OLD NAUMKEAG.
impulse and emigrate to Massachusetts, Cradock, the governor of the company,
who had ever manifested a deep interest in the infant colony, at a meeting
on July 28, 1629, moved "the transfer of the plantation to those that should
inhabit there." On the twenty-sixth of the following month, John Winthrop,
Isaac Johnson, Thomas Dudley, Richard Saltonstall, and eight others, "men
of large fortunes and liberal culture, "solemnly agreed that if the court
would transfer to them the entire government and the charter of the colony,
before the close of September, they would go and dwell in New England. Three
days later, on a vote being taken "by a show of hands," it appeared that
the request was granted, and it was ordered "that the government and
patent be settled in New England;" so that the place of meeting of the company
should be there, instead of in London. It was ostensibly a commercial operation;
but it was actually the first step toward the formation of a future powerful
and independent commonwealth. John Winthrop was chosen governor of the colony
for one year. Humphrey was chosen deputy, and several assistants were selected.
Humphrey resigning before the departure, Thomas Dudley was made his successor.
Winthrop and his seven hundred followers, in eleven ships, sailed from England
on March 29, 1630. They arrived off Salem on June 10. "They were," says Bancroft,
"a community of believers, professing themselves to be fellow members of
Christ; not a school of philosophers, proclaiming universal toleration and
inviting associates without
19
SETTLEMENT OF SALEM.
regard to creed." Love of freedom of conscience and the forms of civil and religious liberty, which to them were as precious as their lives, and "reverence for their faith," were the incentives which moved them to cross the stormy Atlantic to new and untried shores, leaving their homes and their kindred three thousand miles behind. But they went gladly, hopefully; and not until they arrived at Salem, where they found the people poorly conditioned, suffering for want of food, clothing and shelter, and from diseases, did their zeal abate. More than eighty of the Salem plantation had died during the winter. Higginson, himself, lay at death's door. Those who were able thronged to the shore to meet the new-comers and beg, for food. Such a greeting did not favorably impress Winthrop and his companions with Salem as a place of settlement; therefore, he and a number of others sailed into Boston harbor and up the Mystic river for a few miles.' On their return, Winthrop recommended a point about three miles up this river as one suitable for a settlement. Not all of the party were pleased with the location selected. Some remained in Salem, while others followed Winthrop, and, landing, at Charlestown' scattered to Watertown, Malden and Lynn. Winthrop remained at Charlestown, whither he removed the seat of government from Salem, much to the regret of the people of the latter place. They had hoped to make Salem the metropolis- "the source of trade,
I Bancroft, vol. 1, p. 280.
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