The foregoing epistle is alike honorable to the head and heart of
Mr. Endecott. Humble, devout, and chastened feelings pervade it
throughout. It speaks a mind sensibly alive to religious impressions.
The sentiments here expressed cannot fail to find a response in the
hearts of all reflecting men, in this and succeeding generations.
The magnitude of the undertaking in which they were engaged, the
necessity of union in their efforts, and the impossibility of success
without direct divine assistance, are here represented in language
appropriate and devout.
Whether Mr. Endecott carried into execution his design intimated in
this letter, of making Gov. Bradford a visit "shortly," is uncertain.
On the 27th of May, 1629, in a communication to the authorities at
home, he complained that some persons in his jurisdiction disregarded
the law of 1622, for the regulation of trade with the Indians,
and "desiring the Company would take the same into their serious
consideration, and to use some speedy means here for reformation
thereof." A petition was in consequence presented to the King, who
in compliance therewith issued a new proclamation, forbidding such
disorderly trading. These steps were no doubt taken in reference
to the associates of one Thomas Morton, whose residence at Mount
Wollaston, or Merry Mount, now Quincy, he visited shortly after his
arrival in this country. This man and his associates had alarmed
all the well-disposed settlers, from Piscataqua to Plymouth, by
selling arms and ammunition to the Indians, indulging themselves
in dissipation, and otherwise endangering the peace and welfare
of New England. The object of Mr. Endecott's visit was to rectify
abuses among the remaining confederates, Morton himself having been
already apprehended, and sent home to England for trial. He went
there, we are told, in the "purefying spirit of authority," and
caused their May-pole to be cut down, to which they had been in the
habit of affixing pieces of satirical composition against those who
opposed their wishes and practices, and "rebuked the inhabitants
for their profaneness, and admonished them to look to it that they
walked better." He also changed the name of the place, and called
it Mount Dagon. The precise period of this visit is not known, and
it is not improbable that Mr. Endecott extended his journey at the
time to Plymouth Colony. However this may be, a warm friendship soon
grew up between Gov. Bradford and himself, which continued without
interruption for the remainder of their lives.
As yet no steps had been taken in the Colony towards the
establishment of a reformed Church for propagating the gospel, which
they professed above all to be their aim in settling this Plantation.
June 30th, 1629, the Rev. Francis Higginson arrived at Naumkeag, and
the Rev. Mr. Skelton, the early friend and spiritual father of Mr.
Endecott, arrived about the same time. They had been sent over by
the home government. Mr. Higginson thus speaks of his reception by
Mr. Endecott: "The next morning (30th) the Governor came aboard to
our ship, and bade us kindly welcome, and invited mee and my wiffe
to come on shore and take our lodgings at his house; which we did
accordingly." The settlement, we are told, then consisted of "about
half a score of houses, with a fair house, newly built, for the
Governor. We found also abundance of corne planted by them, very good
and well liking. Our Governor hath a store of green pease growing in
his garden, as good as ever I eat in England. * * * * Our Governor
hath already planted a vineyard, with great hopes of increase;
also mulberries, plums, raspberries, currants, chesnuts, filberts,
walnuts, small nuts, hurtleberries, and haws of white thorn, near as
good as our cherries in England--they grow in plenty here."
Shortly after the arrival of Mr. Higginson and Mr. Skelton, the
necessary measures were taken preparatory to the settlement of a
religious congregation in accordance with the views of the Puritans.
