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HISTORY OF

MARSHFIELD

By
LYSANDER SALMON RICHARDS

Author of "Vocophy, Indicating the Calling one is Best Fitted
to Follow," "Breaking Up, or the Birth, Development
and Death of our Planet in Story" and "The
Universe, a Description in Brief."

V-^v

plymouth
The Memorial Press
1901

Copyright, 1901.
By Lysander Salmon Richards.

Introduction.

The author was somewhat surprised (and he thinks the
reader will be also) to find when searching through libraries
and records, for matter for this work, that Marshfield in the
historic gro^\i;h of the country, was not so much engaged in
the processes of legal enactments, as in being the harbor,
the stronghold and the home of our greatest men, who gave
birth, stability and strength to the powerful government
under which we live. Garrett in his book, "The Pilgrim
Shore," in speaking of Marshfield says : ''An old town that
has been truly said, shares with Plymouth the interest that
attaches to the early home of the Pilgrims." And sure
enough, why should we not claim for Marshfield the second
place in the history of the Pilgrims, as the home of the most
prominent officials of that period, and the same may be said
of Duxbury, but not of any other town. Before Marshfield
became fixed as the name of our town, it was given three or
four names, such as Missaucatucket, the name known by the
Indians, "Green's Harbour," "Rexham," and before the
landing of the Pilgrims, when Capt. John Smith sailed along
the New England Coast, it was called "Oxford."

Preface.
Some time ago the President of the Massachusetts Agri
cultural College — Mr. Goodell — asked me to procure for
him the History of Marshfield for his College. On making a
thorough enquiry, I found there was no published History
of Marshfield. Miss Marcia Thomas published some years
ago a small book giving the genealogy of prominent per
sonages of Marshfield. Rev. George Leonard published a
pamphlet entitled "Marshfield Sixty Years Ago." Hon.
Wm. T. Davis of Plymouth embodied in a book entitled
"History of Plymouth County," a sketch of Marshfield.
It was with a feeling of regret that I was oMiged to in
form Pres. Goodell of my inability to find a History of
Marshfield for his CoUege library. The thought then oc
curred to me, that in view of the prominence of Marshfield
in the history of our country, in the days of the Pilgrims
and of the Revolution, there should be at once such a history
written and a peg driven as far as we have progressed, to
preserve in a general and concise form, the events and occur
rences in the development of our Colonial town for the use
and enlightenment of future generations. This is my ex
cuse for undertaking this work.
Not having enjoyed the rare fortune of living in Colonial
days among the Pilgrims, as a founder and promoter of a
great government, I must make use of the accounts of them,
and their doings, making such quotations as in my best judg
ment will mark the footprints of civilization in its march

4 History of Marshfield.
through nearly three centuries of Marshfield's development.
For fear of making the volume too voluminous, I have re
frained from putting in all the petty details of unimportant
events, and rest content with an account of matters in gen
eral as they transpired. I have made a point of giving in
this history the status of affairs in town as existing to-day,
not so much for the benefit of the reader now living, as for
the benefit of the generations to come, that they may become
conversant with the affairs of the town as they exist at the
beginning of the 20th century.
L. S. RICHARDS.
Marshfield Hills, Massachusetts, U. S. A., 1901.

Contents.

CHAPTER I.
Marshfield  o
CHAPTER II.
Peregrine White  13
CHAPTER III.
Old Colonists' Deeds  16
CHAPTER IV.
Indian Lands and Deeds  ig
CHAPTER V.
Beginning of Marshfield Town Records  24
CHAPTER VI.
Marriages among the Pilgrims  32
CHAPTER VII.
Punishments by the Pilgrims  34
CHAPTER VIII.
The Founder of Marshfield  38
CHAPTER IX.
The Menu of our Forefathers  47
CHAPTER X.
Town Record Selections  49
CHAPTER XI.
Preparations for King Phillip's War  S3
CHAPTER XII.
Selectmen's Powers — The Indians and other Matters  56
CHAPTER XIII.
Dress of the Colonists — Scolding Women  64
CHAPTER XIV.
Our Pilgrim Fathers  66

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV.
Incidents of the Colonists  68
CHAPTER XVI.
Habits and Customs of our Forefathers  7i
CHAPTER XVII,
North River Ferry Boats and other Matters  76
CHAPTER XVIII.
Town Record Selections  80
CHAPTER XIX.
Indians — Whipping Posts — Wolves and Lands  90
CHAPTER XX.
Churches  93
CHAPTER XXI.
Town Record Selections  98
CHAPTER XXII.
Stamp Act and other Matters  100
CHAPTER XXIII.
Tory Resolutions passed by the Town  102
CHAPTER XXIV.
Tories again in the Ascendent  105
CHAPTER XXV.
Preparations for the Revolution  106
CHAPTiiR XXVI.
It is now Patriots and Patriotism — Marshfield's Declaration of
Independence  108
CHAPTER XXVII.
Prices of Home Products during the Revolution  ill
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Gov. Josiah Winslow and others  114
CHAPTER XXIX.
British Soldiers quartered here among the Tories  117
CHAPTER XXX.
Marshfield Fathers of the Revolution  120

CONTE.YTS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Town Record Selections  125
CHAPTER XXXII.
Ship Building in Marshfield  130
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Captains Sailing on North River  131
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Ship Yards at Gravelly Beach and North River  134
CHAPTER XXXV.
Brooks & Tilden Ship Yard and other Yards  136
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Ferries in Marshfield  140
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Town Record Selections  143
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Public Schools  145
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Town Items  159
CHAPTER XL.
Fugitive Slave Law  163
CHAPTER XLI.
Daniel Webster's Death  i6s
CHAPTER XLII.
The Civil War  x68
CHAPTER XLIII.
Town Record Selections  I7S
CHAPTER XLIV.
Marshfield Agricultural Society  177
CHAPTER XLV.
Clift Rodger's Free Library  181
CHAPTER XLVI.
Formation of the Grand Army Post  183

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLVII.
Stores— Tea Rock  i86
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Green Harbor Dike  189
CHAPTER XLIX.
Brant Rock  203
CHAPTER L.
Ventress Memorial Gift  206
CHAPTER LI.
Daniel Webster  208
CHAPTER LII.
The New Mouth of North River  212
CHAPTER LIII.
Marshfield Hills  219
CHAPTER LIV.
Railroad  220
CHAPTER LV.
Marshfield in its Corporate Capacity  222
CHAPTER LVI.
Cemeteries in Town — Streets  224
CHAPTER LVII.
Occupations — ^Trees on the Roadside  229
CHAPTER LVIII.
Marshfield Items — PostoiBces  231

CHAPTER I.
MarshHeld.
Marshfield we find first mentioned in Colonial History —
[Palfrey's N. E. His.] — in 1632, eight years before its set
tlement as a town. Plymouth was fast becoming an area
too small for the farmer colonists of that town, hence some
of the larger and more progressive landed proprietors began
to look about them for larger fields, and passing through
Duxbury they found in Marshfield not only extensive, but
excellent pastures for their cattle, and this is undoubtedly the
reason why the Standishes, the Aldens and the Brewsters
settled in Duxbury, and the Winslows, the Whites, and the
Thomases took up their abode at an opportune time in
Marshfield. To prevent further scattering, Goodwin says
"several grants of farm lands had been made [1632-3] at
Cut River, which from its verdant shores became Green
River." "It was thought no one would desire to live so far
from Plymouth, and that even the employes would remain
there only in the busy season of agriculture ; but this plan led
to another grievous dispersion under no less a leader than
Edward Winslow (afterward Govemor). A new church
was necessarily conceded, and in 1640 the place became a
town called ilexham, soon re-named Marshfield." In some
other authorities we find its early name spelt Marchfeeld,
and again Marshfeeld. The incorporation of Marshfield
occurred in 1640. It was the eighth town incorporated in
Plymouth Colony. Four towns were incorporated only
the year before, in 1639, Duxbury being incorporated in
1637, and Scituate in 1636. Duxbury was the third town
incorporated. It is not known in history why it was given
the name of Marshfield, but probably on account of the ex-

Marshfield n

IO History of Marshfield.
tensive marshes occupying 5,000 acres or more along its
eastern borders.
Owing to a great plague visiting the Aborigines on our
coast a short time before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth,
the Indian population, which had been quite large, was
greatly reduced by the scourge, so that when our forefathers
landed, there were but few natives to oppose them if they
had so desired, which, notwithstanding the general opinion
that they did, the record of that period fails to prove. In
the early days of the Pilgrims' existence on our coast, the
Indians, for the most part, were hospitable, showing no signs
of hostility, and acting with kindness and gentleness, which
the Pilgrims reciprocated. A few hostile Indians, as with
a few hostile whites of to-day, worried their neighbors.
Our forefathers did not rob the poor Indians of their lands,
as currently reported among our people from time immemo
rial, but paid for them, not large amounts to be sure, but
satisfactory prices to the Indian nevertheless, in com,
blankets and trinkets. Our forefathers in Marshfield found
the ground already tilled when they settled here. The In
dians cultivated corn, one of the greatest products of to-day,
the 20th century. Into a hill of corn they put a couple of
alewives, or other fish, and thus gave us of the 20th century
a hint in the growth of this staple article; hence the Indian
was the earliest user of commercial fertilizers. At the time
of John Smith's voyage along our coast, years before the
advent of the Pilgrims, he saw large and thrifty fields of
corn grown by the "poor" Indian. The country in Marsh
field and thereabouts, except on the marshes, was covered
with a large growth of trees, chestnut, hickory, oak, maple,
pine, also the hazlenut, beechnut, butternut, and shagbark.
It was indeed pleasant for our forefathers to locate in a
region where the strawberry, the raspberry, the blackberry,
the huckleberry and the cranberry grew in abundance, and
then they were delighted to find in their midst the mountain

History of Marshfield. 1 1
laurel, the azalia, the rhododendron, the gentian, the asters,
and the water lily. Our North River to the sea furnished
abundant cod, shad, halibut, trout, herring, smelt, haddock,
and pickerel. Again, they were blessed with a large supply
of pigeons, geese, ducks, quail, partridge, woodcock, and
wild turkey. Bears, wolves, and wildcats chiefly consti
tuted the dangerous, animals, but they could hunt the moose,
the deer, and the racoon for meat, and for fur, the beaver,
the otter, the skunk, the sable, and the fox, and Marshfield
at the beginning of the 20th century is yet troubled by foxes
and racoons, who make their meals of chickens,
ducks and geese in the farmer's poultry yard.
Our Pilgrim fathers were not the first visitors to our
shores; the Norsemen Lief and Eric explored the coast of
New England as early as the year 1000, and called it Vine-
land on account of the abundance of grape vines growing
everywhere. Two or three years later Thorwald, a brother
of Lief, visited these shores, and sailing along Cape Cod
Bay, discovered [in the words of Goodwin] "a fine headland,
which drew from Thorwald the exclamation, 'This is a beau
tiful spot and here I should like to fix my dwelling.' Shortly
after, being mortally wounded by natives, he gave the fol
lowing directions : 'Let me be buried on the beautiful head
land where I wished to ^.yi my dwelling, put a cross at my
head and one at my feet, and let the place be hereafter
called "Krossaness." ' " "The Gurnet head, crested and
crowned with two lighthouses, standing on the north side
of the entrance to Plymouth Harbor, a narrow strip of land
running from the mainland at Marshfield, answers well to
the description of Thorwald's burial place, and here it is
believed was the spot where the brave Captain was laid to
rest with Christian rites," three or four centuries before the
discovery of America by Columbus, "and the grave was
marked with the symbol of his faith. In 1007 Thorfin
Karlsefne, with his wife, Gudrig, and one hundred and sixty

12 History of Marshfield.
men, came with three vessels to our shores and remained
three years. During this time a son was born to him, re
ceiving the name of Snorre; he was the first white child born
on the American Continent and an ancestor of Thorwald-
sen." Marshfield is bounded easterly by the North River, the
ocean and the town of Duxbury, and southerly by Duxbury
and Pembroke, westerly by Duxbury, Pembroke, and the
North River, and northerly by the North River and the
ocean.

CHAPTER II.
Peregrine White.
When Bradford and a few other Pilgrims retumed to the
Ma)rflower, after exploring the country shortly after landing,
the Pilgrim Republic says : "A son had been bom to Mr. and
Mrs. Wm. White, and in token of the pilgrimage then in
progress the little stranger was named Peregrine. He was
destined to outlive every member of the company into which
he was born; and after a youth unduly gay for his day and
generation, even in the next century, long after Plymouth
Colony had been merged in Massachusetts, a fine, hearty
looking veteran of Marshfield used to be pointed out with
great respect as Capt. Peregrine White, the first English
child born in New England. It was in 1632 that Peregrine
White went to Marshfield with his stepfather's family. In
1636 he volunteered for the Pequod war. In 1642 he was
ancient bearer (or ensign) of the train band, under My les
Standish. He was a member of the General Court and also
a member of the Council of War. In 1648 he married
Sarah, daughter of Wm. Bassett, by whom he had six chil
dren. She died in 1711. He was very attentive to his
mother, visiting her daily in his later years. He made these
visits on a black horse and wore a coat with buttons the size
of a silver dollar. He was vigorous and of a comely aspect
to the last. In 1665, at the request of the King's commis
sioners, the General Court gave 200 acres of land to him, as
the first white native in New England." His estate was
held in the family through all the generations up to within
two or three decades. It is now held and occupied, at the
beginning of the 20th century, by Alonzo Ewell, who keeps
upon it the largest flocks of poultry, ducks, geese .and pigeons
13

14 History of Marshfield. ^
in Marshfield. Even at this late day, he is troubled with
foxes, and has killed the past winter five of them. There is
still growing, or was a few years ago, a shoot of the apple
tree planted by Peregrine upon this place, and a portion of
the timbers of the house occupied by Peregrine is still in
existence in the dwelling of Mr. Ewell. Notwithstanding
this place is among the earliest settled in Marshfield, the
region thereabouts is perhaps the most sparsely inhabited of
any village in town. It is two and a half miles north of the
Webster place. Mr. White joined the church in his 78th
year, and died in Marshfield in 1704, aged 84. His des
cendants were many and honorable. Notwithstanding he
served as a soldier in the Indian wars and gained the title
of Captain, he seems to have led a peaceful life, except that
at one time we find in 1649 ^ ^i"- Holla way and Peregrine
White were indicted for fighting. We think that Hollaway
must have been the aggressor, for we found elsewhere that
"Hollaway was fined 5s. for abusing and provoking
Sprague." Yet there is no doubt that our beloved towns
man was a lively, gay youth and kept things moving about
him. The last direct descendant of Peregrine living on the
place was Miss Sybil White, a maiden lady, who removed
from there about a quarter of a century ago, as it was consid
ered unsafe for her in her old age to live there longer. A
while before her departure from the home place, her brother,
John White, carried on the farm with her, but he became in
sane and was removed to the hospital. It was after this
event that she felt compelled to leave it and remove to the
village of East Marshfield, now Marshfield Hills, some three
or four miles distant. The author became a neighbor and
was acquainted with this rather eccentric woman up to the
time of her death. She was a good and pious woman.- A
short time before her death, she was a little worried because
she knew of no near heir to whom she could leave her prop
erty, and finally she adopted a novel method of finding one.

History of Marshfield. 15
She advertised in a Boston daily paper for an heir. A
brother had left home in his early manhood and she had not
the slightest knowledge of him or his children. In answer
to her advertisement she received a number of letters. I
would not dare to say how many, but there were nearly fifty,
and out of this number there was one that impressed her as
genuine, that of Ashton White, of Washington, D. C. He
came here at her request, and at an interview the proofs he
offered of his relationship were convincing to her. After
he had returned to his post in Washington, in one of the
departments, she made out her will, and at her decease, not
a long while after, Mr. White (a nephew, as claimed) be
came the possessor of her well invested property, and al
though that was nearly 25 years ago, I have never heard
doubted among her distant relatives, living at the Hills,
that he was the rightful and only heir. He or his children
are now living in Washington. She also left in her will
some $800, in trust, to the selectmen of the town, the income
or interest of which was to be spent in providing aid to
worthy and destitute spinsters in Marshfield, and it has for
these years following been so spent. There are many des
cendants of Peregrine White now living in Marshfield, but
none on the old homestead.

CHAPTER III.
Old Colonists' Deeds.
From the Plymouth Colony records I will select three or
four copies of deeds in Marshfield, as follows :
"27th September 1642 — Memorand: That Mr. Edward
Winslow came into Public Court and did acknowledge That
he hath absolutely and freely given, granted, enfeoffed and
confirmed unto Peregrine White, his son in law, all & singu
lar those his lands lying at the Eele River wth all singular
the apprtenences thereunto belonging and all his right title
and interest of & into the same. To have and to hold all
and singular the said land & wth their apprtences unto said
Peregrine White his heirs and assignes for ever to the onely
proper use and behoofe of him the said Peregrine White his
heires and Assignes for evr."
The following is a deed given to Robert Carver (a brother
of the first Governor of the Colony, Gov. John Carver, said
Robert Carver being the progenitor or ancestor of many
Carvers now living in Marshfield) of a lot of land in Marsh
field at Green Harbor, near the Careswell place of Gov. Ed.
Winslow, said Carver becoming an early settler in Marsh
field with Gov. Winslow and others. It reads :
"The Xth of Septembr 1641. Memorand. That Ed
mond Hawes of Duxborrow doth acknowledge that for and
in consideration of the sum of two thousand foote of Sawne
boards to be delived and payed him by Robert Carver of the
same Sawyer Hath freely and absolutely bargained and sold
unto the said Robert Carver all those his Ten acres of up
land lyinge crosse Green's Harbor payth wth all his labors
in & aboute the same wth all and singueler the apprtencs
thereunto belonging and all his Right Title an interest of
16

History of Marshfield. 17
and into the said prmisss. To have and to hold the said
Term acres of upland & wth all and singuler the apprten
ences thereunto belonging unto the said Robte Carver his
heirs and assignes for ever and to the onely per use and
behoofe of him the said Robert Carver his heires and as
signes forever." "Bradford Govr
"The seaventeenth day of March 1645.
"Memorand the same day That Mr. Myles Standish and
Mr. John Alden do acknowledged joyntly and sevally That
for and in consideracon of the sum of three score and eleaven
pounde and term shillings to them allowed in pajrment of
the said account to ]Mr. John Beauchamp Have freely and
absolutely bargained and sold unto Mr Edmond ffreeman
All those their three hundred Acrees of vplands wth the
meddowing therevnto belonging lying on the North side of
the South River wth in the Township of Marshfield to
them formly joyntly granted by the Court the second day
of July in the fourteenth yeare of his said Maties now Raigne
of England and all their Right title and interest jointly or
seually of and into the said prmisss wth their apprtence &
every part and pcell thereof To have & to hold the said
three hundred Acres of upland wth the meddowes thereunto
belonging wth all & every their apprtences unto the said
Edmond ffreeman his heirs and assigns forever to the onely
p per use and behoofe of him the said Edmond ffreeman
his heires & As-ss forever."
One half of the above estate was sold two years later to
Arthur Howland (who became a resident of Marshfield and
one of the earliest) for twenty-one pounds sterling, part to
be paid in money and part in corn and cattle. It will be
seen that if the above half sold was equally as good as the
other half, our Pilgrim fathers were not good speculators,
for in the space of two years Mr. Freeman sold one half his
purchase for fourteen and a half pounds less than he gave
for it.

i8 History of Marshfield.
The other half I find recorded in Plymouth Colony Rec
ords sold to Thomas Chillingsworth, Oct. 4, 1648. Three
years after the original purchase of Myles Standish and John
Alden in 1645, for the consideration of six and twenty
pounds sterling, to be paid in money, corn and cattle.
Another deed I find given Oct. 22, 1650, from Richard
Church, of land lying in Marshfield on the south side of
South River to John Dingley.

CHAPTER IV.
Indian Lands and Deeds.
I will give a copy of some of the Indian lands owned and
occupied by them before the landing of the Pilgrims, show
ing that our fathers were not the robbers and grabbers of
land commonly supposed.
"1674 Winslow Govr [Plymouth Colony Records.]
"Kjiow all men by these prsents that I Quachattasett
Sachem of Mannomett doe acknowlidge my selfe fully sat
isfyed and payed therewith for and in consideration of a
certaine tract or prsell of land sold by mee the aforesaid
Quachattasett unto the aforesaid Will Hedge the which tract
of land lyeth att a place by the English the blacke banke
near unto break hart hill but called by Indians 'Moneche-
han.' (Then follows a long description of boundary from
top of hill to a certain pond, etc., etc., which I will not far
ther relate.) In witness whereof I the aforesaid Quachat
tasett have hereunto sett my hand and scale this sixt day of
Aprill in the yeare one thousand six hundred seaventy and
four. "The Mark of Quachattasett (here)
"and a (seal)
Signed, Sealed and delivered
in the prsence off
Richard Bourne
Sherjasrubb Bourne (This deed was acknowledged
by Quachattasett the 4th of the
4th Month 1674 before mee
John Alden, Assistant."
19

20 History of Marshfield.
The following is a document made and given by that
renowned Indian chief. King Philip :
"This may informe the honord court that I Phillip ame
willing to sell land within this draught, but the Indians that
are vpon it may live upon it still, but the land that is (waste)
may be sold and Wattachpoo is of the same mind; I have
set downe all the principall names of the land wee are not
willing should be sold. ffrom Pacanankett
the 24th of the 12th Month 1668 "Phillip :P : his mark."
Another deed from the Indians :
"Know All men by the presents that I Quachattasett Sach
em of Manmomet doe sell vnto Hope a certaine pcell of
Land lying att Pokasett; bounded as folio weth viz: of land
lying betwixt the Rivers or brookes called Annussanatonsett
and another called Wakonacob; and soe downe to the sea
and to the old way as they goe, to Saconeesett; all which
the premises, I the aforesaid Quachattasett doe freely sell
from mee and myne vnto him and his heirs foreur all privi-
lidges, libertie of the sea and what ever is prmises; I doe
confeirme this prsent day being the 9th of June in the yeare
1664.
Witness my hand (Signed) Quachattasett — his < mark.
Witness Richard Bourne
Paumpunitt — James Attukoo"
In consulting the old Plymouth Colony Records, I find
between two and three dozen conveyances of lands which
the Indians in their own right possessed, and in quite a
number of instances deeds were conveyed and recorded in
the Plymouth Colony Records in Colonial times, conveying
from father to son or from father to daughter, or to some
friend, without any consideration or price, and these Indians
had them recorded on the Plymouth record book, so that
the lands they owned could be passed from one Indian to
another and held sacred by the Colony as lands belonging
to these Indians in severalty.

History of Marshfield. 21
To show the caution the Plymouth Colony Court took, iu
seeing that the Indians should not be deprived unjustly of
their lands, I have copied the following from the Plymouth
Colony Records :
"The Court understanding that some in an underhand
way have given unto the Indians money or goods for their
lands formerly purchased according to order of Court by the
magistrates thereby insinuating as if they had dealt unjustly
with them, it is enacted by the Court that some course be
taken with those whom we understand have lately trans
gressed in that kind." "1665 Prence Govr"
"A deed appointed to bee Recorded. These prsents wit-
nesseth that I Josias allias Chickaatabutt doe promise by
these prsents to give vnto the Indians living vpon Catuhtkut
River viz : Pompanohoo Waweevs and the other Indians
liveing there; that is three miles vpon each side of the River
(excepting the lands that are alreddy sold to the English,
either Taunton or Bridgewater and doe promise by these
presents not to sell or give to any pte or pcell of land; but
that the aforesaid Indians shall peaceably enjoy the same
without any interruption from mee or by any means in any
respect; the which I doe engage and promise by these
prsents. witness my hand this 9th of June in the yeare
1664. (Signed)
Chickatabutt allias Josias I Q his mark
WuUanaumatuke Q his mark
Witness Richard Bourne
John Low Q his mark"
"These prsents \\'itnesseth
that wee Adloquaupoke and Saseeakowett both of Onkowan
doe sell vnto Nokanowitt of Ashumueitt a sertaine Hand
with a longe beach adjoining to it, being neare vnto a place
called Ouanaconwampith the Hand being called Ontsett, the

22 History of Marshfield.
which land wee convey from vs and our children for ever
vnto the aforesaid Nokanowitt and his assignees for our
acknowledging ourselves fully satisfyed and payed. Wit
ness our hands this twenty fourth of July 1666.
Signed Saseeakowutt Q his mark
" Adloquanpoke Q " "
Witnesse Richard Bourne"
In 1659, ^ large tract of land (says Baylies) on Taunton
river was purchased of Ossamequin (Massasoit) and his
son Philip (King Philip) and the squaw sachem Tatapanum,
by several of the inhabitants of Duxbury and some of Marsh
field, which tract was afterwards included in Little Compton,
Rhode Island, but no settlement was commenced for several
years." I trust I have made it sufficiently manifest, by publishing
the preceding conveyances of lands, and documents, that the
lands the Indians occupied were not stolen by our Fore
fathers or taken possession of by right of occupation, or in
the words of the frontiersman, by "squatting" on them.
The King may have taken possession formally of lands
as a whole in the various Colonies, as lands belonging to
his kingdom, by conquest or discovery, the same as the
United States took possession of Louisiana by right of pur
chase from Napoleon in the name of France, but the title
of individual lands purchased and conveyed from individual
to individual before or after the United States purchase did
not change. Each man or woman severally and individually
retained his acre or acres obtained by right of individual
purchase, gift, or inheritance, undisturbed.
Of course there were many lands and large tracts of land
uninhabited and forsaken by the Indians at the time of the
landing of the Pilgrim Forefathers, owned by nobody, and
in the getting possession of these lands we find the following
recorded in the Plymouth Colony Records :
"A fforme to be placed before the Records of the feverall

History of Marshfield. 23.
inheritance & granted to all the King & fubjects inhabiting
within the Governmt of New Plymouth.
Wheras John Carver — Will. Bradford — Edw. Winslow —
Wm. Brewster — Isaah Allerton and divers others, the sub
jects of our late Sov. Lord James, by the grace of God, King
of Eng. Scot, ffrance & Irel. Defender of the ffaith &c. did
in the eighteenth yeare of his raigne of Engl, ffrance & Ire
land, and of Scot 1. the fifty four which was in the yeare of
our Lord God 1620 undertake a voyage into that pt of
America called Virginia or New England, theretmto adjoin
ing, there to erect a plantacon & colony of English, intend
ing the glory of God, the inlargemt of his maties dominions
and the speciall good of English nation. And whereas by
the good providence of our gracious God the said John Car
ver — Will. Bradford. — Edward Winslow — ^Wm. Brewster
— Isaac Allerton & their associates arived in New England
aforesaid in the harbour of Cape Cod or Paomet scituate in
New England, aforesaid, where all the psons entred into a
CiviU Combinacon being the eleaventh of Novb in the yeare
afore mentioned as the subjects of our said Sov. Lord the
King to become a Body-politick binding ourselves to observe
such lawes & ordinances and obey such Officers as from time
to time should be made & chosen for our weUordering &
guidance. And thereupon by the favor of the Almighty began
the first Colony in New England (there being then no other
wthin the said Continent.) at a place called by the natives
Apaum a Z s Patuxet, but by the English New Plymouth.
All wch lands being void of inhabitants, we the said John
Carver — Will. Bradford Edward Wvnslow — Wm. Brewster
— Isaack Allerton the rest our Associates entring into a
league of peace wth Massassowatt, since called Woosame-
quin Prince or Sachim of those pts. He the said Massas-
sowat freely gave them all the lands adjacent to them &
their heires forever, acknowledging himselfe content to be
come the subject of our Soveraigne Lord the king aforesaid,
his heirs, successors," etc., etc.

CHAPTER V.
Beginning of Marshfield Town Records at Town
Clerk's Office.
(I make only such selections of the Town Records as I
think will interest the reader of this History. )
"1640 — 'At the General
Court held 2nd of March 1640 — "It is enacted by the Court
that Green's Harbor shall be a Township and have all the
privileges of a township that other towns have and that it
shall be called by the name of Rexhame, but now Marsh
field." 1643 — Sept. 27th At a Town meeting (in Marshfield)
held the day & year above written it was agreed that there
be a constant watch in the township, that is to say in four
several quarters at Mr. Edward Winslows, at Mr. Wm.
Thomas, at Mr. Thos Bournes & fourth at Robert Barkers.
Whereas it is probable that imminent danger is near to the
whole body of the English in this land, it is ordered at
Present that four watches be maintained within this town
ship as above."
"That a guard of two at least be maintained out of them.
That a sentinel be maintained all day at the place of the
guard. That foreasmuch as the Township consists of *
* * * persons at present that therefore so long as the
tianger is like to continue viz : 14 days at least every man
shall lodge in his clothes, with arms ready by his bedside
that so he may be ready to give assistance according to
need." "That in case an alarm be given by night from any
other township, then every guard discharge only one piece
but if any alarm arise in our own Township then by two
pieces at least and that then every person repair to his quar-
24

History of Marshfield. 25
ters or place of guard, and half of the strength of the guard
make their particular quarters and the other go to relieve
that other quarter that is in danger. That this watch begin
this present night, being the 27th of this present month &
continue until further notice. That on the Sabbath days
these guards be continued, and that the rest of those that are
liable to bear arms bring them to the place of worship and
in case any return from hence to take their arms with them."
^'^iS — Oct. 19 — "Wm. Thomas hath promised a snap-
hance musket, sword & belt knapsack & powder pouch. Mr.
Edward Winslow a snaphance musket & a powder bag. —
Josiah Winslow promised a back sword. Rogor Cook a
belt — The North River men to find a Knapsack."
Grants of meadow land were granted at Town meeting
in 1643-4 to Robert Carver. (Bro. of Gov. Carver) & Wm
Thomas — ^^'m. Thomas & W'm. Vassall were appointed at
town meeting to lay out to several inhabitants lands on the
North side of Green's Harbor River, of all lands undisposed
of on that side, and also of the Marshes undisposed of on
the South Side of said river, according to their discretion &
so laid it out to several inhabitants, some of them were Thos.
Bourne, — ^Josias Winslow — Kenelm Winslow — John Rus
sell, — ^John Dingley & Thos Chillingsworth."
1643-4 — Feb. 27 —
It is claimed that the first regularly organized Town Meet
ing in North America, with a Moderator chosen to preside,
took place in Marshfield in 1643.
"At a town meeting held the day & yeare aforesaid it is
agreed by the joint consent of the inhabitants, that at the
beginning of every town meeting there shall be one made
choice of to be Moderator for the business of that day and
that there be no disturbance in the assembly, and the occa
sions being ended, he shall dismiss the town meeting and in
case any shall be a disturber of the meeting and not submit
to the Moderator, he shall be fined in sixpence for every such
Marsihfield m

26 History of Marshfield.
disorder, so judged by the town and in case any be wanting
at the said town meeting and do not appear at the hour ap
pointed he shall be fined in sixpence for one hour, or if any
shall depart without orderly dismissment shall pay sixpence
for every hour and for non appearance, eighteenpence as
formerly agreed."
Wm. Thomas was chosen as the first Moderator of Marsh
field. "Also it is agreed that if any shall absent themselves from
the exercise of Arms, any of the days appointed by the
Captain, and for an hour, sixpence except upon just excuse
allowed and approved by a Magistrate inhabiting of this
towneship and all such fines so to be approved to be levied
by warrant from the Magistrate by the Constable and clerk
of the band and they to be accountable to the town."
[All along in the early years of the township of Marsh
field appears in the town meeting records, grants of land,
given and apportioned by the town to various individuals,
who settled here in that early period.]
1644 — July 18 — "At a town meeting Arthur Howland &
Luke Lilly are fined according to an order for not appear
ing upon a public warning in 18 pence a piece and Capt
Thomas 6 pence for not appearing at the hour. Mr. Ed
ward Winslow was chosen Moderator. At this town meet
ing the inhabitants there met upon serious consideration of
the dangers that are like to arise, they find that not any one
watch or two can be to the preservation of this township,
therefore the same to the said neighborhood unless some
special order comes from authority. And in case there
should be any assault by the Indians they have considered
that Mr. Edward Winslow — Mr. Thomas's houses and the
house of Jos. Beadle to be places tenable, and fit refuge for
the safe guard of ourselves, wives & children that are this
side of the South River and for the , inhabitants upon the
North River the most part of them being absent, though

History of Marshfield. 27
being lawfully warned, we thought meet to leave them to
consider of a place convenient for a safe retreat for them
selves, their wives, & children & if they shall neglect so to
do upon complaint of the constable or any one or more to the
Committee, and they are to complain to the Govenor, who
we desire set down an order in this case. It is ordered that
Capt. Nathl Thomas being one of our Committee, that he
entreat the government to betrust some one of our town with
a barrel of powder that in case of any apparent danger ap
pears, the town may be supplied and the person so betrusted
to be accountable to the government."
A dozen men were fined six and eighteen pence for not
appearing at the appointed hour of town meeting, and some
for not appearing during the day.
"1646 — At the town meeting it was agreed that Ed. ^^^ins-
low should agree with F Godfrey for making a bridge over
South River, and what he shall agree the town are ready to
affirm." "At the same town meeting Jos. Beadle, John Gorham &
Thos. Tilden were chosen Raters, (to fix taxes) and the
sum that they are to raise is two pounds ten shillings for a
public charge, and forty seven shillings and a penny for the
charges of the Committee & other considerations, the town
are willing the sum of five pounds & twelve shillings be
raised in the whole."
[The first case of the Town's help to the poor appears
here, 1646.]
"At the same town meeting Josiah Winslow & John
Dingley were appointed by the town to take order that Roger
Cooke be forthwith sent to Mr. Chauncey to cure, and for
what they shall be at, either sending of him or in his cure,
or for his diet and lodging, the town promise to save the
said Josias and John Dingley harmless."
j(5^7  [A case where the town duns a bill, due from one
individual to another.]

28 History of Marshfield.
"At the town meeting it was ordered & agreed that there
should be a rate made (taxes) of five pounds sterling for the
payment of the charge of 'fissick' (physic) and diet of Roger
Cook to Mr. Chauncy & Goodman Hicks at Scituate & for
that and Anthony Snow, Ralph Chapman & John Russell
are chosen raters. And also that town thinks meet that
monies due to Roger Cook from Arthur Howland be payed
to the town to help to pay his future charge."
"16^0 — At a town meeting held this day & year, John
Phillips of this town hath put his son Wm. Phillips, being
about the age of seven years the first of December last past,
unto John Bradford of the town of Duxborough and his
now wife, and either of them, or the survivor of them, after
the manner of an Apprentice for an during the term of four
teen years from the first of December aforesaid & the said
John Bradford doth covenant & promise to maintain his said
apprentice in good & sufficient meat, drink & apparel fitting
for such an apprentice during the said term and at the end of
said term the said John Bradford is to give him two suits of
apparel & also the sum of five pounds sterling, either in corn
or cattle & also the said John Bradford doth promise to teach
and instruct the said apprentice, to write and read and give
him that education as becometh a master to a servant."
1651.
"It was agreed at the town meeting that the said com
mittee and Peregrine White are in the behalf of the town
to look to all such persons as live disorderly in the township,
and to give them warning; and in case they do not redress
their course of life that then they shall use such means to
redress such abuses as they find in any such persons to be
as the whole town may do if they were all present"
1652. Taxes on Animals.
"At a town meeting it is agreed upon by the inhabitants
there present, that for the making the rates for the town,
that horses and geldings at the age of three years old and

History of Marshfield. 29
upward shall pay for the price for rate of three cows, and
at two years old shall be valued at the price in the rate of
two cows, and that all colts, whether sucklings or yearlings
shall be valued in the rate at the price of one cow, and that
all oxen that are five years old and upwards shall be rated
at the price of seven pounds, and all cows that are four years
old and upwards at four pounds and ten shillings a head,
and all steers of four years old at the same price, four
pounds, ten per head, and all three years old and two years
old at three pounds per head, and all year old and vantage at
forty shillings a head, and all calves at twenty shillings a
head, and all sheep, lambs and wethers at 20s a head, and
all swine that is a year old and upwards at 20s a head, and
all swine that are six months old and upwards, 5s a head.
It is further agreed upon that all cattle wintered and sum
mered in the township of other persons, either in this town
or elsewhere, shall be liable to the payment of the town
charges at the same price that the inhabitants doth pay for
their own cattle.
"It is further agreed that whosoever shall not give in the
whole sums of his cattle to the Raters that he hath wintered
and summered according to an order here specified, shall pay
for every such default, 20s a head."
1652.
"It is agreed upon by the inhabitants then present that if
any person or persons in this town shall kill any wolves in
this township, that such persons upon sufficient information
of it to the town, shall have twenty shillings per head for
every wolf so killed.
It is agreed that Thomas Tilden shall be paid twelve shil
lings for the killing of a wolf."
Paid-
John Bourne, transporting powder, is— ^
Transportation of the rate and for the meeting
house, f2— IOS

30 History of Marshfield.
For 200 lbs. lead, 3 — o
For killing of a wolf, — 12= —
1653-
"At the town meeting it is agreed upon that all young men
who are in the township that are single persons, and are
at their own hands, shall be liable to pay all the town's rates
as the rest of the inhabitants do, after the value of ten pounds
a head for every such person." 1655-
"At the town meeting it is ordered that not any of the in
habitants of this town shall receive any person or persons
as inmates or inhabitants without permission legally from
the town, at the town meeting, that so the town may take
such security as they shall see convenient."
1657-
"At the town meeting the inhabitants have agreed
that Ensign Fames, Wm. Macomber, Senf, shall
provide a Meeting house to be placed according to a former
grant for the town's use, and so that they may remove this
meeting house which is resident already an enlarged, may
by them be thought convenient, or else to sell or dispose of
this house for the furtherance of said work, or otherwise
agree with workmen to build it, and they do order the
dimensions, thereof, as the said three men doth see meet
for the best conveniency for the town's use, and the town
doth engage to answer the disbursements as the said house
shall require in the building thereof."
[The above meeting house was located at or near the
Winslow burial ground.] Ciit River.
I find the following recorded in the Old Colony records
concerning Marshfield about the year 1645. "It is also
ordered by the Court that the Cutt at Greens Harbour for a
boate passage shal be made eighteen foote wide and sixe
foote deepe. And for the manner how the same shal be

History of Marshfield. 31
done for the better ordering thereof; it is referred to the
Govemr and Assistants w* the help of John Winslowe —
Jona. Brewster — ^John Barnes, Christopher Waddesworth
as well to proportion every man equally to the charge thereof
as also to order men that shall worke thereat, that term
men may worke together there at once, and that the Govnor
or whom he shall appoynt shall oversee the same, that it may
be performed."

CHAPTER VI.
Marriages Among the Pilgrims.
Says Goodwin, "The first marriage in the Colony occurred
May 2 1 St. 1 62 1, between Edward Winslow (afterwards
Governor), who had been a widower only seven weeks, and
Susanna White (mother of Peregrine), a widow not twelve
weeks, but the case was exceptional. Winslow should be
at the head of a household, and the White children needed
a paternal guardian. The marriage proved fortunate for
all concerned. Among Mrs. Winslow's subsequent children
was Josiah, whom 52 years later she saw the first native Gov
ernor of an American Colony. The forefathers of Marsh
field and elsewhere throughout the Colony did not marry
before clergymen, but performed the ceremony before magis
trates for many years, not because in their earliest days they
had no clergymen (Elder Brewster was a layman, although
performing many of the duties of a clergyman) but because
our fathers held that the Scriptures and the early Christians
had not empowered clergymen to perform marriages, be
lieving it to be a civil compact only between man and
woman." Gov. Bradford's eldest son married Martha, a
daughter of Thomas Bourne, of Marshfield."
Marriages were very strict in our forefathers' time. A
previous contract of the parties' intention of marriage before
the final marriage, must be made, and publicly announced.
Sometimes it was for weeks and months, and sometimes a
year in advance, and a newly married couple's previous re
quirements were watched very closely when the wedding
knot was tied. In some cases where a violation of the re
quirements occurred, the husband was severely whipped,
while the wife sat near by with hands and feet secured in
32

History of Marshfield. 33
stocks, to witness her husband's punishment. Finally it
was changed to a fine. The offenders were both of a high
and low grade socially. Among some of the offenders is
mentioned our earliest townsman. Peregrine White, of
Marshfield.

CHAPTER VII.
Punishments by Pilgrims.
Notwithstanding our forefathers have the name of being
very strict in their religious observances and in their punish
ments of crime, they were mild and liberal in comparison to
some of their neighboring colonies here and in other states.
Massachusetts Bay (Gov. Winthrop's) Colony, around Bos
ton and vicinity, made thirteen crimes punishable by death.
Virginia Colony, seventeen — ^and in the latter Colony, a man
for believing and advocating Unitarianism was punishable
by death, and the same penalty was enforced upon Unitarians
in England in King James's time ; and even later in the days
of Queen Elizabeth, pious men were hanged for advocating
Congregationalism (Orthodoxy). Maryland punished
believers and advocates in Unitarianism with death. Though
our Forefathers' faith was good and strong, they laid down
no formal creed to guide them. The Old Colony had but five
elasses of crime to be punished by death, and only two were
ever enforced. Our Forefathers, unlike the Puritans of
Boston, Salem, etc., never hung a witch. The Quakers, if
non-residents, were treated rather harshly. Arthur How
land, a resident of Marshfield, was liberal in his views, and
sympathized with the Quakers. About the year, 1657, ac
cording to Goodwin, author of the Pilgrim Republic, "John
Phillips, the constable going to Arthur Howland's house in
Marshfield to leave a summons, saw a non-resident Quaker
preacher, Robert Tuchin, and arrested him. Howland in-
terf erred and ejected the constable from his house, declaring,
as the latter certified, that he would have 'a sword or gun in
the belly of him.' Two sons of John Rogers (of the May
flower) refused to aid the constable. When the official re-
34

History of Marshfield. 35
turned with a posse, Tuchin had escaped. Howland was
forthwith taken to Alden's house and tried before Collier,
Alden and Josiah Winslow, who ordered him to give bonds
to the General Court; he refusing to furnish bail, they put
him in charge of the Colony's Marshal, Lieutenant Nash,
who lived near. He was eventually fined £4. for harboring
Tuchin, and £5 for resisting the officer. Soon after, he sent
the court an indignant protest against Anti-Quaker meas
ures, and was then arrested for contempt. The court de
cided that as his estate would not bear further fines, and
he w^as too old and infirm to be whipped, he be released in ac
knowledgment of error, which was done." A romantic case
is recorded concerning the son of this same Arthur Howland
of Marshfield. It was in 1660 when Thomas Prence was
Govemor of the Colony, and concerned his daughter. "The
tolerant course of the elder Arthur Howland toward Quakers
had earned the ill will of Gov. Prence, and when in 1660 he
found Arthur Howland, Jr., had woed his daughter Eliza
beth, he had the swain before the General Court, where he
was fined £5 for making love without her father's permis
sion. The couple remained constant, however, for in 1667
the irate Governor once more brought up young Arthur,
who was again fined £5 because he had disorderly and un
righteously endeavored to obtain the affections of Mistress
Elizabeth Prence, and was put under a bond of £50 to re
frain and desist. But Prence, like Canute, was unable to
control the forces of nature. This action was in July, but
before the next spring the imperious Governor seems to have
been forced to capitulate, for Arthur, Jr., and Elizabeth were v
united, and in the course of events there was a Thomas How
land and a Prence Howland. Governor Prence's friend
and neighbor, Constant Southworth, had a like experience
with his daughter Elizabeth. In his will, 1679, he gave her
"My next best bed and furniture, with my wife's best bed,
provided she do not marry Wm. Fobes, but if she do, then to

36 History of Marshfield.
have 5s." The bed and adjuncts were then worth thirty
times 5s, for a fine bed was thought a goodly bequest; but
it was the grand old story; Elizabeth chose to have 5s with
William, to two beds without him, and provided her own
beds." Attendance at church was made compulsory in the Colony.
"Arthur Howland and wife of Marshfield, who at divers
times seem to have caused the officers of the Colony some
uneasiness were fined for not attending public worship, and
he was also arrested for neglecting his minister's tax; in re
spect to his age, however, he was excused till further notice.
"In 1666 Wm. Thomas, 2nd, charged Pastor Arnold of
Marshfield with teaching rank blasphemy, and the General
Court on examining the sermon declared it pure orthodoxy,
and censuring Mr. Thomas for great arrogancy, cautioned
him to carry more soberly." Some of the women of Marsh
field were pugnacious in Pilgrim days, and some were un
ruly, for in 1666 we find Constable Ford of Marshfield hav
ing arrested Widow Naomi Sylvester, Ford was attacked;
and she was rescued. As a penalty their brother, William,
was ordered to pay Ford £2." It does not appear what the
nature of the first offence was, and it does not follow that
the offence would have been at all criminal in our time; but
in Pilgrim days, as we have already seen, it was made a crime
to harbor a non-resident Quaker, and also non attendance to
church. It was a law in the Colony that a man should be in
dicted for swearing, lying and making seditious speeches,
etc. "Thomas Ewer was indicted for seditious speeches, to lie
neck and heels at the court's will, but being infirm was par
doned and warned that for the next offense he would be
banished from the Colony." "Ralph Smith for lying about
seeing a whale, fined 20s." "Thomas Lucas for swearing,"
sentenced to be put in the stocks. In 1651 John Rogers of
Marshfield was fined 5s for villifying the ministry. A
Mr. Winter, who in 1660 was constable of Marshfield, was

History of Marshfield. 37
in 1638 fined ios for publishing himself to Jane Cooper, con
trary to order and custom; he was also excommunicated
from the church at Scituate. The next year, on the charge
of antenuptial intimacy, Winter was sentenced to be whipped
at the post, at the Governor's discretion, and his wife to be
whipped at the cart's tail through the street."

CHAPTER VIII.
The Founder of Marshfield.
It is well here to give some account of Edward Winslow,
who was called the founder and father of Marshfield, the
Governor and one of, if not the most prominent man of
Plymouth Colony; he was the most accomplished of all the
Pilgrims. Three men, it is universally conceded, were the
leading men in the early settlement of New England, and
they were Gov. Bradford, Miles Standish and Gov. Edward
Winslow. Some add the name of Elder Brewster. Brad
ford noted for the administrative affairs of the Colony.
Miles Standish for his military heroism in the defense of the
Colonists, and Gov. Winslow for the management of the
business and commercial affairs of the Colony. Holton's
Winslow Memorial says ¦ "Gov. Edward Winslow was
born at Droitwich, England, October i8, 1595. He was the
third on the list who signed the Compact before the Pilgrims'
disembarkation. When Mr. Winslow arrived, his family
consisted of himself, his wife, Elizabeth, and three other
persons. His wife died about three months after the land
ing. In May, following, he married Susanna, widow of
William White, and mother of Peregrine. This was the
first marriage solemnized in the Colony. One of his first
duties after the landing of the Pilgrims was to visit the In
dians." "When the Sachem of the Wampanoags, Massa
soit, first made his appearance, and through a messenger in
vited an interview with the settlers, Mr. Winslow was de
puted by Gov. Carver to meet him ; and he voluntarily placed
himself as a hostage in the hands of the Indians, while their
chief, Massasoit, held his conference with the Governor. He
was treated by the Indians on a kind of bread, called by them
38

History of Marshfield. 39
Maquim, and the spawn of shads and musty acorns boiled.
They were lodged in the open fields; for houses they had
none." In the words of Winslow, upon his meeting Massa
soit, the chief, after his welcome : "He lighted tobacco for
us and fell to discoursing of England and the King's Majesty,
marvelling that he would live without a wife. Late it
grew, but victuals he had none. So we desired to go to
rest. He laid us on the bed with himself and his wife, they
at one end and we at the other, it being only planks, laid a
foot from the ground, and a thin mat upon them. Two
more of his chiefmen, for want of room, pressed by and
upon us, so we were worse weary of our lodging than of the
journey. The next day, being Thursday, many of the
Sachems or petty governors came to see us, and many of
their men, also. There they went to their manner of games
for skins and knives." "There we challenged them to shoot
for skins, but they durst not only, they desired to see one of
us, too, shoot at a mark, who shooting with hail shot, they
wondered to see the mark so full of holes." "About one
o'clock Massasoit brought two fishes that he had shot. These
being boiled, there were at least forty looked for share in
them, the most eat of them. This meal, the only one we
had in two nights and a day, and had not one of us brought
a partridge, we had taken our journey fasting. Very im
portunate he was to have us stay with him longer, but we
desired to spend the Sabbath at home, and feared we should
be light-headed for want of sleep, for Avhat with bad lodging,
the savages barbarous singing, (for they use to sing them
selves asleep), lice, and fleas within doors, and mosquitos
without, we could hardly sleep all the time of our being there;
we much fearing that if we should stay any longer, we should
not be able to recover home, for want of strength." "This
narrative gives us glimpses of the hospitality, and also the
poverty of the Indians. They gladly entertained strangers
with the best they could afford, but it is familiar to them to

40 History of Marshfield.
endure long and almost complete abstinence of food." This
visit resulted in friendship from the tribe to the Colony."
Mr. Winslow's next journey was by sea to the mouth of
Kennebec River, Me., to procure bread from fishing vessels.
He obtained a small supply, which amounted to one quarter
of a pound a day for each person till the next harvest. One
other visit of the founder of Marshfield made to the Indians,
I will here give as the facts acquaint us with the people with
whom our forefathers were thrown.
In the spring of the following year Mr. Winslow made a
second visit to Massasoit, on account of his sickness, the par
ticular circumstances of which are given in his own words :
"News came to us that Massasoit was like to die. Now it
being a commendable manner of the Indians, when any es
pecially of note are dangerously sick, for all that profess
friendship to them to visit them in their extremity, either in
persons or else to send some acceptable persons to them;
therefore, it was thought meet to bring a good and warranted
action, that as we had ever professed friendship, so we should
now maintain the same by observing their laudable custom.
Gov. Bradford laid this service upon myself, and fitted me
with some cordials to administer to the chief. At length,
when we came thither (to the chief's habitation) we found
the house so full of men as we could scarce get in, though
they used the best diligence to make way for us. They
were in the midst of their charms for him, making such a
hellish noise as it distempered us that were well, and, there
fore, unlike to ease him that were sick.
"About him were six or eight women, who chafed his arms,
legs and thighs, to keep heat in him. When they had made
an end of their charming, one told him that his friends, the
English, were come to see him. Having understanding
left, but his sight was wholly gone, he asked who was come;
they told him Winslow. He desired to speak to me.
When I came to him, and they told him of it, he put forth

History of Marshfield. 41
his hand to me, which I took, then he said twice, 'Keen
Winslow — Oh, Winslow, I shall never see thee again !'
"Then I called Hobbamock and desired him to tell Massa-
soyt that the Governor hearing of his sickness was sorry of
the same and though by reason of many businesses he could
not come himself, yet he sent me with such things for him, as
he thought most likely to do him good in this extremity, and
whereof, if he please to take, I would presently give him;
which he desired, and having a confection of many com
fortable conserves on the point of my knife, I gave him some,
which I could scarcely get through his teeth. When it was
dissolved in his mouth he swallowed the juice of it, whereat
those that were about him much rejoiced, saying he had not
swallowed anything in two days before.
"Then I desired to see his mouth, which was exceedingly
furred, and his tongue swelled in such a manner, as it was
not possible for him to eat such meat as they had, his pas
sage being stopped up. Then I washed his mouth and
scraped his tongue and got abundance of corruption out of
the same. After which I gave him more of the confection,
which he swallowed with more readiness. Then desiring to
drink, I dissolved some of it in water and gave him thereof.
Within half an hour this wrought a great alteration in him
in the eyes of all that beheld him. Presently after his sight
began to come tc him, I gave him more."
He sent one of the chief's messengers home for some more
medicine. He made some broth.
"After the broth being boiled, I strained it through
my handkerchief and gave him at least a pint, which he drank
and Hked it very well. After this his sight mended more
and more. That morning he caused me to spend in going
from one to another, amongst those that were sick in the
town, requesting me to wash their mouths, also, and give to
each of them some of the same I gave him, saying, 'that they
were good folk.' This pains I took with willingness, though
it were much offensive to me."
Marshfield iv

42 History of Marshfield.
"The messengers were now returned, but finding his
stomach come to him, he would not have the chickens they
brought killed, but kept them for breed ; neither durst we give
him physic, which was then sent because his body was so
much altered since our instructions; neither saw we any
need, not doubting his recovery if he were careful. Many
whilst we were there came to see him ; some by their report,
from a place not less than a hundred miles. Upon this his
recovery he brake forth into these speeches : 'Now I see
the English are my friends and love me.'
"Whilst we were there our entertainment exceeded all
other strangers. At our coming away, he called Hobba
mock to him and privately revealed the plot of the Massa-
cheuseucks (another tribe) against Master Weston's Colony,
and so against us. But he would neither join therein, nor
give away to any of his. With this he charged him to ac
quaint me by the way, that I might inform the Governor.
Being fitted for our return, we took leave of him, who re
turned many thanks to our Governor, and also to ourselves
for our labor and love, the like did all that were about him.
So we departed."
If his successors, his sons Alexander and brother, Phillip
— especially the latter — had continued those friendly rela
tions that Massasoit had so grandly begun, there would not
have been those terrible Indian wars that followed. Not
until after Edward Winslow and his Mayflower associates
had passed away and beyond, were the later colonists trou
bled. Winslow returned to England in three years after
landing on our shores, for the purpose of acquainting the
people in England of the progress of the Pilgrims here, and
also in procuring such supplies as the colonists needed.
He remained in England about six months, and brought
back with him a good supply of clothing, and the first neat
cattle ever brought into New England. This fixes the date

History of Marshfield. 43
of the first importation of neat cattle, three heifers and a bull
being brought over at this time. The settlers were destitute
of milk the first four years. The first notice of horses is
in 1644, twenty-four years after our Forefathers landed, and
eight years after Winslow settled in Marshfield.
In a letter to a friend, Winslow says in regard to the
friendly relations with the Indians : "We have found the
Indians very faithful to their covenant of peace with us, very
loving and ready to pleasure us. We often go to them and
they come to us. Some of us have been fifty miles by land
in the country with them, the occasions and relations whereof
you shall understand by our general and more full declara
tion of such things as are worth the noting. Yes, it hath
pleased God so to possess the Indians with a fear of us and
love unto us, that not only the greatest King amongst them,
called Massasoyt, but also all the princes and peoples round
about us, have either made suit to us, or been glad of any
occasion to make peace with us; so that seven of them at
once have sent their messengers to us to that end. They
willingly yielded to be under the protection and subject to
our sovereign lord King James. The following is the Oath
of Allegiance these princes and so called Savages took:
'Know all men by these presents, that we whose names are
underwritten, do acknowledge ourselves to be loyal subjects
of King James, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland,
Defender of the Faith, &c. In witness whereof and as a
testimonial of the same, we have subscribed our names or
marks as followeth :
'Ohquamchud, Chickkatabak,
'Cownacome, Quadaquina,
'Obbatinnua, Huttmoiden,
'Caunbatant, Appannon.' "
Our Pilgrim townsman further says in regard to food:
"For fish and fowl we have great abundance. Fresh cod in
the summer is but coarse meat with us. Our bay is full

44 History of Marshfield.
of lobsters all the summer and affordeth variety of other
fish. In September we can take a hoggshead of eels in a
night, with small labor and can dig them out of their beds
all winter. We have mussels at our doors. Oysters we
have none near, but we can have them brought by the Indians
when we will. All the spring time the Earth sendeth forth
naturally very good salted herbs. Here are grapes, white
and red, and very sweet and strong also; strawberries, rasp
berries, &c, plums of three sorts, red and damask. Single
but very sweet indeed." Hence it will be seen that our
Pilgrim ancestors of Marshfield did not suffer for want of
natural food. It was only for two or three years after the
Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, before habitations were erected
to any extent, and corn had not time to be grown and ac
cumulate that the Pilgrim fathers and mothers suffered.
The famine was in 1623. The only thing they wanted
thereafter was men to enlarge their settlements and help
grow their crops and fill their graineries in anticipation of
drouths that might come. All of these conditions were at
last fulfilled, for our Pilgrim ancestors were made of differ
ent material from those who visited Jamestown, Virginia,
fourteen years earlier. The latter were simply adventurers,
who did not come to this country to stay, but came for the
love of novelty and for what they could get. The result
was that Virginia did not grow and thrive as here, nor did
other parts of the'country visited earlier, as at St. Augustine,
Florida. The settlers there were not made of the stuff that
constituted the makeup of our Pilgrim fathers. We had
some adventurers, of course, among our Forefathers, but by
far the greater party of them came here for more liberty,
not more liberty for licentiousness and evil, but that liberty
to believe and act up to their highest convictions in their
religion and everyday life, and they were also imbued with
a purpose to plant a colony founded upon justice, industry,
integrity and progressive culture in all things towards the

History of Marshfield. 45
improvement of every man, woman and child on our shores,
and that was the key that gave the impetus to that steady
and marvelous growth to our Colony, and the sending forth
in the course of years throughout the length and breadth of
our land, pioneers full of the strenuous life and New Eng
land thrift, who constituted the full-fledged Yankee, known
far and wide over this hemisphere and the old, as the em
bodiment of that enterprise and progress developed in the
Nineteenth Centur\- in the United States of America.
In 1636 or 1637 Edward ^^'inslow moved to Marshfield
and settled in that portion of the town distant about a third
of a mile east of the present Winslow House and called by
Gov. ^^'inslow the "Careswell Estate," after some place in
England with which he was familiar. His brother, Ken
elm, the record says, "lived on a neck of land l)ang between
Green's Harbor River and South River." Five years after
wards an assistant to Gov. Winslow, named Wm. Thomas,
bought a piece of land adjoining his, built his habitation,
and settled there. This estate, a couple of centuries later,
Daniel Webster purchased, and not only this estate, but the
Winslow estate, and thus the illustrious statesman became
the possessor and occupant of both these historic estates.
The "Careswell Estate" of Winslow extended to the south
erly side of Green's Harbor River. He built, it is claimed,
the finest house in the Colony on this estate, but it is not in
existence to-day. The house on the estate at present,
known as the Winslow House, built several generations later
by Dr. Isaac Winslow, is very ancient, being one of the
oldest in town. It is a large, square. Colonial house, and
has the appearance of having been a century ago one of the
finest mansions on the South Shore. This house, like other
large mansions of its time, has a secret chamber, the entrance
to which is by a sliding panel over one of the wide fireplaces.
It is related that one of the Winslows took refuge in this
hiding place after the house had been surrounded by a body

46 History of Marshfield.
of patriots. "In the room connected with the secret place,
there was at the time a woman in bed with a new-born child.
The Colonists, with a delicate forbearance, made but a
superficial search of her apartments, and so the royalist in
hiding escaped discovery." Edward Winslow, our Fore
father of Marshfield, was chosen Governor of Plymouth
Colony several times, and served in that office also after he
became a citizen of Marshfield. Marshfield was well repre
sented among the leading officials of the Colony in Colonial
days, Edward Winslow serving as Governor in its earlier
period and his son, Josiah Winslow, a resident of Marsh-
held, serving later.
Gov. Ed. Winslow did not die in Marshfield. He was
sent back to England four times after his arrival here in the
Mayflower, by the Governors in power, on important busi
ness for the Colony, as he was the most able man among
the Pilgrims in that line. He was sent on his last voyage
across in 1646, to explain disputes arising from religious
controversies in three colonies, complained of by one Samuel
Gorton. While he was abroad, Cromwell, who thought
well of him, appointed him first Commissioner of the Com
monwealth of England to superintend the English expedi
tion to the West Indies, whereby Cromwell was anxious to
gain possession of one of the islands. "During Mr. Wins
low's voyage to the Indies, before the arrival of the vessel
at its destination, he contracted a fever, and died and was
buried with all the honors of war at sea, in May, 1655, aged
61. Over the spot the fleet fired 42 guns as a salute of high
rank." He was the youngest of three great Pilgrim lead
ers. It is his son's. Gov. Josiah Winslow's monument that
we see in the Winslow burying ground near Webster's tomb.
Edward Winslow's widow survived him 25 years. She
died at Marshfield in 1680 and was buried in the Winslow
burying ground, so called. She lived long enough to see
her son Governor. Resolved White, one of her elder chil
dren, a brother of Peregrine, was living in 1690, and Pere
grine White lived until 1704.

CHAPTER IX.
The Menu of Our Forefathers.
Goodwin says: "Tea and coffee were unknown to our
Forefathers. Beer was a common beverage. The potato
was unknown to them. Neither potatoes (white Irish po
tatoes), tea or coffee were used for more than a century
after the Pilgrims landed." "The breakfast of our Fore
fathers in Marshfield, and throughout the Colony generally,
among the common classes, was milk and hasty pudding,
or rye pudding and bread, with pea or bean soup or stew,
flavored with pork, stewed peas, squash, turnips, parsnips
and onions. Fresh fish was common, but beef and mutton
were very seldom seen. There was plenty of poultry and
pork. Butter and cheese, after the first few years, were
plenty, except among the very poor. Children usually had
milk, while the youths drank water or the beer of the elders.
At no time after the famine of 1623 was there a lack of good
food among the Colonists." "As tea and coffee were un
known to the Forefathers, the many Delft ware tea and
coffee pots preserved by collectors of Pilgrim relics are to
be regarded an anachronisms, and especially so at the time
of the Mayflower voyage; earthen tableware was not in
common use." "It seems pretty certain that the first comers
brought no earthen tableware, and required very little in
after years, although they had earthen bowls, jugs, pots and
pans. For elegant ware, pewter was much employed, and
is frequently mentioned in the wills and schedules of both of
the Colonies. Stout wooden plates called 'trenchers' were
used, as also wooden bowls." "Table forks were also un
known to the English tables in the Mayflower's day, though
large forks were used in cooking." "Tom Coryat had about
47

48 History of Marshfield.
that time brought a fork from Italy to London, and he ate
with it at a public table, the people used to crowd around
to see the comical performance. For many years after
ward the table-fork was regarded as a curiosity, much as
chopsticks now are, and its use was considered ridiculous, as
a freak of effeminancy by Beaumont and Fletcher and by
rare Ben. Johnson." The diner (in Marshfield) in those
early days was accustomed to hold his meat with the left
fingers while he cut it into pieces which could be conveyed
to the mouth by the knife or the fingers. This process re
quired much wiping of the hands, for which purpose there
was a plentiful supply of napkins. "In some families saf
fron was much used on meats, and hence the left-hand fingers
of such people often acquired a yellow color. Probably not
one of the Pilgrims ever saw a fork used at tables."

CHAPTER X.
1663. Tozi'n Record Selections.
"At the town meeting there was a contribution for the
relief of Ed. Bumpus to 6 bushels of corn of which Major
Josias A\'inslow fumished 2 bush. — Jos. Beadle i bush. —
John Dingley i bush. — Mr. Bourne and Bradford i bush. —
John Rogers a bushel — ^Josiah Keen half a bush. — Ensign
Eames | bush, and these persons to be answered at the next
town's rate."
"At said town meeting the inhabitants present have agreed
as to the maintenance of Rev. Samuel Arnold in the work
of the ministry, that for the present year that this shall be
raised by way of rate; viz : thirty-five pounds shall be raised
upon the estates of the whole town equally as upon other
town rates, and the other five pounds to be paid particularly
by the church and the one half being £17 — ios to be paid be
twixt this and the first of March next, and the other to
be paid at or before the 15th of November in the year, 1664,
and these payments to be made in corn, cattle, butter or
English goods at current prices." 1664.
"And further the town hath empowered their Selectmen
that now are or hereafter shall be to wam any that judge to
be idle or disorderly persons out of the town and in case any
inhabitant shall entertain any such persons that he knows
hath been so warned away by them, although but for shorter
time he shall be liable to the penalty expressed."
1665. [Indian conveyance or grant.]
"¦W^hereas I Josias Winslow at the request of this town
of ^Marshfield did in their behalf purchase of the Indian
Sachem, Josiah F. O. Chickatabut, the lands of this town
49

50 History of Marshfield.
which is mentioned, (in a deed from him to us of above
date). Know all men to whom these presents shall come
that I do by these presents resign up the land here above
mentioned unto the proprietors of this town and their heirs
forever. In witness whereof I have set thereunto my hand the
twenty-fifth of June, 1666. Signed, Josias Winslow."
"Ensign Mark Eames was chosen by the town to deliver to
Robert Sprout a parcel of cloth in his hands to clothe Han
nah Bumpus, and Lieut. Peregrine White shall be responsible
for it out of the ten pounds that he hath of Hannah Bum
pus in his hand, and also the said Lieut. White doth supply
her two pair of shoes of the same account."
"At the said town meeting the town hath disposed of Han
nah Bumpus with her father's consent to Robert Sprout
for to be his servant for three years, and in case that the
said Hannah shall be with child before this time that then
the town will take care for her and at the end of three years'
service will receive her if it be required."
"Anthony Snow did give and grant one half an acre of
ground to the town for a Burying place, which land lies up
on the northerly side of the highway near the meeting house
and next the land of Timothy Williamson."
"At town meeting the inhabitants, have agreed that as to
all future town meeting, that they shall begin at ten of the
clock, and so to continue from March to November six hours
by an hour glass, all the town meetings in that time of the
year, and from November to March in that interim, to con
tinue but four hours by a' glass, and what is acted in that
space of time to be owned as town acts and the other time
beyond this of the same days any actings to be invalid."
"Eleven pounds sterling was voted to be paid for support
of Mr. Bulkley in wheat, pork or butter."
1669.
"The town hath voted to make 2 rates (taxes) one for the

History of Marshfield. 51
town and country rates, and also to make the minister's
rate." "It was also agreed that the ]\Ieeting House, (near Wins
low's burying ground.) shall be enlarged and covered with
boards and shingles; and they have voted that Maj. Josiah
Winslow, Jos. Beadle and Wm. Ford, are to agree with
workman' for doing the work, and to be paid by town rate."
1670.
"It was agreed in town meeting whereas a payment for
the meeting house as to repairing of it, one fourth part of
thirty-four pounds was to be paid in pork, the town shall
pay in lieu of the pork, one-half in wheat at four shillings
-and sixpence a bushel, or butter at five pence, half penny
a pound and the other half in Indian com, and as for the
other fourth part, which is to be paid in beef, they have or
dered it shall be paid in Indian com, unless there be paid a
barrel' of beef by one person."
"Also agreed that Mr. \\'inslow, Beadle and W. Ford, are
to agree with workmen for the making the pews in the
meeting house, to be paid for the next fall; and also. the said
persons are to seat the persons at their discretion."
"The inhabitants have agreed that the town will pay for
the kilUng of wolves 30s a wolf; also that J. Dingley — ^J.
Snow — ^Jona. Winslow and ^^". Winslow have agreed to
make a sufficient wolf trap, and to keep it sufficiently
tended." "Also agreed to make a sufficient Pound; viz: Thirty
foot square, six rails high, squared corner posts, every top
rail pinned, with a sufficient gate, a staple and padlock."
"At town meeting, July 29. 1672 — it was voted that the
whole town shall jointly pay to Mr. Amold (the minister)
rates as they pay all other town rates (taxes) without any
disproportion betwixt the church and the town."
1673.
Salary of Town Officers:
Treasurer, £10— is— o; about $33.50 colonial currency.

52 History of Marshfield.
Chief Marshal, £2 — 17s — 4d; about $9.55 colonial currency.
Deputy Marshal, £1 — o — o; about $3.33 1-3 colonial cur-
Deputy, £1 — o — o; about $3.33 1-3 colonial currency.
rency.
Grand Juryman, o — 15s — o; about $2.50 colonial currency.
For Killing 5 Wolves o — 31s — o; about $5.16 2-3 colonial
currency.
For Charge Meeting House, o — 15 — o; about $2.50 colonial
currency.
For The Raters (tax gatherers) o — ios — o; about $1.66 2-3
colonial currency.
For The Constables, o — ios — o; about $1.66 2-3 colonial
currency.
A Total of $63.21 2-3

CHAPTER XI.
Preparations for King Phillip's War.
"In the same year the town agreed that in reference to an
order from the General Court held the sixteenth Septem
ber, 1673, to raising four troopers from this town; so it is
that John Foster, Jacob Dingley — ^Jos. Waterman and Daniel
G. White, have voluntary tendered themselves to sen^e as
troops for the ensuing year for this town, and it is voted by
the town that the pistols which belonged to the troopers
formerly, that now are put into these troopers hands, are by
them to be repaired and to be answered to them at the next
town rate and the aforesaid troopers at the end of the year
shall deliver them up to the Town's order in sufficient 'kel-
ter' for service." "Also agreed to appoint a jur)^ and
sworn by the governor, to lay out all the highways of the
township. Lieut. Peregrine White and others served."
1675-
"Agreed by the town that the inhabitants are willing that
Isaac Billington and his famih", being distressed by reason
of the late trouble with the Indians, this winter to reside in
this town." "Also that the inhabitants gave in the amounts
of the damages they had suffered b\' the late war with the
Indians as to the loss besides, horses, saddles and guns and
arms, which was to be sent to the committee at Plymouth by
Ensign Mark Eames."
"Also the inhabitants voted that there be three watches in
the town, one at the Governor's (Winslow) residence, one
at the Mill, and one at Thos. Macomber ; and they have also
voted W^m. Ford — Isaac Little and John Car^'^er be added to
Lieut. Peregrine White and Ensign Mark Eames as to the
ordering the watches to be equalh- divided and disposed for
53

54 History of Marshfield.
the town's safety as to their watching and warding as these
persons aforesaid do order according to their best discre
tion." 1676.
"The inhabitants have voted at the town meeting that half
the barrel of powder at the Governor's, which belongs to
the town, as also that remnant or parcel of powder which
belongs to the town which is at William Ford sons, and the
lead of the town, which is at the Governor's, that that am
munition shall be equally shared to the respective garrisons
of the town, and to be delivered to the masters of the said
garrisons and that according to the number of men in them,
and these masters of garrisons, to be responsible to the town,
according to their proportions of the town rate, and Mr.-
Nath. Thomas and Timothy Williamson are to deliver the
ammunition to the respective masters of the garrisons."
1676.
"The inhabitants agreed in town meeting that they would
have twenty guns sent for the town's use, and that they
shall be twenty Indians sent for from the southward to as
sist the town in sending forth against the Indian enemy,
and to be satisfied for according to agreement."
"Also the inhabitants voted that twenty-five pounds for
the twenty guns, formerly mentioned, and powder and bul
lets to the value of the sum of twenty-five pounds for the
supply of the town; and it is the town's desire that the Hon
ored Governor would be pleased to procure these guns and
ammunition for the town's use."
"Also agreed that if any of the soldiers that this town
shall see cause to send forth against the Indian enemy that
their wounded men & the families belonging to them shall
be taken care for with suitable supplies as their case may
require by the whole town."
"Also agreed to make two rates, viz: fourteen potmds a
money rate, and the town's rate being £264 — for de-

History of Marshfield. 55
fraying the charges of the war. £14 being part of the
gross sum before specified, as also for received £7- 13s and
40 shillings in money borrowed to pay the soldiers which
went with Capt. Pierce all these are deducted out of the £264
above said." 1679.
"The inhabitants of the town agreed to pay Rev. Saml
Amold fifty pounds the ensuing year, and one half the fifty
pounds to be paid in Corn and Cattle, and the other half to
be paid in wheat, or barley or pork or beef or butter, or
cheese or money according to the times of the year formerly
specified in March and the begirming of October."

CHAPTER XII.
Selectmen's Power. — The Indians and Other Matters.
In a very old memoir of the Colony of New Plymouth, by
Baylies, we find in 1669 that the office of a Selectman was
a high office. He wielded a deal of power. They were
authorized to issue warrants of capias and attachment in
His Majesty's name. Single persons were forbidden to
live by themselves, or in any family excepting such as
should be approved by the Selectmen, and in case they re
fused obedience to the order of Selectmen, they were to
be summoned to court and proceeded against.
"There shall be three courts of the Selectmen in a year."
"The Selectmen were this year empowered to try all ques
tions between the English and the Indians excepting Capi
tal and land titles. They were authorized to take a Con
stable and repair to any house or place where they might
suspect that any slothful did lurk at home or get together
in Companies to neglect the public worship of God, or pro
fane the Lord's day and finding any disorder to return the
names of the offenders to the next Court and also to give
notice of any particular miscarriage."
"The powers and duties of the Selectmen appear to have
been of a high character. They were not only the chief
executive and police officers of the several towns, charged
with a general superintendence of town affairs, and with
a general oversight of the morals and manners of the in
habitants, but they were judicial officers and were consti
tuted a court. They united the functions of the modern
justice of the peace (now trial justice) and partially those
of the old county courts of common pleas, with a jurisdic
tion limited to the towns. This judicial power was con-
56

History of Marshfield. 57
ferred in consequence of the great inconvenience which the
people of the remote towns suffered from being obliged
to attend courts at Plymouth in small cases." "They
tmited the functions of the Roman censor with those of the
modern police officer."
In the same memoir we find that in 1643 great precaution
was taken that the Indians should not be cheated of their
lands or other property. "It was enacted that it should
be holden unlawful and of dangerous consequence, as it hath
been our constant custom from our very first beginning that
no person should purchase, rent or hire any lands, herbage,
wood, or timber of the Indians but by the magistrate's con
sent. For every transgression £5 was forfeited for every
acre so purchased, rented or levied, and five times the value
of the wood & the timber to the Colony's use."
"In 1660 it was enacted that this law should be so inter
preted as to prevent any from taking land as a gift. By
these laws every practicable precaution was taken to secure
the rights of the Indians and to prevent the improper and
deceptive practices of individuals."
The same memoir continues that "In 1658 the crime of
adultery appears to be first noticed in the laws. The pun
ishment of this offence was two whippings, once while the
court before whom the offending party was convicted should
be in session, and once at any other time which they should
direct, and the party so convicted was to wear two capital
letters, A. D., cut in cloth and sewed on the uppermost gar
ment, on their arm or back, and if they removed the letters
they were again to be publicy whipped. [In the Massa
chusetts Colony, a red letter "A" was obliged to be worn
on the breast for this offence, and Hawthorne's romance
entitled the "Scarlet Letter" was founded on this require
ment and fact.]
"The court had previously enacted in 1645 that fornica
tion should be punished with whipping, a fine of £1 or three
Marshfield v

58 History of Marshfield.
days' imprisonment, at the pleasure of the court. If, how
ever, the offending parties are or will be married, then the
fine of £1 for both only and three days' imprisonment."
Also in 1655, card playing was punished by a fine of 50s.
"Servants or children playing at Cards, dice or other un
lawful games for the first offence to be corrected by their
parents or masters, for the second to be publicly whipped.
The constables were ordered to return the names of those
who should play or sleep or smoke tobacco about the meet
ing house on the Lord's day. June, 1674, horse racing
was ordered to be punished by the stocks, or by a fine."
In 1646 the smoking of tobacco in the streets or about
hay stacks or barn, or public places, was prohibited. Baylies
continues by saying that "by a law of 1673 none were per
mitted to keep above three horses on the commons. One
having £20 rateable estate was permitted to keep one; £40
two; £60 three. Any keeping more it was made lawful
for any one who was trespassed upon by such horses to kill
them, and also to do it in case of trespass on their corn, or
other enclosed lands or meadows after warning them."
"In 1666 no horses were allowed to be carried out of any
township in the government without the consent of the
governor under a penalty of £5."
"Plymouth Colony had been settled seventeen years, Mas
sachusetts Colony, seven, Connecticut Colony one or two,
and New Haven Colony was scarcely settled when these
Colonies began seriously to consider the benefit of a Union
for the common defence. Articles of Confederation be
tween these plantations or Colonies were drawn up in 1643.
" 'Wherefore it is fully agreed & concluded between the
parties and jurisdictions above named, and they jointly &
severally do by these presents agree and conclude that they
all be & henceforth be called by the name of the United Col
onies of New England.'
"It was agreed, however, that each Colony be forever

History of Marshfield. 59
under the government of each separate Colony. 'But the
Union of the Colonies is simply for Common defence in
case of war or conflict with outside parties and the expense
of any war be borne by the United Colonies.'
"There were six Commissioners of the Union appointed,
as follows: From Plymouth, Ed. Winslow (founder of
Marshfield) and Wm. Collier; from Massachusetts, John
Winthrop and Thos. Dudley; from Connecticut, George
Fanwick and Ed. Hopkins; from New Haven, Thos. Eaton
and Thos. Gregson." And thus early in the days of the
Pilgrims an embryo Union was formed as an example to
the patriots of the Revolution, nearly a century and a half
later, when a L^nion of thirteen Colonies or States was
formed. Gov. Josiah Winslozi' and King Philips' War.
It was a great and bloody war in Pilgrim days in which
our distinguished townsman and Colonist who was chosen
commander-in-chief of the New England forces, and other
townsmen were engaged. It was especially disappointing
to the Colonist that a son of the chief, ]\Iassassoit, whose
father was so kind and hospitable to the Pilgrims and whose
life Gov. Ed. Winslow saved, should leave a son whose life
seemed to be spent in an attempt to exterminate every white
man on the New England soil.
Philip and Alexander, the sons of Massasoit, chief of the
Wampanoags, did not like their Indian names, and dropped
them for the heroic names about which they had been told.
Alexander, the elder, at the decease of Massasoit filled his
father's place as chief, and after some secret plans against
the Colonists were discovered, he was arrested and im
prisoned. This, it is said, so greatly mortified him that
it brought on a fever, from which he died.
His brother Philip, his successor, was greatly incensed
against the Colonists at the treatment of Alexander, and
this was one of the incentives that brought about the war.

6o Historv of Marshfield.
He was especially angered against our townsman, Winslow,
then governor of the Colony, for the seizure of his brother
Alexander, so much so that during the war the governor
and commander-in-chief felt it wise to "send his wife and
children away from their home in Marshfield to Salem, and
to put his house in a complete state of defense."
Gov. Winslow had a large territory to cover in the war
with King Philip, extending to Mount Hope (now Bristol,
R. I.), to Swansey, Brookfield, and even to Maine. King
Philip had succeeded in interesting many other tribes in his
attempt to exterminate the whites. I will give here an
instance of the dogged determination of King Philip and
his followers with which our townsman had to deal :
"In Brookfield," says Baylies, "the English were about
to treat with the Indians for peace, and they appointed a
place of meeting. Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson both
proceeded to the appointed place, accompanied by the horse
and some of the principal inhabitants of Brookfield. Find
ing no Indians at the appointed place, they determined to
proceed to their town. So unsuspicious were the inhabi
tants of any danger, that they went without their arms.
Having marched four or five miles farther, they came to
a place called Momimimissit, where, on one side, a high hill
rose almost perpendicularly from the road; the other was
skirted by an impassable swamp. In this narrow pass they
were assailed by three hundred Indians, who lay in ambush;
the savages rose from their lurking places, and poured upon
the devoted English a destructive fire. Eight were killed
instantly, and three mortally wounded, amongst whom was
Captain Hutchinson. Captain Wheeler's horse was killed
under him, and he received a shot through his body, but
his life was savfed by the desperate courage of his son, who,
seeing his perilous situation, notwithstanding his own arm
had been broken by a bullet, dismounted from his horse,
upon which, disabled as he was, he contrived to place his

History of Marshfield. 6i
father, and then, catching another, whose owner had been
killed, he mounted, and both escaped; and afterwards re
covered of their wounds."
"The whole road from the place where they had been
ambushed, to Brookfield, was waylaid by the enemy, but one
of the inhabitants being acquainted with a path through the
woods but little travelled, led the remnant of this unfortun
ate company in safety through this path to Brookfield, which
they had scarcely reached, when the Indians, fresh from
the slaughter, rushed into the town, breathing threats of
extermination. "The inhabitants had been alarmed, and had collected
for the purpose of making a better defence into one house,
where they were joined by Captain Wheeler and the rem
nant of his company. The Indians, after vainly endeavor
ing to cut off the retreat of five or six men who had been
to a neighboring house to secure some property, and killing
one Samuel Pritchard, instantly fired the town, and collected
their whole force to attack the house to which the English
had retired.
"The only mode by which the house could be fortified was
by piling large logs on the outside, and hanging up feather
beds against the walls within. By these means the force
of the bullets was deadened. For two whole days the
Indians continued to assail the house, constantly pouring
in a fire of musketry. Fastening firebrands and pieces of
cloth, which had been immersed in burning brimstone, to
long poles, they vainly essayed to set it on fire. They
kindled a large heap of combustibles directly against it,
which compelled the English to leave it, to draw water from
the well, which was in a small yard, surrounded by a board
fence, and open to the enemy's fire, yet they succeeded in
extinguishing the flames, and only one man was wounded.
"Baffled in every attempt, the Indians at last filled a cart
with hemp, flax, and other combustibles, and connecting a

62 History of Marshfield.
number of poles together, began to push it backward against
the house, but this fire was quenched by a sudden shower
of rain. The scene was terrific. The Indians were trans
ported with rage. Their faces hideously caricatured with
paint, their passionate gestures, and the wild and furious
expression of their countenances, after the repeated obstacles
which had prevented their purpose, all conspired to excite
the unfortunate inmates of the house with the most gloomy
and fearful apprehensions, but their courage never quailed.
"The Indians offered no quarter, and they disdained to
ask it, but with stout hearts stood steadily to the contest.
Within the house were seventy souls, and what added to
tlie horror of the situation, many of them were women and
children. At last, by one of those chances which some
times occur when all hopes of relief seem to be terminated,
they were succored by a company of English from Boston,
who marched to their relief, and they were relieved."
The tribe of Narragansetts joined King Philip, but after
our English soldiers enter their country, made peace with
them, and among the articles of the treaty was the following :
"VI. The said gentlemen in the behalf of the govern
ments to which they do belong, do engage to the said sach
ems and their subjects, that if they or any of them shall
seize and bring into either the English governments (Colo
nies), or to Mr. Smith, inhabitants of Narragansett, Philip
sachem alive, he or they so delivering shall receive for their
pains, forty trucking cloth coats; in case they bring his head
they shall have twenty like good coats paid them; for every
living subject of said Philip's so delivered, the deliverer
shall receive two coats, and for every head one coat, as a
gratuity for their service herein, making it appear to satis
faction, that the heads or persons are belonging to the
enemy, and that they are of their seizure."
The generalship of our townsman and commander-in-chief
was strikingly manifested by the victory gained over King

History of Marshfield. 63
Philip and his warriors, although it was a long and cruel
conflict, extending over a large territory of New England,
and causing the destruction of a large amount of property,
including six himdred houses, and leaving the Colonists
with a heavy debt. The fate of King Philip is too familiar
in history to repeat here. One act of the Colonists, how
ever, in connection with this war, leaves a stain on their
reputation. King Philip's boy, an only child, was cap
tured, sent to Bermuda, and sold into slavery. This was
the last of the good chief Massasoit's progeny.

