[COL. GOOKIN'S LETTER TO REV. NATHANIEL GOOKIN OF HAMPTON, N. H.]
Philadelphia, 9br 22d 1710.
Dr sr
The business of ye Province sometimes requires me to visit ye extreme parts of it and I am often obliged to stay at New Castle ye chief town of ye next Government, and by that means miss many opportunities of answering my friends' letters, this and having very little to write that could entertain ye are ye reasons ye have not heard from me of late. I have had two letters from ye since I wrote yo last ye 3d of Octb. By letters from Ireland I am informed two of our relatives are lately dead, viz. Robert Gookin, son of my Uncle Robert, and Augustine Gookin, eldest son of my Uncle Charles. My own affairs in ye government are very likely to improve, for ye last assembly who were extremely ye Proprietor's enemies and against raising money for ye support of Gover'nt, are every one laid by this election, and such men chosen as I believe will answer his expectations and mine.
By the packet I have letters from ye Proprietor, wherein he tells mee he has more friends in this ministry than in ye last, and gives me fresh assurances of his friend in case he resigns ye government to ye crown, which he thinks he shall find it his interest to do. I shall not give ye any account of ye public affairs since ye will be better informed by ye prints. I shall not add, but only desire ye will not take my backwardness in writing in an unkind sense, but believe I have a due regard for all my relations and that I am in a more particular manner
[Superscription.] Dr Cossn yr very affecte Kinsman To the Reverend Mr. Nathl Gookin, and Servt att Hampton, N. Hampshire, Chas. Gookin. Frce Ch. Gookin. via Boston.
| [Superscription.] | Dr Cossn yr very affecte Kinsman |
| To the Reverend Mr. Nathl Gookin, | and Servt |
| att Hampton, N. Hampshire, | Chas. Gookin. |
| Frce Ch. Gookin. via Boston. |
[HISTORY OF THE PILGRIM SOCIETY,]
WITH A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PLYMOUTH COLONY.
As introductory to a notice of the Pilgrim Society, the narration of a few facts in reference to the early settlement of New England may be neither inappropriate nor uninteresting. It will serve also to elucidate more fully the objects of the Society.
Religious persecution was the chief cause of the emigration of our forefathers to this country. The memorable Reformation, effected principally by the instrumentality of Luther and Calvin, appeared in England in 1534, under Henry VIII. During its progress, in the reigns of Mary, Elizabeth, and James I., those who were denominated Puritans[B] were subjected to the most cruel oppression. Thousands suffered martyrdom; many were banished; and others were doomed to perpetual imprisonment.