Traceys of Enniscorthy
and Newburyport
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Painting by John Trumbull
in 1784-6 of Captain Patrick Tracey, born 1711 in Kilcarberry Hill,
Enniscorthy, died 1789 Newburyport Massachusetts North America. His nephew
Captain Nicholas Tracy also followed him to America. The Tracy families of
Newburyport were major players in the American revolution. Captain Nathaniel
Tracy (1751-1796), one of the sons of Patrick Tracey, was the chief financier
of the American Revolution. The following are
articles on the family: Echo 28
August 1937 (Enniscorthy) Sunday Post 1st August 1937 (Boston) |
1.
Captain Patrick Tracey was born about 1711
at Kilcarberry Hill, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
He firstly married Hannah Carter (b. 9th March 1717/8 d. 27th
March 1746), daughter of Vincent Carter and Hannah Gookin, on 23 January
1742/43 at Newbury (cf. Putnam 25 Jan 1742/43). Their two children died
infancy and the mother died in 27th March 1746, aged 28 years, after
four years of married life. Patrick Tracey secondly married Hannah Gookin (b. 7th
February 1723/4 d. 20th August 1756 aged 33 years on gravestone),
daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Gookin and Dorothy Cotton, on 25 July 1749 at
Newbury. Patrick Tracy thirdly married Mary Dalton (widow) (d. 10th
December 1791) on 23 March 1773, there were no children of this marriage. Capt.
Patrick Tracey died on 28 February 1789 in Newburyport (gravestone).
Children
of Patrick Tracy and Hannah Carter:
1.1Hannah Tracy (b. 20th
October 1743 d. 2nd July 1744)
1.2
Vincent Tracy (b. 4th May 1745
d. 7th July 1745)
Children
of Patrick Tracy and Hannah Gookin:
1.3 Hon. Nathaniel Tracy (b. 11th August 1751
bur, 21st September 1796). He married Mary
Lee, daughter of Col. Jeremiah Lee on the 28th February 1775.
1.3.1 Hannah Tracy,
born in 25th January 1776, married Lt. William Raymond Lee, her
second cousin, on 28th
April/21st May 1801 and died 14th September 1823
in Boston.
Children
of Hannah Tracy and Lt. William Raymond Lee:
Mary
Tracy Lee (b. 22 Jul 1804)
William Raymond Lee III (b. 15 Aug 1807, d. 26 Dec 1891)
1.3.2 Martha Lee Tracy (b. 6th July 1777 d. 10th November 1778)
1.3.3 Patrick Tracy (bp. by Rev. Thomas Gary, 27th February 1780; living 1791; d. before 1819)
1.3.4 Nathaniel Tracy (bp. 27th June 1781 d. before 1788)
1.3.5 Jeremiah Lee Tracy, Lieut U. S. V., (bapt. 21st December 1783 d. 16th January 1844) Unmarried. An able and skilful artillery officer of the War of 1812.
1.3.6 Mary Tracy (b. in the Longfellow House, Cambridge 25th February 1786 d. in Newburyport 23rd December 1809) Unmarried.
1.3.7 Louisa Lee Tracy (b. in the Longfellow House 25th April 1787 d. 15th May 1869 in Newburyport) Unmarried.
1.3.8 Nathaniel Tracy (b. 25th November 1788 d. before 1790)
1.3.9 Nathaniel Tracy (b. 18th March 1790 d. 28th May 1866) married (1) Mary Wyer on the 16th June 1818 and (2) Anne Middleton Allen (b. 1798 d. 30th September 1869) in Boston City Hall on 23rd April ????.
Children by his first wife:
1.3.9.1 Nathaniel Tracy, Jr., “Gentleman,” (b. 1823; d. 7th December 1843)
1.3.9.2 Elizabeth Wyer Tracy (b. 16th January 1822 d. 27th May 1843)
1.3.9.3 Alby Allen, niece of his second wife, was adopted by him, apparently His second wife also had a nephew, Nathaniel Tracy Allen, and the beautiful Tracy silver services went to the Allen family.
1.3.10 Martha Abby Lee Tracy (b. 27th September 1791 d. before 1819)
1.3.11 Helen Tracy (b. 22nd January 1796 d. in Newburyport 10th November 1865) Unmarried. Was one of the incorporators, October 1857, of the Newburyport Ladies Bethel Society. Included in her inventory (No. 55,540 Essex County Probate) were the family silver, jewellery, books, the Jackson picture, three miniatures, and two Copleys.
1.4 John Tracy (b. 19th
April 1753 d. 1st March 1815) m. Margaret Laughton (b. 12th
May 1755 d. November 1806) on the 2nd May 1775.
1.4.1 John Tracy (b.4th March 1776 d. 27th November 1781)
(Newburyport gravestone).
1.4.2 Henry Laughton Tracy (b. 1st September 1777 d. 26th May 26 1797)
1.4.3 Nathaniel Tracy (b. 19th June 1779 d. 1800 lost at sea)
1.4.4 Margaret Tracy (b. 22nd March 1781 d. 25th June 1842). Her will (No. No. 55,544 Essex County Probate) leaves one-third of her property to her sister Mary Basset, one-third to sister Catherine C. Titcomb, and one-third to the five children of her deceased sister, Elizabeth Loring, of Boston.
1.4.5 Mary Tracy (b.22nd March 1781 d. 27th January 1854)
1.4.6 Henrietta Tracy (b. 28th June 1782 d. 8th July 1812)
1.4.7 John Tracy (b. 2nd January 1786 d. in Matanzas 28th August 1822)
1.4.8 Elizabeth Farris Tracy* (b. 14th December 1791 d. in Boston 15th August 1825)
1.4.9 Catherine De Blois Tracy* (b. 12th November 1794 d. 13th March 1875)
* guardian was William Farris
who disposed of their 2/6 of the estate of
John Tracy on 21st June 1811.
1.5 Hannah Tracy (b.
24/26th April 1755 d. 28th 1797 Charlestown or Boston),
married Hon. Jonathan Jackson of Boston, son of Edward Jackson and Dorothy, on
2 June 1772 Hampton Falls or Newburyport.
Children
of Hannah Tracy and Hon. Jonathan Jackson
Robert
(b. 4th March 1773 d. 1800 at seven years of age)
Henry
Jackson (b. 12 Jan 1774, d. 8 Dec 1806)
Charles Jackson (b. 31 May 1775, d. 13 Dec 1855)
Hannah Jackson (b. 2 Jul 1776, d. 10 May 1815)
James Jackson (b. 2 Oct 1777, d. 27 Aug 1867)
Sarah Jackson (b. 26 Jun 1779, d. 29 Jan 1809)
Patrick Tracy Jackson (b. 14 Aug 1780, d. 12 Sep 1847)
Harriet Jackson (b. 20 Jan 1782, d. 13 Aug 1849)
Mary Jackson (b. 3 Oct 1783/1788, d. 1 Jun 1860)
Ref:
Lee,
Thomas Amory (1921) The Tracy Family of Newburyport. Essex Institute Historical
Collections 57 (January 1921) L 58.
Catherine Drinker Bowen, Yankee
from Olympus, p.80.
Elizabeth
Cabot Putnam & James Jackson Putnam, editors (1907) The Hon. Jonathan
Jackson and Hannah (Tracy) Jackson, Their Ancestors and Descendants. P.25,28.
Privately published.
George Norbury MacKenzie,
Colonial families of the United States, Vol. V p. 352-3
The Pickering Genealogy, p.
216.
Titcomb,
Sarah Elizabeth (1882) Early New England People: Some Account of the Ellis,Pemberton,Willard
... - Page 175
1.
Robert Tracy, farmer of County Wexford
1.1 Captain Nicholas Tracy was born in 1726 in Co. Wexford. He married Miriam Titcomb
(b. 20th February1732/1733 d. 28th October 1810),
daughter of Col. Moses Titcomb and Miriam Currier, in 1750. Nicholas Tracy died
on 23rd May 1787 in
Newburyport.
Children
of Nicholas Tracy and Miriam Titcomb.
1.1.1
Robert Tracy (b. 2/28th August 1752, d. 16th December 1804) Unmarried.
1.1.2 Elizabeth Tracy (b. 13th January 1771, d. 20th
December 1772)
1.1.3 Nicholas Tracy (b. 24th July 1773, d. 26th
July 1811) He married, 19th March 1795, Lydia St. Barbe, daughter of Captain Wyatt St. Barbe.
She died in Boston 2nd December 1832.
1.1.3.1 Elizabeth Tracy (b. 9th February 1796; d. in Louisville, Ky., 1st June 1851)
1.1.3.2 Nicholas Tracy (b.19th June 1797 d. 10th April 1798)
1.1.3.3 Eleanor St. Barbe Tracy (b.13th June 1799 d. 17th June 1889 mother of William Tracy Eustis Of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society.
1.1.3.4 Henrietta Louis Tracy (b. 5th September 1802 d. in Sudbury, Mass., 19th March 1878)
1.1.3.5 Harriet Maria Tracy (b. 5th July 1805 d. in Portland, Me., 19th January 1879)
1.2
Matthew Tracy of Wexford
1.3 John Tracy of Wexford
1.4 James Tracy of Wexford
1.5 Katherine Tracy of Wexford married Thomas Devereux
1.6 Mary Tracy of Wexford married John Nevil
1.7 Martin Tracy, youngest son, of Killcarberry Wexford
Ref:
Lee,
Thomas Amory (1921) The Tracy Family of Newburyport. Essex Institute Historical
Collections 57 (January 1921) L 58.
Sarah Elizabeth Titcomb, Early New
England People, p. 181.
The Pickering Genealogy, p. 216, 218
Captain Patrick Tracey was born in 1711 in Kilcarberry, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford but was orphaned early. His guardian, according to family tradition, had robbed him of his estate and in 1730, at the age of 19 years he sailed to Boston. He subsequently went to Newbury, where he became a mariner. He made many journeys to the West Indies and quickly became proficient in navigation. He became a master mariner, ship-owner and an importing and exporting merchant. He was a devout man and vestryman of Saint Paul’s Church (1743-8) and held two pews (35 and 49). He was also a firm supporter of education. After the disastrous fire at Harvard in 1n 1764, he donated many books and money. It is said that in 1766 that there was only three shops for English goods in Newburyport, one of which belonged to Patrick Tracy. He built a large fleet of vessels and had many and wide interests.
