[he is passing to Cape Cod, he will pause a moment at Clampudding Pond, about seven miles from the town, where the people in ancient days, when travelling from the cape to attend the courts of Plymouth, used to sit and regale themselves with the clams and pudding which they brought with them. A few miles further s., on the same road, are the Sacrifice Rocks, which are covered with the dry limbs of trees and pineknots, heaped upon them by the Indians as they pass by, in observance of an ancient usage, the origin of which is uncertain.

The cheapness of living, the plenty of fuel, and the convenient mill-seats which are to be found in Plymouth, will probably render it, at some future period, a considerable manufacturing town. Domestic manufactures are now very general there. Fishery and foreign commerce at present engage almost all the active capital of the town; but the contigencies to which they are exposed may lead to some other sources of employment and profit.

*

In the three last quarters of 1796, the exports were as follow:

Second quarter Third ditto

Fourth ditto

56,243 dollars

36,634

36,006

In the first quarter of the year 1797, they amounted only to 11,466 dollars. This diminution has been produced by the apprehensions excited by the depredations of the French on the commerce of the United States.

[We shall conclude this article with an interesting and authentic summary of the affairs of the colony of New Plymouth, from the first settlement until the incorporation with Massachusetts Bay, &c. in one province.

The first settlers of New Plymouth went, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, from England to Holland. Their removal to Holland was attended with no small difficulty and hazard. One of the company, by name Bradford, gives this account of it: "There was a large company of them proposed to get passage at Boston in Lincolnshire, and, for that end, had hired a ship wholly to themselves, and made agreement with the master to be ready at a certain day, and take them and their goods in at a convenient place, where accordingly they would all attend in readiness. So after long waiting and large expense, though he kept not day with them, yet he came at length and took them in, in the night. But when he had them and their goods aboard he betrayed them, having beforehand complotted with the searchers and other officers so to do,

who took them and put them into open boats, and then rifled and ransacked them, searching them to their shirts for money, yea even the women, further than became modesty; and then carried them back into the town, and made them a spectacle and wonder to the multitude, which came flocking on all sides to behold them. Being thus, first by the catchpoles, rifled and stripped of their money, books, and much other goods, they were presented to the magistrates, and messengers sent to inform the lords of the council of them, and so they were committed to ward. Indeed the magistrates used them courteously, and showed them what favour they could; but could not deliver them till order came from the council table, but the issue was that, after a month's imprisonment, the greatest part were dismissed, and sent to the places from whence they came; but seven of the principal men were still kept in prison, and bound over to the assizes. The next spring after there was another attempt made, by some of these and others, to get over at another place; and so it fell out, that they light of a Dutchman at Hull, having a ship of his own belonging to Zealand. They made agreement with him, and acquainted him with their condition, hoping to find more faithfulness in him than in the former of their own nation. He bade them not fear, for he would do well enough. He was by appointment to take them in between Grimstone and Hull, where was a large common a good way distant from any town. Now against the prefixed time, the women and children, with the goods, were sent to the place in a small bark, which they had hired for that end, and the men were to meet them by land; but it so fell out that they were there a day before the ship came, and the sea being rough, and the women very sick, prevailed with the seamen to put into a creek hard by, where they lay on ground at low water. The next morning the ship came, but they were fast and could not stir till about noon. In the mean time, the shipmaster, perceiving how the matter was, sent his boat to get the men aboard whom he saw ready, walking about the shore; but after the first boatful was got aboard, and she was ready to go for more, the master espied a great company, both horse and foot, with bills and guns, and other weapons; for the country was raised to take them. The Dutchman, seeing that, swore his country oath, sacramente,' and, having the wind fair, weighed anchor, hoisted sails and away. After enduring a fearful storm at sea, for 14 days or more, seven whereof they]

[never saw sun, moon, nor stars, and being driven near the coast of Norway, they arrived at their desired haven, where the people came flocking, admiring their deliverance, the storm having been so long and sore, in which much hurt had been done, as the master's friends related to him in their congratulations. The rest of the men that were in greatest danger, made a shift to escape away before the troop could surprize them, those only staying that best might be assisting unto the women. But pitiful it was to see the heavy case of these poor women in distress; what weeping and crying on every side, some for their husbands that were carried away in the ship, others not knowing what should become of them and their little ones, crying for fear and quaking with cold. Being apprehended, they were hurried from one place to another, till, in the end, they knew not what to do with them; for, to imprison so many women with their innocent children, for no other cause, many of them, but that they would go with their husbands, seemed to be unreasonable, and all would cry out of them; and to send them home again was as difficult, for they alleged, as the truth was, they had no homes to go to, for they had either sold or otherwise disposed of their houses and livings. To be short, after they had been thus turmoiled a good while, and conveyed from one constable to another, they were glad to be rid of them in the end upon any terms, though, in the mean time, they, poor souls, endured misery enough."

