mather in Aug . 1635. He took
the charge ofthe church in Salem Dec.
21, 1636, disclaiming the errors of Mr.
WilUaras, who had been minister before
hira, and excommunicating his adherents.
During his five years' ministry, 160 per-

sonsjoined his comraunion. He did not
confine his attention to religious concerns,
but took an interest in mercantile and
civil affairs. He assisted in reforming
the police of the town ; he suggested the
plan of the fishery and of the coasting
and foreign voyages ; he procured car
penters, and engaged in trade with great
success. His zeal in worldly concerns
was probably thecause of his suppressing
in Salem the weekly arid occasional lec
tures, by which the good men of that
day were nourished up unto eternal Iffe.
Being considered as a suitable person to
send lo England to procure an alteration
in the laws of excise and trade, he was
appointed for this purpose, with Mr.
Welde and Mr. Hibbins, by the general
court, and sailed Aug. 3, 1641. He nev
er returned to America. During the civ
il wars in England he supported the
cause ofthe parliament, and contributed
much aid to it by his preaching. Burnet
says, that he pressed the king's condem
nation with the rudeness ofan inquisitor;
but Mr.Petersinhis legacy declares, that
he opposed it. He was appointed by
Cromwell one ofthe licensers of ministers;
and also a comm.issioner for amending
the laws, though utterly disqualified for
the business. After the restoration he
was tried for conspiring with Crorawell
and compassing the king's death, and
was executed Oct. 16j 1660, aged 61.
His daughter raarried John Winthrop of
Conn. He was charged by his enemies
with great vices ; but it is not probable,
that the charges were well founded. He
was however weak, ignorant, and carried
away by his zeal. If he had confined
hiraself to the proper duties of a minister of
the gospel, and had not engaged in par-
ties,nor become the tool ofthe ambitious,
nor exerted himself to stimulate the fu
rious passions of men, he would have
been useful and respected, and might
have died in peace. Though he was
ignorant, he possessed a native and pecul
iar vigor. He had the power of associating
his thoughts in such a manner, as to pre
vent them from being easily forgotten.
His coarse and familiar images never fail-

646

PETERS.

PHILLIPS.

ed to answer his purposes, and his vulgar
yet striking eloquence gained hira thou
sands of hearers in London. Specimens
of his curious sermons are to be found in
the trials of the regicides. ¦ In an engra
ving prefixed he is placed in the pulpit
with a multitude before hira ; his hour
glass is turned, and he says "come, ray
good fellows, I know you Uke another
glass." He published a sermon before
both houses of parliament in 1646; last
report of the English wars ; a word to
the array, 1647 ; good work for a good
magistrate, or short way to great quiet,
1651 ; in this work he proposed the ex
tirpation of the whole systera oflaws, and
recomraended that the old records in trie
tower should be burned as records of ty
ranny, and that they should begin anew ;
brief aen den Vader la Chaize ; a dying
father's legacy to his only child, Svo.
1660and 1717. This has beeen spoken
of with respect. It is preserved in the
N. England library established by Mr.
IPrince of Boston. — Young's life of Pe
ters. PETERS, Sarauel, A., ll.d, an
episcopal minister, was bom at Hebron,
Conn. Dec. 12, 1735 ; graduated at Yale
college in 1757; took the charge of the
churches at Hartford and Hebron in 1762,
but being a tory he in 1774 went to
Eng. where he resided tiU 1805, when he
returned to this country. In 1817 and
1818 he made ajourney to the west as
far as to thefaUs of St Anthony,claiming
a large territory under Carver. He
died at N. York Aprfl 19, 1826, aged 90,
and was buried at Hebron . He pub
lished a history of Connecticut, Svo.
1781. It is embarrassed in its authority
by a number of fables.
PETERS, Richard, judge of the
district court of the U. States, was born
at Philadelphia in June 1744, the son,
as I suppose, of Richard Peters, d. d. ,
an episcopal minister, who died in 1775.
He entered successfully upon the practice
of the law. Congress appointed hira,
June 13, 1776, secretary of the board of
war. On resigning that post he was
appointed in December 1781 a member

of congress; and in 1789 judge ofthe
district court, in which office he continued
36 years till his death at Blockley, near
Philadelphia, Aug. 21, 1828, aged 84.
Ofthe admiralty law of the U. S. he may
be deemed the founder. His decisions
are preserved in " Peters' reports." He
was a practical farmer. In 1797 he pub
lished a pamphlet bn the use of gypsum,
which introduced the culture of clover
and effected a beneficial change in husban
dry. His various coramunications ap
peared in the memoirs ofthe Phil, agri-
cult, society.
PHILIP, sachera of Pokanoket, well
known by the name of king PhiUp, was
the youngest son of Massassoit, and
succeeded his brother Alexander in 1657.
In 1662 he renewed the friendship, which
had subsisted with the English, and en
gaged not to dispose of any lands without
their knowledge or appointraent. In
1675 he commenced the war, which deso
lated N. England. It is said, that he
was pressed into the war by the importu
nity of his young warriors. As he fore
saw the loss of his territory and the ex
tinction ofhis tribe, ff the EngUsh settle
ments were permitted to extend and in
crease without interruption, he was de
termined to make one mighty effort to
prevent thesg calamities. He in conse
quence lighted up the flame of war in va
rious parts of the country. The first
attack was made Sunday, June 20.
After doing much mischief, as he
was endeavoring to escape from captain
Church, who had pursued him into a
swamp, he was killed Saturday, August
12, 1676. The name of the Indian sol
dier, who killed him, was Alderman. By
Church's order Philip was beheaded and
quartered ! Thus, after deeds of heroism,
fell king Philip of mount Hope in Rhode
Island. Mr. Eliot once preached before
hira, when he took hold of a button of
the good man's coat, and said to him, " I
do not value the gospel any more than
that."-Drake's Ind. biog. ; Baylies .
PHILLIPS, George, first minister of
Watertown, Mass., was born in the coun
ty of Norfolk, England, andwas educated

PHILLIPS.

647

at the university of Cambridge, where he
gained a high reputation for learning.
Having, as he believed, been made a par
taker of the divine nature through the re
newing agency ofthe Holy Spirit, he de
voted himself to the ministry ofthe gos
pel, and was settled at Boxford in Essex.
But,becoming a nonconforraist to the cer
emonies of the established church, he
came to N. England with governor
Winthrop in the Arabella, and arrived at
Salem in June 1630. He iraraediately
with sir Richard Saltonstall and others
commenced a plantation at Watertown.
A church was formed July SOth, when
about forty merabers signed a covenant,
.binding themselves to cleave unto the
word of God, and " the true , sense and
meaning thereof." A confession of faith
was afterwards added. The salary, set
tled upon the minister, was thirty pounds
a year. He died July 1,1664, andwas
succeeded by Mr. Sherman. He was
much lamented by his church, who ex
pressed their respect to his memory by
educating his eldest son, Samuel Phillips,
who was afterwards minister of Rowley,
aud eminently useful.
Mr. Phillips was well skiUed in the
original languages, in which the bible
was written, and such was his attachment
to the word of God, that he used to read
it through six times in every year, and
he always found in it some thing new.
As a preacher he was very faithful and
many were converted by means of his la
bors. Though very hurable and modest
he was an able disputant. He published
ajudicious work, entitled, a reply to a
confutation of sorae grounds for infants'
baptisra, as also concerning the forra of a
church put fbrth against me by one
Thoraas Larab, to which is added a dis
course of the verity and validity of in
fants' baptism, 1645. — Mather's magna
lia, III. 82-84, 162.
PHILLIPS, Sarauel, minister of An
dover, Mass., was the grandson of Sam
uel P., minister of Rowley, and the son
of Samuel P., a goldsmith of Salem.
He was graduated at Harvard college in
1708 ; began to preach in the south and

new parish of Andover April 30, 1710 ;
and was ordained Oct. I7th. He contin
ued faithfully to discharge the duties of
the sacred office for sixty years till his
death June 5, 1771, aged 81. Being
sincerely attached to those views of reli
gious truth, which were embraced by the
first fathers of N. England, he could not
quietly see the efforts, that were made,
to pervert the faith, which he was per
suaded was once delivered to the saints.
He exerted himself both by his preaching
and his writings to guard his people
against the intrusion of error. He con
tended, that all mankind come into the
world depraved in consequence of Ad-
ara's sin, and Uable to punishment ; that
men could as easily create theraselves
anew, as believe in Christ by a power in
herent in themselves ; that God from
eternity had elected those, whom he
would save, and on whom he would be
stow his efficacious grace to prepare them
for salvation ; that men were justified on
account of the righteousness of Christ,re-
ceived by faith, and immediately upon
believing ; and that none, who were once
ina state of justification, would finally be
lost. He published a word in season, or
the duty of a people to take the oath of
aUegiancetoa glorious God, 1727 ; advice
to a child, 1729 ; the history of the Sa
vior ; the orthodox Christian, or a child
well instructed, 1738 ; a minister's ad
dress to his people, 1739; artillery elec
tion sermon, 1741 ; Uving water to be
had for asking; election sermon, 1750 ;
the sinner's refusal to com.e unto Christ
reproved ; the necessity of God's draw
ing in order to men's coming unto Christ;
convention sermon, 1753 ; at the ordina
tion of N. Holt ; at the instalment of S.
Chandler, 1759 ; seasonable advice to a
young neighbor, 1761 ; address to young
people in a dialogue ; a sermon to young
people, 1763; on justification, 1766; sin
of suicide contrary to nature, 1767.
PHILLIPS, John, LL. D., founder of
the academy in Exeter, N. Harapshire,
the son of the preceding, was graduated
at Harvard college in 1735. He was for
several years a member of the council of

648

PHILLIPS.

N.Hampshire. Aprfl 21,1778 he with
his brother, Sarauel Phillips of Andover,
founded and liberally endowed the acade
ray in that town, which was incorporated
in 1780. In 1789 he farther gave to this
institution $ 20,000. The academy, cal
led Phillips Exeter academy, of which he
was the sole founder, was incorporated in
1781 with a fund of 15,000?. He died in
April 1795, aged 76, bequeathing to this
academy two thirds of all his estate, and
one third of the residue to the seminary
at Andover, particularly for the benefit of
pious youth. To this object his brother,
William Phillips of Boston,also bequeath-
.ed four thousand dollars — Morse's geog.;
Holmes' annals, n. 404 ; Constitut. af
theolog. seminary.
PHILLIPS, Sarauel, ll . d ., lieuten
ant governor of Mass., was the grandson
of Samuel P., rainister of Andbver. His
father, Samuel P., one of the councillors
bf Mass., died at Andover Aug. 21, 1790,
aged 76. Mr. Phillips was graduated at
Harvard college in 1771. He was a
member of the provincial congress in
1775, and ofthe house of representatives
tijl the year 1780, when he assisted in
framing the constitution of Mass. On its
adoption he was elected, a member of
the senate, and was its president from
1785 to 1301. Being appointed justice
of the court of coramon pleas for Essex
in 1781 , he held this office tifl 1797, when
his decUning health induced his resigna
tion. He was chosen lieutenant governor
in 1801, and died Feb. 10, 1802, aged 50.
His widow, Phoebe, died Oct 31, 1812,
aged 69. His son, John, died in Sept.
1820. While he possessed a sound judg
ment and an ardent, persevering spirit,
- his integrity and patriotism gained him
the confidence of his fellow citizens.
Such was his superiority to the pride
of wealth and of power, and such his
benevolence and humiUty, that, when
honored with public applause and raised
to eminence, he would frequentiy spend
the interval between the morning and
evening services of the sabbath in the
house of God for the purpose of reading
some pious book to those, whose distant

habitations prevented them from return
ing home. He was careful to impart
reUgious instruction to his family, and
he led its daily devotions with humiUty,
fervor, and eloquence. He appeared to
be continually governed by love to the
Supreme Being, and by the desire of imi
tating his benevolence and doing good.
His deep views of evangeUcal doctrine
and duty, of human depravity and medi
atorial mercy formed his heart to huraiU
ty, condescension, and kindness, and led
him continually to depend on the grace
of God through the atonement ofhis Son.
He projected the academy at Andover
and was much concerned in estabUshing
that as well as the acaderay at Exeter,
which were founded by his father and
uncle. To these institutions he was a
distinguished benefactor. His exertions
to effect their estabUshment bring hira
the highest honor, for he was the natural
heir of the founders. He bequeathed
one thousand dollars, one sixth part of
the interest of which he directed annual
ly, to be added to the principal, and
the remainder to be, expended in the pur
chase of bibles, and other books to be dis
tributed among poor and pious Christians
in other towns, and also among the in
habitants of places, where the means of
religious knowledge are but sparingly
enjoyed. After his death bis widow,
Phoebe Phfllips, and his son, John Phil
lips of Andover, evinced the same attach
ment to the interests of learning and re
Ugion by uniting with Sarauel Abbot, and
three others ofa raost liberal and benev
olent spirit in founding the theological
seminary in Andover, which was opened
in Sept. 1818. On their part they en
gaged to erect two separate buildings for
the accoraraodation of fifty students, and
for public rooms. By such acts of raost
honorable munificence has the family,
which bears the name of Phillips, proved
to the world, that the blessing of wealth
raay fall into hands, which shall eraploy
it for the best of purposes. — Tappan's
fun. serm.
PHILLIPS, WiUiam, lieutenant gov
ernor of Massachusetts, the grandson of

PHILLIPS.

PHIPPS.

649

Rev. Samuel P. of Andover, was the son
of deacon WiUiara P., a raerchant of Bos
ton, a patriot of the revolution, and a
benefactor of Andover academy by the
bequest of 5,000 dollars, who died Jan.
15, 1804, aged 81 ; his mother was Ab
igail, the daughter of Edward Bromfield.
He was born April 10, 1750, being an
only son. His feeble health prevented
his receiving a public education. He
engaged in mercantile pursuits with his
father, on whose death a large fortune
carae into his hands. In 1772 he
made a profession of reUgion ; in 1794 he
was chosen a deacon of the old South
church, and he officiated until riis death.
For several years, while Strong and
Brooks were governors, he was the lieu
tenant governor of the state. He died
May 26, 1817, aged 77. His wife was
the daughter of Jonathan Mason. Of
his seven children only two are now liv
ing ; Jonathan Phillips of Boston, who
inherited about half a million of dollars,
and Abigail Bromfield, the wife of Rev.
E. Burgess of Dedham. His daughter,
Miriam, the wife of Samuel H. Walley,
died March 26, 1827 ; his son, deacon
Edward P., died Nov. 8, 1826.— Deacon
Phillips was an active member of ro.any
charitable societies. During the last
three weeks of his Ufe he contributed
5,000 dollars to various objects. For a
series of years his charities had been
from S to 1 1 ,000 doflars annually. Many
widows and fatherless children were by
him rescued from want. He bequeathed
to Phillips academy 15,000 dollars; to the
theological institution at Andover, 10,000;
to the society for propagating the gospel
among the Indians, the Mass. Bible soci
ety, the foreign mission board, the Con
gregational society, the education socie
ty, and the Mass. general hospital each
5,000 ; to the Medical dispensary, 3,000 ;
to the Female asylum, and the asylum
for boys, each 2,000 ;-in all, 62,000 dol
lars. PHILLIPS, John, the first mayor of
Boston, the son of Williara P ., a mer
chant of Boston, who died in 1772, and
grandson of colonel John P., also a mer-
82

chant in Boston and brother of Rev.
Sarauel P. of Andover, was born Nov.
26, 1770. His mother, Margaret,a daugh
ter of col. Jacob Wendell, took the charge
ofhis early education. After graduating
at Harvard college in 1788, he studied
law and settled in Boston. He was a
meraber of the senate 19 years, during
the last ten of which he was the president.
In 1809 he was appointed a judge of the
common pleas. When the city govern
ment was established in 1822, he was e-
lected the first mayor, in which office his
course was conciliatory and judicious.
For 9 years he was one of the corpora-
lion ofthe college. He died suddenly of
an affection of the heart May 29, 1823,
aged 52. He had presided in the sen-
ale the preceding day. His wife was
Sally, the daughter of Thomas WaUey.
Five sons and three daughters survived
hira. He was a man of sound judgment,
of simple manners,. of pure character, arid
of religion.
PHIPPS, Sir William, governor of
Mass. was born at Pemaquid, now Bris
tol, Maine, Feb. 2, 1651. His father
James P., was a gunsmith in humble cir
cumstances, and his mother had 26 chil
dren, of whom 21 were sons. After Uv
ing in the wilderness till he was eighteen
years of age he bound himself as an ap
prentice to a ship carpenter for four years,
at the expiration of which time he went
to Boston, where he learned to read and
write. Determining to seek his fortune
upon the sea, after a variety of adven
tures he discovered a Spanish wreck on
the coast of Hispaniola, and fished up
plate, and pearls, and jewels amounting
in value lo three hundred thousand pounds
sterling, with which he sailed to Eng
land in 1 687. Such was his honesty and
so liberal was he to his seamen, that his
own share amounted only to sixteen
thousand pounds. He was at this time
made a knight by king Jaraes. Return
ing to Boston, he was in 1690 admitted a
member of the nbrth church, being bap
tized and professing repentance of his
sins. In the same year he commanded
an expedition against Pert Royal, which

650

PICKENS.

PICKERING.

place he captured. When the new char-
terof Mass. was obtained,hewasnoraina ted
by Dr. Mather as the governor. In this
capacity he arrived at Boston May 14,
1692. He soon put a slop to prosecu
tions for witchcraft. In Aug. he sailed
with about 450 men to Pemaquid, where^
he built a fort In 1 694 in a dispute with
the coUector ofthe port sir William was
so far carried away by the passion of the
moment, aS to havp recourse to blows to
settle the controversy. He was soon af
terwards removed, and he sailed in Nov.
for England, where he received assur
ances of being restored ; but, being seized
by a maUgnant fever, he died Feb. 18,
1695, aged 44. He was succeeded by
the earl of Bellamont. Sir William,
though his origin was very humble, was
not elated by the great change in his cir
cumstances. He was a raan of uncom
mon enterprise and industry,, of an ex
cellent disposition, though he did not al
ways retain the comraand of hiraself,
and of perfect honesty and integrity. He
exerted himself to promote the interests
of N. England. — Magnalia, ii. 37 — 75.
PICKENS, Andrew, major general, a
soldier of the revolution, comraenced his
military career in the Indian war with
the Cherokees in 1760. In 1779 at the
head of 300 men he defeated a party of
royalists on the western frontier of South
CaroUna. For his bravery in the battle
of Cowpens, when he coraraanded the
southern miUtia, he received a sword
from congress. At the battle of Eutaw
springs he was severely wounded. In
1782 he compelled the Cherokees to sue
for peace.- After the war he was a mem-
bet of congress. In 1802 he was a com
missioner to treat with the Choctaws.
He died at Tumassee, Pendleton district.
South Carolina, August 11, 1817, aged
nearly fourscore. He was a disinterested
patriot, and a skilful and brave soldier.
He was also gentle, beneficent, and hos
pitable. Frora early life he was a profes
sor of religion and an influential raeraber
of the church.
PICKERING, Timothy, secretary of
state of the U. S., a descendant of John

P., a carpenter, who came to N. England
in 1630 and died at Salem in 1657,
wasborn at Salem, Mass., July 17, 1746,
and graduated in 1763. As soon as he
heard of the affair at Lexington, in the
morning of Aprfl 19, 1775, being colonel
of a regiment, he marched the same day
with the Salem militia to Medford in or
der to intercept the enemy ; but was not
in season to participate in the fight. In
1775 he was appointed judge of the court
of comraon pleas for Essex, and of the
maritime court for the district, including
Boston and Salem. In the fall of 1776
he took the command of the Essex regi
ment of 700 men, and performed duty
under Washington in New Jersey. In
1777 he accepted the appointment of adju
tant general and marched with the array
to Pennsylvania. He was by the side of
Washington in the battle of Brandy wine,
Sept., 14.; and he was present also in
that of Gerraantown, Oct; 4th. Congress
soon elected him a member of the board
of war, with Gates and Mifflin. The ar
rangement of the staff department was
also intrusted to him and Mifflin. In
Aug. 1780 he succeeded Green as quar
ter master general and discharged most
faithfully its arduous and complicated
duties. Frora 1790 to 1794 he was era
ployed in various negotiations with the
Indian tribes, being also post master gen
eral frora 1791 to 1794, when he was ap
pointed secretary of war as the successor
of Knox. In Aug. 1795 be had the tera
porary charge of the department of state
on the resignation of Randolph, and in
Dec. received the appointment of Secre
tary of State, which he held till May
1800, when he was removed by president
Adams, as he v/as an adherent of Hamil
ton in his opposition to the poUcy of the
president. Being in debt for new lands,
he plunged into the back woods of Penn
sylvania with his son and a few laborers,
and cleared several acres and built a log
hut for his family. The liberaUty of
some friends in Massachusetts in purchas
ing his lands enabled him to return to his
native state and to become the owner of
a small farm in Essex, which he cultiva-

PIERPONT.

PIKE.

651

ted with his, own hands. Frora 1803 to
1811 he was a senator of the United
States ; from 1814 to 1817 he was also a
representative in congress. He died at
Salem Jan. 29, 1829, aged 84 years. In
consequence ofthe activity of his life, he
had little leisure for Uterary pursuits ;
yet the productions of his pen do him
great credit as a writer of elegance^and
vigor. In public life he was disinterested,
faithful, and energetic. His morals were
pure and from early Ufe he was a profes
sor of reUgion. His feeUngs were strong, '
and some of his political controversies
were vehement. He published a letter
to gov. Sullivan on the embargo, and ad
dresses to the people, 1808 ; review of
the correspondence between J. Adams
and W. Cunningham, 1824.
PIERPONT, James, fourth minister
of New Haven, Conn., was the son of
John P., of Roxbury, Mass., who died in
1690, and grandson of Jaraes P., who
carae from England and died at Ipswich.
He was born in 1661 ; graduated at Har
vard college in 16S1 ; and was ordained
July 2, 1685. His predecessors were
Davenport, Hook, and Street. He died
Nov. 22, 1714, aged 53, and was succee
ded by J. Noyes. His daughter, Sarah,
married Jonathari Edwards. He was a
man of uncommon prudence, amiable
manners, and exemplary piety. Trie ar
ticles of discipUne, adopted with the Say
brook platform in 1708, were drawn up
by him.
Pierson, Abraham, first minister of
Southampton on L. Island, was a native
of England, where he preached some
time in or near Newark, before he carae
to Boston. In 1640 a number of the in
habitants of Lynn formed the resolution
to remove to L. Island, and invited him
to accompany thera. Having first formed
a church they went and settled South
ampton. These planters constituted a
government by themselves. When it
was found necessary to di-vide the church,
Mr. Pierson passed over to the main land,
and became the first minister of Branford,
Conn., in 1644. He continued here till
1665, when he reraoved toNew Jersey.

He was one of the first settlers of New
ark in 1667, and was the first minister of
that town. He died about the year 1680.
His son and colleague survived him ; and
his successors were Prudden, Wakerman,
Bowers, Webb, and Burr. He was a
man of piety and learning. Having stu
died the Indian language he preached to
the natives of L. Island and in the several
plantations of N. Haven colony. — Mag
nalia, III. 95 ; Trumbull's Conn. i. 289,
521. PIERSON, Abraham, first president
ofYale college, the son ofthe preceding,
was graduated at Harvard college in 1 668;
ordained as colleague with his father at
Newark March 4, 1672; reraoved to
Conn, in 1 692 and was installed the min
ister of KiUingworth in 1 694. On the
establishment of the college at Saybrook
in 1701 he was chosen rector, and the stu
dents attended upon his instructions at
KiUingworth, although the commence
ments were held at Saybrook. He died
May 5, 1707, aged about sixty. His son,
John, a graduate at Yale college of 1711,
was the minister of Woodbridge, N. Jer
sey. — He was an exceUent scholar, a
great divine, a faithful preacher, and wise
and judicious in all his conduct. Mr.
Andrew of Milford was -chosen rector
pro tempore after his death, but a new
president was not appointed till 1719,
when Mr. Cutler was placed at the head
of the college. He wrote a system of
natural philosophy, which was studied in
the college for many years.
PIKE, Nicholas, the son of Rev.
James P., was a descendant of John P.,
who lived in Newbury in 1635. He was
graduated at Harvard coUege in 1766, and
died at Newburyport Dec. 9, 1819, aged
76. He published a system of arithme
tic, Svo. 1788, which was long in general
use in N. England.
PIKE,ZebUlon Montgomery, brigadier
general, was a descendant of John P,,
who lived in Newbury, Mass., in 1635,
and whose son, John, removed to Wood-
bridge, N. J. in 1669. He was born at
Laraberton, N. Jersey, Jan. 5, 1779, and
was the son of Zebulon P., brevet coloo-

652

PINCKNEY.

nel in the service of the U. S. He ac
quired a knowledge of mathematics and
of the Latin, French, and Spanish lan
guages. After the purchase of Louisia
na Mr. Jefferson appointed him in 1805
to explore the sources ofthe Mississippi.
Soon after his return he was sent on a
similar expedition into the interior of
Louisiana. On the Rio Del Norte he
was seized by a Spanish force and lost his
papers. He returned in 1807. Being
appointed a brigadier general in the late
war, he commanded the land forces in
the atiack upon York, Upper Canada,
April 27, 1813. In the explosion of the
British magazine he was struck by a
large stone, and died in a few hours on
board the commodore's ship. When the
British standard was brought to him, he
caused it to be placed under his head ;
and thus he died, aged 34. His wife was
Miss Brown of Cincinnati ; his only
daughter married in 1819, J. C.S. Harri
son of Ohio. He was one of the most
accomphshed officers of the army. He
published an account ofhis expeditions to
the sources of the Mississippi, &;c. Svo.
1810. PINCKNEY, Charles Cotesworth,
major general, a soldier ofthe revolution,
was the son of chiefjustice Pinckney of
South Carolina,^ wasborn in 1746. Sent
to England for his education, at West
minster he held a high rank ; he after
wards removed to Oxford, and thence to
the Temple as a student in law. On his
return to Carolina in 1769 he engaged
successfully in the legal profession. In a
few years the encroachments of Great
Britain on American Uberty induced him
to take up arms in the defence -of his
country and in resistance to oppression.
At first a captain, he was speedily prorao
ted to the coramand ofthe first regiraent
of infantry. When the danger of imraedi
ate invasion passed over, he joined the
northern array and was appointed aid de
camp to Washington. In this capacity
he distinguished himself at the battles of
Brandywine and Gerraantown. Retur
ning to the ^outh, he was intrusted with
the defence of the fort ori Sullivan's is

land ; but as the eneray passed the island
into the port, he hastened into the city to
defend the Unes. When at length a
councfl of war was called to deliberate on
the surrender of the place, as the garri
son was reduced to extremity, and resis
tance, in an unwalled city, to a superior
array would be unavailing, Mr. Pinckney
gave his decided opinion infavor ofthe
most obstinate resistance, hoping at least
to cripple the eneray aud thus benefit
other parts of the United States. His
opinion, though seconded by the gallant
Laurens, was overruled. The city
was surrendered, and he feU into the
hands of the British as a prisoner of
war. His confinement was rigorous, in
order to crush his spirit and intimidate
others. He was even denied the conso
lation of attending the remains ofan only
son to the tomb. In his principles and
devotion to his country he was unmoved
by this severity, and unmoved also by
flattering- promises. — After the peace he
was appointed a member of the conven
tion, which formed the constitution of
the United States, to which he was very
instrumental in promoting the assent of
South Carolina. Washington, when
chosen president,offered him a seat on the
bench of the supreme court ; but he de
clined it. He was also offered the place
of secretary of war in 1795 on the resig
nation of Knox, and in the same year that
of secretary of state on the dismissal of
Edmund Randolph. In 1796 he accep
ted the appointraent of minister to France
as successor of Mr. Monroe. The French
directory refused to receive him ; but he
remained at Paris till February 1797,
when he was he was ordered to quit the
French territory. He removed to Am
sterdam. In a short time John MarshaU
and Elbridge Gerry were united with
him as commissioners to France. When
some unaccredited agents demanded a
loan as a pre-requisite to a treaty, Mr.
Pinckney replied, " raillions for defence,
but not a cent for tribute." After a
short, unsuccessful negotiation, passports
were given to Pinckney and Marshall,
while Gerry was invited to remain. On

PINCKNEY.

PINKNEY.

053

his return, Mr. Pinckney was by Wash
ington, the commander in chief, nomina
ted a 'major general in the array, which
was raised in consequence of the difficul
ties with France. Although his rank
was inferior to that of Hamilton, who
was his junior in the revolutionary war,
and some friends urged him lo resent this
injustice, he replied with a -very com
mendable spirit, although not of pride,
" I am confident, that general Washing
ton had sufficient reasons for this prefer
ence. Let us first dispose of our ene
mies ; we shall then have leisure to set
tle the question of rank." In 1800 Mr.
Adams and he were candidates for the
offices of president and vice president of
the United States against Jefferson and
Burr. At this period the offices were not
discriminated in the votes, but the person
having the largest number of votes was to
be the president. General Hamilton in
his celebrated letter against Mr. Adams,
endeavored to secure the election of gen.
Pinckney as president ; but neither was
elected. He died at Charleston Aug. 16,
1825, aged about 79. His wife, Mary,
died Jan. 4, 1812, aged 60. He was
connected with various benevolent socie
ties. Ofthe Charleston Bible society he
was the president. In a letter, written in
1 804, he reprobates the barbarous prac
tice of duelling. There was a frankness
in his manners, which' attracted confi
dence. Although at the head of a- party
in politics, he was free from the vindic
tive passions of party. " ReUgious and
moral principles presided over all his fac
ulties and pursuits and gave a dignity to
his character. — An ardent youth and a
vigorous manhood were succeeded by a
serene and cheerful old age, and the rever
ence and love of the whole city attended
him to the tomb." — Ann.reg. 1825.
PINCKNEY, Thomas, general, gov
ernor of S. CaroUna, the brother of the
preceding, was distinguished by his patri
otic zeal and his military talents in the
war of the revolution. With the rank
of major he was the aid of general Gates.
Having his leg shattered by a musket
ball, he fell into the hands Of the enemy

in Aug. 1780. He succeeded Moultrie as
governor in 1787, and was succeeded by
Charies Pinckney in 1789. He was min
ister to London in the administration of
Washington and returned in Dec. 1796.
In 1796 he was candidate with Jjohn
Adams in the votes for president and vice
president, and he had the votes for his
own slate , and 58 other votes, but was
not chosen ; the next federal candidate
-R'ith John Adams in 1800 was his broth
er, Charles Cotesworth P. In 1800 he.
was a member of congress. For his so
cial virtues he was highly esteemed. Af
ter a lingering and painful illness he died
Nov. 2,1828. His wife died in, 1796.
His daughter, Harriet, the wife of col. -
Francis K. Huger, died at Philadelphia in
Dec. 1824.
PINCKNEY, Charles, governor of S.
Carolina, was born in 1758. His educa
tion was private. He was a patriot in
the revolutionary struggle. In 1787 he
was a delegate to the convention, which
framed the constitution ofthe U. States.
He proposed, that the president should
hold his office seven years and then be in
eligible. The evils ofthe present system
will probably lead to the adoption of a
single tenure. He succeeded Thos. Pinck
ney as governor in 1,789, and continued
in office tiU 1792 ; he was again governor
from 1796 to 1793 ; and again as the suc
cessor of P. Hamilton ftom 1806 to 1808,
when he Avas succeeded by J. Draytori.
In the year 1798 he was a senator ofthe
U. S., and afterwards ambassador at the
court of Spain ftom 1801 or 1802 tiU
1805, in the administration of Mr. Jeffer
son. He died Oct 29, 1824, aged 66.
He possessed amenity of manners, great
colloquial powers, and fervid eloquence.
PINKNEY, William, a distinguish--
ed lawyer, ambassador to England, was
bom at AnnapoUs, Maryland, March 17,
1764. His father, a native of the north
of England, adhered to the British cause
in the revolution. He regarded himself
as related to the S. CaroUna Pinckneys.
His education was imperfect. He was
admitted to the bar in 1786, and soon ac
quired distinction in his profession. From

654

PINKNEY.

Harford county he was a delegate to the
convention, which ratified the constitu
tion of the United. As a member of the
legislature in 1789 he eloquently resisted
a proposed law to prevent the emancipa
tion of slaves . In 1 796 he was appointed
a comraissioner under Jay's treaty and
repaired with his family to London, where
he! resided 8 years ; his associates were
Gore and Trumbull. On his return in
1804 he engaged anew in the practice of
law, which he had diUgently studied dur
ing his residence in London. In 1806
he went as a minister tb England, and
with Mr. Monroe negotiated a trea
ty, which Mr. Jefferson rejected. After
a residence as minister for five years he
found, that he was expending not only his
salary but his own small capital, and
therefore solicited a recall. He arrived
in June 1811 and settied at Baltimore.
In Dec. he was appointed attorney gen
eral of the U. S. by Mr. Madison . He
approved of the war of 1812. Comraan
ding a volunteer corps for the defence of
Baltimore, he marched to Bladensburg,
in the action at which place he was se
verely wounded. After continuing his
arduous labors at the bar for several
years he was induced, as he wanted re
laxation, in March 1816 to accept the ap
pointment of rainister to the courts of
Naples, and Russia. He, in consequence,
resigned a seat, which he then held in
congress. From Italy he proceeded to
Vienna and thence to St. Petersburg.
¦ He returned in 1818. He took his seat
in the senate ofthe U.S. Jan.4,lS20. On
the Missouri question,he deemed it uncon
stitutional to make the exclusion of slaves
a condition of admission into th^ union.
He was taken UI at Washington Feb. 17,
and was for the most part delirious tfll his
death, Feb. 25, 1822, aged 57 . His wife
was Ann Maria Rodgers, the daughter
of John R. of Havre De Grace and sis
ter of commodore R. His son, Edward
C. P., who died at Baltimore Apr. 11,
1828, aged 25, published a vol. of poems
in 1825, which have been highly com
mended. — Probably there was no lawyer
in this country of so great eminence as

POCAHONTAS.
Mr. P. for combined legal science and el
oquence. He had a fine countenance,and
elegant manners, and to his dress was
particularly attentive. In the supreraacy
ofhis powers and fame, and in.the midst
ofhis utmost efforts to maintain them,
he was summoned suddenly to the retri
butions of eternity ; a tremendous war
ning to the great men around him. An
account of his life and writings was
published by Henry Wheaton, Svo.
1826. POCAHONTAS, daughter of Pow
hatan, emperor ofthe Indians of Virginia,
was born about the year 1595. When
capt Smith was taken prisoner in 1607,
and it was determined, that he should be
put to death, his head was placed upon
two large stones at the feet of Powhatan,
that a number of Indians, who stood ready
with lifted clubs, might beat out his
brains. At this moraent Pocahontas
rushed to the spot and placed her own
head upon his. Frora regard to his
daughter the savage king spared his life.
In 1609, when but 14 years of age, she
went to Jaraes Town in a dreary night
and unfolded to captain Smith a plot,
which the Indians had formed for the
extermination ofthe English, and thus at
the hazard of her life saved them from
destruction. In 1612, after capt. Smith
left the colony, she was for a bribe of a
copper kettle betrayed into the hands of
captain Argal, and retained a prisoner,
that better terms of peace might be made
with her father. He offered 500 bushels
of com for his daughter ; but, before this
negotiation was corapleted, a different
and more interesting one had'comraenced.
A mutual attachment h^d sprung up be
tween her and John Rolfe, an EngUsh-
man of good character, and with the
consent of Powhatan they were married.
This event restored peace, and secured
it for many years. Pocahontas soon
made a profession of Christianity and was
baptized. In 1616 she accorapanied her
husband to England, where she was re
ceived with distinction at court. It is
said, that king James expressed great
indignation, that one of his subjects

POMEROY.

POWHATAN.

655,

should dare to marry into a royal family.
As she was about to embark for Virginia
in 1617, she died at Gravesend, aged
about 22 years. She is represented as a
pious Christian. She left one son,
Thomas Rolfe ; and from his daughter
descended some respectable families in
-Virginia. — Beverly ; Keith ; Stith.
POMEROY, Benjamin, d.d., minis
ter of Hebron, Conn., was a descendant
of Eltwood P., who settled in Windsor
in 1 633, and graduated at Yale college
in 1733. He was ordained in Dec.
1735, During the revival, in the
time of Mr. Whitefield, he preached
with great zeal and power. For preach
ing in disregard of the laws of Connecti
cut he was deprived of his stated salary
for seven years. He was also once ar
rested and brought before the asseinbly
with Mr. Davenport. In his patriotic
spirit he served as a chaplain in the
French and revolutionary wars. He
died at Hebron Dec. 22, 1784, aged 80.
His wife was Abigafl, the sister of Dr.
E. Wheelock ; his daughter, Hannah,
married Dr. McClure. Mr. Peters rep
resents him as an excellent scholar, an
exemplary gentleman, and a thundering
preacher. Dr. Trumbull describes him
as a man of real genius and as among
the best preachers of his day.
POPHAM, George, president of the
first company bf settlers in New Eng
land, sailed from Plymouth; England,
the last of May 1607 with two ships and
100 men, and all necessary supplies.
Capt. Popham had the comraand of one
ship and Raleigh Gilbert, nephew of
sir Walter Raleigh, of the other. On
the 11th pf Aug. they fefl in with the
island of Monhegan, a few miles from
the coast of Maine, and soon afterwards
landed at the mouth of the Sagadahoc or
Kennebec river, 'on a western peninsula,'
and not on Parker's island, as Gov. Sul
livan supposed. A serraon was delivered ;
the patent and laws were read ; and a
store house built with a fort, which was
called fort St. George. The ships sailed
on their return Dec. 5th, leaving a colony
of 45 persons ; Popham being president,

and Gilbert admiral. The next year sup
plies were brought them; but intelUgence
being received at tho same time of the
death of sir John Pophara and sir John
Gilbert, and the president Pophara being
also deceased, the colony determined to
return in the ships. The winter had
been severe, and the stores had been
lost by fire. Smith says, the country
was esteeraed a cold, barren, raountai-
nous, rooky desert ; and that this colo
ny " found nothing but extreme extrem
ities." POPE, Joseph, an ingenious mechan
ic, died at Hallowell, Maine, in Aug.
1826, aged 72. He constructed a large
and admirable orrery, which was pur
chased by Harvard college, and he inven
ted a threshing machine.
PORTER, John, minister of Bridge-
water, Mass., was graduated at Harvard
college in 1736, and ordained in October
1740. He died in the hope of the Chris
tian March 12, 1802, aged 86. He was
a man of respectable talents, of great pru
dence, and of a blameless life. As a
preacher he dwelt with earnestness upon
the great doctrines of the gospel. A cru
cified Redeemer was his frequent theme.
Avoiding dry and barren speculations, he
aimed to irapart instruction, and to ren
der men holy. His 'faithful labors were
not in vain, for at different periods it
pleased God by the influence ofhis Spirit
to render thera the means of converting
many, who were chosen in Jesus Christ.
Hepublished a sermon at the ordination
of Silas Brett, Freetown ; the absurdity
and blasphemy of substituting ihe per
sonal righteousness of men in the room
of the surety righteousness of , Christ in
the article of justification before God,
1749 ; reply to Mr. Bryant's reraarks on
the above sermon, 1751.
POWHATAN, emperor of . the In
dians in Virginia, at the time of the settle
ment of that colony in 1607 was the moat
powerful of the Indian kings. He was
deeply versed in all the savage arts of
government and policy, and was insidi
ous, crafty, and cruel. After the mar
riage of his daughter to Mr, Rolfe he re-.

656

POWNALL.

PRATT.

ma'ined faithful to the English. He died
.^prfl 1618.
POWNALL, Thomas, governor of
Mass., was appointed to this office in
1757 in the place of Mr. Shirley. His
measures were accommodated with great
address to the state of the people and he
had the pleasure of seeing the British
arms tfiuraphant in Canada ; but, as he
did not give his confidence to Mr. Hutch
inson and his party, and as many slanders
were propagated respecting him among
the people, he soUcited to be recalled. In
1 760, when sir Francis Bernard was re
moved to Massachusetts, he succeeded
him in N. Jersey, as lieut governor. He
was soon appointed goverrior of S. Caro
lina ; but from this station he was in
about a year recalled at his own request.
In 1768 he was chosen a member of par
liament, and he strenuously opposed the
measures of the administration against
the colonies. He declared, that the peo
ple of America were' universally, united
ly, and unalterably resolved never to sub
mit to any internal tax, imposed by any
legislature, in which they were not rep
resented. He retired from parliament in
1780, and died at Bath Feb. 25, 1805,
aged S3, retaining his faculties in perfect
vigor in his last days. His speeches in
parliament were all published in Almon's
parliamentary register, and he assisted Mr.
Almon in his American remembrancer in
20 volumes. He pubUshed principles of
polity, 1752; administration of the colo
nies, 1764,of which there were afterwards
several editions with improvements, and
part II. 1774 ; the interest and duty of
thestate in East India affairs, 1773 ; me
moir on drainage, 1775 ; description ofN.
America, with Evans' map improved ;
letter to Adam Smith on his inquiry into
the wealth of nations, 1776 ; a memorial
to the sovereigns of Europe on the state
of affairs between the old and new world,
1780 ; two meraorials, 1782 ; a memorial
to the sovereigns of America ; on the
study of fantiquities, 1783 ; notices and
descriptions of antiquities of the .provin-
cia Romanaof Gaul ; intellectual physics;
an essay on being ; a treatise on old age.

PRATT, Benjamin, chiefjustice of
New York, was born in Boston in 1709
of poor parents and bred to a mechanical
employment ; but the misfortune of los
ing a lirab was a great blessing to him
and made him a scholar and a man of em
inence. He graduated in 1737 at Har
vard coUege, and in the catalogue his
name in a class of 34 is the lowest, the
names then being placed according to the
digriity of parentage ; yet his is the only
name in the class, which attained the dig
nity of being printed in capitals. . Thus
the lowest is the most honorable ; the
most degraded is the most dignifie'd. He
rose to distinction as a lawyer. He was
a representative of Boston from 1757 to
1759 and ably supported the rights ofthe
colonies. When goverrior PownaU, by
whom he was highly esteemed, was a-
bout to leave the province, he voted to
send him away honorably and safely in
the province ship, designed for the pro
tection ofthe trade. This circumstance
lost Mr. Pratt the favor of the merchants
and mechanics of Boston ; they in 1760
chose in his stead another representative,
who, it is said, was skilful to ferment the
populace against his rival. Truly it is
not an easy thing, consistently with inde
pendence and honor, to retain amidst va
rious exciting influences the popular good
will. Mr. Pratt, however, was not for
gotten by gov. Pownall, who procured
for him the appointment of chief justice
of New York, in which station, though
he retained it but a short time, he was
admired for his penetration, learning, and
eloquence. He died Jan. 5, 1763, aged
53. His wife was a daughter of judge
Auchmuty ; he left a son and daughter ;
the descendants of the latter live in Bos
ton. — Judge Pratt was a writer of poeiry,
a specimen of which is preserved by Mr.
Knapp. He also collected materials for
a history of N. England. No man in
his day wrote in abetter style. — Knapp's
biog. sk. 163-174.
PRATT, Ephraim, reraarkable for
longevity, the grandson of John Pratt,
who settied at Plymouth in 1620, was
born at East Sudbury Nov. 1 , 1 687. At

PRATZ.

PRESCOTT.

657

the age of 21 he married Martha Whee
lock, and before his death he could num
ber araong his descendants about 1500
persons. In the year 1801 lour of his
sons were living, the eldest of whora was
90 years of age and the youngest 82.
Michael Pratt, his son, died at S. in
Dec. 1826 aged 103 years.— He was al
ways remarkable for temperance. For
the last sixty years he had tasted no wine
nor any distilled spirits, and he was nev
er intoxicated in his life. His drink was
water, small beer, and cider. Living
mostly on bread and milk, fbr forty years
before his death he did not eat any animal
food. Such was his uniform health, that
before 1801 he had never consulted a
physician, and it is not known that he
consulted one afterwards.
PRATZ, Le Page du, published His
toire de Louisiane, 3 vols. 12rao. 1758.
PREBLE, Edward, commodore in
the American navy, a descendant of Abra
ham P., who lived in Scituate in 1637
and removed to Kittery, was the son bf
brig. gen. Jedidiah P., yvho died at Port
land in March 1784, aged 77, and was
born in Aug. 1761. About the year 1779
he served as a midshipman under captain
WiUiams, and in a short time was promo
ted to a lieutenancy on board the sloop of
war commanded by capt. Little, with
whom he continued till the peace in 1783.
In this station he performed a brilliant ac
tion. He boarded and captured with a
few raen a vessel of more than equal
force lying in ihe harbor of Penobscot,
under a furious cannonade from the bat
tery and an incessant fire of the troops.
In 1801 he had the command of the frig
ate Essex, in which he performed a voy
age to the east Indies for the protection
of our trade. In 180S he was appointed
commodore with a squadron of seven sail,
and he soon made his passage to the Med
iterranean with the design of humbling
the Tripolitan barbarians. He first took
such measures with regard to the emper
or of Morocco, as led to a peace. He
next, after the loss of the frigate Phila
delphia, procured a number of gun boats
of the king of Naples &.proceeded to the
83

attack of Tripoli. The Philadelphia was
burned by Decatur, but the place was
not taken. The bravery exhibited had
however its effect, for a peace was after
wards obtained on honorable terms.
Such was the good conduct of commo
dore Preble, that it e.xtorted praise from
the bashaw of Tripoli, and even the pope
of Rome declared, thathe had done more
towards humbling the anlichristian bar
barians on that coast, than all the Chris
tian states had ever done. He died Aug.
25, 1807, aged 45.
PRESCOTT, Williara, colonel, a sol
dier of the revolution, was born at Gro
ton, Mass., in 1725 ; his father was Benj.
P., a councillor ; his mother was a daugh
ter of Thomas Oliver, also a councillor.
He inherited a large estate, and resided at
PeppereU. Under Winslow he assisted
in the conquest of Nova Scotia. His
miUtary talents being of a high order, he
was intrusted with the command of the
troops, who threw up the fortification at
Bunker hiUin the evening of June 16,
1775. In the battle of the 17th he was
greatly distinguished. Col. Swett has
described his exertions on that day. He
accompanied Washington to New York,
and he served with Gates in the capture
of Burgoyne. He died Oct. 13, 1795,
aged 70. His brother, James, a coun
cillor, high sheriff of Middlesex, and chief
justice ofthe comraon pleas, died Feb. 15,
1800. PRESCOTT, Oliver, m. d., a physi-
sian, brother of the preceding, was born
April 27, 1731, and graduated al Harvard
cpllege in 1750. Dr. Thacher relates,
that he was accustomed to sleep on
horseback, while his horse proceeded at
the usual pace. He was not only a phy
sician of great eminence and usefulness,
but a patriot of the revolution, being
about 1776 brigadier general of the mili
tia, and as such rendering important ser
vices, while the British occupied Boston.
From 1777 to 1779 he was a member of
the council, during which period there
was no governor ' nor lieut. governor.
From 1779 till his death hewas judge of
probate. He died at Groton ofa dropsy

653

PRESCOTT.

PRIESTLEY.

in the chest Nov. 17; 1804, aged 73.
His son, James, succeeded him as judge
of probate. One of his daughters married
Timothy Bigelow. — He was tall and cor
pulent. The versatility of his powers
was remarkable. He early made a pro
fession of religion and was always an in
fluential meraber of the church at Groton.
— Thacher.
PRESCOTT, OUver,M.D.,a physician,
son of the preceding, was born April 4,
1762; wasgraduated at Harvard college
in 1783 ; studied physic with Dr. Lloyd,
and settled at Groton, where he had ex
tensive practice. In 1811 he reraoved to
Newburyport, where he died of the ty
phus fever, Sept. 26; 1827, aged 65. He
was an eminent physician, and he early
made a profession of his Christian faith.
He published various articles in the N.
E. journal of medicine ; also a Disserta
tion on Ergot, whicri was reprinted in
London, and in France and Germany. —
Thacher. PRICE, Richard, d. d., a friend of
American liberty, was born in Wales
Feb. 22, 1723, the son of a Calvinistic
minister. He was educated at an acade
my near London. In 1757 he. became
the pastor of a dissenting congregation
at Newington Green, and in 1769 the
pastor at Hackney. In his reUgious sen
timents he was an Arian. He died
March 19, 1791, aged 67. His nephew,
WflUara Morgan, has written his life and
described his excellent character. He
published a Review ofthe principal ques
tions in morals ; four dissertations ; ob
servations on -annuities, &c. ; discu-ssion
concerning materialisra and necessity in
a correspondence with Dr. Priestley ; 2
voluraes of sermons. His works, which
procured for hira great respect in Ameri
ca, were Observations on civil lib
erty and the justice ofthe war with Amer
ica, 1776 ; additional observations, 1777 ;
and the importance ofthe American rev
olution and the means of making it use
ful to the world, 1784.
PRICE, Jonathan D., a physician and
a baptist raissionary to Burraab, was or
dained in Philadelphia, May 20, 1821.

He arrived early in the next year at
Rangoon, where his wife died May 2d.
When his medical character was known
at court, he was ordered by the king to
repair to Ava, where he was introduced
to the king, who gave him a house.
When the British invaded Burmah, he
and Mr. Judson were thrown into prison
June 8, 1824. He was confined, and
subject to dreadful sufferings till Feb. or
March 1826, when he was released and
employed to negotiate a treaty with the
British, who had advanced near to the
capital. After the war he resided at Ava,
in the favor ofthe emperor ; he engaged
in the tuition of several scholars ; and by
his lectures hoped to shake the founda
tion of Boodhism. But he feU a victim
to a pulmonary consumption Feb. 14,
1828. PRIESTLEY, Joseph, d. d., an em
inent philosopher, and voluminous writer,
was born at Fieldhead, in Yorkshire,
England, March 24, 1733. His father
was a cloth dresser. At the age of nine
teen he had acquired in the schools, to
which he had been sent, and by the aid
of private instruction a good knowledge
of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, French,
Italian, and German ; he had also begun
to read Arabic, and learned Chaldee and
Syriac. With these attainments and
others in mathematics, natural philosophy,
and morals, he entered the academy of
Daventry under Dr. Ashworth in 1752
with a view to the Christian ministry.
Here he spent three years. Thestudents
were referred to books on both sides of
every question, and required to abridge
the most important works. The tutors,
Mr. Ashworth and Mr. Clark, being of
different opinions, and the students being
divided, subjects of dispute were continu
ally discussed. He had been educated in
Calvinism, and in early life he suffered
great distress from not finding satisfacto
ry evidence ofthe renovation of his mind
by the Spirit of God. He had a great aver
sion to plays and romances. He atten
ded a weekly meeting of young men for
conversation and prayer. But, before
he went to the academy, he became an

PRIESTLEY.

659

Arminian, though he retained the doc
trine of the trinity and of the atonement.
At the academy he embraced Arianisra.
Perusing Hartley's observations on man,
he was fixed in the belief of tUe doctrine
of necessity. In 1 7 55 he became assistant
minister to the independent congregation
of Needham Market in Suffolk upon a
salary of forty pounds a year. Falliug un
der the suspicion of Arianisra, he becarae
in 1758 pastoriof a congregation at Nant-
wich in Cheshire,' where he remained
three years, being not only minister but
schoolmaster. In 1761 he removed to
Warrington as-tutor in the belles lettres
in the acaderay there. In 1767 he accep
ted the pastoral office at Leeds. Here
by reading Lardner's letter on the Logos
he becarae a Socinian. In 1773 he went
to Uve with the marquis of Lansdowne
as Ubrarian, or literary corapanion,with a
salary of 250Z. a year. During a connex
ion of 7 years with his lordship he visited
in his corapany France, Holland, and
sorae parts of Gerraany. He then becarae
minister of Birmingham. At length,
when several of his friends celebrated the
French revolution July 14, 1791, a mob
collected and set fire to the dissenting
meeting houses, and several dweUing hou
ses of dissenters, and among others to
that of Dr. Priestiey. He lost his library,
and was forced to take refuge in the me-
tropoUs. He was chosen to succeed Dr.
Price at Hackney, and was a lecturer in
the dissenting college of that place. But,
the public aversion to him being strong,
and his sons emigrating to the U. States,
he followed them in April 1794. He set
tled at Northumberland, a town of Penn
sylvania about 130 railes north west of
Philadelphia. In this city for two or
three winters after his arrival he delivered
lectures on the evidences of Christianity.
He died in calmness, and in the fuU vig
or of his mind February 6, 1804, aged 70.
He dictated some alterations in his manu
scripts half an hour before his death. He
was amiable and affectionate in the inter
course of private and domestic Ufe. Few
men in modern times have written so
much, or with such facility ; yet he sel

dom spent more than six or eight hours
in a day in any labor, which required
rauch mental exertion. A habit of regu
larity extended itself to aU his studies.
He never read a book without determin
ing in his own mind when he would fin
ish it ; and at the beginning of every
year he arranged the plan of his literary
pursuits and scientific researches. He
labored under a great defect, which hdw-
ever was not a very considerable impedi-
raent to.his progress . He soraetiraes lost
all ideas both of persons and things, with
which he had been conversant. He al
ways did immediately what he had to
perform. Though ¦ he rose early and
despatched his more serious pursuits in
the morning ; yet he was as well qualified
for iriental exertion at one time of the
day as at another. AU seasons were equal
to him, early or late, before dinner or
after. He could also write without in
convenience by the parlour fire with his
wife and children ahout him, and occa
sionally talking to them. In his family
he ever maintained the worship of God.
As a schoolmaster and professor he was
indefatigable. With respect to bis relig
ious sentiments his mind underwent a
number of revolutions ; but he died in
the Socinian faith, which he had many
years supported. He possesses a high
reputation as a philosopher, particularly
as a chemist. Commencing his chemica 1
career in 1772 he did more for chemistry
in two years, than had been done by any
of his predecessors. He discovered the
existence of vital or dephlogisticated air,
the oxygen gas of the French nomencla
ture, and other kinds of aeriform fluids.
He always adhered to the old doctrine of
Stahl respecting phlogiston, though the
whole scientific world had rejected it.
But his versatile mind could not be con
fined to one subject He was not only a
chemist, but an erainent metaphysician.
He was a materialist and necessarian.
He maintained, that all volitions are the
necessary result of previous circumstan
ces, the wiU being always governed by
motives ; and yet he opposed the Calvin
istic doctrine of predestination. The ba-

660

PRINCE.

sis ofhis necessarian theory was Hartley's
observations on man. The chart of his
tory used in France was much improved
by him, and he invented the chart of bi
ography, which is very useful. Of his
numerous publications the following are
the principal ; a treatise on English gram
mar, 1761 ; on the doctrine of remission ;
history of electricity, 1767 ; history of
vision, light, and colors ; introduction to
perspective, 1770 ; harmony ofthe evan
gelists ; address to masters of famiUes on
prayer ; experiraents on air, 4 vols ; ob
servations on education ; lectures on ora
tory and criticisra ; institutes of natural
and revealed religion ; a reply to the
Scotch metaphysicians, Reid, Oswald,
and Beattie ; disquisitions on matter and
spirit, 1777 ; history of the corruptions
of Christianity ; letters to bishop New-
come on the duration of Christ's minis
try ; correspondence with Dr. Horseley ;
history of early opinions concerning Je
sus Christ, 4 vols. 1786 ; lectures on his
tory and general policy ; answers to Paine
and Volney; several pieces on the doctrine
of necessity in the controversy with Dr.
Price ; discourses on the evidences of re-
revealed religion, 3 vols. ; letters to a
philosophical unbeliever ; discourses on
various subjects. He also wrote manj'
defences of unitarianism and contributed
largely to the theological repository.
After his arrival in this country he pub
Ushed a comparison ofthe institutions of
the Mosaic reUgion with those of the
Hindoos ; Jesus and Socrates corapared ;
several tracts against Dr. Linn, who
wrote against the preceding pamphlet ;
notes on the scriptures, 4 vols. ; history
of the Christian church, 6 vols. ; several
pamphlets on philosophical subjects, and
in defence of the doctrine of phlogiston.
Dr. Priestley's life was pubUshed in 1806
in two volumes. The meraoirs were
v/ritten by hiraself to the year 1787, and a
short continuation by his own hand brings
thera to 1795.
PRINCE, Thomas, governor of Ply
mouth colony, was a native of England,
and arrived at Plymouth in 1621 ; he
wrote his name Prence. He was first

chosen governor in 1634. Being ap
pointed an assistant the next year, he
continued in this office,except in the year
1638, when he was chosen governor, tifl
the death of Mr. Bradford in 1657. At
this time, as a disposition prevailed in the
colony to discountenance regular minis
ters by giving, the preference to the gifts
ofthe private brethren, it was thought,
that his re-election to the office of gover
nor would prevent the church from being
overwhelmed with ignorance, and it
proved highly beneficial to the interests
of religion. He was governor from 16-57
to 1672. He had been living at Nauset
or Eastham, of which town he was one
of the first planters in 1 644 ; but, after
being chosen governor, he removed to
Plymouth, where he died March 29,
1673, aged 72. He was succeeded by
Mr. \'\'inslow. He was a raan of great
worth and piety, and erainently quaUfied
for his station. Strict in his religious opin
ions, he zealously opposed those, whom
he believed to be heretics, particularly
the quakers. As a magistrate, such was
his care to be impartial, that if any person,
who had a cause in court, sent a present
to his family during his absence, he im
mediately on being informed of it returned
its value in money. Though his abiUties
had not been much iraproved by educa
tion, he was the friend of learning. In
opposition to the claraors ofthe ignorant
he procured revenues for the support of
grammar schools in the colony. — Mag
nalia, II. 6, 7.
PRINCE, Thomas, minister in Bos
ton, was the fourth son of Samuel Prince
of Sandwich and grandson of Elder John
Prince of Hull,who came to this country
in 1633 and was the son of Rev. John P.
of East Shefford in Berkshire. He
was born at Sandwich May 15, 1687, and
was graduated at Harvard college in
1707. Having determined to visit Eu
rope, he sailed for England April 1, 1709.
For sorae years he preached at Combs
in Suffolk, where he was earnestiy in-vi-
ted to continue, but his attachment to
his native country was too strong to be
resisted. He arrived at Boston July 20,

PRINCE.

661

1717, and was ordained pastor of the old
south church, as colleague with Dr. Sew
all, his classmate. Out. 1, 171S. In this
station his fine genius, improved by diU
gent study, polished by an extensive ac
quaintance with mankind, and employed
to the noblest purposes of life, rendered
him an ornaraent to his profession, and a
rich blessing to the church. He died
Oct 22, 1753, aged 71. In his last sick
ness he expressed a deep sense of his sin
fulness, and a desire of better evidence,
that he was fit to dwell in heaven. When
his speech failed hira, as he was asked,
whether be was subraissive to the divine
will and could corarait his soul to the care
of Jesus, he lifted up his hand to express
his resignation, and confidence in the Sa
vior. From his youth he had been in
fluenced by the fear of God. He was an
eminent preacher, for his sermons were
rich in thought, perspicuous and devo
tional, and he inculcated the doctrines
and duties of reUgion, as one, who felt
their importance. The original langua
ges, in which the scriptures were written,
were farailiar to hira. In the opinion of
Dr. Chauncy no one in N. England had
more learning, except Cotton Mather.
Firmly attached to the faith once deliver
ed to the saints, he was zealous for the
honor of his divine Master. He was
anxious to preserve suitable discipUne in
the church,that those, who bad been guil
ty of open sins, might be reclaimed, and
that the narae of Christian raight be pre
served frora reproach. He mourned over
the degeneracy of the N.E. churches
both in doctrine and practice. When
Mr. Whitefield visited this country in
1740, Mr. Prince received him with open
arms, and was always his friend ; he al
ways respected that Christian benevo
lence, which animated the eloquent itin
erant ; and he was grateful for those la
bors, which were so eminently useful to
his people and the town of Boston. In
private life he was amiable and exemplary.
It was his constant endeavor to imitate
the perfect example of his Master and
Lord. Hewas ready to forgive injuries,
and return good for evil. By the grace

of God he was enabled to preserve a
calmness of mind under very trying
events. When heavy afflictions were laid
upon hira, he displayed exeraplary sub
mission to the will of God. Though he
was a learned raan, and was uncommonly
diligent in study, yet he relished the com
forts and faithfully discharged the duties
of domestic life. It was no small part of
his labor to impress on his children a sense
of refigion, and he bad the happiness of
seeing all his offspring walking in the
truth. His wife, Deborah Denny, survi
ved him and died Junel, 1766. Theon
ly child who survived him, was Sarah,
who in 1759 married Mr. Gill, afterwards
lieutenant governor, and died without
children in Aug. 1771.
Mr. Prince began in 1703, while at col
lege, and continued raore than fffty years
a collection of public and private papers
relating to the civil and religious history
ofN. England. His collection of manu
scripts he left to the care ofthe old south
church, and they were deposited in an
apartment of the meeting house with a
valuable library of books, which he
had established under the name of the
N. England Ubrary. But the manu
scripts were principally destroyed by the
British during the late war, and thus ma
ny important facts relating to the history
of this country are irrecoverably lost.
The books yet remain, and have been de
posited in the historical library. — He
pubUshed account of the first appear
ance of the aurora borealis ; a serraon at
thanksgiving,1717; at his own ordination,
1718 ; an account of the EngUsh rainis-
ters at Martha's Vineyard, annexed to
Mayhew's Indian converts, 1727 ; elec
tion sermon, 1730 ; on the day of prayer
for the choice of a minister, 1732 ; on the
death of George I, 1727; of Cotton Math
er, and Samuel Prince, his father, 1728 ;
a sermon on the arrival of the governor,
1728; on the death of Sam'l Sewall,1730;
Daniel OUver, and Daniel Oliver, jun.,
1732 ; Mrs. OUver, 1735 ; Mary Belcher,
1736; Nathaniel WilUams, 1738 ; Mrs.
Deborah Prince, 1744 ; Thomas Gush
ing, 1746 ; Martha Stoddard, 1748 ; the

662

PRINCE.

PULASKI.

prince of Wales, 1751 ; Hannah Fayer-
weather, 1755; Edward Bromfield, and
Josiah Willard, 1756 ; a chronological
history ofN. England in the form of an
nals, 12rao. 1736, and three numbers of
the 2d.volume in 1755. In this work it was
his intention to give a summary account
of transactions and occurrences relating
to this country from the discovery of
Gosnold in 1602 to the arrival of govern
or Belcher in 1730, but he brought the
history down only to 1633. He spent
much time upon the introductory epi
tome, which begins at the creation. Had
he confined himself to N. England, and
finished his work, it would have been of
incalculable value. He pubUshed also
an account ofthe revival of religion in
Boston in the Christian history, 1744 ; a
sermon on the battle near Culloden, and
the destruction of the jnarquis D'An-
ville's squadron ; a thanksgiving sermon
on the taking of Louisbourg, 1746 ; a
thanksgiving sermon for reviving rains
after the distressing drought, 1749 ; the
N. England psalm book revised and im
proved, 1758. After his death Dr. John
Erskine of Edinburgh published from
his manuscripts six serraons, the last of
which was occasioned bythe death of his
son, Thomas Prince. — Wisner's hist. O.
South. PRINCE, Thomas, son of the prece-
'dirig, was born Feb. 27, 1752 ; graduated
at Harvard college in 1740 ; and died in
Oct. 1748, aged 26. He died in Chris-
dan peace, as did also his three sisters,
Deborah,1744, Mercy, 1752, Mrs. Sarah
GUI, 1771. The dying exercises of Deb
orah and devout meditations of Mrs. Gill
were published at Edinb. 1785. Mr. P.
published the Christian history, a periodi
cal account of religion, beginning March
5, 1743, in 2 vols. Svo. 1744—1745.
PRINCE, Nathan, a- distinguished
scholar, the brother of Rev.Thos.P.,was
graduated at Harvard college in 1718.
He was chosen lutor in 1723, and fellow
in 1737 ; but he was removed in 1742.
He in consequence pubUshed an account
of the constitution and government of
Harvard college from its first foundation

in 1636 to the year 1742, in which be
endeavored to prove, that the general
court had the sole power of dismissing
merabers of the corporation, and are the
only visitors ofthe college. In this work
he also complains of the management of
ihe treasury, and reprobates the injustice,
which he believes was done in arranging
the students in the classes and their
names in the catalogue according to
the dignity or worth of their connex
ions. He had before his removal re
fused to assist in this arrangement. The
alphabetical disposition of the names was
not made till 1773. Mr. Prince once had
a deep rooted aversion to the episcopal
church ; but after his disraission he took
orders. He died at Ratlan in the West
Indies, where hewas a rainister, July 25,
1748. He was a greater matheraatician
and philosopher, and a much better clas
sical scholar and logician, than his broth
er, and is ranked araong the great men of
this country. He pubUshed, besides the
book mentioned, an essay to solve the
difficulties attending the accounts ofthe
resurrection, 1734.
PROUD, Robert, a historian, was
born in Yorkshire, England, May 10,
1728, and in Jan. 1759 arrived at Phila
delphia, where he lived halfa century.
For many years he was a teacher in a
school of the quakers. In the revolution
he was a decided royaUst. About the
year 1791 he devoted hiraself to writing
his history, the publication of which
was attended with pecuniary loss. He
died July 7, 1813, aged 85. He was
taU ; his nose was Roraan, with " most
impending brows. Domine Proud
wore a curled, grey wig, and a half
cocked, ancient hat. He was the model
ofa gentleman."
PULASKI, Count, brigadier general
in the army of the U. States, was a Po-
lander of high birth, who with a few
men in 1771 carried off king Stanislaus
from the middle of his capital, though
surrounded with a numerous body of
guards and a Russian army. The king
soon escaped and declared Pulaski an
outlaw. After his arrival in this coun-

PURCHAS.

PUTNAM.

663-

try, he offered his services to congress,
and was honored with the rank of
brigadier general. He discovered the
greatest intrepidity jn an engagement
with a party of the British near Charles
ton in May 1779. In the assault upon
Savannah Oct. ninth by gen. Lincoln
and count D'Estaing, Pulaski was woun
ded at the head of two hundred horse
men, as he was galloping into the town
with the intention of charging in the
rear. He died on the eleventh, and con
gress resolved, triat a monument should
be erected to bis meraory.
PURCHAS, Samuel, a mimster in
London, died about 1628, aged 51. He
pubUshed his Pilgrimage, or Relations of
the World, 5 vols. fol. London, 1 641, &c.
It is a rare and valuable collection and
abridgment of travels.
PURSH, Frederic, a botanist, was
born at Tobolsk! in Siberia, and educated
at Dresden. He resided in this country
from 1799 to 1811, employed in various
excursions by Mr. Harailton of Phfladel
phia and Dr. Hosack of N. York. On
going to England in 1811 with a collec
tion of plants, he was patronized by
Smith and Banks, who opened to him
their botanical stores. After publishing
his book in 1814 he returned to America,
and, while engaged in collecting materi
als for a Canadian flora, died at Montreal
June 11, 1820, aged 46. HepubUshed a
valuable work. Flora Americae Septentri-
onalis, or the plants of N. Araerica, Lon
don, Svo. 1814.
PUTNAM, Israel, major general in
the array ofthe U. S., was born in Sa
lem, Mass. Jan. 7, 1718. His mind was
vigorous, but it was never cultivated.
In running, leaping, and wrestling he al
raost always bore away the prize. In
1739 he removed to Porafret, Conn.,
where he cultivated, a considerable tract
of land. He had however to encounter
many difficulties, and among his troubles
the depredations of wolves among his
sheepfold was not the least. In one night
70 fine sheep and goats were killed. A
she wolf being considered as the principal
cause of the havoc, Mr. Putuam enter

ed into a combination with a num
ber of his neigbors to hunt alternately,
till they should destroy her. At length
the hounds drove her into her den in
Porafret and several persons soon col
lected with guns, straw, fire, and sul
phur to attack the common enemy. But
the dogs were afraid to approach her,
and the fumes of brimstone could •
not force her frora her cavern. It was
now ten o'clock at night. Mr. Put
nam proposed to his black servant to des
cend into the cave and shoot the wolf ;
but, as the negro decUned, he resolved to
do it himself. Having divested hiraself
of his coat and waistcoat, and having a
long rope fastened round his legs, by
which he might pulled back at a concer
ted signal, he entered the cavern head
foremost with a blazing torch, made of
strips of birch bark, in his hand. He de
scended fifteen feet, passed along horizon
tally ten feet, and then began the gradu
al ascent, which ia sixteen feet in length .
He slowly proceeded on his hands and
knees in an abode, which was sUent as
the house of death. Cautiously glancing
forwards he discovered the glaring eye
balls ofthe wolf, who started at the sight
of his torch, gnashed her teeth, and gave
a sullen growl. He immediately kicked
the rope, and was drawn out with a
friendly celerity and violence, which not
a Uttle bruised him. Loading his gun
with nine buck shot, and carrying it in
one hand, while he held the torch with
the other, he descended a second tirae.
As he approached the wolf, she howled,
rofled ber eyes, snapped her teeth, drop
ped her head between her legs, and was
evidently on the point of springing at
him. At this moment he fired at her
head, and soon found himself drawn out
of the cave. Ha-ving refreshed himself
he again descended, and seizing the wolf
by her ears kicked the rope, and his com
panions above with no -small exultation
dragged thera both out together. During
the Frenc"h war he was appointed to com
mand a company of the first troops,
which were raised in Connecticut in 1755.
He rendered much service to the army in

664

PUTNAM.

the neighborhood of Crown ppint. In
1756, while near Ticonderoga, he was re
peatedly in the most imminent danger.
He escaped in an adventure of one night
with twelve bullet holes in his blanket.
In Aug. he was sent out with several
hundred men to watch the motions ofthe
enemy. Being ambuscaded by a party
of equal numbers, a general but irregular
action took place. He had discharged
his fusee several times, but at length it
missed fire, while its muzzle was presen
ted to the breast of a savage. The war
rior with his lifted hatchet and a tremen
dous war whoop compeUed him to sur
render, and then bound him to a tree.
In the course of the action the patties
changed their position, so as to bring
this tree directly between them. The
balls flew by hira incessantly ; many
struck the tree , and some passed through
his clothes. The eneray now gained
possession of the ground, but, being af
terwards driven from the field, they car
ried their prisoner with theiri . At night
he was stript, & a fire was kindled to roast
him alive; but a French officer saved him.
Thenextdayhe arrivedatTiconderoga,&
thence he was carried to Montreal.
About the' year 1759 he was exchanged
through the ingenuity of his fellow pris
oner, colonel Schuyler. After the peace
he returned to his farm. He was plough
ing in his field in 1775, when he heard
the news of the battle of Lexington. He
immediately unyoked his team, left his
plough on the spot, and without chang
ing his clothes set off for Cambridge.
He soon went to Connecticut, levied a
regiment, and repaired again to the camp.
In a little time he was promoted to the
rank of major general. ,. In the battie of
Bunker's hill he exhibited his usual in
trepidity. He directed the men to reserve
their fire, tfll the eneray was very near,
reminded them of their skill, and told
them to take good aim. They did so,
and the execution was terrible. After
the retreat, he made a stand at Winter
hill and drove back the enemy under cov
er of their ships. When the army was
organized by general Washington at

Cambridge, Putnam was appointed to
command the, reserve. In Aug. 1776 he
was stationed at Brooklyn, on Long Isl
and. After the defeat of our army he
went to New York and was very service
able in the city and neighborhood. In
Oct. or Nov. he was sent to Philadel
phia to fortify that city. In Jan. 1777
he was directed to take post at Prince-
lon,where he continued until spring. At
this place a sick prisoner, a captain, re
quested that a friend in the British army
at Brunswick raight be sent for to assist
hira in making his will. Putnam was
perplexed. He had but fifty men under
his comraand, and he did not wish to
have his weakness known ; yet he was
unwilUng to deny the request. He how
ever sent a flag of truce, and directed the
officer to be brought in the night. In
the evening lights were placed in all the
coUege windows, and in every apartment
of the vacant houses throughout the
town. TheofBcer on his return reported,
that general Putnam's array could not
consist of less, than four or five thousand
men . In the spring he was appointed to
the command of a separate army in the
highlands of New York. One Palmer, a
Ueutenant in the tory new levies, was de
tected in the camp ; governor Tryon re
claimed him as a British officer, threat
ening vengeance if he was not restored.
General Putriam wrote the following pithy
reply ; " Sir, Nathan Palmer, a lieuten
ant in your king's service, was taken in
my camp as a spy ; he was condemned
as a spy ; and he shall be hanged as a
spy. P. S. Afternoon. He is hanged. "
After the loss of fort Montgoraery, the
coraraander in chief deterrained to build
another fortification, and he directed Put-
raan to fix upon a spot. To him belongs
the praise of having chosen West Point.
The campaign of 1779, which was prin
cipally spent in strengthening the works"
at this place, finished the miUtary career
of Putnam. A paralytic affection ira-
paired the activity of his body, and he
passed the reraainder ofhis days in retire
ment, retaining his relish for enjoyment,
his strength of memory, and all the fac-

PUTNAM.

QUINCY.

665

ulties ofhis mind. He died at Brooklyn,
Conn., May 29,1790, aged 72. His only
surviving daughter, Mrs. Mary Waldo,
died at Conway, N.H.Nov. 1825, aged
72 years. His son, col. Israel P., died at
Belpre, Ohio, in March 1812.— Peter
Schuyler P., his 7th son, diedat Williams-
town, Mass. in 1827, aged 63.— Gen. P.
was exemplary in the various relations of
life, a constant attendant on public wor
ship, and a worshipper of God in his
house. For many years he ivas a pro
fessor of religion. In his last years he
professed a deep sense of sin, yet a strong
hope of salvation through the Redeem
er of sinners. — Humphrey's life of P.
PUTNAM, Rufus, general, a soldier
ofthe revolution, and the father of the
western country, was born at Sutton,
Massachusetts, in 1738. He engaged in
the war of 1756, and in the revolutionary
struggle took an active part. At the com
mencement of hostilities he comraanded
a regiment ; and during the war was an
engineer. His comraission as brigadier
in the array ofthe U. S. is dated Jan. 7,
1 783 . On the return of the peace he re
tired to his farm. For several years he
was a raember of the legislature. In
1786 and 1787 he was engaged in organi
zing the Ohio company for the purpose of
settling the north west territory. The
affairs of the company were intrusted to
him. April 7, 17SS he planted himself
with about 40 others in the wilderness of
the west bank of the Ohio at the mouth
of the Muskingum, and called their settle
ment Marietta. He lived to see Ohio a
flourishing state,having nearly 70counties
and a population of 700,000 souls. In
1789 Washington appointed him a judge
of the supreme court of the north west
territory; and in 1791 he was appointed a
brigadier general under Wayne; in 1795
surveyor general of the U. S., which of
fice he held till some years after the acces
sion of Mr. Jefferson to the presidency.
He was a member of the convention,
whicri framed the constitution of Ohio.
He died at Marietta May, 1, 1824, aged
86. He was liberal, generous, hospitable,
a philanthropist, and a chrislian. Of ihe
84

revolutionary army ho was the last sur
viving general officer, excepting La Fay
ette. QUINCY, Edmund, a judge of the
superior court of Mass., was bom at
Braintree Oct. 24, 1681. His grand
father, Edmund Quincy, came to Boston
with John Cotton in 1683, and became a
proprietor of lands at Mount Wollaston
or Braintree in 1635 and died soon after
wards, aged 33. His father, lieutenant
colonel Edmund Quincy, died Jan. 7,
1698. His mother, EUzabeth, was the
daughter of major general Gookin. He
was graduated at Harvard college in
1699, and afterwards sustained several
important offices, the duties of which he
discharged with ability and faithfulness.
He was a judge of the superior court
from 1718 till a short time hefore his
death. Being sent as an agent to Lon
don for the purpose of settling the boun
dary Une between Massachusetts and
N. Hampshire, he died in that city of the
smaU pox Feb. 23, 1738, aged 56. His
wife was the daughter of Josiah Flynt.
He left two sons, Edmund and Josiah ;
and two daughters, Mrs. Wendell and
Mrs. Jackson. The general court made
a donation to his heirs of 1000 acres of
land in Lenox, Berkshire county, and
erected a monument at Bunhill-fields,
London, His uncommon powers of rea
soning and of eloquence were joined to the
Christian virtues. As a raeraber of the
council he for twenty years had great in
fluence in giving a direction to the pro
ceedings of government. In his faraily
it gave hira pleasure to worship the God
of all the families of the earth, and to ira
part to his children reUgious instruction.
Memoirs of J. Quincy, 3.
QUINCY, John, colonel, the son of
Daniel Quincy,was the grandson of lieut.
col. Edmund Quincy by his first wife,
Joanna Hull, daughter of Mr. Hull, an
assistant preacher -\vith Thomas Thacher
in Boston, and was born in 1689. Hav
ing graduated in 1708, he was early em
ployed in public life, being appointed a
major in the miUtia, and colonel on the
resignation of his uncle, judge Edmund

666

QUINCY.

Quincy. For 40 years without interrup
tion he was a representative and a mera
ber of the council. He was long the
speaker ofthe House. He died July 13,
1767, aged 78 years. He discharged the
duties ofhis various offices wilh fidelity,
honor, and acceptance, carefully avoid
ing all temptations to unfaithfulness, and
retaining a high sense of accountableness
to God. His ample fortune did not cor
rupt him. He was just and devout,
adorning by his holy conduct and atten
dance to the ordinances of the gospel the
Christian profession, and being exempla
ry in the relations of private Ufe. When
that part of Braintree, in which the Quin
cy farms lay, was incorporated, the gen
eral Court, in honorable remembrance of
his long and faithful services, gave it the
name of Quincy. He left an only son,
Norton Quincy, an amiable and virtuous
man, who died without issue. His
daughter raarried Rev. Williara Sraith
of Wey raoulh and was the raother of Mrs.
Cranch and of the wife of John Adaras.
His paternal estate. Mount Wollaston,
is now the property of his great-grandson,
John Quincy Adams, late president of
the U. States.
QUINCY, Edmund, the son of judge
Edmund Q., was born in Braintree in
1703 and graduated at Harvard college
in 1722. For raany years he wasa mer
chant in Boston , he afterwards Uved on
the paternal estate ; and died July 4,
1788 aged 85. His fourth daughter,
Esther, married Jonathan Sewall ; she
was the worthy wife ofan eminent man.
Another daughter married gov. Hancock.
He published a treatise on hemp husband
ry, 1765.
QUINCY, Josiah, jun., an erainent
patriot, was the grandson of judge Quin
cy ; his father, Josiah, a merchant in Bos
ton and a zealous friend of his country,
died at Braintree in 1784, aged 75. He
was born Feb. 23, 1744. While at col
lege he was distinguished for unwearied
industry, for the eager thirst for learning,
and for a refined taste. With unbleraish-
ed reputation he was graduated in 1763.
His legal studies were pursued for two

years under the care of Oxenbridge-
Thacher, of Boston, an erainent lawyer.
On commencing his profession his talents,
diUgence, and fidelity secured to him an
extensive and profitable practice. At this
period he wrote several manuscript vol
umes of " Reports " of decisions in the
supreme court, in which are preserved
abstracts ofthe arguments of Auchmuty,
Thacher, Gridley, Otis,Adams, and other
lawyers. The circumstances of the
times soon directed his attention and all
the energies of a very sensitive mind to
the political condition ofhis country. In
opposition to the measures of the British
government he began to write poUtical
essays as early as 1767. In the next
year, after the landing of two British reg
iments at Boston,he raade a most forcible
appeal to the patriotism of his countrymen
in a piece, signed " Hyperion. " Of the
boldness of his views a judgment may be
forraed frora his language in 1768:
" Did the blood of the ancient Britons
swell our veins, did the spirit of our fore
fathers inhabit our breasts ; should we
hesitate a moment in preferring death to
a miserable existence in bondage.' " — and
from his declaration in 1770 — " I wish to
see ray countrymen break off — off forev
er! — all social intercourse with those,
whose commerce contaminates, whose
luxuries poison, whose avarice is insatia
ble, and whose unnatural oppressions are
not to be borne."
After what is called " the Boston mas
sacre," March 5, 1770, when five citizens
were killed by. the British troops, Mr.
Quincy, wilh John Adaras, defended the
prisoners, captain Preston and eight sol
diers. To undertake their defence
against the remonstrance of his father
and in resistance to the strong tide of
popular indignation required a strong
love of justice and a fixed purpose of soul.
With great ability he plead their cause,
and the defence was closed by Mr.
Adams. In the result capt. Preston and
6 soldiers were acquitted, and 2 were con
victed of manslaughter only. This ad
ministration of justice in the midst of an
excited and furious people was an event

QUINCY.

667

most honorable to Mr. Quincy and to
the American cause. In 1771 and 1772
he continued his professional and political
labors with accustomed industry and zeal;
but in Feb. 1773 a pulmonary complaint
corapelled him to seek the renewal of his
health or the preservation of his life by a
voyage to Carolina. In Charleston he
formed an acquaintance with the eminent
lawyers and patriots ofthe day, who re
ceived him with the wonted southern
hospitaUty, — with Bee,Parsons,Simpson,
Scott, Charles C. Pinckney, Rutledge,
Lynch, and others. He returned by
land to New York. In Philadelphia he
met with J.Dickinson, J. Reed, J. In
gersoll, Dr. Shippen, chiefjustice Allen,
and his sons, and Mr. Galloway. His
journal of this tour is found in his Life,
published by his son. After an absence
of 3 or 4 months he reached home, and
soon wrote the bold essays under the
title of Marchmont Nedham. His chief
political work. Observations on the act
of parliament, coraraonly called ' The
Boston Port Bill,' with Thoughts on Ci
vil society and standing armies, was pub
lished in May 1774.
By the advice of his poUtical friends
and in the hope of rendering eminent ser
vice to his country by counteracting
Hutchinson and in other ways he relin
quished his professional business and em
barked at Salem privately for London
Sept. 28,' 1774. His voyage was service
able to his health. At London he had
a conference on American affairs with
lord North, and explained to him his
views with great freedom ; but the Brit
ish minister seemed anxious to intimidate
one, who could not be reached in that
way, by alluding to the power of Great
Britain and her determination to exert it
to effect the submission ofthe colonies.
He visited also lord Dartmouth, and lord
Shelburne and consulted rauch with Dr.
FrankUn, gov. Pownall, Dr. Price, sher
iff WiUiara Lee, Arthur Lee, and other
friends of Araerica. He also occasionally
attended the sitting of parliaraent. It
was at this period, that lord Camden
said," Were I an American, I would resist

to the last drop of my blood." Col.
Barre who once travelled through this
country, assured him that such was the
ignorance ofthe English, that two thirds
of them on his return thought the Amer
icans were all negroes ! — "While in Eng j
land Dr. Warren wrote to him Nov. 21st,
" It is the united voice of America to
preserve their freedom or lose their lives
in defence of it." He attended the de
bates in the house of lords Jan. 20, 1775
and on that day had the high satisfaction
of hearing the celebrated speech of lord
Chatham against the ministry and in de
fence of America, of which he drew up
an interesting report. "His language,
voice, and gesture," said Mr. Q., "were
more pathetic, than I ever saw or heard
before, at the bar or senate. He seemed
like an old Roman senator, rising with
the dignity of age, yet speaking with the
fire of youth. The illustrious sage
stretched forth his hand with the decent
solemnity of a Paul, and rising with his
subject, he smote his breast with the en
ergy and grace of a Demosthenes." In
this speech Chatham said,- — "For genuine
sagacity, for singular moderation, for sol
id wisdom, manly spirit, sublime senti
ments, and simplicity of language, for
every thing respectable and honorable,
the congress of Philadelphia shine unri
valled. This wise people speak out.
They do not hold the language of slaves ;
they tell you what they mean. They do
not ask you to repeal your laws as a favor;
they claim it as a right — they deraand it .
They tell you, they will not subrait to
them ; and I tell you, the acts must be
repealed; they wfllbe repealed ; you can
not enforce them." — Lord Camden fol
lowed Chatham on the side of America
and equaUed him in every thing, " excep
ting his fire and pathos. In learning,
perspicuity, and pure eloquence probably
no one ever surpassed lord Camden."
He exclaimed — " This I will say, not on
ly as a statesman, politician, and philoso
pher, but as a comraon lav^yer,  my
lords, you have no right to tax America.
I have searched the matter ; I repeat it,
you have no right to tax America ; — the

668

QUINCY.

RALLE.

natural rights of man and the iinrautable
'laws of nature are aU with that people."
— " Kings, Lords, and Comraons may
becorae tyrants as well as others ; tyran
ny in one or more is the sarae ; — it is as
lawful to resist the tyranny of raany as of
one. When Mr. Selden was asked, in
what law book you might find the law for
resisting tyranny, he repUed, ' it has al
ways been the custom of England,' and
' the custom of England' is the law ofthe
land." Supported by such authorities
and by conference with a multitude ofthe
friends of Araerica, and desparing of any
change of raeasures without a previous
struggle, Mr. Quincy, by the advice of
many friends to his country, determined
to return, probably in order by verbal
coramunications to arouse his fellow citi
zens to the mighty contest. Indeed, as
early as Dec. 14, 1774, he wrote — " Let
me tefl you one very serious truth, in
which we are all agreed, your country
men must seal their cause with their
blood.." While in London he was in ac
tive correspondence with Dickinson,
Reed, and other patriots. He erabarked
for Boston, March 16, 1775, with a bad
eough & decUning health. In his last inter
view Dr. Franklin said, that " New Eng
land alone could hold out for ages against
Great Britain and, if they were firm and
united, in 7 years would conquer them."
After being at sea a few weeks, he became
convinced, that his fate was inevitable.
He had but one desire, that he might live
long enough to have an interview with
Samuel Adaras or Joseph Warren. In
the last letter, which he dictated April 21,
he explained the reasons ofhis proceeding
to Araerica so early, against his own in
clinations and prospects as to health.
He had ascertained the sentiments of ma
ny learned and respectable friends of
America in regard to the course of con
duct, exacted by the existing crisis. —
" To commit their sentiments to writing
was neither practicable nor prudent at
this time. To thebosom of a friend they
could intrust what might be of great ad
vantage to ray country. To me that
trust was committed, and I was immedi

ately upon my arrival, to assemble cer
tain persons, to whora I was to corarau-
nicate my trust, and, had God spared
my life, it seeras it would have been of
great service to ray country." — " Had
Providence been pleased, that I should
have reached Araerica six days ago, I
should have been able to converse with
my friends. I am persuaded, that this
voyage and passage are the instruments
to put an end to my being. His holy
wiU be done!" — Such were his last re
corded words. — Perhaps the battie of
Lexington had rendered his communica
tions unnecessary. — He died, when the
vessel was in sight of land, Aprfl 26, 1775,
aged 31 years. The ship, in a few hours,
entered the harbor of filoucester, cape
Ann. His wife, the sister ofthe late dea
con Wm. Phillips, who survived him 23
years, being at this time with her chfld
and parents at their place of refuge at
Norwich, Connecticut, the funeral rites
were performed by the inhabitants of
Gloucester. His remains were after
wards reraoved to Braintree. It was the
strong passion of Mr. Quincy's soul to
becorae, by reason ofhis patriotic labors,
immortal iu the hearts ofhis countrymen.
A just monument to his meraory has been
raised in his Life, written by his son.
Amidst the miserable abandonment of
principle, honor, and country from the
most selfish motives, presented frequent
ly to the eye of every raodern observer
ofpublic men, il is refreshing to behold
the noble, daring, truly patriotic zeal of
such a man, as Josiah Quincy. His son,
Josiah Q., now president of Harvard col
lege, published his " Memoir," Svo. 1825;
to which is added the celebrated writing
— " Observations on the Boston Port Bill,
&c." first printed in 1774.
RALLE, Sebastien, a missionary a-
mong the Indians of North America, a
French Jesuit, arrived at Quebec in Oct.
1689. After travelling in the interior
several years he went to Norridgewock
on the Kennebec river, where he tarried
26 years till his death. Being consider
ed as the inveterate enemy of the Eng
lish, and as stimulating the Indians to

RAMSAY.

669

their frequent depredations, captains
Harmon and Moulton were sent in 172-1
against the village, in which he lived,
They surprised it August 23d, and killed
Ralle, and about 30 Indians, all of whose
scalps were brought away by Harmon.
The Jesuit was found in a wigwam, and
he defended himself with intrepid courage.
He was in the 67 th year of his age. By
his condescending deportment and ad
dress he acquired an astonishing influence
over the Indians. Such was his faithful
ness to the political interests of France,
that he even made the offices of devotion
serve as an incentive to savage ferocity ;
for he kept a flag, on which was depic
ted a cross surrounded with bows and
arrows, and he raised it at the door of
his Uttle church, when he gave absolution
previously to the commencement of any
warlike enterprise. He was a raan of
good sense and learning, and was partic
ularly skilful in Latin, which he wrote
with great purity. He spoke the Abna-
kis language, which was the language of
the Norridgewocks, and was acquainted
with the Huron, Outawis, and Illinois.
In his preaching he was vehement and
pathetic. For the last 19 years his
health was feeble, as his limbs had been
broken by a fall. An ineffectual atte.mpt
was raade to seize him in 1722 ; but
some of his papers were secured, and
among them a dictionary of the Abnakis
language, which is now in the library
of Harvard iiollege. It is a quarto vol
ume of 500 pages. Twoof his letters of
considerable length are preserved in the
lettres edifiantes.
RAMSAY, David, m. d., a physician
and historian, the youngest son of James
R., ari Irish emigrant and farmer, was
born in Lancaster, county, Penns., April
2, 1749, and was graduated at Princeton
college in 1765. Two brothers also re
ceived a public education. He settled in
the practice of physic at Charleston, S.
C, where he was eminent in his profes
sion. During the war he vras a deter
mined whig and a leading member of the
legislature ; he was also a surgeon in the
army. "With 37 other citizens he was

seized by the British Aug. 27, 1780 and
transported to St Augustine, whore he
was detained nearly a year. From 1782
to 1786 he was a respected member of
congress,being for one year the president.
He was subsequently for many yeqrs a
member of the legislature of S. CaroUna,
and president of the senate. He died
May 8, 1815, aged 65. His death was
occasioned by a wound, received frora
an insane man. named Wra. Linning,
who shot him in the back with a large
pistol, loaded with three balls. He suf
fered excruciating pain about 30 hours.
Linning, some years before, had been
brought into court for an attempt to raur-
der,-and, indignant because Dr. R. ex
pressed the opinion, that he was deran
ged, had declared his purpose to take
his life. — His first wife was the daughter
of president Witherspoon ; she died of
the scarlet fever, soon after the birth
ofa son, in 1784. His second wife was
the daughter of Henry Laurens. He
left 4 sons and 4 daughters. — His son.
Dr. John W. R., died in July 1813,
aged 29. — His daughter, Sabina Elliot,
raarried Henry L. Pinckney. — Dr. R.
was for raany years a meraber of the in
dependent or congregational church of
Charleston, and he died in the peace of
the Christian. His life was devoted to
benevolent and patriotic labors. In his
zealous anticipations of public iraprove
raents he was led to invest his property
in projects, by the failure of which he
lost his private fortune. He was a man
of unwearied industry, and most econo
mical of time, usually sleeping only 4
hours. In every relation of Ufe he was ex
emplary. His historical writings are val
uable. He published a history ofthe rev
olution in S. Carolina, 2 vols. Svo. 1785;
history of the American revolution, 2
vols, 1789; review ofthe improvements
&c. of medicine, 1800 ; the life of Wash
ington, 1801 ; medical register, 1802 ;
oration on the acquisition of Louisiana,
1804 ; history of S. CaroUna, ? vols.
1809, with valuable public documents an
nexed ; a biographical chart ; memoirs
of Martha L. Ramsay, ISll ; eulogium

670

RAMSAY.

RANDOLPH.

on Dr. Rush, 1813; history of the U . S.
3 vols. 1816; Universal history Ameri
canized, 8 vols.
RAMSAY, Martha Laurens, the wife
of the preceding, and the daughter of
Henry Laurens, was born Nov. 3, 1759.
After passing ten years in England and
France she returned to this country and
was married in Jan. 1787. She was the
mother of 1 1 children, 8 of whom survived
her. She died June 10, 1811, aged 51.
She was a woman of talents, learning,
and piety. She fitted her sons for col
lege. One of her Sunday employments
was reading the N. T. in Greek with
her sons and in French with her daugh
ters. When, in the absence of her hus
band, she was the head of her family, she
daily prayed with thera and read the
scriptures. Of her benevolence the fol
lowing is an instance. When in France
she received frora her father a present of
500 guineas. With a part of this sura
she purchased and distributed French tes
taments and estabUshed a school at Vi-
gan. Memoirs of her life, with extracts
from her writings, were published by her
husband, 2d. ed. 1812.
RAMSAY, Alexander, m. d., an anat
omist, was a native of England, but resi
ded for many years in this country as a
lecturer on anatomy and physiology. He
died at Parsonsfield, Maine, Nov. 24,
1824, aged about 70. He had been bit
ten two years before by a rattlesnake ;
and he supposed, that his last sickness
was the consequence of the poison, pro
ducing an altered state of the lymphatics
pf his lungs. He was a very skilful anat
omist. He published Anatomy of the
heart, cranium, and brain, with a series
pf plates, 2d. ed. Edinburgh, 1813.
RAND, Isaac, m. d., a physician, the
son of Dr. Isaac R. of Chariestown, Ms.,
was bom AprU 27, 1743 and graduated
at Harvard college in 1761, in which year
he and Samuel Williams accorapanied
professor Winthrop to Newfoundland to
observe the transit of Venus. In 1764
he settled as a physician in Boston, and
rose to erainence. In the revolution he
wag a royalist, but, taking no active part

in politics, he was not molested. He re
mained in Boston, while it was possessed
bythe eneray. From 1798 to 1804 he
was president of the Mass. medical soci
ety. He died Sept. 11, 1822, aged 79.
He was for many years a professor of re
ligion. Such was his charity to the poor,
that he gave them not only his services,
but his money. For years several fami
lies were supported by his bounty. His
manners were dignified and courtly. He
published a tract on Hydrocephalus in-
ternus, and a discourse on the use of the
warm bath and foxglove in phthisis. —
Thacher. RANDOLPH, Peyton, first president
of congress, wasa native of Virginia, of
which colony he was attorney general as
early as 1756. In this year he formed a
company of 100 gentleraan, who engaged
as volunteers against the Indians. He
was afterwards speaker of the house of
burgesses. Being appointed one of the
deputies to the first congress in 1774, he
was, Sept. 5, elected its president. He
was also chosen president of the second
congress May 10, 1775, but on the 24th,
as he was obliged to return to Virginia,
Mr. Hancock, was placed in the chair.
Mr. Randolph afterwards took his seat
again in congress. He died at Philadel
phia ofan apoplectic stroke Oct. 22, 1775,
aged 52.
RANDOLPH, Edraund, governor of
Virginia, was the only son of John R.,
attorney general, who, being a royaUst,
left the country at the beginning of the
revolution with lord Dunmore. He was
bred under his father to the law, but re
fused to accompany him to England.
After seeing a little military service in the
suite of Washington he applied himself
to the profession of the law and was ap-.
pointed attorney general. He was gov
ernor after Patrick Henry, from 1786 to
1788, when he was succeeded by Beverly
Randolph. In 1790 Washington appoin-.
ted him attorney general of the U. S.;
and in 1794 he succeeded Mr. Jefferson
as Secretary of State, but in consequence
of some difficulties with the administra
tion he resigned Aug. 19, 1795, In his

RAWSON.

REDMAN.

671

private affairs he was much embarrassed.
Hedied in Frederic county, Va., Sept
12, 1813. His wife was a daughter of
Robert Carter Nicholas, treasurer under
the royal government ; and by her he
had several children. He published a
Vindication of hisresignatiori, 1795.
RAWSON, GrindaU,minister of Men
don, Mass., was graduated at Harvard
cpllege in 1678, and was ordained succes
sor of Mr. Emerson about the year 1680,
when there were but about twenty fanri-
lies in the town. Such was his benevo
lence, that he studied the Indian lan
guage, that he raight be able to preach
the gospel of salvation to the Indians in
Mendon. He usuaUy preached to them in
their own tongue every Sunday evening.
His discouragements were great, for
he had but little success; but he persever
ed in his humane exertions. He died
Feb. 6, 1715 aged 56, being highly res
pected for his talents, piety, and benevo
lence. He was succeeded by Mr. Dorr.
When on his sick bed, as he was remin
ded ofhis faithfulness in the service of
God, he repUed, " O, the great imperfec
tion I have been guilty of ! How little
have I done for God ! " He continued,
" if it were not for the imperfection of
the saints, there would be no need of a
Savior. In the Lord Jehovah I have
righteousness and strength." The last
words, which he uttered, were, " come,
Lord Jesus, come quickly." He publish
ed the election serraon, 1709. — C. Math
er's death of good men.
RAY, WflUara, a poet, was born in
Salisbury, Conn., Dec. 9, 1771. He had
but little education. After several ineffec
tual atterapts to provide for his family,
he safled to the Mediterranean in 1803
on board the frigate Philadelphia, which
struck upon a rock near Tripoli and fell
into the hands of the TripoUtans. He
was a slave for a year and a half, and
his sufferings were great. In 1809 he
settled in Essex county, N. Y. ;but was
unsuccessful in trade. In the war of
1812 he was a major in the detached
militia. He afterwards lived in Ononda
ga ; and died at Auburn in 1827. His

volume of poems was published in 1821.
In the exordium he says,
" When you're captured by a Turk,
Sit down and write a bettor work."
— Spec. Amer. pod.ii. 137 .
READ, George, chiefjustice of Dela
ware, a patriot of the revolution, was of
Irish descent and born in Maryland in
1734. After he was adraitted to the bar
he relinquished to his brothers his right
to two shares of his father's estate. He
was attorney general of the 3 lower
counties frora 1763 till 1775. In Aug.
1774 he was chosen a raeraber of con
gress & continued in that body during the
revolutionary war. Though he voted
against the declaration of independence,
thinking it premature, yet he signed the
instrument, and was truly a friend of his
country. He presided in the convention,
which forraed the first constitution of
Delaware, and was a meraber of that,
which formed the constitution of the U.
S. He was also a senator of the U. S.,
and chief justice from 1793 till his death
in the autumn of 1798, aged 64. He
was a distinguished judge, and in private
life respectable and estimable. — Good
rich. RED JACKET, chiefof the Seneca
Indians, died near Buffalo, N. Y., Jan,
20, 1830, aged SO. His Indian name was
Sagryuwhahad, Keeper Awake . He had
always strenuously opposed the introduc
tion of Chrislianitjr,of schools,& bf the arts
of civilized life among his people. Before
his death he was restored to his dignity
of chief, from which he had been deposed
a few years for his intemperance and
other vices. His people were divided
into the Christian party and the heathen
party. He died a pagan ; requesting his
wife to put into his hand,when he should
be about to die, a vial of water, that, aa
as the devil might attempt to take his
soul, he might thus be secure. This
expedient might have been the result ofa
dream, or. of the cathohc practice of
sprinkUng with holy water.
REDMAN, John. m. d., first presi
dent ofthe college of physicians of Phila
delphia, was borri in that, city Feb. 27,

672

REDMAN.

REED.

1722. After finishing his preparatory
education in Mr. Tennent's academy, he
entered upon the study of physic with
John..Kearsely, then one of the raost
respectable physicians of Philadelphia.
When he coraraenced the practice of his
profession he went to Berrauda, where
he continued for several years. Thence
he proceeded to Europe for the purpose of
perfecting his acquaintance with raedi-
cine. He lived one year in Edinburgh ;
he attended lectures, dissections, and the
hospitals in Paris ; he was graduated at
Leyden in July 1748 ; and after passing
sorae time at Grey's hospital he returned
to America, and settled in his native city,
where he soon gained great and deserved
celebrity. In the evening of his life he
withdrew from the labors of his profes
sion ; but it was only to engage in busi
ness of another kind. In the year 1784
he was elected an elder of the second
presbyterian church, and the benevolent
duties of this office employed him and
gave hira deUght. The death of his
younger daughter in 1806 was soon suc
ceeded by the death of his wife, with
whom he had Uved near 60 years. He
himself died ofthe apoplexy March 19,
1808, aged 86. He was below- the mid
dle stature ; his complexion was dark
and his eyes animated. In the forraer
part of his life he possessed an irritable
temper, but his anger was transient, and
he was known to make acknowledgments
to his pupils and servants for a hasty ex
pression. He was a decided friend to
depletion in all the violent diseases of our
country. He bled freely in the yellow
fever of 1762, and threw the weight of
his venerable name into the scale ofthe
same remedy in the year 1793. Inthe
diseases of old age he considered small
and frequent bleedings as the first of rem- ,
edies. He entertained a high opinion of
mercury in aU chronic diseases, and he
gave it inthe natural small pox with the
view of touching the salivary glands
about the turn of the pock. He intro
duced the use of turbith mineral as an
emetic in the gangrenous sore throat of
1764. Towards the close of his life he

read the later medical writers and em-«
braced with avidity some of the modern
opinions and modes of practice. In a
sick room his talents were peculiar. He
suspended pain by his soothing' manner,
or chased it away by his conversation,
which was occasionally facetious and
full of anecdotes, or serious arid instruc
ting. He was reraarkably attached to all
the members of his family. At the fu
neral of his brother, Joseph R. in 1779,
after the corapany were assembled he
rose from his seat, and, grasping the life
less hand of his brother, said, " I de
clare in the presence of God and of this
company, that in the whole course of our
lives no angry word nor look has ever
passed between this dear brother and rae."
He then kneeled down by the side ofhis
coffin, and implored the favor of God to
his widow and children. He was an emi
nent Christian. While he was not a-
sharaed of the gospel of Christ,he thought
hurably of himself, and lamented his slen
der attainments in religion. His piety
was accompanied by benevolence and
charity. He gave liberally to the poor.
Such was the cheerfulness ofhis temper,
that upon serious subjects he was never
gloomy. He spoke often of death, and
ofthe scenes, which await the soul after
its separation from the body, with per
fect composure. He published an inau
gural dissertation on abortion, 1748,
and a defence of inoculalion, 1759.
REDWOOD, Abraham, a ftiend of
learning, died at Newport, R. Island, in
March 1788. He was the founder of
the Redwood library, to which he gave
5000Z. REED, Joseph, general, presidentof
Pennsylvania, was born in N. Jersey
Aug. 27, 1741 and graduated at Prince
ton in 1757. He studied law with R.
Stockton ; also at the Temple in Lon
don. On his return he resided in Phila
delphia, where he was one ofthe com
mittee of correspondence in 1774 and
president of the convention. He accom
panied Washington to Cainbridge in
July 1775, and as his aid and secretary
remained with him during the campaign.

REED,
In the campaign of 1776 he was adjutant
general, and proved himself a brave, ac
tive, and useful officer. By direction of
Washington he co-operated in the affair
of Princeton by attacking the neighbor
ing British posts. In the spring of 1777
he was appointed a general officer in the
cavalry, hut declined the station, though
he still attended the army. He was en
gaged in the battle of Gerraantown. In
1777 he was chosen a meraber of congress.
In May 1778 when he was a member of
congress, the three coraraissioners from
England arrived in America. Governor
Johnstone, one of thera, addressed pri
vate letters to F. Dana, R. Morris, and
Mr. Reed to secure their influence tow
ards the restoration of harraony, giving
to the two latter intimations of honors
and emoluments. But he addressed hira
self to men, who were firm in their at
tachraent to Araerica. Mr. Reed had a
yet severer trial, for direct propositions
were raade to hira in June through the a-
gency ofan accorapUshed Araeriean lady,
known to be Mrs. Ferguson, wife of
Henry Hugh F.,a Scotchraan, who joined
the British . She assured hira as frora
governor Johnstone, that ten thousand
pounds sterling, and the best office in the
gift ofthe crown in America shouldbe at
his disposal, if he could effect a re-union
ofthe two countries. He replied, that he
was not worth purchasing; but, such as
he was, the king of Great Britain was
not rich enough ta do it. In Oct. 1778
he was chpsen president of Pennsylvania,
and he continued in this office till Oct.
1781. During his administration violent
parties sprung up from various causes,
as the paper currency, opposition to the
state constitution, and personal ambition,
and he -was rudely assailed, as many other
fllustrious men have been, in the public
papers, the vehicles of passion and slan
der. Yet he remained in office so long,
as he was eligible ; and then returned to
the profession of the law. He was con
tent to rest the merits of his administra
tion on the arrangements for estabUshing
the university, for the gradual abolition
of slavery, and the demolition of pioprie-
85

REEVE.

673

tary power. He ever enjoyed the confi
dence of Washington and Green. In
1784 he visited England for hishealth.
He died March 4, 1785, aged 42. His
wife was the daughter of Dennis De
Berdt, an eminent merchant of London
and agent for Massachusetts ; his son,
Jos.R. is a respected citizen of Philadel
phia; his youngest son, Geo. W.R., educa
ted at Princeton,served under Decatur iu
1804 ; comraanded the Vixen, brig of war,
in the war of^ 1812 ; and died a prisoner
in England. Gen. R . was pure in m.or-
als and polished in manners. He pub
lished remarks on Johnstone's speech,with
papers relative to his propositions, &c.
1779 ; Remarks on a publication in the
gazetteer, with an address to the people
on the many libels &c. 1783. This was
addressed to gen. Cadwallader, who re
plied. — Marshall, m. 529, 544 ; Rogers.
REESE, Thomas, d. d., minister in
S. CaroUna, was graduated at the coUege ,
ofN. Jersey in 1768, and was for several
years settled over the presbyterian church
at Salem, S. CaroUna. He died at
Charleston in Aug. 1796. He published
an essay on the influence of religion in
civfl society, 1788; death of Christians
is gain, in American preacher, i ; and the
character of Haraan, in vol. ii.
REEVE, Tapping, chief justice of
Conn., the son of Abner R., minister of
Brookhaven, L. I., was born in Oct,
1744; was graduated in 1763 at Prince
ton college ; and entered upon the profes
sion of the law at Litchfield, Conn., in
1772. He was a patriot in the time of
the revolution. He was a judge of the
superior court from 1798 tiU he was 70
years old. In 1792 he coraraenced a law
school, and continued to give lectures to
students at law nearly 30 years tiU 1820.
His pupils were numerous. He died
Dec. 13, 1823, aged 79. His first wife,
the daughter of president Burr, was in
feeble health, demanding his care, for 20
years. His only child, Aaron Burr R.,
died Sept. 1, 1809, aged 28.- Hewasnot
only a profound lawyer, but also an erai
nent Christian. Much of his tirae was
employed in devotion. He was acoestom-

674

RHODE ISLAND;

RIDGELY.

ed to pray particularly for the conversion
of individuals among his acquaintance.
His charities were extensive. His minis
ter said of hira — " I have never known a
man, who loved so many persons with
such ardor, and was hiraself beloved by
so many." — Beecher's fun. serm.
RHODE ISLAND, one of the Uni
ted States, was first settled from Massa
chusetts, and its settlement was owing to
religious persecution.- Roger WiUiaras
in 1636 laid the foundation ofthe town of
Providence. In 1 638 John Clarke and
others purchased of the Indian sachems
Aquetneck, or the principal island, which
was called Rhode Island,and incorporated
themselves into a body politic, making
choice of William Coddington as their
chief magistrate. In 1644 Roger Wil
liams, who had been sent to England as
agent, obtained a patent for the Provi
dence plantations. They were however
incorporated with Rhode Island under one
government in 1647, in which year the
first general assembly was held. The
executive power was placed in the hands
of a president and four assistants. A
charter was given by king Charles II in
1663, which vested the legislative power
in an assembly, of which the governor
and assistants were members. Nothing
but allegiance was reserved to the king.
Since this period the forra of government
has suffered very little alteration. An
act was passed in 1663, declaring that all
men of competent estates and good con
duct, who professed Christianity, with
the exception of Roman Catholics, should
be admitted freemen. In 1 665 the gov
ernment passed an order to outlaw qua
kers and seize their estates, because they
would not bear arms ; but the people
would not suffer it to be carried into effect.
The toleration, which was practised in
this colony from the beginning, does
much honor to its founder . A quo war
ranto was issued against the colony in
1 685. At the close of the foUowing year
Andros assumed the government ; but
after his imprisonment in 1 689 the char
ter was resumed. During the war with
Great Britain the inhabitants of Rhode

Island manifested a becoming spirit.
This state was admitted into the union in
1789. RICE, JohnH., d.d., professor in the
Union theological school in Prince Ed
ward county, Virginia, was for many
years a distinguished minister in that
state. The theological seminary was es
tablished in 1824. Hedied Sept 3, 1831,
aged 52. Memoirs of his Ufe, prepared
by Mr. Maxwell, are soon to be published.
A paper of "Resolutions" was found - in
his pocket book, among -which were the
following: — "never spare person, proper
ty, or reputation, if I can do gbod ; nec-
essary,that I should die poor. — Endeavor
to feel kindly to every one ; never indulge
anger, envy, jealousy towards any human
being. Endeavor to act so as to advance
the present comfort, the intellectual ira
proveraent, and the purity and moral
good of aU ray fellow men." He was for
some years the editor of the Virginia E-
vangelical and Literary magazine. He
pubUshed memoirs of S. Davies ; an il
lustration ofthe presbyterian church in
Virginia, 1816 ; on the qualifications for
the minister, in the quarterly register ; a
discourse before the foreign board of mis
sions, 1828.
RICHARDS, James, a mi-sslonary,
was born in Abington, Mass., Feb. 23,
1784 ; his parents, while he was young, .
removed to Plainfield. He graduated at
Wflliams college in 1809, being there
the associate of Mills. Having studied
theology at Andover and medicine at
Philadelphia, he erabarked for Ceylon in
Oct. 1815. Of a pulraonary disorder,
which interrupted his raissionary labors,
he died Aug. 3,1822,aged 28. His widow,
SarahBardwell of Goshen, a sister of Mr.
Bardwell, the missionary, married Rev.
Joseph Knight, and died at Nellore April
26, 1825. He was eminently pious and
died in peace. — Miss, herald, 19 : 241-
247. RIDGELY, Charles, a physician, the
son of Nicholas R. of Dover, Delaware,
wasborn Jan. 26, 1738. Having studied
medicine in Philadelphia, he settled in
Dover in 1758, and there passed his Ufe

RIPLEY.

RITTENHOUSE.

675

in extensive practice and high reputation.
He was often also a meraber of the legisla
ture, and a judge in several coarts. He
died Aug. 25, 1785, aged 47. By his
first wife his son was Nicholas R., chan
cellor of Delaware ; by his second wife
his son -was Henry Moore.R., a senator
of the U. S. ; his daughter, Mary, mar
ried Dr. Wm. W. Morris, of Dover.—
He -was a man of intelUgence, judgment,
and learning, and amiable in the relations
of life. Of the episcopal church he was
an exemplary meraber. To the religious
education of his children he was very at
tentive, deeraing merely intellectual cul
ture without the discipline of the jias-
sions and ofthe heart of Uttle value. To
his children and all around him he recom
mended the diUgent study of the scrip
tures. — Thacher.
RIPLEY, Sylvanus, first professor of
divinity in Dartraouth college, was a
graduate of the first class in 1771 and
was early ordained as a missionary among
the Indians. He returned from amission
in Sept. 1772, bringing with him ten In
dian boys from Cahgnawaga and the tribe
at Loretto to be educated in Moor's
school,of which he was the preceptor from
,1775 to 1779. He was appointed profes
sor of divinity in 1782, and was a preach
er to the church connected with the col
lege. He died, in consequence of an in
jury received while riding in a sleigh, in
1787, aged about 37. His widow, Abi
gail, the daughter of president E. Whee
lock, died at Fryeburg, Maine, in April,
1818 : his daughter, the wife of Judah
Dana, died also in Fryeburg ; his son,
gen. Eleazer W.R., who was distinguish
ed on the Canadian frontier iu the war of
1812, resides in West Feliciana, Louisia
na ; his son, general James W. R., is
the collector at Passamaquoddy, Maine.
RITTENHOUSE, David, ll. d. f.
R. s., an eminent philosopher, was descen
ded from ancestors, who emigrated from
HoUand, and was born in Germantown,
Penns., Aprfl 8, 1732. The early part
of his life was spent in agricultural em
ployments ; and his plough, the fences,
and even the stones ofthe field were inar-

ked with figures, which denoted a talent
for matheraatical studies. A delicate con
stitution rendering him unfit for the la
bors of husbandry, he devoted himself to
learning the trade of a clock and math
eraatical instrument maker. In these arts
he was his own instructer. During his
residence witb his father in the country
he made himself master of Newton's
principia, which he read in the English
translation of Mott. In this retired situ
ation, while working at his trade, he plan
ned and executed an orrery, by which he
represented the revolutions ofthe heaven
ly bodies more completely, than ever be
fore had been done. This masterpiece
of mechanisra was purchased by the col
lege of N. Jersey. A second was made
by him, after the same model, for the use
of the college of Philadelphia. In 1770
he was induced by the urgent request of
sorae friends, who knew his merit, to ex
change his beloved retirement for a resi
dence in Philadelphia. In this city he
continued his employment for several
years ; and his clocks had a high reputa
tion, and his mathematical instruments
were thought superior to those imported
from Europe. His first communication
to the philospbical societyof Philadelphia,
of which he was elected a member, was a
calculation of the transit of Venus, as it
was to happen June 3, 1769. He was
one of those appointed to observe it iu the
township of Norriton. This phenome
non had never been seen but twice before
by any inhabitant of our earth, and would
never be seen again by any person then
fiving. The day arrived, and there was
no cloud in the horizon ; the observers
waited for the predicted moment of obser
vation ; it carae, and in the instant of
contact between the planet and sun an
eraotion of joy so powerful was excited in
the breast of Mr. Rittenhouse, that he
fainted. Nov. 9th he observed the tran
sit of Mercury. An accourit of these
observations was pubUshed in the trans
actions of the society. In 1775 he was
appointed one of the commissioners for
settUng a territorial dispute between
Pennsylvania and Virginia j and to his

676

RITTENHOUSE.

ROBBINS.

talents, moderation, and firmness was as
cribed in a great degree its satisfactory
adjustment in 1785. He assisted in de
termining the western limits of Pennsyl
vania in 1784,and the northern line of the
same state in 1786. He was also called
upon to assist in fixing the boundary line
between Massachusetts and New York
in 1787. In his excursions through the
wilderness he carried with hira his habits
of inquiry and observation. In 1791, he
was chosen president of the philosophical
Sbciety as successor to Dr. Franklin, and
was annually re-elected till his death.
His unassuming dignity secured to hira
respect. Soon after he accepted the pres
ident's chair he raade to the society a
donation of SOOi. He held the office of
treasurer of Pennsylvania by an annual
vote of the legislature frora 1777 to 1789.
In this period he declined purchasing the
sraallest portion of the public debt of the
state, lest his integrity should be irapeach-
ed. In 1792 he accepted the office of di
rector of the mint of the U. S. , but his ill
state of health induced him to resign it in
1795. In his last illness, which was a-
cute and short, he retained the usual pa
tience and benevolence of his temper.
He died June 26, 1796, aged 64, inthe
full belief of the Christian religion, and in
the anticipation of clearer discoveries of
the perfections of God in theeternal world.
He was a man of extensive knowledge.
From the French, German, and Dutch
languages he derived the discoveries of
foreign nations. In his political senti
ments he was a repubUcan ; he was
taught by his father to admire an elec
tive and representative government ;
he early predicted the immense in
crease of talents and knbwledge, which
would be infused into the American mind
by our republican constitutions ; and he
anticipated the blessed effects of our revo
lution in sowing the seeds of a new or
der of things in other parts of the world.
He believed poUtical as well as moral evil
to be intruders into the society of man.
In the more limited circles of private Ufe
he comraanded esteem and affection. His
house and his manner of Uving exhibited

the taste of a philosopher, the simplicity
ofa repubUcan, and the temper of a Chris
tian. He possessed rare modesty. His
researches into natural philosophy gave
hirri just ideas of the divine perfections,
for his mind was not pre-occupied in ear
ly life wilh the fictions of ancient poets
and the vices of the heathen gods. But
he did not confine hiraself to the instruc
tions of nature ; he beUeved the Christian
revelation. He observed as an arguraent
in favor of its truth, that the rairacles of
our Savior differed from all pretended
miracles in being entirely of a benevolent
nature. The testimony ofa man posses
sed of so e.Kalted an understanding out
weighs the declamation of thousands.
He published an oration, delivered before
the philosophical society, 1775, the sub
ject of which is the history of astronomy,
and a few meraoirs on mathematical and
astronomical subjects in the first four vol
umes of the transactions of the society.
ROANE, Spencer, judge, was born in
Essex, Va., April 4, 1762, and thorough
ly studied law with Mr.Wylhe & in Phil
adelphia. He was early elected a member
of the assembly ; then of the council, and
senate. In 1789 he was appointed a
judge of the general court, and in 1794,
at the ageof 33, a judge of the court of
errors in the place of Mr. Tazewell, who
resigned. In 1819 he was one of the
commissioners for locating the university.
He died Sept. 4, 1 822, aged 60. His wife
was a daughter of Patrick Henry. In his
poUtics he was a republican ; an adherent
of Mr. Jefferson. He published in the
Richmond Inquirer several essays, signed
Algernon Sydney, asserting the suprema
cy of the state in a question of conflicting
authority between Virginia and theU. S.
ROBBINS, Chandler, u. d., minister
of Plymouth Mass., the son of Philemon
R., minister of Branford, Conn., was
born Aug. 24, 173S, and was graduated
at Yale college in 1756. Jan. 30, 1760
he -was ordained at Plymouth as succes
sor of Mr. Leonard. Here he continued
tiU his death June 30, 1799, aged 60.
His son, Samuel Prince R,, rainister of
Marietta,- died in Sept. 1830, aged 45.

ROBERTS.

ROBINSON.

677

He was succeeded by James Kendall.
He was a man of eminent talents, and
he discharged the duties of a rainister of
the gospel with unabating zeal and fideli
ty. Searching the scriptures for religious
truth and coinciding in the result of his
investigations with the sentiraents of the
founders of the first church in N. E.,
he inculcated the doctrines of the gospel
with energy and fervor. He was un
wearied in his endeavors to impress the
thoughtless, and to render sinful men
holy. In private and social life he was
amiable and exemplary. He published
a serraon on the death of E . Watson,
1767 ; a reply to J. Cotton ; sorae brief
remarks on a piece by J. Cotton in an
swer to the preceding, 1774 ; election
serraon, 1791 ; at the convention ; on the
landing of our forefathers, 1794; before
the huraane society, 1796. — Shaw's serm.
on his death.
ROBERTS, Charles, reraarkable for
longevity, died in Berkeley county, Vir
ginia, Feb. 17, 1796, aged 116. He
was a native of Oxfordshire, England,
but had resided in America about SO
years. During his long Ufe he never
knew sickness.
ROBERTS, William, published an
account ofthe discovery and natural his
tory of Florida, 4to. 1763.
ROBINSON, John, minister bf the
English church at Leyden, a part of
which first settled N. England in 1620,
wasborn in Great Britain in 1575, and
educated at Cambridge. After holding
for some time a benefice near Yarmouth
in Norfolk, when a society of dissenters
was formed in the north of England
about the year 1602, he was chosen their
pastor wilh Clifton. Persecution drove
his congregation into Holland in 1608,
and he soon followed them. At Am.ster-
dam, where they found eraigrants of the
same religious sentiments, they remained
about a year ; but as the minister, J.
Smith, was unsteady in his opinions, Mr.
Robinson proposed a removal to Leyden.
Here they continued 11 years, and their
numbers so increased, that they had in
the church 300 communicants. They

were distinguished ibr perfect harmony
araong theraselves and for friendly inter
course with the Dutch. Mr. Robinson,
when he first went into Holland, was a
raost rigid separatist frora the church ( f
England ; but by conversation wilh Dr.
Araes and R. Parker he was convinced
ofhis error and becarae raore moderate,
though he condemned the use of the lit
urgy and the indiscriminate admission to
the sacraments. In 1613 Episcopius,
one of the professors of the university of
Leyden, the successor of Arminius, and
of thesame doctrine with him, published
some theses, which he engaged to defend
against all opposers. Mr. Robinson,
being earnestly requested to accept the
challenge by Polyander, the other profes
sor, who was a Calvinist, held the dis
putation in the presence of a numerous
assembly, and completely foiled Episco
pius, his antagonist. In 1617, when
another removal was contemplated, Mr.
Robinson entered zealously intb the plan
of making a settlement in America. His
church was Uable to be corrupted by the
loose habits ofthe Dutch, and he wished
it to be planted in a country, where it
might subsist in purity. The first set
tlers of Plymouth in 1620, who took with
them Mr. Brewster, the ruling elder,
were the members of his church, and it
was his intention to follow thera with the
raajority, that reraained ; but various dis-
appointraents prevented. He died Feb.
19, 1625, aged 49. A part of his church
and his widow and children afterwards
carae to N. England. Isaac R., his son,
died at Scituate aged above 90 ; John,
another son, lived at cape Ann, and his
son, Abrahara, died aged 102. — He was
a man of good genius, quick penetration,
ready wit, great modesty, integrity, and
candor. His classical learning & acute
ness in disputation were acknowledged
by his opponents. He was also dis
cerning and prudent in civil affairs. In
his principles of church government he
was hiraself an independent or congre-
gationalist, being of opinion, that every
church is to consist only of such, as ap
pear to beUeve in and obey Christ ; that

678

ROBINSON.

ROGERS.

the members have a right to choose
their own officers, which are pastors or
teaching elders, ruling elders, and dea
cons ; that elders, being ordained, have
no power but by consent ofthe brethren;
that all elders and churches are equal ;
and that only the children of comrauni
cants are to be admitted to baptism.
He celebrated the supper every Lord's
day. In his farewell address to the first
emigrants to N.England, he said to them,
— "If God reveal any thing to you by
any other instruraent ofhis, be as ready
to receive it, as ever you were to receive
any truth by my ministry ; for I am
verily persuaded — I ara very confident,
that the Lord has more truth yet to
break forth out of his holy word. For
my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the
condition of the reformed churches, who
are come to a period in reUgion, and will
go at present no further, than the instru
ments of their reformation. The Luther
ans cannot be drawn to go beyond what
Luther saw: whatever part of his wUl
our good God has revealed to Calvin,
they will rather die than embrace it. And
the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where
they were left by that great man
of God, who yet saw not aU things."
He published a defence ofthe Brownists;
justification of the separation from the
church of England ; people's plea for the
exercise of prophesying, 1618; essays
moral and divine, 1628. — Belknap's
fAmer. biog. a. 151-178.
ROBINSON, Moses, second governor
of Vermont, succeeded Mr. Chittenden in
J789 and was succeeded by him in 1790.
He was afterwards a senator of the U. S.,
in the administration of Mr. Adams.
His poUtics were repubUcan ; he was
opposed to Jay's treaty. He died at Ben
nington May 26, 1813, aged 72. His son,
Moses R., died at Bennington in Jan.
1825, aged 61.
ROBINSON, Joriathari, chief justice
of Vermont, the brother of the precedirig,
died at Bennington Nov.S, 1819, aged
64. He was chosen chief justice in
1801 in the place of Mr. Smith, and suc
ceeded him also in 1806 as a senator in

congress. He was also a senator in 1815.
RODGERS, John, d. d., minister
in New York, was born in Boston,
Mass., August 2, 1757. His pa
rents having removed to Philadelphia, he
was educated for the ministry by Mr.
Blair. It was by means of the preaching
of Mr. Whitefield, that his mind was im
pressed by religious truth. He was or
dained March 16, 1749 at St George's,
Delaware, where his labors were very
useful until July 1765, when the synod
sent him to New York. Upon the death
of Mr. Bostwick he became colleague
pastor in the church, in Wall street, then
the only presbyterian church in the city.
He died in the triumph of the beUever
May 7, 181 1, aged 83. His widow died
March 15, 1812, aged 87. He was the
intimate friend of president Da-vies, after
whose death the raother, of president D.
resided in his faraily. As a preacher he
was energetic, zealous, and faithful. For
his excellent character he was highly res
pected. Several of his serraons are
found in the Araeriean preacher. His
Life was published by Samuel Miller.
RODNEY, Caesar, president of Dela
ware, the descendant ofan ancient Eng
lish family, the son of William R., was
born in Dover, Delaware, about 1730.
He inherited a large real estate. In 1765
he was a member of the congress at New
York. He early resisted the tyrannical
claims of Great Britain. Being a raem
ber of the congress of 1774, he was
placed on several important committees.
He voted for the declaration of indepen
dence in 1776. After the first constitu
tion of Delaware was adopted, he was the
president ofthe state from 1778 till 1782,
when he was succeeded by John Dickin
son ; during this difficult period his ener
gy afforded efficient aid to Washington in
the prosecution of the war. A cancer on
his face, which for many years had afflic
ted him, was the cause of his death early
in 1783. He was a man of patriotic
feeling apd generous character. — Good
rich. ROGERS, Nathaniel, ministerof Ips
wich, Mass., was the son of Rev. John

ROGERS.

679

Rogers of Dedham, in England, and a
grandson of John Rogers, the martyr.
He was born in 1598, and was educated
at Emanuel college, Cambridge. The
evils, to which his puritan principles ex
posed him, induced him to come to N.
England. He sailed June 1, 1636 ; but
did not^cast anchor in Mass. bay till Nov.
1 6th. In the following year he was a
member of the' synod together with Mr.
Partridge, who came in the same vessel.
He was settled in the place of Mr. Ward
as colleague with Mr. Norton at Ipswich
Feb. 20,1639, and died July 3, 1655,aged
57. His son, John, was president of
Harvard college ; his only daughter mar
ried Rev.Wm. Hubbard. As a preacher
he possessed a lively eloquence, which
charmed his hearers. Though one of
the greatest men among the first settlers
ofN. E., he was very humble, modest,
and reserved. He published a letter to a
member of the house of commons in 1643,
in which he pleads for a reformation of
church affairs, and he left in manuscript a
vindication of the congregational church
government in Latin. JIfag-Ti. iii. 104-108.
ROGERS, Ezekiel first minister of
Rowley Mass., a cousin ofthe preceding,
was born in England in 1590, the son of
Richard Rogers of Wethersfield. After
being educated at Cambridge, he became
the chaplain of sir Francis Barrington.
His preaching was in a strain of oratory,
wich deUghted his hearers. He after
wards received the benefice of Rowley,
where his benevolent labors were atten
ded with great success. At length his
nonconformity obliged him to seek a re
fuge from persecution in New England,
where he arrived in 1638, bringing with
him a number of respectable famiUes. He
coramenced the plantation at Rowley in
April 1639, and Dec. 3, was ordained.
He died after a fingering sickness Jan.
23, 1661, aged 70. His 3d wife was the
daughter of John Wilson. His library
he bequeathed to Harvard college, and
his house and lands to the town for the
support ofthe ministry. In the latter part
of his life it pleased God to overwhelm
him with calamities. A fall from his

horse deprived him of the use of his
right hand ; much of his property was
consumed by fire; and he buried two
wives and all his children. He was
pious, zealous, and persevering. His fee
ble health induced him when in England
to study the science of medicine. Though
his strong passions sometimes misled bun ;
yet he was so humble as readily to ac
knowledge his error. He preached the
election sermon in 1643, in which he ve
hemently exhorted his hearers never to
choose the same man governor for two
successive years ; but his exhortation was
disregarded, for Mr. Winthrop was re
elected. — Magnalia, iii. 101-104.
ROGERS, John, president of Har
vard college, was graduated in this semi
nary in 1649. He -ft'as the son ofN.
Rogers, with whom he preached some
time as an assistant at Ipswich, but at
length his inclination to the study of
physic withdrew his attention from theo
logy. After the death of president
Oakes he was elected his successor in,
Aprfl 1682, and was installed Aug. 12,
1683. Hedied suddenly July 2, 1684,
the day after commencement, aged 53,
and was succeeded by Increase Mather.
He was remarkable for the sweetness of
his temper, and he united to unfeigned
piety the accomplishments of the gentle
man . His wife was EUzabeth Dennison j
his daughter married president Leverett;
his son, Daniel, a physician in Ipswich,
died in a snow storm on Hampton beach
Dec. 1, 1722, leaving a son, Daniel, the
minister of Littieton, who died Nov.
1782, aged 75; his son, Nathaniel, was
the minister of Portsmouth, and died,
Oct. 3, 1723, aged 53 ; his son, John,
the minister of Ipswich, died Dec. 28,
1745, aged 78, leaving three sons, who
were ministers, — John of Kittery, who
in Oct. 16, 1773, aged. 81, Nathaniel of
Ipswich, a colleague, who died in 1775,
aged 72, and Daniel of Exeter, who died
in Dec. 1785, aged 79. John R., the
rainister of Gloucester, who died Oct. 4,
1782, aged 63, was the son of J. R. of
Kittery, or EUot. Truly this was a fam
ily of ministers. — Magn. iv. 130.

680

ROGERS-

ROOT.

ROGERS, Robert, major, the son of
James R., an Irishman, an early settler
of Dunbarton, N. H., commanded a cora
pany in the war of 1755, and " Rogers'
Rangers " were celebrated for their ex
ploits. March 13, 1758 with 170 raen he
fought 100 French and 600 Indians; after
losing 100 raen SckiUing 1 50 he retreated.
In 1759 he was sent by Amherst from
Crown Point to destroy the Indian vil
lage of St. Francis, which service was
performed ; 200 Indians were killed. O-
bliged to return by the way of the Conn.
river, the party suffered great hardships.
After serving in the Cherokee war he
was appointed in 1766 governor of Mich-
ilUraackinac. Accused of a plot for'
plundering the fort and joining the
French, he was sent in irons to Montreal
and tried by a court martial. In 1769 he
went to England and was presented to
the king; but was soon imprisoned for
debt. In the war of the revolution he
joined the enemy, and, while command
ing a corps at an outpost near Marro-
neck, narrowly escaped being taken pris
oner Oct. 21, 1776 by a party sent out
by lord Stirling. He soon went to Eng
land. His name is included in the act
ofN. H. against tories of Nov. 19, 1778.
His father was shot in the woods, being
mistaken for a bear; his brother, capt.
James R., died at Louisbourg ; his broth
er, Richard, was slain in 1756. — He pub
lished a concise account of N. America,
London, 1765 ; Journals of the French
war, 1765; this was republished, entitled,
Reminiscences of the French war, with
the Ufe of Stark,12mo.Concord,1831 .
ROGERS, Wflliam, d. d., a rainister,
in Philadelphia, was born at Newport,
R. I., July 22, 1751, and was the first
student at the college of R. I. ; graduating
in 1769. In May 1771 he was ordained
over the first baptist church in Philadel
phia. During 5 years he was a chaplain
in the array. In 1789 he was appointed
professor of belles lettres in the college
of Philadelphia, which office he cesigned
in 1812. He died Aprfl 24, 1824, aged
73. He pubUshed a serraon on the death
of Rev. O. Hr-.rt, 1796.

ROMEYN, Theodoric Dirck, d.d.,
ministerof Schenectady, N. Y.. theson
of Nicholas R., was born Jan. 12, 1744
at New Barbadoes, N. Jersey. His ear
ly studies were directed by his brother,
Thomas R., then a minister in Delaware.
He graduated at Princeton in 1765;
ordained by the Coetus over the Dutch
church in Ulster county May 14, 1766,
and afterwards installed at Hackensack,
where he remained untfl his removal to
Scheneciady in Nov. 1784. In 1797 he
was appointed professor of theology in
the Dutch church. The establishraent
ofthe college at Schenectady is principal
ly to be ascribed to his efforts. He died
AprU 16, 1804, aged 60. His colleague,
Mr. Meyer, represents himasason-of
thunder in the pulpit. He was highly
instrumental in promoting the indepen
dence of the Dutch churches, or their
separation frora the jurisdiction of Hol
land. His only son. Dr. John B. R.,
successively ministerof Rhinebeck, Sche
nectady, Albany, and Cedar street, N.
York, died Feb. 22, 1325, aged 46 ;
whose sermons were pubUshed 2 vols.
1816. ROOT, Jesse, judge, a patriot of the
revolution, the son of Ebenezer R., and
grandson of Thomas R., both of whom
removed from Northampton to Coven
try, Conn., was born in Jan. 1737 ; his
mother was Sarah Strong, daughter of
Joseph S., also from Northampton.
Having graduated at Princeton college in
1756, he preached about three years, and
then in consequence ofthe circumstances
of his faraily was induced to study law.
In 1763 he was admitted lo the bar. Re
siding at Hartford, early in 1777 he faised
a corapany and marched to join the army
of Washington, and was made a lieut.
colonel. From May 1779 till the close
ofthe war he was a member of congress.
In 17S9 he was appointed ajudge of the
superior court and was chief justice from
1796 till his resignation in 1807, on reach
ing the age of 70. He died March 29,
1822, aged 85. As ajudge he was learn
ed and dignified. He was through life a
man of exemplary piety. To the great

ROSS.

RUSH.

681

doctrines of the gospel he was ever
strongly attached ; and he abounded in
acts of charity. At the age of 85 he was
accustomed to attend prayer meetings and
religious conferences. In tho evening of
his death he said, "I set out on a pleasant
journey in the morning, and I shall get
through to night."
ROSS, George, judge, a patriot of the
revolution, the son ofan episcopal minis
ter at New Castle, Delaware, was born
in 1730. Having studied law with his
brother in Philadelphia, he settled in
Lancaster. Being a raember of congress
frora 1774 to 1777, he signed the declara
tion of independence. For his public
services the people of the county voted
hira 150/. out of the treasury; but he
declined to receive it, deeraing it the duty
of a representative of the people to pro
mote the public welfare without expecting
pecuniary rewards. In April 1779 hewas
appointed a judge ofthe court of adrairal
ty. He died of a sudden attack of the
gout in July 1779, aged 49.. While he
was a patriotic citizen and a learned and
skilful lawyer, he was also kind and af
fectionate at horae. — Goodrich.
RUSH, Benjarairi, rf. D.,a physician,
descended frora ancestors, who early em
igrated from England to Pennsylvania.
He wasborn at Byberry, 14 railes north
east of Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 1745. After
the death of his father, his mother sent
hira to the academy of his uncle, Dr.
Finley, in Nottinghara, Maryland, where
he lived eight years and became deeply
impressed with moral and religious senti
ments. Having graduated at Princeton
in 1760, he studied physic with Redman
and Shippen, and also at Edinburgh from
1766.10 1768, He returned to Philadel
phia in 1769, and was elected the profes
sor of chemistry in the college; in 1791
he was appointed professor of medicine.
In his practice he relied much on the
lancet and on cathartic medicines. In
the yellow fever of 1793, when 4,044
person died,he successfully resorted to his
favorite remedies. Being a member of
congress in 1776, his name. is affixed to
the declaration of independence. In 1777
86

he was appointed physician general ofthe
hospital in the middle military depart
ment ; in 1787 he was a member of the
convention for adopting the constitution
of the U. S.; and for the last 14 years of
his Ufe treasurer of the, U. S. minti He
was president of the society for the abo
Ution of slavery ; vice-president of the
Philadelphia Bible society; and connected
also with many other charitable and lite
rary societies. His short Inquiry into
the effect of ardent spirits upon the hu
man body and mind was a most valuable,
treatise and .one ofthe earUest productions
on the subject of teraperance. He also
Wrote against the use of tobacco, descri
bing the eff'ect of its habitual use on
health, morals, and property. His zeal
for the interests of learning induced hira
to be one of the founders of Dickinson
coUege at Carlisle ; he also eloquently ad
vocated the universal establishment of free
schools. Hedied of the pleurisy, after i
an fllness offive days, April 19, 1813,aged
67. His wife was Julia, the daughter of '
Richard Stockton. Nine children survi--
ved him. Richard Rush, his son, was
secretary of the treasury in the adrainis- -
tration of John Q. Adams ; in p. 595 of
this book he is said by mistake to have
been secretary of state. Dr. Rush was -
pne of the most eminent physicians and
most learned medical writers of our coun
try. His writings contain many exprfes- -
sions of piety. It was his usual practice
at the close of each day to read to his .
collected family a chapter in the Bible and
to address God in prayer. His charac
ter is fully de.scribed in Thacher's medical,
biography, where may be found a Ust
of the subjects of his various writings .
His medical works are in six vols. He
pubUshed also a vol. of Essays, Uterary,
moral, and phflosophical, 1798. — Thach
er, II. 29-71.
RUSH, Jacob, LL. D., judge, brother
ofthe preceding, wras born in 1746; grad
uated at Princeton college in 1765 ; and
was for many years president of the court;
of common pleas for Philadelphia, where -
hedied Jan. 5, 1820, aged 74. In the-
controversy between Dickirison and Reed„

682

RUSSELL.

RUTLEDGE.

he was a writer on the side of the former.
He pubUshed his Charges on moral and
religious subjects, 1803.
RUSSELL, Jaraes, a councillor of
Mass.,was the descendant of Richard R,,
who settled at Charlestown in 1640 and
was treasurer of the colony. He was
born in C. Aug. 16, 1715, and died April
24, 1798, aged 82. He discharged the
duties of a judge, and of other public offi
ces, which he sustained, with the greatest
hdelity. To the poor he was a steady
and liberal friend. He respected the in
stitutions of the gospel, and, while his
family and his closet witnessed his con
stant devotions, his life adorned the reli
gion, which he professed. In his last ill
ness he was supported and consoled by
the truths of the gospel. His son, Tho
mas Russell, oneof the first merchants in
the U. S., and distinguished for his benef
icence to the poor, died in Boston April
8, 1796, aged 55.
RUTGERS, Henry, colonel, a patriot
of the revolution, fought at Brooklyn
' heights. The British occupied his house
as a hospital, and barracks. In 1807 he
delivered an address on laying the cor
ner stone ofthe Reformed Dutch church
in Orchard street. He died in Feb. 1830,
aged 84. He was a respected, useful cit
izen of New York ; in his politics a decid
ed partizan, but never engaging in any
important measure without making it a
special subject of prayer. It were weU if
politicians would follow his example ;
there would then be Ukely to be in their
movements less of greedy selfishness and
vindictive passion and more of disinteres
tedness and of virtuous calmness. Being
very rich, col. Rutgers was abundant in
his charities for alraost all public objects
and towards nuraerous individuals. He
expended for others an immense sum. In
one instance he received a note, in which
the writer, then at the door, begged his
assistance, intimating, that in the failure
of it he should kill hiraself He convers
ed with the young man, and found, that
he had ruined himself by gambUng . But
be cautiously interposed and saved him
from the meditated crime and rescued

him from misery ; and the same .young
man becarae respectable and pious; — Mc
Murray's serm.
RUTLEDGE, John, chiefjustice of
the U.S.,was the son of Dr. John R., who
with his brother, Andrew, a lawyer, erai
grated from Ireland to Charleston about
1735. Having studied law at the temple,
he returned to Charlestonin l761,andsoon
proved himself an able lawyer and accom
plished orator. He took an early and distin
guished part in support ofthe libertiesof his
country at the comraenceraent ofthe late
revolution. He was a member of the
first congress in 1774. When the tem
porary constitution of S. CaroUna was
established in March 1776, he was ap
pointed the president, and commander in
chiefof the colony. He continued in
this station till the adoption of the new
constitution in March 1778, to which he
refused to give his assent. He was
opposed to it, because it annihflated the
council, reducing the legislative authori
ty from three to two branches, and was
too deraocratic in its features. In 1799,
however,, he was chosen governor, with
the authority in conjunction with the
council to do whatever the public safety
required. He soon took the field at the
head of the miUtia. All the energies of
the state were called forth. During the
siege of Charleston at the request of gen.
Lincoln he left the city,that the executive
authority might be preserved, though the
capital should fall. Having called a gen
eral assembly in .Jan. 1782, he addressed
them in a speech, in which he depicted
the perfidy, rapine, and cruelty, which
stained the British arms. In 1784 he was
a judge of the court of chancery ; in
1789 ajudge of the supreme court ofthe
U. S.; in 1791 chiefjustice of S. C; and
inl796chief justiceoftheU. S. Hedied
in July 1800. He was a man of eminent
talents, patriotism, decision, and firmness.
His son, gen. John R., a distinguished
meraber of congress, died at Phfladelphia
Sept 1,181 9, aged 53.
RUTLEDGE, Edward, governor of
South Carolina, brother of the preceding,
was born in Charleston in Nov. 1749. In

SALTONSTALL.

SANDEMAN.

683

1769 he went to England to complete
his legal education at the Temple, and
returned in 1773. In his practice he
would not engage in a cause, which he did
not believe to be just. His powers of per
suasion were not eraployed lo support in
iquity or to shield oppression. Being a
member of congress from 1774 to 1777, he
signed the declaration of independence.
He had much of the esteem and confidence
of Washington. He commanded a com
pany of the militia in 1779, when the
British were driven from Port Royal is
land. Being taken a prisoner in 1780, he
was sent with others to St. Augustine
and detained nearly a year. After he was
exchanged he resided near Philadelphia
till the evacuation of Charleston by the en
emy in Dec. 1782. After an exile of al
most three years he returned and resumed
his profession. In 1798 he was elected gov
ernor. He died Jan. 23, 1800, aged 50.
By his wife the daughter of Henry Mid
dleton, he had a son, major Henry M. R.
of Tennessee, and a daughter. He had
great address in moderating those colli
sions, which often produce duels. His
eloquence was less vehement than that of
his brother, John, but raore insinuating
and conciliatory.
SALTONSTALL, Gurdon, governor
of Conn., was born in HaverhiU, Mass.
March 27, 1666, and was graduated at
Harvard college in 1684. His father was
col.Nathan,theson of Richard of Water-
town, who was the son of sir Richard S.
He was ordained Nov. 25, 1691 minister
of New London, where he continued for
several years, highly esteemed. In 1707
by the advice of the clergy he was per
suaded to undertake the chief direction of
the civil affairs of the colony, and he was
annually chosen governor till his death
Sept 24, 1724, aged 58. He was both a
profound divine and a consummate states
man. The complexion of the Saybrook
platform was owing to his desire of bring
ing the mode of church government
soraewhat nearer to the presbyterian
forra. To a quick perception and a
glowing iraagination he united correct
ness of judgraent. The majesty of his

eye and deportment was softened by the
features of benevolence. As an orator
the music ofhis voice, the force of his ar
gument, the beauty of his aUusions, the
ease of his iransitions, and the fulness of
his diction gave hira a high rank. His
teraper was warra ; but he had been
taught the art of self command, for he
was a Christian. Hie widow, Mary, the
daughier of Williara Whittingham, and
the relict of Wm. Clark, died in Jan.
1730. She was distinguished for her in
telligence, wit, wisdom, and piety. To
Harvard college she bequeathed 1,000/.
for two students designed for the minis
try. SALTONSTALL, Nathaniel, a phy
sician, a descendant of Richard, the
brother of the preceding, was the son of
Richard S., ajudge of the supreme court
ofMass., and was born at HaverhiU Feb.
10,1746. He was graduated at Harvard
college in 1766, and died at HaverhiU
May 15, I SI 5, aged 69. His maternal
ancestor was gov. Leverett ; his son,
Leverett S.,is a senator of Massachu
setts. While his brothers were royalists.
Dr. S.was a whig of the revolution. He
was an intelUgent, skilful, humane physi
cian, a friend of science and religion, and
highly respected by his fellow citizens. —
Thacher; 9 Hist, col.iv.
SANDEMAN, Robert, the founder
ofthe sect of Sanderaanians, was born at
Perth in Scotland about the year 1718,
and educated at St. Andrew's. Having
married a daughter of Mr. Glass, he be
came one of his followers. He represen
ted faith as the mere operation of intel
lect, and maintained, that men were jus
tified without hoUness, merely on specu
lative belief This faith, however, he
contended, would always, wherever it
existed, produce the Christian virtues ;
so that his system cannot be chargeti
with opening a door to Ucentiousness,
In 1762 he went to London and estabUsh
ed a congregation . He carae to Ameri
ca in Oct. 1764, and from Boston he
went to Danbury. In that town he
gathered a church in July 1765, Hav
ing estabUshed several societies in N,

684

SARGEANT.

SCHUYLER.

