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William Blake came to Dorchester, it is supposed, in 1630, and went to Springfield with William Pynchon and others of Roxbury in 1636, but returned, probably, in 1637, and in 1645 and after was chosen one of the Selectmen of the town of Dorchester. He was also Recorder for the Town, Clerk of the Writs for the Co. of Suffolk, and "Clerk of y Training-band." He died 25: 8: 1663, in the 69th year of his age. His widow, Agnes, deceased July 22, 1678. Their second son, James,2 born in 1623, was a Selectman, Rater, Constable, Deputy to General Court, Clerk of the Writs, Recorder, Deacon of the Church, and afterwards Ruling Elder. The house is still standing built by him about 1650, or near the time, probably, of his marriage to Elizabeth, dau. of Deacon Edward Clap., Elder James Blake died June 28, 1709, aged 77. James,3 eldest son and child of James and Elizabeth (Clap) Blake, born Aug. 15, 1652, was one of the Selectmen, Deacon of the Church, and held various other offices. He m. Hannah Macy, Feb. 6, 1681, d. June 1, 1683, aged 23; and for a second wife, Ruth Batchelder, m. July 8, 1684. The latter died in the 90th year of her age, Jan. 11, 1752. Deacon James died Oct. 22, 1732, aged 80. James, eldest son of James3 and Ruth (Batchelder) Blake, b. April 30, 1688, m. Wait Simpson. She was born in Boston, in 1684, and died in Dorchester, May 22, 1753, in the 69th year of her age. He died Dec. 4, 1750, in the 63d year of his age. He was a Selectman, Assessor, Town Treasurer and Town Clerk. He was, also, one of the most noted land surveyors of his day, and actually surveyed "the whole of the then extensive town of Dorchester." He was the author of the Annals of Dorchester, which gives an account of the principal events and transactions that occurred in the town for one hundred and twenty years, until the author's decease. His son, Samuel, it is supposed, continued the Annals from 1750 to 1753 inclusive, and would, probably, have written them for many years after, had he not been cut off, suddenly, by death, on the 1st of May, 1754. The work was printed in 1846, being number two of the Collections of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society. It is a valuable book. Samuel, the eldest son of James (the Annalist) by his wife Wait (Simpson) Blake, was born Sept. 6, 1715; m., June 5, 1746, Patience White, dau. of Edward and Patience White, of Dorchester. Samuel Blake was an important man in the town, often employed in surveying land, settling estates, &c. He died in the prime of life, of a fever, May 1, 1754, in the 39th year of his age. Their inflexible integrity and children were distinguished for their practical good sense, moral worth." Jonathan, the third son and fifth child of Samuel and Patience (White) Blake, born Jan. 1, 1749; m. Sarah, dau. of John and Elizabeth (Fessenden) Pierce, Oct. 14, 1773. Mr. Jonathan Blake served five campaigns in the army of the Revolution and was Adjutant at Rhode Island. He was sick with the dysentery at Ticonderoga, and, in common with others, passed through many privations and sufferings. In 1781, he sold his house in Dorchester and purchased a small farm in Warwick, then in Hampshire, now in Franklin Co., Mass., a town that was incorporated in 1763, eighteen years previous to the removal thither of Mr. Blake. "The Well do we rememtown was granted to a company belonging to Roxbury, for military services. It was at first called Roxbury Canada,' or Gardner's Canada.'"' ber the appearance of this Mr. Jonathan Blake, who, about forty years ago, used to pay annual visits to his relatives and friends in Dorchester and its vicinity at the time of the then "General Election," or the last week in May, extending his welcome tarry into the pleasant month of June. In regard to his personal appearance we can "He was the handsomest readily endorse what has been said of him by another. old gentleman I have ever seen; his form was erect, his step elastic, his face beautiHe was as good as ful; he invariably dressed in what was denominated small clothes, that is, breeches and long stockings, with large silver shoe and knee buckles.' He was the joy of the social circle, the delight of every he was neat and precise. a Christian gentleman," pleasant, communicative, in every heart; a fine model of respect agreeable. If virtues were in any degree hereditary, how could the children of such ancestors fail of being peculiarly good and wise? Though this may not, strictly, in all its bearings, be the full result, we see many of the peculiarities and prominent traits of character that belonged to the parents manifested, strongly, in their offspring.

