Hon. John Henry CLIFFORD

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Benjamin Clifford and Achsah Wade

Notes:

Name:
He was a leading lawyer, and was one of the founders, in 1830, of a prominent firm of practitioners in New Bedford which has since existed by legal succession, and in which three generations of the Clifford family have been represented. It is the present firm of Crapo, Clifford & Prescott. Mr. Clifford was a member of the Legislature, state senator, district attorney, and attorney general, in the latter capacity being engaged in 1850 in the memorable trial of Prof. John W. Webster for the murder of Dr. George Parkman. He served as governor of Massachusetts in 1853, and declining a renomination, again became attorney general and was subsequently president of the State Senate. He was elected by the alumni as an overseer of Harvard College and became president of the board. An earnest patriot during the Civil War and in the work of reconstruction, he was tendered by President Grant the mission to Russia, and afterwards to Turkey, both of which he was obliged to decline.

John married Sarah Parker ALLEN on 16 Jan 1832. Sarah (daughter of William H. ALLEN and Ruth PARKER) was born on 1 Mar 1808; died on 29 Apr 1893 in New Bedford, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Charles Warren CLIFFORD was born on 19 Aug 1844 in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts.