Person:Ralph Pope (1)

According to "a History of the Dorchester Pope Family", Ralph,son of Ralph and Rachel (Neale), was born Nov. l0, 1705. He married Nov. 27, 1729, Rebecca, daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Lobdell) Stubbs, of Hull, Rev. Ezra Carpenter officiating.

Dr. Ralph Pope lived on what was originally called "The Road to Dorchester Swamp," or rather on a continuation of that road, near the Bridgewater line. It is now called Sumner Street. His brother Lazarus lived on an adjoining tract; his house faced in the opposite direction, on the "Bristol Turnpike," a parallel road. This tract their father had bequeathed them, as we have learned from his will, leaving the mill he had built for their joint use. These places passed to their sons, and remained long in their families.

The first tax-list in Stoughton which bears Ralph Pope's name is that for the year 1731. July 15th of that year he and his wife united with the church (now Canton) and on the same day he brought for baptism his daughter, Rebecca. In due time each child was taken over all the seven miles of bad road to be christened ; usually when several months old, so permitting the mother to participate in the ceremonies. The family were " constant worshippers," tradition says, making their way to the "meeting-house" on horseback or afoot.

In a town record of 1747 we read of "Dr. Ralph Pope" and the name of "Capt. Ralph Pope" occurs on the Stoughton Tax List, Aug. 25. 1748. The former title indicates his profession, that of physician. He may have pursued some studies at Harvard College, but was not a graduate ; tradition points to Compton, Rhode Island, as the place, and Rev. Richard Billings as the instructor of his medical training. Nothing has come down concerning his practice of medicine, except that "he always refused, fees for services on the Sabbath." His character left its impress ; his name has stood through four generations as "a kind and benevolent man, greatly beloved by those who knew him."

He carried on a farm, and was a partner in the lumber business with his brother. He owned at least one slave. But the estimate he placed on him was humane ; as is seen from the circumstance that he had the man baptized at the same church and on the same day as his own first-born child, the register so proving. It is also on record that "Scipio, a negro slave to Dr. Ralph Pope, and Mary Sloame, an Indian, were married Dec. 22, 1747." They lived in a house near the mill, whose cellar-ruin was known until a recent day as "Scip's cellar." The origin of the title "Captain" does not come to light. The "War ofthe Spanish Succession" or "King George's War" had been involving our English colonies in strife with those of France in Canada. Perhaps the Doctor had been, like his uncle, half a century before, on a campaign thither; or, like his son, thirty years afterward, he may have served in the defence of the coast. But there is history under that word "captain." Whether military service had anything to do with shortening his days, we cannot tell ; but he died in middle life "of nervous fever, Jan. 1, 1749-50."

The gravestone erected to his memory soon after, is still standing in the cemetery at Stoughton village, an interesting memorial of a good man.

In Memory of Doctr Ralph Pope, he Died Janry 1. 1750 Aged 44 Years. You Reader stay & lend a Tear Think of the Dust that slumbers here & when you thus my silence see Think on the glass that runs for thee.

The Will of Dr. Ralph Pope, of Stoughton

" In the name of God Amen. This Twenty-fourth day of December, A.D., 1749, and in the Twenty-Third year of His Majesty's Reign, Our Sovereign Lord, George the 2d, King of Great Britain, etc."

I, Ralph Pope, of Stoughton, in the County of Suffolk, and within His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England; Gentleman. Being weak in Body but of perfect mind and Memory, Blessed be God, But calling to mind the mortality of my body; and that it is appointed unto all men once to die; do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament. That is to say, first and principally of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God who gave it. Trusting alone for salvation, in the merits and Righteousness of Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer. And my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried by a decent Christian burial, at the discretion of my Executors, hereinafter named. Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection of the Dead, I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God. "And as touching such worldly Estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this Life ; I give and dispose in manner and form following."

Imprimis, I give and bequeathe unto my Well Beloved Wife Rebecca, the use and improvement of my whole Estate so long as she remains my widow. But if she should marry, then I give her one half my Dwelling House and privilege in the Cellar, with Ten Acres of my Land. And I empower my Executrix to sell so much of my Land out of the Eighth Range as shall be necessary to pay all my Just debts and Funeral Expenses.

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my two sons Frederick Pope and Samuel Ward Pope, and to their Heirs and Assigns forever. The remaining part of my Land in the Eighth Range, and also another piece of Land lying in the Town of Easton, which I lately bought of Peter Sallard, with a Dwelling House and Orchard thereon, containing about Eight Acres. Also,

I give to my two sons Frederick and Samuel Ward Pope, my whole Right and Interest in the Meadow, called Iron Mine Meadow. And also. One half my Saw Mill, with all my Right and privilege thereunto belonging. Also I give unto my two sons Frederick Pope and Samuel Ward Pope, Fifteen Acres of Land out of the Seventh Range, at the South West part of the said Range; and I also give them Pine Timber enough to make Three Thousand feet of Boards apiece, to build their Houses with."

