Brookline Town (part 3 of 4)

Agriculture may now look elsewhere for more than one of their highest illustrations and their most conspicuous disciples. I speak of half a century sometime closed, during a part of which, certainly, Brookline enjoyed a prestige for culture and beauty, which might almost have entitled her to that appellation of 'a Peculiar' for which her old inhabitants petitioned. "Let me not be thought too much disposed to narrow the limits either of time or space within which the special graces and attractions of the town were to be witnessed. But I have sometimes thought that there was a little circle of our territory, from which had emanated, in successive years, as many good influences and examples, in the way of philanthropy and beneficence, of kindness and hospitality, and of every refined culture which pertains to rural enjoyment or improyement, - of the human heart, - as from any spot of equal circumference on any part of the globe. have lived men of wide distinction in every walk of life, some of whose names are associated with the foremost places of the State or the Nation." - Hon. Robert C. Winthrop.

ated and laid out. When the mill-dam was completed, several enterprising merchants of Boston, thinking that land in Brookline would be greatly enhanced in value, bought farms adjacent to the new avenue in Brookline and Roxbury containing about five hundred acres. Prominent among these purchasers were the Thorndikes, David Sears, and Ebenezer Francis, but, as the new thoroughfare was a toll turnpike, there other places. About thirty years since one of the owners, David Sears, began to improve his lands by laying out streets, setting out trees, and building In 1820, Ebenezer residences on the same, which they now occupy. The name of "Cottage" as applied to the farm above was derived from the fact that the estate now owned by Dr. William R. Lawrence had on it the '" Sewall" It was a small old-fashioned gambrel-roof It was torn down, together with two barns, to make room for a modern known as Sewall's Fort, which commanded Charles River. Col. Thomas Aspinwall was the commander | of the fort. stronger than many of the other forts of the Ameri- can army, having six guns, and had accommodations for more troops than most any other during the siege | of Boston. Col. Thomas Aspinwall had the com- - mand of the Sewall Fort during the Revolution. The building of the mill-dam, and afterwards the cut- | ting through for the Boston and Albany Railroad, nearly destroyed these works, though a portion remained till 1852.

Col. Prescott's headquarters were at the Walcott | house, now occupied by Charles H. Stearns. Walcott | took sides with the colonies, while the Sewalls did not.

On the south side of Muddy River, near St. Mary's Street, was a three-gun battery, one of a line of' bat- It was on the land now owned and occupied by Amos A. Lawrence, Esq., and where that elegant grove of trees now stand, that Col. Prescott's regiment had its headquar- | ters, also a Rhode Island regiment, after the battle | of Bunker Hill. evacuation of Boston by the British, about nine On the land of Mr. Lawrence, when he purchased his estate, were the ovens used by the occupants of Sewall's Fort, which were long since removed.

This and the other objects of Revolutionary interest _ were pointed out to the late Judge William Prescott | (the father of William H. Prescott, the historian), by his father, the colonel, not many years after the war ; and later, when Mr. Ebenezer Francis owned these farms, Judge Prescott went with him and pointed | out these localities, and Mr. Francis (whose father | was the first general officer killed in the Revolu- | tionary war) took such an interest in these things | that he went over the ground with Mr. Amos A. | Lawrence, after he had sold the land to him and his | brother in 1850.

On the grounds of Amos A. Lawrence stands an old and very large pear-tree, the date (1689) of which is inferred from the fact that it bears the button-pear | which is mentioned by Judge Sewall in his diary as | having been planted in his garden in Boston ; besides, |

The Boylston Place. - One of the most interesting spots in Brookline is the Boylston place. On it stands a large, old-fashioned wooden house on Boylston Street,' opposite the westerly end of the reservoir, now owned by Henry Lee, Esq., which was known for many years as the old '" Boylston" house, afterwards, for many years, as the "' Hyslop" place. It is one of the most interesting historical places in the town.

Thomas Boylston came to this country from Eng- His son Thomas, born in that town in 1644, became a sur- He took an active part in the Narragansett He married Mary Gardner, of Muddy River, in 1665, and settled upon the place which we are describing, and from that time forward the Boylstons were identified with Brookline. There were twelve His son Peter inherited One of the daughters (Susanna) married John Adams, of Braintree, and was the mother of John Adams, second President of the United States. The second child of Dr. Thomas Boylston was the eminent Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, born in 1680, who acquired wide celebrity, and at first a most unenviable one, by the introduction of inocula- His memoir has been written,

The smallpox was making fearful ravages in Boston in 1721, when the Rev. Cotton Mather communicated to Dr. Boylston an account of the transactions of the Royal Society re- Instead of allowing the disease to be taken in its natural way, the chances being that more than one-sixth of the patients would die, the matter was forestalled by preparing the system for it by medical treatment, and then scarifying the skin and applying the virus under Under inoculation it was seldom that a The practice was not even begun in England when Cotton Mather suggested it to Dr. Boylston for experiment. He introduced the subject to the attention of other physicians in Boston and vicinity, and was met with violent opposition ; the medical men, both in this country and in England, taking the ground that it was a crime, which came under the classification of poisoning, while the clergy preached against it, and wrote pamphlets, arguing that the smallpox was a judgment from God for the sins of the people, and that to try to check its sway would only " provoke him the more." .

of Inoculation," from the text, "So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot until his crown," inoculator and Job his first patient. Some fifty years afterwards an epigram appeared in the Monthly Miscellany on this sage opinion of the Rev. Mr. Massey, |

"We're told by one of the black robe The Devil inoculated Job ; Suppose 'tis true, what he does tell, Pray neighbors, did not Job do well ?"

The inhabitants of Boston and vicinity became so excited that men patroled the streets with halters in search of the doctor, threatening to hang him to the nearest tree. 'The doctor was secreted fourteen days in his own house in a hiding-place known only to his wife. searched for him by day and by night without success. One evening a hand-grenade was dashed through sitting. Fortunately, the fuse was knocked off against a piece of furniture and the family escaped death. The doctor could only visit his patients in the night and in disguise. Yet notwithstanding all this violence he was brave enough to persevere with his experiments, being sanguine of' success. own child and two servants, and though they all had

Boston summoned him before them to answer for his practice. He underwent repeated examinations, and received insults and threats. During the year, however, he inoculated two hundred and eighty-six persons of all ages, from infancy to old age, of whom only six died, while of five thousand seven hundred © and fifty-nine who took it in the natural way during | the same period, eight hundred and forty-four died. | The success of the practice was established, but the | opposition did not cease. During this time the doctor | was in correspondence with the court physician in |

England, Sir Hans Sloane, and was invited to visit London. arrival he was treated with great attention and was made a " Fellow of the Royal Society," the first American thus honored. He remained in England a year and a half and then returned.

and very successful in improving the breed of various domestic animals, especially horses, for which his farm became celebrated. He often broke the animals himself, being a fine horseman. His biographer speaks of him as having been seen in Boston, after he was eighty-four years of age, riding a fine colt he was breaking. practiced. This custom prevailed till it was superseded by vaccination as practiced by Dr. Waterhouse in Cambridge, and Dr. Aspinwall in Brookline. He died at the age of eighty-seven, and was buried in Brookline Cemetery. His epitaph is said to be a just and appropriate one :

Through a life of extensive benevolence, he was always faithful to his word, just in his dealings, affable in his manners, and after a long sickness, in which he was exemplary for his patience and resignation to his Maker, he quitted this mortal life in a just expectation of a happy immortality, March Ist, 1766."

It is said that, Dr. Boylston in his will bequeathed his house and farm to the town as a home for the poor on certain conditions, to which one of his relatives was expected to accede, but this not being complied with, the town missed the donation.

From Dudley Boylston, a brother of the doctor, who married Susanna Gardner, descended the first wife of the late Deacon Joshua C. Clark. Her daughters are the last of this old family in Brookline. From Thomas, another brother, descended Thomas, who died in London, a wealthy merchant, who made bequests to the city of Boston. ried a Hallowell. One of her sons became an admiral (Sir Benjamin Hallowell) of the British navy. Another of her sons, preferring the family name of his

His sister, Mary, marmother to that of his father, changed his name to Ward Nicholas Boylston. London, acquired great wealth, and was distinguished for his liberality.

He gave large bequests to many charitable enterprises, and munificent donations to Harvard College and the Boylston Medical Society and Library.

which he bought of his brother Peter, and on which | he built the present house. He was greatly interested | on condition that the church officers would allow his have the right to live upon it, it should go to the church. But the property was in the hands of Mr. William Hyslop, who had bought it of the doctor's heirs, and the Brookline Church never received the

Mr. William Hyslop, the purchaser of the Boylston house, was a native of Scotland. He came to this country in his youth, and began business as a peddler of dry goods, which he carried from house to house in a pack upon his back. He was very successful in this humble beginning, and having invested money in goods at a fortunate time and way, he was able to whom Mr. Hyslop was acquainted in the old country, who emigrated to Massachusetts with twenty or more of his parishioners, and settled in Worcester. His name was Abercrombie. time in Worcester, Mr. Abercrombie removed with his people to a more congenial situation on the Pelham hills. When this good man could number eleven - Hyslop returned after the war was over, and died in

'olive plants round about his table," he was suddenly left a widower. The youngest had been named Mehitable, for Mrs. Hyslop, and when the little girl was six years of age Mr. Hyslop adopted her as his own, and she remained in his family till her marriage. Mr. Hyslop's business called him occasionally to Hurope, large spread-eagles, the claws of which each clasped a round ball. dows. This was a highly ornamental piece of furniture for those days, and as such was much admired and prized. When the Revolutionary war broke out, Mr. Hyslop was in Europe, and the contingencies of the war were such that he could not return till it was all whom he met that the British troops were at the This was at the green in front of the church on Roxbury Hill, but the people of the upper part of this town naturally enough supposed that the Brookline church green was meant, and great was the terror that ensued. The first impulse was to flee for safety, the second to carry off something valuable, but like distracted people at a fire, who throw mirrors out of the windows and carry mattresses carefully downstairs, they seized upon anything but what the British would have taken had they come.

