P I L G R I M S
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N A H U M G A L E . B Y R E V .
“ If any tax me for was ting p ap e r wi th re cording th es e s m all matte rs su ch m a c o nsid e r a s m a th in s in th e b i nni n of , y , th t ll g , eg g natu al oli tic o di e s are as em a k ab l as at i n b o e s r , or p b , r r e gre er , di ”— ’ ul wn . D ud l 3 L tt to the C unt s s o L i nc ln 1 6 81 . f l gro ey e er o e f o ,
ABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY AND WRITTEN FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS S ,
APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION .
B O S T 0 N
MASSACH SETTS ABBA SC H L S CIET U S TH OO O Y ,
S . DEP O IT O RY, No . 1 3 C ORN H IL L En ere d accordin to Act o f C o n re s s i n th e ear 1 85 t , g g , y 7 ,
B Y TH E M A ACH U E T T AB B ATH S CH OOL S CI E TY SS S S S O ,
’ i n th e Clerk ffi ce o fth e D i s ric C o ur o fMass achu se s O t t t tts .
- ' n . Well Spri ng Press, 4 Spr o g La e P R E F A C E
S evera va ua e w or s u on the e ar h s or of l l bl k , p ly i t y the P m o u h P r m s h ave e e n u l she d w h n ly t ilg i , b p b i it i
w n the are hro n c e s the las t t e nty ye ars . Am o g se C i l
“ A x and e r Yo un . Gu d e of the Pi r m s b D r. e lg i , y l g i ” “ Th l m . Russe . e to P m o u h b Hon . W a S ly t , y il i ll
” P r m Fa hers b w . H . ar e . The as wor ilg i t , y B tl tt l t k
“ relate s to the fo o ts te ps of the Fathe rs i n the Old
d s w m now Worl as well as in the Ne w. T o this li t e ay
’
ad d Gov . radfo rd s H s or of P m ou h ust ub B i t y ly t , j p li she d by the Mass achuse tts Hist o rical So cie ty . T he
or na m a e r a s fo r the se o o s e x c e the as igi l t i l b k , pt l t
n am e d and for se ve ra o he rs wor h o f e n , l t , t y b i g
m e n o ne d have e e n d rawn from the wr n s of the ti , b iti g
P r m s who e ft o n r e cord the m os t am e and ilg i , l pl ,
acc ura e accoun s of he r suffe r n s and a ors in t t t i i g l b ,
he r n e w h t i om e s .
B ut the se or nal d ocum en s are u sh e d for igi t p bli , I i v P R E F A C E .
the m o s art in ar e vo um e s not e ne ra acc t p , l g l , g lly e s sible to the com m unity . A num b e r of the book s a so wh ch have e e n c om e d from hem are out of l , i b pil t ,
r n and ve r fe w Co e s can b e found e ve n in th p i t , y pi , e
rar e s of n e e n d e sc e nd an s of th P lib i i t llig t t e ilgrim s .
The wan s of the u c he re fore in re a on to the t p bli , t , l ti
h s o r of the Fa he rs are not e t fu m et. i t y t , y lly
T oo e is known e ven in Ne w En and e s e ci littl , gl , p a am on the oun of the r nc e s the suffe r n s lly g y g , p i ipl , i g , and the no e d e e d s of the m e n and wom e n who bl ,
r r w e e p asse nge s in the Mayflo we r .
Th s e oo the fru of a summ e r e x curs on i littl b k , it i to the Ca e and of n e rm e n s ud e s ro se cu e d p , i t itt t t i p t annu a a out the 2 2 d of D e c e m e r is n end e d as lly, b b , i t an intro d uc tion to the first p age of our colonial hi s
to r . If sha l e ad to the e rusa of ar e r and y it l l p l l g ,
m ore va ua e wor s will not fa to b e use fu . l bl k , it il l
“ ” Thou h so m e of the fac s wh ch it con a ns are g t , i t i , “ s ran e r han fic on he are none the e ss fac s . t g t ti , t y l t
No h n is s a ed as ru e but wha is e e ve d to t i g t t t , t b li re st u pon reliable au tho rity ; though for the sake of
re v au hor es are not e ne ra ve n . Pre b ity, t iti g lly gi
uen uo a ons som e t m es in ua nt an ua e the q t q t ti , i q i l g g , P R E F A C E .
r e ad e r w l no ce h ave e e n m ad e from the wr il ti , b it i n s of the P r m s and in a fe w ns ance s the g ilg i , i t o riginal sp elling is re t aine d .
In so m an d e a s of m nor fac s is w e l n h y t il i t , it l ig im po ssible to avoid e rrors ; but it is hop e d that fe w of
e im po r tance h ave e sc ap e d d e t e c tion . Whe n st at m e n s are m ad e wh ch have o n ro a for t , i ly p b bility
he r as s c are has e e n a e n to nd ca e h s so t i b i , b t k i i t t i , that the y m ay b e re adily dis ti nguishe d from what is
um r n r supporte d by p ositive e vid e nce . A n be of i t e e s n ane cd o e s hou h of e n u she d have e e n ti g t , t g t p bli , b o m t e d in th s wor e cause ro a ie s w e re i t i k , b p b bilit
tr n a n s o gly gai st the ir truth . May the au thor b e
e rm e d to h0 e hat the e asure he has e n o e d p itt p , t pl j y in wr n he s l b h r iti g t e p age s wi l e s a e d by his re ad e rs .
It has be e n hi s obj e c t to pre se n t the Pilgrim s as
he we re the firs e ar of h e r r e s d e nce in M assa t y , t y t i i chuse tts ; and by a faithful chro nicle of their e ve ry d ay life to c orre ct miss t ate m e nt s re sp e c ting the ir d o n s wh ch are ofte n m ad e and e l e ve d and i g , i b i , mi sconce ons of he r charac e r che r she d b too pti t i t , i y m any.
Surely no love r of truth can arise from the P R E F A C E .
e rusal o f the e ar h s or o f our fore fa he rs p ly i t y t , w h u u s r n h r t he r ul o s c e a o e o b Mr . it t b ibi g tily t i gy, y
h n i n hi “ S ou o s e e c o n se rm on for 1 6 6 8 . Go d t g t , l ti
‘ sifte d a whole n atio n that he m ight se nd choice
” r n v r n h w d rn s g ai o e i to t is il e e s .
L e e M arch 1 85 7 . , , C O E N N T T S .
PA E . CHAPTER . G
L AND ING AT CA P E CO D . 7
2 0 CIVIL GOVERN M ENT E S T ABL ISH E D .
8 5 T H E PIL G RIM S IN T RO D UCE D .
1 EX P LO RIN G T H E C OA S T . 7
’ 8 5 DI S COVE RY O F CL AE K S ISLAN D.
1 T H E FORE S T SAN C T UARY. 00
’ 1 L AN D IN G A T FOR E FA T H E R S RO C K. 1 5
TH E TOWN LOCA T E D .
- 1 48 D WE LLIN G HOU S E S ERE C TED .
A NIG H T O F So RRO w. 1 6 9
— 1 9 FRIEN D LY VI SI T S O F IN DIAN S . 7
TRE AT Y WI T H MA S SA S OIT .
SAI LIN G O F T H E MAYF L OWER .
TH E FIR S T WE DDIN G .
SUM M E R L IF E AT PLYM OU T H . C O N T E N T S .
CHAPT ER PAGE . Y T PA KA A JOURN E O C N O KIC K . 2 6 6
T A V OYAG E O NAU S E T . 2 77
T X D A MIL I ARY E P E I T ION . 2 88
A V OYA G E T o MA S SAC H U S E T T S
B AY .
T H E HARVE ST FE ST IVAL .
CLO SE O F T H E FIR S T YEAR . PILGRIMS’ FIRST YEAR
N E W E N G L A D .
C H A P T E R I .
L A N D I N G A T C A P E C O D
N o v e m e r 1 6 2 0 b , . — — First Sight of th e C oas t Joy of th e p as se nge rs Attem pt to rea ch — — — th e H u ds o n x Th e shi p in p e ril De te rm inatio n to l and C om e to — — anchor in th e B ay Th e B ay an d Shore de s crib e d Gu ide d by ’ P ro vi — Ev r —Re i ou s s e rv e o n oar —Th e de nc e Mr . e e tt s vi e w l gi ic b d — — gre at le ngt h o f th e ir voyage Une xp e cte d de lays Sto rm s at s e a — — A p arty g o as ho re Plac e of firs t landing Boat re turns with — — e wo o d Th e s o il rich an d well wo o de d Firs t foo ts te p s o f th e Pil — — » grim s he re P res e nt appe arance of th e place A m o nu m e nt ne e d — — e d at Lo ng Po int Provi nce town and th e hills De lightful s e aa
7 1 8 W.
H o w s low yon tiny ve s se l plou ghs th e m ai n Am id th e heavi ng bill ows n ow sh e s e e m s A oi a om e rom wave to wave t ling t , th n f
Le a s m a l th e em e s 1 as e —o r re e s p d y , by t p t h d , l ,
Ha wre e . ro u ulfs lf ck d th gh g p rofou nd .
- o o w M ns wax and ane . ’ 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
B u t s till that lo nle y trave le r tre ads th e de ep .
I s e e an i ce - o u o as owar s w sh e s e e rs b nd c t , t d hich t su a ar m ovem e a se em s With ch t dy nt , th t it ’ S e r e r s a a u r e h e r e e to s o e t n Wint h nd h th t n d k l t n ,
An d se ale d hi s victo ry o n h e r slipp e ry s hrou ds . — They land They land
L . H . I O RNE S G U Y.
AT d a — d a 9th f y break , on Thurs y the o D 6 2 0 . 1 November , A , , old style , the Pil grims in the Mayflower first saw the shores
f N d ad o ew Englan . They re ily knew where they were ; for th e two mates of the ship h ad been on the c oast before an d Sinc e the d c o f Co d a Go swold is overy Cape , by C ptain ,
1 6 02 a h ad d in , m ny vessels visite it to fish , an d to trad e with the Indians .
d n was a The lan first see , prob bly the
m a extre e northern part of the C pe . These
and and beaches hills of moving s , as the
nd m traveler now fi s the , without a tree or
c c s c arcely a shrub , mu h omforted the Pil
a de cr a grim voy gers . They s ibe the C pe as a goodly land and woo de d to the brink o f 9 IN NEW ENGLAND .
“ an d add d the sea , it cause us to rejoice together and praise Go d th at h ad given us
” a a g in to see land . As it is the intention of the Pilgrims to settle ne ar the mouth of “ a the Hudson , they pursue their voy ge to d the southwar , hoping soon to reach a
“ te n river , which they suppose to be ” a le gues south . About noon , they fall
n a among roari g shoals and bre kers , whi ch lie off the southern extremity of the
a and C pe , between the main land the Island d “ ofNantucket . Fin ing themselves in great
” “ and d hazard towar s night , the wind
a a a being contr ry , they put round g in for the Bay of Cape Co d ; an d on Saturday “ 1 1 th in morning , November ride safety
i c a in Prov n etown Harbor , as th t beautiful b a c d w c y is now alle , from the town hi h
n skirts its cresce t shore . The Pilgrims were mu ch ple ase d with their pl ace of an chorage .
“ They call it a good harbor an d pleasant ’ 1 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
c d c a Bay , ircled roun , ex ept in the entr nce , which is about four miles over from
d c land to lan , ompassed about to the very sea with oaks , pines , juniper , sas safras and other sweet wood ; it is a har bor wherein a thousand sail of ships may ” d safely ride . It seems truly provi ential that they were directe d first to just this spot on our dangerous c oast . “ ” d a c . I re not all it , says Mr Everett ,
a mere piece of good fortune . I feel my spirit raised above the sphere o f mere n atural agencies . I see the m ountains o f
New Engl and rising from their rocky d thrones . They rush forwar into the
c n n d d o ea , settli g own as they a vance ; and there they range themselves , a mighty
d h - bulwark aroun the e aven dire cted vessel .
Y a Go d r c es , the everl sting himself st et hes out the arms of his mercy and his power in substantial manifestation , and gathers the IN NEw N A D E GL N . 1 1 meek company of his wor shipers as in the
” hollow of his h and .
M was at c r As soon as the ayflower an ho , the Pilgrim band ackn owle dge d the sus-s tainin g and guiding Provide n ce of G o d by
a solemn cts of worship . Their own account of this s c ene shows the ch aracter of
n d the se men of faith . Bei g now passe the
V and se a ast ocean a of troubles , before their
n c n as propositio unto further pro eedi gs , to
c n &c . seek out a pla e for habitatio , , they
“ fell d own upon their knees and blessed the
r d Go d h ad Lo , the of heaven who brought
and c them over the vast furious o ean , and d elivered them from all the pe rils and mi s s
a n r eries thereof, gai to set thei feet on the f m and -s ir stable earth , their proper ele ” ment .
They had indeed gre at cause for grati-s
d a h ad c d tu e , th t they es ape the perils and ” miseries of the deep . i s ’ 1 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
It was on the 2 2 d of July that their pas ~ ” c tor , Mr . Robinson , with watery heeks ,
“ c omm ended them with most fer vent
a Go d at D — pr yer to , elft Haven , when they
m r d for n a d wa e ba ke E gl n , on their y to the
Ne w d . N ar Worl e ly four months , then , have passed si nc e most of them c ame on
a d a d a n shipbo r . They s ile from South mpto
5 th c d a e the of August , whi h woul m k the length of their voyage from England nin ety - eight d ays I After putting b ack twi ce
” h a d th e a wit the le ky Spee well , M yflower
a d m m r 6 th s ile from Ply outh Septe be ,
c u d m a a nc whi h wo l ke the voy ge , si e the
m ar a - last e b kation , no less th n sixty six d ays ! In the midst of the Atlanti c they
“ met with cross wind s and many fierce
’ ~ . a u nd r d a n r b e storms With h e p sse ge s ,
d c w m e n m n and c d si es the re , wo e hil ren crowd ed into a ship of a hund r ed an d
n u eighty tons , this lo g voyage m st have IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 8 tried the courage and faith o f the stron gest
Pilgrim .
NOr are these perils by any m eans yet
n d d n passed . They i ten e to have been upo
“ ” the coast of Northern Vir gini a in the e arly part of September ; but the failure
o ne and a of of their ships , their unusu lly
n a d a d d n lo g voy ge el ye them , accor i g to
c d 2 2 d our alen er , till the of November ,
c n 1 1 th old . whi ch orrespo ds with the , style
” B u t ad d here , says Br for in his history ,
a and I c nnot but stay make a pause , and
’ stan d half amaze d at this poor peoples pre sent condition ; and so I think will the
d n d rea er too , when he well co si ers the
’ 7 a a a s me . He then gives us gr phic sketch
“ ’ ” N0 of the poor pee ples c ondition . r nd c m n f ie s to wel ome the , no inns to e ter a - n d t in , or refresh their weather beate bo ies , n o o r c houses , mu h less towns to repair to ,
” to seek for succor . The season , it was ’ 1 4 THE Pi LGRIMs FIRST YEAR
W and inter , known to be sharp violent , ” and subje ct to cruel and fierce storms .
“ d c u d d -a Besi es , what o l they see but a hi e d ous and desolate wil erness , full of wild
and d an d a e beasts , wil men ; wh t mul titu d e s t there might be of hem , they
” No r c an c d a knew not . it be con eale th t the m aster and c omp any of the ship had no
“ r e a sympathy with the Pilg ims y , it was
a muttered by some , that if they got not
ac d m an d pl e in time , they woul turn the
” their goo d s ashore and leave them . d Well oes the pious historian ask , what c d a S r o f oul now sust in them , but the pi it
Go d and r c . And ad d a , his g a e he s with equ l
“ m a n ot and propriety , y , ought not the child ren of these fathers rightly s ay : Our
m c c fathers were English en , whi h ame over
r a c n an d d h this g e t o ea , were rea y to peris i n this wild erness ; but they crie d u nto the
d and d Lor , and he heard their voice , looke
’ 1 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
to us , for our people going on shore were forced to wade a bow- shot or two in going
c d d aland , whi h cause many to get col s and c z oughs , for it was many times free ing cold ” a we ther . This d escription d oes not agree with
c the present appearan e of Long Point ,
d and for the shore there is very bol , the writer of this recently leaped from the prow of a large sail boat upon the soft and d dry san , while at the stern of the boat
a d the w ter measured six feet in epth .
Perhaps the Mayflower at first anchored far
and d be com ther up the harbor , afterwar s ,
ac d c ing better quainte with the place , hang d e her position for one nearer the Point . It is not impossible that two c enturies have wrought great changes in the form ation of
and d the shore , the epth of water in vari
d a o u s places . Ju ging from present ppear anc e s the place of this first landing would IN NEw ENGLAND . 1 7
“ seem to have been near Wood End where the flats extend three - fourths o f a mile from the shore . The object of the ” d fe tch d lan ing , was to woo , see what the
d c lan was , and what inhabitants they ould
: d a meet with They saw no In i ns , but at night they returned to the ship with a boat
“ ad m d lo ofjuniper wood , which s elle very ” sweet .
“ of c This wood aromati odor , was
‘ re d c doubtless the cedar ; su h wood , as a writer of that age says “ Solomon used for the building of that glorious temple of i H e ru s ale m . That this part of the Cape was on ce heavily woode d is beyond a ques
“ ” d a tion . In ri ing from R ce Point to
Provincetown , in June of last year , the writer saw , on a sand plain , many stumps o f c d c d red e ar trees , whi h the win s were
w ~ bringing to Vie , after they had been cover e d f . o with sand , perhaps for ages Some ’ 1 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR
d of the woo was brought away , but most
“ ” its c olor and aromatic o dor was gone . To those who have waded through the
on and sand these shores of Long Point , h ave seen what efforts have been m ad e by pl anting be ach grass to keep the whole
b a a region from eing blown w y , the follow i ng des cription of it by our fathers must in
c a some of its parti ulars , seem lmost fabu d lous . They foun it to be a small ne ck of
' land ; on this sid e where we was in the
an d s e a bay , the further side the ; the
o r a c ground , e rth , sand hills mu h like
D d c the owns in Hollan , but mu h better ;
’ ’ c o f d the rust the earth a spit s , (spa e s! d c c d d epth , ex ellent bla k earth ; all woo e
n r c with Oaks , Pines , Sassafras , Ju ipe , Bir h ,
and YValnu t Holly , Vines , some Ash , ; the wood for th e most p art Open and witho u t d d ” underwoo , fit either to go or ri e in .
Such was the place where the p assengers IN NEw N N E GLA D . 1 9
in the Mayflower passed their first month
o n . the coast The traveler , therefore , who
would trac e the first footsteps of the Pil
Ne w grims in the World , must begin his journey , not at Plymouth , but at Long
find a . Point . He will it a delightful be ch
Fifty families reside there and though the
whole region is barren of vegetation , in a
’ i on a br ght summer s day , it puts an p
e aranc f p e o cheerfulness . If these hardy
of sons Neptune cannot plough the land ,
a and they plough the oce n , reap from it
golden harvests . On this spot some simple monument should remind the mariner of
a the C pe , that Pilgrim feet trod those sands d ” in the ol en time . d There too , not a league istant from the
point , is the unique village of Province d d town , istinguishe for its enterprise and
wealth ; and though , with its thousands o f i t acres , boasts but one farmer , no visitor a ’ 2 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR will find it d eficient in the good things whi ch the earth yields . A few miles down
S the hores of the bay , may be found the
on a d rising land , which a Pilgrim b n
c d . en ampe , the first night spent on shore
r m o n A sea View f o these hills , either the
or c d h a u bay the o ean si e , is wort jo rney from the far distant interior . Why , then ,
’ d o in tracing the Pilgrims footsteps , most ? stop at Plymouth Surely , the extreme part o f the Cape has a prior claim upon o ur notice . Ew N ND IN N E GLA . 2 1
C H A P T E R I I
B S H D C I V I L G O V E R N M E N T E S T A L I E .
N o v e m b e r , 1 6 2 0 .
— — Th e C ons titu tio n Nam e s o f th e s igne rs Merits of th e Ins tru m e nt am ’ — ’ w o f i t—Pra se Mr J . Q Ad s opinio n Mr B ancro ft s vie i d by — Mr . Eve r ts as a charte r o f li ber ty Th e germ o f th e Ne w England — — - — t own m e e ting Origin o f this com p act One pe cu liar clau s e Re — li gio u s characte r of th e e nte rp ris e Te s tim o ny o f Bradfo rd and — Wins lo w confirm e d by Robins o n Difficu ltie s o f carrying ou t th e — original de sign Its acc om pli s hm e nt in th e ne xt gene ratio n ’ P u re of Si th m — ar s e s Eu o o n th e ict gning e co pact Mr . C li l l gy Ma o we r a s yfl p s e nge rs .
What co ns titu te s a Sta te ? Not ra s e a em e s o a ore m ou high i d b ttl nt r l b d nd , Thick wall o r m o ate d gate ;
No t e s ro u w s re s and u rre s ro w e citi p d , ith pi t t c n d ,
No t a s and roa - arm or s b y b d p t , e re au at th e s orm r av e s r e Wh , l ghing t , ich n i id ; No t s arre and S a e o u rts t d p ngl d c ,
ere low- o u as e e ss wa ts er um e to r e Wh b nd b n f p f p id ,
- No m e n m e m e n . , high ind d
Me n wh o e r u e s ow , th i d ti kn ,
B u t ow e r r s an d ow are m a a kn th i ight , kn ing , d int in The s e c on s titu te a State ’ And s overe L aw a s a e s o e e will ign , th t t t c ll ct d , ’ O e r throne s and glob e s e late — S s e m ress z row oo - re a r it p c ning g d p i ing ill . SIR WILLIAM JONES ’ 2 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
BEFORE we pro ceed to follow in our nar rative the Pilgrims through the forests an d c t a along the oasts , as hey se rch for a place of settlement , we should read the
r d c following b ief, but able o ument , which formed them into a civil c ommunity .
IN o f GOD n ' the name , Ame We , d whose names are un erwritten , the legal
c o f d d v d subje ts our rea So ereign Lor ,
n a c GOD o f Ki g J mes , by the gra e of ,
r a a c and G eat Brit in , Fr n e Ireland King ,
D f a o &c . efender the F ith ,
d a Go d Having un ert ken for the glory of , and advan c ement of the Christi an F aith an d and honor of our King Country , a voyage to plant the fir st Colony in the
a d o Northern p rts of Virginia , by these
and presents , solemnly mutually , in the
c of Go d and r presen e one of anothe , c ovenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body Politi c for our better ordering and preservation and furtheran ce of the ends aforesaid ; and by virtue
’ 2 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Stephen Hopkins , George Soule ,
d d c a d a E war Tilly , Ri h r Cl rke ,
n c a d a d Joh Tilly , Ri h r G r iner ,
a c Fr n is Cook John Allerton ,
a a n Thom s Rogers , Thom s E glish
a Do te Thomas Tinker , Edw rd y Ri d l a e d . John g , Edwar Leister Edward F uller
These forty - one signatures are all that histo rians have attached to this instru
’ ment ; but accordin g to Bradford s man u s cri t d c v d p , recently is o ere , there were other adul t male passengers ; and probably — other names two or three at least , shou ld be ad ded to this list of cons cript
” fathers .
n d It may be questio e , also , whether all the n ames here given were on the original
“ c m c . a a a te r o pa t Br dford s ys , Leister , f ” he as a li r n w t bert . y , went to Vi g i ia
Does not this imply that he was a minor
If so , was he a signer IN NEW ENGLAND . 2 5
This instrument proves that our fath e rs ac were not f tions , ignorant and cant
d n a c . fi ing f nati s It is a solemn , ig i ed ,
r nd loyal state paper , wo thy of the fou ers f R f o c . o a free epubli Worthy men ,
“ - d high minde men , who know their
and d and ed rights their uties , are fitt
Without the prid e of heraldry or pomp of power to c onstitute a state . The states
of manship the Pilgrims , as shown in
c c d this ompact , has been mu h praise by
v a and r emine nt ci ili ns histo ians .
“ ” “ a . a It is , s ys Mr . J Q . Ad ms , a full demonstration that the nature of c ivil government abstracted from the
politic al institutions of their native c oun
h ad o s e rio us try , been an bject of their
” a medit tion .
c c . nc Of this ompa t , Mr Ba roft says ,
This was th e birth of popular consti
tutio nal h ad libe rty . The middle age ' " 2 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR been fam iliar with characters and c onsti -v tu tion s ; b ut th e y h ad bee n me rely co m «
for m s a t a r c -f pacts im unitie , p r i l enf an hise m e s n o f o l c c o o f nt , pate ts n bi ity , on essi ns m v e s o r m o f th e unicipal pri ileg , li itations s overeign po wer in favo r o f feudal i nd
i uti ns the cab n Ma fl r st t o . the owe In i of y ,
m c n z e d ; hu anity re og i its rights , and institute d governme nt o n the ba sis o f ” e qual laws for the gene ral go od .
a o a le . S ys an ther b writer , Mr Everts ,
We a k God a t as h did no t th n , th , t ey bring with them the le ast germ o f unjust ,
c s o the o m e poli y , they set gr wing e pir with not one b ase eleme n t of hered itary c aste; or adm itte d principle of slavery ;
’ o r any s e e d of aught that heaven s eter-r nal e n t l justic could o pe rfect y approve .
a o c h as and th Th t c mpa t been , is e ground of legislation in New England to this day ; and. we are well calle d o n W IN NE ENGLAND . 2 7 t o rejoice that from no peculiar insti tu tion of Ne w E ngland d oes o cc asion o f d o r d c isquietude , is ontent arise to vex the public security ; that the evils and d anger of ignoran ce and sloth are im
d d o f bed e in no masses her population , lo cal or derivative ; that not for he r children are borne o u r heavy burd ens o f and i f u r pauperism crime . And o
’ c ou r c whole ountry , and ountry s laws had been true to the original Mayflower
n s c compact , there would have been o u h thing as slavery or legal injustice at ” this day , in all this northern country . This constitution of the infant com m onwe alth d d is in eed simple , emocratic ,
l d o f just . t acknow e ges equality right , c ommunity o f interest and recipro city o f
d o f d uty . It provi es for the enactment laws and the choi ce o f rulers by the vote o f the majority of adult male citizens . ’ 2 8 TH E PI LGRIMS FIRS T YEAR
Here is th e ge rm o f our Ne w England
- t e and o f n a e . own me tings , u iversal suffr g
And whe re d id the Pilgrim s learn this f m o f n n the c c l. or gover me t , first pra ti a
a e b o d m n be r e u a and s f em i e t of li ty , q lity frate rnity ? From the c hurch to which
“ ” r m n they belonged . Thei sole contract
c t c a e m o d by whi h hey be ame stat , was
” eled a r th e e m en an fte sol n cov t , by which they ha d many ye ars be e n a
n d om the a t church . Religio s free is p ren
T Ne T s i s of civil libe rty . he w e tament
’ the statesman s best manual for seminal
c e of l as for m o s prin ipl s law , as wel tive o f t ac i o n .
There are i n this constitution of the
’ Pilgrim s Com monwealth se veral clauses of o e an d ca e peculiar f rc signifi nc , reveal in the s a e d o the g state m nlik wis m , and
Christian integrity and good will of its
B li n f i i , f framers . ut one e o t s so full o A D IN NEW ENGL N . 2 9 m s o d ff eaning , and is i erent from what o rdinarily appe ars in instruments o f this
o u r c nature , that it demands spe ial no
T h i n c . e c ti e Pilgrims de lare , first of all , t ~ his constitution , that they have under
“ taken this voyage for the glory of Go d an d the advanc ement o f the Christian f ? aith . Can there be a doubt of this
How often d id they declare it to be their t purpose . We re they not true and hones men ?
One s ays that among other things which induced them to undertake this voyage
“ was the d esire of carrying the gospel of
s Christ into those foreign part , amongst those people that as yet have no knowledge f ” hi o . s nor taste God Bradford , in his tory , in giving the reasons why the Pil n “ grims left Holla d , says , Lastly , and
not which was the least , a great hope and
z had of d inward eal , they laying some goo ’ 8 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
or a o foundation , at least , to m ke s me way
advanc thereunto , for the propagating and ing the gospel of the kingd om of Christ in
of e a these remote parts the world ; y , though they should be but as stepping s tones unto others for performing of so
” gre at a work . To this we may add the testimony of “ c to the Winslow , that they ame enlarge
c if e chur h of Christ , the Lord have a peopl am ongst the natives whither he should bring us .
c o f To all this , agrees the ex lamation
e Robinson , when he heard that some hostil Indians had fallen by the sword of Stand
. h ad e ish Oh , how happy a thing it b en that you had converted some before you ” killed any . May not this have been even so ? Squam
one o f s to , the first Indians the Pilgrim
i 6 2 o f met , died n 1 2 , and it is recorded
’ 82 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR the n atives that Christian missionarie s now
u th e make pon heathen tribes , among whom they reside .
The early privations , and poverty , and
th e no d t want of ministers in colony , oub d elaye d the work o f evangelizing the In
c d a e di ans . Unexpe ted el ys there may hav
“ a o d of been ; mist kes , as to the best m e
d c c d t c on u ting su h a work , they no oub
d a e c c ma e , in that g , so wanting in pra ti al experienc e in missions ; but the d esign o f the voyage , as a missionary enterprise ,
c cannot be doubted , and onsidering all the
m a c s circu st nces of the ase , was not thi e nd sought with as much vigor and suc c ess as could reasonably have been ex pe cte d ? Many of that generation o f na
ive s t heard the gospel , and a very large number o f the next generation were gath ered into the fold o f Christ . Who can doub t that it was this deep religious ele D rN NEw ENGLAN . 3 3 m ent that gave them such for titude under t d a c rials , such faith in the dark y, su h
c e n d c n perseveran e unto the , such prote tio f G od and s c a n rom , u h m rked interpositio
“ a S ix s i n in their f vor in trouble , yea , s eve n — This scene the signing of the c ompac t
’ a i s worthy of the painter s pen cil . H ppy
are a . w n we to know that an rtist , (Mr Ed i
a ad it c White! has lre y given to the anvass , and the engraving s from the pic ture will s d oon a orn many a Christian parlor .
n a o Looki g at the M yflower in the harb r, while the Pilgrims are pausing and sign ing the Constitution of their free Common
m a wealth , we y well exclaim with Mr .
