http://www.usigs.org/library/books/ma/SalemV1-1924/Salm_p110.htm

One of the ships, the George Bonaventure, was a strong vessel of about three hundred tons burden, with twenty pieces of ordnance and manned by about thirty mariners. It was commanded by Thomas Cox, and carried fifty-two planters and provisions and twelve mares, thirty kine and some goats. Among the passengers were Rev. Samuel Skelton and his family, consisting of his wife Susanna and three children, Samuel, aged six, Susanna, four. and Mary, nearly two. As it was specially desirable that the George should sail as early as possible, it set out upon its voyage about the middle of April and from the Isle of Wight May 4, and safely arrived at Naumkeag June 22, 1629.

The Talbot, Thomas Beecher, master, was also a strong ship of three hundred tons, with nineteen pieces of ordnance and manned by thirty mariners. It carried about one hundred planters, and as freight six goats, five great pieces of ordnance, with oatmeal, pease and all kinds of munitions and provisions sufficient for the plantation for a year. Several servants of the Pilgrims came in this vessel at this time and also Mr. Higginson and his family, consisting of his wife Ann and children, John, the eldest, aged twelve, Francis, Timothy, Theophilus, Samuel, Mary, Ann, Charles and Neophytus.

The Lion's Whelp, John Gibbs, master, was a ship of one hundred and twenty tons, well proportioned and fast, carrying eight pieces of ordnance, six fishermen and about forty planters, principally of Dorsetshire and Somersetshire, besides the mariners and provisions and four goats. Rev. Francis Bright and his family, consisting of his wife, two children and one maid servant, were among the passengers.

The Talbot and the Lion's Whelp sailed from Gravesend on Saturday, April 25, 1629, at seven o'clock in the morning, with a wind so light that a progress of only twelve miles was made that day. They remained where they were that night and the next day, keeping the Sabbath. On Monday, they sailed as far as Gorin Road, where they anchored for the night. On Tuesday, they proceeded a little further and anchored opposite Margaret Town, waiting for wind to carry them through The Downs. The next

day, they passed The Downs, and remained there that night. For the next three days the southwest wind caused the water to be so rought [sic] that a number of the passengers, among them Mrs. Higginson, were sea-sick. At this time, officers from the king's ship, named the Assurance, impressed two of the seamen. Sunday, May 3d, was a cold windy day, and the vessels were still at The Downs. The next day, the wind became fair from the north-north-east, and sails were spread. The vessels passed Dover, where they saw six or seven sail of Dunkirks coming toward them. For some reason, probably because of the presence of other vessels, the latter returned. That night the Isle of Wight was reached, and the vessels were anchored to wait for the light before attempting to go through the channel. On the next day, they entered the channel, passed Portsmouth, and anchored at night opposite Cow-Castle. Here, Rev. Mr. Higginson, his wife and daughter Mary and several others from both vessels went on shore to refresh themselves and wash their linen. They remained on shore all night. In the evening, however, sails were hoisted, and the vessels proceeded eight miles, anchoring opposite Yarmouth. The next morning, a shallop from the Talbot was sent to take in those who had gone on shore the night before. The water was so rough that the women, at their request, were put on shore when they had got within three miles of the vessels, and they walked to the town, where they lodged that night. At this place the vessels remained until Monday, May 11, and took on board some fresh provision. On Saturday, officers from the king's ship impressed two more men, but by entreaty one was returned. On Sunday, Mr. Higginson preached aboard the Talbot in the morning and in the afternoon at Yarmouth in response to an earnest invitation. On Monday afternoon, at three o'clock, sail was again set, and about an hour later the vessels passed the narrow Needles and entered the sea.

The next day they sailed as far as Lizzard Head, and on the following day, Wednesday, May 13, to Land's End. There, most of the company saw their native England for the last time. Mr. Higginson called his children and other passengers to the stern of the ship to take their last look at the homeland. He said: "We will not say, as the separatists were wont to say at their leaving of England, 'Farewell, Babylon!' 'Farewell, Rome!' but we will say, 'Farewell, dear England! farewell, the church of God in England, and all the Christian friends there!' We do not go to New England as separatists from the church of England; though we cannot but separate from the corruptions in it; but we go to practise the positive part of church reformation, and propagate the gospel in America." He concluded with a fervent prayer for the king, and church and state, in England; and for the presence

About ten leagues further on, they passed the Scilly Islands and turned the prows of their vessels directly toward the new world. Sea-sickness followed the first experience of the passengers with the rough Atlantic. The next Sunday, the religious services were disturbed by the approach of a man-of-war of the Biskaniers. Apparently concluding that an attack would be Unsuccessful, the ship sailed away. On the same day two children of Mr. Higginson, Samuel and Mary, became sick of small pox, and subsequently many more were afilicted. The disease had been brought aboard the vessel by a Mr. Browne who was sick with it at Gravesend. Samuel Higginson recovered, but Mary lived only two days, and her body was, of course, committed to the sea. She was five years old, and for a year had been hunch-backed, weak and sickly, and had suffered much pain. Her death was regarded as a great relief from suffering.