The table with the spread-eagles was hurriedly wrenched from the wall and laboriously carried up into the woods, which then covered the whole hill the rest of the family, and she secured a new pair of red bellows which hung beside the fireplace, and never let them go during the flight and the temporary absence.

Colonial troops were afterwards quartered in the house, and the family took refuge in Medfield from When a return was safe and the buried eagles were dug up for restoration to their It was mended and the table replaced, being fastened to the wall with a part of the house, and not a movable article. Summer's descendants as a part of their inheritance, but it was shown that they were a part of the house, They remained there at the last accounts, and are an appropriate

His son David This singular man is well remembered by many persons He was lame, of uncouth figure, and such excessive homeliness of countenance as is seldom He also had the eyes of many counterbalanced all his defects. ""Q what a world of vile, ill-favored faults Look handsome in three hundred pounds a year."

He found a wife notwithstanding his personal peculiarities, was left a widower, and when quite advanced in years married a lovely young girl of great personal beauty, who was sacrificed to her father's ambition for wealth. Mr. Hyslop was not a bad man, however, but his singularities were a source of annoyance or amusement to all with whom he had any dealings. He had a strange aversion to music of all kinds, and especially to the instruments used at church and the anthems so much practiced in those times, and which he always called "tantrums." He would not orchestra at church by Capt. Robert Davis, who played well. Mrs. Hyslop lingered one Sunday after service to hear the choir practice a little, while her husband

It was his custom to make a long prayer every morning before breakfast, at which every member of the household was requested to be present. He always prayed with his eyes open, and the consequence was that material things and spiritual were apt to get decidedly mixed. On one occasion, while thus praying, he happened to see through the open door into the bread-trough, a rake or a halter, would be liable to spend a season in the "iron 'tudy." His peculiar ideas were also evinced in the management of his fruit. The place abounded in choice fruit, especially peaches, plums, and cherries. These he could not use, would not sell, and did not give away. Bushels upon bushels of the finest fruit lay and perished under the trees every year.

There were two daughters and one son by this marriage, and both the former died in childhood. The son, who was a fine lad, lived till within a few days of his twenty-first birthday.

While John Adams was President of the United States he came to Brookline, and was the guest of Hon. Jonathan Mason, who lived on what is now Col. Lyman's place. While there he spoke of the last time he had passed along that road as riding on horseback carrying his mother on a pillion behind him.

He never lost his interest in this home of his ancestors, and in 1821, when he was very aged and so infirm that he was unable to walk without assistance, sausages which had been set frying before the morning worship began. Pausing in the prayer, he interpolated a direction to "' Hetty" that the sausages should be protected, and went on with his prayer without the slightest perception of anything ludicrous in the situation. His remark must have had a peculiar effect on those who had not observed the performance in the kitchen.

corner was a small room, which was dark and only accessible through another room, and not easily noticed. (Perhaps this was where Dr. Boylston was secreted from his enemies. )

This room Mr. Hyslop called his "iron 'tudy," and it was the only study he ever made use of. he hoarded up all the old iron he could collect on the or months perhaps, the proposal often before made, that he should look in his "iron 'tudy" for the missing article, would result in the restoration of it, as composedly returned as if no inconvenience had arisen from its absence.

Accordingly, Mr. Hyslop made a dinner-party, and invited the venerable ex-President, Governor Brooks, Gen. Sumner, and other distinguished guests. It was a grand affair, and passed off with great éclat, but there was something pathetic in the sight of the almost helpless old man, supported by his grandson, going feebly about the place and taking a last look of scenes once so familiar to his boyhood.

The following letter from the elder John Adams, President of the United States, to his cousin gives a fine description of the surroundings of the old mansion on the occasion of his visit :

"O that I had the talent at description of a Homer, « Milton, or a Walter Scott. I would give you a picture of all that Ftave visited, with more pleasure than I should Mount Irea or Montecello.

"Mr. David Hyslop has been importuning me for seven years to dine with him in Brookline. I have always declined till last Wednesday ; when taking my grandson George Washington Adams, for my guide and aide de camp, I went to visit the original habitation of the Boylstons - where my mother was born, and where she carried me frequently in my infancy, and where I used to sport among the fine cherrys and Peaches and Plums and Pears as well as among the flowers and roses on that fertile spot or garden. It is more than seventy years since I set my feet upon that hill. Indeed my mother seemed to have an aversion to visiting or thinking of it after her father sold it to his brother

The weather was very fine and I know not that I ever passed a pleasanter day; I ascended the Hill which is exuberantly fertile to the very top where there is a handsome summer house to the roof of which I mounted where are convenient seats and sufficient railing from whence your Wachusett is plainly seen; and even your own mansion House was visible through a prospect glass, at least George imagined he descried it. tion my imagination was exalted almost to extasy, a prospect nearly as vast as that from Wachusett opened all around me.

beauties. The grand city of Boston and the Town of Charlestown; The Castle the Islands, the Rivers the Ponds of Water, the Orchards and the Groves were scattered in such profusion over this great scene that | was lost in admiration of its variety.

place of my Grandmother; All these lands have passed into the hands of other families and other names. I said to Mr. Hyslop, 'Tf I was worth money enough on the face of the whole earth I would buy it of you.' Your uncle Nicholas was well born, he had a soul bien née, but Thomas had not; otherwise he would certainly have purchased it and given it to you. We hada very agreeable Company at dinner; very good cheer and very pleasant sociability. But there I took my final farewell of Boylston and Whites Hill. sirous that my Father should purchase it when it was sold to Dr. Boylston, and my mother was very desirous that he would. But my Father was a very cautious man - had a great aversion to being in debt, and although my Grandfather was willing to take his bond for the purchase, and wanted only the interest of the money, my Father was afraid he should not be able to ac- And now I fear

"Thus much for family vanity and family mortification - Now for Politics and Legislation. I hope you will attend the Convention and come up to Montezillo and talk with me and I with you about Plato and Solon and Lycurgus. I shall rejoice to see the name of Boylston among the members of that Convention, as that alone will be sufficient to preserve it.

This company was located at Fort Independence. Timothy Corey was captain of this company. There was but little to do except guard duty, and nothing of special interest to mention in connection with their duties. There were others enlisted in the government service at this time from this town of which we have no data. There is one, however, worthy of special notice, who did valiant service at Lake Krie and lost an arm. The particulars can be better described in the following letter, showing the patriotism of our late esteemed fellow-townsman, Col. Thomas Aspinwall :

"You must excuse my silence since I have been on this fron- I arrived the last of July, and immediately repaired to Fort Erie, and assumed the command of Gen! Scott's brigade, which I continued to command until a few weeks since, when

Such was the consequence of their madness From the 5 of August our Camp was bombarded and cannonaded inces- On the 13 & 14 they threw about 800 or 1000 shot and shells upon us each day, and, having succeeded in exsantly.

ploding a small and almost empty magazine, on the evening of the 14t" were induced to attack in four columns next morning at 2. The night was wet and dark, and the soil, being of clay, made it difficult for us to keep up to our new works, Three of which the following is a muster. roll : Mens names who were detached, Sept. 18, 1814, by order of Col Joseph Dudley, for the defence of the State. Lieutenant, Robert S. Davis; Ensign, Thomas Griggs; Sergeant, Daniel Pierce; Fifer, Thomas Chubbuck.

also harassed by continued alarms at night, so that for six weeks I seldom got more than 3 or four hours' daily repose, and never undressed or even pulled off my boots except to wash myself and change my clothes. My tent was often struck by frag- the tents almost in a range with mine and their batteries often perforated by cannon-balls, that I thought myself preserved only by a special protection. I had during this period hardly should not have done that. The enemy continued to receive reinforcements, and to strengthen and multiply their batteries, The Gen! had learned that their defences were open on their right flank, although they supposed a swampy, perplexed wood was a sure protection Iie caused to be cut thro' part of the wood a road communicating with an old concealed overgrown

He had ascertained that their main camp was two miles back, and the path from it narrow, obstructed, and muddy, so that they could not send in season to support the light brigade of 1500, that was stationed at the batteries, in case it was sud- About 1500 of our militia, with the riflemen, tiously pushed on through the new road, and Miller's brigade (late Scott's), of which my Regt composed the van, was, unperceived by the enemy, introduced into a deep revine between the fort and the front of their lines, ready to storm their batteries the moment the signal announced our troops to have gained their rear. The Gen! at last, just as a heavy shower of rain had ceased, ordered us to march. We started immediately, and passed through the wood, driving in their sharp shooters, sentries, and guards, until I had arrived within 20 paces of their breastworks, where, as I was passing along the front of the first platoon to give it a concerted direction to the right, I received a musket-shot above the elbow of the left arm, which completely carried away about an inch and a half of the bone. I, of course, had no further part in the active duty of that day, which terminated in our complete success, except as to one of their four batteries. Their cannon, mortars, and howitzers were spiked, the carriages cut to pieces, their large magazine, containing upward of a 1000 24-lb. cartridges and several barrels of powder, destroyed entirely, excepting 500 cartridges let off. They lost, according to the repeated accounts of several of are majors, and should have had upwards of 500 had not several bodies of prisoners been entrusted to militia officers, who followed, contrary to express directions, the only route they knew, - the circuitous new road by which they came, - and were men, whom they had partially seen, to be the English coming to relieve them in the tour of duties at the batteries. The conflict was the hardest, and the fight, during the time it lasted, the most furious and desperate, that has occurred this war. The soldiers climbed, guns in hand, over the tops of the block-houses, bayonetting all that opposed them, and rushed in half platoons into redoubts defended by companies. Two soldiers attacked a block-house, which, to their surprise, they found defended by a german major and his party. The Major's party rose, ordered them to surrender, and the Major told a soldier to take them to the rear, to which at that moment he turned his head, and discovered there an advancing party of our men. 'Gentlemen,' said he, in broken English, to the two soldiers, 'I surrender.

