Most of the history of Chelsea’s important Cary family was
obtained through CARY LETTERS described by Margaret Cary and recorded
by Caroline Curtis.
The first Cary to land in America was James Cary, who sailed from
Bristol, England in 1639. James settled in Charlestown and at various
times had been Clerk of the Writs, Recorder and Tithingman for the
town. James’ great grandson, Samuel Cary, a sea captain was born in
Charlestown in 1713 and married in 1741 to Margaret Graves (Greaves)
a descendant of the family of Governor Winslow. Through his marraige
to Margaret, Samuel Cary came into possession of the extensive piece
of property in Chelsea, orignally part of the Governor Bellingham
estate.
In 1742 Samuel Cary Jr. was born and upon his graduation from
Harvard was given 1000 pounds by his father to seek his fortune.
Samuel Jr. went to the West Indies where he eventually purchased a
sugar cane plantation in Grenada. Captain Cary Sr. died in 1769 and
Samuel Jr. obtained full possession, from his brothers, of the House
and property in Chelsea. In 1772, Samuel married Sarah Gray and moved
into the Chelsea home. Samuel had to return to Grenada to be joined
by Sarah after the birth of their first child. Eighteen years and
eight more children later Samuel and Sarah returned to Chelsea to
begin the real Cary epic in 1791.
Samuel Cary immediately set about improving and remodeling the
house, restocking the farm and extensive landscaping. All his
improvements had come to a very great expense. The imported paneling
for the house alone had cost twelve thousand dollars, a large sum for
that day. Samuel built and planted terraced banks before the house.
The two roads leading to the house were planted with rows of Lombardy
poplars, elms and chestnuts. There were already many fruit trees on
the property that had been planted by previous tenants. When the
improvements were finished, “The Retreat” as it was called,
was the showplace of the east. Samuel Cary passed away in 1812.
The oldest daughter Margaret, was schooled at an expensive school
in England. Margaret used the dining room as a schoolroom teaching
her younger brothers and sisters. On the left, inside the front door,
was the West parlor. On winter evenings Margaret would sit on the
deep window seat with the other children sitting on the floor before
the fire place and she would read Sir Walter Scott’s novels or
Shakespeare plays to them. Meanwhile the mother and father would be
sitting in straight-back armchairs looking on. Many times Margaret
would spend the evening playing the harpsichord.
Samuel, the first born, was watching his father’s estate in
Grenada when the Insurrection of 1795-96 broke out. As the
plantations were being burned young Samuel joined the Light Company
of St. George’s Militia and distinguished himself throughout the
conflict. Samuel died a very young man while in Chelsea. Charles
served in various positions of the Chelsea Town government serving a
number of years as treasurer. Robert became an important lawyer in
New Hampshire. Sarah married Joseph Tuckerman, ordained minister of
the first Unitarian Church in Chelsea (Revere). Harriet and Anne were
the last remaining of the Cary Children neither married. Harriet was
about eighty years old when she fell and broke her hip. Harriet was
confined to a chair for two years before passing away. Anne lived
until the age of ninety-four, passing away in 1881. Robert’s daughter
Elizabeth married world renown naturalist Louis Agassiz from
Switzland, Elizabeth distinguished herself at Radcliffe College as an
administrator where a building, “The Elizabeth Cary Agassiz
Building is named in her honor.
When the Cary’s came back to Chelsea in 1791, they brought three
slaves, one female and two males, who requested to travel with them.
A house was built for them behind the mansion on what is today the
corner of Tudor and John Street. The female, Fanny Merriwether,
became the nanny for the Cary Children. Fanny was well loved by the
Cary children and by the grandchildren that followed. When Fanny
became too feeble and unable to care for herself she was moved to the
mansion where she could get better care. She died being tended by the
Cary girls.
In 1852 the Cary heirs sold all but about one acre and the house
to the Cary Improvement Company for $150,000.