COMPANIONS WHO ARRIVED IN THE FORTUNE AND THE ANN
After the arrival of _The Ann_, in the summer of 1623, the women who
came in _The Mayflower_ had more companions of good breeding and
efficiency. Elizabeth Warren, wife of Richard, came with her five
daughters; it is safe to assume the latter were attractive for, in a few
years, all were well married. Two sons were born after Elizabeth arrived
at Plymouth, Nathaniel and Joseph. For forty-five years she survived her
husband, who had been a man of strength of character and usefulness as
well as some wealth. When she died at the age of ninety-three leaving
seventy-five great grandchildren, the old Plymouth Colony Records paid
her tribute,—“Mistress Elizabeth Warren, haveing lived a Godly life came
to her Grave as a Shock of corn full Ripe. She was honourably buried on
the 24th of October (1673).”
Evidently, Mistress Warren was a woman of independent means and
efficiency,—else she would have remarried, as was the custom of the
times. She became one of the “purchasers” of the colony and conveyed
land, at different times, near Eel River and what is now Warren’s Cove,
in Plymouth, to her sons-in-law. An interesting sidelight upon her
character and home is found in the Court Records;[85] her servant,
Thomas Williams, was prosecuted for “speaking profane and blasphemous
speeches against ye majestie of God. There being some dissension between
him and his dame she, after other things, exhorted him to fear God and
doe his duty.”
Bridget Fuller followed her husband, Dr. Samuel, and came in _The Ann_.
She also long survived her husband and did not remarry. She carried on
his household and probably also his teaching for many years after he
fell victim to the epidemic of infectious fever in 1633. She was his
third wife, but only two children are known to have used the Fuller
cradle, now preserved in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth. It has been stated
that, in addition to these two, Samuel and Mercy, another young child
came with its mother in _The Ann_, but did not live long.[86] The son,
Samuel, born about 1625, was minister for many years at Middleboro; he
married Elizabeth Brewster, thus preserving two friendly families in
kinship.
Evidently, Bridget Fuller was very ill and not expected to recover when
her husband was dying, for in his will, made at that time, he arranged
for the education of his children by his brother-in-law, William Wright,
unless it “shall please God to recover my wife out of her weake estate
of sickness.” It is interesting also that, in this will, provision was
made for the education of his daughter, Mercy, as well as his son,
Samuel, by Mrs. Heeks or Hicks, the wife of Robert Hicks who came in
_The Ann_.[87] Not alone for his own children did this good physician
provide education, but also for others “put to him for schooling,”—with
special mention of Sarah Converse “left to me by her sick father.” This
kind, generous doctor left a considerable estate, in spite of the many
“debts for physicke,” including that of “Mr. Roger Williams which was
freely given.” One specific gift was for the good of the church and this
forms the nucleus of a fund which is still known as the Fuller
Ministerial Fund of the Plymouth Congregational Church. Its source was
“the first cow calfe that his Brown Cow should have.”[88]
Mrs. Alice Morse Earle says that gloves were gifts of sentiment;[89]
they were generously bestowed by this physician of old Plymouth. Money
to buy gloves, or gloves, were bequeathed to Mistress Alice Bradford and
Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; also to John Winslow,
John Jenny and Rebecca Prence. The price allowed for a pair of gloves
was from two to five shillings. Probably these may have been the fringed
leather gloves or the knit gloves described by Mrs. Earle. Another
bequest was his “best hat and band never worn to old Mr. William
Brewster.” To his wife was left not alone two houses, “one at Smeltriver
and another in town,” but also a fine supply of furnishings and clothes,
including stuffe gown, red pettecoate, stomachers, aprons, shoes and
kerchiefs. Mistress Fuller lived until after 1667, and exerted a strong
influence upon the educational life of Plymouth.
Is it heresy to question whether the sampler,[90] accredited to Lora or
Lorea Standish, the daughter of Captain Miles and Barbara Standish, was
not more probably the work of the granddaughter, Lorea, the child of
Alexander Standish and Sarah Alden? The style and motto are more in
accord with the work of the later generation and, surely, the necessary
time and materials for such work would be more probable after the
pioneer days. This later Lora married Abraham Sampson, son of the Henry
who came as a boy in _The Mayflower_.[91] The embroidered cap[92] and
bib, supposed to have been made by Mistress Barbara for her daughter,
would prove that she had
“hands with such convenient skill
As to conduce to vertu void of shame”
which were the aspiration of the girl who embroidered, or “wrought,” the
sampler. It is a pleasant commentary upon the tastes and industry of
Mistress Barbara Standish that, amid the cares of a large family and
farm, she found time for such dainty embroideries as we find in the cap
and bib.
