Abigail Smith Adams
Abigail Adams was born Abigail Smith on November 22, 1744, in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Abigail Adams was the wife of second President, John Adams, and the mother of the sixth President, John Quincy Adams. She is credited as "helping plant the seeds that would start women and men thinking about women's rights and roles in a country that had been founded on the ideals of equality and independence."

The Abigail Adams Historical Society maintains Abigail’s birthplace in tribute to this most distinguished American Woman. The Birthplace, located in Weymouth, Massachusetts, depicts early colonial life. The Society opens the birthplace to the public for tours each summer.

Links:
Abigail Adams Historical Society, Inc.
Whitehouse.gov's History of First Ladies
Thompson-Gale Free Resources - Women in History
National Park Services Web Site - Places Where Women Made History

Maria Weston Chapman
Maria Weston was the eldest of six daughters and two sons born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, to Warren and Nancy Bates Weston, descendants of the Pilgrims. She married Henry Grafton Chapman, a Boston merchant. Both became campaigners against slavery and in 1832 Maria joined with twelve other women to form the Boston Anti-Slavery Society.

Not only was Chapman dedicated throughout her life to the anti-slavery movement, she also advocated woman's rights. Her work included helping William Lloyd Garrison edit The Liberator. Her other writings included Right and Wrong in Massachusetts, a pamphlet that discussed the divisions in the Anti-Slavery Society that was being created over the issue of woman's rights.

Chapman was editor of the anti-slavery journal, Non-Resistant (1839-1842). Other books written by Chapman included Memorials of Harriet Martineau (1877). Her grandson, John Jay Chapman, was also a campaigner for social reform and an outstanding literary critic. Maria Weston Chapman died on 12th July, 1885.

For more information:
Article on the Unitarian Universalist Association Web Site about Weston Chapman and her sisters.

http://www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/mariawestonchapman.html

The work is actually a collage. Each of the tiny figures is a cutout, painted separately and then pasted to the surface of the watercolor's landscape background. With this ingenious, though painstaking, method, groupings could be altered or moved about until an effect pleasing to the eye was obtained and only then made a permanent part of the painting. Her method was perhaps not unlike the way patchwork quilt appliqués can be arranged and rearranged before they are finally sewn together in the finished product.

Susan Merritt (1826-1879) Anti-Slavery Picnic at Weymouth Landing, Massachusetts c 1845. American. Watercolor, gouache, and collage on paper. 74.9100 cm. Courtesy of The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Ill (http://www.artic.edu); gift of Elizabeth R. Vaughan; photograph © 1999, The Art Institute of Chicago.

Weymouth's Veterans.
Through out the town's history, men and women of Weymouth have bravely served their country. Weymouth has the distinction of having five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Below are some of Weymouth's heroes. The town honors all of it's veterans and is proud of the contributions that Weymouth's men and women have made to this country.

Jerry Quinn
One of the really outstanding personal stories of Weymouth in the Civil War is the story of Jerry Quinn, Company "H" of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry - the man who pulled down the Rebel flag and raised the U. S. flag over the Capital of the Confederacy at Richmond, Virginia on April 3, 1865.

No on had captured the scene of Monday, April 3, 1865 more vividly than Bradford Hawes in the "Military History of Weymouth"

"The morning light found the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry under Major Stevens, at the gates of the city and in Company "H" of that regiment were many Weymouth boys, and as soon as it was daylight three scouts were sent into the city, one of whom was Jerry Quinn of Lovell's Corner. Two of the scouts were captured by the rebel soldiers, but Quinn entered the city and went as far as the Franklin Hotel, but feared to go farther. He returned and reported the way clear as far as the hotel, and two companies "E" and "H" rode into the fallen city (Richmond). As they reached the capitol building the revel flag was flying above it, and Captain Ray of Company "H", together with Tommy Myers the color sergeant, and Jerry Quinn started to pull it down. Myers took with him the regimental quidons, and just outside the capitol he slipped and fell ont he slimy pavements. Instantly Quinn seized the flag and rushing to the top of the building pulled down the Rebel flag and raised the United States flag over the Confederate capitol. Thus, the honor of being the first Union soldier in Richmond, as well as the credit of pulling down the rebel flag and raising the Union flag, belongs to a Weymouth soldier."

Citation:
Serving as Quartermaster on Board the U.S.S. Cincinnati during the attack on the Vicksburg Batteries and at the time of her sinking, 27 May 1893. Engaging the enemy in a fierce battle, the Cincinnati, amidst an incessant fire of shot and shell, continued to fire her guns to the last although so penetrated by enemy shell fire that her fate was sealed. Conspicuously gallant during this action, Hamilton, severely wounded at the wheel, returned to his post and had to be sent down below, to hear the incessant roar of guns as the gallant ship went down, "Her colors nailed to the mast."

Lawrence W. Pingree
Lawrence W. Pingree was born in Weymouth on February 1, 1923 and graduated from Weymouth High School in 1941. After working in a Weymouth radio business with his father he enlisted in the Navy. He was called to active duty on October 1, 1942 and received his primary training at the Squantum Naval Air Base. Lawrence was then sent to Pensacola, Florida where he was commissioned and received his naval aviator wings on August 3, 1943. He was assigned to the 223rd Marine Fighting Squadron, Aircraft Group 14, First Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force. On the morning of June 16, 1944 he was killed in action at Tabera Airfield in Rabaul, New Britain. Lawrence Pingree was buried at The Blue Hills Cemetery in Braintree. Today The Lawrence W. Pingree Primary School in named in his honor.

