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

Winslow Elected Governor

This year Edward Winslow was elected Governor. He was re-elected in 1634-1636-1638-1644, William Bradford serving from 1621 until his death in 1657 with the exception of these five years.

Trading was now begun on the Connecticut river and a post established there.

The Colony was attacked by an epidemic which took over twenty lives, including that of Samuel Fuller, their physician and surgeon who “had been a great help and comfort to them.”

1636

In 1636 owing to the growth of the original plantation and the establishments of separate settlements at Scituate and Duxbury, the purely democratic rule which had obtained under the Mayflower Compact, wherein matters pertaining to the interests of the colony were settled in general assembly, was superseded by a law passed providing for government by deputies representing the several towns.

1639

In 1639 the first legislative body brought together representatives from the towns of Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Taunton, Scituate, Duxbury and Plymouth. Thus we have representative government in its formative state.