Welcome to Salters Point History Site
Discover the rich history of our charming community on Buzzards Bay, established in the early 1900s.
A beloved coastal community.
Salters Point Origins
The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620 and established a settlement. In 1621 more “colonist” landed from the Fortune and in 1623 another group came on a ship named the Anne. Shortly after the establishment of the colony in Plymouth, the king granted patents to a group that called themselves the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In and around 1650, a group of people rebelled against the orthodox religion of the Plymouth colony, known as the “society of Friends” (commonly called Quakers), settled in Dartmouth. On March 7, 1652, 34 members of this group "obtained" a deed from Massasoit and Wamsetta natives. Names in the group include William Bradford, Captain Myles Standish, Thomas Southworth, John Winslow, John Cooke among others. The native tribes in the area at the time were the Achushnets, Apponeganesets and Acoaxets. The first settlements of this group were in what is now know as Russell Mills, Slocum Neck and Smith Neck. [All from Dartmouth Tercentenary 1664-1964 souvenir booklet]
In 1692, they secured the grant on Buzzards Bay. During these early years before the region had received a name, land transfers described the place as Cushena, Ponagansett and Coakset. When the town of Dartmouth was divine in 1787, the region called Coast became Westport, Cushena New Bedford while the central portion retains the name Ponagansett, which later was modified to Aponagansett. The etymology of the name probably is from Po-nag-ansett or “at the neck extending into the bay.”
John Smith (1618-1692) came from England (listed in Plymouth, MA at age 11) Married Deborah Howland, daughter of Arthur Howland of Mansfield. John and Deborah had 5 children - Hassadyah, John, Josiah, Eleanor and Hezediah. [All this from the Jefferies Steele book]. In 1665 John exchanged house in Plymouth with Edward Dotey, Jr. for lands in Apponegansett, Dartmouth and built a home on Smith Neck just south of rock- a-thunder road (now known as RockaDundee). John Smith second marriage to Ruhamah Kirby produced 8 children. In 1690 John built a home on little river road. After John Smith’s death property divided and Hezekiah took over the southern most farm (Salters Point?). In the 1700s the area was known as Salt-House Point, named after the salt industry that was there.
The end of the Smith’s Neck Road is an area called Salters Point, but 200 vears ago this name was written SALT-HOUSE POINT. The southernmost farm at the end of the road which included Salters Point was owned and occupied by Hezikiah Smith. North of Salters Point boundary and on the east side of the road was the homestead of Benjamin Howland, occupied by him about 1690. It included the Round Hill farm and extended northerly on the road a short distance beyond the entrance leading to Round Hill.
Declaration of Trust of George F. Bartlett 5-5-1896
Explore our community's rich history and vibrant lifestyle on Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts.
Prior to 1916
Review the documents from George F. Bartlett and the Breakwater information from Alvin F. Waite
1916 - Founding Year of the SPIA
See the agreement of the Salters Point Improvement Association, By-laws and initial meeting minutes
The Early years of Salters = Minutes, members and land sales
1917 - 1920
1920 - 1929
The Inn opens, sports and new members join
Salters Point
Discover the rich history of Salters Point, a charming community established in the early 1900s on the beautiful Buzzards Bay.
Location
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Contact Us
Let us know if you find any errors or have some history to add. Send pictures if you can!