pany in 1786; Thomas Crafts, Jr., joined the Artillery Company in 1765; Benjamin Edes, in 1760; and George Trott, in 1765. Col. Craft's (1765) shop was "opposite the Great Tree."

Thomas Crafts, Jr. (1765), received the Masonic degrees in the Lodge of St. Andrew in 1762. He was unanimously elected grand treasurer of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, A. F. and A. M., at its institution Dec. 27, 1769, by M. W. Joseph Warren, and served one year. Dec. 27, 1776, Col. Thomas Crafts appears as grand treasurer, and in 1777 as junior grand warden, p. t. Dec. 4, 1778, he was elected senior grand deacon; Dec. 3, 1779, junior grand warden.

Col. Thomas Crafts (1765) was appointed July 19, 1774, one of a committee of twenty-four to select a proper list of persons to be added to the Committee on Ways and Means. The committee reported the names of fourteen persons, one of whom was Mr. Thomas Crafts, Jr. (1765). At the same meeting he was chosen on a committee selected to receive donations for such in town as are sufferers by means of an Act of the British Parliament for shutting up the harbor of Boston, and to distribute the same. Dec. 7, 1774, he was selected, with six others, to bring in the names of a proper committee "to carry the Resolutions of the late Continental Congress into Execution." He served as fireward in 1775 and 1778, and in 1776 was selected as one from Ward 4 to "collect an account of the damages sustained since the Boston Port Bill." May 3, 1777, an article in the town warrant was "To take the mind of the town with respect to the best method of preparation and defence at this important crisis." After some debate a committee of nine was appointed, of which Col. Thomas Crafts (1765) was one, to report later in the day. It did report in favor of sinking hulks in the channels of the harbor, and of calling for volunteers to do duty "in this town and harbor," to be under command of Col. Crafts (1765).

July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was publicly read for the first time in Boston. The council, representatives, magistrates, selectmen, clergy, the militia, and a great throng of people were present. The regiments and artillery were drawn up in King Street, at one o'clock P. M., when, from the balcony on the east end of the Old State House, the Declaration was proclaimed by Col. Thomas Crafts (1765). It was received with great joy by the people, who cheered; the guns of the harbor and of the fortifications answered, and the artillery fired their cannon thirteen times, the regiments fired volleys in thirteen divisions, thus indicating the number of American States united. The evening was spent in festivity.

Col. Crafts (1765) in 1779 was again appointed on a committee by the town to fortify the harbor, and on another to determine what it is necessary to do to protect the town in case of an invasion by the enemy, and in November of that year was called upon to devise means for the procuring of clothing for the Continental Army. He served the town of Boston as selectman for several years immediately succeeding the Revolution, also in 1793 and 1798, and was county treasurer from 1788 to 1795 inclusive. He was for many years a justice of the peace, and during the latter part of his life acting justice. Col. Crafts (1765) was the subject of the following pithy sarcasm, supposed to have been written by his nephew, Thomas Crafts, United States Consul to France:

"Dear Justice Crafts, fair, factious partisan!

I like thee much, thou fiery-visaged man.

I love to hear thee charm the listening throng
Thy head and wig still moving with thy tongue!

Thus Jove of old, the heathen's highest God,
Their minor Godships governed with his nod;
In this you differ from that great divine, -

Once from his head came wisdom, ne'er from thine.
The mind of Justice Crafts no subject balks,

Of King-craft, Priest-craft, craftily he talks,

Oft have we heard his crafty tales and laughed,

But never knew him mention justice-craft."

The Columbian Centinel notices his decease, and adds: "Funeral from his dwelling house, north side of the Old Brick Meeting house," Jan. 16, 1799.

William Cunningham (1765), painter, of Boston, son of William and Elizabeth Cunningham, was born Sept 28, 1722. He was published, March 18, 1744, to marry Abigail Downes. His place of business was No. 9 Newbury (now Washington), Street. He was a brother of Major James Cunningham, who joined the Artillery Company in 1761. William Cunningham, Sen., was one of the founders of Hollis Street Church in 1731. Capt. William Cunningham, Jr. (1765), was elected constable of Boston in March, 1750-1, but declined to serve, and paid the fine. In 1779 William (1765) and James (1761) were in business together. In 1781 William Cunningham (1765), when proposed by an auctioneer as his bondsman, is called in the records, "Gentleman." identified with the militia, and rose to the grade of captain.

He was

Samuel Gridley (1765), of Boston, probably son of Col. Richard and Hannah (Deming) Gridley, was born in Boston June 14, 1734, and died in October, 1801, aged sixty-seven years.

Another Samuel Gridley, son of Jeremiah and Abigail Gridley, was born Aug. 8. 1734, and died in Dec., 1799, aged sixty-six years. Samuel Gridley was published Jan, 10, 1759, to marry Susanna Hill. He was third sergeant in the Artillery Company in 1767. Samuel Gridley (1765) is not mentioned in the Records of the Town of Boston. Zephaniah Hartt (1765), shipwright, of Boston, son of Ralph (1739) and Mary Hartt, was born in Boston Dec. 19, 1724. He married, Nov. 24, 1748, Sarah Copp, of Boston. He lived on Charter Street, and in his day acquired great distinction as a shipbuilder. He shares the honor which makes "Hartt's shipyard" forever famous in our naval history as the place where the frigates "Constitution" and "Boston" and the brig "Argus" were built. In the militia, he attained the rank of lieutenant. Nov. 8, 1776, he was selected from Ward 1 to ascertain the damage to the town "since the Boston Port Bill."

He died in September, 1791, aged sixty-seven years, and was buried from his dwelling-house in Charter Street.

Nathaniel Heath (1765), mason, of Boston, son of Samuel and Mary Heath, was born in Boston July 4, 1732. He was published, March 13, 1754, to marry Mary Adams, of Boston. He was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1768.

Oct. 28, 1767, he was voted forty pounds, due him, for taking down and repairing the remainder of the Widow Crosby's house, near the Salutation Tavern, in order to

William Cunningham (1765). AUTHORITY: Boston Records.

Nathaniel Heath (1765). AUTHORITY: Boston Records.

widen the street there, and Nov. 8, 1776, he was selected from Ward 1 to ascertain the damage "since the Boston Port Bill." Feb. 4, 1777, while holding the rank of captain, he was selected by the selectmen as a committee to search the houses in Ward 1 for the purpose of obtaining blankets for the use of the Continental Army. Capt. Heath (1765) was probably in the army several years, where he attained the rank of major, as his name does not again appear in Boston Records until Aug. 4, 1783, when he was employed to repair the wall of the North Burial-Ground. In 1796 he resided on Charter Street.

Major Nathaniel Heath (1765) died in Boston, May 5, 1812, aged eighty years, and his wife, Mary, died Oct. 12, 1809, aged seventy-two years. Both were buried in Copp's Hill Burial-Ground.

William Heath (1765), yeoman, of Roxbury, son of Ensign Samuel and Elizabeth (Payson) Heath, was born in Roxbury, March 2, 1737.1 He was of the fifth generation of that family who inherited the same real estate in that town. The old homestead of the family was situated at the corner of Heath Street and Bickford Avenue. It was taken down in 1843. William Heath (1765) was brought up a farmer, was fond of military exercises, and read and studied every military treatise obtainable. He thus became acquainted with the theory of war in all its branches and duties. He was, when quite young, a a member of the local militia, " but," he says, "through the inactive state of the military company to which he belonged, in the spring of the year 1765" (it was May 6), “he went over to Boston and entered a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company." This immediately recommended him to the notice of the colonel of the first regiment of militia, in the county of Suffolk, who sent for him, and importuned him to take command of a company. He was commissioned by Gov. Bernard as captain of the Roxbury company. The governor was so much pleased with Capt. Heath (1765) that he publicly declared, "he would not only make him colonel of the regiment, but, if it were in his power, a general officer also." Capt. Heath (1765), and other members in Roxbury and Dorchester, used to walk into Boston, carrying their guns, to attend the drill meetings of the Artillery Company. He was lieutenant of the Artillery Company in 1768, and its captain in 1770.

