Further steps towards the Composition between the London and
New Plymouth partners—Dispute with Rev. Charles Chauncey about
Baptism—Fall in value of live-stock—Many leading men of New Plymouth
move from the town: 1641.
Mr. Sherley being weary of this controversy and desirous to end
it, wrote to Mr. John Atwood and Mr. William Collier, two of the
inhabitants of this place, and special acquaintances of his, and
desired them to be intermediaries, and advise the partners here as to
some way of reaching a composition by mutual agreement. He also wrote
to the partners similarly, in part as follows:
_James Sherley in England to Governor Bradford at New Plymouth_:
Sir,
I have written so much concerning the closing of our accounts that
I confess I do not know what more to write. If you desire an end,
as you seem to do, there are, I think, only two ways: either we can
perfect all accounts, from the first to the last, on both sides;
or we must do it by compounding, and this way, first or last, we
shall have to come to. If we fight about it at law, we shall both
only cleave the air, and the lawyers will be the chief gainers.
Then let us set to the work one way or another and make an end,
so that I may not continue to suffer both in my reputation and my
business. Nor are you free in this respect. The gospel suffers
by your delay, and causes its followers to be ill spoken of....
Do not be afraid to make a fair and reasonable offer; believe me
I shall not take advantage of you; or else let Mr. Winslow come
over, and let him have full power to compound with me. Otherwise,
let the accounts be fully made up so that we may close according
to the figures. Now, blessed be God, times are so much changed
here that I hope to see many of you return to your native country
again, and have such freedom and liberty as the word of God
prescribes. Our bishops were never so near a downfall as now. God
has miraculously confounded them, and brought down all their popish
and Machiavellian plots and projects upon their own heads.... I
pray you take it seriously into consideration; let each give way a
little that we may meet.... Be you and all yours kindly saluted. So
I ever rest,
Your loving friend,
JAMES SHERLEY.
_Clapham, May 18th, 1641._
Being urged by this letter, and also by Mr. Atwood’s and Mr.
Collier’s mediation, to bring things to an end, and by none more
earnestly than by their own desires, the New Plymouth Partners took
this course. They appointed these two men to meet them on a certain
day, and summoned other friends on both sides, and Mr. Freeman,
brother-in-law of Mr. Beauchamp. Having drawn up an inventory of all
remaining stock whatsoever, such as housing, boats, the bark, and
all implements belonging to them, used during the period of trading;
together with the surplus of all commodities, such as beads, knives,
hatchets, cloth, or anything else, both valueless and saleable; with
all debts, both bad and collectable; and having spent several days
upon it with the help of all books and papers, either in their hands
or those of Josias Winslow, their accountant, they found the total
sum on valuation amounted to £1400. They then all of them took a
voluntary and solemn oath, in the presence of one another and of all
their friends above mentioned now present, that this was all that
any of them knew of or could remember; and Josias Winslow did the
same on his part. But the truth is the valuation was too low; for,
as an instance, in reckoning some cattle taken from Mr. Allerton,
a cow which had cost £25 was so valued in this account; but she
subsequently realized only £4-15-0. Also, being conscientious about
their oaths, they included all that they knew of which was owing to
the stock, but they did not make such a diligent search concerning
what the stock might owe them, so that many scattered debts fell upon
them afterwards, which they had not charged in.
However, this done, they drew up certain articles of agreement
between Mr. Atwood, on Mr. Sherley’s behalf, and themselves.
