The Biographical Dictionary of America/Appleton, William Sumner

APPLETON, William Sumner, genealogist, was born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 11, 1840, son of Nathan and Harriot (Sumner) Appleton. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1860, which institution in 1864 conferred upon him the degree of A.M., and in 1865 that of LL.B. Mr. Appleton devoted a large part of his time to travel, visiting nearly every part of the world. In 1860 the Boston numismatic society was formed, and Mr. Appleton was made its secretary. He also became prominently identified with the Boston society of natural history, the New England historic-genealogical society, and the Boston art club. He was made a fellow of the American academy and a member of the Massachusetts historical society. Among his published writings are: "Medals of Washington" (1863); "Ancestry of Mary Oliver" (1867); "Memorials of the Cranes of Chilton" (1868); "Ancestry of Priscilla Baker" (1870); "Genealogy of the Appleton Family" (1874); "Issues of the U. S. Mint" (1876); "Records of Descendants of William Sumner" (1879); "The Family of Babcock of Massachusetts" (1881); "Augustine Dupré, and His Work for America" (1890); "The Family of Merriam of Massachusetts" (1892); "Early Wills Illustrating the Ancestry of Harriot Coffin" (1893); "The Sumner Genealogy to 1895"; and "A Century of the Senate of the United States" (1896). He also edited three volumes, the 5th, 21st, and 24th reports, as record commissioner of Boston, and in 1864 and in 1865 was editor of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.