1640 had a grant of four acres at Stoney brook, and a tract of land towards Green harbor. His descendants have been numerous, and most of them have resided within the town.

For notices of others of the settlers, the reader is referred to the Genealogical Register, at the close of this volume.

The earliest residents were for the most part respectable, and some of them possessed of considerable property. The following list, containing, in part, the names of those in the colony who were taxed by order of the Court, March, 1633, will show the comparative wealth of some of them.

Their habitations were chiefly palisadoes, or fortified cottages, and in some instances the gambrel-roofed houses, generally containing one large room, a bed-chamber and kitchen on the lower floor, with two large and two small chambers above and sometimes an attic above all. The style of building which we sometimes see in ancient houses, that of a high front with the roof behind reaching nearly to the ground, was then frequently employed, though this seems to have been the prevailing style of a somewhat later period. The one-story additions, now so generally adjoined to the main house, were then scarcely known. Barns were very few in number, and their places were supplied by less substantial sheds and other temporary buildings. Their stock of cattle was generally abundant, usually consisting of one or more horses, with oxen, cows, sheep and swine. Several orchards were planted at an early date by the settlers.

Some of them owned slaves, which was not uncommon, and even to a comparatively late period. Samuel Seabury, who

died in 1681, mentions in his will his negro servants, Nimrod, who was to be sold, and Jane, whom he gave to his wife. Other instances can be named.*

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.

In early days, the only schoolmasters were the clergy of the towns, who exercised this office in many instances in addition to the arduous duties of their peculiar avocation. Youths were received into their families to receive a preparation for college, and over the whole body of the younger portion of the inhabitants they extended their care.

In 1663, during the administration of Gov. Prence, who, it is known, was a distinguished patron of learning, the following order was passed the Court:- It is proposed by the Court unto the several townships in this jurisdiction, as a thing that they ought to take into their serious consideration, that some course may be taken, that in every town there may be a school master set up, to train up children in reading and writing. And, in 1670, the "Court did freely give and grant all such profits as might and should accrue annually to the colony, for fishing with net or seines at Cape Cod for mackerel, bass, or herrings, to be improved for and towards a free school in some town in this jurisdiction, for the training up of youth in literature for the good and benefit of posterity, provided a beginning be made within one year after said grant." This school was established at Plymouth, and continued until 1677, when it was ordered, "In whatsoever township in this government,

At a later period, Colonel John Alden owned a negro slave, named Hampshire, who was married, April 16th, 1718, to Mary Jones, an Indian woman. Lt. Thomas Loring, who died 1717, left three negroes, valued at £100; and his son Thomas owned a "negro man Bill, alias William Fortune," whom, it appears by the records, he determined (Dec. 1st, 1739) to free" from the yoke of servitude and bondage, for divers good and valuable reasons and causes and considerations," after the 1st day of May, 1752. And in 1759, we find in Chh. Records, "Died Richard Louden's negro girl, about 10 years old."

I have now before me a deed, dated 1741, given by John Cooper, of Plymouth, to Geo. Partridge, of Duxbury, conveying to him "a negro man named Dick, aged about 23 years, of middling stature."

Indians, who had been convicted of certain crimes, were condemned to be sold as slaves in the early times of the colony, as well as those who had been captured in war. A rather unpardonable offence in the opinion of the philanthropists of the present day.

consisting of fifty families or upwards, any meet man shall be obtained to teach a grammar school, such township shall allow at least twelve pounds, to be raised by rate on all the inhabitants of said town, and those that have the more immediate benefit thereof, with what others shall voluntarily give, shall make up the residue necessary to maintain the same, and that the profits arising from the Cape Fishing, heretofore ordered to maintain a grammar school in this colony, be distributed in such towns as have such grammar schools, not exceeding five pounds per ann. to any town, unless the Court treasurer or others appointed to manage that affair see good cause to add thereunto. And further this Court orders, that every such town as consists of seventy families and upwards, and hath not a grammar school therein, shall allow and pay unto the next town, that hath a grammar school, the sum of five pounds, to be levied on the inhabitants by rate, and gathered by the constable of such town by warrant from any magistrate in this jurisdiction." This continued in force for eleven years, during part of the time Duxbury was receiving its. share per annum. In 1683, the sum of £8 was granted to the Duxbury school. This school was kept by Mr. Wiswall, the pastor of the church, and continued to be kept by him many years, and under his guidance many young men were fitted. for their collegiate course. His powers were well adapted to the duty, and his school, which was well sustained, was carried on with universal satisfaction. Mr. Wiswall died in 1700; but by whom the school was continued we cannot find, nor does there appear any record of a school until February 24, 1714, when there is recorded the liberality of Mr. Benja min Chandler, who "freely gave to ye sd town liberty to build a school house upon his land neer ye Rhoad for sd town's use to be set near ye fence, that is ye partition fence between ye sd Benjamin Chanler and John Glass their lands, and that ye sd school house might there be settled & kept, with ye privilege, or use of about half an acre of land adjacent so long as ye sd town shall se cause to keep their sd school house there."* And the next year (1715) the town appropriated for a school. £30, and appointed Mr. Edward Southworth their agent to procure a schoolmaster for the year, and in their behalf to manage the whole affair, relating to the school. as the law directs. In 1723, £27 pounds were paid to a school master.

