A
BRIEF     HISTORY
OF THE
J^ wgg~td Ri^Uu4 ^tgtnt-^m W  <Tmori
READ AT THE
MONTHLY MEETING, MAY 7, 1862,
BY J. H. SHEPPARD, A. M.,
LIBRARIAN OF THE SOCIETY.
ALBANY:
J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET,
1862.








A BRIEF HISTORY.
" The time will come, sir, when it will be accounted an honor to have descended
from the men, who first settled this country."-a-ddress, 1852, by the Rev. William
Jenks, D. D., Hon. Memb.
Every association, institute or political body, like a human being,
as it progresses to maturity, has its infancy, youth and manhood. It
has been so with our Genealogical Society; at first feeble, then vigorous and now strong and flourishing. A brief outline of our history
seems peculiarly adapted to our situation and wants at the present
time.
The preliminary steps toward the formation of this Society occurred at the residence of William H. Montague, merchant of Boston,
in Orange street, Oct. 1844; which were followed by a meeting at
Mr. Shattuck's, No. 79 Harrison Avenue, on Friday evening Nov. 1,
of the same year. The gentlemen then present were Charles Ewer,
Samuel G. Drake, William H. Montague, J. Wingate Thornton and
Lemuel Shattuck. They organized the meeting and chose Mr. Ewer
President and Mr. Thornton Secretary. It may be asked, who first
conceived the idea of an institution which in 17 years from its incorporation has grown into such magnitude and influence? For we
may rest assured that no invention, discovery or useful project ever
took place without a thought from some prime mover, or a suggestion
first made by an original thinker.
The answer to this question may be rendered certain, and will be
only an act of justice to the memory of a worthy and excellent man.
Charles Ewer was the first mover and originator of a plan which led
to the formation of the " N. E. Historic-Genealogical Society," which
he wished to be entitled the "N. E. Genealogical and Heraldic
Society." He was a man of leisure, was anxious to form such an
association and invited congenial spirits to unite with him in this
object. It was a grand and noble thought; for this Genealogical
Society is the first one, particularly devoted to the Pedigree of families in the world. Some years after, a similar society was instituted
at London. We know of no other. Perhaps the lamented Charles
Ewer, when he first meditated in the secret chamber of his brain, on
the formation of a Society so valuable, felt like that quaint and pious
poet of old England, Herbert, when he said,' He that good thinketh, good may do,
For GOD will help him thereunto;
For was never good work wrought
Without beginning of good thought."




4
In December, the Constitution, which had been drafted by a Committee, was adopted. March 18, 1845, an Act of Incorporation
was granted by the Legislature, wherein the object of this Society
was set forth in these words: " For the purpose of collecting, preserving, and occasionally publishing genealogical and historical matter,
relating to early New England families, and for the establishment of
a Cabinet." This great aim was also emphatically represented in a
Circular by the Directors, June, 1847: that is, to RESCUE THE DECAYING
RECORDS OF NEW ENGLAND. These words were not a mere flourish of
the pen; for a quarterly was published by the Society, young and
comparatively feeble as it was; and No. 1, of the New England
Historical and Genealogical Register was issued Jan. 1, 1847, under the
editorial care of the late Rev. William Cogswell, D. D.
We have described the Birth of our Society; let us for a moment
look at its struggles in Infancy. It began in poverty. No rich
patron, nor beneficent donor smiled on it as it stretched out its little
arms. Its nursery was a solitary chamber, No. 9, in the third story
of the "City Building," so called, Court Square; an out-of-the-way
place, small, being only 12 feet square, badly lighted from back
windows overlooking a dark alley-a room, indeed sombre enough
and poorly adapted to the wants of the little Genealogical stranger.
An old table, troubled with the podagra-a chair or two which had
seen better days-and a set of pine shelves without back or panel,
subject to the rickets; such was the furniture in this cavernous-lopking spot-this Pandora's box with only hope at the bottom. But as
the Society held their meetings for business in the attic room of the
Am. Ed. Soc., in Cornhill, this dark chamber was resorted to rather
as a place for depositing donations. The amount of these donations
for the year 1845, as appears by the Records, will show how small
was that beginning which formed a nucleus around which have
gathered in sixteen years so many golden treasures of antiquarian
research. There were presented in 1845, 24 bound volumes of books10 manuscripts-6 plans-an old lease-4 bound volumes of the
Independent Chronicle, 1804-1811-and 185 pamphlets, consisting of
sermons, catalogues, orations and miscellaneous matter De omnibus
rebus et quibusdam aliis; besides, "a wheelbarrow load of manuscript sermons"-as the record has it-" of Dr. Joseph Eckley, Old
South Church." The books were scattered on the shelves; but these
pamphlets of the infant Society, lay like swaddling clothes in a
corner, where it slept.
To follow its growth and progress year by year, would be unprofitable and only weary the reader's patience. Daily records have been
kept wherein the donations and donors' names are preserved, with
all the proceedings, and deposited in our archives. The ghostly
chamber in the City Building was abandoned Oct. 6, 1847, for a room
larger and a little better, but still badly windowed, on the first floor
in Massachusetts Block, No. 8. This building was then a kind of
Lincoln's Inn, and the little fellow got nestled among the lawyers.
Some furniture was procured with cases and shelves, and the donations soon began to accumulate and make a show of antiquity where
they stood carefully arranged.
During the three or more years this tenebrious place was occupied,




