Thomas Lechmere (1683-1763) with 1766 Cambridge Prayerbook
This Anglican Book of Common Prayer was printed in 1757 in Cambridge, England. Measuring at nearly a foot and a half, this prayer book would not have been found inside of a home or even inside a box pew. Instead, this prayer book was bound and created as a gift to King’s Chapel. The front book binding has the inscription “The Gift of Thomas Lechmere Esq 1760.”
Thomas Lechmere, Surveyor-General of His Majesty's Customs for the northern district of America, was a long-time member of King's Chapel prior to the American Revolution. Born in England in 1683, Lechmere came to Boston around the time of his father’s death in 1703. He married Ann Winthrop, the granddaughter of Governor John Winthrop in 1709. We have records that both Thomas and his son Richard were known enslavers in Cambridge at “Lechmere Point,” the location of the Lechmere Red Line subway station today.
Thomas Lechmere was an active member of King’s Chapel, serving on the vestry for many years. He gifted this prayer book to the congregation in 1760 near the end of his life; his burial service at King’s Chapel was five years later in 1765 at the age of 82.
Thomas Lechmere, Surveyor-General of His Majesty's Customs for the northern district of America, was a long-time member of King's Chapel prior to the American Revolution. Born in England in 1683, Lechmere came to Boston around the time of his father’s death in 1703. He married Ann Winthrop, the granddaughter of Governor John Winthrop in 1709. We have records that both Thomas and his son Richard were known enslavers in Cambridge at “Lechmere Point,” the location of the Lechmere Red Line subway station today.
Thomas Lechmere was an active member of King’s Chapel, serving on the vestry for many years. He gifted this prayer book to the congregation in 1760 near the end of his life; his burial service at King’s Chapel was five years later in 1765 at the age of 82.
But what happened to this prayer book during the American Revolution, when the Anglican version of the Book of Common Prayer was no longer used by the new Unitarian congregation?
The most interesting aspect behind this specific prayer book is perhaps the story of how the book made it to the King’s Chapel archives. We discover the story when opening the book:
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On one of the fly leaves of this prayer book has an inscription written by 19th century King’s Chapel minister Reverend Henry Wilder Foote, I in 1867:
This book was given to Rev. Dr. Greenwood many years ago, by the Wardens of the Church; and was given to me by Mrs. Greenwood, Jan 12, 1867. Henry W. Foote. |
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We find more clues on another page, written by Reverend Foote’s son, Henry Wilder Foote II:
This book was given to King’s Chapel in 1760 by Thomas Lechmere, for many years a warden of the Chapel and “Surveyor-General of his majesty’s customs for the northern district of America.” [see Annals of King’s Chapel, vol I 235, II 187.] After the Revolution it was no longer used, and was eventually given by the Wardens to Dr. Greenwood, and by his widow to Henry Wilder Foote, I, [see note on the third fly leaf] H.W. F. II, to whom it descended, offered in 1915 to return it to the chapel, but the offer was declined, the chapel owning other and more valuable pre-Revolutionary prayer-books. H.W.F.II After over a century, Thomas Lechmere’s prayer book finally returned to King’s Chapel in 1926 and has been safely kept in the Parish House archives since.
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