NEW ENGLAND

HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.

VOL. XXI.

JULY, 1867.

No. 3.

MEMOIR OF SOLOMON PIPER, ESQ.

[Communicated by REV. WILLIAM P. TILDEN, of Boston.]

SOLOMON PIPER was born in Temple, N. H., July 19, 1789. He removed to Dublin, N. H., with his parents, when only five years old. He was the oldest of a family of twelve children. His father was poor, and with such a family it was necessary that each little pair of hands should do something for the common support. Solomon having the oldest pair, soon learned to use his with a will, and formed those habits of industry that marked his whole subsequent life. He was an energetic, persevering boy, who never said "can't," or allowed the little folks under his control to say it. He was soon master of hoe, shovel, scythe, sickle, and the various other implements of farming. With the scythe, especially, he was more than a match for men in general; so that, when the home work would permit, he would work out, by the day or job, for his neighbors.

But in working with his hands he did not forget that he had brains, as well. He was fond of his books, and made good use of the eight or ten weeks schooling each year, in the district school as it was." He was a good scholar for his times. He mastered his "Pike's Abridgement" at an early age, and did something in the higher mathematics. Ambitious of advantages beyond what the common school afforded, he made a bargain with the Rev. Mr. Ainsworth, of Jaffrey, to tend his fires, and take care of his cattle for a month, with the privilege of studying with him the remainder of the time. The parson kept two wood fires, and a large stock, which of course left Solomon little time for his advance studies. We have not learned of the progress made under this private instruction. We only know that at the end of three weeks, his enthusiasm had so abated, that he persuaded a younger brother to serve out the remaining week of the literary contract, while he returned to his work on the farm.

After getting a little money by "letting himself" one season to work in a neighboring town, he went in the fall of 1809 to the New Ipswich Academy, where he spent one term of six weeks. At the close of this term he received a certificate stating that he was "well qualified to teach an English Grammar School." He was now twenty, and was not a young man to let his "qualifications" sleep. So he VOL. XXI.

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went to Fitzwilliam, and “ kept school" one short term. It is said that he gave good satisfaction, though the brother who served out his time at Parson Ainsworth's, and to whom we are indebted for these incidents, says it "was his opinion at the time, that he was not made for that particular business." Probably Solomon thought so too, for the next summer, a few weeks before he was twenty-one, he started, on foot, for Boston, in pursuit of employment, with his wardrobe on his back, and in his bundle. He immediately let himself, at seventeen dollars a month, and board, to Mr. Benjamin Fessenden, a dealer in wood and fuel, on what was then Sea street. About two years after he became a partner of his employer. Subsequently he purchased the stand, and at Mr. Fessenden's decease succeeded to the whole business. Here on the same spot, and in the same trade, he continued till the day of his death, a period of about fifty-six years.

As a business man, and as a citizen, Mr. Piper filled honorably various offices of trust and responsibility. He was a member of both branches of the city government, and a Representative in the General Court. He was President of the Freeman's Bank from 1843 to the close of his life. The service of plate presented to him by the Directors of this institution, as a testimony of their confidence and esteem, and the resolutions passed by the same body after his death, in which they speak not only of" his great ability and untiring zeal," but say, also, that in the decease of our President we mourn the loss to ourselves of a valued friend, to the community in which he lived of an estimable citizen, and an honest man,"-these testimonials are gratifying tokens of the estimation in which he was held by those most intimately associated with him in the business relations of life.

When about twenty-eight years old, Mr. Piper married Jerusha Hollis, by whom he had three children, two of whom are still living, and have families. Mrs. Piper died August, 1851. In November, 1852, he married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of William Taggard, Esq.. merchant, of New York, by whom he had a son, who, with his mother, are still living.

Mr. Piper had strong points of character. He was clear headed. What he saw, he saw with great distinctness. He had energy and force of character. He was sagacious, cautious, no speculator, but of great persistency in following out his well-matured plans. His opinions once deliberately formed, were not easily changed; and if his strong will sometimes ran into wilfulness, and his persistency of purpose into obstinacy, it was only what often happens to an impulsive nature. He was quick, irascible, impatient of opposition, blunt, and often harsh to those about him.

