Comments on: Remembering the Ursuline Convent in Charlestown Sacked and Burned ~ August 12, 1834 http://www.richardhowe.com/2012/08/12/remembering-the-ursuline-convent-in-charlestown-sacked-and-burned-august-12-1834/ Lowell Politics and Lowell History Sat, 25 May 2013 10:34:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: DickH http://www.richardhowe.com/2012/08/12/remembering-the-ursuline-convent-in-charlestown-sacked-and-burned-august-12-1834/comment-page-1/#comment-14880 DickH Sun, 12 Aug 2012 12:34:02 +0000 http://www.richardhowe.com/?p=16086#comment-14880 As with most things, there is a Lowell connection to this event. The Sheriff of Middlesex County at the time of the convent burning was a resident of Centralville named Benjamin Varnum. He is said to have played a major part in the investigation of the incident and that his role was praised by all (although I'm not sure the contemporary historians writing that consulted with the Irish for their opinion). Varnum, who was born in 1795, was the son of Major General Joseph Bradley Varnum. Benjamin represented Dracut (Centralville was part of that town until it was later annexed to Lowell) in the state legislature from 1824 to 1827 and in the state senate from 1827 to 1831. In 1828 he was appointed to be a county commissioner and in 1831 he became sheriff of Middlesex County, a position he held until his untimely death in 1841. His wife's name was Caroline Bradley and she lived until 1883 (age 81). They are buried in the family plot in Lowell Cemetery. As with most things, there is a Lowell connection to this event. The Sheriff of Middlesex County at the time of the convent burning was a resident of Centralville named Benjamin Varnum. He is said to have played a major part in the investigation of the incident and that his role was praised by all (although I’m not sure the contemporary historians writing that consulted with the Irish for their opinion).

Varnum, who was born in 1795, was the son of Major General Joseph Bradley Varnum. Benjamin represented Dracut (Centralville was part of that town until it was later annexed to Lowell) in the state legislature from 1824 to 1827 and in the state senate from 1827 to 1831. In 1828 he was appointed to be a county commissioner and in 1831 he became sheriff of Middlesex County, a position he held until his untimely death in 1841. His wife’s name was Caroline Bradley and she lived until 1883 (age 81). They are buried in the family plot in Lowell Cemetery.

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