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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

John Qndioott and the men u)ii> oamci to oalem in tlio
AVlG^il in 1628.
i:>alem , Vias a , 1 9 1 0 .

JOHN ENDICOTT
AND THE MEN WHO CAME TO SALEM
IN THE ABIGAIL IN 1628

Bt Frank A. Gardner, M.D.
?iM.Preeldent of the Old Plsnteri Sooletj. Member of the Keeoi Inttltiite.
Atioelate Editor of tbe MMUtcbaiett* Mafulno.

Dejwintal from The MantmehunrHK hfngntine

•lUm tfNMi
TM •AIM Pbm* Oo.. nu.m, Milt.
1910

*JOHN ENDICOTT
AND THE MEN WHO CAME TO SALEM IN THE
ABIGAIL IN 1628

By Frank A. Gardner, M. D.

The second migration to Salem, and the first direct to that port from
England, came in the "Abigail" in 1628, under the direction of John Endicott.
While the members of the little colony of planters under Roger Conant
were struggUng to establish themselves at Salem, whither they had moved
from Cape Ann in 1626, important events were transpiring in England. The
Council, which had been estabhshed at Plymouth, England, and incorporated
November 3, 1620, "for the planting, ruling, ordering and governing of New
England," sold in March, 1627, the following territory: "That part of New
England three miles north of the Merrimack and three miles south of the
Charles River in the bottom of Massachusetts Bay." The purchasers were
"some knights and gentlemen about Dorchester, viz.. Sir Henry Roswell, Sir
John Young, Knights, Thomas Southcoat, John Humphrey, John Endicott
and Simon Whitcome, Gent."
Reverend John White, the patriarch of Dorchester, England, tells us in
his own quaint diction, the way in which the interest of these gentlemen was
enlisted in this enterprise. I quote from his "Brief Relation," printed in
1630. "Some then of the adventurers that still continued their desire to set
forward the plantation of a Colony there, conceiving that if more cattle were
*Thif paper in ilightly amended form wh read at a meeting of the Old Planters
Sodatr held in Salem, March 28, 1900.

a JOHN BlfDICOTT
sent over to those few men left behind, they might not only be t metnt of the
comfortable subsisting of such as were already in the country, but of inviting
some other of their friends and acquaintance to come over to them, adventured
to send over twelve kine and bulls more; and conferring casually with some
gentlemen in London, moved them to add unto them as many more. By
which occasion, the business came to agitation afresh in London, and being
at first approved by some and disliked by others, by argument and disputa
tion it grew to be more vulgar; insomuch that some men showing some good
affection to the work, and offering the help of their purses if fit men might
be procured to go over, inquiry was made whether any would be wilhng to
engage their persons in the voyage. By this inquiry it fell out that among
others they lighted at last on Master Endicott a man well known to divers
pormjHB of good note, who manifested much willingncHs to accept this offer as
soon ttK It was tendered ; which gave great encouragement to such as were upon
the point of resolution to set on this work of erecting a new Colony upon the
old foundation. Hereupon divers persons having subscribed for the raising
of a reasonable sum of money, a patent was grunted with large encourage
ments every way by his m"st excellent Majesty."
This company under the direction of John Endicott, sailed from Wey
mouth, England, June 20, 1028 in the ship "Abigail," commanded by Captain
Henry Gauden or Godden, and arrived at Naumkeag on the 0th of September.
We have abundant contemporary evidence of the date of the arrival. Rev.
John White in the "Planter's Plea" above quoted, stated that Endicott ar
rived "in September, 1628, and uniting his own men with those which were
formerly planted in the country into one body, they made up in all not much
above fifty or sixty persons." Governor Dudley, in a letter written to the
Countess of Lincoln March 12, 1630, in referring to the year 1628 wrote:
"And the fame year we fent Mr. John Endicott and some with him, to begin
a plantation; and to ftrengthen fuch as he fhould find there, which we fent
thither from Dorchester, and fome places adjoyning; from whom the fame
year receiving hopeful news." Governor Bradford in his "letter book" after
referring to some people who were sent to Plymouth from Leyden in 1629
wrote: "as the Lord fent thefe unto us, both to their and our comfort, fo at
the fame time he fent many other godly perfons into the land, as the beginning
of a plentiful harveft, as will appear more fully hereafter; So as the delay of
our friends was now recompenfed with a large increafe, to the honour of God
and joy of all good men; thefe began to pitch at Nahumkeak, fince called
Salem, to which place was come in the latter end of fummer before, a worthy
gentlemen, Mr. John Endicott by name, and fome others with him, to mak&

