Ashley’s beginnings—Arrival of Hatherley on the Friendship and
Allerton on the White Angel—Hatherley examines the affairs of the
Colony—Failure of Allerton’s fishing voyage on the White Angel—Ashley
apprehended and sent to England—Discharge of Allerton from his
Agency—The first Execution—Day of Humiliation appointed for Boston,
Salem, Charlestown, and New Plymouth: 1630.
Ashley, being well supplied, had quickly gathered a good parcel of
beaver, and like a crafty pate he sent it all home, and would not pay
for the goods he had from here, but let them stand charged against
him, and drew still more. Though they knew his object well enough,
they let him go on, and wrote about it to England. However, owing to
the beaver they received there and sold (which appealed to them as
business men) and Mr. Allerton’s high praise of him, they were more
eager to supply him than the colony, and even somewhat disparaged it
in comparison.
They were also forced to buy him a bark, and equip her with a captain
and men to transport his corn and provisions, of which he used large
quantities; for the Indians of those parts grew no corn, and at
harvest time, when the corn here is ready, the weather is so bad and
the season so dangerous that a shallop is no good for the purpose.
This spring the settlers looked anxiously for timely supplies in
the fishing ship which they expected, and for which they had been
at the expense of keeping a dock. But no ship came, nor were any
goods heard of. Later they learned that supplies had been sent to
Ashley by a fishing ship, which puzzled them,—the more so that they
had received no letters from Mr. Allerton or Mr. Sherley. However,
they carried on their business as well as they could. At last they
heard of the arrival of Mr. Pierce at the Bay of Massachusetts, with
passengers and goods. They sent a shallop at once, supposing he would
have something for them. But he told them he had nothing, and that
a ship had been sent out fishing, but after eleven weeks beating at
sea she met with such foul weather that she was forced to return
to England, and the season being over she gave up the voyage. Nor
had he heard much about goods in her for the settlers, or that she
belonged to them, though he had heard something of that kind from
Mr. Allerton. But Mr. Allerton had bought another ship, in which
he was coming, which was to fish for bass to the eastward, and was
bringing goods, etc. These reports troubled them and much astonished
them. Mr. Winslow having been eastward brought similar news with more
particulars, and that probably Mr. Allerton would not arrive till
late. At length, having an opportunity, they resolved to send Mr.
Winslow to England with what beaver they had ready, to see how their
business stood, being dubious about it, especially Mr. Allerton’s
behaviour. They wrote letters, and gave him such instructions as
they thought proper—and if he found things unsatisfactory he was to
discharge Mr. Allerton from being agent and from dealing any more for
them in the business, and he was to see how the accounts stood, etc.
About the middle of summer arrives Mr. Hatherley, one of the
partners, at the Bay of Massachusetts, having come over in the ship
that was sent fishing, called the Friendship. They sent to him at
once, not doubting that now their goods had come, and they would
know how everything stood. They found the news was true, that this
ship had been so long at sea and her provisions had been so largely
consumed or spoiled, that she abandoned the voyage. He himself had
been sent over by the rest of the partners to see how things went
here. He was at Bristol with Mr. Allerton in the ship they had
bought called the White Angel, which was all ready to set sail, when
that night came a messenger to Mr. Allerton from Barnstable, and
told him of the return of the fishing ship Friendship, and what had
happened. He, not knowing what to do, the ship lying there at his
expense ready to set sail, got Mr. Hatherley to go and discharge her
and take order for the goods. To be short, they found Mr. Hatherley
somewhat reserved and troubled, Mr. Allerton not being there, and
not knowing how to dispose of the goods till he came; but he said he
heard he had arrived by the White Angel, to eastward, and expected
to meet him there. He told them there was not much for them in the
Friendship,—only two parcels of Barnstable rugs, and two hogsheads
of methylene in wooden flackets. When these flackets came to be
examined, only six gallons of the two hogsheads remained, the rest
having been drunk up under the name “leakage.” For the rest, the ship
was laden with goods for various gentlemen and others who had come to
settle in Massachusetts, for which they had paid freight by the ton.
This was all the satisfaction they could get at present. They took
this small lot of goods and returned with the news, and a letter as
obscure, as follows:
_James Sherley in England to the Colonists at New Plymouth_:
Gentlemen, Partners, and loving Friends,
Briefly thus: we have this year fitted out both a fishing ship and
a trading ship. The latter we have bought, and so have disbursed a
great deal of money as will appear by our accounts. This trading
ship, the White Angel, is however to perform two duties: fishing
for bass and trading; and lest, while Mr. Allerton is employed
trading, the fishing might suffer by neglect of the sailors, we
have begged our mutual friend, Mr. Hatherley, to go over with him,
knowing he will be a comfort to Mr. Allerton, and that it will be
a joy to you to see a careful, loving friend, and one who is a
great stay to the business. If it should please God that one should
die,—as God forbid,—the survivor would keep the accounts and the
other matters straight. We have now spent large sums of money, as
they will acquaint you.... When it was only four or five hundred
pounds a piece, we did not trouble much about it, but left it to
you and your agent, who without flattery deserves infinite thanks
both from you and us for his pains.... But now that our ventures
are double, nay treble for some of us, we have decided to send over
our friend Mr. Hatherley, whom we pray you to entertain kindly. The
main object of sending him is to examine the accounts and report
on the condition of the business, about all of which we beg you to
inform him fully. I will not promise, but shall endeavour to obtain
the grant of your patent as desired, and that ere long. Pray do not
take anything unkindly; I have not written out of suspicion of any
unjust dealing. Be you all kindly saluted in the Lord, so I rest,
Yours in what I may,
JAMES SHERLEY.
_March 25th, 1630._
It is not surprising that these things troubled them. First, there
was this fishing ship which had been fitted out, laden with other
goods and scarcely any of theirs, though their main object was
that he should bring them ample supplies, and their special orders
were not to fit out a ship except for this purpose; and now to
have the expenses charged to their account, though clean contrary
to their orders, was a mystery they could not understand,—the
more serious seeing that she had lost both her voyage and her
provisions. Secondly, that another ship should be bought, and sent
out on business never thought of by any here, much less intimated
to their friends in England either by word or letter, was equally
inexplicable. Bass fishing was never favoured by them, and as
soon as ever they heard of this project they foresaw loss. As for
Mr. Allerton’s trading for them, it never entered their thoughts.
Thirdly, that their friends should complain of disbursements, and
yet incur such great risks contrary to all orders, seemed very
strange,—all these important projects being wrapped up in a brief and
obscure letter. But amidst all their doubts they must have patience
till Mr. Allerton and Mr. Hatherley arrived. In the meantime Mr.
Winslow had gone to England, and the rest of them were forced to
follow their employments as best they could.
At length Mr. Hatherley and Mr. Allerton came, and finding those at
the settlement very depressed about it, Mr. Allerton told them that
the White Angel did not belong to them, and had not been bought on
their account; they need not have anything to do with her unless
they wished. Mr. Hatherley confirmed this, and said that they wanted
him to put in his share but he had refused. However, he questioned
whether they would not charge her to the general account, if there
were a loss,—which he now saw was likely,—seeing that Mr. Allerton
had proposed the undertaking. As for the fishing ship, he told
them they need not be anxious; and he produced her accounts, which
showed that her first fitting out did not much exceed £600. On the
failure of the first voyage, at her return, he had sold goods out of
her in England, and applied the money to the second voyage, which,
together with such goods and implements as Mr. Allerton would need
for fishing, such as salt, nets, spikes, nails, etc., would amount
to nearly £400. As for this second voyage it would show a profit on
the freight of the goods, and the sale of some cattle which would be
paid for partly here and partly by bills in England. So the total
loss, which would not be much above £200, would be all they would
have to bear on this account. Mr. Hatherley also told them he was
sent over as the agent of those in England, and that whatever he
and Mr. Allerton did jointly they would stand by; that they would
not sanction what Mr. Allerton did alone, unless they wished; but
what he (Mr. Hatherley) did alone they would guarantee. So they sold
him and Mr. Allerton all the rest of their stock of goods, and gave
them possession of them; and a statement was drawn up in writing,
and confirmed under both Mr. Allerton’s and Mr. Hatherley’s hands,
to the above effect. Mr. Allerton being best acquainted with the
people, sold all such goods as he had no need of for fishing, as nine
shallop-sails made of good new canvas, and the roads for them, all
new, and several such useful things, for beaver, by Mr. Hatherley’s
permission. Thus they thought they had well provided for themselves.
