History of Plainfield, (Nantucket County) Massachusetts United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Plainfield, (Nantucket County) Massachusetts, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Gerard Hallock, journalist, was born in Plainfield, Mass., March 18, 1800; son of the Rev. Moses Halleck. He was graduated at Williams, A.B., 1819, A.M., 1822, and in 1824 established in Boston the Telegraph, which in 1825 was merged into the Recorder. He removed to New York city in 1827, to assist in editing the New York Observer, of which he was part owner, and in 1828 became part owner with David Hale in the Journal of Commerce. In 1828 they obtained advance European news by intercepting incoming vessels at Sandy Hook, and in 1833 secured advance information from congress by an express coach between Philadelphia and New York, with eight relays of horses, and this relay was subsequently extended to Washington and finally resulted in the Halifax express. Although a pro-slavery Democrat, he was a friend of the slaves, believing in emancipation through compensation to owners, and he personally purchased the freedom of upwards of one hundred slaves, whom he transported to Liberia. He contributed $119,000 to erect and maintain a church in New Haven, Conn., and founded the Southern Aid society when the American home mission society withdrew its support from the churches maintained by slave-holders. When the government in 1861 denied the use of the mails to the Journal of Commerce, Mr. Halleck retired from journalism and from all participation in public affairs. He died in New Haven, Conn., Jan. 4, 1866.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Martha Joanna Ronnie Nash Lamb, historian, was born in Plainfield, Mass., Aug. 13, 1829; daughter of Arvin and Lucinda (Vinton) Nash, and granddaughter of Jacob and Joanna (Reade) Nash. Her first paternal ancestor in America came over in the Mayflower in 1620, and her maternal ancestors were French Huguenots, who settled in America about 1640. She was well educated and at an early age wrote poetry and stories and became interested in historical research. She was married in 1852 to Charles A. Lamb of Ohio, and resided in that state until 1858, when she removed to Chicago, Ill. She was influential in founding the Home for the Friendless and the Half Orphan asylum in Chicago, and was made secretary of U.S. Sanitary fair, in 1863. In 1866 she removed to New York city, where she devoted herself to historical and literary work, and edited the Magazine of American History, 1883-98. She was a member of many historical and learned societies in America and Europe. Her most important work is: The History of the City of New York (9 vols., 1877-81). She is also the author of eight books for children (1869-70); Spicy, a novel (1878); Lyme, a Chapter on Chief-Justice Waite and His Home (1876); State and Society in Washington (1878); The Homes of America (1879); Memorial of Dr. J. D. Russ (1880); The Christmas Owl (1881); Snow and Sunshine (juvenile, 1882); The Christmas Basket (juvenile, 1882); Wall Street in History (1883); Historical Sketch of New York (tenth census, 1888). She died in New York city, Jan. 2, 1893.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor