of "Browne Hall," Lancashire, England. Simon Browne, Barrister, resided
there in 1540, and removed to Brundish, Suffolk. His son Thomas died
there in 1608, and his son Francis died there in 1626. His son Hon.
William, born 1608, came to Salem in 1635, became a merchant in Salem,
and was eminent for his exemplary life, and public charities. He died in
1687. Major William Browne, son of the preceding, was born in 1639. He
was a Councillor and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Essex
County. He was a successful merchant, and a man of great influence in
the Colony. He married Hannah, daughter of Captain George Curwin. He
died in 1716, at the age of seventy-eight.
COLONEL SAMUEL BROWNE, son of the aforesaid, was born in 1669. He was
the first town Treasurer of Salem, was many years a Representative,
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Essex County, was also Chief
Justice of said Court, also Colonel and Councillor. He was said to be by
far the greatest merchant in his day, in the County of Essex. He
emulated the beneficence of his father, uncle, and grandfather, in
bequeathing large sums to Harvard College, and to schools in Salem. He
died in 1731, aged 62. His son Samuel graduated at Harvard College,
1727. He married a daughter of John Winthrop, F. R. S., of New London,
Conn., and died in 1742, aged 34. He was concerned in mercantile
affairs.
COLONEL WILLIAM BROWNE, son of the aforesaid Samuel, was born at Salem
in 1737, was a grandson of Governor Burnet. He graduated at Harvard
College in 1755, the third in his class. He married his cousin, a
daughter of Governor Wanton of Rhode Island, and was doubly connected
with the Winthrop family, the wives of the elder Browne and Governor
Wanton being daughters of John Winthrop, F. R. S., great-grandson of
the first governor of Massachusetts. William Browne was Colonel of the
Essex regiment, a member of the General Court in 1768, was one of the
seventeen Rescinders, Judge of the Supreme Court, one of the ten
Mandamus Counsellors who was sworn in. Colonel Browne was esteemed among
the most opulent and benevolent individuals of the province before the
Revolution, and so great was his popularity that the gubernatorial chair
was offered him by the "Committee of Safety" as an inducement for him to
remain and join the "Sons of Liberty." But he felt it his duty to remain
on the side of the government, which represented law and authority, even
at the expense of his great landed estates, both in Massachusetts and
Connecticut, in the latter there were fourteen valuable farms, all of
which were afterwards confiscated. After the passage of the Boston Port
Bill, he was waited upon by a committee of the Essex delegates, which
consisted of Jeremiah Lee, Samuel Holton, and Elbridge Gerry. They
informed him that "It was with grief that the country had viewed his
exertions for carrying into execution certain acts of parliament,
calculated to enslave, and ruin his native land, that while the country
would continue the respect for several years paid him, it resolved to
detach every future connection all such, as shall persist in supporting
or in any countenancing the late arbitrary acts of Parliament; that the
delegates in the name of the country, request him to excuse them from
the painful necessity of considering, and treating him as an enemy to
his country, unless he resigned his office as counsellor and judge."
Colonel Browne replied as follows: "As a Judge, and in every other
capacity, I intend to act with honor, and integrity, and to exert my
best abilities, and be assured, that neither persuasion can allure me,
nor menaces compel me, to do anything derogatory to the character of a
Counsellor of his majesty's province of Massachusetts. I cannot consent
to defeat his Majesty's intentions, and disappoint his expectations by
abandoning a post to which he has been graciously pleased to appoint
me."
He was an Addresser of General Gage, was included in the Banishment Act
of 1778, and in the Conspiracy Act of the year following. He was in
London as early as May 4, 1776, and gave his fellow exiles some
particulars relative to the evacuation of Boston. His wife, who
complained of her treatment at Salem, and Boston, after his departure,
does not appear to have joined him in England until the spring of 1778.
In 1781 he was appointed Governor of the Bermudas, and administered the
affairs of these islands in a manner to secure the confidence of the
people. Under his judicious management the colony flourished. He found
the financial affairs of the islands in a confused and ruinous state,
and left them flourishing. In 1788 he left for England, deeply and
sincerely regretted by the people. He died in England, February, 1802,
aged sixty-five.
William Browne, son of the aforesaid, born at Salem, was an officer in
the British Army, and was at the siege of Gibraltar. He was in England
in 1784.
Colonel Benjamin Pickman, writing in 1793, said of the Brownes: "I would
observe that the family of the Brownes has been the most remarkable
family that has ever lived in the Town of Salem, holding places of the
highest trust in the Town, County, and State, and possessing great
riches. Their donations to the schools have been considerable, and their
mercantile engagements have very much contributed to the growth of the
Town."
The Browne mansion, erected by William Browne in 1740, upon the summit
of Browne's Hill. He named "Browne Hall" after a place in Lancashire,
England, that belonged to his ancestors.
The building consisted of two wings, two stories high, connected by a
spacious hall, the whole presenting 80 feet front. The dwelling was one
of the most magnificent in the Colony, it was finished in a most
thorough and costly manner, corresponding with the wealth of the owner.
The house was confiscated and later came into the possession of Hon.
William Gray, who resided there till 1800. Subsequently it was known as
"Sun Tavern," and then taken down.[264]
[264] Essex Inst. His. Coll. Vol. xxxii., pp. 201-238. Curwen's Journal,
pp. 500-1, Sabine's Loyalists, pp. 265-6.
ARCHIBALD CUNNINGHAM.
ARCHIBALD CUNNINGHAM, of Boston, Massachusetts, was a prosperous
merchant and a member of the North church in that city. He was high in
office among the Free Masons. In 1776 he went to New York and on account
of his loyalty was proscribed and banished in 1778.
At the peace he went from New York to Shelburne, Nova Scotia,
accompanied by his family of six persons and one servant. In Nova Scotia
he was Clerk of the Peace, and Register of Probate. On account of
adhering to the royal cause his losses were estimated at L1100. As he
was a man of learning, a reader, and of an observant nature, he left
many valuable papers. His death occurred in 1820.
CAPTAIN JOHN MALCOMB.
There is not much known of this person. I find that he lived at
Brunswick, Maine, and that in 1760 he married Abigail Trundy, of
Falmouth (Portland). He was commissioned Ensign by Governor Shirley, and
served under Colonel Waldo, in the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment against
Louisburg in 1745. He was also Captain of a vessel that took despatches
from there to Boston in the same year.
It was not often that the same man was tarred and feathered mere than
once, but this unhappy experience twice befell John Malcom. His offence
appears to have been in the exercise of his duty as custom house
officer, of seizing a vessel at Falmouth, now Portland, for want of a
register, and freely speaking of the actions of the "Sons of Liberty."
We are informed by the papers of that period[265] "That John Malcom was
genteely Tarr'd and Feathered at Pownalborough" (now Dresden, Maine) "on
November first, 1773, and on January 25th, 1774, a mob in Boston tore
his cloaths off, and tarr'd his Head and Body, and feathered him, then
they set him on a chair in a cart, and carried him through the main
Street into King Street, from thence they proceeded to 'Liberty Tree,'
and then to the Neck, as far as the Gallows, where they whipped, beat
him with Sticks, and threatened to hang him."
[265] Boston Gazette, Nov. 15, 1773. Boston News Letter, Jan. 27, 1774.
Feb 3, 1774. Massachusetts Spy, Jan. 27, 1774.
The "Sons of Despotism" detained him under the gallows for an hour. He
was then conveyed to the north end of the town, and thence back to his
house. He was kept stripped four hours, and was so bruised and benumbed
by the cold that his life was despaired of. It was by such means that
the disunionists made converts to their cause. His offence for this
Boston outrage, was that he struck one of his tormentors, a tradesman
who had frequently insulted him, when a warrant was issued against him,
but as the constable had not been able to find him, a mob gathered about
his house and broke his windows. Malcomb was in the house, and pushing
his sword through a broken window, wounded one of his assailants. The
mob then made a rush, broke in, and finding him in a chamber, lowered
him by a rope into the cart, and treated him as before mentioned in the
newspapers.
THE RUSSELL FAMILY OF CHARLESTOWN.
The Russell family was eminent in social station and distinguished in
the many public offices held by them in Boston and Charlestown for
nearly two centuries. The first of this family to come to this country
was the Hon. Richard Russell, son of Paul, of Hereford, England, born
1611, was an apprentice at Bristol, 1628, arrived here in 1640 with his
wife, both admitted to the church in 1641, was a prominent merchant,
Representative, Councillor, Speaker, Treasurer, Assistant. He died in
1676, aged 63. His son James, born 1640, died 1709. He also was judge,
Councillor and Treasurer, etc. He had an only son Daniel, born 1683,
died 1763. He married Rebecca Chambers, and was also Councillor,
Commissioner, Treasurer, etc.
CHAMBERS RUSSELL, son of the preceding, was born 1713. He was Judge,
Councillor and a prominent lawyer, in whose office John Adams and Judge
Sewall studied law. He graduated at Harvard College 1731, married Mary
Wainwright, resided at Lincoln, which was incorporated in 1754, and
named by him, after Lincoln in England, where some of his ancestors
resided. His wife died in 1762, and he went to England, and died Nov.
24, 1767, at Guilford County, Surrey.
JAMES RUSSELL, brother of Chambers, married Catherine Greaves, 1738. He
was Judge, Representative, and in 1774 was appointed Mandamus
Councillor, but did not take the official oath. This saved him from the
wrath of the revolutionists. He was not solicitous to shine, but was
anxious to do good, and to be on friendly terms with his neighbors. He
was incessant in his endeavors to promote the happiness and advance the
prosperity of the community in which he lived. A bridge from Charlestown
to Boston was among the enterprises which he projected. By his
persevering efforts, the work was accomplished, and the Charlestown
Bridge was the first structure of the kind ever build across a broad
river in the United States. Through his great benevolence, and public
spirit, he was not driven from his home as his sons were, the
revolutionists allowed him to remain, and he died at Charlestown, Sept.
17th, 1798, aged 83 years.
JAMES RUSSELL, JR., son of the preceding, was obliged to leave and go to
England. Was in London, February 1776, and at Exeter in 1779. A year
later the fortunate captures made by a privateer gave him a fortune, and
he was "bound in the matrimonial chain" to Mary, second daughter of
Richard Lechmere, a Boston Loyalist. They were married in 1780 at St.
Peter's Church, Bristol, where he resided as a merchant. Among their
children was Lechmere-Coor-Graves, Charles James, who died in service of
Royal Navy, Katherine-Sarah, who married Major Miller of Bombay
Artillery, Lucy Margaret, married Rev. Robert Cope Wolf.
DR. CHARLES RUSSELL, brother of James, was also a staunch loyalist.
Graduated at Harvard College 1757. Married Feb. 15, 1768, Elizabeth,
only daughter of Colonel Henry Vassell of Cambridge. He succeeded to his
uncle, Judge Chambers Russell's estate at Lincoln, was proscribed and
banished, and his estate confiscated. He was a physician at Antigua,
where his wife owned considerable property. He died there in 1780, and
his wife died at Plymouth in 1802.[266]
[266] Wyman Genealogies and Estates in Charlestown.
EZEKIEL RUSSELL
Was a Printer and born in Boston, he served an apprenticeship with his
brother Joseph. This family had no connection with the Charlestown
Russells. In November, 1771, he commenced a political publication called
"The Censor." It was printed in Marlboro Street, was a weekly
publication, designed to defend the action of the government, and was
supported by the loyalists. The articles were written with great
ability by Lieut. Gov. Oliver, Dr. Benjamin Church, and other
loyalists. The first number reprinted from the Massachusetts Spy, the
then famous letter of Joseph Greenleaf attacking Governor Hutchinson,
and answered it with vehemence and spirit. In succeeding numbers the
controversy was prolonged with increasing bitterness, and at last became
intensely personal. The issue of Feb. 8, 1772, contained a recipe to
make a modern patriot for the Colonies, especially for Massachusetts, as
follows:
"Take of impudence, virulence and groundless abuse =quantum
sufficit=, atheism, deism and libitinism =ad libitum=; false
reports, well adapted and plausable lies, with groundless alarms,
=one hundred wt. avoirdupois=; a malignant abuse of magistracy, a
pusilanimous and diabolical contempt of divine revelation and all
its abbettors, =an equal quantity=; honor and integrity not quite
=an atom=; fraud, imposition, and hypocrisy, any proportion that
may seem expedient; infuse therein the credulity of the people =one
thousand gallons=, as a =menstrum= stir in the =phrenzy= of the
=times=, and at the end of a year or two this judicious composition
will probably bring forth a A =***= and Y =***= an O =***= and a M
=*****=."
"Probatum est I. N."
The Censor not proving a success, Mr. Russell attempted to establish a
newspaper at Salem, but that also failed. He returned to Boston, where
he obtained support principally by printing and selling ballads, and
small pamphlets. His wife was an active and industrious woman, who not
only assisted him in printing, but sometimes wrote ballads on recent
tragical events, which were published, and had frequently a considerable
run. Ezekiel Russell died September 1796, aged fifty-two years. Joseph
Russell, brother of Ezekiel, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Russell, was
born at Boston, 8 September, 1734, and died at St. John, New Brunswick,
in 1808, aged 74 years.
