The day following they sounded the harbour, and found it fit for shipping; went on shore, and explored the adjacent land, where they saw various cornfields and brooks; and, judging the situation to be convenient for a settlement, they returned with the welcome intelligence to the ship.1 1620. Dec. 11. ing at Ply- Ship sails On the 15th they weighed anchor, and proceeded with the ship for this newly discovered port, where they arrived on the for this following day. On the 18th and 19th they went on shore for port. discovery, but returned at night to the ship. On the morning of the 20th, after imploring divine guidance, they went on shore again, to fix on some place for immediate settlement. After viewing the country, they concluded to settle on a high ground, facing the bay, where the land was cleared, and the water was excellent. go on shore. Dec. 25. On Saturday the 23d, as many of the company as could, with --- 23. convenience, went on shore, and felled and carried timber to the Company spot, designated for the erection of a building for common use. On Lord's day the 24th, the people on shore were alarmed by the cry of Indians, and expected an assault; but they continued unmolested. On Monday the 25th they began to build the first house. A platform for their ordnance demanding the earliest attention, they on the 28th began one upon a hill, which com- Build the manded an extensive prospect of the plain beneath, of the ex- first house. panding bay, and of the distant ocean. In the afternoon they divided their whole company into 19 families; measured out the ground; and assigned to every person by lot half a pole in breadth, and three poles in length, for houses and gardens. Though most of the company were on board the ship on the Lord's day, December 31st; yet some of them kept sabbath for Epoch of the first time in their new house. Here therefore is fixed the their first in his edition of the Memorial.-The island on which the first sabbath was kept, was afterwards called Clark's Island, "because Mr. Clark, the master's mate, first stepped ashore thereon" [Morton]; and it still retains that name. It is "by the mouth of Plymouth harbour," and in full view of the town. 1" The place of this first landing at Plymouth is satisfactorily ascertained. Unquestionable tradition had declared, that it was on a large rock, at the foot of a cliff near the termination of the north street leading to the water. In the year 1774 an attempt was made to remove this rock (over which a wharf had been built) to a more central situation. The rock was split in the operation. The upper portion of it was removed and placed near the Court House; and is regarded by the Inhabitants and by Visitors as a precious memorial of that interesting event, the arrival of the first planters of New England to their place of settlement." The 22d day of December, New Style, corresponding to the 11th Old Style, has long been observed at Plymouth, and occasionally at Boston, in commemoration of the Landing of the Fathers. "The New England Society, in the city of New York, annually celebrate this day by an appropriate festival. At Plymouth, it has universally and familiarly the appellation of ForefatherDay." NOTE of Judge Davis, p. 48, in his recent edition of New England's Memorial. 2 This fortification was made on the summit of the hill, on which Plymouth burying ground now lies; and the reliques of it are still visible. settlement; 1620. called Ply mouth. New patent company. epoch of their settlement, which, in grateful remembrance of the Christian friends whom they found at the last town they left in their native country, they called Plymouth. This was the found ation of the first English town, built in New England.1 After the departure of the adventurers from the coast of Engto Plymouth land, a new patent, dated the 3d day of November, was granted by king James to the duke of Lenox, the marquisses of Buckingham and Hamilton, the earls of Arundel and Warwick, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, with 34 associates, and their successors, styling them, "The Council established at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling, ordering, and governing of NEW ENGLAND, in America." By this patent that part of the American territory, which lies between the 40th and the 48th degree of north latitude in breadth, and "in length by all the breadth aforesaid throughout the main land from sea to sea," was given to them in absolute property; the same authority and privileges, which had previously been given to the treasurer and company of Virginia, were now conferred on them; and they were equally empowered to exclude all from trading within the boundaries of their jurisdiction, and from fishing in the neighbouring seas. This patent was the only civil basis of all the subsequent patents and plantations, which divided this country.2 Virginia. While the foundation of a new settlement was laid in the north, the Virginia colony was making rapid progress in the south. Eleven ships, which had sailed the preceding year from England, arrived at Virginia, with 1260 persons for settlement. Nearly 1000 colonists were settled there, previous to this accession. One of the methods adopted for the increase of their number, if not the most delicate, was perhaps the most politic. The enterprising colonists being generally destitute of families, 1 Purchas, v. 1842-1849. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. viii. 203-222. Morton, 1-25. Hubbard, N. Eng. c. 9. Prince, 1620. Smith, Virg. 230-233. Josselyn, Voy. 248. I. Mather, N. Eng. 5. "A Relation or Journal of a Plantation settled at Plymouth in New England, and Proceedings thereof," quoted by historians as "Mourt's Relation," and E. Winslow's "Good News from New England," are reprinted, with explanatory Notes by the Editor, in the VIIIth. volume of the first Series of the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Those Notes and the valuable papers in that volume by the same hand, with the obscure signature of r. s. were by the Rev. Dr. Freeman, late Recording Secretary of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 2 Mather, Magnal. i. 4. Prince, 1620. Chalmers, b. 1. 81. This patent is in Hazard's Collections, i. 103–118, and in Trumbull's History of Connecticut (2d edit.), i. Appendix, No. xxvi. "The warrantable Grounds and Proceedings of the first AssoCIATES of New Plimouth, in their laying the first Foundation of this Government in their making of Laws, and disposing of the Lands within the same; 99 are printed in a Preface to the Laws of New Plimouth, collected from the Records of the General Court by Secretary Morton, 1685. 3 Harris' Voy. i. lib. 5. c. 25. p. 840, where it is said, there were sent out "at least 1260 persons; and Smith [126.] says, 650 were destined for the public use, and 611 for private plantations. See A. D. 1622. Sir Edwin Sandys, the treasurer, proposed to the Virginia company to send over a freight of young women, to become wives for the planters. The proposal was applauded; and 90 girls, 66 young and uncorrupt," were sent over in the ships that arrived this year; and, the year following, 60 more, handsome and well recommended to the company for their virtuous education and demeanor. The price of a wife, at the first, was 100 pounds of tobacco; but, as the number became scarce, the price was increased to 150 pounds, the value of which, in money, was three shillings per pound. This debt for wives, it was ordered, should have the precedency of all other debts, and be first recoverable. Beside the transportation of reputable people, the king commanded the treasurer and council of the Virginia company to send to Virginia 100 dissolute persons, to be delivered to them by the knight marshal; and they were accordingly sent over as servants. The early custom of transporting vicious and profligate people to that colony, as a place of punishment and disgrace, though designed for its benefit, yet became ultimately prejudicial to its growth and prosperity.1 The Virginia company, disliking the almost exclusive application of their colony to the culture of tobacco, encouraged various projects for raising articles of more immediate necessity and benefit, and particularly the culture of silk. In conformity to this new policy, 150 persons in the colony were sent to set up three iron works; directions were given for making cordage; it was recommended to the people to make pitch, tar, and potashes; and men, with materials, were sent over for the purpose of erecting several saw mills.2 A special commission was issued in April, by king James, for the inspection of tobacco; and a proclamation in June for restraining the disorderly trading in this obnoxious article.3 This year is remarkable, in Virginian history, for the introduction of freedom into colonial commerce. The monopoly of the treasurer and company, which had depressed the settlement, was relinquished, and the trade laid open to all without restriction.1 There were at this time but five ministers in Virginia; and 11 boroughs erected into 11 parishes.5 This year is memorable for the introduction of negro slaves Smith 1 Stith, 166-197. Belknap, Biog. ii. 68, 70. Chalmers, b. 1. 46. [Hist. Virg. 127.] says, that 50 servants were, this year, sent for public service; 50, whose labours were to bring up 30 of the Infidel's children; and that others were sent to private planters. 2 Stith's Virginia, 177. 3 Rymer's Fœd. xvii. 190, 233. Hazard, Coll. i. 89-96, where the commission and proclamation are inserted entire. The title of the first is, " Commissio Specialis concernens le Garbling Herbæ Nicotianæ.” 4 Chalmers, b. 1. 49. 5 Stith, 173. 1620. 1620. Negroes imported: Captain Dermer killed. Guiana: Plymouth. March 16. First Indian visit. into Virginia. A Dutch man of war landed 20 negroes for sale; and these were the first that were brought into the country.1 Captain Dermer sailed again to New England, and arriving at Capewack [Martha's Vineyard], he was suddenly assaulted by Epenow and other Indians, and received fourteen wounds, which compelled him to go again to Virginia, where he died.2 About a year after the death of Sir Walter Raleigh, king James granted Roger North a commission to inhabit and settle a colony near the river of Amazons in Guiana; so great, however, was the influence of Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, that the king in May issued a proclamation to recall him, and another, for