USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 111
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The Lieutenant James Richardson named above was himself afterwards killed in battle with the In- dians at Black Poiot, a locality in the limits of Maine. Cf. R. Mem. 43; N. E. Gen. Reg. xliii. 195-97.
Woburn in King Philip's War .- The series of arti- cles by George M. Bodge in the N. E. Hist. Gen. Register add further names and facts to what is already published. Cf. Sewall's Woburn, chap. iv., particularly pp. 113-15, for men; 115-19 for the war; 119-21 for killed in the town itself.
List of Soldiers from Woburn in Philip's War, 1675-76.
(With references to Bodge's articles, hegun in the Register io 1883. xxxvii. 61.)
Jobo Baker, wounded in fight, December 19, 1675; one of Captain N. Davenport's company ; impressed for that company from Woburo ; cred- ited to Wohuro in ao assignment of wages. Woburn was credited by sundry amounts, with £107 128. 8d., 00 August 24, 1677. Perhaps this was the Joho Baker in garrison at Marlborough. Cf. N. E. Hist. Gen. Reg. xxxvii. 175; xxxix. 258, 259; xl. 320, 396; xliii. 77, 279 ; also 266.
Daniel Baldwin, io garrison at Billerica on Charlestown credit. Ib. xlii. 299 ; xliii. 260, 276.
John Baldwin, impressed from Woburn for Captain Daveuport's com- pany. 1b. xxxix. 257, 259.
John Bateman, in garrison at Chelmsford ; credited to Woburo io 80 assignment of wages. Ib. xxxviii. 220 ; xli. 409 ; xliii. 262, 279.
Peter Batemao, impressed from Woburn for Captsio Davenport's com- pany ; died February 13, 1675-76, a result, it is supposed, of exposure io battle in the December previous. Ib. xxxix. 258, 259.
Nathaniel Billings, member of Captain Thomas Prentice's troop; of Woburn ; wounded in the Fort fight, December 19, 1675. Ib. xxxvii. 281, 282.
Isaac Brooks, member of Captain Prentice's troop of cavalry ; credited to Woburn io ao assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 282 ; xlii. 94 ; xliii. 279.
John Brooks, xxxviii. 220 ; xlii. 299.
John Burbeen, impressed from Woburo for Captain Davenport's com- pany ; name not iu pay lists; in garrison at Chelmsford ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. 1b. xxxix. 259 ; xli. 409 ; xliii. 262, 279.
William Butters, credited to Woburn io an assignment of wages. Ib. xli. 409 ; xliii. 279.
John Carter, captain of the local military company ; included in the list of impressment of thirteen meo. Ib. xxxix. 259.
Thomas Chamberlain, in garrison at Groton. Ib. xli. 409 ; xliii. 263. Aaron Cleveland, xlii. 299.
Moses Cleveland, in garrison at Chelmsford; credited to Woburn io an assignment of wages. Ib. xlii. 100 ; xliii. 261, 279.
Samuel Cleveland, io garrison at Chelmsford aod Groton ; credited to Woburn in ao assignment of wages. Ib. xxxviii. 220; xli. 408 ; xliii. 262, 263, 279.
Josialı Clopson, or Clarsoo, in garrison at Chelmsford ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages .. 1b. xli. 408 ; xliii. 262, 279.
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WOBURN.
John Coddington, xxxviii. 220.
James Converse, ensign of the local military company ; included in the list of impressment of thirteen men. 1b. xxxix. 259.
Jonathan Crisp, in garrison at Dunstable and Groton. Ih. xxxviii. 220 ; xli. 408 ; xliii. 263, 264.
John Cutler, impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport's com- pany ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxviii. 46 ; xxxix. 257, 259 ; xli. 409 ; xliii. 279.
William Dean, xti. 274.
Robert Eames, xxxvii. 74.
Paul Fletcher, xxxviii. 219, 220.
Richard Francis, credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages ; also credited to Hingham. Ib. xliii. 272, 279.
Thomas Fuller, xlii. 95.
John Green, a cavalryman ; also corporal of cavalry. 1b. xxxvii. 284 ; xxxviii. 224 ; xlii. 94, 95.
William Green, corporal of cavalry ; credited to Woburn in an assign- ment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 175; xxxviii. 224 ; xlii. 94, 95, 299; xliii. 279. On June 1, 1677, Corporal William Grean was appointed cornet of the Three County Troop. Colony Records, v. 151.
Thomas Hall, impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport'a com- pany ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. 1b. xxxix. 257, 259 ; xli. 400; xliii. 279.
Thomas Henshaw, or Hincher, cavalryman. Ib. xxxviii. 66, 284 ; xxxviii. 219.
Josiah Hobbs, xhi. 408.
Jeremiah Hood, impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport's com- pany ; name not in pay-lists. Ib. xxxix. 259 ; xlii. 96.
John Jefts, xxxviii. 220.
William Johnson, liautenant of the local military company ; included in the list of inipressment of thirteen men. Ib. xxxix. 259.
John Kendall, member of Captain T. Prentice's troop ; also possibly a snbstitnte; a cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 74, 282 ; xxxix. 381, 382 ; xli. 278 ; xlii. 94, 95 ; xliii. 279.
John Knight, xli, 273, 409.
Joseph Knight, xxxix. 381, 382.
Benoni McDonald, or McDonnell ; credited to Woburn in an aasign- ment of wages. Ib. xli. 273, 400 ; xliii. 279.
Daniel McGinnie, or Magenis, corporal ; in garrison at Medfield. Ib. xxxvii. 66, 182 ; xxxviii. 42; xli. 408, 410; xliii. 267. See note at end of this list.
Jobn Malony, in garrison at Dunstable ; credited to Woburn in an as- signment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 72; xliii. 263, 279.
John Mousall, cavalryman. Ib. xxxvii. 186, 294.
Richard Nevers, in garrison at Chelmsford. 1b. xliii. 261.
Abraham Parker, in garrison at Dunstable ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xliii. 263, 279.
Josiah Parker, xxxviii. 219.
Thomas Parker, credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xliii. 279.
Joseph Pierce, xxxvii. 66 ; xli. 273, 408.
Nathaniel Pierce, in the celebrated Falls Fight, under Captain Wil- liam Turner ; name given as of Woburn. Ib. xli. 210, 212.
Samnel Pierce, xlii. 299.
Thomas Pierce, member of Captain T. Prentice's troop ; also in the cavalry under Lieutenant Oakes ; cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 282, 284; xli. 278; xlii. 94; xliii. 279.
William Pierce, impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport'a com- pany ; in garrison at Chelmsford. Ib. xxxix. 257, 259 ; xliii. 262.
George Polly, xlii. 299.
John Polly, impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport'a com- pany ; in garrison at Chelmsford ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 74 ; xxxix. 258, 259 ; xliii. 262, 279.
John Priest, impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport's com- pany ; in garrison at Chelmsford ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxix. 258, 259 ; xliii. 262, 279.
Samuel Reed, in garrison nt Groton. 1b. xli. 273 ; xliii. 263.
William Reed, member of Captain 'T. Prentice's troop ; also in the cov- alry under Lieutenant Oakes. Ib. xxxvii. 280, 284. This William Reed died by a shot fired by his brother Timothy in the woods, November 7, 1688, who unawares shot him instead of a deer. Cf. Sewall'a Woburn, 632. John Richardson, cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xlii. 95, 102 ; xliii. 279.
Joseph Richardson, cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 74 ; xxxviii. 441, 443 ; xlii. 94 ; xliii. 279.
Nathaniel Richardson, member of Captain T. Prentice's troop ; wounded in the Fort fight, Docember 19, 1675 ; cavalryman ; credited to . Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 281, 282; xlii. 94; xliii. 279.
Samnel Richardson, cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assign- ment of wages. Ib. xlii. 94 ; xliii. 279.
Stephen Richardson, cavalryman. Th. xxxvii. 284 ; xlii. 94.
David Roberts. Sewall's Woburn, 114.
Joshua Sawyer, xxxvii. 74 ; xli. 273, 278.
John Seera, cavalryman. Ib. xxxvii. 284.
John Sheldon, impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport's com. pany. Ib. xxxix. 258, 259.
