ROGER SHERMAN BALDWIN.

GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT, 1844-1845.*

SIMEON BALDWIN, father of Roger Sherman, was born at Norwich, Conn., December 14, 1761; died at New Haven, May 26, 1851. He was the third in the line of descent from John Baldwin, one of the Puritan emigrants. He graduated at Yale College in 1781, was a tutor in the institution from 1783 to 1786; read law with Charles Chauncey, and commenced practice in New Haven; from 1803 to 1805 was a Representative in Congress; in 1826 was elected Mayor of New Haven. "He was universally respected and beloved for his sound judgment, fairness, candor, benevolence and piety." His first wife was Rebecca, his second wife was Elizabeth, both daughters of Roger Sherman.

Roger Sherman Baldwin, second son of Simeon and Rebecca (Sherman) Baldwin was born in New Haven, January 4, 1793, died there, February 10, 1863.

He graduated at Yale College in 1811, delivering an oration on Commencement day, on "The Genius of a Free Government," studied law at the Litchfield Law School, and established himself in New Haven.

In 1837 and 1838 he served in the State Senate; in 1840 and 1841 was State Representative; in 1844 and 1845 was Governor of Connecticut; and was elected United States Senator to fill a vacancy from 1847 to 1851.

In 1841, he was associated with John Quincy Adams in the argument before the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of the Africans of the vessel Amistad.

For the period of fifty years, Mr. Baldwin devoted himself to

* Lanman's "Annals"; "Discourse," by Rev. Mr. Dutton.

the duties of his profession, his seasons of political service excepted. His oratory, not often impassioned, was dignified and convincing, addressed to the intellect rather than the sympathies. As Governor of Connecticut, his administration was wise and able.

Of the religious character of Mr. Baldwin, Rev. Samuel Dutton speaks as follows, year 1863.

"Many years since, thinking it my duty as his pastor to endeavor to ascertain his religious condition, I sought an interview with him at his office. He assured me that religion was a subject to which he was not indifferent, and which he did not neglect. But he added, that he felt an utter inability to express his personal feelings on that subject, and was compelled to request his friends to judge of them by his course of life. Judging by this method, the one who knows him best, has been convinced for many years that he was a Christian man; that his devotion to the right, included his relations to God, as well as his relations to men; and that his conscientious regard to duty was the result of the principle of obedience to the will and authority of God. I have myself, for some years past, believed that to be true, and that Governor Baldwin has regarded himself as a Christian. The inquiry which has naturally arisen, whether he has not relied on his own righteousness for acceptance with God, has been satisfied, by various indications, that he believed in the Gospel as it is-the Gospel which reveals salvation by Christ alone. It has been evident that he has frequently had the subject of professing religion in his thoughts; and I have no doubt he has been kept from it by the fact that it involved that expression and publicity of his personal feelings, for which he felt, as he stated it, an utter inability."

Mr. Baldwin married in 1820, Emily, daughter of Enoch Perkins, of Hartford, by whom he had nine children. Four sons graduated at Yale College.

WILLIAM B. BANISTER.

SENATOR IN MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE, 1818, 1819.*

MR. BANISTER was born in Brookfield in 1774, died in Newburyport, July 1, 1853.

He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1797; became a resident of Newburyport, practiced law in the courts of Essex County; served as Representative in the Massachusetts Legislature 1810-1813, 1817; served as Senator, 1818, 1819; was a member of the Convention of 1820.

He was a Deacon of the Congregational Church in Newburyport; was a man of wealth, and to charitable institutions bequeathed nearly forty thousand dollars.

He was three times married. His third wife was Zilpah P. Grant, the friend and associate of Mary Lyon. The American Tract Society published, 1886, "The Use of a Life, or Memorials of Mrs. Z. P. Grant Banister."

* Allen's "Biographical Dictionary;" "Memorials of Mrs. Banister."

WALTER BAREFOOT.

DEPUTY-GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1683-1686.*

WALTER BAREFOOT, formerly of England, was a resident of Great Island, the seat of the provincial government of New Hampshire, as early as 1660. In 1683 he wrote to the "Lords of the Committee, etc.," that he had been a resident of the province more than twenty-five years. He was member of His Majesty's Council for New Hampshire from October, 1682, to January, 1683; DeputyGovernor from January, 1683, to May, 1686; a part of the time was Acting Governor; in 1686 on the accession of Thomas Dudley as President of New England, he was made a Justice for New Hampshire.

While he was one of the few in office who gave protection to the Quakers, he upheld the usurpations of the English Church, as the following warrant, signed by him and others, against a conscientious minister of the gospel reveals.

"To JAMES SHERLOCK, Provost Marshal.

"In His Majesty's name you are hereby required forthwith to take and apprehend the body and person of Joshua Moodey, of Portsmouth, and carry him to the prison at Great Island; and the prison-keeper, Richard Abbott, is hereby required to receive him, the said Joshua Moodey, and keep him in safe custody in the said prison, he having been convicted of administering the sacraments contrary to the laws and statutes of England, and refusing to administer the sacraments according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, and the form enjoined in the said statutes; there to remain for the space of six months next ensuing, without bail or main prize. Fail not.

"February 6, 1683."

"WALTER BAREFOOT. [Seal.]

"New England Historical and Genealogical Register," vol. 26; " Collections of New Hampshire Historical Society," vol. 8.

WALTER BAREFOOT.

37 The will of Walter Barefoot, proved in Boston, 1688, contains this passage: "First and principally, I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping through the Merits, Death and Passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ, to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins, and to inherit eternal life."