Colonial Period to the Revolution Quincy, Massachusetts

view of mount wollaston appeared in 1840, virtually unchanged time of initial english settlement in 1625. central part of sketch adopted seal of quincy.

massachusett sachem chickatawbut had seat on hill called moswetuset hummock prior settlement of area english colonists, situated east of mouth of neponset river near called squantum. visited in 1621 plymouth colony commander myles standish , squanto, native guide. 4 years later, party led captain wollaston established post on low hill near south shore of quincy bay east of present-day black s creek. settlers found area suitable farming, chickatawbut , group had cleared of land of trees. (the indians used name passonagessit ( little neck of land ) area.) settlement named mount wollaston in honor of leader, left area after 1625, bound virginia. wollaston neighborhood in quincy still retains captain wollaston s name.

upon departure of wollaston, thomas morton took on leadership of post, , settlement proceeded gain reputation debauchery indian women , drunkenness. morton renamed settlement ma-re-mount ( hill sea ) , later wrote conservative separatists of plymouth colony south threatening make woefull mount , not merry mount , in reference fact disapproved of libertine practices. in 1627, morton arrested standish violating code of conduct in way harmful colony. sent england, return , arrested puritans next year. area of quincy called merrymount located on site of original english settlement of 1625 , takes name punning name given morton.

the area first incorporated part of dorchester in 1630 , briefly annexed boston in 1634. area became braintree in 1640, bordered along coast of massachusetts bay dorchester north , weymouth east. beginning in 1708, modern border of quincy first took shape north precinct of braintree.