However those at the colony censured Mr. Allerton for entering upon
this project, doubting its success. Mr. Allerton brought to the town,
after he had sold what he could elsewhere, a great quantity of other
goods, besides trading commodities; as linen, bed-ticks, stockings,
tape, pins, rugs, etc., and said they could have them if they wished.
But they told him they had forbidden him before to bring any such
things on their account, as it would injure their trade and reduce
their returns. But he and Mr. Hatherley said if they would not take
them they would sell them themselves, and take corn for what they
could not sell otherwise. They told them they might, if they had
instructions to do so. These goods came to upwards of £500.
Mr. Allerton then went off on his bass fishing; and Mr. Hatherley, as
ordered, after examining the affairs of the settlement, about all of
which they informed him fully, asked for a boat to go and visit the
trading-house at Kennebec and Ashley at Penobscot. They accordingly
supplied him with a boat and men for the voyage, and acquainted him
thoroughly with everything. He was fully satisfied, and now saw
plainly that Mr. Allerton played his own game, not only to the great
detriment of the partners at the colony who employed and trusted
him, but to that of the partners in England also, by prejudicing
them against the settlement, assuring them that they would never be
able to recoup themselves for their great expenses if they would not
follow his advice and support his projects. Mr. Hatherley disclosed,
besides, a further scheme in connection with this ship the White
Angel. It appeared that as she was well fitted with good ordnance,
and known to have made a great fight at sea in which she came off
victorious, they had agreed with Mr. Allerton that after she had
brought her cargo of goods here and had loaded with fish, she would
go to Oporto, and there be sold, freight, ordnance, and all. But this
was prevented partly by the advice given by their friends here to Mr.
Allerton and Mr. Hatherley, showing how it might ruin their friends
in England, who were men of property, should it become known,—and in
the interests of the colony they utterly disallowed it, and protested
against it; and partly by their ill success, for they had arrived too
late to do any good with the fishing, and had brought such a drunken
crew that neither Mr. Allerton nor any one else could keep them in
order, as Mr. Hatherley and every one could see to their shame.
Ashley also was caught in a trap before Mr. Hatherley returned, for
trading powder and shot to the Indians. He was apprehended by those
in authority, who would have confiscated over a thousand weight of
beaver, but that the Governor here showed a bond, under Ashley’s
hand, to the amount of £500, not to trade any arms or ammunition to
the Indians, or otherwise misbehave himself. It was proved, besides,
that he had committed uncleanness with Indian women,—things feared
at the outset. So their goods were freed, but he was sent home in
custody. To make an end of him, after some time of imprisonment in
the Fleet, by means of friends he was set at liberty, and intended
to come over again, but the Lord prevented it; for he had an offer
made to him by some merchants to go to Russia, owing to his skill
in the beaver trade, which he accepted, and on returning home was
drowned at sea. This was his end.
Mr. Hatherley, fully conversant with the state of affairs, was
satisfied, and able to inform them how things stood between Mr.
Allerton and the colony. In fact he discovered that Mr. Allerton had
got the better of him, too, and had taken possession of the things
for which Mr. Hatherley stood jointly responsible to the partners
here, as concerned the Friendship, besides most of the freight money,
and some of his own private property. About this, however, more will
appear in due course. He returned to England and they sent a good
quantity of beaver with him to the rest of the partners; so both he
and it were very welcome to them.
Mr. Allerton was busied with his own affairs and returned with his
White Angel, being no longer employed by the settlement. But these
troubles were not ended till many years after, nor fully realized
for a long time, being folded up in obscurity and kept in the clouds
to the great loss and vexation of the colony. In the end, for peace’
sake they were forced to bear the unjust burden of them almost to
their undoing, as will appear if God give me life to finish this
history.
They sent letters by Mr. Hatherley to the partners in England, to
show them how they had settled with Mr. Hatherley and Mr. Allerton
for the Friendship’s account, and that they both affirmed that the
White Angel did not belong to them in any way, and that therefore
their account must not be charged with it. They also wrote to Mr.
Winslow, their agent, that he, too, should protest against it in
their names, should any such thing be intended and that they would
never permit it. They also signified that they dismissed Mr. Allerton
wholly from being their agent, or from having anything to do with any
of their business.
This year John Billington the elder, one of those who came over
first, was arraigned, and both by grand and petty jury found guilty
of wilful murder by plain and notorious evidence, and was accordingly
executed.
This, the first execution among them, was a great sadness to them.
They took all possible pains in the trial, and consulted Mr.
Winthrop, and the other leading men at the Bay of Massachusetts
recently arrived, who concurred with them that he ought to die, and
the land be purged of blood. He and some of his relatives had often
been punished for misconduct before, being one of the profanest
families among them. They came from London, and I know not by what
influence they were shuffled into the first body of settlers.
The charge against him was that he waylaid a young man, one John
Newcomin, about a former quarrel, and shot him with a gun, whereof he
died.
Having by good fortune a letter or two that came into my hands
concerning the proceedings of their reverend friends at the Bay of
Massachusetts, who had lately come over, I thought it not amiss to
insert them here, before concluding this year.
Sir,
Being at Salem on Sunday, the 25th of July, after the evening
service Mr. Johnson received a letter from the Governor, Mr. John
Winthrop, saying that the hand of God was upon them at Boston
and those at Charlestown, visiting them with sickness and taking
many from amongst them, the righteous suffering with the wicked
in these bodily judgments. He desired the godly here to take into
consideration what was to be done to pacify the Lord’s wrath, etc.
It was concluded that the Lord was to be sought in righteousness;
and to that end, the 6th day (Friday) of this present week, has
been set apart that they may humble themselves before God and
seek Him in His ordinances. On that day such godly persons as are
amongst them, and known to each other, will at the end of the
service publicly make known their godly desire, and practice it,
viz., that they solemnly enter into covenant with the Lord to walk
in His ways. As those who have agreed to keep this day live at
three different places, each settlement having men of ability among
them, they decided to form themselves into three distinct bodies,
not intending to proceed hastily to the choice of officers, or
the admission of others to their society, except a few well-known
to them, promising afterwards to receive by confession of faith
such as appear to be qualified. They earnestly beg the church at
New Plymouth to set apart the same day, for the same purpose,
beseeching the Lord to withdraw the hand of correction from them,
and to establish and direct them in His ways. And though the time
be short we pray you to be instigated to this godly work, as the
cause is so urgent, whereby God will be honoured, and they and we
shall undoubtedly receive sweet comfort. Be you kindly saluted, etc.
Your brethren in Christ, etc.
_Salem, July 26th, 1630._
_A member of the New Plymouth Settlement, staying at Charlestown,
to a friend at New Plymouth_:
Sir,
I have the sad news to impart that many here are sick and many
dead,—the Lord in mercy look upon them. Some here have entered
into church covenant. The first four were the Governor—Mr. John
Winthrop, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dudley, and Mr. Wilson; since then five
more have joined, and others are likely to follow daily. The Lord
increase them both in number and in holiness, for His sake. There
is a gentlemen here, Mr. Coddington, a Boston man, who told me that
Mr. Cotton’s advice at Hampton was that they should take counsel of
those at New Plymouth, and should do nothing to offend them. There
are many honest Christians desirous to see us, some because of the
love they bear us and the good opinion they have of us; others to
see if we are so unworthy as they have heard. We have a name for
holiness, and love towards God and his saints; the Lord make us
more and more worthy of it, and that it may be more than a name, or
else it will do us no good. Be you lovingly saluted, and all the
rest of our friends. The Lord Jesus bless us, and the whole Israel
of God. Amen.
Your loving brother, etc.
_Charlestown, Aug. 2nd, 1630._
Thus out of small beginnings greater things have grown by His hand
Who made all things out of nothing, and gives being to all things
that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light
enkindled here has shone to many, yea, in a sense, to our whole
nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise.