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Gc 974.4 B2 3h 1192470
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 5995
1
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalcollec00barb 0
1
5
afayett Hotel
A.Willard and- Barber.
Drawn by J.W. Barber.
BOSTON,
" alive shows the appearance of Boston as seen from the south-west , near the intersection of the Providence and Worcester Rail Road : the State House with its towering dome, and the Common appear in the central part . Bunker ilik' Monument is seen on the extreme left.
.
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS,
BEING A GENERAL COLLECTION OF INTERESTING FACTS, TRADITIONS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES, &c., RELATING TO THE
HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES
OF EVERY TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS,
WITH GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS. ILLUSTRATED BY 200 ENGRAVINGS.
BY JOHN WARNER BARBER
AUTHOR OF CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, ELEMENTS OF GENERAL HIS- TORY, ETC.
[The Seal of the State of Massachusetts.]
IS
S
S
E 2000
U
SSACHUSE
LENSE PETIT
NALAIAD
M -REIP
PLA
LIBERTATD
'CIDAM
SUB
UBI
[By the sword he seeks peace under Liberty.]
WORCESTER : PUBLISHED BY DORR, HOWLAND & CO. 1839.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839, BY DORR, HOWLAND & CO. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.
STEREOTYPED AT THE NEW ENGLAND TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY- GEO. A. AND J. CURTIS, BOSTON.
WORCESTER : PRINTED BY M. SPOONER AND H. J. HOWLAND.
09-11-0
1192470
PREFACE.
IN view of the great variety of subjects introduced into this work, and the almost impossibility of producing a publication of this kind without errors and imperfections, it is with a degree of diffidence that it is laid before the public. This is felt in an espe- cial manner when the author considers who will be his readers. A traveller in foreign places may make statements at random, in order to finish up his picture, which may pass for truth, when there is no one at hand who is able to correct his errors. This publi- cation will come before persons many of whom have better means of information, and more knowledge on some subjects introduced, than can be reasonably expected from the author of this work.
Massachusetts may justly claim an elevated rank among the states of this Union. She is the " mother state" of New England, and the birthplace of American freedom. A nobler ancestry no people ever yet possessed. "The Puritans (says a celebrated foreign writer, in no wise partial to them) were the most remarkable body of men, per- haps, which the world has ever produced .- They were men whose minds had derived a peculiar character from the daily contemplation of superior beings and eternal inte- rests. Not content with acknowledging in general terms an overruling providence, they habitually ascribed every event to the will of the Great Being, for whose power nothing was too vast, for whose inspection, nothing was too minute. To know him, to serve him, to enjoy him, was with them the great end of existence. They rejected with contempt the ceremonious homage which other sects substituted for the homage of the soul .- On the rich and the eloquent, on nobles and priests, they looked down with contempt ; for they esteemed themselves rich in a more precious treasure, and eloquent in a more sublime language ;- nobles by the right of an earlier creation, and priests by the imposition of a mightier hand." Let those who sneer at such an ances- try go back to the titled robbers of the middle ages, and claim affinity, if they will, with those felons of the human race, who fatten on the sweat and blood of suffering humanity.
Travellers who have heard of the "cold and sterile soil of New England" are sur- prised on finding it the "Garden of the United States." On every hand he sees smiling and prosperous villages, and, to a very great extent, the appearance of public and private happiness. To whatever cause blind politicians may ascribe this, it is because " the Pilgrim spirit has not fled." Under no other system but Christianity does true liberty exist, or are human rights properly respected. By it, the existence of man is invested with dignity and importance ; by this levelling and exalting system every human being, in whatever circumstances of degradation he may be placed, stands on an equality with the mightiest potentate of earth, and to his fate is attached a mysterious and inconceivable importance.
iv
PREFACE.
