176 History of Hingham. 



marshy promontory, forming the northerly arm of the little cove 

 here. On the west side of this cove was Keen's Shipyard. 



Following along Otis Street over a salt meadow, we come to a 

 few summer residences scattered along by the bay, some being 

 near the former edge of the sand cliff which was cut away when 

 this road was laid out. Here were, a generation ago, extensive 

 Salt Works, having their windmills upon the beach ; for, in ear- 

 lier days large quantities of salt were required in packing mackerel 

 taken by the fishing fleet, and much of it was of home production. 

 A few score rods further to the north, and we are at Broad Cove, 

 an estuary extending in westward as far as Lincoln Street, and 

 then northward as much farther. As our plan is to follow the 

 shore, we will proceed along the southerly bank of this cove. 

 The first locality of interest is at the south side of the entrance 

 from the harbor. Here stood Major's Wharf and the warehouse 

 adjoining it on the edge of the sand cliff. The writer remembers 

 the old well which was at the foot of the cliff near or under where 

 the building stood. At this wharf were rigged the vessels which 

 were built at the head of Broad Cove at Lincoln Street. The 

 wharf and property in the vicinity belonged, in the latter part of 

 the last century, to Major Thaxtcr, of the old Provincial army. 

 This gentleman was an officer in the regiment raised in this 

 vicinity which formed part of the garrison at Fort William Henry, 

 which surrendered to Montcalm and his French and Indian forces 

 after a protracted siege in the old French war. He came very 

 near being one of the victims of the subsequent massacre, being 

 taken prisoner and tied to a tree by the Indians, who lighted a 

 fire around him. A French officer rescued him, and he subse- 

 quently escaped or was exchanged. 



The land lying south of this cove adjoining (and perhaps in- 

 cluding) the present camp-grounds belonging to the First Corps 

 of Cadets of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, was formerly 

 known as John's Neck. 



Upon the south bank of the cove were, in early days Salt 

 Works. 



At the Lincoln Street end of Broad Cove was a Shipyard, 

 where numerous vessels were built. An old lady in conversation 

 with the writer a few years since, spoke of having seen four 

 vessels at a time upon the stocks there in the early part of this 

 century. 



Broad Cove divides into two creeks which extend northward 

 and westward for about a quarter of a mile. Over these creeks, 

 from Lincoln Street to Crow Point, ran Crow Point Lane, cross- 

 ing the creeks by bridges. These were landmarks a century ago, 

 the territory hereabouts being known as " At Y 12 Bridges." 



Planter's Fields Lane led from Crow Point Lane to Planter's 

 Fields. 



From " Y Bridges " northwestward toward Weymouth River for 

 a considerable distance lay the Ship Lots. 



