They were nieces of Samuel (1755). He joined the Old South Church Nov. 17, 1765, and from 1798 until his decease was very prominent in church matters.' He followed the trade of his father, and at the old stand in Ann Street. Mr. Whitman (1810) says of him, he was "a man of small stature, pious, amiable, and much beloved. A few days before his death he was a witness in the Supreme Court, on the trial of the Price will controversy, between Trinity Church and King's Chapel. It was a severe, cold day and Lieut. Homes [1766] never went out of his house afterward." He died Jan. 13, 1825, aged eighty-three years. He was first sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1771, and lieutenant in the militia.

John Popkin, Jr. (1766), tailor, of Boston and Malden, was of Welsh ancestry. He married, (1) Rebecca Snelling, who died about 1794, and, (2) Mrs. Sarah Sargent, a niece of Rev. Eliakim Willis, of Malden. He was the father of Rev. John Snelling Popkin, D. D., the learned tutor (1795-8) and professor (1815-33) of Greek and Greek literature in Harvard College, who was also pastor of the Federal Street Church, Boston, from 1799 to 1802, and of the First Church in Newbury, from 1804 to 1815.

John Popkin, Jr. (1766), before the Revolutionary War followed the trade of a tailor, and was a member of Major Paddock's (1762) artillery. June 10, 1762, he was one of the sufferers by a fire which broke out "at the upper end of Williams Court, Cornhill." He entered the Continental service in Cambridge, in 1775, as a captain of artillery in Col. Gridley's regiment, and served until the close of the war, in 1783. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and participated in the siege of Boston. He was commissioned captain in Knox's artillery, Jan. 4, 1776, and was in the battle of White Plains; was commissioned major in Col. Greaton's (3d) Massachusetts regiment, Jan. 1, 1777; was aid to Gen. Lincoln (1786) at Saratoga; and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of Col. Crane's regiment of artillery, July 15, 1777, in which he continued until it was discharged in 1783.

After the war he removed to Bolton, in Worcester County, and invested his money, consisting of public securities, in a country store, and afterwards in a farm, - both of which proved unsuccessful ventures.

In 1789, he removed to Malden, and Aug. 10 of that year he was appointed an officer in the Custom House of the port of Boston, and held that position until his decease. He was remarkably strong and well in his old age, for, until he was more than eighty-four years of age, he walked from Malden to Boston, four miles, and back, every day except Sundays. He died at Malden, May 8, 1827, aged eighty-five years.

The record of the Artillery Company for 1766 is as follows:

April 11th, 1766. Monday being unsuitable Weather, The Company under Arms this day, viz: Fryday,

John Popkin, Jr. (1766). AUTHORITIES: Boston Records; Memorials of the Massachusetts Cincinnati; Muzzey's Reminiscences and Memorials; Hurd's Hist. of Middlesex County, Vol. III., p. 581; New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1871.

From the diary of "Rev. William Homes, of Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, 1689-1746," in the Maine Historical Library, it appears Rev. William Homes, the Diarist, a native of the north of Ireland, was born in 1663. He came to America, taught

school three years (1686-9), and returned to Ireland. In 1715 he came back to Chilmark. His son Robert, born July 23, 1694, was married, April 3, 1716, to Mrs. Mary Franklin, in Boston, by Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton. Their son, William (1747), was born Jan. 9, 1717, and was baptized in the Old North Church, by Dr. Increase Mather, on the thirteenth day of the same month. William (1747) was the father of William, Jr. (1766).

Voted, The Rev. Mr. John Brown of Hingham be desired to preach on the next Anniversary Artillery Election of Officers in June next; and that the present Commission Officers, with the Treasurer, be a committee to wait on him and desire the same service. "Attest: ROBERT JENKINS, Tert's, Clerk.

"May 9th, 1766. Monday being unsuitable weather, The Company under Arms this day, viz. Friday, The Committee waited on the Rev. Mr. John Brown of Hingham to desire him to preach the next Artillery Election Sermon, reported that he had accepted the same. Voted, That Col. Joseph Jackson [1738], the Treasurer of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company be desired to let what monies he has in his hands to the Province Treasurer at five per cent, provided he cannot let it at six per cent upon good security in this Country. Voted, That the Treasurer pay twenty-four pounds to the present Commission Officers towards defraying the charges of the next Election dinner; & the Company to dine with them. Voted, That the Clerk pay to the present Commission Officers what fines may be due to the Company this day, after his Commissions are deducted, towards defraying the charges of the next Election Dinner. Voted, That Robert Jenkins [1756], the present Clerk, have one quarter part of the fines he shall collect the present year from the delinquent members of the Company.

"Attest: ROBERT JENKINS, Tert's, Clerk.

"June 2d, 1766. The Company being under Arms, it was then Voted, That the the present Commission Officers, with the Treasurer, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. John Brown, and return him the thanks of this Company for his sermon preached this day.' Attest: ROBERT JENKINS, Tert's, Clerk."

Rev. John Brown, of Hingham, delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1766. He was a son of Rev. John and Joanna (Cotton) Brown, and was born in Haverhill, Mass., March 9, 1724. He graduated at Harvard College in 1741, and was ordained pastor over the Second Parish in Hingham, Sept. 2, 1747. The Second Parish became Cohasset in 1770. He married, (1) Dec. 22, 1764, Mrs. Jane Doane, (2) Hepzibah Ames, (3) Oct. 15, 1788, Mrs. Honour Fitzgerald, who, with one son, survived him.

Mr. Brown served in one campaign as chaplain to a Colonial regiment in Nova Scotia, and, by his word and example during the Revolutionary period, encouraged his fellow-citizens to maintain the struggle for liberty. Mr. Brown died, Oct. 22, 1791, aged sixty-seven years, after a pastorate of forty-four years.

1767.

The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1767 were: Thomas Marshall (1761), captain; Richard Boynton (1759), lieutenant; William Bell (1756), ensign. John Osborn, Jr. (1764), was first sergeant; Timothy Thornton (1765), second sergeant; Samuel Gridley (1765), third sergeant; George Trott (1765), fourth sergeant, and Robert Jenkins, tertius (1756), clerk.

Rev. John Brown. AUTHORITIES: Chase's Hist. of Haverhill; Lincoln's Hist. of Hingham.

1" Boston, June 4, 1766. Monday last being the anniversary of the election of officers for the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, the following gentlemen were chosen for the year ensuing, viz: Thomas Dawes Esq. [1754] Captain, Mr. Samuel Barrett [1755] Lieutenant, Mr. Edward Carnes [1755] Ensign. Previous to the choice the company waited on his Excellency the Governor,

the Honorable his Majesty's Council, &c. to the Old Brick Meeting House, where a sermon suitable to the occasion was preached by the Rev. Mr. John Brown of Hingham. After which, they proceeded to Faneuil Hall, where an elegant dinner was provided by the Company, and in the evening the newelected officers made a generous entertainment, when many loyal healths were drank."- Boston Gazette.

Oct. 15, 1673, the Artillery Company received by re-confirmation of the General Court the grant of land made by the colony when the charter of the Company was granted in 1638. The tract became known as the Artillery Farm, at Dunstable, N. H. In 1715-6, the farm was leased for eleven years to a housewright, in Dunstable, who was to do, as rent, certain things, and "pay one barrel of cyder annually to the Company in the month of October." Soon after the expiration of this lease, Sept. 20, 1727, a committee of the Artillery Company visited the property, and recommended that it be again leased. Failing to succeed in this, the Company preferred a petition to the General Court for permission to sell the Artillery Farm at Dunstable. June 16, 1731, the General Court granted said permission, empowering the Artillery Company to make and execute a good deed or deeds of the above-mentioned tract of land. The following spring, advertisements of "Land of the Artillery Company for Sale" were inserted in the newspapers, and the farm was finally sold to Col. Joseph Blanchard (1737), of Dunstable, about 1737. Col. Blanchard (1737) paid some cash, and gave the Company a mortgage and bond for the balance. For fifty years the matter remained unsettled. Several committees of the Company visited the property, urged upon the heirs the necessity of a settlement, and received small sums of money, but hardly enough to pay the interest, until at last the law was resorted to. In 1756 the Company determined "to take the advice of some able lawyer about Col. Blanchard's (1737) bond, and get the same computed by Mr. Samuel Winthrop, clerk of the Superior Court." From 1756 to 1769 inclusive the Artillery Company annually passed urgent votes in regard to the matter, but decisive action was not taken.

