The Leverett M.Emorial
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THE LEVERETT M.EMORIAL. TT, KNT. , Gov: of Mass.from 1673 to 1679. A ~IE~IOIR, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL, OF SIR JOHN LEVERETT, KNT., GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS, 1673-9; OF HON. JOHN LEVERETT, F. R. S., JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT, AND PRESIDENT OF HARVARD COLLEGE; AND OF THE FAMILY GENERALLY. Purpureos spargam fl.ores, animasque majornm His saltem accurnulem donis, et fungar inani Muuere. BOSTON: CR O SB Y, NI C Hp LS AND COMPANY, WASHINGT01' STREET, 18 56. Entere~ according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, BY CROSBY, NICHOLS AND CO., In. the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts, BOSTON: U:. W~ DUTTON, PRIN'.rBR, 37 CONGRESS STREET. TO THE DESCENDANTS OF GOVERNOR LEVERETT, This Brief :Memoir of Ancestors, WHOSE PIETY AND PATRIOTISM, INTEGRITY AND WORTH, TALENTS AND LEARNING, DESERVED AND WON THE EULOGIUM OF THEIR OWN NEW-ENGLAND, Is Inscribed- IN THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL CHERISH THE PRINCIPLES, CULTIVATE THE VIRTUES, AND MAINTAIN UNSULLIED THE GOOD NAME AND FAME BEQUEATHED TO THEM, PREFACE. A BarnF Memoir of the LEVERETT FAMILY of Boston pub lished a few years since, but ending at an early date in the eighteenth century, has led to the preparation of this larger volume. But for that publication, and this-very reluctantly undertaken-had not received its imprimatur, as no desire or ambition whatever, on the part of connections, existed-if silence be indicative-for more notoriety to their name, than might be found in traditionary reminiscences, or in the archives of the State of Massachusetts. It was, however, conceived a necessity, from the fact, that without consulting those interest ed by relationship, it had been thought proper by one, acting from the kindest promptings, "to remove," as he sairl, "the veil that was covering the early branches of a very honorable and worthy family of his native town." What he to our re. gret began with imperfect facilities for doing, ourselves with ampler resources have enlarged, corrected and extended. This is our excuse for offering to the public eye the record of names belonging to private life, and unambitious of parade. We re gret the necessity that has compelled us to come out from our quiet penetrate, to be engaged in a service for which we have no aptitude, and very little inclination. To those for whom mainly the publication is designed, as it principally affects, we have to say in this connection, that if more facts, bearing on the history of members written here, could have been elicited, our pages had proved worthier of perusal. Possibly this may draw from individuals, now unknown, materials for an elabo rate memoir. In that event, the present writer will assume, as in this case, the entire trouble and expense of a new edition. 8 PREFACE. The names of many without the patronymic, though presum ably related, are not introduced, for the good reason, that their connection is not satisfactorily known. Omission of a large number with the name is referred to the fact of inability to establish descent from the venerable founder of the American fam ily-the Pilgrim-Father, THOMAS LEVERETT. This is stated, after a very careful and minute investigation. Many, in the country at large, and in the vicinity of Boston in particular, are found with this surname; and not a few with the prrenomen of individuals registered in these pages. In the course of his researches the writer has learned this, and· he deems it proper to state the fact, to account for an omission, that would else be unaccountable, as well as to say, that all bearing this patro nymic are not ( contrary to the common supposition) of the lineage of the time-honored Puritan. While it would have been gratifying to have associated with this record the names of several very intelligent and respectable persons, he still has to say that no evidence of a common origin exists, or can be inferred. Except the names of those inserted, and possibly of some young sons' ,and daughters of a recent date, and it is im possible to verify connection between numbers having the name, and the Anglo-American ancestor of Governor Leverett. Much of the numerical data, and many passages are reprints of what have been found in various books,-quotation signs, almost invariably, expressing the indebtedness. For obvious reasons, the author preferred this, to a communication of the same facts in his own words. As such references would be too frequent, if constantly given, and answer no very important end, it is thought sufficient to say, once for all, that among authorities consulted, are Mather's Magnalia; Hutchinson's Memoirs; Moore's Mi:imoirs; Savage's Winthrop; Mass. Hist. Coll. ; Drake's Hist. ; Memoir Leverett Family; Rogers' Fam ily Mem. ; Life and Character of Hon. Leverett Saltonstall; Quincy's, Peirce's, and Elliott's Hist. of Harvard College ; N. Eng. Gen. and Ant. Reg.; Hist. Duxbury; Coll. Topog. With all his opportunities and aim for accuracy, the author PREFACE. 