History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix, Part 19

Author: Sumner, William H. (William Hyslop), 1780-1861. cn
Publication date: 1858
Publisher: Boston, J. E. Tilton
Number of Pages: 883


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix > Part 19
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 19


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Writs of intrusion were brought against some of the leading men of the colony, who had refused to apply for new patents ; and, among many others, the right of Col. Shrimpton to Deer island was called in question, and although he was one of the governor's council, a writ of intrusion was brought against him in the name of the king.3 At this time, a John Pittome was the resident tenant of Col. Shrimpton at Deer island. He and his family were turned "afloat on the water when it was a stormy day," by Sir Edmund's sheriff, who "put two men whom he brought with him into possession of the said Island, as he said, on behalf of king James the second."4 Doubtless this act of oppression had its influence upon the subsequent conduct of Col. Shrimpton, and made him the more determined in his resistance to the despotic governor. The government undoubtedly supposed, that, by instituting a suit against him, being a prominent man and one of the council, that in case he yielded, others would submit without contesting the matter. But here the governor and his supporters made a great mis-


1 N. Eng. Rev. Justified, in " Narrative," etc., appended to the pamphlet, p. 56.


2 Ibid. p. 9.


3 N. E. Revolution Justified, pp. 22, 26.


4 Ibid. pp. 22-23.


211


COL. SHRIMPTON'S PATRIOTISM.


1685.]


take. They found the Colonel had too much patriotism and love of right to be thus treated, and he resisted the unjust demand. The governor evidently was very desirous that Col. Shrimpton should take out a new patent for his lands, so much so, that, when it was ascertained that he would take no measures him- self toward such an end, he was offered a new patent gratis, if he would accept it from Andros.1


Dummer, in the book already quoted, speaks in the following complimentary terms of Col. Shrimpton's conduct, and it is the more noteworthy, as the old author selects the Colonel from all the other noble men who resisted the tyrannical Andros as especially deserving of praise, and thus in the most conclusive manner shows that we do not overestimate his importance in the stirring events of the Revolution. Says the author referred to : -


" It would be an injury to virtue, if I did not in this place pay distinguished honor to the memory of an honest and worthy patriot, Col. Shrimpton, long since deceased, who being rich in lands, was courted to receive new patents gratis, that others might be drawn in by the authority of his example ; but when he was apprised of their design, he chose rather to have his lands seized (and they were seized) than by such a base compliance betray his countrymen into the snares prepared for them." 2


This extract, besides being a valuable tribute to the character and patriotism of Col. Shrimpton, shows how anxious the gov- ernment was to secure his influence and countenance for its illegal actions. With the same spirit which prompted the patriot James Otis to resist the anti-revolutionary writs of assistance, Col. Shrimpton, a century before, resisted the arbi- trary writs of intrusion, which were founded upon the same unjust principles ; and with the same noble spirit which induced Otis to renounce all offices under government rather than yield his principles, Shrimpton, a century earlier, refused to accept valuable favors from the government, and, at great self-sacrifice, took a firm stand on the side of justice.


1 Washburn's Judicial History, p. 123.


2 Defence of New Eng. Charters, p. 25.


212


HISTORY.


[1688.


When this writ of intrusion was served upon Deer island, the selectmen of Boston told Mr. Graham, Andros's attorney- general, that if Col. Shrimpton declined to personate the case of the island, they would stand the suit themselves. Said Gra- ham, in reply, " Are you the men that will stand suit against the king?"1 The result showed that Col. Shrimpton did not fear even to " stand suit against the king," and maintain the cause of truth and justice. There is something worthy of admiration presented to us, when we see a man thus boldly and with a self-sacrificing spirit, resist oppression, and, although in authority and with strong inducements to favor the govern- ment, upholding the popular side of the controversy.


He was now at issue with the governor and his party; but here he did not falter. He had taken a position, and he intended to maintain it at all hazards; he considered that he had a right to the land in question, and was fully determined to maintain that right.


In his defence he urged that the king had already divested himself by charter and declaration of any right to the island, and had made this clear in seizing the Massachusetts govern- ment, and not the lands. He also presented a copy of a grant from the general court, under the late Massachusetts govern- ment, conveyed down to Thomas Temple, under whom the defendant claimed the land ; and, having legally possessed it for twenty-six years, he thought he had sufficiently proved that he had been guilty of no intrusion. The duplicate of the charter was ready to be delivered, and was shown to the court, but it was refused, as Col. Shrimpton's right had not been invali- dated.


These writs of intrusion were the cause of great anxiety in the minds of all landholders; and it appears that it was on this account that Mrs. Mary Hooke,2 wife of Francis Hooke, Esq. of Kittery, Maine, fearing that Noddle's Island would be wrested from Col. Shrimpton, petitioned Andros, as already re- lated in Chapter VI. p. 107, for "consideration and relief ;" she being daughter of Samuel Maverick, former owner of the


1 N. E. Revolution Justified, p. 26.


2 Drake's Hist. Bost. p. 479.


213


REVOLUTION.


1689.]


Island. She urged that "her father, in 1648, was fined £250 for attempting to petition the king, and that, when a commis- sioner with Nichols, Carr, and Cartwright, he was interrupted by sound of trumpet."


Of course, these prosecutions ceased upon the change in ad- ministration which soon followed.


It may be well to finish the account of Col. Shrimpton's con- nection with the overthrow of Andros, before we introduce other incidents which, in point of time, would have prece- dence.


The abuses of Sir Edmund Andros at last became unendur- able, and when the news arrived of the landing of the Prince of Orange in England, the long restrained fire of righteous indignation burst forth; and on the 18th of April (1689), the governor, such members of the council as were particularly obnoxious, and some other persons who had supported his ad- ministration, in all about fifty persons, were seized and confined, and the old magistrates were reinstated in office. This was a bold step, and its success, and the lives of the principal movers in it, all depended upon the accession of William and Mary to the throne of England. The excitement of the populace after the arrest was even greater than it had been before, and all the military companies collected at the town-house, " where assem- bled Capt. Winthrop, Shrimpton, Page, and many other sub- stantial men to consult matters, when the old governor (Brad- street) came amongst them, at whose appearance there was a great shout by the soldiers," who guarded him with great for- mality.1


Their first public act was to address a message, or remon- strance, to Sir Edmund Andros. This paper was as fol- lows : -


" At the town-house in Boston, April 18, 1689.


" SIR, - Ourselves and many others, the inhabitants of this town and places adjacent, being surprised with the people's sudden taking arms, in the first motion whereof we were wholly


1 Hutchinson's Hist. Vol. I. p. 375, etc.


214


HISTORY.


[1689.


ignorant, being driven to it by the present accident, are neces- sitated to acquaint your excellency, that, for the quieting and securing the people inhabiting this country from the imminent danger they many ways lie open and exposed to, and tendering your own safety, we judge it necessary that you forthwith de- liver up the government and fortifications, to be preserved and disposed according to order and direction of the crown of Eng- land, which suddenly is expected may arrive, promising all security from violence to yourself, or any of your gentlemen or soldiers, in person or estate ; otherwise, we are assured, they will endeavor the taking of the fortifications by storm, if any opposition be made.


" To Sir Edmund Andros, Knight.


" William Stoughton, S. Bradstreet, Wait Winthrop,


Thomas Danforth,


John Richards, Sam. Shrimpton,


Elisha Cooke, Wm. Browne,


Is. Addington,


Barth. Gedney,


John Foster, Peter Sergeant,


David Waterhouse,


Adam Winthrop,


J. Nelson."


Among the venerable men whose names are attached to this petition we find that of Simon Bradstreet, the former governor,


upon whose head was the weight of eighty-seven years, and who had been a magistrate for sixty years. Some of the signers were of the magistrates chosen in 1686, and others were included among the principal merchants and most influen- tial inhabitants of the town.


At this time (April, 1689), there were three companies of militia in Boston, which assembled at this revolutionary move- ment. Adam Winthrop, merchant, of Boston, commanded


215


REVOLUTION.


1689.]


one, Col. Shrimpton one, and Nicholas Paige the third.1 It will be remembered that Shrimpton had been appointed, by Andros, lieutenant-colonel in the militia, as early as March, 1687.


This 18th of April was an eventful day. In the early morn- ing, rumors were spread that the town was rising, and that An- dros intended to fire it at one end, and Captain George at the other, and "then go away in the smoke for France." The streets were filled with the excited populace; the sheriff, en- deavoring to quiet the multitude, was immediately arrested ; companies were hastily formed; men favoring the government were arrested, and many were hurried off to jail. The whole town was in arms, and a declaration, read from the balcony of the court-house, defended the insurrection as a duty to God and the country. The declaration closed with this paragraph : " We commit our enterprise unto the blessing of Him who hears the cry of the oppressed, and advise all our neighbors, for whom we have thus ventured ourselves, to join with us in prayers and all just actions for the defence of the land."2 People from the country flocked into the country; on the Charlestown side over a thousand soldiers were ready to cross ; and twenty military companies were marshalled in Boston streets. As the day passed on the excitement in- creased, and the determined spirit of the people was more and more manifest.


We have not space to detail the proceedings of the day, neither would it be appropriate to the object of this book. This bold revolution has been described many times; and we are only concerned with it as far as Colonel Shrimpton is con- nected with its history as one of the leaders in it, the com- mander of the military, and, from his position in the govern- ment as councillor and his standing in the community, possess- ing great influence with the people. Andros was convinced that it would be useless to withstand the popular feeling, and de-


1 Force's Tracts, Vol. IV. No. 10.


2 Hist. An. and Hon. Artillery Co. p. 226.


216


HISTORY.


[1689.


ciding that prudence, in this instance, was the better part of valor, on the next day, the 19th, he yielded to the demands of the people, and the command of the castle was delivered to Capt. Fairweather.


Col. Shrimpton was leader of the troops in this sudden revo- lution, a position for which he was well adapted by his military talents. After the excitement had subsided, the Colonel was selected to draw up a report of the proceedings of Andros while governor of the province, which report was published, in 1691, in the "New England Revolution Justified," a valuable pamphlet, which contains a detailed account of the administra- tion and overthrow of Andros. The persons appointed for this duty by the committee of safety were William Stoughton, Bartholemew Gedney, and William Brown, and such other members of the late council of Andros as they should advise with.1 From the selection of Colonel Shrimpton as one of the committee on this important report, "it is to be inferred," says Judge Washburn, "he was regarded as somewhat of a literary man, although I do not find that he was graduated at any col- lege."2 It would puzzle the judge to find the brazier, of whom this remark is made, " graduated at any college ;" for, however successful he may have been in his trade or in the various pub- lic offices, civil, judicial, and military, to which he was elevated, he had not brass enough left to present himself for college honors.


While it is certain that Col. Shrimpton was one of the com- mittee selected to write the " Narrative," etc., it is also probable that he was one of the writers of the " Revolution in New Eng- land Justified ;" for the preface is signed E. R. and S. S., doubt- less referring to Edward Rawson and Samuel Shrimpton, and, truly, it would have been difficult to have found men better fit- ted for the task.


The revolution was completely successful. William and Mary ascended the throne; Andros was sent to England, by order of the king, to answer to the charges brought against him,


1 State Records.


2 Judicial History, p. 123.


-


217


COL. SHRIMPTON IN MILITARY AFFAIRS.


1689.]


and the colony was authorized to take charge of its own affairs until another government should be established. In- crease Mather represented the colony before the ministry, and his services were of great value in securing favor of the crown.


Randolph had his full share of the exasperation of the peo- ple in the revolution, and while bail was granted to others, it was refused to him. The house of representatives, on the 25th of June, voted, " that Mr. E. Randolph is not bailable, he having broken a capital law of the colony in endeavoring and accomplishing the subversion of our government, and having been an evil counsellor." He died in the West Indies.


Andros was subsequently governor of Virginia, where, bene- fitted by experience, his course was more wise and moderate than it had been in Massachusetts. He died in England in 1714. The little that has come down to us gives an unfavora- ble impression of his character; indeed, it seems to present scarcely a redeeming trait. Doubtless he had good qualities, but we are in ignorance of them; and the truth contained in Marc Antony's words may be as applicable to him as to Cæ- sar, -


" The evil that men do lives after them ; The good is oft interred with their bones."


Col. Shrimpton bore a conspicuous part in the military affairs of the colony. In 1673, he was appointed one of a committee to purchase "great guns for the country's vse;" and, later in the same year, the same committee was ordered to make an- other purchase.1 The gentlemen composing this committee are spoken of in the official order as men "who have their corre- spondents in Bilboa (a commercial city in the northern part of Spain), and the trade there," and these "great guns" were to be purchased by their " correspondents " in that city.


Col. Shrimpton was very active in the revival of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, after Andros' usurpation. He had been a member since the year 1670, and was chosen ensign in 1672, lieutenant in 1673, and captain in 1694, the twenty-fourth year of his membership.


1 Massachusetts Records, Vol. IV. Part 2, pp. 562 and 565.


19


218


HISTORY.


[1697-8.


He was made a colonel of the Suffolk regiment on the 20th of April, 1689, being the first person in that station on whom the command of a regiment devolved after the abolition of the office of sergeant-major.


His services seem to have been called into requisition in every variety of circumstance. At the funeral of Governor Leverett, March 25th, 1678-9, which was conducted with great pomp and ceremony, he was appointed to carry the helmet, and " march next before the Herse." 1


In Sewall's Diary, under date of 4th December, 1694, is this entry : "Lieut. Gov. Usher committed to prison on Col. Shrimp- ton's examination." The particulars of this affair are not man- ifest.


Col. Shrimpton died on the 9th of February, 1697-8, of apo- plexy, at the age of fifty-five years. 'An old almanac, in a men- tion of his death, calls him "Vir patric clarus," a compliment of which he was every way worthy. His death and funeral are thus noticed in Sewall's Diary: "1697-8, Fourth day, Febr. 9. Last night, about nine of ye Clock, Col. Shrimpton dyes of an Apoplexy. . . He was seen at his door ye last Sixth day."


" Second-day, Febr. 14, 1697-8, Col. Sam1. Shrimpton was buried with Arms. Ten Companies, 8 (Boston Companies) Muddy River & Sconce ; 2 No Horse nor Trumpet : but a Horse led, Mr. Dyer's ; ye Col's. would not endure ye cloathing; Mourn- ing Coach also, and Horses in Mourning; Scutchin on yr Sides, & Death's heads on yr foreheads; Coach stood by ye way here and there, & mov'd solitarily. Bearers, Major Genl. Winthrop, Mr. Cook, Lieut. Col. (Elisha) Hutchinson, Mr. Addington, Capt. Foster, Major Walley, Mr. Em (Eliakim) Hutchinson & Mr. (Rev. James ?) Allen led ye widow. Capt. Clark fired twelve great guns at ye Sconce ; began, as marched to ye New- burying place, where ye Corps was set in to the two wives. Very fair and large Paths shovel'd by great pains & cost ; three


1 For a full account of this remarkable funeral, see N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register for 1850, p. 128.


2 Muddy River was the former name of Brookline ; and the "lower," or " south battery," at the foot of Fort Hill, was named the " Sconce."


219


COL. SHRIMPTON'S FUNERAL.


1697-8.]


in ye Burying-place, one direct to ye Tomb, the other compass- ing by ye Sides, in which ye Souldiers stood drawn up. Wm. Scovel being well & having on his new Coat, I fitted him with my Musket, Rapier, Mourning, Amunition, and he served in ye South Company."


-


CHAPTER X.


THE TITLE OF THE ISLAND IN THE SHRIMPTON AND YEA- MANS FAMILIES.


COL. SHRIMPTON was married in England to Mrs. Elizabeth Breeden, a lithographic likeness of whom is upon the opposite page. It is possible that Mrs. Breeden was the second, and perhaps the third, wife of Col. Shrimpton; although positive evidence of the fact is wanting, there are some circumstances which seem to give plausibility to such a supposition. In the will of Hezekiah Usher, Sen., dated on the 11th of May, 1676, is the following item : -


" I give unto my son-in-law, Samuel Shrimpton, and his wife, the sum of fifty


Morskich Usher pounds to buy them


mourning:" and in the will of Hezekiah Usher, Jr., dated the 7th of July, 1687, is an item to this effect, namely :-


" As to my brother and sister Shrimpton, I give to them ten pounds apiece in acknowledgment of former kindnesses re- ceived." By these two extracts it would seem that a Samuel Shrimpton married a daughter of Hezekiah Usher, and the dates given correspond with the life of the Colonel. Elizabeth, daughter of Hezekiah and Francis Usher, was born 1 (12) 1645.1 It is impossible to tell whether the Samuel Shrimpton who married Miss Usher is identical with the Col. Shrimpton with whom we are particularly interested. While the names and dates would imply such an identity, it is very singular that this marriage should not be mentioned in the family papers in the writer's possession. Color is given to the supposition


1 Genl. Reg. 1854, p. 40.


.


J.H. Bufford's Lith.


KASZABETH SHRIMPTON.


From an original. Portrait


1


1


221


SHRIMPTON AND USHER.


1668.]


that the Colonel married Miss Usher previous to his connec- tion with Mrs. Breeden, from the fact that he and Hezekiah Usher at one time transacted business together. They engaged to furnish Sir Thomas Temple with supplies for the forts in Nova Scotia, Sir Thomas Temple being at that time governor of Nova Scotia, and the then owner of Noddle's Island. On examining the records, it appears that, -


" Sir Thomas Temple stands indebted to Hez: Usher & Sam1 Shrimpton £2728 4s 6d, as balance of Accts betweene them, 10 Oct. last.


" Whereas sd Usher & Shrimpton hath engaged for the next spring season to issue forth to sd Temple his Order to Capt. Thos. Lake, for the supply of him the sd Sir Thomas Temple, as the occation of his Forts in Nova Scotia shall require, & that sª Temple shall make full satisfaction to sd Usher & Shrimpton in this fall & spring season & soe successively in beauer moose & other peltry, as at the sd Forts shall bee obtained consigning the sd peltry to Capt. Thos. Lake for their vse not only for sª sum of £2728 4s 6d, now due but all fur- ther sums, to the vse & order of sª Temple, sª Lake passing the same to sª Temple's Acct for his Forts.


" For security, Temple makes over his house & lands in Bos- ton, farm house & lease at Deare Island, to sd Usher & Shrimp- ton, with my Ketch Pellican burthen 50 Tuns, with my 400 Sheepe, & Lambs & 60 head of neat Cattle on Noddle's Island, viz. 20 Coves, 16 Oxen & Steares & 24 yong Cattle wth all the right of mee in or to Noua Scotia.


" 30 Nov. 1668." 1


Aside from the business connection here shown between Usher and Shrimpton, the record is an interesting one in refer- ence to the early trade and other points apparent to the reader.


The history of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co., p. 74, in a mention of Hezekiah Usher, who was a freeman in 1639, and removed to Boston in 1646, says, " Col. Shrimpton, Ar. Co. 1670, married one of his daughters"; but implicit reli- ance cannot be placed upon this statement.


1 Bk. V. fol. 508, Suffolk Deeds. There were business transactions of a similar nature between Sir Thos. Temple and others in 1665, lib. 4, fol. 308.


19 *


222


HISTORY.


[1647.


According to the Genealogical Register,1 a Samuel Shrimp- ton married Abial Brown, in Hingham, Mass., in Aug., 1668; but of this marriage nothing is known. In none of the family papers in the writer's possession, or in the possession of other branches of the family, can be found any mention of any mar- riage of Col. Shrimpton, save to Mrs. Breeden, the mother of Samuel Shrimpton, Jr. Of this marriage there is good evi- dence; but of the others, nothing appears except what is given above, save the phrase in the notice of Col. Shrimpton's funeral in Sewall's Diary, given on a previous page, -"ye Corps was set in to the two wives." The conclusion naturally drawn from this is, that the widow of Col. Shrimpton was his third wife.


Mrs. Breeden, wife of Col. Shrimpton, was the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts. Mrs. Roberts had also a son Nich- olas, a daughter Mary, who married Sir Robert Breeden (and had two sons, John and Samuel), and a daughter Sarah, who married John Richardson.2 Col. Shrimpton, when again in England, persuaded Elizabeth Richardson, daughter of John Richardson, and Sarah his wife, just mentioned, to return with him to this country. She did so, and married Samuel Shrimp- ton, Jr., son and only child of Col. Shrimpton, on the 7th of May, 1696.3


1 Hist. & Gen. Reg. Vol. II. p. 253.


2 Died in England before the 28th of Feb., 1700.


3 ROBERTS PEDIGREE.


ROBERTS =- Elizabeth. 1


Nicholas.


1 Elizabeth.


Mary- Sir Robert Breeden. 1


mar.


1. Breeden (prob.)


= 2. Col. S. Shrimpton.


John. Samuel.


Sarah=John Richardson. Will made 1 Sept. 1692, d. bef. 1700.


3. Simeon Stoddard . .


* David.


Samuel, Jr .= Elizabeth =* David Stoddard. See Shrimpton.


John.


2d husband. m. 23 Dec. 1713.


1 Sarah m. John Wells of England.


Mary. Stephen. Samuel. Anna.


Mary.


Sarah.


Mehitable == Wm. Hyslop. See Stoddard pedigree.


Six ch., of which Elizabeth=Increase Sumner,


Gov. of Mass.


Wm. Hyslop.


1


223


COL. SHRIMPTON'S WILL.


1697.]


Col. Shrimpton, by indenture bearing date 20th Aug., 1680, " for divers good causes and for love and good will towards his wife Elizabeth," conveyed "to Sir John Smith, Knight, John Child and Edmund White, of London, as Feoffees and Trus- tees of his wife Elizabeth Shrimpton " one half of his Island, called Noddle's Island, " together with one half of the dwelling- houses, warehouses, mills, &c. with one half of all the woods, underwoods, trees, &c., water-ponds, water courses, &c. &c. To have and to hold as feoffees and trustees for the only use & behoof of his wife Elizabeth Shrimpton," etc.


This conveyance was subject to the following provision : -


" Provided that if my son, Samuel Shrimpton shall pay or cause to be fully paid, a bond, bearing date the 24 Decr 1678, for £5000 sterling, payable to said Sir James Smith, John Child and Edmund White, then my son, Samuel Shrimpton shall have and enjoy the above-mentioned half of said Island. But if it be not paid, then my wife, Elizabeth, to have and enjoy said half of said Island &c. to her & her heirs, forever."


It does not appear, from the record, that the above £5,000 was ever paid by Col. Shrimpton's son Samuel.


The following extracts from the will of Colonel Shrimpton, dated on the 5th of June, 1697, bear upon the title of Noddle's Island : -


" Unto my wife, Elizabeth, I give all the rest of my estate, (the remaining half of Noddle's Island forming a part of it,) during her life, with full liberty, at or before her death, to dis- pose of one thousand pounds thereof to whom and in such manner as to her shall seem most fit.1




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