This was evidently an abundant one, for as Bradford describes it; “By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plenty, and the face of things was changed, to the rejoicing of the hearts of many, for which they blessed God. And the effect of their particular planting was well seen, for all had, one way and other, pretty well to bring the year about, and some of the abler and more industrious had to spare, and sell to others, so as any general want or famine has not been amongst them since to this day.”

The harvest under the new conditions having proved a success it was followed by an equal division of land. “And to every person was given only one acre of land, to them and theirs, as near the town as might be and they had no more until the seven years had expired. The reason was that they might be kept close together both for more safety and defence, and the better improvement of the general employments.”

Early this year, the time of election of officers having arrived and the members of the colony having increased, it was considered advisable to provide more assistance to the Governor. “The issue was, that as before there was but one assistant, they now chose 5, giving the Governor a double voice; and afterwards they increased them to 7, which course hath continued to this day.”

In the spring Edward Winslow returned from England. His mission had two objectives, viz., to acquaint the Merchant Adventurers with the exact condition of the Plymouth Colony, their progress and their needs and to obtain certain necessary supplies. He reported dissension among the English company as a result of which, one faction sent over a Mr. Lyford who with one John Oldham, who had come over in the Anne, attempted to create an unfavorable impression in their report to the Adventurers. Letters of Oldham were intercepted, and, faced with the proof of their duplicity, which they couldn’t deny, they were forced to leave the colony.

A ship-carpenter arriving on the ship with Mr. Winslow, proved of great value. He had completed the building of several small craft when he was stricken with fever. Bradford says of him: “He quickly built them 2 very good and strong shallops (which after did them great service) and a great and strong lighter, and had hewn timber for 2 catches; but that was lost, for he fell into a fever and though he had the best means the place could afford, yet he died.”

The First Cattle

An important acquisition to the colony was brought over by Mr. Winslow. This consisted of three heifers and a bull, “the first beginning of any cattle of that kind in the land.” Of the increment of this small herd, mention is made later.

Mr. Winslow, who had gone back to England in the fall of 1624 now returned. He brought a letter from some of their friends in the English company to the effect that the company was dissolved and that the agreement by which they were sharers and partners was no longer in effect and that ways and means should be devised whereby their advancements would be secured. This letter states: “Now we think it but reason, that all such things that there appertain to the general, be kept and preserved together and rather increased daily, than anyway be dispersed, and, after your necessities are served, you gather together such commodities as the company yields and send them over to pay debts and clear engagements here, which are not less than 1400 pounds.”

Two vessels had been sent over to expedite their settlement. The larger a cargo of dried fish, but because there was threat of war with France the master “neglected (through timerousness) his order and put first into Plymouth and after into Portsmouth.” This was much to their loss for the cargo “would have yielded them (as such fish was sold that season) 1800 pounds, which would have enriched them.”

The smaller vessel, the Little James, (before mentioned) with a cargo of 700 lbs. of beaver skins, was captured by a Turkish man-of-war.

Captain Standish had left on the larger vessel with letters and instructions to arrange with the Council of New England and those of the company “which still clave to them” for easier terms in their purchase of supplies and future transactions. They had sustained heavy losses although there were some redeeming offsets as: “after harvest this year, they sent out a boat’s load of corn 40 or 50 degrees to the eastward up a river called Kenebeck (Kennebec); it being one of those two shallops which their carpenter had built them the year before. God preserved them and gave them good success for they brought home 700 lbs. of beaver besides some other furs.”

In April Captain Standish returned bringing news of the death of their former pastor, John Robinson, also that of Robert Cushman who had been active in the affairs of the colony. The year thus had a cloudy beginning. They had been unsuccessful in their fishing enterprises and had turned to the intensive cultivation of corn which not only served them as a food staple but as a medium of exchange, as money they had little of.

At a time when they were in need of equipment to carry on their work to the best advantage, they heard that a plantation at Monhegan, owned by a Plymouth (England) company, of Merchants, was to “break up and divers useful goods sold.” Whereupon Governor Bradford and Mr. Winslow “took a boat and some hands and went thither.” These goods they bought in part with another party. They also acquired a “parcel of goats which they distributed at home as they saw need and occasion.”

They also obtained some rugs and other commodities from a French ship that had been cast away on the coast, all of which added to their material comfort.

They had been paying a high rate of interest to the English company and they “sent Mr. Allerton into England to make a composition upon as good terms as he could (unto which some way had been made the year before by Captain Standish) but yet enjoined him not to conclude absolutely until they knew the terms.” They also gave him a commission to secure further supplies for the colony.

Mr. Allerton returned from England with the needed supplies, also the agreement which he had affected with the remaining members of the English company. The essence of this agreement was that upon the payment of 1800 pounds, in yearly installments of 200 pounds, the Plymouth Colony would be relieved of their obligations. While this was approved by “all the plantation and consented unto” it was actually assumed by seven or eight “in behalf of the rest.”

The second allotment of land was made in January of this year, on the basis of first, that the original allotment wherein one acre was given to every person, should stand, and, second, that this, the second division, “should consist of twenty acres to every person, and to contain five in breadth and four in length; and so accordingly to be divided by lot, to every one which was to have a share therein.” There followed several provisions, one to the effect “that fowling, fishing and hunting be free.”

In May a division of cattle was made from the three cows and bull brought over in 1624 there had been a substantial increase “which arose to this proportion: a cow to six persons or shares, and two goats to the same, which were first equalized for age and goodness and then allotted for; single persons consorting with others, as they thought good and smaller families likewise; and swine though more in number, yet by the same rule.”

Mr. Allerton was again sent to England with power to conclude the contract previously alluded to, with certain provisions. These provisions, while still obligating “William Bradford, Captain Myles Standish, Isaac Allerton, etc.” in the performance thereof, gave them a tangible means of securing themselves. They also sent “what beaver skins they could spare to pay some of their engagements and to defray his charge.” He was also authorized to “procure a patent for a fit trading place in the river of Kenebeck.” He was to express further the hope that their friends in Leyden might join them, in which case “they should thankfully accept of their love and partnership herein.”

Early in the spring of 1628 Mr. Allerton returned with the report that he had effected an arrangement whereby: “William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth in N. E., in America, Isaac Allerton, Myles Standish, William Brewster and Ed. Winslow of Plymouth, aforesaid, merchants, do by these presents for us and in our names, make, substitute and appoint James Sherley, Goldsmith, and John Beachamp, Salter, citizens of London, our true and lawful agents, factors, substitutes and assignees,” etc., etc.

He also brought a “reasonable supply of goods for the plantation and without those great interests as before is noted.” And he “had settled things in a good and hopeful way.”

He had obtained a patent for a trading post at Kennebec, “but it was so ill bounded, as they were fain to renew and enlarge it the next year.”

It developed that Mr. Allerton had been taking advantage of his opportunity in his visits to England, to trade on his own account thus acquiring the profit that should by right, go to the company. These transactions were first overlooked for he had been of “good and faithful service.”

About this time trading was inaugurated with the Dutch of New Amsterdam who had previously approached the Plymouth colony with that end in view. It was during this period that wampum was developed, both as a commodity and as a medium of exchange.

The Wollaston Incident

The life of the colony was broken by some disquieting incidents. From the settlements at Wollaston (now a part of Quincy) came reports of trouble. Captain Wollaston, the founder of this colony, had departed for Virginia with some of his retainers, leaving one Fitcher to govern in his place. Among those of his party left behind was a Thomas Morton who, “having more craft than honesty, persuaded them to ‘thrust out Fitcher.’” Whereupon, “they fell to great licentiousness and Morton became lord of misrule and maintained (as it were) a school of Atheism.” They erected a Maypole around which they drank and danced. They furnished firearms to the Indians and the means of moulding shot; they danced and caroused, inviting Indian women for their consorts. This went on until the more ordered among them appealed to Plymouth to “suppress Morton and his consorts before they grew to further head and strength.”

Two letters of remonstrance to Morton having been received with insolence and defiance, Captain Standish was called into action and proceeded with some others to take Morton by force. This they did after a show of resistance. He had “made fast his doors, armed his consorts, set divers dishes of powder and bullets ready on the table; and, if they had not been over armed with drink, more hurt might have been done. At length, fearing that they would do some violence to the house, he and some of his crew came out, not to yield but to shoot. But they were so steeled with drink their pieces were too heavy for them and one was so drunk that he ran his nose upon the point of a sword.” Morton was taken to Plymouth and later sent to England, together with a report of his conduct to the Council of New England.

In 1629 the colony received thirty-five additional members from the Leyden Congregation. They arrived with John Endicott and his company at Salem on the ship Mayflower (not the same Mayflower that had brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth). A charter had been granted to Endicott for territory in and around Massachusetts Bay. A letter came at this time from John Sherley addressed to Governor Bradford to the effect that “Mr. Beachamp and myself, with Mr. Andrews and Mr. Hatherly, are, with your love and liking, joined partners with you.” etc.

On the 13th of January of this year a patent was granted to William Bradford and Associates. This enlarged the original grant and included territory on the Kennebec river where a trading post had already been established. This patent, bearing the signature of the Earl of Warwick, was later transferred to the Colony and is now in the Registry of Deeds at Plymouth.