344 



Eev. C. C. Beaman then read a very interesting and able 

 sketch of the hfe, character and services of the patriot. 

 Jai\[E3 Otis, who was born at West Barnstable, Feb. 5, 1725; 

 graduated at Harvard College in 1743 ; thundered against 

 the writs of assistance in 1761 ; was the foremost among the 

 orators of the anti-revolutionary period, until his usefulness 

 was impaired, by a ruffianly assault, in the British Coffee 

 House in 1769 ; and was killed by a flash of lightning at Mr. 

 Isaac Osgood's house in Andover, May 23, 1783. 



On motion of David Roberts, Esq., who otfered some 

 remarks on the subject of writs of assistance, the thanks of 

 the Institute were voted unanimously to Mr. Beaman, for 

 his interesting and valuable paper. 



Dr. Henry Wheatland next offered a few remarks to the 

 consideration of the meeting, introductory to the resolves 

 which arc subjoined. He mentioned that the site of the 

 building, in v/hich the members of the Institute were then 

 assembled, was owned, a century since, by Joseph Bowditch, 

 for a great number of years Clerk of the Court and Justice 

 of the Peace ; and it may be safely affirmed that there was 

 not, in the town of Salem, a gentleman of more respectabil- 

 ity than " 'Squire Bowditch," as he was universally called. 

 He was a man of wonderful humor, and there are many 

 pleasant stories related of him. He died in 1780, at the age 

 of 80. This estate is undoubtedly the homestead whi^'h he 

 inherited from his father, William Bowditch. If so, then 

 this spot can be noted as the homestead of the ancestors of 

 Dr. Nathaniel Bowditch. Dr. B's grandfather was the brother 

 of the above Joseph. 



At Joseph's death he bequeathed it to"his daughter, Mrs. 

 Elizabeth Jeffry, from whom it descended to her daughter, 

 the wife of Hon Nathan Read, a Representative in Congress 

 from this District. In 1799, it was sold to Capt. Joseph 

 Peabody, and remained in possession of his family until dt 

 was conveyed to the Proprietors of the Salem Athcn£eum,[|to 



