NEW LIGHT ON THE PILGRIM STORY NEW LIGHT ON THE PILGRIM STORY M. NEW LIGHT ON THE PILGRIM STORY BY THE REV. THOMAS W. MASON WITH THE REV. B. NIGHTINGALE, M.A., LITT.D. AS COLLABORATOR LONDON CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES INCORPORATED MEMORIAL HALL, E.C.4 // 1 THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLOTTE SKINNER TO WHOSE DEVOTION TO HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND PASSIONATE LOVE FOR THE HEROES OF NON- CONFORMITY IT OWES ITS ORIGIN. TO THOSE WHO KNEW HER BEST HER LIFE AND CHAR- ACTER WERE FULL OF CHARM, AND UPON ALL WHO CAME WITHIN THE RANGE OF HER INFLUENCE THERE FELL ABIDING GOOD. CALLED TO THE HIGHER SER- VICE ON APRIL 18, 1918, SHE STILL SPEAKS IN ALMOST EVERY PAGE OF THIS WORK, AND THROUGH IT APPEALS ESPECIALLY TO THE YOUNG OF TO-DAY TO BE WORTHY OF THE GREAT SUCCESSION IN WHICH THEY STAND. PREFACE THE final preparation of this volume for the press has been a labour of love, albeit mingled with regret. The death of its designer and part author, Mrs. Charlotte Skinner, robbed a large circle of friends of a great personality. Research, too, lost in her one of its most earnest and de- voted workers. " " As Aunt Nora Loveall she was well known in the literary world, and her books Marks of the Master, Uncrowned Queens, etc., have an abiding value. The present work, however, was intended to be the chief effort of her life. She spent upon it time, labour, and money without stint, and it is matter for regret that she, to whom it owes so much, did not live to see its completion. The matter here presented is part of a har- vest gathered during many years. It is sent forth in the hope that it will prove to be a solid contribution to the available knowledge of the heroes of the Mayflower, and point the way to further investigation. viii PREFACE The new material offered will, at least, raise the student's estimate of the social status of the Pilgrim Fathers in England, and will add considerably to his mental picture of their individual it will also greatness ; help to give to London and the Eastern Counties their appro- priate position in the great Pilgrim Movement. If, in addition, it leads to a higher admira- tion for the characters and ideals of the Pilgrim heroes, and to a strengthening of those bonds which now unite England to her fairest daugh- ter, all who have toiled in it will find abundant reward therein. The chief authorities consulted, for the main outline of the Pilgrims' story, are Bradford's History, Morton's New England Memorial, with its and Supplement ; Winslow's Relation, John Smith's New England's Trials. Of these the first must remain the authority on the subject. Other works that have been found useful are Dr. Dexter's The England and Holland of the Pilgrims, and Dr. Goodwin's The Pilgrim Republic. Dr. R. G. Usher's recent book The Pilgrims and their History, in its contention that the Pilgrims " " had all been farmers in England," that no further accession of evidence is now probable," " and that, therefore, his own narrative possesses a certain aspect of finality," receives challenge in the material contained in these pages. PREFACE IX The following have rendered most valuable assistance, for which gratitude is here expressed : Dr. R. F. Scott, Master of St. John's College, Cambridge ; Dr. P. Giles, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Dr. W. T. Whitley, Droitwich ; Rev. Claud Jenkins, B.A., Librarian, Lambeth Palace ; the Librarians of Colchester, Chelmsford, and Dr. Williams's Library; the Rev. Walter Burgess, B.A., Secretary of the Unitarian Historical Society; the Verger of Cross Miss St. Martin's, Charing ; Mary Cook, of Sandwich, U.S.A. ; Mrs. Joseph Caley, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; Mr. Wilfred Rogers, the late Mrs. Nottingham ; Mr. and Crow, Mrs. Wanstead ; Mr. and Moorcock, Rayleigh ; S. C. Mr. T. W. Moss, J.P., Rayleigh ; and Mr. Ratcliff of the Public Record Office, London. Thanks are specially due to Miss F. Barnard, Mr. J. H. Petty and Mr. W. Hazeltine Frost for photographs, to Mr. Arthur Greenhalgh, of Ray- leigh, for labour most generously given in the production of the etchings, and to Mr. C. F. Garrood for most valuable help in the reading of the proofs. This list would be incomplete if mention were not made of Miss Robinson, of Forest Gate, London; the Lord Bishop of Chelmsford, and all the clergy of Essex, who have shown the also of the Rev. T. G, most unfailing kindness ; x PREFACE Crippen, Librarian of the Memorial Hall, and the Rev. W. Melville Harris, M.A., whose wide knowledge of the subject has been unstintedly placed at my disposal. THOMAS W. MASON. RAYLEIGH, ESSEX. April 