Benjamin Simonds, in garrison at Groton ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. 1b. xxxviii. 220 ; xli. 409 ; xliii. 263, 279.
Caleb Simonds, wounded ; of Woburn ; in fight of December 19, 1675 ; impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport's company. Ib. XXXix. 257, 259.
Jamas Simonds. Sewall's Woburn, 114.
Joseph Simonds, in garrison at Chelmsford ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xli. 408 ; xliii. 261, 279.
Robert Simpson, credited to Woburn in an assignment of wagea. Ib. xliii. 279. Servant of Lieutenant John Wyman, who petitioned the General Court, May 16, 1676, that his servant, Simpson, then a garrison soldier at Hadley, and needing clothes, might be released and return to Wyman, so that Wyman's leather, then in the vats, might not be spoiled, Wyman being a tanner. Simpson had been in the country's service all that winter. Sewall's Woburn, 114, 115.
Zachariah Snow, wounded ; of Woburn; in fight of December 19, 1675 ; impressed from Woburn for Captain Davenport's company. Ib. xxxix. 258, 259.
Cyprian Stevens, in garrison at Groton. Ib. xliii. 264.
Henry Summers, a member of Captain T. Prentice's troop. Ib. xxxvii. 280, 282.
John Tidd, cavalryman ; in garrison at Groton. Ib. xxxvii. 284 ; xliii. 263.
Elijah Tottingham, wounded; of "Oborna ;" at Fort Fight December 19, 1675. Ib. xxxviii. 442, 443.
Nehemiah Tottingham, xli. 273, 409.
John Walker, xlii. 299.
Samuel Walker, xliii. 76.
Joseph Waters, credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. 1b.
xliii. 279.
George Wilkinson. Sewall's Woburn, 114.
Benjamin Wilson. Sewall's Woburn, 114.
John Wilson, credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 174 ; xlii. 299 ; xliii. 279.
Increase Winn, member of Captain T. Prentice's troop ; cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 282; xli. 278 ; xlii. 94, 95; xliii. 279.
Joseph Winn, cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxviii. 42 ; xlii. 94, 95 ; xliii. 279.
Josiah Wood, xlii. 299.
Joseph Wright, member of Captain T. Prentice's troop ; cavalryman ; credited to Woburn in an assignment of wages. Ib. xxxvii. 282; xlii. 94; xliii. 279.
Francis Wyman, member of Captain T. Prentice'e troop. Ib. xxxvii. 280, 282. It is inferred that he servad apparently by voluntary enlist- tuent. He died April 26, 1676, a result probably of exposure in battle in the December previous. Sewall's Woburn, 119. Son of Francis and nephew of Lieutenant John Wyman.
John Wyman, cornet ; latterly lientenant of Captain T. Prentice's troop. Ib. xxxvii. 280, 282.
John Wyman, son of the above ; member of same troop ; killed at the Fort Fight, December 19, 1675. Ib. xxxvii. 281, 282.
Daniel McGinnis, variously spelled, however, Mackginnis, Magines, Mackgennyes, Maginnah, etc., appears to have been a citizen of Woburn in 1674, for in a deed, dated June 29th of that year, Michael Bacon, of Cambridge, conveyed about seventy-five acres of land in Cambridge to Daniel McGinnis, who is referred to in the deed as a resident of Woburn. At that time, however, he apparently moved from Wo- burn to Cambridge, as he describes himself of the lat-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ter place in a deed to John Tidd, dated June 8, 1675. In this deed, also, McGinnis first speaks of himself as being an "Irishman." Shortly afterwards our early Irish citizen seems to have returned to Woburn, for the Woburn records give his marriage to Rose Neal, February 10, 1676. His first child, Rose, was born in Woburn November 19, 1677, and can easily claim to be the first Irish-American of Woburn.
According to Billerica History, McGinnis was living in that town in 1678 and 1679. He next ap- pears, April 4, 1682, at Watertown. On that date " the selectmen of Watertown stated to the Court that Daniel Maginnah, an Irishman, is lately removed from Medford and hired estate of Richard Houlding, having a poor place and considerable family of children, and they disapprove of him as an inhab- itant."