C a u d rlyle , tho gh he oes not seem fully to u nderstand the mission of the men he honors
a H il to thee , thou poor little ship ,
D - Have n — Mayflower , of elft I poor common
c . looking ship , hired by ommon charter ’ 3 4 THE PIL GRIMs FIRST YEAR
— par ty for c oined d ollar s c aulke d with ne w — oakum and tar pr ovisioned with vulgarist
c and ac n — e t at bis uit b o y wh ship Argo , or ac c t b s e a mir ulous epi ship , buil y the
s o o h b u a god , was ther than a f olis mb rge in c ? d c omparison Gol en flee es , or the like ,
a f r r t f o o c . these s iled , with wi hout ef e t
a ad a Thou , little M yflower , h st in thee v a o h n S e— ar erit ble Pr met ea park , the lif sp k — of the l argest natio n on o ur e arth se we may alre ady name the Transatlantic Saxon
n o . e a to a r ati n They went , s eking le ve he
o i o wn m d Ma serm n in the r etho , these y
o os d fl wer Puritans , a m t in ispensable
c and e t sear h , y , like Saul , the son of Kish , s l e o eeking a smal thing , th y f und this
to th u nexpec ted great thing . Honor e
e an d e ! v s a brav tru They erily , we y,
a and e r carry fire from he ven , hav a powe
d r f L e t all that the mselve s eam no t o .
u t c h as men honor P ri anism , sin e God honored it 1” N IN NEw E GLAND . 3 5
C H A P T E R I I I .
D T H E P I L G R I M S I N T R O D U C E .
v e m e r 1 6 2 0 . N o b ,
— ’ — ar r Mr. o i so o ce h im Tes i No tice o f Gov, C ve R b n n s c nfide n in t — m o ny of Plym ou th Chu rch Re co r ds Elder B re ws te r no tice d — — Hi s e du cati o n an d e arly life Hi s o ccu p atio n in Holland His
re a and vie ws of u ra er—H i s L rar —H i s e e r u p ching p blic p y ib y ch f l, — — s o cial s pirit Cu riou s nam e s of h i s childre n Sk e tch of B rad ’ — — for d s life and characte r Is le ar ne d in th e Langu age s Th e — — Washingto n of th e C olo ny His Po e try No tige of Winslo w an d — — — h is wife H i s Am b as sador H i s re side nce Appo intm e nt u nde r rom we —Hi s Po r ra n e — C ll t it a d m o ral lik e n s s Mr . Alle rto n th e Me r a —H s — ch nt i ho ne s ty an d ge ne rosity Capt . Standis h intro
d u c e d —H is arac e r am i an d c oa of ar m s—His au e r ’s ch t , f ly, t d ght — “ ”— s am ple r Dr Fu lle r th e be love d Physician Is a g o o d De aco n — k HIS Eu logi u m by h i s Chris tia n b re thre n No tice of Mr . H e p m s O f o H ow a —Of o e an d o e rs—Nu m e r J hn l nd J hn Ald n, th b Of m arr e m e n th e o m a —Marr e La e s—Yo u Ladi e s and i d in c p ny i d di ng , — — Mi sse s Th e las t s u rvivo r o f the hu ndr e d p asse nge rs Pris ci lla
an d Mar am o u s ra i o ar s o r —Th e Ma o we r y, f in t dit n y hi t y yfl
o s —N umb e r o f m a e s and of e m a e s of a u s and l re b y l f l , d lt chi d n —J — in th e c om p any rhe fitne ss of th e Pilgrim b and for the ir wo rk
A g re at m is take in regar d to th em .
T e re we re m e n w oar a r h ith h y h i , m o n s a Pi r m a A g t th t lg i b nd, Wh y h ad the y co m e to withe r the re ’ Away from the i r c hildho o d s land !
’ T e re was wo m a s e ar e s s e e h n f l y , ’ Lit by h er dee p love s tru th ; ’ 3 6 THE PILGRI MS FIRST YEAR
’ Th e re was m a oo s row s e re e nh d b n ly high ,
And th e fie ry hear t of yo uth .
Wh a t s o u ght the y thu s afar ? Bright jewe ls of the m ine ?
Th e we a h of se as th e s o s of War ? lt , p il ’ The y so u ght a faith s pu re s hr ine
MRS . HEMAN
BEFORE we follow the footsteps of th e
Pilgrims on their exploring tours through th e and o o f th e forests , along the sh res
“ ” Gre at Bay 5 the reader will desir e an introdu ction to s ome of the chief pers on s
c m and a c of in the o pany , brief sket h thei r life ; that he m ay be better ao qu ai nte d with th o se mo st frequently m en ti one d in these pages .
In i vm c t n c g g this sket h , we mus a ti i
a c nc d ts p te mu h , and present many i i en ou t of their proper order .
Jo hn Ca o th e Mr . rver , the G vernor , is
a n first signer of the c omp ct . He is o e
d t of c — r of the ol es the ompany p obably ,
and f a H o e . e between fifty sixty years , , g IN NEW ENGLA ND . 87 was ac c c and a de on in the hur h , the chief agent of the Pilgrim s in se curing the funds which en able d them to emigrate to the Ne w World .
a d Mr . Robinson , p stor of the Ley en c c h ad c c d c D ac hur h , perfe t onfi en e in e on
a an d c d d C rver , expe te him to be the lea
m n m a ing man a o g the Pilgri s . He s ys , i n a n d his p rti g letter ad ressed to Mr .
‘ 4 S a m an a d Carver , The pirit of (sust ine by the spirit of Go d! will sustain his i nfirm i ti e s d — , I oubt not so will yours and
m u c a the better h , when you sh ll enjoy the presen c e and the help of so m any godly an d wise brethren for the be aring of a p art of yo ur burden ; who also will not admit i nto their he arts the le ast thoughts of
c a c suspi ion of any the le st negligen e , at least presumption to have been in you ,
” a v wh te er they think in others . d d Bra for , speaking of Carver when ’ 88 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ c a chosen Governor , lls him a pious and
m ’ well approved gentle an . The re cords of the Plymouth chur ch bear this testi ! m ony to the excellen ce of his character.
“ This worthy ge ntleman was one of sin
and c gular piety, rare for humility , whi h
d a appeare as otherwise , so by his gre t c d c a on es ending , when , as this miser ble people were in great si ckness he shunned
d o a not to very me n servic es for them . He bore a share likewise of their labors
ac d also in his own person , cor ing as their
c d great ne essity require . Who being one also o f c on sid erable estate spent the mai n
a and p rt of it in this enterprise , from first
a d to l st approve himself, not only as their
an ac n agent in the first tr s tion of thi gs , but also alo ng to the period of his life to be a
a and c a instru pious , f ithful very benefi i l ment . Governor Carver lived only about five
’ 40 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR
well as Ruler in the household of faith .
He is fifty- six years old ; the old est of the c n d d ompa y whose age is re cor e . His life has been one of trial and perse cution for
n . righteous ess sake In early life , he d d was a stu ent at Cambri ge , where he was
“ first seasoned with the seed s of grace
’ 9 nd c c d a virtue . He be ame a onfi ential
or a a m servant , r ther secret ry to Willia D a c r . vison , se reta y to Queen Elizabeth D d d With avison , Brewster visite Hollan , and be c ame acquainted with the Courts and i of n Cab nets Ki gs , and in the fall of
ff c a his master , saw an a e ting ex mple of the
o f d and vanity worl ly honor , of putting
d no confi en ce in Prin c es . He w went into
“ ” retirement at Scrooby Manor House , which he rented and where he acted for
a sometime as postm aster . At his st tely
a m nsion , religious meetings were frequent l y held by the Puritans , for whom the NEw N N IN E GLA D . 41
’ “ a worthy host had a father s care , m king provision for them to his great charge .
” r o n d c u T oubled every si e , be a se of
r 1 6 07 fle d his Pu itan faith , Brewster , in d w f to Hollan ; not however , ithout suf er ing imprisonment . In Holland , he became a teacher of the English language to the
D c ut h , and also a publisher of religious
o f c books , especially su h as were not allowed to see the light in England . d At Plymouth , the Elder hel no civil office ffor he was the religious teacher o f th e people ; thou gh he was not regarde d
n as a minister , and never admi istered the ordin an c es of the church . His labors
“ were blessed ; for many were brought G d 3 ? to o by his ministry . He preached
“ twice every Sabbath , and that both pow ” rfull re e y and profitably . It is also
of h ad marked him , that he a singular ” good gift in prayer , and that he approved ’ 42 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ o f c c short prayers in publi , be ause the
and S o f heart pirit all , especially the weak , c d c n d ould har ly ontinue , and so lo g stan
d Go d bent, as it were towar , as they
d o ought to , in that duty , without flagging ” and a r f lling off. B ewster was a man o f o f n learning , having a library early d d three hun re volumes , more than sixty o f which , were in Latin .
c r He was of a very heerful spi it , very sociable and pleasant amongst his friends
” o f an humble and mo dest mind . With
“ o u t doubt Brewster was o f the highest ” 1 6 44 of . . style man He died in Feb , at the age o f fourscore years .
v His sons were Jonathan , Lo e , and
n Wentli g . His daughters Fear , and f d Patience . The gender o the Latin wor s for Love and Fear must have decided w c d hi h shoul be the name for a boy , and
r o f d which for a gi l . The family El er i N NEW ENGLAND . 43
Brewster with him in the Mayflower con s of o s - in- ists a wife , two s n , a daug hter law , d and a grandchil .
Willi am B rad ord . Mr . f This gentle i man , the lead ng young man among the
o f a e . an Pilgrims, is thirty years g Left o d a rphan , he experience many tri ls in e arly life ; but being fond of reading and s tudy , he acquired a g ood education , and c ould speak six lang uages . He became
i decidedly p ous when a youth , and joined the Pilgrims in Holland whe n he was l e ighteen years o d .
He was chosen Governor on the death o f ff o Carver , and continued in o ice as l ng as he could be prevailed upon t o accept it in all , eighteen years . He was sometimes ,
“ with difficulty let o ff ; his argument — “ being that if it were any honor or
s benefit , others beside himself hould par
e take of it ; if it we re a burd n , others ’ 44 THE PIL GRIMs FIRST YEAR
m d beside hi self shoul help to bear it . h Bradford was a moral man . He was t e t f d Washing on o the infant Colony . Ju i
h e cions , firm , yet kind and benevolent ,
d d f o f th e gui e the a fairs state , so as to keep
d of - so confi ence all the well disposed , and
“ ” as to be a terror to evil doers .
o f d a At the time the lan ing , he had
a d D wife , whose m i en name was orothy
“ Ma and a e y , son left behind , who cam
” ’
a G v . e afterw rd . o Bradford s second wif S h h . e e was Mrs Alic outhworth , by w om h ad c three hildren , William , Mary , and d f . Joseph . Bra ford was fond o writing
of th e To him , we are indebted for most re c or d s of the early settlement o f Ply f d ’ mouth . Some o Bradfor s historical Hi documents have a romantic history . s
“ ” Letter Book , after being stolen from
o f in the belfry the Old South Church ,
B as for oston , when that house w used a IN NEw ENG LAND . 45
- s d a riding school for British ol iers , was fter
d d r war s rescued in a mutilate state , f om
’ Sh e a N Se otia ! a grocer s p in Halif x , ova
“ ” His History of Plymouth Plantation
c n d and n d was arried to E glan , remai e probably “ for a very long period ” hi d in th e e Fulham Library , where it was r cently d d foun by the Bishop of Oxfor . It is a d very valuable document , publishe the
. . o c present year by the Mass Hist S iety .
T s c u hu after passing many years in obs rity , the Puritan historian appear s again before th e c c and publi , to orrect our errors awaken new interest in the men of his
a d d gener tion . Bra for was also a poet , a and fter the style of the age , left several s m am o n c hort poe s , g whi h , is a farewell to h i s d c chil ren , which thus loses
Fare we l d e ar child ren whom I ove l, , l ;
Your be tte r F ather i s abo ve ;
Whe n I am o ne he c an su g , pply ;
T o him I le ave you whe n I die . ’ 46 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Fe ar him in ruth wa in his wa s t , lk y ,
And he Wlll ble ss you all your d ays .
M d a s are s e n old a e is com e y y p t , g ,
M s re n h it fa s m ass n e ar run . y t gt il , y gl
No w I wi w a t whe n wor is d one ll i , k ,
Until m y happy change shall c om e
Whe n from m a ors I sh a re s y l b ll t ,
” Wi th hr st a ov f t C i b e o r o be ble s t .
a d d e d m 1 6 5 7 Gov . Br dfor i at Ply outh in
- f a in th e six ty ninth year o his ge .
The d a b o e h e d r d d to y ef r epa te , he sai
r d Go d e m e d of his f ien s , has giv n a ple ge
es a o o d an d the my happin s in n ther w rl ,
” f u first r its of eternal glory .
f E dward Wi ns lo w r of Mr . is wo thy standing next among th e le aders of the
he enterprise . He is of t English gentry; an educated and accomplished man ; and
, i f the sec ond in the, c ompany in po nt o
- five of wealth . He is only twenty years
e e d b th e age ; has be n marri to Eliza eth ,
’ bride of Weir s pai nting of th e Em bark a
" ’ 48 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
o e d b r i n 1 6 5 5 C e p int y C omwell , ommis s i ne r d a o of a military e xpe ition ag inst St .
D n omi go .
On the passage betwe e n Hispaniola and
a h e d d th e x -first a of J maica ie , in si ty ye r hi s a e e and u d th e g , of a f ver , was b rie in o a th e o o f o - two ce n , with h nors war , f rty
n guns be i g fired over his wate ry grave .
Of his person we have an ad mirable
ra t the n i n port i , only one of any passe ger
the o i c e r . Mayfl wer , wh h has b en prese ved
n d. i n En a d fi s It was pai te gl n , ve year
o hi s d a h and an i nvalu~ bef re e t , is to us able r ‘em e m b rance n It is the likenes s o f n o h c o ed n k m lan , r pp , u earthly loo ing victi f i o fanati cism, as s ome c o nce ve a Puritan mus t have been ; but it exhibits the Ch rist i a'n m al gentle an in full dres s . His mo r
e n ot ss lik ness , a less skillful , though le faithful hand h as portrayed in elegiac
er s o f c h t e n v se , whi h fo llowi g are the clo se a IN NEW N LAND E G . 49
Whose life was swe e t and c o nve rs ation j ust ;
Whose parts and wisd om m ost m e n did e x cel, ” ll , An honor to his plac e , as a c an t ell
Is a Alle c o f Mr . ac rtare is the mer hant d the Pilgrims . He is a man in mi dle life
h as with a wife and three children . He more property than any other o f the com-e
a and d th e p ny , is dispose to use it for
d m an general goo . Allerton was a of
d n -3 great enterprise , and carrie o an exten ” sive c ommerc e with the Ne w England settlements , Virginia and the West Indies ,
He was also one of the fir st to establish
r n H fishe ies alo g the Atlanti c Coast . e
“ was the first man chosen Assistant to
and fo r t the Governor , was , a long ime , one of the chief to be relied u pon to
c r and ct assume pe unia y obligations , transa
u n the b siness of the Colo y .
Mr l . Allerton was eminently a usefu m an to the infant Colony . It was early ’ 5 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d “ testifie of him , he hath been a trusty ,
” a honest friend to you all . When
r - in- law d d n and b other of his , ie i solvent ,
r a d . w s c cr Mr Alle ton his hief e itor , the re cord s of court testify th at the said
Is aac hath given free le ave to all his other c reditors to be fully d ischarged befor e he re ceive any thing of his p arti cular debts to d himself, esiring rather to lose all , than ” other men shou ld lose any .
After having been chief agent of the
n d n ar Colony in foreig tra e , for ma y ye s ,
c d bf Mr . Allerton experien e reverses for
and m ad d tune , beca e s ly embarrasse in
n n c n busi ess . In some tra sa tio s of his complicated cc - p artn ership with the Col o n an d c y , with English mer hants , he is severely censured by Bradford ; yet the
“ r a n at a a t Gove nor s ys , I thi k , or le st ch ri y c a e n d rries me to h pe , that he i ten ed to ” deal faithfully with them i n the main . W N N IN NE E GLA D . 5 1
n We trust , that in these misfortu es , to
c c d whi h mercantile life is so mu h expose , there was nothing affecting the integrity
o f a the first Puritan merch nt , or to prevent
his standing at the head of that long line
“ c c c of Mer hant Prin es , with whi h the
annals of Massachusetts are adorned . Mr .
Allerton , after living in two or three towns
on - d d d Ne w the sea boar , ie at Haven at an
d d a a vance ge .
Mi le S i d s h . Ca t . s tan p , is the next signer
- old He is thirty six years , of an ancient
and disting uished military family in Eng
d has d lan , and been bre a soldier in the
’ Low Countries . He is said to have
“ been Heir apparent to a great estate o f
n r d lands and livi gs , sur eptitiously etained
from him . Though very small in stature ,
was c and he great in ourage , his name soon become a terror to the hostile Indians in the region . ’ 5 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d f i n u r Co Capt . Stan ish is spoken o o lonial History , as a man of hasty , imperious
h ad a c spirit , who le rned more in the s hool o f man than o f Christ ; but from th e great confidence reposed in him by the Pilgrims and r c f om oc asional circumstances in his life , w incidentally brought to vie , it is probable that the pe culiarities of the soldier became
d a d less prominent as he a v n ce in years , though it d oes not appear that he was ever a member of any Christian church .
The c oat o f arms of his family consisted
simply of three standing dishes argent on ” d z d o r of a fiel a ure . A ish , plate the
o f and same style , made pewter , no less d than eighteen inches in iameter , is pre
served at Plymouth with his iron dinner
” d Da pot an mascus Blade , fit memorials
a of the c apt in . But the most interesting relic of his
family is the sampler of his daughter Lorca , NEW N ND IN E GLA . 5 8
a a which h ngs in Plymouth H ll , wrought with excellent workmanship in five differ
c c ent olors upon anvass , some twenty in ches long by eight or ten wide .
The following is a copy of the letter work of the sampler
L orc a St andi sh i s m y nam e .
L ord guid e m y he art that I m ay d o thy will ;
A s o fill m h and s w h su ch conve n en S i l y it i t k ll,
As m a co nd uce to vir ue vo d of sham e y t , i ;
” An w i r d I ill g ve the glo y to thy nam e .
What prayer could have been more appropri ate for a young lady ? We
L r trust it was answered . o e a died be
a and fore her f ther , he requested , in d d S . his will , to be burie by her i e
The resid en c e of Captain Standish was
D c b a fixed in uxbury , a ross the y from f Plymouth , and in sight o the town , ’ 5 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR o n u a delightf l eminence , now called
’ Captain s Hill .
There the old soldier died at the age o f - f seventy two , but the place o his s epulchre is not known . Captain Stan d ish was a scholar as well as a soldier . He was more skillful than any other
and Pilgrim in the Indian languages , his library was half as valuable as Elder B ’ . o f rewster s It consisted , however , a s omewhat different class o f books ; among
’ ’ w a hich was Homer s Iliad , C esar s Com
’ m entarie s Bariff s . , and Artillery
D o ctor Samue l Fuller is the be ” f loved physician o the Pilgrims . He has left his wife Bridget on the other
S d of c i e the o ean , to come after he has
to prepared a home receive her , but has
c brought his radle , which has attained
s to to great celebrity , because it is aid
on have rocked board the Mayflower ,
’ 5 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Mr . Step hen H op k ins is a man of considerable note in this little band .
h z He has wit him his wife , Eli abeth ,
“ two of and four children , them by a ” or d former wife , and two servants , hire d D d laborers , E ward oty , and E ward
Leister . Mr . Hopkins was often asso ciate d d ff with Stan ish in military a airs ,
n . and was , perhaps , his lieute ant He n ’ was the Gover or s assistant three years ,
ffa and had niu ch to do with public a irs . d He ied in 1 6 44 . The materials for his biography are meagre , but his de
s eend ants are numerous , and his name
is honored in Ne w England history .
John Ho wland is a member o f Gov
’ e rn r o C arver s family . He is twenty ld eight years o , and though numbered ” - with the men servants , ranks among
r the m ost prominent , and eliable young
He was o n m en in the company . fte N ND IN NEW E GLA . 5 7
chosen assistant , and in other ways was much devoted to the interest o f the
h ad of Colony . He a family ten chil
old of dren , and lived to the good age “ eighty . He was an ancient professor
of —a instru in the ways Christ , useful ” ment o f good .
John Ald en is a younger , but not less valuable man . His age is only twenty
’ two . He is thus notic ed in Bradford s
“ history : John Alden was hired for a h cooper , at Sout Hampton , where the ship victualed ; and being a hopeful
t young man , was much desired , but lef to his own liking to go or stay when he came here ; but he staid and mar ” ried here . He married Priscilla Mul
a lins , left an orph n the first winter .
He was a modest , unassuming man , d d istinguishe for solid , rather than bril
“ of c — d liant traits haracter , large , soun , ’ 5 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
- as round about sense . He w assistant to many Governors , serving in all , forty D two years . He early removed to ux
a of n bury , where he had family eleve children He resided in this country
- at a sixty seven years , and died the p tri arch al f - a age o eighty nine . He w s the last survivor wh o Signed the com pact . His des c endants o f the sixth and seventh generation are numerous in New
England , and creditably sustain the rep u ta i n f t o o this an cient family .
Chri s to her Martin Wi lli am M alling p , ,
William White and Ri chard Warren , , are all prominent men , and have pre
fixed to their names the honorable title
“ o f . c Mr but they all , ex ept the last
d d . named , ie the first winter , and Mr
Warren lived but a few years . These worthies who fell thus early in
S not . the good cause , hould be forgotten NEW A IN ENGL ND. 5 9
Some of them still live in their d e -n sce nd ants o f ; but most of them , and o f c several others of the ompany , we
c an . only say , their record is on high
Having introduc ed the reader to the
m e n d a f chief on boar the M y lower , we must take some notice of their wives .
Eighteen of the signers have their wive s with them ; and four others have wives left for the present , either in Holland or England . The children of three others are mentioned ; and prob ably others still are married men . The Christian names o f are these matrons , for the most part , given ; and as they help to redeem the age from the charge of bad taste at the baptismal font , the ladies will scarcely
so pardon their omission , in a work minute as this . Retaining the Spelling of the c d ~ re or , they are : Kathrine Car
M s z h w ver , ary Brew ter , Eli abet Winslo , ’ 6 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
D a d a e orothy Br dfor , M ry Allerton , Ros
d H O -f Stan ish , Susana White , Elizabeth p
c kins , Ellen Billington , !Ann Tillie , Ali e
i d l a a R a e . t g , S rah E ton The o her six
’ k a d nown by their husb n s names , are ,
Mrs . Christopher Martin , Mrs . William
llin Mr Mu e s s . . s , John Tillie , Mrs Thoma d d Tinker , Mrs . E war Fuller , Mrs . John
Turner .
“ Let these mothers in Israel , be h on a o f onored the p ge history , and be cherished in the grateful memory of
Puritan sons and d aughters ; for amid privations and sufferings they did what
c d and they oul ; most of them , early
a c c fell m rtyrs to the holy ause , whi h br ought them to a d esert shore .
n c e Another most interesti g group , on sists of eleven young ladies and misses .
E liz abe th Ti lly is fourteen years o f
hi s a e . g Her father , John Tilly , and NEW E AN IN NGL D. 6 1 w “ ife , both died a little after they
z c d came ashore . Eli abeth , an only hil , thus early left an orphan , soon married
John Howland who being about twi ce
r c d her age , was a p ote tor and gui e , as w f ell as companion o her youth . She was of the mother ten children , and
d f - live to the age o eighty one . The descendants of the Howland family are
‘ V ery numerous .
for This lady has , many years , been regarde d as the d aughter of Governor
’ C arver ; but Bradford s re cently di scov~
i s c ered manuscript , so expli it as to her family , that no room for further doubt is left .
Rem e mber Allerto n of , daughter the
c a mer h nt , has been almost forgotten in history , for little of importance is known o f she her , except that married , and ’ 6 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
’ a h ad d r s lived at S lem , and , in Bra fo d “ d ” d a r u c . y , th ee or fo r hil ren living
Alle rton r M ary , her siste , is eleven
m e s years old . She arried Eld r Thoma
m and d Cush an , live to be ninety years
She ' was r r of age . the last su vivo of the p assenge r s o f the Mayflower ; resid
- ing in the c olony seventy nine ye ars .
lla Mullins a d of P ri s ci , is young la y
m c d d o pro inen e , istinguishe in traditi nary
of a d of history , as the rejecter the h n d Captain Stan ish , though the story is improbable . She was soon the only sur vivor o f a family of five and united
h n her fortunes wit Joh Alden , with whom her subsequent history is iden
tifie d .
M ar Chilton i s e f y , anoth r o this ci r
. a d cle She is f mous in tra ition , as the
first English woman who stepped upon
s of N the hore ew England . Left an
’ 6 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
of E wh ing to the family dward Tilly , o with his wife , Ann , died soon after their arrival The girl , Humility , their cousin , lived in the colony several “ ” . 1 6 2 8 one years In , she had aker o f h er 1 6 2 7 land assigned , and in , d when the cattle were ivided , she is included in the families of Brewster and
d one Prince , and share , as of thirteen “ ” and . the blind heifer , two she goats “ of The last we hear her is , she was ” sent for into England , and died th ere .
“ E llen M ore , is a little girl , put to Edward Winslow . She was among h the first w o died . 8 “ o f The maid servant , Governor
Carver , we regret to say , is the only
n passenger whose name is not o record .
All that is known o f her is in these “ d and d . a wor s , married , ied year or two after in this place . IN NEW ENGLAND . 6 5
of The Mayflower boys , sons the signers , must not be forgotten . They are seventeen in number ; of whom four ,
f of a son o Thomas Tinker , two sons
John Turner , and Joseph Mullins , died the first winter . Oceanus Hopkins died
Orack ston o r early ; John , about four
five years after the landing , lost him
z self in the woods , fro e his feet , and f h died o a fever w ich ensued . Wrest
d u nm ar ling Brewster ied young , and
i d . r e John Billington , a mischievous and u c n nlu ky lad , died a you g man . The other nine lived to be settled in life ,
a T and to rear families round them . o this company we must add Henry Sam “ ” a d son , youth , cousin to Edwar Tilly . h These all became , it is believed , wit
an out exception , respectable men , who were strength and ornament to the
and f colony , most o the m live d to a ’ 6 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
. of o f great age The age most them , at of no t the time landing , is known .
n on vo Oceanus Hopki s , was born the y s l a . wa ge Resolved White five years o d . Samuel Eaton came over a sucking ” child . J John Cooke , Samuel Fuller , and o se h p Rogers , were , probably young boys ;
e while Bartholomew Allerton , Giles Hop kins , and Francis Billington , were among the older lads . Love and Wrestling h Brewster , must ave been young men , f nearly o age .
In this introduction , the twelve male s ervants , besides the four who signed
c h the ompact , s ould not be overlooked , f r o with the Puritans , and their de
s cn d ants . , labor is honorable “ d ” Jasper More , a chil , and a boy by the same family name ; John Hooke ,
“ ” bo ~ a y , Solomon Promer , Roger Wil 6 IN NEW ENGLAND . 7
der , Edward Thomson , Elias Story ,
Robert Carter , William Holbeck , and
“ L an em ore John g , servants , died in
“ ” two the first infection . Only sur “ ” viv d e d . Richar More , a boy , put to
d c of El er Brewster , be ame a citizen the “ i n colony . William Latham , a boy ,
’ the Governor Carver s family , lived in colony more than twenty years ; then
a d went to Engl n , and afterwards to the d “ Bahama Islan s , where he was starved ” f r f o want o food . d A ding to the hundred named above , “ two Trevore on seamen , William , and e
Ely , hired to stay a year in the coun ” try , we have a complete list of the
a M yflower passengers . Quite a number o f d chil ren , belonging to the Pilgrim a t on f milies , were lef the other side of
of b the water , many whom , in su s e 6 ’ 6 8 THE Pi L GRIMs FIRST YEAR quent years joined their parents and
r ' f iends in their ne w hom e s .
A careful analysis of this list of pas s e nge rs gives the follo wing result
f Signers o the Compact, as usually 41 given ,
S a a e men hired, not included mong
s 2 signer ,
Servants , probably young men , 7 though minors ,
Making the whole number of adult
men ,
d u of A ult women , fo r whom are d unmarrie ,
Whole number of adults
Small boys and lads
Little girls and misses ,
of d 3 0 Number chil ren and youth , N IN NEW E GLAND . 6 9
Whole number of males ,
Whole number of females ,
This is the c ompany whi ch God has
c c n brought a ross the o ea , to lay the
d c c an d foun ations of hur h , state , and
of a new order of civilization in the d Ne w Worl .
This Pilgrim b and seem to have been
admirably fitted for the work assigned them . They were of various ages , tastes , and c h ad capa ities , and moved in quite
different spheres of life ; yet they r e
’ s e cte d c h ad p ea h other s rights , mutual
a and c symp thies , a common obje t , and
c d act a n u n oul together with h rmo y , usual to such bodies .
