Near this spot stood the home of John Cary, born in Somersetshire, England, who became in 1651 an original proprietor and honored settler on this river and served as the Clerk of the Plantation. When the town of Bridgewater was incorporated in 1656, he was elected constable, the first and only officer of that year, and he served as town clerk until his death in 1681. Tradition says he was the first teacher of Latin in Plymouth Colony.