Deane's "History of Scituate" is still regarded as the best introduction to the early history of the town and its settlers. The first half of the book gives a concise treatment of the town's settlement and progress, ecclesiastical history, manufacturing, military affairs, and so on. The final 250 pages of the work, however, feature several hundred family sketches--arranged alphabetically from Adams through Young--tracing the pioneers, in most cases, from their arrival in town over several generations.