Page:The librarians of Harvard College 1667-1877.djvu/35

LIBRARIANS OF HARVARD COLLEGE. 29 house. A memorandum by a nephew in 1808 would seem to indicate that he became a Baptist minister.

On the death of his first wife Mr. Moore married Anna Hammond of Newport, R. I. He died at his home in Rochester, 20 April, 1814, having had five children. The historian of the town says, "He was of a social temperament and jocose in manner."

AUTHORITIES : Allen, ''American biog. and hist. dictionary'', 1832. Daniels, History of Oxford, Mass., 1892, p. 620.

1768.

Nathaniel Ward, dying 12 October, 1768, just a week after his appointment as Librarian of Harvard, was a young man of unusual promise. The papers of the time with one accord deplored his death. The Essex Gazette said : "Few young Gentlemen ever received such early Honors, or distinguished Tributes to superior accomplishments; fewer so well deserved them."

Nathaniel Ward was born at Salem, 29 July, 1746, the son of Miles and Hannah (Hathorne) Ward. He took his degree of A.B. in 1765, followed by the degree of A.M. He was particularly fond of mathematics in college, and was offered the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy at King's (now Columbia) College, New York. This offer he declined, as well as a vacant tutorship in Cambridge. The office of Librarian at Harvard he accepted, and was looking forward with great pleasure to his duties when he was prostrated with a fever which proved fatal. He was to have married Priscilla, youngest daughter of President Holyoke. Among the tributes in the Boston Weekly News-letter is the following: "Of an open and frank disposition, his mind was elevated above every thing mean and groveling, and his whole conduct discovered the Benevolence of his Soul."

He is buried in the Charter Street Cemetary, Salem, where the Latin inscription over his grave is still to be seen. The calculations, transits, etc., for the 1769 edition of the "Essex Almanac" were made by Mr. Ward.

AUTHORITIES : Essex inst. ''Hint. Collections'', ii. 206, (article by B. F. Browne). Essex Gazette, 18 Oct. 1768.

1768-1769.

Caleb Prentice, or Prentiss, was born in Cambridge, 14 November, 1746, the son of Caleb and Lydia (Whittemore) Prentice. He took his A.B. in July, 1765, his A.M. three years later, and served as Librarian 1768-1769. On the 25th of October, 1769, he became pastor of the First Church, Reading, Mass., with ₤200 settlement, a parsonage, and a yearly salary of ₤80 and twenty cords of wood to be delivered at the door.

Mr. Prentice married 1 January, 1771, Pamela, daughter of Rev. John Mellen and granddaughter of Rev. John Prentiss of Lancaster. He was singularly successful in promoting harmony in his church, and he entered into every duty which claimed his attention. In the running fight from Lexington to Charlestown, when the British soldiers under Earl Percy retreated from Concord bridge, he bore his part, musket in hand.

Mr. Prentice was accustomed to receive pupils to educate, and thus increased his meagre income, which ill sufficed for his thirteen children. The inroads of consumption gradually undermined his strength, occasionally interrupting the performance of his duties, until he died 7 February, 1803, in the 34th year of his ministry. Among his characteristics were "meekness in wisdom, humbleness of mind, stability in friendship, calmness in conduct, candor in judging of others, sincerity in his profession, fidelity in discharging the various duties of life, and hospitality to his numerous acquaintances."

His sermons were simple and practical; his prayers were impressive, delivered with great reverence, and with felicity of expression. Several of his sermons were published. There is an excellent portrait of him in the Prentice genealogy, with the autograph "Caleb Prentiss."

AUTHORITIES : Binney,, 1852, p. 115. Eaton, ''Geneal. history of Reading'', 1874, p. 165. Stone, Discourse at the interment of the Rev. Caleb Prentiss.

1769-1772.

William Mayhew, the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth Mayhew, was born on Martha's Vineyard, probably in the town of Chilmark, 7 July, 1746. Entering Harvard at the age of seventeen, he graduated in the class of 1767, and before taking his second degree, he began to serve as Librarian. He held this position, at least nominally for three years (1769-1772) ; for the last two years his successor Winthrop seems to have acted for him. Returning to Martha's Vineyard, he married Peggy, by whom he had three children. He was appointed, 23 April, 1772, sheriff of Dukes County.

About 1783, the town of Hudson, N. Y., was founded by people from Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Providence. William Mayhew was either one of this party of emigrants or soon followed his townspeople to their new home. In 1785, we find him an alderman in the first common council of Hudson. He could not have held this