Morning journal and courier., 1886-07-13
ONE OF THE PIONEER TRIPS.

Through Long Island Sound-CaPtain
 Thomas Dermer's Letter To His
 WOrsh1pful Friend. MT. Samuel
 Purchase, Preacher of the Word At
 The Church A Little Within Ludgate,
 LOndon--Dated At Captain Martyn's
 Plantation, Virginia, 27 December,
 1919, o. s.
 It was the 18th of May before was fitted for my discovery when from Monahiggau (Maine) set sail in an open pinnaee of five tons for the island I told you of. passed along the coast where I found some ancient plantations not long since populous, now utterly void; in other places remnant re- main, but not free from sickness. Their disease is the plague, for we might perceive the sores of some that had escaped, who de- scribed the spots of such usually die. When I arrived at my savage's (Squanto, who next year, 1920, gave welcome to the Mayfower's Pilgrims, with Samoset) native country, finding all dead, travelled long days journey westward, to a place called Nummastaguytt, where finding inhabitants despatched a messenger 8 days journey far ther west to Pocanokett, which border eth on the sea, whence came to Se0 n0 IWO dtI6uueu "AGA a guard of fifty men, who being well satisfied with what my savage and I discoursed unto them (being desirous of novelty, gave me content in whatsoever demanded, where I found that former relations were true. Here I redeemed Frenchman and afterwards an other at Mastachusit who three years since escaped shipwreck at the northeast of Cape Cod. I must be brief (amongst many things worthy observation) for want of leis- ure; therefore hence I pass (not mentioning any place where we touched in the way) to the island which we discovered the twelfth of June. Here we had good quarter with the savages, who likewise confirmed for mer reports. found sev- en several places digged, sent some of the earth, with samples of other commodities elsewhere found, sounded the coast. and the time being far spent bore up for Monahiggan, arriving the three and twentieth of June, where we found ship ready to depart. To this isle are two others near adjoining, all of which I called by the name of King James, Isles, because from thence had the first motives to search for that (now probable passage) which may here after be both honorable and profitable to his majesty. When I had despatched with the ships ready to depart, I thus concluded for the accomplishing my business. In regard of the fewness of my men, not being able to leave behind ne a competent number for
 
 put most of my provisions aboard the Sampson of Captain Ward, ready bound for Virginia, from whence he came, taking no more into the pinnace than I thought might serve our terms, determining with Gods help to reach the coast along and at Virginia to supply ourselves for second discovery if the first failed. But as the best actions are commonly hardest in effecting and are sell dom without their crosses, so in this we had our share and met with many difficulties. for we had not sailed above forty leagues but we were taken with a southerly storm which drove us to this strait, either we must weather rocky point of land, or run into broad bay not less dangerous. In cidit in Scyllam, etc. The rocks we could not weather, though we loosed till we re- ceived much water, but at last were forced to bear up for the bay and run on ground a furlong off the shore, where we had been beaten to pieces had we not,instantly thrown overheard our provisions to save our lives, by which means we escaped aud brought off our pinnace the next high water without hurt, having one plank broken and a small leak or two which we easily mended, and being left in this misery, having lost much bread, all our beef and cider, some meal and apparel, with other provisions and neoessaries, having now little left but hope to encourage us to persist, yet, after a little deliberation we resolved to proceed, and de- parted with the next fair wind.
 We had not now that fair quarter among the savages as before, which, I take it, was by reason of our savages' (squantos) absence, ,who desired Gin regard of our long journey) to stay with some of our savage friends at Sawahqua- tooke, for now almost everywhere, where they were of any strength they sought to be- tray us. At Manamock, (the southern part of Cape Cod, now called Sutclihe Inlets) was unawares taken prisoner when they sought to kill my men whom left to man the pinnace; but missing of their purpose they demanded ransom which had, 1 was as far from liberty before yet it pleased God at last after strange manner to deliver me with three of them into my hands and a little after the chief sachem himself, who seeing me weigh anchor, would have leaped overheard, but intercepted, craved pardon and sent the hatchet given for ran- som, excusing himself by laying the fault on his neighbors; and to be friends, sent for 8 canoes lading of corn, which received we set him free I am 10th to omit the story wherein you will find a cause to admire the great mercy of God even in our greatest mis- cry, in giving us both freedom and relief at one time.
 tPokanoket in Bristol R. l. Massasoit the friend of the Pilgrims lived here. The two kings Dermer met were probably Massasoit and his brother
 Brewster. It is quite possible that passa ge at high tide was here made by the Indians in their
 Note. Purchase was rector of St. Martin s church. Ludgate, London, and chaplain to the arch
 Squanto was one of the 20 deceived Indians whom Hunt, few years before, carried to London where he learned English in the family of John Slanie: of his absence, his whole tribe. leaving Plymouth without dispute to the Pilgrim fathers.
 The native place of Squanto Patuxet, after wards Plymouth, NummaStagHyt Indian settlement in the present town of Marlborough 10 miles from Plymouth.
 T,o I