Abijah Cheever | |
---|---|
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from Saugus | |
In office 1822–1822 | |
Preceded by | Joseph Cheever |
Succeeded by | Jonathan Makepeace |
In office 1829–1830 | |
Preceded by | John Shaw |
Succeeded by | Joseph Cheever |
Personal details | |
Born | Saugus, Massachusetts | May 23, 1760
Died | April 21, 1843 Saugus, Massachusetts | (aged 82)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Federalist [1] |
Alma mater | Harvard College |
Abijah Cheever (May 23, 1760 – April 21, 1843) was an American surgeon and politician from Saugus, Massachusetts. [2]
Cheever was born on May 23, 1760, in Saugus. [1] [3] He was a descendant of Ezekiel Cheever, longtime headmaster of the Boston Latin School. Cheever spent much of his youth working on his family's farm. [4]
On the evening before the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Cheever ran bullets from a mold over a fire for the muskets of his brothers, who took part in the battle the following day. [4]
In 1779 Cheever graduated from Harvard College. He then studied medicine and surgery under John Warren and obtained his M. D. in 1782. [4]
On May 13, 1782 Cheever was commissioned as a surgeon aboard Tartar, a ship fitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for service in the American Revolution. On the ship's second voyage, it was captured by HMS Belisarius and Cheever was sent to a prison ship in New York Harbor. Once the war ended, Cheever was exchanged and returned to Massachusetts. [4]
After the war, Cheever settled in Boston's North End, where he worked as a physician and surgeon. [4] On July 5, 1789, he married Elizabeth Scott. The couple had three children before her death on July 5, 1795. [5] On October 16, 1798, he married Sally Williams, with whom he had two children. [1]
Cheever returned to Saugus in 1806 and remained there for the rest of his life. Cheever was one of Saugus' largest land owners with over two-hundred acres. He was also one of Saugus' few slave holders. On his family's land he built an elegant home that became well known throughout the region. [1] [6]
In 1815, Cheever was elected to Saugus' first Board of Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor. [7]
In 1821, 1829, 1830, and 1831, Cheever represented Saugus in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. [8] During his political career, Cheever frequently competed with his brother Joseph Cheever. [6]
Cheever died on April 21, 1843. [1] [9]