of that will, charged with responsible duties to Mullens’s children and property.  It is practically certain that on either of the above-mentioned dates (February 21, or March 22) there were no human beings in the Colony of New Plymouth beside the passengers of the may-Flower, her officers and crew, and the native savages.  Visitors, by way of the fishing vessels on the Maine coast, had not yet begun to come, as they did a little later.  It is certain that no one of the name of “Williamson” was among the colonist passengers, or indeed for several years in the colony, and we may at once dismiss both the passengers and the savages from our consideration.  This elimination renders it inevitable that “Master Williamson” must have been of the ship’s company.  It remains to determine, if possible, what position upon the may-FLOWER’S roster he presumably held.  His selection by “Master” Mullens as one of the “Over seers” of his will suggests the probability that, having named Governor Carver as the one upon whom he would rely for the care of his family and affairs in New England, Mr. Mullens sought as the other a proper person, soon to return to England, and hence able to exercise like personal interest in his two children and his considerable property left there?  Such a suggestion points to a returning and competent officer of the ship.  That “Master Williamson” was above the grade of “petty officer,” and ranked at least with the mates or “pilots,” is clear from the fact that he is invariably styled “Master” (equivalent to Mister), and we know with certainty that he was neither captain nor mate.  That he was a man of address and courage follows the fact that he was chosen by Standish as his lieutenant, while the choice in and of itself is a strong bit of presumptive proof that he held the position on the may-Flower to which he is here assigned.

The only officer commonly carried by a ship of the may-Flower class, whose rank, capacities, and functions would comport with every fact and feature of the case, was “the ship’s-merchant,” her accountant, factor, and usually—­when such was requisite—­her “interpreter,” on every considerable (trading) voyage.

It is altogether probable that it was in his capacity of “interpreter” (as Samoset and Tisquantum knew but little English), and on account of what knowledge of the Indian tongue he very probably possessed, that Standish chose Williamson as his associate for the formal reception of Massasoit.  It is indeed altogether probable that it was this familiarity with the “trade lingo” of the American coast tribes which influenced —­perhaps determined—­his employment as “ship’s-merchant” of the may-Flower for her Pilgrim voyage, especially as she was expected to “load back” for England with the products of the country, only to be had by barter with the Indians.  It is evident that there must naturally have been some provision