USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Chelsea > Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 2 > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
458
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLIII
draw the wealthy Whigs with their property and arms; and to bar access to him of the same class of Tories from the country towns. It was also important that the sinall-pox prevalent in Boston should not be carried into the country.9 These dangers had been foreseen by the Provincial Congress, and guarded against by the Committee of Safety.
9 Gencral Gage, when in command at Boston, agreed with the select- men that those who desired could leave the town with their furniture and goods, on condition of delivering up their fire-arms, and carrying away neither plate, nor cash, exceeding five pounds. These conditions were disregarded by some men, who, as they afterwards boasted, concealed plate in their goods; and by some women, who quilted cash into their garments. General Gage therefore issued a proclamation, June 19, 1775, requiring all who had fire-arms, immediately to surrender them at the court-house, and declaring that those in whose possession they might be found, would be deemed enemies to the King's government.
These regulations were thought too lenient by the Tories, and too severe by the Whigs, some of whom were refused permission to leave town. Many who obtained it landed at Chelsea, and scattered through the country.
There is much about the loyalists in Foote's Annals of King's Chapel, ii 353 et seq., though perhaps not pertinent here.
--
459
APPENDIX
CHAP. XLIIIJ
APPENDIX
A QUESTION has arisen whether the three companies at Chelsea, of which Captain Sprague's was one, participated in the fight at Bunker Hill. At first sight this would seem to have been in- probable; for the project of posting a force on the hill appears first in a resolution of June 15th, recommending the Council of War to consult with the general officers at Roxbury as to its ad- visibility. (Jour. Prov. Cong., 569.) This could hardly have been done and communicated on the 17th in season for the companies at Chelsea to make a cirenitous march of many miles, by way of Medford to join Prescott's party. I assume that Penny Ferry would not have been practicable for the Chelsea companies, even if it had not been commanded by British floating batteries not far off. Besides, Chelsea was too important a place to be left un- covered; nor was there need, for Prescott's force was only part of Ward's much larger force at Cambridge, and serviceable if needed.
See Boston Public Library Monthly Bulletin, v. No. 1, January, 1900, for A Letter from Jesse Lukens to John Shaw, Jr., Prospect Ilill, September 13, 1775, giving an account of the Battle of June 17th.
But about eleven o'clock on the 17th, when the British forces were seen coming over to Charlestown, Gen. Ward ordered the regi- ments of Colonels Stark and Reed of New Hampshire to reinforce Colonel Prescott, and orders were also issued for the recall to Cambridge of the companies at Chelsea. ( Frothingham, 129, 132.) If this order was received and obeyed, then those companies doubt- less endeavored to reach the scene of the expected conflict. At this point I am happy to have the guidance of Deloraine P. Corey, Esq., a high authority, who writes to me, as follows: "I do not think the companies at Chelsea were withdrawn on the day of the battle, as it was important to guard that shore, and the Malden company, belonging to Gardner's regiment, was posted at Beacham's Point, known as Wormwood, Beacham's, Sweetser's, and Van Voorhies Point, on the Malden side on that day, and remained there during the siege. A portion of Gerrish's regiment [ to which Capt. Sprague's company belonged] marched from Cambridge under Capt. Thomas Mighill, but were met on the way by Ad- jutant Christian Febiger, who led that portion into the battle, and
460
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLIII
arrived on the hill in time to do service. I am certain that Sprague's company was one of those that went with Febiger. Sprague was incapacitated, either before or during the battle, and his company was led on the hill by his Lieutenant, Jos. Cheever, who received a ball through his hat. I have good reason to keep this in remembrance, for if the ball had been a little lower, I would have lost my great grandfather.
" Capt. Sprague and Lieut. Cheever were commissioned together in Baldwin's regiment, which, as you know, was the successor of Gerrish's, but Sprague never appears as a commander. The com- pany was at Valley Forge, and in service during the campaign around New York and New Jersey, and the returns are always signed by Lieut. Cheever as commander, and I think he made the final returns when the company was discharged."
The losses in Gerrish's regiment were three killed and two wounded. June 23, Gerrish's regiment, among seven others, was ordered to encamp on the hill.
