Over the span of the pandemic, governors throughout the country have gained a lot of news coverage as they led their states through difficult days and months. While none of our recent governors have come from Southeastern Massachusetts, historically Rochester has had ties to more than one. Not long ago I wrote about Charles Bryant, the first Territorial Governor of the Alaskan Territory, who was born in Rochester and also buried there. I also mentioned Thomas Hinkley, the last governor of the Plymouth Colonies. There was, of course, more to his story.
Born in England in 1618, he emigrated to America and by 1643 was beginning a militia career and becoming involved in legislative and judicial duties in Barnstable. He fought in King Philip’s War and in 1680 was elected deputy governor under Winslow. It was after Governor Winslow’s death that he became the 14th governor until in 1692, Plymouth Colony became the Province of Massachusetts and he lost his job. However, he then became one of Rochester’s original proprietors.
Marcus Morton was both the 16th and 18th governor of Massachusetts. While Wikipedia assigns him to Taunton, he was born in East Freetown in 1784 and is connected to Rochester in several ways. He was baptized in North Rochester by Reverend Gurney in 1791. At age 14, he was enrolled in the academy of Rev. Calvin Chaddock situated on the corner of Snipatuit Road and North Ave. across from what was the Combs Tavern. He went on to graduate from Brown University in 1804.
Probably his most noteworthy characteristic was his persistence. He became a lawyer; ran for Congress and lost; ran again and won. Later he was a lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. Upon the death of the Governor, he became acting governor and thus the 16th. He lost the following election and spent time as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. In 1839, he ran again for governor and this time he won by one vote to become the 18th Governor.
Local lore says that he lived for a time in Rochester in the halfway house on County Rd. The house was called this because it was 13 miles from New Bedford and 13 miles from Plymouth. It is still there today at #405 County Rd. It also once served as a stagecoach stop.
By Connie Eshbach