William, a respectable and intelligent merchant, died at Havana, December 15th, 1821, aged 38 years; Isaac, a learned lawyer and antiquarian, died at Worcester, 1832; Frederick died at New Orleans, 1833; Hersey Bradford, an ordained minister at Concord, Massachusetts; Mary Ann married Thomas Russell; Jane.

1826.-January 5. Died in this town Hon. William Davis. "This gentleman has been long and extensively known and esteemed as a respectable merchant. To this line of life he was early devoted, and the few simple principles to which he adhered, industry, probity and perseverance, made his successful course an instructive example, and, united with many kindred virtues, rendered him a valued and endeared member of the community. He was cordially attached to his native town, and engaged with unwearied assiduity in the various municipal labors, to which he was called in early life, and which, for many successive years, were assigned to him. He occasionally represented the town in general court, and in the years 1812 and 1813, was a member of the executive council. Political distinction, however, was never an object of his pursuit, and to calls of this character he always yielded with reluctance. From the faithful and discreet discharge of his various duties, from the numerous employments which his activity and energy produced or promoted, from his animating influence to encourage exertion in others, and the habitual interest which he manifested in its successful issue, he was an important member of the circle in which he moved, and his death has left a void which may not be readily supplied, and has filled many hearts with sadness. His cheerful temper and social habits, and the facility with which his sympathies became accommodated to the situation and feelings of others, made his company and conversation always acceptable to persons of every age and condition.' Mr. Davis was president of Plymouth Bank. He was, for about thirty years, a member of our board of selectmen, and was a zealous advocate of the welfare and prosperity of the various civil and religious institutions of his native town. He was, at his death, vice-president of the Pilgrim Society, and ever manifested an ardent interest in its prosperity.

Mr. Davis married Rebecca Morton, who still survives, and their surviving children are Nathaniel Morton, Thomas, and Betsey, who is now the widow of Alexander Bliss, Esq.. William, the oldest son, was cut off in the midst of his career of enterprise and usefulness, March, 1824, in the forty-first year of his age.

February 1.-Died, John Watson, Esq., aged seventy-eight,

He graduated at Harvard College in 1766, and was one of the founders of the Old Colony Club in 1769, and the last surviving member of that association of worthies. He was the first vice-president of the Pilgrim Society, and after the death of Judge Thomas, the president, was elected to fill that office, which he held till his death. Mr. Watson was the proprietor of Clark's Island, where he resided during about forty years of his life. To that spot he always felt a peculiar attachment, as affording antiquarian associations, in which he delighted to indulge, and to recount to his family and friends. He left many sons and daughters, of respectable standing in life.

July. The fiftieth anniversary of our national independence was celebrated by the inhabitants of this town, in unison with a respectable assemblage of fellow citizens from other towns in the county. An oration was delivered by Charles H. Warren, Esq., of New Bedford.

November.-It having been discovered that considerable injury has been done to Plymouth beach by carrying off sand and sea-weed from the contiguous flats, and that, within a few years past, it has been the practice to take sand from said flats, for the purpose of manufacturing glass, the town petitioned the general court to pass a law prohibiting such trespasses in fu

ture.

1828.-Hon. Zabdiel Sampson, Esq. expired in this town July 19th. He was a native of Plympton, but resided in Plymouth during the several last years of his life. He was graduated at Brown University in 1803, and devoted himself to the study of the law, but was not long a pleader at the bar. In the year 1816, he was elected by this district a representative to Congress, and in 1820 was appointed collector of the customs for the port of Plymouth, which he retained till his death. He was, for several years, chairman of the board of selectmen, in this town, and in the several offices which he sustained, he was found diligent and faithful, and in moral virtue was exemplary.

October 9th.-Died, Nathaniel Lothrop, M. D., aged ninetyone. 'Dr. Lothrop was of the fifth generation from his respectable ancestor, John Lothrop. He graduated at Harvard University, at the head of the class of 1756; and, before his decease, was the only surviving graduate, except the venerable Dr. Holyoke, of Salem, of the long list of Alumni of his Alma Mater, included within the years 1740 and 1759. For a considerable time, he stood far in advance, in point of age, of any other person in this place. He survived all the companions and associates of his early days in his native town, outlived

the dearest of his domestic comforts, which had been his joy and delight, and was suffered to continue until even the desire of life in respect to himself had fled. A sacred regard to the dying request of the venerable deceased forbids us to enlarge; we will only add, while we cherish with respect and veneration the remembrance of his virtues, that like an ancient patriarch, he died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his fathers' It should be gratefully noticed and remembered that Dr. Lothrop gave a legacy of $500 to the Pilgrim Society, toward completing the edifice.

The 208th anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims was noticed by a private celebration on the 22d of December. A number of gentlemen of the town dined at the hotel, at which Major Joseph Thomas presided; and, besides the feast of shells,' the company enjoyed the anecdote, the song, and the toast, as reminiscences of olden times.

This anniversary was also celebrated by religious services in the meeting-house of the third parish, where the Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., of Boston, delivered a sermon, which attracted much attention, as coming` from a strong and vigorous mind, and abounding with practical and liberal remarks."

