ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

Mr. Hyslop (1755) was a member of Brattle Street Church, and a strong Scotch Presbyterian. On the introduction of an organ into that meeting-house, Mr. Hyslop (1755) discontinued his attendance there, and became a regular worshipper at the church of Rev. Mr. Jackson, in Brookline. He was generous to the poor, and universally kind; was a member of various benevolent societies, and left a large legacy for missionary work among the Indians.

Saturday, 13th August. Mr Hyslop [1755], one of the owners of this Island [Noddle's] was buried this afternoon, it is said he has left eighty thousand pounds worth of property, and only two children."

His grandson, Gen. William Hyslop Sumner, joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1819, and was its captain in 1821.

John Joy (1755) was a housewright in Boston. He was published, Oct. 4, 1750, to marry Sarah Homer, of Boston. His residence was on Leverett Street, but owned other property on Water Street. He was elected constable of Boston in 1756 and 1757, but was excused from serving; fence-viewer from 1766 to 1774 inclusive, and visited the schools July 1, 1767, and July 1, 1772. He was town warden in 1769. March 5, 1774, he was elected on a committee to consider measures for providing a suitable place for the carts and sleds, with hay, firewood, etc., and "the Inhabitants of Corn-Hill thereby eased of that Incumbrance."

Capt. Joy (1755) was an addresser of Hutchinson in 1774, and of Gen. Gage in 1775. In 1776, he went with other royalists to Halifax; was proscribed and banished in 1778. He was in England in 1779. Mr. Joy (1755) was a member of the Boston militia, and, after several years of service, attained the grade of captain.

He received the Masonic degrees in the First Lodge, in Boston, and became a member thereof in 1760. He was junior warden of that lodge in 1762-3, senior warden in 1764, and master from 1769 to 1771; junior warden of the Masters' Lodge in 1765, senior warden in 1766, and master in 1772. Jan. 27, 1775, John Joy (1755) was constituted junior grand warden of St. John's Grand Lodge. He died in England in 1798.

Henry Perkins (1755), son of Edmund and Mary Perkins, was born in Boston, Aug. 20, 1710. He was elected constable in 1743, but refused to serve, and paid the fine; was scavenger in 1752 and 1760. In 1757 he was third sergeant of the Artillery Company.

Benjamin Phillips (1755), of Boston, son of Benjamin and Hannah Phillips, was born in Boston, June 3, 1715. He was published, Aug. 20, 1752, to marry Elizabeth Bourne, of Marshfield; and, (2) March 17, 1757, he married Margaret Cunningham, of Boston. He was elected, March 10, 1766, a warden of the town, which seems to have been the only town office he ever held. He was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1760. He was a loyalist, and a protester against the Whigs in 1774.

May 19, 1777, Benjamin Phillips (1755) is named by the town as one of those persons "inimical to these states, and should be apprehended and confined." He died at Lincoln in May, 1792, aged seventy-six years.

John Joy (1755). AUTHORITIES: Boston Records; Sabine's American Loyalists; Records of St. John's Grand Lodge.

Henry Perkins (1755). AUTHORITY: Boston

Records.

Benjamin Phillips (1755). AUTHORITIES: Boston Records; Sabine's American Loyalists.

Francis Whitman (1755), shipwright, of Boston, son of Francis and Elizabeth Whitman, of Boston, was born Dec. 24, 1716. He married, Oct. 27, 1743, Sarah Pain. He was second sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1758. He never held any office in the town of Boston. Elizabeth Whitman, a widow, who made her will in Boston in 1760, mentions Francis Whitman (1755) as her son. The latter was, doubtless, an only child, and "it is not ascertained that he left any posterity." "With him, probably, ended the descendants in the male line of the first Francis,"-grandfather of Francis (1755).

Samuel Whitwell (1755), merchant, of Boston, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Whitwell, was born Dec. 30, 1717. He married, June 13, 1749, Elizabeth Kelsey. He was a very prominent member of the Old South Church; was a deacon, served on important committees, and often represented the church, with others, in church councils. At the sign of the Golden Candlestick, corner of Ann and Union streets, near the market of Boston, he kept a hardware store, and his residence was in Wing's Lane (Elm Street). His nieces, daughters of his brother William, named Elizabeth and Mary, married respectively, William Homes, Jr. (1766), and Col. Josiah Waters, Jr. (1769). He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1759.

