Old Planters (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Old planters are early settlers and are to be differentiated from explorers and new planters. In the United States, there were many early explorers and early attempts at settlements along the east coast.
As an example of exploration, in Massachusetts
we see that Cabot
visited the coastline in 1498. Smith was a later explorer of the coastline. By 1602, a lot of the coast above Plymouth had been visited. On the west coast, early explorers, such as Coronado, of Spain
got as far north as what is now known as Kansas.
In terms of early settlements, North Carolina had the Roanoke Colony
. Virginia
and Florida
both had early colonies. There was an attempt, funded by Ferdinando Gorges
, to settle a part of Maine
(successfully building a seaworthy boat, Virginia (pinnace)
). The west coast was populated even earlier, with offshoots into what is now New Mexico
.
In Massachusetts, the 'old planters' proved through their hard work that settlement was possible; subsequent to this, there was a major influx of 'new planters' that continued over a decade. The early expansions centered around Plymouth and Essex but eventually spawned the westward movements.
began with the Mayflower
's landing and is a well-known story. The Nantasket
settlement followed, soon after, that of Plymouth. Roger Conant (Salem) was at these two settlements before going north to Cape Ann
.
in the spring of (ca 1624) with a party led by Thomas Gardner (planter)
and John Tylly (planter). For this party, there were two ships with 32 people who were to settle the area commercially. About a year later, this party was joined by a group from Plymouth led by Roger Conant (Salem). In 1626, some of the original party, as many left to return to England or to go south, moved the settlement, in hopes of finding more success, to Naumkeag. This settlement worked out and became Salem.
According to the Essex Institute
, the list of old planters, in 1626, who were in Cape Ann
before the move were as follows:
Some of these, with Conant, have been referenced as the 'old planters' of Salem: Woodbury, Trask, Balch, Palfrey.
With Gardner, and then Conant, in the lead, this early group was known for independence and tolerance which traits some (to wit, White) may have seen as being, perhaps, unfit; there had been reports detailing issues, such as insubordination, as far back as Merrymount
and the Cape Ann
effort. As it was, the old planters maintained their success through generations after the move; Gardner's
line of progeny speaks for itself.
The subsequent changes in leadership, with Endicott and Winthrop, brought in military discipline and then a religious focus, respectively. After that, new planters came in successive waves.
John Endicott brought with him, in 1628, the patent that replaced the Dorchester company with the Massachusetts Bay Colony
. A little later, Rev Francis Higginson
brought more settlers and set up the first parsonage. Rev Francis also established the notion that the settlement was of religion and not trade, seemingly contradictory to the interests of London.
By 1630, London had organized a massive influx led by John Winthrop
who repaired out of the Essex area early on. Even with the population growth moving over to Suffolk, by 1700, the population of the Essex had grown rapidly through influx. Just the eleven year period from 1629 (pre-Wintrhop) to 1640, the population of New England went from less than 500 to over 26,000 souls.
The Gardner group, who were to settle the area, did succeed in maintaining themselves after their landing, though the commercial goal was not met. Also, eventual disagreement between the Plymouth folks and the 'West Country' folks, due to Patent conflicts, did come about. Conant, having first been at Plymouth, would have been instrumental in working out a compromise, part of which was the option of moving the Dorchester group away to another area.
Thus, the move to Naumkeag resulted.
's influence, with his arrival with a caravan in 1630, was a big time change for the Massachusetts area, in that he came in with 700 people and stocked ships which necessitated the outward move for more space.
In June 1630, the Winthrop Fleet
arrived in what would later be called Salem
, which on account of lack of food, "pleased them not." They proceeded to Charlestown
, which pleased them less, for lack of fresh water. Finally, they were shown the area now known as Boston.
Hence, Suffolk
came to be. One story reports that Winthrop liked Conant's house and had it moved.
No doubt, some followed Winthrop from Salem; Conant and Gardner stayed in Essex. So too did some from the Arbella
, such as Major William Hathorne, father of John
.
Also, we can see that the full stature of the Church of England came in with Winthrop and drastically altered the landscape from that of the fewer souls who pioneered the area earlier. The government was organized. Within four years, Harvard was born.
Finally, families of substance started to come over, such as the Lowells
, Welds
, and many others, bringing with them the means to develop and to build what became a prominent section of a new country.
As an example of exploration, in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
we see that Cabot
Sebastian Cabot (explorer)
Sebastian Cabot was an explorer, born in the Venetian Republic.-Origins:...
visited the coastline in 1498. Smith was a later explorer of the coastline. By 1602, a lot of the coast above Plymouth had been visited. On the west coast, early explorers, such as Coronado, of Spain
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
got as far north as what is now known as Kansas.
