Mates

By: Will B
(© 2009 by the author)

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Our three heroes are finding their respective jobs are rewarding and that Christopher and Sarah are good people to work for. There are high jinks on the high seas as the crew of the “Henrietta” take on a more than ‘able seaman.’

Chapter 16

 Going Home

Our story opens on April 15, 1652. Ed, Henry, and Ed’s cousin, George, have been serving Christopher and Sarah for three years.  Their master and mistress have treated them almost as family.

A change had come to the colony.  In March, Parliamentary commissioners arrived to displace Lord Baltimore’s officials. Lord Baltimore had been granted the power to make any laws he wanted, but he had two very important limits placed on his powers. He could not enact any laws that contravened the laws of England, and he had to get the advice and consent of the freemen of the Province.

The newly arrived Puritans had a different attitude. Richard Bennett and William Claiborne declared, “There is absolutely no necessity for an Assembly at this time.”

Christopher had cautioned his three servants not to express any political opinions as they went about their duties.

One happy event occurred in June of that year. The “Henrietta” arrived in Maryland again.  Who should disembark, but our old friends, Miles Thomas, now a Captain, and his wife and a younger woman, dressed very somberly.

“Why, Cousin Miles, what are you doing here?” asked Christopher, who, like almost everyone else, had gone down to the pier to meet the ship.

“I have been appointed Captain of the Garrison,” the doughty warrior said. I’ve brought my wife and a friend who wants to settle here…. This is Catherine Hanson. Her husband had been a clergyman in the parish of Longleaf, but he died last year.  Catherine felt she wanted to make a home somewhere else.”

Catherine curtsied to Christopher.

“Well, I hope you’ll all come up to the inn for dinner. My wife Sarah will be glad to see you,” Christopher invited them.

When Ed and Henry came into the dining room to wait on tables, they were  surprised and delighted to see Miles Thomas and his wife, and--- “Why Catherine Hanson, what are you doing here?” Ed asked.

“Robert died and …I… just thought I….needed to get away from Longleaf. I went to London and met Miles and his wife, and when they told me they were coming to Maryland. I thought…., well, I thought a change of scenery would be good for me.”

At that point, George came into the dining room, and went over to meet Miles and his wife. He looked quizzically at Miles and mouthed the words ‘Who’s she?’

Introductions were made, and Miles invited George to join them. George was not very talkative at that meal. He was struck by the beauty of the Widow Hanson. He had never… never seen such a … beautiful woman!

Sarah and Mrs. Thomas noticed George’s quiet attention to the new guest, and like women everywhere, they thought ‘Good. I hope something comes of this!’  But they kept their mouths closed except when chatting or eating.

It was decided that Miles’ wife and Catherine would stay at the inn for a few days while Miles inspected the arrangements at the Garrison.

After lunch Sarah suggested that the women might want to see their room and rest. “Ed and Henry will bring any luggage up for you,” Sarah said.

“Oh, I’ll be happy to help,” George interjected.  And so, George, in his early 40s, carried the luggage of the two ladies up to their room with all the vigor of a man half his age.

Late that night, George couldn’t sleep thinking of the lovely Catherine. At one point he thought he heard sobbing coming from Catherine’s room. He longed to get up and knock at her door and ask if she was all right.  Maybe she would invite him in and maybe he could comfort her . . . and maybe…. George didn’t let his mind go any further than that, but he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

On board the “Henrietta,” the crew was settling down for their usual evening jollies. Sam found Jerry sitting at the makeshift table busily writing something on a piece of parchment, which he put into a chest and locked.

“What are you writing, Jerry?”

“Oh, I’m keeping a journal of all our activities here in the foc’sle. Maybe some day somebody will want to read about the ‘barrel boy’ and his adventures.”

With that, Jerry got up and went into the large room, and regaled the crew with a new idea he that had come to him. It was called ‘Walking the Plank.’

When he told his idea to the crew, they roared with approval. So he put the game into practice.

* * * * *

June 10, 1653. Over a year had gone by. Ed, Henry, and George have been working for the Godwins for over four years. Ed and Henry are now 22 years old, and two more good-looking men had never been seen in the colony of Maryland. They had each saved their tips and gifts and between them they had saved almost 25 pounds sterling.

They were as much in love with each other as they had been years ago. Tall, muscular, engaging in manner, they were two wonderful guys.

George was a little older now. There were some flecks of gray in his hair, but there was still a spring in his step. A deep friendship had developed between him and Catherine and that friendship was turning to love!

One evening George and Catherine were walking down by the river. George turned and took Catherine in his arms and sighed. “If only I were free,” he said, “We could make some plans. The Governor says that when my term of service with the Godwins is up, he has a permanent job for me at the State House.”

“And remember, Lord Baltimore has promised all who settle in Maryland fifty acres of land,” Catherine said. “Your fifty acres and my fifty acres will give us 100 acres of land. We can build a house and raise some cattle.”

Just then, the two lovers could hear Christopher calling them, “George, Catherine, come quickly. Sarah … Sarah…”  Godwin’s voice broke off.

George and Catherine ran to the inn and found that Sarah had collapsed on the floor. Ed, Henry, and George, between them, were able to lift Sarah and carry her into her room and lay her on the feather bed.

“Ed, run and get Dr. Briscoe,” said Catherine.

Ed and Henry dashed to the doctor’s house and retuned with Dr. Briscoe in approximately five minutes. The doctor felt for Sarah’s pulse, but it was weak and her breathing was labored.

“I don’t know, Christopher,” he said. “We’ll just have to watch and wait.”

Christopher sat in a chair and watched his dear wife. She had worked so hard, and always been a loving wife, a companion, a partner. What would he do if….?

For the next three days, George took over the day to day running of the inn. Catherine, Mrs. Thomas and Ed and Henry took turns helping with Sarah. If she needed to be turned, Ed and Henry were there.  If she needed her bed linen changed, Catherine and Miles’ wife were there.

On the third day, Sarah opened her eyes and said “Christopher…” and then she closed her eyes again, and passed away.

Her funeral was in the town church and everyone was there. As was the custom in those days, the interment was marked by the firing of guns. Miles and the soldiers in his command took care of that ceremony.

The Governor and his Lady sent a huge ham to be served at the funeral reception and other ladies of the settlement brought food—not only because it was the custom, but because they dearly loved Sarah.

Through it all, Christopher sat as in a daze. He greeted people and he thanked them but he said very little else. He would gaze into the sky as if seeing a vision that no one else could see.

One morning he asked George to go to the State House and bring the Clerk of the Court back with him.

“Isn’t there something I could do for you,?” George asked.

“No, my friend, and you are my friend, it has to be done a certain way,” the grieving widower responded. So George went and brought back the Clerk of the Court, who stayed closeted with Christopher for over an hour. The Clark came out of Christopher’s room and said, “George, would you ask Ed and Henry,…oh, and Catherine and Mrs. Thomas to come here, and you, too?”

Mystified, George went to call the others, and they gathered in Christopher’s office.

Christopher looked at them and smiled.  After he  introduced John Stanley, the Clerk of the Court, he spoke, “George, this document signifies that I am releasing you from your indenture. You have served my Sarah and me faithfully, and I am showing my appreciation by releasing you now. You are free to go your way.”

George was so stunned that he could barely gasp out, “Thank you, Sir! That is very kind of you. I hardly know what to say.”

Godwin went on, “I know that you and Catherine have come to an understanding, and that you plan to marry.  A man needs some means to support a family, so I am offering you a paid position as manager of the Inn, with an option to eventually buy it. You would be paid a salary and until you can acquire a home for you and Catherine, I am offering you two rooms to live in.”

Now both George and Catherine were thanking him.

“What’s more, George, I have a hundred acres just outside the town, and I thought you and Catherine could have that to farm raise crops, sell what you can, and keep any profits—and there won’t be much, but a man should have some land!”

Catherine looked perplexed. “Oh, sir, why is it important for a man to have land if he has a job here in the town?”

Christopher looked at her, and smiled and said, “Why Catey Hanson, don’t you know? The land is the only thing that matters, the land, my dear, the land!”

“I only ask one thing, George, and that while you are the manager, you allow me to continue living here, and you will provide me with a room, board, washing, and wood for my fire.”**

“Certainly, Christopher. I need you to stay here. On top of everything else, who else could give me a good game of chess?”

Clerk Stanley handed George his release. Christopher then looked at Ed and Henry. “Lads , no one could have served Sarah and me better than you two.  During Sarah’s illness you were as gentle with her as any woman might have been, You…..”

Christopher had to stop for a minute and compose himself. In fact, Ed and Henry were tearing up, and George and Catherine had tears in their eyes also.

Christopher went on. “I am releasing you both from your indentures. Here are your papers, and you are free to go.”

Ed and Henry went and shook Christopher Godwin’s hand, but he stood up and gave them each a hug. “You know, Sarah and I had come to look on the two of you as if you were our own sons!”

Now our two young men did have tears in their eyes, and would have said something, but Godwin forestalled them.

“Now, I have another hundred acre farm about a mile out of town. It has a small house on it.  There is also a barn with two cows, a horse and six sows and a number of pigs. If you would like to become farmers, I am prepared to deed the land over to the two of you. It will take some work, but I think the two of you are up to it. What say you?”

Ed and Henry looked at each other, and then turned to Christopher and said “Yes! We’ll take it, with thanks, Sir.”

