Gay, Martin Boston Loyalist, Suffolk, Massachusetts ************************************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth Subject: Martin Gay, Boston - Loyalist Source: The Colonial Society of Massachusetts. Letters written by an American Loyalist & his wife. p.379 These letters are now the property of Mr. W. Allan Gay, of West Hingham, Mass., a grandson of the authors of these letters. He has kindly lent them for exhibition to the Colonial Society and has allowed copies to be made of them, which are herewith presented. The letters are interesting, inasmuch as they bring us almost into personal contact with peope who were living in Boston more than a hundred years ago, and one of whom saw, from a safe distance, the battle of Bunker Hill. They may help us to enter into the feelings and to appreciate the perplexities of those, who, from misreading the signs of the times, were induced to attach themselves to a losing cause. p.380 Also, taken in connection with the notes by which they are here supplemented, they illustrate the methods adopted for dealing with the confiscated estates of Loyalists, or, as they were then styled, "Conspirators and Absentees," as well as some of the devices resorted to by their families and friends to save at least a portion of those estates for their original owners. Here follow Letters in order of their dates: - 1. Letter from Martin Gay to his brother Jotham Gay. A coppy. Boston. 8 July 1775. Brother Jotham I received yours of the 20 Ult'm. - tis from a presumption that you may receive this, that induces me to write by this vessel, which is bound for the river St. Johns, in order to procure fresh provisions, but in case of a disappointment there, tis probable will go to Cumberland before she (ship) returns here. If so, this will be handed to you by Mr. Sampel who is (as I understand) part owner, and has the consignment of the cargo. I hope it will be in your power to afford him any assistence he may have occasion for, both as to buying and selling, and I must beg of you to send me as much fresh provision of all kinds as you can conveniently spare and can be admitted to ship by this or any other vessel bound here. My son Martin and *Mr. Anderson's son are passengers in this vessel to St. Johns. My design in sending Martin there is, that he may go from thence to Quebec, where I hope, with Mr. Anderson's interest & influence, to fix h im an apprentice to some good man in the mercantile way, where I trust he will be clear of the confusion and horror that attend this place, which is a perfect garrison surrounded with a rebel army, not the least communication from or the Country - deprived of all the necessaries of life, which we are used to have from thence, the only thing we can have to eat that is fresh - is fish, which is a great support to the inhabitants, and troops of this town, without which our situation would be intolerable. footnote: *This may refer to James Anderson of Boston, who was an addresser of Hutchinson and of Gage; but more probably the person referred to was Samuel Anderson, of New York, who, at the beginning of the Revolution, went to Canada, where he held, successively, high judicial offices under the Crown. See Sabine's Loyalists of the American Revolution (1864 edition) p.164. p.381 The victory obtained by about two thousand Regulars commanded by General Howe, over a large body of country rebels (and tis said about six thousand) on the heights of Charlestown, the 17 Ult., was a remarkable action. It proves that nothing the enemies of Great Britain can do will daunt the courage of British troops. The rebels had intrenched themselves on the top of a high hill with two cannon mounted in the redoubt, besides several field pieces, on the hill which is but about a quarter mile from the Charles River, in approaching which, the troops had to break through stone walls and other difficulties gave the enemy every advantage they could wish for. However, after a most violent hot fire, the brave British soldiers forced the intrenchments to the joy of all spectators (myself being one), and others on this side of the River, who are friends to their King & country. Immediately on the King's troops appearing on the top of the redoubt, the rebels ran off in great confusion, leaving their cannon, intrenching tools and a large number of their dead and wounded. The loss was great on both sides, the action lasted about an hour & a quarter. We have reason to lament the loss of so many valuable brave officers & men of the King's army who were killed on the field of battle & since dead of the wounds they received. I have not seen any account of the transaction of that day made publick by authority, therefore will not pretend to say which suffered most in the loss of men, but will mention one of the rebel side, the famous Doctor Warren, who has for some years been a stirrer-up of rebellion, was killed in the action, had some others of his disposition, which I could name, been there, and meet the same fate with him, it would have made the victory of that day the more glorious. Soon after the action begun, the town of Charlestown was set on fire in several places by fire balls from a battery on this side which continued burning till all the buildings in it were consumed, except a few houses at the extreme part, near where a body of regular troops are now encamped, & well fortified against any attack that may be made against them - tho the rebels met with a shameful defeat, they still continue in their opposition, in fortifying the hill and other places near this town. I am not apprehensive of their ever being able to take or destroy this town, but tis a melancholy consideration to be in this situation which must in time prove fatal to this town & province. If not prevented by that Almighty, whos providence preserves and governs the world and all things in it. I dont now write to Samuel as it is uncertain wether this will reach you. If it does tell him I re- ceived his leter, which gave me pleasure, - give my love to him and the family - (and) I hope he wont fail to write by every opportunity. Tis now near a month since I have received any advise from our friends at Hingham. They were well at that