In the beginning of 1770, Capt. Heath (1765) wrote addresses to the public, which were signed "A Military Countryman," and were printed in the Boston Gazette, in which he urged "the importance of military discipline and skill in the use of arms, as the only means that could save our country from falling a prey to any daring invader."

During Gov. Hutchinson's term, Capt. Heath (1765) had no command, but when, in 1774, the people selected officers, he was rechosen captain of the Roxbury company, and the same year was elected, unanimously, by the officers of First Suffolk Regiment, colonel. He was prominent in town matters, frequently moderator of the town meetings; in 1761, represented Roxbury in the General Court, also from 1771 to 1774; was a delegate to the Provincial Congresses of 1774 and 1775; an active member of the Committee of Correspondence, Safety, and Inspection; delegate to the Convention that adopted the Federal Constitution, in 1788; State senator in 1791–2; judge of probate for Norfolk County, from 1793 until his decease, Jan. 24, 1814. Several times he was unsuccessfully proposed for governor, but in 1806 he was elected lieutenant-governor. He,

1 See Memoirs of Major-Gen. Heath (1765), containing anecdotes, details of skirmishes, battles, and other military events during the American War, written by himself, and printed at Boston, August, 1798.

however, declined to accept, and refused to be qualified. He was chosen by the people, in 1812, a presidential elector, and was president of the College of Electors, the whole of whom voted for DeWitt Clinton. His opponent, for presidential elector, was Ex-President Adams, whom he defeated.

In 1768, several regiments of British troops were in Boston. On a field-day, under command of Capt. Heath (1765), then lieutenant, it appearing probable that the Artillery Company would not leave the Common until after the roll-call of the troops, their commanding officer sent orders that the Artillery Company must retire without beat of drum, and that there must be no firing at the deposit of the standard. The Company opposed a compliance therewith, but Lieut. Heath (1765) conceiving it his duty to comply with the order of a superior officer in his Majesty's service, marched to Faneuil Hall in silence, and without firing. This appeared to some of the members an infringement of their privileges. The first sergeant, or orderly, Hopestill Capen (1763), resented it so highly that, after the Company was dismissed, he went to the top of his house and fired his musket three times, and subsequently would not vote for Gen. Heath (1765).

Feb. 2, 1775, Capt. Heath (1765) was chosen one of the five general officers authorized by Congress "to oppose the execution of certain acts of the British Parliament." In June, 1775, he was made a provincial major-general, and in August following, the Continental Congress conferred the same rank upon him. He was the only general officer on the ground on the 19th of April, 1775, organizing and directing the armed husbandmen in their first conflict with British regulars. On that day he went to Lexington, accompanied by Dr. Joseph Warren, afterward major-general, at which time the latter came very near being killed. Gen. Heath (1675) was in command of a brigade near Boston until the spring of 1776, when, in command of six regiments of the American Army, he started for New York. He remained in active service in the Hudson Valley until Feb. 10, 1777, when he obtained leave of the commander-in-chief to make a short visit to New England. March 14, 1777, he started from Roxbury on his way back to his command, but before he reached Worcester an express-messenger overtook him with orders from Gen. Washington, assigning him to take command of the Eastern Department, Gen. Ward having applied for leave to rejoin his command. Gen. Heath (1765) returned to Boston, and took command.

