,0 1 • ^^"^ ^"•^<^, /-.■■■/'-^••■/.^.'^••••>\....\--"'o<....V^»^'^ ... ••-» ■ „• ^■^ °x. -^^ A °^ • '5!?^^%' • ,0 T ^^ A <^ ' J^' .^ /. ■\ <. Colonial Land- nARK>or THE Old Bay y TATE ^~-^S^^V.2V^ «!-?*- ^*.15, ^"^^«¥% LmN. Mass: ^ ^ " SOUVENIR PUBLISHING COMPANY. l^^'^i " V.DCCCXCVI, EhTEBED, »CC0RC1n0 to act of CONOBE85 IN THE YEAS 1 B96. OY SOUVENIR PUBLISHING COMPANY, IN THE OFFICE OF THE Lial<«RI»N OF C0N0RE8S AT WA8HIN0T0N, D.C. Dedicatory Preface. Interest in all things pertaining to Colonial or Revolutionary times is rapidly increasing, and what few old Colonial Landmarks are left, should be, and are to a great extent, being preserved as the headquarters of Historical societies, and filled with those relics interesting to all true Americans. The purpose of this book is to bring some of these grand old Landmarks most of which are still standing, into greater prominence; if this is accomplished. its mission will be fulfilled. To those who should be most interested in these historical Landmarks the SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION this book is respectfully dedicated. > rJ ANCOCK House; built in 1737. by Thomas, second son of Rev. John Hancock of Lexington, and uncle of the Governor. This house was also the home of John Hancock, the first Governor of Massachusetts, under the State Constitution. John Hancock was born at Quincy, Massachusetts, January 12th 1737 After taking his degree at Harvard College in 1754. he began a mercantile career, and on the death of his uncle in 1764. succeeded to a large fortune and established business. In 1766 he was representative to the Massachusetts house, for the city of Boston After the ■• Boston Massacre" in 1770. Hancock inveighed with such spirit and bitterness against the troops and their officers, demar.ding their removal from town, that he became obnoxious to the Government; and five years later, the attempt to seize his person led to the first revolutionary battle at Concord. In 1774 Hancock was president of the provincial congress, and from 1775 to 1777 of the general congress at Philadelphia, where he was the first to sign the Declaration oi Independence. Returning to Massachusetts he assisted in framing its constitution and m 1780 was chosen first governor. He was annually re-elected to this office until 1785. and again from 1787 to 1793. sitting as an ordinary member of the Legislature in the interval. He received the degree of L.L.D. from Harvard university in 1792 and died at Quincy. October 8th, 1793. 1^ AUL Revere's House, North Square, Boston, Mass., was built in 1676, and was purchased by Revere in 1770, and occupied by him for 30 years. ^^, Paul Revere was born in Boston. January 1st, 1735; at the age of J, 21, he was second lieutenant of artillery under Col. Gridley at Crown Point. Paul Revere was an engraver and goldsmith by trade and also a dentist making artificial teeth which was a new Invention at that time. He made silver ware for table use. and also had a large furnace where he cast brass cannon, bells and like articles, also making copper bolts, spikes and other ship material. His engraving of the Boston Massacre is one of his greatest works. He was from the first a daring Patriot being one of the leaders in the "Boston Tea Party" and afterwards riding from Boston to New York and Philadelphia to carry the news of the venture. After the evacuation of Boston. Paul Revere was appointed major and later became a lieutenant-colonel of artillery, serving until the close of the war. The first president of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association was Paul Revere, and in 1795, as Grand Master of the Lodge of Massachusetts he laid the corner-stone of the State House. The Old House in Watertown, Mass. is the one in which Paul Revere engraved and struck off the Colonial notes authorized by the Provincial Congress. Among his Copper-plate engravings were " Repeal of the Stamp Act" made in 1766, ■' Landing of the British Troops in Boston" in 1774. nov/c. ^^ lERCE House, Oak Avenue, Dorchester, built about 1640 by Robert Pierce, and is one of the oldest houses in Massachusetts. /|ftr It is believed that Robert Pierce came over in the Mary and John in __4U the year 1630. and that he built a small house near the site of Neponset station, and it is claimed by some people that he built the present house as early as 1635 while others claim different dates from that time to 1640. The house stands on rising ground and commands a fine view ; it faces to the south and IS built, as many of the earlier houses were, with very steep roofs and a leanto extend- ing nearly to the ground. At the death of Robert Pierce, one-half of the house came into possession of his son, Thomas, who was born in 1635 ; he came into full possession at the death of his mother, in 1695. At the death of Thomas, the homestead became the property of his son. John, who was born in 1668 ; from John the house came to his son. Samuel, who was born in 1702 and there lived until his death, in September. 