THE SHIP ABIGAIL, 1628 3
fome preparation for the reft." Governor Bradford again mentions the his
torical position of this settlement in his "Verse on New England," reprinted
in the publications of the Massachusetts Historical Society;
"Almost ten years we hved here alone
In other places there were few or none ;
For Salem was the next of any fame.
That began to augment New England's name."
Another very interesting bit of evidence regarding the coming of the
Endicott party is the following extract from the records of the "Governor and
Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England:
"This day dd a warrant to Mr. George Harwood, Threr, to pay Mr. Barnard
Mitchell one hundred pounds, in pte of the ffreight of the  , Henry
Gawden Mr., from Waimouth to Naumkeke, the goods shipt  of lading
dated 20 June last, beeing p bill of lading 40 1-2 tuns of  besyds ye
chardge of Capten John Endicott, his wiffe and  psons his company,
theire passage & dyett."
Unfortunately the space reserved for the number of persons in the above
document was not filled out and so we are in doubt in regard to the exact
numerical strength of the company, which was evidently a small one. Deputy
Governor Dudley stated that there came "Mr. John Endecottand some with
him." The Reverend John White wrote; "Master Endicott  assisted
with a few men." He later stated that "uniting his own men with those which
were formerly planted in the country into one body, they made up in all not
much above fifty or sixty persons." Hubbard probably received his knowl
edge of this early period from Roger Conant and his allusion to the Endicott
company is therefore especially interesting. He wrote in his "Narrative":
"With Mr. Endicot in the year 1628, came Mr Gotte, Mr. Brackenbury, Mr
Davenport and others, who being added to Capt. Trask and John Woodberry
(that was before this time retumed with a comfortable answer to them that
sent him over) went on comfortably together to make preparation for the
new Colony."
We leam from Hubbard in the last quotation that Messrs. Gott, Bracken-
bury and Davenport came with Endicott and "some others." The Spragues
(Ralph, Richard and WilUam) have been placed by Felt and others as mem
bers of this company and the omission of their names in the above list of
Hubbard's caused Alexander Young in his "Chronicles" to assert that the
claim was therefore invalidated. In the opinion of the writer this
does not necessarily follow. The Spragues may have been included in "the

4 JOHN ENDICOTT
others" referred to but not named. We know from a statement in the Charles
town records that the three Sprague brothers "arrived at Salem at their own
charge." They might easily have paid their passage on the "Abigail," been
included in the "others" referred to and had their names omitted as they were
neither tho employees of the company or pasHongors at tho company's expense.
John Woodbury, as wo have stated In tho "Pounders of tho Mossachu-
sotts Bay Colony," was one of tho Cape Ann Planters who was sent back to
England to procure supplios, returning to Naumkeag in 1028 before Endicott
arrived. The manner in which Hubbard has coupled Captain Trask's name
with Woodbury's loads us to think that in all probability Captain Trask came
over with Woodbury when he returned hither. We believe that Trask came
before Endicott and his biographical sketch has been given in the address upon
¦ the "Founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony."
The old planters who had come to Naumkeag two years before and had
enjoyed their freedom under the mild domination of their peace-loving leader,
Roger Conant, naturally chafed under the sterner rule of John Endicott.
Tho chief bono of contention was the question of raising tobacco, Captain
Endicott having been instructed not to allow anyone to cultivate it, while the
old planters had raised it for two years. This controversy resulted in the giving
of special concessions to the earlier settlers, as Endicott received instructions
from England to allow the Old Planters to cultivate it and this privilege was
renewed lalor. Hubbard tolls UH that tho dlHagrooment was "by tho prudent
moduratlon of Mr, Conanti , , , .(|uiolly coinpoHod," and Rev. John White wrote
thill when the nuiiio was cimngoil from Natiinkoag to Hitlom, it was done "upon
a fair ground, in reiiiunibiaiK'o of u pouco Hiailed upon n uonforonca at a gon*
oral nieullng bulwoon Ihoni and their neighbors, uftor expoclanco of soma
dangerous Jar,"
Tho I'liro oxerclHod by tho nuthorltloH of tho company in England to guard
tho interests of tho OM Planters was murkod and was a subHtantial recognition
of tho value of these mon, In the first letter of general instruction to Endicott
ho was informed that they were "content they shall be portakers of such privi
leges us we, from his Majesty's especial grace, with great cost, favor ot person
ages of noto, and much labor, have obtained ; and that they shall bo incorpor-
otod Into tills Society, and enjoy not only these lands which formerly they
have manured, but such further proportion as by tho advice and judgement" of
Endicott and the rest of, the Council, should be thought fit. They told him
further that it was their purpose that the Planters "should have some benefit
by the common stock  if it be held too much to take thirty per cent.
and the freight of the goods for and in consideration of our adventure and dis-

THE SHIP ABIGAIL, 1628 S
bursement of our moneys, to be paid in beaver at six shillings per pound, that
you moderate the said rate, as you with the rest of the Council shall think to
be agreeable to equity and good conscience." They wrote that they would
"unwillingly do any act in debarring such as were inhabitants before us of
that trade, as in conscience they ought to enjoy." They also provided for the
participation of the Old Planters in the govemment by voting that "such of
the said former planters as are willing to live within the hmits of our Planta
tion, shall be enabled and are hereby authorized, to make choice of two, such
as they shall think fit, to supply and make up the number of twelve of the said
Council." The necessity of peaceful co-operation for the common good evidently
had much to do with the rapid disappearance of animosities. The fear of the
Indians was evidently one factor, as the following quotation from a letter
written by Rev. Thomas Cobbett to Increase Mather will show:
"About ye yeare 1028 when those few yt came out with Colonel Indecot
and began to settle at Nahumkeick, now called Salem, and in a manner all so
seek of ye journey, that though they had both small and great guns, and powder
and bullets for ym, yet had not strength to manage ym if suddenly put upon it,
and tidings being certainly brought ym on a Lord's day morning yt a thous
and Indians from Sugust were coming against ym to cut ym off, they had much
adoe amongst ym all to charge two or three of ye great guns and trail ym to a
place of advantage where ye Indians must pass to ym and there to shoot ym off,
when they heard their noise they made in y« woods, yt ye Indians drew near,
y« noise of which great artillery to which ye Indians were never wonted be
fore, did occasionally (by y« good hand of God ) strike such dread into ym yt
by some lads, which lay as scouts in ye woods, they were heard to reiterate
that outcrie (O Obbomock ) and then fled confused back with all speed when
none pursued."
Sickness from scurvy and other disorders weakened the strength of the
company and made it still more necessary that they should live on as good
terms with each other as possible. Endicott performed excellent service for
the little band when upon learning that they had at Plymouth in the person
of Doctor Samuel Fuller, a very skilful man, sent to the governor there and
asked that he be sent to Salem. The request was granted to the great relief
of the settlers and later Endicott in a letter to Bradford wrote, "I acknowl
edge myself much bound to you for your kind love and care jn sending Mr
Fuller amongst us."
Morton and bis people at Merry Mount added still further to Endicott'*
troubles and be administered summary Justice as we have wen in a previoua

6 JOHN ENDICOTT
publication of this society, "The Settlers About Boston Bay." Endicott had
a double right to interfere with these men in their illicit traffic with the Indians
and their questionable festivities about the May-pole. Not only was the
ground on which Morton's men lived within the territory covered by his patent
but he was instructed in the first letter that if, "necessity require a more severe
course, when fair means will not prevail" to deal with such people as his dis
cretion should think "fittest for the general good and safety of the Plantation."
In order that the power of the company might be strengthened in the
territory about Boston Bay, Endicott was instructed to send forty or fifty
persons to inhabit about there as soon as they should arrive on the ships which
were being fitted out. All men who desired to "settle themselves there, or to
send servants thither" were to be given out "all accommodation and encour
agement." Endicott was instructed however in the case of Englishmen whom
he found planted there, and who were willing to live under the government,
"to endeavour to give them all fitting and due accommodation as to any of
ourselves; yea, if you see cause for it, though it be with more than ordinary
privileges in point of trade." Thus we see again the great care which they
exercised in their endeavors to avoid conflicts. This was also shown in the
instructions concerning their deahng with the Indians. The same letter con
tained the following: "If any of the salvages pretend right of inheritance to
all or any part of the lands granted in our patent, we pray you endeavour to
purchase their title, that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion." Young
states that these instructions were Hterally observed arid quotes a letter from
the provincial authorities to the home government in 1707, as follows; "We
are satisfied there are no complaints against this Province by his Majesty's
agents for Indian affairs; and that no settlements have been made or attempted
by us without proper authority. It is with much pleasure we remind your
Excellency and inform the world, that greater care was taken of the Indians
by our pious ancestors during the old charter, and by this government under
the new, even to this day, than was ever required of us by the British gov
ernment." Endicott was ordered "if it might be conveniently done, to compound
and conclude with them all, (the Indians) or as many as you can, at one time,
not doubting by your discreet ordering of this business, the natives will be
willing to treat and compound with you on very easy conditions."
The powers vested irt Endicott by the company were paternal as well as
governmental and thus his duties were greatly augmented. Every man was
required to have some definite occupation and it was the business of tho local
authorities to see that he employed himself diligently in it. No drones wore

