The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-04-05

brought them.
This disposes OF all cootemporar,
narraiors, aud IN our search for The
uame OF the ship which brought The
Pilgrims to these shores we must turn
TO The New Euglapds Memorialr OF
Nathaniel Morton. THIS writer was y
son Of George Morton, born 10 1913
He was, therefore, Z years of age
when Tie Pilgrims landed al Ply mouth.
George Morton was not a member OF
the first company, but came in 1928,
in the Anne, bringing with HIM his
i've children, OF whom Nathaniel was
he oldest. He died in less than a
year after his arrival.
Nathaniel MortoD's "New England's
Memorial" was published IN 1869,
when its author was IS years of age,
and forty-fve years after the death Of
bis father. Governor Bradford records,
however, that IN 1879 twelve persons of
the old stock we're still living. Nor
ton, therefore, must have often heard
the story OF the voyage and original
settlement from the lips of those who
were 'a great part thereof" Hence
when we take up his ''New England's
Memorial we do so with a full assur-
ance that, If be may not know of bis
own knowledge whereof he writes, he
certainly had ample opportunity to
learn the truth. 10 his dedication Of
his work to the Alright Worshipful
Thomas Price, esq, Governor OF the
Jurisdiction OF New Plymouth he
ccnfesses that the greatest part Of his
intelligence has been borrowed from
bis much hoDored uncle, William,
Bradford, aud such manuscripts as he
left in his study. He scarcely needed
10 have told US this, for there are
many passages which are copied liter
ally from The work Of Governor Brad
ford. There is, however, this varia-
ton Whereas Governor Bradford says,
ga small ship of some sixty tons was
bought and fitted in Holland" Motion
has interpolated the words, SCALED the
Speedwell, and a few lines farther on,
IN making record of the larger vessel
hired in London, he here also follows
the governors phraseology, but inter-
polates the words scaled the May
hower.n
This, then, is the first mention In
any historical record of the name OF
the vessel 10 which the Pilgrims made
their earliest voyage, and this is made
nearly fifty years later than the date OF
the voyage, and by a person whose
information must have been at second
hand.
That there was a ship Ma, =
which was engaged in the New Eng
land emigrant service during these
years is |undoubled. AS we have
seen, Bradford mentions her
as bringing the colonists OF 1929. bul
lets fall no word to indicate that this
is the vessel in which be himself and
company made their voyage.
Morton gives the names OF the ships
which set out upon the first voyage as
the Speedwell and May flower, but he
does not mention the May flower as
made another voyage in 1929.
Matner follows Morton with
misunderstanding evidently used his
book as material for a portion of
his "Magnalia Christi Americana.
Prince in bis Chronological
History Of New England" makes men
don of a ship Maydower engaged in
NE New England emigrant service.
quotes the letter of Shirley to
Bradford, recorded by the latter, ard
likewise records the arrival at Charles.
in 1880 of a fleet Of ships OF
which the May flower was one. But 10
all these records there is no hint that
this vessel was identical with that
which brought the first party from
southampton. Governor Winthrop
a similar record.
The i~conoclast then would raise the
question: Why are Bradford and
Winslow silent concerning the name Of
vessel IN which the colonisls
II the Maylower of 1929 and 1880
was the ship which brought over the
original %colonists, would it not have
been natural for Bradford to have
that fact IN his mention Of that
vesselP
MIGHT mot Morton writing in 1890