in this town. In 1837, there were 2 air and cupola furnaces; 300 tons of iron castings were made, valued at $30,000. It is said that the first cast-iron tea-kettles were cast at Plympton, (now Carver,) between 1760 and 1765. Wrought-iron imported tea-kettles were used before a copper tea-kettle was first used at Plymouth, 1702. There are 3 churches in this town, 2 Congregational and 1 Baptist. Population, 990. Distance, 8 miles south-westerly of Plymouth, and 38 from Boston.

The people of this place are almost wholly descendants of the first planters of Plymouth. Rev. Othniel Campbell, the first minister, was ordained in 1734. He was succeeded by Rev. John Howland, who was ordained in 1746, and died in 1804. Rev. John Shaw, his successor, was ordained in 1807.

DUXBURY.

DUXBURY was incorporated in 1637. At this time it included within its limits Pembroke, the greatest part of Marshfield, part of Kingston, and part of Bridgewater. Its Indian name was Mattakecset, or Namasakeeset. "The probable etymology of the present name is Dux and borough, as it is stated that it was named in honor of Capt. Standish, the dux or military leader of the colony, and one of the first settlers of the place." The first settlers located themselves in the southern part of the town, which lies by the bay between this place and Plymouth. They probably chose this place on account of its being nearer Plymouth, and also on account of the soil, which at this spot is better than most other parts of the town. The first church, which was a very small building, stood near the water. The second building for public worship was erected a mile north, and stood about one hundred years. The next church was erected in 1784, being equally distant from the southern and northern boundaries of the town.

The soil of the town is generally sandy and unproductive, though there are some fertile spots. The town is bounded on the east by a bay three miles in width: this bay is bounded on the east by The Gurnet, a peninsula or point of high land, originating from Marshfield, and extending about seven miles southward into the bay. On its southern extremity is situated the light-house. The first light-house here was erected by the province of Massachusetts, in 1768, at an expense of £660, 17s.; in 1801, this building was consumed by fire. The present light-house was erected by the United States, in 1803. It exhibits two lights, which are about 70 feet above the level of the sea. There is near the point a farm of rich soil, which supports one family. There are in the town 2 woollen mills, an air and cupola furnace, a bank, the "Duxbury Bank," with a capital of $100,000, and an insurance company, with a capital of $75,000. There is a number of vessels belonging to this town, and the inhabitants are chiefly

employed in commerce and the fisheries.

There are 4 churches,

2 Methodist, 1 Unitarian, and 1 Universalist. Population, 2,789. Distance, 6 miles north of Plymouth, and 29 south-east of Boston.

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The above shows the appearance of Duxbury as it is entered from the south-west. The village is mostly built on a single street, about two miles in length, and consists of upwards of 100 dwelling-houses, situated on a gentle and somewhat of a sandy elevation, above the sea. Blue-fish river crosses the road in the northern part of the village, at which place most of the ship-building done in the village is carried on. Standish Hill, still called "Captain's Hill," is situated about two miles southerly from the central part of the village. In 1837, there were 46 vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishery; tonnage, 2,590; there were 18,000 quintals of codfish and 2,000 barrels of mackerel taken; value of codfish, $55,548; value of mackerel, $14,000; hands employed, 306. There were 1,000 pairs of boots and 42,334 pairs of shoes manufactured, valued at $56,917; males employed, 61; females, 60. "Number of vessels built, 71; tonnage of the same, 11,711; value of the same, $845,240; hands employed, 897."

Rev. Ralph Partridge was the first minister; he was settled as early as the incorporation of the town, and continued in the ministry till his death, in 1658. He had been a minister in the Church of England; but "being hunted," as he expressed it, "like a partridge upon the mountains, at last he resolved to get out of there, and take his flight to New England." He was a man of superior abilities, and suffered much on account of the poverty of his flock, but he did not forsake them. He was succeede by Rev. Mr. Holmes, who was succeeded by Rev. Ichabod Wiswall, who continued pastor about thirty years. The next minister was Rev. John Robinson, who was settled in 1700, and continued in the ministry nearly forty years; after him was Rev. Samuel Veazie, who was pastor about eight years. Mr. Veazie was succeeded by Rev. Charles Turner, who continued in the ministry seventeen years. Rev. Zedekiah Sanger, the next minister, was settled in 1776, but, on account of ill health, his pastoral relation was dissolved in 1785. The eighth minister, Rev. John Allyn, was ordained in 1788.

Captain Miles Standish, the military hero of New England, was born in Lancashire, in England, about the year 1584, and was, it

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.

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. 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.