JONATHAN SEWALL.
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS.
The family of Sewall is traced to two brothers, Henry, and William
Sewall, both Mayors of Coventry, England, Henry Sewall born about 1544,
was a Linen Draper, Alderman of Coventry, Mayor in 1589 and 1606. Died
1628, aged 84. Buried in St. Michael's Church, Coventry. Married
Margaret, eldest daughter of Avery Grazebrook.
Their son Henry Sewall, emigrated to New England in 1634. He came over
"out of dislike to the English Hierarchy" and settled at Newbury. He
died at Rowley in 1657, aged 81 years. Married Anne Hunt. They brought
with them their son, Henry Sewall, born in Coventry, in 1614, died in
1700, aged 86. Married Jane Dummer in Newbury, 1646. He went back to
England and resided for some years at Warwick. In 1659 he returned to
New England, "his rents at Newbury coming to very little when remitted
to England." His son Stephen was born at Badesly, England in 1657. He
came to New England in 1661, settled at Salem and was a Major in the
Indian wars. He died in 1725. Married Margaret, daughter of Rev.
Jonathan Mitchell of Cambridge in 1682. They had an only son Jonathan,
who was a merchant at Boston. He married Mary, sister of Edward Payne,
of Boston. They had a son,
JUDGE JONATHAN SEWALL, the subject of this notice. He was born at Boston
in 1728. Graduated at Harvard College in 1748, and was a teacher at
Salem till 1756. He married Esther, daughter of Edmund Quincy, Esq., of
Braintree, afterwards of Boston, and sister of Dorothy Quincy, wife of
Governor Hancock, and of Elizabeth Quincy, wife of Samuel Sewall, of
Boston, the father of Samuel Sewall, Chief Justice of Massachusetts.
Jonathan Sewall studied law with Judge Chambers Russell, of Lincoln,
commenced practice in his profession at Charlestown. He was an able and
successful lawyer. He was Solicitor General, and his eloquence is
represented as having been soft, smooth and insinuating, which gave him
as much power over a jury as a lawyer ought ever to possess. At the
death of Jeremy Gridley, he was appointed Attorney-General of
Massachusetts, September, 1767. In 1768 he was appointed Judge of
Admiralty for Nova Scotia. He went there twice in that capacity, and
remained but a short period.
He was a gentleman and a scholar. He possessed a lively wit, a brilliant
imagination, great subtlety of reasoning and an insinuating eloquence.
He was an intimate friend of John Adams, they studied together in Judge
Russell's office, and afterwards, while attending court, they lived
together, frequently slept in the same chamber, and often in the same
bed, and besides the two young men were in constant correspondence.
He attempted to dissuade John Adams from attending the first Continental
Congress, and it was in reply to his arguments, and as they walked on
the Great Hill at Portland, that Adams used the memorable words, used so
often afterwards in 1861 when the ordinance of secession was passed:
"The die is now cast, I have now passed the Rubicon; sink or swim, live
or die, survive or perish with my country, is my unalterable
determination." They parted, and met no more until 1788. Adams, the
Minister of the new republic at the Court of St. James, and the eloquent
and gifted Sewall, true to the Empire, met in London. Adams laying aside
all etiquette made a visit to his old friend and countryman, he said, "I
ordered my servant to announce John Adams, I was instantly admitted, and
both of us forgetting that we had ever been enemies, embraced each other
as cordially as ever. I had two hours conversation with him in a most
delightful freedom, upon a multitude of subjects." In the course of the
interview, Mr. Sewall remarked that he had existed for the sake of his
two children, that he had spared no pains or expense in their education
and that he was going to Nova Scotia in hope of making some provision
for them.
In 1774, he was an Addresser of Governor Hutchinson, and in September of
that year his elegant home in Cambridge (which he rented from John
Vassal, afterwards Washington's head-quarters, since occupied by the
poet Longfellow) was attacked by the mob and much injured. He fled to
Boston to escape from the fury of the disunionists. He had ably
vindicated the characters of Governors Bernard, Hutchinson and Oliver,
he was esteemed an able writer, and a staunch loyalist. He was
proscribed in the Conspirators Act of 1779. He resided chiefly in
Bristol till 1788, for the education of his children, then he removed to
St. John's, N. B., having been appointed Judge of Admiralty for Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick. He immediately entered upon the duties of his
office, which he held till his death, which occurred September 26, 1796,
at the age of sixty-eight. His widow survived him, and removed to
Montreal, where she died January 21, 1810.
JONATHAN SEWALL, son of the aforesaid, was born at Cambridge, 1766, was
educated at Bristol, England, and afterwards resided at Quebec, where he
occupied the offices of Solicitor and Attorney General and Judge of the
Vice Admiralty Court, until 1808, when he was appointed Chief Justice of
Lower Canada, which he resigned in 1838. For many years he was President
of the Executive Council, and Speaker of the Legislative Council.
In 1832 he received the degree of Doctor of Law from Harvard College. He
died at Quebec in 1840, aged seventy-three. His brother Stephen was
Solicitor General of the same Province in 1810 and resided in Montreal.
He died there of Asiatic cholera in the summer of 1832.
SAMUEL SEWALL son of Henry Sewall and brother of Major Stephen Sewall,
was the first chief justice of Massachusetts. This was the famous Sewall
that sat in judgment upon the witches and afterwards repented it, who
refused to sell an inch of his broad acres to the hated Episcopalians to
build a church upon, who was one of the richest, most astute, sagacious,
scholarly, bigoted and influential men of his day, who has left us in
his Diary a transcript almost vivid in its conscientious faithfulness of
that old time life, where he tells us of the courts he held, the drams
he drank, the sermons he heard, the petty affairs of his own household
and neighborhood, and where he advised with the governor touching
matters of life and death. He married Hannah, the only child of John
Hull, the mintmaster, who it is said gave her, on her marriage, a
settlement in pine tree shillings equal to her weight. Hull owned a
large farm of 350 acres in Longwood, Brookline, which descended to his
son-in-law, and was known afterwards as Sewall's Farm.[267]
[267] Curwen Journal, pp. 463-5. 506. Sabine's Loyalists, pp, 265-8.
Samuel Sewall, son of the aforesaid, married Rebecca Dudley, a daughter
of the governor. His son, Henry Sewall, born in 1719, died in 1771, was
a gentleman much respected, and a lawyer of prominence. His son,
SAMUEL SEWALL, the subject of this article, was born at Brookline,
December 31, 1745. Graduated at Harvard College in 1761. He studied law
and settled in Boston. His name occurs among the barristers and
attorneys who addressed Governor Hutchinson in 1774, and in the
Banishment and Proscription Act in 1778, when his large estate which he
had inherited from his ancestors, was confiscated. He went to England,
and in 1776 was a member of the Loyalist Club, London. Two years later
he was at Sidmouth, a "bathing town of mud walls and thatched roofs." In
1780 he was living in Bristol, and on the 19th of June amused himself
loyally celebrating Clinton's success at Charleston in the discharge of
a two-pounder in a private garden, and three days later was shot at by a
highwayman and narrowly escaped with his life. Early in 1782 he was at
Taunton, and at Sidmouth. He died at London, after one day's confinement
to his room, May 6th, 1811, aged fifty-six years. He was unmarried.
LIST OF CONFISCATED ESTATES BELONGING TO SAMUEL SEWALL IN SUFFOLK COUNTY
AND TO WHOM SOLD.
To Edward Kitchen, Wolcott, July 19, 1782; Lib. 135, fol. 113; Land
263 A. 1 qr., in Brookline, Thomas Aspinwall E.; marsh road to
Charles River N E.; Charles River N.; Thomas Gardner and Moses
Griggs S. and S.W.; Solomon Hill S. and S.E.----Land, 16 A. 3 qr.,
and half of house in Brookline on Sherburn Road and the marsh lane,
bounded by Capt. Cook, Samuel Craft and Elisha Gardner.
To John Heath. Nov. 12. 1782; Lib. 136, fol. 102; Land and
buildings in Brookline. 9 A. 33 r., Sherburn Road S.E.; a town way
N.E.; Mr. Aker N.W.; a town way S.W.----32 A. 3 r., Daniel White
and the pound S.W.; road and Joseph Williams S.E.; Joshua Boylston
and William Hyslop N.E.; Sherburn Road N.W.----18 A. 2 qr. 5 r.,
Samuel White N.W.; John Dean S.W. and S.; a town way S.E., said
Dean N.E.; S.E. and S.; said town way E.; road N.E.----59 A. 3 qr.
4 r., Benjamin White and Dr. Winchester N.E.; Sarah Sharp S.W.;
Samuel White and heirs of Justice White S.E.; Benjamin White N.E.;
S.E. and N.E.; Sherburn Road N.E.----23 A. 3 qr. 33 r., Ebenezer
Crafts and Caleb Gardner N.W.; said Gardner and Benjamin White
S.W.; Moses White S.E.; Benjamin White and Moses White N.E.; Moses
White S.E.: a town way N.E.--- 3 A. 28 r, Ebenezer Craft S.W.; S.E.
and N.E.; the County line N.W.----8 A. 1 qr., 31 r., Daniel White
N.W.; the County line S.W.; David Cook S.E.; heirs of Ebenezer
Davis N.E.----5 A. 2 qr. 38 r., said Craft N.W.; saw mill meadow
W.; William Heath S. and S.E.; Benjamin White and William Hammon
N.E.----7 A. 2 qr., 32 r., Edward K. Walcott S. and W.; Benjamin
White S.; William Acker S.E.; John Child E.; Charles River N.;
Joseph Adams and Daniel White W.----4 A. 26 r., Moses White W.,
Esquire White, Ebenezer Craft and a creek S.; Nehemiah Davis and
heirs of Caleb Denny S.E.; the marsh road N.
To John Molineux, William Molineux, Aug. 11, 1783; Lib 139, fol.
153; Land and buildings in Boston, Newbury St. W.; Daniel Crosby,
John Solely and heirs of Benjamin Church deceased S.; land late of
Frederick William Geyer E.; Thomas Fairweather, Sampson Reed, John
Homands and Edward Hollowday N.; said Sewall W.; N.; W. and N.
To John McLane, Dec. 18, 1783; Lib. 140. fol. 207; Land and
buildings in Boston, Newbury St. W.; said Sewall S.; E.; S. and E.;
Edward Hollowday N.
THOMAS ROBIE.
William and Elizabeth Robie were inhabitants of Boston as early as 1689,
when their son Thomas was born on March 20th of that year. He graduated
at Harvard College in 1708, and died in 1729. He was tutor, librarian,
and Fellow of the college. He published an account of a remarkable
eclipse of the sun on Nov. 27, 1772, also in the _Philosophical
Transactions_ of the Royal Society, papers on the Alkaline Salts, and
the Venom of Spiders (1720-24). The following extract from the diary of
President Leverett shows the estimation in which he was held. "It ought
to be remembered that Mr. Robie was no small honor to Harvard College by
his mathematical performances, and by his correspondence thereupon with
Mr. Durham and other learned persons in those studies abroad." In
mathematics and natural philosophy he was said to have no equal in New
England.
His mother was Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of James Taylor, long
treasurer of the Province.[268] He went to Salem and established himself
in the practice of physic, and married a daughter of Major Stephen
Sewall.
[268] Memorial His., of Boston. Vol. iv. p. 492. Vol. ii. p. 549.
Thomas Robie, of Marblehead, was a son of the preceding Dr. Robie. He
was a merchant, and married a daughter of the Rev. Simon Bradstreet, who
was the great grandson of Gov. Bradstreet, called the Nestor of New
England. Mr. Robie was a staunch loyalist, was an Addresser of Gov.
Hutchinson, and thus brought upon himself and family the ire of the
Revolutionists. They were obliged to leave the town and take refuge in
Nova Scotia. Crowds of people collected on the wharf to witness their
departure, and many irritating and insulting remarks were addressed to
them concerning their Tory principles, and their conduct towards the
Whigs. Provoked beyond endurance by these insulting taunts, Mrs. Robie
retorted, as she seated herself in the boat that was to convey her to
the ship: "I hope that I shall live to return, find this wicked
rebellion crushed and see the streets of Marblehead run with rebel
blood." The effect of this remark was electrical among the
Revolutionists and only her sex prevented them from doing her person
injury. But there were other loyalists in Marblehead who, if not so
demonstrative, were not less sincere in this opinion. With fortitude and
silence they bore the taunts and insults to which they were subjected,
honestly believing that their friends and neighbors were engaged in a
treasonable rebellion against their lawful sovereign.
Mr. Robie first went to Halifax, but afterwards to London, Feb. 5, 1776.
He passed his time of exile mostly in Halifax, where one of his
daughters married Jonathan Stearns, Esq., another refugee; another was
married to Joseph Sewall, Esq., late treasurer of Massachusetts.
After the war was over some of the refugees attempted to return to their
former homes. During the month of April, 1783, the town was thrown into
a state of the greatest excitement by the return of Stephen Blaney, one
of the loyalists. Rumors were prevalent that other refugees were also
about to return, and on April 24 a town meeting was held, when it was
voted that "All refugees who made their appearance in town were to be
given six hours notice to leave, and any who remained beyond that time
were to be taken into custody and shipped to the nearest port of Great
Britain." Late one afternoon after this action of the town a vessel from
the provinces arrived in the harbor. It was soon ascertained that the
detested Robie family were on board, and, as the news spread through the
town, the wharves were crowded with angry people, threatening vengeance
upon them if they attempted to land. The dreadful wish uttered by Mrs.
Robie at her departure still rankled in the minds of the people and they
determined to give the Robies a significant reception. So great was the
excitement that it was feared by many of the influential citizens that
the unfortunate exiles might be injured and perhaps lose their lives at
the hands of the infuriated populace. During the night, however, a party
of gentlemen went on board of the schooner and removed them to a place
of safety. They were landed in a distant part of the town and secreted
for several days in a house belonging to one of the gentlemen. In the
meantime urgent appeals were made to the magnanimity of the turbulent
populace, and the excitement subsided.
Mr. Robie went into business again in a limited extent, and died at
Salem about 1812, well esteemed and respected. The large brick mansion
house of Thomas Robie is situated on Washington street, near the head of
Darling street, Marblehead.
SAMUEL BRADSTREET ROBIE, son of the above, of Halifax, was appointed
solicitor-general of Nova Scotia in 1815, speaker of the house of of
assembly in 1817, 1819-20, member of the council in 1824, and master of
the rolls in 1825, and died at that city January, 1858, in his
eighty-eighth year.
BENJAMIN MARSTON.
The origin of the name Marston, is the English of Marsius (Lat.) Marson
(Ger.) and signifies warrior, being derived from Mars, the god of war.
John Marston, the first of this name to come to America came from
Ormsby, Norfolk, England, to Salem, in 1637, when he was 22 years of
age. He married Alice, surname unknown, on Aug. 4, 1640, and on June 2,
1641 was admitted freeman. He had ten children between 1641 and 1661.
His occupation was that of carpenter. He was diligent and prosperous in
his business, and at his death bequeathed to his children "his house and
land, and some money." His sons were influential in town matters, and
three were chosen representatives to the general court.
He died Dec. 19, 1681, and was buried in the Old Salem Burying Ground.
BENJAMIN MARSTON, the first of this name and lineage, was the fourth son
of the preceding John Marston, and was born in Salem, Jan. 9, 1651. He
was an active and enterprising merchant and carried on for many years an
extensive and profitable business with the West Indies, Spain, Nova
Scotia, and Southern Colonies. He owned two warehouses, and the wharves
on which they stood, several vessels, Brigantines, Ketches, Shallops and
Sloops. In the year 1700 he built a large and handsome brick dwelling
house, the first brick house in Salem. It was built by George Cabot, a
mason from Boston. Its location was afterwards occupied by the Lee
house on the corner of Essex and Crombie streets. Towards the close of
his life, his estate suffered great losses, some of his vessels were
lost at sea, some taken by the French and pirates, and others having
lost all their crew by disease, or otherwise, "ye voiages were spiled."
In June, 1719, he sailed with his son Benjamin, Jr., in "The good
Briganteen Essex" from Salem to Ireland. His son wrote from Dublin, Nov.
6, 1719, to his mother announcing "the death of his father there, from
the Small Pox, and that he was taken ill of the same distemper, the
night he died, and that he had recovered and was not much marked."
BENJAMIN MARSTON, the second of this name, son of the preceding Benjamin
Marston, was born in Salem, Feb. 24, 1697. He graduated from Harvard
College in 1715. It appears after the death of his father he remained in
Ireland, conducting all the business matters connected with the Essex,
with a degree of energy and capacity not often found in a young man of
22 years of age. The voyage turned out to be much more profitable than
was expected, and much of the property that had been sold or mortgaged
by his father was redeemed.
He engaged in business at Salem as a merchant and gained a reputation
among his fellow townsmen as a "man of honorable motives and strict
integrity of character." He was chosen representative to the general
court in 1727-28-29. Was High Sheriff of Essex till 1737, was Justice of
General Session and Common Pleas Courts. In 1729 he married Elizabeth
Winslow, daughter of Hon. Isaac Winslow of Marshfield. In 1740 he
retired from business, and bought a large and valuable property at
Manchester, known for many years as the Marston farm. Here he passed the
remainder of his days, and died May 22, 1754, aged 57 years, leaving a
large estate including the Great and Little Misery Islands, for which he
had paid L516. 13.9. A part of the income of the island he left for the
purpose of "Propagating the Gospel among the Indians."
BENJAMIN MARSTON, the third of this name, and family, and son of the
preceding, was born in Salem, Sept. 30, 1730. He graduated at Harvard
College in 1749. After leaving college he travelled in Europe and
visited some other of the British colonies. He married Sarah Sweet,
whose sister, Martha, married Col. Jeremiah Lee of Marblehead. After his
marriage he "settled down" in Marblehead, where for many years he
carried on a large and successful business as a merchant. He owned a
store in King street, and other stores, and warehouses, and jointly with
his partners, Jeremiah Lee and Robert Hooper, several large ships. He
also owned a pleasant and commodious dwelling house, and much real
estate, and other property in Marblehead and elsewhere. He was
considered by his friends and neighbors as a man of pure life, and great
integrity of character, active in business, energetic in public matters,
hospitable and benevolent in private, a great reader and scholar, and
fond of literary pursuits, always occupying one of the most respectable
positions in society, and greatly esteemed by all who knew him. Here he
continued to live for twenty years, actively engaged in business, and
doing his duty towards his town. He was chosen selectman, and overseer
of the poor, thirteen times in fifteen years, fireward twelve times in
fourteen years, assessor in 1760, moderator of town meetings, fourteen
times in eight years, and occupied many other important offices of
trust. After 1768, however, when the troubles which preceded the
Revolution began to increase the confidence of the people, that were
influenced by the Revolutionists, appear to have been withheld. They
still chose him moderator of all town meetings, but he was not again
appointed on any important committees. He was known to be "an
uncompromising adherent to the lawful government of the British
Colonies," but as he had violated no agreements, and never attempted to
counteract the plans of the conspirators, though frequently and openly
expressing his disapprobation of their violent proceedings, he was for
some time unmolested. At an early period, however, he discovered the
storm brewing, and as if apprehensive of future difficulties he began
"to sell off some of his property."
Benjamin Marston was one of the Addressers of Governor Hutchinson, and
thus incurred the displeasure of the Revolutionists. After this he was
harshly and brutally treated by the "Sons of Liberty." In the year 1775,
his home was mobbed by a Marblehead _Committee_, who without any legal
authority, entered his doors, broke open his desk, embezzled his money,
and notes, and carried off his books and accounts. He made his escape
from the town with difficulty, the turbulent "Sons of Despotism" would
have probably tarred and feathered him if he had come within their
reach. He remained concealed among his friends for some time, till he
could reach Boston and place himself under the protection of the
British. A letter from Hon. Wm. Brown, who also had sought shelter in
Boston, to his friend Judge Curwen, a fellow Loyalist, said "About 2
months ago, Mr. Marston came here by night from Col. Fowle's farm. He
knows nothing about Salem. His wife died last summer."
After the evacuation of Boston he went to St. John, N. B., and then to
Windsor, N. S., finally settling down at Halifax, and there engaging in
trade and venturing to sea, he was taken prisoner and carried into
Plymouth, and remained in duress in Boston until he was exchanged, and
then went to Halifax. He returned to Boston after the peace in 1787, in
the spring of which year he visited his friends in Plymouth, for the
last time, and soon after embarked for London. His after life is best
described in a letter to his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Watson, of Plymouth,
wife of William Watson, Esq., under date of London, March 19, 1792. He
says: "I now sit down and write to you with satisfaction, for I have at
length fairly waded thro the _Slough of Despond_. I am now landed on the
opposite side and shall go on my way rejoicing, having once more emerged
into active life. In fact, I am engaged to go with a large Company, who
are going to make a Settlement on the Island Bulama, on the coast of
Africa, as their Land Surveyor General on a pretty good lay. No
expedition could have hit my taste and humor more exactly than this one
promises to do. It is so of the _Robinson Crusoe_ kind, that I prefer
it, vastly to any employment of equal emolument and of a more regular
kind, that might have been offered to me in this country.
"You say you have mourned me as _dead and buried_. In truth, my dear
Sister, I have been much worse off. I have for more than four years been
_buryed alive_. As to gratifying your wish in making my native country
the residence of the remainder of my days, it is not at present in my
power to do, for want of means. There is not remaining in my mind the
least resentment to the Country because the party whose side I took in
the late great Revolution, did not succeed, for I am now fully
convinced. It is better for the world that they have not. I don't mean
by this to pay any complements to the first instigators of our American
Revolution, although it has been of such advantage to mankind, I should
as soon think of erecting monuments to Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate
and the Jewish Sanhedrim for betraying and crucifying the Lord of Life,
because that event was so importantly and universally beneficial."
The expedition to Africa resulted disastrously, and Benjamin Marston
died on the Island of Bulama of the African fever, on the 10th of
August, 1792.
From the scanty materials which have been here brought together, will be
sufficient to convince the reader that it was no personal consideration,
no expectation of honors and rewards, or desire of rank and distinction,
but simply from a deep conviction of duty, a clear sense of loyalty to
the British crown, that he gave up everything that was dear to him, his
"pleasant and spacious dwelling" house, with its "fine old garden for
morning exercise," his cherished library, his "much property," his
well-earned reputation as a merchant, a magistrate and a citizen, his
relatives, friends, and native country, and become a refugee and a
wanderer on the face of the earth, "without a place that he could
command to lay his head," and those that bore his name, were more proud
of it than if he left rank and honor and large possessions to his
representatives. There were very few of those who embraced the cause of
the Mother Country, in those trying times, that were led by more
honorable, or disinterested motives, or are more deserving of
remembrance than Benjamin Marston of Marblehead.
HON. BENJAMIN LYNDE CHIEF JUSTICE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
It appears from the registry in the Church of St. John, the parish
church of Hackney, near London, that Enoch Lynde was married on the 25th
of October, 1614, to Elizabeth Digbie, a descendant of Sir John Digby.
Enoch Lynde resided in London, was a merchant engaged in foreign trade,
and was for some years connected with the postal service between England
and Holland. He died the 23rd of April, 1636, aged fifty years.
SIMON LYNDE, the third son of Enoch Lynde, was born in London in 1624.
He engaged in mercantile pursuits, and went to Holland. In 1650 he came
to New England, and in the following year married Hannah, a daughter of
Mr. John Newgate. During the thirty years of his life in the colony, he
was a person of prominence, and acquired large landed possessions, in
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. In 1687 he was appointed
one of the Justices of the Superior Court. He died 22nd Nov. 1687,
possessed of a large estate, and many children, who survived him.
BENJAMIN LYNDE, the sixth son of Simon, was born 22nd September, 1666.