To the various gentlemen, throughout the commonwealth, who have furnished infor- mation for the work, the author would here return his grateful acknowledgments, particularly to the venerable T. M. Harris, D. D., librarian of the Historical Society, and to Maturin L. Fisher, Esq., formerly librarian, and also to Samuel F. Haven, Esq., the present librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, for their readiness to afford every facility in their power in accomplishing the object of the work. The statements respecting the business done in each town were copied from the "Statistical Tables," published by the state in 1837. With regard to the title, it being somewhat similar to that of the volumes published by the Historical Society, it was, at first, not thought advisable to adopt the one now selected ; upon further reflection, however, as the work could not, with propriety, be called a History of Massachusetts, but is properly a col- lection of materials ; and as the title is in fact different from the volumes above men. tioned, it is believed that no just grounds of complaint are given by adopting the present title of the book.
In giving the ecclesiastical history of the several towns, it may perhaps be thought, by some, that an undue prominence is given to the Congregational denomination. In reference to this, it is to be remembered they are the most ancient, as well as most numerous, denomination in the commonwealth ; that almost all the town histories which have appeared have been written by clergymen of that order ; and of course it is to be expected that the religious history of their own denomination would receive their first attention. In this publication, impartiality has been attempted ; and whenever authentic accounts of other denominations have been obtained they have been inserted. Owing to prescribed limits, there has been an absolute necessity of being brief on many subjects of importance : many things have been omitted which it was desirable to have inserted. There are materials enough to have extended this publi- cation far beyond its present limits ; but to have extended it to more than one volume would have rendered it too expensive for general circulation.
The drawings for the numerous engravings interspersed throughout the book were, with few exceptions, taken on the spot by the author of this work. Before deciding upon the correctness of these representations, he wishes his readers to remember that the appearance of any place will vary considerably as it is viewed from different points ; thus a north view will appear quite different from one taken at the south. A person not being used to see a place from the point from which the drawing is made, it may not at the first sight be readily recognised. Before any view is condemned as being incorrect, it will be necessary, in order to form a correct judgment, to stand on the place from whence the drawing was made.
In giving notices of distinguished individuals, a limited number only could be inserted. In some instances the information respecting some towns may have been defective. The history of some important towns may apparently not have received that attention to which they are entitled. This is owing to two principal reasons: one is the failure to obtain the desired information after the attempt was made ; the other is the fact, that of some important places but little can be said which would be of general interest. Amid such a number of names, dates, &c., it is probable some mistakes may have occurred. A certain writer defines all history to be merely "an approxima- tion towards truth." Though this humiliating statement cannot be fully allowed, yet, when the imperfection of every thing human is considered, it cannot be denied but that it may have some foundation in truth.
APRIL, 1839.
J. W. B.
C C C C C C
A 15
Pa Be
B
B
B.
B Be
B B
B
CONTENTS.
Page.
Page.
Page.
Abington,
494;
Dalton, .
68
Hawley,
259
Acton,
346
Dana,
562
Heath, .
260
Adams,
61
Danvers,
171
Hingham,
503
Alford, .
65
Dartmouth,
116
Hinsdale,
75
Amesbury, .
157
Dedham,
455
Holden,
572
Amherst,
310
Deerfield,
245
Holland,
281
Andover,
159
Dennis, 40
Holliston, 392
Ashby,
347
Dighton,
117
Ashburnham,
551
Dorchester,
463
Ashfield,
233
Douglass,
562
Hull,
509
Athol,
551
Dover, .
467
Attleborough,
110
Dracut,
386
Ipswich, 191
Auburn,
553
Dudley,
563
Kingston, 509
Barnstable County,
32
Dunstable,
387
Lancaster, . 574
Barnstable, .
33
Duxbury,
498
Lanesborough, Lee,
77
Becket,
66
East Bridgewater, . 500
Leicester,
578
Bedford
348
Eastham, 42
Leominster,
581
Belchertown,
313 Easthampton,
318
Lenox, .
79
Bellingham, .
Easton,
119
Leverett,
260
Berkley,
115
Edgartown,
151
Lexington,
397
Berlin,
555
Egremont, .
