Nathan Cushing lived here and served as Judge of Admiralty in the Revolution, Judge of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts from 1789 to 1810, and State Councilor in 1779–1780 and 1802–1807. On Dec 13, 1780, the council ordered that Nathan Cushing, Esq., be a committee to prepare a seal for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The council advised that his report be accepted as the arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and this heraldry has never been changed.