Probably two young sons of Captain and Barbara Standish, Charles and
John, died in the infectious fever epidemic of 1633. A second Charles
with his brothers, Alexander, Miles and Josiah, and his sister, Lorea,
gladdened the hearth of the Standish home on Captain’s Hill, Duxbury. A
goodly estate was left at the death of Captain Miles, including a
well-equipped house, cattle, mault mill, swords (as one would expect),
sixteen pewter pieces and several books of classic literature,—Homer,
Cæsar’s Commentaries, histories of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, military
histories, and three Bibles with commentaries upon religious matters.
There were also medical books, for Standish was reputed to have been a
student and practitioner in times of emergency in Duxbury. He suffered a
painful illness at the close of his vigorous, adventuresome life.
Perhaps Barbara needed, at times, grace to endure that “warm temper”
which Pastor Robinson deplored in Miles Standish, a comment which the
intrepid Captain forgave and answered by a bequest to the granddaughter
of this loved pastor. We may be sure Barbara was proud of the mighty
share which her husband had in saving Plymouth Colony from severe
disaster, if not from extinction. It is surmised that Barbara Standish
was buried in Connecticut where she lived during the last of her life
with her son, Josiah. Possibly, however, she may have been buried beside
her husband, sons, daughter and daughter-in-law, Mary Dingley, in
Duxbury.[93]
The Colonial Governor and his Lady ever held priority of rank. Such came
to Mrs. Alice Southworth when she married Governor William Bradford a
few days after her arrival on _The Ann_. Tradition has said persistently
that this was the consummation of an earlier romance which was broken
off by the marriage of Alice Carpenter to Edward Southworth in Leyden.
The death of her first husband left her with two sons, Thomas and
Constant Southworth, who came to Plymouth before 1628. She had sisters
in the Colony: Priscilla, the wife of William Wright, came in _The
Fortune_; Dr. Fuller’s first wife had been another sister; Juliana, wife
of George Morton, was a third who came also in _The Ann_. Still another
sister, Mary Carpenter, came later and lived in the Governor’s family
for many years. At her death in her ninety-first year, she was mourned
as “a Godly old maid, never married.”[94]
The first home of the Bradfords in Plymouth was at Town Square where now
stands the Bradford block. About 1627-8 they moved, for a part of the
year, to the banks of the Jones River, now Kingston, a place which had
strongly appealed to Bradford as a good site for the original settlement
when the men were making their explorations in December, 1620. William,
Joseph and Mercy were born to inherit from their parents the fine
characters of both Governor and Alice Bradford, and also to pass on to
their children the carved chests, wrought and carved chairs, case and
knives, desk, silver spoons, fifty-one pewter dishes, five dozen
napkins, three striped carpets, four Venice glasses, besides cattle and
cooking utensils and many books. That the Governor had a proper “dress
suit” was proved by the inventory of “stuffe suit with silver buttons
and cloaks of violet, light colour and faced with taffety and linen
throw.”
As Mistress Bradford could only “make her mark,” she probably did not
appreciate the remarkable collection, for the times, of Latin, Greek,
Hebrew, Dutch and French books as well as the studies in philosophy and
theology which were in her husband’s library. There is no doubt that the
first and second generations of girls and boys in Plymouth Colony had
elementary instruction, at least, under Dr. Fuller and Mrs. Hicks as
well as by other teachers. Bradford, probably, would also attend to the
education of his own family. The Governor’s wife has been accredited
with “labouring diligently for the improvement of the young women of
Plymouth and to have been eminently worthy of her high position.”[95]
She was the sole executrix of her husband’s estate of £1005,—a proof of
her ability.
Sometimes her cheerfulness must have been taxed to comfort her husband,
as old age came upon him and he fell into the gloomy mood reflected in
such lines as these:[96]
“In fears and wants, through weal and woe,
A pilgrim passed I to and fro;
Oft left of them whom I did trust,
How vain it is to rest in dust!
A man of sorrows I have been,
And many changes I have seen,
Wars, wants, peace, plenty I have known,
And some advanc’d, others thrown down.”
When Mistress Alice Bradford died she was “mourned, though aged” by
many. To her memory, Nathaniel Morton, her nephew, wrote some lines
which were more biographic than poetical, recalling her early life as an
exile with her father from England for the truth’s sake, her first
marriage
“To one whose grace and virtue did surpasse,
I mean good Edward Southworth whoe not long
Continued in this world the saints amonge.”
With extravagant words he extols the name of Bradford,—“fresh in memory
Which smeles with odoriferous fragrancye.”
This elegist records also that, after her second widowhood, she lived a
“life of holynes and faith,
In reading of God’s word and contemplation
Which healped her to assurance of salvation.”
This is not a very lively, graphic description of the woman most
honored, perhaps, of all the pioneer women of Plymouth, but we may add,
by imagination, a few sure traits of human kindliness and grace. She was
typical of those women who came in _The Mayflower_ and her sister ships.