CHAPTER XIV.
Dress of the Colonists. — Scolding Women.
Some of the people in the Colony by 1650 began to dress
more extravagantly than the magistrates dared to have them,
and the General Court passed laws to prohibit the luxury
and extravagance of dress. H. M. Earle says : "An estate
of at least £200, or $666.66 2-3, was held necessary in order
to allow any freedom of costly or gay attire. They also
prohibited the wearing of gold, silver or thread lace, all cut
works, embroideries or needlework in the form of caps,
bands or rails ; gold and silver girdles, hat bands, belts, ruffs
or beaver hats; knots of ribbon; broad shoulder bands, silk
roses; double ruffles or capes; gold and silver buttons; silk
points, silk and tiffany hoods, and scarfs. Vain offenders
against these sumptuary laws were presented by the score
and were tried and fined.
"Women in the Colony who were given to scolding, etc.,
were punished. May 15th, 1672, the General Court of
Massachusetts ordered the scolds and raillers should I)e
gagged or set in a ducking stool and dipped over head and
ears three times."
Miss Earl gives an account in Virginia of this ducking
process, in a letter to Governor Endicott in 1634, as follows :
"The day afore yesterday I saw this punishment given to
one Betsey, wife of John Tucker, who by ye violence of her
tongue, had made his house and ye neighborhood uncom
fortable. She was taken to ye pond where I am sojourn
ing by ye officer who was joined by ye magistrate and ye
minister Mr. Cotton, who had frequently admonished her
and a large number of people. They had machine for ye
purpose, it belonged to the Parish & which I was told had
64

History of Marshfield. 65
been so used three times this summer. It is a platform
with 4 small rollers or wheels & two upright posts between
which works a lever by a rope fastened to its shorter or
heavier end. At the end of ye longer arm is fixed a stool
upon which sd Betsey was fastened by cord her gown tied
fast around her feete. The machine was then moved up
to ye edge of ye pond, ye Rope was slackened by ye officer
& ye woman was allowed to go down under ye water for
ye space of half a minute. Betsey had a stout stomach,
& would not yield until she had allowed herself to be ducked
5 several times. At length she cried piteously: 'Let me
go ! Let me go ! by God's help I '11 sin no more.' Then
they drew back ye machine, untied the Ropes & let her
walk home in her wetted clothes, a hopefully penitent
woman."

CHAPTER XV.
Our Pilgrim Fathers, as Compared to Puritans of
Salem and Boston.
Our Forefathers in Plymouth, Duxbury, Marshfield,
Scituate, and other towns less prominent in the Colony,
were much more humane in the treatment of the inhabitants
within their precincts than were the Puritans in Boston and
vicinity. In the latter region the poor Quakers, the most
harmless and upright classes of citizens in Massachusetts,
were most barbarously treated, and Governor Winthrop and
Governor Endicott (especially the latter) proved themselves
to be the most despotic rulers in their treatment of the
Quakers. There were Mary Dyer and others, who were brave
enough to declare their honest convictions, hung on Boston
Common because they would not lie and declare that they
would give up their Quaker principles. And again, Arma
Hutchinson, one of the most intelligent and clear-headed
women of Puritan days, was banished from the home she
and her husband had established in the town of Boston be
cause, forsooth, she did not believe in the rigid doctrine of
the Puritans, and publicly proclaimed her dissensions.
Again, Roger Williams, the father of Rhode Island, ban
ished from the Massachusetts Colony because he would per
sist in advocating his principles, to the dislike of the Puri
tans; and what did the leaders of our good Pilgrim Colony
do? Instead of rushing him out of the Colony, when he
entered their midst, they offered him a home among them.
But he would not accept, and journeyed at last to Rhode
66

History of Marshfield. 67
Island and established a colony at Providence, to which he
gave the name.
To be sure, there were some Quakers among them they
did not like, but none did they ever punish by death, nor did
they ever hang a witch, unlike the Puritans in the Massa
chusetts Colony, who seemed to delight in hanging and
torturing these poor, innocent and harmless victims of a
superstitious and bigoted Colony, convicted on the evidence
largely of hysterical and nervous children.
These persecuted people left England, as did our Pilgrim
Fathers, for New England to have larger liberty in the
enjoyment of their religious and honest convictions, and
so did the Puritans, but they would not tolerate or allow
anybody else that same privilege who did not agree with
them.

CHAPTER XV.
Incidents Among the Colonists.
In 1635 there was a great tempest in the Colony. Mr.
Thatcher, who was at one time a citizen of Marshfield, was
in a vessel off Cape Ann with his cousin, John Avery, and
their wives and children, when a storm overtook them on
Friday night. Saturday found the wretched people cling
ing to a rock, now called 'Avery's woe,' and there during
the day the survivors lovingly comforted each other, as the
waves with terrible deliberation singled out their victims.
That night the only survivors were Thatcher, who had
reached a rocky islet with his bruised wife, whom he dragged
from the surges. A goat had also reached the rock, and
a cheese, with some few trifles, washed ashore. It was
Monday afternoon before the forlorn couple were rescued.
"But few of the many thousands who pass and visit the
two lighthouses • on Thatcher's Island know of the terrible
wreck and horrible suffering and endurance of those two sur
vivors on that fateful rock, from whom came the name."
"In 1643 the confederacy, called "The United Colonies
of New England," apportioned each town its quota of sol
diers. Marshfield was to furnish two, Scituate five, Dux
bury five, and other towns proportionately, according tb
the number of inhabitants. In 1689, the quota had
changed; Plymouth only four, Scituate six, Duxbury only
two, and Marshfield three. During King Philip's war
Marshfield had to furnish twenty-six soldiers, Duxbury six
teen, while Plymouth furnished only thirty, to Scituate's
fifty. But Marshfield furnished a commander-in-chief to
all the forces in New England, Gen. Josiah Winslow.
Some of the Indians were converted to Christianity, and
68

History of Marshfield. 69
they formed villages and made just laws of their own.
Their form of warrants for arrests was as follows :
"I Hihoudi :
You Peter W^aterman, Jeremy AVicket: Quick you take
him. Fast you hold him. Straight you bring him. Be
fore me Hihoudi."
W'olves, soon after our Forefathers settled here, became
very destructive. They were attracted more than ever by
the animal food introduced here and the other attractions
of a settlement. So numerous did they become, that the
Colony passed laws that each town should set traps to catch
them. Marshfield was instructed to furnish and set two,
and Scituate four.
Mr. E. E. AA'illiamson has in his possession the original
of the following document, concerning the Common in front
of the Congregational church in South IMarshfield, which
was transferred to the town by his ancestor, Timothy Wil
liamson, in 1663, O"^ possibly 1665. The Lieut. White re
ferred to is no less a personage than Peregrine White, the
first born of the Pilgrims after nearing or touching our
coast :
"]Marshfield the 20th May 1663 [or 1665] at the town
meeting, Timothy AMlliamson having formerly granted to
the town a small parcel of ground to set the meeting house
upon, and a pound to pound cattle, also for a training place
which is now used accordingly, and the bounds of s'd land
that he gave to the town doth by wayward along the train
ing place, and so to run of the south side of the after corner
of the meeting house, and to form the after corner of the
meeting house, square to the east way of the North side, and
so to the westward Corner of this training place : and the
town have granted to Timothy ten acres of ground to a
former grant of thirty acres, which lyes on the farr side of
the South River in lieu of his grant of his to the town. At
the 2nd town meeting the inhabitants have appointed Lieut.

JO History of Marshfield.
White and William Foord Savaiours to lay out the tract of
land formerly and laterly granted to Timothy Williamson,
which is forty acres with that which was now granted.
A true Copy Attest. Isaac Winslow."
Comets were greatly feared by some of our ancestors, and
lightning filled some with terror. The first fatal case from
lightning among the inhabitants of the Colony was in July,
1658, when John Phillips was struck at Marshfield. Eight
years later, Grace, wife of Mr. Phillips, and her son John
were killed by lightning at or near the same place. By the
same stroke, a lad named Jeremiah Phillips and William
Shurtleff were also killed. Mr. Shurtleff had his child in
his lap and was holding his wife by the hand to encourage
her, but he alone was hurt. This storm immediately fol
lowed a fast on account of drouth and ended with a hurri
cane. "Prayer," the account continues, "was too effica
cious. There were but five cases, however, recorded during
the existence of the Colony from 1620 to 1692."

CHAPTER XVI.
Habits and Customs of Our Forefathers.
(From "History of Cape Cod.)
"The habits and customs of our forefathers and mothers
in IMarshfield and elsewhere in the Colony," are important in
this history in showing the everyday life amongst them.
Every man and woman was addressed as Goodman and
Goodwife. No one in that era but the very highest classes
in society, either those holding high offices or those of
aristocratic birth, were given the titles of Mr. and Mrs. It
was the habit in those days for the men to wear very long
beards. In 1649 the custom of wearing long hair was
gradually becoming a thing of the past. So bitter did the
Colonists become against it, that the following edict was
issued :
" 'Forasmuch as the wearing of long hair, after the man
ner of the Russians & barbarous Indians, has begun to in
vade New England, contrary to the rule of God's word, &
the commendable custom of all the godly, imtil within this
few years, we the magistrates, who have subscribed this
paper, do declare & manifest our dislike & detestation
against the wearing of such long hair, as against a thing
uncivil & unmanly, whereby men do deform themselves &
offend sober & modest men & do corrapt good manners.'
"Subsequently, grand jurors were in duty bound, under
the laws, to prevent, and the court to punish, all such
offenders. Tobacco was forbidden under a penalty, and
some of the prominent divines compared the smoke to the
smoke of the infernal regions. But when some of the
dignitaries and the clergy got into the habit of smoking the
'vile weed,' it was not long before the people at large ac-
71

^2 History of Marshfield.
quired the habit," and their descendants have not forgotten
it to this day, the beginning of the 20th century, for millions
of dollars (I do n't dare say how many) are spent in smoke
to poison the air, to the disgust of the tidy housekeeper.
"Periwigs were not much worn in Pilgrim days, not
coming into use until the era of the Revolution."
Freeman says : "The style of dress, as well as the manner
of living was much more favorable to health than in modem
times, and pulmonary affections were much less frequent
than now. A young person was rarely visited with con
sumption. Milliners and tailors were not much in demaad.
The females generally, whether old or young, it has been
said, were content with a homespun flannel gown for winter
and wrappers for summer. The latter were without a
waist and gathered at the top. For occasional dress a
calico or poplin was enjoyed, sleeves short, reaching only
to the elbow, with ruffles ten inches wide. Caps were sel
dom worn, except in full dress. Both leather and broad
cloth shoes, with high, wooden heels, covered and peaked
toes turning up, were worn by females. Masks were some
times used in cold weather in traveling far. Prunelles and
brocades were a luxury, not much indulged in for a long
time, and when these were once obtained, they lasted long,
being transmitted from mother to daughter through succes
sive generations.
"Very early the wardrobe of females was the subject of
legislation, and excess of apparel, strange, new fashions,
naked breasts and arms, and pinioned, superfluous ribbons
on hair or apparel, were sufficient to subject the offender
to prosecution and penalties. The men, old and young,
had one coat and vest, small clothes and fur hat. Old men
had also a great coat and a pair of boots reaching to the
knees. Young men would have been thought effeminate
had they worn overcoats. A writer familiar with the times
says : 'I remember that a neighbor of my father provided

History of Marshfield. 73
his four sons, between 19 and 30 years of age, one with a
pair of boots, the second with a surtout, the third with a
watch, and the fourth with a pair of silver shoe-buckles. It
created a neighborhood talk, and the family were considered
on the high way to insolvency.'
"The meals in those days were frugal, the course at din
ner being in winter ordinarily : first, porridge, a broth with
a few beans thrown in and seasoned; second, an Indian
pudding with sauce, and third, boiled pork and beef, with
potatoes and pumpkins. Suppers and breakfasts were
usually alike, milk with toasted bread in it, or sweetened
cider, hot in winter, with bread and cheese. On Sabbath
mornings they indulged in chocolate sweetened with mo
lasses, and the concomitants were pancakes, doughnuts,
brown toast, or pie. They had no Sunday dinners until
both meetings were over, but then, the intermission was
short; after meetings, a sparerib, a stew pie, or a roast beef,
goose, chicken or turkey made up the repast, with a few
et ceteras."
We in New England in the 20th century would not con
sider this a bill of fare to starve upon. Many of the
farmers in Marshfield and elsewhere on the shore, are work
ing their farms on a far more scant menu, than the "poor"
Pilgrim who was fortunate enough to get a dinner, supper
or breakfast on Sunday or any other day, like that But
bread and milk was undoubtedly most of the year the meal
of the common class. "Wheat was sown, and when har
vested was used in various ways. It was groxmd, the meal
not bolted, but simply passed through a sieve. The com,
before mills were provided, was pounded in a mortar, usu
ally with a stone or wooden pestle. The mortar used was
generally a large log, hollowed out at one end.
"The first houses had steep roofs, and generally thatched.
The fireplaces were so large that children might sit within
the comers and look out in the evening at the stars, through
Marshfield vi

74 History of Marshfield.
the chimney, if they would. Logs four feet long and sev
eral feet in circumference, which required all the strength
of a strong man to roll them in, were placed back, a fore-
stick of corresponding diraensions was laid in front, and
smaller wood was then filled in and heaped up; plenty of
light wood or fat pine being at hand to revive the fire and
in the evening to keep up a bright and pleasant light. Oil
or candles were used only occasionally.
"The chimneys sometimes were made of layers of wood
notched at the crossing, the interstices filled in with clay,
and the whole interior plastered with the same. The floors
were nicely protected by a fine, washed, white sand. The
immense andirons, with hooks to receive the spit holding
over the dripping-pan the roast, enabled the housewife to
furnish, with the aid of frequent turning and basting, a dish
that the epicure now covets in vain. Roasts were then
roasts. "In a few years houses of better construction began to
appear — two stories in front, the roof in the rear sloped
down to within six feet of the ground. The windows were
supplied with hinges, opening outward, and were quite
small. The glass was diamond shape, and set in sashes of
lead. The dwelling houses were always so placed with
front to the south, without regard to the street or road.
Everybody went to meeting in those days, however dis
tant they resided from the place for public worship. Those
who owned horses held them as justly liable to do service
for any of the neighbors on meeting days, and it was no
unusual thing for the owner and his wife, the one on a
saddle and the other on a pillion, with perhaps a little boy or
girl before the man and an infant in the woman's lap, to ride
half, way to the place of worship and then dismount on ar
riving at the halfway block and hitch the horse for the
neighbors who set out on foot, walking themselves the rest
of the way. Chaises or such-like vehicles were then im-

History of Marshfield. 75
known. Travelling in stage and coaches was hardly
dreamed of. Young men and maidens rarely thought of
riding to meeting, even though the distance might be six or
ten miles. Horses were all accustomed to pace, that they
might carry the rider gently.
"The duty of the sexton then required that he should
attend to the turning of the hourglass. It was to be tumed
at the commencement of the sermon, and the minister was
expected to close his sermon at the end of the hour. If he
either exceeded or fell short of that time, it was alike re
garded as furnishing just cause of complaint.
"By order of the General Court, corn and beans were used
in voting, the com representing the Ayes and the beans the
Nays. A heavy penalty was imposed if any individual put
into the box more than one. The candidates were voted
separately until one was elected."
"Tradition says that at the time of John Alden's marriage
to Priscilla Mullens, and of his excursion from Plymouth to
Barnstable, there was a destitution of horses and traveling
equipage in the Colony and that it was not uncommon for
oxen or bulls to supply the place. Mr. Alden rode on the
back of a bull, with a piece of handsome broadcloth for a
saddle, and on his return his bride was seated on the same,
the happy bridegroom leading the bull carefully by a cord to
the nose-ring."

CHAPTER XVII.
North River Ferry Boats and Other Matters.
In 1668 the following was applied to Marshfield as well
as other towns in Plymouth Colony : "It is enacted by the
Court, That all Swine wth in these Colonies shall be suffi-
ently ringed after they shall be tenn weeks old, and if that
any shall be complayned of to be vnruly, that then they be
yeoked, upon the penalty of six pence for every swine that
shall be found unringed and not presently ringed upon
warning given thereof, and this to be done by the first of
November next."
In 1649 also the following: "Whereas there is greate need
of a fferry boat to be erected to transport men & cattell over
the North River, many complaining of the want thereof,
and Such as passed that way were at great charge & put
to many unconvenyences for want thereof ffor the redress
ing whereof. It is enacted by the Court That there shall be
xijd for every family levyed throughout the Govrment
towards the charges of the building of two vessells or boats
for the transportacon of men and cattell over the said river
at the now passage place. And that Mr. Jonathan Brew
ster shall have the keeping and the p'fitts (profits) of the
said fferry to have and to hold to him and his heires forever
and shall build and from tyme to tyme mayntaine two suffi
cient boats or vessels, one for the carrying of men and an
other for carrying of cattell on the said North River, wt'n a
sufficient man or two to attend them. And shall have these
rates for the first yeare viz : for a man ij d (two pence) for
a horse & his rider vj d (six pence) for a beast vj d (six
pence) for swine and goates ij d (two pence) And after
the first yeare for men ij d (two pence) for a horse and his
76

History of Marshfield. y7
rider vj d (six pence) for a beast iiij d (four pence) and for
a goate or swine j d (one pence), of all men of what plan
tation soeu (soever)."
Another act says "that if one man only is carried over
North River shall charge 4 pence & if more than one two
pence each." In 1652, "Concerning such as are allowed
to exercise men in arms in the several townes within this
government the Court doth order as follows : Wm. Vas-
sell and Wm. Hatch of Scituate, Capt. Standish of Pljmi-
outh, Lieut. Holmes of Duxborrow, and Nathl Thomas
of Marshfield," etc., etc. "Also enacted by Court the
charge of Killing Wolves shall be bourne by the whole Col
ony & that they shall have for every wolfe so killed, a coat
of trading cloth." "In 1655 There was also a penalty of
40 shillings against any one found playing cards &c, also
a fine of 12 pence for any one using Tobacco in the streets
or about barns or com stack or hay yards." Also enacted
by court that if any English among the Indians allow horses,
cattle, or swine on their premises, the stock shall be im
pounded and kept there until sufficient is paid them for
damages. It was also enacted in 1659 that "every owner of horses
shall take the first opportunity to mark & enter their horses
according to order and in case any shall neglect so to do
betwixt this & March Court next, shall forfite five shillings
to the town for such default for every horse found un
marked." "The different towns in the Colony must use
for a mark, initial letter of their town, and Marshfield's
mark was, capital 'M.' "
If our citizens of today were obliged to work as did the
Forefathers of Marshfield in Pilgrim days, it might not
only be better for the town, but also better for the lazy
themselves. Here is what the Court of the old Plymouth
Colony enacted in 1639: "ffor the preventing of Idlenes
and other euills occationed thereby. It is enacted by the

78 History of Marshfield.
Court that the grand jurymen in every Towne shall haue
power within their several Townships to take a specioU view
and notice of all manor of psons (persons) married and
single, dwelling within theire several Townships that have
smale means to maintaine themselves and are suspected to
lie Idlely and loosly and to require an account of them how
they live ; and such as they find delinquents, and cannot give
a good account unto them. That they cause the constable
to bringe them before a majestrate in their town if there
be any, if there be none before the Selectmen appointed for
such purpose that such course may bee taken with them, as
in theire wisdomes shal bee pledged just & equall;"
The list of freemen in Marshfield in 1643, that is, those
who were admitted to the freedom of the Colony, who took
the oath of allegiance to the Colony and were able to bear
arms, was as follows: Mr. Edward Winslow (Governor) —
Mr. Wm. Thomas (his assistant) — Josias Winslow — Ken-
elme Winslow — Mr. Thomas Bourne — Mr. Edward Buckley
Robte Waterman — John Dingley — Thom. Shillingsworth
— John Russell — & Mr. Nathaniel Thomas."
We find in the Plymouth Colony Records that in 1670
"Josias Winslow in behalf of the town of Marshfield brought
suit against Nathaniel Thomas for neglecting & refusing to
pay one pound seven shillings & ninepence due him for
the ministry at Marshfield. The Court sentenced him to
two pounds 15 shillings & sixpence."
"John Low of the Town of Marshfield in 1671 for pro
faning the Lord's day by servile labor & contemtable words
being minded of that abuse, the court fined 40 shillings or
to be whipt."
"In 1675 Wm. Wood of Marshfield for speaking con-
temptously of Mr. Arnold on the Lord's day in Feb. last,
as appears by evidence was sentenced by the Court to sitt
in the stocks 2 hours the next training day at Marshfield."
In 1676 we find on the Colony records that "a Jury

History of Marshfield. 79
viewed the body of John Rose, late of Marshfield and found
that on the 13th of February he being a gunning was over
come by the violence of the weather, which was the cause
of his death."
The selectmen and surveyors of Marshfield in early days
were appointed by the Plymouth Colony Court.
"In 1678 Elizabeth Low of Marshfield, a single woman,
was publickly whipped for giving birth to a child, & the
father of the child was sentenced to pay sufficient to support
it." "In 1681, Timothy Rogers of Marshfield in the like
manor, being lame & unfit in that respect, is freed from
bearing armes & training." Also the court "did stablish
Mr. Nathl Thomas to be Captain of the Milletary of Marsh
field & Isaac Little Lieut, and Wm. Foord ensigne of said
Company."

CHAPTER XVIII.
Town Record Selections.
Scituate and Marshfield Bounds in 1682.
"Articles of agreement between Scituate and Marshfield
for boundary between them." 1682.
"Articles of agreement indented made an concluded the
four & twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord 1682 —
between Nathl 'Thomas & Saml Sprague Agents of the
town of Marshfield of the one part and Thos Turner and
Saml Clapp Agents of the town of Scituate of the other part
witnesseth : That wheras the said towns by their several
orders have chosen & impowered us the above named parties
to make a final settlement of the bounds of or between the
said towns at or in the North River that so the said Sedge's
Islands or flats in or upon the said river may be settled to
each of the said towns according to right and the inhabitants
of neither town tresspass on the other by cutting or mowing
of these flats or islands for the future. We the abovt
named parties do by these presents mutually settle, deter
mine & agree that the bounds between the said of Marsh
field and Scituate shall be the main channel as it now runneth
down the North River from the Upper part to the sea; and
wheras at a place in the said river called Green Island, the
said channel doth divide and runneth on both sides the said
Island it is further agreed that the said Green Island shall
be equally divided into two parts & the Southward part
thereof shall belong to the said town of Marshfield, and the
Northward part thereof shall belong to the said town of
Scituate and in witness that this is and shall be the settled
bounds between the said towns forevermore we have here-
80

History of Marshfield. 8i
unto set our hands this day and year above written. The
Court have approved and confirmed the above written agree
ment & have ordered to be recorded. (Signed
Testa — me — Thos. Turner
Nathl. Jilorton — Secretary Nathaniel Thomas
Samuel Clap
Samuel Sprague"
1684.
"Agreed bv the inhabitants in town meeting that wheras
the town shall purchase the lands that was formerly granted
between Duxborrow and our town, but being after pur
chased by Nemasket persons of the Indians, they being
willing that Duxborro and our town shall have their grant
formerly given to the said towns, they reserving their pur
chase that Nemasket men laid out for the lands and the town
hath voted that the said purchase shall be raised and paid by
the inhabitants after the rate of the purchase of this whole
town unto Josiah Wampetuck, the Indian.
"Also made Saml. Sprague Agent for the town and in
their behalf to agree with Namesket men as to that part of
the purchase which concerned their purchase of the lands
which was by the Court granted to Duxborow and our town
lying about Mattakeesett viz : that part of the purchase that
did concern our half of the whole lands aforesaid which was
by the said Neemaskett men paid to the Indians that so it,
may be repayed again to them."
"Bounds Betwixt Marshfield and Duxborrow."
"VsHieras we whose names are underwritten are appointed
>v the town.? of Duxborrow and Marshfield to run the lines
and settle the bounds between the Townships of Duxborrow
& ^Marshfield as by the Records of the said towns doth ap-
: ear we have accordingly run the said lines & settled the
b:unds as followeth: From the Rock that is flat on the
to-:' near the house of Clement King, Northwest to the
X^;rrh River and have marked several trees in the range

82 History of Marshfield.
and about 12 or 15 rods North Eastward of Saml. Hatch's
house, we raised a heape of stones & from the said rock
South east to the Cartway between Samuel & Seth Arnold's,
where we raised a heap of stones and from thence to Green's
Harbor fresh the path to be the bound, and on the eastward
side of said fresh, just above where the said way goes
through it we raised a heap of stones and from thence on a
straight line to a tree of White Oak with the top broken
off called poles, which said tree stands by the Cartway just
where an old footpath turned out of it towards Careswell
and between the said ways and from thence on a straight
line to the South west side of Edward Bumpus' land so
called, when he formerly lived at Duck Hill, taking in the
said lands of the said Edward Bumpus to the town
ship of Marshfield, and these bounds aforesaid to be the
bounds betwixt the said townships of Duxboro and Marsh
field forevermore.
"In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands the
three & twentieth day of February 1683.
Signed
Wm. Peabody — Nathaniel Thomas
John Tracie — Samuel Sprague"
A county road was laid out in 1684 "from Green's Harbor
brook" at the bounds between Duxbury and Marshfield to
"the path leadeth toward Robert Barker's, till it meeteth
with Duxbury lands." 1685.
"The town upon enquiry of Sarah Staple and others find
she hath not been in our town so as to make her an inhabi
tant here, did vote she should not be here intertained and
warned her to depart out of this town by the selectmen.
The town agreed & chose Capt. Nathl. Thomas — Lieut.
Isaac Little and Sergeant Sprague or either of them to en
deavor to clear this town from any charge concerning Sarah
Staple or the bastard child she saith she is with, and the
town to defray their charge respecting the premises."

History of Marshfield. 83
1686.
"It is ordered that every housekeeper of this town shall
kill or cause to be killed before the 12th day of July next
six blackbirds, and so between the months of February &
June annually on penalty of 3 shillings forfeit to the town
for every housekeeper that neglecteth to kill his number of
birds and all such birds' heads to be brought in to some one
of the Selectmen who shall keep account of the same."
"Whereas Mr. Arnold our minister is necessitated to build
a barn on the ministry's land, & not knowing when it shall
please God to take him hence, it was agreed & voted by the
inhabitants, none dissenting, that this town shall pay to his
executors or administrators what the barn shall be worth at
his decease to be prized by indifferent men."
1689.
"In compliance with the desire of Thos. Hinckley, late
Governor of this colony the inhabitants here have chosen
Nath. Winslow and John Barker to advise wath the said
late Governor & those who werr of his old Council for a
present settlement of government in this Colony and of the
militia within the same for the preservation of the public
peace and defence against a Common enemy and such other
matters as may concern the welfare of this colony. And
in order thereunto do advise that there be an election of
Governor and assistants as soon as may be by all such as
have liberty to vote in town meetings and such as the sev
eral towns respectively shall admit. And also choice of
military officers by the inhabitants and soldiers in the sev
eral towns until the Supreme authority shall otherwise
order." "In pursuance of the order of the last Court for the rais
ing money for the present expedition (King Williams' war)
against the barbarous enemy, Indians, Saml Doggett, An
thony Eames, Ephraim Little, John Foster, promised to
lend the town twenty shillings a piece to be repaid again by

84 History of Marshfield.
the next town's rate in the same specie and Lieut. Little to
recieve the same of them."
"Lieut. Little bought the hiefer yearling that Thos. Ma
comber took of Hopestill Bisbee for a debt due the town
and he to pay to the Selectmen for her 14s in money which
money is to be employed in fixing arms and other accoutre
ments for three Indian Soldiers that are to go out against
the Indian enemy this present expedition. It is ordered
that each of the three soldiers of our town's proportion for
the present expectation who shall willingly offer and list
themselves shall have ten shillings in Money frora the town
as a free gift for their encouragement."
"The town have voted that the pound keeper shall have
paid him six pence for every horse, four pence for every
neat beast & two pence for every swine and i penny for
every sheep by such person as shall fetch such beast out of
the pound." 1694.
"Agreed by the town Capt. Nathnl Thomas shall and may
purchase what he can of those lands lying at Mattakeesett
Ponds from the Indians which were formerly reserved by
Josias; & he to be accountable to the town for what he
shall so purchase and the town to reimburse him or pay him
his disbursements touching the purchase of the same or he
to have the lands so purchased to him & his heirs."
1696.
"The town granted unto Capt. Nathaniel Thomas and
released and quitted claim to him and his heirs forever all
the towns interest, claims & demands, whatsoever of and
unto all the two hundred Acres he hath purchased of the
Indians lying above the Indian Head River Pond (by virtue
of an order of this town bearing date July 30 — 1694) ac
cording as the same is bounded in his deed he hath from
the Indians, viz : by one deed from Jeremiah Memuntange
and Abigail, his wife bearing date the 15th day of May 1695

History of Marshfield. 85
and one other deed from Mathias Wampy dated the 4th of
Sept. 1694." 1694.
"The inhabitants have agreed for the support of Thos.
Weld in the work of the ministry amongst us, to pay him
sixty pounds in money per annum and after that rate for
the time he continueth araongst us. And if he shall settle
among us, to pay him fifty pounds per annum in Money and
the use of the farm belonging to the Ministry, put into good
repair by the town for him."
"Memorandum: That Lieut. Little paid Capt. Nathnl
Thomas six pounds in Money for 40 pounds weight of
powder, and bought 200 lbs. of weight of bullets for three
pounds fifteen shillings in part for the land granted him at
Mattakeesett, and the town order that the said Powder and
bullets shall be kept at the Lieut's for the town's use.
"The town voted that if any person or persons who hath
or shall hire the 'Sedge flats' or islands in any of the three
rivers belonging to this town shall be or have been molested
or tresspassed on by others they may sue such trespasses and
in case they be at an)-^ charges to defend the towns title, the
town will reimburse them." 1700.
"The town did then & there vote that Dr. Little should
supply the place for scltool master for the instructing of
youth in reading, writing & ciphering in the said town for
the year ensuing and the said Doctor Little did then promise
and engage to the said town so to do."
"The tovvn made choice of Mr. Saml Spragne to be their
agent to answer in behalf of the town in respect of a pre
sentiment that is made of the said town for defect of or not
having a schoolraaster in the said town."
1701.
"Inhabitants of the town voted and agreed with Doctor
Thomas Little to serve the town as Schoolmaster for the year

86 History of Marshfield.
ensuing & in consideration thereof the town to free him from
the poll tax for the said year and also to allow him 20 shil
lings." 1702.
Isaac Winslow was chosen Representative to Gen. Court.
1703.
"The town made choice of Captain Nathaniel Winslow to
represent thera in a Great and General Court to be holden
in Boston or elsewhere the loth of this inst. March.
"Also at said town meeting the town voted and also
agreed with Mr. Peregrine White to be their schoolmaster
for the year ensuing and in consideration thereof the town
to allow and pay to hira the said Peregrine White the sum
of £1 — IOS and also that all persons that send their children
shall pay to him sixpence a week above & beside the sum
aforesaid for each child that comes to be instructed."
1703.
"The town ordered that every householder of this town
shall kill or cause to be killed before the first day of July
next six black birds and 30 between the months of February
& July annually on a penalty of 3 shillings forfeit to be
paid to and recovered by the town treasurer for the town's
use from every housekeeper that refuses or neglected to kill
said number of birds and all such birds to be brought in to
the town treasurer who shall keep an account of the sarae
and also any person or persons of the said town that shall
be in to the said treasurer more than their number set on
them in said order being grown birds shall be paid by the
treasurer out of the town's stock the sum of two pence for
each head so killed in the town, and brought in by them."
"Also at a meeting appointed by the selectmen to let or
hire out the comraon Sedge Flats & Islands in the North,
South & Green Harbor rivers for this present year they did
then hire out all the flats that belong to the town in Green's
Harbor River to Doctor Thomas Little for 13 shillings also

History of Marshfield. 87
all the comraon flats in the South River to Isaac Winslow
for 18 shillings as also all the lower flats in the North River
below Stephen's Island to Isaac Winslow for £1 — ios like
wise all the upper flats in the North River above said
Stephen's Island to Mr. Saml Sprag^ue for £1 — 15s the
money to be paid to the town treasurer by the persons afore
said at or before the 25th day of Dec. next ensuing."
1704.
"The proprietors of the town Commons of Marshfield
being met on Monday May 22 — 1704 ordered, voted and
acted that from the date hereof of any person or persons
shall bark or milk or cause to be barked or milked for tur
pentine any of the pine trees in said Commons shall pay the
sum of six shillings for each tree that shall be barked or
milked." 1705-
It was agreed at town meeting "that in addition to the
act for killing blackbirds that for those that cannot get
blackbirds, that Squirrels & blue birds heads shall answer
and serve in their stead being alike in number and being
killed between the months of Feb. and July so as to save the
fine." "Also the town voted to build a new meeting house ad
joining or near the old Meeting house (at or near Winslow
burying ground), 44 ft long, 34 ft. wide & 18 ft. between
joints." Representatives' Salary in 1705.
"Also to be paid to Isaac Little £13 — 7s." (Equal to
$44.50.) 1721.
"Isaac Winslow — Jona. Eames. — Thos. Macomber were
appointed by the town for the recieving & letting the town
of Marshfield's proportion or part of the fifty thousand
pounds of Public Bills of Credit on this province to be lodged
in the hands of the Province Treasurer pursuant to an Act

88 History of Marshfield.
of the General Court in March last. Ordered that the said
trustees or by their order do fetch said part or proportion
as soon as the Province Treasurer do notify them or the
Selectmen of this town of said Money being ready for them.
"Ordered that when said Money is recieved the said trus
tees shall post up a notification thereof so that persons de
serving thereof raay apply theraselves therefor to said Trus
tees. Ordered that the said Trustees or the Major p&rt of
them, do let out said money to inhabitants of this town
being freeholders to each person not exceeding twenty
pounds nor under ten pounds to be proportioned among
those who shall lay claim for the same at or before the first
meeting of said Trustees and so not exceeding twenty pounds
nor under ten pounds for the space of a month next after
said first meeting.
"Ordered that in case the whole of said money be not
drawn out within the said first month that then the said
Trustees shall let out the remainder to any of this town's
freeholders by such sura as they shall desire, ordered that
in case the whole of the money be not drawn out within the
next raonth after the said first month that then said trustees
shall let out the remainder to any freeholder of the County
of Plymouth," etc., etc., etc. The trustees gave bonds for
their trust. 1721.
"The town appropriated fifty pounds to be raised out of
the interest of the town's money, toward the relief of the
distressed people in Boston viz: to those that are reduced
to straights by reason of the distemper {Small Pox — ) and
to be sent them in wood and to be put into the hand of Dan
iel Oliver Esq. Mr. Thomas Gushing, Mr. James George
and Mr. Saml Marshall of Boston for the use aforesaid &
to be given out to such person as they in their prudence shall
think have most occasion."

History of Marshfield. 89
"At a meeting of the town, an atterapt was made for an
appropriation to build a meeting house & school house in the
North part of the town, but it failed of a Majority vote."
1727.
"At town meeting the town voted that any person in this
town shall have the keeping of the town's new law book
that will give the town most money for it and keep it for the
use of any of the inhabitants of said town to look into as
they need but not to carry it from the person that pays his
money to the town Treasurer for it — Mr. John Little bid 23
shillings for the priveledge of keeping the said book & is to
have it, paying his money as above said."
"Also agreed that if any persons shall appear to make
as much and convenient room for the Negroes and Indians
as they now use without prejudice to any other seats in the
meeting house at their own change shall have liberty to
have those seats they use to set in to build pews."
"Also the town agreed that the Swine belonging to the
inhabitants of this town have liberty to run at large for the
year ensuing being well yoked and ringed as the law direct."
In 1728 Marshfield appointed a day for letting out the
town's part of £60,000 which the General Court appropriated
to the towns, to be let to freeholders of the town in sums not
exceeding £20, on good security.

Marshfield vn

CAPTER XIX.
Indians — Wolves — Whipping Post — Lands.
In 1689, the town of Marshfield manifesting sorae dislike
to its captain, the Court ordered "that the Corapany be com
manded by the lieut. and ensign until the next General
Court." 1689.
"On account of some unfriendliness shown against our
colonists, the Selectmen of Marshfield, as well as other
towns in the Colony, do not allow the Indians within the
bounds of Ply. Colony pass not out by night or day without
a certificate from them, on pain of imprisonraent and that
Indians coming from other colonies without passes be se
cured and examined, before a military officer or magistrate
and proceeded with."
Also the court ordered "that if any person, English or In
dian, apprehend and bring before authority any man that
is an Indian enimy, he shall have ten pounds for a reward
if he bring him, alive, and five pounds if killed, provided it
be evident it be an enimie Indian."
There were eighteen wolves killed in the Plymouth Col
ony in 1689 and 1690.
In the Plymouth Colony Records we find the following
in 1655 : "Item, we present the town of Marshfield for want
of a pound, stocks, & whipping post, contrary to order,"
which, we take it, means warned. Even the Colonists were
given to slander then, as now, for we find in the Colony
records that "Jos Silvester gave his bond for 20 pounds for
Dinah Silvester that she should appear in Court in 1660 in
answer to a complaint raade by Wra Holmes & wife about
a matter of defamation. Geo. Vaugham of Marshfield for
not attending public worship was fined 10 Shillings."
90

History of Marshfield. 91
It would not seem that in 1665, when the town had so
few inhabitants, that it was necessary to have five Selectmen.
The Court of the Colony, however, appointed "Leift. Pere
grine White, — Ensigne Mark Eames — ^Anthony Snow —
John Bourne — ^Wm. Foard." Now, in 1900, we have but
three, and one, I think, would do the town better and raore
economical service, but the town from the tirae of the Revo
lution, as near as I can leam, have elected their three Select
men in the North, Middle, and South parts, commonly
known as districts, but not divided legally by town authority.
We find in the Colony records the marriage of the Pilgrim
ancestor of the Little family in Marshfield. "Thomas Lit
tle and Ann Warren in 1633 Apr. 19th," probably in Pl)mi-
outh, as it was several years before Marshfield was settled.
We find also in the same year the following of Mr. Little:
"John Barnes hath sold unto Thomas Little, one shallop in
consideration of one pound of beaver rd in hand and three
Ewe goats to be dd [delivered] in June ensuing, whereof
one to be a yeare old & the other two between the age of
two & three yeares, all giving milke at the sarae time."
During the first year of the incorporation of Marshfield,
1640, "Land was granted to Geo. Soule, a meadow he de
sired against Air. Pi:ince's lands at Green Harbor." Lots
also of fifteen or twenty acres to different persons about this
time were granted. A dozen Colonists were granted from
thirty to eighty acres each by the Court. William Thomas,
assistant to Govemor Edward Winslow, was granted a large
lot of land, fifteen hundred acres, in the neighborhood of
Green Harbor and adjoining the estate of Govemor Wins
low. Governor Winslow and William Thomas owned to
gether some 2700 acres.
In these early days Josiah Winslow, youngest brother of
Edward Winslow, settled near Kenelm (another brother of
Govemor Edward), who lived northerly of Green Harbor
river. Said Josiah was town clerk of Marshfield for many

92 History of Marshfield.
years. Town meetings were held in the churches until
1838, and afterward in the old Town House, near the present
site of the Almshouse, which was abandoned for the new
Hall in the Ventress Memorial Building in the last decade
of the 19th century. In 1654 a mill was authorized to be
built in the town at South River for the grinding of corn.