*The town soon after voted to set the building in the corner of the lot; but through some accident the house was placed in the centre of the lot, whereupon the rhyme was made

In 1734, January 16, "at a town meeting ye sd town by their vote desired & authorized their present Representative, Col. John Alden, to Petition ye Honourable, ye General Court, in their Behalf, for a grant of a Tract of land, ye better to enable them to support a school in sd Town." A grant was made by the Court, as appears by the following order, passed at a meeting April 8: "Town chose Col. John Alden their agent to procure a Surveyour, & under oath to survey and lay out ye Five Hundred acres of land, granted to ye sd Town, Feb. ye 15th Anno Dom. 1733-[4], by ye General Court, & to do whatsoever may be Requisite on sd Town's Behalf, either by himself or his substitute, being any one belonging to ye sd Town Relating to ye premises." At the same meeting, Philip Delano and James Arnold were appointed to procure a Schoolmaster, and they obtained Jonathan Peterson, Jr.

In 1735 (May 21st) they voted to divide the town into four school districts.

I. Neighborhood of Powder point.

II. Neighborhood of Philip Chandler's and Ensign Bradford's.

III. Neighborhood of Nathaniel Sampson's.

IV. Neighborhood of Captain's Hill.

And, November 21st, they voted to have two schoolmasters, to serve one half year, one at the north end, and another at the south end of the town.

In 1736, the schoolmaster was allowed a compensation of £20. In 1738, an appropriation of £11 was made; and during this year John Wadsworth kept for a short time, and also Israel Sylvester for a longer time at 12 shillings per week; and Josiah Thomas eleven weeks for £6 and 12s. The next year (1739) £24 were appropriated to the school, and Joseph Snell was the teacher. In 1741, there were £54 appropriated, and the town was divided into four school districts, to remain so divided for twenty years. In 1742, £54 was the appropriation, and Gamaliel Bradford and Samuel Seabury were authorized to go to the eastward to make some disposal of the land granted to them there by the General Court for the School. In 1743, they voted to sell this land at Souhegan for £750, and in 1747 they disposed of it for that price. This year, and also in 1744, £60 was the school grant, and for the next two years £70. In 1748, Jesse Thomas taught the school; and in 1749 and 1750, Isaac Boles, and for the latter year £100 were granted, and on the next following £60. A Mr. Webb taught the school in 1753, and in 1754 a small appropriation of about £13 was made; and in 1756 £20, and the same in 1578; and this continued to be the annual appropriation until 1778, when it was raised to £80. On the 11th March, 1776, the town "voted to dismiss the Grammar School for six months, begin

ning at the first of May next; and voted that John Peterson, Judah Delano, Perez Chandler and Calvin Partridge be a committee to draw £20 out of the treasury to pay the common schools for six months, beginning with the first of May next." Mr. Boles, who kept in Duxbury about 1750, as above, is said to have been a man of learning; but was so continually intoxicated, that he accomplished little good. Mr. Thayer, who afterwards taught here. studied with Mr. Turner, and preached his first sermon in the town. The school was then kept by Mr. George Damon, who had studied also with Mr. Turner, and was afterwards settled in Martha's Vineyard. Mr. Rice then kept in the Point schoolhouse, on the hill above Capt. John Southworth's. John Wadsworth also kept about this time; and then Mr. Francis Winter, afterwards a settled minister in Maine. Mr. Thomas Haven, who studied and occasionally preached here, kept three years. Mr. George Partridge next kept here, and received $8 per month, from 1770 to 1773. Mr. Partridge had, while in college, kept a grammar school in Woburn, and among his pupils were Benjamin Thompson, afterwards Count Rumford, and the late Hon. Loammi Baldwin. nearly his equals in age. Mr. Benjamin Alden began in 1776 to keep school, and kept thirtythree years. He had $7 a month in the beginning, and $14 when he ended. At this period there were four school houses in the town one at the old meeting-house; the second at Tarkiln village beyond Island creek pond; the third in the northwest quarter; and the fourth called the "Point school." In these Mr. Alden kept three months in the year at each. During this period, Mr. Benjamin Whitman, afterwards Judge Whitman, kept a private school, during his college vacations.

INDIANS.

THERE were probably few, if any Indians in those parts of Duxbury next the bay, at the time of its settlement, as the country for many miles around Plymouth had been depopulated a few years previous to the arrival of the Pilgrims, by a severe and fatal disease.* But a few miles back from the

*There is much dispute as regards the time of this pestilence. Gookin places it in 1612 or 1613. It has been generally considered that it was at its greatest extent in 1618. This year, it will be remembered, was the year of the remarkable comet, when the plague was raging in various parts