Samuel Whitwell (1755) was clerk of the market in 1763, warden in 1765, and informer of deer from 1764 to 1769 inclusive. He was an overseer of the poor from 1769 to 1783 inclusive. At the town meeting held March 6, 1770, occasioned by the massacre in King Street by the soldiery the preceding night, information was given by several persons as to what they had heard the British soldiers say, and what they had seen them do. The number of these persons being so great, the town selected a committee, of which Samuel Whitwell (1755) was one, to take their depositions. Dec. 7, 1774, he was one of a committee chosen to carry into execution the resolutions of the Continental Congress, and Oct. 16, 1776, he was chosen to consider the grievances of certain petitioners in regard to the forestalling of provisions and the necessaries of life in the Boston markets. He was identified with the militia, and was an officer in the Continental Army.

Dr. Samuel Whitwell, son of Samuel Whitwell (1755), a physician by profession, was an army surgeon in Col. James Jackson's regiment, and died at Newton, November, 1791, aged thirty-eight years. He delivered the oration, July 4, 1789, before the Massachusetts Society of Cincinnati, of which he was a member.

Samuel Whitwell (1755) died June 8, 1801, aged eighty-four years, and was "buried from his late house in Cornhill."

The Record of the Artillery Company for 1755 is as follows:

"April 11th. 1755. The Company being under Arms, it was unanimously Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Thaddeus Maccarty of Worcester be desired to preach the next Artillery Election Sermon, and that the present Commission Officers of the Company, Capt Ralph Hartt [1739], Lt John Welch [1736] & En. Joseph Edwards [1738], and John Phillips, Esq. [1725], the Treasurer, be a Committee to wait on him and desire the same. "Attest: JOHN LEVERETT, Clerk. "May 4th. The Company being under arms, Capt Ralph Hartt [1739], one of the committee to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Thaddeus Maccarty to desire him to preach the

Francis Whitman (1755). AUTHORITY: Boston Records.

Samuel Whitwell (1755).

AUTHORITIES:

Boston Records; Hill's Hist. Old South Church.

next Artillery Election Sermon, reported to the Company that he had accepted the same. The evening being spent at Ensign Edwards' [1738], it was Voted, That thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence, lawful money, be paid by the Treasurer of this Company to the Commission Officers towards defraying the charges of the dinner upon the ensuing Election day, and the Company to dine with them. Attest: JOHN LEVERETT, Clerk.

"June 2'd 1755. The Company being under Arms, it was Voted, That the Commission Officers, Capt Ralph Hartt [1739], Lt John Welch [1736], & Ensign Joseph Edwards [1738], with the Treasurer, John Phillips, Esq. [1725], be a committee to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Thaddeus Maccarty, and return him the thanks of this Company, for his Sermon this day preached. Attest: SAMUEL TORREY, Jun., Clerk.

"The Company being under Arms, it was Voted, That the above committee return the thanks of this Company, to Mr. John Leverett [1750], the former Clerk, for his past service. Attest: SAMUEL TORREY, Jun. Clerk."

Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty, of Worcester, delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1755. He was a son of Capt. Thaddeus and Mary Maccarty, and was born in Boston, July 18, 1721. He sailed with his father on several voyages, but being unable to endure the hardships of a sailor's life, he earnestly turned to studying, and graduated from Harvard College in 1739. He afterwards pursued the study of theology, and, Nov. 3, 1742, was ordained as pastor of the church in Kingston, Mass. On account of difficulty arising from his invitation to Mr. Whitefield to occupy his pulpit, the meeting-house being forcibly closed against him, he resigned that pastorate, Nov. 3, 1745.

