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'^^O; ^Vf>U:A^'U:
CHRONICLES
4
*" e»:%»w^iy. ^
CHRONICLES
OF
THE FIRST PLANTERS
OF
THE COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY,
FROM 1623 TO 1636.
KOW FIRST COLLECTED FROM ORIGINAL RECORDS AND CONTEMPORANEOUS MANUSCRIPTS, AND ILLUSTRATED WITH NOTES.
By ALEXANDER YOUNG.
Sicut pntribos, lit Deoi nobii.
BOSTON:
CHARLES C. LITTLIO AND JAMES IJROWN.
MDCCCXLVl.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 184C, by
Albxamdeb Voumo, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
AWDOVEK-rARVART) THEOLOGICAL LlbiV";'
JUN 7 1912 HApVAFD
DIVINITY SCHOOL
HH-l^'>^ i
boston:
PRINTED BY FREEMAN AND B0LLE9, DEVONSHIRE BTREET.
TO
THE HONORABLE
LEMUEL SHAW, LL.D
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
THIS VOLUME
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
BY
HIS FRIEND AND PASTOR.
.»
:.4
. >
•t I
» .
PREFACE.
The unexpected favor with which the publication of the ** Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth," was received, whilst it fur- nished gratifying proof of a growing interest m the early annals of New-England, encouraged the editor to enter into the collateral but broader field of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, and to gather up here the scattered sheaves of a no less abundant harvest. The present volume, it is believed, will be found to contain every authentic document relating to the planting of the Colony of Massachusetts, from its first faint dawnings in 1623 to the full sunrise of 1636, with the single exception of Winthrop's His- tory, to which it may be considered an introduction or supplement. Its chief and peculiar value, as well as that of its predecessor, consists in the fact that it imbodies the earliest materials for the History of our Commonwealth, written by men who lived at the time, on the spot, and were personally engaged in
VI PREFACE.
the transactions which they record. Such documents can never become obsolete, can never be superseded by subsequent narratives, however eloquent or beau- tiful, but must always be appealed to as the solid groundwork of our history. In the estimation of not a few, the severe and simple beauty of their Doric structure outvies the florid ornaments of more stately and ambitious edifices.
The numerous references in the Notes, though to some they may appear unnecessary, will enable the reader to verify my statements, and will point him to the sources of additional information. The former volume of Chronicles is included among the works referred to, to save the necessity of repeating what has already been said.
No nation or state has a nobler origin or lineage than Massachusetts. My reverence for the character of its founders constantly rises with the closer study of their lives, and a clearer insight into their prin- ciples and motives. Much as has been said in com- mendation of them, their worth has never been over- rated, and we should never be tired of recounting their virtues. "Vestra autem pietas, viri exules, quae maluit patriam quam Evangelium deserere, com- modisque carere temporariis quam permisceri sacris a Christo alienis, egregiam sane meretur laudem."
ALEXANDER YOUNG. Boston, June 1, 1846.
CONTENTS.
Chap. Paos.
I. John White's Brief Relation of the Occasion of
Planting of this Colony .... 1
n. William Hubbard's Narrative of the Discovery
AND first Planting of tHe Massachusetts 17
m. The Original Records of the Gtovernor and Com- pany of the Massachusetts Bay, in New-England 37
IV. Governor Cradock's Letter to Captain John En-
DICOTT ...... 129
V. The Company's First General Letter of Instruc- tions TO Endicott and his Council . . 141
VI. The Company's Second General Letter of Instruc- tions to Endicott and his Council . , 173
Vn. The Form of Government for the Colony . 193
Vin. The Allotment of the Lands . 197
IX. Oaths of Office for the Governor and Council • 201
X. The Company's Agreement with the Ministers 205
XI. Francis Higginson's Journal of his Voyage . 213
XII. Francis Higginson's New-England's Plantation 239
Xin. General Considerations for Planting New-England 269
XIV. The Agreement at Cambridge . 279
XV, The Company's Letters to Hioginson and Endicott 285
VUl CONTENTS. .
Chaf. Paob.
XVI. Thk Governor and Company's Humble Request to
THEIR Brethren in and of the Church of England 293
XVII. Deputy Governor Dudley's Letter to the Countess
OF Lincoln ..... 301
XVni. Captain Roger Clap's Memoirs . . 313
XIX. The Early Records of Charlestown . 360
XX. William Wood's Description of Massachusetts 380
XXI. John Cotton's Life and Letters 417
Samuel Whiting's Life of John Cotton . 410
Cotton's Letter to his Wife . . 432
Cotton's Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln . 434
Cotton's Reasons for his Removal to New-England 438
XXII. Richard Mather's Journal . . . 445
XXIII. Anthony Thacher's Narrative of his Shipwreck 483
XXIV. Thomas Shepard's Memoir of his own Life . 407
WHITE'S BRIEF RELATION.
The Planters Plea. Or the Grovnds of Plantations Examined, and vsuall Objections answered. Together with a manifesta- tion of the causes mooring such as have lately vndertaken a Plantation in New-England : For the satisfaction of those that question the lawfulnesse of the Action. 2 Thess. v. 21. Prove all things, and holdtfast that which is good. London. Print- ed by William Jones, 1630. sm. 4to. pp. 68.
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF RELATION OF THE OCCASION OF PLANTING
OF THIS COLONY.
The ensuing faithful and unpartial narration of the chap. first occasions, beginning, and progress of the whole — ^ work, is laid before the eyes of all that desire to re- ceive satisfaction, by such as have been privy to the very first conceiving and contriving of this project of planting this Colony,^ and to the several passages that have happened since ; who also, in that they relate, consider they have the searcher of all hearts and observer of all men's ways witness of the truth and falsehood that they deliver.
About ten years since, a company of English, 1(520. part out of the Low Countries, and some out of Lon- don and other parts, associating themselves into one body, with an intention to plant in Virginia, in their passage thither being taken short by the wind, in the Nov. depth of winter, the whole ground being xmder snow, ^* were forced with their provisions to land themselves style.
' This fact gives to the Narrative the sanction of the highest authority.
4 THE SETTLEMENT AT PLYMOUTH.
CHAP, in New-England, upon a small bay beyond Matta- chusets,' in the place which they now inhabit, and call by the name of New Plymouth.^ The ground being covered a foot thick with snow, and they being without shelter, and having amongst them divers women and children, no marvel if they lost some^ of their company ; it may be wondered how they saved the rest. But notwithstanding this sharp encounter at the first, and some miscarriages afterward, yet, conceiving God's providence had directed them unto that place, and finding great charge and difficulty in removing, they resolved to fix themselves there ; and being assisted by some of their friends in London,* having passed over most of the greatest difficulties that usually encounter new planters, they began to subsist at length in a reasonably comfortable man- ner ; being, notwithstanding, men but of mean and weak estates of themselves ;* and after a year's expe- rience or two of the soil and inhabitants, sent home tidings of both, and of their well-being there, which
• It seems to us somewhat strange by the editor of this volume, p. 101, to speak of Plymouth as on a * * small note *.
bay beyond Massachusetts." But ' Before the first of April, that
for some time after the first settle- is, in less than four months, forty-
ment of the country, the name Mas- four of the hundred persons who
sachusetts was usually confined to constituted the company, died. See
the territory lying around Boston Chronicles of Plymouth, p. 198.
harbour, from ^^^ahant to Point Al- * Some of these friends in London
derton. See Savage's Winthrop, were also interested in the Massa-
i. 27, 121. chusetts Company; such as John
* We find here no allusion what- White, Thomas Goffe, Samuel ever to the alleged treachery of the Sharpe, John Revell, and John Po- captain of the Mayflower, who is cock. See the Collections of the said by Morton in his New-EnglancCs Massachusetts Historical Society, Memorial, n, 34, to have been brib- iii. 48.
ed by the Dutch to carry that vessel * With the exception of W^inslow
north of their plantation on Hud- and Standish, the first settlers of
son's river. See this charge exam- Plymouth Colony were, in point of
ined in the Chronicles of the Pilgrim family and property, much inferior
Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth, to those of Massachusetts.
ORIGIN OF THIS COLONY. O
occasioned other men to take knowledge of the place, chap.
Am
and to take it into consideration.^
About the year 1623, some western merchants, 1623. who had continued a trade of fishing for cod and bar- tering for furs in those parts for divers years before,' conceiving that a Colony planted on the coast might further them in those employments, bethought them- selves how they might bring that project to effect, and communicated their purpose to others, alleging the conveniency of compassing their project with a small charge, by the opportunity of their fishing trade, in which they accustomed to double-man their ships, that, by the help of many hands, they might despatch their voyage and lade their ship with fish while the fishing season lasted ; which could not be done with a bare sailing company. Now it was conceived that, the fishing being ended, the spare men that were above their necessary sail- ors, might be left; behind with provisions for a year ; and when that ship returned the next year, they might assist them in fishing, as they had done the former year ; and, in the mean time, might employ themselves in building, and planting corn, which, with the provisions offish, fowl and venison, that the land yielded, would afford them the chief of their food. This proposition of theirs took so well, that
* ITie publication in London, in • In the year 1620 there went six
1622, of Bradford and Winslow's or seven ships from the west of
Journal, and in 1624, of Winslow's England to fish on the northeastern
Grood News from New-England, un- coasts of New-England ; in 1621,
doubtedly did much to draw the at- ten or twelve ; in 1622, thirty-five ;
tention of the people of England to in 1623, about forty ; and in 1624,
the subject of colonizing the north- about fifty. See rrince's Annals,
empart of this continent. See both pp. 157,185,201, 210,224, (8vo.
of these documents in the Chronicles ed. Boston, 1826.) of Plymouth, pp. 109 and 269.
b DESIGN OF THE PLANTATION.
CHAP, it drew on divers persons to join with them in this
project ; the rather* because it was conceived that
1623. j^Q^ Qj^jy their own fishermen, but the rest of our
nation that went thither on the same errand, might be much advantaged, not only by fresh victual, which that Colony might spare them in time, but withal, and more, by the benefit of their ministers' labors, which they might enjoy during the fishing season ; whereas otherwise, being usually upon those voyages nine or ten months in the year, they were left all the while without any means of instruction at all.^ Compassion towards the fishermen, and partly some expectation of gain, prevailed so far that for the planting of a Colony in New-England there was raised a stock of more than £3000, intended to be paid in in five years, but afterwards disbursed in a shorter time.
How this stock was employed, and by what errors and oversights it was wasted, is, I confess, not much pertinent to this subject in hand. Notwithstanding, because the knowledge thereof may be of use for other men's direction, let me crave leave, in a short digression, to present unto the reader's view the
* ** There were more than a few been very fine settlements in the
attempts of the English to people northeast regions ; but what is be-
and improve the parts of New-Eng- come of them ? I have heard that
land which were to the northward one of our ministers, once preaching
of New Plymouth. But the designs to a congregation there, urged them
of thdse attempts being aimed no to approve themselves a religious
higher than the advancement of people from this consideration, that
some worldly interests, a constant otherwise they would contradict the
series of disasters has confounded main end of planting this wilderness,
them, until there was a plantation Whereupon a well-known person,
erected upon the nobler designs of then in the assembly, cried out,
Christianity. And that plantation, * Sir, you are mistaken. You think
though it has had more aidversaries you are preaching to the people at
than perhaps any one upon earth, the Bay. Our main end was to
yet, having obtained help from God, catch fish.' " Mather's Magnolia,
It continues to this day. There have i. 61, (Hartford ed. 1820.)
FOURTEEN MEN AT CAPE ANN. 7
whole order of the managing of such moneys as were chap.
collected, with the success and issue of the business
undertaken. ^^^^•
The first employment, then, of this new raised stock was in buying a small ship of fifty tons, which was, with as much speed as might be, despatched towards New England upon a fishing voyage ; the charge of which ship, with a new suit of sails, and other provisions to furnish her, amounted to more than £300. Now by reason the voyage was under- taken too late, she came at least a month or six weeks later than the rest of the fishing ships that went for that coast ; and by that means wanting fish to make up her lading, the master thought good to pass into Mattachusets Bay,^ to try whether that would yield him any; which he performed, and speeding there better than he had reason to expect, having left his spare men behind him in the country at Cape Anne, he returned to a late and consequently a bad market in Spain, and so home. The charge of this voyage, with provision for fourteen spare men left in the country, amounted to above <£800, with the «£300 expended upon the ship, mentioned before. And the whole provenue, besides the ship, which remained to us^ still, amounted not to above £200. So the expense, above the return of that voyage, came to £600, and upwards.
The next year was brought to the former ship a i624. Flemish fly-boat,^ of about a hundred and forty tons ;
' See note * on page 4. paper, White, was one of the ad-
' From this expression, tis, it venturers, would seem that the author of this ' The Half-Moon, io which Henry
8 TWO FISHING-VESSELS EMPLOYED.
CHAP, which being unfit for a fishing voyage, as being built
merely for burthen, and wanting lodging for the
1624. nien which she needed for such an employment, they added unto her another deck, (which seldom proves well with Flemish buildings,) by which means she was carved so high that she proved walt,^ and xma- ble to bear any sail ; so that before she could pass on upon her voyage, they were fain to shift her first, and put her upon a better trim, and afterwards, that proving to little purpose, to unlade her, and take her up and fur her. Which notwithstanding it were performed with as much speed as might be, yet the year was above a month too far spent before she could despatch to set to sea again. And when she arrived in the country, being directed by the master of the smaller ship, upon the success of his former year's voyage, to fish at Cape Anne, not far from Mattachusets Bay,^ sped very ill, as did also the smaller ship that led her thither, and found little fish ; so that the greater ship returned with little more than a third part of her lading, and came back (contrary to her order, by which she was consigned to Bourdeaux,) directly for England ; so that the Com- pany of Adventurers was put to a new charge to hire a small ship to carry that little quantity of fish she brought home to market.
The charge of this voyage, with both the ships,
Hudson discovered the noble river walty when she has not her due bal-
now called by his name, and explor- last, that is, not enough to enable
ed it above Albany, was a fly-boat her to bear her sails or keep her
or yacht of eighty tons. See Moul- stiflf. Hubbard, in his History of
ton's History of the State of New New England, p. 322, speaking of
York, pp. 202, 245, and Brodhead's Lamberton's ill-fated ship, says that
Address before the New York Hist, she "was ill built, very walt-sid-
Society, p. 14. ed."
> Walt, crank. A ship is said to • See note * on page 4.
THIRTY-TWO MEN AT CAPE ANN. If
amounted to about £2200 ; whereof £800 and up- chap.
ward must be accounted for the building and other
charges about the greater ship. By these two ships ^^^• were left behind in the country about thirty-two men, the charges of whose wages and provision amounted to at the least £500 of the sum formerly mentioned. The provenue of both the voyages that year exceeded not the sum of £500, at the most.
The third year, 1625, both ships, with a small 1635. vessel of forty tons, which carried kine^ with other provisions, were again set to sea upon the same voyage, with the charge of £2000, of which sum the Company borrowed and became indebted for £1000, and upwards. The great ship, being commanded by a very able master, having passed on about two hundred leagues in her voyage, found herself so leaky by the carpenter's fault, (that looked not well to her calking,) that she bare up the helm and re- turned for Weymouth, and having unladen her pro- visions and mended her leak, set herself to sea again, resolving to take advice of the wind whether to pass on her former voyage, or to turn into Newfoundland ; which she did, by reason that the time was so far spent that the master and company despaired of do- ing any good in New-England, where the fish falls in two or three months sooner than at Newfoundland. There she took fish, good store, and much more than she could lade home. The overplus should have been sold and delivered to some sacke or other sent to take it in there, if the voyage had been well man-
* The first cattle, a bull and three low. See Prince's Annals, p. 225. heifers, were brought to Plymouth (8vo. ed. Boston, 1826.) in Maich, 1624, by Edward Wins-
10 ILL SUCCESS OF THE ENTERPRISE.
CHAP. aged. But that could not be done, by reason that
the ship, before she went, was not certain where to
^®^^- make her fish. By this accident it fell out that a good quantity of the fish she took was cast away, and some other part was brought home in another ship. At the return of the ships that year, fish, by rea- son of our wars with Spain, falling to a very low rate, the Company endeavoured to send the greater ship for France. But she being taken short with a contrary wind, in the west country, and intelligence given in the mean time that those markets were overlaid, they were enforced to bring her back again, and to sell her fish at home as they might. Which they did, and with it the fish of the smaller ship, the New-England fish about ten shillings the hundred by tale, or thereabout, the Newfoundland fish at six shillings four pence the hundred ; of which was well nigh eight pence the hundred charge raised upon it after the ship's return. By this reason the fish, which at a market in all likelihood might have yielded well nigh £2000, amounted not, with all the provenue of the voyage, to above £1100.
Unto these losses by fishing, were added two other no small disadvantages ; the one in the coun- try by our land-men, who being ill chosen and ill commanded, fell into many disorders, and did the Company little service ; the other by the fall of the price of shipping, which was now abated to more than the one half ; by which means it came to pass, that our ships, which stood us in little less than £1200, were sold for £480.
The occasions and means then of wasting this stock are apparently these : first, the ill choice of the place
ABANDONMENT OF THE ENTERPRISE. 11
for fishing. The next, the ill carriage of our men at chap.
land, who having stood us in two years and a half in
well nigh £1000 charge, never yielded .£100 profit. The last, the ill sales of fish and shipping. By all which the Adventurers were so far discouraged, that they abandoned the further prosecution of this de- i626. sign, and took order for the dissolving of the com- pany on land, and sold away their shipping and other provisions.
Two things withal may be intimated by the way ; the first, that the very project itself of planting by the help of a fishing voyage, can never answer the success that it seems to promise ; which experienced fishermen easily have foreseen beforehand, and by that means have prevented divers ensuing errors. Where- of, amongst divers other reasons, these may serve for two ; first, that no sure fishing-place in the land is fit for planting, nor any good place for planting found fit for fishing, at least near the shore ; and, secondly, rarely any fishermen will work at land, neither are husbandmen fit for fishermen but with long use and experience. The second thing to be observed is, that nothing new fell out in the managing of this stock, seeing experience hath taught us that, as in building houses, the first stones of the foundation are buried under ground and are not seen, so in planting colonies, the first stocks employed that way are con- sumed, although they serve for a foundation to the work.
But to return to our former subject, from which we digressed. Upon the manifestation of the West- ern Adventurers' resolution to give off their work,
12 SETTLEMENT AT NAHUMKEIK.
CHAP, most part of the land-men, being sent for, retm-ned. — ^ — But a few of the most honest and mdustrious resolved
1626. iQ stj^y behind, and to take charge of the cattle sent over the year before ; which they performed accord- ingly. And not liking their seat at Cape Anne, chosen especially for the supposed commodity of fish- ing, they transported themselves to Nahum-Keike^ about four or five leagues distant to the south-west from Cape Anne.
Some then of the Adventurers, that still continued their desire to set forward the plantation of a Colony there, conceiving that if some more cattle were sent over to those few men left behind, they might not only be a means of the comfortable subsisting of such as were already in the country, but of inviting some other of their friends and acquaintance to come over to them, adventured to send over twelve kine and bulls more ; and conferring casually with some gen- tlemen of London,^ moved them to add unto them as many more. By which occasion, the business came
1627. to agitation afresh in London, and being at first ap- proved by some and disliked by others, by argument
' The author, White, in another haven of comfort, but happened also part of his work, after referring to to put a Hebrew name upon it ; for the opinion held by some that the they called it Salem, for the peace Indians might formerly have had which they had and hoped in it ; and some intercourse with the Jews, ob- so it is called unto this day." Ma- serves, " Howsoever it be, it falls ther probably derived this whimsical out that the name of the place which etymology from Scottow, who says, our late Colony hath chosen for their " Its original name was called Naunv- seat, proves to be perfect Hebrew, A:c^, the Bosom of Consolation, being being called Nahum Keike^ by inter- its signification, as the learned have pretation,. The Bosom of -Consola- observed." See Planter's Plea, p. tion.^^ Cotton Mather also says, 14, Mather's Magnalia, i. 63, and " Of which place I have somew^here Joshua Scottow's Narrative of the met with an odd observation, that Planting of the Massachusetts Colo- the name of it was rather Hebrew ny, P. 51, (Boston, 1694.) than Indian ; for Nahum signifies * Their names will appear here- Comfort, and iTeiA signifies a Haven ; after in the records of th^ Com- and our English not only found it a pany.
THE EMIGRATION WITH ENDICOTT. 13
and disputation it grew to be more vulgar ; insomuch chap. that some men showing some good affection to the — ^ work, and offering the help of their purses if fit men ^^2'''' might be procured to go over, inquiry was made whether any would be willing to engage their per- sons in the voyage. By this inquiry it fell out that among others they lighted at last on Master Ende- COTT,^ a man well known to divers persons of good note, who manifested much willingness to accept of the offer as soon as it was tendered ; which gave great encouragement to such as were upon the point of resolution to set on this work of erecting a new Colony upon the old foundation. Hereupon divers persons having subscribed for the raising of a reason- able sum of money, a patent was granted with large encouragements every way by his most excellent Majesty.^ Master Endecott was sent over Governor, less. assisted with a few men, and arriving in safety there *^^® in September, 1628,^ and uniting his own men with g ^ those which were formerly planted in the country ^• into one body, they made up in all not much above fifty or sixty ^ persons.
' ** A fit instrument to begin this furthered by the honored Mr. Rich- wilderness- work, of courage bold, ard Bellingham." A previous pa- undaunted, yet sociable, and of a tent had been obtained from the cheerful spirit, loving and austere, Council for New England, March applying himself to either, as occa- 19, 1628. It was under this that sion served." Edward Johnson's Endicott came out, and not under Wonderworking Providence, ch. ix. the broad seal of England, as erro- (London, 1654.) neously stated by Gov. Bradford,
• ** Deputy governor Dudley, Mr. Secretary Morton, and Edward John- Hubbard, and others, wrongly place son. See Prince's Annals, pp. 249, Mr. Endicott's voyage after the 250, 254 ♦ Mass. Hist. Coll. xii. 63; ffrantofthe royal charter, whereas and Morton's New-England's Memo- oe came above eight months be- rial, p. 137, (Davis's edition, Bos- fore." The patent of the Massa- ton, 1826.)
chusetts Company was confirmed by ' This was the first emigration
the king, Charles I. March 4, 1629. under the authority of the Massa-
Edward Johnson says it was '* pro- chusetts Company.
cured by advice of one Mr. White, * It will be seen from Higginson's
an honest coansellor-at-law, as also Narrative, in a subsequent part of
14
THE EMIGRATION WITH HIGGINSON.
CHAP. His prosperous journey, and safe arrival of himself and all his company, and good report which he sent
1628. ijack of the country, gave such encouragement to the work, that more adventurers joining with the first undertakers, and all engaging themselves more deeply for the prosecution of the design, they sent over the
1629. next year about three hundred persons more,^ most servants, with a convenient proportion of rother- beasts,^ to the number of sixty or seventy, or there- about, and some mares and horses ; of which the kine came safe for the most part, but the greater part of the horses died, so that there remained not above twelve or fourteen alive.
By this time the often agitation of this affair in sundry parts of the kingdom, the good report of Cap- tain Endecott's government, and the increase of the Colony, began to awaken the spirits of some persons of competent estates,^ not formerly engaged. Con- sidering that they lived either without any useful employment at home, and might be more serviceable in assisting the planting of a Colony in New-England, [they] took at last a resolution to unite themselves for the prosecution of that work. And, as it usually falls out, some other of their acquaintance, seeing such men of good estates^ engaged in the voyage.
this volume, that qn his arrival at Salem in June, 1629, he found there about a hundred persons with Endi- cott.
' This was the second emigration, under Higginson. He says, " We brought with us about two hundred passengers and planters more."
■ Cows, oxen. " The old Saxon word hrutan signifies to snort, snore, or rout in sleeping. To rowt or rawt is to low like an ox or cow. Hence also the Saxon knUher, bos, a rother-beast." Ray's North Cotm-
try Words, p. 61, and Richardson's Eng. Diet, under Rout.
* Winthrop, Isaac Johnson, SaJ- tonstall, Dudley, Cradock, the Vas- sals, and most of the Massachusetts Company, were men of " good " and "competent estates." Winthrop had an estate of six or seven hun- dred pounds a year, and Johnson's interest in the Kew-England adven- ture was six hundred pounds. See Hutchinson's History of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, i. 14, 16. (London, 1760.)
THE EMIGRATION WITH WINTHROP. 15
some for love to their persons, and others upon other chap.
respects, united unto them ; which together made up
a competent niunber, (perhaps far less than is re- ^^^o. ported,) and embarked themselves for a voyage to xpni. New-England, where I hope they are long since safely arrived.^
This is an unpartial though brief relation of the occasion of planting of this Colony. The particulars whereof, if they could be entertained, were clear enough to any indifferent judgment, that the suspi- cious and scandalous reports raised upon these gen- tlemen and their friends, (as if, imder the color of planting a Colony, they intended to raise and erect a seminary of faction and separation,) are nothing else but the fruits of jealousy of some distempered mind, or, which is worse, perhaps, savor of a desperate malicious plot of men ill affected to religion, endeav- ouring, by casting the undertakers into the jealousy of State, to shut them out of those advantages which otherwise they do and might expect from the counte- nance of authority. Such men would be intreated to forbear that base and unchristian course of traducing innocent persons under these odious names of Separa- tists* and enemies to the Church and State, for fear lest their own tongues fall upon themselves by the justice of His hand who will not fail to clear the in- nocency of the just, and to cast back into the bosom of every slanderer the filth that he rakes up to throw in other men's faces. As for men of more indiffe-
* This was the third or great em- paratists. For the difference be- ig^tion, under Winthrop. tween the two, consult the Chroni-
• The first planters of^ Massachu- cles of Plymouth, pp. 398, 414-17. tetts were Nonconformists, not Se-
16 THE planters' plea.
CHAP, rent and better tempered minds, they would be seri-
ously advised to beware of entertaining and admitting,
1630. much more countenancing and crediting such un- charitable persons as discover themselves by their carriage, and that in this particular, to be men ill affected towards the work itself, if not to religion, at which it aims, and consequently unlikely to report any truth of such as undertake it.^
' The Planters' Plea, from Li the Preface to John Cotton's
which this chapter is extracted, was sermon, entitled " God's Promise to
printed in London in 1630, soon af- his Plantation," delivered just be-
ter the sailing of Winthrop's fleet, fore the departure of Winthrop's
as appears from page 15. It has company, I. H. (which I suppose
fenerallv been ascribed to the Rev. to be the initials of John Humphrey,
ohn White, of Dorchester, Eng- who, though chosen Deputy Gov-
land, of whom some account will be ernor of the Colony, remained be-
given hereafter. The cppy which I hind, and did not come over till July
use, and which formerly belonged to 1G34,) says, "Ere long, (if God
Increase Mather, has on the title- will,) thou shalt see a larger decla-
page, in his hand-writing, " Mr. ration of the first rise and ends of
White, of Dorchester, Author." — this enterprise, and so clear and full
This may be considered good au- a justification of this design, both in
thority, as Increase Mather probably respect of that warrant it halh from
derived his information from his fa- God's word, and also in respect of
ther, Richard, who came over in any other ground and circumstance
1635, or from some other of the of weight that is considerable in the
first settlers. The work is an ori- warrant of such a work, as (I hope)
ginal, contemporaneous authority, of there will easily be removed any
thehighest value, as it contains facts scruple of moment which hitherto
relating to the earliest attempts at hath been moved about it." The
settlement in Massachusetts Bay, Planters' Plea corresponds to this
which can be found nowhere else, description, and I have no doubt is
and these facts furnished by the per- the work which the writer intended
fions who were themselves engaged to announce, as adventurers in these attempts. The Planters' Plea appears to
See page 3. In his Preface the au- have been unknown to our histo-
thor says, " The reader is intreated rians. Neither Mather, Prince,
to observe that the particulars of this Hutchinson, Bancroft, nor Grahame
small pamphlet being all ranged un- make any use or mention of it. Hub-
der these two heads, matters oi fact bard may have had it ; but I think
or of opinion, in the former the author he derived his knowledge of the first
sets down his knowledge, and conse- settlement of the Colony from Co-
quently what he resolves to justify." nant and his companions.
HUBBARD'S NARRATIVE
CHAPTER IL
THE DISCOVERY AND FIRST PLANTING OF THE MAS- SACHUSETTS.
Several mariners and persons skilled in naviga- chap. tion, (whether employed by others in a way offish- ^^J^ ing and trading, or to satisfy their own humors in making fm'ther and more exact discoveries of the country, is not material,) had some years before look- ed down into the Massachusetts Bay.^ The inhabit- ants of New Plymouth had heard the fame thereof, leai. and in the first year after their arrival there took an Sept. occasion to visit it,^ gaining some acquaintance with the natives of the place, in order to future traflSc with them. For which purpose something like a habita- tion was set up at Nantasket,^ a place judged then
* Capt. John Smith appears to ■ Gov. Bradford says, " We re-
have been the first navigator, of turned with a considerable quantity
whom we have any account, that of beaver and a good report of the
penetrated to the bottom of Massa- place, wishing we had been seated
chusetts Bay. This was in 1614. there, ^* See the original Journal of
He says, " The country of the Mas- the expedition in the Chronicles of
sachusetts is the paradise of all those Plymouth, pp. 234-229.
parts ; for here are many isles all ^ A peninsula at the entrance of
planted with com, groves, mulber- Boston harbour, now called Hull,
ries, salvage gardens, and good bar- which name it received from the
hours." Mass. Hist. Coll. zxvi. General Court in 1644. See Sav-
118. age's note on Winthrop, ii« 175.
20 ROGER CONANT AT NANTASKET.
CHAP, most commodious for such an end. There Mr. Ro- — '^ ger Conant, with some few others, after Mr. Lyford and Mr. Oldham were, for some offence, real or sup- posed, discharged from having anything more to do 1 624. at Plymouth,^ found a place of retirement and recep- tion for themselves and families for the space of a year and some few months, till a door w^as opened for them at Cape Anne, a place on the other side the Bay, (more convenient for those that belong to the tribe of Zebulon than for those that chose to dwell in the tents of Issachar,) whither they removed
1625. about the year 1625. And after they had made another short trial thereof, for about a year's contin-
1626. uance, they removed a third time down a little lower towards the bottom of the Bay, being invited by the accommodations which they either saw or hoped to find on the other side of a creek near by, called
> John Lyford came over to Ply- a Court, and charges Lyford and Old- mouth in the spring of 1624, and ham with plotting against us. Old- John Oldham in August, 1623. Ro- ham heing outrageous, would have bert Cushman, in a letter dated Lon- raised a mutiny; but his party don, Jan. 24, 1624, writes, " We leaves him, and the Court expels send a preacher, though not the them the colony." Edward Wins- most eminent, for whose going Mr. low, the agent of the Plymouth Co- Winslow and I gave way, to give lony in England, afterwards made content to some at London.'* Gov. such disclosures there respecting Bradford also speaks of " the min- Lyford as confounded the party ister, Mr. John Lyford, whom a among the merchant adventurers faction of the adventurers send to who adhered to him, and he was hinder Mr. Robinson. '* Lyford judged unfit for the ministry. " Ry wrote home to the adverse part of this, (says Prince,) it seems as if the the adventurers in 1624, counselling Rev. Mr. White and the Dorchester them that "the Leyden company, gentlemen had*been imposed upon Mr. Robinson and the rest, must still with respect to Lyford and Oldham, be kept back, or else all will be spoil- and had sent invitations to them he- ed." "Lyford," says Bradford, fore this discovery." A minute ac- ** soon joins with Oldham, and they count of this affair, which appears fall a plotting both against our to justify the Plymouth people, may church and government, draw a be seen in Morton's Memorial, pp. company apart, set up ifor them- 111-122. See also Prince's Annals, selves, and he would administer the pp. 226-232, and Chronicles of Ply- sacrament to them by his Episcopal mouth, p. 476. calling. Upon this the Governor calls
PREPARATION FOR THE COLONY.
21
Naumkeag, which afforded a considerable quantity chap. of planting land near adjoining thereto. Here they — ^ took up their station, upon a pleasant and fruitful neck of land, environed with an arm of the sea on each side, in either of which vessels and ships of good burthen might safely anchor. In this place, (soon after by a minister,^ that came with a company i629. of honest planters, called Salem, from that in Psalm Ixxvi. 2,) was laid the first foundation on which the next colonies were built.
Notwithstanding the many adventures which had hitherto been made, by sundry persons of estate and quality, for the discovery and improvement, of this part of America, called New-England, nothing could as yet be settled by way of planting any colony upon the coast, with desirable success, save that of New Plymouth.^ As for the rest of the plantations, they were like the habitations of the foolish, as it is in Job, cursed before they had taken root.
Job, Y. 3.
But the vanishing of all the forementioned at- tempts did but make way for the settling the Colony of the Massachusetts ; and this was the occasion thereof.
As some merchants from the west of England had for a long time frequented the parts about Mun-
* Francis Higginson, who sayB in his Journal, *' Mrhen we came first to Naimkecke, note called Salem." Roger Conant, the founder of it, ex- pressly disclaims having had ^^ any hand in naming that town." See Mass. Archives, Towns, i. 217.
' These abortive attempts to plant colonies in New-England, were, (1.)
The Plymouth Company's in 1607, near the mouth of the Kennebec ; (2.) Weston's at Wessagusset (Weymouth) in 1622 ; (3.) Robert Gorge's at the same place in 1623 ; (4.) David Thomson's at the mouth of the Piscataqua in 1623 ; and (5.) Captain Wollaston's at Quincy in 1625.
22 FISHING-STAGES AT CAPE ANN.
CHAP, higgon,^ for the taking offish,^ &c., so did others^
especially those of Dorchester, make the like attempt
upon the northern promontory of the Massachusetts Bay, in probability first discovered by Capt. Smith, 1614. before or in the year 1614, and by him named Tra- gabizanda,^ for the sake of a lady from whom he re- ceived much favor while he was a prisoner among the Turks ; by whom also the three small islands at the head of the Cape were called the Three Turks' Heads. But neither of them glorying in these Ma- hometan titles, the promontory willingly exchanged its name for that of Cape Anne, imposed, as is said, by Capt. Mason,* and which it retaineth to this day, m honor of our famous Queen Anne, the royal con- sort of King James ; and the three other islands are now known by other names.^
Here did the foresaid merchants first erect stages whereon to make their fish, and yearly sent theh' ships thither for that end for some considerable time, until the fame of the Plantation at New Plymouth, with the success thereof, was spread abroad through all the western parts of England so far, as that it began to revive the hopes of some of those merchants who had not long before adventured their estates. to promote so honorable a design as was the planting
' See Chronicles of Plymouth Sparks's American Biography, ii.
Colony, page 182, note *, and Wil- 191-194, 197, and Mass. Hist. Coll.
liamson's History of Maine, i. 61. xxvi. 97, 118, 120.
• "It is well known, before our ♦ This is a mistake. The name breach with Spain, (162'1,) we was altered by Prince Charles, in usually sent out to New-England honor of his mother, Anne of Den- yearly forty or fifty sail of ships of mark. See Mass. Hist Coll. xxvi. reasonable good burthen for Aiding 97, 99, and xxiii. 20. only." Planters' Plea, p. 23. See * They are now called Straits- also note on p. 5. mouth ii^and, Thacher's island, and
' See Hillard^s Life of Smith in Milk island.
i
A PLANTATION AT CAPE ANN. 23
and peopling this new world ;^ although, finding chap.
hitherto but small encoiu'agement that way, they
were ready to withdraw their hands.
On this consideration it was, that some merchants and other gentlemen about Dorchester did, about the year 1624, at the instigation of Mr. White, the 1624. famous preacher of that town, upon a common stock, together with those that were coming to make fish, send over sundry persons, in order to the carrying on a Plantation at Cape Anne, conceiving that plant- ing on the land might go on equally with fishing on the sea in those parts of America.
Mr. John Tylly^ and Mr. Thomas Gardener^ were employed as overseers of that whole business ; the first with reference to the fishing, the other with respect to the planting on the main land, at least for one year's time; at the end of which Mr. White, 1636. with the rest of the Adventurers, hearing of some religious and well-affected persons, that were lately removed out of New Plymouth, out of dislike of their principles of rigid Separation, — of which number Mr. Roger Con ant* was one, a religious, sober, and
* In 1623, thirteen of the Compa- tiers of New-England, with Sav-
ny of Adventurers in England, writ- age's Winthrop, ii. 367. ing to their brethiyn at New Ply- * Roger Conant, to whom be-
mouth, tell them, *< Let it not be longs the high honor of being the
grievous to you that you have been first planter of the Colony of Massa-
instruments to break the ice for chusetts Bay, was bom at Budleigh,
others who come afler you. The near Sidmouth, in the county of
honor shall be yours to the world's Devon, in the year 1593, as we in-
end." Bradford in Prince, p. 220. fer from the record in the parish re-
' John Tylley was admitted a gister of East Budleigh, which
freeman March 4, 1635. See Sav- states that he was baptized April 9,
age's Winthrop, ii. 365. 1693. He was probably the son of
' Thomas Gardner removed to William Conant, who, as appears
Salem with Conant, was admitted a from the same register, was married
freeman May 17, 1637, and was a Nov. 26, 1588. We have no ac-
member of the General Court the count of the time or manner in which
same year. Compare Farmer's Ge- Roger Conant came over to New-
nealogical Register ci the fint set- England. Christopher Conant was
24
CONANT APPOINTED AGENT.
1625
CHAP, prudent gentleman, yet surviving about Salem till the year 1680, wherein he finished his pilgrimage, having a great hand in all these forementioned trans* actions about Cape Anne, — they pitched upon him, the said Conant, for the managing and government of all their affairs at Cape Anne. The information he had of him, was from one Mr. Conant, a brother of his, and well known to Mr. White; and he was so well satisfied therein, that he engaged Mr. Hum- phrey, the treasurer of the joint Adventurers, to write to him in their names, and to signify that they had chosen him to be their governor in that place, and would commit unto him the charge of all their affau-s, as well fishing as planting. Together with him, likewise, they invited Mr. Lyford, lately dismissed fi'om Plymouth, to be the minister of the place ; and Mr. Oldham, also discharged on the like account
one of the passengers in the Anne, which arrived at rl3rmouth in 1623. But I find no evidence in Gov. Brad- fotd or Morton, or in any of the Ply- mouth records or authorities, to con- firm the statement here made by Hubbard, that Roger Conant was once a resident in that colony, and was expelled from it with Lyford and Oldham. Still it may have been so ; and Hubbard may have got his information from Conant him- self. The same mystery hangs over his arrival and early residence here, as over Walford, blackstone, and Maverick. They all probably came over in some of the fishing- vessels that were constantly hover- ing on the coast. He was admitted a freeman of the Colony May 18, 1631, and was a representative from Salem in the first Court of Deputies, held in 1634. In 1636, he received from that town a grant of two hun- dred acres of la^ at the head of
Bass river, in what is now the town of Beverly, on which he settled, and in 1671, the General Court made him a grant of two hundred acres more, on the ground of his being " an ancient planter." He died Nov. 19, 1679, in the 87th year of his age. Hutchinson says, ^* He is always spoken of as a person of worth. The superior condition of the persons who came over with the char- ter cast a shade upon him, and he lived- in obscurity. Governor's Isl- and, in Boston harbour, [on which is now Fort Warren,] was formerly called Conant's island." Conant had four sons. Roger, the second, was the first child born in Salem, and on that account received from the town, in 1640, a grant of twenty acres of land. See Mass. Hist. Coll. xxvii. 250-255, xxviii. 306; Savage's Winthrop, i. 130, ii. 362 ; Stone's Hist, of Beverly, p. 18; and Hutch- inson's Hist, of Mass. i. 7.
CONANT REMOVES TO CAPE ANN. 25
from Plymouth, was invited to trade for them with chap. the Indians. All these three at that time had their — ^ dwelling at Nantasket. Mr. Lyford accepted, and 1626. came along with Mr. Conant. Mr. Oldham liked better to stay where he was for a while, and trade for himself, and not become liable to give an account of his gain or loss. But after a year's experience, 1626. the Adventurers, perceiving their design not like to answer their expectation, at least as to any present advantage, threw all up ; yet were so civil to those that were employed under them, as to pay them all their wages, and proffered to transport them back whence they came, if so they desired.
It must here be noted, that Mr. Roger Conant, on the foresaid occasion made the superintendent of their affairs, disliked the place as much as the Ad- venturers disliked the business ; and therefore, in the mean while, had made some inquiry into a more commodious place near adjoining, on the other side of a creek, called Naumkeag,^ a little to the west- ward, where was much better encouragement as to the design of a Plantation, than that which they had attempted upon before at Cape Anne ; secretly con- ceiving in his mind, that in following times (as since is fallen out) it might prove a receptacle for such as upon the account of religion would be willing to begin a foreign Plantation in this part of the world ; of which he gave some intimation to his friends in England. Wherefore that reverend person, Mr. White, (under God, one of the chief founders of
* Capt. John Smith writes this Mass. Hist. Coll. xxvi. 97, 107, 118 Naemkeck, Naemkecke, and Nairn- and xxiii. 23, 3 i. keck. See note on page 12, and
26 WHITE WRITES TO CONANT.
CHAP, the Massachusetts Colony in New-England,)^ being — ^ grieved in his spirit that so good a work should be 1626. suffered to fall to the ground by the Adventurers thus abruptly breaking off, did write to Mr. Conant not so to desert the business, faithfully promising that if himself, with three others, (whom he knew to be honest and prudent men, viz. John Woodberry, John Balch,^ and Peter Palfreys,^ employed by the
* John White, " usually called,'* in his Worthies, says that " he had
says Anthony Wood, ^^ patriarch of a patriarchal influence both in Old
Dorchester, or patriarch White,'* and New England." Callender, in
was bom at Stanton St. John in his Historical Discourse on Rhode
Oxfordshire, in 1575, and was edu- Island, calls him ** the father of the
cated first at Winchester, and then Massachusetts Colony." His name
at New College, Oxford, of which will often occur hereafter in the
he was fellow. In 1605 he became meetings of the Massachusetts Com-
lector of Trinity parish in Dorches- pany in London. See Wood's
ter. Wood says, " He was for the Athen. Ox. iii. 236, (ed. Bliss) ;
most part of his time a moderate Fuller's Worthies of England, ii.
