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Selections from “Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston, Being an Account of the Original Proprietors of That Town, the Manners and Customs of Its People”
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159 Selections from “Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston, Being an Account of the Original Proprietors of That Town, the Manners and Customs of Its People” Hannah Mather Crocker ca. 1829 [Sarah Kemble Knight] Capt. Kemble1 came from England with goods, took a stand near [Frizel] Square, and opened an English goods shop, made considerable property: 1676 he built several houses, a large one for that day on Moon Street for his own mansion. In 1699 Kemble returned to England for more supply of merchandize. After being absent from his family two years and a half, he arrived at Scarlet’s Wharf 2 on Sunday morning. At the foot of Moon Street, a short distance from his house, he quickened his steps on seeing his wife coming out of the door to go over the way to meeting. When he met her at the door, he saluted her with the warmth of long absence. He was fined five shillings, and ordered the next day to stand two hours in the stocks for unseemly conduct in saluting his wife in the open street on the Lord’s day. This is the first instance of open punishment at North Boston that we know of. The house has been rather remarkable ever since. His only daughter married one of his capt[ains], an Englishman who was in Kemble’s employ. He died soon after, leaving her a widow with one child. She made a journey to 160 “reminiscences and traditions” New York in 1704 to claim some property belonging to her husband.3 She returned the next spring 1705 and opened a school for children in the same house as her Father was dead. Dr Samuel Mather4 and Dr Franklin went to her school till they entered the Latin school. She was a woman of keen wit and humour in her day. On a pane of glass in her school room there was engraven, as with the point of a diamond, a few lines written after her return from her journey. The date was 1709. The lines follow: After many toils, and frights I have returned, poor Sarah Knights.5 Over great rocks, and many stones, God has preserv’d from fractured Bones. —————————————————————————— 6 She sold the estate in 1714 to a capt. Papillion.7 After his death his administrator John Wolcott8 sold the estate to Thomas Hutchinson, Esqr . He gave the estate to his daughter Hannah, wife of the late Dr Sam Mather. In the year 1721 the whole stack of chimneys fell into the cellars breaking and destroying much property. His daughter and family remained spared, monuments of saving mercy. [Miss Betty Thornton, “Little Red Riding Hood”] A singular man reminds us of a singular small woman, Miss Betty Thornton. She measured hardly three feet in height; her limbs from the hips down were very short. When sitting down, [she] appeared common size. Her head was rather large for her body. She was a woman of good understanding, a very [44.214.106.184] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 10:18 GMT) 161 “reminiscences and traditions” constant attendant at the Old North meeting in all weather. In winter she drest in a red cloth riding hood and by that means obtained the name of Little Red Riding Hood. A number now living remember her. [Praise of the Earliest Settlers and the City upon a Hill] These few lines gave new life and courage to the young lady which never forsook her during the whole siege of Boston. According to faith, it did turn out all well. The British evacuated Boston March 17, 1776. The spring after on the 20[th] she was restored to the arms of her dear parents, who had not suffered equal to the children’s tears. Though they had suffered many privations, their spirits kept good fa[ith] with Dr Eliot’s, and a number more continued strengthening and encouraging the remaining few in the town who continued firm in the cause of their country. Our venerable ancestors lived on the first coming to America on faith and clams to prepare the way for Boston to shine as a city upon a hill.9 May they be conspicuous for virtue and piety as their Fathers were. [Apparel of Men and Women Prior to the War of ] Liberty and equality are the reigning principle of the day. We will give some account of the mode of dress prior to the war of 1775. The ladies never appeared to more...