1870 PILGRIMS SETTLE NEW ENGLAND. Unpublished MSs Poem by Presbtyerian, M. A. Depue.

A fine five stranza unpublished manuscript poem on the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620. Written by Presbyterian divine, M. A. Depue [d.1872], it seems likely to have been composed in 1870 as part of a Sesquicentennial celebration of the arrival of the Mayflower.  

Depue himself was a prominent Presbyterian who exercised his ministry during the Civil War, seemingly as a chaplain, and was then Assistant to the eminent John Gray at New Brunswick before becoming the Minister at Schooley's Mountain Presbyterian [Old School]. He died young, possibly of yellow fever, which took many lives in the Winter of 1872/1873.

On a period bifolium, some handling and stains, but very sound and legible. 

The poem is as follows:

Voyage of the Pilgrims, First Settlers of New England

Twas on a summer morn
And all seemed bright and gay
A band of Pilgrims thronged the shore
Around Delfshaven Quay
About to leave the land they love
Their friends and kindreds care
To sail across the deep blue sea
And found a Nation there.

Tis by a tyrants hand
They're banished from the shore
They think not of their native land 
They love their freedom more
Then titled Nobles vain
Who'd nought but ease in view
They could not sail across the main
Or join the noble few.

No gallant Navies in their pride
That Brittish power might boast
Would sail across the ocean wide
To waft them to the coast
The Mayflower with her precious freight
Is bound across the deep
The prospect of a rising State
Within that vessel sleep.

Though winds may roar, and waves run high
Though surges never sleep
But dash against the angry sky
Upon the raging deep
Through beating surf and dashing spray
Upon the ocean strand
They still pursue their watery way
Toward the wished for land.

At length they've crossed the ocean wave
Their voyage now is o'er
That liberty they came to save
They plant upon the shore
Almighty Nation now is found
Upon New England soil
Who tread the free and hallowed ground
Of the brave Pilgrims toil

M A Depue