USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the colonial period. 1492-1692 v. I > Part 11
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1 Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 313-26. Governor of Plymouth " was pre- Hubbard, 77, says that Weston's own men provoked this conspiracy, by informing the Indians that the
pared to come and take their corn by force, which made them combine against the English."
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117
STANDISH SENT TO WESSAGUSSET.
Wessagusset, with tidings which confirmed the statements CHAP. of Massasoit. IV.
Proceeding first to Wessagusset, Standish found the ship deserted, and the crew "senseless of their misery," and unsuspicious of the storm which was about to burst upon them. At the plantation a like supineness reigned ; and arousing the people to a sense of their danger, yet advising secresy, he directed them what course to pursue, and fur- nished corn for their wants until the affair was decided.
The Indians, informed of the arrival of Standish, soon began to flock to the settlement; and one of them, upon his return, reported to his comrades that "he saw by his eye the Captain was angry in his heart," so that they suspected their plot was discovered. Putting on a bold face, how- ever, one Pecksuot, a "pinese, and a notable spirit," came to Hobomok, saying: - ""Tell your Captain we know what he has come for, but fear him not, neither will we shun him. Let him begin when he dare, he shall not take us at unawares." Wituwamat also came, and bragged of the excellency of his knife, whose handle was ornamented with the picture of a woman's face. "But," said he," " I have another at home, wherewith I have killed both French and English, and that hath a man's face on it; and by and by these two must marry."
Bearing these taunts with admirable coolness, notwith- standing the alleged hastiness of his temper,1 Standish waited until Pecksuot, Wituwamat, and two others were together ; and a like number of his own men being present, at a given signal the door was closed, and the attack com- menced. The contest was fearful. Pecksuot was slain with his own knife by Standish ; Wituwamat and another of the Indians were despatched by the rest ; and the fourth - a youth of eighteen, the brother of Wituwamat-was taken
1 Such is Hubbard's charge.
Mar. 25. 1622-3.
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118
OVERTHROW OF WESTON'S COLONY.
CHAP. and hanged. Following up their advantage, other parties IV. were attacked, the whole body of the conspirators was
1623. routed, and victory declared in favor of the English. Wes- ton's men, at the conclusion of the struggle, resolved on leaving the place; and a portion of them being furnished with corn sailed for Monhegan, in the Swan, whilst the rest, with Standish - who took with him the head of Witu- wamat as a trophy of success-set out for Plymouth. 1 This triumph of the colonists so terrified the allies of the Massachusetts tribe, that "they forsook their houses, run- ning to and fro like men distracted, living in swamps and other desert places, and so brought manifold diseases among themselves, whereof many are dead, as Caunacum of Ma- nomet, Aspinet of Nauset, and Iyanough of Mattakiest." 2
Such was the beginning and the end of the colony of Weston. Its members, at the outset, "being all lusty men," boasted of the wonders they were to perform, and scoffed at the Plymouth people as fools for bringing with them their families to settle in this wilderness. Lord Bacon has complacently observed, that "the best works and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men."3 Weston's colony were of the same opinion. Yet so far were they from prospering in their solitude, that -they owed their deliverance to " the colony that had many women, children, and weak ones to support." 4
A short time subsequent to these events a lonely wan derer, under an assumed name, and dressed as a black- smith, approaches Monhegan. From thence in a shallop he sets out for a more southerly clime. Cast away near the Merrimac, he barely escapes with his life. Seized by the
1 Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 332-45. verted some before you had killed See also T. Morton, N. Eng. Can., any." 75; Hubbard, 74-9. The benevo- 2 Winslow, in Chron., Pil., 345. lent Robinson regretted the neces- 3 In Bancroft, 1. 319. sity which led to this attack, and said : - " Oh that you had con- ton's Mem., 41-3.
4 Bradford, in;Prince, 132; Mor-
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119
FINALE OF WESTON'S CAREER.
savages, he is stripped to his shirt. Naked and helpless CHAP. he reaches Piscataqua. Borrowing clothes to cover his IV. n shame, he continues his journey. Anon he is at Ply_ mouth. Reduced to beggary he approaches the settlement. So wretched is his garb, and so haggard are his features, that he is at first unrecognized. Yet this is Weston - the Merchant Adventurer - the companion of nobles - the founder of colonies ! The "moral" of his history speaks for itself :- " When men are actuated by private interest, and are eager to carry on particular designs of their own, it is the bane of all generous and noble enterprises, and is very often rewarded with dishonor and disadvantage to the undertakers." 1
1 Hubbard, 72.
CHAPTER V.
PROGRESS OF THE COLONY.
