20 Facts About Moses Gill

Moses Gill was an American merchant and politician who served as the acting governor of Massachusetts from 1799 to 1800, when he died in office, the only acting governor to do so.

Moses Gill served on the Massachusetts Provincial Congress's executive committee until the state adopted its constitution in 1780, after which he continued to serve on the state's Governor's Council.

Moses Gill was a significant benefactor and founder of Leicester Academy, and supported the congregational church in Princeton, where the family had a large estate.

Moses Gill was one of the younger sons in a long line of children which included John Gill, who would become well known in the colonies as printer of the Boston Gazette.

Moses Gill remarried in 1772 to Rebecca Boylston, a scion of the influential Boylston family and sister of Harvard College benefactor Nicholas Boylston.

In 1774 Moses Gill entered politics, winning election to the provincial assembly.

Moses Gill served on this body's executive council, which functioned as the de facto executive of the state until its constitution was adopted in 1780.

Moses Gill was delegated, along with General Artemas Ward, to meet George Washington in Springfield and escort him to the army camps outside Boston.

Moses Gill's panel decided in Walker's favor, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court eventually confirmed the judgments on appeal, declaring that slavery was incompatible with the state constitution.

Moses Gill continued to serve in the General Court, winning election to the state senate annually from 1780, and being chosen by that body to serve on the Governor's Council.

Moses Gill stood for election to the United States House of Representatives in the 1789 election but was defeated by Jonathan Grout.

Moses Gill was one of several nominees for lieutenant governor, and received more votes than all nominees except the winning gubernatorial candidate, Samuel Adams.

Since he was nominated by one faction as lieutenant governor, Moses Gill was again returned to that post.

Moses Gill's politics are unclear: historian Anson Morse is of the opinion that his popularity was not sufficient to head the ticket of either the Federalists or the Democratic-Republicans.

Moses Gill served out Sumner's term, and was considered a candidate for the governorship as the 1800 election approached.

Moses Gill was derided by his opponents as the preferred candidate of the wealthy, and Federalists were accused of promoting him as a candidate in order to divide the opposition.

Moses Gill was a member and major supporter of the Congregational Church in Princeton, and a founding trustee and benefactor of Leicester Academy.

Moses Gill was for many years president of the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians.

Moses Gill's estate, located near the town center, was reputed to be one of the largest and most magnificent of its time in Worcester County.

Moses Gill's second wife's nephew, Ward Nicholas Boylston, inherited the estate; in addition to many other charitable works, Boylston was a major contributor to the establishment of Princeton's present town center.