69
Leyden, 261
Bernardston,
234
Enfield,
320
Lincoln, 401
Berkshire County,
60
Erving,
253
Beverly,
165
Essex,
175
Longmeadow,
281
Billerica,
349
Essex County, 156
Lowell,
404
Blandford, .
276
Bolton, .
555
Fairhaven, 120
Lunenburg,
581
Boston,
532 | Fall River, 121
44
Lynnfield, .
199
Fitchburg, .
565
Boylston,
556
Foxborough, . 468
Malden, 409
Bradford,
169
Framingham,
387
Manchester,
200
Braintree,
451
Franklin, 469
Mansfield,
125
Brewster,
37
Franklin County,
233
Marblehead,
201
Bridgewater, .
495
Freetown,
125
Marlborough, 411
Florida,
70
Marshfield, 511 Marshpee, 46
Bristol County,
110
Gardner, 568
Medfield,
471
Brookfield,
557
Georgetown,
176
Medford,
413
Gill,
253
Medway,
474
Buckland,
240
Gloucester,
176
Mendon, 582
Burlington,
354
Goshen,
321
Methuen, 206
Grafton,
568
Middleborough,
512
Cambridge,
354
Granby,
320
Middlefield,
328
Canton,
453
Granville,
280
Middleton,
207
Carlisle,
363
Great Barrington,
70
Middlesex County,
346
Carver,
497
Greenfield,
256
Milford,
587
Charlestown,
364
Greenwich,
321
Millbury, 586
Charlemont,
240
Groton,
389
Charlton,
561
Hadley, 322
Monson,
284
374
Halifax,
501
Chelsea,
549
Hamilton,
181
Cheshire,
67
Hampden County,
275
Chester,
279
Hampshire County,
310
Chesterfield,
316
73
Nantucket County, 445
Chilmark, .
148
502
Natick, 415
Clarksburg, Cohasset , .
454
Hardwick
571
New Ashford, 83
Coleraine,
242
Harwich,
45 New Bedford, 126
Concord,
377
571
New Braintree, 588
Conway,
244
Harvard, Hatfield,
326
Newbury, 208
Cummington,
317 |Haverhill.
182 Newburyport,
210
r
g
S
e
t
S
1
r
1
S
t
.
Hancock, Hanover, Hanson,
503
Needham, 477
.
67
Milton, . Monroe, 261
475
Chatham, Chelmsford,
38
Montague, .
262
Montgomery, 286
Mount Washington, 82
t,
d S -
it k
it
n st
S S r
Barre,
553
Dukes County,
146
Littleton, 402
Ludlow, 283
Lynn, 193
Boxborough, Boxford,
352
Falmouth,
168
352
Brighton, Brimfield,
276
Brookline, . 451
Hopkinton, 393
Hubbardston, 573
76
0
s,
1
vi
CONTENTS.
Page.
New Marlborough,
Royalston,
.600
Tyngsborough,
431
New Salem, .
264 |Russell,
287
Tyringham,
100
Newton,
418
Rutland,
.600
Norfolk County,
450
Upton, .
611
Northampton,
Uxbridge, 612
Northborough,
589
Salisbury,
227
Northbridge,
591
Sandisfield,
89
Wales, .
299
North Bridgewater,
Walpole,
489
North Brookfield,
591
Saugus,
229
Waltham,
432
Northfield,
265
Savoy,
90
Ware,
342
Norton,
127
Scituate,
526
Wareham,
529
Norwich,
334
Scekonk,
136
Warren,
613
Sharon,
486
Warwick,
274
Oakham,
592
Sheffield,
91
Washington,
101
Orange,
268
Shelburne .
270
Watertown,
434
Orleans,
49
Sherburne,
. 423
Wayland,
440
Otis, .
85
Shirley,
423
Webster,
614
Oxford, .
593
Shrewsbury, .
