Over three thousand miles away from Taunton across the Atlantic Ocean is a town whose past is tied together with ours. Taunton USA, named for Taunton in Somerset, is a seemingly quiet area that's been at the centre of history.
Founded in 1637, Taunton claims to be "one of the oldest town in the United States". Its residents have included men who signed The Declaration of Independence, advisors to presidents, and even prisoners of war.
Despite being twinned with Taunton in Somerset, you might not have heard of this small yet surprising town.
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"One of the oldest towns"
Taunton was founded by a Puritan colony from England who named it "in honour and love to our dear native country". Despite the distance, echoes of England were all over town: the First Parish Church was built with a door from Old Shute House in Devon.
One particularly influential member of early Taunton society was Elizabeth Pole. Born the daughter of a knight in Shute, 1588, Elizabeth came over with the first colony and was instrumental in founding the town.
Like many colonists, adjusting to life in America was not easy: another colonist wrote that she "endured much hardship and lost much cattle." Nevertheless, she survived for another seventeen years, eventually dying in Taunton old, unmarried and rich.
Taunton USA's first female mayor Shaunna O'Connell said: "From the time we are young children at school, we learn about Elizabeth Pole, how she founded Taunton and what a trailblazer she was." To this day, the town's motto is "Dux Femina Facti", or, "A woman led the deed", in remembrance of Pole.
As the town grew in size and influence, many Taunton residents made their mark on history. One of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, Robert Treat Paine, lived for many years in Taunton and has his own statue in town.
Other Tauntonians throughout history include a Governor of Massachusetts, a Governor of Rhode Island, and most remarkably an advisor to Barack Obama.
Sister towns
With the dawn of the 20th Century, Taunton continued to be at the centre of world events. During the Second World War, the town held Axis soldiers in a prisoner of war camp.
More recently, Taunton welcomed the legendary Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio to town. They shot scenes from the hit 2010 film Shutter Island there.
Despite the distance, Taunton USA never forgot about its sister across the sea. In 1939, the children of Taunton USA sent a statue of a fairy to the children of Taunton UK to mark the 300th anniversary of the American town's founding.
The tricentennial was also celebrated by inviting the English Taunton mayor to Massachusetts for a week. There was music, dancing, and a play about the founding of the town to mark the occasion.
Mayor of Taunton UK Nick O’Donnell said: "We have this natural historical link that we're very aware of, very proud of. It's nice to be connected across the pond like that!"
