June 1629, and was greeted by a small group of settlers, led by John Endecott. The ships in the fleet were: Talbot (carried 19 cannon) Capt. Benjamin Gonson/Ganson, whose family had long history with the Royal Navy, Sir Admiral Richard Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake. Long line of descendants. George Bonaventure (carried 20 cannon) Lyon's Whelp (carried 40 planters + crew + 8 cannon) Four Sisters (carried 14 cannon) Mayflower (carried 14 guns); a different ship from the Pilgrim's Mayflower Pilgrim (small ship with 4 guns that carried supplies only) Salem In Salem there were five houses besides Endecott's. They had no trained minister, however, so Higginson and Samuel Skelton began conducting services immediately. Higginson drew up a confession of faith, which was assented to, on 6 August, by thirty persons. In the following winter, in the general sickness that ravaged the Massachusetts Bay Colony, he was attacked by a fever, which disabled him, and finally caused his death at the age of 43, leaving behind a widow and eight children. He had married Anne Herbert (who died in 1640 or before) on 8 January 1616 at St Peter's, Nottingham. Their eldest son, John (1616–1708), also trained for the ministry. He succeeded his father-in-law Henry Whitfeld or Whitfield (1597-1687) as minister at Guilford, Connecticut, and served as pastor of Salem from 1659. Another son, Francis Higginson (1618–1673), returned to England and became vicar of Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland, where he lived until his death. A portion of his diary was published in 1630 under the title, New Englands Plantation, or a Short and True Description of the Commodities and Discommodities of that Country. He also wrote an account of his voyage, which is preserved in Hutchinson's collection of papers. References 1588 births 1630 deaths 17th-century Christian clergy Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge Kingdom of England emigrants to Massachusetts Bay Colony Massachusetts colonial-era clergy 17th-century New England Puritan ministers