Copley Painted Several of the Ervings

 Linking to the bio at Mass Moments.

Major William Erving

William was John and Abigail Erving's second son, born in Boston on 8 September 1734.(1) He was Harvard educated and made his career in the British Army before the Revolutionary War. He pursued scientific study throughout his life, and endowed a chair in Chemistry at Harvard, which continues to this day.

Lest we take him to be the perfect intellectual, Harvard records show William was fined for playing cards and missing church services. Friendships made at Harvard would endure; Oliver Wendell (listed below) continued his relationship with the Ervings, and served as an Executor for the wills of both William, and his father, John. (2)

    Graduation list published 23 July 1753 (3)

William continued his education, but was absent from his "second degree" ceremony at Harvard because he was "gone to the expedition against Crown Point."  He was known as a military engineer. His career took him to the second battle of Louisburg-now Cape Breton Island-and he was with General Wolfe at the British victory at Quebec in 1759.(4)  The surrender of the French ended the French and Indian War in New England, but Britain's Seven Years War continued. William participated in the siege of Havana in 1762.

Most of the portraits that depict the second generation of Ervings were painted at the time of their marriages. In his will, William states, "whereas I have never been married and so of course have not benefitted society by adding to their number.” If he sat for a portrait, its disposition is unknown.

William requested a grant of land for his military service, which was defined in June of 1775. He received 4,368 acres and 3 rods in northern New Hampshire from King George, through the Provincial Governor of New Hampshire. The grant was subject to establishing a road and settling three families, paying taxes, and growing hemp or flax on 10% of the land. Timber suitable for ship’s masts would also be reserved for His Majesty’s Navy.(5) The land is mountainous without a waterway to transport lumber from the interior. During the Revolution, William was unable to fulfill the terms of his grant. Although undeveloped, the land is still unincorporated as Erving's Location in Coos County, just south of present Dixville Notch. The population was recorded as 31 in 1920, but none were enumerated in most other years of record. There are a handful of vital records that indicate a birth or death in the grant.

 

                      Erving’s Location in Northern New Hampshire

William may have sat out the war in New Hampshire; he did not fight with the Continentals. He was reportedly jailed briefly upon his return to Boston. The Massachusetts Legislature acted on his petition on 8 February 1786 to "naturalize" William Erving as a citizen of the Commonwealth, giving him all rights, liberties, and privileges as if he had been present at the establishment of the government. (6) 

He inherited his father's pew in the meeting house upon John’s death in 1786. It was highly valued at $50 in William’s estate filing. 

William shared a love of science with his brother-in-law James Bowdoin. James had been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in its first year in 1780, and William joined in 1784. William placed a series of newspaper notices for meetings of its Agriculture Committee in Boston in subsequent years, serving as recording secretary. His brother George Erving, who had moved to England as a Loyalist, was also elected to AAAS in 1790.(7)

Bowdoin’s connections as Governor of Massachusetts in the new republic benefitted his wife’s family. James provided a letter of introduction to Benjamin Franklin in May of 1787, calling William “a worthy sensible gentleman,”(8) and to George Washington, calling William, "a firm and Zealous friend to the rights and liberties of America." (9) 

In 1790, he lived in Roxbury with 2 males and 2 females, all over 16. (10) These servants were named in his will: Ezra Hayward and Perley Pollard, and Jemina and Grace Fuller. Each was granted a year's wages upon his death: $7.16 for the women, $15.12 to Pollard and $23 to Hayward for "two legacies."

William Erving died 27 May 1791. Although he had inherited a sizable fortune from his father only a few years earlier, he did not inherit his father’s longevity; William did not live to see his 57^th birthday. His simple Roxbury house was valued at only $20 in his estate inventory, while the Marlboro Street home that he had inherited from his father was valued at $1,350. With his furniture and kitchenware that are enumerated, the inventory of his personal property included four wigs, and from his military past, his gun and bayonet, two swords, and a pair of pistols. His scientific tools included a compass, a spyglass, a thermometer and barometer, and "a case of instruments." He valued education and had acquired a large library. He willed a portion of the land he had inherited from his father, 120 acres in the Town of Wendell, to support a school there. He wrote, "Whereas I think it of the highest consequence that Learning should be preserved among us for fear from the great inattention threat that people will relapse into a State of Barbarism." He also gave a lot to the Town to support a minister. (11)

His funeral procession left from the home of his sister, Sarah Waldo, to his burial at Kings Chapel on 30 May 1791. (12)  He was buried with his mother and sister, Mary, as he had requested in his will. The identification of his gravesite is simple:

 THE REMAINS OF

MAJOR WILLIAM ERVING

ARE DEPOSITED

IN THIS

       TOMB. (13)

_____________________________________________________________

Notes:

(1)  Massachusetts, U.S. Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, The Holbrook Collection, Boston 1716-1643, on line at Ancestry.