regulating the trade with that country.3 1621. THE Plymouth colonists on the 9th of January proceeded to the erection of their projected town; which they built in two rows of houses for greater security. On the 14th their Common house, which had been built in December, took fire from a spark that fell on its thatched roof, and was entirely consumed. On the 17th of February they met for settling military orders, and having chosen Miles Standish for their captain, conferred on him the power pertaining to that office.1 On the 16th of March an Indian came boldly, alone, into the street of Plymouth, and surprised the inhabitants by calling out, "Welcome, Englishmen! Welcome, Englishmen !" He was their first visitant; his name was Samoset, a sagamore of the country lying at the distance of about five days' journey. Having conversed with the English fishermen who had come to this coast, and learned of them to speak broken English, he informed the Plymouth people, that the place where they were seated was called by the Indians Patuxet; that all the inhabitants died of an extraordinary plague, about four years since; and that there was neither man, woman, nor child, remaining.5 No natives therefore 1 Beverly, b. 1. c. 3. Stith, 182. Burk, 211. Smith, Virg. 126, where the Univ. Hist. xli. 528. Chalmers, b. 1. 49; "This is the sad epoch of the introduction of African slavery into the 2 Harris, Voyages. Purchas, v. 1830. Hubbard, N. Eng. c. 8. Belknap, Biog. Art. GORGES. Prince, 1620. Morton, 59, and Edit. Note. 3 Oldys, Life Ral. 223. Rymer's Fœdera, xvii. 215. See A. D. 1617. 4 Mourt's Relation, in Purchas, b. 10, c. 4; and Coll. Mass. Historical Society, viii. 223–225. The first houses in Plymouth were on each side of the same street, which leads from the old church in Plymouth to the water side. On the place where it is supposed the common house stood, in digging a cellar, in 1801, there were discovered several tools and a plate of iron, seven feet below the surface of the ground. 5" As indeed," adds Mourt, "we have found none, so as there is none to hinder our possession, or to lay claim unto it." were dispossessed of this territory to make room for the English, 1621. excepting by the providence of God previous to their arrival.1 Samoset, treated with hospitality by these strangers, was disposed to preserve an intercourse with them; and, on his third visit, was accompanied by Squanto, one of the natives, who had been carried off by Hunt in 1614, and afterwards lived in England. They informed the English, that Masassoit, the greatest Masassoit, king of the neighbouring Indians, was near, with his brother and an Indian a number of his people; and within an hour he appeared on the his first aptop of a hill over against the English town, with a train of 60 pearance. men.2 Mutual distrust prevented for sometime any advances from either side. Squanto at length, being sent to Masassoit, brought back word, that the English should send one of their number to parley with him. Mr. Edward Winslow was accordingly sent. Two knives, and a copper chain, with a jewel in it, were sent to Massasoit at the same time; and to his brother a knife, and a jewel, "with a pot of strong water," a quantity of biscuit, and some butter, all which articles were gladly accepted. Mr. Winslow, the messenger, in a speech to Masassoit, signified, that king James saluted him with words of love and peace, and that the English governor desired to see him, and to truck with him, and to confirm a peace with him, as his next neighbour. The Indian king heard his speech with attention, and approbation. After partaking of the provision, which made part of the English present, and imparting the rest to his company, he looked on Mr. Winslow's sword and armour, with an intimation of his desire to buy it; but found him unwilling to part with it. At the close of the interview, Masassoit, leaving Mr. Winslow in the custody of his brother, went over the brook, which separated him from the English, with a train of 20 men, whose bows and arrows were left behind. He was met at the brook by captain Standish and Mr. Williamson, with six musketeers, who conducted him to a house then in building, where were placed a green rug and three or four cushions. The governor now advanced, attended with a drum and trumpet, and a few musketeers. After 1 The desolating effects of this plague were known in England before the charter of 3d November, 1620; for in the charter itself, king James expressly assigns that desolation as a reason for granting it: "Also, for that we have been further given certainly to knowe, that within these late yeares there hath by God's visitation raigned a wonderfull Plague, together with many horrible slaughters, and murthers, committed amoungst the Savages and bruitish people there, heertofore inhabiting, in a manner to the utter destruction, devastacion, and depopulacion of that whole territorye, so that there is not left for many leagues together in a manner, any that doe claime or challenge any kind of interests therein." Charter, Hazard, Coll. i. 105. See Davis's Morton's Mem. and his Notes, p. 51, 52, and Note B. See NOTE XXII. 2 This was Watson's hill on the south side of Town brook. Dr. Freeman. king, makes |