Your are at dibertee, & I am your prisoner,' and with the greatest good humor gave up his sword, and ordered his party to lay | ' ' Revolution, was a two-story hipped-roof house, to

So much terrified and astonished at our boldness were the English that it is reported by deserters that Gen! De Watteville exclaimed to Gen! Drummond that they were surrounded and must surrender.

In two days after the battle not an Englishman was near us. They raised the siege, and precipitately decamped in the night, just at our tatoo. We sent out some parties to harass them, and compelled them to burn a magazine of stores some distance down the Niagara river, and have since taken a dragoon picquet of 8 or 10 men.

Thomas

"T shall be able to begin to travel home slowly in about 10 days, and shall, with the blessing of God, soon see you all. After being wounded I walked back to my tent, and in about an hour had only one arm, a circumstance which does not afflict me, my dear father, and must not you. But let us both thank God that he has so formed us that you have lived almost all your life happy & respectable, notwithstanding the loss of an eye, and I may spend the remainder of my life in the same manner with the loss of a limb, of all the most conveniently spared. I have been so blest hitherto that it would be the deepest sin to murmur against this dispensation of Providence. My bodily pain has been what you have always known to be The Dr. Lovell says it will Give my love, my dear father, to all my friends, brothers and sisters, and believe me still your THOMAS.

''Punch Bowl" Tavern. - The changes in the appearance of our town, especially in the thickly settled portions of it, have been so great within a few years past as almost to perplex former residents who return to it, and as many inhabitants now living here can remember still greater changes, it has been suggested that some description of the town in the earlier part of the present century, and some account of the

On the 26th of the Eighth month, 1640, a bridge was ordered to be built at Muddy River. '" Mr. Colbourne, our brother Eliott, and our brother Peter Oliver were appointed to See the Same donne." This was probably the first highway leading into this section of country and the first road to Boston. From that time to the time of building the mill-dam the present Washington Street was the only road to Boston in this direction, the heavy teaming from the country towns west of us came through Brookline. There was an immense amount of travel of this kind, the ancient " Punch Bowl'' Tavern was a necessity of the times ; here all the teams stopped for " refreshment for man and beast," and this old building as a nucleus gathered around itself the village which took its name. Even to this day this place is remembered by old men in New Hampshire, Vermont, and the back towns of

_ proprietor made additions from time to time, by purchasing old houses in Boston and vicinity and removing them hither. The result was in the aggregate a curious medley of old rooms of all sorts and sizes, connected together in a nondescript manner, and presenting an architectural style which, if we might apply a geological term to it, we should call a conglomerate. This old tavern and its outbuildings occupied all the space on the street, from the brick blacksmithshop near the corner of Pearl Street to the provisionstore of Brown Brothers. It was of a yellowish color, and had a seat running along the front under an overhanging porch, or rather projection of a part of the ancient sign, suspended from a high, red post, gave a name to the tavern and the village, and swung its hospitable invitation creaking in the wind for probably | nearly a hundred years. The design was a huge bowl and ladle overhung by a lemon-tree, resplendent with fruit, some of which lay around the bowl, as if fallen from the tree.

Soon after retiring the family were wakened by the smell of smoke, and flames arising from the closet burst through to the chamber overhead, where the landlord's children slept. The frightened children rushed out in their night-clothes to the neighbors' houses; the night was bitterly cold, and the ground others who came with their buckets, and put the fire out and saved the building, though the flames actually reached the attic. There was at that time an engine in the village, kept in a house which stood in what was

The mill-dam, the bridges, and the opening of the Worcester Railroad at last took all the business away from the old " Punch Bowl." It was bought by Mr. Isaac Thayer about 1830 and torn down. Much of the material was of solid oak, and was used in building nine houses which he erected on the site of the old buildings.

The old house owned by the Gas Company, situated on the corner of Brookline Avenue and Washington Street, where the Gas Company's office now stands, was kept as a tavern for several years with the sign of the "Punch Bowl," but it had little except local patronage, and that of the lowest sort, and was finally given up.

Police Court. - Under the old law, previous to 1857, justices of the peace had jurisdiction of criminal cases. About that time there was a law for the designation of a certain number of persons out of the justices of each county as trial justices for the trial of criminal cases.

In May, 1882, the General Court authorized a Police Court to be established in Brookline, for civil and criminal business. The first court held was in a room at the police station. Soon after this the county of Norfolk fitted apartments for the use of the court, consisting of a commodious court-room and a room for the justices, containing a library, and having connection with the police department, so that the facilities of doing business are now as complete as any to be found in the county. 'The new apartments were used for the first time Sept. 1, 1882. The justices are Charles H. Drew, justice; Charles F. Perkins and Albert L. Lincoln, special justices ; appointed in May, 1882.

Masonic. - Beth-Horan Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Although many brethren of the Masonic order affiliated with the lodges in Boston and Roxbury, and were residents of Brookline previous to 1870, it was not till that year that a lodge was established here. The following persons petitioned for a charter: William Aspinwall, George F. Homer, Benjamin F. Baker, James W. Edgerly, R. G. F. Candage, Benjamin B. Davis, Charles K. Kirby, Nathaniel C. Towle, George M. Towle, Charles years that was found inadequate, and the lodge fitted up commodious apartments in the brick block at the corner of Harvard and School Streets, which it still occupies. This lodge is in a prosperous condition, and its Masters have been as follows: George F. Homer, Benjamin F. Baker, James W. Edgerly, the date of the charter was Jan. 24, 1871. lowing are the charter members: George P. Richardson, Milton J. Stone, James Sinclair, Willard Y. Gross, George W. Funk, Leo Bertsch, Bradford P. Cook, Arthur Kemp, John McAndrews, Francis H. Melntosh, John P. Loftus, Horace N. Fisher, William Bowes, W. W. O'Connell, Fergus B. Turner, Samuel D. Edwards.

Brookline Savings-Bank (incorporated Feb. 24, 1871). - The first regular meeting of this institution was held on the 20th of April, 1871, for organization. Amos A. Lawrence, president; Charles U. Cotting, Alanson W. Beard, and Edward Atkinson, vice-presidents; William A. Wellman, George F. Fabyan, Alfred Kenrick, Jr., Martin Kingman, Austin W. Benton, Charles H. Stearns, Phillip Duffy, William I. Bowditch, Charles D. Head, John W. Candler, Moses Williams, Jr., trustees. The business commenced in the building owned by John Gibbs, corner of Washington and School Streets. It is now in " Colonnade Block," on Washington Street. The present officers are William H. Lincoln, president ; William E. Lincoln, secretary and treasurer.

The Press of Brookline. - Bradford Kingman was the pioneer in the newspaper enterprise in Brookline. His paper was entitled the Brookline Transcript. The first number was dated Oct. 15, 1870, and ended with May 31, 1873. The file of this paper contains a great number of historical articles, under the titles of ' Recollections of Brookline," '"' Historical Sketches,' and ' Brookline as it was." Those under the last title numbered nearly one hundred, which were the basis of a work afterwards published in a volume and sold by subscription entitled '* Historical Sketches of Brookline."

The next attempt to sustain a paper was July 4, 1875, when the /ndependent was started. This was published by a club having a special object, and run but a short time. Dr. N. C. Towle was a manager.

Feb. 1, 1878, Alexander 8. Arthur purchased the paper, and published it till July 1,1879, when Charles A. W. Spencer became a partner, under the firm-name of

Arthur & Spencer, who continued together until May 14, 1881, when Mr. Spencer purchased Mr. Arthur's interest, and became sole proprietor to Jan. 1, 1883. At that time Eliot F. Soule was admitted partner, who continued to Nov. 1, 1883. Mr. Spencer has since that date been editor and proprietor.

were associated together for the purpose of procuring a library of books for mutual improvement. were organized with Rev. Dr. John Pierce as president; Deacon Otis Withington, secretary; Oliver Whyte, librarian ; and Deacon John Robinson, treasurer, with a board of trustees. Rules and regulations were adopted Dec. 27, 1825. dollars per year the first two years, and two dollars per year after that time. the house of the librarian, and was open for delivery of books on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from three to four o'clock P.M. were at one time kept in the shoe-store of James

: ' Ba | . ; ; ran. changed to a quarto and the word Brookline left out | taxation for this purpose. A suitable place was provided, and arrangements were made so that the Public

Library was opened for the delivery of books to the citizens of the town Dec. 2, 1857, in a single room in the town hall, which was afterwards increased to four rooms; but having outgrown their limits, measures were taken to provide better accommodations, which resulted in the erection of the present building

Land was purchased of Messrs. Henry Collins, Charles Chase, and John Gibbs on Washington Street. The entire lot, containing sixty-five thousand feet, was graded, fenced, and provided with avenues and suitable walks, making it very attractive. The building was completed in 1869, and, with the dollars. The architect was Louis Weissbein, Esq., of Boston, and the contractors for the work were as follows: mason-work was done by Horace James; carpenter-work, by Nathaniel Lyford; freestone trimmings, etc., by E. I'. Meany; granite, by Frederick & Wield; cellar, by James Driscoll; painting, by Benuse of members, which contained twelve pages of jamin F. Baker; gas-fixtures, by M. W. Pierce & matter, and the titles of between two hundred and fifty and three hundred volumes. This may be said to have been the first library in the town.

