Edmund Quincy (Colonel)

Edmund Quincy (1627-1698) emigrated to colonial Massachusetts in 1633 with his father, Edmund. His first wife was Johanna Hoar, sister of Leonard Hoar (President of Harvard College) and they had 10 children. Edmund and his second wife, Elizabeth, the widow of Rev. John Elliot of Newton and daughter of Major General Daniel Gookin, had 2 children. ["Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Vol II", by William Richard Cutter, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York (1908), pp. 592-598.]

Edmund was magistrate, representative to the general court and a Lt. Colonel in a Massachusetts militia regiment. In 1689 was a member of the provisional government (Committee of Safety). This was a time of turmoil in the colonies and England. The disliked Governor Edmund Andros of the Dominion of New England was placed under investigation by the Committee, while in England the Glorious Revolution (James II fled to France) and the Bill of Rights brought fundamental changes to the political structure. Colonel Quincy started work in on the family property, called the Quincy Homestead, around 1696.

Son Edmund was very active in colonial affairs, like his father.

Many of Edmund's descendants were active in the American Revolution, some of the more notable being John Quincy Adams, Dorothy Quincy, and Josiah Quincy. The family intermarried with other local South Shore families, especially with the Hobarts of nearby Hingham.

His grave was once marked with two granite columns embossed with lead. The lead was stripped for use by the colonists during the Revolution. This was noted by President John Adams.

Notes and references