The Practice of Medicine in Westport from 1811 to 1843

 Dr. Thomas Richmond 1811 to 1845

WHS 2004.170.026

The Practice of Medicine in Westport from 1811 to 1843

The Westport doctor of one hundred years ago was Dr. Thomas Richmond, who came to Westport from Dighton to practice medicine. Shortly after Richmond settled in Westport, he married Miss Mary Sherman of Swansea. Dr. Richmond’s grandfather, Col. Ezra Richmond and his great-grandfather Hon. Col. Sylvester Richmond had both been residents of the town where they had been extensive landowners. Dr. Richmond did not settle upon his ancestral acres which were in the Acoaxet section near the Adamsville line, but instead bought a small tract of land at Head of Westport on Drift road just west of the landing and north of the present Alumni Hall. On this tract of land Dr. Richmond built a story and a half house which is still standing and now owned and occupied by Robert Preece. When Dr. Richmond came to Westport he bought the practice of the former village doctor, Dr. Winslow.

Dr. Richmond’s descendants describe him as being tall and dark and a distinguished looking and appearing man, also as broad minded, genial and generous, much beloved by the townspeople. He was well educated for his day, being a graduate of Harvard College.

When the doctor first came to Westport, he traveled on horseback to make his professional calls, carrying his medicine in saddle bags. Later evidently when the condition of the roads had improved sufficiently to warrant it, Dr. Richmond purchased a chaise and then made his rounds in this conveyance, except when spring rains and winter snowdrifts made traveling in this manner too hard, for at such times he again traveled on horseback. For a house visit a fee of fifty cents was then charged while the charge for an office visit was twenty-five cents.

The following story is told by Dr. Richmond’s descendants concerning one old gentleman’s paying for his doctor’s bill. One week, the doctor was called to this man’s home and found the patient not particularly ill so found it necessary to make only one call. The next week the patient came walking into the doctor’s office to pay his bill. Without consulting his account book the doctor informed the gentleman that his bill was fifty cents. The gentleman paid the amount and then said, “Now doctor gimme a resate for that fifty cents for I don’ wan’ no arter claps.” The elderly gentleman in (nourse?) doubted the doctor’s business integrity, but was on the other hand merely practicing as usual his methodical and business like ways of transacting all business.

The doctor used to roll all his own pills on a large marble slab which he kept in his office for that purpose. A large iron mortar and pestle were also to be found in his office. In the mortar herbs were pounded that were later to be used in compounding medicines. The most unusual object in the doctor’s house was a skeleton which he kept in a cupboard adjoining his office. His children have often told how afraid they were in the dim candle light on a winter’s night to pass this cupboard on their way upstairs to bed, fearing every second that the long bony hand of the skeleton would suddenly be endowed with life, so would open the cupboard door and snatch the passer-by.

After Dr. Richmond had been practicing medicine for several years and had won a reputation for himself as a doctor of more than average ability, he took into his home a young man named Ladd, who was desirous of becoming a doctor. It was than the custom when a young man wished to take up the study of medicine, that instead of attending medical school and graduating as today, he would instead live in the home of some reputable doctor where he could read medical books and visit the sick with the doctor. Evidently there was no specified time for the period of study and observation, but when a young man decided he acquired sufficient medical knowledge through such study and observation, he began to practice his knowledge providing he could (had?) patients upon whom to practice it. When Dr. Ladd had completed his period of study and observation, he began to practice at Westport Point.

In the town records, we find in years 1813, 1816, and 1818, it recorded that Dr. Thomas Richmond was “to doctor all the poor that is now chargeable to said town for that year and also all that become chargeable to the town during the year” and that he was to receive thirty dollars for these services. A prescription written by Dr. Richmond and owned by one of his descendants reads as follows:
“Tinct. Bloodroot
Elix r Paregoric
Swt. Spts Nitre
Syrp Squills a a zi V

Mx ___ ___”

What disease this mixture was supposed to cure or to allay is left to our imaginations for the prescription fails to state.

