Plymouth County MA

Plymouth County MA, located in the southeastern part of Massachusetts, is a region steeped in American history and natural beauty. Established in 1685, the county holds the distinction of being one of the first governmental units in the United States, formed just 65 years after the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock in 1620. This area, named after Plymouth, England, serves as a living museum of the early colonial era, featuring landmarks such as Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II, replicas of the original settler’s community and their ship. Geographically, Plymouth County is characterized by its varied landscapes that include coastal shorelines, dense forests, and clear ponds, making it a picturesque representation of New England’s charm. The county’s development over the centuries has seen a blend of agricultural, maritime, and industrial growth, reflecting the broader evolution of the region.

John Winchester Genealogy

I. John1 Winchester, at the age of 19, embarked in the ship Elizabeth from England, in 1635, and settled in Hingham, Mass.; admitted freeman in 1637. He m. Oct. 15, 1638, Hannah Sealis, dau. of Dea. Richard Sealis of Scituate. In 1650 he removed to Muddy River (now Brookline, Mass.), where he d. Apr. 25, 1694. His widow d. Sept. 18, 1697. II. John2 Winchester, son of John1, I, was bapt. at Hingham, June 2, 1644. He lived at Muddy River, and the records name a wife Hannah, and subsequently a wife, Joanna. He d. Feb. 1, 1717-8. III. Henry3 … Read more

Genealogy of Thomas Hammond

(I) Thomas Hammond, the first American ancestor of Elmira (Hammond) Shepardson, was one of the early settlers of Newton, Massachusetts. He was the son of William and Mary Hammond, of Melford, England, and grandson of John and Agnes Hammond, of the adjacent town of Lavenham, England. He was baptized at Melford, county of Suffolk, England, with his twin brother John, September 2, 1603. He was a first cousin of William Hammond, who settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1636. The marriage of Thomas Hammond to Elizabeth Carson, daughter of Robert and Prudence (Hammond) Carson, and maternal granddaughter of Robert and Elizabeth … Read more

History of Bridgewater Massachusetts

An historical sketch about Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts as abstracted from the Plymouth County Directory and Historical Register of 1867.

History of Wareham Massachusetts

An historical sketch about Wareham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts as abstracted from the Plymouth County Directory and Historical Register of 1867. Includes a list of the men from Wareham who gave their life during the Revolutionary War.

1867 Plymouth County Massachusetts Directory

The 1867 Plymouth County Massachusetts Directory is abstracted from the Plymouth County Directory and Historical Register of 1867 and contains a brief history of Plymouth County, MA and each town within it, along with various notes of historical and genealogical importance, such as a list of men from each town who died in the Revolutionary War.

Washburn Genealogy of Bridgewater Massachusetts

Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts

John Washburn, first of the name here, was an early settler in New England, and was a resident of Duxbury, Mass., before 1632, in which year he had an action in court against Edward Doten. He was named in the assessment of taxes in 1633, and in 1634 bought a place from Edward Bonparse known as “Eagle’s Nest.” He and his two sons, John and Philip, were included with those able to bear arms in 1643. He and his son John were original proprietors of Bridgewater, and they with the son Philip settled in the town as early as 1665. He died in Bridgewater before 1670.

Chandler Family of Boston and East Bridgewater MA

This Boston – East Bridgewater Chandler family, the head of which was the late Hon. Peleg Whitman Chandler, long one of the leading counselors of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and one of a family of lawyers, comes of a Massachusetts-Maine branch of the ancient Duxbury family whose progenitor was Edmund Chandler. The branch just alluded to for several generations at New Gloucester and Bangor, Maine, and at Boston in this Commonwealth, has been one of liberal education, college-bred men, men who have adorned the legal profession, and it has allied itself through generations with a number of the ancient and first families of the Old Colony. There follows in chronological order from Edmund Chandler, the first American ancestor of this branch of American Chandlers, and in detail the family history and genealogy.

Descendants of Davis Snow Packard of Bridgewater, Massachusetts

In the death of Davis Snow Packard, which occurred in Brockton, Mass., July 31, 1900, the city lost one of its foremost citizens as well as one of its most successful manufacturers. Mr. Packard was a native of the town of North Bridgewater, now the city of Brockton, born June 24, 1826, son of Apollos and Betsey (Packard) Packard, and a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent families of the old Bay State. (I) Samuel Packard, the founder of the family in America, was a native of England, his home being at Windham, near Hingham. In 1638 … Read more

1867 Pembroke Massachusetts Directory

Allen Morrill, clergyman Babigan John, fanner Baker Andrew H. shoemaker Baker Calvin, carpenter Baker Henry, shoemaker Baker Henry, box maker Baker Josiah H. farmer Bailey William, shoemaker Barker George C. teamster Barker John, box maker Barker Peleg, farmer Barker Robert, farmer Barnard Joseph S. photographer Barstow Charles, carpenter Barstow Thomas H. C. farmer Bates Edward, mason Bates Orin G. farmer Bates William C. machinist Beal George B. shoemaker Beal Job H. stonecutter Bearce Thomas, blacksmith Bemis Ezekiel, farmer Besse William, farmer Besse William, jr., shoemaker Billings Adam, anchor smith Blackman Allen, carpenter Blackman Daniel, shoemaker Blackman Thomas, farmer Blanchard Mark … Read more

