Letter from Daniel Upton to James Savage, 1799 September 29

Daniel Upton wrote this letter from Machias, Maine on September 29, 1799; it is addressed to James Savage, who was then a freshman at Harvard College. In the letter, Upton advises Savage to study ardently, avoiding the temptation to procrastinate. He thanks Savage for having sent him a copy of "Mr. Lowell's oration" and sends greetings to a Mr. Holbrook and Mr. Jones. He also passes along the fond wishes of those in Machias who know Savage, including John Cooper and his wife, Phineas Bruce and his wife, and Hannah Bruce (Upton's future wife). Upton explains that he is writing the letter in a hurry because he is sending it on board with Captain Merryman, who is about to set sail, presumably for Boston.

Gift of Leon M. Little, February 1959.

Title supplied by cataloger.

The Massachusetts Historical Society has papers of James Savage in its collections. There are also other materials in the Harvard University Archives collections related to Savage, including one of his student themes and a guarantee of financial support for him, signed by William Tudor and John Cooper on July 25, 1799. Savage appears to have had some connection to Machias, Maine, as both John Cooper and Daniel Upton, residents of the town, were close friends.

James Savage (1784-1873) was born in Boston on July 13, 1784. He received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1803 and an A.M. in 1806. He then studied law, and began practicing in 1807. He became a well known lawyer, genealogist, and antiquarian, publishing the "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England" and annotated editions of John Winthrop’s "History of New England." He also served as librarian and president of the Massachusetts Historical Society. James Savage died in Boston in March 1873.

Daniel Putnam Upton was born in Reading, Massachusetts to Benjamin and Rebecca Upton on August 12, 1775. He attended Harvard College and received an A.B. in 1797. Following graduation, he moved to Machias, Maine, where he studied law under Phineas Bruce. He was admitted to the bar in 1800 and married his teacher's sister, Hannah Bruce, in October 1801. They settled in Eastport, Maine and had two children: Daniel Putnam in 1803 and George Bruce in 1804. Upton established a law practice in Eastport and was admitted to the supreme court in 1803 and commissioned a justice of the peace in 1804. Suffering from a pulmonary disease, Daniel Upton returned to his family home in Reading, Massachusetts, where he died on December 31, 1805.