Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 2: The Story of the Planters, 1922

The Early Explorers - Sebastian Cabot - Captain Bartholomew Gosnold - First White Intercourse with Indians - Charter from the English Crown - The Dorchester Company - New Plymouth - Roger Conant at Cape Ann.

The aim and scope of this special article, Which might not inaptly be considered as the Genesis of the present History, are sufficiently indicated by the foregoing caption. It concerns itself mainly with events as well in Essex County as in Salem prior to the year 1630. The second division brings fully into relief the developments in Salem of that colonization, humble in conception and glorious in fruition, wthich for so long a period has commanded the interest of historical students and writers. In order that no overlapping migiht follow, Salem's municipal history, chronologically listed elsewhere, avoids all treatment of the subject here specifically presented. It is not necessary to point to some of the more important features of the recital. These may well be left to the appreciation of intelligent readers, more especially of that element whose members are more or less conversant with the general aspects of the plantation era in the settlement of New England. Both in detail and in fullness, the story thus introduced to the attention of readers must hold a measure of lively concern proportioned to individual appreciation of the labors which its compilation has involved.

It is to Dr. Frank A. Gardner, M. D., of Salem, further mention of whom is made in "The Special Contributors" in our Foreword, that credit is due for this narrative, as well as that following, "Salem Before 1630." [Editor].

The history of Essex County in this period of formation is, in reality, the history of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Tlie successive governmental steps taken within this small section in the northeastern comer of the old Bay State resulted in the formation of a well-organized government, which was delivered by Governor John Endicott to Governor John Winthrop in 1630. The area of government had rapidly expanded within seven years from an insignificant and unsuccessful fishing station at Cape Ann to a territory covering the whole of the present Essex County and Suffolk County and a generous section of what is now included in Norfolk County. The description of the boundaries of the territory purchased by the "Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" defines its extent as follows: "That part of New England three miles north of the Merrimack and three miles south of the Charles River, in the bottom of Massachusetts Bay."

The promontories and indentations of the Essex County coast were visited and described by the very earliest explorers. The first white men to visit these shores were the Norsemen, who came about the year 1000. Sebastian Cabot visited the coast in 1498, exploring from Labrador to the region of Delaware Bay. He claimed possession for England. The fact that England's claim was based upon Cabot's discovery was recognized in the charter which Queen Elizabeth bestowed on Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583, and in accordance with which he took possession of Newfoundland. Many English vessels visited the coast for fish during the last half of the sixteenth century.

