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- Elisha Bisbee was known as "Esquire" and as "The Honest Lawyer." He practised in Pembroke; was a member of the General Court from Pembroke for the period 1725 to 1736. He died while still a member of the Court.
When a member of the General Court, Elisha Bisbee was chairman of the Committee of the House on question of the Governor's salary, then a matter of controversy with the King and his ministers. While attending the Court in Boston in 1736 he was sick but was active enough to secure an appropriation for Province lands for the town of Pembroke "to enable them to keep a grammar school therein."
Elisha Bisbee was one of the five Justices of Peace in Plymouth, Mass. 3 July 1734. He was said to be one of the best lawyers of his day.
When a member of the General Court (1725-1736) Elisha Bisbee voted against the acceptance of His Majesty's Royal Explanatory Charter, 1725. There were 41 yeas and 31 nays.
An abbreviated list of reports of committees on which Elisha Bisbee Served contains the following items: (Bisbee) appointed one of committee to accompany Governor on his trip to Castle, 1731. (Bisbee) empowered to eject unlawful settlers, 1731. (Elisha Bisbee was Excise Collector for Plymouth County, 1732 & 1734. (Elisha Bisbee) reported on act for settlement and distribution of estates and intestates, 1734. (Elisha Bisbee) submitted petition to allow land in center of Town of Pembroke for Indians to be taken over by the Town for benefit and aid of Indians. Ordered that Mr. Timothy Prout be appointed to committees of petition of East and West Precincts in Roxbury respecting a partition line between them; to be held in the room of Elisha Bisbey, Esq., one of said committee, who, through infirmity of body is rendered incapable of attending that service. 24 Nov. 1735.
The following is from the records of Rehoboth, Mass., pages 212 and 213: "1st May 1719... Elisha Bisbee', all enter the ear marks of their creatures. Elisha Bisbee's ear mark was taken up by Thomas Aline." Also, "2d May 1719... Mathew Cushing enters the ear mark of his creatures. Mathew Cushing hath left fall the above ear mark and taken up Elisha Bisbee's earmark April 17, 1723.
The record shows that in 1729, Mr. Bisbee was given leave of the General Court to go home for the recovery of health.
The following letter was written to his wife in 1736: "My dear,
"These with my love, come to let you know that I hope in about ten days to see you, God willing. As to my health, I can say but little about it, but I am such as I was. When the weather is very hot, I lie by and when the air is thick, I dare not go out, but I am as careful as I can. I have got on a stomach plaster again. I hope it is of some service.
"I shall, I think, bring you some flax and cotton wool but they are very dear. Flax I cannot have under two shillings and five pence and take a good quantity. As to sheep's wool, don't neglect to go to John Little, Esq; claim his promise and tell him you must what you have occasion for etc.
"Give my duty to my mother, my love to my children, sister, and all friends which, in haste, is all at present.
"From your loving husband, (signed) Elisha Bisbee"
"Boston June ye 4th 1736. "To Sarah Bisbee."
Grave record, Pembroke Center: "Bisbee, Elisha Esq. d. Mar 13, 1737, 49 years, 12 days." [2]
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