The New England Historical and Genealogical Register - July 1912
Hon. John Taggard Blodgett A.M.
by Amasa Mason Eaton A.M. LL.B
John Taggard Blodgett a resident member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society from
1906, and elected its Vice-President for Rhode Island at the annual meeting preceding his death was born in Belmont Massachusetts, May 16, 1859, the son of William Alfred and Anna Marcia (Taggard) Blodgett, his line of descent from Thomas Blodgett, born in England in 1605, who came from London, England, to Boston, Massachusetts in the "Increase" in 1635, and settled at Cambridge, being through David, Thomas, Joseph, Jonathan, Jabez, Alfred, to William Alfred his father.
His great-great grandfather Jonathan Blodgett of Hudson, New Hampshire, answered the
"Lexington Alarm" April 19, 1775, and served later as a private in a New Hampshire regiment.
He was a great-great grandson of William Taggard of Hillsboro, New Hampshire ensign and
lieutenant in the Second New Hampshire Regiment, 1776-1780; and also the great-grandson of Bartholomew Trow of Charlestown Massachusetts, a member of the "Boston Tea Party," a minute
man at Lexington April 19, 1775, lieutenant in colonel Thomas Gardner's regiment at Bunker Hill,
June 17, 1775, and captain in the 25th Massachusetts Regiment at the siege of Quebec in 1776.
He was a great-great grandson of Hezekiah Welch of Boston, second lieutenant of the frigate
"Boston" in 1778; and he was the great-grandson of Ebenezer Welsh of Boston, midshipman
in the Revolution.
He received his early education in the public schools of Belmont and of Watertown, Mass.,
and was graduated from the Watertown High School in 1875, and from Worcester Academy in
1876. He then entered Brown University, and was graduated with his class in 1880, being a
member of the Society of Phi Beta Kappa, and receiving three years later from the college
the degree of A.M.
Upon graduation he entered upon the study of law in the office of Benjamin N. Lapham in
Providence. There he comnpleted the regular course of three years' study, and passing with
brilliancy the bar examinations, he was admitted to practice, in the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals in 1895, his law practice relating principally to corporation and banking business.
He was United States Commissioner for the District of Rhode Island from 1890 to 1897; and he
became supervisor of Federal elections in Rhode Island in 1891, remaining in that office until
the repeal of the Federal election law, the duties of the office being to inspect the list of voters
and to see that no fraud was practiced in Federal elections. The familiarity with election laws thus acquired led him to prepare and to carry through a state law relating to the appointment and
defining the powers and duties of the Board of Canvassers and Registration. Upon its passage in
1895 he was appointed a member and became its chairman, remaining so until he became a
member of the Supreme Court of the state.
He was a member of the House of Representatives from the city of Providence from 1898 to 1900,
and took a leading part while a member in drafting and securing the adoption of important
legislation relating to the city. His experience upon the board of canvasses led to his appointment
in 1900 as chairman of a commission to revise the ward lines of the city of Providence.
He was chairman of the Rhode Island Commission to the Jamestown Exposition of 1907.
In 1900 he was elected by the General Assembly Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode
Island, remaining in that office until his death, at Providence March 4, 1912.
An examination of his opinion in the Rhode Island Reports illustrates his throughness of research,
his scholarship, capacity for work, and independence of judgement, especially in some of the dissenting opinions he delivered.
Besides his association with this Society, Judge Blodgett was a member of the Rhode Island
Historical Society of Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a corresponding member of
The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and contributed a paper upon "The Political Theory of
the Mayflower Compact" to its Transactions in 1909.
He married first, March 28, 1883, Amelia Wilson Torrey, daughter of Moses Eddy and Amelia
(Wilson) Torrey of Providence, by whom he had a son, Moses Torrey, who died soon after his birth,
and a daughter Gwendolen. On August 15, 1900, he married his second wife, Amy de Lacy Bemiss,
daughter of Dr. Samuel Merrifield and Frances (Lockert) Bemiss of New Orleans, Louisiana, who
survives him, with the daughter by his first wife, Gwendolen Blodgett.
Hon. John Taggard Blodgett A.M.
by Amasa Mason Eaton A.M. LL.B
John Taggard Blodgett a resident member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society from
1906, and elected its Vice-President for Rhode Island at the annual meeting preceding his death was born in Belmont Massachusetts, May 16, 1859, the son of William Alfred and Anna Marcia (Taggard) Blodgett, his line of descent from Thomas Blodgett, born in England in 1605, who came from London, England, to Boston, Massachusetts in the "Increase" in 1635, and settled at Cambridge, being through David, Thomas, Joseph, Jonathan, Jabez, Alfred, to William Alfred his father.
His great-great grandfather Jonathan Blodgett of Hudson, New Hampshire, answered the
"Lexington Alarm" April 19, 1775, and served later as a private in a New Hampshire regiment.
He was a great-great grandson of William Taggard of Hillsboro, New Hampshire ensign and
lieutenant in the Second New Hampshire Regiment, 1776-1780; and also the great-grandson of Bartholomew Trow of Charlestown Massachusetts, a member of the "Boston Tea Party," a minute
man at Lexington April 19, 1775, lieutenant in colonel Thomas Gardner's regiment at Bunker Hill,
June 17, 1775, and captain in the 25th Massachusetts Regiment at the siege of Quebec in 1776.
He was a great-great grandson of Hezekiah Welch of Boston, second lieutenant of the frigate
"Boston" in 1778; and he was the great-grandson of Ebenezer Welsh of Boston, midshipman
in the Revolution.
He received his early education in the public schools of Belmont and of Watertown, Mass.,
and was graduated from the Watertown High School in 1875, and from Worcester Academy in
1876. He then entered Brown University, and was graduated with his class in 1880, being a
member of the Society of Phi Beta Kappa, and receiving three years later from the college
the degree of A.M.
Upon graduation he entered upon the study of law in the office of Benjamin N. Lapham in
Providence. There he comnpleted the regular course of three years' study, and passing with
brilliancy the bar examinations, he was admitted to practice, in the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals in 1895, his law practice relating principally to corporation and banking business.
He was United States Commissioner for the District of Rhode Island from 1890 to 1897; and he
became supervisor of Federal elections in Rhode Island in 1891, remaining in that office until
the repeal of the Federal election law, the duties of the office being to inspect the list of voters
and to see that no fraud was practiced in Federal elections. The familiarity with election laws thus acquired led him to prepare and to carry through a state law relating to the appointment and
defining the powers and duties of the Board of Canvassers and Registration. Upon its passage in
1895 he was appointed a member and became its chairman, remaining so until he became a
member of the Supreme Court of the state.
He was a member of the House of Representatives from the city of Providence from 1898 to 1900,
and took a leading part while a member in drafting and securing the adoption of important
legislation relating to the city. His experience upon the board of canvasses led to his appointment
in 1900 as chairman of a commission to revise the ward lines of the city of Providence.
He was chairman of the Rhode Island Commission to the Jamestown Exposition of 1907.
In 1900 he was elected by the General Assembly Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode
Island, remaining in that office until his death, at Providence March 4, 1912.
An examination of his opinion in the Rhode Island Reports illustrates his throughness of research,
his scholarship, capacity for work, and independence of judgement, especially in some of the dissenting opinions he delivered.
Besides his association with this Society, Judge Blodgett was a member of the Rhode Island
Historical Society of Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a corresponding member of
The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and contributed a paper upon "The Political Theory of
the Mayflower Compact" to its Transactions in 1909.
He married first, March 28, 1883, Amelia Wilson Torrey, daughter of Moses Eddy and Amelia
(Wilson) Torrey of Providence, by whom he had a son, Moses Torrey, who died soon after his birth,
and a daughter Gwendolen. On August 15, 1900, he married his second wife, Amy de Lacy Bemiss,
daughter of Dr. Samuel Merrifield and Frances (Lockert) Bemiss of New Orleans, Louisiana, who
survives him, with the daughter by his first wife, Gwendolen Blodgett.
