REASONS AGAINST IT. 147 IX. Dec. which would follow the overthrow of all, especially CHAP. considering what variable winds and sudden storms do there arise. Also, cold and wet lodging had so tainted 1620. our people, (for scarce any of us were free from vehement coughs,) as if they should continue long in that estate, it would endanger the lives of many, and breed diseases and infection amongst us. Again, we had yet some beer, butter, flesh, and other such victuals left, which would quickly be all gone; and then we should have nothing to comfort us in the great labor and toil we were likely to undergo at the first. It was also conceived, whilst we had competent victuals, that the ship would stay with us; but when that grew low, they would be gone, and let us shift as we could. Others, again, urged greatly the going to Anguum, or Angoum,' a place twenty leagues off to the northwards, which they had heard to be an excellent harbour for ships, better ground, and better fishing. Secondly, for any thing we knew, there might be hard by us a far better seat; and it should be a great hindrance to seat where we should remove again. Thirdly, the water was but in ponds; and it was thought there would be none in summer, or very little. Fourthly, the water there must be fetched up a steep hill.3 2 But to omit many reasons and replics used hereabouts, it was in the end concluded to make some discovery Agawam, Ipswich; Smith calls it Augoam. Little was known at this time of Massachusetts Bay, or the distances from one place to another; that little was derived from Smith's map and Description of New England. See Mass. Hist. Coll. xxiii. 1, and xxvi. 118. Perhaps an error for whence. 'I suppose they contemplated building their town, for protection 148 IX. 1620. 3 THE FIRST CHILD BORN. CHAP. Within the bay; but in no case so far as Angoum. Besides, Robert Coppin, our pilot,' made relation of a great navigable river and good harbour in the other headland of the bay, almost right over against Cape Cod, being, in a right line, not much above eight leagues distant, in which he had been once; and because that one of the wild men with whom they had some trucking stole a harping iron from them, they called it Thievish Harbour. And beyond that place they were enjoined not to go. Whereupon a company was chosen to go out upon a third discovery. Whilst some were employed in this discovery, it pleased God that Mistress White was brought a bed of a son, which was called Peregrine.5 Dec. 5. 4 The 5th day we, through God's mercy, escaped a great danger by the foolishness of a boy, one of Fran Coppin was second mate of the 2 The other headland of the bay The word in I insert from Morton, p. 43. A harpoon. In the Boston News Letter, of July 31, 1704, the 15th No. of the first newspaper printed in New England, is the following article of intelligence. "Marshfield, July 22, Captain Peregrine White, of this town, aged 83 years and eight months, died here the 20th inst. He was vigorous and of a comely aspect to the last; was the son of William White and Susanna his wife, born on board the Mayflower, Capt. Jones commander, in Cape Cod harbour, Nov. 1620, the first Englishman born in New EngJand." In the records of Plymouth Colony is the following entry under Oct. 1665, when Thomas Prince was governor. "In reference unto the request of the King's commis sioners in behalf of Lieut. Peregrine White, desiring that the Court would accommodate him with a portion of land, in respect that he was the first of the English that was born in these parts; and in answer unto his own petition preferred to this Court respecting the premises, the Court have granted unto him 200 acres of land, lying and being at the path that goes from Bridgewater to the Bay, adjoining to the Bay line." A list of his descendants, some of whom are still living, may be seen in Thacher's Plymouth, p. 23. "Dec. 4, dies Edward Thomson, servant of Mr. White, the first that dies since their arrival. Dec. 6, dies Jasper, a boy of Mr. Carver's. Dec. 7, Dorothy, wife to Mr. William Bradford, (drowned.) Dec. 8, James Chilton." Gov. Bradford, in Prince, p. 165. Prince had Bradford's pocket-book, which contained a register of deaths, births, and marriages, from Nov. 6, 1620, to the end of March, 1621. THE THIRD EXPEDITION. 