Historic leaves, volume 1, April, 1902 - January, 1903

[22] than that of the male members of their families. After the battle of Bunker Hill, Anne Tufts assisted in binding up the wounds of eight wounded soldiers who were brought to her house; and later in the war when a part of Burgoyne's army was encamped as prisoners on Winter hill, she went to the camp and nursed all night the dying wife of one of the prisoners. Years afterward that soldier journeyed from Canada, where he had settled after the war, and sought out Mrs. Tufts to thank her again for that service and to ask her to point out the spot of his wife's grave.

Peter, the eldest son of Peter and Anne (Adams) Tufts, was born in the old house on Winter hill in 1753. He married Hannah Adams, a niece of Anne Adams. He settled in early life on the Royal farm in Medford on the site of the present trottingpark, and here all of his children were born. It is related that Peter was one of the party that fortified Dorchester Heights, which compelled the evacuation of Boston. Such precautions were observed that the wheels of the wagons were muffled, and the men themselves were in their stocking feet. In 1788, Peter bought of his cousin, Daniel Tufts, the farm opposite the Powder House, afterwards owned by Charles Tufts, and in 1806 built upon it the large three-storied mansion house taken down a few years ago. This house was within the limits of Medford till 1811, when, through the efforts of Mr. Tufts, a small triangular piece of land, including the house-lot at the corner of Broadway and Elm street, was set off to Charlestown. Mr. Tufts died in 1832. Of his eleven children, Peter and Joel were the only ones especially identified with Somerville. Sons Thomas and Aaron settled in New York state, and have numerous descendants; the daughters Hannah and Anne married respectively Samuel Tufts, Jr., and Isaac Tufts.

Peter Tufts, Jr., son of the Peter last named, was born in 1774. He twice married,—first Martha, the daughter of Lieutenant Samuel and Margaret (Adams) Locke, of West Cambridge; and second, Anne Benjamin, daughter of Deacon Ephraim Cutter.