He records of himself that he was admitted to Harvard College on the 6th
of September, 1682, by the Rev. Increase Mather, after having received
his preparatory education under the famous grammar Master, Ezekiel
Cheever, and received his first Degree in 1686. His father desired that
he should complete his education in England. On 27th June, 1692, he
sailed for England, and was admitted he says "for the study of Law, into
the honorable Society of the Middle Temple, Oct. 18, 1692." "I was
called to the Bar as Counsellor at Law in 1697, and received a
commission under the great Seal, for King's Advocate, in the New Court
of Admiralty, in New England, in the same year." He returned to America
Dec. 24, 1697. On the 27 of April, 1699, he married Mary, daughter of
Hon. William Browne of Salem. In 1712 he was appointed a Judge of the
Superior Court, and in the following year a Councillor. On the
resignation of Judge Sewall in 1728, he was made Chief Justice of the
Province, which office he held at the time of his death, Jan. 28, 1745,
in the 79th year of his age. The Boston Evening Post said of him,
"Inflexible justice, unspotted integrity, affability, and humanity were
ever conspicuous in him. He was a sincere friend, most affectionate in
his relations, and the delight of all that were honored with his
friendship and acquaintance." He left two sons, the younger, William,
died unmarried, in 1752. His eldest son,
BENJAMIN LYNDE, JR. was born on the 5th of October, 1700. He graduated
from Harvard College in 1718, and in 1721 he took his master's degree at
Cambridge. He soon after received the appointment of Naval Officer for
Salem. In 1734 he was appointed a special judge of the Court of Common
Pleas, for Suffolk. In 1737 he was one of the agents in the settlement
of the boundary line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Two years
later he was made one of the Standing Judges of Common Pleas for Essex,
and in 1745, the year of his father's death, he was raised to the
Superior Bench of the Province. He was a member of the Council for many
years, but declined a re-election in 1760, in consequence of the
controversy that arose in that year between the House and Government as
to the right of Judges to sit as Councillors. On the promotion of Chief
Justice Hutchinson to the executive chair, in 1771, Judge Lynde was
appointed to the place now vacant, and became Chief Justice of the
Province. He resigned not many months after, pending the controversy
respecting the payment of judges' salaries by the town. He had now
reached the age of 72, and "not being inclined to ride the Circuit
longer" he accepted the more humble and less laborious position of Judge
of Probate for Essex, which office he held until the breaking out of the
Revolution, not many years before his death, which was occasioned by the
kick from a horse, from the effects of which he did not recover, and he
died Oct. 5th, 1781, aged 81 years. It was a remarkable coincidence that
both father and son should have been Chief Justices of the Supreme
Court, and occupied a seat on that bench, between them for nearly sixty
years. The most important trial that took place during his judicial term
was that of the so-called "Boston Massacre," where the soldiers fired on
the mob in King street. At this trial Judge Lynde presided. It was a
time of great political excitement, and the occasion was one that
required the utmost firmness, and skill on the part of the judge, to
ensure a just and impartial decision. These trials lasted several days,
and, as has been said, "proceeded with care and patience, on the part of
the Bench, and counsel, and both judges and jury seemed to have acted
with all the impartiality that is exhibited in the most enlightened
tribunals." "The result," says Judge Washburn, "is a proud memorial of
the purity of the administration of justice in Massachusetts." Judge
Lynde was noted for his learning, his liberality, and his public spirit.
He was a diligent student of our Colonial history, and his diary,
published by one of his descendants, Dr. F. E. Oliver, recalls names and
events, that belong to the earlier years of the province, and records
the daily life of persons holding official positions during a period
with which many are not now familiar. He left three daughters, of whom
Mary, the eldest, married Hon. Andrew Oliver, Jr., one of the Judges of
the Court of Common Pleas for Essex; Hannah, who died unmarried and
Lydia who married Rev. William Walter, the rector of Trinity Church of
Boston.[269] Both of his sons-in-law being staunch loyalists.
[269] Diaries of Benjamin Lynde and of Benjamin Lynde, Jr.
PAGAN FAMILY.
ROBERT PAGAN was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, was born in 1750 and
came to Falmouth in 1769. From that time to the commencement of the war
he carried on a large lumber business and ship building. The ships which
were built were not generally employed in our trade, but with their
cargoes sent to Europe and sold. Robert Pagan & Co. kept on the corner
of King and Fore Streets, the largest stock of goods which was employed
here before the war. He was a man of popular manners, and much beloved
by the people. He early became involved in the controversies of the
times, and abandoned his business and country soon after the burning of
Falmouth by Mowatt. In his testimony before the Claim Commission he
testified[270] "That he uniformly declared his sentiments in favor of
Great Britain. Never submitted to join the rebels or to take no part
with them." He early applied for leave to quit Casco Bay with the
property belonging to himself and copartnery. This was refused him. In
the month of February, 1776, he privately embarked his family on board a
Brig he had in the harbor of Falmouth and sailed for Barbados. From that
he went home. He afterwards carried on trade at New York and Penobscot,
at the latter place he remained until the end of the war, when he
removed to St. Andrews. Mr. Pagan was proscribed and banished. He
settled at St. Andrews, N. B., in 1784, and became one of the principal
men of Charlotte County. After serving the Crown as agent for lands in
New Brunswick, and in superintending affairs connected with grants to
Loyalists, he was in commission as a magistrate, as a Judge of a Court,
and as Colonel in the militia, and, being a favorite among the
freeholders of the county, was elected to the House of Assembly, and for
several years was a leading member of that body. Judge Pagan died at St.
Andrews, November 23, 1821 and Miriam, his widow, (a daughter of
Jeremiah Pote), deceased at the same place January, 1828, aged 81. They
were childless.
[270] Bureau of Archives, Ontario, 2nd Report, Vol. I. p. 340.
THOMAS PAGAN, brother to Robert Pagan. He was with his brother during
the war, and at the peace went to St. John, New Brunswick; was one of
the grantees of that city, and established himself there as a merchant.
He removed to Halifax, and while absent in Scotland for the benefit of
his health, died in 1804.
WILLIAM PAGAN, brother of Robert and Thomas, was with his brothers
during the war, and at the peace settled in New Brunswick, and was a
member of the House of Assembly and of the Council. His death occurred
at Fredericton, March 12, 1819.
THE WYER FAMILY OF CHARLESTOWN.
Edward Wyer came from Scotland. He was a tailor, and in 1658 married
Elizabeth Johnson. He died May 3rd, 1693, aged 71 years. His son William
was a sea captain, and married Eleanor Jennes, Oct. 26, 1701. He died
Feb., 1749, aged 69 years.
DAVID WYER, son of William, was born at Charlestown, Feb. 24th, 1711. He
also was a sea captain. Married Rebecca Russell, Feb. 2, 1738. He
removed to Falmouth (Portland) and was an officer of the Customs there.
All the officers of the revenue of that port were loyal except one,
Thomas Child, who joined the Revolutionists. They all became refugees,
and abandoned their country. During the military possession of the town
by Thompson (before the burning of it by Captain Mowatt) he was required
to give his presence before the Board of War as being a Tory.
DAVID WYER, JR., son of the aforesaid David was born at Charlestown in
1741, and graduated at Harvard College in 1758. In 1762 he was admitted
to the bar, and commenced the practice of law at Falmouth. On the
testimony of other lawyers who practiced in Maine prior to the
Revolution, it was said of Wyer, that "he was a high-minded stirling
fellow of strong talents, an able and eloquent advocate, and extremely
independent in his opinions and character." Without the regular
appointment and commission of Attorney of the Crown, Mr. Wyer acted in
that capacity when occasion required the services of such an officer in
the Courts of Maine. He died in 1776 at Stroudwater, to which place he
removed after the burning of Falmouth, at the age of thirty-five, of an
epidemic which prevailed at that time, and which carried off many
persons old and young. Mrs. Wyer, a niece of Hon. Thomas Russell and two
children survived him. One of the latter married Captain Samuel Waite of
Portland.
THOMAS WYER, brother of David Wyer, Jr., was born at Charlestown, June
15, 1744. Married Sarah Francis, March 8th, 1766 in Medford. He removed
to Falmouth with his father, was also employed as an officer of the
Customs. He lost L325 in real and personal estate by the burning of the
town in 1775. He did all he could to support the government; he refused
to serve in the rebel army, on which he was taken up and abused by the
mob, and obliged to pay a fine. Was taken before the Provincial Congress
at Watertown, and obliged to quit Falmouth in 1777 in an open boat with
his father-in-law, Jeremiah Pote, in which they went to Nova Scotia. In
1778 he was proscribed and banished. In 1779 he was in New York and was
commissioned as captain of an armed vessel, the brigantine "British
Tar," 65 men. He was in command of this vessel for nine months, during
which time he had two engagements with two rebel privateers at different
times. He had a house and lot in Falmouth, which was confiscated, and a
half interest in a cargo burned at Falmouth. In 1784, he went to St.
Andrew, N. B., with other Loyalists, and continued there until his
decease. He was an Agent of the British Government for settling and
allotting lands to adherents of the Crown in the Revolution. The first
Sheriff of Charlotte County, was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
and Deputy Colonial Treasurer. In 1790 he went on a year's tour to
Europe, and on his return became a merchant, and had extensive lumber
interests. He died February 24th, 1824. He had a numerous family, was
married three times, his first wife Sarah Francis of Medford, second
Joanna Pote of Falmouth, third Mary Hunt, who died 25 October, 1801,
aged 37. An only son survived him.
THOMAS WYER, JR., a member of her Majesty's Council, Justice of the
Common Pleas, member of the Board of Education, Commissioner of Wrecks,
and Lieutenant-Colonel in the militia. He married Sarah, daughter of
Thomas Tompkins, of St. Andrews, 24 March, 1808, and died at St.
Andrews, December, 1848, aged sixty-nine.
JEREMIAH POTE.
WILLIAM POTE was in Marblehead as early as 1688. He married Hannah
Greenfield. His second wife was Ann Hooper, whom he married in 1689. His
son William was born at Marblehead, 1690, who married, June 2, 1718,
Dorothy Getchell.
JEREMIAH POTE, son of the aforesaid, was born at Marblehead, Jan. 18,
1724. His father removed to Falmouth, now Portland, and died there.
Jeremiah Pote became one of the principal merchants of the town, he
owned and occupied one of the two principal wharves in that town
previous to the Revolution. He transacted a large business and filled
offices of trust and honor. In his testimony before the Claim
Commission[271] "Claimt says He is a native of America. Lived at
Falmouth, Casco Bay, when trouble broke out. He did everything in his
power against the measure of the Rebels. He happened to be one of the
selectmen at Falmouth, whose business it was to give notice of Town
Meetings. Claimt refused to notify the meetings desired by the Rebels.
In consequence of this he was persecuted. Was imprisoned several times.
Had his things taken from him by force, so that he was forced to quit
home, got to Nova Scotia, went in open boat. Went from Halifax to New
York in 1778. Was employed by Admiral Gambin to pilot a vessel to New
Hampshire, which was going with Sir Henry Clinton, Manisfestoes. The
vessel was seized and the whole crew made prisoners and kept in prison
during the winter. Went to Penobscot in 1780 to St. Andrews in the
beginning of 1784."
[271] Bureau of Archives, Ontario, 2nd Report, Vol. II, p. 904.
In 1774 a public meeting was called to consider the state of public
affairs, which he attended, but he desired that his dissent might be
entered against a resolution relative to the Ministry and East India
Company, which was introduced and passed.
In 1775, during the trouble with Captain Mowatt, which resulted in the
burning of the town, in which he lost L1,000, he brought upon himself
the vengeance of the Revolutionists, who under Thompson, assumed the
government, and organized themselves into a board of war, and required
him to contribute money and provisions, and to give a bond of L2,000 to
appear at the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and give an account
of his conduct. In 1778 he was proscribed and banished. After the peace
he settled at St. Andrews at the mouth of the St. Croix river, the
boundary line between Maine and New Brunswick, where he died November
23, 1796, aged seventy-one years. His son Robert, deceased at the same
place November 8, 1794, at the age of twenty-five, and his daughter,
Joanna, married Thomas Wyer, Jr., his widow Elizabeth Berry of Kittery,
died December 24, 1809, aged seventy-nine.
EBENEZER CUTLER.
JOHN 1 CUTLER came from Spranston, two miles from north of Norwich, and
about eight miles south of Hingham, in the County of Norfolk, England.
His name first appears among the persecuted adherents of Rev. Robert
Peck, A. M., of Hingham, who "sold their possessions for half their
value, and named the place of their settlement after their natal town."
He embarked, it is believed, in the Rose of Yarmouth, William Andrews,
Jr., Master, which sailed on or about April 18, 1637. He was at Hingham
by or a little after June 10th following, when land was assigned him. He
came attended by his wife Mary, seven children, and one servant. He died
the following year, which must have subjected his widow and children to
great hardships. His third son,
SAMUEL 2 CUTLER, was born in England in 1629, was of Marblehead in 1654,
of Salem in 1655, of Topsfield and Hingham in 1671, and of Gloucester,
March 17, 1693. In 1671 he as heir and attorney for his brothers and
sisters, united with his mother in the sale of their patrimonial estate
in Hingham. He was often called to settle and appraise estates. He died
in 1700, 71 years of age. He had two sons and three daughters. His
second eldest son,
EBENEZER 3 CUTLER, was born at Salem in 1664, where he married Mary,
daughter of Zacheray and Mary March. Mr. Cutler died about 1729 at Salem
and the widow in 1734, the sale of the homestead being effected soon
after, and the family removed from Salem. He had six children, four sons
and two daughters. The eldest son,
EBENEZER 4 CUTLER, was born in Salem, October 1, 1695. He was a farmer
and brickmaker. He married May, daughter of William Stockwell, Oct. 16,
1732. He inherited the farm in Sutton, Mass., purchased of William
Stockwell by his father, and on which he settled previous to 1728. It is
said that three of his sons resided on this farm at one time, each
occupying separate houses. He died in 1779, and had two daughters and
five sons.
EBENEZER 5 CUTLER, son of the aforesaid,[272] settled in the town of
Oxford, Mass., as an inn keeper and trader. He married Miriam Eager,
sister of his brother Zackeus' wife, and daughter of James Eager of
Westboro, Mass., Nov. 24, 1764. Mrs. Cutler was a sister of Colonel
Eager, who was a Loyalist and settled in Victory, Nova Scotia.
[272] See Cutler Genealogy for descent of Ebenezer 4.
