Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 9.

In 1628, he is named as one of the eight chief new adventurers to Persia and East Indies, and holding £ 2,000 of stock; and he served on committees of the company for several years.

In 1628, he, with Winthrop, Johnson, Dudley, Goffe, and Saltonstall, had joined with several from Dorset and Devon in the planting of that part of New England between the Merrimac and Charles rivers. As such an associate his name appears in the first charter of the colony, which passed the seals, March 4, 1628-9, and is therein named to be the first and present governor of the ‘Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.’ His duties were to give orders for the assembling of the company to advise and consult on its affairs. He with seven or more of the assistants constituted a General Court, which was to meet four times a year upon every last Wednesday in Hillary, Easter, Trinity, and Michaelmas terms, when men were made free of the company and laws made for its government.

His oath as governor was administered by a Master of Chancery, Sir Charles Caesar, March 18, 1628-9, and Cradock as governor administered the oaths to the deputy-governor and assistants.

The governor presided at meetings of the company previously held on March 2, 1628-9, and on the 3d, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, on which date the governor, with a committee to assist him, was chosen to divide the lands in New England. Meetings were held March 23 and April 30, 1629, May 11,13, on which date Mr. Cradock was chosen governor for the year following.

On May 18 a court of the assistants was held, and on the 19th a committee of the governor and Messrs. White, Whetcomb, and Adams met at the house of the governor and decided on the allotment of lands. This was confirmed May 21 and on May 22 the governor, deputy,