“New-Englands Plantation,” a tract published in London early in 1630,
contains the earliest printed account of the colony established by
Endecott in 1628, at Neihum-kek, now Salem. A description of the
natural conditions surrounding the new settlement is also preserved,
the narrative presenting, in the quaint phrase of the original, “a
short and true description of the commodities and discommodities
of that countrey.” The tract was written by the Reverend Francis
Higginson, who came in the emigration following Endecott, and who
was eminently fitted, both by education and profession, to prepare
for the friends in England a faithful account of the life in the new
country, not only to gratify a natural curiosity, but also to attract
a further emigration.
Francis Higginson probably was born in Claybrooke Parish, Leicester,
England, in 1587-88. He received his degree of M.A. in 1613 at
Jesus College, Cambridge, and two years later he was settled over
Claybrooke Parish, where he preached with distinction until at last
his nonconformity brought him into danger of imprisonment. About
that time “The Governor and Company of the Massachusetts-Bay in
New England” obtained a charter from Charles I, and Higginson was
invited to join the party which was being organized to make the
first settlement in the new country. As minister he was to have
equal political authority with the members of the governing council.
He accepted the invitation, and with his family landed safely at
Neihum-kek, now Salem, Massachusetts, on June 30, 1629, and on the
6th of August following, was ordained teacher of the church, with
Samuel Skelton as pastor. By virtue of his office he became not only
a spiritual guide but a leader among his people, more especially
during the trying winter and spring following the arrival of the
ships. The exposure and the privations endured during that time
proved too severe, and consumption laid hold upon him. He died August
6, 1630, “in the prime of his life and on the threshold of a great
career,” leaving a widow and eight children, one of whom also became
a minister and served the Salem church for nearly fifty years.
The manuscript of “New-Englands Plantation” probably was sent home to
England upon the return of one of the vessels that had brought over
the planters. It was received in London before November 20, 1629 (see
Young’s “Chronicles of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay,” pp. 107,
242). Higginson had not expected that it would be printed, as it was
written for “the satisfaction of loving friends” who had requested a
letter upon his arrival, giving some account of the voyage across the
Atlantic and of the newly settled country. Only the latter part of
this letter was printed, the earlier portion, describing the voyage,
not being deemed of sufficient importance to be thus preserved. Three
editions were published, all bearing date of 1630. The author’s name
appears on the title-pages of the second and third editions. In 1634
was published William Wood’s “New Englands Prospect,” which gave much
detailed information regarding the country and the settlements in the
Massachusetts Bay. This superseded the earlier account by Higginson,
and the latter dropped out of sight and in time became very rare. In
1792 it was reprinted in the Massachusetts Historical Collections.
In 1836 it was included in Force’s “Tracts,” and in 1846 in Young’s
“Chronicles of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay.”
The several editions may be described as follows: