New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-28
ENERSON,S ENGLISH ANCESTOR.
From The AfheHHltm.

From The AheaGum.
Tn Ccyibpe,Js M1gd-iRe for February, 1870, | re-
member reading that Mr. Emerson was descended
from the Rev. Peter Buckley, Rector of NoOGhll
in English BediOrdshlre where the OuSe, they say.
ponrs a winding flood through green meadows,
much as the Musquetaqmd now does in his American
colopv.' Being a native of BedtOrdshiTe, and know
iEg the Ou>e so well this paragraph greatly puzzles
me for there is WOOdhlll by the river in the
county. thought about IT good deal, and at last
| mentioned the matter 10 friend who was also
born in BcdfOrdshire. He after consulting many
pazetteers old and new, reminded me that the
try people always called the village of Odell
" Wudde." L" Wuddle" was supposed to be a vul-
garIsm. but on Investigation 1t turned ont that it
corruption OF the ancient Woodmll. The
American contributor to ScTibHer, deriving his
knowledge from some old book. had in fact got hold
of the name by which Odell was known hundreds
II is quite true that Ode stands on the winding
food of the Ouse true also that the Rev. Peter
Bulkeley was rector there in the tme OF Laud :;
also that Mr.. Emerson was his direct descend
ant III the maternal line. 1t wOuld be difficult to
find a landscape more perfectly in accord with all
that is best Ia Mr.. Eme son than that which meets
the oye from Odell Castle. There is nothing par
tculary striking i'll it. but it is the type of perfect
harmonious peace.
Dr. Bnlkeiey was born at Odell in 1882. lie
came of an ancient family. and his father left him
considerable estate. The living, too OF Odell was
valuable. The grandfather man of some
Importance in the county, Tor IN the lansd0wne
MS, quoted in llarveys" History of the Wiley
Hundred there is copy OF letter addressed by
HIM TO the Bishop of Lincoln III zoos. naming HIM
with four other gentlemen as commissioners for the
Levye of armour III BedfOr1shire among the clergy"
Under this Bishop of Lincoln our DR.. Buckley
seems to have been permitted to live quietly. and
his Nonconiormist practices were overlooked. But
in the parish register of Odel there is significant
| entry of ArchbshOps Visitation" on August ~
1853 1, the archbishop being Lauu and on Septem-
Der % there is another entry of visitation by the
| archdeacOn
| So III 1885, in middle life rather than relnGuIsh
his convictions, DR.. Bulkeley sold all his property
| and crossed the seas TO New England "A wild nm
known land where the Red Indians and the pesti-
ence had to be faced but wher, he might think his
own thoughts and act as he thought. He went INTO
the woods gathered church around HIM and
founded the Town OF Concord 1e was pious To the
very core but. like Mr.. Emerson. he was "A scholar
He had been a fellow of st. Johns at Cambridge
and ne endowed the library of Harvard College
with a large portion of his own. He wrote Latin
verse with ease, and yet he as iervent as Bun-
van in all matters touching the and the souI's
welfare He loved his learning and never fors0ok
IT, but il was subdued into the service of Divine
Master His neighbors observed of him that
whenever they came into his company. no mat
ter what the business might be- he would let fall
some holy serious. divine and useful sentences on
them ere they parted; and il is also recorded of
him that Z" by "A sort of winning and yet prudent
Familiarity lac drew persons of all ages 10 and
sit with him. There was a quarrel in the church
while he was minister over 1t, but he healed it at
last and afterward he told his friends that he
thereby came i, to know more OF God 2, to
know more of himself 3, to know more of men,"
His contemporaries seem to have been impressed