USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts > Part 10
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 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
His earliest Revolutionary experience with Cambridge appears to have been on the night of the eighteenth of April, 1775, when as a member of the different committees of safety and supplies in session at Wetherby's tavern, in what was later West Cambridge or now is Arlington, he, with two others of the members, Orne and Lee, remained to pass the night. As the British in perfect stillness, passed the tavern where he was lodging, on their mid- night march to Concord, Gerry, Orne and Lee rose from their beds to gaze on the unwonted spectacle ; the three were discovered by the British, and when a party of the latter was de- tached to surround the tavern, and make pris- oners of the distinguished inmates, the three members of the committee of safety hastily escaped to an adjoining field.
As early as 1775 Gerry was actively interested in fitting out a provincial naval armament and by November 13, a law was passed by the assembly of Massachusetts-and draughted by Gerry-which authorized the employment of privateers and established a court for the trial and condemnation of prizes. He was then a resident of Marblehead, and was emphatically at the bottom of this movement.
He was a great political organizer. It was he who after the New England colonies had
borne the contest for several months, almost alone, sought to reconcile the conflicting jeal- ousies of the north and the south, and to aid Washington to supplant local jealousy by a union of spirit. His letters show this. In one of them he says (under date of October 9, 1775), "Let it be remembered that the first attack was made on this colony ; that we had to keep a regular force without the advantage of a regular government : that we had to support in the field from 12,000 to 14,000 men, when the whole forces voted by the other New Eng- land governments amounted to 8,500 only."
In political ability Gerry was classed with such men as Washington, Hamilton, Franklin, Morris, and others, and he was a delegate from Massachusetts, with others, in 1787, to the convention at Philadelphia on the adoption of the Federal constitution. By the adoption of the constitution of the United States, the citizens of Massachusetts, as well as of the rest of the Union, were divided into two par- ties, known at that time as federalists and anti-federalists. The former were the friends of the new constitution, and Gerry's sympa- thies were with the latter. The federalists were inclined to the establishment of a privi- leged order, while the anti-federalists were more republican in their tendencies; or, in other words, more democratic, or nearer to the lower class of the people.
He was a commissioner to the court of France in 1797. He was appointed by Presi- dent Adams, a federalist, contrary to the opin- ion of a portion of his cabinet, because Gerry was a gentleman distinguished throughout the country for his intellectual ability, even though he was attached to the opposition, or, as it was then called, the republican party. His asso- ciates on this mission were Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, the head of the federal party, and John Marshall, of Virginia, the later biogra- pher of Washington.
In May, 1800, he was the candidate of the republican party for governor of Massachu- setts, and the people had confidence in his in- tegrity, and gave him a large vote, but not enough to elect him. In May, 1810, he was elected, and the democratic party was trium- phant in the state. It was considered a critical period. In public Governor Gerry approved the course of the national administration, which was republican or democratic, and con- fined his favors to such as were its supporters. For this he received several threats of assassi- nation from anonymous correspondents. He was reflected upon severely in the federal press,
49
BOSTON AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
and he made an attempt to declare them libel- lous. In the midst of this excitement a new election occurred and Caleb Strong was elected governor. Both parties were active, but his friends could not overcome the prejudices against Gerry. It is said that his conduct in districting the State for the election of sen- ators had some influence in defeating him. From the peculiar manner in which he did this, was acquired the term "Gerrymandering;" a term now familiar to all who have dealings with that particular way of engineering elec- tions to the advantage of the party in power. A defence of his policy in this respect was published at the. time, to the effect that the constitution did not restrict to county lines in forming districts. His last districting was con- formable to the rule of taxes. Previous legis- latures had districted the State regardless of counties, as Gerry had done, etc. A conven- tion was called at this time which approved of the governor's course. Finally, he was elected to the vice-presidency, as the candidate of his party.
As an example of his style of writing, the following extract is given from one of Mr. Gerry's letters. The subject is the British evacuation of Boston in March, 1776. He writes on March 26. "What an occurrence is this to be known in Europe! How are parlia- mentary pretensions to be reconciled? Eight or ten thousand British troops, it has been said. are sufficient to overrun America ; and yet that number of their veterans, posted in Boston ( a peninsula fortified by nature, defended by works the product of two years' industry, sur- rounded by navigable waters, supported by ships of war, and commanded by their best generals), are driven off by about one-thir- tieth of the power of America. Surely the invincible veterans labored under some great disadvantage from want of provisions or mili- tary stores, which the Americans were amply provided with. Directly the reverse. They had provisions enough : ammunition, muskets and accoutrements, for every man, and a piece of ordnance for every fifteen : while the Amer- icans were almost destitute of all these. and after twelve months' collection had only a sufficiency of powder to tune their cannon for six or eight days. I am at a loss to know how Great Britain will reconcile all this to her military glory."
