history of owners of handy house - ely and james handy

5/24/2018 History of Owners of Handy House - Ely and James Handy

THE CADMAN-WHITE-HANDY HOUSE

A HISTORY OF OWNERS AND FAMILIES


THE CADMAN-WHITE-HANDY HOUSE

A HISTORY OF OWNERS AND FAMILIES

THE WESTPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

WESTPORT, MASSACHUSETTS

ERIC GRADOIA

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY & CONSERVATION

SCHAGHTICOKE, NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT 2014

THIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM

THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION,

CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL FUND FOR HISTORIC INTERIORS


33

Dr. Ely and Mary Handy

Ely Handy was born December 2, 1763, inRochester, Massachusetts to Zaccheus and Jo-anna (Whittredge) Handy.67 At that time, Rochester

consisted of the area northeast of New Bedford and

was made up of the present day towns of Roches-

ter, Mattapoisett, and Marion. Ely married Mary

Brownell (born July 18, 1772) the daughter of Ben-

jamin and Phebe (Potter) Brownell of Westport, on

June 15, 1790 in Westport, making Ely twenty six

years old and Mary just about one month short of

her eighteenth birthday.68

Ely and Mary had four children that survived past

infancy, one son, and three daughters:

Polly (b. October 1, 1790, d. January 18, 1874)

James Harvey (b. November 13, 1792, d. May

15, 1868)

Hannah (b. July 31,1797, d. December 31,

1892)

Mira Ellet (b. March 10, 1802, d. July 24, 1805)69

All of the children are listed as being born in, anddying in Westport. Of the four children, only James

Harvey married (see below).

Ely Handy and his wife are listed in Rochester in

the 1790 federal census; however, by the 1800 cen-

sus, he and his family are in Westport.70 Ely Handy

may have been living in Westport prior to purchas-

ing the Handy house parcel from Humphry White,

67 Handy Family.pdf. Descendants of Zaccheus Handy.

Westport Historical Society archives.

68 Vital Records of Westport Massachusetts to the Year

1850. The New England Historic Genealogical Society. Bos-

ton, Massachusetts. 1918. p. 171.

69 Descendants of Zaccheus Handy. Handy FamilyPDF.

pdf, Westport Historical Society archives.

70 Handy, Elias (1790 U.S. Census) Massachusetts, Plym-

outh, Rochester. Series: M637 Roll: 4 Page: 49. Handy, Ely

(1800 U.S. Census) Massachusetts, Bristol, Westport. Series:

M32 Roll: 19 Page: 332.

as the language in the deed between Humphry and

Ely (identied as Eli) identies him as Eli Handy

of ye Same Westport, Physician71 By 1810, the

census lists Ely, his wife and his three remaining

children living in Westport.72

On March 26, 1794, Humphry White sold the par-

cel of land his father Jonathan had given to him

to Ely Handy for two thousand eight hundred and

ten Spanish milled dollars.73 The language used to

describe the parcel is nearly identical to that used

in the deed between Jonathan and Humphry, and

again, no mention of a house or dwelling is includ-

ed. That same day, Ely sold a portion of this parcelto Barnabus Hicks. Hicks (also spelled as Hix in the

deed), identied as a yeoman, purchased thirty-nine

acres and one hundred rods for $653.00. This par-

cel was essentially the western portion of the lot,

described as:

...beginning at ye Southwest corner of a Lot of

Land that I Bought of Humphry White, from

thence north nine degrees & half West forty rods,

then North fteen degrees West nineteen rods, then

East Six degrees North Eight rods, thence North

three degrees & half East Seventeen rods, thence

East two & quarter dege North thirty ve rods by ye

wall, then East by said wall fourteen rods to ye End

71 Deed of land, Humphry White to Eli Handy, March

26, 1794, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Deed Book 13,

Page 400, Bristol County Probate and Family Court Registry,

Taunton, Massachusetts.

72 Handy, Ely (1810 U.S. Census) Massachusetts, Bristol,

Westport. Series: M252 Roll: 17 Page: 367.

73 The act of April 2, 1792, besides establishing thecoinage mint at Philadelphia, xed the values of the coins,

providing for dollars or units, each to be of the value of a

Spanish milled dollar, as that coin was then current in the

United States, and containing 37 grains of pure silver, or

416 grains of standard silver. This coin continued to be used

until about 1837, when changes to the laws xing the weight

of a dollar made it undervalued in this country. The Encyclo-

paedia Britannica: latest edition. A dictionary of arts, sciences

and general literature, Volume 26. Day Otis Kellogg, William

Robertson Smith. Werner: New York, 1902. p. 225.


34 Dr. Ely and Mary Handy

of ye wall, thence East ve & half degrees North

unto Stephen Kirbys line, thence Easterly in sd

Kirbys line Twelve rods & two thirds, then South

seven & Degrees East thirty nine rods & unto

a Black Oak Tree, thence South Twenty eight &

Degrees West Ten & half rods then South elevendegrees East twenty six & quarter rods to the high-

way, from thence Westerly by the Highway unto ye

rst Bounds74

The deed retained a privilege by Jonathan White to

pass and repass ...from his Land acrost sd Lot unto

ye highway for him to come in where the Bars now

Stands over the Crossway & out at ye foot of the

high Hill so called, to the highway The deed

also gave Barnabus Hicks the privilege of ...turn-

ing his wall on ye East Side so as to take in a Spring

of water on my Land for his conveniancy [sic]

Considering Ely Handy and Barnabus Hicks pur-

chased these parcels on the same day, it is interest-

ing to note the dierence in price paid by each in-

dividual for the land they purchased. While each

paid in a dierent currency (Ely in Spanish milled

dollars and Barabus presumably in American dol-

lars), it is assumed the value of each of these was

comparable. If so, at the price Ely paid for his 103acres, it works out be $27.28 per acre. That same

day, Barnabuss purchase of 39 acres equates to

$16.74 per acre, approximately 39% less per acre

than Ely paid for it.

What can explain the dierence in value between

the land Barnabus Hicks purchased versus the val-

ue of the land Ely bought from Humphry White?

One possibility for the dierence in price may have

to do with improvements made to the land Ely pur-

chased. The dwelling house tells us that it was there

when Ely purchased the land, and very likely, there

were other outbuildings in the immediate vicinity

of it. While these, depending on their condition,

would have added to the value of the real estate, it

74 Deed of land, Eli Handy to Barnabas Hicks, March 26,

1794, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Deed Book 13, Page 234,

Bristol County Probate and Family Court Registry, Taunton,

Massachusetts.

may also be that the quality of the land had some-

thing to do with its value, as well. When Benjamin

Crane surveyed this parcel for George Cadman,

he identied it as Containing by meashur 118

acres qualied 70 acres-75 By qualied, Crane is

believed to be identifying the portion of the totalacreage that was cleared. If so, it may be that the

64 acres Ely kept, was the better, or cleared portion

of the acreage, and the 39 he sold was either unim-

proved or less desirable (uncleared or rocky) and as

a consequence, valued less than the eastern portion

of the parcel.76

After the sale of land to Hix (which formed the

West boundary line of Elys property), the footprint

of Elys 64 acres with the house and outbuildings on

it straddled both sides of Drift Road with the east

boundary running to the river.

Dr. Elys property was assessed as part of the Direct

Tax of 1798. His property shows up on List C,A

General List of Lands, Lots, Buildings, and Wharfs, and

List D,A General List of All Dwelling Houses.77

List C states Ely has two dwellings or outbuildings,

75 The Field Notes of Benjamin Crane, Benjamin Ham-

mond, and Samuel Smith. p. 168.76 In an inventory for Bartholomew Akin of Dartmouth,

dating to c. 1845, his real estate is valued by its type. His dwell-

ing house and lot, $700.00, a lot of meadow land, $100.00, a

lot of pasture $150.00 and a lot of wood, $500.00. Clearly

the value of land at this time was not uniform and depended

greatly on its content and quality. Benjamin Akin Daybook

and Ledger (MS 204). Special Collections and University Ar-

chives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts

Amherst. p. 106.

77 Direct tax list of 1798 for Massachusetts and Maine,

1798. List for Westport, Massachusetts. Vol. 12, pp. 9, 52. R.

Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Ge-nealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.Authors Note: A

discussion of Dr. Ely Handys 1798 Direct Tax record is dis-

cussed and interpreted inAn Archaeological Intensive Survey for the

Foundation Renovations of the Cadman-White-Handy House, Mail-

hot and Donahue, May 11, 2012, page 30. In it, the assessed

value is incorrectly stated as $450.00, with subsequent com-

parisons to other Westport dwellings based on this gure. As a

result, the house is placed in an entirely dierent context than

it actually represents. In reality, the Handy house at this time

was t within the upper tier of Westport dwellings assessed.


