_Narragansets_-River, on the South-side thereof was old
_Plimouth_ plantation _Anno_ 1602. Twenty mile out to Sea,
South of _Rhode-Island_, lyeth _Martins_ vineyard in the way to
_Virginia_, this Island is governed by a discreet Gentleman Mr.
_Mayhew_ by name. To the Eastward of _Martin’s_ vinyard lyeth
_Nantocket-Island_, and further Eastward _Elizabeths-Island_, these
Islands are twenty or thirty mile asunder, and now we are come to
_Cape-Cod_.
_Cape-Cod_ was so called at the first by Captain _Gosnold_ and
his Company _Anno Dom._ 1602, because they took much of that fish
there; and afterward was called _Cape-James_ by Captain _Smith_:
the point of the _Cape_ is called _Point-Cave_ and _Tuckers_
Terror, and by the _French_ and _Dutch_ _Mallacar_, by reason of
the perillous shoals. The first place to be taken notice of on the
South-side of the _Cape_ is _Wests_-Harbour, the first Sea-Town
_Sandwich_ formerly called _Duxbury_ in the Jurisdiction of
_New-Plimouth_. Doubling the _Cape_ we come into the great _Bay_,
on the West whereof is _New-Plimouth-Bay_, on the South-west-end of
this _Bay_ is situated _New Plimouth_, the first _English_-Colony
that took firm possession in this Countrey, which was in 1620, and
the first Town built [p. 158.] therein, whose longitude is 315
degrees, in latitude 41 degrees and 37 minutes, it was built nine
years before any other Town, from the beginning of it to 1669 is
just forty years, in which time there hath been an increasing of
forty Churches in this Colony (but many more in the rest,) and
Towns in all _New-England_ one hundred and twenty, for the most
part along the Sea-Coasts, (as being wholsomest) for somewhat more
than two hundred miles: onely on _Connecticut_-River (as I have
said) is thirteen Towns not far off one another.
The other Towns of note in this Colony are _Green-Harbour_ to the
Eastward of _Plimouth_ towards the point of the _Cape_, & therefore
somewhat unaccessible by land, here is excellent Timber for
shipping; then _Marshfield_, _Yarmouth_, _Rehoboth_, _Bridgwater_,
_Warwick_, _Taunton_, _Eastham_, by the _Indians_ called _Namset_.
The first Town Northeast from _Green-harbor_ is _Sittuate_ in
the jurisdiction of the _Mattachusets_-Colony, more Northward of
_Sittuate_ is _Conchusset_ and _Hull_ a little Burg lying open
to the Sea, from thence we came to _Merton-point_ over against
which is _Pullin-point_. Upon _Merton-point_ (which is on the
Larboard-side) is a Town called _Nantascot_, which is two Leagues
from _Boston_, where [p. 159.] Ships commonly cast Anchor.
_Pullin-point_ is so called, because the Boats are by the seasing
or Roads haled against the Tide which is very strong, it is the
usual Channel for Boats to pass into _Mattachusets-Bay_.
There is an Island on the South-side of the passage containing
eight Acres of ground. Upon a rising hill within this Island is
mounted a Castle commanding the entrance, no stately Edifice, nor
strong; built with Brick and Stone, kept by a Captain, under whom
is a master-Gunner and others.
The _Bay_ is large, made by many Islands, the chief _Deere_-Island,
which is within a flight shot of _Pullin-point_, great store
of _Deere_ were wont to swim thither from the Main; then
_Bird_-Island, _Glass_-island, _Slate_-Island, the Governours
Garden, where the first Apple-Trees in the Countrey were planted,
and a vinyard; then _Round_-Island, and _Noddles_-Island not far
from _Charles_-Town: most of these Islands lye on the North-side of
the _Bay_.
The next Town to _Nantascot_ on the South-side of the _Bay_
is _Wissaguset_ a small Village, about three miles from
_Mount-wolleston_, about this Town the soil is very fertile.
