USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > Sketches about Salem people > Part 2
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THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF JOHN ENDECOTT
allso the name of their place, and in stead of calling it Mounte Wollaston, they called it Meriemounte, as if this joylity would have lasted ever. But this continued not long, for after Morton was sent for England (as follows to be de- clared), shortly after came over that worthy gentlman, Mr. John Indecott, who brought over a patent under ye broad seall, for ye government of ye Massachusetts, who visiting those parts caused yt May-polle to be cutt downe, and re- buked them for their profannes, and admonished them to looke ther should be better walking; so they now, or others, changed ye name of their place again, and called it Mounte- Dagon.
It is therefore evident that the cutting down of the May Pole was not an attempt by Endecott to stop inno- cent merrymaking, but was the breaking up of a nest of irresponsible persons, which was entirely justified. Morton again returned to New England in December, 1643, and was fined one hundred pounds, which he could not pay and was therefore imprisoned for a year and then went to Agameticus where he died in 1645 or 1646.
The only account which we have of the first winter at Naumkeag is a rather frivolous one given by Edward Johnson in his "Wonder Working Providence," who says that the Colonists
Began to build a Town, which is called Salem, after some little space of time having made a tryall of the Sordid spirits of the Neighbouring Indians, the most bold among them began to gather to divers places, which they began to take up for their owne, those that were sent over servants, having itching desires after novelties found a reddier way to make an end of their Masters provision, then they could finde meanes to get more; They that come over their own men had but little left to feed on, and most began to repent when their strong beere and full cups ran as small as water in a large land, but little corne, and the poor Indians so far from relieving them, that they were forced to lengthen out their owne food with Acorns, and that which added to their present distracted thoughts the Ditch betweene Eng- land and their new place of abode was so wide, that they could not leap over with a lope-staffe, yet some delighting their eye with the rarity of things present, and feeding their fancies with new discoveries at the Springs approach,
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they made shift to rub out the Winters cold by the fire-side, . having fuell enough growing at their very doores, turning down many a drop of the botell, and burning tobacco with all the ease they could, discoursing betweene one while and another of the great progresse they would make after the Summers Sun had changed the Earthe white furr'd gowne into a greene mantell.
But that first winter was a terrible one for the settlers and they suffered greatly from sickness and death ; scurvy and fever contracted by some on board ship spread to others so that many of them improperly fed and poorly housed to withstand the inclemencies of a New England winter became ill and died, and there were hardly enough left to nurse the sick and bury the dead. During this terrible sickness they were absolutely without medical assistance. In their distress Governor Endecott sent a messenger to Governor Bradford at Plymouth asking for aid, and Dr. Samuel Fuller, a prominent member and deacon of the Plymouth Church, as well as a man of considerable medical skill, was sent to them and re- mained at Salem six months. During his visit Endecott suffered a great loss in the death of his wife, by whom he had had no children. She had evidently been in poor health either before starting or during the voyage, for Governor Cradock, head of the company in England, in his reply to the letter that Endecott sent a week after his arrival, expresses the hope that his good cousin, Ende- cott's wife, shall have fully recovered her health. Ende- cott appreciated the kindly spirit of the Plymouth author- ities in sending Dr. Fuller to them and wrote to Gov- ernor Bradford :-
Right Worthy Sr.
