USA > Massachusetts > History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637-1888, Vol. I > Part 25
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On the 20th of March, 1649, Gov. Winthrop died, after a brief illness, closing his eyes " upon a scene of rare prosperity, which he, helped by many other good and able men, had been the chief instrument in creating." Gov. Bellingham, immediately after his death, invited several of the principal men of the town to his late residence to decide "how to order his funeral." We have no particulars of "the great solemnity and honour " which was observed on the third day of April, but the following extract, from the records of the General Court for the 2d of May, shows that the Artillery Company fired proper salutes in memory of the signer of their charter : -
"Whereas the surveyer generall, on some encouragements, lent one barrell and a halfe of the countryes store of powder to the Artillery officers of Boston, conditionally, if the Generall Corte did not alowe it to them as a gift to spend at the funerall of our late honored Governor, they would repay it, the powder being spent on the occasion above said, the Corte doth think meete that the powder so delivered should never be required againe, and thankfully acknowledg Bostons great, worthy, due love and respects to the late honored Governor, which they manifested in solemnizing his funerall, whom wee accompted worthy of all honour."
Gov. Winthrop's house, wherein he died, was of wood, two stories high, on what is now Washington Street, opposite the foot of School Street, and its spacious garden, extending to Milk Street, is now occupied by the Old South Church. The house was destroyed for firewood by the British soldiers in 1775. His remains were buried in the north end of what is now known as the King's Chapel Burial-Ground, in the tomb of the Winthrop family.
There were no religious services or sermons at funerals, at that period of our colonial history. Indeed, Dr. Shurtleff states "that the first prayer at a funeral in
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Boston was as late as 1766, . .. and the first funeral sermon as late as 1783." Rev. John Cotton preached a sermon in respect to Gov. Winthrop on a special Fast, held by the church during his illness, of which we have a few extracts only. Funeral sermons, formerly as now, were delivered on some Sunday after the interment. No religious services were necessary, however, to make the occasion of Mr. Winthrop's death a solemn one. Hutchinson, who had access to all the contemporary records, speaks of "the general grief throughout the colony." It is easy to picture to ourselves the authorities and the people of the town and the neighborhood assembling at the Governor's house, and following the corpse, borne by loving hands -for there were no hearses in those days-to the tomb or grave, while the Artillery Company gave the funereal salute in honor of the dead.
Massachusetts is fortunate in possessing an original portrait of Gov. Winthrop, which now adorns the Senate Chamber in the State House at Boston. It represents him as a well-formed man, with a high forehead, dark blue eyes, and long, dark hair, his countenance beaming with intelligence and kindness. This is probably the portrait of which the following anecdote is given in the memoranda of the Winthrop family : "One of the Pequot Sagamores, who knew the old Governor Winthrop, coming to Boston, after his death, and going into the room where the picture was, ran out, very much surprised, exclaiming, 'He is alive ! He is alive !'"
The new members recruited in 1648-9 were : Peter Brackett, Samuel Carter, John Cole, Nicholas Davison, Caleb Foot, Samuel Oliver, Thomas Richards, Jacob Sheafe, Thomas Squire, and William Stitson.
Peter Brackett (1648), of Braintree, brother of Capt. Richard Brackett (1639) was admitted a freeman May 10, 1643. He represented Braintree in the General Court in 1644, 1645, 1646, 1653, 1660, and 1662, and was deputy for Scarborough in 1673 and 1674. In his last years he lived in Boston. He was one of the founders of the Old South Church, and one of its first deacons.
" In 1662," says Savage, " he purchased of the Indians the tract on which Mendham was erected." In 1640, Peter Brackett was granted forty-eight acres of land at Braintree, and Dec. 25, 1676, Capt. Brackett (1639), of Braintree, was allowed to cut enough timber upon the common land to build a third part of a vessel of twenty-five tons.
