FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE HOLTON LIBRARY. It seems especially proper that the Trustees of the Holton Library should commence their first Annual Report with a brief notice of its founder. The following biographical sketch has been prepared by the Rev. Frederic A. Whitney, in accordance with a vote of the Board. JAMES HOLTON was born in Brighton, then the south part of Cambridge, Thursday, April 10, 1800, oldest child of Major Benjamin and Mary (Shed) Holton, and died there unmarried, the last of his family, at the estate inherited from his father, on Faneuil Street, but which had not been his birthplace, Wednesday, April 29, 1863, aged sixty-three years and nineteen days. The benignant countenance and the silver locks of his father, Major Holton, as he was designated, will be long remembered by most of our citizens as he appeared in our streets, and in his pew at the First Church, forenoon and afternoon, until he had reached * On page 3, Rules and Regulations Holton Library, substitute April 10 for April 12, as his birthday. The same error may be corrected in a notice of his family on page 21 "Champney Genealogy." Also, in connection with this error in the Genealogy, the date of his father's marriage should read May 3, 1799, not May 2, 1779, and the name of his grandmother should be Hephzibah, not Mary. nearly fourscore years. He, also, was a native of this place, having been born here on Washington Street, north side, near Allston Street, in a house which stood on the present site of Mr. Horace Jordan's house, February 13, 1775, son of James Holton and Rebecca (Brown) Champney, widow of Solomon Champney. Solomon Champney, grandfather of our Selectman, Mr. William Champney, having been accidentally killed here, by falling from his team, April 3, 1763, his widow married, January 2, 1766, James Holton, who died here April 16, 1789, aged 60. She was of New Ipswich, N. H.; was admitted Communicant of the First Church here, then the Third Church of Cambridge, March 27,1785, and died in the family of her son, Mr. Nathaniel Champney, with whom she had lived several years a widow, October 27, 1805, aged 71 years. James Holton, the grandfather of our donor, came to this country from Scotland. He married for his first wife, Jerusha Blake, daughter of John Blake, of Boston, and Susanna Smith, of Cambridge. From the tattered leaves of an old Bible of the Blake family, which came into the possession of the Holton family, I transcribe these fragmentary entries :— John Blake and Susanna Smith were married Feb. the Jerusha Blake and James Holton were married July 4, 1756. Mr. John Blake departed this life March the 20th, 1756, and was buried 25th day. Jerusha Blake,—her book being the gift of her mother,―May 20, 1756. Mrs. Susanna Blake died April 2-, and was buried 26th day. Jerusha Holton departed this life August 11, 1764, aged 29, and was buried 15th. February 12, 1772, Rebecca Holton was born, daughter of James. Nathan Champney, son to James and Rebecca Holton, was born July 18, 1761. Susanna Smith, (Mrs. John Blake, of Boston,) was sister to Mr. Ebenezer Smith, of this place, (son of Henry and Lydia (Buck) Smith, of Cambridge,) a man of very large estate, who died here |