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CHAPTER XVII

DANVERS CONTINUED. -- KING HOOPER AND GOVERNOR GAGE. -- CAMP OF THE ENEMY. -- HOLTON FAMILY. -- SAMUEL HOLTON'S LETTER TO DANIEL PUTNAM. -- KING GEORGE'S WHIPPING-POST. -- WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO MAJOR LOWE. -- MAJOR-GENERAL GIDEON FOSTER. -- LIST OF EIGHT DANVERS COMPANIES

      AFTER the digression of the previous chapter, made in order to follow the life of Israel Putnam, we now turn again to listen to Rev. Alfred P. Putnam, our Danvers guide, and learn of the King Hooper house.
      "The Hon, Robert Hooper was a wealthy merchant and acknowledged autocrat of Marblehead. He had become weary of his limited surroundings, pushed out into the country, and spent a portion of his rapidly accumulating wealth in building a princely residence. The site is a part of the twenty acres formerly laid out to Governor Endicott, who, like Governor John Winthrop, always was on the lookout for desirable lands, and became the possessor of thousands of acres. This house was built about 1770, and here the merchant

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set up his home with the expectation of spending his last years in the quiet of Danvers, and in the full enjoyment of his abundance. This is the home to which reference has already been made, where Governor Gage found a cordial welcome when moving out of Boston in June, 1774. The patriotic people of this town were not well pleased with the coming of the governor, yet there was something interesting to them in the splendor which attended his presence among them."
      Mr. Putnam resumed by saying, "At the time of the coming of this Marblehead merchant into our midst, there was little affinity between our grandparents and any one who favored the Stamp Act. But Robert Hooper was rated as very honest and kind-hearted, and they received him with becoming grace. When he opened his doors to the royal governor, who was here to force our people to submit to the obnoxious acts of Parliament, the farmers began to look upon their new neighbor as a Loyalist, which he proved to be; and, his name was reported to the town as one of those inimical to the cause of their country."
      According to Drake, this mansion is one of the best specimens of later Colonial architecture in existence, and we readily accept the decision. The massive building has an elegant front door leading into the hall. This extends the whole length of the house, with doors on either side into extensive apartments. The house is surmounted by a gam-

[Photo- "King Hooper House, Danvers"]

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brel roof with an ornamental balustrade at the top. It is of wood; but the front is set off in panelling so as to represent stone, and painted a cold gray, which adds to the deception. In fact, the old mansion bears a strong resemblance to the stone Hancock house which formerly stood on Beacon Street, Boston. The Hooper house is set back from the highway, surrounded by spacious, well-kept grounds, and approached by shaded avenues. The beautiful trees have already afforded a name for the historic place, "The Lindens." If, as the Slavonians imagined, the goddess of love ever dwelt in this variety of tree, we fancy she was not in power at this place during the stay of Governor Gage.
      The public is indebted to the Peabody family for the restoration and preservation of this Colonial mansion, which the proud builder never enjoyed after the Revolution. Even a public renunciation of his Loyalist principles did not fully reinstate him in the confidence of his neighbors. His business was ruined, and his fortune wasted, so that he died a poor man.
      Through the courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Peabody, we were given a welcome to the house, and roamed about under the direction of our guide, familiar to each well-kept apartment. The elaborate carvings and adornments remind one of other houses of the time, where once dwelt those proud families derisively spoken of as Tories; yet they

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were doubtless conscientious in their adherence to the Crown, but were, nevertheless, ruthlessly driven from their homes. While the furnishings of each apartment call forth our admiration, they cannot blind us to those memories which now become a greater reality than ever before.
      At this hearth-stone we see the clear flame of loyalty fade away to smouldering embers, and at length become entirely extinguished. Through the spacious hall below and above, and over the gently ascending staircase, we trace the footsteps of Governor Thomas Gage. We see him in the drawing-room surrounded by his admirers, among whom is his private secretary, Thomas Flucker, father-in-law of General Henry Knox. We watch him as, with anxiety stamped upon his brow, he paces these rooms in waiting for the troops ordered from Castle William in Boston Harbor. It must be that he has detected sins of dissatisfaction, and concludes that his personal safety depends upon an armed force. He has heard that the General Court in session has appointed five delegates to Philadelphia, taken steps to aid the suffering people in Boston, and also determined to cut off all importations of British goods. He has sent his secretary with a proclamation dissolving the Court, but to his surprise he finds that Samuel Adams and his associates had already dissolved it without the governor's aid; and thus ended the last General Court under a

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royal governor in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. How much of this Governor Gage apprehended while pacing these rooms we do not know; but from the press of that time we learn: "Last Thursday two companies of the 64th Regiment arrived here from Castle William. The next day they landed, and marched through the town on the way to his Excellency's seat, near which they are now encamped."
      As we leave the mansion, and pass down the avenue, "we see in front of us, on the opposite side of the road, the camping-ground of the redcoats, who were there as the governor's guard. King Hooper's neighbors were not entirely ignorant of military life; but when they saw the sentinels pacing back and forth on their own highway, and saw the camp-fires of an enemy kindled within view of their own homes, they began more earnestly to stock up with bullets and cartridges, clean up the old muskets, and sharpen the rusty swords which for a time had been turned into pruning-hooks.
      But it was the people over at Salem who caused Gage the greatest anxiety. They utterly disregarded his proclamation, and, in fact, ordered him to leave the town. Strange conduct, we may say, for a people towards their governor: but we must bear in mind that they had no voice in his appointment; and while there was nothing disagreeable or despotic in him personally, he was the local representative of the despised king across

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the water. The governor's stay in the country was cut short; and on Saturday, August 27, 1774, he left his Danvers home, soon followed by the guard, who broke camp, and marched over the road to Boston.
      The most vivid reminder of the days of Governor Gage at the Hooper mansion is the bullethole in the now abandoned front door. The good people of Danvers have different stories in regard to this; but the more common belief is that when Provincial troops were marching by the mansion, some of the boys in homespun seized upon the lead ornaments of the gate-posts, when the master of the house opened the door, and remonstrated in plain language, to which they replied with a reckless shot, which left its mark in the door, and there still remains.
      In leaving the temporary abode of Governor Gage and the camping-ground of his guard, we instinctively turn to the home of Judge Samuel Holton,[1] who, although an undoubted Whig, did much to prevent an outbreak among his neighbors when the royal governor was in the town of Danvers. How different are the feelings of the visitor when crossing the threshold of the Holton house from those experienced at the Hooper mansion. No one can doubt the patriotism of the oc-

[1] Joseph Holton was the first of the family to settle in Salem Village, Danvers. He was succeeded by Henry, Samuel Sr., and Samuel Jr., who was better known as Doctor or Judge Holton.

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cupants here from the earliest days of the family possession. The house is thought to have been built about the year 1650, and passing in family succession was the home of Samuel of the fourth generation, who was born here in 1738, and was a practising physician in the town when troubles with the mother country began to take form. He was their representative in the General Court for the year 1768, and was chosen to join a convention of delegates from the towns of the Province, to be held in Fanueil Hall on the twenty-second day of September. This lasted several days, during which the difficulties between the Colonies and the mother country were freely discussed. Dr. Holton had an active part in this convention, called by vote of a Boston town meeting without authority of the royal government. We find him also on the town's Committee of Correspondence, and may well conclude that this old house was the scene of many interesting discussions, where none but patriots gathered familiarly about this hearthstone.
      The discipline which was undertaken to be maintained by Governor Gage's guard is inferred from the record that "near the encampment was a large oak-tree, afterwards known as King George's whipping-post. When the frigate Essex was built in Salem, the tree was felled; and on hewing the timber the iron staple to which the soldiers had been confined for punishment was

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found inbedded in the wood. King George's whipping-post was converted into the stern-post of the Essex frigate."
      Very soon after the departure of Gage and his troops from this neighborhood, the people of the town assembled and instructed their representative, Dr. Holton, as follows: --

      Sir,--As we have now chosen you to Represent us in the Great and General Court to be holden in Salem on Wednesday the 5th day of October next ensuing: we do hereby Instruct you that in all your doings as a member of the House of Representatives, you adhere firmly to the Charter of this Province granted by their Majesties King William and Queen Mary, and that you do no act which can be possibly construed into an Acknowledgment of the Act of the British Parliament for Altering the government of Massachusetts Bay, more especially that you acknowledge the Honorable Board of Counsellors Elected by the General Court at their session in May last, as the only rightful and constitutional Council of this Province. And as we have Reason to believe that a Conscientious Discharge of your Duty will produce your Dissolution as an House of Representatives, we do hereby impower and Instruct you to join with the Members who may be sent from this and the neighboring Towns in the Province, and meet with them at a time to be agreed on, in a General Provincial Congress, to act upon such matters as may come before you, in such a manner as shall appear to be most conducive to the true Interest of this Town and Province, and most likely to preserve the liberties of America