After this rebuff it would seem that Mr. McGinnis again sought refuge in Woburn, for under date of October 27, 1684, he entered into an agreement with Ralph Reed and Benjamin Simonds about the fencing of some land "of the great field in Woburn, called the Simonds' field, or Mount Playnum fields," which is the large, level plain now located on Burlington Street in Cummingsville, near Burlington town line, and even now often spoken of as "The Plains." As he clearly owned land at this place, it may be inferred that he lived there also.
In December of the same year his name appears in the town rate, where he is taxed four shillings. His son Edmund was born here, March 23, 1685. About this time, however, or shortly prior thereto, he again migrated, and this time to Rhode Island, for in a deed dated February 15, 1685, he describes himself " of the King's Province in the Narragansett County in New England," and in this deed conveys his Bil- lerica land to John Abbott. Further see Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, vol. iii., p. 234 .- E. F. JOHNSON.
The lieutenant (Oakes) of Prentice's troop, who held office at the beginning of the war, having been assigned to another command, John Wyman, the cor- net, was promoted to his place. In N. E. Hist. Gen Reg., xxxvii. 281, reference is made to a petition of Lieutenant John Wyman, asking for the release of his son, who was lately married, stating that he him- self had been in both the Mount Hope and the Nar- ragansett campaigns, and in the latter had received a wound in his face ; that his eldest son was killed iu that campaign, and that his servant had been in the country's service all the past winter. The servant was Robert Simpson. Again, a well known charac- ter-John Seers, constable of Woburn-made com- plaint to the authorities that Lieutenant John Wy- man and daughter, named Bathsheba, had together resisted him in the impressment of one of the horses of the said Wyman for the country's use, and for this offence they were both charged two pounds each as a fine. The date of Seers' petition was May 10, 1676,
and the time of the trouble was April, 1676. Captain John Cutler, of Charlestown, marching through Wo- burn with several soldiers on the way to Billerica to attack the Indians, who had caused a stir at that place, having a warrant from the late Major Willard to the constable at Woburn and the constable at Bil- lerica, to impress horses or anything desired for the ser- vice, found horses were very scarce, because on account of the stir at Billerica about twenty of the best of Wo- burn men and horses had already gone up to help them. Seers recites the hard words and action of resistance of Wyman, and prays for such legislation " as will prevent such abuse." "That so," he says, "I and other constables may not go in fear of our lives when we are upon the execution of our office."
A warrant had been issued to the constable for six carriage horses and three men from Woburn. Bath- sheba Wyman, named above, married Nathaniel Tay, of Billerica, May 30, 1677. Cf. N. E. Hist. Gen. Reg. xxxviii. 44; Hazen's Billerica, 120.
The troop of which John Wyman, of Woburn, was lieutenant was attached to the Massachusetts regi- ment, which was organized for the Narragansett cam- paign, and was present with the army in the mem- orable Fort Fight of December 19, 1675, being the only cavalry organization of the English there. A letter of Joseph Dudley, at the time mentions a slight wound by an arrow in Lieutenant Wyman's face, which he received during a scout about four days before the occurrence of the famous Fort Fight. During this scout a number of Indians were killed or taken prisoners in an attack on their wigwams, which were burned, the slight wound of Wyman be- ing the only casualty received on the part of the English in that skirmish. Cf. N. E. Hist. Gen. Reg., . xl. 80, 88 ; xliii. 156.
OFFICERS OF THE PROVINCIAL PERIOD, 1692- 1775 .- During this period occurred certain minor Indian wars, and the war of greater magni- tude than any that had yet been experienced, namely, the French and Indian War. In all these contests Woburn men bore an active part. The prov- inces were then loyal and true to the government of Great Britain, and great interest was still taken by the people in military affairs. Indeed, it was a ne- cessity for their own protection. The warlike exper- ience of this period was a school for the War of the Revolution, and many of the officers and men origi- nally enrolled under the British colors in these ear- lier wars, were later found in arms against the Brit- ish Government. First and foremost in the list it will not do to omit a sketch of Woburn's most emi- nent son, whose military career commenced during this period.
Prime Minister and Commanding General of an European Army.
Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1753-1814), a native of Woburn; pre-eminently her most distinguished son ; was major in the second provincial regiment of New Hampshire, 1773, before he was of legal age ; later a lieutenant-colonel in the British army in a cavalry regi- ment composed of royalists and designed for service in America, 1781,
385
WOBURN.
and later still a colonel of the King's American dragoons, 1783. Hav- ing gained some military distinction in the British service during the Revolutionary War in America, he then entered the service of the Elector of Bavaria, and gained still higher military distinction in Eu- rope. Ile was colonel of a regiment of cavalry aud general aide-de- camp in Bavaria, 1784 ; major general of cavalry and privy couacilor of state, 1788; minister of war and minister or superintendent of po- lice, etc., etc. ; heud of the council of the regency in Bavaria, and commander-in-chief of the Electoral army, and, in 1796, while he held the high offices last named, Munich, the capital of Bavaria, was threatened by the Austrian and French armies, hut owing to his signal services and his success, neither the French or the Austrian forces en- tered the city, nor gained any substantial foothold in the country, which was soon after delivered from their dangerous presence.
Although this eminent man acquired uone of his military renown in Wobura, he should not he omitted ia a consideration of the cureer of Woburn's military meo. It is true that he fought agniust his native country in the Revolutionary contest, and on the side which was op- posed to her liberties, but his eminent services to mankind as a scien- tist and a philanthropist are sufficient to overcome the opprobrium conferred on him by his countrymen for his course in that struggle The world now looks on him as a benefactor, in spite of serious defects in his moral character, and America considers him as one of her greatest men. Let us unite in that verdict.
Among other natives of Woburn who gained distinction in the mili- tary profession elsewhere, may be mentioned Brigadier-General James Reed.
James Reed (1724-1807) was horn in Woburn, son of Joseph and Sarah, and died in Fitchburg. Officer of eminence in the French and Revolutionary Wars; captain, lieutenant-colonel, and, in May, 1775, colonel of the 2d New Hampshire Regiment, which held the rail-fence with John Stark, at the battle of Bunker Hill, and protected the re- treat of the main body from the redoubt. In the army in Canada un- dez General John Sullivan, in 1776, his regiment suffered severely from disease, and more than one third died. He, himself, was attacked by the small-pox, and, after a long illness, becaale incapacitated for further service. He had, meantime. been appointed a brigadier-gen- eral on the recommendation of Washington, and retained the commis- sion in the hope that he might be able to return to active service, but becoming nearly bliad and deaf, he was forced to give it up, and re- tired with half pay. A son, Sylvaaus, was also an active military offi- cer, and rose to the rank of colonel. Cf. Appleton's Cyclop. of Amer. Biog. ; Reed's Reed Family, 78-80.
The father of General Reed resided on the estate of his father at Woburn West Side, in the house and on the place known in the present century as the Sylvanns Wood farm, corner present Locust and Cam- bridge Streets. Very little reliance can be placed on the statements made in the Hist. Reed Fam., above cited, in relation to General Reed's regiment, or the careers of his immediate ancestry. According to that history, 75-76, the General was a grandson of that Joseph Reed wlio was sergeant, 1701-1713 ; ensiga, 1713-1715 ; lieutenant, 1716-1741 ; and captain-lieutenant (?), 1739-1740, in Woburn.
Another officer born in Wobura, and who gained distinction in the French and Revolutionary Wars, particularly in the line of a military engineer, was Colonel Jeduthun Baldwin.
Jeduthun Baldwin (1732-1788), a native of Woburn, son of Isaac and Mary, died in Brookfield. Captain in the French War. In the siege of Boston, 1775-76, he designed the defences of the American forces, and, on March 16, 1776, was made assistant engineer, with the rank of captain, to the Continental troops ; was subsequently ordered to New York and made lieutenant-colonel, April 26, 1776; was sent to Canada, September, 1776, and later made engineer with the rank of colonel. He performed various services and resigned from the army April 26, 1782. Cf. Appleton's Cyclop. Amer. Biog .; Richardson Memorial, for genealogy, where it is stated that a brother, Isaac, was killed in Bunker Hill Battle. The name of Jeduthun Baldwin often occurs in the docu- mentary history of the Revolutionary War.
Colonels.
