the retreat from New York, 1776.-ii. MARTHA, b. 11 Aug. 1750; m. Thomas Adams, of Cambridge, 28 May, 1780; d. 22 Jan. 1847. He d 27 June, 1848, æ. 97.-iii. SETH, b. 26 Dec. 1752; settled in Bridgeport, Vt.-iv. JOHN, b. 7 Mar. 1755; settled in Charlestown, Mass. ; d. there. -V. THOMAS, b. 27 Mar. 1757; m. Mary Rawson, 21 July, 1781; removed to Deerfield, Mass., or vicinity.-vi. LYDIA, b. 2 May, 1759; d. Shrewsbury, 11 Oct. 1821.-vii. HANNAH, b. 2 Apr. 1761; m. William Adams, of Cambridge, 26 June, 1781; d. West Cambridge, 15 Oct. 1818. He d. 9 July, 1820, æ. 67.-viii. CHERRY, b. 19 Nov. 1764. "Miss Cherry Stone" d. Cambridge, 2 Oct. 1806, “ aged 43 years."—ix. DanIEL, b. 27 Jan. 1766; m. Anna Gibson, of Hopkinton, 9 June, 1790; d. Shrewsbury, 27 Sept. 1829.-x. JONAS, b. 25 Oct. 1767; m. Sarah Toothaker, of Tewksbury, 1792. His widow m. Josiah Knight, 1805.—xi. DORCAS, b. 20 May, 1770; m. Joseph Smith, of Bolton, 11 Nov. 1785.— xii. Lucy, b. 11 Oct. 1772; m. Nathaniel Green, of Shrewsbury, 1792.* x. AMMI, b. 27 Oct. 1733, bapt. Nov. 4; married May, 1751,† Esther, daughter of James and Hannah Pierce, of Woburn, and sister of Kezia Pierce, the wife of his brother Richard. Esther was born in Woburn, 14 Mar. 1733-4, where her birth-place is yet standing. Apr. 15, 1753, both joined Menotomy church, and she was baptized. She gave birth to ten children. Mr Esther Cutter, wife of Mr Ammi Cutter, departed this life Jan's ye 8th 1772, Aged 38 years & 10 Months." Nov. 12, 1772, Ammi wedded Abigail, daughter of Simon and Abigail Holden, of Charlestown. She was born 28 Sept. 1744; became a church member at Menotomy, 1 Nov. 1772, and died in travail with her only child (stillborn), June 29, 1773, "aged 28 years." Her epitaph: "Blessed are the meek in spirit, for they shall see GOD." Oct. 27, 1774, Ammi marries Abigail's sister, Hannah Holden, who was born 5 Aug. 1752. The propriety of this marriage being questioned in Massachusetts, the ceremony was performed in New Hampshire. Hannah joined the church 7 Sept. 1783; was mother of a second family of ten children, and died 23 Aug. 1801, "Etat. 48 Years & 18 Days." "To this vain world a long farewell, My children dear & friends; My body's lodg'd here to dwell, Ammi futter the prolific parent of twenty-one children, was a miller and husbandman by occupation. He resided in his father's homestead. His mill stood upon the dam whose remains are seen in Mr. Fowle's pond of to-day. He was held in esteem by his townsmen, who imposed a variety Ward, Hist. of Shrewsbury, 426, 427, &c.; Bond's Watertown, 586. + Marriage intention published Woburn, May 10, '51. "Province of New Hampshire, Seabrook, Octo. 27, 1774. This may certify whom it may concern that Mr. Ammi Cutter of Cambridge and Mrs. Hannah Holden of Charlestown, both of the County of Middlesex and Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in pursuance of a License from his Excellency John Wentworth, are legally married by me. "Test. Gershom Griffith, SAMUEL PERLEY, A.M. and Pastor of a Church att Seabrook." of offices upon his acceptance. He was clerk of the church in which he worshipped, and as chorister led the music for more than thirty years.* April 19, 1775, the day of Lexington Battle, he participated in the capture of a convoy of provisions at Menotomy, belonging to Lord Percy's reinforcement, and detained at the passage of Charles River, in Cambridge, until beyond protection of the main body. The convoy, in charge of a sergeant's guard, following after the troops, was further separated by a false direction as to the road. An express conveyed information of its approach. About twelve exempts of the "alarm list" assembled forthwith at Cooper's tavern to arrange for its capture, Ammi among them: David Lamson, a mulatto, who had previously seen service, was their leader; and posting themselves behind the covert of a wall opposite the meeting-house, awaited the convoy's arrival. Soon appearing, it came to the ambush. Lamson, ordering his men to rise and aim, commanded the convoy to halt and surrender. No attention was paid to the demand, and the drivers hastened the speed of their horses. The men in ambush fired, killing several horses, two men, and wounding several others. The drivers, springing from their places, fled in terror with the guards to the shore of Spy Pond; threw their muskets into the water, and ingloriously surrendered soon after to an old woman, who delivered them to the care of a party of provincials. Meanwhile the exempts, securing their prize, drew the wagons into the hollow, near the present railway station, despoiling them of their contents; then effacing all traces of the action upon the road, sent the surviving animals to Medford, and by direction of Rev. Mr. Cooke, dragged the dead ones to a field near Spring Valley, where the bones lay bleaching many years.† After the capture, some of the party returning home met Lieut. Gould of the Fourth Infantry, wounded at Concord Bridge, and returning alone on horseback to Boston. Making him prisoner they led him first to Ammi's dwelling, and afterwards to Medford. As the British troops, retreating from Lexington, entered Menotomy, Ammi hastened from his house across the brook to advise his neighbor, the heroic Jason Russell, to leave his dwelling for a place of greater security. Russell refusing, exclaimed, "An Englishman's house is his castle!" Ammi left him, and getting over the wall on the other side of the road, saw the advance of the enemy's flanking party close behind him. Being quickly fired upon he speedily fled, and stumbling, fortunately fell between the logs at the neighboring mill-the bullets striking off the bark upon him, and scattering a parcel of silver money in the pocket of his trowsers. The foe, supposing him dead, passed on; and he extricated himself from this unpleasant predicament, rejoicing in his happy escape.‡ He died of apoplexy twenty years after Lexington Battle.§ Vide APPENDIX. + A British lieutenant, with a negro servant, accompanied the convoy for recreation, and to view the country. Tradition says this officer fell by the gun of Cutter, in whose house he expired the night ensuing. The servant took charge of his corpse and effects. Vide Smith's West Cambridge on the 19th of April, 1775, pp. 27-31, 37-39. "Middlesex ss. Cambridge, 27 Nov. A.D. 1795.-To the Widow and heirs at law of Ammí Cutter late of Cambridge aforesaid, Miller, deceased, intestate, and to all others concerned, Greeting. Whereas it is represented that the Commissioners intend to report a division of the Real Estate of said Deceased, both with respect to the widow and heirs. Now therefore the said parties are cited to appear at a Court of Probate to be held at Cambridge within and for said County, on Tuesday the first day of December next at three of the clock afternoon to hear the report that may then be made and offer their objections against it. By order of the Judge. JAMES WINTHROP, Regr, pd 116 "To Mr Benja Cutter to serve this citation and make return hereof with his doings." } 4 xi. RUHAMAH, b. 27 Oct. 1733, bapt. Nov. 4. Ruhamah Cutter Dautr of Mr John & M" Lydia Cutter Aged 3 Years, 7 Months & 8 D*. 6. REBECCA, b. 18 Jan. 1692-3, baptized Sept. 15, 1700, at Cambridge; married Lieut. Joseph Adams, of Menotomy, Jan. 18, 1710-11; and died Jan. 12, 1717-18. Lieut. Adams was the son of Joseph and Margaret (Eames) Adams, and grandson of John and Anne Adams, of Cambridge, who were emigrants from England.* The mother of Lieut. Adams was the daughter of Thomas Eames of Sudbury. He became a member of Cambridge church, Mar. 16, 1717-18; married Rachel Allen, of Weston, June 26, 1718;‡ and died in Menotomy, Oct. 18, 1774,、 æ. 86. William Cutter gave his "son-in-law," Joseph Adams, a legacy of £20; and to his children, "born of Rebackah (his first wife, deceast)," £30—" to be equally divided and paid to them as they came of age." Her issue were: Three sons of Henry Adams, who came from Devonshire to Quincy, came to Concord about 1646. Two removed to Chelmsford in 1654, and became leading men in that town. The other, John, removed to Cambridge.-Shattuck, Hist. Concord, Mass., 361. John Adams was a "skillful millwright;" and lived at Menotomy on the spot where Dea. John Adams's old house lately stood, near the railway station in Arlington Centre. He settled here as early as 1650. The place was then called Menotomy Row. May 18, 1666, John and Anne Adams became church members at Cambridge. Interesting notice of John Adams and a number of his descendants occurs in the Farmer's Monthly Visitor for April 30, 1847. Joseph Adams, his son, father of Lieut. Adams, married Margaret Eames, Feb. 21, 1687–8. He died in Cambridge, July 20, 1701, æ. 43. His widow married Lieut. Daniel Dane, or Deane, of Concord, Dec. 27, 1705. + She was born in Sudbury, July 8, 1666. Her father's dwelling-house, situated several miles from the village, was assaulted by Indians, Feb. 1, 1676, and fired; her mother killed, and she, with the other children, carried into captivity, from which she was redeemed before marriage.-Hubbard, Indian Wars, 153. Vide Bond's Watertown, 6. They lived in the marriage state fifty-seven years. She d. Aug. 1, 1775, x. 85. i. THOMAS, b. 3 Dec. 1711; d. 17 Nov. 1713.—ii. JOSEPH, b. 20 Aug. 7. WILLIAM, b. 1697, bapt. at Cambridge, Sept. 15, 1700, joined the church there March 15, 1724-5, and with his wife Anne was at the founding of Menotomy church in 1739. When and where he married does not appear, and his wife's surname is unknown. She joined the church at Cambridge, Apr. 11, 1725. William was an executor of his father's estate; an heir to a portion of the "homelands" in Cambridge and Charlestown; to a quarter of the remainder of the lands in Cambridge, Charlestown, and Lexington; to a parcel of meadow land his father purchased of his uncle Ephraim Cutter; and to a quarter of the mill estate-the rest being the legacy of his brothers Richard, John, and Samuel.+ His father's will directs that William should choose land for his "houseplot," from the estate "lying in the bounds of Charlestown,' and adjoining the "homeplace. The barns and dwelling house of the father were to descend to the oldest son Richard on the widow's decease. The widow married, and removed to Medford; Richard settled in New Jersey, and William eventually occupied the homestead, where he died Nov. 16, 1756, æ. 59. His wife was several years his senior. Her epitaph is as follows: Here Lyes y Body of Mr ANNE CUTTER Wife to Mr WILLIAM CUTTER who departed this Life May ye 19th 1753 in ye 71 Year of her Age. Blessed are ye peacemakers for they shall be Called the Children of God. William and Anne Cutter had issue: Vide Book of Lockes, 48. For thrilling experience of Dea. Adams's family on the 19th April, 1775, vide Smith's Address, 34-37. For various deeds in this connection, vide Midd. Registry, xxiv. 483, 492-496. i. JONATHAN, b. 2 June, 1726, and bapt. June 5; married Anne Jennings, Nov. 23, 1749. She became a member of Menotomy church Jan. 13, 1751-2, which he joined Apr. 1, 1770. He occupied the homestead of his father and grandfather; pursued the miller's vocation, and owned the mills, which he finally sold to Ammi Cutter, his cousin. He died Apr. 24, 1770, æ. 44. The day preceding his death he made a nuncupative will of his property to his wife. Rev. Samuel Cooke, Ammi Cutter and Hannah Holden, were witnesses; and Jason Russell, Ammi Cutter, and Samuel Cutter (his cousin) appraised his estate, May 15, 1770. A grave-stone at Arlington is still standing: In memory of the wife of Mr. JONATHAN CUTTER 8. SAMUEL, b. 14 June, 1700, and baptized Sept. 15, was the youngest of William's children christened on that occasion. He married Anne, daughter of John and Hannah (Winter) Harrington, of Waltham, Nov. 10, 1720; owned the covenant at Cambridge, Sept. 17, 1721, and with his wife became a member of Cambridge church, Sept. 29, 1723. He was an executor of his parent's will, and an heir to his estate. He dwelt in the house formerly on the site of the late William Whittemore's residence, on the road to Winchester and Woburn Westside, and within Charlestown limits. Administration on his estate was granted by the proper authorities, Nov. 7, 1737. John Butterfield of Cambridge, "cordwainer," and Ebenezer Cutter, of Charlestown (his cousin and brother-in-law), "husbandman," were bondsmen. Capt. Ephraim Frost, Lieut. Caleb Brooks,* Jonathan Butterfield, Abram Watson, and Seth Reed oversaw the division of the property. The inventory was taken by Deacon Joseph Hartwell, John Butterfield, and Samuel Brooks; and the pecuniary value of the estate amounted to £4186 7s. 10d. His tombstone is near the centre of Menotomy burial-place. Here Lyes Buried ye Body of Mr SAMUEL CUTTER Who Departed this life Septmbr 27th Anno Domi 1737 Aged 37 Years 3 Months & II D'. Father of Gov. John Brooks, of Medford. |