USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Some account of the early history and present state of the town of Quincy, in the commonwealth of Massachusetts > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 Q43wh 1779077
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01101 2769
SOME ACCOUNT
OF THE
EARLY HISTORY
AND
PRESENT STATE
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY, MOM.
IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
BY GEORGE WHITNEY.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
CHRISTIAN REGISTER OFFICE.
S. B. Manning, Printer.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/someaccountofear00whit 0
1779077
View of the Congregational Church in 1827-built in 1732.
:
F 844742 .96
Whitney, George, 1804-1842.
Some account of the early history and present state of the town of Quincy, in the commonwealth of Massachu- setts. By George Whitney. ,Boston Christian register office, S. B. Manning, printer [1827]
64 p. front. 25";".
SHELF CARD
1. Quincy, Mass .-- Hist. Library of Congress Copy 2.
1-11531 Revised
F74.Q7W7
Trimmed to 23tem in binding. tr25c2!
3227
The following pages have been prepared solely for the use of the inhabitants of Quincy, and to them they are now dedicated. The object of the author has been to throw light on a subject, of which, necessarily, very many must have been ignorant ; and, although this may not have been effected in the best manner possible, he is conscious of having done it as well as he could. If the collection shall be found in any degree useful, the purpose will be answered
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[For the benefit of those who may not be acquainted with the subject, I have thought fit to give the following extract from the Preface to Savage's edition of WINTHROP'S JOURNAL.
" Before 1752 the year was, by the legal method of computation, held to begin on the 25th March, Lady-day or Annunciation, so called, from the notion entertained by the church, that the event recorded in the Gospel of Luke, i. 26-38 occurred on that day. The general practice of England had, indeed, several years earlier conformed to that of the rest of Christendom, in making the first of January new-year's day ; and the law at last followed the popular wisdom, as usual, in the correction. It is of more importance, however, to remark, that, in reckoning the months, March was called the first, February the twelfth, September, October, November, and December then having, consistent with their Latin etymology, the numerical rank which is now lost. Yet it is still more important to be noticed, that a very dangerous diversity existed, in styling the year by its old numerical until the 25th March, or giving it the new designation from the beginning of that month."]
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WEYMOUTH LANDING
EAST MEYMOUTH
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SOUTH BRAINTREE
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Quincy Braintree and Weymouth.
Engraved for the Quincy Braintree & Weymouth Directory.
ASIDIDD LEY & CO. PUBLISHERS
& Congress Square.
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7
HISTORY.
THE Town of Quincy, previously to its being set off as a separate town, with the name which it now bears, was for a long time known as the North Precinct of the Town of Braintree. At a still earlier period it formed the only important part of that town. It was here that the settlement of the place first commenced; and, for many years before the division, into North, Middle, and South Precincts, it was known only by the name of Braintree. Tracing its history still far- ther back, we find it bearing the name of Merry and Mare Mount, and lastly Mount Wollaston.
The peculiar situation of the place, and its locality with regard to the water, which rendered it a convenient landing place, seem early to have attracted the attention of those adventurous spirits, who fol- lowed the Pilgrims in their perilous course. In May, 1622, Mr. Weston and his company approached near it, in their settlement at Wesagusquaset, since called Weymouth. That Weston had at first. any intention of making his plantation at Mount Wollaston rather than at Wesagusquaset, may be left as a subject of conjecture; but it cannot be determined with certainty. We have proof only that he was first at Plymouth, and afterwards planted himself at the place. now called Weymouth .*
In 1625, Captain Wollaston, with about thirty others, came over from England, and began a plantation, not far from that already be- gun by Mr. Weston. To this they gave the name of Mount Wollas- ton, from a neighboring hill,f and in honor of their leader. Josselyn says, " This is in the Massachusetts fields where Chicatabat, the greatest Sagamore of the country, lived before the Plague." Ac- cording to Hutchinson, § the place " was known by the name of Mount Wollaston some years after; but at length the name was lost in that of Braintree, of which Town it is a part." Prince, in his Chronolo- gy, speaks thus of the Captain's coming: |" This year (1625), comes over Captain Wollaston with three or four more of some eminence, and a great many servants, provisions, &c. to begin a plantation .- They pitch on a place in the Massachusetts Bay, since named Brain-
* Neal says, this is the most ancient town in the Province of Massachusetts, Vol. 11. pp. 591.
t This Hill is in the Mount Wollaston Farm-now in the possession of the Hon. John Quincy Adams, President of the United States. It is called Mount Wollaston to this day.
Account of two Voyages to New England, by John Josselyn. p. 159.
§ Hutchinson's History, Vol. I. p. 7.
il Prince's New England Chionology. Vol. I. p. 152
8
tree, on the northerly mountainous part thereof, which they call Mount Wollaston: among whom is one Thomas Morton, who had been a kind of petty-fogger at Furnival's Inn."-This man became an im- portant character in the early days of New England; and mention will hereafter be made of him somewhat at length.
Earlier, therefore, than the year 1625, there was probably no set- tlement of civilized men in these parts nearer than Weymouth; at least we have no account of any. Morton, no doubt, came with a patent; but Wollaston had none. Nor is it likely that he made an! purchase of lands from the Indians, but came in a friendly manner. and settled among them.
The fate of the two plantations at Wesagusquaset and Mount Wol- laston seems to have been similar, though from somewhat different causes. Neither continued a very long time. The colony at Wes- agusquaset *" came to an end after one year's continuance." That at Mount Wollaston was reduced exceedingly low, if it was not en- tirely broken up, after the execution of the order of the Court of As- sistants against Thomas Morton. But Weston and Wollaston, the two leading men in these settlements, were quite different in their characters. Weston was wanting in firmness and intrepidity. Wol- laston was bold, decided and persevering. Both, to be sure, lefi their plantations, soon after they had established them; but Weston deserted his rather from caprice than from any good cause for leav- ing. Wollaston left his colony at the Mount, because, as Hubbard says, "after spending much labor, cost and time in planting," things did not answer his expectation. In Wollaston's company, there were men of eminence; but Weston is not mentioned as having any who were distinguished. After Wollaston's departure, through Morton's excessive kindness to the Indians, the plantation became a source of trouble to the other settlements. When Weston had left his men. they became disorderly, riotous and lazy, so that they were objects of scorn to the Indians. Neal, in a humorous manner, speaks thus of them: "" They lived too fast for men that were to begin the world with a little: when they had bartered away all their goods for Indian corn, they sold their clothes and bedding. Some of them became servants to the Indians, and would cut their wood and draw their water for a cap full of corn. The major part turned robbers: but all was too little to supply their wants: some died with hunger; one, as he was gathering shell-fish, stuck fast in the mud, and, being so weak as not to be able to get out, perished in the place. The rest left their dwellings, and lived up and down in the woods, upon ground-nuts and clams, whereby they became the scorn of the In- dians."
Thus both plantations lost all claim to the character they might and ought to have sustained. However the leaders might have dif- fered, we have but little reason to be proud of the peaceful and hon- orable conduct of those connected with them ;- for without doubt Morton deserved as much censure for the trouble he caused the ear- ly men of New-England, as did the followers of Weston for their disgraceful conduct and the example they left behind them.
* See Hutchinson, Vol. I. p. G.
I See Neal's History of New England, Vol. I. D. Vol.
:
1
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It has been said, that Wollaston soon lett his colony at the mount. This was an unfortunate circumstance, both for the welfare of the plantation, and for the peace and quiet of the other settlements .- Had Capt. Wollaston remained with his company, instead of with- drawing from them to Virginia, we have every reason to believe, not only that they who remained would have been spared the difficulties in which Morton afterwards involved them, but that the place would even earlier have become a town. Wollaston possessed every qual- ification necessary for becoming a leader in such an undertaking, and there were those connected with him who might well have served his cause, instead of proving, as did some of them at least, the au- thors of mischief and disturbance.
There is no account of the precise time when Wollaston withdrew to Virginia. From a note in Prince's Chronology I copy these words: " It seems most likely that he tried the crop of this Summer, (1626); and the Autumn is the usual time for the New-England fish- ing ships to go to Virginia." Hence Prince would lead us to inter that he left in the Autumn of 1626. It seems, at least, singular that he should have given up all hopes of having his expectations of the place gratified-only from the experience of one year's crop.
At any rate, Wollaston left his colony in its infancy, and went to Virginia. Ample testimony is given by the carly historians to this fact. It is sufficient to appeal to Prince on the point. f" Captain Wollaston having continued at mount Wollaston some time, and find- :, ing things not answer his expectation, he carries a great part of the servants to Virginia, writes back to Mr. Rasdall, one of his chief part- ners, to carry another part, and appoints Mr. Fitcher his Lieutenant till he or Rasdall returns. But Rasdall being gone, Morton excites the rest to turn away Fitcher to seek his bread among his neighbors, till he can get a pass to England. After this they fall to great licen- tiousness and profaneness."
