USA > Massachusetts > Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions > Part 64
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12. " A Treatise concerning Heaven and Hell, and of the wonderful things therein heard and seen. About 400 pages, octavo. 13. A Treatise concerning the Last Judg- ment and the Destruction of Babylon ; showing that all the predictions contained in the Apocalypse are at this day fulfilled ; being a testimony of things heard and seen. 14. A Continuation concerning the Last Judgment and the Spiritual World. These are small works.
" In the treatise on Heaven and Hell, it is shown that the inhabitants of heaven live in societies distinct from each other, and that all are associated according to their seve- ral states and different dispositions-that the happiness of heaven consists in a life of usefulness, and thence of activity. The unhappiness of the wicked does not consist in their being rejected, punished, and cast into hell by the Lord, for this is not the case ; they separate themselves from the good, and form associations with evil spirits, because they take the greatest pleasure in their society ; but their misery consists in hating and despising others, in having all their thoughts and affections centered in themselves -thus in living contrary to the order of heaven."
PEMBROKE.
THIS town was incorporated in 1711. The Rev. Daniel Lewis was ordained the first minister, in 1712, and continued in the pas- toral office about 39 years. Rev. Thomas Smith succeeded him in the ministry at the close of 1754, and continued in the pastoral office 34 years. He died in 1788, aged 83, and was succeeded by Mr. Whitman, who continued in the ministry about 9 years. A son of Rev. Gideon Hawley, missionary among the Marshpee Indians, next succeeded ; he continued in the ministry at this place about 16 months, when he died. In 1801, Rev. Morrell Allen was ordained the next pastor.
" This town was originally a part of Duxbury, and with that town was called Matakeesit by the Indians. Here was the first saw-mill in Plymouth colony, and the only one in the colony for more than forty years after its settlement." North river separates this town from Hanover, and two of its considerable branches rise from several ponds in this town. This stream is quite narrow, but deep, and very crooked. Two companies were incorporated in this town in 1814 for the manufacture of cotton and woollen goods,
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with capitals of $100,000 each. In 1837, there was 1 cotton mill, 1 cupola furnace, 2 tack factories, and 2 shingle mills. "Number of vessels built, 8; tonnage of the same, 1000; value of the same, $40,000; hands employed, 8." Population, 1,258. Distance, 12 miles from Plymouth, 9 from Scituate Harbor, and 27 from Boston.
PLYMOUTH.
PLYMOUTH, the first permanent settlement by civilized man in New England, is situated at the bottom of a harbor on the south- western part of Massachusetts bay. Its Indian name was Paturet. It is built on the shore, upon an easy declivity, beneath the brow of an extensive pine plain. The declivity is about a fourth of a mile in breadth, and upwards of one mile and a half in length. The soil of this tract is good, but that of the plain is of but little value. The harbor is formed partly by a beach, extending three miles northerly from the mouth of Eel brook, south of the village. This beach, which serves to break the waves rolling in from Massachusetts bay, has been much damaged by violence, and in former years even the safety of the harbor has been endangered. Large appropriations have been made by the town, as well as by the state, and recently by the general government, for the repair and preservation of the beach, as essential to the preservation of the harbor. The township of Plymouth was once much larger than it is at present; and it is now one of the very largest, in point of territory, in the state. It extends on the coast about sixteen miles from north to south. The land is generally hilly, barren, and sandy; but a border of considerable extent on the seaboard consists of a rich loamy soil. Numerous small streams cross the township in various directions, and there are more than fifty per- manent ponds, and more than 3000 acres are covered with water.
Plymouth village is situated in the north part of the town. It is a port of entry, and county town-30 miles north-west of Barn- stable, 25 easterly of Taunton, 35 south-easterly of Boston, and 439 miles from Washington. The harbor is spacious, but not of sufficient depth for the largest vessels. A considerable number of vessels belong here, most of which are engaged in the fishing and coasting business. There are in the village 2 banks-the " Old Colony Bank" and "Plymouth Bank," each with a capital of $100,000; and "The Marine Insurance Company," with a capital of $100,000. In 1837 there were 3 cotton mills ; number of spindles, 3,764; yards of cotton cloth manufactured, 706,810; value, $61,081 ; males employed, 27; females, 67. There were 3 nail factories ; 1,500 tons of nails were manufactured ; value, $200,000 ; hands employed, 50. There were 45 vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishery ; 29,058 quintals of codfish and 1,436 barrels of mackerel were taken; value, $95,574; hands em- ployed, 362. There were 4 vessels employed in the whale fishery;
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tonnage, 1,300 ; hands employed, 100; 47,250 gallons of sperm oil and 47,250 of whale oil were obtained; value, $59,062. There were 2 cordage manufactories; value of cordage manufactured, $177,625; hands employed, 135. Ship-building is carried on to some extent. Among the public buildings worthy of notice, there is the court-house, the church of the first society, a gothic structure, and. the monumental edifice, or Pilgrim Hall. There are in the whole eight places of worship in the town, 5 Congregational, 2 Baptist, and 1 Universalist. Population, 5,034.
The village of Plymouth is compactly built, and for the space of half a mile north and south from the town square very few building lots are unoccupied. "Not a dwelling-house of ancient date or antique form now remains in town. Those recently erected are in the style of modern architecture, and the largest proportion of the buildings in the place are painted of a light color, and exhibit an air of neatness and elegance." This is a place of resort for strangers during the summer season, and no true-born son of New England can visit this place, consecrated by the "Pilgrim Fathers," without emotion.
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Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth.
The above is a representation of the Pilgrim Hall. This edifice is situated at the north-western extremity of the vil- lage, and its situation presents a full view of the outer harbor. The corner-stone of this building was, with appropriate solemnities, laid on the first of September, 1824. The building was not entirely completed till 1834. The following is a list of the articles de- posited in an excavation made in the corner-stone for the purpose.
" Deposits .- Sermon delivered at Plymouth by Robert Cushman, December 12th, 1621 .- First newspaper printed in the Old Colony, by Nathaniel Coverly, at Plymouth, in 1786 .- Coins of the United States, and of Massachusetts .- Odes composed for the Anniversary .- Constitution of the Pilgrim Society, and the names of its members .- Daniel Webster's Century Oration for 1820 .- Massachusetts Register .- Old Colony Memorial, began in May, 1822, by Allen Danforth .- Columbian Centinel, by Benjamin Russell, containing an account of the entry of General Lafayette into the city of Boston .- Plate-' In grateful memory of our ancestors who exiled themselves from
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their native country, for the sake of religion, and here successfully laid the foundation of Freedom and Empire, December xxii. A. D. MDCXX. their descendants, the Pilgrim Society, have raised this edifice, August xxxi. A. D. MDCCCXXIV. A. PARRIS, ARCHITECT. J. & A. S. TAYLOR, BUILDERS. H. MORSE, Sc.'"
In 1834, Col. Sargent, of Boston, presented to the Pilgrim Society his valuable painting, representing the landing of the Fathers from the May Flower, in 1620. This painting, which decorates the walls of the Pilgrim Hall, is valued at $3,000. It is about 13 by 16 feet, and represents all the prominent persons in the colony who first landed, being a most valuable and interesting acquisition. Among the antiquities in the cabinet of the Pilgrim Society, there is an antique chair, said to have belonged to Governor Carver- the identical sword-blade used by Captain Miles Standish-the identical cap worn by King Philip-and a variety of implements wrought of stone by the natives, such as axes, tomahawks, arrow- heads, &c.
The following account of the first celebration of the landing of the Fathers is taken from Dr. Thacher's History of Plymouth, second edition, a most valuable and interesting work, published by Messrs. Marsh, Capen and Lyon, Boston, 1835.
"Friday, December 22, (1769.)-The Old Colony Club, agreeably to a vote passed the 18th instant, met, in commemoration of the landing of their worthy ancestors in this place. On the morning of the said day, after discharging a cannon, was hoisted upon the hall an elegant silk flag, with the following inscription, ' Old Colony, 1620.' At 11 o'clock, A. M., the members of the club appeared at the hall, and from thence pro- ceeded to the house of Mr. Howland, innholder, which is erected upon the spot where the first licensed house in the Old Colony formerly stood. At half after two a decent repast was served, which consisted of the following dishes, viz.
" 1, a large baked Indian whortleberry pudding ; 2, a dish of sauquetach, (succatach, corn and beans boiled together); 3, a dish of clams ; 4, a dish of oysters and a dish of codfish ; 5, a haunch of venison, roasted by the first jack brought to the colony ; 6, a dish of sea-fowl; 7, a dish of frost-fish and eels; 8, an apple pie; 9, a course of cranberry tarts, and cheese made in the Old Colony.
" These articles were dressed in the plainest manner, all appearance of luxury and extravagance being avoided, in imitation of our ancestors, whose memory we shall ever respect. At 4 o'clock, P. M., the members of our club, headed by the steward, carrying a folio volume of the laws of the Old Colony, hand in hand marched in pro- cession to the hall. Upon the appearance. of the procession in front of the hall, a number of descendants from the first settlers in the Old Colony drew up in a regular file, and discharged a volley of small-arms, succeeded by three cheers, which were returned by the club, and the gentlemen generously treated. After this, appear- ed at the private grammar-school, opposite the hall, a number of young gentlemen, pupils of Mr. Wadsworth, who, to express their joy upon this occasion, and their respect for the memory of their ancestors, in the most agreeable manner joined in singing a song very applicable to the day. At sunsetting a cannon was discharged, and the flag struck. In the evening the hall was illuminated, and the following gen- tlemen, being previously invited, joined the club, viz.
Col. George Watson, Capt. Gideon White, Mr. Edward Clarke,
Col. James Warren, Capt. Elkanah Watson, Mr. Alexander Scammell,
James Hovey, Esq. Capt. Thomas Davis, Mr. Peleg Wadsworth,
Thomas Mayhew, Esq. William Watson, Esq.
Dr. Nathaniel Lothrop, Mr. John Russell,
Mr. Thomas Southworth How- land.
" The president being seated in a large and venerable chair, which was formerly possessed by William Bradford, the second worthy governor of the Old Colony, and presented to the club by our friend Dr. Lazarus Le Baron of this town, delivered several appropriate toasts. After spending an evening in an agreeable manner, in recapitulating and conversing upon the many and various advantages of our fore- fathers in the first settlement of this country, and the growth and increase of the
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Drawn by J.W. Barber.
The First church on the left is the Orthoder, the next south , the Robinson church, between these is seen Watsons Hill : the Universalist, and the Unitarian church a Gothic structure appear in the central part, back of which is seen Burying Hill : the Pilgrim Hall is on the right : the Court House with a spire is seen westward of the long Wharf.
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same, at 11 o'clock in the evening a cannon was again fired, three cheers given, and the club and company withdrew."
In 1820, a society was instituted at Plymouth, called the Pilgrim Society, and was incorporated by the legislature of the state. The design of this association is to commemorate the " great his- torical event"' of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, " and to per- petuate the character and virtues of our ancestors to posterity." 'The centennial celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims this year was one of uncommon interest, and the concourse of people was far greater than on any former celebration. The Hon. Daniel Webster was selected as the orator on the occasion. "A procession was formed at 11 o'clock, soon after the business of the Pilgrim Society was transacted, and, escorted by the Standish Guards, a neat independent company, lately organized, and commanded by Capt. Coomer Weston, moved through the main street of the town to the meeting-house, and, after the services of the sanctuary, were attended by the same corps to the new court-house, where they sat down to an elegant though simple repast, provided in a style very proper for the occasion, where the company was served with the treasures both of the land and sea. Among other affecting memo- rials, calling to mind the distresses of the Pilgrims, were five kernels of parched corn placed on each plate, alluding to the time, in 1623, when that was the proportion allowed to each individual, on account of the scarcity. John Watson, Esq., respectable by his years, and dignified by his gentlemanly manners, and the only surviving member of the Old Colony club, presided during the hours of dinner."
An account of the emigration, the landing, the sufferings, &c., of the first settlers of Plymouth, is given in the outline history prefixed to this work. The place in which the settlers located themselves for a town is the whole extent of Leyden street, and its environs. This street was laid out by them, and extends from the town square in a gradual descent to the shore, and terminates a little south of the Forefathers' rock. The first winter, during the great mortality among the settlers, the dead were buried on the bank, at a little distance from the rock where the Fathers landed ; ยท and lest the Indians should take advantage of the weak and wretched state of the English, their graves were levelled and sown for the purpose of concealing the extent of their loss. This place, which is a small square on the sea-bank, at the foot of Middle street, is called Cole's Hill. Governor Carver's remains, it is supposed, were interred here, and it is to be regretted that no stone has been erected to designate the spot. It is a pleasant spot, affording a fine prospect of the ocean. "About the year 1735, an enormous freshet rushed down Middle street, by which many of the graves of the Fathers were laid bare, and their bones washed into the sea." A breastwork and platform were erected on this bank in 1742. In the revolutionary war, and in the war with Great Britain in 1814, some defences were erected on this spot.
