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Marion Harbor
History
After the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, different grants were issued to different towns. A grant was issued to Rochester and the land that it included is known today as Rochester, Marion, Mattapoisett and parts of Wareham. At the time Rochester was created, what is now known as Marion was known as Sippican, named for the Indian tribe that lived here. Mattapoisett was always known as Mattapoisett, an Indian name, which they kept. Marion area Indians were members of the Wampanoag tribe who, when the Pilgrims came, lived in a number of villages in Southeastern Massachusetts under the leadership of the great Indian chief Massasoit.
Many changes took place from 1815 to 1890. During the early and mid 1800's, Marion was mainly a home for sea captains and sailors. Marion boys went to sea at the age of 16 and worked their way up through the ranks to become mates and captains. There was one sailor for every three captains in Marion. These captains sailed everywhere, carrying cotton to Europe, cargoes to the Orient, and returning with products from the East. Many of them became wealthy and some built magnificent homes in Marion. Marion was also a small shipbuilding community, but Mattapoisett was a major shipbuilding town. Rochester found itself taking care of farming and logging.
There was a lot of dissent and jealousy between the towns and one issue that always caused trouble was where the town meetings were to be held. The bickering grew very heavy between Mattapoisett and Rochester. Mattapoisett decided to pull away from Plymouth County and Rochester and go to Bristol County. When they were creating new boundaries for their village they went too far and practically wrote Marion off the map. It was at this point that Marion had enough. They formed a small committee and went to the State House in Boston. The town representative in Boston at that time was a powerful man named Colonel Clark. It was with his assistance that this committee persuaded the Legislature to make Marion a separate town. On May 14, 1852, Marion became a separate town. It took five more years before Mattapoisett would earn its independence from Rochester.
The first task that awaited the people of Marion was what to name their town. Instead of keeping the old Indian name Sippican, they chose the name Marion in honor of General Francis Marion, the Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina.
For more information on the history of Marion read Reflections on a Town by H. Edmund Tripp. It is a very informative and enjoyable book on this subject.
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About the Town
Marion is a small town located in southeastern Massachusetts. It is one of a number of communities that are connected by water, all of which are located in Buzzards Bay. Marion is a town which captures the essence and heart of New England. The streets in the village section of Marion are lined with houses that are reminiscent of a time long since past. The New England charm of tree lined streets and white picket fences is evident throughout the village. There is still a General Store in the center of the village and the Post Office is directly across the street. Marion is also home to Tabor Academy, a well-known preparatory school. The picture perfect campus spreads out across the center of the town. Marion's harbor is listed on the charts as Sippican Harbor. It is one of the prettiest harbors in Buzzards Bay. In the summer the harbor is filled with boats of every size. Buzzards Bay is a is a boater's paradise. It is known for its southwest winds that kick up a blow almost every afternoon. Any fog that may appear in the morning usually burns off to a haze, or clears in the afternoon. Nearby local harbors include New Bedford, Fairhaven, Cuttyhunk Island, Padanaram (South Dartmouth), Mattapoisett, Wareham, Onset, Monument Beach (Phinney's Harbor), Red Brook Harbor, Megansett, Quissett and Hadley Harbor. Nearby destinations include Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Westport, the Elizabeth Islands, Woods Hole, the Cape Cod Canal, Sandwich and Provincetown.
Marion Salt Marsh
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