Governorship of William Bradford
William Bradford was governor of Plymouth colony 1621-1657. While Bradford was governor of Plymouth the Narigensets (An Indian tribe) threatened the colony. His answer that if they would rather have war than have peace, they might begin when the wanted. This made the colony more careful than ever. They built a pale or stockade around their dwellings. The pale was 11 feet high and nearly a mile in circumference. It was built out of large poles driven into the ground and laced together at the top with tough wild vines. These stockades had gates which they locked at night; and they always had someone who kept watch. This was done in march of 1622.
In 1623 Bradford put a stop to a program that required piligrims to share ownership of land, food, and tools. The colony then adopted his plan of
dividing land and cattle among individuale families. This encouraged colonists to work harder.
In 1627 Governor William Bradford and 7 other piligrims helped most pilgrims get out of debt. Many piligrims were in debt because they had not been able to pay for their passage to America.
On Christmas day Governor Bradford called everyone at to work as usual, because they did not believe in celebrating Christmas. Most of the people who had just arrived on a ship called Fortune did not work on this holiday. When
Governor Bradford and the men who had been working came home at none they found them in the street playing pitching the bar, stoole ball, and other games. He took away their toys and told them not to revel in the street.
Governor Bradford died May 9, 1657, about 9:00. He made a poem about himself (I’m spelling exactly as he did) that goes like this:
From my years young in dayes of youth,
God did make known to me his truth,
And call’d me from my native place
For to enjoy the Means of grace.
In wilderness he did me guide,
And in strange lands for me provide.
In fears and wants, through weal and woe,
As pilgrim passed I to and fro,
Oft let of them whom I did trust.
How vain it is to rest on Dust!
A man of sorrows have I been,
And many changes have I seen...
Faint not, poor soul, in God still trust.
Fear not the things thou suffer must...
Farewell, dear children whom I love,
Your better father is above...
Fear him in Truth, walk in his wayes,
And he will bless you all your days.
My dayes are spent, old age is come,
My srength it fails, my glass is run.
Now, I shall wait when work is done
Untill my happy change is come,
When from my labors shall I rest
With Christ above for to be blessed...
Governorship