Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-01-03
THE LATE CONSUL JARVIS.

we lind the following in late number
of the Boston Daily Advertiser
The regular monthly meeting of the
New England Historic Genealogical So.
ciety, was held Dec. 9Th at the rooms Of
the Sociery on Broomfeld street. After
the transaction of the usual preliminary
business, an exceedingly valuable paper
was read by the Hon. Hampden Cuts, OF
Vermont, on the life and public services
of the late consul Jarvis, of Weathersfeld,
Vermont. The paper of Mr.. Cuts was
deliberately written. After the reading of
the paper, vote of thanks and the re-
quest of copy for the society was pro-
posed; but as the paper has been engaged
for an early publication, in the transactions
of the Vermont Historical Society, the last
part OF the vote was changed to a request
to repeat the same at future day. 1t
would be impossible to do justice to the
memoir Of Mr.. Jarvis, by Mr.. Cuts, in
any abstract we can give, but slight
sketch may show some Of the interesting
incidents in Mr.. Jarvis life.
Hon. William Jarvis died Oct q, 1859,
at Weathersfeld, VT, at the age of SO
years and 9 months. He was bora Feb.
4, l770, in the old Shirley House in State
street, one month and one day before the
Boston Massacre. He was the son of DR..
Charles Jarvis of Boston, who was di,lin-
guished for his great medical skill, and for
his patriotism and eloquence in defence of
the peoples rights. Disinterested patriot
ism, strict honesty and industry. close an-
phcation, perseverance, and untring ener-
gy marked all his business transactions
Heswa educated at the best Schools in
,'oston, Philadelphia, and Bordentown:
served mercantile pprenticeship in Nor
folk County, Va, and established himself
IN Boston as amerchant at the age OF
twenty-one. After five years of success, a
friend in New York for whom he had en-
dorsed largely, failed, and Mr. Jarvis lost
more than.all he was worth and was COM
PEELED to go to sea to retrieve his losses
first as supercargo, afterwards as captain
and part owner. After five years of in
credible risks, dangers and harlships, by
his mercantile skill, sagacity and indomt-
able resolution, he was enabled to pay off
all his liabilities and was once rnSfG' indie
pendent His mercantile abilities had in
duced Mr.. Jefferson to appoint hin consul
TO Lisbon, and to urge him to act as
Charge d'Afaires, which Mr., Jarvis final
Iy consented to do. He discharged these I
duties with great tact and diplomatic tai |
ent, ehecting several measures Of great /
importance to the United States, and
which his predecessors had deemed i'm
practicable. On the invasion of Spain by
the French, in order to raise funds, the
Junta were forced TO sell the four confs-
Gated tiocks of merino sheep, whose own
ers had joined the French. These focks
were the Paulars, the Nigrettes, the Mon
tacoS. and the Augueiries or Muros, which
were sold with a license to transport them
out of the kingdom. Mr. Jarvis was one
of the first purchasers, and exported to
the United States $500 more than all
others pat together, thereby comforting an
incalculable benefit on the agricultural and |
manufacturing interests of this country. |
He married in Lisbon, Miss Mary Pep
perelI Sparhawk, great granddaughter of |
Sir William Pepperell, who took Louis |
burg,-a lovely and accomplished lady, |
who died in April, 1911, leaving two
daughters. He returned to the United
States in November, 1910, and purchased
a large estate on the Connecticut, COM
prising a large tract of interval. called the
Bow of Weathersfeld." For many
years he devoted the energies Of his active
mind to the encouragement and protection
of American manufactures, and fostering
the agricultural interests OF our country.
His motto always was. "the Union and
the whole Union. In 1917 he married
Miss Ann Bailey Bartlett, eldest daugh-
ter of Hon. Bailey Bartlett, OF IIayerhill,
Mass. for many years High Sheriff OF
Essex County. He constantly refused
the solicitations Of his friends 10 accept
public office, though frequently Emporium
ed to do so; yet his pen was ever ready
to advance those measures that he deem
ed Of essential Importance 10 the welfare
of his county. lie was a lover Of home
and chose after the service he had render
ed his country to make that home on the
banks of the beautiful Connecticut, till the
close of his long and useful life.
Co,--Cpy,rrIyE PpOpnsAr arfi-