Magazine of New England history (Volume 1) online

tliah's daughter.

13. May the discipline of the militia supersede the neces-
sity of a standing army."

Rhode Island and the Constitution. — A letter to the
Salem Gazette, dated Pawtuxet, R. I., June 1, 1790, says :
"Last Saturday evening, as some boys were in a small boat
fishing near Potawamscot (?) at the mouth of Pawtuxet
river, a fine, plump Salmon weighing exactly Thirteen
Pounds, leaped from the river into the boat. As the cir-
cumstance was rather uncommon for a fish of its own accord
to spring from its native element into a boat, on the boys'
return it occasioned some conversation in the neighborhood.
But what was the sensation excited the next day, when the
news of the adoption of tlie Constitution arrived, and on
comparing the time, it appeared tliat tlie very tirne that the
salmon leaped into the boat was the moment that the Presi-
dent announced to the Convention at Newport that by their
votes they had ratified the Constitution .'"

Querv. — Are salmon now taken in the same locality?

In this connection it may be said that nowhere in the
countiy wei'c to be found more patriotic men than in Provi-
dence and Newport, but for a time ignorant or pi-ejudic.t;d
politicians obtained in a measure the ascendancy in Rhode
Island at tlie time of the adoption of the new Constitution
by the other States, so that it was not until the next year



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 221

that it was ratified in the State. This fact appears very
clearly from letters and papers written at the time.

Saleyn, Mass. II. M. H.

HoA(;, HoEG, IIoEGG. — I aui compiling a o'enealogy of the
Hoag family, and any one having information concerning the
name is kindly requested to correspond with me. A copy of
any record will be gladly received. Tlie first family settled
near Hampton, N. H., about 1650, and became members of
the Quaker society.

Can give information concerning the following : — Emery,
Dow, Goodwin, Swett, Nichols, Springer, Hunt, Jenkins and
others.

Lockport, N. Y. Charles A. Hoag.

Dr. Asa Messer.— Dr. Asa Messer was born in Methuen,
Mass., iMay Bl, 17G9, and died in Providence, R. L, Oct. 11,
1836. He was the third president of Brown University,
and held that important position from 1803 to 1827.

In gathering facts for the genealogy of the Messers, I be-
came interested to learn all. I could about the doctor and if pos-
sible secure a portrait of him. On inquiry it was discovered
that the third president of that institution of learning was
not represented among the portraits adorning the walls of
any of its halls, while portraits of all the other presidents
are there.

A photograph negative of his profile was found in posses-
sion of a Providence photographer, and several copies secured.

While this class of pictures are very unsatisfactory, it was
the best that could be liad.

During the investigation it was discovered j^hat a half life-
size portrait was in existence, painted by an artist by the name
of Lincoln, from a miniature painted from life. Soon after
the miniature was returned to its owners, their dwelling was
destroyed by hre, as was also the doctor's i)icture.

This portrait is now the pro[)erty of Mr. Granviil Rrown of
Providence; it was painted for iiis fatlier. It would secan that
it sliould be with the other presidents of that institution, and
it is hoped measures will be taken to place it among them.

M. H. Messer.



Queries.

|4istorical.

44. The "Paul Jones." — Can any one give me the time
(date) that the "Paul Jonea," a sailing vcsscj, plied between
London, England and Portsmouth, N. H.? Has any passen-
ger list of the Paul Jones been preserved?

Butte, Montana. L. E. Holmes, M. D.

45. Diary of Paiison Hasey. — In my search among
New England clmrch records I frequently find mention made
of the Diary of Parson Hasey. He was, in 1785, rector of
some church in Lebanon, Maine. Can any one inform me if
this diary is still to be seen? Has it been pul)lislied? Some
account of the Parson would certainly be interesting. Q.

46. Early German Emigration to ]SIE^v England. —
I am much interested in the earl}^ emigration of Germans to
the American Colonies. Was tliere any considerable settle-
ment of this class of people in New England before 1750?

M.

47. The First Church Service in New England. —
The first church service of the Pilgi-im Colony is put down
as a notable event, but I have often seen it stated that it was
not the first in ^New England by English settlers. It is said
that the first church service was held at Calais, Maine, in
1605 and that two years hiUn- an Episcopal service was licld
at Fort Popham. Where can I find a published account of
early church services? Facts relating to the services above
mentioned would be inteicisting rciading. Will not some one
look into this matter. B. T. A.