Puritan, and conformed to the cere- 233 ; Hutchins's History of Dorset,
monies of the Church of England i. 390; Mass. Hist. Coll. xxviii.
before and when Archbishop Laud 306; and Rhode Island Hist. Coll.
sat at the stem.'* On the breaking iv. 67.
out of the civil wars, he sided with * John Balch is said to have come the popular party ; and his house from Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, and library having been plundered He was made a freeman May 18, by the royalists under Prince Ru- 1631. In 1636, he received, at the pert, he came to London, and was same time with Conant, a grant of made minister of the Savoy parish, two hundred acres of land at the In 1643 he was chosen one of the head of Bass river, near the present Assembly of Divines at Westmin- residence of Mr. John Bell, in Bev- Bter, and " showed himself one of erly, where he died in 1648. He the most learned and moderate was an intelligent, exemi)lary, and among them, and his judgment was useful citizen. He had two wives, much rehed on therein." Soon Margaret and Agnes, and three sons, after he was appointed rector of the second of whom, John, married Lambeth, in Surrey. When the civil Mary, the daughter of Roger Co- wars were over, he returned to Dor- nant, and was drowned in crossing Chester, and in 1647 was chosen the ferry to Beverly, Jan. 16, 1662. warden of New College, but decUn- See Farmer's Gen. Register, and ed the honor. He died suddenly Stone's Hist, of Beverly, p. 23. July 24, 1648, in his 74th year, and ' Peter Palfrey was admitted a was buried July 21, in th^ porch of freeman May 18, 1631. In May, St. Peter's in Dorchester. Wood 1632, when each town in the Colony says, ** He was a person of great chose two men to advise with the gravity and presence, and had al- Governor and Assistants at the next ways influence on the Puritanical Court about raising a public stock — party, near to and remote from him, the " embryo of a parliament," as who bore him more respect than Savage calls it — Palfrey was joined they did to their diocesan.'* Fuller, with Conant in this trust. In 1635,
CONANT RESOLVES TO REMAIN. 27
Adventurers,) would stay at Naumkeag, and give chap.
timely notice thereof, he would provide a patent for
them, and likewise send them whatever they should ^®^^' write for, either men, or provision, or goods where- with to trade with the Indians. Answer was return- ed, that they would all stay on those terms, entreat- ing that they might be encouraged accordingly. Yet it seems, before they received any return according to their desires, the three last mentioned began to recoil, and repenting of their engagement to stay at Naumkeag, for fear of the Indians and other incon- veniences, resolved rather to go all to Virginia ; especially because Mr. Lyford, their minister, upon a loving invitation, was thither bound.^ But Mr. Conant, as one inspired by some superior instinct, though never so earnestly pressed to go along with them, peremptorily declared his mind to wait the providence of God in that place where now they were, yea, though all the rest should forsake him,*
he was a deputy from Salem in the in his own hand-writing, *< of Roger second General Court. In 1636, Conant of Bass River, alias ^v- with the other first planters, he re- erly," dated May 28, 1671. In that ceived a grant of two hundred acres petition he sa3r8, that he *' hath been of land on Bass river. In 1653 he a planter in New-England forty removed to Reading, where he died years and upwards, being one of the Sept. 15, 1663. His estate was first,. if not the very first, that re- apprized at JE^84 105. His wife's solved and made good any settle- name was Edith, and he had a son ment, under God, in matter of plan- Jonathan, and three daughters, Je- tation, with my family, in this Col- hodan, Remember, and Mary. De- ony of the Massachusetts Bay, and scendants of this worthy planter have been instrumental both for the remain in Salem, and the present founding and carrying on of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, same; and when, in the infancy John Gorham Palfrey, claims him thereof, it was in great hazard of as his ancestor. See Farmer's Re- being deserted, I was a means, gister, Savage's Winthrop, ii. 362, through grace assisting me, to stop and Prince's Annals, p. 394. the fiight of those few that then
* " And there shortly dies." — were here with me, and that by my
Bradford, in Prince, p. 245. utter denial to go away with them,
' In the Archives of the Common- who would have gone either for
wealth there is preserved a petition, England, or mostly for Virginia, but
28 JOHN WOODBURY SENT TO ENGLAND.
CHAP, not doubting, as he said, but if they departed, he
— ^ should soon have more company. The other three,
observing his confident resolution, at last concurred
1627. with him, and soon after sent back John Woodberry ^ for England to procure necessaries for a Plantation.
But that God, who is ready to answer his people before they call, as he had filled the heart of that good man, Mr. Conant, in New-England, with courage and resolution to abide fixed in his purpose, notwithstand- ing all opposition and persuasion he met with to the contrary, had also inclined the hearts of several others in England to be at work about the same design. For about this time the Council established at Plymouth for the planting, ruling, ordering and governing of New- England,^ had, by a deed indented under the common
1628. seal, bearing date March 19, 1627, bargained and sold
thereupon stayed to the hazard of and toils contribute to prepare a re- our lives.'' In the same petition he fuge for his countrymen." His says that he " was the first that had wife's name was Agnes, and his a house in Salem," that " those that son, Humphrey, born in 1609, came were then with him were all from to Salem with his father in 1628, the western part of England," and and was living in 1681. The home- that he himself was " born at Bud- stead has remained in the family leigh, a market-town in Devonshire, since the first settlement. All bear- near unto the sea." See Mass. Ar- ing the name of Woodbury in New- chives, Towns, i. 217. The jpeti- England probably descend from John tion is printed entire in Mass. Hist, or his brother William. See Farm- Coll, xxvii. 252. er's Register and Stone's History of
* John Woodbury is said to have Beverly, pp. 21-23. come from Somersetshire, in Eng- * On the 3d of Nov. 1620, King land. He was made a freeman May James signed a patent by which the 18, 1631, and in 1635 was chosen, adventurers to the northern colony with Palfrey, a deputy to the Gene- of Virginia betw^een forty and forty- ral Court, and again in 1638. In eight degrees north, were incorpora- 1636, in connection with Conant, ted as *' The Council established at Balch, and Palfrey, he received Plymouth, in the county of Devon, from the town a grant of two hun- for the planting, ruling, ordering dred acres of land on Bass river, and governing of New-England in "He was an energetic, faithful and America." This is the great civil worthy man, and took an active part basis of the future patents and plant- in the settlement and transactions of ations that divide the country. See the Colony. He died in 1641, hav- the patent in Hazard's Cullection of ing lived to see his perils, sufiferings State Papers, i. 103.
A PATENT OBTAINED. 29
unto some knights and gentlemen about Dorchester, chap. namely, Sir Henry Roswell, Sir John Young, knights, — ^ Thomas Southcoat, John Humphry, John Endicot, ^^^®- and Simon Whetcomb,^ gentlemen, that part of New- England that lies between Merrimack and Charles river, in the bottom of the Massachusetts Bay. And not long after, by the means of Mr. White, the fore- said gentlemen were brought into acquaintance with several other religious persons of like quality in and about London, such as Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Cradock, and Mr. Goffe, and Sir Richard Saltonstall ; who being first associated to them, at last bought of them all their right and in- terest in New-England aforesaid ; and consulting together about settling some Plantation in New-Eng- land upon the account of religion, where such as were called Nonconformists might, with the favor and leave of the King, have a place of reception if they should transport themselves into America, there to enjoy the liberty of their own persuasion in matters of worship and church discipline, without disturbance of the peace of the kingdom, and without oflfence to others not like-minded with themselves, did at the last resolve, with one joint consent, to petition the King's Majesty to confirm unto the fore- named and their associates, by a new grant or patent, the tract of land in America forementioned ; which was accordingly obtained.^
* " It is very likely the three per- projected, we hear no more of them, sons first named in this grant had The other three remained." Hutch- nothing more in view by the pur- inson's Hist. Mass. i. 9. chase than a settlement for trade ' '' Some of the principal of the with the natives, or for fishery, or liberal speakers in parliament being for other advantageous purposes, committed to the Tower, others to As soon as a colony for religion was other prisons, this took away all
30 ENDICOTT AT SALEM.
CHAP. Soon after, the Company, having chosen Mr. Cra- — ^ dock, Governor, and Mr. Goffe, Deputy Governor, 1628. ^j^jj several others for Assistants, sent over Mr. En- dicot, in the year 1628, to carry on the Plantation of the Dorchester agents at Naumkeag, or Salem, and make way for the settling of another Colony in the Massachusetts. He was fully instructed with power from the Company to order all aflFairs in the name of the Patentees, as their agent, until them- selves 'should come over ; which was at that time intended, but could not be accomplished till the year 1630. With Mr. Endicot, in the year 1628, came Mr. Gotte,^ Mr. Brakenberry,^ Mr. Daven-
hope of reformation of Church gov- * " Mr." Charles Gott was admitted ermnent, from many not affecting a freeman May 18, 1631, and was a Episcopal jurisdiction, nor the ususd representative from Salem in the practice of the common prayers of General Court in 1635. He was a the Church, whereof there were deacon of the Church there ; and the several sorts, though not agreeing selectmen of the town, on June 25, among themselves, yet all of like 1638, voted to him and John Home dislike of those particulars. Some five acres of land, which was long of the discreeter sort, to avoid what known as the Deacons' Marsh. It they found themselves subject unto, was situated in South Fields, near made use of their friends to procure Castle Hill. He removed to Wen- from the Council for the Affairs of ham, which he represented in 1654, New-England to settle a colony and died in 1667 or 1688. A letter within their limits; to which it written by him to Gov. Bradford, pleased the thrice-honored Lord of July 30, 1629, giving an account of Warwick to write to me, then at the choice of Skelton and Higginson Plymouth, to condescend that a pa- as pastor and teacher of the church tent might be granted to such as at Salem, is contained in Mass. Hist, then sued for it. Whereupon I Coll. iii. 67. It appears by this let- gave my approbation so far forth as ter that he and his wife had both it might not be prejudicial to my son been at Plymouth ; and from this Robert Gorges's interests, whereof fact I am abnost tempted to believe he had a patent under the seal of that he arrived there, and did not the Council. Hereupon there was come with Endicott in the Abigail. a grant passed as was thought rea- See Farmer^s Register and Felt's sonable. But the same was afler Annals of Salem, i. 163. enlarged by his Majesty, and con- ' Richard Brackenbury took the firmed under the great seal of Eng- oath of freeman May 14, 1634, and land ; by the authority whereof the in 1636 received a grant of seventy- undertakers proceeded so effectually, five acres of land. He was one of that in a very short time numbers the early settlers of Beverly, and of people of all sorts flocked thither died there in 1685, aged 85. See in heaps." Sir Ferdinando Gorge, Farmer's Gen. Register, and Stone's in Mass. Hist. Coll. xzvi. 80. Beverly, p. S4.
THE EMIGRANTS WITH ENDICOTT. 31
port/ and others ;^ who, being added to Capt. Trask' chap.
and John Woodberry, (that was before this time re ^
turned with a comfortable answer to them that sent 1^28. him over,) went on comfortably together to make pre- paration for the new Colony that were coming over ; the late controversy that had been agitated with too much anunosity betwixt the forementioned Dorches- ter planters and their new agent, Mr. Endicot, and his company then sent over, being by the prudent moderation of Mr. Conant, agent before for the Dor- chester merchants, quietly composed ;^ that so meum and tuum, that divide the world, should not disturb the peace of good Christians, that came so far to
^ Richard Davenport was admit- be made freeman on the 19th of Octo- ted a freeman Sept. 3, 1634, and ber, 1630. He represented Salem was a lepresentative in 1637 from Gye years, from 1635 to 1639. In Salem, where he resided till 1642. January, 1636, he received from that He was ensign-bearer at the time town, at the same time with Conant, that Endicott cut the cross out of Palfrey, Woodbury, and Batch, a the King's colors, was a lieuten- grant of two hundred acres of land ant in the Pequot war, in which he on Bass river. He was a captain was dangerously wounded, and af- under Stoughton in the Pequot war, terwards was captain of the castle and died in 1666. It would appear in Boston harbour, where he was from the text that he was one of Co- killed by lightning, July 15, 1665, nant's company, and not, as Felt aged 59. See farmer's Register, says, ''among the emigrants who Savage's Winthrop, i. 146, 192, came in the Abigail," with En- 233, and Mass. Hiist. Coll. xviii. dioott. See Farmer's Register, 146, 236. Stone's Beverly, p. 20, Felt's Sa-
' The omission here of the name lem, p. 44, and Mass. Hist. Coll.
of the Spragues, (Ralph, Richard, xviiL 146, 147, 236.
and William,) invalidates the asser- * White alludes to this controver-
tion of Felt that they '' were among sy between the old planters under
the emigrants who came in the Abi- C5onant and the new comers with
gail," with Endicott, and confirms Endicott, when in speaking of the
Qie construction put by Gov. Everett change of name from Nahumkeik to
on the statement in the Charlestown Salem, he says that it was done
records, that ''tliey arrived at Salem "upon a fair ground, in remem-
at their own charge," that is, as brance of 3i peace settled upon a con-
" independent adventurers, not mem- ference at a general meeting be-
bers of Gov. Endicott's Company." tween them and their neighbours,
See Felt's Salem, p. 44, and £id- after expectance of some dangerous
ward Everett's Address at Charles- w." See page 12, and Planters'
town on the anniversary of the arri- Plea, p. 14. see ^so what Hub-
val of Gov. Winthrop, p. 19. bard says, Mass. Hist Coll. xv.
» " Mr." WiUiam Trask desired to 1 13.
32
SICKNESS AMONG THE COLONISTS.
CHAP, provide a place where to live together in Christian
— ^ amity and concord.
1628. jj^ |.jjg same year were sent over several servants upon the joint stock of the Company, who, arriving there in an uncultivated desert, for want of whole- some diet and convenient lodgings, were many of them seized with the scurvy and other distempers,^ which shortened many of their days, and prevented many of the rest from performing any great matter of labor that year for advancing the work of the Plant- ation. Yet was the good hand of God upon them so far, as that something was done which tended to ad- vantage ; nor was, upon that account, an evil report brought upon the place by any of them, so as to dis- courage others from coming after them.
During this whole lustre of years, from 1625, there was little matter of moment acted in the Massachu- setts, till the year 1629, after the obtaining the pa- tent ; the former years being spent in fishing and trading by the agents of the Dorchester merchants and some others of the west country.
1626. In one of the fishmg voyages about the year 1625, under the charge and command of one Mr. Hewes, employed by some of the west country merchants, there arose a sharp contest between the said Hewes and the people of New Plymouth, about a fishing-stage, built the year before about Cape Anne by Plymouth men, but was now, in the absence of the builders
* " Upon which," says Governor Bradford, " Mr. Endicott, hearing we at Plymouth have a very skilful doctor, namely, Mr. Fuller, sends to our governor for him, who forth- with sends him to their assistance." Endicott writing to Bradford from
Salem, May 11, 1629, says, " I ac- knowledge myself much bound to you for your kind love and care in sending Mr. Fuller amongst us." See Prince's Annals, p. 263, Mor- ton's Memorial, p. 144, and Chron* icles of Plymouth, p. 223.
DISPUTE AT CAPE ANN. 33
made use of by Mr. Hewes his company ; which the chap. other, under the conduct of Capt. Standish, very — ^ eagerly and peremptorily demanded. For the Com- ^^^^• pany of New Plymouth, having themselves obtained a useless patent for Cape Anne about the year 1623,^ i623. sent some of the ships, which their Adventurers em- ployed to transport passengers over to them, to make fish there ; for which end they had built a stage there in the year 1624.^ The dispute grew to be i694. very hot, and high words passed between them ; which might have ended in blows, if not in blood and slaughter, had not the prudence and moderation of Mr. Roger Conant, at that time there present, and Mr. Peirce's^ interposition, that lay just by with his ship, timely prevented. For Mr. Hewes had barri- cadoed his company with hogsheads on the stage- head, while the demandants stood upon the land, and might easily have been cut oflF. But the ship's crew, by advice, promising to help them build another, the difference was thereby ended.'* Capt. Standish had
* Robert Cushman, writing to Chronicles, and who " deserves hon-
Gov. Bradford from London, Jan. orable mention among the early na-
24, 1624, says, ** We have taken a vigators between Old England and
patent for Cape Ann." Prince's New." See Savage's valuable note
Annals, p. 226. on Winthrop, i. 25, to which no-
■ Christopher Levett, who was on thing can be added, the coast of New -England in 1624, * Gov. Bradford gives a different says, that ** the people of New Ply- version of this affair. He says that mouth have begun a new plantation ** some of Lyford and Oldham's at Cape Ann ; but how long it will friends in the company of the mer- continue, I know not ;" and Capt. chant adventurers in London, set John Smith, writing in 1624, says, out a ship a fishing, and getting the ** At Cape Ann there is a planta- start of ours, they take our stage tion begun by the Dorchester men, and other provisions made for fishing which they hold of those of New at Cape Ann the year before, to Plymouth ; who also by them have our great charge, and refuse to re- set up a fishing- work." See Mass. store it without fighting; upon Hist. Coll. xxviii. 181, and Prince's which we let them keep it, and our Annals, pp. 227, 228, 230. Governor sends some planters to
' Capt. William Peirce, whose help the fishermen build another."
name will frequently occur in these And in a letter to the Council for
3
34 MILES STANDISH.
CHAP, been bred a soldier in the Low Countries, and never — ^ entered the school of our Saviour Christ, or of John 1626. Baptist, his harbinger ; or, if he was ever there, had forgot his first lessons, to ofier violence to no man, and to part with the cloak rather than needlessly contend for the coat, though taken away without order. A little chimney is soon fired ; so was the Plymouth captain, a man of very little stature, yet of a very hot and angry temper. The fire of his pas- sion soon kindled, and blown up into a flame by hot words, might easily have consumed all, had it not been seasonably quenched.^
In transactions of this nature were the first three years spent in making way for the planting of the Massachusetts.^
New-England, dated June 28, 1625, No one has ever charged him either he writes, ** We are now left and with failure in point of obedience or forsaken of our adventurers, who of wantonly exceeding the limits of have not only cast us off, but enter- his commission. If the arm of flesh ed into particular course of trading, was necessary to establish the rights and have by violence and force taken and defend the lives and property of at their pleasure our possession at colonists, in a new country, sur- Cape Ann/' See Prince's Annals, rounded with enemies and false p. 233, and Mass. Hist. Coll. iii. 38. friends, certainly such a man as * This account of Standish is gra- Standish, with all his imperfections, phic, but flippant and unjust. Judge "will hold a high rank among the bavis remarks, ** It does not appear worthies of New-England." See that his conduct was reprehensible. Morton's Memorial, p. 126, Bel- He acted under authority, and was knap's American Biography, ii. 330, sent to enforce a manifest right." and Chronicles of Plymouth, p. 125. Belknap says, **The best apology * William Hubbard, from whose for Captain Standish is, that as a History of New-England this Chap- soldier he had been accustomed to ter is taken, was born in England in discipline and obedience; that he 1621, and came to this country with considered himself as the military his father in 1635. He was one of servant of the Colony, and received the first class that graduated at his orders from the Governor and Harvard College, in 1642, and about people. Sedentary persons are not the year 1657 was settled in the always the best judges of a soldier's ministry at Ipswich, where he died merit or feelings. Men of his own Sept. 14, 1704, at the age of 83. profession will admire the courage His History of New-England was of Standish, his promptitude and de- completed in 1680, to which time it cision in the execution of his orders, is brought down, but contains few
HUBBARD, THE HISTORIAN. 35
facts afler 1650. In 1682, the Gen- erly, and who survived till 1679. CHAP.
eral Court of Massachusetts granted Some of the facts which he relates II.
him fifty pounds ^^ as a manifestation he could hardly have obtained from
of thankfulness" for his work. It any other source; as for instance,
remained in manuscript till 1815, Mr. White's acquaintance with Ck>-
when it was published by the Mas- nant's brother, his procuring Mr.
sachusetts Hbtorical Society in the Humphrey to write to Conant, and
15th and 16th volumes of their Col- his subsequently writing? to him
lections. The manuscript was of himself ** not to desert the business."
Seat use to Mather, Prince, and The manner too in which Hubbard utchinson, and until it was printed speaks of Conant, indicates one with was held in high estimation as an whom he was personally acquainted, original authority for our early his- and for whose character and intel- tory. But the collation of it with lect he felt the highest respect. He the complete edition of Grov. Win- speaks of him as ** that good man," throp's History of New-England, as " a religious, sober and prudent published by Mr. Savage in 1825, gentleman," and in a particular disclosed the source whence Hub- emergency, as ** one inspired by a bard had derived his facts, and even superior instinct." In another part his language through successive of his History he mentions ** a pages. He seems to have sustained strange impression on the mind of the same literary relation to Win- Roger Conant to pitch upon Naum- throp, that Secretary Morton did to keag." Now the fact of such " in- Gov. Bradford, that of a close but spiration" and ** impression" could not very accurate copyist. A just have been derived only from Co- estimate of the value of his History nant's own mouth. We may there- is given by Mr. Savage in his note fore consider that in this Chapter on Winthrop, i. 297. we have Roger Conant's owti narra- The most original and valuable tive, as taken down by Hubbard in part of Hubbard's History is un- the conversations which he held with questionably this very Chapter, in him when collecting the materials which he gives us a statement of for his History, facts in relation to the first settle- I have copied this Chapter from ments at Cape Ann and Salem, Hubbard's MS., preserved in the which can be found nowhere else, archives of the Massachusetts His- Now from whom did he obtain these torical Society, and have thus been facts ? Most probably from Roger enabled to correct several errors in Conant, the father of the Colony, of the printed volume of the History, whom he was a contemporary and See Hutchinson's Mass. ii. 147, and neighbour. Living at Ipswich, he Farmer's Memorials of the Gradu- must have been acquainted with this ates of Harvard College, pp. 12-17, prominent old planter, who resided and Holmes's Annals of America, • but a few miles from him, at Bev- i. 490. (2d ed.)
THE COMPANY'S RECORDS.
CHAPTER III.
RECORDS OF THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY IN NEW-ENGLAND.
[Prefixed to the Records of the Company are certain memoranda, in the handwriting of Washbume, their first Secretary, of articles to be procured and sent over for the use of the Plantation at Naumkeak, and of the new Colony to be planted in Massachusetts Bay. They are preserved here as antique curiosities, showing us how the planters were furnished with arms, clothing, and provisions.]
[To be] cast in to the ballast of the ships .^ chap.
2 loads of chalk, 10 thousand of bricks,^ and 5 chaldron of sea-coals,^
Nails,
Iron, 1 ton.
Steel, 2 fagots,^
Lead, 1 fodder,*
* The names of these ships were * A term for a parcel of small the Talbot, the George, the Lion's bars of steel, weighmg 120 pounds. Whelp, the Four Sisters, and the * From the Dutch Juder^ a cart^ Mayflower. They carried out Hig- load. It relates properly to lead, ginson and his company, and sailed and Ray says it signifies a certain in April and May. weight, viz. eiffht pigs, or 1600
• To build furnaces, fire-places, pounds. But Bailey and Dyche and chimneys. both say that the weight varies in
' For the use of the smiths. different places, in London 1956
1699.
40
APPAREL FOR THE COLONISTS.
CHAP.
1629.
Red lead, 1 barrel, Salt, sail-cloth, copper.
Francis Johnson.* Raphe White, at corner of Philpot Lane, for aqua-vitae.^
Apparel for 100 Men.
400 pair of shoes,
300 pair of stockings, whereof 200 pair Irish, about
13c?. a pair, (Mr. Deputy,)^ 100 pair of knit
stockings, about 2^. Ad. a pair, (Mr. Treasurer,)^
10 dozen pair of Norwich garters,^ about 5^. a
dozen pair,
400 shirts,
200 suits doublet and hose, of leather, lined with oiled-skin leather, the hose and doublet with hooks and eyes,
100 suits of Northern dussens, or Hampshire ker- seys, lined, the hose with skins, the doublets with linen of Guildford,* or Gedlyman serges, 2s. lOrf. to 35. a yard, 4^ to 5 yards a suit, at the George, in Southwark,
400 bands,^ 300 plain falling bands, 100 [ ^ ] bands.
pounds, at Newcastle 2100, in Der- byshire 2400, sometimes more, sometimes less, accordino^ to the custom of the several liberties where it is melted or made. See Tyr- whitt's Chaucer, v. 94, and Ray's North Country Words, p. 31.
* These are memoranda in the margin.
■ 1 suppose the Deputy Governor and the Treasurer were to provide these arti les.
' At this time the stockings were gartered beneath the knee, and the garters fastened in a large bow or
rosette on one side. See the History of British Costume, in the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, xxiv. 275.
^ A town in Surrey, formerly cel- ebrated for its manufactures,
* The great stiff ruffs of Queen Elizabeth's time were exchanged in James's reign for wide horizontal collars and broad falling bands. To these succeeded the small Geneva bands, like those worn by clergy- men, which have since been super- seded by stocks and neckcloths. See British Costume, pp. 274, 306.
« lUegible.
APPAREL FOR THE COLONISTS. 41
100 waistcoats of green cotton, bound about with chap.
red tapfe,
100 leather girdles,^ ^««»-
100 Monmouth caps,^ about 2s. apiece, 100 black hats, lined in the brims with leather, 500 red knit caps, milled, about 5d. apiece, 200 dozen hooks and eyes, and small hooks and eyes for mandilions, 16 dozen of gloves, whereof 12 dozen calf's leath- er, and 2 dozen tanned sheep's leather, and 2 dozen kid.
Ells sheen^ linen for handkerchers, J^ a deker^ of leather, of the best bend* leather, 50 mats to lie under 50 beds aboard ship, 50 rugs,
50 pair of blankets, of Welsh cotton, 100 pair of sheets,
50 bed-ticks and bolsters, with wool to put them in, Scotch ticking.
Linen for towels, and tablecloths, and napkins. Sea chests, 3 c. Peppering hops, and 1 c. particular.
16th March. Agreed the apparel to be 100 man- Mr. dilions,® lined with white cotton, 12d. a yard,
* Girdles pcrfonned the office of * Fair, shining.
our modern suspenders. * A dicker is a term used by the
• " The best caps/' sa3r8 Fuller, tanners to express a quantity con- ** were formerly made at Monmouth, sisting of ten hides. See Bailey where the Cappers* Chapel doth and Dyche.
still remain.'' They w^ere formerly * Sole leather, cut from the best much worn, particularly by soldiers, part of the hide — a technical " Wearing leeks in their Monmouth word, still in use among leather- caps." dealers. Shakspeare's Hen. V. Act iv. Sc. 7, * A soldier's garment, a loose Fuller's Worthies, iL 116, (4to ed.) cassock or sack covering the whole
42
SUPPLIES FOR THE COLONY.
CHAP, breeches and waistcoats, and 100 leather suits,
in. . .
^ — ^ doublets and breeches, of oiled leathfer, 100 pair
1699. breeches of leather,^ drawers to serve to wear with
both their other suits.
[Send to] Sherbrooke by to-morrow in the after- noon.
Proclamation to hinder the selling guns and gun- powder.
[Nujmber of cattle,
[Have] Blood here to help them.^
To provide to send for New- England.
Ministers,
Patent, under seal,
A Seal,^
Men skilful in making of pitch, of salt.
Vine-planters,
Wheat, rye, barley, oats, a hogshead of each in the ear ; beans, pease, stones of all sorts of fruits, as peaches, plums, filberts, cherries ; pear, apple, quince kernels ; pomegranates, woad seed, safiron heads, liquorice seed, (roots sent, and madder roots,) potatoes, hop roots, hemp seed, flax seed, against
of the body, and usually without sleeves.
" Thus put he on his arming truss, fair
shoes upon his feet, About him a mandiiion, that did with
buttons meet, Of purple, large, and full of folds,
curVd with a warmful nap, A garment that 'gainst cold m nights
did soldiers use to wrap/'
Chapman's Homer, Iliad, book x. ; Hist, of British Costume, p. 267.
> On account of its durability, leather was for a long time the ordi- nary material for clothing among the common people of England. The leather breeches have come down to our own day.
• Memoranda, written in the mar- gin-
' This seal was of silver, as will
be seen hereafter.
CANNON FOR THE COLONY. 43
winter, coneys, currant plants, tame turkeys, shoes, chap.
linen cloth, woollen cloth, pewter bottles, of pints
and quarts, brass ladles and spoons, copper kettles, ^®^^- of [illegible] making, without bars of iron about them, oiled skins of leather, madder seeds.
23d February, 1628.
This day, delivered a warrant to Mr. George Har- Feb. wood. Treasurer, to pay [Mr.] Barnard Michel 1 one hundred pounds, in part of the freight of the [Abi- gail,] Henry Gauden, master, from Weymouth to Nahumkeke, the goods shipped [per bill] of lading dated 20th June last, being per bill of lading 46 J tons [of goods,] beside the charge of Captain John Endecott, his wife, and [blank] persons of his com- pany, their passage and diet.
26/A. William Sherman hath liberty for fourteen 96. days to fetch his vines in Northampton, near [torn oflF] ferry.
26/A February, 1628.
Necessaries conceived meet for our intended voyage for New-England, to be prepared forthwith.
For our five pieces of ordnance, long since bought and paid for, Mr. John Humphry is entreated and doth promise forthwith to cause them to be delivered to Samuel Sharpe, who is to take care for having fit carriages made for them.
Arras for 100 Men.
3 dnums, to each two pairof heads, 2 ensigns.
44 ARMS FOR THE COLONY.
CHAP. 2 partisans,^ for captain and leftenant, — -^ 3 halberds,^ for three sergeants, 1629. go bastard muskets, with snaphances,^ four foot in 26*. the barrel, without rests,
6 long fowling-pieces, with musket bore, six and
a half foot long, 4 long fowling-pieces, with bastard musket bore,
five and a half foot long, 10 full muskets, four foot barrel, with matchcocks
and rests,^ 90 bandoleers,^ for the muskets, each with a bullet
bag, 10 horn flasks, for the long fowling-pieces, to hold
two pound apiece, and 100 swords, and belts, 60 corselets,^ and 60 pikes, 20 half pikes,
* A variety of the pike or spon- torn a sharp iron ferule, for sticking
toon, introduced in Henry the it into the ground. Meyrick. iii. 41.
Eighth's tinie. Its blade was * Bandoleers were little cylindri-
broader than that of the pike, and cal wooden boxes, covered with
that part of it which was near the leather, each containing one charge
staff was fonned in the manner of a of powder ^or a musket, to facilitate
crescent. It is still carried by the the loading of the piece. Twelve of
yeomen of the guard. them were suspended to a belt ^om
»« cu-ii f .1 . •. -.u .• Oil over the left shoulder; and at the
" Shall 1 strike at It with my partisan 7" , ^ - . , . ^l • u* u-
' ^ bottom of the belt, at the nght hip,
Shakspeare, Hamlet, Act i. Sc. 1 ; were hung the bullet bag and prim- See Meyrick, ii. 285. ing box. These little ca.ses were ■ A weapon consisting of a staff sometimes made of tin. They were about five feet long, with a steel used till the close of the I7th centu- bead, in the ehape of an axe, for- ry, when they were superseded by merly carried by the seigeants of the cartridge and cartridge-box. foot and artillery. See Crabbe's See Meyrick, iii. 77, British Co&- Technological Dictionary. tume, p. 273.
* The snaphanc ' was the Dutch • **A kind of armour chiefly worn name for the firelock. It diflfered by pikemen. Strictly speaking, the from the modem firelock in the ham- word corselet means only that part mer not forming the covering of the which covered the corse or body ; pan. See Meyrick, iii. lOI. but was generally used to express
* On account of the heavinees of the whole suit, under the term of a the long matchlock muskets, a rest corselet furnished or complete, which was used, which was a stafl^, on the included the head-piece anjl gorget, top of which was a kind of fork to the back and breas s, with skirts of receive the musket, and at the hot- iron, called tasses, hanging over the
ARMS FOR THE COLONY. 45
12 barrels powder, \ ^ ^'^'^^^ ^°^ *^^ ^°^*' %*''•
(4 " for small shot, -^-^
Shot, 1 lb. to a bandoleer, i«29.
8 pieces of land ordnance for the fort, whereof 5 |^' already provided,
namelv ^ ^ demi-culverins,^ 30 cwt. apiece, ( 3 sakers,^ each weighing 25 cwt.
to provide \ ^ ^^^^^ culverin,^ as long as may be, I 2 small pieces, iron drakes. For great shot, a fit proportion to the ordnance, A seine, being a net to fish with.
For the Talboi^^ if 100 passengers and 35 mariners ^ three months^ the mariners accounted double.^
45 tuns beer, whereof 6 tuns 4^. ) u
or. r. I ^eer,
39 tuns 05. )
Malaga and Canary casks, 16$. a tun,
6 tuns of water,
12 m. of bread, after | c. to a man,
22 hogsheads of beef,
40 bushels pease, a peck a man the voyage,
20 bushels oatmeal,
4 c. haberdine,^ 62 cople each c. — (each cople
makes 1 1 pound) — and half a pound a man per
day,
8 dozen pounds of candles,
thighs." Meyhck's Ancient Ar- ' A cannon 5i inches in the bore, mour, iii. 21 . T^eight of metal 4500 pounds, weight
* A piece of cannon four inches of shot 17^ pounds.
in diameter in the bore, and carrying * The Talbot was a ship of 300
a ball of di pounds. See Meyrick, tons.
iii. 65, 70. ^ Because they must be supplied
• A smaller piece of artillery, 3i with provisions for the return voyage, inches in the bore, weight of shot ' Salted cod-fish.
5i| pounds. Meyrick, ibid.
46 STORES FOR THE SHIPS.
CHAP. 2 tierces of beer vinegar,
1^ bushels mustard seed,
1629. 20 gallons oil Gallipoli,* or Majorca, two quarts a 26. nian,
2 firkins of soap,
2 rundlets Spanish wine, 10 gallons apiece, 4 thousand of billets,^ 10 firkins of butter, 10 c. of cheese, 20 gallons aqua-vitae.
26th February, 1628.
Agreed with John Hewson to make eight pair of welt neat's leather shoes, crossed on the outside with a seam, to be substantial, good over leather, of the best, and two soles, the inner sole of good neat's leather, and the outer sole of tallowed backs,^ to be two pair of ten inches, two pair of eleven inches, two pair of twelve inches, and two pair of thirteen inches' size.
The proportions we intend is,
1 of 10 inches, '
3 of 11 inches,
3 of 12 inches,
1 of 13 inches,^
2 of 8 inches, )
[2s Ad 2 of 9 inches, )
And he to refer it to the Company whether to allow
Id. per pair more.
* Gallipoli, a sea-port in the king- * Of firewood, to be used on ship-
dom of Naples, on the Gulf of Ta- board.
ranto, is the chief mart of the oil ^ Hides, dressed with tallow in- produced in this region. stead of oil.
2s. Id.
MONOPOLY OF SALT. 47
2d March. 1628. Present, chap.
* ' UL
The Governor, Mr. Adams, ^^-^^
The Dbpitty, Mr. Nobll, 1629.
Mr. Wright, Mr. Whetcombe, March
2.
Mr. Vassall, Mr. Perrt,
Mr. Harwood, Mr. Huson.*
Mr. CotTLsoN,
This day James Edmonds, a sailor, fisher, and a cooper, was propounded to serve the Company ; as also Sydrach Miller, a cooper and a cleaver ; who demanding £45 for him and his man the first year, <£50 a year the second and third year, and Ed- monds's demands being £10 the first year, <£15 the second, and ^20 the third year, both held too dear for the Company to be at charges withal.
Also, for Mr. Malbon, it was propounded, he hav- ing skill in iron works, and willing to put in <£25 in stock, it should be accepted as £50, and his charges to be borne out and home from New-England ; and upon his return, and report what may be done about iron works, consideration to be had of proceeding therein accordingly, and further recompense, if there be cause to entertain him.
Touching making of salt, it was conceived fit that commodity should be reserved for the general stock's benefit ; yet with this proviso, that any planter or brother of the Company should have as much as he might any way have occasion to make use of, at as cheap rate as themselves could make it ; provided,
* ** This is the first account of those offices by virtue of their pa- names set down at their meeting, tent from the New-England Coun- in the Massachusetts Court Records, cil." Prince, p. 254. What precedes By Governor is doubtless meant Mr. seems to be the notes and memoran- Cradock, and by Deputy Grovemor, da of Washburne, the Secretary. Mr. Goff ; who seem to be chose to
48 THE BOSTON MEN,
CHAP, if the Company be not sufficiently provided for them- -^ — ^ selves, then particular men may have liberty to make 1629. {qy their own expense and use any way, but not to ^ transport nor sell.
Touching John Oldham,^ the Governor w^as order- ed to confer with him upon any indifferent course that might not be prejudicial to the Company.
Also, it being propounded by Mr. Coney ,^ in behalf of the Boston men,^ (whereof divers had promised,
' Oldham, after his expulsion from annals, we are indebted to Mr. Sa- Plymouth with Lyford in the sum- vage's filial pilgrimage to our fathei^ msr of 1624, retired, as we have land, the fruits of which he has em- seen, to Nantasket. Returning in bodied in his deliffhlful Gleanings the spring of 1025, without leave, for New-England History, contained he was ejected a second time from in Mass. Hist. Coll. xxviii. 243-348. the colony in a summary and igno- See particularly page 343. minious manner. After declining, ^ It is gratifying to find " the Bos- the same year, the invitation of the ton men" so early engaged in the Dorchester adventurers, to trade for work. ** Lincolnshire," says Hutch- them with the Indians, he sailed in inson, ** contributed greatly, and 1626 for Virginia, and on his voyage more of our principal families derive being delivered from extreme dan- their origin from thence than from ger, hs becomes penitent, and ''*■ after any part of England, unless the city carries himself fairly to us," says of London be an exception." Among Bradford, ** and we give him liberty the prominent Boston men, who to come and converse with us when came to tliis country, besides Cotton, he pleases." After this reconcilia- were Thomas Dudley, Richard Bel- tion, so great was the confidence of lingham, John Leverett, with hiB the Plymouth people in him, that in father Thomas, William Codding- June, 1628, when Morton, the rioter ton,and AthertonHough. The three of Merry Mount, was arrested and first named were governors of Mas- sent prisoner to P^ngland, he was sachusctts, and Coddington was the conmiitted to Oldham s custody. At father and governor f)f Rhode Island, this time he seems to be prosecuting Hough was mayor of the borough in his own private affairs. See Prince's 1628, Bellingham was recorder from Annals, pp. 231, 230, 252 ; Morton's 1625 to 1633, and Thomas Leverett Memorial, p. 120 ; Mass. Hist. Coll. was an alderman. The Rev. Sam- iii. 63. uel Whiting, who had been minister
• lliis was probably the "Mr. of Skirbeck church, less than a mile Thomas Cony," who at an as.sembly from Boston, and was afterwards held at the Guildhall of the borough the minister of Lynn, in our Colony, of Boston on the 22d July, 1633, had a father and brother both may- communicated to the mayor and bur- ors of the borough. Under these ges.sea an intimation from the Bishop circumstances it is not surprising of Lincoln, that Mr. John Cotton, that the name of the native place of late vicar of Boston, had resigned so many of the prominent colonists his vicarage on the 8th of that month, should have been given to the pen- For this as well as for many other insula which even then to their im- new facts illustrative of out early agination *^ presaged some somptu-
THEIR PROPOSITION ACCEPTED. 49
though not m our book underwritten, to adventure chap.
^400 in the joint stock,) that now their desire was
that ten persons of them might underwrite JE25' a ^®^^* man in the joint stock, they withal promising with g these ships to adventure in their particular above £250 more, and to provide able men to send over for managing the business ; which, though it be pre- judicial to the general stock, by the abatement of so much money thereout, yet appearing really to con- duce more to the good of the Plantation, which is most desired, it was condescended unto.
<ms city." It was probably for this Address at Plymouth, Dec. 22,1845, reason, and not for the one common- '* there is not a finer than the church ly assigned, viz. out of respect for at Hoston, almost acalhedralinsize, Mr. Cotton, who did not come over and unsurpassed by any of its class till three years afterwards, that at a in the beauty of its architecture. I Court of Assistants held at Charles- went many miles out of my way to town, Sept. 7, 163Q, it was** ordered behold this venerable pile; and that IVimoimtain shall be called while I mused beneath its arches, Boston." See Hutchinson's Hist, ascended its grand tower, and stood of Mass. i. 18, Mass. Hist. Coll. before the altar at which Cotton zxviii. 343, and Snow's History of ministered, I gained new impressions Boston, pp. 32, 33. of the Christian heroism, the spirit- Boston is a borough town in Lin- ual grandeur of the men, who tum- colnshire, 116 miles north of Lon- ed their backs on all this sacred don, and 36 south-east of Lincoln, grandeur and beauty, as well as on situated on both sides of the river all the comforts and delights of civ- Witham, five miles from the sea. ilized life, that they might freely It sends two members to Parliament, worship God in cabins and garrets, The parish church in which Cotton under exile and penury in the old preached, built in 1309, is 382 feet world, and in face of the gaunt ter- in length by 99 in breadth, and the rors of this unsubdued wilderness." tower is 262 feet in height, and re- See Thompson's Hist of Boston, in sembles that of tlie cathedral at I-.incolnshire, and the Parliamentary Antwerp. It forms a conspicuous Gazetteer of England, i. 229. landmark for sailors, being visible at * Prince, quoting this record, page sea for forty miles. " Among the 254, says, JL'IO a man — one of the Darish churches of England,'' said very few errors that I have detected Edward Everett, in his beautiful in the accurate Annalist.
60
AGREEMENT WITH SAMUEL SHARPE.
CHAP, UI.
1629. March
3.
The 3d March, 1628. Present,
The Governor, Mr. Noell,
Mr. Depitty, Mr. Wright,
Mr. Sharpe.
It was at present debated how some good course might be settled for the division of the lands, and that all men intending to go in person or to send over, might underwrite and seal some instrument to be made, whereby every man to be tied to such Or- ders as shall be agreed upon here ; and that a copy of this agreement be sent to Dorchester,^ for all men to underwrite and seal, that intend to take their passage in the Lion's Whelp,^ or else order to be taken that the ships proceed without them.
Mr. Samuel Sharpe, with whom there hath been an agreement made in the behalf of the Company to give him £10 per year for three years, to have the oversight of the ordnance to be planted in the fort to be built upon the Plantation, and what else may concern artillery business to give his advice in ; but for all other employments was left to be entertained by any particular brethren of the Company, who for other occasions had entertained him already, and held not fit to be at further charge in that kind. The said Sharpe is also entertained to oversee the [servants] and employments of certain particular'
* Dorchester, which may be con- sidered the cradle of the Massachu- setts Colony, is a borough town in Dorsetshire, on the southern bank of the river Frome, 120 miles from London, and having in 1831 a popu- lation of 3033. It is under tlie gov- ernment of a mayor, and sends two Doembers to Parliament Trinity
Church, in which patriarch White preached, was pulled down in 1824, and a new church erected on the site. See Pari. Gaz. of England, i. 602.
• The Lion's Whelp was a vessel of 120 tons.
' Sharpe was Cradock's agent, as will be seen hereafter.
SIR WILLIAM BRERETON.
51
men of the Company. But for the general,^ present- chap.
ed a bill for three drums and other particulars,
amounting to five pounds, nineteen shillings ; which 1^39. the Treasurer hath order to pay.
The 5th March, 1628. Present, M«ch
The Govbrnor, Mr. Wright,
Mr. Deputy, Mr. Nowell,
Mr. Treasurer, Mr. White,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Whetcombe. Capt. Venn,
A new proposition being made in the behalf of Mr. Oldham to be entertained by this Company, it was deferred to further consideration.
Also, John Washburne being propounded for Sec- retary to the Company, it was conceived fit to en- tertain him, but deferred till another [time.]
A proposition being made by Sir William Brere- ton^ to the Governor, of a patent granted him of
^ The general stock, the Compa- into the main land northeast from
ny's concern. the said cape Nahani." Now the
• Captain Robert Gorges, son of grant made by the Plymouth Coun-
Sir Ferdinando, obtained a patent cil to the Massachusetts Company,
from the Council of Plymouth, dated March 19, 1628, covered this same
Dec. 13, 1622, ten miles in breadth territory, and also the tract granted
and thirty miles into the land, on the by John Gorges to John Oldham ;
northeast side of Massachusetts Bay. and hence the disputes of the Com-
On the death of Robert, his patent pany with Brereton and Oldham. It
descended to his brother John, who appears that Brereton sent over sev-
by a deed dated Jan 10, 1629, con- eral families and servants, who poe-
''eyed to Sir William Brereton, of sesscd and improved large tracts of
Handforth, in the county of Chester, the said land, and made several
Bart., and his heirs, '^ all the land in leases. He seems to have been
breadth lying from the east side of preparing to come over himself, but
Charles river to the easterly part of on the breaking out of the civil wars,
the cape called Nahant, and all the taking the popular side, he found
lands Ijring in length twenty miles employment in the Long Parliament
northeast into the main land from and the army, and was at the head
the mouth of the said Charles river, of the forces that reduced Chester,
lying also in length twenty miles See Mass. Aichives, Landa, i. 1 ;
52 JOHN PRATT, THE SURGEON.
CHAP, lands in the Massachusetts Bay by Mr. John Gorges, ^— -^^ and that if this Company would make him a promise, 1629. gQ g^g jjg consent to underwrite with this Company, 5. it might not be prejudicial to his patent, it was re- solved this answer should be given him, namely, that if he please to underwrite with us without any con- dition whatsoever, but to come in as all other adventurers do, he should be welcome upon the same conditions that we have.
