is said, heir apparent to a great estate. After having been for some time in the army in the Netherlands, he settled with Mr. Robinson's congregation at Leyden. Though not a member of the church, he embarked with the first company that came to New England, in 1620, and was chosen their military commander. He was, it is said, of small stature, but of a fiery temper, and perhaps no man possessed a more daring or intrepid spirit. The hill so conspicuous in the south-east part of Duxbury, called Captain's Hill, or mount, was part of the farm owned by Standish. He died in Duxbury, in 1656. The following is from the 3d vol. of Alden's Collection. "In a very short time after the decease of Mrs. Standish, the captain was led to think, that, if he could obtain Miss Priscilla Mullins, a daughter of Mr. William Mullins, the breach in his family would be happily repaired. He, therefore, according to the custom of those times, sent to ask Mr. Mullins' permission to visit his daughter. John Alden, the messenger, went and faithfully communicated the wishes of the captain. The old gentleman did not object, as he might have done, on account of the recency of Captain Standish's bereavement. He said it was perfectly agreeable to him, but the young lady must also be consulted. The damsel was then called into the room, and John Alden, who is said to have been a man of most excellent form with a fair and ruddy complexion, arose, and, in a very courteous and prepossessing manner, delivered his errand. Miss Mullins listened with respectful attention, and at last, after a considerable pause, fixing her eyes upon him, with an open and pleasant countenance, said, Prithee, John, why do you not speak for yourself? He blushed, and bowed, and took his leave, but with a look which indicated more than his diffidence would permit him otherwise to express. However, he soon renewed his visit, and it was not long before their nuptials were celebrated in ample form. From them are descended all of the name, Alden, in the United States. What report he made to his constituent, after the first interview, tradition does not unfold; but it is said, how true the writer knows not, that the captain never forgave him to the day of his death." EAST BRIDGEWATER. THIS was a part of the town of Bridgewater till 1823. There were not many settlements in this part of ancient Bridgewater till 1685, when it is found on record that there was a petition from Samuel Allen, William Brett, Isaac Harris, John Haward, jun., Jonathan Hill, Thomas Whitman, and Samuel Allen, jun., praying for a road, and stating "that God, by his providence, had placed their habitations on the east side of the town, some two, and some three miles from the meeting-house, the mill, and the chief part of the town, and that they had a horse-bridge over Matfield river," since called "John's river," probably from John Haward, jr., who lived on its banks. In 1723, "the east end of the North parish, then so called, ever since called the West parish, together with nine persons of the South parish, namely, Barnabas Seabury, Thomas Latham, Nicholas Wade, Nathaniel Harden, Charles Latham, Thomas Hooper, William Conant, Isaac Lazell and Joseph Washburn, with their families and estates, were constituted a precinct, called the East parish." In 1724, Rev. John Angier was ordained their first minister. He died in 1787, in the 63d year of his ministry. He was succeeded by his son, Samuel Angier, who was ordained colleague with him in 1763. Mr. Angier was succeeded by Rev. James Flint, who was ordained in 1806. The above shows the appearance of the central part of East Bridgewater, as it is seen from the road westward of the village, which consists of about 25 dwelling-houses, a Congregational church, a bank, the "East Bridgewater Bank," and a number of mechanic shops. About one mile south from this place there is another village, containing about the same number of houses. This town has been somewhat distinguished as a manufacturing place. Cannon were cast here during the war of the revolution, which were of essential service to the American army. Small arms have also been manufactured in considerable quantities. There is good water power on a branch of the Taunton river which passes through this town. In 1837, there was 1 cotton mill, 856 spindles; 180,636 yards of cotton cloth were manufactured; value, $13,543 70. There were 15,100 pairs of boots and 263,000 pairs of shoes manufactured, the value of which was $277,800; males employed, 270; females, 144. One nail factory; 350 tons of nails were manufactured, valued at $49,500; hands employed, 40; a manufactory of tacks; hands employed, 57; gross value, $33,000; value of leather curried, $20,800. There are two Congregational churches. Population, 1,927. Distance, 17 miles from Plymouth, 12 from Weymouth Landing, 12 from Taunton, and 25 southerly from Boston. HALIFAX. ABOUT 1733, some of the inhabitants of the north of Plympton, the north-east of Middleborough, and the south of Pembroke, built a meeting-house, and became incorporated as a town in 1734, by the name of Halifax. About this period, many towns in British America adopted the name of Halifax, probably in compliment to the Earl of Halifax, or it may be in some instances from a town of that name in England. The people of Halifax are, with a few exceptions, direct descendants of the first Plymouth settlers. Some of the most common names in the town were, Thomson, Waterman, Bosworth, Briggs, and Sturtevant. The first minister was Rev. John Cotton, who was ordained in 1735. His voice became impaired, and he resigned in 1756. He died in civil office, in Plymouth, his native town, in 1789. He was the author of a "History of Plymouth Church." Mr. Cotton was succeeded by Rev. William Patten, who was ordained in 1757. Rev. Ephraim Briggs was the next pastor; he was ordained in 1769, and died in 1801, and was succeeded by Rev. Abel Richmond the same year. The ponds in this town cover 1,700 acres. Moonponset Pond, in the north part, is two miles long, and more than half a mile wide. The Winnaturet stream, after passing Plympton, crosses the southwestern section of this town, two or more miles, to its junction with the Bridgewater or Teticut Great river. It is a crooked, sluggish stream, liable to freshets, and varies from 14 to 30 feet in width. "Small as the Winnatuxet is, we are told of three vessels having been built on it, within the limits of this town, which passed to the sea at Newport; one as early as 1754, built by a Mr. Drew." Sawing boards and plank, procuring masts, ranging timber and the making of shingles, were the employments of the first settlers; this business is still followed to some extent by their descendants. In 1837, there was 1 cotton mill; 1 woollen mill, 3 sets of machinery; 103,250 yards of cloth were manufactured, valued at $82,600; males employed, 20; females, 21. There were 30,600 pairs of shoes manufactured, valued at $27,540; males employed, 40. There are 3 churches, 1 Orthodox, 1 Universalist, and 1 Baptist. Population, 781. Distance, 12 miles westerly of Plymouth, 17 southerly of Weymouth Landing, and 28 miles southerly of Boston. 