It is a thing not usuall that servants to one mr. and of ye same household should be strangers; I assure you that I desire it not, nay, to speake more plainly, I cannot be so to you. God's people are all marked with one and ye same marke, and sealed with one and ye same seale; and have for ye maine, one and ye same harte, guided by one and same spirite of truth, and where this is, there can be no discorde, nay, here must needs be sweete harmonie. And ye same request with you I make unto ye Lord, that we may, as Christian brethren, be united by a heavenly and unvained
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love; bending all our harts and forces in furthering a worke beyond our strength, with reverence and fear, fastening our eyse allways on him that only is able to direct and prosper all our ways. I acknowledge my selfe much bound to you for your kind love and care in sending Mr. Fuller among us, and rejoyce much yet I am by him satisfied touching your judgments of ye outward forme of God's worshipe. It is, as farr as I can yet gather no other then is war- ranted by ye evidence of truth, and ye same which I have professed and maintained ever since ye Lord in mercie re- vealed hinself unto me; being farr from you commone re- porte that hath been spread of you touching that perticuler. But God's children must not looke for less here below, and it is ye great mercie of God, that he strengthens them to goe through with it. I shall not neede at this time to be tedious unto you, for God willing I purpose to see your face shortly. In ye mean time, I humbly take my leave of you, comiting you to ye Lord's blessed protection and rest. Your assured loving friend,
Naumkeag May 11, Ano 1629. John Endecott.
This letter not only is of importance in showing his spirit of appreciation but that Endecott and the colonists at Salem, who up to that time had not been really sep- aratists from the Church of England, were converted by Dr. Fuller to the congregational form of worship.
The Dorchester Company, like that which had pre- ceded it, and like the London Adventurers, concerned in the settlement of Plymouth, was but a voluntary part- nership with no corporate powers, but White was at work getting together a more powerful association of those who were disaffected with the affairs of church and state. Charles I on the fourth of March 1629 granted to the six original patentees, including John Endecott, and to twenty other associates, the same territory which was included in the grant from the Plymouth Company of 1628 and constituted them "one body corporate and poli- tique in fact and in name by the name of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in Newe Eng- land with full powers of government, authorizing the cor- poration to name all officers they might find needful for that government and plantation, providing that "Theis our letters patents or the duplicate or exemplification
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thereof shalbe to all and everie such chiefe commaunders, captains, governors and other officers and ministers as should be employed by the Governor and company either in the government of the saide inhabitants and planta- tion, or in the waye by sea thither or from thence, ac- cording to the natures and lymitts of their offices and places respectively."
Matthew Craddock was named governor of the com- pany in England and on February 16, 1629 wrote to Endecott that his letter of September 13th had only reached him three days before, that he thanked Ende- cott for his good report and for the "large advise" con- tained in his letter and that in behalf of the company which he said had been much enlarged since Endecott had left England, he wished to assure him that "they would not be wanting by all good means to further the plantation." In fulfilment of this promise an expedition of six vessels sailed for Massachusetts in the spring of 1629. Among the passengers were the Reverend Francis Higginson of Leicester and Reverend Samuel Skelton of Lincolnshire, who were to be the ministers at Naumkeag. The six vessels were the Talbot, the George Bonadventure, Lion's Whelp, Four Sisters, Pilgrim and the Mayflower, of sacred memory, and carried as passengers three hun- dred men, sixty women and twenty-six children, together with one hundred and fifteen neat cattle, some horses, sheep, goats and six cannon for a fort.
There is an itemized record of all the clothing and sup- plies which were sent over for the colonists, including various kinds of seed for planting, there being a hogs- head each of wheat, rye, barley, oats, beans and peas to- gether with stones and seed of all sorts of fruits, such as peaches, plums, cherries, pears, apples, quince and currants.
HIS ELECTION AS GOVERNOR
The first formal election of a governor and council for the colony appears to have been made on the 30th of April 1629 when the Company "thought fitt to settle and establish an absolute government at our plantation in the said Massachusetts Bay in New England" to consist of
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THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF JOHN ENDECOTT
thirteen persons, "resydent upon the said plantation," who should "from tyme to tyme, and at all tyme hereafter, have the sole managing and ordering of the government and our affairs there," and "bee entytled by the name of the Governor and Councell of London's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay in New England" and "chose and elected the said Captain John Endecott to the place of present governor in our said plantation" for one year after he should take his oath of office (which oath was sent to be administered to him in New England) or until the Company should choose a successor, and authorized him and his council, or a majority of them, to fill vacancies in their board, and to elect a deputy governor, secretary and other officers. This order was confirmed on the 18th of May 1629. In the company's letter of May 28th, they say "We have sithence our last and accourding as we then advised, at a full and ample Court assembled, elected and established you Captain John Endecott to the place of present Governor in our Plantation." The charter was engrossed in duplicate, each on four sheets of parchment measuring 30 by 24 inches. One was sent to Governor Endecott on the ship George in the care of Samuel Sharp and was received by Endecott in June 1629. It was formerly in the possession of the Salem Athenæum but is now on deposit at the Essex Institute. The other copy was brought over by Governor Winthrop and is now at the State House. The company also had a seal made in silver which bore in the center the figure of an Indian, who appears to be speaking the words "come over and help us." This seal was also delivered to Gov- ernor Endecott by Samuel Sharp but is not now known to be in existence. The vote of the company after elect- ing the governor goes on to authorize him to make, or- dain and establish all manner of wholesome and reason- able laws, etc., not contrary to the laws of England.
The record of a general court holden at London the 30th day of April 1629 by the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, after some general statements, says that
Having taken into due consideration the merit, worth and good desert of Captain John Endecott and others lately gone
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over from hence with purpose to reside and continue there, we have, with full consent and authority of this court, and by erection of hands, chosen and elected the said Captain John Endecott to the place of present Governor in our said Plantation. Also, by the same power, and with the like full and free consent, we have chosen and elected Mr. Samuel Skelton, Francis Bright, John Browne, Mr. Francis Higgin- son, Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Thomas Graves and Mr. Samuel Sharpe, these seven, to be of the said Council; and do hereby give power and authority to the said Governor and those seven to make choice of three others, such as they, or the greater number of them, in their discretions shall esteem and conceive most fit thereunto, to be also of the said Council. And to the end that the former planters there (Conant and his associates) may have no just occasion of ex- ception, as being excluded out of the privileges of the Com- pany, this Court are content, and do order, by erection of hands, that such of the said former planters as are willing to live within the limits of our Plantation, shall be enabled and are hereby authorized to make choice of two, such as they shall think fit, to supply and make up the number of twelve of the said council; one of which twelve is by the Governor and Council, or the major part of them, to be chosen Deputy to the Governor for the time being.
Two hundred acres of land were to be allotted to each stockholder for each fifty pounds ventured in the common stock of the company. If he settled in the colony, he was to have fifty acres additional for himself and fifty acres more for each member of his family. Each immi- grant not a stockholder was to receive fifty acres for him- self and the same amount for each member of his family or servant. Transportation was charged at the rate of four pounds for each ton of freight and five pounds for each passenger. Children being at the following reduced rates: Nursing children, free; such as were under four years of age, three children for the price of one adult; under eight years of age, two children for the price of one adult; under twelve years of age, three children for the price of two adults.
No records of Endecott's administration have been pre- served, but it appears that he held councils and elections, made laws, granted lands and regulated the civil and reli-
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gious affairs of the colony, and a letter of Edward Howes in London in 1633 mentions that twenty-two of Ende- cott's laws had been laid before the Lords. There can be no doubt, therefore, that he was the first governor of Massachusetts.
Skelton sailed in the George Bonaventure about the middle of April, 1629, arriving at Naumkeak June 22d. Higginson and his family were passengers on the Tal- bot, sailing on the 25th of April, 1629, arriving at Cape Ann on Saturday, June 27th and remaining there Sun- day. In his journal of the voyage, he says "Monday we came from Cape Ann to go to Naimkecke, the wind northerly. I should have told you before, that, the plant- ers spying our English colors, the Governor sent a shal- lop with two men on Saturday to Pilot us. These rested the Sabbath with us at Cape Ann; and this day by God's blessing and their directions, we passed the curious and difficult entrance into the large, spacious harbour of Naum- kecke. And as we passed along, it was wonderful to be- hold so many islands replenished with thick wood and high trees, and many fair, green pastures. And being come into the harbour we saw the George to our great comfort, there being come on Tuesday, which was seven days 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. The next morning the Governor came aboard to our ship and bade us kindly welcome, and invited me and my wife to come on shore and take our lodging in his house, which we did accordingly."
