2o6 FACTS RELATING TO GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



During my boyhood the sessions of this Court were held in 

 Mr. Hoar's tavern. 



An Act was passed by the Legislature, on June 15, 1821, 

 authorizing the Judge of Probate to hold a special Court at 

 Groton, on the second Tuesday of August of that year. After 

 1858 all the Groton Probate Courts were held at the "Junc- 

 tion" (now Ayer), until they were abolished by the statute of 

 March 30, 1866. 



ADDRESS OF THE HON. SAMUEL A. GREEN 



AT THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL 



FOR THE DEAF, IN BOSTON, 



November 10, 1897. 



On this occasion, as a representative of the family, I have 

 been asked to say a few words about Francis Green, in whose 

 memory the bronze tablet, to-day for the first time, is exposed 

 to public view. It is now the opinion of all persons interested 

 in the subject, that he was the earliest American advocate in 

 behalf of the education of the deaf; and the present exer- 

 cises are intended to commemorate his labors as a pioneer 

 in this branch of instruction. Under these circumstances a 

 simple narration of certain events in his life may be in keeping 

 with the requirements of the occasion, and a short account 

 of his philanthropic work may be worthy of passing notice. 



Francis Green belonged to an old New England family, be- 

 ing a descendant in the fourth generation from Percival and 

 Ellen Green, who sailed from London for these shores in the 

 spring of 1635, and were living at Cambridge during the next 

 year. He was the second son of Benjamin and Margaret 

 (Pierce) Green of Boston, where he was born on August 21, 

 1742 ; and a grandson of the Reverend Joseph and Elizabeth 

 (Gerrish) Green of Salem Village, now Danvers. His great 

 grandparents were John and Ruth (Michelson) Green, of 

 Cambridge ; and his great-grandfather was an only son of 

 Percival and Ellen Green of that town, and was Marshal- 

 General of the Colony, following his father-in-law, Edward 

 Michelson in the office. 



