Sketches of Fifteen Members of Worcester Fire Society

Samuel Jennison

Was no ordinary man. He did not enjoy the advantages of a college education, still he became a learned man and a very able writer. Some of the choicest articles in periodical literature were from his pen. He was born in the town of Brookfield, in 1788, and at the age of twelve years came to Worcester to reside with his uncle, Hon. Oliver Fiske. In April, 1810, he was elected accountant in the Worcester Bank. In August, 1812, he was elected cashier of said Bank, and continued to hold the office and discharge the duties with promptness, fidelity and accuracy, for more than thirty-four years. During much of the time while he was cashier he was treasurer of the American Antiquarian Society, treasurer of the State Lunatic Hospital, treasurer of the Worcester County Institution for Savings, treasurer of the town of Worcester, and clerk of the town, discharging all the duties of these offices, much of the time without any assistant. No irregularities were ever found in his accounts. He was one of the Council of the American Antiquarian Society, and was a member of many historical and literary societies. He was admitted a member of this Society in October, 1816, and remained an active member more than forty years, till his death, March 11th, 1860.

Mr. Jennison was a modest, unassuming man, a gentleman in his deportment, a man of rare taste and discrimination, and of wonderful executive talent. He would accomplish more business in a given time than any man I ever saw; yet it was done quietly. He was loved and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He wrote much in prose and verse; his style was clear and lucid as a mirror. He gathered much valuable biographical material, part of which he passed over to the Rev. Dr. Allen just before the publication of the second edition of his Biographical Dictionary. The large remainder is now in possession of the American Antiquarian Society.

Rejoice Newton

Was born in Greenfield, October 18th, 1782. He was graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1807, and was a classmate of George Ticknor and Sylvanus Thayer. He commenced the study of the law with Judge Newcomb, of Greenfield, and finished his studies in the office of Hon. Elijah H. Mills, of Northampton, in 1810.

Mr. Newton then removed to Worcester, and formed a co-partnership in law with Hon. Francis Blake, which continued till April, 1814. He was selected by the citizens of Worcester, in 1814, to deliver an oration on the fourth of July. This oration was published, and accelerated his rising fame. Soon after, he was appointed County Attorney, which office he held for ten years, when he resigned the position. In 1825 he formed a co-partnership in law with William Lincoln. His talents and capacity were appreciated by his fellow citizens, and he was elected to the House of Representatives in Massachusetts, in the years of 1829, 1830, and 1831, and a State Senator in 1834. He had great equanimity of character, and never lost or gained a case but the result was precisely what he expected. Hence he was perfectly satisfied with the result of every case. He was honest, confiding and capable. He became a member of this society in October, 1816, and remained an active member for forty-seven years, when his health became poor and he withdrew. He was long a member and officer in the American Antiquarian Society. He died in Worcester, February 4th, 1868. Major Newton married a sister of the late Governor Lincoln, and was a resident in Worcester for more than half a century. He was honored with important and responsible positions in the military, legislative, and executive departments of the government of the State; all the duties pertaining to these offices he discharged with ability and fidelity, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

SAMUEL M. BURNSIDE.

His ancestors were Scots. He was a son of Thomas Burnside, and was born in Northumberland, New Hampshire, July 18th, 1783. His education was at the common schools in New Hampshire, except nine months at an academy, preparatory to his entering Dartmouth College.

After he was graduated from college, in 1805, he took charge of a Female Academy in Andover, Mass., for two years. He read law with Hon. Artemas Ward, so long Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He was admitted to practice in 1810, commenced the practice of the law in the Spring of 1810, in the town of Westborough, in this County, and removed to Worcester in the autumn of the same year. He married the daughter of Judge Foster of Brookfield.

Mr. Burnside was a well read lawyer, and it is no disparagement to any lawyer of the Worcester Bar to say that none excelled him in his extensive knowledge of the law. He was also well posted in theology, and took a deep interest in our public schools. He was trustee in Leicester Academy, and for many years was a member of the School Committee of Worcester, a member of the American Antiquarian Society, and one of the Council of said Society at the time of his death. He delivered an able address before the schools of Worcester in 1826, and represented the town in the Legislature the same year. In 1831 he was selected by the citizens of Worcester to deliver an oration on the fourth of July, which was considered a very able production. He was admitted to this society in January, 1817, and remained an active member for thirty-three years. He died in Worcester, July 25th, 1850, much respected by a large circle of friends.

Mr. Burnside was a good classical scholar, an upright and honored citizen, and a kind christian gentleman.

Benjamin F. was born in Worcester, April 24th, 1792, and graduated at Dartmouth College, in the class of 1812. He attended the medical lectures at Dartmouth College, and at Yale College, and took his degree of M. D. at Yale, in 1815. He formed a co-partnership with Dr. John Green, in the practice of medicine, which existed for twenty years. Dr. Heywood was councillor and censor in the Massachusetts Medical Society, and became a member of the Society of Cincinnati in 1859, in the right of his father, who was an original member. As a physician he was very popular among his patients. He had the confidence of his fellow citizens, being repeatedly elected to both branches of the City Government. His manners were pleasant and agreeable—a man of good judgment and sound discretion. He was admitted a member of this society July, 1817, and remained an active member for more than fifty-two years, till his death, December 7th, 1869.

Dr. Heywood married for his first wife, and also for his second wife, sisters of Dr. John Green. He was a skillful physician, a good citizen, honorable in his dealings; a man of few words, kind and courteous, honored and respected by those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

Abijah Bigelow

Was born in Westminster, county of Worcester, Dec. 5th, 1775. He was graduated at Dartmouth College, in the class of 1795, studied law, and was admitted to practice in 1798, and opened an office in the town of Leominster, served the town as town clerk for five consecutive years, was twice elected by his fellow citizens a member of the General Court of Massachusetts, and was elected a member of Congress in 1810, and held the position till 1815.

Mr. Bigelow removed to Worcester in 1817, was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society, and a trustee of Leicester Academy. From 1817 to 1833 he held the office of Clerk of the Courts in the County of Worcester.

In 1838 he was appointed Master in Chancery for the county of Worcester. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for about fifty years. He was admitted to this society about a year after he was appointed Clerk of the Courts, to wit, in 1818, and continued a member till 1848, when he withdrew from the society. In the evening of his life he devoted much of his time to horticulture, agriculture, literature and poetry. Some of his choice poetical productions are in print. He died in Worcester, April 5th, 1860, at the ripe old age of eighty five years, and is well remembered by most of the living members of this society.

John Mower

Was a son of Ebenezer Mower of Worcester; he received his education at the common schools and at Leicester Academy. He entered the mercantile business, and opened a store on the corner of Main and Thomas streets. He married Dolly Chamberlain, a daughter of William Chamberlain. He was a bright, intelligent and well educated young man; was popular with the young men of the place, and especially with the young lawyers.

Soon after he was twenty-one years of age, high sheriff Ward appointed him deputy sheriff for the county, and for years, by the prompt and able manner in which he discharged his duties, he did a larger business than any other officer in the county. He was a member of this society less than a year, when he emigrated to the South, and died at Fort Gibson, Mississippi, April 15th, 1828.

Samuel Ward

Was born in Guilford, Vermont, June 9th, 1793. He was educated by his uncle, Capt. Ward, of Lancaster; came to this place when a young man, and married into one of the oldest and most respectable families of Worcester.

He was admitted to this society in 1819, and remained an active member for eleven years. In the military department of the government he was deeply interested. At this time every able-bodied citizen, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, was obliged to perform military duty at least five days in each year. Worcester, then with a population of little more than three thousand, had full and well disciplined companies of artillery, cavalry, riflemen, and two very large companies of infantry. Mr. Ward took great pleasure in military affairs, and was ambitious to excel and become a good disciplinarian; and he succeeded remarkably well. He was promoted from one position to another, till he was finally elected Colonel of the Sixth Regiment.