The leaders of the Colo ny were men f d d o an d c . goo talents , finished e u ation
It is a great mistake to suppose that they were weak , and ignorant , though ’ 7 0 THE Pi L GRIMs FIRST YEAR
pious and well meaning . Some of them were men of strength ; and had they
dis remained in England , would have tingu ish e d themselves in the Common wealth under Cromwell . But Go d re s f r erved o them a higher honor .
’ 72 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d they came to anchor , we are prepare to trace their footsteps i n search of a place o f settlement . The next day is
on the Sabbath , their first the coast , and o f course all remain on board ; for it is the day o f spe ci al preparation for “ the rest that remaineth for the f d people o Go .
d a h . a Nov. 1 3 t Mon y , The Shallop ,
d re large sail boat , is rawn ashore for
to n c . pairs , preparatory explori g the oast
“ The journal adds , Our people went
and ou r ashore to refresh themselves ,
a h ad women to w sh , as they great ” d as d a d i nau u nee . Thus w Mon y uly g r for Ne w ated , as the washing day d b d Englan , y the matrons and mai ens f M o w . v the ayflo er Bra e women they , who began their hardest duties as tidy housewives in the Open air of bleak N EW A D I N ENGL N . 7 3
November ! Their d aughters have high a “ uthority for honoring useful labor ,
There was no ne e d
In hose ood m e s of r m C a s he n cs t g ti , t i lli t i
And he re was e ss of add n and far m re t l g i g, o
~ Of hom e orn he ar - fe t com fort roo e d s ro n b , t l t t g
In nd us r and e ar n such rare fru i t y, b i g it
” As we alth m ay ne ve r purchase .
The Pilgrims now prepare to explore th e c and find a oast , a pl ce for settle
be ment . But the shallop is found to “ ” s c d cu t o mu h injure by being down ,
d de that she might ri e between cks , and s o o pened with the people lying in ” s her , that it take the carpenters sev e nte en to for s e a — a days fit her , d most unfortunate elay .
While the s hallop is und ergoing these
o f repairs , some the men go ashore and c u t wood ; o thers fit handles to their ‘ ’ 74 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR tools ; n or are those o n shipboard with ; , i nd out s ce nes o f interest . All s new a
-f d . won erful Sea fowl , of beautiful plu
a e a c fl a n m g , are seen in l rge flo ks , o ti g
‘ gracefully on the glassy bosom o f the “ e S m lv bay . Whal s port the se es every d a d y without fear , har by the ship ,
n d an d d c a at a the c aptain mate e l re , th
“ l ‘l d they i nstruments and means to
a t a t o r t ke them , they migh m ke hree
” fou r thousand po und s wo rth of oil .
Th e sharp shooters sometimes played
“ wi th these monste rs of the deep . There
” “ was a d w once one , s ys the recor hen
sun h m c m and la the s one war , a e y
h h ad d ab a . s e e ove w ter as if been ad ,
a d o w n f for goo while t gether , ithi h al a musket shot of the ship , at which two d to to s e e men prepare shoot , whether she would stir or no H e
at d in th fire first , his musket flew IN NEW ENG LAND . 7 5
c c pie es , both sto k and barrel ; yet thanks
no r be to God , neither he , any man e o lse was hurt with it , th ugh many were there about . But when the whale s aw s h e s ff her time , g ave a ni and was away .
D u d n on ring this etentio shipboard , s cod ome tried their luck fishing for ,
“ s t d but without uccess , for hey wante
fish s a s . s m ll hook Of the hell , they
“ s a : y We found g reat muscles , and very fat and full of se a pearl ; but we co l u s u d not eat them , for they made all s s sick that did eat , as well ailor a s p as sengers ; they caused to cast and
s s o . cour , but they were on well again T hus passed anxious days of anticipa tion . B ut the enterprising men grow impa t v ient , and percei ing that it will take m s are uch time to repair the hallop , ’ 7 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEA R anxious to begin their exploring on land . Volunte e rs offer thems e lves for this servic e ; but it is d e emed h azar d
“ o u s an d a r d n , is r ther pe mitte tha
” a pproved .
d a 1 5 o f On Wednes y , the th November ,
e u d the co d c o f c a sixt en men , n er n u t p
a d and tain Miles St n ish , well armed
h d and o are wit muskets , swor c rselet ,
t m to e set ashore , wi h per ission be gon
c t only two days . They fill their po ke s
“ c a d c an d e with bis uit , Holl n heese tak als o a little bottle of aqua vitae
t o f cc d t e tha in case an a i en , or extrem
“ a e m a n d k f tigu , they y give stro g rin
” to him that is re ady to pe rish . Hav i n a d d at L n Point e d g l n e o g , they march
n fo r in single file , alo g the shore , a a n o r bout mile , whe they saw five
a d o c o ar d s six savages with g , ming tow
th e En t hem . The savages , on seeing g IN NEW ENGLAND . 7 7
d and whi s a lish , run into the woo s , ” tle d the d ogge afte r them . Standish and his d d a men pursue the In i ns , who
“ ” and a ran away with might m yne .
n The imble sons of the forest , with
and o their light bows arr ws , are an o c s d vermat h in pee , for the heavy a d h - confine d rme Englis , as they have
a d d d a a been , for hun re ys , to w lks on the de ck of a ship . After pursuing
“ them by the trac e o f their footings s e as me ten miles , they think , they
c s fo r give up the ha e , and encamp the
Slou ts night , probably not far from
c as Creek , opposite Bea h Point , these loc alities are now called .
’ The Pilgrims mode of encampment was to build what they call a barri
ad e stak s c o , with logg , , and thike pine
o f bowes , the height a man , leaving it ” open to leeward . This sheltered them ’ 7 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
o th e and l o fr m cold wind , would a s
a n s erve as fort , in case of sudde attack by savages . In the middle of t b arri cad e fire his , they built a , around which they encampe d ; three s entinels watching while the rest slept . 1 6 th November . The next morning , at h early dawn , they resume their marc
“ through woods and meadows of long
of s grass , and thickets bough and
W r bushes , hich tore their very armo i n pie ce s .
’ e a At ten o clock , being sor thirst , ” a now they find , in deep valley (
t of Eas Harbor , in Truro! , springs fresh
” ' o f a water , which , s ys the Journalist ,
“ u s we were heartily glad , and set down and d rank ou r first New England water with as much delight as ever ” we drunk drink in all our lives .
’ 80 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
s n first they have een . On Openi g it a
h a bow s little , t ey find and arrow ;
r and m u the but eplace them , ake p ” e a as grav gain , it was , because they
“ ” thought it would be o dious to the
“ Indians to ransack their sepulchre s .
n a t a e Soo fter , hey find great kettl , and a h of u n eap sand ; in which , po
s of n s e digging , they find basket cor , om s helled , with six and thirty goodly e s e and s re d and ars , om yellow , ome , others mixed with blue which i s to
“ ” a s h One bas them very goodly ig t . ket very handsomely and cunningly
o e or f r ushe s . made , held ab ut thre ou b l ” This place they name Cornhill .
Now they hold a consultation as to what they Shall d o with the ke ttle and
n n e to the corn . At le gth , they co clud
e the and as u h n as tak kettle , m c cor
e an carr a a and hen the th y c y w y, w y
The e ori ar ofthe P rim 3 carr the Ke e o R I8 xpl ng p ty ilg , ying ttl f Com . D 81 IN NEW ENGLAN .
S can can come in their hallop , if they
l the find the owners , they wil return kettle , and pay for the corn .
not r This corn is taken , as plunde from the natives ; but they felt justified by their necess ities in carrying away some fo r seed ; purposing to pay for it
can an at a future day , if they find
o . wner Accordingly , the kettle is filled ff h with corn , a sta is cut and put throug
one the bail , and two stout men, at
e c . n a h end , carry it between them The
re filling their pockets with corn , all
n r sume their march . They are ow nea
e v o n P rmet river , which they isit , and
, see n s which they two India canoe ,
a n which are deemed great curiosity , a d are left unmolested .
Having traveled some twelve or fifteen
ow miles from the ship , the Pilgrims n
n h — s at begi their journey ome , re ting ’ 82 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
night at. th e pond if rest it can be c for the t r and alled ; nigh is ainy , they have no shelte r .
The e t m h n x orning , whic is Friday the i 7th the of o rn i s d , kettle c foun to be too h a be r r e vy to car ied fu ther , and so t o and hey sink it in the p nd , r u o t to c r c ely p n heir pockets , ar y orn , w e hich have grown somewhat larger , sinc
f b As e mptied o their iscuit and cheese . t o the r hey appr ach creek , they start dee
t and e from the thicke , partridg s , and w e e d S but ild ge s , and ucks pring up ,
‘ i s not ne ar enough to Sh OOt . Bradford c a set s aught in snare , by the Indian to catch deer This snare was made d by ben ing a young sapling , and attach
a e to e nd ing r pe the , which the Pil
“ as d grims regard a very pretty evice .
i fire Reaching Long Po nt , the party
' oii their pieces ; many of the pe ople N D IN NEW E GLAN . 83
on s being hore run to meet them , and
n the long boat takes them o board .
“ “ we And thus , says Bradford , come both weary and welcome home , and delivered in ou r com into th e
to store be kept for seed , for we knew
how not to come by any , and therefore
s o were very glad , purposing soon as we could meet with any of the i nhab itants of e the place , to make them larg ” s atisfaction . This purpose was fulfilled about eight t months af er , as we shall find in pur
n one suing the narrative . And ow may suppose all is life on board o f the
‘ Mayflower . Little groups gather around o ne and of another the explorers , and question follows question ; curiosity i n
n creases among the passe gers , as the
c d of in i ents the journey are narrated .
The timid start as the wild Indian i s ’ 84 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR describe d ; the sportsmen rejoice at th e account o f the wild game ; children wonder as they take in their hands th e “ goo dly ears o f corn or lau gh as the
’ s to ry of Bradford s being caught in a
Th s . e deer trap , is told next ten day h t e Pilgrims are busy repairing the
‘ L
lallo and . p , and cutting sawing timber
The situation of the shi p i s Inconven-f ich t for comfort and dispatch of busi-f ness - they can go ashore and return h only at hig water , and oftentimes , they must wade above their knees to get ashore after they leave the boat . This d ” e xposure brought on coughs an c olds .
e as There wer also reckless ones then , now for some wad ed ashore in thi s ” a fo r own . w ter , their pleasure
’ 86 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
” h of m Hill , at the mout the river fro which the e xploring party has just re turned .
For s ettling there immediately the fol lowing reasons are urged : It is a conven ich t harbor for be ats ; it is good corn ground ; there are good fishing places in th e vicinity ; the place is likely to be healthful , secure , and defensible the
“ variable winds and sud den storms ren
n n der coasti g da gerous , while many are s ff u ering in health from their exposures , and their provi sions will soon be grown low , in which event they expect the ship
to f will sail , and leave them take care o themselves . d On the other hand , it is argue against s Parm e t ettling at river , that there is a
d of goo harbor for ships , which some the c w a d re have he rd of, and better groun for
w now c fishing at Aga am , ( Ipswi h , ! IN NEW ENGLAND . 87
ff to north ard s , twenty leagues o the , that ” there may be a far better seat hard by ;
d m a that the water is in pon s , and there y be none in summer , and must , at all events , be carried up a steep hill .
These and other reasons are urged so
out one strongly , that it is resolved to send
not to more party to explore the bay , but go a s far as Agawam . This decision seems
m of to have been ade , in view a statement
d of th from Robert Coppin , secon mate e
of on Mayflower , who tells them a place
of the other side the bay , which he had
on visited a former voyage , and which was ” t called Thievish Harbor , because here the Indians stole ‘ from their Ship a har poon . This location is now called Barns table Bay . These consultations and de bates seem to have oc cupied the company from Friday morning till Monday night of
n k the ext wee . ’ 8 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
h on That third Sabbat the coast was , d one of of oubtless , great anxiety , and fervent prayer for the guidance of h e av o nly wisdom . Elder Brewster must have preached and prayed from a full heart .
For th e Puritan faith embraced fully th e doctrine of an overruling Providence .
Monday i s sad dened by the first death
a since the anchor was dropped . From
’ r of s egister deaths , kept in Bradford
- h De c . 4t pocket book , we read , Monday , ,
to . dies Edward Thompson , servant Mr
Th n t White . e ext day they but jus e u n scape a great danger , brought po
“ ” f s of n them by the oolishnes a boy , Joh
n f Bellington . He is the s o o the worst
on so as we man board , far can judge , and the boy seems to promise to follow in hi s
’ father s steps . In the cabin of the ship
of u John , finding half a keg g npowder , ” a s s h s s but mu e imself by firing quib , IN NEW ENGLAND . 89
not these making noise enough , he seizes
’ off his father s loaded gun and fires it , near the powder , and before the fire , around which several persons were standing .
Well may the pious chronicler remark ,
“ ’ c . By God s mer y , no harm done
Monday , the third exploring expedition
c was planned , to circulate that decp bay o f was Cap Codd ; but Tuesday , when it S ” to tart , was too foul weather to admit
f . on o sailing It was late Wednesday , 6 th D c . e , before all things were ready for f leaving the Ship . Twelve signers o the compact offer themselves for the arduous service , who are joined by six from the
’ — two ship s crew the mates , the gunner ,
— n and three sailors maki g eighteen in all.
the These twelve Pilgrims are , perhaps , m s or ost courageou , most free from the violent coughs from whi ch almost the
m an whole co p y are suffering . ’ 9 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Wednesday is a very cold day , and they are so much troubled to get clear o f the s two of and at Long Point , that the com
. o ne pany are quite sick But the gunner , o f them who embarked throng hope of t ” d rucking with the In ians , will keep in the w boat . Poor fello I he lost his journey as d he deserve to . At length , they get up t an or heir sails , and in hour two they c ross the bay and sail along the shore in s mooth water ; but the intense cold con~ tinu es and z r , the fro en water in thei “ f ” c lothes makes them like coats o iron .
P n as h Parm et assi g , t ey intended , River ,
“ ” t d c n hey is over Billingsgate Point , seve l eagues from the Mayflower , and , intend
to e X lore ll ing the next day p the bay , (We
F s ov t leet Harbor , ! they cros directly e r o
“ ” the of us am and; shore Na et , (Easth , ! “ ” l a i e n of a P As and l ttl orth Gre t ond . the are ne r s ore th m in y a ing the h , ey co e W A IN NE ENGL Nfi. 91
of sight Indians , for the second time since
r their arrival . Ten o twelve are some five m of on h r lo iles south them the s o e , usy
“ ” n on about a black thi g , but seeing the
E fro c nglish , they run to and as if arrying
s . r omething away Night app oaching , the
on explorers kindle their fire shore , build
r and their ba ricado , set their sentinels , encamp for the night .
D h ‘ e c . 7 t . w Thursday morning , The cre of th e shallop is divided ; eight go on b d n h ten on oar , to coast alo g the s ore , and land explore the harbor . Coming to th e “ ” n the s black thi g , around which Indian
the e a were seen day befor , they find it
fish e cu t-5 grampus , which the Indians wer ting up ; so they call the harbor Gram-r ” pus Bay . Following the tracks of th e ’ d on a k, Indians bare feet the san , they tr c
to th e w e u them pond , her they str ck into
a the wo s . u r r c the e x od Purs ing thei t a k ,
S ’ 9 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
lore rs p find corn land , an Indian burying d groun , enclosed with twisted boughs , set
. on or firmly in the ground Further , four
n i nh ab five India huts are found , but their i tants are absent . The sun declining , they
’ r to 11 0 eturn the shore , and the sha p s com
t a pany joining them , they pass the night a creek , probably what is now called Great ” Meadow River . A At midnight there is an alarm . ” th e great and hideous cry is heard , and
’ s s entinel s loud call , Arm ! Arm bring
T o are e very man to his post . w muskets s off con hot , and the noise ceasing , they e lude that it is not any thing but the howl ” i n of of g wolves and foxes , which some t d in hem have hear before Newfoundland , and so they encamp again around their
- fir h watch e . T e next morning they arise
’ at s five o clock , for their business demand
“ ” e s s a s the d ispatch . And afte r pray r , y
’ 94 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
are running in , shouting , They men ” s Indians ! Indians ! In a moment , arrow
r f from thirty o orty Indians , hid among All the trees , come flying among them .
to re ‘ but four run from the barricado ,
r s the cove their guns at the hallop , while s e Wo ach woach h a h h avag s yell , , , ha ac woach These four stand at the Open s of h n ide the barricado , and Standis bei g ” a s o off sna hence un re dy , ho ts his p a g — with a flint lock and o thers by his side are soon ready to fire . They call to their
at s to h ow i friends the hallop , know it s
“ . one an with them Well , well , every “ ” r f . swe s . Be o good courage More of their pieces go off the rest call for a fire
d s one of bran , to light their matche , and
’ lo fire Standish s men , seizing a g from the and on s s to clapping it his houlder , run t on h who ar now a e to hose the s ore , e bl ff get o their guns . IN NEw ENGLAND . 95
to b e Soon a large Indian , supposed
c s their hief, is seen letting fly his arrow from behind a tree . Standish fires at him , and his shot being directed by the pre vi
” of an dent hand the most high God , as old ff hi s writer declares , takes e ect in
“ ” right arm , which is bent over his
“ to hi s shoulder , draw an arrow from ” quiver .
c The sa hem being wounded , we are told
e x tradr dinar they gave an y shriek , and ”
o f . away they went , all them Standish
o f a pursues , with most his men , a qu rter o f t a mile ; then they all shout wice , and
o ff d s fire two muskets , to let the In ian
no t know they are afraid , and not dis ” a cou r ge d . In this skirmish no Pilgrim
or d a was killed woun ed , and perh ps no d In ian was hurt except the sachem , and he
. d a very slightly Bra ford only s ys , they
made the bark or splinters of the tree fly
as ’ 96 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
as f th about his ears . It w in the dark o e
n morning , and the Indians could be see
be very indistinctly , yet their arrows could
h i n dodged . The coats anging the barri cado were shot through and through .
s Eighteen arrows , headed with brass , hart
’ u horn , and eagles claws , were picked p on - field to the battle , and sent England by
of . Captain Jones , as trophies victory
After giving God thanks for their d eliv e rance n , and aming the place , The First ” c En ounter , the explorers pursue their voyage .
They sail along the coast in search o f
r or two Thievish Ha bor , but in an hour
- a a snow storm so darkens the air , th t they pass the harbor , without seeing it , and
u continue their voyage p the coast . Had it not been fo r this storm arising at that very hour , they doubtless would have
” e m m a i as found Barnstabl Bay , Co o qu d
’ 98 THE Pi L GRIMs FIRST YEAR
of in a cove full breakers , between Gur
” ” d Sa u i sh o ne net Hea , and q Point , but
“ of the steersmen , a lusty seaman , shouts
w t are to the ro ers , Abou with her , if you ” or I men , we are all cast away Obeying
“ ” the order with speed , they double the
“ ” flo od - d Point , and the ti e favoring them , they soon get under the lee of a small rise of land at the southern extremity of
’ “ c d Clark s Island , being ompasse about
n n with many rocks , and dark ight growi g
’ upon them . True , literally true , is Mrs .
’ of Hemans description their landing ,
Which head s this chapter .
n Comi g to anchor , they are divided in
Opinion about going ashore to pass the
r n d night . Some p efer to stay o boar for fear that savages may attack them in the
c d and night , but others are so wet , ol ,
a and feeble , that they venture shore , with great diffic ulty kindle a fire . After m id N NEw D I ENGLAN . 99
night , the winds shifting to the north west , and z e t free ing hard , the rest are glad to g to u the n them , and th s is passed ight of
t 8t o De e . Friday, he h f c mber ’ 1 00 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
C H A P T E R V I .
T H E F O R E S T S A N C T U A R Y
D e c e m b e r , 1 6 2 0 . — — Th e Island explore d and m anne d Its prim itive fore st old Ce dars — — s till rem ain Re treats of Blackbir ds Island now a farm Elec — — tion Ro ck Explore rs pass Satur day there How em ploye d — Firs t Sabbath o n shore spe nt the re Why pe cu liarly a d ay of — — res t to th e Pilgrim s Te m ptatio n to pu rsu e the ir voyage Wh y — n ot p re vale nt with a Pu ritan Sabbath dese cratio n in Holland — — one re as on for e m igrating The ir re liance on Provide nce Herbert — — ’ o n th e Sabbath Se rvices i n th e fores t Sanctuary Ainsworth s — ve rs io n of Psalm L XX De sign of this e xam ple of Sabbath ob ser — — vance Worthy o f th e im itation of all Gibbo n on th e value of — — pu blic wors hip Sir Walter Scott on Sabbath ve ne ration Still er a or high u th ity cite d .
’ Th e rove s we re Go s rs em e s ere m an learn ’d g d fi t t pl , To h e w th e s a t and la th e ar i rave h f , y ch t , — And spread th e roof above them e re h e fram e d Th e o vau to a er and rol a l fty lt, g th l b ck Th e sou of a em s th e ar woo nd nth ; in d kling d ,
m th e o o and si e e h e e ow A id c l l nc , kn lt d n , ’ And ofie r d to th e M es s o e m a s ighti t l n th nk , An d s u l a pp ic tio n . For h i s s im ple heart M no t re s s th e s a re u e e s ight i t c d infl nc ,
h rom th e s w of th e a e W ich f tilly t ilight pl c , And rom th e ra o ld ru s a i n h e ave f g y t nk , th t high n M e e r m os s ou s and rom the sou ingl d th i y b gh , f nd th e i visi e brea h a swa e at o ce Of n bl th , t t y d n
’ 1 02 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR was s to to ubsequently carried Boston , s tand as gate posts before th e mansions o f the city .
u 1 85 5 the r In the s mmer Of , write found five Of these ancient
” n ff ts ants Of themselves , in di erent par
“ Of the Island . They appear weather d ” beaten , unwe geable and gnarled ;
or k Off e x a the branches dead , bro en , cept at the top . The largest Of these trees is some five or six feet in cira
c um fe rence . , and about twenty feet high
Three or four stand solitary in the Open
o ne c pasture ; but around , in an en losed
d and field , at least a hun red fifty young
n c trees have sprung up , formi g a thi ket , th e resort Of innumerable blackbirds ;
as Whose shrill notes Of remonstrance ,
r three clergymen disturbed thei nests , broke the perfect calm Of one Of the loveliest days in June . NEw IN ENGLAND . 1 03
r Though the Island is now a fa m , and herd s Of cattle and flocks Of sheep
’ and geese feed around the owner s an cient mansion , these trees , beneath whose d boughs the Pilgrims may have walke ,
u s c d carry ba k to ays Of yore , and address us in the eloquence Of express
’ 3 “ i v e silence . Long live these goodly a ” c ed rs .
’ Another Object Of interest on Clark s
d on Island , is a large rock , calle an
“ ” Old . map , Election Rock It was
d c probably so name , be ause in early times , parties Of pleasure from Plymouth
“ Da resorted to it , to spend Election y, whi ch was one O f the few Puritan holi
a w c d ys , and hi h is still remembered
a Of with its sweet bunns , and g mes ball , by men in middle life , as the
d d d a gla est y Of spring , when they were boys . ’ 1 04 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
But , to return to the Pilgrim band t a . the shallop It is Saturday , the last d a y of the week , and the company are in no condition to pursue their explora
. c d as d tions A cor ingly , Bra ford tells us ,
“ They here dry their stuff, fix their pieces , rest themselves , return God thanks
d c for their many eliveran es , and here th e next day keep their Christian Sab ” f . O bath this Sabbath , the first they
on pass shore , we have only this brief
“ ” : . record On the Sabbath day , rested
TO t understand this , we mus know
’ s omething Of the Puritan s profound reverence for Jehovah , his sacred regard for holy time ; and have sympathy with him in spiritual worship .
The peculiar circumstances Of our
at s fathers , thi time , must have given an unwonted preciousness to the rest Of
n to the Sabbath . Life had indee d bee
’ 1 06 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
through this whole day , while their friends on shipboard are so anxious for their return ? Can they remain all day u pon that little island , while the shores Of the main land are in sight , and within an hour ’ s sail ?
— - e x e Worldly wisdom , short sighted p di enc to y , might suggest many r easons
- confid ent t the self , why , after the res
re Of Saturday , the voyage should be sumed . But such reasons have no weight with a genuine Puritan . His soul has ” sworn allegiance to the King Eternal .
He has le arned to act from fixed prin
“ ciple . He learned to remember the ” d a a Sabbath y, and keep it holy , in
land where many , even professing Christ
a d i ns , were guide by their prayer book in their Sabbath Observance in the
and r morning , in the evening by thei
“ Book of Sports . D IN NEw ENGLAN . 07
d The Puritans left Hollan , among
n u s c other reaso s , as they tell , be ause “ did of the little good they , or were
D c n like to do to the ut h , in reformi g ” c d f the Sabbath . They oul not think o “ bringing up their children where the ” d a Of y rest proves the day of labor ,
a for , of the Holl nders , with all their
“ c c was d r ex ellen es , it testifie , they neve
” n a k ew yet how to Observe the S bbath .
Can then the Pilgrims pursue business , h n a a a owever urge t , the first S bb th p ssed on th e shores Of the Ne w World ?
They will be more consistent than this . They know “ it is not in man that d ’ 7 walketh to ire ct his steps . They have
“ ” sa d just occasion to y , the Lor kept
r an d them in their pe ils by the deep ,
“ d a c a they foun harbor , be ause it ple sed
’ 7 D r v d ivine P o i en ce . And c an they so soon forfeit the prote ction o f that sus
9 3- ’ 1 08 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d taining and gui ing hand , by refusing to hallow the day which God has blest ? Such is not Puritan piety .
“ These men Of God believed with holy
” George Herbert , a poet Of their age , that
’ T he Sund a s Of m an s ife y l ,
’ Thre ad ed to e he r On m e s s r n g t ti t i g,
Ma e race e ts to ad orn the w fe k b l , i
Of the e e rna o r ous K n . t l, gl i i g
’ O n Sund ay H e ave n s g ate stand s op e ;
Ble ssings are ple ntiful and rife ;
” More ple ntiful than he p e .
’ Truly the explorers needed this day s devotion to strengthen faith and e nco ur d age hope . Coul we drop into that
“ ” c on a forest san tuary , Sabb th morn
d find c o f d ing , we shoul a cir le evout and humble worshipers . Perhaps the venerable Carver is reading the great
’ 1 1 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Psalms , no doubt it is literally true ,
s d a that , on thi y ,
They shook the d e pths Of the d e sert gloo m
” With the ir hym ns of lo fty che er.
t t Wi h the seventie h psalm , perhaps they mad e melody i n their hearts ; for it h ad d oubtless Often been sung in their
and Sabbath Assemblies over the water , in the c abin o f the Mayflower on their
n voyage . O e stanza reads thus
Jo le t h em and re o ce i n the e y t , j i ,
all that the e se ek e : And le t the m say
’ h th sa va o n s ove rs be e t at y l ti l ,
God m a n fie d be a wa . g i , l y
T hus pass e d the first S abb ath of the
n the Pilgrims o shore . They rested ” a a cc d c om S bb th day , a or ing to the im i mandment . Le t their example be tate d by their descendants By this E IN N w ENGLAND . 1 1 1 marked example Of deep reverence for holy time at the very opening Of ou r h National History , God seems to ave taught all wh o should come after these honored sires , to remember the Sabbath .
W hat a commentary upon the fourth commandment ! Do we desire to se e
Puritan morality perpetuated ? Let u s reme m ber how it was nourished ! Would we see their institutions perpetuate d ?
Let us not forget on what foundation s h ! u t ey rest Without the P ritan Sabbath , we m ay d espair o f seeing their virtue s
or s perpetuated , their institutions pas unimpaired to posterity .
T O those who ‘ think publi c worship on the Sabbath Of little value to a
l re nation , politically and social y , the
Of com mark Gibbon , the Historian , is mended
The interruption of that public e x er ’ 1 1 2 THE PILGRIMS FTRS T YEAR
c on u m i n Of cise , may s mate , the period
Of a a few years , the important work
” na a n tion l revolutio .
Those wh o would m i ngle pleasure s and d v a c i ersions with the Sabb th servi es ,
c nc a n am n a be a lass i re si g o g us , sh ll
n r i sent fo r i st u ct on to Sir W alter S cott , who c an by no me ans he ch arged with
a n t bigotry . Spe ki g of the true Protestan
: Sabbath , he says
’ The religious part of the S u nd ay s d exer cise is, not to be considere as a
d c i s bitter me i ine , the taste of which as soon as possible to be remo ved by a
the c bit of sugar . On ontrary , our demeanor through the re st O f the d ay
be n c o r ought to , not sulle , ertainly ,
o to morose , but seri us , and tending
d a f i nstru c tion . Give to the worl one h l
d a an d f n d t of the Sun y , you will i tha religion has no strong hold of th e other .
’ 1 1 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
of holy the Lord , honorable ; and shalt
not n own honor him , doi g thine ways , nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words . Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord ; and
I will cause thee to ride upon the
e high places Of the earth , and feed the with the heritage of Jacob thy father ; for the mouth Of the Lord hath spoken a EW IN N ENGLAND . 1 1 5
C H A P T E R V I I
’ A T F F A T H S C K L A N D I N G O R E E R R O .