_Articles of Agreement made and concluded on October 15th, 1641_:
Whereas there was a partnership for a period of years agreed upon
between James Sherley, John Beauchamp, and Richard Andrews, of
London, merchants, and William Bradford, Edward Winslow, Thomas
Prince, Myles Standish, William Brewster, John Alden, John Howland,
and Isaac Allerton, in a trade of beaver skins and other furs from
New England; and the term of the said partnership having expired,
various consignments of goods having been sent to New England by
the said James Sherley, John Beauchamp, Richard Andrews, and many
large returns made from New England by the said William Bradford,
Edward Winslow, etc.; a dispute arising about the expense incurred
for two ships, the one called the White Angel of Bristol, and the
other the Friendship of Barnstable, and a projected voyage in her,
etc.; which said ships and their voyages the said William Bradford,
etc., consider do not concern the accounts of the partnership;
and whereas the accounts of the said partnership are found to be
confused, and cannot be clearly present, through default of Josias
Winslow the bookkeeper, and whereas the said W. B., etc., have
received all their goods for the said trade from the aforesaid
James Sherley, and have made most of their returns to him, by
consent of the said John Beauchamp and Richard Andrews; and
whereas, also, the said James Sherley has given power and authority
to Mr. John Atwood, with the advice and consent of William Collier
of Duxbury, on his behalf, to put an absolute end to the said
partnership, with all and every accounts, reckonings, dues, claims,
demands, whatsoever, to the said James Sherley, John Beauchamp, and
Richard Andrews, from the said W. B., etc., for and concerning the
said beaver trade, and also the charge of the said two ships, and
their voyages made or projected, whether just or unjust, from the
world’s beginning to this present, as also for the payment of a
purchase of £1800 made by Isaac Allerton, on behalf of the said W.
B., etc., and of the joint stock, shares, lands, and adventurers,
whatsoever, in New England aforesaid, as appears by a deed bearing
the date Nov. 6th, 1627; and also for and from such sum and sums of
money or goods as are received by William Bradford, Thomas Prince,
and Myles Standish, for the recovery of dues, by accounts between
them, the said James Sherley, John Beauchamp, Richard Andrews, and
Isaac Allerton, for the ship called the White Angel. Now the said
John Atwood, with advice of the said William Collier, having had
much communication and spent several days in discussion of the said
disputes and accounts with the said W. B., etc.; and the said W.
B., etc., having also with the said bookkeeper spent much time in
collecting and listing the remainder of the stock of partnership
for the said trade, and whatsoever has been received, or is due by
the said attorneyship before expressed, and all manner of goods,
debts, and dues, thereunto belonging, which in all amount to the
sum of £1400 or thereabout; and for better satisfaction of the said
James Sherley, John Beauchamp, and Richard Andrews, the said W. B.
and all the rest of the above said partners, together with Josias
Winslow the bookkeeper, have taken a voluntary oath that the said
sum of £1400 or thereabout, includes whatever they know, to the
utmost of their remembrance.
In consideration of which, and to the end that a full, absolute,
and final end may now be made, and all suits in law may be avoided,
and love and peace continued, it is therefore agreed and concluded
between the said John Atwood, with the advice and consent of the
said William Collier, on behalf of the said James Sherley, to and
with the said W. B., etc., in manner and form following: viz.,
that the said John Atwood shall procure a sufficient release and
discharge under the hands and seals of the said James Sherley,
John Beauchamp, and Richard Andrews, to be delivered fair and
unconcealed to the said William Bradford, etc., at or before the
last day of August, next ensuing the date hereof, whereby the said
William Bradford, etc., their heirs, executors, and administrators
and each of them shall be fully and absolutely acquitted and
discharged of all actions, suits, reckonings, accounts, claims,
and demands whatsoever, concerning the general stock of beaver
trade, payment of the said £1800 for the purchase and all demands
reckonings, accounts just or unjust, concerning the two ships,
White Angel and Friendship aforesaid, together with whatsoever has
been received by the said William Bradford, of the goods or estate
of Isaac Allerton, for satisfaction of the accounts of the said
ship White Angel by virtue of a letter of attorney to him, Thomas
Prince, and Myles Standish, directed from the said James Sherley,
John Beauchamp, and Richard Andrews, for that purpose as aforesaid.
It is also agreed and concluded between the said parties to these
presents, that the said W. B., E. W., etc., shall now be bound in
£2400 for payment of £1200 in full satisfaction of all demands as
aforesaid; to be paid in manner and form following; that is to say,
£400 within two months next after the receipt of the aforesaid
releases and discharges, £110 whereof is already in the hands of
John Winthrop, senior, of Boston, Esquire, by the means of Richard
Andrews aforesaid, and 80 lbs. of beaver now deposited in the
hands of the said John Atwood, to be both in part payment of the
said £400 and the other £800 to be paid £200 per annum, to such
assigns as shall be appointed, inhabiting either New Plymouth or
Massachusetts, in such goods and commodities, and at such rates, as
the country shall afford at the time of delivery and payment; and
in the meantime the said bond of £2400 to be deposited in the hands
of the said John Atwood. And it is agreed upon, by and between
the said parties to these presents, that if the said John Atwood
shall not or cannot procure such said releases and discharges as
aforesaid from the said James Sherley, John Beauchamp, and Richard
Andrews, at or before the last day of August next ensuing the
date hereof, that then the said John Atwood shall, at the said
date precisely, redeliver, or cause to be delivered, unto the
said W. B., E. W., etc., their said bond of £2400 and the said 80
lbs. of beaver, or the due value thereof, without any fraud or
further delay; and for performance of all and each of the covenants
and agreements herein contained and expressed, which on the one
part and behalf of the said James Sherley are to be observed and
performed, shall become bound in the sum of £2400 to them, the said
William Bradford, Edward Winslow, Thomas Prince, Myles Standish,
William Brewster, John Alden, and John Howland. And it is lastly
agreed upon between the said parties, that these presents shall be
left in trust, to be kept for both parties, in the hands of Mr.
John Rayner, teacher of New Plymouth. In witness whereof, all the
said parties have hereunto severally set their hands, the day and
year first above written.
JOHN ATWOOD, WILLIAM BRADFORD, EDWARD
WINSLOW, etc.
In the presence of Edmund Freeman, William Thomas, William Paddy,
Nathaniel Souther.
Next year this long and tedious business came to an issue, as will
appear, though not to a final end with all the parties; but so much
for the present.
I had forgotten to insert that the church here had in 1638 invited
and sent for Mr. Charles Chauncey, a reverend, godly, and very
learned man, who stayed till the latter part of 1645,—intending,
after a trial, to choose him pastor, for the more convenient
performance of the ministry, with Mr. John Rayner the teacher. But
there occurred some differences about baptism, he holding that it
ought only to be done by dipping and putting the whole body under
water, and that sprinkling was unlawful. The church conceded that
immersion, or dipping, was lawful, but not so convenient in this
cold country. But they could not allow that sprinkling, which nearly
all the churches of Christ use to this day, was unlawful and merely
a human invention. They were willing to yield to him as far as they
could, and to allow him to practice according to his convictions,
and granted that when he came to administer the ordinance, he might
perform it in that way for any who so desired, provided he allowed
Mr. Rayner, when requested, to baptize by sprinkling. But he said he
could not yield to this. So the church procured some other ministers
to discuss the point with him publicly, such as Mr. Ralph Partridge
of Duxbury. But he was not satisfied; so the church sent to several
other churches to ask their help and advice in the matter, and with
his will and consent sent them his arguments,—such as to the church
of Boston in Massachusetts, to be communicated to other churches
there; and to the churches of Connecticut and New Haven, and many
others. They received very able answers from them and other learned
ministers, who all concluded against him. Their answers are too long
to give here. But Mr. Chauncey was not satisfied. They considered
that everything that was proper had been done, so Mr. Chauncey, who
had been almost three years here, removed to Scituate, where he is
still a minister of the church.
About this time, cattle and other things having fallen greatly in
value, people began to be less affluent. Many had already gone to
Duxbury, Marshfield, and other places, and amongst them many of the
leading men, such as Mr. Winslow, Captain Standish, Mr. Alden. Others
dropped away daily, with the result that the place became far less
flourishing.