To the Reader
After a careful reading of the printed pages of the History, I find but few errors of typography to which I care to call attention, as no reasonable person expects perfection in the first edition of so large a volume. It will be noticed that the same word or name is frequently spelled in more than one way. For example, in the records the Allin family name is often written Allen, and the opposite; Myles is written Miles, Brooks, Brookes, Swansea, Swanzey, etc.; but these cases will not mislead the reader. As the Indians had no written language, the spelling of their names is as varied as the minds of the writers. The use of the double letter in Indian words, as in Massassoit, Chachapacassett, Nayatt, etc., seems to be established by good authority, and I have followed what I regard the best usage, although, in some instances, this rule has escaped notice.
The table of contents on p. vi, the synopsis of chapters, and the general index will enable readers to find most of the material of the work. The unexpected size of the volume and the multitude of names, however, have prevented an exhaustive index, but names omitted may be readily found by reference to the catalogues of names in several chapters. Four pages have been added for personal memoranda.
On page 243, for "Bowen" read Bowden.
On pages 496 and 558, read Joseph B. Martin.
On page 496, for "Bowen" read Brown, and for George R. Martin read George S. Martin.
On pages 556 and 558, for "Nochun" read Nockum.
