Chapter III: Part 3

The next celebration of which we find mention took place in 1768, concerning which the New York _Gazette_, March 14, that year, had the following:

THE GENTLEMEN OF IRELAND

Who intend dining together on St. Patrick’s Day, are desired to send
their Names to Bolton and Sigell’s that Dinner may be prepared
accordingly.

In the same issue of the _Gazette_ we also find a statement to the effect that “The Members of the most ancient and truly benevolent Order of St. Patrick intend to celebrate the anniversary of that Saint, at the House of John Marshall, at the ancient Mason’s Arms, near the Hon. William Walton’s, Esq.; on Thursday the 17th Instant, for which Purpose Tickets are now delivered at the said John Marshall’s.”

Now comes into view an organization known as the “Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick.” It appears to have been divided into “knots” and to have been largely, or entirely, composed of men in the British service. In the New York _Gazette_ of March 13, 1769, a notice appears, stating that:

The principal Knot of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, in the
XVIth Regiment of Foot, will meet at Messieurs Bolton and Sigel’s,
on Friday the 17th Inst. being the Patron Day of the Order, at 2
o’Clock, to dine and transact Business. Such Gentlemen in this City
as are of the Order, are desired to attend.

Signed by Order,

W. F. M. P. S.

In the New York _Journal_, March 30, 1769, is a notice reading as follows: “The Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, and several Gentlemen of this City intend dining together at Bolton and Sigel’s Next Monday, and from thence to go to the Play in the Evening; such Gentlemen as propose to join them will be pleased to send in their Names to the Bar of said Tavern two Days before. New York, March 28, 1769.”

If this latter event was intended as a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day it is strange that it was held at so late a date after the anniversary. However, there may have been a special reason for this. It is possible, too, that it was a union celebration by the Friendly Brothers instead of by a single “knot” of the organization as was that held on the 17th of the month.

In 1770, members of “the 16th Regiment of Foot” again paid honor to the memory of St. Patrick as the following notice in the New York _Gazette_ of March 12th, that year, indicated they would:

The Principal Knot of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, in the
16th Regiment of Foot, will meet at Bolton’s on Saturday the 17th
Instant, being the Patron Day of the Order, at 9 o’Clock in the
Forenoon to breakfast, transact Business and dine. Such Gentlemen in
this City as are of the Order, are desired to attend. Signed by
Order,

J. F. J. P. S.

We again find mention of the Friendly Brothers in the New York _Gazette_ of March 25, 1771, it being there stated that “at the usual celebration of the repeal of the Stamp Act on 18 March, the assemblage on 18 March 1771, drank the usual toast ‘Prosperity to Ireland and the worthy Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick.’ Messages of civil Compliments were exchanged by those Gentlemen and the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, who dined at the Queen’s-Head Tavern; as also with a Number of other Gentlemen who dined at Protestant Hall, at Mr. Samuel Waldron’s, on Long Island.”

In Rivington’s New York _Gazette_, March 10, 1774, we find a notice to the effect that “The Friendly Brothers are desired to meet at Hull’s Tavern, on Thursday the 17th instant. Dinner to be on table precisely at three o’clock.—F. T. M.”

The same paper under date of March 17, 1774, says “This morning the Gentlemen who compose the most benevolent society of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick will give a very elegant breakfast, at Hull’s to the principal Ladies and Gentlemen of this city, in commemoration of the tutelar Saint of Ireland, it being their Patron Day,” and the same issue of the _Gazette_ announces that “The Concert which was to have been performed at the Assembly Room, as usual this Evening, is deferred until next Monday Evening, on Account of a public Breakfast, given by the Gentlemen, who compose the Society of The Friendly Brothers.”

On March 16, 1775, Rivington’s New York _Gazette_ announced that “To-morrow being the anniversary of St. Patrick, Tutelar Saint of Ireland, will be observed with the usual respect and attention, by his generous sons and their descendants.”

The British evacuated New York Nov. 25, 1783. Thenceforth, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations there took place under the inspiring presence of a different order of things.

The evacuation of New York by the enemy was attended by many interesting features. Preceding it, a conference took place at Dobb’s Ferry between Washington, Governor Clinton and Sir Guy Carleton. At this conference, it was arranged that the British were to get out of New York on the date above mentioned. On the morning of Nov. 25, General Knox, who was of Irish parentage, marched his men in from Harlem as far as “Bowery Lane.” There he halted, at what is now the junction of Third Avenue and the Bowery. The Americans remained here until about 1 p. m., as the enemy had claimed the right of possession until noon. Before 3 p. m., Knox had taken control of the city and of Fort George, amid the acclamations of a great concourse. Washington located at Fraunces’ Tavern, where during the afternoon a public dinner to the officers of the army was given by Governor Clinton. In the evening the city was illuminated by rockets, bonfires and other evidences of rejoicing. The British flag at Fort George had been nailed to the staff and the latter was then made as slippery as possible. The emblem of tyranny was soon removed, however, and the American flag hoisted in its place.

On St. Patrick’s Day, 1784, the year following the British evacuation of New York, a celebration took place in that city under the auspices of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, a society organized that year and which is still in existence. The exercises comprised a banquet at Cape’s Tavern. Speaking of this event, the New York _Packet and Advertiser_, of the next day, says:

Yesterday, being the anniversary of St. Patrick, his patriotic sons
met at Cape’s Tavern, where they gave an elegant entertainment to
His Excellency the Governor, Lieut.-Governor, Chancellor, and a
number of other respectable gentlemen of this State. The day and
evening were spent in festivity and mirth, and a number of suitable
toasts were drank upon this joyful occasion. The greatest unanimity
and conviviality pervaded this numerous and jovial company, and
perhaps this great Saint was never honored with a concourse of more
generous and truly patriotic sons than this assembly afforded.

