New Plymouth.
When, in 1627, the term of partnership between the Pilgrims and the
London merchants had expired, the latter, numbering not more than 300 at
Plymouth, applied to the council of
New England for a charter.
It was granted July 13, 1630, and in it the boundaries of the colony were defined, on the land side, as composed of two lines— one drawn northerly from the mouth of the Narraganset River, the other westerly from
Cohasset rivulet—to meet at “the uttermost limits of a country or place called Pocanoket.”
A grant on the
Kennebec, where some of the Pilgrims had been seated was included in the charter.
The patent gave a title to the soil, but the functions of government could only be exercised, according to English legal opinions, under a charter from the crown.
Efforts were made to obtain such a charter, but without success.
The colonists, however, gradually assumed all the prerogatives of government—even the power of capital punishment.
Eight capital offences were enumerated in the first
Plymouth code, including treason or rebellion against the colony and “solemn compaction or conversing with the devil.”
Trial by jury was introduced, but punishments for minor offences remained discretionary.
For eighteen years all laws were enacted in a general assembly of all the colonists.
The governor, who was simply
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Old colony seal. |
president of a council, was chosen annually.
There were finally seven councillors, called assistants; and so little was public office coveted that it was necessary to inflict a fine upon such as, being chosen, declined to serve as governor or assistant.
The constitution of the church was equally democratic.
For the first eight years there was no pastor.
Lyford, a minister, was sent over by the
London partners to be a pastor; but they refused, and expelled him.
Brewster and others were exhorters; and on Sunday afternoons a question was propounded, to which all present might speak.
No minister stayed long at
Plymouth after they adopted the plan of having a pastor.
See
Brewster, William.
