| One of the most controversial
member of the Thomas family was Nathanial Ray Thomas
who lived at the estate during the Revolution. Thomas
was appointed Mandamus Councilor by King George III,
an action that brought on great unrest among the Patriots
in the Colony, especially Marshfield. Thomas, fearing
hostilities, requested protection from the British General
Thomas Gage. On January 12, 1775, Gage sent a regiment,
the Queen’s Guards, to Marshfield. These troops
were quartered at the Thomas Estate where they remained
until April 20, 1775.
When word of the action at Lexington and Concord
reached Marshfield, the local militia moved over Black
Mount to attack the British, only to find they had
been recalled to Boston. The British had retreated
in small boats down Wharf Creek, (which still exists)
to the British schooner “Hope” off Brant
Rock and sailed to Boston. Nathanial Ray Thomas escaped
on horseback to Boston where he remained until the
evacuation of Boston in 1776 when he was exiled to
Nova Scotia.
Had the local militia attacked sooner, the first
battle of the Revolution would have been fought at
the Thomas Estate. Had the British not retreated,
the second battle would have been fought there. Nevertheless,
Marshfield was the only town in the Colony to quarter
British Troops during the revolution.
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