At this time Captain Sprague was sixty-three years old and hardly capable of rapid marching, or severe field service. Though he was in command of the company, and as late as October 2, 1775, made a return, which gives the names of the Chelsea men of his company, in the 38th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Baldwin (Coat Rolls, Ivi. 258), Lieutenant Joseph Cheever was in active command. Nor does historic fidelity permit the sup- pression of the fact, that he was complained of by his sergeant for neglect of duty as follows :
To Lieut. Coloni Baldwin, Esq. :
this is to inform you that I Dwo Now Complain of Capt. Samuel Sprague, For not going the Rounds, Last Sabbath Day, Night. if this had Been the First time that he had Neglected his Duty, he would have Been Excused Very Easy, But he Neglects this Part of his Duty a great Part of his time, if you think that he is Excusable, I would Beg your For- giveness For Complaining of him. this from your Friend & Servant,
NATHANIEL HILLS, Serjant.
Chelsea, Novem'br. 21st, 1775. Vol. 59, No. 908, Baldwin's Regt.
But Capt. Sprague's patriotism, courage, and fidelity were too conspicuous to be called in question by his subordinate. Doubt- less, he was an old man: too old for exacting service. Joseph Cheever was born in Chelsea, Dec. 1752, according to the family Bible and his gravestone in Malden. He married, April. 23 (or 20, according to the Bible), 1774, Sarah Low, of Boston, who was born Aug. 24, 1754, and died March 20, 1841, aged 87.
461
APPENDIX
CHAP. XLIII]
The battle was seen from the Naval Hospital Grounds, and by one at least from another town who had "a good perspective glass." And as the British forces chiefly landed at Moulton's Point, directly opposite the present Naval Hospital Grounds, there was no place so favorable for seeing the main movements of both parties. The wind was southwesterly, and cinders from the fire were carried to Chelsea.
In civil and military affairs Capt. Samuel Sprague was a useful and respected citizen. Miss Emily Tewksbury, a descendant, gives ine many of the genealogical facts which follow. Born in Malden, Sept. 27, 1712, of Phineas and Elizabeth (Green) Sprague, Jan. 11, 1737, he married Martha Hills, who died Sept. 13, 1750; and, for his second wife, Rachel, daughter of John Floyd, of Chelsea, who lived on the " Sale Farm," and died Nov. 4, 1775, aged 75.
His children were Martha, b. Oct. 23, 1737 (m. Joseph Green, 1757) ; Elizabeth, b. Jan. 31, 1739 (m. Joseph Pratt, Aug. 4, 1757) ; Mary, b. - (m. Caleb Pratt, May 26, 1762) ; Sarah, b. 1743 (m. James Stowers, Jan. 3, 1765) ; Samuel, died Sept. 4, 1768, aged 23; Lydia, b. May 23, 1748 (m. Jonathan Williams, Sept. 12, 1771) ; Lois, b. July 13, 1750 (m. Isaac Green, Feb. 3, 1772). By second wife, Rachel Floyd, he had Rachel, b. Sept. 19, 1756 (m. Jonathan Hawkes, May 20, 1776).
I have not seen that Capt. Sprague was a member of the Rum- ney Marsh Church, nor do I know when he came to Chelsea. It is said that he lived at Stoneham at one time; but I think this is a mistake for Capt. Samuel Sprague, who represented that town in the Provincial Congresses of 1774-5, when his namesake was rendering not dissimilar services for Chelsea.
March 11, 1761, for £213-6-8, Daniel Tuttle decded to him 321/2 acres in Revere - Suff. Deeds, L. 95, f. 250; and Azor Orne another estate for £433-6-8, April 13, 1782 - Ibid., L. 136, f. 55. He owned lands, chiefly wood lots, in Malden and Lynn. Unless his taxes included those of the Cary farm, of which he may have been tenant, and truly indicate the amount of his prop- erty, he was a " prosperous gentleman "; and his will and inven- tory show the degree of comforts vouchsafed to a well-to-do farmer in those days.
The site of Capt. Sprague's house is not certainly known, but in the opinion of John P. Peirce, Esq., an old citizen of Revere, it was on either the Tuttle, or the Orne estate, which were adja- cent, both having houses on them, and situated on both sides of Revere street, not far easterly of the turnpike. Within ten years since [1897] there was an old house on the Tuttle estate, since burned, which may have been that of Capt. Sprague.
462
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLIII
From the account of the military serviees of Capt. Sprague already given it appears that he was one of the first to take up arms for his country; and his defenec of Boston and the neigh- boring coasts was duly appreciated by the authorities; but his age prevented his following his company into distant fields, and his first lieutenant, Joseph Cheever, was in actual eommand.
