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Excerpt from
DAVID THOMSON, THE SCOTTISH FOUNDER OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE...
A GENTLEMAN, AND A SCHOLAR
PART 3
by Genevieve Cora Fraser
© Copyright 2,000. All rights reserved by
Genevieve Cora Fraser.
"...David Thomson’s letter to the Earl of Arundel has been
preserved in his collection of Autograph Letters. Fortunately for those
interested in early colonial America, Mary F. S. Hervey had the letter
transcribed and placed in the appendix to her book, published posthumously
in 1921, entitled, "The Life Correspondence & Collections of Thomas
Howard Earl of Arundel." The original manuscript of Thomson’s letter
is housed in Arundel Castle, Sussex, England in the present Duke of Norfolk’s
library.
David Howarth, in his "Lord Arundel and His Circle", also
published the opening lines of the letter in 1985. However, Howarth seems
not to have understood that the author was a New England
"Planter." Instead, he refers to Thomson as Captain Thomson
(though the appellation "Captain" is not stated in the letter) and
focuses on Thomson’s description of the marble he had come upon near
Naemkeek (Salem, MA) and at other locations. (37) As a patron of the arts,
collector of many of the world’s greatest paintings and sculpture, and
member of the King’s Building Commission, according to Howarth,
"Thomson knew his priorities; he knew what Arundel would really want to
hear. Thus, he began his letter with an account of marble." Van Dyke
commemorated Arundel’s venture into colonization in a 1639 painting. (38)
Thomson’s letter is of profound cultural and historic importance. The
manuscript provides a unique glimpse into early colonial life, and Thomson’s
role in that history, which to date has focused primarily on the
establishment of the New England fishing trade. Ironically, the "graye
marble" to which he refers may not be marble at all, but rather the
Porphyritic Greenstone of the ancients which was referred to as marble but
contains embedded crystals of feldspar. This stone is found on the northeast
side of Cape Ann and at nearby Marblehead, as described in Edward Hitchcock’s
1841 "Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts." (39)
David Thomson’s letter is Number 275 of Arundel’s "Autograph
Letters." The first page seems to echo what Captain John Smith stated
in 1616 in his Description of New England, that the Massachusetts country to
him, was "the paradise of all those parts…" (40)
Right honble Lo:
desyring to answer honors expectaen & preforme my
duetifull promise, I made bold to wrytt to yor ho: by the waye of Plymouth
in England, and as I understand Mr. Colmer brought the same for London,
together with an example of graye marble I found in this countrie neere to
Naemkeek which is between Cape Anne and the Messachusets. But cannot
learne if the same came to yor Lo: hande. I heare of farr better and of
greater diversities about Poconoakit which is to the west of Cape Codd. I
have seene a tobacco pype of a transparent stone lykest in my simple
judgemt to pure whyte Alabaster, I enquyred the Salvage that had it, where
he had it, he told me at Pokonokit, and that there was much of that sorte.
I must acknowledge I could never have the convenience of seing the other
syde of Cape Codd. Amongst other thinges yor Lo: desyred this last autume
has taught us that noe man neede expect any better place then the
Messachusets. The few planters that are seated in that Baye did usuallie
in an howre or thereabouts make 5 or 6 gallons of wyne lyke to heighe
Countre Frenche wyne. And though one man did it, yett 3 or 4 would make an
end of it almost as speedilie as it was in doing. And their providence was
such that they never saved any for wintr, noe, not soe much as to make
Verius one bevverage. And thoughe they had store of codd whithin the bay
amonst the Islands at their doors, herrings driven on shoare at their
doores, Mackerell, Basse and large Eelles in aboundance, yet not any of
them saved any for the winter. But the supaboundance of fowlle supplyed
their defects and neglecte. And where two families by their owne
acknowledgemt in ten dayes might have killed 120 deere or above, they were
soe pitifull as to lett all goe but six. Since my arrivall to this
countrey that place of Messachuset has caste foorthe two plantaens
(plantations) the one being of about 60 psones, the second not much
inferior, the third upon yeeilding his last breathe, the fourthe hopeful.