1920. THE aim of this book, as stated in the foregoing, is to call attention to the important part played by Essex, the Eastern Counties, and London in the Pilgrim Movement. Whilst doing so, how- ever, there is no thought of challenging the claim of Scrooby to the honour of being the birthplace of that Movement. Mr. Mason has collected much new and interesting information about the men and women supplied by that area, having had, for some part of the time, a most valuable co-worker in the late Mrs, Skinner, whose death means serious loss to the world of knowledge. As representing the Literature Com- mittee of the Congregational Union it has been a distinct pleasure to be associated with him in the production of this work. He very readily welcomed such suggestions and revision as seemed desirable. One word is necessary in reference to the title of the book. In one or two preliminary an- nouncements it has appeared as Some Haunts and PREFACE xi Adventures of the Pilgrim Fathers. It has, how- ever, been felt that that too nearly intruded upon Dr. MacKennal's Homes and Haunts of the the one has been Pilgrim Fathers ; hence present adopted. It ought to be said even in reference to this that it does not claim to be perfectly exact. It sufficiently indicates, however, the general purpose of the work. The book is sent forth in the hope that it will illumine many a hitherto dark page, and quicken interest in the story of one of the most momentous events in the history, not of this country alone, but indeed of the world. B. NIGHTINGALE. MlLTONA, RlLET AVENUB, ST. ANNES-ON-SEA. April 1920. FOREWORD " " I COUNT it a privilege to write a Foreword to this volume, which is timely and appropriate, and concerns events many of which are so closely connected with Essex. The sailing of the Pil- i grim Fathers in 1620 will have increasing interest to historians as America becomes more and more a dominating factor in international affairs, and the publication of this interesting volume on the eve of the celebration in 1920 of the Ter- centenary of that epoch making event will have special significance owing to the alliance of America and England on behalf of democracy and freedom, the very principles which governed the action of the Pilgrim Fathers three hundred years ago. I am thankful Mr. Mason has com- pleted the task which Mrs. Skinner began and did not live to complete. No one can read this record without realising that its authors were enthusiastic lovers of their subject. By patient and untiring industry they have delved into the past and have brought to light many interesting facts, and have unearthed many a quaint and apt quotation. By both Englishmen and Ameri- cans this book will be read not only with interest, but with profit, and the illustrations with which xiii rir FOREWORD it is enriched will emphasise the story which they help to reveal. I am glad to think that this^volume will link in the minds of its readers the Diocese of Chelmsford with those far reaching events of bygone days, and with the great re- sults of which they were the beginnings. The ideals of the Pilgrim Fathers are gradually being woven into the texture of the world's life, and I trust that this record may have a wide circulation and help forward the time when the great principles for which they stood may dominate the world. J. E. CHELMSFORD. BISHOP'S COITBT, CHELMSFOBD. March 1920. CONTENTS CEAPTER PAGffl I. MAYFLOWER BUILDERS .... 1 II. A MEMORABLE SETTING FORTH . 11 III. THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT ... 24 - IV. PIONEERS OF TRUE FREEDOM . 29 V. PILGRIM MOTHERS AND CHILDREN . 39 VI. THE ST. FRANCIS OF THE MAYFLOWER . 52 VII. THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN OF THE MAY- FLOWER ...... 67 VIII. IN LACE LAND 74 IX. QUAINT BILLERICAY .... 86 X. ON THE BANKS OF THE CHELMER . 95 XI. THE STAR OF THE EAST . 103 XII. WHENCE CAME THE MAYFLOWER ? .119 XIII. THE VILLAGE OF EASTWOOD . .132 XIV. WATCH TOWER TOWN . .140 XV. A LONDON PUZZLE . .150 XVI. THE MARTYR'S GRANDSON . .156 XVII. MAYFLOWER FOLLOWERS . .161 INDEX 169 b LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE MAYFLOWER, WITH OLD ST. PAUL'S IN THE BACKGROUND .... Frontispiece FACING PAGB N.W. ANGLE ROCHFORD HALL, ESSEX . 1 ROCHFORD HALL, ESSEX ..... 5 THE OLD CHAPEL OF ROCHFORD HALL . 9 BOSTON "STUMP" 11 NORWICH CATHEDRAL, INTERIOR . .11 ENTRANCE, FLEET PRISON, LONDON 13 SIGNING THE COMPACT IN THE CABIN OF THE MAY- FLOWER ....... 25 STATUE OF LIBERTY, NEW YORK . 29 LEIGH, ESSEX, IN BYGONE DAYS . .42. ST. MARTIN'S -IN -THE-FIELDS, LONDON . 55 GIDEA HALL ....... 5^ THE STOCKS, HAVERING-ATTE-BOWER . 59* ST. DUNSTAN'S CHURCH, STEPNEY .