 |
 |
    |
 |
|
|
All of the member sites of The Colonial Loyalist Alliance of Massachusetts are committed to promoting the cultural heritage of Massachusetts. They strive to preserve the six historically significant sites and provide the public with a deeper understanding of 18th-century colonial life, the connection to England, and the way the war changed Massachusetts.
On this page, each house is listed according to its location from Boston. Click on the name below to find the specific site. Each site description provides a summary of its Revolutionary War era history, tour hours, location, and a link to the site's web site.
|
|
| For your convenience, the sites are listed by their location from Boston. | |
Boston
(proper): The Loring-Greenough House Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts Open for guided tours year-round: September thru May: Saturdays and Tuesdays ~ 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or by appointment June thru August: Saturdays and Sundays ~ 12 p.m. to 3 p.m./Tuesdays ~ 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or by appointment Commodore Joshua Loring had been an officer in the British Navy, but he was severely wounded in 1759 and went into retirement. In 1760, he had the house built across from the Parish Church to serve as a country estate and establish his position in the community. In 1774, he accepted an appointment by General Gage to the Governor's "Mandamus" Council, a post that had previously been elected. His neighbors were furious that the Commodore accepted the appointment and "repeatedly mobbed" him and his home. The family relocated to their daughter's house in Boston in 1774; later they evacuated to England with Gage's troops. The property was confiscated by Colonial Troops in April 1775 and chosen as the site of a hospital for wounded soldiers from the Battle of Bunker Hill. It is one of the few surviving military hospitals of that time, and the only one open to the public. The property has been designated as a Historical Medical Landmark.  The Shirley-Eustis House Roxbury, Massachusetts Open for guided tours summer and fall months: May thru October: Thursday thru Sunday ~ 12 p.m. to 4 pm. or by appointment The Shirley-Eustis House was built in Roxbury during the period 1747-1751 by William Shirley, appointed Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and Commander-in-Chief of all British forces in North America by George II. The House is one of only four remaining Royal Colonial Governors' mansions in the country and the only one actually built by a Royal Colonial Governor. Shirley's son-in-law, Eliakim Hutchinson, acquired Shirley Place in 1763 when Shirley, then Governor of the Bahamas, was recuperating from an illness in Boston. Hutchinson was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for Suffolk County, and one of Boston's richest men. He was also a target of Boston's Sons of Liberty. He died in 1775 after hostilities had broken out. His wife fled to England via Nova Scotia with other loyalists who left Boston in March 1776. |
|
West of Boston:  The Golden Ball Tavern Weston, Massachusetts Open For Tours By Appointment: Please phone 781-894-1751 (at least week in advance if possible) and leave a message. Built in 1768, the Golden Ball Tavern was the home of prominent 18th century Westonian Isaac Jones. Living in a fairly conservative town, Isaac may have misjudged the patriotic outrage he aroused by continuing to serve Dutch tea. Isaac issued an apology after being accused as a traitor in the Massachusetts Spy in 1774, but it was not enough to stop the uprising that came to be known as "The Weston Tea Party." In March of 1774, Isaac's house was raided by patriots with painted faces. Isaac was away, having gone to Uxbridge, but the patriots broke down doors, and stole liquor, raisins and lemons. Even though patriot committees urged
in January, 1775 that Isaac's tavern should be closed, the Golden
Ball Tavern remained open, a mark of respect for Isaac's position
in the community. And yet, less than one month later, he entertained
two British spies, sent by General Gage in Boston, who were looking
for the safest route to Worcester to capture patriot stores of ammunition.
The spies, recalling the event said, "And then we knew with
whom we were," indicating that Isaac's loyalties were still
with the British. But his loyalties were to change. Within two years
he must have signed an oath of loyalty, for by January, 1777, he
was working for the revolutionary army, hauling supplies to the
French in New York. The house holds fascinating clues to the factors
which caused Isaac to change his loyalties. |
|
South of Boston:  The Isaac Winslow House Marshfield, Massachusetts Open for guided tours summer and fall months: June 16 thru October 7, 2002: Wednesday thru Sunday ~ 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The second owner, Gen. John Winslow served in the British Army achieving fame in the French & Indian Wars. His son, Dr. Isaac Winslow inherited the house and was highly esteemed among the people of Marshfield. In the Revolutionary era when tension increased between those supporting the King and those who favored independence, Dr. Isaac Winslow remained loyal to England. His house was even a meeting place for fellow Tories. Many who took the side of England were imprisoned, banished, or had their property confiscated. Dr. Winslow, however, was spared. In 1778 during a smallpox epidemic, he saved the lives of many Marshfield people by quarantining and inoculating them. Apparently because of this action, he was not treated harshly by the Patriots. Unlike other Tory families in the area, his property was not confiscated by the Great & General Court of Massachusetts. |
|
North of Boston:  The Issac Royall House Medford, Massachusetts Open for guided tours summer and fall months: May 1 thru October 1: Wednesday thru Sunday ~ 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Upon the death of his father in 1739, Isaac Royall, Jr. inherited the estate. He lived in the house with his family for almost 40 years. The Royalls were loyalists and,one day in 1775 as they left services in King's Chapel, General Gage informed the family that their house was behind the rebel's lines. Isaac Jr. and his family fled to Nova Scotia and then to England, never to return. The house was used during the early months of the Revolution by General Stark, Lee and Sullivan, and was visited by General Washington for consultation with them. |
|
|
