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
enslave the free and loyal people of this country, accepted, and now
holds, a seat in the pretended Board of Councillors in this Province, as
well as in direct repeal of the charter thereof, as against the solemn
compact of kings, and the inherent right of the people. It is therefore
Resolved, that said William Pepperell, Esq. hath thereby justly
forfeited the confidence, and friendship of all true friends to American
liberty, and with other pretended councillors, now holding their seats
in like manner, ought to be detested by all good men, and it is hereby
recommended to the good people of this country, that as soon as the
present leases made to any of them by said Pepperell, are expired, they
immediately withdraw all connection, commerce, and dealings, from him,
and they take no further lease, or conveyance of his, farms, mills, or
appurtenances thereunto belonging (where the said Pepperell is the sole
receiver and appropriator of the rents and profits), until he shall
resign his seat, pretendedly occupied by mandamus. And if any persons
shall remain, or become his tenants, after the expiration of their
present leases, we recommend to the good people of this country, not
only to withdraw all connections, and commercial intercourse with them,
but to treat them in the manner provided by the third resolve of this
Congress."
The Baronet not long after this denouncement retired to Boston. His
winter residence was on Summer street, near Trinity church, and his
country residence was an estate on the southerly side of Jamaica Pond
containing sixty acres, which he leased from Sir Francis Bernard. In
1775 he arrived in England under circumstances of deep affliction. Lady
Pepperell, who was Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. Isaac Royall, of Medford,
having died on the passage. In 1778 he was proscribed and banished, and
the year following was included in the Conspiracy Act. In May, 1779, the
Committee on confiscated estates offered for sale "his large and elegant
house, gardens, and other accommodations, &c., pleasantly situated on
Summer street, Boston, a little below Trinity church." His vast domain
in Maine, the largest owned by any individual in New England, though
entailed upon his heirs, was confiscated. This estate extended from
Kittery to Saco, with a coast line of upwards of thirty miles, and
extending back many miles into the interior, and, for the purposes of
farming and lumbering, was of great value, and the water power and mill
privileges, rendered it even at the time of the sequestration, a
princely fortune. His possessions were large in Scarboro, Elliot,
Berwick, Newington, Portsmouth, Hampton and Hubbardston. In Saco alone
he owned 5,500 acres, including the site of that populous town and its
factories. A large portion of this property was purchased by Thomas
Cutts who had served as a clerk in Sir William's counting room. He was
active during the revolution, was a noted merchant, president of a bank,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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