New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A PURITAN MAJOR.

nes WILLARD By JosEIH WILLARD. svo. pp 40.
Philips, Sampson Co.
The researches Of the geneslogist, rs intimAted
BY the author Of this model antiquarian record,
have assumed an important place, within q few
years past, in pubic opinion in this country. II,
heretofore, he has been regarded with a certain
feeling Of commlseration, or perhaps OF contempt,
by those who take the most active part in the af-
fairs Of the world bis pursuits now held in such
high estimation, that even to~n-historyls Is NOT
deemed complete without list OF the prlmiu'c
settlers and their descendants. The subject OF THIS
volume occupied position in our carly c,'onisl
hntory, which fuzzy justlfes the antiquarian zeal
with which the author las eathered up the memo
rials Of his Ife He was one Of the fathers Of New
England, not only by the numerous posterity which
trsce their family name to him, but by the energy
courage, and wisdom with which he watched over
the early fortunes Of Massachusetts,. He emigrated
from HornoDdeD, in the County Of Kent, arriving
in this country in l63i-a year, according to con-
temporaneOus writer, in which Gods "wOnder-
working Providence" put it into the hearts of
"msny godly persons, as well women as men, to
hszsrd themselves. their children and estates, to
20 into New. England, in America-at least three
thousand miles from this gdom-by sea, there to
plant in respect of the doctrina part, one of the
most absolutely holy, orthodox, and well.governed
churches in ChriseDdorn, or in that other world"
Soon after his arrival, he established himself IN
Cambridge, at time when the inhabitants OF that
place were complaining of " straitress for want OF
land, especially meadow," and had sought leave
Fl Om the General Court to "lOOk out either for
enlargement or removal" Willard, it would seem
shared in the prevailing unrest, and soon decided
TO choose d residence elsewhere There was spot
several miles from Cambridge with which he was
already familiar, from his intercourse with the In
disps, and which he knew to be Of " pleasant as
pect and cay cultivation" In connection with
about twelve families, graDt was made TO him of
six miles square at this place called bu.ketaquid
"to be free from putlick charges three years"
The selection of this locality, which has since be-
come famous as the town of Concord, lie supposed
TO have been Que to Willard, as the leader Of the
enterprise. The circumstances in which that an
cent and pleasant village had its origin are quantity
set forth in a conteGporaneous narrative quoted by
our author.
upon some inquiry of the Indians who lived to the
nortl-we If the Bay, one Captaine Simon Willard
being acquainted with the by reason OF his trade, be-
came cheie unent in erecting this town; the
land they purchase o the Indians, and with much df
6culties travelling though unknowne woods, and
through watey scIampes (swahps) they discover tbe
tnsse of the place, sometimes passing through the
tbickets where their hands forced to make way
for their bodies passage, aud telr feete clamoeing
over the crossed trees, which when they missed they
sunke into uDcertane bottome IN water ana wade
~ to the knees tumb sometimes higher and some
times vweT Weaied with this tolle they at end OF tins,
meete with scorchirg plaipe, yet notso plane, put
that The ragged bushes scratch their legs iony even
To wearing their stockings to their bare skin 10 two or
three houres if they be not otherwise well deended
with bootes or buskings their flesh will be torne;-
that some being forced to passe on without further
prcvsiop) have had the bloud trcke downe at every
Step: and i'll the time of summer the sun casts SUCH
II citing beate from the sweet ferne whose scent IL
very strong that some herewith have beene very
d, re ianig, although very able bodies TO undergone
much travels and this not to be lndured Ior one aay,
but far mnny . . , They rest them one the rocks
where the hight take. them. Their short repast Is
some small pittaI of bread if it hold ont but as Tor
drinke they have plenty the countrey being wei wa
in all places bat Yet found out Their farther
hardship is to travel, sometimes they know not
whether bt wjred indeed without sight OF sun, tner
compasse mscarrying in croudng through the bushes
Tley sadly search up and dOun for known way-the
Indians paths being not above one foot broad 80 that
| a man may travel many dayes and never mud one.
This intricate worke no whit daunted these re-
solved servants Of Christ TO goe on with the worke 10
| hand; but lying in the open aire while the watery
clouds puuIe down all the hight season, and sometimes
the diving spow dissOving on their backs they Keep
their wet coathes warme with Continued hre, ti the
renewed morning give fresh opportunity o % iul.nef 81
aboad they burrow themselves IN the earth Tor ther
first shelter under hin ride casting the earth aoft
upon timber. They make snoaky fire against the
eath at the highest side, ard thus these poore serv
ants Of Christ provide shelter for themselves their
wives and little ones, keeping OF the short showers
from their lodgings, but t1e long raines penetrate
through, TO their great disturbance III tne hghi sea
sor Yet in these poore wigwames they sing Psalnes,
Tray and praise their Cool till they can Proviae then
houses, which ordinarily was not wont 10 Se VII.
many till the earth, by tte Lords blessing oIousht
fonl bread to feed them their wives and little ones
which with labors they attaine, every one that
can t have hoe to strike ii into tue earth, stand,
ing tou,y their labors and teare up the rootes and
bushes which the first yeare be8res them very thin
crop til the soard Of tie earth be rotten, and there
fore they have been forced TO cut their bread very thin
for long season. But the Lord is pleased to provide
for them great store Of fish in the spring time and es'
pecblly alewivcs about the bigDesse Of herring
many thousands Of these they used 10 put under their
Indian which they plant in hills five foote asun.
der-aLd assuredly when the Lord created this corne,
lre had q special eye 10 supply these his peoples
wants with Il, fer ordinarily i've or six granes doth
produce six hundred.
lathoueh now they have plenty unlesse they ccul
barter with the ludans for venison or roceoons whose
flesh il not much ireIiour unto lambe the toile of
lew plantation being Ike the lsbours OF Hercules,
| never al end. Yet are none 50 bsr6afousy bent
| under the Matacusets especially but with new
plantation they ordinarily gather into church-felow-
ship that pastors and people suffer the inconve-
nences together; which is great ineanes to season
the lab, tb.y undergoe. And verify the edge
If their appetite greater to spiritual duties at
their first comming in time of wants, than afterwards;
| Many in new plantations have been forced TO go bare
foot and bare leg til these latter dayes, and some IN
| time Of frost and snow. Yet were they then very
healthy more than low they are. Theif
lonesome condition very grievous to some which
WAS much apcIaYaed by cOntinuall feare of the In