The Wreck of the Cursed Little James

In 1623, the ship Little James set off from England with more supplies and immigrants for Plymouth Colony. Immediately the young Captain Altham faced challenges. After a one-week delay in the fog, the food supplies began spoiling. The crew blamed passenger John Jenney for neglecting the provisions, as he was busy with his pregnant wife who later gave birth on the voyage. 

The crew was further angered when the captain refused to plunder a nearby French vessel. After a slow, grueling voyage, the Little James finally arrived in Plymouth on August 5, 1623. The agitated crew protested their contract and refused to cooperate with their superiors, so Plymouth's Governor Bradford promised their pay to maintain peace. 

Come springtime, while the Little James was on a fishing assignment, the crew mutinied, forcing the captain off the ship to retrieve food supplies. On April 10, 1624, as Captain Altham returned with provisions, a furious storm slammed the ship against the rocks. The shipmaster John Bridges drowned, two crewmembers were killed, and all cargo was lost.

After costly repairs, the Little James was returned to England to recoup financial losses. Three years later, just south of England, the James was captured by pirates. The cargo was stolen and the shipmaster and crew were sold into slavery. Nothing is heard of the Little James after that. 

Looking back on the misfortune of the James, William Bradford wrote, "I fear the Adventurers did over-pride themselves in her, for she had ill success."

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“Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold sorrow? for spoiling, and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.”

(Habakkuk 1:3; 1599 Geneva Bible)

The Plymouth and Wampanoag Treaty

After European plagues decimated the population of the Wampanoags, Chief Massasoit was eager for an alliance that would help regain their prominence with neighboring tribes, especially the powerful Narragansetts. As for the Pilgrims, they longed to secure peace and security as soon as possible for the place that would be their home. On April 1, 1621, Massasoit and Governor Bradford signed a treaty.  

The Wampanoags would do no harm to the Plymouth colonists, and if such a thing happened the offender would be delivered to Plymouth leaders for punishment. 

If a colonist or Wampanoag stole something from the other party, the item would be returned. 

The Wampanoags and colonists would defend each other against unjust attacks by other groups. 

Massasoit would inform neighboring tribes of the treaty to help encourage peace with the colonists. 

When the Wampanoags and colonists visited each other, they would leave their weapons behind. 

Finally, the Pilgrims promised that England's King James would consider Massasoit a friend and ally. 

This treaty may be at the center of what Americans call the “first Thanksgiving” – the harvest feast held at Plymouth colony with their Wampanoag neighbors. One of the Pilgrims’ activities during the feast was target shooting with their muskets. Soon after the loud musket cracks echoed over the land, Massasoit arrived with ninety men. Learning that there was no attack against the colony, he sent out a hunting party that quickly returned with five deer to add to the three-day feast. 

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“If it be possible, as much as in you is, have peace with all men.”

(Romans 12:18; 1599 Geneva Bible)