But there was another side to the man-the home side, and those who did not know him here, were very likely to misjudge him. In his nature and habits, Mr. Piper was emphatically a domestic man. Home was the dearest spot on earth to him-his rest and recreation. His family affections were warm and strong. His children and grandchildren were very dear to him. It was in the midst of home enjoyments that the sunny side of his nature shone out, and you saw the tender affection hidden under an exterior, which to the outside world seemed rough and unimpressible.

But his sympathies were not limited to the home circle. A daughter, in a note to us, in which she speaks of the "wealth of love he

bestowed upon his family," and the "sweet memories of him" with which the hearts of the children were filled, says, "How many widows and orphans has he helped to save their little property. In their perplexity and trouble, they found him a willing listener and sympathizer. The very poor found him equally as good a friend. One of these poor women said to me the other day, I felt that I had lost a good friend, and I could not rest until I had looked upon his face once more. O there are many poor who will miss him.'"

Another daughter, after writing "Fatber's chief happiness was in his home," adds, "there were many widows and single women who looked to him for advice and counsel. He took care of their money, and was ever ready to do an act of friendship for them. Frequently of a winter evening, he would leave his comfortable fire to go and see some poor person, fearing they might be in want."

He loved the place of his boyhood, and delighted in recalling the friends and incidents of his early life. It was the privilege of the writer of this notice to spend a brief season with him amid these early scenes, and to know something of the fondness with which he cherished old memories and old friends. The parish with which he worshipped in childhood was always an object of interest to him, and the church and its minister received substantial and repeated tokens of his kind remembrance.

In his religious opinions, Mr. Piper was a Unitarian, of the old school. He worshipped at the New South from the dedication of the present church edifice to the closing of its doors, and was one of the minority who earnestly opposed the dissolution of the society. He had been a church member for many years, and the place had become so filled with sacred associations that he could not leave it without pain.

His mental and physical vigor remained in a remarkable degree to the last, though his step was less firm during the last year. On the day of his death he was about his business as usual. In the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 15, 1866, he entered the office of" Cowles, Brewer & Co." Complaining of faintness he sat down, and in a few minutes his spirit took its flight. He was borne to his home on South street, a sweet smile resting on his calm face, as he was laid down in the home he loved so well.

On the following Thursday, his body was carried to the next dearest spot to him-the old Church on Summer street, where the funeral services were held, a large number of friends being present to pay the last tribute of respect to his memory.

MRS. ABIGAIL ALDEN.-The 88th birth day of Mrs. Abigail Alden, of Bridgewater, was celebrated by a large company of her relatives on the 12th of April, 1867. Dr. Morrill Robinson of North Middleborough, Col. Abial Peirce Robinson and Jones Robinson, Esq., of Acushnet, and Gen. Ebenezer W. Peirce, of Freetown, were among those present. Mrs. Alden is the widow of Eleazer Alden, of Bridgewater, and is a daughter of Abial Peirce, of Middleborough, a Lieut. in the French and Indian war, and Capt. in the Revolutionary war.

COMMISSION OF SIR WILLIAM PEPPERRELL, AS LIEUTENANT GENERAL.

[Communicated by J. WINGATE THORNTON, A.M., of Boston.]

THE original parchment of the following commission is in possession of Sir William Pepperrell's descendant, Mrs. Hampden Cutts, of Brattleboro', Vermont [see Register, xx. 3], who has kindly furnished, at our request, an accurate copy. It is now, we believe, for the first time printed. Among the family portraits at Judge Cutts's in Brattleboro', are President Holyoke's by Copley; Sir William Pepperrell's (3) by Allen; one of his daughter's, Mrs. Sparhawk, by Copley; of Samuel Cutts of Portsmouth, by Blackburn, and of his wife Anne, daughter of President Holyoke, also by Blackburn, a superb picture; and a picture, cabinet size, of Rev. Thomas Cary. There is also a portrait of Jonathan Belcher, Governor of Massachusetts and of New Jersey. There is too a fine oblong painting of Louisburg, once the property of Sir William Pepperrell, not mentioned by the historians, and never engraved.

