During the first year the colony was reduced nearly one-half through exposure and disease. These losses were later offset by arrivals in the Fortune in 1621 and the Little James in 1623.
In April, 1621, a treaty was made with Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag Indians, who occupied the surrounding territory. This was brought about through the good offices of Samoset and Squanto, two friendly Indians, the former having learned some English from contact with fishermen along the coast of Maine whence he had come, while the latter had been taken with a number of others by a Captain Hunt who had “got them under cover of trucking with them and carried them away and sold them as slaves.” He had made his escape and returned to his home with the Nausets on Cape Cod.
This treaty was held inviolate during the life of Massasoit and thereafter until the outbreak of the King Philip War in 1675. Precautionary measures were taken however to protect the settlement, and in 1622 a fort was erected on Burial Hill. This was supplemented by a watch tower in 1643. During the King Philip War a larger fort was erected on the same site. Fortunately the Plymouth colony escaped Indian attack although in 1676a small community to the south near Eel River was attacked and eleven settlers killed.
It is hard to realize in these days of material comforts, not to speak of luxuries, the hardships of our forebears. It was a case of work for survival. And there must have been work for by December, 1621, “seven dwelling houses and four for the use of the plantation” had been erected. The harvest of 1621 had been successful and a season of Thanksgiving had been observed, wherein some of the friendly Indians had participated, this being the origin of our present Thanksgiving Day.
Nevertheless their existence was fraught with uncertainties. Their stocks of provisions were soon depleted and the problem of food supply became one of increasing concern. The very life of the colony depended upon the success of their crops. Corn had become increasingly valuable, not only as an article of food but as a medium of exchange, the colonists having little or no money.
Up to 1623 they worked together on company land, sharing the fruits of their combined labor. This year owing to the shortage of crops “they begane to think how they might raise as much corne as they could and abtaine a better crope than they had done that they might not still thus languish in miserie.”
And so “to every family was assigned a parcell of land according to the proportion of their number for that end (but made no provision for inheritance) and ranged all boys & youths under some family. This had very good success for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corne was planted then other waise would have bene by any means the Governor or any other could use.”
This was followed the next season by a division of land wherein “to every person was given only one acre, to them and theirs, as near the towne as might be, and they had no more till the seven years were expired.”
Note:This was in accordance, at least in spirit, with the imposed provisions of their contract with the English company of Merchant Adventurers who had financed their expedition.
A further division of land, following a division of livestock, was made in 1627, wherein “every person or share should have 20 acres of land divided unto them, besides the single acres they had already.” (sic).
—Quotations from Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation
Fortified by faith and grim determination the colonists carried on in the face of great adversity, yet getting more and more firmly established.
In 1636, owing to the growth of the original colony or plantation and the establishment of separate settlements at Scituate and Duxbury, the purely democratic rule which had obtained under the Mayflower Compact, wherein matters pertaining to the interests of the colony were settled in general assembly, was superseded by a law passed providing for government by deputies representing the several towns.
The first legislative body met in 1639 and brought together representatives from the outlying towns of Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Taunton, Scituate, Duxbury and Plymouth.
In 1643, for mutual interests and against the menace of Indian attack, a confederation was formed between the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies in combination with Connecticut and New Haven as separate units, with authority vested in commissioners.
This remained in force until 1672 when a new compact was made upon the union of Connecticut and New Haven, which gave less authority to the commissioners.
In 1686 Sir Edmund Andros was sent by King James to rule over the Dominion of New England, to which in 1688 New York and New Jersey were added, the seat of government remaining in Boston.
Conditions under Andros with his autocratic assumptions and restrictions were not pleasant.It is interesting to note in this connection that Clark’s Island which had for some time been used for the support of the poor, was turned over by Andros to one of his followers who had been attracted by its natural beauties.
The ascension of William III to the throne of England in 1689 had much to do with shaping the destinies of the colonists. The regime of Andros continued until word was received that the landing of William, Prince of Orange, in England threatened the overthrow of the Stuart dynasty when the citizens of Boston revolted, took possession of a British ship in the harbor and overthrew the crown’s despotic representative. Plymouth again acquired Clark’s Island and later the proclamation of William and Mary established once more the freedom the colonists had previously enjoyed.
In 1692 came the union of the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies. Sir William Phipps was appointed by the crown chief magistrate over the Massachusetts Colony with which the Plymouth Colony was united under one royal charter.
A&PThe Light RefreshmentPepsi-ColaPepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. of Plymouth124 Sandwich St.Plymouth, Mass.
A&P
The Light Refreshment
Pepsi-Cola
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. of Plymouth124 Sandwich St.Plymouth, Mass.
