would be willing to have that rock buried out of sight and forgotten? The hallowed associations which cluster around that precious memorial, inspire us with sentiments of the love of our country, and a sacred reverence for its primitive institutions. In contemplation, we may hold communion with celestial spirits, and receive monitions from those who are at rest in their graves. What honors shall we pay to the fathers of our country, the founders of that nation, which for ages, will remain the rich abode of knowledge, religion, freedom, and virtue !— Criminal, indeed, would be our case, were we not to cherish a religious sense of the exalted privileges inherited from our pious ancestors, and resolve to transmit them unimpaired to our children. 'The man that is not moy'd with what he reads, Is base in kind, and born to be a slave.' Historical records are entirely silent as respects the person who was the first to land upon our shore and gain possession of New England ground. The claim has been contested between the descendants of John Alden and Mary Chilton, but the point of precedence must remain undecided, since the closest investigation discloses no authority nor a shadow of evidence in favor of any individual as being the first who landed. The fact is unquestionable, that the shallop of the Mayflower, after having tarried three nights at Clark's Island, came up on the 11th of December, O. S. and landed her men on the main shore, but no name is mentioned as the first who landed. The name of John Alden is not included in the list of those who were on board of the shallop; his claim, therefore, must be rejected; nor was Mary Chilton on board the shallop. But the following traditionary anecdote has ever been regarded as correct among the Chilton descendants. The Mayflower having arrived in the harbor from Cape Cod, Mary Chilton entered the first landing boat, and looking forward, exclaimed, "I will be the first to step on that Rock." Accordingly, when the boat approached, Mary Chilton was permitted to be the first from that boat who appeared on the Rock, and thus her claim was established. Among those who came in the Mayflower, were James Chilton, and Mary, his only child. Mary married John Winslow, and Susannah, her daughter, Mr. Latham.The descendants of Mr. Winslow reside in Boston, and those of Mr. Latham in Bridgewater; and the tradition, we have reason to believe, is in both families. From the Latham family have descended the Haywards; the late Hon. Beza Hayward, Nathan Hayward, Esq., (the present Sheriff of the county,) and the wife of the author, are lineal descendants. In the year 1774, when liberty and the rights of man were the popular themes, it was determined to remove the hallowed rock from its original bed to the town square, near the church and court house, that it might be located beside the liberty pole. [This will be further noticed in this work under the date of 1774.] January 1st, 1621.-About this date Francis Billington having mounted the top of a tree on a high hill, discovered at a distance, as he supposed, another great sea, and on the eighth January went with one of the master's mates to take a view of of the place. They found the water divided into two lakes, the larger five or six miles compass, the smaller, three miles. January 12th.-Two of the settlers, John Goodman and Peter Brown, being abroad gathering thatch, came to a lake of water, (probably Murdock's pond) near which they discovered a fine large deer; their two dogs chased the animal, and they followed till they were lost, and could not find their way back. They wandered till night, being lightly clad, and without weapons or food, amidst frost and snow; and were obliged to make the cold earth their bed, and the clouds their covering. In the night they were greatly alarmed by noises which they supposed to be the roaring of lions. In their fright they mounted a tree for safety, which they found to be an intolerably cold lodging, and they sometimes walked under the tree in readiness to climb, holding their bitch by the neck lest she should rush into the lions' paws. But fortunately the lions came not, and at an early dawn they renewed their wanderings, which they continued through the day. At night they reached the settlement almost famished with cold and hunger, having mistaken the howling of wolves for the roaring of lions. Their friends at the settlement, being greatly alarmed on account of their absence, sent out ten or twelve armed men, who traversed the woods all day in vain, and returned with strong apprehensions that they were taken by the Indians. It was not long after the arrival of the planters, that the natives assembled all their pawaws in a dark swamp, to curse the new comers; for three days they continued their horrid incantation, and consigned the English to utter destruction. It is to be regretted that we cannot ascertain the spot where this swamp was located, nor the particular tribe that acted in this diabolical business. January 14th.-The settlers had the misfortune of losing their common house by fire, from a spark, which falling among the dry thatch, entirely consumed it. It was remarkable, that, at the moment of this disaster, Governor Carver, and Mr. William Bradford were sick in their beds. The floor of the house was covered with beds and bedding, muskets were loaded, and a quantity of powder was stored within, yet little damage was sustained. The people on board the ship, seeing the fire, and unable to come on shore by reason of low tide and very tempestuous weather, were under painful apprehensions that the savages had attacked them. It being Sunday, and the major part of the people on shore, they performed public worship in their settlement. January 19th.-John Goodman, who had been lost in the woods, took it into his head again to ramble into the woods; having a spaniel with him, it was soon attacked by two wolves. The dog flew to the legs of his master for safety, and he having no weapon, snatched a stick for defence; the wolves sat some time on their tails grinning and snarling at the affrighted man, but at length suffered him to escape. The wife of Capt. Standish, and some others of their number, died this month. February.-Twelve Indians were discovered in the woods, but no interview could be had with them. A general meeting was called to establish some military arrangements, and Miles Standish was chosen Captain, and vested with command accordingly. During the meeting, two Indians presented themselves on the top of the hill, on the opposite side of the brook, and made signs for the English to come to them, but, on the approach of Capt. Standish and Mr. Hopkins, they fled. 21st.