Although she escaped the tragic struggles and illness of that first
winter, yet she revealed the same qualities of courage, good sense,
fidelity and vision which were the watchwords of that group of women in
Plymouth colony. Yes,—they had vision to see their part in the sincere
purpose to establish a new standard of liberty in state and church, to
serve God and mankind with all their integrity and resources.
As the leaders among the men were self-sacrificing and honorable in
their dealings with their financiers, with the Indians and with each
other, so the women were faithful and true in their homes and communal
life. They took scarcely any part in the civic administration, for such
responsibility did not come into the lives of seventeenth century women.
They were actively interested in the educational and religious life of
the colony. Their moral standards were high and inflexible; they
extolled, and practised, the virtues of thrift and industry. It may be
well for women in America today, who were querulous at the restrictions
upon sugar and electric lights, to consider the good sense, and good
cheer, with which these women of Plymouth Colony directed their thrifty
households.
We would not assume that they were free from the whims and foibles of
womankind,—and sometimes of mankind,—of all ages. They were, doubtless,
contradictory and impulsive at times; they could scold and they could
gossip. We believe that they laughed sometimes, in the midst of dire
want and anxiety, and we know that they prayed with sincerity and trust.
They bore children gladly and they trained them “in the fear and
admonition of the Lord.” They were the progenitors of thousands of fine
men and women in all parts of America today who honor the _women_ as
well as the _men_ of the old Plymouth Colony,—the women who faithfully
performed, without any serious discontent,
“that whole sweet round
Of littles that large life compound.”
-----
Footnote 85:
I, 35, July 5, 1635.
Footnote 86:
Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth; W. T. Davis.
Footnote 87:
Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories; also in Mayflower Descendants,
1, 245.
Footnote 88:
Genealogy of Some Descendants of Dr. Samuel Fuller of _The Mayflower_,
compiled by William Hyslop Fuller, Palmer.
Footnote 89:
Two Centuries of Costume in America; Alice Morse Earle; N. Y., 1903.
Footnote 90:
In Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth.
Footnote 91:
Notes to Bradford’s History, edition 1912.
Footnote 92:
In Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth.
Footnote 93:
Interesting facts on this subject may be found in “The Grave of Miles
Standish and other Pilgrims,” by E. V. J. Huiginn; Beverly, 1914.
Footnote 94:
Hunter’s Collections, 1854.
Footnote 95:
The Pilgrim Republic; John A. Goodwin, p. 460.
Footnote 96:
New England Memorial; Morton.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDEX TO PERSONS MENTIONED IN THE TEXT
ALDEN, Augustus E., 58
Elizabeth, 74, 77
John, 28, 35, 47, 74-80
Captain John, 78, 79
Priscilla, 46
Ruth, 77
Sarah, 77
Timothy, 75
ALLERTON, Bartholomew, 24
Isaac, 12, 14, 37
Mary Norton, 12, 56
Mary, 17, 34, 56
Remember, 23, 56
ARMSTRONG, Gregory, 70
AUSTIN, Jane G., 58
BARTLETT, W. H., 42
BASS, Ruth Alden, 77
BECKET, Mary, 33
BILLINGTON, Francis, 24, 25, 70
Helen, 31, 69-70
John, 70
John, Jr., 24, 29, 70
BOWMAN, George Ernest, VI, 49
BRADFORD, Alice, 101-5
Dorothy May, 7, 54
John, 54
Mary, 102
Joseph, 102
Gov. William, 13, 25, 48, 53, 101-4
William, Jr., 102
BREWSTER, Fear, 11, 37, 62