As thus ably predicted by this keen observer, the news did excite great astonishment in Eng- land, and the reigning ministry were deeply mortified.
ANCESTRY .-- Captain Thomas Gerry (1), of Newton Bushel, Great Britain, born at New- ton Abbot, Devonshire, England, March 15, 1702. died at Marblehead, Massachusetts, July 13, 1774, aged seventy-two years four months ; married first, December 16, 1734, Elizabeth Greenleaf, born at Marblehead. June 1, 1716, died there, September 2, 1771. aged fifty-five years, daughter of Enoch and Rebecca ( Rus- sell) Greenleaf : married second, May 6, 1773. Mrs. Elizabeth Lemmon, presumably widow of Dr. Joseph Lemmon, of Marblehead, who died in 1772. Thomas Gerry came to America in 1730 as captain of a trading vessel from London. After marriage he relinquished the sea and became a merchant at Marblehead. His father was Daniel Gerry of Newton Abbot, Devonshire, England, who married a wife named Lydia, by whom he had three children -Daniel and John who remained in England, and the above Thomas, who emigrated to America. Children: 1. Thomas, born Septem- ber 19. 1735: married September 27. 1759. Tabitha Skinner. 2. Samuel, born July 3. 1737, died August 26, 1738. 3. Elizabeth, born May 24. 1740. died September 3, 1740. 4. John, born October 8, 1741, buried January 12. 1786 ; married November 8, 1763. Sarah Wen- dell, who married second. June 18. 1786, John Fisk. Esq., of Salem. 5. Elbridge, born July 17. 1744. see forward. 6. Samuel, born May 30. 1746, died May 14, 1750. 7. Elizabeth, born May 17. 1748, married April 22, 1775. Burrell Devereux. 8. Samuel Russell, born July 27. 1750, died February I, or 22. 1807. aged fifty-six years; married first, July 22. 1773. Hannah Glover, who died May 30, 1785 ; married second. July 31. 1783, Sarah Thomp- son, who died his widow, July 22, 1830, aged seventy years. 9. Daniel. born February 4, 1754. died May 29, 1754. 10. Daniel, born June 22. 1758, died May 17. 1759.
(II) Hon. Elbridge Gerry, son of Captain Thomas Gerry ( 1), born at Marblehead, Mass- achusetts. July 17. 1744, died at Washington, District of Columbia, November 23, 1814: married Ann Thompson, daughter of James Thompson, of New York, who died his widow, at New Haven, Connecticut, March 17, 1849, aged eighty-five years. He was survived, be- sides his widow, by three sons and six daugh- ters. One daughter, Catherine, married, Octo- ber 2, 1806, James Trecothick Austin, Esq., of Cambridge ; her husband was a graduate of Harvard College, 1802, received the degree of LI .. D., and was attorney-general of Massachu- setts. The eldest son. Elbridge Gerry, (H. C.
i -- 4
50
BOSTON AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
1813) died in New York, May 18, 1867; he was at one period surveyor of the port of Bos- ton. Thomas Russell Gerry, another son, (H. C. 1814) born in Cambridge, December 8, 1794, died at New Rochelle, New York, Octo- ber 6, 1845; midshipman in United States Navy, appointed December 6, 1814, and re- signed August 27, 1833. James T. Gerry, an- other son, was appointed midshipman, U. S. N., December 20, 1815, lieutenant, April 28, 1826, commander, April 17, 1842, and was lost on the "Albany," September 28, 1854.
The name of Elbridge Gerry was obtained
from a relative in this way. His great-grand- mother, Elizabeth Elbridge, married Samuel Russell, who was born in 1645, she being born June 19, 1653. This Rebecca Russell married Enoch Greenleaf, and their daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Gerry. The Elbridge family belonged in Bristol, England, where an uncle, John Elbridge, a merchant of that place, died and left them a large property, and in memory of this family Elbridge Gerry derived his name. (See N. E. H. & G. Register, vol. 12, p. 112, further ).
Genealogical and Personal Memoirs.
