Samuel Morse (1585-1654) was an original proprietor of Dedham, Massachusetts [1] who served on the board of selectmen for two years. [2] He was also a founder of Medfield, Massachusetts when it broke away from Dedham. [3] [4] He was elected a selectman before joining the First Church and Parish in Dedham. [5] He was a signer of the Dedham Covenant. [6]
Morse was born in England in 1585 [3] and came to Dedham from London. [7] With his wife, Elizabeth, he was the father of Joseph, Abigail, John, Daniel, Samuel, Jeremiah, and Mary. [7] [3] [4] He died in 1654. [3] It was said in 1907 that "no family has ranked higher in eastern Massachusetts for the past two hundred and fifty years than the descendants" of Morse. [8] He was the grandfather of Ezra Morse. [9]