5
our prospects were slowly and hopefully encouraging; until Jan.
1851, a new room was hired, more lightsome and pleasant, No. 5
Tremont Row; and here to continue our similitude, the Society passed
its youth; for this room was occupied nearly seven years, until the
shelves, cases and walls were so crowded, with books pamphlets,
MSS., newspapers, portraits, &c., that the growing society had
but a small space to meet in, and a bibliothecal stevedore would
have found it difficult with a cotton-screw to press more donations
into any part of the library. Another and a better apartment, No.
13, Bromfield street-our present large and well lighted hall-was
secured for our use in Oct. 1858, and any one who knows how small
in size the Society once was, and now looks around on the numerous
shelves and cases for books, and closets for manuscripts, which are
all well filled, must acknowledge that it has reached the full stature
of manhood, and well deserves the " freedom suit " of some fire-proof
building.
Before contemplating the Library, it may be well to cast our eye
on the annual increase of resident members, Beginning with 1844,
when there were only 5 original members, the statistical table stands
thus:
New Members.      New Members      New Members.
1845......... 37  1851.......  22  1857,........ 43
1846........ 21  1852,........ 21  1858,........ 71
1847........ 32  1853,......  40  1859,    60
1848.......  14  1854........ 12   1860......46
1849........  2  1855,........  40  1861..   20
1850,........ 22  1856........30
The Society now consists of about 325 paying members; in addition to which there is a large number of Corresponding and Honorary
members. The Presidents were as follows: Charles Ewer, Esq., Jan.
1845-1850; Rev. Joseph B. Felt, LL. D., 1850-1853; William Whiting, Esq., 1853-1858; Samuel G. Drake, A. M., 1858-1859; Almon D.
Hodges, Esq., 1859-1861; and Winslow Lewis, M. D., 1861, President
at this time.
By the Report of Frederic Kidder, Esq,, Chairman of the Library
Committee, Jan, 1, 1862, it appears that there are over 5,000 bound
volumes of books, and about 18,000 pamphlets of various kinds belonging to the library. A Catalogue of the books has been made
within a year,
Many of the books are very valuable, and if lost could not be replaced. For instance twenty large folio volumes, well bound, of the
U. S. Direct Tax of 1798, in Massachusetts, including Maine then a
district. This gigantic work, containing nearly every town, is all but
complete. Three vols. have each a copious index-the rest need one.
This DOMESDAY-BOOK of the Bay-State is of inestimable value to the
genealogist and biographer of New England. In addition to numerous plans and ancient charts and a great collection of Mss., some of
which are very old and rare, the Society has 94 bound volumes of
pedigrees and about 133 distinct family lists of ancestors, included
in separate pamphlets or in volumes-making all together at least
227 genealogies of different families; also 102 volumes of town
histories, which include pedigrees not elsewhere published. Many of




6
these pedigrees are noticed in that recent and exceedingly useful
Hand book of American Genealogy, by William  H. Whitmore, a
member of our Society. It is a source of no small satisfaction to
the N. E. His.-Gen. Soc., while it has been struggling through many
difficulties and discouragements, to behold on its shelves no small
number of these pedigrees and town histories and kindred works
which were written and published by some of its own members.
The same remark might also apply to some of our books on biography. A tree is known by its fruit, and a Society like ours by its
genealogical trees.
It may be here observed, that in the General Statutes of Mass.,
chap. 18, sec. 10, p. 158, there is a provision that towns in this commonwealth may grant and vote such sums as they may think necessary,
"For procuring the writing and publishing their town histories."
This clause was re-enacted from an act of April 29, 1854, chap. 429;
a law got up by the writer of this article, when he was a member
of the Legislature. Its utility was then so apparent, that it passed
the House unanimously without comment. It is said that in Vermont a similar statute soon followed.
There is also in the library a choice collection of works on Heraldry; Rymer's Faedera in 19 great folios; a very curious old book,
the Andree Lectura, an antique on Genealogy, in Latin, printed
about 1474 at Nuremberg, perhaps the earliest printed volume on
Pedigree, illuminated by hand and with a pictured model of a
genealogical tree, with the motto Sequit figura arboris consanguinitatis; and several elaborate histories of English counties.  Nor
would I forget to mention the beautiful specimen of music, 650
pages on parchment or vellum, presented by Col. Swett, to whom it
was sent by his daughter at Florence. It is a Roman Catholic choral
book, and by Bishop Fitzpatrick was called a Graduale. The musical
notes are square or angular, different from those now in use. On each
page are letters splendidly illuminated. There can be no doubt that
it is the work of a pen before the invention of printing, which was
about 1440; therefore it must be nearly 500 years old, if not more.
It is a beautiful curiosity, and the chants on those pages now silent
as death, must have once awakened the sweetest feelings of adoration in the Italian chapel or cathedral their melody filled.
There is a large collection of MSS., some of which are of early
date in the settlement of the country; such as Hull's Journal
written in 1675, and Russell's Treasury Accounts of Massachusetts
Bay, 1645-1656.
Among the donors whose names appear on our records, reference
should be made to the liberality of Charles Ewer and William Whiting, our past Presidents-to the Hon. Edward Everett, who in March
1852, donated more than 100 volumes-to the Hon. David Sears
for some costly works he procured for the Society from London-to
the late Hon. Nathan Appleton for some rare and valuable volumes
-and for several hundreds of books, many of them scarce and
ancient, besides a mass of old MSS. and pamphlets, from Dr. Lewis.
The heart that is warmed with grateful emotions delights to speak
of its benefactors. And we would not forget the generous bequest
of the late Dr. Henry Bond of Philadelphia-of which an account is




