Pilgrim Plantation 1634 Scituate and Barnstable

First Settlers, William & Alice Crocker

 

                                

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                 The English voyaged West before Columbus

          King Solomons Ships And The Gospel letter to Athens

                                      By  Lewis  Brackett

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Pilgrim Plantation  1634 

    Samuel was kicking the pew in front of him. The rest of the small children were fighting as well.. William saw that and reached over to stop Samuel   as his father glared at him. “I will hear it again “William thought.as if he could stop his younger siblings from doing anything. Father is not pleased. With Samuel now blankly glaring off into space, it was quiet –at least for the moment. The minister droned on and on. Half the congregation, William thought, were praying that the grains would pour through the hour glass at least a little faster. But they were draining out at a painfully slow pace this Sunday. The Sexton would turn over the hourglass as the preacher started, and the preacher had to preach the whole hour. William  thought, “what if the sand in the glass stops? Will we be here till doomsday?”He thought grimly.... Now little Lise was squirming in the hard wooden pew, a totally unhappy look on her tiny cute face. William couldn't reach her so his big brother John did so. And father glared again. William almost wished that it was during the week and he was busy in his fathers shop, helping to stitch together the heavy leather harnesses for the royal contracts while upstairs his mother and two hired women sewed prettier clothes for their better clients...

    Then he heard a book drop, and looked up to see the minister descending down the circular stairs from the pulpit. Everyone stood and sang a final hymn. The minister gave the blessing, and he and the alter boys with the Cross led the recessional down the isle to the front door. Then the members got up and filed out of the church past the minister, Saying their goodbys. To his amusement, William heard person after person thank the minister for his “excellent wonderful inspiring sermon.” Even his father was carried away with his felt need to please the minister. Finally they all escaped through the front door and started walking home. Williams task was to take Lise and Samuel's hands and walk them home. Being four and six they might do just about anything. Even at 16, William knew he risked a whipping from his father if the family was embarrassed any further by the children’s antics. As if he could really stop them. They finally got home to their apartment over the shop, and William and John sat with their father in his study while their mother prepared lunch.

Then father said “we do not want to call attention to ourselves. All English must pay the proper respect to the King through his established Church... The fact that we may not agree with the Church and their doctrine is irrelevant in public. Privately we may believe what we want., or not at all. But before the world we are good Anglicans and loyal Englishmen... “

    “We all see what happens to dissenters, to those denounced by the busybodies. We do what we must.” “What do we believe, father?” William asked. Hugh looked at his son for a long moment. “We believe in family, in business” he answered. “But what of the Nicene creed, the faith?” William asked. “The Churchmen, the elders, really don’t believe it,” father replied. “They recite by memory the same litany every Sunday, but then they do otherwise the rest of the week... Its about status, position and being holier than other men. The Churchmen live like princes, they abuse, persecute anyone who does not revere them. They are bloody men giving their office to support the King, and in turn the King arrests tortures and imprisons anyone who opposes the Church. It is an unholy marriage made in hell. So decent people like us live quietly, go to Church Sunday, and as Jesus said “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's” and in our private lives at home give to GOD what is GOD's.”“But what of the dissenters, the Pilgrims?” John asked. “They dare to worship GOD in their own way?”“And are drowned in the Thames, burned at the stake, or driven out of England altogether...Like those miserable wretches across the ocean in Plymouth colony” Hugh replied. “That group that voyaged West 10 years ago did survive—or at least some of them, but then use their freedom to persecute anyone among them that differs from their sect. The persecuted become the persecutors in their turn.” Hugh added. “Its best to live quietly, worship GOD privately, and give Caesar his due” Hugh concluded. “Lunch my family” Mother announced through the doorway, and they assembled at the kitchen table. Father asked the blessing on the food and they ate in silence...

    The Next day, in the shop, the lieutenant was insistent. “ Crocker, I need our order now. Our regiment has received orders to ship out immediately . My colonel needs this order filled today.” “I understand your request, lieutenant ,” Hugh replied. “But the due date for this order is next week We can sell you what we have made. We have some other items in stock.The rest you can likely find elsewhere. I will let you know where, although I hate loosing business.” Hugh said. He followed the officer outside. “You need to sign the invoice and settle the account” he said, and was ignored.                                The lieutenant mounted his horse and glared down at this annoying shopkeeper “Gentlemen”, he said,  “do not engage in business”...”The quartermaster will sign your invoice and give you a promissory note”

“Its up to you to get your money from the Crown:” “But sir, where is he?” Hugh asked. “Blast your eyes, get out of my way man,” the lieutenant replied., and spurred his horse to the head of the column of wagons. Hugh asked each wagon driver in turn about the ware bouts of the quartermaster , but only received blank or hostile stares in reply.         So all in all, the army made off with two weeks of his work without paying for it. Not to mention much extra leather and fabric... Hugh walked over two miles the soldiers barracks. He found only two enlisted quartermasters still there amid the turmoil of the brigade leaving that afternoon. They both rudely told him it was not their business to sigh for and pay invoices they had not ordered.

So Hugh then knew that he had been swindled by the lieutenant. His attempt to address a higher ranking officer was thwarted by his guard and he barely avoided his head being split open by a musket butt. Finally, dejectedly, he left the barracks and walked home, not knowing what he was going to do.

