Part 9

I. Samuel, b. in England, 1606, who was a minister and was m. to Mary Winthrop about 1633, and had children,-- 1. Thomas, bapt. March 9, 1634, grad. H. C. 1651, d. Nov. 7, 1655. 2. John, bapt. June 28, 1635. 3. Samuel, bapt. Aug. 2, 1639, d. April, 1643. 4. Anne, b. Oct. 16, 1641, who m. Edward Hilton and had children, Winthrop, Dudley, Joseph, and others. 5. Theophilus, b. Oct., 1644. 6. Mary, b. April 21, 1646, d. Oct. 28, 1646. 7. Biley, b. Sept. 27, 1647. 8. Mary 2nd, b. Jan. 6, 1649.

Mary, the 1st wife of Rev. Samuel Dudley, d. at Salisbury, (where the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th children were born,) April 12, 1643. He d. at Exeter before March 20, 1683, a. 77. His settlement in the ministry there was in 1650.

II. Anne, who m. Gov. Simon Bradstreet. She had 8 children and d. Sept. 16, 1672.

III. Patience, who m. Maj. Gen. Denison.

IV. Mercy, who m. Rev. John Woodbridge. She was b. Sept. 27, 1621, and d. July 1, 1691, a. 70.

V. ----, who m. Maj. Benjamin Keayne of Boston, who d. 1668.

VI. Dorothy, who d. Feb. 27, 1643.

VII. Deborah, b. at Roxbury, Feb. 27, 1645.

VIII. Joseph, b. Sept. 23, 1647, who was Governor of Massachusetts, and m. a daughter of Edward Tyng, and had children,-- 1. Thomas, b. at Roxbury, Feb. 26, 1669-70, grad. H. C. 1685. 2. Edward, b. at Roxbury, Sept. 4, 1671. 3. Paul, b. at Roxbury, Sept. 3, 1675, grad. H. C. 1690. He was a Tutor and Fellow of the College, and also, Fellow of the Royal Society in England and Chief Justice of Massachusetts. He d. Jan. 21, 1751, a. 75. 4. Samuel, b. at Roxbury, Sept., 1677. 5. John, b. at Roxbury, Feb. 28, 1678-79. 6. Rebecca, b. May 15, 1681, who m. Samuel Sewall, Jr., and d. April 14, 1761, a. 79. 7. Catharine, b. June 2, 1683. 8. Ann, b. Aug. 27, 1684. 9. William, b. Oct. 20, 1686, who grad. H. C. 1704, and m. eldest dau. of Judge Davenport, March 10, 1721, and was a colonel. He had two sons: Thomas, who grad. H. C. 1750, and Joseph, who grad. H. C. 1751, was an Attorney at Law in Boston, and d. Sept. 27, 1767, a. 35. 10. Daniel, b. Feb. 4, 1689. 11. Catharine 2nd, b. Jan. 5, 1690. 12. Mary, b. Nov. 2, 1692, who m. Francis Wainwright, who d. 1722, and afterwards m. Joseph Atkins, 1730.

IX. Paul, b. at Roxbury, Sept. 8, 1650, who m. Mary Leverett, dau. of Gov. Leverett, and had children,-- 1. Paul, b. at Boston, March 4, 1677. 2. Thomas, who alone, with one in expectation, is mentioned in his will of Feb. 10, 1681. (_Probate Records in Boston, Vol. VI. p. 368._) 3. One posthumous.

EPITAPHS.[27]

Here is interred the remains of JAMES MINOTT, Esq., A. M. an Excelling Grammarian, Enriched with the Gift of Prayer and Preaching, a Commanding Officer, a Physician of Great Value, a Great Lover of Peace as well as of Justice, and which was His greatest Glory, a Gent'n of distinguished Virtue and Goodness, happy in a Virtuous Posterity, and living Religiously, Died Comfortably, Sept. 20, 1735, Æt. 83.

* * * * *

Here lyes the remains of Major JONATHAN PRESCOTT, Esq., a Gentleman of virtue and merit, an accomplisht physitian, but excelling in chirurgery. Of uncommon sagacity, penetration, and success in his practice, and so of very extensive service. But his life was much valued, and his death very generally lamented. He married the amiable and only daughter of the Honorable Colonel PETER BULKLEY, Esq., by whom he had ten children. He was removed from ministring to men's bodies, to the world of spirits, October 28th, 1729, Ætatis suæ 54.