June 4, 1779, Gen. Washington ordered him to join the main army. Polite and affectionate addresses were received by him, on his leaving this department, from officers of the line, staff, and department, and of the Boston regiment. On the 11th of June he left Boston, accompanied by a number of officers and citizens on horseback or in carriages, who attended Gen. Heath (1765) as far as Worcester, where the gentlemen had ordered an elegant dinner. After dinner he took his leave amidst a shout of hearty wishes for his health and prosperity. On the 22d of June he greeted Washington at West Point, and was assigned the command of the troops on the east side of the Hudson. Upon the discovery of Arnold's treason, it was to Gen. Heath (1765) that Gen. Washington intrusted the command at West Point. May 22, 1779, Major-Gen. William Heath (1765) was elected by Congress a Commissioner for the Board of War, an honorable appointment, with a salary of four thousand dollars a year, but Gen. Heath (1765) declined to accept it, choosing "rather to participate in the more active opera

It was customary before the Revolution, and so continued until recently, to give the lieutenant the honor of commanding the Company one field-day during the year. 2 Drake's Hist. of Roxbury, p. 388.

tions in the field." Gen. Washington granted him another furlough, and, April 21, 1780, he set out for Roxbury, where he arrived on the 29th. June 2, 1780, the commanderin-chief ordered him to Providence, R. I., to advise and assist the French on their arrival. Oct. 14, 1780, the French having previously arrived at Newport, R. I., Gen. Heath (1765) was ordered to proceed to West Point and take command of that post, where he remained until May 9, 1781, when he was sent by Gen. Washington to the governors of the Eastern States to present the distressed situation of the army in regard to provision, and seek relief. Having performed the mission assigned him, he left Roxbury for the seat of war, July 12, 1781, where he arrived July 29, and Aug. 18, Gen. Washington being about to start for Virginia with the larger part of the army, Gen. Heath (1765) was placed in command of the Department of New York, which position he held until April 4, 1782, when the commander-in-chief returned and resumed command of the main army.

June 10, 1783, Gen. Heath (1765) was general of the day. "It is a little remarkable," says Gen. Heath (1765), "that the general by whose orders and under whose direction the first guard in the American Army was mounted at the foot of Prospect Hill, on the evening of the 19th of April, 1775, after the battle of that day, should happen, in the course of service, to be the last general of the day in the American main army, on the 10th of June, 1783, to inspect, turn off, and visit the guards."

June 23, 1783, Gen. Heath (1765) started homeward, but not before Gen. Washington had placed in his hands a sealed letter, "to be read at his leisure." The letter was written throughout by Gen. Washington, and was expressive of his gratitude to, and affection for, Gen. Heath (1765). "This letter," said he to Brissot de Warville, in 1788, "is a jewel which in my eyes surpasses all the eagles and all the ribbons in the world."

Gen. Heath (1765) arrived at his farm, in Roxbury, July 1, 1783. From this time until his decease, except from 1783 to 1790, he held public office. He died Monday, Jan. 24, 1814, and was buried on the Friday following from Rev. Mr. Porter's church.

Soon after the House of Representatives of Massachusetts was called to order, Jan. 26, 1814, Mr. Otis rose and announced, "The venerable Heath [1765] - the companion of Washington - the honest patriot - the Christian soldier - has paid the debt of nature. He was, before his decease, probably, the only surviving major-general of that army which gave us Independence; and his memory is dear to his country."

An order then passed that "the Legislature will adjourn on Friday, at one o'clock, to attend his funeral, and that the members will wear a suitable badge of mourning, as a token of respect for his memory." The Senate concurred in this order. His funeral was also attended by the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, from respect to his amiable character and patriotism. He was a genuine republican, affable in his manners and firm in his principles. So plebeian was he in his convictions that rather than allow his name "to stand affixed to an institution, or wear a device which is construed by many of our fellow-citizens the indication of an order and distinction in society," he renounced the Society of the Cincinnati, and withdrew therefrom.

He married, April 19, 1759, Sarah Lockwood, of Cambridge. They had four sons and one daughter. His widow, Sarah, died Oct. 16, 1814, aged seventy-eight years, eight months, and seven days.

Gen. William Heath's (1765) sword, epaulettes, and military sash, "worn during his service in the war of the Revolution," belong to the New England Historic Genealogical Society. They were exhibited by James S. Loring, Nov. 4, 1857, with the rapier of Warren, "wielded as it was on the field of Lexington and in skirmishes around Boston."