Before the commencement of hostilities he tried to be neutral, but when
the tea troubles arose, he went quietly at night, and purchased a
quantity of it, on the return with his supply a masked band interrupted
him, took the tea from him and burnt it. That decided him, which side to
take, and he became a staunch loyalist.
Ebenezer Cutler was a trader which caused him to travel considerably
about the country, and being very independant and outspoken he soon had
many enemies among the Revolutionists, and a price was set on his
capture. He had many narrow escapes before they got him. Once he was
hidden in a farmhouse between the chimney and outer wall, most
suffocated by smoke.
The Committee on Correspondence made charges against him, and sent him
with the evidence of his misconduct to General Ward at Cambridge, the
charges were as follows:
Northboro, May 17th, 1775.
Sir:
We the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Northboro having
taken into our custody Mr. Ebenezer Cutler, late of Groton, but now
of this town, which from his conduct appears to us to be an avowed
enemy of his Country, he has set at naught and despises all the
Resolutions of the Continental and Provincial Congress, and also
utterly refuses to act in any defence of his now perishing country
whatever, and as he has from his past conduct, ever since we have
been struggling for the Liberties of our Country appeared in the
eyes of the Public to be aiding and abetting, in defeating the
plans of the good people of this Province, and has been riding from
one part of this province to the other, and in our opinion for no
good design, we think it highly necessary to send him to the
Council of war, to know whether he may (as he desires) have a pass
to go into Boston: we also inclose the substance of two evidences
concerning said Cutler.
By order of the Committee of Correspondence,
GILMAN BASS, Clerk.
N. B. General Ward, we apprehend is well acquainted with the
character and conduct of said Cutler.[273]
[273] "Royalists" in Mass. Archives, Vol. 1, p. 6.
His case was submitted to Congress, when it appeared that he had spoken
"many things disrespectful of the Continental and Provincial Congress"
that he had "acted against their resolves," had said that "he would
assist Gage," had called such as signed the town-covenant or
non-consumption agreement "dammed fools" etc., etc. A resolve to commit
him to prison was refused a passage, and a resolve that he be allowed to
join the British troops at Boston was also lost. But subsequently he was
allowed to go into that town "without his effects." On the evacuation of
Boston he accompanied the British Army to Halifax. He settled at
Annapolis Royal, and with the money which the British government paid
him in compensation for his losses, he established himself in business
there. After his home in Oxford was broken up, his wife Miriam, and
children, went to her mother, Mrs. Eager, in Worcester. His wife died
there. Mrs. Eager was a strong Loyalist, one day a party of Rebels
visited her, and she sent them off by some ready quotations of
scripture. She and her sons brought the family to Annapolis and then
settled on a farm in Nisteaux.
After a few years Ebenezer Cutler went to England on a visit and there
married Mary, daughter of Colonel Hicks, of the 70th Regiment. Two
children were born in England and four in N. S. He was protonotary of
the County of Annapolis, and was a zealous Episcopalian. He died there
in 1831, quite aged. Mary, his widow, died at the same place in 1839. He
was proscribed and banished in 1778, and his property was confiscated
and inventoried April 5th, 1779. Aug. 3rd the judge appointed a
commission to settle his estate. His first wife, Miriam, died at
Northboro, Mass., and her estate was inventoried Sept. 10, 1784,
amounting to L100. He had by her eight children.
EBENEZER 6 CUTLER, son of the aforesaid, was born at Oxford, Mass. Aug.
27th, 1765. He was a student at Harvard at the commencement of
hostilities, when he was obliged to leave. Opposite his name in the
College archives, is the name "Traitor," which means just the opposite,
that he was a Loyalist. He went to Nova Scotia with his father. He was
an expert accountant, and crown land surveyor. Here he resided several
years, but settled finally at Moncton. One day in going up the street,
passing Mr. Wilmot's, he saw a very beautiful girl leaning over the
gate, a visitor of Mrs. Wilmot, Olivia Dickson. It was a case of love at
first sight. He met a friend a few minutes after and told him that he
had just seen his wife that was to be. In due time they were married. On
one of his voyages as supercargo, the vessel was taken by a Spanish
privateer, off Jamaica. The captain recognized him as a Free Mason, gave
him liberty, set him ashore at Port Antonio, where he obtained a mule,
and crossed the mountains to Kingston where he took a vessel for Nova
Scotia. He died in 1839. He had ten children, six daughters and four
sons, the tenth child born was
REBECCA 7 CUTLER, who married John Whitman of Annapolis whose ancestor
came from Plymouth County, Mass., and settled in Nova Scotia previous to
the Revolution. William Whitman of Boston and Clarence Whitman of New
York are children of John Whitman and Rebecca Cutler.
Robert J. Dysart and Hugh Dysart, accountants of Boston, are descendants
in the third generation from Ebenezer Cutler and Olivia Dickson.
[Illustration: The Engagement at the North Bridge in Concord.
1 The Detachment of the Regulars who fired first on the Provincials at
the Bridge.
2 The Provincials headed by Colonel Robinson & Major Buttrick
3 The Bridge]
APPENDIX.
THE TRUE STORY CONCERNING THE KILLING OF THE TWO SOLDIERS AT CONCORD
BRIDGE, APRIL 19TH, 1775. THE FIRST BRITISH SOLDIER KILLED IN THE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
See page 53.
After the skirmish at Lexington, the king's troops marched into Concord
in two columns, the infantry coming over the hill from which the
Americans had retreated, and the grenadiers and marines followed the
high road. On reaching the Court house Colonel Smith ordered six
companies (about two hundred men) under Captain Parsons, to hold the
bridge and destroy certain stores on the other side. With the balance of
his command he remained in the center of the town destroying such
warlike stores as could be found, this being the object of the
expedition.
Captain Parsons in the meantime, posted three companies under Captain
Laurie at the bridge, while he proceeded to Colonel Barrett's home in
search of stores. The Americans had gathered on the high ground, west of
the bridge, and now numbered about four hundred and fifty men,
representing many of the neighboring towns. The Acton company in front,
led by Capt. Isaac Davis, marched in double file and with trailed arms
for the bridge. The British guard, numbering about one hundred men, drew
up in line of battle on the opposite side of the bridge, and opened fire
upon them. Capt. Davis, and Abner Hosmer, of the same company, both fell
dead. Seeing this, Major Buttrick shouted "Fire, fellow soldiers! for
God's sake fire!" The order was instantly obeyed. One of the British was
killed, and several wounded, one severely, who was left on the ground,
when the British retreated to the center of the village. The Americans
turned aside to occupy favorable positions on the adjacent hills.[274] A
young man named Ammi White was chopping wood for Rev. William Emerson at
the "Old Manse" at the east end of the bridge, while the firing was
going on he hid under cover of the wood-pile, when it was over he went
to the bridge, saw one British soldier dead, another badly wounded,
grasping his axe he struck the wounded soldier on the head crushing in
his skull, then taking the soldier's gun, he went off home. The gun is
now in the rooms of the Antiquarian Society of Concord. In the meantime,
the detachment under Capt. Parsons returned from the Barrett house,
crossed the bridge, passed the dead bodies of the soldiers and joined
the main body unmolested. They reported when they arrived at Boston,
that the wounded soldier at the bridge had been scalped and his ears cut
off.
[274] This description of the affair at Concord Bridge, was written by
Rev. E. G. Porter, President of the New England Historic Genealogical
Society for a work entitled "Antique Views of Boston." Pp. 234-8
compiled by me in 1882. J. H. Stark.
Very little was said during the past hundred years concerning the
inhuman act of Ammi White, in fact this is the first time the name of
the perpetrator of the outrage has been published. It was not a popular
subject to be discussed in the Council of the "Sons and Daughters of the
American Revolution" when assembled to recount the "brave deeds of their
patriotic forefathers." Hawthorne mentions it in the "Old Manse" pp. 12,
13.
The writer's attention was first drawn to it by an article in the Boston
papers concerning the observances of "Patriots Day," April 19th, 1903.
It was as follows:
"A story of the Concord fight not told by guides who take tourists
to the graves of the soldiers by the Concord bridge was told by the
Rev. Franklin Hamilton, preaching on "Patriots' Day and Its
Lessons" last evening at the First Methodist Episcopal Church.
"It shows," said he, "that the British soldiers were men like you
and me. It shows that the story of that fateful battle hour found
many weeping hearts across the sea. Your histories tell you how two
British soldiers, a sergeant and a private, were killed, and are
buried under the pines by the wall. One was killed and the other
wounded. As the wounded soldier was crawling away he was met by a
boy who had been chopping wood, and who, inflamed with the spirit
of the hour, struck him dead with his axe. Mr. Bartlett of Concord
tells me that not so long ago a young woman came to Concord and
asked to be shown where the British soldiers lay. She came from
Nottinghamshire, and was a relative of one of them. She went to the
graves and placed upon them a wreath, singing as she did so 'God
Save the King.'"
This led me to examine into the case. I found that there was
considerable rivalry of feeling between the towns of Concord and Acton
as to the part each took in the fight. There was a saying that "Acton
furnished the men, and Concord the ground." And that there was not a
Concord man killed, wounded or missing in the "Concord Fight." In the
Centennial observances at Acton in 1835, the Address was delivered by
Josiah Adams. He said:
"That two were killed at the bridge is certainly true, and it is
true too that historians have published to the world that they were
killed in the engagement.
"It is true also, that a monument is about to be placed over them on
the spot to perpetuate American valor. The manner in which one of
them met his death as disclosed in the depositions of Mr. Thorp,
Mr. Smith and Mr. Handley, namely by a hatchet after he was wounded
and left behind, was well known at the time. It was the action of
an excited and thoughtless youth who was afterwards sufficiently
penitent and miserable and whose name therefore will not be given.
But the attempt to conceal the act from the world which was made at
the time, and has since continued, cannot be approved. It would
surely have been better to have given it to the world accompanied
by the detestation and horror which it merited and received. Thorp
in his deposition said: 'Two of the enemy were killed--one with a
hatchet after bring wounded and helpless. This act was a matter of
horror to all of us. I saw him sitting up and wounded as we passed
the bridge.'"
Smith said: "One of them was left on the ground wounded and in that
situation was killed by an American with a hatchet." Handley said:
"The young man who killed him told me in 1807 that it worried him
very much."
This inhuman act was of course reported by the British and a Boston
paper represented that one killed at the bridge at Concord was
scalped and the ears cut off from his head. This led to a
deposition from Brown and Davis that the truth may be known. They
testified that they buried the bodies at the bridge, that neither
of those persons were scalped, nor their ears cut off.
If there be any one left to advocate such a proceeding, he will say
that the deposition was true to the letter. But alas! it was in the
letter only. It had the most essential characteristic of
falsehood--the intention to make a false impression in regard to
what was known to be the subject of inquiry to have it believed
that both men were killed in the engagement."
"If a monument is to be erected by the authority of a town, one of
the most respectable in the County of Middlesex, let it be seen
that its inscription contains the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, relative to the subject matters
thereof."[275]
[275] Centennial Address delivered at Acton, July 21, 1835, by Josiah
Adams, pp. 44-5-6.
My attention was next attracted to the soldiers' graves at Concord
Bridge by the following letters that appeared in the Boston Transcript:
BRITISH GRAVES AT CONCORD.
To the Editor of the Transcript:
I want to say in your columns something which has been on my mind
frequently since I went to Concord Bridge on my recent visit to
America. It has mingled some sadness with an otherwise most
delightful visit.
By the side of the road there are the graves of the British
soldiers who fell there, unnamed and unhonored by us, yet they died
doing what they conceived to be their duty just as your men did.
The loneliness and unrecognized character of these graves struck me
sadly, and I have often since wished that they, too, might have
some tribute to their stanch, if misplaced bravery. Now in looking
(as I constantly do) through the writings of my most dear friend
and counsellor, James Russell Lowell, I find he has exactly struck
the note I want in his poem, "Lines suggested by the graves of the
two English soldiers on Concord Battleground." The third verse
would make a fitting tribute to the character of these men. It runs
as follows:
"These men were brave enough and true
To the hired soldiers' bull-dog creed;
What brought them here they never knew,
They fought as suits the English breed;
They came three thousand miles and died
To keep the past upon its throne--
Unheard, beyond the ocean tide,
Their English mother made her moan."
Do you think there might be found, among the splendidly patriotic
Daughters of the Revolution, some sufficiently generous-minded to
put this American poet's recognition of the worth of these poor
fellows on a small tablet near the graves? I would at least ask
whether the last two lines of this verse do not move the heart of
any woman.
I do not know how public sentiment toward the sacred ground of
Concord battlefield might regard such an intrusion, and if the
words were those of any but such a man as Lowell, so associated
with the locality and imbued with all that that fight meant to your
nation, I would not be so bold as to suggest it. I know that this
is really a national, not an individual, matter and that a
stranger ought not to intermeddle with it. I am only making my
little moan in sympathy with the English mother whose heart Lowell
so beautifully understands.