1768. at which time the homestead came to Samuel Pierce. Jr.. who was bom in 1739, and in 1776 became a lieutenant-colonel in the Continental Army. Colonel Pierce died in 1815. leaving the house to his son. Lewis, who lived there until 1871. when he died, leaving the property to his son. Lewis, who died in 1888. and the old homestead then became the property of its present owner. William A. Pierce. •lakb House, near Five Corners. Dorchester. Mass. was built about 1640 r^i^^ by James Blake, son of William Blake who came to this country in 1636. R^y James Blake was born in 1623 and was one of the most prominent men -.J^l^^ °f the district, having successfully filled numerous offices of trust from the year 1658 to 1685; he was also sergeant in the military company, and prominent in church affairs, being a deacon for a number of years and afterwards was chosen elder which position he held until his death in 1700. At the death of James Blake the property came to his son John, who was born March 16th, 1657. The old house remained in the Blake family until 1825. when it was sold to a family by the name of Williams. The city recently purchased the lot of land on which this house stood, to be used for greenhouse purposes, and offered the old house to the Dorchester Historical Society if they would remove the same. The city allowed the house to be moved upon the tri- angular piece of land at the junction of Pond street and the Parkway, at the Five Corners. The society intend to furnish and fit up the house in colonial style. A portion of the old building will be set off for a museum and library, which will contain relics of the Indians and early settlers of Dorchester, and every work obtainable relating to the history of the town The furniture will be given by the descendants of the early Dorchester settlers many of whom still reside in Dorchester, and who will avail themselves of this opportunity of preserving and handing down to future generations, their family heirlooms. >LAt\E riouye J)ORCI-lc/TCf\ -^ \ WARREN Houit .TNONBUM ARREN House. Roxbury. Mass., site of the birthplace of Gen. Joseph Warren. The General was born in a house that stood on this site, June 11, 1 74 1, a direct descendant of one of the early settlers of Boston. ^_ ^^'■'■s" graduated at Harvard in 1759 and began the practice of medicine in 1762, but his patriotism and devotion to the cause of liberty soon caused him to abandon his professional career and devote his time to the good of his country. The plan for town meetings was first drawn up in September, 1768, by Warren, Otis and Samuel Adams. He was a leader in the secret caucuses that met at their houses. Warren and Samuel Adams, working together, were the brains and soul of the early movement in Massachusetts. Warren was one of the committee to prevent the land- ing of the tea in Boston. He told the Suffolk County Convention, in September, that "a sovereign who breaks his compact with his people forfeits their allegiance." and wrote to Quincy, two months later, that if the recent acts were not repealed, the two countries had better separate Warren personally handed to Gen. Gage, papers protesting against the fortifications being built around Boston. In 1774 he was at the head of the Provincial Congress and Committee of Safety. V/arren declined the post of surgeon-general and accepted from Massachusetts, June 14th, that of major-general. General Warren fell, fighting for the cause he loved at Bunlcer Hill, June 17th, 1775. ^ussELL House, Arlington, Mass., scene of the murder of Jason Russell. _ 1 with other patriots, by British troops, April 19th, 1775. Vp\ The story is well told by Mrs. Teel in "Drake's Old Landmarks." ,|l^r*r ^ " Aft^'' ^'^^ regulars had passed up to Lexington, a number of the minute-men who had collected here thought a good opportunity would occur to harrass them on their return. To this end they made a small brestwork of casks, shingles, and such movables as they could readily obtain, near the present gate and next the road. From behind this cover the patriots fired on Percy's van, but they had not taken into account the flank-guards moving across the fields parallel with the main body. Hem- med in between these two columns, the minute-men sought shelter