CHAPTER XX.
Churches.
At Marshfield, several substantial Welshmen settled by
invitation of Governor Edward Winslow, and with them
came Richard Blinman, who was pastor here in 1641-2
(but a year after the town was incorporated and the first
church built). He was a scholar, "and may have been in
advance of the times, for he was in disfavor." He and his
countrymen soon went to Cape Aim.
Pastors.
"It would seem," says Baylies, "that Mr. Blinman, al
though in the phraseology of the day, 'a godly and able
man,' was not well received by the austere Puritans of
Marshfield, who compared hira to a 'piece of new cloth in
an old garment.' He was a leamed raan, and wrote a
treatise in defense of infant baptism."
Next came Exiward Bulkly (graduated at Harvard Col
lege in 1642). He was the able and learned son of the first
pastor of Concord. *"The third minister here was Saml
Arnold in 1657, then followed in 1696 Edward Thompson,
in 1707 James Gardner. In 1706 the third meeting-house
was built on the site of the old. [These meeting-houses
were the first in Marshfield, and were erected on the same
site, in the vicinity of the old Winslow burying ground.]
Mr. Gardner continued as the minister at this church until
his death in 1739.
In 1738 the second Congregational society was incor
porated in the north part of the town; and a meeting-house
built, on or near the site at Marshfield Hills where the Uni
tarian church now stands in 1901, which the people in the

*Wm. T. Davis in "History of Plymouth County."
93

94 History of Marshfield.
south part of the town within the limits of the old parish
denominated the 'Chapel of Ease.' In 1826 the old meet
ing-house was taken down and a new one was erected. In
1848 the new meeting-house was remodeled after plans fur
nished by Isaiah Rogers (an eminent architect).
"Rev. Mr. Bryant first officiated in the church after its
incorporation, serving but one year. Then Rev. Atherton
Wales, a graduate of Harvard College in 1726, officiated.
His ministry extended over fifty years. He was then fol
lowed by Rev. Elijah Leonard, who continued for forty-
eight years. After his death, Rev. Luke A. Spofford
supplied the pulpit for one year. At this time, in 1833,
the church was nearly equally divided between the old and
the new faith. As, however, in the old church the evan
gelical portion of the congregation prevailed, so here the
liberal wing predominated and the Rev. George Leonard
(whom we remember as a "grand old raan") was settled,
and preached here twenty-five or more years."
As a result of this action, a new society was organized in
1835, under the name of the Second Congregational Trinita
rian Society. A new church was built, and is now standing
just below the old (Unitarian) church and nearly opposite
the Clift Rodgers Free Library Building. "Its ministers
who have preached there are Rev. Eli Smith, followed by
Rev. Elbridge G. Howe, Rev. Sumner Clark, Rev. F.
A. Fiske, Rev. Daniel D. Tappan, Rev. Luther Farnham,
Rev. F. F. Williams, Rev. J. C. Seagrave," and others since,
whose pastorates have been so short it is not worth while
to enumerate them in these pages. The same may be said
of the many pastors who followed the Rev. George Leonard
in the Second Congregational Society (Unitarian). In
this Second Congregational Society during the Revolution
"a military corapany was organized among their nurabers
and entered in the records of the church."
Returning to the First Parish in South Marshfield, its

History of Marshfield. 95
fifth pastor was Rev. Samuel Hill, in 1740. He was fol
lowed by Rev. Joseph Green in 1753. In 1758 a new meet
ing-house was built on the site of the old one. Rev. Thos.
Brown, in 1759, succeeded, and was followed by Rev. Wil
liam Shaw in 1763. In 1798, the Baptist Religious Society
of Marshfield was incorporated, and near this date a meeting
house was built in the west part of the town. In 1850 the
house was remodeled and enlarged. Pastors filling the
pulpit were Joseph Butterfield, Barnabas Perkins, Thomas
Conant, Benjamin Putnam, William H. Hall, and others
following with short pastorates. The present pastor in
1 90 1 is Rev. Mr. Knobb.
The Second Baptist Society in North Marshfield, near
the village of Marshfield Hills, built their church in 1826.
Rev. S. Ripley was ordained as its first pastor, and was
followed by numerous others, whose pastorates were short.
Rev. Jacob Davis, now living here in 1901, nearly 90 years
of age, preached for five t)r six years, over a quarter of a
century ago. The pastorate is now filled by Rev. Thomas
Goodwin, who has preached there for the past dozen or more
years. The present site and part of the edifice of the Grand Army
Post at Marshfield Hills was occupied for many years in the
early part of the last century as an Episcopal church. Capt.
Luther Little and Capt. Luther Rogers and families, who
were among the leading men in town, were prominent par
ishioners, and long after the closing of the church for want
of attendance, the latter, all alone, would go with his Bible
each Sabbath into the church to comraune with his God.
For half a century there have been no services there, and
the building, about thirty or forty years ago, was purchased
by the late Wales Rogers and a floor put in midway, dividing
the upper part frora the lower. The lower story for some
years was used for a paint and wheelwright shop, and the
upper portion for a hall, Roger's Hall, the only hall then in

96. History of Marshfield.
the village. Not such a hall as we have now ! Benches,
mostly without backs, to sit upon, and large wood stoves to
heat the hall, with no platforra to speak upon. But raany
good times were enjoyed there, dramas, concerts, lectures,
and dances.
"In 1824," says Davis, "the Methodist Episcopal Society
built an edifice in the central portion of the town, and in
1854 they built the present meeting-house, about a quarter
of a mile northerly of the Agricultural Fair grounds. Lewis
Janson was the first settled pastor, in 1830, followed by
others every two years or more to the present time.
"Returning to the First church again. Rev. Mr. Shaw
preached there until his death, in 1816, having preached
fifty years. Beginning in 181 7, Rev. Martin Parris offici
ated. He preached until 1836. Rev. Seneca White was
installed in 1838. Before Mr. White was settled, the pres
ent edifice near the Marshfield railroad station (Cohasset &
Duxbury Railroad) was built, when the society moved into
its new quarters. The eleventh pastor of the church was
Rev. Eben. Alden, installed in 1850, who preached here
many years and is remembered as one of the best men that
Marshfield ever had within its borders. He resigned his
pastorate a few years ago, and died about two years since.
He has been followed by several pastors ; Rev. Mr. Lucas has
recently been settled there.
At this church our very eminent townsman, the Hon.
Daniel Webster, attended, when at horae in Marshfield.
There are two raore churches which have been built within
the last decade at Brant Rock and Green Harbor. One is
Unitarian, and the other a Union church. The pastor at
the Unitarian church now preaching is Mrs. Whitney.
I do not find it recorded that any specially bigoted preach
ing was indulged in by our Marshfield pastors, but it is said
of Mr. Treat, eldest of twenty-one children of Governor
Treat of Connecticut, who preached at Easthara in 1672,

History of Marshfield. 97
"that he was wont in his stalwart sermons to dwell on the
delight with which the tortures of his impenitent hearers
would be witnessed by God, while they writhed in hell with
a thousand devils rending and tearing and macerating thera
through all eternity."
The Second Congregational Trinitarian (Orthodox)
church at Marshfield Hills was fortunate a decade or more
ago in having in a will left by the late Henry Tilden of
Marshfield Hills, a legacy endowing it with a fiind as fol
lows: $5,000 for a parsonage and church purposes; $1,300
of it has been used for the purchase of a parsonage, and the
income of the balance unspent is for the use of the church.
A still larger endowment was left to it by Mr. Tilden, being
the residue of his property after the payment of certain
bequests. It amounted to $18,000, but by his widow claim
ing a dower right, the Court awarded her $1,000, in addi
tion to the bequest to her by the will, and also one-half of the
interest or income of the $17,000 during her life, the church
having the other half interest, and at her decease the whole
of the incorae passes to the church; on one condition, how
ever, naraely : As long as the church continues in the same
evangelical faith as now. When it departs therefrom, it
is to be transferred to the First Congregational church at
South Marshfield, and if that church should depart also from
the evangelical faith, it raust then be given to the Massachu
setts Home Missionary Society.

CHAPTER XXI.
Town Record Selections.
1728.
"The town raised £22 — ios for defraying the charge of
the Preaching to the neighborhood at the North part of the
town for 13 Sabbaths in the Winter & Spring."
1730.
An attempt was made in town meeting to divide the South
part of the town frora the North, into precincts, but failed
a majority vote. 1731-
"The town agreed to pay Mr. 'Greenlife' for every Sab
bath Day he hath or shall preach to the neighborhood at the
North river in the Months of Dec. Jan. Feb. & March."
1732.
At a town meeting, voted "that John Barker & Cornelius
White do represent the town as agents to make answer to
a petition of several persons in the Northerly part of said
town at the Great & General Court at Boston on Friday the
23rd inst and that whereas divers persons in the Northerly
part of Marshfield have complained to the Great and General
Court of the long travel to the public worship of God, in that
the meeting house stands too near the southerly end of said
town, a vote was called to know the raind of said town
whether they would free all those who have subscribed to
a petition bearing date the last day of May 1732, from the
maintenance of the present minister, provided they maintain
a minister amongst themselves, and the town be discharged
from their 'Chappel of Ease,' the four raonths in the year
and said vote passed in the affirmative." 98

History of Marshfield. 99
1733-
"Paid John Baker for killing three wild cats."
1736.
Again an attempt was made to divide the town into the
North and South precincts, but failed of a majority vote.
1738.
"At a meeting of the town it was voted that there be 30s
a sabbath raised by the town for the use of the ministers that
preached at the 'Chappel of Ease' in the month of December,
January, February & March, for so much time as there was
preaching there.
"Also ordered that there be care taken in this town to
destroy the birds & vermin that are destructive to the corn
& to that end the town came into the following act or by law,
viz : That the head of every family in this town be obliged
to procure and bring in to such persons as the town shall
choose six heads of the following birds, or red squirrels viz :
Crows — Crow bill black birds, threshers, & every head of a
family that shall neglect so to do shall pay a fine of 5 shil
lings to the Treasurer to the use of the poor of said town,
&c. &c. &c." 1762.
"At a town meeting was presented a petition of a num
ber of the inhabitants respecting the catching BASS in the
North River, so called in the winter season, which petitioners
applied to the General Court to prevent, was laid before the
town and after due consideration, thereupon, the vote was
put to know the mind of the town whether an act raay be
passed in the General Court for the preservation of those fish
and prevent their being thus taken in the winter season, and
it passed in the affirmative."

CHAPTER XXII.
1765-
Stamp Act and Other Matters.
"Town meeting was held in Marshfield, October 14, 1765.
The meeting being opened, the Stamp Act was read, and
also the governor's speech at the General Court, and what
they had done, &c. And then they proceeded and made
choice of Abijah White, Esq., & N. R. Thomas, Esq., John
Little — Capt. Danl White and Nehemiah Thomas as a Com
mittee to give Gen. Winslow, their representative, instruc
tions what part they would have him take, or raeans use to
remove so terrible a calamity as threatens this Province, as
well as all America, if the Stamp Act should take place, and
what legal means that they shall think most reasonable &
likely to have the Stamp Act repealed."
"The committee of the town of Marshfield appointed to
give instructions to their representative, John Winslow, Esq.,
what method he should take in order to have so grievous a
calamity removed, as threatens this & neighboring govern
ments by the Stamp Act, and other things and raatters now
pending before the General Court, having taken upon that
trust in behalf of the town, we are of the opinion that should
that act take effect it would prove the great distress, if not the
utter ruin of this Province, and do therefore advise and di
rect our representative to use all proper raethods in every
legal manner to get the said act repealed, and look upon
themselves as holden and bound to abide by such determina
tion as the Grand Comraittee now sitting at New York
should conclude on, unless something extraordinary should
be in that report, which they cannot foresee, in such case our

History of Marshfield. loi
Representative to use his own discretion. And further the
Committee are of the opinion that as the circumstances of
the Province are at this juncture in a difficult situation and
the people distressed in the payment of their present taxes,
that our said Representative be desired and directed to be
very careful in making any new or unusual grants of money
& to be a saving of the public revenue & of taxing the in
habitants of the Province as things will admit of.
"And also we desire the said John Winslow, Esq., to show
his disapprobation of the late riotous proceedings in the town
of Boston in the raonth of September last."
Signed,
Abijah White — ^John Little,
Nehemiah Thomas — N. Ray Thomas.
1767.
"At the towTi meeting the vote was put to know the town's
mind whether hogs may go at large, in said town, the year
ensuing, provided they are well ringed and yoked, according
to law, and it passed in the affirmative."
1772.
June 29 — "An attempt was made to annex 'Two Mile' of
Scituate to Marshfield, but failed."
1773-
"At a town meeting held, March 15, the town proceeded &
voted to know the town's mind whether they will receive a
number of petitions belonging to that part of Scituate called
the 'Two Miles' to be set off from said Scituate, and to be
incorporated in this town; and the Moderator declared the
said vote to be in the affirmative, there being 50 votes for it,
and 49 against."

CHAPTER XXIII.
1774-
Tory Resolutions Passed by the Town.
Jan. 31 — "At a town meeting held in Marshfield Nath'
Ray Thomas, Esq., (a Tory) was chosen Moderator. At
said meeting, the said Moderator put to know the town's
mind whether he should have leave to speak his mind and de
clare his sentiments relating to the things raentioned in the
warrant, & it passed in the affirraative.
"Then the vote was put to know their rainds whether they
will act upon the warrant, and it passed in the affirmative;
then they proceeded & chose a Committee consisting of seven
raen, viz: Dr. Isaac Winslow — Nath' Ray Thomas, Esq.,
& Messrs. Elisha Ford, Seth Bryant, Wra. Stevens, John
Baker and Ephraim Little, to take into consideration and
draw up what they should think proper for the town to vote,
and to make their report, on the adjournment at this meeting,
and then the raeeting was adjourned for the space of an hour,
at the expiration of that term the committee made their re
port, which was as follows :"
"This town taking into consideration the late tumultuous,
and as we think illegal proceedings in the town of Boston in
the detention & destruction of the teas belonging to the East
India Co., which we apprehend will effect our property, if not
our liberties, think it our indispensable duty to show our dis
approbation of such measures & proceedings, therefore,
voted & resolved as the opinion of this town, — That this
town ever have and always will be good and loyal subjects to
our Sovereign Lord, King George the 3rd, & will observe,
obey and enforce all such good & wholesome laws as are or
shall be constitutionally made by the Legislature or the com-
102

History of Marshfield. 103
munity of which we are members; and by all legal ways and
means, to the utmost of our powers and abilities will protect,
defend and preserve our liberties and privileges against the
machinations of foreign or domestic enemies.
"2nd— Resolved, that the late measures and proceedings in
the town of Boston in the detention and destruction of the
teas belonging to the East India Co. were ill^al and un
just, and of a dangerous tendency.
"3rd— Resolved, that Abijah White, Esq., the present
Representative of this town, be & hereby is instructed and di
rected to use his utmost endeavors that the perpetrators of
those mischiefs may be detected and brought to justice, and
as the country has been heretofore drawn in to pay their pro
portionable part of the expense which accmed from the riot
ous and unruly proceedings and conduct of certain individ
uals in the town of Boston, if application should be made to
the General Court by the East India Co., or any other per
sons for a consideration for the loss of said teas, you are by
no means to acquiesce, but bear your testimony against any
measures by which expense may accrae to the province in
general, or the town of Marshfield in particular; & those peo
ple, only, who were active, aiding and assisting or conniving
at the destruction of said teas, pay for the same."
"That our representative be & hereby is further directed
and instructed to use his utmost endeavors at the General
Court that the laws of this province be carried into due ex
ecution, and that all offenders against the same may be prop
erly punished. And we further declare it as our opinion that
the grand basis of Magna Charta and reformation of Liberty
of Conscience, and rights of Private Judgment is just,
wherefore, we do renoimce all method of imposition, violence
and persecution, such as has been most shamefully exercised
upon a number of inhabitants of the town of Plymouth by
obliging them to sign a recantation, as called, and in case of
refusal to have their houses pulled down, or they tarred &

I04 History of Marshfield.
feathered, and all this under the specious Mask of Liberty :
"Signed" — Wra. Stevens — Nahtl Ray Thoraas — Ephraira
Little — John Baker — Isaac Winslow — Elisha- Ford — Seth
Bryant, which report was read and accepted, & then they
voted that the Town Clerk record it and grant a copy to
Abijah White, Esq., their present Representative, and he be
to put it into the public papers." 1774-
"The vote was put to know the town's mind whether one-
half of the annual town meeting for the future shall be held
& kept at the North meeting house, in said town, & it passed
in the affirmative." General Court Moved to Salem, Mass. '
"At a town meeting held in Marshfield, September 26,
1774. At said meeting, Nehemiah Thomas was chosen to
serve for and represent them in the session & sessions of the
Great & General Court, or assembly appointed to be con
vened, held & kept, for his majestie's service, at the Court
house in Salem upon Wednesday, the fifth day of Oct.,
1774." "A meeting of a body of the inhabitants of the town of
Marshfield was held at the South Meeting house, in said
town, the 8th day of October, 1774. Notified by the Select
men of said town, they made choice of Mr. Isaac Phillips,
Moderator. At said meeting Nehemiah Thomas was unani
mously chosen to co-operate with the Representatives and
others, who are chosen in the several towns in this Province,
and appointed to meet at Concord in the County of Middle
sex on the second Tuesday of this inst., October, in order to
form themselves into a provincial Congress Committee, and
to take in to their most serious consideration what may be the
most wise and prudent measure to be taken at this most
alarming crisis of our public affairs, and what may be most
likely to produce a radical change of our public grievances.
And then they voted to defray the necessary expense of the
said Nehemiah Thoraas in the affair."

CHAPTER XXIV.
1775-
Tories again in the Ascendant.
"At a town meeting held in Marshfield, Feb. 20th, Dr.
Isaac Winslow was chosen Moderator. At said meeting
the vote was put to know the mind of the town, whether they
will adhere to and abide by the resolves and recommenda
tions of the Continental & Provincial Congress or any illegal
assemblies whatsoever, and it passed in the negative.
"2nd — The vote was put to know the mind of the town
whether they will return their thanks to Gen. Gage and Ad
miral Graves for their ready & kind interposition, assistance
and protection from further insults and abuses with which
we are continually threatened, and it passed in the affirma
tive. "3rd — They voted that a Committee be chosen to draw
up and send the same to the said Gen. Gage & Admiral
Graves, said comraittee consisting of 23 persons, viz:
Abijah White, Esq., (Representative) Dr. Isaac Winslow —
Wra. Stevens — ^John Baker — Ephraim Little — Elisha Ford
— Seth Bryant — Dea. John Tilden — Capt. Amos Rogers —
Capt. Daniel White— Capt. Nathl Phillips— Seth Ewell—
Paul White, Thos Little — Elisha Sherman — Simeon Keene
 Capt. ComeUus White — Abraham Walker — ^Wm. Macom
ber — Lemuel Little — Abijah Thomas — Abner Wright &
Job Winslow."

105

Marshfield vm

CHAPTER XXV.
1775-
Preparations for the Revolution.
"Mr. Benj. White was chosen to represent this town in
a provincial Congress appointed to be convened and held at
Watertown on the 31st day of this inst.. May."
"A meeting was held at the South Meeting house at
Marshfield, loth day of July, 1775. Mr. Sarauel Oakman
was chosen Moderator. The vote was first put to know the
town's mind whether it is necessary to keep a guard on our
shore, & and it passed in the affirmative.
"2nd — They voted to adopt a plan drawn by the Select
men and committee of correspondence, and inspection of this
Regiment at a meeting held in Hanover on the 28th of
June, 1775."
"The town allowed Capt. Thomas & Capt. Jos. Clift
£5-8^ to pay their men employed to guard the shore, in said
town, before the provincial company was stationed."
1776.
"The committee appointed at a previous meeting was di
rected to agree with six men to guard the seashore of the
town for such a term of time as shall be determined by said
committee, and to agree with thera as to their wages, not to
exceed after the rate of £2-8= per month."
"At a town meeting. May 13, 1776, a vote was put to
know the town's mind whether they will make an addition
to the committee of Correspondence, Inspection & safety for
the present year who were chosen at the last March meeting,
and it passed in the affirmative. And then they voted that
there be an addition of nine persons, and then they proceeded
106

History of Marshfield. 107
agreeable to direction of the General Court to choose, by
written votes, and made choice of Capt. Thos Waterman —
Capt. Wm. Thomas — ^Kenelm Winslow, Esq. — Isaac
Phillips — ^Daniel Lewis — Israel Rogers — Peleg Rogers —
Capt. Wm. aift & John Oakman."

CHAPTER XXVI.
1776.
Patriots and Patriotism.
"Town meeting at the South Meeting house in Marsh
field, June 19, Mr. Saml Oakman, Moderator. At said
meeting they voted the following instructions be sent to Ne
hemiah Thomas, Esq., their representative (at General
Court held in Watertown, Mass. ) viz : 'Your constituents
not doubting of your patriotism, now in legal raeeting as
sembled, think it necessary to instruct you touching the In
dependence of America.' "
1776, June 19th.
Marshfield's Declaration of Independence.
[Which ante-dates the Fourth of July Declaration of In
dependence by the Continental Congress. ]
"To the amazement of your constituents, the King of
Great Britian is become a tyrant. He has wantonly de
stroyed the property of the Americans, and wickedly spilled
their blood. He has assented to Acts of Parliament, cal
culated to subjugate the Colonies unparalleled by the worst
of tyrants. Our petitions he has rejected, and instead of
Peace he has sent the sword. Every barbarous nation
whom he could influence he has courted for the destruction of
the colonies.
"Once we would have expended life & fortune in defence
of his crown and dignity, but now we are alienated, and con
science forbids us to support a tyrant whose tyranny is with
out refinement. Alliance with him is now almost Treason
to our country, but we wait patiently till Congress, in whose
counsels we confide, shall declare those colonies Independent
of Great Britian. The inhabitants of this town, therefore,
108

History of Marshfield. 109
unanimously instract & direct you that if the Continental
Congress should think it necessary for the safety of these
United Colonies to declare thera Independent of Great
Britian, that the inhabitants of this town, with their lives &
fortune, will most heartily support them in the raeasure.
Benj. White,
Clerk of the day."
"At said town meeting it was voted that Capt. Wm.
Thomas — Capt. Joseph Clift and Benj. White be a commit
tee to call those persons to an account who have borrowed
powder, balls & flints out of the Town's stock, & to receive
the money of them in order to purchase town's stock. Then
they voted that there be the sum, £24-0-0 raised in addition
to the town's stock to be laid out in powder, balls, & flints.
General Court ordered that the Declaration of Independence
be printed, and a copy be sent to the ministers of each parish
of every denomination, in this state, and that they severally
be required to read the same to their respective congrega
tions as soon as Divine Service is ended in the afternoon on
the Lord's day, after such publication, thereof, to deliver
the said declaration, to record the same in their respective
town or district books, then to remain as a perpetual me
morial thereof. In the narae, & by order of the Committee
of the Council.
A trae copy. Attest. John Avery, Dept. Sec: R.
Derby, Jr., President; Salem, Massachusetts. By E. RuiJ-
sell, by order of authority.
"In the old South Meeting house in Marshfield, October
7, 1776, a town meeting was held, and at said meeting the
question was put to know the town's mind whether they will
act upon the warrant for this meeting, and the vote passed in
the affirmative unanimously. And after due consideration
the question was put to know their minds whether they will
give their consent to the proposals made in a resolve of the
House of Representatives of this state, the 17th day of

IIO History of Marshfield.
Septeraber last, viz : That the present house of Representa
tives of this state, together with the Council, if they consent
in one body, & by equal voice should consult, agree on and
form such a constitution and form of government for this
state as the said house of Representatives, and Council as
aforesaid, on the fullest & most mature deliberation shall
judge, will raost conduce to the safety, peace and happiness
of this state in all after successors and generations, and that
the same be made public for the inspection and perusal of the
inhabitants before the ratification, thereof, by the assembly."

CHAPTER XXVII.
Prices of Home Products during the Revolution.
"At a meeting of the Selectmen and Committee of Cor
respondence for this town, held Feb. 19, 1777. At said
meeting they agreed & determined to adopt the prices of all
those articles affixed and settled by the General Court of
this state in the act made to prevent monopoly and oppres
sion in those articles hereafter enumerated, which articles
agreeable to an act of said General Court authorizing us to
affix and settle for this town, respectfully, viz : [The prices
are given in the docuraent in English pounds, shillings &
pence, are here changed to dollars and cents.] Good mer
chantable wheat $1.00 pr. bushel. Good, well-fatted,
grass-fed beef, 3 2-3 cents pr. lb.; salt hay where it
can be come at with team, 27^ cents pr. hundred till
Dec, after that 31 cents pr. hundred. English hay, 44
cents pr. hundred. Salt pork of the best quality at 8 cents
pr. lb. Men's best yarn stockings at 89 cents pr. pair —
and in that proportion for an inferior quality. Men's shoes,
made of neat's leather of the best common sort, $1.16 2-3 pr.
pair ; women's shoes, 84 2-3 cents pr. pair. A yoke of oxen,
to work one day, 26 cents; a cart one day, 16 2-3 cents; a
plow, one day to break up new ground, 36 cents, and for
coramon green sward, 18 cents. For making shoes &
pumps, men's & women's, 41 1-3 cents, and small shoes in
like proportion. Cider at the press, $1.00 pr. barrel, & at
other seasons, $1.33 1-3. For shoeing a horse, steel toes &
calks, 89 cents, and shoeing oxen, in like proportion. Good
hoes, 66 2-3 cents. Good board nails, $2.00, & shingle nails
at $1.00 pr. thousand. A draft horse at 22 cents a day.
Carpenters, 55 1-3 cents a day. Flax seed, 69 1-3 cents a

112 History of Marshfield.
bushel. Housekeeping for a night — 24 hours — 16 2-3
cents. Good merchantable boards, white pine or pitch pine
of the best quality, $3.33 1-3 pr. M. Tobacco, 6 2-3 cents
pr. pound. Good merchantable oak wood, at or near each
meeting house in the town, $1.50 pr. cord, & other wood in
like proportion. And it is further enacted by the General
Court, aforesaid, that every person who shall sell any of the
above mentioned articles at a greater price than settled and
fixed for the same, or others not enumerated in a manifest
disproportion thereto, upon conviction shall be fined for
every article so sold of the price of 20 shillings or under, the
sum of 20s, and for every article of a price above 20s a sum
equal to that for which such article shall be sold. And
every person who shall take & receive for his service and la
bor a greater sum of money than is settled and fixed for the
same in & by this act, shall forfeit and pay a like sum of
money to that which he shall take and receive for his service
and labor. And it is further enacted that whosoever shall
sell any goods, wares or merchandise, or shall do any ser
vice or labor at a greater price than is settled or fixed thereto
in and by this, upon credit, shall not have or maintain any ac
tion for the recovery thereof, but shall be barred therefrom,
and the person against whom any action shall be brought
for recovery of such money, may plead the general issue
thereto, and give special matter in evidence to the jury."
"At a town meeting held March 6, 1777, it was agreed that
Col. Anthony and Capt. Thos Waterman be a committee for
the South part of the town, and Dea. Sam' Tilden and Capt.
Amos Rogers for the North part to procure money for
bounty in addition to what is already granted by this state,
as an encouragement to the soldiers to enlist into the service
of the Continental Army, the sum that shall be sufficient to
allow the sum of ten pounds lawful money to such soldier
who shall enlist and pass muster, for the towns, "Goto"
(quota) for the term of three years, or during the war, if

History of Marshfield. 113
not regularly, and by proper authority, sooner discharged."
"At a meeting of the town in 1777 — a list of townsmen
who had opposed the war and taken the part of tories, was
published by the town."

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Gov. Josiah Winslow and Others.
Goodwin says, "Edward Winslow of Marshfield, (Gover
nor) left one son, Josiah^, the future governor of the old
colony, who also left one son, Isaac3, the latter left one son,
John4, a future general in the British Army, & whose second
son. Dr. Isaacs, (who built the present Winslow House in
Marshfield, now standing) left a son, John^, and he a son,
Isaac6, who died in Boston, the last to bear the name of
Winslow, descending from the Pilgrim Gov. Winslow. The
narae of Winslow, however, has been honorably perpetuated
through Governor Edward Winslow's three brothers, who
settled near him in Marshfield." Rear Admiral Winslow,
who sank the Alabama in the Civil War, was a descendant
of the Winslows.
The most eminent Winslow of Marshfield, after Gov. Ed.
Winslow, the Pilgrim, was his only son, Josiah, an account
of whom I have gleaned from the Massachusetts Genealogi
cal Register. "He had the command of a military company
in Marshfield as early as 1652, and in 1658 was
appointed Major, then Commander of the military
force of the United Colonists, raised in King Phillip's Indian
War. He was one of the Commissioners of the United
Colonies in 1658, and re-elected for thirteen years. He
was chosen one of the deputies, and in 1657, one of the as
sistants, & every year till 1673 — when he was elected gover
nor, which office he held seven years, until his death. He
was the first native born general, & first native born gover
nor. "He stood upon the uppermost heights of society. Civil
honors awaited hira in his earliest youth; he reached every
114

History of Marshfield. 115
elevation that could be obtained, & there was nothing left
for arabition to covet, because all had been gained. The
governor acquired the highest railitary rank and had been
engaged in active and successful warfare, with the highest
command then known in New England. He presided over
the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the gov
ernment He lived on his ample paternal domain in Marsh
field, and his hospitality was not only generous, but accord
ing to the notions of the age, magnificent.
"In addition to his military and civil distinctions, he had
acquired that of being the m.ost accomplished gentleman, and
the most delightful corapanion in the colony, and the attrac
tions of the festive board at Careswell were not a little
heightened by the charms of his beautiful wife. In 1657
he married Penelope Pelham, by whom he had four chil
dren." One of the first acts of Josiah Winslow, as governor, was
in the exhibition of larger sympathy for the Quakers, than
his predecessors. Gov. Prence, who was tyrannical towards
them. Gov. Winslow at once liberated a Mr. Cudworth
and a Air. Robinson, of Scituate, who were imprisoned on
account of uttering sympathy for the persecuted Quakers.
"The early colonists when they looked into their situa
tion, must always have felt a deep apprehension of possible
evils; a sense of insecurity; an anticipation of the desola
tion, and bloodshed of an Indian War. At the time of his
death the question was settled, the aborigines were con
quered, and such as remained in the vicinity of the English,
were objects of commiseration rather than terror. In this
great work Governor Winslow had been a principal and
triuraphant actor. His health was rauch impaired by the
fatigues and exposures in King Phillip's War. He died at
the early age of 53."
In King Phillip's Indian W^ar, with their townsman,
Josiah Winslow, general-in-chief, Marshfield furnished a full

ii6 History of Marshfield.
share of soldiers. Those who were killed were : Thos Little
— Joseph Eames — Joseph White — John Burrows — Joseph
Phillips — Saml Bumpus & John Low.
Isaac Winslow, a son of Gov. Josiah Winslow, was town
clerk of Marshfield for raany years, and a Judge and Presi
dent of the Provisional Council of Massachusetts Bay.
Gen. John Winslow, a son of above Isaac, was a member
of General Court for many years, from 1739 to 1765, at va
rious times was town clerk, selectraan, and a great military
leader. A further account by Bacon, says of Gen. John Winslow,
of Marshfield, great-grandson of Gov. Edward Winslow,
that he led a battalion of New England soldiers in Gov.
Shirley's Canadian expedition in 1755, and it was he who as
commander of the English forces at Grand Pre, directed the
harsh removal of the Arcadians from their homes in the love
ly village on the shores of the basin of Minas, sending them
into "Exile without any aid and without an exaraple in
story," and we might add the most unchristian and uncivi
lized act ever coramitted in America, an offshoot, in fact, of
the "dark ages." Longfellow's poem, "Evangeline,"
pictures it more vividly than any prose account of it. Gen.
Winslow, of course, was only a tool in the hands of the
King, but more is the pity that it should have fallen to the
lot of the great grandson of our forefather Winslow, who
was so just and liberal in all his deeds.

CHAPTER XXIX.
British Soldiers Quartered Here Among the Tories.
Nathl Ray Thomas, who built and occupied the raansion
before the Revolution, afterwards the residence of the Hon,
Daniel Webster, was in direct line from W^m. Thomas, one
of the first settlers of Marshfield. Mr. Thomas was a royal
ist. He was one of Gage's Madamus Councillors" (so
called, because they were appointed to hold office during his
pleasure, in place of being chosen annually by the popular
assembly, as had been the method under the first charter).
"W^hen affairs" says Bacon, "grew threatening,
he went to Boston, there joined the British army
and sailed off with it, on the evacuation, to
Halifax, never to return. He built his mansion
house in or about 1774, and it was the scene of a little af
fair which might have had large consequences had not a
certain British officer displayed that discretion which we are
told is the better part of valor. This affair happened in
Marshfield shortly after the Lexington-Concord outbreak.
A detachment of British troops called the 'Queen's Guards,'
under Capt. Balfour, were quartered here in Mr. Thomas's
mansion (now known as the 'Webster estate'), sent down
from Boston, by Gage, at the request of the Loyalists of
Marshfield and neighborhood, who feared trouble with the
Patriots. In this house wine closets were constructed in
the cellar by this British officer, Capt. Balfour, for the use
of himself and officers, and were in existence until the house
was burned a quarter of a century or more ago." Webster
used them, let us hope, not too freely.
"The presence of the troops in the Old Colony was re
sented, and when the news of Lexington and Concord carne,
117

ii8 History of Marshfield.
it was deterrained to drive them out. Accordingly the
Kingston and other rainute men were one day marched over
here. When near the place a halt was made, and a con
ference of officers was held, Capt. Wadsworth of the Kings
ton men, irapatient of delay, marched his corapany alone to
within a few rods of the enemy. His force, however, was
too small to venture an attack; and while waiting for others
to come up, the enemy quietly retreated by the back way,
Balfour leading his troops through Cut River to British ships
anchored off Brant Rock, by which they were conveyed back
to Boston."
"Had the militia arrived three hours earlier, the second
battle of the Revolution would, without doubt, have been
fought in Marshfield."
"The 'Queen's Guards' were called the flower of the Brit
ish Army in New England; and it is said that only five of
the fine fellows, with their Captain, survived the battle of
Bunker Hill."
Marshfield, it is said, was a center of Toryism at the out
break of the Revolution. It maintained an organization
called the "Associated Loyalists of Marshfield," in which
300 persons were enrolled. Nearly every meraber of the
old Winslow family, then living here in Marshfield, were
leading Associated Loyalists, and Dr. Isaac Winslow's
house (the old Winslow's house now standing) was the
chief place of meeting.
There was one Thomas, however, who was not a loyalist
in the Revolution, but was a patriot worthy of note. This
was Major Gen. John Thomas, born and reared on the
ancestral home at Marshfield at or near the old Careswell
Estate once occupied by Gov. Edward Winslow. He served
in 1760 as Colonel in the American army at Crown Point.
He was again called into service in 1775. He was sorae
what indignant because another officer was promoted above
him, and accordingly Gen. Charles Lee wrote him a letter

History of Marshfield. 119
to take no notice of such a small raatter. He was of such
importance that Gen. George Washington wrote hira a long
letter showing him what a misfortune it would be to the
army if he should resign, the example would be bad, and
then reminded him of the excellent service he had already
given to the country, etc, and in due time he abandoned
his purpose and accepted the appointment of Lieutenant Gen
eral of the army, and was foremost in the action at Dor
chester Heights and other places in the early straggle, and
afterwards was sent to Canada in command of the Araerican
forces, but the expedition proved disastrous, as history in
forms us, and while awaiting for reinforcements, he died
of smaU pox in that country, although he had been a physi
cian, practicing in Kingston."

CHAPTER XXX.
Marshfield Fathers of the Revolution.
It appears that in 1774 (the year preceding the Revolu
tion), through the influence of Nathaniel Ray Thomas, a
noted Tory, the town of Marshfield by a majority of only
one vote passed a resolution, before mentioned, against the
doings of Boston patriots in throwing the tea overboard in
the Boston Harbor. Accordingly, not long after this Tory
act was passed by the town, a company of patriots, prom
inent citizens, who might be styled the Marshfield Fathers
of the Revolution, issued, after signing their names in bold
relief [as did the signers later to the Declaration of Inde
pendence] to the following protest against the town's Tory
action :
"We the subscribers think ourselves obliged in faithful
ness to the community, ourselves & posterity, on every proper
occasion to bear our public testimony against every measure
calculated to destroy that harmony and unanimity which
subsists through the Colonies & so eventually to the destruc
tion of those liberties wherewith the Author of nature & our
happy Constitution has raade us free. Were they not
already notorious, it would give us uneasiness to mention
the Resolves which were voted in this town the 31st of Janu
ary last. To the first of these resolves we do not object;
but do heartily join in recognizing our loyalty & subjection
to the King of Great Britain and our readiness to be ever
subject to the laws of our Legislature. In their second
Resolve, they say that the measures and proceedings in the
town of Boston in the detention & destruction of the teas,
belonging to the East India Co. are illegal, unjust & of a

History of Marshfield. 121
dangerous tendency, against which we take the liberty to
protest. "W'e have long groaned under the weight of an American
Revenue Act, and when by the virtue of the people in not
purchasing any goods loaded with a duty, the malignity of
the Act was in some measure evaded, a scheme was devised
& prosecuted by the Ministry, to enforce said act by permit
ting the East India Co; to force their infectious teas upon
us whether we w-ould or not. At this, not only the inhabi
tants of Boston, but of the whole province were very much
and very justly alarmed and while they were prosecuting
every method that human wisdom would devise that the tea
should be sent back undamaged, it was destroyed, but
whether by the people of that town or any other town of
the province does not appear  "
"The occasion of this our protest has given us great un
easiness & we are confident those extraordinary resolves
would not have taken place but by the insinuations of a
certain gentleman who seems willing his constituents should
share in the resentment of the whole country, which he has
incurred by his conduct in a public character. We mean
not to countenance riotous and disorderly conduct, but, be
ing convinced that liberty is the life and happiness of a
coraraunity, we are determined to contribute to our last mite
in its defence against the machinations of assuming, arbi
trary men, who, stimulated with a lust of dominion & un
righteous gain are ever studying to subjugate this free
people. "Dated Marshfield Feb. 14th, 1774—
Signed: Anthony Thoraas — Nehemiah Thomas — Paul
Sarapson — ^John Brown. — Benj. White Jr. — ^John Oakman
— Wra. Thoraas — ^Leonard Delano — ^Joseph Oakman —
Thomas Foord — ^Jabez Dingley — King Lapham — ^Thos.
Waterraan — Isaac Carver — Barnard Jules — Isaac Phil
lips — Thos. Dingley — Peleg Kent — Sarauel Tilden — Sarauel
Marshfield ix

122 History of Marshfield.
Smith — Zenas Thomas— John Dingley — Thos. Waterman
Jr. — ^Joshua Carver — Joseph Kent — Peleg Foord — Lot
Howes Silvester — Benj. White — Asa Waterman — David
Carver — Jos. Hewitt — John Waterman — Nathnl Thomas —
Thos Fish — John Sherman — Wm Thomas Jr. — ^Jere. Low
— Saml Tilden Jr. — Luther Peterson — Benj. Tolman — Sara
uel Oakman — Briggs Thomas — ^Jethro Taylor — ^Gershom
Ewell — Elisha Kent — Samuel Williamson — Wm Clift —
Timothy Williamson — Nathan Thomas — Jos. Bryant — Jos.
Clift." What more stirring and patriotic utterance was given to
the people than this, proclaimed a year and a quarter before
the signing and issuing of the Declaration of Independence,
and promulgated in a town (our town, it must be said,
with a pang of sorrow), yes, a town which was the hotbed
of toryism. The fathers of Marshfield, that is, the solid,
substantial yeomen, had the daring, the strength and the
courage of their convictions, and were not afraid in those
heroic times to speak out, and the promulgation of that
document places these patriots of Marshfield in the front
rank with the early fathers of the Revolution.
W. T. Davis, in Plymouth County History, says: "Those
who had resisted the popular movement were not perraitted
to go unpunished. Nathaniel Ray Thoraas, characterized
in 'McFingal' as that 'Marshfield blunderer,' an educated
and influential man, and a graduate of Harvard, a man
living on an estate including 1500 acres (since occupied by
Daniel Webster), was proscribed and banished, his property
was confiscated and during the remainder of his life, which
ended in 1791, he made Nova Scotia his home. Ephraim
Little, Cornelius White, John Baker, Joseph Tilden, John
Tilden, Stephen Tilden and Nathaniel Garnet were impris
oned in Plymouth Jail for their toryism and released by
order of Council, October, 1776, on condition they would
pay the expenses of proceedings against them and remain on

History of Marshfield. 123
their estates except for the purpose of attending worship on
the Sabbath.
"Elisha Ford was imprisoned and released on the sarae
terms, having at the same time been seized and carted to
the Liberty Pole and required to sign a statement of alle
giance. Caleb Carver, Melzar Carver, Thoraas Decrew,
and Daniel White were proscribed and banished in 1778.
Paul White also was seized and carted to a Liberty Pole,
where he was required to sign a recantation."
"The rolls of soldiers who enlisted during the Revolution
in ^Marshfield are probably incomplete, but those in the ar
chives of the state, and in possession of the writer (Mr.
Davis), as they are, contain the following names:
" "^Members of the Company of Joseph Clift of Marshfield
who enlisted for six months in 1775 are Joseph Clift — ^Jona.
Hatch Sergt — Nathl Rogers — ^Job Mitchell — Anthony T.
Hatch Corp. — Sarai Tilden — Abner Crocker — Gershom
Ewell — ^Jos Hatch — Asa Lapham — Amos Hatch — Chas
Hatch — Wm Joyce — ^Wm Clift — Arumah Rogers — Job
Ewell— Jesse Lapham — Lot H. Slyvester — Seth Joyce —
Jona. Joyce — Nathl Joyce — Prince Hatch — Zaccheus Rogers
— Tobias Oakman — Saml Jones — Caleb Lapham.
" 'Members of the Company of Capt. Thos Turner in the
regiment of Col. John Bailey under Gen. Thomas (Marsh
field) in 1775 — Briggs Thomas Lieut. — Jona. Hatch Sergt
— W^m Thomas Corp — Robt Glover— -Nathl Rogers — Fran
cis Gray — Jona. Low — Tobias \\'^hite — Ezekiel Sprague —
Peleg Kent — Thos Chandler — Alex. Garnet — Peleg Foord
— Nathl Thomas — Brad. Baker — Luther Sampson — Tolman
Baker — ^Job Mitchell — Saml Jones — Wm Joyce — Prince
Hatch — Constant Oakman — John Hatch.
" 'In other Companies were Abijah Crooker — Capt. King
Lapham — Lieut. Israel Rogers — ensn, John Bates — Isaac
Bates— Wills Qift— Chas Kent— Nathl Kent— Asa Rogers
— ^Jos Sprague — Andrew Pomp — Asa Lapham — Thos Rog-

124 History of Marshfield.
ers — Abijah Rogers — Anthony Hatch — Benj. Hatch Sergt
— Asa Rogers Corp., Bernard Tuels — Jona. Low — Peleg
Foord — Wm. Baker — Eben Cain.
" 'In 1777 — Ensign Ford — Josh. Turner — ^James Curtis
— Othaniel Sikes — Eben. Barker — Wm Withington — John
Chamberlain — Saml Norvett — ^John Bourne — ^John Borden
— Peter Rider — John Randall.
" 'In 1778 Josiah Harmon — Wm Roper — Ed. Conolly —
Thos Ward — John Richas — James Kearns — Anthony Mil
ler — Ezra Hathaway— Peter Hathaway — Abijah Hathaway
— Benj. Cook.
" 'In 1779 — Isaac Lapham — Asa Lapham — Cornelius
Bacon. " 'In 1 780 Asa Soule — Wm Thomas — Luther Sarapson —
Thos Dingley — Jos Warrick- — Job Turner — Wm Shurtleff
— James Fillebrown — John Lincoln — Isaac Simmons — Jos
Winslow — Allen Rogers — Geo. Osborn Jr — ^John Doten —
Isaac Horton — Peter Booth — John McCarter.' "
In Marshfield, March 21st, 1773, it is written: "In the
night, the inhabitants there were waked with a very loud
noise and considerable jar of the houses, which they took
to be an earthquake; but it is since conjectured that it was
occasioned by the severe frost as it was heard several times,
sometimes louder than at others, by many, who rose imme
diately. The ground is cracked in many places several
yards in length so wide that a man raay put his whole arm
into the chasms."

CHAPTER XXXI.
Town Record Selections.
"Mch. 23 — 1778 — ^At a town meeting 'the question' was
put to know the town's mind whether they are willing that
part of Scituate called the 'Two Mile" should be annexed to
the town of Marshfield on certain conditions to be complied
with and it passed in the affirraative." 1778.
"Articles of Confederation were read and after consider
ing thereon the question was put to know the town's raind
whether they will instract their representative to act and do
as he shall think raost for the advantage of this and the other
United States relative to Articles of Confederation and per
petual Union between them, the votes passed in the Affirma
tive." 1779.
"The question was put to know the mind of the town
whether that when more soldiers shall be called for, that
they shall be raised by the town and not by separate
Parishes or Companies, & it passed in the affirmative."
"At said meeting the question was put to know the town's
mind whether they are willing that part of Scituate called
Two Mile should be annexed to the town of Marshfield on
the condition that they, the petitioners, will find themselves
a way or road or roads from their highway to Marshfield
line, & also that they build themselves a school-house, if one
is wanting, without any cost to the town of Marshfield,
which conditions, we the petitioners, oblige ourselves, our
heirs & assigns to perform, & it passed in the affirmative.
5 1 votes for it & 33 against it."
"At a town meeting held at the South meeting house in
125

120 Historv of Marshfield.
Marshfield, July 12th, the question was put to know the
town's mind whether they will choose a man to go to Con
cord, and the vote passed in the affirmative unanimous. And
then they proceeded & made choice of Capt. Thomas Water
man as a delegate to join and co-operate with a convention of
delegates from the several comraittee of correspondence, &c.
in this state, to raeet at Concord on Wednesday, the 14th of
July, inst., for the purpose of forming such arrangements
and adopting such measures as shall be necessary to carry
into effect by common consent the object before us."
1779.
"Prices to regulate Inholders, teaming, manufacturers
and other Articles in proportion to the rates of the neces
saries of Life, as stated in the first resolve of the said con
vention. "N. E. Rum in continental money, $3.33 1-3 pr. quart
and $1.66 2-3 pr. mug. A Dinner, $1.66 2-3 — Supper or
Breakfast, $1.33 1-3 — Highest price day's labor, $8.33.
Sheep's wool, $4.50 — Salt hay at landing, $66.66 pr. ton —
Oak wood at landing, $22.00 pr. cord."
"A committee of inspection was appointed to look out
for any offenders who disregard these rules & prices, and
publish their names that the public may abstain from all
trade and conversation with them."
1780.
"The assessors were ordered to make an assessment on
the inhabitants of this town to raise the sum of £648 or
$2,160, to pay the soldiers in hard money, encluding the
two miles "cota" (quota) which is one man and three
quarters." 1780 — June 19.
"The question was put to know the town's mind whether
they will allow each soldier that shall enlist & past muster
for one of the eighteen men sent for from this town to join
the Continental Army for the term of six months, the sum

History of Marshfield. 127
of twenty dollars per month, including the forty shillings
per month allowed by the state in hard money, and that the
money be reduced to a bushel of Indian com at six shillings
per bushel & rye at nine shillings per bushel as to the town's
part, and it shall be at their option to take either the com
& grain or hard money."
"And they proceeded and chose Messrs. Thos Ford —
Nathl Ford — ^Asa Waterman — Lemuel Little — Dea. John
Tilden and John White as a committee to assist Capt. Clift
and Capt. Dingley in procuring said 18 men, &c."
"A vote was also passed that a committee of forty be
chosen to procure one soldier each at as reasonable rate as
he can, & bring in the bill to the town and procure corn and
other articles which they promised said soldiers in behalf
and cost of town." 1780.
"It was ordered that the Selectmen be desired and directed
to hire the money or procure the beef at six pence per pound
in the new emission, the eight thousand weight of which
is the town's "Cota" for the Continental Army, or ordered
by a resolve of the General Court, and that they be allowed
4 shillings per day in the old way for their time spent in that
service." 1781.
"Voted to procure 15 more soldiers, the town's quota for
the army, and for this town's quota of beef for
the Continental Army, the sum of ten thousand pounds,
£10000 (continental money) also voted to procure 3 soldiers
to go to Rhode Island. Also agreed that those persons that
will tum in beef for the Continental Soldiers shall be al
lowed 4^ per lb. for what goes to pay the town tax, and
six pence for what goes to pay their Commonwealth tax,
and what remains due them after 25th, December next, to
be allowed 4 pence pr. lb. and interest till paid. Voted
the town be taxed for 6192 pounds of beef."

128 History of Marshfield.
1785-
"At town raeeting held in South raeeting house, ordered
that a bridge be built across the North River between Dea.
Sarai Tilden's in Marshfield, and Mr. Sarai Curtis, Inn
holder in Scituate, if the aforesaid bridge is built without
cost to this town. At said meeting Dea Saml Tilden and
Thos Rogers, the 3rd, were chosen committee to petition the
General Court for liberty to build the above said bridge by
lottery or subscription." 1786.
"At town meeting the question was put to know the town's
mind whether they are willing to have that part of Scituate
called 'Two Mile' annexed to the town of Marshfield, on the
conditions that were formerly proposed, & it passed in the
affirraative." 1787 — Dec. 17.
"The town made choice of the Rev. Mr. Wm. Shaw to
represent them in the convention of delegates from the sev
eral towns in this Commonwealth who are by the recom
mendation of the legislature to meet at the State House in
Boston on Wednesday, the 9th of January next, for to give
their assent to & ratify the constitution, or frame of govern
ment, proposed to the United States by the late convention,
who meet at Philadelphia for that purpose."
"A meeting to elect Representative to Congress and Elec
tors for President & Vice President in Marshfield."
"At a legal town meeting held at the South raeeting
house, Dec. i8th, 1788, in Marshfield. The votes were
brought in, sorted, & counted in presence of the Selectmen
for a Representative for this district in the Congress of the
United States, which were as follows, viz : For the Hon.
Nathan Gushing, Esq., 12 votes, unanimous. At same
time the votes were brought in for two persons as candi
dates for Electors of President & Vice President of the
United States, which were as follows : For the Hon. Danl

History of Marshfield. 129
Howard, Esq., 12 votes, and for the Hon. Solomon Free
man, Esq., 12 votes. Apr. 5, 1789.
"For the purpose of choosing Governor, Lieut. Governor
and Senators for the present year. The votes were
brought in, and sorted and counted in presence of the Se
lectmen, which were as follows, viz:
For Governor, His Excellency, John Hancock, had 25 votes.
For Governor, Hon. James Bowdoin had 18 votes.
For Lieut. Govemor, Geo. Walton, Esq., had 18 votes.
For Lieut. Governor, Hon. Samuel Adams, Esq., had 7
votes.
For Lieut. Govemor, Nathl Gorham, Esq., had 7 votes.
For Lieut. Govemor, Mr. David Cook had 2 votes.
For Senators, Hon. Danl Howard had 28 votes.
For Senators, Thos Davis had 32 votes.
For Senators, Capt. Jos. Bryant had 30 votes.
For Senators, Ephraira Spooner had 5 votes.
For Senators, John Thomas had i vote."
1791.
"The town made choice of Jedediah Little to serve as
collector for the present year, and to give said Little ii<l
on the £ for his services on all taxes he collects."
1792.
"Selectraen were directed to provide a house for any that
shall be taken with the smcdl pox & see that they be re
moved to it, a committee was chosen to assist the Selectraen
with regard to the small pox."

CHAPTER XXXII.
Ship building in Marshfield on the North River.
Ship building in Marshfield, on the river, has been in past
years quite an important industry. A stranger looking at
the river now, can hardly believe that it was the scene of so
much activity a half century and a centtiry ago, in fact, the
citizen of Marshfield to-day, unless he has passed a half
a century, can hardly realize the change that has taken
place. My authority in these records of the ship building
in our town, is culled from 'Briggs' excellent history of Ship
Building on the North River."
"There were raany vessels built on the North River about
the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. There were
between twenty and thirty vessels built on this river an
nually." "At the 'Brick Kiln' ship yard in Marshfield, was built
the ship 'Beaver' by Ichabod Thoraas. It was one of the
tea ships of Boston harbor, from which the tea was thrown
overboard by the famous Tea Party in 1773."

130

CHAPTER XXXIII.
Captains Sailing on North River.
Briggs says, "Tobias Oakman, of Oakman' s Ferry,
was master of a packet sloop many years ago,
sailing frora North River Bridge, in Hanover, to
Boston, for over 40 years. Capt. David Church
was his successor. Capt. Church was well known
in history, and was called by the old settlers a sub
stantial man. He had many peculiarities, one of which
was his manner of dress. With the exception of his boots
and shoes, every garment he wore was made in his own
house of wool from his flock of sheep, or flax from his field.
He wore everything its natural color, and his trousers were
always tucked into his stockings. It is said he was never
known to wear a dyed garment. The shipbuilders had so
much confidence in him that he made nearly all their pur
chases. At one time he went into a Boston store, where he
had not before traded, to purchase five tons of iron, and
while making his inquiries, he noticed that they regarded
him with some suspicion. 'Foggs,' said Capt. Church, 'you
look at rae as if you had some doubts about me, I want you
to understand that I do not come out of North River with
out five or six thousand dollars about me.' He then took
a package of several thousand dollars from his pocket. The
firm replied, 'we are pleased to raake your acquaintance, and
shall be happy to attend to all your requests.' "
"Tiraothy Williamson used to run a packet sloop between
Boston and North River. He was a great gunner, and be
ing usually the only man on board his small craft, he would
begin firing his flint lock some time before reaching the
draw bridge in order to have it opened for hira. Those liv-
131

132 History of Marshfield.
ing in the region of Little's bridge remember hearing the
bang ! bang ! bang ! and they always knew it was Tim Wil
liamson coming up the river. He was a high-tempered
fellow, and a smart workman, and used to pilot vessels out
of the river from the yards above. He once had a terrible
fight with a shark, near Little's bridge, which he finally
killed. He ran his sloop from about 1840 to 1846, and
finally accidentally shot hiraself, being injured for life.
Until 1820, or later, every male citizen was obliged
to keep a gun and 24 rounds of aramunition. Inspection
was the first Tuesday in May, and if the gun lacked good
order, was not properly oiled, or the flint was not right, a
fine was imposed."
The author remembers well when Capt. Asa Sherman
(who was living in 1900 in the Ferry district) ran the
sloop from North River to Boston, nearly half a century ago.
My partner, the late Clift Rodgers, then doing business in
Boston under the firm of Rodgers, Richards & Co., was the
largest owner of the Packet, and Capt. Sherman used to
come into our office and report progress in the running of
the Packet, passing to Mr. Rodgers his accounts to be ex
amined at his leisure. He seemed an old man then, bent
over by hard work, but young, comparatively, to the century
he nearly reached in 1900. In his ^rly days he ran his
packet to collect freight up the North River as far as North
River bridge in Hanover. His stopping places on the way
were at "the Brick Kiln"— "Job's Landing"— "Foster's
Landing"— "Briggs' Landing"— "Union Bridge"— Little's
Bridge" and "White's Ferry."
I also remeraber Capt. Chas L. Tilden, now living at an
advanced age, running a packet from North River to Bos
ton. He, also, ran up the River, and had eight landing
places at different points thereon, but after the railroad was
built, the packet business, and all commercial navigation on
the river began to decline, and not for a quarter of a century

History of Marshfield. 133
has any packet, or any other vessel of comraerce, run regu
larly up and down the river. Nothing but sraall pleasure
yachts are now seen on the river, and very few of them.
When the railroad was built they failed to put in a good,
rapid moveable draw on the bridge, and hence navigation
from that and other causes has practically ceased on the
river. A dozen years ago there was a movement raade by
sorae of the towns bordering on the river, for a hearing be
fore the Harbor Commissioners to induce, or force the Old
Colony Railroad Co. to build a draw, and the author of this
history was engaged, by interested parties in Marshfield, to
attend the hearing, in company with delegates from other
towns. A good afgument was presented, but the all power
ful railroad magnates carried the day, and the thing called,
by courtesy, a draw, which requires a day or two to move and
put back again in its place, still exists, to the detriment of
navigation on this river. Our large forests, it is claimed,
can be put on the market, especially the Boston market, in
the form of cord wood, with much reduced rates of freight
on the river than by the present mode of transit on the N.
Y., N. H. & H. railroad.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
Ship Yards at Gravelly Beach and Little's Bridge.
From "Briggs' Ship Building History," I find there were
two ship yards in Marshfield, one at Gravelly Beach, North
Marshfield, near wliere the late Benj. White lived, and the
other in close proximity to Little's Bridge in Marshfield,
and these were known as the Roger's yards.
"Peleg — Luther and possibly Nathaniel, Jr., and Thomas
Rogers, Jr., built at the latter yard, and nearly all of the fol
lowing built at Gravelly Beach yard : Israel — Amos —
Joseph — Asa — Asa, Jr. — Samuel and Thomas Rogers
and all worked at various periods in nearly every
yard on the river. The Rogerses were skilled carpenters, and
if any one wanted a ship built on honor, a Rogers was his
man. There is a tradition in the family, that John Rogers
was related to John Rogers, the martyr, [in England,
who, history says, had nine children and one at the breast,
and the question is an open one to this day, how raany chil
dren had he?] but this tradition needs verification before
being accepted as correct. Timothy Rogers was among the
first of that name we find in Marshfield. He was born in
1698, and married Lydia, daughter of Israel Hatch, of 'Two
Mile.' They had eleven children."
"Marshfield has the name of having many fires, woods
and houses both. There used to be a young man who came
down to one of the yards to see the ship carpenters, and who
was not called very bright. One day he was telling about
a great fire in Marshfield woods, when he said what grieved
him most was to see the poor little rabbits ranning out of the
woods with their tails burned off."
Luther Rogers, father of the late Clift Rogers, built, or
134

History of Marshfield. 135
hired built, several vessels on his farm, at what is known as
Roger's Corners at Marshfield Hills, formerly East Marsh
field. The spot where they were built, especially the
Abigail (named after his wife) was upon what is now the
author's lawn, near the drive way, on top of Richard's Hill.
I have heard my late father-in-law say (a son of the above
Luther) that when the vessel was completed, a hundred yoke
of oxen were engaged to draw the sloop across the fields in
a bee line for the river to Little's Bridge, and after the task
was done the vessel was launched in the river. It is claimed
that he had his vessels built on his farm, a raile away from
the water, rather than down on the shore by the river, be
cause it was more convenient for the workmen, and then he
could watch its construction at better advantage than a mile
away, although, according to tradition, as I have heard
it from the living, his voice was so strong he could be
heard a mile, his weight being about 300. He had a store
at the "Corners," adjoining his house, and being strong and
powerful himself, he expected from others more than they
could stand. One day he wanted his hired man to shoulder
a barrel of flour and carry it up stairs to the loft, and seeing
after a trial or two that his man did not succeed, he said to
him, "Seems to me you are making a good deal of fuss over
that, let me take it," and he soon shouldered it and raarched
up stairs. His man, espying a bag of salt lying at the
foot, weighing from 50 to 100 pounds, tossed it on top of
the barrel to test his strength, and when he arrived at the
loft, and the freight emptied, espying the bag of salt, he
said he thought the barrel was a little heavier than coraraon.
To get a supply of goods for his store he would ride to
Boston in a tip cart, with no blanket over his limbs in the
dead of winter, to protect them. He lived to a good age,
and left a substantial property to his children.

CHAPTER XXXV.
Brooks & Tilden Ship Yard and other Yards.
Briggs' work says, "The Brooks & Tilden yard was lo
cated about 40 rods above Union Bridge on the Marshfield
bank of the North River, and on land formerly owned by
Hatch Tilden, adjoining the highway which runs over the
bridge. The William Taylor yard was also located on the
Marshfield side of North River, a few rods below Little's
Bridge, on land then owned by Edward P. Little, and now
owned by Mr. Stoddard. The following are records of
some of the vessels built between 1784 and 1809."
"In 1784, the sloop 'Abigail,' 50 tons, of Marshfield, was
built. Jacob Bearstow of this town owned her. Also in
1784 the Brig't'n Williams, 135 tons, was built in Marsh
field, and afterward foundered at sea. The same year,
1784, the schooner Polly, 52 tons, was built, Joseph, Mary
and Mercy Phillips, owners. Afterwards sold to Barn
stable. There was built in Marshfield in 1786 the sloop
'Sally,' 44 tons, of Marshfield, Benjamin Hatch of Marsh
field and Charles Hatch of Pembroke, owners. The sarae
year the sloop 'Juno', 90 tons, of Marshfield, Elisha Ford
and Jona. Ford of Marshfield, owners. In 1792 there was
built in Marshfield the brig 'Debby', 107 tons, of Boston,
and the next year two vessels, the schooner, afterwards
Brig't'n, 'Helen', 100 tons, of Boston, and the sloop 'North
River', 27 tons, owned by Charles and Benjamin Hatch, of
Marshfield, and Seth Hatch, of Pembroke. Scollay Baker
began building a square sterned schooner in Marshfield in
1800, nam.ed 'Polly', 114 tons. Prince Hatch built in 1801
the schooner 'Three Friends,' 74 tons, of Barnstable. Elisha
Ford, Jr., built in Marshfield, 1802, the brig 'Eliza', 165
136

History of Marshfield. 137
tons, of Marshfield, owned by Elisha Ford, Sr. and Jr. of
Marshfield. In 1809 Aaron Sherman built in Marshfield
the sloop 'Polly', 35 tons, owned by Benj. Rogers and Ellen
Sherman of Marshfield. Aaron Sherman lived near the
South Baptist meeting house, Marshfield, vulgarly called
the 'Old Skunk.' W'hile vessels were building on this
beautiful river shore, other vessels were being destroyed on
her rocky coast, driven before the easterly gales, and many
are the sailors who have found their graves in the sands
of this town. In Brooks & Tilden yard, Elijah Brooks and
Geo. Tilden built here in the thirties of the 19th century for
about ten years. Here the schooner 'Huron, 106 tons, was
built, and in the same year the brig, 'Lewis Bruce', 113 tons.
In 1838 they built the schooner 'Eric', 113 tons, also built
the brig 'Michigan' and schooner 'Roanoke.' In 1840 they
built the brig, 'Joseph Balch', 153 tons; in 1843, ^r. Brooks
built the brig, 'Alden King', 206 tons. This was probably
the last vessel built at this yard. The Wm. Taylor vard,
before mentioned, located near Little's Bridge, on land now
owned by Mr. Stoddard, was occupied in 1848 by Wm. Tay
lor and Israel Carver, and then known as the Taylor & Car
ver yard. In 1848 the schooner, 'Lake', 74 tons, was built,
67 feet long, break deck. In 1850 was built the schooner
'Horn'. The 'Souther' was built here by Israel Carver
about i860. Taylor and Cancer built a schooner of about
70 tons, probably the 'Edie Little', named after Edw. P.
Littie's wife. Mr. Taylor, it was said, was a very humor
ous man, and loved to tell his boyish pranks. For some
fancied or real slight, by a bevy of girls, in his younger days,
he induced them to ride in a tip-cart, which he was drivng,
and comng to quite a deep, swift running brook, he with
drew the fastenings and dumped them all into the water,
from which they eraerged raore wet than hurt."
"On this same river, where so many vessels have been
built, the first Araerican vessel that ever circuranavigated
Marshfield x

138 History of Marshfield.
the globe, was built by James Briggs at Hobart's Landing
in 1773, on the other side of the river in Scituate. This
was the ship 'Columbia', 220 tons, which also explored the
great river in Oregon, named after this vessel, Columbia
river. She was the first vessel from this country to visit
the Northwest coast. The White's Ferry yards in Marsh
field were quite extensive. Vessels were built at
these yards at different times from 1705 to 1840. The
Keenes and the Halls built at these yards for raany years,
but they were probably occupied nearly a hundred years prior
to their tirae. As early as 1705, 'Mary and Abigail' was
built there, capacity 40 tons, and in 171 1 a ship, and in 171 3
a sloop were built there. The builders at this yard were
Simeon Keene, Simeon Keene, Jr., Benj. Keene — Isaac
Keene— Luke Hall— Wm. Hall and Saml Hall. The Halls
began in 1825, and by them alone there were built here thirty
vessels, between 1825 and 1840."
These added to the other vessels built in Marshfield ship
yards, shows emphatically what a prominent part Marsh
field took in ship building on the North River in the first
six decades of the last century.
The following incidents Briggs tells in his book : "Last
Tuesday a whale about 40 feet long was discovered by a
small fishing schooner, off Marshfield, which was being at
tacked by three sharks, one of whom the fisherman killed.
It measured 16 feet long, and upon opening it they took out
of its paunch many pieces of the whale, as would make a bar
rel of oil, and it was thought the liver of the shark would
raake two or three barrels more. The whale was so
wounded and worried by the sharks that it became an easy
prize for the fisherman, who carried it into Marshfield."
"In Marshfield, in 1760, died Mr. Wra. Carver, aged 102
years, who retained his reason to the last. He was a
nephew to Gov. Carver of the Plymouth Colony, and has
left behind him the fifth generation of male issue in all, chil-

History of Marshfield. 139
dren, grand children, great grand-children and great, great
grand children, ninety-six."
Many families in Marshfield, bearing the narae of Carver,
at present, in 1901, are descendants of the brother of Gov.
Carver, as stated above, and not of the first governor of the
Colony as coraraonly supposed, he leaving no children.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Ferries in Marshfield.
"In 1638," says' Briggs, "a ferry was established at North
River by Jona. Brewster of Duxbury. This ferry was a
place called New Harbor Marsh, and it is now called
'White's Ferry.' Jona. Brewster was the first ferryraan.
In 1 641 Mr. Brewster sold his ferry privilege to Messrs.
Barker, Howell & Co., for £60. In 1645 it was kept by
Ralph Chapman, who in 1656 implored the Court to excuse
him, as it would bring him to extreme poverty, etc. He
was excused except on special occasions, as bringing the
magistrates over who dwell there."
There was shipbuilding going on at this place in early
days, and a wharf for the landing of goods, a part of which
is seen at the present day. A long bridge near this wharf
and the old ferry was built about a couple of decades ago for
the purpose of accommodating the proprietors of Hotel
Humarock and other householders on the Huraarock beach
on the opposite side of the river. The County Commis
sioners, at the time of writing this history, have required
the towns of Scituate and Marshfield to support the bridge,
Scituate keeping their side up to the channel of the river,
about two thirds across, in good repair, and Marshfield their
side up to the channel.
Briggs, in his book, says: "At Union Bridge (between
Norwell and Marshfield) there was a public ferry boat as
early as 1644. Union Bridge was built soon after 1801
as a toll bridge. Hatch Tilden was toll collector for more
than forty years. He lived in the house near the bridge
on the easterly side of the road in Marshfield. It was
made a free bridge in 1850." 140

History of Marshfield. 141
"At Little's bridge, between Scituate and Marshfield,
there was a ferry as early as 1637, which year 200 acres of
land were granted to Mr. William Vassall, on condition 'he
keepe a ferry against his farm, toll id for a man & 4d for a
beast.' This was then called 'New Harbor Ferry.' The
ferry was located in front of his residence, which was on
'Belle House Neck,' Scituate. In 1730 this ferry was kept
by Thomas Doggett, the first of that narae, who raarried
Joanne, widow of Thomas Chillingworth, of Marshfield.
After Captain Doggett took the ferry, it was called 'Dog-
gett's Ferry.' In 1755 Captain Doggett's son. Captain
John, Jr., then only fifteen years of age, kept the ferry.
"Thoraas Doggett, the first, bought a farm in 1659, where
he lived until his death in 1692. This farm was a portion
of the upland overlooking the mouth of the North River
and an extensive view of the ocean beyond. It was the
first farm on the Marshfield side of the river, with one of
the dividing lines starting opposite the point where the
North and South Rivers enter the sea."
"Among the descendants of Thomas Doggett were many
who were mariners. Samuel Doggett, a grandson of
Thomas, was the first of the family called 'Mariner,' and
he began sailing from North River about the year 1700.
His homestead was a piece of upland containing thirty acres
of land, together with five acres of marsh, now called 'Bry
ant's pasture,' w-hich is located near where the railroad
bridge crosses the river, and was bounded on one side by
the river; 'beginning at the mouth of ye great creek by ye
North River.' Samuel Doggett was town treasurer of
Marshfield for several years, and prominent in the shipping
interests of the river from which he sailed. He was inter
ested in the settlement of Maine, and combined with Boston
capitahsts, he used his vessels to carry families there to
settle. Many of these were Marshfield people, who doubt
less sailed for their new home from North River. The

142 History of Marshfield.
growth of Boston and Mr. Doggett's increasing interests
there led him to leave Marshfield in 1 744 and raake his home
there, where he soon afterward died."
"A toll bridge was erected at Doggett's Ferry in 1825 and
called 'Little's Bridge,' from a family of that name who
lived near, on the Marshfield side." The author remera-
bers, when a young man, living in his native town of
Quincy, Mass., of driving to Marshfield occasionally, and
being obliged to stop and draw his wallet to pay toll at a
house close to the bridge on the Marshfield side, now, in
1900, owned by the town and let as a residence.
During his driVe from Quincy to Marshfield, he was
stopped on turnpikes and bridges for toll two or three times,
which was certainly a great nuisance, and the law passed by
the state freeing all bridges and turnpikes was certainly a
righteous act. Not only was toll collected on crossing a
bridge, but for passage over a road, oftentimes the main
thoroughfare through a town, if it happened to be built by
a company of individuals. It was called a "turnpike," and
towards supporting it, including the payment of a good
interest on the capital invested in the turnpike, a toll was
laid and collected on every carriage or team passing thereon.
Little's Bridge was made free March 20th, 1865.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
Town Record Selections.
"Benj. Simmons was excused from serving as Tilliing-
man the present year. Voted to choose Jabez Dingley to
serve Tithingman the present year."
"Ordered George Little for to keep Winsor, a negro raan
of this instant ^laj- : the said Geo. Little is to keep the town
clear of all expense in sickness and health except doctor's
bill & clothes for said Winsor, also the Selectmen are to
bind the Said Winsor for one year to the above said Geo.
Little if he lives, or in the same proportion if he the said
Winsor dies." War of 1812 with Great Britain.
"Voted to give every Soldier £6 per month encluding the
Continental pay, that is drafted or enlist in said ser\dce, the
town to have the priveledge to get raen in their roora."
"Voted that the Selectmen be directed to procure a raan,
in any raan's room that enlists or is drafted, that is n't will
ing to go in said service if called for."
1814.
"In the South Meeting House a town raeeting was held
agreeable to a petition of Capt. Bourne Thomas and others
wishing to know the minds of the town whether they will
adopt any measures for the defence of the people and pro
perty of said Town against an invading enemy or do or act
any way relative to the subject they in their wisdom may
think proper. Capt. John Thomas was chosen moderator.
Ordered that the Selectmen petition his excellency the Gov
ernor for a chest of small arms & two field pieces with pow
der, balls &c. iraraediately. Ordered that the Commis-
143

144 History of Marshfield.
sioned officers of each Company supply the soldiers under
their command with 20 pair catridges each, they being re
sponsible for the same & that they procure suitable paper at
the expense of the town and bring in their account for that
& their trouble." 1815.
"Gave the soldiers who were drafted to serve in the war
from Marshfield two dollars in addition to their state's pay
per month."
"Arannah Ford was allowed three cents on the dollar for
collecting the State, County, & town taxes the ensuing year,
he procuring bondsmen." 1817.
Form of Town Warrant for Election.
Property Qualification for Voting.
"To either of the Constables of the Town of Marshfield
Greeting: You are hereby required in the name of the
Commonwealth of Mass. to notify and warn the inhabitants
of the said Town of Marshfield duly qualified to vote for
Representative in the General Court of said Commonwealth
viz : the male inhabitants of said town being twenty one
years of age & resident in said town for the space of one
year next proceeding, having a freehold estate within said
town of the annual income of three pounds or any estate to
the value of 60 pounds to assemble at the South meeting
house in said town on Monday the 27th day of Jan. instant
at one O'clock P. M. to give in their votes for a representa
tive of the people of said Commonwealth, in the Congress
of the United States for the Plyraouth district."

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Public Schools in Marshfield.
The Old South School, located at South Marshfield and
established in 1645, was among the earliest public schools
in New England. An account of this school was given in
an historical address by ]Mrs. Sarah E. Bosworth, of Pem
broke, Mass. (formerly a pupil of the school in later days),
before the reunion of the Old South School in Marshfield,
Sept. I oth, 1 89 1, and from which sketch I make the follow
ing quotations :
"Two years after Green Harbor became a township, and
but one after it was first called ^Marshfield, we find the first
recorded act in regard to town education, passed June 14,
1642, and in August, 1645. ^larshfield made the first move
ment toward a public school in the Plymouth Colony by
twelve of her principal men, including Edward Winslow
and others, pledging theraselves not only to pay for their
own children's schooling, but a certain sum towards others.
This act passed in 1642, was revised in stronger language
in 1658, and printed in the General Laws of the Colony in
1660, and is as follows:
" 'Forasmuch as the good Education of children is of
Singular behoofe and benefit to any Commonwealth, and
whereas many Parents and Masters are too indulgent and
negligent of their duty in that kind;' 'It is ordered that ye
chosen men appointed for managing the prudential affairs
in the several precints and quarters where they dwell, shall
have a vigilant eye over their neighbors, to see First, That
none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of the
families, as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others,
their Children and apprentices so much leaming as shall
14s

146 History of Marshfield.
enable thera to read perfectly the English tongue and Knowl
edge of the Capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings
for each neglect therein.'
"Under date of 1663 I find this : 'It is proposed by the
Court unto the several townships of this jurisdiction as a
thing they ought to take into Serious Consideration that
some course may bee taken that in every towne there may
bee a schoolmaster sett up to traine children to reading and
writing.' But 'ye chosen men' did not seem to take it into
consideration as I can find; so again, in a court held March
4, 1670, the subject of schools was agitated, and a grant
was made of 'all such profitts as might or should annually
accrew or grow dew to this Colony from time to time from
fishing with nets or saines att Cape Cod for Mackerell,
basse, or herrings, to be imployed and improved for and
toward a free school in some town in this jurisdiction for the
training up of youth in littrature for the good & benefit of
pesteritie, provided a beginning was made within one year.'
And the 'ordering of said affair was to be the charge of the
Governor and Assistants, or any four of them.' And said
free school was established in Plymouth, and Mr. Thomas
Hinckley was appointed 'Steward of the said schoole.' "
"But there does not appear to have been any action in
regard to the act of 1663, that a school master should be
'set up' in every town. But at a court held at Plymouth
Nov. I, 1667, there was an 'order passed,' closely resembling
one of 1663, resulting in establishing a free school in most
of the towns of the Colony and sharing with Plymouth the
profits of the 'Cape Cod fisheries.' In 1701 it is recorded
that 'the laws of learning which are wholesome and neces
sary are shamefully neglected by Divers Towns, and the
penalty thereof not required tending greatly to the Nourish
ment of Ignorance and Irreligion. The Penalty thereof
shall henceforth be twenty pounds per annum.'
"And this new provision was added, 'That evry school

History of Marshfield. 147
master be approved by the Ministers of the two next adja
cent towns, or any two of them by certificate under their
hands.' And the 'justices of the peace in each county are
directed to take Care that the laws respecting schools and
school masters be duly observed and put in execution.'
But in 1718 the penalty for non-observance of the laws was
increased to 'thirty pounds on every town that shall have
the number of 150 families and forty pounds on every town
that shall have 200 families and so prorato.'
"You see these men were in earnest to all that concerned
'Posteritie,' even though they were willing to be only step
ping stones. In 1789 an act was passed which divided the
towns into school districts because of the 'dispersed situation
of the inhabitants of the several towns in this Common
wealth the children and youth cannot be collected in any
one place for their instruction, it has become expedient that
the towns be divided into separate districts for the purpose
aforesaid.' And it 'shall be the duty of the ministers of
the gospel and the selectmen or such other persons as shall
be especially chosen by each town or district for that pur
pose to use their influence and best endeavor that the youth
of their respective towns do regularly attend the schools
and once in six months at least, and as much oftener as they
shall determine it necessary to visit and inspect the several
schools in their respective towns and districts, and shall in
quire into the regulation and discipline thereof, and the
proficiency of the scholars therein, giving reasonable notice
of their visitation.'
"It was in Section 9 of this act that mention is first
made of the school mistress : 'That no person shall be al
lowed to be a master or mistress of such school, or to keep
the same unless he or she shall obtain a certificate from the
Selectmen of such town or district where the same may be
kept or the committee appointed b}" such town to -v'isit their
schools as well as from a learned minister settled therein

148 History of Marshfield.
that he or she is a person of sober life and conversation and
well qualified to keep such school. Penalty forty shillings.'
"But there had been 'school dames' before this to instruct
the children during the sumraer in reading, sewing and
knitting. In 1800, Feb. 28, an act was passed 'That the
Selectmen were authorized to issue warrants for district
meetings; the voters authorized to choose a clerk, raise
money for the erection and repairs of school-houses,' etc.
In 1 81 7 school districts were made corporations in name,
and empowered 'to hold in fee simple or otherwise real and
personal estate for the use of schools.' And in 1827 dis
tricts were first authorized to 'choose school agents,' to
whom were confided the care of the houses and the impor
tant trust of selecting and hiring teachers.
"But previous, on March 4, 1826, an act was approved
'That each town in this Commonwealth shall at its annual
March or April Meeting choose a Committee of not less than
five persons, who shall have the general charge and super
vision of all the schools in town.' And that year Marsh
field chose her first school board, consisting of Martin Par
ris, Azel Ames, Elijah Leonard, Charles Macomber and
Thomas Conant.
"The schoolhouse where our grandfathers went to school
was on the 'Common,' near the site of Dr. Paine's torab.
And surely 't was a rustic school roora. From the door
of that house they watched one September day in 1774
'substantial yeomanry' of Pembroke, Scituate, Hanover and
Marshfield march by on their way to rout, and punish a
public officer who had not proved faithful to the 'welfare
of the Commonwealth and Posteretie.' But in December,
1 774, they watched a more terrible sight, when Gen. Balfour,
followed by his fine company of Queen's Guards, marched
by, their bayonets glistening in the winter's sunshine, to
take up quarters in their town 'to protect every faithful sub
ject to his King so that he dare utter his thoughts, fully

History of Marshfield. 149
drink his tea and kill his sheep as profusely as he pleased.'
They saw the blackened rock, where the tea was fired by
that dead, earnest old Whig, whom they always looked upon
with veneration; they saw that other gathering of staunch
yeomanry early in 1775. armed not with glistening bayo
nets, but sc)^hes, forks, anything they could get, and who
were deadly in earnest, and 'would fight to the death every
mother's son of them,' march down from Col. Anthony
Thomas' to this site, where thej^ saw the going of Cxen.
Balfour and his troops, to embark upon vessels lying off
Brant Rock.
"That 'staunch yeomanry' doubtless saved the soil of
Marshfield from being reddened with the blood of the sec
ond revolution. They witnessed Capt. Thomas go to the
top of Ward or 'Pudding' Hill and fire the three signal
alarm guns, while young Charles Thomas beat the drura
to let the surrounding inhabitants know that hostilities had
commenced the morning after the battle of Lexington.
They heard the creak of the oxcart at midnight which re
moved the town's powder from yonder bedroom and the
women and children to places of greater safety, when armed
British vessels lay in the bay. . . . But in such bar
ren schoolhouses were trained the men who carried through
the Revolutionar)'^ period, a miracle second only to the mul
titude being fed in the wilderness ; they held with a firm and
bloody grasp the rights of freeman to transmit to 'posteri
tie.' "'
In an address at the same reunion, delivered by the late
Rev. Ebenezer Alden, he adds some historical facts con
cerning the South school, which I will quote. "The old
South school, its duration is covered by a period of 134
years, extending from 1722 to 1856. March 4, 1822,
the town voted to sanction a division of the old South school
district, establish a line, remove the old schoolhouse and
build a new one. . . . April 2, 18 10, the town was

150 History of Marshfield.
divided into four school districts : South, Church, North,
and Two Mile. The South was the part of the town south
of South river, and probably a section northwest of the
river. A schoolhouse of that earlier period stood where
Mr. F. W. Hatch's stable, near where the railroad station
now is, and earlier a school house was on the town land, now
occupied by the cemetery south of the road.
"The oldest South school was in existence in 1645, lour
years after the incorporation of the town. It was estab
lished and supported by Edward Winslow, Thomas Bourne,
Edward Bulkley, and others. 'This was the first raovement
towards a public school in either of the New England Colo
nies.' Brief and restricted as is the history of this school,
it has the distinguished honor of being the legitimate suc
cessor of the pioneer school which inaugurated the system
of public schools which has largely formed the character
of our nation.
"The site of the schoolhouse is on the land given to the
town by the Colony and enlarged in territory by William
Thomas for the maintenance of religious institutions which
in early days held a place, though closely associated with
them, higher than the educational.
"Before the first old school in 1632, was the old South
church, the thatched roofed meeting house of which stood
on or by the side of the location of the first burying ground.
A few rods south of this site stood the first old South par
sonage, occupied by Mr. Bulkely, and a few rods west the
second parsonage, occupied by Mr. Arnold and others, and
a few rods west of the third parsonage, associated with this
spot, is the ecclesiastical history of this town, its progress
in religion, in education, in social life, and material pros
perity for two hundred years."
In a letter, William J. Baker, of North Pembroke, says :
"The old South schoolhouse that 'we went to school in' (a
half century or more ago) was situated near the residence

History of Marshfield. 151
of the late R. H. Moorhead where 'four ways raeet.' It is
converted into a tenement across the road opposite the for
mer site and owned by John Carver." The living gradu
ates have forraed an association, called the "Old South
School Association." President, George M. Baker, and
its secretary is Erastus E. Williarason. A reunion is held
annually. In the year 1700 I find a record of the public school sys
tem. Here the town did "then or there vote that Dr. Little
should supply the place of schoolmaster for the instructing
of youth in reading, writing & ciphering in the said town
for the year ensuing & then promise & engage to the said
town so to do. Also the town made choice of Mr. Sarauel
Sprague to be their Agent to answer in behalf of the town
in respect of a presentiment that is made of the said town for
defect of or not, having a schoolmaster in said town."
1701.
From the Town Records.
"The inhabitants of the town agreed with Dr. Thomas
Little to serve the town as Schoolmaster for the year ensu
ing and in consideration thereof the town to free hira from
the poll tax for the said year and also to allow him 20 shil
lings." 1703.
"The town agreed with Mr. Peregrine White to be their
Schoolmaster for the year ensuing and in consideration
thereof the town to allow & pay to him, the said Peregrine
White the sum of £1 — ios (equal to $5.00) and also that
all persons that send their children shall pay to him sixpence
a week above & beside the sura aforesaid for each child that
coraes to be instructed." 1710.
"Ordered the school master to be one raonth at John
Rogers and then the next 3 raonths to keep School at or
near the house of Benj. Phillips, and the residue of the year

152 History of Marshfield.
being six months at the School house on the South Side of
the South River, Arthur Howland teacher. Paid him
£13 — IOS for keeping school one year."
In 1713 paid him £27 a year. 1715-
"Instructed the Selectraen, or one of them to agree with
Mr. Perez Bradford to keep school in town a quarter of a
year for the present, and the Schools to be kept said quarter
at or near Littletown (Sea View)."
"Capt. Isaac Little & John Baker were appointed to agree
with Gilbert Winslow for his old house for a school house
for the town's use if they think it convenient and if not to
agree for the building a new one as soon as may be, to be
set on the land of John Jones Jr. at Littletown & to procure
a place for the school to be kept in the meanwhile. And
also to purchase of the owners thereof the school house by
the Meeting house for the town's use."
1717.
"It was ordered that the sum they were rated towards the
support of the schoolmaster the present year, for the ac
commodating them with a School Dame, they keep such a
school six months in the year and it to be free for any in the
town said time."
"It was also agreed that the school house be rebuilt at Lit
tletown & that school be kept for the 'futer' yearly half a
year at Littletown and that the inhabitants to Westward of
Cove Brook have yearly allowed out of the school rate what
they are therein rated provided, and so long as they in that
neighborhood do keep a school Dame or some other school
half of the year. £40 (equal to $133.33 i"3) was raised to
pay Mr. Bell for his service in keeping schools in the town
for One year." 1736.
"It was ordered that the school be kept in the South Side
of South River in the School there 4 months and 4 months

History of Marshfield. 153
at the school house in Littletown and 4 raonths at the North
End of the town near Thos Rogers."
1752.
"Town called a meeting to know whether Ebenezer Da
mon shall proceed & go on and build a school house near
the North meeting house of the dimensions of the old school
house at Littletown and it passed in the affirmative."
1765-
"We the subscribers being chosen a Committee to regulate
the schools in the town of Marshfield and proportion the £23
of money which was voted by the town over & above what
they voted to James Lewis and being now met at the house
of Abner W^right in said town and made choice of Abijah
White Esq. Moderator, have come into the following reso
lution viz : 'First that the town school that Mr. Lewis keeps
after the present year is up, shall be kept in 4 places in said
town viz: that he shall keep the first three months at the
house of Mr. Thomas Rogers in said town & that the next
3 months he shall keep it at the old school house in the
South house near the church and that he keep the last three
months at the school house near Mr. Wales meeting house
(north part of town. Unitarian church). And then as to
the £23 (equal to $76.66 2-3) that the North part of said
town shall have £3 (equal to $10) of it, equally divided be
tween the two schools in that part, that the South part of
said town shall have £10 of the said sum equally divided
between their two schools and as to the other £10 to the
middle part of said town two thirds of it at the school house
and the other third at the remotest part of that neighbor
hood if they will provide a place for it to be kept in, but if
not then the whole of the amount at the school house, and
also that Mr. Saml Oakman and Dea. Tilden shall provide in
that part of said town and Esq. White, Capt. Danl White-
Mr. Elisha Kent & Mr. Thos Little in their part & Mr. N.
R. Thomas Esq. and Nehemiah Thomas in their part of
said town."
Marshfield xi

154 History of Marshfield.
1777.
"It was ordered that a New school House shall be built
near the house of Thomas Rogers — north End of the town.
Also that a Grammar school be kept this year in town, and
that said school be kept 4 months at the North School house,
near the Meeting house & 4 months at the old School house
near the South Meeting house, & 2 months at the school
house near the church meeting house & two months at the
new school house which may be built & proportion the re
mainder of the Seventy pounds appropriated the schools
araong the private schools." 1788.
"40 pounds were raised for the use of Schooling the year
ensuing, the one half to go to the support of Grararaar
schools & the other half to be to the support of small schools.
A committee was chosen to consist of 12 persons, three for
each of the four school houses." 1790.
"Selectmen provided schoolmasters. £60 was appropri
ated for schools the ensuing year, £48 of this sum was appro
priated for grammar schools." 1791.
"This year there was appropriated £36 to be laid out in
an English school, also a Committee was chosen to divide
the town into 8 districts for the purpose of the English
schools, this Comraittee was also instructed to proportion
the above sum £36 on the number of children frora the age
of four years old to 16 years old in each district and that
the said Committee provide some persons to keep said
Schools." 1797.
"At a meeting of the School Committee at Mr. Prince
Hatche's, after proportioning the $600 raised for schools
for the year, it was agreed that the Committee shall procure
good teachers and if they prove not to be such the Commit-

History of Marshfield. 155
tee to dismiss them & procure more. The Committee were
instructed to visit the Schools and invite the ministers to go
with thera." 1798.
"A new school house was ordered to be built on the west
erly side of the parsonage near where the gate forraerly
stood." 1799.
"Four hundred Dollars was raised for schooling the
present year. A new School house was ordered to be built
in the North District."
"In the year 1793 it was ordered that Luke Wadsworth
be an agent to make answer in said town's behalf at the next
Supreme Judicial Court to be holden at Plymouth to an
indictment against said town for not having a grammar
school from the first day of June to the first day of Oct.
1791." 1818.
"Two thirds of the money raised for the use of the schools
this year was spent in a latin Grammar school and the other
third in an English grammar school."
1819.
Seven hundred dollars was raised for schools for the year.
1833-
George Leonard, W'ales Clift and Isaac Dingley were
chosen school committee. 1838.
"Allowed Danl Phillips' bill for land for School house and
pay the special order."
"W^e the subscribers being chosen a Committee in No
vember last to take into Consideration the making altera
tions in the North School district, having attended to that
business do recommend as follows : That all the inhabitants
on the road leading from Nathl Waterman to Danl Hall'j
and all on the road leading from David Gorham's to Amos

156 History of Marshfield.
Damon's be annexed to the Cornhill District, including said
Hall & Damon & that all to the Southward and Eastward
of Bear's brook be annexed to the Littletown district and
we further recommend the School house be removed near
the dwelling house forraerly occupied by the late Jos Ewell
deceased. John Bourne Jr. — Bourne Thomas & Elisha
Kent Committee."
1839.
"It was decided this year to build a school house in the
Two Mile district, and that Bourne Thomas — Eleazer Har
low & Ed. P. Little constitute the building Committee, and
that said Committee proceed to build said house as soon as
possible. $175 was appropriated towards building said
house." In 1 84 1 $1050 was raised for the use of the schools.
1847.
"It was ordered that One half of the school money be
divided equally on the districts & the other half on the
scholars." "The Selectmen were authorized with Moses F. Rogers
to build on or before the first day of next November a new
School house in Union District & they are further instructed
to expend a sum not exceeding Four hundred Dollars & the
proceeds of the sale of the old school house, which old house
they are authorized to sell, which sums are for the building
of said new school house and for the difference in the ex
change of the new site for that of the old site."
1851.
"The Prudential Committee was authorized and instructed
to procure their school teachers." 1853-
"The town gave a vote of thanks to Rev. Geo. Leonard
for the faithful manner he has served the town for twenty
successive years as a member of the school Committee. He
was succeeded by Hiram A. Oakman."

History of Marshfield. 157
1862.
"The Pradential Committee was authorized & instracted
to prosecute any and all persons who may injure any of the
school houses."
The following were some of the school teachers in town
in "Ye Olden Time."
1723. — "It was voted in town meeting that Wm. Rand
be desired to keep school for the year ensuing on the same
terms as last year."
1725. — Thomas Oliver was teacher at a salary of £50
(equal to $166.66 2-3) per annum.
From 1727 to 1730 Isaac Lewis was teacher.
In 1733 Adam Richardson served as teacher.
In 1739 Wm. Smith served.
In 1746, 1747 and 1749, James Lewis taught
The old schoolhouse at Littletown (Sea View) was lo
cated half way up the hill, above the old railroad crossing,
not far from the Sea View railroad station.
1765. — "The town voted to raise the sum of £60 (equal
to $200) for the support of schools the present year."
This year there were two schools kept in the north part
of the town, and two schools kept in the south part of the
town. In 1766, 1767, 1768, 1773 and 1774 James Lewis served
as teacher.
In 1776, "voted that Thirty pounds (equal $100) be ap
propriated for schools the ensuing year, and be distributed
to the six parts of the town, proportionally."
A superintendent of schools was appointed a few years
ago by the "Union district," so called, consisting of the
school committee of the towns of Duxbury, Scituate and
Marshfield. These three towns unite simply and only for
the purpose of selecting and appointing a superintendent and
regulating his duties in which the three towns as a Union
District are concerned. Each of the towns regulate their

158 History of Marshfield.
schools in their own way, as the town committee may decide.
The salary of the superintendent is $1500, the larger part of
which is paid by the State, the town being obliged to raise
only $250 to meet their portion of the expense, a part of
which it is claimed the State returns. There has been no
consolidation of schools as yet, but the question is being
agitated at this time. The High school is now located in
the Ventress Memorial Building ih South Marshfield. A
Grammar school and a Primary school are kept in the school-
house at the south part of the town, less than a quarter of
a mile westerly of the First Congregational church. A
Grammar and a Primary school, at the time of writing, are
kept at Marshfield Hills in the schoolhouse which has been
occupied by schools for half a century. Six ungraded
schools are kept in the following districts : One at Cornhill,
in the Union schoolhouse; one at "Two Mile," in the Two
Mile house; one at Sea View, one at the Ferry, one in the
Winslow district, and one at Brant Rock.
There are eleven schools in all, including four graded
schools and the High school. The salaries of the teachers
range from eight to eleven dollars per week in all but the
High and Grammar schools. The expenses of the schools,
including transportation, for the year 1900 were about
$7,000. For the year 1901 they are estiraated at about
$5,500, with no transportation.
Our oldest citizens can remember when the schoolhouse
at East Marshfield was located at Roger's Corners, on the
site where the dwelling of Herbert Rogers now stands, and
attended school there. Their fathers attended school a
century or more ago at a schoolhouse near the Unitarian
church.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
Town Items — Forms of Intentions of Marriage.
Sept. I oth 1804 — "This may certify to whom it may con
cern that the intention of Marriage between Rev. Elijah
Leonard of Marshfield and Miss Mary Delano of Scituate
hath been entered within fourteen days and that legal pub
lication thereof hath been made in this town."
"April 3 — 1805 — This may certify to whom it raay con
cern that this intention of marriage between Doctor Charles
Macomber of Marshfield & ^liss Dorothy Hitchcock of
Pembroke hath been entered within fourteen days and that
Legal publication thereof hath been made."
1824.
"An agent was chosen to meet the Agents from Scituate
& Duxbury Concerning adopting measures for securing ves
sels & cargoes that are cast on our Sea Shores for the ben
efit of Proprietors. Francis G. Ford, chosen Agent."
1824.
"Edward P. Little & others presented a petition at town
meeting, praying to the Legislature to grant them an act of
incorporation for the purpose of erecting a toll bridge across
the North River, to get the sense of the meeting, the vote
being yeas 23 & nays 17." 1828.
"At a town meeting held this year it was voted not to re
consider or raake null & void the vote passed at their last
town meeting of the fifth inst. empowering and authorizing
an agent to refer or present a petition to the legislature of
this Commonwealth praying for an act or law to separate &
divide the town of Marshfield into two Separate and differ-
IS9

i6o History of Marshfield.
ent towns or townships agreeable to a petition of Capt.
Jotham Tilden & others" (yeas 84 — nays 88).
1829.
"Our representatives were instructed this year to remon-
s:trate in behalf of the town against the petition of Eleazer
Harlow & others praying to the Legislature of this Com
monwealth to be set off from the town of Marshfield and
annexed to the town of Duxbury, fifty for remonstrating
and none against."
"Also adopted provisions of an act of the Legislature of
this Commonwealth passed the twenty first day of February
in the year 1827 entitled an act to preserve and secure from
Damage Marshfield Beach & the meadows thereto adjoin
ing which said act was recieved & continued in force by an
act of the said Legislature passed the third day of March
1829 — 141 yeas & 7 nays." 1831.
"Ordered that Neat Cattle may run at large within the
limits of their town from the 20th of May next until the
first day of November." 1832.
"It was ordered that the fence that now incloses the town's
training field near the South Meeting house reraain as it
now is during the town's pleasure."
"Also the town voted to purchase the house & land of
Jeremiah Stevens for a pauper Establishment and voted
that the Selectmen procure a deed of said house & land for
the town and procure the money if wanted on the Town's
credit & if not give him the Town Security. A comraittee
was chosen to view the premises purchased for a pauper
establishment and for them to see what they think is neces
sary to be done either in building or repairing or both for
the Town & the convenience of the inmates and report at
the next March Meeting & Bourne Thoraas, Chandler Samp
son & Stephen Rogers were chosen a Committee for that
purpose."

History of Marshfield. i6i
1836.
"An agent was chosen at the town meeting to meet the
County Commissioners at Daniel Webster's in Marslifield,
respecting the location of a road petitioned for by said Web
ster & others, & Capt. Bourne Thomas was chosen Agent
for that purpose. The Agent was instracted to oppose the
location of the road petitioned for by Daniel Webster and
others." "The County Commissioners, however, authorized the
building of the road, which ran from near the Winslow
mansion house to the Marshfield & Duxbury line."
1838.
"A committee chosen were authorized to build a Town
House, & to hire raoney on the town's credit to pay the re
mainder of the expense of said house."
"It was also ordered that the Town House be opened for
all meetings, except of an immoral tendency, and the care
of the said house shall be with the Superintendent of the
Aim's house, whoever he may be."
1840.
"Elijah Ames was chosen Treasurer, & voted hira $20 for
his services. He also was chosen Collector of Taxes; & all
who pay the whole amount of all their taxes on or before the
first of January^, 1841, shall have five per cent, discounted
out of their taxes; & all who do not pay by that time shall
pay the whole amount."
"This may certify to all whom it may concern, that the
intention of marriage between David P. Hatch and Miss
Mary D. Ames, both of Marshfield, hath been entered with
me (town clerk) fourteen days, & published in the town of
Marshfield, as the law directs — July 14, 1839.
"This may certify that an intention of marriage between
Mr. Henry Tilden and Aliss Hannah Hatch of Marshfield
has been entered 14 days & published in the town of Marsh
field, as the law directs — Nov. 23 — 1840."

1 62 History of Marshfield.
"This may certify to whom it may concern, that an in
tention of marriage between Mr. Warren Hall & Miss
Meriam Baker, both of Marshfield, has been entered with me
14 days, & published in the town of Marshfield, as the law
directs — Jan. 18 — 1841." 1847.
"The town raised this year one thousand dollars for the
repair of Highways. One-fourth to be expended in the
summer, and the remaining three-fourths to be reserved for
the winter."

CHAPTER XL.
Fugitive Slave Law.
1851.
"In town meeting held March 3rd, 1851, it was voted to
consider at this time the 14th article in the warrant, which
Article relates to the Fugiti\'e Slave Act, whereupon X. H.
W^hiting presented and read the following Preamble & Res
olutions :"
"Whereas, the government of the United States is pro
fessedly based upon the great truth that all men are free and
equal, and have an inalienable right to liberty, and whereas
its Constitution was ordained for the purpose of establishing
Justice, ensuring domestic tranquility providng for the com
mon defence, promoting the general welfare, and whereas
the late Fugitive Slave Act, is not in accordance with this
purpose, but is contrary to some of the express provisions
of that instrument, among others, that which declares that
no man shall be deprived of life or liberty without due
process of law, and that men charged with crime or whose
interests are at stake in suits at common law involving a
sura equal to twenty dollars, shall be entitled to a trial by
Jury; and whereas this act is equally repugnant to our raoral
sense, a disgrace to the civilization of the age, and clearly at
variance with the whole spirit of the Christian faith, there
fore Resolved, that until we are prepared to repudiate the prin
ciples of Independence, & abjure all our ideas of Justice and
humanity, of truth & duty, we can be under no voluntary
obedience to this act.
Resolved, that while we love & defend the Union that se
cures the object for which this was said to be established, we
are not to be deterred by any threats of disunion, or by any
163

164 History of Marshfield.
fear of evils, immediate or remote, present or future, from
using all just and lawful means to aid & assist those who
have the manliness & courage to escape from their prison
house of bondage.
Resolved, that while we desire liberty for ourselves ; while
we retain one spark of that spirit which led the Pilgriras
across the Ocean ; while we have the least conception of those
sublirae precepts of the gospel which commands us to love
our neighbors, to do unto others as we would have them do
unto us; to feed the hungry, clothe the naked & relieve the
suffering of the poor & the outcasts; while we recognize
the obligations of charity & love & good will, our houses
shall be open to welcome the hunted Fugitive as he passes
our doors in his flight frora the national bloodhounds, who
are baying on his tract.
Resolved, that we commend to every Fugitive from
Slavery the glorious sentiment of Patrick Henry, 'Give me
Liberty, or give me death.' Seizing upon this idea, let him
use all the means which God will justify to protect his free
dom; and if he shall perish in the struggle for his birth
right, as his last sigh mingles with the common air, and goes
out over the world, and up to heaven, a swift witness against
the nation which so foully murders him, let hira breathe it
to the wind that murmurs by him, and bequeath as an in
spiring influence to the panting fugitive he leaves behind
him. 'Give me liberty or give me death.' Adopted, yeas,
120 — Nays, 34." 1851.
Tem,perance.
"In town meeting it was ordered that Moses F. Rogers,
Geo. Leonard & Lincoln Damon be a committee to act in
concert with committees of the towns of Duxbury and Pem
broke to make use of moral suasion, or other justifiable
means to prevent the traffic in Ardent spirits at any place
near the borders of these towns where it is believed the
traffic exists."

CHAPTER XLI.
1852.
Daniel Webster's Death.
Town Resolutions.
At a town meeting, the Selectmen presiding, it was voted
"that the clerk of the town be instructed to enter on the
Record of this town, certain Resolutions passed at an ad
journed meeting of citizens of the town held on Thursday,
October 28, A. D., 1852, and also a letter from Millard Fill
more, Acting President of the United States."
At an adjourned meeting of the citizens of Marshfield,
held without distinction of party, at their town house on
Thursday, October 28th, the following resolutions were
unanimously passed :
"Whereas it has pleased an allwise Providence to remove
frora the scenes of Earth the Hon. Daniel Webster, Secre
tary of State, of the United States : therefore
Resolved, that the citizens of Marshfield join in theUni-
versal, deep toned laraentations that is pouring forth frora
every part of our land, and that will soon be heard coraing
over the waters from other lands, in consequence of the de
cease of our illustrious citizen.
Resolved, that the cause of free political institutions
throughout the world has lost a devoted friend and un
rivalled advocate.
Resolved, that the people of this town mourn, in an es
pecial manner, the departure of him who, when he could
be spared from his ardous public duties, has so long made
his horae among them.
Resolved, that the name of Daniel Webster has caused to
be associated with the name of our otherwise unpretending
lown, an immortal fame; and that we believe no spot on the
i6s

-1 66 History of Marshfield.
American Continent — next to the 'shades of Vernon' — will
be visited by the present and future generations, with more
respect and veneration, than the tomb of Webster at Marsh
field. Resolved, that we have long revered his narae, and been
proud of the exalted station he attained; and now that he
has gone to receive the reward — as we all believe — of a
most useful and honored life, while we shall ever carry
with us a remembrance of his exalted patriotism and lofty
statesmanship, we shall also, as citizens of the sarae town
with him, cherish with peculiar affection the recollection of
his many acts of neighborly kindness, sympathy & gen
erosity. Resolved, that a delegation of fifty citizens be appointed
on behalf of the town to meet at the place known as the
'Winslow House' to receive the Governor and his Council
on their approach to the late residence of the deceased, and
to proceed thence to attend the funeral.
Resolved, that the bells in this town be tolled from eleven
o'clock till twelve on the day of the funeral, and that they
be again tolled one hour at sunset.
Resolved, that we offer to the family of the illustrious de
ceased our deep and heartfelt sympathy for their bereave
ment, though we feel that no language is adequate to ex
press fully our sense of its magnitude. Daniel Phillips, Chairman."
From President Fillmore.
"Daniel Phillips, Esq.,
Marshfield, Mass.
Sir — I received this morning, through the mail, a copy
of the Resolutions adopted on the 28th ult., at a meeting
of the citizens of the town of Marshfield in honor of the late
Daniel Webster, and I can assure you that they express no
sentiment that does not receive my most cordial appropria-

History of Marshfield. 167
tion. I regret extreraely that ray public engagements were
so pressing that I was unable to testify my respect for the
deceased by attending his funeral in person. This would
have been a melancholy satisfaction. I am, however, grati
fied to know that his friends and neighbors duly appreciated
his merits, and honored theraselves in honoring hira. His
decease has left a void in the political and social circle, which
will not soon be filled, and it will be long before we shall
look upon another giant intellect like his.
He has rendered his country great services, and I am
happy to see by the tone of the public press, that now, at
least, his merits are duly appreciated. I have the honor
to be Truly yours,
(Signed) Millard Fillmore."

CHAPTER XLII.
1861.
The Civil War.
"May I — $5,000 was voted at the town meeting for the
defense of our rights, also a bounty of ten dollars to be paid
to all persons who have or may enlist as soldiers whenever
they shall be accepted and mustered into service, also voted
to increase the monthly pay of each soldier to $25, who
has been accepted and mustered into service, extending to
those who may be drafted alike, with those who have or may
enlist. Ordered that five dollars per month be added to
those soldiers who have families. The patriotic services of
the ladies, who have volunteered to make clothing, &c., for
the soldiers, were accepted."
"July 6 — One dollar per week was ordered to be paid by
the town to the wife, & also one dollar per week to the chil
dren under 16 years of age of any citizen of this town, who
has or may become a member of the volunteer militia of this
state, and said pay shall commence when mustered into ser
vice of the United States, and shall continue until otherwise
directed by a vote of this town at a meeting called for that
purpose, but the amount shall not exceed 12 dollars per
month to any one family ; and also one dollar per week shall
be paid to each parent, brother or sister of the volunteer,
who at the time of his enlistment was dependent on him for
support, and the Selectmen shall have the power to decide
on any doubtful cases. Also voted that those articles of
clothing in the hands of the Selectmen be distributed by them
to the volunteer soldiers, and if there should not be sufficient
on hand for all of the soldiers, the Selectmen are hereby di
rected to procure thera when called for."

History of Marshfield. 169
1861.
"Nov. 5 — ^John A. Andrew's vote in Marshfield for Gov
emor was 196, to Isaac Davis of Worcester, iy."
Resolutions on the War.
1862 — ^July 22.
At a town meeting Nathaniel H. Whiting presented the
following Resolutions, which were adopted:
"Resolved, that in the dark & troubled night which sur
rounds us, we cherish with a deeper love and more exalted
patriotism, the noble sentiment proclaimed in that early con
flict with the spirit of Disunion, on the floor of the Ameri
can Senate by our great statesman, now sleeping in our
midst by the sounding sea he loved so well, 'Liberty and
Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.'
Resolved, that in defense of these, we will stand by the
Government to the extent of our last dollar and our last
man, preferring to leave for those who shall come after us,
a wildemess like that our Fathers found when they sailed
into yonder bay and landed on Plymouth rock, rather than
this monstrous rebellion shall prevail.
Resolved, that a committee be appointed, consisting of
one from each school district, to aid in securing the quota of
troops appointed to this town under the last call of the Presi
dent, and that for this object they be empowered to offer a
bounty of one hundred dollars for each man who shall volun
teer and be accepted by the military authorities."
1862.
"The town agreed to pay a bounty of one hundred dol
lars to all soldiers who raay enlist in response to the call of
the President for the second three hundred thousand raen,
whenever they shall be accepted and mustered into the ser
vice of the United States."
"Chas. P. Wright — Geo. M. Baker — Daniel Stevens —
Luther Hatch — Chas. W. Macomber — Henry S. Bates —
Nathaniel Church — Amos Sherman & Henry Leonard were
Marshfield xii

170 History of Marshfield.
chosen a comraittee to obtain a war-fund by individual sub
scription to be also paid to those who raay enlist, as above,
and also to use all other raeans in their power to promote
enlistments, as contemplated in the forraer vote passed at
this meeting." 1862.
"Sept. 8 — It was ordered that we pay each soldier who
has or may enlist under the last call of the President for
soldiers to serve for nine months, the sum of fifty dollars
in addition to the sum of one hundred dollars before voted."
"Dec. 16 — The bounty offered for volunteers in the nine
months' service was annulled. Also the sum of one hundred
and fifty dollars to be paid to each of those who will enlist
as soldiers in the three years' service to fill the quota, the
supposed number being twelve."
"All town officers who receive their pay from the town
by the day, shall receive for their services the ensuing year,
$1.25 pr. day, & no more; and the Treasurer to receive
twenty-five dollars as his annual salary."
1863.
"The Selectmen were directed to loan one hundred and
fifty dollars to each and every man who has or may be
drafted under the present call of the President of the United
States, whenever he shall be accepted, or whenever he has
procured a substitute who has been accepted, and they shall
take a note from each therefore bearing interest at the rate
of one mill on a dollar per annum." 1864.
"Agreed to pay to each and all persons who shall volunteer
as a soldier a sum not exceeding one hundred and twenty-
five dollars, whenever enlisted and mustered into the ser
vice of the United States." Soldiers Return.
1865— July 25.
The following report of the Selectmen was adopted :

History of Marshfield. 171
"The undersigned, a committee chosen at a meeting of the
inhabitants of the town of Marshfield at the Town house on
Monday 24th, inst., to ascertain the best method of express
ing our gratitude to our retumed soldiers, respectfully sub
mit the following report:
We believe that for the services of the soldier has ren
dered his country and the world, no adequate equivalent can
ever be rendered, and inasmuch as it is a custom generally
prevalent in towns for the people to assemble together and
manifest their joy at his safe retum, and their gratitude for
his service by speech and song and festivities, &c
Therefore, we recommend that a meeting be held in the
grove, near the Town House on Thursday, the loth of Au
gust next, at such hour as may be hereafter designated."
1866.
May 31 — The town met to hear the report of the com
mittee chosen at the last meeting. Report:
"Your committee chosen and instructed to confer with
the volunteers of the year, 1861, in regard to a settlement
of their claims, have complied with those instructions, and
submit the following report :
''The result of our conference with the volunteers was, to
obtain the following agreement, which we are willing to en
ter into with the town.
"W-'e, who have served as volunteers in the recent war, and
enlisted in 1861 with the understanding that the town should
make our pay equal to $25 and $30, pr month, agreeably to
a vote of the town passed May i, 1861, hereby agree to re
linquish all claims under said vote, and to give a receipt in
full, in writing, for all claims for monthly pay under that
vote, when the town shall pay to us the sum of two hundred
dollars each, for those who served their full term, or who
re-enlisted, and a proportional sum for those who served ^
less period, and provided the widows and children of our
comrades, who have fallen or died in the service, shall re-

172 History of Marshfield.
ceive a like sum. Signed — Henry Tolman — Henry B. Bon
ney — Caleb E. Bailey — Jesse L. Lewis — Josiah C. Crowell
— James C. Phillips — Daniel Stetson — Abijah Ewell —
Martha Sherman — Hannah Ewell — Thatcher Ewell — Han
nah E. Sampson — Harriet T. Ewell — Geo. E. Crossly —
Charles Stevens — Ethan A. Randall — Anson Hatch —
Nathan F. Hopkins — 18.
-"And your committee would recommend the acceptance
of those conditions on the part of the town, and that the
claims of all volunteers of 1861 be settled on these principles,
who enlisted previous to the act of the Legislature passed
at special session of 1861 — limiting the action of the town to
three months, provided it can be legally done. Signed —
R. H. Moorehead — Seth Weston — Daniel Stevens — Stephen
Gardner — H. A. Oakman."
The names of soldiers who took part in the Civil War of
1 86 1 to 1865 from Marshfield, are as follows:
"Alfred W. Stoddard— Geo. Baker— C. Wm. Estes—
Nathaniel J. Porter— Wm. Rogers — ^James L. Rogers —
James E. Baker — Henry S. Bates — Edwin Curtis — Peleg S.
Sherman — Ed. H. Davis — Wm. Williamson — Chas. W.
Bailey — E. F. Cudworth — Israel H. Carver — Daniel E.
Ewell — Ed. A. Falvey — Thos. P. Ford — S. Nelson Gardner
— Lorenzo D. Harrington — Samuel Holmes — Ed. Hatch —
Samuel F. Hatch — ^Chas. R. Hatch — Calvin O. Hatch —
John F. Hatch — Asa W. Hewit — John A. Keen — Wm.
Byran Little — Geo. T. Osborn — Wm. S. Porter — Josiah
Randall — Jos. Sherman — Jona. J. Simmons — ^Josiah
Thomas — Lucius Thomas — ^James A. Wright — Calvin Wil
liamson, Jr. — Peter Williamson — And. J. Williamson —
Geo. W. Eames — Henry F. Ford — Henry W. Holmes — Geo.
S. Lapham — John Williamson — Anthony W. Williamson —
Samuel C. Baker — Lucius L. Bonney — Fred A. Delano —
John G. Fish— Calvin Joyce — Nicholas Porter, Jr. — Calvin

History of Marshfield. 173
Porter, Jr. — Geo. W. Sears — Moses Sherman — Eben S.
Thomas — Georgiana White — Warren F. White — Wm. H.
Tolman — ^Jaraes C. Phillips — Geo. Atwell — Israel H. Hatch
— Jona. J. Simmons — David T. Phillips — ^Augusta Hatch
— Col. Hiram A. Oakman — Henry Tolman — Ethan
A. Randall — Josiah C. Crowell — Job L. Ewell — Ezra
W. Hatch— Nathan F. Hopkins— Allen Wright— Caleb E.
Bailey — Geo. E. Crossley — Edmund Crossley — David
Church — Chas. H. Corbett — Thatcher Ewell — Samuel H.
Ewell — ^John M. Ford — ^Josiah Joyce — ^Jesse L. Lewis —
Francis P. Lewis — Nathan Sherman, Jr. — ^Japhet S. Samp
son — Chas. Stevens — ^Wm. H. Tolraan — Seth Williamson —
James C. Phillips — Benj. H. Manning — Ed. R. Merry — ^An
son Hatch — Abijah Ewell — Gilman Mitchell — ^Wm. W.
Randall — Daniel Stetson — Fletcher Webster, Col — (son of
Daniel Webster) — Chas. Tolman — Silas W. Carver — Lu
cius E. Chandler — Francis A. Corlew — Geo. Atwell — ^Leroy
S. Bonney — ^Justin A. Carver — Judson Ewell — Henry P.
Oakman — Samuel J. Ross — Edwin Atwell — Robert Ames —
Wm. J. Baker — ^Levi W. Bailey — Edward F. Damon —
Turner Ewell, Jr. — ^James W. Fish — Seth O. Fitts — ^Jaraes
Green — ^Albert Holraes — Albion Hatch — Andrew W. Hatch
— Chas. P. Hatch — Wilbur F. Harrington — Chas. A.
Nichols— Chas. W. Osborn— Chas. F. Perry— David T,
Phillips — Freeraan A. Ramsdell — Martin Ramsdell, Jr. —
Josiah C. Stoddard — Jos. W. Clift — Franklin J. Manning—
T. Correggio Brown — Nelson Ewell — Frederick H. Ewell —
J. Alonzo Ewell — Lyman Fitts — ^Jos. E. Williamson — ^An
drew L. Damon — Church C. Lapham — Hiram Butterfield,
Jr. — Ethan A. Randall — ^AUen Wright — Geo. E. Crossley —
Francis A. Corlew — Josiah Thomas — Edwin Curtis — Ed.
H. Davis."
The following are soldiers who died in the service, and
some, who were wounded, some of whom are now living in
1901 :

174 History of Marshfield.
"Robert Ames — Lewis W. Bailey — Lucius L. Bonney—^
Hiram Butterfield, Jr. — ^Justin A. Carver, wounded in throat
or lungs, now living, the bullet has never been extracted—
David Church — killed, and for whom the Grand Army Post
in Marshfield is named — Chas. W. Cobbett — Edmund Cross-
ley, wounded and died within 28 days — Edwin
Curtis, wounded and died within 6 days — ^Job L. Ewell,
wounded and died within 30 days — Sarauel H. Ewell — Tur
ner Ewell, Jr. — James W. Fish — S. Nelson Gardner, who
died at the war — Wilbur F. Harrington — Andrew W. Hatch
— Joseph Joyce — Col. Hiram A. Oakman, wounded, now liv
ing — Freeraan A. Randall, wounded — ^Josiah C. Stoddard —
Josiah Thoraas — Col. Fletcher Webster — killed in battle-
Joseph E. Williarason — Jaraes A. Wright — Church C. Lap
ham, a drummer boy, wounded in leg, now living."

CHAPTER XLIII.
1867— July 8.
Town Record Selection.
"Ordered by the town that the town Treasurer be and is
hereby authorized and instructed in the name of the town
to subscribe for and take seven hundred and fifty shares (at
$100 pr. share) of the capital stock of the Duxbury and
Cohasset Railroad, agreeable to the provisions of said Char
ter. Provided the sum of two hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars be subscribed for and taken by the towns of
Scituate and Duxbury, or other corporations. The result
of the voting was yeas, 176 — Xays. 37."
1870.
Wales R. Clift presented at the town meeting the fol
lowing resolutions:
"Believing that taxation without representation is as of
fensive to the people of the town in 1870 as it was in its
colonial days of 1770. Therefore, Resolved: That in the
great taxation which we have imposed upon ourselves by
subscribing for stock in the Cohasset and Duxbury Railroad,
we feel that we are not fairly and impartially represented
by our Director, Nathaniel H. Whiting, who ignores the
wishes of the town in its location for their mutual accom
raodation as far as practicable, and regards the desire of a
raararaoth corporation which takes the oyster of the shore
route for its own aggrandizement, and leaves a large por
tion of citizens of the town with nothing to hope for or ex
pect but the shell and a burdensome taxation for themselves
and their children after them, therefore we request him to re
sign, that we may have a Director who is willing to carry out
175

176 History of Marshfield.
the wishes of the town. Yea and nay vote was called on
the above Resolution, and was decided in the negative by
a vote of yeas, 155 — nays, 187."
The citizens at the 'Two Mile' and 'Cornhill' at North
Marshfield, living nearly three miles frora the railroad sta
tion at Marshfield Hills (the nearest station) felt that it
was unjust to raake thera pay the increased taxes that would
arise from the railroad debt by locating the railroad at the
outer limits of the town, bordering the marshes along the
shore, when by locating the road in the center of the town
it would give all equal accomraodations, and just and equal
taxation and representation.
But the railroad authorities argued that a shore route
would meet in the end with a larger patronage, and hence
be more desirable for the corporation; and thus the es
tablishment of this route was consummated.
1871.
"The sale of Porter, Strong beer and Lager beer was pro
hibited by the town, and no persons were allowed to sell the
same within the town of Marshfield for the year ensuing.
Yeas, 44 — Nays, 6."

CHAPTER XLIV.
Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society.
One of the best and most useful institutions to the farm
ers of Marshfield and vicinity is, and has been, the Marsh
field Agricultural & Horticultural Society.
It was organized in 1867, and incorporated in 1868. It
was a successful raovement from the start; not only did the
farmers of the town become interested, but everybody,
whether engaged in Agriculture, Horticulture or not, were
interested in the society, and the interest was not liraited to
the confines of the town, but Duxbury, Scituate, Pembroke
and some other near by towns in the county became part
and parcel of the society and worked for its advancement.
Its officers were scattered through neighboring towns. The
annual fairs held by the society in September, and sometimes
in August, have been a great attraction to the people.
It has brought together in a sort of "home week" the na
tives whose horaes are reraoved some distance from their
native soil in Boston, Quincy, Weyraouth, Braintree and
more distant places, and here on the fair grounds once a
year they meet their former schoolmates; and not only the
people out of town, but the residents of the town corae to
gether, not having met since the last fair, a year before, and
they chat, laugh and enjoy a good social time. It is a gala
day for the country around. This, however, is only a part
of the attractions. Fruit and vegetables are brought in
abundance. The tables in the hall and basement are filled
with them, affording a beautiful display, and giving the
visitor an opportunity (if a farmer) of comparing his own
products with those on exhibition. Then the exhibition of
cattle, horses, swine, sheep and poultry attract the eye of all
177

178 History of Marshfield.
visitors, whether farmers or not, and again a part of the
liall is given up to specimens of female industry, art, needle
work, bread, butter, cheese, preserves and a floral exhibit.
The horse trot, as in all other Agricultural fairs, is a promi
nent feature of this exhibition, and in the minds of many,
perhaps, too prominent in an Agricultural and Horticultural
Exhibition for profit. A fine band of music adds interest
to the fair. The exhibition of oxen used to be a promi
nent feature. We have seen a quarter of a century ago a
line of a hundred yoke of oxen marching around the
track and headed by a brass band; and to-day not a single
yoke is seen anywhere on the fair grounds. Horses have
taken their place, being swifter of foot and doing as rauch
work. Another feature of the fair is the ploughing match.
Formerly oxen and horses competed, but now horses only,
and at the last fair even this was omitted. Testing the
drawing capacity of a pair of farm horses by pulling a farm
wagon loaded with rocks, over blocks of wood, is a feature
of the fair that attracts some attention. The fair is gen
erally held three days. The first day is called the prepara
tion day.
The society for the last year or two have introduced out
door athletic sports, and humorous performances on the
stage. The first officers of the society were Geo. M. Baker, Presi
dent (whose popularity kept him in office continuously near
ly, if not quite twenty years) ; Levi Walker, Vice President;
John Baker, Secretary; Warren Kent, Auditor, and Luther
Thomas, Constant Oakman, Frank P. Arnold, Stephen
Henry, Chas. T. Hatch, Chas. P. Wright, Jos. O. Cole,
Jona. S. Ford, Bailey Chandler, James S. Bates and Hiram
Randall, directors. The following have served as Presi
dents since its organization: Geo. M. Baker, Wra. J.
Wright of Duxbury; John Parks of Plymouth; Ex. Gov.
Geo. W. Emery, Walton Hall, Col. Hiram A. Oakman, who

History of Marshfield. 179
is now serving in 1901 . The merabers of the Massachusetts
Board of Agriculture, who have represented this Society, are
as follows : Geo. M. Baker of Marshfield, who served many
years as its first representative, then Hon. Daniel E. Damon,
of Plymouth; George J. Peterson, Lysander S. Richards,
John H. Bourne, Walton Hall, of Marshfield; and the pres
ent occupant in 1901, is Henry B. Turner, of Norwell; term
three years.
The debt of the society at present, 1901, is about 83,200.
It was considerably larger, but the bequest of the late Hon.
Nathaniel H. Whiting, amounting to about Si, 800, reduced
it to the present moderate sum. This debt is secured by
notes signed by several of the directors and friends of the so
ciety. The society has been unfortunate in having its hall
partly wrecked twice by severe gales. In its early history
the hall blew over while in the process of erection, and it
was again partly wrecked in the great gale of 1898. In
both instances the building was rebuilt through the efforts
of zealous friends of the society, who raised enough money
for the purpose. A new grand stand was built a few years
ago, during the adrainistration of Ex. Gov. Emery, then
President of the society, at an expense of about $3,000, half
of which was raised by popular subscription. A half mile
race track for horse trots was built nearly quarter of a
century ago.
The following are the officers in 1901 : Col. Hiram A.
Oakman, President; Walton Hall and Capt. Albert T
Sprague, Vice Presidents; Herman Kent, Treasurer; Israel
H. Hatch, Secretary; Lysander S. Richards, Auditor; and a
board of eleven Directors as follows : H. A. Baker of
Rockland; T. B. Blackman, Chas. F. Church, Walter E. Da-
raon, Winthrop T. Hall, Barker Sprague, Lucius Thoraas of
Marshfield; Walter T. Osborne, Jaraes W. Sampson of Nor
well; Otis Standish of Pembroke, and Frederick Cole of
Scituate. Member of the Board of Agriculture, Henry A.
Turner of Norwell.

i8o History of Marshfield.
For many years, nearly a quarter of a century. Dr. Francis
Collamore, of North Pembroke, served faithfully and well
as its Treasurer and Secretary, and only resigned a year ago
on account of ill health. There are about 850 members of
the society. Life membership, $5.00.

CHAPTER XLV.
Clift Rodgers Free Library.
The founder of the Clift Rodgers Free Library and Hall
was Mr. Clift Rodgers, a native of Marshfield Hills, forra
erly East Marshfield. Mr. Rodgers was born in Marsh
field, Dec. 4, 1806. At the age of 19 he went to Quincy.
Mass., where he learned the currier's trade, and after carry
ing on the business some twenty-five years, he moved to
Boston and engaged in the hide and leather business, where
he araassed a raoderate fortune.
Retiring about 1867, he returned to Marshfield and spent
the reraainder of his days here on his native hills in the en-
joyraent of a well spent life.
He died in 1897, in his ninety-first year. His loving
wife preceded him in his journey beyond by four years.
About two months before his decease he directed the au
thor of this History to get incorporated and organize an
association for the building of a Free Library and Hall, and
after its incorporation and organization he placed in the
hands of the Treasurer the sum of $5000 for the purchase
of a site in Marshfield Hills and the erection of a building
thereon. It was organized and incorporated as the Clift
Rodgers Free Library Association, with the following per
sons as its corporators and officers : President, Lysander S.
Richards; secretary, George H. Weatherbee; treasurer, Mrs.
Miriam G. Richards ; directors, Marcellus W. Rogers, Jaraes
L. Rogers, Miss Henrietta Hall, Wendell Phillips, and
Horace T. Fogg.
Since its organization Miss Miriam G. Richards, its first
treasurer, and Wendell Phillips, a director, have passed
away, and Miss Eleanor R. Richards was chosen to fill the
vacant office of treasurer. Mr. Rodgers did not live to see
the erection of the building he donated. The site he se-
181

1 82 History of Marshfield.
lected and purchased just before his decease, where the
building now stands. It is nearly opposite the Orthodox,
or Second Trinitarian Congregational church, and near the
so-called "Rodgers Corners," Marshfield Hills. It was
built by William L. Sprague in a thorough, workmanHke
manner. H. \N . Rogers of Lynn was the architect.
It is a one story building, with a library or stack room
and reading room on the southwesterly end. The hall and
stage are on the northeasterly end. The nucleus of the
library was furnished by the East Marshfield Public Library
(a small library located years before in the East Grammar
schoolhouse). The library now contains about lOOO vol
umes and is well patronized. It is opened once a week,
afternoon and evening. Mr. Edgar Hood has served as
librarian since the building was completed.
The conditions of the gift are that the hall should be
always free to Spiritualist speakers, provided they pay for
lighting, heating, and the janitor's fee. Mr. Rodgers, the
donor, was a Spiritualist, but since the hall was built there
has been no demand from that source. The hall is let more
or less for small assemblies, lectures and entertainments.
Its seating capacity is about 200.
The expense of running the library, including the salary
of the librarian, is mostly paid from the interest of the fund
remaining, amounting to about $1250. It is not a town
institution, only in the sense that its citizens are allowed to
take out books from the library free. It is a perpetual cor
poration, founded at the wish of Mr. Rodgers. It is placed
in the hands of seven trustees, who have power to fill va
cancies whenever they may occur. The demand at present
for books is mostly for fiction, although it is the purpose of
the government to furnish nothing but good books. It is
hoped as the years roll by that a higher taste for reading
will be cultivated by our citizens. There are plenty of high
class books in the library worth reading. Books will be
added from time to time as the funds in the treasury permit.

CHAPTER XLVI.
Formation of Grand Army Post and Ladies' Relief Corps.
Some twelve years ago Mr. James L. Rogers, with the
assistance of John H. Eames (both soldiers in the Civil war
of 1861), conceived the idea of starting a Grand Army Post
in this town, and Mr. Rogers stating his purpose to the
author, the latter made it public in his regular correspond
ence in the Marshfield Mail. Mr. Wales Rogers, father of
James, was the proprietor of the only hall at the Hills at
that time, known as Rogers' Hall, and through the influence
of his son, he granted the use of his hall free for one year,
for the purpose of establishing a Post. Mr. James Rogers
then, with the assistance of Mr. Eames, began the work of
enlisting the sympathy and interest of the war veterans in
the movement, and at the first two or three meetings they
could not get but two or three interested.
The Post, however, in due time and process of form was
organized and called the "David Church Post," naraed after
the first soldier frora Marshfield killed in the war. Mr.
Rogers did janitor work in taking care of the hall gratui
tously. After a year and a few raonths' occupation of the
hall, the Post moved to a small hall fitted up for the purpose
over the store of the late Elisha W. Hall. Here they re
raained until the purchase of the old Rogers Hall and a
sraall piece of land surrounding it. This building was re
paired and extended in length, the mid-floor removed, and
a large stage added. A beautiful building, both interior
and exterior, was thus added to the town's attractions.
The building has cost the Post over $3000.
Soon after the organization of the Post, the Woman's
Relief Corps was started and organized in due form as an
183

184 History of Marshfield.
auxiliary or aid to the Grand Army Post, and the assist
ance rendered the Post through the untiring efforts of these
women has been an untold benefit. Their labors have been
given mostly in the direction of paying off a part of the
debt on the building. A mortgage was obtained upon the
property of $2000 when the building was completed, and
through the efforts of the Post, in successfully putting plays
upon the stage, and the assistance of the ladies of the W. R.
C. in the holding of fairs and entertainments, the debt has
been reduced to about $800.
Memorial Day is observed by the Post and the Woman's
Relief Corps every year in decorating the deceased soldiers'
graves in the cemeteries of the town, and exercises are held
in the Grand Army Hall.
A soldiers' monument in memory of the soldiers who were
killed and died from wounds and diseases resulting from
the effects of the Civil war, was erected by the town at
Marshfield Hills, near the site of the Unitarian meeting
house and in front of the cemetery adjoining. It was
erected some ten years ago. It is constructed of Quincy
granite, with the life-size figure of a soldier on top of the
pedestal, and a gun at rest in the grip of the soldier's hand.
Its cost was about $1500. The committee in procuring the
monument and selecting the site were Col. Hiram A. Oak
man, John H. Eames and Henry Tolman. Some time after
its erection, its dedication took place. The celebration of
this event was attended by people not only of this town, but
from all the adjoining towns. The orator of the day was
our Secretary of the Commonwealth, Hon. W^illiam Olin.
The commander of the Post at this time was Josiah Crowell,
who was the president of the day. Col. H. A. Oakman
had charge of the procession.
The commanders of the Post who have sers'^ed since its
organization are : John H. Eames, who served several years,
Josiah Crowell, Judson Ewell, Col. H. A. Oakman, Israel

History of Marshfield. 185
Carver, and Elbridge Baker, who is its present commander.
Some years ago the Sons of Veterans were formed, and they
have been a flourishing organization. They hold their
meetings in the old Agricultural Hall, at Marshfield.

Marshfield xm

CHAPTER XLVII.
Stores.
In the early part of the 19th century. Proctor Bourne kept
store at Marshfield on the spot where the postoffice is now
located, after which the store was kept by George Martin
Baker. Following hira, his son George carried on the busi
ness, after whom the father took the store again, and now
it is continued by Mr. Augustus Barstow, agent. The post-
office is now located here, and Mr. Barstow holds the office
of postmaster. Another store about the middle of the 19th
century was built by Henry Crossley about half a raile from
said store, just above the old mill and South river bridge.
It was kept by him for some years. He was followed by
Luther P. and Charles Hatch, and soon L. P. Hatch bought
the interest of Charles Hatch and carried on the store alone.
Some few years later L. P. Hatch built the large store
now occupied by the so-called "Marshfield Store." The
Crossley store was burned a few years after Mr. Hatch
moved into his new store. Here he continued in the busi
ness for raany years.
Another small store close by was kept by Charles Harlow
some years ago.
At Sea View a store was built in the raiddle of the last
century and carried on by George H. Weatherbee, Jr., in a
part of the building now known as Pecker's shoe shop. The
building used in after years as a shoe factory by George
Pecker is now abandoned. Mr. William Smith kept store
a short while here. Opposite this building, across the
street, a smaller store was erected, and here George Currell
carried on the grocery business. He was followed later by
William Randall. It is now kept by Chester Ewell.
186

History of Marshfield. 187
At North Marshfield, in the village known as Cornhill,
Miss Mary Conant somewhere in the seventies kept store
in a building adjoining George Conant's residence, opposite
the road leading to Gravelly Beach. The store is now
closed, and there is no store in that portion of the town.
At East Marshfield (now Marshfield Hills), in the early
part of the 19th century, Danforth Hall carried on the store
business in a building on the grounds now owned by Albert
Holraes. Later he built the store and residence now occu
pied by George H. Weatherbee, town treasurer. After a
few years he sold out to Henry Clapp. Mr. Hall was
grandfather of the late Elisha W. Hall, one of the most suc
cessful merchants the town has ever known. Mr. Qapp
was succeeded by George H. Weatherbee, Sr., father of the
present town clerk and treasurer. W. & C. Ames followed
Mr. Weatherbee.
Directly opposite this store Elisha W. Hall and George
H. Weatherbee, Jr., erected a large, two story building in
which they carried on the grocery and dry goods business.
After a few years Mr. Hall bought Mr. Weatherbee's inter
est and conducted the business alone for raany years. Mr.
Weatherbee then occupied the old store adjoining his house,
but after a few years he gave up the business, and as treas
urer and town clerk his office is here located. Mr. E. W.
HaU was succeeded by his son, Winthrop, who is at present
conducting the business.
In the raiddle of the 19th century the late Henry Tilden
kept store at the "Two Mile," in a building now used as a
residence and forraerly occupied by Mr. Albion Hatch, on
the corner of a road leading to Sarauel F. Hatch's sawraiU.
Later he built and occupied the store at Marshfield Hills
now rented by G. F. Drew as a grocer. After Mr.
Henry Tilden, Capt. Charles F. Tilden conducted the busi
ness for many years. It is now carried on by his grandson,
the said G. F. Drew. Henry Tilden built a store adjoining

1 88 History of Marshfield.
his late residence, and after carrying on the business a few
years, retired.
Henry Carver (formerly a clerk in Capt. Tilden's store)
bought, a few years ago, the late residence of Dr. Hagar,
and built a store on the easterly end of his house, and is at
present conducting a prosperous business there.
Tea Rock.
We do not have in Marshfield an historic rock, like Plym
outh Rock, a relic of the Pilgrims, but we have a rock that is
a relic of the Revolution. When the Boston Tea Party
threw overboard in the Boston Harbor all the tea on the
ships in the harbor, the patriots of Marshfield leamed there
was a large quantity of tea secreted by sorae authorities in
the cellar of a house on the site now occupied by Mr. Seav-
erns, two or three hundred feet from the street leading from
the First Congregational church to the Marshfield station.
The Marshfield patriots, not to be outdone by the Boston tea
sinkers, marched to the said house and demanded the tea.
Resistance being useless, it was given up and carried to a
rock on a hill directly opposite Dr. Stephen Henry's resi
dence, not far from the First Congregational church, and
there heaped upon this huge rock, it was set afire and burned
to ashes. This rock (what there is reraaining of it) has
since been called "Tea Rock."

CHAPTER XLVIII.
Green Harbor Dike.
Not only will this description of the Dike give some idea
of its purpose and development, but it will also make future
generations better acquainted with the present conditions
and extent of the salt marshes in the region of Green Harbor
river. Nothing has occurred in any town in Plymouth
County for the past century that has probably created more
contention, opposition, and bad feeling, than the building
and continuation of the dike across Green Harbor river in
Marshfield. Year after year it has been a bone of conten
tion in our town meetings. It has entered our politics, and
the question was obliged to be solved whether a man up for
office was a Diker, or an Anti-Diker. The feeling becarae
so intense against the dike that about a decade ago the dike
was blown up and severely damaged. It finally became
necessary to keep a watchman there night and day to guard
it, lest it be blown up again.
The reason of such intense opposition was that the fisher
men in the vicinity of Green Harbor river clairaed that the
diking of the river nearly ruined the fishery business, as the
lack of a sufficiently strong current to carry off the sand
accumulating there year after year resulted in the filling up
of the river. Most of the residents at Green Harbor and
Brant Rock are Anti-Dikers. Some others, who owned a
portion of the salt marsh affected by the diking of the river,
claimed that they preferred their salt meadows without a
dike, desiring the crop of salt hay therefrom, rather than
bearing their portion of the expense in the constraction of
the dike.
The Dikers claimed it was for the public good, that the
189

IQO History of Marshfield.
meadows diked would produce good, fresh hay, garden and
fruit crops in abundance without a particle of manure of
any description. What it has done will be mentioned fur
ther on.
After several ineffectual attempts to get the Massachusetts
Legislature to open the dike, this body in 1896 appointed a
joint commission, consisting of the Board of Harbor and
Land Commissioners and the State Board of Health, for the
purpose of considering the proposition of the Anti-Dikers of
opening the dike and restoring Green Harbor to its former
condition. After a thorough investigation they reported
that it was inexpedient to open or remove the dike, but
recommended the building of jetties at the mouth of Green
Harbor to direct the current and prevent the waves from
driving the sand and shingle into the channel, and this has
been done, at an estimated expense of $66,880, by the state.
To give a cursory explanation of this great enterprise, I
feel I cannot do better than make such selections from the
report of the said joint commissioners as will in my judg
ment most interest the readers of this history. "The small
village of Green Harbor is situated in the southeasterly por
tion of the town of Marshfield, at the mouth of Green Har
bor river. The permanent population of the region lying
about Green Harbor is not large — probably less than 200 —
but the attractions of the place are sufficient to bring here in
summer nearly 2500 temporary residents."
"The region about Green Harbor was occupied by settlers
from Plymouth soon r.fter the establishment of the Colony,
and in the Court Records, under date of July i, 1633, ap
pears the following entry: 'That unless Mr. Gilson, John
Shaw and the rest that undertooke the cutting of the pas
sage between Green's Harbor & the bay, finish it before the
first of October next ensuing, according to covenant, they
be amerced in ten pounds; but if any of them will doe it,
the fine be exacted of the rest, & they paid for their labour.'

History of Marshfield. 191
"Early in 1636 there is another order of the court, that
the cut at Green's Harbor for a boat passage be raade 18 feet
wide and six feet deep, and the governor with certain as
sistants was authorized to do the work. The cut referred
to in these extracts is evidently a channel cut to enable boats
to pass from Plymouth Harbor to Green Harbor river, and
thereby avoid going outside the Gurnet.
"In 1785 a petition was presented to the General Court
asking for an act to prevent the use of Marshfield beach for
grazing purposes. No act was granted at this time, but in
connection with this petition a copy of a will was presented,
in which the marsh lands in the vicinity of Bass creek, a
tributary of the Green Harbor river, entering it about a mile
above the dike, are referred to as salt 'marshes.' No fur
ther reference that is of interest in connection with Green
Harbor is found in the Colonial Records. Upon the map
of Marshfield made in 1794, on file in the department of the
secretary of the Commonwealth, the mouth of Green Har
bor river is shown to be about five-eighths of a mile south
of its present outlet."
"The first mention of Green Harbor that is of interest in
the Acts and Resolves of the State, is in 1807, when an act
was passed to establish a corporation for the purpose of
draining Green's Harbor marsh, so called, in the town of
Marshfield. The petition for this act appears to have been
presented to the House of Representatives on May 29, 1806,
and is as follows :
" 'The subscribers, owners and occupants of certain mead
ows, lying in the town of Marshfield in the County of Plym
outh humbly represent, that whereas a certain River, called
Green's Harbor River in said town of Marshfield has in
times passed afforded an outlet to the waters, which have
overflowed about two thousand acres of said iMarsh, &
whereas lately the mouth of said River has been closed, by
beach sand, confining a great body of water on said Marsh,

192 History of Marshfield.
which raay prove entirely destructive of said meadows and
it has become absolutely necessary that said water should be
drawn off in the most convenient manner possible, and
Whereas, we the subscribers, owners and occupants of the
said Marsh aforesaid, for the preservation of the same, have
associated for the purpose of draining said waters from said
Marsh into Duxboro Bay, by digging a canal for said water
and having in said enterprise expended about the sum of
three thousand dollars for the purpose aforesaid, pray the
Honorable Court, that we & our associates may be incor
porated into a Body Politic, to manage the above undertak
ing and be possessed of all the powers and priveleges, usually
granted to sirailar incorporations and as in duty bound will
ever pray —
"'(Signed) Isaac Winslow, and others.'
"In response to this petition. Chapter 39 of the Acts of
1807 was passed on Feb. 11, 1807, incorporating the Green's
Harbor Canal Co., for the purpose of draining Green's Har
bor Marsh in the town of Marshfield."
"An act was passed in 1831 by the General Court, on
petition of the Green's Harbor Canal Co., dissolving that
company for the reason, as claimed by the company, that
the purposes for which the corporation was created had been
effected so far as the same was practicable.
"The dike was completed in the year 1872, at a cost of
$32,090.79, and subsequently, in 1879, was widened to carry
the road from Green Harbor to Brant Rock. The Acts of
1871 authorized the construction of a dam and dike across
Green Harbor river for the purpose of 'improving the Green
Harbor Marsh in the town of Marshfield and for other pur
poses.' Following the building of the dara and dike carae
certain changes in the small harbor at the mouth of the
river. The effect of these changes was a serious one for
the fishermen of the village, causing rauch contention."
"It is undoubtedly true that this sraall harbor has deteri-

History of Marshfield. 193
orated since the building of the dike, and we believe that the
dike is responsible for a portion of the mischief done, but,
as will be seen by the brief statement of the history of this
river, it is not clear that the harbor has been at any time
safe from a calamity similar to that which befell it in the
earlier years of the century. That such catastrophes in
harbors of this character are not uncoraraon may be learned
from the history of the North river, only a few railes dis
tant frora this place."
"The removal of the dike would not by any means restore
a condition of things existing before the construction of this
barrier. An amount of water far in excess of anything
before known would tear through the light sands which
form the margins of the harbor, and produce effects which
cannot easily be measured, but which we have every reason
to suppose would be disastrous."
"The builders of the dike were sanguine in their expres
sions of belief in the value of the reclaimed marshes for
agricultural purposes; but we find many residents of Green
Harbor who have serious doubts as to the real value of these
fields. We were fortunately able to draw to our assistance
Edraimd Hersey, Esq., of Hingham, whose wide experience
and ample knowledge in the science and art of agriculture
have made him a much valued authority in this department.
From his report we make the following extracts :
" 'In my investigation of the Marshfield Dike raeadow,
to estiraate its value for agricultural purposes, it seems to
me to be necessary to ascertain, as near as possible, what has
been produced on that portion which has been under cultiva
tion the greatest number of years since the dara was built.
Fortunately, for this information I do not have to depend on
interested parties nor the statements of enthusiastic men.
Soon after the dam was built, I was employed as editor of
a prominent agricultural paper of New England. In this
position it became ray duty to thoroughly investigate every

194 History of Marshfield.
new enterprise which related to agriculture; and the Green
Harbor dike meadows received a watchful attention. I
have visited the premises many times while the crops were
being harvested, and at other seasons of the year. When
I consider the discouraging circumstances under which the
owners of this land have had to work, I am surprised at the
great success which has attended their labors.
" 'As early as 1879, seven years after the dam was built.
Dr. C. A. Gcessman, state chemist at the Agricultural Col
lege, Amherst, in a report on the improvement of salt
marshes in the town of Marshfield, referring to the dike
meadow land at Green Harbor, he remarks : "Many people
doubted in the outset the general adaptation of the reclaimed
sea marshes for the production of English grass without
previous application of top-dressing of some kind or other;
yet time has proved otherwise. Those who have seen the
grass on these meadows during the past season, or witnessed
the carting away of the many loads of good English hay,
have had all doubts regarding their productiveness, under
even moderate chances, removed. The results thus far
obtained have been more than many of the friends of the
enterprise anticipated; and have convinced even the most
skeptical, who are open to conviction, of the exceeding nat
ural richness of the soil, and its excellent adaptation for the
cultivation of a variety of crops. Still greater results will
be secured, no doubt, in future, providing the improvements
are allowed to be developed unchecked by adverse judicial
decision." " 'While visiting the Marshfield meadows on April 19,
1897, I found asparagus already up, very nearly high enough
to cut. I was surprised at this, because my own asparagus
had but just appeared above the surface of the ground, al
though growing on land so warm that I am usually the first
to ship native asparagus to Boston markets. I was also
.surprised at the size of the stalks, they being much larger

History of Marshfield. 195
than the first set of stalks which appear on my land. W^hen
I consider the fact that the land on which this asparagus was
growing has produced large crops every year for twenty
years, without fertilizers of any kind, and still produces bet
ter crops than my land, which has had six hundred dollars'
worth of fertilizers to the acre applied to it during the last
twenty years, it convinces me that this land, for garden pur
poses, surpasses any which I have ever examined. I no
ticed on the meadow, strawberry plants which had passed
through the winter uninjured and were looking well; thus
indicating that the strawberry will grow well on this land,
after the top soil becomes well decomposed.
" 'On the third of July the meadows were visited to ex
amine the hay which was then being harvested ; it not being
a good hay day, a very large proportion of the hay was
raked in heaps, thus affording an excellent opportunity to
judge of the amount produced on various parts of the
meadow. W^hile some portions of the land on which the
hay was raked into heaps would, in my opinion, not produce
quite two tons to the acre, a considerable portion of it would,
I have no doubt, produce more than two tons to the acre,
and some of it at least two and one-half tons per acre; and
I think I may be safe in saying that the average would be
t\vo tons per acre. A number of years ago, while visiting
these meadows, I saw one field of seventy acres that was
being harvested; some of it was spread over the ground as
left by the mower, but most of it was raked in windrows
and heaps, ready to be loaded on wagons. This I estimated
would produce an average of two tons to the acre. I was
subsequently informed that seventy acres produced one hun
dred and fifty tons.
" 'When we consider that this was produced on Iind that
had never had its natural richness increased by the applica
tion of any fertilizers, we realize, in a measure, the great
value of the material which nature has for the ages been

196 History of Marshfield.
storing up for man's future use, if he be wise enough to avail
himself of it. As some persons have expressed doubts as
to the good qualities of this hay, and others have stated that
neither cows nor horses will eat it, I purchased some of last
season's growth, to test it by the side of hay grown on my
own farm, my horses to be the judges. My hay was what
I have been selling for first quality, composed of redtop and
timothy. " 'The test was made in this way : I took about a half
pound of the Marshfield hay in one hand, and the same quan
tity of my hay in the other, holding each bundle so that they
would be of equal distance from the raouth of the horse; he
first took a sraall quantity of my hay, but iraraediately turned
to the Marshfield hay, and took from it a mouthful; and
after this, although I put my hay in front of it, he would,
every time, smell of mine, and then reach over and take a
mouthful of the Marshfield hay; this he followed until he
had eaten all of the Marshfield hay. The same test was
made before the second horse, and was attended with the
same result.
" 'While visiting the meadows on Sept. 22, I examined
the crops of cranberries, Indian corn, and onions. Several
cranberry bogs were visited, from which the fruit was being
gathered. The present year not being as favorable as last
year for the growth of this fruit, I did not find the crop so
large. One of the growers estimated that he should get
one hundred barrels per acre, but in my judgment, forraed
after forty years' experience in the business, I should say
seventy-five barrels would be nearer right, but, even if there
be only fifty barrels to the acre, this would secure a net profit
of one hundred and fifty dollars to the acre, if sold at the
price which I am selling my berries for today. The lower
levels of this land, if not high enough to be readily diained
for small fruits, grain, and vegetables, I have no doubt can
be profitably used for the growth of the cranberry.

History of Marshfield. 197
" 'The seasoft being unfavorable, the corn crop was not
large, but frora what I saw I should think it would yield
fifty bushels to the acre. The onions were rather above an
average crop grown by market gardeners who use large
quantities of fertilizer. Both of these crops were grown
without the application of any kind of fertilizers, and on
land that for more than twenty years has produced large
crops of hay, grain, and vegetables; and yet, to all appear
ances, the soil is in the best condition for the production of
large crops of small fruits and garden vegetables.
" 'The several close examinations which at different tiraes
I have raade of that part of the raeadow which has been
thoroughly drained and cropped from ten to twenty years
or more, led to the belief that the mechanical condition of
the soil is better adapted to the growth of garden fraits and
vegetables than any land I have ever examined; and that
it retains its richness to a wonderful degree, is proved by
recent analysis of the soil, as well as by the large crops it
produces without the aid of fertilizers.
" 'An examination of the dam shows that, when an effort
was made to destroy it, the injury was such that it has
never been made tight, but at every tide a large quantity of
sea water finds its way through the injured part. It is evi
dent to rae that, if the owners of the land could be assured
that the dam would be permitted to remain unmolested by
legal tribunals, and individuals who pay no respect to law,
it would be but a short tirne before the sea-water would be
shut out, and the whole meadow drained in a systematic
way. When this is done, it would be but a short time
before not only the salt from the surface of the lowest levels
would be washed out, but the subsoil of the whole raeadow
would be freshened sufficient to increase the large crops
which are now grown on the iraproved portions, and the
whole territory so improved that it would produce as large
crops as the best of it now produces. This being evident.

198 History of Marshfield.
justice demands that my estimate of the agricultural value
of this land should be based on what would be its condition
if the dam had been uninjured, and the owners had pos
sessed full confidence that whatever improveraents they
might make would not be interfered with, either legally or
illegally. " 'The careless observer, who knows nothing of the his
tory of the opposition and the discouragements which the
owners of this land have met with in their efforts to make
improvements, might, and undoubtedly would, come to the
conclusion that the portion of the meadow which has not
been improved is of but little value; but those who thor
oughly investigate the whole subject, and make themselves
familiar with its complete history, fully realize that the
whole territory can be easily changed to a condition to in
sure large crops of small fruits, garden vegetables, or the
best quality of hay; and, what is most surprising to those
who grow these on higher levels, they have been grown, and
will continue to be grown, without fertilizers. If I am to
estimate the true value of this land, I am quite sure that I
must consider the fact that for twenty or more years it has
produced large crops without the application of manure or
fertilizers of any kind, and that the soil shows no evidence
of losing its fertility for many years yet to come; although
to do' so I am aware that it will bring its value up to a sum
that will seem unreasonable to those who do not give the
subject careful, intelligent thought, or who have not had
experience in buying large quantities of fertilizers to keep
up the fertility of a market-gardener's farm.'
" 'I have the evidence that one measured acre has pro
duced 6,800 pounds of hay in a season, and another acre 34
bushels of rye and 5454 pounds of straw. The lower levels
of the meadow are admirably adapted to the growth of the
cranberry; so well that when grown by those who under
stand the business it will pay quite as well as any other crop

History of Marshfield. 199.
which can be grown on the higher levels; thus the whole
1400 acres can be utilized for various crops at a large
profit.' "
The comraissioners say: "In allowing the tide waters to
flow in over this area by the removal of the dam, this low
ered area (dike lands) would be covered by salt water for
so long a period over every tide that vegetation would be
destroyed, and the area, as land, would be changed into
mud flats, and become practically valueless. We are in
formed that about 1031 acres of this marsh area is ap
prised, for the purposes of taxation, at $22,335, ^ low esti
mate." "The mouth of Green Harbor empties into Massachusetts
Bay in a general southeasterly direction. On the north
east it is protected by a point of rocks. The movement of
the shore current, which bears along the drift, is frora the
south, and this has a tendency to close the river mouth.
The dash of the waves in hea\'y, especially in southeasterly
storms, brings more or less sand into the harbor. Frora
the northeasterly storms the rocky promontory affords the
harbor adequate protection. The material which has filled
up the harbor has probably corae in frora the outside, from
the south and southeast. The ebb current from Green
Harbor proper has not been strong enough to preserve a
channel of sufficient depth at low tide to answer the re
quirements of the vessels which anchor there. Under
present conditions there is no reason to look forward to any
improvement in the depth of the interior basin or the chan
nel. Any change is more likely to result in gradual shoal
ing. "A plan for improving this condition has been developed
which, it is believed, will successfully preserve the useful
ness of the harbor and increase its depth of water, both at
the entrance, where a depth of from thirty inches to four
feet at mean low water is desired, and in the harbor above.

200 History of Marshfield.
where the boats lie at their moorings. This plan is to
dredge an anchorage basin with a channel thereto, and to
build two jetties and a training wall." [The jetties spoken
of have already been mentioned in the early part of the ac
count of the dike.]
Green Harbor — Green Harbor River, and the Salt Marshes.
"The lower portion of Green Harbor river was at one
time a tidal stream, meandering through extensive salt
marshes, which bordered the stream for a distance of about
six miles from its mouth, and it received also the flow of a
sraall water shed, the total drainage area above its mouth,
being about seven and five-tenths square miles. There are
numerous summer cottages and a small fishing village along
the shores of the ocean and harbor in the vicinity of the
outlet, but the remainder of the water shed contains no vil
lages. The upland portions are inhabited by a scattered
farming population, and much of the territory is wooded.
"The marshes through which the river flowed lie just
back of the sea-coast line, and extend frora the vicinity of
the mouth of the river for a distance of two and a half miles
in a northwesterly direction. Their inland limits are gen
erally from one and a half to two miles from the coast line,
though a comparatively narrow strip along the river extends
further inland. They are separated from the ocean by a
barrier consisting of two acres of upland, and known as
Branch's and Hewitt's Islands, and by sand and shingle
between the islands and north and south of them."
"In making the surveys of the meadows above the dike,
it was found that they had settled materially after reclaim-
ation of the surface of the raeadows just above the dike,
being two feet or more lower than that of the unreclaimed
salt marshes below the dike, which were found to be gen
erally at or near the level of mean high tide."
The Construction of the Dike.
"The dike, as already stated, is located a little over two-

History of Marshfield. 201
thirds of a mile from the mouth of Green Harbor, at a place
where the upland approaches the river on both sides. The
total length of the dike is about 1600 feet, and its top is
nearly level and is at about grade 14.6 above mean low
water, the lowest depression being at grade 13. i, and the
highest place at grade 15.2. The bottom of the river in this
vicinity is about six feet below mean tide, and the river has
a width of about 500 feet. The dike has an average width
at the top of about 22 feet, and forms the roadway connect
ing the villages of Green Harbor and Brant Rock. It is
said that originally its width was much less, but that it was
Avidened by the construction of the road in 1879.
"From such information as has been obtained as to the
construction of the dike, it appears that sheet piling was
driven in a line across the river, and that the piling was
surrounded by a filling of stones and gravel. It appears
also that during construction the tide passed through a
flume which was subsequently closed by stop planks, and the
whole covered with stone and gravel filling. Two sluices
were laid through the dike, each four feet high and three
and a half feet wide inside, and having the bottom at the
upper end at about grade 1.61 and the lower end at about
grade 1.56 above raean low water. The capacity of the
sluices is, however, reduced by upright timbers four inches
thick, placed at intervals of about four feet along the inner
sides. "At the outer end of each of the sluices are tide gates,
which are closed automatically by the tide when it rises
above the level of the water inside the dike, and are de
signed to keep salt water from passing through the sluices
from the harbor to the river above the dike. In addition
to the tide gates at the outer end, there is also a tide gate
in each flume not far from its inner end, apparently intro
duced subsequently to the construction of the dike, to assist
in keeping out water from the harbor when the tide is higher
Marshfield xiv

202 History of Marshfield.
than the level of the water inside the dike. At the end of
each of the sluices, on the inner side of the dike, is a sluice
gate, designed to control the level of the water in the river
above the dike.
"It appears to be the practice to leave these sluice-gates
partially open at all times, and to raise or lower them only
at infrequent intervals, whenever it is desired to raise or
lower the water in the river above the dike."
"The water above the dike in the sumraer season, in an
ordinary year, may be kept down to a level about 0.3 of a
foot above the average of low water just outside the dike,
the level of low water in this portion of the harbor being
found to average about 3.5 feet above mean low water at the
outlet of the harbor."
"The main drain of the meadows is the Green Harbor
river, which drains an area above the dike of about 6.9
square miles, as measured by the state map."
"The sharp contrast between the elevation of the marshes
just below the dike and that of the meadows just above it,
leaves no doubt of the subsidence in the level of the mead
ows in this vicinity. The soil, both of the salt marshes
and of the meadows above the dike, contains a large amount
of small roots and fibre."
"The shrinkage in the meadows appears to be due to the
draining of the water out of them and the subsequent de
composition of the roots and fibres of the soil, which allowed
the soil to become more compact, and it is very probable that
practically all of the shrinkage has occurred above the pres
ent water level in the river and creeks." Dr. Stephen Henry
and Geo. M. Baker have been the leading spirits in the con
struction and perpetuation of the Dike.
There is at this time, in the year 1900, quite a large vil
lage at Green Harbor, also known as Cut River, occupied
by permanent residents and non-residents. It is quite a
seashore resort and is supported largely by sumraer board
ers, boating and fishing. The Webster House is the largest
hotel there. In the summer season it is quite a lively place
and is visited by many tourists, as well as the neighboring
and larger village of Brant Rock.

CHAPTER XLIX.
Brant Rock.
This sketch of Brant Rock I obtained from T. B. Black-
man, Esq., one of the earliest permanent residents of the
Rock. I will give it in his own words, as follows :
"I have known Brant Rock for sixty years. In those days
there was not much to attract people to these shores but the
sea fowl in the fall of the year, which then were very abun
dant. My father visited Brant Rock even before I knew
the place; I could not have been raore than six years of age.
He came down gunning, his gun burst in his hands, and his
lower arm was blown to pieces, which laid hira up for a long
tirae. It was a great treat in ray boyhood days to corae
to the shore and get lobsters from under the rocks with a
gaff hook. I gathered strawberries from the pastures,
which in those days were plenty.
"I do not remember of any house in early days at Brant
Rock proper, westerly of the Rock. There was a house
located up the beach north from what is now called Ocean
Bluff; this was known as the Charity House, in which was
kept a stove, a little wood and a few matches. It was pro
vided and equipped by the Massachusetts Humane Society
for the mariner when driven upon the beach by storms.
"In those days the grass growing on this beach was a
source of litigation, raany thinking they had a right to let
their cattie feed upon it, while others thought this grass a
strong protection to the beaches and should not be fed. It
hazarded all that property westerly of the beach, and finally
an ordinance or law was passed, prohibiting the feeding of
the grasses, and in my opinion it was a wise provision and
should have continued for all time. These uplands, to-
203

204 History of Marshfield.
gether with the beach at Brant Rock, were in early days
known as Spectacle Island, the upper island forming one
eye, the lower island the other. The strip of beach at
Brant Rock [the nose piece, or bridge] at this date was but
a cartway leading from Marshfield Neck through the beach
and across the two islands to the easterly side of Green Har
bor river.
"The house in which I now live was built in the year 1835 ;
there was a house on the upper island at this time, but when
built is not known; this house was burned in 1835 or 1836.
Three houses have been burned on that island. When I
came here, in 1856, there was but a cartway, with four gates
to open to reach my place. There had been some little im
provement made in the way at the north end, the slough had
been filled with stone, and a bridge was constructed, but
across the beach it was mud and sand. I have crossed this
beach when I could not go more than the length of my team
at a pull.
"In 1845 there was a house built at Brant Rock by Samuel
Turner of Hanover, Mr. Tribou of Hanson, and a Mr. Jor
dan; this was known as a gun house, owned by these men.
There was a house also at the north end of what is now
known as Ocean Bluff, built by Africa Keene of South
Abington. Below and westerly of my house, near Green
Harbor river, four small houses were built in 1848 on land
of Gideon Harlow. These houses were occupied in the
summer by lobster fishermen, viz. : Henry Crossley, Gher-
sham Sampson, George Sampson, Frank Washburn, and
others. In 1853 another house was built by Anselm Robin
son of Bridgewater, who at that time took a lease of the land
and later purchased the same of the heirs of Gideon Harlow.
"In 1861, the first year of the Civil war, the Pioneer Cot
tage was built by Capt. George Churchill, Charles Brown,
Edwin Reed, and others, of Boston. They took a lease of
the land for five years, but bought it before their lease ex-

History of Marshfield. 205
pired. In 1866 the Churchill Hotel was built and run by
George Churchill. Then followed the building of the
Wrightman Cottage, the Pierce (south frora the hotel),
also the Howland & Jones and the George Hatch cottages,
the last two being north from the Pioneer. They were
built by Samuel Turner. Mr. Walter Peterson built in
1870 or 1871.
"The Brant Rock House was built in 1874 and was run
by Henry T. Welch of Carabridgeport. S. B. Richmond
of Lynn built in 1874. Ocean House, by Paine & Bonney,
was built about 1875. Gilman Stetson of South Hanover
built the same year. Fair- View House was built by Mar
tin Swift of Bridgewater about 1877. There were raany
houses built in 1875 and 1876. I have mentioned but few
of them.
A lumber yard was established in the fall of 1870 by T.
B. Blackman. The lumber was brought frora Maine and
the West. This made good business till the shoaling of the
river, caused by building the dike. Sales of lumber in
1875 amounted to more than $5000, and would have become
a fine business but for the shoaling of the harbor and river.
"Mr. Edwin Reed built in the year 1881. Charles
Sprague built in 1876, and George Thomas in 1878. The
highway frora the First Congregational church in Marsh
field to the Beach was laid out in 1692. Frora Waterman's
Causeway to the land of Thomas Liversidge, a road was
built in 1862. From this point through Brant Rock village
to the Pioneer Cottage the road was laid out in 1867. The
Dike road was built in 1879. From the Pioneer Cottage
over Ocean avenue to a point near the house of T. B. Black-
raan, a road was laid out in 1890."

CHAPTER L.
Ventress Memorial Gift.
Mr. Seth Ventress, a native of Marshfield, Mass., a bach
elor, and the founder of Ventress Memorial Building, pur
sued the occupation of a mason raost of his life, and accu
mulated quite a small fortune in that business in the city of
Boston. He left by his will at his decease the sum of ten
thousand dollars to the town of Marshfield near the close
of the 19th century, the sura to remain in trast until the
interest thereon amounted to $2000, at which time the prin
cipal, $10,000, was to be spent in erecting a suitable building
for the town's use, which was to include suitable rooms for
a Free Public Library, and the accumulated $2000 interest
to be spent in the purchase of books for the library.
In about five years after the amount of the bequest was
put to interest, the building was erected on its present site,
near the Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society
grounds, on land purchased of Franklin W. Hatch. It is
a wooden structure, modern in style, and finished within to
suit the wants and needs of the town. Well equipped
library rooms are arranged on the first floor; the upper floor
was finished for a Tov/n Hall and furnished with seats.
The town officers' rooms are on the first floor. A High
school room capable of seating forty or more was finished
and is occupied by the High school.
In the basement there is a "Lock-up," so called, two cells,
made of brick, with iron grating doors, for the safe, tem
porary keeping of criminals. A large brick vault was also
built for the preservation of the town's funds and valuable
documents. A short time after the building was erected,
the town, at a town meeting, voted to move from the old
206

History of Marshfield. 207
Town House into the new hall in the Ventress Meraorial
Building, and has since held its town raeetings and elections
in this hall, now called the Town Hall.
The school committee serve as trustees of the library, and
have sole charge of its manageraent. It now contains
some 3000 volumes. The town voted to send by express
to all the postoffices in town books from the library once a
week to patrons deraanding thera, free of charge. The
town appropriates annually about $300 for its support, a
part of which is devoted for the purchase of books. The
library is open two days each week. Its first librarian was
Miss Rosa M. Sprague (now Mrs. Araes). The present
officer is Joshua Baker.
The old Town Hall, which was used the larger part of the
last century for town meetings, elections and caucuses, was
abandoned and sold at public auction to Luther White for
a small sum, and moved down to the Ferry and converted
into a stable. Here was where the soldiers were recruited
for the Civil war, and here was where the Hon. Daniel Web
ster came to meet his townsmen year after year and cast his
vote as a citizen of Marshfield. It was here, when the Hon.
Edward Little (a Quaker, and many years town clerk) said
to Webster, when some disputed question in the meeting
arose, and a motion was made to divide the house, the per
sons voting yea to stand on one side of the house, and those
voting nay to stand on the other side, Webster, undecided
on which side to turn, stood in the raiddle of the floor, when
Little (having in raind his uncertain attitude in the Senate
at that tirae in his feelings towards the South) called out
to hira, "Friend Webster, thee has been standing on the
fence long enough; tum to one side or the other." It
created a storra of applause, and Webster, good naturedly,
took his position on the side of his choice.

CHAPTER LI.
Daniel Webster.
One of the most prominent raen who can be claimed as
a citizen of Marshfield is the late Hon. Daniel Webster.
There are raany, undoubtedly, who would place him as the
most prominent man; we do not. Edward Winslow, one
of the three most able men in the old Plymouth Colony, and
Governor of the Colony, a man in whose ability and integ
rity the great ruler of England, Oliver Cromwell, placed so
much confidence, the father and founder of Marshfield, was
perhaps as great a man in his day as Webster, but in a dif
ferent sense. Winslow was the builder of a nation; Web
ster was the preserver of a nation. The former was one
of a trio who gave life and being to the march of civilization
in the incipient stages of our country's development, while
the other was the defender and protector of the Union of
States, formed in the days of the Revolution for self de
fence. Nor were Webster or the elder Winslow the only prom
inent citizens of Marshfield. Josiah Winslow, the first
native Governor in New England and America, and the
first commander-in-chief of the New England forces, was
their equal in his day. As commander-in-chief of the New
England forces during King Philips' Indian war in 1676,
he was acknowledged as the preserver of the Colonies in
that dark period of its early and terrible struggles for a foot
hold on this continent. He was a scholar and a raan of
sufficient brain power to cope with any emergency. Others
were prominent, very prominent, but these three distin
guished names place Marshfield in the front rank of the
historic towns of New England, and we hardly know in
what order to place the renowned three.
208

History of Marshfield. 209
E. M. Bacon says: "Webster, a bom farraer and trae
lover of nature, was drawn to Marshfield for a country home
by the rural beauty of its situation, and to this particular part
through agreeable visits which he made to it when the
Thomases resided there. Capt. John Thomas's family were
then living in the old mansion house. His first purchase
here was made about the year 1827, (after the death of
Capt. Thomas) of the old house, with that portion of the
landed estate possessed by the tory Nathaniel Ray Thomas,
before the revolution, which was reserved unconfiscated at
the close of the war as a dower for his widow. To his origi
nal purchase Webster subsequently made repeated additions
till his domain extended over two thousand acres, including
that portion of the ancient Careswell estate, which embraced
Gov. Winslow's home lot. [This estate included a part of
what is known as Cut River and Brant Rock.] He stocked
it with blooded cattle, herds of sheep and fine horses. He
had large collections of Chinese poultry, guinea hens, and
other fowl. Gay peacocks strutted over the lawn, which
swept away from his Mansion house, and among his live
stock were some curious llamas. He embellished the ex
tensive grounds with a multitudinous array of trees of raany
varieties ; a hundred thousand of thera grown from seeds of
his own planting. The original Mansion house (of Capt.
Thomas) was more than doubled, and with its numerous
gables showing above the trees, suggested when approached
in the distance, the famous 'Abbotsford.' Beside the Man
sion house and its outbuildings, there were on the estate the
farmer's house, the dairy raan's cottage, the fisherraan's
house and other buildings, including the statesman's private
office, now standing."
This old mansion was burned about two decades after the
decease of Webster, and the erection of the present one, on
the same site, followed soon after. It was occupied by
IMrs. Fletcher Webster and family, daughter-in-law

210 History of Marshfield.
of the statesman. It was here, while occupied
by Mrs. Webster, that the President of the United States,
President Arthur, at the Centennial of Webster's birth in
1883, visited the spot and was heartily welcomed by thou
sands of people asserabled to do him and the dead Webster
honor. Some time after this event the estate was sold to
Mr. Walton Hall, a native of Marshfield Hills, and a whole
sale merchant in Boston. Mr. Hall and family are still its
occupants. Webster's original estate, after his decease, was
parcelled and sold at different times, until the large estate
was reduced to two or three hundred acres at the time of
Mr. Hall's purchase. Since that period he has bought sev
eral estates around him, and has regained some eight hun
dred or a thousand acres.
An extensive apple orchard of thirteen acres, planted by
Webster a half a century or raore ago, is still standing, and
bearing heavy crops of apples.
Mr. Webster's foreman, C. Porter Wright, and Chas. Pet
erson (his boy) who attended his gunning and fishing
rambles, are still living. It is said of him while on one of
his gunning sports, over the marshes of Marshfield, not far
from his house, he was accosted by a couple of tourists from
Boston, who were attempting to cross a small flooded
stream; they could not jump it, and espying an old man not
far away, yelled to him to come and carry thera over. The
old man responded, and having on a pair of high, rubber
hunting boots, took one upon his back and carried him across
and then the other. They then asked him if he could show
them the way to Webster's. "Why, yes," said he, "I am
going there, come with me. You are addressing Mr. Web
ster." Amazed at this announcement, they felt like skulk
ing away, but soon plucked up courage and followed the
statesman to his home, where they were warmly welcomed.
At Marshfield Hills there is what is known as Walker's
Pond, formerly a mill was close to it. A Mr. Walker owned

History of Marshfield. 211
and ran it. Webster liked to come to the pond to fish for
trout. One morning on arrival, he noticed that the mill was
not running, and asked a boy standing near, why it was not.
"Father," the boy replied, "hurt his leg badly this raorning,
and can't run the mill." Webster pulled out his wallet and
emptied the entire contents, (some $20.00), gave it to the
boy, and told hira to run and give it to his father.

CHAPTER LII.
The New Mouth of North River.
Nov. 27th, 1898, will long be remerabered as the severest
storra known among the oldest inhabitants during the cen
tury. It was unquestionably a tidal wave that cut a hole
through the beach, between the Third and Fourth Cliffs. The
cut was made directly opposite the angle in the North River,
which opened a new mouth to the river and caused it to run
straight to the sea. At the time the storra (snow storra)
was raging, there were some gunners in gunning shanties on
the islands in the river. Some of the gunners had antici
pated the storm the night before and left their domiciles for
their homes ; but four young men remained until the follow
ing day, and the cut was made so suddenly — the ocean pour
ing in the river in torrents — these four young men attempted
to escape in a small row boat, but the fury of the storm and
the flood was too severe for them, their boat capsized and
they drifted to an island, but everything was soon submerged
and they were all drowned. Their names were Geo. Ford
of Marshfield Hills, and Mr. Tilden and two Henderson
boys of Norwell. The old mouth is some three or four
miles below the new mouth. The course of the river before
the storm ran easterly, as it approached the inner side of the
beach, and when it reached the bar it turned at right angles
and floAved southerly, inside the bar and cliffs, down to what
is known as Beetle's rocks to the sea. The old mouth, with
in the memory of citizens now living, has shifted from time
to time, at one time southerly from its present outlet
and then northerly, so that the mouth during the past century
had varied in its course from a half mile to a mile. When
the new mouth was made by the great storra a little distance

History of Marshfield. 213
from the northerly end of the fourth Cliff, the old mouth be
gan to partially fill up, and is now, in 1901, so filled up that
tearas can pass over it. It is a part of the beach, and con
tinuous. The South River, which has always, as far as
known, eraptied its waters into the sea at the old raouth of
the North River, now flows down to the new mouth.
When the new mouth was raade, the current of the river
flowing to the old mouth was largely changed, and took an
opposite, or northerly direction, running to the new mouth
and out to the ocean. The river as it approaches the new
mouth is nearly a mile wide. At first the opening of the
mouth was some 200 feet wide, and about ten feet deep. It
has since widened, and is now some three or four hundred
feet wide; at low tide about fourteen or sixteen feet deep.
The current is very strong and rapid.
About a year ago, a steam tug attached to a large barge
loaded with lumber, passed through it, and sailed down to
Humarock bridge. The vessel unloaded and retumed
through the new mouth to the sea. The northerly end of
Fourth Cliff is washing away rapidly, and it is claimed that
an acre of the cliff has worn away since the opening of the
new mouth. The beach between said Cliff and the cut is
at every high tide washed over by the surf of the sea, and un
doubtedly in time this bar will be washed away and the
mouth widened and extended to the Fourth Cliff.
The raeadow bank inside the bar is very hard and tough,
hence difficult for the tide to wear it away; but it is never
theless cutting it, and every year it can be seen that the
navigable space is widening, so that in tirae, it is hoped, a
large bay or harbor will be formed inside to enable yachts
to anchor there.
Application was made the present year, by the author, to
get an appropriation from Congress in the River and Harbor
bill for a sum to investigate the feasibility of dredging inside
the new mouth, which it is claimed by seafaring men. will

214 History of Marshfield.
make one of the best harbors of refuge between Boston and
Provincetown, but owing to the failure of the passage of the
River and Harbor bill by Congress, we will have to wait.
The new mouth enabling the tide from the ocean to flow
directly upon our salt marshes, (some 5,000 acres) has
caused a great loss to our farmers, by the flooding of the
meadows and killing the grasses. Before the opening of
the new mouth our farmers gathered large crops of Salt
hay and Black grass, which carried their cattle through the
winter moderately well, and horses were partly fed by farm
ers with Salt hay. It has been observed, however, that
Prickear — ^the Salt hay of the marsh — is coraing in gradual
ly, so that the salt meadows in summer begin to show a green
covering, but a difficulty arises in getting it, while before it
could remain on the marsh after cut a week or fortnight be
tween the semi-monthly tide; now it must be removed be
tween the daily tides, to escape the daily flood covering the
marsh. The great storm, after the cut was made, washed
away the railroad, passing over the marshes, but the track
was soon replaced; it is feared, however, in time, it will
again feel the effects of a very severe storm, although the
road has been built higher and is considered rauch safer.
The storm, after the new mouth opened, washed away the
causeway between Scituate and Marshfield, approaching Lit
tle's bridge, some two miles from the cut. It has since been
repaired and raised a number of feet, and is now considered
safe, although a very high tide, with an easterly storra,
washes over it at times. All along the course of the river
by Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke and Hanover, the greatly
increased tide since the opening, is daily felt.
Clam beds have been forraed since the cut was raade, on
flats near there, and although at present the clams are small,
many are dug and carried away.
Marshfield obtained frora the Legislature in 1900, an ap
propriation of $20,000 to repair the daraage along its coasts

History of Marshfield. 215
by the great storm. Brant Rock was damaged raost, and
received one half the appropriation. Many of the buildings
there were injured, and roads were bAily damaged. The
severity of the storm was so great that the inhabitants at this
beach were fearful of the safety of their lives. Some fled
to the Life Saving Station, and here the storm forced the
stout doors open, and stones were thrown across the floor
with terrific force, the inmates were obliged to flee up stairs ;
the meeting houses also were resorted to as a place of refuge.
No lives were lost on the beach.
From the $20,000 appropriation, which was put into the
hands of the County Commissioners, a portion was reserved
to build a new bridge, where Little's Bridge is now located,
Marshfield portion being one half, and Scituate the other
half. A year or more ago a bridge was built in place of the
old Union Bridge over North River between Marshfield and
Norwell, the expense being divided between the two towns.
It is a steel bridge, with a draw in the middle.
There is not as much fishing in the river, as there was
years ago. Herring is the principal species running frora
Marshfield up to Hanover. These are caught in the spring,
principally by seines, which are stretched into the river, a
number of rods, in different places, along the several border
towns, and are caught by thousands, salted, partially dried,
and sold by peddlers through the county. Shad, years ago,
were caught in these seines along with herring, but they are
now scarce. Perch are caught in fair quantities. In win
ter eels are speared to a considerable extent. Holes are
raade in the ice, and long poles that will sink deep in the river
with small nets attached to catch them. A small sail against
the wind is put up near the hole, and the fishermen stand in
sheltered spots and catch their fish. They often fish at
night, using lanterns to guide themselves.
A dozen or more years ago a law, or regulation, was passed
forbidding seining for herring for five years, to enable the

2i6 History of Marshfield.
Fish Commissioner to stock the river with salmon. The
experiment was faithfully tried for the full term, but was a
total failure, for I have never heard of any salmon worth
mentioning being caught in the river.
It was somewhere about the year, 1843, that an effort was
made to have the U. S. Government cut a hole through the
beach, near the present new mouth, between the Third and
Fourth Cliff, and Ex-President John Quincy Adams, then
Representative to Congress, was induced to ride down to
Marshfield and visit the spot where the new cut was desired.
But after a hearing from the citizens pro and con, the au
thorities thought it not feasible, chiefly on account of the
injury it was claimed would be caused to the meadows near
the upland and islands by overflow or strong tides. But
nothing daunted a large party gathered together, and with
picks, hoes, shovels, axes, etc., etc., with plenty of ox teams
and horse teams to convey them, marched in the darkness of
the night, with lanterns in hand to the beach, and there they
began operations, dug and toiled throughout the vigils of the
night. They dared not undertake the task in the day time,
because it would be a criminal offense to be caught infring
ing against the rights of property vested in the United
States. Morning came and the party journeyed back to their
homes, not, however, until they had partially, if not wholly,
accomplished their purpose in getting a cut or hole through
the beach from the river to the sea, but the great obstacle to
wards the complete accomplishment of their purpose, was
the hard meadow bank, nearly as hard as rock, underlying
the sandy and muddy upper strata of the river bed.
The river flowed partially through the cut, but in a short
time it filled up again, and thus all the labors of these River
Patriots were in vain, but it is the opinion of the author that
the filling in was never again as solid and compact as before
the cut was made, and probably the force of the sea in the

History of Marshfield. 217
great storra of 1898 found it easier to force a hole or cut
through the beach than would have been the case before the
artificial cut was made a half a century or more ago, for it
is the general opinion of those citizens now living, and raid
night partakers in the artificial cut of 1843, that it is in the
same spot as now occupied by the new raouth. It is also the
opinion of the author, and advanced by him years before the
cut was made by the great storm, that the river, centuries
ago, flowed directly to the sea, as at present, instead of turn
ing at right angles and flowing for three or four miles in
side of the cliffs, which he thinks is proven by the course it
now takes.
When the midnight cutaways were stealing their march
to the sea to cut a hole, they stopped at the house of Ed.
Little (a Quaker) on the way, and asked him if they could
take his yoke of oxen to work on the cut, he replied, "No !"
but I'll tell thee where thee can find the yoke," and they were
not long in finding it and the oxen.
The desire was so great in the last century to have a hole
cut through the beach, that they could not rest until they
made another attempt, and it is not to be wondered why this
desire was so strong, for there is but a narrow strip of land
which might be called a bar between the river and the ocean,
only a few rods wide, and it was thought it would be such a
help to navigation to sail straight from the river into the sea,
and save miles sailing down the river through the old mouth;
hence about 17 or 20 years after the first cut, another hole
was made farther south, the southerly side of Fourth Cliff.
Having gained permission of the powers that be, the citizens
began it in the day time, and I am informed by those living
here at the time and engaged in the enterprise, that it took
two or three weeks to accomplish the task. Temporary suc
cess attended their efforts, and the River flowed directly to
the sea through the new cut, but it was not long before the
cut filled up with sand, the current not being strong enough
Marshfield xv

2i8 History of Marshfield.
to keep it clear, and so the second attempt brought no lasting
results. It is now nearly three years since nature opened the
new mouth, and it is continually growing wider and deepen
It is undoubtedly open for all tirae.

CHAPTER LIII.
Marshfield Hills.
The name of Marshfield Hills was given and secured in
place of East Marshfield by the author in the year, 1890.
The officials of the railroad were induced to change the
name of the station, and that of the post office was changed
by the authorities in Washington. The reason for the
change was because letters were frequently missent to East
Mansfield, instead of East Marshfield, also packages and
freight. Other naraes were proposed, one by the railroad
authorities, "Rexhara," another desired to call it "Prospect
Heights," but it was argued with the railroad officials and
our Congressman at Washington, that we did not want to
lose the name of Marshfield, for the latter was identified
with Webster and Winslow, and was known and recognized
away from here as the home of those eminent men. Marsh
field Hills was accepted, and the name soon becarae a popu
lar one at the Hills and elsewhere.
The "Hills" is a very appropriate one to our village, for
extensive hills are numerous. There are very desirable sites
for residences, as an extended view of the ocean is had from
them, also of Cape Ann, and those seaport towns, Gloucester,
Marblehead and others.

219

CHAPTER LIV.
Railroad.
The Duxbury and Cohasset railroad, a continuation of
the South Shore railroad frora Cohassett, was built
about the year, 1868. It was built largely by the three
towns through which it passes, Scituate, Marshfield and
Duxbury, with sorae aid from the Old Colony Railroad Cor
poration. A great effort was made by the citizens of East
Marshfield to have it run through the raiddle of the village,
locating the station somewhere in the region of what is
known as "Bear's Brook," by the road leading over it from
Rodger's Comers to Sea View. Meetings were held to fa
vor this, but the railroad authorities opposed it, and it was
located down at one end of the village, nearer the shore, as
the purpose was to raake it a shore road. It cost Marshfield
about $75,000. One director was appointed from each
town to represent them. Scituate was represented by
Joseph Cole; Marshfield by the Hon. Nathaniel Whiting, and
Duxbury by Stephen Gifford, these acted in conjunction
with the Old Colony Railroad Directors. After a few years
it was found the road was not paying its way, and an effort
was made by the Old Colony road to buy each town's in
terest, and finally it was sold to the said road for $15,000
by the three towns, making $5,000, only, for each, being an
immense sacrifice on the cost. This left Marshfield with a
debt of $70,000, and it has been groaning under this incubus
for years, although it has been gradually decreasing, by an
appropriation made yearly of from one to two thousand dol
lars by the town to a sinking fund, which it established
shortly after the sale of the road. The Sinking Fund Com-
220

History of Marshfield. 221
missioners turned over to the town in March, 1901, the total
amount accumulated in their hands, which reduced the debt
over $30,000, so that the debt stands at present about
$35,000.

CHAPTER LV.
Marshfield in its Corporate Capacity.
The valuation of the town in 1900 was:
Real estate, $1,223,435
Personal estate, 105,810

Total, $1,329,245
Amount voted by the town in 1900 for the ensuing year's
expenses was $23,000.
Rate of taxation for 1900, $18.50 per thousand. In
1901, $14.00 per thousand.
Number of inhabitants in 1900, 1810
Number of voters registered, about 440
Nuraber of residents assessed on property as in
dividuals, 560
All others, 84
Number of non-residents assessed on property, most
ly at the beaches, 474
Number of dwelling houses assessed, 921
Number of acres of land assessed, I5>929
Nuraber of horses assessed, 458
Nuraber of cows assessed, 316
Nuraber of cattle other than cows assessed 93
Number of swine assessed, 23
Number of sheep assessed, 6
Number of fowl assessed, 2,910
Nuraber of persons assessed, poll tax, 500
Value of buildings, $811,745
Value of land, 411,690
The principal officers of the town are as follows :
Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of the Poor:

History of Marshfield. 223
Nathaniel Taylor, John H. Eames and Hartiey L. Thomas.
School Committee : Albert T. Sprague, Edgar L. Hitch
cock and Herbert T. Rodgers.
Constables : Howard O. Damon and John Flavel.
Tree Warden : John Flavel.
School Superintendent : Edgar L. Willard.
Town Treasurer and Town Clerk : Geo. H. Weatherbee.
Auditor : William L. Sprague.
Formerly Highway Surveyors were chosen at the armual
Town Meeting for each of the fifteen districts, but for the
past two years the Selectmen were delegated by the town to
act in that capacity, and they appoint deputy surveyors.
The annual town meeting is generally held on the first
Monday of March. The population of Marshfield has in
creased but little in half a century. This is due in large
measure to the going of young men and women on becoming
of age, to the cities, where larger opportunities are open to
them. Many have obtained a good education, the best that
a common and a high school can furnish, and they are able
to fill lucrative and responsible places that only persons of
ability can supply.
There are no manufactories in town to give employment
to men and women. Tilling the soil is the chief occupation
and boys in the present era have a dislike to this calling.
There is, however, a large and increasing, floating popula
tion, non-residents, who live, during the warm season, at
Brant Rock, Green Harbor, Abington Village and other sea
shore resorts in Marshfield, hence while there is but little in
crease of legal residents, there is a large increase of those who
pay taxes, and a large increase of dwelling houses. There
is a tendency now manifest in the purchasing and building
of dwellings for summer residences by business raen from
the city.

CHAPTER LVI.
Cemeteries and Streets.
The oldest cemetery in town is the old Winslow burying-
ground, adjoining the Webster tomb in the South portion
of the town. Here are buried the remains of some of the
old Colonists. Mrs. Edward Winslow, wife of the gov
ernor, mother of Peregrine White, and mother of Governor
Josiah Winslow, lies buried here. Here also are the re
mains of Peregrine White, claimed as the first white child
born in New England, and here the first native born Gov
ernor of New England, Josiah Winslow, lies buried, and
other Colonists. The remains of the Thomases, who were
noted Colonists in Pilgrim days, and the ancestors of emi
nent men living before and during the Revolution, lie in this
cemetery. Here lie the remains of one of the sweetest and
greatest singers America has had. Miss Adelaide Phillips.
At the side of this holy ground is buried perhaps the
greatest statesman America has produced, the eminent Dan
iel Webster, and his family, including his son. Major Ed
ward, who was killed in the war with Mexico, and his other
son. Col. Fletcher, who was killed in the Battle of Bull Run,
in the Civil war of 1861. Probably there is no cemetery in
New England more ancient, save at Plymouth, and none
that holds more distinguished dead in its enclosure than the
Winslow burying ground, and yet it is comparatively little
known. Then there is the cemetery at the southerly part of the
town, adjoining the First Congregational church, near by
the railroad station. Another is at Marshfield Hills, in the
rear of the Unitarian church. A century or raore ago, this
church secured and laid out what was known as "God's
224

History of Marshfield. 225
Acre," adjoining the site of the church, and they have con
trolled it ever since. Some stones date back to the i8th
century, 1732. A superintendent of this cemetery is chosen
by the church annually. East of this cemetery is another,
adjoining it, being southwesterly of the Orthodox church.
At North Marshfield there is another cemetery which dates
back a century or more. There is a small one at Center
Marshfield, where the remains of Mr. Sarauel Hall, a native
of Marshfield, a noted shipbuilder, and the father-in-law of
ex-Gov. Emery of Utah (now living at Sea View) lie
buried with his wife. Another cemetery is at that part of the
town called "Plainville," near the South Baptist church.
There are said to be indications of a very ancient one on the
hill at the rear of the residence of Mr. Appolonio, and front
of the estate owned by Mr. Eames.
Streets in Marshfield — Named in 1876.
In 1876 the streets in Marshfield were named by the fol
lowing committee, chosen by the town : Charles P. Wright,
Stephen Gardner, Lysander S. Richards, Nathaniel Phillips,
2d, Israel H. Hatch, Stephen Henry, William Harrington,
and Joseph Sherman. The following report the town ac
cepted :
"The street leading from Union bridge south through
Corn Hill to Pembroke line near the house of Nathaniel
Church, to be called "Union street." From the corner near
William C. Oakman's, west to Gravelly Beach, "Corn Hill
avenue." F'rom the corner of the house of Albert Joyce on
Union street, southwest to Pembroke line, "West street."
From Rogers Corner past the Second Baptist church and
Nathaniel Phillips, 2d, to Union street, "Highland street."
From the house of the late James Touhey, southwest to
Union street, at the house of Hiram A. Oakman, "Oak
street." From the comer near the Unitarian church,
southwest and south past Aaron Sampson's and
Joyce schoolhouse to the corner at James Ford's,

226 History of Marshfield.
"Forest street." From the corner at the house of
W'^arren Gardner, to Forest street, "Valley street."
From the corner of Samuel Hatch's mill, east across Forest
street to Main street, "Pine street." From the South Bap
tist church, northeast past the Joyce schoolhouse to Main
street, "School street." Frora Byron Siraraons', southwest
to Perabroke line, "Lone street." From the Pembroke line
near the house of William Hall, past South Baptist church
and James Ford's to the store of Luther P. Hatch, "Plain
street." Frora Little's bridge, south through East Marsh
field village, past the Town poor house and Methodist church
to H. C. Dunham's mill and South River bridge, "Main
street." From the house of Enos Stoddard, west and south
to Highland street, "Spring street." From the corner near
the house of James Ford, east across Main street to the cor
ner at the house of Jessie L. Lewis, "Furnace street." From
the corner near the house of John Magoun, south to the
house of Simeon B. Chandler, "Crow street." From
Hatch's Corner, northeast past Walker's mill to Enos Stod
dard's, "Suraraer street." From James L. Rogers' house,
northeast to Walker's Pond, "Prospect street." From Ed:
gar Hood's house, east past the bakery to Main street, "Bow
street." From Rogers' Corner southeast to the lower rail
road bridge, opposite the late Tilden Ames' residence,
"Pleasant street." From the Wales Tilden place and cor
ner C. Rodgers Richards' estate, southwest through Canoe
Tree swamp, "Canoe Tree street." Frora Hatch's Corner,
northeast and southeast to Ferry street, "Elra street." From
Barstow Carver place to William Hall's, "Sea street."
From Hatch's Corner, south to Keene's Corner, "Church
street." Frora the Methodist church, northeast past Wins
low Conant's, the Ferry schoolhouse, and Sarauel William
son's to the Ferry, "Ferry street." From the corner at the
house of William Porter, northeast past George Bailey's, to
the corner at the house of Benjamin F. Keene, "Grove

History of Marshfield. 227
street." From the corner at the Agricultural hall, past
Elijah Williamson's, W'illiam Sherman's, and Capt. Asa
Sherman's, to the Ferry schoolhouse, "South River street."
From District No. 2 schoolhouse, northeast past Thomas
Baker's to the corner, "Willow street." From the corner
near the house of Henry Sprague, north and west past the
house of Peleg S. Kent to the Duxbury line, "Mount Skirgo
street." From the Duxbury line, near the house of Joseph
Sprague, east past Harvey Sprague's, Dr. George W. Bak
er's, and Marshfield postoffice, over Marshfield Neck and by
the Beach to the termination of the streets south of Brant
Rock village, "Ocean street." From the Marshfield post-
office, past George M. Baker's and Sarauel Shepherd's to
the Duxbury line, by the house of Ichabod Weston, "Mo
raine street." From the corner near the house of John
Church, southwest past John Baker's to the Duxbury line,
near the house of Calvin Paine, "Acorn street." From the
corner near the house of Edraund Hackett, west past the
house of Hiram Butterfield to the Duxbury line, "Walnut
street." Frora the corner east of the widow of Otis Barker,
north past Curtis B. Goodsell's and Elijah Ames' to the
Beach, "Winslow street." From the Marshfield station,
east past R. H. Moorehead's and Charles P. Wright's to the
comer by the Winslow house, "Webster street." From the
corner at the house of John A. Harlow, southwest past Chas.
Sampson's to the corner at the house of Edmond Hackett,
"Parsonage street." From Brant Rock village over the
westerly part of Branches' Island, "Island street." From
Cut River village, west past the Winslow house and Green
Harbor station to the Duxbury line, "Careswell street."
From the corner near the Careswell place, south over Canal
bridge to the Duxbury line, "Canal street." Frora the cor
ner near the house of Henry Cook, south to the Beach,
"Beach street." From the corner near the house of Charles
Sprague, through Cut River village to Beach street, "Mar-

228 History of Marshfield.
ginal street." From the corner by the Webster house at
Cut river to the house of Henry Tolman, "Central street."
From the west end of Careswell street, southwest to the
Duxbury line, "South street." The street past Warren T.
Whiting's, commencing and terminating on Ocean street,
"Rock street." The street across the corner frora High
land street to Union street, "Short street." The street past
Thomas Stevens' and Mrs. Fanny Crane's, commencing and
terminating on Summer street, "Station street."

CHAPTER LVII.
Occupations. — Wayside Trees.
The occupations of the citizens of Marshfield have been
varied. In the 19th century, the callings were divided be
tween shipbuilding on the North river and agriculture, and
many of our citizens worked for several years at East Bos
ton in the shipyards. There has been some shoe manufac
turing in town, but not on a very large scale. The main
occupation of our people has been farraing. Sorae of the
farms here contain 300 acres, but it is generally conceded
now that those unfortunate enough to own so large an area
are "land poor," for it has been found that sraall farms pay
better than large. There have been a number of farmers
who have made a business of producing milk, but today there
are very few in that business, except those living near the
beaches. For the past few years, the closing decade of the nine
teenth century, rauch attention has been paid to the cultiva
tion of the strawberry, so that today Marshfield strawberries
sent to Boston markets are well known and have the name of
being the finest berries sent there. A night express carries
the berries to the Boston market. The larger part of the
berries are raised at the northern end of the town.
Trees on the Roadside.
At Marshfield Hills the residents, half a century ago, and
later, had an eye to the beauty of the village, and set out
elm and maple trees on some of the principal streets, and
today the large and stately elms and maples adorning the
thoroughfares are the admiration of visitors who frequent
the village on the Hills. The Rogers, the Weatherbees,
and the Leonards were chiefly instrumental in planting them.
229

230 History of Marshfield.
But a short time after the late Wales Rogers set the elms in
front of bis house, before the middle of the igth century,
a gentleman driving past in a chaise to visit Daniel Webster
stopped and spoke admiringly to Mr. Rogers about his trees.
"W^hy!" said Mr. Rogers, "some of the citizens here
threaten to destroy them because they are on the outside of
the sidewalk." The stranger spoke with emphasis : "My
name is Judge Shaw (then the faraous chief justice of the
Massachusetts Supreme Court). If anybody harms those
trees in the least, inform me at once, and I will attend to
them. Those trees will be the beauty of the village." They
were never disturbed. The late Elisha W. Hall bought and
set out elm trees in vacant spots from the railroad station,
along the street to the Unitarian meeting house, some ten
years ago. At the same time Walton Hall bought and set
out 500 elms along the street leading from Green Harbor
towards South Marshfield.

CHAPTER LVIII.
Marshfield Items.
Temperance has always been the prevailing sentiraent in
Marshfield for many years. For a quarter of a century or
more it has voted "no license," except last year, 1900. And
then the license element was defeated by a vote of the town
being passed iraraediately afterwards, to raake the license fee
one raillion dollars, and also voted to appropriate $5,000 to
enforce the law, but the chief obstacle that prevented the
liquor dealers from obtaining a license was that the Board
of Selectmen would not grant a license, and hence the town
was practically no-license.
A representative to the General Court from this district
represents five towns. At present it includes Duxbury,
Marshfield, Pembroke, Norwell, and Scituate; the district is
called the Second Plymouth Representative District. Re
publicans are largely in the majority throughout the district,
and at present Mr. Charles N. Gardner, of Norwell, repre
sents the district in the Legislature.
Before the South Shore Railroad was built, in early days,
Jedediah Little ran a public chaise, a two-wheel vehicle, from
Marshfield to Boston, to accommodate the traveling pubfic
He was a man of considerable nerve, and upon one occasion
his leg was so badly injured that amputation becarae neces
sary. Wliile the surgeons were arranging matters in an
adjoining room for the operation, Mr. Little was telling
stories to sorae one by his side, and when the surgeons en
tered to prepare him for the operation, he looked up and
said: "Oh. yes; I had forgotten you," and they proceeded
with the amputation without any more words.
A Mr. Hatch followed him in the passenger service. After
231

J232 History of Marshfield.
the South Shore road was built from Braintree to Cohasset,
a stage was run by Charles Hatch and his brother, Franklin.
W. Hatch, from Cohasset station to Marshfield, and the ar
rival of the stage at the different villages along the route,
was daily the signal for stirring times araong the villagers to
witness and greet the new arrivals. When the Duxbury
& Cohasset railroad was built, the stage route was aban
doned. Tangible evidence can be seen today that the Indians had
their habitations and "hunting grounds" in Marshfield, for
we are constantly finding Indian implements, in the form of
arrow heads, spear heads, stone pestles, and stone hamraers.
The author has found some of these on his erounds, and so
have others on their land. Dr. Stephen Henry of Marsh
field, who is much interested in Indian relics, has in his office
a large collection of these impleraents, found in various lo
calities of the town, ranging from arrow heads, in large
numbers, to spear heads, stone hammers, axes, pestles, and
other implements. Not only was there game for the Indians
on the marshes, as birds, etc., but the woods were teeming
with other game, and the North river abundantly stocked
with fish.
One of the raost noted men of Marshfield in the days of
the Revolution was Capt. Luther Little. He was a sea
faring man, and probably passed through more stirring
scenes in his life than any man living in the precincts of
Marshfield. He began young in his career. At the age
of ten he and some other boys about his home at Littletown
(now Sea View) thought they would go for a swira in one
of those narrow streams not far from the shore. When
their swim was completed, young Little hastened for his
clothes, and lo, and behold, they were not there, for the tide
had come up during the bath and floated thera to the sea.
There was nothing for him to do but to take as concealed
a path as he could find and make for his home with all possi-

History of Marshfield. 233
ble speed, as naked as when he came into the world; as soon
as his home was reached, he stealthily crept unobserved up
stairs and crawled into bed. His mother at last discovered
his whereabouts, and upon inquiry why he was in bed, he
told her he was sick, and thereupon she made him some herb
tea. "And thus," said he, "I escaped a severe whipping."
When he became old he said he had been through a great
many scrapes, but he never felt so bad as when he lost that
suit of clothes.
[He passed through a great many hairbreadth escapes in
his many voyages between here and Russia, but I will only
mention some of the stirring historic scenes of the sea dur
ing the Revolution, which are unrecorded in history. He
was my wife's, Miriam's, grandfather. A sketch of the
events was written in manuscript by a friend as he related
them a year before he died, at the age of 83.]
"We arrived at Martinique, W. I., in fourteen days,
[In the early days of the Revolution.] where the com
mittee of North Carolina sent for powder and balls.
While we lay here we were obliged to observe the law, which
required a French captain on board. An English frigate
lay near, who sent her barge and lieutenant on board to raake
prize of our sloop. The lieutenant ordered the anchors up,
to tow her alongside the frigate. Our French captain drove
hira forward with a handspike, and would have knocked out
his brains had he not returned."
"When nearing North Carolina twelve American pilot
boats came out and took our powder and balls, and informed
us that the King's tender lay waiting to take us." Little's
vessel had to surrender, but through some skilful manage
ment Little escaped, but the captain and the rest of the crew
were taken prisoners, and carried to Norfolk.
"While crossing the woods one morning here," Captain
Little says, "I was chased by a wild boar and was obHged
(he being close to ray heels) to climb a tree. Here I re-
Marshfield

234 History of Marshfield.
raained half an hour, he biting the trunk the while, and then
disappeared." He next shipped on board a brig bound for Cadiz, Spain,
Tobias Oakraan, raaster. Before the vessel reached port it
was wrecked. He says : "I was washed frora the quarter
deck over her bows forward, where I caught hold of the
topraast staysail downhaul, and hauled myself on to the
wreck. After getting on to the wreck, I found that one
of my legs was broken." After striking against the rocks
they all lashed themselves to the after part of the vessel.
Nothing remained but the stern posts and quarterdeck, to
which they were lashed. They remained in this perilous
situation fifteen hours, when the gale abated.
Captain Little's leg being broken, he was carried by two
men to a castle on the farther end of the reef, near Lisbon.
and in a few days was removed to a hospital in that city,
where he was obliged to remain for six months. His broken
leg was so badly swollen on the wreck that the shoe belong
ing to the foot of that leg did not wash away, and lucky it
was for the captain that it did not. Before he left Marsh
field he had a pair of shoes made and had a number of gold
sovereigns placed between the lifts of the heel, concealed
and well secured. This shoe he had placed under his pillow
in the hospital, and when he recovered, these sovereigns, in
traveling through Spain over three hundred railes to a port,
in search of a vessel for the United States, saved hira from
starvation, in the purchase of food, etc. He found a chance
to go to America by entering on the brig Rambler, Captain
Stevens. He applied to John Jay, minister to Spain, for
provisions for the ship, and after some delay and doubt he
obtained them and sailed from Cadiz to America.
"After thirty days out," he says, "we saw an English pri
vateer schooner coming towards us, by the help of her
sweeps. She was on the starboard side. We shifted our
guns over to that side to make out the tier. Captain Stev-

History of Marshfield. 235
ens ordered us to our quarters. When the privateer came
up to us, we gave her a broadside. She fired upon us,
then dropped astern, and came up on the larboard side. As
soon as the guns would bear upon her we gave her another
broadside. They returned the same. The privateer, giv
ing up the contest, dropped astern and made off, we giving
her three cheers."
He returned to his home at Littletown, Marshfield, and
after remaining there a short while, in 1780 he entered on
board the United States ship Protector, of 26 guns (crew,
230), as midshipman and prize master. She was com
manded by John F. Williams, of Boston. He says : "]My
brother, George Little of Marshfield (occupying the estate
now owned by Enos Stoddard, near Little's bridge, where
his son, Edward Little, representative and town clerk many
years, lived) was first lieutenant. They were on a six
raonths' cruise. After a short tirae out in the direction of
Newfoundland, they raet an English vessel called the Ad
miral Duff, of 1 100 tons burden, with 36 twelve-pounders on
the gun deck, and fumished with 250 men, Richard Strange,
master. "After passing a little by to the leeward, she hove to under
fighting sail. She prepared for action. Very soon I heard
the sailing master call for his trumpet and cried, 'Let fall the
foresail, sheet home the maintop gallantsail.' W^e steered
down across her stern and hauled up under her lee quarter.
At the same time we were breeching our guns aft to bring
her to bear. The captain ordered a broadside given, and
colors changed, the thirteen stripes took the place of the
English ensign on our ship, they gave us three cheers and
fired a broadside. They partly overshot us, their ship being
so much higher than ours, cutting away some of our rigging.
The action commenced within pistol shot and now began a
regular battie, broadside to broadside. After we had en
gaged one half hour, there came a cannon ball through one

236 History of Marshfield.
side and killed Mr. Scolley, one of our raidshipraen. He
commanded the fourth 12-pounder from the stern, myself
commanded the third. The ball took him in the head, his
brains flew upon my gun and into my face. The raan at
my gun who rammed down the charge was a stout Irishman,
Immediately upon the death of Mr. Scolley, he stripped his
shirt and exclaimed : 'An' faith, if they kill me, they shall
tuck no rags into me.'
"The action continued about an hour, when all the topmen
on board the enemy's ship were killed by our marines. Our
marines killing the man at the wheel caused the ship to come
down upon us; her cathead stove in our quarter gallery. We
lashed their jibboom to our main shrouds. Our marines
from the quarterdeck firing into their portholes, kept them
from charging. We were ordered from our quarters on
board, but before we were able, the lashing broke. We
were ordered back to quarters to charge the ship, shooting
alongside of us, the yards nearly locked. We gave her a
broadside, which cut away her mizzenmast and made great
havoc among them. We perceived her sinking, at the
same time saw her maintop gallantsail on fire, which ran
down the rigging and caught a hogshead of cartridges under
the quarterdeck and blew it off. At this time there came
into the port where I commanded a charge of grapeshot. I
was wounded; one between my neck bone and windpipe, one
through my jaw, lodging in the roof of my mouth and tak
ing off a piece of my tongue, the other through the upper
lip, taking a part of the lip and all of my upperteeth." [An
oil portrait of him in the old homestead, still existing, shows
this wound in the lip.]
"I was immediately taken to the cockpit, to the surgeon.
My gun was fired only once afterward ; I had fired nineteen
times. I lay unattended, being considered mortally
wounded. I was perfectly sensible and heard the surgeon's
remark, 'Let Littie lay; attend to the others first; he will die.'

History of Marshfield. 237
Perceiving me raotion, the surgeon came to rae and washed
off the blood. I bled profusely, the surgeon thought two
gallons. I was placed in ray berth. By this time the ene
my's ship had sunk. My brother, the first lieutenant, said
to me that such was the pride of the enemy, when on the
brink of a watery grave, they fought like demons, preferring
death with the rest of their comrades, rather than captivity,
and that it was with much difficulty that many of them were
forced into our boats, several even made the attempt to jump
overboard." "We sailed for the coast of Nova Scotia. After cruising
a week we discovered a large ship steering for us. We saw
she was a large English frigate. The frigate made for us
fast. When she carae up near to us, we fired four stem
chasers, and kept firing, the ship in chase. When she got
near our stern, she luffed and gave us a broadside. It did
no other damage save one shot lodging in the mainmast, and
cutting away some rigging. By this time we gained ahead
of her. We made a running fire till dark, the enemy
choosing not to come alongside. At eight in the evening
she left and hauled her wind to the southward, we to the
north. The following morning she was seen in the dis
tance, sailing on her course."
"After arriving at port at five in the afternoon, we dis
covered a large, black snake coming down from out the
bushes abreast the ship. He took to the water and swam by
us. W^e judged him to be forty feet long and his middle
the size of a raan's body. He carried his head fourteen
feet above water. We raanned a barge and went in chase
of him. When fired at, he would dive like a sea fowl.
They chased him a mile and a half, firing continually. The
snake landed at Lowd's Island and disappeared in the
woods." Captain Little returned to his home in Marshfield and
soon after re-engaged on the same ship, passing through

238 History of Marshfield.
several raore victorious naval battles. He became captain
of several large vessels and sailed the seas years after. His
grandchildren, Luther and Miss Joanna Little, occupy the
same dwelling that he lived in, where his father and great
grandfather lived before him. It was built two or three
generations before the Revolution. The captain's Old Col
ony ancestors owned originally a tract of land extending
from Little's bridge to White's Ferry.
Post Offices.
There are seven post offices in Marshfield as follows:
Marshfield Hills, Ella Damon, postmistress. Marshfield,
Augustus Bosworth, postmaster. Sea View, Chester
Ewell, postmaster. North Marshfield, Carlton Tilden,
postmaster. Standish, A. R. Magoun, postmaster. Brant
Rock, Walter Peterson, postmaster. Green Harbor, Chas.
McLaughlin, postmaster.

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