Jonathan, 47, 48, 62
Love, 24, 62
Mary, 16, 60-61, 62
Patience, 11, 37, 62
William, Elder, 14, 15, 31, 46, 53, 60-2
Wrestling, 24
BROWN, Lydia Howland, 88
Peter, 28, 33, 48
CARPENTER, Juliana, 101
Mary, 101
Priscilla, 101
CARTER, Robert, 73
CARVER, Catherine, 12, 57
Gov. John, 12, 13, 53, 72, 86
CHANDLER, Isabella Chilton, 81
Roger, 81
CHILTON, Ingle, 81
Isabella, 81
Isaac, 81
CHILTON, James, 12, 80, 81
Jane, 81
Mary, 9, 11, 16, 31, 34, 71, 80-85
Mrs. James, 12, 80
Nicolas, 81
CONVERSE, Sarah, 96
COOKE, Francis, 16, 89
Hester, 16, 36
Jacob, 89
John, 24
Sarah
COOPER, Humility, 24, 59
CRAKSTON, John, 24
CROMWELL, 65
CUSHMAN, Robert, 10, 34
Thomas, 16, 34
DAVIS, W. T., 95
DE LA NOYE, Philip, 35
DE RASSIERES, 27
DEAN, Stephen, 35
DEXTER, Henry M., 15
Morton, 15
DOANE, Deacon John, 70
DOTEY, Edward, 30
EARLE, Alice Morse, 42, 97
EATON, Francis, 12, 48, 58
Sarah, 12, 16
ELIOT, Charles W., 17
FORD, Widow Martha, 33
FULLER, Ann, 12
Bridget, 16, 37, 94-96
Edward, 12
Mercy, 95
Samuel, Dr., 14, 16, 37, 53, 95, 96
Samuel, 24
William Hyslop, 96
GOODMAN, John, 28
GOODWIN, John A., 27, 60, 62, 70, 103
HEALD, Giles, 72
HICKS, Robert, 35, 96
Mrs. Robert, 96
HOBOMOK, 22, 48
HOPKINS, Caleb, 68
Constance, or Constanta, 9, 16, 23, 30, 31, 68, 71, 88-9
Damaris, 23, 68, 89
HOPKINS, Elizabeth, 9, 68-9
Giles, 24, 68
Oceanus, 24, 68
Ruth, 68
Stephen, 22, 30, 69
HOWLAND, Elizabeth Tilley, 85-88
Lydia (Brown), 88
John, 5, 35, 58, 85-88
HUIGINN, E. V. J., 100
JENNY, John, 97
JEPPSON, William, 59
William, 59
JONES, Christopher, Capt., 5, 72
Thomas, Capt., 5
LATHAM, William, 24, 86
LISTER, Edward, 30
LONGFELLOW, Henry W., 74-5
LORD, Arthur, VI
MARTIN, Mrs. Christopher, 12
MASEFIELD, John, 9
MASSASOIT, 22
MINTER, Desire, 24, 58, 59, 86
John, 59
Thomas, 59
William, 59
MORE, Ellen, 12, 56
Richard, 24
MORTON, George, 101
Juliana Carpenter, 101
MULLINS, Alice, Mrs., 12, 73
Joseph, 73
Moses, 74
Priscilla, 9, 11, 31, 71-7
Sarah (Blunden), 72
William, 72, 73, 84
William, Jr., 72
NEWCOMEN, John, 69
OLDHAM, John, 47
PABODIE, Elizabeth Alden, 77, 78
William, 77, 78
PARKER, Richard, 83
PENN, Christian, 70
PRENCE, Thomas, 30, 37, 47
PRIEST, Degory, 16
REYNOLDS, William, 68
RIGDALE, Alice, 12
ROBINSON, Pastor John, 10, 14, 57, 100
SAMPSON, Alexander, 98
Henry, 24, 59, 98
SAMOSET, 21, 22, 24, 59
SNOW, Nicholas, 16, 88
SOULE, George, 34, 48
SOUTHWORTH, Alice, 34, 36, 101
Constant, 101
Thomas, 101
SQUANTO, 22
STANDISH, Alexander, 98
Barbara, 37, 98-100
Charles, 99
John, 99
Josiah, 99
Lora or Lorea, 98, 99
Mary Dingley, 100
Miles, 12, 28, 29, 37, 45, 46, 48, 55, 98-100
Miles, Jr., 99
Rose, 8, 12, 44, 54
TAYLOR, Ann, 80
THOMPSON, Edward, 7
THWING, Annie M., 82
TILLEY, Ann, 12
Bridget, 12
Edward, 12, 59
Elizabeth, 9, 24, 31, 58, 71, 85-88
John, 12
TINKER, Mrs. Thomas, 12
TURNER, John, 12
WARREN, Elizabeth, 16, 37, 93-94
Richard, 16, 36, 93
WHITE, Peregrine, 7, 24, 62
Resolved, 24, 64
Susanna, 9, 29
William, 64
WILLIAMS, Roger, 94
Thomas, 96
WINSLOW, Edward, 11, 12, 14, 24, 29, 43, 45, 46, 47, 53, 55, 63-67
Elizabeth Barker, 12, 29, 55
Elizabeth, 64
John, 16, 34, 35, 82-5
John, Brig. Gen., 82
Josiah, 63, 67, 79
Kenelm, 35
Mary Chilton, 82-85
Susanna, 44, 62, 63-67
WINTHROP, John, 66, 83
WRIGHT, Priscilla Carpenter, 35, 101
William, 35, 95, 101
Transcriber’s Notes
Corrections from the errata have been applied. The corrections to the
footnotes occur on Pages 6, 56, 65, 67, 78, 79, 83, 85, and 88.
In the Index under COOKE on Page 109, the name Sara has no page number.
Footnotes have been moved to the end of each chapter.