History of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix, Part 29

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 29
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > East Boston > History of East Boston : with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix. > Part 29


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" THOMAS BELL. [Seal].


" Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of us Abigal May, Jos Williams.


" Suffolk ss Boston May ye 16th 1764. Personally appearing Mr Thomas Bell The above Subscriber, and acknowledged the foregoing to be his free act and Deed Before Joseph Williams Justce Peace."


Thus Henry Howell Williams became, by purchase, the owner of all the stock, farming utensils, etc., on Noddle's Island.


Under date of the 9th May, 1763, Thomas Greenough writes to Mr. Yeamans: "The Island is in a bad situation as to tenants. He that carried on the business of the farm, Mr. Cothren (Cochran), this day died. He was an honest man, has left a family and but little substance."


On the 15th of November, 1764, Shute Shrimpton Yeamans leased the Island to Thomas Bell and Henry Howell Williams for the space of seven, eleven, or fifteen years from the 25th of March, 1765, at the previous rent of £130 per annum. Mr. Williams was on the Island some little time previous to the giving of this lease, probably having moved there in 1762, in which year the Island was leased to him by Shute Shrimpton


HENRY HOWELL WILLIAMS .


JH Bufford's Lith. Boston.


323


LEASE TO BELL AND WILLIAMS.


1764.]


Yeamans. This lease was formerly in the possession of Mr. Avery (before alluded to), and has recently been deposited by him in the library of Harvard University. A clause in a letter from Thomas Greenough to Mr. Yeamans, dated the 15th of August, 1764, shows that Mr. Williams was on the Island in the year 1762.


The letter referred to states that " Mr. (Robert) Temple has lost by his Brother &1,200 sterling, and now he would be glad to leave Noddle's Island again, that is, not to live on it him- self, but to put another man on it to share the profits. I have a very great regard for Mr. Temple, but were he my own Brother and he had so many Farms to look after as he has, I could not consent to it by any means; why, because the young Gentmn, Col. (Joseph) Williams' son, a smart young fellow about 27 years of age, has been on the Island about 15 or 16 months, and has fared hard and has laid out himself to his uttermost to stock the farm (one half) and has kept the garden and Island in as good order as ever I saw it in my Day. I was over yesterday, walked about six miles out and home, through Marshes, bogs, &c., and Mr. Williams showed me ditches he has made to drain the water of the land; hopes soon to have salt grass, nay, he will mow some this year. He told me he spent a full month in ditching, which he don't charge you a farthing for if he con- tinues on the Island, otherwise will be paid for it. Now upon the whole I believe this young man, please God to spare his life and health, will prove a good tenant."


Henry Howell Williams,1 "the smart young fellow" alluded to in the preceding letter, was the son of Col. Joseph Williams, and was born on the 23d of October, 1736. His lithographic likeness upon the opposite page is from an original portrait by Stuart, in the possession of John Avery, Esq., of Lowell. On the 28th of January, 1762, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Bell, lessee of the Island, as before mentioned, and the same year took up his residence there. Here was his home until he removed, about the year 1800, to Chelsea, where, some years previous, he had purchased Governor Bellingham's farm. The Williams journal, which appears to have been principally


1 MS. Journal of Williams family, and History of Williams family, p. 296.


324


HISTORY.


kept by the daughters of Mr. Williams, says, under date of the 8th of April, 1793, " Papa went to Chelsea immediately after dinner ; there purchased a farm ;" and in the margin opposite, " This is the day our Father purchased the Chelsea Farm." By consulting the journal, it appears that a constant, in fact a daily, intercourse was kept up between the Island and Chelsea. After the purchase of the farm, the different members of the family were continually passing and repassing, until Mr. H. H. Williams permanently removed to Chelsea. Mr. Williams had a large family of children, all of whom were born upon the Island, and the family journal enables the writer to fill up some vacancies in the valuable history of the Williams family. The children were born as follows: namely, Elizabeth, 6th August 1765, married Andrew Sigourney, 7th October 1797, died in 1843; Henry Howell, 9th March 1767, married Sally Williams, 25th September 1800, died 1832; Martha, 25th August 1768, married Daniel Sigourney, 28th January 1798, died 1828; Thomas, 2d September 1770, married Eliza Avery, 3d February 1803, died 1833; John Shirley, 3d May 1772, married Nancy Hunt, 6th May 1807; Harriet, 1st December 1773, married John Avery, Jr. (father of John Avery, Esq., of Lowell), April 9th 1799, both lost at sea 27th October 1800; Ardelia, 6th July 1775, died unmarried, 9th April 1838; Nancy, 19th March 1777, married Amos A. Williams, October 1802, died at Baltimore, 7th September 1804; Catharine, 15th Jan- uary 1780.


The different weddings are described at full length in the journal.


During Mr. Williams's residence there, Noddle's Island was a great place of resort; the family acquaintance was very ex- tensive, the relations by marriage very numerous, and the well- known generous hospitality of his Island home kept his house filled with friends. Indeed, judging from the daily account of the family, the boats were continually plying between Boston and the Island, carrying to and fro throngs of visitors. Mr. Williams vied with his predecessor, Maverick, in his hospitality ; his house was large, elegant, and richly furnished for those times, his table sumptuous, and his cellar well stocked ; a hearty welcome was given to all, and a daily record is truly a list of


325


DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.


1775.]


daily callers and visitors. As visitors entered the hall, they saw its walls ornamented with twenty-four pictures in gilt frames ; a dozen black-walnut chairs quietly offered comfortable seats, two tea-tables with a set of China upon each, and two mahog- any dining-tables, a mahogany tea-chest, knives and forks, and two dozen wine-glasses, gave significant evidence of the good cheer within. Six daughters added no small attraction to the mansion ; a piano-forte, a rare instrument in this country at that time, stood in the parlor, and the young ladies entertained their friends with music and songs, and were not dependent upon the city for the pleasure of a social dance. Gen. Putnam, Gen. Knox, and Gen. Lincoln visited there ; Judge William Tudor also, who is called by one of the family " Papa's particular friend ;" the clergymen of Boston sat at his table; and, if the expression could with propriety be used, the nobility of the vicinity frequented the hospitable mansion.


While the town of Boston was held by the British troops, and active hostilities were going on, Mr. Williams was placed in very trying circumstances. Situated without the limits of the city, on an island, he was constantly exposed to, and suf- fered from, the marauding expeditions of the enemy ; and while he was wholly unable to resist attacks from this quarter, or to prevent some of his fine stock from falling into the hands of the British, he did not escape entirely free from an unjust suspicion of favoring the enemy.


His fine house with all its furniture was burned, and his stock of cattle and horses given away or killed by the Ameri- cans to prevent the British taking possession of them.


A list, given under oath, of the contents of the house and out-buildings at the time of the conflagration, shows the man- ner in which the house was furnished, and with what liberality the cellar and larder were stored, and is very interesting as illus- trative of the life and habits of Mr. Williams, and that his un- bounded hospitality was not likely to exhaust his resources. Some items on this list show the liberal provision made for the family ; for instance, " 9 Barrells Flour," " 4 Cwt. Hard Bread," "2 Barrells Peas and Beans," "422 Bush's of Indian Corn & Rye," " 50 Bushels Potatoes," "11 Barr's Pork," " 1


28


326


HISTORY


[1776.


Barrel Tongues," "2 Butts of Vinegar holding 6 Barrels," " 3 Barls of Cyder," "2 Q" Casks Wine," "1 Hamper Dorchester Ale," "6 Dozen excellent Cyder," " 3 Dozen Currt Wine," "3 Hogsheads Old Jamaica Spirit 231 Galls," " 3 Hogsheads New rum just got home from the West Indies," "500wt fine Bacon," " 1 hhd Molasses," "150wt fine Old Cheese," etc., etc .; and thus the quotations might be extended into every department of the household, showing the same liberal arrangement in all the requisites of a well-regulated and hospitable family.


Mr. Williams's loss by the conflagration on the Island and seizure of stock was a serious one. In the list from which the above quotations have been made, mention is made of "43 Elegant Horses put into the Publick Stables, 3 Cattle taken and used as provisions for the army, 220 used as provisions as above, 4 fine swine, 5 Dozen Fowles, Turkeys and Ducks. £1470."


In partial remuneration for his loss, Gen. Washington gave him a building used as barracks by the troops at Cambridge. This he removed to the Island and erected, and it was occupied by him as the family mansion (little resembling, however, the one which was burned), and after him by his son Thomas, until the tenancy of the Island was relinquished by the family. The work of rebuilding on the Island after the fire was speedily commenced, but at much less cost than before. The house was of one story with Lutheran windows in the roof in front, a pas- sage-way or hall from the front to the rear, on each side of which was a large room with bedrooms adjoining the west, or drawing-room, and an L part consisting of two rooms used for kitchens, etc. According to Mr. Williams's bills of the expense of buildings erected in 1776 and 1777, the whole cost was £427 1s. 10d., and the buildings consisted of a house, barn, corn-barn, and store on the wharf. This subject will be treated upon at length in another chapter.


