I cannot write unto you by a more faithful friend[16] than I
have done, who is able at large, to relate to you how things in
general stand here. And that doth save mee some labour which
at this tyme is a favor to mee. For in the extremity of heate
and after a long sickness, I am very faint; not fitt to doe
any thing, yet I cannot but by these heartilie salute you in
the Lord, giving you many thanks for what you sent me. For all
good newes is welcome to us as you know full well. Yet I cannot
for the present answer your expectations touching Road Island
and Clarke and Holmes, but I have acquainted the rest of the
Magistrates with your letter, who were already to gather up
sufficient testimonie to prove what you spoke to the Protector,
and enough to satisfy (we doubt not) your opponent, if he be a
lover of truth. Only we would have the General Court act with us
therein, which will not meet till September next, when I hope I
shall procure a full answer to your former and last letters.
What the end is of that point of State to make the Protector
King, I cannot fathom it; unless their proffering and his
deniall thereof ingratiate him the more in the hearts of the
people. The Lord in mercie guide all to his glory, and the good
of those commonwealths over whom he hath sett him. If there
be any opportunitie I pray you write mee a word about it, and
other occurrences that may fall out. I cannot be sufficientlie
thankefulle for what you wrote me last. Great motions there are
in the world which the Lord direct and turn to his glorie, the
overthrow of his enemies and the peace and welfare of his own
people. Which is the prayer of Sir,
Your verie loveing friend and servant,
JO: ENDECOTT.
Boston, the 29th 4th mo., (June,) 1657.
During the principal part of Gov. Endecott's administration, and
particularly from 1655 to 1660, the Colony, "under his prudent and
equal government," made rapid progress in all things necessary to
its respectability and importance. Its population and wealth rapidly
increased; its trade flourished; and its foreign intercourse became
every day more widely extended. Free admission was allowed to vessels
of all nations, and the importations of all commodities was subject
to no incumbrance or restraint. The Colony took no notice of any
act respecting navigation, or other laws made in England for the
regulation of trade. They were never recognized as in force here,
unless required by their own legislature.
In 1658, the Court granted Gov. Endecott, "for his great service,
the fourth part of Block Island." At this time he was also elected
President of the body of Colonial Commissioners. He now held the
double office of Governor of Massachusetts and President of the
United Colonies.
His conduct towards the aborigines, that much abused and injured
people, was always marked with forbearance, lenity, and mildness. To
his eldest son John, the Indians in 1660 gave a tract of land, which
grant he applied to the Court to confirm. The Court declined taking
such power on itself; but at the same time, however, it passed the
highly complimentary resolve:
The Court, "considering the many kindnesses which were shown the
Indians by our honored Governor in the infancy of these Plantations,
for pacifying the Indians, tending to the common good of the
Planters; and in consideration of which the Indians were moved to
such a gratuity unto his son, do judge meet to give the petitioner
four hundred acres of land."
Though Governor Endecott removed from Salem to Boston in 1655, yet
neither he nor Mrs. Endecott removed their connection with the Salem
church, until November, 1664. A large and brilliant comet made its
appearance on the 17th of November of this year, and continued to the
4th of February following. It was the general belief of that period,
that comets were omens of great evil. One appeared just before the
death of that distinguished divine, the Rev. John Cotton; and the
death at this time of their aged Governor, and the troubles with
which the Colony met the next year from the King's Commissioners,
Hutchinson informs us, tended to confirm the people in their opinion.
We are told that "old age and the infirmities thereof coming upon
him, he fell asleep in the Lord on the 15th of March, 1665," at
the age of 77, "and was with great honour and solemnity interred
at Boston," on the 23rd of the same month. His death was easy and
tranquil. Tradition has handed down the fact, that the "Chapel
Burying-Ground" was the place of his interment. But the exact spot
is not now known. No stone marks the resting-place of this intrepid
Father of New England.[17] Yet his name alone will ever be a monument
to his memory, more enduring than marble, and as imperishable as the
granite hills of his adopted country.
Gov. Endecott came to this country in 1628, at the age of 40, and
died in 1665, at the age of 77. During these thirty-seven years he
was nearly all the time in public life, and for about seventeen
years, or nearly half the whole period, he was Governor of the
Colony. He was longer at the head of the administration than any
other Governor of Massachusetts.
He was a man of highly respectable natural talents, good education,
a zealous Puritan, a brave man, a decided patriotic republican, a
friend of learning and religion, a lover of God and his country.
We frankly acknowledge that the conduct of Gov. Endecott in the
religious intolerance of his day, may be considered a stain upon his
escutcheon. Yet, while we admit that those severe measures which were
adopted, especially when contrasted with the present unrestrained
exercise of religious freedom in our country, were great blemishes on
his administration, we think they certainly ought not to be regarded
as such on his moral character. It was not the cause of religion
alone, which was thought to be endangered by the dissemination and
triumph of such principles as were then advanced; but the overthrow
of all civil government was looked upon as the ultimate result.
Besides, the _whole_ responsibility and obloquy of this dark page in
our early history, should not be thrown upon him. True, he was the
official organ through which was carried into effect the established
laws of the Colony, and _vox populi_ was believed to be _vox Dei_.
But so far as he was individually concerned, we think his motives
were pure and elevated, and that all his actions were based upon
principle. Without doubt he partook largely of the prevailing
prejudices of the day; and the wild spirit of fanaticism found in him
a strenuous and energetic opponent. But we hold that all men should
be judged according to the light of the age in which they live, and
the influences with which they are surrounded. In this dread of
unlimited toleration he was not alone; it was the prevailing temper
of the times, and the errors in this respect, in which he shared in
common with the wise and good of his day, arose rather from an error
in judgment than any obliquity of heart.
It has been remarked by a recent writer, that "Governor Endecott
was undoubtedly the finest specimen to be found among our Governors
of the genuine Puritan character,--of a quick temper, which the
habit of military command had not softened,--of strong religious
feelings, moulded on the sterner features of Calvinism; resolute to
uphold with the sword what he received as gospel truth, and fearing
no enemy so much as a gainsaying spirit." "He was a very virtuous
gentleman," says Secretary Morton, "and was greatly beloved of the
most, as he well deserved." "In his public and private relations,"
says the Annalist of Salem, "he was a man of unshaken integrity. _For
my country and my God_, was the motto inscribed upon his motives,
purposes, and deeds. That he had his imperfections, there is no
doubt; but that he exhibited as few of them under his multiplied
duties, as the most excellent men would in his situation, is equally
correct. His many exertions for the prosperity of Salem, and his
ardent attachment to it, should impress his name and worth upon the
hearts of its inhabitants, so long as its existence continues."
Thus lived and thus died, one of the principal founders and firmest
pillars of New England.
At his decease he left a widow and two sons. The elder son left no
children;--the younger was a physician, and resided in Salem. He was
twice married; and a family of five sons and five daughters survived
him. His second wife was Elisabeth, daughter of Governor Winthrop,
and widow of the Rev. Antipas Newman of Wenham.
There exists a perfect genealogy of the Governor's family, so far as
relates to his descendants in New England. We hope to publish it in
our next number.
The Governor, and all his descendants, to the third generation,
(1724,) spelt their names _Endecott_; since then an _i_ has been
substituted for the _e_ in the second syllable.
There is an original portrait of the Governor in possession of
one of the family, taken the year he died. By this we learn that
his countenance was open, energetic, and independent, possessing
much individuality of expression, and in perfect harmony with the
character of the man. According to the custom of the age, he wore
mustaches, and a tuft of hair upon his chin. The miniature likeness
which accompanies this Memoir was engraved from this portrait, and is
considered an excellent resemblance, and was presented by the family
to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, at their
solicitation.
NOTE. The Charter posesssed by Gov. Endecott, and which is now in
the Salem Athenæum, and the Charter possessed by Gov. Winthrop,
and which is now in the State House, Boston, appear to be
duplicate original Charters, provided for in the Charter itself,
and neither of them copies. They are precisely alike in all
respects--the same in phraseology and chirography, and the same
in dates. Each Governor was elected and commissioned by the same
Company, and by the same Colony, acted under the same Charter,
with the same authority, and each alike entitled to the official
designation of Governor, whether he was elected Governor by the
Company in London, or by the Colony here, for both were elected
Governor by each.