Of John Clarke, the first mate of the may-Flower, we have already learned that he had been in the employ of the First (or London) Virginia Company, and had but just returned (in June, 1620) from a voyage to Virginia with Captain Jones in the Falcon, when found and employed by Weston and Cushman for the Pilgrim ship.  Dr. Neill quotes from the “Minutes of the London Virginia Company,” of Wednesday, February 13/23, 1621/2, the following; which embodies considerable information concerning him:—­

“February 13th, 1621.  Master Deputy acquainted the Court, that one Master John Clarke being taken from Virginia long since [Arber interpolates, “in 1612”] by a Spanish ship that came to discover the Plantation, that forasmuch as he hath since that time done the Company presumably the First (or London) Virginia Company good service in many voyages to Virginia; and, of late [1619] went into Ireland, for the transportation of cattle to Virginia; he was a humble suitor to this Court that he might be a Free brother of the Company, and have some shares of land bestowed upon him.”

From the foregoing he seems to have begun his American experiences as early as 1612, and to have frequently repeated them.  That he was at once hired by Weston and Cushman as a valuable man, as soon as found, was not strange.

He seems to have had the ability to impress men favorably and secure their confidence, and to have been a modest and reliable man.  Although of both experience and capacity, he continued an under-officer for some years after the Pilgrim voyage, when, it is fair to suppose, he might have had command of a ship.  He seems to have lacked confidence in himself, or else the breadth of education necessary to make him trust his ability as a navigator.

He is not mentioned, in connection with the affairs of the Pilgrims, after he was hired as “pilot,”—­on Saturday afternoon the 10th of June, 1620, at London,—­until after the arrival at Cape Cod, and evidently was steadily occupied during all the experience of “getting away” and of the voyage, in the faithful performance of his duty as first mate (or “pilot”) of the may-Flower.  It was not until the “third party” of exploration from Cape Cod harbor was organized and set out, on Wednesday, December 6, that he appeared as one of the company who put out in the shallop, to seek the harbor which had been commended by Coppin, “the second mate.”  On this eventful voyage—­when the party narrowly escaped shipwreck at the mouth of Plymouth harbor—­they found shelter under the lee of an island, which (it being claimed traditionally that he was first to land there on) was called, in his honor, “Clarke’s Island,” which name it retains to this day.  No other mention of him is made by name, in the affairs of ship or shore, though it is known inferentially that he survived the general illness which attacked and carried off half of the ship’s company.  In November,