When Mr. Williams removed to his farm called " Howell Place," at Chelsea, he left his son Thomas upon the Island, and to him he soon relinquished the tenancy. Thomas Williams continued to live upon the Island as its tenant, at an annual rent of $1,000, until a year or two after its purchase by the


1776.]


CHARACTER OF HENRY H. WILLIAMS. 327


East Boston Company.1 As has been before stated, he was born upon the Island. A letter written by him on the 10th of January, 1832, states that he " was born on Noddle's Island, and had lived on it and occupied it for over fifty-five years." He re- moved to Chelsea, where he died on the 5th of December, 1833.


Henry Howell Williams died at Chelsea on the 26th of De- cember, 1802, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. The following is taken from the family journal: -


" This Character given our Father by a partial friend, Died at Chelsea, December 26, (1802) Henry Howell Williams, Esq., aged 66 years, after three months confinement, which he bore with Christian fortitude. Few men of his occupation in life were better known or who lived to that age were more generally beloved, or quitted life more sincerely lamented. He was a man of integrity and uprightness, a man of industry and per- severance, whose benevolence and generosity had no bounds. Mild and conciliating in his manners ; sincere in his affections; irreproachable in his morals; warm and unalterable in his friendship; and in his domestic life amiable and affectionate. By this event his consort is deprived of an amiable and affec- tionate partner, his children, of a tender and indulgent father, his relations and acquaintances, of a kind and endearing com- panion, and society of a good and worthy citizen."


A descendant speaks of him in the following words: " His appearance was that of a hale, hearty English gentleman, fond of his friends, of great sociability, ready for a merry time at home with his children and visitors, not particularly abstemious (I find some of his travelling bills in which 'punch' is a pre-


1 From original papers we ascertain that the rent of Noddle's Island for the three years prior to the 25th of March, 1794, was £110 a year, . . · For the six years ending the 25th of March, 1800, at £200, .


$1,733.34


4,000


For the eleven years ending on the 25th of March, 1811, at $1,000, .


11,000


For the twenty years,


·


$16,733.34


For repairs to wharf, sea-wall, etc.,


2,679.05


Net rent for twenty years, . $14,054.29 ·


Average yearly rent for twenty years, $702.71}


For several years previous to 1771, the annual rent was £110 sterling.


4


328


HISTORY.


[1776.


dominant charge), and generally of a jovial and joyous dispo- sition. He had, however, a strong temper, which was easily roused, when no doubt he used a mode of expressing his feel- ings such as Lord Orford confessed to the Bible Society he feared he did sometimes."


The Williams family thus held possession of the Island for about seventy years ; so long that it almost lost its proper name, and was familiarly called Williams's Island. The Island inter- ests were well cared for, and the proprietors were well satisfied with their tenants. The long course of years through which the tenancy remained in the family is conclusive proof of the state of feeling existing between the contracting parties. The visits to the Island by the owners have been described in the Introductory Letter. Those were days of enjoyment ; air, earth, and sea contributed to the richly loaded tables, and the ladle gave many a dip into the old-fashioned punch-bowl. The hos- pitality of the tenant was never more apparent than on these occasions ; for hospitality and shrewd policy united to make the visits of the proprietors seasons of festivity and good feeling.


During Mr. Williams's residence upon the Island, he had nu- merous individuals in his service; but who they were, or how long they severally remained, it is now impossible to ascertain. To support the style of life which was characteristic of the Island mansion, a large number of house-servants was neces- sary, and the proper care of the farm demanded many out-door laborers. With the exception of what is contained in the Wil- liams journal, there is but little known of the Island history during a part, at least, of Mr. Williams's lease. We find men- tion made of houses and persons of which we have no particu- lar knowledge; and the original record is all from which any information can be obtained. For instance, in the journal, under date of the 22d of May, 1795, is found the following: " I forgot to mention Mr. Tay drank tea here yesterday. He ought not to be forgotten, as his father was one of the farmers on the Island, and he was born on it, I believe. All I know about it is, there were three houses for the tenants that took the care, made butter, cheese, and attended to all the duties of such an establishment in a farmer-like manner." At this distance of time it is difficult to determine about this gentleman, or these


329


THE BARRACKS.


1776.]


three houses; but there can be no doubt as to the correctness of the record.1 The writer recollects the name of Tay, but has no particular knowledge of him.