602
Wellfleet,
56
Shutesbury,
271
Wendell,
274
Palmer,
286
Somersct,
139
Wenham,
231
Pawtucket,
128
Southampton,
341
Westborough,
614
Paxton,
595
Southborough,
604
West Boylston, .
616
Pelham,
335
Southbridge,
605
West Bridgewater,
530
Pembroke,
517
South Hadley,
338
West Cambridge, 440
Pepperell,
422 South Reading,
424
Westfield,
299
Peru,
86 | Southwick,
287
Westford,
441
Petersham,
596
Spencer,
605
Westhampton,
344
Phillipston,
598
Springfield,
289
Westminster, 617
Pittsfield,
87
Sterling,
606
West Newbury,
232
Plainfield, .
335
Stockbridge,
94
Weston,
441
Plymouth,
513
Stoneham,
428
Westport,
146
Plymouth County,
493
Stoughton,
West Springfield,
304
Plympton,
523
Stow,
428
West Stockbridge,
102
Prescott,
337
Sturbridge,
607
Weymouth, 489
Princeton,
598
Sudbury,
429
Whately,
275
Provincetown,
49 Sunderland,
272
Wilbraham, 307
Sutton,
609
Williamsburg,
344
Quincy,
478
Suffolk County,
532
Williamstown,
103
Randolph, . 481
Winchendon,
617
Raynham,
130
Taunton,
141
Windsor,
109
Reading,
422
Templeton,
610
442
Rehoboth,
132
Tewksbury,
430
Worcester,
618
Richmond,
88
Tisbury,
154
Worcester County,
550
Rochester,
524
Topsfield,
230
Worthingham, 345
Rowe,
269
Tolland,
298
Rowley,
217
Townsend,
431
Roxbury,
482
Truro,
54
Yarmouth, 58
INDEX.
Der
Page.
Adams houses, Quincy,
480
Ashley, Col. John, epitaph, . 94
Alden, Licut. J., cpitaph,
496
Atheneum, Boston,
. 541
Allen, Capt. John, epitaph,
201
Athencum at Nantucket,
· 446
Allen, George, epitaph,
138
Atherton, H., epitaph,
466
Americans killed at Lexington,
400
Ames, Fisher, notice of,
462
Auburn, Mt., cemetery,
. 360
Ancient church, W. Springfield,
306
Ancient house in Dcerfield,
251
Baptist church, first in Massachusetts, . 514
Andross, seizure of,
26
Bancroft, J., epitaph, 423 .
Anecdote, revolutionary, New Salem,
264
Barnard, Rev. J., epitaph,
· 206
Annawon, capture of, Annawon's rock, view of,
134
Bean, Rev. J., epitaph, .
· 492
Antiquarian Hall, Worcester,
620
Beers, Capt., surprised and slain, . 266 .
Arabella, lady,
19
Bell Tavern at Danvers, 174
Ark in Pawtucket river,
129
Bills of credit, first, 26
Armory buildings, Springfield,
. 294 Blackstone canal, .
. 622
Las
Ancient house in Stockbridge,
98
Bailey, T. and L., epitaphs, . 439
135
Battle of Lake George, account of,
. 236
Swanzey,
139
Wilmington, .
442
Wrentham, 491
Svg Corve
Page.
Page.
329
Salem,
218
514
Sandwich,
51
.
487
Woburn,
Page.
Atherton, Rev. Mr., preservation, . 327
INDEX.
vii
Page.
Page. 132 Fare, bill of, on Cape Cod, 39
181 Fairhaven, attack on, ·
120
540 Fall fight, Turner's falls, 254
385 Faneuil Hall, view of,. 543
140
186
248
Father's Choice, poetry, by Mrs. Hale, Fearing, Maj. Israel, bravery of, Fire at Newburyport, account of, Fire at Shrewsbury,
212
548
603
533
480
Boston in 1663, .