WINTHROP The name of Winthrop,- that of the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Com- pany at their emigration to New England,- may be traced back in various spellings for at least six centuries and a half. The family can be traced to various places in the mother coun- try, and latterly there to Groton in Suffolk, "where they lived many years." In a volume by the late Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, entitled "Life and Letters of John Winthrop," the line of descent is there corrected, and begins with a man called the second Adam Winthrop, born October 9. 1498, died November 9. 1562, (eldest son of Adam and Joane (or Jane ) Burton, married November 16, 1527. Alice Henry, or Henny. Children: 1. Thomas, born November 8, 1528, died April, 1529. 2. Wil- liam, born November 12, 1529, died March I. 1581, at London : had wife Elizabeth, died June 2. 1578, and six children: Jonathan, Adam, William. Joshua, Elizabeth, and Sarah. 3. Bridget, born January 1, 1530, died January. 1536. 4. Christopher, born January 4. 1531. died aged nine months. 5. Thomas (2d), born June. 1533, died 1537. Adam Winthrop was married (second) in 1534 to Agnes Sharpe. daughter of Robert Sharpe, of Islington, she eighteen, and he thirty-six. Children: 6. Alice, born November 15, 1539. died November 8. 1607, married Sir Thomas Mildmay, and had six sons. 7. Bridget, born May 3. 1543, died November 4. 1614, married Roger Alabaster. and had four sons and one daughter: one of the sons was a celebrated poet. 8. Mary, born March 1, 1544, married Abraham Veysie. 9 and 10. John and Adam, twins, born January 20. 1546; Adam died in six months and John died in Ireland, July 26, 1613. having married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Risby, of Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk county. II. Adam (2) born August 10, 1548: see beyond. 12. Catharine, born May 17, 1550, married and had children .* 13. Susanna, born December 10, 1552, died August 9, 1604. married D. Cottie (Dr. John Cotta ?) and had children. The widow of the father Adam Winthrop married William Mild- may. She died May 13, 1565.
*This last item is challenged by Robert C. Win- throp.
(11) Adam Winthrop (3d) son of Adam ( 2d): born in London, August 10, 1548, died March 29. 1623: married first, December 16, 1574. Alice Still, daughter of William of Grantham, Lincolnshire ; she and her first born child died December 24, 1577, and he married ( second) February 20, 1579. Anne, daughter of Henry Browne, of Edwardston ; her moth- er's name was Agnes. Adam Winthrop (3d) was a man of good education and high social standing, lord and patron of the manor of Groton. Children by second wife: 1. Anne, born January 5. 1580-1, died January 20. 1580-1. 2. Anne. born January 16, 1585-6, died May 16. 1618; married February 25. 1604-5. Thomas Fones. 3. John, born January 12. 1587. the governor of Massachusetts: see forward. 4. Jane. baptized June 17. 1592 ; married January 5, 1612, Thomas Gostling. 5. Lucy, born January 9, 1600-1, married April 10, 1622, Emanuel Downing.
( 111) John Winthrop, governor of Massa- chusetts, son of Adam (2), born in Edwards- ton, a little village in Suffolk county, England, immediately adjoining Groton, January 12, 1587, died in Boston, New England, March 26, 1649, nineteen years after his embarkation on March 22, 1629-30, in that harbor. For details regarding his early life the reader is referred to the admirable work on that subject by his descendant, Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, already named, and to the various standard histories of Massachusetts and New England for the latter part. He married first, April 16, 1605, Mary, born January 1, 1583, died June 26. 1615. daughter and sole heir of John Forth, Esq .. of Great Stambridge, in the county of Essex. and Thomasine, only child of - Hilles, in the county of Essex. Her own immediate family was a wealthy one. Sixteen children : I. John, the eldest, born in Groton, England, February 12, 1606, died in Boston, April 5, 1676, known to history as John Winthrop, the governor of Connecticut. 2. Henry, born (bap- tized January 20) 1607; drowned at Salem. Massachusetts. July 2, 1630. aged twenty-two years, the next day after his landing in Amer- ica. (See his father's journal) He was some- what adventurous, had been in the Barbadoes. was married. April 25, 1629, to his cousin Eliz-
(51)
52
BOSTON AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
