Thomas Dexter

(It should be noted that Thomas Dexter did not move to Sandwich, Massachusetts)
From the History of Lynn, Massachusetts; Iron ore was discovered in Lynn at a very early period, but no attempt was made to work it until the year 1643. It is of the kind called bog iron, and was found in large quantities in various places within a mile or two from the meeting-house, where it still exists. The great want in the country of iron tools and iron ware, induced several enterprising gentlemen to attempt the establishment of a forge. Among the principal of these were Thomas Dexter and Robert Bridges. Mr. Dexter was a very active and energetic man, foremost in every public enterprise; and his greatest fault appears to have consisted in speaking somewhat too freely of the government, because they did not keep up with his plans of improvement. The character of Hon. Robert Bridges has been given by Johnson, in a few words: "He was endued with able parts, and forward to improve them to the glory of God and his people's good." It is not possible to avoid the conclusion that Mr. Dexter had serious faults, and that he must have been an uncomfortable neighbor. He possessed an irritable disposition and was provoking in his bearing toward such as stood in any way antagonistic to him. And that he had an inveterate propensity for the law is abundantly proved by the court records. Mr. Lewis mentions two or three instances of his being dealt with for misdemeanors more grave than that of sleeping in meeting. See under dates 1631, 1633 and 1646. And besides what Mr. Lewis has noticed it is found that in 1633 he was fined twenty shillings for drunkenness; also, 3 July, 1632, it was ordered that he be "bound to his good behavr till the nexte Genall Court, and ffined vl. for his midemeanr and insolent carriage and speeches to S: Bradstreete, att his owne howse; also att the Genall Courte, is bound to confesse his fault." At the Court in November, however, 4l. of the fine were remitted. There is some amusing romance about his having purchased Nahant of an Indian chief, for a suit of clothes; and Mr. Lewis thought proper to add an attractive gloss by a lithographic representation. But it is clear that the transaction was not generally deemed to have been a fair one; and it was judicially adjudged invalid. That he was active and enterprising, there is no doubt; and men so characterized never pass lives of obscurity. But we fail to perceive that he possessed those higher qualities necessary to entitle him to be ranked among the most useful class of citizens. He was never a representative, and seems seldom to have been called to any public office. This proves little, to be sure, for it may have been then, as it now is, that the most worthy are not generally found in those positions, which are the cravings of the ambitious and selfish; though there is much reason to believe that there was far more political principle in those days than there is in these. And it is significant that the title of "Mr" was not awarded him. He was known simply as "goodman." Mr. Lewis, indeed, says that he "was called, by way of excellence, 'Farmer Dexter.'" But it is most likely that the title was bestowed merely on account of his occupation. His enterprises certainly seem to have had no higher incentive than personal interest. And there are many like him, in every community, at this day, whom it is fashionable to laud and magnify as sincere and devoted public benefactors. There are, however, descendants of Mr. Dexter, in New England, of prominence and great worth. Rev. Henry M. Dexter, of Boston, may be named as among them.