7
given in a Memoir of him in the N..  His.-Gen, Reg., vol. xiv, p.
1-3-which bequest has been invested in the "Bond Fund." Nor
would we be silent on the two donations of John Barstow, Esq., of
Providence, R. I., which are to form a permanent fund. Mention
should also be made of a rich gift from the British Government, viz.
The Rotuli, or Rolls of Parliament and Record Publications of Great
Britain, being 29 volumes principally folios; and also of a large
number of its publications, including three great folio volumes of
Plates sent us by the London Society of Antiquaries,
Since I began to take charge of this library —nearlya year and a
half ago-I have been surprised at the number of gentlemen who have
come here to look up their pedigrees. One from Oregon, another
from California, another from Illinois, and numbers from the middle
states, and different parts of New England, have called and spent
hours and some few even days, in searching genealogy and heraldry,
taking minutes, and pondering over the faint or certain traces of
their ancestors, Not long since two very civil and intelligent Mormons from Utah spent some hours in searching their progenitors and
went away somewhat pleased at the information they obtained. Letters of inquiry, touching this subject are not unfrequent, It shows
the value of our association, and the increasing spread of its influence; and let it be our grand object and untiring effort to obtain
every book of pedigree, and everything touching this subject in New
England, that our Genealogical Society may be the HEAD-QUARTERS,
from which shall issue all true knowledge of New England ancestry,
But among the respectable, and sometimes eminent visitors to
our Genealogical Library, in search of their family history, there is
one class of a different kind, which deserves no encouragement and
ought to be repudiated as drones in the hive of human society. I
refer to hunters of English fortunes-weak men, led on by speculators to false hopes and great expectations, and deluded into a notion
that some rich old fellow of the same name —some hundreds of years
ago-died without children, and an immense inheritance has slept in
abeyance, till the lost heir turns up in a cottage under the cliffs of
New England.
Such infatuation is of a similar character with the dreams of
money diggers; and from the great faith of some of the dupes in
finding hidden treasures, it would seem that Herman Dousterswivel
in Walter Scott's inimitable Antiquary when he dug for ingots
among the ruins of St. Ruth, was no fiction, but a reality. So many
rogues have deluded the credulous in this way, and so much imposition has been practised by hungry sharpers on each side of the Atlantic, that the best way is to turn a cold shoulder to all hunters of
inheritances and advise them to waste no money on agents and go to
work.
The regular reading of papers before the Society at their monthly
meetings began in February, 1855, at the suggestion of our former
vigilant and active Librarian, the Rev. Luther Farnham, who delivered in October of that year a very interesting article-which was
afterwards published under the title of a Glance at Private Libraries. Several of the Readings have been printed in a pamphlet
form, and in magazines and newspapers-a particular reference to




8
which the time forbids; although the valuable paper on New England Architecture by the Rev. N. H. Chamberlain, deserves your attention. Some of the Readings have been marked by a talent and
learning which would have delighted a large assembly of the public,
as they did our limited audience;-a convincing proof that we need
a Lecture-room to accommodate a greater number and enable the
Society to enlarge their invitations.
Some idea may be formed of the progress and present flourishing
state of the Society by a reference to Addresses delivered at annual
or public neetings, four of which have been published in the Register and also separately distributed in a pamphlet form. The first
was by the Rev. William Jenks, D. D., March 1, 1852, in which that
elegant and learned scholar and eminent linguist in his own peculiar
and happy manner illustrated the connection-the commune vinculumof History, Biography and Heraldry with Genealogy the great object
of our institution.
The next was by William Whiting, Esq., Jan. 12, 1853, as President, in which he portrayed the purposes and design of the Society
in a striking manner and great variety of particulars, pointing out
in a graphic sketch the ardor and enthusiasm with which a searcher
of Genealogy enters on his task, perseveres in the pursuit and after
he has accomplished his object, we "hear his shout of joy when he
at last finds the lost jewel." Register, vol. vII, p. 106.
Jan. 20, 1858; Mr. Samuel G. Drake, A. MI., President of the Society,
gave us another Address. He had been Corresponding Secretary
thirteen years, and from his; long and unwearied devotion to Antiquarian researches, his remarks were valuable and instructive,
fraught with the weight of experience. "I wish "-he observes"particularly to impress upon the minds of all present, that they
should encourage contributions of books, pamphlets, as well as manuscripts of every description. For who can estimate the value a single
pamphlet or letter may be to somebody at some time?" This he corroborates by an anecdote directly in point to which I must refer for
want of room.
The last Address was fiom our President Winslow Lewis, M. D.,
Jan. 1, 1862, The happy and classical reference to the long hallowed
customs of marking this day in the calendar of life was: introduced
with much effect. Nor were the allusions to the Christmas carols
with "cake and ale" less touching at the time, as we were then
entering upon the last half of the Holidays so dear to the recollections of many and waking up delightful thoughts of other times, as
some old poet feelingly sings:
" The Chimes, the Chimes of mother land,
Of England green and old;
That out from thane and ivied tower,
A thousand years have told."
The union of Genealogy with Biography, Heraldry, Numismatics and
History was set forth and exemplified fully; but there was a province
of Genealogy of peculiar importance, which has seldom been brought
before the notice of our Society; and coming from one of eminent
professional experience it has the sanction, as it were, of a truth ex




