Tory Row facts for kids
Tory Row is a special nickname for a part of Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This area was known for its beautiful, large homes, called mansions, that belonged to wealthy families. Many of these families were Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War. Loyalists were people who wanted to stay loyal to the King of England, even when others in America wanted to become independent.
Some people use "Tory Row" to describe the specific part of Brattle Street where these Loyalist mansions stood. Others use it to refer to seven particular historic mansions along the street. These buildings are from the 1700s, like the William Brattle House and the famous Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. In 1913, a writer named Samuel Atkins Eliot said that Tory Row was "not only one of the most beautiful but also one of the most historic streets in America."
The Seven Historic Homes of Tory Row
There are seven main houses that make up what people call Tory Row. Each one has its own unique story and history:
- The Brattle estate (at 42 Brattle Street) is also known as the William Brattle House. Today, it is home to the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, which offers classes for adults.
- The estate of Mrs. Henry Vassall (at 94 Brattle Street) is known as the Henry Vassall House.
- The estate of Mr. John Vassal (at 105 Brattle Street) is a very famous house. It's called the "Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House" and is now the Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. This house was even used by George Washington during the Revolutionary War!
- The Lechmere-Sewall house (at 149 Brattle Street) has a few names, including the "Lechmere-Riedesel House" or the "Lechmere-Sewall-Riedesel House."
- Judge Joseph Lee's house (at 159 Brattle Street) is now known as the Hooper–Lee–Nichols House.
- The Fayerweather House (at 175 Brattle Street) was built by George Ruggles. It is sometimes called the Ruggles-Fayerweather House.
- The Thomas Oliver house (at 33 Elmwood Avenue) is also known as the Oliver-Gerry-Lowell House or simply as Elmwood. Even though its address is on Elmwood Avenue, it's considered part of Tory Row because Elmwood Avenue used to be part of Brattle Street.
What Happened to Tory Row Houses After the Revolution?
After the American Revolutionary War, things changed a lot for the Loyalist families and their homes. Many Loyalists had to leave America because they supported the British King.
According to a writer named Edward Abbott, who wrote in 1859:
- Five of these large estates were taken by the new American government and sold. For example, the estates of Lechmere and Oliver were sold to Andrew Cabot in 1779. The Sewall estate was sold to Thomas Lee, and the Vassall estate was sold to Nathaniel Tracy in 1781.
- However, the families of Borland and the Widow Vassall were able to keep their homes in Cambridge.
- General Brattle had given his property to his son, Major Thomas Brattle, in 1774. Major Brattle's sister, Mrs. Katherine Wendell, worked very hard to make sure their family home was not taken by the government. Major Brattle was able to get his house back after he returned from Europe, proving that he supported the new American country.
Two other Tory Row houses were not taken by the government:
- Judge Lee, who lived at 159 Brattle Street, returned to his home after the war and lived there peacefully until he passed away.
- Captain Ruggles, who lived at 175 Brattle Street, sold his estate to Thomas Fayerweather in 1774, before he left the area.
