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The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 2, April 1847

Note L — HISTORY OF THE PILGRIM SOCIETY,

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"On the 11th of November, [1621] Robert Cushman arrived at Plymouth, in a ship from England, with thirty-five persons, destined to remain in the Colony. By this arrival the Plymouth colonists received a charter, procured for them by the adventurers in London, who had been originally concerned with them in the enterprise; and they now acknowledged the extraordinary blessing of Heaven, in directing their course into this part of the country, where they had happily obtained permission to possess and enjoy the territory under the authority of the president and council for the affairs of New England."—Holmes's Annals.

The names of the thirty-five persons who came in the Fortune, (for so the vessel was called,) are, Robert Cushman, William Hilton, John Winslow, William Conner, John Adams, William Tench, John Cannon, William Wright, Robert Hickes, Thomas Prence, (Prince,) afterwards Governor, Stephen Dean, Moses Simonson, (Simons,) Philip De La Noye, (Delano,) Edward Bompasse, (Bumpus and Bump,) Clement Brigges, (Briggs,) James Steward, (Stewart,) William Pitts, William Palmer, probably two in his family, Jonathan Brewster, Bennet Morgan, Thomas Flavil and his son, Hugh Stacie, (Stacy,) William Beale, Thomas Cushman, Austin Nicolas, (Nicholas,) Widow Foord, probably four in her family, Thomas Morton, William Bassite, (Bassett), two probably in his family.

Mr. Cushman was one of those who left England for the sake of religious liberty, and settled at Leyden. In 1617 he was sent to England, with Mr. Carver, the first governor of the Colony, to procure a grant of lands in America, and in 1619 he was sent again, with Mr. Bradford, second governor of the Colony, and obtained a patent. He set sail with the first company in 1620, but the Speedwell proving leaky, he was obliged to relinquish the voyage. He came, however, to Plymouth, November 10, 1621, but remained there only one month, when he returned. While preparing to remove to America, he died, 1626. He was a man of activity and enterprise, talents and piety, and well versed in the Scriptures. Though not a minister, yet, while at Plymouth, he delivered a discourse in the form of a sermon "on the Sin and Danger of Self-Love," which was the first sermon from New England, ever printed. It was first published at London, 1622, then at Boston, 1724, and at Plymouth, 1785. After his death, Mr. Cushman's family came to New England. Many are their descendants in this country.—Allen's Biog. Dict.—Farmer's Register.

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