History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 43

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

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Dr. Gordon had two children,-Solomon Jones, born Sept. 24, 1826, and Timothy, born April 19, 1836, the latter of whom died in infancy. Solomon Jones graduated at Harvard in 1847, and is now a lawyer, pursuing an eminently successful career in his profes- sion in the city of New York.

This sketch would be far from complete without further allusion to the life and character of its subject. In his profession he possessed all the traits and quali- fications essential to its successful pursuit. Well grounded iu its study, and keeping himself well in- formed of the latest methods of diagnosis and treat- ment, he also possessed and retained those intuitive per- ceptions of disease without which, however well read, no physician can become a brilliant practitioner, and which formulated rules and the fashionable methods of modern professional education are doing so much to obliterate. With keen powers of observation and generalization, as the pilot foretells the weather from signs which his own experience has detected, but which he cannot describe, he skillfully read the char- acter of a case under treatment, and often irrespective of the laws, which must necessarily be fallible as long as the medica scientia remains doubtful and imper- fect. As a surgeon as well as physician he attained a recognized eminence. Cool, bold, self-reliant, and strong in nerve, he only needed a wider field of action to win the highest honors in this department of his profession. The necessarily limited opportunities for

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

occasions to exhibit his powers, but when called into play, they never failed to receive the award of praise from his professional brethren.

But Dr. Gordon did not confine his activities and energies to his profession. As a citizen of his adopted town, though never receiving, nor asking, nor willing to take public office, he nevertheless felt the deepest interest in and took an active part in promoting its welfare. As a devoted and liberal member of his church, as a director for twenty-five years or more of the Plymouth Bank, and its successor, the Plymouth National, as vice-president, by many successive elec- tions of the Pilgrim Society, as a generous contribu- tor to Bible and missionary societies, as a pioneer in enterprises whose eventual success his far-seeing eye foretold and his indomitable spirit accomplished, as a free giver in his own way, in obedience, not to the

will of others for the sake of approval and applause, but in response to his own inclinations and sense of duty, he proved himself an active and useful citizen. Characterized by a prudence and economy in his mode of life, and a methodical and exact management of his professional collections, he nevertheless, as the author of this sketch has had abundant opportunities to know, was continually, in the later years of his life, cutting large slices from his accumulations for the benefit of his kindred and the various religious and philanthropic associations with which he was con- nected. In recognition of his professional and per- sonal character he received from Amherst College, in 1868, the degree of Master of Arts.

Dr. Gordon outlived his wife only ten months, and died in Plymouth on the 5th of November, 1877, at the age of eighty-two.

PILGRIM HALL, PLYMOUTH, MASS.

PLYMOUTH ROCK, 1884.

CANOPY COVERING PLYMOUTH ROCK.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

No. 1. National Monument to the Pilgrims .- In May. 1855, the Pilgrim Society adopted a design offered by Hammatt Billings, of Boston, and, in ac- cordance with this design, the monument has been nearly completed. The spot chosen for its erection is a hill immediately in the rear of the northerly part of the town of Plymouth, and, when thoroughly graded according to the plans of the Society, will show an octagonal platean about four hundred feet in diameter surrounded by a level belt of grass forty feet in width, outside of which a driveway will be constructed fifty feet wide and about two-fifths of a mile in length. The design of the monument, the corner-stone of which was laid Aug. 2, 1859, consists of an octagon granite pedestal forty-five feet high, on which stands a statue of Faith thirty-six feet in height. From the four smaller faces of the pedestal project buttresses, on which are seated statues emblematic of Morality, Education, Law, and Liberty. Below these statues, in panels, are alto-reliefs in marble of "The Depar- ture from Delft-Haven," "The Signing of the Com- pact in the Cabin of the Mayflower," "The Landing at Plymouth," and "The Treaty with Massasoit." On the other four faees are panels extending to the top of the shaft containing the names of the pas- sengers in the "Mayflower," and below these are smaller panels for such inscriptions as may hereafter be thought desirable. The statue of Faith rests its foot on Plymouth Rock, and in its left hand holds an open Bible, while its right is uplifted to heaven. It is constructed of fourteen bloeks of granite, weighing in all one hundred and eighty tons, and was placed on the pedestal Aug. 9, 1877. It was a gift of the late Oliver Ames, and cost thirty-one thousand three hundred dollars.

The statues of " Morality" and " Education" are- also in place. These are colossal granite monoliths, seated on thrones, and are sixteen feet in height. That of " Morality," .presented by the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, holds the Decalogue in its left hand and the scroll of Revelation in its right. In a niche on one side of the throne is a prophet, and in one on the other side one of the evangelists. The statne of " Education," presented by Roland Mather, of Hartford, has in one niche a figure of Wisdom ripe with years, and in the other a figure of Youth led by Experience. The statues of "Law" and " Liberty" are not yet furnished. That of the former will have in one of its niches an emblem of Justice, and in the other an emblem of Mercy. That of the latter will exhibit in one niche Peace resting under its protection, and in the other Tyranny overthrown

by its power. Beneath the statue of " Morality" is a marble relief representing the " Embarkation," presented by the State of Connectieut ; and beneath that of "Education" is one representing the "Sign- ing of the Compaet," presented by Mr. Mather, who gave the statue above it. The panels representing the landing and the treaty are net yet furnished. For the completion of the monument the Society relies on an inereasing sinking-fund which it has es- tablished for that purpose, and on contributions from the general government and States and individuals.

No. 2. Plymouth Rock .- The authenticity of the story of the landing on this rock rests both on general tradition and well-defined statements transmitted from generation to generation. Among the latter may be mentioned the statement of Ephraim Spooner and others to persons, either now living or recently de- ceased, that in 1741, when it was proposed to con- struct a wharf over the rock, Elder Thomas Faunce, born in 1647 and then ninety-four years of age, was carried in a chair to the spot, and, supposing it about to be buried forever, bade it an affectionate farewell as the first-resting place of the feet of the Pilgrims. He stated that his father, John Faunce, who came over in the " Ann" in 1623, had repeatedly told him the story. He was also old enough to have heard the story from the " Mayflower's" passengers them- selves. He was ten years old when Governor Brad- ford died, twenty-four when John Howland died, nine years old when Miles Standish died, and thirty-nine when John Alden died, and he would have been at least likely to have learned from them whether the story of his father was correct or not.

The rock, however, was not buried as Elder Faunce feared it would be, but raised upwards from its bed so that its top might show above the roadway of the wharf. In 1774 an attempt to remove the rock to the foot of the liberty-pole in Town Square re- sulted in its separation, and while the upper half alone was removed, the lower remained in its bed. On the 4th of July, 1834, the severed portion, which since 1774 had remained in the square, and by the side of which the lower southerly elm-tree now in the square was planted in 1784, was removed to the front yard of Pilgrim Hall, and the next year in- elosed by the iron fence which now on another spot surrounds the stone slab bearing the text of the compact. The remainder of the roek continued in its bed, merely showing its surface above the earth, until 1859, when the land on which it stands came under the control of the Pilgrim Society, and steps were taken to earry out a previously-formed plan of erecting over it a granite canopy. A design offered

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

by Hammnatt Billings, of Boston, was adopted, and on the 2d of August, 1859, the corner-stone was laid. The canopy consists of four angle piers, deco- rated with three-quarter recded columns of the Tuscan order, standing on pedestals and supporting a composed entablature, above which is an attic. Between the piers on each face is an open arch, so that the rock is visible from all sides, and these arches are fitted with iron gates. The canopy measures about fifteen feet square, and is about thirty feet high. In the chamber between the dome and the capstone are de- posited the remains of some of the Pilgrims who died the first winter. The discovery of these remains is described in the history of Plymouth contained in this volume. In 1880 the severed portion of the rock was restored to its old resting-place, and it now lies within the canopy reunited to its fellow-rock.

No. 3. Town Square .- The first street laid out by the Pilgrims extended from the harbor to the top of what is now Burial Hill. It was sometimes called First Street, sometimes Great Street, and sometimes Broad. The square represented in this view is the upper part of this street below the hill. The church at the head of the square is that of the First Parish, now Unitarian. It was built in 1831, after designs by George Brimmer, of Boston. Its predecessor on the same site was built in 1744, and the first church on that site was built in 1683. The last date of course marks the period when the boundary of the street was fixed at the margin of the hill. The meeting-house used by the Pilgrims before 1683 was built in 1637, on the right of the square as the view is held before the eye. On the right, also, was the house of the Governor of the colony, and the sites of both the church and the Governor's house are covered by Odd-Fellows' Hall, which is partially exposed to view. On the left of the picture is the town-house. It was built by the County of Plymouth, in 1749, for a court-house, and was used as such until 1820, when, on the erection of the present court-house, it was sold to the town. Previous to 1749 the site was occupied by the old government-house, which ante- dated in its erection the establishment of the county, in 1685, and was before that time called the country- house. The land on which it stands was never granted to individuals, and has always been associated with the government of either the colony, county, or town. The five elm-trces in the square were set out in 1784 by Thomas Davis, who at that time owned and oceupied a house on land now covered by thic westerly end of Odd-Fellows' Building. One of these trecs, on which placards may be seen in the view, is ealled the town tree and has for eighty

years, more or less, been the recognized spot for the posting of official and other advertisements.

No. 4. Pilgrim Hall .- This memorial building was crected by the Pilgrim Society in 1824, its corner-stone being laid September 1st in that year. It was built by Jacob and Abner S. Taylor, of Plymouth ; and though on the 1st of July the stone of its walls was still in the quarry at Weymouth, and the timber of its frame in the forests of Maine, on the 22d of December it was finished and occupied for the celebration of the anniversary of the landing. It is built of unwrought split granite, and is seventy feet in length by forty in width. The Doric portico of wood now ornamenting its front was added in 1834. In 1880 the building was remodeled and made proof against fire, under the direction of J. Henry Stickney, Esq., of Baltimore, a liberal bene- factor of the Society, who defrayed the entire cost of the work, amounting to more than fifteen thousand dollars. The hall contains an extensive cabinet, rich in relies of the Pilgrims and of early colonial times, a gallery of pictures of rare value and interest, and a library, which is receiving constant accessions of books relating to New England history. A librarian is in constant attendanec at the hall, and a well-conceived deseriptive catalogue facilitates an examination of everything worthy to be seen.

No. 5. The " Mayflower."-This illustration is taken from a picture by William F. Halsall, of Boston, representing the "Mayflower" at anehor and at rest after her long and stormy voyage. The picture is full of sentiment, and tells the story of the perilous Pilgrim enterprise with wonderful effect. It hangs in Pilgrim Hall, and is the property of the Pilgrim Society.

No. 6. The Landing of the Pilgrims .- This illus- tration is taken from a photograph, belonging to the Pilgrim Society, and hanging in Pilgrim Hall, of a pieture painted in 1856 by H. Carmieneke, of New York, for J. Henry Stiekney, Esq., of Baltimore. The picture has all the realism of a photograph of the actual landing, and, though entirely devoid of senti- ment, recalls to the mind with great vividness the incidents and scenes attending the great event in New England history.

Nos. 7 and 8. Views of Scrooby .- These illustra- tions are taken from photographs taken on the spot by order of Lord Houghton (Monckton Milnes), and presented by him to Hon. William T. Davis, who has permitted them to be reproduced in this volume. Reealling to mind as they do the residence of Elder Brewster and the birthplace of the Pilgrim Church, they cannot fail to be of interest.

HISTORY OF WAREHAM.

BY REV. NOBLE WARREN EVERETT.1

WAREHAM is a small town lying at the head of Buzzard's Bay, by which it is bounded on the south, on the east by Sandwich and a part of Plymouth, on the north by Plymouth and Carver, on the northwest by Middleboro', and on the west by Rochester. It lies in latitude forty-one degrees forty-five minutes north, longitude seventy degrees forty-five minutes west from Greenwich, and is about seven miles long from east to west, and about six miles broad from north to south. It is situated about fifty miles south- east from Boston, sixteen northeast from New Bed- ford, and sixteen south of Plymouth.

The east part of the town was formerly known by the name of Agawam Purchase, and lay in the town- ship of Plymouth. The west part formerly belonged to Rochester. In 1739 these two tracts of land, with their settlements, were incorporated by the name of Wareham, which name was borrowed from an English town of some note in ancient times. In 1827 that part now known as Tihonet was taken from Plymouth and Carver, which three pieces now constitute the town as above bounded. These several parts will require some notice previous to their being united, as they still retain their original names, and the descendants of the first settlers have certain partial- ities for their own particular sections of the town, so much so, that from the period of their union in 1739 until 1824 the taxes were made by two sets of bills, one for the west end, and the other for Agawam ; two constables were always appointed and two collectors, and the inhabitants of Agawam were very watchful for their exclusive rights, and so were the " West Enders," which was the foundation of many a long and eloquent State rights speech in "open town- meetings," but this difference was never carried further than speaking. On most subjects there was

an unusual share of good feeling manifested by both parties, and whenever their rights were respected (as they always had to be) both parties united unani- mously on any subject which concerned the whole town, and were very jealous of any infringements made by other towns, as may be seen by their con- troversies with Rochester and Sandwich concerning ministry lands, and also their rights to the herring fishery.

Agawam. It is not well ascertained from what the name of Agawam was originally derived, but history tells us that a tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited a part of what is now Massachusetts was so called. There are several Agawams, and it is sup- posed that some one of them was the abiding place of this tribe, and each of the others derived its name from this, or from being the habitation of some por- tion of the aforcsaid tribe. However, for our pur- pose, it is sufficient that the southerly part of Plym- outh was known by this name at an early day, and that it was so called in the deed of sale.

AGAWAM TITLE.

" Know all Men by these Presents,

"That we, Nanumett, Weeanucket, Acanootus, Attaywan- peek, Awanoo, Awampoke, and Assaankett, alias Peter, natives of New England, in the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, in New England, in America, do acknowledge that for, and in consid- eration of, the full and just sum of twenty-four pounds and ten shillings, to us paid by Capt. Thomas South worth, Nathaniel Warren, William Clark, and Hugh Cole, of the town of Plym- outh aforesaid, in the jurisdiction aforesaid, gentlemen, where- with we, the said Nanumett, Weeanuckett, Acanootus, Attay- wanpeek, Awanoo, Awampoke, and Assaankett, alias Peter, do acknowledge ourselves, and every of us, to be satisfied, con- tented, and fully paid, and thereof, and of every part and parcel thereof, do exonerate, acquit, and discharge the said Capt. Thomas Southworth, Nathaniel Warren, William Clark, and Hugh Cole, they and every of their heirs, executors, adminis- trators, and assigns, forever, hy these presents have freely and absolutely bargained, alienated, and sold, enfeoffed and con- firmed, and these presents do bargain, alienate, sell, and confirm from us, the said Nanumett, Weanuckett, Acanootus, Attay wan- peek, Awanoo, and Assaankett, alias Peter, and our heirs, to them the said Capt. Thomas Southworth, Nathaniel Warren,

1 The late Silvanus Bourne, Esq., wrote a sketch of Ware- bam for a local paper, the "Old Colony Memorial," in 1836. Many of the facts concerning the early history of the town are taken from it.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

William Clark, and Hugh Cole, in behalf of tho town of New Plymouth, their and every of their heirs and assigns forever, two certain traets or parcels of land, the one being called Weey- vancett Neek, and another parcel adjoining thereunto the afore- mentioned Weeyvaneett Neck, being bounded by a salt water river on the south, and which river runneth into Manomet Bay, and on the east side with a great salt water eove or river which runneth into the same bay, and so bounded up along with the brook unto the head thereof, and so to a meadow lying some space above the head of said brook, and so to a great pond lying about northeast near a quarter of a mile from the said meadow, all the said meadows being ineluded within the said bounds ; the other pareel of land of the two above named, abutting on the traet or pareel of land which the town of Plymouth bought of us, Acanootus, Awampoke, and Attay wanpeek, as appears by a deed under our hands bearing date Anno Domini 1665, and from the westernmost bounds expressed in the; said deed, two miles and a half into the woods, running upon a line northeast and by north, the upper end of the said two miles and a half running along by a swamp side until one side of the said swamp parteth and runneth away near east, and the other part more northerly, which place is agreed on by us, the said Nanumett, Weeanueket, Aeanootus, Awanoo, Awampoke, Attaywanpeek, and Assaankett, alias Peter, to be tbe bounds of the said north- east and by north line, and so to run upon a straight line through the woods to the forenamed pond, which lyeth to the northeast of the forenamed meadow. To have and to hold all the said two pareels or traets of land so bounded as aforesaid, with all and singular the appurtenances whatsoever, within and between, and belonging to the said two parcels or tracts of land bounded as aforesaid, unto them, the said Capt. Thomas Southworth, Nathaniel Warren, William Clark, and Hugh Cole, in the bebalf and to the use of the town of Plymouth, to them, and every of them, their, and every of their, heirs and assigns forever, the said premises, with all and singular the appurtenances belonging thereunto, or to any part or parcel thereof, to appertain unto the only proper use and behoof of them, the said Capt. Thomas Southworth, Nathaniel Warren, William Clark, and Ilugh Cole, in the behalf of the town of Plymouth aforesaid, to their, and every of their, heirs and as- signs forever, to be holden as of his Majesty, his manor of East Greenwieb, in the County of Kent, in free and common socage, and not in capety, nor by Knight's service, nor by the. rents and services thereof and thereby due, and of right ae- customed warranting tho sale thereof, and of every part and pareel thereof, against all persons whatsoever that might lay any elaim thereunto, or to any part or pareel thereof, forever, giving and granting liberty nnto the said Capt. Thomas South- worth, Nathaniel Warren, William Clark, and Ilugh Cole, or any whom they shall appoint to record and enroll these presents, either in his Majesty's court at Plymouth aforesaid, or in any other place of public records, according to the usual mannor of enrolling evidences in such case provided.

In witness whereof, we, tho above-named Nanumett, Wooa- nuckett, alias Petor, havo hereunto set our hands and seals this of December, Anno Domini, one thousand six hundred and sixty and six (1666).

"Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presonce of

" The mark M of CAUSETAN.

" The mark of ASPACKANUCK, alias RALPH JONES, II.

" NATHANIEL MORTON.

" The mark of PETER (.).

" The mark of TATOSEN X.

" PETER, bis H mark and seal.

" WKEANUCKETT, his HI mark and scal.

" ACANOOTUS, his H mark and seal.

" AWANOO, his H mark and seal.

" AWAMPOKE, his H mark and seal.

" ATTAYWANPEEK, his HI mark and seal.

" NANUMETT, his H mark and seal."

It was bounded as follows : On the east by the arm of the sea which connects what is called the " Head of the Bay" with Buzzard's Bay, the narrowest part of which is Cohasset Narrows ; thence up Red Brook to the head thereof, where stands a stone four feet high, lettered W. P .; thenee N. 32 deg. E. 420 rods to another stone like the first ; thence N. 78 deg. W. 253 rods, crossing White Island Pond and Oliver's Neck to another stone like the others, standing on the west bank of the pond ; thence N. 86 deg. 35 min., W. 965 rods, crossing Agawam River at 198 rods, and Little Long Pond at 484 rods, to a pine-trce at the forked swamp, which is the corner of Tihonet ; thence S. 25 deg. W. 780 rods to a stake on the bank of a brook ; thence down the brook to Agawam River, and by the river to Wankinco River, and down the Wan- kinco River, through the Narrows to Buzzard's Bay, and by the bay easterly to the beginning.

In the year 1678 this tract of land was leased for the term of seven years, and in the year 1682 was sold by the town of Plymouth to raise funds to build a new meeting-house in that town, subject no doubt to that lease, for it was June 17, 1685, when the proprietors held their first meeting to assign to each a sixty acre house-lot. The purchasers were John Chubbuck, the one-twelfth; Samuel Bates, the one- twenty-fourth ; John Fearing, the one-twenty-fourth ; Nathan Beale, the one-twenty-fourth ; Seth Pope, the . one-sixth ; Ephraim Wilder, the one-sixth ; Nathaniel Morton, the one-sixth ; Joseph Warren, the one-sixth ; Joseph Bartlett, the one-sixth ; and Josiah Lane, the one-twenty-fourth part. The most of these purehasers, like the pioneers of all new countries, retained their possessions but a short time, a part being speculators who purchased to sell again, and the other part a restless, roaming class, who advance over the wilder- ness hunting the wild game, and making small open- ings, not so much for themselves as for the next class of settlers, who buy for the purpose of tilling the soil and making homes for themselves and their descend- ants ; for in the year 1715 we find the same lands were owned by the following proprietors : Ebenezer Burge, onc-cighth ; Gershom Gifford, one-twenty- fourth ; Thomas Tupper, one-twenty-fourth ; Samuel Bates, one-sixteenth ; Isaac Wilder's heirs, one-eigh- teenth ; Timothy Bourne, one-twenty-seventh ; John Bourne, one-fifty-fourth ; Israel Fearing, twenty-five- one-hundred-forty-fourths ; David Bates, one-forty- eighth ; Joseph Hersey, one-forty-eighth ; Joseph

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 43

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706