Between 1678 and 1871, more than 1000 vessels of 30 to 470 tons were built on North River. In 1772, Ichabod Thomas constructed the ship Bedford and the brig Beaver; Bedford was the first vessel to display the United States flag in European waters off Trinity, England, on Feb. 6, 1783, and Beaver was one of the famous tea ships of Boston Harbor. The ship Columbia, of 212 tons and mounting 10 guns, was built by James Briggs in 1773 and became the first U. S. vessel to circumnavigate the globe. In 1792, her captain, Robert Gray, discovered the Columbia River, which received its name from the vessel.

Photo: Roger W. Sinnott

North Pembroke, Massachusetts · USA