John Endecott regarded as one of the Fathers of New England, was the longest-serving Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which became the State of Massachusetts.
Background
was the son of Thomas Endecott of Chagford, Devonshire, and Alice (Westlake?) Endecott, a woman of considerable landed possessions in the parish of Stoke-in-Teignhead.
His grandfather, John Endecott, held large tin-mining interests in the county, and was a man of some wealth. He survived his son Thomas, who died in 1621, and on his own death some fourteen years later practically disinherited the younger John, whose religious convictions had doubtless run counter to his own.
This may serve to explain the fact that in his records and correspondence, the Governor made almost no references to his connections in England.
Career
By 1628 the colony at Plymouth had become well established and there were also scattered settlers about the shores of Massachusetts Bay, including the remnant of a fishing settlement at Cape Ann.
Meanwhile the associators had determined to proceed to the settlement without delay, and on June 20, 1628, Endecott sailed for Massachusetts in the Abigail with a small band of colonists, to prepare the way for the larger numbers to follow.
The pertinent facts are that it was evidently intended that he was to be in charge of the colony until the main company should arrive; that he should do everything needful on the spot to pave the way for them; and that he did so.
At a meeting of the company in England, April 30, 1629, it was recorded that Endecott had been chosen governor of the Plantation in Massachusetts for one year, or until another had been selected in his place.
On October 20 Winthrop was chosen governor under the charter, though he did not reach Massachusetts until the next year.
Endecott landed with his band on September 6, 1628, and settled at Naumkeag, now Salem.
He found he had to clear the ground both literally and metaphorically and proceeded to do both.
The remnant of the fishing company was under the "governorship" of Roger Conant, whose tact mitigated difficulties on that score.
More vigorous measures were called for against Thomas Morton and his riotous gang at Merry Mount, whither Endecott soon marched and dramatically cut down their celebrated May-pole, admonishing them that "ther should be better walking" (Bradford, post, II, 501).
By the end of June 1629, the Rev. Samuel Skelton and Rev. Francis Higginson had arrived.
Little else is known of his rule at this period.
It appears to have been eminently successful and to have given the company in England entire satisfaction, though, pro forma, he had to be mildly censured for his handling of the recalcitrant Brownes.
In the early summer of 1630 the great migration set in.
About a thousand colonists arrived, including John Winthrop.
The remainder of his life, however, was spent in the service of the colony.
He was assistant in the years 1630-34, 1636-40, 1645-48; deputy-governor 1641-43, 1650, 1654; and governor 1644, 1649, 1651-53, 1655-64.
His importance in the eyes of the leaders cannot be better shown than by the fact that he was one of the three men chosen to the unconstitutional Council for Life, initiated in 1636.
His actions brought well-deserved protests from both Saybrook and Plymouth.
Much has been made of the episode in which Endecott ordered the cross to be cut out of the English ensign as savoring of popery (1634).
Far more essential for a study of the man's character is the part he played in the persecution of the Quakers a few years before his death.
He appeared at his worst in this, in many ways, supreme episode of his life.
By the time of the first Commencement of Harvard he was one of the Overseers.
Achievements
Religion
As a Puritan, Endecott came into close contact with the group interested in colonizing New England.
After his arrival in America he came into touch with the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and when he and the two clergymen organized a church in July it followed the Plymouth model, and was independent of the church in England (Adams, post, p. 130).
Politics
This may serve to explain the fact that in his records and correspondence, the Governor made almost no references to his connections in England.
Personality
He was probably no more narrow-minded than many others, however, and aside from the passing criticism in England, the incident is without importance save as it indicates his lack of judgment.
He was capable, honest, and devoted to the public good as he saw it, but was incapable of conceiving of any good other than as he saw it.
Two members of the Massachusetts colony, John and Samuel Browne, declined to accept Separatism and were finally deported to England by Endecott who, with a complete absence of humor, described them as "schismatical. "
Connections
His grandfather, John Endecott, held large tin-mining interests in the county, and was a man of some wealth.
Endecott's first wife died soon after their arrival in Massachusetts, and on August 18, 1630, he married Elizabeth Gibson, by whom he had two sons.