Edward Winslow
Encyclopedia
Edward Winslow was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower
. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony
in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644. His testimony in Mourt's Relation
is one of only two primary sources of the "first thanksgiving" in existence.
during the time of headmaster Henry Bright
. Winslow then apprenticed as a printer in London.
's church there. It was in Leiden that he met his first wife, Elisabeth Barker; they married in 1618. In 1620 Winslow was one of the "pilgrims" who emigrated to New England
on the Mayflower and founded the Plymouth colony. He travelled with his brother Gilbert, and with family servants George Soule
, a teacher, and Ellen More, a child of eight years. Ellen's three brothers and sisters were given into the care of other senior members of the company. Until relatively recently the children were thought to be orphans or foundlings, but, in the 1990's, it was conclusively shown that they were sent to America because they were illegitimate, and the source of great controversy in England. It is not known whether Edward Winslow knew anything about Ellen's background. Ellen died in the winter of 1620.
, the first child born to the Pilgrims in the New World. (1620–1704). This was the first marriage in the New England
colonies. Winslow later founded what would become Marshfield
, Massachusetts in the Plymouth Colony where he lived on an estate he called Careswell.
Winslow was delegated by his associates to treat with the Native Americans in the vicinity and succeeded in winning the friendship of their chief, Massasoit
(c. 1580–1661). He was one of the assistants from 1624 to 1647, except in 1633–1634, 1636–1637 and 1644–1645, when he was governor of the colony. He was also, in 1643, one of the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England. On several occasions he was sent to England to look after the interests of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony
, and defend these colonies from the attacks of such men as John Lyford
, Thomas Morton and Samuel Gorton
. He left on his last mission as the agent of Massachusetts Bay, in October 1646, and spent nine years in England, where he held a minor office under Cromwell
, and in 1654, was made a member of the commission appointed to determine the value of certain English ships destroyed by Denmark
.
In 1655 he was the chief of the three English commissioners whom Cromwell sent on his expedition against the West Indies to advise with its leaders General Robert Venables
and Admiral William Penn
, but died near Jamaica
on 8 May 1655, and was buried at sea. His son Josiah Winslow
later served as governor of Plymouth colony.
With William Bradford
he also is supposed to have prepared a Journal of the Beginning and Proceeding of the English Plantation settled at Plymouth in New England, published in 1622, which is generally known as Mourt's Relation
, owing to its preface having been signed by "G. Mourt."
Some of his writings may be found reprinted in Alexander Young
's Chronicles of the Pilgrims.
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644. His testimony in Mourt's Relation
Mourt's Relation
The book Mourt's Relation was written primarily by Edward Winslow, although William Bradford appears to have written most of the first section...
is one of only two primary sources of the "first thanksgiving" in existence.
Early Life
He was born in England, on October 18, 1595, and attended The King's School, WorcesterThe King's School, Worcester
The King's School, Worcester is an English independent school refounded by Henry VIII in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral on the banks of the River Severn in the centre of the city of Worcester...
during the time of headmaster Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
. Winslow then apprenticed as a printer in London.
Mayflower Passenger
In 1617 Winslow left England for to Leiden in Holland, to be united with John RobinsonJohn Robinson (pastor)
John Robinson was the pastor of the "Pilgrim Fathers" before they left on the Mayflower. He became one of the early leaders of the English Separatists, minister of the Pilgrims, and is regarded as one of the founders of the Congregational Church.-Early life:Robinson was born in Sturton le Steeple...
's church there. It was in Leiden that he met his first wife, Elisabeth Barker; they married in 1618. In 1620 Winslow was one of the "pilgrims" who emigrated to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
on the Mayflower and founded the Plymouth colony. He travelled with his brother Gilbert, and with family servants George Soule
George Soule
George Soule was a signer of the Mayflower Compact, and one of the original 102 Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.-Biography:...
, a teacher, and Ellen More, a child of eight years. Ellen's three brothers and sisters were given into the care of other senior members of the company. Until relatively recently the children were thought to be orphans or foundlings, but, in the 1990's, it was conclusively shown that they were sent to America because they were illegitimate, and the source of great controversy in England. It is not known whether Edward Winslow knew anything about Ellen's background. Ellen died in the winter of 1620.
In America
Elisabeth Winslow died in the first winter in New England and Edward Winslow remarried, in May 1621, to Mrs Susannah White, the widow of fellow pilgrim William White, and the mother of Resolved White and Peregrine WhitePeregrine White
Peregrine White was the first English child born to the Pilgrims in the New World....
