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Kingston Public Library |
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6 Green Street, Kingston Massachusetts 02364 781-585-0517 |
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Local History: Kingston
Preserving the heritage of the community is an important role of the
public library. Our Local History Room strives to enhance the understanding
of Kingston's history through services we offer and items from our Special
Collections such as essays, letters, diaries, photographs, and maps
detailing the history of Kingston. This page connects you to people,
places, and events that have become a part of Kingston's history. |
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Click on one of the following
links for information on these Kingston subjects: |
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Some of the information below may require you to have an Adobe Reader. Click here for more information. To return to the Local History Page click here.
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Kingston Histories |
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Histories have been written by various residents throughout Kingston's 280 years. A selection of these histories are listed below. Click on the link to read the full text article. A Sketch of Kingston, Massachusetts, by Rev. Zephaniah Willis. Feb. 14th 1815 (This paper was copied from the manuscript copy made by Mr. Cornelius Bartlett of Kingston. Emily Drew typed this copy on February 14, 1935. Handwritten notes are hers.) Oration by Rev. Joseph F. Lovering given for the 150th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Kingston June 27, 1876 (taken from the Report of the Proceedings and Exercises at the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Kingston, Mass. June 27, 1876) Historical Sketch, by Dr. T. B. Drew given for the 150th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Kingston June 27, 1876 (taken from the Report of the Proceedings and Exercises at the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of Kingston, Mass. June 27, 1876) A Historical Sketch of Kingston, Massachusetts by Dr. Thomas Bradford Drew (read at Kingston, Friday evening, Feb.26, 1897 for the Adams' Free Lecture Course) Kingston, Massachusetts by Ethel Hobart (Published in the New England Magazine for July 1905.) |
Kingston Timeline |
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Click here to view a timeline of Kingston events during the twentieth-century.
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Hall of Fame: Kingston's notable residents |
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| Listed below are Kingston residents, who are remembered for their contributions and accomplishments. This is not a complete list, but merely a list that highlights some of the more notable Kingstonians. For biographies and images (if available), click on the name listed. | |
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | |
| Frederic C. Adams (1821–1874): benefactor of the first public library in Kingston | |
| Helen Adair Hammond Adams (1883–1962): Kingston historian and (antique) collector. Click here to view the Helen Adair Hammond Adams Papers finding aid. |
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| Horatio Adams (1845–1911): benefactor of the first public library in Kingston | |
| Lydia T. Adams (1821-1908): teacher and (antique mirror) collector. Click here to view the Lydia T. Adams Letters finding aid. | |
Sarah DeNormandie Bailey (1865-1932): author, businesswoman, and prominent Kingston resident |
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| Cornelius Bartlett (1811-1880): Kingston historian. Click here to view the Cornelius A. Bartlett Papers finding aid. | |
| Uriah Bartlett (1789-1883): prominent Kingston resident | |
| Ada Brewster (1842-1929): artist. Click here to view the Ada Brewster Collection finding aid. | |
| Ruth Chandler (1894-1978): children's author. Click here to view the Ruth Forbes Chandler Collection finding aid. |
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| Ebenezer Cobb (1694-1801): oldest Kingston resident (he lived in three centuries!) | |
| Charles H. Drew (1853-1937): prominent Kingston resident, also involved with Water Department and C. Drew and Company. Click here to view the Charles Drew Diaries finding aid. | |
| Emily Fuller Drew (1881-1959): Kingston historian. Click here to view the Emily Fuller Drew Collection finding aid. | |
| Seth Drew, Major (1747-1824) | |
| Thomas B. Drew, II (1834-1898): dentist, Kingston historian and first curator / librarian of Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth. Click here to view the Thomas Bradford Drew Collection finding aid. | |
Wylie Ellis (1818-1896): founder of the Ellis School for Boys |
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| Walter H. Faunce (1832-1930): prominent Kingston resident, very much involved in agriculture and local politics. Click here to view the Walter H. Faunce Diaries finding aid. |
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| Helen Desire Foster (1900-1998): first practicing woman commercial artist in Boston and designer of the Town Seal | |
| Edward Holmes (1806-1888): prominent shipbuilder; built and launched the last vessel (the Helen A. Holmes) during Kingston's shipbuilding years |
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| Helen Holmes (1865-1938): prominent Kingston resident, founder of Jones River Village Club, dean of two colleges, head of Maison International House in Geneva, Switzerland. Click here to view the Helen Holmes Papers finding aid. |
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| Joseph Holmes (1772-1863): prominent shipbuilder | |
| Lothrop Holmes (1824-1899): famous decoy carver. Click here to view the Lothrop Holmes Papers finding aid. | |
| Dolly Bryant Bates Hyde (1826-1908): author of Four Years on the Pacific Coast | |
| Henry M. Jones (1859-1926): author of Ship of Kingston. Click here to view the Henry M. Jones Collection finding aid. | |
| Henry Keith (1827-1909): storekeeper and winner of the Louisiana lottery | |
| Jennie McLaughlin (1868-1947):first public librarian in Kingston. Click here to view the Jennie F. McLauthlen Papers finding aid. | |
| William H. Myrick (1828-1910):storekeeper | |
| Edward Ransom (1845-1922): captain and boat builder known for his improvements on the lobster boat |
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| Jesse Reed (1778-1867): inventor | |
| Catherine Drew Russell (1839-1910): teacher, poet, and musician | |
| Elizabeth B. Sampson (1868-1958): philanthropist |
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| Simeon Samson(1736-1789): first naval captain appointed by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War and captain of the brig Independence | |
| Martha Sever (1839-1864): nurse who served and died during the Civil War | |
| George Shiverick (1870-1943): famous shipbuilder | |
| John Thomas, General (1724-1776): Kingston physician, General in General George Washington's staff who assisted in the evacuation of Boston by the British during the Revolutionary War | |
| John Thomas, Colonel (1766-1852): merchant and Colonel in Massachusetts Militia | |
| Peleg Wadsworth, General (1778 - 1829): Revolutionary War General and Grandfather of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | |
| “Uncle” Seth Washburn Jr. (1769-1860): co-founder of Stony Brook Iron Works and local character | |
| Thomas Willett (1611-1674): first Mayor of New York | |
Places Around Town |
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| The following information is taken from research originally completed by Emily Fuller Drew in 1933. | |
Town Government |
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| List
of Selectmen 1726 to present
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Minutes from early meetings: coming soon! |
| History of Town Seal | List of Town Clerks |
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List of when Town Departments were created: coming soon! |
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Kingston Veterans |
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| Revolutionary War: list of Kingston residents who served | Civil War: list of Kingston residents who served |
return to top of page |
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Cemeteries |
| Old Burying Ground: for a listing of who is buried in the Old Burial Ground |
| St. Joseph Cemetery: private cemetery. For more information contact St. Joseph's Church at 781-585-6679 |
| Evergreen Cemetery: private cemetery - limited records are available through the Library. For more information contact the Evergreen Cemetery Association at 781-585-4507 |
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© All rights reserved. Town of Kingston, Kingston Public Library. For more information please write to Kingston Public Library, 6 Green Street, Kingston Massachusetts 02364 or email the Library Director at sstewart@kingstonpubliclibrary.org. For suggestions on how we can improve our services, please email suggestions@kingstonpubliclibrary.org. The Kingston Public Library is a member of the Old Colony Library System. |