USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Lives of the governors of New Plymouth, and Massachusetts bay; from the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620, to the union of the two colonies in 1692 > Part 13
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t Davis' Morton, Appendix A. A. p. 425. Sce also Drake's Book of the Indians, b iii. c. 1.
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After the death of Alexander, Philip his successor appeared at Plymouth, and renewed his professions of peace. But the great chieftain, foreseeing the inevitable fate of his race, unless the march of the white population could be arrested, was secretly nourishing his schemes of vengeance, which precipitated the terrible war of 1675. A conviction on the part of Governor Prence, that such was in fact the deliberate purpose of the wily Philip, caused him to adopt the rigorous measures which have been noticed, and for which his wisdom and humanity have sometimes been called in question. In his belief, however, they were necessary to guard the colony from sudden war; and we know that the terrible struggle did not ensue until after his death.
The visit from the Royal Commissioners, Nicolls, Carr, and others, in 1665, was also productive of much uneasiness in the colony, and not a little embarrassment to the authorities. New Plymouth was at this time the weakest of all the colonies; but she nevertheless con- trived to hold on to her independence. The Com- missioners promised them a charter, if they would set an example of compliance, by allowing the King to select their governors; but the general court, after due deliber- ation, "with many thanks to the Commissioners, and great protestations of loyalty to the King, chose to be as they were."
Governor Prence. extended to these Commissioners a most cordial reception, as the authorized agents of the King, and so managed, by a little skillful courtesy, as to avoid giving them the offence which the proceedings in Massachusetts had occasioned. In the reports of the Commissioners, New Plymouth was consequently com-
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plimented for her loyalty, and was, not long after, pro- mised the especial favour of the King .*
It appears from the report of the Commissioners to the King, that but "one plaint" was made to them at Plymouth, and that was, that "the governor would not let a man enjoy a farm of four miles square, which he had bought of an Indian." The fact, that no complaint should have been preferred, except this one against the governor, for exercising his power to prevent a wrong, discovers a degece of public confidence in the local government of this little jurisdiction, which has rarely been equalled. To understand the grounds of the inter- ference of Governor Prence, in this case, it should be remembered, that in the treaty made with Massasoit in 1621, and renewed with that sachem and his son Alexan- der, in 1639, the government of New Plymouth took the precaution to prevent the Indians from disposing of their lands to individuals. They foresaw that the practice, if
* The King was so well pleased with the loyal tone of the people of New Plymouth, at this period, that he addressed them a letter couched in the follow- ing gracious terms: "CHARLES R. Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. Having received so full and satisfactory an account from our commis- sioners, both of the good reception you have given them, and also of your du- tifulness and obedience to us : We cannot but let you know how much we are p'eised therewith ; judging that respect of yours towards our officers, to be the true and natural fruit which demonstrates what fidelity and affection towards us is rooted in your hearts. And although your carriage doth of itself, most justly deserve our praise and approbation, yet it seems to be set off with the more Instre, by the contrary deportment of the colony of Massachusetts, as if, by their refractoriness, they had designed to recommend and heighten the merit of your compliance with our directions, for the peaceable and good government of our subjects in those parts. You may therefore assure yourselves, that we shall never be unmindful of this your loyal and dutiful behavior, but shall, upon all occasions, take notice of it to your advantage ; promising you our con- . stant protection and royal favor, in all that may concern your safety, peace and welfare. And so we bid you farewell. Given at our court at Whitehall, the 10th day of April, 1666, in the Isth year of our reign. By his Majesty's com- mand. Will. Vorrice."
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allowed, would be attended with the most pernicious consequences ; that it would lay the foundations for end- less lawsuits, and the Indians themselves would be eventually stripped of all their lands, by the deceptions and intrigues of individuals. They therefore determined to consider all sales by the Indians to individuals, without the assent of the government, as invalid, and the chiefs, father and son, agreed to the stipulation that none such should be made. The wisdom of this policy can scarcely be doubted.
Amidst various perplexities, during the long adminis- tration of Governor Prence, the government at New Plymouth appears on the whole to have pursued a firm and steady course, in the promotion of the substantial interests of the people; and if we except a lamentable departure from a just and prudent toleration on religious topics, during the sixteen successive years of his magis- tracy, it is believed, that little will be found to reprehend, and much to approve. The bigotry which stained some portions of his career, was common to the age. His integrity was never questioned, save by the enthusiasts whom he looked upon as scoffers, and whose claim to liberty of conscience, appeared to him but a claim to reject the law of the gospel altogether. When Roger Williams, in 1670, bold in his defence of the great prin- ciples of religious freedom, proposed to Gov. Prence, to " dispute these and other points of difference," before the public, at Boston, Hartford, and Plymouth, *- Governor Prence replied, declining the proposition, but in terms which proved that no opposition would be offered to him, and no restraint imposed upon any persons who might
* See I Mass. Hist. Coll. i. 275, letter of Roger Williams.
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desire to hear him. He denies that the Plymouth govern- ment had any design to oppress a neighboring colony, or to deprive them of "that which is by some cried up above all you call New England's gods, viz. liberty for every one to worship God as he lists, or liketh best; and why not what God he liketh best also?" He declines a public discussion with Roger Williams, " not because we have not some, through the grace of God, both able and willing to maintain what truth we profess against gain- sayers ; but who would expect to be any whit perfected or completed in matters appertaining to God's worship, by such as close not with any public worship upon earth, that is known? Not I. Such worship," continues Gov- ernor Prence, "and a Samaritan religion, are much alike to me."*
The administration of Governor Prence is rendered illustrious, by his zealous efforts to introduce a regular system of free schools into the colony. It has been inti- mated that a keen sense of his own deficiency in educa- tion, compared with the ability and learning of his im- mediate predecessors, first led him to espouse the cause of free schools. If such was the fact, it is still more to his credit; as a sense of personal deficiency oftener pro- duces exactly the contrary result-a desire to pull down, rather than to build up, the institutions of learning. It is certain that he met with earnest, and for a time suc- cessful opposition, and that at first he succeeded only so far as to effect the establishment of a free school at Ply- mouth, which was supported by the profits of the fishery at Cape Cod. Previous to his death, however, he had the satisfaction to behold the system which he had so
* See I Mass. Ilist. Coll. vi. 203, reply of Gov. Prence.
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earnestly advocated, and which was destined to work out incalculable benefits to posterity, in successful operation in most of the towns of the colony, and sustained, as he knew it must be, to be extensively beneficial, at the pub- lic expense. In the inventory of the library of Governor Prence, after his decease, 44 school books are mentioned. " This shews, he was a scholar," says the late John Cot- ton, Esq., in a manuscript quoted by Judge Davis. The inference, however, is somewhat questionable, when other indications are considered. But though he was not a scholar, he was impressed with the importance of learn- ing in the community, and indulged a generous zeal in promoting literary acquisitions, which he did not himself possess. The school books, in his possession were proba- bly intended for distribution in the schools, which he had succeeded in having established at the public expense .*
Governor Prence was often employed in other public services of importance. He was a member of the coun- cil of war, and treasurer of the colony; was for twelve years one of the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and in 1672, was chosen the first president of the Board of Commissioners, under the new articles of Confedera- tion, adopted in September of that year.t
The integrity of Governor Prence was proverbial among the people. As a magistrate, it is observed of him, that he so scrupulously rejected every thing which
* Davis' Morton, 423.
t See account of the first union of the Colonies, page 120. The confederation of the four colonies in 1643, was re-organized in 1672, in consequence of the union of the New Haven colony with Connecticut, in 1665, and other changes in the relative condition of the colonies. The power of the Commissioners was now somewhat restricted, and instead of being executive, it was made in most cases merely advisory .- Baylies, ii. 191.
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had even the appearance of a bribe, that if any person, who had a cause in court, sent a present of any kind to his family during his absence, he immediately on being informed of it, returned the value in money-sometimes signifying to the party concerned that such a course of conduct was more likely to operate to his.injury than to advance his cause.
His industry, energy, and sound judgment, rendered him a very useful instrument in conducting the affairs of the rising colony, and would have made him a very respectable public character in a far more considerable community.
During his administration, there were two revisals of the laws of the colony : one in 1658, the other in 1671. The last digest is said to have been the work of his hands .*
Among the good deeds of Governor Prence, we should not omit to mention his exertions for a fixed and
* The revision made in 1671, was printed in 1672, by Samuel Green, at Cam- bridge, in a folio of 50 pages. Thomas' Hist. Print. i. 260. Baylies says " that not a single copy of the printed laws is now extant .. " Hist. New Plymouth, ii: 73. He is however in error, as a copy of the edition of 1671, is in the Libra- ry of the Massachusetts Historical Society. These laws were re-printed for the Colony in 16-5, by Green, at Boston, in a folio of 90 pages, with the following title : " The Book of the General Laws of the Inhabitants of the Jurisdiction of New-Plymouth, collected out of the records of the General Court, and lately revised : and with some Emendations and Additions Established and Disposed into such Order as they may readily Conduce to General Use and Benefit. And by the Order and Authority of the General Court of New-Plymouth, held at Plymouth, June 2d, Anno Dom. 16-5. Reprinted and Published. Nathaniel Clerk, Secrt. Be subject to errry Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake. I Pet. 2. 13. Boston in New England : Printed by Samuel Green, 1685." A fine copy of this edition of the Laws of New Plymouth, is preserved in the library of Hon. PETER FORCE, of Washington City ; appended to which are thirteen pages of manuscript, containing copies of sundry Orders made by Governor Andros and his Council, in 16:7, respecting the courts of law, jurisdiction of justices of the peace, &c. apparently copied from the original record, and certified by what appears to be the genuine signature of " John West, D. Secretary."
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competent support of an able and learned ministry. In many of the scattered settlements, a disposition prevailed to neglect this important branch of public instruction, and to employ incompetent lay exhorters-practices which he uniformly discountenanced.
The Plymouth Church records, in noticing the char- acter of Governor Prence, depart from their usual course, by an indication of his personal appearance, from which it may be supposed that it was peculiarly digni- fied and striking: " He was excellently qualifyed for the office of governour. He had a countenance full of majesty, and therein, as well as otherwise, a terror to evil doers."
Governor Prence died at his residence in Eastham, 20 March, 1673,* in the 73d year of his age. His re- mains were brought to Plymouth, and, on the 8th of April following, honorably interred among the fathers on Burial Hill.
Governor Prence was twice married. His only son Thomas, went to England young, married there, and soon after died, leaving an only daughter, whose name was Susanna. The governor was anxious that she should come to America, but this was prevented by the fond- ness of her mother. His eldest daughter Rebecca, was married to Edmund Freeman, Jr. of Sandwich. These were the children of Patience Brewster, a daughter of
* " Thomas Pronce, Esq. Governor of the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth, died 20th March, 1673, and was interred the Sth of April following, after hee had served God in the office of Governor 16 yeares, or neare thereunto. He finished his course in the 73 yeare of his life ; hee was a worthy gentleman, very pious, and very able for his office, and faithful in the discharge thereof, studious of peace, a well-wisher to all that feared God, and a terror to the wicked; his death was much lamented, and his body honorably buried at Plymouth the day and yeare above mentioned." Plymouth Colony Records.
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the venerable William Brewster, to whom Governor Prence was married in 1624. By his second wife, Mary, who was the daughter of William Collier, one of the assistants, formerly a London merchant, and to whom he was married in 1635. he was the father of seven daugh- ters, viz : Mary, married to John Tracy of Duxbury; Elizabeth, to Arthur Howland of Duxbury; Judith, to Isaac Barker of Duxbury ; Hannah, to Nathaniel Mayo, of Eastham ; Jane, to Mark Snow of Eastham; Sarah. to Jeremiah Howes of Yarmouth ; Mercy, to John Free- man of Eastham.
The Governor uniformly wrote his name Prence, as given in this memoir. The common orthography is sup- posed to be in conformity to the pronunciation, and ac- cording to the mode of spelling adopted by the families of Prince, who settled at Nantasket and Hull. Gov- ernor Prence having left no male descendants, those of the name in Boston, and other parts of the country, are not of his family ; many of them are known to be de- scended from John Prince of Hull, son of Rev. John Prince, of East Shefford, in Berkshire, England, who came to this country in 1633, settled first at Watertown or Cambridge, was admitted freeman in 1635, removed to Hull, and died there in 1676. Rev. Mr. Prince, the chronologist, a grandson of John Prince, remarks, that Governor Prence highly valued him, and claimed a re- mote relationship.
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V. JOSIAS WINSLOW.
JOSIAS WINSLOW, the fifth governor of the colony of New Plymouth, was the son of Edward Winslow, of whose life and public services some account has been given in the preceding pages. He was born at Marsh- field, in the year 1629 .* In his early education he enjoyed neither the discipline nor advantages of a school or college, as there was no school in the colony at that period ; but he had the benefit of his father's immediate care and instruction, as well as of the counsels and assis- tance of the excellent Mr. Brewster and. of Governor Bradford; and his public career served to shew that he had profited by their examples of steady virtue, ener- getic spirit, and disinterested public action. He was the first native of the country who held the office of gover- nor, and has been pronounced "the most accomplished man of his day in New England."
Mr. Winslow was introduced into public life at a very early age. In 1643, probably as soon as he was eligible to that post, he was chosen one of the deputies to the general court from the settlement at Marshfield, and was elected to the same trust in several subsequent years. In 1657, soon after the death of his father, he was ap- pointed one of the assistants, and was annually re-elected until chosen governor. Two years afterwards, in 1659, he was appointed to a still more responsible station, in the
* Some writers give the English termination to the christian name of Mr. Winslow, Josiah; but in this memoir, the name is given as I find it uniformly written by himself, in all the manuscripts which I have seen, containing his. signature.
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existing condition of the colony, that of major, or chief military commander of the colony-a post hitherto held by the warlike Miles Standish.
In the early periods of the colonial government, the highest military office was that of captain ; but in 1653. the military force was placed under the command of a major, who was appointed by the council of war, con- sisting of eleven men, to whom in that year had been transferred the whole power of military legislation for the colony, and the appointment of all military officers. The major was the chief officer over all the forces of the colony, subject only to the instructions of the council of war.
During the memorable Indian war of 1675, Governor Winslow had the command of the forces of the confeder- ated colonies, as general-in-chief. He was first chosen one of the commissioners from Plymouth colony under the confederation, in 1658, and was re-elected to the same office annually for thirteen successive years.
A brief survey of the principles and objects of this celebrated confederation of the New England colonies- the germ of our present happy union of independent States-has been given in the memoir of the first Gover- nor Winslow .*
In all the deliberations of the Commissioners, after he became a member of' that body, Mr. Winslow bore a conspicuous part, and exercised a salutary influence. It was an age of severe religious discipline. The tolera- tion of any sect but one's own, was almost universally considered at that time as absolutely heretical, and sub- versive of all religious faith and discipline, and dangerous
* See pp. 120-122, of this volume.
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to the community .* The persecuted had in turn become
the persecutors. The laws against the anabaptists, and more especially those against the Quakers, not then so orderly a people as at present, were severe in the ex- treme, and were executed to the very letter: fully de- monstrating the truth of the remark of Montesquieu, that "every religion which is persecuted, becomes itself per- secuting ; for as soon as by some accidental turn it arises from persecution, it attacks the religion that persecu- ted it."
It should be mentioned as a circumstance honorable to the character of Governor Winslow, that he opposed the rigorous measures adopted in New Plymouth against the Quakers. When the Commissioners of the United Colonies, in 1658, exasperated by the obstinacy and vio- lence of the new sect, issued to the several colonies the recommendation that they should be put to death, " unless they publicly renounced their cursed errors "- he had the moral courage to oppose this horrible edict, and he opposed it in every form. It is not often that public men have the nerve to stand up in opposition to the great body of the people whom they serve; less often are-they found to possess the strength of character
* The early writers of New England are seldom found to touch upon this subject, otherwise than in terms of bitterness. Ward. in " The Simple Cobler of Agawam," says -" That state that will give Liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion, must give Liberty of Conscience and Conversation in their Moral Laws, or else the Fiddle will be out of Tune, and some of the strings erack. * * * It is said, That Men ought to have Liberty of their Conscience, and that it is Persecution to debar them of it : I can rather stand amized thin reply to this : it is an astonishment to think that the brains of inen should be parboyl d in such impious ignorance : Let all the wits under the lleavens lay their heads to- gether and find an assertion worse than this, (one excepted,) I will petition to be chosen the universal Ideot of the World."-See " The Simple Cobler," in. Force's Tracts, Vol. III, No. 8.
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and capacity necessary to enable them to stem the tor- rent of a general public delusion. This independence of the popular sentiment, under the preceding adminis- tration of Governor Prence, had caused General Cud- worth, Isaac Robinson, and other excellent men to be proscribed, and driven from public employment; but Mr. Winslow's popularity was such, that he was enabled to sustain himself in the attitude he had assumed. He was in advance of the times ; and the people soon began to see #; so that in the end, when the popular delusion had passed away, he was the more admired, and his influence became the stronger, for his firmness in maintaining his opinions.
Governor Prence died in the spring of 1673, and at the next general court, which was held in June, Mr. Winslow was chosen his successor. He had now an op- portunity to make a further exhibition of his tolerant principles. We accordingly find that he immediately determined upon the restoration of a most valuable citi- zen, then in retirement, to his rights as a freeman, in order that he might avail himself of the benefit of his abilities and integrity in the public service. This per- son was General James Cudworth, an assistant from Scituate, in 1657, who had been left out of office, and disfranchised, under the administration of Governor Prence, in consequence of his opposition to the harsh proceedings against the Quakers .* Other persons, also proscribed for their opposition to the persecution of that sect, were soon after restored to their rights as freemen by Governor Winslow. One of these was Isaac Robin- son, son of the venerable puritan founder, John Robin-
* See pp. 154, of this volume.
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son, who seems to have inherited the liberal and tolerant spirit of his father.
For some years previous to 1675, the people of the colony had lived in general harmony with their Indian neighbors. The treaty of 1621 with Massasoit had been scrupulously observed, and while he lived, the Indians were faithful to his promises. After his death, his son and successor, Alexander, who was understood to be conspiring with the Narragansetts against the English, was summoned before the governor and council at Ply- mouth, to answer to the charge. Hesitating about a com- pliance with this abrupt summons, he was surprised by a party under the command of Major Winslow, and finally persuaded by one of his own counsellors to go to the house of the governor at Plymouth. His indigna- tion was so great at his surprisal, that it threw him into a fever. He had leave to depart, on leaving his son as a hostage, but he died before reaching home .*
Metacomet, of Pokanoket, better known as King Philip, succeeded his brother Alexander. He affected to renew the treaty of peace, but he was at the same time secretly meditating the overthrow of the English. Far more intelligent than most of his race, he beheld with dismay the tokens which announced the falling for- tunes of his country. He saw his people wasting away, and that they must ultimately become extinct. He had also family wrongs to redress, and personal enmities to avenge. He had been subjected to ignominious treaties. The expressions of reverence and respect which he had
* See particulars in relation to the surprisal and death of the sachem Alex- ander, pp. 163-166, ante. Compare also accounts in Drake's Book of the In- dians, b. iii. and authorities there cited.
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uttered for the British monarch, had been construed into submission, and an acknowledgment of fealty. When summoned on some occasion to renew his treaty with the English, he replied, "Your Governor is but a sub- ject of King Charles of England. I shall not treat with a subject. I shall treat of peace only with the King, my brother. When he comes, I am ready !" Such was the lofty spirit of the last monarch of the Wampanoags. But he could not maintain it, nor withstand the rapidly advancing power of the whites. They repeatedly sum- moned him to appear before the English courts at Ply- mouth and at Boston, sometimes upon frivolous charges, and he was compelled to answer the summons. He was charged with perfidy, for breaking promises made while under restraint, and with impiety, for adhering to the re- ligion of his ancestors, in compliance with the injunctions of his father .* And he was finally required to deliver into the hands of his enemies, all his weapons of defence.
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