Nothing is now known of the state of things at the mount, directly after the departure of Captain Wollaston; nor until the time when Morton gained his ascendency, and began that course of conduct which ended in the ruin of the plantation. It is probable that even this was brought about pretty soon.
Thomas Morton was one of the company which came over with Capt. Wollaston. He appears to have acted no conspicuous part be- fore the departure of Capt. Wollaston and Rasdall to Virginia .-- Rasdall, as it seems, was left with the command of the mount by Capt. Wollaston, and being afterwards sent for by him, a man by the name of Filcher (or Fitcher,) was appointed his Lieutenant. By this we may judge that there were others in whom more confidence could be placed than in Morton. From all we can learn respecting his character, he was a man of considerable talents, but artful, dis- honest, and fond of confusion and disorder. He contrived to make himself beloved by the Indians, but was despised and slighted even by the meanest servants in the plantation. The following mention
* See Vol. I. p. 162, note.
+ See Vol. I. p. 162.
10
is made of him in the New England's Memorial. ... But the afore- said Morton, having more craft than honesty, having been a petty- fogger at Furnival's lun, he in the others' absence watches an oppor- tunity, commons being but hard among them, and got some strong drink, and other junkets, and made them a feast, and after they were merry, he began to tell them he would give them good counsel: You see, said he, that many of your fellows are carried to Virginia, and if you stay still until Rasdall's return, you will also be carried away and sold for slaves with the rest: therefore, I would advise you to thrust out this Lieutenant Filcher, and I, having a part in the Planta- tion, will receive you as my partners and consociates, so you may be free from service, and we will converse, plant, trade and live together as equals, or to the like effect. This counsel was easily followed. &c."
" After this they fell to great licentiousness of life in all profane- ness; and the same Morton became Lord of misrule, and maintained as it were a school of atheism, and after they had got some goods into their hands, and got much by trading with the Indians, they spent it as vainly in quaffing and drinking both wine and strong liquors in great excess, as some have reported, ten pounds in a morn- ing, setting up a may-pole, drinking and dancing about it like so many fairies, or furies, rather; yea, and worse practices, as if they had anew revived and celebrated the feast of the Roman's goddess Flo- ra, or the beastly practices of the mad Bacchanalians. The said Morton, likewise, to show his poetry, composed sundry rhymes and verses, * to the detraction and scan- dall of some persons' names which he affixed to his Idle or Idol, may- pole. They changed also the name of their place, and instead of calling it Mount Wollaston, they called it the Merry Mount, as if this jollity would have lasted always. But this continued not long, for shortly after that worthy gentleman, Mr. John Endicott, brought over a patent under the broad seal of England for the government of the Massachusetts, visiting these parts, caused that may-pole to be cut down, and rebuked them for their profaneness, and admonished them to look to it that they walked better; so the place was again changed, and called Mount Dagon."¡
By what means Morton contrived to become so great a favorite with the Indians, will appear from the following extract from the same New-England's Memorial. {" And first he taught the Indians how to use the pieces, to charge and discharge them, and what propor- tion of powder to give the piece, according to the size or bigness of the same, and what shot to use for fowl, and what for deer, and, hav- ing instructed them, he employed some of them to hunt and fowl for him; so as they became somewhat more active in this employment
* See New England's Memorial, p. 136. This book was written by Nathaniel Morton, a long time Secretary to the Court for the jurisdiction of New Plymouth. It has lately been re-published by the Hon. John Davis, and its value is exceedingly enhanced by the interesting and important notes of this learned gentleman.
t Though this name was then given to the Merry Mount, it does not appear that it was ever after called so. Thomas Morton also, in his New Canaan, calls it Passa- nogessit, as will hereafter be seen-but it was not generally known even by that name.
+ New England Memorial. p. 138
.
than any of the English. and when they saw the execution that a piece would do, and the benefit that might come by the same, *
* they accounted their bows and arrows but baubles in comparison of them."
From these extracts we may learn something of Morton's general conduct after the departure of Captain Wollaston and Rasdall. Af- terwards he was sent to England by the authorities of the Massachu- setts; but, as Nathaniel Morton says, *" he returned again into the Country in some short time, with less punishment than his demerits deserved, as was apprehended."
