Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 624

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1738-9. He declined the office of president of the college in 1769. His age and "bodily in- firmities" were urged as objections against him. It was a time when the office went beg- ging. The choice was made of Samuel Locke, a clergyman 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 re- tirement, and perhaps not a general acquaint- ance with books." In 1774, after the resigna- tion of Locke, Winthrop was again chosen president and declined. President Quincy* says of him, "The literary and scientific at- tainments of John Winthrop acquired celeb- rity 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 advancements 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 transmitted in December, 1740, to the Royal Society of London, "observations of the transit of Mer- cury 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 ignor- ance 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 earthquake of 1755. Professor Winthrop, in reply, proceeded to show that earthquakes could not be accounted for in that way. As

*"History of Harvard University," II. 217.

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late as 1770 there were religious people who were opposed to lightning rods (in intelligent New England !) on the ground that "thunder and lightning" were tokens of Divine dis- pleasure, and that it was impious to prevent them from doing their "full execution." Pro- fessor Winthrop again appeared in their de- fense with a publication which showed that "Divine Providence" governed the world by "stated general laws," and showed in conclu- sion that it was as 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 remarkable 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. He 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.

He was chosen a member of the council of the province in 1773, but negatived by a royal mandate. In 1774 he was a delegate to the provincial congress. In 1775 he was restored to the seat in the council, and also appointed judge of probate. The latter office he held until his death, May 3, 1779, at the age of sixty-five.

(ANCESTRY BY ARTHUR G. LORING.)

(I) Thomas Brooks, of Con-

BROOKS cord, Massachusetts, died there May 21, 1667; his wife Grace, whose surname is unknown, died May 12, 1664. He first settled in Watertown, as early as 1636, and removed very soon to Concord, where he was constable in 1638; representa- tive 1642-1644, 1654, 1659-1662. He is called captain, and if so, probably of the military company at Concord. In 1660, with his son-

in-law, Captain Timothy Wheeler, he pur- chased of Edward Collins four hundred acres of land in Medford, it being a portion of the Cradock farm. Children: I. Joshua, married October 17, 1653, Hannah Mason of Water- town. 2. Caleb, see forward. 3. Gershom, married March 12, 1667, Hannah Eckles, of Cambridge. 4. Mary, married Captain Timo- thy Wheeler, of Concord; she died his widow, October 4, 1693.

(II) Caleb Brooks, son of Captain Thomas Brooks (I), died at Medford, July 29, 1696, aged sixty-four years ; married first, April IO, 1660, Susanna Atkinson, born April 28, 1641, daughter of Thomas Atkinson, of Concord; she died at Concord January 19, 1669, and he married (second) her sister. Han- nah Atkinson, born March 5, 1643, died at Medford, March IO,

I709. He moved from Concord to Medford in 1680, and oc- cupied most of the land purchased by his father. Children by his first wife: I. Susan, born December 27, 1661, died at Medford, December 23, 1686. 2. Mary, born Novem- ber 18, 1663, died young. 3. Mary, born April 3, 1666, married April 19, 1688, Na- thaniel Ball of Concord. 4. Rebecca, born November 9, 1667. 5. Sarah, born December 16, 1668, married October 18, 1705, Philip Russell, of Cambridge. Children by second wife: 6. Ebenezer, born February 24, 1670-I, see forward. 7. Samuel, born September I, 1672, married Sarah Boylston of Brookline.

