Town from the beginning of it to 1669 is just forty years in which time there hath been an increasing of forty Churches in this Colony but many more in the rest and Towns in all New-England one hundred and twenty for the most part along the Sea Coasts as being wholsomest for somewhat more than two hundred miles onely on Connecticut-River as I have said is thirteen Towns not far off one another The other Towns of note in this Colony are Green-Harbour to the Eastward of Plimonth towards the point of the Cape therefore somewhat unaccessible by land here is excellent Timber for shipping then Marshfield Yarmouth Rehoboth Bridgwater Warwick Taunton Eastham by the Indians called Namset The first Town Northeast from Greenbarbor is Sittuate in the jurisdiction of the Mattachusets-Colony more Northward of Sittuate is Conchusset and Hull a little Burg lying open to the Sea from thence we came to merton-Merton-point over against which is Pullin-point Upon Merton-point which is on the Larboard-side is a Town called Nantascot which is two Leagues from Boston where Ships commonly cast Anchor Pullin-point is so called because the Boats are by the seasing or Roads haled against the Tide which is very strong it is the usual Channel for Boats to pass into Mattachusets-Bay There is an Island on the South-side of the passage containing eight Acres of ground Upon a rising hill within this Island is mounted a Castle commanding the entrance no stately Edifice nor strong built with Brick and Stone kept by a Captain under whom is a master-Gunner and others The Bay is large made by many Islands the chief Deere-Island which is within a flight shot of Pullin-point great store of Deere were wont to swim thither from the Main then Bird-Island Glass-Island Slate-Island the Governours Garden where the first Apple-Trees in the Countrey were planted and a vinyard then Round-Island and Noddles-Island not far from Charles-Town most of these Islands lye on the North-side of the Bay The next Town to Nantascot on the South-side of the Bay is Wissaguset a small Village about three miles from Mount-wolleston about this Town the soil is very sertile Within sight of this is Mount-wolleston or Merry-mount called Massachusets-fields where Chicatabat the greatest Sagamore of the Countrey lived before the plague here the Town of Braintree is seated no Boat nor Ship can come near to it here is an Iron mill to the West of this Town is Naponset-River Sâ—x miles beyond Braintree lyeth Dorchester a frontire Town pleasantly seated and of large extent into the main land well watered with two small Rivers her body and wings filled somewhat thick with houses to the number of two hundred and more beautified with fair Orchards and Gardens having also plenty of Corn-land and store of Cattle counted the greatest Town heretofore in New-England but now gives way to Boston it hath a Harbout to the North for Ships A mile from Dorchester is the Town of Roxbury a fair and handsome Countrey Town the streets large the Inhabitants rich replenished with Orchards and Gardens well watered with springs and small freshets a brook runs through it called Smelt-River a quarter of a mile to the North-side of the Town runs stony River it is seated in the bottom of a shallow Bay but hath no harbour for shipping Boats come to it it hath store of Land and Cattle Two miles Northeast from Roxbury and Forty miles from New-Plimouth in the latitude of 42 or 43 degrees and 10 minutes in the bottom of Massachusets-Bay is Boston whose longitude is 315 degrees or as others will 322 degrees and 30 seconds So called from a Town in Lincolnshire which in the Saxons time bare the name of St. Botolph and is the Metropolis of this Colony or rather of the whole Countrey situated upon a Peninsula about four miles in compass almost square and invironed with the Sea saving one small Isthmus which gives access to other Towns by land on the South-side The Town hath two hills of equal height on the frontire part thereof next the Sea the one well fortified on the superficies with some Artillery mounted commanding any Ship as she sails into the Harbour within the still Bay the other hill hath a very strong battery built of whole Timber and fill'd with earth at the descent of the hill in the extreamest part thereof betwixt these two strong Arms lyes a large Cove or Bay on which the chiefest part of the Town is built to the Northwest is a high mountain that out-tops all with its three little rising hills on the summit called Tramount this is furnished with a Beacon and great Guns from hence you may overlook look all the Islands in the Bay and descry such Ships as are upon the Coast the houses are for the most part raised on the Sea-banks and wharfed out with great industry and cost many of them standing upon piles close together on each side the streets as in London and furnished with many fair shops their materials are Brick Stone Lime handsomely contrived with three meeting Houses or Churches and a Town-house built upon pillars where the Merchants may confer in the Chambers above they keep their monethly Courts Their streets are many and large paved with pebble stone and the South-side adorned with Gardens and Orchards The Town is rich and very populous much frequented by strangers here is the dwelling of their Governour On the North-west and Northeast two constant Fairs are kept for daily Traffick thereunto On the South there is a small but pleasant Common where the Gallants a little before Sun-set walk with their Marmalet-Madams as we do in Morefields c. till the nine a clock Bell rings them home to their respective habitations when presently the Constables walk their rounds to see good orders kept and to take up loose people Two miles from the town at a place called Muddy-River the Inhabitants have Farms to which belong rich arable grounds and meadows where they keep their Cattle in the Summer and bring them to Boston in the Winter the Harbour before the Town is filled with Ships and other Vessels for most part of the year Hingham is a Town situated upon the Sea-coasts South-east of Charles-River here is great store of Timber deal-boards masts for Ships white-Cedar and fish is here to be had Dedham an inland-town ten miles from Boston in the County of Suffolk well watered with many pleasant streams and abounding with Garden fruit the Inhabitants are Husbandmen somewhat more than one hundred Families having store of Cattle and Corn. The Town of Waymouth lyes open to the Sea on the East Rocks and Swamps to the South-ward good store of Deer arable â—and and meadows On the North-side of Boston flows Charles-River which is about six fathom deep many small Islands lye to the Bayward â—nd hills on either side the River a very good harbour here may forty Ships ride â—he passage from Boston to Charles-Town is â—y a Ferry worth forty
