iversal esteem for his
integrity. These characteristics he transmitted to his sons, William,
Joseph and Francis,--especially to William, whose commercial
transactions were of the most extensive character. All were largely
concerned in the whale fisheries of Nantucket, of which they may almost
be said to have been the founders. Francis was in England for a short
time in 1773, but had returned home before his tea ships arrived. This
affair was a very troublesome one for a young man of twenty-three to
manage, as there was a tremendous pressure brought to bear upon him by
Samuel Adams, and other influential patriots, to return the teas to
England. He yielded temporarily to this pressure, promising the meeting
of November 30th, that the tea should go back; but, probably after
consultation with his counsel, Sampson Salter Blowers and John Adams,
decided to withdraw his promise. Rotch pleaded that a compliance would
ruin him, and as he could not obtain a pass for his ships, they would
either have been sunk by the British batteries, or captured and
confiscated under the revenue laws. He succeeded eventually in escaping
loss in the affair, as the East India Company paid him the freight due
on the cargoes of teas. His ship, the "Bedford," is said to have been
the first to display the American flag on the Thames, after the war. The
family settled in New Bedford, in 1768. He married his cousin, Nancy
Rotch, who, at the time of her death, 24th April, 1867, was nine-two
years of age. The accompanying portrait is copied from a silhouette, by
Miers, profile painter, 111 Strand, London, apparently about 1795. It is
very delicately painted, on a hard plaster surface. The features are
well marked, and the lace ruffle at the bosom, and the queue, are
exceedingly well done. It is now in the possession of Mr. George H.
Allan, who received it from his uncle, A.A. Rotch.

[11] Jonathan Williams, a distinguished merchant and patriot, captain of
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, in 1751; died March 27,
1788. Jonathan, his father, was a member of the Artillery Company in
1711.

[12] Judge Oliver Wendell, son of Hon. Jacob Wendell, was born in Boston
5th March, 1733; died, 15th January, 1818. Harvard College, 1753. His
daughter, Sarah, married Rev. Abiel Holmes, the father of the poet,
Oliver Wendell Holmes.

[13] William Cooper, son of Rev. William, and brother of Rev. Samuel, of
the Brattle Street Church, and forty-nine years town