(III) Captain Ebenezer Brooks, son of Caleb Brooks (2), born at Concord, Febru- ary 24, 1670-I, died at Medford, February II, 1742-3, in seventy-third year (gravestone) ; married, 1693, Abigail Boylston, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Mary (Gardner) Boylston, of Brookline; she died May 23, 1756, in . eighty-second year (gravestone). He in -. herited his father's house and homestead. Children : I. Caleb, born July 8, 1694, see forward. 2. Ebenezer, born March 23, 1697- 8, married June 20, 1737, Hannah Gibson, of Boston. 3. Abigail, born October 6, 1699; married October 27, 1720, Thomas Oakes, of Medford. 4. Hannah, born April 15, 1701, married (intention dated November 8, 1721) Nathaniel Cheever, of Boston. 5. Mary, born January 19, 1703-4, died September 3, 1704. 6. Thomas, born April 28, 1705, died Novem- ber 14, 1784, aged eighty years. 7. Rebecca, born July 24, 1706, married December 2, 1725. Samuel Pratt, of Boston. 8. Samuel, born February 8, 1709-10, married April 2, 1747, Abigail Hastings, of Waltham.

(IV) Captain Caleb Brooks, son of Captain

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Ebenezer Brooks (3), born at Medford, July 8, 1694, died there November 21, 1766, seventy-third year (gravestone) ; married first, March 30, 1730-1, Mary Winn, born July 3, 1711, died January I, 1745, aged thirty-four years and six months (grave- stone), daughter of Increase and Mary Winn, of Woburn; married second, March I, 1749- 50, Ruth Albree, born May 17, 1718, died May 6, 1793, aged seventy-four years (grave- stone), daughter of John and Elizabeth (Green) Albree, of Medford. He occupied the estate now in Winchester known as the Le Bosquet place, at present Symmes Corner, at that time within the limits of Medford. This estate was purchased in 1715 by his father, Captain Ebenezer Brooks, of William Symmes, and after his death passed to his son, Captain Caleb Brooks, and at his death to his son, Ebenezer Brooks, whose daughter Mary mar- ried Captain John Le Bosquet, who bought out other heirs and died in April, 1844. Mrs. Le Bosquet had all of his personal property and the use of his real estate during her life- time. She died in September, 1847, and was succeeded by Captain Lebbeus Leach, whose wife was one of the heirs. He sold to Hon. Frederick O. Prince, who conveyed the house and a part of the land to Marshall Symmes in 1865. In 1881 Mr. Symmes removed the old house to the rear of his barn, and built a new house on the site of the old one. Children by first wife Mary (Winn) : I. Mary, born at Charlestown, December 20, 1731, married April 4, 1752, Daniel Pratt, of Chelsea. 2. Abigail, born July 17, 1733, married Novem- ber 24, 1757, Joseph Hall, of Medford. 3. Ebenezer, born April 22, 1735, married De- cember 28, 1758, Susanna Thompson, of Med- ford. 4. Caleb, baptized at Medford, Septem- ber 5, 1736, died young. 5. Caleb, baptized October 5, 1737, died young. 6. Rebecca, baptized July 1, 1739, married November 6, 1766, Samuel Hall, of Medford. 7. Ruth, baptized August 2, 174I, married November 20, 1760, Joseph Seccomb, of Medford. 8. Sarah, baptized November 28, 1742, married John Le Bosquet. 9. Caleb, baptized Sep- tember 9, 1744, married January 1, 1767, Mary Kidder, of Medford. 10. Increase, bap- tized December 22, 1745. Children by second wife, Ruth (Albree) : II. Theodore, baptized January 5, 1751. 12. John, baptized May 4, 1752, see forward. 13. Joseph, baptized Feb- ruary 24, 1754, died May 11, 1756. 14. Eliza- beth, born June 20, 1757, married December 31, 1776, Rev. Jacob Burnap, of Merrimack, New Hampshire. 15. Hannah, born Febru-

ary 12, 1760, married October 21, 1794, Fran- cis Burns, of Medford.

(V) Governor John Brooks, son of Cap- tain Caleb Brooks (4), born at Medford, bap- tized there May 4, 1752, died at Medford, March I, 1825, aged seventy-three years, mar- ried Lucy Smith, died at Medford, September 26, 1791, aged thirty-eight years. Children : I. Lucy, born at Reading, June 16, 1775, mar- ried at Medford, October 2, 1803, George O'Kill Stuart, of Kingston, Canada; had a son George O'Kill Stuart, who was a mayor of Quebec, Canada. 2. A child died at Med- ford, October 1778. 3. Alexander Scammell, born at Medford, October 19, 1781, killed by a steamboat explosion at St. John's bar, coast of Florida, December 19, 1836; married May 28, 1817, Sarah Turner, of Boston; he ob- tained a commission in the army, first lieuten- ant of artillery, 1808; captain in third artil- lery, 1812; brevet major for gallantry at Plattsburg, 1814; major third artillery, 1832; lieutenant-colonel fourth artillery, 1835. (For a further account see Brooks's "History of Medford," pp. 198-200) ; children: I. Lucy, born at Medford, March 25, 1818, married May 30, 1843, Hon. Edward L. Keyes, of Dedham. 2. John, born June 18, 1820, who died a passed midshipman, United States . navy, June 4, 1843. 4. John, born May 20, 1784, killed at battle of Lake Erie, Septem- ber 13, 1813; he graduated at Harvard Col- lege 1805; studied medicine with his father, and afterwards entered the navy as lieutenant of marines ; he was unmarried. 5. A child, died March 24, 1786.

(BY WILLIAM R. CUTLER.)

Governor John Brooks, the BROOKS most distinguished citizen in Medford of his own time, was born in that town in May, 1752. It is said by his contemporaries that the mother of the future general and governor was a woman of superior character. His father was a re- spectable farmer, and esteemed by his neigh- bors. It was, however, to his mother that he was indebted for the influence which en- couraged him to make a rise in life, and through her family physician, Dr. Simon Tufts, she was encouraged to give him as good an education as circumstances would al- low.

He was placed at the town school, where he was taught the rudiments of science and the Latin and Greek languages. Dr. Tufts

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took him into his family at the age of fourteen to educate for his profession. He continued with Dr. Tufts until he was twenty-one years old. The doctor then advised him to begin the practice of medicine in the adjoining town of Reading, and recommended him to the people as well qualified for the trust. He ac- cordingly settled there, was soon married, and his prospects were fair for a respectable estab- lishment in his profession. But the Revolu- tionary war broke upon the scene, and mat- ters military engaged the attention of all the people, physicians included. In his teens he had begun to display a talent and fondness for military drill and his hours of relaxation were given to that exercise. His village mates were formed into a company commanded by him- self. He was popular, and Dr. Tuft's yard became for the time a miniature training field. At Reading he was placed in command of a company of minute-men, the best soldiers in the militia, and soon was advanced to the po- sition of major in a new regiment. He dis- played rare abilities as a disciplinarian, and was thought by all who were connected with him in military duty to be the most competent to take the lead. At first he declined, owing to the increasing and pressing duties of his .profession, but the affair of the 19th of April, 1775, happening in his immediate neighbor- hood, made a speedy decision necessary, and he quickly assumed the duties of an office which he was well qualified to sustain. He ordered out his company with promptness, and directed them to proceed on the route to Concord; and having made such provision for the medical relief of the sick under his care as the time would permit, he joined his corps with all possible speed. Having arrived in the vicinity of Concord, he met the British on their retreat (near Merriam's Corner), and made such a disposition of his men as to se- cure them from injury, and enable them to annoy the enemy with destructive volleys as they passed a narrow defile (in the present town of Lincoln). He then hung on their rear and flanks in conjunction with other troops until they arrived at Charlestown. His contemporaries bore testimony to the fact that on this occasion, so important at the begin- ning of the war, he displayed the cool and de- termined bravery of a veteran. His military talents and calm courage were remarkable in a young man only twenty-three years of age who had never seen a battle. Dr. Dixwell, who knew him well, states that it was noticed by those who had the direction of public af -. fairs, and he soon after received the commis-

sion of a major in the Continental army,-the regular army of the Revolution.

