The Pilgrim Story / Being largely a compilation from the documents of Governor Bradford and Governor Winslow, severally and in collaboration; together with a list of Mayflower passengers.

by William Franklin Atwood

Arrival of Anne and Little James

In the summer of 1623 two vessels arrived, the Anne and the Little James. They brought about a hundred additional members to the Plymouth Colony, some being the wives and children of those already here. The Anne the larger vessel, having been chartered by the Adventurers, returned on September 20th, laden with clapboards and beaver. “Mr. Winslow was sent over with her to inform of all things, and procure such things as were thought needful for their present condition.”

During the period before the harvest, the enlarged community subsisted mainly upon fish and shell fish, the latter apparently being in abundance. The one boat was used in turn by different groups that all might share in the labor in proportion to their number. An occasional deer made a welcome addition to their larder, and, as those who had lately arrived had brought provisions sufficient to sustain themselves, they were able to carry on until the new harvest.

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.”

1624

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.”