* * * * *

Here lyes the Body of Rev. Mr. CHRISTOPHER TOPPAN, Master of Arts, fourth Pastor of the First Church in Newbury; a Gentleman of good Learning, conspicuous Piety and Virtue, shining both by his Doctrine and Life, skilled and greatly improved in the Practice of Physick and Surgery, who deceased, July 23, 1747, in the 76th year of his age, and the 51st of his Pastoral Office.

FOOTNOTES:

[27] The first two monumental inscriptions were taken from the burying-ground in Concord, Ms., and the last one from the graveyard in Newbury, Ms.

INSTANCES OF LONGEVITY IN BELFAST, ME.

The names of aged persons who died in this town before 1827, with their respective ages and the times of their decease, are here inserted.

Of these individuals it has been said, "In their manners they exhibited a model of perfect plainness and simplicity, indicative of contentment and a cheerful disposition; and so cordial was their reception of those who visited them, that with truth it might be said, they were given to hospitality. Their descendants read the poems of Burns with a keen relish, and are enthusiastic admirers of the Scottish Bard."

1794. James Miller, aged 82 1795. John Steele, " 84 1797. William McLaughlin, " 90 1800. Margaret Cochran, " 85 1802. John Tufts, " 78 " Grissel Jameson, " 96 1807. Solon Stevenson, " 73 1810. Mary Brown, " 90 1812. James Gordon, " 86 1815. William Lowney,[28] " 76 1817. Patrick Gilbert, " 78 1817. John Brown, " 86 1819. Samuel Houston, " 92 1820. Jerome Stevenson, " 82 1821. Elizabeth Jones, " 84 " Laughlin McDonald,[29] " 110 1822. George Cochran, " 85 1823. John Durham, " 74 1824. James Patterson, " 80 " Jonathan Clark, " 78 " Susan Sturtevant, " 84 1826. Nathaniel Patterson, " 79 " Agnes Robinson, " 89.

In the year 1827, there were thirteen persons living in Belfast, whose average age was 82 years, 7 months, and 11 days. Their respective names and ages were as follows:

Samuel Cunningham, aged 88 William Cunningham, " 86 Robert Patterson, " 85 Jane Patterson, " 77 John Cochran, " 78 Sarah West, " 80 John Burgess, " 92 Nathaniel Stanley, " 82 Alexander Clark, " 81 Elisha Clark, " 81 Tolford Durham, " 81 Annis Cochran, " 80 Elizabeth Campbell, " 82.

The above is an extract from White's History of Belfast, Me.

FOOTNOTES:

[28] Mr. Lowney was graduated at Dublin College.

[29] McDonald was born in Scotland, and entered the army while a boy; his age is not positively ascertained. He remembered having seen the Duke of Marlborough, who died ninety-nine years before he did; he came to America in General Wolfe's army in 1759, and after Quebec was reduced, went to Bucksport, and thence to Belfast. The lowest estimate of his age, made by his relatives, has been taken.

SCRAPS FROM INTERLEAVED ALMANACS.

1638. This year arrived 20 ships and 3,000 passengers.

March 18, 1617. Mary Martin executed at Boston for murthering her child.

June 15, 1648. Alice[30] Jones was executed at Boston for witchcraft. This was the first execution of the kind in New England.

March 26, 1649. Mr. John Winthrop, Gov., dyed.

Aug. 24, 1649. Mr. Shepard of Camb. dyed.

Nov. 21, 1650. 12 or 13 houses in Charlestown was burnt.

FOOTNOTES:

[30] Winthrop and others say _Margaret_.

DECEASE OF THE FATHERS OF NEW ENGLAND.

Chronologically arranged.

1630.

Aug. 6, Rev. Francis Higginson d. at Salem, a. 43.

Sept. 20, Dr. William Gager, surgeon, d. at Charlestown.

Sept. 30, Isaac Johnson, an Assistant, d. at Boston.

Oct. 23, Edward Rossiter, an Assistant.

1631-2.

Feb. 16, Capt. Robert Welden d. at Charlestown.

1634.

Aug. 2, Rev. Samuel Skelton d. at Salem; the first _pastor_ who died in New England, the term pastor being used in contradistinction to teacher.

1635.

Aug. 14, Rev. John Avery was drowned.

1636.

Feb. 3, Rev. John Maverick of Dorchester d. at Boston, a. 60.

1638.

April --, Nicholas Danforth d. at Cambridge.

Sept. 14, Rev. John Harvard, founder of Harvard College, d. at Charlestown.

Nov. 17, Roger Harlakenden, an Assistant, d. at Cambridge.

Dec. 21, John Masters.

1641.

Aug. 9, Rev. Jonathan Burr of Dorchester d., a. 37.

Rev. Henry Smith of Wethersfield. (Mr. Savage says he died in 1648.)

1644.

April 16, Elder William Brewster of Plymouth d., a. 84.

July 1, Rev. George Phillips of Watertown.

Israel Stoughton, an Assistant, d. in England.

John Atwood, an Assistant of Plymouth Colony.

Sept. 4, Rev. Ephraim Hewett of Windsor, Ct.

Hon. George Wyllys of Hartford, Ct.

1646.

April 12, John Oliver, (H. C. 1645,) d. at Boston, a. 29.

1647.

July 7, Rev. Thomas Hooker of Hartford, Ct., d., a. 62.

(To be continued.)

[Illustration: Governor Bradstreet's House.]

GOVERNOR BRADSTREET.

Simon Bradstreet, son of a non-conforming minister, was born March, 1603, at Horblin, Lincolnshire. His father died when he was fourteen years old, and he was committed to the care of Hon. Thomas Dudley, for eight years following. He spent one year at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, pursuing his studies amidst various interruptions. Leaving Cambridge, he resided in the family of the Earl of Lincoln, as his steward, and afterwards lived in the same capacity with the Countess of Warwick. He with Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Dudley, and others, agreed to emigrate, and form a settlement in Massachusetts; and being appointed an Assistant, he with his family and others went on board the Arbella, March 29, 1630; anchored, June 12, near Naumkeak, now Salem, went on shore, but returned to the vessel at night; came, on the 14th, into the inner harbor, and went on shore. He attended the first Court, Aug. 23, at Charlestown.

In the spring of 1631, Mr. Bradstreet with other gentlemen commenced building at Newtown, now Cambridge, and his name is among those constituting the first company, which settled in that town in 1632. He resided there several years. In 1639, the Court granted him 500 acres of land in Salem, in the next convenient place to Gov. Endicott's farm. It appears that he resided a short time at Ipswich.

Mr. Bradstreet was among the first settlers of Andover, and was highly useful in promoting the settlement, in bearing the burdens incident to a new plantation, and in giving a right direction to its affairs. About the year 1644, he built the first mill on the Cochichewick. He was a selectman from the first record of town officers to 1672, soon after which, he probably spent most of his time in Boston and Salem. He was the first Secretary of the colony, and discharged the duties of the office many years. He was one of the first Commissioners of the United Colonies in 1643, and served many years with fidelity and usefulness in this office. In 1653, he with his colleague vigorously opposed making war on the Dutch in New York, and on the Indians; and it was prevented by his steady and conscientious opposition and the decision of the General Court of Massachusetts, though earnestly and strenuously urged by all the Commissioners of the other three colonies.

He was Deputy Governor from 1672 to 1679, when he was elected Governor, and continued in office till Mr. Joseph Dudley, his nephew, was appointed, in 1686, head of the administration, and the government was changed and the Charter annulled.

Gov. Bradstreet was considered at the head of the moderate party; and, when the Charter was demanded by King Charles, he thought it better that it should be surrendered, than that it should be taken away by judgment, as in that case it might be more easily resumed.

He strenuously opposed the arbitrary proceedings of Andros; and when, in 1689, the people put down his authority, they made their old Governor their President. He continued at the head of the administration till May, 1692, at the advanced age of 89 years, when Sir William Phips arrived from England with the new Charter, in which Sir William was appointed Governor, and Mr. Bradstreet first Assistant. He had been in service in the government sixty-two years, excepting the short administrations of Dudley and Andros. No man in the country has continued in so high offices so many years, and to so advanced age as he. He was a popular magistrate, and was opposed to the witch delusion in 1692, which caused great alarm and distress at the commencement of Gov. Phips' administration. "He lived to be the Nestor of New England," for all who came over from England with him, died before him.

The following inscription is on the monument erected in Salem to Gov. Bradstreet:

SIMON BRADSTREET,

Armiger, ex ordine Senatoris in Colonia Massachusettensi ab anno 1630, usque ad annum 1673. Deinde ad annum 1679, Vice-Gubernator. Denique, ad annum 1686, ejusdem coloniae, communi et constanti populi suffragio,

GUBERNATOR,

Vir, judicio Lynceario praeditus; quem nec numma, nec honos allexit. Regis auctoritatem, et populi libertatem, aequa lance libravit. Religione cordatus, vita innocuus, mundum et vicit et deseruit, 27 die Martii, A. D. 1697, annoque Guliel: 3t. IX. et Æt. 94.

