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.