After eleven or twelve years residence in Holland, in which time they had contention among themselves, and divided and became two churches or congregations, one of the congregations, whose minister was Mr. John Robinson, determined to remove to America. There were many obstacles in their way, and it took up several years of their pilgrimage to make the necessary preparations for such an undertaking. At length, in the year 1620, about one half the congregation embarked, first from Holland to England, where two ships were ready to receive them; and they actually sailed at a very seasonable time, but meeting with contrary winds and one of the ships proving leaky, they put back and were obliged to leave her with part of their company behind, the other ship proceeding upon her voyage late in the year, so that it was about the 8th or 9th of November before they made the coast of America, and falling more to the northward than they intended, they made another attempt to sail further s.; but meeting with contrary wind and

hazardous shoals, they were glad to put into the harbour of Cape Cod, determined to winter in the most convenient place they could find. This disappointment was grievous to them, but before spring, they considered it as a favourable provi. dence. They were so reduced in the winter by sickness and death, that they supposed they must have fallen a sacrifice to the Indians upon Hudson's River, where they proposed to begin a colony. The master, or pilot, it is said, bribed by the Dutch West-India company, had engaged, at all events, not to land them at Hudson's River, but they were determined upon it, and earlier in the year he would have found it very difficult to have diverted them.

The ship lay five weeks in Cape Cod harbour. They could not expect to find a better harbour, but the land was of no value. The passengers were employed, sometimes travelling by land, sometimes by water, in search of some other harbour, where there was better land, but could find none capable of receiving vessels of any burden. At length, December 6th, they resolved upon one attempt more, and after coasting many leagues, a violent storm arose and their pilot made for the first harbour, which he supposed to be Sagaquabe, where he was well acquainted, but soon found himself in a cove, since called the Gurnet's Nose, full of breakers, and crying out, my eyes never saw this place before,' would have run the shallop ashore before the wind, if a stout seamen who was at the helm had not called to the oars men, "About with her, if you are men;' and by this means he saved their lives, for he discovered an opening or sound a-head, and, in a short time, run the boat under the lee of an island, now well known by the name of Clark's Island. Here they road out the storm and in the morning went ashore, kindled a fire and rested, it being the first day of the week. The next day they sounded many parts of the harbour, and found good water for ships, and were pleased with the land, and judged it the best place they had seen, and the Indian corn-fields round the harbour encouraged them that they should be able also to raise bread for their support. Upon their return to the ship with this good news they weighed anchor, and the whole company arrived the 16th of December. The whole number, exclusive of the mariners, amounted to 101, about one fourth part heads of families, the rest wives, children and servants. They supposed some at least of the company which they left behind in England, and most of the congregation in Leyden, with Mr. Robinson the minister, would follow; and this seems to have]

[been the whole number expected upon their plan, for completing the colony. In truth, as many as 35 did arrive the 9th of November the next year, but their minister never came. He encouraged them from year to year, and seems to have been prevented by disappointments from those in England, who undertook to provide for the passage of him and his congregation, until the year 1625, when he died, and his congregation dispersed, although some found their way to their brethren before and some after his death. He was at first a thorough separatist, and Mr. Hubbard says "was transported with their principles so far as to publish his opinions against hearing any of the preachers of the church of England were they never so learned and pious, but afterwards acknowledged his error in a judicious and godly discourse," &c. He is said to have been a man of good learning and of a benevolent disposition, and Mr. Bradford relates an anecdote which shows him, as well as their congregation in general, to have been in no small esteem among the Dutch.

Our new comers had obtained a grant of part of the continent near Hudson's River, before the year 1620, and expected to be under the government of the colony in Virginia, but, before they embarked, they heard that the lands within their grant were made part of a new patent to the council of Plymouth in Devon; so that they were going into a part of the world where there was no government subsisting by authority from any European state, nor did they carry other powers or authority with them, than what each of them brought into the world.

They were convinced, upon their passage, that they could not long subsist without government. Some of the inferior class among them muttered, that when they should get ashore, one man would be as good as another, and they would do what seemed good in their own eyes. This led the graver sort to consider how to prevent it, and, for this purpose, they prepared the following instrument for every man to sign before he landed.

"In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, &c. Having undertaken, for the glory of God and advancement of the christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the

presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherence of the ends aforesaid, and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws and ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due subjection and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the 18th, and of Scotland the 54th, Anno Dom. 1620. (Signed by) John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton, John Croxton, John Billington, Joses Fletcher, John Goodman, Digory Priest, Thomas Williams, Gilbert Winslow, Edw. Mageson, Peter Brown, Richard Bitteridge, George Soule, Richard Clarke, Richard Gardner, John Allerton, Thomas English, Edw. Doten, Ed. Liester."

John Carver, Wm. Bradford, Edw. Winslow, Wm. Brewster, Isaac Allerton, Miles Standish, John Alden, Sam. Fuller, Christopher Martin, Wm. Mullins, Wm. White, Richard Warren, John Howland, Stephen Hopkins, Edw. Tilley, John Tilley, Francis Cook, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Ridgsdale, Edw. Fuller,

These we suppose to have been all the males, of age, in the company; 21 of whom died before the end of March, of the scurvy and other sickness, caused by bad lodging and bad diet, and the hardships of the winter. About the same proportion of the women and children died also, 50 being the whole number then surviving. In 1650 there were 30 remaining alive, in 1679 only 12, in 1694 only two; and Mary Cushman only, daughter of Isaac Allerton, was alive in 1698. We will now give a brief account of several of these persons.

John Carver had been deacon of their church in Holland, was esteemed for his discreet discharge of that office, and being a grave judicious man, their eyes were upon him for their chief ruler, before they embarked. He lived but a short time. His grandson died at Marshfield, at]

[the age of 102. Not long before his death, this grandson with his son, his grandson and great grandson, were all at work together, without doors, and the great great grandson was in the house at the same time.

William Bradford was one of the younger men of the company. Douglass says, he was a man of no family and no learning. His manuscripts shew that he was a plain sensible man, and in his public trust he was esteemed as a discreet, upright and faithful officer; and he deserves a better character than many of superior birth and education. His son was deputy-governor after his death; his grandson and two of his great grandsons have been of the council for the pro

vince.

Edward Winslow was of a very reputable family, and of a very active genius, which fitted him for employment abroad, and in a great measure prevented a competition between Bradford and him for the governor's place. He was concerned in managing their treaties with the Indians and with the neighbouring colonies, made several voyages to the eastward and to Connecticut river, as well as four or five voyages to England, in the service of the colony first, and afterwards of the Massachusetts; and so established himself in the favour of the then supreme authority in England, as to be employed in some very important services. In 1651 he was one of the commissioners of Haberdasher's-hall, as they were called, from the place of meeting; and, in 1655, was one of the three superintendants in Cromwell's West India expedition. In one of his embassies, viz. in 1635, he had a difficult task to manage in England; the particular circumstances his friend Bradford has preserved from oblivion, though they are too prolix to be inserted here.

Mr. Winslow's son was first an assistant, then governor of the colony; his grandson one of the council for the province, and many years at the head of the county of Plymouth; one of his great grandsons lost his life fighting for his country; two others filled offices of honour and trust, and there are now many reputable branches of the name and family in different parts of the province.

William Brewster was highly esteemed by the whole company, was their ruling elder in Holland, which seems to have been the bar to his being their governor; civil and ecclesiastical office, in the same person, being then deemed incompatible. Mr. Bradford gives this account of him: "After he had attained the knowledge

of the Latin tongue, and some insight into the Greek, and spent some small time at Cambridge, and then, being first seasoned with the seeds of grace and virtue, he went to the court, and served that religious and godly gentleman Mr. Davison, divers years, when he was secretary of state; who found him so discreet and faithful, that he trusted him above all other that were about him, and only employed him in all matters of greatest trust and secrecy. He esteemed him rather as a

son than a servant, and for his wisdom and godliness, in private, he would converse with him more like a friend and familiar than a master. He attended his master when he was sent in ambassage by the queen to the Low Countries, in the Earl of Leicester's time. He afterwards remained with him till his trouble, when he was put from his place about the death of the Queen of Scots, and some time after, doing him many faithful offices and services in the time of his troubles. Afterwards he went and lived in the country, in good esteem among his friends and the gentlemen of those parts, especially the godly and religious. He was the chief of those that were taken at Boston, and suffered the greatest loss. After he came into Holland he suffered much hardship, having spent most of his means, having a great charge and many children; and, in regard of his former breeding and course of life, not so fit for many employments as others were, especially such as were toilsome and laborious. In the latter part of the time spent in Holland, his outward condition was mended. He fell into a way, by reason he had the Latin tongue, to teach many students who had a desire to learn the English tongue, for he drew rules to learn it, after the Latin manner; and many gentlemen, both Danes and Germans, resorted to him, as they had time from their other studies, some of them being great men's sons. Removing into this country, these things were laid aside, and a new course of living must be submitted to, in which he was no way unwilling to take his part and to bear his burthen with the rest, living many times without bread or corn many months together, many times having nothing but fish, and often wanting that also; and drank nothing but water for many years together, yea, till within five or six years of his death, and yet he lived, by the blessing of God, in health till very old age, &c." He lived untiĺ 1643, and then died at the age of 84.