534
449
Four Corners village, Middleborough, 513
Franklin, Benjamin, notice of, 549
French Protestants at Oxford, 593
Gage, Gen., residence, Danvers, Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard, Gerry, Hon. Elbridge, notice of, . Gloucester, strange occurrences at, Glover, Brigadier Gen., notice of, . Glover, John, epitaph,
205
Breck, Rev. R., epitaph,
298 377
Gookin, Maj. Gen., notice of,
376
Brookfield, attack on,
559
Gosnold's discoveries, &c., 1602, . Gray Lock, an Indian, .
146
Brown, Capt. J.,
428
303
Bryant, Wm. C., notice of,
317
36
Bug, singular account of,
108
Green, Joseph, Rev., inscription, Groton attacked by Indians, .
391
355 259 Hale, old Mr., singularities of, Harvard, Rev. John, Harvard University, 357
Cabotville, Springfield,
296
Cargill, Hugh, epitaph,
386
Cesar, a slave, epitaph on,
115
HIcath, Maj. Gen. William, Hermit, Timothy Leonard,
486 84
Chabanakongkomun, Indian town, Chapman, Thomas, epitaph,
258
341
Chauncy, Rev. J., epitaph, ·
326
298
Cheese, the mammoth,
67
House on Cape Cod,
46
Horn Pond, Woburn, .
444
541
Hospital, State Lunatic, Hospital, Mass. General,
. 540
49
. 469
377
395
Coit, I., Dr., epitaph,
289
476
357
Hutchinson, Mrs., account of,
20
382 35
Indian church in Marshpee, 150 Indians on Martha's Vineyard, Indians, first church of, 416
48
Coin, first in New England, .
22
Cornette, L., epitaph,
493
Indian traditions, Nantucket, Indian tradition, Dighton,
447
Correction, house of,
537
119
Indians christianized,
154
Inoculation of small-pox, Iron forge, first, 131
Daggett, Rev. Naphtali, taken prisoner, 114
Danforth, Capt. J., notice of,
350
Jack, John, epitaph on, 386
Jerusalem, New, church, tenets, 515
Judson, Rev. E., epitaph, 94
Doolittle's engravings, 398
261
Dummer academy, oldest in N. E., 208
Dustin, Mr. and Mrs., escape, 184
East Cambridge, view of,
356
East Boston, view of,
538
Eaton, Gen., notice of, 278
98
145
170
398, 399
508
Eliot's translation, anecdote, .
417
387
Eliot, Rev. John, notice of,.
484
Lowell, Chevalier's account of, Lyman, Rev. H. epitaph, 334
· 408
362
Lynn, poetic description of settlers, Lyon, Marcus, murder of,
. 195
309
Bloodshed, first in Philip's war, Bloody Brook, attack of, Bordwell, E., epitaph, Boston, evacuation of, Boston harbor first visited,
Boston massacre, 1770, Boundary line between Connecticut ? and Massachusetts,
Bours, Rev. Peter, epitaph, . . Bowditch, Hon. Nathaniel, notice of, Bradford, Hon. W., epitaph,
523
. 149
Brainerd, David, notice of,
333
· 205
Breck, J., epitaph,
334
· 179
Breck, Rev. Robert, epitaph,
413
298
Bridge, Rev. E., epitaph,
Bunker Hill battle, Burk, Major John, journal of,
368
236
Holyoke, Mt., view from, Holyoke, Mrs. Mari, epitaph, House, oldest in N. E.,
528
295 225
621
505
Howe, L., singular monument of, . Howe, Rev. Mr., of Hopkinton, . Hubbard's Indian Wars, notice of, Hutchinson, Gov., notice of,
193
Cotton, Rev. J., epitaph,
421
Cushman, T., epitaph,
240
452
Konkapot, Indian captain, 95
Landing, first celebration of, 520 Lathrop, Rev. Joseph, notice of, 307
Law decisions, curious, . Le Baron, Dr., notice of,
21
526
130
Edwards, Rev. Jonathan,
Eels in Merrimac river, Elizabeth Islands, Martha's Vineyard, . Elegy on Rev. Mr. Whitefield,
150'
215
Lincoln, Benjamin, Maj. Gen., Louisburg, capture of, Lovell's fight,
28
Epitaphs, Latin, Cambridge, . Eustiss, William, epitaph, 401
Execution of Daley and Halligan, . 333
546
288
206 226
172
11 404 440 614 56
14 6 530 140 199 141 44
32 41 46
2 39
3 2
2
Blackstone, William, account of, . Blceders, notice of persons so called, Blind, institution for, Bliss, Rev. D., epitaph,
100 611 612
999 439 422 349 529 $13
120
264
Fisk, Rev. Moses, epitaph, Folger, Peter, notice of,
Day, first printer, 358
Dighton rock, inscriptions, &c., 117
446
Chicopee village, Springfield, Church, first Protestant in America, Churches, list of, Boston, Church, ancient, at Hingham, Clams, account of taking, Clark, Rev. T., epitaph, Coffin, Admiral Sir Isaac,
564
Historical Society, Mass.
