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 48
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According to the Boston town records, William Pollard, father of Jonathan (1700), was licensed to keep a house of entertainment in Boston. After his decease, his widow, Ann Pollard, was thus licensed. From her deposition, given Dec. 11, 1711, we
' Though the half-pike, with its staff, above mentioned, has disappeared, yet the original silver
ferrule is still in the archives of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
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learn that William Pollard occupied and improved a certain parcel of land at the bottom of the Common, on the westerly side, with the sea southwest ; that the owner (Pepys) built a house thereon which William Pollard occupied for fourteen years, and that William Blackstone used frequently to resort thereto.1 It was to this house, probably, that the Company went to avoid the rain. Major Savage's place where they were treated was probably his distillery.
The first book printed in this country on military discipline was written by Nicholas Boone, of Boston. He was a celebrated bookseller, and sold his wares at " the sign of the Bible, in Cornhill, over against the Old Meeting House." He was also the first publisher of the Boston News-Letter, the first newspaper printed in the colonies. It is not generally known that Mr. Boone ever appeared before the public as an author. The title of the book is: " Military Discipline; the Complete Souldier, and Expert Artillery- man, &c. &c. To which is added the Military Laws of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. 16mo. Boston : Printed for and sold by Nicholas Boone, over against the Old Church. 1701."
Samuel Clough (1694) published, this year, the first number of his " New England Almanack." It was printed by B. Green and J. Allen (1694), and was sold by Samuel Phillips (1693) "at the Brick Shop." A new departure was made by the author, in noting upon the calendar pages, " Brief observations of the most noted things happen - ing in Boston since its first settlement."
The members recruited in 1701 were : Francis Clarke, John Cookson, George Driver, Thomas Foster, Thomas Godfrey, Christopher Myngs, Nathaniel Oliver, Jr., Antipas Torrey.
Francis Clarke (1701), of Boston, was elected a constable of Boston in 1702, but declined. He served the town as overseer of the poor in 1706 and 1707, and as select- man in 1712 and 1713. He was first sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1704.
The command of Brig .- Gen. Hill, destined for the capture of Canada in 1711, tarried on its way from England, and went into camp on Noddles Island. There was a scarcity of provisions. The general and Admiral Walker applied to Capt. Belcher, the father of Gov. Belcher, to aid them in procuring the necessary rations. He declined. Application was then made to Andrew Faneuil, who undertook the task, but was obstructed by the merchants ; whereupon the Governor issued an " order for searching for provisions," and William Clarke (1703) and Francis Clarke (1702) were selected as "searchers." Four weeks after, July 30, the expedition left Boston only to meet a terrific storm, which wrecked nine of its ships, and occasioned the loss of nine hun- dred men.
John Cookson (1701), gunsmith, of Boston, was elected constable in 1705, but · declined, and served as tithing-man in 1706, 1715, and 1718. June 20, 1711, the select- men signed a lease to Messrs. Richard Proctor (1699) and John Cookson (1701), "of the liberty and benefit of sweeping Chimnyes for 7 year from June Ist Cur't." In 1714, the above-named contractors were authorized to prosecute those who swept chim- neys contrary to town by-laws. On the 24th of January, 1715-6, the business seems to
Francis Clarke (1701). AUTIIORITIES : Bos- ton Records; Province Laws, Vol. VII.
John Cookson (1701). AUTHORITY : Boston
Records.
1 Suffolk Deeds, Liber 26, folio 84.
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have been divided, and the partnership dissolved. On that day, the selectmen approved of Mr. Cookson's (1701) negro man, named Tobie, to be employed by him for sweeping chimneys. Also, "Messrs Richard Proctor [1699] & John Cookson [1701] being present together with the Selectmen have agreed that the s'd Mr. Cooksons [1701] care for the sweeping of chimnies be limited to the bounds of the four North Military Com- panies as they are now bounded." The same liberty "to sweep chimnies by his negro man Tobey " was again granted John Cookson (1701) on the 31st of October, 1720. He continued in this business, certainly until Sept. 12, 1733, when he made complaint to the selectmen of a chimney in an old house "behind the Three Crowns in Fish Street." On the 29th of June, 1724, liberty was granted him to build a tomb in the " North Burying Place," i. e., Copp's Hill Burial-Ground.
He was clerk of the Artillery Company from 1722 to 1726.
George Driver (1701).
Thomas Foster (1701), brazier, of Boston, was the father of Thomas Foster (1722). He was constable of Boston in 1704. According to the sexton's bill, Thomas Foster (1701) was buried May 18, 1706.