      It was on November 21, 1774, that the government of England was here practically repudiated; for the town voted to adhere strictly to all the

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resolves and recommendations of the Provincial Congress, and Dr. Holton was their unanimous choice as representative. It was about this time that Dr. Holton relinquished his profession and private business, and devoted himself to the service of his country. He was chosen first major of the first regiment in Essex. When serving in the Provincial Congress he wrote a letter to Mr. Daniel Putnam, from which we gather much of interest: --

COUNCIL CHAMBER, Monday, July 15, 1776.

      Sir, -- When I arrived on Saturday last at Watertown the Court was about rising, and I had no opportunity to converse with the members about the town giving so large a bounty. Therefore I can give no advice about what sum is proper to give the men that are willing to go. But in general I advise that the Resolves of the Court be complied with as far as possible, and as soon as possible. What sum of money Captain Flint, yourself, and Lieut. Putnam shall think I ought to pay towards raising the men, I shall endeavor to comply with, but I do not doubt you will consider I spend all my time in the public service, and have greatly hurt my constitution by close application to public business, and an aged father sick, and no help but what I am obliged to give a great price for, which makes it very difficult for me; but I am ready to spend my estate and life for my bleeding country if called to it. The Court was prorogued on Saturday last to the last Wednesday of August, but last evening an Express arrived here from the Honorable Congress, and another Express from Gen. Washington. The Congress have sent us their Declaration, declaring the Colonies independent States; and the General informs us of his

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ordering three of the Regiments of the Continental troops at or near Boston to march immediately to Ticonderoga, so that I suppose the Court must be called together again immediately. Give my kind regards to Capt. Flint and Lieut. Putnam, and let them know from me that I desire them to [?]xert themselves for their distressed country, for we have everything to get or everything to lose. We have not a day to lose, no, not even an hour. Independency is the best news I ever heard, and as I trust our cause is just, we ought to put our trust in the God of Armies, and not fear what man can do in,an unjust cause. I am, Sir, with great regard,

Your humble Servant,

S. HOLTON, JR.

Mr. DANIEL PUTNAM.

      We see by this letter that Samuel Holton was ready to redeem the pledge to give life and fortune if needful. We find him in the Continental Congress for a period of five years; a member of the Constitutional Convention; two years in the United States Congress; Representative to the General Court eight years; five years a senator, and twelve years a councillor, and twice presidential elector. He was for thirty-two years Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; thirty-five years Judge of the Court of General Sessions; fifteen years Chief justice; nineteen years Judge of the Probate Court for Essex County; and twenty-four years town treasurer.
      It is indeed becoming for us to make this halt at the home of a man who served his town and country so well, and while passing through the

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rooms sacred to his memory make anew our resolutions for good citizenship.
      Simple indeed is the slab erected on the grave of this faithful man, who lived to fully enjoy that freedom for which he labored and sacrificed. He died January 2, 1816, aged seventy-eight years.

"Peace to the Memory of a Man of Peace.'

      On October 19, 1895, the sons of the American Revolution of Massachusetts, together with the children of the American Revolution of Danvers, gathered about the grave of "Hon. Samuel Holton," and there placed the marker of the "S. A. R," and held a patriotic service. Holton Street and high school are reminders of this noted son of the town of Danvers.
      We have thus far traced the footprints of four of the Danvers companies to the homes of their captains, and we naturally desire to locate the remaining four. South Danvers, near Salem, was the home of Captain Caleb Lowe, who with twenty-two neighbors marched to Menotomy and Cambridge on April 19. They are credited with fifty miles of travel, and two days' service on the Lexington Alarm List. Captain Lowe became major, and was in command under Washington on the Hudson River. It is apparent that he had the confidence of the commander-in-chief, who on his return from Connecticut in September, 1780, ad-

