"Robert Tucker was made a Freeman in Weymouth in 1639. He afterward moved to Gloucester, where he was Representative to the General court in 1651 & 2 and Town Clerk to 1656, and where it is probable that some of his children were born. He returned to Weymouth, and held several important offices in the town. Further than this, his career there is somewhat obscure, but he was identified with that class that seemed raised up by Providence to meet the exigencies of the time in which he lived. He removed to Milton, Mass., about the time that town was incorporated in 1662, and purchased several adjoining lots on Brush Hill, of Widow Farnsworth, Elder Henry Withington, and Mrs. Fenno, containing in all about 117 acres, and bordering on lands that his son James had purchased some time previous. The Withington purchase was 51 acres, for which he paid 100 pounds."

"The hill has retained its original name, Brush Hill, down to the present time, and has been for years one of the most beautiful residential sections in Greater Boston, containing the summer homes of many wealthy people of New York and Boston. Robert (1) Tucker was Town Clerk of Milton, for several years, and the first records of the town are in his writing, which shows that he was the first Town Recorder. The answer of the General Court to the Town's Petition for incorporation is signed, "Robert Tucker." He represented Milton in the General Court in 1669, '80 and '81. Robert Tucker died March 11, 1682. His will was made four days before his death. His son, Manasseh, was willed the new house and four acres of land adjoining it. It being referred to as "the New house," in the will, made in 1682 shows that it was built about 1681 making it one of the oldest houses now standing in Mass. Robert Tucker was active in religious matters. He was an earnest member of the Congregational Church, and with his good wife who was Elizabeth Allen, brought up a large family, all of whom had Bible names, and became heads of Christian homes. Robert Tucker was a member of the Church Committee, who engaged Rev. Peter Thatcher as Pastor of the Milton Church. In his diary, which is a valuable addition to the history of those early times, Rev. Thatcher makes frequent mention of both Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, sometimes calling him "Father Tucker," and sometimes "Goodman Tucker," but always in a manner denoting love and respect. His services as attending Pastor to Robert Tucker during the period of feebleness preceding his death, are most touching, as he describes the gradual failing of that remarkable life-force which made him father, like the patriarchs of old, to a family who became numerous, and are settled in all parts of the country, from Vermont to California, including among later generations, Col. Green, husband of Hetty Robinson of Howland descent; former Secretary of the Navy, William E. Chandler; former President of Dartmouth College, William Jewett Tucker; and many other notable men and women.

"Robert (1) Tucker occupied an important and highly useful position in the Town and the church during the earliest years of the settlement, and his numerous descendants have been among the most active and influential of our citizens through the entire history of the town.

"Members of this family have graced the pulpit, the Army, and the Representative halls of the country. From the beginning, they have filled important offices of trust in the town and in the church."

(From the History of Milton).

Robert (1) Tucker died March 11, 1682, and was buried March 13th. He and Elizabeth his wife, were the parents of 11 children, all of whom had Bible names and became heads of Christian families. At the time of his death there were 18 grandchildren.

In "Hurd's History of Norfolk Co. Mass.," in the historical sketch of Milton, the writer closes his tribute to Robert Tucker with these words: "He was held in much esteem by his neighbors, and his character and education exercised an important influence here. His handwriting indicates a gentleman familiar with the pen."

If the choice of our first American Ancestor lay with us, we might search the early New England Records in vain, to find a better character than Robert (1) Tucker of Milton.