time. I remain as usual your affectionate Brother - Martin Gay. P.S. Tis more then probable there will be a great demand for hay & other produce of your country which may afford matter of speculation with you. p.382 Letter written by Martin Gay: Boston. July 27, 1775. I have only time to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 13th Inst. and regard the contents, but tis not in my power to send you any of the articles you mentioned, as they are for the present, absolutely prohibited, since the above letter was forwarded, nothing material has taken place, except the burning of houses and barns on the Islands in this harbour, and this day week, the light house was burned by a party of the Rebels. I am taking new lamps for it. It will soon be in repair. I am, etc., Martin Gay. Letter 2. A letter to Martin Gay from his wife. Boston, June 24, 1786. My Dear Mr. Gay. My last of the 8th inst. containing the melancholy account of the death of my father, I make no doubt you have received, in that I also informed you that the house was to be sold the 15th of this month which was done accordingly. Mr. Walley chose to bit it off and brother Timothy bought it at 380. He paid 129 dollars earnest money - the rest to come home before the time is up. Mr. Walley has sent you the account of the sale, properly authentic and has directed them to be left at Mr. Pike's at Halifax. Do come home as soon as can be. OUr friends unite with me in love to you and the children. Father Gay has got quite well. Fanney is with me and desires her duty to you. Love to her brothers and sisters, believe me to be your tender and affectionate wife, R. Gay. Letter 3. To Mrs. James from Martin Gay. London, July 7, 1788. Dear Sir: I acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed favour under date - the 1st of March, last, inclosing a list of books etc., which I do assure you Sir, I received with particular pleasure, and am happy to have it in my power to fulfil your orders, with my best endeavors in the purchase p.383 of them at the lowest rate with the cash. The trunk containing the articles for you is addressed, with other small matters to Mrs. Gay by the Brigadier Nathan Downe. The bill of cost inclosed, you may pay when and how as it will be most convenient. I wish them safe, and hope they will meet your approbation. Your obliging letter brought me the first intelligence of the "ratification of the Federal Constitution by the Convention in your Commonwealth". The great & happy consequences you have mentioned, that are to follow may, perhaps, strike the European nations with admiration, and give occasion for greater exulta- tion then ever to the "Citizens of Massachusetts" in being independent and free from the Tyrony of Great Britain; be it so, and let them injoy that satisfaction, which I am pursuaded they may do without being envied their happiness by this Country. The death of Mr. Lincoln (footnote: Mrs. James's mother was descended from the Lincolns - see History of Hingham.) is an affecting instance of mortality and the uncertainty of all temporal injoyments, under the most favourable prospect of their long continuance. Among the list of candidates for Lieutenant Governor you favoured me with, you think, "Warren stands an equal chance of success", but it is my opinion Lincoln (General Benjamin Lincoln) is the man succeeded to that Honorable and lucrative post. The faculty of pleasing all parties, and the great abilities he has displayed in supporting and supressing rebellions have no doubt recommended him to his fellow Citizens in preference to others. I cannot pretend to say when my affaires will admit of my return to America. By a late act of Parliament a final settlement will (it is said) be made with the Loyalists within a few months. I must wait with patience this important event, then prepare to leave this both wonderful and delightful Kingdom and re- turn to my family & friends in my native country, though a alien when in it. Please to make my respectful regards to Mr. Gannet (The Rev. Caleb Gannett - Harvard Coll. 1763 & his 1st wife, Katherine Wendell, are referred to here.) & his lady with great esteem, I am Sir your humble Servant - Martin Gay. p.384 Martin Gay, the writer of two of these letters, was the son of the Rev. Ebenezer Gay, of Hingham, Mass., and was born in that town December 29, 1726. He married (1) Dec 13, 1750, Mary Pinckney, by whom he had seven children, several of whom are mentioned in the letters. After her death he married (2) about 1770, Ruth Atkins. By her had had only two children: Ebenezer Gay bap. Feb 24, 1771, of whom mention is made later; and Pinckney Gay who died in infancy. Mrs. Ruth (Atkins) Gay died at Hingham Sept 12, 1810 aged 74 years. She must therefore have been born in 1736, and was about 34 years old at the time of her marriage. Her husband was about ten years her senior. In the History of the town of Hingham, from which most of these genealogical data are taken, he is said to have "carried on the business of a brass-founder" on Union Street, Boston, but in the documents cited in this paper, wherever his calling is mentioned he is usually styled "copper-smith". In the Inventory of his personal estate, however, one of the items is "a founder's mould" (Suffolk Probate Files No. 16, 842). He derived the title of Captain, commonly given to him from his having been commissioned as "Captain in the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company under "Hand and Seal at Arms" of Thomas Hutchinson, Captain-General and Governor, etc., June 5, 1773. The original commission has been preserved, and is in the possession of Captain Gay's grandson, Mr. W. Allen Gay. By his permission it is here exhibited. It was accompanied, when delivered, by a slip of paper which has been preserved with it. The paper is without signature and reads as follows: footnotes to p. 384 1. She was probably a daughter of John & Elizabeth (Gretian) Pinkney. See post. pp. 395 & 396, notes. 2. Published by the Town in 1893. 3. See also, "John Gay of Dedham, Mass. and some of his Descendants," by Frederick Lewis Gay, in the New England and Genealogical Register for January, 1879 xxxiii. 45-57, from which the authors of the History of Hingham appear to have copied. 