THE SHIP ABIGAIL, 1628 7
to be permitted to Hve in the precincts. Paternalism did not stop even here
and it is a matter of sincere regret to all students of this early period that the
following instruction was not carried out to the letter; "The course we have
prescribed for keeping a daily register in each family, of what is done by all
and every person in the family, will be a great help and remembrance to you,
and to future posterity for the upholding and continuance of this good act, if
once well begun and settled; which we heartily wish and desire, as aforesaid."
In the matter of indulgence in alcoholics this same fatherly oversight was to
be exercised and Endicott was directed that if any should "exceed in that
inordinate kind of drinking as to become drunk" he should "take care his
ptmishment be made exemplary for all others."
Great care was taken that these rules should be generally known and
Endicott was told to "Let the laws be first published to forbid these disorders,
and all others you fear may grow up ; whereby they may not pretend ignor
ance of the one nor privilege to offend; and then fear not to put good laws,
made upon good ground and warrant in due execution."
At a meeting of the company in England held April 30, 1629, John Endi
cott was chosen Governor, with Messrs Higginson, Skelton, Bright, John and
Samuel Brown, Thomas Graves and Samuel Sharp as members of the Council.
The Governor and Council were to choose three more and the Planters two in
addition. The official name of this governing body of thirteen men was the
"Governor and Council of London's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay in
New England." His election as Governor was announced to him in a letter
from the company dated May 28, 1629, which read as follows:
"Wee have sithence our last and according as we then advised, at a full
and ample Court assembled, elected and established you. Captain Endecott,
to the place of the present Govemour of our Plantation there, and as also some
others to be of the Council with you, as more particularly you will percieve by
an Act of Court herewith sent, confirmed by us at a General Court, and
sealed with our common seal."
The oath administered to Govemor Endicott was as follows:
"You shall be faithful and loyal unto your Sovereign Lord, the King's
Majesty, and to his heirs and successors. You shall support and maintain, to
your power, the govemment and company of the Mattachusetts Bay, in New
England, in America, and the privileges of tho same, having no singular regard
to yourself in derogation or hindrance of the common wealth of this Company;
and to every person under your authority you shall administer indifferent and
equal justice. Statutes and ordinancys shall you none make without the
advice and consent of the Council for the govemment of the MattachusetU

