The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 1847

by Various

We now approach an important event in the history of the Colony—the removal of its entire government to New England. Gov. Cradock, with whom the idea appears to have originated, acquainted the Proprietors, at a meeting of the Court, July 28, 1629, that, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Plantation, and inducing and encouraging persons of worth and quality to transport themselves and their families thither, as well as for other weighty reasons, it was proposed to transfer the entire government to this country, and continue it no longer in subjection to the Company in England. Soon after this communication, an agreement to that effect was drawn up at Cambridge, and among those who signed it was their future governor, John Winthrop. It was one of the stipulations that they should settle their affairs so as to be ready for the voyage hither by the first of March. This appears to have been the first connection Mr. Winthrop had with the settlement of this soil. On the 29th of August following, at a meeting of the Court of Proprietors, in London, this change in the government was decided upon. On the 16th of October, at another meeting of the Court, it was conceived "fitt that Capt. Endecott continue the government there, unless just cause to the contrarie." But on the 20th of the same month, Gov. Cradock informed the Proprietors that in accordance with the alteration of the government now about to take place, it was necessary to elect a new Governor, Deputy, and Assistants; when John Winthrop was put in nomination, and unanimously chosen Governor. In like manner, John Humphrey was chosen "Deputy-Governor," and Sir Richard Saltonstall, Matthew Cradock, John Endecott, with fifteen others, were chosen a board of "Assistants."

On the 12th of June, 1630, the ship Arbella, Capt. Milburne, having on board Gov. Winthrop and company, and a duplicate Charter of the Colony, of the same tenor and form as Gov. Endecott's, arrived at Naumkeag, having sailed from Cowes March 29. Mr. Endecott, who had already been apprized that he was shortly to be superseded in the Governorship of the Plantation, repaired on board to welcome the new Governor, and offer him and his friends the hospitalities of his house. Among the distinguished personages were Isaac Johnson and his wife, the Lady Arbella, daughter of the Earl of Lincoln. Speaking of Mr. Endecott's visit, Gov. Winthrop says, "Wee that were of the Assistants and some other gentlemen and some of the women, returned with him to Nahumkeck, where we supped on good venison pastry and good beer." At the time of the arrival of the new Governor, wholesome and salutary laws for the government of the Colony had been instituted by Endecott, under the authority given him by the Charter, and the settlement had already assumed the condition of a well-organized and regulated body politic. A church, with faithful ministers, which they professed to value above all temporal interests and earthly grandeur, had also been established, and the wheels of government were moving on harmoniously, upon a safe and sure foundation. Under this state of things, Endecott now surrendered the civil power into the hands of Gov. Winthrop, and took upon himself the more humble appointment of one of the Assistants. Yet "the principles of Winthrop's administration," says the Annalist of Salem, "were like those which had directed the course of his predecessor. The commencement of legislation, which was to have an important part in promoting social freedom, that has spread and is spreading in the world, began at Naumkeag, under Endecott, and was continued by his worthy successor."

Soon after the arrival of Gov. Winthrop, the new settlers began to be dissatisfied with Salem, as the capital of the Colony. It did not combine, in their opinion, sufficient advantages of location, soil, and natural means of defence. A party, therefore, was sent to explore the country westward, to discover, if possible, some more suitable situation. It had been the darling object with Endecott to make Salem the seat of government; he, however, bowed in submission, and continued his efforts to advance the common weal.

On the 18th of August, 1630, Gov. Endecott entered into a new matrimonial alliance with Elisabeth Gibson of Cambridge, England. This lady probably came over in the ship with Gov. Winthrop, and the marriage ceremony was performed by him and the Rev. Mr. Wilson, afterwards pastor of the first church in Boston. This connection appears to have been a happy one, although there was a much greater disparity in their ages than prudence and judgment would seem to allow—the difference being about twenty-six years.

Such was his ardent and growing attachment to the place of his adoption, that when it was decided in December, 1630, to fortify Newton, now Cambridge, for the seat of government, and to build houses, and move their military stores to that place next spring, he could not be prevailed upon to quit his accustomed residence. All the members, except himself and Mr. Sharp, who was about returning to England, agreed to do so; but Mr. Endecott excused himself upon the ground that he had so formed his connections in Salem, that it would be attended with great inconvenience.

On the 3rd of July, 1632, the Court of Assistants granted Mr. Endecott three hundred acres of land, called by the Indians in English, "Birchwood," afterwards known as his "Orchard Farm." It was situated between two and three miles in a northerly direction from the main settlement at Salem, upon a tongue of land bounded on the north, south, and east by rivers, or more properly inlets of the sea, and on the west by the main land. Even at that early period, it was one of the most desirable situations in that vicinity. Though at some distance from the place which was afterwards selected for the seat of the government, and where the Court House was erected, yet he was in the centre of the population, being by land nearer to the shores than he was to the cultivated farms around him. It was many years after he established himself at this beautiful place, so near all the streams which passed through the adjacent country, before any incorporation separated Salem from the Merrimack. For twenty years Salem bounded on Andover. The spot then was the best he could have chosen. On a commanding eminence, which overlooked the country for some distance around, and about one eighth of a mile from one of the inlets, he built his house, and commenced in earnest the cultivation of his farm. Although the ploughshare has frequently passed over it, yet part of the cellar of this house is plainly discernible at the present day. It is a romantic situation, and denotes him to have been a man of much discrimination and taste in matters of this kind. On his farm he lived in a sort of feudal style, surrounded by his servants.

In front of his mansion house, and immediately upon the southern slope of a gentle declivity, he planted his far-famed orchard, which gave the name to his farm. The tradition that the Governor always pointed out his dial, which bears the date of 1630, as denoting the age of his orchard, seems to indicate that the trees were removed hither from his town residence. Here, too, it is said, he introduced, for medicinal purposes, as well as ornament to his garden, the "white-weed," which has since become so detrimental to the hay-fields of our farmers.

His usual mode of transporting himself and family to and from this place, was at first by water, and he was as often visited by his friends in this way, as in any other. The inlet before the mansion house had nothing to interrupt it—the passage was open to the bay, and at that early period must have been delightfully romantic. The shores on either side thickly clothed with wood, whose dark images were reflected in the still waters beneath them, were picturesque in the extreme. The bold jutting headlands, on some parts of the passage, lent a sublimity to the prospect, which was continually varying by the winding and circuitous course of the stream.[9] There was nothing to break the stillness, or disturb the quiet which reigned around, save the dashings of their own little boat amid the waters, or the heavy plunge of some lordly sea-bird, in his gyratory wanderings in pursuit of prey. The smoke from the humble and solitary wigwams of the Indians, thinly scattered along the margin of the waters, with an occasional glimpse at their tawny inhabitants, as they stealthily watched the passing boat from their leafy hiding-places, or listlessly reclined under the shadow of some wide-spreading oak, heightened the effect, and diversified the scene. Within the last half-century, the ruins of some of these wigwams might have been seen,[10] and could not have failed to excite most melancholy reflections respecting the wretched fate of these natural lords of the soil, throughout our vast country.