Within sight of this is _Mount-wolleston_ or _Merry-mount_, called
_Massachusets_-fields, [p. 160.] where _Chicatabat_ the greatest
_Sagamore_ of the Countrey lived before the plague: here the Town
of _Braintree_ is seated, no Boat nor Ship can come near to it,
here is an Iron mill: to the West of this Town is _Naponset_ River.
Six miles beyond _Braintree_ lyeth _Dorchester_, a frontire Town
pleasantly seated, and of large extent into the main land, well
watered with two small Rivers, her body and wings filled somewhat
thick with houses to the number of two hundred and more, beautified
with fair Orchards and Gardens, having also plenty of Corn-land,
and store of Cattle, counted the greatest Town heretofore in
_New-England_, but now gives way to _Boston_, it hath a Harbour to
the North for Ships.
A mile from _Dorchester_ is the Town of _Roxbury_, a fair and
handsome Countrey Town, the streets large, the Inhabitants rich,
replenished with Orchards and Gardens, well watered with springs
and small freshets, a brook runs through it called _Smelt_-River, a
quarter of a mile to the North-side of the Town runs stony River:
it is seated in the bottom of a shallow _Bay_, but hath no harbour
for shipping. Boats come to it, it hath store of Land and Cattle.
Two miles Northeast from _Roxbury_, and [p. 161.] Forty miles
from _New-Plimouth_, in the latitude of 42 or 43 degrees and 10
minutes, in the bottom of _Massachusets-Bay_ is _Boston_ (whose
longitude is 315 degrees, or as others will 322 degrees and 30
seconds.) So called from a Town in _Lincolnshire_, which in the
_Saxons_ time bare the name of St. _Botolph_, and is the Metropolis
of this Colony, or rather of the whole Countrey, situated upon
a _Peninsula_, about four miles in compass, almost square, and
invironed with the Sea, saving one small _Isthmus_ which gives
access to other Towns by land on the South-side. The Town hath
two hills of equal height on the frontire part thereof next the
Sea, the one well fortified on the superficies with some Artillery
mounted, commanding any Ship as she sails into the Harbour within
the still _Bay_; the other hill hath a very strong battery built of
whole Timber and fill’d with earth, at the descent of the hill in
the extreamest part thereof, betwixt these two strong Arms, lyes a
large _Cove_ or _Bay_, on which the chiefest part of the Town is
built to the Northwest is a high mountain that out-tops all, with
its three little rising hills on the summit, called _Tramount_,
this is furnished with a Beacon and great Guns, from hence you
may [p. 162.] overlook all the Islands in the _Bay_, and descry
such Ships as are upon the Coast: the houses are for the most part
raised on the Sea-banks and wharfed out with great industry and
cost, many of them standing upon piles, close together on each side
the streets as in _London_, and furnished with many fair shops,
their materials are Brick, Stone, Lime, handsomely contrived, with
three meeting Houses or Churches, and a Town-house built upon
pillars where the Merchants may confer, in the Chambers above they
keep their monethly Courts. Their streets are many and large,
paved with pebble stone, and the South-side adorned with Gardens
and Orchards. The Town is rich and very populous, much frequented
by strangers, here is the dwelling of their Governour. On the
North-west and North-east two constant Fairs are kept for daily
Traffick thereunto. On the South there is a small, but pleasant
Common where the Gallants a little before Sun-set walk with their
_Marmalet_-Madams, as we do in _Morefields_, &c. till the nine a
clock Bell rings them home to their respective habitations, when
presently the Constables walk their rounds to see good orders kept,
and to take up loose people. Two miles from the town, [p. 163.]
at a place called _Muddy-River_, the Inhabitants have Farms, to
which belong rich arable grounds and meadows where they keep their
Cattle in the Summer, and bring them to _Boston_ in the Winter;
the Harbour before the Town is filled with Ships and other Vessels
for most part of the year.
_Hingham_ is a Town situated upon the Sea-coasts, South-east of
_Charles-River_: here is great store of Timber, deal-boards, masts
for Ships, white-Cedar, and fish is here to be had.
