Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA (North Plymouth) (White Island Shores) (White Horse Beach)
1854 - Plymouth

Plymouth, a post-town, port of entry, and Beat of justice of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, is situated on Plymouth bay, at the southern terminus of the eastern branch of the Old Colony railroad, 37 miles S. by E. from Boston. Lat. 41° 57' 26" N., Ion. 70° 40' 19" W. It is well laid out, and for the most part compactly built, principally of wood. Although it is the oldest town in New England, being the first settled by the Pilgrims, yet it is entirely modern in the style of its buildings : not a single antique dwelling now remains. The most remarkable public edifice is Pilgrim's Hall, erected by the Pilgrim Society in 1824-5, and situate on Court street, a little N. of Court square. It is constructed of granite, 70 feet by 40, with a Doric portico in front. In the interior is a large hall, containing the society's cabinet of curiosities, and numerous historical paintings. The Pilgrim Society was organized in 1820, the object of which was to commemorate the landing of the pilgrim fathers. The "Forefathers' Rock," or that on which the 101 persons, disembarking from the Mayflower, December 22, 1620, first set foot, lies at the head of Hedges' wharf. The rock is now only about 6 1/ 2 feet across its broadest part, with a thickness of 4 feet, so much of it having been removed ; it is almost entirely buried in the ground, its surface only being visible. The town contains 6 or 7 churches, 2 banks, 2 newspaper offices, and several good hotels. Among the churches deserving of notice may be mentioned the Gothic edifice of the First Society, and the Church of the Pilgrimage, erected in 1840, near the site occupied by the church first built by the pilgrims. Plymouth is the seat of various manufactures, principally cotton, and it is also extensively engaged in the fisheries. The shipping of the port, June 30th, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 3368 tons registered, and 9365 tons enrolled and licensed. Of the latter, 2538 tons were employed in the coast trade, 5169 tons in the cod fishery, and 1494 tons in the mackerel fisheries. The foreign arrivals for the year were 5 vessels ; clearances the same. During the period above specified, 2 ships and 4 schooners, with an aggregate burthen of 1443 tons, were ad measured. Population of the township in 1830, 4758; 1840, 5281, and in 1850, 6024.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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