The place it self is the onlie and sole place of the land woorthie praise,
I meane of all wee yett knowe to the east of Cape Codd. The soylle
wonderfullie fruitfull, cleere & deepe mould. The woode in places
gone; sufficient ground for 10,000 people. Neither can anyplace wee yett
know compare with it, all advantages considered. And where it has been
proposed by some to yor Lo: that a publick plantacon be setled about
Kinnabeck, be assured it comes farr short of the Messachusets. If his
Ma(jes)tie and the Ryt Ho: his Ma(jes)ties most ho: Privie Counsell were
truelie informed of the state of the Southe Colonie, the difficultie of
ever bringing the same to some goodnes, something by reasonne of the
unhealthfulnes of the Clyme, the distemperature of the Ayre there, the
enemitie of the Salvages, the want of fishe for the maintenance of the
people, which yeerly they come to fetche from this Countrie and
Newfoundland, I am verely p(er)suaded his Ma(jes)tie would goe neere to
remove all & settle them heere. There are so many pregnable reasons to
sollicit the same. Butt wee fowr that are here should be unwilling of
their Companie, it being a bodie composed….
Page 2 of the Thomson letter continues:
composed of some few good people, many bade, amongst whome reignes
excessif pryde in Apparell, the lyke never hard of in Europe. Excessive
drunkenness when they can have it, how deere soever; other vices I dare
not name. Yett dare I not excuse ourselfs of infinit abuses and vile
enormities by promiscuous trading as well unfree as free, runagates that
comes only and stayes to trade w(it)h the Salvages, spoylling the trade in
sort that what the last yeere wee were wont to have for one thousand Beads
wee must now give 6. Besydes the shippes that comes a fishing, where they
frequent have cleene overthrowen all. They give an old pennie for a newe,
which is to them great gaine, for the most part of what manie of them
trades are victualls, imbezelled from their owners. The manifold
inconveniences that insues heerupon are infinit. Their Company when
Victualls drawes short, gives over going to Sea. The owners loosses, and
are discouradged from further adventuring, little plate as brought home as
formerlie. The planters having for the present noe other hopes to
mainteine themselfs with neccessities, as apparell, pouder, shott, and noe
meanes to transport cattell & more people, all I saye (are) utterly
lyke to be overthrowne by the same, as lykewayes by their continuall
bartering & trading with the Salvages peeces from 4 foote longe in the
barroll to six foote, pistolls, swoords, pouder & shott,
notwithstanding his Ma(jes)ties proclama’n. I speake no untruthe to yor
Honor for I have taken peeces from some of them, and told them his
Ma(jes)tie wills them to use their Bowes and not our peeces. They are
growen soe expert as that they exceed most of the Englishe. And to leave
them and come to our selfs, the planters, wee are lyke a bodie without a
head, none to rule us, none to minister justice, infinit greevances
amongst us, none to redresse, especiallie amongst the Brownists of Newplym’t.
I have often called to mynd the speeches used in yor ho: chamber,
speaking of the Soute Colonie: A Swoorde put in a madmans hand, a Chylds
hand or a foolles hand is danngerous. What can be expected that a rude
ignorant mechanicke can doe w(it)h a sharpe swoord of justice. The
Complaints amongst them are soe many that to p(ar)ticularise would be
tediuos to yor ho: upon Comannd it shalbe done. Only my humble and hartie
prayer to yor ho: is you would be pleased to acquaint his Ma(jes)ties most
ho: privie Counsell and procure some comiserac’n to be taken off us.
Also that wee maye knowe his Ma(jes)ties pleasure of the continuance of us
heere, which is impossible without more people. For the Salvages
increasses daylie, wee diminish rather then otherwayes. Wee daylie
discover in the countrie greater and greater multitudes of Salvages, also
they beginne to growe verie arrogant and insult over some. Wee are
dispersed 16 leagues, 15 leagues, 12 leagues, 7 leagues and 2 leagues
asunder. And soe none of us is able therefore to adverteise one an othr or
succor one an other, if need should requyre. If his Ma(jes)tie intend not
that plantac’ns shall p(ro)ceed, and that some good people be not sent
speedilie oute, for Gads sake most ho: Lo: let us receave soe much honor
favor & happines as to knowe it, that wee maye either relinquishe all
or use some meanes to prevent our utter destrucen and overthrowe.
