History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 17

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 17

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Holland ; that during a severe storm John Howland was washed from the deck, and by seizing the topsail halliards was rescued from drowning; and that a son of Stephen Hopkins was born, called Oceanus, because born at sea. On the 11th of November, after a pas- sage of sixty-six days, the " Mayflower" dropped an- chor in what is now Provincetown harbor. On the 9th the land of Cape Cod had been sighted, and, as Bradford says, " after some deliberation had amongst themselves and with the master of the ship, they tacked about, and resolved to stand for the south ward, the wind and weather being fair, to find some place about Hudson's River for their habitation. But after they had sailed the course about half the day they fell amongst dangerous shoals and roaring breakers, and they were so far entangled therewith as they conceived themselves in great danger; and the wind shrinking upon them withal, they resolved to bear up again for the Cape, and thought themselves happy to get out of the dangers before night overtook them, as by God's providence they did."

The above statement nade by Bradford in his his- tory renders it extremely doubtful whether it had been the clear determination of the Pilgrims to seek and settle on the lands, the patent for which, derived from the Southern Virginia Company, they had brought with them. The accepted theory of histori- ans, has been that they had no other plan in their minds, and that they were only prevented from car- rying it out by adverse winds and the dangerous navigation of what is now called Vineyard Sound. But the careful reader will discover several weak points in this theory. It is well known that in 1619, Thomas Dermer, sent out by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, visited Plymouth, which had already been visited by John Smith in 1614, and received its name through him, from Prince Charles, and in a letter to his patron dated June 30, 1620, he said, in speaking of that place, "I would that the first plantation might here be scated if there come to the number of fifty persons or upwards." It is probable that this letter reached Plymouth, in England, where Gorges was stationed as Governor of the castle, before the final departure of the " Mayflower" from that port on the 6th of September, and may have had some influence in determining the place of settlement. Gorges was a prominent member of the Northern Virginia Com- pany, directly interested in the settlement of its ter- ritory, of which Plymouth, in New England, was a part, and would be very likely to have urged the Pilgrims to abandon the patent in their possession, with the promise of the issue of another from his own company. This suggestion is reinforced by the vote

of the Southern Virginia Company, already referred to, calling on John Pierce, in whose name their pat- ent had been issued, to surrender it, because he had " received another from Gorges, as by many was sup- posed he would." Besides the language of Bradford, already quoted, the language of the compact signed in Cape Cod harbor, “ We, whose names are underwritten having undertaken for the glory of God and advance- ment of the Christian faith, and the honor of our king and country a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia," still further supports the probability that after all there was no positive de- viation from their plan, and that a settlement in New England was among the possible results of their en- terprise.

The theory that the captain of the " Mayflower" was bribed by the Dutch to keep the " Mayflower" away from their settlement was first suggested by Nathaniel Morton in the " New England's Memorial," published in 1669, in which he says, " Of the plot between the Dutch and Capt. Jones I have had late and certain intelligence." This theory has never been accepted by historians, though often repeated, and mainly on the ground that it seemed impossible that Morton, forty-nine years after the event, could have received reliable information. It is due, however, to Morton, to state that the appointment of Thomas Willet, a Plymouth man, as mayor of New York, after its capture from the Dutch by the United Col- onies in 1664, may have furnished an opportunity for discovering in the archives of that city some evi- dence which could easily have come to the ears of Morton while his book was in preparation. This cir- cumstanee is to be considered, together with all the facts in the case, in deciding whether the Pilgrims really deviated, for any cause, from the intended voyage, or whether their destination, when they finally left England, was not left in doubt, to be deter- mined by circumstances as they might afterwards arise.

While the company were at Southampton two let- ters were received from Robinson full of tender advice and counsel, in one of which he said, " Whereas you are become a body politic, using among yourselves civil government, and are not furnished with any per- sons of special eminence above the rest, to be ehosen by you into office of government, let your wisdom and godliness appear not only in choosing such per- sons as do entirely love and will promote the common good, but also in yielding unto them all due honor and obedience in their lawful administrations ; not beholding in them the ordinariness of their persons, but God's ordinance for your good, not being like the

THE "MAYFLOWER,"

for

sic

fol

for

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.

foolish multitude who more honor the gay coat than either the virtuous mind of the man or glorious ordi- Dance of the Lord." The letters were addressed to Carver as one apparently in authority ; and as Brad- ford states that " a Governor and two or three assist- ants for each ship were chosen to order the people by the way, and see to the disposing of their posses- sions," it is probable that Carver was chosen Governor of the party on board the " Mayflower," and that after the detachment of the " Speedwell" he was rec- ognized as the Governor of the whole company.

With one hundred and two passengers, then, the " Mayflower" arrived in Cape Cod harbor, and the following is a list of the company, exclusive of those attached to the vessel as officers and seamen :

[ John Carver. Died in April, 1621. Katharine Carver, his wife. Died the first summer. Desire Minter. Returned to England. John Howland. Died in Plymouth, 1673. Roger Wilder. Died the first winter. William Latham. Died in the Bahama Islands. Maid servant. Died in a year or two. [ Jasper More. Died in December, 1620. William Brewster. Died in Plymouth, 1644.

- Mary Brewster, his wife. Died in Plymonth before 1627. Love Brewster. Died in Duxbury, 1650.

6 Wrestling Brewster. Died a young man. Richard More. Called Mann, died in Scituate, 1656. His brother. Died the first winter. Edward Winslow. Died at sea, 1654. Elizabeth Winslow, his wife. Died in March, 1620/1.

5 George Soule. Died in Duxbury, 1680.

Elias Story. Died the first winter. Ellen More. Died the first winter. William Bradford. Died in Plymouth, 1657.

2 Dorothy Bradford, his wife. Drowned in Cape Cod har- bor, Dec. 7, 1620.

[ Isaac Allerton. Died in New Haven, 1659.

Mary Allerton, his wife. Died in February, 1620/1. Bartholomew Allerton. Returned to England.

Remember Allerton. Married Moses Maverick, and died in Salem after 1652.

Mary Allerton. Married Thomas Cushman, and died in Plymouth, 1699.

John Hooke. Died the first winter.

1 Samuel Fuller. Died in Plymouth, 1633.

2 [ John Crackston. Died the first winter.

Jobn Crackston, Jr. Died in Plymouth, 1628.

Miles Standish. Died in Duxbury, 1656.

2 Rose Standish, his wife. Died in Plymouth, January, 1620,1.

Christopher Martin. Died in Plymouth, January,

1620 1.

4 His wife. Died the first winter.

Solomon Power. Died in Plymouth, December, 1620. I John Langemore. Died the first winter.

William Mullins. Died in Plymouth, 1620/1.

His wife. Died the first winter.

5 Joseph Mullins. Died the first winter.

Priscilla Mullins. Married John Alden, and died in Duxbury after 1650.

l Robert Carter. Died the first winter.

William White. Died in Plymouth, February, 1620/1. Susanna White, his wife. Married Edward Winslow, and died in Marshfield, 1680.

5 Resolved White. Died in Salem after 1680. William Holbeck. Died the first winter.

Edward Thompson. Died in December, 1620. Stephen Hopkins. Died in Plymouth, 1644.

Elizabeth Hopkins, his wife. Died in Plymouth after 1640.

Giles Hopkins. Died in Yarmouth, 1690.

Constance Hopkins. Married Nicholas Snow, and died in Eastbam, 1677.

Damaris Hopkins. Married Jacob Cooke, and died in Plymouth between 1666 and 1669.

Oceanus Hopkins. Died in Plymouth, 1621.

Edward Doty. Died in Yarmouth, 1655.

Edward Leister. Removed to Virginia and there died.

I Richard Warren. Died in Plymouth, 1628.

John Billington. Executed 1630. Eleanor Billington, his wife. Married Gregory Arm- strong, 1638.

4 John Billington. Died before 1630.

Francis Billington. Died in Yarmouth after 1650.

Edward Tilly. Died the first winter.

Ann Tilly, his wife. Died the first winter.

4 Henry Sampson. Died in Duxbury, 1684. Humilitie Cooper. Returned to England.

כִי. John Tilly. Dicd the first winter.

His wife. Died the first winter.

Elizabeth Tilly. Married John Howland, and died in Swansea, 1687.

2 Francis Cooke. Died in Plymouth, 1683.

Jobn Cookc. Died in Dartmouth after 1694.

Thomas Rogers. Died in 1621.

2 Joseph Rogers. Died in Eastbam, 1678. Thomas Tinker. Died the first winter.

3 His wife. Died the first winter. His son. Died the first winter.

2 John Ridgdale. Died the first winter.

Alice Ridgdale, his wife. Died the first winter.

James Chilton. Died in December, 1620.

3 His wife. Died the first winter.

Mary Cbilton. Married John Winslow, and died in Bos- ton, 1679.

Edward Fuller. Died the first season.

3 His wife. Died the first season. Samuel Fuller. Died in Barnstable, 1683. John Turner. Died the first winter.

3 ffis son. Died the first winter.

Another son. Died the first winter. Francis Eaton. Died in Plymouth, 1633.

3 Sarah Eaton, his wife. Died soon after 1624.

Samuel Eaton. Died in Middleboro', 1684.

1 Moses Fletcher. Died the first season.

1 Thomas Williams. Died the first season.

1 Degory Priest. Died in December, 1620.

1 John Goodman. Died the first season.

1 Edmond Margeson. Died the first season.

1 Richard Britteridge. Died in December, 1620.

1 Richard Clarke. Died the first season.

1 Richard Gardiner. Became a seaman, and died in Eng- land.

1 Gilbert Winslow. Returned to England.

1 Peter Brown. Died in Plymouth, 1633.

1 John Alden. Died in Duxbury, 1687.

1 Thomas English. Died the first winter.

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

1 John Allerton. Died the first winter.

1 William Trevore. Hired for a year, and returned to Eng- land.

Ely. Hired for a year, and returned to England.

102

On the arrival of the " Mayflower" in Cape Cod harbor, the following compact in the nature of a con- stitution of government was drawn up and signed :

" In the name of God, amen.

"We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord King James, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Vir- ginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the pres- ence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our- selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offiees from time to time as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have here- unto subseribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord King James of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini, 1620.

" Mr. John Carver. 8

John Turner 3

William Bradford. 2

Francis Eaton. 3

Mr. Edward Winslow 5

James Chilton .. 3

Mr. William Brewster 6

John Crackston 2

Mr. Isaae Allerton. 6

John Billington.

Capt. Miles Standish 2

Moses Fletcher

John Alden

John Goodman

1 1

Mr. Christopher Martin. 4

Thomas Williams

Mr. William Mullins. 5

Gilbert Winslow.

Mr. William White, 5

Mr. Richard Warren 1

Peter Brown ..

1 1

Mr. Stephen Hopkins. 8

George Soule

John Tilly. 3

Richard Gardiner.

Franeis Cooke 2

John Allerton. 1

Thomas Rogers. 2

Thomas English. 1

Thomas Tinker. 3

Edward Doty

Edward Leister.

John Ridgdale 2 Edward Fuller .. 3

105"

In this list the figures represent the number in each family, and from the total number one hundred and five, five are to be deducted, as John Howland is included in the eight of Carver's family, George Soule in the family of Edward Winslow, Edward Doty and Edward Leister in that of Stephen Hop- kins, and as William Button, for whom Samuel Fuller signed, died on the passage. To the remaining num- ber of one hundred arc to be added the names of William Trevore and Ely, who were hired for a year, and who returned to England, thus reconciling the number of signers with the list of passengers already given.

The circumstances under which this compact was

framed and signed render it a remarkable instrument. The Pilgrims had landed on territory within the juris- diction of Great Britain without cither a charter from the king or patent from the Virginia Company ; with- out even the sanction of the natural owners of the soil until the treaty with Massasoit in the following March; without more right or authority to form a body politie and enact laws for its government than if they were living in London or Serooby. Outside of the jurisdiction of the company whose patent they held, within the jurisdiction of a company from which they had acquired no express rights, the assumption of authority implied by the terms of the eompaet renders it more than probable that before leaving England they had been assured by the officers of the Northern Virginia Company, or at least by Ferdinando Gorges, that a patent would be issued and sent to them if they should decide to settle within their limits. It has been said that this compact was after all nothing more than a simple agreement, such as any body of adventurers or colonists, or miners in our own day, outside of the restraints of civilization, might enter into for temporary use and simply peace- ful purposes ; and that erecting thereon a permanent structure of government they builded better than they know. If the test of design and purpose is like that applied to the architect, who sees in his mind's eye the lofty dome in its exact height and propor- tions when he lays the corner-stone, it is true that the Pilgrims builded better than they knew. But in establishing a principle, in founding institutions, in framing new and progressive forms of government, there can be no fixed and definite walls, no finished dome, no completed structure, which the prophetic eye can grasp, and he who gives birth to the new idea never builds better than he knows. Whatever may have been the design and aim of the compact, it cannot be denied that, like the seed, it comprehended within itself those elements, which, when subjected to favorable conditions, had a germinating force, and were capable of developing into first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear, of a free and popular government in the western world.

It is unnecessary to dwell on the incidents which occurred while the "Mayflower" remained in Cape Cod harbor. On the 4th of December the first death after the arrival, that of Edward Thompson, occurred ; on the 6th that of Jasper More; and on the 7th, Dorothy, the wife of William Bradford, was drowned. Bradford says, " Our people went on shore to refresh themselves, and our-women to wash, as they had great need." Several expeditions were undertaken, of which the first, composed of Standish, Bradford, Hopkins,

1 1 1

John Howland.

Richard Britteridge

Edward Tilly

Richard Clarke

Mr. Samuel Fuller. 2

Degory Priest ..

Edmond Margesor

THE LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS.

and, W.a

Fle masta

Fizaring

ad land

Lesham.

Brided.

Esping

1 stor

Month

len Sa

the 1

Linde

best

und Edm ir land. After a

better pla citations

"to make

iser and Far, almo fedt line

ourping-i

For, and

.3, where a third

HLich be

lopin,

Til men

De expl

Bradford.

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.

and Edward Tilly, set out on the 15th of November by land, and returned after three days' absenee. After a second fruitless expedition in search of a better place of settlement. it was after repeated eon- sultations, coneluded, in the language of Bradford. " to make some discovery within the bay, but in no case so far as Angoum (Ipswieh). Besides. Robert Coppin. our pilot, made relation of a great navigable river and good harbor on the other headland of the bay, almost right over against Cape Cod, being in a right line not mueh above eight leagues distant, in which he had been once. and because that one of the wild men with whom they had some trueking stole a harping-iron from them they ealled it Thievish Har- bor, and beyond that plaee they were enjoined uot to go, whereupon a company was chosen to go out upon a third discovery. Whilst some were employed in this discovery. it pleased God that Mistress White was brought to bed of a son, which was ealled Pere- grine." As the expedition started on the 6th of December and returned on the 12th. the birth of Peregrine White must be fixed between those dates. The exploring party consisted of Standish, Carver, Bradford. Winslow. John Tilly. Edward Tilly, How- land. Warren. Hopkins, Doty, John Allerton, Eng- lish, John Clark, the mate, Martin Coppin, the pilot, the master gunner, and three sailors,-eighteen in all. Leaving the ship, they skirted the shore of the cape, and landed to spend the first night at what is now Eastham. The next morning, the 7th, the company divided. some going on in the shallop, and the rest keeping along by the shore on the land. The second night was passed in the vieinity of what is now Brewster, and on the 8th of December, towards night, in a storm of snow and rain, the company reached the island in Plymouth harbor, named after John Clark, the mate of the " Mayflower," Clark's Island. Here Saturday, the 9th, was passed, and the record for the 10th is, as made by Bradford, " On the Sab- bath day we rested." On Monday, the 11th, they sounded the harbor, found it suitable for shipping, and marching " into the land found divers cornfields and little running brooks, a place very good for situa- tion. So we returned to our ship again with good news to the rest of our people, which did much com- fort their hearts." The 11th of December then, or according to the new style the 21st, was the day of the landing of the shallop party at Plymouth, and it is this event and not the landing of any portion of the ship's company afterwards, which is celebrated as the landing of the Pilgrimns. On the 12th the ex- ploring party returned to the ship, on the 15th the " Mayflower" weighed anchor, and on the 16th she

was moored in the harbor of Plymouth, one hundred days after her departure from old Plymouth, in England.

Plymouth was a spot not unknown to Europeans. Large numbers of fishermen from England, Portugal, ! Franee, and Spain had for many years followed their oeeupations along the New England coast, aud of those who had made voyages of exploration more than one had visited Plymouth. It is believed by many that Martin Pring visited it in 1603; but though Plymouth meets the requirements of his topographieal description, it fails to agree with his statements of latitude. It must still remain an open question whether Plymouth harbor or some place in the Vineyard Sound is the spot he visited, as he steered south from the coast of Maine. So far as is actually known, leaving in doubt the claims for the Northmen and Pring, the discovery of Plymouth must be accorded to a French explorer in 1605. On the 17th of April, 1604, Sieur de Monts set sail with four vessels from Havre de Grace, with Sieur de Champlain as his pilot. In an account of the voyage, published by Champlain in Paris in 1613, he thus deseribes his visit to Plymouth :

" The next day (July 28, 1605) we doubled Cape St. Louis (Branches Island), so named by Sicur de Monts, a land rather low, and in latitude 42° 45'. The same day we sailed two leagues along a sandy coast, as we passed along which we saw a great many eahins and gardens. The wind being contrary, we entered a little hay to await a time favorable for proceeding. There came to ns two or three eanoes, which had just been fishing for cod and other fish, which are found there in large numbers. These they eatch with hooks made of a piece of wood, to which they attach a bone in the shape of a spear, and fasten it very securely. The whole has a fang shape, and the line attached to it is made out of the bark of a tree. The bone is fastened on by hemp; and they told me that they gathered this plant without heing obliged to eultivate it, and indieated that it grew to the height of four or five feet. Some of them came to us and begged us to go to their river : we weighed anehor to do so, hut were unable to enter on account of the small amount of water, it being low tide, and were accordingly obliged to anehor at the mouth. I made an examination of the river, but saw only an arın of water (the harbor), extending a short distance inland, where the land is only in part cleared up. Running into this is merely a brook (Tonn Brook), not deep enough for boats except at full tide. The eircuit of the bay is ahout a league. On one side of the entrance to this bay is a point ( Burnet) which is almost an island, covered with wood, principally pines, and adjoins sand-banks, which are very extensive. On the other side the land (Manomet) is high. There are two islets in the harhor (Clark's Island and Saquish), which are not scen until one has entered, and around which it is almost entirely dry at low water. This place is very eonspieuous, for the coast is very low, excepting the eape at the entrance of the hay. Wo named it the Port du Cap St. Louis, distant two leagues from the above eape (Branches Island), and ten from the Island Cape (Cape Ann)."

There is a map of Plymouth harbor included in

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

the book, a copy of which may be found in the " Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth," which shows that Saquish was at that time an island, and that what is ealled Brown's Island was then, as now, at the full of the tide submerged by the sea.

The next European to visit Plymouth, so far as is known, was John Smith, who in two ships sailed under the auspiees of private adventurers, in 1614, " to take whales, and also to make trials of a mine of gold and copper." Anchoring his vessels near the mouth of the Penobscot, he explored the coast in a shallop as far as Cape Cod, giving the name of New England to the territory, and " drawing a map from point to point, isle to isle, and harbor to harbor, with the soundings, sands, rocks, and landmarks." Upon this map, after his return to England, Prince Charles attached names to various places, of which only Charles River, Cape Ann, and Plymouth survive. In 1619, Thomas Dermer, who had been an officer under Smith, again visited Plymoutlı, under the aus- pices of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, as has already been stated. On this visit he wrote the letter which has been referred to, recommending Plymouth as a place of settlement. Dermer brought with him a native called Tisquantum, or Squanto, whom Capt. Hunt, another officer of Smith, had carried away to be sold into slavery. Squanto was a member of the Patuxet tribe, which was in full occupation of Plymouth lands at the time of the visit of Smith, but which in 1616 was swept from the earth by an extraordinary plague, as the Pilgrims were afterwards told by Samoset. Squanto, finding only the bleached bones of his tribe to welcome his return, attached himself to the Pilgrims, and rendered them important service in the trying seasons of the colony. Again we see the hand of Providence guiding the steps of the colony, and by a mysterious dispensation leading them to the spot which it had prepared for their coming.

In the language of Carlyle, " Hail to thee, thou poor little ship ' Mayflower' !- poor, common-looking ship, hired by common charter-party for coined dol- lars, caulked with mere oakum and tar, provisioned with vulgar biscuit and bacon ; yet what ship ' Argo' or miraculous epic ship built by the sea-gods was other than a foolish bombarge in comparison. Golden fleeees or the like they sailed for with or without effect. Thou little ' Mayflower' hadst in thee a veri- table Promethean spark-the life-spark of the largest nation of our earth, as we may already name the transatlantic Saxon nation. They went secking leave to hear a sermon in their own method, these ' May- flower' Puritans-a most indispensable search ; and yet like Saul the son of Kish, seeking a small thing,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 17

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706