[p. 41] records, 1664),
John Green, in giving a history of the first comers, says:—
Amongst others that arrived at Salem at their own cost were Ralph Sprague with his brethren Richard and William who, with three or four more, by joint consent and approbation of Mr. John Endicott, Governor, did the same summer of 1628 (1629) undertake a journey from Salem, and travelled the woods above twelve miles to the westward, and lighted on a place situate and lying on the north side of the Charles River, full of Indians called Aberginians.
Their old sachem being dead, his eldest son, by the English called John Sagamore, was their chief, and a man naturally of a gentle and good disposition. . . . They found it was a neck of land, generally full of stately timber, as was the main and the land lying on the east side of the river, called Mystick River, from the farm Mr. Cradock's servants had planted called Mystick, which river led up into; and indeed generally all the country round about was an uncouth wilderness, full of timber.
So Medford was already inhabited in 1629.
These men returned to
Salem and made their report, and
Endicott in return wrote a report to
Cradock in a letter from
Salem dated September 13, 1628.
It took just five months for it to reach
Cradock, who three days later replied to it, in a letter preserved in the archives of our own State House.
This letter, which
Mr. Mann has personally examined, told
Endicott that
the company had been enlarged since he left England, that he had purchased another ship, and was hiring two or three more, and was about to send three hundred colonists, one hundred head of cattle, and various supplies for the colony.
He also directs ‘there hath not bine a better tyme for sale of tymber these twoe seven yeres than at present; therefore pittye shipps should come backe emptye. . . I Wishe alsoe yt there be some sassaffras and sarsaparilla sent us, as alsoe good store of shoomacke. . . if there is to be had, as we are informed there is, the like do I wishe for a Tun weighe at leasf of silk grasse & of ought elce yt may be useful for dyinge.’
One is reminded that
Cradock had been apprenticed in a skinners' company, and doubtless knew the use of dyes for fine skins.
Sumach leaves were used in tanning light skins and also to some degree in dyeing.
He adds:
Alsoe I hope you will have good sturgion in a readiness to send us.
