“MASSACHUSETTS.

New England Historical And Genealogical Society.— (Officers, Vol. I. p. 46). A stated meeting was held in Boston on Wednesday, December 2, 1857, Rev. Martin Moore, in the chair.

The library committee made a report of the donations since the last meeting, af.er which Mr. Drake, the corresponding^ secretary, read letters of acceptance from Hon. Reuben H. Walworth, of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Henry D. Paine, M. D., of Albany, N. Y., and John L. Blake, Esq., of Orange, N. J., as corresponding members; and from Ezra Wilkinson, Esq., of Dedham, Winslow Lewis, M. D. and J. Colburn, Esq., of Boston, as resident members. Seven resident and four corresponding members were elected.

Mr. Ephraim G. Ware, of Boston read a paper on the life and mechanical genius of Joseph Pope. The paper consisted chiefly of an interesting letter from a daughter of Mr. Pope, now living at an advanced age, addressed to her children. Mr. Pope was born at Boston Feb. 1, 1750 and learned the watchmakers’ trade which he carried on in his native town. In 1786 he finished an Orrery upon which he had been engaged for nine or ten years. He had quite an inventive genius and a great love for scientific studies; and was much respected by the leading men of Boston. …

The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Ware, Dr. Cornell, Gen. Sumner, and Col. Swett, and copies of their papers were requested for the archives.”

Reference Data:

The Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries Concerning the Antiquities, History and Biography of America, Vol. 2, by Dean, Shea and Stiles, 1858, page 15