The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-30


family traditions and associations of the
past
The Wetmore family I'm America is de-
scended from Thomas Whitmore. who
smigrated from England In 1885 and be-
came one of the original patentees Of Mid
dletown. Conn. His grandson, Seth Wet
more, and ex Governor Wetmore's great
great grandfather was born there on
Nov IL, 1900 dying there in l71S. He was
a lawyer by profession; magistrate OF the
town of Middletown; judge of the county
court of Hartford county, justice OF the
Quorum Of that county, and a deputy 70
the general court of Connecticut from his
native town. during forty-eight terms,
from l73S TO III. lie married Hannah,
daughter of Rev. Timothy Edwards, in
1744. In his law office eminent men
studied, including his nephews. Aaron
Burr and Pierrepont Edwards.
Seth Wetmore, Ex-Governor Wetmore's
greatgrandfather, was born in Middle
town in 1744. and died there in 1910 He
was man OF independent means and de-
voted himself to public affairs in which
he took deep interest. This led him 20
take an active part in the Revolution, and
he held the rank OF captain in the Colo
nial Volunteers throughout the war. In
1177, in town meeting he, together with
Colonel Comfort Sage and Captain sam
eel Russell, was appointed as n committee
20 secure from Governor Trumbull the
removal of William Franklin, son CT Ben
jamin Franklin and late Tory governor OF
New Jersey, from M'ddletown. where he
was prisoner on parole, in order TO in
sure the safety of the state. In this and
many other acts he showed his zeal in the
public service
Seth Wetmore, his son. was born in
Middletown in 1859. In 1900 he went 20
ST. Albans, VT, and died there in 1880.
He married Nancy Shepard, daughter of
William Shepard Of Westfield, Mass. He
was lawyer by profession, sheriff OF
his county, a member of the Vermont
governors council for about 20 years,
Judge of the court OF probate there nearly
as long and fellow of the University OF
Vermont from 1891 until his death.
General William Shepard, Ex-Governor
Wetmore's great grandfather, served for
six years in the French and Indian War,
from 1854 to 1853. He was lieutenant and
captain in the command of Generals
Abercrombie and Amherst, and took part
I'm the battles OF Fort William Henry,
Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Isle aux Noix,
St. Johns and Montreal. He was APP
pointed by Washington, after joining the
camp at Roxbury in 1175, to guard the
American army's retreat from Long ISL
and, and in the retreat from Rhode ISL
and he gave convincing testimonies OF
his skill and bravery. In 1888, when
peace was declared, he had fought in 90
battles, and established high character
for bravery, sound judgment and hui
manity. Few shared more largely the
confidence of Washington. Called TO the
front again in 1855 by the outbreak OF
Sbay's rebellion, his defense of the
Springfield arsenal was instrumental in
suppressing the uprising, for which he
received
The Thanks of the General Court.
He was in 1896 appointed by the governor
to treat with the Penobscot Indians, and
in the year following selected by the ma
tional government to deal with the Six
Nations at Genesee river. lie was mem
ber OF the Massachusetts, house of repre-
sentatives, also Of the executive council,
a presidential elector for both of Wash
ington's terms, and member of the ma
tional hou sc of representatives from 1871
to 1903.
William Shepard Wetmore. the father
of ex-G Governor Wetmore, was born at st.
Albans in 1901 and attended school at
Cheshire. Connecticut. He began his
business career with the firm of Edward
Darlington and company Of Providence,
X. l., in which his uncles William and
willard were partners. He was super
cargo on his first voyage in their ship,
the Fame" visiting England. the west
coast of South America and the East
Indies. On his next voyage in the Lion"
the vessel was lost near Valparaiso,
Chill. He remained there, forming with
Richard Alsop of Middletown, Conn,
the firm of Alsop 81 Wetmore in 1923. In
1929 he returned to New England with an
ample fortune. After his return, his
health becoming impaired, on the ad-
vice OF his physician, he sailed for
China, hoping that the climate and
active life there would establish
his health. After few years, he re-
turned to New York establishing there in
1874 the house of Wetmore &s Cryder.
Three years later he withdrew his inter
ests from the firm and retired from active
business life making his home in New
port, Rhode Island in 1850. where he re-
sided until his death in 1862.
Materially. Ex-Governor Wetmore is
descended from Rev. John Rogers, the
fifth president of Harvard college and the
first in the list of graduates of that inst-
tuition to become its head. Ex-Governor
Wetmore is descended from Benjamin
Pickman of Salem, Mass, who received
from the assembly OF the Colony of
Massachusetts, Bay
A Valuable Piece of Plate
in token OF their appreciation OF his
public spirit and eminent and efficient
services in promoting the expedition
against Louisburg Also from his son
BENJAMIN Pickman, who was graduate
of Harvard, and abandoned law for mer-
camille pursuits.
In 1900 he was member of the Massa-
chusetts house aud for many years there
after In the state senate. In 1907 he was
n member OF the executive council, n rep
resentative in congress in 1s09ll and in
1890 a member of the commission for re.
vising the state constitution and n dele
gate TO the Hartford convention lie died
in ls43. Mr. Wetmore is a descendant OF
Elias Haskell Derby, an eminent merchant