within the dwelling. My grandfather, Jason Russell then lived in the house. He had conducted his wife and children to a high hill back of the house, and was returning, when he was dis- covered and pursued, with the others, into the house. He was first shot and then bayoneted. The bloody stains remained until recently upon the floor, where he with ten others, perished while in vain entreating mercy. Several Americans of the ill-fated band, which belonged to Lynn. Danvers and Beverly, retreated into the cellar and as they were well armed, the British durst not fol- low them but discharged several volleys into the entrance." Jason Russell was an invalid, and it is thought imprudently returned to his dwelling to save some articles of value. ocER Williams' House, Salem, Mass., known also as the -Old Witch House" from the fact that preliminary examinations of those charged '^/^ ^'^^ witchcraft, in 1692, were held in one of its rooms. The house _ b'it-? ^ ^^ occupied at that time by Jonathan Corwin, one of the Judges in witch- craft trials. The house was built in 1631 by Roger Williams, who came to this country in that year and accepted an invitation to become pastor of a church in Salem, on April 12th, the same day that the magistrates were assembled at Boston to express disapproval of the scheme. To escape persecution he went to Plymouth and became assistant pastor there, returning in 1633 to Salem as assistant pastor, and succeeding, the following year, as sole pastor. Chiefly on account of his pronounced opinions regarding the restricted sphere of the civil magistrate in religious matters, he came into conflict with the court of Massachusetts, and being banished from the colony, left with a few others in 1636 for Narragansett Bay. At first they received a grant of land from an Indian Chief which is now included in Seekonk, Mass.. and began to build houses, but in the following summer he and five others, embarked in a canoe for Rhode Island, and founded a settlement to which Williams gave the name of Providence. In 1643 Williams proceeded to England and succeeded in obtaining, in March, 1644, an independent charter. In 1 649 he was chosen deputy president. ^^^ DAMS Houses, on •• Presidents' Avenue." Quincy. Mass. The house to the right was the birthplace of John Adams, and was built in 1700. John Adams was born October 19, 1735; he was married in 1764, and his son, John Quincy Adams, was born in the house to the right, July 11 1767 ; this house was built about 1764. President John Adams commenced life as a lawyer, being admitted to the Suffolk bar at which time he also commenced his political career; he obtained considerable prominence from •■ The Stamp Act," and he was also an early advocate of " Good Roads." In 1778 John Adams went to Europe to represent Congress, taking his son, John Quincy, with him; he returned in August, 1779, and was ordered back in November of the same year, staying this time about nine years. From the Boston Herald of October 20. 1896, we quote: ••The members of Adams Chapter, D. R.. of Quincy. formally opened their new home in the old John Adams' house, in South Quincy, yesterday. The house, which is a prominent historic landmark, has been fitted up by the chapter for its headquarters, and will also be its meeting place. The occasion was also the anniversary of the birth of President John Adams. Among the members of the Adams family present, were Miss Elizabeth Adams, now in her 89th year, and her brother, Mr. Isaac Hull Adams, great-grandchildren of President Adams. The John Quincy Adams house is now the home of the Historical Society. ^"fl^V^^y-l* inn OIJ AYS,DE iNN, Sudbury, Mass.. built in 1686. It was originally called the ^^^ ^^^ ^°''^' ^"^ ^'""^ 1714 to the completion of a century and a half, ^,- was kept as an inn by generation after generation of the Howes, liat It is this house that Longfellow made memorable by his •• Tales of a Wayside Inn." The Red Horse, as it was originally called, was on the main road to Worcester about twenty-three miles from Boston, where the ■■White Horse Inn." which was owned by the family, was equally noted. The road on which the ■. Red Horse" stands was first a regular post-route in 171 1 the New York mail going over it twice a week; but previous to this time, there was a western mail carried over it at irregular intervals. The great hall of the inn extends from front to back of the house ; as one enters the office, which also contains the old-fashioned bar. is on the right, with the tap-room adj'oin- mg. Overhead is a stout hook, which was used to chain prisoners to when the sheriff stopped on his way to