A proposition being made to entertain a surgeon for the Plantation, Mr. [blank] Pratt ^ was propound- ed as an able man, upon these conditions, namely, that £40 should be allowed him, viz. for his chest j625, the rest for his own salary for the first year, provided he continues three years, the Company to be at charge of transporting his wife and a [servant,] and to have <£20 a year for the other two years, and to build him a house at the Company's charge, and to allot him a hundred acres of ground. But if he stay but one year, then the Company to be at charge
Hutchinson's Mass. i. 6, 18 ; Haz- says, " This man was ahove sixty ard's State Papers, i. 152 ; and Mass. years old, an experienced surgeon, Hist. Coll. xxvi. 75. who had lived in New-England * Pratt's name was John. He many years, and was of the first settled at Newtown, or Cambridge, church at Cambridge in Mr. Hook- but removed to Connecticut in 1636. er's tune, and had good practice, In Nov. 1635, he was cited before and wanted nothing. But he had the Court of Assistants for a letter been long discontented, bi'cause his which he had written to England, employment was not so profitable to "wherein he raised an ill report of himself as ho desired, and it is like this country." He made an equivo- he feared lest be should fall into cal and rather unsatisfactory apolo- want in his old age, and therefore ffv, which is printed at length in he would needs go back into Eng- Mass. Hist. Coll. xvii. li;6. In land, (for surgeons were then m Nov. 1644, he sailed from Boston great request there by occasion of the with his wife, for Malaga, in a new wars,) but God took him away child- ship of 400 tons, which was lost on less.-' See Savage's Winthrop, i. the coast of Spain, and they were 173, ii. 239, and Hutchinson's Col- both drowned. Governor Winthrop lection of Papers, p. 106.
THOMAS GRAVES, THE ENGINEER. 63
of his bringing back for England, and he to leave his chap. servant and the chest for the Company's service. >^--~
Agreed with Robert Morley, servant to Mr. An- 1629. drew Mathewes, late barber surgeon, to serve the ^^^ Company in New-England, for three years ; the first year to have 20 nobles,^ the second year [30, and the third] year 20 marks ,^ to serve as a barber and a surgeon, on all occasions belonging to his calling to any of this Company that are planters, or their servants ; and for his chest and all in it, whereof he hath given an inventory, [if, on the] sight of it, it be approved, five pounds is [to be allowed] and paid to him for it, and the same to be fo[rthwith paid.]
The business concerning the division of the lands, propounded the 3d of this month, was again taken into consideration, and it was resolved that Captain Waller, Captain Venn, Mr. Eaton, and Mr. Adams, Mr. Whetcombe, Mr. Wright, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Treasurer, with the Governor, and Deputy, shall consider seriously of the business, calling to their assistance Mr. Graves, Mr. Sharpe, or any other, and to set down in writing what course they con- ceive fit to be held herein, whereby an equality may be held, to avoid all contention 'twixt the adventur- ers ; and Tuesday morning appointed for the com- mittees to meet about this business.
[At] this Court also Mr. Thomas Graves was pro- pounded to go over with the ships now bound for New-England, to have his charges borne out and home ; and being a man experienced in iron works,
^ A noble is an old English coin, 135. 4d., just twice as much as the worth about 65. Sd. noble.
' A nnark is an old coin, wortli
64 ARMS FOR THE COLONY.
CHAP, in salt works, in measuring and surveying of lands,
and in fortifications, &c., in lead, copper, and alum
1629. mines, having a charge of wife, five children, a man 5. and maid-servant ; after some conference with him, he tendering his employment, to go and return with one of our ships, to the Company's discretion for his salary in that time, it was thought fit that he should consider 'twixt this and to-morrow what to demand in case he do return presently with the ships he should take his passage in ; and what his demands would be if the Company should continue him there, and be at charges of the transportation of his wife and family thither in their next ships, if he take liking to continue in New-England.
Mr. John Malbon^ being also desired to be here, after conference had with him touching the proposi- tion made in his behalf the 2d of this month, he was wished to consider what further proposition he would make, that the Company might take it into consid- eration.
The 6th March, 1628.
6. Agreed with Mr. Thomas Steevens, armourer in Buttolph Lane, for twenty arms, viz. corselet, breast, back, culet, gorget, tasses,^ and head-piece^ to each, varnished all black, with leathers and buckles, at
* Not Oldham, as Felt has it in plates, fastened to the cuirass with his Annals, i. 64. hooks, and reaching down to the
• Defensive armour : the culet, or middle of the thigh. See Meyrick's guarde de reins, for the lower part of Ancient Armour, and Grose's Mili- the body, the gorget for the neck, tary Antiquities.
and the tasses for the front part of ' The head-pieces were probably
the thighs. These last were append- morions, circular scull-caps, with a
ages to the ancient corselet, consists rim round them, ing of skirts, made of overlapping
WASHBURN CHOSEN SECRETARY. 55
175w each armour, excepting four which are to be chap.
with close head-pieces, and these four armours at
24s. apiece, to be delivered all by the 20th of this i®^®-
month ; whereof one left now for a sample, e.
Agreed with John Wise, shoemaker in Mark Lane,
for
1 dozen pair shoes, of tens ^
3 dozen " " of 11
3 dozen - - of 12 [> at 2^. 7d. a pan-,
1 dozen pair of 13 J
1 dozen pair of 8
1 dozen pair of 9
10 dozen pair, to be delivered by the 20th of this month.
> at 2^. 5d. a pair,
The 9th March, 1628.
This day John Washborne is entertained for Secre- 9. tary for one whole year, to enter the courts, to keep the Company's accounts, to make warrant for all moneys to be brought in or paid out, and to give no- tice at every meeting of such as are backward in pay- ment of their subscriptions ; as also for all provision to be made ready, to call upon such as have the charge thereof, whereby the ships now bound for New-England^ may be despatched by the 25th of this month, at furthest. His salary for this year is to be [torn oflF], he, in the premises and the office of a Sec- retary, to perform [his] faithful, diligent and true en- deavours, whereunto [he] doth fully [consent and] agree. John Washborne.*^
* With Higginson's company. * The original is Washburne's own
signature.
56 PROVISIONS FOR THE COLONY.
CHAP. Asjreed with John Gace, of London, turner, for
III. 7 7 7
-^~ forty bandoleers,* to be made of neat's leather, broad 1^29. girdles, each with twelve charges, whereof one a 9. priming [box, the boxes] of wood, covered with black leather, at 2s. apiece, to be delivered next meeting, the boxes to be for bastard musket size, excepting ten for full musket size ; and those to be marked M, the other for bastard muskets, B.
Moreover, agreed with him for ten dozen of shov- els and spades, at eighteen shillings the dozen, of three several sizes, whereof the smallest proportion to be of the smallest sizes ; and three spades and three shovels left here for samples.
This day these things were ordered to be provided by these men, for 120 men's provisions.
n/Tr. •pv.^rv.oo u^^ro^r. S ^^O flitchcs bacou, Mr. 1 nomas Jlewson, i ^^ „ .,
(120 gallons sweet oil, ^ 150 quarters of meal, 30 quarters of pease, at 26^. ^ ^ J ^^ q'rs of groats, at 45. full dried,
Mr. Deputy, ^ 20 firkins of butter, 175.
60 quarters of malt, 175. 6d. 30 c. of cheese.
10. This 10th March, 1628, I, Thomas Graves, of Gravesend, in the county of Kent, gent., and by my profession skilful and experienced in the discovery and finding out of iron mines, as also of lead, copper, mineral salt, and alum,^ in fortifications of all sorts, according to the nature of the .place, in surveying of
' See note on page 44. ing the Records. The word is now
' Alum. So says Prince, quot- obliterated in the MS.
GRAVES'S CONTRACT. 57
buildings and of lands, and in measuring of lands, in chap. describing a country by map, in leading of water >^ — ^ [courses] to proper uses for mills or other uses, in 1^29. finding out all sorts of limestones and materials for ^^ buildings, in manufacturing, &c., have this present day agreed to serve the New-England Company, and in their employment to take my passage for New- England, in such ship as they shall appoint me ; and during my stay there, according to the conditions hereafter expressed, to do my true and uttermost endeavour, in all or any the particulars above men- tioned, for the most good and benefit of the said Company ; and I do hereby faithfully promise to do my uttermost endeavour for the discovery of aught that may be beneficial to the Company, and not to conceal aught from them whom I shall be enjoined to reveal the same unto, that may tend or conduce to the good and profit of the said Company. Neither that I shall ^ or disclose aught that they shall enjoin me to keep secret, to any man whomsoever ; but in all things to bend my uttermost skill and ability to do the Company the best, true, and faithful service I may or can perform.
In consideration whereof, the said Company are to bear all my charges by sea into New-England, toge- ther with my charges during my stay in their em- ployments in New-England, and my charges at sea in my return home, apparel only excepted, which is to be always at my own charge. And it is agreed moreover, that from the time of my first landing in New-England, to the time of the return from thence
* A word seems to have been accidentally omitted.
58 GRAVES's CONTRACT.
CHAP, for London of such ships as shall be sent from Lon- III. ^
^^ — don next after Michaelmas next, and in which I shall ^^^^' take my passage for London, that there shall be al- io, lowed unto me five pounds for each month that I shall continue in New-England, as aforesaid, for my salary or wages, but nothing to be allowed [for] my charges during the time of my being at sea outward and home ; with this further proviso, that in case the said Company, [after I] shall have continued six or eight months in the country [aforesaid], shall desire my continuance in [the same for] three years from the time of my f [irst arrival], I will and do hereby [torn off] thereof. [And the said Company, in case it be] their intent to retain me in their service to the end of three years, do hereby promise to be at the charge of the transportation into New-England of my wife, five children, a boy and a maid servant, and withal to build me a convenient house for myself and my said family at their charges, and thereto to assign me one hundred acres of land, and to have part thereof planted at the Company's charge, against the coming of my family, whereby they may subsist ; till I shall be possessed of my family, to perform the same, or otherwise to allow me some competency of necessary victuals for the subsistence of me and my family till the next season of planting and reaping after their arrival. And it is further agreed, that if I continue in the Company's employments for three years, the payment of five pounds per month for my salary is to be utterly void ; and my yearly allowance in money, from the time of my first arrival in New- England to the end of three years, to be after the rate of fifty pounds by the year ; provided always,
GRAV£S'S CONTRACT. 59
that my said family going over as aforesaid, there chap. shall be such a proportion of land allowed me for ^ — ^ them hereafter as if they had now taken their passage i«39. with me in the ships now bound for New-England. |o. And for further recompense for my true and faithful endeavours in the said Company's employments, (which I do promise, with God's assistance, to per- form truly and sincerely, to the best of my ability and understanding,) I do and shall refer myself wholly to the Company's discretion, as my true en- deavours and the success thereof, through God's mercy, shall encourage them to do.
In witness of all the premises, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this present 10th day of March, anno 1628, in London.
Tho. Graves.^ [Seal.] Witness hereunto,
George Harwood,
John Venn.
The 10th March, 1628. Present,
The Governor, Mr. Eaton,
Mr. Deputy, Mr. Adams,
Capt. Venn, Mr. Whetcomb,
Mr. Treasurer, Me. Hutchins. Mr. Vassall,
A proposition was made this day by Samuel Sharpe, who was formerly entertained to do his endeavour in the Company's employments concerning artillery business, (as appeareth the 3d of this month,) that all or the better part of his salary might be paid him
' GiaTes's ligimturB is in his own handwriting.
60 CHARGES OF THE PATENT.
CHAP, now, to provide him apparel withal; and if he should -^-^ happen to die before he had deserved it, his said ap- ^^^^' parel should satisfy it. Upon debate whereof, it was 10, thought fit that twenty pounds should be paid him ; and this to be the Treasurer's warrant for payment thereof, upon his salary of j£10 a year, for three years ; I say, twenty pounds, to be paid him pre- sently.
This day being appointed to take into considera- tion touching the division of the lands in New-Eng- land, where our first Plantation shall be, it was, after much debate, thought fit to refer this business to the Governor, and a committee to be chosen to that pur- pose to assist him ; and whatsoever they shall do herein, that to stand for good.
This day order was given to the Treasurer for pay- ment of twenty pounds more to Mr. John Humphry towards charges of our patent ;^ and this to be his warrant for the payment thereof.
Captain Venn,^ Mr. Eaton, Mr. Samuel Vassall, and Mr. Nowell, and Mr. Whetcombe, or any three of them, are intreated once more to confer with Mr.
* The patent had been obtained, as " leadin^r the city after him in se- by the solicitation of Lord Viscount ditious remonstrances." Hutchin- Dorchester, March 4, 1629. Chal- son says, ** he was in the design mers prints a copy of the docket of from the beginning, and intended to the grant to Sir Henry Rose well and have removed, but never did. Upon others, and remarks, ** The follow- the change of affairs in England, he ing paper demonstrates that what made a figure there, being one of the was so strongly asserted during the members for the city in the Long reign of Charles II., to prove that Parliament, and among the most ac- the Charter was surreptitiously ob- tive in the opposition to the Court, tained, is unjust.'* See page 29, and was one of the King's judges." and Chalmers's Political Annals, He was one of the ten, rym and pp. 136, 117, 148. Ilambden being two others, whom
• Mr. John Venn, commonly call- Charles charged with high treason, ed Captain or Colonel Venn, was a See Clarendon's Hist, of the Rebel- distinguished citizen of London, lion, ii. 10, 91, iii. 618, (Oxford ed. and is commemorated by Clarendon 1826), and Hutchinson's Mass. i. 16.
JOHN AND SAMUEL BROWNE. 61
John Oldham [to see what] accommodation may be chap. made 'twixt the Company and him, that [their differ- >— ^ ences may be accomm]odated. 1629.
12th March, 1628. Present,
Ma. Whetcomb, Mr. Treasxtrer,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Nowell.
John Browne, gent., and Mr. Samuel Browne, of March
• .12
Roxwell, in Essex, [proposing] to take their passage
in the Company's ships for New-England, at their
own charge, and intending to plant there, it is agreed
by these [present,] that for their passage and diet
they shall pay five pounds [each] ; and that for their
encouragement, land shall be allotted to them [there]
as if they had subscribed fifty pounds in the general
stock, [and to have the same] privileges as others
that are in the patent do.
John Browne,
Samuel Browne.^
Richard Claydon,^ aged thirty-four years, or there- abouts, carpenter, who being desirous to transport himself, his wife, one daughter of [torn off] years old, his sister of fourteen years old, his brother Bar- naby C[laydon,] aged twenty-three years, and his brother-in-law Thomas Hanscombe, aged [torn off], for New-England, in the Company's ships, it is pro- mised [this] day, that he being able to furnish £40 towards the charges of him and his, what shall be
* These signatures are in their that Claydon was of Bedfordshire , own handwriting. parish oi Sutton.
' It appears from a marginal note,
62 CLOTHING FOR THE COLONY.
CHAP, wanting the Company will [furnish] ; upon this con-
dition, that upon their arrival in New-England, what
^®^®- he shall be indebted to the Company shall be paid 12. by the labor of himself, and his two servants or bro- thers aforesaid, allowing them all three 35. the day for so long time [until] they have paid this debt, and in that time finding [these] three persons diet at the Company's charge, and whilst [he is] earning out this debt to instruct any of the Company's ser- vants in the trade of a plough wright. And there is land to be [allotted] to him and his, as is usual, by the Company's orders, to those that transport them- selves. Written this 12th March, 1628.
Richard Claydon.* Cannot go this voyage.
The 16th March, 1628.
16. Bespoken of Mr. Durbridge, at 2*. Id. a pair, 6 dozen pair of shoes, to be delivered this week, viz.
(4 pair delivered.)
1 dozen pair of tens,
2 dozen pair of 1 1 , 2 of 12, 1 dozen pair of 13.
The 16th March, 1628.
Bespoke of Mr. Mayo, at lO^d. per yard for beds and bolsters,
20 bedticks, (Scotch ticking, | broad,) 2tV long, and li yards broad, 11 yards each bed and bolster.
^ Claydon^s signature, and his '* Cannot go this voyage,'' axe in his own handwriting.
PROVISIONS AND ARMS. 63
Bespoke the day abovesaid, of Robert Harret, 8 chap. dozen pair neat's leather shoes, — "^
1 dozen 10,1 , ^ n^ • . u a ^^^^'
at 25. Id. per pair, to be good Blaioh
y liquored neat's leather, ac-
3 dozen 11, 3 dozen 12, 1 dozen 13,^
cordmg to the pattern.
Estimate of 100 men, charge of them and their provi-
sionsj with others noted j
100 men, their charge, <£15 a man . . . <£1500 Freight of the ship Talbot, 5 months, <£80
per month 400 ) ryp'^
Victuals and wages 32 men, £10 a month, 350 5
The Lion's Whelp set to sea 500
20 cows and bulls, £4 apiece . . . 80 ^
10 mares and horses, £6 apiece . . 60 > 610
Charges of these 470 )
JE3360
Agreed with [illegible] Churchill for 100 swords, with [torn out] blades, at 45. 6d. apiece, to have all chapes,^ and 10 short swords, at 2^. apiece, and Po- lonia hilts, at 3^ 4d.j as many as we like, to be de- livered within eight days.
Bought of Felix Boreman, dwelling in Fleet Lane. 14 swords, at 45. 6d apiece 7 ditto, at 3s. apiece } £4 12s. 4 ditto, at 2^. apiece
25 swords.
' Chape is the little thin plate of silver, iron or brass, at the point of the scabbard of a sword.
'64 SUPPLIES FOR THE COLONY.
CHAP. Agreed with Mr. Raphe White, in Philpot Lane,^
for 12 gallons aqua-vitae, 25. 6d. a gallon.
12 sides of bacon, delivered by John Gladwing, at
leT Mr. Goff 's, of 74^ stone, each stone 8 lbs., at 25. 5d. a stone.
1629. March
nth March, 1628.
17. A warrant was made for payment of <£120 to Mr. Nathaniel Wright, for so much paid by him to Mr. Jarvis Kirk, Mr. William Barkley, and Mr. Robert Charlton, for the ship.
Also, to pay for iron and steel.
Also, to pay for buhrs^ to make mill- stones, 110, 25. apiece, bought of Edward Casson, of London, merchant tailor, . . £11 0 0
14 c. of plaster of Paris, 18rf. per c. . 110
And porterage, weighing the plaster, and casting out of the buhrs, 12d. and 23d. . 3 0
jei2 4 0
The 19th of March, 1628.
19^ A warrant was made for payment of twelve pounds and twelve shillings unto Mr. Gawen Helme and Thomas Brickhed for two coppers^ for the Lion's Whelp. I say for i;i2 125. Od.
* See page 40. an iron hoop." This stone abounds
• ** This is a hard, siliceous stone, at Epernay, in France. It has also remarkable for its cellular structure, been discovered within ten or twelve containing always a greater or less miles of Zanesvillc, Ohio, of a qual- number of irregular cavities Ilence ity equal if not superior to the best its surface, however worn and level- French buhr, and in great abun- led, is always rough. This proper- dance. SecBigelow's Technology, ty renders buhrstone an invaluable p. 13, (cd. 18*29,) and Dr. Frederick material for millstones. When it is Ilall's Letters from the West, (1840) not found of sufficient size for this p. 70.
use, small pieces of it are fitted to- ' Boilers, to cook in* gether, cemented, and bound with
FRANCIS HIGGINSON, OF LEICESTER. 66
TAe 19/A of March^ 1628. chap.
^ ^ in.
A warrant was made for payment of eighteen "-"-' pounds unto Mr. [blank] Browne, and is for one bale ^^^^ of French cloth, for the Lion's Whelp. I say j£18. 19.
The 19th of March, 1628.
A warrant was made for payment of twenty-five pounds, fifteen shillings, unto Mr. John White, of
Redding, for thirty quarters of malt, to go in the ships. I say jC25 15^. Od.
23d of March, 1628. Present,^ 23.
The Governor, Mr. Humfrey,
Mr. Deputy, William Vassall,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Whbtcomb,
Mr. Davenport, Mr. Nowell. Capt. Venn,
At this meeting intimation was given by Mr. No- well, by letters from Mr. Isaac Johnson, that one Mr. HiGGEsoN, of Leicester, an able minister, prof- fers to go to our Plantation ; who being approved for a reverend, grave minister, fit for our present occa- sions, it was thought by these present to entreat Mr. John Humfry to ride presently to Leicester,^ and, if Mr. Higgeson may conveniently be had to go this present voyage, that he should deal with him ; first, if his remove firom thence may be without scandal to that people, and approved by the consent of some of the best aflfected among them, with the approbation
> This line, torn off from the top ' Leicester is 07 miles from Lon- of the leaf, is restored from Prince, don. p. 256.
6
66 ARTHUR HILDERSHAM.
CHAP, of Mr. Hildersham,^ of Ashby-de-la-Zouch ; secondly,
that in regard of the shortness of the time, the Com-
I629.pj^jjy conceive it would be best, if he so thought ^^ good, to leave his wife and family till towards Bar- tholomew, for their better accommodation. Yet if it should be held inconvenient, that may be referred to himself to take [his wife and] two children with him ; thirdly, that for his entertainment, the Company [torn off.] *
^prii 30/A April, 1629.3
^^' It is further ordered by these present, that the Governor, the Deputy, and Council aforesaid, or the
* Arthur Hildersham, Malleus He- character and writincfs were held in
reticorum, as he wsis called, Mauler high esteem by the fathers of New-
o/* //erc/ic5, as old Fuller would ren- England. "It is affirmed," says
dier it, was, according to Echard, Hubbard, " that Mr. Hildersham
** a great and shining light of the advised ^fr. Higginson and other
Puritan party, and justly celebrated ministers looking this >vay, to agree
for his singular learning and piety." upon their form of church govem-
He wasbomatStetchworthjinCam- ment before they came away from
bridgeshire, Oct. 6, 1563, and was England." See Fuller's Worthies,
educated at Christ's College, Cam- i. 164, and Church Hist. iii. 370 ;
bridge. In 1593, he was presented Neal's Puritans, ii. 245 ; Brook's
by his kinsman, the Earl of Hunt- Lives of the Puritans, ii. 376-388 ;
ingdon, to the benefice of Ashby-de- Echard 's Hist, of England, p. 451,
la-Zouch, 18 miles from Leicester, (ed. 1720); Nichols's Hist, of Leices-
where he preached 43 years. In tershire, ii. 622 ; Mass. Hist. Coll.
the course of that time he was four xv. 118.
times silenced and restored. In 1615 'A leaf of the MS. is here miss- he was committed to the Fleet pri- ing. Hubbard, p. 121, and Prince, son by the High Commission, where p. 257, both appear to have had it. he remained three months. In 1616 1 have endeavoured in vain to supply that execrable Court again proceed- this deficiency by procuring an an- ed against him, fined him JC2000, cient copy of these Records now ex- excommunicated him, degraded him isting in England. Prince quotes from the ministry, and ordered him from the Records under April 16, to be again imprisoned. Foreseeing " Sixty women and maids, 26 child- the danger, however, he concealed ren, and 300 men, with victuals, himself and escaped. In 1625 he arms, apparel, tools, 140 head of was restored to his living ; but when cattle, &c., in the Lord Treasurer's Laud was in power, he was again warrant (to go to New-England.)" sUenced, and was not restored till a ' The first part of the Record of few months before his death, which this meeting is wanting. It appears took place March 4, 1633, when he from Prince, p. 258, who haul it, was in the 69th year of his age. His that at this meeting they chose Mr.
THE COUNCIL IN NEW-ENGLAND. 67
major part of them, shall make choice of a Secretary, chap. and such other Officers as shall in their discretions >^- — seem requisite and needful for the peaceable and i^^®- quiet government of the Plantation ; and shall frame |5/ such oaths, and administer the same to every [one] of them for* the execution of his place and office for the year ensuing next after they shall have taken [the said] oaths, as they in their discretions, or the greater number of them, shall think good.
And it is ordered, that the said Governor, Depu- ty, Council, and other Officers aforesaid, shall be established and continue in their said several places for one whole year, or until this Court shall think fit to choose others in the place or places of them, or any of them ; and in case of death, &c.
It is further ordered, that the said Governor, Mr. Endecott, [or his Deputy,] and the said Council, be- ing chosen as aforesaid, and having taken their oaths respectively to their places, or the greater number of them, (whereof the Governor or Deputy to be always one,) at any of their meetings, (which the said Governor, at his discretion, or in his absence the Deputy, is hereby authorized to appoint, as oft as there shall be occasion,) shall have full power and authority, and they are hereby authorized by power derived from his Majesty's letters patent, to make, ordain, and establish all manner of wholesome and reasonable orders, laws, statutes, ordinances, direc- tions and instructions, not contrary to the laws of the realm of England, for the present government of
Endicott Governor of the Plantation, Thomas Graves, and Samuel Sharp, and Messrs. Hi^ginson, Skelton, to be of his CouncU. Bright, John and Samuel Brown,
68
THE GOVERNMENT IN NEW-ENGLAND.
OHAP. our Plantation, and the inhabitants residing within
the limits of our Plantation ; a copy of all which or-
^^^®- ders is from time to time to be sent to the Company
April . -IT, 1 J 1
30. m England.^
It is ordered by these presents, that a copy of the Acts and Orders^ made this present day'for settling the government in the Plantation of the Massachu- setts Bay aforesaid, shall be fairly engrossed, and sent under the Company's seal, subscribed by the Governor and Deputy, by the speediest^ conveyance for New-England that can be had.
All this confirmed by erecting of hands.
Mr. Walgrave, Mr. Pelham, and Mr. Humphry, and Mr. Nowell, are entreated to frame the form of the oath for the Governor, Mr. Endicott, and also for his Deputy, and for the Council,^ which shall be sent over and be administered to them in New-Eng- land.
May 7.
Thursday^ the 1th May, 1629. Present,
The Governor, Mr. Coulson,
Mr. Deputy, Mr. Nowell,
Mr. Alderset, Mr. Humphry,
Mr. Adams, Mr. Tho. Pulyston. Mr. Hutchins,
The last Court was read, and confirmed by these present.
^ Some words in this and the pre- ceding paragraph, torn off or oblite- rated in the manuscript, I have been enabled to restore from the ** Form of Grovemment," sent over to Endi- cott, and which embodies the sub- stance and often the language of this day's record.
• These Acts and Orders for the aetthn^ the Government, ^ill be found m a subsequent part of this Tolume.
' They wished to anticipate Old- ham in his contemplated settlement in Massachusetts Bay. For this purpose the Company's instructions to Endicott were despatched by the Greorge about a fortnight before the sailing of the other ships which car- ried out Higginson and his com- pany.
^ These oaths will also be found in a subsequent part of this volume.
JOHN OLDHAM'S PATENT. 69
A form of an oath for the Governor beyond the chap. seas, and of an oath for the Council there, was drawn ■ — ~ and delivered to Mr. Humphry to show the Council.^ i6M.
Letters are to be written about lands to be allotted ^ to each adventurer.
Also, about Mr. Fra. Webb's business for a mill, &c.
To have those punished beyond seas that sell gims.
To have some men's lands laid together.
The 11/A of May ^ 1629. Present this day, ii
Mr. Deputy, Mr. Humfreys,
Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Vassall,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Peters,*
Mr. Adams, Mr. Pinchon,
Mr. Nowell, Me. Whyte. Mr. Hutchins,
This day Mr. Oldham propounded unto Mr. White, that^he would have his patent examined ; and it is agreed by the Court not to have any treaty with him about it, by reason it is thought he doth it not out of love, but out of some sinister respect.
A warrant delivered unto Mr. Scale for ten dozen and two hats, at 2s. per dozen, for the sum of 20$. 4d.
> The Piivy Ckiuncil. early as May 30, 1638. See Hutch-
' This was the celebrated Hugh inson's Mass. i. 0. Peters. He was in the Company as
70 FIRST ELECTION DAY.
CHAP.
in. ^ — - The ISth of May, 1629.^ Present this day,
1680. The GovERMoB, Mr. Pinchon,
^y Mb. Deputy, Mb. Hutchins,
Mr. Treasuber, Mr. Hewson,
Mr. Glover, Mr. Backhouse,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Ballard,
Mr. Adams, Mr. Crowther,
Mb. Offield, Mb. Whichcote,
Mr. Whetcombe, Mr. White,
Mb. Foxcboft, Mb. Peters,
Mr. Vassall, Mb. Crane,
Mb. Perby, Mb. Humphby. Me. Nowell,
Delivered a warrant unto Richard Bowry for twelve pounds, £12, as § parts of <£18, the other i being to be paid for the Governor, and is for his appren- tice, Robert Scale, his time.
Mr. Matthew Cradock is this day chosen by the consent of the generality of the Company to be Gov- ernor to the New-England Company for the year following ; Mr. Thomas GofFe,^ Deputy ; also, Mr. George Harwood,^ Treasurer to the said Company.
' *' Hubbard styles this the second hands was paid the money raised in
court of election, when by the royal 1624 for buying up impropriations
charter it is the first; though by and supporting ^Mecturers" or
virtue of the former patent from the preachers in destitute places in
New-England Council, it seems the England. Two other members of
Company had chosen a governor, &c. the Massachusetts Company, John
the year before." Pnnce, Annals, White, the lawyer, and the Rev.
p. 260 ; Hubbard, in Mass. Hist. John Davenport, afterwards of New
Coll. XV. 122. Haven and Boston, were among
' Goffe was a London merchant, these feofees. They were sup-
and had been previously engaged in pressed and ruined by Laud in 1633.
farthering the Colony at New Ply- A good account of their purpose
mouth. His name occurs frequently may be found in Carlyle's Cromwell,
in Winthrop^s Journal See Mass. i. 50, 70, 88, (Am. edit.) See
Hist. Coll. lii. 48. Brook's Lives of the Puritans, i. 75,
' I find the name of George Har- and Neal's Hist, of the Puhtans, ii.
wood, citizen of London, in the list 246. of the twelve feofea into whose
OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY CHOSEN. 71
The Assistants being this day to be chosen, two chap. of the former Assistants, mentioned in the patent, - — ^ viz. Mr. John Endecott and Mr. John Browne being i®^®- out of the land, the other sixteen were confirmed, lif viz. Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Isaac Johnson, Mr. Samuel Aldersey, Mr. John Venn, Mr. John Humphry, Mr. Symon Whetcombe, Increase Nowell, Richard Perry, Nathaniel Wright, Samuel Vassall, Theophilus Eaton, Thomas Adams, Thomas Hutch- ins, George Foxcroft, William Vassall, and William Pinchion ; and to make up the number of eighteen, Mr. John Pocock and Mr. Christopher Coulson were chosen Assistants. And of these all, excepting Mr. Isaac Johnson, Samuel Aldersey, John Venn, Nathan- iel Wright, Samuel Vassall, Theophilus Eaton and Christopher Coulson, took their oaths appertaining.
William Surges, Humphry Lewis, John Wash- borne, and Lawrence Roe, being all put in election for the place of Secretary, by a free election, Mr. William Surges was chosen Secretary for the year ensuing.^
Humphry Scale chosen and sworn Beadle.
It is this day ordered, that whensoever any Court of Assistants shall be summoned, whosoever of the Assistants comes not, 'twixt 25 March and 29 of September, before eight of the clock in the morning, and from 29 September to 25 March, before 9 of the clock in the morning, shall forfeit twelve pence for every such offence ; and if he come not within two hours after either of the said hoiu-s respectively, then two shillings for every default each man to forfeit
' Washbame, I suspect, was sa- ble chirography. He certainly de- peneded on account of lus iUegi- served to be.
72 NAMES OF THE COMPANY'S OFFICERS.
CHAP, and pay ; and for want of payment within [blank] -^^ — days, after demand made by the officer of the Com- i^^o- pany, the fine double to be set upon his account; ^ always [provided, upon the pleasure] of the Govern- or, Deputy, or a lawful expression of approbation, [a line or two torn off.]
It is also agreed, that for any that shall have pri- vate conference after the Court is summoned, by the Oovernor or his Deputy knocking of the hammer thrice on the table, to sit down and attend the Court, that sixpence by every person for every such offence shall be paid.
It is agreed, that three pounds shall be paid John Washbourne for his pains as Secretary to the Com- pany for the time past.
The Names of the Governor, Deputy, Treasurer, and Assistants, for the year 1629, and other Officers.
Mr. Matthew Cbadock, Governor.
Mr. Thobias Goffe, Deputy.
Mb. George Harwood, Treasurer.
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Samuel Vassall, Mr. Isaac Johnson, Mr. Theophilus Eaton,
Mr. Samuel Alderset, Mr. Thomas Adams,
Mr. John Venn, Mr. Thomas Hittchins,
Mb. John Humfrsy, Mr. George Fozcroft,
Mr. Symon Whetcombe, Mr. William Vassall,
Mr. Increase Nowell, Mr. William Pinchion,
Mr. Richard Perry, Mr. John Pocock,
Mr. Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Christopher Cowlson.
AnistanU.
William Burgis, Secretary,
HuMPBRBT Seals, Beadle.
GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY. 73
At a Court of Assistants, on Monday, the 18th of May, chap.
1629. Present,
Mr. Govbrnob, Mr. Thomas Adams,
Mb. Deputy, Mb. Symon Whktcombe, ^qJ
Sib R. Saltonstall, Mb. Richabd Pebbt,
Mb. George Habwood, Treasurer^MR. John Pococx,
Mb. John Humphbet, Mb. Geobge Foxcboft.
William Burgis, chosen by the last General Court to be Secretary for the year ensuing, was now ad'- mitted and sworn accordingly ; upon the salary of twenty marks from the day he was chosen, for the said year.
The Acts made at a Court the 30th of April last, for choosing and establishing a Governor, Deputy, Council, and other Officers in New-England, was now read ; and this Court thought fit to add there- unto, that they shall be established in their said sev- eral places for one whole year, or till such time as the Company here shall think fit to choose others in the places of them, or any of them ; and that in case any of them shall depart this life before the expira- tion of the time they were so chosen for, that the Governor or Deputy and Council, at an ample Court assembled, shall have power to nominate and choose fit person or persons to succeed him or them so de- ceased in the said place or places for the residue of the time unexpired.
Upon motion made for allotment of land to the several adventurers and planters,^
Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Adams are desired to meet and consider what provisions are fit to be now
* There ]4>pean to be something omitted here.
74 THE ALLOTMENT OF LAND.
CHAP, sent over to Captain John Indicott and his family,
and to provide the same accordingly.
1629. rpjjg names of all the adventurers to be now sent 18. over, with the several sums by them underwritten ; and it is ordered that the Governor and Council there shall have power to allot unto every particular adventurer that shall desire the same by himself or his assignees, two himdred acres of land upon the sum of £50 adventure in the general stock in this first dividend, and proportionably for more or less according to their several adventures ; and Mr. Go- vernor, Deputy, Mr. Whyte, and Mr. Adams, and Mr. Whetcombe are to meet at Mr. Governor's house * to-morrow morning at six of the clock to ad- vise and conclude of this business.
19. The 19th of May j 1629. [Present,]
Mr. Governor, Mr. Whetcombe,
Mr. Whyte, Mk. Adams.
Concerning the allotment of land to those persons as are adventurers in the common stock, it is thought fit that letters be written to the Governor to set out and allot unto them after the propo* tion of two hun- dred acres of land for <£50 adventure, and after that rate for more or less, to the intent to build their houses and to improve their labors thereon. And if within ten days after their arrival, and demand made by any particular adventurer in the common stock, or his servant for him, the same be not so allotted,
^ (governor Cradock's house was in St. S within ^s Lane, near London Stone.
THE ALLOTMENT OF LAND, 75
that each man, being an adventurer, is hereby per- chap,
mitted free liberty to build in any place where him-
self shall think most convenient, with reservation i®^®* not to build or manure that already built on or ma- 19^^ nured ; provided that if the plot of groimd whereon the town is intended to be built be set out, and it be publicly known to be intended for that purpose, that then no man shall presume to build his house any- where else, (unless it be in the Massachusetts Bay,^ and there according to such directions as shall be thought meet for that place,) But in case his allot- ment be not set out within the town where he shall build, and having, in his own name or in the behalf of his master, made request to the Governor to have the same assigned to him, if it be not done within ten days after his arrival, it shall be free for any in such case, being an adventurer in the common stock, to build his house within the aforesaid plot of groimd, set out for the town to be built on, and to impale to his own use proportionable to half an acre of ground for £50 adventure in the common stock ; unless a greater or lesser proportion be formerly determined of by the Governor and Council ; in which case that proportion is to be made use of and appropriated to each man within the liberties of the plot set out for the town to be built on. And it is ordered, that conveyance be made in the Company's name, with the common seal of the Company to it, to any that shall desire it, for each man's peaceable enjoying of that land he holds, at the charge of the Company, It is further thought fit and ordered, that all such
•
' See note ' on page 4,
76 THE ALLOTMENT OF LAND.
CHAP, persons as go over at their own charge, and are ad- '^ — venturers in the common stock, shall have lands 1629. allotted to them for themselves and their families lef forthwith, fifty acres of land for each person ; but being no adventurers in the common stock, shall have fifty acres of land for the master of the family, and such a proportion of land more, if there be cause, as, according to their charge and quality, the Gov- ernor and Council of New-England shall think neces- sary for them, whereby their charge may be fully and amply supported ; unless it be to any with whom the Company in London shall make any other par- ticular agreement, to which relation is to be had in such case. And for such as transport servants, land shall be allotted for each servant, fifty acres to the master ; which land the master is to dispose of at his discretion, in regard the servants' transportation, wages, &c., is at the master's charge.
81, A Court of Assistants, on Thursday the 2\st of May,
1629. Present,
Mb. Governor, Mr. Bilson,
Mr. Goff, Deputy, Mr. Thomas Huson,
Mr. Harwood, Treasurer, Mr. Increase Noell,
Mr. Adams, Mr. Humphrey,
Mr. WmcHcoYTE, Capt. Waller,
Mr. Foxcroft, Mr. Hutchins. Mr. Eaton,
Mr. Eaton took the oath of Assistant. And he is desired to accompany Mr. Humphrey to Mr. Whyte, the comisellor, to be satisfied concerning the admin- istering oaths to the Governor and Comicil in New-
THE GOVERliMENT IN NEW-ENGLAND. 77
England. Mr. Whetcombe is also desired to be with chap. them. '
The Court of the 18th of May was now read, as also ^*^ the Order conceived by Mr. Governor and others concerning the allotment of lands, and a part of the letter* formerly written in this particular was con- firmed ; whereunto this Court thought fit to add, — If within ten days after the arrival of these ships, and demand made by any person, adventurer in the com- mon stock, or his or their servant, of their allotment of land, the same not being done, that then each per- son be permitted to seat himself and build his house in a convenient place not formerly built [upon] nor manured, and enclose the same to his or their use, not exceeding the one half of that proportion which by the former order of this Court is allowed ; and when the dividend is made, to be free to make his choice within the said allotment, if he dislike that he had formerly chosen.
It is thought fit that the Secretary draw out at large the Orders^ concerning the establishment of the Governor and Council in New-England, as also the Order ^ made concerning the allotment of lands ; and Mr. Governor, Mr. Deputy, Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Adams, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Hutchins, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Whetcombe, Mr, William Vassall, or any four of them, whereof the Governor or Deputy to be always one, are desired and appointed to meet and resolve of these Orders, and to affix the Company's seal thereunto ; as also for preparing letters to be now
' The letter here referred to was in a subsequent part of this volume, one written to Endicott on the 17th ■ These Orders will be found in a and 21st of April. It wiU be found subsequent part of this volume.
78 OFFICERS OF THE PLANTATION.
CHAP, written, and to resolve and determine of all other m. .
business requisite for despatching of these ships.*
1689.
I^y A Meeting at the Governor*s house on Friday ^ the 22d
of May, 1629. Present,
Mr. Goternob, Mr. Adams,
Deputt, Mr. Humphrey.
The Orders drawn for the establishment of the Governor, Deputy, and Council, and other Officers in the Plantation at the Mattachusetts Bay in New- England, as also the Orders for the dividing and allot- ment of land there to the adventurers and others, were now read, advised on, corrected, and concluded on, &c. ; together with the General Letter from the Company here to the Governor and Council there.* All which are appointed to be fairly engrossed, and the said Orders to be sealed with the common seal of the Company, and sent over upon the ships now ready to depart for New-England.
June A General Court the 11th of June, 1629. Present,
Mr. Governor, Mr. William Yassall^
Mr. Deputy, Mr. Webb,
Mr. Harwood, Treasurer ^ Mr. Humfret,
Mr. Adams, Mr. Crane,
Mr. John Venn, Mr. Pulliston,
Mr. Backhouse, Mr. Foxcroft.
This Court was appointed to take consideration of
* These ships were, the May- ■ This is their Second Letter to
flower, the Four Sisters of 400 tons, Endioott, dated May 18th. It will
and the Pil^nm. They sailed about appear hereafter, the end of Uiis month.
HENRY GAUDEN'S DEMAND, 79
raising of moneys for payment of divers debts and chap, bills ; and thereupon an estimate was made of what - — ^ was owing, per severals' bills, and which are of ne- i^^®- cessity to be presently paid. n.
That another day be appointed, and the whole Company to be summoned by tickets, which is thought fit to be on Wednesday next.
Mr. Godden,^ master of the ship [blank], made demand of freight pretended to be due unto him for his last voyage ; but he not expressing a certain sum, this Assembly think fit to defer him till the next Court ; and in the mean time he is desired to bring in a note of what is due, as also to give security to the Company to free them from any further de- mands, &c., and thereupon a final conclusion thereof to be made.
A General Court at the Depvty^s house on Wednesday^ the nth of June ^ 1629, Present,
Mr. Governor, Mr. Cooke,
Mr. Deputy, Mr. Clarke,
Sir R. Salton stall, Mr. Ballard,
Mr. George Foxcroft, Mr. Pulison,
Mr. Richard Perry, Mr. Walgrave,
Mr. Adams, Mr. Backhouse,
Mr. Whitcombe, Mr. Davis,
Mr. Pococke, Mr. Edmund Whyte,
Mr. Johnson, Capt. Waller,
Mr. Noell, Capt. Venn,
Mr. Harwood, Treasurer^ Mr. Davis,*
Mr. Whyte, Mr. Thomas Andrews,
Mr. Pelham, Mr. Aldersey.
' Henry Gauden was master of the * Mr. Davis's name was probably Abigail, the ship that carried over repeated by mistake. Elndicott and his company. See p- 43.
17.
80
RAISING OF MONEY.
CHAP. Mr. [blank] Johnson^ sworn an Assistant of this
Company, being chosen thereunto at a Court the
i^«»- 13th of May, 1629. ^^ Mr. Governor moved that a course might be set- tled for bringing in of moneys, and
Mr. Treasurer returned a note concerning the Leicestershire men. It was propounded,
To increase their former subscriptions,
To invite others to underwrite,
To borrow money for a time to supply the
occasions. To take up money at interest. That those here present do furnish [£]200 or [£]100 apiece, to have allowance for it. The Court taking into consideration the necessity of a present supply of the sum of £1500, for dis- charging of debts and bills, and that the moneys un- derwritten by the adventurers, and not yet brought in, nor not likely to be brought in, in convenient time for satisfaction of those debts and bills which are of necessity to be presently paid ; upon several propo- sitions made, it is desired and concluded on, that those of the Company here present would each of them voluntarily lend such a sum of money as he shall think fit, for advancing the sum wanting, and to have the common seal of the Company for the re- payment thereof, according to the time for which he or they so lend the same ; and also that the Secretary be appointed to go to such others of the Company not present as Mr. Governor shall name, to intimate
' This was Isaac Johnson, already account of him will be given hei»- mentioned on pp. 65 and 73. Some after.
MONEY SUBSCRIBED.
81
the same unto them, and to desire them to under- chap. write what sums they will lend for this occasion, — ^ according as many of the Company here present 1^89, have done. And it is ordered that the common seal ^ of the Company be given to them, and all others that will lend, for repayment thereof at such time as they shall desire the same.
Names of those in Court that underwrit to lend.
|
Sir R. Saltonstall, |
i:ioo |
Sym. Whetcombe, |
^^25 |
|
Mb. Governor, |
150 |
Tho. Hutchins, |
25 |
|
Mr. Deputy, |
60 |
Edw. Cooke, |
50 |
|
[Richard] Perry, |
25 |
Dan. Ballard, |
25 |
|
[Thomas] Adams, |
50 |
Edm. Whyte, |
20 |
|
Increase Noell, |
25 |
Joseph Caron,* |
25 |
|
George Harwood, |
50 |
[Samuel] Aldersey, |
50 |
|
Richard Whyte, |
25 |
Tho, Andrews, |
25 |
|
Mr. Clark, |
25 |
Auditors appointed for auditing the accounts, viz. Mr. Syraon Whetcombe, Mr. Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Noell, Mr. Perry, Mr. Crane, Mr, Clarke, Mr. Eaton, and Mr. Andrews ;* these eight, or any four or more of them, to meet at a convenient time and place to audit the accounts.
A Committee for reducing of all former Orders into a method, viz. the Governor, Mr. Whyte, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Johnson, Capt. Waller, Capt. Venn,
* Probably the same person who signed the instructions to Endicott, May 30, 1628, and who is there called Joseph Caxon. See Hutch- inson's Mass. L 9.
■ Thomas Andrews was a London merchant, living in Bowe Lane, and was mayor of the city in . 1 55 1 . He was one of the adventurers that were interested in the Plymouth (^olony. He is not to be confound-
6
ed with Richard, probably his bro- ther, a haberdasher at the Mermaid in Cheapsidc, who was also interest- ed in the Pljrmouth adventure, and was an eminent benefactor of the Massachusetts Colony, having sent them sixteen heifers and upwards of JC500 in money. See Mass. Hist. Coll. iii. 48, xxi. 22, and Savage's Winthrop, i. 136, 374, ii. 75, 213, 342.
82 THE ACCOUNTS TO BE AUDITED.
CHAP. Mr, Aldersey, Mr. Adams, Mr. Wright, and Mr.
Darby, they or any four of them, and to present the
}f'^^' same to the next General Court, to be ratified and
June - ,
17. confirmed, in part or in whole, as shall be then thought fit ; which are then by the Secretary to be entered into a fair book to be kept fop that purpose, according to the usage and custom of other Compa- nies.
July A General Court holdenfor the Company of the Matta- chusetts Baj/j in New-England, at Mr. Deputy's house y on Tuesday the 28th of July, 1629. Present,
Mr. Matthew Cradock, Governor, Mr. Thomas Goff, Deputy, Mr. George Harwood, Treasurer, Mr. Thomas Adams, Mr. Samuel Yassall,
Mr. Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Joseph Bradshawe,
Mr. Theophilus Eaton, Mr. Burnell,
Mr. Richard Perrt, Mr. Revell,
Mr. Increase Noell, Mr. Daniel Ballard,
Mr. Stmon Whetcombe, Mr. Spurstowe,
Mr. John Pocook, Mr. Thomas Hewson,
Mr. [Christopher] Colson, Mr. Woodgate, Mr. [Thomas] Hutchins, Mr. Webb,
Mr. Willllm Pinchon, Mr. Crane,
Assistants. Generality.
The business treated on at the last meeting was now read ; and thereupon the accounts of Mr. Gov- ernor, Mr. Deputy, and Mr. Treasurer, being now presented to this Court, the Auditors formerly ap- pointed for auditing the Company's accounts were now desired to meet and peruse and audit these ac- coimts ; which they have agreed to do to-morrow in the afternoon.
A LETTER FROM ENDICOTJ. 83
It was moved by Mr. Governor, that a ship of four chap.
hundred tons and of good force being now to be sold,
should be bought for the Company's use, upon their 1629. general stock ; or that some particular members of ^y^ the Company would undertake to buy the said ship, in regard the Company are not now in cash ; and that the Company will not only employ that ship, but take other ships of them of less defence, for transport of their cattle and all other commodities, from time to time, so long as they shall be willing to furnish such shipping. Whereupon Mr. Governor declared that he was willing to take i part of the said ship, or under.
|
And did write |
i part, |
Mr. Revell, |
tV |
|
Mr. Deputy, |
tV |
Mr. Alderset, |
tV |
|
Mr. Adams, |
i |
Mr. Milburne, |
i |
|
Mr. Wright, |
i |
Mr. Huson, |
tV |
|
Mr. Eaton, |
tV |
The Company, |
i |
|
Mr. Whetcombe, |
A |
6&C. |
A letter^ of the 27th of May from Mr. John En- decott was now read ; wherein, amongst other things, he complains of the profane and dissolute living of divers of our nation, former traders to those parts, and of their irregular trading with the Indians,^ con- trary to his late Majesty's Proclamation,^ desiring that the Company would take the same into their serious consideration, and to use some speedy means
' This letter, unfortunately^ is ' This proclamation, prohibiting
not preserved. interloping and disorderly trading to
' Endicott probably had in view New-En^and in America, was i»- Morton, of Mount WoUaston, who sued by James I. on the 6th of No- is said to have been the first in these vember, 1622. It is printed in Ry- parts to sell guns and ammunition mer's Fcedera, xvii. 416, and m to the Indians, and to teach them Hazard's State Papers, i. 151. their use. See Morton's Memorial, p. 138.
1620.
84 IRREGULAR TRADING WITH THE INDIANS.
CHAP, here for reformation thereof. Whereupon the Pro- clamation made in anno 1622 was read, and it is thought fit that suit be made to his Majesty or the 88. Lords ^ for renewing thereof, with addition of such beneficial clauses as shall be needful for reforming so great and unsufferable abuses ; and Mr. Governor, Mr. Aldersey, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Eaton, are desired to repair to the Lord Keeper^ and Mr. Sec- retary Coke^ to acquaint their Honors herewith, and afterwards a petition to be presented to the Council Board accordingly.^
A note of divers propositions offered to the consi- deration of this Company by one John Betts was read, pretending that he is able to discover divers things for the good and advancement of the Planta- tion, and the benefit of this Company. Whereupon some of those here present were desired to inquire further of him, not only of his ability, but of his de- portment in his life and conversation, and then the Company to treat with him as they shall think fit.
Also, Mr. Webb moved concerning a Frenchman, being a physician, and otherwise well qualified, who is desirous to go over to live upon the Company's Plantation, and gave good commendations both of his sufficiency and of his godly life and conversation ;
* Of the Privy Council. * In compliance with this petition,
• Lord Coventry, late Sir Tho- a new proclamation was issued by mas, was at this time lord keeper of Charles I. on the 24th of November, the great seal of England. See 1630, forbidding the disorderly trad- Clarendon's Hbt. of the Rebellion, ing with the salvages in New-Eng- i. 80. land in America, especially the fur-
' Sir John Coke ; not, as might nishing the natives in those and
at first be supposed, Edward, the other parts of America by the Eng-
lamous Coke upon Littleton, who lish with weapons and habiliments
was then in his Slst year. See Cla- of war. See it in Rymer's Foedera,
Tendon's Rebellion, i. 113, and Miss xix. 210, and in Hazard's State Pa-
Aikin's Charles I. i. 361. . pers, i. 311.
cradock's proposition. 85
and of one Mr. Gardner, an able and expert man in chap. divers faculties ; who are to be further inquired of — ^ and treated with, against the next meeting of the i®^®- Company. gsf
It is also thought fit and ordered, that letters be written to those in the country to pay in what they are behind upon their subscriptions ; and that some tradesmen here in London that have occasion to travel into any of those parts, be desired to receive the money on the Company's behalf.
And lastly, Mr. Governor read certain propo- sitions conceived by himself,^ viz. That for the advancement of the Plantation, the inducing and encouraging persons of worth and quality to trans- plant themselves and families thither, and for other weighty reasons^ therein contained, to transfer the government of the Plantation to those that shall inhabit there, and not to continue the same in subor- dination to the Company here, as now it is. This business occasioned some debate ; but by reason of the many great and considerable consequences there- upon depending, it was not now resolved upon, but those present are desired privately^ and seriously to consider hereof, and to set down their particular reasons in writing pro et contra^ and to produce the same at the next General Court ; where they being reduced to heads, and maturely considered of, the Company may then proceed . to a final resolution
* Let it be noted, that Cradock prudent or safe to mention at that was at the bottom of this move- time.
ment. ' Privately, secretly. This is
• WTiat these other weighty rea- noteworthy. ITiey doubtless appre- sons were, we are left to conjecture, hended that measures might be taken ConsiderationB of a religious nature to defeat their purpose, should it be- it would not, perhaps, have been come known to those in authority.
86 SHALL THE GOVERNMENT AND PATENT
CHAP, thereon. And in the mean time they are desired to
IIL
carry this business secretly,^ that the same be not
1629. divulged.
A General Court holden at Mr. Deputy's house, the 28/A
of August, 1629. Present,
|
Aug. |
Mr. Goff, Deputy^ |
Mr. Nowell, |
|
28. |
Mr. Harwood, Treasurer, |
Mr. Foxcroft, |
|
Sir Richard Saltonstall, |
Mr. Whyte, |
|
|
Mr. Johnson, |
Mr. Cooke, |
|
|
Mr. Davenport, |
Mr. Ballard, |
|
|
• |
Mr. Humfreys, |
Mr. Wright, |
|
Mr. Adams, |
Mr. Whetcombe, |
|
|
Capt. Venn, |
Mr. Smith, |
|
|
Mr. Pocock, |
Mr. Revell, |
|
|
Mr. Perrt, |
Mr. Davis, |
|
|
Mr. Colston, |
Mr. Eaton, |
|
|
Mr. Pinchion, |
Mb. Colbrand. |
|
|
Mr. Wm. Vassall, |
Mr. Deputy acquainted this Court, that the espe- cial cause of their meeting was to give answer to divers gentlemen, intending to go into New-Eng- land, whether or no the chief government of the Plantation, together with the patent, should be set- tled in New-England, or here.^ Whereupon it was ordered, that this afternoon Mr. Wright, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Adams, Mr. Spurstowe, and such others as they
' See note * on preceding page. England, by the first of March next,
• Only two days before, namely, to inhabit and continue there, pro-
on the 26th of August, a mutual vided that before the last of Septem-
rement had been made and sign- her next the whole government,
at Cambridge, by Saltonstall, together with the patent for the said
Winthrop, Johnson, Dudley, Hum- Plantation, be first, by an order of
phiey, rfowell, Pynchon, Thomas Court, legally transfeired and estab-
Sharpe,WilliamVa8sall, and others, lished to remain with them and
that they would embark with their others who shall inhabit upon the
families for the Plantation in New- said Plantation.
BE TRANSFERRED TO NEW-ENGLAND? 87
should think fit to call unto them, whether they were chap.
of the Company or not, to consider of arguments
against the settling of the chief government in New- ^^^®- England ; and on the other side, Sir Richard Salton- gs. stall, Mr. Johnson, Capt. Venn, and such others as they should call unto them, to prepare arguments for the settling of the said government in New-Eng- land ; and that to-morrow morning, being the 29th of August, at 7 of the clock, both sides should meet and confer and weigh each other's arguments, and afterwards at 9 of the clock, (which is the time ap- pointed of meeting for a General Court,) to make report thereof to the whole Company, who then will determine this business.
A General Court at Mr. Deputy* s house, the 29th of 99.
August, 1629. Present,
Mb. Deputy, Mr. Harwood, Treasurer,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Perrt,
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Foxcroft,
Mr. Davenport, Mr. Davis,
Mr. Alderset, . Mr. Ironstde,
Mr. Humfret, Mr. Pinchon,
Capt. Waller, Mr. William Vassall,
Capt. Venn, Mr. Rowe,
Mr. Adams, Mr. Ballard,
Mr. Eaton, Mr. Nowell,
Mr. Samxtel Vassall, Mr. Webb,
Mr. Wright, Mr. Whetcombe,
Mr. Colston, Mr. Colbrand.
Mr. Pocock,
This day the Committees which were appointed to meet yesterday in the afternoon to consider of argu- ments pro et contra touching the settling of the gov-
88 THE TRANSFER RESOLVED UPON.
CHAP, ernment of the Company's Plantation in New-Eng-
land, being according to the order of the last Court,
1629. jjjgt together, debated their arguments and reasons ^^' on both sides ; where were present many of the As- sistants and Generality ; and after a long debate, Mr. Deputy put it to the question, as followeth :
As many of you as desire to have the patent and the government of the Plantation to be transferred to New-England, so as it may be done legally, hold up your hands. So many as will not, hold up your hands. When, by erection of hands, it appeared by the general consent of the Company, that the govern- ment and patent should be settled in New-England, and accordingly an Order to be drawn up.^
19.' A General Court holden at Mr. Deputy's house^ the
19/A of Sept. 1629. Present,
Mr. Matthew Cradock, Governor^ Mb. Colsoi*,
Mr. Thomas Goff, Deputy , Mr. Pinchon,
Mr. George Harwood, Treasurery Mr. Hutchins,
Mr. Spurstowe, Mr. Perry,
Mr. Pocock, Mr. Whetcombe, Mr. Wrights, and others.
* It has been justly remarked that of the territory, under such forms of
a transaction similar to this in all its government and magistracy as
circumstances, is not easily to be should be fit and necessary. But
met with in story. It certainly stands the boldness of the step is not more
alone in the history of English colo- striking than tlie silent acquiescence
nization. The power of the Corpo- of the King in permitting it to take
ration to make the transfer has been place. See the whole matter dis-
seriously doubted and even denied, cussed in Grahame's History of the
It is e^ent from the Charter, that United States, i. 221-224 ; Robert-
the original design of it was to con- son^s History of America, ch. x. ;
stitute a corporation in England like Chalmers's Political Annals, p. 151 ;
that of the East India and other Hutchinson's Mass. i. 13 ; and Sto-
gieat Companies, with powers to ry's Conunentarics on the Constitu-
settle plantations within the limits tion, i. 50.
THE AFFAIR OF THE BROWNES. 89
At this Court letters* were read from Capt. Endi- chap. cott and others from New-England. And whereas a ' — -^ difference hath fallen out betwixt the Governor there *®^®' and Mr, John and Samuel Browne, it was agreed by 19^.*' the Court, that for the determination of those differ- ences, Mr. John and Samuel Browne might choose any three or four of the Company on their behalf, to hear the said differences, the Company choosing as many.^ Whereupon the said Mr. John and Samuel Browne made choice of Mr. Samuel Vassall,^ and Mr. William Vassall, Mr. Symon Whetcombe, and
* These letteis axe unfortunately Parliament voted him jC 10,4 15 125.
missing. 2d. for the damages he had thus
' This certainly seems to be a sustained, and resolved that he very fair course of proceeding to- should be farther considered for his wards the Brownes, whose case will imprisonment and personal suffer- be more circumstantially stated ings. He was one of the 300 mem- hereafter. And yet Chalmers says, hers who signed the protestation to " When the persons who had been support the liberty of Parliament, thus expelled, arrived in England, and subscribed j£ri200 against the they naturally applied to the Gov- rebels in Ireland, his name appcar- emor and Company for reparation of ing at the head of the list. In 1643 their wrongs ; but it appears not from he took the covenant, and in 1616 their records that they ever received was appointed one of the commis- any redress. The insolence of con- sioners for the kingdom of England tempt was superadded to the inju»- for the conservation of the peace tice of. power. — The General Court with Scotland. He never came over was at that time too much occupied to this country, and I have not been in preparing for an important change, able to ascertain when he died. His to attend to the first duty of all nil- son John settled in Jamaica, and ers, to give protection to the injur- John's grandson, Florentius Vassall, ed." Chalmers's Political Annals, Esq., of London, in 1766 sent over p. 146. a marble monument in honor of his
' Samuel Vassall was the son of great-grandfather, Samuel, whicli
the gallant John Vassall, an alder- was set up in King's Chai)el, in
man lof London, who in 1588, at his Boston, where it is still to be seen,
own expense fitted out and com- From the inscription on this monu-
manded two ships of war against the ment I have derived the grrater part
Spanish Armada. Samuel was like- of the preceding account. The late
wise an alderman of London, and an Lord Holland married Elizabeth, a
eminent merchant, and represented grand-daughter of llorentins Vas-
thaf city in two successive Parlia- sail. S(^c Greenwood's Hist, of
ments, in 1640 and 1641. In 1628 King's Chapel, pp. 131, 207;
he was the first who refused to sub- Burke's Hist, of the Commoners of
mit to the tax of tonnage and pound- Great Britain, i. 499 ; Rushworth's
age, for which his goods were seized Hist. Coll. i. 641, Appendix, p. 57;
and his person imprisoned by the and Mass. Hist. Coll. xxviii. 294. Star Chamber Court. In July, 164 1,
90 SHIPS RETURNED FROM NEW-ENGLAND.
CHAP. Mr. William Pinchion ; and for the Company there
— ^ were chosen Mr. John Whyte, Mr. John Davenport,
1629. Mr. Isaac Johnson, and Mr. John Wynthropp ; who,
^P*- with the Governor or Deputy, are to determine and
end the business the first Tuesday in the next term ;
and if any of the aforenamed parties be absent, others
to be chosen by either [of the] parties in their stead.
For the unlading of the ships now come, viz. the
Lion's Whelp and the Talbot, it was desired that
the Governor and Deputy would take such order
therein as they should think fit.
And lastly for the five boys returned from New- England upon the Talbot, it is to be advised on what course to be taken for their punishment, either by procuring Mr. Recorder his warrant, by complaining to the Judge of the Admiralty, or otherwise.
^' A General Court holden at Mr. Deputy* s house y on Tuesday, the 29th of Sept. 1629. Present,
Mr. Matthew Cradock, Governor, Mr. Andrews,
Mb. Thomas Goff, Deputy^ Mr. Roe,
Capt. Waller, Mr. Revell,
Capt. Venn, Mr". Huson,
Mr. Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Webb,
Mr. Thomas Adams, Mr. Woodgate,
Mr. George Foxcroft, Mr. Puliston,
Mr. Richard Perry, Mr. Bateman,
Mr. Nowell, Mr. WrNCHE. Mr. Stmon Whetcombe,
At this Court were read the Orders made the 28th and 29th of August last, concerning the transferring of the patent and government of the Plantation into
i
LETTERS FROM THE BROWNES. 91
New-England. But that business being of great and chap.
weighty consequence, is thought fit to be deferred
for determination until Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr, ^^2^- Johnson, and other gentlemen be come up to Lon- 39/ don, and may be here present ; and in the mean time it was propounded that a conmiittee should be appointed.
To prepare the business ;
To take advice of learned counsel whether the same may be legally done or no ;
By what way or means the same may be done, to correspond with and not to prejudice the govern- ment here ;
To consider of the time when it will be fit to do it ;
To resolve on whom to confer the government ; and divers other circumstances material to be resolv- ed on, &LC.
The next thing taken into consideration was the letters from Mr, John and Samuel Browne to divers of their private fi-iends here in England, whether the same should be delivered or detained, and whether they should be opened and read, or not. And for that it was to be doubted by probable circumstances, that they had defamed the country of New-England, and the Governor and government there, it was thought fit that some of the said letters should be opened and publicly read, which was done accord- ingly ; and the rest to remain at Mr. Deputy's house, and the parties to whom they are directed to have notice, and Mr. Governor, Mr. Deputy, Mr. Treas- urer, and Mr. Wright, or any two of them, are en- treated to be at the opening and reading thereof, to the end the Company may have notice, if aught be
92
THE SHIP EAGLE TO BE BOUGHT.
CHAP, inserted therein which may be prejudicial to their
«— ^ government or Plantation in New-England. And it
1629. jg j^iso thought fit that none of the letters from Mr.
29.** Samuel Browne shall be delivered, but kept to be
made use of against him as occasion shall be ofiered.
The business of clearing the two ships ^ lately
come home, paying and discharging the men, and
housing the goods, is recommended to the care of
Mr. Deputy, who hath undertaken the same.
It is also thought fit and ordered, that the Secre- tary shall write out a copy of the former grant to the Earl of Warwick and others,^ which was by them resigned to this Company, to be presented to his Lordship, he having desired the same.
The Governor moved to know the resolution of the Company concerning buying the ship Eagle ; and it was concluded on, as formerly, that the said ship should be bought by those hereafter named, viz.
|
The Governor, |
i |
Mr. Revell, |
iV |
|
The Deputy, |
tV |
Mr. Alderset, |
iV |
|
Mr. Ajums, |
i |
Mr. Milburne, |
iV |
|
Mr. Wright, |
i |
Mr. Huson, |
tV |
|
Ms. Eaton, |
A |
The Company, |
* |
|
Mr. Whetcombe, |
tV |
And Mr. Governor is desired to go on and conclude the bargain upon such terms as he can. And it was
» The Lion's Whelp and the Tal- bot. See page 90.
■ This was the jrrant made March 19 f 1628, by the Council for the Af- fairs of New-England to Sir Henry Roswell and his associates, and by them transferred to the Massachu- setts Company. Sir Robert War- wick was a member of that Council, and a stanch friend of the New-
England Colonies. Winthrop says in his Journal, July 9, 1631, that he " received a letter from the Earl of Warwick, wherein he congratulated the prosperity pf our Plantation, and encouraged our proceedings, and offered 1^ help to further us in it." See pp. 28-30, and Savage's Win- throp, i. 137.
MONEY TO BE RAISED. 93
further thought fit and resolved on, that this ship, chap,
being of good force, and bought for the safety and
honor and benefit of the Plantation, shall always be ^^^®* preferred in that voyage before any other ship,^ and 39. to have some consideration in her freight above other ships accordingly.
It is also thought fit, for the present raising of money, that sale be made of the beaver skins ; and to that piu'pose a rate was now set upon them of 20s. per pound. And Mr. Nathaniel Wright being here present, is to have time till to-morrow to accept of them at that rate, or to return his answer ; and in the mean time the skins not to be sold under that rate, the sale of them being referred to Mr. Gov- ernor and Mr. Deputy.
Also some speech was had concerning the deliv- ery of the petition to the Lords of the Council. But this is deferred till their Lordships' coming to London.
Mr. Treasurer and Mr. Adams are desired to make an abstract of those who are behind with their sub- scriptions, to the end some course may be taken to call in for those moneys.
For the twelve cows, and three calves, and two mares, and two foals, it is thought fit that they be forthwith sold, rather than kept at charges all this winter ; which is recommended to the care of Mr. Bateman and Mr. Huson.
Also concerning the five boys returned in the Tal- bot, Mr. Whetcombe and Mr. Noell are desired to acquaint Sir Henry Martyn with their misdemeanour,
* Her name was afterwards chang- son, Esq., one of tlio Assistants of
ed to the Arbella, in honor of the the Massachusetts Company. See
Lady Arbella, daughter of tlie Earl Edward Johnson's Hist, of New-
of I^coln, and wife of Isaac John- England, in Mass. Hist Coll. xiL 7U.
94 LETTERS FROM NEW-ENGLAND.
CHAP, and to advise what punishment may be inflicted upon
them, and how the Company may be legally dis-
1^29. charged of them.
iro. Upon the desire of Mr. John and Samuel Browne, it is thought fit and ordered, that they should have a copy of the accusation sent from New-England against them, to the end they may be the better pre- pared to make answer thereunto.
Mr. Wright is desired to take care of the sale of the clapboard and other wood.
Also, letters from Robert Moulton, the shipwright, and from the coopers and cleavers of wood, consist- ing of divers particulars, were now read ; which are to be abbreviated, and fitting answers to be made unto them, by the return of the next ships to New- England.
Oct. A Oeneral Court at the Deputy^ s hcmse, on Thursday^ ^^- the 15th of October, 1629. Present,
Mr. Matthew Cradock, Governor^ Mr. George Foxcropt,
Mr. George Harwood, Treasurer, Mr. Increase Noell,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Ballard,
Mr. John Davenport, Mr. Revell,
Mr. Isaac Johnson, Mr. Dudley,
Mr. Samuel Alderset, Mr. Winthrop,
Mr. John Humfry, Mr. Webb,
Mr. Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Huson,
Mr. John Venn, Mr. Yoting,
Mr. Thomas Adams, Mr. Whichcoytb,
Mr. William Vassall, Mr. Crane,
Mr« Symon Whetcombe, Mr. Owen Rob,^
Mr. Willum Pinchion, Mr. Ford,
With divers others of the Generality.
* Owen Howe was & Bilk-meTcer the RebeUion," says Anthony Wood, in London. " In the beginning of ** being a Tiolent Covenanter, and
THE JOINT STOCK OF THE COMPANY. 95
The especial and only occasion of this meeting c^^^p. being to consider and resolve of the settling the trade in New-England, (now upon transferring the government thither,) for the encouragement as well of the adventurers in the joint stock here, as of those who already are, and of others who intend to go over in person to be planters there, and for their mutual correspondency and behoof, and the advancement of the Plantation to the end which was at first intended; the Court took the same into due and mature consid- eration ; and after a long debate, and sundry opin- ions given, and reasons why the joint stock, (which had borne the brunt of the charge hitherto, and was likely to bear much more,) should have certain com- modities appropriate thereunto, for reimbursement and defrayment thereof, and divers objections being made to those reasons, all which was largely dis- cussed and well weighed, the Court, in conclusion,
•
aflerwards an Independent, he was Charles I. to come in, he surrendered by Cromweirs interest made a prime himself; so that after his trial had officer (lieatenant colonel,! think) in passed in the sessions-house in the the militia of London, and became a Old-Bailey, he was condemned to firebrand in that city, and an enemy perpetual imprisonment, and his es- to its ancient civil government. In tate confiscated. What became of 1648 he was nominated one of the him afterwards, I know not.'' He King's judges, sat on the bench was scout-master general in Crom- when he was several times before well's army, and being in his suite them, stood up as consenting when when he visited Oxford, in May, sentence was passed for severing his 1649, he received from the Univer- head from his body, and at length sity, with his other chief officers, set his hand and seal to the warrant the honorary degree of Master of for his execution. About that time Arts. In this way we get the above he was made keeper of the .i^aga- lean but authentic sketch of him zines and stores, and received X*5000 from crabbed Anthony. There is a to buy arms. In 1659, July 7, he letter of Rowe's to Governor Win- was constituted colonel of the mili- throp, dated Feb. 18, 1636, in which tia of the said city by the Rump he expresses his desire and intention Parliament, and was then in great to come to Massachusetts, where it favor with them. But in the year appears he had cattle and desired a after, when his Majesty was restor- farm. See Wood's Fasti Oxon. ii. ed, and a proclamation thereupon 136, (ed. Bliss) ; Carlyle's Crom- was issued out for all such persons well, i. 296, 364 ; Hutchinson's Col- that had sat in judgment on £jng lection, p. 59.
96 CHURCHES AND PUBLIC WORKS.
CHAP, for accommodation of both parts, fell upon a modera-
' • tion,^ as followeth, viz.
1629. That the Company's joint stock shall have the 16.' trade of beaver and all other furs in those parts solely, for the term of seven years from this day, for and in consideration of the charge that the joint stock hath undergone already, and is yet annually to bear, for the advancement of the Plantation.
That for the charge of fortifications, the Compa- ny's joint stock to bear the one half, and the planters to defray the other, viz. for ordnance, munition, powder, &c. But for laborers in building of forts, &c. all men to be employed in an equal pro- portion, according to the number of men upon the Plantation, and so to continue until such fit and necessary works be finished.
That the charge of the ministers now there or that shall hereafter go to reside there, as also the charge of building convenient churches, and all other public works upon the Plantation, be in like manner indiffe- rently borne, the one half by the Company's joint stock for the said term of seven years, and the other half by the planters.
That the ordnance already provided for fortifica- tion be rated as they cost, as also all powder and munition whatsoever concerning arms, so as the same be delivered there for public use ; and this to be accounted as part of the joint stock of the Company. All which being several times read, was by Mr. Governor put to the question, and by general con- sent, by erection of hands, was agreed and concluded on, and ordered accordingly.
> That Wf compromiae.
A COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
97
And forasmuch as by [a] former Order the patent chap.
and government is to be transferred to New-Eng ^
land, a Committee is appointed, part of the adven- 1^29. turers here, and part of those that intend to go over, ^^ viz.
Mr. Davenport, Mr. Wright, Mr. Perry, Capt. Waller, Capt. Venn, Mr. Adams, Mr. Whetcombe, Mr. Young, Mr. Spurstowe, and Me. Revell.
Sir Richard Saltonstall/
Mr. Johnson,
Mr. Winthrop,
Mr. Humfry,
Mr. Dudley,
Mr. Vassall,
Mr. Pinchon, and
Mr. Downing.*
Who are desired to meet to-morrow morning, to confer of and draw fit and convenient clauses to be inserted in Articles of Agreement, which may be commodious for either part, and to prepare the same for a Court of Assistants, appointed that afternoon to determine thereof.
^ Those in the second column, I suppose, intended to go over.
* Emanuel Downing was of the Inner Temple, and married a sister of Governor Winthrop. He came over, I suppose, in 1638, for I find it stated in the Colony Records, that the 14th of December of that
on
year, " Mr. Endicott and Mr. John Winthrop, Jr. had order to give Mr, Emanuel Downing the oath of free- dom.'* He resided at Salem, which
he represented ^ye years in the General Court. He, and not Cali- bute Downing, (as is erroneously stated by An&ony Wood,) was tl^ father of the notorious Sir G^eorge Downing. Simon Bradstreet, an Assistant, and afterwards Governor of the Colony, married a daughter of Emanuel Downing. See Wood*8 Athen. Oxon. iii. 108, (ed. Bliss^ ; Hutchinson's Mass. 18, 111 ; Wm- throp's N. E. i. 49, 100, iL 240, 369.
98 MANAGEMENT OF THE JOINT STOCK.
^ UL^* -4 Court of Assistants at the Deputy* s house^ on Friday j ^ the 16/A of October, 1629. Present,
1629. Q^^ Mr. Mattii. Cradock, Governor^ Mr. G. Harwood, Treasurer^
16. Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Wintbrop,
Mr. Isaac Johnson, Mr. Huson,
Mr. Dudley, Mr. Whetcombb,
Mr. John Humfry, Mr. Perry,
Mr. William Vassall, Mr. Pocock,
Mr. Rbvell, Mr. Spurstowe,
Mr. George Foxcroft, Mr. Pinchon,
Mr. Adams, Capt. Yehn,
Mr. Samuel Vassall.
This Court was appointed to treat and resolve, upon the transferring of the government to New- England, what government shall be held at London, whereby the future charge of the joint stock may be cherished and preserved, and the body politic of the Company remain and increase ;
What persons shall have the charge of the man- aging of the joint stock both at London and in New- England ; wherein it is conceived fit that Capt. En- decott continue the government there, unless just cause to the contrary.
These and other things were largely discussed ; and it was thought fit and natural that the govern- ment of persons be held there, the government of trade and merchandises to be here.
That the joint stock being mutual, both here and there, that some fit persons be appointed for man- aging thereof in both places.
But for that there is a great debt owing by the joint stock, it was moved that some course might be taken for clearing thereof before the government be
LETTERS TO ENDICOTT AND HIGGINSON. 99
transferred ; and to this purpose it was first thought chap. fit that the accounts should be audited, to see what — ~ the debt is. But the business not admitting any such ^^^^' delay, it was desired that Mr. Governor and Mr. ^ Treasurer would meet to-morrow, and make an esti- mate of the debts, and prepare the same against a meeting to be on Monday next, to determine this question.
The ship Eagle is to be freighted from Bristol.
Lastly, letters were read and signed to Mr. Ende- cott, Mr. Skelton, and Mr. Higgison, as appears by the entries of them in the book of copies of letters.^
A Meeting at Mr. Deputy* s house, on Monday, the \9th
of October, 1629. Present, 19.
Mr. Matthew Cradock, Governor, Mb. Foxchoft,
Mr. George Harwood, Treasurer, Sir R. Saltokstall,
Mr. Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Isaac Johnson,
Capt. Venn, Mr. Davenport,
Mr. Pinchon, Mr. Whyte, the preacher,
Mr. William Vassall, Mr. Whyte,' the counsellor,
Mr. Huson, Mr. Wynthropp,
Mr. Noell, Mr. Dudley.
Mr. Adams,
The occasion of this meeting being to resolve of the alteration of the government, and therein to con-
* These letters, in the handwritr • This was probably the Mr.
ing of Burgess, the Secretary, are White, described by Clarendon as
preserved in the first book of Deeds ** a grave lawyer, but notoriously
in the Registry of Suffolk. The disafiected to the Church," who was
MS. is probably a part of the origi- chairman of the parhainentary ccnn-
nal Letter-Book here referred to. mittee on religion in 1640. See
They will be found in another part Clarendon's Rebellion, i. 348. of this Toliime.
100 THE PLANTERS AND ADVENTURERS.
CHAP, sider how the debts upon the joint stock shall be first
discharged, and how the same shall be hereafter man-
1629. aged ; and herein what was formerly treated on was 19,' again related. And for that divers questions will arise to be determined in this business, which will take up much time, and cannot be so conveniently done at a Court, it was thought fit that certain com- mittees be appointed, on either part, to meet and make propositions each to other, and set the same down in writing ; and if they can, to agree and con- clude of a fit end to be made for the good of the Plantation ; and if any differences happen which they cannot agree on, that then the same be referred to the umpirage and determination of some of the preach- ers, to be chosen to that purpose ; who are desired to set down in writing what they shall think in con- science is fit to be done indifferently for the good of the work and the encouragement both of planters and adventurers. And to this purpose. Articles be- tween the planters and adventurers for performance of what shall be determined, was now drawn by Mr. Whyte, the counsellor, read and approved, and are to be presented to-morrow at a General Court, to be ratified, and then sealed ; and at that Court the Go- vernor and Assistants to be chosen for the govern- ment in New-England.
THE PURCHASE OF THE EAGLE CONFIRMED. 101
A General Court holden at Mr. Goff, the Deputy* s house^ ^^vl' on Tuesday, the 20th of October, 1629. Present, --—-
16S9.
Mr. Matthew Cradock, Governor^ Mr. Davenport, ) i u i ^^• Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Whyte, )
Mr. Isaac Johnson, Mr. Winthrop,
Capt. John Venn, Mr. Dudley,
Mr. [Samdel] Aldersey, Mr. Puliston,
Mr. Nathaniel Wright, Mr. Ballard,
Mr. George Harwood, Treasurer, Mr. Job Bradshaw, Mr. John Humfry, Mr. Cooke,
Mr. William Vassall, Mr. Revell,
Mr, Willlam Pinchon, Capt. Waller,
Mr. George Foxcroft, Mr. Ballard,'
Mr. Increase Noell, Mr. Woodgate,
Mr. Christopher Colson, Mr. Stephens,
Mr. Richard Perrt, Mr. Francis Flyer,
Mr. Thomas Adams, Mr. Spurstowe,
Mr. John Pocock, Mr. Hijson,
Mr. Thomas Hutchins, Mr. Roe,
Mr. Webb, Assistants. With some others of the Generality,
Mr. Governor caused to be read the Order formerly made concerning the buying of the ship Eagle ; and desired to know the pleasure of the Court for confirmation thereof. Whereupon some debate be- ing had, the Order was well approved of; but for that it is wished that the gentlemen that are to go over should have the i part of the said ship which was formerly allotted to the Company, (the Company being out of cash, and for other reasons,) they not having notice thereof till now, desired time till the afternoon to consider thereof, and to give their an
* Clergymen.
' Mr. Ballard's name is probably repeated by mistake.
102 ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.
CHAP, swer ; which was condescended unto, and the same
IIL
' is then to be determined accordingly.
1629. After which Mr. Governor acquainted those pre- 2^* sent, that the especial occasion of summoning this Court was for the election of a new Governor, Dep- uty, and Assistants, the government being to be transferred into New-England, according to the for- mer Order and resolution of the Company. But be- fore the Court proceeded to the said election, certain Articles of Agreement, conceived at a meeting yes- terday between the adventurers here at home and the planters that are to go over, as well for the man- aging and settling of the joint stock, as for reconcil- ing of any differences that may happen upon this change of government, was now read, and recom- mended to the Court for their approbation, and for the nomination and appointment of a competent num- ber of committees, to meet and treat and resolve of these businesses. The Articles themselves were approved of, and five committees on either part were thereupon chosen, viz. Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Hum- fry, for the planters ; and for the adventurers was chosen Mr. Governor, Mr. Aldersey, Mr. Wright, Mr. Hutchins, and Capt. Venn. And in case the said committee, or the greater number of them, should diflfer in any one or more particulars, and not agree thereon, there was chosen for umpires Mr. Whyte, the counsellor, Mr. Whyte, of Dorchester, and Mr. Davenport,^ to whom the decision and de-
^ John Davenport was bom in the degrees of A. M. and B. D.
1597, at Coventry, of which city his He became a noted preacher among
father was mayor. He was educa- the Puritans, and at length minister
ted at Oxford, where he received of St. Stephen's, Coleman-street,
JOHN DAVENPORT, OF NEW HATEN. lOS
termination of all such differences is referred, accord'- c^^ka'-
in.
ing to the tenure of the said Articles of Agreement. -^-^ And it being further taken into consideration, that in ^•^•' regard of the shortness of the time limited to the 90. committees, many things of weight and consequence in this so great a business may either not be at all thought on, or otherwise left unresolved, by them and the said umpires, it b therefore thought fit by this Court that the said committee and umpires shall continue till the end of this term ; and whatsoever material things for the good of the Plantation shall in that time be treated on and resolved by them, the same to be as valid and effectual as if it had been done before the expiration of the time limited by the
London. About the year 1637, he efice bestowed on him. Not being
was appointed one of ^feoffees for entirely satisfied, however, with tikd
haying in of impropriations ; con- proceedings there, be yielded to ikub
oeming which see note ' on page 70. urgent letters of John Cotton, and
Being persecuted by the prelates for came over to New-England in June,
his nonconformity, and a warrant 1637, with Theophilus Eaton, who
having been issued by the High had been one of his parishionen in
Commission to summon him before London, and Edward Hopkins, and
them, he resigned his benefice Dec. with them laid the foundations of tht
18, 1633, and fled into Holland. Colony of New Haven in l638. In
Archbishop Laud sajrs in his annual 1668, in his 71st year, he removed
account to the King, dated Jan. 3, to Boston tq become the pastor of
1634, '* Since my return out of the First Church, and died there in
Scotland, Mr. John Davenport, vicar 1670. He was buried by the side
of St. Stephen^s in Coleman-street, of Cotton, and near to Governor
whom I used with all moderation, Winthrop, in the northern comer of
and about two years after thought I Kind's Chapel grave-yard. Increase
had settled lus judgment, [not quite, Mather wrote some account of hie
my Lord !] having him then at ad- life. See Wood^s Athen. Qzon. iiL
vantage enough to have put extrem- 889, (ed.- Bliss); Newcourt's Re-
ity upon him, but forbore it, hath pertorium, i. 537 ; Laud^s TrouUee
now resigned his vicarage, declared and Trial, pp. 348, 536 ; Mather's
his judgment against conformity with Magnalia, i. 336, 393-303; Win-
the Church of England, and is sinoe throp^s N. England, i. 337 ; Hutchr
S»ne (as I hear) to Amsterdam.*' inson^s Mass. i. 83, 115, 315; Enir
ere he preached for some time to erson's Hist, of the First Churdi
the English congregation; but on in Boston, pages 110-134; Prof,
the breaking out of the civil wars, Kingsley's Cent. Discourse, pp. 19,
he returned to England, as other 63; Leonard Bacon's HistoriouDie-
Nonconfonniets did^ end had a ben- courses, pp. 75-155.
104 JOHN WINTHROP, OP GKOTON,
^m^' Articles. And it was further thought fit that all such others of the Company as will, may from time to time have access to the said committee, to pro- pound such things as they conceive beneficial for the business, or to present their opinions in writing, but not to debate with them for interrupting their pro- ceedings.
All which being put to the question, was approved of, and by erection of hands ordered accordingly.
And now the Court proceeding to the election of a new Governor, Deputy, and Assistants, which, upon serious deliberation, hath been and is conceived to be for the especial good and advancement of their affairs ; and having received extraordinary great commendations of Mr. John Wynthrop,^ both for
^ Of John Winthrop, the first and embarked his all to promote the
Grovemor of the Massachusetts Col- settlement of New-Enffland. It is a
ony, the narrow limits of a Note veiy full evidence of 3ie esteem in
will not permit us to speak ade- which he was held, that, when many
aaately or worthily; and we must gentlemen of character, some of tierefore refer those who wish to Uiem of noble alliance, were con- know the particulars of his life and cemed in the same undertaking with understand his character, to the me- him, he, by a general voice, was moir in Belknap's Am. Biog. ii. placed at their head." He says 337-358, to the account given by himself, **I was first chosen to be Mather, in the Magnalia, i. 108-120, Governor without my seeking or ex- and to his own Journal, or History pectation, there being then divers of New-England, (with Savage's other gentlemen who, for their abil- invaluable notes,) and his admirable ities every way, were far more fit." letters appended to both volumes of He was eleven times chosen Grov- tfaat work. Suffice it now to say, emor, and spent his whole estate in that he was bom at Groton, in Suf- the public service. His son John, folk, Jan. 12, 1588, and was de- and his grandson, Fitz-John, (who aoended from an ancient and honor- was a captain in Col. Read's regi- able family. He was bred to the ment at the Restoration in 1660,) law, as his ancestors had been be- were successively governors of Con- fore him, one of them, Adam Win- necticut Colony, and Wait Still, an- tfarop, having been an eminent law- other grandson, was chief justice of
Ssr in the reign of Henry VIII. Massachusetts. Stephen, another
och was the gravity and steadiness son of the elder Winthrop, went to
of his character, that, at the early England in 1645 or 1646, had the
age of eighteen, he was made a jus- command of a regiment, and sao-
tice of the peace. ** He had an es- ceeded Harrison in his major^gen-
tate of six or seven hundred pounds eralship, was a member of Parliap
a year, which he turned into money, ment for Scotland in 1656, and was
CHOSEN GOVERNOR OF THE COMPANY. 105
his integrity and sufficiency, as being one every chaf. [way'] well fitted and accomplished for the place of — ^ Governor, did put in nomination for that place the ^®*^' said Mr. John Winthrop, Sir Richard Saltonstall, so.' Mr. Isaac Johnson, and Mr. John Humfry ; and the said Mr. Winthrop was with a general vote and full consent of this Court, by erection of hands, chosen to be Governor for the ensuing year, to begin on this present day ; who was pleased to accept thereof, and thereupon took the oath to that place apper- taining.
mach trusted by the Protector. The Fort Warren is built, was granted
family, in every generation, have to him, and the name was changed
occupied high stations, and been de- to the Governor's Garden. '* Not.
servedly held in great respect in 7, 1632, there is about fifty acres of
New-England. Its character is now meadow ground granted to John
worthily sustained by the Hon. Ro- Winthrop, Esq., present Governor,
bert C. Winthrop, who represents lying between Cobbett's house and
the city of Boston in the Congress Wanottymies' river ; " and, March
of the United States. Gov. Win- 4, 1634, the wear at Mistick was
throp was in his 43d year when he granted to him and Matthew Ciar
sailed for New- England. He died dock, of London. — It is much to
March 26, 1649, in the 62d year of be regretted that Gov. Winthrop's
his age, and was buried, April 3d, '* larger discourse of all things,"
in the northern comer of the ^ng's mentioned in a letter to his wife.
Chapel burial-ground, in Boston. July 16, 1630, and twice aflerwaids
His son John, governor of Connecti- referred to in his letters to his son,
cut, was interred in the same tomb July 23 and Aug. 14, is lost. It
in April, 1676. " The Green," the may have contained interesting state-
Grovemor's town lot, included the ments, not included in his Journal
land now owned by the Old South or History. — In his magnanimity,
Church in Washington-street, and disinterestedness, and moderation,
his house stood about opposite in his mingled firmness of principle
School-street. Prince, the Annalist, and mildness of temper, in his har-
who died in 1758, says that Win- monious character, consis^nt life,
throp '* deceased in the very house and well-balanced mind, the Father
I dwell in." It was a two-story of Massachusetts reminds us of the
boilding, of wood, and remained till great *' Father of his country," and
it was destroyed by the British is the only name