Peter Brackett (1648) married for his second wife Mary, widow of Nathaniel Williams (1644). Judge Sewall (1679), writing to the Rev. Increase Mather, July 24, 1688, says, "Deacon Brackett [1648] was buried this day."
Samuel Carter (1648), of Charlestown, yeoman, son of Thomas and Mary Carter, was born in 1616. He became an inhabitant in 1637, and was admitted to the church " 1, 5, 1645." He married Winfred Harrod, or Harwood, who died Jan. 20, 1675. He died Aug. 29, 1681.
He was a man of considerable property, and was prominent in the town.
Peter Brackett (1648). AUTHORITIES : Hill's Hist. of Old South Church; Braintree Records.
Samuel Carter (1648). AUTHORITIES : Wy- man's Charlestown Genealogies and Estates; Froth- ingham's Hist. of Charlestown.
The indefatigable Savage, in his Genealogical
Dictionary, gives 1652 as the date of his will, and says that in it he names a grandson, John Green. Mr. Whitman (1810) followed these statements. John Green is not mentioned in Samuel Carter's will, which is dated Ang. 16, 1680, and was proved Oct. 4, 1681.
X
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John Cole (1648), of Lynn. Mr. Lewis, in his history of that town, mentions John Cole, of Lynn in 1642, who died Oct. 8, 1703, but nothing is recorded as to wife or family.
Nicholas Davison (1648), of Charlestown in 1639, was one of the chief men and agent of Gov. Cradock, "the founder of Medford." Matthew Cradock, first governor of the Company of Massachusetts Bay, was the richest member of the New England company. He never came to America, but was most helpful to the early settlers of Medford. He gave the largest sum to the company ; sent two of his ships over, bringing fishermen, coopers, shipwrights ; made Medford his first settlement; procured a large tract of land ; began ship-building, fishing, etc., and placed here an agent to execute his plans. Mr. Nicholas Davison (1648) was his mercantile agent, and had charge of the estate after Mr. Cradock's decease. He went to England in 1655, and returned in 1656 in the "Speedwell," being then forty-five years old. The court records inform us that Sept. 3, 1639, Nicholas Davison (1648), Mr. Cradock's agent, "for swearing an oath, was ordered to pay one pound, which he consented unto." He died in 1664, leaving a large property. His will was proved July 11 of that year. By the will we learn that an Indian Sagamore gave him a mortgage of Nahant. His inventory included land in Boston, Charlestown, Pemaquid, and about two thousand one hundred acres near Windsor, on both sides of the Connecticut. His inventory amounted to nearly one thou- sand nine hundred pounds.
He married Joanna Hodges, by whom he had one son, also a daughter, Sarah, who married Lient .- Col. Joseph Lynde (1681), of Charlestown.
May 7, 1662, the General Court, by request of the Middlesex troop, confirmed Nicholas Davison (1648) as cornet of said troop.
Caleb Foote (1648). On the old roll of 1680, it is plainly written, " Mr. Caleb Foote." His sureties were Lieut. Hewes (1637) and Ensign Hudson (1640).
Samuel Oliver (1648), of Boston, son of Elder Thomas, and brother of James (1640), of John (1637), and of Peter (1643), was born in England, and was admitted to the First Church May 21, 1643. He married Lydia, by whom he had three children. He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1648, and third sergeant in 1651. He was drowned March 27, 1652, and his widow married Joshua Fisher (1640), of Dedham.
Thomas Richards (1648), of Boston, was admitted to be a freeman in 1645. In the will of Thomas Richards (1648), dated Nov. 17, 1650, he is called "of Weymouth," but at the time was ill at the house of his " bro. Thomas Loring," in Hull. The will was proved Jan. 28, 1650. Inventory, thirteen hundred pounds.
Jacob Sheafe (1648), of Boston, was born at Cranbrook, Kent County, England, and the church register there says he was the son of Edmund, and was born Aug. 4, 1616. He came over with his mother, and went first to Guilford, where he was one
Nicholas Davison (1648). AUTHORITIES: Records of Mass. Bay; Savage's Gen. Dict.
