Charles PACKER

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of James Packer and Zerviah Eldredge

Notes:

Name:
Charles Packer was a Leyden, Massachusetts "pioneer intellectual, settler, encourager of art, and first portrait subject of Henry Kirke Brown, Sculptor." Miss Ellen Brown, niece of the sculptor asserted that her uncle derived early artistic inspiration from Charles Packer, his neighbor. Near the gravestones in Leyden, is the old Charles Packer homestead cellar hole, in the center of which stands the stone fireplace where the sculptor, later to mould huge statues of Washington and Lincoln, painted his first portrait. This site is of such historic value that the citizens of Leyden are taking steps toward its preservation.

On april 26, 1784, Charles was chosen at the first town meeting as Leyden's first selectman and assessor.

On March 6, 1789, in Leyden, Charles was elected commissioner to assist in dividing the town into school districts. After much controversy, division was finally arranged and the sum of 50 lb. was set aside for the support of the five Leyden schools that year.

the year 1791 found the town of Leyden active politically. It opened with a town meeting called by Charles Packer to vote for Governor, Lieut. Governor and Senator.

Charles served during the Revolution, and his name is included among the list of Leyden's volunteers.

The Charles Packer burial lot on the Old County Road, Leyden, Mass., contains three stones. The first reads: Charles Packer, d. Sept. 30, 1835, aged 91 years; the second reads: Mary Walworth, wife of Charles Packer d. march 18, 1814, aged 63 years. A third diminutive stone is marked "C.P." for Charles packer, Jr., who died at the age of 4. It was on this little grave that Mary Williams Stowell, a close friend of the family, placed wild flowers each spring.

Charles married Mary WALWORTH in 1775. Mary (daughter of Nathan WALWORTH and Amy STARK) was born on 13 Sep 1752 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; died on 18 Mar 1814 in Leyden, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles married Electa SHATTUCK on 4 Jul 1814. Electa was born on 2 Dec 1778; died in New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]