These three distinguished scholars of New England were all born in Boston, educated at the same school, admitted into Harvard College the same year, took their degrees at the same time, [1680,] all settled in Cambridge, one an attorney at law, one a clergyman, and the other a physician, and all eminent in their professions. The first two were Fellows of the Royal Society in England.
[EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF HON. WILLIAM CRANCH OF WASHINGTON, D. C.]
The following is an extract from a letter of Judge Cranch to the Editor.
"Among some old papers of my father, I found a letter from the Rev. William Clark, dated Quincy, Aug. 10, 1803, in which he says, 'Mr. William Winthrop of Cambridge has, for some time past, been engaged in a pursuit rather extraordinary, viz., to investigate the following particulars of every one who has received a degree at Harvard College, from the first foundation of that University in 1648 to the present time; viz., the origination or where born, his professional business or employment, his place of residence, time of his death and age; also any thing remarkable in their lives and characters; where such matters can be ascertained.' Again, Mr. Clark says, 'In his (Mr. Winthrop's) next letter he opened his design to me; and with respect to the clergy in particular, when the Catalogue was printed in 1797, the whole number of graduates then being 3533, of which number those who had been, or then were, settled ministers of the Gospel amounted to 1121; of this number, he informed me he had ascertained the places of settlement, and other particulars of 1117, so that there were but 4 remaining unascertained, viz., John Mors, 1692—Joseph Gerrish, 1700—Noyes Paris, 1721—of these 2 last, however, he gives some proof, that he was not wholly destitute of some intelligence about them. But what is most surprising was, that of the 4 above mentioned unascertained persons, myself brought up the rear! He had never heard where I officiated before the revolution, though it was no further from him than Dedham, where I lived ten years!—I wrote him fully of myself, and various others, whom he has since desired information of; only there were 2 of the last mentioned, that I knew very little about, whose names I mentioned to you: viz., whether Cornelius Nye, who graduated in 1718, was not the same person who was a schoolmaster in Braintree, and who was somewhat distinguished for his witty talents? If so, did he ever pursue any other employment than keeping school? Shepard Fisk, who graduated in 1721, and lived at Braintree, his employment, decease and age? If you could without inconvenience to yourself, collect any thing certain of these 2 persons, or either of them, and put it in writing and send it to me, it would be thankfully received. I expect to have occasion to write to Mr. Winthrop shortly, and should be happy to transmit any thing so agreeable to him, as any discovery of this kind, whose mind seems to be intensely fixed on this pursuit.'
"Mr. Clark afterwards sent to my father the following extracts from Mr. Winthrop's letter to him, dated Oct. 10, 1803.
"'I feel myself greatly obliged to you, as well as to Judge Cranch, (Judge Richard Cranch,) for the information contained in your last letter with its inclosures. I have long since heard of that gentleman's researches into the antiquities of this country, and conclude he must be possessed of a large fund of information upon that subject. Is there no way that I can avail myself of it to promote my plan?
"'Finding by your letter that you suppose that Mr. Sheppard, who was settled at Cambridge, and who was an eminent minister in that day, was the same that graduated in 1653, I inclose you some memorandums respecting that family, which may, perhaps, be gratifying to the Judge as well as to yourself.'
"The postscript is in these words:—'I will thank you to present my respects to Judge Cranch, when you have a convenient opportunity, and inform him that I feel myself under great obligations to him for his information respecting Messrs. Nye and Fiske; and that any further communications he will please to make to me, I shall most gratefully acknowledge.'"