USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dracut > History of Dracut, Massachusetts, called by the Indians Augumtoocooke and before incorporation, the wildernesse north of the Merrimac. First permanment settlement in 1669 and incorporated as a town in 1701 > Part 33
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Before settling in Dracut, he was a member of Capt. Tyng's Company of Snow Shoe Scouts who were in active service against the Indians. He acquired a large property, as after giving to his three oldest sons their proportional part of the estate before his death, there remained enough for the four younger sons. Gen. Reade in his "Hildreth Family" says : "The Major directed that his land in Tyngsboro on the Merri- mack and his negro boy 'Cuffe' inventoried at £100 and enough lands and credits be sold to pay his debts and funeral charges. The inventory included 200 acres of land north side of the county road; 100 acres of land on Merrimack River; 50 acres of land bought of Gov. Belcher; 150 acres of land known as Winthrops Farm; interest in a corn mill on Beaver brook; sun- dry buildings and saw mill in Tyngs Town; land and meadows west of Gouldings brook," besides a large stock of farm ani- mals.
His fourth son, Thomas, was in the French and Indian War in 1755, and died at Fort Cumberland, Md., Dec. 4, 1755. The circumstances of his death are related in Gen. Reade's "Gene- alogy of the Hildreth Family." "After the close of the third French or King George's War, 1748, the French established a line of posts near to the Alleghany mountains, which was the cause of George Washington's first, and pacific visit in 1753 to the French. During the following year, Major George Wash- ington marched his command to the locality where Pittsburg now stands. The French troops near Fort Duquesne were at first surprised and defeated; but later defeated Washington
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and forced him to capitulate and retire from the disputed ground then claimed by France. When General Edward Brad- dock was commissioned as commander-in-chief of all the English forces in North America in September, 1754, he had associated with him, as next in command, Governor Shirley and Sir Wil- liam Pepperell of Massachusetts. In the spring of 1755, Gen- eral Braddock appointed Washington to be one of his aides, but declined his advice as well as that of Benj. Franklin re- garding the best method of utilizing the services of the raw American militia. The rendezous for the combined forces, the King's regulars and the colonial troops, was at Fort Cumber- land on Wills Creek banks of the Potomac river, Alleghany Country, Maryland. In June, 1755, General Braddock marched against Fort Duquesne in command of 1000 regulars, 30 sailors and 1200 Provincial troops, besides a train of artillery. Gates, Gage, Morgan and Mercer, names that were to be famous in another war, were there, and there, too, was Ensign Thomas Hildreth, son of Major Ephraim Hildreth of Dracut. The de- feat and death of Braddock by the French and Indians is a matter of history. The demoralized British soldiers who es- caped the slaughter by Contreconer and DeBeajen's command and their wily allies, July 9, 1755 fled back to Fort Cumberland in a wild panic.
The Provincial troops protected their retreat and retired in a more leisurely manner, fighting from behind trees, just as Dumas and DiLigueris did.
Nearly all of the officers of General Braddock's regular staff were killed or wounded. Ensign Thomas Hildreth was one of those who reached Fort Cumberland alive; but there, under the gloomy pines of the dense forest, he died, and received a soldier's grave in the tract known to the Indians as the Shades of Death."
Ephraim3 was one of the selectmen of the town, also town clerk, and held the office of Major in the militia. It was his intention to provide a burial place for the town but as he did not arrange for one during his lifetime, his sons, in 1752, gave a deed of the land for the Hildreth cemetery in fulfilment of the wishes of their father. He had ten children, three of whom were active in town affairs. Ephraim4, Jr., held the offices of
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selectman, town clerk and treasurer. Josiah4 succeeded his brother in the office of town clerk, then, in 1769, another brother, William4, served in the same capacity. In turn was followed by William5, Jr., and later by Lieut Israel.5 William+ held the rank of Major in the militia.
The Hildreths were active at the time of the Revolution and names of six are found on the Roll of Honor as serving in the war. William5, Jr., besides holding several town offices was .General of the Mass. Militia and in 1809 was elected to the office of High Sheriff of Middlesex County. He built the house at Hovey Square, now known as the Blanchard hospital. Micah5, son of William+, was town treasurer from 1792 to 1795. Elizah+, son of Ephraim, held office in the town. Lieut. Israel5, son of Elijah, held the office of selectman and town clerk, also other offices, and in 1793, he represented the town at the General Court. He served in the Revolution as a privateer's man. Israel6, Jr., became a physician and lived at the homestead near the cemetery. Further notice of Dr. Hildreth, as relates to his medical experience, will be found in the section on the physicians of Dracut. He was a staff officer by reason of his office as surgeon in the Fifth Regiment of Infantry Middlesex Militia Mass. Volunteers, Col. Jefferson Bancroft commander. As an orator, his services were in demand at Independence Day celebrations. As a man possessing sound sense and good judg- ment, he was chosen to protect the interests of the town in cases where their rights were threatened.
