Scituate in Plymouth County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

The Old Oaken Bucket

1630 - 1930

Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, November 3, 2009

1. The Old Oaken Bucket Marker

Inscription. Homestead and well made famous by Samuel Woodworth in his poem “The Old Oaken Bucket.” Homestead erected by John Northey in 1675; poet born in Scituate January 13, 1785.

Erected 1930 by Massachusetts Bay Colony-Tercentenary Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Landmarks • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Massachusetts Bay Colony—Tercentenary Commission Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 13, 1660.

Location. 42° 10.674′ N, 70° 45.35′ W. Marker is in Scituate, Massachusetts, in Plymouth County. Marker is on Old Oaken Bucket Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47 Old Oaken Bucket Road, Scituate MA 02066, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Old Stockbridge Grist Mill (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of Stockbridge Mansion (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mann Historical Museum (approx. 1.3 miles away); First Training Field (approx. 1.4 miles away); Cudworth House (approx. 1½ miles away); Site of the First Church (approx. 1½

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miles away); First Meeting House (approx. 1½ miles away); Men of Kent Cemetery (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scituate.

More about this marker. From the Greenbush rotary on Route 3A, take Route 123 toward Norwell but immediately turn right onto Old Oaken Bucket Road.

Regarding The Old Oaken Bucket. New York newspaperman and poet Samuel Woodworth (1785-1842) wrote “The Old Oaken Bucket” in 1817. As a nostalgic look back to Woodworth’s youthful days in Scituate, Massachusetts, the poem quickly became popular. It was memorized by countless New England schoolchildren and even set to music. Woodworth’s direct ancestor, Walter Woodworth, had arrived in Scituate in 1633 as one of the town’s earliest English settlers.

Also see . . .
1. Midi file. Lyrics and melody. (Submitted on November 5, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts.)

2. Historical markers erected by Massachusetts Bay Colony. Original 1930 publication by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Tercentenary Commission Markers, commemorating the three hundredth anniversary

The House and Well image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, November 3, 2009

2. The House and Well

The marker is in the foreground.

of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. (Submitted on November 17, 2009, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts.)

Close-up of Well with Bucket image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, November 3, 2009

3. Close-up of Well with Bucket

Wide View of the House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, November 3, 2009

4. Wide View of the House

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 2,002 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on October 26, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 5, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.