His serviees as the representative of his town in various assem- blies have been mentioned, and it only remains to add that his fellow-eitizens frequently indieate their confidenee in his eapacity and eharaeter, by elceting him to various municipal offiees.
Capt. Sprague died April 15, 1783, aged 70, Church records, 71. The same reeords give the burial of " Widow Sprague," as on June 23, 1786; but I find no memorial to her in the Church Yard, by the side of her husband. His will is dated April 1, 1783. The inventory of his estate mentions the Tuttle and Orne estates, and gives " the improvement of my dwelling house " to his wife, so long as she remained his widow, with other suitable provisions for her support. He also provides for the deeent support of his two negroes, " Cesar & Peg, so ealled," during their natural lives. His real estate was inventoried at £765-15- 6
Personal, at 312 - 9 - 4
£1081- 4-10 The will of his unmarried sister Lydia, who died Aug. 13, 1777, aged 69, gives most of her estate to her nieees, daughters and granddaughters of Capt. Sprague.
463
IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
CHAP. XLIV]
CHAPTER XLIV
CHELSEA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Military Forces at Chelsea during the Siege of Boston
THE Continental Army about Boston, when Washington took command, July 3, 1775, as has been said, reached from the Mystic at Medford on the north, to Roxbury on the south, with points for observation near the sea at Dorchester. At Chelsea, by whichi an attack on our left was possible, Wash- ington's line extended nominally to the casterly foot of Mt. Washington, casterly of which were impassable marshes.
This part of our line, neither fortified nor fully occupied, was guarded at points after April 19th; and abont seven hun- dred men were posted in several towns along the coast to pre- vent depredations by the enemy. June 23, Malden requested measures for its defence.1 At the Ten Hills Farm, up the Mystic, was a strong redoubt. Near the present Malden bridge was a floating battery, and several companies were at Chel- sca,2 Malden, and Medford.
April 16, 1776. A petition of Samuel Sprague, praying allow- ance for the service of seventeen men, appointed to keep guard at Pullen Point, from the 19th April to the 16th of May last. Read and committed, with the Roll accompanying, to Capt. Parker, Mr. Ingals, and Deacon Watson.3
It is not now possible to state, with entire precision, when, or by what companies or number of soldiers, Chelsea was
1 Frothingham, 217.
" Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1775. We hear this morning, that yesterday, a number of regulars went out a fishing, among whom was a surgeon, aud y'y came on shore at Chelsea, where the surgeon and one more separated from the rest, and our guards eut off y'r retreat, & took y'ın prisoners. Diary of Rev. Benjamin Boardman, Chaplain of the Second Coun. Regt., 2 Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc., vii. 405.
8 House Journal, 1776, 125.
464
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLIV
occupied between April 19, 1775, and the end of the siege of Boston, March 17, 1776, especially during the early part of this period; but we know in general that to its defence were assigned several companies of Colonel Samuel Gerrish's regi- ment.+ To what has been said of this regiment [ante, p. 453] may be added, that " on the 19th of May, 1775, it was reported complete; but there were difficulties as to six companies, in- vestigated, June 22." " Depositions station, June 16, three companies at Chelsea, three at Cambridge, and two at Sewall's Point." 5 June 13, Captain Samuel Sprague returned the officers and soldiers of his company in this regiment, com- prising forty-one, among whom, of Chelsea, were Ezra Pratt, Thomas Cheever, Edward Wait, William Oliver, Jr., William Oliver, 3d, Abijalı Hastings, John Tuttle, Samuel Hutton Pratt, John Robbins, Joseph Green, Jr., Solomon Shute, and Joshua Cummins, who took the oath, required by Congress to be taken by the Massachusetts soldiers, before a justice of the peace.6
At Chelsea, June 16, 1775, eight captains of Gerrish's regiment chose Loammi Baldwin lieutenant-colonel. [Ante, p. 453.] Four companies were under his command, and. their returns are as of " Baldwin's Regiment." Captain Richard Dodge's are from July 5, 1775, to February, 1776. The ranks varied from sixty-two at the first date, to eighty-four at the last. July 5 they had 1,019 rounds. September 18 they wanted two guns. December 17 his officers were Paul Dodge, 1st lieutenant ; Michael Farley, 2d lieutenant; and Abijah Hastings, ensign.7 Colonel Baldwin was notified, that " Licu- tenant Robert Dodge by applying will receive his discharge. W. Heath." 8
Captain Barnabas Dodge's returns are from July 5, 1775, to March 1, 1776. The ranks varied from seventy at the first
4 " Col. Gerrish's regiment, to furnish companies for Chelsea, Malden, and Medford." Henshaw's Orderly Book, July 22, 1775. Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc., xv. 129. Force's Amer. Arch., reads Prescott's, instead of Gerrish's. Frothingham, 178.
