Annotations for: “Mapping Colonial New England”
a. 1630s
• Edward Johnson, “Thus This Poore People Populate This Howling Desart”: Edward Johnson
Describes the Founding of the Town of Concord in Massachusetts Bay, 1635 Of the laborious
worke Christ’s people have in planting this wildernesse, set forth in the building the
Towne of Concord, being the first in-land Towne.
Permiss ion is g ran ted to educa tors to reproduce th is w orksheet fo r c lassroom use
Now because it is one of the admirable acts of Christ[‘s] Providence in leading his people forth
into these Westerne Fields, in his providing of Huts for them, to defend them from the bitter
stormes this place is subject unto, therefore here is a short Epitome of the manner how they
placed downe their dwellings in this Desart Wildernesse, the Lord being pleased to hide from
the Eyes of his people the difficulties they are to encounter withall in a new Plantation, that
they might not thereby be hindered from taking the worke in hand; upon some inquiry of the
Indians, who lived to the North-west of the Bay, one Captaine Simon Willard being acquainted
with them, by reason of his Trade, became a chiefe instrument in erecting this Town, the land
they purchase of the Indians, and with much difficulties traveling through unknowne woods,
and through watery scrampes [swampes], they discover the fitnesse of the place, sometimes
passing through the Thickets, where their hands are forced to make way for their bodies
passage, and their feete clambering over the crossed Trees, which when they missed they
sunke into an uncertaine bottome in water, and wade up to the knees, tumbling sometimes
higher and sometimes lower, wearied with this toile, they at end of this meete with a scorching
plaine, yet not so plaine, but that the ragged Bushes scratch their legs fouly, even to wearing
their stockings to their bare skin in two or three houres; if they be not otherwise well defended
with Bootes, or Buskings, their flesh will be torne: (that some