[83] company, which was a commercial establishment in England, not vested with political power as rulers. Oct. 20, 1629: Mr. Cradock was chosen an Assistant. In all subscriptions for helping the Colony, he gave the largest sum; and to show how extensively he loaned for special purposes, we find the Court of Assistants, at London, Nov. 20, 1629, voting to pay him £ 800, to reimburse what he had paid for sailors' wages and other incidental expenses. In the annual Registers he was styled the “first Governor of the Colony ;” but he had not the full legislative and executive powers afterwards granted to Gov. Winthrop; for he did not need them. July 28, 1629: On this day Mr. Cradock brought before the Court the important proposition, namely, to transfer the government of the Colony roman London to New England. This bold measure, which would change an English commercial corporation into an organized transatlantic government, was second only, in importance, to the coming of the “Mayflower.” The company say, in 1629: “The propagation of the gospel is the thing we do profess above all to be our aim in settling this plantation.” How rapidly does the mind travel from this prophetic fact to its natural consequences! We see a positive provincial government, secured by a royal charter, taking root among Anglo-Saxon Puritans, three thousand miles distant from arbitrary masters; and we readily infer that self-government will gradually strengthen till national independence is evolved. To Mr. Cradock belongs the honor of this movement in London; and that honor is not lessened by the fact that he was not going to America. His zeal in the project is proved by his subsequent labor and contributions to promote it. Two of the ships which sailed with the “Arbella” belonged to him. They were the “Ambrose” (Capt. John Lowe) and the “Jewel” (Capt. Nicholas Hurlston); and in these vessels came Mr. Cradock's fishermen, coopers, and shipwrights; and in them, doubtless, came most of the first settlers of Medford from Suffolk and Essex. We will here give a copy of a letter which will be read with deep interest:--
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[83] company, which was a commercial establishment in England, not vested with political power as rulers. Oct. 20, 1629: Mr. Cradock was chosen an Assistant. In all subscriptions for helping the Colony, he gave the largest sum; and to show how extensively he loaned for special purposes, we find the Court of Assistants, at London, Nov. 20, 1629, voting to pay him £ 800, to reimburse what he had paid for sailors' wages and other incidental expenses. In the annual Registers he was styled the “first Governor of the Colony ;” but he had not the full legislative and executive powers afterwards granted to Gov. Winthrop; for he did not need them. July 28, 1629: On this day Mr. Cradock brought before the Court the important proposition, namely, to transfer the government of the Colony roman London to New England. This bold measure, which would change an English commercial corporation into an organized transatlantic government, was second only, in importance, to the coming of the “Mayflower.” The company say, in 1629: “The propagation of the gospel is the thing we do profess above all to be our aim in settling this plantation.” How rapidly does the mind travel from this prophetic fact to its natural consequences! We see a positive provincial government, secured by a royal charter, taking root among Anglo-Saxon Puritans, three thousand miles distant from arbitrary masters; and we readily infer that self-government will gradually strengthen till national independence is evolved. To Mr. Cradock belongs the honor of this movement in London; and that honor is not lessened by the fact that he was not going to America. His zeal in the project is proved by his subsequent labor and contributions to promote it. Two of the ships which sailed with the “Arbella” belonged to him. They were the “Ambrose” (Capt. John Lowe) and the “Jewel” (Capt. Nicholas Hurlston); and in these vessels came Mr. Cradock's fishermen, coopers, and shipwrights; and in them, doubtless, came most of the first settlers of Medford from Suffolk and Essex. We will here give a copy of a letter which will be read with deep interest:--
John Wilson and son. 22 School Street. Boston. 1855.
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