In 1785, the same organization observed St. Patrick’s Day by dining at “The Coffee House,” conducted by Mr. Bradford, in Water Street, near Wall Street. The society dined there again in 1786, the New York _Daily Advertiser_ stating that “Yesterday the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick held their anniversary meeting at the Coffee-House, where an elegant dinner was provided by Mr. Bradford.—The company were numerous and respectable; and the day spent with that decorum and hilarity, so truly characteristic of this friendly society.”

Speaking of this observance, the _Independent Journal_, March 18, and the New York _Packet_, March 20, 1786, inform their readers that “The anniversary of St. Patrick, patron of the Irish nation, was on Friday celebrated with great festivity by our worthy friends of that kingdom: A very elegant entertainment was provided at Mr. Bradford’s Coffee-House, at which were present His Excellency the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Chancellor, Chief Justice, Judge Hobart, the Mayor, Recorder, and many other persons of distinction.—The day and evening passed with that convivial spirit which ever distinguished the true Milesian.”

In 1788, the Friendly Sons, it is stated, dined at the Merchants’ Coffee House, at the southeast corner of Wall and Water streets. The New York _Journal & Patriotic Register_, March 18, that year notes two celebrations, the first of which is believed to refer to the Friendly Sons. The _Register’s_ mention thus reads:

ST. PATRICK.

Yesterday, being the anniversary of the Tutelar Saint of Ireland, a
number of gentlemen of that nation, assembled at the Merchants’
Coffee House, in this city, where they partook of an elegant
entertainment, drank a number of toasts, and “liberally good cheer
did bestow.”

A company also met at Corre’s.

The New York _Packet_ speaking of the observance in 1788, states that a large company assembled “at the Coffee house” but does not mention “Merchants’.” The reference appears in the _Packet_ of March 18, that year, and states that “Yesterday being the anniversary of St. Patrick, the Tutelar Saint of Ireland, a large company of gentlemen, natives of that country, assembled at the Coffee-House; where a genteel entertainment was provided, and which was well conducted. True festive mirth and hilarity were displayed at this convivial board.”

WILLIAM PRENDERGAST, A PIONEER OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.

BY MISS HELEN PRENDERGAST.[9]

About one mile back of the west shore of Lake Chautauqua, N. Y., and almost directly behind the present Chautauqua Assembly ground, lies a farm now occupied by Chauncey Moses. This farm was formerly the home of William Prendergast, one of the pioneers of Chautauqua County.

To the rear of the house, and on a hill, is an old family graveyard where are buried the pioneer, his wife and many of their children and other descendants. The pioneer’s tombstone bears an inscription stating that he was born in Kilkenny County, Ireland, Feb. 2, 1727, that he was a son of Thomas and Mary Prendergast, and that he died Feb. 14, 1811.

His wife, Mehitable (Wing) Prendergast, is buried beside him. The inscription on her tombstone states that she was the daughter of Jedediah and Elizabeth Wing of Beeker, Dutchess County, N. Y., that she was born March 20, 1737, and died Sept. 14, 1811.

For some years after their marriage, Mr. Prendergast and his wife resided at Pawlings, Dutchess County. I have heard it said that William, the pioneer, came to America when he was but nineteen years of age. He continued to live at Pawlings until the year 1766. At that time the inhabitants of Rensselaer, Dutchess and Columbia counties who rented their lands, instead of owning them, became dissatisfied by what they considered the unreasonable demands of the proprietors, and broke out in open revolt.

Prendergast, who was looked upon as a leader of the disaffected, was taken prisoner, tried for treason and sentenced to death. He was, however, pardoned by the British king, George IV, on taking an oath never again to bear arms against the government of England. This oath he kept, so that during the Revolution neither he nor his sons were actively engaged in the Patriot cause, although sympathizing therewith.

After his pardon, he removed to Pittstown, Rensselaer County, twenty-two miles above Albany, N. Y., where he lived until 1805. At this time the family decided to remove to Tennessee, and departed for thence, traveling in wagons and on horseback. Not liking the place, they returned through Ohio and Pennsylvania to New York state. When they had reached a point some miles within New York, the horse ridden by Thomas Prendergast, one of the sons, became lame. Being near a settler’s log cabin, Thomas entered the latter and soon prevailed upon the settler to sell him his claim. Thomas, therefore, decided to go no further but to settle there and make the locality his home, which he accordingly did.

