USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with genealogical registers > Part 2
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JOHN BRADFORD,
JOHN WADSWORTH,
JAMES WARREN,
Agents for
Plymouth. JOHN ALDEN, .
Selectmen of Duxbury.
NATHL. THOMAS,
THOMAS LORING,
1735. Voted, That the line between Kingston and Dux- bury remain the same, as it was between Plymouth and Dux- bury. Kingston, which had been previously known as Jones River Parish, was set off from Plymouth and incorporated in 1726, although no mention of the line between it and Dux- bury appears before the above date.
1751. The line between Duxbury and Pembroke, estab- lished. Pembroke was set off from Duxbury in 1711-2; yet I find in the Records no mention of a line earlier than this.
1 POPULATION.
WE have no satisfactory means of ascertaining the popula- tion of the town at early periods. In 1643, however, there are eighty-two persons mentioned as able to bear arms, being between the ages of 16 and 60, and allowing that they were
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HIGHWAYS, ETC.
one in five, which is a fair estimate, we should judge the popu- lation at that time to have been over 400. We might also conclude that the town was less populous than many others of the colony, from the fact that her quota of the various bodies of men raised by the colony was uniformly lower. In 1646 there were 27 freemen; in 1670, 34; in 1683-4, 40. In 1710, there were 175 heads of families, and allowing that they were one in six or seven, we estimate the number at that time at about 1100. In 1790, it was 1454; in 1800, 1664; in 1810, 2201; in 1820, 2403; in 1830, 2716; and in 1840, 2798.
PATHS, HIGHWAYS, AND BRIDGES.
1634, Oct. 1. The Colony Court appointed Capt. Standish, William Collier, Jonathan Brewster, William Palmer, and Stephen Tracy to lay out highways in Duxburrow, before Nov. 15 of the same year.
1637. A Jury of 12 (four from Duxbury, viz., Love Brew- ster, Experience Mitchell, Philip Delanoy, Moses Simmons,) were impanneled, "to set forth heigh wayes about Plymouth, Ducksburrow and the Eele River."
The road through Duxbury began at the ferry at Jones River, and thence by Stephen Tracy's to the bridge at John Rogers', thence by Jonathan Brewster's cowyard, through a valley near the house of Mr. Prence, thence by Christopher Wadsworth's " whose pallasadoe is to be removed," thence to Francis Sprague's, and then fell into the way, that leads " from Morton's hole to Ducksburrow Towne."
From this main path there branched off one, going to the Nook to accommodate Standish and Brewster, and returning by William Basset's and Francis Sprague's, through an an- cient path, joined again the highway .*
There was also a path from the "Cut," passing between Basset's and Sprague's to the town.
From Wadsworth's, the path led through Sprague's and Basset's orchards, thence through John Washburn's land to Wm. Palmer's gate, thence through Peter Brown's land to the westward of Henry Howland's house, thence through a marsh to Mr. John Alden's, thence through a valley by the corner of Philip Delanoy's farm to Edward Bumpasse's, and thence by Rowland Leyhorne's house to Greens harbor.
* This was, however, in 1638, made over to these parties, to be kept in repair by them as a private way.
3
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HIGHWAYS, ETC.
From Howland's an upper path was laid out. Note. From the above record the position of the first settlers' habitations can be readily ascertained.
1638. Ordered that the bridge over Jones River be made passable for carts.
Court ordered John Washburn and Joseph Rogers to repair the highways.
'1639. Ordered that six from Plymouth and three from Duxbury be appointed to assess the charges of both towns for Jones River bridge.
1644. John Rogers and Joseph Rogers were appointed to lay out roads.
1647. The treasurer (Standish) was ordered to have Jones River bridge repaired. 1650, this bridge was presented as being dangerous for man and beast. 1655, John Howland and Constant Southworth were ordered to agree with work- men to mend the same. 1665, a new bridge was ordered over Jones River.
