USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > The truth about the Pilgrims > Part 4
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It is sometimes difficult to determine, however, whether a special spelling is phonetic or is one of several spellings for a word which has survived from the late Middle English period, when the various dialect regions had their own spellings. Even after the London dialect became the stand- ard in the early fifteenth century, regional spellings for some words appeared in manuscripts and later in the first printed books.
If one counts the actual number of words which might be phonetic spellings in Governor Bradford's "History," the proportion of such spellings to variations established by custom (sometimes several for one word) is not large. In other words, Bradford and others of his time were not themselves consciously reproducing sounds of words as they wrote them, but using a spelling they had often seen. These spellings often go back to a time in the fourteenth century when spelling actually was fairly phonetic. Many of the early American colonists were well-read people, and no one in his own time would have criticized their spellings. It was not until after the middle of the eighteenth century that English spelling was taught in schools. Johnson's dictionary was the first one to stress right spelling as such.
A good account of spelling in the sixteenth and seven- teenth centuries appears in Albert Baugh's "History of the . English Language."
PILGRIM HOUSES
There have been many mis-statements concerning the houses of the Pilgrims. The original houses at Plymouth were constructed of boards not logs. They never lived in log cabins. The ordinary Pilgrim houses had thatched roofs, vertically boarded plank walls and stone floors. The Pil- grims built their houses as they knew them in England, (GR). They brought the tools for building with them, in- cluding saws and nails. Their accounts show that as soon as possible they had dug pits for the sawing of boards for
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home building purposes and for export (DY 15). Bradford records that the "Fortune" returned to England in 1621 "being laden with good clapboard as full as she could stowe" (B 123).
In the earliest days of Plymouth, the settlement con- sisted of the first (now Leyden) street with twelve houses, a common storehouse, and the governor's house. These struc- tures were surrounded by a palisade, with a fort dominating the scene from the nearby hill. The fort was connected with the village by a palisade (PX).
"PILGRIMS' PROGRESS"
Many visitors to Plymouth have seen the "Pilgrims' Progress" enacted by local descendants of the Pilgrims. At the sound of a drum on certain afternoons during each summer, a group of men, women and children, dressed as their ancestors had dressed, with the men carrying guns, gather at the foot of Leyden Street and go from thence, led by those taking the parts of Governor, Elder and Cap- tain, to the top of Burial Hill where a service is held, con- ducted by the Elder. After the service, they retrace their steps to whence they came. It is an affecting sight, and people come from long distances to witness it. The basis of it is a record left by Isaac De Rasiere, a wise observer from Holland in 1627, part of which is as follows:
"Upon the hill they had a large square house, with a flat roof, made of thick sawn planks, stayed with oak beams, upon the top of which they have six cannons, which shoot iron balls of four and five pounds, and command the sur- rounding country. The lower part they use for their church, where they preach on Sundays and the usual holidays. They assemble by beat of drum, each with his musket or firelock, in front of the captain's door; they have their cloaks on, and place themselves in order, three abreast, and are led by a sergeant without beat of drum. Behind comes the Goevrnor, in a long robe; beside him on the right hand
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comes the preacher with his cloak on, and on the left hand the Captain with his side-arms and cloak on, and with a small cane in his hand; and so they march in good order, and each sets his arms down near him. Thus they enter their place of worship, constantly on guard night and day" (M. D. IV, 103 (R 131-150).
While the writer was Governor of the New York Society of Mayflower Descendants, he had the costumes used in Plymouth copied so that a series of scenes from Pilgrim history were depicted by members of the New York Society. The following year, certain of the younger members enacted the "Pilgrims' Progress" at a Mayflower Society dinner held in one of the local hotels, and it was most impressive. There seems no good reason why the "Pilgrims' Progress" in cos- tume should not be enacted by descendants at their gather- ings in any part of the United States.
COMMUNISM
Certain persons have intimated that the Pilgrims prac- ticed Communism. There has been an attempt to create the impression that they were believers in some form of it. The very opposite is the truth.
When the Pilgrims first landed, they were compelled to hold land and goods in common because of their agreement with the Merchant Adventurers. In the spring of 1623, Governor Bradford and the Pilgrim community abandoned this system, and his condemnation of communism is about as strong as could be expressed in words.
