USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > Lynn in the Revolution, Part II > Part 2
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Rev. Joseph Roby, May 3, 1762, to Martha Newhall, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Fowle) Newhall, born in Malden, February 23, 1743. His children were Susan, Micajah, Benjamin, Theophilus, Frederic, Benjamin, Ruth, Mary, and Isaiah.
Theophilus Burrill, one of the neighbors of Abednego Ramsdell,
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was with the latter when he was killed on the afternoon of April 19, 1775, being a member with him of Captain Farrington's company.
Upon the arrival of Burgoyne's captured army at Cambridge, he enlisted, November 11, 1777, as a private in Captain Miles Green- wood's company, Colonel Jacob Gerrish's regiment of guards, and did duty at Winter Hill until April 3, 1778, when he was discharged.
The home of Mr. Burrill after his marriage was still the house in which he was born, and this substantial building was gayly decorated with flags on the occasion of the celebration, in 1902, of the fiftieth anni- versary of the incorporation of the town of Swampscott. Ilis death occurred shortly after the Revolution, although the date has not been found. Tradition says that he died in the fall of the year, and that his wife died the following spring. They are probably buried in the old Western Burial Ground.
BUXTON, STEPHEN .- Although this name appears repeatedly in the Lynn- field town records, it is probable that his Revolutionary service was with the Reading men. Little is known of him. The Massachusetts rolls give the following record :-
Private, Captain John Bacheller's company of minute-men, Colonel Ebenezer Bridge's regiment, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; also Captain Bacheller's company, Colonel Bridge's regiment; muster-roll dated August 1, 1775; service, three months, fourteen days; also company return dated Cambridge camp, September 25, 1775.
CARLETON, SAMUEL, a pensioner of the Revolution, died in Saugus, and his grave may be seen in the old ground at Saugus Centre. Ile was not a Lynn man, but enlisted from Boxford, and was possibly born there, September 28, 1750. He was at Lexington and Bunker Hill, and at the latter place had a brother shot down at his side. The Lynn Mirror, in a notice of his death, February 26, 1832, speaks of him as "late of Hanover."
CARNES, REV. JOHN,-son of John and Sarah Carnes, was born in Boston, July 11, 1723; married by Rev. Nathaniel Henchman, July 16, 1747, to Mary Lewis, daughter of John and Mary (Burrill) Lewis; died October 20, 1802, aged seventy-eight years. His wife died in June, 1798, at the age of seventy-eight. Although in the Lewis History of Lynn, under date of 1802, it is stated that Rev. John Carnes came to Lynn after the Revolution, the statement in Richard Pratt's "Common
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place-Book" under date of October 6, 1757, to the effect that he removed from Stoneham to Lynn on the latter date, seems more likely to be true from the fact that the entry was probably made at the time. Also the John Carnes fact that he occupied the pulpit of Mr. Henchman on October 9, 1757, and January 1, 1758, would seem to indicate that he had taken up his residence in Lynn. Mr. Lewis says that he received a commission as justice of the peace, and also that he was in 1788 a member of the Convention to ratify the Constitution of the State, which is doubtless correct. Besides this the Massachusetts rolls add the fact that he was chaplain in Colonel Edmund Phinney's regiment; muster-roll dated Garrison at Fort George, December 8, 1776, appointed March 1, 1776.
The home of Rev. John Carnes was an interesting old house which stood well out into Boston Street, just where Carnes Street now comes into it. Two large buttonwood-trees stood in front, and under these it is said that a young couple took their station in the pouring rain while the Rev. Mr. Carnes from a chamber window united them in marriage. Mr. Cyrus M. Tracy made this incident the subject of one of his poems. The old house, built prior to 1700, was removed in 1845, but a portion of it still remains in the shape of a small house standing on Boston Street nearly opposite the old spot. Another portion was included in the old John T. Moulton factories.
In the inventory of the property of Rev. Mr. Carnes a home field of nine acres is mentioned, together with a dwelling-house and barn, and also eleven acres called Skinner's Pasture, valued at $200. Mr. Carnes is buried in the old Western Burial Ground, in a brick tomb, without inscription, in the south part of the ground.