1650. A way from Jones River through John Rogers' farm to the Massachusetts path was laid out.
1665. A highway, 40 feet wide, laid out through John Holmes' " to the common rode into the bay."
1665. These were "impaneled upon a jury for the laying forth of a footway through the lands of Moses Simons and Samuell Chanler,"-
George Soule, Sen., William
Philip Delano, Sen.,
Roger Glass,
Experience Mitchell, Joseph Prior,
Edmund Weston,
Samuel Hunt,
Francis West,
John Sprague.
Abraham Sampson,
1682. North River Bridge. A cart bridge was ordered to be built over the North River, near Barstow's foot bridge, by Scituate, Marshfield and Duxbury ; and Duxbury was then freed from any longer repairing Jones River bridge. The cost was for Scituate £10, for Marshfield and Duxbury £5 each ; but Mannamoiett was to bear 20s. of Duxbury's part.
1684, Oct. 24. These were a jury to lay out " the rode from Marshfield bounds to Plimoth Rode," and a "hiway from Jones River bridge to North River bridge."
Edw. Southworth, Isaac Barker,
Francis Barker, . Lt. Hunt, Elnathan Weston, John Sprague,
Abraham Sampson, Jr.,
John Russell,
Caleb Sampson,
Benj. Bartlett, Jr.,
Josiah Holmes.
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HIGHWAYS, ETC.
1702, Nov. 30. There were appointed to lay out public roads,-Seth Arnold, Francis Barker and Samuel Bradford.
1715. Road from the Nook was laid out, 30 feet wide, Mar. 26th ; and one from the point, 40 feet wide, May 21st.
1722. Road laid out, 30 feet wide, from Asa Delano's, by the Cranberry factory, to the meeting house.
1741. A highway was laid out over South River, at the Saw-mill dam.
1766, March 31st. A road, laid out from the Captain's Nook to the Plymouth Road, was accepted by the Town.
Sept. 22. Voted, to lay out a road from the Plymouth Road to Powder point.
1768. Road across the Major's pasture. - May 14, Major Alden may have liberty to place a gate at the highway going into Powder point, if he will allow a cartway into Powder point across his farm. [Two or three years since, this road was accepted by the town, and has become a public highway.]
1798. Washington Street, now so called, is the main tho- roughfare of the town, and was this year projected, extending from Powder point to the head of the road, coming from the Nook. The first projectors of this road for a long time were its only advocates. They were Seth Sprague, Ezra Weston, Joshua Winsor. and Samuel Delano, and among the number of the most influential citizens of the town. They at their own expense employed an attorney to plead their cause before the Court of Sessions, where he was met by another attorney, who acted in behalf of the town. Their project was never- theless sanctioned by the Court, and the road was accordingly laid out. and completed in the course of two years. - Soule's Sprague Family Memorial.
1803. Blue-fish River bridge. In order to fully accom- plish the design of the last mentioned road, it was necessary that a bridge should be built over the Bluefish River ; and this was opposed with equal exertions on the part of most of the inhabitants, who argued that, as the river was navigable, the Court had no power to order an erection of a bridge over it. At various meetings, from 1800 to 1803, this question was agitated with much animated discussion, and opposed chiefly on account of its great cost ($3000 at least). To meet this objection a scheme was formed by the projectors, who agreed, privately, to build the bridge and dam conjointly, according to a prepared model. They then petitioned for a town meet- ing, which was accordingly convened on the second Monday in February, 1803; when, as they expected, the arguments of opposition turned upon the enormous expense. At this junc- ture, Mr. Sprague moved that the town agree to build the bridge, after the model there exhibited, provided any respon- sible man would undertake the work for $1500, which motion
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BRIDGES.
was carried without any opposition. Thereupon one of them, Joshua Winsor, arose and accepted the offer of the town, rather to its surprise.
On the following day preparations were commenced for the immediate erection of the bridge, by the contractor and his associates. Yet some of the opposition threatened to call another meeting to reconsider their vote; but the work pro- ceeded so rapidly, that before this threat could be executed, it ' was quite too late to think of retracting.
