Preface
The writer of these pages has formed the design of preparing for publication^ Memoirs of American Governors — embracing those who have successively held the high office of Chief Magistrate, in the several Colonies, which now form the United States; to to be followed by Memoirs of the Governors of the several States. The intelligent reader has perhaps felt the want of such a work. Our best Biographical Dictionaries contain but meagre sketches of a few of those public men, who have been distinguished as Governors ; while of others, who were renowned in their day, and exercised an important influence upon the times in which they lived, no account whatever is to be found.
To supply an obvious want, as far as it may be practicable now to do, is the object of the present undertaking. The task is a very laborious and difficult one, but with proper diligence, and public encouragement, it may be accomplished. It has been the aim of the author to make his work full in details, precise in facts, and, as far as possible, accurate and reliable as a book of reference. Authorities have been carefully scanned; and, to avoid the errors of copyists, as well as to reconcile conflicting dates, originals have been consulted, whenever they
IV PREFACE.
could be found. References to printed authorities, where not otherwise specified; are generally to original editions. Anachronisms are believed to be best avoided, in history, by adhering to dates as originally written; and this course has been adopted in the present work. Every intelligent reader understands the difference between the Julian and the Gregorian year, or the Old and New Style, and can readily make his own computation.
The general plan of the work will be seen at a glance. In order that each volume may be complete in itself, — ' embracing the Governors of two or more of the Colonies, or States, in regular succession, — a chronological arrangement has been adopted; and for the convenience of the reader, a full and particular Index to all the names, places and events, mentioned in the work, is added.
The author has been kindly and even liberally assisted by numerous individuals, to whom he has applied for information. Years ago, when he first commenced the collection of materials for this work, the rich stores preserved in the archives at Plymouth, Boston, and Worcester, were freely opened to him. He has since derived much assistance from an examination of the books and manu-^ scripts of the New York Historical Society, of the Congress Library, and in particular of the valuable library of Peter Force, Esq., of Washington City, whose collection of manuscripts and books, in the department of American History, is unsurpassed in this country,
Sepleniber, 184G.
Part I
Governors of New Plymouth, from the Landing OF THE Pilgrims, in 1620, to the Union of the Colony with Massachusetts Bay, in 1692:
I. * JOHN CARVER, First chosen in 1620, Page 11
II. *WILLIAM BRADFORD, 1621, 49
III. *EDWARD WINSLOW, 1633, 93
IV. THOMAS PRENCE, 1634, 139
V. JOSIAS WINSLOW, 1673, 175
VI. THOMAS HINCKLEY, 1680, 201
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