Weymouth, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth. It is named after Weymouth, Dorset, a coastal town in England.
was 3,174.2 people per square mile (1,225.4/km²). There were 22,573 housing units at an average density of 1,327.1 per square mile (512.4/km²). 75% housing units were owner-occupied and 25% of housing units were renter-occupied. The racial makeup of the city was 69.9% White, 13.1% Black or African American
, 0.2% Native American, 6.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races
, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.6% of the population.
There were 22,028 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families, 37% of which were non-family households with residents over 65 years of age. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,665, and the median income for a family was $64,083. Males had a median income of $42,497 versus $35,963 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,976. About 4.1% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010, CNN/Money named Weymouth as a "Best Place to Live". It ranks 52nd out of 100.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56.0 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.1 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it (21.29%) is water.
Weymouth contains the Weymouth Back River
and the Weymouth Fore River
; its surroundings, formerly industrial, are now set aside as parks and natural areas including Webb Memorial State Park
.
Weymouth residents often designate which of four distinct 'districts' they live in.
Weymouth is bordered on the north by Hingham Bay. Weymouth's territory includes Grape Island
, Slate Island, and Sheep Island, all part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
. Weymouth is bordered on the west by Quincy
, Braintree
, and Holbrook
. It is bordered on the south by Abington
and Rockland
. Weymouth is bordered on the east by Hingham
.
routes as well as three MBTA Commuter Rail
stations: two on the Greenbush Line
, at Weymouth Landing and near Jackson Square
, and one on the Old Colony Line at South Weymouth
. Numbered routes that pass through the town include Massachusetts Routes 3, 3A
, 18, 53
, 58
and 139
.
On July 10, 2007, Mayor David M. Madden
announced he would not seek re-election.
In 2008, Susan Kay was elected as the new mayor of Weymouth.
is the one high school in Weymouth. Prior to 2005, grades eight and nine were housed in Weymouth Junior High while grades ten, eleven, and twelve comprised the High School. This changed with the construction of a new wing on the Junior High building in South Weymouth, which subsequently became the new Weymouth High School housing grades nine through twelve. The old Weymouth High School in East Weymouth was converted into the Maria Weston Chapman Middle School. More than 2,000 students attend the high school. A brand new athletic surface was completed in 2005, giving Weymouth High School an artificial turf field and a track surface.
In 2008 Boston Magazine ranked Weymouth High School number eight among Boston area high schools in academic performance and eighteenth in cost efficiency. http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best_high_school_chart/index.html
There are two middle schools, both in East Weymouth.
Abigail Adams Middle School has now been set for 5th and 6th grades and Maria Weston Chapman Middle School 7th and 8th grades in 2010.
There are eight primary schools and one early childhood center, five of which are named after Weymouth's Congressional Medal of Honor
recipients.
There is one Public Charter School which Weymouth is associated to
In addition, there are five private schools in Weymouth.
, a colony founded by Thomas Weston
, who had been the main backer of the Plymouth
settlement. The settlement was a failure. The sixty men taken from London were ill-prepared for the hardships required for survival. They also may have lacked the motivation of the Pilgrims as this colony was purely economic in motivation and the men had not brought their families.
By winter, poor planning and bad management led to supplies running out. With the Plymouth colonists having few supplies to share, the Weymouth men began to steal from the local Massachusetts
nation. Foraging in cooperation with the Pilgrims and trading with Natives was insufficient, and some colonists began to steal from the natives. By now, many in the colony were ill and all forms of law and order had broken down. The lowest point came when a healthy settler was caught stealing supplies from the Massachusetts and the Massachusetts leaders demanded the thief's execution; the Weymouth men complied but either executed or failed to substitute for execution a dying, sick settler instead.
