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 24
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General Warren resided, for some years during the war, at the splendid seat at Milton, formerly belonging to Governor Hutchinson, * but returned to his former mansion in Plymouth,
* The famous Hutchinson letters were carried to General Warren's house, and read confidentially, before they were published.
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at the corner of North street, where he died, November 28th, 1808, aged eighty-two years, venerable from his age, and the valuable services rendered to his country in the darkest and most trying periods of its history.
General Warren married the daughter of the Hon. James Otis, of Barnstable, and sister to the celebrated patriot and orator of that name: This lady was the author of a history of the war, and was, with her husband, a strenuous advocate of the principles of the revolution, and, subsequently, of the Jef- ferson administration and politics. She survived her husband about six years, and died in 1314, at the age of eighty-six.
They left two sons, James, who was, for several years, post- master here, and Henry, who, for many years, held the office of collector, for the district of Plymouth, and died July 6th, 1828, aged sixty-four years. This gentleman will long be remembered for his social qualities, his hospitality, and his gentlemanly deportment.
1809 .- The town voted to petition the state legislators, that they devise and pursue such measures as their judgment shall dictate, to relieve the people from the severe pressure under which they are suffering from the embargo laws.
1812 .- July. At a meeting of the town, on account of the momentous aspect of our public affairs, occasioned by an im- pending war, particularly distressing and ruinous to this section of our country, voted to memorialize the president on its im- policy and injustice, and to protest against an alliance with des- potic France, whose friendship, more than its enmity, has been fatal to every other republic on the globe.
The town was unanimous for peace and not for war.
The memorial to the President, was couched in respectful, yet firm language, reprobating the whole system of commer- cial restrictions, by embargo and war, as absolutely ruinous to the best interest of our country, particularly the Eastern States. They entreat the President to interpose his power and influ- ence to rescue them from scenes of horror, from the near pros- pects of which, hope, the solace of the wretched, flies away, and which, in their apprehensions, will endanger the existence of the social compact; praying him to avert the host of calam- ities that in repeated succession must follow a war with Great Britain.
When hostilities had actually commenced the memorial pro- ceeds to reprobate the measure in the following strong lan- guage :- " Thus, Sir, with much brevity, but with a frankness that the magnitude of the occasion demands, they have ex- pressed their honest sentiments upon the existing offensive war
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against Great Britain, a war by which their dearest interest as men and christians is deeply affected, and in which they delib- erately declare, as they cannot conscientiously, so they will not have any voluntary participation. They make this declaration with that paramount regard to their civil and religious obliga- tions, which becomes the disciples of the Prince of Peace, whose kingdom is not of this world, and before whose impartial tribunal presidents and kings will be upon a level with the mean- est of their fellow men, and will be responsible for all the blood they shed in wanton and unnecessary war. Impressed with these solemn considerations, with an ardent love of country and high respect for the union of the states, your memorialists en- treat the president immediately to begin the work of peace, with that unaffected dignity and undisguised sincerity, which distin- guished one of our illustrious predecessors, and they have the most satisfactory conviction, that upright, sincere efforts will secure success, while the land is undefiled with the blood of its citizens, and before the demon of slaughter, thirsting for human victims, 'cries havoc and lets slip the dogs of war.'" The town then passed several resolves, expressing, in the most unequivocal language, their disapprobation of the war. They then passed a resolution, disapproving the conduct of the representative of the district in congress, who advocated all the obnoxious war measures, and voted for the war,-which reso- lution, they voted should be sent to the said representative.
The arch stone bridge, over the town brook, was this year completed.
1813 .- The ship Sally, belonging to Boston, put into this port from Canton, having, as passenger, a Chinese gentleman, Mr. Washey. He was a young man, tall and comely, but of dark complexion, of mild aspect, and pleasing manners. He attend- ed public worship on the Sabbath, and being habited in the cos- tume of his country, attracted great attention.
1814 .- Being in a state of war with Great Britain, and the harbor and town constantly exposed to the attacks of British ships and barges, application was made to the towns of Kings- ton and Duxbury to unite in measures of defence for the harbor, which was complied with. A committee of vigilance and safety was appointed, and a night watch to patrol the streets. In June, a committee was appointed to make application to the governor and council, for a supply of the munitions of war ad- equate to the defence of the town, and such other aid as may be deemed proper; the request was promptly complied with, the necessary munitions were supplied, and a regiment of mili- tia, under the command of Col. Caleb Howard, was ordered to
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take their station here for our defence, which gave the place the aspect of a garrison town, for several months.
1815 .- April 22d, died in this town the Hon. William Wat- son, Esq. He was born May 6th, 1730, and graduated at Harvard college, 1751. This gentleman ranked himself among the respectable whigs and patriots of our revolution, and was ever a zealous advocate for the rights and liberties of his coun- try. As a professor of religion he was exemplary, giving punc- tual attendance to its ordinances and duties. His moral virtue and integrity were unquestionable, and entitled him to the con- fidence of those authorities by whom he was appointed to public offices. In 1775, he was appointed the first postmaster ever in this town, by our provincial congress; and on the 28th Septem- ber, 1782, he was by the general court appointed to the office of naval officer for the port of Plymouth. In 1789, he received a commission, under the hand of Washington, as collector of the port of Plymouth, which office he sustained till 1803, when he was removed by the succeeding President. In 1790, he was appointed, under the authority of the United States, Deputy Postmaster, to officiate as postmaster at Plymouth. This last commission was signed by Timothy Pickering. Mr. Watson's children now living, are, Elizabeth, who is the widow of Hon. Nathaniel Niles, and Ellen, the wife of Hon. John Davis.
1816 .- The town voted to employ Dr. Sylvanus Fancher to inoculate the inhabitants with the kine pox, at the expense of the town, which was done, and 2,800, chiefly of the young in- habitants, were vaccinated.
May 17. A committee, chosen by the town, to makeinquiry into the conduct of retailers of spirituous liquors, reported ' that they are deeply impressed with the magnitude of the evil, and with the serious consequences that will probably result to the rising generation, if some seasonable check cannot be put to the practice. Aware of the odium that attaches itself to those, who, from official duty, are led to oppose the views and emolu- ments of interested individuals, we would not leave to the fathers of the town to encounter the hydra alone; we would, therefore, recommend to every honest, discreet, and sober-minded inhab- itant of the town, to set his face against the practice, as he would regard the interest, prosperity, and comfort of his fellow creatures, and would preserve the rising generation from moral pollution and degeneracy, and that they would unite their efforts with those of the selectmen and civil officers of the town, to discountenance and suppress this alarming, this crying sin. They would, also, recommend, that the selectmen, overlooking all past transgressions in this respect, be enjoined, peremptorily
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and perseveringly, to withhold their approbation from any per- son, whom they shall hereafter know, or very strongly suspect, to be guilty of a violation of the law.
' Your committee hope they shall be excused, if they exceed the bounds of their commission, when they express their firm conviction, that a systematic perseverance in discharging the painful duty of putting under guardianship such citizens as are notoriously intemperate, will be one remedy, among others, of the evil in question.' The report was accepted.
1817 .- December 22. The 187th anniversary of the memo- rable event of the landing of the forefathers, was celebrated in the usual style. The discourse on this occasion was delivered by the Rev. Horace Holley, of Boston, whose well-known ora- torical powers were exerted in the happiest manner, and afford- ed great delight and satisfaction to his numerous auditors.
Mr. Holley contemplated the scenery about our harbor, our burial hill, and the rock, and held a conversation with Deacon Spooner in the morning, which roused the best energies of his nature, and nerved his faculties to their noblest display. In his discourse he observed that he had that morning received some new recollections, and made the following allusion in refer- . ence to the venerable Spooner: 'Our venerable friend knew and conversed with Elder Faunce, who personally knew the first settlers, so Polycarp conversed with St. John, the beloved disciple of our Saviour.'
On this interesting occasion, Deacon Spooner officiated by reading the Psalm, in the ancient form, line by line, and this closed the religious services of this venerable man, who, for so many years, had been constantly seen in his appropriate seat in the sanctuary of his God. He died on the sabbath, March 22, 1818, in the 83d year of his age. Rev. Mr. Kendall preached an occasional sermon on the following sabbath, taking for his text, ' The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.' The following biographical sketch of Deacon Spooner was written by an intimate and venerable com- panion and friend of the deceased .*
' Died at Plymouth, on Lord's day morning, the Hon. Eph- raim Spooner, in the 83d year of his age.
' It would not merely be injustice to the deceased, but injury to the living, to suffer the life of a man distinguished by such pre-eminent usefulness and active benevolence, as was that of Deacon Spooner, to pass unnoticed.
' Deacon Spooner, by his native, beneficent disposition, suavi-
* Hon. Joshua Thomas.
20
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ty of manners, and constant readiness to oblige, early recom- mended himself to general notice. In the intercourse of so- cial life, the expressions of his civility and kindness were un- commonly ardent, and to strangers might appear to be some- what overstrained; but they who intimately knew him, can vouch with great confidence that he never made a tender of service in which he was not sincere, nor dispensed a favor that did not flow spontaneously from the heart; and it may be safely added, that he never intentionally did a wrong thing, nor thought a mean one. His fellow-townsmen, impressed with his worth and assiduity, introduced him into the various respecta- ble offices of the town, and his election as town-clerk for fifty- two years in succession, and which he retained until his death, amidst the struggles and conflicts of party, satisfactorily evinced the upright and faithful manner with which he discharged the respective offices he sustained.
' In opposition to the iniquitous system of policy adopted by Great Britain to enthral her colonies, his whole soul was en- gaged. As his industry was continual, nothing in his power was left unessayed to promote, in his language, " the glorious cause," and the writer of this article could mention instances of sacrifices he offered at the shrine of his country, and of won- derful exertions he made to procure subsistence for the indi- gent during the distressing period of the war of the revolution, that would excite the admiration of all men acquainted with the common principles of human actions. But his patriotism, though in a high degree zealous, had not the least tincture of bitterness, and in the distribution of his charities, party feeling had no participation,-a pure philanthropy seeemed to have marked him for her own.
' Universal good-will being so conspicuous a feature in the character of Deacon Spooner, it is unnecessary to state the warmth of his affection in the relation of husband and parent, or the ardor of his attachment as a friend.
' In the year 1790, he was appointed by the Executive, an associate justice of what is called the old court of common pleas, and held this office till that court was abolished. Being educated a merchant, his friends cannot claim for him great in- formation in legal science; but a quick, natural discernment, and inflexible rectitude of intention, generally guided him to correct decisions. If any mistaken bias was ever discovered in his opinions, it was insensibly produced by his strong sym- pathies with the unfortunate. He represented the town of Ply- mouth in the legislature several years with his usual activity and perseverance, and finished his political career as a member of the Executive Council.
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' But the highest point in the character of Deacon Spooner is yet to be named. . He was, from full conviction, a christian, and for more than fifty years made public profession of his re- ligion, and for thirty-four years, officiated, without blemish, in the office of deacon at the altar of the First Church of Christ in Plymouth, and the first in New England. Imbibing the heavenly temper of his master, like him he went about doing good, whenever opportunity presented, without cold calcula- tions on the measure of his ability; 'and in the meekness of his opposition and mildness of censure,'resembled the beloved disciple. His piety was without bigotry, and his devotion without enthusiasm. No abstruse polemic divinity, no meta- physical disquisitions on the nature of faith, perplexed the simplicity of his creed, and alienated him from his fellow christ- ians; piety to God and benevolence to man being with him the sole test of orthodoxy and discipleship.
' Only about four weeks before his own death, Deacon Spoon- er buried his wife, with whom he had lived fifty-five years, in the most entire harmony, walking cheerfully together in the christian course, and in the ordinances of the gospel; and the pious fortitude and calm resignation he exhibited on that occa- sion, will not admit of doubt that they are again united in shout- ing the divine praises.
' Accept, venerable departed shade, this small tribute of re- spect to the memory of thy friendship, greatly beloved in life, deeply lamented in death.'
A peculiar courtesy and politeness of manners, and good feel- ing, were inherent in the nature of our deceased friend. Nu- merous amusing anecdotes, characteristic of the man, might be adduced, but they must be omitted.
Mr. Spooner was a genuine philanthropist, and no man was more ready to interpose the kind office of friendship towards a neighbor. So ardent was his patriotism, and such his influ- ence, that on more than one occasion when the town was driven to great extremity for money for the purpose of raising soldiers for the army, and procuring supplies for them and for their families, he had the address to obtain a loan of a wealthy gen- tleman who was a royalist. Deacon Spooner married Eliza- beth Shurtleff, and their surviving children are Sally, James, and Ebenezer.
March 8th .- Died in this town Nathaniel Goodwin, Esq., aged seventy years. He was the son of a respectable mer- chant, and was educated to that profession under parental care in early life. He established himself by a commendable course of industry and perseverance. He was found among the ac-
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tive patriots of our revolution, and entered the public service in the office of major of militia, and was attached to Col. Ger- rish's regiment, stationed at Boston and Cambridge, to guard the conventional troops taken under Burgoyne at Saratoga. He was also in the expedition to Rhode Island, in the capacity of major, in 1778. Subsequently, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier, and that of major-general of militia, which office he sustained with honor until his death. He was for many years a representative to our legislature, and an acting magis- trate, and displayed the qualities of an impartial judge. In all his avocations he was found capable and assiduous as a useful citizen, and was held in respect for his probity, integrity, and other moral virtues. General Goodwin left sons and daugh- ters; the oldest son, Nathaniel, is the present cashier of the Plymouth bank. Ezra Shaw, the youngest son, was educated in the ministry, and was the learned and respected pastor of the first church and society at Sandwich. He died greatly lament- ed February 5th, 1833, and his grateful people erected a mar- ble monument to his memory with the following inscription:
In Memory of REV. EZRA SHAW GOODWIN, Pastor
of the First Congregational Church and Society in Sandwich, who died Feb. 5th, A. D. 1833, in the 46th year of his age, and in the twentieth year of his ministry.
This memorial of their beloved Pastor, is here placed by the bereaved flock, with grateful recollections of the services, virtues and endowments of their pious instructor, their enlightened guide, their faithful counsellor, their constant work-fellow in the cause of Christian liberty, their cherished associate, their generous and affectionate friend.
Absent in the flesh, yet with us in the spirit.
1820 .- As the present year closes the second century since the pilgrim fathers first landed on our shores, a respectable number of the inhabitants of this town, impelled by a sense of duty and pious gratitude to divine Providence, have instituted
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a society, which was by our legislature incorporated February 24th, by the name of Pilgrim Society. The design of this as- sociation is to commemorate this great historical event, and to perpetuate the character and virtues of our ancestors to pos- terity. In accordance with these views they proceeded to erect a durable monumental edifice in this town, for the ac- commodation of the meetings of said society, and as a memo- rial sacred to the memory of the founders of our nation.
