History of Scituate, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1831

Preface

. The value of Town histories if faithfully compiled, is read ily acknowledged, since it is from such sources, that more general histories may acquire accuracy. The reasons for at tempting a more perfect and copious history of Scituate, than has hitherto appeared, may be found in the facts, that it was one of the earliest settlements in New England, that it took the lead in population, and bore an important part in the civil and military affairs of Plymouth Colony, that it has produced eminent characters, and furnished colonists for peopling more recent settlements, in many of the States of the Union. The first settlers came in by the way of Plymouth, and some of them were of the first ship's company. There was a large access to the settlement in 1633, which company came by the way of Boston, with Mr. Lothrop, their pastor.

Pre vious to 1 640, most of the population was from the County of Kent in England, but about the latter date, many came in from Hingham, Dorchester, Watertown, Weymouth and Nan tasket, at which places they had resided a few years : many of these were from London, and more, perhaps, from Dorset shire. Though emigrations have been constantly making from this early settlement, yet we have noticed some remarkable periods of those emigrations: for example. In 1640, to Barnstable, when nearly half the population departed. In 1650, to York and its vicinity. In 1658, to Barbadoes. In 1670, to Reho both and Swansey. In 1690, to Norwich, Con. In 1710.

PREFACE.

. to Newport and Scituate, Rhode Island. In 1760, to Ches terfield, Ver. and soon after to Turner, Harpswell and Tops ham, Maine. We make no apology for publishing even trifling incidents or barren genealogies, of those families which have opened a new world to civilization and religion. It will be seen in the following pages, that we have diligent ly consulted the records of the Town and of the churches, as well as the records of both Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies, and other works to which we have made occasional reference. We acknowledge the kindly facilities in consulting documents, he. which we have received from Edward D. Bangs, Esq. Secretary, Rosseter Cotton, Esq. of Plymouth, Hon. John Davis, Hon. James Savage, Mr. Isaac P. Davis, of Boston, and other gentlemen, whose favours are noticed in the course of the work.

We have attempted to correct some mistakes and inaccuracies in a former account of Scituate, published in the Historical Society's papers, A. D. 1816 : for which mistakes we may have been, in part, responsible, having furnished to Samuel Davis, Esq. many of the notes from which that account was compiled : but we have been careful to quote authority, whenever we have adverted to the mistakes of any previous writer or compiler. We boast not of the accuracy of this work : we only venture to say, that we have endeavoured faithfully to use the materials that have fallen in our way, and that we shall esteem it a savour, for true history's sake, to have our mistakes, in turn, pointed out and corrected by future historians. QOt 3 9 -2 G> 13 IT OF SCITUATE. Scituate,* a Post Town in the County of Plymouth.

It has been ascertained by repeated observations at the Harbour, that it lies in North Lat. 42° 12', and in West Long, from Greenwich, 70° 35'. The harbour is nearly 21 miles from Plymouth, and 28 miles from Boston, by the most direct roads. Boundaries. The boundaries were not settled very early. It seemed to have been the intention of the Colony Court to grant lands from time to time to new planters as they requested it, until it should become a settlement of sufficient magnitude, to require corporate powers within itself. March 7, 1642, we find this Court Order. " The bounds of Scituate Township, on the westerly side of said Town, shall be up the Indian Head River, to the Pond which is the head of said River, and from thence to Accord Pond, and from thence to the Sea, by the line that is the bound between Mass, h Plym."

This settled the boundaries on the East, South and West, the Indian Head River, with its continuation called North River, being understood to * This name is derived from Satuit brook which falls into the harbour : it means " cold brook." The name ofthe Town was written Satuit and Seteat at first, and not until 1640 did the orthography become settled. The Town of Scituate, in R. I. probably derived its name from tbis town. A part of that township, called the " Westcotmoid purchase " was owned by the family of Wanton (from Scituate) and others. boundaries. comprehend the whole easterly line — with one exception, how ever, which we will here notice. In 1636 we find the following entry in the Col. Ree. " Mr Hatherly in behalf of the Church at Scituate, complained that the place was too straite for them, the landes adjacent being stoney, and not convenient to plant upon."