The following incident is related of his good nature: He owned a field which reached to Beaver Brook, and a townsman, plowing in a neighboring field, drove his oxen across the doc- tors field to give them water at the brook. The manager of the farm remonstrated and reported the facts. Soon after this the doctor, meeting the neighbor charged him with trespass which the neighbor admitted. The doctor then said: "If the field is full of cabbages you are welcome to drive your oxen through to the brook as often as you want to do so."
Fisher Ames7 served the town as clerk and treasurer and was a Representative to the General Court. He owned the Hil- dreth homestead and was a successful farmer. Fisher Ames7 was the only son who arrived at maturity ; his sisters were Row-
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ena, who married Henry Reade a merchant of Lowell; Sarah Jones, who married Gen. Benj. F. Butler; Susan, who married William P. Webster, a lawyer; Harriet, who married Franklin P. Hurd, Dolly Maria, who married Col. J. M. G. Parker, and Laura Wright, who married George H. Pearson who was agent at Pearson's Mills .in Dracut.
Mrs. Rowena Reade in an interview relating to the Hildreth family furnished the following information :
Her grandfather, Squire Israel Hildreth, it was that built the Hildreth mansion then the only house, save that of Ryer Coburn, in that part of Dracut. There were other houses at the west end of the town, that of Col. Ansart, and at the east end of the town where Gen. Varnum still lived in the respect which his high service for his state and country universally invited.
Squire Hildreth was a tall man, with black hair which he wore with a queue, dark eyes and a commanding manner. He had been a privatecr in his younger days, and had visited Spain and other foreign lands, so that his knowledge gave him distinction among his neighbors. One day the gunner of the privateer was firing a gun, when he twitched his head as if in fear, whereupon Capt. Newman shouted: "You do that again and I'll pitch you overboard." Israel Hildreth stepped for- ward, and, saluting said: "Captain, let me try; and if I fail you can pitch me into the sea." So Israel fired the gun with his eye steadily gazing along toward the breach, and was promoted to be chief gunner of the craft. But he nevertheless was a man of tender sympathies, and never could relate the tale of sinking a ship without breaking into tears.
He wore, on state occasions, knee breeches with silver buckles, presented by his old captain. He was a farmer; but directed the work done by the men and women whom he employed. His son, Dr. Israel Hildreth, and his family lived with the squire and shared with him his simple living. In the fall the cellar was filled to overflowing with potatoes, cabbages, turnips, beets, carrots and barrels of cider, and the woodsheds were filled with logs for the great fireplaces.
These fireplaces were very spacious, that in the kitchen being the largest of all, with its capacious chimney, its crane and its
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flanking brick ovens. Fowls were roasted in tin "kitchins" before the fire, or else were hung by strings from pegs in the mantle; and all the pots were hung from the crane over the coals.
When the ovens were to be used, they were filled with fuel which was lighted and allowed to burn about two hours. The coals and ashes were then swept out, and the loaves of bread, or pies, or beans inserted, the doors were closed and the baking allowed to proceed uninterrupted until the alloted time had ex- pired. Then what appetizing odors permeated the house as the oven doors were opened! "There never was such cooking; nor can there ever be any more," said Mrs. Reade.
The household duties were simple. There was the making of soap and candles, of cheese and butter and preserves, of pickles and corned beef, hams and sausages. And there was the weav- ing of cloth; for all the men wore home-spun, and the women, too, save that those who could afford it wore cloaks of scarlet cloth secured in England. The wool was cut from the sheep in the pasture and was carded, spun into warp and yarn, and woven into cloth on the loom in the back room. All this was done by experts in the several branches, assisted by the members of the family.
In addition to the farm, Squire Hildreth had possession of the "Sawpit" on the banks of the river where the Aiken street bridge now rests upon its northern pier; and the "hole" was the scene of busy seine fishing in the season. It used to be quite a diversion for the children to watch the fishermen haul in the shad and the salmon; although they were somewhat alarmed at the rough play and frolic of the raftsmen who gathered there to reconstruct the rafts which had been broken for passage through Pawtucket rapids.
There were no mills on the other side of the river, only a few farm houses, with fields and orchards; the future Lowell had not even attained to the village stage; for the only village was at Middlesex, where the canal and the glass works were. It was at Middlesex that the muster was held, a great day for old and young; for the young went to see how the old were trained in arms for the defense of their homes and country ; and the muster always ended in a sham fight, a startling and
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awesome presentment of actual warfare. There were such times in those days, what with the boiled chicken and "fixin's," and gingerbread in great cakes. And then there were the ped- dlers with their trays of sweets, their peppermints and molasses candies.
There were the training days, too, when the men of each town answered the call to arms for a day; and after drill in the field the men of Dracut would gather at Blanchard's tavern and drink their "flip," a mixture of beer, rum, sugar and water, stirred to foamy encouragement with a red hot poker, a sociable drink, but somewhat heady. There used to be wrestling bouts in the tavern, together with other athletic feats of strength and prowess; but rarely any fighting; for these farmers were peace- ful folk and were only belligerent when their rights were assailed.
Town meeting was another time of relief from work in the fields; but in the homes it begat extra endeavor to supply the demand of hospitable courtesy; for every house that could afford to be so was open and every table was free, and most bounteous was the entertainment provided.
The Hildreths were by nature and training military men. In common with other young men of their time, they were required by law to become members of the militia and to de- note a certain time each year to military exercises. A study of the lives of Richard and his descendants reveal conditions which present the names of Hildreth in connection with a large number of men holding commissions ranging from ser- geant to general. The names of those bearing the commissions are as follows: Richard, Sergeant; Elphraim Sr, Ensign; Eph- raim, Jr., Major ; William Jr., General ; Thomas, Ensign ; Josiah, Captain ; Micah, Lieutenant; William, Sr., Major; Israel, Lieutenant; James, Lieutenant ; Jonathan, Major; Samuel, Cap- tain. Among the grandchildren of Dr. Israel Hildreth, but not bearing the family name, there were one brigadier general, one adjutant general, one colonel, one captain and one lieu- tenant in the regular army.
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HOVEY
Daniel Hovey was born in England in 1618 and came to America, settling at Ipswich, when he died in 1695. He married Abigail Andrews. Daniel2, Jr., was born in 1642 and married first Rebecca -; at her death, he married Esther Treadwell. Thomas3, born 1673, died 1748; married Martha -. Thomas4 born 1707 married Sarah Rust. Thomas5 born at Ipswich in 1736 married Mary -. He was the first of the line to remove from Ipswich, as he came first to Andover and from there to Dracut. His son, James Platz6, was a soldier who as- sisted in the suppression of Shays Rebellion in 1787. Thomas5 was a school master and, selecting Dracut as his home, he pur- chased, in 1759, of Joseph Colburn 275 square rods of land at Hovey Square, on which had been erected the frame of a house. This he finished and it passed by inheritance to James6, his son, then to his son, George7, and at his death it was owned by George8 Jr. of Chicago. It was two story on the front, but, as was the style of the time, the long roof permitted but one story at the back, this roof later being changed to admit of two stories at the rear. The interior has undergone but little altera- tion, while the ell on the south end has been removed. This building was a tavern in the early days and was on the highway over which the stage coaches passed on their trips between Boston and Concord, N. H. Deacon Thomas5 was active in town affairs and performed the duties to which he was called in an acceptable manner. He purchased in 1764 five acres of land of Jonathan Jones, thus enlarging his homestead lot on the east as far as Capt. Stephen Russell's farm line. Two years later he purchased of Elijah Hildreth 33 acres, which is described as lying "north of Blackbird Swamp and lying west on the townway from John Bowers' house to the house of Joseph Goodhue." This would be the lot of land lying be- tween the rifle range and Hildreth Street. He died August 4, 1812, and is buried in the Hildreth cemetery. His son, James Platz6, sometimes spelled Platts, was born July 21, 1767, and died November 30, 1831. He married his cousin, Rebecca Hovey, of Boxford. He had six sons, viz., William and Joshua, who were shoe makers, Horatio Nelson, a merchant, James P.
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Jr., Cyrus, a silversmith, and George, a farmer, who came into possession of the home farm. George? was a deacon in the Congregational church for many years and held important town offices, being selectman and treasurer.
JONES
The name is of Welsh origin and is the same as John, which means gracious. No one of the name is recorded as receiving any portion of the reserved land and the time of their entry into town was probably later than the division in 1721. Old records state the following facts relating to this family in a list of emigrants to America 1600 to 1750.
"2 May 1635 The underwritten names are to be transported to the Barbadoes imbarqued in the Alexander, Capt. Burk and Gilbert Grimis, Masters certificate from the minister where they later dwelt the men took the oath of allegiance
Walter Jones age 20 years.
Morgan Jones age 31 years.
Hugh Jones age 22 years (born in 1613).
Edith Jones age 21 years.
Elizabeth Warren age 17 years."
Hugh2, married, first, Hannah Tompkins, who died May 10, 1672. He married, second, Mary Foster, who, among other children had a son, Hugh3, baptized in 1690, who married Hannah Wilson.
There were eight children, among them David4, born 1716; Jonathan4, born 1719; Nathaniel4, born 1723; and Hugh4, born in 1727. David4 married Hannah Fox, David5, born 1741, mar- ried Mrs. Molly Bayte; David6, born 1771, married Nabby (Abi- gail) Currier of Pelham, N. H .; David? married Mary Seavey. They had two children Frank8, who was a dentist, and Lizzie8. The other sons of David6 were Cyrus7, Darius7, and John Lucas7. The last named lived at Pelham, N. H., where his son, Martin L.8, now resides. Cyrus? inherited the home farm which is on a cross road which connects the two roads to Methuen lead- ing from Dracut Center. It was later owned by his son, Charles
JOSEPH MORRISON WILSON
(See Page 426)
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BIOGRAPHY AND GENEALOGY
E.8, who died in 1900, and the farm was afterward sold. Darius7 never married. Jonathan4, born 1719, married 1744 Hannah Barron. Their son, Zebediah5, born 1753, married Mrs. Johan- nah Goodhue, and had sons Nehemiah6, Thomas6, and Zebediah6. Nehemiah6 married Mary, daughter of Jonas and Dolly Richard- son ; their daughter, Rebecca7, married Warner Coburn and lived on Hildreth Street. Zebediah6 married 1807, Prudence, daughter of Jonathan and Mercy Richardson.
They had eleven children. Nathaniel4, born 1723, married, in 1748, Jane Fletcher. Their son Nathaniel5, born 1750, married Jemima, daughter of Edward4 and Hannah (Butterfield) Co- burn of Pelham, N. H. Bradley6 married Sarah Harris. Their son, Prescott7, lived at Dracut Center on the homestead formerly his grandfather Nathaniel's farm. Solomon5, born 1753, son of Nathaniel4, married Sally Danforth. Their daughter, Polly6, married Simon Fox, son of Eliphalet Fox. Her sister Susan- nah6, married Simeon Flint, and their daughter Mariette7 mar- ried George Hamblett. Hugh4, born 1727, married 1751 Sarah Fletcher. Among their children were Oliver5, Olive5, and Hannah5. Oliver5 born 1762, married Dorothy, daughter of Daniel and Eunice (Hunt) Clement. Their daughter Dolly6, born 1792, married Dr. Israel Hildreth. Lydia6, born 1796, daughter of Oliver5 and Dorothy, married Pascal, son of Peter Coburn, Jr. Hannah5 daughter of Hugh4 married Saul Coburn, and her sister Olive5, married Thaddeus Coburn. Oliver6, son of Oliver5, born in 1789 married Olive Coburn. The birth of two sons are on the Dracut Records, Oliver Morgan7 born 1815 and Thaddeus C.7 born 1819.
BRADLEY
The first mention of the name is found in the record of the sailing of the ship from England which numbered among its passengers one Daniel Bradley. The entry, including the early spelling of the name, is as follows:
"8 April is 1635
Thies p'les [peoples] herevender mencioned are to be trans- ported to New England : inbarqued in the Elizabeth of London
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Wm. Stagg Mr. bound thither: they have taken the oath of Al- legience and Supremacie p'r Cert: from the p'ish [parish] of St Alphage Cripple gate the minister there."
Wm Holdred Tanner 25.
Roger Preston
Tanner 21.
Daniell Broadley 20.
Isack Studman 30."
In 1662, Daniel married Mary, daughter of John and Jane Williams, and settled in Bradford, where his two oldest children, Daniel, Jr., and Joseph, were born. Later he removed to Haver- hill. He was killed by the Indians, or as the documents phrase it, "Slain by ye hand of ye heathen," August 13, 1689, near the present Atkinson depot. They had nine children, the oldest, Daniel, Jr., with his wife and two children, Mary and Hannah, were killed by the Indians March 15, 1696/7.
Joseph Bradley2 was born February 7, 1664/5, and died October 3, 1779. He married April 14, 1691, Hannah Heath. They had ten children, only one of whom will be in this record. April 19, 1697 he was sent with others to re-enforce the garrison, at that time commanded by Thomas Duston, whose wife was captured by the Indians, as related in local histories. He after- ward was commander of the same garrison which was attacked by the Indians in 1703. He also led a scouting party, capturing the packs of a party of French and Indians, the loss of which resulted in their capture. His wife, Hannah, was taken captive by the Indians in 1696 and her two children killed. The manner of her release and return is not known.
In 1703, the garrison was attacked in the day time, when only one soldier was on guard, who was killed. The others were away as no attack was expected. Mrs. Bradley was boiling soap and defended herself by throwing it on the Indians and scalding them; but she was overpowered and taken to Canada.
In 1705, John Sheldon was empowered to go to Canada and negotiate for the release of the captives. His attendants were Joseph Bradley and a man from Deerfield. Their mission was successful and Hannah returned to experience more at- tacks by the Indians. In 1706, there was a night attack on the garrison when only the family and a hired man were the occu-
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pants. As the first Indian crowded through the door, he was shot by Mrs. Bradley and the others retreated without further molestation. When captured the second time she had for fellow prisoners, Mrs. Dustan and Mary Neff; but being obliged to travel in advance of the others, she was not present when the two women killed the Indians and returned. The following document is on record :
"The Deposition of the widow Hannah Bradley of Haverhill of full age, who testyfieth & saith that about forty years past, the said Hannah together with the widow Mary Neff were taken prisoners by the Indians & carried together into captivity & above pennycook the Deponent was by the Indians forced to travel further than the rest of the captives & the next night but one there came to us one Squaw who said that Hannah Dus- tin & the aforesaid Mary Neff assisted in the killing of the Indians of her wigwam, except herself & a boy, herself escap- ing very narrowly, showing to myself and others seven wounds, as she said with a Hatchet on her head; and which wounds were given her when the rest were killed."
This was signed by Hannah Bradley by the making of her mark. This is a brief account of the captivity of one of those sturdy New England women whose descendants were prominent in Dracut but within its limits no one of the name is now living.
Their son, Joseph3, married Hannah Marsh and they were the parents of Amos+ the first of the name in Dracut. Amos came from Haverhill about 1761 and purchased the farm of Solomon Abbott, with the ferry, at Central Bridge, reference to which has already been made. His wife was Elizabeth Page, a great-granddaughter of Thomas and Hannah Duston. This was the Hannah Duston who was captured by the Indians and escaped. They were the parents of eleven children. Deacon Amos, as he was called sold his property on the river in 1809 to his son Joseph who operated it until he sold it in 1827 to the Central Bridge Corporation. He died Oct. 14, 1813. The five sons of Deacon Amos were Amos, Jr.5, who became a physician, as already recorded. He married Lydia Jones, of Salem, N. H., and eleven children were born to them. His farm was on Hil- dreth Street adjoining on the north grounds of the Blanchard
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Hospital. At his death, May 6, 1817, his son, Dr. Peleg6, suc- ceeded to his estate and his father's practice. Joshua5 married Mary Poor, they lived in Dracut and had eleven children. Joseph5 married Lydia Worcester and they had seven children. He owned the ferry at Central Bridge which he purchased of his father and kept a tavern in a building which he built on First Street and which still stands nearly opposite the ferry landing. He is said to have been the first to operate a steamer on the river making trips to Nashua.
Caleb5, called Parson Bradley became a clergyman and set- tled in Portland, Me. He was twice married and left six children.
"Many of the older people will remember the kindly old 'Parson Bradley' who died a generation ago, but who for sixty years or more before was one of the best-known clergymen in New England. Caleb Bradley was his name, and he was a native of Dracut, Mass.
His style of preaching was florid and declamatory, his manner ardent and somewhat eccentric, but this was the result of his peculiar temperament, and did not rise from any lack of moral sensibility, for with all his vivacity he was a most sincere Christian and devoted minister.
A small volume might be filled with many quaint savings and kindly doings of the famous old preacher. It was the custom for the minister when he closed the marriage ceremony to greet the bride with a kiss. Being called upon one occasion to marry two colored people, after performing the ceremony he said to the groom. 'Salute your bride, sir.' To which the negro replied, 'After wou, massa.' The good parson declined the privilege, and ever after abandoned the practice of kissing brides.
In 1857 Mr. Bradley attended commencement at Harvard college, and being the oldest clergyman present, he was re- quested according to custom, to ask a blessing at the dinner of the graduates, which he did in manner following: 'Almighty God, for past favors, for present enjoyment, and for future hopes, accept the best feelings of our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.' The brevity of this invo- cation was in striking contrast to many who had preceded him in that duty, and was greatly appreciated by the guests.
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