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 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
22
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1620
obliged to remove again: 4th, there was a scarcity of water at that place, and none could be had without bringing it up a steep hill. Besides, Robert Coppin, the pilot, affirmed that there was a navigable river and good harbor in the other head-land of this bay, over against Cape Cod, about eight leagues distance, where he had once been, and which, a native having stolen a harping iron from them, they had named Thievish Harbor. It was at length resolved to endeavor to make some further discovery within the bay, but not to range so far as Agawam. About this time an incident occurred which might have been attended with fatal consequences. A son of Francis Billington, in the absence of his father, having procured some gun-pow- der, made squibs and fired them, and finding his father's fowling- piece charged, shot it off in the cabin where there was a small barrel half full of powder, and many people near the fire, but no one was injured.
On Wednesday, December 6th, the company sailed on a third excursion for discovery ; the weather was so intensely cold that the water froze every moment on their clothes, and two of the men were greatly overcome. On their approach to the shore at Eastham, they discovered 10 or 12 Indians engaged in cutting up a grampus, but they soon fled. Two other grampuses were dead on the shore, having been cast on the land; the fat on their sides was two inches thick, affording abundance of oil. The English landed on the shore, made a barricado, planted sentinels, and took lodgings beside a fire, and saw the smoke from the Indian's fire 4 or 5 miles from them. In the morning part of the company kept in the shallop, and the rest ranged the woods. A large burial-place was discovered, partly encompass- ed with a palisado, like a church-yard, and filled with graves of various sizes. " At night they took their lodgings in the shallop, and at about midnight hideous cries were heard, and the senti- nel called, arms! arms! but by firing two guns the noise ceased. About five o'clock in the morning the noises were renewed and they had only time to cry out 'Indians! Indians!' when the arrows came flying thickly about them. The English ran with all speed to receive their guns, and in a moment bullets were exchanged for arrows, but no exchange could be a match for the dreadful Indian yells. There was a lusty Indian, supposed to be their captain, who placed himself behind a tree, discharg- ed three arrows, and stood three shots from a musket, till at length a charge struck the tree, when he gave a horrid yell, and fled. Eighteen of their arrows were taken up and sent to their friends in England, by master Jones, of the Mayflower; some were headed with brass, some with deer's horns, and
23
HISTORY . OF PLYMOUTH.
1620]
others with eagles' claws; but the contest ended without blood- shed on either side. It was about this time that the wife of Wm. White was favored with the birth of a son, whom they named Peregrine, being the first English child born in New England .*
After the skirmish with the Indians, the pilgrims rendered thanks to God for their preservation, and named the place the First Encounter. In the afternoon of the same day, Decem- ber 8th, the shallop departed from the cape on a cruise of dis- covery, with the following persons on board :- Governor Car- ver, Mr. William Bradford, f Edward Winslow, Capt. Miles Standish, John Howland, Mr. Warren, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Ed- ward Tilly, Mr. John Tilly, Mr. Clarke, John Allerton, Thomas English and Edward Dotey, together with Coppin, the pilot, the master gunner of the ship, and three of the common sea- men, making eighteen in the whole. The pilot assured them that there was a harbor of which he had some knowledge, which they could reach before night. į They were in the afternoon overtaken by a violent storm, the wind and rain increasing, and the sea raging with rough and heavy surges, by which the hinges of their rudder were broken, and they were obliged to steer the shallop by oars in the hands of two men stationed at the helm. Not long after, in their severe struggle, their mast was severed in three pieces, and the sails went
* William White died in the ensuing spring. His widow Susannah, married Edward Winslow, who was the third governor of the colony ; this marriage was solemnized May 12th, 1621, and was the first marriage in New England. She was the mother of Peregrine White, the first child born of English parents in the colony. Peregrine White died at Marshfield, July 20th, 1704, aged 83 years and eight months. His children by Sarah, his wife, were Daniel, Sarah, Mary, Jonathan, Peregrine, Sylvanus. Children of Daniel White and Han- nah his wife, were John, Joseph, Thomas, Cornelius, Benjamin, Elea- zer, Ebenezer. Children of Cornelius White and Hannah his wife, Lemuel, Cornelius, Paul, Joanna, Daniel, Gideon, Benjamin. Child- ren of Gideon White and Joanna Howland his wife, were Cornelius, (died 1779) Joanna married Pelham Winslow, (died 1829) Hannah still survives at Plymouth, Gideon (died at Nova Scotia, 1833), Polly still survives, Elizabeth, Experience and Thomas. Deacon Joseph White, great grand-son of Peregrine, resided at Yarmouth, where he died not many years since, and where some of his descendants still survive.
+ While Mr. William Bradford was absent in the shallop, his wife Dorothy accidentally fell overboard from the Mayflower at Cape Cod and was drowned.
# It is not improbable that the pilot had visited this shore with Capt. Smith or Hunt, in 1614.
-
24
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1620
overboard. In passing the point called the Gurnet's nose, at the mouth of Plymouth harbor, the pilot finding himself deceived, and greatly alarmed, exclaimed ' Lord be merciful !' my eyes never saw this place before; and he with the master's mate would have run the boat ashore before the wind in a cove among breakers; which cove is between the Gurnet head and Saquish point. But a more resolute seaman at the helm making un- common exertions, and urging the oarsmen, the boat was with difficulty put about, and they fortunately reached the lee of a small island, in the midst of a heavy rain, and the darkness of night, where they came safe to anchor, and in the night they landed and kindled a fire. The next morning they found the island was uninhabited, and as it was the last day of the week, and extremely cold, they employed themselves in drying their clothes, cleaning their arms, and repairing their shallop. The following day, the tenth, being the christian sabbath, and the first ever observed in New England, they devoted themselves in pious gratitude for their preservation and safe arrival. As Mr. Clark, the master's mate was the first to land on the island, it received his name, which it still retains. *
Memorable Landing of the First Settlers.
On Monday, the 11th day of October, O. S. they proceeded from the island in their shallop, to sound and examine the har- bor, and to their unspeakable joy, found it commodious and ' fit for shipping.' A part of their number, no names men- tioned, landed, went some distance into the country, and ex- amined the territory contiguous to the shore, where they found cleared land which had been planted with Indian corn, two or three years before, and a beautiful running brook, and numerous springs of the purest water. Having selected this as the most eligible situation for a permanent settlement yet discovered, they re-embarked on board the shallop and returned to the ship, at Cape Cod, announcing to the anxious pilgrims the joyful tidings of their discoveries, and the cheering prospects which Providence had opened to their view. This, then, is to be considered as the first stepping on the Rock of the Pilgrims from the shallop belonging to the Mayflower, and this is the birth day of our nation. The day which has been annually celebrated in commemoration of this momentous event, the landing of the forefathers, is the twenty-second of December, N. S. which has hitherto been supposed to correspond with the
* See a tradition respecting this when describing the island, at the latter end of the volume.
25
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
1620]
eleventh, O. S; but to reconcile the difference between old and new style in the century in which they arrived, only ten days, instead of eleven, should be added to their computation, which would make the day of the landing correspond to the twenty-first, N. S. If therefore it be desirable to celebrate the precise portion of time corresponding with their date, as it undoubtedly is, the twenty-first and not the twenty-second of December, should be commemorated as Forefather's Day. *
* The day of the landing by the exploring party in the shallop was Monday, December 11th, 1620, old style. This is establish d by the united testimony of Morton's Memorial, Mourt's Relation, and Governor Bradford's MS. History, as copied by Prince. In de- termining the anniversary of that day for any year whatever, the question occurs, what is the difference between O. S. and N. S. for 1620 ?
By order of Pope Gregory XIII. in 1582, ten days were omitted in the Julian calendar, then in use, and the 5th of October was reckoned the 15th. This was done for the following reason. The Julian calendar proceeded on the supposition that the year was 365 days and 6 hours ; but the time in which the sun performs his annual revolution is not exactly 365 days 6 hours, but 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 453 seconds. The civil year, therefore, exceeded the solar by 11 minutes 14g seconds, which in about 130 years amounted to a whole day, i. e. the true equinox would precede the civil one by about a day in 130 years. In the year 1582, this anticipation of the equinox had amounted to 10 days, so that the vernal equinox was now found to happen on the 11th of March instead of the 21st, as it ought to have done if the Julian calendar had agreed with the course of the sun. The Pope, therefore, ordered the 10 days to be sup- pressed ; and, to preserve the accuracy of the calendar from that time, it was ordered that three days should continue to be dropped every 400 years, which was nearly equivalent to one day every 130 years. Instead, however, of suppressing a day every 130th year, whether common or leap year, it was thought preferable to make the correction in leap year only, thus leaving always 365 days at least in the year. Now in the former method of reckoning, every 100th year was a leap year; but it was ordered by the Pope, that every 400th year only should be considered as leap year, and the other centurial years reckoned as common years ; the year 1600, however, being still continued as leap year. By making, therefore, the year 1700, 1800, and 1900 to be common years instead of leap years, as they would have been in the old style, the error arising from the odd time would be properly corrected.
The difference then between O. S. and N. S. in 1582, was ten days, and this continued to be the difference until 1700, the leap year being preserved in 1600; from 1700 to 1800, it was eleven 3
26
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1620
Immediately on receiving the happy intelligence, the Mayflower weighed anchor and proceeded to the newly-discovered harbor. She there moored in safety on the 16th day of December O. S., and thus terminated her perilous voyage. As the ark once bore the family of Noah and the destinies of human kind, so this modern ark bore the pilgrim family and the destinies of a future nation. This little family was now about to change the perils of the ocean, not for a friendly, hospitable shore,-not to receive the fond embrace of affectionate relatives and friends, but to encounter the storms of winter in an unexplored wilder- ness, and to listen to the yells of savages. An appalling pros- pect presents itself to the shivering crowd, as they stand upon deck, viewing the scenes of their future exertions and suffer- ings. But, instead of shrinking, the strong man nerves his arm for the new duties which he is called to perform, as the protector of tender females amidst the storms and cold of winter.
days, because 1700 in O. S. was a leap year, and therefore, another day was to be suppressed ; from 1800 to 1900, twelve days; from 1900 to 2000, thirteen days ; and from 2000 to 2100, still thirteen days ; because 2000 is a leap year in both styles. Of course, then, the 11th of December, 1620, O. S. corresponds to the 21st of De- cember, N. S .- the year 1600 being reckoned as a leap year, and, therefore, no day being dropped in that century. Now in the year 1769, when the Old Colony Club fixed upon the day of their cele- bration, the difference of styles had become, for that century, 11 days, because the year 1700 was, as above stated, reckoned as a common year, and therefore an additional day was dropped. For the same reason, the difference of styles for the present century.is 12 days. But the true question is and should have been by the Old Colony Club, what is the difference of styles for 1620, and that is the true difference for that time, and continues so forever .- See Rees' Cyclopedia, articles Calendar and Style .- Judge Davis's letter in regard to the settlement of Boston .- Judge Davis's communication in O. C. Memorial, Sept. 4, 1830. American Almanac, Vol. i. (in which however, there is an inaccuracy in stating this mitaer.)
The above calculation is corroborated in the following manner : By finding the Dominical letter for 1620, O. S. which is A, it appears that the 11th of December that year fell on Monday, con- formably to our historians. By finding the Dominical letter for 1620, N. S. which is D, it appears that the 21st of December for that year would fall also on Monday, and the 22d on Tuesday, &c .- See the luble in American Almanac, Vol. iii. p. 72.
There can be no doubt, therefore, that the 21st of December, in any year, is the day corresponding to the 11th of December, 1620, O. S. and is the true day of the landing of the Pilgrims at Ply- mouth.
