Duxbury has preserved its historical significance through its various landmarks, historic sites, and museums.  These sites offer a glimpse into the town's past and the legacy of its early settlers. Duxbury's history has also impacted its community values and traditions. The town is known for its strong sense of community and its commitment to preserving its historical and cultural heritage with the town not looking much different than it did a couple hundred years ago. This is reflected in its annual traditions that are held such as the Duxbury Art Association's Art Complex Museum's Winter Lights Festival and the Duxbury Rural & Historical Society's Annual Strawberry Festival. Overall, the historical significance of Duxbury, Massachusetts is a testament to the town's mysterious legacy and its commitment to preserving its past for future generations.

Tony Kelso: Yes, it certainly did. Privateering was a risky business. Many of the ships that were captured or lost during the war belonged to local shipowners. This had a significant impact on the local economy and the livelihoods of those in the maritime industry. However, privateering was also seen as a patriotic duty by many during the war, and the profits that could be made were substantial.

During the War of 1812, Ezra Weston II's shipbuilding business was impacted by the British naval blockade. Weston turned to privateering to continue his business and made substantial profits. However, the war also brought great risks and losses to Weston's business which shows the unpredictable nature of the maritime industry during this time period. There were many other shipbuilders who were put out of business by the Weston's due to the size and stability of their empire.

1.     Cole, Arthur Charles. "The Ships of Ezra Weston." Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 58 (1924): 323-361. Accessed March 24, 2023.

The article is written by Arthur Charles Cole. It was published by the Massachusetts Historical Society. It focuses on Ezra Weston's shipbuilding activities. The article is an analysis of the different ships that were built by Weston. These ships had a huge impact on the economy and the society of Duxbury and New England. He was very influential and well-known all around the world, and it wasn’t for no reason. The article is created from primary sources, and it is a great resource to understand Weston's role in the maritime history of the entire region and world.

2.     Quinn, John J. "Ezra Weston and the China Trade." American Neptune 4, no. 3 (1944): 218-227. Accessed March 21, 2023.

This article is written by John J. Quinn and is published in the American Neptune. It focuses on Weston's important involvement in the China trade. It looks at Weston's business relationships with Chinese merchants and his role in the formation of the American trade with China. The article is based on primary sources for legitimacy, and it offers insight into Weston's business ventures.

3.     Bergman, Abraham. "The King Caesar House and the Making of Duxbury's Local Identity." Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture 14, no. 2 (2008): 103-116. Accessed March 21, 2023.

This article is written by Abraham Bergman. It is published in Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture. This article examines the King Caesar House as a symbol of Duxbury's local identity, and it shows its true importance. It explores how the house was used and how it was interpreted over time. Ezra Weston built it, and now it has transitioned to its role as a museum in this 21st century. The article looks at the architecture of the building and shows a cultural analysis. It offers unique insights into how vernacular architecture can shape community identity. This is important to my project because it gives a look at how the house is interpreted now, and how it has been throughout the years. It is a staple in the community, and it is a symbol for the community to identify with. 

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4.     (INTERVIEW)

 I have reached out to Tony Kelso who has been the head of the historical society in Duxbury, leads tours of historic homes and King Caesar House, and is the descendant of a very historic family who happens to own a large plot of land in Duxbury that is now a nature preserve on the Standish Shores. We are trying to find a time to do a video interview, however, he has been extremely busy. I also wanted to interview my grandfather who is the largest private land owner in the town and knows everything about everything including many strange stories about the home. He is also a Scottish Rite 32 Degree Freemason and was the one that got me my apprenticeship in freemasonry. I am planning to return home soon to do that and will do my best to get something in with him. I also may be able to interview him over the phone however he still has a flip phone…

5.     Weston, Ezra. "Account Book." 1809-1831. Duxbury Rural & Historical Society. Accessed March 21, 2023. https://duxburyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1809-1831-Ezra-Weston-II-Account-Book.pdf.

This source is a primary document that shows an extremely detailed record of Ezra Weston II's financial transactions from the dates of 1809 to 1831. The information it provides is actually very useful. It is all about Weston's business activities which were all his shipbuilding and other various shipping ventures. The account book also shows what the economy and social conditions of Duxbury were like in the time period. The source is shown through the Duxbury Rural & Historical Society which owns the house now. This source is very useful to understand Weston's role in the development of the special town and the region surrounding it.

6.     This photo shows the original location of the Ezra Weston Homestead. This was the original location of the wharf and shipbuilding outbuildings. It is an extremely historic plot of land, and once the buildings were moved (Relocated to different locations and sold off as private homes still standing), it was turned into a park. It is now a place for the community to enjoy and even is a venue for many local weddings. The image provides a visual representation of the historical marker and helps to visualize the history and location of the site.

7.     This photograph shows the history at Bumpus Park in Duxbury, and it which commemorates the site where Ezra Weston's shipyard was located. The image shows a visual representation of the sign, and it helps visitors make sense of the history of where they are standing. He started with small fishing vessels and ended up creating state-of-the-art, world-renowned merchant ships.