120 



of his life. The minister White, grieved that his associates had so 

 suddenly relinqui;«hed their desitrns, entreated him to remain, promising 

 to send over a patent, men, provisions, and merchandise, to open a 

 trade with the Indians. " As if animated with some superior instinct," 

 and with visions of a future home for the stricken and hunted men of 

 his own faith, he hstened to the wise and courageous pastor's sohcita- 

 tions. 



Three trusty companions,* designated by Mr. White, consented to 

 shai-e his fate ; but these, rcjjenting of their engagement, finally pressed 

 him to depart with them to Virginia. In the lottiness of his virtue he 

 uttered "Here will I wait the providence of God, though all should 

 forsake me!" They pledged liiemselves anew to remain with him; 

 and one of them was soon despatched to England to procure supplies, 

 to renew the attempt to found a colony. 



Meanwhile, Mr. White, true to his promises, never lost sight of 

 Conant, or of Massachusetts. The integrity and zeal of both were in 

 due time rewarded with success. In 1627, when Sir Henry Roswell, 

 Sir John Young, and other gentlemen, had purchased the country be- 

 tween the Merrimack and the Charles rivers, Mr. W^hite caused these 

 patentees to become acquainted with persons of similar rank in 

 London, and thus enlisted VVinthrop, Johnson, Sir Richard Saltonstall, 

 Cradock, and others, in the enterprise which he himself so untiringly 

 promoted. The London gentlemen were at first associated with those 

 of Dorchester; but in the end, became the sole patentees. Of this 

 second company Endicott was the first agent, and on his arrival at 

 Salem, in 1628, he succeeded Conant in the management of affairs. t 



It is important to remember that the London company, by their 

 purchase, did not become proprietors of a charter under which to 

 people and govern a Commonwealtli, but merely of a common patent 

 granted for purposes of trade, and similar to several that had been 



* Tliese persons were John Woodbury, John Balch, and Peter Palfrey. "All bearing the 

 name of Woodbury, in New England, jn'obably descend from John, or his brother William." 

 A son of Batch subseciuently married a daughter of Conant. The Hon. John G. Palfrey claims 

 Conant's associate, Peter, as his ancestor. — Chron. Moss. 



t Endicott, after his arrival to supersede Conant and his associates, desired the company in 

 England to send him over a "Frenchman experienced in making of salt and planting of vin(>s." 

 In answer to this request the company informed hiim, April, 1629, "We have inquired dili- 

 gently for such, but cannot meet with any of that nation. Nevertheless, God hath not Icfr, us 

 altogether unprovided of a man able to undertake that work ; for that we have entertained 

 Mr. Thomas Graves, a man conmiended to us as well for his honesty as skill in many things 

 useful. I'irst, lie professcth great skill in the makivg of stilt, both in ponds and pans, as also to 

 find out salt springs, or mines," &e. Graves arrived at Salem in June, 1629, but did not 

 remain in Americii, i)rol)al)ly, many years. 



In 1629, the Massacliusctts conq)any sent over from England "twenty-nine weight" of salt 

 in the Ma}'flower, Four Sisters, and Pilgrim, "toget tier with lines, hooks, knives, boots, and 

 barrels, necessary for iisliing;" with directions to euq)loy their nu'u" either in harbor or ujion 

 the bank," and witli a desire to their agent " to confer and advise with Mr. Peirce, who hath 

 formerly fished there." 



The Mr. Peirce here mentioned was a celebrated navigator of the time. The "Mayflower," 

 of which he was in couunaud in 1()2!), was the same that brought over the Pilgrims to I'ljnnouth 

 nine years prenously He was an experienced fislierman. In 16311 he was master of the 

 Lion, ;ind arrived at Salem in May of tliat year. He was again at Salem and at Boston, ia 

 the saino vessel, in J6;5I ; wben his arrival was the (x^easion of much joy, as the colonists were 

 famishing, and he came "laden with provisions." It was apprehended tliat he had been "cast 

 away, or taken l)y pirates." "The celebrated Eoger WUliums and his wife '' wore passengers 

 with Captain Peirce iu 1631. — Citron. Mass. 