_Dedham_ an inland town ten miles from _Boston_ in the County of
_Suffolk_ well watered with many pleasant streams, and abounding
with Garden fruit; the Inhabitants are Husband-men, somewhat more
than one hundred Families, having store of Cattle and Corn.
The Town of _Waymouth_ lyes open to the Sea, on the East Rocks and
Swamps, to the South-ward good store of _Deer_, arable land and
meadows.
On the North-side of _Boston_ flows _Charles-River_, which is
about six fathom deep, many small Islands lye to the Bayward, and
hills on either side the River, a very good harbour, here may
forty Ships ride, the passage from _Boston_ to _Charles-Town_ is
by a Ferry worth forty or fifty pounds a [p. 164.] year, and is a
quarter of a mile over. The River _Mistick_ runs through the right
side of the Town, and by its near approach to _Charles-River_ in
one place makes a very narrow neck, where stands most part of the
Town, the market-place not far from the waterside is surrounded
with houses, forth of which issue two streets orderly built and
beautified with Orchards and Gardens, their meeting-house stands on
the North-side of the market, having a little hill behind it; there
belongs to this Town one thousand and two hundred Acres of arable,
four hundred head of Cattle, and as many Sheep, these also provide
themselves Farms in the Country.
Up higher in _Charles-River_ west-ward is a broad Bay two miles
over, into which runs _Stony-River_ and _Muddy-River_.
Towards the South-west in the middle of the _Bay_ is a great
Oyster-bank, towards the North-west is a Creek; upon the shore
is situated the village of _Medford_, it is a mile and half from
_Charles-town_.
At the bottom of the _Bay_ the River begins to be narrower, half
a quarter of a mile broad; by the North-side of the River is
_New-town_, three miles from _Charles-town_, a league and half by
water, it was first [p. 165.] intended for a City, the neatest
and best compacted Town, having many fair structures and handsom
contrived streets; the Inhabitants rich, they have many hundred
Acres of land paled with one common fence a mile and half long, and
store of Cattle; it is now called _Cambridge_ where is a Colledg
for Students of late; it stretcheth from _Charles-River_ to the
Southern part of _Merrimach-River_.
Half a mile thence on the same side of the River is _Water-town_
built upon one of the branches of _Charles-River_, very fruitful
and of large extent, watered with many pleasant springs and small
Rivulets, the Inhabitants live scatteringly. Within half a mile
is a great pond divided between the two Towns, a mile and half
from the Town is a fall of fresh waters which conveigh themselves
into the Ocean through _Charles-River_, a little below the fall of
waters they have a wair to catch fish, wherein they take store of
_Basse_, _Shades_, _Alwives_, _Frost-fish_, and _Smelts_, in two
tides they have gotten one hundred thousand of these fishes. They
have store of Cattle and Sheep, and near upon two thousand Acres of
arable land, Ships of small burden may come up to these Towns.
[p. 166.] We will now return to _Charles-town_ again, where the
River _Mistick_ runs on the North-side of the Town (that is the
right side as beforesaid) where on the Northwest-side of the
River is the Town of _Mistick_, three miles from _Charles-town_,
a league and half by water, a scattered village; at the head of
this River are great and spacious ponds, full of _Alewives_ in the
spring-time, the notedst place for this sort of fish. On the West
of this River is Merchant _Craddock’s_ plantation, where he impaled
a park.
Upon the same River and on the North-side is the Town of _Malden_.
The next Town is _Winnisimet_ a mile from _Charles-town_, the
River only parting them, this is the last Town in the still bay of
_Massachusets_.
Without _Pullin-point_, six miles North-east from _Winnisimet_ is
_Cawgust_, or _Sagust_, or _Sangut_ now called _Linn_, situated at
the bottom of a _Bay_ near a River, which upon the breaking up of
winter with a furious Torrent vents it self into the Sea, the Town
consists of more than one hundred dwelling-houses, their Church
being built on a level undefended from the North-west wind is made
with steps descending [p. 167] into the Earth, their streets are
straight and but thin of houses, the people most husbandmen. At the
end of the _Sandy beach_ is a neck of land called _Nahant_, it is
six miles in circumference. Black _William_ an _Indian_ Duke out
of his generosity gave this to the _English_. At the mouth of the
River runs a great Creek into a great marsh called _Rumney_-marsh,
which is four miles long, and a mile broad, this Town hath the
benefit of minerals of divers kinds, Iron, Lead, one Iron mill,
store of Cattle, Arable land and meadow.
