In April Captain Standish returned bringing news of the death of their former pastor, John Robinson, also that of Robert Cushman who had been active in the affairs of the colony. The year thus had a cloudy beginning. They had been unsuccessful in their fishing enterprises and had turned to the intensive cultivation of corn which not only served them as a food staple but as a medium of exchange, as money they had little of.
At a time when they were in need of equipment to carry on their work to the best advantage, they heard that a plantation at Monhegan, owned by a Plymouth (England) company, of Merchants, was to “break up and divers useful goods sold.” Whereupon Governor Bradford and Mr. Winslow “took a boat and some hands and went thither.” These goods they bought in part with another party. They also acquired a “parcel of goats which they distributed at home as they saw need and occasion.”
They also obtained some rugs and other commodities from a French ship that had been cast away on the coast, all of which added to their material comfort.
They had been paying a high rate of interest to the English company and they “sent Mr. Allerton into England to make a composition upon as good terms as he could (unto which some way had been made the year before by Captain Standish) but yet enjoined him not to conclude absolutely until they knew the terms.” They also gave him a commission to secure further supplies for the colony.
1627
Mr. Allerton returned from England with the needed supplies, also the agreement which he had affected with the remaining members of the English company. The essence of this agreement was that upon the payment of 1800 pounds, in yearly installments of 200 pounds, the Plymouth Colony would be relieved of their obligations. While this was approved by “all the plantation and consented unto” it was actually assumed by seven or eight “in behalf of the rest.”
The second allotment of land was made in January of this year, on the basis of first, that the original allotment wherein one acre was given to every person, should stand, and, second, that this, the second division, “should consist of twenty acres to every person, and to contain five in breadth and four in length; and so accordingly to be divided by lot, to every one which was to have a share therein.” There followed several provisions, one to the effect “that fowling, fishing and hunting be free.”
In May a division of cattle was made from the three cows and bull brought over in 1624 there had been a substantial increase “which arose to this proportion: a cow to six persons or shares, and two goats to the same, which were first equalized for age and goodness and then allotted for; single persons consorting with others, as they thought good and smaller families likewise; and swine though more in number, yet by the same rule.”
Mr. Allerton was again sent to England with power to conclude the contract previously alluded to, with certain provisions. These provisions, while still obligating “William Bradford, Captain Myles Standish, Isaac Allerton, etc.” in the performance thereof, gave them a tangible means of securing themselves. They also sent “what beaver skins they could spare to pay some of their engagements and to defray his charge.” He was also authorized to “procure a patent for a fit trading place in the river of Kenebeck.” He was to express further the hope that their friends in Leyden might join them, in which case “they should thankfully accept of their love and partnership herein.”
1628