The American Puritans- Bradford, Winthrop and Cotton Part 1

a tour through old Boston

The greatest Christians are seldom aware of their own greatness. They simply rise to meet the unique challenges and endure by the grace of God.
American Puritans, pg. 29

I was excited to read The American Puritans by Nate Pickowicz and Dustin Benge having also benefited from Nate’s book titled Reviving New England. I encourage you to read the details of the men in the book and then follow along here for visuals. I have traveled to Massachusetts many times in search of tangible evidence of this time in our American history and it’s beautiful in fall in New England as a bonus! Let’s follow its pages to find some tangible remains of these determined men.

Most tangible evidence of the early days of our American church history has been lost to time, fire, war etc. But the locations and simple reminders can still be found and cause us to reflect on all God has done in our past. Walk with me.

We will cover chapters 1-3 on William Bradford, John Winthrop, John Cotton in this post.

Part 2 will be focused on Thomas Hooker, Thomas Shepard, and Anne Bradstreet.

Part 3 will include the chapters on John Eliot, Samuel Willard, and Cotton Mather.

See also this post for more Boston sites and this post on Plymouth

Chapter 1 William Bradford 1590-1657

Nov 11, 1620 Mayflower landing at Provincetown pg. 17

Visit: The Pilgrim Monument and Museum

1 High Pole Hill Rd, Provincetown, MA

Having found a good haven and being brought safely in sight of land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries of it, again to set their feet upon the firm and stable earth, their proper element. William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation

Memorial Bas Relief of the Signing of the Compact on Bradford Street in Provincetown below the Pilgrim Monument

106 Bradford St, Provincetown, MA

The Mayflower first anchored at Provincetown, MA and looked for a settlement location. Here they drafted the Mayflower Compact and John Carver was named governor. William Bradford’s wife Dorothy drowned here while at anchor. They resettled a Plymouth a few months later. After John Carver died in April of 1621, William Bradford was named governor. The landing is also memorialized at the Massachusetts State House.

24 Beacon St, Boston, MA

Tours are free. “Docents offer free walking tours of the building and collections from 10:00am — 3:30pm. Approximately 45 minutes.”

*The Pilgrims on the Mayflower*
By Henry Oliver Walker, 1902

First Landing Park in Provincetown Cape Cod

December 15, 1620 Landing at Plymouth

Plymouth Rock is less than exciting and likely not legitimate, but a tourist stop, nonetheless.

79 Water St, Plymouth, MA

Massasoit and Squanto Pg 19-21

“The pilgrims found nothing but friendship with Massasoit and the Wampanoag tribe. For years it was not uncommon to find several Indians living in Plymouth – Squanto himself became a constant companion of William Bradford.”

Squanto likeness, at the Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth

The Massasoit statue reads, “Massasoit Great Sachem of the Wampanoags. Protector and Preserver of the Pilgrims”

More Plymouth and Bradford sites are listed here in our post Plymouth – Our Humble Beginnings.

They cherished a great hope and an inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advancement of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work. William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation

Bradford’s famous “Of Plymouth Plantation” has had an interesting journey from Massachusetts, into British hands, to England and back again. Read about it here. “Today, this precious manuscript is kept in secure storage in the (State Library of Mass) library’s Special Collections department, with high-quality facsimile reproduction for anyone who wishes to view or research the manuscript both in person or online.” I do not believe it is available to view today without a request for an appointment.

William Bradford bible state library of Massachusetts 1908

Bradford manuscript special display case (bottom right) in main Library, ca. 1908.

Chapter 2 Governor John Winthrop 1588-1649

The Massachusetts Bay Colony became the first English chartered colony whose board of governors did not reside in England. The Puritans, being granted royal permission through the charter to govern themselves, saw this as a providential act of God.
American Puritans, pg 42

June 14, 1630 Massachusetts Bay Colony pg. 46

Almost 10 years after the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, John Winthrop landed in Boston on the Arabella. Many would follow in the coming years. Winthrop would be their first governor. In memorial, this mural hangs in the Massachusetts State House.

1630: Governor Winthrop at Salem Bringing the Charter of the Bay Colony to Massachusetts
By Albert Herter, 1942

The Arbella was the flagship for a fleet of 11 ships full of Puritans escaping King Charles I’s repression of Nonconformist religious thought. The fleet carried about 1,000 people, the first of the Great Migration of 1630-42, during which thousands of English families immigrated to Massachusetts.

4102 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge MA

The Puritans planned the expedition well, bringing along plenty of provisions and diverse skilled laborers to ensure the colony’s survival. The leaders had wealth, which enabled them to obtain a royal charter.

Chief among the Arbella passengers was 41-year-old John Winthrop, a wealthy Puritan lawyer who led the immigrants. They would create new homes in a new colony “to do more service to the Lord.” (Sir Richard Saltonstall, Simon and Anne Bradstreet were also on board)

“We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us,” he said in his famous sermon. source

Winthrop’s Great House – Charlestown, MA

City Square in Boston has many reminders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony under Winthrop. The Great House was built in 1629 anticipating Winthrop’s arrival in Boston, it was his home as well as an official meeting place for the Court of Assistants. This was burned during the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 but, archaeologists found the foundation stones and post holes. A tracing of the original foundation can be found on the lawn. It was converted to the Three Cranes Tavern in 1635.

City Square Park, Freedom Trail, Boston

“The Great House, located in City Square in Charlestown, was built in
1629 before Boston was even settled. It was to serve as the first residence of Governor Winthrop and the other prominent members of the company and as the colony’s meetinghouse. It is believed to have been erected by a party of 100 men from Salem, who had been sent with orders to build it, lay out
streets, and survey the two acre lots to be assigned to settlers. Work was begun in June 1629 and was expected to be completed by the time of the arrival of Winthrop’s fleet of 11 ships in the summer of the
following year.” source

Here is another walking map for Charlestown with some more remnants of Winthrop and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Some highlights…

Winthrop Square Training Field which was originally the community grazing fields.

Warren Street – Originally known as Back Street, Warren Street is quite possibly the oldest street in Charlestown – dating as early as 1638.

Phipps Burial Ground – Just after the settlement of Charlestown in 1630, the founding fathers of Charlestown designated this land as the town burying place…nineteen of the original inhabitants of Charlestown are buried here. John Harvard is also buried here.

Harvard Mall – site of Boston’s first settlement

In addition to the home Winthrop had in Charlestown, MA he owned a 600-acre farm on the Mystic River named Ten Hills Farm. There is a stone marker at

Governor Winthrop Rd and Shore Drive, Somerville, MA

Below is a manuscript map of the Ten Hills (Medford, Mass.), October, 1637,” pen and ink possibly drawn by a member of the Winthrop family. source and here

There is some debate about the Royall House. This may be the location of his home, and some elements may still remain.

15 George St, Medford, MA

“John Winthrop First Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. One of the Founders of Boston and the First Church in Boston AD 1630” source

64 Marlborough St, Boston, MA

William Blackstone welcomes John Winthrop & First Church Boston Pastor John Wilson. source

“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill the eyes of all people are upon us so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken… we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world – John Winthrop on board the Arbella 1630”

49 Beacon St, Boston, MA

“In or about the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred thirty and four the then present inhabitants of said Town of Boston of whom the Honble John Winthrop Esqr Govnr of the Colony was chiefe did treate and agree with Mr William Blackstone for the purchase of his Estate and rights in any Lands lying within said neck of Land called Boston after which purchase the Town laid out a plan for a trayning field which ever since and now is used for that purpose and for the feeding of cattell.

The deposition of John Odlin and others concerning the sale of Blackstone land known as Boston Commons.”

1634 Freedom Trail, Boston, MA

These bas reliefs on the Congregational Library in Boston depict the early days of Boston including baptisms, signing of church covenant, John Eliot preaching to the Indians, and the creation of Harvard College. John Winthrop is depicted. Read more about these here.

14 Beacon St #206, Boston, MA

Winthrop was married 4 times, his wives all preceding him in death, had 16 children and died of fever in 1649. He is buried in Kings Chapel Burying Ground in Boston.

Upon reflection John Cotton said he had “been unto us a mother, parent like distributing his goods to brethren and neighbors at his first coming and gently bearing our infirmities without taking notice.” AP pg 54

John Winthrop grave King's Chapel Burying Ground

Chapter 3 John Cotton 1585-1652

Pastor John Cotton landed in Boston Sept 4, 1633, three years after Winthrop. Thomas Hooker was on the same ship and their arrival answered the prayers of the people of Massachusetts for a pastor to teach and shepherd them. He established the first public school and was at the center of the Antinomian controversy involving Anne Hutchinson.

His humility and kindness ingratiated himself toward others. His ministry was ever giving and selfless.
American Puritans, pg 71

A memorial can be found at the site of the current Second Brazer Building, Boston, “Site of the First Meeting House in Boston Built AD 1632. Preachers John Wilson, John Eliot, John Cotton used before 1640 for town meetings and for sessions of the general court of the colony.”

Second Brazer Building, Boston, MA

John Cotton John Eliot first meeting house Boston second brazer building

“A View of the First Meeting House in Boston 1632

It stood on State Street, near now Congress Street. Its roof was thatched, its walls were mud. Such was the humble Temple in which the Pilgrim Fathers worshipped. It had no elegance of modern churches. No rich and splendid drapery hung around its pulpit. No velvet cushions covered its seats. No deep-toned organ to assist in singing praises to God. It was such a house as fitted their humble circumstances. Previous to this structure Mr. Wilson preached out in open air, under the trees. In 1639 this house became too small. Some wanted a new church built on the green, where Old South now stands. Mr. Cotton influenced them to build nearer the market, where the inhabitants had settled…”

It is believed that establishment of the first school was largely due to the work by John Cotton. The first school building was located on School Street, just to the right of today’s mosaic and where the Benjamin Franklin Statue now stands. source

45 School Street, Boston, MA

Boston first school, John Cotton founder

“On this site stood the house of Reverend John Cotton Vicar of Boston in Old England. Minister of the First Church in Boston New England 1633-1652…” source

Pemberton Square, Boston

John Cotton grave King's Burying Ground Boston, MA

John Cotton died of a cold he caught while crossing the Charles River in December of 1652. He left his wife Sarah and 4 children. She eventually married Richard Mather, grandfather to Cotton Mather. He is buried at King’s Chapel Burying Ground.

40 Tremont St, Boston, MA

As you travel, use this map to locate Northeast locations near you.