HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855.
Charles Brooks, Ed.

[176] professorship of law at Cambridge; and a legacy of plate to the first church in Medford shows that his regard for his country was not weakened by distance nor seared by proscription. He bequeathed more than two thousand acres of land, in Granby and Royalton, in Worcester County, for the establishment of the aforesaid professorship. He was, for twenty-two years, a member of the Council. His virtues and popularity at first saved his estate, as his name was not included with those of his sons-in-law, Sir William Pepperell and George Erving, in the “ Conspirator's Act;” but, on the representation of the Selectmen of Medford “that he went voluntarily to our enemies,” his property was forfeited and taken under the Confiscation Act. He made bequests to Medford and Worcester, and legacies to the clergymen. While a member of the House of Representatives, he presented the chandelier which adorns its hall.

George Erving, Esq., merchant, of Boston, who married one of Colonel Royal's daughters, was a refugee included in the “ Conspirator's Act.” He died in London, Jan. 16, 1806, aged 70.

General Sir William Pepperell, baronet, was born at Kittery Point, Maine, in 1696. He died at Kittery, June 6, 1759.

Colonel Royal was appointed one of the “Mandamus Councillors” for this Province by his Majesty, Aug. 9, 1794; but he did not take the oath of office.

1743: He gave Charlestown £ 100, which was used to build a parsonage. While Representative, he returned to the town treasury his salary. In 1745, he gave £ 80 to the school on Charlestown Neck.

By his will, he gave to Medford one hundred acres of land in Granby (South Hadley), “for the use and better support” of the common schools of the town. This Granby farm was sold, 1788, for one hundred dollars, to Mr. Richard Hall.

Generosity was native with him, and shone the salient feature of his character. He loved to give, and loved to speak of it, and loved the reputation of it. Hospitality, too, was almost a passion with him. No house in the Colony was more open to friends; no gentleman gave better dinners, or drank costlier wines. As a master, he was kind to his slaves; charitable to the poor, and friendly to everybody. He kept a daily journal, minutely descriptive of every visitor, topic, and incident, and even descended to recording what slippers he wore, how much tar-water he drank, and when he went to bed! He was a strict observer of religious forms, and a generous supporter of Christian institutions. He was a Tory against his will. It was the frailty of his blood more than the fault of his judgment. Not that he loved the Colonies