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dressed a letter to him. The circumstances were briefly as follows: Washington, accompanied by General Knox, Lafayette, and other officers of his suite, made a visit to the Count Rochambeau and the Chevalier de Ternay at Hartford, where they arranged plans for their next campaign; and on their return discovered that General Arnold, in command at West Point, had plotted treason with Major Andre, adjutant-general of the British army. The plans had failed; Andre was captured, but Arnold escaped, and there was not a little confusion in the army. When such a man as Arnold, a hero of Ticonderoga in the first of the war, had proved false, Washington must have been in doubt as to who was worthy of confidence, but found in Caleb Lowe a faithful officer. The original letter, now in possession of the Danvers Historical Society, reads as follows: --

      Sir, You will be pleased to march early to-morrow morning with all the militia under your command and proceed to the landing at West Point. You will send an officer on to this place, by whom you will receive further orders. Colonel Gouvior the bearer of this will apply to you for an officer and a small party of men. These you will furnish.

I am sir with esteem

Yr mo ob'et Servt,       Go. WASHINGTON.

HEAD QUARTERS, ROBINSON'S HOUSE,
      25th Sept., 1780, 1-2 after 7 o'clock P.M.
            MAJOR LOW, at Fishkill.

With the original letter in my hand, there came to me as never before a realizing sense of the sor-

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row that burdened the heart of Washington when penning the lines, and later when on October 2, 1780, the rules of war were carried out, and the handsome, amiable young British officer suffered death by hanging at Tappan in the State of New York.
      Samuel Flint, another of the Danvers captains, with forty-five men, is credited with forty miles of travel. An officer once asked Captain Flint where he could be found on a certain occasion. His reply was, "Where the enemy is, there will you meet me." Captain Flint was in the army at the siege of Boston, and was later killed at the head of his company at Stillwater, October 7, 1777. He was the only officer from Danvers who perished in the Revolution.
      Asa Prince, with thirty-five men, was at Lexington; and his company is credited with fifty miles of travel. He was also at Bunker Hill and at Lake George. On June 17, when attempting to cross the Neck when the cannon-balls were flying from a British frigate, he dislocated his ankle, but hastily put the bone back into the socket, and went on his way.
      Captain John Putnam was at the head of an Alarm Company consisting of thirty-five men, seven of whom were Putnams. They travelled forty miles, and served like the rest two days. On the grave-stone erected to the memory of a Danvers patriot we read:--

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IN MEMORY OF
CAPT. JEREMIAH PUTNAM,
WHO DIED SEPT. 16, 1799. AGED 63 YEARS.
AN OFFICER UNDER THE IMMORTAL WASHINGTON.

This modest stone, what few vain mortals can, May truly say: Here lies an Honest man.

      Gideon Foster, who reached the rank of major-general, lived until 1845. There are those in Danvers to-day who with pride recall their many conversations with General Foster, the comrade of Warren and Prescott and Stark, and one who had held official intercourse with Ward, Putnam, and Washington. They repeat the story of General Foster as he gave it on the occasion of laying the cornerstone of the Revolutionary monument in Danvers.
      "I was then twenty-six years of age. About ten days before I had been chosen to command a company of minute-men, who were at all times to be in readiness at a moment's warning. They were so ready. They all assembled on the very spot where we are this day assembled; they all went; and in about four hours from the time of meeting, they travelled on foot (full half the way upon the run) sixteen miles, and saluted the enemy. This they did most effectually, as the records of that day most clearly prove. I discharged my musket at the enemy a number of times (I think eleven), with two balls each time, and with well-directed aim. My comrade, Mr. Cleaves of Bev-

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erly, who was then standing by my side, had his finger and ramrod cut away by a shot from the enemy. Whether my shots took effect I cannot say; but this I can say, if they did not, it was not for the want of determined purpose in him who sent them."
      Captain Gideon Foster's company was stationed at Little Cambridge (Brighton) at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill. He was ordered by General Ward to escort a load of ammunition to Charlestown. He met the Americans when on their retreat, and supplied them with powder for one more attempt. This is the account, "We took the ammunition in casks, and conveyed it in wagons, and delivered it freely, with our hands and our dippers, to their horns, their pockets, their hats, and whatever else they had that would hold it. I well remember the blackened appearance of those busy in this work, not unlike those engaged in the delivery of coal on a hot summer's day. At the same time we were thus occupied, the enemy's shot were continually whistling by; but we had no time to examine their character or dimensions."

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