Descendants of Captain Michael Pierce

The Pierce family is one of the ancient Colonial families of the Commonwealth, the forerunners of the name playing a conspicuous part as masters of vessels bringing hither emigrants from England. For several generations there has lived in New Bedford a branch of the old Rehoboth and Swansea Pierce family, descendants of Capt. Michael Pierce, who have been leading-spirits in the community — names especially conspicuous in the industrial life of the town and vicinity. Reference is made particularly to some of the descendants of the late Otis Norton Pierce, whose son, the late Hon. Andrew Granville Pierce, was for … Read more

History of Kingston Massachusetts

An historical sketch about Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts as abstracted from the Plymouth County Directory and Historical Register of 1867. Includes a list of the men from Kingston who gave their life during the Revolutionary War.

Biography of Silvanus Ames

Silvanus Ames, long known in this county as Judge Ames, was born at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, March 26, 1771. His father, whose ancestor, William Ames, came from England in 1643, was a graduate of Harvard college, and an Episcopalian clergyman. He preached several years at Trinity church, in Taunton, Massachusetts, was afterwards a chaplain in the revolutionary army, and died in the camp at Valley Forge, during the hard winter of 1777-78. Silvanus Ames married Nabby Lee Johnson in 1795, and moved to the northwestern territory in 1798. They settled temporarily in Belpre, whence they removed to Ames township, in May, … Read more

History of North Bridgewater Massachusetts

An historical sketch about North Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts as abstracted from the Plymouth County Directory and Historical Register of 1867. Includes a list of the men from North Bridgewater who gave their life during the Revolutionary War.

Ancestors of Alexander Holmes of Kingston, MA

The family of Alexander Holmes of Kingston, MA is one of long and honorable standing in New England, and there the branch is represented by the family of the late Alexander Holmes, who for years was president of the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad. Across the water in old England the Holmes family history reaches back to the year 1066, when one John Holmes, the founder of the Holmes family, is credited with being a volunteer in the army of William, Duke of Normandy.

1867 Bridgewater Massachusetts Directory

Adams William H. farmer, Auburn Akins Charles W. machinist, bd Bedford Alden Caleb, laborer, bds High Alden Cromwell, farmer, r High Alden Elijah, fanner, bds Vernon Alden Ezra H. expressman, r School Alden Horatio, farmer, r Conant Alden Isaac F. watchman, r Walnut Alden Isaac K. clerk, bds Bedford Alden James S. painter, v Bedford Alden John C. merchant, r South Alden Lewis V. farmer, r Titicut Alden Leander M. machinist, bds Plymouth Alden Oliver, fanner, r High Alden Samuel, physician, r South Alden Walter H. teacher, r Oak Alden William S. farmer, r Summer Alden William S. Jr., farmer, … Read more

Biography of Homas P. Drinkwater

There is probably no section of Southern California that can produce such thorough horticulturists as the Riverside colony, and it is noticeable that some of the most proficient of those are men who have spent their previous lives in the countinghouse or factories of the East; men who have had no previous opportunity of studying the marvels to be found in nature’s horticultural productions; but it is equally noticeable that such men have been ranked to pursuits that have called fur skilled labor or mental work. Some of the finest work in horticulture of this date is being done by … Read more

History of Hull Massachusetts

An historical sketch about Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusetts as abstracted from the Plymouth County Directory and Historical Register of 1867. Includes a list of the men from Hull who gave their life during the Revolutionary War.

Descendants of John Ames of West Bridgewater MA

The Ames surname is of early English origin, and the family living at Bristol bore the following coat of arms: Argent, on a bend cotised sable, three roses of the field. Motto: Fama Candida rosa dulcior. Crest: A white rose. (I) John Ames was buried at Bruton, Somersetshire, England, in 1560. (II) John Ames (2), son of John, died in 1583; married Margery Crome. Children: John Ames Launcelot Ames William Ames (III) John Ames (3), son of John (2), born in 1560, died in 1629, married Cyprian Browne. Children: William Ames. John Ames, went to New England, settling first at … Read more

Biography of Rev. John G. Pratt

Rev. John G. Pratt, one of the most widely known Protestant missionaries of Kansas and the West, was born in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1814 and graduated from Andover Seminary in the fall of 1836. He was immediately licensed to preach and the Baptist Suciety sent him to the Indian country to labor among the Shawnees. He continued that work for seven years, and in the fall of 1844 located four miles south of Fort Leavenworth to take charge of a contemplated mission of Green Bay Indians, lately arrived from Wisconsin. But they did not receive the promised allotment of land, … Read more

History of Rochester Massachusetts

An historical sketch about Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts as abstracted from the Plymouth County Directory and Historical Register of 1867. Includes a list of the men from Rochester who gave their life during the Revolutionary War.