To the North-ward of _Linn_ is _Marvil_ or _Marble-head_, a small
Harbour, the shore rockie, upon which the Town is built, consisting
of a few scattered houses; here they have stages for fishermen,
Orchards and Gardens, half a mile within land good pastures and
Arable land.
Four miles North of _Marble-head_ is situated _New-Salem_ (whose
longitude is 315 degrees, and latitude 42 degrees 35 minutes) upon
a plain, having a River on the South, and another on the North, it
hath two Harbours, Winter Harbour and Summer Harbour which lyeth
within _Darbie’s_ fort, they have store of Meadow and Arable, in
this Town are some very rich Merchants.
[p. 168.] Upon the Northern Cape of the _Massachusets_, that is
_Cape-Ann_, a place of fishing is situated, the Town of _Glocester_
where the _Massachusets_ Colony first set down, but _Salem_ was the
first Town built in that Colony, here is a Harbour for Ships.
To the North-ward of _Cape-Ann_ is _Wonasquam_, a dangerous place
to sail by in stormie weather, by reason of the many Rocks and
foaming breakers.
The next Town that presents it self to view is _Ipswich_ situated
by a fair River, whose first rise is from a Lake or Pond twenty
mile up, betaking its course through a hideous _Swamp_ for many
miles, a Harbour for _Bears_, it issueth forth into a large _Bay_,
(where they fish for _Whales_) due East over against the Islands
of _Sholes_ a great place of fishing, the mouth of that River is
barr’d; it is a good haven-town, their meeting-house or Church
is beautifully built, store of Orchards and Gardens, land for
husbandry and Cattle.
_Wenham_ is an inland Town very well watered, lying between
_Salem_ and _Ipswich_, consisteth most of men of judgment and
experience _in re rustica_, well stored with Cattle. At the first
rise of _Ipswich_-River in the highest part of the land near the
head [p. 169.] springs of many considerable Rivers; _Shashin_ one
of the most considerable branches of _Merrimach_-River, and also at
the rise of _Mistick_-River, and ponds full of pleasant springs, is
situated _Wooburn_ an inland-Town four miles square beginning at
the end of _Charles-town_ bounds.
Six miles from _Ipswich_ North-east is _Rowley_, most of the
Inhabitants have been Clothiers.
Nine miles from _Salem_ to the North is _Agowamine_, the best and
spaciousest place for a plantation, being twenty leagues to the
Northward of _New-Plimouth_.
Beyond _Agowamin_ is situated _Hampton_ near the Sea-coasts not far
from _Merrimach_-River, this Town is like a _Flower-deluce_, having
two streets of houses wheeling off from the main body thereof, they
have great store of salt Marshes and Cattle, the land is fertil,
but full of Swamps and Rocks.
Eight miles beyond _Agowamin_ runneth the delightful River
_Merrimach_ or _Monumach_, it is navigable for twenty miles, and
well stored with fish, upon the banks grow stately Oaks, excellent
Ship timber, not inferiour to our _English_.
On the South-side of _Merrimach_-River [p. 170.] twelve miles
from _Ipswich_, and near upon the wide venting streams thereof is
situated _Newberrie_, the houses are scattering, well stored with
meadow, upland, and Arable, and about four hundred head of Cattle.
Over against _Newberrie_ lyes the Town of _Salisbury_, where a
constant Ferry is kept, the River being here half a mile broad, the
Town scatteringly built.
Hard upon the River of _Shashin_ where _Merrimach_ receives this
and the other branch into its body, is seated _Andover_, stored
with land and Cattle.
Beyond this Town by the branch of _Merrimach_-River called
_Shashin_, lyeth _Haverhill_, a Town of large extent about ten
miles in length, the inhabitants Husbandmen, this Town is not far
from _Salisbury_.