Samuel Oliver (1648). AUTHORITIES: New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1865; Savage's Gen. Dict.
Jacob Sheafe (1648). AUTHORITIES: Boston Records; Savage's Gen. Dict.
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of the seven persons who constituted the church there, of which his uncle became pastor. In 1643, he removed to Boston. He was a merchant, and acquired a large property.
In the records of the General Court, II., 46, we read this unusual favor : Sept. 7, 1643, "Jacob Sheafe and Margaret Webbe are permitted to join in marriage though but twice published."
He was a constable of Boston in 1651, a selectman in 1657 and 1658, and was clerk of the Artillery Company in 1652.
He died March 22, 1658-9, and his tombstone stands in the chapel ground.
Thomas Squire (1648), of Charlestown in 1630, probably came with Gov. Win- throp. His name is among the first signers to the covenant of the First Church. He was dismissed therefrom in October, 1632, to found the new church at Charlestown. He became a freeman May 14, 1634. Thomas Squire (1648) is recorded as a member of the church in Malden in 1649.
William Stitson, now Stetson (1648), of Charlestown in 1632, was admitted a freeman June 11, 1633. He was deacon in the church there, having been admitted with his wife, Elizabeth, March 22, 1633. He represented that town in the General Court in 1646, and from 1667 to 1671. He was elected selectman first in 1642, and served twenty years in this office. He held the office of sergeant in the Charlestown company ; he also kept the ferry, succeeding Thomas Harris. His wife, Elizabeth Harris, died Feb. 16, 1669-70, and Aug. 22, 1670, he married Mary, widow of Francis Norton (1643). He died April 11, 1691, in his ninety-first year, " having served as a deacon 31 years 5 mos," as it is inscribed upon his tombstone.
1649-50. The execution of King Charles, and the progress of the great rebellion in England, so completely overshadowed minor events in the colony that we know but little of the Company's proceedings during 1649-50. No officers for that year are recorded in the list written by Nathaniel Barnes (1676) in 1680, but the name of "Capt. John Carnes, Captain," was inserted in the transcript of 1745, first in pencil, and afterward in ink. Mr. Whitman (1810) says that he " has seen a printed list of captains of the Artillery Company in an old almanac, which had Capt. Carnes' name as captain for this year, and also obtained some traditionary information which corroborates the statement. There was a Capt. John Carnes [1649] an officer in the Parliaments navy, in Boston about that time," and it seems probable that he was admitted into the Company and elected its captain.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts, and especially Boston, appears to have flourished. Edward Johnson (1637), whose Wonder-Working Providence was probably written about 1650, thus rejoices over the flourishing condition of the colony, and especially over the growth of Boston : "The chiefe Edifice of this City-like town is crowded on the Lea-bankes, and wharfed out with great industry and cost, the buildings beautifull
Thomas Squire (1648). AUTHORITIES : Sav- age's Gen. Dict .; Hurd's Hist. of Middlesex Co. William Stitson (1648). AUTHORITIES : Wy-
man's Charlestown Genealogies and Estates; Sav- age's Gen. Dict. Mr. Wyman gives this name as Dea. Wm. Stilson, Stitson, of Stetson.
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and large, some fairely set forth with Brick, Tile, Stone, and Slate, and orderly placed with comly streets, whose continuall inlargement presages some sumptuous City.
"But now behold the admirable Acts of Christ : at this his peoples landing, the hideous Thickets in this place were such that Wolfes and Beares nurst up their young from the eyes of all beholders, in those very places where the streets are full of Girls and Boys sporting up and downe, with a continued concourse of people. Good store of Shipping is here yearly built and some very faire ones : both Tar and Mastes the Country affords from its own soile; also store of Victuall both for their owne and Forreiners ships, who resort hither for that end : this Town is the very Mart of the Land : French, Portugalls and Dutch come hither for Traffique."