The Court passed the following order " that they have liberty to seeke out a convenient place for their residing within the Colonie, or that some other lands be layed to them for more comfortable subsistence." This matter was in agitation nearly four years, for we find the settlers of Scituate were not satisfied until 1640, when a grant was made to them "of two miles in length and one mile in breadth on the easterly side of the N. River." We mention this here as an exception to the boundaries above ; we shall notice the territory called " The Two Miles " hereafter. The boundaries continued as above until A. D. 1727, when that part of the town on the southerly side of the third Herring brook, was incorporated by the name of Hanover.* In this form it continued until 1788, when the " Two Miles " was ceded to Marshfield.

The Town is now bounded N. W. by Hingham and Cohasset, N. E. by Massachu setts Bay, S. E. by N. River which separates it from Marshfield and Pembroke, and S. W. by Hanover and Abington. The N. W. line of Scituate, being also the Colony line, was long a subject of tedious controversy. It may be proper here to subjoin a brief history of the transactions relative to that line. As early as 1636, there was found to be a want of a definitive settlement of the line. Hingham which dien included Cohasset, claimed a part of the marshes on the East side of " Conihassett Gulph." The plea of Scituate was that the gulph was a good natural boundary, and therefore the proper boundary between the two patents. Hingham on the other hand pleaded, that the * The first Minister of Hanover was Mr Benjamin Bass of Braintree, H.C. 1715 — ordained Dec. 1728.

He has descendants in Hanover. The second Minister was Mr Samuel Baldwin, H. C. 1752 — ord. 1757 — mar. Hannah daughter of Chief Justice John Cushing, 1758. The wife of Mr Robert Sal mon of Hanover is his daughter. He was descended from Henry Baldwin who came from Devonshire, Eng. and settled at Woburn, 1650. The son of Henry, was Henry, and the son of the latter was David, the father of Rev Samuel, of Hanover. (Farmer.) The third Minister was Mr John Mellen H. C. 1740, Minister of Sterling, 1744 — installed at Hanover, 1782 His sons were Rev. John, II. C. 1770, and minister of Barnstable — Henry Esq of Dover, N. H., H. C. 1784, counsellor at law, and Hon. Premiss Mellen H. C. 1784, now Chief Justice of Maine- Rev. Samuel Mellen died at Reading, 1807, aged 85. He was succeeded by Rev. Calvin Chadwick Dart.

Col. 1786. To whom succeeded Rev. Seth Chapin, 1816 — B. U. 1808' Rev. Ethan Smith is the present pastor. BOUNDARIES. marshes were a natural accommodation to the highlands on both sides. Winthrop observes, (Vol. 1.284), "We only desired so much of the marshes there as might accommodate Hingham," and adds, " We caused Charles River (patent) to be surveyed and found it to come so far southward as would fetch in Scituate and more — but this was referred to a meeting betweene us." In May, 1637, the Commissioners, Mr Timothy Hatherly and Mr Nathaniel Tilden, on the part of Plymouth, and Mr William Aspinwall and Mr Joseph Andrews on tlie part of Massachusetts were appointed to settle the line. Mass. Ree. I. 192: but we have not discovered that they came to any agreement. Again in 1640, Commissioners were appointed for the same purpose — viz. William Bradford, Gov. and Edward Winslow, gent, on the part of Plymouth, and John Endicott, Gov. and Israel Stoughton, gent, on the part of Mass.

They met and settled the line as follows — "fromthe mouth of tlie brooke that run eth into Conihasset marshes, in a straight line to the middle of Accord Pond." P. C. Ree. I. Winthrop II. p. 18. adds that " 60 acres of marsh on Scituate side " were adjudged to belong to Hingham. But this decision could not stand long, not giving satisfaction to the Plymouth government, because it was found, on review, that the marsh in question, at least a part of it, had already been pledged and appropriated by the government to Scituate men. Again in 1656, another Commission was ap pointed, viz. " William Torrey and Capt. Brackett on the part of Mass, and Josiah Winslow and another on the part of Plym. who decided that " the Gulph shall stand as the boundary." PI. Col. Ree. Again, June 1659, "Maj. Josiah Winslow, Lieut. Southworth, and Robert Stetson are appointed by the Court to join with such as the Bay Govt. may appoint, to run the line betwixt the Bay Govt. and us."