E., hediedat Danbury AprU 2, 1771,
aged- 53. He published an answer to
Hervey's Theron and Aspasio in 2 vols.
Svo. 1757. This work is ingenious,
though it exhibits a great deal of asperity.
Mr. Hervey himself acknowledged, that
the author had pointed out some errors
in his writings, and had the raost exalted
views of divine grace.
SARGEANT, Nathaniel Peaslee,
chief justice of the supreme court of
Mass., theson of Christopher S. of Me-
thuen, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1750. In 1776 he was appointed a
judge ofthe superior court, and chiefjus
tice in Dec. 1789. He died at Haverhill
in Oct 1791, aged 60.
SAVAGE, Edward, a painter, was
born at Princeton, Mass., in 1761. He
was at first a goldsmith. After studying
for a while under West in London, he
repaired to Italy. Before he went abroad
he painted the Washington family, and,
finding no engraver, engraved the pic-
;ture himself. Of his print, it is said,
thathe sold 9,000 copies at 9 doll. each.
He was a raan of good talents ; but
'his attention was too much divid
ed araong different pursuits to allow of
his attaining the highest erainence as a
painter. He commenced a museum in
New York, and brought it to Boston ;
where it is a part of the New England
musem. He died at Princeton, Mass., in
July 1817, aged 56. — Knapp's lect.
SCAMMELL, Alexander, colonel, a
soldier of the revolution, was born in
Mendon, now Mflford, Mass., and gradu-
;ated at Harvard college in 1769. He
studied law with general Sullivan ; assis-
(ted capt. HoUand in surveys for his map
of New Hampshire; and 1775 was ap-
: pointed brigade major, and in 1776 colo
nel. Inthe battle of Saratoga in 1777
he was wounded. About 1780 he was
adjutant general of the American armies,
-and deservedly popular. At the siege of
York town, being officer of the day Sept.
30, 1781, while reconnoitering he was
surprised by a party of the enemy's horse,
and after being taken prisoner was inhu-
;inanly wounded. Being conveyed to

WiUiamsburg, he died ofhis wound Oct
6. Gen. Brooks and gen. Dearborn each
named a son after their friend.
SCHUYLER, Peter, mayor of the
city of Albany, was much distinguished
ibr his patriotism, and for the influence,
which he ppssessed over the Indians. In
the year 1691 he headed a party of 300
Mohawks and wilh about the same num
ber of EngUsh made a bold attack upon
the French settlements at the north end
of lake Champlain. He slew 300 of the
enemy. Such was the authority of colo
nel Schuyler with the five nations, that
whatever Qnider,(for so they called him,
as they could not pronounce Peter,) re
commended, had the force of law. In
1710 he went to England at his own ex
pense, taking with him five Indian chiefs,
for the purpose of exciting the govern
ment lo vigorous measures against the
French in Canada. The chief comraand
in New York devolved upon him as the
eldest member of the council in 1719;
but in the following year governor Burnet
arrived. He often warned the New Eng
land colonies of expeditions meditated
against thera by the French and Indians. —
Smith's N. Y. 66—152.
SCHUYLER, PhiUp, a major gener
al in the revolutionary war, received this
appointment from congress June 19,
1775. He was directed to proceed from
New York to Ticonderoga, to secure the
lakes, and to make preparations for enter
ing Canada. Being taken sick in Sept.
the command devolved upon Montgom
ery. On his recovery be devoted him-
selfzealously to the raanageraent of the
affairs in the northern departraent. The
superintendence of the Indian concerns
claimed much of his attention. On the
approach of Burgoyne in 1777 he raade
every exertion to obstruct his progress ;
hut the evacuation of Ticonderoga by
St. Clair occasioning unreasonable jeal
ousies in regard to Schuyler in N. Eng
land, he was in Aug. superseded by
Gates, and congress directed an inquiry
to be made into his conduct. It was a
matter of extreme chagrin to hira to be
recalled at the moment, when he was

SCOTT.

SEDGWICK.

695

about to face the enemy. He afterwards, ]
though not in the regular service, render
ed important services to his country in
the railitary transactions of New "^ork.
He was a meraber of the old congress,
and when the present govemraent of the
U. S. commenced its operations in 1789,
he was appointed with Rufus King a
senator from his native state. In 1797
he was again appointed a senator in the
place of Aaron Burr. He died at Alba
ny Nov. 18, 1804, aged 72. His daugh
ter married gen. Hamilton. Another
daughter married John B. Church, an
Englishman, contractor for the French
army in the revolutionary war, and af
terwards memberof parliament, who died
Aprfl 1818 ; she died in 1814. Distin
guished by strength of intellect and up
right intentions,he was wise in the contri
vance and enterprising and perservering
in the execution of plans ofpublic utiUty.
In private Ufe he was dignified, but cour
teous, a pleasing and instructive compan
ion, affectionate in his domestic relations,
and just in all his dealings. — Marshall, u.
237, 301-306 ; in. S, 4, ^26--25S, 273 ;
IV. 449.
SCOTT, Charles, brigadier general,
governor of Kentucky, was a Virginia
soldier ofthe revolution. His commission
of brigadier is dated Aprfl 2, 1777. He
was governor from 1808 to 1812, when
he was succeeded by Shelby. He died
Oct 22, 1807, aged 74.
SCREVEN, Thoraas, brigadier gen
eral, was a descendant of Wm. S., who
early came to this country, and, after
marrying at Piscataway a Miss Cutis,
removed to Cooper's river in 1683, foun
ding the first baptist church in Charles
ton. He commanded the miUtia, when
that state was invaded frora East Florida
in Nov. 1778. While a party ofthe en
eray was marching frora Sunbury towards
Savannah, he had repeated skirmishes
with thera at the head ofa hundred miU
tia. In an engagement at Midway, the
place of his residence, he was wounded
hy a musket ball, and fell from his horse.
Several of the British immediately came
up, and, upbraiding him with the man

ner, in which a captain Moore had been
killed, discharged iheir pieces at him.
He died soon after of his wounds. Few
officers had done more for their country,
and few men were more esteemed and
beloved for their virtues in private Ufe.
SEABURY, Samuel, d. d., first bish
op of the episcopal church in the U. S.,
the son of Mr. Seabury, congregational
minister at Groton and afterwards epis
copal minister at New London, was
born in 1728. After being graduated at
Yale college in 1751, he went to Scotland
for the purpose of studying medicine ;
but his attention being soon directed to
theology he took orders in London
in 1753. On his return to this coun
try he was settled in the ministry at
Brunswick in New Jersey. In the be
ginning of 1757 he removed to Jamaica
on L. Island ; and thence in Dec. 1766
to West Chester. In this place he reraai
ned till the comraenceraent of the war,
when he went into the city of New York.
At the return of peace he settled in New
London. In 1784 he went to England
to obtain consecration as bishop of the
episcopal criurcri of this stale, but raee
ting with sorae obstruction to the accora-
plishraent ofhis wishes, he went to Scot
land, where, Nov. 14th, he was consecra
ted by three nonj uring bishops. After
this period he discharged for a number of
years at New London the duties of his
office in an exemplary manner. He died
Feb. 25, 1796, aged 68. He published
the duty of considering our ways, 1739 ;
a discourse at the ordination of R. Fowle,
1791 ; and two vol. of sermons, which
evince a vigorous and well informed
mind. After his death' a supplementary
volume was published in 1798.
SEDGWICK, Theodore, ll. d.,
judge, born at West Hartford, Conn., in
May 1746, was a descendant of Robert
S., an early settler and distinguished mil
itary officer ofMass., residing at Charles
town. His father, Benj. S., reUnquish-
ing mercantile business, removed to Corn
wall, and at his death left a widow and six
chfldren. Of these Trieodore S. was the
youngest son. He settled as a lawyer at

686

SERGEANT.

Sheffield, then at Stockbridge in 1785.
In the war of the revolution he was an
aid to gen. Thomas in 1776 in the expe
dition to Canada ; and in the Shay's re
bellion he exerted himself most zealously
in its suppression. In 1785 and 1786 he
was a member of congress ; also from
1789 to 1796. From 1796 to 1798 he
was a senator of the U. S. In 1799 he
was a member of the house and was cho
sen speaker. From 1802 tiU his death he
was a judge of the supreme court ofMass.
He died at Boston Jan. 24, 1813, aged
66, and was buried at Stockbridge. His
son, Henry D. S., a lawyer of N. York,
died at Stockbridge about 1831 ; his son,
Robert S., is a lawyer in the city of New
York ; his daughter, Catherine S., is
known by her various writings. His life
was active and useful. As his attachments
and aversions were strong, he was zeal
ous as a politician ; in his manners he was
dignified, and his habits were social. He
was a comraunicant in the church of Dr.
Channing at Boston.
SERGEANT, John, raissionary
araong the Indians, was born at Newark,
N. Jersey, in 1710, andwas graduated
in 1729 at Yale college,where he was after
wards a tutor for four years. In Oct
1734 he went to Houssatonnoc, an Indian
village in the western part of Massachu
setts, and began to preach to the Indians.
That he might be enabled to administer
to thera the Christian ordinances he was
ordained at Deerfield Aug. 31, 1735. He
diedat Stockbridge July 27, 1749, aged
48. Jonathan Edwards succeeded him.
His son. Dr. Erastus S., died at Stock-
bridge in Nov. 1814, aged 72 ; his son,
John S., 60 years a missionary to the In
dians at New Stockbridge, N. Y., died
Sept 8, 1824, aged 77. — He was suppor
ted in part by the commissioners of the
society for propagating the gospel, and
in part by individuals in England, whose
munificence reached him through the
hands of Dr. Colman of Boston. He had
baptized 129 Indians, and 42 were com
municants at the time of his death.
With great labor he translated the whole
of the new testament, excepting the rev-

SEWALL.
elation, into the Indian language, and se
veral parts of the old testament. In his
life he was just, kind, and benevolent.
The. Houssatonnoc or Stockbridge In
dians now Uveal New Stockbridge in the
state of New York, and were for many
years under the care ofhis son. He pub
lished a letter to Dr. Colman on the edu
cation of the children of the Indians, and
a sermon on the causes and danger of
delusions in religion, 1743. — Hopkins'
memoirs of Houss. Indians ; Panoplist,
II. SEWALL, Sarauel, chief justice of
the supreme court ofMass., was born at
Bishop-Stoke, England, March 28,1652.
His father, Henry, had before this time
been in America and in 1634 began the
settieraent of Newbury. He finally es
tabUshed hiraself in this country in 1661,
when his son was nine years old. In his
childhood judge Sewall was under the
instruction of Mr. Parker of Newbury.
He was graduated at Harvard coUege in
1 67 1 3 and afterwards preached for a short
tirae. In 1688 he went to England. In
1 692 he was appointed in the new char
ter one of the council, in which station
he continued tfll 1725. He was made
one of the judges in 1692,and chiefjustice
of the'superiorcourtin 1718. This office
as well as that of judge of probate for
Suffolk he resigned in 1728 on account of
infirmities. He died Jan. 1, 1730, aged
77. His brothers were John and Steph
en. His wife, Hannah, was the only
child of John Hull. His daughter, EUz
abeth, married Grove Hirst, and her
daughter married sir Wm. PeppereU ; his
daughier, Mary, married S. Gerrish, and
Judith married Wm. Cooper in 1720,
but died in the sarae year. By his wife
he received a large fortune, 30,000/. in
six pences, which he eraployed for the
glory of God and the advantage of men .
Eminent for piety, wisdom, and learning,
in all the relations oflife he exhibited the
Chrislian virtues, and secured universal
respect. For a long- course of years he
was a member of the old South church,
and one of its greatest ornaments. He
was constant in his attendance upon pub-

SEWALL.

687

lie worship, keeping his bible before him
to try every doctrine. He read the sa
cred volume every morning and evening
in his family, and his prayers with his
household ascended to heaven. A friend
to every follower of Christ, he was liber
al, hospitable, and 'benevolent. Forthe
praying Indians at Natick he at his own
expense built a house of worship ; and
he uniformly, as a raeraber of the coun
cil and of the society for propagating the
gospel, exerted himself for the benefit of
his copper colored brethren. He deeply
felt also for the enslaved negroes. Be
tween 1700 and 1710hepublished "The
SeUing of Joseph," in which he advocated
their rights. He was critically acquain
ted with the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew
languages. In his last sickness he was
resigned, patient, and composed, placing
his whole dependence for salvation upon
the Redeemer. He left behind him sev
eral vols, of copies of letters, and a diary
in three volumes, which embraces about
forty years. From this it appears, that
as one of the judges at the trial of the Sa
lera witches in 1692 he concurred in the
sentence of condemnation ; but he after
wards of his own accord made a confes
sion of his error. It was read by his min
ister, Mr. Willard, on a day of public
fast, and is preserved in his diary. He
published an answer to queries respecting
America, 1690 ; proposals, touching the
accomplishment of the prophecies, 4to,
1713; a description of the new heavens
and earth, 4to, 2d edit. 1727.— Price's
fun. serm.
SEWALL, Joseph, d. d., minister in
Boston,the son ofthe preceding, was born
Ang. 26,1683, & was graduated at Harv
ard college in 1707. Having evinced a se
rious disposition from his earUest days, he
now directed his attention to ' the study
of theology. Though a inember of one
of the first families in the country, he
sought no worldly object, it being his
supreme desire to serve God in the gospel
of his Son. He was ordained the minis
ter ofthe old south church in Boston, as
colleague with Mr. Pemberton, Sept. 16,
1713. After surviving three colleagues.

Pemberton, Prince, and Gumming, he
died June 27, 1769, aged 80, in the 56th
year of his ministry. His colleague,
Sarauel Blair, was dismissed in Oct. of
the same year, and in 1771 John Bacon
and John Hunt were ordained ministers
of this church. Dr. Sewall possessed
respectable abilities,and was well acquain
ted wilh classical learning. In 1724 he
was chosen president of Harvard college,
but such was his humility arid the eleva-
tibn of his views, that he declined the
appointment, wishing rather to continue
inthe office of a minister of thegospel.
His chief glory was the love of God and
the zeal to do good, for which he was
conspicuous araong his brethren. Few
rainisters have ever lived with such uni
form reference to the great end of their
office. Deeply interested himself in the
truths of religion, he reached the hearts
of his hearers ; and sometimes his voice
was so modulated by his feeUngs, and ele
vated with zeal, as irresistibly to seize
the attention. Though he was deliber
ate and cautious, he was courageous in
withstanding error. He could sacrifice
every thing for peace but duty, and truth,
and holiness. During his last iUness,
which continued for a number of months,
he was remarkable for his submission and
patience. While he acknowledged him
self to be an unprofitable servant, he look
ed to the atoning sacrifice of Christ for
pardon. He spoke of dying with cheer
fulness. ^ Soraetimes he was heard to say
with great pathos, " come. Lord Jesus,
come quickly." At length he died as
one, who was assured of a happy immor
taUty. He married Oct. 29, 1713, Eliz-'
abeth WaUey, who died before hira.
Only one child survived hira, his son,
Samuel, who was a deacon in the church'
from 1763 to 1771. He published a ser
mon on family reUgion, 1716 ; on the
deathof Wait Winthrop, 1717 ; of king
George I, Thomas Lewis, and Samuel
Hirst, 1727 ; of his father 1730 ; Ben
jamin Wadsworth, 1737 ; Josiah Wil
lard, 1756 ; Thomas Prince, 1758; A1-.
exander Cumraing, 1763; a' caveat
against covetousness, 1718; election ser-

688

SEWALL.

mon, 1724 ; on a day of prayer for the
rising generation, 1728; at the ordina
tion of three missionaries, 1733 ; fast
sermon, before the general court, 1740 ;
sermon at Thursday lecture ; the Holy
Spirit convincing the world of sin, of
of righteousness, ' and of judgment, four
sermons, 1741 ; on a day of prayer ; on
the love of our neighbor, 1742 ; sermon
on Revelation v. 11, 12, 1745; on the
reduction of Havana, 1762. — Chauncy's
fun. sermon; Wisner's hist. 98.
SEWALL, Stephen, chief justice of
the superior court ofMass., the nephew
of Samuel Sewall, was the son of major
Stephen Sewall of Salera. His mother
was Margaret, the daughter of Jonathan
Mitchell. He was born in Dec. 1702,
and was graduated at Harvard coUege in
1721. Having instructed a school in
Marblehead for several years, he began
to preach with great acceptance. In
1728 he was chosen a tutor in the college,
and he filled this office till 1739, when he
was called to take a seat on the bench of
the superior court. On the death of
chief justice Duflley in 1752 he was ap
pointed to succeed him, though not
the senior judge . He was also soon elected
a meraber of the council and continued
such till his death, though it was with,
difficulty, that he could be prevailed upon
to accept the appointment, as he ques
tioned the propriety of sustaining at the
same lime the two offices. After a use
ful and honorable Ufe he died Sept. 10,
1760, aged 57. His estate was insolvent.
He was distinguished for genius and
learning. He united an uncomraon de
gree quickness of apprehension with a
deeply penetrating and capacious raind.
As a tutor, he proved, that there was a
perfect consistency between the most vig
orous and resolute exertion of authority
and the raost gentle and coraplacent man
ners. Though he was a very hurable
and modest man he supported the dignity
ofajudge. He wasan exemplary Chris
tian, and whfle he constantly attended
upon the institutions of the gospel, he
offered up sacrifices to the Lord in his
own house, though, as he wa's riever

married, his famfly carinot be supposed lo
have had the deepest interest in his af
fections. His- charity to those in want
was so great, that it has been thought
excessive. He had a deep reverence of
the Suprerae Being, and often spoke wilh
approbation of the circumstance in the
character of sir Matthew Hale, that he
never mentioned the name of God witho ut
making a pause in his discourse. — May
hew's fun. serm.
SEWALL, Stephen, first Hancock
professor of Hebrew in Harvard college,
descended from Henry S. of Newbury by
his second son, John. He was born at
York, Maine,in April 1734, and was grad
uated in 1761. He succeeded Mr.
Monis in 1762. Hebrew had sunk
into contempt in the hands of Mr. Mon
is, but it was now brought into honor.
When Mr. Hancock founded the profes
sorship of Hebrew, he was inaugurated
June 17, 1765, and continued in office
above 20 years. He took an early part
in the revolution. After he lost his
professorship, he led a very retired Ufe
tfll his death July 23, 1804, aged 70. His
lectures proved him to have possessed an
elegant taste. He published a Hebrew
grammar, Svo, 1763 ; oratio funebris in
obitura D. Edvardi Holyoke, 1769 ; an
oration on the death of professor Win
throp, 1779 ; translation of tlie first book
ofYoung's night thoughts in Latin, 1780;
carmina sacra, quae Latine Graeceque
condidit America, 1789 ; the , scripture
account of the Sohechinah, 1794 ;: the
scripture history, relating lo the over
throw of Sodom and Gomorrha, and to
the origin of the salt sea, or lake of Sod-
ora, 1796. Hewrote an adrairable Chal
dee and English dictionary, which is
in the library of Harvard college.
SEWALL, Jonathan, attorney gen.
ofMass., a descendant of Henry S., was
the nephew of chiefjustice Stephen S..
Having lost his parents in early Ufe,
he was educated by the charity of his
friends, and graduated at Harvard college
in 1748; taught school in Salem till 1756;
then studied law with judge Chambers
Russell of Lincoln ; and commenced the

SEWALL.

SHEPARD .

689

practice in Chplestown. About 1767
he was appointed attorney general. Be
ing a tory in the revolution, he retired
frorathis country in 1775, and resided
in Bristol. In 1788 he went to Halifax.
He died soon afterwards. His wife was
Esther, daughter of Edmund Quincy of
Quincy. One of his sons was attorney
general and the other chief justice of
Canada. He had an insinuating elo
quence, was an acute and learned law
yer, and one of the finest writers of his
day in N. England. He wrote various
political papers, the chief of whioh,signed
Massachusettensis, were answered by J.
Adaras, under whose narae an account of
thera is given.
SEWALL, David, ll. d., judge, a
descendant of John, the second son of
Henry S., who Uved in Newbury in
1634, was born at York, Maine, and grad
uated at Harvard college in 1755, being
a classraate and friend of John Adams.
In 1777 he was appointed a judge of the
suprerae court of Mass. ; and in 1789
judge of the district court of the U. S.
He died at York Oct. 22, 1825, aged 90.
He was an honest lawyer ; a learned and
upright judge ; a sincere patriot ; and an
exeraplary Christian.
SEWALL, Jonathan MitcheU, a poet.
Was born in York in 1749. Being adop
ted by his uncle, chiefjustice Stephen S.,
he studied law, & in 1774 was register of
probate for Grafton county, N. H. He
afterwards reraoved to Portsnjouth,
where he died March 29, 1808, aged 59.
His ode of War and Washington was
celebrated and sung in the revolutionary
war. A volurae of his poeras was pub
Ushed, 1801.— Spec. Amer. poet. i. 198.
SEWALL, Samuel, ll. d., chief jus
tice ofMass., the grandson of Joseph, S.,
the minister of Boston, was born in
Boston Dec. 11, 1757 ; his mother was a
daughter of Edmund Quincy. He grad
uated at Harvard coUege in 1776. He
settled at Marblehead and iri 1797 was a
member of corigress ; in 1800 he was
placed upon the bench of the supreme
court ofMass. After the death of judge
Par^dns in 1813 he was appointed chief
87

justice. He died suddenly at Wiscasset
June 8, 1814, aged 56,and was succeeded
by chief justice Parker. The gentlemen
of the bar erected a monuraent to his
raemory. His sons, Samuel and Edmund
Q., are rainisters of Burlington and Dan
vers. — Knapp's biog. 219-231.
SEYBERT, Adara, Dr., a member of
congress for 8 years frora Philadelphia,
died at Paris May 2, 1825, bequeathing
1,000 doll, for educating the deaf and
dumb, and 500 doll, to the orphan asy
lum, Philadelphia. He was a man of
science and benevolence, and was partic
ularly skilful as a chemist and mineralo
gist. He published a valuable work.
Statistical Annals of U. S. from 1789 to
to 1818, 4to.
SHAYS, Daniel, captain, the leader of
the rebels in Mass. in 1 787, was a captain
in the revolutionary war. In the rebel
lion he appeared at Springfield at the
head of 2,000 men and attempted to seize
the arsenal ; but his forces were dispersed
by gen. Shepherd. He next assembled a
force al Pelham ; but in Feb. 1787 gem
Lincoln by a forced march surprised the "
rebels and took 150 prisoners, and put an
end to the insurrection. Such was the
lenity- ofthe government, that not a raan
was executed. Even Shays, after hiding
himself a year or two in Vermont, obtain
ed a pardon. He removed to Sparta, in
N. York. In his old age he had a pen
sion of 20 dollars a month for his revolu
tionary services. He died Sept., 29,
1825, aged 85. The clemency, which
he e.xperieneed, and which, is honorable
to Mass., made him a good citizen.
SHELBY, Isaac, colonel, the first
governor of Kentucky, was a soldier of
the revolution and distinguished himself
in the battie of King's mountain ; also
on the Thames in Upper Canada in the
war of 1812. He was governor from
1793 to 1796, when hewas succeeded by
Garrand ; he also succeeded Scott in
1812 and was succeeded by Madison in
1816. He died in Lincoln county July
13, 1826, at an advanced age.
SHEPARD, Thomas, minister of
Carabridge, Mass. was born near Nprth-

690

SHEPARD.

SHERMAN.

araptnn, England, Nov. 5, 1605, and was
educated at Emanuel college, Carabridge.
While in this seminary it pleased God in
infinite mercy to awaken him frora his
natural state of thoughtlessness and sin,
to convince hira, thathe had been entirely
selfish in hisdesiresand cbnduct,to inspire
him with holy principles, and to render
him a humble disciple of Jesus Christ.
He met afterwards with many kinds of
temptations ; but, as he said, he was nev
er tempted to Arminianism, his own ex
perience so perfectly confuting the free
dom of the will. After he left the univer
sity, he was eminentiy useful as a prea
cher. His puritan principles exposing
him to persecution, he narrowly escaped
the pursuivants, and arrived at Boston in
this country Oct. 3, 1635. After the re
moval of Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone to
Connecticut he forraed a church at Cara
bridge and took the charge of it Feb. 1,
16S6. Here he continued till his death
Aug. 25, 1649, aged 44. He was succee
ded by Mr. Mitchell. Asa preacher of
evangelical truth and as a writer on ex-
periraenlal religion he was one of the
most distinguished men of his time. It
was on account of the energy of his
preaching and his vigilance in detecting
and zeal in opposing the errors of the
day, that when the foundation ,of a col
lege was to be laid, Cambridge rather
than any other place was pitched upon as
the seat of the seminary. He was the
patron of learning and essentially promo
ted its interests. He was distinguished
for his humiUty and piety. Under hea
vy afflictions he acknowledged, that he
deserved nothing but misery, and bowed
subraissive to the divine will. He usually
wrote his sermons so early for the sab
bath, that he could devote a part of Sat
urday to prepare his heart for the solemn
and affectionate discharge ofthe duties of
the following day. He published tiieses
sabbaticae ; a letter, entitled. New Eng
land's lamentation for Old England's er
rors, 1645 ; cautions against spiritual
drunkenness, a sermon ; subjection to
Christ in all his ordinances the best
means to preserve our Uberty, to which

is added a treatise bn ineffectual hearing
of the word ; the sincere convert ; the
sound believer, a treatise on evangelical
conversion ; singing of psalms a gospel
ordinance ; ihe clear sunshine of the gos
pel upon the Indians, 4to. 1648 ; a trea
tise of liturgies, power of the keys, and
matter ofthe visible church, in answer
lo Mr. BaU, 4to. 1653; the evangelical
call ; select cases resolved and first prin
ciples ofthe oracles of God ; these were
republished together wilh meditations
and spiritual experiences, extracted from
his private diary, by Mr. Prince of Bos
ton, 1747 ; of the right use of liberty ;
reply to Gauden, 1661 ; the parable of
the ten virgins ; the church membership
of children and their right to baptism,
1663; the saint's jewel and the soul's
imitation of Jesus Christ, two sermons ;
the four last things, 4to. — Mather's
magnalia, in. 84-93.
SHEPARD, Thomas, minister of
Charlestown, Mass., the son of the pre
ceding, was born in London April 5,
1635; was graduated al Harvard coflege
in 1653 ; and ordained April 13, 1659, as
coUeague to Mr. Symmes. After a min
istry of 18 years hedied of the small pox
Dec. 22, 1677", aged 42. President
Oakes in a Latin oration rejiresents Mr.
Shepard as distinguished for his erudition,
prudence, modesty, and integrity, as a
strenuous defender of the orthodox faith,
and as holding the first rank among the
ministers of his day. He pubUshed the
election sermon, 1672. In Mather's
magnaUa there is preserved a paper of
exceUent instructions to his son, a stu
dent at college, who afterwards succee
ded hira at Charlestown in 1680, but
died in 1685.— Magnalia, iv. 189-202 ;
Oakes' elegy.
SHEPHERD, Williara, general, an
officer of the revolution, particularly dis
tinguished hiraself in suppressing the re-
hellion of Shays in 1787. He died at
Westfield, Nov.ll, 1817. The old soldier
supported with equanimity in bis declin
ing years the sufferings, to which he was
called. SHERMAN, John, minister of Wa-

SHERMAN.

SHIPPEN.

691

tertown Mais., was born in England in
1613, and educated at Cambridge. His
puritan principles induced him to come to
this country ia 1 634. After being a short
time an assistant to Mr. Phillips at Wa
tertown, he removed to Connecticut,
where he preached occasionally. But af
ter the death of Mr. Phillips in 1644 he
returned to Waterlown, and was minister
in that place till his death August 8,1675,
aged 71. He was succeeded by Henry
Gibbs. Besides being a distinguished
divine Mr. Sherman was an erainent
matheraatician, and pubUshed a number
of almanacs, to which pious reflections
were added. Though he was a very hum
ble man,in his preaching therewas an un
affected loftiness of style, and his discour
ses were enriched with figures of orato
ry. He was twice married, having by his
first wife six children and twenty by his
last. — Magnalia, in. 162-165.
SHERMAN, Roger, senator of the
U. S. a descendant of capt. John S.,who
lived in Watertown, Mass., in 1637 and
was a representative in 1663, wasborn at
Newton, Mass. Aprfl 19, 1721. His fa
ther, William S., a farmer, could give
him no advantages for education, excep
ting those of a comraon school. Yet was
he eager in the pursuit of knowledge.
Apprenticed to a shoe raaker, he often
had a book open before him, while at
work on his seat . The care of a numer
ous famfly devolved on hira on the death
ofhis father in 1741. He kindly provided
for his raother and assisted two brothers,
afterwards ministers, lo obtain an educa
tion. He removed in 1743 to New Mil
ford, Conn., carrying his tools upon his
back. He soon rehnquished his trade and
became the partner ofan elder brother, a
country merchant at N. Milford. In
1745 he was appointed county survey
or. Having acquired a competent knowl
edge of the law, he was admitted tp the
bar in 1754. In the following year he
was appointed a justice of the peace ;
he was also chosen a representative in the
legislature and a deacon in the church.
Removing to New Haven in 1761, he
was in 1766 chosen an assistant of the

colony, and appointed a judge of the su
perior court, which office he held for 23
years. He was a member of the first con
gress in 1774, and continued a member
19 years till his death. He was one of
those, who signed the act of independence
in 1776. During the war he was a mem
ber of the governor's council of safety.
After the adoption of the constitution of
the U. S., of the convention for framing
which he was a conspicuous raeraber, he
was elected a representative to congress.
Being chosen a senator in 1791, he contin
ued in this station till his death July 23,
1793, aged 72. By two wives he had 15
childten. Jeremiah Evarts raarried a
daughter. His talents were solid and use
ful ; hisjudgment unfailing. Mr. Macon
said of him — "Roger Sherman had raore
comraon sense, than any raan I ever
knevV." Mr. Jefferson pointed him out
as a raan, " who never said a foolish
thing in his life." He was eminently a
self-taught man. Few young men can
reach the political distinction of Roger
Sherman ; all may possess his integrity,
and industry, and love of science and
truth. Having made a public profession
of reUgion at the age of 21, he was never
ashamed to advocate the peculiar doctrines
of the gospelj which are often so un
welcome to men of worldly eminence.
His sentiments were derived from the
word of God and not frora the exertions
of his own reason. In the relations of pri
vate Ufe he secured esteem and affec
tion. — Goodrich.
SHIPPEN, Edward, one of the first
settlers of Pennsylvania, was a native of
England, and a raeraber of the society of
friends. He came to Massachusetts to
avoid persecution, and settled at Boston
as early as 1669, but persecution drove
him thence to Pennsylvania, in which
colony he was speaker of the house of
assembly, and member of the governor's
council. He was also the first mayor of
Philadelphia. His descendants have been
persons of distinction to the present day.
—Miller, n. 340.
SHIPPEN, Edward, ll. d., chiefjus
tice of Pennsylvania, a descendant of

,692

SHIPPEN.

SHUTE.

the preceding, received this appointment
in 1799, but resigned it in Feb. 1806.
He died April 15, 1806, aged 77.
SHIPPEN, William, m. d., first pro
fessor of anatomy in the university of
Pennsylvania, a descendant of Edw. S.,
was a native of that colony and was grad
uated at the college in N. Jersey in 1754.
After studying medicine for some tirae in
Philadelphia, he completed his medical
education at Edinburgh. After his return
he commenced in 1764 a course of lec
tures on anatomy at Philadelphia, which
were the first ever pronounced in the new
world. Being one of the founders of the
medical school, he was appointed professor
of anatomy in 1765. He had to strugg-le
with many difficulties, and his Ufe was
sometimes endangered by a mob in con
sequence of his dissections. But he liv
ed to see the institution divided into five
branches, aU of which were supplied with
able professors, his own pupils, and
becorae a rival to the medical school at
Edinburgh. Instead pf the ten students,
whom he first addressed, he lived to ad
dress 250. About the year 1777 he was
appointed director general of the medical
department in the army of the United
States in the place of Dr. Morgan. He
resigned his professorship in 1806 into the
hands of his coUeague, Dr. Wistar, and
died at Germantown, July 11, 1808, aged
74. SHIRLEY, William, governor of
Massachusetts, was a native of England.
and was bred to the law. After his arri
val at Boston about the year 1733 he
practised in his profession till he received
his comraiissionas governor in 1741 in the
place of Mr. Belcher. He planned the
successful expedition against cape Breton
in 1745 ; but, while his enterprising spirit
deserves commendation, sorae of his
schemes did not indicate much skill in the
arts of navigation and war. He went to
England in 1745 leaving Spencer Phipps,
the lieutenant governor, coraraander in
chief, but returned in 1753. In 1754 he
held a treaty with the eastern Indians,
and explored the Kennebec, erecting two
or three forts. In 1755, being comraan

der in chiefof the British forces in Ameri
ca, he planned an expedition against Ni
agara, and proceeded himself as far as
Oswego. In June 1756 he was superse
ded in the coramand ofthe army by Aber
crombie. He embarked for England in
Sept., and was succeeded by Mr.Pownall.
After having been for a number of years
governor of one of the Bahama islands,
he returned to Mass., and died at his seat
in Roxbury March 24, 1771. Though
he held several of the raost lucrative offi
ces within the giftof the crown in Ameri
ca ; yet he left no property to his children.
The aboUtion of the paper currency was
owing in a great degree to his firmness
and perseverance. His penetration and
unremitting industry gained hira a high
reputation. But it was thought, that aa
a mflitary officer he was not sufficiently
active in seizing the moment for success.
During his administration England lear
ned the importance of this country, and
the colonists learned to fight, and thus
were trained for the mighty contest,
which in a few years commenced. His
instructions to PeppereU, with a full ac
count of the expedition against Louis-
bourg,are preserved in the first volume of
the historical collections. He published
Electra, a tragedy, and Birth of Hercules,
a masque, 1765.
SHUTE, Samuel, governor of Mass.,
was the son of an eminent citizen of Lon
don. His raother was the daughter of
Mr.Caryl, a dissenting minister of distinc
tion. His early education was under fhe
care of Charles Morton. Frora London
he was sent to Leyden, and afterwards he,
entered the array of king Williara, served
under Marlborough, and became a Ueuten
ant colonel. He was wounded in one of
the principal battles in Flanders. Arri
ving at Boston as governor Oct. 4, 1716,
in the place of Dudley, he continued in
office a little more than six years. He
embarked Jan. 1, 1723, on his return to
England wilh complaints against the pro
vince. Governor Burnet succeeded him.
During his administration he raaintained
a warm controversy with the house of
representatives . He endeavored in vain

SHUTE.

SKENONDOU.

693

to procure a fixed salary, an object, which
Dudley had sought without effect. His
right of negativing the speaker was de
nied, and his powers as commander in
chief were assumed by the house. In
consequence of his complaints an explana
tory charter was procured in 1724, which
confirmed the governor in the rights, for
which he had contended. He died in
England Aprfl 15, 1742, aged 80.—
Hutchinson, ii. 215-217, 238; Minot, 1.
61. SHUTE, Daniel, d.d., rainister of
Hinghara, Mass. ,was born July 19, 1722,
and was graduated at Harvard college in
1743. He was ordained pastor of the
second church in H. Dec. 10, 1746. By
the failure of his sight being under the
necessity of quitting his public labors,
Mr. Whitney was ordained his colleague
Jan. 1, 1800. Under the infirmities of
age he was serene and patient. He died
Aug. 30, 1802, aged SO. He was a raera
ber ofthe convention, which formed the
constitution ofthe U. S. He published
artillery election sermon 1767 ; election
sermon, 1768 ; on the death of E. Gay,
1787. SITGREAVES, John, district judge
of N. CaroUna, was an officer in the
revolutionary war, and a member of con
gress after the peace. He died at Halifax,
N. CaroUna, in March 1802.
SKELTON, Samuel, one of the first
ministers of Salem, Mass., was a preacher
in Lincolnshire, England, and, being per
secuted for his nonconformity, came to
this country in June 1629, and was or
dained with Mr. Higginson at Salem
Aug. 6th . After the death of his col
league he had for his assistant Roger
WUliams. He died Aug. 2, 1634.
Though strict in discipline he was a
friend to the utmost equality of privileges
in church and state. His fears ofthe as
sumption of authority by the clergy made
him jealous of the ministers, who used to
hold a meeting once a fortnight for mu
tual improvement. — Magnalia, i. 16;
III, 74, 76 ; Savage's Winthrop, i. 26,
31; Morton, 89-86; Prince, 183-191;
Neal, I. 140, 157 ; Hist callec vi. 244.

SKENONDOU, an Indian chief, re
sided at Oiu'ida, in the state of N. York.
In his youth he was very savage and ad
dicted to drunkenness. In 1755 he was
present at a treaty made at Albany. At
night he was drunk, and in the morning
he found himself in the street, stripped of
his ornaments and clothing. Indignant
at |,his own folly he resolved, that he
would never again deliver himself over to
the power of strong water. Through
the instructions of Mr. Kirkland, a mis
sionary, he Uved a reformed man for more
than sixty years. He died in Christian
hope al Oneida March 1816, aged 106 or
no years. From attachment to Mr.
Kirkland he had often expressed a desire to
be buried near his minister, that he might,
as he said, "go up with hira at the great
resurrection." At the approach of death,
after Ustening to the prayers, which were
read at his bed side by his great-grand
daughter, he repeated his request. Ac
cordingly his corpse was conveyed to the
village of Clinton, where he was buried,
March 13, with distinction, an address
being made to the Indians by Dr. Back
us, president of Harailton college, and in
terpreted by judge Dean of Westmore
land. After the funeral the only surviv
ing son of Skenandou returned thanks for
the respect shown to his father. In per
son he was tall and brawny, but wefl
made. His countenance expressed the
dignity of an Indian chief. He was a
brave and intrepid warrior in youth, and
an able counsellor in age. He watched
the Canadian invasions with the cunning
of the fox, and repelled them with the
agility and fierceness of the mountain cat.
To his vigilance the inhabitants of Ger
man flats on the Mohawk were indebt
ed for preservation frora massacre. His
influence brought his tribe to our assis
tance in the war of the revolution. A-
raong the Indian tribes he was called
"the white man's friend." For several
years he kept his dress for the grave pre
pared. He often went to CUnton to die,
that his body might lie near his Christian
teacher. A short tirae before his death,
he said to a friend by an interpreter,— ."I

694

SMALLEY.

SMITH.

ara an aged hemlock ; — the winds of a
hundred winters have whistled through
my branches ; — I am dead at the lop.
The generation, lo which 1 belonged,
have run away and left rae ; — why I live,
the great Good Spirit only know.?. Prav
to my Jesus, that I may have patience to
wait for iny appointed timo to die."
SMALLEY, John, d. d., minister of
Berlin, Conn., was born in Lebanon June
4, 1734; graduated al Yale college in
1756; was ordained April 19, 1758; and
died June 1, 1820, aged nearly 86. Jona.
Cogswell is the present minister of his
society, called New Britain. — He was
a distinguished theologian and a faithful
arid successful preacher. He published
serraons on natural and moral inability,
1760; eternal salvation not a just debt,
against John Murray, 1735; concib
ad clerum ; at the election, 1800; ser
mons, on connected subjects 1803 ; ser
mons, 2 vols.
SMALLVVOOD, William, general,
governor of Maryland, was appointed a
brigadier in 1776, and raajor general Sept.
15, 1780. In the defeat on L. Island in
Aug. his brigade suffered most severely.
Among the 250 men, whom he lost, were
many from the first farailies of Maryland.
He was inthe battle of Cam.den and in
that of Germantown in 1777. In 17S5
he was a delegate lo congress. He suc
ceeded Paca,aa governor in 1785 and was
succeeded by Howajd in 1788. He died
in Feb. 1792.
SMIBERT, John, an erainent por
trait painter, was born in Edinburgh in
1684. After serving his time with a
house painter, be repaired to London, and
thence to Italy, where he spent 3 years in
copying Raphael, Titian, Vandyck, and
Rubens. He was induced in 1739 to ac
company dean Berkeley to this country ;
he settled in Boston, where he married a
woman with a considerable fortune,
whom, he left with two children at his
death in 1751. His son, Nathaniel, a
painter of great promise,died in early life.
The gazette of May 5, 1757 speaks
of his death. He painted Mr. Lovell,
his schoolmaster.— Many of the portraits

of Mi-. S. are regarded as good paintings.
His head of cardinal Bentivoglio and of
Dr. Mayhew have been commended.
At Yale college his large painting of dean
Berkeley and his family is preserved.
Smibert himself is one of the figures,
with an expressive countenance.
SMITH, John, the father ofthe color
ny of Virginia, was born in Lincolnshire,
England, in 1579. He early discovered a
romantic genius, and delighted in daring
and extravagant actions. At the age of
13 he sold his books and satchel to, raise
money in order to convey himself private
ly to sea, but was prevented. Being an
apprentice to a merchant he quitted his
master at the age of 15, and went to
France and the low countries. After his
return he studied railitary history and
tactics,and, having recovered a part ofthe
estate, which his father left .him, he was
enabled to set out again on his travels at
the age of 17 in a better condition than
before . Having embarked at Marseilles
for Italy with some pilgrims, a tempest
obliged them to anchor near a small isl
and off Nice. As his companions attribu
ted their unfavorable voyage to the pres
ence of Smith, they threw the heretic
into the sea ; but by swimming he was
enabled to reach the shore. After going
to Alexandria, he entered into the service
of the emperor of Austria against the
Turks. By his exploits he soon obtained
the commands of 250 horsemen. Attrie
siege of Regal the Ottomans sent a chal
lenge, purporting that the lord Turbisha
to divert the ladies would fight any cap
tain of the Christian troops. Smith ac
cepted il, and, meeting his antagonist on
horseback in view of the ladies on the
battlements, killed him and bore away his
head. A second antagonist met the
sarae fate. Smith then requested, that,
if the ladies wished for more diversion,
another champion might appear. His
head was added to the number of the oth
ers, though Smith narrowly escaped
losing his own. He was afterwards taken
prisoner ; but by kilUng his tyrannical
master he escaped into Russia. When
he returned to England, he formed the

SMITH.

695

resolution to seek adventures in N. Araer
ica. Having persuaded a number of
gentlemen in 1606 to obtain a patent of
South Virginia, he engaged in the e.\pe-
dition, which was fitted out under the
command of Christopher Newport, and
arrived with the first eraigrants, who
made a permanent settlement, iu the
Chesapeak April 26,1607. A colony was
begun at James Town, and the govern
ment vvas in the hands of a council, of
vvhich Smith was a meraber. When
Newport returned, raore than 100 persons
were left in Virginia. They would have
perished with hunger but for the exer
tions of Smith in procuring corn ofthe
Indians. When he could not effect his
object by purchase, he resorted to force.
He once seized the Indian idol, Okee, made
of skins stuffed with moss, for the redemp
tion of which as much corn was brought
to him, as he required. Whfle exploring
the Chickahominy river he was taken
prisoner, after having killed with his own
hand three of the enemy. He was car
ried to the emperor Powhatan, who re
ceived him, clothed in a robe of racoon
skins, and seated on a kind of throne,
with two beautiful girls, his daughteis,
near him. After a long consultation two
large stones were brought in and his
head was laid upon one of thera. At this
moraent, when the war clubs were lifted
to despatch him, Pocahontas, the king's
favorite daughter, shielded him from the
blows, and by her entreaties saved his
life. He was sent to Jaraes Town,
where by his resolution, address, and in
dustry he prevented the abandonment of
the plantation. In 1608 he explored the
whole country frora cape Henry to the
river Susquehannah, saiUng about 3,000
miles. On his return he d re w a map of the
bay and rivers, from which subsequent
maps have been chiefly copied. In this year,
when he was president of the council,
by his severity and his example he ren
dered the colonists exceedingly industri
ous. It happened, however, that the
blistered hands of several young gentie
men, who had known better times in
England,caUed forth frequent expressions

of impatience and profaneness. Smith
caused the number of every man's oaths
to be noted daily, and at night as many
cans of water to be poured inside his
sleeve. This discipline so lessened the
number of oaths, that scarcely one was
heard in a week, and il perfectly restored
the subjects of it to good humor. In
1609 being much injured by an explosion
of gunpowder, he returned lo England
for the benefit of medical assistance. In
1614 he ranged the coastof what was
then called North Virginia from Penob
scot to cape Cod in an open boat with
eight raen. On his return he forraed a
map of the country, and desired prince
Charles, afterwards " the royal martyr, "
to give it a name. By him it was for the
first lime called N. England. After other
adventures Smith died at Londonin 1631,
aged 51. For all his services and suffer
ings he never received any recompense.
He published the sixth voyage, made to
Virginia, 1606; the first voyage to N.
England with the old and new naraes,
1614 ; a relation of his second voyage,
1615; description of N. E., 1617; N.
England's trials, declaring the success of
26 ships, employed thither within these
six years, &c. 1620 ; the general history
of Virginia, N. England, and the Sum
mer isles, with the names of the adven
turers, &c. frora 1584 to 1626, also the
maps and descriptions of afl those co'un-
tries in six books, folio, 1 627 ; his friend,
Mr. Purchas, had published in his pil
grims most of the narrative part before ;
the true travels, adventures, and obser
vations of captain John Smith in Europe,
Asia, Africa, and America, from 1693
to 1629, folio, 1630 ; 2d ed. 2 vols. Svo.
Richmond, 1819 ; this is preserved entire
in Churchill's collections,; advertisements
for the inexperienced planters, of New
England, 4to. 1630. — Smith's travels;
Belknap's Amer. biog. 1.240— 319.
SMITH, Samuel, a historian, was a
native of BurUngton, N. Jersey, in which
place he died in 1776. He published a
history of N. Jersey from its settlement
to 1721, Svo. 1755, which is a judicious
compilation.

696

SMITH.

? SMITH, Wflliam, chiefjustice ofthe
province of N. York, theson of Wm. S.
an eminent lawyer and judge of the su
preme court, -R'ho died Nov. 22, 1769,
aged 73, was graduated at Yale college
in 1745. In the revolution he wasa tory,
and afterwards chief justice of Canada.
He pubUshed a history ofthe province of
N. York from the first discovery to the
year 1732,4to. 1757 ; 2d. ed. 1814.' A con
tinuation from 1732 to 1762 was written
by his son,Wm. S.
SMITH, Josiah, minister in S. Caro
lina, was the first native of that province,
who received a Uterary degree. He was
born in Charleston in 1704, being the
grandson of governor Thomas Smith,
and graduated at Harvard coflege in 1725.
He was ordained in Boston as minister for
Berrauda July 11, 1726,andafterwardsbe-
carae ministerof Cainhoy, & pastor ofthe
presbyterian church in Charleston. Hav
ing becorae a prisoner of war at Charles
ton hewas sent on parole in 1781 to Phila
delphia, where he died in thesame year,
aged 76. He maintained in the early
part of his ministry a learned disputation
with Hugh Fisher on the right of private
judgment. He published a sermon at
his own ordination ; the Spirit of God a
holy fire, 1727; the duty of parents to
instruct their children, 1727 ; the young
man warned ; Solomon's caution against
the cup,1729 ; human impositions proved
unscriptural ; answer to a serraon of
Hugh Fisher; the divine right of private
judgment, 1730; on the preaching of
Mr. Whitefield, 1740; on the death of
Hannah Dart, 1742 ; letters to W. Coop-
er,1743; Jesus persecuted in his disciples ;
zeal for God encouraged and guarded,
1745 ; a volume of serraons, Svo. 1752 ;
the church of Ephesus arraigned, the
eubstanceof five short sermons contracted
into one, 1765.
SMITH, Thomas, first minister of
Portiand, Maine, the son of Thoraas S.,
merchant of Bbston, was born March 21,
1702, and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1720. In 1726 he went to Fal
mouth, now Portland, as chaplain to the
troops stationed there, and preacher to

the inhabitants. He was ordained March
8, 1727, the day, on which a church was
gathered. Though he received for his
colleague Mr. Deane in 1767, he preached
till the closeof 1784, and officiated in pub
lic prayer till within a year and a haff of
his death. He died May 28, 1795, aged
93, renouncing all self dependence, and
placing his hope in the mercy of God
through the merits of the Redeemer.
He published a sermon at the ordination
of Solomon Lombard at Gorham, and a
sermon to seafaring raen.
SMITH, Robert, d. d., minister in
Pennsylvania, was born of Scotch parent?
in Londonderry, Ireland, about the year
1723, and was brought to this country
about the year 1730. At the age of a-
bout 17 years he becarae the subject of
that divine influence, which so eminently
accompanied and blessed the preaching of
Mr. Whitefield during his first visit to
Araerica. His classical and theological
studies he pursued under the instruction
of Sarauel Blair. In 1751 he was settled
in the presbyterian church at Pequea
in Pennsylvania, in which station he
continued to officiate with reputation and
usefulness tfll his death about the year
1785, aged 62. His wife, the sister of
Mr. Blair, was intelUgent and pious ; in
his absence she conducted the family
worship. Two sons were physicians,
and three ministers. — He wasone ofthe
most able theologians, the raost profound
casuists, and the raost successful preach
ers of his age. Soon after his settlement
he founded a school at Pequea. Many
young men, who have since filled very
honorable stations in church and state,
received in it their classical education.
It was his care to instil with the elements
of Uterature the principles of a pure and
ardent piety. In the Amer. preacher, vol.
4th, there are published three of his ser
mons, entitled, the nature of saving faith;
the excellency of saving faith ; practical
uses frora the nature and excellency of
saving faith.
SMITH, John Blair, first president
of Union college at Schenectady, the son
the preceding, was born June 12, 1756.

SMITH.

697

In early life he exhibited marks of uncom
mon energy of mind. He was thesubject
of many pious prayers and those prayers
were heard in heaven. When he was
about 14 years of age, it pleased God to
excite among the youth in the academy at
Pequea a serious attention to religion.
His mind was at this period deeply im
pressed bythe truths of the gospel ; he
was renewed by the agency of the Holy
Spirit ; and in a short time he avowed
himself a disciple of Jesus. Frora the
year 1773, when he was graduated at
the college of N. Jersey, he devoted him
seff alraost entirely to theological studies
under the direction of his bi-other,Sam'l.S.
Srailh, at that tirae president of Hampden
Sidney college in Virginia. In 1779 he
was settled over a church in Virginia, and
at the sarae time he succeeded his brother
as principal of the seminary. Here he
was eminently honored by the great head
ofthe church in being made instrumental
in promoting a general religious solicitude
and reformation among the people of his
charge and of the neighborhood. As he
was now called to extraordinary exertions,
he generally preached once at least every
day, and in the evenings he was coraraon
ly engaged in religious conversation.
His engagements interfering with the
attention due to the college, he resigned
this part of his charge, that he raight
give hiraself wholly to the work of the
Christian ministry. His zeal was rewar
ded by the success, which attended his
labors ; but, as his health was enfeebled,
he was persuaded to accept an invitation
from the third presbyterian church in
Philadelphia, where be was installed in
Dec. 1791. When Union college was
fbunded in 1795, he presided over it for
three years with high reputation. But
araidst his literary occupations the duties
of the sacred office most warmly interest
ed him. He improved every opportunity
for preaching the gospel ofhis Redeemer.
Being again invited tb his forraer charge
in Philadelphia, he returned tp that city
in May 1799. His successor in the care
of the college was Dr. Edwards. In a
short time he was seized with the yellow
88

fever, of which he died in resignation and
joyful hope, Aug. 22, 1799, aged 43.
SMITH, James, colonel, a patriot of
tile revolution, was a native of Ireland.
He settled as a lawyer and a surveyor in
York, Penns. He raised in 1774 the first
volunteer company in the state for the
purpose of resisting Great Britain. In
1776 he was a member of congress and
signed the declaration of independence.
In Nov. 1778 he resumed his professional
pursuits. He died in 1806, aged about
92. For many years he was a professor
of religion.
SMITH, Robert, d. d., first bishop of
the episcopal churches in S. CaroUna,
was consecrated bishop in 1795, and died
at Charleston in Nov. 1801, aged 72.
He had for 47 years discharged the duties
ofa minister of St. PhiUp's church.
SMITH, WiUiam, d.d., first provost
ofthe college in Philadelphia, a native of
Scotland, received his education at the
university of Aberdeen, where he was
graduated in 1747. After being employ
ed as a private tutor in the family of gov.
Martin on L. Island, he was invited to
take the charge of the college in Philadel
phia, and he accepted the invitation.
After revisiting England, and receiving
regular ordination in the episcopal church
in Dec. 1753, he returned to America,
and in May 1754 was placed at the head
of the infant seminary. His popular
talents and taste in poUte Uterature con
tributed greatly to raise the character of
the college. He was principally assisted
by Dr. Allison. After being for many
years a distinguished preacher and writer,
and rendering important service to the
literary interests of America, he died at
Philadelphia May 14, 1803, aged 76.
He published a serraon to ' freemasons,
1 755; discourseson several pubUc occasions
during the war, 1759, and 2d. edit, with
sermons added, 1763 ; concerning the
conversion of the heathen in America,
i 760 ; an account ofthe charitable corpora-
tionfor the widows of clergymen, 1769; an
oration before the Amer. phfl. soc, 1773;
on the present crisis of American affairs,
1775 ; an oration, in meraory of Mont-

698

SMITH.

gomery, 1776; on teraporal and spiritual
salvation, 1790; eulogiura on Franklin,
1792. His works were published in two
vols. Svo. 1803.
SMITH, John, d. d., professor of lan
guages at Dartmouth college, was born
at Byfield, Mass., Dec. 21, 1752 and was
graduatedin 1778 at Dartmouth.where he
was atutor from 1774 to 1778 & profess
or frora 1778 till his death. He wasa preach
er, as well as a teacher of the ancient lan
guages. He died in May 1809, aged 56.
His daughter, Sarah, who had a fine taste
for poetry, and of whora a raeraoiris
given in the Panoplist,ix. 385, died Aug.
17, 1812, aged 23.— He pubUshed a dedi
cation sermon, 1795; Hebrew grammar,
1803; Greek grammar, 1809; Latin
grammar, 3d ed. 1812.
SMITH, William Loughton, ll. d.,
ambassador to Spain, was elected in 1789
a meraber of congress frora S. Carolina,
and with great ability supported the ad
ministrations of Washington and Adams.
In 1797 he was appointed minister to
Portugal, and in ISOO to Spain ; but the
next year, on the accession of Mr. Jeffer
son, his functions ceased. He died in S.
CaroUna Dec. 19, 1812. He published an
oration July 4, 1796 ; a coraparative view
of the constitutions of the states and of
the U. S., 1797 ; a paraphlet against the
pretensions of Mr. Jefferson to the presi
dency ; Essays signed Phocion. His
speeches and letter to his constituents
were republished, London, 1795.
SMITH, Isaac, a judge of the suprerae
court of N. Jersey, was graduated at the
college in that state in 1755, and after
wards commenced the practice of physic.
From the beginning ofthe troubles with
G. Britain he was distinguished for his
patriotic services in the cause of his coun
try. In 1776 he commanded a regiraent,
and during the periods of gloom and dis
may he was firm and persevering. He
associated valor with discretion, the
disciplined spirit of the soldier with the
sagacity of the statesman. Soon after
the termination of the struggle, he recei
ved his appointment as judge, and for 18
years discharged the arduous duties of

that station. After the present consti
tution of the U. S. was formed, he was
a meraber ofthe house of representatives,
and was esteeraed by Washington and
Adaras. Endowed with fine talents, and
having enjoyed a classical education, he
united the character ofa Christian, schol
ar, soldier, and gentleman. He died
Aug. 29, 1807, aged 67, in hope of mercy
through the Redeemer. — Portfolio, neio
series, i. 135, 136.
SMITH, Sarauel Stanhope, d. d.,
president of Princeton college, the son of
Robert Smith, d. d., was born at Pe
quea, town of Salisbury, Lancaster coun
ty, Penns., March 16, 1750, and gradua
ted in 1769 at Princeton, where he was
afterwards two years a tutor. Being an
eloquent and popular preacher in Virgin
ia, Hampden Sidney college was institu
ted with the design, that he should be
come its president After being at the
head of that college a few years, he was
appointed in 1779 professor of moral phil
osophy at Princeton ; and was succeeded
in "Virginia by his brother, John S. In
the absence of Dr. Witherspoon as a
meraber of congress rauch of the care of
the college devolved upon him ; and after
his death in 1794 he was elected his suc
cessor. In consequence ofhis infirmities
he resigned his office in 1812. He died
Aug. 21, 1819, aged 69, and was succee
ded by Dr. Green. His wife was a daugh
ter of Dr. Witherspoon ; his daugh
ter married J. M. Pinlard, consul at
Madeira. He pubUshed a serraon on the
deathof R. Stockton, 1781 ; an essay on
the causes ofthe variety of the coraplex-
ionand figure of the huraan species, 1788,
in which he ascribed all the variety to
cUraate, the state of sociely, and the
manner of living ; sermons, Svo. 1801 ;
lectures on the evidences of the Christian
reUgion, 12mo. 1809 ; on the love of
praise, 1810 ; a continuation of Ramsay's
history ofthe U. S., from 1808 to 1817 ;
lectures on moral and political phflosophy;
the principles of natural and revealed re
Ugion. SMITH, EUhu Hubbard, a physician,
was born at Litchfield, Conn., in 1771,

SMITH.

SOUTH CAROLINA.

699

and was grad uated at Yale college in 1 786.
After pursuing a regular course of medi
cal studies under the direction of his fa
ther, he coraraenced the practice at
Wethersfield in 1792, but removed to N.
York in 1793. In 1797 he comraenced
the medical repository in conjunction
with Drs. Mitchill and Miller. He fell
a victim to the yellow fever in 1798. At
his early age he had explored a vast ex
tent of medical learning. His writings
display singular acuteness, great force of
reasoning, and the talent of accurate and
extensive observation. Besides his medi
cal productions in the repository, he pub
lished Edwin and Angelina, or the bandit
ti, an opera in three acts, 1797.
SMITH, George WilUam, governor
of Virginia, was elected as successor of
Mr. Monroe in 1811. Being one of the
attendants at the theatre in Richraond in
the evening of Dec. 26, 1811, when it
took fire, he lost his fife with Mr. Vena-
ble and 70 others.
SMITH, Nathaniel, judge, was born
at Woodbury, Conn., Jan. 6, 1762, and
with few advantages for education rose to
distinction. He practised law in his native
town. In 1795 he was a raeraber of con
gress: from 1806 tifl 1819 he was a judge
ofthe supreme court. Hedied March 9,
1822, aged 60. He was learned in the
law ; his mind was acute and powerful ;
and he was respected for his integrity and
piety. SMITH, Nathan, m. d., professor in
the medical schools of Dartmouth, Yale,
and Bowdoin colleges, was born in Re
hoboth, Mass., Sept 30, 1762. As his
parents reraoved to Chester, Verraont, he
was brought up as a farmer at the foot of
the Green raountains. Attrie age of 24
he began the study of physic. After
practising a few years at Cornish he pro
jected a medical institution at Dartmouth
college. Being chosen a professor, he
went to Europe in 1796 for his improve
ment in science. In 1798 the school was
opened ; for twelve years be lectured on
the various branches, usually taught ; in
1810 Dr. Cyrus Perkins was appointed
professor of anatomy. In 1813 he was

chosen professor ofthe theory and prac
tice of physic and surgery at Yale college,
and removed from Hanover to New Ha
ven. In 1821 he was the first lecturer in
the Medical school of Maine at Bowdoin
college, and he lectured there for five
years. He died at New Haven Jan. 26,'
1829 aged 66. His son, Nathan R. S.,
is a distinguished physician at Baltimore.
— Dr. S. was erainent both as a physician
and surgeon, and had practised more ex
tensively in N. England, than any other
man. His raanners were pleasing and
interesting ; in his friendships he was
steady ; and he was beloved by his nu
raerous pupils. His works, entitled.
Medical and surgical meraoirs, were pub
lished, Svo. 1831.
SMITH, John, d. d., professor of the
ology in the theological seminary at Ban
gor, Maine, Was born in Belchertown,
Mass. in 1766 ; graduated at Dartmouth
college in 1794 ; and, having studied the
ology with Dr. Emmons, was ordained
at Salem, N. H., in 1797. After 20
years he was dismissed and settled at
Wenham, Mass. In 1819 he succeeded
A. Wines as professor of theology at
Bangor, where he died in Christian peace
April 7, 1831, aged 65. His successor is
Rev. Mr. Pond. He published a sermon
to the Missionary society, 1 830.
SOUTH CAROLINA, one of the
United States, was first granted with N.
Carolina and Georgia to the earl of Clar
endon and others in 1 663. A small plan
tation had for some years been established
within the boundaries of the patent. A
more ample charier was obtained in 1 664,
and the government was placed in the
hands of the proprietors. This [iroprieta-
ry government continued about fifty
years. In 1719 a change was effected in
it by the inhabitants. They refused to
do any business with the proprietary gov
ernor ; but at the sarae tirae offered to
obey him, if he would hold his authority
in the name of the king of England.
This being refused, they chose a different
governor and bound theraselves by an as
sociation to stand by each other in the
defence of their rights. From this peri-

700

SPENCER.

SPRING.

-od the government was regal. The gov
ernor was appointed by the crown, and
he had a negative on all the bills passed
by the assemblies. The English consti
tution was the model. During the
proprietary government the colony was
involved in perpetual quarrels. Harassed
by the Indians, infested by pirates, inva
ded by the French and Spanish fleets, ag
itated with internal dissensions, it did
not much flourish. But after the change
in the government it increased rapidly.
In 1729 the province of CaroUna was di
vided into the two distinct governments of
North and South Carolina. This state
took an early and detiided part in the
struggle with Great Britain. It was the
first of the U. States, that forraed an in
dependent constitution ; but, as this was
done on teraporary principles, it was new
modelled after the declaration of indepen
dence. The present constitution of S.
CaroUna was adopted in 1790. It estab
lishes a legislature of two branches, a
house of representatives and a senate, the
members of the former to be chosen every
second and of the latter every fourth year;
and they by a joint vote elect the gover
nor for two years. He is re-eligible after
four years. A Ueutenant governor has
no duties, while there is a governor.
The clergy are ineligible to any civil
office. The judges hold their commis
sions during good behavior, being appoin
ted by the legislature. — Ramsay.
SPENCER, Joseph, major general in
the army of the revolution,, received this
appointment in Aug. 1776 ; he had been
previously a brigadier, and in the war of
1758 had served as a major and colonel.
He was with the army in the expedition
to R. Island and in the retreat in 1778.
On his resignation he was chosen a
meraber of congress. He died at East
Haddam, the place of his birth, in Jan.
1789, aged 75. His brother, EUhu S.,
D. D., successively minister of Jamaica,
L. I., and of Trenton, N. J., died Dec.
27, 1784. His nephew, OUver, S., son
of capt. Samuel S., married a daughter of
Rob. Ogden ; commanded a regiment in
tlie battle of Princeton ; and after the war

was judge of probate in Ohio, where he
died Jan. 22,1811.
SPRING, Samuel, d. d., ministerof
Newburyport, Mass., was born 'in .Ux
bridge Feb. 27, 1746, and graduated at
Princeton coUege in 1771. He was the
only chaplain in Arnold's detachraent,-
which penetrated through the wilderness
ofMaine to Quebec in 1775. On his re
turn in 1776 he left the array. He was
ordained Aug. 6, 1 777, and died March
4, 1819, aged 73. His wife was a daugh
ter of Dr. Hopkins, minister of Hadley ;
his two sons are ministers in N. York and
in Hartford, Conn. — Besides his labors as
rainister Dr. Spring perforraed various
other iraportant public services ; he was
one of the founders of the Mass. mission
ary society in 1799, and its president;
he assisted also in founding the theologi
cal seminary at Andover, and the Ameri
can board of commissioners for foreign
missions, of which he was one of the
prudential coraraittee. In his theologi
cal views he accorded with Drs. Hopkins,
Bellamy, and West, who were his teach
ers. He was distinguished for metaphys
ical acuteness. He pubUshed Friendly
dialogue on the nature of duty, 1784 ;
Disquisitions and strictures on Rev. D.
Tappan's letters to Philalethes, 1789 ;
thanksgiving serraon, 1794 ; a raissionary
sermon, 1802 ; at the ordination of Mr.
Coffin, 1804; on the duel between Ham
ilton and Burr, 1804 ; 2 discourses on
Christ's self-existence, 1805 ; 2 fast ser
mons, 1809, which occasioned a letter
from Mr. Aikin ; at the inauguration of
Dr. Griffin at 'Andover, 1809; on the
deathof Tho. Thompson, 1818; before
the Amer. foreign mission society, 1818.
SPRING, Marshall, m. d., a physi
cian^ was bom in Watertown, Mass. ;
graduated at Harvard college in 1762;
and settled at Waltham, where he had
extensive practice. He disapproved of
the resistance to Great Britain, and was
a tory ; yet in 1801 he was a democrat,,
or an adherent of Mr. Jefferson. He
died in Jan. 1818, aged 75. To his son
he left a fortune of between two and
three hundred thousand dollars, but be-

SPROAT.

STARK.

701

queathed nothing to religious and chari
table institutions. He had a high repu
tation for medical skill. Many resorted
to him as to an oracle. He was a man of
keenness of wit. — Thacher.
SPROAT, James, d. d., minister in
Philadelphia, was born at Scituate, Mass.,
April 11, 1722, and was graijuated at
Yale college in 1741. While a meraber
ofthis serainary he heard a serraon by
Gilbert Tennent, which made the most
permanent impressions upon his mind.
He was ordained Aug. 23, 1743 a rainis
ter in Guilford, where he was highly
popular and very useful. Thence he
reraoved to Philadelphia, and succeeded
Mr. Tennent at the close of the year
1768. Here he continued tfll his death,
Oct 18, 1793, aged 71. Dr. Green, his
colleague, sur-vived hira. The raanner
ofhis funeral showed the high esteem, in
which he was held. It was at the time,
when the yellow fever raade such rava
ges in the city, and when- even two or
three mourning friends were seldom seen
attending a corpse to the grave. About
fifty persons followed him, and some reli
gious negroes voluntarily offered them
.selves to carry the bier. He was a re
spectable divine, and in his preaching he
loved to dwell on the peculiar doctrines
ofthe gospel. His Ufe exhibited a most
amiable view ofthe influence of religion.
The copious extracts from his diary in
the assembly's magazine evince his piety
and submission to the will of God under
the heaviest afflictions, and give an af
fecting account of the distress, occasion
ed by the yellow fever.
STANDISH, Miles, the hero of N.
England, was born in Lancashire aboutthe
year 1584. After having served for some
time in the army in the Netheriands, he
settled with Mr. Robinson's congregation
at Leyden. Though not a member of
the church, he embarked wilh the com
pany, that came to N. England in 1620,
and was chosen captain or chief military
comraander at Plymouth. In every ha
zardous enterprise he was foreraost ; he
was resolute and daring ; and often when
in great danger was guarded by the prbv-

idence of God. In 1623 he was sent to
Wessagusset or Weymouth to protect
the settlers there from a conspiracy of
the Indians, which Massassoit had dis
closed. Having chosen eight men he
went to the plantation under pretence of
trade, and he found it in a most perilous
condition. The people by their unjust
and disorderly conduct had made them
selves contemptible in the eyes of the In
dians. To give the savages satisfaction
on account of corn, which had been sto
len, they pretended to hang the thief, but
hung in his stead a poor, decrepid, old
man. After Standish arfived at Wey
mouth, he was insulted and threatened
by the Indians, who had been named as
conspirators. Taking an opportunity,
when a number of them were togelher,he
kiUed five without losing any of his men.
He hiraself seized Pecksuot, a bold chief,
snatched his knife from his neck, and
killed him with it. The terror, with
which this enterprise filled the savages,
was of great advantage to the colonists.
When the report of this transaction was
carried to HoUand, Mr. Robinson in bis
next letter to the governor exclaimed,
"O that you had converted sorae, before
you killed any." Captain Standish Vvas
one of the magistrates or assistants, as
long as he Uved. He died in 1656 at
Duxbury where he had a tract of land
now known by the narae of captain's hill.
Mr. Hubbard says of him, " a little chim
ney is soon fired ; so was the Plymouth
captain, a man of a very small stature,
yet of a very hot and angry temper. —
He had been bred a soldier in the low
countries, and never entered into the
school of Christ, or of John the baptist."
It does not appear, however, that in his
military expeditions he exceeded his or
ders. Morton says, that he fell asleep
in the Lord. — Belknap's Amer. biog. i.
310-336. STARK, John, raajor general, the
son of Archibald S., a native of Glasgow,
who married in Ireland, was born at
Londonderry, N. H. , Aug. 28,' 1 728. In
1736 his father removed to Derryfield,
now Manchester, on the Merrimac.

702

STARK.

STEUBEN.

While on a hunting expedition he was
taken prisoner by the St. Francis In
dians in 1752, but was soon redeemed at
an expense of 103 dollars, paid by Mr.
Wheelwright ofBoston. To raise this
money be repaired on another hunting
expedition to the Androscoggin. He af
terwards served in a company of rangers
with Rogers, being made a captain in
1756. On hearing of the battle of Lex
ington he'repaired to Cambridge, and, re
ceiving a colonel's comraission, enlisted
in the sarae day SOO raen. He fought in
the battle of Breed's hiU, June 17, 1775,
his regiraent forraing the left of the line,
and repulsing three tiraes by their deadly
fire the veteran Welsh fusfleers, who had
fought at Minden. His only defence
was a rail fence, covered with hay to re-
serable a breast work. In May 1776 he
proceeded frora N. York to Canada. In
the attack on Trenton he coraraanded
the van of the right wing. He was
also engaged in the battle of Princeton.
Displeased at being neglected in a list of
proraotions, he resigned his comraission in
March 1777, and retired to his farra. In
order to impede the progress of Burgoyne
be proposed to the council of N. Hamp
shire to raise a body of troops, and faU
upon his rear. In the battle of Benning
ton, so caUed, though fought six raUes
north west frora B., in the borders of N.
York, Saturday Aug. 1 6, 1 777, he defea
ted col. Baum, killing 207 and raaking
750 prisoners. The place was near Van
Schaack's raills, (denominated by Bur
goyne Stantcoick mills,) on a branch of
the Hoosuck, called by Dr. Holmes Wal
loon creek ; by others Walloomsack,
and Walloomschaick, and Looms-chork.
This event awakened confidence, and led
to the capture of Burgoyne. Of those
who fought in this battle, the naraes of
T. Allen, J. Orr, and others are recorded
in this volume. In Sept. he enUsted a
new and larger force and joined Gates.
In 1778 and 1779 he served in R. Island,
and in 1780 in N. Jersey. In 1781 he
had the command of the northern depart
ment at Saratoga. At the close of the
war he bid adieu to public employraents.

In 1818 congress voted him a pension of
60doU. per. month. He died May 8,-
1822, aged, 93. He was buried on a
sraall hfll near the Merriraac ; a granite
obeUsk has the inscription — " Maj. Gen.
Stark." A raemoir of his life was pub
lished, annexed tb Rerainiscences of the
French war, 12rao. 1831.
STEDMAN, C, published a history
of the Araeriean war, 2vols. 4io. Lond.
1794. STEUBEN, Frederick Williara, Ba
ron DE, a raajor general in the American
army, was a Prussian officer, who served
many years in the armies of Frederick,
and afterwards entered the service of
prince Charles of Baden . He had the
rank of lieutenant general, and was
also a canon of the church. With an
incorae of 2500 doll, a year, he passed
his winters at Paris, and there became ac
quainted with Franklin. He arrived at
Portsmouth, N. H., in Nov. 1777, with
strong recoraraendations to congress.
He claimed no rank, and only requested
perraission to serve as a volunteer. He
was soon appointed to the office of inspec
tor general with the rank of raajor general.
He established a uniforra system of man
oeuvres, and by his skill and persevering
industry effected during the continuance
of the troops at Valley Forge a most ira
portant iraproveraent in all ranks of the
array. He was a volunteer in the action
at Monraouth, and coraraanded in the
trenches of York Town on the day , which
concluded the struggle with Great Brit
ain. He died at Steubenville, New York,
Nov. 28,1794, aged 61. He was an accom
plished gentleraan & a virtuous citizen, of
extensive knowledge and sound judgment.
His aids were North, Popham, and
Walker . The following anecdotes will
iUustrate his character. When in Virgi
nia, a militia colonel rode up with a boy,
and said, ' I have brought you a recruit'
The baron patted the boy on his head,
and asked his age, and in his indignation
at the cheat ordered the colonel to be dis-
raounted, unspurred, and turned into the
ranks ; and said to the lad, ' Go, ray boy,
take the colonel's spurs and horses to his

STEUBEN.

STEVENS.

703

wife ; — make ray corapUment, and say,
her husband has gone to fight for the free
dom of his country, as an honest man
should do. By platoons ! to the right
wheel! forward raarch ! ' On the arrival
of the corps at Roanoke, the colonel es
caped, and appUed in vain to governor
Jefferson for redress. — At a review in
Morristown he arrested a lieut. Gibbons
for a fault, of which he was innocent ;
but, ascertaining bis innocence, he desir
ed him to come to the front, when he
said, — " Sir, the fault, which was com
mitted, would have been perilous in the
presence of an enemy, but it was not
yours ; I ask your pardon ; return to
your coramand ;" and this was said with
his hat off, and the rain pouring on his
reverend head. What officer would not
respect the veteran i" — On leaving a sick
aid de camp in Virginia, he said, ' There
is my sulkey, and here ishalf of my mon
ey, I can' do no more.' For amuseraent
be sometimes miscalled words in English,
similar in sound. Mrs. Washington, at
the dinner table, asked hira once what he
had caught, when he went a fishing.
He replied, that he had caught two fish,
adding, 'I ara not sure, but I think one of
thera was a whale' — ' A whale, baron, in
the North river ? ' ' Yes, I assure you,
a very fine whale ; was it not." — appeal
ing to one of his aids, whp repUed, ' an
Eel, baron.' At the house of Mrs. Liv
ingston, the mother of the chancellor, he
was introduced to a Miss Sheaff ; ' I am
happy, said he, to be presented to you,
though at a great risk ; frora my youth I
have been cautioned against mischief; but
I had no idea, that her attractions were so
powerful!' When the array was disban
ded, and the old soldiers shook hands in
farewell, Ueut. col. Cochran, a green-
mountain veteran, said — 'For myself I
could stand it, but my wife and daugh
ters are in the garret of that wretched
tavern, and I have no means of removing
them.' — 'Come,' said the baron, 'I wfll
pay my respect to Mrs. C. and her daugh
ters ;' and when he left them, their coun
tenances were brightened, for he gave
them afl he had to give. This was at

Newburg. On the wharf he saw a poor
wounded black inan, who wanted a dollar
to pay for his passage to his home. Of
whom the baron borrowed the dollar, it is
not known ; but he soon returned, when
the negro hailed the sloop, and cried —
'God bless you, master baron!' The
state of N . Jersey gave hira a small farm.
N. York gave him 16,000 acres in Oneida
county ; a pension of 2500 doll, was also
given hiin. He built him a log house at
Steuben villa, gave a tenth part ofhis land
to his aids and servants, and parcelled out
the rest to 20 or 30 tenants. His library
was his chief solace. Having little exer
cise, he died of the apoplexy. Agreea
bly to his request he vvas wrapped in his
cloak and buried in a plain coffin without a
stone. Hewas abeliever in Jesus Christ, a
member ofthe reformed Dutch church, N.
Y. An abstract of his system of discipUne
was published in 1779, and in 1784 he
published a letter on the subject of an es
tablished raililia and military arrange
ments. STEVENS, Joseph, minister nf
Charlestown, Mass., the son of Joseph S.,-
was born in Andover, was graduated at
Harvard college in 1708, and was ordain
ed colleague with Mr. Bradstreet Oct. 13, '
1713. He died Nov. 16, 1721, aged 40.
He was a fervent and eloquent preacher,
cheerful though serious in conversation,
gentle as a father, and beloved by all his
congregation. There was published from
his manuscript his last serraon, entitled,
another and a better country in reserve
for all true believers, and annexed to it a
discourse on the death of Mr. Brattie of
Carabridge. STEVENS, Benjarain, d.d., minis
ter of Kittery, Maine, the son of the
preceding, was graduated at Harvard col-
in 1740, and ordained May 1, 1751. He
died May 18, 1791, aged 70, having been
respected in Ufe as an able minister of the
gospel, an exeraplary Christian, and a
modest and hurable raan. He published
a serraon on the death of Andrew Peppe
reU, 1752 ; on the death of sir W. Pep
pereU, 1759 ; at the election 1760.
STEVENS, Edward, general, a sol-

704

STEVENS.

STILES.

diet of the revolution, served with dis
tinction during the whole war. In the
battle at Guilford court house he was
wounded. He was the friend of Wash
ington and Greene. He died in Virginia
Aug. 17, 18J0.
STEVENS; Ebenezer, major gener
al, a soldier of the revolution, was born
in Boston in 1751, and entered the army
as an artificer. He obtained the rank of
lieut. col. of artillery. On the return of
peace he settled in New York, and was
an enterprising merchant. For many
years he commanded the division of the
artillery of the state. He died Sept. 2,
1823, aged 71.
STEWARD, Joseph,a painter, gradu
ated at Dartmouth college in 1780. He
becarae a preacher ; but losing his health
he devoted himself to painting, being in
structed by Trumbull. He established a
museum at Hartford, Conn., where he
died in Aprfl 1822, aged 69.
STILES, Ezra, d. d., president of
Yale college, the son of Isaac Stiles,
minister of North Haven, Conn., was
born Dec. 15, 1727. He was graduated
in 1746, and in 1749 was chosen tutor, in
which station he remained six years. Af
ter having preached occasionally his im
paired health and some doubt respecting
the truth of Christianity induced him to
pursue the study ofthe law. In 1753 he
took the attorney's oath at New Haven,
and practised at the bar tfll 1755. But,
having resumed preaching, he was or
dained Oct. 22, 1755 minister of the sec
ond congregational church in Newport,
R. Island. In March 1776 the events of
the war dispersed his congregation, and
induced him to remove to Dighton. He
afterwards preached at Portsraouth. In
1777 he was chosen president ofYale col
lege, as successor of Mr. Clap, and con
tinued in this station till his death May
12, 1795, aged 67. Hewas one of the
most learned raen, of whora this country
can boast He had a thorough knowl
edge of the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin
languages, the former of which he learn
ed when he was about forty years of age ;
he had made considerable progress in the

Samaritan, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic ;
on the Persic and Coptic he had bestow
ed some attention ; and the French he
read with great facility. He was also
well versed in most branches of mathema
tical knowledge. Next to sacred Utera-,
ture astronomy was his favorite science.
He had read the works of divines in vari
ous languages, and very few have had so
thorough an acquaintance with the fath
ers ofthe Christian church. He posses
sed an intimate acquaintance with the
Rabbinical writings. He was a most im
pressive and elbquent preacher, for be
spoke with that zeal and energy, which
the deepest interest in the most irapor
tant subjects cannot fail to inspire. His
early discourses were philosophical and
moral ; but he gradually became a serious
and powerful preacrier of the momentous
truths of the gospel. In the room of la
bored disquisitions, addressed rather to
the reason than to the conscience and
heart, he employed his tirae in preaching
repentance and faith ; the great truths
respecting our disease andcure; the physi
cian of souls and our reraedy in hira ; the
manner, in which the sinner is brought
horae to God in regeneration, justifica
tion, sanctification, and eternal glory ;
the terrors and blessings of the world to
corae ; the influence of the Holy Spirit
and the efficacy of the truth in the great
change of the character, preparatory for
heaven. The doctrines of the trinity in
unity, of the divinity and atonement of
Christ, with the capital principles of the
great theological systera of the doctrines
of grace he believed to have been the un
interrupted faith of eight tenths of Chris-
lendora from the ascension of Jesus Christ
to the present day. He delighted in preach
ing the gospel to the poor. Araong the
members of his church at Newport were
seven negroes. These occasionaUy met
in his study, when he instructed them,
andjfalling on their knees together,he im
plored for thera and for himself the bles
sing of that God, with whom all distinc
tion excepting that of Christian excellence
is as nothing. In the cause of civil and
religious liberty he was an enthusiast.

STILES.

STILLMAN.

705

He Cohtendedithat the right of conscience
and private judgment was unalienable ;
and that no exigences of the Christian
church could render it lawful to erect any
body of men into a standing judicatory
bver the churches. He engaged with
zeal in the cause of his country. He
thought, that the SOth of Jan., which
was observed by the episcopalians in com
memoration of the martyrdom of Charles
I, "ought to be celebrated as an anniver
sary thanksgiving, that one nation on
earth had so much fortitude and public
justice, as to make a royal tyrant bow to
the sovereignty ofthe people." He was
catholic in his sentiments, for his heart
was open to receive all, who loved the
Lord Jesus in sincerity. He was con
spicuous for his benevolence, as well as
for his learning and piety. The follow
ing extracts from his diary furnish evi
dence of his Christian goodness. "The
review of ray life astonishes me with a
sense of my sins. May I be washed in
the blood of Jesus, which cleanseth from
all sin . Pu rify and sanctify me, O blessed
Spirit I — I hope I love my Savior for his
divine excellences, as weU as for bis love
to sinners ; I glory in bis divine righteous
ness ; and earnestly beseech the God of
all grace to endue me with true and real
hoUness, and to make me like himseff. —
I have earnestly importuned the youth of
this uriiversity to devote themselves to
that divine Jesus, who hath loved them to
thedeath. And praised be God, I have
reason to hope the blessed Spirit hath
wrought effectually on the hearts of sun
dry, who have, I think, been brought
home to God, and experienced what
flesh and blood cannot impart to the hu
man raind. Whether I shall ever get to
heaven, and through many tribulations
enter into rest, God only knows. This
I know, that I am the most unworthy of
afl the works of God."
He was a man of low stature, and of a
small though well proportioned form.
His voice was clear and energetic. His
countenance especially in conversation
was expressive of benignity and mild
ness : but, if occasion required, it became
89

the index of majesty and authorrty. He
published a funeral oration in Latin on
governor Law, 1751 ; a discourse on the
Christian union, preached before the con
gregational ministers of Rhode Island,
1760 ; in this work be recommends har
mony among different Christians, and
shows an intimate acquaintance with ihe
ecolesiastical affairs of this country ; a
sermon at the installation of S. Hopkins,-
1770; a Latin oration on his induction
into his office, 1778 ; the U. States ele
vated lo glory and honor, an election ser'
mon,- preached May 8, 1783, which ex
hibits the eloquence, and patriotisra, and
glowing sentiments of liberty, with which
the august occasion could not fail to in
spire hira ; account of the settiement of
Bristol, 1785 ; a serraon at the ordination
of H. Channing, 17S7 ; history of the
three judges of king Charles I,-^Whalley,
Gofle, and Dixwell, 12mo. 1795 ; in this-
work he discloses very fully his senti
ments on civil Uberty, and predicts a
" republican renovation" in Eng-'and.
He left an unfinished ecclesiastical histo
ry ofN. England, and raore than forty
volumes of manuscripts. An interesting
account of his life was published by his
son in law, Dr Holmes, in 1798.
STILLMAN, Samuel, d.d., minister
in Boston, was born in Philadelphia Feb.
27, 1737. When he was but 11
years of age his parents removed to
Charleston, S. Carolina, and in an acade
my in that city he received the rudiments
ofhis education. The preaching of Mr.
Hart was the means of teaching him,
that he was a sinner, and of converting
hira. Being ordained at Charleston Feb.
26, 1759, he immediately afterwards set
tled at James' island ; but his impaired
health induced him in 1760 to remove to
Bordentown, N. Jersey, where he preach
ed two years, and then went to Boston.
After being an assistant about a year in
the second baptist church, he was installed
the minister of the first, as successor of
Mr. Condy, who now resigned his office,
Jan. 9, 1765. In this churCh he contin
ued his benevolent labors, universally
! respected and beloved, till his death by a

706

STILLMAN.

STOCKTON.

paralytic shock March 13, 1807, aged 69.
As an eloquent preacher of the gospel
Dr. Stillman held the first rank. Era-
bracing the peculiar doctrines of the
Chrislian religion, he explained and en
forced thera with clearness and with apos
tolic intrepidity and zeal. He possessed
a pleasant and raost coramanding voice,
and, as he felt what he spoke, he was
enabled to transfuse his own feeUngs into
the hearts of his auditors. The total
moral depravity of man was a principle,
on which in his preaching he much insis
ted, and he believed, that the Christian
was dependent on God's imraediate agen
cy for the origin and continuance of every
gracious exercise. From his clear appre
hension ofthe eternal personal election of
a certain number of the huraan race to
salvation he was led to believe the per
severance unto eternal glory of all those,
who are regenerated by the Spirit of God.
The Godhead and atoneraent ofthe Lord
Jesus Christ were his frequent themes.
He -Was a preacher of righteousness, and
his own life was holy. In the chamber
of sickness and affliction, he was always
among different denominations a welcome
visitor. His uncommon vivacity and
energy of feeUng were united with a per
fect sense of propriety, and wilh affabiUty,
ease, and politeness. He published a
sermon on the repeal of the stamp act,
1766; at the artiUery election, 1770; at
the ordination of S. Shepard, 1771; of
Stephen S. Nelson, 1797 ; of Tho. Wa
terman, 1801 ; on the death of S. Ward,
1776 ; election sermon, 1779 ; on chari
ty, 1785 ; before a society of freemasons,
1789 ; apostolic preaching in three dis
courses, 1790 ; on the death of N.
Brown, 1791 ; of Washington, 1800; of
H. Smith, 1805 ; thanksgiving sermon on
the French revolution, 1794 ; on the na
tional fast, 1799 ; on opening the baptist
meeting house in Charlestown ; on the
first anniversary of the female asylum,
1801 ; on the first anniversary of the
Massachusetts baptist missionary society,
1 803. A volume of 20 sermons was pub
lished Svo. 1808, of which 8 had never
before been pubUshed. ,

STIRLING, Eari of, see William
Alexander. STITH, Williara, president of Wil
Uam and Mary college, Virginia, was a
native of that colony, and for some years
a respectable clergyman. He withdrew
from the laborious office, which he sus
tained in the college, soon after the year
1740, and died in 1750. He publishe4 ^
history of the first discovery and settle
ment of Virginia, Wilhamsburg, Svo.
1747. It brings down the history only
to 1624. An appendix contains a collec
tion of charters relating to the period,
comprised, in the volume. Besides the
copious materials of Smith the author
derived assistance from the manuscripts
of his uncle, sir John Randolph, and
from the records ofthe London company,
put into his hands by colonel WilUam
Byrd, president of the council, and from
the valuable library of this gentleman.
Mr. Stith was a raan of classical learning,
and a faithful historian ; but he was des
titute of taste in style, and his details are
exceedingly minute.
STOCKTON, Richard, a statesman
of N. Jersey, the son of John S., and
grandson of Richard S., who died in pos
session ofa large landed estate at Prince
ton in 1720, was born at Princeton Oct.
1, 1730 ; was graduated in the first class
in 1748 ; and studied law with David
Ogden of Newark. In 1774 he was ap
pointed a judge of the supreme court of
N. J., and in 1776 a member of congress.
In debate he took an active part, and
signed the declaration of independence.
Nov. SOth a party of royaUsts captured
him and threw him into prison at New
York, where his sufferings destroyed his
health. Congress interposed for his
release. The enemy destroyed his Iflirary
and devastated his lands. He died near
Princeton Feb. 28, 1781, aged 50. At
the bar Mr. S. appeared with unrivalled
reputation and success, refusing to en
gage in any cause, which he knew to be
unjust, and standing forth in defence of
the helpless and the injured. He filled
the office of judge with integrity and
learning. His superior powers of mind.

STODDARD.

707

which were highly cultivated,were united
with a flowing and persuasive eloquence;
he was also a sincere Christian. His son,
Richard, S.,ll. D.,a distinguished lawyer
and a senator of the U. S., and for 30
years a trustee of Princeton college, died
at Princeton in 1828.
STODDARD, Solomon, rainister of
Northampton, Mass., the eldest son of
Anthony Stoddard, was born in Boston
in 1 643, and was graduated at Harvard
college in 1662. He was afterwards ap
pointed a fellow. His healtri being im
paired, he went to Barbadoes as chaplain
to gov. Serle, and preached to the dissen
ters on that island near two years. After
his return, being ordained Sept. 11, 1672,
as successor to Mr. Mather at North
ampton, he continued in that place till
his deatii Feb 11, 1729, aged 85. His
ministerial labors were interrupted for
but a short time. His colleague, Mr.
Edwards, survived him. Mr. Stoddard
was a learned man, well versed in relig
ious controversies, and himself an acute
disputant. He engaged in a controversy
with Increase Mather respecting the
Lord's supper, maintaining, that the sa
crament was a converting ordinance, and
that all baptized persons, not scandalous
in life, may lawfully approach the table,
though they know themselves to be un
converted, or destitute of true religion.
As a preacher his discourses were plain,
experimental, searching, and argumen
tative. He was blessed with great suc
cess. He used to say, that he had five
harvests ; and in these revivals there
was a general cry, what must I do to be
saved ? He was so diligent in his studies,
that he left a considerable number of ser
mons, which he had never preached. He
wrote so fine a hand, that 150 of his dis
courses are contained in a sraaU 12mo.
manuscript volurae. He published the
doctrine of instituted churches, London,
4to. 1700, in which he raaintained, that
the Lord's table should be accessible to
aU persons not immoral in their lives ;
that the power of receiving and censur
ing members is vested exclusively in the
elders of the church ; and that synods

have power to excoramunicate and deliv
er from church censures. He published
also the danger of degeneracy,1702; elec
tion ser. 1703 ; serra. in regard to the sup
per, 1707 ; at the ordina. of J. Willard,
1708; of Tho. Cheney, 1718; on the
Lord's supper, against the exceptions of
I. Mather-; 1709 ; plea for tithes ; divine
teachings, 1712; a guide to Christ, or
the way of directing souls in the way to
conversion, compiled for young ministers,
1714 ; three sermons, showing the virtue
ofChrist's blood to cleanse from sin, that
natural men are under the government of
self love, that the gospel is the raeans of
conversion, and a fourth annexed to stir
up young men and maidens to praise the
Lord, 1717 ; a treatise concerning conver
sion ; the way to know sincerity and
hypocrisy, 1719 ; answer to cases of con
science, 1722; whether God is not angry
wilh the country for doing so Uttie to
wards the conversion of the Indians,
1723; safety of appearing at the judg
ment in'the righteousness of Christ ; this
work was republished at Edinburgh, Svo.
1792. — Caiman's serm. on his death.
STODDARD, John, a member ofthe
councfl of Mass., the son of the preced
ing, was graduated at Harvard college in
1701. He discharged theduties of seve
ral important stations with great ability
and uprightness . He was raany years in
the councfl, was chiefjustice in the court
9f common pleas, and colonel of a regi
ment. With a vigorous mind and keen
penetration he united an accurate acquain
tance with the concerns of the colonies
and ofthe neighboring tribes of Indians.
Thoroughly estabUshed in the principles
and the doctrines of the first fathers of
N. England, he greatly detested what he
considered the opposite errors of more
modern divinity. He died at Boston,
June 19, 1748, aged 66.—Edv>ard^s
sermon. STODDARD, Amos, raajor, was
born in 1759 and settled as a lawyer in
Hallowell, Maine, about 1792 j in 1799
he was appointed a captain of artillery
in the army. In the battie at fort Meigs,
in May 1813, he was wounded by a shell,

703

STOLL.

STOUGHT ON.

and in consequence died of the lockjaw,
aged 54. He was a man of talents. He
published the poUtical crisis, London ;
and Sketches of Louisiana, 12 mo. 1812.
STOLL, Jacob, 70 years a minister
ofthe Dunkers, died in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, in April 1822, aged 91.
STONE, Samuel, oiieof the first min
isters of Hartford, Conn, was a native of
England, and was educated at the uni
versity of Cambridge. To escape perse
cution he came to this country wilh Mr.
Cotton and Mr. Hooker, and was settled
as an assistant of the latter at Cambridge
Oct 11, 1633. He removed with him in
1 636 to Hartford, where he died July 20,
1663. While he was regarded as one of
the most accurate and acute disputants
of his day, he was also celebrated for his
wit, pleasantry, and good huraor. Being
eminently pious, he abounded in fastings
and pra.yer, and was a most strict obser
ver of the Christian, sabbath. He pub
lished a congregational church, &c. Lon
don, 1652. In this work, which is a
> carious specimen of logic, he endeavors
to demolish the system of a national,
political church. He left in a manuscript
a confutation of the antinomians, and a
body of divinity. The latter was so much
esteemed as to be often transcribed by
theological students. — Mather's Mag
nalia, III. 62, 116 — 118.
STONE, Thomas, a patriot ofthe rev
olution, a descendant of Wm. S., gover
nor of Maryland in 1649, the son of Da
vid S., was bom in 1743 in Charles coun
ty. Having studied law, and married a
daughter of Dr. G. Brown, with whom
he received 1000/., he purchased a farm.
Being in 1776 and in subsequent years a
member of congress, he signed the declar
ation of independence. In 1783 and 1734
he was also in congress, A deep melan
choly settled upon him in consequence of
the death of his wife by the sraall pox.
He died suddenly Oct 5, 1787, aged 44,
leaving a son, who died in 1793, and two
daughters. He was amiable in disposition,
and a professor of religion of sincere pie
ty. — Goodrich.
STONE, John Hoskins, governor of

Maryland, was a patriot ofthe revolnlion.
In early Ufe and at an early period of the
revolution he was the first captain in the
celebrated regiment of Smallwood. At
the battles of L. Island, White plains, and
Princeton he was highly distinguished.
In the battle of Germantown Oct. 4,
1777, he received a wound, which depri
ved him of bodfly activity for the remain
der of his life. But he still bent his ex
ertions to promote the same cause, for
which he had bled. He was governor
frora 1794 to 1797. He die-d al Annapo
lis in 1804, leaving behind him the char
acter of an honest and honorable man, an
intrepid soldier, a firm patriot, and a liber
al, hospitable, friendly citizen.
STORK,William,published a Descrip
tion of East Florida, with a journal of J.
Bartram, 4to. 1774.
STOUGHTON, William, lieutenant
governor of Mass., was the son of col.
Israel Stoughton, who commanded the
Massachusetts troopaJn the Pequot war.
He was graduated at Harvard college in
1650, and becoming a preacher was for
some years resident in England. After
the restoration in 1660 he was ejected
frora a fellowship in Oxford, and repair
ed to N. E. in 1662. Though not a set
tled minister he was appointed to preach
the election sermon in 1668. This ser
raon has been ranked araong the best, de
Uvered upon the occasion. After the
death of Mr. Mitchell he decUned an in-
-vitation to become his successor in the
care of the church at Cambridge. In
1671 he was chosen a magistrate, and in
1677 went lo England as an agent for the
province. He was a meraber of the coun
cfl, and chiefjustice ofthe superior court.
Being appointed lieut. governor in 1 692,
he was coraraander in chief from 1 694 to
1699 and again in 1700. He died at
Dorchester July 7, 1701, aged 70. He
was a raan of great learning, integrity,
prudence, patriotism, and piety. He was
a generous benefactor of Harvard col-
'fige, giving to that institution about
1,000/. Stoughton hall was erected at
his expense in 1698. He left a tract of
land for the support of students, natives

STRONG.

STUYVESANT.

709

of Dorchester, at the college, and another
tract for the beriefit of schools. Ho was
never married. — Willard's serm.
STRONG, Nathan, D. d., rainister of
Hartford, Conn., the son of Nathan S-,
minister of Coventry, was born in 1748 ;
graduated at Yalecollege in 1769; and
was ordained Jan. 5, 1774. In the war
he was a patriot and a chaplain in the ar
my. He died Dec. 25, 1816, aged 68.
He was a learned and very useful minister,
distinguished fbr his discernment and
knowledge of mon. Of the missionary
society of Conn, he was the principal
founder in 1798. For some years he was
the editor of the Connecticut evangelical
magazine. He published the Doctrine of
eternal misery reconciled wilh the benevo
lence of God, in answer to Huntington,
Svo. ; a sermon on the death of Dr.
Cogswell, 1307 ; sermons, 2 vols. Svo.
STRONG, Caleb, ll. d., governor of
Massachusetts, the son of Caleb S., de
scended from John S., who arrived from
Taunton, England, in May 1630, and set
tled at Dorchester, and thence removed
to "^Vindsorand in 1659 to Northampton.
He was born at N. in Jan. 1745, and
graduated af Harvard coUege in 1764.
He studied law with Mr. Hawley, but
from ill health did not. commence the
practice till 1772. In 1776 he was a
member of the legislature with Mr. Haw
ley, and continued in that body an active
friend of his country till 1780, when he
was chosen a councfllor. In 1779 he as
sisted in forraing the constitution of
Massachusetts, and in 1737 that ofthe U.
S . Under the new national government
he was 8 years a senator from 1789 to
1797. He was governor fromlSOO tfll 1807,
when Mr. Sullivan was elected ; and was
again chosen governor during the difficult
periodof the war from 181210 1815. He
died suddenly Nov. 7, 1819, aged 74.
His wife the daughter of John Hooker,
the rainister of Northampton, died in
1817. He wasa man of sound judgment,
and of exemplary piety. He wrote the
address of the govemraent tothe insur
gents in 17S6. His speeches from 1807
to 1S08 were published Svo. 1808.

STRONG, Jonathan, d. d., rainister
of Randolph, Mass., "was bom in Bolton,
Conn., Sept. 4, 1764 ; his parents rerao
ved to Oxford, N. H. He was gradua
ted at Dartmouth college in 1786 ; ordain
ed as the colleague of Mr. Tafl in Jan.
1789; and died Nov. 9, 1814, aged 50.
His successor was Thaddeus Pomeroy.
In three periods of successful toil during
his ministry he numbered raore than 200
converts. He was a faithful preacher, of
unpolished but powerful eloquence, firm
in his attachment to the great truths of
the gospel. A meraoir of hira by Rev.
Mr. Storrs is in the Panoplist vol. 12.
He wrote rauch for the Mass. raissionary
raag. and also for the Panoplist. He
published a serraon at the thanksgiving,
1795 ; al the ordination of L. White,
1798 ; on the landing of our forefathers,
1803 ; on the death of Dr. Z. Bass, 1804;
before the raissionary soc. 1808 ; on the
national independence, 1810; at a dedica
tion, 1814.
STUART, Gilbert, a portrait painter,
was born in Newport, R. I., in 1755.
He was a pupil of Benjamin West in
London. Hewas applauded in Eng.; but be
returned to America in 1794, and resided
chiefly in Philadelphia and Washington
till about 1301, when he removed to Bos
ton, where he died in July 1828, aged
73. He left a daughter, Mrs. Stebbins, a;
painter; He was thoroughly acquainted
with his art, and as a portrait painter was
unequalled in this country ; he was also
a raan of a strong raind and interesting
conversation. His picture of Washing
ton presents a head of calm and majestic
wisdom, familiar to all Americans. His
pictures of Madison and Jefferson are in
the gaflerv of Bowdoin cbllege.
STUYVESANT, Peter, the last
Dutch governor of New York, began his
administration in 1647. He was continu
ally employed in resisting the encroach
ments of the EngUsh and Swedes upon
the territory intrusted to hira. In 166-4
an expedition from England was-sent out
against the Dutch possessions. Three
or four frigates under the coramand of
col. Nicolls appeared before N. Ariisteri

710

SULLIVAN.

dam or N. York, and governor Stuyve
sant was summoned to surrender ; but as
he was a good soldier, having lost a leg in
the service of the States, he was by no
means disposed to coraply. He returned
a long letter vindicating the clairas of the
Dutch, and declaring his resolution to de
fend the place. He was however obliged
to capitulate Aug. 27th. The whole of
the N.Netherlands soon becarae subject to
the English. He reraained in this coun
try, and at his death was buried in a
chapel on his own farra a few miles from
N. York.— Smith's N. Y. 5-23.
SULLIVAN, John, ll d., major gen
eral in the American array, and president
of New Hampshire, was appointed by
congress a brigadier general in 1775, and
in the following year, it is beUeved, a
major general. He superseded Arnold in
the coramand of the army in Canada June
4, 1776 ; but was soon driven out of that
province. He afterwards on the illness
of Greene took the comraand of his di
vision on Long Island. In the battle of
Aug. 27tb, he was taken prisoner with
lord Stirling. In a few months however
he was exchanged . When Lee was car
ried off, he took the comraand ofhis divi
sion inNew Jersey Dec. 20th. Aug.
'2,9, 1777 he planned and executed an ex-
pedition against Staten Island, for which
on an inquiry into his conduct he received
the approbation ofthe court In Sept. he
was engaged inthe battle of Brandywine,
and Oct 4th. in that of Gerraantown.
In the winter he was detached to cora
mand the troops in R. Island. In Aug.
1778 he laid siege to Newport, then in
the hands of the British, with the fullest
confidence of success ; but,'being aban
doned by the French fleet under D'Esta
ing, who sailed to Boston, he was obliged
to his unutterable chagrin to raise the
siege. Aug. 29th an action occurred
with the pursuing enemy, who were re
pulsed. On the SOth with great milita
ry skill he passed over to the continent,
without the loss of a single article, and
without the slightest suspicion on the
part ofthe British ofhis moveraents. In
the sumraer pf 1779 he coraraanded an

expedition against the six nations of In
dians in N. York. Being joined by
general CUnton Aug. 22d, he marched
towards the enemy under the command
of Brant, the Butiers, and others at
Newton, between the south end of Sene
ka lake and Tioga river ; attacked them
in their works ; and completely dispersed
them. He then laid waste the country,
destroyed all their villages, and left not a
single vestige of human industry. This
severity was necessary to prevent their
ravages. General Suflivan had made
such high demands for military stores,and
had so freely complained of the govern
ment for inattention to those demands,
as to give much offence to some members
of congress and to the board of war. He
in consequence resigned his coramand
Nov. 9th. He was afterwards a raera
ber of congress. In the years 1786,1787,
and 1789 he was president ofN. Harap
shire, in which station by his vigorous
exertions he quelled the spirit of insurrec
tion, which exhibited itself at the tirae of
the troubles in Massachusetts. In Oct.
1789 hevvas appointed district judge. He
died at his seat in Durhara Jan. 23,1795,
aged 54.
SULLIVAN, Jaraes, ll.d. governor
of Mass. the brother ofthe preceding,wa3
born at Berwick, Maine, April 22, 1744.
His father, a man of liberal education,
carae to this country about the year 1723:
he took the sole charge of the education
ofhis son, Jaraes, and lived to see him
distinguished in the world, dying in July
1795, aged 105. Governor SuUivan was
destined for railitary life ; but the fracture
of a limb in his early years induced him
to bend the vigorous powers of his- mind
to the investigation of the law. After
pursuing the study of this science under
his brother, general Sullivan, and opening
an office at Biddeford on Saco river, he
soon rose to celebrity, and was appointed
king's attorney for the county of York,
in which he resided. On the approach of
the revolution he took an early and active
part on the side of his country. Being a
meraber of the provincial congress of
Mass. in 1775, he was'intrusted together

SULLIVAN.

711

with two other gentleraen with a difficult
coraraission to Ticonderoga, which w'as
executed in a very satisfactory manner.
Early in the following year he was ap
pointed a judge of the superior court.
Soon afterwards he purchased a farra in
Groton and reraoved his faraily to that
place. He was a raeraber ofthe conven
tion, which framed the constitution of the
state in 1779 and 1730. In Feb. 1782 he
resigned his office of judge and returned
to the practice of the bar, first at Cam
bridge then at Boston, where he resided
during the reraainder ofhis life. He was
appointed a delegate to congress in 1 783 ;
and in the ensuing year was one of the
commissioners in the settlement of the
controversy between Mass. and N. York
respecting their claims to the western
lands. He was repeatedly chosen to
represent the town of Boston in the leg
islature ; in 1787 hewas a raeraber of
the executive council andjudge of probate
for Suffolk ; and in 1790 was appointed
attornej'- general, in which office he con
tinued till June 1807, when he was called
to the chief raagistracy of the common
wealth, as successor of governor Strong.
He was appointed by president Washing
ton agent under the fifth article of the
British treaty for settUng the boundaries
between theU. S.and the British provin
ces. Of the Americ.in acaderay of arts
and sciences he was one of the raembers
from its first institution ; a principal
founder and manyyears president of the
Mass. historical society ; and president
of the Mass. congregational charitable
society. He vvas the projector of the
Middlesex canal, to which object he de
voted a great portion of time and labor.
Soon after his second election to the of
fice of governor his health becarae enfee
bled, and he suffered a long and distres
sing confinement, which terminated in his
death Dec.l0,lS08, aged 64. The various
public offices, which he sustained during
a period of 40 years, were conferred upon
lum by the free and unbiassed suffrages
of his countrymen. As he was not assis
ted in his progress to distinction by the
advantage of opulence or family connex

ions, the stations, which he held, were a
proof of his talents, of his indefatiga
ble industry, and bf the confidence, that
was reposed in his integrity. As a judge
he was universally acknowledged to have
displayed the raost perfect irapartiality.
As the ppblic prosecutor of the state he
terapered the sternness of official severity
with the rarer tenderness of huraanity.
His style of eloquence was original, and
adapted, with judicious discriraination,
to the occasion, the subject, and to the
tribunal, before which il wos called forth.
Deeply versed in the science ofthe law,
and equally well acquainted wilh the
sources of persuasion in the huraan raind,
he was alike qualified for the investigation
of the raost intricate and complicated
questions of legal discussion, and for the
developeraent ofthe tissues of fact before
juries. As the chief raagistrate ofthe
state, he considered hiraself as the dele
gated officer, not ofa political sect, but of
the whole people, and endeavored to rait-
igale the violence of parties. In all the
relations /of domestic and social Ufe his
conduct was e.Kemplary . He early made
a profession of Christianity, and his be-
liefof its truth was never shaken. When
his frame was evidently shattered, and he
had reason to think, that God was calling
hira to his great account, the faith of
Jesus was ever gaining a new ascendency
in his views, and his thoughts expatiated
with singular clearness on the scenes,
which awaited hira, on the raercy of his
God, his own unworthiness, and the
worth of the Redeemer. His private
prayers and his domestic devotions, ex
pressing at times both the joy and the
anguish of his feelings, proved that his
passioris were not all given to the worid.
He closed his laborious life with the un
shaken assurance of renewing his exist
ence in another and better state. Amidst
the great and constant pressure of busi
ness, which occupied him, he still found
time for the pursuits of Uterature and
science. He was ever ready to contri
bute the effort of his powerful and origi
nal mind to the purposes ofpublic utility.
He published observations on the govern-

712

SUMMERFIELD.

SWIFT.

mentof theU.S.1791; dissertation on the
suability of the states ; the path to riches,
or dissertation on banks, 1792 ; history
ofthe district of Maine, Svo. 1795 ; his
tory of land titles in Mass., Svo. ISOl ;
dissertation on the constitutional liberty
of the press, 1801 ; history of the Penob
scot Indians in the hist. coll. — Buckmin-
ster's serm. on his death.
SUMMERFIELD, John, a minister,
was bom in Lancashire, England, Jan.
31, 1798. After early dissipation he be
came pious, and preached in the method
ist connexion in Ireland. He came to
NewYork in 1821, and preached almost
with the popularity of Whitefield. His
ill health induced him in 1823 to visit
France, where as a delegate from the
Araeriean Bible society he addressed the
Paris Bible society. He died at N. York
June 13, 1825, aged 27. Few ministers
have exhibited such meekness, humility,
disinterestedness, and benevolence in life ;
few have been so eloquent in discourse.
His meraoirs by J. Holland witri his por
trait were published Svo. 2d ed. 1830.
SUMNER, Increase, governor of
Mass, was born in Roxbury Nov. 27,
1746, and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1767. After entering upon the
profession ofthe law he was chosen a rep
resentative of his native town in the leg
islature, and then a senator. In 1782
governor Hancock placed him on the
bench ofthe supreme court. As a judge he
was dispassionate, impartial and discern
ing. In 1797 hewas chosen governor as
successor of S. Adams, and he was re
elected in the succeeding years tifl his
death June 7, 1799, aged 52. He pos
sessed a strong and well balanced mind.
His judgraent was correct, and, though
he maintained an unusual degree of seff-
coraraand, yet his coolness of teraper was
to be ascribed rather to the influence of
religious discipUne, than to constitution
al temperament. He was mild, candid,
and moderate, being remarkably free from
every appearance of party spirit. _ In the
intercourse of domestic and private life he
was affectionate and faithful . Soon after
he commenced the practice of the law,

he raade a public profession of his belief id
Christianity and his life was exeraplary.
SUMTER, Thomas, general, a sol
dier of the revolution, after the capture
of Charleston, S. C. by the British, fled'
to North Carolina, But be soon return'
ed at the head ofa Uttle band of exfles,
July 12, 1780 a part ofhis corps routed a
detachment of the British ; this success
soon increased his troops to 600 men.
Gov. Rutledge promoted him and Marion
from the rank of col. to thatof brigadier
in the miUtia. He was younger than
Marion ; of a larger frame, fitted for the
toilsof war ; with a stern countenance,
and deterrained patriotism, and indomita
ble courage. He attacked Aug. 1st three
times unsuccessfully the post of Rocky
Mount ; Aug. 6th he attacked the British
at Hanging Rock, and destroyed col.
Brown's regiment. About the time that
Gates was defeated at Camden, he cap
tured a british convoy. But through
his own negligence he was surprised near
Catawba Ford by Tarleton Aug. ISth at
the head of 160 men, and his force of 800
men instantly dispersed, and his artillery
lost. He retrieved his character in the
reraainder of the carapaign. He reso
lutely kept the field for 3 raonths. Nov.
12th he defeated the British under major
Wemyss, and Nov. 20th, at Blackstock
hill, near Tyger river, he repulsed
Tarleton, who in vain attempted to dis
lodge him. The wounded of the ene
my were left to the huraanity of Sumter.
In this action he was hiraself severely
wounded and in consequence long de
tained from the field ; but be was con
soled by the thanks of congress and the
applause ofhis country. In 1811 he was
chosen a senator of the U. S. He died
suddenly at his residence at South
Mount, near Camden, June 1, 1832,
aged 97.
SWIFT, Job, d. d., minister of Ben
nington, Vermont, was born in Sand
wich, Mass., in 1743, and was gradua
ted at Yale college in 1765. Ahout the
year 1766 he was ordained at Richmond,
where he continued seven years, making
every exertion to instruct his people in

SWIFT.

SYMMES,

713

the peculiar doctrines of tho gospel. He
was afterwards the minister of Nine
Partners iu N. Y., of Manchester, Ben
nington, and Addison in Vermont. In
Bennington he Uved about 16 years.
While he was on a mission in the north
ern part of Vermont, undertaken at his
own expense, he died at Enosburgh
Oct 20, 1304, aged about 61. He re
joiced, that his Ufe was to terminate at a
distance from his friends, without wit
nessing the distresses ofhis family. The
patience, with which he endured the
pains of his last sickness, and the com
posure, with which he met the king of
terrors, excited the greatest astonishment
in an unbeliever, who was present.
Whfle suffering a great variety of evils in
Ufe he never uttered a complaining word,
and, when he discovered uneasiness or
discontent in any of the members of his
family, he inculcated upon thera the duty
of submission, and reminded them of the
undeserved blessings, which they were
yet permitted to enjoy. A volume of his
serraons was pubUshedin 12mo. 1805.
SWIFT, Zephaniah, L l. d., chief
justice of Conn., was born in Wareham,
Mass., in Feb. 1759 ; his father removed
to Jjebanon. He graduated at Yale col
lege in 1778. After being a member of
congress from 1793 to 1796, he accom
panied Mr. Ellsworth as secretary to
France. In 1801 he was elected ajudge.
From 1806 to 1819 he was chiefjustice.
In 1814 he was a memberof the Hartford
convention. He died while on a visit to
Ohio Sept. 27, 1823, aged 64. An ora
tion on account of his death was pronoun
ced by S. Perkins at Windhara, the
place of his residence . He left a widow,
Lucretia Webbs, and 7 children. Unai
ded by family friends, he rose to distinc
tion. He was a learned and upright
judge. He published oration on domes
tic slavery, 179t ; a System of the laws
of Conn. 2 vols. 1795 ; a Digest of the
law of evidence, and a treatise of bills of
exchange, 1810 ; Digest of the laws of
Conn. 2 vols. 1823.
SYM-MES, Zechariah, the secona
minister of Charlestown,Mass., the son o!
90

Wm. S., wasborn in Canterbury April
5, 1599; came to N. E. in August or
Sept. 1634 in the same ship with Ana
Hutchinson and J. Laihrop, and settled
as colleague with Mr. Jaraes, being cho
sen teacher Dec. 22, 1634; and died
Feb. 4, 1671, aged 71. His son, Zech
ariah, the first rainister of Bradford, was
born in 16SS, was ordained Dec. 27,
1G82, and died March 27, 1707, aged 69.
— He preached the election serraon,
1648. SYMMES, Thomas, second minister
of Bradford, Mass., was the son of
Zechariah S.,the first minister of that
town. Hewas born Feb. 1,1678; was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1 698 ; was
ordained the first minister of Boxford
Dec. 30, 1702, but was dimissed from that
town in 170S, and succeeded his father
at Bradford in the game year. He died
Oct. 6, 1725 aged 47. He was a man of
strong powers of mind and'of very con
siderable learning ; an animated, popular,
faithful, and successful preacher. His
exertions to do good in private and pub
Uc were rewarded by large accessions to
his church. He was remarkable for the
sanctity of his Ufe, for secret devotion,
and for his regard to days of fasting 'and
prayer. He published monitor to delay
ing sinners ; artiUery election sermon,
1720 ; against prejudice ; at the ordina
tion of J. Emerson, 1721 ; joco-serious
dialogue on singing, 1723 ; on the sup
port of ministers, 1724 ; historical me
moirs of the fight of Piggwacket May
9, 1725, with a sermon on LoveweU's
death. An account of his life was pub
lished by J. Brown, to which is annexed
his advice to his children and to the
church. SYMMES, WUliam, d. d., rainister of
Andover, Mass. was graduated at Har
vard college in 1750, and frora 1755 to
1758 was a tutor in that seminary ; he
was ordained Nov. 1, 1758 ; & died May
3, 1807, aged 77. His sermons were writ
ten with great care and in a style remark
ably neat and correct. He was distin
guished for his prudence, hospitable, dig
nified in his manners, and pure ia his

714

SYMMES.

principles and conduct. He published
election sermon, 1785,, and two other oc
casional discourses.
SYMMES, John Cleves, captain, au
thor of the theory of the hollow earth,
was a native of New Jersey, but emigra
ted at an early age to the west . He was
the son, as I suppose, of J. C. S., ajudge
of the supreme court of New Jersey, a
member of congress, and in 1788 a judge
of the north west territory, who died at
Cincinnati in March 1814, whose wife
was Susanna, daughter of governor Liv
ingston, and whose daughter raarried gen.
W. H. Harrison. For sorae years he
was a captain in the army. During the
late war he distinguished hiraself by his
intrepidity on the Niagara. He died at
Haraflton, Butler county, Ohio, June 19,
1829. He was an araiable and exerapla
ry man. On his strange theory of the
earth he lectured in many cities and
towns, apparently in full persuasion of
its truth. He supposed, that the hollow
earth, open at the poles for the admission
of light, had within it 6 or 7 concentric
hollow spheres, also open at their poles.
TACKANASH, John, Indian minis
ter on Martha's Vineyard, was ordained
coUeague with Hiacoomes Aug. 22,
1670, the day ofthe formation of the first
Indian church on the island. He posses
sed considerable talents, and was exem
plary in his life. AUowing himself in few
diversions, he studied rauch, and seeraed
to advance in piety, as he becarae raore
acquainted with the truths ofthe gospel.
Of Indian preachers he was the most dis
tinguished. In prayer he was devout
and fervent ; faithful in his instructions
and reproofs ; strict in the discipline of
his church, excluding the immoral frora
the ordinances tiU they repented. So
much was he respected, that the
EngUsh, when deprived of their own
minister, attended his meeting and re
ceived the Lord's supper from his hands.
He died in the peace and hope of the
Christian Jan. 22, 1684. His place of
residence was at Nunpaug at the east end
of Martha's vineyard. — Mayhew's Ind.
conv., 15-16.

TAPPAN.
TALCOTT,Joseph, governbr of Con
necticut frora 1724 to 1741, died at the
close of 1741 or beginning of 1742, fuU of
days, and wassucceeded by gov. Law.
He had long served his country. Emi
nent for piety, he called the periods of re
vival in his last years 'times of refresh
ing;' but governor Law was rather dispo
sed to suppress by rash legal enactments
what he deemed enthusiasra. He was
probably a descendant of John T., who
Uved in Canibridge in 1632, and of major
John T., who was treasurer of Connecti
cut and commander of the EngUsh and
Mohegan force, employed successfully
against the Indians in 1676. His sister
married R. Edwards.
TANTEQUIGGEN, Lucy, an In
dian, the widow of John T., died at Mo
hegan, Conn., in June 1830, aged 97.
She was the sister of Samson Occom, the
celebrated Indian preacher, and a descen
dant by her mother from Uncas. She
was regarded as a pious woman ; in her
last days she expressed her willingness to>
die, that "she might go where she should
sin no more."' A few weeks after" her
death a Sunday school was opened at her
house, where three or four generations of
her descendants lived, and this comraence
raent of benevolent efforts for the rem
nant ofa once powerful tribe has led to
the erection of a meeting house and the
establishraent of a teacher among these
Indians. TAPPAN, David, d. d., professor of
divinity in Harvard college, was the son
of Benjarain Tappan, minister of Man
chester, and was born April 21, 1753.
The name was formerly written Tappan,
He was graduated at Harvard college in
1771. After pursuing the study of di
vinity fbr two or three years he com
menced preaching, and was ordained min
ister of the third church in Newburv- in
April 1774. In this place he continued
about 1 8 years. His successor was Leon
ard Woods. In June 1792 he was elec
ted professor of divinity in Harvard col
lege in the place of Dr. Wiggleswortii,
who had resigned, and after anxious de
liberation and the advice of an ecclesias-

TAPPAN.

715

tical council he was inaugurated Dec.
26, 1792. "When he was introduced into
this office, the students ofthe university
were uncommonly dissolute.For some|tirae
they had received no regular instruction
in theology, and the tide of opinion began
to run in the channel of infidelity. But
the lectures of Dr. Tappan, which cora-
bined entertaiiiinent with information,
which were profound and yet pathetic,
elegant in style and conclusive in argu
ment, and which came warm from a pious
heart, soon checked the progress of pro
faneness and dissipation, and put open
irreligion to shame. After a short sickness
he died Aug. 27, 1303, aged 51, and was
succeeded by Dr. Ware. His widow-,
Mary, died in Sept 1831, aged 72. His
son, Benjamin T., is the minister of Au-
gusta,Maine. He possessed much activity
and vigor of mind, fertility of invention,
and force of imagination. He had a facility
in fixing his attention, and discriminating
and arranging his thoughts. His readi
ness of conception and comraand of lan
guage enabled hira both in speaking and
writing to express what he thought and
felt with propriety, perspicuity,and force .
The religious principles, which he era-
braced, were the doctrines of the eternal
counsels of Jehovah; man's fallen, ruined
state ; the electing love of God ; the
atonement of Christ ; justification by
grace ; and the efficacy of the divine
Spirit in renewing sinners and preparing
thera for glory. The doctrine of rederap-
tion by a crucified Savior constituted in
his view the basis ofthe gospel. In such
a light did he regard the proper divinity
of Jesus Christ, that he declared it to be
"the rock of his eternal hopes." To be
nevolence and candor, sincerity in speech,
and uprightness in conduct he joined the
careful cultivation and practice ofthe per
sonal virtues. He was superior to all
fretful and anxious thoughts about his
temporal affairs, and to all vanity of ex
ternal appearance. When tried by the
ignorance and stupidity, or by the per-
verseness and injustice of raen, he was
calm and collected. For the conduct of
those, who had treated him with the most

painful unkindness, he invented the most
charitable excuses, and even sought op
portunities of doing them good. His reU
gion as well as his nature disposed hira to
sympathy, tenderness, and love. Kind
affections lighted up his countenance,
gave a glow to his conversation, and
cheerfulness to his active benevolence.
When arrested by his last sickness, and
warned ofhis approaching dissolution, he
was not discomposed. With many ex
pressions of humiUty and self abasement
intermingled, he declared his hope in Ihe
infinite mercy of God through the atone
raent of Christ. When his wife expres
sed some of the feelings, which were ex
cited by the thoughtof parting with him,
he said, " if God is glorified, I am raade
forever. Can't you lay hold of that .' "
To his sons he said, " I charge you to
love God supremely, and to love your
neighbor as yourselves ; for without
these there is no true reUgion." He had
such a sense of the evil of sin and of his
own fll desert, that nothing could afford
him consolation, but the all sufficient
grace ofthe Redeemer. In Jesus Christ
his soul found rest. He pubUshed two
discourses, preached on the sabbath after
his ordination, 1774 ; a discourse on the
character and best exercises of unregener
ate sinners, 1782 ; a serraon on the fast,
1783 ; on the peace, 1783 ; on the death
of M. Parsons, 1784 ; of 8 persons drown
ed, 1794 ; of J. Russefl, 1796 ; of Wash
ington, 1800; of S. Phillips, 1802; of
Dr. Hitchcock, and Mary Dana, 1803 ;
two friendly letters to Philalethes, 1785;
at the ordination of J. Dickinson, 1789 ;
of J. T. Kirkland, 1794 ; of J. Kendall ;
of N. H. Fletcher, 1800; install, of H.,
Packard, 1802 ; address to the students
of Andover acaderay, 1791 ; at the elec
tion, 1792 ; before an association at Ports
mouth, 1792 ; farewefl sermon at New
bury ; on the fast, 1793 ; a discourse to'
graduates ; address to students at Ando
ver ; to the class, which entered college,
1794, 1796, and 1798 ; on the thanksgiv
ing, 1795 ; before the convention, 1797 ;
on the fast, 1798. Since his death there
have been pubUshed sermons on important

716

TARLETON.

subjects, Svo., and lectures on .Jewish an
tiquities, Svo. 1807. — Panoplist, i.
TARLETON, B., lieutenant col. in
the British service, pubUshed a History
of the southern campaigns of 1780 and
1781 4to, Lond. 1787.
TAWANQUATUCK, the first sa
chem, converted to Christianity on Mar
tha's Vineyard, lived on that island,when
the EngUsh first settled there in 1642.
His conversion through the labors of Mr.
Mayhew was a circumstance very irrita
ting to his copper coloured brethren, who
were indignant, that he should turn away
from the religion of their fathers. One
night, after an assembly of the Indians,
as Tawanquatuck lay asleep upon a mat
by a littie fire, an Indian approached him
and let fly a broad headed arrow, inten
ding to drench it in his heart's blood ;
but it struck his eyebrow, and being turn
ed in its direction by the solid bone, glan
ced and slit his nose from the top to the
bottom. The next morning Mr. May
hew visited the sagamore, and found him
praising God for his great deliverance.
He afterwards became a Christian magis
trate to his people, and discharged faith
fully the trust reposed in him as long as
h(i lived. Hediedabout the year 1670. —
Mayhew's Ind. conv.
TAYLOR, Wilham, died in Pitt coun
ty, N. Carolina, in Oct. 1794, aged 114.
He was a native of Virginia.
TAYLOR, George, a patriot of the
revolution,, was born in Ireland in 1716.
On his arrival at Durham on the Dela
ware he engaged in labor in the iron
works ofa Mr. Savage, who paid ihe ex
penses of his voyage. Advanced to be
clerk, after thedeath of Mr. S. he married
his widow and became a man of fortune.
Being a member of congress soon after
the declaration of independence was pas
sed, he signed the engrossed copy Aug.
2, 1776. He died at Easton Feb. 23,
1781, aged 65.— Goodrich.
TAYLOR, John, colonel, a senator of
the U. S., died suddenly in CaroUne
county, Virginia, Aug. 20, 1824, at an
advanced age. He was distinguished
for his attention to agriculture. He pub-

TENNENT.
lished Construction construed ; an Inqui
ry into the principles and policy of the
government ofthe U. S., 1814; and oth
er works.
TECUMSEH, an Indian chief, the
son of a Shawanee warrior, was bom on
the Scioto river, Ohio, about 1770. He
was engaged in many incursions into
Kentucky, and intercepted many boats,
descending the Ohio. Itis supposed,that
about 1806 he and his brother, Elskwa-
tawa, the prophet, formed the project of
uniting all the western Indians in a war
against the Americans. When gen. Har-
risen attacked and defeated the prophet
in the battie of Tippecanoe, Nov. 7,
1811, Tecumseh was absent, on a visit to
the south. In the war of 1812 he was
an ally to the British, with the rank of
brigadier general. At the siege of fort
Meigs, and at the second assault in July
he was present, being at the head of 2,000
warriors. In the battle at Moravian
town, onthe Tharaes, Oct. 5, 1813, he
fell, aged 43. Gen. Harrison had for his
aids gen. Cass and commodore Perry.
Col. R. M. Johnson commanded on the
left, and came in personal conflict, it is
said, with Tecumseh. His horse being
kifled and himself wounded by three balls
in his right thigh and two in the left arm,
the savage chief rushed upon him with
his tomahawk; but, drawing a pistol from
his holster, Johnson laid him dead at his
feet. In this battle col. J's brother, Ueut.
col. James J., was kflled. The project
of uniting all the western Indians against
the Americans and the efforts made to ex
ecute the project display a savage energy
and perseverance, but indicate very Uttle
wisdom. The prophet as weU as the
warrior being now deceased, such a com
bination wfll probably never be raade
again. King Philip, Pontiac, the Otta-
was chief, who in 1763 captured MichiUi
mackinac and invested Detroit, the
prophet, and Tecumseh raay be regarded
as the most remarkable ofthe savage war
riors of America.
TENNENT, John, a physician of
Virginia, pubUshed at WiUiamsburg in
1736 an essay on the pleurisy, which was

TENNENT.

717

reprinted at N. York in 1712. In this
work he first brought into view the vir
tues of the Scnoka snake root. Tho im
mediate cause of a pleurisy or peripnen-
moiiy, in his opinion, is a viscidity ol'
blood ofthe sarae nature with that produ
ced by the venom of tho rattle snake ;
and as the rattle snake root had been
found a cure for the bite of the snake, he
proposed it as a cure for the pleurisy. —
Ramsay's rev. 36.
TENNENT, William, a useful schol
ar and minister ofa presbyterian church
at Neshaminy, Penns. , receive4 episcopal
ordination in Ireland, and emigrated to
this country in the year 1718, with four
sons, Gilbert, William, John, and Charies.
After his arrival he renounced his connex
ion with the episcopal church,and was ad
mitted into the synod of Philadelphia.
He spent a short tim.e in the state pf N.
York,and then in 1721 or 1722 removed
to Bensalem in Pennsylva.nia. Here he
reraained not more than four or flve years;
for in 1726 he settled at Neshaminy,
about -20 miles north ofthe city of Phila
delphia, where he became pastor of a
small presbyterian congregation. Here
he estabUshed a seminary of learning,
which soon received the name of the log
college, by which it was long known.
But this institution, though humble in
name, was the nursery, in which many
ministers of the gospel were trained up
for erainent usefulness. Among these
were his four sons, who were educated
under his sole instruction, and Messrs.
Rowland, Campbell, Lawrence, Beatty,
Robinson, and Samuel Blair. He had
the happiness to see all his sons employ
ed in the service ofthe church for several
years before his death. As the calls for
ministerial service were urgent, he sent
them out, as soon as they were quaUfied
for the work. Of these John died in
early life, and the others lived to an ad
vanced age, and were araong the raost
useful and respectable rainisters of their
time. He died about the year 1743.
He Was a raan of great integrity, sirapli-
city, industry, and piety ; and to his la
bors and benevolent zeal the American

cluirohcs are in no small degree indebt
ed. TENNEN'T, Gilbert, minister of
Philadelphia, the son of the preceding,
was born in Ireland Fob. 5, 1703. At
tiic ago of fourteen he began to be anx
ious fbr the salvation of his soul ; he
was often in great agony of mind ; but
at length the character of Jesus Christ
as the Savior of sinners filled hira with
peace. Still he was diffident of his Chris
tian character, and in consequence pur
sued the stud.v of physic for a year, but
afterwards devoted himself to theology.
In the autumn of 1726 he was ordained
ministerof New Brunswick in N. Jersey.
For some tirae he was the delight of the
pious, and was honored by those, who
were destitute of religion. But, when
God began to bless his faithful labors to
the awakening of secure sinners and to
their conversion from darkness unto light,
he presently lost the good opinion of false
professors ; his name was loaded with
reproaches, and the gro-ssest iraraoralities
were attributed to him. But he bore all
with patience. Though he had sensibility
to character as well as other men, yet he
was willing to encounter disgrace, rather
than neglect preaching the truth, how
ever offensive lo the sinful, whom he
wished, to reclaim. Towards the close of
the year 1740 and in the beginning ofthe
year 1741 he made a tour in N. England
at the request of Mr. Whitefield. An
astonishing efficacy accompanied his
labors. Visiting various towns he was
every where remarkably useful. In this
tour the dress, in -which he commonly
entered the pulpit, was a great coat, girt
about him with a leathern girdle, while
his natural hair was left undressed. His
large stature and grave aspect added a
dignity to the simplicity or rather rustici
ty of his appearance. In 1743 he estab
lished a new church in Philadelphia, con
sisting of the followers of Mr. "Whitefield,
In 1753, at the request of the trustees of"
N. Jersey college, he went to England
to solicit benefactions for that seminary.
After a Hfe of great usefulness he died in
much peace about the j'ear 1765 and was

718

TENNENT.

succeeded by Dr. Sproat. For more
than 40 years he had enjoyed a habitual,
unshaken assurance of his interest in re-
deeraing love. As a preacher, he was in
his vigorous days equaUed by but few.
His reasoning powers were strong ; his
language forcible and often sublime ; and
his manner of address warm and earnest.
His eloquence however was rather bold
and awful, than- soft and persuasive.
When he wished to alarm the sinner, he
could represent in the most awful manner
the terrors of the Lord. He was bold,
courageous, ardent, and independent. A
number of presbyterians both among the
clergy and laity, who were considered as
mere formalists in religion, violently op
posed Mr. Whitefield and Mr. T. "^The
consequence was, that the synod of Phil
adelphia was Split into two synods which
treated each other with great censorious-
ness. At length Mr. T., who had been
principally concerned in promoting the
separation, became desirous of restoring
harmony, and labored with great industry
for this purpose. His longest and most
elaborate publication, entitled the peace
of Jerusalem, was upon this subject.
The synods were united in 1758. The
whole transaction illustrates his character.
An ardent love to what he conceived lo
be truth and duty always triumphed over
all considerations ofa personal kind. He
pubUshed the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees considered ; a sermon on
justification ; remarks upon a protestation
to thesynod, 1741 ; the examiner exam
ined, or Gilbert Tennent harmonious, in
answer to Mr. Hancock's pamphlet, enti
tled, the examiner, or Gilbert against
Tennent ; 3 sermons on holding fast the
truth, against the Moravians ; at the or
dination of C. Beatty, 1743 ; on the vic
tory of the British arras ; two sermons
at Philadelphia ; an account ofa revival
of religion, in Prince's Christian history,
1744 ; on the success of the expedition
against Louisburg ; discourses on several
subjects, on the nature of justification, on
the law, and the necessity of good works
vindicated, 12rao. 1745; on the lawful
ness of defensive war, 1747 ; on the con

sistency of defensive war with true
Christianity; defensive war defended; a
fast sermon ; before the sacramental so
lemnity, 1748 ; essay on the peace of
Jerusalem ; at a thanksgiving ; on the
displays of divine justice in the propitiato
ry sacrifice of Christ, 1749 ; sermons on
important subjects, adapted to the present
state of the British nation, Svo. 1758 ;
atthe opening ofthe presbyterian church.
— Assembly's miss. mag. i. 238 — 248 ;
11.46. TENNENT, Wifliam, minister of
Freehold, N. Jersey, the brother of the
preceding, was bom in Ireland June 3,
1705. He arrived in America, when in
the 14th year of his age.. Having resolv
ed to devote himself to the ministry of the
gospel his intense appUcation to the study
of theology under the care of his brother
at New Brunswick so impaired his health,
as to bring on a decline. He becarae
more and more emaciated, till little hope
oflife was left. At length he fainted and
apparently expired. The neighbors were
invited to attend his funeral on the next
day. In the evening his physician, a
young gentleman, who was his particular
friend, returned to the town, and was
afflicted beyond measure at the news of
his death. On examining the body he
affirmed, that he felt an unusual warmth,
and had it restored to a warm bed, and
the funeral delayed. All probable means
were used to restore Ufe ; the third day
arrived, and the exertions of the doctor
had as yet been in vain. It was deter
mined by the brother, that the funeral
should now be attended ; but the phy
sician requested a delay of one hour,
then of half an hour, & finally of a quar
ter ofan hour. As this last period near
expired, indications oflife were discovered.
The efforts were now renewed, and in a
few hours Mr. T. was restored to life.
His recovery however was very slow ;
aU former ideas were for some time blot
ted out of his mind ; and it was a year
before he was perfectly restored. To his
friends he repeatedly stated, that, after
he had apparently expired, he found him
self in heaven, where he beheld a glory-.

TENNENT.

719

which he could not describe, and heard
songs of praise before this glory, which
were unutterable. He was about to join
the throng, when one of the heavenly
messengers said to him, " you must re
turn to the earth. " At this instant he
groaned, and opened his eyes upon this
world. For three years afterwards the
sounds, which he had heard, were not
out of his ears, and earthly things were
in his sight as vanity and nothing. In
Oct. 1733 he was ordained al Freehold,
as the successor of his brother, John T.
It was not long before his attention lo
worldly concerns brought him into debt.
In his embarrassment a friend from New
York told him, that the only remedy was
to get a wife. " I do not know how to
go about it, " was the answer. " Then
I wifl undertake the business," said his
friend ; I have a sister in law in the city,
a prudent and pious widow. " The next
evening found Mr. T. in New York, and
the day after he was introduced to Mrs.
Noble. Being pleased with her appear
ance, when he was left alone with her he
abruptly told her, that he supposed she
knew his errand, that neither his lime nor
incUnation would suffer him lo use much
ceremony, and that if she pleased he
would attend his charge on the next sab
bath, and return on Monday and be
married. With some hesitation the lady
consented ; and she proved an invaluable
treasure to him. About the year 1744,
when the faithful preaching of Mr. T.
and John Rowland was the raeans of ad
vancing in a very remarkable degree the
cause of religion in N. Jersey, the indig
nation and malice of those, who loved
darlaiess rather than Ught, and who could
not quietly submit to have their false se
curity shaken, was excited against these
servants of G.od. There was at this tirae
prowUng through the country a noted
man, named Tora Bell. One evening he
arrived at a tavern in Princeton, dressed
in a parson's frock, andwas iraraediately
.accosted as Rev. Mr. Rowland, whom he
much resembled. This mistake was suffi
cient for hira. The next day he, went lb
a congregation in the county of Hunter

don, and, declaring' himself lo be Mr.
Rowland, was invited to preach on the
sabbath. As he was riding to church in
the famfly waggon accompanied by his
host on an elegant horse, he discovered,
when he was near the church, that he
had left his notes behind, and proposed
to ride back for thera on the fine horse.
The proposal was agreed lo, and Bell
after returning to the house and rifling
the desk raade off with the horse. Mr.
Rowland was soon indicted for the rob-
bery,b ut it happened that on the very day,
in which the robbery was committed, he
was in Pennsylvania or Maryland ; and
this circumstance being proved by the
testimony of Mr. T. and two other gen
tlemen, who accompanied him, the jury.
brought in a verdict of not guilty. Mr.
Rowland could not again be brought
before the court ; but the witnesses were
indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury.
The evidence was very strong against
them, for many had seen the supposed
Mr. Rowland on the elegant horse. Mr.
T. employed John Coxe, an eminent
lawyer, to conduct his defence. He
went to Trenton on the day appointed,
and there found Mr. Smith of New York,
one ofthe ablest lawyers in America, and
ofa religious character, who had volunta
rily attended to aid in his defence. He
found also at Trenton his brother, Gil
bert, from Philadelphia, with Mr. Kinsey,
one of the first counsellors in the city.
Blr. Tennent was asked who were his
witnesses ; he replied, that he had none,
as the persons, who accompanied him,
were also - indicted. He was pressed to
delay the trial, as he would most certainly
be convicted ; but he insisted, that it
should proceed, as he trusted in God to
vindicate his innocence. Mr. Coxe was
charging Mr. T. with acting the part of
an enthusiast, when the bell suraraoned
them to court. The latter had not walked
far in the street, before he was accosted
by a man and his wife, who asked him, if
his name was not Tennent. The man
said, that he Uved in a certain place in
Pennsylvania or Maryland; that Mr.
T. and Mr. Rowland had lodged at his

720

TENNENT.

THACHER.

house, or at a house where he and his
wile had been servant.;, at a particular
time, and on the next day preached ;
that, some nights before he left home, he
and his wir.3 both dreamed repeatedly,
that Mr. T. was in distress at Trenton,
and they only could relieve him ; and
that they in consequence had come to
that town, and wished to know what
they had lo do. Mr. T. led them to the
court house, and their testimony induced
the jury to bring in a verdict of not guilty
to the astonishment of his enemies. Af
ter a Ufe of great usefulness he died at
Freehold March 8, 1777, aged 71. He
-was well skflled in theology, & professed
himself a moderate Calvinist. The doc
trines of man's depravity, the atonement
of Christ, the necessity of the all power-
fnl influence of the Holy Spirit to renew
the heart, in consistence with the free
agency of the sinner, were among the
leading articles of his faith. With his
friends he was at all tiraes cheerful and
pleasant. He once dined in company with
gov.Livingston and Mr.Whitefield,when
the latter expressed the consolation he
found in believing, araidst the fatigues of
the day, that his work would soon be done,
' and that he should depart and be with
Christ. He appealed to Mr. T. wheth
er this was not his comfort. Mr. T. re
plied, " what do you think I should say,
ifl was to send my man, Tom, into the
field to plough, and at noon should find
him lounging under a ti-ee,coraplalning of
the heat, and of his difficult work, and
begging to be dispharged ofhis hard ser
vice.' What should I say.' Why, that
he was an idle, lazy fellow, and that it
was his business to do the work, that I
had appointed him." Hewas the friend
of the poor. The pubhc lost in him a
firm aSsertor of the civfl and religious
rights of his country. Few m.en have
ever been more holy.in life, more submis
sive to the will of God under heavy afflic
tions, or more peaceful in death. His
account of the revival of reUgion in Free
hold and other places is published in
Prince's Christian history. — Assemhhfs
miss. mag. ii. 97-103, 146, 202, 333.

TENNEY, Samuel, m. D.,aphysician
and judge, was born at Byfield, Mass.,
and graduated at Harvard college in 1772.
Having studied physic, he repaired to the
army on the day of Breed's hill battle,-
and was employed in the night in dressing
the wounded. He served in the R. I.
Une during the war, at the close of which
he settled at Exeter, N. H., but did not
resume his profession. He was judge of
probaiefiom 1793 till 1800, when he was
elected a meraber of congress. He died
in 1816, aged about 65. He was a man
of Uterature, and science, and religion.
In the collections of the hist, society he
published an account of Exeter, and com
munications in various journals. — Thach
er. TENNESSEE, one of the United
States, was formerly apart of Carolina,
and in 1754 containing not more than 50
famiUes, who were either destroyed or
driven away by the Indians before the
close of the following year. In 1765 the
settlement of this territory again commen
ced, and the ravages of the Indians after
wards occasioned much suffering. This
country was ceded to the U. States in
1789, and in 1790 congress established a
territorial government. It was erected
into a separate state in 1 796, and admit
ted into the union. By the constitution
of this state which was adopted Feb. 6,
1796, a general assembly is estabUshed,
consisting ofa senate and a house of rep
resentatives, the members of which are
chosen for two years. The governor is
chosen by plurality of votes for two years,
and is eligible only for six years out of
eight. The clergy are excluded frora the
legislature. THACHER, Thomas,first minister of
the old south church in Boston, the son
of Rev. Peter T. of Old Sarura, was born
inEngland May 1, 1620, and arrived in
this country June 4, 1635. He pursued
his studies under the direction of Chaun
cy. Jan. 2, 1644 he was ordained minis
ter of Weymouth; but after thedeath of
his wife in 1664 he v^as induced to remove
to Boston. When a new church was for
med out of the first by persons, displeas-

THACHER

721

ed with the settieraent of ]\Ir. Davenport,
Mr. Thacher was installed its pastor
Feb. 16, 1670. He died Oct 15, 1678,
aged 58. His colleague, Mr. Willard,
survived him. His wile was a daughter
of Rev. Ralph Partridge. His son, Ralph,
was a minister at Martha's Vineyard in
1697. Being weU skilled in the Hebrew,
he composed a lexicon of the principal
words in that language. President Stiles
speaks of him as the best Arabic scholar
in the country. As a preacher be was
very popular,being remarkably fervent and
copious in prayer. He was also a physi
cian. He published a fast sermon, 1 674 ;
a brief rule to guide the common people
in the small pox and measles, 1677 ; 2d
ed. 1709.— Magnalia, in. 148-153.
THACHER, Peter, first minister of
Milton, the son of the preceding, was
bom at Salem in 1651, and wasgraduated
at Harvard college in 1671. In a few
years he went to England, where he be
came acquainted wilh a number ofeminent
divines. On his return he was ordained
at Milton June 1, 1681. He died Dec.
17, 1727, aged 76. His successor was
John Taylor. His wife was Theodora,
daughter of Rev. John Oxenbridge; his
second wife the widow of Rev. J. Bailey;
his third the widow of Rev . J. Gee. His
daughier by his first wife married Rev. S.
Miles. In his natural temper there was
a great deal of vivacity, which gave an
interest to his conversation and to his
public performances. While he was
cheerful and affable, he was erainent for
sanctity and benevolence. Besides the
ordinary labors of the Lord's day he
preached a monthly lecture, and encoura
ged the private meetings of his neighbors
for reUgious purposes. Having studied
the Indian language, he also at a month
ly' lecture imparted to the Indians of a
neighboring village the gospel of salvation.
Being a physician, his benevolence promp
ted him to expend a great part of his year
ly salary in the purchase of medicines for
the sick and indigent. His death was
sudden. The last words, which he utter
ed, were, "I am going to Christ in glo
ry." He pubUshed UnbeUef detected
o 1

and condemned, to wliicli is added the
treasures of Uie fathers inheritable by
their posterity, 170S ; election sermon,
1711; Christ's forgiveness a pattern,
1712; on the deatiiiif Samuel Man, 1719;
a divine riddle, he that is weak is strong,-
1723 ; the perpetual covenant.
THACHER, Peter, rainister in Bos
ton, wasborn in that town, the son of
Thomas T., and was graduated at Har
vard college in 1696. While a member
of college it pleased a sovereign God to'
give him a deep sense of his sin, and at
length to inspire him with a cheerful
faith in the Savior. After living for
some time at Hatfield as a schoolraaster,
he was settled in ihe ministry at Wey
mouth, where he remained 11 or 12
years. He was installed pastor of the
new north church in Boston, as colleague
with Mr. Webb, Jan. 27, 1720. In con
sequence of some divisions in the society,
and some irregularity in the measures,
which were adopted to obtain Mr. Thach
er, the association refused to assist in his
settlement. He died Feb. 26, 1739, aged
61. He possessed a strong arid masterly
genius. Mr. Cooper calls him the evan
gelical reasouer. In the gift of prayer
he was almost unequalled. During his-
last sickness he was cheerful, for he ho
ped in the mercy of God through the
Redeemer. He published the election-
sermon, 1726; and a sermon on thedeath
of Mrs. Gee.
THACHER, Peter, minister of Mid
dleborough, Mass., the son of Rev. P.
Thacher of Milton, was born Oct 6,
1688, and was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1706. After preaching two years
in Middleborough, he was ordained Nov,
3, 1709. He died Aprfl 22, 1744, aged 55,
He was succeeded by Sylvester Conant.
He was .very distinguished for the
sanctity of his life. At one period his
faithful exertions as a n}inister were the
means of adding near 200 raembers to his
church in less than three years. He
published an account ofthe revival of le-
Ugion in Middlel^orough in the Christian
history, where is a minute account ofhis
life by Mr, Prince,

722

THACHER.

THACHER Oxenbridge, a represen
tative of Boston in the general court,
was the son of Oxenbridge T., who died
in 1772, aged 92, and grandson of Peter
T. of Milton. He was graduated at
Harvard college in 1738 and died July 8,
1765, aged 45. He was a learned man
and good writer. He published a pam
phlet on the gold coin, 1760, and the sen
timents of a British Araeriean, occasion
ed by the act to lay certain duties in the
British colonies, 1764.
THACHER, Peter, d. d., rainister in
Boston, the son of the preceding, was
born in Milton March 21, 1752, and was
graduated at Harvard college in 1769.
Sept. 19, 1770 he was ordained'the min
ister of Maiden. As a preacher he was
admired. His oratorical powers, his flu
ency in prayer, and the pathos of his ex
pression were applauded by the serious
and intelligent, and rendered hira uncom
monly acceptable to the multitude. No
young man preached to such crowded as
semblies. Mr. Whitefield in his prayers
called him the young Elijah. Being a
strict Calvinist in his sentiments, he con
tended zealously for the faith of his fa
thers. When the controversy began with
G. Britain, he exerted himself in the pul
pit, in conversation; and in other ways
to support the rights of his country. He
was a delegate from Maiden to the con
vention, which forraed the constitution
of Mass. in 1780. Being deraocratic in
his sentiraents he contended, that there
should be no governor ; and, when a
decision was made contrary to his wish
es, he still made objections to the title of
Excellency, given to the chief magistate.
But afterwards, as he becarae better ac
quainted with the policy of government, he
was warmly attached to those parts ofthe
constitution, which he had once disappro
ved. He was installed minister of the
church in Brattle street, Boston, as suc
cessor of Dr. Cooper, Jan. 12, 1785;
and in this vineyard of the Lord he con
tinued lill his death. Being affiicted
with a pulmonary complaint, his physi
cians recomraended the milder air of a
more southern climate. He accordingly

sailed for Savannah, where he died Dec.
16, 1802, aged 50. Hewas succeeded
by Mr. Buckminster. Just before he set
sail from Boston he was visited by Dr.
Stillman, to whom he expressed his belief,
that he should not recover, and said wilh
peculiar energy, " the doctrines I have
preached are now my only comfort.
My hopes are built on the atonement and
righteousness of Christ. " The last
words, which he uttered, were " Jesus
Christ, my Savior." In the chamber of
sickness he was remarkably acceptable.
To the distressed and afflicted his voice
was that ofan angel of comfort. In pray
er he was uncommonly eloquent, utter
ing in impressive and pathetic language
the devout feejiugs ofhis own heart, and
exciting deep emotions in the hearts of
his hearers. He published an oration
against standing armies, March 5, 1776;
on thedeath of A. Eliot, 1778; 3 ser
mons in proof of the eternity of future
punishment, 1782 ; obseivations on the
state of the clergy in N. E., with stric
tures upon the power of dismissing them,
usurped by some churches, 1783 ; a re
ply to strictures uponthe preceding; on
the death of J. Paine, 1788 ; of gov.
Bowdoin, 1791 ; of gov. Hancock, 1793;
of S.Stillraan, ju_n. 1794; ofT. Russell,
and N. GorharaJ 1796 ; of Dr. Clarke,
and Rebecca Gill, 1798 ; of gov. Sumner,
1799 ; of Washington, 1800 ; at the or
dination ofE. Kellogg, 1788 ; of 'VV. F.
Rowland, 1790 ; at the ordination of his
son, T. C. Thacher, 1794 ; memoirs of
Dr. Boylston, 1789 ; before the Mass.
congregational charitable society, 1795;
before a sociely of freemasons, 1797 ; at
the artillery election, 1798 ; a century
sermon, 1799.
THACHER, Thoraas, mimster of
Dedham, Mass., brplher of the preceding,
was graduated at Harvard college in 1775
and died Oct 19, 1812, aged 56. Hepub
lished a sermon on benevolence, 1784 ; at
a thanksgiving, 1795 ; on the death of
N. Robbins, 1795; of Washington, 180O;
of J. Fairbanks, 1801 ; of S. Adams,
1804 ; at Christmas, 1799 ; at the ordina
tion of E. Dunbar ; of J. Tuckerman ;

THACHER.