or fifty pounds a year and is a quarter of a mile over The River Mistick runs through the right side of the Town and by its near approach to Charles-River in one place makes a very narrow neck where stands most part of the Town the market place not far from the waterside is surrounded with houses forth of which issue two streets orderly built and beautified with Orchards and Gardens their meeting-house stands on the North-side of the market having a little hill behind it there belongs to this Town one thousand and two hundred Acres of arable four hundred head of Cattle and as many Sheep these also provide themselves Farms in the Country Up higher in Charles-River west-ward is a broad Bay two miles over into which runs Stony River and Maddy-River Towards the South-west in the middle of the Bay is a great Oyster bank towards the North-west is a Creek upon the shore is situated the village of Medford it is a mile and half from Charles-town Aâ— the bottom of the Bay the River begins to be narrower half a quarter of a mile broad by the North-side of the Râ—ver is New town three miles from Charles-town a league and half by water it was first intended for a City the neatest and best compacted Town having many fair structures and handsom contrived streets the Inhabitants rich they have many hundred Acres of land paled with one common fence a mile and half long and store of Cattle it is now called Cambridge where is a Colledg for Students of late it stretcheth from Charles-River to the Southern part of Merrimach-River Half a mile thence on the same side of the Rvier is Water-town built upon one of the branches of Charles-River very fruitful and of large extent watered with many pleasant springs and small Rivulets the Inhabitants live scatteringly Within half a mile is a great pond divided between the two Towns a mile and half from the Town is a fall of fresh waters which conveigh themselves into the Ocean through Charles-River a little below the fall of waters they have a wair to catch fish wherein they take store of Basse Shades Alwives Frost fish and Smelts in two tides they have gotten one hundred thousand of these fishes They have store of Cattle and Sheep and near upon two thousand Acres of arable land Ships of small burden may come up to these Towns We will now return to Charles-town again where the River Mistick runs on the North-side of the Town that is the right side as before said where on the Northwest-side of the River is the Town of Mistick three miles from Charles-town a league and half by water a scattered village at the head of this River are great and spacious ponds full of Alewives in the spring-time the notedst place for this sort of fish On the West of this River is Mâ—rchant Craddock's plantation where he impaled a park Upon the same River and on the North-side is the Town of Malden The next Town is Winnisimet a mile from Charles-town the River only parting them this is the last Town in the still bay of Massachusets Without Pullin-point six miles North-cast from Winnisimet is Cawgust or Sagust or Sangut now called Linn situated at the bottom of a Bay near a River which upon the breaking up of winter with a furious Torrent vents it self into the Sea the Town consists of more than one hundred dwelling-houses their Church being built on a level undefended from the North-west wind is made with steps descending into the Earth their streets are straight and but thin of houses the people most husbandmen At the end of the Sandy beach is a neck of land called Nahant it is six miles in circumference Black William an Indian Duke out of his generosity gave this to the English At the mouth of the River runs a great Creek into a great marsh called Rumney-marsh which is four miles long and a mile broad this Town hath the benefit of minerals of divers kinds Iron Lead one Iron mill store of Cattle Arable land and meadow To the North-ward of Linn is Marvil or Marble-head a small Harbour the shore rockie upon which the Town is built consisting of a few scattered houses here they have stages for fishermen Orchards and Gardens half a mile within land good pastures and Arable land Four miles North of Marble-head is situated New-Salem whose longitude is 315 degrees and latitude 42 degrees 35 minutes upon a plain having a River on the South and another on the North it hath two Harbours Winter Harbour and Summer Harbour which lyeth within Darbie's sort they have store of Meadow and Arable in this Town are some very rich Merchants Upon the Northern Cape of the Massachusets that is Cape-Aun a place of fishing is situated the Town of Glocester where the Massachusets Colony first set down but Salem was the first Town built in that Colony here is a Harbour for Ships To the North-ward of Cape-Aun is Wonasquam a dangerous place to sail by in stormie weather by reason of the many Rocks and soaming breakers The next Town that presents it self to view is Ipswich situated by a fair River whose first rise is from a Lake or Pond twenty mile up betaking its course through a hideous Swamp for many miles a Harbour for Bears it issueth