541
College commons, ancient, Concord, action at, Congregational church, first, Convention at Hatfield,
328
Dorrellites, account of, .
Leonard house in Raynham, . Leonard, Zephaniah, epitaph, Lexington, views in, ·
viii
INDEX.
Page.
298 Saddle Mountain, view of, 64
115 Salt, manner of making, 40 .
549 Samoset, account of, 14
203 Scammel, Gen. Alexander,
588
15
Sea serpent, account of, . Seal of Massachusetts, &c., Sergeant, Rev. John, 96
219
Massachusetts, Fort, .
64
15
74
Mather, Cotton, notice of,
548
297
Mattapoisett village,
524
Sheffield, remarkable occurrences in, Sherman, Rev. J., epitaph, .
93 439
McLean Asylum, Monument mountain,
72
123
Monument at Concord, .
335
59
Monument at Bloody Brook, .
247
536
Monument at Bunker Hill,
373
361
Monument at Danvers, .
174
29
Monis, Rabbi Judah, ·
590
Standish, Capt., notice of,
17, 499
Mountain Miller, account of, .
336
State prison, Charlestown,
367
Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary,
339
State-house, Boston, 542
99
Murder of Miss Mckinstry, . .
144
332
Nahant, account of, .
197
Superstition of an Irishman, . Swamp fight, Narragansetts, Swift, Rev. J., epitaph, .
389
. Newspaper, first in America, 544
419
Old colony seal, 522
Oldtown harbor,
152
Ordination at Woburn,
443
Ordination at Salem,
220
Tornado at Salisbury, .
228
· Ossian, quotation from, . 259
. Otis, James, notice of, . 35
Page, " Old Governor,", 565
Paine, Robert Treat, notice of, Paper-mill, first in N. E., 477
145
Tuttle, Mr., killed by mistake,
263
Ursuline convent,
368
Van Rensselaer, Mr. remarkable preservation of, . 73
24
Vale of West Boylston, 616
526
227
Walker, J., epitaph, 328
521
Ward, Judge, intrepidity of, 624
604
Wachusett, Mt., view of,
600
Wadsworth, Capt., killed,
430
Wamesit, an Indian town,
404
143
Warren, Gen., notice of,
485
78
Washington elm, . 359
326
421 Webster, Hon. Daniel, residence, .
512
Punkapoag, Indian town,
Puritans, account of,
Pynchon house, Springfield, .
292
Wells, J., escape from the Indians, Whale fishery, Whaling song, by Dr. Osborn,
448
Quakers, laws against,
23
53
543 Whitman, Eliza, notice of,
175 214
Williams, Mrs., killed by Indians,
258
Williams, Rev. S., epitaph, .
334
Witchcraft at Andover,
163
Rocks, sacrifice, Plymouth, . Rock, writing, at Dighton,
522
Witchcraft at Danvers, ..