In 1865 there was a collection of works on agriculture in the town, owned by about eighty subscribers, which had been deposited with the town library in the original apartments at the town hall. There were one hundred and seventy-three volumes in an elegant black-walnut case, and the association was known as the Brookline Agricultural Library.

sented the case and contents, as above stated, to the town, and the same forms a portion of the agricultural department in the Public Library.

Brookline is believed to have been the first town in the commonwealth to avail itself of the general statute authorizing cities and towns to raise and appropriate money for founding and maintaining public in the warrant, and referred to a committee, consisting of Edward A. Dana, Abijah W. Goddard, Samuel Philbrick, George F. Homer, and Charles Follen. This committee reported at the adjourned town-meeting, March 30, 1857, and upon their recommendation the town promptly voted to establish a public library, and appropriated for its foundation and commencement the sum of nine hundred and thirty-four dollars, being the rate of twenty-five cents per ratable poll. These sums were all that could be legally raised by

The library hall has a capacity for fifty thousand volumes, a commodious reading-room, librarian's room, trustees' hall, committee-room, and six other rooms, with accommodations for all the working departments of a successful public library for the present and for a long time to come. These rooms were opened to the public Oct. 13, 1869, and the delivery of books commenced on the 18th of the same month.

From that date to the present the library has been The first librarian was Mr. John Emory Hoar, who took a great interest in the institution from the commencement. Since the Ist of De- of Miss Mary A. Bean, who brought to the office of librarian qualifications which it is the lot of but a few to possess, in the thorough knowledge of books and literature generally and an extensive experience in the catalogueing of books, which is now an art requiring hard study, experience, and talent to insure success. Under the supervision of Miss Bean and her two assistants, the Misses Wood and Lanman, the library bids fair to be among the leading institutions of its size in the country.

As the growth of the library has been somewhat rapid, increasing at the rate of one thousand volumes or more per year, we append a table showing the number of volumes and the circulation from its com- and the influence that has gone out from the establishment of such an institution has been so great, the citizens of the town are to be congratulated upon the acquisition of such high privileges as they now enjoy.

In this connection we cannot fail to notice and duly appreciate the great liberality that has been shown towards the library enterprise from its beginning. The reports and records show that there has never been a year in its history when books and pamphlets have not been generously and freely bestowed.

Numerous smaller sums of money, varying from ten to fifty dollars, amounting to several hundred dollars, were contributed during the early years of the

One of the leading features in the library, and a valuable portion, is the reading-room, where may be found magazines and periodicals and many newspapers readily accessible, in what has been named " Gardner Much of the success of this institution is due

Town Hall. - The necessity of a new town hall, to meet the growth and increasing demands of our people, had become so apparent, that at the annual town-meeting of the citizens, held on the 28th: of March, 1870, a committee was appointed to consider the subject, and to report in regard to the same at the adjourned town-meeting. The committee, at their first meeting, without previous conference, found themselves a unit in favor of the immediate erection of a tasteful, commodious, and substantial edifice for this purpose. The committee were also impressed with the fact that the town was seriously derived from the possession of such a building. Their report was accepted, and the same persons were constituted a building committee, viz.: William A. Wellman, Charles U. Cotting, John C. Abbott, Charles W. Scudder, William Aspinwall, Augustine Shurtleff, William K. Melcher, William Lincoln, and Martin P. Kennard. The town appropriated the sum of one disposal of the committee, who were authorized to issue the bonds of the town, payable in twenty years. At a subsequent meeting fifty thousand dollars were added to the appropriation, for which sums the bonds were negotiated at six per cent., at their par value, and a sinking fund has been provided for their redemption.

The first duty of the committee was to invite plans and sketches, with the understanding that the author of the accepted design should be employed as the architect. All were requested to sign their designs with a main until the choice was made. Sixteen designs were offered, and after very careful study and consideration the one with a red seal was chosen, and dis- closed the name of the author to be 8. J. F. Thayer, Ksq., of Boston. The contract for the masonry was taken by Messrs. Adams & Barstow, of Boston ; and for the carpenter-work by our townsman, Mr. William K. Melcher. was laid, in the presence of the town officers, May 23, | 1871.

The structure is upon the site of the old town hall, | which was removed to Prospect Street. This is the | third hall the inhabitants have built for town purposes. The first was dedicated Jan. 1, 1825, a small stone building, afterwards used for the high school, and now standing on Walnut Street, near the First Church. tober, 1845, twenty years after the first ; and the late venerable Dr. Pierce, in his address on the occasion, times render it not improbable that, when this beauteous fabric shall grow old, it may give place to an edifice which shall as far exceed this as the present is superior to the rude structures of former times." In style, this structure is a secular Gothic, well fitted for a building designed for municipal uses. The principal fagade has three entrances, divided by polished granite columns with carved capitals, the whole | being covered with an arch resting upon solid abutments, and forming above the entrance a large window, which is divided by granite mullions. Above this window, and nearly in the centre of the front, is an arcade inclosing several windows, which are separated by short granite shafts. Still higher is the cornice, ornate in character, and somewhat above the general level. The centre of the front rises to a height of one hundred feet, being higher than any other portion of the structure. The roof is slated in green, red, three stories in height, and constructed of rose-colored | granite from Dedham, and trimmed with light-gray hammered granite from Blue Hill, Me., having a massive base of the same material, while the body is quarry-faced. The ground-floor is a rectangle, ninety | feet in width by one hundred and thirty-six feet in width of ninety feet, and extreme length of one hundred and forty-six feet. The first floor is seven and | one-half feet above the grade of the location, and is divided into corridors, offices, and a hall. Entering by the main door-way, we pass through the vestibule, thirty-nine feet long by thirty in width, with a tile | floor. In this vestibule, and on either side of the | entrance, are the staircases leading to the second story.

ing back half the length of the building, where it meets another corridor running at right angles with it, and giving an entrance on Prospect Street, through a carriage-porch. On either side of the main corridor are three rooms, twenty-three feet width, for the use of the town officers. At the rear of the main corridor is the lower hall, in the rear of the building, which will seat between five and six hundred persons, and is designed for political and other meetings, which do Ascending the broad staircases, we enter this hall, which is sixty-five and one-half wide by ninety-two and one-half feet in length ; and it will seat between twelve and fourteen hundred persons. Its form is an elongated octagon. The walls are thirty-seven feet in height, the ceilings extend into the roof sixteen feet, giving in the centre a height of fifty-three feet. The decorations and windows were done by McPherson & McDonald, of Boston. like to the hall, and is lighted by a large window, in which are placed the coat of arms of the United States and of the State, both in medallion. The building is heated by indirect radiation of steam, under the direction of T. S. Clogston, of Boston.

An able address was delivered on the occasion of the dedication of this hall by Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, which has been published in pamphlet form.

At the conclusion of Mr. Winthrop's address, the following original ode, written by Miss Harriet F. Woods, written for the occasion, was sung by the

" Beneath this noble roof we stand, Where skill has reared these massive walls, And beauty from our Father's hand Streams in where'er the sunlight falls.

"Here Music, tuned to fine accord, From voices yet unborn, shall ring; And grand, triumphant strains be poured From brazen throat and vibrant string.

"Tere may the rich man and the poor Combine to wield the ballot's might ; Contend for truth which shall endure, And cancel every wrong with right.

Statistical Account

We first find Thomas (1) an early inhabitant of Roxbury in 1639, whose wife was Mary, who died that year, leaving two sons, John and Joseph, and a daughter, who died in 1645 at the age of twelve years. He married, second, Mary Green, Aug. 26,1640. He died after a lingering sickness May 23, 1646. The inventory of his estate was made the 25th of the third month, 1646. He had an allotment of two parcels of land at Muddy River previous to 1639.

a member of the church in Roxbury June 20, 1653 ; freeman, May 18, 1653; married Mary, daughter of Griffin Crafts, of Roxbury. She died June 30, 1653. He then married Hannah, daughter of Samuel and

This family resided in what was known as " Roxbury Precinct," or " Punch Bow! Village." The father died Feb. 10, 1714/15, aged ninety years. He joined with his brother in conveying land to Hugh Thomas Feb. 16, 1652, - land in Roxbury. He and his wife conveyed to John Hull land in that part of Muddy River called the ''Common Field." Also land sold to George (Basto) Barstow, Feb. 23, 1699,

Thomas Griggs

Deacon Thomas Griggs, the son and fourth child of Samuel and Beulah (Hammond) Griggs, was born in Brookline, Mass., April 5, 1788, and is the sixth in descent from his paternal ancestor in the follow-

Mr. Griggs being an early resident of Muddy River, and being perfectly familiar with all the estates in and around his home and Roxbury, was once called upon

" Jos. Griggs, of Roxbury, aged about 85 years, testifieth and saith that about three score years since he settled at Muddy River, now called Brooklyne, and has lived there and at Roxbury ever since, and in all that time has been very well acquainted with that tract of land, now in farms and propriety's, viz., Capt. Sewall, the late Deacon Elliotts, Devotions, Clarks, and others lying in Muddy River aforesaid, which was commonly ealled a common field butting on the salt marishes. As very well remembers that those persons that owned the upland were at the whole and sole charge of the outside range of fence the marish owners refusing to pay any part of the charge, and at a meeting of the upland and marish owners about ie years since the marish-men representing their design to fence the marish from the upland, desired the upland owners to do their | proportion, but the upland owners utterly refused it for the that if they would fence out the marish they must do it at their own cost, and this depont has never known or understood that the upland owners ever bore any proportion of the charge of fencing off the marish, but that they did at all times maintain the outside range of fence, and the marish-men were at the charge of fencing the parish from the upland.

