USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with genealogical registers > Part 3
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* That there were formerly two islands in this bay, there appears no doubt in my mind. Yet some say, that Brown's Island was always a shoal, as it now is ; and that Clark's Island and Saquish must be the two islands intended, supposing, in the case of the latter, that the water once flowed between it and the Gurnet, or that the writers of this Relation were misled by the appearance of Saquish, which at this day has the semblance of an island from the main. But with all deference to these opinions, emanating from the most respectable sources, I cannot but think that Brown's Island was at that time above the water, since we have the fact, that stumps of trees have been seen there by persons now living. Mr. Nathaniel Winsor, who died in 1839, aged 93, often assured his children and others, that he himself had seen the stumps of trees on this shoal. See also Judge Davis' Morton's Memorial, Dr. Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, and Richard Soule's Sprague Memorial.
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27
COMMERCE. - WILD FOWL, ETC.
in times past have afforded large quantities of timber for build- ing ships; and a large number of which have been built on its shore ; and none have ever stood higher in point of workman- ship and finish than the Duxbury ships. The Duxbury me- chanics have long been distinguished in this art, and the spe- cimens of their skill have always met with approbation for their fine appearance in the exterior, as well as for their strength and durability. In years past large numbers of ships and barks, as well as of smaller vessels, have been built in Duxbury. In the single year 1837, there were built 11,711 tons. Large numbers have also been owned in Duxbury, and some of the largest ship owners in New England have resided here. The late Mr. Ezra Weston for many years was consid- ered the largest owner in the country, and his sons now living are extensively engaged in the same business. In the year above-mentioned there were owned in Duxbury forty-six ves- sels engaged in the cod and mackerel fishery. - Appendix III.
The bay has been, from the earliest times, a resort of wild sea fowl of every kind, which has often drawn hither crowds of sportsmen. And as early as 1737, the town, through fear of the total destruction of the game, voted to petition the Gen- eral Court to regulate the fowling, "because ye wild fowle have almost forsaken ye said bay." In the northern part there are several islands, formed by the various creeks flowing through the marshes in different directions .* These marshes have always been a favorite place for gunners in search of the flocks of marsh birds, with which they abound; though of late years their numbers have greatly decreased. Few now can boast of having secured seventy of a flock at one shot ; or that he has by his gun furnished materials for eight feather- beds.
Previous to the Revolution, and during that period, while there was a scarcity of powder, it was frequently manufac- tured by the town's people themselves, for their own con- sumption ; and private powder mills and magazines were not of uncommon occurrence.
THE BEACH. This narrow neck of land, extending in length about six miles, and varying at different points in width,
* The Bay is quite free from rocks, except a few at Powder point, the Nook point, and the northern end of Clark's Island. There is however two rocks of some size, to the westward of the Nook, and lying near the shore, to the eastward of the mouth of Island creek, called Cripple rocks. Two others, lying near together in the northern part, and off some distance from Powder point, are known by the name of " Zachary's rocks." They are on the very edge of the channel, and are about four or five feet under water at high tide. They probably received their name early from Zach- ary Soule, the son of the pilgrim George Soule, who lived on Powder point.
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DUXBURY BEACH.
forms the harbor of Duxbury. It runs from Marshfield in a southeasterly direction, and is entirely disjointed from the main land by the Cut River canal, as it is called, flowing be- tween. The name of Salt-house beach was very early given to it, though now it is more commonly known by the name of Duxbury beach. One of its most remarkable features is the clump of pitch pines, situated about two-thirds of the distance from the Cut to the Gurnet, and known to this day by the name of High pines, which name was given to them as early as 1637, or before. At this place the beach is wider than at any other, and they are placed on a slight elevation of land, and nearly surrounded by marshes, with which almost the whole extent of the beach on the inner side is bounded. Another eminence at the northern end is known by the name of " Rouse's hummock," which transmits to us the name of John Rouse, an early settler in that vicinity. About twenty- five years ago, the first house on the beach, which was erected by the Humane Society, was burnt down, and in it James Southworth was burnt to death ; and a few years after the present one was built .*
Fears have been entertained, in times past, that at some time the sea might force its way through the beach at various places, and to guard against this, there was built, some years ago, with much labor and expense, at many points throughout its whole extent, a kind of sea-wall, placed for the greatest part on the inner side of the beach, and formed by a double line of fences, made by stakes driven in the ground, and sea- weed thrown between. This was accomplished under the direction of L. G. Sampson, Esq., then deputy collector of Plymouth district for the port of Duxbury, and paid for by an appropriation of Congress, amounting to several thousand dollars, and a large number of men were there employed for three or four weeks. At this time an appropriation was made by the town, and the whole extent of the beach purchased, and it is now the town's property.
One of the best methods of preventing the destruction of the beach, is to attend to the preservation of the beach grass. Several times the seed has been sown at different points, and even as early as 1751 the town took measures to prevent the grass being eaten by cattle. At a town meeting this year, on the 20th of May, they voted " to petition the General Court to get an act to prevent neat cattle going upon or feeding on Duxbury beach for the future."
In connection here, it may not be improper to give some account of the promontory, which forms the southern extrem-
* For a brief account of the vessels which have been wrecked upon the beach, see Appendix No. II.
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THE GURNET.
ity of the beach, though it belongs politically to the town of Plymouth, as does also another small promontory * connected with this by a beach, which extends in a southwesterly direc- tion into the bay.
The Gurnet contains about twenty-seven acres of good soil. The name is derived from the gurnet-fish, which abounds in great numbers on the coast of Devonshire, England; and in the English channel there are several headlands bearing the name, having taken it probably because of the number of these fishes in their neighborhood ; and from one of these, it is pro- bable, the Gurnet of Plymouth received its name, which was very early given to it by the Pilgrims.
This is probably the famous promontory, called by the Northmen, in their discoveries along the coast of the continent in the eleventh century, by the name of Krossaness. In the spring of 1004, Thorwald, son of Eric the red, sailing east- ward in his large ship from his winter quarters at Vineland [Providence], and then northward, passed a remarkable head- land [Cape Cod] inclosing a bay ; and came to another, but smaller one, on the other side of the bay, covered with wood [Gurnet.]+ This spot so charmed Thorwald, that he ex- claimed, - " This is a beautiful spot, and here I should like to fix my dwelling." He was soon after wounded in a skir- mish with the natives, and perceiving that his wound was mortal, he said to his companions : "I now advise you to prepare for your departure as soon as possible ; but me ye shall bring to the promontory, where I thought it good to dwell. It may be that it was a prophetic word, which fell from my mouth, about abiding there for a season. There shall ye bury me, and plant a cross at my head, and another at my feet, and call the place Krossaness in all coming time." This commandment was obeyed .- Antiquilates Americana of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of Copenhagen.
At the Gurnet Creek, in the early days of the colony, bass
* This peninsula is known by the name of Saquish, which, says the author of Notes on Plymouth, is an Indian word, and " signifies, doubtless, clams." The name has been variously spelled, as Sagaquab, Sagaquash, Saquaquash, Sasaquish, Sauquish, &c. In early times the town of Ply- mouth, were " forbade felling trees at Saquish, within 40 feet of the bank." Of its original forest, there were left in 1815, but two solitary trees, standing on the point ; one of which stood for several years afterwards. It contains from twelve to fourteen acres of land. On a flat, and a dangerous shoal, which makes off from Saquish point, there was built by the United States, in 1813, a stone pier. It is placed upon a muscle bed, and is about twelve feet square at the bottom, and eighteen feet high, and at high tide six feet above the water.
t By a few it is thought to be point Alderton, (or more properly Aller- ton,) at the entrance of Boston harbor.
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GURNET MEADOWS, ETC.
were caught in great abundance, and a point is still called " Stage point," where fishing stages were erected in 1648.
Light houses. An order was passed the legislature of Massachusetts bay, Feb. 17, 1768, authorizing the erection of a light house on the Gurnet, which was to be 30 feet long, 20 feet high, 15 feet wide. It showed two lights, one in each end, with two lamps of four large wicks in each. This was burnt down on the evening of July 2, 1801, and the present ones erected in 1803. They show two steady lights about 70 feet above the level of the sea.
Gurnet Meadows. These meadows anciently belonged to the town of Duxbury, though now they are within the juris- diction of Plymouth. The following, relating to their dispo- sition by the town, is from the Town records.
1640. " Where as in year [sixteen hundred and] forty the bounds of Duxborrough were set by the Court of New Ply- mouth, and it was ordered by the sd Court, that the medow att the gurnit should belong to sd Duxborrough : and about the year [sixteen hundred and] sixty, the said medow was despossed of by the Town of Duxburrough, as followeth. To Francis West, Edmond Weston, William Clarke, Zachariah Soule, Joseph Alden, John Soule; and ordered Lieuetenant Samuell Nash and Phillip Dilano to lay forth the said medow unto the abovesd men : which was accordingly dun and bounds made and was recorded in the Towne book : but since that time, the sd booke being burn'd, their record was lost. But on the 14th day of this instant [May, 1688], the now pro- priators met to-gether, whose names are as followeth : Samuell Seabury in the Right of Francis West : Edward Southworth in the right of Edmund Weston : Samuell West in the right of William Clarke : Jonathan Alden in the right of Joseph Alden : John Soule in the Right of Zechariah Soule : Joseph Howland in the right of John Soule: And on the said four- teenth day renewed the bounds of sd medow : which sd bounds are as followeth ; " [here follow the bounds, which are not of enough interest to be inserted here.] In this record there is mention made of a place on the beach " where the Saltpan stood," hence it is inferred that salt was once made here, and that works for its production were erected. Also the " crike that makes the Gurnit Island " is named. The Gurnet creek dividing into two channels at its mouth, forms an island of marsh.
BLUE-FISH-RIVER. This stream rises in the eastern part of the town, and flowing north through the meadows, in the form of a brook, it widens and makes what is now called the mill- pond, and then, contracting itself, it runs into the bay, on the southerly side of Powder point.
It received its name in the earliest infancy of the settlement
31
RIVERS.
from the number of blue-fish, which frequented the waters in that vicinity. This fish, known to naturalists by the name of the temnodon saltator, is of a species allied to the mackerel ; but larger and of a strong and vigorous frame. It was a com- mon fish on the shores of New England ; but entirely disap- peared from the coast about the year 1763; * but has within a few years reappeared. The bay, which in years past has been in the proper season abundantly supplied with mackerel, which were caught in great numbers, on the appearance of this fish two or three years ago, was wholly left by them; nor have they since appeared there. The fish is of a delicious flavor, and those which have been caught have found a ready market.
Josselyn, an early voyager in thesep arts, thus describes the mode of taking these fish by the natives: "The Bass and Blew fish they take in harbours, and at the mouth of barr'd Rivers, being in their canows, striking them with a fisgig, a kind of dart or staff, to the lower end whereof they fasten a sharp jagged bone (since they make them of iron), with a string fastened to it : as soon as the fish is struck they pull away the staff, leaving the bony head in the fishes body, and fasten the other end of the string to the canow. Thus they will hale after them to shore half a dozen or half a score great fishes."
INDIAN HEAD RIVER was anciently within the bounds of Duxbury, and near it many of the first settlers had extensive grants of land. It is the outlet of Indian head pond, and flow- ing north empties into the North River, near the angle of the bounds of Hanover, Hanson and Pembroke.
JONES RIVER, which now forms the bounds between Dux- bury and Kingston during the last part of its course, received its name from the Captain of the Mayflower. It rises in Jones River Pond in Kingston, and flowing easterly a short distance, it turns to the south, and afterwards to the east, and running throughout the greatest part of its course in that direction, it turns again to the north, and then to the southeast, and finally flows in a northerly direction into the bay.
SOUTH RIVER rises in little Island Creek pond in Duxbury, in the south central part, and, flowing north through Cran- berry pond in Duxbury, it afterwards changes its course to northeast through Marshfield, and runs into Massachusetts Bay. Holly swamp is mentioned as early as 1638, as the source of the South river ; and a large rock is mentioned as being near it and called Otter rock.
* This date is given by Bradford, in the New England Chronology. Another species of fish of this name is found on the shores of Cuba, and about the Bahama islands.
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BROOKS, STREAMS, ETC.
ISLAND CREEK. This creek, taking its rise in Island Creek pond, flows in a southerly direction into the bay in the south part of the town, forming in its course, by widening, two smaller ponds, at one of which is now the tack factory of Mr. Samuel Loring.
HERRING BROOK, so called early, rises in Furness pond in Pembroke, and first flows east and then north into the North river.
TUSSOCKS BROOK. In 1714 mention is made of " a creek that leads up to ye place called ye Tussocks." The word tussock or tussuck, now obsolete in English writing, signified a tuft of grass or twigs, which was probably the characteristic herbage of " ye Tussocks." The creek, now called as above, rises on the southern borders of Duxbury, and flowing south- east, runs into Stoney brook (which empties into Jones River), forming in its course the bounds, in part, between Duxbury and Kingston.
MILE BROOK rises on the southern edge of Duxbury, and flows southerly into Blackwater pond in Kingston.
PINE BROOK rises in Pembroke, and flowing south forms the southeastern bounds between Duxbury and Pembroke, and running through the northern part of Kingston, empties into Jones River, opposite to Jones River creek.
STONEY BROOK. There were anciently two brooks of this name, one in the northern part of the town (which flowed into Duck hill river, and after the erection of a mill there in 1640, was called Mill brook, and is now so called) ; and the other in the southern part, on the borders of Kingston, and flowed into Jones River.
PHILLIPS BROOK. Vide Mills.
BLACK FRIER BROOK. Vide Mills.
HOUNDS-DITCH. 'This brook, which rises in the vicinity of North hill, flows into the Mill pond. It passed through the farm of the pilgrim, John Alden, and is supposed to have been named from some similar stream in the old country.
DUCK HILL RIVER. This is a name given to a stream, which meanders through the marshes in the northeastern part of the town, forming several islands, and flowing by the north of Powder point into the bay.
PINE POINT RIVER flows through the marshes in the north- east of the town, and empties into the bay to the eastward of Pine point.
CUT RIVER. This river, flowing through the lowlands in Marshfield, originally emptied into the ocean, to the north of Rouse's Hummock ; but about forty years ago, during a very severe northeast storm, its mouth was barred up by the accu- mulation of sand, which was soon increased, and in a short time scarcely a vestige of its previous condition remained.
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33
PONDS. - HOBOMOK.
The river now turned its channel through a canal, which had been dug connecting the Cut with the Pine point river, to ac- commodate sportsmen, and save them the trouble of proceed- ing around the Gurnet. A few years after it broke out with a new channel, which run out near Branches Island. This last occurred in the fall of 1810, and, in a few days after the water was first discovered oozing through the bank, the chan- nel was sufficiently deep for all purposes for which the former mouth had been used.
The project of cutting the canal, above named, when first proposed, was considerably opposed, and an attempt was made on the part of some persons to fill it up in the night. A bridge was soon after built over it, connecting the beach with the main.
EAGLE NEST. A point and creek of this name are at the " Nook," and were called so by the earliest settlers. In 1639 a wear was ordered to be placed here.
BEAVER POND is mentioned, 1638, as being near the South river. FRESH LAKE is mentioned, 1638, as being in Duxbury.
JONES RIVER POND is the source of Jones river. It is a large and beautiful sheet of water, and is now included within the bounds of Pembroke, Kingston, and Plympton. It is now named Silver Lake, and furnishes a large quantity of ice, which is conveyed in the summer season over a branch road to the Old Colony Railroad, and thence to Boston market.
FURNESS POND in Pembroke.
HOBOMOK * POND in Pembroke.
* Hobomok. This friend of the English early adopted the Christian reli- gion, and became an inmate of Captain Standish's family, whom he was accustomed to accompany on his expeditions, as a guide and interpreter, and was often of great service to the English, with whom he continued until his death in perfect friendship. It is said that he was a notable pinese or chief counsellor of Massasoit ; yet he preferred to remain true to the interests of the English, rather than live in the perfect enjoyment of those honors which his high rank in the councils of his nation would secure to him. His attachment to the English was ever manifested, and in all the secret plots of the Indians, he was their steadfast friend and adviser. It is said of him, that during the severe drought in 1623, (which lasted from the third week in May to the middle of July, whereby the English were in great danger of famine on account of the destruction of their crops,) when visited by Mr. Alden, he broke out in language like this : " I am much troubled for the English, for I am afraid they will lose all their corn by the drought, and so they will be all starved ; as for the Indians, they can shift better than the English, for they can get fish to help themselves." But when afterwards he met him, after their supplications for rain had been answered by Divine Providence, he said : " Now I see Englishman's God is a good God, for he hath heard you and sent you rain, and that without storms and tempests and thunders, which usually we have with our rain, which breaks down our corn, but yours stands whole and good still ; surely your God is a good God." He died in 1642, having served the Colonists for nearly twenty years faithfully and cheerfully.
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PONDS, ISLANDS, POINTS, ETC.
GREAT SANDY BOTTOM POND
LITTLE SANDY BOTTOM POND in Pembroke.
STETSON POND in the southern part of Pembroke.
OLDHAM POND in Pembroke and Hanson.
. MAQUAND POND in Hanson.
INDIAN HEAD POND in Hanson, bordering on Pembroke.
Note. The last nine ponds, though not within the present bounds of Duxbury, were anciently included in its limits.
ISLAND CREEK POND. This fine sheet is the head waters of Island Creek, and is situated in the east central part of the town.
LITTLE ISLAND CREEK POND is the source of the South river, and is situated a short distance northwest of Island Creek pond, and is sometimes called Round pond.
CRANBERRY POND. See South river.
MERRICK'S, HAMAR, SOULE'S, BRANT, SKIRT and LONG ISLANDS are in the northeast part of the town, and are composed of salt meadows.
GREAT WOOD ISLAND, mentioned 1637.
POWDER POINT. The first mention I find of this point is in the Col. Rec. 1636 :
" Richard Beare, Maurice [Truant?], George Partridge, John Vobes, & Will Merick were appointed to have five acres of land for each pson together next to the Glade on Pow- der point." 1637: The Stoney marsh at Powder point is mentioned, and also the "iland and the glade at Pouder poynt."
LONG POINT. This neck of marshy land, extending into the bay, was so called before 1638.
PINE POINT, early so called, extends into the bay in the northern part, between Pine point river and a creek which runs through the marshes to the westward of it.
MUSQUITO HOLE, mentioned 1639.
MORTON'S HOLE was so called as early as 1635, or before. A wear was placed here in 1639. Vide Settlement. This place, now so called, is situated to the westward of Captain's Hill, and its vicinity was thought of, as a fit place for uniting the towns of Plymouth and Duxbury in 1636, and building a new town.
CEDAR SWAMP. This swamp was in what was called the " Major's Purchase, near Mattakesett ponds, allias Namasa- kesett." The ponds thus named are that collection which now are within the bounds of Pembroke and Hanson. The swamp was (14 Oct. 1672) divided into seven lots, of five shares each, which were distributed to proprietors thus :
I. Tho. Prence, Maj. Winslow, Capt. Bradford, Lt. White and Benj. Church.
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TOWN'S COMMONS.
II. Geo. Partridge, Philip Delano, Mr. Alden, John Soule and Francis West.
III. John Turner, Benj. Bartlett, Francis Walker, Francis Cook and Tho. Dogged.
IV. Nathl. Warren, John Nelson, the Minister, Wm. Pon- tus and Edward Bumpus.
V. Saml. Fuller, Isaac Howland, Stephen Bryant, Mistress Sarah Warren and Saml. Eedy.
VI. Edward Gray (3 shares), Francis Billington and An- drew Ring.
VII. Capt. Fuller, John Thompson, William Nelson, Isaac Howland and Thomas Burman.
1136493
TOWN'S COMMONS.
GRANTS of land were early made to the several towns of the colony, by the Court, to be reserved for their benefit, and were called the "Town's commons." Portions of these were sold at different times by the towns for raising revenues to meet the towns' expenses ; while other parts were let out to individuals, also as a means of revenue ; and grants made by the towns of other parts, and some remained perfectly free.
1640 : The Court ordered a tract of land, on the Duxbury side, extending from Blackwater brook, and thence along back of Island creek pond to " houndsdich," to be reserved for the Town's commons, " to depasture their cattell upon."
1644 : The Town requested a grant of land, twelve square miles, in the woods at Jones River.
1661 : Granted to the towns of Duxbury and Marshfield, a tract of land lying between Jones River and Indian head river.
1686, July 18: " The common medow continewing free from hire & lying free for anny of Duxbury to cute, are Mer- icks Island, Hamar Island, Soule's Island, Brant Island, Skirt Island, Long Island, & the lower point of Wood neck."
" The town have let out the comon medows for 6d. a load, excepting the Islands before mentioned, which are free. The Town have agreed that no man shall cut anny Grase at the comon medows, untill the last Munday in August, 1686, & untill the sun Rise upon that day, and in case anny man cut anny before that time, then he shall forfeit 5 Shillings per load unto the Town's use, unless it be upon the Islands before ex- cepted."-T. Rec'ds.
36
TOWN'S COMMONS.
1687. The common meadows between Gotum and Cut rivers, was leased for seven years, at 13s. per annum (August 12) to John Thomas and Peter West, and (Mar. 14, 1694, ) was continued to Peter West and Samuel Delano for seven years longer.
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