Merrymount in Quincy in Norfolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

City of Quincy Cedar Marker

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, March 17, 2026

1. City of Quincy Cedar Marker

Inscription.
Here stood the cedar incorporated in the seal of the City of Quincy and blown down in the gale of November 1898. Nearby was the site of the maypole erected by Thomas Morton, May 1, 1627.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1898.

Location. 42° 15.754′ N, 70° 59.883′ W. Marker is in Quincy, Massachusetts, in Norfolk County. It is in Merrymount. It is at the intersection of Samoset Avenue and Ridgeway Drive, on the left when traveling west on Samoset Avenue. Located in Maypole Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Quincy MA 02169, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Historic Boston and specifically in Greater Boston.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Maypole Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Vaughan Wells (approx. ¼ mile away); Captain Wollaston (approx. ¼ mile away); Three Adams Brothers (approx. ¼ mile away); Domenico D’Alessandro (approx. 0.3 miles away); Etta M. Hutchins (approx. 0.3 miles away); William Field (approx. 0.3 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Quincy.

Regarding City of Quincy Cedar Marker. Native Americans knew this hill as Passonagessit. When Thomas Morton briefly set up a settlement here named Merrymount, the cedar tree depicted in the seal would have been present and the hill was known as "the hill at Merrymount". The same hill was later named after Captain Richard Wollaston, an early sailor and trader in the area. Eventually, the hill became part of influential Colonel John Quincy's Mount Wollaston Farm estate. Colonel Quincy's estate was in the larger town of Braintree, which was later broken up into smaller sections, and one of these section was named Quincy after him. Mount Wollaston, has been memorialized

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, March 17, 2026

2. City of Quincy Cedar Marker

in the official seal of the city of Quincy. Colonel Quincy was also the grandfather of Abigail Quincy (Smith) Adams. Abigail Adams would later become First Lady to President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Additional keywords. Mount Wollaston, Passonagessit

Seal of the City of Quincy image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett

3. Seal of the City of Quincy

Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 25 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 17, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.