2

rights

all that part of New England, lying between three 1628. miles to the northward of Merrimack river and three miles to the southward of Charles river, and in length within the described breadth from the Atlantic ocean to the South Sea. The reverend Mr. White of Dorchester being engaged at that juncture in projecting an asylum for silenced Nonconformist ministers, the grantees, by his means, became acquainted with several religious persons' in London and its vicinity, who at first associated with them, Their and afterward bought rights in their patent. purchased They next projected a settlement for the express by others; purpose of providing for Nonconformists a safe retreat, where they might enjoy religious liberty in matters of worship and discipline. The company soon after chose Matthew Cradock governor, and Thomas Goffe, deputy governor, with eighteen assistants; and sent over a few people under the gov- who send ernment of John Endicot, to carry on the plantation with a few at Naumkeak, and prepare for settling a colony. people to Endicot, on his arrival at Naumkeak, laid the foun- Naumkeak, dation of Salem, the first permanent town in Massachusetts. Several servants were soon sent over from England, on the joint stock of the company; but upon their arrival at Naumkeak, an uncultivated desert, many of them, for want of wholesome

4

1 John Winthrop, Isaac Johnson, Matthew Cradock, Thomas Gof, and Sir Richard Saltonstall. Hubbard MS. N. Eng. chap. xviii. They are said to be persons “of like quality," as the first purchasers of the patent. Ibid.

2 Hubbard (ibid.) says, they bought of them all their right and interest in New England; but Prince [171.] from the Massachusetts colony charter and records conclude, that three only of the six original grantees wholly sold their rights; and that the other three retained theirs in equal partnership with the new associates.

3 Beside those gentlemen, there were 20 or 30, who subscribed £1035, to be a common stock to carry on the plantation. The next year £745 more were lent on the same account by several gentlemen. They gener ally ventured but £25 a piece; some, £50; a few, £75; and the governor, £100. Hubbard MS. N. Eng. chap. xxii.

4 Johnson says, that Endicot, who came with them " to govern," was "a fit instrument to begin this wilderness work; of courage bold, undaunt~, ed, yet sociable, and of a cheerful spirit, loving, or austere, as occasion serve ed." Wonderwork. Providence, 19.

Endicot

1628. diet and convenient lodgings, died of the scurvy and other distempers.'

A few per

sons settle at Mish

awum.

Patent for Kennebeck.

Six or seven persons, with the consent of governor Endicot, travelled from Naumkeak through the woods about twelve miles westward, and came to a neck of land, between Mystic and Charles rivers, called Mishawum. It was full of Indians, called Aberginians; and, with the unconstrained consent of their chief, they settled there.*

1.

The Plymouth colonists obtained a patent for Kennebeck; and up this river, in a place convenient for trade, erected a house, and furnished it with corn, and other commodities. While the trade of their infant colony was thus commencing toward the east, it was becoming gradually extended toward The Dutch the west. A. Dutch bark from Manhattan arriving trade with at the trading house at Manomet, with sugar, the people linen, stuffs, and various other commodities; a boat

of Plym

cuth.

was sent from Plymouth for Razier, who conduct-
ed this commercial enterprise; and he, with most of
his company, was entertained at Plymouth several
days. On his return to the bark, some of the
people of Plymouth accompanied him, and bought
various goods. After this commencement of trade,
the Dutch often sent goods to the same place; and
a traffick was continued several years.
The Ply-
mouth colonists sold much tobacco for linens, stuffs,
and other articles; and derived great advantage
from this commerce, until the Virginians found out
the Dutch colony.3

1 Hubbard MS. N. Eng. chap. xviii. Prince, 171-178. Mather Magnal. i. 16. Chalmers, i. 136. The Reverend Mr. Bentley [Hist. Salem Coll. Hist. Soc. vi. 230.] says, "The natives had forsaken this spot [Naumkeak] before the English had reached it. On the soil they found no natives, of whom we have any record. No natives ever claimed it, and the possession was uninterrupted."

2 Prince, 174, 175. This chief was called by the English John Sagamore. He was the oldest son of the old Aberginian chief, who was then dead. The few Englishmen, who now settled at Mishawum, found but one English house there," thatched and palisadoed, possessed by Thomas Walford, a smith." Ibid.

3 Prince, 171-173. The Dutch, on the visit recited above, acquaint

visits

Morton

arms.

