The Mayflower and Her Log | Page 3

appreciation and
memory.
(g) The demonstration of the fact that the MAY-FLOWER was not
chartered later than June 19/29, 1620, and was probably chartered in
the week of June 12/22--June 19/29 of that year.
(h) The addition of several new names to the list of the Merchant
Adventurers, hitherto unpublished as such, with considerable new data
concerning the list in general.
(i) The demonstration of the fact that Martin and Mullens, of the
MAY-FLOWER colonists, were also Merchant Adventurers, while
William White was probably such.
(j) The demonstration of the fact that "Master Williamson," the
much-mooted incognito of Bradford's "Mourt's Relation" (whose
existence even has often been denied by Pilgrim writers), was none
other than the "ship's-merchant," or "purser" of the
MAY-FLOWER,--hitherto unknown as one of her officers, and
historically wholly unidentified.
(k) The general description of; and many particulars concerning, the
MAY-FLOWER herself; her accommodations (especially as to her
cabins), her crew, etc., hitherto unknown.
(1) The demonstration of the fact that the witnesses to the nuncupative
will of William Mullens were two of the MAY-FLOWER'S crew (one
being possibly the ship's surgeon), thus furnishing the names of two
more of the ship's company, and the only names--except those of her

chief officers--ever ascertained.
(m) The indication of the strong probability that the entire company of
the Merchant Adventurers signed, on the one part, the charter-party of
the MAY-FLOWER.
(n) An (approximate) list of the ages of the MAY-FLOWER'S
passengers and the respective occupations of the adults.
(o) The demonstration of the fact that no less than five of the Merchant
Adventurers cast in their lots and lives with the Plymouth Pilgrims as
colonists.
(p) The indication of the strong probability that Thomas Goffe, Esquire,
one of the Merchant Adventurers, owned the "MAY-FLOWER" when
she was chartered for the Pilgrim voyage,--as also on her voyages to
New England in 1629 and 1630.
(q) The demonstration of the fact that the Master of the
MAY-FLOWER was Thomas Jones, and that there was an intrigue
with Master Jones to land the Pilgrims at some point north of the 41st
parallel of north latitude, the other parties to which were, not the Dutch,
as heretofore claimed, but none other than Sir Ferdinando Gorges and
the Earl of Warwick, chiefs of the "Council for New England," in
furtherance of a successful scheme of Gorges to steal the Pilgrim
colony from the London Virginia Company, for the more "northern
Plantations" of the conspirators.
(r) The demonstration of the fact that a second attempt at stealing the
colony--by which John Pierce, one of the Adventurers, endeavored to
possess himself of the demesne and rights of the colonists, and to make
them his tenants--was defeated only by the intervention of the
"Council" and the Crown, the matter being finally settled by
compromise and the transfer of the patent by Pierce (hitherto
questioned) to the colony.
(s) The demonstration of the actual relations of the Merchant
Adventurers and the Pilgrim colonists--their respective bodies being

associated as but two partners in an equal copartnership, the interests of
the respective partners being (probably) held upon differing
bases--contrary to the commonly published and accepted view.
(t) The demonstration of the fact that the MAY-FLOWER--contrary to
the popular impression--did not enter Plymouth harbor, as a "lone
vessel," slowly "feeling her way" by chart and lead-line, but was
undoubtedly piloted to her anchorage--previously "sounded" for
her--by the Pilgrim shallop, which doubtless accompanied her from
Cape Cod harbor, on both her efforts to make this haven, under her own
sails.
(u) The indication of the strong probability that Thomas English was
helmsman of the MAY-FLOWER'S shallop (and so savior of her
sovereign company, at the entrance of Plymouth harbor on the stormy
night of the landing on Clarke's Island), and that hence to him the
salvation of the Pilgrim colony is probably due; and
(v) Many facts not hitherto published, or generally known, as to the
antecedents, relationships, etc., of individual Pilgrims of both the
Leyden and the English contingents, and of certain of the Merchant
Adventurers.
For convenience' sake, both the Old Style and the New Style dates of
many events are annexed to their mention, and double-dating is
followed throughout the narrative journal or "Log" of the Pilgrim ship.
As the Gregorian and other corrections of the calendar are now
generally well understood, and have been so often stated in detail in
print, it is thought sufficient to note here their concrete results as
affecting dates occurring in Pilgrim and later literature.
From 1582 to 1700 the difference between O.S. and N.S. was ten (10)
days (the leap-year being passed in 1600). From 1700 to 1800 it was
eleven (11) days, because 1700 in O.S. was leap-year. From 1800 to
1900 the difference is twelve (12) days, and from 1900 to 2000 it