9
cathedrA. It is this! "That mental as well as physical qualities are
handed down more or less from parent to child, from forefathers to
posterity, and that thus, pure and healthy descent is of immense importance. *  *  *  And very frequently we can ascribe the united
qualities of valor and of virtue, of great intellect and gentle heart,
to the marriage union of parents, whose families were respectively
distinguished for these virtues."
These four Addresses, though on subjects somewhat similar, have
presented the object and aim of our Society in so many different
points of view, and all concentrating in one grand purpose-the
preservation of all kinds of documents from ruin-that they deserve
the special attention of every member.
There is also one other Address which was delivered before the N.
E. His.-Gen. Society in the Hall of the House of Representatives of
Mass., September 13, 1859, and published, It was by one of our
members, the Hon. Lorenzo Sabine, a Centennial Address on the
death of Maj. Gen. James Wolfe, who died on the heights of Quebec
in the arms of victory, Sep. 13, 1759, The subject was one of great
interest, as a brilliant epoch in the Colonial history, and as a memorial of one of England's noblest warriors. Both branches of the Legislature were present, and delegations from several antiquarian and
historic societies attended. Mr. Sabine's well known reputation ad a
writer and a most accurate investigator of facts, was ably sustained;
and he has given to us a piece of Biography, rich and exceedingly
interesting-a diamond of the first water. It is beautifully printed
making a centurial pamphlet, of exactly 100 pages, including notes
and 36 pages of Appendix,
The value and importance of the N. E, Historical and Genealogical
Register, which commenced as a quarterly Jan, 1, 1847, and has now
reached xv complete volumes-whether we regard the numerous
sketches of biography, the minute and carefully drawn pedigrees of
families or the fragments of the early history of our country-cannot be estimated in the bird's eye view of this article. Our Register
has travelled on, patient, noiseless and persevering, for fifteen years in
the humble path of usefulness. It has sought none of the rhetorical
adornments of genius, nor the charms of fiction; nor even tried to
cull a blossom on the Parnassian mountains and valleys of New England-unless it be a MAY-FLOWER, which has at times perfumed its
pages. It has become a reservoir of facts, which from day to day
and year to year will grow more precious. And when we, whose
locks are touched with age, and all our younger members, have
passed away, this ancestral monument of so many honored families
-some of whom were lineal descendants of the Pilgrim Fatherswill be sought out, read and cherished, as an Englishman venerates
the Armorial bearings transmitted to him by progenitors who did
their country some service. This Genealogical Register has already
been a copious fountain, from which somc books of Pedigree have
drawn a rich supply; nor has a generous credit always been given,
where pretty large annexations of original matter have been made.
But the Register is able to bear it and stand alone on its merit.
That we may justly appreciate the worth of this elaborate work,
let us suppose for a moment that every copy of the xv volumes, was




10
suddenly blotted out of existence, and moreover, that the learned'antiquarian-the indefatigable historian of Boston-who so long and
so ably conducted a large portion of the work, had gone to his rest;
where could we supply their place? Who then could restore the
lost pedigrees of so many New England families, which, root and
branch, have been here embalmed? Their memory would perish in
that deep, dark gulf over which the waters of Lethe are rolling forever I This Register of the past-even if it should stop, after the
current year's experiment-which we sincerely hope may not be so,
but like the Eagle it may renew its strength-will stand the test of
of time, and a hundred years hence be called for and sought by descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers.
Those who undervalue a regard to Pedigree may deem these remarks as enthusiastic or visionary. They can see no beauty nor
benefit in Genealogy. It was far otherwise in that ancient land,
where honor to our father and mother was deemed among the first of
virtues, and where the Law and the Gospel first prevailed. We are
informed in Calmet's great Dictionary of the Bible that " the Hebrews
carefully preserved their genealogies and never was a nation more
circumspect respecting them." Josephus speaks of the uninterrupted succession of priests for 2,000 years; and Jerome, who wrote
in the 4th century, says the Jews knew so perfectly their genealogies
that they could repeat all the names from Abraham to Zerubbabel.
According to the prophet Ezra, chap. ii, 62, a priest, who could not
trace his genealogy, was not admitted to the ministry. In England
the Herald's College is the great office where the enrolment of distinguished pedigrees is kept under the various and almost infinite
emblems of a Coat of Arms, which to a stranger appears odd and
trifling, but to any one who is conversant with the metals, colors and
furs, the charges and crests with which a shield is emblazoned, will
see the propriety and beauty of Heraldry and that it is worthy of the
study it requires: for it is not learnt in a moment; it is a language
by itself.
It is true that Genealogy is a dry pursuit and demands patient research, mental labor and no small skill in forming a clear and tabular view of a man's progenitors. It is a science which makes little
noise, and requires a mind like Old Mortality to decipher the inscriptions on tombstones, or an antiquarian eye to sift old wills and search
the natal or funeral annals of a family in their "Big ha' Bible."
Who does not wish to know something of his ancestors? And more
especially if he have become eminent in wealth or talent. Such a
desire is a principle inherent in our nature; it is born in us, and is
only lost by vice or debasing pursuits. The moment a man rises
above the level of a clown or churl, he looks beyond the nameless
hillocks of the dead and wishes to know where his buried ancestors
lie. There are those born, it is true, consumere fruges terrce, who care
for none of these things. But as a man advances in taste, intellectual improvement and the delight of knowledge, he grows more
anxious to get some tidings of those ancestors from whom he is descended. Even the immortal Washington, it is said, used means to
trace his ancestry, and they were not unsuccessful, for his descent
was worthy of his fame. We may look back through ages on our




