1775: What is a Tory? A Whig? JSM defends her Uncle

Letter 18    to Mr Murray    Gloucester    June 17th 1775 

You demand an account of our last week's peregrinations, and solicitous to evince my readiness to fulfil the duties of a punctual Correspondent, I hesitate not to meet your wishes — We commenced our little tour on this day, the morning was beautifully serene, and the earth was cloathed in its richest verdure — At a short distance from Gloucester, we were accosted by a person of a decent appearance.  You will conjecture his character, from the ensuing conversation — as our party consisted only of my sister, and myself, I suppose he felt authorized to address us very familiarly 

"Ladies your most obedient — You ha[v] it very pleasant" — Rather warm we think Sir — "Pray where are you from Ladies?" — From Gloucester Sir — "Pray are you driven from thence?"  No Sir, we drive — "Ah — Pray are not most of the people driven from that Town?" The females I believe have pretty generally left that place — "Pray is Mr S— gone, or doth he remain there?" — He remains there Sir — "Does he intend to remain there?" — I believe he does — "Perhaps he thinks himself safer than any other person" — I fancy not. — Why should he Sir? — "His principles you know."  What are they Sir? — "Why he is a Tory."  I believe it would be difficult to prove Mr S— a Tory, Sir.  True, he is a friend to peace and he is a Lover of Order — But, if an invariable attachment to the interests of America constitute a Man a Whig, then I believe that title belongs to Mr S— as much as to any of the Congressional Members. 

"Pray do you not suspect your self of being a Tory."  I am a Woman Sir and therefore do not pretend to constitute myself a judge of the contest so unhappily subsisting — but I may be allowed to assert a fact,  I sincerely rejoice when I hear of the prosperity, freedom, and welfare of my country — With regard to the terms Whig and Tory  I am free to own I do not understand them — I have heard they are of various signification — but I am not soli[ci]tous to define them — "If you were to talk so favourably  of Mr S— among Whigs, you would be called a Tory" — Possibly — but having the honour to be nearly allied to  Mr S— I have listened to him in the most confidential moments, and I admire his integrity, the universal benevolence of his character — Sir, Mr S— is a Citizen of the World, and it is only necessary to know him, and you will assuredly love, and honour him —  

Fortunately, the parting of the road, separated us from this disagreeable associate — We reached Byfield about the hour of dining, and were received by our relatives, who are sheltered there, with every possible mark of the most cordial affection — My Aunts are situated in the midst of a woody Vale, surrounded by tall oaks, and hills almost perpendicular — Early on friday morning we pursued our way to Salisbury, over a beautifully level road, and, if I held the pen of description, I would assay to sketch the fascinating views, which, as we passed along on either hand seized, and commanded our admiration —  

Nature is now in her prime, the vegetable, and flowering World, clad in gay variety, the air breathes perfume, and every object seems calculated to inspire the heart of the enraptured beholder, with unbounded gratitude.  At one time we were presented with a view of wide extensive Lawns skirted by venerable Woods, which seemed to reach the heavens — On either hand finely flourishing grain, in rich variety, with expressive oratory seemed to proclaim — "we will, when hoary Winter puts on all her horrors, afford you a wholesome, and plentiful repast when the storms are abroad, when the fields are white with snow, we will support, and invigorate, the sons and daughters of infant industry, and they shall experimentally know, how sweet is the bread of the Labourer["] — 

So variegated was the scene before us:  Hills, Vallies, woods, plains, rich meadows, flourishing fields, streams, rivulets, and all so enchantingly interspersed that our hearts could not but be attuned to pleasure[.] Thus, amid a thousand delightful sensations we reached the dwelling which affords a temporary residence to my Uncle D— where our reception corresponded with our most sanguine expectations — 

My Aunt is, you know, a truly amiable Woman, and their residence is uncommonly pleasant — The house is built upon an eminence, you would imagine, while seated at the parlour window, that you were upon a speck of earth in the midst of the sea, but the view from the back room exhibits a striking contrast — trees of different growth and the most refreshing verdure, thick woods interspersed as far as the eye can reach with little romantick dwellings, The prospect is sweetly rural, and, as I said beautifully contrasts the front view — There the extensive River is out spread before you — boats continually passing, and repassing, for the various purposes of business, and pleasure — Musick solemn, plaintive, or gay, according to the disposition of the passengers in the barge, is not unfrequently wafted upon the kindly breeze — 

Upon the whole, during this hostile period, the retreat of my Uncle is indeed a delightful refuge — The voice of war reaches it not, neither drums, nor fifes, nor instruments of death molest, or deform the calm serenity of the peaceful scene — 

Passing a few hours in this peaceful Elysium, we took leave of our friends, who greatly regretting our departure, justly observed, that the pain of parting, overbalanced the pleasure of meeting.  We returned to Byfield in the evening, and on saturday afternoon commenced our journey homeward, reaching Gloucester about sunset — The heat was intolerable — We called upon Mr S— and Lady, at Ipswitch, and were welcomed with marks of friendship. 

*Judith Sargent Stevens to John Murray

Notes:

In the beginning of the letter Judith is referring to the treatment of her Uncle Epes Sargent Jr., when he and his wife were strong-armed into leaving Gloucester for their Loyalist views.

Judith Sargent Murray published a strongly-worded essay about the incident in the February 1794 edition of the Massachusetts Magazine. (See Blog post on The Repository No. XVII.)

As Judith states in the first sentence of her essay, she wrote the piece many years earlier – probably in March of 1775, after a special meeting of Gloucester voters on March 6. 