The people in 1622 were too weak from want of food to tend the crops as they should. "So as it well appeared," writes Governor Bradford, "that famine must still insue the next year allso, if not some way prevented. (B 139). So they begane to thinke (in 1623) how they might raise as much corne as they could, and obtaine a beter crope than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in miserie. At length after much debate of things, the Govn
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(with the advise of the cheefest amongest them) gave way that they should set corne every man for his owne particu- ler, and in that regard trust to them selves;" "And so as- signed to every family a parcel of land - - -
"This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corne was planted than other waise would have bene by any means the Govn or any other could use, and saved him a great deall of trouble, and gave far better contents. The women now wente willingly into field and tooke their little-ons with them to set corne, which would aledg weaknes and inabilities; whom to have compelled would have bene thought great tiranie and oppression.
"The experience that was had in this commone course and condition, tried sudrie years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanitie of that conceite of Platos and other ancients, applauded by some of later times; - that the taking away of propertie, and bringing in communitie into comone wealth, would make them happy and florishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this communitie (so farr as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much imployment that would have been to their benefits and comforte. For the yong-men that were most able and fitte for lobour and service did repine that they should spend their time and streingth to worke for other mens wives and children, with- out any recompense. The strong, or man of part, had no more in division of victails and cloaths, than he that was weake and not able to doe a quarter the other could; this was thought injuestice. - - -
ยท "And for men's wives to be commanded to doe service for other men, as dressing their meate, washing their cloaths, etc., they deemd it a kind of slaverie, neither could many husbands well brooke it" (B 146-147). Bradford later continues concerning the fall.
"By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine,
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now God gave them plentie, and the face of things: was changed, to the rejoysing of the harts of many, for which they blessed God. And the effect of their particular plant- ing was well seene, for all had, one way and other, pretty well to bring the year aboute, and some of the abler sorte and more industrious had to spare, and sell to others, so as any generall wante or famine hath not been amoungest them since to this day." (B 157).
The experiences of the Pilgrims as set forth by Bradford show that Communism brought them want and poverty while individual ownership of property brought them plenty and success. The Pilgrims never tried this disastrous experiment again.
THE NAME OF THE "MAYFLOWER"
It is remarkable that neither Bradford's "History" nor Mourt's "Relation" mention the name of the "Mayflower." The fact that the vessel on which they came was named the "Mayflower" is known from a reference in the Plymouth Colony Record of Deeds in the handwriting of Bradford made in 1623 in which is stated the vessel's name. The earli- est American mention in print is in Nathaniel Morton's "New England's Memorial" published in 1669. The latter writer must have been personally acquainted with nearly one-half of the "Mayflower" passengers (M. D. V, 114), and two of them were alive when he wrote his account. Thus he was in a position to obtain the facts from those who knew them. The earliest English record is when the vessel is named in record 152 in the London Public Record Office made by the Virginia Company (HS II 155).
GRAVESTONES
It has been stated in print that the oldest gravestone on Burial Hill goes back only to 1703. This statement is based on hearsay which has no factual basis. (R 69). The oldest gravestone on Burial Hill is that of Edward Gray, Gent.,
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who died on June 30, 1681 (D.R. 95) (K 3). The next oldest gravestone is that of William Crowe, which shows that he died in January, 1683. (K 4). The gravestone of Mrs. Han- nah Clark shows that she died February 20, 1687 (K 4). The gravestone of "Mr." Thomas Clark shows that he died March 24, 1697. The gravestone of Nathaniel Thomas, son of Nathaniel Thomas, "Esq.," shows that he died on April 15, 1697 (K 7). Thomas Cushman died in 1691, but in his case the gravestone was not erected until twenty-four years after his death. (M.D. IV, 37). There exists no historical account of the time when this hill first became the place of sepulture. It has, however, been inferred from traditions which have come down, that it was so used not long after 1622, when the fort was constructed and served for public worship as well as defense. Why gravestones were not sooner placed there can now only be a subject of conjecture (R 65). It may be significant that it was not until all danger from Indian attack had passed that gravestones were erected. It may be of interest to consider the causes which impelled the Pilgrims not to erect gravestones at an earlier date. When the Pilgrims were losing many persons by death during the first terrible winter, they buried their dead as best they could and eventually planted grain over their graves on Cole's Hill in order that the Indians might not know how many were gone. After they had made their peace with Massasoit and had built their homes in various localities, there might have been a fear that prowling In- dians might interfere with the graves if they were marked. There probably remained the desire to conceal from the Indians the number of their dead. While graves near the fort would probably have not been molested, nevertheless, gravestones near the fort would have furnished convenient protection for an enemy attacking the fort. Once the custom based on good reasons had been originated for not marking their graves, the practice continued until, as previously shown, danger from Indian attack had passed away.
