USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
Abigail, b. March 11, 1744; m. June 27, 1765, Bartholomew Rich- ardson of Woburn.
Simon, b. Jan. 3, 1749. 90 Sarah, bap. Sept. 18, 1751.
26-49-
BENJAMIN MERRIAM, JR., m. Feb. 28, 1762, Ginger Porter. He d. in Pelham, Feb. 1, 1806, aged 69 ; she d. March 7, 1817, aged 76.
49-91 +Rufus, b. Oct. 28, 1762; m. Jan. 12, 1785, Martha Simonds. Benjamin, b. March 23, 1764; d. March 22, 1817, aged 53, unm.
92 93 Edith, b. Aug. 20, 1765 ; m. Feb. 5, 1787, Stephen Winship.
94 Mary, b. July 5, 1767 ; m. Abiel Abbott of Lincoln.
Anna, b. June 10, 1769; m. Oct. 26, 1797, Thomas S. Caldwell, who moved to Manchester, N. H.
George, b. May 7, 1771. He went into business in Boston, after- wards went to Kentucky, from thence to Natchez, where he died. Rebecca, b. June 19, 1773; d. unm. March 10, 1835.
Tryphena, b. Feb. 25, 1775 ; m. - Brooks, and moved to Farm- ington, Me.
Phila, b. April 23, 1777 ; d. Aug. 5, 1778.
Nathan, b. Oct. 3, 1780. He went to Louisiana, where he was first made a sheriff, afterwards judge, then President of the Senate. William, b. He was a trader in Cambridgeport.
95 96 97 98 99 100 101
27-52-
WILLIAM MERRIAM m. Sarah
52-102 William, b March 23, 1771. 103 Jonathan, b. Aug. 25, 1772.
104 Jonas, b. Nov. 6, 1773. 105 Abel, b. March 13, 1775.
106 Sarah, b. Aug. 14, 1776. 107 Rebecca, bap. 1786.
140
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
27-53-
ABRAHAM MERRIAM m. April 22, 1756, Sarah Simonds. They were ad. to the ch. May 6, 1757. ¿ They afterwards moved to Wo,, where their last three children were born.
53-108
Abraham, bap. May 29, 1757. 109 Ezra, b. June 15, 1760.
110
Silas, b. Feb. 2, 1762.
111 Sarah, b. at Wo. Oct. 10, 1766.
112 Jonas, b. at Wo. July 31, 1769.
113 Abigail, b. at Wo. May 13, 1771.
41-75-
SAMUEL MERRIAM m. June 4, 1752, Anna Whitney. They were ad. to the ch. April 11, 1756, and were dismissed, Sept. 6, 1772, to the ch. in Westminster, to which place they had removed.
75-114
Anna, b. Oct. 10, 1753. 115 Eunice, b. June 22, 1755.
116 Samuel, b. March 25, 1757.
117 Ruth, bap. Feb. 25, 1759.
118
Tabitha, bap. Dec. 28, 1760.
119 Nathan, bap. April 29, 1764.
120
Jonathan, bap. Feb. 22, 1767.
49-91-
RUFUS MERRIAM m. Jan. 12, 1785, Martha Simonds, dau. of Joshua and Martha (Bowers) Simonds, who was b. Oct. 1, 1766. He d. May 7, 1847, and she d. May 8, 1849. He was the first post- master of Lex. He kept a public house for a long series of years.
91-121 Martha, b. July 21, 1787; d. June 8, 1863, unm. 122 Rufus, b. Sept. 11, 1789 ; he is living, in his 79th year.
123 John Parkhurst, b. July 4, 1791 ; d. June 25, 1863, unm. He was interested in the militia, and rose to the rank of colonel.
124 126
Eliza, b. Feb. 23, 1793. 125 Mary, b. Jan. 1, 1798.
Emily, b. Aug. 16, 1800.
127
Julia Ann, b. Oct. 12, 1804; m. Aug. 22, 1827, Rev Caleb Stetson.
MILLS .- SAMUEL MILLS of Dedham, b. 1622, was made freeman 1645. His son, William, was b. 1682, and his grandson, John, was b. 1715. Oliver, son of John, was b. 1742, and Oliver, Jr., was b. 1780. He was the father of Oliver P. Mills, now residing in Lex. He was b. in Boston, Sept. 8, 1810, m. Anna A. Adams of Lex., dau. of Samuel. They have had four children : Emily Ida, b. Sept. 28, 1846, d. Sept. 29, 1847 ; Arthur Perry, b. April 15, 1848; Carl- ton Wadsworth, b. April 1, 1853; Gracie Constance, b. Sept. 13, 1862.
