ngress in 1765; a
major-general of militia, and was a member of every profession, and
eminent in all. For many years he pleased both the Government and the
people, but finally forfeited the good will of the Whigs, and
accompanied the British soldiers to Halifax on the evacuation of Boston,
and died there a few months after his arrival.
[51] Samuel Danforth, son of Rev. John, of Dorchester, died in Boston,
at the house of his son, Dr. Samuel Danforth, 27th October, 1777; aged
about eighty-one. He was graduated at Harvard University, in 1715;
taught school; was a Selectman in 1733-39; representative 1734-38;
member of the Council 1739-1774, and several years its president;
Register of Probate, 1731-45; Judge of Probate, 1745-75; and Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas, 1741-75. At the Revolution he passed out of
office, but was so quiet in his deportment that, though understood to be
a loyalist, he was not disturbed in the possession of his property. He
was distinguished for his love of the natural sciences.
[52] Thomas and Elisha Hutchinson, sons of Governor Hutchinson, were
merchants and partners in business, and consignees of one-third of the
tea shipped to Boston. I have seen no evidence of a pecuniary interest
in this shipment on the part of the Governor, as is asserted by the
historian Bancroft. Their names were given to the East India Company by
a London correspondent, who solicits the consignment for them, without
mentioning their connection with the Governor. Thomas, jr., born in
Boston, in 1740, was a mandamus Councillor and Judge of Probate, and was
proscribed and banished. When the condition of the country became
unpleasantly hostile, he left the mansion house at Milton, and took
shelter in Boston, but left all the furniture, silver plate, &c.,
expecting to be able to pass and repass at pleasure. When Boston was
evacuated, he and his family, and Peter Oliver and family, embarked for
London, in the "Lord Hyde" packet. He settled at Heavitree, near Exeter,
in Devonshire, and died there in 1811. His wife was Sarah Oliver.
Elisha, his brother, born in 1745, graduated at Harvard University, in
1762; was proscribed and banished, and died at Blurton Parsonage,
Trentham, Staffordshire, England, in November, 1824. His wife, Mary,
daughter of Col. George Watson, of Plymouth, Mass., died at Birmingham,
England, in 1803. "Neither of my sons," wrote the Governor, in March,
1774, "have dared to appear in Boston since th
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