Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-23
PHILIP mARETT.

An Interesting Paper Read Last
Evening by the Hon. Simeon e.
Baldwin Before the Historical
Society.
There was an unusual attendance at the |
meeting of the Historical society last even
ing Professor Simeon E. Baldwin read
paper on the late Philip Marett, whose name
has become well known to New Ravens
citizens The paper was an able and inter-
esting one and is given in extract below:
The gifts of Philip Marett and his family
to the citizens of New Haven have made
his name familiar one since his death.
But coming here as he did, in advanced
years and with no connections with the
active business of the place, there were OF
our citizens few who were Familiarity &C.
uuainted with him while living. The
Marett family, originally of France, and
probably of Normandy, was settled as
| earlv as the thirteenth century in the ISL
and of Jersey in the English channel.
Mr.. Baldwin then went ON to trace the
| long line of descent down to the late Philip
| Marett.
| Phillip Marrett was born in Boston Sep
TENDER IS, 1899, and at an early age dis
tinguished himself at the public schools OF
| that place. 1t was his mothers expecta-
| ton to send him to Harvard college with
the view of making law his profession, put
circumstances prevented this and ne lelt
school at an early age to enter upon actave
business when seventeen years old
Mr. Baldwin read an extract of letter
dated September 8, 1919, of Mr.. Marretts,
in which he described visit he paid with
| party of ladies to the fleet in Boston har.
Dor shortly after the memorable naval duel
between the Constitution and Guerrero.
He was nineteen at this time. Mr.. Mar.
rett was of thoughtful disposition, fond OF
solid reading and had way OF putting
his thoughts on any subject down on pa
was married to beautiful girl of Scran-
ton, Martha Knapp, daughter Of Josiah
| and Mary Knapp, Of Boston. M. Knapp
resided at the south end and owned a row
| of houses on Kneeland street, in one of
| which Mr. and Mrs. Marrett passed the
first years of their married life. Mr.. Mar
rett became engaged in European COM
merce, and in 1918 was appointed the vice
consul at Portugal for Massachusetts, and
tanned with credit for twelve years. In
1885 he was elected president of the COM
mon council of the city and held the Office
by reelection for several years.
At the time of the great financial crisis
in 1878 a convention of representatives of
the principal eastern banks was, called to
consider what course to pursue with refer
ence to the suspension of specie payments.
Mr.. Marrett, then president of the New
England bank, took active part in the
meeting. His practical wisdom and de-
cision Of character made deep impression.
Mr.. Marrett was junior warden of Kings
chapel and memorandum of one of their
vestry meetings held in his house in Janu.
airy, l841, has been preserved. Mrs. Mar
rett was charming hostess, and their only
child, Ellen Martha Marrett, afterwards
Mrs. Arthur N. Clifford, was woman OF
remarkable social attractions.
Her portrait in the Yale Art school
} shows her as she looked at the age OF
seventeen. Mr.. Marrett was good
friend. He had the art of comforting OBJ
legations as if he were receiving them.
) His disposition was kindly and his good
offices were seldom sought in vain. Al
the age of ffty-three he withdrew from
active business with q handsome fortune
.. He went abroad with his daughter in May
1916. Soon after his return to this coun
try in October, 1916, he removed to Brook
lyn and after spending few years there
and in New York or in travel in the south
during the winter months, finally settled
in New Haven. In 1852 he established
himself in st. Johns place, fronting tn
green, and here he spent the remainder Of
, his life.
He died March 90, 1859, his widow fol
lowing him in 1873 and his daughter il
! 1889. His daughter left fortune of ovel
a million of dollars. The Marrett name il
America in the line of descent from Phil
ip Marrett in Jersey is extinct, but a mon
: ument more permanent than bronze viii
8 preserve their memory from oblivion.
Mr. Marett was Unitarian in his reli
gious views of the Claiming school. HI
believed in the goodness of God, "a loving
son of a loving father" Among the Incl
= dents of interest connected with the papel
q were the pictures of Mr. Marett and Mrs
Clifford, which Mr.. Baldwin had on tn
T. desk before him. At the conclusion o
:, the reading a number arose to relate rem
iniscences they had of both Mr.. Marret
l and his daughter, Mrs. Clifford.
Mr.. Whitney said that he had in hi
possession number of letters written hin
by Mr.. Marett which he treasured a grea
t deal. In one was related an incident tina
happened to Mr.. Marett while in England
. once upon a time. He was standing il
front of the house of commons one da,
n when the Duke of Wellington came on
It and of all those standing about the onl,,
q one he recognized was Mr.. Marett whicl
pleased him not little.
A unanimous vote of thanks was givel
S by the society to Mr.. Baldwin for hi
: able paper and it's publication in boo
p form was referred to the committee O.
publication to report at the next meeting