Frederick C. Murphy
Was a Medal of Honor recipient during World War II. He entered the service from Weymouth, Mass. where he was living with his wife, Virginia, and working at a shipyard. He first sustained an injury in the shoulder, probably from the fragment of a mortar projectile. But he continued to administer first aid to the other wounded. He then stepped on a mine and lost part of his foot but continued to help his men. He finally was killed when he dragged his body over another mine on his way to help a downed comrade. The Medal of Honor Citation read: "With indomitable courage and unquestionable spirit of self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty which made it possible for him to continue performing his tasks while barely able to move, private Murphy served many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life."

The 65th Infantry Division honored Murphy at its 50th reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada in August 1994. The F. C. Murphy Primary School is named in his honor.

William Seach
He earned the Medal of Honor while serving as a Seaman, United States Navy, in China on June 13-20, 21, 22, 1900 (Boxer Rebellion). He was born in London, England May 23, 1877 and entered the Naval Service in Massachusetts. He retired for medical reasons, a full lieutenant, after surviving the torpedoing of the troopship USS President Lincoln in World War I.
Citation:
In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China during the battles of 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900. June 13: Seach and 6 others were cited for their courage in repulsing an attack by 300 Chinese Imperialist soldiers and Boxer militants with a bayonet charge, thus thwarting a planned massive attack on the entire force. June 20: During a day-long battle, Seach ran across an open clearing, gained cover, and cleaned out nests of Chinese snipers. June 21: During a surprise saber attack by Chinese cavalrymen, Seach was cited for defending gun emplacements. June 22: Seach and others breached the wall of a Chinese fort, fought their way to the enemy's guns, and turned the cannon upon the defenders of the fort. Throughout this period and in the presence of the enemy, Seach distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.

Today the William Seach Primary School is named in his honor.

Ralph Talbot
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 6 January 1897, South Weymouth, Mass. Appointed from: Connecticut.
Citation:
For exceptionally meritorious service and extraordinary heroism while attached to Squadron C, 1st Marine Aviation Force, in France. 2d Lt. Talbot participated in numerous air raids into enemy territory. On 8 October 1918, while on such a raid, he was attacked by 9 enemy scouts, and in the fight that followed shot down an enemy plane. Also, on 14 October 1918, while on a raid over Pittham, Belgium, 2d Lt. Talbot and another plane became detached from the formation on account of motor trouble and were attacked by 12 enemy scouts. During the severe fight that followed, his plane shot down 1 of the enemy scouts. His observer was shot through the elbow and his gun jammed. 2d Lt. Talbot maneuvered to gain time for his observer to clear the jam with one hand, and then returned to the fight. The observer fought until shot twice, once in the stomach and once in the hip and then collapsed, 2d Lt. Talbot attacked the nearest enemy scout with his front guns and shot him down. With his observer unconscious and his motor failing, he dived to escape the balance of the enemy and crossed the German trenches at an altitude of 50 feet, landing at the nearest hospital to leave his observer, and then returning to his aerodrome.

Today the Ralph Talbot Primary School is named in his honor.

Elden H. Johnson
Private, U.S. Army
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Johnson elected to sacrifice his life in order that his comrades might extricate themselves from an ambush. Braving the massed fire of about 60 riflemen, 3 machine guns, and 3 tanks from positions only 25 yards distant, he stood erect and signaled his patrol leader to withdraw. The whole area was brightly illuminated by enemy flares. Then, despite 20-mm. machine guns, machine pistol, and rifle fire directed at him, Pvt. Johnson advanced beyond the enemy in a slow deliberate walk. Firing his automatic rifle from the hip, he succeeded in distracting the enemy and enabled his 12 comrades to escape. Advancing to within 5 yards of a machine gun, emptying his weapon, Pv. Johnson killed its crew. Standing in full view of the enemy he reloaded and turned on the riflemen to the left, firing directly into their positions. He either killed or wounded 4 of them. A burst of machine gun fire tore into Pv. Johnson and he dropped to his knees. Fighting to the very last, he steadied himself on his knees and sent a final burst of fire crashing into another German. With that he slumped forward dead. Pvt. Johnson had willingly given his life in order that his comrades might live. These acts on the part of Pvt. Johnson were an inspiration to the entire command and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces.

Today the Johnson Early Childhood Center is named in his honor.

Thomas V. Nash, Jr.
Thomas V. Nash, Jr. was born on December 11, 1915. He attended and graduated from Weymouth Public schools. During his school years he had an impressive athletic career in football and wrestling. He went on to Mt. Hermon and also attended Brown University where he continued a varied sports career but eventually concentrated on football. Mr. Nash was considered "one of the most feared men on Eastern gridirons." He also achieved the status of All American in football.

Mr. Nash graduated from Brown with a B. A. in English and Education in 1940. He entered the Army Air Corps and was accepted as an Aviation Cadet in December of 1941. He was commissioned a lieutenant on January 3, 1943. Lt. Nash was a bombardier on a B-17 bomber engaged in massive air raids over Germany when his plane was lost in action on July 28, 1943.

The Nash School was named in Thomas V. Nash Jr's name in the 1950s.