His mother was Sarah Hanes, daughter of William Hanes, Esq., long known as "the honest goldsmith," in Ann Street, Boston, with whom Benjamin Tappan, father of Judge Tappan, served his time. Mr. Hanes was a nephew of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

Judge T.'s education was acquired at the common schools of his native town, and at a private school in the same place. From early boyhood he had an extraordinary love of books, and there being one or two libraries of private gentlemen at Northampton, (Gov. Strong's being one of them,) he availed himself of the privilege thus afforded to procure the best works on history and science to be obtained by him at that day. After leaving his native town, it was his custom, whenever he visited his parents, to go to their libraries, and bring home an armful of books, the contents of which he would devour during his short abode with his relatives. By availing himself of every opportunity, at home and abroad, during his whole career, he acquired much information on literary, historical, scientific, legal, and political subjects.

His parents were desirous of giving him a collegiate education, but their son having overheard a conversation between them on the subject, in which his father expressed a fear that the expense would exceed his means, he expressed to them, soon after a wish to learn some trade, without acquainting them with the reason of his decision.

A singular coincidence renders this occurrence somewhat remarkable. His own father, who was the eldest of 12 children, had been partly prepared for college, when, on hearing a conversation between his parents, in which allusion was made to the great desire they had to give their son a liberal education, and their very limited means, he resolved that he would not be a burden to them. Accordingly he, to the surprise of his parents, told them that he had made his mind up not to pursue his studies, as he intended to be a mechanic. Following what they supposed was the inclination of their son, they apprenticed him to Mr. Hanes, and were never informed of the reason of what they always deemed the singular change of mind that led their son to abandon his studies for a mechan

of their eldest son, they educated their next son at Harvard University, the late Rev. Dr. David Tappan, Hollis professor of divinity in Harvard College. Judge Tappan applied himself diligently to the business that had been selected for him or by him. He learned copperplate engraving and printing. He also worked some time in manufacturing military arms and musical instruments, and at clock and watch making, keeping up his earlyformed habit of reading all the valuable books he could procure. At the age of 20 his father set him up in his trade at Pittsfield, Mass. ; but although he was diligent in business, his heart was not in it.

The day he was 21 he presented himself to his father at Northampton, and said, "Here, sir, is the key of my shop. All the tools, &c., you gave me are there in good order. I have deliberately made up my mind to quit business, and now relinquish every thing to you." Soon after he went to the West Indies as the companion of a gentleman whose acquaintance he had formed at Pittsfield, and who was in feeble health. This gentleman died in the West Indies. Soon after they had embarked it was found by young Tappan that three of the quadrants, all that were on board, were so much out of order that a correct observation could not be made; but neither the master of the vessel nor any other person on board, except Tappan, knew the cause, nor how to apply a remedy. His mechanical skill came here into useful exercise, and enabled him to remove the difficulty.