6 Baldwin's Regt., Ivii. file 1, 49.
7 May 19, 1775. Resolved, that commissions, as captains, issue for Richard Dodge, Jacob Gerrish, and William Rogers, to bear date 19th of May. Jour. Prov. Cong., 244.
8 Baldwin's Regt., lix. file 176.
465
CHAP. XLIVI IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
date (with 1,043 rounds), to eighty-seven at the last. Sep- tember 16, 1775, in Colonel Baldwin's regiment were six names belonging to Captain B. Dodge's company.9 Septem- ber 18, 1775, they wanted six guns. Lieutenant Joseph Cheever commanded this company in 1776.19
Captain Samuel Sprague's returns are from July 26 to December 15, 1775. The ranks varied from fifty-eight to sixty-three. July 30 there were four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer; no fifer.11 There is " A Return of non- commissioned Officers and Soldiers, in Capt. Samuel Sprague's Company, who are entitled to receive 40/, advance pay, August 1st, 1775." (Number of men, fifty-six.) The sum to be paid out, £112-0-0; money received of the Province, £90-0-0; remains due to the company, £22-0.12
" Baldwin's Regt., lix. 541.
10 Ibid., Iviii. file 12, No. 3; lix. files 355-1044.
Ibid., lix. 567.
12 Ibid., Iviii. 148. Compare Return of Capt. Samuel Sprague's Com- pany, at Chelsea, Oct., 1775, vol. Ivi., Coat Rolls, 258; vol. ii. And Index to the Rolls for Chelsea Barracks, and other interesting matters treated hereafter.
SPRAGUE'S COMPANY. An exact Account of the Officers and men in the 9th Company in the 37th Regiment, commanded by Lt. Colo. Baldwin, and what wages are due to them, for the month of August, past.
Capt. Samll. Sprague, :
Sergt. Abijah Hastings, : Corp. Wm. Oliver,
Ist Lt. Joseph Cheever, :
Wm. Johnson, : John Pratt.
2 Lt. Wm. Oliver, :
Timothy Bryant,:
Thom's Cheever.
:
Hezekiah King. : Joseph Green,
: Drumer, Napthali Newell .: Fifer. -
Men's Names.
From what time
Men's Names.
the pay is due.
From what time the pay is due.
James Bryant,
Ist Aug't.
Edward Wait,
Ist Aug't.
Henry Blake,
Reuben Wesson,
Jack Bryant,
Oliver Walton,
Joshna Cumings,
Nathan Walton,
Evans Davis,
Samuell Feleh.
Jonas Dickson,
Alexander Shirley, Junr.,
Jonathan Eaton,
James Shirley,
David McElroy,
John Shirley.
Pomp Green, Jack Green,
John Goodwin,
Cato Green,
Jacob Baker.
Samuell Heseltine,
Nathll. Henderson,
John Holden,
John Haverell,
James Hill,
Jolın Harewood,
VOL. II .- 30
Thomas Tuttle,
466
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLIV
Captain William Rogers's returns are from July 28, 1775, to January 11, 1776. The company had fifty-five men. Au- gust 3, 1775, the sick in Colonel Gerrish's regiment at Chelsea were thirteen, including the captain. September 18 he wanted four guns.13
Though the following petition of officers of Gerrish's regi- ment contains none of those at Chelsea, August 10, 1775, their condition was probably the same as that of those who signed it.
Camps at Chelsea, Malden, Medford, and Sewells Point, the 10th Aug., 1775. Your Excellencies' humble petitioners, We, the Subscribers, Officers of the Regiment, Comanded by Colonell Samuell Gerrish,
Ara Hill, Peter Hines,
Nathan Cheever,
Wm. Sampson,
Eleezer Jackson,
Alexander Shirley, Aug't. 2d.
Thomas Low,
Wm. Badger, 15.
Daws Lambert,
James Barber, 15.
