72 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



Museum. Elected a corresponding member, March 5, 

 1866. 



Rev. Charles Chauncy Sewall was born at Marble- 

 head, May 10, 1802 ; the youngest son of chief justice 

 Samuel and Abigail (Devereux) Sewall. In early life he 

 lived in New York city with an elder brother and entered 

 his store as a clerk. He then went to Phillips Academy, 

 Exeter, where he was fitted for Bowdoin College, which he 

 entered in 1822. On leaving college, he turned his 

 thoughts to the pulpit; and, in the family of Rev. John 

 White of West Dedham, he found a quiet but congenial 

 home for his studies which he pursued with marked dili- 

 gence and attention. He was installed April 11, 1827, the 

 first pastor of the Unitarian church of Peabody, and re- 

 signed in the summer of 1841. He removed to Mcdfield 

 where he was occupied in farming and in successively sup- 

 plying the pulpits of East Lexington, Lincoln, Way land 

 and Sharon. He was a faithful attendant at the local con- 

 ferences and the gatherings of ministers. His name has 

 also been associated with the affairs of the town, in many 

 important trusts ; as selectman, town clerk, town treasurer, 

 member of the school board, representative to the Massa- 

 chusetts legislature, etc. He was an early abolitionist, 

 in sympathy with Whittier and Garrison. In his pastoral 

 relations he responded readily to all calls for his services. 

 He was a voluminous correspondent, and wrote poems, 

 articles for the newspapers, essays, reports, sermons, etc. 

 He died at his residence in Medfield, Nov. 22, 1886. lie 

 married Amy, daughter of William Peters, Esq., of Med- 

 field, Oct. 1, 1823. She died Aug. 15, 1872. He was 

 :ui original member of the Essex Institute, having been, 

 at its inception in 1848, an honorary member of the Es- 

 sex Historical Society. 