4. See post p.398, note 3. 5. Suffolk Probate Files. No. 16, 842. 6. In the Roll of Members, etc., published by the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company, in 1895, Martin Gay is erroneously set down as Captain under the year 1772. In 1770 he was Lieutenant. He was Captain for one year only. p.385 LETTERS OF AN AMERICAN LOYALIST AND HIS WIFE. "The Committee of Council present their compliments to the Commission officers of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company and ask the favour of their Company to dine with the Governor and Council on the Election Day at Concert Hall. "To Capt. Martin Gay." On the back written: From the Committee of Council - June, 1773." At the same time with this military commission, Martin Gay held what would now perhaps be thought the somewhat incongruous position of church Deacon. He was elected to that dignity in the West Church, on Lynde Street, in what was then called New Boston, as appears by the Church Records, in August, 1773; but only in October following, and "after due consideration, concluded to accept the office, though not in all respects agreeable to his own inclination." He was perhaps troubled by the seeming incompati- ibility of the religious duties sought to be laid upon him, with those pertaining to his military capacity. The Pastor of the church at the time was Rev. Simeon Howard, who subsequentlyu married for his 2nd wife, Deacon Martin Gay's sister, Jerusha. On the 30th of April, 1775, shortly before the Battle of Lexington, Deacon Martin Gay, with Deacon Jones, was "requested to take care of the plate, etc., belonging to this church and Congregation." The church and congregation were at this time dispersed, and their meeting-house occuped as a barracks by British troops. The Pastor, though well known to be a firm and zealouos friend of the patriot cause, was inclined to go to Nova Scotia, where he had reason to believe he could obtain a temporary settlement as a minister, and suggested that such of his people as were so disposed should go with him. This plan was in fact carried out, at what precise time has not been ascertained, but it was evidently before the evacuation of Boston by the British forces. Dr. Howard himself returned after an absence of fifteen months. It was under these circumstances that Deacon Martin Gay, as one of the Custodians of "the plate & linen" from an apprehension that they would be unsafe if left behind, carried them to Nova Scotia when he went with British Troops when they evacuated the town." p.386 He appears to have signified, soon after, his desire to return them, which seems to have been done as soon as it was judged feasible, "without danger from the enemy." Long years after, in 1793, when Martin Gay had at length resumed his residence in Boston, the church adopted the following resolution: - "1793. August 4. Capt. Gay, having for several years officated as deacon of this church, till the Society was dispersed by the war which occasioned the Revolution, and having take care of the plate belonging to the church while the town was in the hands of the British troops, and when it was evacuated - Voted, that the thanks of the Church be given him for his service in that office and his attention to their interest." Deacon Gay's connection with the West Church appears to have been renewed, though not in any official capacity, immediately upon his return home. When, in 1805, the Proprietors were invited to subscribe to a loan for the purpose of erecting a new House of Worship, he responded with a subscription of two hundred dollars, afterward increased to three hundred. He was at that time proprietor of Pew No. 31 in the old Meeting House. On the completion of the new building, which was first opened for worship on Thanksgiving Day, 1806, he became pro- prietor of Pew No.105 in the new edifice (this was the building now occupied as the West End Branch of the Boston Public Library) and continued to hold it until his death on the 3rd of February, 1809. (The Columbian Centinel (No.2592) of Saturday, 4 February, 1809, records his death on the previous morning, and announces his funeral on the following Monday, "at half past 8 o'clock, from his late dwelling house on Union Street." Beside these two honorable offices, the one military and the other ecclesiastical, Martin Gay held several others, of a civil nature, to which he was elect by the votes of his fellow-citizens. From an examination of the Boston Town Records, as printed in the sixteenth and eighteenth Reports of the Record Commissioners, it appears that he was yearly chosen one of the two Assay Masters from 1758 to 1774, inclusive, a period of seven- teen years, with the possible exception of the year 1760, when there was no report of the election of any one to that office. Also, in the years 1767, 1768, 1772, 1773, and 1774, he was chosen one of the sixteen Firewards of the town of Boston, in which office he had p.387 as associates such men as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Adino Paddock. His staff of office as Fireward, a slender rod, painted red, five and a half feet in length, has been preserved. In 1771, he was chosen one of the twelve Wardens of the Town: and in 1774, he was one of fifty-five gentlemen, beside the Representatives of the Town,the Overseers of the Poor, and the Town Treasurer, who were invited to accompany the Selectmen to visit the Public Schools. The holding of these offices of considerable importance in those days, indicates the esteem in which he was held by his fellow townsmen. After 1774 he was not elected to any town office, owing, doubtless, to his public avowal of Loyalist sentiments. In June of that year he was one of the signers of an Address presented to Governor Hutchinson, on his retirement,by "one hundred and twenty of the merchants, and principal gentlemen of Boston, of very reputable character." Before leaving Boston with the British troops, our worthy Copper-smith, Captain and Deacon was to receive one more token of the high estimation in which his character was held by persons of both political parties and of differ- ing religious denominations. By a letter dated Boston, 24 February, 