Jonathan Tyng, esquire and colonel prior to 1708, at which tinie his name is first connected with Woburn. He had been major, 1699 ; lieu- tenant-colonel, 1702, etc .; and colonel certainly from 1708-1721, dying in the Inst year named at Woburn, in his eighty-first year. Gravestone at Woburn. Ilis previous homes had been in Boston and Dunstable, and his family had been one of the most prominent in Massachusetts. His widow, Judith, who had been formerly the wife of the Rev. Jabez Fox, of Woborn, died there, 1736, in her ninety-ninth year-grave-
stone-and the gravestone of another wife, Sarah (Usher) Tyng, 1713, is also to be seen tliere. Colonel Tyng was a magistrate and one of Sir Edand Andros's council, 1686-1687, and colonel of the 2d Middlesex County Regiment of Foot. He was also entitled to armorial bearings, And there is much preserved to show that he wasan honorable man and a person of ability. The history of Dunstable contains many allusions to lia, a place where he was the earliest permanent settler, having re- mained in that town alone duriog Philip's War, when every other per- son had departed from the place for fear of the Indians. lle fortified his house, and though obliged to send to Boston for his food, was alone in the wilderness among his savage enemies. Town-meetings of Don- stable were held at Woburn, 1677, and were continued in that way as Iate as 1711. Till 1713 he was kept busy in defending his frontier settlement from hostile Indians. At an early period he was appointed guardian of the Wamesit tribe. Ilis brotber, Edward Tyng, was father-in-law of Rev. John Fox, son of Rev. Jabez, of Woburn. We will not attempt to enumerate the offices he held at Dunstable. In 1703, as colonel, he had charge of all the garrisons in his district. The standard genealogical dictionaries give the particulars regarding bis family and wives, his distinguished connections, and his children. One of his sons was the first born child recorded in Dunstable. Two of his sons, both graduates of Harvard, were distinguished military men, one of them, the eldest, being killed by the Indians in 1710. In- teresting details are furnished in the diaries of the period. Samuel Sewall, Jr.,-Memoranda (Mass. Hist. Coll., 6th ser., ii. 304)-alludes to these occurrences:
" Jan. 29, 1723-24, Col. Jonathan Tyng dies. See News Letter, N. 1043. Interred the 24th, at Woburn ; I went with two brothers Dud- ley ; a large funeral. Gave me and wife gloves."
The News Letter notice, No. 1043, referred to, was as follows :
"Wooburn ; Lord's Day, January 19th. We were here entertain'd with a very loud memento mori.1 The Hon. Col. Jonathan Tyng, Esq., walking to the place of public worship in the afternoon, expired as soon as he got into his seat, during the time of the first prayer, and was carried out dead, ætutis SI. His faith and boliness were so apparent that we are persuaded he was conveyed to the assembly of the first-born in heaven, to bear a part with them in glorifying their creator and re- deemer."
On another occasion, March 4, 1713-14, Sewall " went to Woburn to attend the funeral of Aunt Tyng." She " was about sixty-nine years of age, and died on Sabbath moraing, of fever." Sewall "waited on the Governor and Lady there," and had given him "a pair of gloves."
Eleazer Tyng, son of the preceding, is named in Woburn tax-lists as colonel, 1729-37.
Eleazer Flagg, styled colonel and esquire on gravestone at Woburn, which contains a lengthy inscription. . He was a sergeant, 1708-13 ; lieutenant, 1713-15 ; captain, 1716-19 ; major, 1719-22 ; colonel, 1722- 26 ; and died in 1726, in his fifty-sixth year. His father was Lieutenant Gershom Flagg, who was killed in battle with the Indians in New Hampshire, in 1690. The son spelled his surname Flegg. He was evi- dently a rich msn. His wife was called " Madame." The enumeration of his virtnes on his gravestone is curious : " A faithful christiaa, a pions liver, cheerful giver, the widow's solace in a doubtful case, a father to the fatherless, a tender husband, kind parent, faithful friend, a righteous man." A silver cup he gave to the "church in Wooborn," 1726, is still in use. He was evidently the successor of Colonel Jonathan Tyng as colonel of the 2d Middlesex County Regiment of Foot."
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