35Dr. Ely and Mary Handy

this is one acre less than the sixty four acres he had

after the sale of land to Barabus Hicks, it is an ap

proximation and may simply had miss calculated the

total amount of land.

Ely Handy died sometime before May 5, 1812, whenhis estate was inventoried.80 Elys will was probated

May 12, 1812. In it, Ely laid out specic provision

to ensure his wife and children were provided for

As Elys only son, James Harvey inherited the major

ity of Elys estate; however, Ely named his wife Mary

executor of his will. In his will, Ely made certain hi

wife was accommodated for after his death; this wa

addressed in the rst item, giving:

to my wife Mary Handy one hundred dollars

and my chaise and harness belonging thereto, and

the one half of my household goods and indoor

moveables. I also give her in lieu of her right of

dower of my estate, the use of a suciency of hous-

eroom, and a comfortable support and maintenance

with every necessary of life, both in health and sick-

ness, and a horse to be provided and tackled in her

chaise, that is suitable to go therein, as often as she

may have occasion to use one, to be provided and

furnished by my son so long as she shall remain my

widow.81

Mary lived a signicantly longer life than Ely. She

died February 20, 1864, at the age of 95 years old.

80 Elys will was written September 2, 1811.

81 Will of Ely Handy, Dated September 2, 1811, probated

May 5, 1812, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County

Probate & Family Court Registry, Vol. 47, pp. 223.

likely the latter, worth forty dollars. He is listed as

having 62 acres of land (note, two less than approx-

imated by his deed.) The combined value of the

buildings and land is listed at ve hundred dollars.

On List D,A General List of All Dwelling Houses, Elys

dwelling house together with the eighty perch of landassociated with it is valued at seven hundred and fty

dollars. While this information by itself tells us a

bit about Elys property, it becomes more interest-

ing when looked at within the context of the entire

Westport record. Of the 374 households assessed

in Westport, Elys dwelling is valued among the top

seven properties. One other property is valued the

same as his, and ve are of grater value. Of the ve

properties, three are valued at eight hundred dollars,

and two at one thousand dollars.78

The value of Dr. Handys dwelling house at this time

would seem to indicate that the Period II improve-

ments to the house had been performed by the time

of its assessment, October 1, 1798. Had the dwell-

ing house not been improved by this time, it would be

dicult to imagine that an 86 year old house would

rank among one of the highest valued dwellings in

the town.

It does not appear that Ely Handy expanded his landholdings during his lifetime. With his death in 1812,

the inventory taken of his estate notes that his home-

stead contains ...about sixty three acres with the

buildings thereon valued at $2,700.00.79 While

78 Ibid.

79 Probate inventory of Ely Handy, May 5, 1812, Bristol

County, Massachusetts, Bristol County Probate & Family Court

Registry, Vol. 47, pp. 225-229.

Notice of Dr. Eli Handys death. The New Bedford Gazette, March 6, 1812.


36 Dr. Ely and Mary Handy

Mary Handy


37Dr. Ely and Mary Handy

Direct Tax of 1798. List D, A General List of All Dwelling Houses. Dr. Ely Handys dwelling is valued at $750.00.

The exact date of the tax assessment is not identied, but by law, the assessments applied to dwellings, owned, possessed, or

occupied on the 1st day of October 1798.


38

Figure . Map of Westport, Massachusetts, 1831. Surveyed and drawn by S.

Bourne. Westport Historical Society archives.


39

Dr. James and Hope Handy.

James Harvey Handy married Hope White onAugust 28, 1817, in Taunton, Massachusetts.82Hope White is thought to have been born on Oc-

tober 21, 1791, the daughter of Cornelius and

Eliphal White of Westport.83 It had been previous-

ly thought that this line of White was not related

to William White, husband of Elizabeth Cadman,

and for whom the Cadman-White-Handy house

was built; however, this may not be the case. A

study of Hopes family tree reveals William White

was Hopes great-great-grandfather on her fathers

side.84

James and Hope Handy had three children thatsurvived past infancy, two sons, and a daughter:

William White Handy (b. February 20, 1819 in

Westport, MA. d. May 18, 1886 in Fall River,

MA)

Eli Handy (b. February 20, 1826 in Westport,

MA. d. April 16, 1839 in Westport, MA)

Eliphal Almy Handy (b. circa 1831 in Westport,

MA. d. Unknown)

While William lived a full live, the same was not

true for his younger siblings. Eli died just a few

months following his thirteenth birthday. The

cause of his death is not known. Little is known

about Eliphal Almy Handy (named after her ma-

ternal grandmother Eliphal Almy). Eliphal is iden-

tied in the 1850 Federal census together with her

parents. She is 19 years old when the census was

82 Vital Records of Westport Massachusetts to the Year1850. The New England Historic Genealogical Society. Bos-

ton, Massachusetts. 1918. p. 171.

83 Descendants of Zaccheus Handy. Generation 3. Handy

FamilyPDF.pdf, Westport Historical Society archives.

84 Ancestry.com, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/304048/

family?cfpid=6049905481 The accuracy of this research

must be veried. As it is stated, Hope Whites father, Corne-

lius White (1762-1800) is the son of Israel White (1730-1785).

Israels father is identied as George White (1710-1764), the

eldest son of William and Elizabeth (Cadman) White.

taken, placing her year of birth either in late 1830,

or prior to October 1831.85 In the 1860 census,

Eliphal Almy Handy is not listed; instead, Eliphal

Almy Gibbs, age 7 is listed as living with James and

Hope. Eliphal Almy Gibbs is identied in a Petition

for Probate submitted by Robert S. Gibbs concern-

ing Hope Handys estate. In the petition, it states:

E. Almy Gibbs a minor daughter of the said Rob-

ert S. Gibbs residing in said Fall River and a grand-

daughter of the said Hope W. Handy.86

In records currently available, Eliphal Almy

Handys name does not show up again until she is

mentioned in Hannah Handys (James sister) will.

In it, Hannah writes:

I give and bequeath to Eliphal Almy Brown,

daughter of Robert S. Gibbs and my niece Eliphal

Almy Gibbs [italics add by author], ve dollars in

money87

Aside from these eeting references, little else is

presently known about either Eliphal Almy. Based

on the few details that are known, there is undoubt-

edly an intriguing story here that must be further

explored.

Like his father, James Handy was also a physician;

however, unlike his father, James held a number of

public positions at both local and state levels. James

is listed as a Justice of the Peace in The Massachu-

setts Register beginning in 1830.88

85 The census sheet Dr. James Handy and his family ap-

pears on is dated October 13, 1850.

86 Hope Handy, Petition for Probate, dated May, 2 1865,

Volume 2, page 60, Probate Court, Bristol County, Massa-

chusetts.

87 Will of Hannah Handy, undated, probated March 16,

1893, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

88 The Massachusetts Register and United States Calen-

dar. Richardson, Lord, Holbrook, and Loring: Boston, 1830.

p. 60. James is continually listed as a Justice of the Peace in

subsequent editions through 1847, the last register available

for review.


40 Dr. James and Hope Handy

Auction notice for the Parker Farm, published in the New Bedford Mercury, April 14,1809. James ultimately purchased this farm from John Parker in 1814. The details

of this acquisition and James failure to repay his brother-in-law, Frederick Brownell,

form the basis of the lawsuit brought against James in 1861.

Article concerning an accident occuring on Hicks Bridge. The New Bedford Mercury.

March 31, 1837.


41Dr. James and Hope Handy

Between 1831 and 1835, then again in 1841, James

served in the Massachusetts House of Representa-

tives.89 Aside from listed as serving in the House,

little is known about his work and/or accomplish-

ments as a result of his service. During his tenure

in the General Court, James is recorded as attend-ing an Anti-Masonic Republican Convention held

in Boston, Massachusetts in 1833.90 The conven-

tion was attended by delegates, ...chosen by the

antimasonic [sic] people of the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts, from eleven Counties...for the pur-

pose of consulting upon the common good, seek-

ing redress of wrongs and grievances suered from

Secret Societies, nominating candidates for Gov-

ernor, and Lieutenant Governor, and generally to

transact such business as the cause of Antimasonry[sic] may require, with a prevailing theme that ...

Secret Societies are inconsistent with a free govern-

ment, and that Freemasonry must be abolished,

and without delay, is widely diusing itself among

an intelligent and patriotic people. 91Jamess pres-

ence at the convention would indicate he shared in

this anti-Masonic belief; however, how active in this

cause and to what degree he embraced it needs fur-

ther research.

It is not known if James received any formal educa-

tion as a youth. Considering his upbringing (son of

a physician and person of moderate means,) profes-

sion, and various positions in government, it would

suggest he beneted from some degree of schooling.

James acquired his fathers house in 1812 as part of

the terms of Elys will. The inventory of Elys pos-

sessions valued his real estate as, The homestead

of said deceased situated in said Westport contain-

ing about sixty three acres with the buildings there-

89 Hurd, Duane Hamilton. History of Bristol County

Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pi-

oneers and Prominent Men. J.W. Lewis and Company, 1883,

p. 695.

90 Antimasonic Republican Convention of Massachusetts:

Held at Boston, Massachusetts, September 11, 12 & 13, 1833,

For the Nomination of Candidates for Governor and Lt. Gov-

ernor of the Commonwealth. J. Howe:Boston. 1833. p. 46.

91 Ibid, 3, 17

on $2,700.00.92

As mentioned in the previous chapter (Ely Handy

and Mary Brownell), following Elys death, his wife

Mary, in lieu of dower, was given the right to live

in the house for the remainder of her life or

so long as she shall remain my widow. Similar

rights were given to James sisters, Polly and Han-

nah. Both were granted a home at my dwelling

House and a comfortable support and maintenance

both in health and sickness, so long as she shall

remain single, and unmarried. But if she should

marry I give her in lieu of her said home and main-

tenance two hundred dollars.93

It is not known how much property, if any, James

Handy owned prior to inheriting his fathers farm;however, in the years following, both James and his

wife were involved in numerous land transactions.

While the majority of these transfers involved the

buying and selling of land between individuals, a

few transfers came about as a consequence of debt

settlements, where the appraised land of a debtor

was seized by the courts and granted to the individ-

ual which money was owed.

While James Handy was on the receiving end of a

few of these transfers, ultimately, it would be he who

was named as the debtor of one such case, result-

ing in the loss of a large holding of real estate, part

of which included the homestead farm and its land

(see December 4, 1861 debt settlement between

George Kirby and James Handy). Attached to the

end of this chapter is a summary of the known land

transactions involving James Handy (and in some

instances his wife Hope,) between 1814 and his

death in 1868.

One acquisition worth discussing was James pur-

chase of a farm from John A. Parker on February

2, 1814.94 It is interesting to note that this trans-

92 Probate inventory of Ely Handy, May 5, 1812.

93 Will of Ely Handy, Dated September 2, 1811, probated

May 5, 1812, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County

Probate & Family Court Registry, Vol. 47, pp. 223.

94 John A. Parker to James H. Handy, 2 February 1814,



action occurred prior to James marrying in 1817.

The farm as described in the deed consisted of

two lots divided by the East branch of the Accox-

et River and contained a total of fty-six acres, f-

ty acres on the West side and six on the East side.

The purchase included ...the Bridge crossing saidriver, called Hixes Bridge, and the wharf, and store

thereon, on the west side of said river, contiguous to

said Bridge with the Barns and sheds standing near

said farm on Towns land with all other Buildings

and appurtenances belonging to said farm, bridge,

and wharf Though James is identied as the

sole grantee in the deed, in reality, as the archive

informs us, this was not the case.

In a story that to those well acquainted with the

Handy house may already be familiar with, the pur-

chase of the farm and bridge was conducted not

solely by James, but included his future brother-in-

law, Frederick Brownell. There was an agreement

between James and Frederick that James would pur-

chase the farm and bridge and turn the land east

of Drift Road over to Frederick, who would oper-

ate the store located at the West end of the bridge

and collect the tolls as well. In exchange for this,

Frederick was to pay James 2,100.00, $700.00 ini-

tially and the remaining $2,100.00 as soon as he

could. Despite having paid James for his portion

of the property, Frederick never received a deed for

it. In fact, though Frederick had paid James the

$2,100.00 he owed him, it is claimed James had a

bill at Fredericks store that exceeded $3,600.00,

which included the amount paid for the property.

It is believed that James never showed or claimed

interest in the property Frederick operated.95

Bristol County, Massachusetts, Deed Book 21, Westport,

Massachusetts.

95 This information concerning James Handy and Fred-

erick Brownells agreement and the ensuing dispute has been

gleaned from notes gathered from Henry B. Worths personal

notebook contained in a Westport Historical Society digital

le titled, Henry B. Worth notebook.doc. Worths original

notebooks and manuscripts are located in the New Bedford

Whaling Museum Research Library, Henry Barnard Worth

Papers, 1714 - 1942, Mss 59.

Henry B. Worth, the early twentieth century New

Bedford real estate lawyer, historian, and genealo-

gist, explained the resolution of this matter in his

notes on the Handy family and property. He con-

cluded that :

In 1861, Frederick Brownell conveyed the Bridge

and all the land connected with the same, as far west

as the Drift Road, to his son Giles E. Brownell. But

[sic] Dr. Handy never transferred any part of the

property to Frederick. In 1873, Giles E. Brownell

wanted to sell the property, but there was serious

trouble with the title but [sic] the administrator of

the estate of Dr. Handy put up the interest of the

doctor in the property at auction, and it was sold

to Wm. B. Traord for $35, and was at once trans-

ferred to Giles E. Brownell. It [the sale] covered all

the interest that James H. Handy had in the bridge

and land on both sides of the river, 6 acres on east

and 4 acres on west, being part of what John A.

Parker sold to Handy in 1814. The reason why it

brought so little was that the claim on it by Brownell

was so well substantiated that it showed the doctor

did not own much in it. Worth further elaborates

on the details of the matter by explaining, In

the early part of 1871 the Town laid out the bridge

as a town way and made an award of $1800. for

it to be paid to the bridge owners whomever they

might be. The administrator of Dr. Handys es-

tate, Capt. Joseph C. Little, claimed the fund and

so did Giles E. Brownell. A lawsuit was impending.

To force the ght, Capt. Little sold the interest of

Doctor Handy in the property, as shown on page 13

[of Worths notebook], and Giles Brownell bought

it. This ended the controversy and Brownell ob-

tained the award and the land.96

Perhaps the most signicant action documented in

the Land Records during this period directly im-

pacting the Handy house parcel occurred in 1861

and details James loss of the house and land as a re-

sult of debt settlement to one George Kirby. Henry

Worth refers to this dispute in his notes about Dr.

Handy. Worth claims in his writings that:

96 Ibid, Henry B. Worth notebook.doc



After the death of Eli, the son [James] built the

West end of the House and he borrowed some

money from the sister of George Kirby to do it

and never paid anything on the debt. So in 1861,

George Kirby seized some of the real estate of the

Doctor on execution and took it.97

This would seem to indicate that James was respon-

sible for building the west addition (Period III) to

the house, sometime after May 1812.

Based on the information recorded in the debt set-

tlement, which took place on September 9, 1861,

in the Taunton Superior Court, a judgment for

$3,965.95 in damages, together with an addition-

al $26.32 for the cost of writ was ruled against

James H. Handy to satisfy a debt owed to GeorgeKirby (an enormous sum for the time.) In order to

satisfy his debt, the courts appointed three disin-

terested and discreet men to apprise the real estate

of James H. Handy. While James had the right to

choose an appraiser, he neglected to do so.

The appraisers examined three separate parcels

owned by Handy. They were described as follows:

Beginning at the East line of land formerly owned

by Barney Hicks, deceased, in the Northerly lineof the Highway that leads Westerly from Hicks

Bridge so called, to Adraon Davis in said Westport.

Thence Northerly in the line of said Hicks Land,

to land of Matthias E. Gammons. Thence Easterly

in the line of said Gammons land to the highway

that leads southerly from the Head of Westport

River so called, by the Westport Alms House to

said Hicks Bridge. Thence Southerly in the West

line of said Highway to the said Highway rst

above named. Thence in the northerly line of saidHighway to the rst mentioned place of beginning.

Situated on the Easterly side of said Highway lead-

ing from the Head of Westport River, so called to

Hicks Bridge so called. Bounded and described

as follows. Also one other parcel of Real Estate,

Situated on the Easterly side of said Highway lead-

ing from the Head of Westport River, so called to

97 Ibid, Henry B. Worth notebook.doc. Page 3.

Hicks Bridge so called. Bounded and described

as follows. Beginning at the Southerly line of land

owned by Matthias E. Gammons and in the East-

erly line of said Highway. Thence Easterly in the

line of said Gammons land to the East branch of

Acoaxet River so call. Thence Southerly by thesaid River to the South East corner of the Home-

stead Farm of Ely Handy late of said Westport,

deceased, and line of land owned by John Milk,

now or formerly. Thence Westerly by the stonewall

about Twenty-six and one quarter rods to the said

Highway which leads from said Head of Westport

River, so call by the Westport Alms House to said

Hicks Bridge so called. Thence in the Easterly line

of said Highway to the place of beginning. And we

have appraised the whole of the above describedReal Estate including the premises therein. As-

signed to Mary Handy, widow of said Ely Handy,

deceased for Dower in her said husbands Estate, at

the sum of Eighteen Hundred Dollars, from which

amount we have deducted the sum of One Hun-

dred and fty Dollars as the value of said Mary

Handys Dower, assigned therein, leaving a balance

of Sixteen Hundred and fty Dollars as the value

of the said James H. Handys Estate, therein in-

cluding the revision of the said Dower, and have setit o the same as aforesaid by Metes and Bounds to

the said George Kirby. [Authors Note: This is the

parcel with the dwelling house]

on the southerly side of aforesaid Highway

leading from Hicks Bridge so called. Westerly to

Adraon Davis, Bounded and described as follows.

