Born at Rowley, Massachusetts. As a child he collected birds eggs acquiring nearly 2000 by the age of 10. Married twice with three daughters. Employed with Sawyer & Pierce, dealers in West India goods. He retired in 1854.

He began collecting about 1823. From his grandfather he received a large amount of Continental Currency. He had friendly relations with Eckfeldt and Dubois at the mint. In 1843 he traded an "Immune Columbia" gold piece to the mint for an 1804 dollar. ("An honorable exchange". Eric Newman said, "he traded a gold restrike he had made up and had no respect for and the Mint traded as artificial 1804 dollar which the Mint recently made up and had no respect for.")

He assisted Crosby with Early Coins of America. He was a corresponding member of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society. He died at home in Salem, Massachusetts.

His collection was sold to Henry Chapman. Chapman sold it at auction June 25-29, 1907. The 1804 dollar realized $3600 and the 1787 Brasher Doubloon realized $6200. These two pieces sold on mail bids to "Hercules." Chapman would not identify the buyer. The two pieces later turned up in the collection of James W. Ellsworth. The Massachusetts Janus Head half penny realized $1050 and an 1815 Half Eagle realized $2000. The collection had many other important pieces. Total gross of the five day sale was $37,859.21.

bio: NUM 20; Dec 1907 pages 325-326

obit: AJN 29 Oct 1894 p. 64-65