D e c e m b e r , 1 6 2 0 . — Mis take s i n re gard to the landing Only twe lve Pilg ri m s p re se nt — Their nam e s Trad itio n re lating to Mary Chi lto n and Jo hn Alde n — — — e xplained The Ro ck de s cri bed Itse lf an Olde r Pilgrim Its h i s — — ’ — tory Its t reatm e nt s ym bo lic al De Tocque vi lle s e ul o gy The ’ — Pilgr im s u nco n s cio us O f th e re su lts Of that day s ac t The e x ore rs w t — t — p l please d ith he place Re tur n o th e Mayfl ower Mrs . B ra for row u — — d d d ne d d ring thei r ab se nce Other de ath s The sea. the ’ firs t Pilgrim s bu rial place .
Wild was th e d ay ; th e wi ntry sea Mo a e sa l o n New E a ’s s ra n d d y ngl nd t nd, e re rs the o u u and th e re e Wh fi t th ghtf l f ,
Our fathe rs tro d th e de sert l and .
T he y little tho ught h o w pure a light With ye ars shou ld gathe r rou nd that d ay ; H ow ove s o u ee e i r me m o r e s r l h ld k p th i b ight, l o How wide a re alm thei r s ns s ho u r sway .
G ree n are the ir bays ; b ut gre e ne r s till Shall rou nd the ir s pre ading fam e be wre athe d And re io s now u ro s a l r l g n nt d, h l th i l
h reve re c e w e e r am e s are re a h e . Wit n , h n th i n b t d
T l whe the sun w so e r re s i l n , ith ft fi , ’ Loo s on the vas Pac i s sle e k t fic p , T he childre n Of th e Pi lgrim s ires — This hallowe da lik e us s a l k ee RYANT . d y , , h l p B
1 0 s ’ 1 1 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
ND 1 l th of D c c MO AY , the e ember , whi h astronomers have d e cided corresponds with
l t of n h c d the the mo t in our alen ar , though the 2 2 d has usually been Observed
f ’ ” F o re athe r s d a as / y , the exploring party
d and find i t soun the harbor , convenient
S n . n for their hippi g Crossi g over the bay , ’ d from Clark s Island , to the mainlan , they
r c d d step ashore upon a la ge ro k , embe ed i th d ’ d n e san , just at the water s e ge . d In relation to this lan ing at Plymouth , tradition has handed down to us not a few
c mistakes , whi h popular orators and histo rians have rather confirmed than c or re cte d an d m , which have now passed al ost
o f c n beyond the reach corre tio , by being m ad e prom inent i n most of the paintin gs
n and engravings whi ch represent the s ce e . It is surely to be regretted that these r epresentations are not mor e in acc ordance
e with histori c truth . W have been taught
’ 1 1 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
h and ne Plymout , ver were . The company
f l wh o e th o exp orers , first land d on e rock — consiste d Of eighte e n men twelve Pil
’ o f th e Ma flower s grims and six y crew .
h to tur E Th w o expected re n to ngland . e nam es of the twelve Pilgrims h ave been
and was o o z— s preserved , as f ll ws Mile
n C r d Standish , Joh arve , William Bra ford , d Edward Winslow , John Tilly , Edwar H Tilly , John owland , Richard Warren ,
e Do te n Steph n Hopkins , Edward y, Joh
Allerton , and Thomas English .
The Mayflower did not anchor in the harbor till five d ays after this fi rs t landing ; and the women and childre n re mained in
Of e ra e on the cabin the ship , s ve l we ks l ger, till houses for them were built on sh ore .
The true account of this landing throws light upon the long disputed point between th e desc endants of John Alden and Mary
Chilton . Tradition has reporte d that there N IN NEW ENGLA D . 1 1 9
a c was a riv lry between them , as to whi h d shoul first tou ch the ro ck . But on the
1 i th Of D ecember neither were present .
Priority of l anding belongs to neither John
a d nor M ry . But not to ivest the tradition
o f its interest , the rivalry between them may have been elsewhere Perhaps it was “ Co d w o at Cape , here we are t ld the ” women went ashore to wash their clothes .
’ Or it may have been when a be e t s c rew went ashore on the arrival o f the May
i n u o r flower Plymo th Harbor , at the general landing o f the families after houses were built .
Mary Chilton married John Winslow ,
of brother Governor Edward Winslow , and
. i Mrs Ann Taylor , their last grandch ld , 1 7 7 3 t who died in , lef her testimony , in writing , that Mary Chilton was the first female who set her foot o n the American ” shore . ’ 1 2 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
o as Plym uth rock is not a ledge , many
bu t b or o o e of suppose , a oulder , l s rock
a d r -f gr nite , Of a ark g ay color , at the pres i ent s x f r . time , and a half eet in diamete
It may have bee n larger When the Pilgrims
t o a s firs stepped up n it , for many l rge piece h a ave been carried aw y .
T i ts o d s his rock , by r unde edges , bear e d o f d i s vi ence its having been rolle . It i c o ur tself a Pilgrim , mu h older than sires , and was b brought there y a deluge wave , o r o on t Of i ce to b e « fl ated a raf , the step
- ck ping stone to the New Wo rld . This ro h as a history almost as provid ential as that f o the men who lande d upon it .
’ It re maine d undisturbe d at th e water s edge for more than a century after the landing ; but in 1 741 there was a mo ve ment made by the c ommerci al interest to
o n I build a wharf over the r ck , or so ear t that Elder Faunce felt much alarmed for
’ 1 2 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ 8 r a 1 3 4 . July , , in front of Pilg im H ll
It is now g uarded by a circle Of iron h ar
and - poons boat hooks , five feet high The upper p art is adorned with c astings in
c imitation of heraldry curtains , on whi h are inscribed the names Of the forty - one signers Of the compact .
That part of the rock whi ch remains at
- the sea shore has been much abused . It is some twenty paces from the water , a wharf having been b uilt beyond it some distanc e
u t c a o into the harbor , to whi h a street le ds d passing irectly over the rock , whose flat s urface is level with the sand around it .
a d Six feet to the north , st n s a store , and the traveler Often looks in vain for the object Of his search , till the merchant calls from his door and tells him that his feet
d n are alrea y o the ro ck . But though the foot o f the horse and the wheel Of the
’ truckman s cart , passes daily over the rock IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 2 3
pressed by Pilgrim feet , it is Puritan in its
c . haracter , and can endure hard usage Like the men with whose history it is wedded , neglect cannot injure its fair
n fame . Its claims are ow appreciated . It shall have due honor .
De be Says Tocqueville , This rock has come an Object of veneration in the United f . o States I have seen bits it , carefully f O . preserved , in several towns the Union
Does not this sufficiently show that all human power and greatness is in the soul of man ? Here is a stone which the feet of a few outcasts pressed for an instant , and the stone becomes famous ; it is treasured by a great nation its very dust is saved as
And f a relic . what has become O the gate ways Of a thousand palaces ? Who cares for them
How little did the Pilgrims who first ’ 1 2 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR t d c o f o ro that ro k , think the remote cons qu enc e s Of their acts that d ay ! How u n c on s cious that the d ay would be marked i n
d a Of the calen ar by millions , in ges the d istant future ! H OW overpowere d with d emotion must they have been , coul they have looked d own the vista of time and s n c een the results Of their e terprise , whi h only two centuries have d eveloped !
The great and good never kn ow whe n they are laying the found ation of their fame , nor when they are sowing blessings
n a d for the ri chest harvest . E g ge in a
n t good cause , acti g from noble mo ives , the c ommon trans actions Of their every d ay
d th e life are woven , as gol en threads , into
ch robe of honor , in whi they appear upon the page Of history
’ n The poet s sta za is true , if he means by ” d great men , the truly goo
’ 1 2 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR the account Of their discovery is “ good ” n on a ews to their friends shipbo rd , and
“ ” Aux does mu ch c omfort their hearts . d d ious days , in ee , they must have been to
who not for all were Of the party , the
on o be explorers were , no account , to g yond Thievish Harbor , which they sup
“ posed tO be almost right over against ”
Co d . Cape A storm , too , has swept
and no t the along the coast , they know but
s shallop has been wrecked , and their friend have found a watery grave .
d 1 3 th D we We nesday , the Of ecember , will therefore mark as a glad day to the
o f Pilgrim band . But those greetings friend s and the rehearsal Of the “ good ” u news , was interrupted by a mournf l tale d Of eath . The day after the exploring party left
D of d d the ship , orothy , the wife Bra for , fell ove rboard and was drowne d ! Her 1 2 IN NEW ENGLAND . 7
family name was May ; but o f h e r early d history little is known . Sad , in eed , were
the circumstances o f her departure . She
b ad e no friend farewell ; she left no mes
sages o f love for her absent husband o ne
Rs Sh e a sigh thought of him , one pr yer for
d to her ear absent son , one look by faith
and i of a a o Jesus , l ke a drop r in she s nk int
c d Of th the o ean waves , and the eep tones e
- d storm win were her funeral dirge .
As Bradford steps on board the May
flower , methinks the venerable Brewster m ay be seen bre aking the sad news to his
n a you g brother , by repe ting some text o f
c r n ad n S riptu e , or aski g some le i g question , whi ch may help the Sinking heart to find a
re a p p , when it first le rns its loss , before
gr ac e has time to r ally for the support of
a . a av n ture Or , perh ps , the bere e d man
m n v n in has so e premonitio s of hea y tidi gs , the absen c e of his wife from the smilin g 1 1 ’ 1 2 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR o nes who hang over the ship to greet the r of eturn the exploring party . But the orphan who has already learned so many lessons in the school o f affliction bows in s to ea ubmission the divine will , and h rs
’ c o f the Saviour s voi e consolation , saying , “ I am the resurrection and the life ; h e that believeth in me , though he were dead
S yet hall he live . And whosoever liveth and believeth in me , shall never die .
d d r n ab Others , too , have ie du i g the d s o f . a ence the explorers The y they left ,
son a Jasper , a Of Governor C rver , as some
bo suppose , but more probably a servant y
a c . in his f mily , losed his brief pilgrimage d ’ d a . Friday , the y after Mrs Bradfor s death
a n J mes Chilto rested from his labors , leav ing a wife an d d au ghter to mourn and struggle alone with the hardships of a new s ettlement , in the depth Of winter . These ,
a ~ together with William Thompson , ser
’ 1 3 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
C H A P T E R V I I I
T H E T O W N L O C A T E D
D e c e m b e r , 1 6 2 0 .
— T he Mayflowe r anchors in Plym o u th B ay The Pilgrim s are — — please d with th e place Th e vicini ty e xplore d Its natu ral p ro — — d uc ti ons difie re nt lo catio ns tho u ght of for s e ttlem e nt Praye r — — — fo r divine dire ctio n Site cho se n Its Indian nam e Advantage s — — “ o f i ts lo catio n Be au tiful se a vie w Reas o n for th e nam e Ne w " — — P lym ou th Pos se ssio n of land take n Th e work of bu ild ing — — d e laye d Be e r at Chris tm as Th e co m p any divide d into fam ili es — — Th e b uilding lo ts laid ou t Locatio n of se ve n hou ses Th e Co m ”— — m o n Ho u se De aths during th e m onth B ad weather for o u t
d oor work .
Ne w E a a va e i n e o war are er ngl nd , d nc thin n d c
e or all- o uer w l With thin inb n , c nq ing i l ’ ’ Still triu m ph o er Nature s u nkindlie s t fo rm s
hi e e e r a e e and s l . By t n n gy . p ti nc , ki l T ou s a row to e as ou e ve r as rown h h lt g thy h ight th h t g , ’ O e r th e s orm s o f e em e ra s r fe t ph l t i , And s r u s a l e ase n o t to b e thy pi it , ndying , h l c Th e e e e m ’ d p g r of a C o ntine nt s life .
REV . S . GILMAN .
D i 5 th D FRI AY, the Of ecember . The May
flower sails for the Bay discovered by the IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 3 1 exploring party but the wind being north
” c b west , she cannot fet h the har or , but
” is forced to put round again toward th e
Cape .
d l 6 th a Satur ay , the the wind is f vorable just long enough for the good ship to find
c a safe anchoring pla e , a mile and a half
’ m w n s fro Plymouth Rock , bet ee Clark d Islan and the point of Long Beach . The Pilgrims seem to have been well
d b d c please with the har or . They es ribe this bay as in fashion like a sickle or fish
” “ h OOk and , it seems to them compassed
h a wit a goodly l nd . They speak o f two
’ d Sa uish fine Islan s , Clark s , and perhaps q , whi ch may then have bee n taken for an isl and covered with a great variety of
ba wood . The y seems to them a most hopeful place they find there i nnu m e ra
o f ble store fowl , and most excellent good ” fish se sons s a d o t in their a ; k te , co , turb In ’ 1 82 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
nd c f c e s a herring abundan e o mus l , ”
and . crabs lobsters , in their time infinite
u With thankf l hearts and cheerful hopes , they keep the Sabbath on board the ship .
M a 1 8th o ond y , the , most of the men g ashore and explore the wood s along th e
“ c d oast , for several miles , fin ing small running brooks of ve ry Sweet water and
’ c o f — the rust the earth a spit s , that is a
’ d c d and spa e s depth , ex ellent black moul ,
fin d fat in som e pl ac es . They the forest “ c Of a to onsist great o ks , but not very
c c c thi k , pines , walnuts , bea h , ash , bir h ,
a a i n d an c h zel , holly , asp , sassafr s abun e , and n w vi es every here ; cherry trees , plum
” and an c c d trees , m y others , whi h they oul
a n m not c ll by a e .
c d d c They are heere too , by the evi en e
” a a d r w th t m ny kin s of he bs gro there , for they find strawberry le aves i nnu m e ra
s c ble , orrell , yarrow , arvel , brooklime , liver
’ 1 3 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR give up the idea Of clearing that place
l n til they are of more stre gth .
S o b a and r they cross the y , take anothe
’ d c look at Clark s Islan , whi h some think
a a a very s fe pl c e for building their hamlet .
Bu t d s o , on examination , it is foun full
” of c a c wood , that they fear they nnot lear
a c d a enough to pl nt what orn is esir ble ,
“ ” besides the water is in pits and they do no t know b u t these pits will become d ry in s ummer .
This was a good reason for no t settling
d o no t s there , for the Pilgrims eem to have f d thought o igging wells , they relied
o n n u the entirely at first , spri gs fo nd at
d all c . surfa e Of the groun At night , h return to the ship , wit resolution the
e next morning , to settle some of thos ” places .
d d n D 2 h O e c . 0t . n We nes ay morni g ,
r f the Ma th f r bo a d o yflower , e voice o praye ND ‘ IN NEW ENGLA . 1 3 5
“ to the Go d of Providence is heard for d d irection for , the settlers are evi ently som ewhat divid ed in Opinion as to the best
i s location , and they fully believe , that it not in man that walketh to direct hi s ” steps . h After prayer , they go as ore resolving ” to take a better view Of two places , and
one d l . choose of them , without further e ay
c on After this view , they come to the e lusion by most voices to set on the main
on d . land , a high groun
The reasons for this selection were , that ” of d here a great deal lan is cleared , and there is a “ very sweet brook” runs under
“ the hill side ; a good harbor for th e shallop , much good fish in their season
“ on and a great hill , which they can “ plant their ordinance to command all ” round about .
Many visiting the shores of the Cape ’ 1 3 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR have expressed surprise that our fathers s hould have chosen Plymouth as their f place o settlement . But it must be
d a o remembere , th t they were driven int
Co d no e Cape Bay , and that they had tim
f th e to look further , be ore they fixed upon
o f . location their town Besides , they
n one fi looked upo fishing as source Of pro t , for which Plymouth was very favorable .
The soil to o of all that region was much richer then than at the present day ;
“ ” c d e bla k moul being found then , wher ne w n t or l is othing but drif ing sand , soi covered with pitch - pines of dwarfish stat ure Those strips o f land around the
n w harbor which o glitter in the sunlight ,
o u r like banks of snow , were seen by
’ fathers wooded d own to the very water s
d d to o e ge . It shoul be remembered , that the spot selected was ad mir ably adapted
t of to for defence , a mat er great moment ,
’ 1 3 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YE AR
“ a . c d c barbarous n mes Ac or ingly , A co
c n d m ack was ha ge to Plymouth .
n of th But Squa to , the only native e
c d o f 1 6 1 6 pla e , that survive the plague , d told the Pilgrims , that the In ian name P ” o f their lo cality was atu x et . By other
“ ” l was c d A au m natives , the p ace alle p .
m a b a One name y have been given to the y , and other names to particul ar lo c alities d aroun it . The settlers adopted the name of “ Ply ” n mouth for their new home , not o ly from d and eferen c e to Capt . Smith Prin ce
a c Ch rles , but also , be ause Plymouth in
Old d a t Englan was the l st town they lef , an d they re c eived m any kind nesses from
n . At r some Christia s there fi st , the
“ ” n was c Ne w m settleme t alled Ply outh , but Ne w h as long sinc e disappeared and
Old h as a taken its pl ce .
d a 2 0th D We nesd y the Of ecember , a 1 3 9 IN NEW ENGLAND . c ompany Of the Pilgrims took possession o f the ground on whi ch they intended to
n erect their houses . They pass the ight
the in Open air , hoping the next morning
disa in earnest to begin their work . But p oihtm e nt p still attends them .
d a 2 l s t Thurs y the , is so stormy and wet ,
on th e c an that those land do nothing , and
on ffi those shipboard , with di culty , bring their provisions—the shallop being unable to return to the Mayflower . Friday the
no storm continues , and there is communi cation between the ship and the shore . 2 3 d Saturday the , the preparation for
c building commen es by felling timber ,
c c h whi h is arried from the woods , an eight of a m ile from the building ground .
The next day is the Sabbath , and a part o f c the ompany keep it o n shore . This D 2 4th is the first Sabbath , ecember , kept by the Pilgrims on the present s ite Of Ply l2 ’ 1 40 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d i m outh . Mon ay is Christmas ; but it s no self- d enial for the builders to dispense with the Sports and feastings known in
“ ” merry E ngland on this festival d ay .
u The P ritan , to testify against the per versions o f Christianity showed his grati
d th e o f an d a re tu e for birth Christ , his pp
c i ati on c . of his chara ter , in another way “ s d a d a So no man re te all th t y, but all
“ went ashore some to fell timber , some ” v to saw, some to ri e and some to c arry .
ou r and Up to this time , fathers mothers d c rank beer , whi h they brought with them
old from the country , and which was to them a substitute for the tea and coffee of d o u r a . e y But on Christmas day , they tak
o f a n leave their f vorite beverage , and begi
n — to dri k wate r the beer growing low .
r o f d a At evening , howeve this feast y , “ ” Master Jones passes round the beer as fa s a special vor , which he afterward
’ 1 42 THE PIL GRIMs FIRST YEAR
2 8th t o f the the , a par company begin ” platform for ordinance on Fort Hill .
e They hasten this work , because they hav heard , as they suppose , the distant whoop of s s Indian , though they have as yet een none since they came ashore at Accom ack .
This hill was admirably chosen for a
ne - fort . It is o hundred and sixty five feet f high , and contains eight acres , a part o d ” which , at least , they inten ed to impale , making it secure against any attack from
Indians . Here the cannon could be so
to the arranged as command all plain , and the bay . “ as On this plain , it is here called
on though it is quite high ground , they “ tw intended to build the town , having o ” row o f houses and a fair street running ” from the foot o f Fort Hill to the se a s a f d hore , distance o three hun red and
- five or a of a eighty yards , nearly fifth m ile . 1 43 IN NEw ENGLAN D.
d a In accor ance with this wise pl n , on
d a 2 8th D c Thurs ay fternoon , the of e ember , they pro ceed to measure and stake o ut
hi s the house lots , and assign every man location . They first inquire into how many families they can red uce the whole com
n pa y , which they find to be nineteen
— n o f a givi g just five an aver ge , to each
d la household . They accor ingly y out ,
c d c what in the Colony Re or s , are alled “ The m e e rste ad s and gard en plotes of
c those whi h came first , granting to each
or a d to family a larger sm ller lot , accor ing d its number , each in ividual having half a
and in t . s pole in breath , thre e leng h Thi
o n an would make each house and lot ,
a h t on aver ge , occupy less t an seventy fee the street .
They laid out the s e lots thus s mall at “ u e the nt to m e first , beca s y i ended i pal 1 3 9 ’ 1 44 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ o f them round , and the weakness the ” h n people was such , that t ey could ot build their houses and inclose large lots f A f o ground . part o the plan of the vil lage is preserved i n the Plymouth Colony ” Records , which is as follows :
“ “ TH E NO R T H SI D E . S T OU H SID E .
P e r te B rown . ohn J Goodm an .
M . r B re ws ter .
H I G H WAY .
John Billington .
l . Mr . Isaac A le rton
Francis Co ok .
Ed ward Winslow.
When these “ garden plotes were staked
’ u t on o , every man s position the street was determined by lot . On the plan in the “ Colony Records
’ 1 46 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ a was called First street . Beginning t “ the o ccu Fort Hill , houses must have
d a pied, with their gar en fronts , less th n h alf the distance from the hill to the sea shore . Beyond them stood the Common
or e th e House , sixty sev nty paces from
- t brook . Three other store houses were buil
la the first year , which may have been p ced
the beyond the Common House , toward
or Of d d bay , west it , towar the welling houses . Perhap s some of the houses first
t b d on buil and inha ite , were the north side f “ ” ’ o G V . d d First street . O Bra for s house
a d o t of th at a l ter ate , sto d at the foo e hill ,
’ in almost Opposite Winslow s , as laid down d ” the recor s .
As the Pilgrims begin their work on s d hore their ranks are thinne . Two men
c have died sin e they came into the harbor , f D making six during the month o ecember .
The last days of the month are ve ry Ew IN N ENGLAND . 1 47
“ s ill tormy and cold , many are growing ” “ i n with colds , and their weakness is
“ ” creasing every day more and more . D With such lengthening shadows , ecember
closes . Scarcely any thing has yet been done toward the erection of dwellings for th e
winter ; the families are still imprisone d in f the cabin o the Mayflowe r . ’ 1 48 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YE AR:
C E I X H A P T R .
D L N G H S S C T D W E L I O U E E R E E . — Ja n u a r y , 1 6 2 0 1 .
—J‘ — Ho uses cons tru cte d of l ogs l h e roo fs thatche d Oi le d pap er for — — windo ws Size an d co ns tru ctio n o f th e ho use s Th e we ather
— fi Indi an fires see n at a di s tance Th e woo ds ex Plore d An eagle — — sho t A lake dis cove re d by a b oy De s cribe d as chie f of two — — — hu ndre d i n to wn Its nam e change d Firs t ho us e bu il t Two — care le ss m e n los t- Fru itle ss s earch fo r the m Re tur n from the ir — — dee r hu nt Acco u nt of the i r adve nture s De er s till fo u nd in th e “ — — Old Colo ny An alarm of fire Firs t Sabba th wors hip on — ”— s hore Th e firs t Mee ting- ho u se Se co nd ho u s e of wors hip o n — — — Th e Mou nt A winte r s torm A c om i e s ce ne Indians seen — — at a di s tance He alth of th e C o lony Deaths during: January — Ros e Stand is h Sorrow of th e s trong .
— ~ Toiling rejoi cing sorro wi ng Onward thro ugh life h e goe s
Ea m o r n s e e s s o m e tas e ch ni g k b gin , Each e ve nin g s ee s it clos e Som e a em e d—s o m e d one thing tt pt thing , ’ Has earned a night s re po s e . L ONGFELL OW.
DU th e n h o f RING mo t January , build ing hous e s is th e chief work o f the
and c d as settlement , is prose ute with much vigor as the weathe r and the h e alth
1 5 0 THE PILGRIMS ’ FIRST YEAR on the a lowlands , round the ponds , and a n lo g the brooks near by .
For s m a chimney , they y have u sed “ s s of w h m the oft tone , hic ention i s
s o f th made in early description e place .
Yet it i s not unreasonable to su ppos e
s to h that brick , build ovens and c im n h eys , were brought from England by t e
first immi grants ; for among the article s
to n we e sent Salem , ine years after , hav “ ” a f bill o ten thousand bricks . The windows of the house s were made of
too e t oiled paper , glass being then gr a a luxury even in England for any
s e xcept the wealthy . The first glas u sed in this country for windows was in di a
- e or s mond shape d panes , thre four inche a and th e e e cross , oiled paper panes w r
o f z probably this form and si e .
If the se huts resembled the first c c s b h s hur h edifice uilt by t e Pilgrim , IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 5 1
f c d m a o whi h , rawings y be seen , they
no t were square , with posts more than
s even or eight feet high ; c overed with
i n four steep roofs , meeting at a point
the centre . That these houses were l sma l is evident , for Bradford calls their
“ ” c Common House , whi h was twenty
“ ne w z feet square , their great rende
’ vo u s f
Such were the first attempts of our fathers at architecture . To hasten the
a as work as f st possible , it was agreed
that each man should build his own
and d house , work un er the weightiest
motives to industry . But the obstacles
in their way are many and great . Up
of to the first January , the weather has been such , that they have h ad but d four goo working days .
The weather is now m uch more fav orable for work than it was the month 1 3 1 5 2 THE PILGRIMS ’ FIRST YEAR
v t pre ious , yet seldom can hey work half the week . The eighth was a very
“ a fair d y . The ninth was a reasonable fair day . No rain is mentioned till w the t elfth , which seems to have been
d S o f followe by a light fall snow , the only instance recorded during the month ; yet an old writer speaks of snow thi s “ f a . o winter , foot deep The rain the fifteenth is followed by three “ very fair sunshining days , as if it had been in
” d d o f April . After the mi le the month ,
m ere n the weather is favorable , till ear
d of its close . The last three ays Jan “ out- uary , all door work is suspended ” by cold frosty weather an d sleet . Thu s
a r through the month, the Pilgrims l bo amid sunshine and cloud .
O nly a fe w incidents o ccur during
c are e this month , whi h worthy of b ing
as of ev da chronicled , illustrations ery y
’ 1 5 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ fish , but , wanting small hooks ,
d isa these hopes for the present , are p pointed .
th e While the men are thus busy ,
d . o f a boys are not i le One them ,
d hi s young Columbus , has immortalize
s name by a fortunate discovery . Franci
c e on to Billington , limbing a tre the p o f h w o f th e a hig hill , to take a vie d surrounding country , iscovers what , with
u a c a tr e juvenile ex ggeration , he alls
’
. c o ne great sea This sea , Fran is , with of o f the mates the vessel , soon visits , and h of finds it fine fres water , full
and fish fowl .
u This beautif l lakelet , the largest and
c most elebrated of the two hundred , said to be Within the township o f Ply
a s mouth , is bout one and a half mile
and its long , and half a mile wide , winding shores still furnish a seclud ed NEW IN ENGLAND . 1 5 5
and delightful retreat for the summer
traveler .
In the middle o f this sheet of water
of two of is an island , consisting acres h land , once covered wit a great variety
of f orest trees , which have given place
to an orchard and a dwelling house .
sur The lakelet when discovered , was r a e ounded by a gi nt forest , whos dwarf
is d escendants still guard its s hores . It two it miles from the bay , into which e mpties its clear water through the ” c n t Town brook , whi h the a ives called ” Patak o si s s , which mean , hort nar ” row .
During the first century o f the s ettle “ ” s e a ment , this was called fresh ” lake , but the claims of the boy who d n iscovered it , could ot be overlooked and m e n it was rena d Billi gton Sea. 1 3 ’ 1 5 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
a e Merit , though long neglected , shall h v its claims acknowledged .
now to e Returning the settlem nt , we
find the builde rs occupie d upon their
9th of an Common House , till the J
it ' bein e uary , at which time , g all don
of th e but thatching , most men proceed to own - build their dwelling houses , acc ording to the plan laid ou t on the 2 8th “ of December . Half the Common House is thatched “ in four days ” by a detachment o f the builders .
d a While oing this . work , Frid y the “ 1 2 th to r , four men are sent gathe
d u f an c . T o t thatch wo the four ,
e of Goodman and Brown , h edless dan
a com ~ ger , imprudently w nder from their
n panions , taking their din er in their hands to go walk and refresh them
two d selves ; having for company ogs ,
ff c a masti and a spaniel . Soon oming
’ 1 5 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR s earched all the afternoon of Friday for an Indian hut , in which to find shelter ,
. d n n on but fin ing one , whe night came , they “ were forced to make the earth
the their bed , and element their cover
i n . t t g Soon hey were terrified , by wha
“ they supposed to be two lions roar i n for g exceedingly , a long time together , and a third that they thought was very near them . “ These lions were probably wolves ;
s t the early ettlers however , supposed tha “ ” the kingly lion , roamed the deep f of are orests New England , and we even told that the skins of small one s w f d ere seen upon the backs o In ians .
d h s Terrifie wit thi roaring , the wan d erers resolved to climb up into a tree , as their safest refuge , though that would prove an intolerable cold lodg
” “ ’ S h t e e s i ng . o they stoo d at t e r 1 5 9 IN NEW ENGLAND .
d root , all rea y to climb , when the lions should appear ; one of them hold f — t ing by the neck the masti f, impatien
i to dart into the thicket , and g ve fight to the king of beasts . It was extremely “ d and d col , and they walked up own
r for all night , unde that tree , waiting the lions ; but none appeared . d d As soon as the morning awne , they renewed their march , wandering about
o f in the woods , and along the banks
and of brooks , lakes , and over plains d cleared lan , till , in the afternoon , <2 h ascending a high hill , they saw t e two isles in the Bay . Guided by these
c m they rea hed ho e at night .
