himself, of English birth, and humble—­perhaps deceased—­parents,
     taken because of their orphaned condition.  It is highly improbable
     that they would be taken from London to Southampton by land, at the
     large expense of land travel in those days, when the may-Flower was
     to sail from London.  That they would accompany their respective
     masters to their respectively assigned ships at Southampton is
     altogether likely.  The phraseology of his affidavit suggests the
     probability that Richard More, his brothers, and sister were brought
     to Mr. Weston’s house, to be by him sent aboard the may-Flower,
     about to sail.  The affidavit is almost conclusive evidence as to
     the fact that the More children were all of the English colonists’
     party, though apprenticed to Leyden families, and belonged to the
     London passenger list of the Pilgrim ship.  The researches of Dr.
     Neill among the Ms. “minutes” and “transactions” of the (London)
     Virginia Company show germanely that, on November 17, 1619, “the
     treasurer, council, and company” of this Virginia Company addressed
     Sir William Cockaine, Knight, Lord Mayor of the city of London, and
     the right worthys the aldermen, his brethren, and the worthys the
     “common council of the city,” and returning thanks for the benefits
     conferred, in furnishing out one hundred children this last year
     for “the plantation in Virginia” (from what Neill calls the
     “homeless boys and girls of London"), states, that, “forasmuch as we
     have now resolved to send this next spring [1620] very large
     supplies,” etc., “we pray your Lordship and the rest . . . to
     renew the like favors, and furnish us again with one hundred more
     for the next spring.  Our desire is that we may have them of twelve
     years old and upward, with allowance of L3 apiece for their
     transportation, and 40s. apiece for their apparel, as was formerly
     granted.  They shall be apprenticed; the boys till they come to 21
     years of age, the girls till like age or till they be married,” etc. 
     A letter of Sir Edwin Sandys (dated January 28, 1620) to Sir Robert
     Naunton shows that “The city of London have appointed one hundred
     children from the superfluous multitude to be transported to
     Virginia, there to be bound apprentices upon very beneficial
     conditions.”  In view of the facts that these More children—­and
     perhaps others—­were “apprenticed” or “bound” to the Pilgrims
     (Carver, Winslow, Brewster, etc.), and that there must have been
     some one to make the indentures, it seems strongly probable that
     these four children of one family,—­as Bradford shows,—­very likely
     orphaned, were among