titled the Plymouth Journal, but from its limited circulation, and our nearness to the metropolis, it was discontinued after a few months. In 1822, Mr. Allen Danforth commenced the Old Colony Memorial, which is published every Saturday. This paper is increasing in reputation and is well supported. Connected with the printing office is a newspaper reading room, where intelligence from various quarters is daily received, and is a pleasant resort for the reading gentlemen at their leisure hours. Under the same roof is a book-store and bindery, and a circulating library. May 17th, 1832, appeared the first number of a weekly paper entitled the 'Pilgrim,' established by Rev. F. Freeman, but in about one year it was discontinued for want of support. October 27, 1832, the first number of an anti-masonic newspaper was published in this town for the county of Plymouth. The imprint is We the People, and Old Colony Press, published once a week, by C. A. Hack and H. Seaver. Discontinued in 1834. February 16, 1833, commenced The Old Colony Democrat, a weekly paper which in May 1834, was removed to Middleborough. There are three licensed public taverns in towns, all of which are commodious, and well provided and attended; and there are two other taverns on the road to Sandwich, Mrs. Nicholson's boarding house, in court square, has long been established, and is known to the public for its excellent accommodations. The first regular stage commenced running from this town to Boston in 1796. We have now a stage establishment equal to any in the country, running daily in various directions, and provided with excellent horses and careful and attentive drivers. Although we can boast of no rail-road cars to facilitate conveyance, our public roads are kept in fine order, and our fathers would say that our Stage Coaches are good enough for their posterity to travel the paths over which they themselves were satisfied to trudge on foot or to ride on the backs of bulls. The first post office establishment in this town was by our Provincial Congress, May 12, 1775. They established a mail route from Cambridge, through Plymouth and Sandwich to Falmouth, once a week. The Congress appointed William Watson, Esq., postmaster in this town, and Timothy Goodwin and Joseph Howland, joint post riders. The following are the rates and duties for the postage of letters, &c., to be paid in lawful money. From any distance not exceeding 60 miles £0-0-51 Upwards of 60 miles and not exceeding 100 The rate of postage is doubled for all double letters, trebled for all treble letters, and for every ounce weight, four times as much is to be charged as for a single letter. Plan of riding from Cambridge to Falmouth in Barnstable county: 'To set off from Cambridge every Monday noon, and leave his letters with William Watson, Esq., post-master at Plymouth Tuesday at four o'clock afternoon. To set off from Plymouth Wednesday morning 9 o'clock and leave his letters with Mr. Joseph Nye, 3d, post-master in Sandwich, Wednesday 2 o'clock afternoon; to set off from Sandwich at 4 o'clock and leave his letters with Mr. Moses Swift, post-master at Falmouth, Thursday morning 8 o'clock. To set off on his return Thursday noon and reach Sandwich at 5 o'clock, and set off from thence at 6 o'clock on Friday morning and reach Plymouth at noon; to set off from Plymouth Friday 4 o'clock afternoon and leave his letters with Mr. James Winthrop, post-master in Cambridge on Saturday evening. Watertown, June 1, 1776. We have appointed Messrs. Goodwin and Howland, joint post riders from the post office at Cambridge to the post office at Falmouth, through Sandwich and back again, which they are to perform according to the foregoing plan. Above you have the rates of postage; you will make up your mails separately for every office in the colony, inclosing a ticket sealed, and deliver it to the riders in due season, that they may be enabled to do their duty with punctuality; you are to be accountable to us according to the tenor of your bond, for all the money you receive for postage deducting your service in your office twenty per cent. WILLIAM GREENLEAF, by order. To William Watson, Esq., Post-Master at Plymouth.' Such has been the improvement in travelling since that period, that the mail is now transported in covered carriages from Bos ton to Falmouth and returned in two days, and over the same route three times a week. Alms House. In 1826, the town purchased a few acres of land well located, and erected a very commodious brick house and out houses, at the expense of from four to five thousand dollars, where the poor are well accommodated under the care of an overseer, and amply and comfortably provided for. The average number in the house is thirty-three, and the expense to the town for their support, overbalancing their earnings, is about one thousand dollars annually. This sum includes the expense of a few individuals partly supported out of the house. Market. Our provision market affords an ample supply of the various substantials, the conveniences, and the luxuries of life, such as beef, pork, mutton, poultry, and sometimes venison. At our fish market we have cod, haddock, halibut, mackerel, bass, tautog, lobsters, eels, alewives, and clams. Should any one complain for want of a dinner, he must be chargeable with inexcusable indolence, and probably with intemperance. Societies. PILGRIM SOCIETY. This society was established in 1820, by the descendants of the first settlers at Plymouth, and such others as were desirous of perpetuating their principles, and commemorating their virtues. The number of members of this society amounts to several hundred, and it is