By April 1623, word of conflict between Native Americans
and the Virginia colonists had reached the north and this increased the tension between the two groups. Massachusetts and other native groups began plotting to attack and destroy what was left of the floundering Wessagusset colony and possibly the more successful Plymouth Colony
. Massasoit
heard about it and sent word to Plymouth. Bradford, fearing that Plymouth would be also be destroyed, sent Myles Standish
to Weymouth with the Plymouth militia to end the threat. Under a banner of truce Standish lured five of the more bellicose Massachusetts Natives inside the stockade. There, after a brief struggle, the native leaders were killed. Ten of the original sixty had starved to death and two others had been killed in conflict with the Natives. Forty-five colonists went north joined Plymouth or went north to Maine, and from there most returned to England. The three who remained were subsequently killed by Native Americans.
Robert Gorges
attempted to form a colony at the site later that year as the center of a more royalist
and Anglican system of government for New England
. He brought William Morrell as religious leader and expected Governor Bradford to acknowledge his supremacy and act as his agent Within weeks the New England winter caused Gorges to leave with most of the settlers. Those who remained formed the nucleus of the permanent settlement. In 1630 it was officially incorporated into the Massachusetts Bay Colony
and in 1635 with the addition of 100 families under the leadership of Joseph Hull
the name of the town was changed to Weymouth. While the integration of these groups did not commence without difficulty, especially due to conflicting pressures from the Puritans of Boston and the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Weymouth was a stable and prominent town with its current boundaries by 1635
industry from the first years of the 18th century right through to 1973, when the Stetson Shoe Company closed its doors. The building is currently being used for medical offices.
Five Weymouth citizens have been awarded the Medal of Honor
making it the city with most Medal of Honor
recipients in the United States: Thomas W. Hamilton, serving in the Civil War; William Seach
, serving in the Boxer Rebellion
in China; Elden Johnson, serving in World War II; Ralph Talbot
, a pilot in World War I; and Frederick C. Murphy
, who also served in World War II.
The original town hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1914, was replaced in 1928 with a town hall that is a replica of the old Massachusetts State House
in Boston. (Another replica of the building can be found at Curry College
in Milton
.)
Norfolk County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Adams National Historical Park* Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area * Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site* John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site-Demographics:...
, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth. It is named after Weymouth, Dorset, a coastal town in England.
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 53,743 people, 22,435 households, and 13,595 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,174.2 people per square mile (1,225.4/km²). There were 22,573 housing units at an average density of 1,327.1 per square mile (512.4/km²). 75% housing units were owner-occupied and 25% of housing units were renter-occupied. The racial makeup of the city was 69.9% White, 13.1% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.2% Native American, 6.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.6% of the population.
There were 22,028 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families, 37% of which were non-family households with residents over 65 years of age. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,665, and the median income for a family was $64,083. Males had a median income of $42,497 versus $35,963 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $24,976. About 4.1% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010, CNN/Money named Weymouth as a "Best Place to Live". It ranks 52nd out of 100.
Geography
Weymouth is located at 42°12′23"N 70°56′45"W (42.206458, -70.945919).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56.0 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.1 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it (21.29%) is water.
Weymouth contains the Weymouth Back River
Weymouth Back River
The Weymouth Back River, sometimes called Back River, is a short, primarily tidal river in Hingham and Weymouth, Massachusetts, about south of Boston...
and the Weymouth Fore River
Weymouth Fore River
Weymouth Fore River is a small bay or estuary in eastern Massachusetts and is part of the Massachusetts Bay watershed.The headwater of Weymouth Fore River is formed by the confluence of the Monatiquot River and Smelt Brook in the Weymouth Landing area of Braintree...
; its surroundings, formerly industrial, are now set aside as parks and natural areas including Webb Memorial State Park
Webb Memorial State Park
Webb Memorial State Park is a Massachusetts state park located on a peninsula that extends nearly half a mile into the Hingham Bay area of Boston Harbor. It is composed of three connected drumlins and a low marsh area...
.
Weymouth residents often designate which of four distinct 'districts' they live in.