1776, addressed to Thomas Oliver, who had recently become Lieutenant Governor, to the Rev. Dr. Henry Caner, Rector of King's Chapel, Col. Jonathan Snelling, p.387 LETTERS OF AN AMERICAN LOYALIST AND HIS WIFE. Major Adino Paddock, Capt. John Gore and Capt. Martin Gay, those gentlemen were authorized and required to take possession of "the House commonly called "The Green Dragon" and prepare it as a Hospital for the reception of such objects as shall require immediate relief." The "objects" specially contemplated in this order of the Lieut. Governor were those who were in distress occasioned by the long "blockade" of the Town by the Provincial forces. For the benefit of these distressed persons, and especially of "the widow and the orphan, the aged and infirm," who "soonest and most severely feel the effects of scarcity," a subscription had been opened, headed by the Lieut. Governor with a contribution of 50 dollars. Of the fund thus to be raised the Rev. Dr. Caner and Messrs. Paddock, Gore, Gay p.388 and Snelling had been appointed stewards - Martin Gay had himself subscribed for 10 dollars. From a paper in Dr. Cramer's handwriting, dated "Halifax, May, 1776," it appears that the proceeds of this subscription amounted to 139 pounds, 19 shillings and 6 pence, of which 46 pounds, 4 shillings and 6 pence had been expended for relieving the poor, leaving a balance of 93 pounds, 15 shillings, in the hands of Capt. Martin Gay and Col. Snelling. Capt. Gay had by that time left Boston. What became of the above balance is not stated. No doubt the Captain-Deacon's stewardship in this case was as faithful as that of the West Church communion plate. Within a month after performing this last service of beneficence to the Town which had so long been his home Martin Gay was on shipboard, bound for Halifax in company with the British troops whom he so fondly thought to be invincible, but who were now flying from the despised Continentals. In the "List of the inhabitants of Boston, who on the evacuation by the British in March, 1776, removed to Halifax with the army, is the following: "Gay, Martin... 3." Insert: British Evacuation of Boston. Subject: Boston Loyalist Evacuation from Boston 1776 Source: Mass. Historical Society List of the inhabitants of Boston, who on the evacuation by the British in March, 1776 removed to Halifax with the army. Taken from a paper handwritten by Walter Barrell from the proceedings of the Mass. Hist. Soc., Vol. 18, p. 266. Reprinted in the Loyalists of Massachusetts and The Other Side of the American Revolution by James H. Stark, pub. by W.B.Clarke Co., 25 Tremont St., Boston - 1910 pp. 133-136 Name Number in Group Comment Notes Gov. Oliver 6 Lt. Governor Servants Oliver, Peter 2 Council, etc. Niece Gray, Harrison 5 do Family Ruggles, Timothy,Col. 3 do Sons Hutchinson, Foster 13 do Family Edson, Josiah 1 do Murray, John 7 do Family Lechmere, Richard 12 do Erving, John 9 do Thomas, Nathaniel Ray 2 do Son Willard, Abijah 3 do Two Sons Leonard, Daniel 9 do Family Hatch, Nathaniel 7 do Erving, George 6 do Hulton, Henry 12 Custom House Paxton, Charles 6 Custom House Waterhouse, Samuel 7 Secretary Porter, James 1 Comptroller General, Custom House Barrell, Walter 6 Inspector General, Custom House Murray, James 7 Inspector, Custom House Woolen, William 1 Collector, Boston - Custom House Dudley, Charles 2 Collector, Newport - Custom House Meserve, George 1 Collector, Piscataq - Custom House Hallowell, Robert 6 Comptroller, Boston - Custom House Savage, Arthur 6 Surveyor, etc. - Custom House Coffin, Nathaniel 4 Cashier - Custom House Bridgham, Ebenezer 8 Tide Surveyor - Custom House Taylor, Nathaniel 2 Deputy Naval Officer - Custom House Mather, Samuel 3 Clerk - Custom House Lloyd, Samuel 6 Clerk - Custom House Minot, Christopher 1 Land Waiter - Custom House Chipman, Ward 1 Clerk Sol. - Custom House Bethel, Robert 1 Clerk Col. - Custom House Skinner ____ 1 Clerk - Custom House (Listed as Skinner, Cookson & Evans, Clerks (3). Cookson _____ 1 Clerk - Custom House (ditto above) Evans ____ 1 Clerk - Custom House (ditto above) Barrick, James 5 Clerk Inspector - Custom House Ciely, John 4 Tidesman - Custom House Petit, John Sam 6 Tidesman - Custom House Selby, John 2 Clerk - Custom House Mulhall, Edward 1 Tidesman - Custom House Green, Hammond 1 Tidesman - Custom House Lewis, John 6 Tidesman - Custom House Cushman, Elkanah 1 Tidesman - Custom House Duyer, Edmund 3 Messenger - Custom House Chadwel, Samuel 1 Tidesman - Custom House Soarhawk, Samuel 5 Clerk - Custom House Chandler, ____ 1 Land Waiter - Custom House Patterson, ____ 1 Land Waiter - Custom House Messengham, Isaac 1 Coxwain - Custom House Richard, Owen 1 Coxwain - Custom House Ashley, Joseph 1 Refugees Andros, Barret 1 Refugees Atkinson, John 4 Merchant Refugees Atkins, Gibbs 1 Refugees Ayres, Eleanor 3 Refugees Allen, Ebenezer 8 Refugees Bowes, William 4 Merchant Refugees Brinley, Thomas 3 Merchant Refugees Burton, Mary 2 Milliner Refugees Bowen, John 2 Refugees Blair, John 1 Baker Refugees Bowman, Archibald 1 Auctioneer Refugees Broderick, John 3 Refugees Butter, James 2 Refugees Brown, Thomas 6 Merchant Refugees Byles, Reverend 5 Doctor & Rev. Refugees Barnard, John 1 Refugees Black, John 7 Refugees Baker, John, Jun'r 1 Refugees Badger, Moses 1 Reverend Refugees Beath, Mary 4 Refugees Butler, Gilliam 1 Refugees Brandon, John 2 Refugees Brattle, William 2 Refugees Coffin, William 2 Refugees Cazneau, Andrew 1 Lawyer Refugees Cednor, William 1 Refugees Connor, Mrs. 2 Refugees Cummins, A. 2 Milliner Refugees, Listed as A & E Cummins, E. 1 Milliner Refugees, ditto Coffin, William, Jun'r 4 Merchant Refugees Cutler, Ebenezer 1 Refugees Campbel, William 1 Refugees Caner, Reverend 1 Doctor, Rev. Refugees Cook, Robert 1 Refugees Chandler, John, Esq. 1 Refugees Chandler, Rufus 2 Lawyer Refugees Chandler, Nathaniel 1 Refugees Chandler, William 1 Refugees Carver, Melzer 1 Refugees Cooley, John 4 Refugees Courtney, Thomas 11 Refugees Carr, Mrs. 3 Refugees DeBlois, Gilbert 5 Refugees Doyley, John 4 Refugees Dunlap, Daniel 1 Refugees Danforth, Thomas 1 Refugees Dumaresq, Philip 8 Merchant Refugees DeBlois, Lewis, 3 Refugees Duncan, Alexander 1 Refugees Doyley, Francis 1 Refugees Dickenson, Nathaniel 1 Refugees Draper, Margaret 5 Refugees Dougherty, Edward 2 Refugees Dechezzan, Adam 7 Refugees Duelly, William 3 Refugees Emerson, John 1 Refugees Etter, Peter 7 Refugees Fisher, Wilfree 4 Refugees Foster, Thomas 1 Refugees Faneuil, Benjamin 3 Merchant Refugees Fitch, Samuel 7 Lawyer Refugees Foster, Edward 7 Blacksmith Refugees Full, Thomas 5 Refugees Foster, Edward Jun'r 5 Refugees Forest, James 7 Refugees Flucker, Mrs. 6 Refugees Gilbert, Thomas 1 Refugees Gallop, Antill 1 Refugees Gray, Andrew 1 Refugees Gray, John 3 Refugees Goldsbury, Samuel 3 Refugees Gardiner, Sylvester 8 Doctor Refugees Gridley, Benjamin 1 Refugees Grison, Edmund 2 Refugees Gay, Martin 3 Refugees Gilbert, Samuel 1 Refugees Grozzart, John 1 Refugees Gray, Mary 1 Refugees Green, Francis 8 Refugees Greenwood, Samuel 5 Refugees Grant, James 1 Refugees Griffith, Mrs. 3 Refugees Gore, John 3 Refugees Griffin, Edmund 4 Refugees Hill, William 17 Refugees Hallowel, Rebecca 4 Refugees Hall, Luke 1 Refugees Henderson, James 5 Refugees House, Joseph 1 Refugees Hughes, Samuel 1 Refugees Hooper, Jacob 2 Refugees Hicks, John 1 Printer Refugees Hurlston, Richard 1 Refugees Holmes, Benjamin Mulberry 11 Refugees Hatch, Hawes 1 Refugees Hale, Samuel 1 Refugees Hester, John 6 Refugees Hutchinson, Mrs. 7 Refugees Horn, Henry 7 Refugees Hefferson, Jane 1 Refugees Heath, William 1 Refugees Jones, Mary 6 Refugees Jarvis, Robert 1 Refugees Inman, John 3 Refugees Joy, John 8 Refugees Ireland, John 2 Refugees Jeffries, John 6 Doctor Refugees Johannot, Peter 1 Refugees Jones, Mrs. 4 Refugees Knutter, Margaret 4 Refugees King, Edward 6 Refugees, Listed Edward & King (7) King, Samuel 1 Refugees Ditto Lazarus, Samuel 1 Refugees Lovel, John Sr. 5 Refugees Leonard, George 9 Refugees Liste, Mrs. 5 Refugees Lillie, Theophilius 4 Refugees Lutwiche, Edward Goldston 1 Refugees Lyde, Byefield 5 Refugees Leddel, Henry 4 Refugees Laughton, Henry 5 Refugees Lloyd, Henry 10 Refugees Linkieter, Alexander 4 Refugees Lowe, Charles 2 Refugees Loring, Joshua, Jr. 1 Refugees Murray, William 3 Refugees Moody, John, Jr. 1 Refugees McKown, John 1 Refugees (of Boston) McAlpine, William 2 Refugees MacDonald, Dennis 1 Refugees Mackay, Mrs. 1 Refugees Mitchelson, David 2 Refugees McNeil, Archibald 13 Refugees Marston, Benjamin 1 Refugees Moore, John 1 Refugees Miller, John 5 Refugees Mulcainy, Patrick 4 Refugees MacKinstrey, Mrs. 12 Refugees Morrison, John 1 Refugees McMaster, Patrick 2 Refugees McMaster, Daniel 1 Refugees McMullen, Alexander 1 Refugees Mitchelson, Thomas 1 Refugees Mills, Nathaniel 2 Refugees McClintock, Nathan 1 Refugees Nevin, Lazarus 2 Refugees Wife O'Neil, Joseph 4 Refugees Oliver, William Sanford 1 Refugees Oliver, Peter 1 Doctor Refugees Powel, John 8 Refugees Philips, Martha 3 Refugees Phipps, David 11 Refugees Pelham, Henry 1 Refugees Putnam, James 7 Refugees Paine, Samuel 1 Refugees Perkins, Nathaniel 1 Refugees Patterson, William 3 Refugees Philipps, Ebenezer 1 Refugees Paddock, Adine 9 Refugees Pollard, Benjamin 1 Refugees Patten, George 3 Refugees Perkins, William Lee 4 Refugees Price, Benjamin 2 Refugees Page, George 1 Refugees Rummer, Richard 3 Refugees Rogers, Jeremiah Dummer 2 Refugees Rogers, Samuel 1 Refugees Richardson, Miss 1 Refugees Rose, Peter 1 Refugees Read, Charles 1 Refugees Ramage, John 1 Refugees Roath, Richard 6 Refugees Rhodes, Henry 5 Refugees Russell, Nathaniel 3 Refugees Richards, Mrs. 3 Refugees Ruggles, John 1 Refugees Ruggles, Richard 1 Refugees Smith, Henry 6 Refugees Sullivan, George 1 Refugees Serieant, John 1 Refugees Scoit, Joseph 3 Refugees Simonds, William 3 Refugees Stow, Edward 4 Refugees Sterling, Elizabeth 1 Refugees Sterling, Benjamin Ferdinand 1 Refugees Simpson, John 5 Refugees Simpson, Jonathan Jr. 2 Refugees Semple, Robert 4 Refugees Stayner, Abigail 3 Refugees Stearns, Jonathan, Jr. 1 Refugees Savage, Abraham 1 Refugees Saltonstall, Leveret 1 Refugees Service, Robert 5 Refugees Snelling, Jonathan 6 Refugees Sullivan, Batholemew 2 Refugees Smith, Edward 4 Refugees Spooner, Ebenezer 1 Refugees Selknig, James 6 Refugees Scammel, Thomas 1 Refugees Shepard, Joseph 2 Refugees Thompson, James 1 Refugees Taylor, Mrs. 5 Refugees Terry, Zebedee 1 Refugees Terry, William 4 Refugees Taylor, William 2 Refugees Winslow, Isaac 11 Refugees Winslow, Pelham 1 Refugees Winslow, John 4 Refugees Winslow, Hannah 4 Refugees - Listed as Mrs. Hannah Winslow Winslow, Edward 1 Refugees Williams, Seth 1 Refugees Willis, David 4 Refugees Wittington, William 3 Refugees Warden, William 2 Refugees William, Job 1 Refugees Warren, Abraham 1 Refugees Willard, Abel 4 Refugees Warden, Joseph 3 Refugees Willard, Abijah 1 Refugees Whiston, Obadiah 3 Refugees Wheelwright, Joseph 1 Refugees Winnert, John, Jr. 1 Refugees Wright, Daniel 2 Refugees Welsh, Peter 1 Refugees White, Gideon 1 Refugees Wilson, Archibald 1 Refugees Welsh, James 1 Refugees Worral, Thomas Grooby 5 Refugees For Mr. Samuel B. Barrell from his friend and Kinsman, Theodore Barrell Transcribed by Judy Stevens, June 3, 1998 Document Source Proceedings of the Mass. Hist. Soc. Vol. 18, p. 266, reprinted "The Loyalists of Massachusetts" Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth p.388 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS. MARTIN GAY - LOYALIST The figure 3 placed after the name seems to indicate that Martin Gay was accompanied in his flight by two other persons, making together, a party of three. According to the family tradition these companions were his daughter, Mary Gay, who afterward married the Rev. William Black of Halifax, Nova Scotia and his son Martin Black. He also took with him "his man London." Martin Gay, Junior, as we have seen by his father's letter of 8 July, 1775, was a passenger to St. John in the vessel by which that letter was sent. If it were he who accompanied his father to Halifax, he must have returned to Boston in the interval. In the List of Loyalists in the Memorial History of Boston (III.175), are the names of Martin Gay and Samuel Gay. Leaving Boston in March, 1776, with the British troops, Martin Gay remained in Nova Scotia during the whole period of the Revolutionary War. In 1787, four years after peace had been declared, p.389 LETTERS OF AN AMERICAN LOYALIST AND