He was afterwards again apprehended and sent to England, where, according to the same author, above referred to, t" he lay a consid- crable time in Exeter gaol; for, beside his miscarriage here in New- England, he was suspected of having murdered a man that had ven- tured monies with him when he first came into New-England." His first arrest was probably in the Spring, or early in the Summer of 1628. In August, 1629, he returned. In about September, 1631, he was again sent to England.Į While in England, in 1632, ho published a book called the New English Canaan.§ This, as one has said, | " is full of invective and misrepresentation. He abounds in the vulgar wit of nick-names. Captain Standish he calls Captain Shrimp. Endicott is styled Captain Littleworth. Mr. Fuller is Dr. Noddy. It is not known, nor will it be worth while to inquire, who are intended by the appellations of Innocence Faircloth, Matthias Charter Party, and Master Bubble." The names given will assist in affording interest to the reader of the book.
I have thought it would be proper to let Morton speak for himself, on the subject of changing the name to TTMare Mount, as he terms it. What he says, will, at least, be found curious, and each one will give the narration as much credit, as from the character of the au- thor, he may think it deserves.
" The Inhabitants of Pasonagessit (having translated the name of their habitation from that ancient salvage name to Ma-re-Mount, and
* New England Memorial, p. 140.
+ Page 140.
¿ He was sent over last in a ship called the " Whale." In allusion to which, hit says, in his book, " they cast their Jonah ashore."
6 This book is now very rarely to be met with. I believe I am safe in saying that there are but two copies in this country. One was, some time ago, in the pos- session of John Quincy Adams. The other was lately presented to the Adams Li- brary of the Town of Quincy, by the Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris.
| See note to New-England Memorial, p. 342.
1 Morton declares that Merry Mount is a " blundering acceptation" of Ma-re. Mount, which last name he uses throughout his singular book. With respect to this, ome have indeed coincided with Morton, and considered Ma-re-Mount the proper name. Those who hold to the name " Mare," are divided into two classes. One being composed of those who say that Mare Mount is derived from the Latin words Mare, the sea, and Mons, a Mount, or mountain -- because the Hill was seen at a great distance off in the sea. This class translate one of the Latin terms, and pre- serve the other-Ma-re-Mount. The other class change only the last letter of the 'wo Latin words --- making it Ma-re-Mont-and consider this term as one of peculiar beauty, referring it to the circumstance that the Hill is washed at its foot by the sea.
Whatever naine Thomas Morton may have given it, we are at least certain of this, that the inhabitants were exceedingly merry-and that the early historians univer -ally consider the proper name to be Merry Mount-derived from this circumstance
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being resolved to have the new name confirmed for a memorial to after ages,) did devise amongst themselves to have it performed in a solemne manner with Revels and merriment after the old English cus- tome, prepared to sett up a May-pole upon the festivall day of Philip and Jacob; and therefore brewed a barrel of excellent beare, and provided a case of bottles to be spent, with other good cheer, for all comers of that day. And because they would have it in a complete form, they had prepared a song fitting the time and present occasion. And upon May-day they brought the May-pole* to the place appoint- ed, with drumes, gunnes, pistols, and other fitting instruments, for that purpose; and there erected it with the help of Salvages, that came thether of purpose to see the manner of our Revels. A goodly pine tree of eighty foote longe was reared up, with a peare of buck- shorns nayled one somewhat neare to the top of it; where it stood as a faire sea marke for directions how to finde out the way to minei host of Ma-re-Mount.
"And because it should more fully appeare to what end it was plac- ed there, they had a ¿Poem in readiness made, which was fixed to the May-pole, to shew the new name confirmed on that Plantation; which (although it were made according to the occurrent of the time, it being Enigmatically composed), puzzelled the Seperatists most pitefully to expound it, which for the better information of the reader I have here inserted.
THE POEM.
Rise, (Edipeus, and if thou canst unfold
What means Caribdis underneath the mould,
When Scilla Sollitary on the ground,
(Sitting in form of Niobe,) was found ;
Till Amphitrites Darling did acquaint Grim Neptune with the tenor of her plaint,
And caus'd him send forth Triton with the sound
Of Trumpet loud at which the Seas were found
So full of Protean formes, that the bold shore Presented Scilla a new parramore,
So stronge as Sampson and so patient, The man who brought As Job himselfe, directed thus by fate her over was named
To comfort Scilla so unfortunate. Sampson Job.