At the 10th June 1763 session of the general court at Newbury, 206 of the “water side people” petitioned to incorporate a town for themselves i.e. Newburyport. This was signed by William Atkins, Daniel Farnham, Michael Dalton, Thomas Woodbridge and Patrick Tracy. In 1772, he was appointed justice of the peace, an important of office at the time. On 29th January 1774, he with Robert and Nicholas Tracy petitioned the Selectmen to send delegates to the Continental Congress called to assemble at Philadelphia. He was later named a member of the committee to prepare instructions to the delegates. On 23rd September 1774, he and Captain Nicholas Tracy were leading members of the Essex Committee of Safety. He directed preparations for warfare and for home protection and many of the privateers flew his flag. The royal governor and the army and navy heads at Boston were incensed at the “Irishman Tracy” and directed efforts against him.
There were 110 vessels in the Tracy Fleet, worth approximately 3 million dollars. There were 23 Tracy privateers with 340 guns and 2,800 men. Tracy ships captured 120 British vessels. Tracy funds flowed freely in loans to the government, and food and clothing poured into the navy.
On the 21st October 1778 the estate of John Lowell was conveyed to Patrick Tracy and later to John Tracy. Patrick Tracey’s will is an interesting document (No. 27,291 Essex County Probate). At his death in 1789, his estate was valued at £3,739. 1s. 9½d., four mansion houses and 212 ounces of silver plate, 18 framed pictures, 3 “family pictures”, i.e. portraits. His mourning rings and portrait were possessed by Patrick Tracy Jackson. Another portrait was in the possession of the family another descendant Mrs. Frederick C. Shattuck.
Another Patrick Tracy of Newburyport signed as a private in Captain Perkins' company on the 19th May 1775, served at Bunker Hill and later in the Canada expedition.
Captain Nicholas Tracy came to Newburyport at a very early age, and was a mariner. In due course he became a master mariner, and made profitable voyages to the West Indies and Europe. He presently became an importing merchant, and owned the Upper Long Wharf, with its warehouses, etc. His mansion house was on the northwest corner of State and High streets. He was in the Alarm List of the foot company in Newbury, of which Joseph Coffin was captain, 13th July 1757. In 1774 he signed a petition to the selectmen to send delegates to the old Continental Congress of September 1774. On 15th June 1774, he was on the committee to correspond with the Committee of Safety of Boston, and was a member of the Committee of Safety.
His will (No. 27,968 Essex County Probate), dated 17th January 1787, was proved 13th June 1787. He bequeathed to his wife Merriam one-third of the dwelling house on the northwest side of the head of Fifth street for life, and two-thirds for widowhood, also one-third of all other real estate to son Robert, the house on the northwest side of Queen street for life; and all the residue of real estate and personal estate in remainder and reversion to son Nicholas, but if he die under 21, then to his brothers Matthew Tracy and John Tracy and his sister Catherine Devereux, all of the Kingdom of Ireland. This will proves Captain Nicholas to have been a son of Robert Tracy of Wexford. His wife, Captain Joseph Noyes, mariner, and Samuel Tufts, merchant, are named as executors. The seal has an impression, but it cannot be seen whether it is of the Tracy coat-of-arms which Captain Patrick Tracy used. His estate was valued at over £9,700, including the mansion house, store, two dwelling houses, and eighteen and one-half rights in Queen Wharf, a silver watch, plate and glass, a wall pew in Rev. Mr. Gary's meeting house, money in hand £1,852. 19s. 5¾d, 37 notes against John Tracy, Nathaniel Tracy, James Tracy, Nicholas Pike, etc.
His widow Miriam was appointed guardian (No. 27,969 Essex County Probate) of their son, Nicholas Tracy, a minor over 14 years, on 27th August 1787, Joseph Noyes, mariner, and Andrew Frothingham, merchant, being her sureties. Her estate (No. 27,964 Essex County Probate) was valued at $5,578.21.
Honourable Nathaniel Tracy was born in 1751, eldest son of the prominent merchant, Captain Patrick Tracey and Hannah Gookin. Nathaniel graduated from the Boston Public Latin School in 1760 and Harvard with the class of 1769. After an additional year at Yale returned to Newburyport to enter his father's mercantile house and then travelled abroad. In 1773, he was given the honorary degree of A.M. by the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University.
In 1774, along with his brother John, Nathaniel formed a partnership with Jonathan Jackson, who had married their sister Hannah three years before. The firm of Jackson, Tracy & Tracy enjoyed considerable success in the short time remaining before the outbreak of hostilities, and during the war fitted out a large number of privateers, only a few of which showed any long-run profit. Their partnership was dissolved in 1777, after which all three men suffered severe financial losses. Nathaniel and his brother John engaged in business again in Newburyport, still holding several ships including Cato, Success, and Port Packet.
He married in August 1775, “the greatest beauty of her day,” Mary Lee, the sister of his classmate, Captain Joseph Lee, of the Revolution, and the daughter of the patriot, Col. Jeremiah Lee, of Marblehead. Colonel Lee was a member of the famous Province Committee of Safety and Supplies, with Adams and Hancock, chairman of the Essex County Congress, 1774, a delegate to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, and elected to the first Continental Congress by the town of Marblehead, as its delegate. Upon their marriage, Patrick Tracy built for his son a beautiful brick mansion on State street, Newburyport, and there Nathaniel Tracy and his bride made their home. This mansion is now the city library of Newburyport, and in it Stuart's portrait of Nathaniel Tracy hangs (1921), having been presented to the town by Tracy's grandson, General William Raymond Lee, of Boston.
