James Frothingham Hunnewell

James Frothingham Hunnewell joined the Bostonian Society in 1869, and was sixth in seniority of membership when he died in Boston, November 11, 1910. He was born in Charlestown, Mass., July 3, 1832, and resided there and in Boston during his life. He was educated in the public schools, and with his father engaged in foreign commerce, from which he retired several years ago to devote himself to historical and antiquarian studies in which he had long been interested. He was also concerned with philanthropy and the management of trusts to both of which he gave much attention. He was for nearly half a century member of the Charlestown School Board, trustee of the Charlestown Public Library, member of the Standing Committee of the First Parish, president of the Charlestown Gas Company, vice-president of the Winchester Home for Aged Women, trustee of the Free Dispensary, trustee of the Five Cents Savings Bank, director of the Bunker Hill Monument Association, and in many ways as a good citizen served the community in which he lived.

In his travels he had collected many interesting and valuable books and records. As a local historian he had a high standing, and his publications show careful and discriminating study and research. Some of his more important works are "Bibliography of Charlestown and Bunker Hill," " Bibliography of the Hawaiian Islands," "Historical Monuments of France," "History of Charlestown, " “Hunnewell Genealogy," "The Imperial Island, England's Chronicle in Stone," and "Lands of Scott." He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society and of its Council, of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and of many business and social clubs. He has always shown a deep interest in this Society, has contributed to its Proceedings a paper on "Certain Great Monuments" to be found in new series, volume XVI, one on "Illustrated Americana," in three parts, to be found in new series. volumes VI and VII, one on "Notes on Early American Literature" to be found in new series, volume XI, one on "Several Great Libraries" to be found in new series, volume XIII. He has also given to the Society his own publications and has made an extremely liberal contribution to the fund now being raised. He was a very constant and interested attendant at our meetings, where his cordial greetings to all will be sadly missed. On April 3, 1872, he married Sarah M. Farnsworth, who with one son survives him.

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