As he returned to the shop,, William was waiting for him.”Father” he said, “while you were out front with the officer, and left ,a dozen soldiers came back and carried out all our store of leather, saying they needed it to finish the making the harnesses the army demanded. Said to bill the Crown. They took most everything, father, even some of our tools.” In disbelief, Hugh walked through his shop seeing that there was almost nothing left...Then sat heavily and dejectedly in his chair. “I don't see those bolts of cloth”he stated, looking at where the women had been working. It seemed they were gone too.“I am nearly bankrupt, son, unless I get the Crown to pay me for what the army took. Tomorrow I will go to the gentlemen who have not yet paid for the clothes we made them, and I will send John with a letter to the Army quartermasters at London for payment. William, you will have to help me here on what we can and see the women have what we need.. I also have to go see my creditors this afternoon to try to get more money for more material we need to stay in business.”

    William was fascinated with the pretty girl that lived down the street. Her name was Alice. He would see her with her mother at the bakery next door often at lunch time. Often when he saw her he would  say he was taking lunch now, and would casually walk over to the bakery and stand behind her and her mother in line to get bread. He would greet them and when he said her name he would get lost in the depth of her green hazel eyes peeking out at him below her cute bonnet past dark black curls.He had heard that the family were strict Puritans, dissenters from the Church of England. His brother John had warned him to keep his distance from the family, as they all could be arrested at any time. But he just could not resist those green hazel eyes. This particular day after the soldiers had ransacked his fathers shop, he saw her coming to the bakery alone, and went out to talk to her. “Come to buy some bread Alice?” he almost stammered. Right next to her as she entered the shop. “I know its really good the baker was teasing us with the smell all morning”

She blushed a little and replied “Mother sent me to get some rolls this morning she is not feeling well today” “I'm sorry to hear that” William replied, secretly blessing his luck in being able to talk to Alice without her hovering mother present. “Tell me, where do you have church?”he quietly asked at her elbow so no one else could hear. “We only go to the High Church because Father is afraid not to... I don’t really

believe in what they preach” William added. “Really?”Alice replied, looking strait at him for the first time. “And I thought you just liked to stare at my pretty face” She giggled softly and William's heart melted. It was William's turn to blush a little.”Well, that too,' he grinned “I do want to see you for more than a couple minutes a day and maybe without your mother to drag you away the moment I greet you” She smiled. “You're a nice boy, William,” she said. “You come to my church, you might even be allowed to sit with us , and might even be invited to dinner” With that, it was her turn to tell the baker what she wanted. After a couple minutes, he walked her almost home. “you can't walk with me to the door”. She said and stopped. “Mother would be upset. But if you promise to tell no one else?”she asked and William nodded. “Thursday come to the rear door of Elmer’s tannery just after dark, say “Jesus invited me” , and they will let you in. you can likely sit with us.” “I'm sure you will hear something different than what you have heard in church before.” William felt like he was walking on air all the way home. He also dreaded what his cautious father would say if / when he found out. Which he eventually would, William just knew. His father found  out the gossip on everyone. So to have it available to maybe use for his benefit.

 

    “William” His father called out from the back of the shop “help me with this layout” so they together pressed flat the rolls of leather and inscribed the outline of the things to be later cut out in the morning..Finally, hours later, they could barely see in the gathering darkness.. And so, rather than light a lamp, quit for the night. Shortly their footsteps announced their arrival upstairs. And mother laid out their supper.. “Thank you, precious Tomasin,” father said as he kissed mothers cheek. One lamp cast dim shadows across the room. “How went the day, my husband?” she asked. Hugh frowned. “My creditors are hesitant with loaning money to buy more stock”, Hugh advised. “I only told them half what the army did, and they almost stopped my credit entirely. If I had told them the whole truth, they would have demanded payment in full.” He left the rest unsaid, staring off into darkness.

William thought about debtors prison, that dark rat infested dungeon where debtors and often their whole families were imprisoned. “Do you think our farmer cousin David would take us in if our creditors seize our home and business?” William asked his father, when mother was at the stove.

Father looked at him. “Lets hop it does not come to that, boy but if I'm arrested and thrown in debtors prison, take the family to David’s farm”. “You remember where it is?” “Yes father,” William answered as Mother returned to the table. “Do you think it will come to that?” ”If the Army and fancy gentlemen won't pay their debts, it is possible, lad.” was all father said off into the darkness... Later, after mother had left the room, Father said, “don’t let them seize you, they could sell you into slavery to pay my debts” “Indentured servitude, the lawyers call it, but its still often brutal slavery. Still” Thursday night came quickly enough. After supper, William left the shop by the back door into the alley, and made his way in the starless gloom to the back door of the tannery. “boy it was dark out here” William thought as he knocked on the door....after waiting a few moments, he knocked again. A low voice answered “who is it?” William paused, then got up the courage to say “Jesus invited me”..The door opened cautiously, and he was bid enter. William stepped into the dimly lit room. In the far corner people were ghostly shadows. One mans quietly spoke “over here William” and he walked over and sat next to Alice's father.... He could barely see the white glow of Alice's face framed by her bonnet in the dimly lit room.”Welcome William” Alice said.”The elder should speak soon”. Three men were having a quiet 6 animated discussion over by the two candles.

