Regarding “Bradford's diaries were later rediscovered” - It wasn't ‘diaries’ but a Family Journal that he wrote for his descendants.
It was in the possession of a grandson, who loaned it out and it got passed from person to person until the pastor of the Old South Church borrowed it. It was in the pastors library when the English took over the church for a stable during the Revolution. From here it disappeared.
It was finally tracked down in the late 1800’s - in the private library of the Archbishop Of London. After negotiations, it was gifted to Plymouth and published as “Bradford's History”. Up until that time, people speculated on their First Thanksgiving and how they lived. Thus we still have many erroneous ideas concerning them, like ‘dressed in black and white’ - and other nonsense, having mixed them up with the very different Puritans that founded Boston Bay colony.
After the late 1800’s publication, the book fell out of print again, but was again printed in the early 1950’s under the name “Of Plymouth Plantation’ - and is still in print.
Also available is the best account, other than Gov. Bradford's eye witness account, is a movie, available on DVD, “Desperate Crossing”
http://shop.biography.com/detail.php?p=69858
In addition: the first segment of the really great PBS series: We Shall Remain, is available to watch online.
It FINALLY bring out that the original Plymouth colonists had a warm and friendly relationship with the local Indians whom they admired and never tried to convert. They also made a mutual aid treaty - they only one never broken.
http://shop.biography.com/detail.php?p=69858
Most people are unaware of their presence in Maine - which was part of Massachusetts until into the 1800’s (Thank God for THAT split!).
They established trading posts as far north as Castine. Their most successful one was at Cusnac = now the site of the capitol, Augusta.
They brought everything, including the prefabbed trading post, up the Kennebec River.
Yes, Prefab. The trading post was 20’ x 60’, 3 rooms: family quarters (For John Howland, wife and 3 little girls) , middle was the trading room, and the last was the storage room. They made the building in Plymouth, took it up the river in sections and reassembled on site.
An aside: John Alden was arrested for murder there and hauled off to court in Boston...think of the Puritans as today's liberals and the Plymouth folk as conservatives.
and as to the outcome of his trial, I'll let y'all do the research.)
From this post they ‘trucked’ with the Indians to the north - peas, cloth, knifes and such for furs.
(Gov. Bradford, Alden, Howland etc are my 7th great great grandfathers, Elder Wm Brewster, Myles Standish, and such, 8th ggg. - So I have studied the group for decades) Journey of the Journal......http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/08/prweb430733.htm
Fascinating!
I have been collecting current publication copies for my large family - and a few years ago, there was a “Bradford's History” on ebay. I won it for $5.
Imagine my elation when I opened the package and found one of the original editions as outlined above! Obviously, the seller had no idea what is really was. Probably in gramma’s things when she passed and who wanted that old book - or something similar.
I treasure it.
Thanks for the informative post. Do you know much about the “praying Indians” of places like Natick?