9 presumes not to assert that his book is free from errors. These are almost unavoidable, when old biographical data, and espe cially numerals, are collected from authorities, themselves, it may be, often trusting to presumptive evidence. No man, dealing with such uncertainties, is expected to state ex-cathedra every point ; nor is he deemed a fair historian, when he as sumes, sometimes from very passable testimony, an undeniable correctness. He may be a good copyist, but for historical truth he should be more than a mere imitator. Nor may conjectural views, apart from strongly substantiative proofs, be offered as positive facts. The writer has sought to avoid such gratuitous hypotheses. When he has given what he believed to be facts, but had not papers to sustain as such, he has turned them over to tradition-or when he has varied from published statements-and he has done so again and again it has been through the sanction of papers and documents not open to every eye, and with such warranty as he has derived from close investigation, fair probability, and the cool judgment of unprejudiced minds. To secure accuracy, he has avoided no expense, and has communicated largely with all, supposed to have much or little information bearing on the subject. Thus fuller than any already given, and accurate to every possible extent, this Memoir is committed to those especially interested, as a document of reliable reference. To many not of the family, but in friendly connexion, it will, it is believed, be welcomed as an authentic record of a very large number 6f the most distinguished people in the annals of New-England, whose names are interwoven with the already consecrated history of colonial times. The author does not expect to satisfy all personally interest ed. Had many, to whom he applied for information, answered, or accurately according to question, there would have existed no reasonable opportunity for complaint. In many instances, repeated letters have availed to elicit only such uncertain replies, as to be useless ; while, in a few cases, his intarroga tions have,-possibly from inability to respond to them,- 10 PREFACE. remained unnoticed. The courteousness of several,-hereby pleasurably acknowledged,-and the neglect of a few, are simply the reasons, why, sometimes, he has given larger state ments, and again has kept to a mere narrative of names. The connection of Governor Leyerett's name with his Eng lish title will be noticed, particularly as he, from his republican engagements, had not used the awarded honor. Had his life continued beyond the term of the executive, it .is our belief he would have assumed it. Though the author would, from a sense of right, have written it as he has,-independently of the opinion of others,-he is happy to say that no one, to whom he submitted the question of "propriety," failed to own this, as well as the "strict justice " of the association. But before this, his name has been used as we now give it, though com monly it has had the prefix of his American rank, as more appropriate to the genins of our government. In this connec tion, it may be well to say, that the very distinguished char acter ascribed to Governor Leverett is mainly derived from the records of his times. Our eulogy is based on such authority not on partial testimony, or on family tradition by itself. It yet remains for some able pen to write his history. What accomplished admirer of the great and good men of colonial times will be the Homer of this warrior-statesman ? This memoir was prepared for gratuitous distribution to some members of the connexion only. A small edition was designed to be printed-not published. But the suggestion has been made, that friends of the family, and relatives not likely to be reached in the way indicated, would be gratified to have the work. Adopting that suggestion, the first purpose is aban doned. The book will be for sale. Should it find purchasers, the proceeds will be used towards the expense of publishing. As the whole edition, if sold, would not, probably, cover half the cost, it is almost needless to say that-allowing for the reluctancy before expressed-his work has been simply a labor of love. As this memoir will supersede any previous publications, the PREFACE. 11 author would-he hopes without impropriety-transfer to his pages the accompanying complimentary preface, attached to one of them:- " The following concise Memoir was written to save from oblivion the name of one of.