Captain Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602, in a "bark of Dartmouth, called the Concord," reached the coast and discovered among other places "an out point of woodie ground, the trees whereof were very high and straight." It is supposed that Cape Ann is referred to. He wrote that the natives "in bark shallops came boldly abourd them, apparrelled in wastcoats and breeches, some of black serdge, some of blue cloth, made after the sea fashion, with hose and shooes on their feet ; a people tall of stature, broad and grym visaged ; their eye browes paynted white and yt seemed by some words and signs which they made, that some barks of St. John de Luz, had fished and traded in this place." He named Cape Cod on this same voyage. Captain Martin Pring, in 1603, sailed along the coast from Casco Bay to Cape Cod Bay, and obtained a cargo of furs, sassafras, etc. He described the tall forests, excellent anchorage and fine fishing. Two years later, George Weymouth reached Cape Cod and sailed northward along the coast to the Kennebec. Champlain and Sieur de Mont, in this same year (1605), explored the coast of Maine and sailed south around Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard. Champlain described the bay at the mouth of the Merrimack as "large," with "three or four rather large islands" (the Isles of Shoals). Cape Ann and Thatcher's Island he noted as a cape, with "three islands near the mainland full of wood of different kinds, as at Chonacoot and all along the coast, and still another flat one, where there are breakers and which extend a little further out to sea than the others, on which there is no wood at all." He named the place Island Cape, near which he saw a canoe containing five or six savages, who "came out near our barque, and then went back and danced on the beach. Sieur de Mont sent me on shore to observe them and to give each one of them a knife, and some biscuit, which caused them to dance again, better than before." When he had drawn with his crayon a diagram of the bay in which they were, the Indians took the crayon "and drew the outhne of another bay, which they represented as very large" (Massachusetts Bay). They also sketched in the Merrimack River. They failed to find a place of settlement that suited them and returned to the Maine coast. These men had come with a charter from the King of France, which conveyed "trading and seignoral rights in ... . territory between the fortieth and forty-sixth parallels of latitude" (from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Philadelphia) . Captain John Smith explored the coast in 1614 and in his "Description of New England," based on voyages made in that year, and the following, wrote: "The Coast of the Massachusetts is so indifferently mixed with high clayie or sandy cliffes in one place, and then tracts of large long ledges of divers sorts, and quarries of stones in other places so strangely divided with tinctured veines of divers colours ; as, Freestone for building. Slate for tiling, smooth stone to make Fomaces and Forges for glasse or iron, and iron ore sufficient, conveniently to melt in them; but the most part so resembleth the Coast of Devonshire, I think most of the cliffes would make such limestone." He described the shores about Ipswich as follows: "Angoam is the next; This place might content a right curious judgement; but there are many sands at the entrance of the harbor : and the worst is, it is imbayed too farre from the deepe Sea. Heere are many rising hilles and on their tops and descents many corne fields, and delightful groves. On the East, is an Isle* of two or three leagues in length ; the one halfe, plaine morish grasse fit for pasture, with many faire high groves of mulberrie trees gardens: and there is also Okes, Pines and other woods to make this place an excellent habitation, beeing a good safe harbor. Naimkeck though it be more rockie ground (for Angoam is sandie) not much inferior; neither for the harbor, nor any thing I could perceove, but the multitude of people. From hence doth stretch into the Sea the faire headland Tragabigganda fronted with three Isles called the Turks heads: to the North of this, doth enter a great Bay, where wee found some habitations and corne fields ; they report a great Riuer, and at least thirtie habitations, doo possesse this Countrie. But because the French had got their Trade I had no leasure to discover it." On the map he gives Cape Anna, "Smith's lies" (Isles of Shoals), and shows Plum Island and the islands at the entrance of Salem harbor. He mentions "particular countries," and names "Aggawom" and "Naemkeck." The names on the map do not coincide with the descriptive text, and he explains this by stating that "the Prince his Highnesse had altered the names." He then gives a "schedule," with explanations, as follows: "Naumkeag - Bastable; Cape Trabigznda - Cape Anne ; Aggawam - Southampton."

Captain Thomas Dermer sailed along- the coast of the county in 1619, in a ship belonging to Sir Ferdinando Gorges. He was wounded later by Indians at Martha's Vineyard, and died in Virginia from the effects of these wounds.

In 1622 there was published in England "A Brief Relation of the Discovery and Plantation of New England." This was dedicated to Prince Charles, and under the heading, "The platform of the government, and divisions of the territories in general," it was stated that "As there is no commonwealth that can stand without government, so the best governments have ever had their beginnings from one supreme head, who hath disposed of the administration of justice, and execution of public affairs, either according to laws established, or by the advice, or consent of the most eminent, discreetest, and best able in that kind! And upon this general ground, the kings of these realms did first lay the foundations of their monarchies; resei^ving unto themselves the sovereign power of all (as fit it was) and dividing their kingdoms into counties, baronies, hundreds and the like; instituted their lieutenants, or officers, meet to govern these subdivisions. This foundation being so certain, there is no reason for us to vary from it, and therefore we have resolved to build our edifices upon it. So as we purpose to commit the management of our whole affairs there in general, unto a governor, to be assisted by the advice and counsel of so many of the patentees as shall be there resident, together with the officers of state. By this head, and these members, united together, the great affairs of the whole state is to be managed, according to their several authorities, given them from their superiours, the president and council established as aforesaid."