Higginson further says that when he first came to Naumkeik "there were about half a score of houses and a fair house newly built for the governor. We also found an abundance of corn planted by them, very good and well liking. Our governor hath a store of green pease grow- ing in his garden as good as ever I ate in England. Our governor hath also planted a vineyard with great hopes of increase, also mulberries, plums, raspberries, currants, chestnuts, filberts, walnuts, small nuts, hurtleberries and haws of white thorn, near as good as our cherries are in England. They grow in plenty here. We that are
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settled in Salem make what effort we can to build houses so that in a short time we shall have a fair town." Skel- ton by agreement with the Company was to receive 20 pounds in money towards the charges of fitting himself with apparel and other necessities for a voyage, ten pounds more towards providing books and twenty pounds a year salary for three years, and was also to be provided with necessities of diet, housing and firewood, and in convenient time he should have a house and certain lands allotted thereunto. At the end of three years one hun- dred acres of land were to be assigned to him. He should also have the milk of two kine and half the increase of calves during said three years.
Higginson had the same contract excepting that as he had eight children he was allowed ten pounds a year more salary and ten pounds more towards the expenses of the voyage. Both ministers contracted that they would use their best endeavor in preaching, catechising and in teach- ing or causing to be taught the company's servants and their children, also the savages and their children.
Shortly after the arrival of Mr. Higginson and Mr. Skelton, who were non-conforming ministers of the Church of England, necessary measures were taken for the imme- diate organization of the First Church of the Colony, which still exists as the First Church of Salem. The Puritans who founded the colony and their friends who were struggling for their freedom in England, were not separatists as were those in Plymouth, but non-conform- ists, who remained within the pale of the Church of Eng- land but revolted against the ceremonies and discipline, while not objecting to its doctrine. Endecott was appar- rently converted to the religious belief of those at Ply- mouth by what he had learned from Bradford and Dr. Fuller as to their outward form of worship.
Charles Gott, in his letter to Governor Bradford, re- lates that "On the twentieth of July 1629 it pleased God to move the heart of our governor to set it apart for a solemn day of humiliation for the choice of a pastor and teacher, the former part of the day being spent about the election, every male member having a free voice in the choice of their officiers. These two (Higginson and
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Skelton) clearing all things by their answers, we saw no reason but that we might freely give our voice for their election after this trial. Their choice was after this man- ner. Every fit member wrote in a note his name whom the Lord moved him to think was fit for a pastor, and so likewise whom they would have for a teacher. The most voice was for Mr. Skelton to be pastor and Mr. Hig- ginson to be teacher, and they having accepted the trust, Mr. Higginson with three or four more of the gravest members of the church, laid their hands on Mr. Skelton's head using prayers therewith. Then there was an imposi- tion of hands on Mr. Higginson. An informal election of elders and deacons followed. Charles Gott and John Horne were chosen deacons, but their formal election and qualification was delayed "to see if it pleased God to send more able men." The next step was to gather a church or society of communicants. Mr. Higginson drew up a "confession of faith and church covenant according to scripture" of which copies were delivered to thirty per- sons and an invitation was despatched to the church at Plymouth to send representatives to witness the further proceedings. On the sixth of August 1629, the day ap- pointed for ordination, the two masters prayed and preached. Thirty persons assented to the covenant and associated themselves as a church. Henry Houghton was chosen ruling elder and Gott and Horne were confirmed as deacons. Governor Bradford "and some others with him coming by sea and being hindred by cross winds" could not be there at the beginning of the day, but came into the assembly afterwards and gave them the right hand of fellowship, wishing them all prosperity and a blessed success under such good beginnings.
But this separation from the Church of England gave offence to two of the councillors, John and Samuel Brown, men of standing and influence in the community, who although not stockholders in the enterprise, having come over at their own expense, had been so well thought of by the company that they had been appointed assist- ants. They felt that the establishment of this church was a secession from the national establishment and with some others of their mind set up a separate worship. The
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brothers were brought before Governor Endecott and he "finding those two brothers to be of high spirits and their speeches and practices tending to mutiny and faction, the governor told them that New England was no place for such as they, therefore he sent them back to England at the return of the ships the same year." They were only in Salem five or six weeks. On their return they made complaint to the corporation who submitted to referees the question of compensating them for any loss which they might have sustained. While the action of Ende- cott may seem arbitrary yet it undoubtedly ended the possibility of the infant colony being split into various religious factions, and as they had left England to avoid the ceremonies of the Established Church of England it was not surprising that they did not wish to see such a church grow in power and influence in the colony. His action was also clearly within his instructions from the the company as they had written him to "suppress a mischiefe before it had too great a head." "Not," they wrote, "that wee would wrong any man that will leave peaceably within the limitts of our plantacon ; but . . . the pservacon of our pruiledges will cheifly depend (un- der God) upon the first foundacon of our gounmt."
ENDECOTT SUPERSEDED BY WINTHROP
In the meantime proceedings of great importance were taking place in the General Court of the company in England. Craddock, the governor, advanced the theory that the management of the company should be trans- ferred from England to the colony, and it was accord- ingly so voted. A large number of influential men of property having agreed to emigrate, John Winthrop was elected governor and John Humphrey deputy governor, but as the latter's departure was delayed, his place was filled by the election of Thomas Dudley. Over a thou- sand came over in seventeen vessels in 1630 under the leadership of Governor Winthrop, who himself sailed on the ship Arbella, formerly the Eagle, the name having been changed in compliment to Lady Arbella Johnson, daughter of the Earl of Lincoln, who was one of its most distinguished passengers. The Arbella arrived at Salem
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on June 12, 1630 and Winthrop says that they were wel- comed by Endecott and others and that "we that were of the assistants, and some other gentlemen, and some of the women and our captain, returned with them to Nahum- keck, were we supped with good venison pasty and good beer, and at night we returned to our ship, but some of the women stayed behind." Their reception was discour- aging, however, as more than one quarter of their prede- cessors at Salem had died during the second winter and many of the survivors were ill and feeble. The faithful Higginson was only able to deliver one sermon after Winthrop's arrival as he was wasting with a hectic fever which proved fatal on the sixth of August, exactly one year from August 6, 1629, the date of his ordination as teacher of the First Church. He left surviving him a widow and eight children. There was a scarcity of all sorts of provisions and not corn or bread enough for a fortnight's supply at the time of the arrival of Winthrop. Of those who came over in 1630 about two hundred died before December of that year, among them being Lady Arbella Johnson, who, coming from a "paradise of plenty and pleasure which she enjoyed in a family of a noble earldom, to a wilderness of wants," survived her arrival at Salem but a month, and her husband died of grief but a few weeks later.
After a few days Winthrop and some of his party went on an exploring expedition for the purpose of locating another settlement, and thereafter he and most of his fellow passengers removed to the neighborhood of Charles- town where they founded various settlements.
On December 28, 1630 the Court of Assistants after several consultations about a suitable place to fortify and for the capital of the Colony, agreed to have it at New- town, now Cambridge. All the members excepting Cap- tain Endecott, and Thomas Sharpe, who was about to return to England, agreed to build houses and move their military stores there next spring. But Endecott was so attached to Salem that he declined to join with the others in removing to Newtown. This project of building at Newtown and making it the capital was relinquished at the end of the next year to the great damage of Deputy
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