Guide to Historic Plymouth: Localities and Objects of InterestBurbank, A. S. (Alfred Stevens)
History
Guide to Historic Plymouth: Localities and Objects of Interest
Burbank, A. S. (Alfred Stevens)
Plymouth (Mass.) -- Guidebooks
The next case contains numerous valuable books and literary works of
ancient date, the most precious being a copy of John Eliot’s Indian
bible 1685, of which but four copies are now known to be extant. A Dutch
bible and a “Breeches” bible 1599, an Indian vocabulary by Josiah
Cotton, New England’s Memorial by Nathaniel Morton, and the original
records of the Old Colony Club from 1769 to 1773, are also interesting.
The Winslow Case at the right of the Library entrance displays many
belongings of that illustrious family, notably, a part of a chest, a
mortar and pewter plate, brought by Edward Winslow in the Mayflower, a
gold ring and ancient trencher which belonged to Governor Edward
Winslow, General John Winslow’s sword, a dressing case once owned by
Penelope, wife of Governor Josiah Winslow, and bead purse wrought by
that gentle lady, a pair of stiff little shoes worn by Governor Josiah
Winslow when an infant, a slipper and cape once owned by Mrs. Susannah
White, widow of William White, and second wife of Governor Edward
Winslow, and other articles which the catalogues will identify.
[Illustration: WINSLOW RELICS, PILGRIM HALL.]
The case at the left of the Library contains many papers and documents
of much interest, but of especial note are swords of Gov. John Carver,
Elder William Brewster and Capt. Myles Standish, loaned by the
Massachusetts Historical Society. A novel reminder of the days of
slavery in Massachusetts is a bill of sale of a negro boy in Plymouth in
1753.
The next case has valuable autographs, note books, and a service of
ancient silver tankards and goblets not now in use, but belonging to the
First Church of Christ in Plymouth. There are also the first volume of
the ancient records of the First Church in Plymouth, and the works of
Pastor John Robinson, of Leyden.
The north ante-room is worthy attention of visitors, and contains, with
other things, an old sofa formerly owned by Gov. Hancock, upon which he
probably sat and plotted treason with Samuel Adams against the English
crown. There are pictures of Plymouth, England, and other places in that
country, of Pilgrim interest, together with various commissions,
etchings, views, etc; and a case containing seven swords of notable
personages, which are described in the catalogues.
A fire-proof annex for the valuable library of the Pilgrim Society was
built on the northerly side of the hall in 1904, and on the steel
shelves behind substantial metal lattices, found necessary to protect
the books from persons of predatory inclinations, some 3000 volumes are
arranged in handsome cabinets. Some of these books are very rare indeed,
and if lost or destroyed could not be replaced. The oldest volume bears
the imprint 1559.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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