Mr. Griggs' name is also attached to a memorial with forty others, inhabitants of Roxbury, headed by the autograph of their pastor, Rev. John Eliot, addressed as Christian patriots to the honored Governor the honored magistrates and House of Deputies of Massachusetts, requesting and encouraging the General Court to stand fast in upholding the franchises of the people, and the liberties of the churches of that colony, then menaced by its enemies, and by the re- He was a deputy to the General Court or representative of Roxbury in 1681, and selectman of that town in 1677, 1680, 1683, 1687, and 1688.

ture to establish the town of New Roxbury, now the town of Woodstock, Conn. At the date of the grant, in October, 1683, it formed a part of Massachusetts.

He was a grand-juryman in 1689. He was joint owner in a grist-mill previous to 1739, and sold to Joseph Belknap, who proceeded to use the waterprivilege in such a manner as to damage the citizens of Brookline and Roxbury, in neglecting to do as

Accordingly, application was made to the selectmen, who had control of the same, that they should in future be limited in the amount of water to be drawn from their fountain-head.

We have seen that Mr. Griggs enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and was often intrusted with the management of public affairs to a greater or less extent throughout a long and useful life, and died in a ripe old age.

(1) Soh, 1744; (2) haber 1745. (3) Moses: 1747; (4) Thomas, 1750; (5) Samuel, 1753; (6) John, 1756; (7) Joseph, 1760; (8) Joshua, 1763; (9) Sarah, 1765; (10) Nathaniel, 1770. Thomas, the father, settled in the lower parish of Roxbury, now a part of Brookline. He was a cordwainer, built a house and worked for many years at his trade, in what is known as the " Downer House," which he built. He afterwards sold this estate and purchased the one now owned and occupied by the late Deacon David Coolidge, on Harvard Street. On this farm he passed the remainder of his days, and where he died July 7, 1782. Moses, the father of the late

Samuel Griggs, son of Thomas and Margaret ; born Dec. 23, 1753; married Beulah, daughter of Daniel and Lucy Jones (Hammond), of Newton, Mass., Dee. 7, 1780, and had nine children, viz.: (1) Joseph, 1781; married Sarah Fuller, of Needham; (2) Samuel, 1784; married, first, Caroline Bacon, second, Abigail Saurin; (8) William Jones, 1786; died Oct. 24,1804; (4) Thomas, 1788 ; married Harriet Fuller, of Needham ; (5) Susanna, 1790; married, first, Deacon Aaron Hayden! of Eastport, Me. , second, Ephraim Jackson, of Newton; (6) Lucy, 1792; married David R. Griggs; (7) John, 1794; married Sarah Williams ; (8) Stephen, 1796; married Caroline Fish; he was drowned at Rockport, Mass., Aug. 16, 1850; (9) Margaret Williams, 1800; married Henry Wood, of Boston. The father died Jan. 16, 1814, aged sixty years. The mother died Aug. 21, 1847, aged ninety.

the farm, which is under a high state of cultivation. Joshua, the father of George Griggs, Esq., resided on _the Deacon David Coolidge farm. -

Thomas, 1715/16; (9) Ichabod, 1718. Thomas, the eighth child of Ichabod and Margaret, was born Feb. 25, 1715/16; married Margaret Williams, of Roxbury, Sept. 1, 1743, and had ten children, viz. :

1. Caroline Griggs, Jan. 27, 1820; married David Sullivan Coolidge Jan. 6, 1841, and had one Henry Coolidge, Jan. 6, 1842; married Hattie Russell, of ii., Walter Coolidge, Feb. 23, 1844; married Georgie Robinson, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; iii., Harriet Coolidge, Feb. 20, 1847 ; iv., Ellen Coolidge, Feb. ' 9, 1850.

acres or more of land, which extended from Harvard Street to the top of Corey Hill, by purchasing the interest of the other heirs to the estate. At one time he was the owner of over one hundred acres of land, including the land extending from his residence to At the time of his ownership of Corey Hill, the 'north side was covered with a large growth of '"savins," or cedar-trees (Juniperus Virginiana), which he caused to be removed, and the land prepared for cultivation. Mr. Griggs also cleared the lowland in the rear of his present residence on Washington Street, from Park Street to land of the late Deacon John Robinson. This land consisted of alders, barberry-bushes, and every other kind of swamp bushes, where now may be seen the most fertile land in Brookline.

The early boyhood of Deacon Griggs was quite uneventful. The school privileges of his day consisted of four months in the winter season, interspersed in summer with agricultural employment. He early acquired habits of industry, was earnest and honest, calm and deliberate, in all matters of judgment, of a quiet and retiring disposition, unassuming in his deportment, never sought to be conspicuous. In polities he was a Whig and Republican, firm and unwavering in his convictions of duty, never seeking public office,

7. Francis Henry Griggs, Nov. 14, 1834; married Candace Watson, of Liberty, Ind., Oct. 8, 1861; children, - i., Elizabeth Hasselman Griggs, April 22, 1866 ; ii, Thomas Watson Griggs, Feb. 14, 1875. Mr. Griggs is a banker, and resides in Davenport, Towa.

Mr. Griggs is a fine specimen of the good old English stock, of an active, enterprising, and industrious race. Having been born in a time when the means of acquiring anything more than a common education were exceedingly limited, his time was mostly occupied in promoting the interests of his father's farm, which consisted of the usual early rising, plenty of work, and no play kind of a boy's early life He has ever followed the life of a farmer, in which he has been successful, and now in his extreme old age attends personally to conducting the affairs on his land. He became possessed of the old homestead of his father, which consisted of forty his fellow-citizens. He has been selectman, assessor, moderator of town-meetings, member of the school board, and representative to the General Court. During the war of 1812 he commanded a company at Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor, doing good (See roll.)

He has ever been a law-abiding citizen, a valued friend and neighbor. twenty-six his father died, leaving a widow and sey- Upon Thomas devolved the duty of Five years later the subservice. When he arrived at the age of eral children. conducting the large farm. ject of this sketch assumed the duties of married life, by bringing to the family circle an estimable lady, one who was his companion and life for forty-eight years, who became the mother of seven children, most of

There are also twenty-two Mrs. Griggs was a most eswhom are now living. grandchildren living. timable and valued lady, a very devoted mother, a member of the Baptist Church, in which she was ever actively interested, and was always doing good when an opportunity presented itself.

In 1810, Mr. Griggs commenced attending the First Baptist Church in Newton, Rev. Joseph Grafton pastor ; was baptized and united with this church in December, 1817. During that month he, with a Baptist Church in that place. He remained there, under the preaching of Rev. Bela Jacobs, for four years. In March, 1821, he, with others, helped to constitute the First Baptist Church in Roxbury, uniting with the Boston Baptist Association.

measures to introduce church worship in Brookline. On the 5th day of June, 1828, a Baptist Church was constituted in Brookline, principally under the influence of Mr. Griggs, assisted by Elijah and Timothy Corey. has continued in that office for forty-six years, an

We are happy to record the fact which appears from his whole course of life, that of the deep religious principle, firmly implanted within him, of doing good; the sacrifice made by him in riding six or more miles to attend church, and assist in organizing others that they might also receive similar benefits.

In 1834, Mr. Griggs erected the house where his son, Deacon Thomas B. Griggs, resides, and occupied the same for about twelve years, when he removed to his present residence on Washington Street, where he purchased five acres of land in 1844, and built his house in 1847.

with rheumatism for fifty years, it is wonderful to witness the activity with which he daily moves about on his farm, looking after its interest with the ardor of a much younger person.

honor and happiness. He resides on one of the principal thoroughfares of the town. Financially he has been a success, promptly meeting his engagements, running no bills, paying every one promptly. He has avery accurate and strong memory, reciting things that happened seventy-five years since as though of the past year.

Those who have witnessed his prompt and steady attendance on church worship on the Sabbath-day, at the age of ninety-six, riding in his carriage regularly,

Dr. Charles Wild

Dr. Charles Wild, the subject of this notice, was the son of Abraham and Susanna (Pitman) Wild, of Boston. He was born Jan. 15, 1795. His father was of good old English stock, and his descendants have done no discredit to the name. In early days he attended such common schools as the times afforded ; fitted for college at the Latin school in Boston (where he received a Franklin medal in 1805), and entered Harvard College in 1811, graduating in the memorable class of 1814, of whom William H. Prescott, the historian, President Walker, of Harvard College, Hon. Pliny Merrick, the late justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and other equally prominent men, were members. He received the degrees of A.M. and M.D. in 1817. He studied medicine in the Harvard Medical College in Boston.

Soon after graduating, on the 10th of April, 1818, he came to Brookline, for the purpose of practicing his profession, and was an inmate of the family of Mrs. Croft, on Washington Street. became well known, entered upon an extensive patron- age, which he continued for upwards of forty years, enjoying the confidence of his fellow-citizens in an eminent degree. At the time of his starting in life, gave him about two acres of land on the south side of Washington Street, on which he immediately erected a dwelling-house, the same now standing, which he sold to Deacon William Lincoln, and later owned by a valued citizen, a public-spirited man, interested in the welfare of the community. He was an active member of Rev. Dr. Pierce's church, a regular attendant on his ministry, and a member of the choir, and before the organ was used in that church he played the flute. The doctor was one of the old school for more than twenty years of his life, a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 1828. Those who had occasion to require the services of a physician can remember well his tall, well-formed figure, his firm tread, the deep guttural voice which seemed to come from cavernous depths, and the look of those eyes from behind his spectacles while he mixed those powders in a tablespoon. amount of calomel, jalap, and rhubarb, picra, ipecac, and antimony which the people of past times have taken, no wonder that so many have been added to the number of those who have filled our cemeteries. In the visits of the doctor, after he had prescribed for the patient, if there were any children in the family, he would amuse them by catching flies and doctor was of a kind and sympathetic nature, a good His curious speeches and odd ways seldom gave offense to any one, and his warm-hearted cheerfulness was better than medicine to dispel the blues. when he had anything he considered too good to lose, he would give the benefit of it to his friends. On entering a house he had a breezy way of stamping off the snow or dust, making noise enough for three persons, then, throwing his overcoat aside and his muffler that he wore around his neck, he would let his saddlebags to the floor with an earnestness that indicated business. The salutations of the doctor on leaving a house were as unique as his entrance, and were often of the following description : '' Now, if you can't sleep well, and don't know what to do, you can amuse yourself with taking an emetic."

While the doctor never sought public office, he was often called to fill public positions for several years ; was a member of the school committee of this town, and often presided at public meetings. For a great while he was the principal justice of the peace of the time. Having early joined the Masonic fraternity,

In 1839 the doctor's attention was drawn to Hahne- | mann's new system of medical practice, then first heard of in America, and he was ready to give it a fair trial, and at length became a firm believer in its truth and efficacy, and had a wonderful faculty in carrying sachusetts Homeeopathic Fraternity were adopted, and he at one time was the president of the same. Soon after the doctor had begun his new treatment, Miss Amanda M. Corey, afterwards the wife of James M. Edmond, who had been a patient of his, then a schoolgirl, very bright and original, wrote the following lines, which were always very amusing to the doctor:

But, lo! his steed is at the gate, And he is at the door; Be steady now, my whirling pate, Ye shaking nerves, give o'er. He doffs the frightful rubber coat That darkly shrouds his form, And, fastened tight beneath his throat, Defies and scares the storm.

3. Edward Augustus Wild, born Nov. 25, 1825, married Frances Ellen, daughter of John Whiting and Marian (Dix) Sullivan, of Boston, June 12, 1855; no children.

troops) Feb. 25, 1863, and mustered in as such March 7, 1863; promoted to first lieutenant in Fifty-fourth Massachusetts (colored) Volunteers Feb. 23, 1863 ; appointed aide-de-camp on Gen. Edward A. Wild's staff May 14, 1863; promoted to captain of Second North Carolina Colored Volunteers (afterwards the Thirty-sixth United States Colored Volunteers) Aug. 14, 1863, and continued as A.D.C. on Gen. Wild's staff; detailed as A.A.I. Gen. Dec. 25, 1863.

Gen. Edward A. Wild

en. Edward A. Wild was the son of Dr. Charles and Mary Joanna (Rhodes) Wild, of Brookline, Mass. He was born Nov. 25,1825. After the usual advantages in the schools of his native village and the classical school in the town, he fitted for college under the private instruction of Dr. Samuel Rogers, of Roxbury; entered Harvard College in 1840; graduated in 1844, receiving the degree of A.B. in due course ; A.M., in 1847; studied medicine with his father and in the office of Dr. A. E. Cotting, of Roxbury, and at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, also at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, Pa., where he received the degree of M.D. in 1846; commenced practice in 1847,in Brookline, and became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, May 23, 1850, and was the orator at their annual meeting in 1859. Oct. 1, 1848, he went to Paris to study and visit the hospitals of that city. While there he started on a pedestrianizing tour through Italy and Switzerland. Italy at that time was torn with a threefold war: Rome was contending against Naples ; then came the invasion and occupation of Rome (which had then been temporarily a republic), while the North of Italy was in active turmoil and strife against the Austrians. At the Romano-Neapolitan frontier he was arrested and closely searched by the troops on both sides of the line, each taking him for a spy for the opposite side. At Terracina he was taken before Garibaldi, then in command, who very quickly discerned his true with bis life. On Lake Garda he was arrested at midnight as a robber, and up the river Po seized as a deserter from the Austrian army, and had many other exciting adventures, some neither safe nor agreeable. The experience he met with during this excursion gave him the first ideas of the horrors of war, and an opportunity to witness the devastation of, and the destructive effects of, battles and bombardments. He returned to Brookline Jan. 1, 1850, and ceived a commission as surgeon of artillery (Hekimbashi), with the rank and pay of lieutenant-colonel, and assumed the name of ' Kholoussy Bey." the ports of Samsoun-Sinoub (Sinope), Trebizond, Batoum, Redout Kaleh (Kemhal), Sokhoum, Kaleh. He was attached to the army corps of Omer Pasha, commander-in-chief of the Turkish forces in the from the Sultan Abdul Medjid the decoration of the Medjidieh, with its accompanying Berat (diploma), together with an autograph letter from Omer Pasha recommending him for that high honor. This was Dr. Wild's wedding tour, so that in company with his wife he visited Trebizond and the banks of the Bosphorus, and, after a long sojourn in Constantinople, the Gulf of Nikomedia (Isnikmid), the islands in the Marmora (Prinkipo), and the Troad. Returning homeward he visited Greece and the Isles of the Archipelago, and stayed at Malta - where he was initiated into Freemasonry, taking three degrees in St. John's Lodge - Malli, Sicily, and a long time in Italy in 1857.

Immediately upon his arrival home he resumed the practice of his profession, in which he was successful, and was fast growing in popularity, and gave to the public the benefits of an extensive experience in the

Wild having a natural fondness for military drill, had been an active member of the Boston Independent Corps of Cadets, and during that time never missed When the demand came from the government for men to assist in protecting our country from the assaults on the liberties of the people, the doctor was not only fully prepared himself, but he commenced to prepare others for actual service in the and Jamaica Plain, through the instrumentality of Dr. Wild, who was commissioned as captain of the same by Governor Andrew on the 22d of May, 1861. This company formed a part of the First Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, and entitled Company A, being the first regiment of the three years' troops to go to the seat of war. After being engaged in the ba) lesser combats, including the siege of Yorktown, he was permanently disabled by a bullet at the battle of Seven Pines, on the field of Fair Oaks, Va., June 25, 1862. Returning to Massachusetts, he was placed in command of a camp of recruits at Lynnfield. While in camp he was promoted by regular grades to colonel of the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, Aug. 20, 1862, and two days after he proceeded with his regiment to Washington, his arm still disabled and in a sling, and in three weeks was in front of the enemy, in Gen. Burnside's corps, at the battle of South Mountain, where he lost his left On that day, and three days later, his new regiment distinguished itself by their steady, determined bravery, worthy of veteran troops.

When partially recovered from the loss of his arm, the colonel returned to Massachusetts, Dec. 1, 1862, where, while recovering from his wounds, he assisted Governor Andrew in organizing colored troops, the On the 24th of April, 1863, he was appointed by President Lincoln a brigadier-general of volunteers, and soon after proceeded to North Carolina, where he raised a brigade of colored troops from among the fugitive slaves in that department, having his headquarters at Newberne. While here he gave much time and labor to the care and permanent provision of the colored families, by On the 30th of July the general took a large number of raw colored troops to South ing his troops at Charleston, he returned to his recruiting work at Newberne, N. C., also in Virginia. Jan. 18, 1864, Gen. Wild was placed in command of the district of Norfolk and Portsmouth, which besides his military labors involved large civil duties in the government of those two cities, filled as they were with a hostile population. On the opening of the spring campaign, in May, 1864, he joined the Army of the James, in command of his colored troops, where he continued, participating im the siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond until their fall.

After the close of the warlike operations, he served in the Freedmen's Bureau in Georgia, and was finally mustered out of the United States service, Jan. 15, 1866. pled to return to the practice of his former profession, he turned his attention to mining, in which he is still engaged. fields of Nevada, California, Utah, Colorado, and Lake Superior (Canada side).

It is no more than due to Gen. Wild to state that when he first enlisted into the army he enjoyed the highest esteem and confidence of all who were acquainted with him in his Massachusetts home. Particularly did he enjoy the confidence of Gov. Andrew,

When he entered the service he had been engaged in the Turkish army, and his experience there was of great value to him at home. Of an impulsive nature, fired with patriotism and intense enthusiasm, His

He (Gen. Lee) thinks he has troops enough to carry the position, __ Should they surrender, they will be turned over to the authori- __ ties at Richmond, and treated as prisoners of war. Should they refuse, Gen. Lee will not be responsible for the consequences. "Very respectfully your obt. servant, "R. J. Mason, Major & A. T. G. "To Brig.-GENERAL WiLp, Commanding Federal Troops."

Indorsed on the back of the demand, and returned to Gen. Lee. And "try it they did, with the Union army victorious, saving an important position to the

Not only was Gen. Wild a good and brave soldier, Prominent among his many good qualities was that of enforcing principles of abstinence from the use of In this he set an example by his own entire disuse of liquor of any kind. During his whole service in the United States army he never touched any intoxicants, even toa glass of cider or lager beer.

Elbridge Wason

Hugh Lee, and was summoned to surrender, but he replied in the following brief manner: '* We will try it,' and after a desperate fight his trusty negroes beat off the enemy.

in the parish of Bellemanus, County of Antrim, Ireland, in 1711. He married at Portsmouth, N. H., Hannah Caldwell, Nov. 30, 1736, by whom he had seven children, - James, Samuel, Thomas, Betsy, Nancy, Isabel, and Sarah.