48. Some Interesting En(;lisii Queries. — 1. In Miss
Agnes Strickland's "Lives of the Queens of England" she



IMAGAZINE OF NEW ENCLAND IIISTOKY. 223

says, "Elizabeth had six ladies of honour in her household at
Hatfield wliose names are celebrated by Sir John Harrington,
in a eonn)limentary poem which he addressed that Princess
early i)i Mary's reign — "He proceeds to praise — Lady Will-
ougliby for being a laurel instead of a willow" — Where can
this poem be found? Will some one who has it, kindly give
the (pu)tation in regard to Margaret Willoughby? 2. Sir
Walter Scott in Ivanhoe descrilHis Ricliard Coeur de Lion as
I'eturning to England in disguise after his imprisonment in
Austria and bearing the device of a fetterlock. Is it a fact
of history that he bore the device? If so, is it supposed to
have had reference to his captivity? 3. When the Princess,
[afterwards Queen] was imprisoned by her sister Queen Mary
did she ever use the device of a padlock? 4. Col. William
Willoughby of Kent, born about 1588, of the British Navy
from 1648 till his death in 1651: and his son Francis Wil-
loughby his successor in ofifice, afterwards member of Parlia-
ment and Dejjuty-Governor of Massachusetts bore the arms
of the early Willoughby de Eresbys ; or fretty azure, crest a
lion's head (formerly a bat's) couped at tiie sliouhhirs, be-
tween two wings expanded. Their descendants in America
have relics and traditions which, in coiniection with the facts
of English histoiy offer strong circumstantial evidence which
is accepted by the representatives of the families of Willoug-
bys De Eresby and Mollaton as showing that Col. William
Willoughby belonged to the De Eresby line in one of the
early generations after the marriage of Robert Willoughl)y of
Bore Place, Kent (son of Sir Thomas Chief Justice, grandson
of Sir Christopher Baron Willoughby De Eresby) to Dorothy
daughter of Sir Edward Willoughby of Wolhxnton. Can
there be found pedigrees giving all the descendants of Robert
and Dorotliy Willoughby for three generations? What sons
had they besides Thomas Sheriff of Kent? What grandsons
l)esides Sir Percival who mai-ricd B]'idg(>t, eldest (hiughter of
Sir Francis Willoug]il)y of WoUaton, and Edward who mar-
ried Winifred a younger daugiiter of Sir Francis? Did cither
of these brothers have a son William? Can a William, l)oin



224 MAGAZINE OK NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

about 1588 be found in any generation of the family existing
before that date? The facts desired are very important to
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Elbridge Salisbuiy of New Haven,
Connecticut, in tlie preparation of a lai-ge and valiiabh-, work
of Histories and Geneah)gies now nearly completed.



Genealogical.

49. Cartw right Family of Nantucket. — Understand-
ing that there exists different statements, as to the parentage
of Edtvard Cartivright of Nantucket, (1660,) will all who
possess any traditional or written information of the names
of the parents of this '■'•Edward C" and where they may
claim that he was born, please address

Lansing, Mich. Geo. M. Cartwright.

50. Tompkins. — Can any one give facts relating to the
ancestrj^ of Nathaniel Tompkins of Rhode Island, who mar-
ried Elizabeth Allen, Jan. 15, 1671. He died 1724. His
children were:

I. Elizabeth, born â– , died 1729, married William

Ladd, Feb. 17, 1696-
II. Nathaniel, born Dec. 31, 1676, died 1748,

III. Mary, born Sept, 16, 1677.

IV. Priscilla, born May 24, 1679, died Dec. 11, 1732,

married 1703, Samuel Lyndon.
V. Samuel, born May 24, 1681, died May 1760, married
Sarah Coe.
VI. Mercy, born Oct. 20, 1685, married William Bowditch
VII. Sarah, married Benjamin Gift'ord.
VIH. Rebecca.

IX. Hannah, married Timothy Gifi'ord.
The undersigned would like to know when and where
Nathaniel Tompkins Avas born. Information relative to his
children also desired.
Vineland, N. J. â–  Marion L. Tompkins.



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 225

51. Taylor, Halcomb, Whitlock. — Can any one give
me information in regard to an Eli Halcomb who married
Esther Taylor. Slie was born at Danbury, Conn,, about 1770.
They are said to have had a daugh<^er Roxy. Information is
also wanted of one Hezekiah Whitlock who married Naomi
Taylor, who was born at Danbury, Conn., probably about
1772, (was a sisterof the above Esther). They are said to have
removed to Vt., somewhere near Whitehall. The writer has
been engaged for ten years in collecting material for a
genealogy of the descendants of John Taylor, of Windsor,
Conn., 1639. Many of this family settled at Norwich, Wilton,
Danbury, New Milford and other towns in Fairfield Co.,
Conn. I should be pleased to exchange information witli any
who are interested in such matter.

