[D] Mr. William Brewster was born in England, 1560, was educated at the University of Cambridge, and became a zealous Puritan. He resided in the north of England, and when the church was formed over which the Rev. Messrs. Richard Cilfton and John Robinson were ordained as pastors, the members met at his house on Lord's day for worship, so long as they were permitted by the civil authorities. When the church, with their pastors, on account of persecution, had removed to Holland, Mr. Brewster was elected Ruling Elder. After the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, he usually preached to them twice every Sabbath for nine years, as they had no regular minister till Mr. Ralph Smith was ordained their pastor, in 1629; but he never administered the sacraments. He was a man in whom the church reposed the most unlimited confidence in respect to all their spiritual affairs. For piety he was eminent. For human as well as sacred literature, he had a great taste; and at his death, which occurred April 16, 1644, being 83 years old, he left a handsome library valued in that day at _forty-three_ pounds, a catalogue of which is to be found in the colony records.--_Allen's Biog. Dict._
[E] The ship Speedwell, commanded by Capt. Reynolds, proved leaky and unfit for the voyage, and was discharged from service before the Pilgrims left Plymouth. The whole company, therefore, which came over to this country, were passengers in the May Flower.
[G] Governor Carver died greatly lamented on the 5th of April following, having sustained the office of chief-magistrate but four months and twenty-four days. "He was a man of great prudence, integrity, and firmness of mind. He had a good estate in England, which he spent in the migration to Holland and America. He was one of the foremost in action, and bore a large share of suffering in the service of the colony, who confided in him as its friend and father. Piety, humility, and benevolence, were eminent trails in his character."--_Dr. Belknap._
On the death of Governor Carver, although only thirty-two years old, and confined at the time by sickness, Mr. William Bradford was unanimously elected his successor, as Governor of the colony. He conducted the affairs of the colony for the great part of the time, as chief, and two or three years as second magistrate, with consummate prudence and ability for a period of more than thirty-one years.--In his youth, he embraced the doctrines which were taught by the venerable Clifton, and afterwards by Robinson, and became one of their most devoted followers. He applied himself with great diligence to the study of the ancient languages, both Latin and Greek. Of the Hebrew his knowledge was intimate, and the French and Dutch he spoke with ease. He read much on subjects of history and philosophy. In theology he was deeply versed, and few there were who could contend with him successfully in a polemical dispute. He wrote considerably; the loss of his valuable manuscript history of the colony to 1646, can never be supplied.--_Dr. Thacher's History of Plymouth._