Capt. Samuel Sanger

Distinguished for his athletic frame, personal dignity, moral integrity, courage, independence, and energy. During a long period of active life, he bore a conspicuous part in the civil transactions of Sherborn, and was eminently serviceable during the great conflicts for our liberties and the maintainance of the constitution against the rebellion of '87. Then it was, that his appeals, from the moderator's chair, were wont to rouse his townsmen to enthusiasm in their country's cause; so that no town of its size in this patriotic commonwealth, went before S. in the number of volunteers for the public service, or in promptness in furnishing supplies. To him Pomologists owe the discovery and first cultivation of the incomparable Porter apple. He inherited the ancient Sanger house, kept a small store and tavern, and once entertained Gen. Washington. As a landlord he did much to discourage idleness and excess. No man dared roll at his ninepins between one holiday and another. Gross offenders against decency and good order would hide from his presence, and feel more terror at his rebuke, than at all the fulminations of the pulpit. On the sabbath his bar was locked, and a key of gold could not open it; yet his rooms were open and fires free during the interim of divine service, while a solemnity befitting the day, reigned throughout the house, and no discourse was entered upon which could interrupt him in his uniform practice of reading the Bible. Whether his double share of Morse blood secured him an innate propensity to mirthfulness, is unknown. If so, he probably suppressed it, as incompatible with dignity; for his gravity was marked and uniform, and his presence produced in common minds a feeling of awe. Of this he was sensible and often turned it to a good account. Once the town was thrown into great excitement; the citizens assembled in town meeting, became tumultuous, so that reason could not utter her voice. Hearing of the disgraceful scene, the first perhaps, of the kind, that had ever then occurred in S., he, though more than 80 years old, hastened to the right of the moderator, where his act of uncovering himself to speak, like a magician's wand, hushed the tumult of voices into breathless and attentive silence.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: May 2 2016, 19:49:49 UTC

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: May 2 2016, 19:50:19 UTC