Alden, Timothy
Hemoirs of Edv;ard Tying, Esquire...
Boston, 1808.

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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

1941

MEMOIRS

EDWARD TYNG, ESQUIRE*
OF BOSTON;

AND OF

HON. WILLIAM TYNG, ESQUIRE,
OF GORHAM.

BY REV- TIMOTHY ALDEN, JUN.
(ONORARY MEMBER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIBTY,
OF THE SOCIETY IN NEW-YORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF AfiRI-
.CVLTUR£> ARTS, AND MANUFACTURES, AND QF THE
BOSTON HUMANE SOCIETY.

BOSTOJV t
PRINTED BY MUNROE, FRANCIS. AND PARI^R,
NO. 4, CORNHILL.
180S.

3ns

MEMOIRS OF EDWARD TYNG, ESQ.

William and Edward Tyng, two brothers, came to New-
England about the year 1630. . The former, who spent his
life at Braintree, in Massachusetts, left no posterity.
Edward married his first wife, miss Sears, in England, a
lady of remarkable piety. She died at Boston, probably, soon
after her arrival. He removed to Dunstable, where, in De
cember,' 1681, he ended his days, having reached his ninety-
first year. His second wife, Mary, of what family originally is
unknown, by whom he had all his children, survived him till
about the beginning of the last centiiry. Hb son, Jonathan,
who was born in 1642, was an ancestor of th^ate honourable
John Tyng,* esquire. His second son, Edward, married a
daughter of ensign Thaddeus Clarke,^ of Falmouth, now
Portland. One of his daughters, Eunice, was. the v\'ife of
rev. Samuel Willard, vice-president of Harvard college.
The honourable Joseph Dudley, esquire, governour of Massa
chusetts, married a second, Habijah Savage a third, aiid 
Searle a fourth.
The second Edward Tyng had four children. 1. Edward, .
the principal subject of these memoirs. 2. Jonathan, who di
ed at an early age. 3. Mary, whom rev. John Fox,t of
Woburn, married. 4. Elizabeth, who was the wife of a
brother to the late doctor Franklin.
He was appointed governour of Annapolis,and Vi'as taken, on
his passage to that place, and carried into. France, a^ here he
died. * Colonel John Tyng, first justice of the court of common picas in
the county of Middlesex, died 18 April, 1797, about 94 years of age,
and lies in a tomb, erected in the spacious walk of his garden, at Tyngs-
borough. § Clarke was from Ireland, and was one of the original propi ietors of
Falmouth. Clarke's Point, so called, was a part of bis possessions in
Portland. t Rev. John Fox, son of his predecessor at Woburn, the rev. Jabez
Fox, a descendant, according to family tradidon, from John Fo>:, tlie
martyrologist, died 12 December, 1736, ait. 79. His VYJfe survived liim
eight or ten years.

4 Memoirs ofEdviard Tyng, esq.
The last mentioned Edward, grandson of the first, after the
decease of his father,resided in the family of his aunt Dudley ,tiU
of age sufficieiit for entering on a seafaring life. His first consort,
who died inLondon,wasadaughter of captain Cyprian Southack.
In 1731, at the age of almost fifty ,he married Ann Waldo, J a
daughter of Jonathan Waldo, a merchant in Bostan. By her he
had seven children. Three only of these lived to maturity of
years. 1. Ann, who died in November, 1756, a month after her
marriage with a British ofiicer. 2, Edward, an officer in the
British army, who deceased a bachelor, in England, 1776. 3.
The present colonel William Tyng of Gorham. He is the
only descendant from the first Edward, who, by birth, is en
titled to the name of Tyng.
Tlie subject of these memoirs received a commission from
governour Belcher, dated 16 April, 1740,appointing him cap
tain of his majesty's south AND NORTH BATTERIES AND
FORTIFICATIONS IN BOSTON.
When captain Cyprian Southack resigned the command of
the PROVING*' SNOW, OR queen's GALLEY, PRINCE OF
ORANGE, captain Tyng, wlio had left the sea and was settled
in merchandise, was prevailed on to succeed him.
In 1744, he acquired no small honour by attacking and cap
turing a French privateer, commanded by monsieur De La
Bra, offeree superiour to that of the prince of orange.
A number of the merchants of Boston, in testimony of this
meritorious exploit, presented him with a silver cup, now
in possession of his son, weighing about one hundred o\mces,
with this inscription ; TO
EDWARD TVNG, ESQUIRE,
COMMANDER OF THE SNOW,
PRINCE OF ORANGE,
AS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
HIS GOOD SEUVICE, DONE THE
TRADE, IN TAKING THE FIRST
FRENCH PRIVATEER,
ON THIS COAST, THE XXIV OF JUNE,
MDCCXLIV, THIS PLATE IS PRESENTED
BY SEVERAL OF THE MERCHANTS
IN BOSTON,
NEW-ENGLAND.
, I Sister of the late brigalier Samuel Waldo. She died in 17^