When Arnold's expedition against Canada, by way of Maine, was quartered at Newbury, we find that on September 17th, 1775, the officers dined at Mr. Nathaniel Tracey's. Writing from Fort Western, September 28th, Arnold returns his thanks “for the many favors received from” Mr. Nathaniel Tracey, at Newburyport, and desires his best respects to “Mrs. Tracey, your brother, and Mr. Jackson.”
Nathaniel Tracy was a great merchant and fitted out the first privateer of the Revolution in August 1775, the Yankee Hero, and this vessel gained many prizes. He was one of several merchants who owned the sloop Game Cock, a privateer ship. Throughout the spring, Newburyport and Salem continued to be the most active privateering ports. Two new privateers were commissioned in mid-May. Nathaniel Tracy's Success hailed out of Newburyport, carrying fifteen men and armed with four swivels. During the next eight years, he was the principal owner of one hundred and ten merchant vessels, having a gross tonnage of 15,660 tons. These vessels, with their cargoes, were valued at $2,733,300. Twenty-three of these were letters of marque, and carried 298 carriage-guns and 1,618 men. During the war Tracy's cruisers and privateers captured 120 vessels, aggregating 23,360 tons, with 2,225 men. These vessels, with their cargoes, were sold for the large sum of $3,950,000 in specie. Nor was this the only service Tracy rendered to the country; for, during these trying times, he loaned the government more than $167,000, besides providing much assistance in the matter of clothing and other necessities. He was also described as possibly being the richest man of his day, worth over $6,500,000 in 1780. Of this large fleet only thirteen were left at the end of the war, the others were either lost or captured. The services which these vessels rendered to the government in bringing in stores of ammunition and supplies intended for the British army were inestimable.
In 1779, he initiated improvements to the town of Newburyport. On 9th March, he was empowered to plant trees on High street where the old rope-walk stood near Frog pond. In 1781, along with other public minded citizens, land was given to lay out a handsome street between Fish and Queen street.
In 1781, Nathaniel Tracy had bought a mansion in Cambridge that had been
confiscated from the Loyalist John Vassall (now known as Longfellow House).
French transports were in Boston harbour in May 1781 with about 6,300 soldiers
who would march north to the siege of Yorktown. In his home in Cambridge, he
entertained the Compte de Grasse and his officers of the French fleet, with a
celebrated “frog dinner”. This dinner is described by Andrews in his “Letters,”
and is worth reading. The following is an account by Samuel Breck:
“Mr. Nathaniel Tracy, who lived in a beautiful villa at Cambridge, made a great feast for the admiral and his officers. Everything was furnished that could be had in the country to ornament and give variety to the entertainment. My father was one of the guests, and told me often after that two large tureens of soup were placed at the ends of the table. The admiral sat on the right of Tracy, and Monsieur de l’Etombe on the left. L’Etombe was consul of France, resident at Boston. Tracy filled a plate with soup, which went to the admiral, and the next was handed to the consul. As soon as L’Etombe put his spoon into his plate he fished up a large frog, just as green and perfect as if he had hopped from the pond into the tureen. Not knowing at first what it was, he seized it by one of its hind legs, and, holding it up in view of the whole company, discovered that it was a full-grown frog. As soon as he had thoroughly inspected it, and made himself sure of the matter, he exclaimed, “Ah! mon Dieu! un grenouille!” then, turning to the gentleman next to him, gave him the frog. He received it, and passed it round the table. Thus the poor crapaud made the tour from hand to hand until it reached the admiral. The company, convulsed with laughter, examined the soup-plates as the servants brought them, and in each was to be found a frog. The uproar was universal.”
He owned many residences and at this time, and it was said that he might well travel from Newburyport to Philadelphia and sleep in his own house every night. As it was a matter of a week's journey at that time, we may judge somewhat of the extent of his possessions. He owned the Vassall house in Cambridge, now owned by the Longfellow family; he had a farm in Medford, said to have been “Ten Hills Farm”; he had large properties in Connecticut; and, with his superb mansion in Newburyport, the Spencer- Pierce farm in Newbury, with the stone house, and other lands and houses in different places, he was enabled to live in the most luxurious manner. He had the finest horses and coaches, and possessed a well-selected library. His cellars were stocked with the choicest wines, his horses and carriages were the best that money could buy, and the appointments at the table were rich and sumptuous. At his home in Cambridge, he entertained many distinguished guests, and in the brick house on State street, Newburyport, he was often honoured by visits of officers prominent in public life. On the 9th August 1782, his new house, old dwelling house and barn were consumed by fire.
Nathaniel
Tracy was the first treasurer of Dummer Academy until 1784, was a selectman of
his town, a deputy to the General Court in 1780, 1781 and 1782, a State Senator
in 1783, a delegate to the United States Constitutional Convention, and with
his brother-in-law, Johnathan Jackson, he was a charter member of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also made at least one contribution to the
records of the Massachusetts Historical Society in its early days. Newburyport
was known for it’s zeal for the order of free masonry. St. John’s Lodge was the
oldest in the town, it’s charter dates from 1766, however there are no records
of its meetings until 1781. Among the first masters were Nathaniel Tracy
& John Tracy in the early 1780’s. On 13th May 1783 he
received a vote of thanks for public services from the town.