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1829-July 10th. Died, suddenly, Samuel Davis, Esq., aged 64. Mr. Davis was truly an antiquarian; and few men within our social circle, possessed a greater fund of correct information relative to the character and circumstances of our primitive fathers. He was, says the writer of an obituary notice, the man to whom the inquisitive stranger was, by all of us, promptly referred. There was an accuracy and precision in the habit of his mind, that made all his minute and curious information perfectly to be relied on. He was what the world would call a man of leisure; but this leisure was no ignoble escape from thought; but was usually employed, under the direction of a cultivated taste, amid scenery and resources exactly adapted to its full gratification. He loved the characters of the pilgrims. He loved to trace out their original allotments, their first rude dwellings. He knew their sons and daughters, their intermarriages, their changes of abode, the living branches and the scions, that became new stocks in the most distant states.* Of all these things he made copious

* On one of the days of our anniversary, the Rev. Dr. Pierce having been for some time in conversation with Mr. Davis, a number of clergymen entered the room; the Dr. said, 'Gentlemen, this is Mr. Davis, who can tell us all where we came from.' Mr. D. promptly replied, 'Gentlemen, this is Dr. Pierce, who can tell us all where we are going to.'

memoranda. It is easy to infer the moral traits of an intellectual man, who, fond of history and biography, yet turned with disgust from the Cæsars, the Charleses, and Napoleons, and for thirty years persevered with delight in learning the minutest particulars of men like the pilgrims. The reader would be sure that he had, in the proper use of the word, simplicity of mind; that he was unostentatious, and meek, and pure, and a lover of good men of every age and clime. If he had peculiarities, they did not arise out of disordered affections, or from bitter ingredients in the composition of his mind; but were the natural growth of a life of celibacy, and seclusion of a mind less forcibly acted upon than most others, by the events and prevalent passions of the times he lived in.'

The manner of his death was remarkable. Having walked out in the evening, he retired to his chamber about ten o'clock, his usual hour, and made an entry in his diary, of the state of the weather. At breakfast time the next morning he was found a corpse, his arms folded on his breast without any indication that departing life had occasioned the least struggle, so tranquil was the end of his peaceful life.

From life on earth our pensive friend retires,
His dust commingling with the pilgrim sires;
In thoughtful walks their every path he traced,
Their toils, their tombs his faithful page embraced;
Peaceful and pure and innocent as they,

With them to rise to everlasting day.'

1830.-Died in this town, June 4th, Hon. Beza Hayward, Esq., aged 78 years. He was a native of Bridgewater, and graduated at Harvard College in 1772, and devoted himself to the study of theology. When he commenced the clerical profession, the civil affairs of our country were involved in the greatest confusion by the opposition to the oppressive measures of parliament, and there was no encouragement for young clergymen. Being compelled to relinquish his profession, he became a teacher of a school for the higher branches of education. In this employment he continued for several years, when he was chosen to represent his native town in the legislature, and subsequently was elected into the senate, and afterwards a member of the council board. Patriotism, public virtue and love of order were eminent traits in his character. He possessed a peculiar tact for mathematical calculations, and was much relied on for accuracy of results, when for many months he was employed on committees of valuation in the legislature. In the year 1808 he was appointed register of probate for the county of Plymouth, which office he sustained till his death,

and acquitted himself honorably of its duties. In the domestic circle, and as a magistrate he was respected for probity, strict integrity and impartial justice. Under bereavement the virtues of meekness, humility and pious resignation were graciously exemplified in his demeanor. His descendants are John and Susan.

July 6th.—The wife of Captain William Holmes was killed by lightning, while in her house; no other person was injured, but the house was greatly shattered.

December.-We have again been called to commemorate the day so greatly endeared to the hearts of the descendants of the pilgrim fathers.

At a meeting of the Pilgrim Society, a communication was read from Hon. Judge Davis, announcing a donation of fifty copies of his edition of New England's Memorial.

The oration was delivered by the Honorable William Sullivan, which commanded deep and silent attention. It has been published with copious notes annexed, and adds honor to Sullivan, so well known in history, in literature and in science. Aiter the oration, the closing hymn 'Hail Pilgrim Fathers of our race,' was read line by line and sung to the tune of Old Hundred.

The assembly in procession returned to the Pilgrim Hall, where upwards of 200 persons sat down to dinner. Alden Bradford, Esq., president of the Pilgrim Society, was seated in the arm chair of English oak, which came over with the first settlers, and is reputed to have been Governor Carver's. The hall was decorated with ever-greens in a tasteful manner.

1831.-—Anniversary Commemoration. The first parish in Plymouth having voted that they will annually solemnize, by religious services, the anniversary of the landing of our forefathers, except when the Pilgrim Society shall take the celebration on themselves,* arrangements were accordingly made for the occasion, and a numerous and highly respectable assembly convened on the 22d of December, in the new church of the first parish for divine service. The Rev. Mr. Cole, of Kingston, and Rev. Mr. Goodwin, of Concord, offered our thanksgivings and supplications in a spirit and manner worthy the interesting occasion. The Rev. Mr. Brazer, of Salem, delivered a discourse peculiarly appropriate, from Psalms xxx. 8, 9. It was fraught with interesting intelligence and filial affection. How can we best honor the fathers, and in what way shall we best cherish their memory? This inquiry was awakening to the

*This vote has since been repealed by the parish.