forth into a large Bay where they fish for Whales due East over against the Islands of Sholes a great place of fishing the mouth of that River is barr'd it is a good haven-town their meeting-house or Church is beautifully built store of Orchards and Gardens land for husbandry and Cattle Wenham is an inland Town very well watered lying between Salem and Ipswich consisteth most of men of judgment and experience in re rustica well stored with Cattle At the first rise of Ipswich-River in the highest part of the land near the head springs of many considerable Rivers Shashin one of the most considerable branches of Merrimach River and also at the rise of Mistick River and ponds full of pleasant springs is situated Wooburn an inland-Town four miles square beginning at the end of Charles-town bounds Six miles from Ipswich North-east is Rowley most of the Inhabitants have been Clothiers Nine miles from Salem to the North is Agowamine the best and spaciousest place for a plantation being twenty leagues to the Northward of New-Plimouth Beyond Agowamin is situated Hampton near the Sea-coasts not far from Merrimach-River this Town is like a Flower-deluce having two streets of houses wheeling off from the main body thereof they have great store of salt Marshes and Cattle the land is fertil but full of Swamps and Rocks Eight miles beyond Agowamin runneth the delightful River Merrimach or Monumach it is navigable for twenty miles and well stored with fish upon the banks grow stately Oaks excellent Ship timber not interiour to our English On the South-side of Merrimach-River twelve miles from Ipswich and near upon the wide venting streams
thereof is situated Newherrie the houses are scattering well stored with meadow upland and â—rable and about four hundred head of Cattle Over against Newberrie lyes the Town of Salisbury where a constant Ferry is kept the River being here half a mile broad the Town scatteringly built Hâ—rd upon the River of Shashin where Merrimach receives this and the other branch into its body is seated Andover stored with land and Cattle Beyond this Town by the branch of Merrimach-River called Shashin lyeth Haverhill a Town of large extent about ten miles in length the inhabitants Husbandmen this Town is not far from Salisbury Over against Haverhill lyeth the Town of Malden which I have already mentioned In a low level upon a fresh River a branch of Merrimach is seated Concord the first inland Town in Massachusets patent well stored with fish Salmon Dace Alewive Shade c. abundance of fresh maish and Cattle this place is subject to bitter â—â—orms The next Town is Sudbury built upon the same River where Concord is but further up to this Town likewise belongs great store of fresh marshes and Arable land and they have many Cattle it lyeth low by reason whereof it is much indammaged with flouds In the Centre of the Countrey by a great pond side and not far from Woeburn is situated Reading it hath two mills a saw-mill and a Corn-mill and is well stockt with Cattle The Colony is divided into four Counties the first is Suffolk to which belongs Dorchester Roxbury Waymouth Hingham Dedham Braintre Sittuate Hull Nantascot Wisagusset The second County is Middlesex to this belongs Charles-town Watertown Cambridge Concord Sudbury Woeburn Reading Malden Mistick Medford Winnisimet and Marble-head To the third County which is Essex belongs New-Salem Linn Ipswich New-Berry Rowley Glocester Wenham and Andover The fourth County is Northfolk to this belongs Salisbury Hampton and Haverhill In the year of our Lord 1628 Mr. John Endicot with a number of English people set down by Capt-Aun at that place called afterwards Gloster but their abiding-place was at Salem where they built a Town in 1639. and there they gathered their first Church consisting but of Seventy persons but afterwards increased to forty three Churches in joynt Communion with one another and in those Churches were about Seven thousand seven hundred and fifty Souls Mr. Endicot was chosen their first Governour The Twelfth of July Anno Dom. 1630. John Wenthorp Esq and the assistants arrived with the Patent for the Massachusets the passage of the people that came along with him in ten Vessels came to 95000 pound the Swine Goats Sheep Neat Horses cost to transport 12000 pound bâ—sides the price they cost them getting food for the people till they could clear the ground of wood amounted to 45000 pound Nails Glass and other Iron work for their meeting and dwelling houses 13000 pound Arms Powder Bullet and March together with their Artillery 22000 pound the whole sum amounts unto One hundred ninety two thousand pounds They set down first upon Nâ—ddle-Island afterwards they began to build upon the main In 1637. there were not many houses in the Town of Boston amongst which were two houses of entertainment called Ordinaries into which if a stranger went he was presently followed by one appointed to that Office who would thrust himself into his company uninvited and if he called for more drink than the Officer thought in his judgment he could soberly bear away he would presently countermand it and appoint the proportion beyond which he could not get one drop The Patent was granted to Sir Henry Rosewell Sir John Young Knight Thomas Southcoat John Humphrey John Endicot and Simon Whitecomb and to their Heirs Assigns and Associats for ever These took to them other Associats as Sir Richard Saltonstall Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey Jo. Ven Matth Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Rich. Perry Rich. Bellingham Nathaniel Wright Samuel Vasell Theophilus Eaton Thomas Goffe Thomas Adams Jo. Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutchins Will Vasell Will. Pinchon and George Foxcroft Matth. Craddock was ordained and constituted Governour by Patent and Thomas Goffe Deputy Governour of the said Company the rest Assistants That part of New-England granted to these fore-mentioned Gentlemen lyeth and extendeth between a great River called Monumach alias Merrimach and the often frequented Charles-River being in the bottom of a Bay called Massachusets alias Mattachusets alias Massatusets-bay and also those lands within the space of three English miles on the South part of the said Charles-River or any or every part and all the lands within three miles to the South-ward part of the Massachusets-bay and all those lands which lye within the space of three English miles to the North-ward of the River Merrimach or to the North-ward of any and every part thereof and all lands whatsoever within the limits aforesaid North and South in latitude and in breadth and length and longitude of and within all the main land there from the Atlantick and Western-Sea and Ocean on the East-part to the South-Sea on the West-part and all lands and grounds place and places soils woods and wood-groves Havens Ports Rivers Waters fishings and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the aforesaid lands and limits and every part and parcel thereof and also all Islands lying in America aforesaid in the said Seas or either of them on the Western or Eastern Coasts or parts of the said tracts of lands Also all mines and minerals as well Royal of Gold Silver as others c. With power to rule and govern both Sea and land holden of the East manner of Greenwich in Com. Kent in free and common soccage yielding and paying to the King the fifth part of the Oar of Gold and Silver which shall be found at any time This Colony is a body Corporated and Politick in fact by the name of the Governour and Company of the Mattachusets-bay in New-England That there shall be one Governour and Deputy-Governour and Eighteen Assistants of the same Company from time to time That the Governour and Deputy-Governour Assistants and all other Officers to be chosen from amongst the freemen the last Wednesday in Easter-term yearly in the general Court The Governour to take his Corporal Oath to be true and faithful to the Government and to give the same Oath to the other Officers To hold a Court once a month and any seven to be a sufficient Court And that there shall be four general Courts kept in Term time and one great general and solemn Assembly to make Laws and Ordinances So they be not contrary and repugnant to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm of England Their form of Government and what their Laws concern you may see in the ensuing Table Their Laws Concern 1 their-person 1 Magistrates Governour Assistants 1 Counfellers 2 Judges 1 of the whole Countrey 2 of each Town 2 People 1 of the whole Countrey 1 for their prorection 2 for their provision 2 of each Town concerning
drawn our she put in her hand again and felt a lump in his body as big as a half-peny loaf strongly fastned to his back and much ado she had to pull it out I found it to be a tuff bag containing stuff like liver and very heavie at one end of the bag another little bag filled with a fatty matter his gizard liver and heart wasted The Pipe or Roupe is a common disease amongst their poultry infecting one another with it I conceive it cometh of a cold moisture of the brain they will be very sleepie with it the best cure for it is Garlick and smoaking of them with dryed Hysope In September following my Arrivage in the Massachusets about the twelfth hour of the eight day I shipt my self and goods in a Bark bound to the East-ward meeting as we sailed out the Dutch Governour of New-Netherlands who was received and entertained at Boston by the Governour and Magistrates with great solemnity About nine of the clock at night we came to Salem and lay aboard all night The Ninth day we went ashore to view the Town which is a mile long and lay that night at a Merchants house The Tenth day we came from Salem about twelve of the clock back to Marble-head here we went ashore and recreated our selves with Musick and a cup of Sack and saw the Town about ten at night we returned to our Bark and lay aboard The Eleventh being Saturday and the wind contrary we came to Charles-town again about twelve of the clock we took store of Mackarel The Thirteenth being Monday we went aboard again about nine of the clock in the morning and out to Sea about Sun going down we took store of Mackarel The wind was scanty all along and in the night time we durst not bear much sail because of the Rocks and foaming breakers that lay in our way The Fourteenth day we came up with Pascataway or Pascatique where there is a large River and a fair harbour within here is seated a Colony properly belonging to the Heirs of Captain Mason sometime since of London but taken into the Colony of Massachusets by what right I will not here discuss The chiefest places of note are the Bay or Harbour North from Boston on the West-side of the Harbour are built many fair houses and so in another part called Strawberry-bank By the Harbour is an Island which of late days is filled with buildings besides there are two Towns more seated up higher upon the River the one called Dâ—ver the River-banks are clothed with stately Timber and here are two miles meadow land and arable enough the other town is called Excester At the River Pascataway begins the Province of Main having pleased our selves with the sight of Pascataway at a distance we sailed on and came to Black-point The Fifteenth day about eight of the clock at night where the next day I was shrewdly pinched with a great frost but having two or three bottles of excellent Passada and good cheer bestowed upon me I made a shift to bear it out and now we are in the Province of Main The Province of Main or the Countrey of the Troquoes heretofore called Laconia or New-Summersetshire is a Colony belonging to the Grandson of Sir Ferdinando Gorges of Ashton Phillips in the County of Sommerset the said Sir Ferdinando Gorges did expend in planting several parts of New-England above Twenty thousand pounds sterling and when he was between three