Homestead of General Timothy Ruggles, Hardwick, Massachusetts
Artist
Winthrop Chandler
(American, 1747–1790)
Dateabout 1770–1775
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensionscanvas: 79.2 x 159.4 cm (31 3/16 x 62 3/4 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineBequest of Julia T. Green
Object number2009.177
Label TextThis painting depicts the land owned by General Timothy Ruggles, a wealthy veteran of the French and Indian War and a delegate to the first Colonial Congress. His extensive holdings of land in Hardwick, Massachusetts, were maintained by slave labor. As a man of means, Ruggles was thoroughly involved in colonial politics. However, his allegiance to the King of England earned him the mistrust of many fellow members of colonial society. As anti-British sentiments grew in the colonies, Ruggles remained outspoken in his denouncement of rebellion. His political sympathies resulted in his loss of tangible claims to citizenship. In 1775, his estates were revoked, and he was ultimately banished from the Massachusetts Colony. He fled to Nova Scotia, then still a British territory in what is now Canada, with his family’s slaves and servants, who included Hester Ruggles, Jeffrey Ruggles, John Coslin, Robert Williams, and Prince.
Source: “Book of Negroes,” entry for Apr. 23–27, 1783, on the brig Ranger bound for Annapolis Royal, RG 1, Sir Guy Carleton Papers, no. 10427, PRO 30/55/100, The National Archives, reel no. 10149, Nova Scotia Archives.ProvenanceJulia T. Green, Chestnut Hill, MAOn View
Not on view
