Returning to John Pierce, of London, we find he must have been a man of position and influence which is shown in the first place by his being able to acquire a patent. Then he is spoken of as a “citizen and clothworker of London,” and “that renowned clothworker.” He must also have been a man of daring and adventure as he set sail for America in the winter, in the month of December, 1821, in the “Paragon,” a vessel which he had equipped for the purpose and in which he had gathered a goodly company of passengers and a quantity of freight for Plymouth. Owing to inclement weather they returned to London in fourteen days with the vessel badly damaged. Unwisely they ventured out again, in the following month, one of the worst in the year for mariners, with added passengers and freight. This sailing was no better than the first, as they soon met a severe storm which injured both vessel and cargo to such an extent they had to go back to London. It would seem this loss was both discouraging and irremediable, as we do not learn that the leader of the expedition ever tried again to cross the Atlantic, but that he sold out to pay for his losses and assigned his patent to the Plymouth Company. At that time so little was known of the Plymouth Pilgrims that they were known as “Mr. Pierce’s Company.” We read elsewhere, however, that John Pierce’s enthusiasm for adventure and colonization must have been shared by his brothers, for Captain William and Captain Michael came over later. They are the ancestors of many of the name in this country. That they were men of substance and education is shown by facts connected with them. Captain William is stated to be “mariner” and captain of the vessels “Anne,” “Lion,” and “Mayflower.” In 1623 he brought a noteworthy company to Plymouth. In 1624 he brought the “Winslow” and the first cattle in the “Charity.” In 1625 he was at Plymouth again, in the “Jacob,” bringing “Winslow” and more cattle. In 1629 he commanded the famous “Mayflower” and conveyed a company from Holland as far as the Bay on their way to Plymouth. He came many times in other vessels. In 1636 the first vessel built in this country and called “Pierce’s Desire” was launched for him at Marblehead, Massachusetts, and in 1639 he sailed her from Boston to the Thames in twenty-three days, which would even now be a credit to such a craft and captain. To him also belongs the credit of bringing to New England from the West Indies the first cotton, in 1633, and in 1636 the first sweet potatoes from the same place. He was born in England about 1590 and died in the Bahamas, July 13, 1641. Captain Michael Pierce came over in 1645 and fell fighting with the Indians in 1676. He was one “who never knew fear.” The first attempt in this country at printing anything in book form was in 1639, when Pierce’s almanac made its appearance. On the other side, from her mother, Mary Paterson, Sarah Pierce inherited both ability and energy.