Deacon Robert Wuason, son of Lieut. Thomas and Mary Wason, married Nancy, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Batchelder) Batchelder, Dec. 26, 1808, and had nine children, viz.: Elbridge, Louisa, Hiram, Nancy, Mary, Robert Boyd, Adeline, Caroline, and

Elbridge Wason, son of Deacon Robert and Nancy Wason, married Mary (born June 30, 1809), daughter of Samuel and Mary (Gardner) Stickney, of Boston, April 21, 1851. She died Aug. 15,1863. He farm. with an early religious training, that he developed that strong character for manliness and integrity which has ever characterized his more matured years. His advantages for school education were such as the life of a country farmer usually affords. A brief attendance in the village school of his native town, supplemented by a course of study at Derry Academy, | prepared him for the higher privilege of teaching school in Windham, and afterwards in Amherst, N. H. In December, 1831, being desirous of seeing something of life outside of his native village, he visited Boston, where he remained for a short time, and while there he was induced to embark in business. On the 8th of March, 1832, he removed to Boston, and immediately entered upon the duties of clerk and salesman in the wholesale West India goods store of the well-known firm of Pierce & Goodnow, at 29 South Market Street. the firm was dissolved, but he continued with Mr.

of which time he entered into partnership with his cousin, William Wason, on Blackstone Street, where he remained till August, 1837. On the first day of September of that year a new partnership was formed with Henry Peirce, under the firm-name of Wason & Peirce, wholesale grocers, at 61 Chatham Street. At the end of eighteen months Mr. Rufus Clement, of New London, N. H., was admitted a partner in the business, under the firm-name of Wason, Peirce & Co. Mr. Clement retired from the firm April 1, 1848. Soon after this, Robert Boyd Wason, a brother of the senior partner, was admitted to the firm. A. Wadley, who had fora long time been book-keeper for the firm, was a partner for about ten years, retiring on the Ist day of January, 1865. At this time Henry E. Peirce, son of Mr. Henry Peirce, became partner, the firm-name remaining the same are Elbridge Wason, Henry Peirce, and Robert Boyd Wason, who are still actively engaged in the same business, and in the store where they began in 1837. Commencing business at a season when the country was laboring under a severe financial depression, the success of this firm has been remarkable, and is largely due to the promptness with which everything has been done, the meeting every obligation, and conducting business in honesty, and with the manly Mr. Wason was born in New Boston, N. H., Sept. | He was the eldest of nine children, all of | purpose of dealing justly with all people. A truly remarkable example of the integrity of Boston's best In politics Mr. Wason has ever been of the Whig and Republican order, a firm and stanch supporter of the government, and a firm believer in a liberal orthodox religion, and now resides. He was one of the principal movers and contributors in the erection of the new and elegant stone temple near his residence, known as Harvard Church, and has served as a member of the Prudential Committee of the same. In his private life he is domestic in his habits, fond of home, of a social temperament, gentlemanly in his deportment

Henry Peirce

Henry Peirce was born in Waltham, Mass., Oct. 2, 1807. Peirce, who came from Norwich, Norfolk County, England, a short time prior to his admission as freeman

John's son, Anthony, who preceded his father to America by a few years, was born in 1609, and was admitted freeman of Watertown, Sept. 3, 1634. The date of his arrival in this country was 1630, presumably with the company of Sir Richard Salstonstall.

farmer and stone-mason. He was a private and corporal for three years in the Revolutionary war. He was but fifteen years of age when the war broke out, and was stationed during his term of service among other places at Cambridge, West Point, and Philadelphia. He underwent in common with others many hardships, and was honorably discharged, receiving | for many years a pension. He was a patriotic, liberalminded man, honorable in all his engagements, loved and respected by all. He died in Waltham, Sept. 4, 1825, aged sixty-five.

Henry's mother was Phebe Manning, born Nov. 10, 1766, died Oct. 13, 1851. She resided with her parents in Charlestown at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill, and was among those who fled for safety from their burning homes. She was then nine years old, and often in after-years told the story of | her flight. She used to relate that, being ready to | drop with fatigue, she exclaimed, " If they kill us, let 'em kill us, for I can't go any farther."

No.man could have a better mother than had Henry Peirce. She had a firm and independent mind, full of probity and self-reliance. She gave her | years to her large family, and lived to see her sons | grow up to regard her with veneration. |

She was the daughter of Simon and Salina (Ramsay) Bayley, and descended from Richard Bayley, of Rowley, Mass., the first of his name in this country. They had four children, - 1. Henry, born Oct. 25, | 1833 ; died Nov. 30, 1833. 2. Henry Edgar, born April 13, 1835; died Aug. 26, 1881; married, Dec. 3, 1863, Ann Eliza Holt. 3. William Oliver, born | Sept. 4, 1857; unmarried. 4. Helen Louisa, born Feb. 21, 1843; died April 6, 1855.

his race in early times had not in all their line a more perfect representative of stanch, steadfast, manly | integrity than he. His education was of the com- | mon school. His knowledge has been gained and | his character formed in the conflicts of the world of | business. He began his labors with George Mur- | dock, a grocer of his native town. For seven years | In 1828 he sale grocer at 61 Chatham Street, where he has remained to the present time (1884). For nearly fifty years Henry Peirce has kept the even tenor of his way. Not exempt from losses, at times large, nor from all the countless stringencies and struggles ineident to the prosecution of a widely-extended business, he has always met his engagements, fulfilled every obligation, and wherever known has met with that confidence and respect which purity of life and

1860, where he now lives filled with good will towards all honest men, content to claim only for himself the merit that belongs to good intentions and manly effort. to enjoy that competence he has so fairly and honor-

Before closing this sketch it may be well for all who read these lines to reflect how large a volume might be made in recording the career of a man like Henry Peirce, who is only a type of the straightforward, high-minded Boston merchant. Such as he labor not for wealth alone, nor for business reputation. They have not the hope of the brilliant prizes through the dark days of business adversity. More or less consciously they work because they feel it to be a duty. They have too much self-respect to waste their time in frivolous pursuits. Long after they have obtained a pecuniary independence they labor on, feeling that the world must somehow be better for their labor. And what burdens such men bear! Who that has not experienced can fitly portray them ? Sneered at often by those they help the most, they rally in times of distress and give the fruits of their toil to lift the world to a higher plane, knowing that

Thomas Parsons

Thomas Parsons was born in Boston, Mass., July 25, 1816. He was the son of Charles Chauncy and Judith (Parsons) Parsons. His grandfather was Chief Justice Theophilus Parsons, of Newburyport, Mass., who married Hlizabeth Greenleaf. The mother of Thomas Parsons was the daughter of Capt. Thomas and Judith (Kinsman) Parsons.

by a son of the Rev. John Robinson. Mr. Parsons was educated in the common schools of Boston, and fitted for college in the Public Latin School of Boston; entered Harvard College at the age of fourteen years, but owing to ill health was obliged to leave with only a partial course. counting-room of Benjamin Rich & Son, East India merchants, where he served his term of apprenticeship, and then entered into business with his father, who was a merchant and owner of freighting ships, where he remained till 1865. ested in many corporations. He is president and director of the " Lyman Mill," at Holyoke, Mass. He became a resident of Brookline in 1848, and has always He

He was an original member of the '" Brookline Public Library," and is now one of the trustees. Most of the time he has been president of the same. He represented the town in the Legislature for six years, He was a member of the Committee on the Revision of the Revised Statutes in 1859, on the Valuation Committee in 1860. Appointed on the Board of Prison Commissioners by Governor Rice, and again by Governor church, as were his wives and most of bis children. He died Dee. 9, 1685, and was buried on the 11th, as appears by John KHliot's record, in the possession of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society ; the date is erroneously given as the 22d December in the Report of the Record Commissioners of Boston.

His grandson, Ebenezer Davis, a blacksmith, made large purchases of lands in various places and settled upon the Brookline property, which he purchased in

This estate of ninety-five acres was separately described in three lots, and embraced the principal portion of what is now the village of Brookline.

Ebenezer Davis died in 1776; his will was probated March 4th of the same year. Although he had disposed of considerable real estate, what he left is worth recording, as his inventory indicates the value of lands in this county at that period: and the Hill pasture on the Northerly { gly side of said road, apprized at............... J House, Land &e lying southwardly and ad- | joining Watertown Road, with one half | 1299 the buildings on the other side of the | ray Road sthe) House excepted... 2-:...csccsese J | Four and a half acres salt-marsh.............-s.0+ 45 Four acres of salt marsh in the Great Marsh... 40 | Thirty Eight Acres of land bought of Mary ) 550 IWanchestensesrcers ccc tctstescs soeee coereceneet j 32 A tract of Land in Troublesome Swamp ea 60 Call Edi) eosssceewsssesstecasslesessescsececenae cee A House, Farm and other buildings in Rox- } 1000 DUM Aneta ntcneterestesenas sonendeoenesen aseseaeens J ABWiood-lotpime*hOxDOY. cccecccnanacsesesercssates sect 112 Two Acres Salt Marsh in Roxbury.............. «. 20 AC Wood-lotein -Needham.......--scacsse-<easacaeees 66 13s. 4d. A wood lot in Newton bought of John Ham- } 175 MON Gitcseesensine aa ceeaclonceesnonscien donee seacenecnsa J £3 Another in ditto, Three & one half Aeres........ 52 10s. A Farm in Newton under the improvement ce 400 Mir osepht Wintte)..c.ca-c\:sneqtasessenmnies sacle

Henry P. and Charlotte (Bicknell) Franklin. Mr. Franklin was a merchant and wealthy manufacturer in Providence. The children of Mr. Parsons are Elizabeth, Theophilus (a graduate of Harvard Collage, 1870, now engaged in manufacturing in Holyoke, |

The Davis Family Of Brookline By W. E. Webster

This tankard is still in the possession of the family (the bees are not). On the curve of the handle, in accordance with the custom of the olden time, appear the husband's and wife's initials with that of the

D ' family, thus, E + S, meaning Ebenezer and Sarah Davis. It bears the stamp of "J. Hurd," the famous goldsmith of Boston, whose daughter married Mr. Walley, and was the grandmother of Wendell Phil- A son, Nathaniel Hurd, succeeded his father ; he also struck his stamp upon it, simply the word " Hurd." He was an artist of great taste in heraldic engraving, and by a mistake not uncommon at that bod Davis, in registry of deeds in Suffolk County, A.D. 1754, - he was son of the original immigrant, whose will has been lost, - this was observed by J. C. J. Brown, of the Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, while making an examination of the heraldry on wills in Suffolk Probate Court.

