Local History

A Grandmother’s Defiance

Ten year old “Lionall the Indian” signed an indenture agreement on May 15, 1679 “with the consent and good liking of my granmother.”  Consenting to this indenture, the grandmother defied Daniel Epps, the nephew of John Winthrop Jr. Epps had acquired Castle Hill from his stepfather, Deputy Governor Samuel Symonds. He believed Lyonell had come to Castle Hill to be indentured to him.

Historian Thomas Franklin Waters describes “the great kindness of Captain Epes [sic] and his good wife”.  Waters decried the grandmother’s “thankless return” for Epps’ kindness.

Reviewing original documents, we see that the grandmother should be remembered not for her ingratitude to Epps but for her determination and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds.  She developed a strategy to prevent Epps from removing Lyonell from her. Her strategy may well have succeeded. — READ MORE