8 JOHN ENDICOTT
Bay in New-England. You shall admit none into the freedom of this Company
but such as may claim the same by virtue of the privileges thereof. You shall
not bind yourself to enter into any business or process for or in the name of
this Company, without the consent and agreement of the Council aforesaid,
but shall endeavour faithfully and carefully to carry yourself in this place and
office of Governor, as long as you shall continue in it. And Hkewise you shall
do your best endeavour to draw the natives of this country, called New Eng
land, to the knowledge of the True God, and to conserve the planters and others
coming hither, in the same knowledge and fear of God. And you shall en
deavour, by all good means, to advance the good of tho Plantations of this
Company, and you shall endeavour the raising of fuch commodities for the
benefit and encouragement of the adventurers and planters as, through God's
blessing on your endeavours, may be produced for the good and service of the
kingdom of England, this Company and their Plantations, All these premises
you shall hold and keep to the uttermost of your power and skill, so long as
you shall continue in the place of Governor of this fellowship. So help you God I"
The oath administered to the members of the Council was similar but shorter.
The strength of the company at Salem was greatly increased in this year
1629, by the addition of the large migration under the Ministers Higginson and
Skelton. The most important of the remaining events of the year 1629 was
the dispatching of several members of the company to the present Charles
town in accordance as we have shown, (p. 6) with the desire of the company
in England. Three leading men of this party were the Sprague brothers.
The biographical sketches of all these men have been given in the "Settlers
About Boston Bay Prior to 1630."
It has been our custom to follow the historical sketches of these differ
ent periods and migrations with biographical notes upon the participants and
we will now review the Hfe stories of John Endicott and his men. This Endi
cott group while of great importance to the infant colony was the smallest of
all and we know the names of only a few who came in the "Abigail" in 1628.
The leader, Captain John Endicott, of course, stands pre-eminent among them,
and may with justice be called one of the strongest characters connected with
early New England. Other members of the company were Richard Bracken-
bury, Richard Davenport, Charles Gott, and as we have already cited, prob
ably the Sprague brothers. It has been claimed, possibly truly, that Thomas
Sciiiggs also came in this ship.
RICHARD BRACKENBURY was bom about 1600. In a deposition
dated January 20, 1681, he testified that he came over with Governor Endicott.

THE SHIP ABIGAIL, 1628 9
and fotind here "old Goodman Norman, and son, William Allen, Walter Knight
and others; that these persons stated, that they came to Cape Ann for the
Dorchester Company; that they and R. Conant, J. Woodbury, P. Palfrey, J.
Balch and others had houses erected at Salem; that he was informed that the
Dorchester Company had sold their right to the Massachusetts Company be
fore Mr. Endicott came over; that Mr. Endicott, when he arrived hither, took
possession of Cape Ann, and in the course pf the year, had the house built there,
pulled down for his own use and also took possession of Cape Ann side, and
soon after laid out lots for tillage there." This testimony has been of great
interest to students of history and was used in the trial concerning tho Mason
claims in 1081. He was one of the original members of the First Church in
Salem and was made a freeman 14 May, 10;14. He received a grant of seventy-
five acres in 1030. Stone, in his "History of Beveriy," states that "his first
public business was in a joint commission from Salem with William Woodbury,
Ensign Dixey, Mr. Conant and Lieut. Lothrop, to lay out a way between the
ferry at Salem and the head of Jeffries Creek," to be "such a way as a man
may travel on horse back or drive cattle," with the alternative that "if such a
way may not be formed, then to take speedy course to set up a bridge at
Mackerel Cove." He was one of the signers in 1659 to the petition to the
General Court to have a church established at Beverly. He died in Beverly
in 1685, aged 85 years. A charming little rustic lane leading from Hale Street
in Beverly to the beach, bears his name.
RICHARD DAVENPORT was bom about 1606. He was one of the
. original members of the First Church in Salem and was made a freeman, Sep.
tember 3, 1634. May 14, 1634, he was chosen Ensign in Captain WilHam
Trask's company, and Lieutenant in the same company March 9, 1636-7.
Govemor Endicott cut the cross from the colors in 1634 and the records of the
colony contain the following; "It is ordered that Ensigne Damford (Daven
port ) shalbe sent for by war with comaund to bring his coirs with him to the
next Court, as also any other that hath defaced the said coirs." In token of
his appreciation of the feelings which prompted that act, he named a daughter
who was bom to him that year Tniecross Davenport. He served as ensign in
the Pequot war in 1636 and was dangerously wounded. Lieutenant Daven
port, in recotmting the events of this war to Increase Mather, stated; "that
with two or three EngUshmen, he engaged 30 Indians; had seventeen arrows
shot into his coat of mail and only one woimded him where he was not de
fended. He further related that he rescued a soldier from two of the enemy,
who were carrying him away on their .shoulders; and that, as the Pequods

