Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
FAM 1000.38 |
Title |
Symmes Family Collection |
Collection |
Family Records |
Object Name |
Records |
Date |
1710-1971 |
Scope & Content |
The collection includes papers relating to the Symmes family of Medford, later Winchester. Some papers appear to be original documents. There are also articles about the Symmes family and land. The contents appear to have been contributed at different times. |
Admin/Biographical History |
The documents in the collection pertain to the descendants of Rev. Zachariah Symmes of Charlestown who was granted a 300-acre land parcel in 1638. The land now lies in the southwest section of Winchester. Although he did not settle on it, his son Capt. William and other descendants did. The Symmes family used their property not only for farming but also for industry. Capt. William Symmes dammed the river (near where the parkway crosses it) and built a mill. William's son William (1678-1764), a clothier by trade, bought out the other heirs and came into possession of the mill. Finding it not worth repairing, he built a new fulling mill a little distance down the stream and carried on the business of fulling and dyeing cloth. John L. Sullivan, at first partnered with Capt John Symmes (Zachariah's 2ggrandson), bought the Symmes mills where he experimented with steam power in the early 19th century. The mills eventually were purchased by Robert Bacon, and the area around Bacon Street and the Aberjona River remained industrial through the mid-20th century. On Main Street, at the Symmes Rotary, there was a cluster of Symmes houses where the family continued farming into the early 20th century. The line of descent for people mentioned in the documents is: Zachariah - Capt. William - William - John - Capt. John and Josiah. |
Copyrights |
Permission to publish material from this collection is subject to approval by the Town of Winchester. |
Finding Aids |
A finding aid with detailed information about the contents of the collection is available. Contact the Archives for a copy. |
Subjects |
Industry Farming Family Mills Textiles |
Search Terms |
Symmes Family |
People |
Atwood, William Bacon, Robert Belknap, Thomas Carter, Samuel Chambers, Charles Convers, Josiah Convers, Robert Fowle, Mary Gill, Michael Hinshur, Samuel Homer, Sidney Howe, Nancy Symmes Johnson, James C. LeBosquet, Caleb LeBosquet, Mary Brooks Letherbe, Stephen Noyes, Oliver Richardson, John Richardson, Nathaniel Ryerson, Bill Sanborn, Christopher Sullivan, John L. Sumner, Increase Symmes Symmes, Elizabeth Symmes, Gardner Symmes, John Symmes, Jonah Symmes, Joseph Symmes, Josiah Symmes, Luther Symmes, Lydia Symmes, Marion B. Symmes, Mary Symmes, Ruth S. Symmes, Sarah Symmes, T.S. Symmes, William Symmes, Zachariah Torrey, John Torrey, Mary Symmes Usher, John Walker, Israel Warner, John Webb, Mary Withington, Margaret Woodward, William |
Containers |
Genealogy of the Symmes family & misc. clippings and papers Misc. Symmes Papers 1 Misc. Symmes Papers 2 Photographs "Upper Medford" Article Symmes Farm of 1705 William Symmes Papers 01 William Symmes Papers 02 William Symmes Papers 03 William Symmes Papers 04 William Symmes Papers 05 William Symmes Papers 06 William Symmes Papers 07 William Symmes Papers 08 William Symmes Papers 09 William Symmes Papers 10 William Symmes Papers 11 William Symmes Papers 12 William Symmes Papers 13 William Symmes Papers 14 William Symmes Papers 15 John Symmes Papers 1 John Symmes Papers 2 John Symmes Papers 3 John Symmes Papers 4 Misc. Symmes Papers 3 Misc. Symmes Papers 4 Misc. Symmes Papers 5 Misc. Symmes Papers 6 Misc. Symmes Papers 7 (Newspaper articles, typed transcriptions) Misc. Symmes Papers 8 |