Boston. Washington once dined at this house when on his way to Boston David Howe was the first landlord, until his death in 1746. when the inn became the property of his son, Eeekiel, who was a lieutenant-colonel and fought at Concord and Lexington. The colonel died in 1796. leaving the property to his son. Adam, from whom .t descended to his son, Lyman, who conducted the inn from 1831 until about 1860 P oPSFiELD Garrison House. Topsfield, Mass., was built in the year 1640. and was used as a garrison-house during the early Colonial days when :, ^ Indian raids were frequent. Two epochs of American history are more or less connected with the ancient homesteads of America ; that of the "^period of thi French and Indian wars, and the later span of years covering the Revolution for Independence. Of the former, endless tales might be told. The Topsfield house is perhaps one of the best types of garrison or block-house to be seen in the country. The location upon the crest of a hill was a prime necessity, or at the best a decided advantage. The forest was cleared for some distance away, and thus every approach to the gar- rison-house could be readily commanded. This was easily accomplished, in the repul- sion of assault, by musket fire from the loop holes cut for that purpose, and in the case of the sudden rush of a large storming party, who might reach the walls, the value of the overhang became apparent, for a telling and murderous fire could thus be directed upon the very heads of the savages as they sought to batter in the heavy doors. In some cases the roof was capped by a sort of observatory, where a swivel gun was mounted that could readily be trained upon any point of the surrounding forest, and the sound of artillery had a most quieting effect upon the savages of those days. Few buildings now remaining from those perilous days of yore, show the overhang to better advantage than does the Topsfield Garrison-House. Built li*^ 0CC1/PIC6 AT "Nt Tint JT ■• n'^N ON ^^' ANNiNc House, Billerica, Mass., built in 1647. This house is still another type of colonial architecture, showing the ^^^'^ roof-extention running back from the gable ridge, down nearly to the tilk^^l^ ground at the rear. Just why, one is puzzled to decide, as this house for mstance, was built in 1647, when the Indians were all about, and if the low roof then existed, it would have been looked upon as a fine means of attack, especially for the pur- pose of destruction by fire. But doubtless this portion of the house, like fully one half of most of the larger colonial houses, was added at a later date. The chimney is somewhat odd in section, but of a pattern not uncommon where many rooms were to be heated from one chimney, and as the house was enlarged there must be added an ell, so to speak, to the chimney. Some of the chimneys of old colo- nial houses have as many as from 12 to 15 flues in one stack. The principal known incident of interest attached to the Manning house is that it was used to quarter a portion of the troops of the conquered Burgoyne after that doughty and bostful commander had been forced to pause in his expedition across the country and yield up his forces after the battle of Saratoga. Like many another, Burgoyne found to his sorrow, that the -rebels" were rather a sturdy race of free men who had too much of the Anglo-Saxon blood in their veins to sub- mit to oppression from those of their own race and language. They were born as is every true Englishman as well, to rule themselves. f^A LD Parsonage, Watertown, Mass. This picturesque and very interest- ing old building was. for over a century, a good representative of revolu- % tionary times. Although it can no longer be found among the buildings __ _^^ of the town, having been taken down to give place to the latest and most "uxurious of church edifices, the Methodist Church, it will long retain its interest in the minds of all citizens of Watertown, and of the many strangers who have passed along the old road from the Colleges at Cambridge, to Newton or to Waltham. The date of the building of this house is still uncertain, probably near the beginning of the last century. The town purchased the land and building of Daniel Hastings in 1754, (he bought it in 1725,) "for the use of the ministry". The purchase of this house, in the ministry of Rev. Seth Stover, Pastor from 1724 to 1774, marks the settlement of the vexed question of church location which had troubled the town from the days of Sir Richard Saltonstall who provided the first house, through the years which led to the loss of Weston and then Waltham, to the location of the church and parsonage