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Samuel Blake-our member, who bore the name of his grandfather-was the youngest son and child of Jonathan and Sarah (Pierce) Blake; of whom two daughters only survive. He was born in Warwick, May 19, 1797; m. Betsey Fay, Oct. 1, 1820. She was dau. of Samuel and Lucy (Mayo) Fay, born at Warwick, July 4, 1798, and died there May 13, 1827, of consumption. He married, 2d, Lucretia Hildreth, dau. of Joseph and Persis Hildreth, of Bolton, Dec. 4, 1831. She was born 26*

VOL. XXI.

in West Boylston, Jan. 22, 1803, and died at Lowell, June 28, 1846. By his first marriage he had Mary Elizabeth,s who m. Alfred Nutter; Lucy, m. Nahum Jones; Melinda Pike, m. Thomas Payson. By his second marriage he had Horace Hildreth; Joseph Pierce; Sarah Goodell,s m. John Wilder Smith. The two eldest children were born in Boston, the other four in Warwick. They all survive.

Mr. Samuel Blake was engaged in business in Boston from 1817 to 1823, when he removed to Warwick and was employed in farming and in teaming from Boston to Warwick and Northfield until 1840. In 1841 he resided in Lowell, and in 1853 settled in Dorchester. He connected himself with the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society, of which institution he was a very important member. He was for several years before his decease their assistant Librarian. Appropriate resolu tions were passed by the Association, on the day of his funeral (March 5th). We make the following extracts:

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Resolved, That in the life of Mr. Blake we recognize a just portraiture of the manhood, the frankness, the industry, the integrity, and the unostentatious goodness of the honored original Pilgrim stock of New England, whereof he was a dutiful and devoted son, and whose sterling principles of patriotism and piety it was ever his endeavor faithfully to illustrate and charitably to enforce.

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Resolved, That we record with grateful memories the wise counsels and the self forgetful devotion to the interests of this Society, and to its work, which characterized the fraternal and official relations of our late associate; nor would we forget his other abundant and exemplary labors of love in kindred spheres; in all which the geniality of his ever cheerful spirit not only lightened the burdens of his fellows, but largely increased the results of their labors."

In 1857 Mr. Blake published his genealogical work entitled Blake Family, 8vo., pp. 140, which will immortalize his name, as we hope and trust, like that of his great-grandfather, "James, the Annalist." more memorable, as his is an indispensable household book among the family and In some respects Samuel will be the kindred, and will be looked upon as such to the latest generations. We know no book of the kind, that we have had the privilege of consulting, that has appeared to us so accurate, from the first to the ninth generations, as this" contributed by our departed member. He joined the N. E. Hist. Gen. Society in genealogical history? 1860, and was ever afterwards one of its most punctual, faithful and interested members.

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He had many of the strong points and qualities of a true Blake, namely, an upright and a downright honesty, truthfulness, plainness of speech, an unmistakable sincerity. Some writer has said, sarcastically, that language was given us to conceal our thoughts. With Mr. B. the words seemed the synonyms of his honest thoughts, an unfolding, so to speak, of the heart. He was punctual, methodical, exact; more than punctual, as some might term it, in his attendance at meetings where he was interested, being present there long before the appointed time for the commencement of the exercises. He was a kind, sociable, sympathizing neighbor, relative and friend, obliging and useful, according to his means and opportunities— a plain, straight-forward, good man. balanced that when the time came for him to die, he had nought to do but to depart His leger book of life seemed so properly in peace; and thus was his exit. Sudden to many others, but not so, apparently, to himself, he passed away, leaving behind him the lasting memorial of a good name. Mr. Blake had a strong desire that a monument should be erected, in the old burial ground, to the memory of his first ancestor, William Blake. We hope that kind hearts and hands may yet be found ready to carry out the project. On page 14 of his book, referring to William and his wife Agnes, he says:-"Sad to relate, no memento is to be found to tell the spot where they repose. This is much to be regretted, and it seems no more than an act of justice that his descendants should appropriately mark the spot of the resting-place of one who was a pioneer to this then wild wilderness, who, without doubt, labored and suffered much, in faith and hope, that his offspring might enjoy a bounteous harvest. Though his first bequest was but a trifle, yet it served to show the principle and the taste of the man, and was much for him and the times in which he lived. The grave-stones of his descendants, of the successive generations of the family, to the present time, have been righted up, or re-set, and cleansed of the accumulated moss which had rendered them almost illegible for years (by the writer), and now they stand renovated, telling their short but truthful story, of the quick succession of the generations of men; and leading our thoughts back to the early settlements of New England, to contemplate their hardships, their sacrifices and their trials."

