Marshfield

35 trails Atlantic coastal marshland town

Marshfield is a coastal town about 30 miles south of Boston on the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by Duxbury, Pembroke, Norwell, and Scituate. Its conservation land spans ocean views, deep forests, and marsh, totaling more than 2,500 acres across the town.

Landscape

Marshfield is a coastal town about 30 miles south of Boston, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Duxbury, Pembroke, Norwell, and Scituate. Marshfield's conservation land covers the full spectrum: ocean views, deep forests, and marsh land. It's an incredible resource for people who love the outdoors.

Conservation

Marshfield has over 2,500 acres of conservation land. The Conservation Commission administers the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Marshfield's Wetland Protection Bylaw. Conservation land comes from many sources including the town, the Audubon Society, and Wildlands Trust. The Marshfield Conservation Commission undertook a significant project to document and map town trails, with those maps linked on the town website.

History

Marshfield was founded in 1640 by Edward Winslow, who arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Over time Marshfield grew and spawned several distinct communities: Green Harbor, Brant Rock, Fieldston, Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, Humarock, and North Marshfield. During the Colonial era, Marshfield was home to Nathaniel Ray Thomas, a prominent Tory who declared allegiance to the English crown. Patriots planned a raid on his estate, calling it off after learning the British had positioned cannon there. Weeks later, after the Battle of Lexington, a Patriot militia returned only to find the British troops had fled by boat.