I doe professe by Cupid's beautious Mother
Here's Scogan's choice for Scilla, and none other ;
Though Scilla's sick with greife, because no signe
Can there be found of vertue masculine. Esculapius come, I know right well ; His laboure's lost when you may ring her knell.
. The fatall sister's doome none can withstand, Nor Pitharea's powre who poynts to land, With proclamation that the first of May At Ma-re-Mount shall be kept holly day.
" The setting up of this May-pole was a lamentable spectacle to the precise Seperatists, that lived at New Plymouth. They termed it an Idoll; yea, they called it the Calfe of Horeb; and stood at defiance
* Prince says, this is the only May-pole ever raised in New-England.
t By the term " mine host," is of course to be understood Morton himself. The party, who afterwards arrested him, he calls the " nine worthies of New Canaan."
# This Poem and the song which follows. must be ascribed to Morton.
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with the place, naming it Mount Dagon; threatening to make it a woefull Mount and not a Merry Mount.
" The Riddle for want of CEdipus they could not expound, onely they made some explication of part of it, and say'd it was meant by Sampson Job, the Carpenter of the shipp that brought over a woman to her husband, that had bin there long before, and thrived so well that hee sent for her and her children to come to him; where shortly after hee died; having no reason but because of the sound of those two words; when (as the truth is,) the man they applyed it to was altogether unknown to the author.
" There was likewise a merry song made, which, (to make their Revells more fashionable, ) was sung with a Corus, every man bear- ing his part; which they performed in a daunce, hand in hand, about. the May-pole, whiles one of the company sung, and filled out the good liquor like Ganymedes and Jupiter.
THE SONGE.
Drinke and be merry merry, merry boyes ---- Let all your delight be in Hymen's joyes- Joy to Hymen now the day is come, About the merry may-pole take a roome. Make greene garlons, bring bottles out,
And fill sweet nectar freely about. Uncover thy head, and feare no harme,
For here's good liquor to keepe it warme. Then drink and be merry, &c. Joy to Hymen, &c.
Nectar is a thing assigned By the Deities owne mind- To cure the heart oppress't with greife. And of good liquors is the cheife- Then drinke, &c. Joy to Hymen, &c. .
Give to the melancolly man A cup or two of't now and then ; This physick will soone revive his blood. And make him be of a merrier moode --- Then drinke, &c. Joy to Hymen, &c.
Give to the Nymphe that's free from scorn. No Irisch stuff, nor Scotch over-worne ; Lasses in beaver-coats come away, Vee shall be welcome to us all the day- To drinke, &c. Joy to Hymen, &c.
" This harmless mirth made by younge men (that lived in hope to have wifes brought over to them that would save them a labore to make a voyage to fetch any over,) was much distasted of the precise Seperatists, that keepe much ado about the tyth of mint and cum- min, troubling their braines more than reason would require about things that are indifferent; and from that time sought occasion against my honest Host of Ma-re-Mount to overthrow his ondertak- ings and to destroy his Plantation quite and cleane."*
* See New English Canaan, from p. 132 to 136.
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It cannot but be remarked how very plausible Morton makes his conduct appear ;- but not so precisely did it appear to our scrupu- lous but worthy forefathers. No excuse, perhaps, will be necessa- ry for farther extracts from his singular book.
" The Seperatists, envying the prosperity and hope of the Planta- tion at Ma-re-Mount, (which they perceaved beganne to come for- ward, and to be in a good way for gaine in the Beaver trade), con- spired together against mine host, especially, (who was the owner of that Plantation), and made up a party against him; and mustered up what aide they could; accounting of him as a great monster.
" Many threatening speeches were given out, both against his per- son and his habitation, which they divulged should be consumed with fire ;- and taking advantage of the time when his company, (which seemed little to regard theire threats), were gone up into the inlands to trade with the Salvages for Beavers .- They sct upon my honest Host at a place called Wessaguscus,* where, (by accident,) they found him. The Inhabitants there were in good hope of the subver- sion of the Plantation at Ma-re-Mount, which they principally aymed at, and the rather, because mine host was a man that indeavoured to advance the dignity of the Church of England, which they, (on the contrary part), would labour to vilifie with uncivile termes; enveying against the sacred book of Common Prayer, and mine host, that used it in a laudible manner amongst his family as a practice of piety."i
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