- North Weymouth is considered anything north of the intersection of Church Street, North Street and Green Street. Some of the sites around North Weymouth are Great Esker ParkGreat Esker ParkGreat Esker Park is a geological formation along the Weymouth Back River in Weymouth, Massachusetts.This area was formed by a glacier 12,000 years ago...
, George Lane Beach, Webb State Park, the Wessagusset Yacht Club, Boston skyline views, and the Abigail Adams Historical Society. It also includes up and coming waterfront property that rivals similar in pricier towns. - South Weymouth is mostly south of Route 3.
- East Weymouth is somewhat in the center of Weymouth, including Whitman's Pond, Jackson Square, and Town Hall. East Weymouth has several fine examples of Victorian homes, including Queen Anne, shingle, and colonial revival homes. Some particularly fine examples of these homes are being restored on Hillcrest Road.
- Weymouth Landing spans a mile around Weston Park.
Weymouth is bordered on the north by Hingham Bay. Weymouth's territory includes Grape Island
Grape Island (Massachusetts)
Grape Island is an island in the Hingham Bay area of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. The island is part of the territory of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts. The island has a permanent size of , plus an intertidal zone of a further , and is composed of two drumlins, reaching...
, Slate Island, and Sheep Island, all part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area situated among the islands of Boston Harbor of Boston, Massachusetts. The area is made up of a collection of islands, together with a former island and a peninsula, many of which are open for public recreation and some...
. Weymouth is bordered on the west by Quincy
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, Braintree
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
, and Holbrook
Holbrook, Massachusetts
Holbrook is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. At the 2010 census, the town population was 10,791.- History :Before European settlement, the area now known as Holbrook, Massachusetts, like all of New England, had long been inhabited by Algonquian-speaking peoples.Holbrook was...
. It is bordered on the south by Abington
Abington, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,605 people, 5,263 households, and 3,747 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,469.1 people per square mile . There were 5,348 housing units at an average density of 538.0 per square mile...
and Rockland
Rockland, Massachusetts
Rockland is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The 2010 census records its population at 17,489. As of December 31, 2009, there are 11,809 registered voters in the community.-History:...
. Weymouth is bordered on the east by Hingham
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
.
Transportation
Weymouth is served by several MBTA BusMBTA Bus
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operates a large number of bus lines in the greater Boston area. Some routes are for transport within the city; others bring passengers from surrounding areas to stops on the rail lines of the MBTA.The MBTA also operates bus rapid transit service; see...
routes as well as three MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
stations: two on the Greenbush Line
Greenbush Line
The Greenbush Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system. The line restores service along the New Haven Railroad's Greenbush Branch, from downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the towns of Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset, and Scituate on the South Shore of Boston...
, at Weymouth Landing and near Jackson Square
East Weymouth (MBTA station)
East Weymouth Station is a rail station on the MBTA Commuter Rail system in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The station, located at 1590 Commercial Street, is the fifth of ten along the MBTA's Greenbush Line, which provides service between Scituate and Boston. The line, which reopened on October 31,...
, and one on the Old Colony Line at South Weymouth
South Weymouth (MBTA station)
South Weymouth is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Plymouth/Kingston Line. The station was originally built in either 1845 or 1846 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, and was located at 85 Pond Street at Hollis & Derby Streets...
. Numbered routes that pass through the town include Massachusetts Routes 3, 3A
Massachusetts Route 3A
Route 3A is a state highway in eastern Massachusetts, which parallels Route 3 and U.S. Route 3 from Cedarville in southern Plymouth to Tyngsborough at the New Hampshire state line....
, 18, 53
Massachusetts Route 53
-History:Route 53 follows the former routing of the Kingston to Quincy section of Route 3 which was moved onto the Southeast Expressway and Pilgrim's Highway expressway when they were fully completed in 1963...
