USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > History of the town of Plymouth, from its first settlement in 1620, to the present time : with a concise history of the aborigines of New England, and their wars with the English, &c. > Part 17
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1687 & 90
savages in Cherry Valley, in 1778. One of Jonathan Alden's daughters married Mr. Bass, of Braintree; one married Josiah, a son of the warrior Miles Standish; the other married Samuel Delano, a son of the early pilgrims.
Mrs. Bass was a maternal ancestor of two Presidents of the United States, John Adams and John Q. Adams. Many ex- cellent citizens may be enumerated among the descendants of John Alden. Judah Alden, Esq. who possesses the paternal domain of his great ancestor, at Duxbury, was a valiant officer in the American army during the eight years of the revolution- ary struggle, and is now President of the Massachusetts Society of Cincinnati.
The Rev. Timothy Alden, late minister of Yarmouth, and his son Timothy, late President of Meadville College, in Penn- sylvania, were of this descent.
1687 .- The town voted to regulate the price of grain, for the payment of salaries. Tar was made in great abundance, and disposed of in payment of salaries. Shingles and clapboards were considerable articles of traffic; but furs and peltry were the principal, as in all new countries. In town-meeting, Janu- ary 23d, was read an order from his excellency to substantiate their title to Clark's Island, which had never before been called in question. 'This occasioned great excitement, and the town firmly resolved to defend their right to said Island to the utmost of their power, and chose a committee to act in behalf of the town accordingly; and voted, also, that the town will defray the expense, and a tax of ten pounds in silver money was or- dered forthwith for that purpose .- See account of Nathaniel Clark, 1689, June 22d. It was agreed to make sale of Clark's Island, Saquish, the Gurnet, and a certain cedar swamp called Colchester Swamp, to help defray the above mentioned charg- es. Clark's Island was sold to Samuel Lucas, Elkenah Wat- son, and George Morton, in 1690. At that period, under the government of Andros, the titles to real estate were frequently called in question throughout New England, by which many individuals were grievous sufferers.
1690 .- The general court of elections assembled at Ply- mouth, as formerly, on the first Tuesday of June. Thomas Hinckley was again elected governor, and William Bradford deputy governor. The deputies from Plymouth were John Bradford and Isaac Cushman. In August, the same year, another was called to which the same deputies were re-elected.
It was now a very desirable object with the colonial govern- ment to procure a charter for the colony, and they appointed the following persons as agents to apply to the English govern- ment for said charter: Sir Henry Ashurst, of England, Rev.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
1692]
Increase Mather, and Rev. Ichabod Wiswall, minister of Dux- bury. In February the town of Plymouth voted their accept- ance of the three agents above mentioned, and also voted that it was their desire that the utmost endeavors be made to obtain a charter of his majesty, that we might be and continue a gov- ernment as formerly. It was further voted that they would be held for their proportion of £500, and more if need require, for that purpose, and at the same time agreed to raise their proportion of £200 in advance, to be sent to the gentlemen empowered as agents. It was known to have been in contem- plation by the English government to annex Plymouth colony to that of New York, and there was some misunderstanding among the agents on that subject, but the Rev. Mr. Increase Mather had the credit of preventing that annexation taking place.
1691 .- The General Court voted their thanks to Sir H. Ashurst, Rev. Mr. Mather, and Rev. Mr. Wiswall; and to Sir H. Ashurst a grant of 50 guineas, and Mr. Mather and Mr. Wiswall 25 guineas each for their services. A charter was at length obtained for Massachusetts, which was signed October 7, 1691, and Plymouth was annexed to it. Had the sum of £500 been raised and properly applied, a separate charter would probably have been obtained.
The last court of election was holden at Plymouth in June, 1691, the deputies from Plymouth were John Bradford and Isaac Cushman. Mr. Hinckley was re-elected governor, and William Bradford, deputy governor.
1692 .- Sir William Phipps, Kt., arrived at Boston, with the new charter, on the 14th of May. He was commissioned governor-in-chief in their majesty's name, William and Mary, and summoned a court on the 8th of June. The new province of Massachusett's Bay proceeded to exercise their charter au- . thority, and the amalgamation of the two colonies was soon perfected. By the new charter, Plymouth colony was entitled to four counsellors. Those who were named for this purpose in the charter were Thomas Hinckley, William Bradford, John Walley, and Barnabas Lothrop. The qualifications of electors, according to that warrant, was " a freehold of 40 shillings per ann. or other property of the value of £40 sterling. The old General Court, however, was summoned, and met at Plymouth on the first Tuesday of July, and exercised their power for the last time by appointing the last Wednesday of the following August to be kept as a day of solemn fasting and humiliation. It appears that some distinguished individuals were dissatisfied with the union of the two colonies, but Governor Hinckley was well reconciled to the measure, and it is clearly understood that
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1692
the union was at no period a subject of regret with the people generally. Governor Hinckley sustained the office of gover- nor for 12 years, and was in that office when the union took place. He died and was buried at Barnstable, and the follow- ing lines are inscribed on his tomb-stone. "Beneath this stone, erected A. D. 1829, are deposited the mortal remains of Thomas Hinckley. He died A. D. 1706, aged 85 years. History bears witness to his piety, usefulness, and agency in the public transactions of his time. The important offices he was called to fill evidence the esteem in which he was held by the people. He was successively elected an assistant in the government of Plymouth colony, from 1658 to 1681, and governor, except during the interruption by Sir Edmund Andros, from 1681 to the junction of Plymouth colony with Massachusetts, in 1692."
The children of Governor Hinckley were one son, Ebene- zer, and five daughters, one of whom, Mary, was married in 1686 to Samuel Prince, of Sandwich, father of the chron- ologist.
The first General Court, under the new charter, June 8th, passed an act, declaring that all the laws of the colony of Mas- sachusetts bay and the colony of New Plymouth, not being re- pugnant to the laws of England, nor inconsistent with the charter, should be in force, in the respective colonies, until the 10th of November, 1692, excepting where other provision should be made by act of assembly.
Governors of the Colony of Plymouth from 1620 to 1692 .*
1620, John Carver, four months and 24 days.
1621, William Bradford.
1633, Edward Winslow.
1634, Thomas Prince.
1635,
William Bradford.
1636,
Edward Winslow.
1637,
William Bradford.
1638,
Thomas Prince.
1639, William Bradford.
1644, Edward Winslow, 3 years.
1645, William Bradford, 31 years.
1657, Thomas Prince, 18 years.
1673, Josiah Winslow, 7 years.
1680 to 1692, Thomas Hinckley, 12 years, including
several years interruption by Andros.
There was no Lieutenant Governor till 1680. Before that
* The first record of the election of any governor is in 1633.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
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period, the governor, when obliged to be absent, appointed one pro tempore. The names of the lieutenant governors were as follows :
Thomas Hinckley, 1680.
James Cudworth, 1681.
Major William Bradford, 1682 to 1686, & 1689 to 1691.
There was no Secretary previous to 1636; but the records appear to have been previously kept by the governors. The hand-writing of Governor Bradford is very legible, and resem- bles a modern hand.
The first Secretary was Nathaniel, Souther.
The second, Nathaniel Morton, from 1645 to 1685.
The third, Nathaniel Thomas, 1686.
The fourth and last, Samuel Sprague, who, except the inter- ruption by Andros, continued till the union of the colonies.
The Treasurers were William Paddy, in 1636.
Thomas Prince, in 1637.
Timothy Hatherly, in 1639.
Jonathan Atwood, in 1641.
Miles Standish, 1644 to 1649.
John Alden, 3 years. Constant Southworth, 1662 to 1678. Afterwards, William Bradford.
There was no Sheriff till 1685. Writs and precepts were served originally by an officer, styled Messenger. In 1645, he was styled Marshall, and had the power of appointing depu- ties. Constables, however, were chosen in each town, with power to execute precepts, and collect rates. Upon the divi- sion of the colony into counties, sheriff's were appointed. A coroner was appointed at the beginning of the colony, but the office was soon abolished, and the duty of taking inquisitions devolved on the constables. There was no distinct office of register of deeds, or of wills and inventories, but those duties were performed by the secretary of the colony. This accounts for these records being blended with the other records of the government. Till 1685, the court of assistants was the only judicial court, except that the selectmen of the towns had the power of trying small causes. The assistants also formed a part of the legislature.
The following is a correct list of Representatives from the Town of Plymouth in the general court of Plymouth Colony, from 1639 to 1692.
1639 William Paddy, Manasseh Kempton,Jr. 1639 John Cook, Jr. John Dunham.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1692
1640
The same re-elected.
1641 John Atwood, William Paddy, John Jenney, John Howland.
1655
John Cook, John Winslow. John Howland, John Dunham, John Cook, Thomas Clark.
1642 John Doane, John Cook.
1643 The same re-elected.
1644 The same re-elected.
1657
*
1658 Robert Finney, John Howland, Nathaniel Warren.
1659 Robert Finney, Nathaniel Warren, John Dunham, Ephraim Morton. 1660 John Dunham, Robert Finney, Ephraim Morton, Manasseh Kempton.
1647 John Howland, John Dunham, William Paddy, John Hust.
1648 The same, except M. Kempton in the place of Hust.
1661
John Dunham, Ephraim Morton, John Howland, Nathaniel Warren.
1662 John Dunham, Ephraim Morton, Robert Finney, John Morton.
1663 Robert Finney, Ephraim Morton, John Howland, Nathaniel Warren.
1664 Robert Finney, Ephraim Morton, John Dunham, Nathaniel Warren.
1665 Ephraim Morton, Nathaniel Warren.
1666 Ephraim Morton, John Howland.
1667 Same as last year.
1668 Ephraim Morton, Samuel Dunham. Ephraim Morton, Robert Finney.
1649 John Howland, John Dunham, William Paddy, Manasseh Kempton.
1650 John Howland, John Dunham, Manasseh Kempton. 1651 John Howland, Manasseh Kempton, Thomas Southworth, Thomas Clark. 1652 John Howland, John Wilson, John Dunham, Thomas Southworth. 1653 John Howland, Lieutenant Southworth, John Dunham, John Cook.
1654 John Howland, Lieut. Thomas South- 1669 worth,
1656 William Bradford, Robert Finney, Ephraim Morton.
1645 William Paddy, John Cook, Manasseh Kempton, John Dunham, senior. 1646 John Howland, John Cook, Manasseh Kempton, John Dunham.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
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1670 Ephraim Morton, John Howland.
Joseph Howland.
1678 Ephraim Morton,
Joseph Howland.
1671 Ephraim Morton, Robert Finney.
1679 Ephraim Morton, Edward Gray.
1672 The same.
1680 Ephraim Morton,
1673 Ephraim Morton, Mr. S. Crow.
William Clark.
1674 Ephraim Morton, William Clark.
1681 Ephraim Morton, Joseph Warren.
1675 Lieut. Ephraim Morton, Sergeant William Harlow.
1682 Same as last year.
1683
Same re-elected.
1676 Ephraim Morton, Edward Gray.
1685 Same re-elected.
1677 Edward Gray,
1686
Same re-elected.
The following were the Town Clerks of Plymouth to the present time.
Nathaniel Morton from 1679 to 1685.
Thomas Faunce from 1685 to 1723.
John Dyer from 1723 to 1731, and from 1733 to 1738.
Gershom Foster 1732.
Edward Winslow 1740 and 1741.
Samuel Bartlett from 1742 to 1765. John Cotton 1766.
Ephraim Spooner from 1767 to 1818.
Thomas Drew from 1818.
The proper bounds of Plymouth township, according to the patent, extended southward to the bounds of Sandwich town- ship, and northward to a little brook running from Stephen Tracy's to another little brook falling into black water from the commons left to Duxbury, and westward eight miles up into the lands from any part of the bay or sea; 'always provided that the said bounds shall extend so far up into the wood lands as to include the south meadows towards Agawam, lately discovered, and the convenient uplands there-abouts.'
The first division of lands made by the settlers was in the year 1623, when they granted to each Free-holder a house lot, of from one to seven acres: in proportion to the number in each family. These lots were located on both sides of the town brook and consisted mostly of cleared land, being the ancient Indian corn land. The second division of land, was agreed on January 3d, 1627, when each free-holder was granted a 20 acre lot, which was mostly laid out near the centre of the town, but some lots were at Eel river, for the convenience of the inhabitants lo- cated there. After the grants of the first 20 acre lots, from
1684 Same re-elected.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1692
the year 1636 to 1650 lands were granted and laid out in differ- ent parts of the town, in lots from 5 to 100 acres, to freemen, and from 1636 to 1680, lands were granted and laid out in al- most every part of the colony, from 50 to 500 acres, before the incorporation of towns, and most of the salt meadows were also granted in divided lots. In 1640, Jones's river meadow was granted to 8 men. This meadow lies in the northeasterly part of Plympton, and south-easterly part of Kingston. The same year, the south meadows in the southerly part of Carver, were granted to 18 men, and Doten's meadow, situated in the north- westerly part of Carver, was granted to 5 men. In town- meeting, February 9th, 1701, the inhabitants voted, that each and every proprietor of said town shall have a 30 acre lot, out of the common lands belonging to the town. At this time there were 201 proprietors in the township. In 1701-2, it was voted in town-meeting, that a mile and a half from the water side up into the woods, from John Cobb's to Joseph Churchill's land, shall lye common, for the use of the town. The true bounds of this common were from the centre of the town by the shore three quarters of a mile northerly, thence south west a mile and a half into the woods, thence east a mile and a half crossing Billington sea and south pond, thence north easterly a mile and a half to the sea shore, thence north-westerly by the shore three quarters of a mile to the first bounds. In 1702, it was voted that all the cedar swamp throughout the township should be di- vided and laid out, according to the directions following, that is to say, all old proprietors and other inhabitants of the age of 21 years that are free-holders and house keepers born within the town, shall have each of them, a full share. Other inhabitants male children born in the town, and who now reside in it, and have arrived at the age of 21 years, shall have, each, half a share. All such inhabitants as succeed any of the ancient pro- prietors to have a full share, unless such ancient inhabitants have a son come in upon his father's right, and no person shall have more than a single share, though he may have more old proprietor's rights than one. The children of persons who are dead, and under the age of 21 years, shall have the right that was their father's, but no person, upon any pretence, whatever, shall have any share unless he reside now in the town. All the cedar swamps in the ancient town of Plymouth were surveyed, planned, and divided into 39 great lots, in 1703 and 1705, and the proprietors drew lots for their shares. In 1706, at a town- meeting, Plympton was set off from Plymouth and made a town- ship, and the proprietors of both towns were styled the proprietory of Plymouth and Plympton. At a meeting of the proprietors