PLYMOUTH ROPE, THE NATION’S SERVANTPlymouth ropes have helped to write exciting chapters in American history.Beginning in 1824, they have sailed the seven seas aboard packet and whalers, the China clippers and war privateers. Today they go aboard majestic ocean liners and modern battle ships. They’re even on the atomic powered submarines.The products of Plymouth Cordage Company are intertwined in many other phases of the American economy ... in agriculture and fishing, in the construction, manufacturing, aircraft and petroleum industries, the public utilities and numerous other fields.There’s a Plymouth rope serving the nation every minute of every day.PLYMOUTH CORDAGE COMPANYPlymouth, MassachusettsEstablished 1824{uncaptioned}Myles Standish RestaurantCatering to PartiesOPEN 10 A.M. to 10 P.M.Home Cooked FoodsHALL’S CORNERTelephone Duxbury 800
PLYMOUTH ROPE, THE NATION’S SERVANT
Plymouth ropes have helped to write exciting chapters in American history.
Beginning in 1824, they have sailed the seven seas aboard packet and whalers, the China clippers and war privateers. Today they go aboard majestic ocean liners and modern battle ships. They’re even on the atomic powered submarines.
The products of Plymouth Cordage Company are intertwined in many other phases of the American economy ... in agriculture and fishing, in the construction, manufacturing, aircraft and petroleum industries, the public utilities and numerous other fields.
There’s a Plymouth rope serving the nation every minute of every day.
PLYMOUTH CORDAGE COMPANYPlymouth, MassachusettsEstablished 1824
{uncaptioned}
Myles Standish RestaurantCatering to PartiesOPEN 10 A.M. to 10 P.M.Home Cooked FoodsHALL’S CORNERTelephone Duxbury 800
FIRST NATIONAL StoresA PILGRIM DISCOVERY{uncaptioned}Cranberries, growing wild on Cape Cod, were made into cranberry sauce by an unknown Pilgrim housewife. The Indians ate their cranberries raw, but the Pilgrim ladies stewed them with sugar as they did other fruits ... thus, cranberry sauce!Ocean Spray still follows this original, simple recipe in the preparation of famous Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce. Ocean Spray Cranberry products: Jellied Sauce, Whole Sauce, Cranberry Juice Cocktail and Dietetic Cranberry as well as Fresh Cranberries in season make it possible to enjoy the flavor of cranberries all year ’round.
FIRST NATIONAL Stores
A PILGRIM DISCOVERY
{uncaptioned}
Cranberries, growing wild on Cape Cod, were made into cranberry sauce by an unknown Pilgrim housewife. The Indians ate their cranberries raw, but the Pilgrim ladies stewed them with sugar as they did other fruits ... thus, cranberry sauce!
Ocean Spray still follows this original, simple recipe in the preparation of famous Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce. Ocean Spray Cranberry products: Jellied Sauce, Whole Sauce, Cranberry Juice Cocktail and Dietetic Cranberry as well as Fresh Cranberries in season make it possible to enjoy the flavor of cranberries all year ’round.
OUR HOME SINCE JULY, 1952Main Building 1803Addition and Renovation 1952Organized 1882—Federalized 1937For 75 years this financial institution has contributed to the community welfare of Plymouth and vicinity. It has encouraged ... and made possible, home ownership for many. It has extended a financial helping hand to broaden the cultural, educational and social horizons of its citizens. It is aiding many to acquire security and independence through systematic saving. We welcome long term investment funds seeking sound placement at better than average yield.Each account insured up to $10,000Plymouth Federal Savingsand Loan AssociationCOURT AND RUSSELL STREETSPLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
OUR HOME SINCE JULY, 1952
OUR HOME SINCE JULY, 1952
Main Building 1803Addition and Renovation 1952Organized 1882—Federalized 1937
For 75 years this financial institution has contributed to the community welfare of Plymouth and vicinity. It has encouraged ... and made possible, home ownership for many. It has extended a financial helping hand to broaden the cultural, educational and social horizons of its citizens. It is aiding many to acquire security and independence through systematic saving. We welcome long term investment funds seeking sound placement at better than average yield.
Each account insured up to $10,000
Plymouth Federal Savingsand Loan AssociationCOURT AND RUSSELL STREETSPLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
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SCHEDULETRAINS RUN DAILYApril 6, 1957 thru Jan. 5, 1958(Subject to Change Without Notice)
All Main Highways fromBoston and Cape Cod lead toEDAVILLE RAILROADRT. 58 SOUTH CARVER MASS.
Exclusive Detailed Guide MapLocation and Description of Historic Places Including:
And all else of interest.
ILLUSTRATED
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