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register - July 1912
Hon. John Taggard Blodgett A.M.
by Amasa Mason Eaton A.M. LL.B
John Taggard Blodgett a resident member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society from
1906, and elected its Vice-President for Rhode Island at the annual meeting preceding his death was born in Belmont Massachusetts, May 16, 1859, the son of William Alfred and Anna Marcia (Taggard) Blodgett, his line of descent from Thomas Blodgett, born in England in 1605, who came from London, England, to Boston, Massachusetts in the "Increase" in 1635, and settled at Cambridge, being through David, Thomas, Joseph, Jonathan, Jabez, Alfred, to William Alfred his father.
His great-great grandfather Jonathan Blodgett of Hudson, New Hampshire, answered the
"Lexington Alarm" April 19, 1775, and served later as a private in a New Hampshire regiment.
He was a great-great grandson of William Taggard of Hillsboro, New Hampshire ensign and
lieutenant in the Second New Hampshire Regiment, 1776-1780; and also the great-grandson of Bartholomew Trow of Charlestown Massachusetts, a member of the "Boston Tea Party," a minute
man at Lexington April 19, 1775, lieutenant in colonel Thomas Gardner's regiment at Bunker Hill,
June 17, 1775, and captain in the 25th Massachusetts Regiment at the siege of Quebec in 1776.
He was a great-great grandson of Hezekiah Welch of Boston, second lieutenant of the frigate
"Boston" in 1778; and he was the great-grandson of Ebenezer Welsh of Boston, midshipman
in the Revolution.
He received his early education in the public schools of Belmont and of Watertown, Mass.,
and was graduated from the Watertown High School in 1875, and from Worcester Academy in
1876. He then entered Brown University, and was graduated with his class in 1880, being a
member of the Society of Phi Beta Kappa, and receiving three years later from the college
the degree of A.M.
Upon graduation he entered upon the study of law in the office of Benjamin N. Lapham in
Providence. There he comnpleted the regular course of three years' study, and passing with
brilliancy the bar examinations, he was admitted to practice, in the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals in 1895, his law practice relating principally to corporation and banking business.
He was United States Commissioner for the District of Rhode Island from 1890 to 1897; and he
became supervisor of Federal elections in Rhode Island in 1891, remaining in that office until
the repeal of the Federal election law, the duties of the office being to inspect the list of voters
and to see that no fraud was practiced in Federal elections. The familiarity with election laws thus acquired led him to prepare and to carry through a state law relating to the appointment and
defining the powers and duties of the Board of Canvassers and Registration. Upon its passage in
1895 he was appointed a member and became its chairman, remaining so until he became a
member of the Supreme Court of the state.
He was a member of the House of Representatives from the city of Providence from 1898 to 1900,
and took a leading part while a member in drafting and securing the adoption of important
legislation relating to the city. His experience upon the board of canvasses led to his appointment
in 1900 as chairman of a commission to revise the ward lines of the city of Providence.
He was chairman of the Rhode Island Commission to the Jamestown Exposition of 1907.
In 1900 he was elected by the General Assembly Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode
Island, remaining in that office until his death, at Providence March 4, 1912.
An examination of his opinion in the Rhode Island Reports illustrates his throughness of research,
his scholarship, capacity for work, and independence of judgement, especially in some of the dissenting opinions he delivered.
Besides his association with this Society, Judge Blodgett was a member of the Rhode Island
Historical Society of Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a corresponding member of
The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and contributed a paper upon "The Political Theory of
the Mayflower Compact" to its Transactions in 1909.
He married first, March 28, 1883, Amelia Wilson Torrey, daughter of Moses Eddy and Amelia
(Wilson) Torrey of Providence, by whom he had a son, Moses Torrey, who died soon after his birth,
and a daughter Gwendolen. On August 15, 1900, he married his second wife, Amy de Lacy Bemiss,
daughter of Dr. Samuel Merrifield and Frances (Lockert) Bemiss of New Orleans, Louisiana, who
survives him, with the daughter by his first wife, Gwendolen Blodgett.
