Morton, Nathaniel:

NEW-ENGLAND'S MEMORIAL: OR, A BRIEF RELATION OF THE MOST MEMORABLE AND REMARKABLE PASSAGES OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, MANIFESTED TO THE PLANTERS OF NEW-ENGLAND IN AMERICA: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FIRST COLONY THEREOF, CALLED NEW-PLYMOUTH... PUBLISHED FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, BY NATHANIEL MORTON, SECRETARY TO THE COURT FOR THE JURISDICTION OF NEW-PLYMOUTH.

Newport: Reprinted, and sold by S. Southwick, 1772. viii, 208 + 6-pages of subscriber's names (of 8, lacking the final subscriber leaf). Flaw at page 119 affects several words. Lightly toned, contemporary paneled sheep [somewhat shaken, with a few early leaves loosened. Good+. Third American edition, and the first to be printed in Rhode Island.

The prefatory "To the Reader," dated 26 March 1669 by John Higginson and Thomas Thacher, recommends the book as the work of "an approved godly man, and one of the first Planters at Plymouth." Morton was a nephew of Governor Bradford and Secretary to the General Court of Massachusetts. Morton dedicates it to Thomas Prince, "Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth," and "the Magistrates, his Assistants in the said Government."
"This book is one of the class commonly referred to as 'the cornerstones' of early New England history. It was the first strictly historical publication issued by the New England press, and brings the history of the colony down to 1668... The work is arranged in chronological order, and is filled with particulars of the greatest interest. The voyage of the Mayflower is given in detail, as is also the story of the landing and first settlement of the Pilgrims. The text is interspersed with several elegiac poems, epitaphs, and acrostics" [Church].
ESTC W13885. Howes M851. Evans 12469. Church 606. Item #39583

Price: $475.00