In this they were aided by Mr. Endecott, and the most intelligent
of the colonists. Having first concluded a satisfactory form of
church government and discipline, which was submitted to Mr. Endecott
for approval, the 6th of August, 1629, just eleven months after
his arrival, was the time selected for this "little band of devout
Pilgrims to enter into solemn covenant[7] with God and one another,
and also for the ordaining of their ministers." By Mr. Endecott's
order, a solemn day of "humiliation" had been held on the 20th of
July preceding, for the choice of pastor and teacher. An important
step was about to be taken--a new priesthood was about to be
established--all allegiance to, or alliance with, any other church
on earth was about to be dissolved! It was a subject of momentous
concern with the Colonists, and called into exercise all their moral
heroism and spiritual courage. Mr. Bradford, the Governor of the
Plymouth Colony, came here by sea, and arrived just in season to
give the right hand of fellowship. Of all that little band, gathered
together on this occasion, none felt a deeper interest, or took a
more responsible part, than the subject of this Memoir.[8]
We now approach an important event in the history of the Colony--the
removal of its entire government to New England. Gov. Cradock, with
whom the idea appears to have originated, acquainted the Proprietors,
at a meeting of the Court, July 28, 1629, that, for the purpose
of advancing the interests of the Plantation, and inducing and
encouraging persons of worth and quality to transport themselves
and their families thither, as well as for other weighty reasons,
it was proposed to transfer the entire government to this country,
and continue it no longer in subjection to the Company in England.
Soon after this communication, an agreement to that effect was drawn
up at Cambridge, and among those who signed it was their future
governor, John Winthrop. It was one of the stipulations that they
should settle their affairs so as to be ready for the voyage hither
by the first of March. This appears to have been the first connection
Mr. Winthrop had with the settlement of this soil. On the 29th of
August following, at a meeting of the Court of Proprietors, in
London, this change in the government was decided upon. On the 16th
of October, at another meeting of the Court, it was conceived "fitt
that Capt. Endecott continue the government there, unless just cause
to the contrarie." But on the 20th of the same month, Gov. Cradock
informed the Proprietors that in accordance with the alteration of
the government now about to take place, it was necessary to elect a
new Governor, Deputy, and Assistants; when John Winthrop was put in
nomination, and unanimously chosen Governor. In like manner, John
Humphrey was chosen "Deputy-Governor," and Sir Richard Saltonstall,
Matthew Cradock, John Endecott, with fifteen others, were chosen a
board of "Assistants."
On the 12th of June, 1630, the ship Arbella, Capt. Milburne, having
on board Gov. Winthrop and company, and a duplicate Charter of the
Colony, of the same tenor and form as Gov. Endecott's, arrived at
Naumkeag, having sailed from Cowes March 29. Mr. Endecott, who had
already been apprized that he was shortly to be superseded in the
Governorship of the Plantation, repaired on board to welcome the new
Governor, and offer him and his friends the hospitalities of his
house. Among the distinguished personages were Isaac Johnson and his
wife, the Lady Arbella, daughter of the Earl of Lincoln. Speaking
of Mr. Endecott's visit, Gov. Winthrop says, "Wee that were of the
Assistants and some other gentlemen and some of the women, returned
with him to Nahumkeck, where we supped on good venison pastry
and good beer." At the time of the arrival of the new Governor,
wholesome and salutary laws for the government of the Colony had
been instituted by Endecott, under the authority given him by the
Charter, and the settlement had already assumed the condition of a
well-organized and regulated body politic. A church, with faithful
ministers, which they professed to value above all temporal interests
and earthly grandeur, had also been established, and the wheels
of government were moving on harmoniously, upon a safe and sure
foundation. Under this state of things, Endecott now surrendered the
civil power into the hands of Gov. Winthrop, and took upon himself
the more humble appointment of one of the Assistants. Yet "the
principles of Winthrop's administration," says the Annalist of Salem,
"were like those which had directed the course of his predecessor.
The commencement of legislation, which was to have an important part
in promoting social freedom, that has spread and is spreading in the
world, _began_ at Naumkeag, under Endecott, and was _continued_ by
his worthy successor."
Soon after the arrival of Gov. Winthrop, the new settlers began to
be dissatisfied with Salem, as the capital of the Colony. It did not
combine, in their opinion, sufficient advantages of location, soil,
and natural means of defence. A party, therefore, was sent to explore
the country westward, to discover, if possible, some more suitable
situation. It had been the darling object with Endecott to make
Salem the seat of government; he, however, bowed in submission, and
continued his efforts to advance the common weal.
On the 18th of August, 1630, Gov. Endecott entered into a new
matrimonial alliance with Elisabeth Gibson of Cambridge, England.