    Finally, one of them stood up.. “Brethren, before tonight's lesson, I would like to announce that some of the faithful brethren will be going to the New Jerusalem, the Plymouth colony, this spring. The first two waves of settlement were successful, and two or three more ships will be going by June. That is two months from now. Our lives here are proving to be difficult due to the ever preset Kings men and informers. We must live double lives, pretending to be faithful to the Kings church , while in our hearts having no King but Jesus. And the only true Church in our homes.Now our brother who has traveled to us from another city will speak to us.” The man got up slowly in some pain.”Brothers and sisters, the church in Birmingham greet you in the precious name of Jesus and hopes you are steadfast in your faith despite the persecutions we face. Sadly, some of our brethren neighboring Ermington were arrested last week and are still in prison . Their children were wrenched from their bosoms and sold into slavery to the London merchants. and to be led away from the true faith. The Church that denies the Bible by their deeds is no Church at all, but the harlot that rides the beast, the state and the King. .

Now to the Gospel lesson.” The Brother teacher spoke at length about the Apostle Paul and the terrors he faced spreading the Gospel throughout the pagan Roman empire. This empire had a state religion just like England , a corrupt whore ruling kings. Finally, after an hour, there was a long list of prayer requests and prayer for them.William mentioned his families need as to what had happened to them.

    Finally, the congregation proclaimed “Next year in Jerusalem” partially meaning the Plymouth Colony ruled by GOD not by men. There they would be free to worship and be a part of GOD's church in the wilderness, To pray as their conscience compelled them. Then, gradually, a family left every few minutes , disappearing in the darkness. Finally Alice’s family got up and left with William. Then Alice’s father spoke.”William, you must not speak of this meeting to your father or anyone else.” “I understand” William answered. “My family may soon need to leave here for sanctuary . I will explain more later.”. With that, the parted company...William had a hard time getting to sleep that night. The next day his adventure took on a dream like quality, William not quite believing what he had witnessed. Two days later as he relaxed in the alley 7 behind the shop at lunch time, a street urchin walking by, stopped, looked both ways then walked over to William and spoke. “ No meetings at the tannery for a while. You will be told of the next meeting. Are you interested?” “yes” William said. The boy nodded and walked down the street.

   Two nights later on Thursday, the family was startled by noise on the street, horses houves, then shouting , many voices several houses down The street. The sound of hammering on wood, than a crash as a door was broken in. more shouts, a woman screaming in fear that was suddenly silenced. It seemed an hour later Kings men under the constables standard were seen riding past their house with sever poor wretch's crowding together in a cage on top of a wagon, the women sobbing, as it drove past..When the kings men had left, word was past down the street that Elmer's tannery had been broken into by the kings officers and the tanners family had been carried off in that wagon. “Yes, all of them” Hugh was told by neighbors through the alley window. “Rumor is they were separatists, disloyal to the King,” he was told, “good riddance” With that Hugh angrily shut the window shutters, ending the conversation.

The next day the mood was somber at the shop. Finally, Hugh spoke to William” Son, go to Allen’s tannery across town and ask if they have any leather not promised to customers. Tell them our neighbor the tanner was taken away last night.” As he was leaving, John finally returned, a beaten look on his face. “No money, brother, the crown refused to pay. Said they give each regiment money for their equipment.” High overheard from the doorway and grimly listened. “Some clerk may send the regiment a letter of inquiry, but...” John's voice trailed off in silence...When John was finished, Hugh said “There is no point in trying to buy supplies now. We are bankrupt. I cannot make next months payment on my debt, we need to save every penny we have. John. Torrow morning you go to see farmer David and see if he will take in our family. William and I will wind up our business here. Two weeks we have, maybe three before the kings constable comes in search of our creditor's money. Now say nothing to Mother, as we don't need gossip about our situation reaching our creditors sooner than necessary.

    Early the next morning, William told his father “there will be no-where really safe from the constable in England, Father. I have a mind to join the next expedition to the New World, to Plymouth colony.. At least there a man can be his own man with

no one to arrest him. The new towns around Plymouth are even more tolerant, a man can make a future there. There is no future for me here.” “It has to do 8 with that green eyed lass?” Hugh asked. William blushed.. “Somewhat father, yes, but John and I can be arrested here and sold to pay your debt.” “I/we must leave..” “True son” Hugh sadly said, “I give you my blessing” William walked down the street to Alice's fathers store. Everything on the street seemed normal for a Friday morning. William stopped to look in a couple store fronts along the way to make sure it was safe before entering Mr Fosters store. He saw Alice sitting in the corner working on something, he could not quite figure out what. There were two other customers in the store. As soon as they left, William spoke quietly but directly. “Mr. Foster, it was mentioned that a couple ships are leaving soon for Plymouth colony. I would like to go on them. I have my fathers blessing on this.”

    My Fosters eyes went up, then frowned, but said nothing. Then “I see”, he said “Yes Brother Lothrop is bringing over a number of his church . Do you have money for the passage, boy?” “No Elder but I am very good at my trade” William replied. “I suppose you could work a couple years for your passage.”“The group does need someone of your trade.” “You would be apprenticed to a solid fair man and as soon as the debt is paid you would be free.” William thought a moment, then replied, “that would be acceptable. elder””Very well, show up tonight at nine with your tools and clothing and I will have someone to lead you to preacher Lothrop's group.” ”Now, I see more customers, so be on your way, boy” William looked wistfully over at Alice as he left and was surprised to see a shy dimpled smile. William quietly told his father later. “So soon?” Hugh asked. “Yes Father, apparently preacher Lothrop's church leaves very soon” “Then you must go, my son” Hugh sadly said.”You have your tool belt and I will give you a few more tools for you as well. John will help us move the night after next. Who knows, he might eventually follow you West. Now do not tell anyone, especially Mother., as she will make a scene. We will only tell her that you are gone away on business.”

    The rest of the day went slowly. at supper time William went upstairs to eat. He quietly looked around at his family, knowing that this was the last time he would ever see them in this life. He was both anxious and sad … and strangely exited at leaving home. How he longed to tell his mother, but as father had sternly warned him, “not a word boy, not a word.. We don’t want womans gossip to endanger our family.” So he somberly ate. After dinner, he gave his mother a hug, and , said “I have to go on business Be back soon”, and left, pausing at the door for one last long look at his family. He had already  brought some clothes , and a couple of his favorite books downstairs to the shop when his mother was out, so as not to have to gather up his things now, causing questions. in her mind. Then , with tears in his eyes, he turned and was gone. William stopped in the dark shop to buckle on his tool belt, pick up his two bags, and walked out the back door to the alley, softly closing it behind him. As he walked away, William remembered how he had played in the alley as a small boy. As he reached the corner, he took a long last look and put his past behind him...and became a man.

William knocked on Alice’s family’s back door a few minutes later. Alice’s younger brother let him in. and led him through the dark store to the stairs leading to their living quarters over the shop. “Wait here, father will be down I a minute” he said, so William sat on the bottom stair to wait. It was only a few minutes later that he heard two men coming down the stairs. As they reached the bottom, Alice's father spoke. “Young man, this is Mr Henry. He will take you tonight. We could not tell you sooner, but we will be joining preacher Lothrop on his ship as well.. Its just no longer safe for us here.” Williams heart lept within him...Alice-going to the new world too! He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Mr. Henry asked, “got your tools and clothes, boy?” “Yes elder, Mr. Henry “ William replied.. “I'll carry one of your bags. Its only a short distance to my wagon” Mr. Henry said. With that, the two men exchanged glances, bid goodbye, and William followed Mr. Henry out into the dark lane.The wagon bumped along with such a noise in the evening darkness that William suspected that they could be heard a long way. However in a few minutes they were out of town on the Kings highway.

    After a while, the wagon turned abruptly off the road as they reached a shallow stony creek, and drove up the creek a hundred yards, then right up the bank behind a small farm house, and stopped.       “We wait here until tomorrow, lad,” Mr Henry said. “likely no one will come down the road looking for us, but we are careful.” ”You help all the brethren escape all the Kings men?”William asked. “we don't tell anyone the extent of our service, boy,” Mr. Henry replied. “Its to protect all of us. All you need to know is that we help you. Tomorrow we help someone else.”There was an elderly quiet couple that owned the safe house. They welcomed William, but said little and showed him to a small room in the back of the house. “Are you hungry?”, the wife asked. “no. 10 William said.”Very well” she replied. “There is a pitcher of water on the night stand. Good night, we will see you in the morning.” With that, she went out and shut the door. Early next morning William was awakened by the sound of a wagon receding from the house. He quickly dressed and made his way down the hallway to the kitchen. The early light revealed the old woman sitting at her kitchen table with her head in her hands. “There you are boy” she said, looking up. 'Mr Henry just left. Someone else will be here soon.” “Is the Foster family also coming here?” William asked. “We cant tell you that lad. The less you know, the less you can tell the Kings men should they take you .” She rose and got some bread from a cupboard , placed it on the table, said “sit lad, eat.”

    After breakfast, she said, “you can go out on the back porch lad. But if you hear more than two horses coming, go hide behind the large bushes out back. And if its the Kings men, slip away back to the river. There is a lean-to just up stream a short ways.” “Thank you, mam,” he said and went to the back porch. It wasnt until late afternoon that a man on horseback quietly rode up to the back of the house leading another horse. “Afternoon lad, I'm a friend” he said “I'm a deacon of Brother Lothrop's church.” “I'm William Crocker, Elder” William said. The old woman pushed out her back door and stood there..”I'll be taking the lad as soon as it gets a little dark, friend.” She nodded. “Don't forget your bags, boy” she said, then went back inside.

They rode for hours before coming to a dairy barn. “we're here, lad” the elder said.:”I'm bro James, Your friends the Fosters will be here in a wagon in a day or so and we will all go, family by family, to the ships boats that will pick us up in a nearby cove. Its not wise for all of us to crowd into a ship in a port, so she sails a few miles along the coast and picks up another group or two before setting sail West.” It was indeed another two evenings before William heard wagon wheels. Their noise, creaking stopped outside the barn. William looked and saw that it was the Fosters and another family.

Brother James greeted him. A few minutes, William climbed up on the wagon beside Alice and the two wagons made for the cove. Some time later they stopped at the waters edge.. A ship was just coming into view. She presently anchored, and a long boat loaded the rest of the families belongings and then rowed out to the ship. A while later, the boat was back for the Foster family and William. Soon the anchor was raised, the sails filled, and she bore off South into the darkness. Just West of Plymouth, Devon. Shortly 11 after, being a good distance offshore, the good ship Griffin hauled her yards around and headed as close to the wind as she could towards the West .... West to the New World...

    The Griffin was heavily laden, and as such occasionally a wave would break on the Port bow, washing over the whole mid deck. The deck was no place for passingers, so everyone was confined below deck in the ships hold. It was mostly a dark place with only dim rays of light coming from around the hatch and down the companionway. All about them, the ship creaked, groaned and the deck pitched and rolled ceaselessly. Most everyone was seasick, and the hold a cold wet smelly miserable place. The Boson's mate who came down below decks once a watch to inspect the ships hold told them with a bantering grin “hey, its good weather up there-wait till we find a storm, then you can complain.”