For the defence of the harbor, what is now known as Fort Independence, then a rough fortification, had been rebuilt and strengthened, and was garrisoned by not less than twenty men in summer and ten in winter. It was placed under the command of Capt. Richard Davenport (1639), who arrived at Salem with Gov. Endicott, in September, 1628, and had taken a conspicuous part in the Indian wars. His prede- cessors in this command were Nicholas Simpkins (1650), who was the first captain of it, 1635 ; Edward Gibbons (1637), who commanded in 1636; Richard Morris (1637), and Robert Sedgwick (1637), in June, 1641.
Fifty pounds were appropriated to build him a house, and he also was allowed one third of the island for his personal use. His pay was to be one half " in corne " and one half in " beaver and shop commodities." When he asked that he might be provided with a chaplain, he was formally notified that he could expect no regular chaplain for the garrison, but that "the Lord having granted him able gifts," he was expected to perform the duties of that office, and to take care of the garrison as of his own family. In July, 1665, "God was pleased to send a grievous storm of thunder and lightening, which did some hurt in Boston, and struck dead here that worthy renowned Captain Richard Davenport [1639]."
The new members recruited in 1649-50 were : John Carnes, Thomas Hawkins, Stephen Paine.
John Carnes (1649) was born in Orchardtown, Scotland. He was post-captain in the British navy, and was ordered to America as commander of the fleet cruising in North American waters. He made frequent visits to Boston, and spent much of his time there. He married in Boston about 1652. Commodore John Carnes (1649) died at sea in 1652, on his return passage to England. He was a man of large fortune, owning extensive land estates in Scotland, on which there were coal mines, from which large quantities of coal were afterward sent to America. His intentions were to settle up his affairs in Scotland and return to America to live. His only son, Thomas, was born after the father had sailed for England. Thomas was the grandfather of John, who com- manded the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1750. Prior to his time, the name was spelled Cairnes, but he dropped the "i," and spelled his name Carnes. Capt. John Carnes (1649) is believed to have commanded the Military Company in 1649.
John Carnes (1649). AUTHORITIES: Whit- man's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842;
Letters from descendants of Capt. Carnes (1649) in New York and Virginia.
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Thomas Hawkins (1649), of Boston, was a baker. He came to America about 1640. In that year he was granted a " great lot " at Mount Wollaston, and five acres were afterward added to it.
The building known as the Green Dragon Tavern stood on Green Dragon Lane, now Union Street, between Hanover and the old mill-pond. John Davies's property was on the south of the Green Dragon property. Thomas Hawkins (1649) in 1645 bought Mr. Davies's house and garden, and Oct. 10, 1662, he bought an adjacent lot of Mr. Johnson. Mr. Hawkins (1649) mortgaged the property to Rev. Thomas Thacher, and gave a second mortgage, June 15, 1671, to Sampson Sheafe. A part of Mr. Hawkins's (1649) property became the Green Dragon estate.
Mr. Hawkins (1649) was a noted biscuit-maker, but subsequently an innholder. He built a tavern, called "Star Inn," which was kept successively by Mr. Hawkins (1649), his wife Rebecca, John Howlett, and Andrew Neal. Mr. Hawkins died in the latter part of 1671.
Stephen Paine (1649), of Braintree, born in England, son of Moses, of Braintree, was a brother of Lieut. Moses Paine (1644). He married, Nov. 15, 1651, Hanna Bass. Stephen (1649) was admitted to be a freeman in 1653.
Dec. 19, 1670, the town meeting of Braintree was held at "Steven Paine's [1649]." He died July 29, 1691.
The officers elected were : Humfrey Atherton (1638), captain ; 1650-I. Francis Norton (1643), lieutenant ; Thomas French (1638), ensign. Thomas Clarke (1644) was first sergeant; William Hudson (1640), second sergeant ; Anthony Stoddard (1639), third sergeant ; John Capen (1646), fourth sergeant ; Joshua Scottow (1645), clerk; Arthur Perry (1638), drummer, and John Audlin (1638), armorer.
