Abraham's Journal
The Life & Times of
Abraham Blish
1616-1683

Patricia B. Gould
PG Author

E-Book Available

Excerpt

 CHAPTER TWO
APRIL 1637

Abraham was standing on the dock preparing to board the ‘Friendship’ in Plymouth England on April 8,1637,just a little over a week after he had received Richard ’s letter. He shivered slightly pulling his coat a little higher onto the back of his neck. Though it was quite a nice day with just a slight breeze blowing from the
south and a few high clouds to the north he felt a chill.' The excitement of what is to come,’ he thought and shrugged off the foreboding feeling of sadness that he may never see his family again
that was already creeping into his mind.

When he hugged his mother goodbye he knew she was still crying, she hadn ’t really stopped since he had made his decision to leave his home in Devonshire County England where he was born.

“I love you, mother,” he said, holding her tight in his arms. She hugged him even harder than he was hugging her," I know my son, and I love you, too, please write to us every chance you get.”

“I will, mother,” he promised, “and you do the same.” She said she would as she slipped out of his arms so that his brother could embrace him.

“Have a great adventure brother,” John said as he gave him a huge bear hug.

Abraham hugged him back and said," Take care brother, and be sure to give Molly a hug for me.”

“I shall only give Molly hugs from me, you scoundrel,” John said and punched him playfully on his arm.

“Then I shall give her one myself the next time I see her,” Abraham said laughing.

Abraham gave his father a long affectionate hug and held his hand in a firm handshake for a minute or so.
James had tears in his eyes as he handed his son a pouch and said," Invest it wisely, son.”

Thanking him, Abraham took the pouch and slipped it into the inside pocket of his heavy coat vaguely thinking that it would probably help him buy the horse Richard had mentioned in his letter. When the ship ’s First Mate rang the bell for all to board Abraham picked up his satchel and ran up the gangplank onto the deck of the ‘Friendship’He waved to his family as the ship ’s anchor was hauled out of the water and he watched them until they became tiny specks on the shore. He wiped the tears from his eyes and shook his head to rid himself of the lonesome feeling that filled his being; even his excitement couldn't take away the homesickness
he was already feeling.

Abraham found his berth in the first class section of the ship and settled himself into the small tidy quarters. The ‘Friendship’ was an old fishing boat that had been turned into a quite comfort-
able passenger ship, for ten first class passengers. However, the decks below were not as comfortable as there were about twenty-five middle class families and fifteen young men that were hoping to be hired as apprentices or servants sharing that small space. They all wanted to find a better way of life. Abraham had hired and paid passage for three of these men to go with him as indentured servants, and they were among those second class passengers.

Now, at last he was on his way to the Colonies and a whole new life. Abraham had been waiting for this day since he was a small boy when he watched Richard go aboard the ‘Mayflower’. What an adventure his friend was going to have he remembered thinking, and he wanted to go with him.

Now that he was older he understood many of the reasons why the Puritans left England in 1620.They wanted a greater reformation of the Church of England and separated themselves from it and formed their own religion. Some people even called them Separatist though he himself preferred the word Puritan and had be-
come a member while in college in London. The Puritans did away with many of the elaborate ceremonies, thereby purifying the church. They felt that they could serve their Lord Jesus better by
setting examples of themselves, by practicing better moral habits and by preaching a closer form of religion they felt the bible expressed.

Abraham also remembered sadly why Richard and his brothers and sister were part of that adventure. A tragic fire had ended the life of Richard ’s parents on January 20,1619.They both died while saving their four children from their burning home. It was a sad day for everyone in the small village of Barnstaple, England.
Abraham could still remember his mother running toward the More home screaming Elizabeth ’s name over and over. Thomas More was at a town council meeting that morning and was on his way home when he saw the dreaded black smoke of a house fire. Almost immediately he realized it was coming from the direction of his own home, “Oh my Heavenly Father,” he cried aloud and gave his horse
a kick. He saw Sarah Blish hurrying the children back to her house demanding that they stay there and telling Richard not to let them out of his sight. He rode as near as he could to the burning house and when his
skittish horse would go no closer he dismounted and started running as fast as he could. He watched horrified when he saw Elizabeth run back into the house. He screamed her name as he heard the explosion of burning
thatch fall into his home.

She had pushed little Jasper out of the door and into the arms of his older brother Richard. Then as Elizabeth turned back into her house to gather as much of their clothing as she could the roof collapsed upon her
covering her with burning thatch. He could hear her screams over the roar of the fire and without any thought of his own well being he ran into the inferno to try and save his beautiful Elizabeth. Thomas’s body was found covering hers as if to shield her from the horrible death by fire. Elizabeth was just barely alive when the fire had
finally burned itself out. She lived two days, suffering from severe burns over most of her body. She never gained consciousness and did not know that her husband had perished in the fire trying to save her. They left their four children orphans for the village to raise.

Several members of the newly reformed Puritan church that Thomas More was a member of took charge of the More children, as families often did when tragedy struck and there were no relatives to take them. Richard, age 8,and his younger brother Thomas, age 6,were in the charge of William Brewster and his wife,
Mary. Ellen age 4,was a charge of Edward and Elizabeth Winslow, and his youngest brother Jasper,age 2,was a charge of John and Katherine Carver.

A few months later William Brewster, leader of the Puritans secured a patent from the Virginia Company for a tract of land in the Plymouth Colony. He believed there would be more freedom of religion in the new Colony so he and many of his followers, including the Winslow's and the Carvers, all boarded the Mayflower and fled from the Church of England taking the More children with them.

Nine years later in 1629 many others sailed to this new freedom of religion with John Endicott who had been granted a charter from the king to form the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Abraham had wanted to go then, too, thinking that at age 13 he was old enough to be an apprentice, but his father told him again that he
had to wait until he finished his education. Now at last the time had come for him to leave, he was 21 years
old, had finished with his studies and had collected his inheritance. He was ready for a great adventure.' No one can tell me “No,” now,’ he thought. His brother John had also finished his education and, not as adventurous as he was, had opted to stay in England and take over the duties of the family farm, run the gristmill and help care for his parents. Besides he was in love with Molly James and was planning to get married later this year.

Abraham ’s thoughts as he stood on deck of the ‘Friendship’ looking out at the ocean were both happy and sad. He hated leaving his family but Richard ’s letter had given him the encouragement he needed to begin this new adventure. He was on his way to the Colonies and there was no turning back. He had enough money to
purchase land there and start a small farm. Then as a young man ’s thoughts often do he envisioned a beautiful girl, marriage and a family. He could picture his life in front of him as if in a wonderful daydream and he prayed for the courage and guidance to succeed.