John Campbell (Dr)

M, #1112, b. 7 August 1754, d. 1820
Father*Duncan Campbell b. 27 Mar 1727, d. 13 Jun 1795
Mother*Elizabeth Stearns b. 1730, d. 18 Nov 1821
ChartsJohn Campbell (Rev) (Immigrant 1717)
Reference128.43
Birth*7 August 1754 John Campbell (Dr) was born on 7 August 1754 at Oxford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.1 
(MentionedIn) Will1 August 1760 Was mentioned in the will of John Campbell (Rev) (Immigrant 1717) on 1 August 1760; He gives to his wife Esther one moiety of all his household movables and furniture, excepting bonds, notes, accounts, clothing, library and gun, also his spoons and gold rings : to be used and improved by her during her life and afterward to go to Mary Twiss and Isabella Wolcott, his daughters ; also a comfortable home in his house with full provision for her support, with what wool and flax she may need, and eight pounds annually of money for incidental expenses.
     To his son Duncan he gives 40 shillings, as he had received at setting out in trade his share of the estate.
     To his son Alexander he gives a lot in the Cedar Swamp which, with a farm formerly given and his expenses of education as a physician, is his portion of the estate.
     To his son William he gives a deed of one-half his home farm, with other out lands, bearing the same date as his will, and in his will gives him the other half, with his farming tools, stock, etc., and also his negro, " Will," to be kindly used and improved and supported by him during his life.
     To his son Archibald he gives £133. 6s. 8d. lawful money, to be kept on interest until he settles in some business in the world, also his apparel, library, watch, gold wrist buttons, knee and shoe buckles, and a young horse, and provision for payment of all his bills at college "till after the next commencement."
     To his daughter Mary Twiss he gives 40 pounds to be kept at interest for her benefit and a house and lot near the north end of the Plain, one cow and five sheep.
     To his daughter Isabella Wolcott he gives one cow and five sheep ; also 60 pounds to be kept at interest for her benefit. . . "which with what I gave to her at her marriage and some articles since, with a considerable sum of money I paid for Mr. Josiah Wolcott her husband in consequence of the decree of the Governor and council in my favor against him, which he hath neglected and refused to pay makes up her full portion of my estate."
     To his granddaughter Esther Town and his grandsons John and William Town he makes small bequests.
     To his grandson John (son of John, Jr., who had then gone from town) he gives 10 pounds, and to his grandsons, John, son of Duncan, and Edward R., son of Alexander, he gives his land in the South Gore, " provided that the said farm may be sold . . . for their education/' To his grandson John, son of Josiah Wolcott, he gives the gun which was his great-grandfather Wolcott's, and "which I purchased out of the estate of Capt. Richard Williams."
     He appoints his sons Alexander and William his executors.2 
Marriage*16 January 1777 John Campbell (Dr) married Martha Stevens on 16 January 1777 at Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; Worcester VR says "John of Ocford."1,3 
Death*1820 John Campbell (Dr) died in 1820 at Putney, Windham Co., Vermont; "for about thirty-seven years a useful physician in the place."4 
Source* Source: Dr John Campbell 1st was born in Oxford Mass in 1754. In early life he came to Putney and commenced the practice of medicine. He was a man of intelligence, energy and moral worth, and exerted a wide influence in his profession and in civil life. The confidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens in indicated by the fact that he was chosen to represent the town from 1790 to 1796 inclusive. He died Jan 15, 1820 aged 66 years. His pastor gave the following testimony concerning him: "He had been for 37 years a useful physician in the place" [from Putney section of book].5 
(Witness) Occupation He was associated with John Campbell (Rev) (Immigrant 1717)      For nearly one hundred years there was a Dr Campbell practicing medicine in Putney. Other doctor members of this family were prominent and famous physicians elsewhere in the state. The first of the Putney doctors was Dr John Campbell who came from Oxford MA and was in practice here by 1786. He was born in 1754, married Martha Stevens of Oxford and died in 1820. At his death his home place was deeded to David Crawford and later became the property of Mrs Caddie Fuller who lives there now. When Dr Campbell came to Putney, the famous Dr Josiah Goodhue was the town's physician and the two practiced amicably until 1803 when Dr Goodhue moved to Chester VT. Dr Campbell remained the leading practitioner in town for 34 years. Following Dr John was his brother Dr Alexander Campbell who was fifteen years younger. The third was Alexander's son born in 1793 who practiced in Putney for 53 years. He died in 1866 after a long and respected life among the people in Putney. His home was at the head of Kimball Hill, the place now owned by Omar Buxton.
     A third brother of John and Alexander was Thomas, a Revolutionary soldier who died here in 1844. The father of these three brothers was Duncan Campbell who lived in Putney for some years but later was in Oxford MA, until he died in 1795. Duncan was the son of Rev John Campbell (1690-1761) who was a minister in Oxford from 1721 to the time of his death. Duncan had a brother, Capt William Campbell, who was a selectman of Putney in 1787, but later moved to Castleton VT. He had been captain of an Oxford company in the Revolution before coming to Putney to live. Another brother, Rev Archibald Campbell, preached in Putney occasionally. A third brother, Alexander, was a distinguished physician who remained in Oxford. This Dr Campbell had two sons who became doctors and came to Vermont to practice. One was Dr Alexander of Rockingham, and the other Dr Edward R (known locally as "Dr Ned") was famous in Westminster. It is interesting to note that the last of the Campbell doctors was a grandson of "Dr Ned". He was Dr Daniel Campbell who was born in Westminster and practiced for ten years in Westminster West and later in Saxton's River.6 

Family

Martha Stevens b. 1754, d. 1825
Last Edited13 Oct 2001

Citations

  1. [S103] Vital Records of Oxford MA to the End of the Year 1849, Franklin Rice, : Worcester MA, 1905, 23+, 140+, 272+, SLC 369745 [SLC 0754010 is the microfilm of the original documents of the Town Clerk at Oxford MA], My Evd # 103.
  2. [S76] History of the Town of Oxford MA, George Daniels, Author: Oxford MA, 1892, http://archive.org/details/historyoftownofo00dani, pgs 525-6.
  3. [S130] Worchester (MA) Births Marriages and Deaths, Franklin Rice, , 1894, (SLC 974.43/W2 V2r), pg 312, My Evd # 130.
  4. [S100] Vital Records of Putney VT to the year 1900: With Selected Additional Records, Ken Stevens, Genealogical Society of Vermont: Pittsford VT, 1992, SLC 974.39/P1 V2s, My Evd # 100.
  5. [S72] Vermont Historical Gazetteer Vol V the Towns of Windham County, Abby Maria Hemenway, Mrs Carrie Page: Brandon VT, 1891, SLC 974.3 H2v Vol 5 second section, pg 244, My Evd # 72.
  6. [S101] People of Putney 1753-1953, Fortnightly Club of Putney VT, , 1953, 13-14, SLC 974.39/P1 H2f film 896628, My Evd # 101.