and four score years of age did personally engage in our Royal Martyrs service and particularly in the Seige of Bristow and was plundered and imprisoned several times by reason whereof he was discountenanced by the pretended Commissioners for forraign plantations and his Province incroached upon by the Massachusets Colony who assumed the Government thereof His Majestie that now Reigneth sent over his Commissioners to reduce them within their bounds and to put Mr. Gorges again into possession But there falling out a contest about it the Commissioners settled it in the Kings name until the business should be determined before his Majestie and gave Commissions to the Judge of their Courts and the Justices to Govern and Act according to the Laws of England by such Laws of their own as were not repugnant to them But as soon as the Commissioners were returned for England the Massachusets enter the province in a hostile manner with a Troop of Horse and Poot and turn'd the Judge and his Assistants off the Bench Imprisoned the Major or Commander of the Militia threatned the Judge and some others that were faithful to Mr. Gorges interests I could discover many other foul proceedings but for some reasons which might be given I conceive it not convenient to make report thereof to vulgar ears quae supra nos nihil ad nos Onely this I could wish that there might be some consideration of the great losses charge and labour which hath been sustained by the Judge and some others for above thirty years in upholding the rights of Mr. Gorge and his Sacred Majesties Dominion against a many stubborn and elusive people Anno Dom. 1623. Mr. Robert Gorge Sir Ferdinando Gorges brother had for his good service granted him by Patent from the Council of Plimouth all that part of the Land commonly called Massachusiack situated on the North-side of the Bay of Massachusets Not long after this Sir Ferdinando Gorges had granted to him by Patent from the middest of Merrimack River to the great River Sagadehock then called Laconia In 1635. Capt. William Gorge Sir Ferdinandâ—'s Nephew was sent over Governour of the Province of Main then called New-Summersetshire Sir Ferdinando Gorge received a Charter-Royal from King Charles the first the third of April in the Fifttenth of his Raign granting to him all that part and portion of New-England lying and being between the River of Pascataway that is beginning at the entrance of Pascataway-harbour and so to pass up the same into the River of Newichawanoe or Neqhechewanek and thâ—â—ugh the same unto the farthest head thereof aforesaid North-eastward along the Sea-coasts for Sixty miles to Sagadehac-River to Kencheck even as far as the head thereof and up into the main land North-westward for the space of one hundred and twenty miles To these Territories are adjoyned the North half-Isle of Sholes with several other Islands it lyeth between 44 degrees and 45 of Northerly latitude The River Canada on the North-east the Sea coast South amongst many large Royalties Jurisdictions and Immunities was also granted to the said Sir Ferdinando Gorge the same Royalties priviledges and franchises as are or of right ought to be enjoyed by the Bishop of Durham in the County Palatine of Durham the planters to pay for every hundred Acres of land yearly two shillings six pence that is such land as is given to them and their Heirs for ever The Officers by Patent are a Deputy Governour a Chancellor a Treasurer a Marshal for Souldiers and Admiraltie for Sea
affairs and a Judge of the Admiraltie a Mâ—ster of Ordinance a Secretary c. Towns there are not many in this province Kittery situated not far from Pascataway is the most populous Next to that Eastward is seated by a River near the Sea Gorgiana a Majoraltie and the Metropolitan of the province Further to the Eastward is the Town of Wells Cape-Porpus Eastward of that where there is a Town by the Sea side of the same name the houses scatteringly built all these Towns have store of salt and fresh marsh with arable land and are well stockt with Cattle About eight or nine mile to the Eastward of Cape-Porpus is Winter harbour a noted place for Fishers here they have many stages Saco adjoyns to this and both make one scattering Town of large extent well stored with Cattle arable land and marshes and a Saw-mill Six mile to the Eastward of Saco forty mile from Gorgiana is seated the Town of Black-point consisting of about fifty dwelling houses and a Magazine or Dogonne scatteringly built they have store of neat and horses of sheep near upon Seven or Eight hundred much arable and marsh salt and fresh and a Corn-mill To the Southward of the point upon which are stages for fishermen lye two small Islands beyond the point North-eastward runs the River Spurwinch Four miles from Black-point one mile from Spurwinch River Eastward lyeth Richmans-Island whose longitude is 317 degrees 30 seconds and latitude 43 degrees and 34 minutes it is three mile in circumference and hath a passable and gravelly ford on the North-side between the main and the Sea at low-water here are found excellent Whetstones and here likewise are stages for fishermen Nine mile Eastward of black-Black-point lyeth scatteringly the Town of Casco upon a large Bay stored with Cattle Sheep Swine abundance of marsh and Arable land a Corn-mill or two with stages for fishermen Further East-ward is the Town of Kenebeck scated upon the River Further yet East-ward is Sagadehock where there are many houses scattering and all along stages for fishermen these too are stored with Cattle and Corn lands The mountains and hills that are to be taken notice of are first Acomentiens hills between Kettery and Gorgiana the high hills of Ossapey to the West-ward of Saco River where the princely Pilhanaw Ayries the white mountains to the North-ward of Black point the highest Terrasse in New-England you have the description of it in my Treatise of the rarities of New-England A Neighbour of mine rashly