In terms of early settlements, North Carolina had the Roanoke Colony
Roanoke Colony
The Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island in Dare County, present-day North Carolina, United States was a late 16th-century attempt to establish a permanent English settlement in what later became the Virginia Colony. The enterprise was financed and organized by Sir Walter Raleigh and carried out by...
. Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
both had early colonies. There was an attempt, funded by Ferdinando Gorges
Ferdinando Gorges
Sir Ferdinando Gorges , the "Father of English Colonization in North America", was an early English colonial entrepreneur and founder of the Province of Maine in 1622, although Gorges himself never set foot in the New World.-Biography:...
, to settle a part of Maine
Popham Colony
The Popham Colony was a short-lived English colonial settlement in North America that was founded in 1607 and located in the present-day town of Phippsburg, Maine near the mouth of the Kennebec River by the proprietary Virginia Company of Plymouth...
(successfully building a seaworthy boat, Virginia (pinnace)
Virginia (pinnace)
The Virginia was a pinnace built in 1607-08 by colonists at the Popham Colony. She was the first English-built ship in what is now Maine and possibly in all of the English-colonized areas of North America....
). The west coast was populated even earlier, with offshoots into what is now New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
In Massachusetts, the 'old planters' proved through their hard work that settlement was possible; subsequent to this, there was a major influx of 'new planters' that continued over a decade. The early expansions centered around Plymouth and Essex but eventually spawned the westward movements.
Plymouth
Two early areas of settlement were Plymouth (c 1620) and Nantasket (c 1621). The Plymouth colonyPlymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
began with the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
's landing and is a well-known story. The Nantasket
Hull, Massachusetts
Hull is a peninsula town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,293 at the 2010 census. Hull is the smallest town by land area in Plymouth County and the fourth smallest in the state...
settlement followed, soon after, that of Plymouth. Roger Conant (Salem) was at these two settlements before going north to Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
.
Essex
The Essex colony started at Cape AnnCape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
in the spring of (ca 1624) with a party led by Thomas Gardner (planter)
Thomas Gardner (planter)
Thomas Gardner was an Overseer of the "old planters" party of the Dorchester Company who landed, in 1624 at Cape Ann, to form a colony at what is now known as Gloucester...
and John Tylly (planter). For this party, there were two ships with 32 people who were to settle the area commercially. About a year later, this party was joined by a group from Plymouth led by Roger Conant (Salem). In 1626, some of the original party, as many left to return to England or to go south, moved the settlement, in hopes of finding more success, to Naumkeag. This settlement worked out and became Salem.
According to the Essex Institute
Essex Institute
The Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts, was "a literary, historical and scientific society." It maintained a museum, library, historic houses; arranged educational programs; and issued numerous scholarly publications...
, the list of old planters, in 1626, who were in Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
before the move were as follows:
- Roger Conant (Salem) - Governor, John LyfordJohn lyfordThe Reverend John Lyford was a controversial figure during the early years of the Plymouth Colony. After receiving degrees from Oxford University , he became pastor at Leverlegkish, near Laughgaid, Armagh, Ireland. He was the first ordained minister to come to the Plymouth Colony...
- Minister (went to Virginia, instead of Naumkeag), John Woodbury, Humphrey Woodbury, John BalchJohn Balch HouseThe John Balch House , located at 448 Cabot Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest wood-frame houses in the United States. It is now operated as one of the historic house museums of the Beverly Historical Society, and open June 1 to October 15, Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 p.m...
, Peter Palfray, Walter Knight, William Allen , Thomas Gray, John Tylly, Thomas GardnerThomas Gardner (planter)Thomas Gardner was an Overseer of the "old planters" party of the Dorchester Company who landed, in 1624 at Cape Ann, to form a colony at what is now known as Gloucester...
, Richard Norman (and his son), William Jeffrey, and Capt. William Trask.
Some of these, with Conant, have been referenced as the 'old planters' of Salem: Woodbury, Trask, Balch, Palfrey.