5^4.

Memoirs of Edward Tyng, esg.. 5
As soon as the general court of Massachusetts had deter
mined on the bold project of attempting the reduction of Lou-
isbourg, governour Shirley sent for captain Tyng, and directed
him to procure the largest ship in his power. He, accordingly,
purchased one on the stocks, which was nearly ready for
launching, and made such improvements upon her, that she
was able to carry twenty -four, or twenty-six guns. She was
named the Massachusetts frigate. Tyng took th§
command of her and was appointed commodore of the fleet.
Captain Rouse, in a bylander or small brigantine, was the se
cond in command.
When sir Peter Warren formed a junction with the provin
cial naval forces, he became commander in chief of course ;
but, in general orders, he directed that Tyng should be obey
ed, as commodore.
. On the night of the 18 of May, 1745, the Vigilant, a
French man of war, of sixty-four guns, having been decoyed
by the Mermaid and hectored by several small vessels, fell in
with the Massachusetts. The Vigilant struck to the latter,
having mistaken her for a much larger ship, greatly to the ad-
Vantage and encouragement of all employed in this hazard-
ous.expedition. Warren offered Tyng the command of this valuable prize,
with the rank of post captain. He was considerably ad
vanced in life, and being determined to remain on shore, un
fortunately for his family, refused the honour and recommend-;
ed Rouse to sir Peter, who, accordingly, gave him the com
mand. This statement has been made, partly, with a view to do
that justice, which our historians have usually withholden, be
stowing their commendations upon Rouse, to the injury of a
brave and deserving naval officer. From some source or oth
er, it not unfrequently happens that merit is passed by in neg
lect, sic  alter tulit honores.
The subject of these inemoirs was born in 1683, and, hav
ing laboured under die effects of a paralytick shock for seven
years, died, at Boston, on the 8 of September, 1755.
P. S. In connection with the foregoing, it may not be im
proper to add the subsequent extract of an inscription, which
was, not long since, copied from a monumental stone in the
femily burial yard at Tyngsborough.

6 Memoirs of William Tyng, esq.
" In memory of Sarah Winslow, the last surviving child of
thelate Eleazer Tyng, and the truly benevolent benefactress of
the church of christ and a grammar school, in
this place, in honour of whose name and family this town is

called Tyngsborough."

Portsmouth, 13 Febiuary, 1806.

MEMOIRS OF WILLIAM TYNG, ESQ.

The subject of these memoirs, whose name was mentioned
in the foregoing article, was born in Boston, 17 August, 1737,
and was a regular descendant from Edward Tyng, esq. who
died at Dunstable, in 1681.
His "'grandfather was hon. Edward Tyng. esq. who was
appointed governour of Annapolis and died in France.
His father was the late gallant commodore Tyng, of whom
a particular account has already been given.
The late hon. William Tyng, esq. spent the most of his
youthful days in his native town. Having been educated in a
true system of moral and social principles, he soon discovered
those qualities of mind, which endeared liim to all. Dignity
of deportment, undeviating integrity, and an ardent desire to
ameliorate the condition of the unfortunate, were the character-
esticks of his juvenile age.
In 1767, he vi-as appointed high sheriff of the county of
Cimiberland, and, the same year, became a resident in Fal
mouth, now Portland. In discharging the duties of this re
sponsible station, he was distinguished for his fidelity, correct
ness, and humanity. For several years, he represented the
town in g-eneral court.
In 1769, he married miss Elizabeth Ross, a native of Scot
land, and daughter of Alexander Ross, esq. ,
In 1774, he received a colonel's commission' from govern
our Gage. He sustained these publick honours until
that memorable event, vvbich terminated in the independence
of the United States.