CHAP. V. 1623. THE situation of the colonists in the spring of 1623, was peculiarly distressing. By the scantiness of their crops and the prodigality of their neighbors, their granaries were exhausted and they were reduced to want. The narrative of their sufferings is affecting and thrilling. "By the time their corn was planted, their victuals were spent, and they knew not at night where to have a bit in the morning, nor had they corn or bread for three or four months together." Elder Brewster lived upon shell-fish. With only oysters and clams at his meals, he gave thanks that he could " seek of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the 33: 19. sand." Tradition affirms that at one time there was but a Deut., pint of corn left in the settlement, which, being divided, gave to each person a proportion of five kernels. In allu- sion to this incident, at the bi-centennial celebration, in 1820, when much of the beauty, fashion, wealth, and talent of Massachusetts had congregated at Plymouth, and orators had spoken, and poets sang the praises of the Pilgrims ; amidst the richest viands, which had been prepared to gratify the most fastidious epicure to satiety, five kernels of parched corn were placed beside each plate, " a simple, but interesting and affecting memorial of the distresses of those heroic and pious men, who won this fair land of plenty, and freedom, and happiness, and yet, at times, were literally in want of a morsel of bread."1
1 Bradford, in Prince, 135; Morton's Mem., 44; Hubbard, 79; Baylic's Mem., 1. 121.
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121
SUFFERINGS OF THE PILGRIMS.
To one cause of this distress we have already alluded - CHAP. the extravagance of Weston's men, who wasted their sub- v V. stance in riotous living. Another was the clause in their compact, by which all that was raised in the colony was placed in a common stock. This wretched arrangement - entered into from necessity and not from choice - was never satisfactory. The indolent, sure of a living, would labor only when compelled to ; the willing were discour- aged by the severity of their toils. To remedy this evil, a change of policy was introduced, and to each person was alloted, for one year, one acre of ground for his personal benefit, only requiring that a portion of the crop should be deposited at harvest in the common treasury, for the main- tenance of government and the support of the gospel.
In April planting commenced, and the weather held April, favorable. until the last of May. Pleased with the new 1623. order of things, cheerfulness and industry prevailed. There was a stimulus to exertion in the hope of individual benefit. Even the women and children labored in the field ; more corn than ever was planted ; and more life and zeal were displayed.1 But, though favorable weather forwarded their plants in the carliest of the season, from the third week in May a drought set in, and for six weeks no rain fell, so that the ground was completely parched, and the plants, " both blade and stalk, hung the head and changed the color," and were "judged utterly dead." To add to their distress, they learned of the repulse of a supply, sent by Mr. Pierce, who had now obtained his surreptitious patent, and it was feared that the vessel was wrecked on the coast. At once, therefore, God seemed to have forsaken them. The most resolute faltered, and general despondency pre- vailed. Even Hobomok was distressed for them. "I fear,"
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1 Bradford, in Prince, 133 ; Wins- mers, Douglas, Robertson, Grahame, low, in Chron. Pil., 347; Morton's and others, mistake in representing Mem., 44; IIubbard, 79. Chal- the community system as voluntary.
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122
A SEVERE DROUGHT.
CHAP. said he, " they will lose all their corn and starve. The .V. Indians can shift better than the English, for they can get fish." But truc greatness yields not to permanent despair. As God only could aid them, a day was appointed to suppli- cate his favor. It was fair and beautiful. Not a cloud dimmed the horizon. Nine hours they continued in prayer, wrestling for a blessing. Yet brightly the sun shone, and sultry was the air. But towards evening a change was visible, and before morning the rain came, sweetly and gently, yet freely and copiously. " It came without either wind or thunder, and by degrees in that abundance, as that the earth was thoroughly wet and soaked therewith," and the withered corn and other plants specdily revived.
This " rain of liberalities," lasted at intervals for four- teen days, and caused cven the Indians to say : "Now we see Englishman's God is a good God; for he hath heard you, and sent you rain; and that without storms, and tem- pests, and thunder, which usually we have with our rain, which breaks down our corn ; but yours stands whole and good still. Surely, your God is a good God." From this time forward the weather continued favorable, and the har- vest was " fruitful and liberal to their great comfort and rejoicing ; for which mercy, in time convenient, they also solemnized a day of thanksgiving unto the Lord." 1
During this scarcity, Standish was sent to the Eastward for supplies ; and succeeding in his mission, on his return he was accompanied by Mr. David Thompson, a Scotchman, who this Spring commenced a plantation "about Piscat- aqua," now Portsmouth. He is said to have visited Amer- ica so early as 1619, and to have then purchased the island in Boston harbor which bears his name, though it was not made his residence, nor was it confirmed to him by the gov-
1 Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 348; 3 M. H. Coll., 3. 26. Morton, 37-8, Bradford, in Prince, 137; Smith, in errs in placing this drought in 1622.
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123
REGULATION OF THE FISHERIES.
ernment of Massachusetts until some years after ; 1 and he CHAP. now came as the agent of Gorges and Mason, two promi-
V. nent members of the Council for New England, who, in connection with others, merchants of London, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Dorchester, &c., had purchased the lands known as the Laconia 'Grant, extending from the August Merrimac to the Sagadehoc, and from the Atlantic to the 1022. Great Lakes, and the river of Canada. Among his com- panions were William and Edward Hilton, brothers, of London, who set up their stage at Cocheco, now Dover.2 Thus were settlements made before 1624 in two at least of the present New England States : - in Massachusetts, at Plymouth ; and in New Hampshire, at Dover and Ports- mouth ; and we have no doubts that there were at the same time permanent settlements in Maine.3
We had occasion, in our first chapter, to allude to the fisheries upon the American coast. In the first quarter of the seventeenth century, this branch of maritime enterprise was prosecuted with great vigor, and hundreds of vessels were annually sent hither from England and other coun- tries. Abuse of the natives, disgusting debaucheries, and personal encounters, in consequence of the lawlessness of the crews, had become quite prevalent ; and to such a height had these evils grown, that complaints were made to the New England Council for redress. These complaints prompted to action ; and as the King had issued a procla- + mation forbidding any to approach the northern coast of America without leave, in virtue of their right of unlimited jurisdiction, Capt. Francis West was commissioned as Ad- miral of New England, with special instructions to restrain
Nov., 1622.
1 Mass. Recs., 3. 129; Hubbard, 105; Drake's Boston, 35.
2 Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 350; Prince, 134; Levett, in 3 M. I[. Coll., 8. 164; Hutchinson, 1. 100; Hubbard, 214; Belknap's N. II., 1. 8; Williamson's Me., 1. 225.
3 Gorges, in 3 M. H. Coll., 6. 79; Folsom's Ilist. Saco, 24, 201. - Williamson, Ilist. Me., 1. 226-8, thinks permanent settlements were made in 1622 and 1623.
124
CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE KING AND PARLIAMENT.
CHAP. all unlicensed ships, and to exact of all interlopers the V. tonnage duties imposed by the Council.1
1623, May or June.
Arriving on the coast early in the summer,2 and sailing first to Virginia, at his return he touched at Plymouth, and proceeding to the Eastward entered upon the duties of his office ; but finding the fishermen too stubborn to submit to his authority, and the ocean too wide to be under his sur- veillance, he relinquished the undertaking, discharged his vessel, and left for England. The owners of the vessels with which he had interfered, exasperated at the monstrous assumption of the King, remonstrated with the Council, and laid their grievances before Parliament, coupled with the demand that the obnoxious monopoly should be instantly abrogated, and that the fishing should be free. Two years before, this subject was discussed in Parliament, and the monopoly of the New England Council was loudly com- plained of; and now that the discussion was renewed, Gorges was again called to defend his associates. King
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1624.
James, jealous of his rights, stood upon his prerogative ; the Commons denied the validity of his acts, and ques- tioned their constitutionality ; and eventually, through the influence of Sir Edward Coke, a bill was passed revoking the odious restrictions, which the King, with his wonted stubbornness, refused to sign. This quarrel was bequeathed by the father to the son, and on the accession of Charles I., was revived, and pursued with determined zeal. Aside from its political consequences, which were highly impor- tant, as one of its effects, commercially considered, the fishery at the Banks was suddenly and disastrously checked
1 Gorges, in 3 M. H. Coll., 6. 70, 74; Smith, in 3 M. H. Coll., 3. 32; Council's Relat., in 2 M. H. Coll., 9. 19, 20; Hazard, 1. 151-2; Tracts app. to Brereton, in 3 M. H. Coll., 8. 98. - Capt. John Smith, in his New England Trials, gives many curious particulars relative to these fisheries.
2 Morton and Hubbard say the last of June, in the Paragon ; but Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 278, says the last of May, and that he sailed thence to Virginia, and returned in August, and in September, being discharged at Damarin's Cove, the ship again visited Plymouth.
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125
ARRIVAL OF THE ANNE AND THE LITTLE JAMES.