Thomas Godfrey (1701) was a constable in Boston in 1704-5, clerk of the market in 1711, and a tithing-man in 1712. Dec. 12, 1716, he and Thomas Phillips (1711) were sureties for Thomas Jackler, a newly admitted inhabitant of Boston.
Christopher Myngs (1701) was of Boston. According to the Boston records, a son, Christopher, was born to Christopher and Joyce Mynges, Feb. 11, 1699.
Christopher (1701) was clerk of the Artillery Company in 1702.
Nathaniel Oliver, Jr. (1701), of Boston and Chelsea, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Brattle) Oliver, and grandson of Peter Oliver (1643), was baptized Sept. 28, 1684. His mother was a daughter of Capt. Thomas Brattle (1675). His brother, Brattle, joined the Artillery Company in 1709.
He married, Nov. 30, 1709, Martha Hobbs, who, it would appear, was in some way connected with the family of Capt. Robert Keayne (1637). She inherited from Col. Paige and his wife, Anne Keayne, the Keayne estate at Rumney Marsh. She was executrix of that will, with Joseph Dudley (1677) and Col. Nathaniel Thomas as "overseers." In the will, the executrix is solemnly counselled "that she Match into a good Family and with one that feareth God, that so neither she and so fair an Estate be not thrown away in her match."
He lived on Milk Street, in Boston, near the junction of the present Kilby Street, and in his later days had also a home in Chelsea, on the Keayne farm. He graduated at Harvard College in 1701. He was associated in business with his brother, Peter Oliver. After his removal to Chelsea, about 1719, he was engaged in preparing young men for Harvard College. He was for many years a justice of the peace, and was the first town clerk of Chelsea, when that town was set off from Boston, in 1738.
Nathaniel Oliver, Jr. (1701.) AUTHORI- Records; Descendants of Capt. Thomas Brattle, by Edward D. Harris.
TIES : New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1865; Boston
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Nathaniel Oliver (1701) was a captain in the militia of Boston, fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1703, and its lieutenant in 1717. He died at Chelsea, Jan. 1, 1769.
Antipas Torrey (1701).
The record of the Artillery Company for 1701 is as follows : -
" April 7th 1701. The Artillery Company met and chose the Rev'd Mr. Ebenezer Pemberton to preach the next Election Sermon, and desired the Commissioned officers to request him to preach. Accepted by him.
" June 2ª 1701. Being the anniversary Election day, the Rev'd Mr Ebenezer Pemberton preached from Luke iii. 14.
"October 6 1701. Voted by the Artillery Company, that every Person belonging to this Company shall pay two shillings for the paying for Colours, the residue of the money to be for the use of the Company.
" Captain Samuel Sewall presented this Company, this day, with a Half Pike, with a Silver head and ferril at the butt end, with this Inscription on the ferrel, vizt : Agmen Massachusetensae est in tutelam Sponsae Agni Uxoris, 1701."
Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, the preacher before the Company in 1701, son of James Pemberton, of Newbury, was born Feb. 3, 1672, graduated at Harvard College in 1691, and was ordained as colleague by the Old South, in Boston, Aug. 28, 1700. Here he continued to labor, at first as colleague with Rev. Samuel Willard, who delivered the Artillery sermon in 1676, during the remainder of his life. He preached his last sermon Jan. 20, 1717. Mr. Pemberton died Feb. 23, 1717, aged forty-five years.
June 12, 1701, Mr. Pemberton married Mrs. Mary Clark, who afterward was married to Henry Lloyd (1703), of Lloyd's Neck, R. I. He delivered a sermon on the death of Hon. John Walley (1671), which was printed. Dr. Sewall said in his sermon, occasioned by the death of Mr. Pemberton, he "is justly celebrated as a great scholar, an excellent divine, and a good Christian."
His brother, Benjamin, joined the Artillery Company in 1707.
The officers elected were: Charles Hobby (1702), captain ; 1702-3. Zechariah Tuttle (1697), lieutenant ; Adam Winthrop (1694), ensign. William Keen (1692) was first sergeant; Edward Winslow (1700), second sergeant ; John Gerrish (1700), third sergeant; Edward Hutchinson (1702), fourth sergeant ; Christopher Myngs (1701), clerk, and Samuel Marion (1691), drummer.
Richard, Earl of Bellomont, who as Governor of the colony arrived in Boston May 26, 1699, went to New York in May, 1700, and died the 5th of March following. Lieut .- Gov. William Stoughton, son of Lieut .- Col. Israel Stoughton (1637), of Dor- chester, became acting Governor in May, 1700, and held that office until his decease, July 7, 1701. For nearly a year, the duties of Governor devolved upon the council. June 11, 1702, Joseph Dudley (1677) arrived in Boston on the frigate "Centurion,"
Sprague's Annals of American Pulpit; Ilill's Ilist. Sewall's and Colman's sermons on his decease;
Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton. AUTHORITIES:
of Old South Church.
Charles Hobbys
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bearing a commission as Governor, dated April 1, 1702. He held that office until Feb. 4, 1714-5, when the council again assumed control, the Governor not having been reappointed by the new King. He had not forgotten the revolution of 1689, when the Andros government fell, nor that dreary imprisonment consequent upon his adhesion to the fortunes of the fallen Governor. He first rejected as members of his council those who were prominent in the revolution and opposed to Andros's government. Among these that were rejected were leading members of the Artillery Company.
In 1702, Queen Anne declared war against France, and very soon hostilities began between the people of New England and the Indians and French in Canada. The fortifications were examined and repaired, and the town prepared for defence. "Thirty hundred weight of bullets, and five thousand flints were ordered to be forthwith provided for a town stock; and Mr. Gyles Dyer [1680], Mr. Richard Draper, and Mr. Robert Gibbs [1692] were deputed to provide them."
The members recruited in 1702 were : Adino Bulfinch, Timothy Clarke, William Dummer, Seth Dwight, Calvin Galpine, John George, Charles Hobby, Edward Hutchin- son, William Keen, Edward Lyde, Edward Martyn, John Mico, Thomas Newton, John Nichols, Thomas Palmer, Lovet Sanders, Benjamin Simpson, Thomas Smith, John Soames, Isaac Spencer, Simeon Stoddard, Jr., Oliver Williams.
Adino Bulfinch (1702), sail-maker, of Boston, came from England in 1680. He became a merchant, and, at his decease, left a valuable estate. He was surveyor of highways of Boston in 1700, 1708, 1709, and 1711. In 1708, the selectmen ordered that " the way leading from Brook's corner in Marshall's Lane passing by Mr. Bulfinchs to Scottow Alley, should be called Creek Lane," since called Creek Square.
Capt. Bulfinch (1702) was identified with the militia of Boston, and became a captain. He was second sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1705, and its ensign in 1715.
He was the ancestor of Thomas Bulfinch, of Boston, 1722, - a very eminent physi- cian, - and of Charles, of Boston, 1786, the architect of the State House, City Hall, and General Hospital, who also greatly enlarged Faneuil Hall, and, on application by President Munroe, superintended the rebuilding of the Capitol of the United States, when burned by the British in 1814.
In 1720, the South burying-place was enlarged by the extension of it towards the Common, or training-field. Fifteen tombs were built the next year, one of which was assigned to Adino Bulfinch (1702). He died in 1746, and his will, in which he speaks of his advanced age, was proved June 17, 1746.
Timothy Clarke (1702), of Cambridge and Boston, was by profession a mariner. An obituary, published in the Weekly Journal, June 21, 1737, eight days after the death of Capt. Timothy (1702), describes him as a " son of the exemplary, pious and wellknown Mr Jonas Clarke, Ruling Elder of the Church at Cambridge, where he was born in 1657. He followed the sea till he was near forty years of age ; when, settling on shore, he was successively employed by this town in the various offices of Assessor, Selectman, Over-
Adino Bulfinch (1702). AUTHORITIES : King's Chapel Burial-Ground, by Bridgman; Drake's IIist. of Boston, pp. 663, 664; Boston Records.
Timothy Clarke (1702). AUTHORITIES : Bos- ton Records; Paige's Hist. of Cambridge; Drake's Ilist. of Boston; Province Laws, Vol. VII., 1692- 1702.
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seer of the Poor, &c, and by the Government as Captain of our south and north batteries, overseer of the building of Castle William, with Col. Romer, director and overseer of the fortifications on the Neck, and of the building our Light-house, and as a Justice of the Peace. He had likewise served as a member of the Hon. House of Representatives in the time of the Non-resident Act; and he discharged the duty of every employment with singular wisdom, diligence and fidelity ; and was esteemed among us as a pattern of every grace and virtue, a true and sincere lover of his country, and who took a singular pleasure in being useful to all about him."
Capt. Clarke (1702) held many offices in the town of Boston, and served on many special committees appointed for various purposes. He was a surveyor of highways in 1699 and 1704 ; assessor in 1706 and 1711 ; collector of rates in 1712 and 1713 ; moder- ator of town meeting in 1707; overseer of the poor from 1715 to 1732 inclusive ; selectman in 1700-7, 1709, and 1710, and was representative to the General Court in 1700. His name first appears on the town records of Boston, March 13, 1692-3, when he was elected constable of the town.
As early as 1697-8 he was identified with the town's defence. May 4, 1698, the town voted that "any two of the Committee, namely, Col, Elisha Hutchinson [1670] Capt Samson Stoddard, and Capt Timo Clark [1702] shall have power to draw of the 50old voted by the town for the fortifications." In 1704, with four members of the Artil- lery Company, he was appointed a committee to review and advise about the repairs of the fortifications of the town ; in 1709, he was one of a committee to repair the plat- forms and carriages at the South Battery ; in 1711, he, with four others, was chosen to make a line of defence across the Neck, and plant "a convenient number of Great guns in said line of defence "; in 1718, he, with others, was empowered to repair the North Battery, and to consider the advisability of erecting a battery at the end of Long Wharf, and in 1721, he, with others, was authorized to make thorough repairs of the North and South batteries. The powder owned by the town was for a long time in his care. April 28, 1701, it was ordered by the selectmen that Capt. Clarke (1702) be allowed four pounds sixteen shillings, for thirty-two days' service as representative.
King William III. died March 8, 1701-2, and Anne, daughter of King James II., was proclaimed Queen. May 28, 1702, of that year, the news reached Boston, and the council ordered a salute of twenty-one guns to be fired. The order of the council was directed to Capt. Timothy Clarke (1702), and provided that twenty-one pieces of . ordnance should be discharged from the fort under his command. March 9, 1701-2, according to the Boston town records, "Capt Timothy Clark is chosen Cannoneer."
May 28, 1717, Gov. Shute issued the following order : -
"To Capt. Clarke. This being his Majesties Birth Day, you are hereby required to discharge the Guns upon the Batery's under your command, after you hear the Cannons at the Castle are Discharged.
" (Signed) SAMLL SHUTE."
He resided on what is now Summer Street, Boston. In 1708, the selectmen ordered that "the Street Leading Easterly from Doctor Okes his Corner in Newbery [Washington] Street passing by the dwelling House of Capt Timo Clark, extending to ye Sea," should be known as Summer Street. He was one of the founders of Brattle Street Church. He died June 13, 1737, aged eighty years.
He was lieutenant of the Artillery Company in 1706.
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William Dummer (1702), of Boston, son of Capt. Jeremiah Dummer (1671), was born in Boston in 1677, and married, April 26, 1714, Catharine, born Jan. 5, 1690, a daughter of Gov. Joseph Dudley (1677). He was a constable of the town of Boston in 1713. The next that we know of him, he was in Plymouth, England, holding an office there as one of the commissioners for the Massachusetts colony, when, in 1716, he was appointed through the interest of Sir William Ashurst to be lieutenant-governor of the Bay colony. He was probably appointed to this office at the time - June 15, 1716 - that Samuel Shute was appointed Governor. Lieut .- Gov. Dummer (1702) held the office until Gov. Shute departed from Boston, Jan. 1, 1722-3, when the former became acting Governor, and served until the arrival of Gov. William Burnet, July 13, 1728. Gov. Burnet died in Boston, Sept. 7, 1729, when Lieut .- Gov. Dummer (1702) succeeded to the office of Governor, and Sept. 10 was sworn in as commander-in-chief. He held the office until April 14, 1730, when he was succeeded by Hon. William Tailler (1712) as lieutenant-governor. William Dummer (1702) is recorded in the Massachusetts Civil List, 1630-1774, as councillor in 1717-20, 1722, and 1738-9.
In 1720, the court reduced the annual grant from fifty pounds to thirty-five pounds. " Mr. Dummer had so much spirit, that he enclosed the vote in a letter to the speaker, acquainting him that 'having the honor to bear the King's Commission for Lieutenant- Governor of the Province, and having been annually more than £50 out of pocket in that service, he did not think it for his honor to accept of their grant."
After the departure of Gov. Shute, Lieut .- Gov. Dummer (1702), "having spent some time in England, knowing what conduct would be approved there, and well acquainted with the tempers of his countrymen, very prudently aimed rather at an easy administration than at anything great and striking - acting in the most common affairs by advice of council."
Mr. Eliot, in his Biographical Dictionary, says of him, "He was a friend to the Dudley family and firmly supported the administration of Gov. Shute. Hence he was not a favorite of the popular party ; nor of those who promoted private banks, but was highly respected by all parties when their prejudices did not operate. He maintained a most respectable character for virtue and talents, especially during his administration as the chief magistrate. Douglass always styles it ' the wise administration of Mr. Dummer [1702].' He was a man of such correct judgments and steady habits, such a firm and temperate conduct when he supposed himself right, that the vessel of state was secure though exposed to the dangers of tempestuous sea."
In 1725, a-favorable treaty with the eastern Indians, -" his pacific measures and accommodation or suspension of some of the controverted points," - and his favoring a synod of the clergy, which, having been laid aside several years, had reduced their influence, rendered him quite popular at home. This last project of a synod, which the acting Governor favored, brought upon him the displeasure of episcopacy and royalty. The gathering of the synod was arrested through church representations; the Bishop of London took a hand in the fray, and Lieut .- Gov. Dummer (1702) was reprimanded for not sending to the home government the " account of such a remarkable transaction."
In June, 1738 and 1739, he was invited, with other citizens of the town, to accom- pany the selectmen in visiting the several public schools. He discharged that duty, and his name then disappears from the Boston town records.
William Dummer (1702). AUTHORITIES: Boston Records; Eliot's Biog. Dict .; Obituary in Boston newspapers, Oct. 26, 1761.
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From this time (1739) until his decease, he resided in Newbury, Mass., having retired to his ancestral home, " living for the most part in retirement, but always dis- pensing a generous hospitality, and indulging his generous instincts by benefactions, of which the foundation of the Byfield (Dummer) academy was the most important and lasting." He died Oct. 10, 1761. He never sustained any office in the militia, but was captain of the Artillery Company in 1719, while lieutenant-governor. He bequeathed two hundred pounds to Harvard College, also the income of one hundred pounds sterling to the two Hollis professors in Harvard College, to be equally divided between them, and fifty pounds sterling to be laid out in books for the library.
Dummer Academy (Byfield parish), Newbury, is his best monument. He gave his dwelling-house and farm in Newbury to three trustees, the rents and profits of which were to be employed in erecting a school-house and in supporting a master. A building was erected in 1762, and the school opened. For the first seventy years of this school, its yearly average of students was twenty-one. Its roll of students, as they have been regarded, useful and influential, in the varied walks of life, is one of which any institution of learning might well be proud. Dummer Academy is still a flourishing institution.
"His house in Boston was in Nassau Street, afterward owned by Mr. Powell." He was a member of Hollis Street Church, and one of the contributors to build its meeting- house. Dr. Byles, pastor of that church from its foundation, in 1732, until 1777, preached the funeral sermon, which was printed. The following is from the appendix of the sermon : - 1
" Boston, Oct roth 1761. Departed this life, aged 83, the Hon. William Dummer, Esqr [1702], and on the 16th his funeral was attended with every mark of respect due to so eminent a person. Scarce any one ever passed this life with a more unspotted character or performed its various duties with more universal esteem. In the gayest scenes of youth, he was preserved from the destructive paths of vice ; and in maturer age, was a shining example of the most amiable virtues. The wise, the incorrupt and successful administration of Mr. Dummer [1702] will always be remembered with honor, and considered as a pattern worthy the imitation of all future Governors ; - uninfluenced by party prejudices - superior to all mercenary attachments, he discovered no passion in his public character, but love to his country and fidelity to his royal master. He retired to enjoy private life, with the approbation of a good conscience and the applause of his country. In his domestic character, he appeared the affectionate husband, the indulgent master, the benevolent friend. Inspired with a profound veneration of the Supreme Being, - firmly attached to the religion of Jesus; he received its doctrines with submission, attended its institutions with reverence, and practised its precepts with uniformity. At his death, he left a great part of his estate to pious and charitable uses. Having served his generation, by the will of God, he fell asleep in a joyful expectation of a resurrection to eternal life."
1 " Funeral sermon on the Honorable William Dummer Esq., Late Lieutenant Governor and Com- mander in chief over the Province of the Massachu- setts Bay in New England, who died October 10. 1761 aged 84 years. Text Eccle xii. 7. 8: Subject 'The Vanity of every man at his best estate.'" It was printed by Green & Russell, in Boston, in 1761, pp. 27.
The principal events of Gov. Dummer's term were the establishment of a linen manufactory in the town, and the introduction of inoculation for the small-pox, during one of its periodical visits, by Dr. Boylston.
' Jeremiah Dummer, who wrote the able Defence of New England Charters, was the Governor's brother. Ile died in London in 1739. - See Gen. Mag, III., 490, 554.
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Seth Dwight (1702), of Boston, son of Capt. Timothy and Anna (Flint) Dwight, of Dedham, and uncle of Gen. Joseph Dwight (1734), of Hatfield and Stockbridge, Mass., was born July 9, 1673. His wife, Abigail -, is supposed to have been Abigail Davis, as in his will he gave an annuity to his sister-in-law, Dorothy Davis. Mrs. Abigail (Davis) Dwight died May 24, 1719.
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