The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American RevolutionStark, James Henry
History
The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution
Stark, James Henry
American loyalists -- Massachusetts; Massachusetts -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783
He was a man of large wealth for those days. The inventory of his real
estate was as follows:
The Mansion House and Buildings situated near Fort Hill.
The Brick School House near Griffin's Wharf.
A Warehouse on Long Wharf.
A right in said Wharf.
The Buildings and Land etc., on Oliver's Dock.
A Brick House on Union Street with a small Wooden Shop adjoining and
Land belonging thereto.
A Dwelling House and about three Acres of Land at Dorchester.
[Illustration: ANDREW OLIVER MANSION, WASHINGTON STREET, DORCHESTER.
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, 1770-74.]
The last named building is the only one now in existence, and the
following description of it at the time of writing, may be interesting
to the reader.
Lieut. Governor Oliver's country house in Dorchester is situated on the
corner of Washington and Park streets. In the old deeds it is described
as being "On the Road leading to Milton." The house appears the same as
in the olden times. Not one whit has the estate changed outside of the
interior of the great house. The broad acres that surround it still
spread out before and behind it, the same drives are lined with great
English Elms as in the old days; no finer old mansion house of the
colonial period is to be found in New England, none is richer in
memories of olden times. Here Lieut. Gov. Andrew Oliver entertained the
finest of the land, where gentlemen in powdered wigs and ladies in fine
old silks used to dance the minuet, and where the negro slaves used to
be happy in their own way. It was sold by John J. Spooner, administrator
of the estate of Andrew Oliver, to Col. Benjamin Hichborn, and was used
by him as a summer residence. In 1817 it went into the hands of his
brother, Samuel Hichborn, who entertained there Gen. Lafayette, and
Presidents Jefferson, and Munroe. For many years it was owned and
occupied by the famous chocolate manufacturer, Walter Baker. At the
decease of Mrs. Baker, it was purchased by the Colonial Club who now
occupy it as a club house.
THOMAS OLIVER.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS, 1774-1775.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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