This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
The Cherry Walk and the Byfield Heritage of Bristol
A Bristol reminiscence recalls the cherry walk planted by Nathaniel Byfield on Pappasquash land later owned by Stephen Church and the Herreshoff estate. The Byfield trees drew travelers seeking the fruit and shaped local lore, even during the Revolution. The Vassall family and John Brown later acquired most lands, with the Herreshoff estate staying in the family. John Adams once joked about preserving a tree, amid Tory confiscations and shifting ownership.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Nathaniel Byfield
Town
John Adams
Bristol
William Vassall
William DeWolf
Stephen Church
Herreshoff
England
Peninsular
Byneld
Charlotte de Wolf
Robert Rogers
New England
DeWolf
Byfield
Pappasquash
William Vassar
Anna Herreshoff
Vassar
United States
Massachusetts
Vassall
Adams
Vassel
America
John Brown
Providence
Brown
Boston
King’s Chapel