Supplement to New England’s Memorial

New England’s Memorial,

By Another Hand¹

1669.

This year, 1669, was rendered sorrowful and remarkable, by the death of Capt. Thomas Southworth, who, full of faith and comfort, expired at Plimouth, December the 8th, being about fifty-three years old, after he had served God in his generation, faithfully, both in a public, and private station.

Thomas Prince, Esq., was again chosen governor of this colony for this year, and so annually to the year 1672; and, March 29, 1673, finished his course, in the seventy-third year of his life; having been a worthy, pious gentleman, and very capable of the office of governor, which he sustained about eighteen years, being therein a terror to evil doers, and an encourager of those that did well; and was honourably interred at Plymouth, April 8, 1673.

To whom succeeded as governor, at the next election, June 3, 1673, the Hon. Josias Winslow, Esq., son of the same Governor Winslow, in whose time, namely, June 24, 1675, broke out the Indian war by Philip, chief sachem of Pockanockett, alias Mount Hope, wherein God, for our sins, was pleased to render the Indians a great scourge to his people in this, and the other colonies of New England, both in their persons and estates. The war being attended with the usual barbarity of the heathen, burning of houses, murdering of men, women, and children; desolation of towns and settlements; tedious and terrible captivities, and continual fears and dangers; the Indians spreading themselves far and near, and effecting with their hands the revenge and malice of their hearts, until that God Almighty regarding our prayers, and succeeding our endeavours, put a stop unto the outrages of the heathen, in the year 1676, when Philip, the perfidious aggressor in the war, was slain on his own plantation near Mount Hope (now Bristol), by one of his own countrymen; and others who had a great hand in our distresses, brought to condign punishment, or forced to fly their own country.

Thus God preserved the vine, which his own right hand had planted, and has enlarged our borders, by giving to us the heritage of the heathen, which they justly forfeited by their unreasonable rebellion.

Oh! that people of this, and the other colonies, would praise the Lord for his goodness, and wonderful works unto them, that so he may not be provoked to kindle such a fire amongst them.

But a more particular account of this war has been faithfully recorded by the Rev. Mr. Hubbard, and Dr. Increase Mather, and others, to which I refer the reader.

This Governor Winslow was annually chosen to that office to the year 1680; and in December, 1680, after many escapes in perilous fights and dangerous voyages, death arrested him, at his seat in Marshfield, within the jurisdiction of New Plimouth, in the fifty-second year of his age. He was a worthy and well- accomplished gentleman, deservedly beloved by the people, being a true friend to their just liberties, generous, facetious, affable, and sincere, qualities incident to the family.

In 1681, June 7th, Thomas Hinckley, Esq., was chosen governor, and by annual election, continued to 1686.

In the year 1685, the government being much enlarged through the divine benediction upon their labour and industry; the colony was divided into three counties, namely, The county of Plimouth, of which the shire town is Plimouth.

The county of Barnstable, the shire town Barnstable.

The county of Bristol, Bristol being the shire town.