General Notes

"March 15th, 1665. Governor John Endecott died. He had scarcely moved from Salem, when he was called to his perpetual abode. He came from Dorsetshire, England. He was brother-in-law to Roger Ludlow, Deputy Governor. The consideration, that he was selected by the company who fostered the settlement of Massachusetts to carry their plans into effect, is enough to show that he stood high in the estimation of discerning and deserving men in his native country. Their recorded commendation of him coincided with their real opinion. An English writer,(*) in speaking of him, 1630, remarks: 'a man well known to divers persons of good note.' The merits of his chara??cter, as possessed by him when coming to this country, were not diminished, but greatly increased by his long employment in public service. True, the individuals and denominations, against whom he deemed it his duty to act, would not allow him to be so estimable a person. They cherished opinions and commended an administration of the laws, which he did not approve; and, therefore, they considered him wrong so far, as he differed from them. They measured his reputation by the rule of prejudice in favour of their own cause, for
(*) White, Planter's Plea.