11
progenitors, but we can only look forward for years to our posterity,
for, as they are coming on the stage, we are going off. It was.a
beautiful thought of Virgil, but contrary to human nature, when he
represents Anchises in the Elysian fields, as bringing before his son's
eyes the shades of his illustrious descendants from Silvius down to
Augustus Csesar, one after another like "dissolving views." Suoh
visions of our future progeny, perhaps, we may have from some
standpoint in the celestial world, but not on this dark earth, for we
know not what a day may bring forth.
When the ancients could not find a splendid parentage for a favorite hero, they solemnly averred that he was descended from some
deity they worshiped. In this kind of Genealogy they made Hercules the son of Jupiter and a young lady of Argos by the name of
Alcmena whom the Thunderer bewitched; Pious ~Eneas who carried his
father out of flaming Troy on his shoulders, was the son of Anchises
and Venus the queen of beauty; and Romulus and Remus were
twins, the children of Mars and Miss Ilia of Alba, a vestal virgin;
but, these fashionable parents left the-little gemini to be suckled by
a wolf. Such was the love of the Ancients for tracing their pedigree either on earth below or among the Olympian gods and goddesses above. Even in one of the late Genealogical works, the derivation of the name of the ancient stirps savors a little of a half-way connexion with Jupiter and a kind of avuncular relationship to Hercules.
Pardon this digression. It is pleasant to allude to those classic
allegories which illuminated the reading of early days and sometimes
give the color of the rose to the realities of life. Indeed, of a clear
night I can never look upon the heavens above, without beholding
the Mythology of the ancients written on the blue sky in the starry
letters of the constellations,
But, it is time this sketch should draw to a close, some parts of
which may seem superfluous after the subject of Genealogy has been
so happily and ably handled in the recent address of our President.
Yet if any thing I have said on this point Should lead to a more
careful perusal of that valuable document, my labor will not be in
vain. One thing I can assure you, I have been induced to recommend the tracing of pedigrees to the descendants of the Pilgrim
Fathers, by no self-flattering motives as it regards myself; for my
ancestors and birth were in England. Yet both there and here the
contemplation of the virtues of.our progenitors has a tendency to
make us more virtuous, and many a son has lived more nobly from
the recollection that the blood which flows in his veins came from an
honorable and elevated source. On the other hand the light of a distinguished ancestry will only make the spots more visible and hideous in the character of a degenerate descendant.
I have said that the N. E. His.-Gen. Society is now in its manhood;,yes in strong, healthy and vigorous manhood. Is it not so? January 1, 1862, our indefatigable and excellent treasurer, William B.
Towne, Esq., reported that we were out of debt. We have a large
and pleasant hall to meet in, where the light from the north and south
cheers the eye as it ranges up and down the library; and yet, though
the rooms we occupy are much safer than are usually found in the
centre of a large city like this, there is not an active member of this




12
Society, who does not feel anxious and insecure, like one whose
cottage lies at the foot of a volcano; for if a fire should break on
this spot, what would become of so many scarce books, ancient
manuscripts and rare works. Their loss would be irreparable. No
money could restore them.
We are told by Scott in the Fortunes of Nigd that in the time
of James the 1st, King of England, it was the custom in London
for men in trade to send out their clerks into the street, and cry out
to the passers by, "What d'ye lack? What d'ye lack?" Should some
of our merchant-princes, or millionaires put to our Society a similar
question, our answer is ready:
1. We lack a Fire-proof room to secure our rare books and manuscripts.
2. We lack a Lecture room, where the readings at our monthly
meetings could be heard and better appreciated by a larger audience.
3. We lack a room for the storage of duplicates and documents,
whose worth will be better known at a future day.
In a word we need a Fire-plroof building; it would cost probably
$20,000. One tenth or one twentieth of this amount has been already
offered by a member, if nine or nineteen will join him. Who will aid
in this noble undertaking?




OFFICERS
OF THE
NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC-GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY,
FROM ITS ORGANIZATION IN JANUARY, 1845, TO JUNE, 1862.
[Compiled by J. W. DEAN.]
* Prefixed to a name, signifies deceased; t Signifies ez-oficio.
Presidents.
*Charles Ewer, Esq., of Boston, Mass.,........... Jan. 1845, to Jan. 1850
Rev. Joseph Barlow Felt, LL.D., of Boston,........... "  1850, to  "  1853
William Whiting, A. M.,of Roxbury,............ "  1853, to  "  1858
Samuel Gardner Drake, A. M., of Boston,........ " 1858, to  "  1859
Almon D. Hodges, Esq., of Roxbury, Mass....... "  1859, to  "  1861
Winslow Lewis, M. D,, of Boston,.............. "  1861.
Vice-Presidents.
*Lemuel Shattuck, Esq., of Boston, Mass.......... Jan. 1845, to Jan. 1850
Rev. Lucius Robinson Paige, D. D., of Cambridge, Mass. "  1850, to  "  1851
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D., of Boston, Mass.,.. "  1851, to  "  1853
Hon. Timothy Farrar, A. M., of Boston, Mass.,......... "  1853, to  "  1858
Hon. William Willis, A. M., of Portland, Me.,........ Feb. 1855, to  "  1859
Hon. Noah Martin, M. D., of Dover, N. H.,............ "  1855, to  "  1859
*Rev. John Wheeler, D. D, of Burlington, Vt.,........ "  1855, to  "  1859
Hon. William R. Staples, A. M., of Providence, R. I.,...  "  1855, to  "  1859
*Hon. Nathaniel Goodwin, of Hartford, Ct.,............  "  1855, to May 1855
Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., of New Haven, Ct.,....... Aug. 1855, to Jan. 1859
Hon. Frances Brinley, A. M., of Boston,............... Jan. 1858, to' 1859
Hon. Charles Hudson, A. M., of Lexington, Mass.,...... "  1859, to "  1861
Hon. John Appleton, of Bangor, Me..................."  1859.
Hon. Samuel D. Bell, LL.D., of Manchester, N. H.,....  "  1859.
Henry Clark, Esq., of Poultney, Vt............  "  1859.
John Barstow, Esq., of Providence, R. I.,.........  "  1859.
Rev. F. W. Chapman, A. M., of Ellington, Ct.....  "  1859.
Rev. Martin Moore, A. M., of Boston................. "  1861.
Honorary Vice-Presidents.
Hon. Millard Fillmore, LL. D., of Buffalo, N. Y.,...... Feb. 1855.
Hon. Lewis Cass, LL. D., of Detroit, Mich.,...........  1855.
Hon. Elijah Hayward, A. B., of Columbus, O.,.........  1855.
Hon. John Wentworth, of Chicago, Ill.,.............,  "  1855.
*Rev. John Lauris Blake, D. D., of Orange, N. J.,......Jan. 1856, to July 1857
Hon. Samuel Breck, of Philadelphia, Pa.,.............. "  1856.
Sebastian Ferris Streeter, A. M., of Baltimore, Md.  1856.
Edward Kidder, Esq., of Wilmington, N. C....   "  1856.
Rev. Thomas Smyth, D. D., of Charleston, S. C., ". 1856.
Hon. Ballard Smith, of Cannelton, Ind.,..............  "  1856.
Cyrus Woodman, A. M., of Mineral Point, Wis.,..  "  1856.
Rt. Rev. Henry W. Lee, D. D., of Davenport, Iowa,..... "  1856.
*Andrew Randall, M. D., of San Francisco, Cal.,... "  1856, to July 1856
Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower, LL. D., of Newark, N. J.,..  "  1858.




