Part 22 (1/2)

Master Martin died this day. He had been a ”governour” of the pa.s.sengers on the s.h.i.+p, and an ”a.s.sistant,” and was an Adventurer.

One of the Master-mates took a musket, and went with young Francis Billington to find the great inland sea the latter had seen from the top of a tree, and found a great water, in two great lakes [Billington Sea,]

also Indian houses.

TUESDAY, Jan. 9/Jan. 19 At anchor in harbor. Fair day. Sent burying-party ash.o.r.e after services aboard, with the body of Master Martin, and he was buried with some ceremony on the hill near the landing-place. The settlers drew lots for their meersteads and garden-plots. The common-house nearly finished, wanting only covering.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 10/Jan. 20 At anchor in harbor. Party went aland from s.h.i.+p. Frosty.

THURSDAY, Jan. 11/Jan. 21 At anchor in harbor. A fair day. Party ash.o.r.e from s.h.i.+p and coming off at night, reported Master William Bradford very ill: Many ill aboard.

FRIDAY, Jan. 12/Jan. 22 At anchor in harbor. Began to rain at noon and stopped all work. Those coming aboard s.h.i.+p at night reported John Goodman and Peter Browne, two of the colonists, missing, and fears entertained that they may have been taken by Indians. Froze and snowed at night. The first snow for a month. An extremely cold night.

SAt.u.r.dAY, Jan. 13/Jan. 23 At anchor in harbor. The Governor sent out an armed party of ten or twelve to look for the missing men, but they returned without seeing or hearing anything at all of them.

Those on s.h.i.+pboard much grieved, as deeming them lost. Fetched wood and water.

SUNDAY, Jan. 14/Jan. 24 At anchor in harbor. About six o'clock in the morning, the wind being very great, the watch on deck spied the great new rendezvous on sh.o.r.e on fire and feared it fired by Indians, but the tide being out, men could not get ash.o.r.e for three quarters of an hour, when they went armed. At the landing they heard that the lost men were returned, some frost-bitten, and that the thatch of the common-house only was burnt by a spark, but no other harm done the roof. The most loss was Governor Carver's and Master Bradford's, both of whom lay sick in bed, and narrowly missed being blown up with powder. The meeting was to have been kept ash.o.r.e to-day, the greater number of the people now being there, but the fire, etc., prevented. Some of those sick in the common-house were fain to return aboard for shelter. Fifth Sunday in this harbor.

MONDAY, Jan. 15/Jan. 25 At anchor in Plymouth harbor. Rained much all day. They on s.h.i.+pboard could not go ash.o.r.e nor they on sh.o.r.e do any labor, but were all wet.

TUESDAY, Jan. 16/Jan. 26 At anchorage. A fine, suns.h.i.+ning day like April. Party went aland betimes. Many ill both on s.h.i.+p and on sh.o.r.e.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 17/Jan. 27 At anchorage. Another fine, suns.h.i.+ning day. Working-party went aland early. Set on sh.o.r.e some of the Planters' goods.

[Mourt's Relation, Dexter's ed. p. 77. Bradford states (op. cit.

Ma.s.s. ed. p. 110) that they were hindered in getting goods ash.o.r.e by ”want of boats,” as well as sickness. Mention is made only of the ”long-boat” and shallop. It is possible there were no others, except the Master's skiff]

THURSDAY, Jan. 18/Jan. 28 At anchorage. Another fine, bright day.

Some of the common goods [i.e. belonging to all] set on sh.o.r.e.

FRIDAY, Jan. 19/Jan. 29 At anchorage. A shed was begun on sh.o.r.e to receive the goods from the s.h.i.+p. Rained at noon but cleared toward night.

[Cleared toward evening (though wet at noon), and John Goodman went out to try his frozen feet, as is recorded, and had his encounter with wolves.]

SAt.u.r.dAY, Jan. 20/Jan. 30 At anchorage. Shed made ready for goods from s.h.i.+p. Fetched wood and water.

SUNDAY, Jan. 21/Jan. 31 At anchor in Plymouth harbor. Sixth Sunday in this harbor. Many ill. The Planters kept their meeting on land to-day for the first time, in the common-house.

MONDAY, Jan. 22/Feb. 1 At anchorage. Fair day. Hogsheads of meal sent on sh.o.r.e from s.h.i.+p and put in storehouse.

TUESDAY, Jan. 23/Feb. 2 At anchorage. The general sickness increases, both on s.h.i.+pboard and on land.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24/Feb. 3 At anchor in harbor. Fair weather. Party on sh.o.r.e from s.h.i.+p and returned at night.

THURSDAY, Jan. 25/Feb. 4 At anchorage. Weather good. Party set ash.o.r.e and came aboard at night.

FRIDAY, Jan. 26/Feb. 5 At anchorage. Weather good. Party set ash.o.r.e. The sickness increases.

SAt.u.r.dAY, Jan. 27/Feb. 6 At anchorage. Weather fair. Good working weather all the week, but many sick.

Fetched wood and water.