10 JOHN ENDICOTT
observed the Colonists did not slay the captured squaws, some of their large
boys, when in danger of being taken, would cry out, 'I squaw, I squaw,'
thereby hoping to be saved."
He was appointed a Ueutenant in Captain Trask's company, March 9,
1636-7 and April 18, 1637 was allowed M per month in the war just named.
May 17, 1637, he was appointed to have charge of the arms and ammunition,
and by resolve of November 20 following, the arms of men who were disarmed
were to be deUvered to him. He took care of these while in his custody and
"for his paines & attendance about restoring each man his armes since the
returne of the souldiers from the Pecoits & before, " received a grant of XlO,
He was gate keeper at the cattle pen and contracted in 1637-8 to perform this
service for ^£36 a year, agreeing to keep his man constantly about the same
and put in another man such as the town should approve of. He viewed, ap
portioned or laid out several lots of land in 1638-9 and was granted 150 acres
June 6 of the latter year. He joined the artillery company in 1639. Several
men convicted of offences were sentenced to serve him as slaves. He removed to
Boston in 1642 and October 13, 1644, was appointed Captain in command of
the castle in Boston Harbor, and his commission was made out by the General
Court, July, 1645. Edward Johnson in writing about the Castle makes men
tion of him as follows; "The commander of it is one Captain Davenport, a man
approved for his faithfulness, courage, arid skill." He was killed by a stroke
of lightning while lying upon his bed in the castle, July 15, 1665.
JOHN ENDICOTT was born about 1588, probably in or near Dorchester,
England. We know that he belonged to the social class caUed esqtiires or
gentlemen and have reason to believe that at some time previous to his coming
to America he had held the rank of captain in the army. He may have at
some time practiced or at least studied surgery, as a bill is preserved at the
State House in which he styled himself "Chirurgeon." His biographer,
Charles Moses Endicott well states that "He was a man of good intellectual
endowments and mental culture, possessed of a vigorous mind and a fearless
and independent spirit, which well fitted him for the various and trying dutiea
he was destined to perform."
He married, first, Anna Gower, a cousin of Govemor Matthew Craddock,
who came over with him in 1628 and died here in the following year. Hia
second wife is usually given as Elizabeth Gibson (or Gilson ) but our distin
guished investigator Mr. Henry F. Waters, in his "Researches in England,"
unearthed the will of Philobert Cogan of Chard, County Somerset, Gentleman,
dated February 10, 1040, proved April 12, 1641, in which he mentioned hia

THE SHIP ABIGAIL, 1628 11
daughters Elizabeth Endicott and Mary Ludloe, leaving them each "one gold
ring, or ten shillings." Mary was the wife of Roger Ludlow and John Endi
cott referred to him as "my brother" in a letter written to Govemor Winthrop
in 1644. She was about twenty-six years his junior as shown by a deposition
made by her April 15, 1674, in which she gave her age as "about sixty years."
The ceremony occurred in Boston on the 18th of August, 1630, and was per
formed by the Reverend Mr. Wilson.
It is supposed that John Endicott became interested in and finally em
braced the principles of the Puritans through the influence of the Reverend
Samuel Skelton, his friend in England, who followed him to America a year
later. He was one of the "adventurers" who subscribed jEoO to the enterprise
in May, 1628, and the first of the original patentees to emigrate to America.
When the question of a leader arose we are told in the "Planter's Plea" (1630)
that by "inquiry it fell out that among others they lighted at last on Master
Endecott, a man well known to divers persons of good note, who manifested
much willingness to accept of the offer as soon as it was tendered, which gave
great encouragement." Conceming his motive in coming, Charles M. Endicott
tells us that "Whatever may have been the objects of the first settlers generally
in colonizing New England, there can be no doubt that his was the establish
ment of their own form of church govemment and discipline in a place where
they might live under them tmmolested, and enjoy Christ and his ordinances,
in their primitive purity. With him it was wholly a religious enterprise."
Johnson in his "Wonder Working Providence" referred to Governor Endicott
and his coming as follows:
"The much honoured John Indicat came over with them to goveme, a fit
instrument to begin this Wildemesse-worke, of courage bold, undaunted, yet
sociable and of a cheerful spirit, loving and austere, applying himself to either
as the occasion served."
He arrived at Salem on the sixth of September, 1028. His first impres
sions were evidently very favorable, for we are told in the "Planter's Plea,"
(1030) , that "the good report sent back of the country, gave such encourage
ment to the work, that more adventurers joined with the first undertakers."
We have already considered the controversies which arose between Endi
cott and the Old Planters and the peaceful settlement of the same. Most of
the important events which transpired in the first two years of Endicott's
residence in America have been dwelt upon in the historical section of this
address. We know that he governed with a firm and resolute hand, but the
following extract from Reverend Francis Higginson's "True Relation" of
his voyage, shows that proper attention was given to the social duties of his

