The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-04-06
BARTHOLOMEW GosNoLD.
BY JAMES PARTON.

8 BY JAMES PARTON.
Captain Gosnold will always be r
membered as the commander of ii
first white men who ever trod the so
of Massachusetts. think it just, ais.
to assert of him that, next to Sir Wa
ter Raleigh, he did most toward plan
ing English colonies in America. II
was one of Ralegh's West of Englan
friends. An intelligent and resolut
man, he had early caught fror
Sir Walter the true spirit of a coloniz
er; and he obtained permission +
settle within the limits of Raleigh
grant, while as yet not a white ma
lived from Florida to Canada.
Hard, indeed, was it to induce Eng
lishmen to contribute to an underta
king so full of danger, and SO littl
likely to be profitable. He prevailed
at length, SO far rs to induce a few
noblemen and gentlemen to purchas,
one small vessel, named the Concord
and to provide it with the means o
founding settlement. The day wa.
past when an imposing and numeroul
fleet could be furnished and equipped
for such an enterprise; and in Cos
nold's single vessel only thirty-twc
persons sailed. OF these, eight were
mariners; four were gentlemen OF ed.
ucation, attracted by curiosity to be.
hold the wonders Of the new world,
and disposed to describe them for the
benefit of their .countrymen twenty
were colonists, who had engaged to
remain in the country while the vessel
went home tor supplies and recruits
Among the mariners were two or
three men who had been in the fleet
of Sir Francis Drake when he called
near Cape Hatteras, and took home
Ralegh's disheartened colony in 1886.
They told Captain Gosnold that Drake
had sailed straight across the ocean,
from Virginia to Plymouth, in forty
days, instead of going round by the
Canaries, as almost every navigator
had done since Columbus. Gosnold
resolved to try the same course, and
he was the first of the colonizing voy-
ayers who did so. ua
March twenty-sixth, 1902, he sailed
from Falmouth, and after going west
ward fol forty-nine days., came in
sight of the boldest and most pictur-
esque part of the coast of Massachu.
setts, between Salem and Manchester,
where the shore Is rocky and precipit-
Gus, and many little gems of islands
dot the sea. Imagine the surprise OF
the voyagers, when there came off to
them from the shore a French built
with eight men in it, one OF
whom was dressed il European clothes
from head to foot. They proved to be
Indians, and they had doubtless OBJ
tained these articles from the fisher
men who frequent the coast.
"They came boldly aboard us"
writes one of the gentlemen, "beIng
naked saving about their shoulders
certain loose deer skins, and near their
waists seal skins tied fast like to Irish
Jimmie trousers. They are in color
'wart, their hair long, uptied with a
inot in the part behind the head"
These Indians drew rude map of
,he coast with piece of chalk, spoke
divers Christian Words" and knew
he name Placentia, in Newfoundland.
Missing beautiful >alem harbor, Cap
ain Gosnold sailed southwark until
le came to a sandy point extending
ar out into the sea, where the voya- /
gers caught such a superahundance
If Goldfish, that he gave the cape the
Iame it has borne ever since, Cape
God. The Captain landed upon the
ape, saw some Indians there, who |
lad copper ornaments, pipes, and to-
,acco, all of whom seemed friendly |
md well disposed. Continuing a |
course, he arrived at the |
title island now called No Mans
land, which was SO prolific of wild
ruit that he named it Martha's Vine
'ard-a name afterward applied to
he large island just north fii.} Sail
ng about among that group Of i 'aHds,
e reached, on til. twcnty-fourth of
lay, 1902, an island so pleasant and
1viting that he named it Elizabeth,
nd determined! to plant his colony
pom it. The island abounded, as ali
hat region does to the present hour,
/ wild gooseberry bushes, strawberry
ines, wild roses, and fragrant herbs.
lear the sea Gosno,d found IA fresh
-ater pond, two mile; in circum-
.rence, in the middle of which was
,cky island, about an acre in extent,
overed with wood and shrubbery.
Upon this island he resolved to fix
is settlement. Sending some of his
zen on tour of trade and explora-
on, he employed the rest in luilding
house and fortifying it with pali-
ldes In three weeks the house was |
nished, with a good stoned cellar, ,
id thatched root. While this work 6
as going on, one OF the sailors dis
,vered that sassafras abounded in the
lands; and considerable quantity
it, with some furs bought from the
ldians, and quantity Of cedar wood, '
as put on board the vessel. 81.
So far as we can judge from the t
'scure record of this portion of the
venture, the possession of valua-
e cargo was principal cause of the : :
lure of the expedition; for now a
spute arose, whether the men who .
can't to remain upon the island We're l
Titled to share in the profits oftfe
,yage. Upon taking an account of
cir provisions, it was Uncovered that!
ter dcducting the allowance for the i
Telve men who we're going home in r
e vessel, there would remain only a 5
<. weeks supply for the twenty col q
lists. The sea abounded in fish, it q
true, and corn might have been
lrchased of the Indians; but nothing '
uld cure the colonists of the distrust