Spectator Seating

Along the sides and rear of the courtroom in Plymouth’s 1749 Court House are rows of simple wooden benches where members of the public could sit and watch the proceedings. Marty standing among them gives a good sense of just how intimate this courtroom would have been. There was very little distance between the spectators and the people whose cases were unfolding before them.

Court proceedings were public, and attending court could be an important way for townspeople to learn what was happening within their community. Neighbors could watch trials, hear testimony, follow disputes, and listen as judgments were handed down. In a time before newspapers were widely available and long before electronic communication, the courthouse was one of the places where community news was made and shared.

There was also an element of accountability in allowing the public to observe. Justice was not intended to take place entirely behind closed doors. The actions of the justices, attorneys, witnesses, and accused could be witnessed by members of the community.

Sitting on these hard wooden benches for hours could not have been particularly comfortable, but I can imagine that some proceedings drew considerable interest. A dispute between well-known neighbors, a serious criminal charge, or an unusual case would certainly have given people something to discuss long after they left the courthouse.