CHARLES PROCTOR. MD
(1755 – 1817)
Served Westford 1784 – 1817
By Marilyn Day
Caring for a Town, The Physicians of Westford, Mass., 1740-1960
Dr. Proctor was one of the founders of Westford Academy (1792 -1817) and the Social Library
CHARLES PROCTOR, born at Westford, Mass. 13 Sept. 1755, died there 6 March 1817, son of Philip and Phebe (Hildreth) Proctor. Charles married, first, (int.) at Westford, 28 Feb. 1778, EDE CARVER, born at Westford, 30 Oct. 1757, daughter of Benjamin and Ede (Fletcher) Carver. The Register indicates she may have died in 1781. 1 There are no recorded births for Dr. Proctor and Ede. Dr. Proctor married, second, at Westford, 30 April 1784, widow, LYDIA (ADAMS) COMINGS/CUMMINGS, born at Chelmsford, Mass. 12 Dec. 1748, who died at Westford, 23 Sept. 1830, daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Fletcher) Cummings.
Lydia (Adams) Cumings was the widow of Ephraim Cumings/Cummings, born at Westford, 6 Sept. 1747, who died by Dec. 1777 2 (reported d. 10 Aug. 1777 in the army 3 ), son of Ephraim and Mary (Hildreth) Cummings. Lydia and Ephraim had married at Chelmsford, 25 Nov. 1773, and had two children: Wilson and Patty. Zaccheus Wright was nominated and appointed to be their guardian after their father’s death. Both children entered Westford Academy in 1792, the year that it opened. Wilson Cummings would marry Lucy Cowdry in 1796, and Patty would marry James Kidder of Westford in 1799. Dr. Proctor began his practice in Westford in 1784. He is the only physician who Hodgman describes in the biographical sketches included in the History of Westford. “He was among the earliest educated physicians in the town; but in his earlier days had to compete with others who sought to establish themselves here, among whom was Dr. Amos Bancroft, of Groton. He studied his profession in Chelmsford. He did not receive a collegiate education, but was a successful physician and was much esteemed by his fellow-citizens. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and was for many years a justice of the peace. He was one of the originators of the Academy, and one of its trustees till his death.” 4 Hodgman also states that the Proctor home was in the south part of the town, the farm now [1883] in possession of Mrs. Desmond. 5 On the 1875 town map, J. Desmond is indicated on what was 300 Littleton Road.
Early records in the collection at the town hall show that Dr. Proctor was paid for tending the poor by the town in 1810, 1815 and 1816. The first receipt states, “Westford, January the 12, 1810. For Value Rec’d we the subscribers in the behalf of the Town of Westford promise to pay Doc. Charles Procter one hundred and five dollars with interest witness our hands Jer. Hildreth, Isaiah Prescott, Thomas Fletcher, Selectmen of Westford.” In 1815 he was paid “Nine dollars and twenty five cents for doctoring David Nuting and five Dollars and seventy one cents for doctoring the Poor of the town in full till the fifth day of June 1815, signed by Selectmen Isaiah Prescott and Thomas Fletcher.” From March through August 16, 1816, he received the sum of “forty dollars and eighty cents
for doctoring.”
In 1774, Charles Proctor signed the Solemn League and Covenant in Westford. He served from Westford as a Private in Capt. Jonathan Minot’s Company, Col. James Prescott’s regiment, which marched April 19, 1775. He served 14 days; reported enlisted into the army; also, Capt. John Hartwell’s co., Col. Dike’s regt; muster roll for Dec. 1776 – Feb. 1777; enlisted Dec. 14, 1776; discharged Feb. 1, 1777; regiment raised to serve until March 1, 1777. 6 “During this year [1777] Charles Proctor served in Colonel Dike’s regiment.” 7
“Westford, April ye 5 th 1776. We the subscribers have each of us Rec. d of Col. o John Robinson the full Pay due to us from the Contenant for our service the month of February & march last in the Continental Army. We say rec. d by us…”
Dr. Proctor’s death was mentioned in the Boston newspapers; from the Columbian Centinel of 29 March 1817: “In Westford, Charles Proctor, Esq. M.D., aged 62. He was an affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent parent, a highly useful and valuable member of society, an ornament to his profession, and liberal to the poor.”
Fairview Cemetery, Westford
Proctor is one of five families sharing the tomb;
the others are Fletcher, Keyes, Heywood and Abbot.
Children of Charles and Lydia (Adams) PROCTOR, born at Westford:
- EDE/EDEA PROCTOR, b. 31 May 1785, who d. at Westford of consumption, 18 Dec. 1814. Ede m. at Westford, 14 Aug. 1814, NAHUM H. GROCE. Edea entered Westford Academy in 1794. Following her death, Nahum Groce married her sister, Sarah. After he graduated from Harvard in 1808, he came to Westford where he was the 12th preceptor of Westford Academy. He remained preceptor until 1822.[1] Nahum Groce lived at the corner of Main Street and Graniteville Road.
- SALLA/SARAH E. PROCTOR, b. 6 Sept. 1788, who d. there in July 1828. Sarah m. 24 Dec. 1815, as his 2nd wife, NAHUM H. GROCE. She entered Westford Academy in 1799. (Further reading on this family may be found in Westford Days.)
1 NEHGS, The Register, vol. 88, p. 230.
2 Middlesex County Probate, 5418, dated Dec. 1777.
3 Mass. State Archives, 6th Mass. Regiment return from Jan. 12, 1778.
4 History of Westford, p. 338.
5 Jeremiah “Jerry” Desmond and Fannie were in Westford by 1860. Jeremiah died here 21 Feb. 1875 and His wife, Fannie, kept the family together. She died 19 Dec. 1902.
6 Mass. Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War.
7 History of Westford, p. 128
8 History of Westford p. 322