HIS WIFE. he appears to have made a visit to Boston, and in the autumn of 1788 he went to England, apparently with the hope of obtaining from the British Government an indemnity for his losses as a Loyalist. He remained there two years. In 1792 he returned to Boston, "to remain permanently," and continued to reside there until his death. The first letter in the series was written by Captain Martin Gay to his brother Jotham Gay, seven years his elder. Jotham Gay had been an officer of the Provincial forces in the Old French War and in 1755 had taken part in the expedition against Nova Scotia under General John Winslow. He had afterward settled in the Province which he had helped to conquer from the French, and at the date of this letter he had been for more than ten years a resident of Cumberland, Nova Scotia. The letter, though inscribed "a copy" is in the undoubted handwriting of the author, and is signed in two places with his usual signature. It is probably the first draft of the letter actually sent. It is chiefly noteworthy as containing a mention, - it is hardly more - of the Battle of Bunker Hill by an eye-witness. Written just three weeks after the event, it adds nothing to our knowledge and only repeats the rumors that were circulating before any authentic account was published. The writer's loyalty to his "King and Country" is very apparent, as well as his detestation of all Rebels and especially of the "famous Doct'r Warren," whose name he curiously though phonetically mispells "Worrin". The "son Martin" mentioned in the letter was a youth of fifteen years, who, three years later, was accidentally shot by a friend while gunning near Windsor, Nova Scotia. Samuel Gay was an older son, who graduated at Harvard in this same year, 1775. Why he was not at this time taking his degree at Cambridge, at the College commencement, which in those days was always held in July, is explained by the fact that, owing to the disturbed state of the times and the quartering of American troops in the College buildings, no public Commencement took place that year. Samuel Gay became a permanent resident of New Brunswick, and, according to the History of Hingham, above cited, was for several years, a member of the Provincial House of Assembly for Westmoreland County and Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He died January 21, 1847, in his 93d year. p.390 The second if these letters, dated Boston, 24 June, 1786, is from Mrs. Ruth Gay, the 2nd wife of Capt. Martin Gay, to her husband, then in Halifax. Mrs. Gay's maiden name, as already stated, was Atkins. It appears that she was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Atkins of Boston. Thomas Atkins, a brick layer by trade, was a well-to-do citizen, his real estate having been appraised at 1,696 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence. He, with his eldest son, Timothy, ad- hered to the patriot cause, but his 2nd son, Gibbs Atkins, a cabinetmaker, was, like his brother-in-lawS Martin Gay, an Absentee* (see Suffolk Probate Files, No. 16950.) So were families divided in "the days that tried men's souls." The "Fancy" spoken of in this letter must have been Frances, Martin Gay's youngest daughter by his first wife. She was baptized at the West Church in April, 1763, and was now about 23 years old. She had remained with her step-of mother in Boston. The "Brothers & sister," to whom she sends love were Samuel and Mary (children of Martin Gay) and the husband of the latter, the Rev. William Black of Halifax. Martin, another brother, as we have just stated, died in Nova Scotia eight years previous. The most interesting part of this letter, however, is that which refers to the sale of the "house." This house has a curious history. It was included in the estate purchased in 1760 by Martin Gay, in part from the descendants of the four daughters of Hannah Bradford, who had inherited it from her father, John Rogers of Swanzey. (Swansey or Swansea, Bristol County, Mass.) and in part from Samuel Valentine of Freetown, Bristol County, as shown in the following conveyances: - p.391 Lane to Gay May 13, 1760 30 pounds Gay to Gay Sept 30, 1760 30 pounds Godfrey to Gay Dec. 30, 1760 30 pounds Valentine to Gay June 20, 1760 100 pounds ___________ Total: 190 pounds. By each of the three first-named of the above conveyances, Martin Gay acquired an undivided fourth part of the estate bequeathed by Hannah Bradford to her four daughters. Further search would probably show that the remaining fourth part was included, with additions or improvements, in the premises conveyed by the deed of Samuel Valentine. All the premises conveyed by these deeds are described as situated in Union Street, Boston, but no boundaries nor measurements are given, excepting of that purchased of Samuel Valentine, which actually bordered on the street, where it measured seventeen feet, and was bounded northerly on a passage-way. This was included by implication in all the undivided portions purchased. As the whole front, including the passageway is described in subsequent deeds as measuring forty-four feet,it must have been twenty-seven feet in width. This width was afterward reduced at the entrance, to ten feet, five inches by the prolongation of the shop fronting on the street, or its reconstruct- ion on a larger scale. It was on the portion purchased of Valentine that Martin Gay's "front shop" stood. There was an entrance through it to the dwelling-house in the rear. From plans drawn in 1814 by Osgood Carleton, and in 1881 by Alexander Wadsworth, for subsequent owners of the estate, it appears that the site is now, in part, near Hanover Street, and opposite the entrance to Marshall Street. A large part of the rear portion was cut off in lay- ing out Friend Street, in 1855, but the line of frontage on Union Street remains, measuring, 48-70\100 feet in- stead of 44 feet, according to the old measurement. Something has probably been added from the adjoining estate on the north, belonging to the same owners, in order to equalize more nearly the width of the three buildings. All resemblance to the former aspect of the premises has entirely disappeared. "The great entry way" was long since closed and built upon. The