1 HANOVER. HANOVER was incorporated in 1727. The first minister of the place was Rev. Benjamin Bass; he was ordained in 1728, and continued in the ministry nearly twenty-eight years. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Baldwin, who continued about 23 years, and was dismissed in 1780. Rev. John Mellen was the next minister; he was installed in 1784, and continued twenty-one years minister of Hanover. His successor was Rev. Calvin Chaddock, who continued in the ministry in this place just twelve years. Mr. Chapin, the next pastor, continued five years; Mr. Smith, the next in order, was settled in 1827; he also remained five years. Mr. Duncan, his successor, was settled in 1833. The principal village in this town is called Hanover Four Corners, which contains an Episcopal church, an academy, a number of stores, and perhaps about 20 dwelling-houses in the vicinity. This place is about 14 miles from Plymouth, 9 from Scituate Harbor, and 20 from Boston. Besides the Episcopal, there are 1 Congregational and 1 Baptist church in the limits of the town. Population, 1,435. In 1837, there were 12,000 pairs of shoes manufactured, valued at $10,500; males employed, 35; females, 26. There were 3 forges; 130 tons of bar iron were manufactured; hands employed, 14. Two air and cupola furnaces, 2 anchor shops, 1 tack factory, at which 8 hands were employed. Considerable business is done in ship-building. HANSON. THIS town was formerly included within the limits of Pembroke. It was incorporated in 1820. Rev. Gad Hitchcock, D. D., was ordained the first minister of the place, in 1748, and continued in the office of pastor fifty-five years, and lived to the age of 83. "He was sociable, friendly, and hospitable; esteemed as a man of talents, and many in his old age profited by his instructions." Rev. George Barstow was successor and colleague with Dr. Hitchcock, and continued the pastoral relation eighteen years, and died in 1821, aged 51 years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Howland. In 1837, there were 48,000 pairs of shoes manufactured in this town, valued at $40,000; males employed, 180; females, 240. There were 3 nail factories; 48 tons of nails were manufactured, valued at $6,240. Population, 1,058. Distance, 15 miles from Plymouth, 15 from Weymouth Landing, and 24 from Boston. There are 3 churches in the town, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist, and 1 Universalist. HINGHAM. THIS town is said to have been settled in 1635, which is the date of the earliest record to be found of the proceeding of planters in relation to the disposal of lands. The exact date when the first English people settled here cannot be ascertained. Among some private papers there is a "list of the names of such persons as came out of the town of Hingham and towns adjacent, in the county of Norfolk, Eng., and settled in Hingham, New Eng.," from which it appears there were inhabitants here as early as 1633. In June of the first-named year, grants were made to a considerable number of individuals, and on the 18th of Sept., 30 of the inhabitants drew for house-lots, and received grants of other lands for the purpose of pasture, tillage, &c. The following is a list of the first settlers of Hingham, with the year in which lands were granted them in the town: Thomas Hobart, Rev. Peter Hobart, Nicholas Jacob, Jonas Austin, Daniel Fop, Jarvice Gould, Thomas Loring, David Phippeny, John Palmer, Thomas Andrews, George Bacon, John Beal, senr., Thomas Lincoln, Thomas Minard, Thomas Underwood, Thomas Cooper, Ralph Woodward, 1637. Thomas Barnes, Francis James, 1639. Anthony Hilliard, In 1635, Rev. Peter Hobart and his associates from Hingham, in the county of Nor. folk, in England, began a settlement in this town at a place called Bear Cove, which was afterwards called Hingham. "The house-lots of the settlers, as already stated, were drawn 18 September, 1635. The Rev. Peter Hobart was there on that day, and drew a lot with the twenty-nine." Mr. Hobart continued to discharge the duties of his office till his death, in 1679, at the age of seventy-five. He was a man of piety and talents, and had four sons, who all became respectable ministers. Rev. John Norton was ordained colleague pastor with Mr. Hobart a few months before his decease. Mr. Norton died in 1716, and was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Gay, who continued in the ministry nearly sixty-nine years, and died in 1787, at the age of nearly ninety-one years. Rev. Henry Ware, D. D., the successor of Mr. Gay, was ordained about seven months of his decease, and continued about eighteen years, when he resigned to accept the Hollis professorship of divinity in Harvard University. Rev. Joseph Richardson, his successor, was settled in 1806. The Second church in Hingham was formed in 1745; Rev. Daniel Shute, D. D., their first minister, was ordained the next year. He was pastor here more than fifty-five years. His sight failing him, he ceased from his public labors in 1799, and died in 1802. Dr. Shute had a seat in the convention which formed the Constitution of the United States. Rev. Nicholas B. Whitney succeeded Dr. Shute in 1800. The Third church was formed in 1807, and Rev. Henry Colman, the first minister, was ordained the same year. Rev. Charles Brooks, the next minister, was ordained in 1821. The following is a representation of the ancient Congregational church in the village of Hingham, the oldest house of worship now |