After this they chose Mr. John Carver, a man godly and *The following corrected list is from Prince's Annals, p. 172. Morton has given the names in the following order: but their names connected with their titles and families, I take from the list at the end of Gov. Bradford's folio manuscript. Only this I observe that out of modesty he omits the title of Mr. to his own name, which he ascribes to several others. Those with this mark (*) brought their wives with them; those with this (t), for the present, left them either in Holland or England. Some left behind them part, and others all their children. Those with this mark (ss) deceased before the end of March. 1 One of these was a servant, who died before their arrival. 2 Besides the son born in Cape Cod harbor, named Peregrine. 3 He was of Gov. Carver's family. 4 One of these was born at sea, and therefore named Oceanus. 21. Edward Fuller,* SS 3 3 3 52 24. James Chilton,* ss 3 25. John Crackston, ss 25 well approved amongst them, to be their governor for that year. Necessity now calling them to look out a place for habitation, as well as the master's and mariners' importunity urging them thereunto; while their carpenter was trimming up of their boat, sixteen of their men tendered themselves to go by land and discover those nearest places, which was accepted; and they being well armed, were sent forth on the sixteenth of November, 1620,* and having marched about a mile by the seaside, they espied five Indians, who ran away from them, and they followed them all that day sundry miles, but could So then just 100 who sailed from Plymouth in England, and just as many arrived in Cape Cod harbor. The following number of deaths occurred during the following winter up to the end of March: in December 6, in January 8, in February 17, in March 13; making 44 in all of whom were * Capt. Standish commanded on this expedition; among his associates were William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Tilley. 1 Mr. Morton seems to mistake in calling him Jose. 2 Mr. Morton calls him Digery. 8 Mr. Morton calls him Bitteridge. 4 He was of Gov. Winslow's family. 5 Mr. Morton seems to mistake in calling him Doten. 6 They were of Mr. Hopkins's family. not come to speech with them; so night coming on, they betook themselves to their rendezvous, and set out their sentinels, and rested in quiet that night; and the next morning they followed the Indians' tracks, but could not find them nor their dwellings, but at length lighted on a good quantity of clear ground near to a pond of fresh water,* where formerly the Indians had planted Indian corn, at which place they saw sundry of their graves; and proceeding further they found new stubble where Indian corn had been planted the same year; also they found where lately an house had been, where some planks and a great kettle was remaining, and heaps of sand newly paddled with their hands, which they digged up and found in them divers fair Indian baskets filled with corn, some whereof was in ears, fair and good, of divers colors, which seemed to them a very goodly sight, having seen none before, of which rarities they took some to carry to their friends on shipboard, like as the Israelites' spies brought from Eshcol some of the good fruits of the land; but finding little that might make for their encouragement as to situation, they returned, being gladly received by the rest of their company. After this, their shallop being ready, they set out the second time for a more full discovery of this place, especially a place that seemed to be an opening as they went into the said harbor some two or three leagues off, which the master judged to be a river; about thirty of them went out on this second * In Truro. The place where the graves were seen is now known by the name of the Great Hollow; south of the Great Hollow is a hill terminating in a cliff, now called the Hopkins' Cliff, supposed to be the place where they found the baskets of Indian corn, and on that account named Cornhill. "The basket was round, and narrow at the top. It held three or four bushels, which was as much as two of us could lift up from the ground, and was very handsomely and cunningly made. We were in suspense what to do with it and the kettle; and at length, after much consultation, we concluded to take the kettle, and as much of the corn as we could carry away with us, and when our shallop came, and if we could find any of the people, we would give them the kettle again, and satisfy them for their corn."— Mass. Hist. Coll. vol. viii. p. 209, 210. discovery, the master of the ship going with them; but upon the more exact discovery thereof, they found it to be no harbor for ships, but only for boats. There they also found two of their houses covered with mats, and sundry of their implements in them; but the people ran away and could not be seen. Also there they found more of their corn and beans of various colors; the corn and beans they brought away, purposing to give them full satisfaction when they should meet with any of them.* And here is to be noted, a special and a great mercy to this people, that here they got them seed to plant them corn the next year, or otherwise they might have starved, for they had none, nor any likelihood to get any until the season had been past, (as the sequel did manifest,) neither is it likely that they had had this, if the first discovery had not been made, for the ground was now all covered with snow, and hard frozen; but the Lord is never wanting unto those that are his, in their greatest needs. Let his holy name have all the praise. Having thus discovered this place, it was controverted amongst them what to do, touching their abode and settling there. Some thought it best for many reasons to abide there. 1st. Because of the convenience of the harbor for boats, though not for ships. 2d. There was good corn ground ready to their hands, as was seen by experience in the goodly corn it yielded, which again would agree with the ground, and be natural seed for the same. 3d. Cape Cod was like to be a place for good fishing, for they daily saw great whales of the best kind for oil. 4th. The place was likely to be healthful, secure, and defensible.† 5th, and lastly. The especial reason was, that now the About six months after they gave them full satisfaction to their content.-M. It has been supposed by some that our ancestors were not fortunate in the selection of their plantation, and that they would have found much better land on the other side of the bay. But this is a mistake, for no part of heart of the winter and unseasonable weather was come upon them, so as they could not go upon coasting and discovery without danger of losing both men and boat, upon which they would follow the overthrow of all, especially considering what variable winds and sudden storms do there arise; also cold and wet lodging had so tainted their people, as scarce any of them were free from vehement coughs, as if they should continue long, it would endanger the lives of many, and breed diseases and infection amongst them. Again, that as yet they had some provisions, but they would quickly be spent, and then they should have nothing to comfort them in their labor and toil that they were like to undergo. At the first it was also conceived, whilst they had competent victuals, that the ship would stay, but when that grew low, they would be gone, and let them shift for themselves. Others again urged to go to Agawam, alias Angawam,* a place about twenty leagues off to the northward, which they had heave fo be an excelland on the for ships, better ground and better fishing. Massachusetts could be better suited to their condition. Had they settled down upon a hard and heavy, though rich soil, what could they have done with it? They had no plows, nor beasts of the plow, and yet their chief subsistence was to be derived from the ground. The Plymouth lands were free, light, and easy of tillage, but hard enough for poor pilgrims to dig and plant. And there is perhaps no place in New England where Indian corn could have been raised to better advantage with the same labor. The land yielded well, being new and unworn. And for fish, they could scarcely have been better supplied; and the forests were as well supplied with game as elsewhere. Here they were also favored by the Prince of the country. The character of Massasoit was humane, and his friendship sincere. The treaty which he made with them, he faithfully performed all his life long, whereas, in other locations, they might have fallen by savage violence. And, moreover, Divine Providence seems to have opened the door to the pilgrims at Plymouth by removing the native inhabitants, so as to make a place for their settlement there. For many particulars relative to this expedition contained in Mourt's Relation, but omitted in this narrative, see Mass. Hist. Coll. vol. viii. p. 203-213. This was probably Ipswich; although this was the Indian name of part of Wareham, and the village there is still so called. |