numbering of Union Street has been frequently changed - in 1840 the building covering the site of Martha Gay's front shop was No. 22. p.392 The sale mentioned by Mrs. Gay, took place under the provisions of Several Acts of the General Court (1777-1780) for the disposal of the estates of "Conspirators and Absentees." In some respects these estates were treated as those of deceased persons. Thus on the twenty-seventh of March, 1779, a warrant was issued by the Probate Court to Giles Harris, Jonathan Brown and Jacob Cooper to: "set off to Ruth Gay, wife of Martin Gay, an absentee, for her use & improvement during the absence of her husband, one third part of the real estate whereof her husband, the said Martin Gay, was seized & possessed at his departure from this State," etc. Pursuant to this warrant, the above named persons report April 2, 1779, that after examining the premises and notifying persons interested - "We divide & sett off to the said Ruth Gay, as her third part in said Real Estate, the two middle tenements (of the house in Union Street, Boston) with the cellars, chambers and upper rooms to the same belonging as the parti- tion now stands and the land under the same. Also the shop fronting on Union Street and the land under the same, with the liberty to go through the great entry way into the said shop with the use and improvement of the Yard Well, Pump and Privy." According to family tradition this assignment of "the two middle tenements to Mrs. Gay," as "her thirds" of the real estate was made at her request, or by her choice, as a shrewd means of retaining herself, and eventually for her husband, the whole of the property. Naturally it would be difficult to sell or to lease the two ends of a house so divided and with the middle taken out. So it appeared to the creditors of the estate, and accordingly an Appeal to the Governor and Council against the action of the Probate Court was taken in their behalf by John Lowell, who had been appointed "Agent" of the estate. In a paper dated April 16, 1782, and preserved in the Probate Files, he gives his reasons for the Appeal as follows: - p.393 "First, That the part of said estate assigned for the dower as aforesaid is much greater than one third part thereof in quantity and value. "2nd, That the dower aforesaid is assigned in a manner very injurious to the residue of said estate and the creditors therein interested by diminishing the value and rendering the same unsaleable; whereas the said dower without injustice to the widow may be sett off in a manner more convenient to the whole estate & less detrimental to the creditors." Nothing further seems to have been done in regard to this Appeal, and the matters in dispute appear to have been finally settled by the sale at auction of the residue of the estate - less the portion reserved to Mrs. Gay as dower. To her brother, Timothy Atkins, June 15, 1786 - Mr. Timothy Atkins evidently "bid in" the house for the benefit of his sister. He was abundantly able to do this, as he had, meantime, become entitled, as the eldest son to a double share of the estate of his father, Thomas Atkins who died 1785, of which he and his mother, Sarah Atkins were administrators. Mrs. Gay may also have contributed a portion of the purchase money out of her share of her father's estate. The amount stipulated to be paid, 380 pounds lawful money, was probably sufficient to satisfy the creditors and to prevent them from prosecuting their Appeal. It was also doubtless more than any one else would have paid for the property under the then existing conditions. The amount paid down at the sale as earnest money, according to Mrs. Gay, was 129 dollars. How large a proportion this was of the whole price and how much the whole price amounted to, it is difficult to ascertain, as there were so many kinds of money in use at the time as to cause great confusion and uncertainty. The balance was to be paid in six weeks. It was, at all events, paid before the execution of the deed of conveyance, on the 9th of December following. Mr. Thomas Walley appears to have acted as auctioneer at the sale, and was also one of the witnesses to the deed. He, like Capt. Gay, belonged p.394 to the West Church, and his name frequently occurs in its early records. According to Mrs. Gay, he sent an account of the sale, properly authenticated, to her husband at Halifax. The conveyance to Timothy Atkins is recorded with Suffolk Deeds, Lib. 161, Fol. 240. It recites that Richard Cranch, Samuel Henshaw, and Samuel Barrett, a Committee appointed to sell the Estates of Conspirators and Absentees in the County of Suffolk, had sold at public auction to Timothy Atkins of Boston - brick-layer, for 380 pounds lawful money, a certain part of a certain real estate, lagte the property of Martin Gay, an Absentee. The estate is described as consisting of a brick dwelling-house, shop, stable, and other buildings in the town of Boston, bounded easterly on Union Street 44 feet, etc. (then follow the other boundaries), all which is conveyed to said Timothy Atkins by warranty deed. - "excepting and reserving, for the future disposal of the Commonwealth, all that part of said premises which was set off to Ruth Gay, the wife of said Martin Gay, viz., the two middle tenements .... (here follows a description identical with that contained in the extract from the Probate Records, sited above) as will more fully appear by reference to the Record in the Registry of Probate's Office for said County," i.e., in Suffolk Files, No. 16842. The deed was acknowledged January 12, 1787, before "William Wetmore, Justice of the Peace." Prior to this sale, during the years 1779 and 1780, Mrs. Gay paid rent "for part of the Mansion House" i.e., the part not set off to her as dower) to John Lowell, Agent of the estate. The stable and the work-shop were also leased to other parties." p.395 The instrument by which the transfer was effected is styled an Indenture and Covenant between Atkins and Gore, by which Timothy Atkins of Boston, bricklayer, - "in consideration of five shillings and for and in consideration of the love & affection he bears to Ruth Gay & Ebenezer Gay (her son) doth bargain, sell, etc., to Christopher Gore of the same