Foxborough Historical Society,
Foxborough Mass, USA

The Foxborough Historial Society is a non profit corporation that promotes the History of Foxborough. Monthly meetings are free and open to the public in the Boyden Public Library. You may contact the society at PO Box 450, Foxborough, MA 02035. The Foxborough Historical Society normally meets monthly, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except during the summer months of June thru August. Regular meetings are held at 7:30 pm, in the Fuller Room lower level, Boyden Library . Foxborough Historical Society programs can be viewed locally on Foxboro Cable TV on channel 8 on Friday at 5:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and Monday at 9:00 AM

The Foxborough Historical Society has funded much of the move and restoration of the 1790's Paine School. It has recently been updated and completed due to many volunteers and business in Foxboro.

Programs 2008 - 2009

Current Program of 2008 - 2009 Season

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 7:30 pm.

The Foxboro Historical Society will meet on Tuesday, November 25th at 7:30 pm in the Fuller Room (Lower Level) at the Boyden Library on Foxborough Center..

FOXBOROUGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FEATURES THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CAPTIAN SAMUEL HILL OF BOSTON by noted maritime historian Mary Malloy

Her lecture is entitled "Devil on the Deep Blue Sea: The Notorious Career of Captain Samuel Hill of Boston."

About the Photo: Boston brig on the Northwest Coast, around 1810. Almost from the moment they entered the Columbia River in late October, 1805, Lewis and Clark saw around them abundant evidence of the Americans who had preceded them to the region Yankee sailors, mostly from Boston, engaged in the fur trade. (Photo Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)

Had he not been a madman, Captain Samuel Hill would likely be remembered as one of the great maritime adventurers of the early nineteenth century.

He was the first American to live in Japan, was in the Columbia River at the same time as Lewis & Clark, rescued men held captive by Indians and pirates, met King Kamehameha of Hawaii and the missionaries who arrived soon after the King's death, was captured as a privateer during the War of 1812, witnessed firsthand the events of the Chilean Revolution, and wrote about them all persuasively.

At home in Boston Hill appeared civilized and sensible, but as he sailed into the Pacific Ocean the mask slipped away to reveal the recklessness, ambition, and violence that propelled the United States from coast to coast and around the world.

He was also a rapist and murderer. In all his contradictions and complexities, Samuel Hill represented the fledgling United States during its first wave of expansion. At home he appeared civilized and sensible, but as he sailed into the Pacific Ocean the mask slipped away to reveal the recklessnes, ambition, and violence that propelled the United States from coast to coast and around the world.

Future Meetings

• January 2009 - Schedule to be announced (No December meeting)

Foxboro Historical Society annual scholarship (Evelyn Thomas memorial Scholarship)

The Foxboro Historical Society announces the availability of its annual Evelyn Thomas Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded to a Foxboro resident who will be entering his or her sophomore year in a college degree program in the fall. The award is renewable in the same amount for the junior and senior years, thus totaling $6,000.

Applicants need not be history majors, but must have some history courses in their academic programs. For the 2007-2008 academic year students from Foxboro received a total of $8,000 under this program.

Application forms are available at the Boyden Library and Foxboro Town Hall. Completed applications should be submitted to The Foxboro Historical Society, Inc., P O Box 450, Foxboro, MA 02035 by July 15, with copies of freshman year grades. Call 508-543-3728 or 508-543-2245 for information.