THOMAS.

723

before the huraane society, 1800 ; centu
ry serraon, 1801 ; Dudleian lecture, 1805;
at the dedication of Milton academy,
1807 ; at a fast ; character of Dr. West,
1808. THACHER, Sainuel Cooper, minis
ter in Boston, the son of Rev. Peter T.,
was born Deo. 14, 1785 ; was graduated
atHarvard college in 1804 ; and in 1806
went to Europe with Mr. Buckminister.
He was ordained as the successor of J.
T. Kirkland in Boston May 15, 1811,
and died at Moulins in France, whither
he went for his health, Jan. 2, 1818, aged
32. He published a memoir of Mr.
Buckminister, and raany reviews in the
Monthly anthology, that of the constitu
tion of Andover theological serainary ex
citing the most attention. Afterhis death
a vol. of sermons, with a meraoir, was
published, Svo. 1824.
THOMAS, John, an Indian, remarka
ble for longevity, died at Natick, Mass.
in 1727, aged 110. He was among the
first of the praying Indians. He joined
the church, when it was first gathered at
Natick by Mr. Eliot, and was exemplary
through life. — Belknap.
THOMAS, John, a major general in
the American army, descended from a
respectable famfly in the county of Plym
outh, Mass„ served in the -war of 1756
against the French and Indians wilh rep
utation. In Aprfl 1775, residing at
Kingston, Mass., he raised a regiraent
and marched to Roxbury. He was soon
appointed by congress a brigadier general,
and during the siege of Boston, he com
manded a division ofthe provincial troops
at Roxbury. In March 1776 he was ap
pointed major general, and after the death
of Montgomery was intrusted wilh the
coramand in Canada. He joined the ar
my before Quebec on the first of May,
but soon found it necessary to raise the
siege and commence his retreat. He
diedofthe sraall pox at Chamblee May
80, 1776. On his death the comraand
devolved for a few days on Arnold, and
then on general Sullivan. His aid de
camp was maj. Joshua Thomas, judge of
probate, who died at Plymouth in Jan.

1821. Gen. T. was a man of sound
judgraent and fixed courage, who was
beloved by his soldiers ami amiable in the
relations of private life.
THOMAS, John, a physician, was
born in Plymouth, Mass., April 1, 1758,
and was appointed surgeon in Ihe army
1776 on the resignation of his father.
He and a brother, a captain, served du
ring the whole war, at the close of which
he settled at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where
he died in ISIS, aged 60. In his conduct
he was honorable, just, and benevolent.
For wit and huraor he was unrivalled.
Col. Wm. North, relates, that once at
dinner at head quarters Dr. T. told asto-
ry, which caused gen. Washington to
laugh heartily ; il was concerning an in
quisitive Yankee of Taunton, who jour
neyed to R. Island lo see Rochambeau's
French army, and who on his return said
— " The fools, who call a hat a chapeau :
why couldn't they call it a hat at once
and done with it.' "
THOMAS, Isaiah, ll. d., an eminent
printer, the son of Moses T., was
born in Boston in 1749. His father
being dead, he was at the age of 6 appren-
ticed'to Z. Fowle, a printer, and remain
ed with hira 11 years. In 1770 he pub
lished the Mass. Spy in Boston. For an
article in his paper in 1771 gov. Hutchin
son and council ordered Thomas to ap
pear, but he expressly refused to go ; the
attorney general then presented in vain,
a bill of indictment to the grand jury, and
next was directed to file an information
against hira, — but such resistance was
raade, "that the measure was dropped.
In 1775 he removed his press to Worces
ter, where he ^printed the Spy May Sd.
A few days before he was in the battle of
Lexingtpn. In 1788 he opened a book
store in Boston, under the firm of Thom
as and Andrews, and opened printing
houses and bookstores in other towns,
still residing at "V/orcester. At one time
he had 1 6 pressfes in use, and 8 bookstores.
In 1791 he printed an edition of the Bi-'
ble in folio, and raany subsequent editions.
He died at Worcester April, 4, 1831,
aged 82. He was the founder and presi-

724

THOMPSON.

THOMSON.

dent of theAmerioan Antiquarian society,
for which he erected a brick house at
"Worcester, and to which he presented
many books, and made a large bequest.
He published a valuable History of prin
ting in America, 2 vols. Svo. 1810.
THOMPSON, William, first minister
of Braintree, Mass., a native of England,
was first settled in Lancashire. After his
arrival in this country, -when a church
was gathered at mount Wollaston. or
Braintree, he was chosen its pastor, and
was installed Sept. 24, 1639. Mr. Flynt,
was settled as his colleague March 17,
1640. In the year 1642 he accompanied
Mr. Jaraes and Mr. Knowles to Virginia
in order to carry the gospel to the igno
rant, but was soon obUged to leave that
colony for his nonconforraity to the epis
copalian worship. He died at Braintree
Dec. 10, 1666, aged 68. His son, Benj.
T. a poet, died in 1714, aged 72.
THOMPSON, sir Benjamin, count
Rumford, a descendant of Jona. T. of
Woburn in 1659, was born in Woburn,
Mass., March 26, 1753. His father
died whfle he was young ; his mother,
Mrs. Ruth Peirce, in 1811. Beingplaced
as a clerk to a merchant in Salem, he was
disqualified for business by his devotion
to the mechanic arts. Through the
kindness of sheriff Baldwin he obtained
permission to attend the philosophical
lectures of prof Winthrop at Cambridge.
He afterwards taught school in Rumford,
now Concord, N. H., where he raarried
Sarah, the Widow of B. Rolfe and the
daughter of Rev. Mr. Walker. By this
raarriage his pecuniary circumstances
were rendered easy. In about two years
his adherence to the British cause indu
ced him to leave his family in 1775 and
to repair to England, where he was pat
ronized by lord Germaine. His personal ap
pearance and manners recommended him.
He was under secretary in the northern
.department. Near the close of the con
test he sent to New York, and coraraan
ded a regiraent of dragoons, and becarae
entitled lo half pay. On his return the
king knighted him. His acquaintance
.jyith the ministerof the duke of Bavaria

induced him to go to Munich, where he
introduced important reforms in the po
lice. The prince raised him to high mili
tary rank and created hira a count of the
empire . He added the title of Rumford.
In 1800 he was in London, and projected
the Royal institution of G. Britain. He
died at Autreuil, France, Aug. 20, 1814,
aged 61. His first wife died at Charies
town, N. H., in Feb. 1792. It would
seem, that he abandoned her. How
this is io be reconciled to good raoral
principle is yet to be explained. He be
queathed 50,000 doll, to Harvard college,
and appropriated other sums to promote
discoveries in light and heat. His own
discoveries gave him high reputation, and
caused him lo be elected a meraber of
many learned societies. His Essays
were pubUshed at London, 1796.
THOMSON, Charies, secretary of
congress, a patriot of the revolution, was
born in Ireland in 1730, and came to this
country with his three elder brothers
about 1741. He landed at Newcastie
with slender means of subsistence. Hav
ing been educated by Dr. Allison, he
kept the Friend's academy. , He after
wards went into Philadelphia, where he
obtained the advice and friendship of Dr.
FrankUn. At the first congress in 1774
he was called upon to take minutes of
their measures ; from that time he was
sole Secretary of the revolutionary con
gress. He resigned his office in July
1789, having held it 15 years. An
Indian tribe, which adopted him, gave
hira the narhe of " The man of truth. "
He was strictly moral and his mind was
deeply imbued with religious principles.
In his last years he was principally em
ployed in preparing for his removal into
the eternal world. He died in Low
er Merion, Montgomery county, near
Phfladelphia, Aug 16, 1824, aged 94.
His wife was Hannah Harrison. His
raind was enriched with various learning,
aud his character was marked by regular
ity, probity, firmness, and patriotism.
He translated the Septuagint, which was
pubUshed, entitled, Holy Bible translated
from the Greek, 4 vols. Svo. 1808.

THORNDIKE.

TILTON.

725

THORNDIKE, Israel, a raerchant,
was a native of Beverly, Mass. In the
revolutionary war he was in part the
owner and the commander of an armed
ship. His cruises were successful. For
raany years he was a partner with his
brother in law, Moses Brown, and after
wards engaged in commerce to the East
Indies and China, which he continued till
his death. He was a large owner in
manufacturing establishments. After a
long residence in Beverly, he passed his
last years in Boston, where he died May
10, 1832, aged about 7,5. He purchased
in 1818 the library of professor Ebeling
of Hamburg of more than 3,000 volumes,
of great value in relation to American
history, and presented it to Harvard col
lege. It includes 350 vols, of newspapers
printed in this country. To three sons
he bequeathed each about halfa mfllion
of dollars, and other sums to another son,
to his widow, and daughters ; in afl about
1,800,000 doflars to his relations. Some
poor man raay be inclined to say, that
were he the owner of one or two millions
of dollars, he would bequeath rauch to the
greatcharitiesof the world ;butperhapson
gaining the power he would lose the dispo-
position to benefit others beyond his own
faraily, and would forget, that of them,
to whom much as the Stewards of heav
en's bounty is given, much will be requir
ed. THORNTON, Matthew, colonel, a
patriot of the revolution, a native of Ire
land, was born about 1714. His father
Uved a few years at Wiscasset, then re
moved to Worcester. Mr. T. settled as a
physician in Londonderry, N. H. He
accompanied PeppereU in the expedition
to Louisburg in 1745. Ofthe provincial
convention in 1775 he was the president,
and taking bis seat as a raeraber of con
gress Nov. 4, 1776, he signed the dec-
. laration of independence, but was not
present to vote for it, as were not Rush,
Clymer, Wflson, Ross, and Taylor. He
was soon appointed a judge, of the su
perior court, in which office he remained'
tiU 1782. About 1780 he removed to
Merrimac on the banks ofthe Merrimac.

He died while on a visit to his daughters
at Newburyport June 24, 1803, aged 88.
On his grave is the inscription — " an
honest man. "
TlLGHJMAN,William, chiefjustice of
Pennsylvania, was born Aug. 12, 1756
in Talbot county, on the eastern shore of
Maryland. His father, Jaraes, was sec
retary ofthe proprietary, land office. His
mother's father was Tench Francis, an
eminent lawyer of Phfladelphia, the broth
er pf Richard Francis, who was the au
thor of " Maxims of equity, " and of
Mr. Philip Francis, the translator of
Horace. — After the removal ofhis family
to Philadelphia he studied law in that city,
under the direction of Benjamin Chew,
from 1772 10 1776. In 1783 he was
admitted'to the courts of Maryland ; but
in 1793 he returned to Philadelphia, and
practised law till his appointment by Mr.
Adams, March 3, 1801, chief judge of the
circuit court of the United States. The
law establishing this court being repealed
in about a year, Mr. Tilghman again
practised law till he was appointed in
July 1805 president of the courts of
common pleas in the first district. In
Feb. 1806 he succeeded E. Shippen as
chief justice of the supreme court. He
died, after a short illness, Aprfl 30. 1827,
aged 70. His wife was Margaret Allen,
daughter of James A. of Philadelphia.
Besides his ordinary official duties, he, in
obedience to the legislature, reported
about 1809 the English statutes in force
within the state, — a work of great labor
and requiring an intimate knowledge of
the written law of England and of the
colonial le.gislation. It was also his great
and constant toil lo incorporate the prin
ciples of scientific equity with the law of
Pennsylvania. — He,pubUshed an eulogi
um on Dr. Wistor, 1818.
TILTON, James, m. d., a physician,
was born in Delaware June 1, 1745;
was sent early at Finley's Nottingham
academy ; and settled as a physician at
Dover. .In 1776 he served as a surgeon
in the army ; in 1777 he was called to
the hospital department, and continued as
hospital surgeon till the close ofthe war.

726

TOMPKINS.

TREADWELL.

He introduced the hospital huts, with a
fire in the middle, and a hole in the
roof for the escape of smoke. With his
pecuniary resources exhausted he re
sumed his profession, and lived on a
farra in New Castle county. The office
of commissioner of loans, given hira in
1785, he held for sorae years. In the
war of 1S12 he was appointed Physician
and surgeon general of the army of the
U. S. He visited the hospitals of the
northern frontier. At the age of 70 a
disease of his knee rendered amputation
necessary. He died near Wilmington
May 14, 1822, aged nearly 77. He was
never raarried. His height was about
6 feet and a half; in person, manners,
speech, and all his habits he was an orig
inal. He was a Christian. In his last
sickness the scriptures were his principal
study. Of the vicarious righteousness of
Christ he was fond of conversing. He
published Observations on mflitary hos
pitals, and some papers on agriculture.-
He maintained, that a farmer should
live onthe produce of his own land, and
of course should reject tea and coffee.
As for himself, he kept no tea cups and
saucers. TOMPKINS, Daniel D., vice presi
dent of the U. S., \vas born June 21,
1774, the son the revolutionary patriot,
Jonathan G. T., who died in May 1823,
aged 86, at Fox Meadows, or Searsdale,
on the river Bron.T, in West Chester
county, N. Y. He graduated at Colum
bia college in 1795, and settled at N.
York as a lawyer. In the party strug
gles of 1799-1801 he was a conspicuous
republican. In 1803 he succeeded Mr.
Lewis as chief justice of the superior
court, and in 1807 was elected governor.
In 1812 he prorogued the legislature in
order to prevent a corrupt system of
banking. During the war, which began
in 1812, he was as governor extremely
active and devoted to the cause of his
country. His efforts had an important
bearing on the result of the war. At the
close ofthe war he purchased a farm in
Richraond county, in view of the city.
In 1817 he was elected Vice President,

Mr. Munroe being President. He died
at Staten island June 11, 1825, aged 50.
TORREY, Sarauel minister of Wey
mouth, Mass., died April 21, 1707, aged
about 76. He had been in the ministry
50 years, and was an able and faithful
preacher. He published the election
serraon in the years 1674, 1683, and
1695. TRACY, Uriah, a statesman, was
graduated at Yale college in 1778, and
afterwards directing his attention lo the
law he soon rose to erainence in that pro
fession. The last 14 years of his life
were devoted to the service of his coun
try in the national councils, where he
was adraired by his friends, and respected
by his opponents. After heving been
a meraber of the house of representatives
for some time he was chosen a senator,
and he continued in this high station till
his death. In the beginning of March
1807, while in a feeble state of health, he
exposed himself by attending the funeral
of Mr. Baldwin of the senate. From
this period he declined ; and he died at
Washington July 19, 1807, aged 53.
His devotion to the public service pre
cluded him from that attention to his
private interests, which claim the princi
pal regard of most men. His speeches
displayed a vigorous and well informed
mind. In wit and huraor he was unri
valled, in delivery graceful, and lucid in
argument. He was was sometimes se
vere ; but the ardor of debate, the rapidi
ty ofhis ideas, and the impetuosity of his
eloquence constituted an apology. He
was an instructive and agreeable compan
ion. TREADWELL, John, ll. d., gov
ernor of Connecticut, the son of Eph
raim T., was born in Farmington Nov.
23,1745; graduated at Yale college in
1767 ; , and having studied law with Ti
tus Hosmer of Middletown, settled in his
native town, but did not engage in the
practice. He was an only son ; and the heir
of a corapetent estate. After sustaining
various offices, as judge of probate and
of other courts and lieutenant governor,
he was in 1809 chosen governor as sue-

TREAT.

TRUMBULL.

727

cesser of Trumbull, but was succeeded
by Griswold in 1811 ; thus being thrown
out of all public employraents, vvhich had
occupied him thirty years. This was
painful. For twenty years he was a dea
con of the church, of which he became a
member at the age of 26 under the salu
tary influence of affliction by the loss of
a daughter. He was the first president
of the American foreign mission society,
and continued in that place till his death.
He died Aug. 19, 1823, aged 77. His
wife was a daughter of Joseph Pomeroy,
of a faraily frora Northampton. Gov.T.
was not a man of jiopular address or
character, but he was a man of unbending
integrity, and great usefulness ; he was
also an eminent christian, bowing meekly
to God's wfll under heavy afflictions, and
dying in the joyous hope of the believer.
In his last years he wrote a series of the
ological essays, which were not published.
TREAT, Robert, governor of Conn.,
was the son, itis believed, of Robert T.,
oneof the settlers of Mflford in 1639.
He was chosen one of the magistrates in
1673. After Philip's war commenced,
he was sent to Westfield at the head of
the Connecticut troops, and when the
enemy attacked Springfield , he marched
to its relief, and drove them from the
town. He also attacked the Indians in
their assault upon Hadley Oct 19th, and
put them completely lo flight. In 1676
he was chosen deputy governor, and in
1683 governor, to which office he was
annually elected for 15 years. From
1698 to 1708 he was again deputy gover
nor. Hediedat Mflford July 12, 1710,
aged 88. His character -was very res
pectable, and he had rendered the most
important services to his country.
TREAT, Samuel, first minister of
Eastham, Mass., the son of the preced
ing, was graduated at Harvard college in
1669. He wasordainedin 1672, a church
having been established for more than 20
years. Soon after his settieraent he
studied the Indian language, and devoted
to the Indians in his neighborhood rauch
of his time and attention. Through his
labors many ofthe savages were brought

into a state of civilizatiori and order, and
not a few of thera were converted to
the Christian faith. In 1693 he wrote
a letter to Increase Mather, in which he
he states, that there were within the lim
its of Easthara 500 adult Indians, to whom
he had for many years imparted the
gospel in their own language. He had
under him four Indian teachers, who
read in separate villages on every sabbath,
excepting on every fourth when he him
self preached the sermons, which he
wrote for them. He procured school
masters and persuaded the Indians to
choose from among themselves six mag
istrates, who held regular courts. After
having passed near half a century in the
most benevolent exertions as a minister
of the gospel, he died March 18, 1717,
aged 68. His 2d wife was the widow of
Rev. B. Estabrook and daughter of S.
Willard.- He was a consistent and strict
Calvinist, who zealously proclaimed those
truths, which are calculated to alarm and
hurable the sinner ; and it pleased God at
different tiraes to accompany his labors
with a divine blessing. An extract from
one ofhis sermons, which proves that the
author was able to array the terrors of
,lhe Lord against the impenitent, ia pre
served in the historical collections. He
was mild in his natural temper, and his
conversation was pleasant and soraetiraes
facetious, but always decent. He pub
lished the confession of failb in the Nauset
Indian language ; and the election ser
mon, 1713.
TRUMBULL, Jonathan, governor
of Conn., the son of Joseph T. of Leb
anon, descended from John T.,who lived
in Rowley, Mass, in 1643, whose son,
John, removed lo Suffield, and his son,
Joseph, settled at Lebanon. He was
born in 1710, and was graduated atHar
vard college in 1727. He was chosen
governor in 1769 and was annually elec
ted tfll 1783, when he resigned, having
been occupied for fifty years without in
terruption in public employments, and
having rendered during eight years' war
the most important services to his coun
try. Having seen the termination of the

723

TRUMBULL.

contest in the establishraent of the inde
pendence of America, he withdrew from
public labors, that he might devote him
self to the concerns of religion, and to a
better preparalion for his future e.^istence.
Hedied Aug. 17,1785, aged 74. His
wife was Miss Robinson, a descendant
of John R. of Leyden, by whom he had
4 sons and 2 daughters ; Joseph was
commissary general in 1775 and died un
married ; .Jbhn was aid to gen. Lee ;
David died in Lebanon Jan. 17, 1822,
aged 71 ; Faith raarried gen. Hunting
ton ; Hope married gen. V^'m. ^^'illiam3
of Lebanon. Washington in a jetter of
condolence on his death to. one of his
son-j, wrote thus ; " under this loss, how
ever great as your pancrs may have been
at the first shock, you have every thing
to console you. A' long and well spent
life in the service of his country placed _
gov. Trumbull araong the first of patriots;
in the social duties he yielded to none ;
and his lamp from the coramon course
of nature being nearly extinguished,
worn down with age and cares, but re
taining his mental faculties in perfection
are blessings, which attend rarely his
advanced life. All these corabining have
secured to his meraory universal respect
here, and no doubt increasing happiness
hereafter. " A long letter of gov. T.
upon the war is printed in the historical
collections. TRUjMBULL, Jonathan, governor of
Connecticut, the son of the preceding,
was born at Lebanon March 26, 1740 ;
graduated at Harvard college in 1759;
and settled in his native town. Frora
1775 to the close ofthe campaign in 1778
he was paymaster to the army in the
northern department. In 1780 be was
appointed secretary and first aid to Wash
ington, in the enjoyment of whose confi
dence and friendship and in whose family
he reraained until the end ofthe war. In
March 1789 he was a member of con
gress ; in 1791 speaker ofthe house ; and
in 1794 a senator ofthe U. S. In 1798
lie succeeded Wolcott as governor, and
remained in office 11 years till his death.
He died of the dropsy of the heart at Leb

anon Aug. 7, 1809, aged 69. Hehadno
children. His wife Eunice Backus, died
at N. Haven Feb. 1826, aged 76. In de
liberative asserabUes he presided with
great dignity, being graceful in manner
"and elegant in language. His incorrupti
ble integrity was united with a sound
judgment and extensive knowledge. To
the ancient religious principles of N.
England he was zealously attached. It
was with serenity and Christian hope,
founded on the atonement made for sin,
that he met the king of tenors.
TRUMBULL, Benjamin, d. d., an
historian,minister of North Haven, Conn.,
was the grandson of Benoni T., the
brother of the first governor T's father.
He was a native of Hebron and lived long
in the family of Dr. Wheelock. He
graduated at Yale college in 1759; was
ordained Deo. 25, 1760; and died sudden
ly Feb. 9, 1820, aged 85. His widow
died in June 1825, aged 92. With a
salary not exceeding 400 dollars he left a
good estate, the result ofhis prudence and
industry. In the sermon at his ordina
tion Dr. Wheelock urged upon the peo
ple the duty of providing for hira ; but
said, he should not, if he believed hira to
be "a sensual, sleepy, lazy,durab dog, that
cannot bark." — His historical works are
valuable. He published essays in favor
ofthe claira of Conn, to the Susquehan
nah country, in the Journal, 1774 ; ser
raon at a thanksgiving, 1783 ; a treatise
on divorces, 1788 ; atthe ordination of
Mr. Holt, 1789 ; a century serraon, 1801,
address on prayer and family religion,
1804 ; 12 discourses on the divine origin
ofthe scriptures; History of Connecticut,
vol. 1. Svo. 1797 ; vol. 2d. I81S ; Histo
ry ofthe U. S. to 1765, vol. 1. 1819. '
TRUMBULL, John, ll. d., judge, a
poet, a descendant of John T. of Suffield,
was the son of John T., minister in
Watertown, Conn., who died Dec. 13,
1787, aged 72 ; his mother was Sarah
Whitman, daughter of Rev. Samuel W.
of Farmington and granddaughter ofS.
Stoddard. He was born in 1750. His
father directed his eariy studies, and at
the age of 7 fie was judged qualified for

TRUXTON.
admission to coUege. He was graduated
at Yale in 1767. From 1771 to 1773 he
was a tutor, and in this period he pubUsh
ed his poem, the progress of dulness,
which had a great sale. Having studied
law with John Adaras at Boston, he set-
tied at Hartford in 1781 and became dis
tinguished in his profession. In 1784 he
published his celebrated poem, Mc Fin-
gal. About the year 1797 his feeble
health withdrew him from business. He
was the victim of hypochondria. But
frora 1801 to 1819 he was a judge of the
superior court. In 1820 he revised his
works, for which he received a handsorae
compensation. Having removed witb
his wife to Detroit to reside in the family
of his son in law, Mr. Woodbridge, he
died May 10, 1831, aged 81. His wife
was Sarah, daughter of col. Leverett
Hubbard of N. Haven. He had two
sisters ; one raarried Dr. Caleb Perkins
ofWe,st Hartford, and. the other Rev.
Timo. Langdon of Danbury. From
early life be was'a professor of religion,
whose consolations he experienced in his
last days. His poetical works were pub
lished in two vols. Svo. 1820.
TRUXTON, Thomas, a naval com
mander, the son ofa lawyer, was born on
Long Island Feb. 17, 1755. He early
went to sea. Early in 1776 he sailed as
a lieutenant in the private arraed ship,
the Congress ; captures were made off
the Havana, and of one of the prizes he
took the command and brought her to
New Bedford. In June 1777 he com
manded the Independence, fitted out by
himself and Isaac Sears, and off the
Azores captured three large and valuable
ships. He afterwards sailed in the Mars.
His prizes were nuraerous. Sailing in
the St. James of 20 guns, in a severe
engagement he disabled a British ship of
32 guns.He returned from France wilh a
most valuable cargo. After the war, resi
ding at Philadelphia, he was extensively
concerned in trade to Europe and Asia.
In 1794 he was intrusted with the com
mand ofthe Constellation, in which Feb.
9, 1799 he captured the French ship,
L'InsurgBnte, of superior force, losing
92

TUCKER.

729'

one man kifled and two wounded ; the
enemy lost 29 killed and 44 wounded.
Feb. 1, 1800 he gained a victory over
La Vengeance, of 54 guns and 500 raen,
but his own raast falling the silenced ves
sel escaped in the night. For this action
congress gave him a golden medal. He
diedat Philadelphia May 5, 1822, aged
67. His only remaining son, Wm., died
at Key West in April 1830.
TUCKE, John, minister at Gosport, '
Isles of Shoals, a graduate of 1723, died
Aug. 12, 1773, aged 71. Hull, Brock,
Belcher, and Moody had previously
preached on the Isles. His son, John,
minister of Epsom & a chaplain in the ar
my ,died in 1777. — Hewas an industrious,.
faithful, learned minister, and a useful
physician. He published a sermon at the
ordination of his son, 1761.
TUCKER, John, d. d,, minister of
Newbury, Mass., was born at Amesbury,,
and was graduated at Harvard college
in 1741 . He was ordained colleague-
with Christopher Tappan Nov. 20, 1745.
As there was not a perfect union in the
invitation, which was given hira, he hes
itated long ; but, as the opposition arose
frora contrariety of sentiment, which
probably would continue to exist, he was-
induced to accept the call. Those, who
dissented, formed with others the presby
terian society, of which Jonathan Parsons-
was the first rainister. Dr. Tucker died
March 22, 1792, aged 72. Mr. Moor
succeeded him. He posses.sed a strong,
and well furnished mind, and in argumen
tation exhibited pecuUar ingenuity. He
vvas habitually meek and placid, but when
called to engage in controversy he defen
ded himself with courage and with the
keenness of satire. He published a ser
mon at the ordination of Edmund Noyes,.
1751 ; four sermons,on the danger of sin
ners hardening their hearts, on God's spe
cial care over the righteous under calam
ities, on the reconciliation of sinners
to God, and on being bom of God,
1756; at a thanksgiving, 1756; on the
doctrines and uncharitableness of J. Par
sons as exhibited more especially in his
late disco'urses, 1757 ; sit the brdinatioa

730

TUCKER.

UNCAS.

of A. Moody, 1765; account of an eccle
siastical council, to which is annexed a
discourse, being a minister's appeal to his
hearers, as to his Ufe and doctrines, 1767 ;
two discourses on the death of J. Lowell,
1767 ; remarks on a sermon of A. Hutch-
in.son ; the reply of A. Hutchinson con
sidered, 1768; a letter to J. Chandler;
a reply to Mr. Chandler's answer, 1768 ;
remarks on Mr. Chandler's serious ad
dress, 1768; at theconvention of minis
ters, 1768 ; two sermons, on the condi
tion of salvation, and on the nature and
necessity of the Father's drawing such,
as come to Christ, 1769 ; at the election,
1771 ; remarks on a discourse of J. Par
sons, 1774 ; the Dudleian lecture, 1778 ;
and a sermon at Newburyport, 1788.
TUCKER, St George, judge, died in
Nelson county, Virginia, in Nov. 1827.
He had been a judge of the state court
and was appointed in 1813 judge of the
district court of the U. S. in the place of
Tyler deceased. He published an exam
ination of the question. How far the
comraon law of England is the law
of the United Stales ; a treatise on
slavery, 1796; Letter on the AUen and
sedition laws, 1799 ; Commentaries on
Blackstone. TUDOR, Williara, an author, the
son of Williara T., a lawyer and distin
guished citizen of Boston, who died
July 8, 1819, and grandson of John T.,
who died in 1796 aged 86, was graduated
at Harvard college in 1796 and settied in
Boston as a lawyer. He died at Rio de
Janeiro, where he was American Charg^
d' Affaires, March 9, 1830, aged about
51. He pubUshed a discourse before the
humane society, 1817 ; letters on the
eastern states, 1820 ; miscellanies, 1821 ;
the life of James Otis, Svo. 1823.
TURELL, Ebenezer, minister of
Medford, Mass., anative of Boston, was
graduated at Harvard college in 1721,
and was ordained Nov. 25, 1724, as suc
cessor of Aaron Porter. He died Dec. 5,
1778, aged 76. He was an eminent
preacher, of a ready invention, a correct
judgment, and fervent devotion, who de
livered divine truth with animation, and

maintained discipline in his church with
boldness terapered with prudence. To
his country he was'a zealous friend in all
its interests. After following to the
grave three wives, one of whom was the
daughter of Dr. Colman, he died in
Christian hope. He published the life
and character of Dr. Colman, Svo. 1749.
TYTLER,Jaraes,eminent for learning,
was a native of Scotland, and emigrated
to this country about the year 1796.
He died at Salem, Mass. in Jan. 1804
aged 53. He was poor and lived on a
point of land at a Uttle distance from the
town . Returning to his house in a dark
night he fell into a clay pit and was
drowned. His conduct in Ufe was mar
ked with perpetual imprudence ; yet he
was a man of no comraon scienceand gen
ius. He was one of the editors of the
Edinburgh edition of the Encyclopedia
Britannica. He published an answer to
Paine's age of reason, and a treatise on
the plague and yellow fever.
UNCAS, sachera of the Mohegan In
dians in Connecticut, is said to have been
a Pequot by birth, and of royal descent.
Rebelling against Sassacus, he was expel
led frora the Pequot country and by his
enterprise becarae chief of the Mohegans.
To the English he was a uniform friend,
at the tirae of their first settlement in
Connecticut and for raany subsequent
years. When all the other Indians of N.
E. were by the art of Philip combined
for the destruction of the whiles ; the
sachemdom of Mohegan alone remained
in friendship. He was a brave warrior ;
but oppressive to his captive subjects.
In 1637 he, with 70 Mohegan warriors,
accompanied capt. Mason in his expedi
tion against the Pequots. At the destruc
tion of the Mistic fort and of the Pequot
race he and his Indians formed the second
line. He received a part of the 180 cap
tives. As he had given some umbrage
to the Massachusetts government, he
-went to Boston in 1638 and making
a present of wampum to the governor
fbrmed a treaty of friendship, to which
he was faithful. In Sept. he made a
treaty with the colonists of Connecticut

UNCAS.

UNITED STATES.

731

and he conveyed to them in 1640 Colches
ter and all his land excepting Mohegan.
In 1 643, when the Narragansett sachem
attacked hiu-i with 1000 raen, he took
Miontunnorau prisoner, and having ob
tained the advice ofthe coraraissioners of
the united colonies, Winthrop, Winslow,
Hopkins, &c., he cut off' his prisoners
head. This seeras a savage act. The
wonder in this case is, that Chrislian
white raen should give such advice. In
1654 he subdued the chief at Sirasbury.
In king Philip's war 200 Mohegan and
Pequot Indians marched with 250 whites
under major Talcott to Brookfield and
Northampton ; and this little array June
12th defeated 700 Indians at Hadley and
saved the town. In the suraraer there
was a great drought at Mohegan ; the
corn was dried up in August. Uncas,
who had given no encouragement to the
preaching of Mr. Fitch, now went to the
good nian, with many Indians, asking his
prayers for rain, arid engaging to ascribe
the blessing, if granted, to the raercy of
God in hearing prayer. A day of fasting
and prayer was observed ; and the day
following there was a copious rain. Un
cas was now an old raan. He probably
died soon afterwards. Onecho, his eldest
son assisted the English in the war of
1676. The faraily decUned in power
with the decay of the tribe. Isaiah Un
cas attended Dr. Wheelock's school.
About 1800 Noah and John Uncas were
living ; but the narae is now extinct al
Mohegan. The regal burying ground is
not at Mohegan, but at Norwich city, on
the plain, near the house of Calvin God-
dard, and a short distance frora the falls
of the Yantic. There are several grave
stones. The inscription on the stone,
not ofthe sachem Uncas, as Dr. Holmes
represents, but of Sarauel Uncas, his
great grandson, who died in 1741, a^ed
27, is this:
" For beauty, wit, and sterling sense.
For tempei* milrl and eloquence,
For courage bold and things Werheegan
He was the glory of Mohegan,
His deatii has cau-sed great lamentation
Bolh to the English and the Indian nation."

The ' things Werheegan ' are either
things pertaining to warfare, or things
agreeable and welcorae. There are less
than a hundred Mohegans, including
those of mixed blood, now remaining.
Something of their history maybe known
by looking at the articles Fitch, Occom,
Jos. Johnson, and Tantequiggen, in'this
book. The French and revolutionary
wars, and above all the use of spirituous
liquors have nearly exterrainated the
tribe. However there is now reason to
hope for amendment. They retain of their
large territory 2700 acres of good land,and
have several houses, which they rent to
white men ; they have now schools and a
preacher. If ihey can renounce strong
drink and should cultivate their remaining
land diligently, and especially ifthe pow
er of religion should be felt among them ;
they would become a respectable and hap
py community.
THE UNITED STATES OF AM
ERICA, existed formerly as disconnec
ted colonies of Great Britain. After the
settiement of America the first appearance
of a union araong the distinct colonies is
presented in the articles of confederation
entered into at Boston May 19, 1643 by
coraraissioners from N. Haven, Connec
ticut, Massachusetts, and Plymouth. It
was agreed, that two deputies frora each
of these colonies should meet annually,
and have power to make war and peace
with the Dutch, French, and Indians,
and to establish all laws ofa general con
cern. All coramon affairs were to be
transacted under the narae of the United
Colonies of N. England. Rhode Island
appUed for admission in 1648, but was
refused. This union continued more
than forty years till the abrogation of the
N. England charters by Jaraes II. A
more extensive plan ofunion was proposed
in 1754 in consequence of the apprehen
sion of an approaching war with the
French. A convention, consisting] of
delegates from N. Hanipshire Massachu
setts, R. Island, Connecticut, Pennsylva
nia, and Maryland, with the lieutenant
governor and council of N. York, met at
Albany June 14th, and, after making a

732

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

treaty with the ladians of trie six nations,
took up the subject of union. A plan,
which was drawn up by Dr. Franklin,
-was signed July 4th, by all the delegates,
excepting those of Connecticut. It pro
posed a general government, to be admin
istered by a president general appointed
by the crown,and by a grand council,con-
sisting of merabers chosen by the colonial
asserablies. No colony was to have
more than seven, nor less than two rep
resentatives. The consent of the presi
dent was to be necessary to the passing
of a bifl into a law, and all laws were to
be sent to England for the approbation of
the king. Araong other powers to be
vested in the president and council was
that of laying such duties, iraposts, or
taxes, as should be necessary for the
general defence. A copy of this plan was
transraitted to each ofthe colonial assera
bUes and to the king's council, and it was
rejected by both for opposite reasons ; be
cause it was supposed to give too little
and too much power to the repre
sentatives of ihe people. It is not
a little surprising, that the conven
tion should have been permitted, or
that, when assembled, the delegates
should have been suffered to direct their
thoughts to the subject of union. The
proposal ofa union first came from Shir
ley, the royal governor of Mass. After
the passing of the stamp act by the par
liament for the purpose of raising a reve
nue in America, the asserably of Mass.
proposed a congress of deputies frora
each colony to consult on the coramon
interest. Deputies frora the assemblies
of Mass., R. Island, Connecticut, N.
York, N. Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Del
aware counties, Maryland, and S. Caro
lina accordingly inet at N. York in Oct.
1765, and iraraediately made a declara
tion of rights and grievances. They
claimed for the colonies the exclusive
power of taxing themselves, and agreed
upon a petition to the king, and a memo
rial to each house of parliaraent. Froin
this period the pretensions of G. Britain
were exarained with the greatest freedom ;
the assemblies of different colonies adopj-

ted spirited resolutions, asserting their
rights ; a general non importation
agreement was entered into ; commit
tees of correspondence were appointed ;
and affairs were hastening to a crisis.
The bill, which shut the port of Boston
in 1774, excited universal indignation.
Through sympathy in the sufferings of
Massachusetts the house of Burgesses of
Virginia appointed a day of fasting and
prayer, and signed an agreement, declar
ing, that an attack upon a sister colony
to compel submission to arbitrary taxes
was an attack on all British America.
They also directed the committee of cor
respondence to propose a general con
gress. Sept 5, 1774 the first congress,
composed of delegates from eleven colo
nies, was held at Philadelphia. During
a session of eight weeks a declaration
of rights was adopted ; a non impor
tation, and non consumption, and non
exportation agreeraent was made ; an
address to the people of G. Britain, a
memorial to the inhabitants of British
Araerica, and a loyal address to bis maj
esty were prepared ; and letters were
written to the people of Canada, and to
the colonies of St. John's, Nova Scotia,
Georgia, and the Floridas, inviting them
to unite in the comraon cause. The
battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, was
the signal of war and the royal troops in
Boston soon found themselves besieged
by an array of 20,000 men. The second
congress assembled al Philadelphia May
10th, and iraraediately resolved upon
taking up arms, and emitted bills of credit
lo the amount of 3 mill, of dollars to de
fray the expenses of the war, for the re
demption of which bills the 12 confeder
ate colonies were pledged. They how
ever prepared a second petition to the
king, a second address to the inhabitants
of Great Britain, and addresses to the
people of Canada, and to the assembly of
Jamaica, all of which were written in a
masterly manner. In the mean tirae
Ticonderoga and Crown Point were taken
by troops under the command of col.
AUen, and the hard fought battle of
Breed's hili,Junel7,taught the Americans,

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

733

that they were able to contend with the
disciplined troops of Great Britain. Gen
eral Washington arrived at Carabridge
as the commander in chief in July. In
the autnran Canada was invaded by Mont
gomery, who took Montreal, and Arnold
penetrated through the wilderness of the
district of Maine and presented himself
before Quebec. The assault upon the
city at the close ofthe year was however
unsuccessful. The British were reduced
to the necessity of evacuating Boston
March 17, 1776, and in June the Ameri
cans were obliged to withdraw themselves
frora Canada. July 4th, after an anima
ted debate, the declaration of independence
was adopted by congress. The members
of that fllustrious body solemnly declared
the united colonies to he " free and inde
pendent stales," and in support of this
declaration, with a firm reliance on the
protection of divine providence, they
mutually pledged to each other their Uves,
their fortunes, and their sacred hbnor.
In Aug. the British drove the Americans
from L. Island ; in Sept. they took pos
session of New York ; and in a short
time they captured forts Washington
and Lee, and obliged the commander in
chief to retire beyond the Delaware.
The congress removed to Baltimore in
Dec. The battle of Trenton, Dec. 26,
1776, revived the expiring cause of Araer
ica. During the year 1777 there were
several warra engageraents. In Sept.
after the battle of Brandywine the eneray
took possession of Phfladelphia. The
Americans were again defeated in the
battle of Germantown Oct. 4th. The
northern carapaign was raore encourag-
ing,for Oct. 17th Burgoyne was captured
with his whole army of upwards of 5,700
men. In the beginning of 1778 a treaty
was made with France, and a powerful
ally obtained. This event induced the
British to abandon Philadelphia in June
in order to concentrate the royal forces
at N. York. They were pursued and
attacked at Monmouth. At the close of
the'year Savannah fell into the hands of
the enemy. In 1779 an expedition was
undertaken from N. York against Con

necticut, and N. Haven was plundered,
and Fairfield and'Norwalk burned. Sto
ny point on the other hand was taken by
general Wayne by assault. The coun
try ofthe Indians of the six nations was
desolated by general SuUii'au in Aug.
and Sept. In Oct. an unsuccessful at
tempt lo recover Savannah was made by
count D' Estaing and general Lincoln.
Newport in R. Island, which had been
held by the enemy from Dec. 1776,
was evacuated Oct. 25th. In the year
1730 sir H. Clinton sailed to Charleston,
and May 12th raade general Lincoln and
the whole garrison prisoners. Aug. 16th
Gates was defeated in the battle of Cam
den. In Sept. the treachery of Arnold
was detected. The j'ear 1781 was dis
tinguished by the most important events.
Greene, who had seperseded Gates iri the
southern department, brought the high
est honor to the Araeriean arras. The
splendid victory of Eutaw Sept. 8th eloped
the revolutionary war in S. Carolina.
CornwaUis was besieged in Yorktown by
the united American and French arraies,
and Oct. 19th he was obUged to capitu
late with about 6,000 men. The cap
ture of this army may be considered as
the termination ofthe war,for the events,
which occurred afterwards, wereof little
coraparative magnitude.
Till the year 1781 the powers of con
gress seem to have been defined by no
formal agreeraent between the several
states, but in ihis year articles of confed
eration were adopted. The arti
cles had been raade by congress Nov.
15, 1777, and subraitted to the individual
states, but Maryland did not sign them
till March 1, 1781. On their reception
by this state the act of union was com
pleted. There were perhaps some ad
vantages in the delay of this event ; for
as seven states were a majority, when
ever that number met, it was considered
as the representative body of the thirteen,
and if a measure was adopted by four out
ofthe seven, it was considered as the act
ofthe whole, even in those cases, which
by the confederation required the concur
rence of nine states. The following are

734

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

,the principal features ofthe confederation,
which was the foundation of the Ameri
can government until the establishment
ofthe present constitution. The style
ofthe confederacy was, the United states
of America, each state retaining all pow
ers not expressly delegated. No state
was to be represented in congress by less
than two, nor by more than seven raem
bers. The delegates were chosen an
nually, and whfle they were incapable of
being- chosen for more than three years
in any term of six years, they were liable
at any time lo be recalled. No one
could be a meraber of congress, who
held an office of profit under the U. S.
Each state was to have one vote.- Af
fairs of comraon concern were for the
most part intrusted to congress. There
was to be a common treasury, and a re
venue -was to be raised by taxes, appor
tioned araong the states according to the
value of surveyed lands and buildings,
but to be levied by the legislatures of the
respective states. In all disputes re
specting the boundary or jurisdiction of
states, an appeal could be raade to con
gress in the last resort. Measures
were decided by a raajority of the U. S.
assembled. Congress could not adjourn
for a longer tirae than six months, and
during a recess " a committee of the
states," consisting of one delegate frora
each, might execute such powers, as
nine of the states should confer upon
them. No alteration could be raade in
the articles ofunion, unless agreed to in
congress, and confirmed by the legisla
tures of every state.
Nov. 30, 1782 provisional articles of
peace between G. Britain and the U.
States were signed, and the definitive
treaty Sept. 3, 1783. New York was
evacuated Nov. 25th, and Washington
soon afterwards repaired to congress
and resigned his mflitary commission.
In 1786 there was an insurrection in
Mass. and N. Harapshire, occasioned
principally by the burdens of the neces
sary taxes ; but it was suppressed in the
following year. In May 1787 the con
vention, which framed the present con

stitution of the U. States, asserabled at
Philadelphia. A new government had
been rendered necessary by the imbecility,
of the confederation. An enormous debt
had been contracted by the war, and to
discharge it a system of revenue had been
devised, an essential part of which was a
general impost. But as the states were
no longer bound together by comraon
danger and coraraon interest, the ordinan
ces of congress were disregarded. Cora
raercial regulations, adopted by some
states, only operated to divert the course
of busriiess to tfie advantage ofthe other
states. In the midst of the calamities,
which were felt, and of greater calamities,
which were apprehended, Mr. Madison
in the legislature of Virginia proposed a
general convention. Commissioners ac
cordingly raet at Annapolis in Sept. 1786
but adjourned to May 25, 1787, when
delegates with raore araple powers assem
bled ; and they agreed upon the present
constitution Sept. 17th. It was ratified
first by Delaware Dec. 3, 1787, and by
June 25, 1788 it was accepted by nine
other states, which more than completed
the number neces.sary for rendering it
valid. It was afterwards adopted by N.
York July 26, I788,by N. CaroUna Nov.
27, 1789, by R. Island May ,29, 1790,
and by Verraont Jan. 10, 1791. The
constitution of the U. S. , as it now exists,
for sorae araendraents have been made,
vests all legislative powers in a congress,
consisting ofa senate and a house of rep
resentatives, the merabers ofthe forraer to
be chosen for six years by the legisla
tures- of the respective states, and
the merabers of th^ latter to be cho
sen for two years by the people of the
several slates. Two senators are chosen
frora each state, raaking 48, and one rep
resentative is allowed for every 47,700 of
estimated persons in a state, the foUowing
rule being adopted in raaking the estiraa-
tion, that to the whole number of free per
sons, including those bound to service
for a term of years, and excluding In
dians not taxed, there be added three
fifths of aU other persons, so that
slaves are counted in this manner;

UNITED STATES 01' AMERICA.

735

making 244 representatives, after March
3, 1833 for the ten succeeding years. No
person, holding any office under the U.
States, can be a raeraber of either house.
The executive power is vested in a presi
dent ofthe U. States of Araerica. He is
chosen every four years by electors, ap
pointed by each of the states, in nuraber
equal to the whole nuraber of senators
and representatives, to which a state raay
be entitled. These electors meet in their
separate states on the same day, and give
in written votes for a president and
vice president. A list of these votes is
transmitted to the seat of government,
where they are counted in the presence of
the senate and the house of representa
tives. The person,who has a majority of
the whole number of votes for president,
is elevated to that office. In the event of
his decease, the vice president, who pre
sides in the senate, takes his place. The
president is so far concerned in legislation,
that every bill, which has passed the two
houses of congress, must be presented
to him for his signature, and, if he
objects to it, must be reconsidered
and approved by two thirds of each house
before it can become a law. With the
advice and consent of the senate he has
.power lo make treaties, and appoint am
bassadors, and the principal public offi
cers. The judges ofthe supreme and in
ferior courts hold their offices during good
behavior. No religious test is required
as a qualification for any office or public
trust under the U. States, and no law
can be made respecting an establishment
of religion. All powers not delegated are
reserved to the slates respectively or lo
the people.
Aprfl 6, 1789 a quorum of senators and
representatives assembled at New York,
and on counting the votes declared George
Washington to be elected president and
John Adams vice president of the U. S.
Washington was inaugurated into his
high office April SOth. His adminis
tration listed eight years, as he was re
elected after the expiration of the first'
term. A treaty wilh Great Britain was
signed at London Nov. 19, 1794, and

treaties with Spain and the Dey of Al
giers were made in 1795. During the
continuance of president Washington in
office the foundations of the prosperity of
America were laid. In 1797 John Ad
ams was chosen president of the U. States
and Thomas Jefferson vice president.
During this administration a treaty was
made with Prussia July 11, 1799, and
after repeated injuries from revolutionary
France a convention- was concluded at
Paris with the French republic Sept. SO,
1800. This event contributed much to
the prosperity of America. In 1801 Tho.
Jefferson was elected president and Aaron
Burr vice president fbr the U. States.
In 1803 Louisiana was purchased of
France for fifteen milUons of dollars. In
1805 Thoraas Jefferson was re-elected
president and George Clinton was chosen
vice president ofthe U. States. In this
year general Eaton distinguished hiraself
by his exploits against the barbarians of
TripoU. In Dec. 1806 a negotiation for
the settieraent of differences with Eng
land terminated in a treaty, which was
sent to this country. It was rejected by
the president because it contained no en
gagement against the impressment of sea
men frora merchant vessels, and on ac
count of a note annexed, that Engl&nd
retained the right of retaliating on the
principles of the BerUn decree, if the U.
S. submitted to it. In Deo. 1807 an act,
laying an embargo on all vessels in the
ports ofthe U. States, was passed in con
sequence of the decree of Berlin by the
French emperor, declaring the British
islands in a state of blockade, and of" in
creasing dangers," which threatened our
corameroe. This act continued in force
until the non intercourse act was substi
tuted in its place at the ciose of the ad
ministration of Mr. Jefferson. In 1809
Jaraes Madison was chosen president of
theU. S. and Geo. Clinton vice president.
AprU 1 9th, the president issued a proc-
laraation restoring the intercourse wilh
Great Britain on the lOth of June, as the
govemraent of that country had declared,
thalthe orders in council in retaliation of
the French decree would at that lime be

736

UNITED STATES.

VAN NESS.

withdrawn, as far as they respected the
U. States. But this arrangement was
disavowed by the British government.
In November 1810 commercial inter
course was interdicted with Great
Britain. Nov. 7, 1811 gov. Harrison
defeated the Indians in a battle on the
Wabash. In consequence of impress
ments, orders in councfl injurious to our
rights, and other causes war was declared
against Great Britain June 19, 1812,
which lasted tfll Dec. 24, 1814, when a
treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. The
principal events ofthe war were, first, on
the sea, the capture of the Guerriere by
capt. Hull in the Constitution ; of
the Frolic by capt. Jones in the Wasp ;
of the Macedonian by coraraodore Deca
tur inthe United States; the loss ofthe
Chesapeak, capt. Lawrence, captured by
capt. !proke in the Shannon, and of the
Argus and Essex ; the capture of the
Pelican, Boxer, and Peacock, th? Eper-
vier, and Reindeer ; ofthe British squad
ron on lake Erie by commodore Perry; and
ofthe British squadron on lake Champlain
by coraraodore McDonbugh: and next,o?i
the land, the surrender of gen. Hull and
his array to the British, and of Winches
ter and his troops, and of Van Rensselaer
at Queenstown ; the capture of York by
gen. Dearborn, of fort George by gen.
Boyd ; the victory over Tecumseh ; the
defeat of the Creeks by gen. Coffee ; gen.
Brown's victories at Chippewa and
Bridgewater; the capture of Washington
by the eneray; & the victory of our troops
under gen. Jackson at New Orieans. In
1813 M r. Madison was re-elected presi
dent and Mr. Gerry was chosen vice-
president. In 1815 war was declared
against Algiers and Decatur corapelled
the dey to reUnquish forever the claira of
tribute. In 1816 a national bank was es
tablished. In 1817 Mr. Monroe was
elected president and Mr. Tompkins vice-
president and they were re-chosen in
1821. Slave trading was in 1820 i-flade
punishable with death. In 1821 gen.
Jackson took possession of Florida ; and
in this year Missouri, the 24th state, was
admitted into the union. In 1824 gen.

La Fayette visited the U. S. In 1825
John Quincy Adaras was chosen presi
dent and John C.Calhoun vice president.
In 1829 commenced the ninth administra
tion, gen. Jackson being chosen president
and Ml". Calhoun vice-president. The
population of the U. States was in 1790,
3,929,326; in 1800, 5,309,758; in 1810,
7,239,903; in 1820, 9,638,166 ; in 1830,
12,856,165. The slaves, included in the
last number, amounted to 2,010, 436.
The number of Indians including those
to the west of the rocky mountains has
been estimated at 313, 170. Besides the
24 States of the union, the district of
Columbia, 10 miles square, is under the
imraediate govemraent of congress, and
there are th'e three territories of Florida,
Michigan, and Arkansas.
VANE, sir Henry, governor ofMass.,
was born in England and educated at
Oxford. He then went to Geneva,
where he became a republican, and found
arguraents against the established church.
Al'ter his return to London,as his noncon
formity displeased the bishop, he came to
N. England in the beginning of 1635.
In the next year, though he was only 24
years of age he was chosen governor ;,
but, attaching himself to the party of
Mrs. Hutchinson, hewas in 1637 super
seded by gov. "V^Mnthrop. He soon re
turned to England, where he joined the
party against the king, though he was
opposed to the usurpation of CromwelL
After the restoration he was tried for
high treason, and beheaded June 14,
1662, aged -50. Hepublished a nuraber
of speeches ; the retired raan's medita
tions, or the mystery and power of godU
ness, showing forth the Uving word, &c.
4to. 1655; a needful corrective or balance
in popular government ; the love of God
and union with God ; an epistle general
to the mystical body of Christ, &c.
1662 ; the face of the times, or the enmi
ty between the seed of the woman and
of the serpent, 1682; meditations con
cerning man's life; meditations on death;,
and a nuraber of political tracts,arid pieces
relating to bis trial.
VAN NESS, William, W., judge.

VAN RENSSELAER.

VAN WART.

737

the son of Wra.W.V., who died in 1821,
aged 83, was born at Claverack, N. Y,
in 1775 and practised law at Hudson. He
was a judge of the suprerae court of N.
Y. frora 1807 till his resignation May 1,
1822, whfen he returned to the bar at N.
York. Repairing to the south for his
health, he died at Charleston, Feb. 28,
1823, aged 47. His eldest daughter mar
ried Henry Livingston. Without any
peculiar advantages of education or pat
ronage he rose to distinction by the force
of his talents. He was a learned, impar
tial, respected judge. In his raanners he
was courteou's,andin private Ufe he was
amiable and beloved. Hedied as a Chris
tian, invoking the mercy of the Savior
of sinners. At a meeting of the bar in
N. Y. Mr. Jay and Mr. Griffin described
his eminent and exceUent character.
VAN RENSSELAER,Jeremiah, the
founder of the family of that name in the
state of NewYork, a man of wealth and
a director of the Dutch West India
company, emigrated to New York about
1660. Others of the sarae narae eraigra
ted about the sarae tirae. He brought
out settlers frora Holland and purchased
of the Indians an extensive tract around
Albany. The purchase was confirraed
by the Dutch govemraent and a patent
was obtained. After Nicolls' conquest
ofthe Dutch settleraeriis in 1664 the duke
of York granted another patent, which
was confirmed by queen Anne, giving
the right of holding courts & of sending
a representative to the assembly. By one
of the family the manor was accordingly
represented tfll the revolution. His lands
have descended from generation to gener
ation and are now held by his descendant,
Stephen Van R., formerly lieutenant gov
ernor of New York.
VAN RENSSELAER, Jeremiah, a
patriot of the revolution, and lieutenant
governor of N. York, was fbr some years
a raeraber of congress. Hedied at Al
bany Feb. 22, 1810, aged 69.
VAN RENSSELAER, Henry K.,
general, a patriot ofthe revolution, was
a colonel in the army of th4 United
States, and afterwards general of the
93

militia of New York. At the capture of
Burgoyne he was wounded. For his ser
vices he received a pension from his coun
try. He died at Albany in Sept. 1816,
aged 72. His son, Solomon Van R.,
was adjutant general of N. \ork in 1809,
VAN RENSSELAER, Philip S.,
mayor of Albany, was elected in 1798,
and amidst all the changes of party was
annually re-elected, excepting in two
years, tfll 1823. For 23 years he was al
faithful chief raagistrate of the city, as
siduous in promoting its raoral and poUt
ical interests. He died Sept. 25, 1324,
aged 58. He was a rauch respected and
useful citizen. Of the Albany Bible so
ciety he was at the tirae of his death the
president, and a trustee of Union college.
He was the principal founder of the Al
bany acaderay, and of the Lancaster
school society. His fortune and talents
Were employed for the promotion of be
nevolent objects. In his death, while the
poor lost their best friend, the church
was deprived ofan exeraplary member.
VAN WART, Isaac, colonel, one of
the captors, with Paulding and Williams,
of Andre, was bom at Greensburgh,
Westchester county, N. Y. in 1748, arid
died at his residence in the town of Mount
Pleasant May 23, 1828, aged 80. He
was a worthy man, sober, industrious,
moral, and religious, and much respected
in his neighborhood. His account ofthe
capture of A. was this. He was at the
encampment at North Castle, where col.
Jameson comraanded, when Paulding
proposed to go on a scout below. They
started in the afternoon and Williams
joined them. At Mount Pleasant they
passed the night in a barn. The next
morning at 9 o'clock they lay in wait on
the North river post road, in a field, now
the property of Mr. Wiley, three quart
ers of a mile from Tarrytown. He was
sentinel, lying in the bushes by the fence,
while the others played cards. In thirty
minutes, seeing a man riding a black
horse on the rising ground, opposite Tar
rytown academy^ he summoned his com
panions to take their firelocks, and stand
by the fence. Having captured Andre,

738

VARICK.

VERMONT.

they took off his boots and found the pa
pers in his sflk stockings. In conveying
him to the encampment, they allowed
him to ride, but avoided the high way ;
"big drops of sweat kept faUing from his
face.'' He once expressed a wish, that
they had blown bis brains out, when they
stopped him. Having arrived at Sands'
mills, ten miles from the place ®f capture,
they surrendered him to col. Jameson.
VARICK, Richard, colonel, third
president of the American Bible society,
was bornin 1752. In 1783 hewas one of
Washington's military family, being re
cording secretary. He was a mayor of
the city ofN. York in 1789 ; also so late
as 1801, when he was removed and Ed
ward Livingston appointed in his place.
After Mr. Jay, who succeeded Mr. Bou
dinot, he was elected president of the Bi
ble society. He died at Jersey city July
30, 1831, aged 79. His Ufe was upright.
For many years he was a member of a
Christian church. In his manners he
was dignified, and fixed in his principles,
political and reUgious.
VARNUM,- Jaraes Mitchell,general, a
soldier of the revolution, was a descen
dant of Sam. V.r who carae to this coun
try in 1649 and settled in Dracut, Mass.
He was born in 1749 and graduated at
Providence college in the first class in
1769 ; and afterwards studied law and re
sided at East Greenwich. In Feb. 1777
be was appointed a brigadier general in
the array of the U. S, In Nov. he com
manded at Red Bank, and he> served un
der SuUivan in R. Island in Aug. 1778,
but resigned in 1779- In 1786 he was a
delegate to congress, and in Oct. 1787
was appointed ajudge ofthe north west
ern territory, Hedied at Marietta, Ohio,
Jan. 10, 1790, aged 40. A letter to
his wife on the value of religion is in
Mass. mag, Nov. 1790.
VARNUM, Joseph Bradley, general,
a soldier ofthe revolution, brother of the
preceding, was born about 1750, and resi
ded at Dracut. After the adoption ofthe
constitution he was elected a member of
congress, in which body he reraained 12
years. He was the speaker four years. Of

Mr. Jefferson's administration he was a
zealous supporter. In 1 8 1 1 be succeeded
Mr. Pickering as senator of the U. S.
Of 3 conventions of Massachusetts he
was a useful member. Hedied suddenly
Sept. 11, 1821, aged 71, being then major
general ofa division ofthe miUtia.
VAUDREUIL, Marquis de, governor
of Canada, received the government of
Montreal in 1689, & in 1709 he succeeded
to the government of the whole province
of Canada. He continued in this office
till his death Oct. 10, 1725. His admin
istration was distinguished by vigilance,
firmness, and success. He was succeeded
by the chevalier de Beauhamois, who
sent one of his officers to penetrate to the
south sea. This object was effected.
VENABLE, Abraham B., a senator
of the U. S. from Virginia, perished with
gov. Sraith and about 70 others, principal
ly females, in the conflagration of the
theatre at Richmond Dec. 26, 1811.
Mr. Bolt, a law.ver, and his wife. Miss
Alraerine Marshall, daughter of chief jus
tice M., and Miss Clay, daughter of a
member of congress, were among the vic
tims. VERMONT, one of the United
States, was not settled ifl any part until
1724, when fort Dummer on Connecticut
river was built by Massachusetts. The
French from Canada built a fort at Crown
Point in 1731. When theboundary hue
between Massachusetts and N. Hamp
shire was drawn in 1741, the latter colony
concluded, that its jurisdiction extended
as far west as that of the former, and un
der this impression granted many town
ships of lands. The government of N.
York, which claimed the territory, which
is now Vermont, required the settlers to
take out new grants, which were atten
ded with great expense. The settlers
generally refused and the controversy
rose to such a height about the year 1765,
that some of the officers of N. York were
resisted and wounded in attempting to
execute the judgments of the courts of
that province. The people were deter
mined not quietly to submit to oppression.
Colonels Allen and Warrier were the lea-

VERMONT.

VIRGINIA.

739

ders in this opposition, and they were
cool, firm, and resolute. At length the
government of N. York passed a law in
1774 requiring all offenders to surrender
themselves under the severest penalties,
and 50/. a head were offered for the ap
prehension of eight of the most obnoxious
of the settlers. Preparations were now
making for civfl war, when provincial dis
putes were lost in the grandeur of the
contest, which coramenced with G. Brit
ain. A convention in 1777 adopted the
bold measure of declaring the N. Hamp
shire grants, as Vermont was then called,
a free and independent state. They then
petitioned congress for admission into the
union, but the petition was dismissed.
New "Vork called for the interference of
congress in support of their claims ; but
it was thought dangerous to irritate a
brave people, who were in the neighbor
hood of the enemy. Verraont at the
same time had the policy to enter
into a negotiation with the British in Can
ada, and thus alarmed congress, and pre
vented an invasion by the royal troops.
After the peace admission into the union
ceased to be an object of desire, and the
circumstances of this state became most
easy and prosperous. The long continu
ed controversy with N. York was termi
nated in 1790 by an agreement on the
part of Vermont to pay the former 30,000
dollars. On the renewal of the request
to be admitted into the federal union, an
act bf congress completed the business
Feb. 18,1791. A constitution of govern
ment was formed by Verraont in 1778,
and it Twas revised in 1786 and 1792,
The present constitution of this state was
adopted in July 1793. It vests the legis
lative powers in a general asserably, con
sisting of representatives from the sever
al towns annually chosen. The govern-.
or is elected every year, and with the
consent of a council, appointed by the
people, he may propose amendments to all
bUls, originating in the assembly, and if
the amendments are not agreed to, he
may suspend the passing of such bills
until the next session of the legislature.
His authority however is very Umited,

for he has only a casting vote in the
council. Thejudges ofthe state arecho
sen annually by the assembly. A councfl
of censors is chosen every seven years,
whose authority continues for but one
year. They are empowered to inquire
whether the constitution has been preser
ved inviolate, to call a convention, and
to pass censures.
VINCENT, Louis, an Indian chief,
was educated at Moor's school and at
Dartmouth college, where he was gradua
ted in a class of four in 1781. In the
preceding year Peter Pohquonnoppeet, a
Stockbridge Indian, was graduated. Vin
cent was one of the chiefs of the Hurons
or Wyandots near Quebec. In his last
years he was a schoolmaster. He died at
Loretto in May 1825, aged about 65.
His son, a grand chief, was then in Eng
land. VIRGINIA, one ofthe United States,
was given by patent to the London cora
pany in 1606. For 20 years previously
to this tirae attempts had been made to es
tablish a colony in Virginia under the pat
ronage of sir W. Raleigh, but the settle
ments were broken up and the attempts
were unsuccessful. The first permanent
colony, sent out by the company already
mentioned, arrived in 1607. The adven
turers took possession of a peninsula on
Powhatan or Jaraes' river May 13th, and
iraraediately commenced building a town,
which they called James Town. This
was the first permanent habitation of the
English in America. Before the close of
the year the number of the colony amoun
ted to two hundred. In 1608 captain
Smith in an open barge with 14 persons
explored the waters from cape Henry to
the Susquehannah. On his return be
was made president of the colony , A
second charter with -more ample privile
ges was granted in 1609, and, as the
nuraber of proprietors was increased, the
augraented wealth and reputation ena
bled them to proceed with greater spirit.
Seven ships were fitted out with 500
people for Iheeotony, Soon after their
arrival a plot was formed by the Indians
for exterminating them, but, it being dis-

740

VIRGINIA.

closed by Pocahontas, they were provi
dentially saved from destruction. In 1610
the sufferings ofthe colony were extreme
both on account of the hostility of the In
dians, and the want of provisions. Of
near 500 persons left atthe departureof
captain Smith 60 only remained at the
expiration of six months. The small re
mains of the colony had erabarked with
the intention of returning lo England,
when the arrival of lord Delaware pre
vented them from abandoning the coun
try. He came with three ships and an
abundant supply of provisions. He ap
pointed a councfl to assist hira in the ad
ministration. Under his care the affairs
ofthe cblony were soon re-established. A
third charter, granted in 1612, annexed
to Virginia all the islands within 300
miles of that coast. A provincial legis
lature, in v/hich the colonists were repre
sented, was established in 1619. In the
following year the settlement was increa
sed and strengthened by the accession of
raore than 1200 persons. As many of
the settlers were destitute of wives, the
company was politic enough to send over
150 girls, young and handsome. The
price ofa wife at first was 100 pounds of
tobacco,but, as the number was diminish
ed, the price was increased to 150 pounds,
the value of which in money was three
shillings per pound. The first negroes
were imported into Virginia in 1620. In
the following year sir Francis Wyat ar
rived as governor with 700 people. Some
changes took place in the government
favorable to freedom. The constitution
at this period became fixed. The assem
bly was composed of two burgesses from
every plantation,and all matters were to be
decided by a raajority of voices,reserving a
negative to the governor. A glebe of 100
acresof land was ordered in every borough,
and the stipend of the minister was
fixed at about 200/. There were at this
tinje only five ministers in the colony.
The year 1622 is memorable for the
Kiassacreof the English. March 37th
the Indians carried into effect a precon
certed conspiracy, and massacred with
indiscriminate barbarity 347 of the Engr

Ush, who were unresisting and defence
less. A war immediately coraraenced,
and to its evils were added the miseries
of faraine. A new supply frora the pa
rent country soon however counterbalan
ced the losses, which had been sustained.
In 1624 the charter of Virginia was vaca
ted, and thecompany, which had expen
ded riaore than 100,000/. in planting the
colony, was dissolved. King Charles I
in 1625 made Virginia dependent on the
crown. In 1633 severe laws were enac
ted to suppress sectaries and preserve
uniformity in religion. Sir William
Berkeley was appointed governor in 1639,
and a regular administration of jus
tice took place. Virginia was the last
of the king's dominions, which sup-
mitted to Cromwell's usurpation, and
the first that threw it off. After the res
toration, in the year 1662 the church ot
England was regularly estabUshed by
the assembly, and all ministers not or
dained by some bishop in England were
prohibited from preaching on pain of sus
pension or banishment. The year 1676 is
memorable for Bacon's rebellion. Several
causes contributed to produce it, among
which causes were the clashing of differ
ent grants of lands, the impositions on
ihe trade of the plantations, and the dim
inution of the traffic with the Indians.
Mr. Bacon fomented the discontent,
which existed, and at length usurped the
government. His sudden death extin
guished the flames of civil war. This
rebellion cost the colony 100,000/. The
colony from this period increased, and no
very important events occurred for a
number of years. At the comraenceraent
of the controversy with Great Britain,
which terrainai.ed in Araeriean indepen
dence, Virginia,passed the first resolutions
against the starap act, asserting the co
lonial rights, and denying the claim of
parliamentary taxation. This state was
uniformly distinguished for intelligence
and decision. The constitution of Vir
ginia was adopted July 5, 1776, and
amended in 1830. It vests the legislative
powers in a general assembly, consisting
of a house of delegates and a senate. The

WABAN.

WADSWORTH.

741

members of the house are chosen annu
ally ; of the senate one fourth are annu
ally renewed by popular election . The
governor is chosen for 3 years by the two
branches of the legislature and is eligi
ble but once in 6 years. There is a
council of 3,of whom the senior is lieuten-
'ant governor. Thejudges are reraovablo
by address. Elections are not by ballot.
The clergy are ineligible as legislators.
WAB.VN, an Indian, welcomed I\Ir.
Eliot to his wigwam in Newton Oct.
28, 1646, when he first preached to the
Indians, and becarae an erainent Chris
tian, and a useful magistrate. Remov
ing to a tract of 3,000 acres in Natick,
the Indians cultivated the land and were
much civilized. He died in 1 674, aged 70.
One ofhis exhortations is preserved in
Neal's history. As to his views of ad
ministering justice it is said, that, when
asked by a younger justice, — " when In
dians get drunk and quarrel, what you
do den ? " He replied-" Hah ! tie urn all
up, and whip ura plaintiff, and whip ura
fendant, and whip um witness ! " Trie
following is the form of a warrant, he
issued — " You, you big constable, quick
you catch um Jeremiah Offscow, strong
you hold ura, safe you bring ura afore
me. Waban,justice peace. " This is simi
lar to the warrant, given by judge Davis :
— "I Hihoudi, you Peter Waterman,
Jeremy Wicket: Quick you take him,
fast you hold hira, straight you bring
him, hefore me, Hihoudi." This sim-
pUcation of legal writings rather exceeds
the proposed iraproveraents of modern
reforraers of law.
' WADDELL, James, d. d., a presby
terian ministerin the county of Orange,
Virginia, died in Albemarle county in
the sumraer of 1805. But littie is known.
of hira, as his retired habits and situation
have involved him in obscurity. He is
however represented as a preacher of very
uncommon eloquence, of which a descrip
tion is given by Mr. Wirt in his British
spv in America.
WADSWORTH, Benjamin, presi
dent of Harvard college, the son of capt.
Sarauel W., was graduated in 1690, and

was ordained minister ofthe first church
in Boston, as colleague with Mr. Allen,
Sept. 8, 1690. Here he continued till his
election as the successor of president Lev
erett. Into this olUce he w.is inducted
July 7, 1725, Mr.Foxcroft, his colleague,
remaining in the church at Boston. He
died March 16, 1737, aged 67. His suc
cessor was president Holyoke. His
learning was, considerable, and he was
raost pious, humble, prudent, and a very
pathetic and excellent preacher. A tenth
part ofhis income he devoted to charita
ble uses. He published artillery election
serm. 1700; exhortations to early piety,
1702 ;3sermons,l706; on the day of judg
ment, 1709 ; on as.semblingat the house of
God, 1710 ; the well ordered faraily, 1712 ;
advice to the sick and well ; explanation
oi'asserably's catechism, 1714; invitation
to ihe gospel feast in 11 sermons, 12rao;
saint's prayer to escape temptation ; on
the death of I. Addington, 1715 ; elec
tion serin. 1716-; 12 sermons, 1717 ; zeal
against flagrant, wickedness ; essay for
spreading the gospel into ignorant places,
Svo. 1718 ; Christ's fan is in his hand ;
iraitationt of Christ a Christian duty,
1722 ; a dialogue on the Lord's supper,
1724; it is honorable not sharaefifl to
suffer, 1725 ; the benefits of a good and
raischiefs of an evfl conscience in 14 ser
mons ; none but the righteous saved.
WADSWORTH, Benjamin, d. d.,.
minister of Danvers, Mass., was bom in
Milton July 29, 1750; graduated at
Harvard college in 1769 ; was ordained
in 1773 ; and died in Jan. 1826, aged 75,
in the 54th year of his ministry. He was
eminently pioris, and a prudent, faithful
minister. He published a sermon at the
ordination of J. Badcock, 17SS; at
thanksgiving, 17-95 and 1796 ; at a dedi
cation, 1807 ; before a society for sup
pressing intemperance, 1815.
WA.DSWORTH, Peleg, major gener
al, a soldier of the revolution, was gradua
ted at Harvard college in 1769. In 1780 he
was sent frora Boston to comraand in ihe
district ofMaine. In Feb. 1781 a party
of the enemy captured hira in his own
house and conveyed hira to Bagaduce or

742

WALDRON.

WALKER.

Castine. From his prison in the fort be
and maj. Burton efl'ected their escape in
June by most extraordinary efforts, cros
sed the Penobscot in a canoe, and travel
led through the wflderness to St. George's.
Ofhis captivity and escape Dr. Dwight
gives a long account in ihe second vol.
ofhis travels. For many years he was a
meraber of congress from Cumberland
district. He died at Hiram, Maine, in
Nov. 1829, aged about 80. His son,
lieut. Henry W., was blown up in a fire
ship in the harbor of TripoU with capt.
Somers, midshipman Izard, and a few
raen in Sept. 1804.
WALDRON, Richard, major, presi
dentof I^^ew Hampshire, an early settler
of Dover, came frora England about
1635, and began a plantation at Cocheco,
or Dover, about 1640. From 1654 he
was a representative lo the general court
at Boston 22 years, and several years the
speaker of the house and president, after
Cult, in 1631. He was chief miUtary
officer. In the war of 1676 two compa
nies were sent to hira frora Massachusetts
-with ordejs to seize all Indians, concerned
in the war. Triere asserabled at his
house 400 Indians. The English cap
tains wished to attack them, but maj. "NV.
substituted a stratagem in the place of an
open attack. He proposed to the Indians
a sham fight, and after they had fired
the first volley he made them all prison
ers. Dismissing those, whom he deemed
friendly, he sent to Boston about 200,
sorae of whora were bung and the rest
sold as slaves in foreign parts. This oc
currence awakened in the savage breast
the desire of revenge, which after 13
years was gratified. The Indians adop
ted the following stratagein. To each
of the garrisoned houses in Dover they
sent two squaws to ask a lodging, for the
purpose of opening the doors in the night
to the assailants. June 29, 1689 the In
dians thus entered maj. Waldron's house,
and made prisoner of the brave old sol
dier, who fought thera with his sword in
hand. Sealing him in an elbow chair on
a long table in the hall, they asked him,
" wha shall judge Indians now.' " And

then horribly mangled and killed him at
the age of 80. His descendants have
been raen of distinction.
WALES, Samuel, d. d., professor of.
divinity in Yale college, the son of John
W., minister of Raynham, Mass, who
died Feb. 23, 1765, aged 65, was gradu
ated in 1767, and was the minister of
Milford from 1770 to 1782. He succee
ded professor Daggett June 12, 1782,
and died Feb. 18, 1794. His raind for
2 years was broken down by the epilepsy.
He brought to the theological chair great
abilities, a pure and energetic style, ex
emplary piety, anddignity and solemnity
of manner.
WALKER, Robert, judge of the su
preme court of Conn., a descendant of
Robert W., who lived in Boston in 1634
and of Zechariah, his son, the ministerof
Jamaica, L. I., and of Stratford and
Woodbury,Conn., was graduated at Yale
college in 1730 and died at Stratford in
1772. He was judge from 176010 1772,
and was succeeded by W. S. Johnson.
One of his daughters raarried Mr. Wet-
raore, minister of Stratford, and another
John M. Breed, mayor of Norwich. His
son, gen. Joseph Walker of Stratford,
died at Saratoga Aug. 11, 1810.
WALKER, Timothy, judge, a patriot
ofthe revolution, the son of T. W., the
minister of Concord, N. H., who died
Septl, 17S2, aged 77,was born June 26,
1737 ; graduated at Harvard college in
1756 ; and in 1776 was one of the com
mittee of safety. He comraanded a reg
iraent of minute raen, and served a cara
paign at Winter HiU under SuUivan.
For several years he was chief justice of
the court of coraraon pleas. He died
May 5, 1822, aged 85.
WALKER, William, judge, resided in
Berkshire county, Mass. In 1775 he was
an officer in the army at Carabridge. For
raany years he was the judge ofthe coun
ty courtand judge of probate. He died at
Lenox in Nov. 1831, aged 80. In his
politics he was a republican in the party
tiraes of 1801. Hewas tall with white
locks, of great personal dignity ; gov.
Lincoln reraarked, that he was the most

WALLEY.
venerable man he ever saw. He was in
deed veiieiated by those, who knew him,
not only for a long life of faitiiful public
service, but for his Social virtues, his
pure morals, his disinterested benevolence,
and ardent piety. Ofthe church at Lenox
he was an exempkry member ; of the
Berkshire Bible society president. In
one of the last years of his hfe he travel
led over the bleak hills of Berkshire with
the sole object of arousing his fellow citi
zens in different towns to a sense of
the value of some moral or charitable in
stitution, designed for their benefit.
WALLEY,Thoraas,minister of Barn
stable, Mass., was ejected from a parish
in London in 1662 and in 1663 sought a
refuge in America, and was settled at
Barnstable. His prudence was the
means of restoring the harmony of the
church, which had been interrupted. He
died March 24, 1679, aged 61. He was
an accomplished scholar and an erainent
christian, remarkable for humiUty. He
published balm in Gilead to heal Zion's
wounds, an election sermon in Plymouth,
June 1, 1669.
WALLEY, John, a judge of the su
perior court of Mass. and a raember of the
council, died at Boston Jan. 11,1712,
aged 68. In the year 1690 he accompa
nied sir W. Phipps in his unsuccessful
expedition against Canada, being intrus
ted with the coraraand ofthe land forces.
He was one of the principal founders of
the town and church of Bristol. The
high trusts,reposed in him by his country,
were discharged with ability and fidelity,
and he exhibited an uncomraon sweetness
and candor of spirit and the various vir
tues of the christian. His journal ofthe
expedition to Canada is preserved in
Hutchinson. WALN, Robert, jun., a poet, was
born in Philadelphia in 1794, and was
liberally educated, but did not pursue any
profession. On his return frora a voyage
to Canton as supercargo he published in
4to numbers a history of China. He died
July 4,1825, aged 81. — After the publica
tion of the 3d. vol. of the biog. ofthe
signers of thedeclarationof independence.

WALTER.

743

he edited that work. He published the
hermit in Philad.,aBatirical work, 1819; a
second series of do.; the American bards;
touches at the times, with other poems,
1820 ; Ufe of La Fayette, 1824.— Spec.
Am. poet. 111. 213.
WALTER,Nehemiab,ministerofRox-
bury, Mass., was born in Ireland in Dec.
1663. His father, who settled in Boston,
brought hira to this country as early as
1679 ; he was graduated at Harvard col
lege in 1684. He soon afterwards went
to Nova Scotia, and Uved in a French
family. Thus acquiring a correct know
ledge ofthe French language,he was ena
bled in the latter periods of his Ufe to
preach to a society of French protestants
iri Boston in the absence of their pastor.
After his return he pursued his studies for
.some time at Cambridge, where he was ap
pointed a fellow ofthe college. He was
ordained at Roxbury Oct. 17, 1688, as
colleague with the apostolic Eliot. After
a ministry of more than 68 years he died
in peace and hope Sept. 17, 1750, aged
86. His wife was Sarah, daughter of
Increase Mather. His ministry and that
of Mr. Eliot occupied a space of near 120
years. He preached a few years after liis
settlement without notes in the usual
manner of the day ; but, his memory
having been impaired by fit of sickness,
he frora that cause kept his notes before
him. He was eminent in the gift of
prayer. It was a maxira with him, that
those religious principles might well be
suspected, which could not be introdu
ced in an address to heaven ; and he
was pleased in observing that those,
who in their preaching opposed the
system of Calvin, were wont lo pray
in accordance with it. His whole life
was devoted to the great objects of,
the christian ministry. He presented a
bright example of personal holiness. Mr.
Whitefield, who saw him in 1740, calls
hira a good old puritan, and says " I had
but Uttle conversation with hira, ray stay
was so short ; but I reraeraber he told
me, he was glad to hear 1 said, that man
was halfa devil and halfa beast." In his
own preaching it was the care of Mr.

74 4

WALTER,

WARD.

Walter to humble man, and to exalt the
grace of God. He published the body of
death anatomized, an essay on indwelling
sin, 12mo, 1707; on vajn thoughts ; the'
great concern of man ; the wonderfulness
of Christ, 1713 ; a convention sermon,
1723; unfruitful- hearers detected and
warned, 1754 ; a posthumous vol. of
."lerm. on the 55lh chapter of Isaiah, Svo.
1755. WALTER, Thomas, rainister of Rox-
bury,Mass.,the son of ihe preceding, was
born Dec. 7, 1696, and was graduated at
Harvard college in 1713. He was or
dained colleague with his father Oct. 29,
1718, but died Jan. 10, 1725, aged 28.
He was one of the most distinguished
scholars andacutest disputants ofhis day.
He was a champion of the doctrines of'
grace . In his last illness he was for j
some time very anxious for the salvation
of his soul, as the follies of his youth were
fresh in his view ; but at length his ap
prehensions were reraoved. He said, " I
shall be a most glorious instance of sove
reign grace in afl heaven." He published
a sermon at the lecture for promoting
good singing, 1722 ; the scriptures the
only rule of faith and practice, 1723 ; and
two other serraons.
WALTER, Thomas, a botanist, was
a native of England. After his arrival in
this country he became a planter a few
miles from Charleston in South CaroUna,
and died towards the close ofthe last cen
tury. He published Flora Caroliniana,
1788. WALTER, William Backer, a poet,
was born in Boston ; graduated in Bow
doin college in 1818; and diedat Charles
ton, S. C, Aprfl 23, 1823, aged 27. He
published Sukey, a poem, 1821 ; a volurae
of poems, 1821. — Spec. A.poet. ii. 161.
WALTON, George, colonel, gover
nor of Georgia, a patriot of the revolu
tion, was born in Virginia in 1740, and
was early apprenticed to a carpenter,
whose econoray would not allow his
young apprentice a candle to read at
night. In his zeal for knowledge he found
a substitute in pine knots. In 1774 he
commenced the practice of the law in

Georgia. Being from Feb. 1776 till Oct
1781 a meraber of congress, he signed
the declaration of independence. With
a colonel's comraission in the mflitia he
assisted in the defence of Savannah in
Dec. 1778, and was wounded in the
thigh, and kept a prisoner till Sept 1779.
In ihe next month he was chosen gover
nor ; and again in 1789. He was also a
senator ofthe U. S., and for iSj'earsa
judge of the superior court. To such
eminence did this self-taught man rise by
the force ofhis talents, his industry, and
the favor of providence. In his last
years he suffered frora the gout. He died
Feb. 4, 1S04, aged 63.— Goodrich.
WARD, Nathaniel, first rainister of
Ipswich, Mass., was born in Haverhill,
England, in 1570, the son of John W.
a minister ofthe established church. He
was educated at the university of Cara
bridge. Being settled in the ministry at
Standon in Hertfordshire, he was ordered
before the bishop Dec. 12, 1631, to an
swer for his nonconformity ; and refu
sing to comply wilh Ihe requisitions of
the church, he was at length 'fbrbidden
lo continue in the exercise of his clerical
office. In April 1634 he left his native
country, and arrived in New England in
June. He was soon settled as pastor of
the church at Agawam or Ipswich. In
1635 he received Mr. Norton as his col
league ; but in the following year he was
by his own request released from his en-
gageraent as a minister, and Nathaniel
Rogers was settled in his place. In 1641
he was chosen by the freemen without
the consent of the magistrates to preach
the election sermon. In Dec. of the same
year the general court established 100
laws, called "the body of liberties," which
were drawn up by Mr. Ward in 1639,
and had been committed to the governor
aud others for consideration. In 1647 he
returned to England, and soon after his
arrival, published a work entitled, " the
simple cobbler of Aggawam in America,"
which was written during the civil wars
of Charles I, and designed to encourage
the opposers of the king, and the eneraies
of the estabUshed church. He resumed

WARD.

WARNER.

745

his profession, and in 1648 was settled at
Shenfield in Essex, where he reraained
tfll his death in 1653, aged about 83. He
was a raan of great humor. Besides
his simple cobbler at Aggawam, which
was printed at London in 4to. and at
Boston 1713, and which is a curious speci
men ofhis wit and the vigor ofhis mind,
he published several other humorous
works ; but they are now forgotten, ex
cepting a trifling satire upon the preach
ers in London, entitled, Mercurius Anti-
mecharius, or the simple cobbler's boy
with bis lap full of caveats, &c. 1647.
WARD, John, first minister of Haver
hill, Mass., the son ofthe preceding, was
bom in England Nov. 5, 1606. He
came to this country in 1639, preached
for sorae tirae at Agaraenticus, but in
1641 was settied at Haverhill. Here he
continued till his death Dec. 27, 1693,
aged 87. About a month before this
event he preached an excellent sermon.
His firm health in his advanced age was
owing to his teraperance in eating,
drinking, sleeping, and to his much exer
cise. He sometimes walked 30 miles
without any difficulty. He was very
modest and diffident , plain in his dress,
and prudent in his whole conduct.
He was a physician, as wefl as a minis
ter. WARD, Sarauel, governor of Rhode
Island, was elected to this office in 1762
and again in 1765 and in 1766. He was
also chiefjustice of the supreme court.
He was a raember of the first congress in
1774. While attending his duty as a
member ofthis body, he died at Philaijel-
phia ofthe small pox March 26, 1776.
His brother, Henry W., a patriot ofthe
revolution, died in Dec. 1797.— He was
not only a firm patriot, but a sincere
Christian, a devout attendant on the
Lord's supper, and a useful member of
- the church, with which he was connec
ted. WARD, Arteraas, the first major
general in the American army, was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1748, and
was afterwards a representative in the
legislature, a member of the council, and
94

a justice of the court of common pleas for
Worcester county. When the war
coraraenced with Great Britiiin, he was
appointed by congress first raajor general
June 17, 1775. After the arrival of
Washington in July, when a disposition
was made of the troops for the siege of
Boston, the command ofthe right wing
ofthe array at Roxbury was intrusted to
him. He resigned his commission in
April 1776, though he continued for
some time longer in command at the re
quest of Washington. He afterwards de
voted himself to the duties of civil Ufe,
He was a meraber of congress both be
fore and after the adoption of the present
constitution. After a long decUne, in
which he exhibited the most exemplary
patience, he died at Shrewsbury Oct. 28,
1800, aged 73. He was a man of incor
ruptible integrity. His life presented
the virtues ofthe Christian.
WARHAM, John, first minister of
Windsor, Conn., was an erainent minis
ter in Exeter, England, before he came
to this country. Having taken the
charge of a church, which was gathered
at Plymouth, consisting of persons about
to emigrate to Araerica, he accompanied
them as teacher and Mr. Maverick as pas
tor. They arrived al Nantasket May
SO, 1630, and in June began a settlement
atDorchester. In 1635 this church le-
moved and settied at Windsor. .Mr.
Maverick, while preparing to follow them,
died Feb. 3, 1636; but Mr. W. joined
them in Sept. Here he continued about
34 years tfll his death Aprfl 1, 1670.
Though he was distinguished fbr piety
and the strictest morals, yet he was some
times the prey of reUgious melancholy. He
was known to administer the Lord's sup
per to his brelhren,while hedid not partici
pate with thera through apprehension,that
thesealsof the new covenant did not belong
to him. It is supposed, that he was the
first rainister in N. E., who used notes
in preaching ; yet he was animated and
energetic in his manner. — Mather's mag
nalia, in. 121.
"WARNER, Seth, colonel, a soldier of
the revolution, was born in WoPdbury,

746

WARNER.

WARREN.

Conn., about 1744. In 1773 he removed
to Bennington, Vermont, where he be
carae an indefatigable hunter. In the
controversy with N. York he and Ethan
Allen were the leaders of the people.
N. York passed an act of outlawry against
him March 9, 1774. At the head of
troops, which he raised, he marched with
Allen to capture Ticonderoga in 1775.
Receiving a coraraission from congress
he also raised a regiment and joined
Montgomery in Canada ; but on the ap
proach of winter his men were dischar
ged. After the death of Montgomery
he raised another body of troops in 1776
and marched to Quebec. He covered
the retreat to Ticonderoga. Forced to
abandon that post July 6, 1777, the
eneray overtook hira at Hubbardton July
7th, and attacked the three regiments of
Hale, Francis, and Warner. Francis
feU ; Hale surrendered with his regiment;
but Warner made good his retreat to
Manchester. Called to the aid of Starks
Aug. 16, 1777, he arrived in season to
meet and defeat the re-enforcement of the
eneray and thus to participate in the re
nown of the Bennington victory. He
then joi-ied the array under Gates. In
vain did the New York convention
in 1777 solicit congress to revoke his
commission. Worn down by his toils,
he sunk under a coraplication of disor
ders, and died at Woodbury, Conn.,
whither he reraoved his faraily, in
1785,\aged 41. Vermont in gratitude
to this brave soldier granted a valuable
tract of land to his widow and children.
WARREN, Joseph, a major general
in the American array, the son ofa far
mer, descended from an ancestor, who
was an early settler of Boston. He was
born in Roxbury iu 1740, and was gradu
ated at Harvard eoliege in 1759. Having
studied under Dr. Lloyd, he- in a few
years became one of the most eminent
physicians in Boston. But he lived at a
period, when greater objects- claimed his
attention, than those, which related par
ticularly to his profession. He was a
bold politician. WhUe many were wa
vering with regard to the measures,

which should be adopted, he contended,
that every kind of taxation, whether ex
ternal or internal, was tyranny, and
ought immediately to be resisted ; and
he believed, that America was able to
withstand any force, that could be sent
against her. From the year 1768 he was
a principal niember ofa secret meeting or
caucus in Boston, which had great influ
ence on the concerns of the country. In
this assembly the plans of defence were
matured. After the destruction of the
tea, it was no longer kept secret. He
was twice chosen the public orator ofthe
town on the anniversary of the massacre,
and his orations breathe the energy of a
great and daring raind. It was he, who
on the evening before the battie of Lex
ington obtained inforraation of the inten
ded expedition against Concord, and at
ten o'clock at night despatched an express
to Hancock and Adaras,who were at Lex
ington to warn them of their danger. He
himself on the next day, the memorable
19th of April, was very active. After
the departure of Hancock to congress he
was chosen president of the provincial
congress in his place. Four days previ
ously to the battle of Bunker's or Breed's
hfll be received his commission of major
general. When the intrenchments were
made upon the fatal spot, to encourage
the men within the Unes, he went down
from Cambridge and joined them as a
volunteer on the eventful day of the bat
tle, June 17th. Just as the retreat com
raenced, a ball struck hira on the head,
and he died in the trenches, aged 35.
He was the first victira of rank, that fell
in the struggle with Great Britain. In
the spring of 1776 his bones were taken
up and entorabed in Boston. Congress
made provision for the education of his 4
children. Witb warm zeal he was yet
judicious in council, and candid and gen
erous towards those, who had different
sentiments respecting the controversy.
His mind was vigorous, his disposition
humane, and his raanners gffable and en
gaging. In his integrity and patriotism
entire confidence was placed. To the
most -undaunted bravery he added the

WARREN.

7-17

virtues of domestic life, the eloquence of
an accorapUshed orator, and the wisdom
of an able statesman. He , published an
oration in 1772 and another in 1775 cora
memorative ofthe 5th of March 1770.
WARREN, James, a patriot of the
revolution, was descended from Richard
W., one of the first settlers of Plyraouth
in 1620, and was born in the year 1726.
He was graduated at Harvard college in
1745. Directing his attention to cora
raercial affairs, he was for many years a
respectable raerchant. About the year
1757 his father died and left hira a hand
some patrimonial estate, which had de
scended frora Richard W. He was at
this time appointed high sheriff as suc
cessor of his father, and he retained this
office tifl the commencement of the war,
notwithstanding the active part, which
he took in opposing the measures of the
British ministry. In May 1766 he was
chosen a member of the general court
from Plymouth, and he uniformly sup
ported the rights of his country. The
government, who knew his abilities and
feared his opposition, tried the influence
of promises and of threats upon -him ;
but his integrity was not to be corrupted.
In 1773 his proposal for establishing com
mittees of correspondence was generally
adopted. He was for many years speak
er ofthe house of representatives. Pre
ferring an active station, in which he
could serve his country, he refused the
oSce of lieutenant governor, and that ^ol
judge of the supreme court, but accepted
a seat at the navy board, the duties of
which were very arduous. At the close
ofthe war he retired frora public eraploy-
ments to enjoy domestic ease and leisure.
He died at Plymouth Nov. 27, 1808,
aged 82. Araidst his public cares, which
deraanded his abilities, and much occupi
ed him, he never neglected the more
humble duties of domestic life, or the
more exalted claims of religion.
WARREN, Mercy, an historian, wife
oftrie preceding, the daughter of James
Otis of Barnstable, wasborn in 1727, and
diedat Plymouth in Oct. 1814, aged 87.
Before the revolution shewrote some po

litical pieces. She published poeras dra
matic and miscellaneous, 1790 ; a History
of the American revolution, 3 vols. Svo.
1805. WARREN, John, m. n., a physician,
brother of gen. Joseph W., was born in
Ro.Kbury July 27, 1753, and graduated at
Harvard college in 1771. Being settled
in the practice of physic at Salem, he
marched as surgeon to ihe scene of bat
tle at Lexington. He was soon appoin
ted hospital surgeon ; other Mass. sur
geons in the war were Foster, Eustis,
Adams, Townsend, Hart, Fiske, and
Bartlett. In 1772 he followed the army
to Long Island and N. Jersey. In 1777
he was intrusted with the mflitary hos
pitals of Boston, in which post he re
mained during the war. In 1780 he gave
a course of dissections ; and in 1783 he
was appointed professor of anatomy and
surgery in the medical school of Cara
bridge. In 1796 he endorsed the notes of
a medical friend, who had purchased
lands in Maine, and in consequence ofhis
failure was obliged to pay for and receive
the lands, which caused him imraense
vexation and great loss of property. For
years he was subject to an organic dis
ease ofthe heart ; but he died ofan in-
flararaation of the lungs Aprfl 4,- 1815,
aged 61. His wife was a daughter of
gov. CoUins ; his son, Dr. John CoUins
W., succeeded him as professor of anato
my and surgery. He was the most erai
nent surgeon in New England, unless
Dr. Nathan Srailh might be considered
as equafly skilful. As an eloquent anat
omical lecturer he was unequalled. For
industry and temperance he was remarka
ble. Firmly believing the Christian reli
gion, he was not regardless of its duties.
He attended on the sabbath public wor
ship, and was careful to instruct his fami
ly in religious doctrine. .He had hira
self been instructed by a pious mother
At times he was subject to great depres
sion of spirits, the consequence of affiic
tions ; so that he lost the wish to live to
old age. He was liberal, generous,
charitable in private life, and a disinteres
ted, enlightened friend of his coisjtry.

748

WARREN.

WASHINGTON.

He delivered various public orations and
addresses. — Thacher, ii. 254-271.
WARREN, Edward, a missionary to
Ceylon, was born in 1786 ; graduated at
Middlebury eoliege in 1808; and studied
theology at Andover. HesaUed for Cey
lon in Oct. 1812. After a residence of
sorae years, falUng into the consuraption,
he for his heaUh sailed wilh Mr. Richards
in April for Cape town, where he died
Aug. 11, 1818, aged 32. Arch deacon
Twistleton said of him and Mr. R., "men
of raore araiable raanners and purer lives I
never saw."
WASHBURN, Joseph, rainister of
Farmington, Conn., was graduated at
Yale college in 1793, and was ordained in
1795. His declining health induced him
in 1805 to seek a more southern climate.
While on his passage with his wife frora
Norfolk to Charleston, he died Dec. 25,
and his body was deposited in the ocean.
His successor was Noah Porter. He
was one ofthe editors of the Connecticut
evang. raagazine. A volurae of his ser
raons was published after his death in
1 2mo. WASHINGTON, George, comraan
der in chief of the Araeriean array during
the war with Great Britain, and first
president of the United Slates, was the
third son of Augustine Washington, and
was born at Bridges creek in the county
of Westraoreland, Virginia, Feb. 22,
1732. His great grandfather had erai
grated to that -place frora the north of
England about the year 1657. At the
age of ten years he lost his father, and
the patriraonial estate descended to his
elder brother, Lawrenee Washington,
who in the year 1740 had been engaged
in the expedition against Carthagena.
In honor of the British adrairal, who
-comraanded the fleet, employed in that
enterprise, the estate was called Mount
Vernon. At the age of 15, agreeably to
the wishes of his brother as well as
to his own urgent request to enter into
the British navy, the place of a midship
man in a vessel of war, then stationed on
the coast of Virginia, was obtained for
him.. Every thing was in readiness for

his departure, when the fears of a timid
! and affectionate mother prevailed upon
i him to abandon his proposed career on
'' the ocean, and were the means of retain
ing him upon the land to be the future
vindicator of his country's rights. All
the advantages of education, which he
enjoyed, were derived frora a private tu
tor, who instructed him in English litera
ture and the general principles of science,
as well as in morality and religion. After
his disappointment with regard to enter
ing the navy, he devoted much of his
time to the study of the matberaatics ;
and in the practice of his profession as a
surveyor he had an opportunity of acquir
ing that inforraation respecting the value
of vacant lands, which afterwards greatly
contributed to the increase of his private
fortune. At the age of 19, when the
militia of Virginia were to be trained for
actual service, he was appointed an ad
jutant general with the rank of major. It
was for a very short time, that he dis
charged the duties o/ this office. In the
year 1753 the plan, forraed by France for
connecting Canada with Louisiana by a
line of posts, and thus of enclosing the
British colonies and of estabUshing her
influence over the nuraerous tribes of In
dians on the frontiers, began to be devel
oped. In the prosecution of this design
possession had been taken of a tract of
land, then believed to be within the prov
ince of Virginia. Mr. Dinwiddle, the
lieutenant governor, being determined to
remonstrate against the supposed en
croachment, and violation of the treaties
between the two countries, despatched
major Washington through the wilder
ness to the Ohio to deUver a letter to the
comraanding officer of the French, and
also to explore the country. This trust
of danger and fatigue he executed wilh
great abiUty. He left WiUiamsburg Oct.
31, 1753, the very day, on which he re
ceived his commission, and at the frontier
settieraent of the EngUsh engaged guides
to conduct hira over the Alleghany
raountains. After passing thera he pur
sued his route to the Monongahela, ex
amining the country with a military eye.

WASHINGTON.

749

and taking the most judicious raeans for
securing the ftiendship of the Indians.
He selected the forks ofthe Monongahela
and Alleghany rivers as a position, which
ought to be immediately possessed and
fortified. At this place the French verv
soon erected fort du Quesne, which fell
into the handsof the English in 173S and
was called by them fort Pitt. Pursuing
his way up the Alleghany to French
creek, he found kt a fort upon this stream
the coramanding officer, to whom he de
livered the letter frora Mr. Dinwiddle. -
On his return he encountered great diffi
culties and dangers. As the snow was
deep and the horses weak frora fatigue,
he left his attendants at the raouth of
French creek, and set out on foot, with
his papers and provisions in his pack, ac
corapanied only by his pilot, Mr. Gist.
At a place upon the Alleghany, called
Murdering town, they fell in wilh a hos
tile Indian, who was one of a party then
lying in wait, and who fired upon them
not ten steps distant. They took him
into custody and kept hira until nine
o'clock, and then let hira go. To avoid
the pursuit, which they presuraed would
be coramenced in the morning, they
travelled all night. On reaching the
Monongahela, they had a hard day's
work to make a raft witb a hatchet. In
attempting to cross the river to reach a
trader's house, they were enclosed by
masses of ice. In order to stop the raft
major Washington put down his setting
pole ; but the ice came with such force
against it, as to jerk hira into the water.
He saved hiraself by seizing one of the
raft logs. 'vVith difficulty they landed on
an island, where they passed the night.
The cold was so severe, that the pilot's
hands and feet were frozen. The next
da,y they crossed the river upon the ice.
Washington arrived at Wifliamsburg
Jan. 16, 1754. His journal, which evin
ced the solidity of his judgment and his
fortitude, was published.
As the French seemed disposed to re
main upon the Ohio; it was determined
to raise a regiment of three hundred men
to maintain^the claims of the British

crown. The command was given to
Mr. Fry, and major Washington, who
was appointed lieutenant colonel, march
ed with two companies early in April
1754 in advance ofthe other troops. A
few miles west ofthe Great Meadows he
surprised a French encampment in a
dark, rainy night, and only one raan es
caped. Before the arrival of the two
remaining companies Mr. Fry died, and
the coramand devolved on colonel Wash
ington. Being joined by two other cora-
panies of regular troops frora South Car
olina and New York, after erecting a
sraall stockade at the Great Meadows, he
proceeded towards fort du Quesne, which
had been built but a short time, wilh the
intention of dislodging the French.' He
had marched only thirteen miles to the
westernmost foot of the Laurel hill,before
he received information of the approach
ofthe enemy with superior nurabefs, and
was induced to return to his stockade.
He began a dilch around it, and caUed it
fort Necessity ; but the next day, July
the third, he was attacked by 1500 men.
His own troops were about 400 in num
ber. The action coraraenced at ten in -
the raorning and lasted until dark. A
part of the Americans fought within the
fort, and a part in the ditch filled with
mud and water. Colonel Washington
was himself on the outside of the fort
during the whole day. The enemy
fought under cover of the trees and high
grass. In the course of the night arti
cles of capitulation were agreed upon.
The garrison were allowed to retain their
arms and baggage, and to march unmo
lested to the inhabited parts of Virginia.
The loss of the Americans in kflled and
wounded was supposed to be about 1 00, &
that of the enemy about 200. In- a few
months afterwards -orders were received
fbr settling the rank of the officers, and
those, who were coraraissioned by the
king, being directed to take rarik of the
provincial officers, colonel Washington
indignantly resigned his coraraission. He
now retired to Mount Vernon, that estate
by the death ofhis brother having devol
ved upon him. But in the spring of

750

WASHINGTON.

1755 he accepted an invitation frora gen
eral Braddock to enter his faraily as a
volunteer aid de camp in his expedition
to the Ohio. He proceeded with hira
to Wills' creek, afterwards called fort
Cumberland, in Aprfl. After the troops
had marched a few miles from this place,
he was seized with a raging fever ; but
refusing to remain behind he was convey
ed in a covered waggon. By his advice
twelve hundred raen were detached in
order by a rapid improvement to reach
fort du Quesne before an expected re-
enforcement should be received at that
place. These disencumbered troops
were coraraanded by Braddock hiraself,
and colonel Washington, though still
extreraely fll, insisted upon proceeding
with thera. After they arrived upon the
Monongahela he advised the general lo
eraploy the ranging companies of Virgin
ia to scour the woods and to prevent
ambuscades ; but his advice was not fol
lowed. July 9, when the army was
within seven miles of fort du Quesne, the
enemy commenced a sudden and furious
attack, being concealed by the wood and
high grass. In a short time colonel
Washington was the only aid, that was
unwounded, and on hira devolved the
whole duty of carrying the orders of the
commander in chief He was cool and
fearless. Though he had two horses kil
led under him, and four balls through his
coat, he escaped unhurt, while every
other officer on horseback was either killed
or wounded. Dr. Craik, the physician,
who attended him in his last sickness,
was present in this battle, and says,
"I expected every moraent to see hira
fall. — Nothing but the superintending
care of Providence could have saved hira
frora the fate of all around him." After
an action of three hours the troops gave
way in all directions, and col. Washing
ton and two others brought off Braddock,
who had been raortally wounded. He
attempted to rally the retreating troops ;
but, as he says hiraself, it was like endea
voring "to stop the wild bears ofthe
mountains." The conduct of the regu
lar troops was raost cowardly. The en

eray were few in number and had no ex
pectation of victory. In a sermon occa
sioned by this expedition Samuel Davies
of Hanover county thus prophetically ex
pressed himself; " as a remarkable in
stance of patriotisra I raay point out to the
public that heroic youth, col. Washing
ton, whora I cannot but hope Provi
dence has hitherto preserved in so signal
a raanner for some iraportant service to
his country." For this purpose he
was indeed preserved, and at the
end of twenty years he began to ren
der to his country raore important ser
vices, than the rainister of Jesus could
have anticipated. Frora 1755 to 1758
he comraanded a regiraent, which was
raised for the protection of the frontiers,
and during this period he was incessant
ly occupied in efforts to shield the ex
posed settleraents frora the incursions of
the savages. His exertions were in a
great degree ineffectual in consequence
ofthe errors & the pride of government,
and ofthe impossibiUty of guarding with
a few troops an extended territory from
an enemy, which was averse to open
warfare. He in the most earnest man
ner recomraended offensive measures as
the only method of giving complete pro
tection to the scattered settlements. In
the year 1758 to his great joy it was de
terrained to undertake another expedition
against fort du Quesne,and he engaged in
it with zeal. Early in July the troops
were asserabled at fort Cumberland ; and
here against all the remonstrances and
arguments of col. W""ashington general
Forbes resolved to open a new road to
the Ohio instead of taking the old route.
Such was the predicted delay, occasion
ed by this measure, that in Nov. it was
resolved not to proceed further duririg
that campaign. But intelligence of the
weakness- of the garrison induced an
alteration of the plan of passing the winter
in the wilderness. By slow marches the
array was enabled on the 25th. of Nov.
to reach fort du Quesne, of which
peaceable possession was taken, as the
enemy on the preceding night after set
ting it on fire had abandoned it, and pro-

WASHINGTON.

751

ceeded down the Ohio. The works in
this place were repaired, and its narae
was changed to that of fort Pitt. The
success of the expedition was to be at
tributed to the British fleet, which inter
cepted re-enforcements, destined for Can
ada, and to events in the northern colon
ies. The great object, which he had
been anxious to effect, being now accom-
' plished and his health being enfeebled,
col. Washington resigned his commis
sion as commander in chief of all the
troops raised in Virginia.
Soon after his resignation he was
married to Martha, the widow of Mr .
Custis, a young lady, to w-hom he had
been for some tirae strongly attached,
and who lo a large fortune and a fine
person added those amiable accomplish
ments, which fiU with silent felicity the
.scenes of domestic Ufe. His attention
for several years was principally directed
to the management of his estate, which
had now become considerable. He had
9,000 acres under his own raanageraent.
So great a part was cultivated, that in
one year he raised 7,000 bushels of
wheat, and 10,000 of Indian corn. His
slaves .and other persons, eraployed hy
hira, amounted to near a thousand ; and
the woollen and linen cloth necessary for
their use was chiefly manufactured on
the estate. He was at this period a raember
of the legislature of Virginia, in which
he took a decided part in opposition to
the principle of taxation, asserted by
the British parUament. He also acted as
ajudge of a county court. In 1774 he
was elected a member ofthe first congress,
and was placed on all those committees,
whose duty it was to make arrangements
fpr defence. In the following year after the
battle of Lexington, when it was deter
mined by congress to resort to arras, col .
Washington was unanimously elected
coraraander in chief of the array of the
united colonies. All were satisfied as to
his qualifications, and the delegates frora
New England were particularly pleased
with his election, as it would tend lo u-
nite the southern colonies cordially in the
war. He accepted the appointment with

diffidence, and expressed his intention of
receiving no compensation for his servi
ces, and only a mere discharge of his ex
penses. He immediately repaired to
Cambridge in the neighborhood of Bos
ton, where he arrived on the second of
July. He formed the array into three
divisions in order the raost effectually to
enclose the enemy, intrusting the di
vision at Roxbury to gen. Ward, the di
vision on Prospect and Winter hills to
gen.Lee, and coramanding himself the
centre at Carabridge. Here he had to
struggle with great difficulties, with the
want of ammunition, clothing, and mag
azines, defect of arras and discipUne, and
theevils of short enlistments ; butinstead
of yielding to despondence he bent the
whole force of his raind to overcome
thera. He soon made the alarming dis
covery, that there was only sufficient
powder on hand to furnish the army with
nine cartridges for each raan. With the
greatest caution to keep this fact a secret,
the utraost exertions were eraployed to
procure a supply. A vesssel, which was
despatched lo Africa, obtained in ex
change for N. England rura all the gun
powder in the British factories ; and in
the beginning of winter captain Manly
captured an ordnance brig, which furnish
ed the American army wilh the precise
articles, of which it was in the greatest
want. In Sept. general Washington des
patched Arnold on an expedition against
Quebec. In Feb. 1776 he proposed to a
council ofhis officers to cross the ice and
attack the enemy in Boston, but they
unanimously disapproved of the daring
raeasure. It was however soon resolved
to lake possession ofthe heights of Dor
chester. This was done without discov
ery on the night ofthe fourth of March,
and on the seventeenth the eneray found
it necessary to evacuate the town . The
recovery ofBoston induced congress to
pass a vote of thanks to general Wash
ington and his brave array.
In the belief, that the efforts of the
British would be directed towards the
Hudson, he hastened the army to New
York, where he hiinseff arrived April

752

WASHINGTON.

14th. He made every exertion to fortify
the city, and attention was paid to the
forts in the highlands. While he raet
the most embarrassing difficulties, a plan
was formed to assist the eneray in seizing
his person, and sorae of his own guards
engaged inthe conspiracy; but it was
discovered, and sorae who were con
cerned in it, were executed. In the be
ginning of July Howe landed his troops
at Staten Island. His brother, lord Howe,
who' comraanded the fleet, soon arrived ;
and as bpth were commissioners for re
storing peace to the colonies, the latter
addressed a letter upon the subject to
"George Washington, esquire ;" but the
general refused to receive it, as it did not
acknowledge the public character, with
which he was invested by congress, in
which character only he could have any
intercourse with his lordship. Another
letter was sent to " George Washington,
&c. &c. &c;" This for the same reason
was rejected. After the disastrous battle
of Brooklyn on the 27 th of Aug., in which
Stirling and SuUivan were taken prison-
ers,and of which he was only a spectator,
he withdrew the troops frora L. Island,
and in a few days he resolved to with
draw from N. York. At Kipp's bay,
about three miles from the city, some
works had been thrown up to oppose the
enemy ; but on their approach the Ameri
can troops fled with-precipitation. Wash
ington rode towards the Unes, and raade
every exertion to prevent the disgraceful
flight. He drew his sword, and ihreal-
ed to run the cowards through ; he cock
ed and snapped his pistols,but it was all in
vain. Such was thestate of his mind at
the moment, that he turned his horse
towards the advancing enemy apparently
with the intention of rushing upon death.
His aids now seized the bridle ofhis hbrse
and rescued hira from destruction. N.
York was on the same day, Sept. 15,
evacuated. In Oct. he retreated to the
Wfiite Plains, where Oct. 28, a considera
ble action took place, in which the Ameri
cans were overpowered. After the loss
of forts Washington and Lee he passed
into N. J. in Nov. and was pursued by a

triumphant & numerous enemy. His
army did not amount to 3,000, and it was
daily diminishing; his men, as, the winter
commenced, were barefooted and- almost
naked,destitute of tents & of utensils, with
which lo dress their scanty provisions ;
and every circumstance tended to fill the
raind with despondence. But general
Washington was undismayed and firra.
He showed himself to his enfee
bled array with a serene and unembar
rassed countenance, and they were in
spired with the resolution of their com
raander. Dec. 8, he was obliged to cross
the Delaware; but he had the precaution
to secure the boats for 70 miles upon the
river. While the British were waiting
for the ice to afford them a passage, as
his own array had been re-enforced by
several thousand raen, he forraed the res
olution of carrying the cantonments of
the enemy by surprise. On the night of
Dec. 25, he crossed the river nine railes
above Trenton, in a. storm of snow min
gled with hafl and rain, with about
2,400 raen. Two other detachraents
were unable to effect a passage. In the
morning precisely at eight o'clock he
surprised Trenton and look 1,000 Hes
sians prisoners, 1,000 stand of arms, and
six field pieces. Twenty of the eneray
were killed. Of the Americans two pri
vates were killed, and two frozen to
death ; and one officer and three or four
privates were wounded. On the same
day he recrossed the Delaware with the
fruits of his enterprise ; but in two or
three days passed again into N. Jersey,
and concentrated his forces, amounting
to 5,000 at Trenton. Onthe approach
ofa superior eneray under Cornwaflis Jan.
2, 1777, he drew up his men behind As-
sumpinck creek. He expected an attack
in the raorning, which would probably
result in a ruinous defeat. At this rao-
ment, when it was hazardous if not im
practicable to return into Pennsylvania,
he formed the resolution of getting into
the rear ofthe eneray and thus stop them
in their progress towards Philadelphia.
In the night he silently decamped, taking
a circuitous route through Aflen's town

WASHINGTON.

753

to Princeton. A sudden change of the
weather to severe cold rendered the
roads favorable for his march. About
sunrise his van met a British detachment
on its way to join Cornwallis, and was de
feated by it ; but as he came up he ex
posed himself to every danger and gained
a victory. With 300 prisoners he then
entered Princeton. During this march
many ofhis soldiers were without shoes,
and their feet left the marks of blood up
on the frozen ground. This hardship
and their want of repose induced hira to
lead his army to a place of security on the
road to Morristown. CornwalUs in the
morning broke up his camp and alarmed
for his stores in Brunswick urged the pur
suit. Thus the military genius of the
American commander, under the blessing
of divine Providence, rescued Philadel
phia from the threatened danger, obliged
the enemy, which had overspread New
Jersey, to return to the neighborhood of
New York, and revived the desponding
spirit of his country. Having accom
plished these objects, he retired to Mor
ristown, where he caused his whole army
to be inoculated with the smaU pox, and
thus was freed from the apprehension of
a calaraity, which might impede his ope
rations during the next campaign.
On the last of May he reraoved his ar
my to Middlebrook, about ten miles from
Brunswick, where he fortified himself
very strongly. An ineffectual attempt was
made by sir "Wm. Howe to draw him from
his position by marching towards Phfla
delphia ; but after Howe's return to New
York he moved towards the Hudson in
order lo defend the passes in the moun
tains in the expectation that a junction
with Burgoyne, who was then upon the
lakes, would be attempted. After the
British general sailed frora New York and
entered the Chesapeak in Aug., general
Washington marched immediately for the
defence of Philadelphia. Sept. 11, he
was defeated at Brandywine with the loss
of900 in killed and wounded. A few
days afterward, as he was pursued, he
turned upon the enemy, deterrained upon
another engagement ; but a heavy rain
95

so damaged the arms and ammunition,
that he was under the absolute necessity
of again retreating. Philadelphia was
entered by Cornwallis Sept. 26.— Oct. 4,
the American commander raade a well
planned attack upon the British carap at
Germantown ; but,in consequence ofthe
darkness of the raorning, and the impel'--
feet discipline of his troops, it terrainated
in the loss of 1200 raen in killed, wounded,.
and prisoners. In Dec. he went into
winter quarters at Valley Forge on the
west side of the SchuylkUl, between 20
and SO railes from Philadelphia. Here
his army was in the greatest distress for
the want of provisions, and he was redu
ced to the necessity of sending out parties
to seize what ihey could find. About the
sarae time a combination, in which some
merabers of congress were engaged, was
formed to remove the comraander in
chief and to appoint in his place Gates,
whose recent successes had given hira a
high reputation. But the narae of Wash
ington was too dear to the great body of
Araericans to adrait of such a change.
Notwithstanding the discordant raate-
rials, of which his array was coraposed,
there was something in his character,
which enabled hira to attach both his offi
cers and soldiers so strongly to him', that
no distress could weaken their affection,
or impair the veneration, in which he
was generally held. Without this at
tachraent to hira the array must have
been dissolved. General Conway, who
was concerned in this faction, being woun
ded in a duel with general Cadwallader,
and thinking his wound mortal, wrote to
gen. Washington, "you are in my eyes,
the great and good man." Feb. 1, 1773
there were about 4,000 men in camp un
fit for duty for the want of clothes. Of
these scarcely a man had a pair of shoes.
The hospitals were also filled with the
sick. At this tirae the eneray, if they had
marched out of winter quarters, would
easily have dispersed the American array.
The apprehension of the approach of a
French fleet inducing the British to con
centrate their forces, when they evacuated
Philadelphia June 17th, and marched

754

WASHINGTON.

towards New York, general Washington
followed thera. Contrary to the advice
of a council he engaged in the battle of
Monmouth June 28, the result of which
made an impression favorable to the
cause of America. He slept in his cloak
on the field of battle, intending to renew
the attack the next morning, but at mid
night the British marched off in such
silence, as not to be discovered. Their
loss in kflled was about 300, and that of
the Americans 69. As the campaign
now closed in the middle states,
the American army went into winter
quarters in the neighborhood of the high
lands upon the Hudson. Thus after the
vicissitudes of two years both armies
were brought back to the point, frora
which they set out. During the year
1779 general Washington reraained in the
neighborhood of New York. In Jan.
1780, in a winter meraorable for its sever
ity, his utmost exertions were necessary
to save the army frora dissolution. The
soldiers in general subraitted with heroic
patience to the want of provisions and
clothes. At one time they ate every kind
of horse food but hay. Their sufferings
at length were so great, that in March
two of the Connecticut regiments mutin
ied , but the mutiny was suppressed & the
ringleaders secured. In Sept. the treach
ery of Arnold was detected. In the win
ter of 1781 such were again the priva
tions ofthe array, that a part ofthe Penn
sylvania line revolted, and marched home.
Such however was still their patriotism,
that they deUvered up some British em
issaries to general Wayne, who hanged
thera as spies. Comraitting the defence
ofthe posts on the Hudson to general
Heath, general Washington in Aug.
marched with count Rocharabeau for the
Chesapeak to co-operate witii the French
fleet there. The siege of Yorktown
coramenced Sept. 28th, and Oct. 19th,
he reduced CornwalUs to the necessity of
surrendering with upwards of 7,000 men
to the combined armies of America and
France. The day after the capitulation
he ordered, that those, who were under
arrest, should be pardoned, and that di

vine service in acknowledgment of the
interposition of Providence should be
performed in all the brigades and divis
ions . This event filled America with joy
and was the means of terminating the
war. Pew events of importance occurred
in 1782. In March 1783 he exhibited
his characteristic firmness and decision
in opposing an attempt to produce a mu
tiny by anonymous letters. His address
to his officers on the occasion displays in
a remarkable degree his prudence and, the
correctness of his judgment. When he
began to read it he found hiraself in sorae
degree erabarrassed by the imperfection
of his sight. Taking out his spectacles
he said, " these eyes, my friends, have
grown dim, and these locks white in the
service of ray country ; yet I have never
doubted her justice. " He only could
have repressed the spirit, which was
breaking forth. April 19, a cessation of
hosiflities was proclaimed in the Ameri
can camp. In June he addressed a letter .
to the governors of the several states,
congratulating them on the result of the
contest in the establishment of indepen
dence, and recommending an indissoluble
union of the states under one federal
head, a. sacred regard to public justice,
the adoption of a proper peace establish
ment, aud the prevalence ofa friendly dis
position among the people of the several
states. It was with keen distress, as
weU as with pride and admiration, that
he saw his brave and veteran soldiers,
who had suffered so much, and who had
borne the heat and burden ofthe war, re
turning peaceably to their homes without
a settlement of their accounts, or a far
thing of money in their ppckets. Nov.
25th New York was evacuated, and he
entered it accorapanied by governor
Clinton and raany respectable citizens.
Dec. 4th he took his farewell ofhis brave
corarades in arms. At noon the princi
pal officers of the army assembled at
Frances' tavern, and their beloved com
mander soon entered the room. His emo
tions were too strong to be concealed.
FiUing a glass with wine, he turned to

WASHINGTON.

them and said, "with a heart full of love
and gratitude, I now take leave of you ;
I most devoutly wish, that your latter
days may be as prosperous and happy, as
your former ones have been glorious and
honorable. " Having drunk, he added,
"I cannot come to each of you to take
my leave, but shall be obliged to you, if
each of you will come and take rae by the
hand." General Knox, being nearest,
turned to hira. Incapabfe of utterance,
general Washington grasped his hand,
and embraced him. In the same affec
tionate manner he took leave of each
succeeding officer. In every eye was the
tear of dignified sensibiUty, and not a
word was articulated to interrupt the si
lence and the tenderness of the scene.
Ye men, who deUght in blood, slaves of
ambition ! When your work of carnage
was finished, could ye thus part with
your companions in crime.' Leaving the
room,general Washington passed through
the corps of Ught infantry, and walked
to White hall, where a barge waited to
carry him to Powles' hook. The whole
company followed in -mute procession
with dejected countenances. When he
entered the barge, he turned to thera,
and waving his hat bade thera a silent
adieu, receiving from them the same last,
affectionate compliment. On the twenty
third of December he resigned his com
mission to congress, then assembled at
AnnapoUs. He delivered a short address
on the occasion, in which he said, " I
considered it an indispensable duty to
close this last solemn act of ray official life
by commending the interests of our dear
est country to the protection of Almighty
,God, and those, who have the superin
tendence of thera, to his holy keeping. "
He then retired to Mount Vernon to en-
jo}!- again the pleasures of domestic life.
Here the expressions of the gratitude of
his countrymen in affectionate addresses
poured in upon hira, and he received
every testimony of respect and venera
tion. In his retirement however he could
not overlook the public interests. He
was desirous of opening by water carriage

755
a communication between the Atlantic
and the western portions of our country
in order to prevent the diversion of trade
down the Mississippi, and to Canada,
frora which he predicted consequences
injurious to the union. Through his
influence two companies were formed for
promoting inland navigation. The legis
lature of Virginia presented hira with 150
shares in thera, whibh he appropriated to
public uses. In the year 1786 he was con-
vinced,with other statesraen, of the neces
sity of substituting a raore vigorous gener
al govemraent in the place of the impotent
articles of confederation. StiU he was
aware ofthe danger of running from one
extreme to another. He exclaims in a
letter to Mr. Jay, "what astonishing
changes a few years are capable of pro
ducing ! I am told, that even respectable
characters speak ofa monarchical forra of
govemraent without horror. Frora
thinking proceeds speaking ; thence to
acting is , often but a single step. But
how irrevocable, and treraendous I What
a triumph for our enemies to verify their
predictions! What a triumph for the
advocates of despotisra to find, that we
are incapable of governing ourselves, and
that systemSjfounded on the basis of equal
Uberty, are merely ideal and fallacious !"
In the following year he was persuaded
to take a seat in the convention, which
forraed the present constitution ofthe U.
States, and he presided in that body. In
1789 he was unanimously elected the
first president of the U. States. It was
with great reluctance, that he accepted
this office. His feelings, as he said him
self, were like those of a culprit, going to
the place of execution. But the voice
of a whole continent, the pressing recom
mendation ofhis particular friends, & the
apprehension, that he should otherwise
be considered as unwilUng to hazard his
reputation in executing a system, which
he had assisted in forming, determined
him to accept the appointment. In April
he left Mount Vernon to proceed to N,
York, and to enter on the duties of his
high office. He every where received
testimonies of respect and Ibve. At

756

WASHINGTON.

Trenton the gentler sex rewarded him for
his successful enterprise and the protec
tion, which he afforded them, twelve years
before. On the bridge over the creek,
which passes through the town, was
erected a triumphal arch, ornamented
with lau,rels and flowers, and supported
by thirteen pillars, each encircled with
wreaths of evergreen. On the front of
the arch was inscribed in large, gilt let
ters —
THE DEFENDER OF THE MOTHERS
"WILL BE THE
PROTECTOR OF THE DAUGHTERS.
At this place he was met by a party of
matrons, leading their daughters, who
were dressed in white, and who with
baskets in their hands sung with exqui
site sweetness the following ode, written
for the occasion.
, "Welcome, mighty chief, once more
Welcome to this grateful shore,
Now no mercenary foe
Aims again the fatal blow.
Aims at THEE the fatal blow.
"Virgins fair and matrons grave.
Those, thy conquering arms did save,
Build for thee triumphal bowers;
Strew, ye fair , his way with flowers,
Strew your HERO's way with flowers.
At the last Une the flowers were
strewed before hira. After recei
ving such proofs of affectionate attach
ment he arrived at New York, and was
inaugurated first president of the United
States April SOth. In making the neces
sary arrangements of his household he
publicly announced, that neither visits of
business nor of ceremony would be ex
pected on Sunday, as he wished to re
serve that day sacredly to himself In
Oct and Nov. 1789 he visited N. Eng
land. At the close of his first term of
four years he prepared a ' valedictory ad
dress to the American people, anxioys to
return again to the scenes of domestic
life; but the earnest entreaties of his
friends and the peculiar situation of his
country induced him to be a candidate
for a second election. During his adr
ministration of eight years the labor of
establishing the different departments of

a new government was accomphshed ;
and he exhibited the greatest firmness,
wisdora, and independence. He was an
American, and he chose not to involve
his country in the contests of Europe.
He accordingly with the unaniraous
advice of his cabinet, Messrs. Jefferson,
Hamilton, Knox, and Randolph, issued a
proclamation of neutraUty April 22, 1793,
a few days after he heard of the com
mencement of the war between England
and France. This measure contributed
in a great degree to the prosperity of
Araerica. Its adoption was the more
honorable to the president, as the gener
al sympathy was in favor of the sister
republic, against whom it was said Great
Britain had commenced the war for the
sole purpose of imposing upon her a mo
narchical forra of govemraent He pre
ferred the peace and welfare of his coun
try to the breath of popular applause.
Another act, in which he proved hiraself
to be less regardful of the public partiali
ties and prejudices, than of what he con
ceived to be the public good, was the
ratification of the British treaty. The
English govemraent had neglected to
surrender the western posts, and by cora
raercial restrictions and in other ways
had evinced a hostile spirit towards this
country. To avert the calaraity of anoth
er war Mr. Jay was norainated as envoy
extraordinary in April 1794. In June
1795 the treaty, which Mr. Jay had
made, was subraitted to the senate, and
was ratified by that body on the condi
tion, that one article should be altered.
While the president was deliberating
upon it, an incorrect copy of the instru
raent was made public by a senator, and
the whole country was thrown into a
state of extreme irritation. At this pe
riod, he in Aug. conditionally ratified it,
and in Feb. 1796, when it was returned
from his Britannic majesty with the pro
posed alteration, he declared it to be the
law of the land. After this transaction
the house of representatives requested
him to lay before them the papers relat
ing to the treaty, but he with great inde
pendence refused to comply with their rcr

WASHINGTON.

757

quest, as they could have no claim to an
inspection of them except upon a vote
of impeachment, and as a compliance
would establish a dangerous precedent.
He had before this shown a disposition
to maintain the authority, vested in his
office, by decUning to affix his signature
to a bill, which had passed both houses.
As the period for a new election of a
president of the U. States approached,
and after plain indications that the public
voice would be in his favor, and when he
probably would be chosen for the third
time unanimously, he determined irrevo
cably to withdraw to the shades of pri
vate Ufe. He published in Sept. 1796 his
farewell address to the people of the Unit
ed States, which ought to be engraved
upon the hearts of his countrymen. In
the most earnest and affectionate manner
he called upon thera to cherish an iramove-
able attachment to the national union, to
watch for its preservation with jealous
anxiety, to discountenance even the sug
gestion, that it could in any event be
abandoned, and indignantly to frown up
on the first dawning of every attempt to
alienate any portion of our country frora
the rest. Overgrown 'military establish
ments he represented as particularly hos
tile to repubUcan liberty. While he re
commended the most implicit obedience
to the acts of the established government,
and reprobated all obstructions to the ex
ecution of the laws, all combinations and
associations, under whatever plausible
character, with the real design to direct,
control, counteract, or awe the regular
deliberation and action of the constituted
authorities; he' wished also to guard
against the spirit of innovation upon the
principles of the constitution. Aware
that the energy of the system might be
enfeebled by alterations, he thought, that
no change should be made without an ev
ident necessity, and that in so extensive a
country as much vigor, as is consistent
with liberty, is indispensable. On the oth-
I er hand he pointed out the danger of a
real despotism by breaking down the par
titions between the several departments
iof government, by destroying the recip

rocal checks, and consolidating the differ
ent powers. Against the spirit of party,
so peculiarly baneful in an elective gov
ernment, he uttered his raost solemn re
monstrances, as well as against inveterate
antipathies or passionate attachments in
respect to foreign nations. While he
thought,that the jealousy ofa free people
ought to be constantly and impartially
awake against the insidious wiles of for
eign influence, he wished that good fiiilh
and justice should be observed towards
all nations, and peace and harraony culti
vated. In his opinion, honesty no less
in public than in private affairs is always
the best poUcy. Providence, he believed,
had connected the perraanent felicity of
a nation with its virtue. Other subjects,
to which he alluded, were the importance
of credit, of econoray, of a reduction of
the public debt, and of literary institu
tions ; above all he recoramended religion
and morality as indispensably necessary
to political prosperity. "In vain," says
he, "would that raan claira the tribute of
patriotism, who should labor to subvert
these great pillars of human happiness,
these 'firmest props of the duties of men
and citizens." Bequeathing these coun
sels to his countrymen he continued in
office till the fourth of March 1797, when
he attended the inauguration of his suc
cessor, Mr. Adaras, and with coraplacen-
cy saw hira invested wilh powers, which
had for so long a time been exercised by
hiraself He then retired to MountVernon,
giving to the world an example, raost
humiliating to its emperors and kings ;
the example of a man, voluntarily disro
bing himself of the highest authority, and
reluming to private Ufe with a character
having upon it no stain of ambition, of
covetousness, of profusion, -of luxury, of
oppression, or of injustice.
It was now, that the soldier, the states
man, and the patriot hoped to repose
himself after the toils of so many years.
But he had not been long in retirement
before the outrages of republican France
induced our government to raise an ar
ray, of which in July 1798 he was ap
pointed commander in chief. Though he

758

WASHINGTON.

accepted the appointraent, his services
were not demanded, & he hiraself did not
believe, that an invasion would be made.
Pacific overtures were soon made by the
French directory, but he did not Uve to
see the restoration of peace. On Friday,
Dec. 13, 1799, while attending to some
improveraents upon his estate, he was
exposed to a light rain, which welted his
neck and hair. Unapprehensive of danger
he passed the afternoon in his usual
manner ; but at night he was seized with
an inflaramatory affection of the wind
pipe. The disease coraraenced with a
violent ague,accompanied with some pain
and a sense of stricture in the throat, a
cough and a difficult deglutition, which
were soon succeeded by fever and a quick
and laborious respiration. About 12 or 14
ounces of blood were taken from him. In
the morning his family physician, doctor
Craik, was sent for; but the utraost exer
tions of raedical skiU were applied in vain.
The appointed lime of his death was
near. Believing from the commence
ment of his complaint, that it would be
mortal, a few hours before his departure,
after repeated efforts to be understood,
he succeeded in expressing a desire, ihat
he might be permitted to die without
being disquieted by unavaiUng atterapts
to rescue him frora his fate. After it be
came impossible to get any thing down
his throat, he undressed hiraself and went
to bed, there to die. To his friend and
physician, who sal on his bed, and took
his head in his lap, he said with difficulty,
"doctor, I ara dying, and have been dying
for a longtime; but I am not afraid to die."
Respiration became raore arid more con
tracted tifl half past eleven on Saturday
night, when, retaining the fufl possession
of his intellect, he expired without a
struggle. Thus Dec. 14, 1799, in the
68th year of his age, died the father of
our country, " the man, first in war, first
in peace, and first in the hearts of his fel
low citizens." This event spread a gloom
over the country, and the tears of Araer
ica proclaimed the services and virtues of
the hero and sage, and exhibited a people
not inserisible to his worth. The senate

of the U. States in an address to the pre
sident on this melancholy occasion in
dulged their patriotic pride, while they
did not transgress the bounds of truth, in
speaking of their WASHINGTON.
"Ancient and modern naraes," said they,
" are diminished before him. Great
ness and guilt have too often been aflied;
but his fame is whiter than it isbrflliant.
The destroyers of nations stood abashed
at the majesty of his virtues. It repro
ved the intemperance of their ambition,
and darkened the splendor of victory.
Thescene is closed, and we are no longer
anxious lest misfortune should sully his
glory ; he has travelled on to the end of
his journey, and carried with him an in
creasing weight of honor ; he has deposi
ted it safely where misfortune cannot
tarnish it, where maUce cannot blast it."
— Mary, his mother, died at Fredericks
burg Aug. 25, 1789, aged 82. Martha,
his widow, died May 22, 1802; in her
sickness the Lord's supper was ad
ministered lo her.
General Washington was rather above
the common stature ; his frame was ro
bust, and his constitution vigorous. His
exterior created in the beholder the idea
of strength united with manly graceful
ness. His eyes were ofa gray color, and
his complexion Ught. His manners were
rather reserved than free. His person
and whole deportment exhibited an unaf
fected and indescribable dignity, unmin
gled with haughtiness, of which all who
approached hira, were sensible. The at
tachraent of those, who possessed his
friendship, was ardent but always res
pectful. His temper was huraane, be-
nevolent,and conciliatory ; but there was
a quickness in his sensibUity to any thing
offensive, which experience had taught
hira to watch and correct. He made no
pretensions to vivacity or wit. Judg
ment rather than genius constituted the
most prominent feature of his character.
As a miUtary man he was brave, enter
prising, and cautious. Al the head of a
multitude, whom it was sometimes im
possible to reduce to proper discipline be
fore the expiration of their time of ser-

WASHINGTON.

759

vice, and having to struggle alraost con
tinually with the want of suppUes, he yet
was able to contend with an adversary
superior in numbers, well disciplined, and
completely equipped, and was the means
of saving his country. The measure of
his caution has by some been represented
as too abundant ; but he sometimes
formed a plan, which his brave officers
thought was too adventurous, aud sorae
times contrary to their advice he engaged
in battle. If his name is not rendered il
lustrious by splendid achievements, it is
not to be attrihuied to the want of milita
ry enterprise. He conducted the war
with that consummate prudence and
wisdom, which the situation ofhis coun
try and the state of his array demanded.
He also possessed a firmness of resolution,
which neither dangers nor difficulties
could shake. In his civfl administration
he exhibited repeated proofs of that prac
tical good sense, of that sound judgment,
which is a raost valuable quaUty of the
human mind. More than once he put
his whole popularity to hazard in pursu
ing measures, which were dictated by a
sense Of duty, and which he thought
would promote the welfare ofhis country.
In speculation he was a real republican,
sincerely attached to the constitution of
theU. States, and to that systera of equal,
political rights, on which it is founded.
Real Uberty, he thought, was to be pre
served only by preserving the authority
-of the laws, and maintaining the energy
of government. Of incorruptible integ
rity, his ends were always upright, and
the means, which he eraployed, were al
ways pure. He wasa politician, to whora
wiles were absolutely unknown. When
any measure of importance was proposed,
he sought information and was ready to
hear without prejudice whatever could be
said in relation to the subject ; he sus
pended hisjudgment till it was necessary
to decide; but after his decision had
been thus deliberately made, it was sel
dom shaken, and be was as active and
persevering in executing, as he had been
cool in forming it. He possessed an in
nate and unassuming modesty, which ad

ulation would have offended, which the
plaudits of millions could not betray into
indiscretion, and which was blended with
a high sense of personal dignity,and a just
consciousness of the respect, which is
due to station.
With regard to the religious character
of general Washington there have been
different opinions. In the extracts from
some of his private letters, which have
been published by the historian ofhis Ufe,
the narae of the Supreme Being is once
or twice introduced in a raanner,which in
comraon conversation is deemed irrever
ent, ll is also understood, that in a few
instances during the war, particulariy
when he met gen. Lee retreating in the
battle of Monraouth, his language was
unguarded in this respect. It may not
be impossible, that a good man in a mo
ment of extreme irritation should utter a
profane expression ; but-perhaps it is less
possible, that such a man, when his pas
sion has passed away, and his sober recol
lections have relumed, should not repent
bitterly ofhis irreverence to the name of
God. On the other hand, general
Washington, when at the head ofthe ar
my, issued pubUc orders, cafling upon his
officers to discountenance the habit of
profanity ; he speaks in his writings of
" the pure and benign Ught of revelation,"
and ofthe necessity of imitating "the
charity, humility, and pacific temper of
mind, which were the, characteristics of
the Divine Author of our blessed reli
gion;" he gratefully acknowledged the in
terpositions of providence in favor ofthis
country ; his life was upright and virtu
ous ; he principally supported an episco
pal church in the neighborhood of Mount
Vernon, where he constantly attended
public worship ; during the war be not
unfrequently rod,e ten or twelve miles
from camp for the benefit of the institu
tions of reUgion ; and it is believed, that
he every day had his hour of retirement
from the world for the purpose of private
devotion. General Washington was blessed with
abundant wealth, and he was notignorant
of the pleasure of employing it for gener-

760

WASHINGTON.

ous purposes. His style of living was
dignified, though he raaintained the strict
est econoray. While he was in the army
he wrote to the superintendent of his es
tate in the following terms: "Let the
hospitality of the house be kept up wilh
regard to the poor. Let no one go hun
gry away. If any of this sort of people.
should be in want of corn, supply iheir
necessities,provided il does not encourage
them in idleness. I have no objection to
your giving my money in charity, when
you think it is well bestowed ; 1 mean,
that it is my desire, that it should be done.
You are to consider, that neither myself
nor my wife are in the way to do these
good offices." Thus was he beneficent,
while at the same time he required an ex
act compliance with engagements. A
pleasing proof of the generous spirit,
which governed hira, is exhibited in his
conduct towards the son of his friend,
the raarquis de La Fayette. The mar
quis, after fighting in this country for
American liberty, had returned lo France;
but in the convulsions of the French
revolution he was exiled and imprisoned
in Germany. General Washington gave
evidence of sincere attachraent to the un
happy nobleraan not only by exerting all
his influence to procure his release from
-confinement, but by extending his patron
age to his son, who made his escape from
France, and arrived with his tutor at
Boston in 1795. As soon as he was in
formed of his arrival, he wrote to a friend,
requesting him to visit the young gentle
man and make him acquainted with the
relations between this country and
France, which would prevent the presi
dent of the U. States from publicly es
pousing his interest, but to assure him of
his protection and support. He also di
rected this friend to dfaw upon him for
monies to defray all the expenses, which
young La Fayette might incur. Towards
his slaves general Washington manifes
ted the greatest care and kindness. Their
servitude lay with weight upon his mind,
and he directed in his wiU, that they
should be emancipated on the decease of
his wife. There were insuperable diffi

culties in the way of their receiving free
dom previously to this event. On the
death of Mrs. Washington in 1802, his
estate, as he had no children, was divided
according to his will among his and her
relations. It amounted by his own esti
mate to more than 500,000 dollars.
The public addresses and other produc
tions of general Washington's pen are
written in a style of dignified simplicity.
Sorae have seen so much excellence in
his writings, that they have been ready
to transfer the honor to his secretaries ;
but nothing has appeared under his narae,
to which his own powers were inadequate.
A volurae of epistles, confidential and do
mestic, attributed to hira, was published
in 1777, and republished about the year
1796. Of these general Washington, in
a letter to the secretary of state in 1797,
declared the foUowing to be forgeries ; a
letter to Lund Washington, dated June
12, 1776 ; a letter to John Parke Custis,
dated June 18, 1776; letters to Lund
Washington, dated July 8, July 16, July
15, and July 22, 1776; and a letter lo
Mrs. Washington, dated June 24, 1776.
His official letters to the Araeriean con
gress, written during the war, were pub
lished in two voluraes Svo. 1795. Since
his death his letters to Arthur Young
and sir John Sinclair on agriculture and
the rural econoray of the U . States have
been published.  Marshall's life of
Washington ; His life by Ramsay, and
Bancroft .
WASHINGTON, William, colonel,
a soldier of the revolution, a relative of
George Washington, was born in Staf
ford county, Va. He served as a capt.
under Mercer ; he fought at the battle
on Long Island, and distinguished himself
in that of Trenton, in which he was
wounded. He was afterwards major and
lieutenant colonel. At the battle of the
Cowpens he comraanded the cavalry, and
contributed much to the victory; For
his good conduct he received a sword
from congress. In the battle of Eutaw
springs he was wounded and taken pris
oner. After the war he resided at Sandy
hUl, S. C. In 1798 George Washington

WASHINGTON.
selected him as one of his staff with the
rank of brigadier general. He died March
6, 1810. His son, William, died at
Charleston in March ISSO, aged 45.
WASHINGTON, Bushrod, judge,
first president of the American coloniza
tion society, the nephew of George
Washington and heir of his books and
papers, was born in 1759 and studied law-
with James Wilson. At the siege of
York he was a private soldier under Mer
cer. In 1797 he was appointed by Mr.
Adams a judge of the supreme court of
the U. S., an office, which he retained
till his death. At the first annual meet
ing of the colonization society he deUver
ed an address, which expresses his devout
confidence in the blessing of God upon
the institution. He died at Philadelphia
Nov. 26, 1829, aged 70. His widow, the
daughter of Mr. Blackburne, died in a
few days afterwards. His nephew, John
Augustine W., (the son of Corbin W.),
to whdm he bequeathed the mansion at
MountVernon,diedJunel4,18S2,aged43.He was a man of integrity and simplici
ty of manners, devoted to the perfor
mance of his duties, a patriot, and a
Christian. He published Reports in the
court of appeals of Virginia, 2 vols. 1798
-9. WATERMAN, Elijah, minister of
Bridgeport, Conn., was graduated at
Yale college in 1791 ; ordained at Wind
ham in 1794 ; installed at Bridgeport in
1806 ; and died Oct' 11, 1825, aged 56.
He pubUshed the noble convert, a sermon
at the request of Pierpont Edwards ; Ufe
of Calvin, 1809; catechism of Geneva.
WAYNE, Anthony, major general,
wasborn in Chester county, Penns., in
1745. In 1773 he was appointed a repre
sentative to the general assembly, where
in conjunction with Dickinson, Mifflin,
Thomson, and other gentlemen he took
an active part in opposition to the claims
of Great Britain. In 1775 he quitted the
councils of his country for the field. He
entered the army as a colonel, and at the
close of the year accompanied gen. Thom
son to Canada. When this officer was
defeated in his enterprise against the
96

WAYNE.

761

Three Rivers in June 1776, and taken
prisoner, he himself received a flesh
wound in the leg. His exertions were
useful in the retreat. At the close ofthe
carapaign he was made a brigadier gener
al. In the campaign of 1777 in the mid
dle states he took a very active part. In
the battle of Brandywine he distinguished
himself, though he was in a few days af
terward surprised and defeated by maj.
gen. Grey. He fought also in the battle
of Germantown, as well as in the battle
of Monmouth in June 1778. In his
most daring and successful assault upon
Stony Point in July 1779, while he was
rushing forward with his men under a
tremendous fire of musketry and grape
shot, determined to carry the works at
the point of the bayonet, hewas struck
by a musket ball upon his head. He was
for a moment stunned ; but, &s soon as
he was able to rise so as to rest on one
knee, believing that his wound was mor
tal, he cried to one of his aids, " carry
me forward and let me die in the fort."
When he entered it, he gave orders to
stop the effusion of blood. In 1781 he
wis ordered to march with the Pennsyl
vania line from the northward, and form
a junction with La Fayette in Virginia.
Julj^ 6tb, after receiving information,
that the main body of the enemy under
CornwalUs had crossed James' river, he
pressed forward at the head of 800 men
to attack the rear guard. But to his ut
ter astonishraent, when he reached the
place, he found the whole British army,
consisting of 4,006 men, drawn up ready
10 receive him. At this moment he con
ceived of but one way to escape. He
rushed upon the eneray, and coraraenced
a gallant attack, which he supported for a
few minutes, and then retreated with the
utmost expedition. The British general
was confounded by this movement, and,
apprehensive of an ambuscade frora La
Fayette, would not allow of a pursuit.
After the capture of Cornwallis, he was
sent to conduct the war in Georgia,
where with equal success he contended
with British soldiers, Indian savages, and
American traitors. As a reward for his

762

WEARE.

