Some time ago the President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College - Mr. Goodell - asked me to procure for him the History of Marshfield for his College.   On making a thorough enquiry, I found there was no published History of Marshfield.   Miss Marcia Thomas published some years ago a small book giving the genealogy of prominent personages of Marshfield.   Rev. George Leonard published a pamphlet entitled "Marshfield Sixty Years Ago."   Hon. Wm. T. Davis of Plymough embodied in a book entitled "History of Plymouth county," a sketch of Marshfield.
   It was with a feeling of regret that I was obliged to inform Pres. Goodell of my inability to find a History of Marshfield for his College library.   The thought then occurred to me, that in view of the prominence of Marshfield in the history of our country, in the days of the Pilgrims and of the Revolution, there should be at once such a history written and a peg driven as far as we have progressed, to preserve in a general and concise form, the events and occurences in the development of our Colonial town for the use and elightenment of future generations.   This is my excuse for undertaking this work.
   Not having enjoyed the rare fortune of living in Colonial days among the Pilgrims, as a founder and promoter of a great government, I must make use of the accounts of them, and their doings, making such quotations as in my best judgement will mark the footprints of civilization in its march