Beginning in the south line of said Highway, and in

the West line of the Highway leaving by the Dwell-

ing House of Ephraim Briggs, it being the North

East Corner of the lot, Thence southerly in thewest line of said last named Highway about thirty

ve and one half rods to land of the said Ephraim

Briggs. Thence Westerly in the line of said Stone

Wall. Thence Southerly by the sandstone wall and

line land of [Green] Allen. Thence Westerly in the

line of said Allens land about Thirty-nine rods to

land formerly owned by Richard Giord deceased.

Thence Northerly by a Stone Wall in the said Gif-



ford line to the Highway rst above mentioned.

Thence Easterly in the South line of said Highway

about one hundred fty seven and three fourth rods

to the place of beginning. And we have appraised

said Real Estate that the sum of $900 and have set

o the same as aforesaid by Metes and Bounds tothe said George Kirby

one undivided half part of about four acres be

the same more or less of swampland. Situated in

Dartmouth Being the premises which the said

James H. Handy purchased of Othmil Tripp as

Administrator of the Estate of Lemuel Milk, late

of said Westport, deceased, by Deed dated January

18th, 1821 Recorded in the Land Records of the

Northern District of said County of Bristol, Book

126, Page 227. Reference lot to said Deed for a

more particular description, said tract of land be-

ing held by the said James H. Handy as tenant in

Common with the heirs of Job Milk, of said West-

port deceased (or whoever else the present owner

may be.) And we have appraised the whole of said

tract of land at the sum of One Hundred + Thirty

Dollars and the share of the said James H. Handy

therein being one undivided Half part at Sixty Five

Dollars, and have set o the said undivided share as

aforesaid to the said George Kirby

Following the appraisal of Jamess real-estate, it was

determined that,

the whole of said Real Estate including the

premises thereon, assigned to Mary Handy, wid-

ow of Ely Handy, of said Westport, deceased, for

Dower in her said husbands Estate, at the sum of

Twenty Seven Hundred and Sixty Five Dollars,

from which amount they deducted the sum of one

hundred and fty Dollars as the value of the said

Mary Handys Dower, assigned therein, leaving a

balance of Twenty Six Hundred and fteen Dol-

lars as the value of the said James H. Handys Es-

tate in the whole of the aforesaid described Real

Estate including the revision of the said Dower,

from which last named amount I have deducted

the sum of Sixty two Dollars and thirty cents for

my fees and charges, and have applied the amount

of the balance, amounting to the sum of Twenty

Five Hundred fty two dollars + seventy cents in

part satisfaction of this Execution, and have set o

said Real Estate as aforesaid, by metes and bounds

to the said George Kirby As described in said

appraisers certicate above written And I thisday levied this Execution upon said Real Estate

as aforesaid described as aforesaid and delivered

seizure and possession thereof to the said George

Kirby the creditor in part satisfaction of this exe-

cution, to wit, for the sum of Twenty ve Hundred

fty two Dollars and Seventy centsReceived and

Recorded December 13, 1861

All said, after deducting Mary Handys dower, along

with courts fees, Jamess real estate was valued at

$2,552.70, all of which was transferred at this time

to George Kirby as partial satisfaction of Jamess

debt. What became of the additional $1,413.25

James owed George is not known.

A more curious question to ask is to what extent this

judgment aected James and Hopes living condi-

tions.

Hope Handy died April 21, 1864. In her will, she

left her fathers farm in Westport to her son, Wil-

liam and his wife, Caroline, it being, the farm

on which my said son now lives. She also left them,

a lot of land situated in Dartmouthcontain-

ing nine acres and one hundred and forty rods of

land. Following William and Carolines death, the

farm was to be passed to their two sons, Eli Handy,

and George Edward Handy; their sister was to re-

ceive $400.00. The remainder of Hopes estate was

left to her granddaughter, E. Almy Gibbs.

Dr. James H. Handy died on May 15, 1868, inWestport. Surprisingly, he did not leave a will, and

as a result, his estate was settled through the courts.

Records show that the probate process was lengthy,

continuing through October 1873. Immediately

following his death, a court appointed administra-

tor was assigned to handle James estate; however,

in November 1868, William Handy requested, and

was granted, administrator of his fathers estate.



Nearly four years later, William had failed to settle

James estate, and resigned from his role as adminis-

trator. Joseph C. Little, a court appointed adminis-

trator was assigned to complete the matter. The re-

mainder of Handys estate was valued at $3,402.36

: $1,280.00 in real estate and $2,122.36 in personal

estate. Surprisingly, the real estate consisted of the

Hix Bridge Farm, which formed the basis of the

Brownell dispute (above).

Dr. James Harvey Handy



Hope White Handy



Eliphal Almy Handy



1850 Federal census



1860 Federal census


50 A Summary of Dr. James H. Handys Land Transactions

A Summary of Dr. James H. HandysLand Transactions

February 12,1814 - John A. Parker to James H.

Handy. Farm in two lots containing fty-six

acres.

I John A. Parker of New Bedford...Merchant,

in consideration of four thousand and fty dollars

paid by James H. Handy of Westport...Physician...

convey unto the said James H. Handy a certain farm

in two lots situate in said Westport containing about

fty six acres in both lots be the same more or less...

The rst lot on the west side of the East branch

of Accoxet River, so called Containing about fty

acres Bounded as follows, Beginning on the Southside of the highway at the Northeast corner of

Richard Giords land thence South in his line to

the Northwest corner of Green Allens land thence

East in his line to the Southwest corner of Peleg

Potters land, thence North on said Potters line to

the Northwest corner of his said land, thence East

in his line to the river, thence North by the River to

the highway, thence Westerly in the line of the high-

way to the rst mentioned bounds. And the Second

lot on the East side of said river Contains about sixacres. Bounded as follows, Beginning at the North-

east corner of said Second lot at the East end of the

wall thence West three degrees South twenty nine

rods to the river, then from said North east corner

South two degrees East thirty seven rods and half

to the highway, thence Westerly and Northerly by

the highway and river to the Northwest corner of

said lot, together with the Bridge crossing said river,

called Hixes Bridge, and the wharf and store there-

on, on the West side of said river, contiguous to saidBridge with the Barns and sheds standing near said

farm on Towns land with all other Buildings and

appurtenances belonging to said farm, bridge, and

wharfthis twelfth day of February in the year of

our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four-

teen.

February 12, 1814 - Pages 301 - 302. Note with

one year term.

I James Handy of Westport in consideration

of one thousand three hundred and fty dollars paid

by John A. Parker of New Bedford...do hereby give,

grant, sell, and convey unto the said John A. Parker

a Certain farm in two lots, situate in said Westport

Containing about fty six acres, in both lots...The

rst lot on the west side of the East branch of Ac-

coxet River, so called Containing about fty acres

Bounded as follows, Beginning on the South side

of the highway at the Northeast corner of Richard

Giords land thence South in his line to the North-

west corner of Green Allens land thence East in his

line to the Southwest corner of Peleg Potters land,

thence North on said Potters line to the Northwest

corner of his said land, thence East in his line to

the river, thence North by the River to the high-

way, thence Westerly in the line of the highway to

the rst mentioned bounds. And the Second lot on

the East side of said river Contains about six acres.

Bounded as follows, Beginning at the Northeast

corner of said Second lot at the East end of the

wall thence West three degrees South twenty nine

rods to the river, then from said North east corner

South two degrees East thirty seven rods and half

to the highway, thence Westerly and Northerly by

the highway and river to the Northwest corner of

said lot, together with the Bridge crossing said river,

called Hixes Bridge, and the wharf and store there-

on, on the West side of said river, contiguous to said

Bridge with the Barns and sheds standing near said

farm on Towns land with all other Buildings and

appurtenances belonging to said farm, bridge, and

wharfprovided nevertheless that if the said James

H. Handy his heirs executors or Administrators tothe said John A. Parker his heirs, Executors, Ad-

ministrators or assigns the sum of thirteen hundred

and fty dollars and in the interest of it one year on

or before the twentieth fth day of March which

will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and fteen, then this deed as also a certain

note bearing even date with these presents given by

the said James H. Handy to the said John A. Parker


51A Summary of Dr. James H. Handys Land Transactions

conditioned to pay the same sum and Interest at

the time aforesaid shall both be void otherwise shall

remain in full force and virtue...this twelfth day of

February in the year of our Lord, one thousand and

eight hundred and fourteen.

February 12, 1814 - Pages 302 - 303. Note with

two-year term.

I James H. Handy of Westport in consider-

ation of one thousand three hundred and fty dol-

lars paid by John A. Parker of New Bedford do

hereby acknowledge do hereby give, grant, sell, and

convey unto the said John A. Parker a certain farm

in two lots situate in said Westport containing about

fty six acres in both lots... The rst lot on the west

side of the East branch of Accoxet River, so calledContaining about fty acres Bounded as follows,

Beginning on the South side of the highway at the

Northeast corner of Richard Giords land thence

South in his line to the Northwest corner of Green

Allens land thence East in his line to the South-

west corner of Peleg Potters land, thence North

on said Potters line to the Northwest corner of his

said land, thence East in his line to the river, thence

North by the River to the highway, thence Westerly

in the line of the highway to the rst mentionedbounds. And the Second lot on the East side of said

river Contains about six acres. Bounded as follows,

Beginning at the Northeast corner of said Second

lot at the East end of the wall thence West three

degrees South twenty nine rods to the river, then

from said North east corner South two degrees East

thirty seven rods and half to the highway, thence

Westerly and Northerly by the highway and river to

the Northwest corner of said lot, together with the

Bridge crossing said river, called Hixes Bridge, andthe wharf and store thereon, on the West side of

said river, contiguous to said Bridge with the Barns

and sheds standing near said farm on Towns land

with all other Buildings and appurtenances belong-

ing to said farm, bridge, and wharf provided nev-

ertheless that if the said James H. Handys heirs,

executors, or administrators paid to the said John

A. Parker his heirs, executors, administrators, or

assignees the sum of one thousand three hundred

and fty dollars and the Interest of it two years, on

or before the twentieth fth day of March which

will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and Sixteen then this deed as also a certain

Note bearing even date with these presents given bythe said James H. Handy to the said John A. Parker

conditioned to pay the same sum and interest at the

time aforesaid, shall both be void otherwise shall re-

main in full force and virtue..This twelfth day of

February in the year of our Lord, one thousand and

eight hundred and fourteen.

January 18, 1821. James H. Handy buys land

of Lemuel Milk, deceased. Buys one lot of 93

rods and another undivided half of about four

acres of cedar swamp owned by Job Milk in Dart-

mouth. Page 201.

July 18, 1821. Edmund Brownell to James H.

Handy

I Edmund Brownell of Little Compton in the

County of Newport, State of Rhode Island in

consideration of the sum of four hundred and f-

ty dollars to me in hand paid by Harvey Handy

of Westport forever quitclaim unto said Har-

vey Handy...one certain tract or parcel of land left

by Gideon Brownell of late deceased lying in the

Town of Dartmouth bounded north partly on land

of Perry Macomber and partly on land of Thomas

Howland, East on land belonging to Reuben Allen,

Southerly on land of Philip Dunham, West on a

highway, the said farm containing about 40 acres

more or less. To have and to hold the same together

with all the privileges belonging to one half of the

undivided parcel of land given by will to Edward

Brownell of Dartmouth this Eighteenth day of

July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight

hundred and twenty one.

July 19, 1821. James H. Handy buys one-half of

a farm in Dartmouth from Edward Brownell

for $550.00.

I Edward Brownell of Dartmouth yeoman in



consideration of ve hundred and fty dollars paid

by James H. Handy of Westport hereby convey

unto the said James H. Handy one undivided half

of a certain farm situated in said Dartmouth con-

taining about forty acres be the same more or less

bounded as follows North partly on land of PerryMacomber + partly on land of Thomas Howland,

east on land of Ruben Allen, south on land of Phil-

ip Dunham, west on the highway With all the build-

ings thereon standing this nineteenth day of July

in the year of our Lord, one thousand and eight

hundred and twenty one.

December 10, 1821. James Harvey Handy

sells land to Robert Lawrence, 40 acres.

I James H. Handy of Westport in consider-ation of two hundred sixty nine dollars and seven-

ty-nine cents to me paid by Robert Lawrence of

said Westport, Yeoman A certain undivided half

of a farm situate in Dartmouth containing about

forty acres more or less bounded as follows, South

part on land of Perry Macomber and partly on land

of Thomas Howland East on land of Robert Al-

len, South on land of Philip Dunham, West on the

highway, with all the privileges and appurtenances

thereunto belonging to Howland I the said JamesH. Handy and his wife, Hope who do hereby con-

vey all her right of dower of the aforesaid premis-

es and have hereunto set their hands and seals this

tenth day of December in the year of our Lord One

thousand eight hundred and twenty one.

July 2, 1824. James H. Handy Judgment

against Raimon Castino. Received land in

satisfaction of debt.

Judgment against Raimon Castino of West-port Yeoman for the sum of thirty two dollars

and seven cents damage and thirteen dollars and

forty eight cents Cost of suit where as execution

remains to be done we command you therefore that

of the goods chattels or lands of the said Castino

within your precinct, you cause to be paid and sat-

ised unto the said Handy at the value thereof in

money the aforesaid sums being forty ve dollars

and fty cents in the whole with twenty ve cents

more for this writ and thereof also to satisfy yourself

for your own fees and for want of goods chattels or

lands of the said Castino to be by him shewn unto

you or found within your precinct to the acceptance

of the said Handy to satisfy the sums aforesaidthe nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord,

one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.

We the subscribers being freeholders within the

county of Bristol and having been sworn as will

appear by the above certicate have this day en-

tered upon and [illegible] the following described

tract of land situate in Westport in said County of

Bristol shown to us by the within named Handy as

the Real Estate of the within named Castino, which

said tract of land is Bounded as follows, viz. begin

at the Southwesterly corner of this lot where land

of David Tripp and of Elijah Robinson comes with

the same, thence, easterly in the line of said Elijah

Robinsons land to Accoxet River, thence North-

erly by the River to land of Daniel Tripp, thence

Westerly in Daniel Tripps line untill it comes to

the Northeasterly corner of a lot or tract of land

this day set o from said Castino to John Milk,

thence Southerly in the line of said Milks land one

and three forth rods to a stake, thence Westerly in

said Milks line three rods to land of Daniel Tripp,

thence Southerly in said Tripps line to the place of

beginning, otherwise bounded Northerly by land of

John Milk and of Daniel Tripp, Easterly by Accox-

et River, Southerly by the land of Elijah Robinson

and Westerly by land of Daniel Tripp and of John

Milk, which said tract of land we here on our oaths

appraised at the sum of fty eight dollars and eighty

three cents and no more and we have set out said

tract of land by meets and bounds to the Creditorwithin mentioned to satisfy this Execution and all

fees

July 2nd 1824. Received of Adam Giord, Dep-

uty Sheri, [illegible] and possession of the above

described tract of land in full satisfaction of this Ex-

ecution and all fees. James H. Handy.



June 16, 1828. Eunice Giord, Widow of

George Giord, sells James Handy and Isaac

Cory three acres.

I Eunice Giord of Westport...widow of George

Giord late of Westport...in consideration of Thir-

ty ve Dollars to me paid by Isaac Cory and James

H. Handy all of Westport release and forever

quit claim unto the said Isaac Cory and James H.

Handy A tract of land situated in Westport afore-

said containing 3 acres more or less and bounded

northerly by land in possession of Russell Giord,

Easterly by a creek, Southerly by land of Luther

Giord, and Westerly by a road this Sixteenth

day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand

Eight hundred and Twenty eight.

1829. James H. Handy judgement against

Restcome Case, 105.36 acres.

Whereas James H. Handy of Westport...by the

consideration of our Justices of our court of com-

mon pleas, holder at New Bedford on the second

Monday of December secured judgment against

Restcome Case of said Westport for the sum of

One hundred and ve dollars and thirty six cents

damage and twelve dollars and forty nine cents cost

of writ...whereas Execution remains to be done, We

command you therefore that of the goods, chattels,

or lands of the said Case within your precinct you

cause to be paid and satised unto the said Handy

as the value thereof in money the aforesaid sum be-

ing One hundred and seventeen dollars and Eighty

ve cents...

We the subscribers have this day entered upon and

viewed a tract of land shewn to us by the creditor

within the property of the debtor within to be ap-praised to satisfy this execution and all fees. We

have therefore on our oath as aforesaid appraised

the following described tract of land of the said

Restcome Case at the sum of one hundred thirty

three dollars thirty cents and no more which said

tract of land situate in Westport in said county ad-

joining land of [Moses] Case and on the northerly

side thereof between the drift way and the acoxet

River and is bounded as follows, beginning at the

Southwest corner of the lot by the Driftway a north-

west corner of [Moses] Case land thence East elev-

en degrees north in Moses Case line forty eight and

three quarter rods to the river, then from the rst

mentioned bound northerly in the line of the wallto the drift way fteen and a half rods to a stump

by the side of the wall thence East Eleven degrees

north of a parallel line into the rst mentioned line

Forty nine rods to the river aforesaid thence by the

river to the termination of the rst line and we set

out said tract of land by meets and bounds to the

creditors within mentioned to satisfy this Execution

and all fees.

March 19, 1830. James H. Handy sells Abra-

ham Tripp forty rods of land.

I James H Handy of Westport in consid-

eration of 30 seven dollars and 58 cents paid by

Abraham Tripp of Westport aforesaid House-

wright A certain tract or parcel of land situate

in said Westport containing by estimation about

40 rods more or less and is the northerly part of

that lot I bought of [Othniel] Tripp Administrator

to the estate of Lemuel Milk late of Westport

Bounded beginning at a post set in the groundseven feet nine inches North from the north west

corner of the meeting house near the easterly line

of the highway. Thence East twelve degrees North

about nine rods to Charles Bakers land a stable for

a corner. Thence northerly in Charles Bakers line

to the Cornell land so called (what was formerly

John Anthonys.) Thence westerly by the line of the

said Cornell land and the line of the land called

the school house slot to the road above-mentioned.

Then southerly by the east line of the said road orhighway to the rst mentioned bound. Otherwise

bounded southerly on meetinghouse lot. Easterly

on land of Charles Baker. Northerly by land of the

heirs of Peleg Cornell deceased in part and part on

land call schoolhouse lot and westerly on the road

or highway In witness where of I just said James

H. Handy and I Hope Handy wife of said James

who signs this deed as a relinquishment of her right



to dower in said premises This nineteenth day of

March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and thirty.

1861 James H. Handy and Hope Handy to John

Howland, and Richard Giord and Almy act-

ing for School District #3.

Know all men by these Presents, That we James H.

Handy of Westport...Physician and Hope Handy,

wife of said James H, in her right, in consideration

of fty dollars paid by John W. Howland, Richard

[S] Giord, and [Zelotes] Almy, a Committee cho-

sen by the School District No. 3 in said town of

Westport, for that purpose, the receipt whereof is

hereby acknowledged to hereby convey unto the

said Committee for the use of said District and theInhabitants thereof forever, A certain lot of land

containing one half acre, bounded as follows. Be-

ginning at the north west corner of said lot, being

sound West corner of Thomas W. Cornells Mead-

ow, Then easterly by said Cornells land ten rods,

then southerly eight rods parallel with the east line

of the highway then westerly ten rods to the high-

way, then northerly in the line of the highway to the

rst mentioned corner, eight rods...this twelfth day

of March in the year of our Lord, eighteen hun-dred and sixty one.

1861 December 4. James H. Handy to George

Kirby in debt settlement.

on the 12th day of October A.D. 1861, recov-

ered judgment against James H. Handy of said

Westport for the sum of Thirty nine hundred and

Sixty Five dollars and ninety ve cents damage and

Twenty Six dollars and Thirty two cents cost of

writ Where of execution remains to be done...Wecommand you therefore, that of the goods, chattels

or lands of the said Judgement Debtor within your

precinct, you caused to be paid and satised unto

the said Judgment Creditor at the value thereof in

money, the aforesaid sums being Three Thousand

Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine dollars and Twen-

ty Seven cents in the whole, with interest from the

date of said judgment, with twenty ve cents more

for this writ and thereof also to satisfy yourself for

your own fees...the Twenty First day of October, in

the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred

and sixty one.

We the Subscribers, having been rst duly chosen

and sworn as above certied faithfully and impar-

tially to appraise such Real Estate as should be

shewn two of us as taken by force of this Execu-

tion the following described Real Estate in West-

port and Dartmouth shewn to us by the within

named George Kirby, the Creditor, as the Estate

of the within named James H. Handy the debtor,

to wit. A certain parcel of Real Estate situated in

Westport aforesaid Bounded as follows, Beginning

at the East line of land formerly owned by Bar-

ney Hicks, deceased, in the Northerly line of the

Highway that leads Westerly from Hicks Bridge so

called, to Adraon Davis in said Westport. Thence

Northerly in the line of said Hicks Land, to land of

Matthias E. Gammons. Thence Easterly in the line

of said Gammons land to the highway that leads

southerly from the Head of Westport River so

called, by the Westport Alms House to said Hicks

Bridge. Thence Southerly in the West line of said

Highway to the said Highway rst above named.

Thence in the northerly line of said Highway to the

rst mentioned place of beginning. Also one other

parcel of Real Estate, Situated on the Easterly side

of said Highway leading from the Head of Westport

River, so called to Hicks Bridge so called. Bounded

and described as follows. Beginning at the Souther-

ly line of land owned by Matthias E. Gammons and

in the Easterly line of said Highway. Thence East-

erly in the line of said Gammons land to the East

branch of Acoaxet River so call. Thence Southerly

by the said River to the South East corner of theHomestead Farm of Ely Handy late of said West-

port, deceased, and line of land owned by John

Milk, now or formerly. Thence Westerly by the

stonewall about Twenty six and one quarter rods

to the said Highway which leads from said Head of

Westport River, so call by the Westport Alms House

to said Hicks Bridge so called. Thence in the East-

erly line of said Highway to the place of beginning.



And we have appraised the whole of the above de-

scribed Real Estate including the premises there-

in. Assigned to Mary Handy, widow of said Ely

Handy, deceased for Dower in her said husbands

Estate, at the sum of Eighteen Hundred Dollars,

from which amount we have deducted the sum ofOne Hundred and fty Dollars as the value of said

Mary Handys Dower, assigned therein, leaving a

balance of Sixteen Hundred and fty Dollars as the

value of the said James H. Handys Estate, there-

in including the revision of the said Dower, and

have set it o the same as aforesaid by Metes and

Bounds to the said George Kirby Also one other

parcel of Real Estate situated on the southerly side

of aforesaid Highway leading from Hicks Bridge

so called. Westerly to Adraon Davis, Bounded anddescribed as follows. Beginning in the south line

of said Highway, and in the West line of the High-

way leaving by the Dwelling House of Ephraim

Briggs, it being the North East Corner of the lot,

Thence southerly in the west line of said last named

Highway about thirty ve and one half rods to land

of the said Ephraim Briggs. Thence Westerly in

the line of said Stone Wall. Thence Southerly by

the sandstone wall and line land of [Green] Allen.

Thence Westerly in the line of said Allens landabout Thirty-nine rods to land formerly owned by

Richard Giord deceased. Thence Northerly by

a Stone Wall in the said Giord line to the High-

way rst above mentioned. Thence Easterly in the

South line of said Highway about one hundred f-

ty seven and three fourth rods to the place of be-

ginning. And we have appraised said Real Estate

that the sum of $900 and have set o the same as

aforesaid by Metes and Bounds to the said George

Kirby to hold to him, his heirs, and assign forever

Also one undivided half part of about four acres

be the same more or less of swampland. Situat-

ed in Dartmouth Being the premises which the

said James H. Handy purchased of Othmil Tripp

as Administrator of the Estate of Lemuel Milk, late

of said Westport, deceased, by Deed dated January

18th, 1821 Recorded in the Land Records of the

Northern District of said County of Bristol, Book

126, Page 227. Reference lot to said Deed for a

more particular description, said tract of land be-

ing held by the said James H. Handy as tenant in

Common with the heirs of Job Milk, of said West-

port deceased (or whoever else the present owner

may be.) And we have appraised the whole of saidtract of land at the sum of One Hundred + Thirty

Dollars and the share of the said James H. Handy

therein being one undivided Half part at Sixty Five

Dollars, and have set o the said undivided share

as aforesaid to the said George Kirby, to hold to

him, his heirs, and assigns forever, in common with

the said heirs of Job Milk, deceased, (or whoever

else the present owner may be.) And the whole of

the appraisal of the whole of the estate of the said

James H. Handy in the foregoing described parcelsof Real Estate, described as aforesaid, Amounts to

the Sum of Twenty Six Hundred and fteen Dol-

lars, and we have set o the same, as aforesaid to the

said George Kirby to hold him, his heirs, and as-

signs forever, in part satisfaction of this Execution...

October 26, 1861. By virtue of this Execution,

I this day seized the Real Estate described in the

foregoing certicate of the appraisers and on the

Seventh day of November following caused three

disinterested and discreet man to be sworn before

me as appraisers as above George H. Giord who

was appointed by the within named George Kirby,

the Creditor, Willard Reid and Charles D. [Bart]

who were both appointed by me, the said James

H. Handy, the debtor, having been duly notied

and neglected to choose an appraiser, And the said

George H. Giord, Willard Reed and Charles D.