Hon. John Taggard Blodgett A.M.
by Amasa Mason Eaton A.M. LL.B
John Taggard Blodgett a resident member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society from
1906, and elected its Vice-President for Rhode Island at the annual meeting preceding his death was born in Belmont Massachusetts, May 16, 1859, the son of William Alfred and Anna Marcia (Taggard) Blodgett, his line of descent from Thomas Blodgett, born in England in 1605, who came from London, England, to Boston, Massachusetts in the "Increase" in 1635, and settled at Cambridge, being through David, Thomas, Joseph, Jonathan, Jabez, Alfred, to William Alfred his father.
His great-great grandfather Jonathan Blodgett of Hudson, New Hampshire, answered the
"Lexington Alarm" April 19, 1775, and served later as a private in a New Hampshire regiment.
He was a great-great grandson of William Taggard of Hillsboro, New Hampshire ensign and
lieutenant in the Second New Hampshire Regiment, 1776-1780; and also the great-grandson of Bartholomew Trow of Charlestown Massachusetts, a member of the "Boston Tea Party," a minute
man at Lexington April 19, 1775, lieutenant in colonel Thomas Gardner's regiment at Bunker Hill,
June 17, 1775, and captain in the 25th Massachusetts Regiment at the siege of Quebec in 1776.
He was a great-great grandson of Hezekiah Welch of Boston, second lieutenant of the frigate
"Boston" in 1778; and he was the great-grandson of Ebenezer Welsh of Boston, midshipman
in the Revolution.
He received his early education in the public schools of Belmont and of Watertown, Mass.,
and was graduated from the Watertown High School in 1875, and from Worcester Academy in
1876. He then entered Brown University, and was graduated with his class in 1880, being a
member of the Society of Phi Beta Kappa, and receiving three years later from the college
the degree of A.M.
Upon graduation he entered upon the study of law in the office of Benjamin N. Lapham in
Providence. There he comnpleted the regular course of three years' study, and passing with
brilliancy the bar examinations, he was admitted to practice, in the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals in 1895, his law practice relating principally to corporation and banking business.
He was United States Commissioner for the District of Rhode Island from 1890 to 1897; and he
became supervisor of Federal elections in Rhode Island in 1891, remaining in that office until
the repeal of the Federal election law, the duties of the office being to inspect the list of voters
and to see that no fraud was practiced in Federal elections. The familiarity with election laws thus acquired led him to prepare and to carry through a state law relating to the appointment and
defining the powers and duties of the Board of Canvassers and Registration. Upon its passage in
1895 he was appointed a member and became its chairman, remaining so until he became a
member of the Supreme Court of the state.
He was a member of the House of Representatives from the city of Providence from 1898 to 1900,
and took a leading part while a member in drafting and securing the adoption of important
legislation relating to the city. His experience upon the board of canvasses led to his appointment
in 1900 as chairman of a commission to revise the ward lines of the city of Providence.
He was chairman of the Rhode Island Commission to the Jamestown Exposition of 1907.
In 1900 he was elected by the General Assembly Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode
Island, remaining in that office until his death, at Providence March 4, 1912.
An examination of his opinion in the Rhode Island Reports illustrates his throughness of research,
his scholarship, capacity for work, and independence of judgement, especially in some of the dissenting opinions he delivered.
Besides his association with this Society, Judge Blodgett was a member of the Rhode Island
Historical Society of Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a corresponding member of
The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and contributed a paper upon "The Political Theory of
the Mayflower Compact" to its Transactions in 1909.
He married first, March 28, 1883, Amelia Wilson Torrey, daughter of Moses Eddy and Amelia
(Wilson) Torrey of Providence, by whom he had a son, Moses Torrey, who died soon after his birth,
and a daughter Gwendolen. On August 15, 1900, he married his second wife, Amy de Lacy Bemiss,
daughter of Dr. Samuel Merrifield and Frances (Lockert) Bemiss of New Orleans, Louisiana, who
survives him, with the daughter by his first wife, Gwendolen Blodgett.
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