Edward Johnson was known to his contemporaries in the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a man of many skills. A respected member of the commonweal, experienced in the tasks which were essential to the young colony's survival, he was one of the capable and energetic rank-and-file immigrants who helped to build the colony and who, by their dedication, insured its growth and success as a self-administrative commonwealth. To some of his contemporaries he was also known as the author of the first published account of the early history of New England.

Edward Johnson was born in England as the son of a parish clerk and was baptized at St. George's Church, Canterbury, on 16 or 17 September 1598. Around 1618 he married Susan Munnter, with whom he had eight children, one of whom died in infancy. He owned property in and around Canterbury, and it appears that in England he was engaged in...