The contemporaries of Governor Brooks furnish from their writings the following facts regarding the record of his life. He said that the most fatiguing day he ever spent was the 19th of April, 1775. History informs us that the force under his command arrived on the field at a most opportune moment. A good officer in command on the American side was needed. The impact between the two opposing bodies of well-armed troops was of the utmost consequence to either, and both Briton and American met on terms of equality for the first time on that memorable day. Parker's men at Lexington had fled, with fatal losses, before the fire of a superior body. Buttrick's men at the North Bridge, at a later hour, did not follow up their trifling victory. At a much later hour when the British main body had be- gun their retreat, Brooks, with the body of minute-men under his command, suddenly ar- rived on the scene. Dr. Ripley, of Concord, says, "As the enemy passed the road from Bedford, they met a body of minute-men, com- manded by Major John Brooks. A little below Bedford road there was a sharp action, and several of the British were killed." Rev. Mr. Foster, of Reading, a member of Governor Brooks' company, who wrote a circumstantial account of what he witnessed, said of the be- ginning of the fight, "The enemy faced about suddenly and fired a volley of mus- ketry upon us. They overshot. The fire was immediately returned, and two Brit- ish soldiers fell dead in the road near the brook." This event in the fray was followed by some sharp fighting in the Lin- coln woods, where by the peculiarity of the turns in the road through which the British were obliged to pass, they were hemmed to- gether in places and subjected to cross fires from men ensconced behind stone walls and large trees by the wayside. In forcing their way through this defile, the British came into close encounter with the Americans, and a number on both sides of the contending forces were killed. It was here that young Brooks performed that service for his country, which afterwards commended him to promotion and distinction in the army." And there is no doubt that his abili- ties in this direction were great. These were not alone shown for the long period of the Revolutionary war, but afterwards in the in- surrection in Massachusetts known as the Shays Rebellion, and the War with England of 1812.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

At the beginning of the Revolution his rank was that of major in Colonel Ebenezer Bridge's regiment of minute-men-the new regiment we have already mentioned, which marched April 19, 1775, and credited with a service of four days. Major Brooks engaged himself to serve in this regiment from April 24, 1775, to August 1, 1775, or a period of three months and fifteen days. He was de- tailed while in this regiment as field officer of the picket guard, May 8, 1775, also for the main and picket guards at Cambridge from May 12 to May 31, 1775, and again for the picket guard June 8, 1775. His commission in same regiment was dated May 27, 1775. His residence is given as Reading and also Medford. On the night of June 16, 1775, he volunteered to assist in intrenching Bunker Hill, and in watching the enemy, and on the morning of the 17th he was sent by Colonel Prescott to General Ward at Cambridge for reinforcements. Being obliged to perform this duty on foot, he could take no active part in the engagement.

On January 1, 1776, Congress appointed him major of Webb's Nineteenth regiment. His regiment was present at the siege of Bos- ton, in the retreat from Long Island, and in the battle of White Plains. Major Brooks re- mained with the regiment until its term of enlistment had expired.

From January I, 1777, to December 31, 1779, he served in the Continental army as lieutenant-colonel commandant and as lieuten- ant-colonel in Colonel Michael Jackson's Eighth regiment. He also served as lieuten- ant-colonel commandant, Seventh regiment, commissioned November II,

1778, and he held the same office and position as regimental commander during the year 1780, and also as acting colonel of the Seventh regi- ment, January 26, to May 25, 178I. He was reported on command at Boston about June I, 1781. At that time his duties appear to be divided between two places, Boston and Peekskill. He was also at this period reported as in command at West Point, and also as commanding the brigade, 1781. The war had practically ended with the surrender of Corn- wallis in that year, but troops were still re- tained in active service. Colonel Brooks was on furlough in Massachusetts from January 5, 1782, by leave of his general officers. Dur- ing the last year mentioned he was reported as attending court-martial in garrison, and from September 1, 1782, he was reported on furlough in Massachusetts by leave of General Washington. He was stationed at different

places on the Hudson river and its neighbor- hood during 1782 and 1783. He reported at Philadelphia by leave of General Washington in 1783, and ended his services about June 13, 1783, when the war was finally ended.

In the battle of Saratoga, September 19, 1777, Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks occupied the extreme left of the American line, and was en- gaged with the German troops. On the 7th of October, 1777, his regiment turned the right of the enemy's encampment, and stormed the redoubt occupied by the Germans. His regi- ment remained masters of the field. He led the charge to the top of the intrenchments. He was also at Valley Forge. He was pres- ent at the battle of Monmouth. He was em- ployed as an inspector (drill-master) under Steuben, in the field of military tactics. He was the friend and upholder of Washington at a most anxious moment in the affairs of the army. He retired in poverty from the ser- vice, and resumed his medical profession at Medford.

In battle his manner of attack was not a mere feint, but a direct attack in force; wit- ness his conduct at Merriam's Corner, at White Plains, and at Saratoga. His bravery was unquestioned. At Saratoga, at the second battle or the action of Bemis Heights, October 7, 1777, his conduct is thus described by an eye witness : "When the Colonel saw that the decisive moment had come, he lifted his sword in the air, and cried, 'Follow your Colonel at double quick !' He immediately led the way to the top of the intrenchments, crying, 'Come on, come on !' They did come on; and a most bloody and violent conflict ensued, in which they decided the fate of the day."

A letter of Governor Brooks from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, dated. January 5, 1778, states the precise reason why the British had been victorious in that region, namely their superiority in numbers. He also describes in feeling terms the sufferings endured at Valley Forge by the private soldiers during their can- tonment. He is severe on the lack of public spirit displayed by the inhabitants of the middle states. (See Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings, XIII : 243.)

He entered, says his biographer, on the du- ties of a soldier with ardor, and devoted all the powers of his mind to the cause of his country, and the profession of arms. His gentlemanly deportment and unassuming manners secured the favor of his superiors in office, and rendered him the delight of his equals and inferiors. His skill as a tactician was marked. After Bunker Hill battle, the

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advantages of superior discipline as shown on the part of the enemy were apparent to every one. These advantages made a strong im- pression on the American officers, and especi- ally on the mind of Governor Brooks. He had showed early in his life his talent as a drill-master, and his knowledge of tactics while in the regular army was acknowledged to be superior to that of his fellow officers. The corps he commanded was excellent as to discipline, drill, steadiness, and for its skillful movements, either in advance or in retreat. Some have gone so far as to say that his knowledge was second only to that of the celebrated Baron Steuben, a German officer engaged in reforming the American army. For this reason he was associated with that officer as an inspector-general in performing the difficult task of introducing a uniform sys- tem of exercise and manoeuvres into the army.

He was a major-general of militia in 1786. He was nominated a brigadier-general to serve in the provisional army raised in 1798, on prospect of war with France, but declined the position. During the war of 1812 he was adjutant-general of the state. We quote his biographer in relation to the value of these later military services. Dr. Dixwell says : "He was for many years major-general of the militia of his country, and established in his division such excellent discipline, and in- fused into it such an admirable spirit of emu- lation, that it was a most brilliant example for the militia of the state. In the insurrection of 1786 his division was very efficient in their protection of the courts of justice, and in their support of the government of the state. At this time Governor Brooks represented his town in general court, and he gave support to the firm and judicious measures of Governor Bowdoin for suppressing that alarming rebel- lion. He was appointed by the acute and dis- criminating Governor Strong as his adjutant- general, in that perilous crisis of our affairs, the later war with England, (1812-1814). The prudence and discretion with which he dis- charged this arduous duty will be long re- membered by his grateful countrymen.'

He was frequently chosen a representative, was a member of the constitutional convention of 1788, several years a senator and a member of the executive council of the state, United States marshal, 1791-1796, inspector of rev- enue, 1796, and during the war of 1812 ad- jutant-general, and seven years from 1816 to 1823, governor of Massachusetts.

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Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 624

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 624