MITCHELL .- PATRICK MITCHELL was b. July 8, 1819, in the parish of Moor, county of Roscommon, Ireland. He was son of Daniel Mitchell. In 1834, Patrick, with his parents, came to this country and setted in Roxbury, where he remained till 1842, when he came to Lex. and established himself as a leather dresser. He ın. May 6, 1845, Sarah A. Snow, dau. of Daniel and Rebecca (Abbott) Snow of Cavendish, Vt. They have had four children, Oliver, b. March 18, 1846 ; James Alpheus, b. Aug. 21, 1847, he was in the United States' service in the late rebellion ; Mary Rebecca, b. Jan. 4, 1849, d. Sept. 16, 1856; Abbott Stanton, b. Nov. 21, 1860.
THE MOORE FAMILY.
There was a family by the name of Moore found on Lex. records about 1720. We have not ascertained the line of descent of this family. The name was common in most of the early settlements.
141
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
1 THOMAS MOORE and his wife Mary appear before the church in 1724, and had their first child bap. He d. July 19, 1767, and she d. Nov. 8, 1782, aged 81.
Mary, b. July 5, 1724. 3 Thomas, b. Sept. 10, 1725.
Elizabeth, b. Sept. 15, 1727. 5 Abigail, b. April 30, 1729. Lydia, b. Jan. 18, 1731; m. May 22, 1755, John Parker, who com- manded the Lex. company in 1775. He d. Sept. 17, 1775, and she m. Nov. 5, 1778, Ephraim Pierce of Waltham. ' Charles, b. Aug. 14, 1733. 8 Robert, b. Feb. 26, 1736.
7 9 Isaac, b. May 24, 1738.
There are a few others of the name, but they are so far between that I can give no connected view of them. Benjamin Moore m. May 3, 1768, Betsey Cutler, and had children, we believe, but neither the town or the parish records contain the names or birth.
THE MORRELL FAMILY.
AMBROSE MORRELL was b. in France about 1780. He received his early education in a convent, and was probably designed for the church. He was conscripted into the French army, and served in Napoleon's second campaign in Italy. He was in the famous battle of Marengo. He afterwards went to Holland, and from thence came to America, about 1798. He took up his residence in Lex. and m. Jan. 7, 1805, Sarah Holbrook of Sherborne, aged 19. He d. April 27, 1862. He was engaged in the fur dressing business. He was frequently appointed on important committees, represented the town two years in the legislature, and was a justice of the peace.
1- 2 Sarah, b. Jan. 12, 1807 ; m. Abraham Millett, June 2, 1833, no issuc. 3 4 Clarissa, b. March 18, 1808 ; m. May 19, 1835, Rev. Curtis Cutler. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 3, 1810; d. young.
5 Elizabeth, b. May 20, 1814; m. July 19, 1836, Otis H. Dana. He has been a merchant in Boston. They have one child, Ellen B., b. May 1, 1838.
6 Mary A., b. July 18, 1820 ; m. April, 1842, George Marsh.
THE MULLIKEN FAMILY.
1
BENJAMIN MULLIKEN came to this country from Glasgow, Scot- land, when he was a young man, and settled in Bradford. He was twice married. By his second wife he had Nathaniel, Samuel, and Mary. Nathaniel was b. 1722. He was a clock maker by trade ; and according to the custom of that day, carried his clocks round for a market. In the pursuit of his calling he visited Lex., and set up one of his time pieces at Dea. John Stone's. It would seem that the family were well pleased with the beating of the clock ; and the heart of their youngest daughter beat so in unison with that of the maker, that she was willing to leave the time-piece in her father's house, and place herself in a situation where she should . know more of the clocks and their maker.
1- 2 NATHANIEL MULLIKEN m. June 6, 1751, Lydia Stone, dau. of John and Mary (Reed) Stone. He probably came to Lex. to reside about the time of his marriage ; for his name appears upon the tax bill of 1752. She was ad. to the ch. Aug. 2, 1752. He was chosen 76
1- 2 4 6
1
142
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
tythingman in 1754,-a position showing that he was a man of sobriety of character. He d. Nov. 23, 1767, aged 45, and, after remaining a wid. about ten years, she m. Nov. 18, 1777, Jonathan Harrington, as his second wife. She d. Nov. 13, 1783. While she remained a wid., she was rendered houseless by having her dwelling burned by the British on the 19th of April, 1775. She lost on that occasion, in buildings and other property, £431. Her residence was near the late residence of Dea. Nathaniel Mulliken on Main street.
2- 3 4 5 +John, b. Dee. 23, 1754; m. Lydia Whiting.
Nathaniel, b. March 30, 1752; d. unm. Feb. 6, 1776, aged 24 years. He was a member of Capt. Parker's company. Lydia, b. July 11, 1753; m, Joseph Burrell of Haverhill.
6 7 8 9
Samuel, b. July 4, 1756 ; d. 1807, unm., in South Carolina.
Mary, b. Dec. 4, 1757 ; m. Jan. 2, 1781, Abijah Sanderson of Salem. Rebecca, b. Dec. 10, 1762; m. July 27, 1784, Levi Harrington. Joseph, b. April 9, 1765 ; d. at Concord, where he resided, Feb. 4, 1802. He m. Hepzibah Hunt of that place.
2-5-
JOHN MULLIKEN m. Lydia Whiting, dau. of Thomas Whiting of Con. They were ad. to the ch. April 22, 1787. He d. March 9, 1840, aged 85 ; she d. Nov. 15, 1825, aged 68. He filled the office of selectman nineteen years, town clerk twelve years, treasurer eight years, and was a magistrate.
5-10 + Nathaniel, b. May 17, 1781; was twiee married ..
+John, b. April 26, 1783 ; m. Susanna Reed.
Lucy, b. March 30, 1785 ; d. July 6, 1805, aged 20.
14
11 12 13 Lydia, b. Aug. 6, 1787 ; d. Oct. 14, 1811, aged 24. tIsaac, b. June 1, 1789 ; m. Mary Nelson.
15 Samuel, b. April 20, 1791; grad. H. C. 1819, studied medicine, and established himself at Dorchester. He m. Mary L. Payson, and d. Feb. 19, 1843.
16 Faustina, b. April 20, 1793; d. April 25, 1815, aged 22.
5-10-
NATHANIEL MULLIKEN m. May 22, 1806, Mary Chandler, dau. of Nathan and Ruth (Tidd) Chandler. She d. Oct. 27, 1817, aged 34, and he m. May 6, 1819, Lydia Sanderson of Salem. He d. June 28. 1865, aged 84 years. He was a deacon in the first church, and filled the most important offices in the town. He was selectman, assessor, town clerk, and treasurer, -and the last-named office he filled fifteen or sixteen years, and the former offices from five to nine years. He was also a justice of the peace.
10-17 18 Lucy, b. Aug. 26, 1806; m. Nov. 1, 1838, Joseph F. Daland of Wo. John William, b. Sept. 12, 1809. The town record has this entry connected with the record of his birth: " This child at his birth had four great-grandparents and four grandparents, all living in Lex., also bears the Christian name of two great-grandparents, one grandparent, and two uncles." He m. Sarah Jane Hunt of Camb. He moved to Charlestown, where he d. Sept. 19, 1854. 19 Mary, b. May 17, 1811; m. Dee. 26, 1831, Luther Farnsworth, and had Mary, b. Oct. 15, 1832; Rebecca S., b. Oet. 30, 1833; and Emily M., b. Aug. 9, 1835, who d. May 11, 1863. Mr. Farns- worth d. Dee. 16, 1863, and his wife d. Nov. 8, 1861. Nathaniel, b. May 2, 1813; m. Nov. 15, 1836, Sarah Holt of Camb., where they resided for a time. He is now in Minnesota.
20 21 Nathan Chandler, b. Feb. 19, 1815; m. Sept. 10, 1839, Faustina Roberts of Salem. They reside in Charlestown, where he is en- gaged in the ice business.
143
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
Eliza, b. Jan. 31, 1820; m. 1845, Edwin Pierce. They have two chil., Eliza J., b. June 29, 1846; Edwin W., b. Dec. 16, 1849. Ephraim, b. March 24, 1822; m. 1849, Mary Ann Horton of Canton ; they r. in Roxbury.
tEmery Abbott, b. March 21, 1823; m. Avis M. Wellington.
Elijah S., b. June 30, 1824 ; in. Sept. 4, 1854, Helen S. Munyan of Hopedale, Milford ; r. in Rhode Island.
Joseph W., b. June 14, 1825; d. Feb. 5, 1829.