The Second Church in Boston was a necessity, on account of increased population . in the town. Previously, 1632 to 1650, there had been but one, viz., the First Church. It was agreed that a meeting-house should be erected at the North End, and its founda- tion was laid in 1649, at the head of what is since called North Square. This was the "Church of the Mathers." The first sermon was preached in the new house, June 5, 1650. On that day, seven persons entered into church covenant, of whom James Astwood (1638) was a member of the Military Company of the Massachusetts.
The new members recruited in 1650-1 were : Bozoun Allen, Zacheus Bosworth, William Cotton, Jacob Greene, George Halsey, and Nicholas Simpkins.
Bozoun Allen (1650), of Hingham in 1638, came from Lynn, Norfolk County, England, in the "Diligent," from Ipswich. He was admitted a freeman June 2, 1641, and was representative in 1643, and for seven other years, the last being in 1652. On his motion, by reason of his great loss in his mill-dam, occasioned by a great storm, he
Thomas Hawkins (1649). AUTHORITIES : Shurtleff's Topog. Des. of Boston; Savage's Gen. Dict.
Bozoun Allen (1650). AUTHORITIES : Hist. of Hingham, 1893, Vol. II., p. S; Savage's Gen. Dict .; Savage's Edition of Winthrop's Hist. of New
Eng., Vol. II., p. 271; New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg. (will), 1851, p. 299.
" 1638, Mr. Bozone Allen and his wife and two servants came from Lynn, in Norfolk, and settled in New Hingham." - Daniel Cushing's Rec- ord, Hingham.
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THIRD MEETING-HOUSE OF THE SECOND CHURCH.
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was dismissed from the service of the General Court, unless he could conveniently come again. He was often a deputy, a military officer, and an influential citizen of Hingham. Mr. Allen (1650) was confirmed as lieutenant of the trained soldiers of Hingham, Oct. 27, 1648, and captain, May 22, 1651. His son, Bozoun, was admitted a member of the Artillery Company in 1676.
Mr. Winthrop, in his History of New England, Vol. II., pp. 221-236, gives an account of the " troublesome business " in which Capt. Allen (1650) was concerned. There was a dispute in Hingham as to who should command the military company. A part of the citizens favored Lieut. Anthony Eames, and the other, Capt. Allen (1650). The minister became involved, and the church was more or less disturbed by the difficulty. Complaints were made before the magistrates by both parties. All were finally bound over to appear at the next Court of Assistants. John Winthrop was tried before his brother magistrates for maladministration, but he managed so discreetly, and with so much humility, that he was acquitted honorably. This famous riot, con- tempt of authority, and interference of priestcraft, were finally subdued, and all parties - captain, lieutenant, the whole train-band, and even the minister - were fined. The total of persons arraigned was ninety-five, and the aggregate fines were one hundred and fifty-five pounds. Capt. Allen (1650) held the captaincy, and the lieutenant paid a fine of five pounds. The latter became reconciled to his supersedure. Mr. Allen (1650) and Joshua Hobart (1641), of Hingham, were both deputies at the time of the trial.
Capt. Allen (1650) removed to Boston in 1652, and died Sept. 14, 1652. His daughter, Martha, married Ebenezer Savage (1682), son of Major Thomas Savage (1637).
Zacheus Bosworth (1650), of Boston in 1630, probably came in the fleet with Winthrop. He was admitted a freeman May 25, 1636, and was disarmed in November, 1637, for sympathizing with Mrs. Hutchinson's views. He early became a member of the First Church. " His house, garden, cow-house, barns, and orchard," were at the west corner of School and Tremont streets. July 29, 1644, he was appointed pound-keeper in Boston. He died July 28, 1655.
William Cotton (1650), of Boston in 1647, a butcher by trade, was probably of Gloucester at an earlier date, as a William Cotton owned land there in 1642 ; but no more is told of him. William Cotton (1650) joined the church in Boston in May, 1647, and became a freeman the same year. He was a surveyor of highways in 1650 and 1651. In 1652, he is called " Sergeant Cotton," in the town records. He held the office of clerk of the market in 1655 and 1656. He was clerk of the Artillery Company from 1658 to 1660, second sergeant in 1661, and first sergeant in 1662.
Jacob Greene (1650), of Charlestown, son of John (1639), who came from London to Charlestown, bringing Jacob with him, in the ship "James" in 1632, was born in 1625. Jacob (1650) was admitted to be a freeman in 1650, became a church-member
Zacheus Bosworth (1650). AUTHORITIES: Savage's Gen. Dict .; New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., Vol. V., p. 443; Boston Records.
William Cotton (1650). AUTHORITIES : Sav- age's Gen. Dict .; Boston Records.
Jacob Greene (1650). AUTHORITIES: Sav- age's Gen. Dict .; Frothingham's Ifist. of Charles- town.
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in 1661-2, and was representative in 1677. He married (1) Elizabeth Long and (2) Mary Whipple. Administration on his estate (one hundred and ninety-nine pounds) was granted to his widow, Mary, Oct. 6, 1701.
George Halsey, or Halsall (1650), of Dorchester in 1642, was born about 1614. In 1642, he was recommended by the church in Dorchester to the church in Boston. He became a freeman in 1645, and in that year bought of Samuel Cole (1637) a house and garden on the southeasterly part of Copp's Hill. The next year George Halsall (1650) had liberty of the selectmen " to set down a causey ten foot square, from his wharfe to low-watter marke and that passingers shall come and go free to it." Soon after he was permitted "to imploy a passag boatt betweene his wharfe and the ships wher the ships rid, and is to take a penny for each person." He was by trade a black- smith, and removed to New London in 1661, but "staid there not long."
Nicholas Simpkins (1650), of Boston, a tailor, was made the first captain at the Castle about 1634, but in 1636 he seems to have given dissatisfaction by being indebted to the government, and was succeeded by Edward Gibbons (1637). In 1638, he removed to Yarmouth, but returned to Boston before 1649.
In the addenda of Winthrop's History of New England, we are told, "mo. 5th, 14th [1636] Nic Simpkins brought before the Governor and J. Winthrop for braving the Lieutenant Morris [1637] and telling him in public that he lied, &c. He confessed the words, but refused to acknowledge it a fault, or to ask his pardon in the mercate [market] place. So we committed him. 16th, upon his submission and acknowledg- ment that he had done ill, we took his bond in £20. to appear at the next Court, and left him at liberty. Besides he was ill, and we feared he would grow distracted &c."
1651-2. The officers elected were : Thomas Savage (1637), captain ; Thomas Clarke (1638), lieutenant ; James Oliver (1640), ensign. William Hudson (1640) was first sergeant; Peter Oliver (1643), second ser- geant ; Samuel Oliver (1648), third sergeant ; John Barrell (1643), fourth sergeant ; Joshua Scottow (1645), clerk, and John Audlin (1638), armorer.
While the mother country was convulsed with civil war, Massachusetts flourished. We learn that new buildings, some of brick, sprung up in every quarter of Boston ; markets were erected ; wharves stretched into the harbor ; colonial and foreign vessels were sent to the West Indies and to the Madeira Islands, and returned laden with sugar, oranges, wines, cotton, tobacco, and bullion; and these, with the furs and the products of the fisheries at the capes and at the banks, including bone and oil-procured in trips farther to the north - were sent to England to pay for the manufactured goods needed by the colonists. The resources of the country were rapidly developed. The vast forests which clothed its surface were converted into masts, plank, boards, staves, shingles, and hoops, all of which were of value in commercial exchange. Glass-works were established, and iron foundries were erected at Lynn, Braintree, and Plymouth.
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