PI. Col. Ree. We are not sure that Mass, appointed Commissioners that year. There seems to have been some delay — and when in 1663, Maj. Ebenezer Lusher, Capt. Roger Clap and Lieut. Joseph Fisher were appointed for this purpose by Mass. Court, they speak of past " neglect grievous to our neighbours and hurtful to ourselves." In May 1664, a return ofthe above Commission ers was made, finally establishing the line as in 1656. We will here remark, that although the colony line was amicably adjust ed, yet an uneasiness long continued between the towns of Scituate and Hingham. There were conflicting claims amongst individuals. The Mass. Government had made grants of certain lands which appeared to lie within the Plymouth Patent ; and the Plymouth Court had done in like manner ; and the CONIHASSETT GRANT. grantees were not willing to recede on either hand.

A. D. 1685, the town of Scituate voted " to block up the highway leading from Scituate Common lands to Hingham, to prevent the great trespasses by those of Hingham." They had several times recovered damages of individuals : the last which we notice on record was in 1692, when the Town recovered damages against Capt. John Jacob, Joseph Jacob, Joshua Lincoln, sen. Nathaniel Beal, jun. and Joseph Dunbar of Hingham and Joseph Green of Weymouth. Scit. Ree. Vol. 6.* As late as 1721 the Selectmen of Scituate were chosen agents to settle the line between their town and Hingham. We believe it was then adjusted so far as it has been or probably will be : for if the line were now run out according to the lines of the proprietors of the lands, it would vary somewhat from " a straight line from bound rock to Accord pond."

A. D. 1682, Agents were appointed to settle the line between Scituate and Marshfield. Thomas Turner and Samuel Clap on the part of Scituate, Nathaniel Thomas and Samuel Sprague on the part of Marshfield. Their report was as follows. " The main channel as it now runneth down the N. River, from the upper part of said Marshfield to the sea. And whereas, at a place in the said river called the Green islands, the channel doth divide and runneth on both sides, it is agreed that the said Green islands shall be equally divided into parts," he. Scit. Ree. V. 6. As late as Oct. 1782, a Resolve of General Court established this line thus, " from the River's mouth following the channel to Thomas Little's bank — thence with the channel to the mouth of Bass hole channel — through the guzzle between horse-shoe flat and great flat to a stake near Pincin's bank."

Conihassett Grant. f Within the territory as above bounded, was included a large tract of land, which the Colony Court had granted to four gentle men, usually called " merchant adventurers of London." The * The name of Edward Gillman (the first ancestor of that distinguished family) is perpetuated in Scitliate, and " Gillman Plain " received its name from liis trespass. Seit. Ree. V. 4. (old leaf.) " Recovered of Edward Gyllman for damage done to the Town Swamps, y6£ 10s. Cd. Ree'd of Ed. Gyllman for damages, &c. Eleven ffirkins of sopc at 18s. - - £9 . 18 . 0 In Cassel sope and shoes - - - - 3.0.0 In Tobacco -- . 1 . G t Conihassett means a fishing promontory. Flint's Century Sermon. conihassett grant. 5 following Court Order, A. D. 1633, relates to [this subject. " That the whole tract of land between the brook at Scituate, on the N. W. side, and Conahassett, be left undisposed of, till we know the resolution of Mr James Shirley, Mr John Beauchamp, Mr Richard Andrews and Mr Timothy Hatherly."

Again in 1635, "The Gov. (Mr Prence,) Mr Collier, Mr Alden, Mr Brown and Mr Howland were directed to view that portion of ground on the north side of the North River (note — it is meant Satuit brook) and if they find it more beneficial for farms to Scituate than to these parts, then to allot it to them ; if not, to reserve it." It was reserved. But in Oct. 1637, the above tract was granted to Messrs Hatherly, Andrews, Beauchamp and Shirley, "extending three miles up into the woods from the high water mark in the brook," he. This grant gave considerable uneasiness to the planters at Scituate. There were already several settlers upon the land. Adjustments were to be made with these. The line was not definite, and many controversies arose, of which we find traces in the Colony Records for many years.

A review was ordered in 1652, but the Court decided " having seen and heard the Review, we cannot but allow and ratify the line done by our order." Still the controversy went on with as much spirit as before. It is difficult for us at this time to recount all the entanglements of this matter, and we will only remark, that, in addition to the trouble which the proprietors of the Conihasset grant had experienced in settling with the " squatters " upon their land, they had to encounter an opposition from the planters of Scituate, to their being admitted to common shares in the town lands. With reference to these controversies, the following Court order was passed in 1654. " In regard of sundry contentions and entanglements betwixt Mr Hatherly and sundry inhabitants of Scituate, the Court doth grant unto Mr Hatherly, to satisfy the partners of Conihassett, a certain competency of land, out of the bounds of any particular township, on the westerly side of the town of Scituate aforesaid."

Again, with reference to the above order, in 1656, it was ordered, "that the Town take some speedy course to run out their head or westerly line between the pond at Indian Head River and Accord Pond, otherwise, if they neglect it, and the Court grant land that may be found to prejudice them, they may blame themselves." In July, 1656, the Court granted to Mr Hatherly " a tract of three miles square, extending from Accord Pond three miles southerly." But the boundaries of the Conihassett grant were not yet settled. A review was had in 1671 by a committee of eight persons of conihassett grant. Scituate, four on each part, in conjunction with two magistrates. And finally, in 1682 agents were appointed by the Town, viz. John Cushing and Samuel Clap, to be joined by agents of the Court's appointing, and they agreed, "that the line should extend three miles from high water mark in Satuit Brook N. W. and by W. then three miles N. and by W. to Bound brook."

Scit. Ree. V. 6. We will now remark, that the Conihassett Grant was purchased by Mr Hatherly of the other Merchant Adventurers before 1646 : and that in this year, he divided it into 30 shares (re serving one fourth part ofthe whole) and sold it for £180 to a certain company, since called the " Conihassett partners." Many of this company were such as had already located them selves upon these lands, and thus an amicable adjustment was made with those individuals. The partners were Mr Charles Chauncy, Thomas Cham bers, John Williams, sen. James Cudworth, Joseph Tilden, Henry Merritt, Thomas Rawlins, Thomas Tarte, John Hoar, Richard Sealis, Thomas Ensign, Thomas Chittenden, John Stockbridge, John Allin, Thomas Hiland, John Whetcomb, John Woodfield, Edward Jenkins, John Hallett, Ann Vinall, William Holmes, John Whiston, Gowin White, John Daman, Rhodolphus Eellms and Richard Man.

These partners ap pointed their clerks, surveyors, committees and agents, and conducted their affairs with all the efficiency of a corporate town. They laid out and maintained their own roads, until 1715; they made grants to their minister, he. Their first clerk was Richard Garrett, he being a skilful penman, though not a partner ; the second, James Torrey ; their third, Steven Vinall, and the fourth and last, Samuel Jenkins. Their records were kept of all transactions, conveyances, he. in beautiful order, and fill a large volume. Their last meeting on record was 1767. We have stated above, that in 1656, a tract of three miles square was granted to Mr Hatherly as indemnity for his " en tanglements" with the people of Scituate " and to satisfy the Conihassett partners" — and we will now add, that this tract was divided into 40 parts, and 27 of them assigned to the Conihassett partners.

The boundary of this tract next to Scituate is called the " share line." Mr Hatherly in 1663 having repurchased 10 shares, sold 23 shares to John Otis of Scituate, Matthew Cushing, John Thaxter, John Jacob, and Edward Wilder of Hingham, for £69. This tract of land now makes a part of Abington and Hanover. "two miles." 7 The "Two Miles." We have already mentioned that Mr Hatherly had made complaint to the Court in 1636 " that the place was too straite for them." We now remark that a more pressing application was made in 1637, when Mr Hatherly and Mr Lothrop, accompanied by a committee of 15 ofthe principal planters, attended the Court and complained that " they had such small portion of landes allotted to them, that they could not subsist upon them." They obtained the following grant, viz : " all the lands between the north and south rivers, provided they make a township there, inhabit upon them, compose their differences with Mr William Vassall and others before the next court, and establish and sup port a ferry at the North River (which Mr Vassall is willing to do) that so the removal from Scituate may be without offence."

These conditions, however, were not complied with, and the removal did not take place. The complaint of a want of room, at so early a period, seems singular to us, when now, about one half the original territory of Scituate supports a population of be tween three and four thousands. But we are to consider, that at that time, a peculiar value was placed upon the marshes, where forage was readily prepared for their cattle, and upon the lands near the river, the river being their highway. The complaints were appeased in 1 640 by a grant of the " two miles" on the east side of the river. The bounds of this terri tory have been several times surveyed, as we see on record, (Scit. Ree. Vol. 2) but as no considerable controversies arose respecting them, we forbear to notice them further. The ter ritory extended two miles on the river and one mile back.

Its bounds might now be easily ascertained, Pembroke line being the southerly boundary and the " Ford farm" the northerly. A committee, appointed by the Court (Mr Hatherly, Edward Foster and Humphrey Turner) laid out the lands. Among the early settlers there were Robert Sprout, Thomas Rose, Richard Sylvester, and some of the Hatch family. It was naturally pro vided with a good mill stream, and grist mills, saw mills and clothing mills were pretty early erected. The people of the "two mile" generally belonged to the south parish and attend ed worship there. A. D. 1778, the people of this territory petitioned the General Court, to be annexed to Marshfield. The Town of Scituate being served with an order of notice, met and voted their con sent " on condition that they resign their claim to common SETTLEMENT AND PROGRESS. lands, and pay their proportion of all taxes hitherto assessed."

This condition was not acceptable, because there were marsh lands in common, from which the Town at that time derived a considerable revenue, (letting them out yearly at vendue) though that income is now very small, owing to the reduced value of salt meadows, since the high lands are better cultivated. The petition did not then succeed. Again in 1786, the same was repeated on both parts, and the result was the same. Finally, in 1788, the annexation to Marshfield was accomplish ed, on the conditions proposed by the Town of Scituate. Settlement and Progress. We are without data as to the first persons who visited Scituate, or the first who took up their residence here. It is certain, however, that the Pilgrims of Plymouth explored the shores very early after their landing, and took notice of the eligible places for settlement.

It is certain that William Gillson, Anthony Amiable, Thomas Bird, Nathaniel Tilden, Edward Foster, Henry Rowley, and some others were here before 1628. The above named gentlemen and others, were called " men of Kent," having come from that County in England. The earliest notice of a settlement at Scituate, which has record to verify it, bears date 1628. Henry Merritt sells to Nathaniel Tilden " all that land which I had of Goodman Byrd, lying within the fence at the North end of the third cliffe, unto the land of Nathaniel Tilden." Col. Ree. It is fair to infer from this, that settlements were made very early. On the 12th of April 1633, the "men of Kent" above named, with others who had joined them probably, proceeded to lay out lands, by order of Court. The first lots laid out were on the second cliff": which was divided between William Gillson, Anthony Annable, Edward Foster and Henry Rowley.

The third cliff" had already been appro priated, though we find no record of die laying out. Again, August 2d, 1633, the settlers proceeded to lay out a regular village, allowing to no one more than four acres for a house lot, in that place, proposing to build a compact street " for purpose of mutual defence." This street they called " Kent Street :" it led from the bridge as it now lies at the Harbour, easterly to the third cliff. The first lot was at the corner formed by "Kent Street" and the road which runs parallel with Satuit or Stony brook : bounded by the ways North and East, by William Gillson's lot South or South-east, and by the settlement and progress. 9 common land West. The front line on Kent Street was eight rods in length, the side line " extending 80 rods up into the woodes."

This lot was assigned to Edward Foster. The second lot on Kent street, of the same dimensions, was assigned to William Gillson ; the third to Henry Rowley ; the fourth to Humphrey Turner ; the fifth to Henry Cobb ; the sixth to An thony Annable. These several gentlemen, we believe, erected houses on these loss ; in fact some of them had already done it. Humphrey Turner, however, did not reside in this street, but on the East of the Colman's hills, and his son Thomas had a house on Kent street some years subsequent. Again, February 20, 1634, another assignment of house lots was made. Mr Lo throp had arrived with thirty of his Church (by which we are to understand not 30 heads of families, but probably 30 souls.) These were chiefly from London. Many others joined them the same winter, some of whom were men of Kent.

We pro ceed to mention the location of their house lots, as determined in February and April of the same year : or rather February 1634 and April 1635 ; the year then beginning in March. The lots before described on Kent Street reached to "Meeting house Lane." We now begin on the South side of that lane. The first was allotted to Geo. Lewis ; the 2d to John Hewes, (the Welchman) ; the 3d to Walter Woodworth ; the 4th to Richard Foxwell; the 5th to Isaac Chittenden. These all abutted on Kent street, in like manner as those before described. We now come to " Greenfield," so called, we understand, because it had been an Indian planting ground, and was not covered with wood ; as the cliff's and the glades were not covered with wood. The first lot on the greensield (i. e. the northerly lot) was assigned to Samuel Fuller ; the 2d to Barnard Lombard, and the 3d to Good man Hoyt ; these were of the same dimensions as the above, and abutting on Kent street.

We now come to " Greenfield lane " running at right angles with the street and parallel with Meet ing-house lane. The first lot was assigned to William Hatch ; the 2d to Samuel Hinckley ; the 3d to Nathaniel Tilden. These abutted on Kent street, and consisted of 5 acres each. We then come to a lane called at that time the " drift way." The first lot was appropriated to Isaac Stedman ; the 2d to George Ken drick ; the 3d to Daniel Standlake ; the 4th to John Lewis, and the 5th to George Lewis, which seems to be a second lot as signed to him, or perhaps a choice. The above are all the house lots on Kent street, of which we find any record. This brings us to the East side of the " high hills " afterward called Colman's hills. Here Humphrey Turner had a house and farm DIVISION OF LANDS. (though as yet a Plymouth man) before 1633, and family tra dition says in 1626 : we have no means of determining the num ber of acres.

Next to Humphrey Turner's farm was that of Mr John Lothrop, the Minister, consisting of 20 acres, and assigned him, February 20, 1634. Next in order and south westerly, consisting of eight acres, was that of William Hatch ; but we believe his house was on the lot assigned him at Green field lane. Next in order was a lot of twelve acres, assigned to Isaac Robinson. Here he built his house. And finally, John Hanmer's house lot, which brings us round the hills to the Herring brook. These lots extended from the hills to the " New Harbour Marshes." We can form from the above statements a pretty distinct image of the village, as it appeared in 1633 and 34. Their houses were generally log houses, and covered with thatch cut from the sedges of the salt marshes. We now remark that, to complete this map of the settlement, we are to conceive of Isaac Stedman's house (notwithstanding he had a house lot on Kent street) standing twenty rods South-easterly of the Stockbridge mill dam, Mr William Vassall's " belle house " on the neck (Cushing place), Mr Thomas King's house near it on the South-west, and Resolved White's near it on the East.

Then turning to the harbour, we are to conceive of a few " squatters " and principally fishermen. We find in Winthrop's History, "February 22, 1633, Ship William, Mr Travere, master, arrived at Plymouth with passengers and goods for the Bay. This ship came to set up a fishing stage at Scituate, and to trade." Then turning to the cliffs, we are to imagine them covered with corn, and William Gillson's windmill waving its arms upon the third cliff"; and our image of the setdement is pretty complete, as it existed in the autumn of 1636.* In tracing the progress of the settlement we shall now pur sue the Division of Lands. Until Oct. 1636, all lands had been laid out by a Committee of the Court's appointing. The Town was then incorporated, and the purchasers and freemen were commissioned to dispose of the lands.

This was done (in open meetings) until 1647. * The venerable Timothy Hatherly, although in Scituate in 1634, being unmarried, had no house here until 1637, when he erected one on " farm neck" within the Conihassett grant. DIVISION OF LANDS. A. D. 1647, Dec. 13th, those who were purchasers and free men in 1636, voted to resign their power to the whole inhabitants of the Town. From this time it was found difficult to lay out lands on any plan or principle which would give general satisfaction. The principles generally followed were to grant lands to the freemen, and to such as had built or owned a house previously to 1647. This state of things continued many years, until on the 7th March, 1670, a petition was addressed to the Court " craving their counsell and advice and helpe and assistance herein."