This lady probably came over in the ship with Gov. Winthrop, and
the marriage ceremony was performed by him and the Rev. Mr. Wilson,
afterwards pastor of the first church in Boston. This connection
appears to have been a happy one, although there was a much greater
disparity in their ages than prudence and judgment would seem to
allow--the difference being about twenty-six years.
Such was his ardent and growing attachment to the place of his
adoption, that when it was decided in December, 1630, to fortify
Newton, now Cambridge, for the seat of government, and to build
houses, and move their military stores to that place next spring, he
could not be prevailed upon to quit his accustomed residence. All the
members, except himself and Mr. Sharp, who was about returning to
England, agreed to do so; but Mr. Endecott excused himself upon the
ground that he had so formed his connections in Salem, that it would
be attended with great inconvenience.
On the 3rd of July, 1632, the Court of Assistants granted Mr.
Endecott three hundred acres of land, called by the Indians in
English, "Birchwood," afterwards known as his "Orchard Farm." It was
situated between two and three miles in a northerly direction from
the main settlement at Salem, upon a tongue of land bounded on the
north, south, and east by rivers, or more properly inlets of the
sea, and on the west by the main land. Even at that early period, it
was one of the most desirable situations in that vicinity. Though at
some distance from the place which was afterwards selected for the
seat of the government, and where the Court House was erected, yet
he was in the centre of the population, being by land nearer to the
shores than he was to the cultivated farms around him. It was many
years after he established himself at this beautiful place, so near
all the streams which passed through the adjacent country, before any
incorporation separated Salem from the Merrimack. For twenty years
Salem bounded on Andover. The spot then was the best he could have
chosen. On a commanding eminence, which overlooked the country for
some distance around, and about one eighth of a mile from one of the
inlets, he built his house, and commenced in earnest the cultivation
of his farm. Although the ploughshare has frequently passed over it,
yet part of the cellar of this house is plainly discernible at the
present day. It is a romantic situation, and denotes him to have
been a man of much discrimination and taste in matters of this kind.
On his farm he lived in a sort of feudal style, surrounded by his
servants.
In front of his mansion house, and immediately upon the southern
slope of a gentle declivity, he planted his far-famed orchard, which
gave the name to his farm. The tradition that the Governor always
pointed out his dial, which bears the date of 1630, as denoting the
age of his orchard, seems to indicate that the trees were removed
hither from his town residence. Here, too, it is said, he introduced,
for medicinal purposes, as well as ornament to his garden, the
"white-weed," which has since become so detrimental to the hay-fields
of our farmers.
His usual mode of transporting himself and family to and from this
place, was at first by water, and he was as often visited by his
friends in this way, as in any other. The inlet before the mansion
house had nothing to interrupt it--the passage was open to the bay,
and at that early period must have been delightfully romantic. The
shores on either side thickly clothed with wood, whose dark images
were reflected in the still waters beneath them, were picturesque
in the extreme. The bold jutting headlands, on some parts of the
passage, lent a sublimity to the prospect, which was continually
varying by the winding and circuitous course of the stream.[9] There
was nothing to break the stillness, or disturb the quiet which
reigned around, save the dashings of their own little boat amid
the waters, or the heavy plunge of some lordly sea-bird, in his
gyratory wanderings in pursuit of prey. The smoke from the humble
and solitary wigwams of the Indians, thinly scattered along the
margin of the waters, with an occasional glimpse at their tawny
inhabitants, as they stealthily watched the passing boat from their
leafy hiding-places, or listlessly reclined under the shadow of some
wide-spreading oak, heightened the effect, and diversified the scene.
Within the last half-century, the ruins of some of these wigwams
might have been seen,[10] and could not have failed to excite most
melancholy reflections respecting the wretched fate of these natural
lords of the soil, throughout our vast country.
August 2, 1634, Mr. Endecott was called to mourn the death of his
early and particular friend, the Rev. Mr. Skelton, who had become
endeared to him as his spiritual guide, in first opening to his view
the way of truth while in England, and who had followed him to this
country to counsel and direct him in paths of piety and happiness.