149 IX. cis Billington's sons,' who, in his father's absence, had CHAP. got gunpowder, and had shot off a piece or two, and made squibs; and there being a fowling-piece charged 1620. in his father's cabin, shot her off in the cabin; there being a little barrel of powder half full, scattered in and about the cabin, the fire being within four foot of the bed between the decks, and many flints and iron things about the cabin, and many people about the fire; and yet, by God's mercy, no harm done. 6. Wednesday, the 6th of December, it was resolved Dec. our discoverers should set forth, for the day before was too foul weather, and so they did, though it was well o'er the day ere all things could be ready. So ten of our men were appointed who were of themselves willing to undertake it, to wit, Captain Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winsloc, John Tilley, Edward Tilley, John Houland,2 and Billington was not one of the Leyden church, but slipped in among the Pilgrims in England. His accession was of no benefit to the colony. He was a mischievous and troublesome fellow. The first offence in the settlement was committed by him. In March, 1621, he was "convented before the whole company for contempt of the Captain's (Standish) lawful commands, with opprobrious speeches, for which he was adjudged to have his neck and heels tied together." Gov. Bradford, in a letter to Cushman, written June 9, 1625, says, 'Billington still rails against you, and threatens to arrest you, I know not wherefore. He is a knave, and so will live and die." The prophecy was fulfilled, for he was hung in Oct. 1630, for waylaying and shooting a young man, named John Newcomen. Gov. Bradford says, in his History, "The said Billington was one of the profanest among us. He came from London, and I know John Howland, the 13th signer 150 NAMES OF THE PARTY. 3 CHAP. three of London,' Richard Warren,2 Steeven Hopkins, IX. and Edward Dotte, and two of our seamen, John 1620. Alderton and Thomas English. Of the ship's com Dec. 6. pany there went two of the master's mates, Master Clarke and Master Coppin, the master gunner, and three sailors. The narration of which discovery follows, penned by one of the company. Wednesday, the 6th of December, we set out, being very cold and hard weather. We were a long while, after we launched from the ship, before we could get clear of a sandy point, which lay within less than a furlong of the same. In which time two were very sick, instrument of good, and was the last of the male survivors of those who caine over in the Mayflower in 1620, and whose place of abode was Plymouth." John Alden, of Duxbury, outlived him 15 years. The last survivor of the Mayflower was Mary Cushman, daughter of Isaac Allerton, who was alive in 1699. Howland died in 1672 at Rocky Nook, in Kingston, aged 80. He had four sons and six daughters, some of whose descendants are still living in the Old Colony and in Rhode Island. A genealogy of the family, written by one of them, the venerable John Howland, President of the R. I. Historical Society, is inserted in Thacher's Plymouth, p. 129. See Farmer's Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England, App. art. Howland ; Mitchell's Bridgewater, p. 379; Hutchinson's Mass. ii. 456, 462. 'They were therefore not memhers of Robinson's congregation at Leyden. See p. 78, and note' on p. 122 of this volume. 2 Richard Warren, the 12th signer of the Compact, with the honorable prefix of Mr. is mentioned by Bradford as a nost useful man, during the short time he lived, bearing a deep share in the difficul ties and troubles of the plantation. He died in 1628. His widow, Elizabeth, survived him about 45 years, dying in 1673, at the age of 90. They had two sons and five daughters. His descendants perpetuate the name in Plymouth, New Bedford, Lowell, Boston, New York, and elsewhere. At the partition of the lands in 1623, Richard Warren's lot was assigned him near Eel river. The farm has continued in the possession of his posterity till within a few years. See Hutchinson's Mass. ii. 462; Morton's Memorial, p. 135; Thacher's Plymouth, p. 71. They were not a part of the Mayflower's crew, but were intended to remain in the country and to manage the Speedwell, had she come over. Their occupation at present, I suppose, was to take charge of the shallop, until another small vessel should be sent over; which took place in Aug. 1623, when a pinnace of 44 tons, called the Little James, arrived. There were 18 in all; among whom were 12 out of the 41 signers of the Compact. 5 I take it to be Bradford. See note on page 115. The end of Long Point. F. BILLINGSGATE POINT. 151 IX. Dec. and Edward Tilley had like to have sounded' with CHAP. We sailed six or seven leagues by the shore, but Swooned. Nothing further is The shore of Truro. |