Centennial Celebration of the Landing of the Pilgrims, De- cember 22d .- The period now recurs when we commemorate, with peculiar solemnity, the momentous event which gave birth and existence to our nation, with all which is valuable in the civil, literary and religious establishments in New Eng- land. This day completes the second century since our shores were first impressed by the footsteps of civilized men. The Pilgrim Society, desirous of giving to the solemnities appro- priate dignity and permanent effect, selected a gentleman of the first talents, Hon. Daniel Webster, as their orator. After a well-adapted prayer by the Rev. Dr. Kirkland, president of Harvard University, the speaker entertained the audience for about two hours. This address was all that could be anticipat- ed or conceived. It was correct in its historical statements, powerful in argument, rich in description, and pathetic and eloquent in action. The characters and principles, the suffer- ings and virtues of the pilgrim puritans were portrayed with great justice and felicity. The useful and glorious efforts of their wisdom and enterprise, and independent love of truth, were fully displayed to the judgment and feelings of an intelli- gent and delighted audience. But we are sensible of the diffi- culty of doing justice to this appropriate and splendid perform- ance, and must refer to the discourse itself for a just sense of its pre-eminent merits. The concourse of people was im- mense, far more numerous than on any former occasion; and a great portion of them from our most distinguished and respect- able citizens. 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 the sea. Among other affecting memorials, calling to mind the distresses of the pil- 20 *
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grims, were five kernels of parched corn placed on each plate, alluding to the time in 1623, when that was the proportion al- lowed 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. The Hon. Joshua Thomas, president of the Pilgrim Society, to the great regret of the gentlemen present, was prevented from at- tending, by severe illness. Mr. Watson was assisted by Hon. William Davis, of Plymouth, and Alden Bradford, Esq., of Boston, and the following gentlemen, by request of the presi- dent, acted as vice-presidents, viz., Hon. T. Bigelow, Hon. L. Lincoln, William Jackson, Esq., Judah Alden, Esq., William R. Rotch, Esq., and F. C. Gray, Esq. Good humor and good feelings were displayed in every countenance, and expressed by a constant interchange of friendly greetings and ardent con- gratulations; and such was the decorum and propriety of de- portment through the day, that even the stern pilgrims might have looked down without rebuke. After the regular toasts were announced, Mr. Bradford rose and observed to the mem- bers of the Pilgrim Society (and the company) that he had been requested by their president, Judge Thomas, to express his great regret in not being able to join them in the solemni- ties of the day; to assure them that he had anticipated the joyous celebration with peculiar interest and pleasure, and that while life was continued to him, it would be his ardent wish to promote the objects of the association, in cherishing a grateful remembrance of the virtues of the pilgrims, and in giving his support to their principles and institutions. The following, communicated by Judge Thomas, was then given and received with great approbation; and the cry of ' encore, encore,' was re- peated from every part of the hall. 'Our Forefathers' Creed; Law, Liberty, and Religion; If their descendants would pre- serve the two first, let them not expunge the third article.'*
Hon. Judge Davis then proposed a toast for the health of Judge Thomas, whose cheering society and acceptable super- intendence we had been accustomed to enjoy on these anni- versaries.
After the first toast was drank, the Hon. Judge Davis, Presi- dent of the Historical Society, who, with several of the mem- bers, had been appointed a committee to congratulate the Pil-
* Judge Thomas's toast alluded to the third article in our Bill of Rights ; the question of expunging it was then under consideration in the state convention.
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grim Society on this interesting occasion, addressed them as follows :-
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Pilgrim Society .- The celebration of this memorable day, which excites such just and general notice, could not fail to engage the attention of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Their pursuits are in unison with the objects of your association, and they cheerfully accept your invitation to this interesting festival. In behalf of that society, and as chairman of their committee, appointed for this purpose, it is my grateful office to present to you their congratulations, and to express their cordial sympathy in the sentiments of veneration which you so eminently cherish for the founders of our race.
' With this manifestation of our fraternal regard, permit me, in their behalf, to request your acceptance of an entire copy of their collections. By these publications, many precious memo- rials of our ancestors have been rescued from oblivion, and we would wish them to find a place in the library of your institution.
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