Gov. Bradstreet was married in England to Miss Ann Dudley, daughter of Mr. Thomas Dudley, when she was sixteen years old. She is the most distinguished of the early matrons of our country by her literary powers, of which proof is given in a volume of poems. It was dedicated to her father in poetry, dated March 20, 1642. The title of the book is, "Several poems, compiled with great variety of wit and learning, full of delight; wherein especially is contained a complete discourse and description of the four elements, constituting ages of man, seasons of the year, together with an exact epitome of the three first monarchies, viz., the Assyrian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman commonwealth, from the beginning to the end of their last king, with divers other pleasant and serious poems. By a Gentlewoman of New England." A second edition of it was printed at Boston, 1678, by John Foster, in a respectable 12mo of 255 pp., and a third edition was published in 1758. The work does honor to her education, by her frequent allusions to ancient literature and historical facts, and to her character, as a daughter, a wife, a parent, and Christian. This volume is a real curiosity, though no reader, free from partiality of friendship, might coincide with the commendation of her in the funeral eulogy of John Norton:

"Could Maro's muse but hear her lively strain, He would condemn his works to fire again.

* * * * *

Her breast was a brave palace, a _broad street_, Where all heroic, ample thoughts did meet, Where nature had such a tenement ta'en, That other souls, to her's, dwelt in a lane."

Dr. Mather, in his Magnalia, gives a high commendation of her, "whose poems, divers times printed, have afforded a grateful entertainment unto the ingenious, and a monument for her memory beyond the stateliest marbles."

Their children were as follows:

1. Samuel, who had two daughters b. in Boston, 1663, 1665. 2. Simon, who was settled in the ministry in New London, Ct. 3. Dudley of Andover. 4. John, who was b. in Andover, July 31, 1652, and settled in Salem. 5. Ann, who m. Mr. Wiggin of Exeter. 6. Dorothy, who m. Rev. Seaborn Cotton, Hampton, June 25, 1654. 7. Hannah, who m. Mr. Andrew Wiggin, Exeter, June 14, 1659. 8. Mary, who m. Mr. Nathaniel Wade, Nov. 11, 1672.

Mrs. Bradstreet died in Andover, Sept. 16, 1672, aged 60.

Gov. Bradstreet married for his second wife, a sister of Sir George Downing, who was in the first class that graduated at Harvard College, and was ambassador of Cromwell and Charles II. to Holland. See _Abbot's History of Andover_.

SKETCHES OF ALUMNI AT THE DIFFERENT COLLEGES IN NEW ENGLAND.

HON. WILLIAM CRANCH OF WASHINGTON, D. C.

JUDGE CRANCH was born at the house of his mother's father, the Rev. William Smith, of Weymouth, Ms., July 17, 1769; and was baptized by him the Sabbath following, as appears by the church records.[31] He had no brother, but two sisters, and these were older than himself. The elder sister, Elizabeth, married the Rev. Jacob Norton, who succeeded Mr. Smith in the pastoral office. The other sister married Mr. John Greenleaf, who resides at Quincy, Ms. Mrs. Greenleaf died Feb. 18, 1846.

His father, Richard Cranch, was born in Kingsbridge, near Exeter in Devonshire, England, in November, 1726, and was the son of John, the son of Andrew, the son of Richard, all of Devonshire. He was one of six sons, and was bound as an apprentice to a maker of wool-cards; but, at the age of 20, purchased the remainder of his time, and came to this country in 1746, with General Joseph Palmer, who had married his sister. Being fond of books, he became a learned man, received an honorary degree of M. A. from Harvard University, was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, sustained several important public offices, and was for many years a member of the Legislature and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He died in 1811, in his 85th year.

His mother was Mary, the eldest daughter of the Rev. William Smith of Weymouth, and granddaughter of Col. John Quincy of Mount Wollaston, in that part of Braintree since incorporated by the name of Quincy, in honor of his memory. There is now no lineal descendant from him of the name of Quincy. The next daughter of Mr. Smith was Abigail, who became the wife of the late President John Adams; and the other daughter was Elizabeth, who married the Rev. John Shaw of Haverhill, Ms., and after his death, the Rev. Stephen Peabody of Atkinson, N. H. She died April 9, 1815, aged 65. She had three children by her first husband, William Smith, Elizabeth Quincy, and Abigail Adams. The son was the principal founder of the Boston Athenæum. He was born Aug. 12, 1778, graduated H. C. 1798, and died 1826. The first daughter was born May 26, 1780, and died Sept. 4, 1798, aged 18. The last daughter is the wife of Rev. Joseph B. Felt of this city.

The great-grandmother of the subject of this sketch, the wife of Col. John Quincy, who died July 13, 1767, was Mary Norton, the daughter of the Rev. John Norton of Hingham, whose genealogy is distinctly traced back to the time of William the Conqueror.