14
Corresponding Secretaries.
Samuel G. Drake, A. M., of Boston,.............. Jan. 1845, to Jan. 1850
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D. of Boston,.......... "  ]850, to  "  1851
Samuel G. Drake, A. M., of Boston,..............  1851, to  "  1858
Rev. Samuel H. Riddel, A. B., of Boston,.............. "  1858, to  "' 1859
John Ward Dean, of Boston,................... "     1859, to  "  1862
Rev. Caleb Davis Bradlee, A. M., of Roxbury,......... "  1862.
Assistant Corresponding Secretary.
John Ward Dean, of Boston,....................  Sept. 1858, to Jan. 1859
Recording Secretaries.
John Wingate Thornton, A. M., of Boston,....... Jan. 1845, to Mar. 1846
Rev. Samuel H. Riddel, A. B., of Boston,..........  Apr. 1846, to Jan. 1851
*Charles Mayo, Esq., of Boston,.................. Jan. 1851, to  "  1856
Hon. Francis Brinley, A. M., of Boston,.,,,...........  "  1856, to  "  1857
David Pulsifer, Esq., of Boston,.................. "  1857, to Aug. 1857
John Ward Dean, of Boston,.....,............ Aug.1857, to Jan. 1858
William M. Cornell, M. D., of Boston,............ Jan. 1858, to  "  ]859
Rev. Caleb Davis Bradlee, A. M., of North Cambridge,..  "  1859, to  "  1862
Edward F. Everett, A. B., of Charlestown,........  "  1862.
Assistant Recording Secretary.
Edward F. Everett, A. B., of Charlestown,....... Jan.-1861, to Jan. 1862
Treasurers.
William Henry Montague, Esq., of Boston,...... Jan. 1845, to Jan. 1851
Frederic Kidder, Esq., of Boston,..............  "  1851, to  "  1855
John Ward Dean, of Boston....................  "  1855, to    1857
Isaac Child, Esq., of Boston,................... "  1857, to' 1860
Hon. George W. Messinger, of Boston,................  "  1860, to'  1861
William B. Towne, Esq., of Brookline,............  "  1861.
Historiographers.
Joseph Palmer, M. D., of Boston,................ Jan. 1856, to Jan. 1862
William B. Trask, of Dorchester,............    "   1862.
Librarians.
AJ. Wingate Thornton, A. M., of Boston,.......... Apr. 1845, to Jan. 1846
Edmund Bachelder Dearborn, Esq., of Boston,.... Jan. 1846, to  "  1849
David Pulsifer, Esq., of Boston,................ "  1849, to  "  1851
Thomas Bellows Wyman, Jr., Esq., of Charlestown,  "  1851, to  "  1852
William Blake Trask, Esq., of Dorchester,........ "  1852, to Aug. 1854
i ev. Luther Farnham, A. M., of Boston,.............. Aug.1854, to July 1856
Thomas B. Wyman, Jr., Esq., of Cbarlestown,.... Sep. 1856, to Jan. 1858
Edward Holden, Esq., of Roxbury,............. Jan. 1858, to   "  1859
William Blake Trask, Esq., of Dorchester,........   1859, to     1861
John H. Sheppard, A. M., of Boston,.............     1861.
Directors.
*tCharles Ewer, Esq., of Boston,................. Jan. 1845, to Jan. 1850
*tLemuel Shattuck, Esq., of Boston,...............     1845, to  "  1850
tSamuel G. Drake, A. M., of Boston,.............     1845, to  "  1850
tJ. Wingate'hornton, A, M., of Boston,..........  "  1845, to Mar. 1846
tWilliam H. Montague, Esq., of Boston,..........    1845, to Jan. 1851,Rev. Samuel H. Riddel, A. B., of Boston,............. Apr. 1846, to  "  1851
fRev. Joseph B. Felt, LL. D., of Boston,................ Jan. 1850, to  "  1853
tRev. Lucius R. Paige, D. D, of Cambridge,............ "  1850, to  "  1851
tNathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D., of Boston,.,........'  1850, to  "  1853