Dr. Thomas Richmond Records 1819-1832
Index made by William Wyatt at the New Bedford Whaling Museum library 2007
ALLEN
Adam 81
Abraham 70
Austus 119
George 4
Henry 154
Jacob 207
Jediah 174
Richard 259
Samuel 199, 237
Williams 56
ALMY
Fredric 220
Longworthy 28, 268
Sanford 113
ANDREWS John 149
ANDROS
John 41
Stephen 95
ANTHONY
Abraham 34, 202
Capt. John 68 Stephen Gifford, John Gifford

BABCOCK Isaac 13
BAILEY James 86
BAKER
Charles 21, 114, 196, 197
Phebe, Weaver (?)
Charles 114, 135
Daniel 150
Ebenezer 5, 229, 230, 271
Eber 78
James 15
son Nicholas
James 137 by 1/2 ounce opium
Rebecca 16
Thomas W. 194, 257 settled 2/5/1835
John 52
BASSETT
Anselm 64 A. S. Bassett & Thos. Richmond
Anselm 84, 252 – 255
Stephen 116
BEDEN
? 24 (Bedon)
Elihu 113, 122
BENNETT Swerl (?) 80
BESSE Lathrop 113
BLACKBURN George 163 pay or Anselem ??
BLISS Cyrenus 49
BLOSSOM Elijah 125
BOOMER Asa 171
BOOTH
Cinthy 235
James 233
Jonathan 258
Russel 203
Culbert 59 boarding school master 8 days @ $1.16
BORDEN
Abraham 228
Adam 102, 131, 258, 276
Bradford 92, 105
Edward 133, 143, 241
Eliza Westgate
Edward Jr. 115, 207
Gideon 74 rec’d Abraham & Elihu B.
Job 120
Wido Marcy 227
Peter 77
Stephen 108 son of Isaac
Stephen 195 son of Gideon
Thomas 157, 187 (?)
Wido 143
BOSS William D 271
BOSWORTH
Alva 85
William 52, 155
Gifford, A B 52
BRIGGS
Abel 247
Ephraim 269 by pay of George Gifford administrator
Freelove 246 cash A B Gifford
Joseph 103, 164 pay interesting
Daughter @ Adam Lawtons
William 10, 170 Warren Gifford
BRIGHTMAN
Henry 231
Joseph 82
Wido 70, 119
BROWN Simeon 7
BROWNELL
Abraham 130
Job Lakes man Reuben
Jonathan Tripp son of Job
Benjamin 143
Wife and Taylor
Benjamin 199
@ Levi Gifford
David M. 54 James Gifford (wagon)
Edward 28
Ezekiel 97, 212
James Gifford, Live (?) Gifford
George C. 219
George M. 124, 227
Jerrymy 216, 237 by wood
Peleg 196
Rhoda 182 cash in full by William Brownel
Tally 275
Thomas 120
Thomas 121 (son Ezekiel)
William 7 George M. Brownell
BULOCK Bradford 106
BUTLER James 203
BUTTS
Stephen 206
Wido 218
William 209

CASE
Joseph 27
Pardon 255
William 7
CASTINO
John 131
Wido 36
CASTLE Elijah 275
CHACE
Israel 151, 167
Jacob 209
John 47
Ezekiel 137
Jared 235
Seabry 210
Simeon 202
CHADWICK George 270, 273 by pay of Stephen Howland
CHASE
Henry 197
Isaac 139
Moses 171
COGGSHALL
Abner 125
John 190
COLLINS
Barnea 4
Darius 142
For daughter and John Rogers
Jacob 173
COMSTOCK Amos 225
CORNELL
Amy 13
Christopher 13
Jacob 150, 278
James 190
John Jnr. 192
Mary 69
Nancy 73 Capt. John Anthony pays
Pardon 246
Peleg 144
Richard 283
William 174
CORY
Benjamin 126, 173
Lawton 255
COSTINO John 131
COTTLE Thomas 78
COWING
Abisha 199
Joshua 226
Philip 120, 227
William 85
CRANK
Joseph 209
Ruth 1/w
CRAPO John 216
CRAW
David 122
Nathan 14
Samuel 40
CROKER
Wido Sarah 154
Robert 111
CROSMAN
Job 162
John 23
Son Jonathan
Philena 179
Jonathan 159
CUFFE John 215

DARTMOUTH, Town of 156 (see Barnabas Luke) 69
DAVIS
Abial 183
Grandson 1
Jonathan 158
Jude Petty
Pardon 162, 183, 231
Peleg 55
Peter 75
Wido Sarah 171
DENNIS
Marcy 146
Peleg 55 3 1/2 feet wood @ 22 per ? = $1.48
Robert 249, 251 by X on Peckham Howland
DEVOL
Allen 37, 246 by cutting hay from Nathan Pettys
Allen 82, 236
Jerry 27, 134
Mary 233
DEVOLL
Benjamin 238 veal, hay, apples
David 217
Emanuel 77, 187 by pay of George M Brownell (77)
Jonathan 166
DRAKE (no name) 270
DRISKEL Daniel 272
DUFFEE William 128
DURFEE Thomas 269

