James Otis The Pre-Revolutionist | Page 5

The American Otises of the seventeenth century were of English
descent. The emigration of the family from the mother country
occurred at an early day when the settlements in New England were
still infrequent and weak. The Otis family was among the first to settle
at the town of Hingham. Nor was it long until the name appeared in the
public records, indicating official rank and leadership. From Hingham,
John Otis, who was born in 1657, ancestor of the subject of this sketch,
removed to Barnstable, near the center of the peninsula of
Massachusetts, and became one of the first men of that settlement. He
was sent to the Legislature and thence to the Council of the Colony in
which he had a seat for twenty-one years. During this period he was
promoted to the place of Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and while
holding this important place he was also judge of the Probate Court.
The family rose and flourished in reputation.
In 1702, James Otis, son of Judge John Otis, was born. He followed in
his father's footsteps becoming a lawyer and colonial publicist,
afterwards a colonel of the militia, a judge of the Common Pleas, a
judge of the Probate Court, and a member of the Council of
Massachusetts. Just after reaching his majority Colonel Otis took in
marriage Mary Alleyne, and of this union were born thirteen children.
The eldest was a son, and to him was given his father's name. It was to
this child that destiny had assigned the heroic work of confronting the
aggressions of Great Britain on the American colonists, and of
inspiring the latter to forcible resistance.
James Otis, Junior, was born at a place called Great Marshes, now
known as West Barnstable, on the 5th of February, 1725. He inherited
from his father and grandfather not only a large measure of talents but
also a passion for public life which impelled him strongly to the study
and solution of those questions which related to the welfare of the
American colonies, and to the means by which their political
independence might be ultimately secured.
The character and intellect of Colonel Otis of Barnstable were
transmitted to other members of his family also. The daughter Mercy,
oldest sister of James Otis, was married to James Warren who made his
home at Plymouth. This lady had her brother's passion for politics--an

enthusiasm which could hardly be restrained. She wrote and conversed
in a fiery manner on the revolutionary topics of the day. Almost
coincidently with the Battle of Bunker Hill she composed and
published (without her name, however,) a biting satire on the colonial
policy of Great Britain, calling her brochure "The Group." Fifteen years
afterwards she published a volume of poems, mostly patriotic pieces,
and finally in 1805 a brief "History of the American Revolution,"
which was considered a reputable work after its kind.
Samuel Alleyne Otis, youngest brother of James, outlived nearly all the
other members of the family, and was recognized as a prominent
political leader. He, also, had the strong patriotic and revolutionary
bent of the family, was popular and influential, and was honored with a
long term of service as Secretary of the Senate of the United States. In
this capacity he participated, April 30, 1789, in the inauguration of
Washington, holding the Bible on which the Father of his Country took
the oath of office. The other brothers and sisters were of less
conspicuous ability, and were not so well known to their own and other
times.
In New England in the first half of the eighteenth century the sentiment
of education was universal. Among the leading people, the sentiment
was intense. Colonel Otis, of Barnstable, was alert with respect to the
discipline and development of his children. He gave to them all, to the
sons especially, the best advantages which the commonwealth afforded.
James Otis was assigned to the care of Reverend Jonathan Russell, the
minister at Barnstable, who prepared the youth for college. By the
middle of his fifteenth year he was thought to be ready for
matriculation. He was accordingly entered as a freshman at Harvard, in
June, 1739.
Of the incidents of his preceding boyhood, we know but little. A
tradition exists that he was more precocious than diligent; that his will
was strong; that his activities were marked with a reckless audacity,
which, however, did not distinguish him much from the other
promising New England boys of his age. Something of these
characteristics are noticeable in his college career. At Harvard he
showed an abundance of youthful spirits; a strong social disposition,
and a well-marked discrimination between his friends and his enemies.
At times he applied himself assiduously, and at other times mused and

read rather than studied. On the whole he did