Colonel Josiah Edson

 

The Tory House in Central Bridgewater derives its name from its historical association with Loyalists, commonly referred to as Tories during the American Revolutionary War.

The house was built in 1698 by Jacob Leonard, (still standing today) a descendant of James Chilton who came over on the Mayflower, and whom we also descend from.  It was run as a hotel with many small rooms. Later, during the “Ante Bellum” days preceding the Civil War, this house was a station on the Underground Railroad helping runaway slaves escape to Canada.

Rev Allen, Minister of the First Parish Church, who under pressure for his Tory sympathizers, sold the property in the year leading up to the Revolutionary war, to our sixth great grandfather, Colonel Josiah Edson. He was a sympathizer and head of the militia.  Edson was born in Bridgewater on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1682.

 He was a Justice of the Peace, a Deacon of his church, a town Selectman from 1704 to 1734, a representative of the General Court in Boston for many years, and owned the largest and best kept farm in Bridgewater. Josiah was a highly respected and trusted man in town.

But, in 1774, Josiah’s great loyalty to the Crown and King George angered his fellow townsmen because he sided with the British, was forced to leave town and the Tory House was confiscated by the Continental Congress in 1775.

Josiah feeling threatened, left his farm, family and friends behind to seek the protection of the British Army in Boston and became identified as the enemy of Bridgewater. In the early part of 1776, he accompanied the British Army from Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia and from there to Newport Long Island where he died on December 26, 1778.

Bridgewater for many years had a 4^th of July celebration with a pageant depicting the town’s history during the Revolution, with Colonel Josiah Edson featured not as a strong and courageous man who dared stand up for his minority and mistaken beliefs, but as the dirty villain, and a bronze plaque in front of the house labeled it as “The Tory House” for all to revile.

Edson The Goodman

Samuel Edson born on in 1613 in Fillongley, Warwickshire, England.  He was well educated, and learned the skill of agriculture from his father.  The opportunity to buy a large enough parcel of land was non existent, so he became interested in  n migrating to America .  So on March 1, 1639 in married the woman he had been dating, Susanna Orcutt.  In May they set sail for America landing in Salem, Massachusetts mid July of that year where they were greeted by friends. He was granted a parcel of land that July, and later purchased another 25 acres where he built his home eventually owning 63 acres.  

It is unknown why Samuel chose to leave Salem, but possible reasons include the strictness of the Puritans and that he had better opportunities to demonstrate his good character and leadership. Regardless of his reasons, he was living at the Dixbury Plantation in 1651. 

In 1666, Samuel was appointed by the Court to the Council of War and remained in that office until the end of King Philips' War in 1676. He was appointed to distribute Bridgewater's shares for the Irish contributions for the distress to the Indian wars.  He  received a deed of conveyance from Chief Pomonoho of the Titicut purchase, "in and for the use of the townsmen of Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Edson was one of the fifty-four proprietors of Bridgewater. Edson built the first corn mill in 1662.  Today you can still see the grinding mills located in a park in West Bridgewater .   

 Samuel Edson was no ordinary man; he was an active, laborious, and influential. He was said to be of a large, athletic frame, of ordinary weight, and of a robust constitution. He had moral character, and was well-respected in the community. He would listen, rather than debate and so was given the distinguished title of Goodman.  He was instrumental in founding and building the Episcopal Church.

He died on July 19, 1692 in West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He was buried on July 20, 1692 in the Old Church Yard in West Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.  

Samuel Edson Deacon (1613 - 1692)

is your 8th great grandfather

Joseph Edson (1649 - 1711)

Son of Samuel

Josiah Edson Captain (1682 - 1762)

Son of Joseph

Huldah Edson (1713 - 1800)

Daughter of Josiah

Elijah F Hayward (1741 - 1815)

Son of Huldah

Erastus Hayward (1790 - 1844)

Son of Elijah F

Eunice Soule Hayward (1829 - 1911)

Daughter of Erastus

Laura Eunice Jones (1864 - 1943)

Daughter of Eunice Soule

Malcolm Le Roy Smith (1898 - 1953)

Son of Laura Eunice

Robert Franklin Smith (1923 - 2008)

Son of Malcolm LeRoy

Kathryn Marie Smith