ther Hull. He (Dr. Hoar) was my Aunt Quincey's Brother, and preached as an assistant, to the Rev. Mr. Thomas Thacher at the South Church. The College quickly called him to be President. He was installed in the College Hall in December 1672. Gov. Bellingham lay dead in his House, and Dep. Gov. Leverett was the Chief Civil Magistrat present at that Solemnity. The March following Mrs. Bridget Hoar, now Cotton, was born in Cambridge In 1674 I took my 2d Degree, and Mrs. Hannah Hull, my dear Wife, your honoured Mother, was invited by the Dr. and his Lady to be with them a while at Cambridge. She saw me when I took my Degree and set her affection on me, tho' I knew nothing of it till after our Marriage; which was February 28th. 1675-6. Gov. Bradstreet married us in that we call the Old Hall; 'twas then all in one, a very large Room. As I remember, Madam Thacher and Madam Paige, with whom Gov. Bradstreet boarded, visited us the next day. On the 2d of April, 1677, it pleased God to favour us with the birth of your brother John Sewall, our first-born. In June 1678 you were born. Your brother lived till the September following, and then died. So that by the undeserved Goodness of God your Mother and I never were without a child after the 2d of April 1677. In the Fall 1678, I was seized with the Small Pocks and brought very near to death; so near that I was reported to be dead. But it pleased GOD of his Mercy to Recover me. Multitudes died, two of my special Friends; viz. Mr. John Noyes, and Ensign Benjamin Thirston, who both died while I lay sick and Mr. William Dummer, Son of Jeremiah Dummer Esq., aged about 19 years. Presently after my Recovery, in December, Col. Townsend and I were bearers to Mr. Joseph Tappin, one of the most noted Shop-keepers in Boston. And now what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? The good Lord help me to walk humbly and Thankfully with Him all my days; and profit by Mercies and by Afflictions; that through Faith and Patience I may also in due time fully inherit the Promises. Let us incessantly pray for each other, that it may be so ! Augt. 26, 1720. SAMUEL SEWALL. [Postcript to the above letter, by the son of the writer, Samuel Sewall, Esq., of Brookline, to whom the letter was addressed. "June 30th, 1729, Reed the following acco of my Hond Father: viz. my Great Grandfather Sewall lived at Newbury at Old Town Green where the first Meeting House stood; and upon the Removal of the Meeting House where it now stands (being Mr. Tappin's Meeting House) He sold his House and Ground and moved to Rowley where he died and was Buried."] COL. GOOKIN'S LETTER TO REV. NATHANIEL GOOKIN OF HAMP TON, N. H. Philadelphia, gbr 22d 1710. DR SR The business of ye Province sometimes requires me to visit ye extreme parts of it and I am often obliged to stay at New Castle ye chief town of ye next Government, and by that means miss many opportunities of answering my friends' letters, this and having very little to write that could entertain ye are ye reasons ye have not heard from me of late. I have had two letters from ye since I wrote yo last ye 3d of Oct". By letters from Ireland I am informed two of our relatives are lately dead, viz. Robert Gookin, son of my Uncle Robert, and Augustine Gookin, eldest son of my Uncle Charles. My own affairs in ye government are very likely to improve, for ye last assembly who were extremely ye Proprietor's enemies and against raising money for ye support of Gover'nt, are every one laid by this election, and such men chosen as I believe will answer his expectations and mine. By the packet I have letters from ye Proprietor, wherein he tells mee he has more friends in this ministry than in ye last, and gives me fresh assurances of his friend in case he resigns ye government to ye crown, which he thinks he shall find it his interest to do. I shall not give ye any account of ye public affairs since ye will be better informed by ye prints. I shall not add, but only desire ye will not take my backwardness in writing in an unkind sense, but believe I have a due regard for all my relations and that I am in a more particular manner [Superscription.] To the Reverend Mr. Nath' Gookin, Free Ch. Gookin. Dr Cossa yr very affecte Kinsman and Servt CHAS. GOOKIN. HISTORY OF THE PILGRIM SOCIETY, WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PLYMOUTH COLONY. As introductory to a notice of the Pilgrim Society, the narration of a few facts in reference to the early settlement of New England may be neither inappropriate nor uninteresting. It will serve also to elucidate more fully the objects of the Society. Religious persecution was the chief cause of the emigration of our forefathers to this country. The memorable Reformation, effected principally by the instrumentality of Luther and Calvin, appeared in England in 1534, under Henry VIII. During its progress, in the reigns of Mary, Elizabeth, and James I., those who were denominated Puritans were subjected to the most cruel oppression. Thousands suffered martyrdom; many were banished; and others were doomed to perpetual imprisonment. Those Puritans who lived in the north of England were, on account of their dispersed state, divided, in the year 1606, into two distinct churches. With one of these was connected the celebrated John Robinson, who afterwards became its minister. Persecuted for non-conformity to the established church, he, with a part of his congregation, that they might worship God according to the dictates of their consciences, removed in 1607-8 to Amsterdam, in Holland, where religious toleration was then sanctioned by law; and soon after, (in 1609,) they went to Leyden, where they formed themselves into a church, according to the pattern prescribed, as they supposed, by the word of God. In that place they remained till their removal to America. "Their motives for this," (their removal,) "were to preserve the morals of their youth; to prevent them, through want of employment, from leaving their parents and engaging in business unfriendly to religion; to avoid the inconveniences of incorporating with the Dutch; to lay a foundation for propagating the gospel in the remote parts of the world; and, by separating from all the existing establishments in Europe, to form the model of a pure church, free from the admixture of human The term Puritan was originally a term of reproach, though now one of commendation. Neal, in his History of the Puritans, speaks thus of them: "If a man maintained his steady adherence to the doctrines of Calvin and the Synod of Dort; if he kept the Sabbath and frequented sermons; if he maintained family religion and would neither swear nor be drunk, nor comply with the fashionable vices of the tines, he was called a Puritan." The Puritans arose in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. After the famous Act of Uniformity, or, as it is called, the Bartholomew Act, passed by the English Parliament, in 1662, they were called Non-conformists. Since that period they have been more generally denominated Dissenters. additions." "What Lord Brougham, of England, has said of the North American colonies in general, is most strictly and emphatically true of these individuals in particular. "All idea of wealth or pleasure was out of the question. The greater part of them viewed their emigration as taking up the cross, and bounded their hopes of wealth to the gifts of the Spirit, and their ambition to the desire of a kingdom beyond the grave. A set of men more conscientious in their doings, or simple in their manners, never founded any commonwealth." Such were the reasons which induced the founders of New England to leave all that was dear to them in England and Holland, and to remove to these then inhospitable shores; reasons sufficient to affect the minds, hearts, and conduct of some of the best men that ever lived. Speaking of them, Governor Stoughton remarked, "God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness." In accomplishing their object, "it was agreed by the English congregation at Leyden, that some of their number should go to America to make preparation for the rest. Mr. Robinson, their minister, was prevailed on to stay with the greater part at Leyden; Mr. Brewster,† their elder, was to accompany the first adventurers, but these and their brethren remaining in Holland were to continue to be one church, and to receive each other to Christian communion without a formal dismission, or testimonial. Several of the congregation sold their estates and made a common bank, which, together with money received from other adventurers, enabled them to purchase the Speedwell, a ship of sixty tons, and to hire in England The Rev. Mr. Robinson never came to New England as he intended; but died at Leyden, March 1, 1625, in the fiftieth year of his age. His widow and children afterwards came to Plymouth. Mr. Robinson received a university education in England, and ranked among the first divines of his age. Prince, the New England Annalist, in his Chronology, thus speaks of him: "Ile was highly esteemed both by the city and university of Leyden, for his learning, piety, moderation, and excellent accomplishments. The magistrates, clergy, and scholars lamented his death as a public loss." Mr. William Brewster was born in England, 1560, was educated at the University of Cambridge, and became a zealous Puritan. He resided in the north of England, and when the church was formed over which the Rev. Messrs. Richard Cilfion and John Robinson were ordained as pastors, the members met at his house on Lord's day for worship, so long as they were permitted by the civil authorities. When the church, with their pastors, on account of persecution, had removed to Holland, Mr. Brewster was elected Ruling Elder. After the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, he usually preached to them twice every Sabbath for nine years, as they had no regular minister till Mr. Ralph Smith was ordained their pastor, in 1629; but he never administered the sacraments. He was a man in whom the church reposed the most unlimited confidence in respect to all their spiritual affairs. For piety he was eminent. For human as well as sacred literature, he had a great tasie; and at his death, which occurred April 16, 1611, being 83 years old, he left a handsome library valued in that day at forty-three pounds, a catalogue of which is to be found in the colony records. Allen's Biog. Dict. The ship Speedwell, commanded by Capt. Reynolds, proved leaky and unfit for the voyage, and was discharged from service before the Pilgrims left Plymouth. The whole company, therefore, which came over to this country, were passengers in the May Flower. the May Flower, a ship of one hundred and eighty tons, for the intended enterprise." * The following graphic description of the attachment of the Pilgrims to each other, and of their pious views and feelings on the occasion of their separation, is found in Morton's New England Memorial. "Being prepared to depart, they had a solemn day of humiliation, the pastor teaching a part of the day very profitably, and suitably to the present occasion; the text of Scripture was Ezra viii: 21. The rest of the time was spent in pouring out of prayers unto the Lord, with great fervency, mixed with abundance of tears. When they came to the place," (Delftshaven,) "they found the ship and all things ready; and such of their friends as could not come with them, followed after them, and sundry came from Amsterdam to see them shipped, and to take their leave of them. One night was spent with little sleep with the most, but with friendly entertainment, and Christian discourse, and other real expressions of Christian love. The next day, the wind being fair, they went on board, and their friends with them, where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting, to hear what sighs, and sobs, and prayers did sound amongst them; what tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each other's heart, that sundry of the Dutch strangers, that stood on the quay as spectators, could not refrain from tears: Yet comfortable and sweet it was, to see such lively and true expressions of dear and unfeigned love. Their reverend pastor falling down on his knees, and they all with him, with watery cheeks, commended them with most fervent prayers unto the Lord and his blessing; and then with mutual embraces and many tears, they took their leave one of another, which proved to be the last leave to many of them." On the 6th of September, 1620, the adventurers sailed from Plymouth, in the May Flower, and, on the 9th of November, they arrived, after enduring a perilous voyage, in sight of Cape Cod. Having entered the harbor, they, on the 11th day of the month, after prayer and thanksgiving, subscribed a written instrument, by which they were made a body politic. The covenant entered into was signed by forty-one individuals, who, with their families, amounted to one hundred and one persons. Mr. John Carver was unanimously elected Governor of the colony for one year. Though *Holmes's American Annals. † Governor Carver died greatly lamented on the 5th of April following, having sustained these adventurers undertook their enterprise under the authority and sanction of a royal charter, yet they commenced their political existence as a republic. December 22, 1620, they disembarked and went on shore. The place where they landed, called by the Indians Patuxet, they named Plymouth, after the town in England from which they last sailed. Such was the origin of the settlement of the Plymouth colony. Sentiments of high respect for the principles and character of the first settlers of New England have been cherished in every succeeding generation of their descendants. They have been eager to reward their inestimable service by commemorating their virtues and piety, and by preserving a recollection of their sufferings, resolution, and noble deeds, in so glorious a cause. In doing this they have been actuated by the dictates of nature, reason, and gratitude. On January 13, 1769, when the storm of British oppression was gathering, and the time for open and decided resistance to the crown was at hand, an association called the "Old Colony Club" was formed at Plymouth, consisting of some of the principal men of that place and vicinity; and on December 22, of that year, the "Landing of the Forefathers" was first celebrated.* The Wins the office of chief-magistrate but four months and twenty-four days. "He was a man of great prudence, integrity, and firmness of mind. He had a good estate in England, which he spent in the migration to Holland and America. He was one of the foremost in action, and bore a large share of suffering in the service of the colony, who confided in him as its friend and father. Piety, humility, and benevolence, were eminent traits in his character."-Dr. Belknap. On the death of Governor Carver, although only thirty-two years old, and confined at the time by sickness, Mr. William Bradford was unanimously elected his successor, as Governor of the colony. He conducted the affairs of the colony for the great part of the time, as chief, and two or three years as second magistrate, with consummate prudence and ability for a period of more than thirty-one years. In his youth, he embraced the doctrines which were taught by the venerable Clifton, and afterwards by Robinson, and became one of their most devoted followers. He applied himself with great diligence to the study of the ancient languages, both Latin and Greek. Of the Hebrew his knowledge was intimate, and the French and Dutch he spoke with ease. He read much on subjects of history and philosophy. In theology he was deeply versed, and few there were who could contend with him successfully in a polemical dispute. He wrote considerably; the loss of his valuable manuscript history of the colony to 1646, can never be supplied. — Dr. Thacher's History of Plymouth. *The following dishes were served up for entertainment on the first anniversary; and the account is here inserted as a matter of curiosity: "1, a large baked Indian whortleberry pudding; 2, a dish of sauquetach (succatach, corn and beans boiled together); 3, a dish of clams; 4, a dish of oysters and a dish of cod fish; 5, a haunch of venison, roasted by the first jack brought to the colony; 6, a dish of roasted sea fowl; 7, a dish of frost fish and eels; 8, an apple pie; 9, a course of cranberry tarts and cheese made in the Old Colony."— Dr. Thacher's History of Plymouth. The following toasts were also given on the occasion: 1. To the memory of our brave and pious ancestors, the first settlers of the Old Colony. 2. To the memory of John Carver and all the other worthy Governors of the Old Colony. 3. To the memory of that pious man and faithful historian, Mr. Secretary Morton. 4. To the memory of that brave man and good officer, Capt. Miles Standish. 5. To the memory of Massasoit, our first and best friend, and ally of the Natives. 6. To the memory of Mr. Robert Cushman, who preached the first sermon in New England. 7. The union of the Old Colony and Massachusetts. 8. May every person be possessed of the same noble sentiments against arbitrary power that our worthy ancestors were endowed with. 9. May every enemy to civil or religious liberty meet the same or a worse fate than Archbishop Laud. |