Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

1 Mass Arch., CXXVIII. 115, 116.

2 They could not speak by the authority of the town, because the town was prohibited from holding meetings, except once in each year for the choice of officers.

3 Mass. Arch., CXXIX. 3.

4 About two years before this Revolution, Cambridge lost one of her most eminent citizens, Maj.-gen. Daniel Gookin, more familiarly known as Major Gookin. Sad and disheartened at the loss of the Old Charter, yet cheered by the consciousness that he had faithfully and earnestly labored for its preservation, he survived the catastrophe not quite a year. He found rest from his labors and deliverance from oppression, March 19, 1686-7, at the ripe age of 75 years; and a large horizontal slab marks the spot of his sepulture in the old burial-place. In his will, dated Aug. 13, 1685, he says,— “I desire no ostentation or much cost to be expanded at my funeral, because it is a time of great tribulation, and my estate but little and weak.” Hence it has been supposed that he was quite poor. On the contrary, while he was not rich, the number of houses, and the quantity of silver plate and other goods bequeathed by him, in his will, denote that his estate was at least equal to the average at that period. His character is described very tersely by Judge Sewall, in his Journal: “March 19, Satterday, about 5 or 6 in the morn, Major Daniel Gookin dies. A right good man.”