HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855.
Charles Brooks, Ed.

[84] myself and many others, well-wishers and adventurers in this our plantation, to yourself and the rest of your good company, of whose safe arrival being now thoroughly informed by your letters, bearing date the 13th Sept. last, which came to my hands the 13 this instant February, we do not a little rejoice; and to hear that my good cousin, your wife, were perfectly recovered of her health would be an acceptable news to us all; which God grant in his good time that we may. Meanwhile, I am, in the behalf of our whole company (which are much enlarged since your departure out of England), to give you hearty thanks for your large advice contained in this your letter, which I have fully imparted unto them, and, farther, to give proof that they intend not to be wanting by all good means to further the plantation; to which purpose (God willing) you shall hear more at another time, and that speedily; there being one ship bought for the company of----tons, and two others hired of two hundred tons each of them, one of nineteen, and one of----pieces of ordnance, besides not unlike but one other vessel shall come in company with these; in all which ships, for the general stock and property of the adventurers, there is likely to be sent thither twixt two and three hundred persons (we hope to reside there), and about one hundred head of cattle. Wherefore, as I wrote you in full, and sent by Mr. Allerton, of New Plymouth, in November last, so the desire of them is, that you would endeavor to get convenient housing, fit to lodge as many as you can, against they do come; and, withal, what beaver, or other commodities, or fish, if the means to preserve it can be gotten ready, to return in the aforesaid ships. And likewise wood, if no better lading be to be had; that you would endeavor to get in a readiness what you can, whereby our ships, whereof two are to return back directly hither, may not come wholly empty. There hath not been a better time for sale of timber these two seven years than at present; and, therefore, pity these ships should come back empty, if it might be made ready, that they need not stop one day for it: otherwise, men's wages and victuals, together with the ships, will quickly rise too high, if to be reladen with wood, and that the same be not ready to put aboard as soon as the ships are discharged of their outward lading. I wish also that there be some sassafras and sassaparilla sent us, as also good store of sumac, if there to be had, as we are informed there is. The like do I wish for a ton weight at least of silk-grass, and of aught else that may be useful for dyeing or in physic; to have some of each sent, and advice given withal what store of each to be had there, if vent may be found here for it. Also, I hope you will have some good sturgeon in a readiness to send us; and, if it be well cured, two or three hundred thereof would help well towards our charge. We are very confident of your best endeavors for the general good; and we doubt not but God will in mercy give a blessing upon our labors; and we trust you will not be unmindful of the main end of our plantation, by endeavoring to bring the