Like the patriarch Jacob, he earnestly desired to be buried with his fathers. His

body reposes on the spot selected by himself-by the side of his revered ancestorsthe place he so often and so fondly visited and where he loved to linger.

PROCEEDINGS.

Boston, Wednesday, March 6, 1867.-A stated meeting was held this afternoon, at three o'clock, at the society's rooms, No. 13 Bromfield Street, Ebenezer Alden, M.D., of Randolph, presiding.

John H. Sheppard, A.M., the librarian, reported, as donations since the last meeting, twelve volumes and thirteen pamphlets.

Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, A.M., the corresponding secretary, reported letters accepting resident membership from Rev. William H. Brooks, D.D. and Rev. Albert H. Plumb, of Chelsea; Rev. Christopher Cushing, of North Brookfield; James M. Battles, of Dedham; and George H. Everett, Charles H. Woodwell, John T. Hassam and John A. Loring, of Boston.

One corresponding and ten resident members, nominated by the Board of Directors, were balloted for and elected.

Rev. Joseph Allen, D.D., of Northborough, read a second paper on the Old Marlborough Association, containing biographical notices of members of that association, who belonged to a former generation, some of whom were men of mark, eminent in their day and whose influence is still felt in the communities to which they belonged. Among those of whom he made mention were Cook and Bridge of East Sudbury [Wayland], Smith and Packard of Marlborough, Goss of Bolton, John Mellen of Sterling, John Martyn of Northborough, Jacob Bigelow of Sudbury and Jonathan Newell of Stow. He also gave some account of John Seccomb of Harvard, who, among other poetical effusions, was the author of the famous ditty entitled "Father Abbey's Will," and who, we were told, was one of the few ministers in this region who approved of the course taken by Whitfield, Tennent and others to create revivals of religion. He spoke also of Morse of Boylston, and Buckminster of Rutland, father of Dr. Buckminster of Portsmouth and grandfather of the late eloquent minister of Brattle Square Church, of the same name. In connection with the notice of Morse of Boylston, he read a tribute to his memory in blank verse, written by the late Thaddeus M. Harris of Dorchester, who, when driven from his home by the burning of Charlestown, at the battle of Bunker Hill, being then a child of ten years, found shelter and a home in the family of the good minister of Boylston, where he remained many years and by whom he was fitted for college.

It is understood that a volume of Dr. Allen's notices of the clergy of the old Marlborough Association will soon be published, under the auspices of the Worcester Association.

Hon. Asa Millett, M.D., of Bridgewater, exhibited some of the writings and records of Rev. Mr. Angier, an early minister in that town.

Boston, April 3.-A quarterly meeting was held this afternoon, Rev. Dorus Clarke, A.M., of Waltham, in the chair.

The librarian reported the gift, since the last meeting, of 47 volumes, 26 pamphlets, 3 Mss. volumes and a large number of newspapers.

The corresponding secretary's report announced the acceptance of William Smith Ellis, of Charlwood, Surrey, England, as a corresponding member; and of Rev. Joseph M. Finotti, of Brookline; Rev. James H. Fitts, of West Boylston; Cyrus Woodman, of Cambridge; and of Lewis B. Bayley, William E. Bicknell, Alexander J. Stone, James P. Bush, and William Stowe, of Boston, as resident members.

The Board of Directors nominated five candidates for resident membership, all of whom were elected.

Hon. Charles Hudson, of Lexington, read a paper on the history of Slavery in Massachusetts. He said that slavery grew out of what was denominated a system of apprenticeship, both of which originated in Virginia. The demand for laborers was great, and efforts were made by the agents of the colony in England to supply the demand; and hence they induced poor people to embark for America on condition that they should labor, after they arrived in this country, for a period sufficiently long to pay for their passage. When they arrived here they were offered for sale, or rather their services were offered to those who would pay the shippers their bill for bringing the emigrants to the country. The shippers taking advantage of the demand, so increased the charges for the passage, that the period for which their labors were sold was about ten years. In the midst of this state of things a Dutch ship arrived in Virginia (1620) with about twenty negroes on board, which were offered for sale. They of course found a ready market. This was the introduction of slav

ery into this country; and hence slavery was established before the New England colonies were planted.

Slavery as a system never had any legal existence in Massachusetts. A few slaves were smuggled into the colony from time to time, but the law of the colony was against it; and as early as 1641 the General Court passed an order excluding slavery; and in 1645, James Smith of Boston brought two slaves and sold them-whereupon, the fact being brought to the knowledge of the Court, it was ordered the negroes be sent back to their own country, and that Smith and his mate be "laid hold on," and made to answer for their doings. In 1646, the General Court passed a law against the slave trade, denouncing it as "man-stealing."

But notwithstanding this action on the part of the Court, and the general sentiment of the people, slaves in small numbers were from time to time brought into the colony, and even offered for sale in the public market. But whenever any case was brought into court, the slave was set free, either by the Court itself or by the jury. But this aggressive system found countenance with those who could make profits from this unlawful traffic, and the new rum manufactured in the colony was sent to Africa and in some cases negroes were received in return.

But slavery, though it was tolerated to some extent in New England, existed here in a modified form. The slaves, as far as they were found in Massachusetts, were generally employed as domestics or body servants, and enjoyed the comforts of other laborers. They also enjoyed all the religious rites and privileges common to the rest of the community. Our church records are full of cases of their enjoying the rites of baptism, and the Lord's Supper; and our laws protected them in their marriage rights-privileges which have generally been denied to slaves in the Southern States. When our fathers found that slavery had in a clandestine manner stolen into the colony, in opposition to the moral sentiment of the people, they resolved to extirpate it. Consequently, in 1766, the House of Delegates passed a bill to abolish it; but it was lost in the upper house, for Hutchinson, the royal Governor, withheld his assent, saying he acted under the instructions of the ministry. A similar bill passed during the administration of Gov. Gage, with the same result.

But in 1780, when our Constitution, which declares that all men are born free and equal, was adopted, the work of abolition was perfected; for the Court at once decided that our organic law absolutely set every slave free. It is also worthy of remark that many of the slaves in Massachusetts served as soldiers in the Revolutionary army, and were generally made free by their masters.

Rev. Dorus Clarke, of Waltham, read a letter from Rev. Dr. Pond, of Bangor, giving an account of Rev. Jonathan Fisher, late of Bluehill, Maine, a man of wonderful industry, ingenuity and versatility of genius.

William Reed Deane followed, reading a particular notice of Rev. Mr. Fisher, and of the remarkable accomplishments of his industry, which combined the profession of a minister, a farmer, a mechanic, and an artist, the walls of his house being hung with his own paintings. He was a graduate of Harvard College, class of 1792; was a great linguist, and wrote a Hebrew Lexicon.

An ancient pinning blanket was exhibited. It was of India brocade and made in 1682, and was left by William Gray to his granddaughter, Frances Elizabeth Gray.

BOOK NOTICES.

The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland. By JOHN P. PRENDERGAST, Esq. London. 1865. 8vo. pp. lxxiv. 304.

The materials for this new and important contribution to the history of Ireland, are from the State archives, where they have lain in their original bundles for two centuries undisturbed, and are now first published. Mr. Prendergast has most thoroughly digested the matter, and admirably presented the statements. His monogram is a remarkable example of fidelity to his subject, himself, and his reader. His references are numerous and exact, inviting verification of his text as well as inspiring confidence. The introduction is a brief but graphic and sometimes picturesque description of the previous vicissitudes of unhappy Ireland, and then follows an account of the great Irish Rebellion of the 23d of October, 1641, of the Transplanta

tion of 1652, with all its details of suffering and wrong and difficulties, and a minute account of the distribution of estates and lands to the adventurers and soldiers. Three elaborate and handsome maps, prepared especially by Mr. Prendergast, greatly facilitate the understanding of the volume. The "index of subjects" presents a full analysis of the work, and this is followed by a complete index of names. We repeat, that a more skilfully arranged and completely prepared volume never came from the press.

The author, a barrister of the Dublin bar, is not, as we learn from another source, of the Romish Church, so that his opinions may be the less shaded and more independent in character.

The volume is one of the saddest we have ever read, and leaves an impression of utter hopelessness for the future of Ireland.

Mr. Prendergast says that in the time of Henry VIII. Ireland "was no nation in the modern sense of the word, but a race divided into many nations or tribes, separately defending their lands from the English barons in their immediate neighborhood. There had been no ancient national government displaced, no national dynasty overthrown; the Irish had no national flag, nor any capital city as the metropolis of their common country, nor any common administration of law, nor did they ever give a national opposition to the English. All the notions of [Irish] nationality and Independent empire are of a surprisingly modern date. The English, coming in the name of the Pope, with the aid of the clergy, and with a superior national organization, which the Irish easily recognized, were accepted by the Irish. Neither King Henry II. nor King John ever fought a battle in Ireland." In the reign of Henry II., Strongbow found Ireland" a country such as Caesar found in Gaul 1200 years before; the inhabitants divided into tribes on the system of clansmen and chiefs, without a common government, suddenly confederating, suddenly dissolving, with Brehons, Shannahs, Minstrels, Bards, and Harpers, in all unchanged, except that for their ancient Druids they had got Christian priests," and, the author adds, “had the Irish only remained honest Pagans, Ireland perhaps had been unconquered still." XXXVII. LV. LVI. Such is the history of Ireland, and has not Mr. Prendergast here laid open a secret, perhaps the secret of Ireland's misery, that the Irish have never been a nation, and by their peculiarities never can be a nation, but only "a race divided into many nations or tribes." It would not be easy to state the case more strongly. Is it not evident from the past and present, that the race is essentially incapable of nationality; that division is their inevitable natural condition, and therefore they never can be an independent nation, but only "a race divided?" By unity they could become independent, but if Donnybrook fair characterizes the race, and it is absolutely incapable of unity and nationality, then independence is impossible. This is not theory, but fact; it is history. Here is the true cause of Ireland's misery, rendering government from within-self-government-impossible, and government from without, extremely difficult, beset with dangers, cruelty, and personal and public woe. Froude, in the introductory chapter to his fourth volume, portrays this condition of things fairly and distinctly, and Mr. Prendergast's volume demonstrates the uncomfortable and unwelcome truth. The two authors should be read together.

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The peculiarities of the race, so strong and indelible, are represented to have a peculiar power over strangers, an intense vitality which Irishizes all who intermarry with them. Mr. Prendergast distinguishes the different immigrations and the mingled blood as "the English of Ireland," "the English of England,' tive Irish," &c., and speaking of Cromwell's reduction of Ireland in 1652 as scene not witnessed in Europe since the conquest of Spain by the Vandals," says, indeed, it is injustice to the Vandals to equal them with the English of 1652; for the Vandals came as strangers and conquerors in an age of force and barbarism, nor did they banish the people, though they seized and divided their lands by lot; but the English, in 1652, were of the same nation [race?] as half of the chief families in Ireland, and had at that time had the island under their sway for five hundred years." Mr. Prendergast says, "the spectacle of universal misery of the Irish nation [race] and the evil consequences to the English planters themselves, now [1655] called forth the book called The Great case of Transplantation in Ireland Discussed; or, Considerations, wherein the many great Inconveniences in Transplanting the Natives of Ireland generally out of the three Provinces of Leinster, Ulster, and Munster, into the Province of Connaught are shown, humbly tendered to every individual Member of Parliament; by a Wellwisher of the Commonwealth of England.' 4to. London for J. C. 1655. The publication was anonymous. But the author was Vincent Gookin, son of a planter of the reign of King James I., then and long before resi

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