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PRINCIPAL EVENTS
In order to have a quick reference to the principal events after the "Mayflower" sailed, the following table is inserted. It should be remembered that the Pilgrims used "old style" in writing their dates so that it has been necessary to change them to "new style" to correspond with our present calen- dar.
1620
August 15 - Sailed from Southampton, England.
September 16 - Sailed from Plymouth, England.
November 19 - First sighted Cape Cod.
November 21 - Signed the Compact.
Anchored in Cape Cod Harbor and went ashore.
November 23 - Took the shallop ashore for repairs.
November 25 - First exploring party set out by land.
November 26 - Discovered Truro Springs, Pamet River, Cornhill.
December 7 - Second exploring party set out with the shallop.
December 10 - Found the wigwams, graves, etc.
December 16 - Third exploring party set out with the shallop.
December 18 - First encounter with the Indians. Reached Clark's Island at night.
December 20 - Third exploring party spent the Sabbath on Clark's Island.
December 21 - Third exploring party landed, using Ply- mouth Rock, and explored the coast.
December 25 - The "Mayflower" set sail from Cape Cod for Plymouth, but was driven back by a change in the wind.
December 26 - The "Mayflower" arrived at Plymouth Harbor.
December 27 - First Sabbath passed by the whole company in Plymouth Harbor.
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1
December 28 - A party landed and explored the land. December 29 - One party explored by land and another in the shallop. Discovered Jones River.
December 30 - Decided to settle near what is now Burial Hill along Town Brook.
1621 March 26 March 28
- Samoset came among them alone.
- Samoset came again with five others.
April 1
- Samoset and Squanto came to announce the coming of Massasoit with whom a treaty was made.
"Beginning of April"
The "Mayflower" sailed in order to return - to England (M.D. I, 86-89).
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
The hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pil- grims came and went, so far as we can learn, quite unno- ticed and unmarked. For many years after the landing of the Pilgrims there was no organization which preserved their memories or their ideals. The Old Colony Club was formed in Plymouth on January 16, 1769, with the follow- ing unique constitution.
"We whose names are underwritten having maturely weighed and seriously considered the many advantages and inconveniences that arise from intermixing with the com- pany in the taverns in this town, and apprehending that a well regulated club will have a tendency to prevent the same, and to increase, not only the pleasure and happiness of the respective members, but also, will conduce to their edification and instruction, do hereby incorporate ourselves into a society, by the name of the Old Colony Club. For the better regulation of which we do consent and agree to observe all such rules and laws, as shall from time to time
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be made by the club. Dated at our Hall, in Plymouth, the day and year above written.
Isaac Lothrop John Thomas
Pelham Winslow
Edward Winslow, Jr.
Thomas Lothrop
John Watson"
Elikanah Cushman
The historian Thacher states: "It was in this club that the custom of solemnizing the anniversary of the arrival of our forefathers first originated and this was the principal object of its formation." (T 180-181). The club held weekly meetings.
On December 22, 1769, was held the first celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims. The members went from old Colony Hall to the inn of Consider Howland, brother-in- law of the senior Edward Winslow, where the following repast was served. It is especially interesting as showing what constituted a Pilgrim meal in the opinion of these men.
"1. a large baked Indian whortleberry pudding;
2. a dish of sauquetach (succotash, corn and beans boiled together);
3. a dish of clams;
4. a dish of oysters and a dish of codfish;
5. a haunch of venison, roasted by the first Jack brought to the Colony;
6. a dish of sea fowl;
7. a dish of frost fish and eels;
8. an apple pie;
9. a course of cranberry tarts, and cheese made in the Old Colony." (T 181-182).
Edward Winslow, Jr., delivered the oration, and there was also a poem by Alexander Scammell.
That evening at a meeting the following additional mem- bers were elected and joined the Club (T 182):
Col. George Watson Capt. Thomas Davis Col. James Warren Dr. Nathaniel Lothrop
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James Hovey, Esq.
