History of Duxbury, (Plymouth County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

John Alden, Pilgrim, was born in England in 1599. He was a cooper and when the Mayflower put in to Southampton, in a leaky condition, he was hired to make repairs and persuaded to join the Pilgrims, with the privilege of returning to England with the vessel. Before making a landing at Plymouth he signed the contract in the cabin of the Mayflower off Cape Cod. He was the youngest of the signers and the last survivor. He became an active member of the colony, was an assistant in 1633, and served from 1650 to 1686. From 1641 to 1642, and from 1645 to 1649 he was deputy from Duxbury. He was a soldier in Captain Miles Standish's company in 1643; a member of the council of war in 1653 to 1660, and 1675 to 1676, and treasurer of the colony from 1656 to 1659. The romantic incident of his life in connection with Priscilla Mullins, whom he married in 1623, has been told by Longfellow in "Miles Standish's Courtship." His blundering attempts to woo the Pilgrim girl for his friend, the maid's refusal of the doughty captain, and her arch, "Why don't you speak for yourself John?" are well known. Many and very worthy descendants have sprung from this marriage. Mr. Alden was highly respected by the colonists for his integrity and his practical good sense. For several years he served as magistrate. He died in Duxbury, Mass., Sept. 12, 1687.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Partridge, delegate, was born in Duxbury, Mass., Feb. 8, 1740; son of George and Hannah (Foster) Partridge; grandson of John and Hannah (Seabury) Partridge and of Deacon Foster of Plymouth, Mass., and a great-grandson of George and Sarah (Tracy) Partridge. George Partridge came to America from Kent county, England, about 1636, and received a grant of land at Powder Point, Duxbury, Mass., where he settled. George Partridge was prepared for college under the Rev. Charles Turner, was graduated at Harvard A.B.. 1762, A. M., 1765, and engaged in teaching school in Kingston, Mass. He fitted for the ministry, but abandoned it, and returned to teaching school in 1770; was a delegate to the Provincial congress, 1774-75; a representative in the general court, 1775-79, and sheriff of Plymouth county as successor to Gen. Joseph Warren, 1777-1812. He was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1779-82, and 1783-85; a representative in the Massachusetts legislature in 1788, and a representative in the first and second sessions of the 1st congress, 1789-90, resigning his seat, August 14, 1790. He endowed Partridge seminary at Duxbury, Mass., and left a large part of his estate to religious and charitable purposes. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He died in Duxbury, Mass., July 7, 1828.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Alden Bradford, author, was born at Duxbury, Mass., Nov. 19, 1765; son of Gamaliel Bradford, a revolutionary soldier, and descended from Gov. William Bradford. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1786, and was for a time pastor of a Congregational church at Wiscasset, Me. In 1812 he was elected secretary of state of Massachusetts, which office he held for twelve years. He was the author of various works of a historical, biographical, and antiquarian character, including a "History of Massachusetts from 1764 till 1820," and "History of the Federal Government" (1840). He was also editor of the Boston Gazette. Bowdoin college gave him the degree of LL.D. in 1837. He died Oct. 26, 1843.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Daniel Dorchester, clergyman, was born in Duxbury, Mass., March 11, 1827; son of Daniel and Mary (Otis) Dorchester; grandson of Daniel Dorchester and direct descendant from Anthony Dorchester, who emigrated from England in 1636, settled in Windsor, Conn., and afterward owned the ferry in Springfield, Mass. Daniel (3d) was graduated at Wesleyan university in 1847, and entered the Methodist ministry, serving the church fifty years in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He was lecturer on American Unitarianism, 1872-73, and on the concessions of liberalists, 1878-79, at Boston university. He was presiding elder twelve years, delegate to two general conferences and had sixty votes for bishop in 1884. He was senator in the Connecticut legislature in 1855; chairman of the state commission upon idiocy in 1855; represented Natick, Mass., in the legislature of 1883; was president of the National temperance league, and superintendent of the Indian schools in the United States under appointment by President Harrison, 1889-1894. He was married April 12, 1850, to Mary Payson, daughter of Henry and Matilda (Upham) Davis of Dudley, Mass. He received from Wesleyan the degree of A.M. in 1855 and that of D.D. in 1874. He published: Concessions of Liberalists to Orthodoxy (1878); Problem of Religious Progress (1882); Latest Drink Sophistries versus Total Abstinence (1888); Liquor Problem in All Ages (1884); The Why of Methodism (1887); Christianity in the United States (1887); Romanism vs. the Public School System (1888); Half Century of My Ministry (1897), and several sermons and addresses.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor