5. Nathaniel Cushing5 had sons, Nathaniel6, Benjamin, and Charles.
6. Nathaniel Cushing6, Esq., father of the subject of this Notice, resided at Pembroke, now Hanson; married Mary, daughter of Rev. Ezekiel Dodge of Abington, who graduated at H. C., 1749, and died 1770, aged 48. Their children were Ezekiel Dodge7, Mehetabel, Lucy, George, and Elijah.
7. Ezekiel Dodge Cushing7, was born in 1790; graduated at Harvard University, in 1808; commenced the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. Gad Hitchcock, of his native town; and after one year, became a pupil of Dr. Nathan Smith, Professor in the Medical School of Dartmouth College, where he received the degree of Bachelor in Medicine, in 1811.
His education was extended by attendance on the Hospitals and Lectures in Philadelphia. He then visited London and Paris; in the former city, acting as a dresser in St. Thomas' Hospital, while attending the Lectures of Abernethy, Sir Astley Cooper, and others; and in the latter, was present when it was occupied by the allies, witnessing daily in the crowded hospitals a most extensive surgical practice.
Thus furnished for the practical duties of his profession, he returned to his native country and settled in Boston, where he acquired the reputation of an able and successful physician, and obtained a respectable circle of business.
After a few years, perhaps being too impatient "to bide his time," and desirous of pursuing a more active life, he removed to Hanover, where his services were much sought, and highly appreciated in a widely extended circle. He was frequently called to advise with his professional brethren in cases of difficulty, and to them as well as to his employers, his opinions gave great satisfaction. It could not well be otherwise, for he possessed eminent skill and tact in his profession, and with it that urbanity and kindness of manner, which secured the confidence of all with whom he had intercourse.
Just as his reputation had become established, and when his prospects for long life and extended usefulness appeared most fair, he was smitten with disease, appearing first in the form of an epileptic affection, and then of partial paralysis, which issued in an entire loss of tone in the digestive organs, and ultimately terminated in his death, on the fifth of April, 1828, at the age of 38.
Thus died an amiable man and accomplished physician. Possessing naturally a vigorous constitution, he probably in early life exposed himself to unnecessary dangers; and when disease fastened upon him its iron grasp, relying too much on his former experience, he failed to exercise that care in his own case, which he would have recommended to others in like circumstances. His memory will be cherished by all who knew him, and his virtues may well be emulated by every aspirant to honest fame, in the profession of which he was an ornament.
He married Delia Sawyer, daughter of Capt.—— Sawyer of Boston, and left seven children; all of whom, except two who died young, with their widowed mother survive to mourn his early death.