ALBERT WEBB.
Elderslie, London Road, Worcester, Eng., March 31, 1909.
The editor's comments on the letters was in part as follows:
"The letter in another column pleading for a memorial tablet,
bearing suggested and suggestive lines from Lowell, at the grave of
the two British soldiers slain at the North Bridge, Concord, should
challenge attention and it is difficult to see why it should
challenge antagonism. The grave is now marked by two stones half
sunken in the mold with which kindly nature everywhere seeks to
efface the evidences of human strife. It is protected by chains
which were provided some thirty years ago by a British resident of
Boston. On a stone of the wall sheltering the grave is an
inscription setting forth who sleep below. Neither the inscription
nor the defence was strictly necessary, for all Concord knows where
the grave is, and tradition has preserved the names of the two men
who buried the slain, giving them hasty but not irreverent
interment. Nor has there ever been danger of vandalism. The old New
England reverence for the last resting place of the dead protected
the sleepers for one hundred years, and the chain fence is more the
tribute of a countryman to these friendless and nameless victims of
George III.'s policy than a precaution. The same spirit which
protected those two soldiers' resting place would doubtless not see
anything objectionable in a bronze tablet carrying Lowell's lines.
Certainly the people of Concord, the descendants of the Minutemen,
would be the last to feel incensed at this tribute, if tribute it
be, or this reminder of permanent material, of the historic dust
that must in these one hundred and thirty-four years have turned
into earth.
"These two soldiers are none the less historical characters because
their identity is unknown. What their names or grades neither
history nor research tells. They were just common men in the ranks,
in the era when the private soldier was simply so much food for
powder.
"But apart from the influence of local sentiment, there is a broad
public opinion that guards a soldier's sepulchre, even if he was an
enemy in life. This opinion is expressed in the general custom in
this country to allow both sides memorials on the great
battlefields of our Civil War.
"If the suggested tablet should be erected at Concord, if
'patriotism' should at first think too much honor were done these
'hireling soldiers,' would not reflection remind that when the
'embattled farmers'--who, by the way, were led by a veteran and
accomplished officer--and the regulars faced one another across the
narrow stream both were proud of the name of Englishmen? Concord
was then a microcosm of English America, which up to the very verge
of hostilities had drunk the King's health and had clung
desperately to the foolish fond belief that he was a good sovereign
misled by designing ministers."
This led me to further investigate this matter, for I had been informed
that the graves had been desecrated some years ago under authority of
the town officials. I therefore caused to be published in the Boston
Transcript under the heading of "Notes and Queries" the following query:
(7891.) 1. Can anyone give the names of the two British soldiers
killed at Concord Bridge, or inform me if there were any papers
taken from their bodies that would identity them? I have been
informed that there were.
2. One of the soldiers was left wounded on the bridge; what was the
name of the "young American that killed him with a hatchet"?
3. When did the selectmen of Concord give Professor Fowler
permission to dig up the two bodies of the British soldiers and
remove the skulls to be used for exhibition purposes?
J. H. S.
April 6, 1906.
[Illustration: MONUMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE SKIRMISH AT CONCORD BRIDGE.
The letter A on the left of the engraving, marks the site of the graves
of the two British Soldiers. The first killed in the Revolution.]
The only answer received was the following:
"7891. 3. The indirect intimations of J. H. S. are shrewd, but
before the alleged action of the selectmen excites the Concord
people, they should insist upon his producing adequate evidence.
ROCKINGHAM."
The adequate evidence was produced and is as follows:
"The Worcester Society of Antiquity,
Worcester, Massachusetts, April 12, 1909.
Mr. James H. Stark,
Dear Sir:
Mr. Barton has handed your letter to me and I write to say that the
skulls of those two British Soldiers killed at the bridge in
Concord were once the property of this Society, we having purchased
them of the Widow of Prof. Fowler, the phrenologist, who some years
ago went about the country giving lectures and illustrating his
subjects. Prof. Fowler got permission to dig up those skulls from
the Selectmen of Concord, and he carried them about with him and
used them in his lecturing. After his death one of the members
learned of them and we purchased the skulls and they were in our
museum some time. The late Senator Hoar learning that we had them,
came to know if we would be willing to return them to Concord that
they might be put back in the ground from whence they were taken.
As he seemed quite anxious about it, consent was given, and they
were sent to Concord to be placed in their original resting place.
Presume they are there at the present time.
Yours,
ELLERY B. CRANE.
Librarian."
The only excuse offered for the inhuman act of Ammi White was found over
one hundred years after the crime was committed. It is now said that he
was only a boy, and that the wounded soldier cried out for water, and
that while giving it to him he tried to kill him with his bayonet. This
is all false, there is no evidence whatever to prove it, in fact Thorp,
one of the deponents said "he was killed with a hatchet after being
wounded and helpless, and the act was a matter of horror to all of us."
Handley said "The young man who killed him told me in 1807 that it
worried him very much." Here is not the slightest evidence that White
killed him in self defence, neither was he the boy as represented, for I
find that he enlisted five days after killing the soldier, in Capt.
Abishai Brown's Co. Col. John Nixon's (5) Regiment. He enlisted April
24, 1775, June 10, 1775 signed advance pay order at Cambridge, Aug. 1,
1775, Private on muster roll at that date. Service 3 months 15 days.
Company return dated Sept. 30, 1775.[276]
[276] Rev. Soldiers and Sailors. Vol. 17, p. 42.
I am pleased to state that a few weeks after the aforesaid letters
appeared in the Transcript, that the town authorities at Concord gave
permission to the "British Army and Navy Veterans" of Boston, to march
on Memorial Day, May 30, 1909, to the graves of the two soldiers and to
decorate same, which was accordingly done. The graves of the soldiers
are referred to in the Transcript article as being "protected by chains,
which were provided some thirty years ago by a British resident of
Boston." The party referred to was Mr. Herbert Radcliffe, a member of
the British Charitable Society. The facts which I have stated here,
concerning what occurred, "Where once the embattled farmers stood and
fired the shot heard round the world" is not done with a view of
reviving old grievances, or re-opening old sores, but that the historic
truth may be known concerning "the shot heard round the world," for
history should know no concealment, and as Josiah Adams truly said, "the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, should be told
relative to this matter."
If it be said that these are old stories of the past, we reply that
these misrepresentations are being quoted as having actually occurred
and are made living issues for to-day by numerous societies formed for
that; and kindred purposes. Even those societies designed to keep in
remembrance their honored ancestors' part in the Revolution, make it a
point to perpetuate their historic fables and falsehoods in the belief
that anything is good enough to be said of their historic opponent.
THE ENGAGEMENT AT THE NORTH BRIDGE IN CONCORD, WHERE THE TWO SOLDIERS
WERE KILLED.
In the American army which was formed at Cambridge immediately after the
affair at Lexington and Concord, there were two young artists from
Connecticut, Amos Doolittle, afterwards a well known engraver, and a
portrait painter by the name of Earl, both members of the New Haven
company. During their stay at Cambridge, these young men improved the
opportunity by visiting Lexington and Concord, for the purpose of
studying the battle field and making drawings of the several localities,
the buildings, and the forces in action. The drawings were mostly made
by Earl, and afterwards engraved by Doolittle, on his return to New
Haven the same year. The four plates were each twelve by eighteen inches
in size, and have been claimed to be the first series of historical
prints ever published in this country. "Plate III., the battle of the
North Bridge in Concord" shown here in reduced size from the
reproduction of the original in "Stark's Antique Views of Boston." In
this engraving, one soldier is seen falling, near the spot where the two
soldiers are buried.
THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Boss or ring rule is not a modern invention, for at the time of the
Revolution, Sam Adams was the political boss of Boston, Gordon in his
"History of the American Revolution" under date of 1775, traces this
practice to a much earlier date. "More than 50 years ago Mr. Samuel
Adams' father and 20 others, one or two, from the north end of the town,
where all the ship business is carried on used to meet, make a caucus,
and lay their plans for introducing certain persons into places of trust
and power. By acting in concert, together with a careful and extensive
distribution of ballots, they generally carried the elections to their
own mind." In this manner Sam Adams first became a representative for
Boston, and then its Boss. At this period ship building was one of the
leading industries of Boston. Originally the "Caucus Club" was a
mechanics club called from the leading trade in it the "Calkers' Club,"
which name, with a variation it still retained after it had passed in
the hands of politicians.
It is impossible to exaggerate the influence such secret societies as
the Caucuses, and Sons of Liberty, had upon the events which helped to
bring on the conflict with the mother country. The "Sons of Liberty" met
in a distillery, and also the Green Dragon Tavern, and arose out of the
excitement attending the passage of the Stamp Act. John Adams in his
diary gives some interesting glimpses of their clubs, where the
Revolution was born, he says "Feb. 1, 1763. This day learned that the
Caucus Club meets at certain times in the garret of Tom Dawes, the
adjutant of the Boston regiment. He has a large house, and he has a
movable partition in his garret, which he takes down and the whole club
meets in one room. There they smoke tobacco till you cannot see from one
end of the garret to the other. Then they drink flip I suppose, and
there they choose a moderator, who puts questions to the vote regularly,
and selectmen, assessors, collectors, wardens, and representatives, are
regularly chosen before they are chosen in the town. Fairfield, Story,
Ruddock, Adams, Cooper, and a rudis indigestaque moles of others are
members."
"January 15, 1766. Spent the evening with the Sons of Liberty at their
own apartments in Hanover Square near the Tree of Liberty. It is a
counting-room in Chase & Speakman's distillery; a very small room it is.
There were present John Avery, a distiller of liberal education; John
Smith, the brazier; Thomas Chase, distiller; Joseph Fields, master of a
vessel; Henry Bass, George Trott, jeweler; and Henry Wells. I was very
cordially and respectfully treated by all present. We had punch, wine,
pipes and tobacco, biscuit and cheese, etc."
Chas. J. Gettemy in commenting on same, says:[277]
[277] The True Story of Paul Revere, p. 45, by Charles J. Gettemy, Chief
of the Bureau of Statistics and Labor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
"From which it appears that politicians are much the same in all times.
Public officials were chosen by a ring in Boston in the year of our Lord
1763 before they were "chosen by the town" =and the Revolution was
hatched in a rum-shop=, while those upon whom history has placed the
seal of greatness and statesmanship filled themselves with "flip" in an
atmosphere dense with tobacco smoke as they plotted and planned the
momentous events of the time!"
PAUL REVERE THE SCOUT.
Paul Revere was born in Boston, Dec. 21, 1734, his father was a Huguenot
named Rivoire, which in time became Revere. When Revere left school he
went into his father's shop to learn the art of gold and silver smith.
His first military experience was when he was twenty-one years old, in
the expedition against Crown Point, in which he held the king's
commission from Gov. Wm. Shirley as second lieutenant of artillery. The
service proved uneventful, it continued for six months and then the
enterprise was abandoned.
On his return he took an increasing and prominent part in the political
life of the time, and on one occasion his pugnacious disposition got him
into the police court, in 1761, where he had to pay a fine and be bound
over to keep the peace.
Revere became quite skilled in drawing and engraving on copper, and the
exciting political events of the time readily lent themselves to
pictorial treatment. Probably the best known of Revere's copper-plate
engraving, was that of the so-called "State Street Massacre." It has
since, however, been discovered that in this instance he appropriated
the work of Henry Pelham, the half brother of Copley the artist[278] as
the following letter will show:
Boston, March 29th, 1770.
Sir:
When I heard that you was cutting a plate of the late Murder, I
thought it impossible as I knew you was not capable of doing it
unless you copied it from mine and as I thought I had intrusted it
in the hands of a person who had more regard to the dictates of
Honor and Justice than to take the undue advantage you have done of
the confidence and trust I reposed in you. But I find that I was
mistaken and after being at great Trouble and Expense of making a
design, paying for paper, printing, etc., find myself in the most
ungenerous Manner deprived not only of any proposed Advantage, but
even of the expense I have been at as truly as if you had plundered
me on the highway. If you are insensible of the Dishonour you have
brought on yourself by this Act, the World will not be so. However,
I leave you to reflect and consider of one of the most dishonorable
Actions you could well be guilty of.
H. PELHAM.
[278] See Atlantic Monthly. April 1893, "Some Pelham Copley Letters."
This is a serious charge against Revere's honor and integrity, for it
seems that Pelham loaned Revere a drawing of the "Massacre" from which
Revere made an engraving and sold copies without giving the real artist
credit for his sketch, since the Revere plate bears the inscription
Engraved, Printed and Sold by Paul Revere.
Revere was one of the chief actors in the tea mobs that destroyed the
tea which precipitated the Revolution. The North End Caucus had, on Oct.
23, 1773, declared that its members would "oppose at peril of life and
fortune the vending of any tea that might be imported by the East Indian
Company." A song was composed which became very popular. One of them
commenced with
"Our Warren's there and bold Revere
With hands to do and words to cheer."