"And for that all men by nature are best pleased to be their own carvers, or orders whereof themselves are authors; it is therefore resolved, that the general laws whereby that state is to be governed, shall be first framed and agreed upon by the general assembly of the states of those parts, both spiritual and temporal." This whole territory was to be divided into "counties, baronies, hundreds and the like from all which deputies from every county, and barony, are to be sent m name and behalf of the subjects, under them to consult and agree upon the laws so to be framed, as also to reform any notable abuses committed m former proceedings." Counties were to be governed by a chief head, deputy and other officers. Further subdivisions into lordships, with courts, etc., were made.

A further statement is made, that "There is no less care to be taken for the trade and public commerce of merchants, whose governments ought to be within themselves, in respect of the several occasicm^ arising between them, the tradesmen, and other the mechanicks with whom they have most to do." "By this you see our main drift is but to take care for the well ordering of the business, seeking by all means to avoid (what we may) the intermeddling with any man's monies or disposing of any men's fortunes, save only our own, leaving to every particular undertaker the employment of their profits, out of their proper limits, and possessions, as shall seem best to themselves, or their officers, or ministers, whom they employ, and whom they may be bold to question, or displace, as to themselves shall seem most fitting." This scheme met with the king's approval, and Captain John Smith, in his "General History," published in 1624, shows a map with New England divided among "twenty patentees, that divided my map into twenty parts and cast lots for their share."

Thornton wrote: "The council's transaction being thus ratified by the crown, the several patentees of the territory of New England became each a lord protector of his portion, with an absolute title thereto, clothed with all the powers of government, originally in the king, and by him vested in them. Thus was derived the title and authority of Lord Sheffield, in the exercise of which he issued the charter foir Cape Anne, under which the colony was founded in 1624, which is now expanded into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

In 1623, Edward Winslow was sent by the Pilgrims at Plymouth to England, to report about the colony and procure supplies. In London, he conferred with Mr. Robert Cushman, who had been at Plymouth, and whom Gov. Bradford called the "right hand with their friends, the adventurers, and for diverce years had done & agitated all their business with them to their great advantage." Interest in the affairs of New England was aroused by these men, and among those who were particularly attracted were the Rev. John White of Dorchester, England, father of the Cape Ann Colony, and Lord Sheffield, already mentioned, a prominent member of the Council for New England.

The charter, which the latter granted, was made on the "First day of January, Anno Dui 1623," by indenture "Betweene the right honorable Edmond Lord Sheffield, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter on thone part. And Robert Cushman and Edward Winslowe for themselves, and their Associates and Planters at Plymouth in New England in America on thother part."

"Wytnesseth that the said Lord Sheffield **** Hath Gyven **** for the said Robert and Edward and their associates **** a certaine Tract of Ground in New England **** in a knowne place there commonly called Cape Anne, Together with the free use" of "the Bay of Cape Anne" *** "and free liberty to ffish, fowle, etc." and trade in the lands thereabout, and in all other places in New England aforesaid "whereof the said Lord Sheffield is or hath byn possessed." *** "Together also with ffive hundred Acres of free Land adiojoiing to the said Bay" **** "for the building of a Towne, Scholes, Churches, Hospitalls" etc. also "Thirty acres of Land and besides" **** "To be allotted'* **** "for every particular person" **** "that shall come and dwell at the aforesaid Cape Anne within Seaven years next after the Date hereof." After seven years they were to pay a rental of 12 pence for every "Thirty acres soe to be obteynyd."* Edward Winslow in a pamphlet issued in 1624, asks: "What may the planters expect when once they are seated, and make the most of their salt there, and employ themselves at least eight months in fishing"? He sailed back to England in

1623, and conferred in London with Robert Cushman. Supplies were furnished and preparatiojis made to extend the fisheries and transport more persons "further to plant at Plymouth and in other parts of New England" especially "on a known place they commonly called Cape Anne."

This presentation of the advantages of such a settlement resulted in the foi'ming of the Dorchester Company, with a capital of £3000 largely through the eiforts of Rev. John White. He did not find it a difficult matter to convince the merchants of that section of the value of such a settlement. They had felt the need of it sorely in their previous fishing ventures, as the slow-going vessels had been late in arriving on the grounds in the spring, and had reached the markets of England and Spain too late in the season on their return to sell their fish to advantage. Consequently the idea of a colony, where the fisherman might winter and get the early spring catch, appealed to them. The company sent over a band of men in the winter of 1623-

1624, or the early spring of the latter year, who established a settlement at Stage Point, in what is now Gloucester. Capt. John Smith in his "General Historye," written in 1624, states, "There hath beene afishing this yeere upon the Coast, about 50 English ships: and by Cape Anne, there is a Plantation by the Dorchester men, which they hold of those of New Plimouth, who also by themselves have set vp a fishing worke."

We thus have undoubted evidence that the Cape Ann planters settled there by right of the charter granted by Lord Sheffield to Winslow and Cushman. They immediately organized, with Mr. Thomas Gardner overseer of the plantation, who thus was the first man in authority on the territory, which later became the colony of Massachusetts Bay. Mr. John Tilley had charge of the fisheries.

The primary object of these Cape Ann planters was undoubtedly commercial, but we have many evidences that the desire to worship God in Puritan simplicity, unhampered by the leaders of the established church, strongly influenced them in coming. They were not separatists, like the Pilgrims of Plymouth. They hoped rather for reforms and modifications in the church than separation. We know that many of them were God-fearing men, who displayed their religious fervor a few years later in the active part which they took in the formation and maintenance of the churches at Salem and Beverly. Mather, in his Magnalia, contrasted them favorably with the English- men who attempted various settlements on the coast of Maine : "There were more than a few attempts of the English to people and improve the parts of New England which were to the northward of New Plimouth. But the designs of these attempts being aimed no higher than the advancement of some worldly interest, a constant series of disasters has confounded them, until there was a plantation erected upon the nobler designs of Christianity; and that plantation, though it has had more adversaries than perhaps any one on earth, yet, having obtained help from God, it continues to this day. There have been very fine settlements in the northeast regions; but what has become of them? I have heard that one of our ministers once preaching to a congregation there, urged them to approve themselves a religious people from this consideration, that otherwise they would contradict the main end of planting this wilderness. Whereupon a well-known person then in the assembly, cried out, 'Sir, you are mistaken, you think you are preaching to the people at the Bay ; our main end was to catch fish.'" The quotation from Reverend William Hubbard given in this work on the opening page of the chapter on "Salem Before 1630," shows the strong spiritual influence directing these men. Bradford, in his "History of the Plymouth Plantatioai," gives interesting references to the Cape Ann plantation.