in the present neighborhood of all our modern churches. This parsonage was first used by Mr. Stover during the last twenty years of his long ministry, then perhaps by Daniel Adams, and was last used by Richard Rosewell Eliot, a descendent of Eliot the Apostle to the Indians, minister of the town from 1780 to 1818; the old parsonage continued to be occupied by his widow for many years. It was not again occupied as a parsonage. ^olon F. Whitney. PAUL REVERE dEWEbS. The engraving on the opposite page is a direct reproduction of a photograph of the original Jewels made by Paul Revere and presented to the officers of King Solomon Lodge at the time of its institution PAUL REVERE JEWELS. LD Castle, Pigeon Cove, Rockport, Mass., the oldest house on Cape Ann, built in 1643. "The Old Castle" is the suggestive name borne by the gray old relic fwiu^fT shown in the engraving. Standing on the bleak and lonely headland that marks the outermost point of Massachusetts, its very atmosphere seems to savor of the days when Philip led his warriors to the' midnight attack, or bold Macy, fleeing from the wrath of persecution, sailed bravely past on his way to the barren but hospitable isle of Nantucket. To these seaward relics there attaches an interest that is lacking in those of a more inland situation, and one would fain picture to himself, as he looks upon them, the hurried sally of the pirate crew, as they left their shallop or pinnance upon the cove beach, and fell in murderous attack upon the coast dweller whom they suspected of the indiscretion of being possessed of wealth. Little is known of its actual history, but it has stood, a mute sentinel of the grim past, defying the storms of the Atlantic, for over two centuries. The overhanging upper story tells the tale of its first uses, those of ever-ready defence against the insidious attacks of a foe that knew no fairness, and who delighted to creep upon their prey unawares. its clapboards and shingles are yielding to the tooth of time, but the silent glory of its history, unwritten as it is, will never fade. ^ iLLEBROWN HousE, Arlington, Mass. is one of the most romantic in ap- pearance and picturesque in locaton of tlie old historic houses of Massa- chusetts. The exact date of the building of the original house is -^ uncertain, but it dates back to the early Indian times; the addition to the original was built in 1793. It is a good specimen of the type of old American houses that is still common among the country towns, and has been perpetuated in many farm houses of a later period. Lacking the spacious plan, upper story and huge gable or gambrel roof of the m.ore pretentious of the colonial houses, this type presents a certain cosiness lacking in the other. The space contained within this cottage type is sometimes surprising and the more so, in that the attic was in most cases left practically unfinished, one long "back chamber" as it is commonly called. Here the numerous children were sheltered for the night, sleeping in rooms formed by either half partitions, or mere hangings. The engraving shows a Dutch oven to the right of the yawning fireplace, where the baking was done. The front door is six panelled, and is doubtless the same that served the first owner. The chimney is massive, out of all proportion to so small a house, but it was in the old days, the heart of the house, for every room must have its fireplace opening into the one great chimney. It would seem as if time, aided by neglect, must reduce these old homesteads to speedy ruin, but they never-the-less stand, and the Fillebro'wn house, with its battered frame and crazy clapboards, is but one of many dwelling spots of its kind. ^ JIVILT li*^ LD Garrison House, Medford, Mass., built in 1649 (or 1689, authorities differ,) by Jonathan Wade. It was originally one half its present size, the addition being built by Benj. Hall, about one hundred and twenty years ago. It is situated on Governor's Lane, near High Street. Its walls are very thick and it is fitted with what have been called " Port-holes". Its four chimneys, ail of immense size, would seem to indicate that it saw later service as a place of social gathering as well as a refuge in time of attack. It is one of the few buildings of its class that is in well-nigh perfect preservation, and when one considers the two and a half centuries that it has withstood, it is remarkable that even stout timbering and solid brick should have resisted so well the assaults of time. Medford had its own prominent part in the early history of the Bay State, and other old houses within its borders could tell stirring tales of struggle and victory against the wily savage or the arrogant foe from across the sea. But neither the Craddock House or the Craddock Fort can boast of a sturdier front than that of the stout old Garrison House. r\trt «1h fttrt t^n iNOT House, Concord, Mass., built in 1760. In the Minot house is seen a type of colonial dwelling house that is undeniably unique. It is especially pleasing to the artistic eye, in that it not only shows, ^^-(ia;^^ in good preservation, a house, the work of which is one hundred and thirty-six years old, but also, in its design and construction, presents lines that are no less comely and restful, than odd. Nearly a square in plan, its one story is surmounted by a hip roof of peculiar pattern, being broken by a knuckle or gambrel joint, as in the two sides of the true gambrel roof. In the centre of the very top is the wide chimney. The lower slope of the roof is pieroed by dormer windows, and there is probably a fairly roomy half story lighted by them. In the annals of old Concord it is mentioned that when Harvard College was re- moved from Cambridge, that the property might be devoted to the use of the American army, the professors were quartered at different points of the town, and the president him- self, lived at the home of Doctor Minot. A notable feature of the house is the front doorway, which has a six-panelled door, pilasters at the sides, and a transom light of unusual size above the valve. The windows have each twenty-four panes of glass. A picturesque old shed with a double arch front, stands to the right, at the rear. This house was but fifteen years old when the musketry was first heard at Concord bridge. ousE AT Merriam's Corner, Concord, Mass., built in 1750; scene of a skirmish on April 17th, 1775, in which several British soldiers were killed. X5-.''. --^ "All being at length collected, the troops began their march, - the main body by the road, a strong flanking column by the burying-ground hill. This hill terminates, at the distance of a mile from the centre of the town, at Merriam's Corner. The flanking column had to descend the hill at this point, where the road passes the low meadow by a causeway until it reaches the hill beyond. Near the corner was a bridge thrown over a brook, which the road crossed. Merriam's house and barn are still seen in the angle where the Bedford road unites with that coming from Lexington. From behind these buildings, gallant John Brooks with his Reading company arrived in time to pour a volley among the enemy as they were passing the bridge. Brooks, a captain in Bridge's regiment, had received his colonel's permission to push on while the regiment halted for refreshment. Loammi Baldwin came up with the Woburn men, who drifted in a cloud along the British flank. The men of Sudbury, of Lincoln, and even Parker's from Lexington, joined in the race, for race it was beginning to be. The fields grew armed men, and the highway was fringed with fire-arms. The six miles from Concord back to Lexington were per- fectly adapted to the Guerilla-fighting of the Americans." From Drake's •• Old Landmarks of Middlesex." AiRBANKS House, Dedham, Mass., built by Jonathan Fairbanks, in 1636, the frame of the main portion of the house being made of timber brought from Yorkshire in the y°ar 1633, at which time he, with his wife and six children, came to Boston. The homestead has always remained the property of direct descendants of the family, having descended from Jonathan to his eldest son, John, who was married in 1641 to Sarah Fiske ; at his death, the property came to his youngest sons, Joseph and Benjamin ; Joseph died in 1734, and his son, Joseph, succeeded to the homestead; Joseph, the second, married Abigail Deane in 1716, and the estate was left to their son, Ebenezer, from whom the estate descended to his son, Ebenezer, Jr., who was born January 5, 1758, and died November 24, 1832. Ebenezer, Jr., was a member of the " Minute-men " and a man of considerable note. The old homestead was left to his children, and after their death descended to the young- est daughter of his son Joshua; Miss Rebecca, who is the sole owner and occupant. To the orignial or main part of the house has been added two wings of the gambrel roof pattern. The roof of the main portion extends nearly to the ground, the windov/s are placed where most convenient and are of different sizes, and the whole effect of the house, set as it is among large trees, is very picturesque. The doorways are low and the entry unusually small, while the different additions to the house have been built on different levels. The old house is filled with interesting relics. 