William Prendergast, the pioneer, and his wife, were the parents of seven sons and six daughters. All but one of these children arrived at maturity, and all but one settled in Chautauqua County, N. Y. The children just mentioned were:

1. Matthew, born Aug. 5, 1756; died July 24, 1838.

2. Thomas, born Sept, 11, 1757; died June 3, 1842.

3. Mary, born 1760; died July 11, 1845.

4. Elizabeth, born Aug. 30, 1762; died Aug. 31, 1824.

5. James, born March 9, 1764; died June 18, 1846.

6. Jedediah, born May 13, 1766; died March 1, 1848.

7. Martin, born April 22, 1769; died June 21, 1835.

8. John Jeffrey, born 1771; date of death unknown.

9. Susanna, born April 22, 1773; died Aug. 8, 1847.

10. Elinor, died in infancy.

11. Martha, born March 18, 1777; died Dec. 9, 1849.

12. William, born 1779; died Nov. 11, 1857.

13. Minerva, born Aug. 26, 1782; died March 30, 1858.

The foregoing data, relating to the births and deaths of the children, while possibly not exact in every instance, is approximately so, and is the best it is now possible to procure. Of the children here mentioned:

1. Matthew became associate judge of Niagara County, N. Y., from
which Chautauqua County was taken.

2. Thomas became a successful farmer.

3. Mary married William Bemus.

4. Elizabeth died unmarried.

5. James founded Jamestown, N. Y., built and operated mills,
conducted a store, and became judge of the Court of Common
Pleas.

6. Jedediah became a physician. He also engaged, with his brother
Martin, in mercantile pursuits. He was of scholarly tastes, took
special interest in geology, and at the invitation of DeWitt
Clinton once wrote several articles on the geology of that
section of New York state. These articles were afterward
published by Governor Clinton just mentioned. Jedediah has one
grandson living in Canada. Jedediah’s only daughter, Catharine,
wedded Hon. Hamilton Merritt.

7. Martin was associate judge of Niagara County and was supervisor
for Chautauqua township for eighteen terms.

8. Susanna became the wife of Oliver Whiteside, but was a widow with
two daughters when she came to Chautauqua County.

11. Martha died unmarried.

12. William was a farmer, but is best known as Colonel Prendergast. He
enlisted in the army during the War of 1812, took part in the
battle of Black Rock, under Col. James McMahan, and won
promotion.

13. Minerva became the wife of Elihu Marvin, but was soon left a widow
with a son and daughter of tender years.

I can remember when I was a child of six or seven years of visiting Colonel Prendergast’s house on Christmas Day and seeing his wife roast the turkey in a tin oven before the fireplace, cooking the vegetables in kettles hung on a crane over the blaze and pounding coffee in a mortar. She also “dipped” her candles and cooked in a brick oven.

She had a red broadcloth cloak, trimmed with red satin, which I was allowed to wear if I would sit still, and at the end of the visit my great-great uncle always gave me a piece of gold or silver money. One yet in my possession bears the date 1776.

Alexander T. Prendergast was a son of James Prendergast, the founder of Jamestown, N. Y., and of his wife, whose maiden name was Agnes Thompson. This Alexander had one son, James, who was a lawyer by profession and served as a member of the State Assembly. His parents founded the James Prendergast Free Library at Jamestown, an Episcopal church there called the Prendergast Memorial, gave a public drinking fountain, a window in the Congregational church, scholarships in the Jamestown schools, and other benefactions. There are no living descendants of James, John, William, Minerva, Martha, Elizabeth, or Elinor—children of William Prendergast, the pioneer.

Descendants of others of the children achieved a good measure of success. One of them, Col. Henry A. Prendergast, served as a paymaster during the Civil War and died of sickness contracted in the service. He was also a member for many terms of the New York State Assembly.

My own grandfather, a son of Matthew Prendergast, participated in the battle of Black Rock during the War of 1812, and rendered able service as a surgeon. He served many terms as a supervisor and was a famous physician. The only members of this family, bearing the Prendergast name, now left in Chautauqua County are my two brothers—John H. and Dr. William Prendergast—and James Hunt Prendergast, son of John H. This James is a lawyer practising at Westfield, N. Y. To these must be added myself. My sister, Mrs. Whallon, has a grandchild named William Prendergast Whallon who is now eight years of age and is of the seventh generation.

MASTER JOHN SULLIVAN OF SOMERSWORTH AND BERWICK, AND HIS FAMILY.[10]

BY JOHN SCALES OF DOVER, N. H.

Thomas Coffin Amory begins his biography of his grandfather, Gov. James Sullivan, as follows:

James, the fourth son of Master Sullivan, was born in Berwick, Me.,
22d April, 1744. The cellar of the house occupied by his parents is
easily distinguished by some portions of its walls still remaining
in a field near Salmon Falls river, and within half a mile of Great
Falls village. The barn which served to store away their harvests
for the long winters of New England climate has only quite recently
(1858) been destroyed by fire. Near by, but separated from the old
dwelling by a public road, laid out in comparatively modern times
across the farm, is the ancient cemetery, where Master Sullivan and
Margery his wife, when their long protracted lives were over, were
laid to their last repose amid the scenes of their humble labors and
of the pleasures and various vicissitudes of more than half a
century.

The above is incorrect in one particular: Gov. James Sullivan was not born in Berwick, Me.; he was born in Somersworth, N. H., then a parish in Dover. Mr. Amory made the mis-statement because he had not all the facts at hand in regard to the question. That particular part of Somersworth in which Master Sullivan lived is now in the town of Rollinsford, having been set off from Somersworth in 1849, and is now the village at Rollinsford Junction.

This village is one mile from Salmon Falls village and one mile from South Berwick village, at the lower fall where the fresh water meets the tide water; this is the ancient Quamphegan, and the point where the river changes its name to Newichawannick, which it holds till it gets to Dover Point, where it joins the Pascataqua, six miles from Quamphegan. The settlers on Dover Neck did not use the Indian name Newichawannick, but called it Fore River, and the river on the west side of the Neck they called Back River.