We cannot trace the ancestors of Judge Cranch's father back further than his grandfather's grandfather. They all appear to have been Dissenters, firm republicans, and honest men, but in humble life. His grandfather, John Cranch, was a farmer and a freeholder; the others seem to have been manufacturers of woollens. John Cranch, the naturalist, who was, at the recommendation of Sir Joseph Banks, sent out in the expedition to Egypt, where he died, was his second cousin. His father's mother was Elizabeth Pearse, daughter of Christopher Pearse and Margery Triste.

In April, 1775, his father removed from Boston to that part of Braintree now called Quincy, where he resided until his death. He died on the 16th, and his wife on the 17th, of October, 1811, and both were buried on the same day, the 19th. A sermon was delivered on the occasion by the Rev. Peter Whitney, which was printed.

Judge Cranch prepared for college under the instruction of his uncle, the Rev. John Shaw of Haverhill, and entered the Freshman class, six months in advance, in February, 1784. Having graduated at Harvard College, he, July, 1787, entered the office of Judge Dawes of Boston, who was then a practitioner in the courts of Massachusetts, where he read law three years, and in July, 1790, was admitted to practice in the Court of Common Pleas. He opened an office in Braintree, now Quincy, but at the close of the first year, upon the death of his relative, John Thaxter, Esq., who had been in the practice of the law at Haverhill, Ms., he was induced by his friends to remove to that place, and take his office, and complete his unfinished business; which, with the confidence reposed in him by the Hon. Nathaniel Peaslee Sergeant, then one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, who appointed him sole executor of his will, introduced him into practice, and enabled him to support himself and pay all demands held against him. For three years, he attended the courts in Essex county in Massachusetts and Rockingham county in New Hampshire, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Judicial Court in July, 1793.

In September, 1794, he was employed to superintend the affairs of Morris, Nicholson, and Greenleaf, under their great contracts in the City of Washington, to which place he removed in October of that year, and has continued to reside in that place until the present time.

In April, 1795, he was connected in marriage with Nancy Greenleaf, daughter of the late William Greenleaf of Boston, and moved his wife to Washington, in May.

They have been the parents of 13 children, 3 of whom died in infancy. The names of the other ten were 1. William Greenleaf; 2. Richard; 3. Ann Allen; 4. Mary; 5. Elizabeth Eliot; 6. John; 7. Edward Pope; 8. Christopher Pearse; 9. Abby Adams; 10. Margaret Dawes. Richard was drowned in Lake Erie, while in the discharge of his duty as an assistant-engineer, surveying the harbor, in his 29th year, unmarried. Ann Allen died in April, 1821, of consumption, aged 22, also unmarried. Mary married Richard Cranch Norton, and died when her first child was one week old, in July, 1821, aged 20. Her husband died in October of the same year.

The other 7 children are still living. Elizabeth married Rufus Dawes, a son of the late Judge Dawes of Boston. Abby Adams married the Rev. William G. Eliot of St. Louis, Missouri, where they reside and have a number of children. William has been a clerk in the Patent Office. He was two years at Harvard University; but his delicate health and feeble constitution obliged him to leave his studies in his Junior year. The other sons were educated at the Columbian College in the District of Columbia. John spent three or four years in Italy, in drawing and painting, to perfect his knowledge of these branches, and now resides in Boston, where he pursues the employment of drawing and painting. Edward Pope is settled in Cincinnati as a lawyer. Christopher Pearse has been a preacher of the Gospel, but has lately turned his attention to portrait painting, and is now in Italy. Mrs. Cranch deceased Sept. 17, 1843.

In the year 1800, Judge Cranch was appointed one of the Commissioners of the City of Washington, which office he resigned in 1801, when he was, by President Adams, appointed the junior assistant Judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, under the act of Congress of Feb. 27, 1801; the late Governor Thomas Johnson of Maryland, who had been one of the Commissioners of the City of Washington, having been appointed Chief Judge; and Mr. James Marshall, brother of the late Chief Justice Marshall, having been appointed elder assistant Judge. Gov. Johnson refused to accept the office; and Mr. Jefferson appointed William Kitty, Esq., Chief Judge. Mr. Marshall resigned in 1803, and Nicholas Fitzhugh, Esq., of Virginia, was appointed in his place.

In 1805, Mr. Kitty having been appointed Chancellor of Maryland, Judge Cranch was appointed by Mr. Jefferson to the office of Chief Justice, which office he now holds; and by virtue of that office is sole Judge of the _District_ Court of the United States, for the District of Columbia, which has the same jurisdiction as the other District Courts of the United States have.