desirable that number should be increased. The terms of admission are ten dollars, and those who duly appreciate the principles of the institution and the characters of the puritan fathers, cannot fail to unite in this duty of filial piety, and contribute their aid to its support. An appropriate diploma, prepared by Mr. Penniman, of Boston, has been, and is designed to be distributed among the members. The diploma is about 15 inches by 10, the upper part gives a view of Plymouth harbor, the beach, and island. Below is a sketch of Plymouth village, and surrounding objects, as now presented to view. The stated meetings of the society are held at Pilgrim Hall, on the 22d of December, and for the choice of officers, the last Monday in May. The officers of the present year, 1834, are, Alden Bradford, president; Z. Bartlett, vice-president; Benjamin M. Watson, recording secretary, Pelham W. Warren, corresponding secretary; Isaac L. Hedge, treasurer; James Thacher, librarian and cabinet keeper. There are eleven trustees, and a committee of arrangements consisting of three. Temperance Society. The Plymouth County Temperance Society, have frequently held their meetings in this town, and Daniel Frost, Jr. Esq., being employed as agent for the county, has on several occasions during the past summer, addressed from our pulpits large and respectable assemblies on the subject of temperance. His addresses were received with universal approbation, and his unceasing efforts in the temperance cause, have been productive of such astonishing results, as to entitle him to the highest honor. By his influence, chiefly, more than 1000 names were inscribed here on the paper pledging themselves to abstain from the use of ardent spirits, and to discourage the practice in others. A temperance society has recently been formed in this town. The promotion of temperance has long been an object of solicitude among most of the inhabitants of this town, and they have wisely attended to the awful desolations of intemperance, and in the great work of reformation which is now extending around us. Most decided is our opinion that this alarming evil is only to be suppressed by a general union in the means of entire abstinence from all ardent spirits, as a drink, or as an auxiliary to labor. It is auspicious to our community, that it has pleased Heaven to bless us with the temperance reformation. It may be presumed that the consumption of ardent spirits is diminished not less than three fourths within the last seven years, and in the same diminished proportion is life sacrificed, health, happiness, and domestic comfort destroyed, and the character and morals of our fellow men impaired by the practice of intemperance. Long may it be our happy condition that our temperance societies may meet with the co-operation of all classes of people in their efforts to improve the health of the community, to promote the industry and the means of living of individuals, to increase their self-respect and love of character, and to give a new impulse to the domestic virtues in the private relations of life. Formerly there were two rum distilleries in this town, producing large quantities of New England rum, from which the neighboring towns were supplied with the fiery element, and considerable quantities were sent to the southern states annually. One of these houses was located where Mr. Gale's long house now stands, and the other occupied the lot now vacant, adjoining the lot of Mr. William Holmes. This was taken down in 1814, and we hope never to see another erected. It is a matter of gratulation that there is so great a combination against intemperance throughout our country. It is truly honorable to all who enlist in this holy warfare; and may God grant that every effort, calculated to annihilate the practice of inebriation, may be crowned with success. The Old Colony Peace Society hold their meetings occasionally in this town. There is also a Debating Society in town. The ladies have for about fifteen years sustained a Fragment Society, much to their honor, having afforded essential benefit and relief to many poor and destitute families, bestowing charity to the poor, and are friends to the friendless. Banks. The Plymouth Bank was incorporated June 23d, 1804, capital $100,000; first president, was Hon. William Sever of Kingston, after him Hon. William Davis, at present, Barnabas Hedge, Esq. First Cashier, William Goodwin, at present, Nathaniel Goodwin. Plymouth Institutum for Savings, president, Barnabas Hedge; treasurer, Allen Danforth, office at Plymouth Bank. Deposit day, first Tuesday of every month. Amount of deposits in 1833, $100,000. Old Colony Bank, incorporated in February, 1832, capital $100,000; president, Jacob Covington; cashier, Ebenezer G. Parker. The following is a list of those gentlemen who have delivered discourses in the town on the anniversary of the arrival of our Forefathers. Those marked with an asterisk, (*) have not been printed. 1769, First celebration by Old Colony Club. 1770, Second celebration by Old Colony Club, 1771, Third celebration by Old Colony Club. 1772, Rev. Chandler Robbins-For Old Colony Club. 1773, Rev. Charles Turner-For Old Colony Club. By the town and by the first parish. 1774, Rev. Gad Hitchcock, Pembroke. 1775, Rev. Samuel Baldwin, Hanover, 1776, Rev. Sylvanus Conant, Middleborough, 1777, Rev. Samuel West, Dartmouth. 1778, Rev. Timothy Hilliard, Barnstable.* 1779, Rev. William Shaw, Marshfield.* 1780, Rev. Jonathan Moor, Rochester.* From this time the public observances of the day were suspended, till 1794, Rev, Chandler Robbins, D. D. of Plymouth. 1798, Dr. Zaccheus Bartlett, Plymouth, Oration.* |