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 20
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' And now, gentlemen, I rest assured that your candor and generosity is such, that you will not construe what I have of- fered in an unfavorable light, either as being dictatorial, or seeming to desire myself the office of speaker on such occa- sion, which I can sincerely say is far from being true. I pro- pose it for the instruction and entertainment of ourselves and posterity. The plan, if it should be agreeable, would afford us opportunity to hear these matters discoursed on by a great variety of ministers, who would doubtless take pains to furnish themselves with entertaining and useful materials for the occa- sion. And for this end, if they were appointed at each anni- versary for the next year, they would have so much the better opportunity to prepare. Submitting the matter to your consid- eration, I am, gentlemen, with much regard,
' Your friend and very humble servant,
CHANDLER ROBBINS.' Voted, that Messrs. Pelham Winslow, Edward Winslow, Jr.,
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and Alexander Scammel, should be a committee to prepare an answer to the above letter, which they are to lay before the club as soon as may be.
1772, January 7th. Messrs. Pelham Winslow, Edward Winslow, and Alexander Scammel, the committee chosen the 23d December, reported an answer to the Rev. Mr. Robbins's letter, which was approved, and accordingly forwarded by the club, and is as follows:
REV. AND RESPECTED SIR: We have carefully perused the contents of your letter of the 23d inst., but before we proceed to a particular answer thereto, we think it necessary to observe, that the members of this society, (who weekly meet together for the mutual advantage of each other, to enjoy the refined pleasures of social and unrestrained conversation, unalloyed with the disputes and contentions of parties,) having taken into consideration, that the celebrating certain days of each year, upon which any remarkable event or extraordinary trans- action had happened, is a practice which has the sanction of antiquity for its justification, finding frequent instances of it in sacred as well as profane, in ancient as well as modern his- tory, not only among nations, states and churches, but even in particular societies and corporations,-we were not a lit- tle surprised, that an event so important and glorious in its consequences as the landing of our ancestors in this place, should be totally neglected by their descendants ;- considering further, that the assembling a number of persons of different ages, for the purpose of commemorating this truly remarkable period, would have a natural and direct tendency to introduce subjects for conversation relative to our illustrious progenitors, and the history of our country, the aged upon those days would with freedom communicate to the youth those circum- stances which had happened within their memories, and those also which had been casually related to them by their prede- cessors; by these means many pleasing and curious anecdotes of our pious forefathers, which have escaped the pens of his- torians, would be snatched from oblivion and descend to pos- terity; and while we, with pleasure and gratitude, were recol- lecting and admiring their virtues, their patience, their piety, their heroism, and their fortitude, we might be incited to follow their worthy examples.
' These, sir, were the principal motives by which we were actuated, (whatever the malice and envy of some might sug- gest to the contrary,) when we proposed to celebrate this anni- versary, and we were pleased with the expectation of being joined by many of the respectable members of the Old Colony;
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and (from a consciousness of the rectitude of our intentions, and the benefit that might result to us and others from this in- stitution,) we flattered ourselves that even the reverend gen- tlemen of the clergy would give a sanction to it, by honoring us with their presence.
' Our expectations have been, in part, answered, and we es- teem ourselves under the greatest obligations to you, sir, for proposing a mode of celebration for the future, so exactly cor- respondent with our most sanguine wishes and expectations, as that of having a sermon preached on this solemn as well as important occasion. We concur with you 'that it would be agreeable, and serve for the entertainment and instruction of the rising generation; ' and we are of opinion that the motives and inducements of our religious forefathers for undertaking so dangerous an enterprise as the settlement of this colony, the amazing difficulties they encountered and overcame, the true vital piety and ardor with which they persevered, their sincere desire to advance the christian religion, and their other noble and Godlike virtues, are subjects that ought to be minutely dis- cussed, and solemnized by the sacred oratory of the pulpit.
' We have endeavored to deserve the compliment which you have been pleased to pay us, construing your letter 'with generosity and candor.' We neither esteem it 'dictatorial,' nor as 'desiring yourself the office of speaker on the occa- sion.'
' We have impatiently waited for a proposal of this kind to be made to some gentlemen of the clergy by persons whose ages and situations in life have given them greater influence than ourselves, but it has been hitherto omitted; we would modestly request (as you are the pastor of the first church that was gathered in the Old Colony, have the greatest advantages and opportunities for collecting all the historical facts and other materials that may be necessary for this work, and in every other respect are peculiarly qualified therefor,) that you would, upon the ensuing anniversary, prepare and deliver a discourse 'suitable to the time; ' and, in complying with this our re- quest, we trust that you will not only render a singular service to the public, but will oblige many of the respectable inhabit- ants of the Old Colony, and, in particular, the members of this society. We are, with the most unfeigned respect and grati- tude,
' Your sincere friends and obedient servants,
' THE OLD COLONY CLUB.
' From Old Colony Hall, December 31, 1771.
' Rev. CHANDLER ROBBINS,"
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December 15th. At a meeting, voted that William Watson, Esq., Capt. Elkanah Watson, Dr. Nathaniel Lothrop, Capt. Gideon White, Dr. Lazarus Le Baron, Thomas Foster, Esq .. George Watson, Esq., Edward Winslow, Esq., Thomas May- hew, Esq., James Hovey, Esq., Deacon John Torrey, and James Warren, Esq., be invited to Old Colony Club on Wednes- day evening next, then and there to join the Club in proposing a method of celebration of the next 22d of December.
December 16, at a meeting, present, Pelham Winslow, John Thomas, Edward Winslow, Cornelius White, Thomas Lo- throp, Elkanah Cushman, John Watson, Thomas Mayhew.
Thomas Foster, James Hovey, George Watson, James Warren, Thomas Mayhew, William Watson, Esq., Capt. Gideon White, Dr. William Thomas, Dr. Nathaniel Lothrop, by invitation.
Voted by the Club and the above gentlemen,
1. That a committee be chosen from among the members of this club, to wait on the Rev. Mr. Robbins, and inform him that it is expected by the gentlemen of this place, that he will gratify the public by complying with the request of this Club. made in their letter to him dated the 31st of December, A. D. 1771, to 'preach a sermon on the ensuing anniversary,' and that (if it be agreeable to him) to begin the services at hal after ten o'clock in the forenoon.
2. That the company, together with such other gentlemen as may join us from the neighboring towns, dine together at the house of Mr. Howland, in Plymouth.
3. That the gentlemen of the clergy belonging to this town, together with those who may be here from the other towns, be invited to dine with the company at Mr. Howland's.
After the company withdrew,
Voted by the Club, that Pelham Winslow, John Thomas, and John Watson, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Robbins for the purpose mentioned in the foregoing vote of the company; and that they also request of Mr. Robbins, that he would, on the Sabbath preceding the anniversary, notify his church and congregation of our intention to celebrate the said day. And that they also wait on the Rev. Mr. Bacon, and make the same request to him. And they are to make report ot their doings to this Club on Monday, at 11 o'clock, A. M., to which time this Club is adjourned.
December 22. Upon this 22d day of December, (to show our gratitude to the Creator and Preserver of our ancestors and ourselves, and as a mark of respect most justly due to the memories of those heroic christians, who on the 22d of De-
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cember, 1620, landed on this spot,) the members of this Club joined a numerous and respectable assembly in the meeting house of the first parish in Plymouth, and, after a hymn of praise and prayer to God, the Rev. Mr. Chandler Robbins de- livered an historical and pathetic discourse, from these words; ' For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children, that the generations to come might know them, even the children which should be born: who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, and keep his commandments.'
In which, after enumerating many of the virtues of our pre- decessors, he recounted their toils, their hazards, and their troubles in their various attempts to shun the horrors of a des- potic power, and the curses of an ecclesiastical tyranny, and to obtain a land wherein they might enjoy their religion in its purity, and peace of conscience. This sermon closed with an address to the audience, which did honor to humanity and him- self; and, by the profound silence and solemn attention which prevailed throughout this vast collection of people, of all ages, he must have had the pleasing satisfaction of concluding that he had not spent his strength for nought. The New England hymn, composed by Dr. Byles, sung with uncommon melody, finished the exercise.
That cheerfulness (the never-failing companion of grateful christians) might reign among us, the members of the club, together with the reverend gentlemen of the clergy, and others, the most respectable of the congregation repaired to the house of Mr. Howland, where a table was spread and abundantly furnished with the various productions of this now fruitful country, at which the honorable general John Winslow pre- sided. After partaking of these bounties, and spending a few hours in the most social conversation upon the history of our country, the adventures of our ancestors, &c. subjects at this time peculiarly pleasing, the company proceeded to Old Colony Hall, where the same sociability and harmony prevailed through- out the evening.
1773, January 6th. Voted by the club and the gentlemen present, that the Rev. Charles Turner, of Duxbury, be invited to preach the next anniversary sermon, and that Pelham Wins- low, Thomas Lothrop, John Thomas, and Edward Winslow, be a committee to draft a letter to that gentleman; and that the same committee write a letter of thanks to the Rev. Mr. Rob- bins, for his sermon on the 22d ult., and request a copy thereof;
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the committee to make report the next club night. Rev. Mr. Turner accepted the invitation to preach the anniversary ser- mon, and performed that service December 22d, 1773.
The committee reported the following letter to the Rev. Mr. Robbins.
' Old Colony Hall, January 13th, 1773.
REV. SIR : The members of this society, deeply impressed with a sense of gratitude for your obliging compliance with their request to preach a sermon in commemoration of the set- tlement of our ancestors in this place, beg leave to return our sincere thanks for your entertaining and instructive discourse of the 22d December last, and in order to perpetuate the many pertinent observations therein contained, would modestly re- quest a copy, that the rising generation may have a better op- portunity of being benefitted and instructed, which you justly observed, was the more immediate design of the discourse. We are with all due respect, your most humble servants,
OLD COLONY CLUB.'
Answer.
RESPECTED GENTLEMEN: Having just received your oblig- ing favor, being from home when it was sent, I take this op- portunity to acknowledge my obligations for your acceptance of my endeavors to gratify the members of your society and others, in the sermon you refer to. The subject is so wel. known and handled in the printed memoirs of those times, that a publication of the discourse seems needless, and I fear will never answer your expectations and the end you propose. ] shall, however, not be averse to gratify your request for a copy; if it shall be judged any way likely to afford any entertainment to the rising generation, and ask the favor of a little further time to think of the affair. I am with much esteem, gen- tlemen, Your humble servant,
' C. ROBBINS.'
February 24th. At a meeting, the following letter, (together with the anniversary sermon in manuscript,) was this night re- ceived from the Rev. Mr. Robbins.
Plymouth, Feb. 28, 1773.
'FRIENDS AND GENTLEMEN: Having considered your re- quest to me for a copy of my sermon, preached at the last an- niversary, &c.' partly from the desire of others, who can never expect that benefit from the larger histories of those times which you, gentlemen, and many others may enjoy ; but, chiefly, in gratification of the request of your society, to whom I acknowledge myself under obligations for their candor and
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respect, I now present you a copy of said sermon, with liberty to make what use of it you shall think proper; and am, gentle- men, with much esteem, your obliged friend and humble ser- vant, C. ROBBINS.'
' The Old Colony Club.'
November 24th. At a meeting of the club, James Warren, Esq., Mr. John Torrey, and Mr. Thomas Jackson, came in and said, ' that they were a sub-committee (appointed by the com- mittee of correspondence and communication of this town) for the purpose of informing this club of the determination of the said committee of correspondence relative to the celebration of the next 22d of December, and to request that the club would join with and conform thereto.' Voted, that the consideration of this matter be adjourned to the next club night, and that then a written answer be prepared, and on the Monday night follow- ing, be presented to the committee.
December 1st. At a meeting of the club, the committee chosen at the last club night to prepare an answer to the com- mittee of correspondence, reported the following, which, being read and considered, was accepted, and ordered to be re- corded.
' To the committee of communication and correspondence of the town of Plymouth.
