Historical Events Nov 5 First post office in the colonies is set up in Massachusetts Nov 24 1st observation of transit of Venus by Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree - helped establish size of the Solar System Famous Deaths Nov 3 Martinus de Porres, Peruvian saint (patron of social justice), dies at 69 Nov 7 William Cobbold, British organist and composer, dies at 79 Nov 7 Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour, English politician Nov 26 John Spottiswoode, Scottish historian (b. 1565) 1638 History by Year 1640 What Happened in 1639 Great Sacrifice of a Plague-Ridden Village April 28, 1639