abeth Fones; had daughter Martha, baptized at Groton, England, May 9, 1630. He was left behind in his father's first voyage, but arrived safely on a later one. He was drowned in a small creek. His widow came to New Eng- land afterwards and married Robert Feake. 3. Forth, born December 30, 1609, died (buried at Groton, England, November 23) 1630; was educated in the universities, and was betrothed to Ursula Sherman. 4 and 5. Daughters named Anne, baptized 1614-1615, who died in their earliest infancy. 6. Mary, eldest of the first three daughters, came to America, and mar- ried, about 1632, Rev. Samuel Dudley, son of Governor Thomas Dudley, and died April 12. 1643, having had four children, two of whom survived her. Governor Winthrop married second, December 6, 1615, Thomasine Clopton, died December 8, 1616, daughter of William Clopton, Esq. Child: 7. Daughter, born No- vember, 1616, died 1616, two days old. Gov- ernor Winthrop married third, April 29, 1618, Margaret Tyndal, died in Boston, June 14, 1647, daughter of Sir John Tyndal, knight. Her mother was Anne Egerton, widow of William Deane, Esq. Children: 8. Stephen, born March 24, 1618, came with his father to America, was recorder of Boston, member of Parliament for Scotland under Cromwell, and colonel of a regiment in the civil wars of Eng- land ; was married and left posterity. 9. Adam, born April 7, 1620; see forward. 10. Deane, baptized March 23, 1622, died at Pullen Point (now Winthrop), March 16, 1704; married first Sarah, daughter of Jose Glover ; and left a widow, Martha, and children. 11. Nathaniel, baptized February 20, 1625, probably died young. 12. Samuel, baptized August 26, 1627, married in Holland, had estate in Antigua, where he held the office of deputy governor, and died there about 1677. 13. Anne, baptized April 29, 1630, died on her passage with her mother to New England, when aged about a year and a half. 14. William, born at Boston, August 14, 1632, probably died soon. 15. Sarah, baptized June 29, 1634, probably died SOOn. Governor Winthrop married fourth, December 4, 1647, Martha, daughter of Cap- tain William Rainsborough, and widow of Captain Thomas Coytmore, of Charlestown, and sister of Increase Nowell. After the death of Winthrop she married, March 16, 1652, John Coggan. Child by Winthrop: 16. Joshua, born December 12, 1648, died January 11, 1651.
(IV) Adam Winthrop, son of John (3). born in Groton, England, April 7, 1620, died in Boston. suddenly it is inferred, August 24,
1652, thirty-two years and four months old ; came to New England in 1631. Adam's Chair, a rock in Waltham, Massachusetts, was named for him ( 1631) ; married first, about 1642, Elizabeth, died September, 1648, daughter of Joss or Jose Glover ; married second Elizabeth, (laughter of Thomas Hawkins. Children: I. Adam, born October 15, 1647; see forward. He was his parents' only child in 1652, and the only one, unless there was a daughter Mary, who died near the same time with her mother, September, 1648. The widow of Adam (4), married May 3, 1654, John Richards; no chil- dren by either husband.
(V) Adam Winthrop, son of Adam (4), born in Boston, October 15, 1647, died August 3. 1700, aged fifty-two; will dated July 29, proved September 5, 1700. He was graduated at Harvard College, 1668 (Sibley's "Gradu- ates," II. 247 ), was for some time a merchant at Bristol, England, and married there, Mary, daughter of Colonel Luttrell, and there his children were born, one of whom was Adam, see beyond. llis daughter Mary married, March 9, 1703. John Ballentine. The father was an orphan, about five years old in 1652. He returned with his family to Boston in 1679. He was captain of a military company in Bos- ton in 1689 ; representative 1689-1692 ; named as one of the governor's council, but left out in the first popular election, May, 1693. No time of marriage or births of his children or bap- tism of them is found here, as his marriage was in England, and there the children were born. Mary, his widow, married March 13, 1706, as the third wife of Joseph Lynde, of Charles- town. Her death occurred October 30, 1715.
(VI) Adam Winthrop, son of Adam (5). graduated Harvard College, 1694, and died October 2, 1743 ; married Anna He
was of the council of the province. Children : 1. Adam, born August 12, 1706, died Decem- ber 12, 1744: Harvard College 1724; merchant of Boston, and lived in Brattle street. He was also clerk of the judicial courts. Married Mary, daughter of Hugh Hall, Esq., of Boston. 2. John. Harvard College, 1732 ; see beyond.
