Governors Academy - Milestone Yearbook (Byfield, MA)

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History of the New England Family of William Dummer The history of the Dummer family in England goes back to the beginning of the 12th century. In Penne Domer, Co. Somerset, and in Dummer, Co. Hants, are ancient monuments of this family. l.ater they lived near Southampton, at a place called Bishopstoke, where Richard Dummer was born in 1591. He came to New England with his wife, Mary, in the ship IV!zfz!v, arriving 26 May 1632. Richard Dummer first lived in Roxbury, where he built a mill in 1633. The next year he moved into Boston, and on 6 May 1635 received a grant of 5oo acres of land at the Falls in Newbury. In 1636 he joined the early settlers of Newbury, and became a Freeman on 22 May 1639. His farm in the present town of Byfield became the country home of a grandson, Lieut. Governor XYilliam Dummer, and is now the site of Governor Dummer Academy. Richard was a Magistrate of the Colony, one of the largest landholders, and probably the richest man in the Province. In com- pany with Saltonstall and Sew all he imported cattle, horses, sheep and fruit trees for the new Colony. The first grist mill of Newbury was built by Richard and John Spencer at the Falls, the head of tide water on the Parker River. Richard was also prominent in Church affairs, and in the controversy regarding discipline, which so long agitated the First Parish of Newbury, he took part against the Ruling Elders, Parker and Noyes, and was one of the Ruling Elders elected to manage the affairs of the Church. He earlier became greatly involved because of his sympathy with Rev. John XYheelwright and Mrs. Anne Hutchinson in the Anti- nomian Controversy, and sided with Sir Harry Vane against Governor Winthrop. YVhen Winthrop was victorious, Richard was left out of the blagistracy, and on IO Nov. 1637 was ordered with others to deliver to the Constable at Newbury his guns, swords, pistols, powder, shot and matches under the Disarming Act. Greatly dis- pleased Richard went to England, only to return in 1638 on the ship Basis. Richard Dummer's wife, Mary, died soon after they settled in Newbury, leav- ing an only child, Shubael, born I7 Feb. 1636. He graduated from Harvard College in 1656, and preceded Samuel or Faithful Moody as the minister of York. This Samuel Moody was the grandfather of Samuel Moody, the first Headmaster of Governor Dummer Academy. Shubael was killed by Indians, 25 Jan. 1692, while mounting his horse at his own door at York. His wife and son were taken prisoners in this same Indian attack. She died soon afterward, and the son was never again heard from. In 1643,f.i Richard married Mrs. Francis Burr. She was the widow of Rev. Jonathan Burr, formerly Rector of Rickengall in Suffolk, England, and later an associate of Richard Mather of Dorchester. By his second wife Richard had five

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'R A--'lg' Ciiioiaoe XY. Aoexxis Nlr. Adams is among the distinguished alumni of the Academy. He has been a friend and neighbor all his life, and attended the School in Moo. Eighty years of age, and one of the oldest graduates, he is a cultured gentleman, acquainted with the classic languages Greek, Hebrew, and l,atin. He is also a naturalist, an antiquarian, a craftsman, and a philosopher. Among his relatives were the poets Whittier and Longfellow. Seventy-tive of his family have attended the Academy, two being head- masters, and two trustees. ' His house, The Highlieldsf' was the home of a school founded previous to 1760, and the direct forerunner of the present Academy. It was built in the late ijth Century and is a good example of early Colonial architecture. His estate is a farm, the ancestral home of his family. A good example of his classical training is his push- cart, appropriately named Sysyphusn for the Greek mythological toiler. Today Mr. Adams is almost a tradition at the Academy. For years he has kept the Academy bees, and attends all Yesper Services. He is the friend of all the boys and masters. We appreciate his kindness to the school, we admire his culture, and we en-ioy his friendship. ly

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