Brother Preacher Lothrop held Bible studies daily to try to get the peoples mind off their distress. Some openly stated they wanted to turn back and go to Holland .instead of West to Plymouth, but it was pointed out to them that it was a bit late to

change their mind about that. There was also one rather funny-well sort of anyway- Bible lesson about our situation being like Jonah being in the belly of a whale for 3 days... And one tired voice remarked that while Jonah was in his fish 3 days, we would be lucky to be in this beast only three months... Which brought a few wiry smiles from most...            The third week out it did get much worse, the ship working to windward through a storm. It seemed the whole world was a violently lurching thing. The poor cows and sheep suffered more than the people. And for once William and the other young men could not tend to them and their nose some discharges.

    It was found necessary to suspend the cows in slings to avoid them falling breaking legs. Their annoyed painful bellows and pitiful moans added to the din in the ships hold... Not to even mention trying to keep peoples belongings, farm implements, secured in one place , All this among 200 passengers in the Griffin's hold... This storm chaos went on for three days before they had some reprieve. By now, people were mostly over their sea sickness. Except for two poor souls who had died and  who were buried at sea the 4th day after a brief service on the wind and spray tossed main deck...After this, the weather had improved enough that the captain allowed a handful of passengers on the main deck at a time for fresh air. One thing they all agreed on was this was the LAST sea voyage they would EVER sail on !After this, however William decided that the sea wasn't really that bad. Being a passenger 12

cooped up in the aweful smelly hold was what was bad. The church's elders had talked with him after everyone had been feeling somewhat better. It had been decided that since brother Adams had given most of the passage money for William to come to the new world, William would be working for Brother Adams until the debt was paid. Likely a year or two. It was not a formal indenture but a handshake contract none the less. And William readily agreed to it. It meant that in a year or two he would be free to marry Alice.-if she would have him. Her father had said that when he could provide for her and if she was agreeable AND if he proved a hard working young man it was likely it could be arranged...

    Although the passengers did not have much to do during the voyage, the elders had put William to work in his leather craft, making things they would need once ashore. The ships boson had him stitch, repair sails when he wasn't busy doing other things... So, he was busy. William did get to talk with Alice, occasionally, briefly despite her hovering mother. They talked about where they might live in the colony .The elders said though the ship would land in Boston, we might go South towards Plymouth... There was a new town called Situate where more freethinking people went. Already the Puritans’ in Boston were making themselves unpopular with many...” Alice said one evening.” I heard my father talking with the elders.” “I heard that pastor Lothrop wants to keep his church together in one town, “ She added.“If there is unpleasantness in the greater regional church, Pastor might even start a new town somewhere.” “What, go live with the Indians?”William teased. “A real town with real houses and real teasers like you.” she giggled. “Alice, will you do your sewing?” her mother reproved. Her mother both scolded and hovered. They both smiled. Somewhat later, supper being over pastor Lothrop said,” Evening prayer studies, family.” unlike some other pastors, this one was interesting and William thought he was actually learning something.

    The next morning was really good weather, so all the passengers came upon deck after breakfast. They were confined to the lower well deck forward of the quarterdeck except for a few like William who were able and willing to be useful. William found himself upon the Fo'castle with two hands remove a canvas hatch cover and replace it The hatch must be measured, laid out, cut and the rope around the new cover sewed, the grommets sewed in, it looked like it would take all day. William took the project 13 back to the amidships deck to sew it together, and sat down next to Alice. Who was doing women’s work, scrubbing out some things in a small tub.”Warmer and drier here than on the fo-castle” he said to her.”The what?” she asked with a smile. “ fo'castle, the front part of the ship. A long time ago, ships had castles at both ends of the ship.” “The one in the pointy end, you know, over there “ he teased and grinned. Alice stuck out her tongue at him. “Mable”, she called to another girl, “Williams gonna be a sailor” “With a girl in every port” Mable replied, laughing. “He had better not,” Alice called back and several laughed at that. “No I'm going to be a farmer,” William replied. “But I might someday build a fishing skiff.” “I'm a good carpenter, my father had a forge, ..I have my forging tools,” William finished.” So, looking at Alice “You will be well taken care of” Alice blushed and giggled..And William was a little embarrassed. talk resumed around them, so William continued sewing the rope around the cover. The 2nd mate stopped by, watched William for a minute or two, then said, “Anytime you want a job as a sailor or sail maker, we can use you lad”. William replied with a smile.”Thanks, mate, but I'm going to be a farmer and artificer” William said. “And that pretty girl wouldn't let me go no-how” He added. The mate shook his head, and walked on. It took all afternoon to do the work, but by evening he took the new cover forward , removing the old one, did the final fitting and tied the new cover on. Returning to the hold, locked his tools in Mr Fosters chest. “Sure don't want anyone stealing my tools.”

Supper arrived soon, and it was another long lecture/sermon about Saint Luke and the errors of the English church. At the end of the lecture, there was a discussion time, and he wanted to ask a couple questions, but remembered his fathers caution “go along and get along.” William realized that the important thing was to fit into this group. After the lesson, the families retired to their tiny cubicles

with canvas walls in the upper hold.

    Each room had barely space for two bunk beds separated by four feet with the families chest s under the lower bunk, And a blanket draped over the door. William slept with three other single men in hammocks slung in a small open passageway in the lower hold. Daytimes, the hammocks were triced up out of the way. Breakfast was cold biscuits and dried fish. Evening meals were usually warmed up fish and biskets with weevels in them... You rapped the biscuit before eating it so the worms would crawl out—or not... Even meals were cooked in the big pot in the galley after the crew had eaten theirs... They had to cook the evening meal three times to feet 200 people... “I sure  hope this cargo doesn’t shift and squeeze us to death” William prayed every night as he climbed into his hammock. Thankfully they were sailing in early spring. That left them several months to build homes and clear land for late fall crops. Food the first year might be scarce, he realized, despite they had brought much grain with them. “I wonder how long a growing season were going to have and how much help are we going to get from the residents?” With that he finally fell asleep. The next morning as he emerged on deck, the Bo-son saw him and said “young Crocker, I have some work for you aloft at the Main top.” William looked up and stated “I'm getting paid for this?” he asked. “My passage fee is being reduced?” “Sure lad” the boson grinned. “Can I have that in writing from the captain?”

William asked. The bo'son got mad. William replied “Guess I have my answer” The boson tried to backhand him, but William ducked and ran back down below. The bo'son didn't follow. “Guess that's the end of that job” William concluded.

    Elder Johnson asked him what was that all about. William told him and the elder was not pleased with either of them. There was, however, much the colonists needed fabricated. So William found himself busy with that. The more he did, the more people liked the quality of his work. “I know father would be proud” William thought. Even though the passage was uncomfortable. William realized it could have been much worse. No real storms now, just sometimes lots of wind. Most of the passage West the ship was sailing into the wind, healed over so they found the decks were always at an angle, making it after hard to walk. Often they found themselves walking half on the deck and half on the long rows of cargo amidships in front of their cabins to stay upright.

   Most of the passengers were over sea sickness by now except for two poor wretches who clung to the ships rail all day and much of the night only then to collapse below decks too tired to realize their vertigo and heaving of their stomachs. At least a few days every two weeks the ship had a fair wind from the South, and all the passengers could gather on deck and the afore mentioned wretches could keep some food down in their stomachs. Those were gorgeous days and awestruck nights

showing the splendor of GODs creation from the beauty of the open sea. The dolphins raced the ship, the flocks of tiny black birds ran across the wave tope out of the way of the ship .before sitting down again and feeding on the minute sea creatures just at their feet. Several times they saw the great whales and marveled at 15them. The voyage seemed to last forever. But one evening, William overheard the lookout coming

off duty say to the Mate that the clouds on the horizon might be over land, And that he had seen a pair of sea gulls . This might mean that by dawn, we might see land again.

    Just at dusk, however, the captain came up on deck from his cabin with the chief mate and ordered the ship hove too and all the sails furled and the ships lantern hung on a rope from the after mast to the stern. He kept the lanteen sail raised on the after mast to help keep the ship’s bow into the wind. Asking a Mate, William was curtly told that the Captain did now want to risk making a landfall at night as it would be all too easy to run the ship aground, so his caution.

     With the dawns early light William found himself upon the focastle, the crew dropping the sails from the yards and sheeting them home, hauling the yards as far around to starboard as the could so they could make good time to the West with the fair breeze. Almost two hours, the lookout called, “Land Land on the Port bow.” An hour later, the captain opinioned the land looked like the Northern end of the Cape, and ordered the ships course Northwest. If this was indeed the Northern end of Cape Cod, them would reach the Boston settlement by evening. As the day progressed, the Cape came into view from the deck, the ship only a few miles to the North. An hour later, a freshening breeze ushered them on their way across the great Cape Cod bay.

It was afternoon when the coast could be seen from the deck, and late afternoon when they sailed past the outer islands, and into Boston harbor.. The Captain finally had the rudder put over, heading the ship into the wind, the sails being furled as the anchor splashed into the debts of the Charles river. Charles Town was a small village, he thought Marshes and grassland to the South past a jutting peninsular, and before him beaches ending in a primal forest. Occasional  homes and cleared land here and there. Great trees almost down to the waters edge in places, every one of which could be the mast of a Kings ship It would be a good land, he realized. William found Alice at his elbow “Beautiful isn't it ?“ she shyly asked. “Yes” William answered, and, falling into her green hazel eyes, replied “We will make a good life here.” She looked down, blushed a little, then took his hand in hers, and said “Yes.”In the morning, it seemed it took forever to get the boats loaded for the first landing on the shore.

    Over to the meeting house and fort. They would spend a while there before finding land and building homes. The mayor and some Puritan elders had come aboard last night to talk with Bro. Lothrop and our elders. For some reason, however, William was told it had not gone well .After all had come ashore, they all had a meeting in the meeting house and were told that since their doctrine was somewhat different that the Puritans, they needed to settle “a few miles” South in a new settlement in a place called Scituate... Various unhappy non conformers had already left Boston forming a settlement there a few months ago... Most of the natives around had already been wiped out in the great smallpox sickness, so finding land there would be fairly simple. Unlike Boston, where the good land was already taken and where they weren't really wanted anyway.