Clerk Stanley handed them their papers and the title deeds to the farm.

When all the talking and discussing and planning were over, five people went to their beds very happy. Before he closed his eyes, Christopher Godwin thought to himself, ‘Well, Sarah, my dear. I’ve done what we’ve talked about before you…before you…left us. I hope everyone will be happy.”

Somewhere at sea, the “Henrietta” was riding calmly through the night. Except for a small crew on deck to look after the steering and the sails, the crew were in the foc’sle.

Jerry was writing on his parchment and chuckling to himself. “There, I think if we interlock….he he he, and then I … he he he, and then again we might have intertwined two…. He he he , oh, he he he…, and then I can….”

Pete came up and hugged Jerry and said, “What are you laughing about, old cock?”

“Yeah, sounds like you’re up to your usual dirty tricks—and how I love it when you’re dirty!” added Sam as he came up and grabbed Pete’s ass.

“You’ll see, me boyos, you’ll see. The whole crew’ll see. I‘ve been planning some various ways we can have some ‘three-way’ sex. Just let me put my writings in my chest, and we’ll go talk to the crew. I guarantee they’ll all go for these new games!”

And the crew did.

* * * * *

October 23, 1660: Seven years and four months have gone by. George and Catherine have been married for a little over seven years, and they have made a success of the Inn and their farm. They have been able to hire a cook, two maids, and three men, two of whom looked after the farm.

George has also gained the respect of his fellow citizens of Maryland and there was talk that he might stand for election to a seat in the next Assembly. In addition to all her other tasks, Catherine has started a ’dame school,’ where young children of five to eight years of age might come to learn their letters and do simple arithmetic.

Ed and Henry had also done well on their farm. They worked long and hard, and now, at age 28, they were tanned from working out of doors, and their bodies are muscular--one might almost say ‘buff’ if such a term had existed in 1660. Their livestock had increased. They had two horses, three cows and calves, a bull, two steers, and so many hogs they had almost lost count.

In 1655 Ed and Henry, with Christopher Godwin’s permission, had gone to Lord Baltimore’s Land Office and registered the name of their farm as Mates’ Longleaf. The name was entered into His Lordship’s Rent Rolls and Debt Books.***

In 1656 they had gone into the business of slaughtering a few pigs each year and curing the hams, which had found a ready market in St. Mary’s City. The Governor and his Lady were often pleased to serve their dinner guests a ‘Longleaf Ham.’

On this fateful day, they had ridden into town because they had needed to get some supplies, and while they were there the Henrietta” docked. As usual, everyone went down to the pier to greet the ship. George and Catherine were there, and when Captain Martin stepped on shore George issued his traditional invitation for the Captain, the First Mate, and one-half of the crew to dine at the Inn, and the other half to dine the next day.

After dinner, Captain Martin stood, and announced, “I have some good news for anyone who might be interested. His Majesty, King Charles II (God Bless him) has said that anyone who was sent into exile by the Puritan regime is welcome to return to England and have their property restored to them.”

This announcement resulted in loud cheering from many of the other diners, but the party at his table sat quietly with thoughtful expressions on their faces.

“Well, Mistress Robinson, wouldn’t you like to return to England?” Captain Martin asked.

“Oh, of course,” she said, and then stopped. “Only, I don’t want to leave the children in my school, I…”

George spoke up, “That’s wonderfully kind of His Majesty, but… I think I want to stay here. Catherine, do you mind?”

“No, George, darling, I agree. This is where we belong.”

Master Ed, Master Henry, don’t you want to go home?” Captain Martin asked.

Ed and Henry looked at each other and then stood up and held hands, and Ed replied, “Thank you, Captain Martin, but THIS is our home.”

THE END

Historical Notes

** In early Maryland, many times older people would make over all their property to a son or someone else who would agree to provide a home and necessities for the giver.

*** Rent Rolls and Debt Books: These were the property records kept by Lord Baltimore’s Land Office so that he would know who owed him taxes. (Some things never change!).

P.S. If any reader wants to know what Jerry meant by his game of ‘Walking the Plank,’ or his plans for a ‘three way,” just drop me a note.

E’s notes: Isn’t it interesting that George, Catherine, and Hank found it better to live in the colonies than in their mother country. 

I wonder if the colonists had ever heard of the word 'gay' back when this story takes place.  Perhaps, but it probably meant something very different from what people think of today when they hear the word.  I have the feeling that our forefathers ‘could have cared less’ about people’s sexual orientation as long as no one was being hurt.

Will’s answer: they decided to stay because they had put their roots down. They had come to love this new land, and there was an air of freedom. Men and women were judged by whether they could be trusted, whether they were willing to work hard, and by how they treated their neighbors.

Posted: 05/29/09