This event must have been to him a severe affliction.
About this time a Military Board of Commissioners, with almost
unlimited powers, was established by the General Court, and Mr.
Endecott was appointed one of its members.
On the 18th of September, this same year, the Colony was thrown
into consternation, and alarmed for its liberties, by the news from
England, that a commission had been granted to two Archbishops,
and ten others of the Council, conferring on them the authority to
regulate the Plantations of New England; to establish and maintain
the Episcopal Church in this country; to recall its Charter; remove
its Governors; make its laws; hear and decide its legal cases; and
appoint its punishments, even death itself.[11] Intelligence was also
received at the same time, that a new Governor was being secretly
conveyed to Massachusetts, with orders which, if executed, would
prostrate all its civil and ecclesiastical rights. Gov. Cradock had
already informed them that the King's Council had demanded their
Charter. Such was the universal anxiety this news awakened, that the
idea of resistance appears immediately to have possessed the minds of
the inhabitants,[12] and the fortifications were hastened forward,
and an assessment laid of an additional rate of five hundred pounds
for defence. These tidings were received with indignant feelings
by Mr. Endecott. He saw by this step that all their dear-bought
privileges, purchased at such immense sacrifices, which none could
better appreciate than himself, were about to be violently, as with
a ruthless despotism, wrested from them. His independent spirit
could not quietly brook such high-handed infringements upon their
chartered rights, and he resolved in all the affairs of the Colony,
in which he had any share or influence, to pursue that course which
he deemed most for her interests, whether it led him over plains or
mountains, through flowers or thorns. There was exhibited in his
actions, on all occasions, a fortitude, which shows him formed for
great emergencies. Probably under the influence of feelings produced
by this intelligence, and excited by that ardent zeal which marked
his character through life, he shortly after cut the red cross from
the King's colors, deeming it a relic of Popish idolatry. This bold
and daring act was considered an insult, as well to the established
Church of England, as to the King himself; and the Colony dared not
refrain from taking cognizance of it, lest it should call down upon
their heads the vengeance of the whole British hierarchy. There
is ample evidence in the records of the Colony, that most of the
principal men, including Governor Winthrop,[13] agreed with him
on this subject, in sentiment and feeling. "The only difference
between him and others was, he manifested his opinions by his acts,
while they, with more prudence and safety, retained theirs in
secret." Had it not been for fear of the consequences, instead of
being censured, his conduct would have been openly applauded. His
boldness of action was made known in England, and looked upon there
in the light of rebellion. It was the first blow struck in defiance
of royal authority, and would no doubt have cost Mr. Endecott his
life, had it not been for those troubles which were then beginning
to gather thickly, like a tempest, about the devoted head of the
unfortunate Charles I., and which eventually burst upon it with a
fury which nothing could resist, involving in its course the ruin
of his government, and the destruction of his own life. The sword,
with which this rebellious act is said to have been performed by
Mr. Endecott, has been preserved, and is now in possession of one
of the family, to whom it has descended in direct line, by right of
primogeniture. It is a plain, unornamented rapier, emblematical of
the Puritan simplicity of our Forefathers.
While these events were passing in this country, the Puritans
in England were experiencing the most unmitigated persecution,
at the hand of Archbishop Laud and his confederates. As their
numbers increased, the various modes of punishment were multiplied;
exorbitant fines were imposed; the pillory witnessed bloody scenes
of human agony and mutilation; the scaffold and dungeon had their
victims; the lash, the shears, and the glowing iron were most cruelly
applied to individuals of this proscribed sect.[14] But the faith of
the Puritans rose superior to oppression, and could not be overcome.
The most bloody persecution served only to add new converts to their
cause.
In 1636, Mr. Endecott was appointed an Assistant, and was also
sent on an expedition against the Indians on Block Island and in
the Pequot country, he acting as General of all the forces in the
detachment. During this year his views relative to the cross in the
King's colors triumphed over all considerations, and the Military
Commissioners ordered it to be left out. On the ensigns at Castle
Island, in Boston harbor, they substituted the King's arms for the
cross.