Over against _Haverhill_ lyeth the Town of _Malden_, which I have
already mentioned.
In a low level upon a fresh River a branch of _Merrimach_ is
seated _Concord_, the first inland Town in _Massachusets_ patent,
well stored with fish, _Salmon_, _Dace_, _Alewive_, _Shade_, &c.
abundance of fresh marsh and Cattle, this place is subject to
bitter storms.
[p. 171.] The next town is _Sudbury_ built upon the same River
where _Concord_ is, but further up; to this Town likewise belongs
great store of fresh marshes, and Arable land, and they have many
Cattle, it lyeth low, by reason whereof it is much indammaged with
flouds.
In the Centre of the Countrey by a great pond side, and not far
from _Woeburn_, is situated _Reading_, it hath two mills, a
saw-mill and a Corn-mill, and is well stockt with Cattle.
The Colony is divided into four Counties, the first is _Suffolk_,
to which belongs _Dorchester_, _Roxbury_, _Waymouth_, _Hingham_,
_Dedham_, _Braintre_, _Sittuate_, _Hull_, _Nantascot_,
_Wisagusset_. The second County is _Middlesex_, to this belongs
_Charles-town_, _Water-town_, _Cambridge_, _Concord_, _Sudbury_,
_Woeburn_, _Reading_, _Malden_, _Mistick_, _Medford_, _Winnisimet_
and _Marble-head_. To the third County which is _Essex_, belongs
_New-Salem_, _Linn_, _Ipswich_, _New-Berry_, _Rowley_, _Glocester_,
_Wenham_ and _Andover_. The fourth County is _Northfolk_, to this
belongs _Salisbury_, _Hampton_ and _Haverhill_.
In the year of our Lord 1628, Mr. _John Endicot_ with a number of
_English_ people set down by _Cape-Ann_ at that place called [p.
172.] afterwards _Gloster_, but their abiding-place was at _Salem_,
where they built a Town in 1639. and there they gathered their
first Church, consisting but of Seventy persons; but afterwards
increased to forty three Churches in joynt Communion with one
another, and in those Churches were about Seven thousand, seven
hundred and fifty Souls, Mr. _Endicot_ was chosen their first
Governour.
The Twelfth of _July_ _Anno Dom._ 1630. _John Wenthorp_ Esq; and
the assistants, arrived with the Patent for the _Massachusets_,
the passage of the people that came along with him in ten Vessels
came to 95000 pound: the Swine, Goats, Sheep, Neat, Horses cost
to transport 12000 pound, besides the price they cost them;
getting food for the people till they could clear the ground of
wood amounted to 45000 pound: Nails, Glass, and other Iron work
for their meeting and dwelling houses 13000 pound; Arms, Powder,
Bullet, and Match, together with their Artillery 22000 pound, the
whole sum amounts unto One hundred ninety two thousand pounds.
They set down first upon _Noddles-Island_, afterwards they began
to build upon the main. In 1637. there were not many houses in
the Town of [p. 173.] _Boston_, amongst which were two houses of
entertainment called Ordinaries, into which if a stranger went,
he was presently followed by one appointed to that Office, who
would thrust himself into his company uninvited, and if he called
for more drink than the Officer thought in his judgment he could
soberly bear away, he would presently countermand it, and appoint
the proportion, beyond which he could not get one drop.
The Patent was granted to Sir _Henry Rosewell_, Sir _John Young_
Knight, _Thomas Southcoat_, _John Humphrey_, _John Endicot_, and
_Simon Whitecomb_, and to their Heirs, Assigns, and Associats
for ever. These took to them other Associats, as Sir _Richard
Saltonstall_, _Isaac Johnson_, _Samuel Aldersey_, _Jo. Ven_,
_Matth. Craddock_, _George Harwood_, _Increase Nowell_, _Rich.
Perry_, _Rich. Bellingham_, _Nathaniel Wright_, _Samuel Vasell_,
_Theophilus Eaton_, _Thomas Goffe_, _Thomas Adams_, _Jo. Brown_,
_Samuel Brown_, _Thomas Hutchins_, _Will. Vasell_, _Will.
Pinchon_ and _George Foxcroft_. _Matth. Craddock_ was ordained
and constituted Governour by Patent, and _Thomas Goffe_ Deputy
Governour of the said Company, the rest Assistants.
That part of _New-England_ granted to [p. 174.] these
fore-mentioned Gentlemen lyeth and extendeth between a great
River called _Monumach_, alias _Merrimach_, and the often
frequented _Charles-River_, being in the bottom of a _Bay_ called
_Massachusets_, alias _Mattachusets_, alias _Massatusets-bay_;
and also those lands within the space of three _English_ miles,
on the South part of the said _Charles-River_, or any or every
part, and all the lands within three miles to the South-ward part
of the _Massachusets-bay_, and all those lands which lye within
the space of three _English_ miles to the North-ward of the River
_Merrimach_, or to the North-ward of any and every part thereof,
and all lands whatsoever within the limits aforesaid, North and
South, in latitude, and in breadth and length and longitude of
and within all the main land there, from the _Atlantick_ and
Western-Sea and Ocean on the East-part, to the South-Sea on the
West-part, and all lands and grounds, place and places, soils,
woods and wood-groves, Havens, Ports, Rivers, Waters, fishings
and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the aforesaid lands and
limits, and every part and parcel thereof, and also all Islands
lying in _America_ aforesaid in the said Seas, or either of them
on the Western or Eastern [p. 175.] Coasts or parts of the said
tracts of lands. Also all mines and minerals as well Royal of Gold,
Silver, as others _&c._ With power to rule and govern both Sea and
land, holden of the East manner of _Greenwich_ in _Com. Kent_, in
free and common soccage, yielding and paying to the King the fifth
part of the Oar of Gold and Silver which shall be found at any time.
This Colony is a body Corporated and Politick in fact by the
name of the Governour and Company of the _Mattachusets-bay_ in
_New-England_.
That there shall be one Governour, and Deputy-Governour, and
Eighteen Assistants of the same Company from time to time.
That the Governour and Deputy-Governour, Assistants and all
other Officers to be chosen from amongst the free-men, the last
_Wednesday_ in _Easter_-term yearly in the general Court.
The Governour to take his Corporal Oath to be true and faithful to
the Government, and to give the same Oath to the other Officers.
[p. 176.] To hold a Court once a month, and any seven to be a
sufficient Court.
And that there shall be four general Courts kept in Term time, and
one great general and solemn Assembly to make Laws and Ordinances;
So they be not contrary and repugnant to the Laws and Statutes of
the Realm of _England_. Their form of Government and what their
Laws concern, you may see in the ensuing Table.
[p. 177.]
{ { Governour
{ { {
{ { 1 Magi- { { 1 Counsellers.
{ { strates. { {
{ { { Assistants. { { 1 of the whole
{ 1 { { { Countrey.
{ their { { 2 Judges {
{ person { { { 2 of each town.
{ {
{ {
{ { { 1 of the { 1 for their protection.
Their { { 2 People. { whole Countrey, { 2 for their provision.
Laws { { {
Con- { { 2 of each { 1 their lands.
cern { { Town, concerning. { 2 their Treasure.
{
{ { 1 The
{ { 1 Civil { publick { 1 in their personal
{ { & they { State, or { inheritances, and
{ { concern { 2 Particular { proprieties
{ { { persons. {
{ { { { 1 Of
{ { { 2 in { buying
{ { { Whether { 1 either { their { and
{ { { between { of Tres- { mutual { selling
{ { { the members { passes { com- {
{ 2 of { { of { or { merce { 2 Lending
{ causes { { their own { 2 of { whether { and
{ { { Commonwealth { Capital { in { borrow-
{ { 2 Cri- { & they are. { Crimes. { way { ing
{ { minal.
{ 2 Between {
{ Burgesses {
{ and the { 1 That we do them wrong.
{ people, {
{ and forraign { 2 That they do us wrong.
{ Nations, {
{ whether {
{ in case {