Memoirs of William Tyng, esq. 7
Being strongly attached to those principles of government,
in which he had been educated, having taken the oath of alle
giance, and being invested with the confidence of his sovereign,
he believed it a sacred duty not to engage in the struggle, which
then arose. The extreme jealousies,, which were excited in
those perilous times, towards all, who were not actively engag
ed in the arduous contest, rendered it necessary for him to
quit his domestick retreat. Accordingly, he left the county
of Cumberland soon after the battle of. Lexington, and, when
the English took possession of New- York, repaired thjther.
, -However justly we may complain of the part, which many
refugees acted Vyety we sec a particular providence, in placing
colonel Tyna in this situation, where he became the minister of
relief to those of his countrymen, who fell into the hands of the
enemy. Here he had opportunity to be eminently useful. He
gave full scopeto the feelings of his benevolent heart. Like.
the affectionate Joseph of old, he sought his afflicted brethren ;
extricated theni) when in difficulty ; nourished ' them from his
own resources; and, as often as possible, procured their re
lease. '¦' , i.
Among the numerous captives, whose lives were preserved,
through his instrumentality, was the late brave commodore
Preble, who, having passing through a very dangerous fever,
in which he experienced every tender attention, which could
conduce to his recovery, received his discharge, and was re
stored to his 'friends. T .To colonel Tyng, under providence,
this country is indebted for the life of one, whoie heroick
achieveihents will never beforgotten.
At the close of the American revolution, he left New- York
and settled in Novascotia, river St, John, which soon after
became a distinct province, under the name of New -BrunsT
wick. He was one of the agents for the settlement of the loyalists
in that province. He was also chief justice of a court of judi
cature, in which capacity he was respected as a dignified and
humane judge.
In 1793, he returned to this country and settled in Gorham,
where he had formerly resided, and where he devoted the re
mainder of his life, principally, to the pursuits of agricultural
knowledge and the enjoyment of social intercourse with his
friends. ¦

? Memoirs of William Tyng, esq.
To the amiable companion of his life he was peculiarly at
tached. Although he had no posterity, he regarded, with the
most' affectionate tenderness, the children of his adoption.
He early united himself to the church of Christ, and adorn
ed his profession, by a deportment of sincere humility, in at
tending to its duties, constantly devoting a part of every day to
secret communion with his God.
Possessing an enlightened understanding, agreeable in his
manners, and engaging in his conversation, he was highly re
spected, beloved, and esteemed. The friend, who visited his
happy mansion, was sure to receive a cordial welcome. The
unfortunate were never sent away empty. He was another
" MAN OF ROSS."
Sometime previous to his death, he felt symptoms of a ner
vous affection, which admonished him that his exit would be
sudden. Like a wise man, he improved the warning, by du
ly preparing for his departure. On the evening of the eighth
of December, 1807, he was seized with an apoplexy snd, on
the tenth, surrounded by his afflicted family, yielded up his
life, apparently without a struggle or a pang.
His remains were carried into saint Paul's church, Port
land, an edifice erected under his immediate patronage, where
the service was performed, to which he had ever expressed
the most affectionate attachment. The brethren of Ancient
Land Mark Lodge, over whom he had recendy presided, at
tended, clad in full mourning and, in an impressive manner,
performed their funeral rites.* Boston, 3 March, 1808.
» The memodr? of col. William Tyng have been drawn from a re
spectable source> through the aid of a friend, whose language has been
freely used.

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