William Brewster, grandson of the above, was deacon of the church at Duxbury. Many of his posterity, we are informed, are living in that colony.]

[Isaac Allerton or Alderton, the first assistant, was employed several times to negociate matters in England, relative to their trade, and at length left them and settled there. His male posterity settled in Maryland. If they be extinct, Point Alderton, which took his name, will probably preserve it many ages.

Miles Standish, is said by Morton, to have been a gentleman of Lancashire, heir to a great estate, surreptitiously detained from him; his great grandfather being a second or younger brother of the house of Standish.' He had been a soldier in the Low Countries, and was thought, although of remarkable small stature, the most proper person for their chief military officer, as long as he lived. Many things are said of his notable strength and courage. It is said, that when the news of the first Indians being killed, by him, came to Mr. Robinson in Holland, he wrote to his church to consider the disposition of their captain, who was of a warm temper, and whom he hoped the Lord had sent among them for good, if they used him right;' but Mr. Robinson doubted, whether there was not wanting that tenderness of the life of man, made after God's image, which was meet,' and he thought it would have been a happy thing, if they had converted some before they had killed any.' It seems Standish was not of their church at first; and Mr. Hubbard says, he had more of his education in the school of Mars than in the school of Christ. He acquired, however, the esteem of the whole colony, and died in 1656, much lamented. His farm in Duxbury retains the name of Captain's Hill to this day, and some part of it yet remains in the possession of one of his posterity.

William White was remarkable for being the father of the first-born child, Peregrine White, who lived until 1704.

Stephen Hopkins was one of the assistants, and seems to have been much employed in their public affairs. Purchase mentions one Stephen Hopkins, one of Sir George Somers's company at Bermudas, as being disaffected to their civil and ecclesiastical regulations, and a promoter of separation, and not unlikely to be the same person. He was the ancestor of Mr. Hopkins of Providence, the present Governor of Rhode Island.

Richard Warren is mentioned by Bradford, as a most useful man among them, the short time he lived; dying in 1628;, his son, grandson, and great grandson, have been since employed in public posts in the colony and province.

VOL. IV.

John Alden was many years an assistant, and several of his descendants have sustained public offices, and some of them are now living: so are the descendants of John Howland. Of the rest of this company we can give little or no account. Timothy Hatherly, indeed, was a merchant of London, engaged with them from the beginning, and came over two or three years after the first. He was the principal founder of the town of Scituate, and was an assistant: so was Thomas Willet, who came from London in 1629, and was a principal trader with the Dutch at Manhados, and in such esteem with them, that they chose him a referree to settle their controverted boundary with the colony of Newhaven. He lived many years after, and died at Swanzey. His son was one of the first settlers of the Naraganset country, in the beginning of last century; and his grandson, Francis Willet, Esq. was a person of distinguished character in that colony.

William Thomas, Edmund Freeman, James Cudworth, Thomas Southworth, were all assistants, and their families still remain in the colony.

We must not, however, omit taking notice of Richard Bourne, an early settler, and a most zealous and indefatigable promoter of the gospel among the Indians; and though we do not find him named in the magistracy himself, yet two of his descendants have been of the council for the province, and several more are now living, of very reputable characters, and distinguished by posts of honour and trust.

These were the founders of the colony of New Plymouth. The settlement of this colony occasioned the settlement of Massachusetts Bay, which was the source of all the other colonies of New England. Virginia was in a dying state, and seemed to revive and flourish from the example of New England. We are not preserving from oblivion the names of heroes, whose chief merit is the overthrow of cities, provinces, and empires, but the names of the founders of a flourishing town and colony, if not of the whole British empire in America. Such then were the leading characters who drew up and signed the instrument already mentioned, for the purpose of providing against any disputes which might arise through want of a due subordination upon their first landing.

By this instrument they formed themselves into a proper democracy, and, if they had gone no further, perhaps they would have done but little towards preserving order. But one great reason of this covenant seems to have been of a]

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