This experiment o f hunting deer with sickles , like too m any other hunting ff excursions , a orded little pleasure and d less profit to the adventurers . Goo
’ s so man feet were swollen , that he 1 6 0 THE PILGRIMS ’ FIRST YEAR
“ d esired to have his shoes cut off hi s ” feet ; it was a long time before he was able to walk .
e It is not a littl remarkable , that
r or its deer have emained in Plymouth , v of icinity , through all the period its
s . e ettlement Though the first place , wher t ’ the forest fel the woodman s axe , ex
d n w tensive woo s , early t enty miles square , “ s till are found in this part of the Old
Colony ; and fallow deer have s carcely c eased to be hunted in the immediate
“ ’ u vicinity of Plymouth . Russell s G ide t 1 881 a hun ells us , that in January , d red and sixty were killed , and forty
as taken alive in these woods . As late 1 83 9 February , , a deer was chased by d of ogs into the streets the town , and c aught in the front yard of a dwelling
of house . Surely the descendants the
’ Pilgrims have followed Esau s occupa
1 6 2 THE PILGRIMS ’ FIRST YEAR
f b o c ove r . c o ro a y The si kness Carver , p
d m on bly , resulte fro his exposure Friday , s earching for the lost men . In this s d and d ituation , with pow er loa ed mus kets in the same room , the roof, half c d overe , is fired by a spark from the “ chimney . The sick men rise with good ” s and peed , thus escape being blo wn
o d ! c i “ up with p w er The that h only b , the timber of the roof no t being Se a
s one d d no t d . , oes rea ily ignite The fire
’ is seen o n shipboard at six o clo ck in
and the morning , the people there sup posing the two men not found , fear they have been taken by savages , who have now fired the o nly house erected
on . shore Soon , however , coming from
n m en the ship , and lear ing that the lost have returned , and that the fire was
n o f e s accidental , the morni g hour sadn s is exchanged for a Sabbath o f gratitude IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 6 3
1 4 and joy . This is January th , the first
Sabbath spent on shore by the main
part of the Pilgrim band . Three weeks
a before , a sm ll number passed the Sab
bath there .
c Thus was the first house ere ted ,
c c dedi ated , immediately upon its omple
h n c . , by the publi worship Of God
5 g , ( d buil ing , twenty feet square , with
h c t at hed roof, may with much propriety
’ be called the Pilgrim s first meeting
” house , for , it seems to have been their
place of S abbath worship for two years f 1 6 2 2 and a half. In the summer o
“ ” c on n - a Fort was ere ted buryi g hill , d “ then calle the Mount . This hill
then becam e the Mount ! ion of the
Pilgrims , Whither the tribes went up ,
c old and whi h , like Jerusalem of , was
” ” b a o eautiful for situ ti n , and was a
“ ” n flat strong hold ; for o the roof, 1 4 ’ 1 6 4 THE p IL GRIMS FIRST YEAR
of over the heads the worshipers , ” c a d nnons were place .
Returning to the diary of the build e rs and , we find that their troubles delay of work of the previous week are n d o n prolo ge by a rain Monday ,
o f pouring through the roof their house , from which the thatch was burned the d a . y before No work can be done , , all
and are wet , the boat cannot come to take them on shipboard . d l 6 th Tues ay the of January , being
of d fair , the work building is renewe , “ ” all c . in health , working heerfully The 1 9th they resolve to “ make a ” d r - she , to serve as a sto e house for
and d a their provisions , , three ys after ,
hogshead s o f meal are rolled u p f and d rom the shallop , place in this c - 2 9th ommon store house . On the , this
“ ” of moving the common goods , from
1 6 6 THE PILGRIMS ’ FIRST YEAR
his feet . Goodman is ill prepared , either to r run o to fight . Having nothing In his
z hand , he sei es a stick , and throwing it , hits one wolf ; whereupon they both run f t a short distance , but soon acing righ about , come back for a second call . Goodman is now armed with a narrow
of c th e strip board , with whi h to guard spaniel . The wolves halt at a respectful distance and there , says the record ,
“ on at they sat , both their tails grinning ” him a good while . At length they take
s to the woods , and the kind master bring his dog in safety to the Common ” House , no doubt to amuse the company
’ ' with a narrative of his evening s excur sion .
t f on On the las day o January , those
’ shipboard see two savages on Clark s i d n . s Islan , but they soo disappear This the fourth time that the red man of the IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 6 7
forest has been seen by the Pilgrims
bu t as yet , they have not spoken to each
other .
The health of the Colony has been
r declining during the month . A numbe
o f the men grow more and more feeble .
A record of the deaths are kept by
“ ” - Bradford in his pocket book . Every
or h i s three four days , anot er name d added to the lis t of the eparted . Says
“ th e the register , the year begins with death o f Degory Priest . And just at
“ of the close the month , we read Jan .
2 9 the o f -a , dies Rose , Wife Captain Stan ” dish . “ . . ou r num N B This month , eight Of ber die
Of Rose Standish , it is to be regretted that so little is known ; for tradition ascribes to her all the virtues which adorn female character . 1 4* ’ 1 6 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Think not that the strong heart of
of as Standish , son Mars he was , felt
f i i n In lightly the pressure o this afll ct o .
of men strong and heroic natures , there
of h is a deep under current feeling , whic
n a are appears o t on the surf ce . There
of o too to manhood this m uld , sorrows ,
find an s — s deep to outlet in tear , grief
find and of which no expression , which the superficial in thou ght and feeling
can . form no conception He , surely , did not bid Rose adieu , without keen and prolonged suffering, who wrote in his will , more than thirty years after this , “ di D d If I e in uxbury , my bo y to be
d a c lai as ne r , as onveniently may be , to
’ ” my dear daughter s .
’ 1 70 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
FEBRUARY seems to have been a month h quite favorable for the builders . Thoug
“ ” of ar e cold and wet , and gusts wind
of s m to mentioned , most the days ee have admitted o f labor in the open air .
The 4th of February there was a violent storm , but no other is mentioned , and probably there was very little if any s d now uring the month .
no w - As yet , d elling houses are ready f or . occupants The men able to labor , ” e occupy the Common House , whil their families are on shipboard . The “ next building c ompleted is a little ” It house for sick people . is finished
9th on r of before the , for , the afte noon
d a on that y it is set fire by a spark , d that kin led in the roof. Happily , the
an d i n fire is soon extinguished , the evening c aptain Jones distributes five
e e gees among the si ck . Thes thatched IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 71
e s roofs were so liable to take fire ,
e ciall 1 6 2 7 p y when new , that in , the
Colony mad e a law that all houses built . after that time should be covered with boards . There is some uncertainty as to the time when the dwelling - houses began to be occupied by families . The common goods , as we have seen , were brought ashore the 2 9th of January .
4th o f e n The storm the February ,
“ dangered the ship , because the goods
” “ ou t . e taken , she was light This sam
u s d c d storm , they tell , cause mu h aub
u ing of o r houses to fall down . But as many of the me n were feeble and
and c on sick , and many women hildren d ’ shipboard were in the same con ition , and the ou t- door labor was often inter ru te d and was p by bad weather , there much time spent in getting from the 1 7 2 THE PILGRIMS ’ FIRST YEAR ship to the shore and back again ; the probability is , that few , if any families were located in their new houses before d d f the mi le o February .
the l 6 th The record informs us , that “ of i February , people were abroad n ” s the woods at work , and , the ame day d tools left there by Stan ish and Cooke , were stolen by the Indians , which indi cates that still they were preparin g timber for building .
n n The plan was to build inetee houses , but so many died before any were fin i sh e d , that only seven were needed , and , as the Mayflower did not sail till the
6 th of t April , it is not improbable tha some of the more feeble occupied the f ship , till near the time o her de parture .
We have now come to the beginning
’ of the darkest period of the Pilgrims
’ 1 74 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
on 1 7 In this assembly , the th , mili
c d tary dis ipline is establishe , and Miles
“ n c Sta dish chosen aptain , with authority ” n H o f comm and in affairs . Stephe e p kins is probably chosen lieutenant , though his election is not mentioned , but is inferred from the subsequent history of
fa f the military af irs o the colony . — By a remarkable c oinciden ce provi
no d ~ dence , oubt it seemed to the Pil — grims during these military c onsulta
o n o f tions , two savages appear the top
Cantau ante e s t on the hill g , the other
of . c c side the brook The savages , s ar ely
o ff a a fourth of a mile , m ke signs to the English to come over to them . The English make signs to the savages to come to the settlement ; but they do not seem in cline d to accept the invita
d a co m tion . Stan ish , therefore , rms his pany that they m ay be ready if c alled IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 7 5
for , and , taking Hopkins with him , passes
e one over the brook . Th y carry but d d musket , and that is lai own , as they
c . approa h the hill , in token of peace
’ But the red man s c ourage fails him .
c The two , who be koned the Pilgrims
“ ” over would not tarry their c oming . A noise of a great many more is heard
behind the hill , but all take to the
of woods , and no more is heard them
that night .
d a 1 8 The next y , February th , is the
“ Sabbath , and the Pilgrims renew their ” n stre gth , by waiting upon Him who
and never slumbers , whose almighty arm
is around his servants for their d efen ce .
. a 2 1 s t of On Wednesd y the February ,
Captain Jones brings ashore one of their
“ ” c an d largest guns , alled a minion ,
of with help the sailors , this cannon 1 5 , ’ 1 7 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR an d four others are drawn up Fort
H on the ‘ ill , and mounted platform pre
“ ” f r o . r pared them These g eat pieces ,
d a as they are called , were in that y f f ormidable weapons o war . The three
’ a larger cannon , a saker , and two min ” ions were from eight to ten feet in
d s to length , and carrie ball from three T f four inches in diameter . wo o these
“ ” a c nnon were bases , smaller guns , hav b ing an inch and a quarter ore . But what are these guns , if the men already
h s l unable to draw them up the ill , hal become too weak to u s e them ?
f r h These preparations o defence , thoug
t u made wi h co rage , must have been
d a mingle d with Sadness . This very y, while they are drawing these cannon to
“ ” the places most convenient for them , no less than four death s occur in the
Pilgrim band ! Twe ntya five or thirty of
’ 1 7 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR voyage and uncomfortable condition brought u pon them ; so as there die , sometimes d a . two or three a y Of a hundred , scarce fifty remain ; the living s carce able to bury the dead ; the well no t s ufficient to tend the sick ; there being in time o f greatest distress (probably “ d e or the last ays of F bruary , ! but six seven , who spare no pains to help them .
c The like si kness fell among the sailors , s o as almost half their number die before ” f they sail . The conduct o the Pilgrims ” during this general mortality , was f d marked by that kindness and ortitu e , inseparable from mature Christian char
c . d a ter Bradfor , after speaking of Brew s and d and ter Stan ish , to whom he many o thers were under special obligation in
“ ” c d d their lone and si k con ition , a ds
“ this testimony : What I have said o f
sa f these , I may y o many others who IN NEW ENGLAND. 1 79
die d in this general visitation : and
-! others yet living , that whilst they had h o r ealth , yea , any strength continuing , they were not wanting to any who had f ” need o them .
Th e conduct of the captain an d crew
of Ma the yflower , during this tryn
was period , strangely in contrast wi th
“ that of the Pilgrims . The passengers
a to were hasted shore , and made drink w the v the ater , that seamen might ha e
m . w i n his ore beer And hen , sickness
d a for s f r Bra ford sked a mall can o bee , “ W it was answered , that if he ere their d ” own father he shoul have none . But when disease laid its hand heavily u pon ” the officers and lustiest men of the
“ c c rew , aptain Jones relented , and told the Governor he should send for beer for
h e them that had need of it , though d ” rank water home bound . 1 5 » ’ 1 80 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
The scene s that followed the bre aking out of disease among the seamen , pre sent a frightful picture of the effect of fear and suffering upon the passions of depraved and degraded men ; and Show us , it may be presumed , the general
“ character of sailors in that age . Boon companions in drinking and jollity , in
now the time of their health , began to ” d esert one another . The well would d “ d not help the sick , but sai , if they ied ” let them die . One lay cursing his wife because she was the cause o f his taking
“ ” c e . this unlu ky voyag Another , in his weakness failing to get aid from his fel lows , poured upon them curses for their ingratitude fo r favors he had formerly
“ showed them . Another gave his com panion all he had if he died , to help him in his weakness ; he went and got
c and of a little spi e , made him a mess
’ 1 82 THE FILGRIMs FIRS T YEAR
Oh he ou now se e said , y , I , show your love like Christians indee d one to a o t r bu t we le t one a o e lie and n he , n th r i d ” die l k e ogs .
This proo f of the kind and hu mane
’ c r of the r re on ~ haracte Pilg ims ligi , can not fail to be appre ciated by the ir d e -v s cend e nte in thi s age o f philanthropy .
i u e ru The P lgrim nd rstood t e religion ,
o c r of l to Go d in b th its haracte istics ove , d m d and goo will to man . He was i bue
“ with that spirit of pract ic al Ch risti~
“ anit c o i its o to y, whi h c nstra ns possess r visit the fathe rles s and widows in their
fl ct on as to e f af i i , well as k ep himsel u nspotte d from the world . N f m otwithstanding this earful ortality , by a merciful Providenc e most of th e
“ ’ ” c f m e n a d d e hie , ye old st n ar s , wer spare d . Bre wste r and Standish wer e am ong the si x or s even who were i n IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 83
c good health , when the si kness most pre d a . v iled They , with Bradfor , Winslow ,
d and Allerton , Fuller , Hopkins , Al en , d Howlan , survived the months , during
“ w the c hich re ord says , there die some
times two or three a day .
u The Colony , therefore , tho gh greatly
c an d c redu ed in number , rippled in
physical energy , had still with them — most o f its leading men almost every — One on whom they relied for guidan ce .
o f The first eight signers the compact , w one c s e e ith ex eption , lived to the
found ations of the colony firmly estab li sh e d . How different must have been
the situation o f the Pilgrims on the
O of pening spring , had these fallen the first winter ' How different might have been the civil and religious history of
New England and of the continent ?
i n God is in history , even its minutest details . 1 84 THE PILGRIMS? FIRS T YE AR
M n i imm w a s or tal till hi s ork b e d one .
Th e t too t o h e o s win er , , h ug frequ nt st rm are e o as e m nti ned, was , a whol , very h d d . e e a a e t e mil El v n ye rs ft r lan ing , one wh o n w e s the P s k e , t stifie that ilgrim
“ r f e ith c e h we e avor d w a alm wint r , suc ” as was never s ee n h e re since .
a s o f t l of m ta An an ly is his bil or lity , s o t o - ou d r h ws , tha f rty f r ied within fou m o nths after th e landing at Cape Cod .
e cc n r f d Seve n mor , a ordi g to B ad ord , die
f e l e o f the rs r and be or the c os fi t yea , are include d by him among th e victim s
“ ” of the ge ne ral sickness .
e of the co c Sign rs mpa t,
e d o e Marri w m n ,
of i e Sons s gn rs ,
a ts o and o m en IO Serv n , b ys , y ung ,
r n 1 Se va t girl ,
W ol u h e n mber ,
’ 1 86 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d a child , to be deposited in the san of ff ’ the blu , just west of Forefather s Rock
’ which was the first plac e of o ur father s sepulchres . To that hill the wid ow d followe him , with whom she shared
’ earth s joys and sorrows , till death did
in them part , and returned calm , a d blesse hope of a glorious resurrection , to c d her that he hut , scarcely finished by
d c the han now old in death , to trust
’ in the widow s God ; perhaps soon to
“ follow her companion to the better
” country .
r n on On a winte afternoon methi ks ,
m that bluff, whose sum it is swept by
d and a the storm win , whose b se is
d c n chafe by the o ean wave , I see a ba d of d h orphans , han in and , weeping over
a c the new m de graves , whi h have just
. Y received their last earthly friend et , do I not hear one and another of these IN NEW ENG LAND . 1 87
“ c hildren of parents passe d into the ” s a n c d - k c d c kies , s yi g, in hil li e onfi en e ,
“ When my father and mother forsake d m e a . , the Lor will t ke me up
There , too , the young man , glorying
“ his d in strength , and the ten er infant , d d like a morning flower , cut own , si e
“ ” s e wn by side , are in weakness . That
- c th a is the resting pla e of Rose , e br ve
’ s d ol ier s wife .
There the g enerous Allerton buried
a Mary , leading from the gr ve three little d d s aughters , the el e t eleven years of age .
And there the a ccomplishe d Winslo w saw the sand smoothed down over his
a m youthful Elizabeth , the l st arried o f d “ ” this sisterhoo of honorable women . d d ? Y The grave smoothe own es , lest
d m nu m the In ians ight learn , from the
of ber the graves , the great mortality o f the Colony , and take advantage o f 1 6 ’ 1 88 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR t heir weakness , the ground was leveled
an d over all the graves , the next spring the field was sown with grain .
It is worthy of n ote that the narra tions of these distressing scenes are per fe ctl y free from cant , which is so often
Not charged u pon the Puritans . a word ” is said of the soul - exer cises of the
on of d . dying , their frien s We look in
“ ” o f vain for the language Canaan , which has so ofte n been the sport o f
one a d the witling . Of , it is s i Sat
of a u r day the sixth Janu ry , Master
c ou r - d Martin was very si k , and to ju g
h O e o f so M ment , no p life , aster Carver was sent for to come aboard , to speak
c c with him about his a counts , who ame ” the next morning . “ cc Dr . Cheever thinks the a ounts “ here spoken of relate to th e great
n and a a e n d , day , th t C rver b i g eaco
’ 1 90 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
f and ! o s riends brethren , Oh how griev u
and u s hath it been to you to bear , to to d of c d take knowle ge ; whi h , if it coul be d d n not men e with lamenti g , could s ufficiently be bewailed ; but we must go to and h n ot o them , they s all come unt
h f u s Go d u s . And ow many even o h ath taken away he re in England sin ce
d ou e e e your eparture , y may elsewh r tak
d B ut G d h as knowle ge . the same o tem
d wi c pered ju gment th mer y , as other
e so in wis , sparing the rest , especially those by whose godly and wise govern m e ou and nt y may be , (I know! are , s o much helped . In a battle it is no t lo oked for but that divers should die ; it is thought well for a side if it ge t
h u h th e of the victory , t o gh wit loss if no t t r too . divers , oo many o great
God e u , I hop hath given yo the victory , after m a f for rs es and ny di ficulties , you elv i N NEW ENGLAND. 1 91
o thers ; though I doubt not but many
d o and will remain for you and us all i ” to strive w th .
Short indeed , were the religious servi
s c e on these funeral o c c as ions . The good
Elder may have spoken a word o f ex
h d s ortation , or cheere the di consolate
w no ith a heavenly promise , but prayer
ff d o f d d was o ere at the house the eparte ,
F » o r at the pl ace of burial . uneral s er mons were unknown to the Pilgrims .
The Puritan was c alled to bear witness against the superstitions o f those who
f ad O fered prayers for the de , delivered e on d ulogies departe saints , and thought
i it heathenish to be buried in u nconsc d d crate ground . So he praye with the
n s assemblies of the livi g , at stated easons o f d d d worship , commen e the afflicte to
of God in the solitude his closet , and in hi s fire - side devotions ; but at the hour w ’ 1 92 THE FIL GRIMS FIRST YEAR of d burial , solemn and silent he carrie
ea the d d to the narrow house .
No prayer is known to h aVe been offere d at a funeral in New England till
1 6 8 Th s the year 5 . e custom by degree ” was introduced ; but funeral prayers
no e r were by means usual , a c ntury afte
l a the anding t Plymouth .
Th e first burial plac e of the Pilgrims
“ ’ ” was c n e alled Cole s Hill , from the am
r n t of its first owne . It was o probably used as a burial place more than two or
e a fo r t on th e thr e ye rs ; , where the for
of t high hill , west the village , was buil and d fo r c c the r use a hur h , dead afte E w the nglish custom , ere interred around the a o f r was pl ce wo ship , and Fort Hill afterward s c alled Burying Hill . d This spot is now much more visite , and h as become more c elebrated than its
’ m ere humble co mpanion at the water s
’ 1 94 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR worthy of such a location ! They are
s ow to . oon , h ever , be removed
In 1 7 85 . s a a violent torm , w shing away
a of a p rt the eastern bank , exposed the remains of se veral bodies .
’ 1 85 5 o n s In June , in digging Cole
H e s ill to lay wat r pipes , two skeleton w d and ere found in the roa , three a half
- feet beneath the surface , the feet being towards the east . It was thought that as many as five graves were Opened at
o f this time , and two skeletons , many bones were found in a good state o f
of h ad preservation . One the skulls a l arge high forehead ; the other was evi a
la d e ntly the skull of a female . They y side by side . What Pilgrim husband and wife rested here ? The bones were buried in the cemetery on Burying Hill . But though this dust has been washed
e and by the wav s , s cattered by the IN NEW ENGLAND . 1 95
c winds , there is an Eye that wat hes it
“ all ; and it shall yet bear the image o f ” the heavenly .
s This is indeed , as the piou German
“ ’ GOD S C . would say , A RE
E com ven now , no hedge adorns this N h mon . o fen ce guards it from t e intrusive foot of the thoughtless and the
c profane . No s ulptured urn guides the
to Pilgrim the spot where the venerable , h e t brave , the beautiful , and the good repose .
B u t green grass and tiny flowers and the stately Linden tree are there ; s o that the reflective mind does not want
' for emblems , to call to mind the de
or to parted , for fitting mementos recall ,
far when away , the thoughts and emo tions that filled the hour of his first visit to this holy ground .
o f or of Who , Puritan blood , Puritan ’ 1 96 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
faith , would not rather lie down there
’ “ at d life s evening dust to ust , ” a shes to ashes , than sleep beneath the proudest monument in Westminster Ab
or bey , await the last summons in the
of or most honored tomb Greenwood , Mount Auburn ‘9
’ 1 98 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Though the si ckness and mortality at
Plymouth continue nearly through the
of a c d a month M r h , still as the sunny ys o f c d e s spring in rease , hope cheers the
d c pon ing , and from their anxiety respe t d ing the In ians , they are soon happily relieved .
We have seen that when the colony
a d c was the we kest , In ians ame near enou gh to the settlement to m ake hos
d a and ac tile emonstr tions , a general att k
c c a has been so mu h expe ted , th t the
on cannon have been mounted the fort ,
c and d a wat h set , other preparations ma e d d for efenc e . The colonists woul have
d h ad been still more alarme , they known what afterwards c ame to light .
It seems th at the aggressions an d cru eltie s of d o n c tra ers the oast , years before d the Pilgrims lan ed , had exasperated the
s n . native , and led them to study reve ge W 1 9 IN NE ENGL AND . 9
’ Four months before the Mayflowe r s arri l val , three English sailors were ki led by
’ Indians on Martha s vineyard ; and the exploring party of the Pilgrims were
met at Nauset with a shower of arrows . Afterward s i t was known that the red
of men the Cape , generally , were hostile “ ” to the pale faces ; and soon after
of o the arrival the col ny at Plymouth ,
“ ’ or owows con the Indian priests , p , vened and performe d their incantations
a in a dark sw mp , three days succes sivel y , with a view to curse and destroy ” ne w c the omers . But they did not know the smallness o f their number at
Plymouth , nor the sicknes s that prevailed among them , till the sickness had some
a and what bated ; just at that time , the
’ Go d “ Pilgrim s , who , by his wonder ” c n working providen e , bri gs good ou t o f e a m a wh vil , sent mong the native , o , 1 7 ’ 2 00 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR through former intercourse with the
i c d wh tes , oul speak broken English ; and thus be the means of opening a friendly communication with the surrounding tribes .
n Thus , while the colonists are prepari g fo r - Go d war , their covenant keeping is
for arranging them a peace , whose bless
n a d ld i gs sh ll exten , even to the o age of their children . Passing over the first
o f our week March , we will resume n arrative with Friday the l 6 th .
This day , the freemen at Plymouth assemble , to finish their military orders ; but they are soon interrupted by the
of a appearance a s vage , who comes d irectly through the village to the Com
n and all d m o House , astonishes by bid ing
“ ” them Welcome , in English . This is the first Indian they have met . His ” i s name is Samoset , he a chief from
F rs a eara ce o f S am os . P i t pp n et . 2 01 IN NEw ENGLAND .
o f the region the Penobscot , and has seen Englishmen who resorted there for
fishing . He has been in the region sev
n eral months o a visit to Massasoit , and
seeing a ship in the harbor , supposes it
fisherm an — to be a , hence his boldness in
coming to the settlement . He is de “ a scribed as tall , straight man , free in d speech , so far as he coul express his
of mind , and a seemly carriage , stark
a n ked , only a leather about his waist a
span long . Having feasted the hungry
Sa gamore upon biscuit and butter , ” and cheese pudding , and treated him
” t d e n to s rong water , they spen the
afternoon i n tire W conversation with him , d respecting the country , and the In ian tribes in the vicinity Samoset informs
the Pilgrims that the place they inhabit
“ ” is called Patux e t ; that about four
o f years ago , all the inhabitants died an ’ 2 02 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR e xtraordinary plague , and there is neither ”
r c . man , woman o hild remaining
the d At night , Pilgrims would gla ly
rid of be their guest , but he likes their S company too well to leave . o they watch him that night at the house of
o f Sa Stephen Hopkins . The coming m os e t was indeed a kind providence to t h e Pilgrims . Their number is small ;
d re the In ians a all around them , and
The have made hostile demonstrations .
first interview with the red m an was an
’ ” was encounter , huggery , as it
— now f r also called , since which time , ou
to months , they have not been able get near enough to the Indians they have s een , to speak with them , and therefore , have had no means o f making known
r d or their f ien ly intentions , to trade with them for their mutual advantage . Happy to o , it was for them , that Samoset knew
’ 2 04 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
r as no t they eturned to Ameri c a . It w ou r fathers , who provoked the hostility of the Indians ; they h ad been shame -e
d b e fully abuse , and excited to revenge f me ore the Pilgrims came , by the unpri ci le d d wh o p sailors , and tra ers , visited
f s the coast or gain . By the same mean
Indian wars are almost every year e x a cited on ou r western frontier .
But to return to Samo set The next morning he is dismissed with a present
of and . a knife , a bracelet , a ring He promises to c ome again soon with the neighboring Indians to trad e off thei r
a T o o u hi s be r skins . soon he f lfills
d a the promise ; for the next y, which is
Sabbath , he returns with five other d In ians , bringing back the tools which were stolen from th e woods several d weeks before . The In ians eat liber
se m ally English victuals , make NEW E A D IN NGL N . 2 05
o f — blance friendship and amity , sing
’ “ and d anc e after their manner like
” fe ath antics , flourishing their deer skins , ers , and fox tails , more , it may be pre
of the « sumed , to the amusement chil
e dification of dren , than to the their
” parents . Then they drank , that is ,
“ ” ” a ff smoked tob cco , and o ered to truck , as exchange of goods was in that day called .
’ d and th e But it is the Lor s day ,
Puritan s will not trade Explaining to
and d them the reason , ismissing them as
as d soon possible , they are invite to
d a h return at a future y . So t ey leave
th d wh o with a farewell from e guar s ,
ou t o f v a accompany them the ill ge . But
c o r c Samoset is si k , feigns si kness , and is allowed to remain till Wednesday .
2 1 s t c This day , the of Mar h , the third meeting is held to “ confirm military ’ 2 06 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
’ 7 -a . or orders In an hour , two three sav ages appear on th e top of Cantaugana
o r teest , Strawberry Hill . They whetted and r and ibbed their arrows strings ,
of d ce and made show efian , but when
d and d r a h Stan ish another sol ie , rmed wit m a n e uskets , pproach ear to them , th y
“ take to the woods and are see n no ” more .
t m e o f -3 Up to his ti e , som the com d pany seem to have live on shipboard , at least their goods were there ; but th e
2 1 s t of March they take a final leave of the Mayflower ; for the re cord und er
d a c this te is , This day , with mu h ado , we o u r c a a h ad got rpenter , th t been
of c r our a long sick the s u vy , to fit shal lop to fetch all from aboard .
’ 2 08 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR assemble at noon for the transaction o f public business . Soon Samoset and
i n Squanto , and three other Indians appear
m n and their idst , bringing ski s dried
” c herring to tru k , and to tell the Pil grims that Massasoit and his brother
u ad e uina com Q q are hard by , with a large f pany o followers .
m en In an hour , the chiefs with sixty appear on the summit Of Cantau ” ” ante e st or . h g , Strawberry Hill Eac party look at the other with distrust .
The Indians dare not approach nearer . The Pilgrims are not willing to send their governor to such a company of sav a h a ges , armed wit bows , without better
d s knowle ge of their intentions . The Indian o n the hill presented an appearance some d what formi able , as well as grotesque .
c o r Their fa es were , in part , in whole , painted , some black , some red , some yellow A D 2 09 IN NEW ENGL N .
c and some white , some with rosses , and other antic works ; some had skins o n l them , and some naked ; all strong , tal ” men in appearance .
d was To the lea er of this band , Squanto sent to learn his wishes . The friendly savage soon returns to the Pilgrims and '
a reports , that his great S gamore , Massasoit , desires some one sent to parley with
” him .
Edward Winslow , generally the ambas
Of c sador the olony , having arrayed himself r in full armo , passes over to the Indian camp ; and six or seven Indians are
received by the Pilgrims as hostages .
Winslow carried as a present to Massasoit
of and c a pair knives a copper hain , with ” a jewel at it . For Qu ad e qu ina he took “ and n a knife , a jewel to ha g in his ear ,
of d and withal a pot strong water , a goo
” quantity Of biscuit and some butter . ’ 2 1 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Through Samoset and Squanto as inter
re te rs s m c f p , Win low akes a spee h in behal
“ ” o f the powers that be to the Indian
“ c o f c hief ; the sum whi h is , That King
James salutes him with words O f love and
c and c o f pea e , a cepts him as his friend and And e r ally . that Governor Carv “ d e s to and to c a esir see him , onfirm ” peace with him as his next neighbor .
the Massasoit likes the speech , and also re s fol freshment , which divided with his lowers , are soon dispatched . Massasoit , w n a s ith true I dian taste , ex mines Win
’ l and Off ow s sword armor , and ers to buy them but finds they are not for sale . ” Preparations for the parley are now m ad f . o e Massasoit , with twenty his men all r d una me , pass over to the Pilgrims s e of ettlement , leaving Winslow in charg
u ad e u ina . s Q q At the brook , Standi h , at the a of a s e e s he d half dozen muskete er , m t
’ 2 1 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YE AR
Here is a scene for the painter . In that
—a w Puritan council house log cabin , t enty f — eet square , the venerable Carver , and the noble hearted Massasoit are se ated Oppo site
c on th e ea h other green rug and cushions , making a treaty to preserve friendly rela tions between the white man and his re d n n eighbor . On o e side is the Christian
c governor , in the calmness of cons ious re ctitude ; and around him a few brave
c d d t asso iates , on whose fi elity and goo righ arms he can rely for carrying ou t the treaty .
d the On the Opposite si e is Indian chief, overawed by the imposing circ umstance s
c i s that surround him . His appearan e
c d thus des ribe ,
All the while he sat by the governor ,
d hi s i s h e tremble with fear . In person he a e very lusty man , in his best years , an abl
o f body , grave in countenance and spare NEW N 2 3 IN E GLAND . 1 speech in his attire little or nothing differ
n ing from his followers , only in a great chai of white bone bead s about his neck ; and at
c of it behind his ne k , hangs a little bag
c c toba co , whi h he drank (that is smoked! and gave us to drink . He had in his bosom , hanging in a string , a great long knife . His face was painted a sad red , like murrey , and oiled both head and face
” he looked greasily . But beneath this for
d an bid ing exterior , there is honest friend l and a ' tre at y soul , he makes y, which he d inten s to keep .
’ It was also for Massasoit s advantage to enter into the closest alliance with the
“ “ . a Pilgrims He h th , says Bradford , a
Naranhi anse tts potent adversary , the g , that are at war with him , against whom he thinks we may be some strength to him ” ou r for pieces are terrible u nto them .
of On the part the Pilgrims also , a treaty ’ 2 1 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR was advantageous ; for Massasoit was th e most influential chief i n the vicinity ; and
no t to to a they came conquer , but find
c to pea eful home , and advance the king d o m f o the prince o f peace . With such
n d no views and purposes o both si es , lengthy negotiation was necess ary . They did not use words to conceal their mean ing , but to express their honest intentions .
Each party did not try to see h ow much advantage could be Obtained Of the othe r
or to do by intrigue threats , but willing
n justly as they would be done by , they soo c on cluded a treaty with the following article s
I. That neithe r b e nor any of his should inj ure o r d o hurt to any of our p e ople .
II. That if n i id hu an of o urs a y of h s d rt to y , he should se nd the Offe nd er that we m ight punish
’ 2 1 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
i n 1 6 3 9 n i n It was renewed , and agai
1 6 6 2 It was strictly Observed while
an v r was Massasoit lived , but in e il hou it
his in 1 6 75 broken by Philip , successor , , after having been a bond o f peace and i friendsh p for more than half a century .
Historians have greatly praised the h treaty which Wm . Penn made wit the
Indians at Shack am ax on in 1 6 81 but in
to e what respect is it superior this , mad b our f h s P h i y at er at lymout , s xty years
? the before Carver , as well as Penn , was
’ d d a re man s frien . Puritanism was s
and benevo« peacefully inclined , as just , as
i n lent as Quaker sm . Our fathers were o m ore inclined to take advantage o f the
’ d a w n In i n s ignorance and eakness , tha were the honest settlers of Pennsylvania .
That the Indians melted away around Ply~
’ no e mouth , is mor the Pilgrims fault , than
i s f it the fault o Penn and his followers , A IN NEW ENGL ND . 2 1 7 that their Indian brothers have all di sapa peare d from the region around the city o f ” brotherly love .
the After the conclusion Of treaty , ” Massasoit , having marveled much at
“ of the trumpet , and some his men hav
” ing sounded it , as well as they could , h . r t t e Gov Carve conducted him o brook , and there they embraced each other and he departed .
u d uina Then his brother Q a e q came over ,
r and was entertained , and in like manne “ v escorted back . He was a ery proper , a of t ll young man , a very modest and H . e seemly countenance It is added ,
Of o ur e was very fearful pieces , and mad signs Of dislike that they should be taken away whereupon commandment was given ” s that they hould be laid away . When the Indians left the Pilgrims that h night , they were s o much ple ase d wit ’ 2 1 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR t r hei new friends , that they promised , “ r n e d within eight o ine days , th y woul c ome and set corn on the other side of th e ” oo e u er . br k , and dwell ther all s mm
The summit of Cantau gante e st se ems to
’ have been the head-q uarters of Massasoit s m en e d wh n they visite Plymouth . Here t e f a as s b th b Of h y e sted , is te tified y e ones w n s ild game , and clam shells of e ormou s z u on th e a fe w s i e still fo nd hill , inche be e h t son ce . oo n ath the surfa T ere , many a o f the o s was b r d for in f re t u ie ; Often , removing earth to lay the foundatio ns o f
u o are du b ildings , the skelet ns Of Indians g
T hat night afte r th e tre aty was made the
Indians with all thei r wives and women e ncam pe d in the woo ds ab o ut a mile from .
h f -v Plymout . Next mo rning some o Mas
’ sasoit s men visit the settlement , and
e s nts of u nu o and the pr e gro nd ts , t bacco ,
’ 2 2 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
It is refre shing to the philanthropist and
C to d w o d the hristian , ell up n this frien ly intercourse between the Pilgrims and th e
n e . P s d ativ s Before lymouth was ettle , cruel wars were waged between different t s o i n ribe , and there is many a bl ody page the history of the inte rcourse b e tween ou r nation and various tribes Of Indians ; and we s till he ar of wrong and outrage toward the red ou r r e t man , upon f onti r ; but the firs interviews o f the Pilgrims with the Indians f were those o friendship .
o for n the With few excepti ns , ma y years white m an and the Indian lived as brethren . The just and hospitable treatment Of th e
Pilgrims toward their neighbors of the
a ff t r forest , had a most h ppy e ec upon thei
fe . no rocious passions They seemed , in
e e to th e of small d gre , copy virtues d d those they love , and whom they regarde
e c of m en . with rever n e , as a superior order 2 2 IN NEW ENGLAND . 1
Mr . a Cushman s ys of these poor heathen ,
They were wont to be the most cruel and t c i n all r rea herous people these pa ts , even like lions ; but to us they have been like
d s o and lambs , so kin , submissive , trusty
a s as man may truly say , many Christian
” are s c t not so kind nor in ere . In relation o
“ “ s . : the Pilgrim , Mr Cushman testifies And
’ our h d c we , for parts , throug Go s gra e ,
h c and c o m have wit that equity , justi e ,
as d a d as p sion carrie ourselves tow r s them ,
t c d c a tha they have re eive mu h f vor , help , and aid from us but never the least i njury
r o wrong by us .
d d s d In ee , the tribe for fifty miles aroun
Plymouth were in a very reduced and d ejected s tate when they first met the “ ” s . Pilgrim A great mortality , and their “ o wn c ivil dissensions an d bloo dy wars h ad
“ s o wasted them , that Cushman says , I think the twentieth person is scarce left ’ 2 2 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
r alive , and those that are left , have thei
d counte courage much abate , and their nance is dejected and they seem as a
ff f a people a righted . The Indians o M ssa ch u se tts Bay were so afraid Of their enemies o n the Tarrente ens Kennebec , the , that , “ upon alarms they would fly to the
° h to where the Englis houses as asylums , ” T r n d a re te ens urst not pursue them .
The poor , dispirited , but well disposed
d d u In ian , looke pon the brave and gen e rou s c and Pilgrim , as a prote tor bene
” f to actor , whose care it was maintain ” n peace amo g them . Did the Pilgrim abuse the Ind ian Hear the testimony o f o ne whose word is trust
n worthy . When any Of them are in wa t ,
r as Often they are in the winter , when thei
d t our corn is one , we supply them o power , and have them in our house s e ating and
nkin and a n v s h dri g , w rmi g themsel e whic
’ 2 2 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
2 5 th year will commence on the , they re elect Mr . Carver governor for the ensuing year .
March closes with the record o f the first offence John Billington shows con f ’ tempt o the captain s lawful command ,
’ 9 with Opprobrious spee ches . The whole company assemble for his trial ; and he is
adjudged to have his neck and heels tied together . But , upon humbling him ”
and c . s elf raving pardon , he is forgiven This arrest Of Billington for contempt of authority , shows that the military orders , which they have been making through the
no t are month , are mere paper , but meant
d “ in to give Capt . Stan ish command ff ” a airs .
This first Offender was not permanently
r d d c d d refo me by the e i e , though kind man ne r c c c n c in whi h his ondu t o this oc asion , was met by his town smen nor d id their IN A D NEW ENGL N . 2 2 5 pious example and the instructions of the godly Brewster make him worthy to be numbered with our sainted sires
Billington did not belong to the Leyd en
e church . He join d the Pilgrims in Eng d d . lan Gov Bra ford says , The said
Billington was one of th e profane st among
. and us He came from London , I know not by what friends shuffled into o ur com pany . He caused the good people Of the town many trials . He was an envious , boasting , threatening man . Five years after
ff . his first O ence , Gov Bradford , in a letter
. d of to Mr Cushman in Englan , says
ou him Billington still rails against y ,
ou not and threatens to arrest y , I know wherefore . He is a knave , and so will he live and die .
Cushman was agent for the colony , and
on 1 6 2 1 when at Plymouth , a visit in ,
r h - r p eac ed a s ound lay se mon to the lazy , ’ 2 2 6 TH E PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
n no the grumbli g and the selfish ; which ,
c c doubt , met exa tly the ase of Billington and as he h ad not grace to make a good
“ o f use the sermon , it may have wrought in him , all manner of concupiscence . The governor said Billington was a “ di ” knave and such would live and e .
For 1 6 3 0 A prophecy too true . in , he way laid and murdered a young m an n amed
N d as John ewcomen , whom he regarde
on u F r trespassing his hunting gro nds . o
n We this murder , Billi gton was hung . ” “ m s took , says the governor , all due ean h about his trial ; he was found guilty , bot by grand and petit jury ; and we took advice Of Mr . Winthrop and others , the ablest gentlemen in the Massachusetts Bay ,
c c t who all on urred with us , that he ough
and to to die , the land be purged from blood ! ” This was the first execution by the
’ 2 2 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
C H A P T E R X I I I .
O H E F W S A I L I N G F T M A Y L O E R .
A p r i l , 1 6 2 1 0
— — Th e Mayflower sails Wh y de tain e d so long He r subse quent h is — — to rya NO Pilgrim s r e tur n to England The ir p ers e ve rance h on — — — e re d Care Of Provide nce Ove r them The ir gre at age De ath Of — Governor Carve r and hi s wife Th e gove rnor burie d with m ilitary — — h o nors Bradfor d cho s e n h is s u cc e s s or -“ Bright p rospe cts An — e arly s pri ng fi Ple asan t we athe r in March Corn plante d in
— — ~ April Fis h u se d for a fe rtilize r Ins tru ctio n of Squ anto i n agri — u u re z- T m e o f a w e o w ou of th e ro s c lt i pl nting , h n kn n Acc nt c p
e - Watching th e fie lds .
B u t y on lone bark
Hath spread h e r p arting s ail . T e row th e s ra h y c d t nd ,
Thos e fe w lo ne Pilgrim s . Lo W s ra e e ng , ith t ining y , a no They watch th e le s s ening s pe ck . He rd ye s hriek u s w e a e r o e e s s Of ang i h , h n th t bitt l n lin Sank do wn into the ir bos om s ? N0 ! the y turn Ba to e r re ar am s e u s and ra 2 ck th i d y , f i h d h t , p y
Pra an d th e s a au s ra s e ife y . ill th t h nt thi t n i nt l
a ir e re as Fade into air . Up in e ch g d d b t The re sprang a ro o te d and m ys te rious s trength“ — A lo ftine s s ~ to face a world in arm s ; TO s r th e om rom s e res and to la t ip p p f c pt , y Up o n th e sacre d altar th e warm bloo d s a affe o s w e e r se e we e Of l in cti n , h n th y i b t n Th e s ou and Go l d .
MRS . SIGOURNEr NEW NG D 2 2 IN E LAN , 9
ON the 5 th of April the Mayflower sailed on
he r a and return voy ge , arrived in England
a the 6 th of May . Capt in Jones remained at Plymouth with his ship through the
c c winter , be ause his rew were so enfeebled
c and d c d by si kness , so re u e by death — havi n g lost alm ost half th at he did not
d se a n are to put to till the spri g opened ,
and his sailors recovered their heal th .
The Mayflower be c ame a c elebrate d ship
u in P ritan emigration , making several d 1 6 2 9 h voyages to New Englan . In s e was o ne of the fleet which brought Higgin
’ n c m n a and so s o pa y to S lem , the next year
’ retu rne d with Winthrop s fleet to Massa
h u se B a c tts y . When the Mayflower sailed for the Fath
d d a a erlan , no oubt m ny mess ges of love
d and d d and were sent to frien s kin re , the
’ s ad re co r d of death s Work through th e Winter was borne to many an anxious and ’ 2 80 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR s z n of rs ympathi ing heart , yet one the settle
d r returne to thei native land . It is not a little remarkable that those
W and w e idows orphans , hos homes had been made desolate , did not seek the society
c f B u and omforts o Old England . t they knew they were Pilgrims they will not a d ban on the enterprise . The many trials and sorrows of the winter could not break d s own their resolution , nor hake their trust
Go d in , for they had learned in the school of adversity, and even the youth among them seem worthy o f a place with those wh o
Know how sublime a thing it is ” s tr T o suffe r and be ong .
Their friends in England honored them
- for their patient c ontinuance in well doing ,
d u n o f and heroic en ri g hardships , and “ wrote to them these cheering words : Let
’ 2 3 2 THE PIL GRIMs FIRST YEAR
a bove a hundred and sixty persons . “ At the close o f his view of the d e cre as ” of e ings and increasings those , who cam ” first over in the first ship , he tells us that ” near thirty o f the old stock are still
. r living This was in 1 6 5 0. With great p o
ri e t th e the p y, he adds , Let Lord have ” Wh o of . praise , is the high preserver men
1 6 7 9 fift - n In , y nine years after the begi
of of ning the settlement , twelve persons
ld c f the o sto k were living . Three o these , Resolved White , Mary Cushman and
John Cooke , were alive seventy years after d the lan ing . Cooke was living four years later ; and this record of patriarchal life c loses with these words , Mary Cushman is still living , this present year ,
But we must return to the colony on the
of n shores Plymouth . There is o e more cup of sorrow for the infant commonwealth
s before their tears are dried , and their sigh D 2 IN NEW ENGLAN . 3 3
exchanged for songs . Their beloved gov e rnor is suddenly cut down ! Scarcely
n had the Mayflower left the harbor , whe
Governor Carver comes ou t of the field
“ where he has been at work , very sick , complai ni ng greatly o f his head . He is
f o f suf ering , probably , from a stroke the
” sun . For though it is now the early part o f April , the governor is in feeble health ,
c recovering from a severe si kness , and is n clim acte rate ear that age , the grand of d life , when the system is peculiarly expose to fatal attacks of disease . Deeply affecting is the simple statement
f c d o his si kness and death , written by Bra “ c ffi . ford , his suc essor in o ce Within a
h e few hours his senses fail , so as speaks
d a no more , and , in a few ys after dies ,
ou r to great lamentation and heaviness .
His care and pains were so great for the
o as e c mmon good , th rewith , it is thought , ’ 2 3 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
he Oppressed himself, and shortened his d e ays . Of whos loss we cannot sufficiently c omplain ; and his Wife d eceases about five ” or six weeks after .
“ c as The funeral of His Excellen y ,
d c a d a Carver justly eserves to be lle , was
ad . h l d s . w o e occasion Joshua , the Pil
“ ” a grims into the goodly l nd , is gone .
The sorrowing band are mindful of th e
a d honor d u e to m gistrates . They burie “ h him in the best manner they could , wit as much solemnity as they were in a ca
acit c of p y to perform , with the dis harge ” s o f . ome volleys of shot , all that bear arms
The official mantle o f the venerable Carver falls upon the youthful Bradford
- r now only thirty three years of age . M .
c hi s Isaac Allerton , the mer hant , is chosen
An d c of th e assistant . now the prospe ts
H av colonists begi n to be more cheering .
d a o f ff n i ng experien ce the b ptism su eri gs ,
’ 2 3 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d birds sing in the woo s most pleasantly .
’ one c c d At o lo k thun er is heard , the first
“ since the settlement . It was strong and
’
. c great claps , but short From two o lock
“ ” d n d till mi ight it rained very sa ly . This th was the inauguration o f spring . The 7 was so fair that “ some garden seed s were
” “ ” d a . . 1 6 th sown The is a fair , warm y
“ a The 1 7 th and 1 8th reasonable fair d ys .
1 9th and 2 0th an d The are fair days , the
d o ur d journal says , We igged groun and d d ” 2 2 d sowe ou r garden see s . The is a
“ a d a 2 3 d very f ir warm y . The a very f c air d ay . So many referen es to the
as r weather warm and fair , in a b ief jour n al d c a c was , must in i ate that M r h to them in fact , as well as in name , a spring month .
T s o c d b o this month , mu h drea ed y their d d d d escen ants , they might have a ressed
a o f the complimentary postrophe Bryant , N 2 3 IN NEW ENGLA D . 7
For thou to northe rn land s ag ain
T he glad and glo rious sun d ost bring ;
And hou has o ne d the e n e a n t t j i g tl pl i ,
’ And we ar st the e n e nam e of s r n g tl p i g ,
And in th re n o f as and s orm y ig bl t t ,
Sm e s m an a o n r h sunn d a il y l g , b ig t , y y,
Whe n the ch an e d w nd s are soft and warm g i ,
” And he ave n pu ts o n the blo om of May .
The first weeks in April , all are busy
n prepari g the ground for corn . The earth m d u u ust be g p with the spade , for they
n c use no plough , not havi g any attle for
z the first four years . For a fertili er they
o f use alewives , after the example the
o r natives , putting three four fish in a hill ,
Ne w n d which Morton , an early E glan his
“ * o f torian , tells us , will cause an acre ground to produce as much corn as three
” c a res without fish . These fish are e asily
c . at aught A few years after , the town brook , by the help of a dam , and a trel ’ 2 3 8 T HE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
c d a li e work , ten thousan were t ken at a d s ingle ti e .
Squanto instructs the Pilgrims how to
an d and nd r catch the fish , plant te the co n .
From the Indians they also learn that the
“ time to plant is whe n the leaves o f the
” o ak a white are as big as the ear of mouse .
The Pilgrims s ay the seed tim e beginne th
and in the midst of April , continueth till f ” d the middle o May . As the fiel s around the settlement h ad been cleared and culti vate d by the Indi ans before the E nglish d d lan e , they plant the first spring , twenty ac o f c and res orn , sow six acres of barley d d d d an . peas The corn , we are tol , yiel e
“ “ a good increase the b arley in differ ” e nt a h good , but the pe s were not wort gathering ; the sun parched them in the
’ “ n d blossom . After the corn is pla te , it
a c d must be w t he by night , to keep the wolves from the fish till it be rotten , which
’ 2 40 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
C H A P T E R X I V
T H E F I R S T W E D D I N G
M a y , 1 6 2 1 .
— a ~ A has ty m arriage Re spe ctability of th e p artie 3 Re as o ns why th e — ’ we dding i s no t de laye d Th e bride g ro o m s p e rs On and dre ss No e o f th e r e —He r two o s Re s o ve and Pe re r e—He r tic b id b y , l d g in
~ - d re ssi n c as s i r . s s u g e t ll p re se rve d M s Win l o w di ting is he d as a. — — m o the r Marri e d by Governo r B radford Re as on s Wh y cle rgym e n
— — . did no t s ole m nize m arriage s Puritan vi e ws o f m arri ag e Do c — — trine o f th e p raye r-b o ok Ne w England hom e s happy Re aso n o f
this .
B u t a e th e a e s of e r h ppy th y , h ppi t th i kind , m ar and i n one ate Who ge ntle r s t s u nite , f
T e ir e ar s e r o r u e s and e r e s e . h h t , th i f t n , th i b ing bl nd ’ Ti s no t th e a s ti e of u m a aws co r e r h n l ,
a u ra o ft and ore n to th e m Unn t l , f ig ind , T a s a t e a e b u t arm o s e h t bind th p c , h ny it lf, Attu ning all their passio ns into lo ve
Whe re frie nds hip full e xe rts h e r s o fte s t p owe r . Pe r s t e m e v e e s re fe ct e e , nli e n d by d i I e ab e and s m a o f s ou n ff l , y p thy l T u m o u and wi re ve i wi ho ght e e ting th ght , ll p nt ng ll , With bo u ndle s s c o nfidence for nou ght b u t love
Can a s we r o ve and re e r s s s e ure . n l , nd bli c
THOMSON .
“ IN a a the e rly p rt of the moon of leaves ,
‘ as n d i the I dians name May , the l ttle ham A D 2 IN NEW ENGL N . 41
let of Plym outh is alive wi th the pleasant
e xcitement of a wedding . It is the first
s c a v a w and in e the rri al of the M yflo er , the
high respe ctability of the parties ad ds i n s
Ma 1 2 . te re st to the oc casion . It occurs y th
“ The bridegroo m is Ed ward Win slow ; the ” d n W h a bri e Mistress Susa na hite . He s
d a d w been a wi ower seven weeks , she wi o
three months .
And c an they marry so soon after put
” ting on the mo urning wee ds ? s ays one who has no t fully c o nsid ered the ci rc um d s tanc es o f this worthy c ouple . C an or forbi ds all h asty c ens ures upon this s eem
t a d d ing wan of reg r for the eparted , when it is r emembered th at out o f nineteen fam ilie s a who beg n the settlement , fourteen
n d u n have bee , ri g the winter, broken up by de ath ; that the r e are you ng m e n and
a d ard d and r an c m i ens to be bo e , o ph hil d c are d fo r and ren to be , that all are ’ 2 42 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR pledged to help e ach other in the trials of their forest home . Separated from the mother country by
c h e d a the waves of the Atlanti , nee s d c a c . r omp nion , she needs a prote tor Un e
c c these pe uliar ircumstances , who will for bid of ve this early union friends , who ha
n c c wh o lo g known and respe ted ea h other , have sympathized with each other in hours
d t and wh o a s of eepes sorrow , have he rt l arge enough to cherish the memory of th e loved ones in heaven , while they walk ,
s of r hand in hand , the remaining tages thei
n pilgrimage o earth .
This first Puritan wedding In New Eng
t d o f land is not wi hout its inci ents interest ,
a perh ps we may say of roman ce . The
d d c vin bri egroom , Edwar , is no rusti , with
a c d and n an . egar f ce , roppe hair asal tw g
“ ’ He i s a fine ‘ young English gentleman
” o f d an the ol en time , said by his Purit
’ 2 44 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
a and d on style of the reign of Ch rles , parte
d d a - e the left si e of the hea , f lls in wave lik
d c a c s fol s upon a large linen oll r , whi h lie
c a c and c over the oll r of his oat , ompletely
d c surroun s the ne k , showing at the point
are dor d two small tass els . The wrists a ne
d c d c with wi e , full , rimped wristban s , whi h are turned over the cufis o f the sleeve . On the little finger of the left hand is a
a d af ring , which may be the one he is s i te rward s u a S a to have sed as ignet , having device representing a peli c an feeding its — ’ young emblemati c of Winslow s paternal c e c d e and ar for the hildren of his bri , for
d r . c the colony So mu h for the bri eg oom .
d e a i s Of the bri , Sus nna , much less
w . a n d kno n She is you g wi ow , probably
d n not ol er than Winslow , belo gs to the
c c and to be same cir le of so iety , seems
every way fitted to be the companion of a
. l old gentleman Her ittle boy , five years , D IN NEW ENGLAN . 2 45
d im named Resolve , plays by her side , pressed with the idea that something ex traordinar y is about to take place , but not e xactly unders tanding what it may be .
The hopeful babe , Peregrine , five and a
m n s — half o th old , is present , no doubt , the most important personage in the room . The son of Winslow is with his mother in the better land . Though history and tradition are silent as to the personal appearance and wed ding d dress of the first Plymouth bri e , she is ,
“ d ad d all oubtless , orne with due plaiting
” “ o f a on the h ir , and putting of modest
” a c c pparel , whi h even Puritan simpli ity d S could not forbi on uch an occasion . The d - c ressing ase preserved in Pilgrim Hall ,
v d . at Plymouth , said to ha e belonge to Mr
White , but which was doubtless Mis ” ’ f tress Susanna s , is an elegant piece o furniture for that age . If the contents ’ 2 46 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d c a as correspon ed in beauty with the se , no d did a t oubt they , the owner w nted tha day no be coming arti cle o f bridal attire or
. n s ornament Be that as it may , she e joy the enviable distinction of being the mother “ of r t v c and o the fi s Nati e Ameri an , als of the and the first native governor , brave
cc d a wh o was a omplishe Josi h Winslow , also Command er- ln- chief in the war with
King Philip .
f c Governor Brad ord , as hief magistrate , no d z oubt solemni ed this marriage , for
c Elder Brewster was not a lergyman , and d h ad f . he been , he coul not have o ficiated
The Romish church made marri age a sac
an s d to d d on t rament, d it vali ity epen he
’ priest s robes and blessing ; s o the Pu ri r
ns t m to d ta , o testify against Ro e , and guar the institution of marriage from Popish
u s an e c the s per tition d p rversion , ommitted marriage ceremony entirely to the civil
’ 2 48 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
c s whi h grew stronger and stronger , as year d d increase , boun heart to heart . Thus the Puritan fireside became the h of ff ome the truest and purest a ections , ! and the most lasting happiness Nowhere , d l in the wide worl , has the family re ation been more honored or more blessed than in the homes of New England ; for the Pil grims and their children have looked on life with a seriousness inse parable from
and on deep affliction , lovers their mar ria e - g day , have said to each other ,
Not for the sum m e r hour a on e l ,
Whe n s e s r e s e nd e nt sh ne ki pl i ,
And ou h an e asure fill the hrone y t d pl t ,
O ur he arts and hand s we twine
B ut fo r those ste rn and wintry d ays
Of e r a n and fe ar p il, p i ,
’ Whe n he ave n s Wise discipline d o th m ake
” This e arthly j ourne y d re ar . 2 49 IN NEW ENGLAND .
C H A P T E R X V .
T H S U M M E R L I F E A T P L Y M O U .
Ju n e , 1 6 2 1 .
— — P rospe cts m ore che ering A ne w cou ntry intere s ting Th e May — fl owe r a harbinge r of s pring Made an em ble m by Mrs . Stowe ’ — — Whi ttle r s s tanz as Th e fl o we r s till ho no re d at Plym ou th Rose s — — a nd o the r Wlld fl owe rs Wild fru its abu ndant Wo nde rful s traw err e s—E e le ra e s e rr es and um s—Cornfie lds e au b i xc l nt g p , ch i pl b — — — ti ful De lig htful s ea vi e w Fishing and fo wli ng Poe tical d escrip — ’ tion of s he ll- fish - Wild be as ts de s c ribe d Ro aring o f lio n s he ard — — An affai r of ho nor Singu lar p u nis hm e nt of due li s ts Young ” m e r a not of re e or . A ic , c nt igin
u e w i ts ro s e s— u e ! J n , ith J n Th e a e s m o o f o u r a r ous e ar gl dd t nth c p ici y , its o a e and i ts s u e ar With thick f li g , nlight cl ; An d with th e dro wsy tu ne th e r e a wa e rs as e as s Of b ight l ping t , th y p , Lau o n am d th s r ghingly i e p inging grass .
it it
y
I fe e l it we re not wrong ’ T o ee m ou art a e of eave s m e d th typ h n cli , Only that there th e clo u d s and s torm s of tim e Swe e p no t th e sk y along ; — Th e fl o we rs - ai r e au —m u s all are hi e b ty ic t n , — — — B ut brighter p urer love lie r m ore divine !
H . . W. B URLEIGH ‘ ’ 2 5 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR
L F u d r I E at Plymo th uring the summe , is not all toil and h ardship . The New
England sprin g op e ns to the settle rs ne w d an n r os . c cheeri g p pects A new ountry ,
i t and e e if has a bright sky a f rtil soil , h as h n m A muc to i terest the i migrant . s th e a e new and se sons chang , sights sounds give an agree able variety to his
his c c thoughts , and new ir umstances ,
for an for th e d calling new pl s , and a apt
o of his w a o ati n skill to h t is bef re him , break u p the monotony of his accus~
s to m e d round of thou ght . All this give
e t e ff i rs d to inter st o very day a a , ten s
o e mi of th e m a and devel p the nd i migr nt , to keep him from brooding ove r th e ills of life .
To the wh o e so Puritans , had be n
D c c th e Ne w long shut up in a ut h ity ,
World doubtless pres e nted many attrae
i as d th e un d ith t ons , spring clothe gro w
’ 2 5 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR be gathered in the future months of th e
a se son .
Perhaps before th e goodly ship May
flo wer weighs anchor , the trailing Arbu tus appears to tell the weary Pilgrim ” “ nd that the winter is over a gone .
“ Often , says Mr . G . B . Emerson ,
from beneath the edge of a snow- bank are seen rising the fragrant pearly white , or rose colored flowers of this e arliest
f i n the harbinger o spring . It abounds e d e of the d as g s woo s about Plymouth ,
e elsewher , and must have been the first
flower to salute the sto rm - beaten crew of the Mayflower on the con clusion of b d d their terri le winter . Their escen ants
u the n have thence pio sly derived ame , although its bloom is often passed before ” the coming in of May . If any thing more than this is needed to entwine this flower with o ur sunny I EW A D N N ENGL N . 2 5 3
’ memories of the Pilgrims ship and their
New h as first England spring , surely it
Mr . been furnished by s . Stowe She says truly and beautifully : No flower could be more appropriately sele cted as an emblem token by the des cendants of the
Pilgrims . Though so fragrant and grace
c of ful , it is invariably the produ t the rocky soils , and seems to draw its ethe
f -3 rial beauty of color , and wealth o per fume rather from the air than from the slight hold which its rootlets take of the
m a e arth . It y often be found in fullest
a d be uty matting a granite le ge , with sc arcely any perceptible soil for its sup
e of port . What bett r emblem that faith ,
and our s hope piety , by which father were su pported in dreary and barren w h w t enterprises , and hic dra heir life and e m ea en m e n fragranc fro h v , or tha ” e arth . ’ 2 5 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
A of ou r own d a . . t poet y, J G Whi
a tier , has also lent his numbers in pr ise of this emblematic and instructive flower .
From nine beautiful stanzas , none will wish to read less than the three fol lowing
O ! sacre d flower of faith and hop e l
As swe e no w as he n tly t ,
Ye oom on m an a rche n sle e bl y bi p ,
n n - I m a y a pine d ark glen .
’ eh nd the se a- wa ls ru e d e n h B i l gg l gt ,
Unchange d your le ave s unfold ;
L e ove e hi nd the m an s re n th ik l b ly t g , f h ' O t e brave he arts of old .
So ve the fa he rs i n the so ns li t ,
Their sturdy faith b e ours ;
And ours the love that ove rruns
Its rocky s tre ngth with flowe rs .
This flower receives d ue honor where the associations connected with its name
’ 2 5 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
The beaches around the bay , after a
c storm , are strewed with various spe ies “ o f ae m anv alg , showing , that full a ” gem of vegetable be auty is hid in the
d f n unfathome caves o o cea . On the d shore washe by the tide , the marsh d pea smiles ami many companions , but
a u few riv ls in beauty . High p from the
of d are a c water , dry heaps san m de heer ful by the blazing star ; while the rich scarlet cardinal flower adorns the green d margin of many a pond an brooklet .
The children gather wild strawberries , blackberries , gooseberries and raspberries ,
c in quantities , satisfa tory even to their childish appetites . The orphans , we may
d t n suppose , spen many a sunny af er oon ” n Cantau ante e st o g , afterwards called ” a str wberry hill , filling their neat
or and artificial Indian baskets , their ” dainty wooden bowls of maple with NEW IN ENGLAND . 2 5 7
r r d st awberries , fo getting , as chil ren only
c an o f of , the grief the past , in the joy f the present . Of the strawberries o this
“ time , Roger Williams says , this berry
n d is the wo er of all the fruits , growing
naturally in these parts . In some places
where the natives have planted , I have many times seen as many as would fill
a d . goo ship within a few miles com
’ 7 pass . And Wood , with more precision
o f n la guage , assures us that strawberries
“ are to be found in New England in
a d a ‘ bun nce , very large ones , some being
two inches about ; one may gather half ” a bushel in a forenoon .
T he e arly d es cription of the natural
products of the country tell us that in
“ d u e o f time , great store fruits are
f d d o f d oun in the woo s , as vines ivers
” s r a orts in great abundance , the g pes
and re d being white , , and very sweet ’ 2 5 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
and strong also . Some of these grapes “ are f r described as very big, both o the ” t and d grape and the cluster , swee goo .
Others are as big as a musket ball ” » and excellent in taste . There is like
d of c wise the smaller kin grape , whi h grow in the islands , which is sooner ripe , d ” d and is more electable . Wil cherries “ are and o f mentioned , plums three s n orts , white , black and red , bei g almost ” as good as a damson .
rm d a s of Au ust In the wa y g ,
All aro und the happy village
Stood the m a z e - fie ld s re e n and sh n n i , g i i g,
ve d the re e n um e s o f Mond am n Wa g pl i ,
” Wave d his soft and sunny tresse s .
” h f M or Eachim T e fields o ondamin , ” ine ash as m , the Massachusetts Indians d c alled corn , covering twenty acres aroun
m ha e e n an i Plymouth , ust v b e nterest
’ 2 6 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ of the climate as very pleasant and ” temperate .
d on of Stan ing the summit Fort Hill ,
- enjoying the delightful sea view , and the
- z of - refreshing sea bree e mid summer , they
one of old can truly say , with their
“ ’ of i s writers , a sup New England s air
’ better than a draught of Old England s ” ale .
Fishing and fowling also present every possible attraction for those who love to roam rewarding t heir pleasant toils with
S - fish a ri ch variety of food . Their hell are thus d es cribed by o ne o f their own 1 3 9 6 . poets , in
T he usc ous o s e r w h the crabfish raw l i l b t , it ,
T he r n sh o ste r m usc e e rr wi b i i y , l , p y g,
’ And or e sou h b the Ind an s s uaw t tois , g t y i q ,
’ Which to the flat s d ance many a wint e r s Jig ;
T o d ve for C e s and to di for c am s i ockl , g l ,
’ VVhereby he r laz y husband s sid e s she cram s. 2 6 1 IN NEw ENGLAND .
The forests and swamps are peopled
c with wild beasts , whi h are royal game for the daring hunter . That the Pil grims did not pass unno ticed any actual
of d or tenant the woo s , detract from th e interesting characteristics of any ani m al , may be seen from the following
of poem , an early product the Pilgrim Muse
The i n L on and the s ron arm e d ear k gly i t g B ,
’ T he large lim b d Moose s with the tripping D e er ;
Q uill- d arting Porcupine s and Raccoons be
C astle d in th e hollow of an age d tre e ;
T he s n S u rre Ra ur nd H are kippi g q i l, bbit , p bli ,
Im m ure d in the se f- sam e C as e are l tl ,
L e s re d - e e d Fe rre w Fo x shou d t y t , ily l
’ T he m u nd e rm ne if ram ir d but wi h m ou d i , p t l ;
The gri m - face d O unce and rave nous- howli ng
Wo f l ,
Whose m e agre m aw sucks like a swallowing
gulph ;
lac s e n n O ters and r ch coate d e aver B k gli t i g t , i B ,
” T he Civit sce nted Mushquash sm elli ng e ve r . ’ 2 6 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
It was doubtless a mistake to suppo se the lion roamed th e forests of New Eng land .
C e l s s s I onc rning ion , ay Wood , will not say that I eve r saw any m y s elf ; but some affirm that they have
e seen a lion at Cape Ann . Som like
e d wise , b ing lost in the woods , have hear s r d e uch terrible oarings , as have ma
c m t r them much aghast ; whi h us be , eithe devils or lions ; there being no other
to creatures which use roar , saving bears , which have not such a terrible kind of ” n roari g .
’ Was there not much in the Pilgrim s out- to of hi s door life , make the days
first summe r fly swiftly away ! Nor was the summer devoid o f incidents ad ap ted to create an excitement . in the hamle t .
One demands Special notice in this place . The re cord for the 1 8th of June intro
’ 2 6 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ ff T the name of an a air of honor . he
Puritans regarded it as an affair of di sc “ race to u g , a crime be p nished by the ” f th e judges . The tying o the feet to
e but h ad was a punishment severe indeed , one in ac cord ance with the common
of one law the age , and well adapted to rein in the rampant cavalie r Spirit of t hese hot bloods .
But while th e sentence was fitted to ” o to its make law a terr r evil doers , execution was tempere d with mercy .
as ~ Within an hour , soon as the way ward youth acknowle dge their sin an d
d e d promise amen m nt , they are pardone
now by the governor . Should duelists be d the r punishe in same way , fewe
o r challenges w uld be sent , and fewe duels fought by the s e - called chivalry o f our a d to l nd ; who , while assemble w l make laws for their fello men , fee IN NEW ENGLAND . 2 6 5
u to themselves called pon , in honor , d break the law of Go d . These uelists
re at Plymouth , it should be membered ,
r in were servants , p obably hired Eng
not to as land , and are be regarded belonging to the Leyden church .
to It is be hoped , that this early
of Y er was development oung Am ica , not he se r s repeated , and that t idiculou imitators o f cavalier life be cam e better
. out men Leister , after he had served his time with Hopkins , went to Virginia , d where he ied , probably a young man .
D s a oty , thirty year fter his duel , was living in the colony , with his se cond w and s h ife , even c ildren . ’ 2 6 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
H T E X I C A P R V .
A J U T O P A C K A N O K I O R N E Y C K .
— — Winslow and Hopkins Am bassadors Obj ect of th e Mission Firs t
’ — a — day s j ou rney De scription of th e c o u ntry Am bassadors reach
a -‘ — Pack anok ick Make a p re se nt to Massasoit Mass asoit m ake s a S ee to h is o owers—Hav no o od o ffe rs h is ue s s o a co p ch f ll ing f , g t t b c — ’ — — A ni ght s lodging in Indian s tyle Indi ans gam ble for skins A — late and li ght bre akfas ts Am bassadors has te n hom e in th e rain — Resu lts of th e em bassy An illu s tratio n of m u tual confidence
be twe e n th e white and th e re d m e n .
I se e th e sovereign Indian range His woo a d e m re re e as air dl n pi , f ; I e e th e o om ore s a e s gl y f t ch ng , Th e shadowy e arth laid bare And whe re th e re d m an chase d th e bounding de er,
Th e sm ilng labors of th e white appear .
Th e fore s t ree ls b e ne ath th e s troke ’ Of s tu rdy wo o dm an s ax e ; ’ Th e e ar re e ive s th e w i e m a s o e th c h t n y k , And p ays h er Wi lli ng tax rui s and owe rs an d o e arve s e s Off t , fl , g ld n h t fi ld ,
And all that nature to blithe labor yields .
’ 2 6 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR that they may learn which is best suited to the soil and climate of Plymouth .
u d Squanto , as g i e , leads them into the woods , and in six hours they reach the nearest Indian settlement , Namasket , some fifteen miles from
Plymouth . Here the natives entertain
for them with joy , giving them food
Mazium of , (bread made Indian corn! ” and of the spawn shads , which they ate with spoons .
Pursuing their journey , they reach at s or on unset , a wier , dam Taunton river ,
i a u t near the place now called T t c . Here
r the natives are fishing for bass . Afte “ of a supper fish , they lodge in the ” Open fields . i Wednesday morn ng , accompanied by d d six In ians , they proceed own the river
h in throug cleared fields , overgrown , A D IN NEW ENGL N . 2 6 9
d some places , with wee s as high as their heads . The country to Winslow is de f “ . o lightful He says it , The ground
n S is very good o both ides , it being for f the most part cleared . Thousands o m en c have lived there , whi h died in a great plague , not long since ; and pity
and it was , is , to see so many goodly
fields , and so well seated , without men ” nd to dress a manure the same .
of o ak It is the primeval forest , wal nut , fir , beech , and exceeding great
” chestnut trees . There is no underbrush ,
r d the g ound is carpete with leaves , and the trees stand not so thick but a man may well ride a horse amongst ” them .
The ambassadors pursue their journey ,
i i g v ng little presents , and speaking kindly to the red men whom they meet ; and ’ 2 70 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR at s of night , reach the re idence Massa s Pack anok i ck oit , in , the general name for the northern shore of Narraganset d bay , comprehen ing the present town s of hips Bristol , Warren , and Barring
M sa hu n I . z as c to . S , in R , and wan y in s etts .
Massasoit is not at home ; but on his a is s of rrival , aluted by the discharge guns . He welcomes his guests , and they deliver their message and their presents .
’ T h e chief present is a horseman s c oat ” f S c . o f red co tton , aced with a light la e
i c T hey also give h m a copper hain , which he is to send by the hand of any h m essenger he may dispatch to Plymout , as proof that the messenger has au th o rity from Massasoit . The chief having put the coat on his
and back , the chain about his neck ,
’ 2 7 2 T HE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
It is now time to retire to rest . The ambassadors lodge with the king and his c ourt , in true Indian style , six in bed ; if plank raised a foot from the floor , and c w overed ith a thin mat , may be called a bed .
’ w of Winslo remarks this night s rest ,
One were worse weary of our lodging ” than o f our journey .
as Thursday morning , the sachems sem
and ble with their men , begin games for s kins and knives , for the Indians were
“ a great gamblers . Winslow s ys , We
challenged them to shoot with them for d skins , but they urst not ; only they
desire d to see one of us shoot at a
S - mark , who hooting with hail shot , they wondered to see the mark so full of ” holes .
This challenge was probably a sportive NEW G AN D IN EN L . 2 7 3
mode of impressing the red man with
’ the superiority of the Engli shm en s guns
rr we over their bows and a ows ; for ,
cannot suppose the ambassadors had any
serious intention of gambling for beaver
n i s no The morni g wearing away , but preparations are seen at queen Massa
’ e . s eit s palac for breakfast At length ,
’
M. s a one . bout o clock , P , the king return
hi s two from hunt for food , bringing
- fish he . e fish , which had shot Thes
being boiled at least forty looked for ”
e at of . a share in them , and most them This is all the food they can get till
n ext morning . Such was the savage life
“ even at the court of the great king
Massasoit .
The ambassadors now begin to be
of h weary t eir visit , at night they ’ 2 74 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
S — are n cannot leep , lice and fleas withi ,
nd An d av a mosquitoes without . the s a to ges singing themselves sleep , keep the Pilgrims awake with the barbarous f noise . No wonder they eared if they s S taid any longer , they hould be light ” h for o f and not be eaded want sleep , able to recover home for want o f ” strength .
u h Massasoit urges them to stay , tho g he is both grieved and ashamed that he can entertain them no better But as
a s good Christians , the mbassador de sired to keep the Sabbath at home .
“ n n e s n Friday mor i g , befor unrisi g ,
a for they buy partridge breakfast , and hurry away . At night , they sleep at
’ the wier . At two o clock in the morn
of ing , arose a great storm wind , rain , ” But hav n lightning and thunder . i g
’ 2 7 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
th the forest , and their confidence in e
of re d good intentions the man , into
to h whose territory , two men dared marc so s h s of far , with uc scanty mean de fe nce . IN NEW A ENGL ND . 2 7 7
C H A P T E R X V I I
A V O Y A G E T O N A N S E T
A u g u s t , 1 6 2 1 . — — A b oy lo st in th e wo o d s Word sent that h e is at Nanse t Ten m e n — — se nt to b ri ng h im hom e A s torm at s ea Anchor at C um m aqu id — — P arley wi th th e Indians A c ou r te ou s Sachem Ah invitatio n to — — dinne r Che er ple ntifu l an d variou s An Indian m o th er in afli c tio n- Cau se of h er grie ffi Re as on of th e hos tility o f th e Indians on — — th e Cape towar d th e Englis h Shallop s ails for Nanse t Indi ans — — crowd aroun d th e Pilgrim s Two o nly adm itte d o n b o ar d Th e — Sachem Aspine t app e ars wi th a train o f a hu ndre d m e n Th e — — los t b oy brou ght on b o ard Accou nt of h is wande rings P re se nts — — — to th e Indi ans Alarm ing news Pilgrim s has te n hom e De laye d — — by co ntrary winds Put in at Cumm aqu id for wate r Indi an — — wom e n dance Re tu rn to Plym ou th Pe ace e s tabli s he d with two r es —Th e o r ou e m o s e ore a for—Im re ss o s t ib c n f nd ight nth b f , p id p i n — m ade by th e Pilgri m s u po n th e natives Inte re s ting traits of I ara er—Rem a s of one r e ill at ar ndian ch ct n nt t ib s t M sh pe e .
We a em sava e —O b e u s ! c ll th g , j t The ir ou trage d fe e lings s can A vo e om es or ’tis rom th e us t ic c f th , f d Th e s avage was a m an
T e h e ove no t Wh o s oo hink y l d t d by , And in hi s to ils took part ? Wom an was the re to ble ss hi s e ye Th e s avage h ad a heart ’ 2 7 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
Thi nk ye h e praye d not ? Wh e n on high He ear th e u e rs rol h d th nd l , What m ade hi m look b e yond th e sk y ? Th e savage h ad a soul !
SPRAGUE.
B UT the of u u are A O first A g st , ten men s ent in the shallop on a voyage to the
of Nanset kingdom to seek a boy , that had ” lost himself in the woods . This boy was
John Billington , the same careless rogue ,
’ who fired off his father s gun in the cabin
f of o the Mayflower , endangering the lives all on board . John has been absent some
of time , and inquiry for him being made the Indians , Massasoit sends word to Ply
at Nanse t mouth , that he is , (Eastham! .
At this place was the scene of the first encounter spoken o f in a previous chap
and ter , the Pilgrims having as yet had
c no inter ourse with this tribe , the usual
d c o f h armed eta hment ten men , wit Tis
Tok am aa quantum the interpreter , and
’ 2 80 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
He is described as a rare specimen of “ not the children of nature . A man e - of but xceeding twenty six years age , very
s con personable , gentle , courteou and fair d itione d not a s for , indeed , like savage , ave ” i t a h s attire . He seems too to have se better table than the “ great king Massa “ s for Hi s e oit , the narrative adds , nter tainm ent was o his s and answerable t part , hi ” s cheer plentiful and various .
e h At Cummaquid , a scen occurred , whic ” i s described as very grievous to the Pil
An ld t . o o g rims Indian woman , thought
s a of e have een at least century years , cam
n to see the visitors . She had ever looked
of ha upon the face Englishmen , but d good reason to regard them as monsters of
c . she ruelty When she saw the Pilgrims , could not refrain from “ breaking forth
n a d into great passio , weeping n crying e s xces ively . A D 2 81 IN NEW ENGL N .
The reason of this was soon explained .
on It seems that when Hunt was the coast , three sons of the old woman went on board
i and h s ship to trade , the infamous kid napper carried them as slaves to Spain ; “ by Which means she was deprived of th e ” comfort of her children in her old age . These sighs and tears were the outbreak
’ of too ing a mother s heart , a fountain deep for barbarism to drain—too warm for th e frosts of age to chill . The Pilgrims say to the disconsolate ” mother , that Hunt was a bad man , that all the English who had heard o f his con duct , condemned it , and that she and her f tribe had nothing to ear from them . That they would offer no su ch injury to the d natives though by so oing , they could
S gain all the kins in the country . These assurances , together with some small pres “ ents , somewhat appeased her but no ’ 2 82 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
of no f assurances good will , acts o kindness could remove from her heart its “ rooted ” sorrow .
for After dinner , the Pilgrims sailed “ ” Nans et o , the courteous sachem f Cum m a u id two of q , and his men accompanying
. anset them Toward evening , they reach N , and Ti s u antu m d c d As ine t q is ispat he to p ,
c of the sa hem , to explain the object their visit .
The savages of the bay now invite the
Pilgrims to bring in their boat ; but the
Sh and are water is too allow , the Pilgrims c autious in trusting those who fired u pon
m n the , when they were explori g the coast . d The ti e going out , the shallop is soon
d and n c d agroun , the atives row around
n c d two her , aski g to ome aboar ; but only — are admitted the owner o f the corn taken by the explorers , the November
I nd/tan wad to th e sh a o w th Boy o n his s hou d e r s . ing ll p i l P . 2 83 . 2 IN NEW ENGLAND . 83
u and Manam oi ck previo s , a visitor from ,
(Chatham! .
AS ine t After sunset , p appears with a train of a hundred Indians . The boy is
d on with them , and an In ian taking him d his shoul ers , wades through the water a ccompanied by the sachem and fifty of
all d his men , who come unarme , to the
’ shallop s side . The other fifty remain on d shore , arme with bows and arrows . The “ ” D c r . boy , the young s apegrace , as
Y n b e stru n ou g calls him , was g with d d bea s , in true In ian fashion , and no doubt had enjoyed his visit with his roam ing companions . He had a hard time ,
he u however , before fo nd a settlement .
d d the d He wandere five ays in woo s , liv
Monom e t ing on berries ; he then found ,
c and d (Sandwi h! , the In ians there carried
Nan him to set .
T o AS ine t p , they gave a knife , and 2 4 ’ 2 84 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ another to the Indian who first enter taine d bo the y , and brought him to his f riends . At this place , the Pilgrims hear that the Narragansetts had spoiled some
’ ” o f Massasoit s men and taken him . This i s alarming news ; and they hurry home , for the colony in their absence is weakly ” guarded , only nine men at most being
on there , and an attack Plymouth , it is f of eared , will follow the capture Massasoit , ’ d the Pilgrim s friend an ally . But the
of wind is contrary , and the progress the s hallop slow . She puts in again at Cum m a u id i s s t q , after dark , and vi ited by mos f o the men , women and children in the town .
Th o f e Pilgrims being in want water , ” I anou h h y g takes a runlet , and goes wit
S everal white men quite a distance in s of a S s earch pring, and return with the k eg of water on his ne ck . While the
’ 2 86 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
full satisfaction for the corn found in ” their country .
Thus wherever the Pilgrims went , they made the most favorable impression on the s ons o f the forest ; and assuring them of d their good will , the In ians treated them with the greatest kindness , showing often
of h interesting traits character , whic can not but impress us with the conviction that
the savage was a man . Oh ! that these friendly relations had never been disturbed !
Had the Spirit of the Plymouth Pilgrims
d d ou r perva e entire colonial history , the
o f w e song Hia atha , would not hav ceased to cheer alike the cottage of the white f o . man , and the Wigwam the Indian
“ ur e d was the o od ha che B i bl y t t ,
ur e d was the d re adfu war- c u B i l l b ,
urie d we re all war e we a ons B lik p ,
- And the war c ry was forgotte n.
There was p e ace am ong the nations ; EW E A 8 IN N NGL ND. 2 7
nm oles e d r ve d th hun rs U t o e te ,
uil the ir h cano e for sa li n B t b c i g,
Cau h the fish in a e and r ver g t l k i ,
Shot the d e e r and trapped the b e aver .
It is pleasant to know that the remnants of ou r on -s small tribe the Cape , the Marsh
-fl pee Indians at Sandwich , still retain pos
of d session their land , and have rights guar anteed to them , which no white man , even now , ventures to disregard .
v of e The last of the tribe , howe er , pur Indian blood is gone and the fostering
to be care of the commonwealth , it is
n k s feared , will not lo g eep among us , thi
a living memorial of forme r age . 2 43? ’ 2 88 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
C H A P T E R X V I I I .
A M I L I T A R Y E X P E D I T I O N .
A u g u s t , 1 6 2 1 .
Report of Indian troubles c onfirm e d ~ 00rbitant sowing s trife H obb am o ck flees from Nam ask e t with sad tidings - A town m ee t — — i ng calle d Courage ou s and p rom pt action Te n m e n m arch into — — th e wo ods A m idnight attack Indi ans te rribly frighte ne d — — So m e Slightly wo u nde d Corbi tant no t to be fou nd Frie ndly — — Indians calle d Breakfas t with Tis qu an tu m Spe e ch for Co rbi ’ — — tant s e ar Re tur n of th e soldie rs H appy re su lts o f th e c am — — p aig n Corb itant i s re co ncile d Other Sachem s tre at of pe ace ’ — — Th e P ilgrim s pe ace m ake rs Misre prese nte d in thi s re spe ct Wh y
th e Indians like d them for ne ighbo rs .
“ War is honorable I os e wh o d o e r a ve r s m a a n th , th i n ti ight int in ;
I o s e w o s e s wor s an ro arr er are n th , h d i n b i Be twe e n th e lawle ss s po ile r an d th e we ak ; B ut i s ose wh o raw th e o ffe s ve a e in th , d n i bl d For a e owe r or a s or an d es a e dd d p g in , did d pic bl
” - As m e ane s t office of th e world ly churl . JOANNA BAILLIE.
ON o f r Nanse t the return the pa ty from , d the reports of In ian troubles , which had h h m r c urried t e home , we e onfirmed
’ 2 90 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
e ea the E h h ad th r wer d d , nglis lost ei ” tongue .
The last heard from thi s interpreter was he be n s z b r i , that had e ei ed y Co b tant at Nam ask et ; and the e nraged “ i s achem held a knife at h s breast .
Hobbam ock e t fle d h all d s ing his , wit spee to Plymouth and reporte d that he thought
i n h d T squ a tum a be en put to death .
c e rn ~ Hearing su h sad news , Gov or Brad
a ford immediately called town meeting , to deliberate as to thei r duties toward
r as and r t l thei ally, M sasoit , thei fai hfu ‘ A h l Indian guides . s t e resu t of thi s
e sa town m eting , the Pilgrims y
“ ’ c e not to be o Tis onceiv d fit b rne , — r for if we should suffer our fri ends and
s h s to n messenger t u be wro ged , we should
e to u s or u s have none to cleav , give
or d o u s e c but intelligence , any s rvi e ,
w t 815 0 . ould nex fall upon us , We there 2 1 IN NEW ENGLAND . 9
f ore resolve to send ten men tomorrow ,
H obbam o ck with , to seize our foes in the
n d to o ff ight ; if Squanto be kille , cut
’ C orbitant s d hea , but hurt only those
h ad d d who a han in the mur er , and to
Ne e of retain p , another sachem in the
c c M onfedera y , till we hear from assa
” s oit . w The meeting , at hich it was resolved to take this decisive action against Cor
1 3 an d bitant , was held August th , the
preparations for marching were mad e in
d a d haste . The very next y , Stan ish
" with nine men well armed , started for
d a Namasket . It was a wet y , and weary
was the march through the woods . d Having marche about twelve miles , they
d a n halte till night f ll , intendi g to sur
Corbitant prise , who was supposed to be at Namasket .
was a It rainy night , and the little ’ 2 92 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR
. en band lost their way At l gth , being
ear n th d ate n the tow , ey sat own and their suppe r from their knapsacks and
f r prepared o action .
At midnight they surrounded the house in Corbitant e be which was suppos d to , and two or three e nte red and de manded if th Th e sachem were not there . e s s e e so e e a avage w r fright n d , th t they could not speak . They were char ged not to ere e stir, and w assur d that they and their wive s and childre n shou ld not be injured ; since the se ldiers we re only
bi e th i n pursuit of Cor tant . But s om in e house ran ou t at a private d e e r and “ ” d u The e scape ; but with s om e wo nds .
Pilgri ms took goo d care that the Indian
The s women should not be hurt . boy
o n c d out N n seeing this , fte rie ee
” ’ 3 s u aes a o or q ! I am w man , rather, ” a t s ua a . The m en li tle q , girl wo ,
’ 2 94 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
’ Ti s uantu m Mas sas oit s s q , and all subject
not were left without molestation , Cor
’ bi tant s violence should be revenged upon “ ” f nd him to the overthrow o him a his .
i d of This speech , ntende for the ear m the hostile sache and his sympathisers , was no doubt soon reported far and near by the Indian telegraph .
‘ The object of the expedition being now accomplished , Standish marches home , accompanied by Ti squ antum and other d ff In ian friends , who kindly o er to
e ase the soldiers by carrying their burdens .
“ n wh o O e man and a woman , were wounded in their attempts to flee from the house surrounded the night previous , were taken to Plymouth to be healed by Dr . Fuller .
c o f two s This ampaign days , make but a short paragraph in the history of IN Ew N A D 2 N E GL N . 95
war ; but its results were great , and
eminently happy . It shows the courage
and energy of the Pilgrims , who when they had but nineteen men in the set
tlem e nt , sent ten of their number to
search for hostile Indians . d d It shoul be remembere too , that
this was don e in behalf of their Indian
. c d f allies It was cal ulate , there ore , to
c c v onvin e the nati es , that a treaty with
th e Pilgrims was a reality . That these
d d o d English woul as they agree , and
would hold others to their engagement s ; that their guns were to protect the
“ n i nocent , and punish the guilty ; that their d esign was to preserve peace rather
a th n to provoke war .
ad Corbitant The bragg ocio , , hearing what h ad been done and said at Na
so s masket , was frightened , that he oon 2 5 ‘ ’ 2 96 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
used the mediation o f Massas oit to be ” r econciled .
A r fter this , the Pilg ims assure us they had many gr atulations from divers
’ 3 s c d m h r n an c fi m c . a hems , u pea e Eve
’ C anoni cu s N a a Massas oit s , of arr g nset , old e s s t nemy, ent a me sage o Plymouth o f f fering to treat o pe ac e . Within a month after the Nam asket
e d c rd d a no . xpe ition , it is re o e th t less
f‘ than ni ne s achems s u bscribed an i n
” s trument of s ubmiss ion to king Jam es .
c d All this was a complishe , as the r c d s d a e or say , by frien ly us ge , love
a nd c (and h s a pea e , just one t c rriage , d c c & c . g oo oun il ,
These early e fiorts o f the Pilgrims to m s ac a ake treatie of pe e with the n tives , a nd to prevent the m from m akin g war u e ac h e h a n o t pon oth r, ve been duly a In n ppreciated . the loose and sweepi g
’ 2 98 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR friendly usage and the just and hon est carriage ” of the Pilgrim band estab li she d peace , and the nineteen guns , at
d of the comman Standish , kept in salu tary fear such sons of violence as Cor
N e f an ni u s e o C o c s . bitant , p and For thi reason , Massasoit , and all who desired to live peaceably with all men , were pleased to have the Pilgrims for neigh bors . At Plymouth , they found a mar ket for furs ; and thus they obtained f the comforts o life . No wonder the red man was willing that the whites should o ccupy lands from which the cultivators had been removed by a desolating sick ness , and share the fish , and fowl , and
did or h deer which he not want , w ich he had not skill to obtain .
