Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-09-09
The Home of Anne Bradstreet.

turles, ana which Is especially interest
ing and memorable as having been the
home of the first woman poet of
America, Anne Dudley Bradstreet.
1t was built probably about the year
1867 by the Hon. Simon Bradstreet, and
was his family residence and that of his
son, Col. Dudley Bradstreet, until the
death of the father in 1902. Old as il is,
it had been preceded by another built
many years earlier and destroyed by
fire July 1866. The present home seems
likely, with care, TO last another half
century, at least.
Its frame is massive, of heavy timber;
its walls lined with brick, and its enor-
nous chimney. heavily buttressed, run
ming up through the center, shows in
| the garnet like fertilization. The two
venerable elm trees on the lawn in front,
SUPP osed to be as old as the house it.
self, fell before the assaults of the cank-
er worm few years ago.
Anne Dudley, reared amid the refine
ments and elegance of an English
castle, at the age Of eighteen, having
been then two years married, came with
her husband, Simon Bradstreet, TO seek
home in the wilderness of North
America, They We're in the party con-
sisting Of Governor Winthrop, and other
eminent colOnists, who in June 1880
landed at Salem. After several remov-
ais, first from Salem to Charlestown
thence to Boston, they settled at Cam
bridge, and Broadstreet built house
near the present site of the University
| bookstore. The hardships and priva-
tions of pioneer life told severely upon
the delicate constitution of Ammo Brad
street and she became confirmed in
| &c 81 fall |
sicknesse like a consumption together
with lamencses. which correction |
saw the Lord sent TO humble me and do
me good" At the time of her husbands
removal TO Andover she was about
thirty years of age, the mother Of five
children. to whom three more were add
ed, OF the little brood, she thus quaint
ly writes:
81 had eight birds Matched Ia one nest,
Four cocks there were, ana hens the rest,
Inursed them up with pain and care,
Nor cost nor labor did spare,
TIL at the last they lelt their wing.
Mounted the trees. and learned 10 sing
The neighbors of Mistress Bradstreet
looked with ii jealous eye upon her tai
ent for verse making and ability to put
her feelings into fine phrases, but the
lterati of her time regarded her as II
prodigy. President Rogers of Harvard
College, said that "the drinking OF the
nectar of her lines left hin" weitering ia
delight" Edward Phillips, the nephew
of Milton, spoke of her as 1.-The tenth
muse sprung up III America" Her
poems were first published without her
knowledge through the agency of her
brother-inla law, the Rev. John Wood
bridge, first minister of the church at
Andover. She seems to have written as
a diversion from bodily suffering and
solace for the lack of society; also with
desire to leave something which would
be of interest and value TO her children
after her death.
The burning of her house in Andover
was a great blow TO Mrs. Bradstreet
for after many movings she had hoped
TO spend here the remnant of her days III
peace and quiet. With the house per-
ished treasures that money could not
| replace-a library of 500 handsome
volumes, rare and costly books family
portraits and heirlooms, furniture of
rich pattern brought from England, and
what was beyond price TO the gentle
poet, store of sacred and tender associa-
tions. She thus describes her feelings at
| the time of the fire:
| II started up. the light did spye.
And to my God my heart did cry.
| To strengthen me in my distresse.
Aud not to leave me succOurlessc,
Then coming out beheld n space.
The fumes consume my dwelling place.
She never quite liked the "newe
house" although it was undoubtedly
| finer than the old one, and furnished
with an elegance befitting the rank and
wealth of its owner.
After forty years of married life, she
died and was sincerely mourned by her
| kind husband and devoted family. No
trace of her grave is now TO be found
She was probably laid in the old parish
burying ground, whose moss grown
stones on the hillside can be seen from
the windows of the Bradstreet house
All the monuments of her time have
crumbed to dust save only one broken
tablet which seems TO prove that this
was the burial place of the first settlers.
But though this gentle women lacks
such memorial, cher poems as Cotton
Mather remarks, divers times printed,
have afforded "a monument Tor her
memory beyond the stateliest marbles.
Among her descendants, besides those
having the family name, may be men
| toned William Ellery Charming, OH
yer Wendell Holmes, Wendell Phillips,
Richard II. Dana.
AlltE the utdlH vi TIC Olu NIoN'lli'i
twenty five years later, at the age of
ninety. four, his son Col. Dudley Brad
street. took his fathers house and flied
his fathers place as citizen of Andover
Well was it for the town, and for the
colonies that the magistrate Office fell
TO man inheriting the united qualities
of his parents, for largely TO the COM
passion and courage of Dudley Brad
street was due the first check upon the
witchcraft frenzy He drew up and
| headed IA testimonial and plea for some
wretched women Of Andover, who had
made confession of witchcraft by reason
as they afterward declared "of sudden
surprissl when exceedingly amazed and
affrighted ont of their reason" He as
serted at personal risk his belief in their
innocence. But the magistrate was ac-
cused Of having himself practiced
witchcraft. and thereby killed nine per-
sons, and the man who for twenty years
had been trusted and loved by the
| H.. l.