Epes Sargent had been summoned before the town to “show that he was a harmless citizen” due to his loyalty to the “mother country.” Sargent refused to obey the summons. On March 6, the town cited Sargent and “forbade the inhabitants of Gloucester to hold further commerce with Epes Sargent in order to force him to leave the town through fear of starvation.

This measure had the desired effect, and he moved to Boston where the torrents of hatred and abuse which overwhelmed all who were of his political faith were heaped upon him. He decided to leave Massachusetts and prepared to sail for Halifax, but, on assembling his family for leave-taking the evening before his departure, his spirits were so depressed by the dread of this separation that he determined to return to Gloucester and endure what might await him.”

In 1775, Epes Sargent Jr. was 54. His wife Catherine Osborne Sargent was 53. Their children, two adult sons, were 27 (Epes Sargent III) and 25 (John Osborne Sargent).

Epes III was married, and he and his wife, Dorcas Babson Sargent, had lost their first child – Epes IV (b. Nov. 1772, d. May 1773). Their daughter Catherine was born on Apr. 26, 1774.

So in March of 1775, Epes Sargent Jr. had an infant grandchild and lots more family and Universalist friends he would have to leave behind. 

• Uncle D— is Peter Dolliver of Gloucester, who married Esther Goldthwaite Rogers, a cousin.

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Quotes from Epes Sargent of Gloucester and His Descendants, Emma Worcester Sargent arr., biographical notes by Charles Sprague Sargent (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1923).

 

 

1775: Wartime, financial implications, the Almshouse, and preparing to flee

Letter 22d.  To the Same   Gloucester.  October 1st 1775

Take now, my dear Sir, an account which will, I have no doubt, interest your humanity.  My Mother being in want of a domestic, conceived that it would be beneficial to the Community, were she to receive a female, from the house which stands among us, a shelter for the indigent, and unfortunate people — and, for the purpose of selecting a proper person, she commissioned me to pay a visit to this temporary prison of Penury. 

Our Almshouse is occupied by unsuccessful industry, destitute vice, miserable Old Age, and helpless infancy — This miscellaneous receptacle of suffering, is romantically situated at the foot of a steep declivity — Huge rocks form a semicircle, enclosing every part of the house except the front which is washed by a copious river [—]  Its appearance was in no sort descriptive of the wretchedness it sheltered — A peregrination through the several apartments, cannot fail of lacerating the heart — Here deformed childhood, and there decrepid years — On one hand the forlorn infant, whose mingled hues betray the aggravated crime of its miserable parents, on the other, the degenerate female, her party coloured rags seeming fit emblems of her guilt[.]      

I passed through many divisions of this abode of wretchedness, in pursuit of an ancient Woman, from whom I received the rudiments of reading, and who I had lately learned had fled to this last resort of wretchedness — I sought and at length found her — As I was formerly a favourite, she rejoiced to see me, I went prepared, not like the son of….with a little balm, and a little honey — but with what was much better calculated to exhilarate the fleeting spirits such as a bottle of wine, and many &c’s, to which the good Woman b[e]lieved she had bid a final adieu — How unconcerned are the children of opulence — How scant is the provision which is made for the suffering part of our species — Benevolence, it should seem, is fled from our globe, and compassion no more inhabits the breast of Man.   

The present unnatural contest hath, augmented the miseries of our little Town, to an almost incredible degree — Persons formerly in easy circumstances, are now greatly depressed, while the poor are involved in every species of suffering, to which the sons and daughters of indigence can possibly be subjected —  

Say, Dear Sir, you who are at the fountain head of intelligence, is there no hope of an accommodation, will not the rich blessings of peace again illumine our Land?  Or is the peerless Goddess fled forever from our borders? — 

I had yesterday the pleasure of entertaining a large circle — among the rest a Mr Walker introduced by my Uncle S— The sufferings of this gentleman, in our cause, have rendered him conspicuous [—] Although a native of Great Briton, his language proclaims him a true American, he is surprise[d] to learn that anyone speaks lightly of the paper currency, the public faith — being pledged to insure its value, Mr Walker affirms, it must be coeval with our liberties and he pertinently adds, if Liberty be subjugated, where then will be Property?  

According to Mr Walker’s account, our affairs are in a very flourishing situation, and every Devotee to the present system, must, if they credit his observations, be flushed with the most sanguine hopes.  The countenance of my Aunt shone with its accustomed benignity, my Uncle was solemn, and reserved, while their Son adored the Speaker — and, let me own, that, in this respect, I am a perfect Chameleon, every individual who appears to understand his subject, has them forming my political creed, as I listened to this gentleman, I became positive success would crown our efforts, while my ear is loaned to his opposite, I tremble, with apprehension of subjugation, and all its Tremendous consequences — Happy that such a….is of no consequence, to the [public weal] — I will, however, aim at such information as shall give stability to my sentiments. 

Upon a supposition that we shall be compelled to abandon our Sea Ports Mr Stevens has provided a little asylum — It is I confess a dreary spot, yet it will answer for a temporary retreat — the tenement consists of a dining room, and two bed chambers — it is in the vicinity of the dwelling secured for my Mother, not far from my Aunt B— and I am not without hope that my sister will be situated in its neighbourhood — Yet I trust we shall not be forced to fly, but if we should, and your inclination should ever lead you to traverse the wilds of Chebaca, you will be received with every demonstration, of that regard which you so well merit.

*Judith Sargent Stevens to John Murray 

Notes:

• "Chebaca" refers to the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Mass.; later, this area became the town of Essex

• "Uncle S—" is Epes Sargent Jr.