-Capt. Jones, of the Mayflower, brought on shore one of the greatest pieces of cannon, called a minion, and he and his sailors assisted the settlers to drag that, and another piece, up the hill, with three small pieces, which they mounted for defence. The settlers suffered extremely this month by sickness and death: no less than seventeen* of their number died during the month; and the sick were destitute of almost all the comforts which their miserable condition rendered indispensable. Their sufferings were increased by the want of well persons to perform the duties among the sick, there being, at one time, not more than six or seven in tolerable health. But it is recorded, that Standish and Brewster manifested the tenderest concern, and devoted themselves, with unwearied assiduity, to the relief and comfort of their suffering brethren, not declining the meanest office. In March, 1621, fifty-five only survived of the one hundred and one who came in the Mayflower. *Of this number was Mary, wife of Isaac Allerton, who died Feb. 25th, O. S. March 3d,-The weather was fair and warm, and the planters were delighted to hear the singing of American birds in the woods. 16th.-Much surprise was excited by the appearance of an Indian who boldly walked to the rendezvous, and cried out cheeringly in broken English-Welcome Englishmen, welcome Englishmen.' This was Samoset, a Sagamore, who had come from Monhiggon, (District of Maine,) where he had learned something of the English tongue from the Captains of the fishing vessels, on that shore, and he knew by name most of those commanders. This was the first savage with whom the whites had obtained an interview. No incident could have diffused greater joy in the hearts of the disconsolate and the infirm; it seemed like an angelic herald to the sick and dying. Samoset discoursed as though he possessed a general knowledge of the whole surrounding country, and the numbers and strength of the several tribes. He said that the place they now occupy is called Patuxet, and that about four years ago all the natives died of an extraordinary plague; that there was neither man, woman, nor child remaining in the territory, of which the English had now possessed themselves. He was a tall, erect man, and had a bow and two arrows. The English treated him with their best food and drink; and as he was inclined to tarry all night, they provided him a lodging and watched his movements. The next day he returned to a neighboring tribe, from whence he said he came last. He represented the Nausets as being highly incensed and provoked against the English, three of whom were, about eight months ago, slain by the Nausets. Their enmity was caused by one Hunt, a master of a ship, who, a few years ago, deceived the natives, and under pretence of trading with them, got twenty of the people of this very place, Patuxet, and seven from the Nausets, on board his ship, and carried them off and sold them for slaves, at twenty pounds a head.* * Thomas Hunt commanded one of the ships, with which Capt. Smith came to New England, in 1614. Smith sailed for England in July, and left Hunt with directions to procure a cargo, and proceed to Spain. His atrocious conduct is thus related by Prince, from Smith, Mourt, &c. "After Smith left New England, Hunt gets 20 Indians on board him at Patuxet, one of whom is called Squanto or Squantum or Tisquantum, and 7 more of Nauset, and carried them to Malaga, sells them for slaves at £20 a man, which raises such an enmity in the savages against our nation, as makes further attempts of commerce with thein very dangerous." Smith, humane and generous as he was intrepid, indignantly reprobates the base conduct of Hunt." Many of these helpless captives, it appears, 66 On his departure, the English gave him a knife, a bracelet, and a ring; and he promised to return soon and bring other natives with him, with such beaver skins as they could collect. Not many days after, being Sunday, Samoset returned with five tall savages, dressed in deer skins, their hair cut short before, but long to their shoulders behind, and ornamented with feathers and fox-tails, and the principal had a wild-cat's skin on one arm. Their faces were painted in various colors and figures. They left their bows and arrows at some distance from the settlement, according to the charge given by the English to Samoset. They made signs of amity and friendship, and amused the English with their dancing and singing, who in return gave them a suitable entertainment. They brought with them some corn, parched, and reduced to a fine powder, called Nokehike or Nocake which they eat mixed with water; and they had a little tobacco in a bag, of which they drank* frequently. They brought with them, also, all the tools belonging to the English, which had been taken when left in the woods. They offered a few skins to trade, but, being Sunday, the English dismissed them soon, desiring them to return with more skins, which they promised. But Samoset either was sick, or feigned himself so, and would tarry till the next Wednesday, when the English gave him a hat, a pair of stockings and shoes, shirt, &c. and sent him to inquire why his friends did not return. Thursday, April 2d.-Samoset arrived, bringing with him Squanto, alias Tisquantum, the only surviving native of Patuxet, who was one of the twenty captives carried away by the infamous Hunt; he had been in England, and could speak a little English. Three others came with him, and brought a few skins to "truck," and some red herrings, newly taken and dried, but not salted. They gave information, that their great Sagamore, Massasoit, was approaching, with Quadequina, his brother, and all their tribe, and, within an hour, the king appeared were rescued from slavery by the benevolent interposition of some of the Monks in Malaga. Squanto was probably one, who was thus relieved and liberated. He found a friend in Mr. Slaney in England, by whose assistance he was enabled to return to his native land, on board of Captain Thomas Dermer's vessel in 1619. 66 * The term drinking tobacco is frequently used in the records. In the year 1646, we find this entry in the Plymouth records. Anthony Thacher and George Pole were chosen a committee to draw up an order concerning disorderly drinking tobacco." It undoubtedly means smoking tobacco. An aged man in this town who was a great smoker used to term it drinking tobacco. |