Washington telegraph., 1855-05-16
BradfOr(l'S History.

INTERESTING MANUSCRIPT DISCOVERY
It is well known to American historical
inouirers that William Bradford, the second
Governor of Plymouth. wrote history of
the Pilgrims and that Colony from 1902 TO
to 1917, which contained go folio pages
and this, which was never published. was
used freely by Morton, in making his Me-
mortal, by Hutchinson in writing his History.
and by Prince in preparing his Annals
Thus Prince. 1876. cites: Governor
Bradford's History OF Plymouth people and
Colony. from 1902 to the end of 1916. in
30 pages, with some account of the end,
and Of the increase of those who came over
with him. from 1920 10 1850. AID all in his
OWL handwriting" Governor Hutchinson,
in his second volume. published first in
1867, is one Of the last, if not the last vino
referred 20 the manuscript.
From this time nothing. until lately, was
heard of this manuscript While in the
possession of Prince. who died in i75S. it
was deposited i'll the New England Library,
in the tower Of the Old South Church.
where he kept his choice historical treas
ures. Among them WAS Gov BradfoT.I's
letter-bcok This was carried 10 Nova SEQ
tia. and the earlier, or more valuable, part
was DESTROYED. bu. the remainder was res
cued abGu; fifty years ago. from n grocer's
shop in Halifax, and published by the Mas
saehuSe;s Historical Society. Il has been
supposed iha, Br.d;or,i's manuscript history
shared the fate o. o:hcr documents that were
DESTROYED when the churcl, was used for
riding school in the days of the siege of
Boston 1t has long been given up as lost
The late DR. Young found in the manu-
script records OF the first church of Plymouth
4 narrative. which by making comparisons
of it with the large extracts from the origin
al Bradford manuscript. cited in Hutchiu-
son and Prince lie ascertaincd to be the
history of Governor Bradford. This Ply
mouth manuscript had been considered by
Hazard to have been written by Nathaniel
Morton, and was printed by him. as such,
in his well known collections This Ms.
document. thus a>certained by Dr. Young
TO be portion Of that identical history OF
Bradford VIII be found iii that valuable
work, the Chronicles of the Pilgrims 1t
comes down no further, however, than the
year 1920
Thus matters stood until few weeks ago.
as 10 this long los; manuscript, an authority
Of course that takes precedence of all other
authorities relative 10 Plymouth Colony
At the last annual meeting of the Historical
Society, Mr. Charles Deane detailed circam-
stances that leave no doubt CT the existence
Of this document. 4 Little volume was
printed in London few years ago entitled
"a History of the Protestant Episcopal
Church iii America by Samrel BiShop of
Oxford Second Edition. 1916" 4 few
copies Of this work fuaud their way TO this
side the Of water. One Of those in whose
hands It fell was Rev john s. Barry. Of
Scltuate, who has made valuable contr;bu-
ton TO our local annals in a history of Ham
over, and for several years has been eneae-
ed IN writing history Of Massachusetts.
now IN the press and. therefore. is ercae-
ed In critically comparing authorities.
Tie recognized passages in this book as
being similar to those found in Prince and
Morton. ana cited as from BIadford's histo-
ry- In this book. however. the anthor 70.
ferred. as the source whence he obtained
them, to Manuscript history of Plvmon,h :
Plantation in Fulbam Library Thor
wete other passages also, containing new
matter, which were referred TO the same
source, Mr. Barry was impressed will
the belief that this MS. referred to coul.
be no other than the long-lost history @
bradford. He Immediately communicate,
his views to few friends of the Massachu
se;ts Historical Society. who concurred i,
them One of these was Mr.. Deane. VIII
Is Is now one of the publishing committee c
the Society lie immediately addressed
ieher, detailing these circumstances, to
distinguished an'iquary of London, Rev
joseph Hunter. vino has already done ex
eeiient service in the field O: American his
'Ory and also stating the object to be t,
procure copy for the Society, should til,
%%anlseript n prove to be Bradiord's History
nf peane sent further, as means of yerifi