Ebenezer Davis' will was quite long, and very particular in relation to the division and distribution of the estate, and very regardful of all his descendants. His daughters, Hannah, Sarah, and Elizabeth, were the wives respectively of Matthias Collins, Joseph White, and Joseph Craft.

This Robert Sharp had the following-named children, a brief sketch of whom will here be given: Samuel Craft, Robert Sharp, Phineas Stearns, Sarah, and Lucy.

Samuel Craft Davis was born in Brookline, Feb. 18, 1809, and died in Boston, Oct. 15, 1882. 1854, Mr. Davis went to St. Louis, where he established the well-known dry-goods importing and jobbing house of Samuel C. Davis & Co., in which he ing children: Samuel Craft, a lawyer, born March 10, 1842; died Oct. 10, 1874; John Tilden, born Sept. 13, 1844; now a partner in the house of 8S. C. Davis & Co.; also one son and one daughter who died in infancy. Samuel Craft Davis, Jr., married Sarah Shurtleff Shaw, of Boston, June 19, 1866; John Tilden Davis married Maria Jane Filley, Feb. 20, 1867. tobert Sharp Davis, whose portrait accompanies died in the same town, Feb. 23, 1875. About the year 1825, Mr. Davis entered the employment of the well-known publishing firm of Crocker & Brewster, of Boston, a firm which remained the same, both in style and partners, for more than half a century. After remaining a few years with Crocker & Brewster, he became a partner in the firm of Lincoln, Edmands & Co., and in 1835 succeeded them. From that time he carried on the business of publishing school-books in Boston with uninterrupted success until his death, - a period of forty years lackinga fewdays. Among his most prominent publications were the mathematical works of the eminent author, Benjamin Greenleaf, books which are believed to have been in more universal use than any similar works ever published. In 1837, Mr. Davis married Mary Shannon, of Portsmouth, N. H., by whom he had the following children: Mary Shannon (Mrs. W. E. Webster), Lucy Stearns, Sarah Comstock, Laura Wood (Mrs. T. R. Shewell), Caroline Elizabeth, and Langdon Shannon, who married Héléne Bartlett O'Leary, Nov. 9, 1880.

Phineas Stearns Davis (named for hi§ great-grandfather, who was one of the famous Boston tea-party) was born in Brookline. For many years he was éonnected in business with his brother Robert. He was an active member of the militia for more than twenty years, holding various commissions, including that of brigadier-general. At the breaking out of the war for the suppression of the Southern Rebellion, Gen. Davis, after serving several months upon a commission for the examination of candidates for positions in the military service, accepted the command of the Thirtyninth Regiment, in which position he served with distinction until July 11, 1864, when he was killed by a rebel shell in front of Petersburg, Va. He was a brave and patriotic man and an accomplished officer. April 26, 1847, he married Elizabeth Lambert, by whom he had the following-named children: Nannie Sophia, Charles Lambert, Elizabeth Lambert (Mrs. A. J. Ward), and Agnes Andrews.

Sarah Davis was born in Brookline, Sept. 24, 1812; married Rev. Grover Smith Comstock, June 24, 1834; had the following children: Lucy D., Oliver C. (who was killed in the war for the Union), Mrs. Comstock went to Burmah as a missionary and died there.

Lucy Stearns Davis was born in Brookline, Jan. 26,1816; married Daniel H. Rogers, Sept. 21, 1843; had the following children: Sarah C., Clara Lavinia, Elizabeth S., Mary D.

The Davis family are descended in a maternal line from Robert Sharp, a youth of twenty, who came from England in the ship " Abigail,' in 1635.

Robert Sharp stopped a while at Braintree, then at Rehoboth, and in 1650, with Peter Aspinwall, he | purchased the large farm of William Colburn, at |

Muddy River. By his wife Abigail he had one son, John, born March 12 Abigail and Mary. John married Martha, daughter of Robert Vose, of Dorchester (Milton). John was a valiant soldier in King Philip's war, and was killed in the Sudbury fight, while lieutenant in Capt. Wads-

Joseph Buckminster, from whom the distinguished persons of that name were descended. John Sharp had a son Robert, who perished in an expedition against the Indians in Canada. This Robert had a son Robert, who was a thrifty man, and became a large Jandholder in Brookline. He died in 1765, leaving a son, Robert, and four daughters. The fourth Robert married Sarah Payson, of Roxbury, by whom he had ten children, and from one of these children (Lucy), who married into the Davis family, was descended Robert Sharp Davis, the subject of this sketch.

Bradford Kingman

Bradford Kingman is the son of Josiah Washburn and Mary (Packard) Kingman ; portion of the town of North Bridgewater (now Brockton) called " Campello," Jan. 5, 1831; came to Brookline, May 1, 1856. He is a lineal descendant in the seventh generation from Henry Kingman, an early settler of Weymouth, Mass., Weymouth, England, in 1635 course of study in the common schools of his native village he attended the Adelphian Academy, under the charge of Messrs. Silas L. & L. F. C. Loomis, in the central village, and afterwards in the Williston Seminary at Hast Hampton, Mass. Lyman Mason, Esq., of Boston; attended lectures of the late Professor Kmery Washburn, at Harvard College; and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in Boston April 21, 1863. Appointed justice of the peace by Governor Andrew, Jan. 22, 1864; and was trial justice for criminal cases for Norfolk County several years, notary public for the same county, and is now an attorney- and counselor-at-law, resident of Brookline. He is also commissioner of deeds for several New England and Western States.

Brookline Transcript, of which he was the editor and proprietor for over two years. Among his contributions are the " Memoir of the Late Deacon Lewis of Plympton, Mass., " History of An- ' published in the "' History of Essex County," also "' History of North Andover" in the same work.

Mr. Kingman married Susan Bradford, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Susanna (Bradford) Ellis, of Plympton, Mass., Jan. 1, 1852, a direct descendant of Governor William Bradford, of Plymouth, Mass., in the eighth generation. They had one daughter, Carrie Parker, born July 15, 1858; died Sept. 18, 1859.

George Baty Blake

The branch of the Blake family from which the subject of this sketch descended was first established in New England in the person of William Blake (a near relative of the famous English admiral, Robert Blake), who landed at Nantasket, May 30, 1630, and soon after fixed his residence at Dorchester, Mass., in that part now called Milton.

His grandfather, Joseph Blake (born Feb. 5, 1739 ; died July 21, 1818), was a heutenant in the army at an early age, and saw some service at Crown Point. He married for his first wife Deborah, daughter of Samuel Smith, a physician of Sandwich, Mass., her mother, Bethiah Chipman, being reported by tradition to be a direct descendant of John Carver, the first Governor of Plymouth Colony.

His father, John Welland Blake, Esq., a lawyer OF profession, was one of the early settlers at Brattleborough, 1790. place, represented the town in the State Legislature,

Subsequently he lived at the homestead until the age of thirteen. His eldest sister, Anna Sophia, who, in 1814, married Henry Cabot, son of Hon. George Cabot, of Boston, had charge of the household during George's childhood, until her removal to Boston upon her marriage, and there lived until her death, in 1845.

After the death of his father, George was for a few years particularly under the charge of his brother, John Rice Blake. These brothers long survived the other children, and were for twenty years or more partners in the banking business, which George undertook about the year 1850, in Boston, and to which the energies of the remaining years of his life were chiefly given.

Although George's father had been man of considerable wealth for the period, at his death the family were left quite poor, so that when Mr. Dickerman, a dry-goods dealer from Boston, who chanced to see George, then a lad of thirteen, in Brattleborough, offered him a place in his store, the family gladly availed themselves of the offer, and the

He lived at first with his sister, Mrs. Cabot, in High Street, Boston, and for two or three years received from his brother John and this sister fifty dollars a year, which was the only pecuniary help he ever received.

He was in Mr. Dickerman's employ a few years, and went thence to his brother-in-law, Edward Clarke, of the firm of Edward Clarke & Co., dry-goods importers, and before he was twenty-one years of age

Among others, he thus became acquainted with the late George Peabody, at that time a buyer of dry-goods for his Baltimore firm, and afterward long resident in London, with whom Mr. Blake continued in warm relations of friendship until Mr. Peabody's death, and for several years their respective firms had extensive business relations.

May 24, 1833, Mr. Blake married his cousin, Anna Hull, daughter of Joshua Blake, of Boston, a prominent and successful merchant, doing business with the Mediterranean ports.

father's house in Winthrop Place, by the Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood, of King's Chapel, at which church Mr. Blake then, and during his whole life, attended

During his earlier visits in England, Mr. Blake made the acquaintance of Richard Cobden, the distinguished English statesman, then, about the year 1835, partner in a cotton-printing establishment near business. Mr. Blake at this time bought goods of Mr. Cobden, and had a great admiration for the qualities which later won him such distinction as a legislator and political economist.

Mr. Blake gave full adherence to Mr. Cobden's free-trade views, and was always of the opinion that for any country customs duties were only to be justified He recognized, however, for the United States that reform in this direction, in justice to large vested interests, must be somewhat gradual; but he looked confidently to absolute free trade as the true policy for all nations, and he believed that, under such a free interchange of commodities, the United States would soon become cotton manufacturers for the world.