Mr. John Russell
Thomas Mayhew, Esq.
Mr. Edward Clarke
William Watson, Esq.
Mr. Alexander Scammell
Capt. Gideon White
Mr. Peleg Wadsworth
Capt. Elkanah Watson Mr. Thomas Southworth Howland
Thereafter the Old Colony Club celebrated the landing of the Pilgrims on December 24, 1770, and on December 23, 1771. On December 22, 1772, Chandler Robbins con- ducted the celebration for the Old Colony Club. Meanwhile the Continental Congress had appointed Committees of Correspondence and Communication throughout the Col- onies, and the one formed in Plymouth determined to take a leading part in the celebration to be held in December, 1773. Members of the club were on the Committee while other members remained loyal to their king. The Club held a dinner and meeting on December 22, 1773, but it was its last. The celebration was conducted by the Rev. Charles Turner for the Old Colony Club, by the town and by the first parish. The Old Colony Club was thereafter dissolved because of differences between its members caused by the coming Revolution.
The Committee of Correspondence and Communication included names of men who had been leaders in the Old Colony Club. The Committee was appointed on November 24, 1772, at a legal meeting of the town. The members were: James Warren Elkanah Watson
John Torrey
William Watson
Stephen Sampson
Thomas Lothrop
Samuel Cole
Nathaniel Torrey
Ephraim Cobb
Thomas Mayhew
Dr. William Thomas Thomas Jackson
Isaac Lothrop
It was in 1774 that the Rock was moved as elsewhere de- scribed herein. During the ensuing few years, political con- ditions left no time for extensive or elaborate celebrations.
The celebration held on December 22, 1774, was just a
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sermon by The Rev. Gad Hitchcock of Pembroke. He was followed in 1775 by the Rev. Samuel Baldwin of Hanover; 1776, by the Rev. Sylvanus Conant of Middleborough; 1777, the Rev. Samuel West of Dartmouth; 1778, the Rev. Timothy Hilliard of Barnstable; 1779, the Rev. William Shaw of Marshfield; and in 1780, the Rev. Jonathan Moor of Rochester (T-339).
From this time the public observances of the landing were suspended until 1794 when the Rev. Chandler Rob- bins of Plymouth celebrated the occasion. In 1795, 1796 and 1797, there were private celebrations. In 1798, Dr. Zaccheus Bartlett of Plymouth delivered the oration. That year there was a celebration in Boston. In 1799, the day came so near that appointed for the ordination of the Rev. James Ken- dall that it was not celebrated in Plymouth by a public discourse. Thereafter orations at Plymouth were delivered as follows: 1800, Hon. John Davis; 1801, Rev. John Allyn; 1802, Hon. John Quincy Adams, eventually to be President of the United States; 1803, Rev. John Thornton Kirkland, President of Harvard; 1804, Rev. James Kendall; 1805, Hon. Alden Bradford, Secretary of the Commonwealth; 1806, Rev. Abiel Holmes; 1807, Rev. James Freeman; 1808, Rev. Thaddeus M. Harris; 1809, Rev. Abiel Abbott; 1811, Rev. John Eliot, one of the founders of the Massachusetts Historical Society; 1815, Rev. James Flint; 1817, Rev. Horace Holley; 1818, Hon. Wendell Davis; and in 1819, Hon. Francis C. Gray.
In 1805, the New England Society was founded in New York City which celebrated the anniversary of the landing. There was also formed a New England Society in Charles- ton, South Carolina.
In 1819, a group of public spirited persons organized the Pilgrim Society which was incorporated on Feb. 24, 1820. Its purpose was to commemorate the Pilgrims and to per- petuate their character and virtues. One of the first acts of the Society was to erect Pilgrim Hall which preserves on
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public view many objects closely associated with the Pil- grims. The Hon. Joshua Thomas, a descendant of John Alden, was the first president. Several honorary members were elected, among them being the Rev. James Kendall, Hon. Isaac Parker, Lt. Governor William Phillips, Gover- nor John Brooks and former President John Adams.