In 1784, Nathaniel Tracy went to Europe on his ship Cerut (or Ceres) endeavouring to bring about a satisfactory settlement of his business affairs. Thomas Jefferson, had been named Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain with Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin. Jefferson and his two daughters, was Tracy's guest upon this voyage. Jefferson was a close friend and wrote a poem about him. Tracy went on to Portugal, in hopes of obtaining a satisfactory settlement of his accounts with Guardoqui, but in this he was disappointed. He remained in Europe several months, but at length was compelled to return home, broken-hearted and discouraged. As late as 1785, Nathaniel Tracy was the wealthiest person in Newburyport, owning large amounts of waterfront property, and inheriting a successful business from his father Patrick Tracy. In 1786, he found himself hopelessly involved in financial difficulties, and with the close of the war his wealth vanished like smoke. His vessels were captured, his varied enterprises met with disaster instead of success, and he found himself bankrupt, owing large sums which he could not pay. His splendid estates were sold for a small portion of their value, and he retired from active business pursuits. With his wife and children, he lived in comparative quiet and seclusion for the remainder of his days in the old stone mansion on the Spencer-Pierce farm in Newbury, which was secured to his family by his father, Captain Patrick Tracy. He was so loved and respected by his fellow-townsmen, many of whom were his creditors, that he was not pressed by claims for money due.
The future President John Quincy Adams, who was at that time a student at law in the office of Theophilus Parsons in Newburyport, gives a good description of Tracy and his family in his diary for the years 1788-89. In 1788, Brissot de Warville visited Tracy at Newburyport, and a description of Tracy and his household is found on pages 254 and 255 of his “Notes of Travel in the U.S.”:
“We dined at Newbury with Mr. Tracy, who formerly enjoyed a great fortune, and has since been reduced by the failure of different enterprises, particularly by a contract to furnish masts for the marine of France. The miscarriage of this undertaking was owing to his having employed agents in procuring the first cargo, who deceived him and sent a parcel of refuse masts that were fit only for firewood. Though the manner in which Mr. Tracy bad been deceived was sufficiently proved, yet, for the clerks of the marine at Versailles, whose interest it was to decry the American timber, this fact was sufficient to enable them to cause it to be ever after rejected. And Mr. Tracy's first cargo was condemned and sold at Havre for 250 1. He lives retired; and, with the consolation of his respectable wife, supports his misfortunes with dignity and firmness.”
Tracy lived the last decade of his life in retirement at his country estate at Pipe-Stave Hill, supported by his wealthier friends. He died at the early age of forty-five in 1796.
His portrait was painted three times, once by Stuart (or Copley or Mather Brown), once by Trumbull, now owned by his great-granddaughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Amory Lee Ernst, the daughter of General Lee and once by Miss Hills. His miniature and that of his wife are owned by Mrs. Ernst and Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Ernst Grinnell.
Colonel John Tracy, born 1753, was the second son of Captain Patrick Tracy and Hannah Gookin. He was generous and liberal in the expenditure of his wealth, and entertained many other distinguished guests in his hospitable home. Among his guests in November 1782, were the Marquis de Cbastellux Major General of the French army, and one of the forty Immortals of the French Academy; Baron de Taleyrand (said to have been a brother of the famous Prince Taleyrand); M. de Montesquieu, grandson of the famous author; Viscount de Vaudreuil, and Marshal and Lieut.-Gen. Lynch. Chastellux's description of his evening there with Colonel and Mrs. John Tracy, her two sisters, and the beauty, Miss Lee (a sister of Mrs. Nathaniel Tracy), is well known. “The house is very handsome and well finished, and everything breathes that air of magnificence, accompanied with simplicity, which is only to be found amongst merchants.” Latterly, John Tracy was probably a more prominent merchant than his brother, the latter having suffered reverses. He was an enthusiastic patriot, and served in General Sullivan's army in Rhode Island as aide-de-camp to General Stover. He was later Adjutant General of the Massachusetts militia. He was vestryman of St. Paul's, Newburyport, 1777-1780, and 1784-1815. From 1780 to 1784 he was senior warden. John Tracy was also a pioneer of American landscape design. He was the first to employ Heussler, to improve the garden developed by his father. In 1785, before Washington street was laid out, John Tracy manufactured cordage in a rope walk from the “Quaker field” graveyard towards the river. Lee states that in 1803 John Tracy was made an honorary member of St. John's Lodge of Masons, but this may refer to another, as he had been a master in the 1780’s.
Lieutenant Robert Tracy, born 1752, eldest son of Nicholas Tracy and Miriam Titcomb. In 1774, he signed a petition (with Captain Patrick and Captain Nicholas) to the selectmen to send a delegate to the Old Continental Congress in Philadelphia. In September 1775, he was 2nd Lieutenant to Captain James Tracy, of the brig Yankee Hero, a privateer of 120 tons, owned by Captain James Tracy, Jno. Jackson, Nathaniel Tracy, John Tracy, and Joseph Lee (son of Colonel Jeremiah Lee of Marblehead). The commission was signed on 20th February 1776 by Perez Morton, Deputy Secretary. On 7th May or June 1776 with twelve carriage and six swivel guns, and twenty-six men, on the way from Newburyport to Boston, she struck to the British frigate Milford, of twenty-eight guns, after a desperate encounter, in which four men were killed and thirteen wounded. Lieutenant Tracy and Captain James Tracy was taken to Boston as prisoners, and exchanged after Nathaniel Tracy had interviewed Lord Howe on board the Eagle. He apparently was a gentleman of leisure, having no occupation.
Captain James Tracy, Gentleman, probably drowned at sea or killed about October 1777, was undoubtedly a close relative of both Hon. Nathaniel Tracy and Captain Nicholas Tracy, but just what relationship is unknown. He may have been a brother of Nicholas Tracy from Ireland. He was a very gallant sea fighter. He was captain of the brig Yankee Hero commissioned 20th February 1776. After a desperate engagement with the English frigate Milford, Captain Tracy was struck in the thigh by a cannon ball and Lieutenant Robert Tracy was taken prisoner. They were both exchanged after Hon. Nathaniel Tracy had interviewed Lord Howe on board the Eagle. The 20-gun ship Hero was then built for Captain Tracy, launched June 2, 1777, and sailed for Cape Ann 23rd July. It went on the bar, was got off, and was never heard from after leaving Boston.
Captain Thomas Tracy, master mariner, was a member of the Newburyport Marine Society, 1781 and 1798. He was probably of this family, but the connection is not known. He is perhaps the mariner who died in Marblehead in 1807. (No. 27,973 Essex County Probate)
Thomas Tracy and Ann ??? had a son James, baptized in Newburyport, July 10, 1774.
The following are also listed as being part of the American Revolutionary navy:
John Tracy, Captain, Privateer, Mass. Navy (born in Ireland)
Michael Tracy, Captain, Privateer, Mass. Navy (born in Ireland)
Ensign Nicholas Tracy Jr, born 1773, second son of Captain Nicholas Tracy and Meriam Titcomb. He was an ensign of the Washington Light Infantry in 1800, at the same time that Charles Jackson, later a Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, son of Hon. Jonathan J. and Hannah Tracy, was a lieutenant. He was a well-known merchant of Newburyport. His estate (No. 27,970 Essex County Probate) was valued at $26,000. His descendant, J. Tracy Eustis, owns miniatures of Ensign Nicholas Tracy and of Captain Wyatt St. Barbe.
Nathaniel Tracy, Jr., Esq., born 1790,
son of Hon. Nathaniel and Mary Lee. In
1803, he graduated from Boston Public Latin School, as had his father. He was a
prominent broker of Boston, in the Merchants Exchange, of which he was
treasurer so many years. Previous to I860 his house was at 35 Essex street. He
was associated, apparently, with his cousin Jeremiah Lee of Boston. Nathaniel
Tracy and his second wife Ann retired to Medford, Massachusetts in 1848. (see Young, Philip (1989) Private Melville)
Rev.
Thomas Tracy, of Biddeford and Newburyport, married Ann Bromfield. His
sermons were published in the in ‘The Liberal
Preacher: A monthly publication of sermons by living ministers’ in 1828 and
1836. He was also noted as a German translator.
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The Tracy Privateer Fleet Compiled and arranged in sequence by Thomas P. Cahill,
Somerville, Mass. Massachusetts Commissioned Privateers of the Revolution, listed in the Massachusetts Provincial Council Records, whose vessels were built, owned, bonded or commanded by captains of Tracy's fleet of Newburyport Privateers. The Tracy fleet during the Revolution, including merchant vessels and privateers, numbered 120 vessels and fifty-four privateers, captured 130 British ships. The 54 privateer vessels included 602 guns and 2,617 men. 1776, January 23 “Yankee Hero.” Commander: Thomas Thomas. Bonders and owners: Jonathan Jackson, Nathaniel and John Tracy, all of Newburyport. Witnesses: Robert Tracy, Jonathan Jackson. 14 guns, 40 men. 1776, February 20 “Yankee Hero.” Commander: James Tracy, Newburyport. Bonders: James Tracy, Jonathan Jackson, Nathaniel Tracy, Thomas Thomas, merchants, all of Newburyport. 14 guns, 40 men. 1776, May 7 “Yankee Hero.” Commander: James Tracy. Bonders: James Tracy, Jonathan Jackson, Nathaniel Tracy, Thomas Thomas, merchants, all of Newburyport, owners of same. 14 guns, 40 men. 1776, May 15 “Success.” Commander: John Fletcher. Bonders: Not named. Owner: Nathaniel Tracy, of Newburyport. 2 guns, 14 men. 1776, August 10 “Hawke.” Commander: John Lee, Newburyport. Bonders: Jonathan Jackson, Nathaniel Tracy and John Tracy, merchants. Owners: Jackson, Tracy and Tracy, all of Newburyport. 6 guns, 30 men. |
Adopted by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, April 7, 1776, and first carried in battle by Captain James Tracy on the brig ‘Yankee Hero’, in battle with the British frigate Milford, off Cape Ann, May 7, 1776. The ‘Yankee Hero’ was commissioned February 20, 1776, and was undoubtedly flown on that date from his vessel in Newburyport, Mass.
