Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-10
Deacon May.

By tho death of Deacon May, on the
23d inst, Boston loses one of her Oldest
merchants and one of the last links of per-
sonal connection between the great city
of 1870 and the little town that was the
cradle of liberty in 1910. Deacon May
was not born till l776, but he was the
youngest of large family of brothers,
one of whom was member OF the famous
Boston tea-party" in 1913 and Deacon
Nav, himself, recollecting as boy the
later years of the Revolution, had also
preserved in his memory many incidents
told him by his kindred. He grew up to
manhood under the administration of
Washington, and cast his first vote for
John Adams for President. All through
his active life he was engaged III trade,
aud accumulated "A furt4ne therein. but
! he never hesitated to advocate the priucl-
! Piles of liberty III which he had been born
faud which his family always supported
Having come into the world i'll the same
year with the Declaration of lndepend
ence, he had no difficulty ia accepting its
doctrine of the equality of men, and, from
the frat, was u Jealous abolItionist His
nephew and galnes,ke, TT v. Samuel }.
May of Syracuse, \. /, was NOR" promi-
neut before the public i'll that cause, but
not more resolute III his private opinions.
Deacon NV derived his title from the
Hollis stya.t church, with which he was
long uounea sd, and where he stood
stoutly by John FleFpans in his memora-
able controversy with the members of the
parish, thirty years ago. After Theodore
Parker went to Boston to preach in 1916,
Deacon May joined his church, ana was
a constant attendant at the Melodeon and
MBE;a Hall till Parker's fatal illness in
1858 His yes one of the few white
heads among the hsaFeFa Of those stirring
sermons, and he waa always loyal 20 his
minister, whatever Boston might say or
do. Iu the hottest period of the anti
alayrry struggle no was firm and active,
though tlready four score years old, and
he lived to zee and rejoice Ill the utter
downfall of the slavery he Abhorred.
He was the friend of every good cause,
and gave literally to charities, public and
private Ten years ago Hosea Bigelow's
oarly ,tron, Joseph I. Buckingham,
wrotG ,hus of his friend aud coutem-
porary
samuel Nay is ono o: ;hp oldest mer-
chants of Boston. He is a porsonii: i:0ation
of health and, if judged only from per-
eonal appearance, might be pronounced 3o
yeaF2 aid, although he is about "a. He
seems 10 bays vet at defia.ce all the in
firmatirs and disorder that are usually
supposed to be uuayoidab.e Gqncomitants
of old age Temperance and exercise he
has always practiced as duty and
pleasure
Therefore, his age is lusty winter
Frosty, but kindly.
,,,,A ipA al, TnpDta $50
mixed in him." that hey bring forth
their fruits III his -enAns. and his Leaf Is
not withrred" | hclieve that hy ais3 ex-
emplifrs the continued description of the
royal Psalni,t, that, whatsoever he do
eth, ps.sporeth" He has never held any
distinguished pl.ee on the Political stage,
but has performed we'll h. part ia scenes
where moral energy and the age""y OF
philanthropic sentiment required life and
activity, He is not, however, without po-
litical feeling, apd his opinions are those
of the old federal school Of Washington
and Adams s-epiniOuS which, on suitable
occasions, are exprt ssed with freedom, and
with confidence in their truth. lie is
always ready, with heart and hand, to aid
in all schemes intended to meliorate the
condition of society, to cure its evils and
prevent its decadency. Impatient with
vice ani oppression in all their forms, he
is the friend of all Who fee from cruel
and unnatural bondage, who sigh 4or the
privileges of freedom, AID hazard exist
enoe for the enjoyment Of civilization.
At the time of his death he was the
head of great family of sons, grandsons,
great grandsous, nephews, nieces and
cousins, nmong whom are many eminent
persons Nearly q, the Mays OF Boston
were his kindred, and those OF Z f4ltimore
and Washington are of the same stock. |
Rev. Samuel May of Leicester is his SOD,
and Miss Abby May of Boston his daugh-
ter. Miss Hopisa May Alcott the novel
ist, snd Miss Nay Aloott the artist, are
grandchildren of his hrotLea, Gol. Joseph
May He died ut the opening OF his .,4th |
year, after a period of infirnity. such as
few men of his age escape, and leaves be-
hind him noble and enduring memory.
-sprj,saJfeld Republican.