15
tSamuel G. Drake, A. M., of Boston,.............. Jan. 1851, to Jan. 1859
*tCharles Mayo, Esq., of Boston,.................. "  1851, to  "  1856
tFrederic Kidder, Esq, of Boston,................  1851, to  "  1855
tWilliam Whiting, A.M., of Roxbury,..........."    1853, to  "  1858
tHon. Timothy Farrar, A. M., of Boston,...............   1853 to   "  1858
tJohn Ward Dean, of Boston,.................... "  1855, to  "  1857
tHon. Francis Brinley, A. M., of Boston,................  1856, to  "  1857
fDavid Pulsifer, Esq., of Boston,................. "  1857, to Aug. 1857
tIsaac Child, Esq., of Boston,.....................  1857, to Jan. 1860
tJohn Ward Dean, of Boston,................... Aug.1857, to "    1858
tHon. Francis Brinley, A. M., of Boston,.............. Jan. 1858, to  "  1859
tRev. Samuel H. Riddel, A. B., of Boston..............  "  1858, to  "  1859
tWilliam M. Cornell, M. D., of Boston,............ "  1858, to  "  1859
tAlmon D. Hodges, Esq., of Roxbury,............ "  1859, to  "  1861
tHon. Charles Hudson, A. M., of Boston,..............  1859, to  "  1861
John Ward Dean,t of Boston,..................     1859.
fRev. Caleb Davis Bradlee, A. M, of North Cambridge,.. "  1859.
tHon. George W. Messinger, of Boston,................ "1860, to Jan. 1861
tWinslow Lewis, M. D., of Boston,..............."  1861.
Rev. Martin Moore,4 A. M., of Boston,................  "  1861.
t William B. Towne, Esq., of Brookline,........... "  1861.
John H. Sheppard, A. M.,f of Boston,............ July 1861.
tEdward F. Everett, A. B., of Charlestown,....... Jan. 1862.
tRev. Joseph B. Felt, LL. D., of Salem,................ "  1862.
tWilliam Whiting, A. M., of Roxbury,............   1862.
tSamuel G. Drake, A. M., of Boston,..............  1862.
tAlmon D. Hodges, Esq., of Roxbury.............    1862.
tWilliam B. Trask, Esq., of Dorchester,...........  1862.
tFrederic Kidder, Esq., of Boston,.............. "  1862.
tJeremiah Colburn, Esq., of Brookline,........... "  1862.
tWilliam Reed Deane, Esq., of Brookline,......... "  1862.
Joseph Palmer, M. D., of Boston................   1862.
Hon. George W. Messinger, of Boston,................   1862.
John Barstow, Esq., of Providence, R. I.,......... "  1862.
Secretaries of the Directors.
J. Wingate Thornton, A. M., of Boston,.......... Jan. 1845, to Mar. 1846
tRev. Samuel H. Riddel, A. B., of Boston,............. Apr. 1846, to Jan. 1851
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D., of Boston,......... Jan. 1851, to  "  1853
tCharles Mayo, Esq., of Boston,.................. "  1853, to June 1855
John Ward Dean, of Boston,.................... June1855, to Jan. 1856
tHon. Francis Brinley, A. M., of Boston,.............. Jan. 1856, to  "  1857
tDavid Pulsifer, Esq., of Boston,.................  "  1857, to Aug. 1857
tJohn Ward Dean, of Boston,.............. Aug.1857, to Jan. 1858
tWilliam M. Cornell, M. D., of Boston,........... Jan. 1858, to  "  1859
tRev. Caleb Davis Bradlee, A. M., of North Cambridge,.. "  1859, to Feb. 1861
Edward F. Everett, A. B., of Charlestown,........ Feb.1861.
Publishing Committee.
*Charles Ewer, Esq., of Boston,................. Mar. 1847, to Jan. 1851
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D., of Boston,......... "  1847, to  "  1849
Rev. Samuel H. Riddel, A. B., of Boston.............. "  1847, to  "  1851
*David Hamblen, Esq., of Boston............. Jan. 1849, to Oct. 1855
*tWilliam T. Harris, A. M., of Cambridge,......... Feb. 1849, to  "  1849
Rev. Joseph B. Felt, LL. D., of Boston,.............. Jan. 1850, to July 1852
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D, of Boston,.......... "  1850, to Jan. 1851
Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D. D., of Cambridge............. "  1850, to  "  1851
Charles Deane, A. M., of Boston,................ "' 1851, to Oct. 1851
J Wingate Thornton, A. M., of Boston,.......... "  1851, to Mar. 1852
t Exofficio till Jan. 1862.  I By invitation of the Board till Jan. 1862.




16
*William T. Harris, A. M., of Cambridge,......  Jan. 1851, to Oct. 1851
Frederic Kidder, Esq., of Boston................ Oct. 1851, to  "  1855
Hon. Timothy Farrar, A. M., of Boston and Dorchester,. Nov. 1851, to Dec. 1854
William B. Trask, Esq, of Dorchester,.......... Apr. 1852, to Oct. 1853
*Charles Mayo, Esq., of Boston............      Oct. 1852, to'( 1853
Rev. William Jenks, D. D., of Boston,............... "  1853, to  "  1858
Lyman Mason, A. M., of Boston,............... "   1853, to Dec. 1854
Rev. John Ward Dean, of Boston,................... Dec. 1854.
William Read Deane, Esq., of Brookline......... "  1854, to Oct. 1856
*Lemuel Shattuck, Esq., of Boston,..............  "  1854, to  "  1856
Rev. Alonzo Hall Quint, A. M., of Jamaica Plain,...... Oct. 1855, to  "  1856
James Spear Loring, Esq., of Boston,......... "  1855, to  "  1856
iHon. Francis Brinley, A. M., of Boston,.............  "  1856, to  "  1858
Charles H. Morse, Esq., of Cambridgeport,........  "  1856, to  "  1858
William H. Whitmore, Esq., of Boston,.......... " 1856, to Nov. 1861
Hon. Timothy Farrar, A. M, of Boston,...............  Oct. 1857, to Oct. 1858
William B. Trask, Esq., of Dorchester,.........; 1858.
Hon. Charles Hudson, A. M., of Lexington,............ Nov. 1861.
Rev. Elias Nason, A. M., of Exeter, N. H...............  "  1861.
George W. Chase, Esq., of Haverhill,............ "  1861.
Committee on Donations and Exchanges.
James S. Loring, Esq., of Boston,............. May 1850, to Jan. 1852
Charles J. F. Binney, Esq., of Boston,...........  "  1850, to  "  1852
Hon. Amasa Walker, A. M., of NorthBrookfield,....... Jan. 1852, to  "  1854
John G. Locke, Esq., of Boston................. " 1852, to  "  1853
James S. Loring, Esq., of Boston,................"  1853, to  "  1854
Committee on the Library and Room.
Isaac Child, Esq, of Boston,.................. Jan. 1852, to Jan. 1856
*Artemas Simonds, Esq., of Boston,............   1852, to Oct. 1854
Committee on the Library.
tThomas B. Wyman, Jr., Esq, of Charlestown,... Jan. 1856, to Jan. 1858
Charles H. Morse, Esq., of Cambridgeport,........  1856, to  "  1857
William H. Whitmore, Esq., of Boston,.......... " 1856, to   "  1857
William B. Trask, Esq., of Dorchester............ "1856, to  "  1858
tRev. Luther Farnham, A. M., of Boston,.........   "  1856, to July 1856
Dean Dudley, Esq., of Boston,.................. Oct. 1856, to Jan. 1858
Rev. Caleb D. Bradlee, A. M., of North Cambridge..... Jan. 1857, to  "  1858
Sylvester Bliss, Esq., of Roxbury,...............  1857, to  "  1858
Thomas J. Whittemore, Esq., of Cambridge,...... "  1858, to  "  1859
William  Makepeace. Esq., of Boston,............   1858, to  "  1859
Horace G. Barrows, M. D., of Boston,...........   1858, to  "  1859
Edward S. Rand, Jr., A. M., of Dedha,..........  "  1858, to  "  1859
tEdward Holden, Esq, of Roxbury,............    "  1858, to  "  1859
Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, A. M., of Jamaica Plain,.........  1859, to  "  1861
Samuel Burnham, Esq., of Jamaica Plain,........    1859, to  "  1861
Thomas Waterman, Esq., of Boston,............"     1859.
J. Gardner White, Esq., of Boston,.......       "  1859, to Jan. 1861
tWilliam B. Trask, Esq., of Dorchester,........... "  1859, to  "  1861
Frederic Kidder, Esq., of Boston,...............  1861, to  "  1862
Rev. James Thurston, A. M., of Belmont,...........  "  1861, to  "  1862
William S. Appleton, A. B., of Boston,..........."  1861.
tJohn H. Sheppard, A. M., of Boston,.....,,..      1861.
Jeremiah Colburn, Esq., of Brookline,........... i' 1862.
Rev. Abner Morse, A. M., of Boston.................     86.
tEx-officio from Sept. 1856 to Jan. 1858.  { Ex-officio since Jan. 1861,




17
Committee on Finance.
Gen. Samuel Andrews, of Roxbury,.................. Ja. 1852, to Jan. 1856
*David Hamblen, Esq., of Boston,.................  "  1852, to Nov. 1855
Samuel Nicolson, Esq., of Boston,.............." c  1856, to Jan. 1857
Col. Samuel Swett, A: M., of Boston,................ "  1856, to  "  1857
Nathaniel Whiting, Esq., of Watertown,.......... "  1856, to  "  1857
Hon. George W. Messinger, of Bbston,................"   1856, to"    1857
tJohn W. Dean, of Boston,....................... "' 1856, to  "1857
John W. Parker, Esq., of Roxbury,..............  "  1857, to  "  1858
Charles H. Morse, Esq., of Cambridgeport,........"  1857, to  "  1858
Hon. William Makepeace, Esq., of Boston,.............,  1857, to  "  1858
Thomas J. Whittemore, Esq., of Cambridge,......  "  1857, to  "  1858
tIsaac Child, Esq., of Boston,........;...........  1857, to  "  1860
Sylvester Bliss, Esq., of Roxbury,..............  "  1858, to  "  1859
William E. Baker, Esq., of Boston,............. "  1858, to  "  1861
Jacob Q. Kettelle, A. B., of Boston,...............  1858, to  "  1859
C. Benj. Richardson, Esq., of Boston,............  "  1858, to Nov. 1858
William Makepeace, Esq., of Boston,.............  "  1859, to Jan. 1860
Jeremiah Colburn, Esq., of Boston,............. "  1859, to  "  1862
Thomas J. Whittemore, Esq., of Cambridge,......'  1859.
~William B. Towne, Esq., of Brookline,..........  "  1860.
Hon. George W. Messinger,* of Boston,................ Jan. 1860.
J. Tisdale Bradlee, Esq., of Boston,..'.............  1861.
Frederic Kidder, Esq., of Boston,................  "  1862.
Committee on Lectures and Essays.
Rev. Martin Moore, A. M, of Boston,................ Mar. 1860, to Jan. 1861
Rev. Lucius R. Paige, D. D., of Cambridge,............. "  1860, to  "  1861
William Reed Deane, Esq., of Brookline......... "C 1860.
Rev. Frederic W. Holland, A. M., of Dorchester,..... "   1860.
Thomas Cushing, A. M., of Boston,.............' 1860.
Rev. Washington Gilbert, A. M., of West Newton,...... Jan..1861.
J. Gardner White, Esq., of Boston,.............. "  1861.
Trustees of the Bond Fund and Property.
Almon D. Hodges, Esq., of Roxbury,........... July 1859.
Frederic Kidder, Esq., of Boston,...............   1859.
John Ward Dean,'of Boston,....."                    1859.
Trustees of the Barstow   Fund.
William B. Towne, Esq., of Brookline,.......... May 1862.
A. D. Hodges, Esq., of Roxbury,.............'  1862.
J. Tisdale Brodlee, Esq., of Boston,............. "  1862.
2