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PLYMOUTH.
Billington Sea is a lake of about six miles in circumference, about two miles south- west of the village, and from it issues the town brook. It was discovered by Francis Billington, about the first of January, 1621, while mounted on a tree standing on a hill. It was in the midst of a thick forest, and when seen at a distance Billington supposed it to be another sea. In this pond there are two small islands ; the largest, containing about two acres, has been planted with apple trees. The pond is stocked with pickerel and perch, and the eagle is frequently seen cowering over it, having its nest in the vicinity. The fallow deer occasionally visits this pond for drink, and to browse on its margin. For many years this place was a favorite resort for social parties.
In the south part of the town of Plymouth, bordering on Sandwich and Wareham, there is a tract of country, nearly twenty miles square, chiefly covered with wood. This place has always been well stocked with deer, but they are annually thinned off by hunters. In January, 1831, a heavy snow, laying about three feet deep, so im- peded their motions as to prove fatal to a large proportion of the stock. The hunters provided themselves with snow-shoes, pursued the deer, and killed and captured two hundred, of which about forty were taken alive. There are on the road to Sandwich, in the woods, two rocks, called Sacrifice Rocks, which are covered with sticks and stones, which have been accumulating for centuries. It was the constant practice for the Indians, when passing by, to throw on the rock a stick or stone. The Rev. Mr. Hawley, who spent many years among the natives at Marshpee, endeavored to learn from them this singular rite, but could only conjecture that it was an acknowledgment of an in- visible Being, the unknown God whom they worshipped, this pile being their altar.
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The annexed is a reduced copy of the Old Colony seal, taken from the book of laws, published in 1685. Underneath are fac similes of the hand-writing of distinguish- ed persons in the colony.
William Bradford Withm Brokter The : Prence Nathaniel Horton
Myles Standishy 8) no: Soins Lom.
Immediately in the rear of Plymouth village is Burying Hill, for- merly Fort Hill. It embraces about eight acres, and rises to the height of 165 feet above the level of the sea. On the summit of the south-western side, the Pilgrims at first erected some slight defences ; but in 1675, on the approach of Philip's war, they erect-
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ed a fort 150 feet square, strongly palisaded, 10} feet high, and the whole circuit of this fortification is distinctly visible. The view presented from this eminence is rarely excelled by any in the country. Beyond the points of land forming the harbor, the great bay of Massachusetts opens to the view, bounded at the southern extremity by the peninsula of Cape Cod. On the north appears the village of Duxbury, and the handsome conical hill, once the property and residence of Capt. Standish, the military commander of the Plymouth colony. Burying Hill is so named from its being used as the burying-place of the town; and it is a matter of some surprise that sixty years should have elapsed before a grave-stone was erected to the memory of the dead at Plymouth. It is probably owing to their poverty and want of artists. A con- siderable number of the oldest are of English slate-stone. The oldest monument in the yard is for Edward Gray, a respectable merchant, whose name is often found in the old records. The inscription is, " Here lies the body of Edward Gray, Gent., aged about fifty-two years, and departed this life the last of June, 1681." The following are also copied from monuments standing on Burying Hill.
Here lyes ye body of ye Honorable William Bradford, who expired February ye 20, 1703-4, aged 79 years.
He lived long, but was still doing good, And in his country's service lost much blood. After a life well spent he's now at rest ; His very name and memory is blest.
Here lyeth buried ye body of that precious servant of God, Mr. Thomas Cushman, who, after he had served his generation according to the will of God, and particularly the church of Plymouth, for many years in the office of ruling elder, fell asleep in Jesus, December ye 10th, 1691, and in the 84th year of his age.
PLYMPTON.
THIS town is situated in the center of Plymouth county, and was originally the north-western parish of Plymouth. It was in- corporated as a town in 1707. The Rev. Isaac Cushman, the first minister, was ordained in 1698. His successor, Rev. Jonathan Parker, was ordained in 1731, and died in 1776. Rev. Ezra Sampson was the next minister; he resigned in 1796. The next in order was Rev. Eben. Withington, Rev. John Briggs, and Rev. Elijah Dexter, who was ordained in 1809.
"The original growth of forest trees here was rather superior in size and variety to other kinds within the ancient limits of Plymouth township; upland and swamp oak, maple, walnut, white pine, white cedar, pitch pine, were common. The Winnatuckset, a branch of Taunton river, passes through the western width of this town, and the natural meadows on this stream had early attrac- tions, and first led to the settlement of these then "westerly pre- cincts of Plymouth." Persons by the names of Loring, Cushing,
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Lobdell, Lazell, and Bradford were among the first settlers of the place. There is a Congregational and an Universalist church. Population, 835. Distance, 8 miles W. of Plymouth, 10 E. of Bridgewater, and 32. south-easterly of Boston. In 1837, there was one cotton mill, spindles, 1,000; cloth manufactured, 180,000 yards; value, $18,000; five males and 25 females employed; one woollen mill, 2 sets of machinery ; 36,154 yards of woollen cloth manufactured; value, $40,171 ; two nail factories ; 83 tons of nails manufactured; value, $16,180 ; one manufactory of shovels, spades, forks and hoes ; value of articles manufactured, $7,200.
ROCHESTER.
THIS town was incorporated in 1686. As early as 1638, it ap- pears that the colony court of Plymouth "granted lands at Seipi- can to a committee of the church of Scituate, for the seating of a township and a congregation," &c. The territory, however, re- mained unoccupied till 1651, when it was granted for the benefit of the town of Plymouth. It was probably purchased of the natives the same year.
After this purchase there were several others made at various times. The town is said to have taken its name from the ancient city of Rochester, in Kent, England, a shire from whence many of the first planters of Scituate (and of course Rochester) emigrated. " That ancient city had the jurisdiction of the oyster fishery, and it ap- pears in history that these oysters were celebrated by the Romans for their excellence." The first settlers appear to have come into the place about the year 1680; they were principally from Sandwich, Marshfield, and Scituate. The following appear to have been the first principal settlers.
Mr. Samuel Arnold, Samuel Hammond, Jacob Bumpus,
John Hammond, John Wing, Joseph Burges,
Moses Barlow, Aaron Barlow, John Haskell,
Samuel White, Joseph Dotey, Sprague,
Abraham Holmes,
Job Winslow.
Rochester is a large township, containing about sixty square miles, containing various kinds of soil; about the center it is light and sandy; some parts are rocky and unfit for cultivation ; in some places the soil is luxuriant, producing good crops of grass. The principal manufacture of the town is salt. Ship-building has also formed an important branch of business in the place. There is about 60 sail of merchant and coasting vessels owned here. There are 8 churches, 4 Congregational, (1 of which is Unitarian,) 2 Baptist, 1 Methodist, 1 for Friends. Mattapoiset,* on an inlet from Buzzard's bay, is the principal village.
The following shows the appearance of the village as it is entered from the cast. The village consists of about 100 dwelling-houses,
* The Indian word Mattapoiset is said to signify the place of rest. The Indians liv- ed 5 or 6 miles north of the village, and used frequently to come down to the shore for the purpose of obtaining clams and fish ; one or two miles north of the village, they used to stop at a spring and rest. From this circumstance, is it said, the river and place derived their names.
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East view of Mattapoiset Village, Rochester.
3 churches, 1 Congregational, 1 Universalist, and 1 Baptist. The Congregational church is seen on the extreme right; the Universal- ist, with a tower, is seen farther south. There are quite a number of mechanic shops, connected principally with the ship-building business, which, with the whale fishery, is the principal business of the inhabitants. Large whaling ships can come up to the wharves. This village is 6 miles from New Bedford, 25 from Plymouth, and 6 miles south from Rochester Center, which is a small village, having a Congregational church. Sippican village is about 6 miles north-eastward of Mattapoiset, and perhaps about two thirds its size, containing 2 churches, 1 Congregational and 1 Universalist. In this village the manufacture of salt is the leading business of the inhabitants. In the Statistical Tables of the state, it is stated, "Number of vessels built, 35; tonnage of the same, 9,338; value of the same, $379,000; hands employed, 215." Population, 3,570.
Mr. Hovey and Mr. Le Baron continued in the ministry in Mat- tapoiset for 100 years. Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., the succes- sor of Mr. Le Baron, possesses, it is believed, the most valuable private library in the state. It consists of about 3,000 volumes, of which more than 300 are folios. The principal subjects on which these volumes treat are theology and history, and many of them are quite ancient. In this collection there are 4,000 pamph . lets, some of which are very rare. Dr. R. has also an extensive collection of coins, manuscripts, &c. The library is carefully arranged in neat and elegant book-cases.
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