The Flag: White Field, Green Pine Tree in the centre. The Motto: “Appeal to Heaven” underneath. |
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1776, September 18 “Civil Usage.” Commander: Andrew Giddings. Bonders: Jonathan Jackson, Nathaniel Tracy and John Coffin Jones, all of Newburyport. Owners not named. 12 guns, 80 men. 1776, November 27 “Lee.” Commander: Nathaniel Odiorne, of Portsmouth, N. H. Bonders: Principle, Jonathan Jackson, of Newburyport, and John Adams, of Boston. Owners not named. 8 guns, 45 men. 1777, May 20 “Fancy.” Commander: John Lee. Bonders: John Tracy and others. Owners: Jonathan Jackson, John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 12 guns, 75 men. 1777, June 18 “Hawke.” Commander: Jeremiah Hibbert, of Marblehead. Bonders: Not named. Owners: Nathaniel Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 10 guns, 60 men. 1777, July 4 “Lively.” Commander: Michael Dupuy (probably Duffy), of Marblehead. Bonders: Not named. Owner: Nathaniel Tracy, of Newburyport. 6 guns, 25 men. 1777, July 16 “Hero.” Commander: James Tracy, of Newburyport. Petition for commission signed by Robert Tracy. Robert was also the lieutenant. Sailing from Boston in August with a completed crew, the “Hero,” with captain and lieutenant and entire crew, disappeared, going down with the ship at sea without a solitary survivor to tell the tale of what happened. Presumably foundering in a gale. 28 guns, 200 men. 1777, July 22 “Gloriosa.” Commander: John Babson, of Amesbury. Bonders: Not named. Owners: Jackson, Tracy and Tracy, of Newburyport. 10 guns, 50 men. 1777, September 17 “Gloriosa.” Commander: Daniel Parsons, of Newburyport. Bonders: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. Owners: John Laughton and John Tracy, of Newburyport. 8 guns, 45 men. 1778, January 2 “Wexford.” Commander: John Fletcher. Bonders: Nathaniel Tracy and others, of Newburyport. Owners: Nathaniel Tracy and others. 16 guns. 100 men. 1778, January 22 “Hornet.” Commander: Nathaniel Bentley. Bonders: John Tracy, of Newburyport, and others. Also the owners. 10 guns, 50 men. 1778 “Revenge.” Commander: James Tracy, (This is a newspaper announcement of his arrival in Bordeaux, and obviously an error that should read Thomas Tracy, as James was lost at sea with the “Hero” in August, 1777.) 1778, March 28 “Civil Usage.” Commander: John Smith. Bonders: Not named. Owners: Jackson, Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 14 guns, 75 men, 1778, April 16 “General Arnold.” Commander: Moses Brown, of Newburyport. Bonders: Not named. Owners: Nathaniel Tracy and others. 22 guns, 120 men. 1778, September 2 “Success.” Commander: Philip Trask (incorrectly spelled Thrash). Bonders: Philip Trask, mariner, principle; William Foster and James Tiliston, of Boston and Newbury, sureties. Owners: Nathaniel Tracy and others, of Newburyport. ( The name Trask is an abbreviation of and derived from O'Thuriske.) 8 guns, 40 men. 1778, September 15 “Hornet.” Commander: William Springer. Bonders: William Springer, mariner, principle; Joseph Laughton, of Boston, and Joseph Choatte, of Newburyport, sureties. Owner: John Tracy. 8 guns, 30 men. 1778, September 16 “Hope.” Commander: William Friend, mariner, principle; Joseph Laughton and Joseph Choatte, of Newburyport, sureties. Owners: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. (Captain William Friend with six of his men were drowned in 1781, off Boon Island.) 12 guns, 40 men. 1778, November 17 “Hawke.” Commander: John Calif, of Newburyport. Bonders: John Calif, mariner, principle; Samuel Tucker and John Head, of Newburyport and Boston, sureties. Owners: (Petitioners) Jonathan Jackson, Nathaniel Tracy and John Tracy, of Newburyport. (The name Calif appears to be an abbreviation for McAuliffe.) 10 guns, 35 men. 1779, January 1 “Betsey.” Commander: Nathaniel Bentley. Bonders: Nathaniel Bentley, mariner, principle; Joseph Laughton, of Boston. and John Tracy, of Newburyport, sureties. Owners: John Tracy and others. 6 guns, 20 men. 1779, January 4 “Defiance.” Commander: Edward Wigglesworth, of Newburyport. Bonders: Edward Wigglesworth, mariner, of Newburyport, principle. Owner: Nathaniel Tracy, of Newburyport. 6 guns, 12 men. 1779, October 1 “Tom.” Commander: John Lee, of Newburyport. Owners: John Tracy and others. 16 guns, 30 men. 1779, November 23 “Charming Nancy.” Commander: William Farris, (born in Belfast, Ireland.) Owners: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 1780, April 5 “Thorn.” Commander: Richard Cowell. Owner: Nathaniel Tracy, Newburyport. 18 guns, 120 men. 1780, May 19 “Tracy.” Commander: John B. Hopkins. 16 guns, 100 men. 1780, May 22 “Pallas.” Commander: Hector McNeil. Bonders: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 16 guns, 45 men. 1780, November 23 “Massachusetts.” Commander: John Calif. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 16 guns, 30 men. 1780, December 9 “Triton.” (May be meant for Trenton.) Commander: Ebenezer Stocker. Bonders: Nathaniel and John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 4 guns, 12 men. 1780, December 12 “Jack and Harry.” Commander: Nathaniel Newell. Bonders: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 10 guns, 25 men. 1780, December 12 “Grand Monarch.” Commander: David Coats, Newburyport. Bonders: David Coats, John Tracy and Samuel Newhall, all of Newburyport. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 16 guns, 45 men. 1781, January 2 “Thorn.” Commander: Samuel Tucker. Bonders: John Tracy of Newburyport and others. Owners: John Tracy and others. 18 guns, 120 men. 1781, February 24 “Minerva.” Commander: Moses Brown, of Newburyport. Bonders: John Tracy and others. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, of Newburyport. 16 guns, 60 men. 1781, April 14 “Essex.” Commander John Cathcart of Salem. Owners: Jonathan Jackson and others, of Newburyport. 20 guns, 150 men. 1781 “Friendship.” Commander: Thomas Tracy. (Boston Gazette, May 7, 1781) 1781, May 28 “Hibernia.” Commander: Jeremiah O'Brien, formerly of Machias, Maine, and John O'Brien, Bonder. Owners: Jonathan Jackson. John O'Brien, and others, of Newburyport. 10 guns, 60 men. 1781, June 1 “Mercury.” Commander: William Farris, Newburyport (born in Belfast, Ireland.) Bonders: John Tracy and others. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, of Newburyport. 6 guns, 15 men. 1781, June 1 “Port Packet.” Commander: George Rappel. Bonders: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 14 guns, 50 men. 1781. June 21 “William.” Commander: Joseph Rowe, Newburyport. Bonders: John Tracy, Newburyport, and others. 8 guns, 25 men. 1781, July 23 “Seaflower.” Commander: William Willcomb. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 8 guns, 16 men. 1781, July 27 “Grand Monarch.” Commander: John Lee. Bonders: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 18 guns, 120 men. 1781, July 27 “Seaflower.” Commander: William Willcomb. Bonders: Nathaniel and John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 6 guns, 15 men. 1781, October 16 “Rochambeau.” Commander: Jonathan Parsons. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 6 guns, 18 men. 1781, December 1 “Elizabeth.” Commander: Nathaniel Cutting. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, of Newburyport. 8 guns, 20 men. 1781, December 15 “Port Pacquet.” Commander: Ebenezer Stocker. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 12 guns, 30 men. 1781, December 15 “Minerva.” Commander: George Rappal. Bonders: Nathaniel Tracy and others. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 16 guns, 40 men. 1781, December 22 “Minerva.” Commander: John Lee, Bonders: John Tracy and others, Newburyport. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, Newburyport. 16 guns, 50 men. 1782, April 8 “St. Patrick.” Commander: Philip Trask. Bonders: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. 10 guns, 25 men. 1782, April 8 “Intrepid.” Commander: Moses Brown. Bonders: John Tracy and others, of Newburyport. Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, of Newburyport. 16 guns, 60 men. 1782, July 16 “Hibernia.” Commander: Joseph Atkins, Newburyport. Owners: Jonathan Jackson and John O'Brien, of Newburyport. 4 guns, 15 men. 1782, November 23 “Queen of France.” Commander: Thomas Tracy. Bonders: Thomas Tracy, John Tracy and William Dyer, also spelled Hyer, Wyer. (Probably Dwyer, correctly). Owners: Nathaniel and John Tracy, all of Newburyport. |
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References:
Cahill, Thomas Peter (1942)
The famous Tracys: Ship merchantmen and privateer captains of Newburyport,
Mass., in the American Revolution, 1775-1783 ; the greatest record of
achievement by one family of maritime merchants and privateers in colonial
history. Battle of the Brig, Yankee Hero, commanded by Captain James Tracy, of
Newburyport, with the Btitish frigate Milford off Cape Ann, May 7, 1776.
Captain Jeremiah O'Brien's Memorial Associates, Somerville, Mass. Pamphlet 12
pages.(Also published in The Irish Echo (NYC) 18-25th October 1941)
Cleaveland, Nehemiah (1863) The First Century of
Dummer Academy: A Historical Discourse. P. 60
Coffin, Joshua &
Joseph Bartlett, Joseph: A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and
West Newbury, from 1635 ...
Cushing, Caleb (1826)
History and Present State of the town of Newburyport. Newburyport.
D’Arcy McGee, Thomas (1852)
A History of the Irish Settlers in North America. Patrick Donohoe, Boston. 2nd
edition. p.206, 217
Labaree, Benjamin W. (1975) Patriots & Partisans - The
Merchants of Newburyport 1764-1815.
Lee, Thomas Amory (1921) The
Tracy Family of Newburyport. Essex Institute Historical Collections 57 (January
1921) L 58.
O'Brien, Michael J. (1999) A
Hidden Phase of American History: Ireland's Part in America's Struggle for ...Heritage Books.
Smith,
Euphemia
Vale (1854) History of Newburyport: From the Earliest
Settlement of the Country to the present time.
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?????? St. Paul's Episcopal Cemetery |
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Here lies Buried St. Paul's Episcopal Cemetery
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Nathaniel Tracy 1751 - 1796 The
Old Burying Hill (or Old Hill Burying Ground |
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In Memory St. Paul's Episcopal Cemetery
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