The planters and fishermen of the Dorchester Company were not alone at Cape Ann. The Plymouth men attempted to conduct a fishing venture there and erected a fishing stage, house and salt works. In a letter written by Robert Cushman, January 24, 1623, we find: "We have tooke a patent for Cap-Anne." We read in the same histoiy, under date of 1624: "The ship . . . was speedily discharged, and with her mr. & company sente to Cap-Anne (of which place they had gott a patente, as before is shewed) on fishing, and because ye season was so farr spente some of ye planters were sent to help to build their stage, to their owne hinderance. But partly by ye lateness of ye year, and more espetialy by ye basnes of ye mr., one Baker, they made a poore viage of it. He proved a very drunken beast . . . The shipcarpenter that was sent them, was an honest and very industrious man, and followed his labour dilligently, and made all that were imployed with him doe ye like; he quickly builte them 2 very good & strong shalops (which after did them greate service), and a great and strong lighter, and had hewne timber for 2 catches ; but that was lost, for he fell into a feaver in ye hote season of ye year, and though he had the best means ye place could aforde, yet he dyed; of whom they had a very great loss, and were very sorie for his death. But he whom they sent to make salte was an ignorante, foolish, self-willd fellow; he bore them in hand he could doe great matters in making salt-works, so he was sente to seeke out fitte ground for his purpose; and after some serch he tould ye Govt that he had found a sufficiente place, with a good botome to hold water, and otherwise very conveniente, which he doubted not but in a short time to bring to good perfection, and to yeeld them gi'eat profite; but he must have 8, or ten men to be constantly imployed. He was wisht to be sure tliat ye ground was good, and other things answerable, and yt he could bring it to perfection; othei'wise he would bring upon them a gTeat change by imploying him selfe and so many men. But he was after some triall, so confidente, as he caused them to send cai-penters to rear a great frame for a large house, to receive ye salte & such other uses. But in ye end ail proved vaine. Then he layed faulte of ye ground, in which he was deceived; but if he might have the lighter to caiy clay, he was sure promises deceived them in England that sente him, so he had wound him selfe in to these mens high esteeme hear, so as they were faine to let him goe on till all men saw his vanity. For he could not doe any thing but boyle salt in pans, & yet would make them yt were joyned with him beleeve ther was so grat a misterie in it as was not easie to be attained, and made them doe many unnecessary things to blind their eye, till they discerned his sutlie. The next yere he was sente to Cap- Anne, and ye pans were set up ther wher the fishing was; but before somer was out, he burte the house, and the fire was so vehemente as it spoyld the pans, at least some of them, and this was the end of that chargeable bussines." Bradford severely arraigns the minister, Lyford, and his colleague, Oldham. They had both been at Plymouth, where they were evidently not welcome, and after going to Nantasket had removed to Cape Ann. Bradford's story of their misdemeanors is a long one and covers many pages of his histoiy. He refers to these two men again in connection with Cape Ann and writes that "some of Lyfords and Oldoms freinds, and theii* adherents, set out a shipe on fishing, on their own accounte, and getting yet starte of ye ships that came to the plantation, they tooke away their stage, & other necessary provisions that they had made for fishing at Cap- Anne ye year before, at their great charge, and would not restore ye same, except they would fight for it. But ye Govr sent some of ye plantei"s to help ye fishermen to build a new one, and so let them keepe it. This shipe also brought them some small supply, of little value; but they made so pore a bussines of their fishing, (neither could these men make them any retume for ye supply sente), so as, after this year, they never looked after them." We thus see that two fishing plants were set up at Cape Ann about the same time: One by the Dprchester Company and the other sent from the Pilgrim Colony at Plymouth. The existence of these two ventures is confirmed by Christopher Leavitt, Admiral of New England, in 1624. He wrote: "Neither was I at New Plymouth, but I fear that place is not so good as many others; for if it were, in my conceit, they would content them- selves with it and not seek any other, having ten times so much ground as would serve ten times so many people, as they have now amongst them. But it seems they have no fish to make benefit of, for this year they had one ship fish at Pemaquid and another at Cape Ann, where they have begun a new plantation, but how long it will

Cape Ann. I am told there is a good harbor which makes a fair invitation, but when they are in, their entertainment is not answerable, for there is little good ground, and the ships which fished there this year, their boats went twenty miles to take their fish, and yet they were in great fear of (not) making their voyages, as one of the masters confessed unto me who was at my house."

Captain John Smith in his "General History," wi'itten in 1626, stated: "There hath beene a fishing this yeere upon the Coast about 50 English ships : and by Cape Anne there is a Plantation or beginning by Dorchester men, which they hold of those of New Plimouth, who also have set up a fishing works." Hubbard wrote : "In one of the fishing voyages about the year 1625 under the charge and command of one Mr. Hewes, employed by some of the west country merchants, there arose a sharp contest between the said Hewes and the people of New Plymouth, about a fishing stage built the year before about Cape Anne by Plymouth men, but was now in the absence of the builders made use of by Mr. Hewes' company, which the other, under the conduct of Captain Standish, very eagerly and peremptorily demanded; for the company of New Plymouth, having themselves obtained a useless (owing to unfitness of territory) patent for Cape Anne, about the year 1623, sent some of the ships, which their adventurers employed to transport passengers over to them, to make fish there; for which end they had built a stag there, in the year 1624. The dispute grew to be very hot, and high words passed between them which might have ended in blows, if not in blood and slaughter, had not the kindness and moderation of Roger Conant, at that time there present, and Mr. Peirses interposition, that lay just by with his ship, timely prevented. For Mr. Hewes had barricadoed his company with hogsheads on the stage head, while the demandants stood upon land, and might easily have been cut off; but the ships crew, by advice, promising to help build another, the difference was thereby ended. Captain Standish had been bred a soldier in the Low Countries, and never entered the school of our Saviour Christ, or of John Baptist, his harbinger, if he was ever there, had forgot his first lessons, to offer violence to no man, and to part with the cloak rather than needlessly contend for the coat, though taken away without order. A little chimney is soon fired ; so was the Plymouth captain, a man of very little stature, yet of a very hot and angry temper. The fire of his passion soon kindled, and blown into a flame by hot words, might easily have consumed all, had it not been seasonably quenched." Thornton in his "Landing at Cape Ann" wrote: "As the Plymouth Colonists and the Dorchester Adventurers had under patent, a unity of interests, touching all intruders, and Mr. Peirse was their true friend. Captain Standish could with propriety listen to their advice. He demanded the possession of the property of his government, withheld without right, or the pretence of right, and wrested from them, doubtless, by the machinations of Lyford. These circumstances, and the character of the actors, might well disturb milder tempers than that of Standish, and he deserved praise rather than Hubbard's censure, for his Christian endurance, forbearing even a blow under such an outrage. He had the approval of Bradford, who says they 'refused to restore it without fighting, upon which we let them keep it, and our Governor sends some planters to help the fishermen build another.' "

The attempt of the Plymouth men to conduct a fishing enterprise at Cape Ann came to an end as above narrated, and the Dorchester men had a hard time with their plantation, owing largely to the lack of fertility of the soil at the point chosen and the consequent inability o£ the men to raise the necessary food for the company. The authorities of the company in England, hearing of Roger Conant, who was at Nantasket, having left Plymouth, invited him to accept office "for the management and government of all their affairs at Cape Ann." He was engaged by the officers of the company and informed "that they had chosen him to be their governor in that place." The validity of this title need not be discussed. The fact that it was used by the officers of the company proves how he was regarded by them. It will also be recalled that in the "Platform of the government," approved by the king, which was quoted in full, which constituted the rules for government, the management of the whole affair on this side of the water, was to be committed to a "governor."

Roger Conant soon found out the cause of the failure of the first year's work. Hubbard states that he "disliked the place as much as the adventurers disliked the business; and therefore in the meanwhile had made some inquiry into a more commodious place near adjoining, on the other side of a creek, called Naumkeag, a little to the westward, where was much better encouragement as to the design of a plantation, than that which they had attempted upon before, at Cape Anne." Mr. White wrote to Conant that if he would induce John Woodbury, John Balch and Peter Palfrey to stay with him, that he would procure a charter for him and send whatever he needed, "either men or provisions or goods wherewith to trade with the Indians."

remained there. Those who did not follow their leader went either to Virginia or returned to England, and the house which they occupied at Cape Ann was removed in 1628 to Salem to accommodate Governor Endicott. The new location was well chosen, and the planters by their courage and industry, enduring many privations and hardships, were able to overcome all difficulties and prove the possibility of a succesful settlement. The coming of Endicott and his company two years later (1628) made sure the founding of the good old Puritan city of Salem, as narrated in the chapter on that municipality. F. A. G.