The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-10
HEREDITARY ABILITY.


from the Boston Advertiser, April g..
The subject Of hereditary ability has attracted
some attention in England lately, and very curious
letter was recently Published In the Times founded
from the earliest times, showing in what a number
OF instances several members OF the same family.
often direct descent have attained high position
al the English bar ana have been appointed to the
bench. similar list can be formed from the judges
OF the Supreme Court OF Massachusetts, and In pro-
bic as that which the industry Of antiquaries has
discovered In England.
From the list published IN the Manual OF
the General Court for 1862 page 1876, 1t appears
that between 1892 and 1775 there thrty-three
judges OF the Superior Court OF Judcature OF the
Province o. Massachusetts, Bay. Among these
were three Cushings. two Sewals both chief Jus.
tices. two Lyndes (also chief Justices), and two
Hutchlnsons, and members OF the distinguished
families OF Winthrop, Dudley Leverett, Quincy. Sal
tonstall and Oliver
since I775 there nave been fortywo justices OF the
Supreme Court OF Massachusetts, from whom we
have selected the following names:-
John Adams, the rst chief justite, and the second
President OF the United states, whose family Is too
William Cushing the second chief Justice. and
afterwards Judge Of the supreme Court OF the
United states, near relative OF
Nathan Gushing, judge 17yO-1s00, and OF
Caleb Cushing, Judge 1928, and afterwards At
torney- General Of the United states and OF
Robert Treat Paine, Judge 179o-lS04, one OF the
signers Of the Declaration OF independence.
Jedediah Foster Judge 177o-79, was the father OF
and United States senator from Massachusetts, and
OF Theodore Foster, United states senator from
Rhode Island, ana great-granutat1er OF
Dwight Foster judge 1s66-69.
Francis Dana, the fourth chief Justice ana Minis
ter to Russia, was the son OF Richard Dara, Judge
of the provincial Court OF Common Peas, and
nephew orEdmund Trowbridge, the ablesI and most
learned OF the judges OF the provincial Superior
Court: and was also father OF Richard Henry Dana,
the poet grandfather OF Richard Henry DANA Jr.,
one OF the present leaders Of the Boston bar and
uncle OF General George Knnaird Dana, OF the Eng
lish army.
James sullivan Judge 1776-s2 and afterwards
governor, was brother OF General John sullivan
and father of the late Hon. William sullivan.
rheophilus Parsons the iiftn chief JUSTICE was the
father Of Hon. Theophus Parsons, Dane Professor OF
Law IN Harvard University
Samuel Sewall, the sixth chief justice, were near
relatives and descendants OF Chief Justice samuel
Sewal of witchcraft celebrity.
Simeon Strong Judge lSOl-5, was, we believe, q
near relative Of Governor Caleb Strong. and was
father OF solomon Strong, Judge OF the Court Of Com
Theodore sedgwick, Judge 1so2-1a and previously
speaker and senator In Congress, was father OF
Robert Sedgwick and grandfather oil Theodore Sedg-
wick, two distinguished members Of the New YORK
bar. Mss sedgwick, the wen known authoress was
his daughter.
Daniel Dewey, Judge 1s14-l5, was the father OF
Charles Augustus Dewey, Judge 1887 SO, and a son
OF the latter, Francis Henshaw Dewey. Is one OF the
present judges OF the superior Court. The late
Daniel Dewey Barnard, OF Albany, minister at the
court of Prussia, was their cousin.
Levi Lincoln, judge 1s24.25~ and afterwards Cover:
nor was the son Of Levi Lincoln, Attorney General
OF the United States, and brother OF Enoch Lincoln
governor Of Maine.
udrcuS hoItou yuukS aieoi
ernor, the father OF Marcus Morton, one Of the
present Judges OF the superior Court
Ebenezer lockwood Hoar Judge 1s5a-6e, and now
Attorney General OF the United states, IL the son OF
the late Hon. samuel Hoar, OF Concord. and brother
of the Hon. George Frsbie Hoar. member ol Con
gress from Worcester. They are grandsons OF Roger
Sherman aud first COUSINS OF the late Governor Ro-
ger sherman Baldwin, OF Connecticut and OF William
Maxwell Evarts, lately Attorney General OF the
United states.
Seth kmes one OF the present judges OF the court,
n the son OF the celebrated Fisher Ames~
This list Is necessarily imperfect, particularly IN
relationship the female side, and possibly in one
or two instances Incorrect but 1t singuarly strong
evidence In support Of the theory to which we refer
red above.