516  Memoir  of  Prof .  Wm.  Procter,  Jr.  { 
no  one  can  read  it  without  remarking  its  originality  and  candor,  and 
the  earnest  desire  of  the  writer  that  she  whom  he  had  chosen  to  share 
his  portion  in  life  should  know  all  he  could  tell  her  regarding  himself 
and  prospects  before  making  her  decision. 
Isaac  Procter  continued  to  reside  in  Baltimore  to  the  time  of 
his  decease  (by  yellow  fever)  on  the  7th  day  of  Seventh  month,  1820, 
William  Procter,  Jr.,  (the  junior  being  added  to  distinguish  him 
from  his  uncle  William)  was  the  ninth  and  youngest  child  of  Isaac 
and  Rebecca  Procter.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore  on  the 
3d  of  Fifth  month,  1817.  When  a  little  over  three  years  of  age  he 
lost  his  father  ;  unexpected  claims  were  made  upon  the  estate,  which, 
although  considered  by  the  family  unjust,  were  not  resisted,  and  in 
consequence  William  was  deprived  of  the  liberal  education  which 
would  have  befitted  a  mind  so  well  calculated  to  receive  generous  in- 
struction, and  would  have  given  additional  lustre  to  his  mature  years. 
A  companion  of  his  boyhood*  writes :  "  We  were  boys  together 
from  six  to  ten  years  of  age  at  a  Friends'  school  in  Baltimore,  taught 
by  a  lady  of  rare  gifts  and  attainments.  He  was  studious,  gentle 
and  companionable,  and  greatly  beloved  by  his  teachers  and  class- 
mates. His  powers  of  observation  were  very  early  developed,  and, 
as  a  child,  nothing  escaped  his  notice;  he  would  interest  other  boys  in 
stones  that  he  would  pick  up  in  the  streets,  or  in  general  subjects 
that  would  arrest  his  own  mind.  Mineralogy  was  his  especial  delight 
and  study  at  this  early  age  ;  while  other  boys  would  spend  their 
weekly  holiday  in  play,  he  would  start  early,  with  a  lunch  in  his 
pocket  and  a  steel  hammer  in  his  hand,  and  spend  the  whole  day 
with  a  companion  in  the  '  quarries  '  north  of  the  city,  or  in  the  4  deep 
cuts  '  of  the  iron  district,  or  at  the  4  Bare  Hills.'  The  boys  at  school 
were  always  interested  in  his  specimens,  and  many  a  young  mineral- 
ogist received  his  taste  and  first  lessons  from  this  young  teacher.  My 
mind  is  full  of  pleasant  and  affectionate  memories  of  him,  for  he  was 
one  of  the  brightest,  purest  and  best  boys  I  ever  knew." 
The  husband  of  his  eldest  sister  being  disqualified  by  sickness 
from  attending  to  his  business — that  of  a  cooper — William  was  at  an 
early  age  taken  from  school  to  look  after  the  affairs  of  his  sister,  and 
in  the  cooper  shop  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  tools  and  a  dexterity 
in  the  use  of  them  which  served  him  many  a  useful  turn  in  after  life. 
Through  an  intimacy  existing  between  his  mother  and  Tabitha 
*  Francis  T.  King  of  Baltimore. 