The final page concludes with the
following:
The onlie beneficiall places of trade are to the East about
Kinnabecke, Amilcagen, Pemmiquid, Penobscot, and soe east to the river of
Cannada, which the frenche yeerlie pulles from our mouthes; & none
will adventure to drive them from it, for whosoever shall doe it shall but
beate the bushe and others shall afterwards catche the birds. Also to the
west of Cape Codd from Narrohgansett to Delawarre Baye the Dutche frequent
and have a plantac(io)n about Hudsons river, under the name of New
Netherlands, where they have a forthe (fort) of stone, divers peeces of
ordnannce.... the shipps stayes some goes in pinnaces trading, the loades
aboord in the shipps hold an earthe in maudes upon their shoulders (?).
This relation has bene confirmed by many and severall Salvages. Divers
Salvages have also assured me of a plantac’n at Mohigan where is a man
or two amongst others makes swoords, hatchets, arrowheads, for truck with
long knives. Neither is it farr in likelihood from the place I dwell in,
over to the river of Canada; for the great lacke which is in the frenche
mapps called lac de Champlaine is but a daye and a halfe journeying from
my house. I intend God willing to see it in a moneth hence. It is soe long
and large that whoe lives on the one syde cannot see the shoare on the
other. There are divers great Islands in the same. The River of Merameck
comes from hence; the plentifullest river wee yett knowe, of Salmo(n),
Sturgeon, Basse & Mullet, in their season. All the Salvages that are
travellers constantly affirme this Countrie to be an Iland.
I presume yor ho: will not imput it to indiscretion or too
much boldnes to show yor lo: that in my opinion it were most necessarie
that all the Land plantac’ns in the Countrie should be forced to drawe
together to live in the Messachusets. That they might have one gnall
(general) gouvernor, that none despached abroad should live under 40 50 or
60 in Companie, I meane of the fishermen - the carelessest people of all
the rest, aptest to quarrell with the Salvages & to stealle their
great kettles, skinnes, deeres suett & suchlyke, from them, as this
yeere they have done. (But those Brownists of New Plym’t to conmtinue
where they are, for as they desyre the Societie of none but such as are of
their owne p’fession, soe I am assured non regares them or their
fellowship.) Only it were fitt some discreete man sent from his Ma(jes)tie
should oversee them. Cap’n Jhon Mason in Foster Lane, formerly gouvernor
of a plantac’n in Newfoundland, and now as I understand in England, were
a fitt instrum’t to this effect, for it is more then necessarie that
whosoever shall undergoe such a charge should be experienced heerine. The
work of undiscreet gouvernors and unskilfull, is lyke amongst us to undoe
all, even in privat families.
Thus comitting or necessities to yor ho: noble generous
& pious considerac’n, my boldnes to yor honors clemencie, my
tediousnes to yor Lo: wonted pacience, and yor ho: to Gods protection, I
humbie rest
Yor Lo: most duetifull Ser’t
David Thomson.
Plymesland in New England
the first of Julie 1625
I had omitted to insert how that this yeere hardlie
escaped great murder & bloodshed, at Cape Anne for stage roome. 16 or
17 muskateers came from Newplym’t, bothe p(ar)ties seemed not only
resolute but desperat. By good fortune I was there accidently, and used
many argum’ts on bothe sydes to dissuade such ungodlie, violent &
unaswerable p(ro)ceedings. The daye & tyme, yea place, appointed to
fight, on shoare. Barricades & Bulw"kes made. Shippes readie, not
to faylle to playe their pts. These are the fruits of unrulie multitudes.
The last yeere they scoft the gouvernor & his authoritie becaus he
wanted power.
(41)
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