The Hon. Richard Cutts, one "of his Majesty's Council," whose name is affixed to the Commission, was of Kittery, and a Major in Sir William's forces at the capture of Louisburg, 1745. He was father of Samuel Cutts, named above, of Hon. Edward Cutts, of Kittery, and of Hon. Thomas Cutts, of Saco, a notice of whose family is in the Register for 1848, p. 276.

Province of the MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

His Majesty's Council for the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.

To Sir WILLIAM PEPPERELL, Baronet.

By Virtue of the Power and Authority granted by the [SEAL-a Lion and Unicorn Royal Charter to the Council of this Province, in case of surmounted the Death or Absence of the Governour and Lieutenant by a Crown.] Governour; We do by these Presents (reposing especial Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage, and good Conduct) constitute and appoint you the said Sir William Pepperell to be Lieutenant-General of the whole Militia within this His Majesty's Province, during the Absence of the Governour and Lieutenant Governour; and do commit to you the more immediate Conduct and Command of the said Militia, with full Power, upon any Emergency, for the special Defence or Safety of the Inhabitants to assemble in martial Array, order and Dispose of all, or such Part of the said Militia, as you shall judge necessary, for that purpose; and by force of Arms to encounter, repel, kill and destroy (by all fitting means) such of his Majesty's enemies, as shall in a hostile Manner attempt or enterprise the Invasion or Annoyance of any Fortress, or any of his Majesty's Subjects in this Province; And upon an alarm at Castle William to cause such Numbers of Soldiers to repair thither as you shall judge necessary for his Majesty's Service, and the security of said Fortress:

And you are carefully to Discharge the Duty of your said Office and Trust; and all subordinate Military Officers, within said Province are hereby commanded to yield due Obedience to your Orders in relation to the Premises; And yourself to observe and follow such Directions and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from His Majesty's Council of said Province or the Major part of them, for his Majesty's Service, according to the Rules and Discipline of War pursuant to the Trust reposed in you.

Given under Our Hands and the Publick Seal of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid, at Boston the fifteenth Day of June, in the thirtieth year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Second, Annoque Domini 1757.

By Command of the
Council

THO CLARKE,

Dept Secry.

Joseph Pynchon,

Fra. Foxcraft,
Jacob Wendell,
Sam. Danforth,
Sam. Watts,

Isaac Royall,

Benja Lincoln,

John Erving,

Tho. Hutchinson,

John Hill,

Province of Massachusetts Bay, In Council June 16, 1757. Sir William Pepperell, Baronet, repeated and subscribed the test or Declaration and took the oaths appointed by act of Parliament to be taken instead of the oath of allegiance and Supremacy as also the oath of abjuration, and the oath relative to the Rolls of Publick Credit on the neighboring Governments.

Attest: A. OLIVER, Sec'y.

ENGLISH ANCESTRY OF THE WINSLOW FAMILY.

[Communicated by WILLIAM S. APPLETON, A.M.]

IN the fourth volume of the Register was printed a record of the baptisms of the children of Edward Winslow, of Droitwich, in Worcestershire, England, purporting to be "taken from an ancient bible in the possession of Mr. Isaac Winslow." Hon. James Savage, in the Genealogical Dictionary of New England, taking the most unfavorable point of view, denies that this record has any claims to consideration, rejecting it partly on the ground that 20 October, 1595, was not Sunday, but Monday. Whatever may have been the ecclesiastical ordinance as to the proper day of baptism, in practice the rite was certainly administered on any day of the week. Having had occasion to examine many parish-registers in England, I can say most positively, that in such volumes baptisms often follow each other at irregular intervals, and that they do so on the register of St. Peter's, Droitwich. Last summer I copied, letter for letter, the entries relating to the Winslow family, which are as follows The entry of marriage was crowded in between the two of nearest date, probably at the wish of Edward Winslow, when he became an inhabitant of the place. VOL. XXI.

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