USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with genealogical registers > Part 33
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15. JOHN, (s. of 10,) Dux .; m. Nancy Thomas, Nov. 6, 1778; had Charlotte, Fanny, Lucy, Susan, and William Thomas, all unm .; Capt. Isaac (32); Nancy m. Mr. Beals of Abington ; Capt. Benjamin (33).
16. PETER, (s. of 10,) Dux., removed to K .; m. Deborah Delano, Oct. 27, 1783, who d. Jan. 11, 1785, æt. 21; m. Charlotte Delano; he d. Apr. 19, 1845, æt. 83; had Zenas (34); Charlotte m. Mr. Coney of N. Carolina, and settled in Medford; and William.
17. JAMES, (s. of 10,) Dux .; m. Sarah Gray of Scituate; had Samuel Gray, Oct. 30, 1780 (35); Capt. George, Nov. 20, 1792 (36) ; Capt. Hosea, Aug. 29, 1794, m. Lucia Prior, and had Charles L., July 4, 1824, d. Sep. 25, 1825, and Sarah J., Dec. 30, 1835; Sophia, Dec. 20, 1796; SSarah, Feb. 21, 1799, m. Joseph Prior; James, Apr. 24, 1801, d. Mar. 4, 1818; Abigail, Dec. 23, 1803, m. Josiah Morton; Eleanor, Apr. 23, 1804, m. Capt. Church Weston; and Mary Saun- ders, June 17, 1809, m. Mr. Cushing of Scituate.
18. NATHANIEL, (s. of 11,) Dux. ; m. Hannah Loring, Dec 9, 1800; and had chd. - Capt. Gershom, Nov. 23, 1801, m Jane Winsor, Oct. 14, 1827, and he d. at sea, off Cape Hat- teras, Feb. 12, 1841, and had Horace Edwin, May 18, 1829,
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Florence Gregory, Aug. 15, 1832, Ada Jane, Aug. 17, 1834, Pauline, Mar. 12, 1836, and Gershom Crayton, Feb. 19, 1840; Capt. Daniel Loring, July 7, 1804, m. Sally Bartlett Samp- son, and had Georgianna Lloyd, Feb. 24, 1830, d. Aug. 20, 1841, and George Lloyd, Aug. 14, 1843; Nathaniel, June 30, 1806, a merchant of Boston, m. Ann Thomas Howland, Apr. 5, 1829, and has had Justin, Jan. 5, d. Jan. 8, 1830, Justin, Jan. 2, 1831, Arthur Herbert, Mar. 2, 1835, d. Dec. 8, 1837, Cor- delia Herbert, Mar. 11, 1839, d. Apr. 15, 1842, Cordelia Arthur, May 22, 1842; Elizabeth, July 25, 1808, m. Capt. Erastus Sampson ; Mary, Aug. 18, 1810, m. Lloyd Granville Sampson, who d. July 6, 1838; Edward, Apr. 28, 1813, Bos- ton, m. Harriet B. Sprague, Sep. 7, 1835, and has had Parker, Aug. 16, 1836. Gustavus Adolphus, Jan. 15, 1838, Georgiana Lloyd, May 14, 1842, and Edward Sprague, June 22, 1846 ; Gustavus, Dec. 5, 1814, d. Jan. 31, 1836; Samuel Loring, Dec. 19, 1816, of Boston; Capt. Charles Frederick, May 7, 1819, m. Mary Ann Weston; and Henry, Apr. 22, 1826.
19. CAPT. SAMUEL, (s. of 11,) Dux .; m. Olive Chandler, Oct. 22, 1801, and he d. at Jamaica (Kingston), Mar. 24, 1805, æt. 26 years; had Maria, Nov. 9, 1800, m. Saml. Fra- zar ; Eliza, Oct. 21, 1802, m. John Holmes ; Samuel, Aug. 1, 1804.
20. CAPT. MARTIN, (s. of 11,) Dux .; m. Hannah Rogers; and has had Capt. Albert Martin, Oct. 13, 1807, m. Augusta Merry, and has had Olive Soule, and Lysander, who d. young, and Olive Soule, now living; Susan, July 10, 1809, m. Capt. Thomas Winsor ; Caroline, Aug. 28, 1811, m. Capt. George Prior; Augusta, Dec. 2, 1815, m. Elijah Baker; and Olive Soule, Nov. 17, 1824, and d. June 14, 1835.
21. THOMAS, (s. of 12,) went to Boston, m. Wealthea Sprague, and had Henry, Dec. 31, 1803, merchant of Boston, m. Mary Ann Davis, May 29, 1832; Jane, July 31, 1805, m. Capt. Gershom Winsor; Seth, Sep. 31, 1807; Capt. Thomas, Aug. 22, 1809, m. Susan Winsor, and has Thomas Irving, Sep. 11, 1841, Arthur Austin, Sidney Edgar; Alfred, Apr. 9, 1811, merchant of Boston, m. Ann Maria Bird, Apr. 11, 1833, now resides in Brookline, and has Helen, Mary Percival, Alfred, Frank, Rufus; Edwin, Nov. 5, 1812, d. Sep. 9, 1813; Harriet, May 25, 1816, m. Richard Soule, Jr. ; Elizabeth Hale, Apr. 14, 1818, m. John Bird; Judith, Aug. 1, 1820; Rufus, d. Sep. 27, 1842; and Frederic.
22. JOSEPH, (s. of 12,) Dux., removed to Boston ; m. 1st, Ly- dia Sampson, m. 2d, Betsy Sprague, m. 3d, ·; and has had Capt. Allen Sept. 13, 1811 ; Ruth Thomas March 15, 1813, m. Mr. Bird; Lucia June 4, 1815 ; Maria Sept. 19, 1817, d. Oct. 3, 1817 ; Joseph May 6, 1819; Sarah Ann Sept. 13,
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1821; Frederic Upham Aug. 6, 1823, d. Nov. 11, 1824; So- phia ;" Hannah.
23. CAPT. GEORGE, (s. of 12,) Dux., m. Alice Turner, and has had George Aug. 12, 1812, m. Mary Thomas, who d. Jan. 25, 1836, m. 2d, Deborah Thomas, who d. July 23, 1839, m. 3d, Abigail, and has had George A. 30 May, 1834, Henry F. Jan. 1, 1836, Deborah July 23, 1839, d. July 24, 1839, Debo- rah Dec. 24, 1842 ; James April 14, 1817, m. a Cushing ; Joshua Sept. 21, 1819, has had Corinda April 13, 1841, and Joshua F. April 21, 1842 ; Lorenzo Dow Jan. 4, 1822 ; Lucy Alice Nov. 11, 1824; William W. Aug. 28, 1829.
24. JOHN, (s. of 13, ) Dux., m. Martha Howitt of N. Carolina, and had Sylvanus H. April 24, 1800, d. Aug. 19, 1836 ; Mar- garet April 7, 1806 ; William W. Nov. 29, 1811, m. Elizabeth Simmons; Martha April 26, 1814, d. Jan. 18, 1834; Harriet Hall Sept. 17, 1817, m. Thomas Verge; Bailey D. Aug. 24. 1820 ; John M. Aug. 28, 1824.
25. SPENCER, (s. of 13,) Dux., m. Charlotte Howitt of N. Carolina; he d. Oct. 30, 1835; had Lydia Jan. 12, 1801, d. Jan. 19, 1836; Charles June 18, 1804, d. Oct. 19, 1835 ; Alden Dec. 21, 1806; Richard July 4, 1808, m. Deborah Weston, and has had Arabella, March 19, 1843; Elizabeth Noyes Dec. 18, 1811, d. Dec. 12, 1815 ; Charlotte May 10, 1815; Eliza- beth Noyes March 25, 1818, d. Oct. 31, 1835; Mary Ann Sep. 4, 1820 ; Lucy Ladonia and Maria Louisa (gemini) Feb. 17, 1823, Lucy L. d. Sept. 24, 1835 ; Spencer 7. Sept. 14, 1826 ; Calvin Gardner Sept. 17, 1829 ; and Harriet, who d. Sept. 19, 1836.
26. CHARLES, (s. of 13,) Dux., m. Beulah Wadsworth; had Eden Aug. 4, 1806, m. Lucy Weston ; Emily July 15, 1808, m. Thos. Waterman Herrick; Nancy July 2, 1810; Acenith Aug. 14, 1813, d. Sept. 5, 1835; Hiram Nov. 10, 1814, m. Sally Baker, m. 2d Lydia Delano; Whitman July 31, 1818 ; Ruby Soule Feb. 17, 1821, d. Mar. 13, 1837 ; Abby Otis April 11, 1823, m. Henry Wadsworth ; Laura Ann Oct. 28, 1825 ; Helen Mar Oct. 10, 1827, m. Mr. Burbeck ; Clara Aug. 31, 1829, m. Rufus Holmes.
27. CAPT. OTIS, (s. of 13,) Dux., m. Kesia Sampson ; had Catharine W. Oct. 4, 1811, d. May 26, 1821; Ezra Morton April 2, 1813, d. at sea ; Otis Oct. 19, 1815, m. Julia Hunt; Samuel Oct. 21, 1817, d. at sea ; and Kesia Jan. 15, 1820, m. Francis Cooper.
28. LEWIS, (s. of 13,) Dux., m. Lydia Howitt; had chd. Adriana Oct. 23, 1818, m. Mr. Hutchins; Lewis April 31, 1821 ; Mahala Allen Nov. 1823, m. Edwin Peterson ; Henry Otis Dec. 15, 1825 ; Augustus March 2, 1829; Lydia Nov. 23, 1830.
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29. ALDEN, (s. of 13,) Dux., m. Eliza Perkins; had Catharine Aug. 21, 1821; Maria Oct. 31, 1822; Harvey July 3, 1824; Eliza Ann March 15, 1828 ; Susan B. Feb. 26, 1831; Sam- uel Alden March 22, 1836 ; James E. Sept. 23, 1840.
30. CLARK, (s. of 14,) Dux., m. Mary Chandler, who was b. Sept. 6, 1785 ; had Mary Ann Sept. 2, 1806; Elbridge Aug. 20, 1808; Hiram July 30, 1810, d. March 19, 1812; Lydia Feb. 10, 1813, d. Dec. 17, 1814; William C. Nov. 2, 1815 ; Elizabeth H. July 16, 1820; Samuel T. June 16, 1826.
31. WILLIAM, (s. of 14,) Dux., m. Sophia Chandler, who was b. Mar. 30, 1789; had Erastus July 9, 1809; Seth Aug. 6, 1813; William Oct. 3, 1806.
32. CAPT. ISAAC, (s. of 15,) Dux., m. Betsy Howitt, and he d. Nov. 28, 1848, and had Frances Dec. 28, 1815, m. Rev. (now Elder) William Harlow; Betsy Sanderson June 21, 1819; Lucian May 15, 1825.
33. CAPT. BENJAMIN, (s. of 15,) Dux., d. June 10, 1842; m. Hannah Freeman, and had Claudius Sept. 30, 1828; Eudora June 19, 1832 ; Edward, and Benjamin.
34. CAPT. ZENAS, (s. of 16,) Dux., m. Lucinda Wadsworth 1806, and has had Alexander Aug. 11, 1811 ; Zenas Oct. 8, 1816 ; Deborah Jan. 26, 1808, m. Henry Brooks; Lucinda Nov. 7, 1813; Jerusha R. Dec. 21, 1819; Lamelia June 7, 1825; Helen C. Feb. 6, 1823, d. Oct. 8, 1842.
35. SAMUEL GRAY, (s. of 17,) Dux., m. Lydia Delano, and had Elizabeth Dec. 10, 1812 ; Daniel H. Oct. 14, 1814 ; Maria June 13, 1817; Samuel Jan. 28, 1822; Elbridge Feb. 18, 1824; Harrison Gray Dec. 28, 1825, d. Dec. 25, 1826.
36. CAPT. GEORGE, (s. of 17,) Dux., m. Hannah Delano ; had Frances James July 22, 1820, m. John Drew 1848 ; George H. April 8, 1823, d. July 22, 1824; George H. July 23, 1826 ; Walter June 11, 1829 ; Eugene Adolphus July 17, 1831; Julius Augustus Jan. 17, 1834.
NOTE. The name and family of Windsor, in England, are very ancient. The name of the town (whence comes the family name) is said to have been derived from the winding shore of the river at that place ; and we find it early written Windleshore, then Windshore, Windsore, Windsor. In William the Conqueror's time, the town and castle came into the royal pos- session, and in his reign, we find WALTER FITZ-OTHER, castellan or gov- ernor of Windsor castle, and from thence, we are informed, he assumed the name of WALTER DE WINDSOR, and he is the ancestor of the family of Windsor. He is said to have been the son of Sir Other, the son of Oth- oere, who some say derived his descent from ancestors in the kingdom of Norway, and was living, a powerful prince in K. Alfred's reign. Walter, above, bore arms, as some say, "Gules a saltire argent," or as others
44
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affirm, " Argent a saltire gules ; " and the different arms of the family down to the present time are but modifications of the same. His sons were William De Windsor, Robert De Windsor and Gerald Fitz-Walter. Gerald's descendant have not the name of Windsor, but he is ancestor of the family of Fitzgeralds, and the houses of Leicester and Kildare. Robert is progenitor of the Windsors, Lords of Estaines. William De Windsor succeeded his father as castellan of Windsor Castle and Berkshire Forest. The family seat was Stanwell, county of Middlesex, until they removed (temp. Henry VIII,) to Bordsley Abbey. He is ancestor of a numerous family, including the Lords of the Barony of Windsor. From this son, it is presumed, (though as yet I have not fixed with certainty their position) are descended the Windsors (Winsors) of Boston and Duxbury. A remarkable similarity of Christian names, between the first American generations, and the cotemporary Eng- lish families gave rise to the conjecture. The names of Peter, Robert, William and Thomas, appear in both branches.
We learn by a proclamation of King James in 1590, that he returned from Denmark, " honorably accompanied with divers persons of honour," and among this retinue, as one of the " gentlemen of Denmark " stands the name of Owb Winsour. - Rymer's Foedera.
In the London directories the names, both of Windsor, and Winsor occur. I think there have been Windsors in Maryland.
JOSHUA WINSOR was the ancestor of the family of Rhode Island, con- cerning which there appeared in 1847, a pamphlet of twelve pages, entitled " A Genealogical Account of the ancient Winsor family in the United States ; collected principally from records in the several branches thereof, introduced by an account of their progenitors in the male line, for several generations previous to the emigration to America. By the late Olney Winsor." By this it appears Joshua arrived at Providence, 1638, and was son of Samuel, son of John, son of Samuel, son of Robert, a Roman Catholic knight (temp. Henry VIII). Here again we notice the same names common to the Boston and Duxbury branches. Joshua's children were Samuel, Sarah, Susanna and Mary. This Mary m. Jonathan Cary, son of James Cary, who d. at Charlestown, in 1681. Jonathan was a deacon of the Charlestown church, and d. 1737, æt. 92 years. His children were Jonathan, Samuel, James, Freelove and Abigail. Vide Alden Epitaphs, ii.
WITHERELL.
1. WILLIAM, b. 1600, arrived 1634, removed to Dux. 1638; purchased a house and land of Edward Hall, between Rev. R. Partridge's farm and Nicholas Robinson's; had a grant, 1640, northwest of North hill ; also had land at North river, and at Namasakeeset; ad. 1658; removed to Scituate, settled there as pastor of the second church, and d. Apr. 9, 1684. Chd .; Samuel, John, Theophilus, Daniel, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah and Hannah. - See Deane's Scituate.
1
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2. CHARLES, Dux., of late years; m. Anne, and had Ann, Acenith, Sally, Judith, Charles and Reuben.
WORMALL.
1. JAMES, Scituate, 1638; removed to Duxbury; had Josiah, Dux., 1670; John m. Mary Barrows, Jan. 9, 1698, d. at Bridgewater, 1711.
2. JOSEPH (s. of -,) Scituate, m. Mirriam; d. a. 1661, and had Josiah ; Sarah; Hester.
A Joseph was a carpenter of Boston, 1650. William of Boston, m. Sarah, and had Mary, May 1, 1704. Sarah m. Wm. Cullove, 14 July, 1715. - Boston Records.
3. JOSIAH, (s. of 1 or 2,) Dux .; m. Patience Sherman, Jan. 15, 1695 ; had Josiah, who d. without issue; Mehetabel m. Christopher Wadsworth, 1713; Mercy m. Wm. Merry, Oct. 28, 1720; Samuel (5); Ichabod (6).
4. EBENEZER, (s. of ?) Dux .; m. Elizabeth Briggs, Apr. 22, 1717 ; had Kesia, Feb. 21, 1718, m. Isaac Tinckham, July 26, 1739; Betty, Mar. 1, 1720; Abiah, May 4, 1725.
5. SAMUEL, (s. of 3,) Dux .; m. Mary Forrest, Jan. 27, 1737, she survived him; had Azubah, m. Thomas Delano, Dec. 23, 1762 ; Patience m. John Soule, Jan. 11, 1759.
6. ICHABOD, (s. of 3,) Dux .; m. Lydia Delano, Dec. 13, 1736 ; had Ichabod ; Desire.
NOTE. Hannah, 1674, d. July 7, 1758, æt. 84; Grace, 1679, d. Nov. 25, 1757, æt. 78; Lydia m. Ebenezer Delano, May 16, 1745. There was a John in Bridgew., m. Mary Bryant, 1729, and had Joseph, Benjamin, and John ; Sarah (Bridgew.,) m. Nehemiah Allen, 1707. Hist. Bridgew.
NOTE. The abbreviation @t. has in the foregoing pages been used for aged, the meaning of the full form @tatis being now so generally lost sight of in the abbreviation, that the author has found that the usages of his au- thorities have so conflicted in regard to it, that discrimination of the true meaning of the authority was in some cases almost impossible. When it has been satisfactorily ascertained that there had been a proper use of the abbreviation, the full form, " in the - year of his age" has generally been given.
APPENDIX.
I.
THE Grant of Bridgewater to the Inhabitants of Duxbury, was made to the following persons, at that time (1645) of course residing in Duxbury, and they form the original proprietors of Bridgewater. Many of them removed thither, while others conveyed their grants to their sons, who set- tled there, and others sold, or otherwise disposed of them.
William Bradford,
John Paybody,
William Merrick,
William Paybody,
John Bradford,
Francis Sprague,
Abraham Pierce,
William Basset,
John Rogers,
John Washburn,
George Partridge,
John Washburn, Jr., John Ames, Thomas Gannet,
Mr. William Collier,
Christopher Wadsworth, William Brett,
Edward Hall,
Edmund Hunt,
Nicholas Robbins,
William Clark,
Thomas Hayward,
William Ford,
Samuel Nash, Abraham Sampson, George Soule, Experience Mitchell, Henry Howland, Henry Sampson, John Brown,
Nathaniel Willis, John Willis,
Mr. Const. Southworth, John Haward, John Cary, Francis West,
Thomas Boney,
Edmund Weston,
William Tubbs,
Mr. Miles Standish,
Samuel Tompkins,
James Lindall,
Love Brewster,
Mr. Ralph Partridge,
Edmund Chandler, Moses Simmons,
Samuel Eaton,
Solomon Leonard.
NOTE. Those in italics afterwards removed to Bridgewater.
II.
The following list of vessels, which have been wrecked on Duxbury beach, is given, without any pretensions to completeness, and are only such as have been remembered by persons now living.
Nov. 25, 1792, the ship Rodney, of London, of between four and five hundred tons, Capt. Whytock, was cast ashore on the Branches ledge in a northeast storm, on her passage from Boston for Martinique, and loaded with lumber and brick, No lives were lost. Capt. Samuel Delano, Jr.,
John Irish, Philip Delano, Arthur Harris, Mr. John Alden, John Fobes,
John Starr,
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of Duxbury, while endeavoring to render her assistance, scarcely escaped drowning, and for his heroic conduct was rewarded by the Humane Society with a gold medal. Her passengers were rescued by a sloop, and among their number were several females, the Captain's family .- See Delano's Voyages.
In March, 1792, the ship Columbia, of three hundred tons, of Portland, Capt. Isaac Chauncy, was stranded on the beach at the High Pines, and fourteen men lost, and two, the second mate and a boy, were saved.
In April, 1801, a sloop was wrecked, and three men drowned and two saved.
A few years after, a Swedish brig was driven upon the beach in a storm, and all the crew saved. By the aid of a force from Duxbury, she was soon got off ; but shortly after was again driven on by another gale, when she was again floated and carried into Duxbury for repairs. Her crew remain- ed in Duxbury all winter ; and one of their holidays, which they celebrated during their stay, attracted considerable attention, and afforded some delight to the towns-people. This brig was bound for Boston, from the Mediter- ranean.
A year or two after this, the brig Pomona was wrecked on Branches Island, at the north end of the beach.
A Portland schooner, loaded with molasses, from the West Indies.
And, a few years ago, a lumber schooner, from the Eastward, when two boys were lost.
III. SHIP-BUILDING, COMMERCE, FISHERY, ETC.
Mr. Thomas Prince, it is related, established the first yard, for building vessels, in the town. This was on the western shore of the Nook, directly opposite to Mr. William Soule's, and here was built the first vessel that was ever raised in the town, now about one hundred and thirty years since. It was a sloop, and constructed mostly of wild cherry, which was consider- ably used at that time, and found to be very durable. Alexander Weston, the grandfather of the first Ezra Weston, served an apprenticeship with him.
The second was Mr. Israel Sylvester's, where lately was Mr. Frazar's.
The third was conducted by Mr. Benjamin Freeman at Harden Hill.
The fourth was Mr. Perez Drew's.
The fifth was established by Messrs. Samuel Winsor and Samuel Drew, on the Nook shore, to the westward of Captain's Hill, where Mr. Winsor resided, in the house since known as the "Ned Southworth " house. In this yard the first large vessels were built. Mr. Winsor previously resided at Clark's Island, and here on the southern end built several vessels.
The sixth was Mr. Isaac Drew's, who built at the Nook, and carried on the business for upwards of fifty years.
During the last half century or more, the following are those who have been most extensively engaged in this business :- Captains Sylvanus and Joseph Drew, on the north side of Bluefish river ; on the south side, Mr. Levi Sampson at the bridge ; and adjoining, on the east, Mr. Ezra Weston ; and, still further to the east, Capt. Samuel Delano. At the Mill-pond, Mr. Samuel A. Frazar on the north side, and Dea. George Loring on the south. Isaac Drew, James Southworth, and Joseph Wadsworth at the Nook. Benjamin Prior, Ezra Weston and Samuel Hall, near Harden Hill bay. Joshua Cushing and Seth Sprague on the easterly shore ; and John Oldham at Duck Hill.
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This business has of late years much decreased, owing to want of timber near at hand, and the trouble and expense of procuring the materials from the eastward. At the present time, scarcely more than two or three vessels are built here per annum, and these often of the smaller class. Until of late, vessels of the largest class have been built in Duxbury, and for supe- riority of model and excellence of workmanship have been justly praised.
Most, if not nearly all of the inhabitants of the town, for the last half century, have been connected directly or indirectly, or at least dependent in some degree on the sea for support. Many of the inhabitants have been large ship-owners, and extensively engaged in the various branches of com- merce. The late Mr. Ezra Weston was distinguished as a successful mer- chant, and enjoyed the reputation of being the largest ship-owner in the country. Others might be named, who have held high rank as merchants, and been of considerable note in the mercantile community.
A very large portion of the inhabitants have been engaged in the mer- chant service, and a considerable number have been Atlantic ship-masters. Fifteen or twenty years since, there were living in Duxbury forty-three ship-masters ; and within the recollection of a person then living, eleven had died.
Although so large a number of vessels have belonged in past times to Duxbury, yet few other than the fishing vessels have ever frequented its harbor, as the port of the metropolis offers far superior advantages.
The Fishing business has now engaged the attention of the inhabitants for nearly a century and a half, though of late years the aggregate of ton- nage engaged has been considerably less than was employed about ten or fifteen years since.
Among the first who embarked in this enterprise, was Mr. Joshua Dela- no. Messrs. Joshua and Josiah Soule were also largely engaged in it, and their vessels were constantly employed in the proper season at Cape Sable. Three or four was then the usual number of vessels on the fishing-grounds, and this gradually continued to increase, receiving, however, some detri- ment during the Revolution, until about the years 1785 or 1786, when there were sent and belonging to Duxbury, sixty-four Bank fishermen, having an average of seventy tons, and an aggregate of about forty-five hundred. At this period Messrs. Nathaniel and Joshua Winsor were probably the most extensively engaged in the business, and for several years continued to be of the most enterprising of the inhabitants.
Schooners, sloops and perhaps larger vessels were engaged in the whale fishery from Duxbury as early as the beginning of the last century, and for some years quite a number of the inhabitants were thus employed. Their resort was at first along the shore and between the capes ; but by the close of the first quarter of the century they had extended their grounds, and now the coast of Newfoundland became to be generally frequented, and even as late as 1760, or perhaps later, vessels were employed in the Saint Lawrence gulf.
On a blank leaf in the account book of Mr. Joshua Soule of Duxbury, I find the following memorandum. - " Whale vieg begun. elisha cob sayled from hear March ye 4, from Plymouth ye 7, 1729."
It is now about sixty or seventy years since the first wharf was built in Duxbury. This was constructed by Mr. Nathaniel Winsor, and was some years after enlarged, though it has since gone to decay. About two years after a second one adjoining was built by Mr. Joshua Winsor, which is now standing. This afterward passed into the hands of Messrs. Levi Sampson, George Loring and Samuel A. Frazar, who sold it to George and Amherst
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A. Frazar, and is now owned by Messrs. Sampson & Knowles. It has been once rebuilt. A few years after Mr. Ezra Weston's at Powder point was built. Ten or more years afterward followed Capt. Samuel Winsor's on the easterly shore, and next Capt. Sylvanus Sampson's at Harden Hill bay. The two next were Capt. John Winsor's at Bluefish, and Samuel Walker's at the Nook, both of which are now decayed. Messrs. Reuben and Charles Drew's on the river was the next. The next one was built by Zadock Bradford and Freeman Loring, near Harden Hill bay.
Nearly seventy years ago, in 1784, the late Major Judah Alden estab- lished himself in Duxbury as a trader, and was the first one who carried on regularly that business. Previous to this some had enjoyed a lucrative business in furnishing to the fishermen their stores, provisions and other necessary articles, though in many instances these were provided by the owners themselves, who usually kept on hand a sufficient stock, to enable them also to meet the wishes of their neighbors occasionally, thereby precluding an earlier existence of a regular trader in the town. Alexander Standish is said to have been a trader in Duxbury even as early as the latter part of the seventeenth century. He is said to have made an addition to the house of his father, Captain Standish, and in this part to have conducted his traffic with the Indians and others. In the remains of that part of the house articles have been found, which would serve to strengthen the tradition.
Joshua Soule was also a trader in Duxbury, as early as 1728. The ac- count book of Mr. Soule, now before me, plainly shows that by far the most profitable sales of this period were those of intoxicating liquors. Charges like the following repeatedly occur. " Apr. 21, 1730. Nathaniel Chand- ler to 1 q. rum 1s. 6d; at weden 2 g. 14s 4d."-" Dec. 5, 1732. Sam. Fish is dr. 3 p. rum swetened, 8d; & p. spised rum, 8d; next morning & p. more, 7d ; and at night & p. more, 7d." By the same it appears that from September to January, 1730, he laid in a stock of over 450 gallons of rum, and in May following a barrel for his carpenters, and thirty-three gallons more to sell. Mr. Soule owned two sloops, the Seaflower and the Dolphin, which were employed coasting between Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas and the North.
Maj. Alden was followed soon after by Capt. Seth Sprague, Capt. Syl- vanus Sampson, Mr. Parker from Plympton, Mr. Winslow Hooper in 1811, and since that period there have been Messrs. William Sampson, Samuel A. Frazar, Charles Drew, Jr., N. and J. Ford, Eleazer Harlow and others.
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