[Illustration: PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF PAUL REVERE.
He and another scout, named Dawes, was captured on the road to
Lexington, April 19, 1775.]
Revere took a prominent part in this tumultuous affair, and the next day
he was selected as the man to take the news to New York and
Philadelphia. From this time on he was the chief scout of the Boston
Revolutionists. He was one of a band of thirty formed to watch the
movements of the British that had been sent to Boston after the
destruction of the tea. Finally the vigilance of these scouts was
rewarded. It became apparent that something unusual was occurring in the
British camp on the evening of April 18th, 1775, for Revere says "On
Tuesday evening, the 18th, it was observed that a number of soldiers
were marching towards the bottom of the Common," which meant that they
were going in boats across the river to Charlestown or Cambridge,
instead of making a long march around by land. About ten o'clock Dr.
Warren sent in great haste for me and begged that I would immediately
set off for Lexington. I found he had sent an express by land, a Mr.
William Dawes." I then went home, took my boots and surtout, went to the
north part of the town, where I kept a boat; two friends rowed me across
Charles River. When I got into town, I met Colonel Conant and several
others. They said they had seen our signals. I told them what was
acting, and went to get a horse." Mounted on Deacon Larkin's horse, he
said "I alarmed nearly every home till I got to Lexington. After I had
been there about half an Hour, Mr. Dawes arrived, who came from Boston
over the Neck. We set off for Concord." They had gone but a short
distance when they were taken prisoners. Revere said "I saw four of
them, who rode up to me with their pistols in their hands, said G--d
d--n you, stop, if you go an inch further you are a dead Man." The
result was that neither Revere nor Dawes reached Concord.
On the day following these events Revere was permanently engaged by Dr.
Warren, as a scout to do outside business for the Committee of Safety.
This patriotic service had a commercial value, and the Committee in
auditing the bill thought he was disposed to value his labors too
highly, for they reduced his charges from five shillings to four
shillings a day.[279] In his financial dealings with the government he
hardly ever failed to send in bills for work done which the authorities
deemed extravagant charges and pruned down accordingly.
[279] Paul Revere's Bills can be seen in the Archives at the State
House, Boston.
Most men like Revere, somewhat above the masses, but not possessing the
elements of enduring fame, are remembered by a circle of admiring and
respecting friends until they pass away, and are ultimately forgotten,
finding no place upon the pages of written history. Paul Revere was
rescued from this fate by an accident, a poet's imagination of things
that never occurred. His famous ride remained unsung, if not unhonored
for eighty-eight years, or until Longfellow, in 1863 made it the text
for his Landlord's Tale in the Wayside Inn. It is to the "poetic
license" of Longfellow, that most persons owe their knowledge of the
fact that such a person as Revere ever existed. The poet did not mention
the name of Dawes, yet he was entitled to as much credit, for what he
did on the eve of the historic skirmish at Lexington, as Revere.
Poetry and history sometimes become sadly mixed, the poet and romancist,
in so far as they deal with matters of verifiable records should keep
closer to the truth, and make use of poetic license as little as
possible. To be sure the poet's statement concerning the lantern, and
that Revere reached Concord was long ago shown to have been incorrect,
but its persistent virility only goes to prove that truth is not the
only thing which crushed to earth, will rise again. Very little is said
by historians, concerning the Penobscot Expedition despatched in the
summer of 1779 by the Massachusetts Council against the British on the
coast of Maine. It was an episode of the Revolution that resulted in
disaster so complete, so utterly without excuse, and so thoroughly
discreditable to American arms as to make its contemplation without
feelings of shame and humiliation impossible. An overwhelming force of
Colonial troops, through the clear cowardice of an admiral bearing the
proud name of Saltonstall, allowed itself to be frightened into an
ignominious and panic-stricken desertion of its post of duty by a
ridiculously ill equipped enemy. The ensuing scandal besmirched
reputations hitherto untarnished, and the State of Massachusetts was
plunged, on account of the expedition, into a debt of eight million
dollars sterling. "To attempt to give a description of this terrible
Day," wrote General Lovell, "is out of my Power. It would be a fit
subject for some masterly hand to describe it in its true colors, to see
four ships pursuing seventeen Sail of Armed Vessels, nine of which were
stout Ships, Transports on fire. Men of War blowing up every kind of
Stores on Shore, throwing about, and as much confusion as can possibly
be conceived."[280]
[280] Lovell's Journal, p. 105.
Thus did this little Garrison with three Sloops of War, by the unwearied
exertions of soldiers and seamen, writes John Calef in his Journal under
date of August 14, 1779, whose bravery cannot be too much extolled,
succeed in an enterprise of great importance, against difficulties
apparently unsurmountable, and in a manner strongly expressive of their
faithful and spirited attachment to the interests of their King and
Country. Calef gives the total number of American ships of war, brigs
and transports as 37, of which 26 were burnt and 11 captured.[281] "The
soldiers and crew took to the woods, and singly or in squads, made their
way to the Kennebec, where most of them arrived after a week's suffering
from hunger and exposure."[282]
[281] The Siege of the Penobscot, etc., pp. 23, 25.
[282] Mass. Archives, Vol. 145, pp. 230-237. (Todds report).
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Revere was in command of the artillery train,
and this episode was a serious event in his life, and came near
stripping him of the laurels he had won by his earlier exploits, he was
arrested on charges of cowardice, censured after an investigation, court
martialled, and was grudgingly acquitted, after three years persistent
effort.
Paul Revere's Masonic Record also has its blemishes. He received his
degrees in St. Andrews Lodge in 1760-1. He afterwards became Grand
Master. There being too many Loyalists or "Gentry" in St. Andrews Lodge
to suit the taste of Revere, the leader of the mechanics, he and his
friends therefore withdrew from same, and started "Rising States Lodge,"
but it did not succeed. The members soon fell to quarrelling among
themselves. Some twenty members came together and voted the lodge out of
existence, and divided the funds of the lodge, amounting to $1,577.50
among twenty-five members of the lodge, among whom was Paul Revere and
his son. This was contrary to all Masonic precedents. The funds and
paraphernalia of the Lodge should have been returned to the Grand Lodge.
A committee was appointed to investigate the matter. They made a very
scathing report in which it said "To divide it among members of a Lodge
whenever they think proper to dissolve this union, is making the funds
an object of speculation, it is treating the noble example of departed
donors with contempt and devoting their sacred deposit to individual
emoluments, it is taking bread from the hungry, It is multiplying the
tears of the widow and fatherless."
The Grand Lodge ordered that the funds of the lodge should be devoted to
charity and a report of same printed and sent to each member of Rising
States Lodge.[283]
[283] See copy of report in "Rising States Lodge," in Library of Mass.
Grand Lodge.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN, SON OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
William Franklin, Last Royal Governor of New Jersey, was a natural son
of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. He was born about 1731. His father said of
him: "He imagined his father had got enough for him; but I have assured
him that I intend to spend what little I have myself, if it pleases God
that I live long enough; and, as he by no means wants acuteness, he can
see by my going on that I mean to be as good as my word." He served as
Postmaster of Philadelphia, and as clerk of the House of Assembly of
Pennsylvania. In the French war he was a captain and gained praise for
his conduct at Ticonderoga. Before the peace, he went to England with
his father. While there, Mr. Strahan wrote Mrs. Franklin, "Your son I
really think one of the prettiest young gentlemen I ever knew from
America. He seems to me to have a solidity of judgment, not very often
to be met with in one of his years." While abroad young Franklin visited
Scotland and became acquainted with the celebrated Earl of Bute, who
recommended him to Lord Fairfax, who secured for him, as is said, the
appointment of Governor of New Jersey, in 1763, without the solicitation
of himself or his father. All intercourse between him and his father was
suspended for more than a year before the actual commencement of
hostilities. He was involved in a helpless quarrel with the delegates,
and the people of New Jersey. In May, 1775, in a message he sent to the
Assembly he said, "No office of honor in the power of the Crown to
bestow would ever influence him to forget or neglect the duty he owed
his country, nor the most furious rage of the most intemperate zealots
induce him to swerve from the duty he owed his Majesty." On the 20th of
May, the day this message was transmitted, the Assembly was prorogued,
and Governor Franklin never communicated with that body again. Three
days after the first Provincial Congress commenced their session at
Trenton, and the Royal Government ceased, and William Livingston became
Franklin's successor.
Congress ordered the arrest of Governor Franklin as an enemy to his
country. He was accordingly placed in the custody of a guard commanded
by a captain who had orders to deliver him to Governor Trumball in
Connecticut. He was conveyed to East Windsor, and quartered in the house
of Captain Ebenezer Grant. In 1777 he requested liberty to visit his
wife who was a few miles distant, and sick. This Washington refused,
saying, "It is by no means in my power to supersede a positive
Resolution of Congress under which your present confinement took place."
His wife was born in the West Indies and it is said that she was much
affected by the severity of Doctor Franklin to her husband while he was
a prisoner. She died in 1778 in her 49th year, and is buried in St.
Paul's Church, New York. It is inscribed upon the monumental tablet
erected to her memory that "Compelled to part from the husband she
loved, and at length despairing of the soothing hope of his speedy
return, she sunk under accumulated distresses, etc."
In 1778, after the arrival in America of Sir Henry Clinton, an exchange
was effected and Governor Franklin was released, and went to England. In
West's picture of the Reception of the American Loyalists, by Great
Britain in 1783, Governor Franklin and Sir William Pepperell are the
prominent personages represented. (See page 214.)
In 1784, the father and son, after an estrangement of ten years, became
reconciled to one another, for Doctor Franklin writes, "It will be very
agreeable to me, indeed nothing has ever hurt me so much, and affected
me with such keen sensation, as to find myself deserted in my old age by
my only son, and not only deserted, but to find him taking up arms
against me in a cause wherein my good fame, fortune and life were all at
stake. You conceived, you say, that your duty to your king and regard
for your country required this. I ought not to blame you for differing
in sentiment with me in public affairs. We are all men, subject to
errors, etc." In his will, dated June 23, 1789, a few months before his
decease, he showed his shrewdness and craftiness for which he was always
noted, in leaving his Nova Scotia lands to his son, the title to which
was doubtful on account of the part he took in the Revolution. He says
"I give and devise all the lands I hold or have a right to in the
Province of Nova Scotia, to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
I also give to him all my books and papers which he has in his
possession, and all debts standing against him on my account-books,
willing that no payment for, nor restitution of the same be required of
him by my executors. The part he acted against me in the late war, which
is of public notoriety, will account for my leaving him no more of an
estate he endeavored to deprive me of."
Governor Franklin continued in England during the remainder of his life.
He received a pension from the British Government of L800 per annum. His
personal estate valued at L1800, which was confiscated, the government
allowed him full compensation for. He had several shares in back lands
and grants and real estate in New York and New Jersey, all of which he
conveyed to his father, as he was indebted to him. He died in Nov.,
1813. His son, William Temple Franklin, was Secretary to Dr. Franklin,
and edited his works. He died at Paris in May, 1823.
ROYAL COAT OF ARMS.
The Royal Coat of Arms embossed on the outside cover of this work is an
exact reproduction of the Coat of Arms that was formerly above the
Governor's seat in the Council Chamber in the Old State House in Boston.
It was made from a photograph taken from the original in Trinity Church,
St. John, N. B., for a fuller description of same, see p. 436. The seal
embossed on the outside back cover, is a reproduction of the seal of
"The Colony of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" from which the
present seal of the State of Massachusetts is derived. It was the seal
that was used on all official documents down to the time of the
Revolution.
PELHAM'S MAP OF BOSTON.
This plan was made by Henry Pelham, the half brother of Copley the
painter. It was made under permission of J. Urquhart, Town Major, August
28, 1775. It shows the lines about the Town and the Harbor, and is the
most important of the early maps of Boston and the one upon which all
subsequent revolutionary maps are based. It was printed in two sheets
published in London, June 2, 1777, done in aquatinta by Francis Jukes.
This copy is reproduced from the original in the Massachusetts
Historical Society's Library and is drawn on a photographic print from
which this engraving is made.
JUDGE CHAMBERLAIN'S OPINION OF COL. THOS. GOLDTHWAITE.
Col. Goldthwaite was a man of ability, unbounded enterprise, and
considerable influence. Chamberlain in his History of Chelsea says of
him: "Some very unfavorable accounts of Col. Goldthwaite have been
published, which I do not feel at liberty to withhold, but in referring
to them suggest, first, that they were mainly written after he had
become obnoxious as a loyalist; secondly: that his position on the
Penobscot was one in which it would have been impossible to protect the
just rights of the Indians against turbulent frontiersmen outside any
efficient government without incurring their hostility, since their only
sense of justice was their desire for exclusive possessions of lands
which rightfully belonged to the original occupants."
GOV. JOHN WINTHROP--See Page 426.
