Alden Brick
Fragment of brick, circa 1627
Brick
Gift of Dr. Philip E. Robinson, 1963.005.001
This fragment of brick, donated to the Duxbury Rural and Historical society in 1963, has a tag that reads “Brick from the cellar of the first John Alden House built in 1627.” In 1960 the Alden Kindred Foundation hired archaeologist Roland Robbins to explore the homesite of John and Priscilla Alden. He discovered a granite foundation and deep cellar hole which yielded over 9,000 artifacts both historic and prehistoric.
The Alden House Historic Site is located at 105 Alden Street in Duxbury, on land granted to John and Priscilla Alden in 1627. The house currently on the site was believed to have been built by the Aldens in 1653. In 2003, dendrochronological and architectural analysis of the structure suggests that it was built circa 1700 by the children and grandchildren of John and Priscilla.
Learn More about the Alden Family.
Digging Duxbury
The quest for archaeological evidence of the Pilgrim past began with an 1833 dig, one of the earliest in U.S. history.
Coming to a Pilgrim Town
Coming to a Pilgrim Town
Duxbury’s Pilgrim history, combined with the town’s natural beauty, initiated a tourist boom.
Collecting in a Pilgrim Town
Collecting in a Pilgrim Town
The tourism boom brought another enterprise, the creation and sale of Pilgrim-themed souvenirs.
Lasting Legacy
Duxbury's Lasting Legacy
Duxbury never forgot its Pilgrim origins. How could it? The names continue to generate interest today.
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