44 Mendon Street, Uxbridge
c1710
The Mendon area was purchased in 1662 from a Nipmuc chief by residents of Braintree. It was abandoned and burned in 1676 during King Philip’s War, then resettled in 1680. Uxbridge was set apart from Mendon in 1727, and the first town meeting was held at Cornet John Farnum’s house. (A cornet is a low-ranking commissioned officer. In contemporary town records he is also called Captain.)
John Farnum (1672-1749) was born in Andover, and married Mary Tyler (1669-bef. 1733) of Mendon, whose family was also of Andover. Mary Tyler’s mother Mary Lovett Tyler was indicted for witchcraft in the Salem witch trials of 1692. She was pressured to confess to witchcraft, then recanted. She was acquitted. Her sisters Joanna, Hannah, and Martha were also accused and acquitted. (Roach, p. 293) It’s also probable that this John Farnum was the same who had sought the fortunetelling advice of Samuel Wardwell, who was executed for witchcraft. (Brigham, p. 52; Roach, p. 289)
“I heard the said John Farnum ask said Wardwell his fortune, which he did and told him that he was in love with a girl but should be crossed and should go to the Southward [Mendon?] which said Farnum owned to be his thought. Said Wardwell further told he had like to be shot with a gun, and should have a fall off from his horse or should have, which said Farnum after owned that he told right.”
In 1701, Farnum bought the Mendon house lot and fifteen acres from his wife’s grandfather Job Tyler. He then in 1709 bought 20 acres of land from in-law Ebenezer Tyler and built the house shortly thereafter. (Brigham, p. 52) The home was set high above the Mumford River, where “through the years it was possible to look out onto an apple orchard, grist mill, gun factory and a livery stable.” (Farnham, p. 77)
Farnum served the town in various capacities, including stints as constable, selectman, and “chainman” on a surveying crew. He and Mary had five children, one of whom, Moses, became a prominent Quaker. After Mary died, some time before 1733, John married Abigail Marsh of Bellingham. He is buried with her at the Friends Burying Ground, where they were moved from their original burial place.
This is a five-bay, one and a half story house, one room deep. Its gambrel roof was becoming a popular style in Massachusetts in the 18th century. At some point it acquired an ell, which was removed in restoration. A small window just under the roof peak (visible here) was also removed. The Cornet John Farnum House is the home of the Uxbridge Historical Society.
Further reading:
Brigham, Willard Irving Tyler. The Tyler Genealogy: The Descendants of Job Tyler, of Andover, Massachusetts, 1619-1700. Vol. 1. Cornelius B. Tyler of Plainfield NJ & Rollin U. Tyler of Tylerville CT, 1912. (archive.org/details/tylergenealogyd01briggoog/page/n6)
Cutter, William Richard, ed. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. Vol. 3. Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1914. p. 1564. (archive.org/details/newenglandfamili031847/page/n7)
Farnham, Russell C. The New England Descendants of the Immigrant Ralph Farnum. 3 vols. Peter E. Randall, 1999.
Hurd, D. Hamilton. History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Vol. 1. Philadelphia, 1889. p. 161. (archive.org/details/historyofworcest01hurdd/page/n3)
Metcalf, John G. Annals of the Town of Mendon from 1659 to 1880. Providence, 1880.
The Proprietors’ Records of the Town of Mendon Massachusetts, Incorporated May 15, 1667. Boston, 1899. (archive.org/details/proprietorsrecor00mend/page/n3)
Roach, Marilynne K. The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege. Taylor Trade Publishing, 2002.
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