, 58
Massachusetts Route 58
Route 58 is a south–north highway in southeastern Massachusetts. For all but its final , the route lies within Plymouth County.-Route description:...
and 139
Massachusetts Route 139
Route 139 is nominally a west–east state highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 139 begins in Stoughton Square at the southern junction of the Route 27 and 138 concurrency. The highway heads northeast until the junction with Route 24, at which point the highway heads...
.
Government
Weymouth was Founded in 1635, from the territory known as Wessagusett which was described in 1622—just two years after the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. Weymouth held the distinction of having the oldest-continuous Town Meeting form of government for 365 years. In 1999, Weymouth residents voted to change to a city form of government. David M. Madden was elected as the city's first mayor and took office in the year 2000. Weymouth is home to one of the youngest councils in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with four elected officials 35 years or younger. Kevin Whitaker, 35, Victor Pap, 34, Arthur Matthews, 30, and Patrick O'Connor, 25.On July 10, 2007, Mayor David M. Madden
David M. Madden
David M. Madden is the former mayor of Weymouth, Massachusetts. He was born at South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth. He is married to Dr. Helena Madden and has two children, Heather and Patrick, who now both are grown and currently reside in Weymouth....
announced he would not seek re-election.
In 2008, Susan Kay was elected as the new mayor of Weymouth.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 15, 2008 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of Voters | Percentage |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
12,254 | 35.45% |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
3,690 | 10.68% |
Unenrolled | 18,497 | 53.52% |
Minor Parties | 123 | 0.36% | |
| Total | 34,564 | 100% | |||||||||||||
Education
Weymouth High SchoolWeymouth High School
Weymouth High School is a comprehensive public high school located in Weymouth, Massachusetts that serves students in grades nine through twelve...
is the one high school in Weymouth. Prior to 2005, grades eight and nine were housed in Weymouth Junior High while grades ten, eleven, and twelve comprised the High School. This changed with the construction of a new wing on the Junior High building in South Weymouth, which subsequently became the new Weymouth High School housing grades nine through twelve. The old Weymouth High School in East Weymouth was converted into the Maria Weston Chapman Middle School. More than 2,000 students attend the high school. A brand new athletic surface was completed in 2005, giving Weymouth High School an artificial turf field and a track surface.
In 2008 Boston Magazine ranked Weymouth High School number eight among Boston area high schools in academic performance and eighteenth in cost efficiency. http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best_high_school_chart/index.html
There are two middle schools, both in East Weymouth.
- Abigail Adams Middle School
- Maria Weston Chapman Middle School
Abigail Adams Middle School has now been set for 5th and 6th grades and Maria Weston Chapman Middle School 7th and 8th grades in 2010.
There are eight primary schools and one early childhood center, five of which are named after Weymouth's Congressional Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipients.
- Academy Avenue Primary
- Frederick C. Murphy Primary
- Thomas V. Nash Jr. Primary
- Lawrence W. Pingree Primary
- William Seach Primary
- Ralph Talbot Primary
- Union Street Primary (now renamed Thomas W. Hamilton School but still sometimes called by the former name)
- Wessagusset Primary
- Elden H. Johnson Early Childhood Center
There is one Public Charter School which Weymouth is associated to
- South Shore Charter Public School (located in Norwell Massachusetts)
In addition, there are five private schools in Weymouth.
- South Shore Christian Academy, an independent, Christian college preparatory day school for students in grades K-12. SSCA also operates a pre-school program.
- Saint Jerome Elementary School, a Catholic elementary school for grades Pre K-8.
- Sacred Heart Elementary School, a Catholic elementary school under the direction of the Archdiocese of Boston for grades Pre K-8.
- First Baptist Christian, an elementary school for grades Pre K-8, under the direction of the First Baptist Church of Weymouth.
- St. Francis Xavier, a Catholic elementary school under the direction of St. Francis Parish.
A failed colony
The site of Weymouth first saw European inhabitants in 1622 as Wessagusset ColonyWessagusset Colony
Wessagusset Colony was a short-lived English trading colony in New England located in present-day Weymouth, Massachusetts. It was settled in August 1622 by between fifty and sixty colonists who were ill-prepared for colonial life...