- the number of vessels diminishing, in five years, from CHAP, four hundred to one hundred and fifty - and in the excite- V.
ment which prevailed, those merchants who had purchased Monhegan and furnished it with stores, sold their property and withdrew from the business.1
About midsummer two more vessels arrived at Plymouth July or - the Anne, William Pierce, Master, bringing the passen- August, 1623. gers and goods which were to have been forwarded in the Paragon, the supply ship of Mr. John Pierce; and the Little James, of forty-four tons, Mr. Bridges, Master, which was built for the use of the colony. In both these ships came sixty passengers, all, save one, in good health.2 On landing, and witnessing the miserable condition of their predecessors, they were daunted and dismayed. Some wished themselves in England again. Others, in the dis- tress of their friends, gaunt with hunger and meanly clad, imagined they saw their own lot pictured. The scene pre- sented a strange mixture of chagrin, sorrow, sympathy, and joy :- chagrin and sorrow, that the circumstances of the colony were so mean and impoverished ; sympathy and joy, caused by the meeting of parents and children, hus- bands and wives, brothers and sisters, after a long and painful separation. It can scarcely be said of the Pilgrims, in providing for the new comers : -
" They served up salmon, venison, and wild boars By hundreds, and by dozens, and by scores ; Hogsheads of honey, kilderkins of mustard, Muttons, and fatted bceves, and bacon swine ; Herons and bitterns, peacock, swan, and bustards, Teal, mallard, pigeons, widgeons, and in fine Plum puddingz, pancakes, apple pies, and custards : And therewithal they drank good generous wine, With mead, and ale, and cider of their own."
1 Hubbard, 84-5; Chalmers Am., 100-04; Gorges Narr., in 3 M. H. Coll., Vol. 6; U. S. Senate Doc., 22, 1851-2, pp. 219-21.
" For their names, see Young, in Chron. Pil., 352. - Mr. Pierce is said to have been twice repulsed in attempting to reach America - the last time with himself and one hun-
dred and nine passengers on board ; and in consequence of these misfor- tunes, he sold his patent - which cost him but £50-for £500, and the colonists were happily delivered from his power. Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 351 ; Bradford, in Prince, 139; Hubbard, 81-2; Morton, 45-7, &c.
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126
RETURN OF THE ANNE.
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CHAP. V. The best dish with which the guests could be entertained was lobster and fish, without bread ; and their only drink was cold water from the spring, in the absence of a more stimulating beverage. In the days of Jacob, when the famine was great in Canaan, there were herds of cattle from which some nourishment could be obtained ; but the poor Plymouth planters had no herds in their stalls, nor was there an Egypt to flee to for succor in their distress. " All the world" they found "was not oatmeal." Yet they bore these trials with " invincible patience and alac- rity of spirit," rejoicing that they were no heavier; and though the freshness of their complexion was abated, " God gave them health." 1
Scp. 10, 1623.
In September, the Anne returned to London, laden with clapboards and furs, and taking as a passenger Mr. Edward Winslow, deputed as the agent of the colony to transact its business with the Merchant Adventurers; and about the same time the James was equipped for a voyage to the southward of Cape Cod, but owing to the trade of the Dutch in those parts the trip proved profitless. The same vessel was sent to the Eastward in the following March to fish, and was wrecked ; but being subsequently recovered and refitted, she was of more service to the colony.2
The mission of West to America in the spring of 1623, was part of a plan of colonial government adopted by the Plymouth Council, in the plenitude of its wisdom, which aimed at the establishment of its authority on shore and sea, and in spiritual as in secular affairs ; and in the fall of this year3 there arrived in the Massachusetts Bay, Capt. Robert, the youngest son of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, fresh
Ang. or Sep.
1 Bradford, in Prince, 140; Mor- says his son arrived in New England ton's Mem., 44; Hubbard, 83; Smith, in 3 M. II. Coll., 3. 27. 2 Bradford, in Prince, 140, 145, 147; Winslow, in Chron. Pil., 353. 8 Gorges, in 3 M. H. Coll., 6. 74,
"about the beginning of August ;" Hubbard says the "end of August ;" but Morton, 43, says the middle of September.
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COLONY OF ROBERT GORGES.
from the Venetian Wars, to act as Lieutenant General of CHAP. the country, and William Morrell, an Episcopal clergyman V. of good standing, as superintendent of ecclesiastical affairs. 1623. Robert Gorges, in December, 1622, received of the Council a grant of "the Massachusetts," with all the shores and coasts for ten English miles in a straight line towards the north-east, and thirty miles into the main land, through all this breadth ; under this grant he was now in the country to effect a settlement ; and pitching upon the spot deserted by Weston's men, the new colony was commenced, and storchouses were erected.
Notifying Gov. Bradford of his arrival -who was to serve as an assistant in his government - before that gen- tleman could visit Wessagusset Gorges had sailed for the Eastward in the vessel in which he came ; but encountering a storm, he was driven from his course, and put in at Plymouth, where he remained about two weeks. In this interval Weston arrived at Plymouth, and was immedi- ately called to an account by Gorges for the ill-carriage of his colony, and for abuses to Sir F. Gorges and the State, in procuring cannon under false pretenses, and selling them for his own benefit ; but through the intervention of Gov. Bradford a reconciliation was effected, and " there was a friendly parting on all hands." 1
For about a year Gorges labored earnestly for the suc- cess of his colony ; but his father being involved in dis- putes with Parliament, and no supplies arriving from Eng- land, he was advised to return, which he did, leaving his affairs in the charge of his agents. Mr. Morrell, after his departure, finding few churches to govern, and none anxious to submit to his control, spent a year at Plymouth in peace-
1 Levett's Voyage, in 3 M. II. 141; Gorges, in 3 M. H. Coll., 6. Coll., 8. 161, 172; Council's Relat., 74-8; Hubbard, 86; Hazard, 1. in 2 M. H. Coll., 9. 22; Morton's 152-5. Mem., 49, 50; Bradford, in Prince,
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128
RETURN OF GORGES AND MORRELL TO ENGLAND.
CHAP. ful scientific inquiries, the results of which he wrought into V: a Latin poem, which, with its translation, forms part of the first volume of the Collections of the Massachusetts His- torical Society. Thus the government and the hierarchy, which had been conceived with so much labor, proved fruitless abortions. Gorges " scarcely saluted the country in his office, nor continued in it much longer than Tully's Vigilant Consul, who had not leisure during his whole con- sulship so much as once to take his sleep ; " and Morrell, barely displaying his commission, wisely consigned it to that memorable resting place, " the tomb of the Capulets." "By this experience," says Hubbard, " it appears how great a difference there is between the theoretical and the prac- tical part of an enterprise. The Utopian fancy of any projector may easily in imagination frame a flourishing plantation in such a country as was New England ; but to the actual accomplishing thereof, there is required a good number of resolved people, qualified with industry, experi- ence, prudence, and estate, to carry on such a design to perfection, much of which were wanting in the present design." 1
1623. In the winter of this year we find the first record of the Laws of the Colony, relating to no less important a subject than the right of trial by jury ; and at the ensuing annual March, meeting four Assistants were added to the government- making five in all- and to the Governor a double vote was given. It was the desire of Gov. Bradford to be ex- cused from further duty, but his services were too valuable to be dispensed with, and he was unanimously re-elected. 2
1623-4.
March, 1623-4.
Nearly at the same time Mr. Winslow, the agent of the Colony, returned from England in the Charity, with a sup- ply of clothing, and a quantity of neat-cattle - the first
1 Hubbard, 87 ; Morton's Mem., 2 Plym. Col. Laws, 28 ; Bradford, 52; 1 M. HI. Coll., 1. 125-39 ; in Prince, 145; Hubbard, 90-1. Frothingham's Chas'n., 9.
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129
THE PATENT OF CAPE ANNE.
probably ever brought to the shores of Massachusetts. CHAP. Several letters were forwarded by him, and in particular ~ V. one from Mr. Cushman -the "right hand" of the colo- nists with the Adventurers - stating that a " ship carpen- Jan. 21, ter " and a " salter " had been sent to them, - the former 1623-4. of whom proved "honest and industrious," and built two ketches and a lighter, when, in the heat of summer, he sickened and died. The latter was "ignorant and self- willed," and his attempts to manufacture salt, both at Plymouth and at Cape Anne, proved expensive and profit- less. 1
The most interesting item in the letter of Mr. Winslow, was the statement that a patent had been obtained of lands at Cape Anne, where a fishing stage was erected. This instrument, of which little has been hitherto known, and which was long since regarded as lost, has been recently rescued from the oblivion to which it seemed to have been consigned, and is now published to the world in a perma- nent and attractive form by a gentleman familiar with the early history of the State.2 It was executed by Edmond, Lord Sheffeild, a prominent member of the Council for New England, in favor of Robert Cushman and Edward Jan. 1, Winslow, of Plymouth, for themselves and their associates. 1623-4. Doubts concerning the authority of the grantor may have early arisen, for which reason, probably, Hubbard calls it a " useless patent." Plymouth it is certain derived no benefit from its possession ; yet the Dorchester Adventurers, of whom we shall speak more fully hereafter, who " held under those of New Plymouth," erected a plantation there,
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