Samuell Lynde,
John Farrier, 16.
Eleezer Newell,
Nathlì. Chadwick, 21.
Ezra Pratt,
Wm. Hyler, 22.
Thomas Pratt,
Samll Hutton Pratt, 1 Aug't.
Thomas Rankins,
Nathan Ridgeway,
- Jolın Tuttle,
John Robbins, Soloman Shute, Ebenezer Williams.
Company at Chelsea, the Ist Sept., 1775. Baldwin's Regt., Ivii. file 13, 9. Chelsea Sept 9th 1775 Received of Lieut Colo. L Baldwin One Hun- dred & twenty five Pound, twelve Shillings in full for the pay of Both officers & Privates in Capt Saml. Sprague Company for the month of August being the ninth Company in the 38th Regiment Commanded by the sd Lieut Coll. Loammi Baldwin which I promise to pay to each man Respectively his due - Samll Sprague Capt £125.12.0
Baldwin's Regt., lviii. files 12, 13. Capt. Sprague. The Foot of the Abstract for October,
1775, Octobr. . 135: 12: 0
Novr. 135: 12: 0
Decem. 135: 12: 0
406: 16: 0
The amount of sundry goods, 67: 5:11
339: 10: 1
CHELSEA, Feby 17th, 1776. Received of Colo. L. Baldwin, the Sum of Four Hundred & Six pounds, Sixteen Shillings, in Cash and Goods, being, in full, for the payment of both officers & private soldiers in my Compy., in the 38 Regt., for the months of October, November, & December, 1775. SAMLL. SPRAGUE, Capt.
13 Baldwin's Regt., lix. files 215-497.
467
CHAP. XLIV] IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Esqr. : formerly in the Massachusetts Colony Service, now in the Continental, humbly beg Leave to inform your Excellency, that the most, and even more than 2 thirds of us, have been here in actual Service, since the Beginning of the Campaign, and been to a vast Deal of Expense, and not receiv'd one farthing of our pay; we therefore humbly petition your Excellency would make just provision, that we might at least receive some part of our pay, it being impossible for us, - some being at a great Distance from home, - to subsist withont it; relying on your Excellency's kind Compliance, we think it an honour to subscribe ourselves,
Your Excellency's Most humble, and most obedient Servants,
To his Excellency, George Washington, Esqr : Comander in Chief of the American Army
Thomas Mighill, Capt. T. Baker, Jr., Capt. Thos. Pike, Lieut.
Tho. Cumming, Lieut. Mark Cresey, Lieut.
Caleb Robinson, Lieut.
Mica (?) Hoit, Lient. Jonas Johnson, Lient., all at Sewel's point.14
There are memoranda of Captain Ezra Badlam's company at Chelsea, February 29-March 1, 1776.15
Colonel Baldwin's returns of " Chelsea Guard," July 21, 1775-February 2, 1776, are in vol. lix., pp. 323-1015. There were four companies, aggregating from 244 to 285 men. November, 1775, he returned 600, of whom 249 were at Chel- sea. 16 Chelsea, February 5, 1776, receipts for the pay of non-commissioned officers and soldiers were signed by captains Barnabas and Richard Dodge, John Wood, and Ezra Badlam.17
In the autumn of 1775 enlistment papers of the following tenor were circulated in Chelsea:
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being determined to serve and defend our Country and its Liberties, have this day voluntarily inlisted as soldiers in the Continental Army for one year from the last day of December next, unless sooner dis- charged; and do bind ourselves to conform, in all instances, to such Rules and Regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the
" Baldwin's Regt., Iviii. 156. 16 Ibid., 370.
15 Ibid., lix. 1012.
" Ibid., Iviii. file 17, No. 14.
