General Notes

    per Chunkie Blaney;

    William Blaney settled in Roxbury as early as 1754, and is successively described as cordwainer, innholder and yeoman. On 12 October 1754 John Hoyle of Cranston, Rhode Island, deeded to William Blaney, of Roxbury, cordwainer, about 2 acre of land with dwelling house on long road leading to Dedham.[ ] William Blaney conveyed this land to Ephraim Seagers of Roxbury for ,200 1 March 1758.[ ] William Blaney owned the covenant in the Roxbury Church 31 July 1757, and was sexton of Fourth Meeting House of the First Church of Roxbury, 1761-1768.[ ] Mary (Gridley) Blaney was admitted to membership in the First Church in Roxbury 7 September 1800.[ ]

    William Blaney was listed in the return of men enlisted for service in intended expedition to Canada [residence not given]; enlisted 11 April and served sixteen days; amount of 10s.8d. receipted for by William Blaney for their billeting to May 17, 1758, under Capt. Timothy Parker.[ ] William Blaney's name appears on card of John Gardner of Roxbury, as said Gardner's master.[ ]

    William Blaney wrote his younger brother Aaron, in cipher, from Halifax, during the winter of 1760-1761.[ ] At this time William was married, thirty years of age, and had two children. Why he was in Halifax is not known.

    To Mr. Aaron Blaney, living in Roxbury, Newengland.

    pr. Favour Capt. Atwood.

    Loving Brother, Halifax, Nover. ye 1s 1761

    This comes with mu love To you hoping thay will Finde you in Health as they leave me, through Devine Goodness Give my love to your sister Blaney, my Duty to my mother & Love to sisters & Due Respects to all Frends, Be sure be Carful of your sister Dont let her want aney thing that is in your power to healp her too, be as Deligent in your business as Posbel -- Considering that it will not only be for your Cradet Now but for your advantage when you com to Do Business for your self, Larn to be a man in your youth & Respect will naturly increas with your age, But above all keep out of bad company For that is the ready way to distruction, but rather imprve your Time in Reding ye Scripturs wharein you will Larn ye will of your & your Duty to him. Study Virtue & it will become habitual, look to God To Direct you at all Times. Dont forsake him -- & he wont Forsake you, & Again I warne you to Ashune bad Company, Remembbering that he walks with ye wise shall be wise but A Companion of Fools shall be Distroyed. I Conclude

    Your Loving Brother

    Wm Blaney

    Ps Write me an answer ye first opertunity, and how ye surcumstances of ye Famely is, for you wont have many before Winter."

    William Blaney's brother Aaron, Deputy Commissary General for both the Provincial and Continental troops stationed at Roxbury and vicinity during the Siege of Boston, contracted with the Massachusetts Committee of Supplies to brew the whole of the beer for the army at Roxbury and vicinity during the Siege of Boston. He hired Captain Ebenezer Dorr's copper kettle, fitted up a barn as a brewhouse, and hired his brother William as a brewer, at two dollars a day. They brewed up to 3 August 1775 when the Continental authorities took charge, 2574 1/3 barrels of beer, which at eleven pence per barrel amounted to ,117:19:92. "Monday Nov 10, 1777 - at Town Meeting. Voted that ,10.8.3 3 part of the taxes of William Blaney for 1776 be abated to him in consideration of the inconvenience and damage arising from the Public Buildings on Sewall's Point being used for hospitals for the Small pox, great part of the year."[ ]

    A certificate of appointment for Mary [widow] and William [son] to administer the estate of William Blaney of Roxbury, innholder was filed 8 May 1781, Aaron Blaney, Boston, merchant and William Gridley Jr., Roxbury, merchant, bondsmen.[ ] The inventory included ,201:11:6 in hard money, a small house and a few rods of land in Roxbury ,15:0:0 containing nine rooms - 3 chambers, 2 bedrooms, 2 lower rooms, kitchen and room.

    The debts were ,323:7:72.