13 JOHN ENDICOTT
high offlce: "The next morning the govemour came aboard to our ship, and
bade us kindly welcome, and invited me and my wiffe to come on shoare, and
take our lodging in his house, which we did accordingly."
His treatment of the Brownes has been severely criticised by some and
upheld by others. Govemor Bradford who was thoroughly conversant with
the facts reviewed their case as follows: "Some of the passengers that came
over at the same time, observing that the ministers did not at all use the Book
of Common Prayer, and that they did administer baptism and the Lord's
supper without the ceremonies, and that they professed also to use discipUne
in the congregation against scandulous persons, by a personal application of
the word of God, as the case might require, and that some that were scandu
lous were denied admission into the church, they begun to raise some trouble.
Of these, Mr. Samuel Browne and his brother were the chief, the one being a
lawyer, the other a merchant, both of them amongst the number of the first
patentees, men of estates, and men of parts and port in the place. These two
brothers gathered a company together, in a place distinct from the public
assembly, and there, sundry times, the Book of Common Prayer was read. unto
such as resorted hither. The Govemour, Mr. Endicott, taking notice of the
disturbance that began to grow amongst the people by this means, he con-
vented the two brothers before him. They accused the ministers as depart
ing from the orders of the Church of England, that they were Separatists, and
would be Anabaptists, &c. ; but for themselves, they would hold to the orders
of the Church of England. The ministers answered for themselves. They
were neither Anabaptists nor Separatists; they did not separate from the
Church of England, nor froni the ordinances of God there, but only from the
corruptions and disorders there ; and that they came away from the Common
Prayer and ceremonies, and had suffered much for their non-conformity in
their native land, and therefore being in a place where they might have their
Hberty, they neither could or would use them, because they judged the im
position of these things to be sinful corruptions in the worship of God. The
Governor and Council and the generality of the people did well approve of the
ministers' answer; and therefore, finding those two brothers to be. on high
spirits, and their speeches and practices tending to mutiny and faction, the
Governor told them that New- England was no place for such as they, and
therefore he sent them both back for England at the return of the ships the
same year; and though they breathed out threatenings both against the Gov
ernor and ministers there, yet the Lord so disposed of all, that there was no
further inconvenience followed upon it." Upon their return to England
the affair was investigated by a committee of ten, four of whom were nomi-

THE SHIP ABIGAIL, 1628 13
nated by the Brownes themselves. Young states that "the fact of the ap
pointment of such a committee shows the disposition of the company to do
ample justice to the complainants, and disproves the charges of contempt
and injustice alleged against them."
Endicott evidently considered that he was obeying the orders given by
the authorities of the company in England, as they wrote to him in the first
letter of instruction that, "we desire if it may be, that errors may be reformed
with lenity, or mild correction; and if any prove incorrigible, and will not be
reclaimed by gentle correction, ship such persons home by the Lion's Whelp."
Chalmers says that "When the persons who had been thus expelled, arrived
in England, they naturally applied to the Govemor and Company for repara
tion of their wrongs; but it appears not from their records that they ever re
ceived any redress. . . The General Court was at that time too much occu
pied in preparing for an important change, to attend to the first duty of all of
rulers, to give protection to the injured."
We are fortunate today in that we live in a more liberal age, when in the
city from which the Brownes were expelled, members of one of the strictest
Protestant denominations, sell their discarded church edifices to Hebrew and
Catholic congregations, arid are pleased that such structures are to be used
for worship and not converted into places of amusement.
We must not, however, measure the deeds of our ancestors by the stand
ards of today, neither should we forget that tolerance and intolerance are not
the especially copyrighted possession of any particular sect or denomination,
but depend especially upon the temperament of the individual. Thousands
of people in this fair land of ours today, of all shades of belief from the most
Uberal to the ultra-conservative would be as dictatorial and dogmatic as ever
John Endicott dared to be if they but had his opportunity coupled with equal
ability. ¦The rule of Govemor Endicott during these two years before Winthrop
came was successful in spite of perplexities and hardships. The removal of
the Charter to New England was repeatedly advocated and we are told in the
"Planter's Plea" that "the after agitation of this affair in several parts of the
Kingdom^ the good report of Captain Endecott's govemment, and the increase
of the Colony, began to awaken the spirits of some persons of competent
estates not formerly engaged." Several meetings of the Court of Proprietors
were held in London and at one on the 16th of October, 1629, it was thought
"fltt ;that Captain Endecott continue the govemment there, unless just cause
to the contrarie." Four days later, however, they decided to elect a new Gov-
•raor, Deputy and AssisUnts, and John Winthrop was chosen Govemor,