    William sadly remembered what his father had said .”the persecuted often become the persecutors.”Bro Lothrop said “We are still not too late in the season that we can get in a crop for the fall harvest. Your first homes will be humble, like Israel in the wilderness (all smiled at that) but as you have time and acquire means, there is no reason that with hard work we cannot be successful... Free men get to make their choices and indentured servants live with them until the work off their debt. They will also be able to find good land. I'm told its not even necessary to fully clear and plow land to plant crops. They will show us the native way of planting corn and potatoes. It works very well indeed... No need for oxen and plows. Even though we have the plows.”

    The colonists had brought four small vessels with them, all neatly stacked within each other on deck, taking up only a reasonable space... The largest was 21feet, then 18feet, 14feet and 12 feet... the two smallest boats for fishing and the larger ones perhaps for carrying goods between Massachusetts Bay's towns. Some few families such as Alice's had brought an ox or a cow with them, and so put much of their goods on a travoise and left Boston the few miles South to Scituite. The rest started stowing their goods into the four shallops, and a couple larger ones owned by the Boston colony... Far be it for a Puritan to pass up a few shillings to transport cargo! William was now with Bro Adams so he at his direction helped load the four boats and then when they all had set sail, trekked with many others South. It took them two days of walking to get to Scituate.

    After the voyage and trek down the coast in small boats to Scituate, they set up living in tents. 17 They bought good land and saw that the native way to farm was to dig a hole, throw in some ripe stinky fish, planted corn and potatoes on top of them. When William asked how do you keep the animals from digging up the fish he was told “We mix in a little dung and we have dogs too- they keep the forest creatures away... Otherwise your tender young shoots will be eaten up.” Now, William found himself working for Brother Adams and his wife Catherine and they had four children. At the end of about two years he would be free. William wondered how many holes he would have to dig. Breaking the ground one shovelful at a time was hard work. Clearing the grass sod in a six foot circle ,then digging several shallow holes around it. The children then threw in some fish someone had caught.. then putting a little dirt on top followed by some seed and potato eyes on the South side of the holes, To be out of the corns shadows. It seemed it would take forever. William knew they would be planting a month or so until they ran out of seed. By then most of the native meadow would be planted, it was hoped. Evenings finally came, with meals of fresh fish and some porridge. At least the ocean was teeming with fish. They had their few small boats and caught more than enough to hang on racks to dry for winter. as well as to feed the corn for the harvest.. Some of their Puritan neighbors came over occasionally insisting they come over to their church and hear “the Word of God as it should be taught” “who decides” William thought for himself.” we came here for freedom, or at least that's what was said. And in my case to escape debtors prison” he thought. Every evening, at the last rays of sunlight, during the evening meal, the congregation was gathered together to hear bro Lothrop teach a Bible study and pray for the coming day. William did not mind as he was tired and got to sit with Alice. and sometimes even hold her hand. During the day he only saw her from a distance, as she die women’s work with the other women. After the planting, William was told to go out on the small boats and learn fishing. William and Henry saw the boats were well used, but sound . The two young men who had brought the boats up the bay seemed pleasant enough. They had just finished dragging the mornings catch up the beach “You Fred

 

and Allen?” Henry asked. Fred confessed they were. “Help us get the fish over to the racks?' 18Fred asked. “The children will split, salt and hang them” A couple tired looking twelve year olds came around the rack, and stared dragging the fish away. “Shortly we will sail back out for more fish” Fred said. They sat on the sand for a while.and ate their meal, filled their water jugs, then pushed the boats back in the water.The wind was from the Southwest, filling the sail ghosting the boat out into the bay. “Certainly better than digging holes” William thought with a smile.

    He had never sailed a small boat much less fished. Being observant was teaching him a lot. He watched Allen carefully as Allen sailed the boat. The other boat was following a ways back . In almost no time they were on the edge of a sandbar bank, and William could even see fish below them. Fred brought her up into the wind, dropped an anchor, then dropped the sail. “We put these lines in the water,: Fred said, as he started baiting hooks. After they had baited one row of hooks, Fred reached into the line tub and carefully lowered the line to the bottom. Then he tied

the line to the bow. , Fred then let the anchor out a bit then dropped another line with hooks off the stern... “Now we wait a few minutes.” “The tide is changing and the fish will be hungry for the next hour or two ” He said. In a while we will pull in the fish we caught. Re-bait, then drop it back over the side Fred said.Then we will pick up the 2nd line. After a couple hours of back breaking pulling in of lines, William almost changed his mind about fishing being easier than farming. But at least, he thought, “I don't have an elder watching over my shoulder every moment and growling to dig faster.” He tiredly smiled. Supper will be welcome, as will Alice's smile. Maybe the hardest part of farming had been carrying loads of fish guts from the back to the fields, he thought. By the time William had helped bring the in the last of the fish, it was late afternoon.. And almost dark by the time he had washed for supper. Then after supper, he had to listen to the Bible teacher drone on and on about what William really did not care about. Saying to himself “ a little much religion is better than the Kings jail.” And so William patiently endured.                                                                        

     Politics, William ruefully thought. The bane of the settlements was Politics driven by religion...Each village had its own idea of what religion meant, and which preacher to follow. The “General Court” being set up by the various elders to enforce a conformity of belief to stop the endless confusion. William guessed it would be this way for a while. However soorner or later a more tolerant crowd would emigrate here, he hoped, and moderate the position of the Church as the Lord and ruler over every aspect of life. William was also becoming open to the idea of leaving this group in a new venture where things would be freer... Already some had abandoned all three towns for free land and free opinion

South through the wilderness. A few days after William started fishing, all the crops being planted, and the elders thought it was time to provide for their winter shelter. It had been decided that a common shelter would be best for the first winter... So they started building their church / meeting house. Putting up fish for the winter was still the job of the children and younger men such as William and so he was not at first required to do the back breaking work of felling and trimming the large trees.

    Alice asked him one evening “I did not see you today” William replied “ Still fishing” He grinned “someone has to do it... I am getting better at sailing the boat. And I only got two hooks in my fingers today” She grimaced. “I'll be a sailor yet” :”You be careful William,” Alice retorted with a frown on here cute bonneted face. “I don't want you becoming fish food” William smiled, patted her hand. “I don’t either” he reassured her... The preacher droned on-and on- and on !!!The oxen pulled the cut sections over to the building site. It often took several men to raise the logs upon each other, making the walls of the Church. Later, trees were split, hewn with flat adzes for timbers for the framing and the roof...

Finally, more agile men were needed, and William found himself high up on the roof nailing on the long boards along the roof before shingles could be placed. Thankfully, three of the men were good at splitting shingles.. Alice was really anxious about Having William working way up there. But he just grinned “ Lots easier than digging holes-or pulling in fishing lines” he replied. “I'll be fine, my love.. I'll be fine” At that she pouted, but said nothing in return,

    It took a month to finish the building and three more weeks to do the inside... Plastering the inside of the chimneys was really difficult, and only the young boys could fit inside the chimney.

    Bonnets, William thought, then realized.. Each girl had pretty bonnets... He smiled... William realized that was how each mother kept track of her daughter from a distance... By her bonnet! SO... If two girls had the same bonnets, mothers would be confused... And he and Alice could get some private time away from prying hovering eyes! Alice was carrying some things in a double yoke that women used over to the store house. William saw her, and came up along side her and half whispered “Alice, your mother keeps track of you by your pretty bonnet” William stated. “If you and Mary have similar bonnets tomorrow, Sunday afternoon, we can get away a short distance for a private talk. Away from your mother” Alice put down the heavy baskets at the door, “Yes, I agree” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.“Be fun to get away for a couple hours... I will wear my blue bonnet to morning church, and Mary will wear her green one. Then when we girls are together, we can change colors” She giggled. “Several of us girls will go berry picking at the edge of the clearing, and we can meet at the split tree down the trail.”

    After church William went for a walk down the beach. Then once out of sight, went up into the woods. In no time, he found the split tree. A few minutes later, he saw Alice. Their eyes met, then he offered her his hand and they walked hand in hand to a vantage point overlooking the sound. “The girls are taking turns wearing my color bonnet” They snikered together. She snuggled close to him with her head on his shoulder, in his arm, and sighed...”Two more years before your free?” she asked. “Well, year and a half, anyway” he answered. “The elders will decide” William replied... Then, we can find some land, I can build a house... so yes, likely about two years.” After a couple hours , she whispered, “I had better be getting back” So William walked her almost back to her group of berry pickers, said goodby, and kissed her on the cheek to the giggles of the other girls. Alice changed her bonnet, then sat with her friends They had gathered some berries for her basket so no one would notice... William wistfully made his way back down to the beach, remembering her soft touch and the wonderfullness of her nearness...

    Much like on the ship, it was decided to use canvas partitions between the rooms for each family. Also thankfully, Each family had much more room than on the ship... And they had steady ground 21to stand on this time... Until October, or cold rainy weather, they intended to remain in their tents, as it was much more private.. Ever Sunday they Had the day of rest and William and Alice were now inseparable... Her mother had finally for the most part given up hovering, seeing the inevitable... And trusting them both... They were chaperoned by the group... No one was really alone in their society... one of the young men had become fairly adept at snaring small game... Rumor was that someone had been a poacher on the Crown land years ago... Teaching what he knew to his sons who then passed along some of that trade to their friends... The dogs regularly caught and killed prey as well... IF the owner could get there in time, a nice pelt and meat added really well to fish and porridge...

    Now that the Church was done, it was decided to start on other buildings before harvest. Certainly, secure places had to be built to keep the harvest safe from thieves... Both human and less than...Some single men would have to live in the store houses to secure them... September was here already and the corn, potatoes and some grain was almost ready for harvest... William certainly did not look forward to digging up all those potatoes, but was sure he would be enlisted in that cause... True, every family had purchased their own acres... However this first year, only the acreage closest to the Church had been tilled... In the spring, everyone would be busy with their plots...and houses would be built come summer...

William had received a letter fro his brother John... Seems he had come over on another ship and was in Boston... It was not certain if he would come down the coast to Scituate... Or if he would fit in with the people in Boston for that matter... William remembered well how irritable John could be at times..The last John knew, their family was safe enough on the farm.. Time would tell..

    Alice's mother was with child again... As were several others... Some joked that The first nights ashore must have had been fruitful... And come Spring all manner of newborns would be arriving...Another funny/sad story was also going around that a farm boy in Boston had his eyes only for a wealthy fanilies daughter, annoying the girls father so much that he caused the elders council to 22forbid him “seeking her afections”... nearly banishing the unfortunate lad from Boston...There was also news that a vessel had grounded ashore in a storm on the way back to Boston from New Amsterdam with few survivors Noted also for those trying to sail South with a cargo was that the reefs East of Nantucket stretched miles off shore and were daunting in any weather... A vessel trying to round the Cape that was caught in a storm was almost sure to be driven upon them... And it was thought that several were... One of the more outrageous acts of the Governors council had been to give title of large