Orange^ Mass. W. O. Taylor.

52. SissON. — Joseph Sisson of Newport, R. I., died 1836
or 1837. He had sons Peleg and Benjamin. Peleg left
Newport in 1812, being eighteen years old. A descendant
of his desires to connect Joseph Sisson above named with the
Sisson genealogy as published by J. O. Austin. The under-
signed would be glad to correspond with anj'^one having in-
formation bearing on the subject.

, St. Annes Church, Lowell., Mass. Rev. Wilson Waters.

53. Clarke. — Benjamin Clarke, of New Castle, N. H.,
was a taxpayer there in 1719. He married Nov. 30, 1720,
Jane, da*iighter of William and Margery Pepperell, and had
William and Benjamin. Whose son was Benjamin Sr., and
when did he die? XX.

54. Weare, Lawton. — Elias^ Weare (sometimes Ware,
Wier),born Oct. 20,1695 in Boston,son of Daniel^ and Hannah
(Borden) Weare of York, Me., and Boston, and grandson of
Peter^ Weare of York, Me., a prominent man in the Province,
describes himself about 1725 as "of Rhode Island, merchant".
(York Co., (Me.), deed XII 281). He entered the intention



226 MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

of marriage in Boston, 21 June,1722 with Elizabeth Laughton
"of Rhode IsLand" and prol)ably moved there. Information
wanted as to her parentage and his descendants, if any.
Vineyard Haven^ Mass. Charles E. Banks, M. D.

55. SiLSBEE. — Nathaniel Silsbee, a graduate of Harvard
College, in 1824, settled in Salem, Mass. He was, I tliink,
a member of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1833. Who
were his parents, and what was the date of his birtli and
death. T.

56. Clapp. — Rev. Dexter Clapp, son of Ralph and Fann}'
Clapp, of Westhampton, Mass., born July 15, 1816, died

July 26, 1868. His wife was Susan ? What was

the maiden name of his mother ? Q.

57. Elton.— Salmon Hurlbut Elton, born April 28, 1708,
son of Ebenezer and Rhoda (Hurlbut) Elton, married Lydia
Goodwin. He is supposed to have been born in Middletown,
Conn. What is the date of his death? W. P. B.

t^epli'es.
31. Pastors, Teachers and Elders of the New
England Churches. — The distinction between the Pastor
and the Teacher of the early New England clmrches is de-
fined in a letter of several of their ministers in August, 1639,
in answer to inquiries of ministers in England, as follows :
"Pastor and Teaclier have various duties in common. Botli
preach by way of doctrine and application, and administer
the seals. Still there is a difference between them. The
Teacher 'is 'principally to attend upon points of knowledge
and doctrine, though not without application,' and therefor
his work is thus expressed, 'let him attend on teaching ;' but
the pastor's principal duty is to preach on 'points of practice,
though not without doctrine, and hence his work is 'to attend
on exhortation.' " The office of Ruling Elder in tlie early
New England churclies is thus defined by John Cotton :
"The oflice of Ruling Elder is to assist the Pastors and
Teachers in diligent attendance to all other acts of rule be-



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 227

sides exhortation and doctrine, as becomes good stewards of
the honsehold of God." The above, in answer to our San-
Francisco correspondent's query, is taken from the Historical
Catalogue of the first church in Hartford, Conn. The sub-
ject is an interesting one, and calls for a more definite and
detailed answer. Will not some of our readers give us fur-
ther information? — [Ed.

42. Ellery-Keith. — Susanna, daughter of Wm. Keitli,
was born January 13, 1739-40. The date of her marriage
with William Ellery is given, in the published records of the
First church, of Hartford, as 1761. Her parents were Wil
liam Keith and Mrs. Marian Lawrence. They were married
at Hartford, Nov. 16, 1738. Mrs. William Ellery was buried
in the Centre Church burying-ground, at Hartford. Her
first husband was Capt. John Lawrence, of Jersey, England.
Her father was John Beauchamp, born 1652, died Nov. 14,

1740. Her mother Margaret died Dec, 8, 1727, age

59.

Fittsfield. Mass. Rollin H. Cooke.



The Right of Franchise during the early history of
the colony of Massachusetts was confined to the freemen ;
afterwards in the election of deputies, and its management of
town affairs, other persons were allowed to vote ; and so
general was the franchise, that in some towns a majority of
voters were not freemen. In 1669 none were allowed to vote
in town affairs but freemen, or freeholders of twenty pounds
ratable estate. The General Court alone admitted freemen,
but the same was often done on the recommendations of the
towns, and for many years no special qualifications were re-
quired, but in 1671 it was provided that none should be ad-
mitted but such as were twenty-one years of age "and have
the testimony of their neighbors that they are of sober and
peaceable convei'sation, orthodox in the fundamentals of re-
ligion, and such as have also twenty pounds of ratable estate
in the colony."



The Coddington School Lands,

Braintree, Massachusetts.



± ^N November, 1885, Mr. Samuel A. Bates, for many

ijj I years now the town-clerk of Braintree, printed in tlie

'^1 Randolph Register an article relating to the circum-

f stances under which the Coddington school lands, as

they are called, came into the possession of the original town

of Braintree. The question has a certain degree of interest,

as the Mt. Wollaston cemetery is now on one portion of these

lands, as the Quincy Alms-house is upon another portion of

them.

Mr. Bates is unquestionably better informed than any one
else now living on all antiquarian and traditional matters
relating to the original town of Braintree ; and it is cause for
serious regret that his address on the 250th anniversaiy of
the incorporation of the town has not been published in foi-m
for preservation. Jt should yet be done ; and, when it is
done, opportunity should be afforded Mr. Bates to incorpo-
rate in an appendix to the address much of that curious and
valuable local information he possesses, which otherwise bids
fair to die with him. Quincy has done its share in this line,
and it is now the turn of Braintree to make a valuable addi-
tion to its printed record in the local celebrations of 1858,
1861 and 1876. The 250th anniversary ought to be marked
by a mile-stone.

Until Mr. Bates printed his article on the subject, wliich
Avas reprinted in the Patriot of December 5th, 1885, it liad
always been assumed that the so-called "school lands" were a
gift from William Coddington to the town of Braintree,— its



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTOllY. 229

earliest eduoatioiuil eudowmeut. Tlie tradition was old and
unbroken. It first appears in a foot-note on page 2'1 of the
Rev. John Hancock's century sermons, preached by him in
the North Precinct meeting house on the IGth of Septend)er,
1739. Mr. Hancock there refers to Coddington as "-the mu-
nificent donor of our school lands, which now rent at 142 Z.,
from which this town has reaped great benefit in good schools
for many years past." A century later Dr. Lunt in his two
discourses on the 200th anniversary of the first church
referred to Coddington (p. 22), and, in an appendix (F. pp.
73-5) to the printed copy of his discourses quoted Mr. Han-
cock's language as above, adding that, for the reason stated,
Coddington was "one who deserves to be remembered by the
inhabitants of this place." In like manner in 1858, Charles
Francis Adams said (p. 25) in an address delivered at the
inauguration of the present Braintree Town-hall, "Codding-
ton's name is therefore entitled to be inscribed on the hearts
of the people as that of their earliest benefactor.''' In a brief
memoir of Edmund Quincy (N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg., April,
1884) the late Miss E. S. Quincy, referring to Coddington,
says: "He sold his Mt. Wollaston estate to Edward [Wil-
liam ?] Tyng, and gave the rest of his lands to the town of
Braintree." Finally, Dr. Pattee in his history of the town
(pp. 315-17) uses the following language :

"On the worn and tattered first page of the old Braintree
town records, we find the copy of a conveyance, which gave
to Braintree (now Quincy) a large tract of territory, the in-
come of which has ever since been held for the benefit of the
l)ublic schools. Who was this earliest benefactor ? It was
Mr. William Coddington, a man who deserves to be remem-
bered by the present and future inhabitants of the town.
Mr. Coddington was a man of high respectability and of good
intellect, but because he dared to advocate a religious doc-
trine which to-day would be considered but a common belief,
he was forced to leave the colony. Mr. (Coddington, soon
after he removed to Rhode Island, through his agent, Mr.
Richard Wright, gave his large landed estate, comprising



230 MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

what is now the town farm, the Mount Wollaston Cemetery,
and meadow land at Rock Ishxnd, to the town of Braintree
for the ])nrpose of establishing and supporting the public
schools in order that future generations might reap the ben-
efit of a liberal education, and thus see the folly of ex-com-
municating from society individuals for their honest religious
opinions. The income of this munificent bequest has been
used to advance the interest of education in this town from
that time to this."

A tradition a century and a half old, relating to an impor-
tant town transaction which occurred only two hundred and
fifty years ago, is certainly entitled to respect ; especially
when it originates with so excellent an authority on a matter
of this sort as the Rev. John Hancock. An oral tradition,
also, has during recent years lingered about the town, for
which the late William S. Morton was, I believe, largely re-
sponsible, that among the ancient papers in the Suffolk reg-
istry was one containing a reference to Coddington's deed of
gift, — in which document the donor expressed in language
of much strength a hope that his gift might produce on the
descendants of those then inhabiting what is now Quincy,
some such effects as that indicated in Dr. Pattee's text. But
this phase of the tradition could probably be traced to a care-
less, unconsidered statement in one of the notes to Whitney's
History of Quincy (p. 20.), to the effect that "a descendant
of this Coddington afterwards gave certain portions of land
lying towards Mt. Wollaston to the town of Braintree for the
support of schools, as he said, 'that the next generation
might not be as ignorant as the present is.' "

In his article in the Randolph Register, Mr. Bates ques-
tioned the accuracy of the whole tradition, both written and
oral, giving his reasons for so doing, and asserting finally
that "the only ground on which the name of the Coddington
fund can be applied to it is that the land was given by the
town of Boston to William Coddington, who was afterwards
driven from the colony for his adherence to and sympathy
witli Antinomian sentiments, that the courts adjudged that



MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 231

Richard Wright, the huvful iittornc_y of Williain Codchngton,
should convey to the town of Braiiitree said hind, and that
the said town shouhl pay for the same the sum of £98."

Mr. Don (jleason Hill, of Dedliam, an experienced con-
veyancer as well as an accomplished antiquarian, has recently
at my request made, a careful examination of all the publica-
tions and papers on record bearing on this question. As the
result of so doing he confirms Mr. Bates' conclusions in every
respect, finding no basis whatever for Mr. Hancock's state-
ment or Dr. Pattee's more recent surmises. The whole
transaction is now enveloped in obscurity ; but, as nearly as
can be ascertained from the records and the few additional
data which have come to light, the facts in relation to the
Coddington school lands were somewhat as follows : The
original undivided grant from the town of Boston to William
Coddington and Edmund Quincy was made on the 14tli of
Dec. 1635, and covered many hundred acres, including the
peninsular of Germantown, the present almshouse grounds
and the Mt. Wollaston cemetery, the Mt. Wallaston farm, the
Merry Mount park, and the Sailors' Home property, and also
the former Quincy farm, down to what was formerly known as
"•the farms," (Adams Braintree Address, 1858, p. 57). Mr.
Coddington is said to have built a house within tlie limits of
what is now the Merry Mount park, but the grant remained
undivided until 1636. Edmund Quincy died some time in
1635, and the next year a division was made, the eastern por-
tion of the grant, including the present Mt. Wollaston farm
and what subsequently became known as the "school lands"
or town farm, falling to the share of Coddington.

The so-called Antinomian controversy raged in 1636 and
culminated at the close of 1637, when the adherents of Mrs.
Hutchinson were in November ordered by name to bring in
their arms and deliver them up to Capt. Robert Keayne.
Siding as he did with the Antinomian party, Coddington,
though not actually exiled, left Boston in April, 1638, going
to Rliodc Island, where he afterwards lived until his death in
1678. At the time of his removal he was a man of thiily-



232 MAGAZINE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY.

seven years of age, and writing to Gov. Wintlnop two years
afterwards he said: "What myselfe and wife and family did
induer in that removeall, I wisli neither you nor youis may
ever be put unto.") IV Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. vi. 314.) There
is, nevertheless, no ground whatever for Dr. Pattee's asser-
tion that Coddington was forced to leavd the colony "because
he dared to advocate a religious doctrine, which to-(hiy would
be considered a common belief." As to the theological issues
involved in the Antinomian controversy, so far from being on
one side or the other "considered a common belief" now, it is
safe to say, that not a human being alive so receives them ;
they are antiquated, abandoned and forgotten. So far as the
other issues are concerned, Coddington said all there is now
to say when in 1640 he wrote to Winthrop referring to them :
"I well approve of a speech of one of note amongst you, that
we were in a heat and chafed, and were all of us to blame ; in
our strife, we had forgotten we were brethren-" (lb. 317).

None the less, Coddington in his anger went into exile, .
whether in his case voluntary or not, "upon 14 dayes tyme"
(lb. 314) leaving his affairs in the Massachusetts colony in a
vtrj unsettled condition. So far as his farm was concerned,
the next year (1639) dating from Newport, on April 9, he
sold, together with his house in Boston, to William Tynge,
a merchant, five hundred and twenty acres of land at Mt.
Wollaston, reserving a right of shelter for thirty head of
cattle for the coming winter. (Lechford, Note Book., 62,66).
The land thus conveyed at Mt. Wollaston was apparently not
at once delivered, but subsequently, on the 15th and 16th of
October following, another conveyance was made of a portion
of it through William Cheeseborough, assignee of Codding-
ton, to Richard Wright and by him to Tynge, (Suffolk