
Scituate, Massachusetts is a small town on the South Shore of Massachusetts, south of Boston and northwest of the start of Cape Cod. It was first resettled by Europeans starting in 1623, with major resettlement beginning in 1627 and 1628 under the jurisdiction of the General Court at Plymouth. By 1636, it was developed enough to begin managing some of its own affairs.
31 of the earliest families in Scituate came from Kent, England, representing the largest group. Many of these families were from Tenterden and lived on Kent Street in Scituate. A large number also came as partners in the land tract distribution arranged by the Conahasset (or Conihasset) Partnership. Others were followers of Rev. John Lothrup, who went to Scituate after Plymouth and Boston prior to that. Several of the families ended up moving to help resettle Barnstable in 1639. At least two of the early households were led by women.
The Scituate Historical Society maintains a list of Early Scituate Families from the period of 1623-1640. That list can be found below and serves the basis for our project. Other families, however, that settled in town pre-1700 are warmly welcomed into the project.
Resources
Two helpful resources on-line are:
- Early Scituate Families -- basic sketches of early families offered by the Scituate History Society (SHS)
- Vital Records of Scituate, Massachusetts to 1850 -- hosted by Clark University and endorsed by the SHS
SHS List of Early Families
Please note: The list only covers heads of households. Other family members should of course be added.
Years indicate the year of (known) arrival in town.
- Annable, Anthony (1637)
- Adverd (Asford), Henry (1640)
- Alberson, Nicholas (1636)
- Allin, John (1640)
- Bisby (Besbedge), John (1634)
- Bird, Goodman
- Bird, Thomas (1623)
- Bourne, Henry (1637)
- Bryant, John (1639)
- Casely, Edward (1638)
- Chambers, Thomas (1638)
- Chauncy, Rev. Charles (1638)
- Checket, Joseph (1638)
- Chittenden, Isaac (1633)
- Clap, Thomas (1633)
- Cobb, Henry (1633)
- Colman, Joseph (1638)
- Cooper, John (1634)
- Crocker, John (1636)
- Crocker, William (1636)
- Cudworth, Gen. James (1634)
- Curtis, Thomas (1638)
- Curtis, William
- Curtis, Richard (1638)
- Daman, John (1633)
- Dimmick, Thomas (1639)
- Ellms, Rudolphus (1640)
- Ensign, Thomas (1642)
- Ewell, Thomas (1637)
- Fitzrandle, Edward (1638)
- Flood, John (1640)
- Foster, Edward (1633)
- Foxwell, Richard (1634) -- bad information in profile/parentage; needs work
- Fuller, Samuel (1634)
- Garrett, Dea. Richard (1634)
- Gillson, William (1633)
- Granger, John (1640)
- Hallet, John (1638)
- Hamans, William (1638)
- Hanmer, John (1639)
- Hatch, William (Elder) (1634)
- Hatch, Thomas (1634)
- Hatherly, Eglin (1634)
- Hatherly, Timothy (1632)
- Hewes, John (1632)
- Hickes, Thomas (1640)
- Hickes, Robert (1640)
- Hills, Hercules (1634)
- Hinckley, Samuel (1634)
- Hoar, John (1643)
- Holmes, William (1640)
- Hoyt, Goodman (1633)
- Hyland, Thomas (1638)
- Ingham, Thomas (1640)
- Jackson, Samuel (1638)
- Jenkins, Edward (1647)
- Kempton, Ephraim (1639)
- Kendrick, George (1633)
- King, Thomas (1634)
- Lapham, Thomas (1640)
- Lewis, George (1633)
- Lewis, John (1633)
- Linnet, Robert (1639)
- Lombard, Bernard (1633)
- Lothrup, Rev. John
- Mann, Richard (1640)
- Merritt, Henry (1626)
- Palmer, William Jr. (1633)
- Parker, William (1640)
- Pidcoke (Pitcock), George (1640)
- Pincin, Thomas (1636)
- Preble, Abraham (1636)
- Pryor, Thomas (1634)
- Randall, William (1640)
- Rawlins, Thomas (1646)
- Richards, William (1636)
- Robinson, Isaac (1636)
- Sealis, Dea. Richard (1634)
- Shelley, Robert (1636) -- tree needs work
- Stedman, Isaac (1637)
- Stetson, (Cornet?) Robert (1634)
- Stockbridge, John (1638)
- Standlake, Daniel (1636)
- Sutcliffe, Abraham (1640)
- Sutton, George (1638)
- Tarte, Thomas (1640)
- Tichnor, William (1658)
- Tilden, Nathaniel (Elder) (1628)
- Till, James (1639)
- Twisden, John (1639)
- Torrey, Lt.. James (1640)
- Turner, Humphrey (1628)
- Vinal, Ann (1636)
- Vassell, William (1634)
- Wade, Nicholas (1638)
- Wells, Isaac (1638)
- Wermal, James (1638)
- Wiston, John (1636)
- Whitcome, John (1646)
- White, Resolved (1638)
- Wills, William (1639)
- Williams, John (1632)
- Winter, John (1638)
- Willard, George (1638)
- Woodfield, John (1642)
- Woodworth, Walter (1640)