Number 98 out of a 100

The Complete Works of the Mayflower Pilgrims

by Caleb H. Johnson

I have edition 98 out of the 100 published and it is 1,172 pages of documents and additional information such as the 1643 list of men able to bear arms in Plymouth County. That includes Scituate where my parents lived for many years.

My father I should add, did not come to the US until the 1920s although the Boudreaus with a variant spelling arrived in the 1620s but in Nova Scotia. I've no idea of the name of ship.

My mother's family as far as I can tell arrived on the Blessing a few boats after the Mayflower. I know my ancestors fought in the American Revolution.

It includes things telling about early life in the colony like the inventory of Mary Ring such as

• 1 peece of gray kersey 2 yrds
• 3 pillow of ffethers
• 1 lamp and candle stick
• 1 ffrying pan

but the list goes on and on. All her worldly goods were minimal compared to today's item-packed homes, but I'm sure she did not miss having a Wal-mart nearby.

It has wonderful phrasing of sentences: "This year arrived in New England those three worthy instruments, Mr. John Cotton, Mr. Thoams Hooker, and Mr. Samuel Stone, who were gospel preachers, of excellent worth and use in their places, until God took them out of the world unto himself."

or "Loving friend, which I writ my last letter, I hoped to receive one from you well-nigh by this time. But when I writ you in December I little thought to have seen Mr. John Pierce till he had brought some good tidings from you." (I can just imagine what they would have thought of email or Skype as communication tools in places of letters that took months to be exchanged.)

I used the book as part of my research for Murder in Caleb's Landing. Rick brought it down to the warren from the nest so once again I can open it anywhere and delve into lives long past but fascinating.

The author said "I have brought it together, under one cover and with one comprehensive index, all the significant documents written by the Mayflower passengers. I have also included a large selection of works that were written by visitors to early Plymouth Colony."

The book is now available in Kindle, again something that would astonish the quill pen and homemade ink pilgrims. A kindle would not havehe autographed copy that I own.

I don't know if Johnson is still alive. My startpage.com search has many references but none that tell me about him.

This is one book that I won't give away.