The year following, (1645) Mr. Endecott was succeeded as Governor by Mr. Dudley. Other offices of honor and trust, however, awaited him. He was this year appointed Sergeant Major-General of Massachusetts, the highest military office in the Colony. He had previously held a commission of Colonel in the first regiment formed in Salem, Saugus, Ipswich, and Newbury, in 1636, when John Winthrop, Jr., son of the Governor, was his Lieutenant-Colonel. He was also elected an Assistant, and one of the United Commissioners.
In 1648, he was continued an Assistant, Sergeant Major-General, and Commissioner for the Province.
Upon the death of Governor Winthrop, which took place on the 26th of March, 1649, at the age of 61, Mr. Endecott was again chosen Governor, to which office he was annually elected until the time of his death, with the exception of the years 1650 and 1654, when he held that of Deputy-Governor. This was an eventful period in the history of the Colony, as well as of the Mother Country. The violent death of Charles I., the usurpation of Cromwell, and the restoration of the Stuart family, took place while he was at the head of public affairs. The difficulties and perplexities of his situation during this period were very great. But all his public acts were marked with a moderation and wisdom which do honor to him as an experienced statesman. Had he possessed less integrity or firmness, had his mind been at all vacillating, the consequences might have been affectingly disastrous to the best interests of the Colony.
In the year 1652, under his administration, a mint was established in the Colony, for coining shillings, six-pences, and three-pences. No other of the American Colonies, it is believed, ever presumed to coin metal into money. Though unlawful, it was passed over by Cromwell and the Parliament, and continued after the Restoration, for more than twenty years.
About the year 1655, Gov. Endecott removed from Salem to Boston, upon the request of the General Court that he would do so, "if his own necessary occasions would permit." Although the reasonableness of this request must have been apparent to him, the step could not have been taken without strong feelings of repugnance. It must have been a severe struggle for him to have separated himself from the place of his adoption, towards which he had ever felt and exhibited the most ardent attachment. His residence in Boston was on the beautiful lot lately owned and occupied by Gardner Green, now Pemberton Square.[15]
Governor Endecott had now (1657) entered upon his seventieth year, with a shattered constitution, and health seriously impaired, as we learn by the following letter to Mr. John Leverett, the Colonial Agent in England.
Sir,
I cannot write unto you by a more faithful friend[16] than I have done, who is able at large, to relate to you how things in general stand here. And that doth save mee some labour which at this tyme is a favor to mee. For in the extremity of heate and after a long sickness, I am very faint; not fitt to doe any thing, yet I cannot but by these heartilie salute you in the Lord, giving you many thanks for what you sent me. For all good newes is welcome to us as you know full well. Yet I cannot for the present answer your expectations touching Road Island and Clarke and Holmes, but I have acquainted the rest of the Magistrates with your letter, who were already to gather up sufficient testimonie to prove what you spoke to the Protector, and enough to satisfy (we doubt not) your opponent, if he be a lover of truth. Only we would have the General Court act with us therein, which will not meet till September next, when I hope I shall procure a full answer to your former and last letters.
What the end is of that point of State to make the Protector King, I cannot fathom it; unless their proffering and his deniall thereof ingratiate him the more in the hearts of the people. The Lord in mercie guide all to his glory, and the good of those commonwealths over whom he hath sett him. If there be any opportunitie I pray you write mee a word about it, and other occurrences that may fall out. I cannot be sufficientlie thankefulle for what you wrote me last. Great motions there are in the world which the Lord direct and turn to his glorie, the overthrow of his enemies and the peace and welfare of his own people. Which is the prayer of Sir,