With Gardner, and then Conant, in the lead, this early group was known for independence and tolerance which traits some (to wit, White) may have seen as being, perhaps, unfit; there had been reports detailing issues, such as insubordination, as far back as Merrymount
Merrymount (Quincy, Massachusetts)
Merrymount is a primarily residential neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts, located between the neighborhoods of Quincy Center and Adams Shore. Although it was the site of Quincy's initial settlement, Merrymount was not substantially developed for residential use until the first half of the 20th...
and the Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
effort. As it was, the old planters maintained their success through generations after the move; Gardner's
Thomas Gardner (planter)
Thomas Gardner was an Overseer of the "old planters" party of the Dorchester Company who landed, in 1624 at Cape Ann, to form a colony at what is now known as Gloucester...
line of progeny speaks for itself.
The subsequent changes in leadership, with Endicott and Winthrop, brought in military discipline and then a religious focus, respectively. After that, new planters came in successive waves.
John Endicott brought with him, in 1628, the patent that replaced the Dorchester company with the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. A little later, Rev Francis Higginson
Francis Higginson
Francis Higginson was an early Puritan minister in Colonial New England, and the first minister of Salem, Massachusetts.-Biography:...
brought more settlers and set up the first parsonage. Rev Francis also established the notion that the settlement was of religion and not trade, seemingly contradictory to the interests of London.
By 1630, London had organized a massive influx led by John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
who repaired out of the Essex area early on. Even with the population growth moving over to Suffolk, by 1700, the population of the Essex had grown rapidly through influx. Just the eleven year period from 1629 (pre-Wintrhop) to 1640, the population of New England went from less than 500 to over 26,000 souls.
Plymouth involvement
As one would expect, the Plymouth colony had made excursions along the Massachusetts coast including north to Cape Ann. Some records report that Cushman and Winslow of Plymouth had received a Patent for Cape Ann (1623/24). Other reports suggest that salting structures had been built in the Cape Ann area to support fishing efforts.The Gardner group, who were to settle the area, did succeed in maintaining themselves after their landing, though the commercial goal was not met. Also, eventual disagreement between the Plymouth folks and the 'West Country' folks, due to Patent conflicts, did come about. Conant, having first been at Plymouth, would have been instrumental in working out a compromise, part of which was the option of moving the Dorchester group away to another area.
Thus, the move to Naumkeag resulted.
Suffolk
John WinthropJohn Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
's influence, with his arrival with a caravan in 1630, was a big time change for the Massachusetts area, in that he came in with 700 people and stocked ships which necessitated the outward move for more space.
In June 1630, the Winthrop Fleet
Winthrop Fleet
The Winthrop Fleet was a group of eleven sailing ships under the leadership of John Winthrop that carried approximately 700 Puritans plus livestock and provisions from England to New England over the summer of 1630.-Motivation:...
arrived in what would later be called Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, which on account of lack of food, "pleased them not." They proceeded to Charlestown
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
, which pleased them less, for lack of fresh water. Finally, they were shown the area now known as Boston.
Hence, Suffolk
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
came to be. One story reports that Winthrop liked Conant's house and had it moved.
No doubt, some followed Winthrop from Salem; Conant and Gardner stayed in Essex. So too did some from the Arbella
Arbella
The Arbella or Arabella was the flagship of the Winthrop Fleet on which, between April 8 and June 12, 1630, Governor John Winthrop, other members of the Company and Puritan emigrants transported themselves and the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company from England to Salem, thereby giving legal...
, such as Major William Hathorne, father of John
John Hathorne
John Hathorne was an executor in the Salem witch trials, and the only one who never repented of his actions. He was also a merchant in Salem, Massachusetts....
.
Also, we can see that the full stature of the Church of England came in with Winthrop and drastically altered the landscape from that of the fewer souls who pioneered the area earlier. The government was organized. Within four years, Harvard was born.
Finally, families of substance started to come over, such as the Lowells
Lowell family
The Lowell family settled on the North Shore at Cape Ann after they arrived in Boston on June 23, 1639. The patriarch, Percival Lowle , described as a "solid citizen of Bristol", determined at the age of 68 that the future was in the New World.Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop needed...
, Welds
Weld family
The Weld family is an extended family of Boston Brahmins most remembered for the philanthropy of its members. The Welds have many connections to Harvard University, the Golden Age of Sail, the Far East , the history of Massachusetts, and American history in general.William Weld, former Governor of...
, and many others, bringing with them the means to develop and to build what became a prominent section of a new country.
External links
- Thomas Gardner Society
- Higginson, TW [1900]. The Alliance between Pilgrim and Puritan in Massachusetts. Old Planter Society address. (Officers pg 19, Member list pg 21)
- Goff, J [2007]. Looking at Salem's beginnings: The White and Gardner family contributions.
- Salem Preservation, Inc Newsletter. Reporting historic preservation developments in the greater Salem area.