Edmund Rice arrived in America in 1638 and was one of the founders of
Sudbury, MA in 1693. Freeman in 1640. Prominent in civic affairs.
Selectman 1644 and several years thereafter. Deacon 1648 and 1656.
Representative to the General Court 1640, 1643 and 1652-54. In 1660, he
removed to Marlborough, MA as one of the first settlers. He was a large
land owner. Edmund Rice was the progenitor of many eminent descendants.
Among them were John quincy Adams, Julia Ward howe, writer and poet, who
wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic; Francis E Willard, philanthropist,
reformer, educator, and President of the Women's Christian Temporance
Union; General US Grant; Clara Baron, Civil War Nurse, first president of
the American Red Cross, Mary A Rice Livermore, second only to Clara Barton
in Civil War service; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet; Samuel FB Morse,
inventor of the electric telegraph.