To the various gentlemen, throughout the commonwealth, who have furnished information for the work, the author would here return his grateful acknowledgments, particularly to the venerable T. M. Harris, D. D., librarian of the Historical Society, and to Maturin L. Fisher, Esq., formerly librarian, and also to Samuel F. Haven, Esq., the present librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, for their readiness to afford every facility in their power in accomplishing the object of the work. The statements respecting the business done in each town were copied from the "Statistical Tables," published by the state in 1837. With regard to the title, it being somewhat similar to that of the volumes published by the Historical Society, it was, at first, not thought advisable to adopt the one now selected; upon further reflection, however, as the work could not, with propriety, be called a History of Massachusetts, but is properly a collection of materials; and as the title is in fact different from the volumes above men. uoned, it is believed that no just grounds of complaint are given by adopting the present title of the book. In giving the ecclesiastical history of the several towns, it may perhaps be thought, by some, that an undue prominence is given to the Congregational denomination. In reference to this, it is to be remembered they are the most ancient, as well as most numerous, denomination in the commonwealth; that almost all the town histories which have appeared have been written by clergymen of that order; and of course it is to be expected that the religious history of their own denomination would receive their first attention. In this publication, impartiality has been attempted; and whenever authentic accounts of other denominations have been obtained they have been inserted. Owing to prescribed limits, there has been an absolute necessity of being brief on many subjects of importance: many things have been omitted which it was desirable to have inserted. There are materials enough to have extended this publication far beyond its present limits; but to have extended it to more than one volume would have rendered it too expensive for general circulation. The drawings for the numerous engravings interspersed throughout the book were, with few exceptions, taken on the spot by the author of this work. Before deciding upon the correctness of these representations, he wishes his readers to remember that the appearance of any place will vary considerably as it is viewed from different points; thus a north view will appear quite different from one taken at the south. A person not being used to see a place from the point from which the drawing is made, it may not at the first sight be readily recognised. Before any view is condemned as being incorrect, it will be necessary, in order to form a correct judgment, to stand on the place from whence the drawing was made. In giving notices of distinguished individuals, a limited number only could be inserted. In some instances the information respecting some towns may have been defective. The history of some important towns may apparently not have received that attention to which they are entitled. This is owing to two principal reasons: one is the failure to obtain the desired information after the attempt was made; the other is the fact, that of some important places but little can be said which would be of general interest. Amid such a number of names, dates, &c., it is probable some mistakes may have occurred. A certain writer defines all history to be merely "an approximation towards truth." Though this humiliating statement cannot be fully allowed, yet, when the imperfection of every thing human is considered, it cannot be denied but that it may have some foundation in truth. APRIL, 1839. J. W. B. 517 South Hadley, Plymouth County, 493 Stoughton, New Marlborough, 265 Savoy, Rochester, 524 Topsfield, Rowe, 269 Tolland, 298 Wrentham, 491 Rowley, 217 Townsend, 431 Roxbury, 482 Truro, Blackstone, William, account of, Bliss, Rev. D., epitaph, Bloody Brook, attack of, Bordwell, E., epitaph, Boston harbor first visited, Boston in 1663, . Boston massacre, 1770, Boundary line between Connecticut and Massachusetts, Bours, Rev. Peter, epitaph, Bowditch, Hon. Nathaniel, notice of, Bradford, Hon. W., epitaph, Brainerd, David, notice of, Breck, Rev. Robert, epitaph, Brown, Capt. J., Bryant, Wm. C., notice of, Bug, singular account of, Bunker Hill battle, Burk, Major John, journal of, 236 Hale, old Mr., singularities of, 296 Harvard University, 564 Historical Society, Mass. 258 Holyoke, Mt., view from, 326 Holyoke, Mrs. Mari, epitaph, 67 House, oldest in N. E., 225 Horn Pond, Woburn,. 541 Hospital, State Lunatic, 505 Hospital, Mass. General, 49 Howe, L., singular monument of, INDEX. Page. 39 120 254 543 140 Father's Choice, poetry, by Mrs. Hale, 264 Fire at Newburyport, account of, 186 120 212 603 480 449 154 452 131 386 358 Jerusalem, New, church, tenets, 515 94 Nashoba, Indian town, Newman, Rev. Mr., remarkable death, . Old colony seal, Page, "Old Governor," Philip, King, draught by, Pilgrim Fathers, landing of, Quakers, laws against, Regicides, Goffe and Whalley, Rolfe, Rev. Mr., killed by Indians, 339 State-house, Boston, 210 Stockbridge Indians, account of, 144 Stoddard, Rev. Mr., preservation of, 402 Superstition of an Irishman, . 544 419 Tappan, Benj., epitaph, 522 Thatcher, Col. J., notice of, 259 Townsend, Daniel, epitaph, 565 Turner, Capt., killed, 145 477 Tuttle, Mr., killed by mistake, 215 Ursuline convent, 318 42 Van Rensselaer, Mr. remarkable 24 Vale of West Boylston, 526 227 Walker, J., epitaph, 521 Ward, Judge, intrepidity of, 272 Webster, John, epitaph, 421 Webster, Hon. Daniel, residence, 292 Wells, J., escape from the Indians, 23 Whaling song, by Dr. Osborn, 543 Whitman, Eliza, notice of, 481 Whitefield, notice of, monument, &c., Williams, Hon. I., epitaph, 323 Williams, Mrs., killed by Indians, 522 Witchcraft at Danvers,. 117 Witchcraft, notice of, 218 Witchcraft, Cotton Mather's account, |