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Samuel W. Duffield: Winthrop
A nobler body of men than enlisted in this enterprise, under the lead of Winthrop, never ieft their native soil to colonize a new land. Among them were many persons of wealth and distinguished reputation, and members of illustrious and noble families.
Previous to leaving England, John Winthrop was chosen Governor and Thomas Dudley deputy-governor.
These, with eighteen assistants, appointed at the same time, and the body of the freemen who should settle in the new province, were to constitute a legislative and executive body in which all the rights of the colony were vested.
On March 29, 1630, they sailed from Southampton, and after a pleasant voyage, arrived in the harbor of Salem on the fourteenth of June.
It had been their design to make Salem their principal settlement. But on landing there, Governor Winthrop and most of his party were not pleased with its situation; and after a brief period of rest from the fatigues of the voyage, they commenced a tour of exploration through the country in search of more desirable locations.
They established themselves in places about the bay, as their inclinations or judgment directed them, and thus laid the foundations of Charlestown, Watertown, Dorchester, Roxbury, and other towns, now forming the suburbs of Boston. Governor Winthrop and a material portion of his company first settled at Charlestown, on the north side of Charles River.
Their first meeting for public worship was held under a tree.
On the thirtieth of July, the foundation of the first church in the settlement was laid at Charlestownand preparations were being made for the erection of a house for the residence of the Governor. They soon began to feel the want of good water, for as yet nothing but a brackish spring, near the sea-shore, had been discovered.
The weather had become oppressively hot, and many were taken sick. The Colonists, as a consequence, were becoming dissatisfied with the place, and several of them went in search of a better location.
A fine spring of pure water was discovered on the peninsula on the opposite side of the river, and a party of the Colonists crossed the river to examine it. The only European resident of the peninsula at this time was William Blackstone, a Puritan clergyman, who peninsula, since called Blackstone's Point.
They at once perceived the advantages the peninsula offered for settlement, and most of the Colonists changed their residence to that side of the river, and thither, also, the frame of the Governor's house was subsequently brought over and put up. The Indian name of the place was Shawmut.
The peninsula jutted boldly out into the broad bay of Massachusetts, and united by a narrow neck to the main-land. It was six hundred acres in extent, sparsely covered with trees, and nearly divided by two creeks into three small islands, when the creeks were filled by the tides. Three rounded eminences, swelling from the water's brink, gave the peninsula the name by the Colonists of Trimountain, from which has arisen the modern name of Tremont. The promontory, being nearly surrounded by water, divided into hills, and small in extent, was capable of an easy defence against the Indians. 0 Old Grimes is Dead.
LD GRIMES is dead, that good old man, We ne'er shall see him more; He used to wear a long black coat, All buttoned down before.
His heart was open as the day, His feelings all were true; His hair it was inclined to gray, He wore it in a queue.
Whene'er he heard the voice of pain His breast with pity burned.
The large round head upon his cane From ivory was turned.
Kind words he ever had for all, He knew no base design, His eyes were dark and rather small, His nose was aquiline.
He lived at peace with all mankind, In friendship he was true; His coat had pocket-holes behind, His pantaloons were blue.
Unharm'd the sin which earth pollutes He passes securely o'er, And never wore a pair of boots For thirty years or more.
But good old Grimes is now at rest, Nor fears misfortune's frown.
He wore a double-breasted vest, The stripes ran up and down. だ A He modest merit sought to find, And pay it its desert, He had no malice in his mind, No ruffles on his shirt.
His neighbors he did not abuse, Was sociable and gay, He wore large buckles on his shoes, And changed them every day.
His knowledge hid from public gaze He did not bring to view, Nor make a noise town-meeting days, As many people do.
His worldly goods he never threw In trust to fortune's chances, He lived (as all his brothers do) In easy circumstances.
Thus undisturbed by anxious cares His peaceful moments ran, And everybody said he was A fine old gentleman.