27
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
1620]
Mothers tasked to the utmost efforts of their physical and moral powers, shielding their helpless children from numerous fearful objects, exhibit examples of unprecedented self-denial, entire devotedness, and high-minded virtue ! And it was the conso- lation of all, amid their sufferings, that they had disenthralled themselves from ecclesiastical tyranny and persecution, and found an asylum of religious liberty and civil freedom for them- selves and posterity. *
On the 18th and 19th, the master of the ship, Mr. Jones, and three or four sailors explored the land contiguous to the harbor, but could discover neither houses nor inhabitants. On the morning of the 20th, after imploring heaven for guidance, a considerable number landed with the view of selecting a loca- tion for settlement. The place selected was the high ground on the bank facing the bay, where the land had been cleared, and corn planted by the natives a few years before. Here were numerous springs of the purest water, and a brook emptying its current into the harbor. Here also was a high hill, well situated for a fortification to command the surrounding country, and affording a fine prospect across the bay. A violent storm arose at night, and the weather continued so tempestuous for two or three days, that these people, unable to return on board, remained on shore without shelter. On Saturday, the twenty- third, another party bid adieu to the Mayflower, went on shore and began to fell and carry timber, and make preparations for the construction of their house of common rendezvous. On the twenty-fourth, (Sabbath) the people on shore were alarmed by the cry of Indians, from whom an attack was expected, but it proved a false alarm. On Monday, the twenty-fifth, they began their common house, for rendezvous and for stores, which was twenty feet square; and no man was suffered to remain idle, although many of them, from a long voyage, were affected with scurvy, and others, from uncommon exposure to storms of snow and rain, were suffering under severe indispo- sition. Such was their industry, that in four days one half of their store-house was thatched. t It was one of their first ob-
* Had the month of December, 1620, been as inclement as De- cember, 1831 and 1834, when our harbor and shores were an ex- panse of ice and snow, and the thermometer several degrees below zero, those whom we honor as our fathers and mothers must have fallen a sacrifice to the climate, and the story of the great enterprize of these bold spirits been lost in oblivion, or preserved only in un- certain tradition.
+ In the year 1801, in digging a cellar, sundry tools and a plate
28
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
[1620
jects to provide for their security a platform for their ordnance, which they began to build on the twenty-eighth, on a high hill. On the same day they divided their whole company into nine- teen families, that fewer houses might suffice, and measured out the ground, assigning to every person by lot half a pole in breadth and three poles in length, for house lot and garden .- It was stipulated that every man should build his own house, but that the whole should be built in two rows and compact for greater security against the Indians. The inclemency of the weather and their own feeble health were essential impediments to their progress in erecting their houses, and many families were detained on board the ship until shelter could be provided on shore.
December 31st, Lord's Day. Although the greatest part of the company was on board the ship almost a mile and a half from shore, those who had landed kept the sabbath for the first time in their new house. 'Here, therefore, is fixed the era of their settlement, which in grateful remembrance of the christian friends, whom they left in the last town which they visited in their native country, they called New Plymouth. * This was the foundation of the first English town built in New England.' -Holmes's Ann.
Place of their location .- The place in which the settlers first located themselves for a town, is the whole extent of our Ley- den street and its environs. This street was laid out by them when planning the town, and extends from the town square in a gradual descent to the shore, and terminates a little distance south of the memorable rock. During the first winter, the settlers buried their dead on the banks of the shore, since called Cole's Hill, near their own dwellings, taking special care by levelling the earth to conceal from the Indians the number and frequency of deaths. Dr. Holmes mentions a tradition, that the graves at that spot, after the great mortality in the first stage of the settlement, were levelled and sown over by the settlers to conceal the extent of their loss from the natives. An aged gentleman, Hon. Ephraim Spooner, since deceased, who gave
of iron were discovered, seven feet under the surface of the earth, on the spot where tradition places the common house, which is on the south side of Leyden street, near the declivity of the hill.
* " This name of Plimouth was so called not only for the reasons here named, (referring to Smith's map) but also because Plimouth in O. E. was the last town they left in their native country ; and for that they received many kindnesses from some Christians there."- Morton Memor. Davis's edition, page 56.
29
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
1620]
this information to Dr. Holmes, received it from Elder Faunce, who died 1745, in the 99th year of his age, and who was well ac- quainted with some of the first settlers. Hon. Judge Davis relates that he has often had similar information from an aged lady, Mrs. White, who died at Plymouth, a few years since, and who, in early life, was intimate in the family of Elder Faunce. It has always been supposed that the remains of Governor Carver were deposited on Cole's Hill, and it is to be regretted that no stone was erected to designate the spot.
On reviewing the place where the puritan fathers first erected their rude, comfortless huts, and where Carver and half of his associates closed their mortal career during the first winter, surely enough enthusiasm will never be wanting to consecrate the ground with tears, and proclaim its sacredness to future generations. It is the ground, where, unshielded from the rigors of a boisterous season, our ancestors were compelled to erect bulwarks of defence against the attacks of cruel savages, while their hearts were pierced with the keenest anguish, by the arrows of death depriving them of rulers, parents, husbands and children !
The Consecrated Rock .- The identical granite Rock, upon which the sea-wearied Pilgrims from the Mayflower first im- pressed their footsteps, has never been a subject of doubtful designation. The fact of its identity has been transmitted from father to son, particularly in the instance of Elder Faunce and .his father; as would be the richest inheritance, by unquestiona- ble tradition. About the year 1741, it was represented to Elder Faunce that a wharf was to be erected over the rock, which impressed his mind with deep concern, and excited a strong desire to take a last farewell of the cherished object. He was then ninety-five years old, and resided three miles from the place. A chair was procured, and the venerable man conveyed to the shore, where a number of the inhabitants were assembled to witness the patriarch's benediction. Having pointed out the rock directly under the bank of Cole's Hill, which his father had assured him was that, which had received the footsteps of our fathers on their first arrival, and which should be perpetu- ated to posterity, he bedewed it with his tears and bid to it an everlasting adieu. These facts were testified to by the late venerable Deacon Spooner, who was then a boy and was pres- ent on the interesting occasion. Tradition says that Elder Faunce was in the habit on every anniversary, of placing his children and grand-children on the rock, and conversing with them respecting their forefathers. Standing on this rock, therefore, we may fancy a magic power ushering us into the presence of our fathers. Where is the New Englander who
3
30
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH. [1620
would be willing to have that rock buried out of sight and for- gotten ? The hallowed associations which cluster around that precious memorial, inspire us with sentiments of the love of our country, and a sacred reverence for its primitive institutions. In contemplation, we may hold communion with celestial spir- its, and receive monitions from those who are at rest in their graves. What honors shall we pay to the fathers of our coun- try, the founders of that nation, which for ages, will remain the rich abode of knowledge, religion, freedom, and virtue !- Criminal, indeed, would be our case, were we not to cherish a religious sense of the exalted privileges inherited from our pious ancestors, and resolve to transmit them unimpaired to our children.
' The man that is not mov'd with what he reads, That takes not fire at their heroic deeds, Unworthy of the blessings of the brave, Is base in kind, and born to be a slave.'
Historical records are entirely silent as respects the person who was the first to land upon our shore and gain possession of New England ground. The claim has been contested between the descendants of John Alden and Mary Chilton, but the point of precedence must remain undecided, since the closest investigation discloses no authority nor a shadow of evidence in favor of any individual as being the first who landed. The fact is unquestionable, that the shallop of the Mayflower, after having tarried three nights at Clark's Island, came up on the 11th of December, O. S. and landed her men on the main shore, but no name is mentioned as the first who landed. The name of John Alden is not included in the list of those who were on board of the shallop; his claim, therefore, must be rejected; nor was Mary Chilton on board the shallop. But the following traditionary anecdote has ever been regarded as cor- rect among the Chilton descendants. The Mayflower having arrived in the harbor from Cape Cod, Mary Chilton entered the first landing boat, and looking forward, exclaimed, "I will be the first to step on that Rock." Accordingly, when the boat approached, Mary Chilton was permitted to be the first from that boat who appeared on the Rock, and thus her claim was established. Among those who came in the Mayflower, were James Chilton, and Mary, his only child. Mary married John Winslow, and Susannah, her daughter, Mr. Latham .- The descendants of Mr. Winslow reside in Boston, and those of Mr. Latham in Bridgewater; and the tradition, we have reason to believe, is in both families. From the Latham family have descended the Haywards; the late Hon. Beza Hayward,
31
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
1621]
Nathan Hayward, Esq., (the present Sheriff of the county,) and the wife of the author, are lineal descendants.
In the year 1774, when liberty and the rights of man were the popular themes, it was determined to remove the hallowed rock from its original bed to the town square, near the church and court house, that it might be located beside the liberty pole. [This will be further noticed in this work under the date of 1774.]
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.