That these remnants of tribe s gradu f ally wasted away before the march . o
v z was . ci ili ation , inevitable But it is by NEw N N IN E GLA D . 2 99 n o me ans ce rtal n that a man of th e Massa chusetts tribes would have remained
d a to this y , if no white man had ever t set foo upon shore . w ’ 3 00 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
C H A P T E R X I X .
' A V A T o C O Y G E M A S S A H U S E T T S B AY .
S e p t e m b e r , 1 6 2 1 .
— — Obje ct of this voyage Th e nam e Mas sachu se tts Land ing at Shaw~
— ~ — m ut Th e p eninsu la d e sc rib e d Be au tifu1 hills Mu ch cleare d ”— 1 and - Fre e from thre e gre at annoyance s Bre akfas t o n lob — — s te rs~ 0wne r o f th e lobs te rs p aid Th e Sache m fo u nd Fe ars — — h is Indi an e ne m ies Es tablis he s pe ace with th e Pilgrim s Joins — them in an e xcu rs io n to Ne po nse t Is lands in th e b ay b e au ti a — — — ful Pilgrim s vis it Squantum A de s erte d Wigwam Its cu rio us — — cons tru ctio n Indian wom e n frighte ne d Calm e d by ge ntle c ar — — xiage towar d them Squanto c ou nse ls revenge H o no rable p rin
— - c iple s of th e Pilg rim s Wom e n anxiou s to trade The ir m o de s ty — — c om m e nde d No m en fou nd Gre at m ortality am ong th e na — — tives Pilgrim s s ail for Plym outh Res ults of th e e xcurs ion
’ —~ Our fathe rs appre ciatio n of th e be au tie s of nature Gre at
s torie s of th e fe rtility o f th e s oil arou nd th e b ay .
’ Through tim e s d i m atm o sph ere be hold T ose a ie s a a h nc nt hill g in , Ri sing to fancy ’s e age r vi e w I so u e as w e n lit d , h n , e ea th e s um m e r firm am e nt B n th ,
So s e of ore il ntly y , Th e shado w of e ach p assing cloud T eir r h ugge d bosoms bore .
’ " 3 02 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEA R?
c an d c e pea e with them , partly to pro ur their tru ck .
- f n a c . The ame M ssa husetts , Mr Cot
n m n inth e ton i for s us , mea s , a hill
“ ’ ” n arr a d e form of a ow s he d . The ti
av r n h ft m u m id ~ f o i g , t ey le Ply o th at n 1 8th and e ight the of September , wer
d a n to . all y saili g the bay , which is no w a d o Boston h rbor , istant fr m Ply m o nth a u P bo t forty miles . assing the; night in the shallop , the next morning ” t a d d c c s hey l n ed un er a liff, whi h rise a e a v se a now l bout fifty f et bo e the , , we l
“ ’ ” k n C o n own as opp s Hill , in B sto ,
a b d w . c lled y the In ians , Sha mut
“ u ve This beautif l peninsula , not abo
” c o a l saw four miles mp ss , as the Pi grims
was d “ it , crowne with three hills ; o n the south sid e at one c orner a great
' d H ll ” F r i . broa hill , this is now o t
” r s t r i r On the othe ide , ano he h ll e 3 03 IN NEw ENGLAND .
’ e c . qual bigness , whi h is Copp s Hill “ t On the north wes a high mountain ,
with three little rising hills on the top
T ram u nt c cv o f . o it This is the ,
e d c ring a hundre a res ; its highest peak ,
- now d near where the State House stan s ,
rising a hund red and thirty- eight feet
abo ve the level of the sea . These
“ ” three little rising hills , are now
covered with the stately mansions o f
Pe mberton square and Mount Vernon .
th e The ground of Shawmut was , for d most part , cleared lan , which had doubtless been burnt over by the In h 1 6 3 3 dians , and planted wit corn . In ,
“ d of it is describe as a plain , and bare
on s wood , which account the settler are not troubled with three great
n c an oyan es of wolves , rattlesnakes and
i \ m u s u toe s . h owe ve r in e q It had , , som “ ” “ h s parts hideous thickets , w ere wolve ’ 804 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR and bears nursed up their young fro m ” the eyes of all be lio ld e rs .
d n a th e s On lan i g at Sh wmut , Pilgrim
fin d a l arge quantity of lobsters c ol le c te d o n the be ach by the Indians .
” to ff and These they take the cli ,
a n nd n cook for breakf st . Soo an I ia wom an com es and claims th e lobsters
” c n n d The Pilgrims o te te her for them .
The first Pilgrim s on su ch ex cursion s d e n ot s ee m to h ave been ve ry s crupulous
in d e d d about tak g what foo they ne e , wherever they c ould find it ; but they
a a d e d alw ys p i the own rs , when foun ,
r a n e to their enti e satisf ctio . In lat r
s d time , the In ian has not been so fairly dealt wi th .
r d After b eakfast , the Pilgrims , gui ed
m a the r by the wo n who sold lobste s ,
find c soon the sachem of the pla e ,
Obbatine wat to , who owned allegiance
’ 3 06 T HE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
“ and whose high cliffs should er out
a the boisterous se s .
The Pilgrims must have enjoyed thi s s cenery at that pleasant season of the
“ c - year . An ex ursion in the isle gem ” m e d r bay , is now a favo ite recreation o f the Shawmut people . Here art h as
d d th a de little to e charms of nature .
For captain Smith , who explored the
i n a 1 6 1 4 coast a small bo t in , thus d es cribes Shawmut harbor
“ The c ountry o f the Massachusetts is
d o f all f r the para ise those parts : , o here are a c n many isles , all pl nted with or ” f a a d o s. groves mulberries , and s lv ge gar en d In this para ise , the Pilgrims lingered
“ d a an d a n through the y , th t ight also ” d c a d ro e at an hor boar the shallop .
o The next morning they g ashore , land i n c d g at a place in Quin y , calle
s so Squantum , perhap named by the Ew D IN N ENGLAN . 807
h o f party on this excursion , in onor
S o r Ti s u an their interpreter quanto , q
t u m es t. , who was pr en
s find Traveling ome four miles , they th e d eserted Wigwam o f Nane pash e m e t i h d bu lt upon the top of a ill , and raise from the g round upon a sc affold built of
“ ” ’ Hard b ~ poles and pl anks . y is a cir c at d ul fort , some fifty feet in iameter ,
s c built with poles thirty feet high , tu k i n s h the ground , clo e to each other , wit a ditch on each side five o r six feet d c at one eep , over whi h , place , there
d ~ i s a bridge . In the mi s t of this pali s d of a o is the frame a house , in which , — the bod y of the sachem was buried at
s his death , upposed to have been two years previous .
Suc h was the Mausoleum o f the In dian chief. His widow c annot be found “ is be far She said to from thence . as ’ 3 08 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
They soon find the women o f the pl ace around their heaps of c orn .
Ti s qu antu m advised his white frie nd s
“ r ob a a and to the s lv ge women , take
and c t their skins , all su h things as migh
“ be serviceable , saying , they are bad
an d d . people , have often threatene you
“ m n But say the Pilgri s , Our a swer w as bad d , were they never so we woul n o t m m an t wrong the , or give the y jus d c a a n . oc asion g i st us For their wor s , we little weighed them ; but if they
d an a on ce attempte y thing gainst us , then we would d eal far worse than he d ” d esire .
The Pilgrim s m ade a favorabl e im ~ pression u pon the squaws o f this region ; and they were so anxious to trade off
r a d co thei furs , th t they sol their ats
c and d a u from their ba ks , tie boughs bo t
a c them . But wh t is highly ompliment
’ 3 1 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR th e next day ; having been gone three d d f d d “ an . r h ays a half Brad o d a s , Wit a c d e u o f e r onsi erabl q antity beav , and
o o f the c n we a go d report pla e , wishi g
G d hi s h ad e e ea d e e . o b n s te th r But , in
ove n P o d e ce o d e d e e . rruli g r vi n , r er oth rwis
The mission o f the Pilgrims co uld be
a a Th be st ccomplished t Plymouth . e ba h t d y , wit its fif y islan s , was reserved for the mo re numerous and commer cial
d r c olony u n e Winthrop .
Fro m the nume rous p assages s c attered throu gh the writings o f the early colo nists e d e , it is vi ent that they were mor deeply impressed with the be auty o f the
a o f of natur l scenery the country , and
o od c o its fl ral pr u ti ns , than has generally
e d and dd d been suppos ; it may be a e , than many o f their des c endants are at
’
r d a . s the p e sent y . When Mr Higginson c r the ompany we e sailing by Cape Ann , N IN NEW E GLAND . 3 1 1
o f c d last June , they were harme with
the beauty which everywhere met their
view . d As we saile along the coast , says
“ their narrative , we saw every hill and
d of ale , and every island full gay
woods and high trees . The nearer we
came to the shore , the more flowers in
d c s c d d abun an e , sometimes attere abroa ,
n sometimes joined in sheets , ine or ten yards long , which we supposed to be brought from the low meadows by the d si e .
Now what with fine wood s and green
a d and w trees by l n , these yello flowers
ad d painting the sea , m e us all esirous to see our n e w paradise of Ne w Eng
a d nc s aw c n l n , whe e we su h foreru ning ” n o f r a a sig als fe tility f r off.
In i 1 6 2 9 b a letter wr tten in , y Master
Graves , engineer , who had been a great
2 6 * ’ 3 1 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
e e of ~ traveler in Europ , the shor s Massa chu setts d be d bay are thus escri ,
“ I never came i n a more goodly
e t con-e country in all my lif , all hings
i e s d e re d . If it hath not at any tim
and ed i s been manured husband , yet it
i n en very beautiful op lands , mixed
o o n with go dly wo ds , and again ope plains in some places five hundred a e ce e not cres , som pla s more , som less , much troublesome to clear for the plough
to o c . on th e g in , no pla e barren , but Th d t0ps of the hills . e grass and wee s
’ grow u p to a man s fac e in the low l e s e ands ; and by fr h rivers , abundanc o f a s e hou gr s and larg meadows , wit t ” an or d y tree shrub to hin er the scythe .
of we Of the fertility the virgin soil , have stories resembling those now told of the west ; and e ven the marvelous accounts of Oregon s carce ly m ak e larger
l ’ 81 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
H A F T E R X X
E V S T T A T H H A R E F E S I V L .
O c t o b e r , 1 6 2 1 .
— — Th e firs t Thanksgiving in Mass achus e tts Obj e ct of it Ke pt e arlie r — — than at p re se nt Obs e rve d for m ore than o ne d ay Pre p aratio n s — for it by orde r of th e go ve rnor Mas sas o it and o the r Indian — — g u e s ts pres e nt De e r h u nt by th e Indians Pre se nts to th e chie f — — Pilgrim s Thanksgiving turkie s Other p rovisi o ns which th e — — co untry afforde d Re cre ations o n th e o ccasion Pilgrim s m i s rep — — re se nte d in p op u lar lite rature His tory the i r de fe nce A go o d old — — Psalm Thanksgi ving a his torical fe s tival How to b e kept
Proclam atio n praye r .
1 . S o u to e ova all th e e ar h t J h h , th ,
e r e e e ova w a e s s 2 . S v y J h h ith gl dn h im om e w s m i r b e fore c ith inging th , a e ova h e Go d i s 3 . Kno w th t J h h ,
’ It s h e a m a e u s and not we th t d ,
h i s fo lk an d s he e p of h is fe e ding .
Wi o e s s o e r ee 4 . 0 e , th c nf i n nt y h is a e s h is our ar s w ra si g t , c ty d ith p i ng
o e sse to h im e ss e e h is am e C nf , bl y n ,
e au se e o va . h e o o i s 5 . B c J h h g d h is m e rcy e ve r is th e sam e
and h i s fa u n o all a e s . ith , t g ’ P L IN ORTH S ERSION . SA M . SW , C A V 3 1 IN NEW ENGLAND . 5
FT the to A ER harvest , Pilgrims prepared
“ ” keep Thanksgiving . That they might ,
as Winslow says , after a special manner ,
c rejoi e together , after they had gathered
r the f uit of their labors . The Pilgrims had special reason for grat i tu d e , that they had been so successful in
n f raisi g their first c rop o Indian corn .
This was th e beginning of a long and i n
o f h creasing series corn harvests , over whic m any millions have now occasion to re joice . Corn seems designed by Providence to hold the first rank among the rich and d various pro uctions , by which the teeming
a popul tion of our land is fed . 1 85 0 d In , the crop of In ian corn in the United States amounted to five hun
d and - - dre ninety two millions , seventy one
a d d thous n , one hun red and four bush
” els . The value of this crop was not less soo oo oo v than s p p The Old World , after ’ 81 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR
c so long a time , is beginning to appre iate
a the value of this grain . L st year about
i h m i llio s o bus he ls d e g t n f were exporte .
As the c orn began to be harvested about
h fi old c t e rst of September , style , whi h
d ac woul be the eleventh of the month , d cording to our calen er , we must place this first Thanksgiving i n Massachusetts earlier than the d ay is now appointed . It was probably kept the latter part of O c to
a a ber , while the we ther was ple sant for
- a was ou t door exercise . This Th nksgiving
d a not for a single y , as with us , but it seems to have been kept up for nearly a
Week .
Winslow , in a letter written soon after
“ ” to a loving old friend i n England thus
a speaks of this harvest festiv l . Our gov e rnor sent out four men on fowling . They
d a d four in o ne y kille as much fowl as , d with a little help besi e , served the com
’ 81 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
in September could be taken , a hogshead ” c d in a night , with clams , which they oul
c dig from the sand , and oysters , whi h they c b d a ould have brought y the In i ns , when
d and they wishe , with corn barley cakes , ” nok ak e d d c with , made from poun e par h
” and corn , sweet , toothsome hearty , the
m d id a d Pilgri s not w nt for goo cheer .
“ ” n d n the Perhaps the I ia pompion , as
c d pumpkin was alle by the early settlers , was as abund ant there as it h as been at
Thanksgivings o f a l ater date in the Yankee d lan .
For drink on this o ccasion, they doubtless u d d sed the spring water , which they regar e s o delicious and they m ay even then have l d of c i n earne the art domesti brewing , which they afterward s were so skillful .
old n According to an so g , perhaps the very oldest that tradition h as prese rved of this 1 m NEW ENGLAND . 81 9
s d period , it eems that they very early foun
f r s a good s ubstitute o Engli h beer .
If arle be w an n to m a e n o m a t b y ti g k i t l ,
We m us t b e con t e nt e d and think it no fault ;
F o r we c an m a e l uor to swe e e n o ur i s k iq t l p , ” O f um ns and arsne s and wa nu ree ch s . p pki , p p , l t t ip
The Pilgrims did no t enjo y their festival a re d c an d lone . The man was wel ome , fo r e o three days at least , the gu sts fr m the forest wilds were twice as numerous as the f o . people Plymouth Thus they , as friends an d neighbors rejoi ced together at their
“ ” a t a s fe st of abern cles , for thi Jewish feast s eems to have been the model of the a first harvest festiv l at Plymouth .
Some sports o f the more manly kind were certainly allowed . Fo r Winslow
s a e c a ys , Amongst other r reations we e x
” e rci s e d ourselves in arms . Captain
S no d no u r d hi tandish , oubt, ma e v e s c om 2 7 ’ 82 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
o f d pany some twenty men , with rum and
s trumpet , astonishing the guests . Perhap
“ ” the ordnance at the fort were dis charged and all listened to the roar , as it died t away in the dis ant forest .
b wh o It may e Winslow and Hopkins , could take down a crow at eighty paces , sho wed their skill in shooting at a mark
“ hi s while Massasoit , in cotton coat , c alled ou t his best marksmen to show how
b ow deer were killed by the and arrow , their shrill warwhoop rivaling the notes o f
’ r the Pilg im s trumpet . Perhaps the young
d D an men , Al en , Howland oty , d Leister ,
an a m the sh llop , and taking in Priscilla and a and Mary , Eliz beth , Remember Con ’ d stance , sail over to Clark s Islan , after
d . inner , and return by moonlight Without drawing in the least from im
’ a ination o wn g , after reading the Puritan s
d o f recor this , their first Thanksgiving ,
’ 3 2 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRS T YEAR
tory . Though religious services are not
’ o s e we t mentioned in Winsl w lett r , canno suppos e these festal days passe d without
and ev nin ' i the morning e g s acr fice . Know
th e and b o f o ur o ef ing spirit ha its f r athers , can we d oubt that th e y read the S cripture and express e d th e gratitude of their he arts in prayer and praise .
’ As they brought with the m Ainsworth s versi o n of the Psalms and were good
e o e o singers , th y c uld not hav overl oked
d th e on Thanksgiving ays , such Psalms as following—the XXIII
hov fe e d e h m e I shall not ac . 1 . e ah J t , l k
h d wn d h m a e m e l e 2 . In rass fo d s e o o g y l , t k y
he ge n tly le ad s m e qui e t wate rs by.
’ H d o h r e urn m sou : for his nam e s sa e 3 . e t t y l k ,
in p aths o f Justice le ad m e quie tly.
h h I wa in d a e of d e ad shad e 4 . Ye a t ou , g lk l ly ,
ile fe ar n o ill ; fore with m e thou will b e ;
th rod th staff ek e the sha l comfort m e . y y , y l A IN NEW ENGL ND . 3 2 3
r m hou hast re ad m ad e 5 . Fo e e a t able t y
in thy pre se nce that m y dis tre sse s be
Thou m e s fat m he ad w h o ntin oil ak t y it y g ,
d and m erc e 6 . u e ss o o m y cup abo und s . D o btl g i
shall all the d ays of m y life follow m e
’ a so w hi n ehovah s house I sh a l it J , ll
to le ngth of d ays re po se m e qui e tly.
Surely our annual Thanksgiving is rich in the memories of the past . We trace its origin to the very infancy o f ou r Common wealth . Let the day , therefore , never cease to be appointed by the successors of Gov
e rnor . Bradford And let us provide , as did our fathers , for the poor in the high ” a ways n d hedges . Let the autumnal Thanksgiving be the feast d ay o f the sons and daughters o f th e
’ ’ Pilgrims , where er they roam , where er they rest . From ocean to ocean , let them hail the c oming of this harvest festival with glad and grateful hearts . Let them 2 7 " ’ 3 2 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
d a hom e consecrate the y to friendship , to
to r m ini s joys , to family reunions , social e
to of ance s cences , the memory a sainted try and to the prais e of a covenant - keeping
Till the waves in the b a y,
h er the Ma flowe r la W e y y,
” Shall foam and free z e no m ore .
While this d ay is observed in the true
t ou r c and d Puritan spiri , in chur hes aroun
u r firesi d e s not ff t o , we shall o er in vain tha
e h h the most appropriat petition , wit whic Fast and Thanksgiving proclamations o f the governor in the Bay State alw ays clo s e God save the Commo nwealth of ” Mass achusetts .
’ 3 2 6 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
’ T e re w ere th e ea e s s re am and wi wol ’s cr h h gl c , ld f y , Kee e ase e ss d a and rou ear nd sk p c l y night th gh th a y, Eve ere in a er m e as o an d as e n th , ft ti , t il t t Go or a e ss to re ee m th e was e f th in gl dn d t , Eve ere s a r se as ra e u m r a s ro n th h ll i , g t f l y i d th ng , ’ ’ Faith s ho ly p raye r and fre e dom s j oyful so ng T e re s a l th e am e a as e rom o r ro h h l fl th t fl h d f y nde ck , ’ L u th e a i a re a ight p l nd, t ll n tu s fin l s hock .
SPRAGUE.
‘ THE Thanksgiving festival crowned the
first year o f th e Pilgrims at Plymouth .
It has been an eventful and a busy year . d Although half their number have ied , the
“ ” living are now lusty and in good health .
n h ad Si c e the spring opened , they have diversity enou gh in their employment to suit their various tastes ; and adventure and incid ent enough to relieve them from the monotony of life on a desert shore .
on d Some till the soil , others go tra ing
c . ex ursions , others still fish and hunt
Through the summer there is no want . The account given of the wild game must have be e n tempting to the sportsman of A D 3 IN NEW ENGL N . 2 7
“ c r the present day . As the old weathe
” “ e advances , says Bradford , come in stor of water fowl , wherewith this place abounds,
d e though afterwar s they , by degrees decreas
d c of h as also abun an e wild turkeys , wit
i of ven son , Another speaks great
of ~ flocks turkeys , quails , pigeons , and par i tr dge s .
th e o f n In labors the year , they have bee
e c an d quit suc essful . Besides cultivating harvesting twenty- six acres without the
aid or of cattle horses , they have built
e - s eleven log houses , s ven dwelling house d and four for the plantation , and prepare
materials for several more ; have traded — with the Indians to a considerable amount ;
“ so that they soon send to England two
d ch hogshea s of beaver and other skins , whi
l o f h with a arge quantity clapboards , whic
they have sawed and rived , are valued at £ near 5 00. ’ 3 2 8 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
’ Of this product o f the first year s labor
” “ and trade Winslow says , Though it be
c for not mu h , yet it will witness us , that d th we have not been i le , considering e ” s of ou r mallness number all this summer .
Among the articles of merchandise c ol le cte d and sent to England in the first
’ “ s was . hip s cargo , some sassafras When
d and America was first iscovered , , for a
and of long time after , the bark root the sassafras tree were thought to be highly
and d medicinal , large quantities were shippe to Europe . Sassafras was thought to have
f s great e ficacy , especially in dropsies , ague
was and liver complaints . Hence this tree
“ ” one of high price and profit . When
a Cod 1 6 02 C pe was discovered in , the root of the sassafras sold i n England for
on three shillings a pound . But this tree the Cape has now become dwarfed an d its medicinal virtues have given place to other
’ 3 3 0 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
all j oined them , in which he says , We are freeholders the rent- d ay doth not trouble u s d , and all those goo blessings we have , o f which and What we list in their season f r o . Our c e o m an taking p y are , for most
r e part , very eligious , hon st people ; the Word o f Go d sin c erely taught us every
S abbath ; s o that I know not any thing a / ” d m ind an contente c here want .
N and It is now ovember , the Indians at
C ape Co d seeing a s hip sailing into their
s nc and of bay , uppose her to be from Fra e ; c e ourse , an en my to the English settlement .
cc d as a f A or ingly , faithful llies o the Pil
I d s d g rims , the n ian send them wor to e xpec t the s pee dy arrival o f their enemies .
r on The governo , hearing this report , o rders a field pie ce to be fired from the fo a o m a rt , to c ll h me all the men who y be at work in the aneighboring field s and ll w . a n a a oods He ri g this sign l gun , 1 IN NEW ENGLAND . 3 3 hasten to head - quarters and Standish pre ~
f rce pares to defend the town . He has a o f o nineteen men , and perhaps five or six Y t old . e boys , enough to bear arms he prepares with this little band to repel force
c o f c by for e , for the Pilgrims are that sto k ,
of c who on the eve battle , re eived Crom
’ well s orders to pray an d keep their pow der dry and they are all strangers to fear . The ship is soon seen sailing up the har “ ” bor , Whereupon , says Winslow , every
a c man , yea boy , th t ould handle a gun t were ready , wi h full resolution that , if sh e were an enemy we would stand in o u r ” d c not a just efen e fe ring them . But the c ourageous Pilgrims were h appily disap
and h ad n pointed , occasio to remark , Go d provided better thin gs for us than
a we supposed . Inste d o f a French e “ nemy , the ship proves to be the Fo r 2 8 ’ 3 3 2 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
of fift - five s tune , y tons , which bring
- five s thirty passengers , relations and friend o f the colonists ; most of whom had been d etained in England by the failure of the d ” Spee well , at the time the Mayflower sailed .
When we consi der the privations and
of c the mortality the first winter , we annot
c d c o f Go d k e e a but noti e the provi en e , in p i n c c o f g ba k this reserve , till the sho k the
as first c onfli ct w over .
With the arrival o f the Fortune o n the
9th 1 6 2 1 s of November , , just twelve month from the time the Pilgrims discovered
nd d c o ur o f la , it is fit we shoul lose history th e footsteps o f the Pilgrims the first year
Ne a . in w Engl nd Let us leave them , there
’ d a c fore , gathered aroun Foref ther s Ro k , as the passe ngers from the Fortune step u of n s pon it . There are tears joy , greeti g
’ 3 3 4 THE PILGRIMS FIRST YEAR
n they did a great work , and great is ow their honor .
Mr . Carlyle expresses only a part of
' the truth when he says Look now at
c Ameri an Saxondom , and at that little fact o f of two the sailing the Mayflower , hun d red years ago . It was properly the
f r beginning o America . There we e strag gling settlers before some material as of a body was there ; but the soul of it was
ou t of this . These poor men driven their
n and not o w country , able to live in Hol
d o n New lan , determined settling in the
World . Black untamed forests are there ,
c not so and wild savage reatures , but
- cruel as the star chamber hangman . They clubbed their small means together , hired a ship , the little ship Mayflower , and made
m e n ready to set sail . Hah ! These I
h ad . think , a work The weak thing ,
c s r n it weaker than a hild , becomes t o g if A IN NEW ENGL ND . 3 3 5
be a true thing . Puritanism was only d espicable , laughable then but nobody
ne can manage to laugh at it now . It is o
o f the strongest things under the sun at ” present .
Though columns of granite or of marble m a y be reared by art . to commemorate
o f the Christian virtues , and heroic deeds
ou r forefathers these , though massive and
symmetrical as was their character , can
never be their noblest monument .
’ The Pilgrims truest , and most enduring
own . monument , was erected by their hands ”
Si uacri s m onum entum cir cum i ce . q , p
If you seek my monument , look around ,
o f is the epitaph Sir Christopher Wren , the
’
f . u hu r d c o C ch . ar hitect St Pa l s , in Lon on With more propriety might it be the epitaph f o . F am i l the Pilgrims The New England y ,
Schoo l State Church and , and , and are
2 9 ’ 3 3 6 THE P G MS F ST A IL RI IR YE R.
their monument , which shall stand ” when Egypts fall .
’ of New s One England daughters , the gifted Sigourney , shall tell the moral of these sketches .
And can ye d e em it strange
That from their planting such a branch should bloom
As nations e nvy ? Would a ge rm e m balm e d
’ W h ra e r s u e e ar- d ro s s r e no d e e e r ro ot it p y p r t p , t ik p
’ Than that which m ad am bitio n s hand d o th s tre w
Upon the Winds ? to re ap the wind again
O ! ye who bo ast
In our fre e v e ns the o od of s re s e he se y i bl i lik t ,
L o se not their line am e nts . Should m am m o n cling
To o c o se around o ur he art o r we a h e et l y , lt b g
Tha o a e d ux ur ha e a s the core t bl t l y, t t t
From m an v r ue o r the e m n wor d ly i t , t pti g l
fa n the Chr s an ur ose in o ur sou Make i t i ti p p y l,
Turn e to P m outh e ach and o n hat roc y ly b , t k
Kne el i n their fo o tprint s and re ne w the vo w ” The y bre athed to God .
T H E E N D .
E X P L A N A T I O N O F TH E M AP O F M AS
C H U S E T T S B AY IN 1 6 2 0 I T H T , W
I N D I AN N AM E S .
t PAOMET lower par of Cape Cod .
NANSET Ea t am and c n t . s h , vi i i y
CUMMAQUID B arnstable .
MANOMET Sandwich .
PATUNET Plym outh .
’ NAMASKET Middleb oro . — MATTAKE SET Dux bury .
NEPONSET Milton .
SHAWMUT B oston.
AGAWAM Ipswich .
’ APAWA K t C C Mar ha s Vineyard .
KUTAHUNK E liz abeth Islands .
SowAMs arren B . I . W , E X P L AN AT I O N O F T H E M AP O F P A O M E T
AN D N A N S E T .
. Po t on of the Ma flower at anchor in Ca e A si i y , p
od ar or C H b .
’ B . L ocation of the explore rs e ncampm ent first
n ht on hore Novem er 1 5 . ig s , b F ” C . r esh water ond w ere the se cond c m p , h o
pany of explorers passed the night of November 1 6 .
f the econd e x or n D . Encam ment o s art p pl i g p y,
November 2 7 .
“ ndez u r the n t of No m er 2 8 . E . Re vo s fo igh ve b
En am m ent at Corn No ember 2 9 . F . c v p Hill,
“ ” arricade of the th rd e x or n ar on G . B i pl i g p ty the night of De cember 6 .
“ t n am m nt f De m r a d cene . N e c e o ce e 7 n s H igh p b , ” of The First Encounter .
T e nd an na ta the N. B . h I i m es are in capi ls ; others are the nam es given by the Pilgrims on their three exploring tours .
E X P L A N A T I O N O F T H E M A P O F
P L Y M O T H I N 1 6 2 1 U .
’
F r . A . o efathe r s Rock
’ B . Cole s Hill.
“ M nt “ C . The ou a terwards ca e d Fort f ll Hill,
now B urial Hill .
Th t r D . e P a fo m for cannon . l , ” Th St t a d a o Ma n S t E . e ree c e s ree now , ll l i t ,
L eyd en Street
l ad n t th F . wa e o e rook and s r n High y, i g b p i g , ”
now Mark et Street .
. T G he s r n comm on to all the fam es . p i g , ili ” T ” . Pata k osi now own B rook . H p , ” t t t t r t d Str r I . Can au an ees a fi s ca e a e r g , ll wb y
’ i now at on . H ll , W s s Hill
’ ’ ’ 1 n ow ou e 2 Co ok e s 3 erton s , Wi sl s h s ; , ; , All
’ ’ ’ 4 Billin ton s 5 B rew ter s 6 Goodm an s 7 , g , s ; , ; ,
’ “ B rown s 8 9 1 0 1 1 ouses for the use of the ; , , , , h
Plantation ; 1 1 being the first house built .