Farm, on the South with the high way leading to the salt water, on the West with the road way leading to Salem, on the East with the salt water, which tract of land was given to me, as aforesaid, during my life, and in case I should leave no issue of my body, to give it to such of his posterity as I should see cause to bestow it upon; Know ye, therefore, that I, the said Benjamin Scarlett, for divers considerations me thereunto moving, have given, granted, and by these presents do give and grant, assign, sett over, and bestow the aforesaid tract of land, with all the improvements I have made thereon, both by building, fencing, or otherwise, unto Samuel Endicott, second son to Zerubabel Endicott deceased, and unto Hannah his wife, to have and to hold the said ten acres of land, more or less, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the said Samuel Endicott and Hannah his wife, to his and her own proper use and behoof forever; and after their decease I give the said tract of land to their son Samuel Endicott.  In case he should depart this life without issue, then to be given to the next heir of the said Samuel and Hannah.—­In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.—­Dated the ninth of January one thousand six hundred and ninety one.—­BENJAMIN SCARLETT, his mark.”

It is to be observed, that Governor Endicott had died twenty-six years, and his son Zerubabel seven years, before the date of the foregoing deed.  No writings had passed between them in reference to the final disposition Scarlett was conditionally to make of the estate.  There were no living witnesses of the original understanding.  But the old man was true to the sentiments of honor and gratitude.  The master to whom he had been apprenticed in his boyhood had been kind and generous to him, and he was faithful to the letter and spirit of his engagement.  He evidently made a point to have the language of the deed as strong as it could be.  He did not leave the matter to be settled by a will, but determined to enjoy, while living, the satisfaction of being true to his plighted faith.  He was known, in his later years, as “old Ben Scarlett.”  He did not feel ashamed to call himself a servant.  But humble and unpretending as he was, I feel a pride in rescuing his name from oblivion.  Old Ben Scarlett will for ever hold his place among nature’s nobles,—­honest men.

The extent to which Endicott went in improving his lands is shown in the particular department which gave the name to his original grant.  In 1648, he bought of Captain Trask two hundred and fifty acres of land, in another locality, giving in exchange five hundred apple-trees, of three years’ growth.  Such a number of fruit-trees of that age, disposable at so early a period, could only be the result of a great expenditure of labor and money.  So many operations going on under his direction and within his premises made his farm a school, in which large numbers were trained to every variety of knowledge