The second day thereafter (Thursday, May 21) was kept as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer tobeseech [sic] God to cause sickness and death on board the ship to cease. There was another clergyman on the Talbot, Rev. Ralph Smith,2 who although not in full sympathy with Mr. Higginson observed the service with many of the people on board. The sailors were much interested in the exercises, saying that they had never heard of a fast day service at sea.

During the entire passage the seamen were religiotis and kind. Each day was opened and closed with reading and expounding a chapter in the Bible and by singing and prayer. On Sundays Mr. Higginson preached twice and catechised on the Talbot, and probably similar services were held on each of the other vessels. The master of the Talbot and his crew set the eight and twelve o'clock watches each night with singing a psalm and prayer "that was not read out of a book."

1Magnalia Christi Americana. by Rev. Cotton Mather, page 360.

2Rev. Ralph Smith came voluntarily and on his own account, and the Company did not learn that he was not in accord with the ministers who came under contract until his provisions for the voyage were on shipboard. Governor Endecott was directed to allow him to remain within the limits of their grant only while he was conformable to the government.

Mr. Smith was baptized in the parish of Gainford, Durham, England, April 5, 1589, and was son of Rev. Ralph and Catheran (Mathewson) Smith; and graduated at Christ College, Cambridge, in 1614.

He remained in Salem a short time, and with his family removed to the struggling little colony of fishermen at Nantascot, now Hull. He found only insufficient shelter for his family, and a lack of associations and surroundings that were agreeable to a man of grave demeanor and education. He went to Plymouth a few weeks later, and preached there until 1636. He continued to live in Plymouth until 1642, when he went to the little settle-

As the days passed and the American coast was approached, many and various kinds of fish and whales were seen, and great ice-bergs floated near them.

A great dealof the time during the voyage the Talbot and the Lion's Whelp were in sight of each other. June 15th and 16th, when fog shut off the view, a drum was beat on the Talbot to learn the position of the Lion's Whelp, and response was made by

ment at Jeffries Creek. now Manchester. He preached there until after 1647. Then he lived with his son-in-law in Ipswich until about 1659, and was at York, Me., in 1660. He died in Boston March I, 1660-1.

firing a cannon. A week elapsed before the vessels were again within sight of each other.

On Wednesday, June 24, a clear sight of Arnerien was obtained, the ships being seven or eight leagues to the south of Cape Sable. There they saw on the water flowers resembling yellow gilliflowers; and in the afternoon of the next day they clearly saw many islands and hills by the sea-shore. By noon of Friday, they were within three leagues of Cape Ann; and as they sailed along the coast saw "every hill and dale and every island full of gay woods and high trees.'' An increased longing for the tiew world came upon them as they saw the woods and flowers. Saturday night, June 27, they anchored at the old fishing station at Cape Ann. Some of the men went upon the little island in the harbor, and brought back ripe strawberries and gooseberries and sweet single roses. This was the first taste of the fruit of the new land.

Some of the planters had seen the colors on the vessel and so apprised Governor Endecott, who thereupon sent a shallop with two men to pilot the vessels into the harbor.

The next day was the seventh Sunday they had spent on the voyage, and the first in America. The two pilots spent the day with them. The next day, Monday, they sailed to Naumkeag. Mr. Higginson, in his journal, states that by God's blessing and the directions of the pilots they "passed the curious and difficult entrance into the large spacious harbour of Naimkecke." When they had come within the harbor they saw the Ship George which had arrived the preceding week. With great thankfulness and gladness and satisfaction they had ended their tedious voyage of three thousand miles and six weeks and three days from Land's End and nine weeks and three days from Gravesend. The next morning, Tuesday, June 30, Governor Endecott went on board the Talbot, bade the passengers welcorne, and invited Mr. and Mrs. Higginson on shore to take lodging in his house, which they did.

Rev. Mr. Higginson wrote, for the satisfaction of friends, upon their request, a journal during the voyage, the original manuscript of which is in the possession of the Massachsetts Historical Society. With this he wrote under date of July 24, 1629, and also sent before November following a description of the region about Naumkeag and of its conditions, entitling it "New-Englands Plantation." This was published in London in 1630, and two other editions followed immediately.

Mr. Higginson wrote of his book as follows: "A Trve Relacon of ye last voyage to new England, declaring all circumstances wth ye maner of ye passage wee had by sea, and

1Journal of the Voyage, kept by Rev. Francis Higginson, London, 1630.