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
692]
ebrury 9th, 1709, it was voted that all the common lands not efore granted, should be laid out in ten great lots, and the sur- eyors to determine how many shares shall be in each lot. "hese ten great lots contained more than 30,000 acres. There vere 21 proprietors to the first great lot. At a proprietor's meeting in May, 1712, they granted on the petition of some In- ians, 200 acres of proprietors' land at Fresh Pond, in Monument onds parish, to be under the particular care and direction of he selectmen of the town. The town sold 100 acres of this and in the year 1800.
Census of the town of Plymouth at early periods, 1643, Males com 16 to 60 years, capable of bearing arms, 146.
1646. Freemen and townsmen (voters,) 79.
1670. Freemen, 51.
1683-4. Freemen, 55.
1689. Freemen, 75.
There is a melancholy grandeur in contemplating the extinc- ion of this novel and primitive government which was founded nd continued in existence under circumstances without a paral- el in the annals of history, for a period of 71 years, presenting o the world an illustrious example of sacrifices cheerfully made a behalf of the highest blessings,-christian and civil liberty, nd equality.
I cannot omit to introduce here the noble pariot sentiments f the late excellent President Dwight, who expresses himself n the following eloquent language .* 'Plymouth was the first own built in New England by civilized man; and those by whom t was built were inferior in worth to no body of men, whose lames are recorded in history during the last seventeen hun- Ired years. A kind of venerableness, arising from these facts, uttaches to this town, which may be termed a prejudice. Still, t has its foundation in the nature of man, and will never be eradicated either by philosophy or ridicule. No New-England- er, who is willing to indulge his native feelings, can stand upon he rock, where our ancestors set the first foot after their arrival on the American shore, without experiencing emotions very different from those which are excited by any common object
* President Dwight, formerly of Yale College, undertook a trav- elling excursion through New England and New York, at the early part of the present century. He estimated the extent of his labors it 15,000 miles. In 1822, he published, in four octavo volumes, the result of his observations. On the subjects of antiquity he dwelt with unceasing enthusiasm, and his volumes are replete with histor- cal, statistical, religious, moral and philosophical information, and anecdotes of unrivalled interest and utility.
U
e
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IIISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[169
of the same nature. No New Englander could be willing have that rock buried and forgotten. Let him reason as muc as coldly, and as ingeniously as he pleases, he will still rega that spot with emotions wholly different from those which a excited by other places of equal or even superior importanc For myself, I cannot wish this trait in the human character o literated. In a higher state of being, where truth is universa ly as well as cordially embraced, and virtue controls without rival, this prejudice, if it must be called by that name, will b come useless, and may, therefore, be safely discarded. But our present condition every attachment, which is innocent, h its use, and contributes both to fix and to soften man.' Spea ing of our ancestors, he says, 'But when I call to mind the hi tory of their sufferings on both sides of the Atlantic, when I r member their pre-eminent patience, their unspotted piety, the immoveable fortitude, their undaunted resolution, their love each other, their justice and humanity to the savages and the freedom from all those stains which elsewhere spotted the cha acter even of their companions in affliction, I cannot but vie them as illustrious brothers, claiming the veneration and a plause of all their posterity. By me the names of Carve Bradford, Cushman, and Standish, will never be forgotten, un I lose the power of recollection.' * *
' The institutions, civil, literary and religious, by which Ne England is distinguished on this side the Atlantic, began her Here the manner of holding lands in free soccage, now unive sal in this country, commenced. Here the right of suffrag was imparted to every citizen, to every inhabitant not disquali ed by poverty or vice. Here was formed the first establishme of towns, of the local legislature, which is called a town mee ing, and of the peculiar town executive, styled the selectme Here the first parochial school was set up, and the system orig nated for communicating to every child in the community th knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Here, als the first building was erected for the worship of God; the fir religious assembly gathered; and the first minister called an settled, by the voice of the church and congregation. On thes simple foundations has since been erected a structure of goo order, peace, liberty, knowledge, morals and religion, wit which nothing on this side the Atlantic can bear a remote com parison.
END OF PART FIRST.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
193 & 96]
PART II.
HAVING closed the first part of our history, and shown that de primitive colonial charter and government were abrogated 1692, we now commence a new epoch, and our future details Il pertain to the town as a constituent of the British Province Massachusetts Bay, and after our Independence in 1776, a ouder and more glorious designation, the United States of nerica. By the new charter the Province embraced the whole old Massachusetts colony, to which were added the colony Plymouth, the Province of Maine, the Province of Nova- cotia, and all the country between the Province of Maine and ova-Scotia ; also Elizabeth island and the islands of Nan- cket and Martha's Vineyard.
The representative from Plymouth to the General Court in 93 was John Nelson, and in 1694 William Shurtleff.
1696 .- A Frenchprivateer, fitted out at Bourdeaux, cruising i the American coast, was wrecked in Buzzard's Bay. The ew were carried prisoners to Boston; the surgeon, Dr. Fran- s LeBaron, came to Plymouth, and having performed a surgi- il operation, and the town being at that time destitute of a lysician, the seleetmen petitioned the executive, Lieut. Gover- or Stoughton, for his liberation, that he might settle in this
wn. This was granted, and he married Mary Wilder, and actised physic here during life, but died in 1704, at the early ge of 36 years. Dr. LeBaron did not relinquish the Roman atholic Religion, and was so strongly attached to the cross, at he never retired to rest without placing it on his breast.
This constantly reminded the people of a religion which they phorred, and which they were scarcely willing to tolerate in a ngle instance. He made a donation of ninety acres of wood nd to the town. His son, Lazarus, studied medicine, and en- yed an extensive course of practice in Plymouth and its vicin- y, and died lamented in 1773, aged 75 years. Two of his sons, oseph and Lazarus, were also physicians, both of whom, after esiding a short period in the West Indies returned to their na- ve town, where they died, as did three other of his sons, viz. Bartlett, William and Isaac. The only surviving son is Rev. Lemuel LeBaron, minister of a church and society at Matta- oiset, (Rochester,) where he was ordained in 1772. From his stock, all that bear the name of LeBaron in this country re descended, and they are numerous and respectable.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1697, 98, 1701
The town agreed to pay to Rev. Mr. Cotton £75 in silver money for his salary the present year, with which he was wel. satisfied. They agreed also to pay the school-master £33, anc to the French Doctor for curing Hunter's wife, £5.
1697 .- March 24. Died, Thomas Clark, aged 98 years. It is a well received tradition that this ancient man was the mate of the Mayflower, and the one who first landed on the Island ir Plymouth harbor which bears his name. Little is known of the life and circumstances of the mate of the Mayflower; his name is not among the signers of the original compact, nor mention- ed among the first settlers. It may therefore be conjectured that he was considered merely as an officer of the ship, and that he returned to England in her with Captain Jones, and subsequently came over and settled in this town. We find his name among those who received allotments of land in 1624 and he also shared in the division of cattle in 1627. He resid. ed at Eel River, and it is supposed that his family were among the sufferers in the house of William Clark, when attacked by a party of savages, March 12, 1676. He being himself absen at meeting escaped, while eleven others were massacred and his son tomahawked, who ever after wore a silver plate on his head from which he was called silver head Tom. See page 390. Numerous lineal descendants from Thomas Clark nov reside at Eel river in this town, and in other parts of the Ole Colony. There is a handsome China mug whose pedigree i: traced through the Clark family back to Thomas Clark, which had been presented to the cabinet of the Pilgrim Society by Betsey B. Morton a descendant, and also a leathern pocket. book with the initials T. C. impressed on its cover, presented by Amasa Clark. These relicts afford additional evidence that the mate of the Mayflower died in this town, and that his ashes rest in the grave in our burial place designated by a stone with: the following inscription. Here lyes ye body of Mr. Thomas Clark, aged 98 years. Departed this life March 24, 1697.
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