WEBSTER.

services the legislature of Georgia presen
ted to hira a valuable farm. At the
conclusion of the war he retired to pri
vate Ufe. In 1787 he was a member of
the Pennsylvania convention, which rati
fied the constitution of the U. S. In
1792 he succeeded St. Clair in the com
mand ofthe army to be eraployed against
the Indians. In the battle of the Miamis
Aug. 20, 1794 he gained over them a
coraplete victory and afterwards desolated
their country. On the third of Aug.
1795 he concluded a treaty with the hos
tile Indians northwest of the Ohio.
While in the service of his country he
died Deo. 1796, in a hut at Presque Isle,
aged about 51 years; and was buried on
the shore of lake Erie.
WEARE, Meshech, president of the
state of N. Harapshire, the son of Na
thaniel W. of Hampton, was graduated
at Harvard college in 17S5. In 1754 he
was appointed a comraissioner to the
congress at Albany, afterwards one of the
justices ofthe superior court, and in 1777
chiefjustice. Chosen president of N. H.
in 1776, he was invested at the same
tirae with the highest offices, legislative,
judicial, and executive, in which he was
continued by annual elections during the
whole war. When a new constitution
was adopted, he was again in 1784 elected
president ; but he resigned before the
closeof the year. He died at Hampton
Falls, worn out with public services, Jan.
15, 1786, aged 72. He " dared to love
his country and be^ooj-."
WEBB, John, minister in Boston,
was graduated at Harvard college in
1708. He was ordained the first minister
ofthe new north church in Boston Oct.
20, 1714. Aftersurviving one colleague,
Mr. Thacher, and enjoying the assistance
of another. Dr. Eliot, for 8 years, he
died in peace and joy April 16, 1750,
aged 62. His colleague pronounced hira
" one of the best of Christians and one
ofthe best of ministers." Hepublished
the foUowirig sermons ; to a society of
young m.en, 1718; on the advantages of
eariy piety, 1721 , before the general as
sembly, 1722 ; warning against bad com

pany keeping, 1726 ; on the death of W.
Waldron, 1727 ; the believer's redemption
by the blood of Christ ; on the payment
of vows, 1728 ; directions to obtain sal
vation in 7 sermons, 1729; the great
concern, of N. England ; at the ordina
tion ofa deacon, 1731 ; the duty of a de
generate people to pray for the reviving
of God's work ; a sermon to two male
factors, 1734; the government of Christ,
an election sermon, 1738 ; on the death
of P. Thacher, 1739 ; Christ's suit to
the sinner while he stands and knocks at
the door.
WEBBER, Samuel, n. d., president
of Harvard college, was born in Byfield
in 1759 ; was graduated in 1784 ; and in
1789 succeeded Dr. WilUams as professor
of mathematics. In 1796 he examined
the boundary between the U. S. and
New Brunswick. After the death of
Dr. Willard he was elected president,and
inducted into hisoffice May 6, 1806. He
died ofthe apoplexy July 17, 1810, aged
51. His daughter married professor
Dana. — He published a system of mathe
matics, 2 vols. Svo. 1801 ; an eulogy on
president Willard, 1804.
WEBSTER, Samuel, d. d., rainister
of Salisbury Mass., wasborn in Bradford,
in 1 7 1 8 ; was graduated at Harvard 'college
in 1737 ; and was ordained Aug. 12,
1741. After a ministry of near fifty five
years, he died July 18, 1796 aged 77.
At the time, when he entered the sacred
office, his mind was so oppressed by the
importance of the work, in which he
was about to engage, that he was ready
to abandon aU thoughts of the calUng.
In his preaching he was remarkably clear
and plain. There was an earnestness in
his manner, which convinced his hearers,
that he himself felt what he deUvered.
He did not preach the things, which he
considered as of doubtful disputation.
He possessed a happy talent in visiting
his people, and could adapt himself to
their circumstances, and in a pleasing
manner give them instruction. The
beauties of Christian virtue were exhibi
ted in his whole fife. He published
a fast sermon, 1774 ; to two compariies

WELCH.

WENTWORTH.

763

ofrainute men, 1775; election serraon,
1777 ; two discourses on infant baptisra,
third ed. 1780.
WELCH, Sarauel, the oldest native of
N. Hampshire, was born at Kingston,
Sept. 1, 1710 and died at Bow April 5,
1823, aged 112. He was always a man
of teraperance. At the age of 1 12 he re
tained his faculties, and conversed on the
events of past days. When asked, if it
seeraed to hira, that he had lived so long,
he replied — " Oh no — but a little while."
Weary of the burthen oflife, he expressed
a willingness to die.
WELDE, Thomas, first minister of
Roxbury, Mass., a native of England,
was a minister in Essex before he came
to this country. Refusing to comply
with the impositions of the established
church, he determined to seek the quiet
enjoyment of the rights of conscience in
America. He arrived at Boston June 5,
1632, and in July was invested with the
pastoral care of the -church in Roxbury.
In Nov. following he received J. Eliot as
his colleague. In 1639 he assisted Mr.
Mather and Mr. Eliot in raaking the
tuneful N. England version ofthe Psalras.
In 1641 he was sent with Hugh Peters
to England as an agent for the province,
and he never returned. He was settied
at Gateshead, but was ejected in 1660 and
died in the same year. He pubUshed a
short story ofthe rise, reign, and ruin of
the antinomians, familists, and libertines,
that infected the churches ofN. England,
4to. 1644 ; 2d. ed. 1692 ; an answer to
W. R.'s narration of the opinions and
practices of the N.E. churches, vindica
ting those godly and orthodoxal churches
from more than 100 imputations, &c.
1644. With others hewrote the perfect
Pharisee under monkish holiness,
against the quakers, 1654.
WELLES, Noah, d. d., rainister of
Stamford, Conn., was graduated at Yafe
college in 1741, and was ordained Dec.
31, 1746. He died about 1776. He
was a theologian of great distinction, and
he took ari active part in the controversy
respecting an American episcopate. He
published a discourse in favor ofthe pres

byterian ordination ; a vindication of the
validity and divine right of presbyterian
ordination, as set forth in Mr. Chauncy's
Dudleian lecture and Mr. Welles' dis
course, in answer to the exceptions of
J, Leaming, 1767 ; a funeral serraon on
Mr. Hobart, 1773.
WELLS, John Doane, m. d., profes
sor of anatorayand surgery in the raedi
cal school of Maine, was born in Bostpn
March 6, 1799 ; graduated at Harvard
college in 1817 ; and, having finished his
medical education in Europe, succeeded
Dr. Smith, and delivered his first course
of lectures in the spring of 1823. In
Sept. 1826 he was chosen professor in the
medical school at Pittsfield, and lectured
there four years. At the close of 1829
he repaired to Baltimore lo deUver a
course of lectures ; and thence in March
1830 to his post at Brunswick, Maine.
But, exhausted by his labors, he was able
to lecture only one week. He died at
Boston July 25, I83O, aged 31. As a
lecturer on anatomy it has been thought,
that no one in this country was superior
to him. He was a meraber of the church
in Boston.of which Dr. LoweUis pastor.
"WENTWORTH, Benning, govern
or of N. Harapshire, the son of lieuten
ant governor "Wentworth, was graduated
at Harvard college in 1715. After hav
ing been a member of theassembly and
of the councU, his mercantile business
cafled him to London, where he solicited
and obtained the comraission of governor.
He began his administration in 1741
and continued in this office near 20 years.
He was superseded in 1767 by his neph
ew, John Wentworth, and died Oc
tober 14, 1770 aged 74. He possessed
strong passions and his resentments were
lasting. Closely attached to the interest
of the church of England, in his grants
of lands, by which he enriched himself,
he reservetl a right in every township for
the society for propagating the gospel, of
which he was a member, Bennington in
Vermont has its name from him, and he
granted many other towns in that state.
Though during his administration he de
clined giving a charter for a college in

764

WENTWORTH.

WEST.

N. Hampshire, unless it was put under
the direction of the Bishop of London ;
yet he afterwards gave a lot of 500 acres
of land to Dartraouth coUege, and on this
land the college edifice was erected. He
co-operated with the assembly in giving
to Harvard college SOOZ. towards repair
ing the library, which had been destroy
ed by fire. In his appointment of civil
and military officers he was frequently
governed by motives of favor ; ' but his
administration in other respects was ben
eficial. He was frequently visited by the
gout, and from these visits he did not ac
quire much patience.
WENTWORTH, John, ll. d.,
governor of New Harapshire a descen
dant of W. Wentworth of Dover, and
the son of Mark Hunting W., was the
nephew of the preceding and born in
1736. He graduated at Harvard college
in 1755. At the age of 81 he was ap
pointed governor in 1767 as successor of
B. Wentworth, and reraained in office
till the revolution in 1775. He gave the
charter of Dartraouth college. He was a
very acceptable and popular governor.
In 1792 hewas appointed lieut. gover
nor of Nova Scotia, but was succeeded by
Prevost in 1808. He resided at Halifax,
where he died April 8, 1820, aged 83.
His wife, whom he married in 1760, was
Miss Hilton. He was a man of large
and liberal views, of sound judgment, and
cultivated taste. Hedid much to encour
age agriculture, cultivating a farm and
buikling an elegant house at Wolfsbor-
ough, on the border of lake Winipiseogee.
WEST, Sarauel, d. d., minister of
New Bedford, Mass., was born in Yar
mouth March 4, 1730, and was early oc
cupied in the labors of husbandry. Dis
covering traits of genius, a few intelli
gent and good men resolved to give him
a liberal education. He was graduated
at Harvard college in 1754, having gained
a rank among the raost distinguished of
his class. About the year 1 764 he was or
dained at N. Bedford. The year 1765
awakened his attention to politics, and he
becarae a whig partizan. He wrote ma
ny forcible pieces in the newspapers.

He decyphered the letter of Dr. Church.
He was a raeraber of the convention for
forraing the constitution of Massachusetts
and of the U. S. ; and was chosen hono
rary meraber ofthe academy of sciences at
Philadelphia, and a meraber of the acade
my at Boston. In the latter part of his
life his meraory aliriost entirely failed him.
He died at Tiverton, Sept 24, 1807,
aged 77 years, and was buried at New
Bedford. He possessed an original mind
of vigorous powers. During the last 30
years of his life he used no notes in
preaching. It was his practice, when he
was not in his own pulpit, to discourse
upon any text, which was pointed out to
him ; and soraetiraes the most difficult
passages would be given him for the pur
pose of trying his strength . He was not
however a very popular preacher. There
were defects in the tone and inflexion of
his voice, and there was a singularity and
uncouthness in his manner, for which the
ingenuity and strength of his arguments
could not compensate. His manners were
unpolished ; his figure & deportment were
not very attracting ; nor was his teraper
very raild and amiable. Notwithstand
ing his singularities no man could accuse
him of the wilful violation of any prin
ciple of moral rectitude. He pub
Ushed a sermon at the ordination of
S. West, 1764; election sermon. 1776 ;
at the anniversary of the landing of the
forefathers, 1777 ; at the ordination of J,
Allyn, 1788 ; on infant baptism ; essays
on liberty and necessity, in which the ar
guments of president Edwards and others
for necessity are considered, the first part
in 1793, the second in 1795. To these
essays Dr. Edwards, the son of the pres
ident, wrote an answer, and Dr. West
left behind hira a reply almost corapleted.
He maintains,that volition is not an efiect,
for which a cause is to be sought in na
ture, or out of raan, but, being the mind
wiUing, is itself an efficient cause; that
huraan voUtions are not effects, unless
divine volitions are eft'ects ; that divine
prescience and a permissive decree do not
imply the necessity of events ; and that
raan has a self-determining power, or that

WEST.

WETMORE.

765

he himself determines, though acting
with motives.
WEST, Samuel, d. d., minister in
Boston, was born at Martha's Vineyard
Nov. 19, 1738. His father, Thomas' W.
was the colleague ofE. Mayhew, but af
terwards removed to Rochester. He was
graduated at Harvard college in 1771, and
soon afterwards was appointed chaplain
at fort Pownall in Penobscot, where
he had a good opportunity for pur
suing his theological studies. He was
ordained minister of Needhara April 25,
1764, and was installed pastor of the
church in Hollis street, as successor of
Mr. Wight, March 12, 1789. After a
lingering illness of several years, he died
April 10, 1808, aged 69. He was suc
ceeded by Mr. Holley. Being of a mild
disposition he was never disposed to intol-
ance, polemical discussion, or acrimonious
censure of others. He could Uve in hab
its of friendship with men, whose opin
ions were opposite to his own. His sen
timents in the latter periods of his life, it
is represented, suffered considerable
change. Having an excellent meraory,
he was in the practice of preaching with
out the use of notes, though his serraons
were always the fruit of deep study and
reflection. He published a serraon at
the ordination of Jonathan Newefl, 1774;
at a funeral ; two fast sermons, 1785 ;
election sermon, 1786 ; at his own instal
ment, 1789 ; at the artillery election,
1794 ; at a thanksgiving, 1795 ; on the
death of George VVashington, 1800 ;
essays in the Columbian centinel of" An
Old Man, " from Nov. 29, 1806 to Aug.
22, 1807.
WEST, Stephen, d.d., minister of
Stockbridge, Mass., wasborn in Tolland,
Conn., in 1736 ; was graduated at Yale
college in 1755; and ordained June IS,
1759. He died May IS, 1819, aged 83.
Ephr. G. Swift was his colleague for a
few years. During his miriistry of neariy
60 years 504 persons were admitted to
the church, of whom 22 were Indians.
His predecessor was Mr. Edwards. He
is principally known for his Essay on
moral agency, published in 1772, in which

his metaphysical doctrine is the ifntipode
of that of Dr. Sarauel West He jnain-
tains, that volition in every case ia an
effect, the production of God's iraraediate
agency ; so that he represents man to
be a passive instrument, a mere maehine.
Yet he speaks of moral agency and human
liberty, and these as consisting in " vol
untary exertion, " not in the power of
choice, but in actual willing ; — not reflec
ting, than brutes have voluntary exer
tion as well as man. This doctrine,
though be was himself eminently pious,
is well calculated to destroy the sense of
accountableness and to prorriote the opin
ions of the universalists. He published
also a treatise on the atoneraent, 1785 ;
life of Dr. Hopkins, 1805 ; and about 20
occasional sermons and tracts.
WESTERLO, Eliardus, d. d., min
ister in Albany, was a native of HoUand.
He had just finished his studies in the
university of Groningen, when he was
invited to the Dutch church in Albany. He
came to America in 1760. In 177 Ihe readi
ly imparted his aid in conjunction with Dr.
Livingston & others towards effecting a
union of the Dutch churches, then divi
ded into parties, and he had the happiness
of seeing this object corapleted in the fol
lowing year. He was highly popular and
useful as preacher, and died Dec. 6,1790.
He was a raan of a strong mind, of Emi
nent piety, and of great erudition in the
ology, and in oriental literature.
WETMORE, Jaraes. an episcopalian
raissionary, was graduated at the college
in Saybrook, in 1714, ordained the first
minister of North Haven in Nov. 1718 ;
but in Sept. 1722 he announced bis con
version to the episcopal persuasion. This
was the time, at which Dr. Cutler chan
ged his sentiments. After going to Eng
land for orders in 1723, Mr. W. was on
his return established rector ofthe church
at Rye in the province of N. York under
the patronage ofthe society for propaga
ting the gospel. In this place he contin
ued till his death, May 14, 1760. His
successor at North Haven, Isaac Stiles,
died on the sarae day. Such was his zeal
for episcopacy, that he once declared he

766

WHEATLEY.

WHEELOCK.

would rather join in worship with a Jew
ish synagogue, than with a presbyterian
church. He pubUshed a letter against
Dickinson in defence of Waterland's dis
course on regeneration, about the year
1744 ; a vindication of the professors of
the church of England inanswer to Ho
bart's sermon in favor of presbyterian or
dination, 1747 ; a rejoinder to Hobart's
serious address ; an appendix to Beach's
vindication .
WHEATLEY, PhUlis, a poet, wasa
native of Africa, and was brought to A-
merica in 1761, when she was between 7
and 8 years old. She soon acquired a
knowledge of the English language, and
made sorae progress in Latin. While
she was a slave in the faraily of John
Wheatley in Boston, she wrote a volurae
-of poems. Africa raay well boast; that
one of her daughters, not 20 years of
age, should produce the following
lines. They are extracted from the
poem on iraagination .
'* Though winter frowns, to fancy's raptured eyes
The fields may flourish, and gay scenes arise;
The frozen deeps may break their iron bands.
And bid their waters murmur o'er the saiids ;
Fair Flora may resume her fragrant reign.
And wilh her flowery riches deck the plain ;
Sylvanus may diffuse his honors round
And all the forest may with leaves be crown 'd;
Showers may descend, and dews their gems dis
close,
And nectar sparkle on the blooming rose."
She afterwards was raarried to Mr.
Peters, and died at Boston Dec. 5, 1794,
aged 31. She published, besides other
separate pieces, poeras on various sub
jects, religious and raoral, Svo. London,
1773. WHEELOCK, Eleazar, n. d., first
president and founder of Dartmouth col
lege, was a descendant of Ralph W., a
native of Shropshire, educated at Clare
Hall, Cambridge, and an eminent preach
er, who carae to this country in 1637,
and settled first at Dedhara, and thence
reraoved to Medfield, where he died in
1683, aged 83, leaving nuraerous descen
dants in various.towns. His grandfather,
Eleazar W. ol^ Medfield, afterwards of

Mendon, distinguished not only as a
christian, but also as a soldier in the
Indian wars, died in 1731. His father,
Ralph W., a deacon of the church, died
atVVindham, Conn., in 1748, aged 66:
his mother was Ruth Huntington, the
daughter of Christopher H. of Norwich.
He was an only son and was born in
Windham in April 1711 ; was graduated
at Yale coflege in 1733 ; and was ordained
in 1735 the minister ofthe second socie
ty in Lebanon, where his labors were at
tended with a remarkable blessing.
During the revival about 1740 he preach
ed with great zeal and effect in many
towns of N. E. Yet he successfully
withstood the enthusiasm of the separa
tists. While he had under his care a
few English youth, Samson Occom, a
Mohegan Indian, soUcited admission into
his school in Dec. 1743, and was recei
ved and remained in his faraily 5 years.
In consequence ofthe education of Occom
Dr. Wheelock was induced to forra the
plan of an Indian missionary school.
He conceived, that educated Indians
would be more successful than whites as
missionaries araong the red men. The
project was new, for the labors of Ser
geant and the Brainerds, as well as those
of EUot and the Mayhews, were the la
bors of missionaries araong the Indians,
and not labors designed to form a band of
Indian missionaries. Two Indian boys of
the Delaware tribe entered the school in
Dec. 1754, and others soon joined them.
In 1762 Dr, W. had raore than 20 youth
under his care. For the raaint^nance of
these Indians funds were obtained by sub
scription of benevolent individuals, from
the legislatures of Connecticut and
Mass., and from the coraraissioners in
Boston of the Scotch society for propa
gating Christian knowledge. Jo.shua
Moor, a farmer at Mansfield, having
made a donation of a house and two
acres of land in Lebanon, contiguous to
Dr. Wheelock's house, the institution
received the name of Moor's Indian
Charity School. Of this school several
gentlemen were associated with Dr. W.
as trustees ; but in 1764 the Scotch so-

WHEELOCK.

767

oiety appointed a board of correspondents
in Connecticut, who in 1705 sent out
white missionaries and Indian school
masters to the Indians in New York.
For the enlargement of this school Mr.
Whitaker, minister of .Norwich, and
Samson Occom were sent to Great Brit
ain in 1766. The money, which they
collected for Moor's school, was put into
the hands ofa board of trustees in Eng
land, of which the earl of Dartmouth
was the head, and into the hands of the
Scotch society. As the school increased
Dr. W. deterrained to remove it to a
more favorable location, nearer to the
Indians, and to establish in connexion
with it a college for instruction in all the
branches of science. Efforts were made
to induce Dr. W. to estabUsh the col
lege at Pittsfield, Stockbridge, and Alba
ny ; but larger tracts of land being offer
ed in New Hampshire he concluded to
to transplant his school to Hanover, and
there lo found the college, of which a
charter was giyen by gov. Wentworth
in 1769. It was an error not to have
located the college al Pittsfield or Albany,
which had offered a subscription of about
10,000 doUars. In 1770 he procured a
dismission from his people, of whom he
had been the faithful minister about 35
years, and removed his school to the wil
derness on the western border of New
Hampshire, and there also laid the foun
dations of the college. The schoolwas
not merged in the college, as has been
supposed, but it ever has been and is still
distinct, with a separate incorporation,
obtained at a sub,sequent period from
New Hampshire. Of Moor's school the
earl of Dartmouth was a benefactor, but
not of Dartmouth college, to the estab
lishment of which he and the other
Trustees of the fund were opposed, as
being a departure Jrom the original de
sign. It would be but an act of justice,
were this college cafled Wheelock col
lege, or even Wentworth college, or
' PhilUps' college, rather than Dartmouth.
The patriarch, and his family, pupfls, and
dependants, consisting of about 70 souls,
resided at first in log houses ; but the

frame of a small two story cbllege was
soon set up. The first commencement
in thecollege washeld in 1771, when four
students graduated, one of whom still
lives. At this period the number of his
scholars, destined for missionaries, was
24, of whom 18 were whites and only
6 Indians. This alteration of his' plan
was the result of experience. He had
found, that of 40 Indian youth, who had
been under his care, 20 had returned to
the vices of savage Ufe. The celebrated
Brant was one of his pupils. Among the
missionaries, whora he eraplovOiJ, were
Occora, C. J. Sraith, T. Smith, T.
Chamberlain, S. Kirkland, L. Frisbie,
and D. Mc Clure. The revolutionary--
war obstructed in a great degree the
benevolent project, which had been com
menced . After being at the head of the
college about 9 years he died in Chris
tian peace Aprfl 24, 1779, aged 68, and
was succeeded in his office by his son,
John Wheelock. Two of his daughters
married professors Woodward and Rip
ley. His daughter, Ruth Patten, died at
Hartford, Conn., Dec. 5, 1831, aged 91 .
His only surviving son is James Whee
lock of Burlington, Vermont.
Dr. Wheelock was one ofthe most in
teresting, eloquent, and successful rainis
ters in N. England. Dr. Trumbull
describes him as " ofa comely figure, of
a mild and winning aspect ; his voice
smooth and harmonious, the best, by far,
that I ever heard. He had the entire
command of it. His gesture was natural
but not redundant. His preaching and
addresses were close and pungent, yet
winning, beyond all comparison, so that
his audience would be melted even into
tears, before they were aware of it." Be
sides his constant labors in the ministry
for about 45 years, he conducted his
school in Lebanon about 80 years, and
then at Hanover had the double care of
the school and college for 9 years. Fo
rest lands were to be cleared and cultiva
ted, various buildings erected, distant
missions established and directed, funds
in the difficult period of the war were to
be procured, and a multitude of EngUsh

768

WHEELOCK.

and Indian youth were to be governed
and taught. For enlarged views, and
indomitable energy, and persevering and
most arduous toils, and for the great re
sults of his labors in the cause of religion
and learning perhaps no man in America
is more worthy of being held in honor,
than Eleazar Wheelock. It was a noble
Christian spirit, and not a selfish zeal,
which governed hira. ' Although some
lands were at first given him, yet for his
cares and labors at Hanover he received
merely the means of subsistence for his
family. His whole Ufe was devoted to
the good of mankind. He published a
narrative of the Indian charity school at
Lebanon, 1762 ; sermon at the ordination
of Cha. J. Sraith in 1763 ; narratives in
several numbers frora 1763 to 1771 ; con
tinuation of the narrative, 1773, to
wftich is added an abstract of a raission
to the Delaware Indians west of the Ohio
by McClure and Frisbie ; a serraon on
liberty of conscience, or no king but
Christ in the church, 1775. His Me
moirs by Drs. McClure and Parish were
pubUshed, Svo., 1811, with extracts from
his correspondence.
WHEELOCK, John, ll. d., second
-ptesident of Dartmouth coUege, the son
of the preceding, was born at Lebanon,
Conn., Jan. 23, 1754. After being a
member of Yale college he removed with
his father to Hanover, and graduated in
the first class of four persons at Dart
mouth in 1771. Two ofthe others were
Frisbie and Ripley. In 1772 he was ap
pointed a tutor, and was devoted to the
business of instruction until the begin
ning of the revolution. In 1775 he was
a member of the assembly ; in the spring
of 1777 ho was appointed a major in the
service of New York, and in Nov. a lieut.
colonel in the continental array, under
col. Bedel. In 1778 he raarched a de-
tachraent from Coos to Albany. iBy di
rection of Stark he conducted an expedi
tion intothe Indian country. At the re
quest of gen. Gates he entered his family
apd continued with hira, until he was re
called to Hanover in 1779 by the death
ofhis father, whom h'e succeeded in the

office of president at the age of 25. His
associates in the care ofthe college were
professors Woodward,Ripley, and Smith.
The trustees in 1782 resolved to send him
to Europe in order to promote the inter
ests of the college. 'With letters from-
gen. Washington, governors Trumbull
and Livingston, and others he sailed from
Boston Jan. 3, 1783, and visited France,
Holland, and England, procuring consid
erable donations for the college in money,
books, &c. On his return in the brigan-
tine. Peace and Plenty, he left Halifax
Dec. 29th, and in the morning of Jan.
2, 1784 was shipwrecked on the bar off
the point of cape Cod, losing his strong
box, containing his money and papers.
Yet his voyage was in various respects
advantageous to the college. His labo
rious duties were now resumed and con
tinued for more than 30 years. Besides
attending the daily recitations ofthe sen
ior class, he for many years delivered two
public lectures a week on theology, and
history, evincing "the extent of his leam
ing, the diversified powers of bis intel
lect, and the irresistible force and pathos
ofhis eloquence." His favorite subjects
of investigation were intellectual philoso
phy, ethics, politics, and history. After
faithfully serving the college 36 years
he was reraoved from office by the Trus
tees in 1815. Thecause of this event
might be found,among other circumstan
ces, in a local ecclesiastical controversy
of long continuance. This event
aroused a strong feeUng of indignation,
which induced the legislature to pass an
act enlarging the board of Trustees and
changing the title of the college ; but
the act was ultimately declared unconsti
tutional. By the new trustees he was re
stored to office in Feb. 1817. But his
health was by this time effectually un
dermined, and he died April 4, 1817, aged
63. His wife, Maria, the daughter of
gov, Suhra of St. Thomas, died Feb.
16,1824, aged 56. His only child, Maria
Malleville, wife of William Allen, died
at Brunswick, Maine, June 3, 1828, aged
40. He bequeathed about half his estate,
consisting of several houses, some

WHEELWRIGHT.
wild lands, & some hundred acres of leas
ed lands in Hanover and Lebanon, lo the
Theological Seminary at Princeton. To
his faraily he said,that "he had nothing of
his own ; all was the gift of God ; and to
Him he would devote it. Trust in Him
and serve Him, and He will bless you."
He died in perfect composure and peace,
relying for salvation on the atoning blood
of Jesus Christ. He prepared for the
press a large historical work, proposals
for the pubUcation of which were once is
sued by a Boston bookseller ; but the
work is yet in manuscript. He published
an eulogy on Dr. Sraith, in 1809 ;
Sketches of the history of Dartraouth
college, 1816.
WHEELWRIGHT, John, the foun
der of Exeter, N. Hampshire, after being
a minister in England, was induced in
consequence ofthe impositions of the es
tablished church to come to Massachusetts
soon after its first settlement. He was a
brother in law to the famous Mrs.
Hutchinson, and partook of her antinorai
an zeal. He preached in Boston on a
fast day in 1 636, and his serraon was fil
led with invectives against the raagis-
trates and rainisters. The -court of mag
istrates in return adjudged him guilty of
sedition. As all endeavors to convince
him of his error were in vain, sen
tence of banishment was passed upon
him in Nov. 1637. In the year 1638,
accompanied by several persons from
Braintree, where he had been a preacher,
and which was a part of Boston, he went
to N. Hampshire, and laid the founda
tion of the church and town of Exeter.
The next year, thinking theraselves out
ofthe jurisdiction of Massachusetts, they
combined into a separate body politic ;
but in 1642, when Exeter was annexed
to Essex county, Mr. Wheelwright,
being still under the sentence of banish
ment, removed with a part ofhis church
to Wells in the district of Maine. In
1644 he was restored to the freedom of
the colony upon his making an acknowl
edgment. In 1 647 he removed to Harap-
ton, where he was rainister for several
years. In 1658 he was in England and
97

WHITEFIELD.

769

in favor with Cromwelb After the res
toration he returned to America, and set
tled as successor of William Worces
ter at Salisbury, N. H , where he died
Nov. 15, 1679, probably between 80 and
90 years of age. He was the oldest min
ister in the colony, and was a man of
learning, piety, and zeal. An Indian
deed, alleged lo have been given to him
in 1629, and which had a bearing on the
claims of Mason anjl Allen, Mr. Sav
age in his edition of Winthrop has shown
to be a forgery,
WHELPLEY, Samuel, a mimster,
was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in
1766. For many years he resided at
Morristown, N. J,, where he had the
charge of an academy. About 1312 he
removed to the city of New York, where
he died July 15, 1817. He had acute
ness and originality as a writer. He
published the Triangle, in defence of the
N. England doctrines, or against three
points of old Calvinism, 2d ed. 1831 ;
Letters on capital punishment and war ;
compend of history ; lectures on ancient
history. WHIPPLE, Williara, general, a pa
triot of the revolution, was born at Kit
tery, Maine, in 1730; his mother was
the daughter of Robert Cutt8,a ship buil
der. By several voyages to the West
Indies he acquired a considerable fortune.
From 1759 he was concerned in trade at
Portsmouth. Being a meraber of con
gress in 1776,he signed the declaration of
independence. In 1777 he was appointed
with Stark a brigadier general. He
fought at Saratoga ; and was one of the
officers, who conducted the prisoners to
Cambridge. At the time ofhis death be
was a judge of the superior court. He
died Nov. 28, 1785, aged 54.
WHITE, Peregrine, the first English
man, born in N. England,Vas born at
Plymouth in Nov. 1620, ahd died at
Marshfield July 22, 1704, aged S3.
WHITEFIELD,George, an eloquent
itinerant preacher, was bom in Glouces
ter, England, Dec. 16, 1714. After hav
ing made some progress in classical learn
ing, he was obliged to assist his mother.

770

WHITEFIELD.

who kept an inn, in her business; but at
the age of IS he entered one of the col
leges at Oxford. Here he became ao-
qKflinted with John and Charles Wesley,
whose piety was ardent and singular like
his own. From the strict rules and me
thods oflife, which these young men fol
lowed, they were called methodists, and
they were the founders of the sect, thus
denominated. His benevolent zeal led
him to visit the poor and even to search
out the miserable objects in the gaols, not
only to diminish their wants, but that he
might impart to them the consolations
and hopes of the gospel. He took orders,
being ordained by the bishop June 20,
1736, and preached his first serraon inthe
church at Gloucester. When a com
plaint was afterwards entered with the
bishop, that by his sermon he drove 15
persons mad, the worthy prelate only
expressed a wish, that the madness might
not be forgotten before the next Sunday.
After preaching at various places he was
induced by a letter from Mr. Wes
ley, who was in Georgia, to erabark for
Araerica. He arrived at Savannah May
7, 1738. After laboring in this place
with unwearied fideUty for several months
to proraote the interests of reUgion, he
erabarked for England Sept. 6th. He
was ordained priest at Oxford by bishop
Benson Jan. 14, 1739. In Nov. he again
arrived in America, and he travelled
through the middle and southern colonies,
dispensing the gospel to immense multi
tudes. In Sept. 1740 he arrived at R.
Island frora Savannah, having been invi
ted by the ministers of Boston,' and he
preached in different parts ofN. England.
At the end of Oct. he went to N. York,
and he soon rettirned tb Georgia. He
was much occupied in the establishraent
of an orphan house near Savannah. In
Jan. 1741 he sailed for England. He ar
rived again in Araerica in Oct. 1744, and
he now spent between three and four
years in this country. In March 1748
he went to the Bermudas, and in July he
reached London. Having crossed the
Atlantic for the fourth time, he arrived
al Savannah Oct. 27, 1751, and returned

to his native country in Aprfl 1752. In
his fifth visit to the new world he remain
ed here frora May 1754 to March 1755.
His sixth voyage brought hira to Virgin
ia in Aug. 1763, and he did not set sail
again for G. Britain till Jilne 1765. For
the seventh and last time his zeal to do
good induced him to brave the dangers
of the ocean, and he landed upon the
American shore Nov. SO, 1769, never
again to leave it. After preaching in dif
ferent parts of the country, he died sud
denly at Newburyport, Mass., Sept. SO,
1770, aged 55. Few men since the days
ofthe aposties havp^bored with such in
defatigable zeal in -preaching the gospel
of salvation, as Mr. W. He was the
means of iraparting the pure principles
and the elevated hopes of religion to
thousands both in Great Britain and A-
raerica. No preacher ever had such aston
ishing power over the passions ofhis au
ditory, or was attended by such multi
tudes, as , he soraetiraes addressed in the
fields. In the early periods of his life he
was guilty in some instances of unchari
tableness and indiscretion ; but he after
wards had the raagnanimity to confess his
fault. He was in reality a man of a- very
liberal and catholic spirit, for he had lit
tle attachment to forms, and embraced all,
who loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity.
His life was spent in most disinterested
and benevolent exertion. The foUowing
Unes will show the opinion, which was
formed of his character by the evangeli
cal poet, Cowper.
" He lov'd the world, that hated him ; the tear.
That dropp'd upon his bible, was sincere;
AssaiI'd by scandal and the tongue of strife.
His only answer was a blameless life.
And he, that foi-g'd, and he, that threw the
dart.
Had each a brother's interest in his heart.
Paul's love of Christ and steadiness unbrib'd'
"Were copied close in him,andweli transcrib'd ;
He I'oIIow'd Paul; his zeal a kindred flame,
His apostolic charity the same,
Like him cross'd cheerfully tempestuous se-is.
Forsaking country, kindred, friends, and ease;
Like him he labor'd, and like him, content
To bear it, suff'er'd shame where'er he went.
Blush, calumny! and write upon his tomb.
If honest eulogy can spare thea room,

WHITFIELD.
Thy deep repentance of thy thousand lies,
¦Which, aim'd ut him, have pierc'd th' ofl'en-
dod skies,
.\nd say, blot out my sin, confess'd, dcploi-'d,
Against thine image iu lliy saint, O Lord 1 "
His letters, serraons, and controversial
and other tracts with an account of his
Ufe, were published in seven voluraes,
Svo. 1771.
WHITFIELD,Henry,first minister of
Guilford, Conn., was born in England
in 1597, and was settled in Surry before
he carae to this country in 1639. He
continued at Guilford until 1650, when
he returned to his native country, and fin
ished his life in the rainistry at Winches
ter. He was a good scholar, a distin
guished divine, and an exceUent preaclier.
He published the light appearing raore &
more &c., giving an account of the pro
gress of the gospel araong the Indians,
165\.—Magnalia, in, 217, 218.
¦ WHITING, Sarauel, first minister of
Lynn, Mass., the son of John W., may
or ofBoston, England, was born in 1597,
and was educated at Cambridge. He ar
rived at Boston May 26, 1636. In about
a month he went to Lynn, where a church
was gathered Nov. 8th. Mr. Gobbet
was his colleague for several years,
and after his removal one ofhis own sons
was his assistant. Hedied Dec. 11, 1679,
aged 82. His son, Samuel, first minister
of Billerica, died in 1713; Joseph,minister
of Lynn and Southampton, died in 1723,
aged 81 ; his daughter married Jer. Ho
bart. He possessed an accurate know
ledge of Hebrew and wrote Latin with
elegance. His disposition was peculiarly
amiable, and the sanctity of his life im
pressed all men with respect for hira.
From his writings Norton's Ufe of Cot
ton was partly coraposed. He published
a treatise upon the last judgraent, 1664;
Abrahara interceding for Sodora, a vol
urae of sermons, 1666. — Magnalia, in.
156-161. WHITTELSEY, Sarauel, minister of
Wallingford, Conn., was graduated 'at
Yale college in 1705, and was ordained as
the colleague of Mr. Street in May 1710.
He died April 15, 1752, aged 66. He

WHITNEY.

771

was one ofthe most distinguished preach
ers and faithful ministers of the colony,
in which he lived. Such was the vigor
and penetration ofhis mind, that he easily
comprehended subjects, which presented
great difficulties to others. His son,
Chauncy W., an eminent scholar, was
rainister of N. Haven from 1758 till his
death in 1787.— He pubUshed a serraon
upon the death of John Hall, 1730 ; at
the election; on the awful condition of
impenitent souls in their separate state,
1731 ; at the ordination of his son. Sam
el W., at Mflford, 1737.
WHITNEY, Eli, inventor ofthe cot
ton gin, was born at Westborough,
Mass., Dec. 8, 1765. His mechanical
genius was early manifested. He gradu
ated at "Vale college in 1792. Proceed
ing to Georgia, and becoming acquainted
with the -ividow of gen. Greene, she in
vited hira to make her house his horae,
while he studied law. Whfle at her
house he invented the cotton gin, a ma
chine for separating the seed from- the
cotton ; an invention of vast importance
to the States, which cultivate cotton.
It has been worth to them 100 millions of
dollars. His disappointments, difficulties,
and toils in the vindication ofhis rights
are described in a memoir of his life in
Silliman's journal for Jan. 1832, which
contains also a beautiful portrait. In
1798 he coraraenced the raanufacture of
fire arms for the U. S. His first contract
amounted to 134,000 dollars for 10,000
staridof arms, which he raade in 10 years.
His next contract was for 15,000 stand of
arras. After almost unequalled suffer
ings from his disease, he died Jan. S,
1825, aged 59. His wife, whora he
raarried in 1817, was Henrietta, daughter
of Pierpont Edwards. Two daughters
and a son survived him. He was highly
beloved and respected in domestic life.
For rpventive power and a persevering
spirit,which never reUnquished an under
taking until it was accomplished, he had
scarcely a paraflel. His narae will be
ranked with the naraes of Fultoui Ark-
wright, and Watt. Of his monument,
after the model of that of Scipio at Rome,

772

WHITTEMORE.

WILKINSON.

a print is in SiUiraan's journal. Similar
monuments at N. Haven have been pla
ced over the remains of Dr. N. Smith
and Mr. Ashmun.
WHITTEMORE, Amos, inventor
ofthe card machine, died at West Cara
bridge, Mass., in April 1828, aged 69.
He was the inventor of the raachine for
sticking cards, which indicated a powerful
mechanical genius and which was a most
useful invention. Each machine in his
manufactory occupied no more space,
than a small table ; the wire was reeled
off, cut off the right length for teeth, bent,
holes were pricked in the leather, the
teeth were inserted, and this was contin
ued till the card was completed,and all by
the unassisted machine.
WIGGLESWORTH, Michael, a
poet, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1651, and was afterwards ordained
ministerof Maiden; where he continued
till his death, June 10, 1705, aged 73. He
was useful not only as'a minister but as a
phy.sician. During an illness, which oc
casionally interrupted bis exertions as a
preacher for several years, he still sought
to do good by his labors as a poet. He
pubUshed the day of doom, or a poetical
description of the great and last judg
ment, with a short discourse about eter
nity, 6tb ed. 1829 ; meat out ofthe eater,
or a meditation concerning the necessity,
end, and usefulness of afflictions unto
God's children, 5th ed., 1718.
WIGGLESWORTH, Edward, d.d.,
first HolUs professor of divinity in Har
vard eoliege, the son of the preceding,
was graduated at Harvard college in 1710.
After he commenced preaching, his ser
vices were enjoyed in different places.
So conspicuous were his talents, and so
e.teroplary waS he for every Christian
virtue, that when the professorship of
divinity in Harvard college was founded
by T. Hollis, he was unanimously appoin
ted first professor and was inducted into
this -office Oct. 24, 1722. He died,
conscious i)f the failings of life, yet hop
ing for .pardon through Jesus Christ, Jan.
16, 1765, aged 72, His son of the sarae
name succeeded hina io this year, and re

mained in office tiU his resignation in 1791.
The next professbr was Dr. Tappan, — -He
pubUshed sober remarks, 1724 ; on the
duration of future punishment, 1729;
a trial of the spirits, 1735 ; on the death
of Mr. Wadsworth,- 1737, inquiry into
the imputation of the guilt of Adam's sin
to his posterity, 1738 ; a letter to Mr.
Whitefield, 1745; on the inspiration of the
old testament, 1753, two lectures on the
ministers of Christ, 1754 ; Dudleian lec
ture, 1757; doctririe of reprobation,
1763. WILCOX, Carios, a poet and minis
ter of Hartford, Conn., was born at New
port, N. H., Oct. 22, 1794, but his pa
rents soon removed to Orwell, Vermont.
He graduated at Middlebury college in
1813 ; studied theology at Andover ;
and, after preaching in various places and
spending two or three years in writing
his poeras, was ordained at Hartford
in Dec. 1824. In consequence of fll
health he was disraissed in May 1826.
Hedied at Danbury of the consuraption
May 29, 1^27, aged 32. His intiraate
friends, whom he commemorated in his
poetry, were Allen, Larned, Fisher, Par
sons, Fisk, and Andrus. He had the
genius of a poet. His principal poems
are the Age of benevolence & the Relig
ion of taste, both of -which were pubUshed
in his Remains, Svo. 1328.
WILKINSON, Jerairaa, an irapostor,
was , born in Curaberland, R. Island,
about 1753, and was educated a quaker.
She was artful, bold, and zealous. About
1773, when she recovered from a fit of
sickness,in which she had been apparently
dead, she announced, that she had been
raised frora the dead, and had received a
divine comraission as a reUgious teacher.
Having made a few proselytes, she remo
ved with thena to the state of N. York,
and settled near Seneca & Crooked lakes,
calling her village Jerusalem. In conse
quence of thejupery of her followers, she
was enabled to live in a style of elegance,
being waited upon by half a dozen hand
some girls. She inculcated poverty ; but
was careful to be the owner of lands, pur
chased in the name of her companion, Ra-

WILKINSON.

WILLARD.

773

chel Mifler. When she preached, she
stood in the door of ber bed chamber,
wearing a waistcoat, a stock, and a
white silk cravat. Ina short time her fol
lowers began to fall off. She died in 1819.
WILKINSON, James, general, a sol
dier ofthe revolution, was born in Mary
land about 1757, and studied medicine.
In 1775 he repaired to Carabridge as a
volunteer. In 1776 he was a captain in
a regiraent, which proceeded to Canada.
On the surrender of Burgoyne he carried
the despatches to congress and received
the brevet of brigadier general. After
the peace he settled in coraraercial business
in Kentucky. Again he entered the ar
my and had the coramand on the Missis
sippi. In the late war he served in ISIS
on the northern frontiers. Not long be
fore his death he went to Mexico, where
¦hewas attacked with the diarrhoea,which
is common among strangers. He died
Dec. 28, 1825, aged 68. At the age of
56 he married Miss Trudeau, aged 26.
WILLARD, Samuel, ministerin Bos
ton and vice president of Harvard college,
was the son of Siraon W., who sustained
some iraportant offices in Massachusetts
both civil and military, and was bom at
Concord Jan. 31, 1640. He was gradu
ated at Harvard college in 1 659. He was
afterwards the rainister of Groton about
1663 ; but the ravages ofthe Indian war
drove hira frora that place about the year
1676. He was settled colleague with
Mr. Thacher, the first rainister ofthe old
south church in Boston, April 10, 1678.
In 1700 he received Mr. Pemberton as
an assistant rainister. After the resigna
tion of president Mather, he as vice pres
ident took the superintendence of Har
vard college Sept 6, 1701, and presided
over that serainary tfll his death Sept. 12,
1707, aged 68. President Leverett suc
ceeded him. By two wives be had 20
children. Mr. W. possessed very su
perior powers of mind. His imagina
tion was rich though not luxuriant, his
perception was rapid and correct, and in
arguraent he was profound and clear. His
learning also was very considerable.
In CDntroversy he was a champion, de

fending the cause of truth with coiwa-ge,
and with enlightened and affectionate
zeal. All his talents and acquisitions
were devoted to God, who had created
him anew in Christ Jesus, and implanted
in bis heart all the pure, and humble, and
lovely virtues of Christianity. In the
tirae of the witchcraft delusion he distin
guished hiraself by opposing the rash pro
ceedings of the courts. He published a
serraon to the second church after they
had received the covenant ; a discourse
on the death of J. Leverett, 1679 ; of
maj. Th. Savage, 1682 ; animadversions'
on the baptists, 1681 ; covenant keeping
the way to blessedness; on the fiery trial;
at a fast; election serra. 1682; the
child's portion, 1684; on justification ;
heavenly merchandise, 1686 ; on laying
hands on the bible in swearing, ,1689 ;
the barren fig tree's doom ; against ex
cessive sorrow ; the danger of taking the
name of God in vain ; on promise keep
ing, 1691 ; on worshipping God; on dis
cerning the times ; on the doctrine of
the covenant of redemption, 1693 ; at the
election ; at a fast ; the law established
by trie! gospel, 1694 ; spiritual deser
tions discovered and remedied, J1699;
a remedy against despair ; love's pedi
gree ; the perils of the times displayed,
the substance of several sermons ; on the
callirtgof the Jews, 1700 ; the Christian's
exercises by satan's temptations ; caution
about swearing ; on the death of W.
Stoughton, 1701 ; at a fast ; Israel's true
safety, 1704; I fountain opened, or bles
sings to be dispensed at the national con
version of the Jews, 1727 ; sacramental
meditations. His largest work, and the
first folio volume on divinity printed in
this country, was published in 1726, enti
tled a body of divinity in 250 expository
lectures on the assembly's shorter cate
chism. It is considered as a work of
great merit.
WILLARD, Josiah, secretary of
Mass.,the son of the preceding,was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1698. Iri
June 1717 the king appointed hira secre
tary of his native province, and he was
continued in that station 39 years tiU his

774

WILLARD.

WILLIAMS.

death. He was also a judge of the pro
bate of wills and a member of the council.
He died Dec. 6, 1756, aged 75. While
he commanded the highest respect in the
public offices, which he sustained, his
heart was the abode of aU the Christian
virtues. WILLARD, Josejih, d. d. l l. d.,
president of Harvard college, was born at
Biddeford Deo. 29, 1738, and was the son
of Rev. Samuel W., grandson of vice
president W. He was graduated at
Harvard college in 1765; and was ordain
ed Nov. 25, 1772, as colleague with Mr.
Charapney, minister of Beverly, where
he continued iri the high esteera of the
people ofhis chai;ge till he was elected pres
ident in the place of Dr. Langdon. Into
this office he was inducted Dec. 19, 1781.
During the last years of his life his usual
health was unsettled. He died at New
Bedford Sept. 25, 1804, aged 64. His
widow died in March 1826. Mr. Webber
succeeded him. He was distinguished
for his acquaintance wilh classical Utera
ture and with mathematical and astro
nomical science. His attainments in
Greek learning have been equaUed by few
in Araerica. At the head ofthe universi
ty he mingled paternal tenderness with
strict authority, and by his dignified per
son and deportraent united with candor,
generosity, and benevolence, he secured
atthe sarae tirae respect and affection.
He pubUshed a thanksgiving serraon,
1783 ; at the ordination of J.' McKeen,
1785; on the death of T. HiUiard, 1790;
at the ordination of H. Packard, 1793 ; a
Latin address on the death of Washing
ton, prefixed to Tappan's discourse, 1800;
and raatheraatical and astronoraioal cora
munications in the memoirs pfthe Ameri
can academy .
WILLET, Marinus, colonel, a sol
dier of the revolution, was in fori Stan
wix Aug. 3, 1777, when it was invested
by St Leger. Aug. 6th he sallied from
the fort and bravely attacked the enemy
in order to favor the approach of Herki
mer with aid ; but H. had been defeated.
In a few days he and one officer effected a
march of 50 railes through the wilderness

to Gerraan flats in order to urge the send
ing of sufficient aid to the fort. July 10,
1731 he defeated a party of the enemy at
Correy's town. He died at New York
in Aug. 1830, aged 90.
WILLIAMS, Roger, the father of
Providence plantation, was born in Wales
in 1599 and was educated at Oxford.
After havirig been a minister in the
church of England, his nonconformity
induced him to seek religious liberty in
Araerica. He arrived at Hull, Feb. 5,
1631. In April he was chosen an as
sistant to Mr. Skeltpn in the ministry at
Salera. Such was his puritanic zeal, that
he contended for a complete separation
from the English church, and even re
fused to join in fellowship with his breth
ren in Boston, unless they would declare
their repentance for having comrauned,
before they came to this country, with the
church of England. He was of opinion
also, that the magistrate raight not punish
the breach of the sabbath, or any viola
tion of the precepts of the first table.
Before the close of the suraraer he was
obliged to retire to Plymouth, where he
preached as an assistant to Mr. Sraith
about two years. In 1633 he returned to
Salem, and after the death of Mr. Skelton
in 1634 was the sole rainister of the
church. His pecuUar sentiraents and
conduct soon brought him before the
court, where he was accused of asserting,
that offences against the first table of
the law ought not to be punished, unless
they disturbed the public peace ; that an
oath ought not to be tendered to an
unregenerate man ; that a christian
shoifld not pray with the unregenerate ;
and that thanks ought not to be given af
ter the sacraraent, nor after meat.
He assertedjthat the Mass. jiatent was in
valid and unjust, because a fair purchase
had not been made of the Indians. He
even refused to commune with the mem
bers of his own church, unless they would
separate frora the polluted and antichris-
tian churchesof N.E. As he could'not be
induced to retract any of his opinions,
sentence of banishment was passed upon
hira in 1635. He obtained perraission to

WILLIAMS.

775

remain till spring ; but, as he persisted in
preaching in his own house, orders were
sent in Jan. 1636 to seize hira and send
him to England. He escaped, and went
with four ofhis friends to Seekhonck,now
Rehoboth, and crossing the river laid the
foundation of a town, which in acknowl
edgment of God's goodness to hira he
called Providence. He purchased the
land honestly of the Indians, and while
he enjoyed Uberty of conscience himself,
he granted it to others. Having embra
ced the sentiraents of the baptists,
he was baptized in March 1639
by one of his brethren, and he then
baptized about ten others. But he soon
entertained doubts respecting the correct
ness ofhis principles ; the church, which
he had forraed, was dissolved ; and he
came to the conclusion, that baptisra
ought not to be administered in any
mode without a revelation frora heaven.
At this period he studied the Indian lan
guage and used his endeavors to irapart
to the savages the blessings of the gospel.
In 1643 he went to England, as agent for
the colonists to procure an act confirming
. their voluntary government. He obtain
ed a charter, and returning with it, lan
ded at Boston in Sept 1644. Though
he was still under sentence of banish
ment, a letter of recommendation frora
some of the principal members of parlia
ment secured hira frora any interruptiori
on his way to Providence. In 1651 he
went again as an agent for the colony to
England, and continued there till 1654.
On his return he was chosen president of
the government, in which station he
was continued tifl 1657, when Bene
dict Arnold was appointed. Being
zealous against the quakers, he in
1672 held a public dispute with three
of their most eminent preachers, which
occupied three days at Newport and one
day at Providence. Of this dispute he
afterwards published an account. He
died in April 1683, aged 84. His memo
ry is deserving of lasting honor for the cor-
' rectness of his opinions respecting liberty
of conscience, and for the generous toler
ation, which he established. So superior

was he to the meanness of revenge, and
such was his magnanimity, that he exer
ted all his influence with the Indians in
favor of Mass., and ever evinced the
greatest friendship for the colony, from
which he had been driven. Fpr some
of its principal men h^ preserved the
highest affection, and maintained a cor
respondence with them. In his contro
versial writings, especially wilh Mr. Cot
ton respecting toleration, he shows him
self a master of argument. His talents
were ofa superior order. In the religious
doctrines, which he embraced, he seems
to have been remarkably consistent.
The scriptures he read in the originals;
Though his writings and his conduct in
the latter periods of his life evince, that
he was under the influence of the Chris
tian spirit ; yet his mind was so shrouded
in doubt and uncertainty, that he lived in
the neglect of the ordinances ofthe gos
pel. He did not contend, like the qua
kers, that they were superseded ; but
found hiraself incapable of deterraining to
what church it was his duty to unite
hiraself He would pray and preach
with all, who would hear him, of what
ever denomination. If his conscience
had been enlightened, one would sup
pose, it must have reproved hira for not
partaking of the sacrament also wilh dif
ferent sects. His first baptism he ap
pears to have renounced, not so rauch
because he was dissatisfied with the
tirae or the raode of itstidministration, as
because it was received in, the church of
England, which he deeraed anlichristian.
He published a key to the language of
America, or a help to the tongue of the
N. England Indians, Svo. 1643, which
has been reprinted in the collections of
the Mass., historical sociely ; an answer
to Mr. Cotton's letter concerning the
power of the magistrate in matters of
reUgion ; the bloody tenet of persecution
for the cause of conscience, 1644; the
bloody tenet yet more bloody by Mr.
Cotton's endeavor to wash it white in
the blood of the Lamb, &c . to which is
added a letter lo Mr. Endicott, 4to.
1652; the hireUng ministry none of

ne

WILLIAMS.

'Christ's,or a discourse on the propagation
-of the gospel of Christ Jesus ; experi
ments of spiritual life and health, and
-their preservatives, London, 1652 ;
George Fox digged out of his burrows,
1676, which was written against Fox
•and Burrows, and gives an account of
his dispute with the quakers. An an
swer to it was pubUshed in 1679 entitled,
a New England fire brand quenched.
WILLIAMS, John, first minister of
Deerfield, Mass., the sonofdeac. Samuel
W.,was bom in Roxbury Dec. 10, 1664,
and was graduated at Harvard college in
1683. In May 168,6 be was ordained at
Deerfield, a frontier town much exposed
to the incursions of the savages. In the
beginning of 1704 inforraation was recei
ved frora colonel Schuyler of Albany of
the designs of the eneray against Deer
field, and the govemraent at the soUcita
tion of Mr. W. ordered twenty soldiers
as a guard. In the night of Feb. 28lh
the watch patfoled the streets, but before
morning they went to sleep. Three
hundred French and Indians, who had
been hovering about the the town, when
they perceived all to be quiet, surprised
the garrison house. A party of thera
then broke into the house of Mr. W.,
who,as soon as he was awakened, snatch
ed his pistol from the tester, and put it to
the breast of the first Indian, that ap
proached, but it missed fire. The sava
ges seized and bound him. Two of his
children and a negro woman of his fami
ly were taken to the door and murdered.
His wife, the only daughter of Mr. Ma
ther of Northampton, and all his children,
excepting his eldest son, with hiraself
were corapelled immediately to begin
their march towards Canada. In wading
a small river on the second day Mrs. W.,
who had scarcely recovered from a late
confinement, fell down ; and soon after
wards an Indian killedlier with his hatch
et. About twenty other prisoners were
murdered, because their strength be
gan to fafl them. At length after wit
nessing the raost agonizing scenes during
ajourney of 800 mfles he arrived in Can
ada. Here new trials awaited him, for

every exertion was made to conrverf this
heretic to popery. His Indian master,af-
ter seeing the inefficacy of other raethods,
Ufted his hatchet over the head bf his
prisoner, and threatened to kill him, if he
didnot instantly cross himself and kiss a
crucifix ; but Mr. W. was governed by
too elevated principles to be made to vio
late conscience frora regard to his life.
He was redeemed in 1706. One ofhis
daughters he was unable to bring with
him. She had become assimilated to the
Iridians, and afterwards married one of
them and embraced the Roraan catholic
reUgion. SettUng again in Deerfield he
continued in that place tfll his death June
12, 1729, aged 64. He was succeeded
by Mr. Ashley. His three eldest sons,
Eleazar, Stephen, and Warbara, were
rainisters of Mansfield, Springfield, and
Watertown, and were highly respected
and useful. He published a serraon at
Boston lecture after his return from Can
ada ; God in the camp, 1 707 ; the re-
deeraed captive, 12rao. which gives a mi
nute account of his sufferings, and has
passed through several editions ; a seri
ous word to the posterity of holy men,
calUng upon thera to exalt their fathers'
God, being the abstract of a nuraber of
sermons, 1729.
WILLIAMS, Stephen, d.d., first min
ister of Longmeadow, son of the prece
ding, was born at Deerfield,' May 14,
1693, and Feb. 29, 1704 was carried cap
tive by the Indians to Canada, whence
he returned Nov. 21, 1705, He was
graduated at Harvard college in 1713, and
ordainedover the 2d chuichof Springfield,
nowL. Meadow, Oct. 17, 1716. In 1745
he went to Louisbourg as a chaplain un
der PeppereU, and in 1755 he went to
Lake Champlain in the sarae capacity
under sir W. Johnson, andin 1756 under,
Winslow. By the officers and soldiers he
was held in esteem and honor. He died
June 10, 1782, aged 89, in the 66th year
ofhis ministry. By his first wife, Abigail
Davenport, the daughter of John D. of
Stamford, he bad 7 children, 3 of whom
were ministers ; aU present at his fune
ral. Probably he was the principal means

WILLIAMS.

777

of sending a missionary to the Houssa
tonnoc Indians, for Sept. 9, 1734 he went
to New Haven and engaged John Ser
geant for that service. He published a
sermon at the ordination of John Keep,
ShelBeld, 1772.
WILLIAMS, WilUam, minister of
Hatfield, Mass. the son of deacon Isaac
W. of Newton, was graduated at Har
vard college In 1 683. After a ministry of
considerable length he died at an advanced
age very suddenly Aug. 31,1741. He
was a man of distinguished talents. His
wife was the daughter of Mr. Stoddard.
He published a sermon at the ordination
of Stephen Wflliams, 1716 ; of Warham
Williams,1723 ; of Nehemiah Bull, 1726;
the great salvation explained in several
sermons, 1717 ; election sermon, 1719 ;
convention sermon, 1726 ; on the death
of S. Stoddard, 1729 ; the duty and in
terest of a Christian people to be stead
fast ; directions to obtain a true conver
sion, 1736.
WILLIAMS, William, minister of
Weston, Mass., the son of Rev. W. W.
of Hatfield, was graduated atHarvard col
lege in 17^35 ^- died in 1753,aged about 68.
He published a sermon at the ordination
of D. Hall, Sutton, 1729 ; at the artiUery
election. 1737 ; on the execution of P.
Kennison for burglary, 1738 ; on saving
faith ; at the election, 1741 ; on the death
of Caleb Lyman, 1742; of hia wife,l745.
WlLLIAMS,EUsha, president of Yafe
college, thebrotherof the preceding, was
graduated at Harvard college in 1711.
He was afterwards the minister of New
ington in Wethersfield, Conn. In 1726
he was inaugurated president in the place
of Dr. Cutler ; but his impaired health
induced hira in Oct. 1739 to resign his of
fice, and Mr. Clap succeeded him. He
now lived at Wethersfield and was soon
made a justice of the superior court. In
' 1745 he went as chaplain in the expedi
tion against Cape Breton. In the follow
ing year he was appointed colonel of a
regiment on the proposed expedition
against Canada. He afterwards went to
England, where he married a lady of su
perior accomplishments. He died at
98

Wethersfield July 24, 1755, aged 60. Dr,
Doddridge, who was intimately acquain
ted with hira, represents him as uniting
in his character " an ardent sense of reU
gion, soUd learning, consumraate pru
dence, great candor and sweetness of tera
per, and a certain nobleness of soul, capa
ble of contriving and acting the greatest
things, without seeming to be conscious
of his having done them," He presided
at commenceraents with great dignity.
He published a serraon on divine grace,
1727; on the death of T, Ruggles, 1728.
WILLIAMS, Eleazar, first minister
of Mansfield, Conn., the eldest son of
Rev. John. W., was graduated at Har
vard college in 1708 ; was ordained in
1710 ; and died Sept. 21, 1749, aged 53.
He published the election sermon, 1723 ;
sinners invited to Christ, S sermons,
1735. WILLIAMS, Solomon, d. d., minister
of Lebanon, Conn., the son of W. W. of
Hatfield, was graduated at Harvard college
in 1719. He was ordained Dec. 5, 1722,
and died Feb. 29, 1776 in the 76lh year
of his age and the 34th of his ministry,
having been one of the distinguished men
of his day. He published a sermon at
the ordination of Jacob EUot, 1730 ; on
the death of John Robinson, 1739 ; of
Rev. Eleazar WilUams, 1743 ; of Rev.
J. Meachara, 1752 ; of Rev. Eben. Wil
Uaras, 1753 ; on a day of prayer ; election
sermon, 1741; the m.ore excellent way,
against enthusiasra, 1742; Christ the
king and witness of the truth, 1744 ; a
vindication of the scripture doctrine of
justifying faith, in answer to A. Croswell,
1746; the true state ofthe question con
cerning the qualifications for coramunion,
in answer to J. Edwards, 1751 ; for suc
cess in arms, 1759.
WILLIAMS, Eliphalet, d. d., minis
ter of East Hartford, Conn., son ofthe
preceding -v^as born at Lebanon, Feb. 21,
1727 ; graduated at Yale college in 1743;
and was ordained in March 1748. -His
predecessor, S. Woodbridge, was minis
ter from 1705 to 1746; bis successors
were Yates, ordained in ISOl, Fairchild,
and Mead. He died June 29, 1303, aged

778

WILLIAMS.

76, His wife was the daughter of Rev.
Warham W. Two of his sons were
ministers, Solomon W. of Northampton,
and Elisha W. of Beverly. Few ministers
live, as he lived, to preach a half century
sermon from the time of ordination. He
was an eminent minister and an exem
plary Christian, and had an unblemished
reputation. He published a sermon on
account of the earthquake, 1755 ; at a
thanksgiving, 1760; at the election, 1769;
on the death of gov. Pitkin, 1769.
W ILLIAMS, William, a patriot of the
reyolution, the brother of the preceding,
was bom at Lebanon April 8, 1731 and
was graduated at Harvard college in
1751 . In ,1755 he belonged to the stafi'
of col. Ephraim Williams, and was en
gaged in the battle of lake George. In
1776 and 1777 he was a member of con
gress and signed the declaration of inde
pendence. In his zealous patriotism he
made great efforts and sacrifices for the
liberties of his country. He died Aug.
2, 1811, aged 80. His wife was a daugh
ter of gov. TrumbuU. His surviving son
lives in Lebanon. — His last days were de
voted to reading, meditation, and prayer.
Frora his youth tfll his death he was a
deacon of the church and an exeraplary
Christian. — Goodrich.
WILLIAMS, Ephraira, colonel, foun
der of WilUaras college, born in 1715,
was the son of E. W. of Newton, who
was afterwards one of the first settlers of
Stockbridge. In early life he raade seve
ral voyages to Europe. Possessing un
common military talents, in the war be
tween England and France from 1740 to
1748 he found opportunity to exert them.
The coraraand of the line of the Mass.
forts on the west side of Connecticut riv
er was intrusted to hira. At this period
he resided chiefly at Hoosac fort, which
stood on the bank of Hoosac river in
Adaras, and he also coraraanded a small
fort at Williamstown, three or four miles
distant. In 1755 he took the coraraand
of a regiraent and joined general John
son. Sept. 8th he was sent out at the
head of 1,000 raen with about 200 In
dians to skirmish with the eneray near

lake G'eorge. He was ambuscaded, and
in the action he was killed, aged 40. His
parly retreated to the main body, and in
another engagement on the same day the
the enemy were repulsed, and baron
Dieskau taken prisoner. He was a brave
soldier, and was beloved by his troops.
He was affable and facetious. His po
liteness and address gained him great
influence in the general court. He
bequeathed his property to the estab
Ushment ofa free school in the township
west of fort Mass., on the condition
that the town should be cafled Williams
town. In 1785 trustees were appointed;
in 1791 the .school was opened ; and in
1793 it was incorporated as a college, un
der the presidency of Dr. Fitch. It is
now a flourishing seminary, which does
honor to the munificence of its founder,
and to the liberality of the general court,
which has patronised it.
WILLIAMS, Nathan, d. d., minister
of Tolland, Conn., graduated, at Yale
college in 1755 ; was ordained April 30,
1760 ; and died April 15, 1829, aged 93,
having been in the ministry nearly 69
years. His wife, with whom he had liv
ed 68 years, survived hira. He pubUshed
an inquiry concerning baptism and disci
pUne, in a dialogue, Svo. 2d. ed. 1792.
It is designed to show, that children are
subject to the discipline ofthe church.
WILLIAMS) Samuel, ll. d., au his
torian, was born at Waltham, Mass. ;
was graduated at Harvard college in
1761 ; and ordained the rainister of Brad
ford Nov. 20, 1765. He was professor
of matberaatics at Harvard college frora
1780 tifl 1788, when he resigned and re
raoved to Rutland, Verraont. For some
years he was the editor and proprietor of
the Rutland Herald. He died in Jan.
1817, aged about 75. He published the
natural and civfl history of Vermont in
Svo. 1794; 2d. ed. in 2 vols. 1809; a
masonic discourse, and several 'scientific
papers. '
WILLIAMS, Nehemiah, minister of
Brimfield, Mass., the son of Chester Wil
liams, minister of Hadley, wasgraduated
at Harvard college in 1769. He was or-

WILLIAMS.
dained Feb. 9, 1775, and died Nov. 26,
1796. As a preacher he was distinguish
ed for the energy and pathos, with
which his discourses were deUvered.
His life was raost holy and benevolent,but
on his dying bed he declared, that his
hope of salvation rested wholly upon the
free and sovereign mercy of God through
Jesus Christ. At the moment of his de
parture he cried, " I have finished my
course with joy," and clasping his hands
as indevotiori expired without a struggle.
A posthumous volume of 24 sermons
was published.
WILLIAMS, Otho HoUand, colonel,
a brave officer in the revolutionary war,
held a comraand in the Maryland Une,
and was deputy adjutant general of the
American array. In the retreat of Greene
from S. CaroUna to Virginia in the be
ginning of 1781 he was intrusted with
the command of the Ught corps in the
place of gen. Morgan,who was indisposed,
and by his manoeuvres he greatly embar
rassed Cornwallis in bis pursuit. After the
war he resided at Baltimore. He died
while on a journey, July 15, 1794, aged
44. He was a firm and disinterested pa
triot, as well as a gallant soldier. In the
relations of private Ufe his conduct secured
esteem. WILLIAMS, Benjamin, governor of
N. Carolina, a patriot of the revolution,
was for some years a member of congress.
He was governor frora 1799 to 1802,
and again in 1807, and died July 20;
1814. WILLIAMS, David, with Paulding
and Van Wart one ofthe captors of raaj.
Andre, died at Livingston vUle, N. Y. in
Aug. 1831, aged 78.
WILLIAMS, Jonathan, brigadier
general, was bOrn in Boston in 1752.
For many years he was at the head of
the engineer corps ofthe array. He was
also a meraber of congress; He died at
Philadelphia in May 1815, aged 63. He
published a memoir on the use of the
thermometer in navigation, 1799 ; Ele
ments of fortification, transl., 1801 ;
Kosciusko's mancBuvres for horse artUle>
ry, transl., 1808.

WILLIAMSON.

779

WILLIAMS, Sarauel Porter, minister
of Newburyport, a descendant of Rev.
Sol. W.jwasbornat Wethersfield, Conn.,
Feb. 22, 1779 ; graduated at Yale col
lege in 1796 ; and, after being engaged
in a mercantile employraent, studied the
ology with Dr. Dwight, , and was or
dained at Mansfield Jan. 1, 1807. After
being dismissed Sept. 7, 1817, he preach
ed two years at Northarnpton, and then
succeeded Dr. Dana at Newburyport
Feb. 8, 1821. Hedied Dec. 23, 1826.
A volume of sermpns, with a print and
a sketch of his life, was pubUshed in Svo.
1827. WILLIAMSON, Hugh, m. d., l.l.d,
a physician, was bom in West Notting
hara, Penns., Decera. 5, 1735. Frora
1760 to 1763 he was professor of raath-
eraatics in the college of Philadelphia.
He afterwards studied medicine at Edin
burgh and Utrecht. On his return he
practised successfully in Phfladelphia.
In order to procure subscriptions for an
acaderay at Newark, Delaware, he sailed
frora Boston for London Dec. 22, 1773
and was exarained before the Privy
Council in Feb. 1774 on the subject of
the [destruction of the tea at Boston.
Drs. Hosack and Thacher give a rainute
account of the raanner, in which he at
this period procured personally very
adroitly and at great hazard frora a pub
lic office in London the faraous letters of
Hutchinson and Oliver, which FrankUn
sent to Mass. The account is fortified
by letters of bishop White, Jaraes Read,
and John Adaras. Mr. Read received
the account from the lips of Dr. WUliam-
son, and John W., a brother, confirmed
the account to Dr. Hosack. AU this is
an extraordinary mistake ; for those very
letters were raade public in Boston and
acted upon by the legislature in June
1773, six months before Dr. Wflliamson
set sail from Boston for London. After
his return in 1776 he resided in N,
Carolina. In 1780 he was surgeon in
the miUtia under Caswell. After the
peace he was for 5 or 'six years a mera
ber of congress ; he also assisted in fra
ming the constitution of the U. S. In

780

WILSON.

his last years he resided in N. York,
where he died May 22, 1819, aged 83.
He published a discourse on the benefit
of civil history, 1810 ; Observations on
the climate of America, 1811 ; History of
N. Carolina, 2 vols. Svo. 1812; and ma
ny medical and philosophical coraraunica-
tions. — Thacher.
WILSON, John, first rainister ofBos
ton, was born at Windsor, England, in
1588, and was the son of Rev. Wra. W.
He was educated at king's college, Cara
bridge, where he obtained a fellowship ;
but was deprived of it for his nonconfor
mity to the English church. After study
ing law for three years at one of the
Inns of court, he directed his attention to
theology, and was a chaplain in several
honorable famiUes. He then settied in
the ministry at Sudbury in Suffolk. In
1630 he came to this country in the sarae
fleet with gov. Winthrop. Chariestown
was fixed upon as a place of settieraent,
and Mr. Wilson and Mr. PhilUps preach
ed under a tree. A church was forraed
on Friday, July SOth, and Aug. 27th Mr.
Wilson was ordained as teacher by the
imposition of hands. This cereraony
was perforraed by sorae of the brethren
merely as a sign of his election to be their
minister and not because he had renoun
ced his former ordination. In a few
months, when the greater part of his
church reraoved across the river to Shaw
mut, or Boston, he accorapanied thera.
In 1631 he returned lo England for his
wife, whom he had left behind, enjoining
it upon governor Winthrop and some
other brethren to " prophesy " or to ira
part instruction and give exhortations in
the church during his absence. In Oct.
1682 33 merabers were disraissed to forra
a new church at Charlestown, They had
Mr. Jaraes for their pastor, to whora Mr,
Symmes was soon united as teacher. In
Nov. Mr. Wilson was again ordained
as pastor. In the following year he re
ceived Mr. Cotton as his colleague, and
after his death Mr. Norton July 23,
1656. He survived them both. Hedied
Aug. 7, 1667, aged 78. Mr. Davenport
succeeded him, Mr, Wilson was one of

the most hurable, pious, and benevolent
men of the age, in which he Uved. Kind
affections and zeal were the prominent
traits in his character. Such was his
readiness to reUeve the distressed, that his
purse was often emptied into the hands of
the needy. Every one loved hira, and
he was regarded as the father ofthe new
plantation. He appears frequently to
have possessed a particular faith in pray
er. Events sometimes occurred accor
ding to his predictions. The blessings
pronounced by him had been observed to
be so prophetical, that on his death bed
the most considerable persons brought
their chfldren to hira lo receive his bene
diction. Havinga most wonderful talent
at rhyming, he used to write pieces of
poetry on all occasions and to send them
to all persons. He was also a great ana-
gramraatist. Dr. Mather thinks, that he
raade more anagrams, and made them
raore nimbly, than any man since the
days of Adam. They generally conveyed
sorae religious truth or advice. But
it was^not always the case, that the
letters of his anagram corresponded with
those of the narae. It was perhaps in
pleasant allusion to this discordance, as
well as in reference to the hospitable tera
per of Mr. Wilson, that Mr. Ward, the
witty author of the siraple Cobbler of Ag
gawam, said that the anagram of John
Wilson was, " I pray come in, you are
heartily welcome. " In the early periods
ofhis life his discourses were very cor
rect ; but as he advanced in years his
sermons consisted principally of exhorta
tions, admonitions, and counsels without
rauch connexion or raethod, but delivered
with affectionate warra th. He partook
ofthe coraraon error of his tiraes in cal
ling upon the civil raagistrate to punish
those, who were deeraed heretical in doc
trine. His portrait is in the Ubrary of the
historical society. He published in Eng
land sorae helps to faith, 12rao. In this
country an exteraporary sermon 1665
was taken down by a stenographer and
afterwards pubUshed .
WILSON, John, minister of Medfield,
Mass., the son of the preceding, gradua-

WILSON.

WINCHELL.

781

ted in the first class at Harvard college
in 1642 ; was ordained as colleague with
R. Mather at Dorchester in 1649 ; but
after two years reraoved to Medfield,
where he was minister 40 years. He
died Aug. 23, 1691, aged about 68.
WILSON, James, judge, a patriot of
the revolution, was bom in Scotland
about 1742. After being educated at
Edinburgh he carae to Philadelphia in
1766, and studied law with J. Dickinson.
Being a raember of congress from 1775
to 1777, he signed the declaration of inde
pendence. Being a member of the con
vention, which framed the constitution
of the U. S., he was chairman of the
coraraittee, which reported it: he was
also a member of the state convention,
which ratified it In 1789 he was appoin
ted a judge of the supreme court of the
U. S. He died at Edenton, N. C. while
on a circuit, Aug. 28, 1798, aged 56. He
was eminent as a lawyer and judge, and
was professor of law in the university of
Pennsylvania. His works, including his
lectures, are in 3 vols. Svo. 1804.
WILSON, James P., d. d., minister
in Phfladelphia, was first a distinguished
lawyer and then was for many years the
pastor of the first presbyterian church.
He died at his residence in Bucks county
Dec. 10, 1830. His general knowledge
and talents and his usefulness and excel
lent character caused him to be regarded
as one of the most distinguished men of
this country. He pubhshed lectures on
the parables and the historical parts of
theN.T. Svo. 1810.
WILSON, Matthew, r. d., a physi
cian, and minister, was born in Chester
county, Penns., in 1729. He studied
medicine with Dr. Mc DoweU, a physi
cian arid minister, and himself sustained
those offices 24 years ; he also for years
had the charge of anacaderay at Newark.
He died in Lewis, Delaware, March 31,
1790, aged 61. He was a profound theo
logian and a good Hebrew and classical
scholar ; truly benevolent and pious ;
mild, affable, and courteous. In the tirae
of the revolution his patriotic zeal was
ardent. He resolved to drink no more

tea, and obliged his wife and children to
deny themselves. He published a paper,
proposing 17 plants as a substitute. Bht
his wife's sister on a visit frora Philadel
phia infringed his domestic regulation ;
she brought tea with her, and as it was of
the " old stock, " which paid no duty,
" tea she would drink. " He published
a history of a malignant fever, 1774 ;
remarks on thecold winter of 1779 — 1780;
an essay to prove that raost diseases pro
ceed from miasmata in the air, 1786. —
Thacher. WILSON, Sarauel, m. d., a physician,
was born at Charleston, S. C, Jan. 26,
1763, the son of Dr. Robert W., an emi
nent physician. At the age of 17 he
fought under Marion in the revolutiona
rywar. He went to Edinburgh in 1784
to pursue the study of medicine. In 1791
he was associated in business with Dr.
Alexander Baron ; in 1810 with his
brother. Dr. Robert W. ; and afterwards
wilh his sons. Dr. Isaac and Samuel W.
He died in Aprfl 1827, aged 64. Many
young physicians were instructed by him.
He was a respected physician; an amiable,
benevolent man ; an elder and communi
cant in the church for 30 years.
WILSON, Peter, ll. d., professor of
Greek and Latin in Columbia college, N.
Y., died at Hackensack, N. J. in Aug.
1826, aged 79. He was a distinguished
scholar. He published a learned work on
Greek prosody.
WILSON, Alexander, an ornitholo
gist, and poet, was bom at Paisley, Scot
land, a'nd came to this country in 1794.,
Becoming acquainted with Mr. Bartram:
of Philadelphia, hewas induced to devote
himself to the study of natural history.
He comraenced in 1808 the ptiblication
in 7 vols. 4to. ofhis most interesting and
valuable work, the American ornithology,
with colored plates. An Svo. edition has
since been pubUshed. He died in Phila
delphia Aug. 23, 1813. Besides his Orni
thology, he published the Foresters, a
poem, in Port FoUo, n. s. vol. i.
WINCHELL, Jaraes, ministerin Bos
ton, the son of col. Martin E.jW., was
bornin Dutchess county, N. Y,,in 1791;

782

WINCHESTER.

WINSLOW.

was graduated at Brown university in
1812 ; and succeeded Mr. Clay in Ihe
first baptist church in Boston March 30,
1814. He died of the consumption
Feb. 22, 1820, aged 2S. He published
Watts' hyrans, arranged according to the
subjects ; 2 discourses, containing a his
tory of his church, 1819.
WINCHESTER, Elhanan, an itiner
ant preacher of the doctrine of restora
tion, was born in Brookline, Mass., in
1751. Without an academical education
he comraenced preaching, and was the
first minister of the baptist church in
Newton. In 1778 he was a minister on
Pedee river in S. Carolina, zealously
teaching the Calvinistic doctrines, as ex
plained by Dr. Gill. In the following
year his labors were very useful among
the negroes. In 1781 he became a
preacher of universal salvation in Phila
delphia, where he remained several years.
He afterwards endeavored to propagate
his sentiments in various parts of Araeri-
ica and England. He died at Hartford,
Conn., in April 1797, aged 45. His sys
tem is very sirailar to that of Dr.Chauncy.
He pubUshed a volume of hymns, 1776 ;
a plain political catechism for schools ; a
sermon on restoration, 1781 ; universal
restoration in four dialogues, 1786 ; lec
tures onthe prophecies, Amer. edit. 2 vols.
Svo. ISOO.
WINDER, WiUiam H, general, was
bom in Somerset county, Maryland, in
1775, aud practised law at Baltimore. In
the war of 1312 he was first a colonel,,
then brigadier general. At the battle of
Bladensburg he commanded the troops.
On the return of peace he resumed his
profession. Hedied May 24, 1824.
WINDER, Levin, governor of Mary
land, was a soldier of the revolution.
He was governor during the late war
from 1812 to 1815. In 1816 he was a
member ofthe Maryland senate ; he was
also a general of the miUtia. He died
July 1, 1819, aged 63.
WINGATE, Joshua, colonel, the son
of J. W., an early settler at Dover, N.
H., was at the conquest of Louisburg in
1745, and dieil at Hampton, aged about

90. His son, Paine W., minister of
Amesbury, Mass., died Feb. 19, 1786,
aged 83 ; and his son, Paine W., a judge
of the sup. court ofN. H., &a senator of
the U. S., is the oldest living graduate of
Harvard college. He graduated in 1759.
All the names before his in the catalogue,
and all in several classes after him are
starred. He stands Uke a solitary survi
vor on the field ofbaitle.
WINSLOW, Edward, gover.nor of
Plyraouth colony, the son of E. W.,
was born in Worcestershire in 1594. Iu
his travels becoraing aoqilainted with
Mr. Robinson at Leyden, he joined his
church, and accompanied the first settlers
of N. E. in 1620. He was one of the
party, which discovered the harbor of
Plymouth. Possessing great activity and
resolution, he was eminently useful in
the establishnient of the colony. When
the first conference was held with Mas
sassoit, he offered himselfas a hostage.
In June or July 1641 he visited the sa
chem, accorapanied by S . Hopkins, with
Tisqua-ntura, or Squanto, an Indian, for
a guide ; on his way to Pakanokick, the
Indians at Namasohet gave hira the best
entertainment in their power, supplying
hira wilh the spawn of shad and a kind
of bread, called by them Maizium. On
arriving at the residence -of the king, he
presented to him a horseraan's laced coat
of red cotton, and when arrayed with it
the savage seemed wonderfully deUghted.
In 1622 he made a voyage to Monhegan
island to procure a supply of bread from
the fishing vessels. In March 1623, on
hearing that Massassoit was sick, he
raade hira a second visit, having, as he
says, " one raaster John Hampden, a
gentleman of London, who then wintered
with us, and desired much to see the
country, for my consort, and Hobbamoc
for our guide." This was probably the
celebrated Harapden, who had been two
or three years a member of parUament.
On arriving at Narragansett, the king
was found extremely sick ; but the skfl
ful attendance of Mr. Winslow was the
means of restbring hira to health. In his
gratitude Massassoit disclosed a plot of

WINSLOW.
the " Massachuseuks," which was sup
pressed by Standish. In the autumn of
1C-:J Mr. 'W. went to England as an
agent for the colony, and returned in the
following spring with a supply of neces
saries and the first cattle, which were in
troduced into N. E. He went again to
England in 1 6':4 and returned in 1 625.
In 1633 hewas chosen governor, Mr.
Bradford being imjoof<Mwn<e, not to retain
the office, but to have some one appoin
ted in ' his place ; he was again elected
governor in 1 636 and 1 6-14. He frequent
ly went to the Penobscot, Kennebec, and
Connecticut rivers on trading voyages.
Going to England as an agent in 1C35 he
was thrown into the fleet prison for 17
weeks on the complaint of T. Morton
for leaching iu the church at Plymouth
and for performing the ceremony of raar
riage. He e.Kerted his influence in Eng
land to form the society for propagating
the gospel in N. England, which was in
corporated in 1649 and of which hewas
an active member. In 1655 he was ap
pointed one of the coraraissioners to su
perintend the expedition against the
Spaniards in the West Indies. The
troops were defeated by an inconsiderable
number of the enemy near St. Doraingo.
In the passage between Hispaniola and
Jamaica he died of a fever May 8, 1655,
aged 60, and was buried in the ocean.
His wife died March 24, 1621 : his second
wife, whom he married May 12, 1621,
was Susanna, widow of Wra. White.
This was the first marriage in N. Eng
land. He published good news from N.
England, or a relation of things remar
kable in that plantation, to which is an
nexed an account of the Indian natives,
1623. His account is republished in
Belknap, and abridged in Purchas. He
pubUshed also hypocrisy unmasked, rela
ting to the communion of the indepen
dent with the reformed churches, 1646;
& a narration of disturbances made in N.
England by Samuel Gorton and his ac-
corapUoes, 4to. 1649. — Belknap's Amer.
biog. II.
WINSLOW, Josiah, governor of
Plymouth, the son of the preceding, was

WINTHROP.

783

chosen governor in 1673 as successor of
Mr. Prince, & was continued in thisoflice
till 1680. In Philip's war, being com
mander ofthe Plymouth forces, he evin
ced himself a brave soldier. He died at
Marshfield Dec. 18, 1680, aged 51. His
son, Isaac W., u councillor and general,
died in 1738.
AVINSLOW, John, major general in
the British service, was the grandson of
the preceding. He was a captain in the
unfortunate expedition to Cuba in 1740,
and afterwards major general in the sever
al expeditions to Kennebec, Nova Scotia,
and Crown Point in.the French wars.
He died at Hingham in April 1774, aged
71. His son. Dr. Isaac W., died at
Marshfield in 1819, aged 80.
WINTHROP, John, first governor
of Massachusetts, was born at Groton in
Suffolk, Jan. 12, 1587, and was bred to s
the law. Having converted a fine estate
of 6 or 700?. per annum into money, he
embarked for America in the 43d year of
his age as the leader of those persons,
who settled the colony of Massachusetts,
aud with a commission as god'ernor. He
arrived ^t Salem June 12, 16S0, and soon
removed to Charlestown, and afterwards
crossed the river to Shawmut or Boston.
In the three foflowing years he was re
chosen governor, for which office he was
eminently qualified. His time, his e.'cer-
tions, his interest were all devoted to the
infant plantation. In 1634 Mr. Dudley
was chosen in his place, but he was re
elected in 1637, 1638,andl639,& in 1642,
1643, 1646, 1647, and 1648. He died,
worn out by toils and depressed by afflic
tions, March 26, 1649, aged 61. Mr.
Endicott succeeded him. He was a most
faithful and upright magistrate and ex
emplary Christian. He was at first very
mild in the administration of justice ; but
he afterwards yielded to the opinions of
others, who thought that severer disci
pUne was necessary in a new plantation.
Not having a high opinion of a pure de-
raocraoy, when' the people of Connecti
cut were forraing a government, hewrote
thera a letter, in which he observed, " the
best part of a community is always the

784

WINTHROP.

least, and of that least part the wiser are
still less. " In a speech to the general
.court betook occasion to express his sen
timents concerning the power of the
magistracy and the liberty of the people :
"you have called us, " said he, "to office;
but being called, -we have authority from
God, it is the ordinance of God, and hath
the iraage of God staraped upon it ; and
the contempt of it hath been vindicated
by God with terrible examples ofhis ven
geance. — There is a liberty of corrupt
nature, which is inconsistent with au
thority, impatient of restraint, the enemy
of truth and peace, and aUthe ordinances
of God are bent against it. But there is
a civil, moral, federal Uberty, which con
sists in every one's enjoying his property,
and having the benefit of the laws of his
country, a liberty for that only, which is
just and good ; for this liberty you are to
stand with your lives." In the course of
his Ufe he repeatedly experienced the vers-
atiUty of the public opinion; but, when he
was left out of office, he possessed perfect
calmness of mind, and still exerted himself
to serve his country. In severe trials his
magnanimity, wisdom, and patience 'were
conspicuous. He denied himself many
of the elegances of Ufe, that he might
give an example of frugality and teraper-
.ance, and might exercise liberaUty with
out impoverishing his faraily. He was
¦condescending and benevolent. In a sev
ere winter,when wood was scarce, he was
told that a neighbor was wont to help
himself frora the pile at his door. " Does
he.'" said the governor in seeraing an
ger; " call hira to me, and I will take a
course with him, that shall cure him of
steaUng. " When the man appeared,
he addressed him thus, " friend, it is a
cold winter, and I hear you are meanly
provided with wood ; you are welcome
to help yourself at my pile till the winter
is over. " He afterwards asked his in
formant, whether he had not put a
stop to the poor man's stealing."' " 
Though he was rich when he came to
this country, yet through his devotion
to public business, while his estate was
managed by unfaithful servants, he died

poor. He was so much of a theologian,
that he soraetiraes gave the word of ex
hortation in the church. His zeal against
those, who had erabraced erroneous doc
trines, diminished in his latter years. He
was careful in his attendance upon the
duties of pubUc and of family worship.
Governor's island in the harbor ofBoston
was granted to hira, and still reraaiiis in
the possessiori of his descendants. He
procured a law against the heathenish
practice of health drinking. From his
picture it appears, that he wore a long
beard. He kept an exact account of oc
currences and transactions in the colony
down to the year 1648, which was of
great service to Hubbard, Mather, and
Prince. It was not published till the
year 1790, when it was printed in Svo.
A manuscript of the third volume of
Winthrop's history was found in 1816 in
the N- England Ubrary, kept in the tow
er of the old south church. Mr. Jaraes
Savage transcribed it, and, adding notes
to this and the work already printed, pub
lished a new edition in 2 vols. Svo. 1825.
Besides adding valuable notes he collated
the former manuscripts with the edition
of 1790 and corrected many errors and
suggested araendments. As he invites
free remarks upon his ra.istakes in return
for his own freedom, a strange error, into
which he has fallen, may be mentioned
as illustrating the peril of conjectural
emendation. In the following passage in
the first edition, — " Board was at 9 and
10 s. the C ; carpenters at 3s. the day,"
— he finds great difficulty, supposing, that
board means boarding, and that there is a
reference to the expense for victuals, and
therefore removes the word Board from
the text and substitutes Bread in its
place, as sold at 9 shillings the hundred ;
yet candidly states in a note, that " the
manuscript looks very, much Uke the
reading of the former edition, which was
ridiculous." That it was, nevertheless,
the true reading, I suppose he will him
self readily allow, and will consider his
metaraorphosis of board into 6rea(i suffi
ciently laughable, when he shall just
think of the primitive meaning of the

WINTHROP.

785

word board, viz. "a thin piece of wood,"
the material, on which carpenters usual
ly work, and imagines the price of boards
to be 9 or 10s. the C, which is the pre
sent price of some kinds of lumber. In
this rare case it is easier to digest a board
than bread. Yet this one error should
not impair the confidence in the general
accuracy of the diUgent and learned edi
tor of Winthrop's Journal. — Mather's
magnalia, n. 8-15 ; Belknap's biog. n,
337-SS8. WINTHROP, John, f. h. s., gover
nor of Connecticut, was the son of the
preceding, and his fine genius was im
proved by a liberal education in the uni
versities |_of Cambridge and of Dublin,
and by travel upon the continent. He
arrived at Boston in Oct. 1635, with au
thority to make a settlement in Conn.
and the next month despatched a'number
of persons to build a fort at Saybrook.
He was chosen governor in 1657 and
again in 1659, and from that period he was
annually re-elected till his death. In
1661 he went to England and procured a
charter, incorporating Connecticut and
N. Haven into one colony. He died at
Boston April 5, 1676, aged 70 years.
His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of
Hugh Peters. Araong the descendants
of his son, Waitstfll, who died at Boston
Sept. 7, 1717 aged 75, is Thomas Lindall
W., the lieutenant governor of Massa
chusetts. — He possessed a rich variety of
knowledge, and was particularly skilled in
chemistry and physic. His valuable
qualities as a gentleman, a Christian, a
philosopher, and a magistrate secured to
him universal respect. He published
some valuable communications in the
philosophical transactions.
WINTHROP, Fitz John, f. r. s.,
governor of Conn., the son of the prece
ding, was born March 14, 1639. In
1689 he was maj. gen. ofthe army, sent
to operate against Canada. In 1694 he
was agent of the colony to G. Britain,
and rendered such service, that the legis
lature presented him with 500Z. He was
governor from 1698 till his death Nov.
27, 1707, aged 68. His son, John, a
99

graduate of Harvard college in 1700, and
-who died in England in 1747, was a
learned man and a member of the royal
society. WINTHROP, John, ll.d., f.r.s.,
Hollis professor of mathematics & natural
phUosophy in Harvard college, was the
son of Adam Winthrop, a meraber of
the council, and a descendant ofthe gov.
ofMass. He was graduated in 17S2-.
In 1738 he was appointed professor in
the place of Mr. Greenwood. He im
mediately entered upon the duties of this
office and discharged them with fidelity
and high reputation through Ufe. In
1761 he sailed to St. John's in Newfound
land to observe the transit of Venus over
the sun's disk June 6th, agreeably to the
recommendation of Mr. Halley. When
the day arrived, he was favored witb a
fine, clear raorning, and he enjoyed the
inexpressible satisfaction of observing a
phenomenon,which had never before been
seen, excepting by Mr. Horrox in 1639,
by any inhabitant of the earth. He died
at Carabridge May 3, 1779, aged 64.
He was distinguished for his very inti
mate acquaintance with mathematical
science. His talents in investigating
and comraunicating truth were very
rare. In the variety and extent of his
knowledge he has seldora beeri equalled.
He had deeply studied the policies of
different ages ; he had read the principal
fathers ; and he was thoroughly acquain
ted with the controversy between Chris
tians and deists. His firm faith in the
Christian religion was founded upon
an accurate examination of the evidences
of its truth, and the virtues of his life
added a lustre to his intellectual powers
and scientific attainments. In his family
he devoutly maintained the worship of
the supreme Being. While he himself
attended upon the positive institutions
ofthe gospel, he could not conceive what
reason any one, who called himself a
Christian, could give for neglecting them.
The day before his death he said, — "The
hope, that is set before us in the New
Testament, is the only thing, which will
support a man in his dying hour. If

786

WINTHROP.

WISTAR.

any man builds on any other foundation,
in my apprehension his foundation will
fail." His accurate observations of the
transit of Mercury in 1740 were noticed
by the royal society of London. He
pubUshed a lecture on earthquakes, 1755;
answer to Mr. Prince's letter upon earth
quakes, 1756; two letters on comets,
1759 ;an accourit of several fiery meteors,
1765. WINTHROP, Jaraes, l l. d., judge,
the son ofthe preceding, was graduated
in 1769, and fought in the battle of Bun
ker hiU. For some years he was chief
justice of the court of comraon pleas, and
register of probate. He died at Cara
bridge Sept. 26, 1821, aged 70. The
valuable Ubrary, which he had collected,
he bequeathed to Alleghany college,
Penns. He published a translation of
apart of the apocalypse, 1794, and vari
ous scientific papers.
WISE, John, minister of Ipswich,
Mass., the son of Joseph W., was grad
uated at Harvard college in 1673, and
was soon ordained at Chebacco in Ips
wich. In 1688 he was imprisoned by
Andros for remonstrating against the
taxes as a grievance, because imposed
without an asserably. After the revolu
tion he brought an action against Mr.
Dudley,- the chief justice, for denying
hira the benefits of the habeas corpus
act. Being a chaplain in the unhappy
expedition against Canada in 1690, he
distinguished himself not only by the
pious discharge of the sacred office, but
by his heroic spirit and martial skfll.
When several ministers signed proposals
in 1705 for establishing associations,
which should be intrusted with spiritual
power, he exerted hiraself with effect to
avert the danger, which threatened the
congregational churches. In a book,
which he wrote upon this occasion, enti
tled, the churches' quarrel espoused, he
exhibited no sraall share of the wit and
satire of a former minister of Ipswich,
Mr. Ward. He contended, that each
church contains in itself all ecclesiastical
authority. In 1721, when the inocula
tion ofthe «mall pox was first introduced.

he was one of those ministers, who ap
proved of it Mr. Stoddard of North
ampton was another. Mr. Wise died
April 8, 1725, aged 73. He was en
riched with the excellences of nature
and of religion, uniting a graceful form
and majestic aspect to a lively imagination
and sound judgraent, and to incorruptible
integrity, unshaken fortitude, Uberal char
ity, and fervent piety. His attachraent
to civil and religious liberty was zealous
and firra. He was a learned scholar and
eloquent orator. In his last sickness he
expressed a deep sense of his own un-'
worthiness in the sight of heaven, and a
conviction, that he needed the divine
mercy and was entirely dependent on
the free grace of God in Christ Jesus.
He published the Churches' quarrel es
poused, 1710; and a vindication of the
governmentof the N. England churches,
about the year 1717 or 1718. Ii was re
printed in 1772. He contends that the
ecclesiastical government, as estabUshed
by Christ, and as existing in N. E., was
a democracy, and was best calculated for
the advantage of all.
WISE, Jeremiah, minister of Berwick,
Me.,was graduated at Harvard college in
1700, and was ordained as successor of
John Wade Nov. 26, 1707. He died in
1756. He was a man of erainent piety
and goodness. He pubUshed a sermon on
the death of Charles Frost, 1725 ; election
sermon, 1729 ; a sermon at the ordination
of Jaraes Pike, 1730.
WISTAR, Caspar, m. d., a physi
cian, was a grandson of Caspar W., who
emigrated from Germany in 1717, and
established a glass manufactory in N.
Jersey. He was born in Philadelphia
Sept. 13, 1761 ; his parents were quakers.
lU; Oct. 1783 he went to England in or
der to complete his medical education.
His father's death put hira in possession
of a fortune; yet was he not induced to
rela.t in- his industry. He returned to
Philadelphia in Jan. 1787. In 1789 he
was elected professor of chemistry in the
coUege ; & in 1808 he succeeded Shippen
as professor of anatomy. As a lecturer
he was fluent and eloquent, and he gave

WITHERSPOON.

787

most ample instruction. As a physician
he was scrupulously attentive to his
patients and eminently skilful. He died
of a malignant fever Jan. 22, 1818, aged
56. Three children, by his second wife,
Elizabeth Miffiin, niece of gov. M.,
survived him. He published a system of
anatomy. — Tilghman's eulogy ; Thach
er. WITHERSPOON, John, d. d.,
L L. D., president of the college of N.
Jersey, was born in Yester near Edin
burgh, Feb. 5, 1722, and was lineally de
scended frora John Knox. At the age of
14 he entered the university of Edinburgh,
vyhere he continued liU he reached the
age of 21, when he was licensed to preach
the gospel. He was soon ordained at
Beith, and thence was translated to Pais
ley. Here he lived in high reputation
and great usefulness, until he was called
to the presidency of Princeton college.
So extensively was he known, that he
was invited to Dundee, to Dublin, and
Rotterdam. He arrived with his faraily
at Pririceton, N. Jersey, in Aug. 1768,
and took the charge of a seminary, over
which had presided Dickinson, Burr,
Edwards, Davies, and Finley, men dis
tinguished for genius, learning, and piety.
His name brought a great accession of
students to the college, and by his exer
tions its funds were much augmented.
But the war ofthe American revolution
prostrated every thing. While the
academical shades were deserted, and his
functions as president were suspended,
he was introduced into a new field of
labor. As he became at once an Ameri
can on his landing in this country, the
citizens of N. Jersey, who knew his dis
tinguished abilities, appointed hira a
member ofthe convention, which formed
the constitution ofthat stale. Here he
appeared as profound a civilian, as he
had before been known to be a philoso
pher and divine. Frora the revolutiona
ry committees and conventions' of the
state he was sent early in 1776 a repre
sentative td the congress. He was
during 7 years a member of that illus-
'trious body, and he was always coUected,

firm, and wise amidst the erabarrassing
circurastances, in which congress was
placed. His narae is affixed to the dec
laration of independence. But ,while he
was thus engaged in political affairs, he
did not lay aside his ministry. He glad
ly embraced every opportunity of preach
ing, for his character as a minister of the
gospel he ever considered as his highest
honor. As soon as the state of the coun
try would permit, the college was re
established, and its instruction was re-
coraraenced under the immediate care of
the vice president. Dr. Smith. After
the termination of the struggle for Amer
ican Uberty, Dr. W. 'Was induced frora
his attachraent to the college to cross the
ocean, that be might proraote its benefit.
After his return, he entered into that re
tirement, which was dearlo him, and his
attention was principally confined to the
duties of his office as president, and as a
minister of thegospel. For raore than
two years before bis death he was affiic
ted with the loss of sight ; but during
his bhndness he was frequently led into
the pulpit, and he always acquitted hira
self with his usual accuracy aiid aniraa-
tion. At length he sunk under the pres
sure of his infirmities. He died Nov. 15,
1794, aged 72. He was succeeded by
Dr. Sraith. — He possessed a mass of in
formation, well selected and thoroughly
digested. Scarcely any man of the age
had a more vigorous mind, or ja -more
sound understanding. As president
of the college he rendered literary
inquiries more Uberal, extensive, and
profound, and was the means of produc
ing an important revolution in the system
of education. He extended the study of
mathematical science, and it is believed
he was the first man, who taught in A-
raerica the substance of those doctrines
of the phflosophy of the mind, which Dr.
Reid afterwards developed with so much
success. He was very distinguished as a
preacher. He loved to dwell on the
great doctrines of divine grace. Though
he wrote his sermons, and comraitted
them to memory, yet as he was governed
by the desire of doing good and wished

788

WOLCOTT.

to bring his discourses to the level of ev
ery understanding, he was not confined,
when addressing his hearers, within the
boundaries of what he had written. His
life was upright and holy. Besides the
daily intercourse with heaven, which he
held in the closet, and occasional seasons
of solemn recollection and devotion, he
observed the last day ofthe year with his
faraily as a day of fasting, humiliation',
and prayer.
His works are various,- for he wrote
on political, moral, literary, and religious
subjects. No one has raore strikingly
displayed the pernicious effects of the
stage ; and his treatises on the nature
and necessity of regeneration, justification
by free grace through Jesus Christ, the
iraportance of truth in religion, or the
connexion between sound principles and
a holy practice are highly esteemed.
Though a very serious writer, he yet pos
sessed a fund of refined humor andffelicale
satire. In his ecclesiastical^characteristics
his wit was directed at certain corruptions
in principle and practice, prevalent in the
church of Scotland, and it is keen and
cutting. He forraed a union of those,
who accorded with him, and becarae at
length their leader. His works were
published in 4 vols, with an account of
his life by Dr, Rodgers, Svo. 1802.
WOLCOTT, Roger, governor of
Connecticut, a decendant of Henry W.,
was born at Windsor Jan. 4, 1679. His
parents lived in a part of the country,
which suffered much from the Indians,
and in the town there was neither a
schoolmaster nor minister, so that he was
not a meraber of a coraraon school for a
single day in his life. When he was 12
years of age he was bound as an appren
tice to a raechanic. At the age of 21,
when the laws perraitted him to enjoy
the fruits ofhis labors, he established him
self OH the east side of Conn, river in the
sarae town, in which he was born, where
by the blessing of God upon his industry
and frugality he acquired what was con
sidered as a plentiful fortune. He is an
erainent proof of the power of talents and
integrity, in a free country, in raising one

to distinction, notwithstanding the disad
vantages of education and of birth. He
rose by degrees to the highest military
and civfl honors. In the expedition
against Canada in 1711 he was commis
sary- of the Connecticut forces, and at
the capture of Louisbourg in 1745 he
bore the commission of major general.
He was successively a meraber of the as
sembly and of the council, judge of the
county court, deputy governor, chief
judge of the superior court, and from
1751 to 1754 governor. He died May
17, 1767, aged 88. In all his exaltation
above his neighbors he exhibited no
haughtiness of deportment, but was easy
of access, free and affable, of ready wit
and great humor. His literary attain
ments were such, that in conversation
with the learned upon most subjects he
secured respect. He was rauch attached
to the peculiar doctrines of the gospel,
and was for many years a member of a
Christian church. From the year 1754,
when his life was raore retired, he devo
ted hiraself particularly to reading, medi
tation, and prayer. He was very careful
in searching into hiraself, that he might
perceive his own character, and know
whether he was rescued from that de
pravity, to which previously to the re
newing agency of the divine Spirit the
human mind is subjected, and whether
be was interested in the salvation of the
gospel. In his last moments he was sup
ported by the hopes of the Christian, and
he entered into his rest. He pubUshed
poetical meditations, with a preface by
Mr. Bulkley of Colchester, 1725 ; a letter
to Mr. Hobart in 1761, entitied, the new
EngUsh congregational churches are and
always have been consociated churches,
and their liberties greater and better
founded in their platform, agreed upon
at Carabridge in 1 64S, than in the agree
ment at Saybrook in 1708. A long poem,
written by gov. Wolcott, entitied, a brief
account ofthe agency of J. Winthrop in
the court of Charles II in 1662 in procur
ing the charter of Connecticut, is preser
ved in the collections of ihe historical
society. It describes with considerable

V/OLCOTT.
minuteness the Pequot war.— jffjsi. col
IV. 262—297.
WOLCOTT, Erastus, a judge ofthe
superior court of Connecticut, the son of
the preceding, was born about the year
1723. In 1776 he coraraanded a regi
ment of miUtia, and assisted in the invest
ment of Boston. He was appointed a
brigadier general in 1777, and went on
an expedition to Peek's kill. He was re
peatedly a member of congress. To
wards the close of his life he resigned his
office of judge. He died Sept. 14, 1793,
aged 70. Integrity and patriotism were
united in his character with religion. He
was a zealous friend to repubUcan prin
ciples, an able advocate of the rights of
his country. His last illness he bore with
a cheerful serenity and submission to the
wfll of God. A short religious tract,
written by liim,was annexed to Mc Clare's
sermon on his death.
WOLCOTT, Oliver, ll. d., governor
of Connecticut, the brother of the pre
ceding, was born about the year 1727,
and graduated at Yale coUege in 1747.
He sustained a captain's coraraission in
the war with the French. On retiring
ftom miUtary service he studied physic ;
but his attention was drawn from this
profession by his appointment as high
sheriff of the county of Litchfield, which
office he sustained about 14 years. He
was a member ofthe memorable congress,
which agreed upon the declaration of in
dependence in 1776, and he boldly advo
cated that measure. Barlow, in his Vi
sion of Columbus, says, —
"Bold Wolcott urg'd the all important cause,
-With -steady hand the solemn scene he draws;
Undaunted firmness with his wisdom join'd,
Nor kings nor worlds could warp his steadfast
mind.''
He was chosen governor in 1796, but
died Dec. 1, 1797, aged 71. Mr. Trum
bull succeeded hira. His son, OUver W.,
was secretary of the treasury, and gover
nor from 1817 to 1827. Incorruptible
integrity and unshaken firmness were
conspicuous trails in his character. He
was the friend of virtue and religion. In
his last sickness he expressed a deep sense
of his personal unworthiness and guilt.

WOLFE.

789

WOLFE, Jaraes, a raajor general
in the British array, was borri in Wes-
terhain in Kent January 2, 1727. He
entered young into the army, and soon
distinguished himselfas a brave and skil
ful officer. After his return from the
e.\'pedition against Louisbourg in 1758,
he was iraraediately appointed to the
coramand of one of the expeditions, des
tined against Canada in 1759. He ar
rived at the island of Orleans in the neigh
borhood of Quebec late in June. On the
last of July he attacked the French in
trenchments at Montmorency on the left
bank of the St. Charies, but his troops
were thrown into disorder by the enemy's
fire, and he was compelled to give orders
forreturning to the island. He now deter
mined to effect a landing above the city,
and by scaling a precipice to gain the
heights back of the town, where it was
but slightly fortified . He was fully aware
of the temerity of the enterprise, but
resolved to execute it. September
thirteenth, an hour before day break,
he landed with a strong detachment
about a mile above cape Diamond'.
Ascending the precipice by the aid of the
rugged projections of the rocks, and the
branches of trees and plants, grow
ing on the cliffs, the van gained the
heights, and quickly dispersed a cap
tain's guard, which had heen intrusted
with a four gun battery. The whole
army was soon upon the heights of Abra
hara. Montcalra now perceived that a
battle could no longer be avoided, and
that the fate of Quebec depended on trie-
issue. He iraraediately crossed the St.
Charles, and raarched to attack the Eng
lish array. In the beginning of the ac
tion Wolfe received a ball in' his wrist,
but wrapping a handkerchief around his
arm he continued to encourage his men.
He soori received a shot in the groin,
which he also concealed. He was advan
cing at the head of the grenadiers with
charged bayonets, when a third bullet
pierced his breast. Being conveyed into
the rear, he stiU discovered, in the agonies
of death, the most anxious solicitude
concerning the fate of the day. Asking

790

WOOD.

an officer to support him, while be view
ed the field, " tefl rae, sir," said he, " do
the enemy give way there, tell rae, for I
cannot see." His sight was dimmed and
confused, and almost extinguished forev
er. Being told, that the eneray was visi
bly broken, be recUned his head frora ex-
trerae faintness on the officer's arm ; but
he was soon aroused by the cry of " they
run, they run! " " Whorud.' " exclaim
ed the hero. The officer replied, " the
French ; they are heal, sir, they are fly
ing before you." The general then said,
" I am satisfied, my boys!" and almost
instantly expired. This death of the il
lustrious Wolfe in the S3d year ofhis age
CDmbines every circumstance to gratify
the thirst for mflitary glory. Ifthe crea
tures of God were allowed to seek their
own honor, and, if raen destined for ira-
mortality, would choose to place this
honor in having their naraes repeated,
and their heroism applauded by future
and unknown generations; perhaps no in
stance of a death raore to be envied could
be found in the annals of history. The
body of Wolfe was carried to England,
and a monuraent was erected to his raera-
ory in Westminster abbey. He was for
med by nature for military greatness.
His apprehension was quick and clear, his
judgment sound, his courage daring per
haps to an extrerae. With a temper
lively and alraost irapetuous he was not
.subject to passion, and with the greatest
independence he was free frora pride.
He was raanly, yet gentle, kind, and con-
eiliating in his raanners. He was not
only just, but generous ; and he search
ed, out the objects of his charity and
beneficence araong his needy officers.
WOOD, WflUam, author ofthe earii-
est printed account of Massachusetts,
carae to this country in 1629, and after a
residence of about 4 years set sail for
England Aug. 15, 1633. Nothing far
ther is known with certainty concerning
hirfi. He says, that in the town, in
which he resided, there were in 3 years
and a half only 3 deaths, and twoof those
Were infants. Mr. Lewis supposes, that
he lived in Lynn, and was the Wm. W.,

who was the representative in 1636, and'
in 1637 removed to Sandwich, where he
was town clerk. He published " New
England's Pro.spect, being a true, iJVely,
and experimental description ofthat part
of America, commonly cafled New Eng
land," London, 1634, 1635, and 1639 ;
reprinted Boston, with an introductory
essay,1764. This work is well written and
very amusing. It is surprising, that it
has not been republished in the Mass.
historical collections. The towns, which
he describes, are Wichaguscus^et, mount
WoUeston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Bos
ton, Charlestown, Medford, Newtown,
AVatertown, .Mistick, Winnisimet, Sau-
gus, Salera, Marblehead, Agowararae,
and Merriraack, although in the two last
places there were "scarce any inhabi
tants." As to the peninsula of Boston,
he says that " a Uttle fencing 'will secure
their cattle frora the wolves: " at the
south side, at one corner, was " a great
broad hill," with a fort upon it; onthe
north side was an equal bifl, having a
windmill upon it ; and to the north west
a " high mountain, with three little ri
sing hiUs on the top of it, wherefore it
is cafled the Traraount." This word
now appears in the forra of Treraont.
His speciraen of the Massachusetts' In
dian language is the earUest to be found ;
the following are a few of the words: —
abaraocho, the devfl ; annum, a dog ;
cowiras, sleeps ; cossaquot, bow and ar
rows ; cone, the sun ; coepot, ice ; eat
churanis, Indian corn ; hoc, the body ;
hub hub hub, corae come corae ; matchet,
it is naught ; mattamoi, to die ; matta,
no ; mawcus sinnus, a pair of shoes ;
maw paw, it snows ; matchet wequon,
very blunt ; nuncompees, a boy ; nick-'
squaw, a raaid ; nippe, water ; nasarape,
pottage ; netop, a friend ; ottucke, a deer ;
occone, a deer skin ; ottonimaocke, tobac
co ; ontoquos, a wolf; pow wow, a con
jurer ; pappouse, a child ; picke, a pipe ;
papowne, winter ; pequas, a fox ; pesis-
su, a Uttle man ; sagaraore, a king ; sacU-
em, a king ; sannup, a man ; squaw, a
woman ; suckis suacke, a clam ; sequan,
the summer ; tokucke, a hatchet ; warn-

WOOD.
•pomjieage, Indian money ; winnet, very
good ; wigwam, a house ; wawpalucke,
a goose ; worapey, white ; squi, red ;
as cog coi, green.
WOOD, James, governor of Viiginia,
was a distinguished general officer in the
revolutionary army. He was chosen
governor in 1796 and was succeeded by
Mr. Monroe in 1799. He died in June
181S. WOOD, John, a native of Scotiand,
ill 1806,edited a paper,the Western world,
in Ky., and in 1817 a paper, the Atlantic
world, at Washington. In his last years
he resided at Richmond, Va. and was
employed in drawing maps ofthe counties.
He died in May 1822. He published a
history of Switzerland and of the Swiss
revolution ; history of the administra
tion of J. Adaras ; — a statement of the
sources &c. of the above, 1802; exposi
tion of the Clinlonian faction, 1802 ; a
new theory of the diurnal motion of the
earth, 1809.
WOODBRIDGE, John, first minister
of Andover, Mass., the son of Rev.
John W., was born in Wiltshire, Eng
land, in 1613, and, after passing some
tirae at Oxford pursued his studies in pri
vate. In 1634 he carae to this country
with his uncle, Mr. Parker. Hewas or
dained at Andover Sept. 16, 1644; but
upon the invitation of his friends in Eng
land he returned to them in 1647. Being
ejected in 1662, he again sought a retreat
in America, and became an assistant to
Mr. Parker. After his disraission on ac
count ofhis views of church discipline, he
xvas a magistrate of the colony. He died
March 17, 1695, aged 81. His wife was
a daughter of gov. T. Dudley. His son,
Benjarain, minister of Bristol and in 1688
of Kittery, who died at'Medford Jan. 15,
1710, wrote the ingenious Unes for the
tomb of Mr. Cotton, found in Mather's
Magnalia, III. 31. His son, John, the
minister of Wethersfield, died in 1690;
and Ais descendants, ministers, were John
of West Springfield, who died in 1718,
and John of South Hadley, who died
Sept. 10, 1783, aged 79. The grandson
ofthe last, raaking the tenth John W.

WOODBRIDGE.

791

the rainistry of this faraily, is J. Wood-
bridge, D. D., of Nev\r York. — Mather's
mag. .11. 219.
WOODBRIDGE, Benjarain, d. d.,
the first graduate of Harvard college, the
brother of the preceding, was born in
1622, and graduated in 1642. On his re
turn to England he succeed Dr. Twiss at
Newbury, where he gained a high repu
tation as a scholar, a preacher, a casuist,
and a Christian. After he was ejected in
1662 he continued to preach privately.
He liicd at Inglefield in_ Berks Nov. 1,
1684, aged 62. He published a serraon
of justification by faith, 1653; the raelh-
od ofgrace in the justification of sinners,
church merabers set in joint, against lay
preachers, 1656. He also published a
work written by Mr. Noyes, entitled,
Moses and Aaron, or the rights of church
and state, containing two disputations,
1661. WOO.DBRIDGE, Timothy, minister
of Hartford, Conn., son of Rev. John W.
of Andover, was graduated at Harvard
college in 1675, and was ordained Nov.
18, 1685. His predecessors were Hook
er, Stone, and Haynes ; his successors
Wadsworth, Dorr, Strong, and Hawes.
He introduced in Connecticut in 1696 fhe
practice of baptizing the children of
those, who owned the covenant without
being receiwd into full coipraunion. He
died April 30, 1732, aged nearly 80. He
was tall and of a majestic aspect For
his useful labors, and Christian zeal, and
exeraplary virtues he was one of the
most distinguished, men of his day. He
pubUshed an election serraon, 1727. He
was no mean poet. • To C. Mather, on
his Magnalia, he wrote, —
"Great your attempt. No doubt some sacred sjiy.
That lieger in your sacred celt did lie,
Nurs'd your first thoughts with gentle beams of
. light.
And taught your hands things past to bring to
sight:
Thus led by secret, sweetest influence,
You inake returns to God's good proyidence ;
Recording how that mighty hand was nigh
To trace out paths, not known to mortal eye,
To those brave men, that to this lahd came o'er.
And plac'd them safe on the Atlantic shore, 

792

WOODFORD.

WORCESTER.

And gave them room to spread, and bless'd their
root.
Whence, hung with fruit, now many branches
shoot."
WOODFORD, WiUiara, general, a
soldier of the revolution, had the rank of
colonel, when he repulsed an attack made
on him by a party of royalists, near great
bridge, Williamsburg, Virginia, Dec. 15,
1776. He was behind a breast-work;
it was "a Bunker hill affair in miniature."
He served in New Jersey in June 1778,
having then the rank of general. He
died in Virginia in 1792.
WOODHOUSE, James, m. d., pro
fessor of chemistry in the college of Phil
adelphia, the son of a bookseller, was
born in Philadelphia Nov. 17, 1770. In
1791 he served as a surgeon in the array of
StClair. In 1795 he was chosen professor.
For his improvement in science he visited
England and France in 1802. He died
of the apople.icy June 4, 1809, aged 38.
He published an inaugural dissertation on
the chemical and medical properties ofthe
persimmon tree, and the analysis of as
tringent vegetables, 1792 ; the young
chemist's pocket companion, 1797 ; an
answer to Dr. Priestley's considerations
on the doctrine of phlogiston and the
decomposition of water.; an edition of
¦Chaptal's chemistry with notes 2 vols.
-Svo. 1807.
WOODWARD, Bezaleel, first pro
fessor of matheraatios at Dartraouth col
lege, was born at Lebanon, Conn., in
1745 ; graduated at Yale coflege in 1764 ;
and after being a preacher, was appointed
in 1782 professor, in which capacity he
was highly respected. He died Aug. 25,
1 804, aged 59. His wife was a daughter
of Dr. E . Whe,elock. His son, Wm. H.
W., chief justice of the court of coraraon
pleas, died at Hanover Aug. 9, 1818,
aged 44. His son, Henry W., is a rais
sionary at Ceylon.
WOOLMAN, John, a writer against
slavery, a- descendant of J. V/., a settler
of Burlington, N. J., in 1680, was bom
in 1720. He was a preacher araong the
quakers and a co-adjutor of Anthony
Benezet in his labors for the freedpm of

the blacks. He was the grandson of
Henry Burr of New Jersey, who at his
death in 1742 bequeathed liberty to all
his slaves, — supposed to be the first in
stance of emancipation: Peter White, the
son in law, to Burr, also bequeathed free
dom to his slaves. These examples bad
their influence on Woolman, who visited
Maryland abput 1757 in order to discuss
the affair of "slave keeping, " and who
wrote earnestly upon the subject. On a
visit to England he died in 1772. He was
a raan of great industry, self denial and
benevolence. His works were published,
1774; 5th ed. Phil. 1818.
WOOLSEY, Melancthon Lloyd,
general a soldier of the revolution, was
born on L. Island about 1757. He was a
field officer at the age of 22, and rendered
iraportant services on the northern fron
tier. After the war he resided at Platts
burg. While on a journey to visit his
son, coraraodore W. at Sackett's Harbor,
he was taken sick, and' died at Trenton,
N. Y., June 29, 1819, aged 62.
WOOLWORTH, Aaron, d. d.,
minister of Bridgehamplon, L. I., was
graduated at Yale college in 1784 ; was
ordained in 1786 ; anddied AprU 2, 1821,
aged 58. His. wife was a daughter, of
Rev. Dr. Buell; he left 5 children. He
was a distinguished and useful minister.
, WOOSTER, David, major general in
the revolutionary war, was bom at Strat
ford in 1711, and was graduated at
Yale coUege in 1738. At the commence
ment of the war with Great Britain he
was appointed to the chief coraraand of
the troops in, the service of Connecticut,
and made a brigadier general in the con
tinental service ; but this commission- he
afterwards resigned. In 1776 he was ap
pointed the first major general of the
raiUtia of his native state. While op
posing a detachraent of British troops,
whose object was to destroy the public
stores at Danbury,- he was mortally
wounded at Ridgfield April 27, 1777,
and died May 2d.
WORCESTER, Saraubl, d. d., first
Secretary' of the American Board of
Commissioners for foreign missions, a de-

WORCESTER.
scendant of Thoraas W., minister of
SaUsbury, N. H., in 1639, was bom in
Hollis, N. H., Nov. 1, 1771; was gradu
ated at Dartmouth college in 1795 ; and
ordained at Fitchburg, Mass., Sept. 27,
1797. April 20, 1803 he was instaUed
the pastor of the tabernacle church in
Salem. At the institution of the foreign
mission society in 1810 he was chosen
Recording secretary, and upon him de
volved the chief care and labor ofthe so
ciety. In 1817, when Mr. CorneUus
was settied as his colleague, he was al
lowed to devote three quarters of his
time to the missionary cause. In 1820
in a state of feeble health he visited the
missionary stations at the south. From
New Orleans he proceeded to Mayhew,
and thence May 25th to Brainerd, a mis
sionary station among the Cherokees,
dearer to hira than any city or raansion
on the earth, where he died June 7, 182],
aged 49. His son, Sarauel M. W.,-is
professor of rhetoric at Amherst college.
His body rests in the territory of the Che
rokees. The body of his nephew, Samuel
-A. Worcester, for preaching the gospel
to the same Indians in disregard of the
unconstitutional laws of Georgia, is now
shut up among convicts in the prison
house of the Georgians, and there held,
in defiance of the supreme court of the
U. S. Dr. W. was a bright example of
pastoral faithfulness and of habitual, fer
vent piety. During his ministry in Sa
lem 285 were added to the church. He
attended more than 80 ecclesiastical
councils. He was humble, benevolent,
and disinterested. He died a poor man ;
but he left, his family what is more valu
able than riches, — the benefit of his emi
nently holy character and of his instruc
tions and prayers. Multitudes in this
world of selfishness tofl -only for thera
selves ; he toiled incessantly for the good
of others ahd for the kingdom of .Jesus
Christ. He was conspicuous for a cool,
sound judgment ; was distinguished as
a writer ; and enjoyed in a high degree
the confidence of the churches. His
wisdora and talents are seen in the 10
first annual reports ofthe Board, of which
100

WORUMBO.

798

he was the Secretary. Mr. Evarts was
his firs.t successor as secretary ; and then
fora short time Mr. CorneUus, his for
mer colleague at Salera. He published
serraons on future punishment, 1800 ; 2
discourses on the perpetuity of the cove
nant with Abraham, Svo. 1805 ; letters
to T. Baldwin, 1807 ; on the death of
Eleanor Emerson, 1808 ; of R. Ander
son, 1814 ; before the M. missionary so
ciety, 1809; God a rewarder ; at the in
stallation of E. D. Griffin, 1811 ; at the
ordination ofE. L. Parker, 1810; of the
missionaries, Newell, Judson, Nott, Hall,
and Rice, 1SI2 ; of 6 missionaries,
1815 ; of W. Cogswell, 1815 ; fast ser
mons on the war, 1812; before the foreign
mission soc. of Salem, 1813; 3 separate
letters to W. E. Channing, on unitarian
ism, 1815; Christian psalmody, 1815 ;
before the A, education society, on true
liberaiiiy, at the first anniversary, 1816 ;
the Drunkard a destroyer, 1817 ; 10 Re
ports of the A. foreign raission society,
from IS! I to 1820.
WORTHINGTON, John, l l. d.,
an eminent lawyer, was graduated at
Yale college in 1740. In 1774 hewas a
memher of the legislature of Massachu
setts, and opposed the measures of the
friends of liberty. His name was in the
same year included in the list ofthe man
damus councfllors, but he decUned the
appointment. He died at Springfield in
April 1800, aged 81. Mr. Ames married
his daughter.
WORUMBO, or Warrumbee, sachem
of the Araeriscoggan Indians, had a fort
on the Araeriscoggan, or, as it is now
called, Androscoggan river, which in his
absence was captured by Church in 1690.
About the 9th or 1 0th of Sept raajor
Church sailed frora Portsraouth with
300 soldiers. In a few days he arrived
at Maquoit, and proceeded to Pejepscott
fort in Brunswick, and thence raarched
up the river about 40 miles, according to
Mather, and Sunday, Sept. 14, captured
the Indian fort, making prisoners of one
man and the wives and children of Wo
rumbo and Hawkins. The prisoners
were afterwards released at Wells on the

794

WORUMBO.

WRAGG.

appearance of the chiefs with a flag of
truce and their engagement to live in
peace, with the delivery of raany prison
ers. Frora Church's account of the ex
pedition it is uncertain, whether ihe In
dian fort was at Lewiston, Jay, or Rura
ford, at each of which places are falls, at
the distancesof 20, 45, and 60 miles from
Pejepscott. He says, that the Indians
ran down from the fort to the river and
ran in under the sheet of water at the
falls. At Ruraford upper falls, for there
are three pitches, the water shoots over
in a manner, which would allow of pas
sing under it. The falls, three railes be
low Jay point, called Rockamecko, do
not answer this description, nor do those
at Lewiston. Yet the distance of 60
railes seems a long march with SOO men
into the wilderness. With boats or ca
noes he could not have been supplied. Ju
ly 7, 1684 Warrumbee,with 5 othersaga-
mores, naniely,.Darumkine,Wihikermett,
Wedon Domhegon, Nehonongassett,
and Numbanewelt, gave a deed of land
lo Richard Wharton of Boston, which
-was the foundation of the claira of the
Pejepscott proprietors. The contract
was made at Pejepscott or Pejepscook, as
the Indians called the falls at Brunswick,
& the territory granted was lo extendfrora
five miles above "the upper part of the
Androscoggan uppermost fafls" in a north
east line lo the Kennebec, and four railes
westward of the falls and thence " down
to Maquoit." The point of legal contro
versy was what was intended by the "up-
perraost faUs" of Androscoggan. The
court has settled, that it means Lewiston
falls, 20 miles above Brunswick ; yet from
reading Warrurabee's deed, the first book
of records of the Pejepscott proprietors,
and other papers it seems clear, that
Brunswick upper falls were intended. A
N. E . line frora Lewiston would strike
the Kennebec at Norridgewock or Wa-
terville, and confer an immense territory,
to which these Indians had no pretensions,
and interfere with the Kennebec com
pany. Besides, the falls at Lewiston are
the middle falls of the river, and those at
Ruraford forty miles distant, are the up

permost. In one place the deed speaks
ofthe uppermost ;jar« of Androscoggan
falls," as though the falls extended some
distance in the river, which is not the
case with the the single fall at Lewiston,
but which answers to the three falls of
Brunswick, separated many rods from
each other. This deed professes to con
firm a previous grant of land, with the
same western boundary, to Thomas
Purchase, and his house is described as
being near the centre of the territory;
as he lived between Brunswick and Bath,
his house would be far from the centre,
ifthe Une was 4 miles west of Lewiston.
The deposition of Peripole, an Indian, in
1793, that the river at Brunswick and
for some miles above was called by the
Indians Pejepscook, and not Androscog
gan, is confuted by a deed in 1639 of T.
Purchase, whose land is described as lying
"at Pejepscott upon both sides ofthe riv
er of Androscoggan," and by a deed of
J. Blaney in 1683,whose lands are descri
bed as lying between "the river of Ken
nebec, Amhroscoggan, and Casco bay."
The proprietors in 1715 describe Bruns
wick as on the Androscoggan river. Tho.
Johnston's old map, founded on previous
surveys and on a plan in 1719 made by
Jos. Heath, a surveyor of the Pejepscott
company, five years only after their pur
chase, exhibits distinctly bj' a double line
their western boundary 4 mfles from
Brunswick falls. On the whole it
seems evident, that Warrumbee intended
Brunswick falls as one of the boundaries
in his deed. But even the poor remnant
ofhis tribe have disappeared from Rocka-
rae.cko point in Jay and from Pennicook
in Ruraford, and their whole territory
has fallen into the hands of the whites.
Is there not a debt of justice due to the
few Indians, who yet reraain in the Uni
ted States.'
WRAGG, WilUam, a lawyer of S.
CaroUna, was born in 1714, and was edu
cated and studied law in England. After
his return to this country he was for ma
ny years a member of the asserably, and
in 1753 a raember of the council. He
declined in 1769 the appointment of chief

WRIGHT.

WYTHE.

795

justice for a most honorable reason, to
prevent a suspicion, that his political
course was influenced by the hope of of
fice. In the revolution his sense of duty
restrained him from espousing the cause
of independence. Leaving his country
he embarked for England, and was ship
wrecked on the coast of Holland and lost
in Sept 1777; his infant son was saved.
A monuraent to his raeraory in Westmin
ister abbey exhibits the raelancholy scene
of his last raoments. Hewas a raan of
talents, and eloquence, and raany virtues.
Hepublished Reasons for not concurring
in the non iraportation resolution, 1769.
WRIGHT, Nathaniel H., a poet,
was bom in Concord, Mass. in 1787,
and educated as a printer in Boston,
where he edited the Kaleidoscope, and
died May 13, 1824, aged 37. He pub
lished the fall of Palrayra, a poera ; Bos
ton, or a touch atthe tiraes, a sraall pam
phlet. WYLLIS, George, governor of Con
necticut in 1642, came from England to
Hartford in 1633 and died in March 1644.
He was eminently pious, and from regard
to the purity of divine worship left a fine
estate in the county of Warwick and en
countered the hardships of a wilderness.
His descendants are distinguished in the
civfl history of Connecticut. His son,
Samuel, died May 30, 1709 ; the charter
in the time of Andros was concealed in
a hollow oak, standing in front of his
house, called charter-oak. Hezekiah,
the son of Samuel, was secretary, and
died in 17S4. George, the son of Heze
kiah, died Apr. 24, 1796, aged S5,'being
annuaUy chosen secretary 61 years till his
death. Samuel, the son of George, died
June 9, 1823, aged 85. He also was sec
retary from 1796 to 1809,— the faraily hol
ding the office 98 successive years. He
was besides, in the rank of colonel, a sol
dier of the revolution, and raaj. gen. of
the niilitia. Col. Hezekiah W. died in
April 1827, aged 80.
WYNNE, J. H., pubUshed a General
History of the British Erapire in America,
2 vols. Svo. 1770.
WYTHE, George, chancellor of Vir

ginia, and a distinguished friend of his
country, was born in the county of Eliza
beth city in 17'26. His father was a res
pectable farmer, and his raother .was a
woman of uncommon knowledge and
strength of mind. She taught the Latin
language, with which she was intimately
acquainted, and which she spoke fluent
ly, to i,her son ; but his education was
in other respects very much neglec
ted. His parents having died before he
attained the age of twenty one years, like
many unthinking youths he commenced
a career of dissipation and iutemperance,
and did not disengage hiraself frora it
before he reached the age of thirty. He
then bitterly lamented the loss of those 9
years of his Ufe, and of the learning,
which during that period he raight have
acquired. But never did any man more
effectually redeem his tirae. Frora the
moment, when he resolved on reforma
tion, he devoted himself raost intensely
to his studies. Without the assistance
of any instructer be acquired an accurate
knowledge ofthe Greek, and he read the
best authors in that as well as in the Latin
language. He raade himself also a pro
found lawyer, becoraing perfectly versed
in the civil and comraon law, and in the
statutes of Great Britain and Virginia.
The wild and thoughtiess youth was
now converted into a sedate and prudent
raan, delighting entirely in literary pur
suits. When the time arrived, which heav
en had destined for the separation of the
wide, confederated republic of Araerica
from the dominion of Great Britain, he
was one of the instruments in the hand
of providence for accomplishing that
great work. He took a decided part in
the very first moveraents of opposition.
Not content merely to fall in with the
wishes of his fellow citizens, he assisted
in persuading them not to submit to Brit
ish tyranny. With his pupil and friend
Thomas Jefferson, he roused the people
to resistance. As the controversy grew
warm, his zeal became proportionablv
fervent. Before the war comraenced, he
was elected a meraber of the Virginia as
sembly. After having been for some

796

WYTHE.

time speaker of the house of burgesses,
he was sent by the raerabers of that body
as one of their delegates to the congress,
which asserabled May 18, 1775, and did
not separate until it had declared the in
dependence of America. In that most en
lightened and patriotic asserably he pos
sessed no sraall share of influence. He
was one of those, who signed the raerao-
rable declaration, by which the heroic
legislators of this country pledged " their
lives, their fortunes, and their sacred hon
or" to maintain and defend its violated
rights. By a resolution of the general
assembly of Virginia, dated Nov. 5, 1776,
he and Jefferson, Pendleton, Mason, and
T. L. Lee were appointed a committee
to revise the laws of the commonwealth .
This was a work of very great labor and
difficulty. The three first prosecuted
their task with indefatigable activity and
zeal, and June 18, 1779 made a report of
126 bills, which they had prepared.
This report showed an intimate knowl
edge ofthe great principles of legislation,
and reflected the highest honor upon
those, who formed it The people of
Virginia are indebted to it for almost
all the best parts of their present code of
laws. Among the changes, then raade in
the monarchical systera of jurisprudence,
which had been in force, the raost impor
tant were effected by the act a'nolishing
the right of primogeniture, & directing the
real estate of persons dying intestate to
be equally divided among their children,
or other relations ; by the act for regu
lating conveyances, which converted
afl estates in tail into fees simple, and
thus destroyed one of the supports of
the proud and overbearing distinctions
of particular families ; and finally by the
act for the establishraent of religious
freedora. After finishing the task of new raodel-
ing the laws, he was employed to carry
them into effect according to their true
intent and spirit by being placed in the
difficult office of judge of a court of equi
ty. He was appointed one of the three
judges of the high court of chancery,
and afterwards sole chancellor of Virginia,

in which station he continued until the
day of his death, during a period of raore
than twenty years. His extraordinary
disinterestedness and patriotisra were now
most conspicuously displayed. Although
the salary, allowed hira by the coraraon-
wealth, was extremely scanty, yet he con
tentedly lived upon it even in the expen
sive city of Richmond, and devoted his
whole time to the service of his country.
With that contempt of wealth, which so
remarkably distinguished hira frora other
raen, he raade a present of one halfof his
land in Elizabeth city to his nephew, and
the purchase raoney of the remainder,
which he sold, was not paid hira for
many years. While he resided in Wil-
liamsburgh he accepted the professor
ship of law in the college of William
and Mary, but resigned it when his duties
as a chancellor required his removal to
Richmond. His resources were therefore
sraall ; yet with his Uberal and charitable
disposition he continued, by means ofthat
little, to do much good, and always to
preserve his independence. This he ac
complished by teraperance and econ
oray. He was a member of the Virginia .con
vention, which in June 1783 con,sidered
the proposed constitution of the United
States. During the debates he acted for
the raost part as chairman. Being con
vinced, that the confederation was defec
tive in the energy, necessary to preserve
the union and liberty of America, this
venerable patriot, then beginning lo bow
under the weight of years, rose in the
convention, and exerted his voice, almost
too feeble to be heard, in contending for
a systera, on the acceptance of which he
conceived the happiness ofhis country to
depend. He was ever attached to the con
stitution, on account of the principles of
freedom and justice, which it contained ;
and in every change of affairs he was stea
dy in supporting the rights of man. His
political opinions were always firaily re
publican. Though in 1798 and 1799 he
was opposed to the measures, which were
adopted in the administration of president
Adaras, and reprobated the alien and se-

YALE.
dition laws, and the raising of the army ;
yet he never yielded a nioment lo the
rancor of party spirit, nor permitted the
difference of opinion to interfere with his
private friendships. He presided twice
succe.ssively in the college of electors in
Virginia, and twice voted for a president,
whose poUtical principles coincided with
his own. After a short but very excruci
ating sickness he died June 8, 1806, aged
80. It was supposed, that he was poison
ed ; but the person suspected was acquit
ted by a jury of his countrymen. By his last
will and testament he bequeathed his val
uable library and philosophical apparatus
to his friend Mr. Jefferson, and distribu
ted the remainder of his Uttle property
among the grand children of his sister,
and the slaves, whora he had set free.
YALE, EUhu, the principal benefactor
OfYale college, was born at New Haven
in 1648, and at the age often years went
to England, & about the year 1678 to the
East Indies, where he acquired a large
estate, was made gov. of fort St. George,
and raarried an Indian lady of fortune.
After his return to London he waschosen
governor ofthe East India corapany, and
made those donations to the college in
his native town, which induced the trus
tees to bestow on it the name of Yale.
He died in Wales July 8, 1721.
YATES, Robert, chief justice of N.
York, wasborn at Schenectady in Jan.
1738, and became erainent as a lawyer in
Albany. In 1776 and 1777 he was chair
man of the coraraittee for military opera
tions. Under the constitution of the
state, which he assisted in framing in
1777, he was appointed a judge of the
suprerae court He was chief justice
frora 1790 tifl 1798. Ofthe convention,
which formed the federal constitution, he
was a meraber. He died Sept. 9, 1801.
For his raany virtues he was esteeraed,
and respected as an upright, learned judge,
and an accomplished scholar.
YEATES, Jasper, judge, a patriot of
the revolution, was a member of Lancas
ter county committee of correspondence,
Penns., in 1774, and of the convention,
jyhich ratified the constitution of the

ZEISBERGER.

797

United States in 1788. He was a
judge ofthe supreme court of Penns,,
from 1791 tfll his death at Lancaster,
March 14, 1817. He was a man of sound
judgment and great industry, and faithful
ness in his office. He published Reports
of cases in the supreme court of Penns.,
1817. YOUNGMAN,.John George, a Mo
ravian missionary, was first employed
among the Mohegans in Connecticut,
and afterwards among the Delawares on
the Susquehannah and in the western
country. He died at Bethlehem in July
1808, aged 87.
YOUNGS, John, the first rainister in
Southhold, L. I., had been a ministerin
Hingham, England, but came to this
country with a part ofhis church in 1640
and in Oct. comraenced the settieraent of
S. Hedied in 1672, aged 73. His son,
John, colonel and sheriff of the county,
died in 168S, aged 74. His brother,
Benjamin, and others of the name were
judges of the coramon pleas.
ZEISBERGER, David, a Moravian
raissionary among the Indians of N.
America, vvas a native of Moravia, ia
Germany, whence his parents emigrated
to Hernhut in Upper Lusatia for the
sake of religious liherty. He was bom
in 1721. In 1738 hecame to Georgia,
where some of his brethren had begun a
settlement, that they might preach the
gospel to the Creeks. Thence he rerao
ved to Pennsylvania, and assisted in the
coramencemeiit of ftie settieraents of
Bethlehem and Nazareth. From 1746 he
was for 62 years a missionary araong the
Indians. Perhaps no raan ever preach
ed the gospel so long araong them, and
amidst so many trials and hardships.
He was one ofthe oldest white settlers in
the state of Ohio. In the last 40 years
of his life he only paid two visits to his
friends in the Atlantic states. His last
journey to Bethlehem was in 1781. He
died at Goshen, on the river Muskingum,
in Ohio, Nov. 17, 1808, aged 87. He
was a raan of small stature, with a cheerful
countenance, of a cool, intrepid spirit,
with a good understanding and sound

793

ZEISBERGER.

judgment. His portrait is prefixed to
Heckewelder's Narrative. Amidst all
his privations and dangers he was never
known to complain, nor ever regretted,
that he had engaged in the cause of the
Redeemer. He would never consent lo
receive a salary, although he deemed it
proper for some missionaries. He trus
ted in his Lord for Ihe necessaries oflife,
and he looked to the future world for his
reward. Free frora selfishness, a spirit of
universal love filled his bosora. A raore
perfect character has seldom been exhibi
ted on the earth.
It is a raelancholy fact, that he sufl'ered
more from white raen, called Christians,
by reason of their selfishness,and depravi
ty, and hostility to the gospel, than
from the Indians. In 1745, on his jour
ney towards the five nations, he was ar
rested at Albany with Mr. Post, and after
much abuse imprisoned 7 weeks in the
city of New York. At last he was declar
ed innocent of any treasonable views, and
was liberated. Atone time a plot was
laid by one Girty, an English agent or
trader at Sandusky, to procure his scalp,
and nearly succeeded.
In March 1782 between 90 and 100 of
the Christian Indians at Gnadenhutten
on the Muskingum were massacred by a
party of whites from the settlements on
the Ohio. The imraediate cause of
thisraassacre was the raurder ofa woman
and child by sorae Sandusky warriors, in
which however it is incredible, that the
whites could have thought the Christian
Indians were implicated. The party
found the Indians at work in a corn field,
and hailed them as friends, and offered to
protect thera from their enemies, and
even called thera " good Christians. "
When ihey were secured it was told thera,
that they raust die. Begging for a short
delay, that they raight prepare for death,
they fell on their knees, and prayed to
their God and Savior aud sang his prais
es, and then kissed each other with a flood
of tears mingled with lofty Christian hope.
Sorae of the party remonstrated against
what was proposed, but it, being in vain,
they withdrew to a distance, wringing

their hands, saying, they were innocent
of the blood, which was lo be shed.
Then one of the white monsters began
the work of death. Seizing a cooper's
rnallet,he knocked in the head 14 unresis
ting victiras one afteranother,& then han
ded the instrument to a brother monster,
saying, 'I think I have done pretty well !'
More than 90 men, women, and children
were killed and scalped, when the mur
derers, having set fire to the houses, and
scalped their victims, went off shouting
and yelling. Such a foul and horrible
deed cannot be found in the page of his
tory. The object was the plunder of 80
liorses,offurs,and other property of these
peaceable Indians. Of these victims 62
were grown persons, one third of whora
were woraen ; 34 were children. Two
of thera had been merabers of David
Brainerd's church in New Jersey. — The
leader ofthis horrible party had the name
of Williamson. Two months after
wards he a'ltacked the warrior Indians at
Sandusky and was defeated. Col. Craw
ford was taken prisoner, and the savages,
in retaliation, lied him to a stake and put
him lo death by various tortures ; under
which he was tauntingly asked, how he
felt, and whether they did as well to him,
as he had done to the believing Indians.?
They added, " we have to learn barbari-
ities of you white people!"
Had the back settlers of our country
participated in the benevolent spirit ofthe
Moravians, the benefit lo the Indians
would have been incalculable. Amidst
all obstacles the brethren, in the days of
Mr. Zeisberger, instructed and baptized
about 1500 of the Indians. The calm
death of those, who were murdered at
Muskingum, is a delightful proof of the
influence of the gospel on men, concern
ing whom it is soraetiraes said, they can
not be raade Christians. ,
In the evening of hi;i; days, as the facul
ties of Mr. Z. began to fafl hira, his de
sire to depart and to be wilh Christ con
tinually increased. , Yet was he patient
and resigned. His last words wei-e,"Lord
Jesus, I pray thee come, and take ray spirit
lo thyself" — "Thou hast never yet for-

ZENGER.

ZINZENDORF.

799

saken me, in my trial: thou wilt not
forsake me now. "
He made himself acquainted with two
languages, the Onondago (an idiom, of
the Six nations) and the Delaware.
Ahout 1768 he wrote two Grammars of
the Onondago, in English ,and German,
and a Dictionary, German and Indian, of
more than 1700 pages. Iu th-j Lenape,
or language ofthe Delaware, he publish
ed a Spelling book, first in 1776, and an
enlarged edition in 1806 ; also Sermons
to children, aud an Hymn book of 360
pages, containing upwards of 500 hymns,
translated partly from German and part
ly from English. Ho left in manu
script a grammar in German of the Del
aware language, which has been transla
ted by Mr. Du Ponceau; also a Harmony
of the four gospels, translated into
Dela-cvare. It is beUeved, that the last
has been published by the female Mis
sionary society of Bethlehem. — Amer.
Reg. V. ; Heckewelder's narrative.
ZENGER, John Peter, a printer in
New York, came frora Germany, and es
tablished a press in 1726. In 1733 he es
tablished the Weekly Journal. In con
sequence of sorae strictures in that paper
on gov. Crosby and the council, he was
imprisoned by a warrant from the gover
nor and councfl in Dec. 1734 and kept
in close confinement 35 weeks. Andrew
Harailton, an erainent lawyer of Philadel
phia, though aged and infirm, repaired to
N. York to defend him at his trial. Pros
ecuted for publishing a false libel on the
governor, Mr. H. admitted the publica
tion but insisted, thalthe writing was
not false. The court would not allow
the witnesses ofthe truth lo be examin
ed ; would not allow the jury to judge
ofthe law as well as of the fact ; yet the
jury, notwithstanding the direction of the
benchjbroughtina verdict of not guilty.
Afterward in England Mr.Owen,pi-osecu-
ted by desire of the comraons, was in like
raanner acquitted. This precedent had its
weight in the trials relating to the wri
tings of Junius. It is to Araerica and to
Andrew Hamilton, that the principle
may be traced, that the jury have a right

lo examine the truth of the alleged libel
and the motives of the writer. The
common council of N. Y. presented Mr.
H. the freedom of their corporation in
a gold box. Zenger died in 1746 ; his
widow, Catharine, and his son, John,
continued the paper. — A narration of
his trial was published at Boston; also
at London, with the trial of Wm. Ow
en, Svo. 1765. — Holmes, ii. 5 ; Thomas,
II. 95.
ZINZENDORF, Nicholas Louis,
count, the founder of the sect of the
Moravians, was born at Dresden in May,
1700. He studied at Halle and Utrecht.
About the year 1721 he purchased the
lordship of Bertholdsdorf in Lusatia.
Some poor Christians, the followers of
John Huss, obtained le.ave in 1722 to
settle on his estate. They soon raade
converts. Such was the origin of the
village of Hernhut. Frora this period
coiint Z. devoted himself to the business
of instructing his fellow men by his
writings and by preaching. He travel
led through Germany, and in Denmark
became acquainted with the Danish
missions in the East Indies and Green
land. About 1732 he engaged earnestly
in the promotion of missions by his Mo
ravian brethren, whose numbers at Hern
hut were then about 500. So successful
were these missions, that in a few years
4000 negroes were baptized in the W.
Indies, and the converts in Greenland
amounted to 784. In 1737 he visited
London, and in 1741 came to America,
and preached at Germantown and Beth
lehem. Feb. 11, 1742 he ordained at
Oly in Penns., the missionaries, Rauch
and Buettner, and Rauch baptized 3 In
dians from Shekoraeco, east of the Hud
son, " the firstlings of the Indians."
He soon with his daughter, Benigna, and
several brethren and sisters, visited va
rious tribes of Indians, Al Shekomeco
he estabUshed the first Indian Moravian
congregation in N. America. In 1743
he returned to Europe. He died at
Hernhut in 1760, and his coffin was
carried to the grave by 32 preachers
and raissionaries, whom he had reared,

800

ZUBLY.

and some of whom had toUed in Holland, I
England, Irelapd, North America, and
Greenland. What monarch was ever
honored by a funeral Uke this.' The
-sect, established by Z., boasts not of
great orators and learned theologians ;
indeed it boasts of nothing ; but no sect
has been more deeply imbued with the
meek and benevolent spirit of the gospel
or manifested more of a noble missionary
zeal. ZUBLY, John Joachim, d.d., first
minister of the presbyterian church in
Savannah, came from St. Gall in Switzer
land, and took the charge of this church
in 1760. He preached to an English and
German congregation, and sometimes
also he preached in French. "He was a
member of the provincial congress in

1775, but, as he differed in opinion fiom
his fellow citizens wilh respect lo the in
dependence of the U. S., he incurred
thpir displeasure, and his subsequent days
were imbittered. He died at Savannah
in July, 1781. Hewas a man of great
learning, of a vigorous and penetrating
mind, and ofa heart moulded into the
Christian spirit. He published a sermon
on the value ofthat faith, without which
it is impossible to please God, 1772; a
sermon on the death of J. Osgood of
Midway, 1773 ; the law of liberty, a
sermon on American affairs at the open
ing of the provincial congress of Geor
gia, with an appendix, giving an account
ofthe struggle of Switzerland to recover
liberty, 1775. — Georgia analyt repos. i.
49 ; Gordon, ii. 75.

ERRATA.
Page 49 col. 1 line 30 for 5 or 6 years, read one year.
^ — 19 for tribes read bribes.
— 12 lines from bntt. for 1757, re.id 1657.
- 8 for 1672, read 1662.
- 34 for 47, read 38.
— 22 erase the word bears. •
- 23 for 1815 aged 81, read 1820 aged 85.
- 23 for 1776, read 1576.
— 25 for Graham, read Granger.
- 4 for 1778, read 1758.
— 16 for Hall, read JaoUson.
- 12 from bott. for 1682, read 1672.
~ 19 for state, read treasury.
- 26 for 1713, read 181 3.
Add to the account of Jame3\Vil!<in.^on— He piiMij^hcd
"Memoirs of my <nvn times, 3 vols. Svo. 1816,"

96

- 1

155

2

156

- 1

203

1

297

- 2

S20

- 1

349

2

425

1

473

1

485

2

496

- 1

593

2

603

2

773

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