Also referred to as Wessagusset
1622- The Town of Weymouth is the second oldest town in the Commonwealth, dating from 1622 when it was founded as “Wessagusset”. The early settlement slowly grew as a fishing and agricultural community. By the time Boston was settled in 1630, about 300 people were living in and around the settlement there. At that time, Wessagusset was recognized as part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and in 1632, Governor Winthrop of Boston visited Wessagusset on his way south.
In1635, Rev. Joseph Hull came from Weymouth, England on the “Assurance” with 21 families and was given permission by the Mass. Bay Colony in Boston to “sit” (reside) in Wessagusset. The infusion of new people gave assurance that the plantation would continue, and it was incorporated as “Weymouth”. There were sufficient numbers who had originated in Weymouth, England to make that name a logical choice.
Weymouth was governed by the people themselves. Unlike Plymouth, Boston and Salem, all of which had governors, Weymouth had none. All decisions were made by the settlers gathering together in town meeting style. That type of town government has continued to the present day in many places in New England. When Weymouth was incorporated as a town in 1635, it was under that form of government.
According to historian Charles Francis Adams: “…for those Towns there was no prophet, no chief, no lord, no bishop, no King. Those dwelling in them were all plain people. They stood on their own legs, such as they were; and there was no one to hold them up.”
The next year, boundaries were set with Quincy (then “Mt. Wollaston”) using the Fore River and Smelt Brook, and with Hingham (then “Bare Cove”) using the Back River and Fresh River. Grape Island and Round Island were made part of Weymouth.
In 1635 Thomas Applegate of Weymouth was licensed to run a ferry between Wessagusset and Mt. Wollaston. The boat was used to transfer salt, which was taken from the marshes. Marsh grass was also dried and used to thatch roofs of the huts. Seaweed was useful, too. The early settlers packed it along the base of their houses to keep out the cold in winter in what was an early form of cheap insulation
The early settlers not only fished and gathered shellfish, they also raised grains and vegetables and kept animals. Since the area was wooded, lumber became a good business. The rivers and harbors made it possible to dock ships and send the lumber to other places. But as trees became scarce, laws had to be made about cutting them down.
In 1637 came the Indian War called the Pequot War for which Weymouth provided five men. In that year an order came down from the General Court that no dwelling house should be built more than a half mile of the meetinghouse (church). That order was made for fear of Indian attack, but it was not enforced in Weymouth where people had by that early date spread out from King’s Cove to Watch House Hill, a mile away, and up over King Oak Hill and as far away as Whitman’s Pond.
We said in the beginning that the original settlers did not come for religious reasons. Subsequent groups, however, brought ministers, including Rev. Hull, so early Weymouth must have had religious services. The year book of the Old North Church at Weymouth Heights states that the church was “Gathered in 1623”. We know that a meetinghouse was built on Watch Hill where the present North Cemetery is, opposite the Soldiers Monument. It was replaced by another built in 1682.
However, several Protestant sects were represented in those early days, and they didn’t always get along. Many were Church of England, some were Puritans, and some of other persuasions. Most of the ministers favored the Church of England, but no sect was completely dominant. As newcomers came into Weymouth, the struggle became more intense. There are even cases of men being fined for disturbing the churches. An era of religious persecution of Quakers, Baptists and Episcopalians began, and it became dangerous even to have an English Prayer Book in your hand.
The Pilgrims at Plymouth and the Puritans at Boston did not agree at all about religion, and both were opposed to the rituals of the Church of England, so each applied pressure on Weymouth to follow their religious beliefs. This had the effect of stifling growth in Weymouth and causing many in town to go elsewhere where they could worship without pressure.
Weymouth was seen by the Puritans as the hotbed of the Episcopal Church (Church of England). Their worship was called “Popery” for its rituals that looked similar to those of the Catholic Church. Puritan leaders were determined that it must be stamped out. A committee from Boston was sent to Weymouth to search out and put an end to this form of worship”. Those who favored the Church of England were punished, fined, whipped or driven out of town.
In 1642, citing “land shortage” some of the residents of Weymouth moved to Rehoboth on the Rhode Island border with their minister, Rev. Samuel Newman. Many writers believe the move came because of religious differences, and that certainly seems logical. Weymouth historian Gilbert Nash says that Newman, who remained in Weymouth for four years, “…could not easily become reconciled to the spirit which was fast growing in Weymouth, so he resolved to emigrate….” Newman, an Episcopalian, took about 40 families with him. He was moving to an area where William Blaxton (formerly of Wessagusset and Boston) was now living. Others such as Roger Williams and Ann Hutchinson, driven out of Boston by the Puritans, would also migrate to the Rhode Island area.
Hopestill Leland and Elgin Hatherly (Probable, but not yet verified as ancestors.)
Web Memorial State Park
Abigail Adams State Park
Abigail Adams Historical Society
https://www.weymouth.ma.us/history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weymouth,_Massachusetts
https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00nash - Historical sketch of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622