During the year 1641, Mr. Endecott was chosen Deputy-Governor,
and was continued in office for the two succeeding years. He was
also appointed one of a committee to dispose of all lands or other
property belonging to the company at Cape Ann; and was commissioned
by the Court, in conjunction with two others, Mr. Downing, the
brother-in-law of Gov. Winthrop, and Mr. Hathorne, to procure the
transcription of nineteen copies of the laws, liberties, and forms of
oaths, and to subscribe them with their own hands, the Court having
decreed that no copies should be considered authentic which were
without their signatures.
In 1642, he was chosen one of the Corporation of Harvard College.
Passing over some minor things in the life of Governor Endecott,
we arrive at the year 1644, when his increasing influence and
popularity ensured his election as Governor, and Mr. Winthrop was
chosen Deputy-Governor. The claim of Salem to be made the seat of
government, was now again revived, and it would be fair to infer from
his well-known attachment to the place, that the project met with
his hearty coöperation. But the effort was not successful, and Boston
still continued to be the capital. The Governor's salary was one
hundred pounds.
During this year of his administration, improvements in the mode
of transacting business in the Legislature were introduced. The
Magistrates and Deputies, for the first time, now held their sessions
apart, and it required the concurrence of both bodies, to make an act
valid. The office of a speaker to the Deputies was also this year
ordained, and filled by an Essex man, Mr. William Hathorne.
The conflicting claims of D'Aulney and La Tour, two Frenchmen at
Acadia, which had produced considerable excitement, were finally
settled during this year, by the government of France supporting
the claim of D'Aulney. His deputy came to Boston, and concluded a
treaty with Gov. Endecott, which was subsequently ratified by the
Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England.
The year following, (1645) Mr. Endecott was succeeded as Governor by
Mr. Dudley. Other offices of honor and trust, however, awaited him.
He was this year appointed Sergeant Major-General of Massachusetts,
the highest military office in the Colony. He had previously held
a commission of Colonel in the first regiment formed in Salem,
Saugus, Ipswich, and Newbury, in 1636, when John Winthrop, Jr., son
of the Governor, was his Lieutenant-Colonel. He was also elected an
Assistant, and one of the United Commissioners.
In 1648, he was continued an Assistant, Sergeant Major-General, and
Commissioner for the Province.
Upon the death of Governor Winthrop, which took place on the 26th
of March, 1649, at the age of 61, Mr. Endecott was again chosen
Governor, to which office he was annually elected until the time of
his death, with the exception of the years 1650 and 1654, when he
held that of Deputy-Governor. This was an eventful period in the
history of the Colony, as well as of the Mother Country. The violent
death of Charles I., the usurpation of Cromwell, and the restoration
of the Stuart family, took place while he was at the head of public
affairs. The difficulties and perplexities of his situation during
this period were very great. But all his public acts were marked
with a moderation and wisdom which do honor to him as an experienced
statesman. Had he possessed less integrity or firmness, had his mind
been at all vacillating, the consequences might have been affectingly
disastrous to the best interests of the Colony.
In the year 1652, under his administration, a mint was established in
the Colony, for coining shillings, six-pences, and three-pences. No
other of the American Colonies, it is believed, ever presumed to coin
metal into money. Though unlawful, it was passed over by Cromwell and
the Parliament, and continued after the Restoration, for more than
twenty years.
About the year 1655, Gov. Endecott removed from Salem to Boston, upon
the request of the General Court that he would do so, "if his own
necessary occasions would permit." Although the reasonableness of
this request must have been apparent to him, the step could not have
been taken without strong feelings of repugnance. It must have been a
severe struggle for him to have separated himself from the place of
his adoption, towards which he had ever felt and exhibited the most
ardent attachment. His residence in Boston was on the beautiful lot
lately owned and occupied by Gardner Green, now Pemberton Square.[15]
Governor Endecott had now (1657) entered upon his seventieth year,
with a shattered constitution, and health seriously impaired, as we
learn by the following letter to Mr. John Leverett, the Colonial
Agent in England.