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my two sons William Pope and James Pope, and to their Heirs and Assigns forever, All the remaining part of my land with my Dwelling House and other Buildings thereon.

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Rebecca Pope, and to her Heirs and Assigns forever. One Hundred and Fifty Pounds in Bills of Old Tenor, to be paid on her Marriage day out of my personal Estate. But if she should not marry, the above sum not to be paid her until she arrive at the age of Twenty-four years. Also, I give her One Hundred and Sixty Pounds in Bills of Old Tenor to be paid her by my son Frederick Pope, in Three Years after he comes of age.

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Lucretia Pope, the Sum of One Hundred Pounds in Bills of Old Tenor, to be paid her by my son Samuel Ward Pope, after he arrives at the age of Twenty-One Years; and in One Year after, the sum of One Hundred Pounds more in like Bills of Old Tenor.

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Rachel Pope, the sum of One Hundred Pounds in Bills of Old Tenor, to be paid her by my son William Pope, in one year after he arrive at the age of Twenty- One Years, and One Hundred Pounds more in One year after, in like Bills of Old Tenor. And in One year after. One Hundred and Ten Pounds.

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Hannah Pope, the sum of One Hundred Pounds in Bills of Old Tenor; to be paid her by my son James Pope, after he arrive at the age of Twenty-One years j And in One year after One Hundred Pounds more in like Bills of Old Tenor. And in One year after to pay her the sum of One Hundred and Ten Pounds in like Bills of Old Tenor. Provided my Four sons Frederick Pope, Samuel Ward Pope, William and James Pope, or either of them, should refuse to pay either of their sisters, what I have ordered them to pay unto them, I hereby give my Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament, full Power and authority, to make sale of so much of the Land I have given them.

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my two sons Frederick Pope and Samuel Ward Pope, all my Personal Estate and Husbandry Tools.

Item, I give and bequeathe unto my two daughters, Rebecca Pope and Lucretia Pope, all my indoor movables that are not yet disposed of. And I do hereby constitute and appoint my Well Beloved Wife to be sole Executrix, of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this day and year first above written.

Signed, sealed and delivered in the Presence of us, Elias Monk, William Glover,

" The above written Will being presented by Rebecca Pope, the Executrix above named, to the Probate, Elias Monk, William Glover and Lazarus Pope made Oath that they saw Ralph sign the above named Will, and heard him declare it to be his Last Will and Testament. And that they set their.Hands and seals as witnesses thereof." January . . ,1750.

Daughters

Concerning the daughters of Dr. Ralph, we take the following from the work of Col. William Pope:

Rebecca, the eldest, married Mr. Thomas Glover, of Dorchester, Feb. 20, 1752, and lived in Stoughton, about one mile from the first-built meeting house, on the road leading to Easton. She had eleven children, all but one of whom married and had families. At the time of her death, in 1812, she had seventyfive grandchildren. She was a useful and industrious woman, a good wife, and a kind mother. Mr. Thomas Glover died in Stoughton, Jan. 5, 181 1 aged 88 years. She survived him, and died Aug. 11, 1812, aged 84 years.

Lucretia, the second daughter, married James Pike, of Boston, Jan. 16, 1772, and went there to live. He died in Boston, leaving two children, viz., James, born about 1774, married Mary Whitney, of Newton, Aug. 23, 1802, died in Boston, Sept. 17, 1835, aged 63 ; and Lucretia, born in Boston about 1777, who married Elisha Tolman, of Concord, and went there to live. She had six children, born in Concord, viz., Elisha, Albert, James, Lucretia (who married Lysander Bascom), Abby, and Benjamin Tolman.

Rachel, third daughter, married Daniel Littlefield, of North Bridgewater, Aug. 31, 1758, and went there to live. They had one son, Ralph Pope Littlefield, born 1760, died young. She died in North Bridgewater, , 1760, aged 19 years; and Daniel Littlefield married, 2d, Catharine Cole, daughter of Joseph and Mary Cole, and sister of Mary, who married Frederick Pope.

Hannah, fourth daughter, married Alexander Glover,* Dec. 28, 1769, and went to Dorchester to live. They had six children —three sons and three daughters. She died in Dorchester, Sept. 28, 1825, aged 81 years. She was a woman of superior abilities."

Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780 Stoughton HR 1740, 41M; selectman 1744, 45; capt. 1744; M Rebecca Stubbs (j1707-1791) in 1729, 9 ch; farmer, MD; will. Good estate; owned sawmill, two slaves. "A kind and benevolent man, greatly beloved by those who knew him." "He always refused fees for services [as an MD] on the Sabbath." No committees.

Dr. Ralph Pope

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 New England Historic Genealogical Society. NEGHR
   Vol. 143, p.337.
2.   Pope, Charles Henry. History of the Dorchester Pope Family, 1634-1888: With Sketches of Other Popes in England and America, and Notes Upon Several Intermarrying Families. (Boston: Charles Henry Pope, 1888)
   p.111-117.