USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 5
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Great care was taken that these rules should be generally known, and Endicott was told to "Let the laws be first published to forbid these disorders, and all others you fear may grow up; whereby they may not pretend ignorance of the one nor privilege to offend; and then fear not to put good laws, made upon good ground and warrant in due execution."
At a meeting of the company in England, held April 30, 1629, John Endicott was chosen Governor, with Messrs. Higginson, Skelton, Bright, John and Samuel Brown, Thomas Graves and Samuel Sharp as members of the Council. The Governor and Council were to choose three more and the Planters two in addition. The official name of this governing body of thirteen men was the "Governor and Council of London's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay in New England." His election as Governor was announced to him in a letter from the com- pany, dated May 28, 1629, which read as follows: "Wee have sithence our last and according as we then advised, at a full and ample Court assembled, elected and established you, Captain Endecott, to the place of the present Governour of our Plantation there, and as also some others to be of the Council with you, as more particularly you will perceive by an Act of Court herewith sent, confirmed by us at a General Court, and sealed with our common seal." The oath adminis- tered to Governor Endicott was as follows:
You shall be faithful and loyal unto your Sovereign Lord, the King's Majesty, and to his heirs and successors. You shall support and maintain, to your power, the government and company of the Mattachusetts Bay, in New England, in America, and the privileges of the same, having no singular regard to yourself in derogation or hindrance of the common wealth of this Company; and to every person under your authority you shall administer indifferent and equal justice. Statutes and ordinancys shall you none make without the advice and consent of the Council for the government of the Mattachusetts Bay in New-England. You shall admit none into the freedom of this Company but such as may claim the same by virtue of the privileges thereof. You shall
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not bind yourself to enter into any business or process for or in the name of this Company, without the consent and agreement of the Council aforesaid, but shall endeavour faithfully and carefully to carry yourself in this place and office of Governor, as long as you shall continue in it. And likewise you shall do your best endeavour to draw the natives of this country, called New Eng- land, to the knowledge of the True God, and to conserve the planters and others coming hither, in the same knowledge and fear of God. And you shall en- deavour, by all good means, to advance the good of the Plantations of this Company, and you shall endeavour the raising of such commodities for the benefit and encouragement of the adventurers and planters as, through God's blessing on your endeavours, may be produced for the good and service of the kingdom of England, this Company and their Plantations. All these premises you shall hold and keep to the uttermost of your power and skill, so long as you shall continue in the place of Governor of this fellowship. So help you God!
The oath administered to the members of the Council was similar. but shorter. Richard Brackenbury, one of the men who came with Endicott, deposed: "that Mr. Endicott, when he arrived hither, took possession of Cape Ann, and in the course of the year, had the house built there, pulled down for his own use and also took possession of Cape Ann side, and soon after laid out lots for tillage there" (the present Beverly).
We have seen above that the second migration to Salem under Endicott was a marked advance in matter of equipment and financial sup- port over the little band of planters who came to Salem from Cape Ann in 1626 under Roger Conant, and the third company under the Revs. Higgin- son and Skelton in 1629 was a vast deal better supplied than either of the others had been. The fact that the shrewd men of means in England were willing to invest large sums for the equipment of this third com- pany was a most eloquent tribute to the industry and fortitude of the hardy men who had preceded them to the wilderness and had demon- strated that New England was a region of great possibilities. White, in his "Brief Relation," written in 1630, proves this connection when he writes that "His (Endicott's) prosperous journey, and safe arrival of himself and all his company, and good report which he sent back of the country, gave such encouragement to the work, that more ad- venturers joining with the first undertakers, and all engaging them- selves more deeply for the prosecution of the design, they sent over the next year about three hundred persons more. . By this time the often agitation of this affair in sundry parts of the kingdom, the good report of Captain Endicott's government, and the increase of the Colony, began to awaken the spirits of some persons of competent estates, not formerly engaged."
Governor Endicott, in his first letter to the officers of the com- pany in England, dated September 13, 1628, and received by them February 13, 1628-9, requested that more men and supplies and stock be sent over, for Governor Craddock in his reply, dated February 16,
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1628-9, wrote: "to give you hearty thanks for your large advice con- tained in this your letter, which I have fully imparted unto them, and further to certify to you that they intend not to be wanting by all good means to further the plantation. To which purpose (God willing), you shall hear more at large (from) them, and that speedily; there being one ship bought for the Company, of 100 tons, and two others hired, of about 200 tons each of them, one of 19, and the other 20 pieces of ordnance; besides, not unlike, but one other vessel shall come in com- pany with these; in all which ships, for the general stock and for particular adventures, there is likely to be sent thither 'twixt 2 and 300 persons (we hope to reside there), and about 100 head of cattle." He mentioned the fact that he had forwarded to Governor Endicott in November, 1628, by Mr. Allerton, a letter, in which he stated that the company desired Endicott to provide "convenient housing fit to lodge as many as you can against they do come; and withal what beaver, or other commondities, or fish, (if you have the means to pre- serve it) can be gotten ready to return in the aforesaid ships; like- wise wood, if no better lading be to be had; ... whereby our ships, whereof two are to return back directly hither, may not come wholly empty." In closing, he wrote: "And so till my next, which shall be, (God willing) by our ships, who I make account will be ready to set sail from here about the 20th of this next month of March." As a matter of record, however, they did not sail until the middle of April.
In the above-mentioned letter Governor Craddock states that "It is fully resolved, by God's assistance, to send over two ministers, at the least, with the ships now intended to be sent thither." He mentioned Mr. Peters, but stated that "he is now in Holland, from whence his return hither I hold to be uncertain. Those we send you, shall be by the approbation of Mr. White, of Dorchester, and Mr. Davenport."
The records of the company show that at a meeting held March 23, 1628, "intimation was given by Mr. Nowell, by letters from Mr. Isaac Johnson, that Mr. Higgeson, of Leicester, an able minister, proffers to go to our plantation; who being approved for a reverend, grave minis- ter, fit for our present occasions, it was thought by those present to entreat Mr. John Humfry to ride 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 from hence be without scandal to that people, and approved by consent of some of the best affected among them, with the approbation of Mr. Hildersham, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch." This Mr. Hildersham referred to, has been called "a great and shining light of the Puritan party, and justly celebrated for his singular learning and piety." Mr. Higginson was found to be satisfactory to all concerned. In the letter of instructions to Governor Endicott, he was described as a "grave man, and of worthy commendations." Concerning the other leader of this company, we read in the same letter: "One of them
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is well known to yourself, viz., Mr. Skelton, whom we have rather desired to bear a part in this work, for that we are informed yourself have formerly received much good by his ministry." A third minister was sent in the employ of the company, "Mr. Bright, some times train- ed up under Mr. Davenport."
Other prominent men selected to go were: Mr. Samuel Sharp, "by us entertained to be master-gunner of our ordnance;" Mr. Thomas Graves, the engineer, "a man commended to us as well for his honesty, as skill in many things very useful;" and Lambert Wilson, chirurgeon, "to remain with you in the service of the Plantation." The large majority of the men selected to come were artisans, such as carpenters, shipwrights, wheelwrights, shoemakers, hunters, and others whose labors would be of especial value in the establishment of a permanent settlement. The company was said (in a quotation which Prince gives) to number "Sixty women and maids, 26 children, and 300 men, with victuals, arms, apparel, tools, 140 head of cattle, &c., in the Lord Treasurer's warrant." The early spring days of 1629 must have been exceedingly busy ones for the promoters of this enterprise, who were purchasing and loading supplies of all kinds. Space forbids us to give more than brief mention of the many articles which appear in the lists made out by Mr. Washburne, the secretary. Great skill and fore- sight was displayed in the make-up of the cargoes. The ships were ballasted with "2 loads of chalk, 10 thousand of bricks, 5 chaldrons of sea-coals, nails, one ton of iron, 2 fagots of steel, 1 fodder (about 1600 to 2000 pounds) of lead, 1 barrel of red lead, with salt, sail-cloth and copper."
Articles of wearing apparel for 100 men were purchased, which in- cluded 400 pairs of shoes, 300 pairs of stockings, 200 suits of doublets and hose of leather, lined with oilskin leather, 100 waistcoats of green cotton bound with red tape, 500 red knit caps and many other things in proportion. The soldiers were to wear the following uniforms, of which one hundred were sent: 100 mandalions lined with white cotton, breeches and waist coats, and leather doublets and hose. For the military equipment of these hundred fighting men, they provided 3 drums, 2 ensigns, 2 partisans for captain and lieutenant, 3 halberds for three sergeants, 90 muskets of various kinds specified, 10 fowling pieces, 90 bandoliers for the muskets each with a bullet bag, 10 horn flasks for the long fowling-pieces, 100 swords and belts, 60 corslets, 60 pikes, twenty half pikes, 8 pieces of land ordnance for the fort, 12 barrels of powder, 900 pounds of shot, and great shot in proportion to the ordnance. The list of provisions included 45 tuns of beer, 22 hogsheads of beef, 40 bushels of pease, 10 firkins of butter and many other articles too numerous to mention.
Francis Higginson put us under deep obligation to him, when he wrote the account of this voyage, which proved to be so important to
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the welfare and preservation of New England. The beginning of this record contains so much of interest that I will quote from it as follows:
A True Relacon of ye last voyage to New England made ye last Sumer, begun ye 25th of April being Saturday, Anno Doi 1629.
The company of New England consisting of many worthy gentlemen in ye citty of London, Dorchester & other places, ayming at ye glory of God, ye propagacon of ye gospell of Christ, ye conversion of ye Indians, & ye en- largemt of ye Kings maties dominions in America, & being authorised by his royall letters patent for yt end, at their very great costs & chardgs furnished 5 Ships to go to new England, for ye further setling of ye English plantacon yt had already begun there.
The names of ye 5 Shipps were as followeth. The first is called ye Talbot, a good & strong shipp of 300 tunnes, & 19 pieces of ordinance & served with 30 mariners. This ship carried about an 100 planters, 6 goates, 5 great pieces of ordinance, with meale, oatmeale, pease, & all manner of munitio and provisio for ye platacon for a twelve month. The second ye George, another strong ship also, about 300 tunnes, 20 pieces of ordinance, served with about 30 mariners; her chiefe carriage were cattell, 12 mares, 30 kyne, & some goates: also ther gad in her 52 planters & other provision. The 3d is called ye Lyons whelpe, a neat & nimble ship of 120 tunnes, 8 pieces of ordinance, carrying in her many mariners and about 40 planters, specially from dorchester & other places thereabouts, wth provision, and 4 goates. The 4th is called ye 4 sisters, as I heare of about 300 tuns, wch fayre ship carried many cattell wth pas- sengera & provision. The 5th is called ye Mayflower, carrying passengers and provision.
Now amongst these 5 ships, ye George hauing the special & urgent cause of hastening her passage sett sayle before ye rest about ye midst of April. And ye 4 Sisters & ye Mayflower being not thoroughly furnished, intended as we heard to sett forth about 3 weeks after us: But we yt were in ye Talbot & ye Lions whelpe being ready for voyage by ye good hand of God's providence hoysed or sayle fro Graues end on Saturday ye 25th of April about 7 o'clock in ye morning. Having but a faynt wynd we could not go farre yt day, but at night wee ancred against Lie wch is 12 miles fro graues end & there we rested yt night & kept Sabbath ye next day.
They slowly worked their way along the coast and May 5th Mr. Higginson and his wife and daughter Mary and others went on shore near Yarmouth, remaining there while the ship added provisions until Saturday the 9th, when they returned to the ship. The final start was made on the 11th. The daily journal of the voyage which Mr. Higginson kept is exceedingly interesting, but space forbids our quoting further from it, excepting the record of the last day of the voyage, which reads as follows:
Monday (June 29) we came from Capan, to go to Naimkecke, the wind northerly. I should have told you before that the planters spying our English colours the Governour sent a shalop with 2 men on Saturday to pilot us. These rested the Sabbath with us at Capan; and this day, by God's blessing and their directions, we passed the curious and difficult entrance into the large spacious harbour of Naimkecke. And as we passed along it was wonderful to behould so many islands replenished with thicke wood and high trees, and many faire
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SALEM BEFORE 1630
green pastures. And being come into the harbour we saw the George to our great comfort then being come on Tuesday which was 7 daies before us. We rested that night with glad and thankful hearts that God had put an end to our long and tedious journey through the greatest sea in the world.
June 30. The next morning the governor came aboard to our ship, and bade us kindly welcome, and invited me and my wiffe to come on shoare, and take our lodging in his house which we did accordingly.
Visitors to Salem will attest that first impressions of the place are eagerly sought by the inhabitants, and we are pleased to record what some of the members of this company thought of the place. Francis Higginson, after narrating the beauties and advantages of Naumkeag, wrote: "Thus we see both Land and Sea abound with stores of blessings for the comfortable sustenance of Man's life"; and Thomas Graves, in a letter to England, wrote: "Thus much I can affirme in generall, that I neuer came in a more goodly Country in all my life, all things con- sidered : I never saw except in Hungaria, unto which I always paralell this countrie, in all or most respects, for everything that is heere eyther sowne or planted prospereth far better than in old England .. ........ . The healthfulness of the countrie far exceedeth all parts that ever I have been in." Mr. Higginson closed his "Relation of New England" with the following account :
When we came first to Nehum-kek, we found about half a score houses, and a fair house newly built for the Governor. We found also abundance of corn planted by them, very good and well liking. And we brought with us about two hundred passengers and planters more, which, by common consent of the old planters, were all combined together into one body politic, under the same Governor. There are in all of us, both old and new planters, about three hundred, whereof two hundred of them are settled at Nehum-kek- now called Salem, and the rest have planted themselves at Massathulets Bay, beginning to build a town there, which we do call Cherton or Charlestown. We that are settled at Salem make what haste we can to build houses, so that within a short time we shall have a fair town. We have great ordnance, wherewith we doubt not but we shall fortify ourselves in a short time to keep out a potent adversary. But that which is our greatest comfort and means of defence above all others, is that we have here the true religion and holy ordinances of Almighty God taught amongst us.
We have the following account of the settlers who came with this third company to Salem:
John Baker went to Charlestown in 1629. It is probable that he was in some way connected with the large island in Salem harbor bearing that name, for John Winthrop, in his journal, under date of June 12, 1630, wrote: "As we stood toward the harbour, we saw another shallop coming to us ; so we stood in to meet her, and passed through the narrow strait between Baker's Isle and Little Isle, and came to an anchor a little within the islands." Probably the name was given to Winthrop by the pilot who came out to take his vessel in. Baker may have erected a fishing shack or some similar structure on the island.
Essex-3
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Thomas Beard, aged 30 in 1629, unmarried, shoemaker, was rec- ommended to have 50 acres of land, "as one that transports himself at his own charge." He brought with him in the "Mayflower," "divers hides, both for soles and upper leathers, which he intends to make up in boots and shoes there in the country."
Alice Beckly or Beggerly, wife of John Beggerly, who did not come over, and from whom she was seeking a divorce.
Goodman Black. A child of his "which had a consumpcon before it came to shipp, dyed," on the passage. We can find no further record of him.
William Brackenbury was at Charlestown in 1629, and probably came with this company. He was a brother of Richard who came in 1628 with John Endicott. He was a baker.
Thomas Brude or Brand was a cleaver of timber, "entertained by us in halves with Mr. Craddock, our Governor."
Reverend Francis Bright came in the "Lion's Whelp," and went with the party to Charlestown.
John Browne, gentleman, and Mr. Samuel Browne, his brother, of Roxwell, England, came at their own charge. They were conformists to the Church of England, and for attempting to form a church party in Salem were sent back to England by Governor Endicott. A full account of the controversy has been given in "John Endicott and the Men Who Came to Salem in the Abigail in 1628."
Barnaby Claydon, aged twenty-three, came from Sutton, Bedford- shire. He was a wheelwright by trade. In the company's second general letter he was directed to work for Mr. Sharpe.
Richard Claydon, aged thirty-four, brought his wife, daughter, sis- ter, and the above-named brother with him. He was a carpenter and wheelwright by trade and came under contract to work, said document bearing date of March 12, 1628. He was to instruct the company's servants in the trade of a ploughwright.
Edward Converse, evidently came with this company, for he was in Charlestown in 1629.
William Dady, a butcher by trade, was in Charlestown in 1630, and Wyman thinks that he may have come with the Higginson Company in 1629.
Captain William Dixey became one of the most prominent men in Beverly, holding many offices of honor and trust during his long life.
William Dodge was the son of John and Margery Dodge of Somerset- shire. In the second letter of instruction to Governor Endicott, dated London, May 28, 1629, the secretary stated that Mr. White wished to have the following direction inserted: "That you would show all lawful favor and respect unto the planters that come in the Lion's Whelp, out of the Counties of Dorset and Somerset, that you would appoint unto
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SALEM BEFORE 1630
William Dodge, a skilful and painful husbandman, the charge of a team of horses."
William Eedes came as a servant to Sir Richard Saltonstall. He was a carpenter or wheelwright.
Richard Ewstead, a wheelwright, came commended by Mr. Daven- port to work on shares for the company and Governor Craddock. In the company's letter he is described as "a very able man, though not without his imperfections. We pray you take notice of him and regard him as he shall well deserve."
George Farr was a shipwright, sent over under contract.
Hugh Garrett became an inhabitant of Charlestown in 1629 and was the tenth on the list of the first thirteen. He was a shoemaker, and perished in a storm, January 28, 1630-1. His daughter Hannah died "a fatherless child" 12 month, 1632.
Mr. Goffe is mentioned (probably Deputy Governor Thomas Goffe). He never came over, but his dog evidently started, for in the journal of the voyage we read that on May 26th "Mr. Goffes great dogg fell over board & could not be recouered."
Mr. Thomas Graves, the engineer, was one of the most valuable and useful men of this migration. He was to "have his charges borne, out and home; being a man of experience in iron works, in salt works, in measuring and surveying of lands, and in fortifications, &c., in lead, cop- per and alum mines." He was chosen a member of Governor Endicott's Council, April 30, 1629.
Thomas Hanscombe was brother-in-law of Richard Claydon, and was mentioned as one of a number to come with him. We find no further record of him and do not know that he actually came.
Richard Haward, from Bedfordshire, was mentioned as a man who would "well and orderly demean" himself. He was sent over with his family to Salem in 1629, by the Massachusetts Bay Company.
Henry Haughton was the first Ruling Elder of the church at Salem. According to the instruction of the company, he was to take Mr. Samuel Sharpe's place in various ways if the latter should be sick or absent. He died in the first winter, leaving one child.
Reverend Francis Higginson, the leader of this migration, was the son of Reverend John Higginson, Vicar of Claybrooke, Leistershire, and was baptized at that place August 6, 1586. He was educated at Jesus College, taking his B. A. degree in 1609, and his M. A. in 1613. He was ordained deacon September 25, 1614, and priest on the 8th of the follow- ing December. He was installed to the rectory of Barton-in-Fabis, Not- tingham County, and deanery of Brigham, which he resigned August 4, 1616. Mr. E. C. Felton stated that it is certain that Francis Higginson, although he had the rectory of Barton-in-Fabis conferred upon him, was never inducted, and therefore never received any of the fruits of the benefice nor, we may take it, discharged any of the duties. His successor
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was instituted, on his resignation, just a year afterwards, April 4, 1616. He further goes on to state that "The record of Higginson's institution states, in the accustomed form, that a mandate was sent to the Arch- bishop to induct him, so that failure to act upon it can only have arisen because Higginson himself did not seek induction." Later he was con- nected with the parish of St. Nicholas. Colonel Thomas Wentworth Hig- ginson, in his "Descendants of the Reverend Francis Higginson," states: "It is clear that he became more and more dissatisfied with the Estab- lished Church as it then was, until finally he became 'a conscientious non- conformist.'" He founded at Salem, the first church in the Massachu- setts Bay Colony, and did us an invaluable service in his writings. He contracted consumption, probably on board the ship, from other cases which he mentions as occurring among the passengers, and died, deeply lamented, August 6, 1630. His son, Reverend John, later distinguished himself in his father's pulpit.
Simon Hoyte evidently came with this company, as his name appears in the list of the original thirteen in Charlestown.
Richard Ingersol came from Bedfordshire and was commended in the company's letter.
Lawrence Leech. Reference was made to him in the Company's let- ter as follows: "We desire you to take notice of one Lawrence Leech, whom we have found a careful and painful man, and we doubt not but he will continue his diligence; let him have deserving respect."
John Meech was in Charlestown in 1629, and probably came in this company. We know nothing further about him.
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