Herman Garrett facts for kids
Herman Garrett (also known as Harman Garrett) was an important person in early colonial Massachusetts. He was born around 1607 and passed away around 1656 or 1657. Herman Garrett was skilled as a gunsmith and a blacksmith. He also owned land in the new American colonies.
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Early Life and Moving to America
Herman Garrett was from a place called Wickham Market in England. In 1628, he married Susan Tofts in a town named Ipswich.
By 1638, Herman Garrett had moved to Massachusetts. He started working as a gunsmith and blacksmith in Charlestown, which is part of Boston today. He worked there until 1652.
Moving to Boston
In 1652, Herman Garrett moved his home and business. He crossed the Charles River to live and work in Boston.
Business and Land in the Colonies
Herman Garrett was a busy craftsman. In 1640, he took on an apprentice named John Edwards. An apprentice is someone who learns a trade from a skilled worker.
Land Ownership
Garrett also became a landowner. In 1643, he moved to Concord, Massachusetts. He lived in a house that he had previously helped someone with financially.
He was also part of a group called the Nashaway Company. This company helped settle the area that is now Lancaster. Because of his work with metal, he might have been interested in the iron ore found there.
Land Along the Assabet River
In 1651, Herman Garrett received a large piece of land. It was 1,000 acres along the Assabet River. This land might have included parts of what is now Maynard.
This land became his after a Native American leader, Tantamous, could not pay back a debt to Garrett. The land was then sold to the town of Watertown.
Return to England
Herman Garrett eventually returned to England. He passed away in 1657 and was buried in Wickham Market, the same town where he was born.
