Early in the spring of 1628 Mr. Allerton returned with the report that he had effected an arrangement whereby: “William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth in N. E., in America, Isaac Allerton, Myles Standish, William Brewster and Ed. Winslow of Plymouth, aforesaid, merchants, do by these presents for us and in our names, make, substitute and appoint James Sherley, Goldsmith, and John Beachamp, Salter, citizens of London, our true and lawful agents, factors, substitutes and assignees,” etc., etc.
He also brought a “reasonable supply of goods for the plantation and without those great interests as before is noted.” And he “had settled things in a good and hopeful way.”
He had obtained a patent for a trading post at Kennebec, “but it was so ill bounded, as they were fain to renew and enlarge it the next year.”
It developed that Mr. Allerton had been taking advantage of his opportunity in his visits to England, to trade on his own account thus acquiring the profit that should by right, go to the company. These transactions were first overlooked for he had been of “good and faithful service.”
About this time trading was inaugurated with the Dutch of New Amsterdam who had previously approached the Plymouth colony with that end in view. It was during this period that wampum was developed, both as a commodity and as a medium of exchange.
The Wollaston Incident
The life of the colony was broken by some disquieting incidents. From the settlements at Wollaston (now a part of Quincy) came reports of trouble. Captain Wollaston, the founder of this colony, had departed for Virginia with some of his retainers, leaving one Fitcher to govern in his place. Among those of his party left behind was a Thomas Morton who, “having more craft than honesty, persuaded them to ‘thrust out Fitcher.’” Whereupon, “they fell to great licentiousness and Morton became lord of misrule and maintained (as it were) a school of Atheism.” They erected a Maypole around which they drank and danced. They furnished firearms to the Indians and the means of moulding shot; they danced and caroused, inviting Indian women for their consorts. This went on until the more ordered among them appealed to Plymouth to “suppress Morton and his consorts before they grew to further head and strength.”
Two letters of remonstrance to Morton having been received with insolence and defiance, Captain Standish was called into action and proceeded with some others to take Morton by force. This they did after a show of resistance. He had “made fast his doors, armed his consorts, set divers dishes of powder and bullets ready on the table; and, if they had not been over armed with drink, more hurt might have been done. At length, fearing that they would do some violence to the house, he and some of his crew came out, not to yield but to shoot. But they were so steeled with drink their pieces were too heavy for them and one was so drunk that he ran his nose upon the point of a sword.” Morton was taken to Plymouth and later sent to England, together with a report of his conduct to the Council of New England.
1629
In 1629 the colony received thirty-five additional members from the Leyden Congregation. They arrived with John Endicott and his company at Salem on the ship Mayflower (not the same Mayflower that had brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth). A charter had been granted to Endicott for territory in and around Massachusetts Bay. A letter came at this time from John Sherley addressed to Governor Bradford to the effect that “Mr. Beachamp and myself, with Mr. Andrews and Mr. Hatherly, are, with your love and liking, joined partners with you.” etc.