14 JOHN ENDICOTT
John Humfry, Deputy Govemor, and Sir Richard Saltonstall, Matthew Crad
dock, John Endecott and fifteen others a board of "Assistants."
When Winthrop arrived in Salem harbor, Endicott, with full knowledge
that he was to be superseded, went on board the Arbella to welcome him and
offered the hospitalities of his own house to the now governor and his friends.
Winthrop writes: "Woe that were of tho AsHlstants and some other gentlemen
and somo of tho womon returned with him to Nahumkock, whoro wo suppod
on good vonlson pastry and good boor."
Tho fact thut these papers are confined to the period before 1030, makes
it dosirablo to go Into minute details In regard to happenings boforo Endicott
was Buccooded by Winthrop. Tho life which John Endicott lod after the
arrival of the great migration was very eventful, but we con mention only the
most important events in his career. He served as Assistant from 1030 to
1634, from 1030 to 1040 and from 1040 to 1048. He was chosen Deputy Gov
ernor in June 1041 and served three years, holding this office again in 1050 and
1054. He was chosen Governor May 29, 1044, May 2, 1049, May 7, 1051, serv
ing for the three years following, and May 23, 1655, serving for the next ten
years until his death. He was Commissioner of the United Colonies from 1646
to 1648, inclusive, and again in 1058. The Roger Williams affair, the cutting
of the cross from the flag, his military exploits in the Pequot war and else
where, his land grants of the "Orchard Farm" and other tracts, the Hutchinson
troubles, his military commissions up to the highest in the gift of the colony
— Sergeant Major General — and the Quaker persecutions, are all subjects which
we would like to consider, but space forbids.
It is recorded that "old age and the infirmities thereof coming upon him,
he fell asleep in the Lord on the 15th of March 1005," at the age of seventy-
seven, "and was with great honour and solemnity interred at Boston" on the
23d of the same month. Charles M. Endicott in the "Memoirs" previously
quoted, wrote, "Thus Hved and thus died, one of the principal founders and
firmest pillars of New England. The generation of those hardy men who
settled the Massachusetts Colony, was now rapidly passing away. Higginson,
Winthrop, Dudley, Skelton, Palfrey, and a long Hst of New England's earliest
pioneers, had already preceded Endecott to the tomb. They were men singu
larly well adapted to this important and arduous enterprise. It was truly said
of them by Stoughton, that "God sifted a whole nation that he might send
choise grain over into this wilderness." All the circumstances of their con
dition served to implant in their minds an inextinguishable love of independ
ence, and fit them to become the founders of a great republican empire."

THE SHIP ABIGAIL, 1628 16
CHARLES GOTT was chosen the first deacon of the Salem church, and
a letter written to Govemor Bradford dated July 30, 1629, is given in the
Bradford history. He was admitted freeman. May 18, 1631 and served as a
deputy to the General Court in 1034. The town voted him five acres of land
near Castle Hill and this tract was long known as the "Deacon's Marsh."
He removed to Wenham and was representative from that town in 1664. He
and James Moulton were chosen to procure a minister for tho Wenham Church,
at a town mooting held on the 0th of the 12th month, 1060 and they secured
Reverend Antipas Newman, who married Elisabeth Winthrop, daughter of the
Governor. In 1069 he engaged to pay the second highest amount for th>
support of the minister, and was the second man to sign tho Wenham Church
covenant in 1003, his name appearing next to that of the minister, Mr. Newman.
He petitioned in 1076 that Wenham be discharged from its subscription to
Harvard College and it was granted. He died in Wenham on the 16th, llth
mo. 1667.
The three SPRAGUE brothers, RALPH, RICHARD and WILLIAM^
as we have already mentioned earUer in this address, probably came in the
"Abigail" at their own expense. As they were in Salem for only a short time,
removing hence to what is now Charlestown, their records were given in the
second paper in this series, "The Settlers About Boston Bay Prior to 1630."

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