The church in Worcester invited Mr. Maccarty to preach as a candidate, as it also did Rev. Jonathan Mayhew. They both preached, but the church gave Rev. Mr. Maccarty a unanimous call to become its pastor. He accepted, was installed June 10, 1747, and preached his own installation sermon. He was a decided Whig during the Revolution, and worked earnestly in the colonial cause. He died July 20, 1784, aged sixty-three years, and in the thirty-seventh year of his ministry at Worcester. Sept. 8, 1743, he married Mary Gatcomb, of Boston, who died Dec. 8, 1783.

The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1756 were: John Welch

1756. (1736), captain; Thomas Drowne (1737), lieutenant; William Taylor (1738),

ensign. Nathaniel Baker (1751) was first sergeant; William Heath (1754), second sergeant; Daniel Jones (1754), third sergeant; Thomas Dawes, Jr. (1754), fourth sergeant, and Samuel Torrey, Jr. (1752), clerk.

The board of overseers of the poor for 1756 illustrates the influence and standing of prominent members of the Artillery Company in the town. The board consisted of twelve members, of whom five were members of the Artillery Company, viz., Jacob Wendell (1733), Daniel Henchman (1712), Edward Bromfield (1732), John Phillips (1725), and Ebenezer Storer (1732).

Mr. Drake makes special mention of the death of Edward Bromfield (1732), who died April 10, 1756. His father joined the Artillery Company in 1679, and rejoined it in 1707. Edward, Jr. (1732), "was a gentlemen of great benevolence, and was much

Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty. AUTHORITY: Sprague's Annals of American Pulpit.

beloved by the people for his public spirit and upright dealing." His oldest son, Edward (Harvard College, 1738), died Aug. 18, 1746, aged twenty-three years.

The following-named officers enlisted for Crown Point before April 15, 1756: Col. Nathaniel Thwing (1736), in Col. Wendell's (1733) company; Major Moses Deshon (1737), in Lieut.-Col. Henchman's (1712) company; Capt. Carnes (1755), Capt. Phillips (1755), Capt. Russell (1745), Capt. Jackson (1738), Capt. Hartt (1739), Capt. Symmes (1734), Capt. Savage (1738), Capt. Greenough (1740), commanded companies. The members of the Artillery Company recruited in 1756 were: William Bell, James Bennett, Seth Blodgett, Daniel Boyer, Benjamin Brown, Jr., Jonathan Cary, Jonas Clark, John Deming, Benjamin Dolbeare, Robert Jenkins, 3d, Edward Proctor, Nathaniel Ridgeway, Samuel Ridgeway, Jr., John Wood.

William Bell (1756), bricklayer, of Boston, son of Daniel and Abigail (Cunnabill) Bell, was born in Boston, April 7, 1731. He married, Aug. 9, 1767, Martha, daughter of Abraham and Prudence (Hancock) Hill, of Cambridge. She was a sister of the mother of Gov. William Eustis.

Mr. Whitman (1810) says Mr. Bell (1756) "resided in Hawkins Street," but in 1788-9 he lived in Cold Lane, now Portland Street. He united with the Second Church, Sept. 8, 1782, and became a deacon. He was second sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1762, ensign in 1767, lieutenant in 1771, and captain in 1774, continuing in office until the election of his successor in 1786. He presented the Artillery Company with two espontons, which, after the Revolution, were adopted as the badge of office for the commander and lieutenant instead of the pike and half pike. A senior captain of a regiment before the war ranked as major. It was thus Capt. Bell (1756) gained his rank. He was a strict disciplinarian, and tenacious of adhering to the most ancient ceremonies. The Artillery Company is indebted principally to him for its revival; and, being advanced in years, he was elected an honorary member, and continued such until his death. Deacon Bell (1756) was admired for his firmness and integrity in private life. The services he rendered to the Artillery Company place him among its most distinguished patrons.

The first time William Bell (1756) is mentioned in the town records is under the date of Feb. 25, 1765, when he and Daniel Bell (1733) were selected to examine a chimney on Prince Street. July 10, 1771, he visited the public schools with the justices and others, and Nov. 11, 1776, he was chosen one of the committee from Ward 6 to collect the account of the damage since the Boston Port Bill. He was elected a warden May 26, 1777. He is first called "Captain" in the records in 1776.