The Somersworth village in the days of Master Sullivan was much larger than the modern village of Rollinsford Junction; this is distant about four miles from the depot in the city of Somersworth. For more than a century it was the home of several of the leading men of New Hampshire. It was the home of Master Sullivan from 1723 to 1754. Here his children were born; here he did the most important part of his teaching; here he educated his sons to be governors, and leaders in the Revolution, and leaders after the American government was formed.

They were important factors in forming the state governments of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. At this village school of Master Sullivan the sons of many other men were taught in a way that fitted them to enter Harvard College, and fitted them to be leaders in the great struggle for independence. Here Master Sullivan not only kept school, but was also the scribe and counselor for his neighbors and fellow-citizens.

He was a fine penman, and wrote wills, deeds, mortgages, and such other legal documents as the needs of the parish demanded. Here he served in the local military company; here he swept the parish meeting-house and rang the bell for services on the Lord’s day; here he sat under the ministrations of Rev. James Pike, who was the faithful and able pastor of this parish for more than sixty years.

The farm which Mr. Amory speaks of in Berwick was purchased by Master Sullivan in August, 1753. He bought it of Mr. Samuel Lord, and there is no record that he bought any land anywhere before that date. It is on a beautiful elevation which overlooks the city of Somersworth, a mile away, across the Salmon Falls River. Much of the land is now cut up into streets and house lots in the fast-growing village of Berwick. A garden occupies the spot where Master Sullivan’s house stood; a street crosses the spot where he and his good wife were buried. Their remains were removed to the Sullivan cemetery in Durham, and now repose near the grave of their illustrious son, Gen. John Sullivan.

It is not known precisely when he moved his family to Berwick, but probably in 1754, and there they resided more than forty years. In Berwick he was a farmer, as well as a schoolmaster and scrivener for his townsmen. Tradition says that his wife was the better farmer of the two. He was so fond of his books that the weeds oftentimes got the better of his crops. His wife Margery cared nothing for books, and delighted in out-door work.

The town of South Berwick was set off from Berwick in 1814; the First parish is at South Berwick, and recently celebrated its two hundredth anniversary with an elaborate and interesting service. In 1754 the present Berwick was established as the North parish, on petition of 39 freeholders (landowners). This petition for an enabling act to choose parish officers was granted by Governor Shirley and the council, April 17, 1754, the house concurring on the next day. One of the 39 signers to that petition was Master John Sullivan. He helped organize the parish and owned a pew in the meeting-house; later two of his sons owned pews there.

Because Master Sullivan spent the last 40 years of his life in this parish of Berwick, the writers of cyclopedias, biographical dictionaries, and biographies of his sons have taken it for granted that he always lived there, hence say his sons were born there. If Master Sullivan’s sons were like the ordinary sons of men, nobody would care or take the trouble to inquire whether they were born in Maine or New Hampshire. They are not like ordinary sons; they are extraordinary, and that is why New Hampshire should claim the honor which is its due, just as we delight to boast that Webster and Chase, and a host of distinguished men, are the sons of New Hampshire. The Sullivan family is one of the most notable families in the history of New England. There were five sons and one daughter. I will give a brief summary of their lives.

I. Benjamin was born in 1736; he received a thorough education from his father; he enlisted in the British navy and rose to be an officer, when most young men would be only ordinary seamen; he was tall, handsome and brilliant, and walked the decks as one who was born to command. Unfortunately, he and his ship, with all on board, were lost at sea just previous to the Revolution.

II. Daniel, the second son, was born in 1738; after being carefully educated by his father he engaged in mercantile business in Berwick and was very successful; about 1770 he was leader of a company of gentlemen who founded a town at the head of Frenchman’s Bay in eastern Maine; this town is called Sullivan in his honor. When the Revolutionary War commenced he organized and commanded a company which did valiant service for the Patriot cause; he was leader in the defense of Castine against the attacks of the British navy. Captain Sullivan was so conspicuous and efficient in the defense that the officers of the fleet marked him for special revenge; one ship went up from Mt. Desert to the head of Frenchman’s Bay specially to capture the captain; a sortie of marines at midnight went to his house, when all the family were asleep, caught the captain, drove his family out of doors and burned the house and contents; the British officer offered to release him if he would swear allegiance to the king; the captain positively refused to accept freedom on such condition; he was then carried to New York city and confined in a prison ship several months; he was then exchanged but died on his way home, from disease contracted while in prison. He has the reputation of being a man of extraordinary ability, both as a military leader and a business man. Before the war he had acquired large possessions in land, lumber, and sawmills.

III. John, the third son, was born in 1740; after thorough training by his father, he studied law with Judge Livermore in Portsmouth; he commenced practice of the law in Berwick in 1761, and was married about that time. He removed to Durham in 1763, much against the wishes of some of the good people in that town, who feared a lawyer would make trouble. General Sullivan was the first lawyer the town ever had; but the people soon learned to love and respect him; although his office was in Durham, his practice soon extended throughout Rockingham and Strafford counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine; his success was remarkable.