, the first child born to the Pilgrims in the New World. (1620–1704). This was the first marriage in the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
colonies. Winslow later founded what would become Marshfield
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Marshfield is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on Massachusetts's South Shore. The population was 25,132 at the 2010 census.See also: Green Harbor, Marshfield , Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, and Ocean Bluff and Brant Rock....
, Massachusetts in the Plymouth Colony where he lived on an estate he called Careswell.
Winslow was delegated by his associates to treat with the Native Americans in the vicinity and succeeded in winning the friendship of their chief, Massasoit
Massasoit
Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin ,was the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket, and "Massasoit" of the Wampanoag Confederacy. The term Massasoit means Great Sachem.-Early years:...
(c. 1580–1661). He was one of the assistants from 1624 to 1647, except in 1633–1634, 1636–1637 and 1644–1645, when he was governor of the colony. He was also, in 1643, one of the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England. On several occasions he was sent to England to look after the interests of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
, and defend these colonies from the attacks of such men as John Lyford
John lyford
The Reverend John Lyford was a controversial figure during the early years of the Plymouth Colony. After receiving degrees from Oxford University , he became pastor at Leverlegkish, near Laughgaid, Armagh, Ireland. He was the first ordained minister to come to the Plymouth Colony...
, Thomas Morton and Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton , was an early settler and civic leader of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and President of the towns of Providence and Warwick for one term...
. He left on his last mission as the agent of Massachusetts Bay, in October 1646, and spent nine years in England, where he held a minor office under Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, and in 1654, was made a member of the commission appointed to determine the value of certain English ships destroyed by Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
In 1655 he was the chief of the three English commissioners whom Cromwell sent on his expedition against the West Indies to advise with its leaders General Robert Venables
Robert Venables
Robert Venables , was a soldier during the English Civil War and noted angler.Venables was lieutenant-colonel in the parliamentary army. He was wounded at Chester in 1645. He was appointed governor of Liverpool in 1648. He served with success in Ireland from 1649 until 1654...
and Admiral William Penn
William Penn (admiral)
Sir William Penn was an English admiral, and the father of William Penn, founder of the Province of Pennsylvania....
, but died near Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
on 8 May 1655, and was buried at sea. His son Josiah Winslow
Josiah Winslow
Josiah Winslow was an American Pilgrim leader. He served as governor of Plymouth Colony from 1673 to 1680.Born in Plymouth Colony , he was son of Edward Winslow and Susanna White. In 1651 in London, with his father, he married Penelope Pelham, daughter of Herbert Pelham, the first treasurer of...
later served as governor of Plymouth colony.
Works
His writings, though fragmentary, are of the greatest value to the history of the Plymouth colony. They include:- Good Newes from New England, or a True Relation of Things very Remarkable at the Plantation of Plimouth in New England (1624);
- Hypocrisie Unmasked; by a True Relation of the Governor and Company of Massachusetts against Samuel Gorton, a Notorious Disturber of the Peace (1646), to which was added a chapter entitled "A Brief Narration of the True Grounds or Cause of the First Plantation of New England";
- New England's Salamander (1647); and
- The Glorious Progress of the GospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
amongst the Indians in New England (1649).
With William Bradford
William Bradford (1590-1657)
William Bradford was an English leader of the settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, and served as governor for over 30 years after John Carver died. His journal was published as Of Plymouth Plantation...
he also is supposed to have prepared a Journal of the Beginning and Proceeding of the English Plantation settled at Plymouth in New England, published in 1622, which is generally known as Mourt's Relation
Mourt's Relation
The book Mourt's Relation was written primarily by Edward Winslow, although William Bradford appears to have written most of the first section...
, owing to its preface having been signed by "G. Mourt."
Some of his writings may be found reprinted in Alexander Young
Alexander Young
Alexander Young VC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.A native of Oranmore, County Galway, Young joined the Queen's Bays on 22 May 1890 at Renmore...
's Chronicles of the Pilgrims.
Further reading
Reprint of the original version.- J. D. Bangs's 'Pilgrim Edward Winslow: New England's First International Diplomat (Boston, 2004);
- Plymouth Archaeological Rediscovery Project "Archaeology of the Edward Winslow Site" www.plymoutharch.com
- Also see a paper by W. C. Winslow, Governor Edward Winslow, his Place and Part in Plymouth Colony, in the Annual Report of the American Historical Association for 1895 (Washington, 1896)
- See Egerton Ryerson's The Loyalists of America and Their Times for evidence of the differences between the Pilgrim Fathers (Plymouth Rock) and the Puritan Fathers (Massachusetts Bay) with respect to loyalty to the Crown, tolerance of other religions, and treatment of the Native Peoples, and how this schism continued right up to and during the American Revolution.