The Portland daily press., 1878-12-13
SARAH WOODBRIDGE HOOPER
A New England Gentle " oman and her
Family History.

! This widely known and respected gentle
woman died at II Park street Wednesday. She
was born in Newburyport. Oct 30th, 1874
, descendant of two distinguished families. Her
great grandf Ather was Robert Hooper of Mar
blehead, an extensive shp-owner and mer-
chant, born 10 that ancient town 10 1709.
Farmers Genealogical Register" says:
Chopper, John and Robert, were of Marble
h-adin 1914, where the name continues to the
present day, having furnished many enter
prising men," Eleven Of the name had grad
uated at Harvard College previous to 1873
/ Robert Hope. dined with Gen. Washington
at Marblehead in October 1889. When WASH
| ington crossed the Delaware to attack the Brit
ish army on Christina IS night, 1776, he stood in
his boat and called out. "Who will lead us?'
when the Marblehead men answered Marble
head and boldly pushed their boats out il to
the drifting ICE; and from that perilous night
they held the Generals friendship and the post
of honor when it could consistently be given
them. The Salem Gazette of May 25tb, 1880,
(only six months after Washipgton's VISIT
thus announces MIR. Hooper's death. 'Died at
Marblehesd. Hon. Robert Hooper, Esq, fo1-
merly an eminent merchant" From his
wealth, Influence, and social position he was
called "Kiag Hooper, and the streets were
swept on the day of his burial. His second son
Stepher, was the grandfather, and Maj Thorn
as Hooper the father of Miss Hooper, whose
death prompts this notice. Her mother was
HAIR et daughter of Hon. Theophilus Brad
bury, who was a descendant of Thomas Brad
bury, who came to Salisbury, Mass in 1888.
Thaophilus graduated at Harvard College, in
1857; came from Newb1ry, twhere he was born)
to old Falmouth 10 about 1852, and first taught
SCHOOL, He married Sarah, a daughter of Eph-
rain Jones. He was the first practicing law
yer 10 Falmouth, and lived in house on the
east corner of Middle and Willow streets,
which escaped Mowatt's burning, but went
do wn 10 that of 1866. In the desolation of 1775,
he moved to Standish, and was appointed State
Attorney 10 1777.
10 1779 Mr. Bradbury moved to Newbury-
port, was elected representative to Congress
rom Essex county in 1896, and Judge Of the
Supreme Court of Massachusetts in 1897. he
died in 1902, aged GA Major Thomas Hooper
married his daughter II .rriet in 1892. A ship
in which he took passage to the West Iudies
never was heard from after her sailing. His
wife, the mother of Miss Hooper, died while
the daughter was very young, when the
orphan child was taken into the family of b r
uncle, George Bradbury, who came to Port
laud and commenced the practice of law 10
about 1900. That year he married Mary,
daughter OF John Kent, who built and occupied
the we'll remembered house on the northwest
side of Middle, above Pearl street, afterwards
~
Turner, and last by Hon. John NJ. Wood.
After the death of Mr.. Kent this house became
the residence of George Bradbury, where he
died in 1928 Ha was a Representative 10
CONGRESS from 1918 to 1917, and afterwards
clerk of the courts.
In this noted house, on which vast amount
of money was expended, first and last Miss
Hooper lived nearly quarter Of century in
the family of her kind uncle. She was edu
Gated 10 the best schools of hsr time, aud was
remarkable for sff&blity, dignity and fne
appearance. She was always a welcome guest
10 the best families of the towc. and in her
younger days 90 social gathering of her friends
and acquaintance was considere' complete
without her presence. She ea,ly united with
the First Parish church and was long teacher
In the Sabb ath school. At the time of her last
sickness cha was visiting the family of Mr..
Somerby of the Canal National Bank, where
she received kind care until her death.
Miss Hooper had many relics Of her ances-
tors; among them miniature lkeue's on
ivory, of her great grandfather Hooper, aud
also the contt dress in which he was presented
at the court of George III. of England She
has retained the broad green silk sash worn
over the shoulder by bec relative, Mrs. Ather-
ton, when she presented the elegant standard
to the old Rife Corps at their first public
parade in 1911.
The most interesting of the relics in Miss
Hoopers possession, is r,enaento Of tho fourth
Congress of the United States 10 tbs form Of
letter from her grandfather George Bradbury,
while attending the session of Congress at
Philadelphia, which was then tbs seat of Gov
erument 1t is addressed to his daughter Har-
riet, the mother of Miss Hooper. Il is Of more
than common interest 10 connection with the
history of the fimily coaaeh,ioos of the gentle
man who wrote It, and OF the lady who has
preserved it with so much care. The "pic-
lures of the King Of France and his Queen"
described were portraits of Louis XVI, ".he
mild and good,' aud Marie Antoinette, who
were firm friends to the colonies, aud assisted
with land aud naval forces to establish our in
dependence. Ths dreadful catastrophe
spoken of vas their exec ati,n by the g1llotine
10 1898, during the French revelation. The
King was executed in January at thu age of
thirty EIGHT. When the knife was about to
fall his coufessor, Abbe Eigewor.h, STOPPING
over the PROSTATE monarch, exclaimed: "Son
of S Louis, ascend to Heaven" The Queen
was behead, d 10 October of the same year, ex.
hib ting great 6rmness These portraits were
probably removed from Philade ohia to WASH
iogton, wbeo the capitol was first occupied in
1901 aud were undoubtedly destroyed when
that building was burned by the British Gen.
Ross in 1874 as have never seen notice Of
them. VIC.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 90, 1895
DEAR HARRIET:-ln compliance with my
promise now SIT down to write, ani though l
have nothing % aterial to COM nunicaso am
Influenced by the pleasure it gives me, at this
distance, OF conversing with my child zen 10 the
on,y way ~hch Gao. Last Thursday had
the honor of doing with the President, in COM
pany with the Vic, President, the Senators and
Delegates of Massachusetts, and some other
members of Congress, about 20 10 all. In the
middle of the table was placed piece of table
furniture about SIX feet long end two feet wide,
rounded at toe ends. 1t gas ei;her of wood
gilded, or polished metal, raised only about an
inch, with silver rim round it like that round
lea board: 10 the centre was a PEDESTAL of
plasterof Paris with images upon il, aud on
each end figures, male and female of the same.
1t was very elegant and used for ornament only
The dishes we're placed all around and there
was an elegant variety of roast beef veal, tur-
keys, ducks, fowls, hams, SO puddings isl-
lies, oranges, apples, nuts, almonds, figs, rails
los and q VARIETY Of wines and punch. We
took our leave at six, more than an hour after
the candies were introduced. No lady bat Mrs
Washington diued with u. We were waited.
on BY four or five meu servsns dressed n liv-
cry.
Perhaps you have curiosity to have de
sctiption OF Congress hall; Is is q large, elegant
brick building, the porth end on Chestnut street,
The REPRESENTATIVE room is on tina lower
floor. The Speaker sits 10 a large arm chair
with table before him like toilette, covered
with green cloth, fringed. The Speakers seat
is Yated about 2 feet aud is on the west side
OF the ball. The members seats are 8 rows OF
desks, rising one above another 10 the form Of
q semi-circle, opposite the Speaker; these are
v;th 1.rr =