'GENTLEMEN: The Old Colony Club received your message by your sub-committee, with your determination in what way and manner the ensuing anniversary of the 22d of December shall be solemnized and celebrated, with a request that we would join with and conform thereto. We have fully, liberally, and candidly considered thereof, and in answer would observe, that this club are not, nor ever have been, anxious or desirous of taking the lead and direction, or marshalling and regulating the public solemnities and particular rights and ceremonies of that important day, having always invited the gentlemen of the town to a consultation previous to any determination, and hav- ing ever acted by and with the advice and consent of the gen- tlemen present, and not exparte, as may appear from the re- cords of our proceedings on those occasions. Justice to our- selves, however, emboldens us to say, that, as we were the first institutors of this festival, and as no event has taken place to lessen our dignity or consequence as a club since the last anniversary, we have a right to be consulted on the manner of celebrating it, whether the same be taken into consideration by the gentlemen of the town, county, or colony. As gen- tlemen of the town, we will not dispute your right of acting in 17
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this matter, in conjunction with others, but as a committee of correspondence, &c. (in which name and capacity you have accosted us) we absolutely deny your jurisdiction and authority. By the records of this town it appears, that you were chosen ' to communicate and correspond with the town of Boston and other towns ;' and in this business we would not interfere or molest you. But we apprehend that your constituents had no more idea or suspicion of your interfering in these matters, (as a committee of correspondence, ) than they had of your regu- lating or altering their creed, or their catechism. And it ap -. pears to us that you have just the same right to meddle with the one as the other, or indeed, to determine any civil, religious, or military matter, that has or may arise within our town .- This partial and extra-judicial way of proceeding, we apppre- hend, will have a tendency to promote parties and divisions, (which have already too long harrassed and convulsed this once peaceful town,) rather than that harmony and concord, so ne- cessary to the welfare of all societies.
' But should we admit your right of acting as a committee of correspondence, we cannot suppose so great an absurdity as the counteracting your own vote and determination, without some sufficient reason. You must remember, that these mat- ters were fairly discussed and settled by the gentlemen of the town in general, and the members of this club, and that by and with the consent, approbation, and vote of a majority of the now members of your committee. For at a meeting of a large and respectable number of the gentlemen of this town with the club at Old Colony Hall, on the sixth day of January last, for the very purposes of adjusting and settling the matters relative to the, celebration of the ensuing anniversary, among whom were a major part of your committee, it was unanimously vot- ed, ' that the club should write to the Rev. Mr. Turner, and request him to preach a sermon on the next 22d of December, &c.'-In consequence of which, the club wrote to Mr. Turner, and afterwards received his answer in the affirmative, (directed to the club,) as may also appear by our record. At the same meeting it was also moved and agreed to, that as the club were the original institutors, it was most proper for them to have the direction of the minute or lesser matters relative to the celebration. We are now, and always have been, ready and willing to concur with any measure which may conduce to the harmonious and agreeable celebration of this anniversary, in commemoration of the landing of our forefathers in this place. We think it ought to be, and we hope it ever will be, kept and observed by the gentlemen of this town, county, and
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colony socially, and like a band of brethren,-nor would we contend for trifles or punctilios. But your plan and proceed- ings, without advising with or consulting the other gentlemen of the town, or the club, appear to us so great an invasion of the liberty and privileges of the gentlemen of the town of Ply- mouth, and the Old Colony Club, that we cannot approve or comply with the same.
'Dec. 1st, 1773.'
December 8. At a meeting of Old Colony Club,
Voted, that the club, together with such gentlemen as please to join them from this or the neighboring towns, will dine to- gether at Mr. Witherell's, upon the ensuing anniversary, and that the clerk of this club send a copy of this vote to the Rev. Mr. Turner and inform him that the club expect the pleasure of his company on that day.
Voted, that the club and their friends will spend the anniver- sary evening at the hall.
Voted, that the Rev. Mr. Bacon, and the Rev. Mr. Robbins, and all the social club, be invited to dine and spend the even- ing, as also such other gentlemen of the clergy as may be in town.
The reader cannot fail of being impressed with a sense of gratitude for the valuable reminiscences transmitted by the Old Colony Club; and it is a matter of regret that. its existence had not been protracted to a later period : but unfortunately, some of the members were attached to the royal interest, and it was deemed expedient that the club should be dissolved.
This society possessed a library and museum. Of the re- spectable members not one now survives.
Among their invited guests at various times we notice the following distinguished names, of high standing in the political and fashionable world.
John Adams, Robert T. Paine, Daniel Leonard, Col. Thom- as Oliver, Richard Leachmur, Nathan Cushing, Peleg Wadsworth, William Sever, * Benjamin Kent, Gen. John Winslow, and Dr. Charles Stockbridge.
* Hon. William Sever resided in Kingston, and died in 1809, aged 79 years. This gentlemen ought to be held in remembrance, as a man of high standing in society. He was, in principle, a staunch whig, and our country was benefited by his influence and example during the revolution. The late Fresident Adams once spoke of him as the "salt of the earth." The Rev. Dr. Dwight, in his Jour- nal of travels, in that part which relates to the Old Colony, observes that "Mr. Sever was the most respectable and worthy character he
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1770 .- Non-intercourse with Great Britain .- A large propor- tion of the respectable merchants of Boston came into a non- intercourse agreement against Great Britain, and sent circular letters to this and other towns for their co-operation. The town voted, March 26th, that they will contribute all in their power to support them in their laudable purpose of repelling tyranny and oppression; and voted the thanks of the town to the town of Boston for the firm and spirited opposition which they have made to the tyrannical attempts of the British gov- ernment to enslave our country, and that we will at all times assist them in such vigorous and constitutional measures as they shall adopt for the preservation of our common rights. Voted also, that we will encourage and support the non-inter- course agreement, and will encourage frugality, industry, and the manufactures of our country, discouraging the use of for- eign superfluities, particularly the article of foreign tea. A committee of inspection was chosen to inquire, from time to time, if any person should directly or indirectly contravene the above measures. Should any one be detected in importing goods, or of purchasing of those who import, their names are to be published in the newspapers, and to be reported to the next town-meeting. It was at this period that Governor Hutch- inson, and his adherents, represented the party in opposition to British measures as only an uneasy factious few in Boston while the body of the people were quite contented.
It is stated in the histories of the war, by both Gordon, and Mrs. Warren, and copied into Marshall's life of Washington. that James Warren, Esq., and Samuel Adams, Esq., while at Plymouth, originated the famous committee of correspond- ence in the several towns of the colony, but Samuel A. Wells. Esq. of Boston, assures me that, from the most thorough in- vestigation, he has ascertained that General Warren had nc share whatever in originating those committees, but that Sam- uel Adams was the original proposer, and is alone entitled to the honor. I have also been assured by Z. Bartlett, Esq. that Mr. Samuel Cole, late of this town, informed him that he first suggested the idea of committee of correspondence to Mr.
had known." He was, for many years, Judge of Probate for the county of Plymouth. But I venerated him the more on account of the remarkable similarity in his person and appearance to General Washington. The resemblance in erect form and in dignity of manners, was so peculiarly striking, that the comparison was al- most perfect, and my interviews with him brought to my mind the most delightful recollections.
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Stephen Sampson, and that they conversed with General War- ren on the subject, who communicated with Mr. Samuel Ad- ams, and the scheme, being approved by them, was immediately adopted.
1772 .- It appears by the town records, that, at a legal meet- ing of the town, November 24th, 1772, the petition of Mr. Thomas Jackson and one hundred other inhabitants was read, setting forth the alarming situation of our country in conse- quence of the tyrannical measures of the British Parliament, and praying that the town would take the subject into consid- eration. It was thereon voted to choose a standing committee of correspondence and communication, who shall freely, from time to time, communicate and correspond with the town of Boston, and any other town on the subject of our present diffi- culties, and of the measures proper to be taken on the occa- sion, they to apply to the selectmen to call a town-meeting, on any emergency, to consider of any intelligence of importance they may receive, and to act and do what further they may then think proper. The following persons were then chosen to compose the committee.
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