wandering out after some stray'd Cattle lost his way and coming as we conceived by his Relation near to the head spring of some of the branches of Black point River or Saco-River light into a Tract of land for God knowes how many miles full of delfes and dingles and dangerous precipices Rocks and inextricable difficulties which did justly daunt yea quite deter him from endeavouring to pass any further many such like places are to be met with in New-England The ponds or lakes in this province are very large and many out of which the great Rivers have their original we read of the lake Balsena that is thirty miles about here are that come very near to it stored with all sorts of fresh water fish and if you will believe report in one of them huge fishes like Whales are to be seen and some of them have fair Islands in them Twelve mile from Casco-bay and passable for men and horses is a lake called by the Indians Sebug on the brink thereof at one end is the famous Rock shap'd like a Moose-Deere or Helk Diaphanous and called the Moose-Rock Here are found stones like Crystal and Lapis Specularis or Muscovia glass both white and purple On the East-side of Black-point River upon a plain close to the Sea-bank is a pond two mile in compass fish it produceth but those very small and black and a number of Frogs and Snakes and much frequented by wild-fowl Ducks Teal and wild Swins and Geese especially spring and fall when they pass along to the Southward and return again to the North-ward where they breed The principal Rivers in the province of Main are Pascataway-River York-River Kenibunck-River near to this River clay bullets were cast up by a mineral vapour this River is by the Town of Wells Then Saco-River on the East-side of the Town the shore Rockie all along on both sides where musick echoes from several places seven miles up the River is a great fall where abundance of Salmon and Lamprons are taken at the fall a great way up the River runs upon the Rock in rupibus defendendo efficis rivos he cutteth out Rivers among the Rocks saâ—th Job of the Almighty Job 28.10 A littâ—â— above the fall is a saw-mill Then Black-pant River dâ—vided into many branches this as most of the Rivers in New-England is bar'd with a bank of Sand where the Indians take Sturgeon and Basse Spur-winck-River is next which by his near approach to Black-point-river maketh that neck of land almost an Island Further East-ward is Kenebeck-river fifty leagues off of New-Plimouth East-ward and Pechipsent famous for multitudes of mighty large Sturgeon The last river of the province East-ward is the great river Sagadehock where Sir John Pophams Colony seated themselves The chief harbours are Cape-porpus Winter harbour in which are some small Islands Black-point Richmans-Island Casco-bay the largest in the province full of Islands From Sagadehock to Nova Scotia is called the Duke of Yorkes province here Pemmaquid Montinicus Mobegan Capeanawhagen where Capt Smith fishâ— for Whales Muscataquid all fill'd with dwelling houses and stages for fishermen and have plenty of Cattle arable land and marshes Nova Scotia was sold by the Lord Starling to the French and is now wholly in their possession Now we are come to New-found-land which is over against the gulf of St. Lawrence an Island near as spacious as Ireland and lyeth distant from the Continent as far as England is from the nearest part of France and near half the way between Ireland and Virginia its longitude is 334 degrees 20 seconds and North latitude 46 degrees 30 minutes or as others will 53 minutes The longitude of places are uncertainly reported but in latitudes most agree Longitude is the distance of the meridian of any place from the meridian which passeth over the Isles of Azores where the beginning of longitude is said to be The meridian is a great circle dividing the Equinoctial at right Angles into two equal parts passing also through both the Poles and the Zenith to which circle the Sun coming twice every 24 hours maketh the middle of the day and the middle of the night Every place hath a several meridian but they all meet in the poles of the world Latitude is counted from the Equinoctial to the end of 30 degrees on each side thereof The Equinoctial is a great circle imagined in the Heavens also dividing the heavens into two equal parts and
like a pursenet put upon a round hoop'd stick with a handle in fresh ponds where they come to spawn The Bass and Blew-fish they take in harbours and at the mouth of barr'd Rivers being in their Canows striking them with a fisgig a kind of dart or staff to the lower end whereof they fasten a sharp jagged bone since they make them of Iron with a string fastened to it as soon as the fish is struck they pull away the staff leaving the bony head in the fishes body and fasten the other end of the string to the Canow Thus they will hale after them to shore half a dozen or half a score great fishes this way they take Sturgeon and in dark evenings when they are upon the fishing ground near a Bar of Sand where the Sturgeon feeds upon small fishes like Eals that are called Lances sucking them out of the Sands where they lye hid with their hollow Trunks for other mouth they have none the Indian lights a piece of dry Birch-Bark which breaks out into a flame holds it over the side of his Canow the Sturgeon seeing this glaring light mounts to the Surface of the water where he is slain and taken with a fisgig Salmons and Lampres are catch'd at the falls of Rivers All the Rivers of note in the Countrey have two or three desperate falls distant one from another for some miles for it being rising ground from the Sea and mountainous within land the Rivers having their Originals from great lakes and hastning to the Sea in their passage meeting with Rocks that are not so easily worn away as the loose earthie mould beneath the Rock makes a fall of the water in some Rivers as high as a house you would think it strange to see yea admire if you saw the bold Barbarians in their light Canows rush down the swift and headlong stream with desperate speed but with excellent dexterity guiding his Canow that seldom or never it shoots under water or overturns if it do they can swim naturally striking their pawes under their throat like a dog and not spreading their Arms as we do they turn their Canow again and go into it in the water Their Merchandize are their beads which are their money of these there are two sorts blew Beads and white Beads the first is their Gold the last their Silver these they work out of certain shells so cunningly that neither Jew nor Devil can counterfeit they dril them and string them and make many curious works with them to adorn the persons of their Sagamours and principal men and young women as Belts Girdles Tablets Borders for their womens hair Bracelets Necklaces and links to hang in their ears Prince Phillip a little before I came for England coming to Boston had a Coat on and Buskins set thick with these Beads in pleasant wild works and a broad Belt of the same his Accountrements were valued at Twenty pounds The English Merchant giveth them ten shillings a fathom for their white and as much more or near upon for their blew Beads Delicate sweet dishes too they make of Birch-Bark sowed with threads drawn from Spruse or white Cedar-Roots and garnished on the out-side with flourish works and on the brims with glistering quills taken from the Porcupine and dyed some black others red the white are natural these they make of all sizes from a dram cup to a dish containing a pottle likewise Buckets to carry water or the like large Boxes too of the same materials dishes spoons and trayes wrought very smooth and neatly out of the knots of wood baskets bags and matts woven with Sparke bark of the Line-Tree and Rushes of several kinds dyed as before some black blew red yellow bags of Porcupine quills woven and dyed also Coats woven of Turkie-feathers for their Children Tobacco pipes of stone with Imagerie upon them Kettles of Birchen-bark which they used before they traded with the French for Copper Kettles by all which you may apparently see that necessity was at first the mother of all inventions The women are the workers of most of these and are now here and there one excellent needle woman and will milk a Cow neatly their richest trade are Furs of divers sorts Black Fox Beaver Otter Bear Sables Mattrices Fox Wild-Cat Rattoons Martins Musquash Moose-skins Ships they have none but do prettily imitate ours in their Birchen-pinnaces their Canows are made of Birch they shape them with flat Ribbs of white Cedar and cover them with large sheets of Birch-bark sowing them through with strong threds of Spruse-Roots or white Cedar and pitch them with a mixture of Turpentine and the hard rosen that is dryed with the Air on the outside of the Bark of Firr-Trees These will carry half a dozen or three or four men and a considerable fraight in these they swim to Sea twenty nay forty miles keeping from the shore a league or two sometimes to shorten their voyage when they are to double a Cape they will put to shore and two of them taking up the Canow carry it cross the Cape or neck of land to the other side and to Sea again they will indure an incredible great Sea mounting upon the working billowes like a piece of Corke but they require skilful hands to guide them in rough weather none but the Indians scarce dare to undertake it such like Vessels the Ancient Brittains used as Lucan relates Primum cana salix madefacto vimine parvam Texitur in puppim caesoque induta juvenco Vectoris patiens tumidum super emicat amnem Sic Venetus stagnante Pado fusoque Britanus Navigat oceano When Sicoris to his own banks restor'd Had left the field of twigs and willow boord They made small Boats cover'd with Bullocks bide In which they reacht the Rivers further side So sail the Veneti if Padus flow The Brittains sail on their calm ocean so So the Aegyptians sail with woven Boats Of paper rushes in their Nilus Floats Their Government is monarchical the Patrueius or they that descend from the eldest proceeding from his loyns is the Roytelet of the Tribe and if he have Daughters his Son dying without a Son the Government descends to his Daughters Son after the same manner their lands descend Cheetadaback was the chief Sachem or Roytelet of the Massachusets when the English first set down there Massasoit the great Sachem of the Plimouth Indians his dwelling was at a place called Sowans about four miles distant from New-Plimouth Sasasacus was the chief Sachem of the Pequets and Mientoniack of the Narragansets The chief Roytelet amongst the Mohawks now living is a Dutchmans Bastard and the Roytelet now of the Pocanakets that is the Plimouth-Indians is Prince Philip alias Metacon the Grandson of Massasoit Amongst the Eastern Indians Summersant formerly was a famous Sachem The now living Sachems of note are Sabaccaman Terrumkin and Robinhood Their Wars are with Neighbouring Tribes but the Mowhawks are enemies to all the
by one Andrew Thorn an English man in Anno 1527. Sir Humphrey Gilbert a west Countrey Knight took possession of it in the Queens name Anno 1582. The two first Colonies in New-England failing there was a fresh supply of English who set down in other parts of the Countrey and have continued in a flourishing condition to this day The whole Countrey now is divided into Colonies and for your better understanding observe a Colony is a sort of people that come to inhabit a place before not inhabited or Colonus quasi because they should be Tillers of the Earth From hence by an usual figure the Countrey where they sit down is called a Colony or Plantation The first of these that I shall relate of though last in possession of the English is now our most Southerly Colony and next adjoyning to Mary-land scil the Manadâ—es or Manahanent lying upon the great Râ—ver Mohegan which was first discovered by Mr. Hudson and sold presently by him to the Dutch without Authority from his Soveraign the King of England Anno 1608. The Dutch in 1614 began to plant there and call'd it New-Netherlands but Sir Samuel Argal Governour of Virginia routed them the Dutch after this got leave of King James to put in there for fresh water in their passage to Brasile and did not offer to plant until a good while after the English were settled in the Countrey In Anno 1664 his Majestie Charles the Second sent over sour worthie Gentlemen Commissioners to reduce the Colonies into their bounds who had before incroached upon one another who marching with Three hundred red-Coats to Manadaes or Manhataes took from the Dutch their chief town then called New-Amsterdam now New York the Twenty ninth of August turn'd out their Governour with a silver leg and all but those that were willing to acknowledge subjection to the King of England suffering them to enjoy their houses and estates as before Thirteen days after Sir Robert Care took the Fort and Town of Auravia now called Albany and Twelve days after that the Fort and Town of Awsapha then De-la-ware Castle man'd with Dutch and Sweeds So now the English are masters of three handsome Towns three strong Forts and a Castle not losing one man The first Governour of these parts for the King of England was Colonel Nicols a noble Gentleman and one of his Majesties Commissioners who coming for England in Anno Dom. 1668 as I take it surrendered the Government to Colonel Longlace The Countrey here is bless'd with the â—ichest soil in all New-England I have heard it reported from men of Judgement and Integrity that one Bushel of European-Wheat hath yielded a hundred in one year Their other Commodities are Furs and the 〈◊〉 New-York is situated at the mouth of the great River Mohegan and is built with Dutch Brick alla-moderna the meanest house therein being valued at One hundred pounds to the Landward it is compassed with a Wall of good thickness at the entrance of the River is an Island well fortified and hath command of any Ship that shall attempt to pass without their leave Albany is situated upon the same River on the West-side and is due North from New-York somewhat above Fifty miles Along the Sea-side Eastward are many English-Towns as first Westchester a Sea-Town about Twenty miles from New-York to the Eastward of this is Greenwich another Sea-Town much about the same distance then Chichester Fairfield Stratford Milford all Sea-Towns twenty and thirty mile distant from one another twenty miles Eastward of Milford is Newhaven the Metropolis of the Colony begun in 1637. One Mr. Eaton being there Governour it is near to the shoals of Cape Cod and is one of the four united Colonies The next Sea-Town Eastward of New-haven is called Guilford about ten mile and I think belonging to that Colony From Guilford to Connecticut-River is near upon twenty miles the fresh River Connecticut bears the name of another Colony begun in the year 1636 and is also one of the four united Colonies Upon this River are situated 13 Towns within two three four miles off one another At the mouth of the River on the West-side is the Lord-Say and Brooks for t called Saybrook-fort Beyond this Northward is the Town of Windsor then Northampton then Pinsers-house On the Eastside of the River Hartford about it low land well stored with meadow and very fertile Wethersfield is also situated upon Connecticut River and Springfield but this Town although here seated is in the jurisdiction of the Mattachusets and hath been infamous by reason of Witches therein Hadley lyes to the Northward of Springfield New-London which I take to be in the jurisdiction of this Coloney is situated to the Eastward of Connecticut-River by a small River and is not far from the Sea From Connecticut-River long Island stretcheth it self to Mohegan one hundred and twenty miles but it is but marrow and about sixteen miles from the main the considerablest Town upon it is Southampton built on the Southside of the Island towards the Eastern end opposite to this on the Northernside is Feversham Westward is Ashford Huntingdon c. The Island is well stored with Sheep and other Cattle and Corn and is reasonable populous Between this Island and the mouth of Connecticut-River lyeth three small Islands Shelter-Island Fishers-Island and the Isle of Wight Over against New-London full South lyeth Block-Island The next place of note on the Main is Narragansets-Bay within which Bay is Rhode-Island a Harbour for the Shunamitish Brethren as the Saints Errant the Quakers who are rather to be esteemed Vagabonds than Religious persons c. At the further end of the Bay by the mouth of Narragansets-River on the South-side thereof was old Plimouth plantation Anno 1602. Twenty mile out to Sea South of Rhode-Island lyeth Martins vineyard in the way to Virginia this Island is governed by a discreet Gentleman Mr. Mayhew by name To the Eastward of Martin's vinyard lyeth Nantocket-Island and further Eastward Elizabeths-Island these Islands are twenty or thirty mile asunder and now we are come to Cape-Cod Cape-Cod was so called at the first by Captain Gosnold and his Company Anno Dom. 1602 because they took much of that fish there and afterward was called Cape-James by Captain Smith the point of the Cape is called Point-Cave and Tuckers Terror and by the French and Dutch Mallacar by reason of the perillous shoals The first place to be taken notice of on the South-side of the Cape is Wests-Harbour the first Sea-Town Sandwich formerly called Duxbury in the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Doubling the Cape we come into the great Bay on the West whereof is New-Plimouth-Bay on the Southwest-end of this Bay is situated New Plimouth the first English-Colony that took firm possession in this Countrey which was in 1620 and the first Town built therein whose longitude is 315 degrees in latitude 41 degrees and 37 minutes it was built nine years before any other