CHADWELL, LIEUTENANT HARRIS, son of Benjamin and Mary (Deylee) Chadwell, was born March 14, 1746, in the old family house of the Chadwells, which stood in the field not far from where the Saugus Branch Railroad track now is, a little to the north of Summer Street The old Harres Chadwell honse was demolished many years ago. He was a descendant of Thomas, who came to Lynn in the first years of its settlement. His father, who was a sailor, died on one of his voyages to the West Indies,
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in 1775, leaving two sons, Ilarris, the subject of this sketch, and William, who settled in Portland, Me. Harris Chadwell was a car- penter by trade, and served his apprenticeship with Richard Breed. who lived on the spot where later the house of Isaiah Walden was built. It is said that when Chadwell was twenty-one years old, all that he possessed, except a good trade, was a half pistareen of Span- ish money. He soon after went to Marblehead, where he toiled a month for his board and a dozen bandanna handkerchiefs. When he had finished the work, he returned to Lynn, but did not know what to do with the handkerchiefs. Finally, he concluded to give one to Ruth Witt, danghter of Ivory and Ruth (Breed) Witt, his future wife, and disposed of the others as best he could by way of barter. This was in 1768, and his marriage occurred soon after, on December 22, 1768. Mr. Chadwell built a house for himself which stood between Summer Street and Lynn Common, in the fields. It was a substantial, two-story man- sion, pleasantly shaded by Lombardy poplars. It still remains, some- what changed in appearance, on Sonth Street, and is the present home of Trne B. Curtis.
When the Old Tunnel Meeting-House was repaired in 1777, Mr. Chadwell and his men did the work. Besides being a good carpenter. he was a good accountant and penman for those days, and often assisted his neighbor Ephraim Breed, who was town clerk from 1786 to 1804.
The story of Mr. Chadwell's experience on the day of the battle of Lexington has been told in the Lexington chapter in the first part of this book. At the close of that eventful day he returned without hav- ing received injury, and soon organized a company of alarm men. Not long after he enlisted in the Continental Army, and received a lieu- tenant's commission. His departure for war was somewhat sudden and is described in a sketch written many years ago by George W. Rogers, and from which many of these facts are taken. Mr. Chad- well was one day shingling Thomas Cheever's barn on the north of the Common, when some one came along and told him of the great need of men in the struggle for liberty, saying, "Chadwell, you must go!" Mr. Chadwell immediately left off work, and started for the front. It was said that he was at the battle of Brandywine when Gen- eral Lafayette's horse was shot from under him, and, being near, he assisted the French general to dismount. When that distinguished gen-
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The CONGRESS of the Colony of the MASSACHUSETTS.BAY.
To Harrin Chawell. Gentleman, Greeting. ,
IVE, repofing efpecial Truft and Confidence in your Courage and good Conduct, DO, by there Prefents, confiture and appoint you the faid Handy Chan to be a first Licitamind of a Company of Foot, appointed by faid Congress to be raifed for the Protection and Defence of the Sea-Coaft in this Colony ;
YOU are, therefore, carefully and diligently to difcharge the Duty of a first nos cutenant in leading, ordering and exercifing the faid Company in Arms, both inferior Officers and Sol- diers ; and te keep them in good Order'and Difcipline ; and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their sind hiathome and you are yourself to observe and follow fuch Orders and Inftructions as you Shall from Time to' I ime, receive from your fuperior Officers, ( or from thofe who are or may be appointed to have the Direction of the faid Company or Companies, in the feveral Towns or Counties where you may be 'flationedy according to Military Rules and Difcipline of War, in purfuance of the Truft repofed in you.
By Order of Congrefs, allearren President. Atteft. Secr'y. . Taleon the seventh Day of tugut A. D. 1775.
-
+
COMMISSION OF LIEUTENANT HARRIS CHADWELL
Lynn in the Revolution
eral passed through Lynn in 1824, Lieutenant Chadwell was intro- duced to him, and reference was made to the incident.
In person Lieutenant Chadwell was rather small, at least not above medinm height, was of a strong nervous temperament and of remark- able courage. People used to say, even in his later days, that it would take a good deal to frighten him, and that nothing short of the devil could make him run. He was sprightly, very muscular, and wiry, and maintained his activity until he was seventy-four years old. At that time he was thrown from his horse, and so injured that he did little work thereafter. He was familiarly called "Grandsir " by most people, and especially by his numerous children and grandchildren. Ilis children were Elizabeth, Mary, Moses, Lydia, Harris, Ruth, Sally, Susannah, Patty, and William. One of his last appearances in pub- lic was at the raising of the South Street Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1830. His wife died January 30, 1834, and he died a few months later, namely, August 26. Both are buried along the main path in the old Western Burial Ground, and their graves are suitably marked.