On the 17th of February, 1800, as the journal states, died Alexander Shirley, "aged eighty-three, an inhabitant of the Island for upwards of fifty years." He went familiarly by the name of " Governor," and in the account of his sickness and death he is spoken of by that name. Who he was is unknown, but probably was a laborer, judging from the following record : " 5th of February, 1795. Governor Shirley, an old man that has lived with papa ever since he has been on this Island, was last Saturday taken sick," etc. If these accounts are correct, he must have been upon the Island some years previous to its occupation by Mr. Williams. The funeral was attended on the 18th, from the house of Mr. John Fenno, on the Boston side of the channel, and the deceased was buried in Copp's hill cem- etery.2 The " Governor" had a wife, who lived upon the Island, and a daughter, Mrs. Welsh, is mentioned as coming to the Island to see her mother on the evening of the funeral.


It has been stated, that the army barracks at Cambridge were given to Mr. Williams as a partial remuneration for his loss by the fire in 1776. There was another building on the Island, called the " French barracks," situated under the hill, or at the foot of the site of the old fort. This building was about one hundred feet long and one story in height. Mr. Avery, of Lowell (before mentioned), well remembers hearing his grand- father, H. H. Williams, speak of the very great mortality from fever (yellow, he thinks) among the French soldiers who occu- pied these barracks. The precise time of the erection of this building is not known, nor many particulars regarding it; but the fact of its existence is well established, and also that it was used as a hospital for the French soldiers. Some light is thrown upon the subject by the following extracts from the Massachu-


1 These "three houses" may be the ones referred to in the military his- tory, in the list of buildings destroyed by fire.


2 The name does not appear in Mr. Bridgman's History of that cemetery, from which it is probable that no stone was erected bearing an inscription.


28*


330


HISTORY.


[1780.


setts Archives. The first is a petition presented in 1780, and is in these words : -


" May it please your Honors. The Commanding Officer of the French Troops has applyed to me for a Hospital for the sick, and as there is Continental Barrack on Noddles Island, suitable for that purpose, and as Mr. Williams owns the Soil, and I suppose he will make Objection to their going into Bar- racks, I pray your Honors would be pleased to give Orders that they shall not be molested in said Barracks.


" I am with great respect " Your Honors Obedient Servant, " THO. CHASE, D. I. M. G."


The answer to this petition is as follows: -


" In Council, July 18, 1780.


" Read & Ordered - that Col' Thomas Chace, D. I. M. G., be, and hereby is directed to take Possession of the Continental Barracks on Noddle's Island for the Use of the sick Soldiers on Board the Ship Le isle de France, arrived this morning from France, belonging to his most Christian Majesty.


" The Honorable Council.


"Attest, JNO. AVERY, D. Scy."


There is a probability that the " French barracks " were occu- pied as tenements by workmen on the Island; at least, this in- ference is drawn from a record in the Journal (24th April, 1800), which states that a Mr. Fisk had been hired as foreman on the Island for the summer, and that, with his family, he had that day moved into the barracks. This must allude to the French barracks, as the others had been converted into Mr. Williams's dwelling-house. Mr. King, who carried milk from the Island to Boston, also lived in these French barracks.


The references in the journal to persons and occurrences are numerous, and many of them are interesting and valuable. Ex- tending through a long course of years, and being a daily record, a vast amount of miscellaneous matter is there perpetuated,


1793.]


331


THE WILLIAMS JOURNAL.


which well repays the search of the antiquary, but of which a great deal is not pertinent to our direct narrative.


It is impossible to make very copious extracts from the Wil- liams journal, although frequent use is made of the volumes for reference and in other ways. Still, to show the general character of the books, and to give some insight into the family affairs upon the Island, a few selections are given, which will doubtless interest the reader, and give pleasure while imparting information. The extracts, which are fair specimens of the whole contents, will fully sustain all that has been said of the hospitality for which the Williams mansion was so celebrated, and of the class of persons who visited the Island. Frequent allusion is made to visits made by the author and his father (Governor Sumner), and other proprietors of the Island, as before mentioned in the Introductory Letter.


"Wednesday, April 10, 1793. - Very pleasant. Papa spent the forenoon in town; returned to dine, and brought us word that Mrs. Tudor would spend the day and keep fast with us to-morrow.


"Thursday, 11th. - Very pleasant, but cold; a day of fast- ing and prayer ; and such it really was at Noddle's Island. All went to meeting, except Patty and Harriett. At eleven o'clock, the ferry-boat landed two men and two women, who proved to be relatives of Edward King's. At half past eleven, the boat returned with Mrs. Tudor, four children, and Mr. Brade. Mr. Lathrop preached from the First of Samuel, second chapter, and thirtieth verse. I ask ten thousand pardons for forgetting Mrs. Seaver, who likewise dined here- but such a clacking! If it was possible, I would number the tongues. Papa, mam- ma, Mrs. Tudor and children, tarried at N. I .; the rest went to meeting, etc.