, a colony founded by Thomas Weston
Thomas Weston
Thomas Weston may refer to:* Thomas Weston - Australian horticulturalist* Thomas Weston - British actor* Thomas Weston, 4th Earl of Portland * Thomas Crowley Weston - Cook Islands justice...
, who had been the main backer of the Plymouth
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
settlement. The settlement was a failure. The sixty men taken from London were ill-prepared for the hardships required for survival. They also may have lacked the motivation of the Pilgrims as this colony was purely economic in motivation and the men had not brought their families.
By winter, poor planning and bad management led to supplies running out. With the Plymouth colonists having few supplies to share, the Weymouth men began to steal from the local Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
nation. Foraging in cooperation with the Pilgrims and trading with Natives was insufficient, and some colonists began to steal from the natives. By now, many in the colony were ill and all forms of law and order had broken down. The lowest point came when a healthy settler was caught stealing supplies from the Massachusetts and the Massachusetts leaders demanded the thief's execution; the Weymouth men complied but either executed or failed to substitute for execution a dying, sick settler instead.
By April 1623, word of conflict between Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
and the Virginia colonists had reached the north and this increased the tension between the two groups. Massachusetts and other native groups began plotting to attack and destroy what was left of the floundering Wessagusset colony and possibly the more successful Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
. Massasoit
Massasoit
Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin ,was the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket, and "Massasoit" of the Wampanoag Confederacy. The term Massasoit means Great Sachem.-Early years:...
heard about it and sent word to Plymouth. Bradford, fearing that Plymouth would be also be destroyed, sent Myles Standish
Myles Standish
Myles Standish was an English military officer hired by the Pilgrims as military advisor for Plymouth Colony. One of the Mayflower passengers, Standish played a leading role in the administration and defense of Plymouth Colony from its inception...
to Weymouth with the Plymouth militia to end the threat. Under a banner of truce Standish lured five of the more bellicose Massachusetts Natives inside the stockade. There, after a brief struggle, the native leaders were killed. Ten of the original sixty had starved to death and two others had been killed in conflict with the Natives. Forty-five colonists went north joined Plymouth or went north to Maine, and from there most returned to England. The three who remained were subsequently killed by Native Americans.
Robert Gorges
Robert gorges
Robert Gorges was a Captain in the English navy and briefly Governor-General of New England from 1623 to 1624. He was the son of Sir Ferdinando Gorges...
attempted to form a colony at the site later that year as the center of a more royalist
Royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of government, but not necessarily a particular monarch...
and Anglican system of government for New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. He brought William Morrell as religious leader and expected Governor Bradford to acknowledge his supremacy and act as his agent Within weeks the New England winter caused Gorges to leave with most of the settlers. Those who remained formed the nucleus of the permanent settlement. In 1630 it was officially incorporated into the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
and in 1635 with the addition of 100 families under the leadership of Joseph Hull
Joseph Hull
Rev. Joseph Hull led a company of 106 which sailed from England to Massachusetts in 1635 and was known as the Hull Colony.Hull was born in Crewkerne, Somerset and graduated from Oxford in 1614. He was ordained in 1619, and served as teacher, curate and minister of Colyton, Devonshire...
the name of the town was changed to Weymouth. While the integration of these groups did not commence without difficulty, especially due to conflicting pressures from the Puritans of Boston and the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Weymouth was a stable and prominent town with its current boundaries by 1635
Post Colonization
Weymouth was heavily involved in the shoemakingShoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
industry from the first years of the 18th century right through to 1973, when the Stetson Shoe Company closed its doors. The building is currently being used for medical offices.
Five Weymouth citizens have been awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
making it the city with most Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipients in the United States: Thomas W. Hamilton, serving in the Civil War; William Seach
William Seach
William Seach was an American sailor serving in the United States Navy during the Boxer Rebellion who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, serving in the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in China; Elden Johnson, serving in World War II; Ralph Talbot
Ralph Talbot
Ralph Talbot was the first United States Marine Corps aviator to receive the Medal of Honor — for "exceptionally meritorious service and extraordinary heroism" while attached to Squadron C, U.S...
, a pilot in World War I; and Frederick C. Murphy
Frederick C. Murphy
Frederick C. Murphy was a recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II while a member of the US 65th Infantry Division.-Medal of Honor citation:*Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S...
, who also served in World War II.
The original town hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1914, was replaced in 1928 with a town hall that is a replica of the old Massachusetts State House
Old State House (Boston)
The Old State House is a historic government building located at the intersection of Washington and State Streets in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Built in 1713, it is the oldest surviving public building in Boston, and the seat of the state's legislature until 1798. It is now a history museum...
in Boston. (Another replica of the building can be found at Curry College
Curry College
Curry College is a private liberal arts-based institution in Milton, Massachusetts that started as the School of Elocution in 1879.-History:...
in Milton
Milton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
.)
Points of interest
- Weymouth is home to the house where Abigail AdamsAbigail AdamsAbigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth...
, wife of President John AdamsJohn AdamsJohn Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and mother to President John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, was born. - A portion of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station, which was closed in 1996 under the Base Realignment and ClosureBase Realignment and ClosureBase Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
Act, was located in Weymouth. - South Weymouth Naval Air Station has been slated for development which will be called South Field. Plans include a parkway, residences, a sports facility and a movie studio.
Notable residents
- Abigail AdamsAbigail AdamsAbigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth...
, wife of President John Adams - Chris BagleyChris BagleyChris Bagley is an American soccer player who currently plays for Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
, an American soccer player. - James L. BatesJames L. BatesJames L. Bates was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War who was awarded the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general after the war. He was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts and, in civilian life, was a merchant in the leather trade.-Civil War:On June 26, 1861, Bates was...
, a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War - Robert BeaversRobert BeaversRobert Beavers is an American experimental filmmaker. Born and raised in Massachusetts, he attended Deerfield Academy which he left before graduating to move to New York in 1965 to pursue filmmaking...
, experimental filmmaker - Tobin BellTobin BellTobin Bell is an American film and television character actor. After years of work doing stand-ins and background work on films, he got his first major acting job in Mississippi Burning and went on to star in made-for-television films and guest star in television shows throughout the 1990s.Bell...
, actor, most known for his role as Jigsaw in the movie SawSawA saw is a tool that uses a hard blade or wire with an abrasive edge to cut through softer materials. The cutting edge of a saw is either a serrated blade or an abrasive... - Rodney ButcherRodney ButcherRodney Butcher is an American professional golfer.Butcher was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. He went to Florida Southern College and graduated in 1992 with a degree in finance. He turned pro that same year.Butcher played on the Nike Tour full-time in 1998...
, professional golfer - Marcy CarseyMarcy CarseyMarcy Carsey is American television producer. She is best known for her work with fellow producer Tom Werner forming the company Carsey-Werner Productions in 1981.-Life and career:...
, influential American television writer/producer - RobRob CorddryRobert William "Rob" Corddry is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his work as a former correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and for his starring role in the comedy film Hot Tub Time Machine...
and Nate CorddryNate CorddryNathan "Nate" Corddry is an American actor best known for his television roles on programs such as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Daily Show, United States of Tara and Harry's Law. He played Private First Class Loudmouth in the HBO miniseries The Pacific...
, correspondents for The Daily ShowThe Daily ShowThe Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998... - William CranchWilliam CranchWilliam Cranch was an American judge and the second reporter of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States.-Early life:Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, he was a nephew of Abigail Adams...
, an American judge and the second reporter of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States - Dick Donovan, professional baseball player
- Hal HolbrookHal HolbrookHarold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook, Jr. is an American actor. His television roles include Abraham Lincoln in the 1976 TV series Lincoln, Hays Stowe on The Bold Ones: The Senator and Capt. Lloyd Bucher on Pueblo. He is also known for his role in the 2007 film Into the Wild, for which he was nominated for...
, Academy AwardAcademy Award for Best Supporting ActorPerformance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
-nominated actor - Mark HoldenMark Holden (ice hockey)Mark Holden is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played four games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and four games for the Winnipeg Jets.-External links:...
, professional hockey goaltender for the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and Winnipeg JetsWinnipeg JetsThe Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA... - Newland H. HolmesNewland H. HolmesNewland H. Holmes was a Massachusetts politician who served as President of the Massachusetts Senate from 1957 to 1958. He was born in Brockton, Massachusetts....
, a Massachusetts politician who served as President of the Massachusetts Senate from 1957-1958. - Dan HowleyDan HowleyDaniel Philip "Dapper Dan" Howley was a Major League Baseball manager with the St. Louis Browns and the Cincinnati Reds. His first year as manager of the Browns saw his team lose 94 games and finish 50½ games behind the legendary 1927 New York Yankees. He stayed two more years in St. Louis, with...
, a Major League Baseball manager with the St. Louis Browns and the Cincinnati Reds - Elden H. JohnsonElden H. JohnsonElden H. Johnson was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
, a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II. - George JungGeorge JungGeorge Jacob Jung , nicknamed "Boston George", was a major player in the cocaine trade in the United States in the 1970s and early 1980s. Jung was a part of the Medellín Cartel which was responsible for up to 85 percent of the cocaine smuggled into the United States . He specialized in the...
, aka "Boston George", subject of the 2001 film BlowBlow (film)Blow is a 2001 biopic about the American cocaine smuggler George Jung, directed by Ted Demme. David McKenna and Nick Cassavetes adapted Bruce Porter's 1993 book Blow: How a Small Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellín Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All for the screenplay. It is based on the real...
, highly successful member of the Medellín Drug Cartel - Tim KaralexisTim KaralexisTim Karalexis is an American soccer player, currently without a club.-Youth and College:Karalexis attended Weymouth High School, graduating in 1998. While at Weymouth, he led the school’s soccer team to the Massachusetts Division I championship and was named the Boston Globe Division I Player of...
, professional American soccer player - Pete KendallPete KendallPeter Marcus Kendall is a retired American football player in the National Football League who most recently played left guard for the Washington Redskins.- High school and college :...
, professional football player - Gilbert N Lewis, physical chemist
- George LittleGeorge Little-People:*George Little, Pentagon/Department of Defense Press Secretary*George Little , English TV actor and father of Tasmin Little*George Little , American football and basketball coach, 1914–1926...
, U.S. Naval Officer, Two destroyers have been named USS LittleUSS LittleTwo ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Little for Captain George Little.*USS Little , was a Wickes-class destroyer, launched in 1918. In 1940 she was later redesignated a high-speed transport, APD-4. She was sunk in action off Guadalcanal in 1942.*USS Little , was a Fletcher-class...
in his honor. - Dave LindstromDave LindstromDavid Alan "Dave" Lindstrom ia a former American football defensive end in the National Football League playing eight seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs...
, former professional football player for Kansas City Chiefs - Charles G. LongCharles G. LongMajor GeneralCharles Grant Long was the second Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was also a recipient of the Marine Corps Brevet Medal.-Biography:...
, the second Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was a recipient of the Marine Corps Brevet Medal. - Allan R. McKinnonAllan R. McKinnonAllan Robert McKinnon is a former Massachusetts politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate from 1971 to 1985, Deputy Secretary of Transportation from 1985 to 1988, and Chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority from 1988 to 1996....
, a former Massachusetts politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate from 1970–1984, Deputy Secretary of Transportation from 1985–1988, and Chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority from 1988–1996 - Patrick V. McNamaraPatrick V. McNamaraPatrick Vincent McNamara was a Democratic United States Senator from the state of Michigan.McNamara was born in North Weymouth, Massachusetts and attended the public schools in nearby Weymouth and the Fore River Apprentice School in Quincy. He moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1921, and became active...
, a Democratic United States Senator (1955–1966) from the state of Michigan. - Joe MulliganJoe MulliganJoseph Ignatius Mulligan [Big Joe] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the season. Listed at 6' 4", 210 lb., Mulligan batted and threw right-handed...
, a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the 1934 season - Bob NeumeierBob NeumeierRobin "Bob" Neumeier is an American sportscaster for NBC Sports and Comcast SportsNet New England, specializing in thoroughbred horse racing. Neumeier is originally from Weymouth, Massachusetts and is a 1972 graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in television and...
, an American sportscaster for NBC Sports - Richard Robbins, Academy AwardAcademy Award for Original Music ScoreThe Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:...
-nominated film scoreFilm scoreA film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media... - Bobby SheehanBobby Sheehan (ice hockey)Robert Richard Sheehan is a retired National Hockey League center.-Career:A small player by hockey standards, Sheehan made up for his physical deficits by leading the NSJHL minor league with 64 goals his rookie year...
, former professional hockey player from 1969–1983 - Mark ShieldsMark ShieldsMark Shields is an American political columnist and commentator.Since 1988, Shields has provided weekly political analysis and commentary for PBS’ award-winning PBS NewsHour. His current sparring partner is David Brooks of The New York Times. Previous counterparts were the late William Safire,...
, political pundit and liberal commentator - Ralph TalbotRalph TalbotRalph Talbot was the first United States Marine Corps aviator to receive the Medal of Honor — for "exceptionally meritorious service and extraordinary heroism" while attached to Squadron C, U.S...
, the first United States Marine Corps aviator to be awarded the Medal of Honor — for "exceptionally meritorious service and extraordinary heroism" while attached to Squadron C, U.S. 1st Marine Aviation Force, in France during World War I. - Albert TirrellAlbert TirrellAlbert Jackson Tirrell was a man whose trial for the murder of the prostitute for whom he had left his wife scandalized Boston society in 1846...
, first person acquitted of murder in the United States using the sleepwalkingSleepwalkingSleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. Sleepwalkers arise from the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness...
defense - Thomas A. WatsonThomas A. WatsonThomas Augustus Watson was an assistant to Alexander Graham Bell, notably in the invention of the telephone in 1876. He is best known because his name was one of the first words spoken over the telephone. "Mr. Watson - Come here - I want to see you." were the first words Bell said using the new...
, assistant to Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone - Frank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
, architect, lived in Weymouth briefly as a child when his father was a minister at the Weymouth Unitarian Universalist Church - David S. Wyman, author of several books on the responses of the United States to Nazi Germany's persecution of and programs to exterminate Jews
- Paul ZukauskasPaul ZukauskasPaul Malcolm Zukauskas is a former American football player. He played college football at Boston College. He was drafted in the 7th round by the Cleveland Browns in 2001 NFL Draft and played for the Browns from 2001-2004....
, professional football player, Cleveland Browns - Charlie CoyleCharlie CoyleCharlie Coyle is an American ice hockey forward currently playing for the Boston University Terriers of the Hockey East as a prospect for the Minnesota Wild...
- Warren G. PhillipsWarren G. PhillipsWarren G. Phillips was born in Weymouth, MA. He was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas in 2010. Phillips recorded and produced three CD’s of Science Songs entitled Sing-A-Long Science teaching the science standards...
, Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of FameNational Teachers Hall of FameThe National Teachers Hall of Fame is an American non-profit organization honoring exceptional school teachers. It was founded in 1989 by Emporia State University, the ESU Alumni Association, the City of Emporia, USD 253, and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce...
in 2010.
External links
- Town of Weymouth
- The Weymouth News
- Weymouth History
- Answer Book/Weymouth: Everything you need to know