The notice which appeared in the Lynn Record at the time of his death seems worth quoting, since it gives something of his Revolutionary service, as well as the estimate which was placed upon his life ;---
"Died in Lynn, Aug. 26, 1834, Mr. Harris Chadwell, aged 88 years, 5 months. Another patriot soldier of the Revolution has gone to sleep with his fathers. As a relic of those days which opened a pathway to American freedom, we cannot but feel it a duty to record his exit as well as some of his virtues. He was a lieutenant of the militia in the Revolutionary War. In 1775 he commanded a detachment of Capt. King's company, then stationed on Lynn Common. In 1776 he was at Prospect Hill, watching the manœuvres of the British. In 1777 at Providence and in 1778 in Rhode Island, and had command of the boats at that place when the Americans returned from the island. He lived to a venerable old age, having buried his consort a few months since, with whom he lived in perfect harmony for the term of sixty- five years. Seven out of ten children also found a grave before him, all of whom, however, became the heads of respectable families. He was a pensioner under the last act, which by its tribute of respect and pecuniary aid cast a sunshine over his last moments. He was followed to the grave by a numerous procession, a portion of which was com-
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posed of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Four patriots of the Revolution assisted as pall-bearers, and with tears in their eyes consigned him to that lonely mansion prepared for the liv- ing. He had no enemies-of course left none. He was an honest man, 'the noblest work of God.' He now rests from his labors, and we trust his works will follow him."-Lynn Record, September 3, 1834.
CHAMBERLAIN, GARLAND,-son of John and Mary (Phillips) Chamberlain, of Charlestown, was born May 20, 1759, and was fifth in line from William Chamberlain, of Ilull, the emigrant ancestor. He was married May 7, 1786, by Rev. Obadiah Parsons, to Mary Newhall, daughter of Allen and Love Newhall, of Lynn. Their children were Polly, Garland, and Sally. In each of the five generations following there was a Garland Chamberlain, and two, father and son, served in the Civil War. The present Garland A. lives on Pendexter Street in Charlestown, and in his possession is the old family Bible of Mary, the mother of the first Garland.
Garland Chamberlain, the Revolutionary soldier, was a boy of seven- teen when the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, and was living at the time in Charlestown; but his mother's house was burned, and with her he walked to Lynn that night, bringing the family Bible which she had saved. He belonged in Captain Ezra Newhall's company, Colonel John Mansfield's regiment, which took no part in the actual fighting of the day. In that part of Lynn now called Wyoma the two had friends with whom they found refuge.
During the latter part of the war, Chamberlain took to privateering, and assisted in the capture of several British ships. His grandson, Charles D. Mansfield, of 91 Park Street, shows an old tea canister which was taken from a British prize. He died, probably in London while on one of these trips, February 9, 1796, aged thirty-six. Ilis wife was sister of Daniel and Charles Newhall, Revolutionary soldiers who lived on Boston Street, and after the death of her husband she lived in the Daniel Newhall honse, so called, now standing on Barrett Street, turned to face the west. Garland Chamberlain was one of the first Free Masons in Lynn, having been a member of the famous St. Andrew's Lodge No. 82, of Boston. Ilis old diploma, still preserved, bears the date of November 7, 1795, and in the margin his autograph. It has now been restored to the ancient lodge through the courtesy of the grandson.
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Many times during the latter days of his widow did the Lodge of St. Andrew supply her with comforts. Her death occurred June 10, 1817, at the age of fifty-seven.
Further Revolutionary service of Garland Chamberlain is given in the Massachusetts rolls as follows: Private, Captain Ezra Newhall's com- pany, Colonel John Mansfield's regiment, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Israel Hutchinson; muster-roll dated August 1, 1775; en- listed May 5, 1775; service, three months, three days; also company return dated October 6, 1775; also Captain Newhall's company, list of men taken from the Orderly Book of Colonel Israel Hutchinson, of the 27th regiment, dated Fort Lee; reported taken prisoner at Fort Washington, November 16, 1776.
Captain Newhall's company, Colonel Mansfield's regiment; order for advance pay dated Cambridge, June 8, 1775; also Captain Ezra Newhall's company, Colonel John Mansfield's (19th) regiment, com- manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Israel Hutchinson; order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Winter Hill, November 4, 1775; also private, Captain Zadock Buffinton's company, Colonel Samuel Johnson's regiment, enlisted August 19, 1777; discharged at Cambridge, Novem- her 30, 1777; service, three months, twelve days at the northward.
CHEEVER, DR. ABIJAH, son of Abner and Elizabeth (Newhall) Cheever, was born in Saugus, May 23, 1760, brother of Abner, Jr. He graduated at Harvard in 1779 and was a surgeon in the Revolution, afterward practicing his profession in Boston, abjah Cheever where he was married by Rev. John Clarke, July 5, 1789, to Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Daniel Scott, of Bos- ton. On October 16, 1798, he was married the second time to Sally Williams. About 1810 he moved back to Saugus, where he lived until his death, April 21, 1843. His children were Margaret, Elizabeth Scott, Charles Augustus, Elizabeth Scott, Iloratio Ilerbert. His grand- son, Dr. David W. Cheever, of Boston, says that he was buried in one of the old tombs on Boston Common.
The "Dr. Cheever Place," so called, of Saugus, built in 1806 and situated some thirty rods east of the Newburyport turnpike, and about sixty rods north of the spot where stood the old farm mansion of Abner Cheever, was for many years considered the most elegant house of Sau-
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gus. Its situation, surrounded by trees, was picturesque and inviting. and never failed to command attention and respect. In the palmy days of the doctor's life everything about it was kept in the neatest order, and, when the turnpike was opened to public travel, he had a private road made through a field belonging to the estate to the house itself. The birthplace of Dr. Cheever was the old house of his father, which was demolished at about the time that the new house was built, and thus, although the old house was gone, he looked out for many years upon the scenes of his boyhood. Dr. Cheever was a man of liberal educa- tion, studied for the medical profession at an early age, and was com- missioned as a surgeon in the Continental Army. From that time until the erection of his house in Saugus he generally made his home in Boston. He was a gentleman of the old school, never for a moment lowering his dignity. In politics he became a rigid Federalist, and in religion he was a Unitarian. He was one of the few slaveholders of the town, and owned some two hundred acres of land in Saugus, a part of which is now crossed by the Saugus Branch Railroad.
In the Pension Office an interesting record was found concerning his service in the Revolution. At the time that he made application for a pension he deposed that on July 16, 1779, he was appointed surgeon's mate in the Military Hospital of the United States at Boston, under Dr. John Warren, brother of General Warren, and that he continued to serve in that station until the spring of 1782, when he was appointed surgeon of the ship "Tartar," of twenty guns, which was a frigate duly commissioned by the Commonwealth and commanded by Captain John C'atheart, and in which he served until the last of November, 1782, when she was sold by the state. He held his commission until peace was declared. In a letter to John C. Calhoun he wrote :-
"On a sudden emergency in 1782 I acted as surgeon's mate of the 'Tartar,' the enemy having invested our seacoast. I was taken and kept prisoner of war at New York until peace was declared."
The military hospital at Boston was for the purpose of receiving sick and wounded prisoners of war from the guard-ships of the harbor. In his deposition he makes the statement that in 1809, owing to the bank- ruptcy of a man to whom he had intrusted his property, he was left penniless, and that he fell sick then for seven years, and had since had no property or income. Certain doctors combined in 1821 to discredit
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the statements of Dr. Cheever, and forwarded to Daniel Webster evi- dence which, they submitted, would be enough to have him stricken from the rolls, and they wrote Calhoun, they said, "from a sense of duty to our country." His original commission was signed by Hancock as governor, May 13, 1782, and was sent to Hon. John F. Parrott, sen- ator, March 4, 1824. The wife of Dr. John Warren filed her affidavit that Dr. Cheever was in the service with her husband. The following is a letter which Dr. Cheever wrote to Calhoun, then Secretary of War :- Sir :-
Pursuant to your letter of the 7th I enclose four depositions, with the Judge's certificate, before whom I made my declaration. In this I think you will dis- cover in some measure the motive of the informant, who I cannot conceive to be any other than a distant family connection, having a pique to satiate, and who sir, after you have examined the annexed will and depositions, I think will stand in your mind, as he does in the minds of those to whom his private characteristics are known. Perhaps, sir, you will not consider it alto- gethier irrelevant if I add that while discharging the duties of a Mate, I took a putrid fever in the hospital, which intailed to me an infirm constitution :- And while surgeon of the "Tartar," after she was converted into a letter of marque, I was made prisoner when she was captured by a British frigate, after a close engagement of six hours and lost all my property; that when I returned home, I was obliged to sell my Final Settlement, which I received from the United States in payment for my services as Hospital Mate, for one seventh of the face of them to support myself.
When, then, sir, you may have examined the enclosed documents, I feel con- fident you will no longer hesitate to continue to me the payment of the pension allowed to me by my country for my youthful service.
I am, sir, with high consideration, Your hum. ser.
ABIJAH CHEEVER.
His claim was No. 334, and he was stricken off in 1820. Originally pensioned at $20 per month from April 18, 1818.
CHEEVER, ABNER, Sr.,-son of Thomas and Mary (Baker) Cheever, was born January 24, 1725; married November 8, 1752, to Elizabeth New- Abur Cheever hall, daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Breed) Newhall, born March 30, 1723. Their children were Elizabeth, Abner, Sarah, Joshua, Abijah, Ann, Mehitable, Lot, and Ezekiel. His home was in Sangus, very near the stately house still known as the "Dr. Cheever Place," but which was built
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some years after the Revolution and at about the time that the old homestead of his father, Abner, was torn down.
Abner Cheever was one of the prominent men of Lynn during the Revolution, was a justice and leader, and served on all important com- mittees, was a member of the Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- tion, and Safety in 1776, 1781, and 1782, and moderator of town meet- ings in 1781-86, and was one of the committee to set a watch in 1776. At least two of his sons served as soldiers,-Abner, Jr., and Abijah. He died April 22, 1796, at the age of seventy-two, and is buried in a marked grave in the old ground at Saugus Centre.
CHEEVER, ABNER, Jr.,-corporal, was born in Lynn, March 16, 1755, and was the son of Abner and Elizabeth (Newhall) Cheever. His father was one of the patriotic men of the town and prominent in public affairs. The Cheever homestead was at the corner of Felton and Essex Streets, Cliftondale, and was destroyed by fire many years ago. The ancient elms which shaded the house remain. He did service in Captain Parker's Saugus company on the Lexington alarm, and continued with the new army until Boston was evacuated, March 17, 1776. On that occasion he was on the first boat crossing the Charles River, and entered the town while the enemy were yet embarking on the wharves. On Novem- ber 29, 1779, he was married by Rev. Mr. Roby to Mercy Newhall, daughter of Colonel Ezra Newhall, born September 4, 1757. His children were Abijah, Abner, Henry, Sally, Emily, Frederick, Belinda, and Abner. His brother Abijah was a surgeon in the Revolution. Family tradition says that he took part in the famous Boston Tea Party. His grand-niece, Miss Rachel Cheever, of Saugus, has still in her pos- session a small phial of tea which, it is said, he brought away from the party in his shoes. Many of the older people remember the venerable patriot who was known as Colonel Cheever in his latter days. Ile was a tall man, rather thin in face, and smooth-shaven in accordance with the old-time custom. He was the last survivor but one in Saugus of the battle of Lexington. Ile died September 13, 1837, aged eighty- two, and was first interred in a private tomb which had been built upon his estate, but some few years ago his remains were transferred to the new Saugus cemetery and buried in the Perley lot. A marble stone and marker of the S. A. R. were erected at his grave in 1903. So far as is known, he is the only Revolutionary soldier in the cemetery.
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DR. ABIJAH CHEEVER
Lynn in the Revolution
His entire estate of $4,000 was left to his wife Mercy, the date of whose death is unknown.
CHEEVER, ISRAEL,-was another of the family of Cheevers in Lynn who were descended from Ezekiel Cheever, the famous master of the Boston Latin School. Israel was the son of William and Mehitable (Newhall) Cheever, but the date of his birth has not been found except in a note which says, "about 1755." His line traced back would be Israel6, William5, William4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Ezekiel1. The marriage of Israel Cheever to Martha Collins, daughter of John and Bethia (Mansfield) Collins, took place June 8, 1778, the ceremony being per- formed by Rev. John Treadwell.
The Revolutionary service is given as follows: Private, Captain Ezra Newhall's company of minute-men which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, seventeen days; also Captain Ezra Newhall's company, Colonel John Mansfield's regiment, order for advance pay dated Cambridge, June 8, 1775; also same company and regiment, muster-roll dated August 1, 1775; enlisted May 6, 1775; service, three months and two days; also Captain Newhall's company, Colonel Mansfield's regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Israel Hutch- inson, company return dated October 6, 1775; also Captain New- hall's company, Lieutenant-Colonel Israel Hutchinson's regiment, order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated camp at Winter Hill, November 4, 1775; also sergeant, Captain Joseph Hiller's com- pany, Colonel Jonathan Titcomb's regiment, arrived at destination May 5, 1777; discharged July 5, 1777; service, two months, six days, travel included, at Rhode Island; roll dated camp at Providence .- Mass. Rolls.
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