Before the first celebration conducted by the Society, an attempt was made to get Joseph Story as the orator. He was unable to act. So the brilliant young Boston lawyer, formerly a Congressman from New Hampshire, Daniel Webster, was selected, and the result helped to make the remarkable rep- utation which he thereafter enjoyed. His career in the United States Senate and as Secretary of State was to come later. The celebration was opened by a prayer offered by the Rev. Dr. John T. Kirkland, President of Harvard University. Then Webster delivered his remarkable ora- tion concerning the Pilgrims. It will live forever. The newly formed "Standish Guards," now a part of the Na- tional Guard, aided in the occasion. The guests then sat down to a dinner held in the new Plymouth Court House, where five kernels of parched corn were placed on each plate to remind them of the sufferings of the Pilgrims. Judge Joshua Thomas, President of the Pilgrim Society, could not be present because of an illness which proved to be his last. The presiding officer was the venerable John Watson, who was the only surviving member of the Old Colony Club. There were distinguished speakers, and the occasion was most successful. The celebration ended with a ball in the evening (T 232-238). There has been preserved a souvenir of the dinner.
Many persons have probably seen blue china plates which show an imaginary landing of the "Mayflower" group. John Alden is shown stepping first upon the rock while two In- dians are standing on the shore, one of them with arms out- stretched as if in welcome. These may be assumed to be Samoset and Squanto. Upon the rock may be read the
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names of Carver, Bradford, Winslow, Brewster and Stan- dish. The border of the design comprises a sketch of the national eagle together with scrolls encircling the later historic dates, "America Independent, July 4, 1776," and "Washington Born 1732, Died 1799."
I had received a rumor that some such plates had been used at the dinner held in connection with the celebration in Plymouth in 1810. I investigated and found the answer in "The Blue-China Book" by Ada Walker Camehl. Dinner sets with this design were made in 1820 in the pottery of Enoch Wood, in Staffordshire, England, and are considered some of his best work. They were sent to the United States in large quantities as souvenirs at the many bi-centennial celebrations that were being held that year. The banquet, held in Plymouth, was served upon one of the souvenir dinner sets. It is believed that the diners were permitted to keep their plates. While the scene of the landing is histori- cally inaccurate, nevertheless, the plates are most interesting by recalling the very wonderful celebration held in Ply- mouth in 1820. Moore in "The Old China Book," page 21, states that these pieces are always in demand.
The next celebration by the Pilgrim Society was in 1824 when Edward Everett delivered the oration. Josiah Quincy had been asked first to deliver it, but he asked to be ex- cused. In 1829, the Society asked Harrison Gray Otis to deliver the oration. He had declined previously on another occasion, and he again expressed his inability to do it. Ap- parently no oration was delivered that year. In 1831, the Rev. John Brazer of Salem delivered a sermon at the first Parish Church. For many years a memorial sermon was con- sidered an appropriate method of celebration.
In 1845, the Pilgrim Society celebrated the 225th Anni- versary with a procession in addition to the ceremonies (HG) (PW) See also (DA) and (DC) for subsequent years. The same thing was done in 1870 when the 250th anniver- sary was celebrated. In 1895, the same was done for the
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275th anniversary. On December 21, 1920, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge delivered his magnificent oration (WZ). In 1921, Plymouth town, its citizens, the Pilgrim Society, every- one united in one of the most outstanding celebrations that could be given. The year 1921 was selected because it was necessary to have the celebration during the summer time, and it was thought that it would be more appropriate and easier to have it in 1921 than in 1920.
The whole waterfront of the town in the vicinity of the Rock was changed. Instead of a dirty wharf section of the town, the harbor and wharves in the vicinity of the Rock were filled in and covered with dirt so as to make parks on either side of the Rock. So far as the celebration itself was concerned, the outstanding event was the pageant. For many months almost one thousand persons from Plymouth and the adjacent towns rehearsed, and then in August they performed the pageant for a period of approximately three weeks to enormous crowds. President Warren G. Harding and many dignitaries of the nation attended. A parade was held which was reviewed by the President. The writer marched in it with the Veteran Corps of Artillery from New York. Outstanding speakers graced the occasion. Not the least contribution to the success of the gathering was the commemorative poem concerning the Pilgrims written by LeBaron R. Briggs. The performers in the pageant were trained by Professor George Pierce Baker of Harvard, and no one could have done better The whole occasion was most successful and brought the greatest credit to Plymouth and to the memory of the Pilgrims. In other years the Pil- grim Society has continued its practice of having some dis- tinguished speaker at the annual celebration.
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