The work, which was begun in April, was finished on the 3d of July following, to the satisfaction of the Committee of the town (Samuel A. Frazar, Ezra Weston and Isaiah Alden), who had been appointed to oversee and inspect the work of construction.
The next day, being the Fourth of July, was one of uncom- mon interest to the inhabitants of Duxbury. The bridge was in some measure decorated, and a temporary arch erected over it, on which was perched a broad spread eagle of wood, bore this motto - from Jefferson's inaugural address - " Peace, Friendship, and Commerce with all Nations; entangling Alli- ances with none." And on the reverse, " Commerce, Agricul- ture, Fishery." The two military companies of the town, under Captains Dingley and Alden, paraded, and after escort- ing a large party of ladies and gentlemen to the bridge, they formed in a line on each side, while the procession passed between, and then proceeding a short distance they turned, and recrossing the bridge marched to the hill on the southerly side of the River, where the projectors had prepared a boun- tiful entertainment. Mr. Sprague presided at the tables, and in the devoration of the sumptuous viands before them, many of the opposition received a check to their feelings of animosity, (if they had any,) and amid the scenes of mirth and rejoicings, many were the thanks expressed for the final completion of that much opposed, yet ably vindicated scheme. The day was remarkably pleasant, and everything that transpired seemed to pass off in happiness, and it is still re- membered by the aged yet amongst us, as one of peculiar gratification and enjoyment.
The contractors were losers to some extent by their under- taking; but the ultimate cost of the work to the town was only $400, the mill privilege, created by the dam, having been disposed of for $1100 *.- Sprague Memorial.
'There is an amusing account of some of the incidents con-
* This was bought by Jedediah Holmes, of Kingston, who sold it to Samuel A. Frazar, Reuben Drew, Dea. George Loring and others, and the mill was soon afterwards built. It next passed into Mr. Edward Winslow's hands.
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SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.
nected with the erection of this bridge, which has once before been in print, yet still will bear it again. The authorship has been attributed by some to Dr. Rufus Hathaway, and by others to Major Judah Alden. One short paragraph is omit- ted, as it seems " to mar the unity of the subject by irrelevant matters."
" And it came to pass in the days of Cæsar, the King, that he commanded his servant Joshua, saying, get thee up a jour- ney into the land of the Hanoverites, to Benjamin, the Scribe, and say unto him, I, Cæsar, the King, have sent forth my de- cree, and commanded that the people in the land of Sodom shall no longer be separated from the Westonites, the Drew- ites. and the Cushmanites, that dwell on the north side of the great river Blue-fish. And also command Benjamin, the Scribe, that he forthwith make out a petition and convey it to the judges and magistrates of our land, commanding that they straightway direct the Sodomites, the Westonites, and all the other Ites, within our borders, to build a bridge over the great river Blue-fish. So the Judges and Magistrates, fearing Cæsar, the King, and Joshua, his servant, commanded that the bridge be built according to Cæsar's decree. But it came to pass that there arose up certain of the tribes of Judah and Levi and of Samuel, and of the Chandlerites, and others most learned in the law, and showed unto the Judges and Magis- trates, that Cæsar, the King, had done wickedly, in command- ing what was unlawful to be done, and so by the voice of the multitude the decree was set aside. And it came to pass that Cæsar and the Sodomites wrought the minds of the people, and cast such delusions before their eyes, that they had fear before Cæsar, the King, and at length resolved to build the bridge, and connect Cæsar's dominions to the land of Sodom. And now behold Cæsar, the King, has erected an arch fifty cubits high, on that bridge, which the people, in their folly, have built, - and set up an image over on the top of the arch, and commanded all the people from the land of Sodom on the south, the Westonites and all the other tribes in the north to assemble on the fourth day of the seventh month, and bow their heads to the image which the King has set up. And behold the people assembled according to the King's decree, and did as he had commanded."
EARLY SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.
There appear to have been none appointed before 1640, when the bounds of Duxbury were first fixed.
1640. Experience Mitchell, Constant South worth.
1641. Joseph Bidle, Samuel Nash.
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SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.
1642. Edmund Hawes.
1644. John Rogers, William Sherman.
1645. John Maynard, Edmund Hunt.
1646. William Merrick, Moses (?) Truant.
1647. Edward Hall, John Brown.
1648. Francis Sprague, Abraham Sampson.
1649. John Starr, John Washburn.
1650. John Starr, John Washburn.
1651. Thomas Gannet, John Aimes.
1652. Edmund Weston, Thomas Boney.
1654. Joseph Andrews, Robert Barker.
1655. Thurston Clark, Zachariah Soule.
1656. Henry Howland, John Tracy, Thomas Ensign.
1657. Moses Simmons, Francis Sprague.
1658. Experience Mitchell, Francis West.
1659. Jonathan Shaw, Wm. Clark.
1662. Christopher Wadsworth, Moses Simmons.
1663. Mr. Samuel Seabury, Samuel Hunt.
1666. Joseph Wadsworth, Samuel Chandler.
1668. George Partridge, Henry Howland.
1669. John Rogers, Sen., Roger Glass.
1671. John Wadsworth, Samuel West.
1672. Robert Barker, John Soule, Joseph Howland.
1673. John Hudson, Joseph Wadsworth, Josiah Wormall.
1674. John Rogers, Jr., Peter West, Isaac Barker.
1675. John Rogers, Sen., Joseph Wadsworth, Joseph Rogers. 1676. John Rogers, Jr., Thomas Delano.
1677. George Partridge, Peter West, Robt. Barker, Sen. 167S. John Rogers, Abraham Sampson, William Tubbs.
1679. Robt. Barker, Sen., John Tracy, Wrestling Brewster. 1680. John Wadsworth, Peter West, John Hudson.
1681. George Partridge, Joseph Wadsworth, Josiah Holmes. 1682. John Rogers, Edmund Weston, Abraham Peirce. 1685. John Simmons, Joseph Howland, William Tubbs. 1687. Wrestling Brewster, R. Barker, Jr., Elnathan Weston. 1689. Joseph Wadsworth, John Russell, John Simmons. 1690. James Partridge, James Bishop, John Tracy.
1691. Philip Delano, John Boney, James Partridge.
1692. Elnathan Weston, John Russell.
1694. Wrestling Brewster, John Boney, John Soule.
NOTE. Those for 1643, 53, 60, 61, 64, 65, 67, 70, 83, 84, 86, 88, and 94, appear not to have been recorded.
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ANCIENT LANDMARKS.
ALLERTON'S HILL. An early mention is made of a hill of this name, which was probably called after Isaac Allerton, one of the first Pilgrims, though I cannot find him mentioned as a resident of Duxbury at any time.
NORTH HILL. This name was given to the eminence which now bears it, by the earliest settlers, in whose vicinity were settled some of the principal men of the town, and around which large grants were made.
CAPTAIN'S HILL. This hill formed a part of an early grant to Captain Standish, who settled near its base, and whose name it still bears. It is situated on a peninsula, which ex- tends in a southeasterly direction, between the bays of Dux- bury and Plymouth, and contains about two or three hundred acres of good soil, little inferior to any in the country in fertil- ity. While in other portions of the town the soil is sandy and unproductive, and a considerable part in no state of cultiva- tion, this peninsula is furnished with a deep and fertile soil. The same may be said of the highland on the Gurnet, Saquish and many other similar spots around the bay, where the soil is in immediate proximity to the sea. Clark's Island in some parts possesses a mould, which if equalled, is scarcely surpas- sed in the county ; and while the northern and western sides offer the most desirable qualities for pasturage and grain, its southern and eastern declivities present a perfect garden, abounding with trees, through whose foliage, even during the summer's hottest months, stir the breezes from the sea .*
* This Island, called by Hutchinson " one of the best islands in Massa - chusetts bay," contains 863 acres of land, and was anciently well covered with a fine growth of trees, (as were also the Gurnet and Saquish,) as ap- pears by various records, wherein are mentioned " the woods thereupon." Morton erroneously describes it as between the Gurnet and Saquish. Of its original forest of red cedar, only three decayed trunks now remain, and having borne the blasts of many a winter, still stand " silent monitors of the past." It is memorable as being the spot, where that devoted Pilgrim band first landed in their voyage of discovery from Cape Cod. Having come under the lee of the island during the night of Friday, December 9th, they landed on the following day, and here kept the Christian Sabbath, while " the dim woods rang to the anthems of the free." Ought not this to cause peculiar attractions hither ? Should not a descendant like to wit- ness the scene of his father's rejoicings - rejoicings, as it were, on the threshold of eternity ? Think of their situation ; - in an unknown harbor, separated from their wives and children, did this band of discoverers pro- long the strains of anthems and rejoicing chorus, till the woods reechoed their praises, and sent their thanksgiving to a propitious Heaven.
It received its name from Clark, the mate of the Mayflower, who, it is said, " first stepped on shore thereon."
In early times salt was made on the Island, and it was also reserved for
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CAPTAIN'S HILL.
The summit of the hill is about 400 yards from the sea, and 180 feet above its level, and when once attained presents a view to him who communes with nature, and who has pon- dered over the history of the early Pilgrims, is acquainted with their character, and has conceived the purpose of their exile, - to him it presents a spectacle which has in times past, and which, I conceive, must ever cause an impression on his mind, not easily forgotten and scarcely to be eradicated. Full as it is of the most pleasing associations, it calls up in the mind of the beholder those reminiscences, which gladden his heart and arouse his soul into being, and clothe him with all the nobler feelings of mankind, dormant as they may lie with- in the deep recesses of his heart.
Nor is the loveliness of the scene itself any the less an effi- cient agent of holy influences, - both cause one to tremble, irresistibly, and to offer praise to his Maker. The circum- stances, to be sure, add to the attractions of the spot ; but its beauty, its simplicity of grandeur, its busy scenes, and its still silent loneliness give to it a power, whose effects need not be mentioned.
Select, should you visit it, the closing hours of a summer's day, when the burning heat of the declining sun is dispelled by the cooler shades of approaching evening, and ascend to its height. Now as the retiring rays of day form on the heavens above a gorgeous canopy of variegated hues, so on nature's face below, all brightens into richness, and the verdure of her covering softens into mildness ; - the shining villages around, and the village spires towering against a background of un- fading green, add gladness to the scene. The glassy surface of the bay within, with its gentle ripplings on the shore be- neath. - the music of the dashing waves on the beach with- out, give quiet to the mind and peace within.
Before you, in the distance at the east, appear the white
the poor of the town of Plymouth, who obtained their wood and pastured their cattle there. It was early set apart for the pasturage of sheep, whose increase the colonists much strove for, and as early as July 1, 1633, it was ordered, that " no sheep be sold out of the colony, under penalty of forfeit- ing their due value."
During Philip's war it became an asylum for some of the praying Indians of the colony, and a protection against the attacks of their hostile brothers. In 1675, the Council of War ordered, that the " Namassachusett Indians be speedily removed to Clarkes Iland, and ther to remaine and not to depart from thence without lycence from authoritie upon paine of death."
The island was sold in 1690 to Samuel Lucas, Elkanah Watson, and Geo. Morton. A descendant of Watson now resides there. It is often a resort of parties of pleasure in the summer season from the neighboring towns, who find in the cool and shady retreats on its southeastern slope a place to make merry with dance and song, and an appetite to ease their tables of their delicious viands.
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CAPTAIN'S HILL.
sand hills of Cape Cod, shining beyond the blue expanse, and seeming to encircle by its protecting barrier a spot dear to the heart of every descendant of that Pilgrim band. Still nearer, at your feet and before you, are the pleasant bays of Plymouth, Kingston and Duxbury, enlivened by passing boats, and shel- tered from a raging ocean by the beach, crowned at its south- ern extremity by a light-house, and with the extending arm of Saquish enclosing the Island of the Pilgrims ; - turning your eyes to the south, they fall in succession on the promon- tory of Monamet; on the ancient town of Plymouth, rising beneath, and as if under the protection of the mound beyond, the resting-place of the pilgrim's dead; on the villages of Rocky Nook and of Kingston : - Extending your eye over the extent of forest to the northwest, you see the Blue Hills of Milton, ascending far above the surrounding country ; while nearer, at the north, are the villages of Duxbury and Marsh- field, scattered over the fields, whose white cottages, shining in the sun, offer a pleasing contrast to the scene. Below you and around you once arose the humble abodes of the Pilgrims. Who can gaze upon the spot which marks the site of the dwelling of Standish, without feelings of emotion ? who can but give thanks that that spirit,
" A spirit fit to start into an empire, And look the world to law,"
had been sent amongst them, to be their counsel in peace and their protection in danger ? Who can but admire its ready adaptation to a sphere of action so totally different from the school of his youth ? Here also arose the dwelling of Brews- ter, who having followed in his youth in the retinue of kings and princes, preferred a solitary retreat in the western wilds, and there to worship his God in peace. Here too was the abode of Collier, who under every circumstance of danger strove with unceasing toil in the discharge of every duty ne- cessary to the welfare and prosperity of the colony. Here too can be seen the spot whereon was the habitation of Alden, whose prudent counsels and whose rigid justice attained for him a rank in the estimation of the colony, alike an honor to himself and a subject of pride to his descendants.
Turn your vision as you may, and you will feel that you are gazing on a scene of more than ordinary interest, full of the most grateful recollections, and of a nature the most agree- able and pleasing.
" Scenes must be beautiful, which, daily viewed, Please daily, and whose novelty survives Long knowledge and the scrutiny of years,- Praise justly due to those that I describe."
4
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DUXBURY BAY, ETC.
DUCK HILL, situated in the northeastern part of the town, was called so at a very early date.
THE BAY, comprising the harbors of Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury : It is well known that the pilgrims selected the shores of this bay as their settlement, because they found it commodious and "fit for shipping." The writers of " Mourt's Relation " - which has been ascribed to Bradford and Winslow - thus speak of it in 1622. " This harbour is a bay greater than Cape Cod, compassed with goodly lands, and in the bay two fine. islands * uninhabited, wherein are nothing but woods, oaks, pine, walnut, beech, sassafras, vines and other trees, which we know not. This bay is a most hopeful place, innumerable store of fowle, and excellent good ; and cannot but be fish in their season : Skate, Cod, turbot [i. e. flounder or halibut], and herring, we have tasted of; abundance of muscels, the greatest and best we ever saw ; crabs, lobsters in their time infinite. It is fashion like a sickle or fish-hook."
This is a proof of the abundance of forest trees, in the im- mediate neighborhood of the bay, in early times; and even now the space between the shore and the woodland would not average over a mile in breadth. Of all trees the pine is in the greatest abundance, and chiefly of that species styled pinus rigida, or the pitch pine, as it is commonly called. It is stated by Bradford, in his " Typographical Description of Duxbury," (Hist. Coll. II.) that Capt. Samuel Alden, the son of David, and the grandson of the Pilgrim John Alden, re- membered the time when the white pine ( pinus strobus) first began to grow in Duxbury. Capt. Alden died in 1780, æt. 93, and consequently the date of its appearance must have been about 1700. The oak is also found in many places. Maple, birch, ash, cedar, and walnut also grow here. At the present day nearly one half of the territory of the town is covered with forest, and it is said that no town in the county in pro- portion to its size has larger tracts of woodland. The forests
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