William Bell (1756) is said to have received the Masonic degrees in Seconeto, Nova Scotia. Dec. 27, 1760, he was invited to the Feast of St. John "at Ballard's,” in Boston, and in 1763 he became a member of the Lodge of St. Andrew. He continued his membership in that body until his decease, which occurred Nov. 21, 1804.

The following anecdote, “related by a bystander," says Mr. Whitman (1810), in his history of the Artillery Company, exhibits not only "the feelings and conduct of the people," just after the battle of Lexington, but reveals the loyalty to the cause of the colonies possessed by some prominent members of the Artillery Company :

William Bell (1756). AUTHORITIES: Boston Ed. 1842; Early Records of Grand Lodges in Mass. Records; Whitman's Hist. A. and II. A. Company,

"In 1775, before the Artillery Company suspended its meetings, the Common was occupied by the British army, and the Artillery Company were refused admittance. Capt. Bell [1756], therefore, marched to Copp's Hill. Soon after the bridge over Charles River was built, there was a complaint against the street at the foot of this hill. It was supposed the proprietors of that part of the hill enclosed from Snowhill Street ought to repair the wharf and street at their own expense. This led to inquiry, in town meeting, to whom it belonged; some one said it belonged to this Company. Col. Jackson [1738], their treasurer, was sent for, and declared that he considered it their property, a mortgage upon it to them having long since run out, and that Capt. Bell [1756], with the Company, had taken possession of it in 1775. Capt. Bell [1756] was then interrogated by Col. Dawes [1754], the moderator: "Why did you march your Company to Copp's Hill?' Answer: 'I was prohibited from entering the Common; conceiving this hill to be the property of the Company, I marched them there as a place no one had a right to exclude them from.' Question by moderator: Supposing a party of British troops should have been in possession of it, and should have forbidden you entrance, what would you have done?' Answer: 'I would have charged bayonets, and forced my way as surely as I would force my way into my dwelling-house if taken possession of by a gang of thieves.' The late Col. William Tudor, who was then present, said: 'Mr. Moderator, the hill clearly belongs to that Company, and I wish they would execute a quitclaim deed of it to me for a fair price.' The mortgage was discharged afterwards, and the street repaired by the town."

James Bennett (1756), of Boston, son of James and Abigail Bennett, was born in Boston, Aug. 18, 1734. A James Bennett was published in Boston, Jan. 9, 1775, to marry Susannah Storer. He is not mentioned in the town records, printed by the record

commissioners of Boston.

Seth Blodgett (1756), innkeeper, of Boston, son of Caleb and Sarah (Wyman) Blodgett, was born in Woburn, and married Elizabeth Harding, who died April 16, 1808, "in her 78th year." They had one son, Edward, baptized March 17, 1771. Caleb Blodgett was an innkeeper in Woburn. Seth Wyman, an uncle of Seth Blodgett (1756), and for whom the latter was named, was killed in the "Lovewell Fight," in 1725.

In 1767, St. John's Grand Lodge, A. F. and A. M., "ordered the Grand Treasurer to pay to Bro. Seth Blodgett [1756] the sum of £1. 35. 2p. 1ƒ. for sundry Expenses at his House," etc. Mr. Blodgett (1756) attended the funeral obsequies, conducted by the Grand Lodge, in honor of R. W. Jeremy Gridley, Sept. 12, 1767.

Royal Exchange tavern was on the southwest corner of Exchange and State streets. This inn gave the name to the street on the east side of it. The tavern dates back to 1727, when it was kept by Luke Vardy. The trouble between Henry Phillips and Benjamin Woodbridge, which resulted in a duel and a death upon the Common, and death in a foreign land, began in this tavern. On the opposite corner of Exchange and State streets stood the custom-house, where the first act of the State Street Massacre was committed.

Sept. 26, 1764, at a meeting of the selectmen, Mr. Seth Blodgett (1756) "was approbated by the selectmen to keep a tavern at the Royal Exchange near the townhouse, he having lately hired the same." Oct. 14, 1767, Mr. Robert Stone applied to

Seth Blodgett (1756). AUTHORITY: Boston Records.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »