Prudence Tyler

https://archive.org/stream/cu31924092510894/cu31924092510894_djvu.txt

"The house at present standing (that is, the rear part) was built by Moses' son, Captain John Tyler, probably about the time of Moses' death, 1727. Some " bricks " have re- cently been found buried in the present driveway, which would appear to locate the old fireplace of Moses at a few rods to the east of the present dwelling: and it is not at all unlikely, that when the first house was abandoned for purposes of living, it continued to be used as a storehouse, until it finally passed ofF the scene in decay. It must have been a very simple struc- ture, judging from reports of the typical first settler's cabin. Of the many Tylers who have lived in this dear old home, none has left a memory more quaintly attractive than " Aunt Prue," who was herein bom, where she passed away at the re- markable age of 100. She was to have been wed in younger days, and the visitor is shown a Bible, the gift of her be- trothed ; though she did not marry him, nor did she pine away, one may easily see how dear he was in memory — very unusual memory of a love affair that could survive through more than the divinely allotted " three score and ten." Captain John's will provided a room for her " on the lower floor " of his house ; she had kept house for him, after his wife died in 1745, until he himself left eleven years later. Gideon, who succeeded Cap- tain John, also died four years before " Aunt Prue." She is buried near by, in the old West Boxford cemetery. Let all Tylers who pass this mound think kindly benediction towards a faithful kinswoman, who longer than any other was familiar to these beloved accustomed paths and haunts. "