(2) Suffolk County probate files found at Ancestry.

(3)"Colonial Collegians,"

 (4) Boston Post-Boy, 23 July 1753, image on line at AmericanAncestors.

(5) Provinceland State Papers of New Hampshire, vol. 24.

(6)  Colonial Collegians

(7) The many names can be found at AAAS

(8) American Philosophical Society, "Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 9, Letters to Franklin Mss.B.Finvetory85, XXXV, 58.  Bowdoin, James on line at the website 

(9) Colonial Collegians

(10) 1790 cnsus record

(11) Suffolk County probate files found at Ancestry

(12)  Obituary

(13) "Documents of the City of Boston" Vol. 1, issues 1-23, 1914, p. 747, on line at Google books, 

George Scott's Legacy

Abigail Erving's husband was a career military man. He had participated in many grueling battles as the British fought to take Canadian territory from France. He also participated in burning villages in Canada and capturing women and children. That made it all the more surprising to find so much humor in his will. What is not surprising is to see the continued evidence of great wealth and wealth-building among the Erving associates.

 

 (1)

George's will was written in Grenada where he served as Lieutenant Governor, not on  his death bed, as many are, but as he left to govern the island of Dominica in 1767. It begins as so many do:

 (2)

Well, maybe not all are so confident of Heaven. It reads: 

As all Men are born to die,

And sooner or later it must be my fate, whenever it may

happen, I have not the least doubt but the great and Almighty

God will receive my soul into a state of bliss through the

abundance of his own goodness and the merits of my dear     

Redeemer Jesus Christ in whom I believe after the mode of

the Church of England.

And as I have always looked upon love and friendship to be

two of the greatest virtues we can possess here on Earth I

would not depart this life without giving marks of cash to

such as deserve them from me, and being of sound and

disposing mind and memory I George Scott Lieu^t Colonel in

his Majesty’s Army, do make and publish this my last 

Will and Testament.

First, he provides for his wife, Abigail Erving, out of the proceeds of a plantation he has in Grenada called Boulogne, which will be under the care of his brother Michael.

First I give and bequeath all my Estate or Estates both real 

and personal at Grenada Islands to my dearly beloved Brother

Michael Scott Esquire in trust for any issue I may hereafter have

lawfully begotten, in default thereof to him, his heirs and

assigns for ever, subject nevertheless to the following Legacies

to wit, from the day of my death to be paid regularly out of

the produce of my Boulogne Estate to my excellent Wife

Abigail, the sum of three hundred and sixty five Guineas

per annum during the state of her Widowhood and no

longer. I do also give unto her for ever, all my household

furniture, both in this part of the World and at Boston, the

plate excepted, while at her death is to return to my Brother

Michael or his heirs. I likewise give unto her for ever all

the jewels and wearing apparel I have at different times

presented unto her, likewise a purse containing between

two and three hundred Guineas and two hundred half

Joannes to be paid her out of my ready Cash to bear her

expenses to New England, likewise her choice of any four

Slaves she may pick upon, which at her death are to be

the property of my Brother Joseph Scott at Halifax or his

heirs.

We must assume he holds many enslaved people for her to pick from, not just the laborers on his plantation, but house servants that she would consider taking with her to Boston on his death. They may have had a house in Boston waiting for her, if there were "household goods" there.

Next, we learn of his significant holdings in Nova Scotia, which could have been spoils of war. The land he gave to Joseph became Bedford, outside of Halifax, and where the Scott home is now a museum, billed as one of the oldest homes in Nova Scotia. 

And to my Brother Joseph and his heirs for
ever, I give and bequeath all my lands, houses and
possessions of what kind so ever in the province of Nova
Scotia, with one hundred pounds Sterling to put himself
and family into Mourning. And if it was possible I
would leave him all my activity of Body as he has
great occasion for it.

