Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-15
The Late Deacon Nnthanie1 Joca,v.

l ycRS4AO Ao PAO5CutCu Oy tue T1Onn1.
 The Late Deacon Nathanfel Jocelyn. It is with deep regret that we chronicle the death of one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens, the artist and patriot, Deacon | Nathaniel Jocelyn. MT. Jocelyn was taken I suddely ill about six weeks ago with chiIls
 and fever; from this disease, however, he
 rallied and it was thought he would recover
 his usual health, but his sickness had ex-
 hausted his strength and on Thursday even | ing, the 18th inst, he entered painlessly into
 rest, aged eighty-four years, eleven months | and thirteen days.
 In H. W. French's sArt and Artists in Con- I necticut," !" published in 1879, is the following l sketch of his life: ''The patriarch of Ameri- l can art, (being to-day the oldest native artist I of notoriety iving), Nathaniel Jocelyn, is still actively engaged in his studio in New Haven, where he was born Jan 31st. l796. six months before his next fellow Iaborer. Ashur B. Durand. As with Mir. Durand. ] his father was matchmaker and the boy
 was fed upon the understanding that, in the 1 common course of things he was to follow him. His early incinations toward the crea-
 
 pect; and when twelve years old, his father l boasted of him that he knew every wheel and | screw in the best watch in the country. Wheels and screws, however, did not long
 satisfy the measure of the young mans am | bition. When only fifteen, he began, with himself as instructor, thorough course of
 study in drawing, and three years later ap- | Iorantipa6 hinGn1f fn I twenty-one he entered into partnership with
 Tisdale, Danforth & Willard, in the Hartford Graphic and Bank Note Engraving company.
 and later, with MT. Danforth virtually found | ed the National Bank Note Engraving com pany. The work that fell to him m l this was the lettering, which did | not please him; and in 1920 he gave up en- graving, changing the graver for the pencil,
 with which he started at once for Savannah, Ga, as portrait painter. The spirit which prompted and the courage which accom-
 plished this bold step were worthy accesso- .ries to Q successful career. He remained but | a short time at the South, returning much
 benefited by the experience to establish him | self in New Haven. An enthusiastic spirit | tempted him beyond the confines of art into
 large real estate transactions, laying out streets and inaugurating many improvements
 that are the pride of New Haven to-day. ''In 1926 he sent several portraits to the first exhibition of the National Academy, which Mir. Dunlap pronounced unqualifedly meri- torlous. In 1929 he went abroad, chiefly upon matters not connected with his profes- sion; aided, however, by ready perception of opportunity that has characterized his life he formed many valuable acquaintances and gained much information in matters of art. He travelled southward from London with Prof. Morse, entering Paris with him on New Years day, 1880. He had long been a mem hdp- -r,f khN MAJ ~I they elected him an Academician. He was also elected honorary member of the PhiIa- delph1a Art Union, but the presentation be- ing made directly after an action on the part | of the Union which had aroused the artists strong anti-slavery sen timents, he declined it without lim- itation. He also received the gold palette for the best portrait exhibited in the State in 1844. Several of his best portraits hang in the Yale Art Gallery, displaying strength of touch, grace of modelling and refined taste, justly supporting him in the position he has attained. As a teacher he has had among his pupils many celebrated artists''
 In 1865, after having served for many years with great success at the head of the art department of the American Bank Note company, of which company he was one of the founders he retired from active business life but from that time until his recent sick ness he has continued to exercise his art and had his studio amid the pleasantest of sur roundings in the Yale Art building At the time he was taken sick he had several portaits in process of com plefion. He was one of the earliest friends of the doctrine of the aboi tion of slavery, and was intimately associated with Arthur and Lewis Tappan in their efforts for the poor negro, between forty and fifty years ago. When the late Roger S. Baldwin succeeded in procuring the liberty of ship load of slaves, who were captured and brought into the port of New London after having murdered all but two persons on board, MT. Jocelyn painted the portrait of Clnquez, their African leader, and the DOT trait IS now owned by citizen of Philadel- phla. The story of the Amistad-the efforts of the Spanish government to have the slaves remanded to Cuba for trial-the Instructions thrown in the way of justice by all the high est dlgnitaries of the United States, and the brave defence made for the poor fellows before the Supreme Court of the land sitting at Washington, by the late Gov Baldwin, must ever be prominent part of the record con- nected with emancipation. At the time the matter was awaiting decision, the Tappans and Mr. Jocelyn were working together il, support of principles named long afterward by William H. Seward as s'the higher law.n and they had vessel in New Haven harbor ready for emergencies, had the conclusions of the court been adverse to the wishes of the friends of freedom. The plan was to get the negroes out of jail by force and put them on the vessel in which they were to sail away MT. Jocelyn was fond of recalling the early days of abolitionism, and was we'll informed concerning the management of the under ground railroad during the days of escapes from slavery and the pursuit of slaves into the free States
 For forty six years he has been a deacon in the North Congregational church, and off ciated for the last time at the communion service in November
 In 1918 he married Sarah Atwater Plant I daughter of the late Captain Samuel Plant, of this city He survived her but seven months. 1
 The Christian kindness of his heart, shown so often in helping others, his tender synpa- thy with those in trouble and cheerful, eri- tertaining conversation. will long be reinean- bered by all who had the privilege of his ac- quaintance.
 The funeral services will be held at his late residence Monday afternoon at o'clock.