John Endicot, arriving at Naumkeak, as an agent, 1628. to carry on the plantation there, and manage all the Endicot affairs of the Massachusetts patentees, visited the Mount people at Merry Mount; caused their May pole to Wollaston, be cut down; rebuked them for their profaneness; and admonished them to reform. Morton, their principal, was incorrigible. Hearing what gain the French and the fishermen made by selling guns, powder, and shot to the natives, he began the same trade in his neighbourhood, and taught the natives teaches the the use of fire arms. The English, meeting them natives the in the woods, armed in this manner, were greatly in- use of fire timidated. The chief persons, in the scattered plantations at Pascataqua, Naumkeak, Winisimet, Wessagusset, Nantasket, and other places, met, and agreed to solicit the people of Plymouth, who were stronger than all the other New England colonists combined, to unite with them in the suppression of the alarming evil. The Plymouth colonists, after repeatedly sending friendly messages to Morton, advising him to forbear his injurious courses, and receiving insolent replies, prevailed with the governor of their colony to send Standish, with some aid, to apprehend him. This gallant officer successfully performed the enterprise. Dispersing the worst of He is seizthe company, he brought Morton to Plymouth, ed and sent whence he was soon after sent to England.'

to England. Sir Thomas Warner, and a number of English- Nevis setmen, attempted the 'settlement of Berbuda; but, tled. finding it a rocky and barren island, they left it, and settled at Nevis, to the number of about one hundred, many of whom were old planters of St. Chris- Christotopher's." At the island of St. Christopher there pher's.

ing the people of Plymouth with the trade of wampum, they were inducéd to purchase that article of the Indians, to the value of about £50. For the two first years it was unsaleable; but it became afterward a very important article of trade, especially with the inland Indians, who did not

make it.

1 Hubbard MS. N. Eng chap. xviii. Prince, 175-177. Josselyn, 251. 2 Anderson, ii. 333. Smith Virg.contin. chap. xxvii. Univ. Hist, xli. 288,

State of St.

March 4.
Patent of

firmed by

the king.

were, this year, about thirty sail of English, French, and Dutch ships. The natives, having done much mischief among the French, were entirely expelled from the island. *

1629.

On the petition of the Massachusetts company, Massachu- seconded by the solicitation of lord Dorchester, king setts con- Charles, by charter, confirmed the patent of Massachusetts colony. By this patent, the company. was incorporated by the name of "The Governor. and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England," to have perpetual succession; empowered to elect forever, out of the freemen of said company, a governor, deputy governor, and eighteen assistants, to be newly chosen on the last Wednesday in easter term yearly, by the greater part of the company; and to make laws, not repugnant to the laws of England. Matthew Cradock was constituted the first governor; and Thomas Goffe, the first deputy governor. Sir Richard Saltonstall and seventeen other persons were constituted assistants."

April 30.

Form of govern

A court of the Massachusetts company was soon after holden at London, and settled a form of government for the new colony. It ordained, that thirMassachu- teen persons, such as should be reputed the most setts colony, wise, honest, expert, and discreet, resident on the

tled for

colonial plantation, should, from time to time, have the sole management of the government and affairs of the colony; and they, to the best of their judgment, were to "endeavour to so settle the same," as might "make most to the glory of God, the furtherance and advancement of this hopeful plantation,

1 Smith Virg. continued, chap. xxv.

2 Mather Magnal. book i. 16. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 277. Chalmers, i. 136. Prince, 180. This first Charter of Massachusetts was first printed in Hutchinson's Collection of Papers, 1-23; it is also in Hazard Coll. i. 239-255. Some of these authors place it in 1628; but, if the year be computed from January, it was in 1629.

the comfort, encouragement, and future benefit" of 1629. the company, and of others, concerned in the commencement or prosecution of the work. The per sons, thus appointed, were to be entitled "The Governor and Council of London's Plantation in Massachusetts Bay, in New England."

The same court elected John Endicot to be gov- Officers ernor of the colony; and Francis Higginson with chosen. six others to be the council. These seven counsellors were impowered to choose three others; and such of the former planters, as were willing to live within the limits of the plantation, were empowered to choose two more, to make the council to consist of twelve; one of whom was by the governor and council, or the major part of them, to be chosen deputy to the governor for the time being. These per sons were to continue in office for a year, or until the court of the company in London should appoint others; and the governor, or in his absence the deputy governor, might call courts at discretion.

settlers.

At a court of the company, holden at London in Encourages May, it was agreed, that every adventurer, who had ment to advanced fifty pounds, should have two hundred acres of land allowed him; and that fifty acres a piece should be allowed them, who went over at their own charge. Several persons, of considerable importance in the English nation, were now enlisted among the adventurers, who, for the unmolested enjoyment of their religion, were resolved to remove into Massachusetts. Foreseeing however, and dreading, the inconvenience of being governed by laws, made for them without their own consent, they judg ed it more rational, that the colony should be ruled by men, residing in the plantation, than by those, dwelling at the distance of three thousand miles, and over whom they should have no controul. At the same time therefore, that they proposed to trans

This act for settling the government is in Hazard Coll. i. 268–27L