The Pardon Gray Preserve

THE HISTORY:
In 1648, two young brothers arrived in Plymouth Colony from Essex, England with instructions to establish a financial base in the New Colonies. Edward Gray was 19 years of age. Thomas Gray, then 17, died twelve years after arriving, but Edward went on to become quite successful. In 1650, Edward married Mary Winslow whose family had arrived as passengers on the Mayflower. They had five children, but Mary died in 1663. In 1667, Edward married Dorothy Lettice and they had eight children, one of whom was Edward, later of Tiverton, who was born in January of 1665. His father Edward died in 1681 and is buried in Plymouth where his headstone remains today, and is the only headstone remaining there of the original Pilgrims. For more about the Gray’s, go to http://www.antonymaitland.com/edwdgray.htm

Farm Land with Pardon Gray Cemetery in stand of trees

Farm land and Pardon Gray family cemetery in stand of trees.

Plymouth Colony was impoverished by King Phillip’s War, and to improve its treasury began to dispose of its only resource, unused land. On March 5th, 1679, Gov. Josiah Winslow signed a deed that, for 1100 pounds, conveyed to Edward Gray of Plymouth, Nathaniel Thomas of Marshfield, Benjamin Church, Daniel Wilcox, and William Manchester of Punkateest, and Christopher Almy, Job Almy and Thomas Waite of Portsmouth, a huge tract of land extending from Quequechan in Fall River to the Little Compton line. This was called the Pocasset Purchase. Later, some of the Pocasset Proprietors joined by others purchased another tract as well extending from Sapowet Creek in the north, northeasterly across the south end of Sandy Pond and bordering the Sakonnet River to the west. It became known as the Punkateest Purchase.

Nathaniel Thomas was designated as surveyor for the Pocasset Purchase, and the first division of lands was in the form of thirty “great lots” and thirty “house lots.” An eight-rod highway about a mile from the Sakonnet (or Seconnet) east shore was established through the length of the territory and another nearer the shore to traverse the great lots. The great lots extended from the river to the eight rod way except where Nanaquaket pond intervened.

In 1696, young Edward Gray left Plymouth to take possession of the Gray great lots property, to clear some of it and prepare it for farming. One of the Gray lots was bounded on the north by Lafayette Road and Sapowet Road, and on the south by a line just north of what remains of the town farm which was Edward’s original home and where he is buried.

Pardon Gray Woodland

It appears that Edward Gray’s grandson, Pardon Gray, was among the last of the Gray’s to own and operate the farm property. Pardon was also a colonel. in the Revolutionary army, supplying the troops at Fort Barton with food grown on his farm and breads baked in the farm’s large stone ovens. Pardon, his wife, and members of his family are buried in a well-preserved cemetery on the farm. The earliest headstone visible in the plot is dated 1759, for the infant Tillinghast Gray.

Pardon, as well as several of the South Tiverton Gray families lived with distinction during this period. Capt. Robert Gray discovered the Columbia River and became the first to sail around the world under the American flag. Samuel Gray was the first colonist to die at the Boston Massacre and therefore possibly the first American to die in the Revolution. David Gray was captured by the British off the coast of Rhode Island, escaped from prison in England and made his way to France. Benjamin Franklin paid for his voyage back to Tiverton to rejoin the Revolution. His letter to his wife is in the National Archives in Washington D.C.

Pardon Gray Woodland in Winter

Subsequent owners included Dr. Samuel West, the Wing family (related to Daniel Webster), the Hathaway family, and the Matta family. Today the farm is leased to and operated by William Hathaway III, a descendant of one of the 19th century original owners.

The property is now owned by Tiverton Land Trust and, as open space, will be protected from development forever.

See the Founder's Stone Photographs here

See the Historic Colonial Garden Photographs here