468
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
ICHAP. XLIV
Government of the said Army. Witness our Hands, Chelsea, October the -, Annoq. Dom., 1775.18
November 24, 1775, Abijah Hastings, Ensign, returned names of 16, who " inlisted, to serve in the Continental Army, in Colo. Baldwin's Regiment, the ensuing Campaign "; De- cember 5, he returned five men to serve one year from date, - John Tuttle and John Robbins were of Chelsea; December 8, he returned 15 names of men to serve for one year, - of whom, John Goodin, 46, Henry Blake, 26, Samuel Haseltine, 30, and Joshua Cumins, 19, were of Chelsea.19
January, 1776, 14 men, of whom, Hezekiah King (ser- geant), Joseph Green (corporal), William Oliver (corporal), Nathan Cheever, Thomas Pratt, Joshua Cumings, and Sol- omon Shute, were of Chelsea, agreed to " Tarry the month of January, 1776," in Captain Samuel Sprague's company.20
December 7, 1775, Colonel Baldwin asks of General Heath leave of absence for a few days to attend to the affairs of his regiment. He had made three attempts to leave, and thus far effected nothing, by reason of the movements of the enemy; whereby it beeame necessary to return to his post at Chelsea.21
Military Stations and Barracks at Chelsea
The points where troops were stationed, or barraeked, at Chelsea, in 1775-1776, are with few exceptions mainly tradi- tional. April 16, 1776, Captain Samuel Sprague asked the General Court for an allowance for "17 men, appointed to keep guard at Pullen Point." 22
A signal station on Powder Horn Hill observed and eom- munieated to one on Winter Hill, Somerville, the movements of the British in Boston Harbor.
18 Pratt MSS.
10 Baldwin's Regt., Iviii. file 1, No. 39. Ibid., 32.
20 Ibid., 70.
21 Ibid., 100; see Heath Papers, i. 48 (Mass. Hist. Soc.) ; and Essex Inst. Coll., iii. 133, 134, 135, 138.
22 House Jour., 1776, 125. 5 Mass. Hist. Coll., iv. 303. "They are throwing up works at Point Shirley, to guard the passage of the harbour that way." John Winthrop to John Adams, May 23, 1776. See ante 444 for the list of those who kept guard at Pullen Point from April 19th to their discharge, May 16, 1775.
1
469
CHAP. XLIV] IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
The chief point guarded was the landing at Chelsea ferry, where the pier of the Naval Hospital now is. Two houses there, owned by JJonathan Green, were used as barracks. A barrack was built near the Poor Honse estate, northerly of Washington Park (near the site now marked by a slab duly inscribed ).23
It is also quite certain that the Cary mansion, now stand- ing, though much changed, in 1892, and it is probable that the Carter house, since burned, but then on the site of the late Levi Slade's mansion, northeasterly from the meeting of Wash- ington Avenue and Carter Street, were used as barracks.24
3 May 21, 1781, the town voted Daniel Pratt, 12 Spanish mill'd dol- lars, for the use of the barracks and garden, for Abijah Lewis to live in -- to be paid in Exchange, at the time of payment. Dee. 30, 1782, the selectmen gave him an order for £4, 19, for the use of the barracks, ete. Feb. 25, 1789, same paid same, £5-0-5-1, for the use of the barracks, from Dec. 4, 1786, to April 26, 1788. The tradition is that the timber of these barracks was used for a house lately burned on the Cook estate, near the avenue leading to Woodlawn gate.
24 See Appendix.
470
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
[CHAP. XLIV
APPENDIX
THE following paper, not dated, evidently late in 1775, recites facts in regard to military movements of the patriots about Bos- ton, nowhere else so clearly stated, and shows the difficulty of pro- viding barracks for the soldiers at Chelsea.
" A brief acct. of the provincial Troops, being stationed in Chel- sea, and present accommodations for them for winter Quarters, &e. " The exposed situation of the Town induced the Comittee of Safety, in May, last, to give orders for a Company, to be raised, to keep a guard, which was accordingly raised, under Capt. Sprague. - Sometime after, General Ward sent a detachment to remove the stocks from some adjacent Islands, which brought on Several Skirmishes, which both distressed and endangered the Town of Chelsea, upon which General Ward and Dr. Warren, upon viewing the situation of things, and judgg it of importance to defend the Post, Ordered, a Detachment of three Companies, besides Capt. Sprague's, to be stationed at Chelsea, which remain there .- The Inhabitants of Chelsea are ready to do beyond their abilities, in their present impoverished Circumstances, to accom- odate sd. Companies in Winter Quarters, but are utterly unable to provide for them, unless something of the barrack kind sh'd be erected, for 70 or 80 men .- Considers the importance of the Post for Observation, and otherways, the selectmen of sd. Chelsea, have waited upon Coll. Baldwin, and beged he would represent the state of facts to his Excellency Genl. Washington, and pray that he would direct a build'g for 70 or 80 men, the town providg. for the rest, that the present party under Coll. Baldwin, may be accom- odated for winter, &e.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.