Authorities
The history of the Plymouth Colony may be read in considerable detail in the words of its founders.
The most important of these contemporary accounts is Governor Bradford’s history “Of Plymouth Plantation,” covering the years 1602–1647. This has been republished at various times, notably by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1898) and the Massachusetts Historical Society (1912).
In his “Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers” (1847), Alexander Young has gathered together and republished a number of contemporary accounts, including “Mourt’s Relation,” so called, which is actually a journal of 1620–21, written by Gov. Bradford and Edward Winslow, and originally published in London in 1622, with a preface signed “G. Mourt”; “Good News from New England,” Winslow’s journal of 1622–23, published in London, 1624; and various other interesting documents, such as Cushman’s discourse on “The Sin and Danger of Self-Love,” a letter referring to the first Thanksgiving; and Winslow’s account of the church in Leyden, including John Robinson’s farewell sermon.
The “Colony Records” have been published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the “Town Records” by the town of Plymouth. They contain much information invaluable to the student.
Other 17th century writers who mention Plymouth are Thomas Morton, the genial but disorderly founder of “Merrymount”; John Pory; and Isaac de Rasieres, whose description of Plymouth in 1629 is quoted in most of the modern histories. Concerning the “Bay Colony” (Massachusetts) Alexander Young has reprinted much original matter, in a volume similar to his “Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers.”
Among later histories, the following are very helpful.
“The Pilgrim Republic”—John A. Goodwin
“The Pilgrims and their History”—Roland G. Usher
“Plymouth and the Pilgrims”—Arthur Lord
PILGRIM HALL
A Museum of Pilgrim History and Relics. Open mornings and afternoons and in the summer, open evenings.
PILGRIM SOCIETY
Founded 1820
THE PLYMOUTH ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
presents
THE ANTIQUARIAN HOUSE
126 Water Street
THE WILLIAM HARLOW HOUSE
119 Sandwich Street
Museums That Might Be Lived In
CRAFTSMEN AT WORK
using local clay
UNIQUE SOUVENIRS
THE JABEZ HOWLAND HOUSE
Pilgrim John Howland Society
Sandwich Street, opposite Water Street
Open to Visitors
Built in 1674
Admission 25c
THE MAJ. JOHN BRADFORD HOUSE
Landing Road :: Kingston, Mass.
Originally a part of Plymouth
Visit the
JOHN ALDEN HOUSE
DUXBURY :: MASS.
APTUCXET
First Trading Post of Plymouth Colony
Reconstructed on the original foundations to illustrate the beginnings of American commerce.
On the Cape Cod Canal near the South end of the Bourne Bridge on the Gray Gables Road.
Visit the
HISTORIC WINSLOW HOUSE
Marshfield
Careswell Street Route 139
Home of Hon. Isaac Winslow, son of Gov. Josiah
Winslow and grandson of Gov. Edward Winslow.
Built 1699 and one of the finest mansions
of its period now standing.
Open June 17–Sept. 15 Admission 25 Cents
OLD DARTMOUTH HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Founded 1903
To create and foster an interest in the history of that portion of the Plymouth Plantations set off as the Town of Dartmouth in 1664, a territory, at present, embracing the towns of Fairhaven, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Westport, and the City of New Bedford.
The Society, dedicated to historical research, maintains an extensive and unique Whaling Museum, together with a Museum of Domestic Articles illustrative of the past history of Old Dartmouth.
The Museums are open to the public during the week, except on Mondays. (Admission 25 cents) and on Sunday afternoons free.
JOHNNY CAKE HILL
New Bedford Massachusetts
William H. Tripp, Secretary and Curator
STATE STREET TRUST
COMPANY
Boston, Mass.
A New England Institution
for
Every Banking and Trust Service
Charles Francis Adams
Chairman of the Board
Allan Forbes
President
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
MASSACHUSETTS BONDING AND
INSURANCE COMPANY
Home Office: Boston
T. J. Falvey, President
Transacts business throughout the
United States.
FIDELITY and SURETY BONDS and
CASUALTY INSURANCE
A simple way to secure Dependable Insurance at fair price is to ask your agent or broker for a policy in a sturdy old New England Company—either the Boston Insurance Company or the Old Colony Insurance Company.
Home Offices:
87 Kilby Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Transcriber’s Notes:
1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.
2. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original.