the said Isaack Allerton doth, for him, his heirs and assigns, covenant, promise, and grant too and with the adven[turers] whose names are here unto subscribed, ther heirs, etc. well and truly to pay, or cause to be payed, unto the said adven[turers] or 5 of them which were, at that meeting afforsaid, nominated and deputed, viz. John Pocock,' John Beauchamp, Robart Keane, Edward Base, and James Sherley, marchants, their heirs, etc. too and for the use of the generallitie of them, the sume of 1800li. of law full money of England, at the place appoynted for the receipts of money, on the west side of the Royall Exchaing' in 1 This is the only mention of John Pocock to be found in Bradford, yet he had a long and close interest in New England affairs. He became a member of the Company of the Massachusetts Bay, and in 1629 received an election as assistant. Fifteen years after, at the suggestion of Thomas Weld, he received a commission from the Colony to act, with others, as its agents for conducting its business in England. Winthrop, History (Savage), 11. 260. While acting on that commission he was directed to appear before the Commissioners for Plantations, on the question of jurisdiction over the lands adjoining Narragansett Bay. Mass. Col. Rec., 111. 48. He received the thanks of the Colony for his conduct of the controversy with Alderman Barkeley. Winthrop (Savage), 11. 244; Mass. Col. Rec., 11. 138. With Weld his name appears as a promoter of the younger Winthrop's iron works at Braintree, 1645-1647. 2 Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, VIII. 16. For his services or supplies sent to the colony a claim for £50 was made, and payment delayed for many years, the settlement probably being effected after 1652. The name of James Sherley appears in the same position as creditor of Massachusetts Bay, with that of Pocock. 4 Mass. Hist. Collections, vi. 111; Mass. Col. Rec., 11. 262; III. 247, 255, 291. Little is known of Robert Keayne's career before he came to Massachusetts in the Defence, in 1635. He belonged to the Merchant Tailors Company of London, and possessed means. His son, Benjamin, influenced by domestic troubles, returned to England and set up as a cloak seller in Birching Lane, where it is not unlikely the father had followed the same trade. 4 Mass. Hist. Collections, vi. 568. His name is so closely identified with Boston that further notice will be deferred for the Winthrop History. This was the usual place and time for payments. In the Gorges-Mason patent of 1631, payments were to be made "at the Assurance house on the west side of the Royall Exchange London (if it be demanded), the first payment to begin at the feast of St. Michael the Archangell." Records of the Council for New England, 98. The lane to the west of the Royal Exchange was named St. Christopher's Alley, and ran from Cornhill to Three Needle Street. On it was the Castle Tavern. The parish church of London, by 200li.1 yearly, and every year, on the feast of St. Migchell, the first paiment to be made Anno: 1628. etc. Allso the said Isaack is to indeavor to procure and obtaine from the planters of N[ew] P[limoth] aforesaid, securitie, by severall obligations, or writings obligatory, to make paiment of the said sume of 1800li. in forme afforsaid, according to the true meaning of these presents.2 In testimonie wherof to this part of these presents remaining with the said Isaack Allerton, the said subscribing adven[turers]; have sett to their names, etc. And to the other part remaining with the said adven[turers]; the said Isaack Allerton hath subscribed his name, the 15. Nov[em]b[e]r Anno. 1626. in the 2 year of his Majesties raigne.3 St. Michael the Archangel stood on Cornhill, one block to the east of the Exchange and on the opposite side of the street. Michaelmas, the 29th of September, was one of the four quarter-days in England on which rents were paid. The selection showed consideration on the part of the Adventurers, for the returns of the summer's fishing and trading would then be available. 1 "These disasters, losses and uncertainties, made such disagreement among the Adventurers in England, who beganne to repent, and rather lose all, than longer continue the charge, being out of purse six or seven thousand pounds, accounting my bookes and their relations as old Almanacks. But the Planters, rather than leave the Country, concluded absolutely to supply themselves, and to all their adventurers pay them for nine yeares two hundred pounds yearely without any other account." Smith, Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters, *19. 2 Sherley claimed to be the "first propounder" of this plan at the meeting, and to have induced the other four associates to sign with him. For his own attitude, see P. 35, infra. 3 From Bradford's Letter Book the names of the Adventurers subscribing this paper are learned: This agreemente was very well liked of, and approved by all the plantation, and consented unto; though they knew not well how to raise the payment, and discharge their other ingagements, and supply the yearly wants of the plantation, seeing they were forced for their necessities to take up money or goods at so high intrests. Yet they undertooke it, and. 7. or. 8. of the cheefe of the place became joyntly bound for the paimente of this 1800li. (in the behalfe of the rest) at the severall days. In which they rane a great adventure, as their present state stood, having many other heavie burthens allready upon them, and all things in an uncertaine condition amongst them. So the next returne it was absolutly confirmed on both sides, and the bargen fairly ingrossed in partchmente and in many things put into better forme, by the advice of the learnedest counsell they could gett; and least any forfeiture should fall on the whole for none paimente at any of the days, it rane thus: to forfite 30s. a weeke if they missed the time; and was concluded under their hands and seals, as may be seen at large by the deed it selfe. [145].1 Now though they had some untowarde persons mixed amongst them from the first, which came out of England, and more afterwards by some of the adventure[r]s, as freindship or other affections led them, though sundrie were gone, some for Virginia, and some to other places, yet diverse were still mingled amongst Richard Wright, John Ling, Thomas Goffe, Of these names six were found among the members of the Massachusetts Company, viz. John White, John Pocock, Thomas Goffe, Samuel Sharpe, John Revell, and Thomas Andrews. 1 This deed has not been preserved. "Thus all now is become our own, as we say in the proverb, when our debts are paid. And doubtless this was a great mercy of God unto us, and a great means of our peace and better subsistence, and wholly dashed all the plots and devises of our enemies, both there and here, who daily expected our ruin, dispersion and utter subversion by the same; but their hopes were thus far prevented, though with great care and labor, we were left to struggle with the payment of the money." Bradford Letter Book, 48. |