Boston, Esquire, all that real estate in Union Street, Boston, which he purchased of Richard Cranch, Samuel Barrett & Samuel Henshaw, a Committee etc. (Then follow the boundaries as in the former deed) To have and to hold all the foresaid premises (excepting all that part of the estate which was set off to Ruth Gay as Dower and which is subject to the future disposal of the Commonwealth),to the use and behoof of Ruth Gay, wife of Martin Gay - for and during the term of her natural life, and in case she shall survive her son, Ebenezer Gay, and be in full health at the death of her said son, then to the use and behoof of her, the said Ruth Gay, her heirs and assigns forever; but in case said Ebenezer Gay son of said Martin and Ruth, shall survive and overlive her, the said Ruth Gay, then from and after the determina- tion of that estate, viz., the estate of Ruth Gay, for and during the term of her natural life, to the use and behoof of the said Ebenezer Gay, his heirs and assigns forever. Ebenezer Gay was the youngest son of Martin Gay and the only surviving child of his second wife. He graduated at Harvard College in 1789, practised law, and was a member of the State Senate. At the date of the above mentioned instrument, he was about nineteen years of age. He became the father of Mr. Winckworth Allen Gay, the artist, the present owner of the letters. Christopher Gore, one of the parties to the above Indenture, afterward (1809) became Governor of Massachusetts and held many other offices in the State and the Nation. He was at this time a young man of thirty-two (born in 1758) and was the son of John and Frances (Pinkney) Gore. Frances Pinkney, his mother,was the daughter of John & Elizabeth (Gretian) Pinkney. They had another daughter, named Mary, born March 7, 1729, who was very probably the first wife of Martin Gay. If so, she p.396 would have been between twenty-one and twenty-two years of age at the time of her marriage, Dec 13, 1750. If the above conjecture is corrrect, young Gore was nephew by marriage to Martin Gay, and the transaction may be said to have been "all in the family." The effect of this instrument was to assure to Mrs. Gay through Christopher Gore, her trustees, and in case of her death to her son, control of thetwo end portions of the estate, of which she alread controlled the middle portion by virtue of her right of dower, but only for her own lifetime. In order to secure this middle portion to her son in case of her death, it was necessary that she should obtain an absolute estate in it; in other words, that she should acquire what is called the remainder, which was still vested in the Commonwealth. This was finally accompl- ished. Martin Gay himself, on his return from his long exile, having apparently resumed his rights of citizenship petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature to grant to his wife Ruth the "remainder,after the death of said Ruth," in the estate in Union Street, Boston, in which she still held her right of Dower, said "remainder"being then in the Commonwealth. The Petition was granted, and on the 27th of February, 1807, a Resolve was adopted by the General Court directing John Read and William Smith, Esquires, to convey to Ruth Gay, all the interest of the Commonwealth in the Union Street estate "for such sum of money as, underall the circumstances of the case, may be thought just and reasonable." Accordingly, on the twenty-third of June, 1807, the above mentioned John Read and William Smith, did,in considerat- ion of $1,680, convey to Ruth Gay, her heirs and assigns: "all that part of the estate which formerly belonged to the said Martin Gay...which was assigned and set off to the said Ruth Gay as her third part of said estate by the Judge of Probate for said County of Suffolk, on the 2nd day of April, 1779," p.397 consisting of the "two middle tenements," etc., so often mentioned. By this conveyance Ruth Gay acquired an absolute estate in fee simple of that part of the Union Street property which had been originally set off to her as dower, and the other two thirds of this property being held by Christopher Gore in trust for her and her son Ebenezer, she had become virtual owner of the whole. On the 16th of November, 1809, Martin Gay, having died in the preceding February, - two deeds were executed: by the one, Ruth Gay, widow, now resident of Hingham, conveys to James Davis of Boston, brass-founder, all that part of the Union Street estate which had been originally set off to her as her dower, to wit, the often mentioned "two middle tenements, etc., by the other, Ruth Gay, Widow, and her son Ebenezer Gay, unite in conveying to the same James Davis the other two thirds of the Union Street property which had been bought in by Timothy atkins at the sale June 15, 1786 and afterward, June 10, 1790, conveyed to Christopher Gore in trust. The consideration named in the first of these deeds of 1809 wassix thousand dollars which may fairly be said to have been saved to the family by Mrs. Ruth Gay's shrews management. He son, Ebenezer Gay wasnow 38 years of age, and married in 1801 to Mary Allyne Otis, who, as his wife, releases her right of dower in the premises. Less than half of the purchase money was paid at the time by Mr. Davis. For the remainder he gave to Mrs. Ruth Gay a mortgage on the property, payable by installments in ten years. The mortgage was dishcharged by Ebenezer Gay, April 9, 1817, his mother having died September 12, 1810. While residing in London, Martin Gay had a portrait of himself done in pastel, which is now in possession of his grandson, W. Allan Gay. It represents himself as a well-dressed gentleman of the period, with powdered hair, and a shrewd, yet kindly face, which does not belie what we know of his character. "He was the son of Dr. Gay of Hingham," says the Rev. Charles Lowell, his pastor at the time of his death, "and did not dishonor the name of his excellent father. Martin Gay's Will is dated August 7, 1807 and was proved Feb. 18, 1809. He is buried in the Granary Burial Ground, in a tomb marked with his name, near the line of the projected new Congregational Building, which will front on Beacon Street. End. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth