Samuel Dexter (Massachusetts politician)

Samuel Dexter (1726-1810[1][2]) was an early American politician from Dedham, Massachusetts. Born in 1726 in Dedham,[2] he was very smart but did not wish to follow his father, also named Samuel Dexter into the ministry at First Church and Parish in Dedham.[3] He married Hannah Sigourney in 1748.[2] His son, the third Samuel Dexter, served in the administrations of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

This article is about the Massachusetts politician. For his father, the minister, see Samuel Dexter (minister). For his son, the early American government official, see Samuel Dexter.
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Dexter moved from Dedham to Boston and earned "a modest fortune" with his "mercantile pursuits."[3] He retired back to Dedham at the age of 36 to the Samuel Dexter House.[3] For the next 13 years he was active in the community and served in the Great and General Court and on the Massachusetts Governor's Council as well as several other offices.[3]

He was active politically during the Revolutionary War[4] and kept a diary of his thoughts about the day's events.[5] During this time he served in the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.[3] He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1764 to 1767 and again in 1765, and 1785.[2] He was a selectman for five terms beginning in 1764,[6] justice of the peace, and town clerk in 1761.[2] He was also town clerk for a total of five years.[7]

Following the evacuation of Boston, General George Washington spent the night of April 4, 1776 at Dexter's home on his way to New York.[8] The house still stands today at 699 High Street.[9]

He resigned in 1776 in ill health and moved to Woodstock, Connecticut.[3] In his will he left $170 to the Dedham Public Schools.[1]

References
  1. Smith 1936, p. 119.
  2. Schutz, John A. (1997). Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780: A Biographical Dictionary. UPNE. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-55553-304-5. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  3. Smith 1936, p. 75.
  4. "A Capsule History of Dedham". Dedham Historical Society. 2006. Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
  5. Lockridge 1985, p. 112.
  6. Worthington 1827, p. 79-81.
  7. Worthington 1827, p. 79.
  8. Guide Book To New England Travel. 1919.
  9. Robert Hanson (1999). "Stories Behind the Pictures in the Images of America: Dedham Book". Dedham Historical Society News-Letter (December). Archived from the original on December 31, 2006.

Works cited
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