But what is the dig at the end? Is Joseph heavy? Clearly, brother John is doing well enough that, even though George 'esteems' him, he doesn't need more money.

To my Excellent friend and brother John Scott Esquire of
Jamaica I give one thousand pounds Sterling to be paid
within a year after my death, and to his daughter
Frances and his son John five hundred pounds Sterling
each of them when they come of Age. I would bequeath
more to my dearest brother John, having the highest
opinion of his esteem and friendship but measure he
can have no occasion for it. 

General Moncton and George were more than battle buddies, as George was made Godfather of his oldest, and reportedly illegitimate, daughter. They were together in Canada and in the islands.

To my ever respected and best Benefactor my most valuable
friend General Moncton, the sum of one thousand pounds
Sterling to be paid him in a year, and to his eldest child
named Elizabeth (my God daughter) one thousand pounds
Sterling when she comes of age. Were it in my
power to show him my gratitude in stronger terms I
would do it.

Brother Henry seems to be a little out of favor as well: 

To my Brother Henry five hundred pounds Sterling to   
be paid him in a year after my death. I would leave him
more if I thought he would make a good use of it or turn
it to any advantage, and I sincerely wish I could leave him all
my good humour as I am persuaded he wants it and
infinitely more to counter balance his own froward
dispositon.

His father is not named, believed to be John Scott, and two sisters receive 300 pounds.

To my ever honored father, three hundred pounds Sterling
to be paid him a year after my death. To my sister
Sarah three hundred pounds Sterling to be paid in like
Manner.
To my sister Mary three hundred pounds Sterling, and to
be paid in like manner

 However, Elizabeth and he clearly have a past: 

To Elizabeth one hundred pounds Sterling in like manner
and she must thank her self that I do not leave her more.

We will assume she is a sister, although it is not explicitly stated. He knew people in Nova Scotia, which indicates that he had not just acquired land sight unseen. 

To my much esteemed friend Richard Bulkley Esquire of Nova
Scotia one hundred pounds Sterling paid him in a year.
To my faithful friend Joshua Winslow Esquire of Nova
Scotia one hundred pounds Sterling to be paid in like
manner, and my Bass Viol to play psalm tunes upon to
indulge his Nancy.

He plays the bass? Is the bass in Nova Scotia or will it be shipped from the islands? 

Now, this next one is quite a dig: 

Winckworth Tonge Esquire of Nova Scotia, I should have
been glad to have call’d my friend, but as he is not mine
nor any Man’s else, I leave him my best wishes for his
being blessed with more integrity and candor.

Back to Boston, two friends will wear mourning rings for George. Why is his brother-in-law James' ring less valuable? Is that what a prudent friend does?

                           To my esteemed friend Nathaniel Wheelwright Esquire of

Boston, I leave twenty pounds Sterling to buy a Ring.
To my esteemed and very prudent friend the Honourable
James Bowdoin Esquire of Boston, twenty Guineas to buy
him a Ring.

 Some specific bequests of objects. A fusee would have been a rifle.

To my very honest, lazy friend Alexander Winniat Esq^re
of the Grenadas, one hundred pounds, with my Fusee
and Scalping Axe.
To my indefatigable friend Mr. Mar Cleare one hundred
Pounds, with the sword, pistols and gold headed cane
which he made me a present of.
To Jack Snow, one hundred pounds, and to his Mother my
Gold Snuff Box as a small mark of my friendship for her.

Then the manumission of a single enslaved servant, who is expected to mourn him:

To Leonard my black Boy, five pounds and a suit of
Mourning, and to be sent to his father at Martinique
He being free. 

Then we have a standard closing in legal-ese. It is interesting that George Erving, his brother-in-law was a witness. He was a merchant in his own right and may have traveled to the islands to secure a shipment of molasses or other produce of the plantations.

In witness where of I have hereunto
set my hand and Seal this 22 day of December in the
Year of our Lord 1764
Signed seal’d published and                                         Geo Scott
Declared by the above named
George Scott in the presence of
we who in the presence of each                                 Entered 5^th Dec^r. 1767
other have hereunto subscribed
our Names
                Geo Erving
                George Leonard Staunton
                  Jn^o Grigg

But wait, as they say, there's more! If you have read along this far, it gets even more interesting. Did George die in a duel? Did George fight a duel? The important question is the date of the codicil. It seems pretty evident to my reading of the script that it would be "Febr" based on the way he forms his fs in 'father' and 'first.' He died in November of 1767, but this was written in February.

