Merrymount is a primarily residential neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts, USA, located between the neighborhoods of Quincy Center and Adams Shore.[1] Although it was the site of Quincy's initial settlement, Merrymount was not substantially developed for residential use until the first half of the 20th century, and most of the neighborhood's houses date from that period.[1][2]
View of Mount Wollaston ("Merrymount") as it appeared in 1840, virtually unchanged from the time of initial English settlement in 1625. The central part of this sketch was adopted as the seal of Quincy.
Merrymount takes its name from the colony of Mare Mount, also known as Merry Mount or Merrymount. Colonist Thomas Morton wrote that the natives called the area "Passonagessit" and that the inhabitants translated this to "ma-re mount".[3] The colony, established in 1625, was officially named Mount Wollaston by the Puritan separatists, but as Morton and other non-Puritans gained influence in the area, the name Merry Mount gained common use. In 1627, Morton and others erected a maypole and conducted a May Day Revel, inviting both colonists and natives. William Bradford indicated that Morton and other English men at Merrymount had been "inviting the Indian [people] (both men and women), for their consorts, dancing and frisking together, (like so many fairies, or furies rather,) and worse practices."[4] This was the inspiration for the Nathaniel Hawthorne short story "The May-Pole of Merry Mount." The Puritan Separatists at Plymouth were scandalized and made concerted efforts to repress Morton and what they considered to be his pagan leanings. Finally, in 1630, with the arrival of Governor Winthrop and 900 more Puritans to what would become Boston, the combined Puritans were able to arrest and deport Morton, and the colony of Mount Wollaston/Merrymount was officially dissolved. In 1637 Morton published a book about his experience at Merrymount where he indicated that English colonists may have had relationships with Indian women who bore children whose eyes "were gray."[5]
The land of the former colony was absorbed by Boston in 1634, then six years later made part of Braintree. The land was eventually sold to an ancestor of Abigail Adams and came to be owned by the Adams family.[6] Prior to this point, the Merrymount area had been home to a substantial Native American population.[2] In 1792, Braintree was divided into several smaller towns, and much of what was once Mount Wollaston was incorporated as the new town of Quincy.
The area that is now Merrymount remained in the Adams' possession until the early 20th century, at which point it was sold off as housing lots. Development consisted mainly of single-family houses and was largely completed by the post-World War II era.[2] A contemporary account from that period describes Merrymount as "the nicest section of Quincy."[7]
Todayedit
Merrymount, as it is currently recognized, is bordered to the north by Quincy Bay, to the west by Black's Creek, to the south by Quincy Center, and to the east by Adams Shore. Landmarks include the Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Maypole Hill and Merrymount Elementary School. Recently, the city placed a stone monument to the first settlement in the neighborhood.
^ abGordon, Heather (2004). Newcomer's Handbook For Moving To And Living In Boston. First Books. p. 135. ISBN0-912301-54-6. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
^ abc. Archived from the original on July 13, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
^Thomas Morton. "New English Canaan", Chapter XIV; published 1637
^Herring, James; Longacre, James Barton (1853). The National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans. D. Rice & A.N. Hart. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
^Frommer, Myrna Katz; Frommer, Harvey (1999). Growing Up Jewish In America. Sylvia Skoler Portnoy. University of Nebraska Press. p. 33. ISBN0-8032-6900-5. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
merrymount, quincy, massachusetts, merrymount, primarily, residential, neighborhood, quincy, massachusetts, located, between, neighborhoods, quincy, center, adams, shore, although, site, quincy, initial, settlement, merrymount, substantially, developed, reside. Merrymount is a primarily residential neighborhood of Quincy Massachusetts USA located between the neighborhoods of Quincy Center and Adams Shore 1 Although it was the site of Quincy s initial settlement Merrymount was not substantially developed for residential use until the first half of the 20th century and most of the neighborhood s houses date from that period 1 2 View of Mount Wollaston Merrymount as it appeared in 1840 virtually unchanged from the time of initial English settlement in 1625 The central part of this sketch was adopted as the seal of Quincy Contents 1 History 2 Today 3 Notable residents 4 References 5 External linksHistory editMerrymount takes its name from the colony of Mare Mount also known as Merry Mount or Merrymount Colonist Thomas Morton wrote that the natives called the area Passonagessit and that the inhabitants translated this to ma re mount 3 The colony established in 1625 was officially named Mount Wollaston by the Puritan separatists but as Morton and other non Puritans gained influence in the area the name Merry Mount gained common use In 1627 Morton and others erected a maypole and conducted a May Day Revel inviting both colonists and natives William Bradford indicated that Morton and other English men at Merrymount had been inviting the Indian people both men and women for their consorts dancing and frisking together like so many fairies or furies rather and worse practices 4 This was the inspiration for the Nathaniel Hawthorne short story The May Pole of Merry Mount The Puritan Separatists at Plymouth were scandalized and made concerted efforts to repress Morton and what they considered to be his pagan leanings Finally in 1630 with the arrival of Governor Winthrop and 900 more Puritans to what would become Boston the combined Puritans were able to arrest and deport Morton and the colony of Mount Wollaston Merrymount was officially dissolved In 1637 Morton published a book about his experience at Merrymount where he indicated that English colonists may have had relationships with Indian women who bore children whose eyes were gray 5 The land of the former colony was absorbed by Boston in 1634 then six years later made part of Braintree The land was eventually sold to an ancestor of Abigail Adams and came to be owned by the Adams family 6 Prior to this point the Merrymount area had been home to a substantial Native American population 2 In 1792 Braintree was divided into several smaller towns and much of what was once Mount Wollaston was incorporated as the new town of Quincy The area that is now Merrymount remained in the Adams possession until the early 20th century at which point it was sold off as housing lots Development consisted mainly of single family houses and was largely completed by the post World War II era 2 A contemporary account from that period describes Merrymount as the nicest section of Quincy 7 Today editMerrymount as it is currently recognized is bordered to the north by Quincy Bay to the west by Black s Creek to the south by Quincy Center and to the east by Adams Shore Landmarks include the Mount Wollaston Cemetery Maypole Hill and Merrymount Elementary School Recently the city placed a stone monument to the first settlement in the neighborhood Notable residents editDick Flavin Poet Laureat of Red Sox Nation 8 Joseph Dunford 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 9 James McConville Chief of Staff of the United States Army 10 References edit a b Gordon Heather 2004 Newcomer s Handbook For Moving To And Living In Boston First Books p 135 ISBN 0 912301 54 6 Retrieved October 23 2008 a b c Quincy neighborhoods Archived from the original on July 13 2009 Retrieved July 14 2009 Thomas Morton New English Canaan Chapter XIV published 1637 William Bradford Of Plymouth Plantation 1651 Thomas Morton The New English Canaan 1637 Herring James Longacre James Barton 1853 The National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans D Rice amp A N Hart p 1 Retrieved October 22 2008 Frommer Myrna Katz Frommer Harvey 1999 Growing Up Jewish In America Sylvia Skoler Portnoy University of Nebraska Press p 33 ISBN 0 8032 6900 5 Retrieved October 22 2008 http archive boston com news local articles 2008 06 26 flavin got the best tip with howard https www patriotledger com article 20150505 NEWS 150508438 1 https quincy wickedlocal com news 20190329 quincy native james mcconville nominated as army chief of staffExternal links editWoodbury C L Genealogical Sketches 1904 J B Clarke Company The Maypole in New England pg 50 via archive org 42 15 45 N 70 59 43 W 42 2626 N 70 9953 W 42 2626 70 9953 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merrymount Quincy Massachusetts amp oldid 1191621269, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