172
. 117
Witchcraft, notice of, 27
221
187
Wood's hole, Falmouth, 44
326 Wood, Capt. David, epitaph, 45
601
Woodcock, John, notice of,. · 111
59
Thompson, E., epitaph,
512
Thomas, Isaiah, notice of,
621
Townsend, Daniel, epitaph,
199
Treat, Rev. Mr., burial of, Turner's falls,
43
Turner, Capt., killed, 255
254
Parsons, Theophilus, notice of, Paskhomuch, Indian attack on, Pear tree, ancient, Eastham, . Perkins, Jacob, notice of, Philip's war,
215
318
42
216
Philip, King, draught by,
Pickering, Timothy, epitaph, . Pilgrim Society,
Pilgrim Hall,
519
Pilgrim Fathers, landing of, . Pirates at Saugus,
230 12
Plymouth settlers, names of, . Pool, Miss, monument of, Powder mill explosion at Lee, Pratt, Mr., great age of,
Prentice, Capt. T., epitaph, .
488 Wesleyan academy at Wilbraham, 9 Weld, Rev. Mr., notice of,
113
257
Quincy Market, Boston,
Quincy, Josiah, epitaph,
Quinsigamond lake,
·
Regicides, Goffe and Whalley, Robbins, Dr., library,
323
525
Rock, fractured, Sunderland, .
. 273
.
Rogers, Rev. E., epitaph, .
Rolfe, Rev. Mr., killed by Indians, Russell, Rev. J. and Mrs., epitaph, Rutland, incursion of Indians,
Page.
Mallefuild, J., epitaph, .
Mann, Bazaleel, and Dr., epitaph, . Marine Hospital, Chelsea, .
Marblehead, description of, 1720, Marriage, first, notice of,
Massasoit, sickness of, .
16
Massachusetts patent,
Shaker village in Hancock, Shays' defeat at Springfield, .
Mayhew, Gov.,
154
366
Shipwreck of the pirate Bellamy, . Skeleton, &c., found at Fall River, Snake attack on Nauhaught, South Boston, view of, .
Spurzheim, monument of, Stamp Act, . ·
Stockbridge Indians, account of, Stoddard, Rev. Mr., preservation of, Stone, Capt. J., epitaph, " Striped Pig," &c.
386
Nashoba, Indian town, . 402
Navy yard, Charlestown, 365 .
24
Nonantum, Indian settlement, .
Tappan, Benj., epitaph, 201
Tea, destruction of, 547
Thatcher, Col. J., notice of, .
130
137
Newman, Rev. Mr., remarkable death, . 133
Mugford, Capt. James, .
210
Ward, Artemas, Hon., epitaph,
13
272 Webster, John, epitaph,
308
481 Whitefield, notice of, monument, &c., 603 Willet, Capt. Thomas, notice of, Williams, Hon. I., epitaph, .
138
328
. 218 Witchcraft, Cotton Mather's account,
180
57
MASSACHUSETTS
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MASSACHUSETTS.
OUTLINE HISTORY.
MASSACHUSETTS,* the oldest of the New England states, and the first in population and resources, was first permanently settled by Europeans at Plymouth, on the 22d of December, 1620. There is good reason to believe that the first civilized people who visited the territory now comprised within the limits of the state, were the Norwegians, who emigrated from Iceland, and formed a settlement on the coast of Greenland in A. D. 986. From this place, in A. D. 1000, a ship, with a crew of thirty-five men, proceeded southward on a voyage of discovery. From the account of their voyage, which is still preserved, it appears highly probable that they sailed as far south as Narragansett bay, near the head of which it is supposed they passed the winter. It also appears that after this period they made other voyages along the coast, and even attempted settlements, of the fate of which we have no information.
About the period of the commencement of the seventeenth century, the English sovereigns maintained a despotic power over the con- sciences of their subjects. All who dissented from the national creed established by law were persecuted with great rigor. The avowed maxim in that age, adopted by religious as well as political rulers, was, that uniformity in religion was essential to the peace of society; and that it was therefore the right and duty of every sovereign to maintain it in his dominions, by the force of law and punishment.
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