1^6 ^TANDiSH House, Duxbury, built in 1665 or 1666, by Alexander, son of Captain Miles Standish. The captain's house stood on a hill within sight of the present house ; the cellar is all that remains to mark the spot. There is a stone erected to his memory, which is shown in the engraving. Captain Standish settled at Dur.bury, in 1632, and erected his house on the high hill near where the present house stands, the ruins of which were visible until within a few years. Miles Standish was born about 1584, in Lancashire, England, and descended from the rightful heirs of Duxbury Hail. Standish entered the English army and rose to the rank of captain. He was in com- mand of the sixteen armed men who were sent ashore from the Mayflower, November 21 , 1620, on an exploring expedition. Standish went to England, as agent for the colony, in 1625, and returned the next year with supplies, at which time he settled in Duxbury. Longfellow thus describes the captain's appearance and character : " Short of stature he was, but strongly built and athletic. Broad in the shoulders, deep-chested, with muscles and sinews of iron. Somewhat hasty and hot (he could not deny it), and head-strong. Stern as a soldier might be, but hearty and placable always. Not to be laughed at and scorned, because he was little of stature. For he was great of heart, magnanimous, courtly, courageous." The captain died at Duxbury, October 3, 1656, and the granite monument erected to his memory on Captain's Hill, can be seen to the left of the house. LD Custom House, Annisquam, Mass. At this house is supposed to have lived the Customs officer who had charge of the first customs busi- ness of the Colonies at the port of Gloucester, which was one of the first ports of the Colony. The acts of Parliment for regulating the trade of the Colonies were disregarded, and smuggling, and fraudulent entries, at which the revenue-officers connived were common. Gloucester had, as early as 1 683, been made one of the lawful ports of the Colony and Samuel Fellows was officer of customs ; he was an ensign in the com.pany of Jonathan Fellows in 1755, and captain of one of the king's armed cutters in 1769; and while he was customs officer he made himself so odious to the people that a mob of about seventy persons, headed by some of the leading men of the town, started in search of him one night, but he sought safety in flight. Dennison House, Annisquam, was built in the year 1727 by George Dennison, and is still owned and occupied by his descendants. " George Dennison first appears here on the occasion of his marriage to Abagail Haraden, January 14th, 1725. He had several children; and died March 14th, 1748. His son Isaac died April 2nd, 181 1 , aged 79 years; leaving a son Isaac who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died June 21, 1841, aged 80 years." Babson's History of Gloucester. / ■ 'HEODORE Parker's Birthplace, Waltham, Mass. Theodore Parker was born August 24th, 1810; his father, John Parker, was a farmer and skilful mechanic and one of the first federalists in Massachusetts. Capt. John Parker, his grandfather, fired the first shot upon the British at the battle of Lexington, commanding at that time a company of seventy men. The historic old musket, from which the shot was fired, became the valued property of the grandson. At the age of twenty Theodore entered Harvard and in 1834 he took up the theological course and studied fourteen hours a day, studying in addition to the regular course, the history of non-Christian religions. After leaving college he began the translation of De Wette's Introduction to the Old Testament. Beside the modern European languages he was acquainted with the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic and classical languages. Parker was ordained in June, 1837 and had a pastorate at Roxbury until 1843, where he was much liked. In 1841 he preached a sermon at Boston on "the transient and permanent in Christianity " which caused the Unitarian clergy to denounce him and close their pulpits against him. At the risk of his life he powerfully advocated the emancipa- tion of the slaves, throughout the States, and he assisted in the escape of fugitive slaves ; he helped to furnish John Brown with means for carrying out his schemes of liberation. Parker published numerous theological works, among which was, " A Discourse on Matters pertaining to Religion," in 1842; he died at Rome, May lOth, 1860. I ooKER House, Hadley, Mass., the birthplace of General Joseph Hooker. Joseph Hooker was born November 13th, 1814. He was educated at j^' f-iMtTV^A? *'^^ West Point Academy, and on graduating in 1837 