John Winthrop, born Jan. 12, 1587, died at Boston March 26, 1649, by his
first wife Mary Forth, had
John, born Sept. 12, 1606
Henry, born Jan. 19, 1608
Forth, born Dec. 30, 1609
Mary, born probably 1612
Ann, baptised Aug. 8, 1614 and died soon after
Ann (again) baptised June 26, 1615
By his second wife, Thomasine Clopton, had a child who died at the
same time as its mother.
By his third wife, Margaret Tyndal, he had
Stephen, Mar. 31, 1619
Adam, April 7, 1620
Deane, March 23, 1623
Nathaniel, Feb. 20, 1625, died young
Samuel, August 26, 1627
Ann, April 29, 1630, who died on the voyage over
William, Aug. 14, 1632, probably died early
Sarah, baptized Jan. 29, 1634, probably died early
By his fourth wife, Martha, a widow of Thomas Coytmore, sister of
Increase Nowell of Charlestown, he had Joshua, baptised December
17, 1648
His eldest son, John Winthrop, born Sept. 12, 1606, at Groton, who
afterwards became Governor of Connecticut, died and was buried in
Boston; it is his line of descendants that is given on page 426; the
other branches of the family became extinct in the male line.
INDEX.
Abercrombie, 226.
Achmuty (see Auchmuty). Robert, 126.
Adams, Charles Francis, 37.
Frances, 286.
James, 286.
John, 5, 24, 25, 29, 32, 35, 37, 45, 46, 48, 54, 68, 69, 77,
83, 89, 93, 95, 105, 153, 163, 181, 226, 317, 318, 327,
334, 340, 366, 368, 379, 385, 391, 392, 452, 455, 477.
John, Mrs., 282.
John Quincy, 180, 365.
Joseph, 138.
Josiah, 472, 473, 476.
Samuel, 37, 38, 39, 44, 46, 48, 51, 59, 83, 152, 153, 157, 160,
161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 189, 219, 310, 322, 476.
Zab, 334.
Albemarle, Duke of, 419.
Allen, Ebenezer, 134.
James, 295.
Martha, 295.
William, 204.
Almon, W. J., 279.
Altamont, Earl of, 316.
Ambrose, Robert, 128.
Ames, Fisher, 98.
Gov., 47.
Amherst, 20, 198, 227.
Amory, Abigail Taylor, 345.
Ann Geyer, 395.
Ann McLean, 395.
Anne, 343.
Catherine Green, 345.
Charles, 221, 345.
Elizabeth Fitzmaurice, 343.
Esther Sargent, 345.
Hattie Sullivan, 345.
Hugh, 343.
John, 137, 249, 344, 345, 346, 350.
Jonathan, 343, 344, 345, 346, 410.
Martha Greene, 345.
Mrs., 234.
Nancy Geyer, 350.
Nathaniel, 345.
Rebecca, 343, 344.
Robert, 128, 343.
Rufus, 350.
Rufus Greene, 395.
Thomas, 132, 343, 344, 345, 410.
Thomas C., 233, 242, 243, 345.
Thomas Coffin, 51.
William, 345.
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co., 118, 181, 356, 424.
Anderson, James, 125, 132, 137.
Andrews, Elizabeth, 412.
Thomas, 412.
William, Jr., 468.
Andros, 419.
Barrett, 133.
Edmond, Sir, 16.
Appleton, John, 262.
Apthorp, 60, 438, 448.
Alicia Mann, 352.
Charles, 351, 352, 354.
Charles Ward, 352.
Charlotte Augusta, 352.
East (Rev.), 353.
Grace Foster, 353.
Grizzell, 352, 354.
Grizzell Eastwicke, 351.
Hannah, Greenleaf, 352.
John, 351, 352.
John T. (Col.), 353.
Mary, 352, 353, 396.
Mary McEvers, 352.
Mary Thompson, 354.
Susan, 353.
Susan, Ward, 351.
Thomas, 125, 137, 354.
William, 137, 354.
Arbuthnot, Abigail Little, 399.
Christian, 399.
John, 399.
Miss, 251.
Archer, Mary, 287.
Argenson, 23.
Arnold, 90.
Benedict, 180.
Asby, James, 125.
Ashburton, Lord, 114, 115.
Ashley, Joseph, 133, 138.
Ashton, Jacob, 131.
Astor, John Jacob, 209.
Atkins, David, 139.
Gibbs, 134, 137, 323.
Ruth, 321.
Thomas, 323.
Atkinson, John, 125, 132, 133, 137.
Attucks, Crispus, 44, 83.
Auchmuty, 163, 437.
James, 302.
Maria M., 304.
Richard, Harrison, 304.
Robert, 138, 142, 249, 300, 302.
Robert Nicholis, 304.
Samuel, Sir, 304.
Samuel, Rev., 303, 304.
Austin, Capt., 364.
Mrs., 364.
Avery, John, 477.
Alywin, Thomas, 125.
Ayres, Eleanor, 134.
Bache, Benjamin F., 75, 76.
Bacon, 439.
Badger, Moses, Rev., 134, 138, 275.
Bagley, Col., 358.
Bailey, Jacob, Rev., 399.
Baird, D., Sir. 304.
Baker, John, 134, 139.
Walter, 183.
Baldwin, Henry, 361.
Loammi, Col., 262, 266, 271, 358.
Ball, Robert, 361.
Bancroft, George, 390.
Rev. Dr., 391.
Bangs, Seth, 139.
Barber, Major, 406.
Barger, Philip, 448.
Barker, Ann, 310.
Barnard, John, 134.
Thomas, 127.
Barnes, Catherine, 400.
Christian Arbuthnot, 399.
Elizabeth, 255, 399.
Henry, 132, 138, 235, 399, 400, 401, 402.
Mr., 251.
Surgeon-General, 112.
Barnett, John, 239.
Barnsfare, 244.
Barre, 28, 31.
Barrell, Elizabeth, 445.
Jonathan Sayward, 445.
Mary, 445.
Nathaniel, 445.
Samuel B., 136.
Sarah Sayward, 445.
Theodore, 136.
Walter, 133.
Barrett, Col., 471.
Barrick, James, 133, 137.
Barron, Jonathan, 286.
Lucy, 286.
Barry, 218.
Barton, David, 132.
M., 475.
Bass, Gilman, 469.
Henry, 477.
Mr., 340.
Bath, Lord, 23.
Beaman, Thomas, 139.
Beath, Mary, 134.
Beaumarchais, 84, 85.
Beecher, Henry Ward, 111.
Belcher, Andrew, 181.
Eliza, 181.
Governor, see Jonathan.
Jonathan (Gov.), 181, 233, 275, 276, 344, 447.
Joseph (Rev.), 338.
Rebeccah, 338.
Sarah, 447.
Bennett, Barbara, 255.
Spencer (see Phips, Spencer), 420.
Bentham, Jeremy, 164.
Benton, Senator, (Thos. H.), 115.
Bernard, 292, 301.
Amelia, 201.
Francis, Rev., 191.
Francis, Sir, 35, 41, 42, 50, 137, 142, 149, 157, 176, 191,
192, 193, 194, 196, 197, 199, 200, 203, 204, 207.
Godfrey, 191.
Governor, see Sir Francis.
John, 201.
John, Sir, 203.
Julia, 193, 201, 202.
Scrope, 201, 202.
Thomas, 191, 196, 197, 200, 202, 203, 204.
Berry, Edward, 137.
Elizabeth, 467.
John, 125.
Bethel, Robert, 133.
Bethune, George, 125, 239.
George A., 229.
Bicker, William, 342.
Bigelow, Timothy, Col., 400.
Bissett, George, 361.
Black, David, 137.
John, 134.
Blackburn, 444.
Mr. Justice, 151.
Blackstone, Mr., 364.
William, 217, 413.
Blackwell, John, Jr., 139.
Blair, John, 134.
Robert, 137.
William, 124.
Blanchard, 394.
Bland, 80.
Blaney, Joseph, 131.
Bligh, Thomas, 13.
Bliss, Daniel, 126, 138.
Jonathan, 249.
Samuel, 138.
Blodgett, Susannah, 261.
Thomas, 261.
Blowers, Sampson S., 126, 137, 249.
Sampson Salter, 137.
Bloye, Henry, 125.
Boardman, Andrew, 420.
Bollan, Mr., 301.
Bolton, Col., 234.
Mrs., 234.
Borland, 438.
John, 125, 409.
Mrs., 251.
Sarah, 409.
Boucher, 202.
Bourn, Edward, 139.
Elisha, 139.
Lemuel, 139.
William, 139.
Boutineau, James, 125, 136, 142, 448.
Mary Bowdoin, 448.
Mrs., 448.
Nancy, 448.
Bowen, John, 134, 139.
Nathan, 128.
Bowes, Ann Whitney, 224.
Arthur, 224.
Dorcas Champney, 224.
Edmund Elford, 224.
Emily, 224.
Harriet Troutbeck, 224.
Lucy Hancock, 224.
Martha Remington, 224.
Martin (Sir), 224.
Mary Stoddard, 224.
Nicholas, 224.
Sarah, 224.
Sarah Hubbard, 224.
William, 125, 132, 134, 137, 224, 225.
Bowditch, 412.
Joseph, 131.
Bowdoin, 163, 165.
Elizabeth, 448.
James, 29, 399, 402, 428, 437.
Judith, 403.
Mary, 448.
Peter, 448.
Bowman, Archibald, 132, 134.
Boyd, Gen., 104.
Boydell, Alderman, 218.
Boyer, Daniel, 409.
Boyle, John, 405.
Boyleston, Mr., 250.
Boylston, Ward Nicholas, 249.
Braddock, Gen., 19, 51, 179.
Bradford, Gov., 434.
Bradish, Ebenezer, 126.
Mr., 388.
Bradshaw, Sarah Thompson, 297.
Bradstreet, 11, 17.
Simon, 458.
Bragdon, Capt., 443.
Brandon, 134.
Brattle, Katherine, 295.
Katherine Saltonstall, 296, 297.
Thomas, 137, 294, 296.
William, 132, 134, 161, 294, 295, 296, 435.
Braxton, 80.
Bray, John, 205, 208.
Margery, 205.
Breck, Abigail, 313.
John, 313.
Margaret, 313.
Brewer, Daniel, 140.
Joseph, 424.
Breynton, Rev. Dr., 348.
Bridgewater, Chief Justice, 279.
Mary, 279.
Bridgham, Ebenezer, 125, 133, 137.
Hannah, 358.
Joseph, 358.
Briggs, Mathyas, 285.
Brigham, Ebenezer, 132.
Bright, John, 110.
Brimmer, Martin, 196.
Brindley, see Brinley.
Brinley, also Brindley.
Catherine Craddock, 396.
Deborah, 377, 396.
Edward, 396.
Elizabeth, 396.
Elizabeth Pitts, 397.
Francis, 377, 396.
George, 125, 132, 137.
Mary Apthorp, 396.
Mrs. (Nathaniel), 397.
Nathaniel, 132, 396.
Robert, 397.
Sylvester Oliver, 190.
Thomas, 125, 132, 134, 137, 249, 395, 396, 397.
Britton, David, 131.
Brock, Gen., 103, 441.
Broderick, John, 134.
Brooks, Susanna, 298.
Broomer, Joshua, 139.
Brown, Abishai (Capt.), 475.
Capt., 400, 401.
Gawler, 280.
Gen., 104.
Lieut., 353.
Mary, 428.
Mather, 280.
Shearjashub, 126.
Thomas, 134.
William, 138, 428.
Browne, 250.
Elizabeth, 242.
Hannah Curwin, 449.
Judge, 448.
Mary, 463.
Samuel, 449.
Simon, 449.
William, 131, 136, 142, 189, 449, 450, 451, 461, 463.
Bruce, James, 137.
Brunsden, Charles, 220.
Bryant, Seth, 139.
Brymer, Alexander, 137.
Bubler, Joseph, 128.
Buckminster, Col., 425.
Bulfinch, Charles, 352, 354.
Susan Apthorp, 353.
Thomas, 349, 354.
Bumpus, Thomas, 139.
Bumstead, Thomas, 307.
Burch, William, 137, 142, 319.
Burden, William, 139.
Bureau, Ann, 229.
Burgoyne, Gen., 84, 85, 250.
Burke, 28, 31, 164.
Burnett, Gov., 449.
Burr, Aaron, 180.
Burrell, Colbourn, 125.
Martha, 356.
Burton, Jane, 427.
Mary, 134.
William, 125, 137.
Bush, David, 139.
Bute, Lord, 40, 153, 481.
Butler, Benjamin F., 109.
Dr., 353.
Gen., 111.
Gilliam, 134.
Buttrick, Maj., 471.
Byfield, Deborah, 447.
Nathaniel, 447.
Byles, Anna, 280.
Belcher, 280.
Elizabeth, 275, 280.
Josiah, 275.
Mather, Rev., 134, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 410.
Mather, Jr., 137, 279.
Mather (3), 279, 280.
Rebecca, 279.
Sarah, 275.
Bymer, Alexander, 132.