Samuel Tucker

Samuel Tucker, son of Gerry Tucker, was born in Canton, Massachusetts, on April 29, 1841. He graduated from Tufts College in 1868 and that year came to Billerica as principal of the Howe School, succeeding Francis Gorman. Henry Hazen's history of 1883 noted that "the present principal, Mr. Samuel Tucker, assumed his charge in 1868," and the school's catalogues list him as Samuel Tucker, A.M. He held the post for twenty-seven years, longer than all three of the Howe School principals before him together.

On November 24, 1875 he married Annie Gilbert Baldwin, born September 12, 1847, daughter of Francis Baldwin; their son, Samuel Dunbar Tucker, was born on November 25, 1876. The Tuckers lived at 13 Andover Road, on the old Wetherbee place that Francis Baldwin had held, across the street from the Baldwin homestead. After Baldwin's death his heirs released their interest in the homestead to the Tuckers in 1885, and the house there, much rebuilt in their time, is known as the Samuel G. Tucker House.

Tucker also gave his time to the town's business and its history. He was one of Billerica's three auditors, and his name heads the auditors' certificates on the town accounts in the reports of 1888, 1889 and 1890. The town report of 1890 records payments to him "for copying Vols. I. and II. of the Billerica records," with stationery and the binding of the first volume, and that of 1892 records payments to him for "copying land grants, Vol. I and II," and to "Messrs. S. Tucker and F. Jaquith," the latter Franklin Jaquith, "for book of grants, Town of Billerica."

Samuel Tucker died suddenly on July 26, 1895, aged 54. The school report that followed said that "the sudden death of Mr. Tucker, who had served as the faithful and efficient principal of the Howe School for over twenty-five years, was a cause of deep sorrow to the whole community, in which he was universally held in high esteem. In his death, society lost a worthy member, education a zealous worker and earnest advocate, and many of us a beloved, personal friend." Albert M. Jones was elected to succeed him. Three years later, at a gathering of the First Parish, he was remembered as "an example of uprightness to every pupil who came under his charge," whose interest in them "did not cease when they left the school," so that he could say to each, "Your success is my success and your joy my joy."

References

1. Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register p. 152, TUCKER (birth in Canton, Tufts College 1868, principal of the Howe School, marriage, son)
2. Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register p. 9, BALDWIN #25 (Annie Gilbert Baldwin, m. Prof. Samuel Tucker)
3. Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), p. 258, the Howe School ("The present principal, Mr. Samuel Tucker, assumed his charge in 1868")
4. Catalogue of Howe School (1880), principals and teachers (Samuel Tucker, A.M., 1868-)
5. Treasurer's and auditors' reports, Town Report 1888 (signed by Samuel Tucker as auditor)
6. Selectmen's accounts, Town Report 1890 (S. Tucker paid for copying Vols. I and II of the Billerica records)
7. Miscellaneous expenses, Town Report 1892 (Samuel Tucker, copying land grants; S. Tucker and F. Jaquith, book of grants)
8. Deaths for 1895, Town Report 1896 (Samuel Tucker, July 26, aged 54 years 3 months)
9. Howe School report, Town Report 1896 (tribute on the sudden death of Mr. Tucker)
10. Sage, Old Families of the First Parish (1898), p. 18 (Samuel Tucker, principal of the Howe School for twenty-eight years)