esteem, and eminently useful to the settlement at Plymouth, in a civil as well as military capacity. In respect to the latter, a late writer remarks: "It is not too much to say of captain Standish, that but for him the infant colony would have been annihilated." His name will long be revered in

New England.

He had land allotted him in Duxbury, at an early period, and here he resided. "Captain's Hill," as it is called, is included in this tract, and affords an extensive prospect of the surrounding country. Though Myles Standish was never a member of the church, he" chose to suffer affliction with the people of God," and closed a long and active life at Duxbury, seven miles from Plymouth, in the year 1656. Morton says, "he fell asleep in the Lord."

Annihilate, v. a. ; to destroy.

M

130

JOHN WINTHROP.

JOHN WINTHROP, the first governor of Massachusetts, was born at the mansionhouse of his worthy ancestors in Groton, Suffolk county, in England, Jan. 12, 1588. He had a good education and was inclined to the study of divinity, but as his father and grandfather had followed the profession of the law, he was induced to qualify himself for the same profession, in which he became very useful. At the early age of eighteen, he was made a justice of the peace; and in this public station his virtues, ability and gentleman-like conduct, gained for him the respect and admiration of the worthy portion of the community.

When the plan of forming a new settlement in Massachusetts Bay, was formed among a number of pious and respectable people in England, Mr. Winthrop joined in

it, and by unanimous consent, was chosen leader in the great undertaking. He accordingly sold a fine estate, of which the annual income was six or seven hundred pounds sterling, and embarked for America with a company of 1500 persons, in the spring of 1630, having the commission of governor. They brought with them their charter from the king, by which they were empowered to make laws for themselves in the new country to which they were going.

On the 12 of June, 1630, they arrived at Salem, where a small plantation had been commenced two years before, under the direction of John Endecott. In July following, they removed to Charlestown, which had been founded in the summer of 1629, by Thomas Graves and others. On the 30 of the same month, Gov. Winthrop, Lt. Gov. Dudley, Mr. Isaac Johnson, and Rev. Mr. Wilson, entered into a formal and solemn covenant with one another, and thus

Unanimous, a.; being of one mind.

laid the foundation of the church in Charles

town and Boston.

The peninsula on which the city of Boston now stands, was at that time called by the natives, Shawmut, and by the English, Trimountain, on account of its three hills. There was then residing upon it, Mr. William Blackstone, an episcopal clergyman, who had previously emigrated to this country; and being the first English inhabitant there, was the rightful owner of the whole peninsula. A sickness raged among the settlers in Charlestown, which was in part imputed to the bad water. Mr. Blackstone having invited them to settle on the peninsula, where he informed them was excellent water, Mr. Johnson and others crossed the river, and began a settlement in November, and were soon followed by Gov. Winthrop. Here they spent the winter, and the governor settled in the place, whither his wife and family arrived in the autumn of 1631; on which account a day of thanksgiving was

kept in the colony. A few months before the arrival of Gov. Winthrop at Charlestown, a dangerous conspiracy had been formed among the Indians to destroy all the white settlers. The design was made known to the people of Charlestown by John Sagamore, a friendly Indian, in season to prevent its horrid execution, but the terror of the people was hardly yet over. They were also in want of provisions, and as winter approached, were compelled to live on ground-nuts, acorns, clams and muscles; and even these were procured by digging through the snow. These trials were exceedingly discouraging to many, and when it was told that the governor had "the last batch of bread in the oven," they were almost in despair. In their distress, they had appointed a day of fasting and prayer; but before the day came, a ship which they had sent to Ireland for provisions, and which they feared had been lost, returned with full supplies; and they changed their fast into a