(VII) John Winthrop, son of Adam (6). born in Boston, December 19, 1714, died in Cambridge, May 3. 1779; married first, Re- becca , died August 22, 1753, aged twenty-nine, daughter of James Townsend, of Boston : married second, published March 25, 1756, Hannah, died May 6, 1790, widow of Tolman of Boston, and daughter of Thomas and Sarah Fayerweather. Children : 1. John, born September 17, 1747, graduated
53
BOSTON AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
-So: wmthop
54
BOSTON AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
Harvard College. 1765, lived in Boston, a mer- chant ; married Sarah Phillips, and died in 1800, leaving posterity-John, Harvard Col- lege. 1796, and Adam, Harvard College, 1800. 2. Adam, born November 27, 1748, died Feb- ruary 11, 1774, aged twenty-five, graduated Harvard College, 1767; left home contrary to the desire of his father, became a shipmaster in Governor Hancock's employment, and in the Downs was knocked overboard and lost. He "was unfortunately knocked overboard by the boom of his vessel on his passage from hence to London, and was drowned," February II, 1774 (Boston News Letter). 3. Samuel, born July 20, 1750, died July 28. 1751. 4. James, "a man of much curious erudition." born March 28, 1752, graduated Harvard Col- lege 1769, LL. D. Allegheny College 1817 ; postmaster 1775 (i. e. with headquarters at Cambridge, Boston being invested by the American troops), register of probate from September 6, 1775, until 1817; for several years judge of court of common pleas ; libra- rian of Harvard College, 1772-1787 ; one of the founders of the Massachusetts Historical Society ; resided in Cambridge, and died un- married September 26, 1821., A characteristic letter written him in 1775 is published by Paige, "History Cambridge," p. 700, note. 5. William, "the last survivor," born April 19. 1753, graduate Harvard College 1770; town clerk 1782-1788: selectman ten years between 1786 and 1802; senator in 1799; a gentleman farmer, residing in Cambridge, and died un- married, February 5, 1825. The father of this intelligent family was a man of great distinc- tion in his day. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1738, appointed Hollis professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in 1738. He was in 1771, as already stated elsewhere in this work, the preceptor of Count Rumford and Colonel Loammi Baldwin of Woburn. He was elected Hollis professor of mathe- matics and natural and experimental philos- ophy August 30, 1738. He was then a resident of Boston, and his inauguration with appro- priate ceremonies occurred January 2, 1738-9. He declined the office of president of the col- lege in 1769. His age and "bodily infirmities" were urged as objections against him. It was a time when the office went begging. The choice was made of Samuel Locke, a clergy- man of a small parish about twenty miles from Cambridge, against whom was made the still greater objection of "a want of knowledge of the world. having lived in retirement, and per- haps not a general acquaintance with books."
In 1774, after the resignation of Locke, Win- throp was again chosen president and declined. President Quincy* says of him, "The literary and scientific attainments of John Winthrop acquired celebrity in his own country and in Europe, and entitled him to be regarded as one of the brightest ornaments of Harvard College. The zeal, activity and talent with which he applied himself to the advance- ments of the sciences justified the expectations which his early promise raised." As a lecturer he was skilful and attractive, and during forty years he fulfilled the duties of the professor's chair to universal acceptance." His labors were both practical and scientific. He trans- mitted in December, 1740, to the Royal Society of London, "observations of the transit of Mercury over the Sun." These observations were published both in London and honorably noticed in Paris. He gave a lecture on the earthquake of November 18, 1755, in which he deliberately set out to calm the apprehen- sions which the superstitions of the age had excited, with actual fear, throughout the terri- tory of New England, where the quake had been experienced. He explained his theory of the phenomenon of earthquakes with originality, research, and intellectual power, and advanced the consolatory fact that though earthquakes had occasionally occurred in New England from its first settlement by the Eng- lish, not a single life had ever been lost nor any great damage been done by them. He supported the theories of Benjamin Franklin concerning lightning, and protection from it by the use of "iron points." Even in this he met with opposition, even from the ignorance of natural laws on the part of clergymen and the superstitions of that age. One thought, and published the fact, that the "iron points" on the buildings in New England drew the lightning from the clouds and caused the earth- quake of 1755. Professor Winthrop, in reply, proceeded to show that earthquakes could not be accounted for in that way. As late as 1770 there were religious people who were opposed to lightning rods (in intelligent New Eng- land!) on the ground that "thunder and light- ning" were tokens of Divine displeasure, and that it was impious to prevent them from do- ing their "full execution." Professor Win-
throp again appeared in their defense with a publication which showed that "Divine Provi- dence" governed the world by "stated general laws." and showed in conclusion that it was as
*"History of Harvard University," II. 217.
55
BOSTON AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
much "our duty to secure ourselves against the effects of lightning, as from those of rain, snow, or wind, by the means God has put into our hands." On the appearance of a remark- able comet in 1759. he again came to the front with lectures in which he explained the true nature and motions of comets, according to the latest discoveries of the times.
He transmitted to the Royal Society ac- counts of whirlwinds and other natural phe- nomena which he observed in this section. And so it was in many other scientific observations, transits of Venus and others, of which the record, however creditable to him, is too long to mention in the present work. It is said that his active, vigorous and comprehensive mind embraced within its sphere various and extensive knowledge, and that he was better entitled to the character of a universal scholar. than any individual of his time, in this coun- try. lle was well versed in ancient and mod- ern languages, and President Quincy con- cludes that he was one of the greatest mathe- maticians and philosophers America had then produced.
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.