76 The HAZARD FAMILY

in the whaling trade. In 189.4. he was one of the committee of thirty prominent men appointed at a mass—meeting held April 20, in City Hall, to secure the re- appointment of DeWitt Clinton, as Commissioner of the Erie Canal,—one of the most exciting incidents of the political history of that period.

Anna Rodman, the wife of Thomas Hazard, was born in the Rodman homestead, at Newport, Rhode Island, June 24., 1762. Her father was Thomas Rodman, son" of Samuel Rodman and Mary, daughter of Colonel Thomas Willett, of Flush— ing, Long Island. Samuel Rodman was son of Thomas Rodman and Hannah Clarke, daughter of Governor Walter Clarke. He came to Newport, Rhode Is- land, in I 67 5, from the Barbadoes, where his father, John Rodman, owned a planta— tion. Thomas Rodman was born December 20, 1723—4, and was lost at sea, oflr Newport, November 16, 1766. He was returning home from England, where he had gone to collect a large amount of money due him, and being rendered help— less by an attack of gout, was the only person unable to save himself. He mar— ried, April 5, 1750, Mary, daughter of Abraham Borden and Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Wanton. Mary Borden, mother of Anna Rodman, was born January 10, 1729, and died at New Bedford, February 19, 1798. Anna Rodman and her sisters were beautiful and accomplished women, in reference to whom the follow- ing tradition has been handed down to us: An Englishman of high rank, while drinking tea at Mrs. Rodman’s, paid her the graceful compliment of saying, that “ Newport was the garden of America, and her three daughters the choicest flowers therein.” It must be remembered that before the Revolution, Newport was a large centre of wealth and refinement, and an important seaport. The discomfort occasioned by the Revolutionary war became so great that Mrs. Rodman and her family removed to Leicester, Massachusetts, in 1770, where they remained until peace was declared. Several letters which have been preserved, indicate that the young ladies did not enjoy the change of society, and tradition states that one reason Mrs. Rodman left Newport was, that she was afraid her daughters might marry English oflicers,—— the profession of arms being contrary to the Friends’ creed. It may be well to state here that the families were all Friends, and all wore

their distinctive dress. We insert an old love—letter of Thomas Hazard’s, as a delightful specimen of

old—time courtship : ——

“ To M55 flnna Rodman

Moft divine and incomparable Charmer, Imagining a Lady of your Delicacy could not be agreeably Entertained with things of Earthly nature, I’m refolved to take the Tour of the happy Regions above, prefent your Ladyfhip with a fmall Collection of Gods and Godeffes, for your particular Service, and as to Madam Venus you may depend upon’t the Jade f hall cry heartily through Envy before I have done with her, and confefs in fpite of her teeth, that there is one Nancy Rodman infinitely more charming than f be is; I intend likewife to make Sal pop behind a Cloud, in acknowledgement of your Superior Lustre, and fend the Stars pack- ing, as an unneceffary Illumination, the Moon f hall tramp off as afhamed of her Dullnefs, and

the weftern Skies fhall no more boaft of their Colour; in fine, Madam, I intend to perform many