[Bart] have and been rst duly sworn, faithfully and

impartially it will praise such Real Estate as should

be shewn to them, as taken by force of this Execu-tion, and the Real Estate above described, in the

foregoing certicate of said appraisers which is to

be referred to for description, having been so shewn

to them and to me by the said George Kirby, as

the estate of the said James H. Handy, preceeded

with me and entered upon to view and examine the

same. So far as necessary to form a just estimate

of its value, and appraised the whole of said Real



Estate including the premises thereon, assigned to

Mary Handy, widow of Ely Handy, of said West-

port, deceased, for Dower in her said husbands

Estate, at the sum of Twenty Seven Hundred and

Sixty Five Dollars, from which amount they deduct-

ed the sum of one hundred and fty Dollars as thevalue of the said Mary Handys Dower, assigned

therein, leaving a balance of Twenty Six Hundred

and fteen Dollars as the value of the said James

H. Handys Estate in the whole of the aforesaid

described Real Estate including the revision of the

said Dower, from which last named amount I have

deducted the sum of Sixty two Dollars and thirty

cents for my fees and charges, and have applied the

amount of the balance, amounting to the sum of

Twenty Five Hundred fty two dollars + seventycents in part satisfaction of this Execution, and have

set o said Real Estate as aforesaid, by metes and

bounds to the said George Kirby As described

in said appraisers certicate above written And I

this day levied this Execution upon said Real Estate

as aforesaid described as aforesaid and delivered

seizure and possession thereof to the said George

Kirby the creditor in part satisfaction of this exe-

cution, to wit, for the sum of Twenty ve Hundred

fty two Dollars and Seventy centsReceived andRecorded December 13, 1861

1862 December 6. James H. Handy and Hope

Handy to Frederick Allen.

we James H. Handy, Physician, and Hope

Handy, wife of said James H. Handy, in her right,

both of Westport In consideration of Three hun-

dred and seventy ve dollars, paid by Frederick Al-

len of Westport aforesaid Farmer convey unto

the said Fredrick Allen One Half of a certain un-divided tract of Land, situate in Westport aforesaid

on Cadmans Neck (so called) being land set o from

the estate of William Almy, deceased, as a part of

his widows Thirds or Dower. Also the one half part

of a tract adjoining the same bought of William

White 2d? by Cornelius White and Major Allen, as

appears by Deed recorded in Book 136, Page 239,

Land Records for said County of Bristol, not mea-

sured, but by estimation thirty to thirty ve acres

more or less. Bounded Northerly and Westerly by

Cynthia Whites land, Southerly body lands set o

to Eliphal Almy and Mary Almy as their shares in

the estate of said William Almy as appears by the

records in the Probate Oce in said County, andEasterly by the River or Cove (so called) and Abra-

ham R. Giord land. Also the Easterly half part

of the lands set o to Eliphal and Mary aforesaid,

Bounded westerly on lands belonging to the heirs of

said Mary Almy, deceased, Southerly and Easterly

by the River and Cove (so called), and northerly on

the before granted premises. Containing by estima-

tion ten acres more or less this Sixth day of De-

cember in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred

and sixty two.

1873 October 1. Joseph C. Little, Administra-

tor of Handy estate, to William Barker Jr. and

Calvin K. Turner.

Whereas Joseph C. Little of Westport Admin-

istrator of the goods and estate of James H. Handy,

late of Westport, aforesaid deceased, by an Order

of the Court of Probate held at New Bedford on

the second day of May, in the year one thousand

eight hundred and seventy three, was licensed andempowered to sell and pass Deeds to convey cer-

tain real estate of the said deceased and whereas

I said Administrator having given public notice of

the intended sale by causing notications thereof

Sell by public auction the real estate of the said de-

ceased hereinafter described to William Barker Jr.

and Calvin K. Turner 2d of Dartmouth For the

sum of eighty ve dollars, they being the highest

bidders therefore I said Joseph C. Little, Ad-

ministrator as aforesaid In consideration of theaforesaid sum of Eighty Five Dollars paid by the

said William Barker Jr. and Calvin K. Turner 2d

Convey unto the said William Barker Jr. and Calvin

K. Turner 2d A certain tract or parcel of Ce-

dar Swamp land situated in Dartmouth, aforesaid

and being the premises conveyed to said James H.

Handy by John Milk of Grafton in the State of New

Hampshire by deed dated December 17th 1858



This rst day of October in the year of our Lord

one thousand eight hundred and seventy three.

1873 October 21. Joseph C. Little, Administra-

tor of Handy estate, to William B. Traord.

Whereas Joseph C. Little of Westport Ad-ministrator of the goods and estate of James H.

Handy, late of Westport, aforesaid deceased, by an

Order of the Court of Probate held at New Bed-

ford on the second day of May, in the year one

thousand eight hundred and seventy three, was li-

censed and empowered to sell and pass Deeds to

convey certain real estate of the said deceased and

whereas I said Administrator having given public

notice of the intended sale by causing notications

thereof sell by public auction the real estate ofthe said deceased hereinafter described to William

B. Taord of Dartmouth...for the sum of Thirty

ve dollars, he being the highest bidder therefor

In consideration of the aforesaid sum of Thirty ve

dollars paid by the said William B. Taord Con-

vey unto the said William B. Taord a certain lot

of land situated in Westport in said county on both

sides of the East Branch of the Acoakset River - at

Hixs Bridge so called - The part on the East side of

said Branch contains about six acres more or less,

with that one Story Dwelling house thereon - in thelot on the west side of said Branch contains about

four acres more or less with the buildings thereon -

and for the boundaries reference maybe had to the

deed of John A. Parker to James H. Handy, dated

12th day of February A.D. 1814 - intending hereby,

to convey all the right, title, and interest of the said

James H. Handy instead premises, in said Parkers

deed described - that now remains...this Twenty rst

day of October in the year of our Lord one thou-

sand eight hundred and Seventy three.

* That same day William B. Traord sold this par-

cel of land to Giles E. Brownell for Thirty-ve dol-

lars.


58

Reprint of 1871 map of Westport, Massachusetts. Originally from Atlas of Bristol County,

Massachusetts, published by F.W. Beers & Co. Westport Historical Society archives.


59

George Kirby/Hannah Handy Periodof Ownership. 1861 - 1892

T

he Kirby family in the Westport/Dartmouth

area at this time was fairly well established with

many branches of relations. The George Kirby

who receives the house from James Handy is be-

lieved to be the son of Nathaniel and Sylvia (Ma-

comber) Kirby, born May 6, 1788, and who died in

Westport, August 15, 1869.98

Exactly who lived in the Handy house immediately

following its transfer to George Kirby is not known.

In 1860, a year before James Handy lost the prop-

erty to Kirby, the Federal census lists two families

living at the house:99

James H. Handy (age 68), Hope Handy (age

66), and Eliphal A. Gibbs (age 7)

Mary Handy (age 87)[ Authors note: This is

inconsistent with Mary being born in 1768. It

may reect an error by the census taker or per-

son providing the information.], Mary Handy

(age 68), Hannah Handy (age 62)

Ten years later, a period that includes the transferof the house and land to George Kirby and the

death of both James and Hope, the 1870 census

again lists two families living at the house, but they

now include:100

Abigail Brownell (age 72), John T. Brownell (age

44)

98 Holbrook, Jay Mack. Massachusetts Town and Vital

Records, Westport 1620-1988. [database on-line]. Provo, UT,USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. digital page 868.

This George Kirby is thought to have owned the house and

land based on him being similar in age to James Handy, and

living in Westport at this time. Other George Kirbys showing

in Bristol county are living elsewhere and are also many de-

cades younger.

99 Handy, James (1860 U.S. Census) Massachusetts, Bristol

County, Westport. Series: M653, Roll: 491 Page: 394.

100 Handy, Hannah (1870 U.S. Census) Massachusetts,

Bristol County, Westport. Series: M593, Roll: 606 Page: 662.

Polly Handy (age 79), and Hannah Handy (age

72)

Based on archival information currently available,

it does not appear that George Kirby or his imme-

diate family ever lived in the house.

In the late 1860s and opening years of the 1870s,

the property changed ownership a number of

times. This exchange began in September 1868,

when George Kirby sold the house and land to John

Milk for $500.00.101 Seven months later, John Milk

sells the property to Stephen Kirby for $130.00.102

Then, in April 1872 Stephen Kirby sold the prop-

erty to Albert C. Kirby, this time for $1,000.00.103

On December 16, 1876, Stephen Kirby transferred

the house and land to Hannah Handy, James H.

Handys sister, for one dollar.104 How exactly the

land came back into Stephen Kirbys ownership is

not known. The reason for the token amount the

property was sold for is explained by Henry Worth

in his notes listed under the Dr. James H. Handy

Farm, in an entry for the land transfer between Ste-phen Kirby and Hannah Handy, he explains:

A sister of Dr. James H. Handy. She [Hannah]

was a seamstress and worked in the family of Ste-

phen P. Kirby and by her work she paid for the

place.105

101 George Kirby to John Milk, 19 September 1868, Bris-

tol County, Massachusetts, Deed Book 65, Page 61, Westport,

Massachusetts.

102 John Milk to Stephen Kirby, 15 April 1869, Bristol

County, Massachusetts, Deed Book 65, Page 62, Westport,

Massachusetts.

103 Stephen P. Kirby to Albert C. Kirby, 26 April 1872,

Bristol County, Massachusetts, Deed Book 74, Pages 94-95,

Westport, Massachusetts.

104 Stephen Kirby to Hannah Handy, 16 December 1876,

Bristol County, Massachusetts, Deed Book 84, Pages 351-2,

Westport, Massachusetts.

105 Henry B. Worth notebook.doc, page 82, Westport


60 George Kirby/Hannah Handy

Detail of 1871 map of Westport showing location of Handy house. The property is identied as S.P. Kirbys at

this time. Original map from Atlas of Bristol County, Massachusetts, published by F.W. Beers & Co. West-

port Historical Society archives.


61George Kirby/Hannah Handy

Hannah Handy died on December 31, 1892. She

was 95 years old. The cause of death was simply

identied as Old Age. 107In her will, she named

her nephew, William W. Handy (James son), exec-

utor and, under the rst item named, left him and

his wife, Caroline the family farm; however, William

had died in 1886. George Handy, Williams son, pe-

titioned the courts and was assigned as executor of

the will.108 As per terms of Hannahs will, Upon

the decease of my nephew William W. Handy and

his wife Caroline, I give, devise, and bequeath all my

Real Estate as follows. viz.- One half part to Fran

ces H. Handy, daughter of my nephew William W

Handy - and the other half part equally to GeorgeE. Handy and Eli Handy, sons of my said nephew

William W. Handy - to them and their heirs forev-

er109

Following Hannahs passing, Eli Handy, his wife

Mary, and their family remained in the house.

107 Hannah Handy. Death registry, Town of Westport, De

cember 31, 1892, Westport Deaths, 1857-1892, Vol. B, Page

91, Westport, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Ancestry.comMassachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database

on-line]. Provo, Utah. Original data: Town and City Clerks of

Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo

UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).

108 Hannah Handy Petition for Administration with the

Will Annexed, Citation, and Decree, No. 9112, dated January

18, 1893.

109 Will of Hannah Handy, Undated, probated February

3, 1893, Bristol County, Massachusetts, New Bedford Probate

Court.

The source of Worths information is not known;

however, as he was only a few decades removed from

these events, it is entirely likely he learned of them

from either family members or individuals with a

genuine understanding of the circumstances.

Unlike James, Hannah was probably born in the

Handy house and, by all indications, lived there her

entire life. Hannah never married or had children,

instead she was surrounded by various generations

of close family and acquaintances throughout her

lifetime. These included her parents, nieces and

nephews, and various other individuals who lived

and worked on the farm over the years. It is believedthat from at least 1880 on, she shared the house with

her grandnephew, Eli Handy (William Handys son),

his wife Mary, and their ve children.106

From documents currently available, there is no in-

dication that Hannah altered or improved the house

in any way during the years she owned the property,

in fact, based on late nineteenth and early twenti-

eth century photographs of the house, it was most

likely a period of decline. In these photographs, the

exterior of the house shows its age, with weathered,

deteriorated, and missing shingles and woodwork.

Historical Society, Westport, Massachusetts. Worths original

notebooks and manuscripts are located in the New Bedford

Whaling Museum Research Library, Henry Barnard Worth

Papers, 1714 - 1942, Mss 59.

106 Handy, Eli (1880 U.S. Census) Massachusetts, Bristol,

County, Massachusetts, Series: T9, Roll: 523, Page: 244.

Probate document citing the value of the Handy house following Hannah Handys death.


62 George Kirby/Hannah Handy

Detail of the Westport area from the 1890 United States Geological Survey topographic map. Massachusetts/Rhode Island,

Fall River Sheet. United States Geological Survey. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.


63George Kirby/Hannah Handy

Summary of George Kirby/HannahHandy Period Land Transactions

September 19, 1868.

I, George Kirby of Westport In considerationof Five Hundred Dollars, paid by John Milk of the

said Westport...assigns all my right title and interest

in into all that lot or tract of land situated in the

said Westport and lying and being on the north side

of the Highway leading to and over Hicks Bridge -

and bounded on the North by land of Gammons,

said premises formerly belonged to Eli Handy, de-

ceased, and were set o to me on Execution against

James H. Handy. Recorded in Land Records Bris-

tol County (S.D.) Book 47. Pages 28, 29, 20, 32, 32,33 to which reference may be had for further par-

ticulars this nineteenth day of September in the

year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and

sixty eight.

April 15, 1869. John Milk to Stephen Kirby

(Same parcel purchased 1868 September 19).

I, John Milk of Westport In consideration of

One hundred and thirty dollars, paid by Stephen P.

Kirby of the said Westport...assigns all my right, titleand interest and to all that lot of land situated in the

said Westport and lying and being on the north side

of the highway leading to and from Hicks Bridge

so called and between the River and land of John

Hicks, and bounded on the north by land of the

heirs of the late Matthias E. Gammons - said prem-

ises formerly belonging to Eli Handy, deceased, and

were set o to George Kirby by execution against

James H. Handy recorded in Land Records Bristol

County, Book 47, Pages 28, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33. Towhich reference may be had for further particulars

necessary and intending hereby to convey and quit

claim to said Stephen P. Kirby all my right title and

interest in said premises...this fteenth day of April

in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred

and sixty nine.

April 26, 1872. Stephen P. Kirby to Albert C. Kir

by (same parcel purchased 1869 April 15).

I Stephen P. Kirby of Westport In conside

ation of One Thousand dollars, paid by Albert C

Kirby of the said Westport forever quit claim, unt

the said Albert C. Kirby...all my right of title and in

terest and [is] all that lot of land situated in the sa

Westport and lying and being on the north side of th

highway leading to and from Hicks Bridge so called

and between the river and land of John Hicks an

bounded on the north by land of the heirs of the la

Matthias Gammons, said premises formerly belong

to Eli Handy, deceased, and were set o to Georg

Kirby by execution against James H. Handy recorde

in land records, Bristol County, Book 47, pages 28

29, 30, 31, 32, 33. to which reference maybe had fo

further particulars necessary And hereby conve

and quit claim to said Albert C. Kirby...this twent

sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thou

sand eight hundred and seventy two.

December 16, 1876. Stephen Kirby to Hanna

Handy.

I Stephen P. Kirby of Westport In consideratio

of One Dollar, paid by Hannah Handy of said Tow

of Westportdo hereby sellunto the said Hanna

Handy all my Right Title Interest in a certain tra

of land with the buildings thereon standing situate

in said Westport on or near the Highway leading t

and from Hixes Bridge so called and bounded an

described as follows, viz.: Bounded on the South b

land of John Milks heirs and the said Highway - O

the west by land of John Hix on the North by land o

the Heirs of the Estate of Matthias E. Gammons an

on the East by the East Branch of Westport Rive

The said premises formerly belonged to Eli Handy

deceased, and was set o to George Kirby by Execu

tion against James H. Handy. recorded in land R

cords of Bristol Co. South District, Book 47 Pages 2

29, 30, 31, 32, 33 to which reference may be had fo

further particularsthis Sixteenth day of Decembe

in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sevent

six.


64

Eli Handy with his daughter, Hannah, and son, Jacob. Circa 1898.

Hannah Handy with daughter, Mary.


65

Eli and Mary Handy 1893 - 1911

Eli Handy was William and Caroline Handyssecond child, born on June 6, 1847, in Westport.He married Mary Catherine Anthony, daughter of

Jacob G. Anthony and Fannie C. Briggs. Mary is

recorded as being born in Newport, Rhode Island,

but was living in Westport by the time she married.

They were wed on May 8, 1873; Eli was twenty ve

years old, and Mary twenty years old.110

Eli and Mary had ve children that survived past

infancy, two girls, and three boys. They were:

Almy M. Handy (b. August 26, 1874 in West-

port, MA., d. Unknown)

Hannah Frances Handy (b. August 28, 1877, in

Westport, MA., d. Unknown)

George William Handy ( b. January 23, 1880 in

Westport, MA., d. Unknown)

Jacob A. Handy (b. August 6, 1882, in Westport,

MA., d. Unknown)

J. Hervey Handy (b. Unknown, d. Unknown)111

In their marriage record, Eli is listed as a Market-man.112 Seven years later, in the 1880 census, his

occupation is listed as a farmer, his wife is listed as

keeping house, and along with his three children,

his aunt, Hannah, is listed as a Boarder.113 Han-

110 Marriage record of Eli Handy and Mary C. Anthony,

May 8, 1873, Westport Marriages 1857-1892. Vol. B, Page

24, Westport, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Ancestry.com.

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database

on-line]. Provo, Utah. Original data: Town and City Clerks of

Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo,

UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).

111 Descendants of Zaccheus Handy. Genera

history of owners of handy house - ely and james handy

Documents