Lydia W., b. Aug. 3, 1827 ; m. May 30, 1849, George F. H. Horton. Augusta W., b. Aug. 18, 1829.
5-11-
JOHN MULLIKEN m. Nov. 30, 1813, Susanna Reed of Con. They were ad. to the ch. July 3, 1814. He d. Aug. 5, 1855, aged 72, and she d. Aug. 21, 1863. He filled the office of selectman, town clerk, and representative to the General Court.
Susan, b. Sept. 19, 1814; m. May 7, 1835, Joseph F. Simonds. Charles, b. Oct. 8, 1816; d. Dec. 8, 1821.
Lydia, b. Jan. 3, 1819; m. Sept. 20, 1861, Levi Bacon of Lowell. He was lost on board the Golden Gate, near California, 1862.
t George, b. March 15, 1821 ; m. April 23, 1847, Charlotte Munroe. Elizabeth R., b. Nov. 5, 1823; d. Aug. 18, 1825.
5-14-
ISAAC MULLIKEN m. Dee. 7, 1815, Mary Nelson, dau. of Josiah and Millicent (Bond) Nelson of Linc. He d. March 17, 1859, aged 69; she d. Dec. 8, 1861. He represented the town in the legislature three years, and filled important town offices.
14-35 36 37 +Henry, b. Aug. 16, 1821 ; m. Adeline M. Loeke.
38 Edward, b. Nov. 25, 1823; m. Nov. 7, 1850, Harriet Smith of Stow. Mary Caroline, b. Jan. 8, 1826 ; m. Feb. 2, 1848, Wm. W. Clement. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 16, 1828; m. May 18, 1848, Hollis Gerry, and lives in Chelsea.
39 40 41 42
Joseph, b. May 24, 1831 ; d. April 28, 1860.
Helen S., b. May 16, 1833 ; m. July 5, 1854, Elbridge G. Locke ; r. in New York.
10-24-
EMERY ABBOTT MULLIKEN m. Oct. 17, 1850, Avis M. Wellington, dau. of Nehemiah and Anna (Stearns) Wellington.
24-43 45 46
Ann Eliza, b. Nov. 9, 1851. 44 John E. A., b. Sept. 8, 1856. Amelia M., b. Sept. 15, 1858. Alice W., b. Oct. 1862 ; d. Jan. 23, 1863.
11-32-
GEORGE MULLIKEN m. April 23, 1847, Charlotte Munroe, dau. of John and Charlotte Munroe. He resides in Somerville. His wife d. Dec. 8, 1861, and he m. again.
Charlotte M., b. April 27, 1848; d. July 4, 1855.
George Francis, b. Oct. 6, 1851 ; d. Sept. 24, 1854.
32-47 48 49 Charles Henry, b. Oct. 28, 1853. 50 Clarence M.,b. Oct. 13, 1855. 51 Harriet M., b. Feb. 6, 1858; d. 1866.
14-37-
HENRY MULLIKEN m. July 13, 1853, Adeline Matilda Locke, dau. of Hammond and Rebecca (Nevers) Locke, b. June 14, 1826.
37-52 |William Henry, b. June 30, 1854. 52 Everett M., b. Mar. 26, 1857.
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
11-29 30 31 32 33 34 John, b. April 26, 1826 ; is in business in Boston.
Faustina, b. April 17, 1817 ; m. May 17, 1854, William W. Clement. Elizabeth, b. March 16, 1819; d. Nov. 6, 1820.
144
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
THE MUNROE FAMILY.
The Munroes, who acted a conspicuous part on the 19th of April, 1775, and were among the first settlers in Lexington, and who have from time to time filled some of the principal offices in the town, were of Scotch descent; though it is said that they came to Scotland from Ireland at a remote period. Dr. Doddridge, in his Life of Col. Gardner, has given an interesting account of the ancient family of Munroes, (of whom the Lexington Munroes were descendants, ) from which account this notice is mostly taken.
The family of Munroes of Fowlis is among the most ancient and honorable families in the north of Scotland, and has generally been remarkable for a brave, martial, and patriotic spirit. They have intermarried with many of the best families and nobility in the North of Scotland ; and, what is more to their honor, they were among the very first in those parts, who embraced the Reformation, which they zealously supported.
According to Buchanan, it was in the beginning of the eleventh century, and about the time of the conquest of England, when Mal- colm, the second of that name, King of Scots, first distributed, or as it was expressed, few-ed out, or fee-ed, the lands in Scotland to the principal families, on account of their eminent services in his battles with the Danes. According to tradition, it was on that occasion that the country between the Borough of Dingwall and the waters of Alness in the shire of Ross, was given to Donald Munroe. A part of these lands were afterwards by the King erected into a Barony, called the Barony of Fowlis. Some of the Munroes were lords of this barony from its first erection ; but we shall commence with thein about the time they became Protestants.
George Munroe, IX Baron of Fowlis in a direct line from the above-mentioned Donald, the first Baron, was slain at the memorable battle of Bannockburn, fonght by Robert Bruce of Scotland against Edward II, of England, in 1314. And George, X Baron of Fowlis, son of the former, was also slain, with a great many other of his name, at the battle of Hollydon Hill, near Berwick, where the Scots were defeated, July 22, 1333. Robert Munroe, XVII Baron of Fowlis, was slain at the battle of Pinkie, near Edinburgh, with many of his name, when the Scots were again defeated, in 1547. The first Protestant of this family was Robert Munroe, XVIII Baron of Fow- lis, son of the last-mentioned, who came to the assistance of Mary, Queen of Scots, when she was involved in trouble at Inverness. He d. in 1588, and was succeeded by his son, Robert, XIX Baron of Fowlis, who d. the same year with his father. The next Baron was his brother Hector Munroe, who d. 1603.
Robert Munroe, son of Hector, was the XXI Baron. He flour- ished at the time that Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was engaged in a Protestant war with Ferdinand II, in defence of the civil and religious liberties of Germany. The Baron, moved with pity and patriotism, joined Adolphus, with a great many of his clan of the same name, where they gained great distinction as soldiers. Robert became so eminent, that he was made colonel of two regiments, one of foot and the other of horse, at the same time. He d. of a wound received in crossing the Danube, in 1633. He was succeeded by Sir Henry Munroe, XXII Baron of Fowlis, the next male heir of the family, who was also a colonel in the same service, and upon crossing over into Britain, he was created a Baronet, in 1633. Hed. at Ham- burg two years after. His son, Sir Hector Munroe, was the XXIII Baron of Fowlis, and d. without issue 1651. Sir Robert Munroe, XXIV Baron of Fowlis, being the next of kin, succeeded him.
145
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
Up to this time there were three generals, eight colonels, five lieut .- colonels, eleven majors, and above thirty captains of the name of Munroe, besides a great number of subalterns,-all of the same original stock; the descendants of Donald Munroe. Some of the family were for a long period in considerable military command in Sweden and many parts of Germany, and even in India.
General Robert Munroe, uncle to Sir Robert, the XXIV Baron, was in 1641, appointed by Charles II, major-general of the Scotch forces that were sent to Ireland to suppress the rebellion there. In 1644, at the head of 14,000 of the Scotch and English Protestants, he fought and defeated 22,000 of the Irish in Ulster. In 1645, he was surprised and taken prisoner by Col. Monk, and d. soon after. The general was succeeded in command by his nephew, Sir George Munroe, who had served under him in Ireland. He was made major-general by Charles II, and had a body of troops under him at Kendall, when James, Duke of Hamilton, was defeated by Cromwell at Lancaster in 1648. Upon this defeat, Sir George re- turned to Scotland, and defeated the Earl of Argyle. He afterwards went to Holland and joined his master, Charles II, at whose restora- tion he was made lieut .- general, and commander-in-chief in Scotland.
Sir John Munroe, XXV Baron of Fowlis, succeeded his father, Sir Robert, in 1668. He was a member of the Estates of Scotland at the Revolution, and a zealous promoter of that happy event. He was also a zealous Presbyterian, and being remarkable for size and corpulency, he was nick-named " the Presbyterian mortar piece." He suffered both by tines and imprisonment for his devotion to the cause of religion, and d. 1696. Sir Robert Munroe, who succeeded his father in the barony as the XXVI of the family, was a pious and benevolent man, much beloved by the people. His son, Sir Robert, the XXVII Baron, succeeded him in 1729. He went early from the university to the camp, where he served seven years in Flanders, being for some time captain of the Royal Scots. On his return to England he was elected to Parliament, where he con- tinued thirty years. He was greatly distinguished, like others of the family, for his military services. In 1715, he with his clan, in conjunction with the Earl of Sunderland, kept the Earl of Seaforth with a much larger force from joining the Rebel camp for near two months. Being made Governor of Inverness, Sir Robert kept four hundred men of his clan and name regularly paid and disciplined, and so rendered important service to his country.
He afterwards greatly distinguished himself at the battle of Fonte- noy. He had obtained leave of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, to adopt his own mode of warfare, and employ his own regiment where and how he pleased. He was early in the field, and at every point of danger ; and wherever the Munroe regiment moved, victory followed its banner. He would march near the enemy, and when the French were about to fire, he would order his men to throw themselves upon the ground, and receive their fire; and as soon as they drew the enemy's fire, he would order them to spring up and rush upon the foe, reserving their own fire till they had nearly closed with them, so that every shot would tell with dreadful effect. These attacks were repeated with the most marked success several times during the day, to the admiration of the whole army. It was observ- able that when he commanded his whole regiment to drop to the ground, he himself stood upright, exposed to the whole fire of the enemy. On being questioned afterwards, why he did this, he replied that though he could throw himself down as readily as younger and leaner men, his great bulk and corpulency would not suffer him to rise sufficiently early to rush upon the enemy with his men ; and the
146
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
commander would not allow himself to be behind his men in such an emergency.
For his distinguished services at Fontenoy his Majesty was pleased to appoint him to succeed Gen. Ponsonby, who was slain that day in command of his troops. They were afterwards ordered to Scot- land, and in the battle of Falkirk, being on one of the wings with his new regiment, they shamefully left their brave commander with five or six of his officers, to be cut to pieces by the enemy. According to the account of the rebels themselves, Sir Robert defended himself against six of them, and killed two of their number, but a seventh coming up, shot him through the body. At this fatal moment his brother, Doctor Munooe, who was near at hand, rushed to the rescue, and was slain near his brother. Doctor Munroe was not only a man of great bravery, but was highly distinguished in his profession, and much respected as a man. Seareely less distinguished was another brother, Capt. George Munroe. He enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education, but turned his attention mainly to the profession of arms. He was in many engagements, in which he displayed great gallantry, and in one was severely wounded. He however recovered, and afterwards fell by the hands of a cowardly assassin.
" Thus," said the correspondent of Dr. Doddridge, " died these three worthy men, to the irreparable loss of their country ; all of then remarkable for a brave spirit, full of love to their native land, and of distinguished zeal for religion and liberty; faithful in their promises, steadfast in their friendship, abundant in their charity to the poor and distressed ; moderate in their resentments, and easy to be reconeiled ; and especially remarkable for their great and entire love to each other, so that one soul seemed, as it were, to actuate all the three."
Though we have brought this sketch down to 1746, we must go baek about a century, to trace the history of the Munroes who came to America. The date of their emigration to this country is uncer- tain. Their history here, like that of many of the early settlers in this country, is handed down to us by tradition, and not by full and reliable records. As near as we can learn, they came to America about 1650. Being a young man without a family, and destitute of property, the name of the first emigrant, WILLIAM MUNROE, does not appear upon the public records till some time afterwards.
It is highly probable that the Munroes who settled in New Eng- land were prisoners of war taken by Cromwell, and sold as slaves or apprentices, as the term was. The custom was this : these prisoners were sold in England to shippers for a small sum, who sent them to this country, where they were sold into service of from three to ten years, to pay the first purchase, the cost of the passage, and such profits as the dealers in flesh and blood might be able to make. The Munroes were probably some of those who were taken at the battle of Worcester, where Cromwell was victorious. In 1651, a cargo of pris- oners was consigned to Thomas Kemble of Boston. The list of prisoners contains the names of four Munrows, as the name was there spelled, viz., Robert, John, Hugh, and another whose first name is obliterated. This is supposed to be William, the ancestor of the Lex. Munroes. One of this number settled at Bristol, then in this State, but now in Rhode Island. The Munroes of Bristol were rela- tives of those of Lex., but how near it is impossible to say with certainty.
There is a tradition in the family that William Munroe was sold or bound out to a farmer by the name of Winship, who resided in that part of Cambridge ealled Menotomy (now Arlington), and that when his indentures expired, and he set up for himself, he went farther
147
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
back into the woods, and procured a tract of land within the present limits of Lex., on a section now known by the name of Scotland, in honor of the native place of the first settler.
The name on the Lex. records in the first instances was spelt Munro or Munroe ; but in a few years the first syllable was dropped, and many of the family spelled their name Roe. In fact, for a time Roe and Munroe seem to have been used interchangably. so that we find such entries as this : " bap. Mary Roe, daughter of William Mun- roe." Ultimately a better fashion prevailed, and the present orthog- raphy was adopted.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.