York, 1866). He became editor of the New York “Commercial Advertiser” in 1867, but was compelled to resign that office the next year, owing to failing health, and did not again engage in regular work. Mr. Weed was tall, with a large head, overhanging brows, and massive person. He had great natural strength of character, good sense, judgment, and cheerfulness. From his youth he possessed a geniality and tact that drew all to him, and it is said that he never forgot a fact or a face. He was a journalist for fifty-seven years, and, although exercising great influence in legislation and the distribution of executive appointments, he refused to accept any public office. He was one of the earliest advocates of the abolition of imprisonment for debt, was a warm opponent of slavery, supported the policy of constructing and enlarging the state canals, and aided various railway enterprises and the establishment of the state banking system. He took an active part in the promotion of several New York city enterprises — the introduction of the Croton water, the establishment of the Metropolitan police, the Central park, the harbor commission, and the Castle Garden depot and commission for the protection of immigrants. He gave valuable aid to many charitable institutions, and devoted a large part of his income to private charity. He published some interesting “Reminiscences” in the “Atlantic Monthly” (1876), and after his death his “Autobiography,” edited by his daughter, appeared (Boston, 1882), the story of his life being completed in a second volume by his grandson, Thurlow Weed Barnes (1884).
WEEDON, George, soldier, b. in Fredericks-
burg, Va., about 1730; d. there after 1790. He
was an inn-keeper in his native town previous to
the Revolution, and a zealous patriot. Dr. John
D. F. Smythe, who made a tour of this country, of
which he published an account (2 vols., London,
1784), says of him in 1772: "He was very active in
blowing the seeds of sedition." Weedon was Dr.
Smythe's host during his visit to Fredericksburg.
He became lieutenant-colonel of the 3d Virginia
regiment in February, 1776, and in August of the
same year was transferred with the same rank to
the 1st Virginia regiment. He was commissioned
brigadier-general, 23 Feb., 1777, participated in the
battles of the Brandy wine and Germantown, in the
former battle supporting the brigade in Gen. Na-
thanael Greene's division that rendered valuable
service in arresting the British pursuit and rally-
ing the routed army. In consequence of a question
of supremacy in rank with Gen. William Wood-
ford, Weedon retired from the service shortly after
the battle of Germantown, but he resumed the com-
mand of a brigade in 1780, and during the siege of
Yorktown in October, 1781, was in charge of the
Virginia militia at Gloucester.
WEEKS, Edwin Lord, artist, b. in Boston,
Mass., in 1849. He studied under Jean L. Gorome
and Leon Bonnat in Paris, and has travelled
through Egypt, Syria, and other oriental countries,
where the scenes of most of his works are laid. He
has exhibited frequently at the salon in Paris,
receiving honorable mention in 1885. Among his
paintings are " A Cup of Coffee in the Desert," " A
Scene in Tangiers," " Pilgrimage to the Jordan,"
"Jerusalem to the Bethany Road." "Alhambra
Windows," " They Toil not. neither do they Spin,"
" A Prayer in the Desert," and " A Blacksmith's
Shop in Tangiers." His "An Arab Story-Teller"
was at the Centennial exhibition (Philadelphia,
1876), "A Moorish Camel-Driver" at the salon of
1878, and his " Departure for the Hunt, India"
(1884), is in the Corcoran gallery, Washington.
WEEKS, John M., inventor, b. in Litchfield,
Conn., 22 May, 1788 ; d. in Salisbury, Vt., 1 Sept.,
1858. He removed with his parents to Salisbury
in 1789, was educated in that town, and subse-
quently resided there until his death. He was a
constant contributor to agricultural journals, made
a study of bees, and invented the "Vermont bee-
hive." He is the author of a "Manual on Bees"
(New York, 1854) ; and a " History of Salisbury,
Vt., with a Memoir of the Author," by George A.
Weeks (Middlebury, Vt,. 1860). He left a "His-
tory of the Five Nations " in manuscript.
WEEKS, Robert Kelley, poet, b. in New York
city, 21 Sept., 1840; d. there, 13 April, 1876. He
was graduated at Yale in 1862 and at Columbia
law-school in 1864, and was admitted to the bar
of New York in the same year, but relinquished
that profession and devoted himself thenceforth
to literary pursuits. He published " Poems " (New
York, 1866) and " Episodes and Lyric Pieces "
(1870). A third volume of his poems appeared
shortly after his death (1876).
WEEKS, William Raymond, clergyman, b.
in Brooklyn, Conn., 6 Aug., 1783; d. in Oneida,
N. Y., 27 June, 1848. He was graduated at Prince-
ton in 1809, studied at Andover theological semi-
nary, and was pastor of Presbyterian churches in
New York state from 1812 till 1832, when he ac-
cepted a charge in Newark, N. J., which he held
till 1846. Williams gave him the degree of D. D.
in 1828. He is the author of "Nine Sermons"
(1813), a series of tracts (1834-'41), and a posthu-
mous volume entitled " Pilgrim's Progress in the
Nineteenth Century " (1849).
WEEMS, Mason Locke, historian, b. in
Dumfries, Va., about 1760; d. in Beaufort. S. C., 23
May, 1825. He studied theology in London, took
orders in the Protestant Episcopal church, and for
several years was rector of Pohick church. Mount
Vernon parish, Va., of which Washington was an
attendant. The necessities of Weems's large family
compelled him to resign that charge about 1790,
and he became a book agent for Mathew Carey,
the Philadelphia publisher. He was remarkably
successful in that employment, “ travelling throughout
the south with his books in his saddle-bags,
equally ready for a stump, a fair, or a pulpit.” He
was eccentric in mind and manner, and whenever
he heard of a public meeting he would attend it,
and, collecting a crowd around him, urge on his
hearers the merits of his books, interspersing his
remarks with anecdotes and humorous sallies. With
his temperance pamphlet, entitled the “Drunkard's
Glass,” illustrated with cuts, he would enter
taverns, and, by mimicking the extravagances of the
drunkard, so amuse and delight his audiences that
he had no trouble in selling his wares. He was an
expert violin-player, on which he performed for
young people to dance, thereby causing much
scandal in pious communities. On one occasion
he had promised to assist at a merry-making, but,
fearing for his clerical character, he decided to
play behind a screen. In the course of the evening
it was overturned, disclosing the parson to the
jeers of the company. On another occasion he was
obliged to pass through a dangerous district of
South Carolina, which at that time was infested
with robbers. Just at nightfall his wagon sank
into a quagmire; two ruffians appeared and were
about to seize him, when he took out his violin and
so charmed them by his music that they lifted his
wheels out of the mud and let him go. “I took
precious care,” says Weems, “to say nothing of my
name. When they pressed the question my fiddle
drowned their words and mine too.” Of his
tem-