"Sunday, 21st. - It being so cold and windy, papa advised us to stay at home, and he, with Harry and Tom, went to meet- ing. Capt. Rogers came with them to dinner. . ... Mr. and Mrs. Alexander made their appearance this afternoon, in their new chariot; it was quite a parade, being something of a nov- elty to have such a carriage stop at the New North. No won-


332


HISTORY.


[1793-4.


der it attracted the attention of all the people, being the first that has been owned here for a great number of years.


" Tuesday, 25th June. - Very pleasant. Papa went to town at ten; directly after, Mrs. Dr. Davis and Mrs. Bartlett came over to spend the day ; at twelve, Mrs. Archibald came, and Mr. Sumner came at two. Papa, Colonel Dwight, and Jack Avery joined us. After dinner, Mr. Archibald went over, and brought back Madam Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, Miss Proctor, and Miss -. Dr. Bartlett and Ben. Beal came in the last boat. It began to rain about seven, and rained all the evening. . Soon after tea, Mrs. Davis, Dr. Bartlett, and B. B. left us. Between ten and at eleven they all took leave but Madam Shaw, N. Hill, and the two Miss Averys.


" Wednesday, 25th. - Cleared off in the afternoon, and Mr. Sumner and Avery came over for the girls. At four the boat came for them. Madam Shaw and mamma went with them. Papa returned to tea ; brought Colonel Williams and Colonel Dwight home with him, who spent the night. Mamma returned at nine.


"Thursday, 10th October. - Boat returned with the ladies, fourteen in number. In the evening came the gentlemen. We sang and danced.


" Monday, 14th .- Very pleasant. Papa went to Boston early. At twelve o'clock we all took a bit of Luntion, and went over to see the funeral of the Governor, who was inter'd with all the Pomp, Ceremony, and Honors due to so dignified a character as Mr. (John) Hancock. Upon the most moderate calculation, it is said there were upwards of twenty thousand people in the procession. And the spectators ; - every house and street was thronged.


" Tuesday, June 3d, 1794. - At four the castle barge landed four gentlemen : General Jackson, General Davidson, Col. Waters, and the engineer, to view the fort; they chatted an hour, drank a glass of Perry, and then took leave.


" Friday, 25th of July. - 'Three Miss Averys, their brother, Mr. Sumner, and Mr. Hale came over and passed the after- noon.


" Wednesday, 10th June, 1795. - Papa went to Boston ; came


333


THE WILLIAMS JOURNAL.


1795-6.]


home at three and told us that General Knox and General Lincoln intended paying us a visit to-morrow.


" Thursday, 11th. - Papa waited till ten, expecting the gen- erals, then went to Boston; at eleven he returned with them ; General Lee rode, General Knox and papa walked to the farm, and at one they returned to Boston.


" Thursday, 24th Sept. - Papa told us the death of Mrs. Tudor, the old lady.


"Friday, 25th. - Papa went to the funeral of old Lady Tudor.


"Sunday, 11th October, 1795. - Had an invitation to dine at Judge Sumner's next Tuesday.


"Tuesday, 13th. - A most elegant day; wind west. After breakfast, came Mrs. Ruggles and Mrs. Dr. Davies to pass the day with mamma. When they heard of our engagement at Roxbury, they would not be prevailed on to stay ; so that took a luncheon, and went over with us at one o'clock; papa, mam- ma, Betsey, and Patty to the Judge's (Harriett went to Brain- tree with Avery, who left us in the morning.) Had a very pleasant visit, and met a large party. Among the number was Madam Sullivan and our friend Mrs. Lee. We came away at dark, etc.


" Friday, April 8th, 1796. - Mr. Eliot and Miss Treadwell spent the afternoon here, left us at eight. We heard to-day of the death of Mr. Thomas Russell, who died this morning; he has not been sick more than ten or twelve days ; he was a great merchant in our town.


" Monday, 11th. - Papa went over in the afternoon to attend Mr. Thos. Russell's funeral. . . . People flocked from all quar- ters . .. the houses and streets were thronged, the streets shut up, and every thing seemed to mourn the loss of so worthy a man.


" Monday, 11th July. - A cloudy warm morning; as fine a one for musketoes as ever was. Just before eight, Capt. Scott and son arrived ; after breakfast papa invited the captain to pass the day with us ; he was very willing to. James (Scott) left us soon after, promising to return to dine, and bring the news of the day. After he had got some way from the wharf, his father took the speaking trumpet and told him to bring his sisters ; at half-past twelve he came, brought his two sisters,




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