Founding Families of Weymouth
Weymouth, Massachusetts, originally known as Wessagusset Colony, is the second oldest town in the Commonwealth. The recorded history of Weymouth begins in 1622, not long after the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. The Wessagusset Colony was a short-lived English trading colony in New England located in Weymouth, Massachusetts. It was settled in August 1622 by between 50 and 60 colonists who were ill-prepared for colonial life. The colony was established by Thomas Weston, a London merchant who had helped finance the Pilgrims and the Mayflower. Weston believed there was potential for a lucrative business based on trade with the New World. However, the colonists were not well-prepared for the challenges of colonial life, and the colony was settled without adequate provisions. Tensions built throughout the winter between the settlers and the local Native American tribes, leading to instances of theft and hostility. One colonist fled to Plymouth to warn of an imminent attack, leading to a violent confrontation in which several Native Americans were killed. The Wessagusset Colony disbanded after this violent incident. Many of the survivors returned to England, others joined Plymouth, and a few sailed up the coast to settle in Maine. In 1635, 21 new families arrived from Weymouth, England, and the town was renamed Weymouth. The settlers lived primarily on fishing and farming, and they also harvested lumber from the forests and salt and thatch from its salt marshes. The Plymouth Council for New England gave Robert Gorges a patent for a settlement covering 300 square miles. This settlement was intended to be a spiritual and civic capital of the New England colonies. The town slowly grew, and by 1633 it was described as a small village with a spacious harbor for shipping, good ground for farming, and a good store of fish and swine. In the 1630s, Wessagusset became recognized as part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The town continued to grow and develop, with its population expanding rapidly in the post-World War II era. Today, Weymouth is a thriving city that retains its historical charm while offering modern amenities and services.Matches 1 to 6 of 6 » See Gallery