EARL Holder 212
ELDRIDGE
Joseph 135 by discount w/ Lemuel B Reed
Wido 148
EVANS
Seth 24, 87 A B Gifford Pays
Childbirth 1/7/26, 10/9/29

FIDLER Jonson 70
FRANCIS
Elisha 80
Isaac 182
Nancy 153
Nathan 25
FREELOVE
Betsy 221 by order on P R Macomber,
B B Sisson by order on Oliver Chace
Clark 180
Lydia 139
FRENCH Sylvia 220

GARDNER Mary Ann 33
GIDLEY
Benjamin 142
John 281
Samuel 223
GIFFORD
Abraham 70
Abner B. 98
James Mosher, Elisha Soul, Elihu Gifford
140
Benjamin Soule
Hannah 160
87
Brigg Industry, George Sowle
Adam 274
Allen 210
Anthony 112
Barker 234
Barnea 95
Benjamin 116 (son of John, Troy); bill against Rufus Tripp
Daniel 41
Ebenezer 214
Frederic 25
George 6 Noe Macomber
George 48
George 104
George H. 30, 220
George son James (Dartmouth)
Harvy 231
Isaac 29
Isaac R 173
James 11, 46 work done by Ezekiel (?) Brownell
James 28, 206, 276
Job 127 William Sisson, E. Snell, Joseph Wodell
John 12 (son Stephen), 86
John A 170, 215
Extract iron from eye of Joseph Brown
Thad Renolds 175
Wido Rachel Gifford 197
John B. 134 (shoemaker)
John 272 (carpenter)
William Cornell
John W 241
Joseph 261
Josiah 14
Juda 184
Levi 110, 146
Lewis 270
Luther 20
Nicholas 72
Pardon 160, 177
Peleg 159
Mary
Wido Rachel 162 (see 197 John A. Gifford)
Russell 218
Ruth (Troy) 139
Shepard 166
Square 65, 96, 223, 260, 265
Stephen 93, 191
Benjamin Gifford
Taber 269
Taceus (?) 31 discount with John Gifford
Warren 118
Weson 211
Weston 119
Willard 81
William (son George) 148
William 223 (son Luther)
William 198, 256
GRAY John 264
GRINELL Ansel 224 by pay of Anseline Basett
GURNEY Mary Ann 212

HANDY
Edith 14
Eliza 266
John 128
William 279
HART
Samuel 137 payment interesting
Sanford 213
HATHAWAY Abigail 213
HATHWAY Sylvenus 106
HEAD Abigal 144
HEISE (?) Jacob 75
HOLMES Bathsheba 151
HOSKINS Eben 26
HOWARD
Benjamin 148
Daniel 100 paid by Benjamin H. executor of estate
Gilbert 130
Wido 84
HOWLAND
Wido Alice 182
Wido Eliza 248
Henry 109
Humphrey 208
Howland @ Humphrey Howland 21
Isaac 96
John 267
Peckham 272, 278 (see Westport)
Prince 181, 282 (cooper)
Stephen 141
Joan Tripp, mother
Sybel 155
Wiliam 239

JACKSON Edmund 153
JENKS Joseph 1/2
JONES
Abia Jnr 26
Ephraim 21 by pay of A B Gifford
John 256
Seth 25

KING
Ephraim 15
Childbirth 4/4/29
Godfrey 31, 86, 279
KIRBY
Barby 45
Ephraim 69, 151

LAKE girl @ Ben Petty 1
LAKE Job 269 (Tiverton), 282
LAMB Wido 174
LAW James 213
Robert Wood
LAWTON
Adam 201, 234, 248
Abner 176 by sedging
George 156
Isaac 159 by pay of your father
Richard 9
Sarah 198
LINCOLN Calvin 85
LITTLE
Ben 128
Charles 111, 112 by William Soul
Isaac 28
Nicholas 16
Prince 278, 282
LONCORE Wido 266
LUKE Barnabas (Dartmouth) 156

MACOMBER
Abraham 279
Bathsheba 1
Elery 154
Ephraim 101
Ezra 171
Gardner 33
Henry 80
Isaac 123, 232, 275
Jacob 119, 208
John 122
John 165 (Tiverton)
Daughter @ Westport Factory
Joseph 182
Levi 200
Levi Jr. 56
Noah 211
Perry R. 257, 261
Peter 250 by pay of Jerimiah Devol
Rachel 30
Weston 138, 189
Henry Snell & H. Snell’s child (138)
MANCHESTER
Burajah (?) 142
—- 104
Isaac 80
Lawton 212
MARTIN
Israel 126
Noble 69
MILK Job 27
MILLER
Gilbert 201
Isaac 100
Isaac 126
Job 23
@ Clother Pierce
John 74
MINGO William 158
MOSHER
Abner 166
Gideon 74
James 207
John 262
Wido Nancy 200
Rheuben 16 (cf. Nicholas Little)
Richard 190
William 209
MOSHIER
Abner 161 William Souls Mill
Wido Eliza 47
James 207
John 184
Jonathan 61
Richard 67, 190 Lemuel B. Read
Warren 132
MUNON Arowel (?) 33
MYRIC John 246

NEGUS Richmond 273
NICKERSON
Ekanah 25
Leonard 210
Levi 199
Old Nickerson 199
NICOLS Jesse 103
NILES Wido 203
NOTAGE Samuel 84

PABER Elery, see Taber
PAGE Olive 105
PECK
Augustus 264
William 21, 194
PECKHAM
Jonathan 71, 223
Rachel
Paul 209
Peleg 147
Christopher
Gifford girl
Perry 62
Phillip 172, 223
Samuel 283 (at factory)
William 62
PEIRCE
Cloher 174
George 225
Samuel 266
PER(R)Y
Samuel 198
David 280 pay by note on W Gifford
Phineas 204
PETTY
Lake girl @ Ben Petty 1
Aaron 251 by pay of Abner B Gifford
Asa 177
Elias 193
Wido Hannah
Isaac 230
Isaac 221 (son of Benjamin)
John 222
John son of Will 179
Joshua 156
Mary 193
Moses 261 by Richard Gifford
Nathan 177
Pardon 30
Penelope & Sisters 3
Philip 142
Samuel 260
Thomas 148
Wido Sara 3
Silas 60 days work done by George M. Brownel .50
Wido 277 (Silas mother)
PHILLIPS
Ira 282
Russell 189
William 60
POOL
Jacob 103, 181, 194
Major 26
Surbinas 6, 278 Bradford the Lawyer (6)
POTTER
Dana (?) 138
Edward 241
Holder 105
Joshua 191
Patience & S. 19, 186, 226 186 wood by Robert Denis
Susannah 17 pig, beef, apples, opium
Patience, Susan
Philip 247
William 215

RAYMOND Martin 190
READ
Alden 79
Thatcher Nicholson
William Sisson
Alden 95
Elijah 115 by corn of Abner B Gifford
Wido Eliza 122
Israel 235
Jacob 264
John 258
Jonathan 281
Lemuel B. 26, 213, 265
Lemuel P 262
Wido Molly 201
Oliver 36 Isaac Howland
Peleg 24
Philip 111, 172, 276, 277
Samuel 142
Stephen 150, 283
Thomas 74
Warren 26
REMINGTON Wido 173
RENOLDS
Betsy 148
Jeremy 202
Thad 146
RIDEN Samuel 76 pay by John Cummins
RIDER
David 139
Rebeckah 173
Rowland 225
William 279
ROGERS
Gideon 59, 188
Isaac 68
John 115, 167
Daughter @ Factory
RUSSEL
Dan 171
Edward 219
Humphry 128 pay E. Basset
Jery 202
Joseph 150, 251
Paul 201
Nathaniel 34
Stephen 188

SABINS Samuel 167
SABRUS William 107
SAMPSON
Arabia 129
Even 192
Gilbert 75
Samuel 250
SANFORD
David 152
George 66, 239, 262
Isaac 155
John 211
Philip 130, 202
Thomas 28
Wido 26
SCHOOLHOUSE 173 to wood
SEABURY Cornelius 6 Libby Wofford (?)
SHEPHARD Nathaniel 12
SHEARMAN
Abner 81
Anthony 264
George 75
Joshua 132
Job (New Bedford) 25
Jonathan 158
Joshua 132
Josiah 154
Lot 50, 206
Lucy 224
Wido Patience 273 by pay of Jareth Shearman
Russell 248
Samson 113
Thomas 34
SHERMAN Isabel 224
SIMMONDS
Benjamin 218, 248
Pardon 41
Thomas 13
Thomas 103
Thomas 49
SISSION
Ann 130
Bejamin 2
George 66, 239 (?)
Daniel 72
David 8
Greenke (?) 104
Wido Hannah 191
Peleg 226 by pay of David M Brownell
Stephen 276
Sylvia 62
William 248
SLADE
Edward 186
Lot 150
Nathan 153
Samuel 268
SLEAD Samuel 83
SLOCUM Sarah 241
SMITH William 236
SNELL
Alden 278
Elery 95
Eliza 270
James 94
Peleg 144, 152, 258
SOUL
Catherine 145
Patience, Juliet
George 129
George son Job 269
Job 117
Lillis 169
SOULE George (son of Jos.) 76
SOWL
Benjamin 76
William 43
William Snr 45
SOWLE
George 129
Captain Jonathan 240
Hilliard 191
Job 118
William 36
STAFFORD Lily 233
SUMER/SURNER (?), Calvin 47

TABER
Elery 86 (or Paber)
Stephen 79
By bloodlett by William Sission
William 280, 281, 282
TERRY Phineas 204
THACHER Samuel 282
THOMSON
Alva 220
Ephraim 76
David
THURSTON James 78, 128
TIPPITTS(?), Wido Bathsheba 205
TOLMAN
Lucinda 215
Nicholas 131
Stephen 23
Travail 9/14/19
TOMSON Abner 131
TRIPP
Abner (Providence) 23
Wife @ George Shermans
Abraham 77 pay of Joseph Cornel
Admiral 30
Wido Almy (Tiverton) 14
Benjamin 167
Mother Butts (?)
Tripp, Daniel 176
David 46, 235
David 125 (son Emond), 177
Durfee 248
Ebenezer senior 239 turkey, hay
Ebenezer 86 son James Dartmouth
In consultation with Doc Winslow
Elias, 33
Elihu 207, 218
Eliphalet 73
Ezekiel 61
Wido Fally 143
Francis 45
Gardner 150
Hannah 126 (daughter Nathniel)
Henry 136
Wido Hetty 96
Howland 168
Ichobed 185 by pay of Ezekiel Tripp
Philip Devol
Isaac 73
Isaac jnr 201
James 203
Job 62, 260 by pay of A B Gifford
Job (son of Abraham) 53
John 166
John son Job 140
For boy at Lot Tripps
Jonathan 1
Davis girl 3/19/21
Jonathan 4, 157 Echobod Tripp?
Wido of Jonathan 179
Jonathan (son of John) 130
Joseph 24, 35 cash of ? Macomber (35)
Joseph 136 (son Francis)
Joseph 199 (son John)
Lot 2
Lydia 15
To self in last sickness 8/15/25 (?)
Nathan 158
Nathaniel 49
Dau. Malintha, Pruda Potter
Nathaniel Jnr. 154
Othniel 56
Otis 62, 145
Pardon 105 (Fairhaven)
Phillip’s daughter 206
Wido Polly 53 Job Tripp
Rheuben 96
Rufus 63
Abner Devol
Rufus (Tiverton) 66
Russell 203
Rustrom 60
Samuel 212
Stephen 2
Stephen 46, 157
Stephen (son of Stephen) 193
Wido Sylva 160
Wido Tally 143
Waite 165
Weson 194
Weston 205
Willard 6, 158
William son Isaac 88
TURNER
Calvin 165
Daniel 33

UPHAM
James 260 15 yds flannel cloth @ 2/6 per yard $6 30,
One days work 50
Samuel & James 251

WADE Nathan 74
WANIER Wanier Rodney 210
WATE Rheuben 89
12/28/31 in consultation with Doct Handy
WEEDON Wido Rhoda, 51 (Whedon on 52)
WEAVER Sheffield 179
WESTPORT, TOWN OF 272
WHEDON Daniel 51 Job Gifford, Wido Wedon
WHALAND
Daniel 121, 283
Jeptha 246, 256
John 47
WHEELER Hagar 277
WHITE
Charlot 270
George 87
Holder 140
Luthan 250
Obed 126
Mary 84
WILKEY
David 217
Samuel 246
Thelaram (?) 94
Almeda 122
WILLIAMS
Anna 139
Thomas 28
WING Wilson 99, 179
Hannah, Ezekiel Brownell
WINSLOW
? 155
Ezra 125, 136
John 279
Lydia 44 brother Thomas paid
Oliver 35
Samuel 277
Thomas 32
Ann Cornell
Thomas (Dartmouth) X, 263, 266
WODEL
Benjamin 144
Daryl
Bradford 202
Charles 100
Elijah 163
George 111, 113
Gershom 239
John 267
Jonathan 132
Joseph 132 by cash of Job Gifford
Lovina 149
Pardon 255
Peleg 143
Philip 111
Sarah 168
Samuel 203
Taber 78
WODELL
Adam 162
Charles 10
David 56
Joseph 18 Job Gifford
Thomas 125
WODLE Stephen 261
WOOD
George, 85
William Nathan
WRIGHTMAN William 277