Tercentenary Cannons - Plymouth, MA
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 41° 57.323 W 070° 39.926
19T E 361974 N 4646163
Although the cannons themselves are not currently mounted here, this plaque offers some interesting historical insights into the celebration of the tercentenary of the Pilgrims' landing in Plymouth. Located on Burial Hill overlooking Cape Cod Bay.
Waymark Code: WMDR04
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 02/17/2012
Views: 8
This large bronze tablet stands about four feet tall in the center of a concrete slab surrounded by a black wrought iron fence. Mounting bolts are visible on either side of the vertical tablet where the cannons once stood. It is not clear why or when they were removed or where they are currently. Many old post cards exist, and the most recent photo published that I can find is 2008.
This plaque is located on the top of Burial Hill at the site of the first fort built in 1621 and a later fort built in 1675. It has a commanding view over the town of Plymouth and Cape Cod Bay where the Mayflower first landed. Town Square with First Parish Church, the Church of the Pilgrimage and the 1749 Courthouse building are at the foot of the hill.
The following account of the Tercentenary celebration from
Sail 1620, gives some idea of the scope of this historic event.
"In August 1921 an estimated 100,000 souls, including President Warren G. Harding and Vice President Calvin Coolidge attended the celebration marking the 300th year of the landing of the Pilgrims. In preparation. The shoreside buildings and wharves had been demolished and the area filled in to about its present size. A pageant, costing some $200,000, took place consisting of 1,200 participants, a chorus of 300, and a huge orchestra."
BRASS CANNON LIKE THESE WERE NAMED BY BRADFORD
AND WINSLOW IN THE ANNALS OF PLYMOUTH AS MOUNTED ON THE
FIRST FORT, 1621, AND WERE STILL IN USE IN 1645 WHEN THE
ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY OF MASSACHUSETTS
UNDER ITS COMMANDER MAJOR GENERAL GIBBONS JOINED THE
PLYMOUTH COMPANY UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN MYLES
STANDISH TO FIGHT AGAINST THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS
THESE PIECES ARE FROM THE COLLECTION IN THE
BRITISH NATIONAL ARTILLERY MUSEUM. THEY WERE THE ONLY
CANNON OF THAT PERIOD AND OF ENGLISH MANUFACTURE IN THE
COLLECTION "IN CONSIDERATION OF THE GREATNESS OF THE
OCCASION, THE TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE LANDING OF
THE PILGRIMS, AND THE GOOD WILL OF THE ENGLISH NATION,
THE GOVERNMENT, ON BEHALF OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE HAVE
MADE THIS GIFT TO THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS"
ON THE RIGHT IS A "MINION" OF THE TIME OF
MARY, 1554, WITH A ROSE AND THE LETTERS M.R. (MARIA REGINA).
AND IS INSCRIBED "JOHN AND THOMAS MAYO, BRETHERN, MADE
THIS PECE ANNO DNI. 1554." ON THE LEFT IS A "SAKERET"
OF THE TIME OF EDWARD THE SIXTH WITH A SHIELD AND THREE
LIONS PASSANT INSCRIBED, "TOMAS OWEN MADE THIS PECE FOR
THE YE'L OF CARNSE VHAN SER PETER MEVTAS VAS GOVERNOR
AND CAPTAYN, ANNO DNI. 1550."
THEY WERE TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE HONOURABLE
ARTILLERY COMPANY OF LONDON, CHARTERED 1537, AND PLACED
HERE BY THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY OF
MASSACHUSETTS, CHARTERED 1638, AND DEDICATED OCTOBER THE 4TH, 1921.
THIS TRIBUTE
TO AMICABLE RELATIONS
WAS SPONSORED BY
COLONEL THE EARL OF
DENBIGH AND DESMOND
COMMANDANT OF THE
HONORABLE ARTILLERY CO.
AND HONORARY MEMBER
OF THE
A.&H.A. CO
Vintage Post Card of the Tercentenary Cannons
Burial Hill - Plymouth, Massachusetts