Before 1775 he was acknowledged as leader at the bar in all of those counties, where John Adams, the second president of the United States, was for several years one of his competitors; not only was he a great lawyer but he also engaged extensively in business, owning several mills and much real estate; at the opening of the war it was estimated he was worth £40,000; most men with such holdings would have hesitated much before rebelling against the king of England; John Sullivan did not hesitate; he took the lead and was commander of the expedition which committed the first overt act of war in the Revolution, by capturing and removing the gunpowder from Fort William and Mary at Newcastle, Dec. 14, 1774; of course you all know the story; the hundred barrels of powder were taken up the river to Durham and hid in various places; a larger part was placed in the cellar of the old church near General Sullivan’s residence; the monument to his memory now stands on the spot.

Some of that powder was used at the battle of Bunker Hill; all of it was used in the Revolutionary War, except a small bottleful which Maj. John Demeritt of Madbury now has, being handed down to him as an inheritance from his ancestors; this capture of the powder was four months before the Lexington and Concord affair.

While attending to his law business and his sawmills and lumbering, he had taken a hand in the local military affairs, and in 1774 was major of the regiment of militia in his section of the province; Governor Wentworth could not persuade him to hold it after the little affair at Fort William and Mary; he was delegate to the first Continental Congress in 1775; he was appointed brigadier-general in the Continental army in 1775; a major-general in 1776; commanded the New Hampshire troops at Germantown and Brandywine; commander-in-chief in the Rhode Island campaign in 1778; commander-in-chief in the great and hazardous expedition against the Six Nations in 1779, which resulted in the overthrow of the most complete organization of the Indians ever effected on this continent. To commemorate this great service of General Sullivan the state of New York has erected costly tablets on the spots where the most important encounters took place.

This was General Sullivan’s closing service in the military operations of the war. I think he should be ranked second only to Greene and Washington as a military leader. His services in civil affairs which immediately followed were quite as valuable and important as his military service. In 1780 he drafted the bill, which the Legislature adopted, to regulate the militia; in 1781 he was delegate in the National Congress; in 1782, ’83 and ’84 he was attorney-general of New Hampshire; he was president of the state in 1786, ’87 and 89; he was the Federal candidate in 1788 but was defeated by John Langdon, the Republican candidate. Sullivan had defeated Langdon in the two years previous, and in the year following; Sullivan was a Washington federalist; he was a presidential elector when Washington was elected the first time; he was president of the convention that adopted the Federal constitution, June 21, 1788, which was the act that established the Federal union; the vote stood 57 in favor to 42 against adoption; it was largely through the influence of General Sullivan that the 57 votes were secured and the Federal union was formed.

September 26, 1789, President Washington appointed him United States district judge for New Hampshire, and he entered upon the duties of that office Dec. 15 of that year; he remained in that office until his death, Jan. 23, 1795, being nearly fifty-five years old, having been born on the 17th of February, 1740. A better American, a more capable, a more useful, or more fearless citizen than John Sullivan, New Hampshire never had.

In this connection it may be well to say a few words about his descendants, to show how strong was the hereditary force that came down from Master Sullivan. General Sullivan’s son John was a prominent and able lawyer in one of the Southern states, but died young. His son George was attorney-general of New Hampshire twenty years. His grandson, John, son of George, was attorney-general ten years or more, and his grand nephew, John S. Wells, held the same office several years. They were all able attorneys, and no family in the state has the equal of this illustrious record.

IV. James, the fourth son of Master Sullivan, was born in Somersworth in May, 1744, and died in Boston, Dec. 10, 1808. He was thoroughly educated by his father, quite the equal of a Harvard graduate of that period; he studied law with his brother John; opened an office at Saco about 1767 and practised his profession there until about 1780; he was very successful, and with his brother John did the larger part of the law business in York County. When he was twenty-six years old he was appointed attorney-general for the district of Maine and held the office until the Revolution began; he was delegate in the first Continental Congress, when he was thirty years old; when he was thirty-one he was appointed judge of admiralty; the next year he was promoted to a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court, which office he held several years; he removed to Boston in 1782. While he was in Maine, John Adams, who used to go down there once or twice a year to attend court at Saco and Portland, said that he always found the Sullivans in possession of all the best and most important cases.

In 1783, ’84 and ’85 he was delegate in the Continental Congress, and also was representative from Boston in the Massachusetts General Court; he was member of the Executive Council in 1787; judge of probate from 1788 to 1790; attorney-general from 1790 to 1807; in 1804 he was presidential elector, casting his vote for Thomas Jefferson, of whom he was a great admirer. The _Federalist_ abused him fearfully for so voting. He was governor of Massachusetts in 1807 and 1808, dying a short time before his term expired. Notwithstanding he gave so much time to official business, he was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Historical Society and its president many years; he wrote and published a history of Maine; he published numerous pamphlets on various questions that concerned current business affairs; he was a clear and forcible writer and an eloquent advocate; he delivered innumerable addresses on public occasions and stood in the front rank of literary men and the legal fraternity of Boston.

V. Mary Sullivan was the fifth child of this remarkable family; she was born in 1752; her father as carefully educated her as he did his sons; she was tall and handsome, like her father, and inherited his fondness for books; she was brilliant and attractive, mentally and socially; like her father she was a successful teacher several years, at a time when most women thought they were highly accomplished if they could write their own names. She married Mr. Theophilus Hardy and resided in Durham near her brother John. To them were born several daughters; one of these, a very gifted woman, married Edward Wells, Esq., and they also resided in Durham, which was then one of the liveliest business centers of the state. They had a large family of children, and several of the sons manifested those strong traits of intellectual power of their Sullivan ancestors; one son, Samuel Wells, was governor of Maine two years, 1858 and 1859; another son, John Sullivan Wells, whom many of you may remember, lacked only fifty votes of being elected governor of New Hampshire in 1856, the Know-Nothing tidal wave being a little too much for him to overcome; he was attorney-general several years; United States senator; speaker of the House in the New Hampshire Legislature, and also president of the Senate. He was an able lawyer, a brilliant and fascinating public speaker, and one of the most popular men in his party and he was generally popular with all parties. Another brother, Joseph Bartlett Wells, was a distinguished lawyer in Illinois, where he was attorney-general several years, and was lieutenant-governor at the time of his death; had he lived he would undoubtedly have been governor of the state. A fourth brother was consul at Bermuda several years and died there. These were great-grandsons of Master John Sullivan.