The original computation of Mr. Winthrop is in the archives of the Artillery Company. From that it appears that the amount due on the bond, that is, the "principal sum," March 17, 1743-4, was £1,250. The interest for the following seven years was £450, but the total credits on the note were but $212, leaving a balance due, in 1750, when reduced to its coin value, of £308.12.10. Mr. Winthrop computes the amount due each year, and the last, April 4, 1769, it was £276.14.4. Later additions by other accountants give the amounts due May 18, 1773, £272.4.10; March 19, 1787, £490.3.1, and May 18, 1794, £615.4.10, the latter being probably the amount for which suit was entered.

Col. Blanchard (1737) died in 1758, and then the responsibility fell upon his widow, Mrs. Rebecca Blanchard, the administratrix. The Company showed her great consideration, as the following quotations from original letters prove:

"April, 1789. . . . The Company does not wish to distress Mrs. B.

"May 6, 1790.

me their attorney.

I should be happy, madam, to have the matter accommodated agreeably to your wishes and without giving you any unnecessary trouble.

“June 5, 1765. .

...

"WILLIAM HULL."

My Mother thanks the Company for their Merciful Treatment. "JON'A BLANCHARD."

"May 20, 1767, . My Mother desires to Remember with Gratitude the Kind Treatment she has not only received from the Company but from you in particular as their Treasurer [Col. Jackson (1738)].

JONA' BLANCHARD."

HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY.

143

"April 25, 1768. myself very much Obliged. . . . I beg that you would inform the Company of my situation & that I drive every Nail in my power. I Rejoyce that I have fallen Into so Good hands & Esteem REBECCA BLANCHARD.'

June 6, 1763, William Brattle (1729) and Joseph Jackson (1738) were appointed a committee to settle with the heirs of Col. Blanchard (1737), and they obtained from Mrs. Blanchard the sum of eighty dollars. Dec. 3, 1790, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln (1786), Gen. John Brooks (1786), Col. John Winslow (1786), and John Johnston (1786), were authorized to constitute and appoint William Hull (1788), of Newton, to be the attorney of the Artillery Company, and commence a suit for the recovery of the amount due said Company from the heirs of Col. Blanchard (1737). In August, 1790, Mr. Hull (1788) visited Mrs. Blanchard, at Dunstable, at an expense of six pounds. He went to Amherst,

N. H., and attended two hearings before the judge of probate, at an expense of nine
pounds. In 1791, the case came up in the Superior Court at Exeter, N. H., and Mr.
Samuel Dana appeared as attorney for the Company.

June 4, 1792, another committee, consisting of Col. Waters (1769), Col. Winslow
(1786), Capt. Robert Jenkins (1756), Major Andrew Cunningham (1786), and Mr.
Thomas Clark (1786) was appointed to carry the matter to a conclusion. They re-
appointed or continued William Hull (1788) as attorney. He charged in his bill :

"1792, May, To attending and arguing the cause at the Supreme Court at Exeter £9.

"1792, October, To instituting a suit at the Federal Court at Exeter and attending said Court

10.10.

"And in May, 1773, To attending the Court at Portsmouth £6."

His total bill in the case was forty-seven pounds, twelve shillings.

Mr. Dana charged, "May 1792, To my attendance at Supreme Court and preparing the cause in conjunction with Judge Lincoln and Gen Hull [1788], £1.16.0."

His total bill in the case was nine pounds.

The final paper in the archives of the Artillery Company, referring to this matter, reads as follows:

"Boston, February 23, 1795. Received of Robert Fletcher Fourteen hundred & one dollars & thirty five cents & Robert Fletcher's note of hand of this date with Mrs Gordons obligation for seven hundred & twenty five dollars & sixty-five cents payable in one year, which when paid will be in full of an execution recovered at a late Cur'. Court in yo State of New Hampshire in favor of ye Artillery Company, so called, against Mrs Rebecca Blanchard, Administratrix of Joseph Blanchard, deceased, provided the above sums should exceed or fall short of the execution they are to be rectified,

"2068.65 Judgment

58.35 damage

2127.00

1401.35 p'd

725.65 note Fletcher."

The record of the Artillery Company for 1767 is as follows:

Treasurer.

"April 6th. 1767. The Company being under Arms, it was then Voted, The Rev. Mr. Daniel Shute of Hingham be desired to preach on the next anniversary Artillery

Election of Officers in June next, and that the present Commission Officers, with the Treasurer, be a Committee to wait on him and desire the same.

"Attest: ROBERT JENKINS, Tert's, Clerk.

"May 4th. 1767. The Company being under Arms, The Committee waited on the Rev. Mr. Daniel Shute of Hingham to desire him to preach the next Artillery Election Sermon, reported that he had accepted the same. Voted, That the Treasurer pay thirty pounds to the Commission Officers towards defraying the charges of the next Election Dinner and the Company to dine with them.

"June 1. 1767. The Company being under Arms, it was then Voted, That the present Commission Officers, with the Treasurer, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Daniel Shute of Hingham & return him the thanks of this Company for his sermon preached this day.' Attest ROBERT JENKINS, Tert's, Clerk.

"September 7th. 1767. The Company being under Arms, it was then Voted, That Mr. Thomas Snow [1741] be erased out of the books. Voted, That a Committee of eleven be chose to consult what measures will be most beneficial for the increase of the Company, and the following persons were chosen, viz: Mr. Samuel Torrey, Jr. [1752], Col. Thomas Marshall [1761], Capt. Thomas Dawes [1754], Mr. John Deming [1756], Capt. William Homes [1747], Mr. John Skinner [1759], Capt. Richard Boynton [1759], Mr. Jonas Clark [1756], Mr. Benjamin Edes [1760], Capt. Josiah Waters [1747], Mr. Edward Carnes [1755]. Attest: ROBERT JENKINS, Tert's, Clerk."

Rev. Daniel Shute, of Hingham, son of John and Mary (Wayte) Shute, who delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1767, was born in Malden, July 19, 1722, and graduated at Harvard College in 1743. He commenced his professional career as a candidate in April, 1746, at Malden. He was ordained over the Third Church, Hingham, Dec. 10, 1746. In consequence of the failure of his eyesight, Rev. Mr. Whitney was ordained as his colleague, Jan. 1, 1800. He is said to have been serene and patient under the infirmities of age, and died, Aug. 30, 1802, aged eighty years.

He was a member of the convention, in 1780, which framed the State Constitution, and in 1788, of the Convention of Massachusetts which ratified the Constitution of the United States. He delivered, beside the Artillery election sermon in 1767, the election sermon in 1768. He was extensively known and respected as a minister of great strength of mind and of high attainments.

1768.

The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1768 were: James Cunningham (1761), captain; William Heath (1765), lieutenant; and David Spear (1758), ensign. Hopestill Capen (1763) was first sergeant; Benjamin Eustis (1763), second sergeant; Nathaniel Heath (1765), third sergeant; Charles Williams (1768), fourth sergeant, and Elias Dupee (1763), clerk.

"Boston, Monday June 8, 1767. Monday last [June 1], being the Anniversary of the Election of officers for the Ancient and Honrable Artillery Company, the following gentlemen were chosen for the ensuing year, viz: Thomas Marshall Esq [1761] Captain. Richard Boynton, Esq [1759] Lieutenant Mr. William Bell [1756], Ensign. Previous to the choice the Company waited on his Excellency the Governor, the Honorable, his Majesty's Council, &c.

to the Old Brick Meeting House where a sermon suitable to the occasion was preached by the Rev. Mr. Shute of Hingham, from those words in Eccl IX, 18, Wisdom is better than weapons of war.' After which they proceeded to Faneuil Hall, where an elegant dinner was provided by the Company; and in the evening the new elected officers made a generous entertainment, when many loyal healths were drank." - Boston Newspaper.