Page:The librarians of Harvard College 1667-1877.djvu/14

8 LIBRARIANS OF HARVARD COLLEGE. and the next day gave the annual "Public Lecture." He continued to preach until shortly before his death, 11 February, 1728-29, at the age of 86. Two years earlier his grandson, Jonathan Edwards, had been installed as his assistant.

Stoddard printed about twenty sermons and several other works, of which Sibley gives a full list. His book on the "Safety of appearing at the Day of Judgement, in the righteousness of Christ," went through four editions (1687, 1729, 1742, 1804). In a pamphlet published in London in 1700, under the title, " The Doctrine of the instituted churches explained and proved from the word of God," he first promulgated what was long known as the Stoddardean doctrine. The main point of his views, that the communion table should be accessible to all persons not immoral, excited a long and bitter controversy. "His Sermons were plain and powerful, experimental & spiritual, close & searching, yet rational & argumentative."

Of his twelve or thirteen children may be mentioned his son Anthony (H. U. 1697), minister at Woodbury, Conn.; Colonel John (H. U. 1701), a man of considerable influence, and five daughters, all of whom married clergymen.

AUTHORITIES : Allen, Second century address at North- ampton, 1865, p. 15. Boston Record Commissioners, Re- port, 1883, p. 16. Clarke, Antiquities of Northampton, 1882. Column, Sermon on death of Stoddard, 1729. pp. 33. Ewer, Geneal. family of Anthony Stoddard, 1849, p. 3. Northampton First Parish, Meeting houses and mini-tier*, 1878, p. 9. Savage, Geneal. dictionary, 1862, iv. 199,201. Sibley, Ilarrard graduates, 1881, ii. 111-122. Sprague, .l>,n,i/ Amer. pulpit, 1857, i. 172-174. Stoddard, Anthony Stoddard and his descendants, 1865, p. 2. Wil. Hams, Sermon on the day of the interment of Stoddard, 1729. pp.32.

1674.

Samuel Sewall, the second Librarian of the College, was born 28 March, 1652, at Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England, second child of Henry and Jane (Dummer) Sewall. He studied at the grammar school at Romsey until the family came to New England in 1661, where he continued his education under the Rev. Thomas Parker at Newbury.

Hannah Hull, daughter of the wealthy master of the colonial mint, was present at Sewall's graduation from Harvard in 1671, and as he afterwards relates in his famous Diary, she lost her heart to him on that day. He was a tutor and fellow in 1673-1674, receiving his A.M. the same academic year. On 1 March, 1674, it was "ordered by the Corporation that Sr Sewall be from henceforth the Keeper of the College Library." He held this office only nine months. Sewall studied divinity, and preached for two hours and a half in Mr. Parker's church 4 April, 1675, being afraid to look at the hour-glass. But his marriage, 28 February, 1676, to the daughter of tin- mint-master, put him in possession of wealth and gave him special opportunity for usefulness in civic life.

In 1681-1684 Sewall was manager of the printing-press in Boston. In 1684-1686 he held the office of assistant, and from 1692 to 1725 he was a member of the council. From 1692 to 1718 he was a judge of the superior court, and from 1718 to 1728 chief justice. During most of this period he was ex officio a member of the Board of Overseers of the College.

In 1692 Mr. Sewall was chosen one of the judges of a special court of Oyer and Terminer to try persons accused of witchcraft. Several of these were condemned to death, and he never ceased to regret the part he had taken in their destruction. In January, 1697, he gave Mr. Willard, the minister of the Old South Church, a written confession of his sin, which was read aloud in the church while he stood with bowed head.

Of his fourteen children by his wife Hannah, Joseph was elected President of Harvard, but declined. The chief justice married 2d Abigail, daughter of Jacob Melyen and widow of William Tilley, 29 October, 1719, and 3d Mary, daughter of Henry Shrimpton and widow of Robert Gibbs, 29 March, 1722.

He contributed to the church for "praying Indians" at Natick and built a meeting-house at Sandwich, besides giving generously to the College. His little pamphlet of three quarto pages, "The selling of Joseph," published in 1700, denounced negro slavery, but brought upon him "Frowns & hard words." Among his other publications was "Description of the New Heaven" (1697). But he is to-day best remembered for his Diary, a minute record of his life for many years, that throws a clear light on the colony of those days. He has well been called "the Pepys of New England." This was published by the Massachusetts Historical Society in three volumes (1878-82), and the same society a few years later issued his Letter-books in two volumes (1886-88). He was captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1701, and for twenty-four years he set the tune at church and led the singing. He died at Boston, 1 January, 1729-30. His must have been an impressive figure, as Whittier pictures him :

Stately and slow, with thoughtful air,

His black cap hiding his whitened hair,

Walks the judge of the great assize,

Samuel Sewall, the good and wise.