VI. Ebenezer was the sixth child and youngest son of Master Sullivan and his wife Margery; he was born in 1753, and died in 1797. He was educated by his father and studied law with his brother John. Before he could get established in his profession the Revolution commenced, and he engaged earnestly in the cause of the colonies; starting as a private, he rose to be captain of a company and did valiant service.

He was taken prisoner and narrowly escaped being burned at the stake by the Indians. After the war he married and resided at South Berwick, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He was the leader at the bar in York County, a thorough lawyer and a powerful advocate. He was a tall, handsome, powerfully-built man, whose presence was commanding wherever he stood.

Such were the children of Master Sullivan. What say you, Mr. President, are these boys worthy for the New Hampshire Historical Society to claim them as sons of New Hampshire?

Seven cities claimed the honor of being the birthplace of Homer. Other great men in later times have honored the cities where they were born by their great deeds; should not New Hampshire feel everlastingly honored by having such a family born within its borders? I will take it for granted that you will answer all my questions in the affirmative. Then what proof have I that they _were_ born in New Hampshire and not in Maine? I will tell you shortly.

On page 356 of McClintock’s _History of New Hampshire_ Fred Myron Colby has the following concerning Master John Sullivan:

The grandfather of the New Hampshire Sullivans was Major Philip
O’Sullivan of Ardea, an officer of the Irish army during the siege
of Limerick. His son John, born at Limerick in 1692, was one of the
company that in 1723 emigrated from Ireland and settled the town of
Belfast in Maine. At this place he hired a sawmill and went to work.
Two or three years afterward another vessel of Irish emigrants
landed at Belfast. On board was a blooming young damsel, who, after
the custom of those days, had agreed with the shipmaster to be bound
out at service in the colonies in payment of her passage across the
Atlantic. She was bright and witty, with a mind of a rough but noble
cast. During the passage over a fellow-passenger jocosely asked her
what she expected to do when she arrived in the colonies. “Do?”
answered she with true Celtic wit, “why raise governors for thim.”
Sullivan saw the girl as she landed, and struck with her beauty,
made a bargain with the captain, paying her passage in shingles. He
wooed and won her, and the Irish girl entered upon her initiatory
steps to make good her declaration. Immediately after his marriage
(1735) Mr. Sullivan settled on a farm in Berwick and began clearing
it for the plow.

Following this is a statement that John was the oldest son of this couple, and a lot more of fictitiously interesting biography of the general. Now what are the facts?

Master Sullivan landed in York, Me., from Limerick, Ireland, in the winter of 1723; he hadn’t a cent to pay the captain for his passage across the Atlantic. After working at farming a week or so he got weary of it, and applied to Rev. Dr. Moody, pastor of Scotland parish, to help him. He made his application in a letter written in seven languages, so the doctor might know he was an educated man. The worthy doctor was favorably impressed, and loaned him the money to pay his fare and then helped him to a school in Dover. May 20, 1723,[11] Master “Sullefund” was chosen one of the two teachers of the town of Dover, at £30 salary per year. Just where he kept that school is not stated in the record, but it undoubtedly was in that part of Dover then called the “Summer parish,” from the fact that meetings were held in a barn there during the summer and fall by Parson Cushing, then pastor of the First parish.

These summer meetings were held to accommodate the people who objected to walking or riding five or six miles to attend meetings at Cochecho, where now is the center of the city of Dover. As this is the place where Master Sullivan spent thirty years of his life, I may as well explain further in regard to this name, Somersworth, which is unique in the history of towns and cities in the United States, no other place in the country having that name.

The people had become familiar to having the village called the “Summer parish,” so in 1730, when this district was separated from the First parish as a distinct parish, it was the most natural thing for the leaders, who were educated men, to retain the familiar name, and they did it by changing “parish” to “worth,” and they had “Summersworth.” The word “worth” is the old English termination for names of places, so Summer parish and Summersworth mean precisely the same thing. You will notice that the present spelling is Somersworth.

The ancient spelling of the parish was Summersworth, and when the citizens petitioned for an act of incorporation as a town they asked to have it spelled that way, but when they got their charter they found that the clerk of the General Court, or somebody else, had changed “Sum” to “Som,” so they let it go that way. This change in orthography made no change in the meaning of the name. According to Dr. Samuel Johnson, whose large dictionary was published in 1755, the year after this town was chartered, “Sumer” is Saxon and “Somer” is Dutch for the English word “Summer.”

Before Summersworth was made a separate parish the town of Dover looked after the schools; but after it became a parish the people managed their own schools by votes in parish meetings. July 2, 1734, the parish “Voted that Hercules Mooney be the schoolmaster here for one month (viz) from July 4^{th} to Aug^t 4^{th}, 1734 next ensuing at three pounds fifteen shillings per month.”

“Voted that Capt. Thomas Wallingford and Mr. Philip Stackpole be the men that Joyn with the Selectmen at the months end above to agree with Mr. Mooney or any other suitable person to keep school in this Parish for the Residue of this Sumer and autum.”

In 1735 it was “Voted that Mr. Jon^o Scrugham be school master for one month in this Parish at the Descression of the Selectmen.” Also, “Voted that there be thirty pounds raised to Defray the Charge of a school this sumer and autum.”

In 1737 the parish “Voted sixty pounds for a school master.”

“Voted that Mr. John Sullivan be the schoolmaster for the ensuing year.”

“Voted that John Sullivan to sweep and take care of ye meeting house & to have thirty shillings.”

From that date to 1752 no schoolmaster is named, but from year to year the parish would vote to have a school and leave the matter with the selectmen to hire a teacher. As they had voted Master Sullivan in once, it was taken for granted that he would be the teacher. April 6, 1752, “Voted Mr. Joseph Tate twenty three pounds old tenor to keep ye Parish School one month.” The record does not show that Master Sullivan kept the parish school after Mr. Tate began work there.

Master Sullivan was married to Margery Browne in 1735. Soon after that he commenced to sign his name as witness to documents as “John Sullivan of Summersworth.” Their third child, John, was born in 1740. In 1787, when he was the Federalist candidate for governor, then called president, his opponents charged him as guilty of being born in Berwick, Me., hence was not eligible for the office.

The _New Hampshire Gazette_, March 10, 1787, replied to this as follows:

Surely the collector of intelligence has not consulted all the
people in this state, or he would have found out that President
Sullivan was born in Somersworth, in the county of Strafford.

In the summer of 1743 Master Sullivan and his wife had a falling out, and he went off to Boston to remain till her temper cooled. She repented of her cruel treatment, and published the following advertisement in the Boston _Evening Post_, July 25, 1743, from which I copied it in the Boston Public Library. It shows conclusively that Summersworth was Master Sullivan’s home in 1743:

ADVERTISEMENT.

MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND:

Your abrupt departure from me, and forsaking of me your wife and
tender babes, which I now humbly acknowledge and confess, I was
greatly if not wholly the cause by my too rash and unadvised speech
and behaviour towards you; for which I now in this public manner
humbly ask your forgiveness, and hereby promise upon your return to
amend and reform and by my future loving and obedient carriage
toward you, endeavor to make an atonement for my past evil deeds,
and manifest to you and to the whole world, that I can become a new
woman, and will prove to you a loving, dutiful and tender wife.

If you do not regard what I have above written, I pray you harken to
what your pupil, Joshua Gilpatrick, hath below sent you, as also the
lamentations and cries of your poor children, especially the eldest
(Benjamin) who though but seven years old, all rational people
really conclude that unless you speedily return will end in his
death; and the moans of your other children (Daniel and John) are
enough to affect any human heart.

And why, my dear husband, should a few angry and unkind words from
an angry and foolish wife [for which I am now paying full dear,
having neither eat, drank nor slept in quiet, and am already reduced
almost to a skeleton, that unless you favor me with your company
will bereave me of my life] make you thus forsake me and your
children? How can you thus, for so slender a cause as a few rash
words from a simple and weak woman, cause you to part from your
tender babes, who are your own flesh and blood? Pray meditate on
what I now send and reprieve your poor wife and eldest son, who take
your departure so heavily, from a lingering though certain death, by
your coming home to them again, as speedily as you can, where you
shall be kindly received, and in a most submissive manner by your
wife who is ready at your desire to lay herself at your feet for her
past miscarriage, and am with my and your children’s kind love to
you, your loving wife.

MARGERY SULLIVAN.

SUMMERSWORTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, July 11, 1743.

The Hon. Thomas Wallingford, who resided in Summersworth and lived near Master Sullivan, was captain of the company of militia in that parish in 1746, and probably several years before. The late Rev. Dr. A. H. Quint had the muster roll of this company, and I presume his widow now has it. Dr. Quint published it in his _Historical Memoranda_, and it can be found on page 377 of the book of this memoranda that I recently published. In this list of soldiers appears Master Sullivan’s name, although the clerk of the company spells it “John Sullevant.” Of course he was an old resident there, or he would not have been enrolled as a soldier.

Another witness, and I leave this part of my subject. Mr. Michael Reade of Dover was born in the same year as General Sullivan and lived to be more than eighty years old. He went to school to Master Sullivan and knew him and the boys well, hence, of course, knew where they lived. This Michael Reade’s son Michael was born in 1773, and lived to be more than eighty years old. He knew Master Sullivan, saw him many times, and his father told him much about the old master; among other things, that he lived in Summersworth many years before he removed to Berwick and united farming with school teaching. The younger Michael Reade was living when Dr. Quint wrote much of his _Historical Memoranda_, and furnished the doctor many facts about many topics, and one was that his father always said General Sullivan and his brothers were born in Summersworth.

I will give a brief summary of the points: May 20, 1723, the town of Dover voted to hire him to teach school one year and give him £30. Jan. 10, 1737, he wrote and witnessed a deed, Tebbets to Tebbets, and signed as of Summersworth. Dec. 13, 1737, the parish of Summersworth voted to hire him to keep school one year, and also sweep the meeting-house. The _New Hampshire Gazette_ says he lived in Summersworth when his son John was born in 1740. His wife Margery says their home was in Summersworth when she advertised for him to come home in 1743. Capt. Thomas Wallingford says he was a citizen of Summersworth in 1746. And last, but not least, Michael Reade told Dr. Quint the boys were all born in Summersworth.

