AND RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PILGRIMS. BY WILLIAM S. RUSSELL. 'Come listen to my story, Though often told before, Of men who did for conscience' sake, And sought a home and freedom here BOSTON: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY GEORGE COOLIDGE, 130 Washington Street. 1846. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, by In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of HARVARD Printed at Coolidge's Steam Power Printing Establishment, 130 Washington Street, Boston. 91257 PREFACE. THE Guide to Plymouth and Recollections of the Pilgrims is respectfully submitted to the public, and is designed to present, in a volume of convenient size, such historical facts connected with our early history, and descriptions of interesting localities with which they are connected, as are deemed of essential importance to the numerous visitors, who resort to the spot rendered memorable as the scene where the foundations of empire were first laid, and the principles of religious and civil liberty were successfully established in New England. Much of novelty can hardly be expected in relation to subjects which have engaged the attention and careful research of so many distinguished visitors. The author of the present work therefore, if he may hope to secure the public favor in behalf of the humble labors he has ventured to undertake, is not unconscious, that he must mainly rely upon the earnestness and diligence with which he has sought to present the subjects considered, in a form rendering them easily accessible to all inquirers after interesting memorials of the pilgrims. In preparing this work for publication, the various histories of New England have been attentively consulted, and the Old Colony records have supplied much which is believed to possess strong attractions to public curiosity. The earlier histories, particularly those of Bradford, Winslow, and Morton, written, as they were, by able and conscientious men, prominently concerned in most of the occurrences, which they record, seemed to deserve the first and highest regard. The best illustrations of these early writers, obtained from various sources, and applied with careful discrimination, it is hoped will render the main facts and events connected with the pilgrims, intelligible to every reader. No traditionary statements have been introduced into the work which do not rest upon substantial grounds, deemed equally entitled to credit with those of historical records. Although this volume has been extended to more than one hundred pages beyond the limits originally assigned to it, many readers will doubtless find it insufficient to gratify their curiosity in relation to the subjects of which it treats. Such readers may find the means of more extended information on reference to the New England Memorial, edited by Judge Davis - Winthrop's History of New England, by James Savage-Holmes' Annals of America-Bancroft's History of the United States - The publications of the Massachusetts Historical Society - Baylies' Memoir of the Old Colony -Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims—Judge Mitchell's History of Bridgewater—and Deane's History of Scituate. Genealogical tables of the Pilgrims have been carefully prepared to a considerable extent, a few only of which could be admitted into the present work, but which, if deemed sufficiently interesting to justify the undertaking, may hereafter appear in a different form. The quotations from other works are designated as they occur in the following pages; but the subscriber would gratefully acknowledge not only the encouragement afforded to the plan and object of this work, by many valued friends, some of whom have been concerned in similar labors, but also for valuable suggestions and important information imparted during the progress of its accomplishment. WILLIAM S. RUSSELL. PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER, 1846. INTRODUCTORY LINES. NOTE. The Introductory Lines are designed to form a general outline of the work, and briefly to describe the most interesting localities rendered memorable by their early and intimate connection with the pilgrims, and some of the thoughts which a view of these localities naturally suggests to every thoughtful mind. Under the successive heads of this work, observing the following order, namely: Forefathers' Rock, Leyden Street, Burying Hill, Captain's Hill, Clark's Island, Watson's Hill, and Friendly Indians; the reader will find a more particular description of the places to which specific allusion is made in the Introductory Lines, and such traditionary or historical facts respecting them, as have come to our knowledge. In memory of our Pilgrim Sires, Who by the love of Freedom led, First landed on the soil we tread. Their daring and their faith sublime, |