Sir Danvers Osborn

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My thanks to the staff of Danvers Historical Society, Danvers, Massachusetts May 2004 and to Roger Ward, Chairman and Historian, Friends of Chicksands Priory for their assistance in providing material for this page. GD

There are three places in the USA named Danvers. Two of them are named after Danvers Massachusetts. We can't be sure as to how the area came to be called Danvers. As a district of Salem, it has been known by that name since 1745 (Felt's Annals of Salem). Researchers have found that when the District of Danvers was incorporated, Lieut. Governor Phips was in office, and it is probable that he suggested the name through gratitude to his patron, Danvers Osborn. (Hansen's History, p. 57)

Sir Danvers Osborn b. 17 Nov 1715 Great-great-grandson of Sir Peter Osborne and Lady Dorothy Danvers, dau. of Sir John Danvers of Dauntsey and Lady Elizabeth Nevill. Great-grandson of Sir John Osborne and Lady Eleanor, dau. of Sir Charles Danvers of Baynton. Son of John Osborne (bap. 1 Apr 1683 bur. 14 Jan 1719) and Hon. Sarah Byng (m. 8 Aug 1710 d. 16 Nov 1775). Succeeded 3rd Bt. 1720. Married 25 Sep 1740, Lady Mary Montagu (d. 23 Jul 1743) dau. of the 1st Earl of Halifax and Lady Mary Lumley, sister of the 2nd Earl of Halifax after whom Halifax, Nova Scotia is named. Commanded Col. Bedford's Regiment under the Duke of Cumberland in the 1745 Rebellion. M.P. for for Bedfordshire 1747-1753. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage Burke, Sir John Esq 1980 , pp. 2051-3 Here also on p. 2052 we find the statement: "Sir Danvers Osborn. 3rd Bt., after whom Danvers, Mass., USA is called.

Sir Danvers Osborn was born at the family seat of Chicksands Priory, Shefford, County of Bedford, 17 Nov 1715, and was thus in the thirty-eighth year of his age when he took charge of the Government of New York. Plunged into inconsolable grief at the death of his wife, this office was secured for him in the hope that the entire change of scene, as well as enforced activity, would be beneficial. He arrived in New York 6 Oct 1753, and soon after the inaugural ceremonies, 12 Oct, which were attended with much pomp and dignity, he committed suicide in the garden of a member of the Council. Sir Danvers had previously spent some time in Canada with his brother-in-law, the Earl of Halifax. It is said that he was very popular, and his untimely death was greatly lamented. His private secretary was Thomas Pownall, who, four years later, received a commission as Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The remains of the unfortunate Governor were conveyed across the Atlantic and buried in the churchyard of his native parish. He left two children, and the title descended to his great-great-great grandson, Sir Algernon Kerr Butler Osborn (born 1870), who occupied the old family seat of Chicksands Priory. Chronicles of Danvers (Old Salem Village) Massachusetts 1632 - 1923 By Harriet Silvester Tapley Danvers Historical Society, Danvers, Massachusetts, 1923

During the administration of George Clinton (of the family of the Earls of Lincoln) as Governor of New York, from 1743 till 1753, disputes ran high between the government and the people. Clinton's haughty demeanor, exactions, and injudicious assumption of privileges, disgusted the people, and they treated him with scorn. Clinton menaced them with punishments; they defied him, and boldly pronounced his conduct "arbitrary, illegal, and a violation of their rights." Yielding to the democratic pressure, Clinton left the province, and was succeeded by Sir Danvers Osborn, on whose goodness and integrity the people relied for quiet and just rule. Four days after his accession [12 Oct 1753] to office, he went down into the suicide's grave, and his deputy, James Delancey, officiated as governor. The loss of his wife had preyed upon the cheerfulness of Osborn, and he had become almost a misanthrope. Dismayed by the cares and perplexities of office which he saw awaited him, he hung himself with a handkerchief upon the garden fence of his friend's residence where he was staying. Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution Vol II, Chapter XXII by Benson J. Lossing 1850 Sir Danvers died 12 Oct 1753.

The establishment of the Town of Danvers, Massachusetts. Map of Danvers. Salem 1692

Other Danvers family related pages.

Danvers, Massachusetts today. Location  http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2919

Events in Danvers, MA history    Salem news    The Salem Witch Trials (See note 4)

Page created 18 Apr 2006 Updated 8 Aug 2007      (C) Gary Danvers New Zealand

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