On the other hand, there is nothing in the Berwick records, parish or town, which even mentions Master Sullivan before 1753. Aug. 12 of that year he bought his farm in Berwick of Samuel Lord; and after that his name frequently appears.

Master Sullivan and his wife Margery were a remarkable couple. They are two of the interesting characters in Sarah Orne Jewett’s story, _The Tory Lover_, recently published, which, of course, you have all read, or will read.

Master Sullivan was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1691, during the siege of the city by King William’s forces. His wife, Margery Browne, was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1714. In 1723 they both set sail from Limerick in the same ship for New England. The captain intended to land at Newburyport, but owing to stress of weather he was compelled to land at York Harbor, Me. In his old age, when he and his wife were calling at a neighbor’s, they got to talking about his younger days, and he told the following story, which was recorded by the person who heard it. Master Sullivan said, in the presence of his wife:

I sailed from Limerick, Ireland, for New England in 1723; owing to
stress of weather the vessel was obliged to land at York, Maine. On
the voyage my attention was called to a pretty girl of nine or ten
years, Margery Browne, who afterwards became my wife. As my mother
had absolutely refused to furnish me the means for paying
transportation, and I had not means otherwise, I was obliged to
enter into an agreement with the captain to earn the money for my
passage.

After I landed at York, for a while I lived on the McIntire farm in
Scotland parish. Unaccustomed to farm labor, and growing weary of
manual occupation, I applied to Rev. Dr. Moody, pastor of the
parish, for assistance. I made my application in a letter written in
seven languages, so that he might see I was a scholar. He became
interested in my behalf, and being conversant with my ability to
teach he loaned me the money with which to pay the captain the
amount I owed for my passage. Thus set free from the McIntires, I
was assisted to open a school and earn money to repay Dr. Moody.

Later in life, when he was past fourscore years old, he made another statement in regard to himself, at the request of his daughter-in-law, wife of General Sullivan. He wrote it with his own hand and gave it to the general’s wife. She gave it to her daughter, wife of Judge Steele; from Mrs. Steele it passed to her son and grandson; by the latter it was given to Thomas Coffin Amory, who published it in his biography of Gov. James Sullivan. It is as follows:

I am the son of Major Philip O’Sullivan of Ardea, in county of
Kerry, Ireland. His father was Owen O’Sullivan, original descendant
from the second son of Daniel O’Sullivan, called lord of Bearehaven.
His father married Mary, daughter of Col. Owen McSweeney of Musgrey,
and sister of Capt. Edmund McSweeney, a man noted for his anecdotes
and witty sayings.

I have heard that my grandfather had four countesses for his mother
and grandmothers. How true this is, or who they were, I know not. My
father died of an ulcer raised in his breast, occasioned by a wound
he received in France in a duel with a French officer. My ancestors
were short lived; they either died in their bloom or went out of the
country. I never heard that any of the mankind arrived at sixty, and
I do not remember but one alive when I left home.

My mother’s name was Joan McCarthy, daughter of Dermod McCarthy of
Killoween. She had three brothers and one sister. Her mother’s name
I forget, but she was daughter of McCarthy Reagh of Carbery. Her
oldest brother, Col. Florence, alias McFinnen, and his two brothers,
Capt. Charles and Capt. Owen, went in defense of the nation against
Orange. Owen was killed in a battle at Aughrim. Florence had a son,
who retains the title of McFinnen. I can just remember Charles. He
had a charge in his face at the siege of Cork. He left two sons,
Derby[12] and Owen. Derby married with Ellena O’Sullivan of the
Sullivans of Banane. His brother married Honora Mahoney of Dromore.
My mother’s sister was married to Dermod, eldest son of Daniel
O’Sullivan, lord of Dunkerron. Her son Cornelius, as I understand,
was with the Pretender (Charles Edward) in Scotland in 1745.

This is all that I can say about my origin, but shall conclude with
a Latin sentence:

Si Adam sit pater cunctorum, mater et Eva;
Cur non sunt homines nobilitate pares?
Non pater aut mater dant nobis nobilitatem,
Sed moribus et vita nobilitatur homo.

J. S.

All this condensed into a paragraph is that in Master Sullivan’s veins flowed the blood of the Norman Butlers and Fitzgeralds who went over from England to Ireland, when the Irish were first conquered by the English, and in time they became more Irish than the original race; that is, they fought the English government more fiercely than the Irish themselves did. Master Sullivan’s sons won in America what many generations of their brave ancestors had failed to win in Ireland.

As has already been stated, Master Sullivan was born in Limerick during the siege in 1691. Limerick, however, was not captured; a truce took place, and a treaty was formed. This treaty did not last long, and a large number of Irish were compelled to take refuge in France. Among these were Maj. Philip O’Sullivan and his family.

This family remained in France several years. Major Sullivan died there, as has been stated; his wife and children remained till peace reigned in Ireland to the extent that she was allowed to return and take possession of her large estates. While in France she carefully educated her son John, and, unwittingly, prepared him to be the future schoolmaster of New Hampshire. It was there that Master Sullivan learned his French so thoroughly that when he was past ninety years of age he wrote a letter in excellent French to his son, the general.