Chapter Seven Summary

John's son Forth, from his earlier marriage to Anne Forth, dies from a lung infection, adding to the Winthrop family's grief. Nearly a third of Winthrop's company has died since they arrived in the new world, including Lady Arbella and her husband, and Winthrop notes that the ones who seem to die first are the ones who yearn most for home.

Pond, the local miller, receives a letter from his son, who wants to come home since so many are sick and have died. Pond wants Margaret to tell John he was mistaken about God's will for them to emigrate. But Groton Manor has been sold and the rest of the family will sail for New England in August, and Margaret trusts John's decisions.

John and Margaret want the widowed Bess to consider marrying William Coddington, a rich widower who has...