was commissioned X5;,''^ -rj/^ second lieutenant in the 1st Artillery. In the Mexican War he served as aide-de-camp and assistant adjutant-general, and was breveted captain, major, and lieutenant-colonel, and commissioned captain, for meri- torious work in the engagements at Monterey, National Bridge and Chapultepec. in 1849 he was transferred with his regiment to California and resigned his com- mission in 1853 and run a farm from then until 1858, when he became superintendent of military roads In Oregon. At the opening of the civil war he sacrificed his estates and offered his services to the Federal Government and was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers. May 17th, 1861, and major-general in May, 1862. At Williamsburg, May 5th, he attacked a strong Confederate position and fought desparately for nine hours, winning the title of " Fighting Joe." He was engaged at Fair Oaks, at Malvern Hill, and did signal service at Charles City Cross Roads, June 29th, when his division aided in holding a vital position on the flank of the Union Army, in its noted " change of base. " He opened the battle of Antietam and was pitted against "Stonewall" Jackson, at the noted " cornfield. " He was commissioned brigadier-general in the United States army, September 20th, 1862, and commanded the army of the Potomac in Jan. 1863. He was commissioned brevet-major-general Mar. 13, 1865, and died Oct. 31st. 1879. /s 0fiv ,.-f m 6tN. ]oE nooi^tn OMLtY. nc\// % RADDOCK Farm House, Wellington, Mass., formerly a part of Medford, ^ was built by Governor Craddock as a farm-house to his large estate, _,- half a mile east of his famous " Fort" or garrison house. "The Old Fort," built in 1634, is situated in Medford, Mass., and was used as a garrison house during the Indian troubles, although there is no authentic record of an attack ever having been made on it by the Indians. This " Old Fort " was built by Matthew Craddock, the first Governor of the Mass- achusetts Bay Co., and was evidently erected for his residence, although it is not known that he ever lived in it. The walls are built of brick, most of which are very crude and evidently made by the workmen from material close at hand, and are eighteen inches in thickness. It was built with the idea of withstanding the attack of the Indians, and one who views the heavy iron-cased door, the iron-barred windows and close shutters, will have no doubt that it would fulfill its mission. Governor Craddock was one of the leading members of the " Company of Massa- chusetts Bay," and was one of the petitioners to the king for the charter which was granted by Charles I., under the title of " Charter of the Massachusetts Bay in New England." Craddock's license for Governor read as follows : " And, for the better execution of our royal pleasure and grant in this behalf, we do, by this present, for us, our heirs and successors, nominate, make, and constitute our well-beloved, the said Matthew Craddock, to be the first and present Governor of the said Company." |osEPH Peaslee House, or the "Old Garrison House" stands close to the roadway, a short distance from Rock's Bridge, in East Haverhill, Mass., and was built about 1670 by Joseph Peaslee, the only son of Joseph ^ Peaslee, Sr. one of Haverhill's earliest settlers and a Quaker of consider- able note at that time. The house is ver)' picturesque and pleasantly situated, facing the south and was built for protection against the Indian raids so common in the early settlement of the country, of solid oak and brick, and sixteen inches thick. In 1690 the selectmen of the town appointed, among others, this house as a "house of refuge" in time of trouble with the Indians. Joseph Peaslee was chosen constable of the town in 1687. The Peaslee's Mills were built by Joseph about 1692. It is stated that the first Quaker meetings ever held in this part of the country were held in this house, and the Quaker burying-place was in one corner of the farm lot. Joseph Peaslee died November 5th, 1723, and the house descended to his son Robert Peaslee. The younger son, Nathaniel, who was known as Colonel, represented the town in the Legislature between 1737 and 1753; he was the grandfather of Hon. Nathaniel Peaslee Sergeant, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Mary, the daughter of Joseph, who was the great-grandmother of John Greenleaf Whittier, was born in this house. /"'■'/i 3477-^0 51 . v" :^ IZ-rTf i»3. r\ -^ • r" <^ °^ -y': ' f^m>\ %.o^' 'V^': -o/ ;:^^;-. Vo^' .A V* .^^ o •'■'.' ti ■ ^^ '*'^. ' ' Vo ' ^^^ 4 O v^*^ /.^'l^i X", 'f^^-K " " " • O J,* .<^' AN ?ft .■e< ^' '^.:. I II II {ji 014 012 625 1 ,