Having been grossly insulted this afternoon by

Alexander Campbell and being fully determin’d to meet him

tomorrow Morning - In case I should happen to fall, I do

hereby make alteration in  in my last will and Testament

made at Grenada a little before my departure from there in

the year 1764 viz., that my much esteem’d wife Abigail

shall annually receive out of the profits of my Estate at

Grenada called Boulogne the sum of five hundred pounds

Sterling during her natural life., that after all my

Debts and Legacies as mention’d in my former Will at

Granada in 1764 are duly honored, then the neat income of

my estate clear of my Wife Abigail’s five hundred pounds

Sterling per Annum to be equally divided between my Brothers

Henry and Michael until my Nephew George Scott, the

son of my excellent Brother John is at the age of twenty

two years old when my Estate called Boulogne is to be

entirely his property he paying my wife Abigail her

her Legacy of five hundred pounds Sterling per annum

during her natural life, and in case of the death of my

Nephew George the son of my Brother John, then my

Estate called Boulogne shall in like manor be the

Property of my Nephew John Scott the eldest son of

my Brother John, and in case of his death, then the

Estate of Boulogne to be the equal property of my

Brothers Henry and Michael during their natural

life, they constantly paying as aforesaid five hundred

pounds per Annum to my dearest Wife Abigail during

Her life and after the death of my Brothers Henry

and Michael my Estate called Boulogne is to be the

property of my Brother John’s children then living in

whatever manner he shall think most proper to will or

divide it amongst them my wife’s five hundred pounds

Sterling per annum being at all times secured to her during

Her natural life time to the Reverend Henry

? as a mark of my real esteem for him and his

Brother I leave him one hundred pounds Sterling out of my

ready Cash and his note of hand to be given to him gratis.

To Garrett ? whom I look upon as a Man of honor

and sentiment fifty pounds Sterling out of my ready cash

as a mark of my esteem and I do request these two

Gentlemen to afford their friendship to my wife Abigail

in case I fall until she get a good and convenient passage to her

and my friends to Boston in New England. In Witness

                                                whereof I have hereunto set my hand and

                                                seal this 5^th day of Febr 1767

                                                                                Geo Scott

                At this time of night 11 ^oClock to get any witness to

Attest this being impossible but all who know my hand

Writing will know this to be my last Will and Testament

                                                                                Dominica                                             

If the codicil was indeed written in February - see what you think from the image - it was not registered until his death in November and attested by someone who recognized his hand.

I think the will and its codicil were put away in February until his death in November. Abigail's allowance was increased, although she was not to have time to enjoy it. The following is the attestation and the naming of his brother as executor, seemingly 11 months later. 

Dominica

                                Before me William Woodbrige Esquire

                                Assistant Judge of the Court of Common Pleas off

                                The said Island

Personally appeared Arthur St. George Esquire Major in

his Majesty's sixty second Regiment of foot who made oath

upon the holy Evangelists of Almighty God that he is well

acquainted with the hand writing of George Scott Esquire late

Lieutenant Governor of the said Island deceased having often

seen him write and that the writing hereunto annexed is of

the proper hand writing of the said George Scott

Sworn before me this 9^th day of                                 Arthur S^t George

November 1767

 

On the nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord

one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight Administration

with the will and Codicil annexed of the Goods Chattels and

Credits of the Honourable George Scott late Lieutenant

Governor of the Island of Dominica in America Exquire,

deceased, was granted to Michael Scott Esquire the natural

and lawful Brother of the said deceased and one of the

Residuary Legatees named in the said Codicil he having been

first sworn duly to administer for that as Executor is named in

the said Will.

                                Ex^d.

A death notice was published in Boston papers. Even if a duel were to be disguised, would the 5 day illness be invented? He would have fallen ill on October 31. Although Alexander Campbell is not an uncommon name, an Alexander Campbell lived in Grenada for many years more. It will be interesting to see if this can be proven.

(3)

______________________________________

Notes: 

(1) Image at Wikipedia attributed to John Singleton Copley, said to be owned by The Brook, a New York club. 

(2)  Will at the National Archives UK as PROB 11/943/79

(3)  The Boston Gazette and Country Journal, 14 March 1768, p.3.

 Meet Abigail Erving Scott

Abigail was John and Abigail Erving's fourth daughter, and the second given her mother's name. She was born 17 September 1733.(1) The first Abigail, born in 1729, died young. I haven't found a record of her death.

The Joseph Blackburn portrait of Abigail, painted about 1760, is my favorite of the paintings I have found for the Erving family. It gives the impression of a woman in motion and I have to believe that implies a vibrant personality. She is on the move and can't be bothered to sit still.

(2)

We haven't found many details about Abigail's  life. Women can be defined in part by their children, but she did not have any that are known. We look at records that are available around the men in her life. She grew up in Boston as her father's career transitioned from being a sea captain to an influential merchant. Many of the young men of her "class" made their careers in the military and were occupied with the French and Indian war as she came of age. 

Abigail married at twenty-six on 22 November 1759.(3) Her mother had died in June of that year. Her husband was George Scott, who had a successful military career in the British army during the war in Canada. Only two months before their marriage he was actively clearing villages on the St. Lawrence north of Quebec.(4) They would have had an introduction at some point prior and perhaps correspondence. If any letters survived, they are still hidden. He could have encountered Abigail's brother William, who was also a soldier during the war, or John who was providing arms. Abigail's brother-in-law James Bowdoin will later be named in his will, so there are many possibilities. Details of his early life, or even his age, have not been confirmed. A gap in his military record may indicate some time together in Boston or elsewhere after their marriage. 

His days of fighting did not end with their marriage. Scott participated in a successful expedition against Martinique in late 1761, and then in Grenada. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Grenada in 1762. Abigail likely had remained in Boston. It is not known if she relocated soon after. The description of 'wretched huts' below is not inviting. 

George was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of the island of Dominica in September 1763.(5)  His actual departure took place at the end of 1764, when he was saluted by the "principal planters, merchants, and inhabitants" of Grenada, as shown in the article copied in part below. There is no mention of his wife in the discussion of his hospitality. 

(6)

George wrote an extensive will in1764 in Grenada, that was witnessed by his brother-in-law George Erving, who may have been traveling to secure trade for his store in Boston. This will deserves a post of its own and will follow. 

George's will left his property in Dominica, known as the Boulogne estate, to his brother Michael, with an annuity to Abigail of 365 guineas during her widowhood. If she married again it reverted to his brother. That amount was increased to 500 in a codicil written three years later. He either forgot to restrict it to her widowhood, or changed his mind. She was to have a "purse" of two to three hundred guineas to transport her back to New England. All of his household property "in this part of the world and at Boston" was to go to Abigail, along with "all of the jewels and wearing apparel" he had presented to her at different times. Abigail was also to have her pick of four slaves, who would revert to his brother upon her death. In an island economy that was supported on the backs of enslaved Africans, this should not be surprising. But in the codicil, he gave freedom to "his black boy" Leonard, with 5 pounds for a mourning suit, and sent him to his father in Martinique.(6) 

Abigail died just a few months after George, still in Dominica. They had been married 18 years. A death notice on 18 March 1768 described her as "the amiable and virtuous consort of the Honorable George Scott, Esq."(7)

__________________________________________________

Notes: 

(1)  Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute accessed on line at Ancestry as Massachusetts U.S. Town and vital records 1620-1988, citing Boston, Abigail Erving.

(2)  Boston, Massachusetts Registry Department. Boston Marriages from 1700 to 1751. Vol. 1. Boston, MA, USA: Municipal Print, 1898, on line at Ancestry.

(3) The portrait, by Joseph Blackburn, itself has an interesting history, passed down through her brother John's descendants and displayed at the Hudson-Fulton celebration in New York City in 1909. It is now owned by the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, Texas.  See more information here

(4) See information on his military history here.

(5) From The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News Letter, 10 November 1763, online at AmericanAncestors.org, 

(7) The Boston Gazette and Country Journal, 20 May 1765, on line at AmericanAncestors.org.

(7) Will at the National Archives of the UK, file PROB11/943/79

(8) New Hampshire Gazette, Portsmouth, NH, 18 March 1768, on line at American Ancestors.org.