HIGGINSON AND SKELTON'S AGREEMENT.

211

X.

said Plantation, that then a hundred acres of land CHAP. more shall be allotted him for him and his forever.1

The 8th of April, 1629. Mr. Francis Higgeson and Mr. Samuel Skelton, intended ministers for this Plantation, and it being thought meet to consider of their entertainment, who expressing their willingness, together also with Mr. Francis Bright, being now present, to do their endeavour in their places of the ministry, as well in preaching, catechising, as also in teaching or causing to be taught the Company's servants and their children, as also the salvages and their children, whereby to their uttermost to further the main end of this Plantation, being, by the assistance of Almighty God, the conversion of the salvages-the propositions and agreements concluded on with Mr. Francis Bright the 2d of February last were reciprocally accepted of by Mr. Francis Higgeson and Mr. Samuel Skelton; who are in every respect to have the like conditions as Mr. Bright hath. Only, whereas Mr. Higgeson hath eight3

2 In Felt's Annals of Salem, i. 511-513, is an account of moneys due to him from the Company in 1629 and 1630, including his charges for provisions and clothing.

3

1 This Agreement is printed from in Westmoreland, where he died in an early MS. 1672, aged 55. 3. Timothy, ten. 4. Theophilus, nine. 5. Samuel, eight, who at his mother's death in 1640, was bound as a servant to Gov. Eaton, of New Haven, for two years. 6. Ann, six. 7. Mary, four, who died on the passage, May 19. 8. Charles, one, who, in 1640, was bound apprentice to Thomas Fugill for nine years. There was a 9th child, born in Salem, called Neophytus, who had been placed with Atherton Hough, at Boston, to be brought up. See Kingsley's Hist. Disc. p. 103; Mather's Magnalia, i. 330.

Their names, and their ages at this time, so far as I have been able to determine them from the data I have, were as follows: 1. John, thirteen, concerning whom see note1 on p. 166. 2. Francis, twelve, who after studying at Leyden and other universities on the continent, returned to England, and was settled in the ministry at Kirkby-Stephen,

1629.

April 8.

212

HIGGINSON AND SKELTON'S AGREEMENT.

CHAP. children, it is intended that £10 more yearly shall X. be allowed him towards their charges. And it is 1629. agreed that the increase to be improved of all their April grounds, during the first three years, shall be at the

Company's disposing, who are to find their diet during that time; and £10 more to Mr. Higgeson, towards his present fitting him and his for the voyage.

FRANCIS HIGGESON.
SAMUEL SKELTON.

Further, though it was not mentioned in the Agreement, but forgotten, Mr. Higgeson was promised a man-servant, to take care and look to his things, and to catch him fish and fowl, and provide other things needful, and also two maid-servants, to look to his family.

HIGGINSON'S JOURNAL

OF

HIS VOYAGE TO NEW-ENGLAND.

A TRUE Relation of the last Voyage to New-England, declaring all circumstances, with the manner of the passage we had by sea, and what manner of country and inhabitants we found when we came to land; and what is the present state and condition of the English people that are there already.

Faithfully recorded according to the very truth, for the satisfaction of very many of my loving friends, who have earnestly requested to be truly certified in these things.

Written from New-England, July 24, 1629.

If any curious critic that looks for exactness of phrases, or expert seaman that regards propriety of sea terms, &c.

CHAPTER XI.

HIGGINSON'S JOURNAL OF HIS VOYAGE.

XI.

A TRUE Relation of the last Voyage to New-Eng- CHAP. land, made the last summer, begun the 25th of April, being Saturday, Anno Domini, 1629.

The Company of New-England, consisting of many worthy gentlemen in the city of London, Dorchester, and other places, aiming at the glory of God, the propagation of the Gospel of Christ, the conversion of the Indians, and the enlargement of the King's Majesty's dominions in America, and being authorized by his royal letters patents for that end, at their very great costs and charge furnished five ships to go to New-England, for the further settling of the English Plantation that they had already begun there.1

The names of the five ships were as followeth :

The first is called the Talbot,2 a good and strong ship, of three hundred tons, and nineteen pieces of

Under Endicott, in 1628, the Francis Higginson, with his year before. See pages 13 and 30. family, sailed in the Talbot. See

page 143.

1629.

April.